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The EI Podcast

Engelsberg Ideas
Russia
China
Cold War
Artificial Intelligence
United States
Ukraine
Geopolitics
NATO
Liberty
Democracy
Soviet Union
European Union
Vietnam War
Japan
Xi Jinping
Vladimir Putin
France
Germany
Military Strategy
Mao Zedong

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

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes378Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
GovernmentHistory

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Latest Episodes

Elżbieta Zawacka, who played a key role in the Home Army’s resistance efforts, was one of the most highly decorated women in Polish history. Clare Mulley assesses her legacy. Read by Leighton Pugh.

Read the essay here: engelsbergideas.com/p... more

YouTube

Craig Fehrman speaks to EI’s Max Mitchell about his new book ‘This Vast Enterprise: A New History of Lewis & Clark’, shedding light on one of America’s founding myths.

Image: ‘America in the Making: Lewis and Clark’ by Newell Convers Wyeth (1938). C... more

YouTube

From Xi Jinping in China to Narendra Modi in India and Donald Trump in the US, Nicholas Wright explores how powerful leaders are reshaping the rules of the global great game. Read by Leighton Pugh.

Read the original essay here: engelsbergide... more

YouTube

How did Weimar, the town of Goethe and Schiller, become the crucible of Germany's moral collapse? Katja Hoyer, author of Weimar: Life on the Edge of Catastrophe, speaks to EI's Alastair Benn about the town's role in the rise of the Third Reich.

Imag... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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

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Recent Guests

Craig Fehrman
Author of This Vast Enterprise, A New History of Lewis & Clark
HarperCollins? (not specified in transcript; book author)
Episode: Lewis and Clark’s American Odyssey
Katja Hoyer
Historian and author
Author of Weimar, Life on the Edge of Catastrophe
Episode: Weimar’s descent into darkness
Henry Jeffreys
Wine writer and author of Drunk, How We Sipped, Dance and Stumbled Our Way to Civilization
Independent writer/author
Episode: The civilising wonders of wine
Mark Leonard
Co-founder and director at the European Council on Foreign Relations
European Council on Foreign Relations
Episode: Can Europe thrive in a multipolar world?
Ian McGregor
Historian and writer reflecting on the Nuremberg and Tokyo trials
Episode: The long shadow of the Nuremberg and Tokyo trials
Nick Wright
Nicholas Wright, author of Warhead, neuroscientist, defense and strategy expert
Defense and strategy expert (book author)
Episode: Universities are at crisis point
DJ Taylor
Writer and critic analyzing post-war spy fiction
The EI Podcast
Episode: The anatomy of the spy novel
Marie Kawthar Daouda
Author of Not Your Victim, discussing the book and topics related to Western identity
Author, Not Your Victim
Episode: The roots of the West’s identity crisis
Joseph Ledford
Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University
Hoover Institution, Stanford University
Episode: Washington’s return to Latin America

Hosts

Alastair Benn
Co-host of The EI Podcast; sometimes Deputy Editor of Engelsberg Ideas; frequently hosts discussions on history and culture.
Paul Lay
Co-host of The EI Podcast; Senior Editor at Engelsberg Ideas; engages in historical and geopolitical analysis.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 127 ratings
  • 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 Kingdom2 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 Kingdom4 months ago
  • Thought provoking

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    bradbel
    United States8 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 Kingdom2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Eclectic topics with strong hosts and credible guests.
Thought-provoking and engaging; fosters critical thinking.
Professional, high-quality discussions with knowledgeable guests.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#172
United Kingdom/History
Apple Podcasts
#224
Australia/History
Apple Podcasts
#104
Norway/History
Apple Podcasts
#203
India/History
Apple Podcasts
#206
Poland/History
Apple Podcasts
#226
Sweden/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Lewis and Clark’s American Odyssey
Q: And so who were Lewis and Clark then? How did Jefferson manage to get funding from it, for it, through Congress? Why does he choose Meriwether Lewis and how does William Clark come into the equation?
Fehrman explains that Lewis's close political role and Clark's outdoorsmanship and leadership complemented each other, and that Jefferson used political savvy to fund the expedition, viewing it as both a strategic imperial project and a path to national growth.
Lewis and Clark’s American Odyssey
Q: So this is an aspect of history that has been studied and poured over for 200 years since it happened. So I guess my first question is, why now?
Fehrman argues that new archival material, especially from perspectives of Native peoples and enslaved individuals, plus a biographical approach, gives a fresh, more inclusive frame that challenges long-standing myths while still celebrating the scope of the journey.
Can Europe thrive in a multipolar world?
Q: What are the main challenges Europe faces in this new era of unorder?
Mark Leonard explains that Europe must contend with a world where traditional security guarantees and global institutions are less effective; it should focus on integrating policies across economy, security, migration, and welfare to maintain social consent while adapting to disruptive technologies and demographics.
Washington’s return to Latin America
Q: What is the endgame for the Western Hemisphere in this strategy—what would count as success?
Success would be security and stability across the region, with a working economy, restored oil and civil society, reduced transnational crime, and a multilateral, American-led integration that counters Chinese influence while preserving democratic norms.
Washington’s return to Latin America
Q: What does the institutional leadership look like in this shift, particularly in terms of diplomats and security chiefs?
Leadership combines seasoned diplomats bilingual in Spanish with a strong, security-focused policy team, including figures like Rubio and Landau, aiming to project a coherent, hemispheric strategy that blends diplomacy with strategic deterrence.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The EI Podcast

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

This weekly series pairs sharp historical analysis with thought-provoking essays from leading writers and historians. Across recent episodes, topics span the enduring influence of mega-influencers on public discourse, geopolitical power shifts in multipolar worlds, and deep dives into literature, philosophy, and science. The conversations often blend rigorous scholarship with accessible storytelling, offering historical context and contemporary implications for media literacy, policy, and culture. A notable strength is the range of guests—from historians and political economists to literary critics and neuroscientists—providing varied perspectives on power, truth, and society, often challenging prevailing narratives. The format's strength l... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The EI Podcast?

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1. Past Present Future
2. The Foreign Affairs Interview
3. The Book Club
4. Ones and Tooze
5. The Rachman Review

How many episodes of The EI Podcast are there?

The EI Podcast launched 6 years ago and published 378 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. Craig Fehrman
2. Katja Hoyer
3. Henry Jeffreys
4. Mark Leonard
5. Ian McGregor
6. Nick Wright
7. DJ Taylor
8. Marie Kawthar Daouda

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