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The EI Podcast

Engelsberg Ideas
Russia
China
Ukraine
United States
Artificial Intelligence
NATO
Geopolitics
Cold War
Liberty
Democracy
European Union
Vietnam War
Xi Jinping
Japan
Vladimir Putin
France
Germany
World War II
Mao Zedong
Donald Trump

The EI Podcast brings you weekly conversations and audio essays from leading writers, thinkers and historians. Hosted by Alastair Benn, Jack Dickens and Paul Lay. Find the EI Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or search The EI Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes397Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
HistoryGovernment

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Latest Episodes

Historian Kathleen Burk speaks to Max Mitchell about the long history of humanity's relationship with wine, taking us on a journey from the ancient Near East to modern France.

Image: A vineyard near the Temple of Zeus at Ancient Nemea, Korinthia, Gr... more

Saudi Arabia’s expensive investment in its future has come with a concurrent focus on its archaeological past but its ambitions risk eradicating the remnants of pre-Islamic history. Read by Leighton Pugh.

Read the essay here: engelsbergidea... more

YouTube

Peter Ricketts, Britain’s former ambassador to France, speaks with Paul Lay about a golden age of diplomacy.

Image: Archibald Clark Kerr (Britain’s Ambassador to the Soviet Union) and Alexander Cadogan (Permanent Under-Secretary of State for Foreig... more

YouTube

In war and diplomacy, personal relationships between leaders can shape the course of events in unpredictable ways. Read by Leighton Pugh.

Read the essay here: engelsbergideas.com/notebook/the-political-power-of-knowing-your-enemy/.

Image: ... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Kathleen Burk
Historian and wine expert, professor emerita at University College London, author of Wine, a Global History
University College London
Episode: How wine made the modern world
Andrea Valentino
Author arguing about Saudi Arabia's heritage ambitions and their impact on pre-Islamic history
Episode: The struggle for Saudi Arabia’s buried past
Peter Ricketts
Former British ambassador to France and crossbench peer
British Foreign Office / Public service
Episode: The diplomats who defeated Hitler
Suzanne Raine
Author and commentator on geopolitics
Engelsberg Ideas
Episode: The political power of knowing your enemy
Brendan Simms
Professor of the History of International Relations, University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
Episode: The return of the Great Powers
Marina Henke
Historian and author
Author
Episode: Germany’s new old nuclear dilemma
Phil Tinline
Author and documentary maker
Ghosts of Iron Mountain, The Hoax, The Duped America and Its Sinister Legacy
Episode: 250 years of the American experiment
Stephen Kotkin
Author and historian providing expert analysis
Princeton University
Episode: Where is Russia’s place in the world?
Tim Whitmarsh
Author of Rome's Age of Revolution
Episode: Christianity’s debt to Rome

Hosts

Alastair Benn
Host of The EI Podcast
Paul Lay
Co-host of The EI Podcast

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 136 ratings
  • Excellent show

    The interviews are interesting and informative.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Fourpointo
    United States3 months ago
  • Very poor

    The usual partisan flimflam so ubiquitous in today’s podcast landscape. When I recognised an old Oxford professor (and quite a nasty one at that), I knew the show was officially irredeemable!

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Bibliophenia
    United Kingdom4 months ago
  • Excellent podcast

    This is a professional high-quality podcast. I have just listened to The Monroe Doctrine episode and found it very insightful hearing from Charlie Laderman. It was also excellently hosted by Jack Dickens. I’m looking forward to future episodes.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Rubyviking
    United Kingdom6 months ago
  • Thought provoking

    Such a well done show. Thoughtful, interesting and informative.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    bradbel
    United States10 months ago
  • The best podcast this side of the Potomac

    A truly excellent podcast with knowledgeable hosts, fascinating guests and a delightfully eclectic mix of topics. Keep up the good work!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    An honourable man
    United Kingdom3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Shows a consistently strong lineup of guests and compelling topics.
Thought-provoking and high-quality, with insightful guests.
Hosts are knowledgeable and keep discussions engaging.
Episodes offer thoughtful historical and geopolitical analysis with broad appeal.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#188
United Kingdom/History
Apple Podcasts
#94
Japan/History
Apple Podcasts
#102
South Korea/History
Apple Podcasts
#168
Poland/History
Apple Podcasts
#176
Israel/History
Apple Podcasts
#189
Ukraine/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The diplomats who defeated Hitler
Q: So Peter, could you give our listeners an overview of what the book is about and why you felt the need to write it now?
The book argues that diplomats and civil servants played a crucial, underappreciated role in winning the war and shaping the post-war world, including the creation of the Atlantic Charter, the UN, and NATO, while highlighting the groundbreaking contributions of women in the Foreign Office.
How wine made the modern world
Q: How did religious and political structures influence the spread and production of wine across Europe?
The guest explains how monasteries and pilgrimages, Charlemagne's policies, and the Crusades created organized wine production and distribution, enabling wine to travel along the Rhine and into Poland, with religious orders supporting viticulture and trade.
How wine made the modern world
Q: What sparked your interest in wine and how did it become a major part of your life?
The guest describes growing up on a grape farm, learning about wine in Oxford, and gradually developing a professional interest through exams, judging, writing, and long-form articles for a wine magazine, which culminated in her writing and sharing extensive insights in her book.
China's bid for economic supremacy
Q: What did Xi Jinping likely want from the meeting, and was any of it achieved?
The guest emphasizes that optics showed China comfortable and steering the narrative, with careful leverage over tariffs and diplomatic language, implying any gains were strategic rather than dramatic.
China's bid for economic supremacy
Q: So as an experienced economist and China watcher, what do you make of Donald Trump's recent visit to Beijing last month?
Magnus suggests there were modest expectations, noting a mutual desire to avoid escalation and to maintain dialogue rather than a breakthrough, with limited concessions and a focus on de-escalation.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Gender Skew
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Age Range
Household Income
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Frequently Asked Questions About The EI Podcast

What is The EI Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show presents thoughtful explorations of history, politics, and culture through archival dives, literary and biographical essays, and interviews with scholars and writers. Episodes frequently center on how past events and ideas shape present-day geopolitics, cultural identity, and public discourse, featuring historians, policy experts, and journalists who reinterpret canonical events and contested histories. A notable strength is the blend of rigorous analysis with accessible storytelling, often centering marginalized voices or overlooked perspectives, and pairing deep research with engaging narrative threads. This mix makes it appealing to listeners who enjoy well-argued takes on large-scale history, international affairs, and the stor... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The EI Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The EI Podcast:

1. Past Present Future
2. The Econoclasts
3. The LRB Podcast
4. The Secrets of Statecraft
5. The Book Club

How many episodes of The EI Podcast are there?

The EI Podcast launched 6 years ago and published 397 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The EI Podcast?

Recent guests on The EI Podcast include:

1. Kathleen Burk
2. Andrea Valentino
3. Peter Ricketts
4. Suzanne Raine
5. Brendan Simms
6. Marina Henke
7. Phil Tinline
8. Stephen Kotkin

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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