Rephonic
Artwork for The EI Podcast

The EI Podcast

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

The EI Podcast brings you weekly conversations with leading writers, thinkers and historians. Hosted by Alastair Benn, Jack Dickens and Paul Lay. Produced by Max Mitchell.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes408Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
HistoryGovernment

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The EI Podcast

Latest Episodes

Napoleon appointed a total of 26 Marshals between 1804 and 1815, and they became crucial to his military success. Yet only two of them fought alongside him at the Battle of Waterloo. Andrew Roberts sits down with Paul Lay to discuss his new book, ‘Na... more

YouTube

Earlier this week, a Russian drone strike hit the National Academy of Sciences in central Kyiv, bringing terror to the historic centre of Ukraine’s capital and damaging a symbol of national independence. Paul Josephson speaks to Jack Dickens about wh... more

YouTube

Earlier this month, the US confirmed for the first time that it had deployed a space weapon in Earth’s orbit. John B. Sheldon and Jack Dickens discuss the fight for extraterrestrial supremacy.

Image: A mural of a Soviet-era cosmonaut in Ukraine. Cr... more

YouTube

What did Benjamin Disraeli believe and why is he still invoked as a prophet of modern conservatism? Emily Jones speaks to Paul Lay about her new book, ‘The Disraeli Myth: The Making of a Conservative Tradition’.

Image: Portrait of Benjamin Disraeli,... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

The Secrets of Statecraft
The Secrets of StatecraftHoover Institution
The Foreign Affairs Interview
The Foreign Affairs InterviewForeign Affairs Magazine
The Rachman Review
The Rachman ReviewFinancial Times
Global Security Briefing
Global Security BriefingThe Royal United Services Institute

Recent Guests

Andrew Roberts
Historian, author of Napoleon and His Marshalls, Victory, Rivalry and Betrayal
Lord Roberts of Belgravia
Episode: Napoleon’s nest of vipers
Paul Josephson
Professor emeritus of Russian and Soviet history at Colby College, expert on 20th century science in the Soviet Union and former Soviet states
Colby College
Episode: Russia’s war on Ukrainian science
John B. Sheldon
Expert on space and cyber security, co-founder of Astro Analytica
Astro Analytica
Episode: Space and the new clash of civilisations
Emily Jones
Senior Lecturer in Modern History at the University of Manchester
University of Manchester
Episode: Reinventing Disraeli
Simon Sebag Montefiore
Historian, author of The Cauldron: The Making of the Modern Middle East
Author, The Cauldron
Episode: The scramble for the Middle East
Philip Hensher
Author and historian, discussed as guest
Author of A History of the Novel in Britain
Episode: The novel in Britain: from cover to cover
Hannah Lucinda Smith
Foreign correspondent for The Times and The Atlantic
The Times, The Atlantic
Episode: Journeys in Europe’s grey zone
Stephen Bowd
Historian, co-author of Why Machiavelli Matters Now
University of Edinburgh / co-author
Episode: Machiavelli still matters
David Thomson
Film critic and historian
Episode: The entire history of cinema in one shot

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 151 ratings
  • Excellent show

    The interviews are interesting and informative.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Fourpointo
    United States5 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 Kingdom7 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 Kingdom9 months ago
  • Thought provoking

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    bradbel
    United Statesa year 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.

Some episodes are praised for their depth and breadth of analysis.
Listeners often highlight the eclectic mix of topics and strong historical grounding.
A few listeners note partisan framing in a subset of episodes.
High-quality interviews with knowledgeable guests and thoughtful hosting.
The show is described as professional and informative with rigorous scholarship.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#117
Italy/History
Apple Podcasts
#245
Australia/History
Apple Podcasts
#141
Singapore/History
Apple Podcasts
#151
Norway/History
Apple Podcasts
#153
Finland/History
Apple Podcasts
#156
Sweden/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Napoleon’s nest of vipers
Q: What motivated you to write this book on Napoleon's marshals?
I wanted to reassess Napoleon's leadership by focusing on the micromanagement, rivalries, and the merit-based aristocracy he tried to cultivate, which reshaped the empire but also created a nest of vipers among those closest to him.
The scramble for the Middle East
Q: Do you think we should rethink the Middle East as a coherent geopolitical entity, and what would that mean for how we talk about the region?
A new concept is needed because the Middle East now functions as a convergence of theaters spanning Europe to South Asia, with outside powers and local dynamics blending in complex ways. Recognizing this wider, more interconnected space could help policymakers, scholars, and publics better understand regional politics and the potential for new forms of cooperation or conflict.
The scramble for the Middle East
Q: What led to the rise and fall of pan-Arab nationalism, and what replaced it in the late 20th century?
Pan-Arab nationalism rose strongly under figures like Nasser, achieving dramatic political feats but overreaching and collapsing after wars and internal repression. Its defeat set the stage for a new Islamist narrative, most visibly embodied by the Iranian Revolution, which redefined regional ideologies and inspired Islamist movements across the region, reshaping politics for decades to come.
Machiavelli still matters
Q: When does his influence start spreading beyond France and become a Western civilizational touchstone?
The Prince circulated widely in manuscript form within six years of its composition, with printed Italian editions appearing later and translations taking much longer, which helped cement Machiavelli's influence across Europe.
Machiavelli still matters
Q: But your book very much addresses the question of why Machiavelli matters now. Can you tell us why he does matter today?
Machiavelli matters because Renaissance ideas shaped many questions we still grapple with today—violence, morality, and how power is exercised in real political life—and his writings encourage a clearer, more skeptical view of political rhetoric.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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?

Thoughtful, humanities-focused conversations with historians, policy thinkers, and cultural critics. Episodes often thread together deep dives into historical events, political philosophy, diplomacy, and how past ideas inform modern governance and culture. A notable strength is the ability to pair rigorous scholarship with accessible storytelling, drawing on a diverse roster of guests from historians and diplomats to film critics and authors. The show also tends to feature nuanced takes on controversial topics, clear host direction, and a willingness to explore how history connects to current affairs, identity, and global politics.

Where can I find podcast stats for The EI Podcast?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The EI Podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The EI Podcast and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The EI Podcast get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The EI Podcast, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for The EI Podcast?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The EI Podcast, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does The EI Podcast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The EI Podcast has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The EI Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The EI Podcast:

1. The Secrets of Statecraft
2. The Foreign Affairs Interview
3. UnHerd with Freddie Sayers
4. The Rachman Review
5. Global Security Briefing

How many episodes of The EI Podcast are there?

The EI Podcast launched 6 years ago and published 408 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The EI Podcast?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The EI Podcast?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The EI Podcast from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The EI Podcast?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The EI Podcast. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on The EI Podcast?

Recent guests on The EI Podcast include:

1. Andrew Roberts
2. Paul Josephson
3. John B. Sheldon
4. Emily Jones
5. Simon Sebag Montefiore
6. Philip Hensher
7. Hannah Lucinda Smith
8. Stephen Bowd

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days