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Artwork for Global Dispatches -- World News That Matters

Global Dispatches -- World News That Matters

Global Dispatches
United Nations
United States
China
Donald Trump
Ukraine
Russia
Climate Change
Sudan
Iran
Trump Administration
Gaza
Syria
Humanitarian Aid
Nuclear Weapons
Venezuela
Humanitarian Crisis
Rapid Support Forces
Security Council
Haiti
Israel

The longest running independent international affairs podcast features in-depth interviews with policymakers, journalists and experts around the world who discuss global news, international relations, global development and key trends driving world affairs. Named by The Guardian as "a podcast to make you smarter," Global Dispatches is a podcast for people who crave a deeper understanding of intern... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes1319Founded14 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsNewsNews Commentary

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Artwork for Global Dispatches -- World News That Matters

Latest Episodes

Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett is a Guyanese diplomat and candidate for Secretary-General of the United Nations. If selected, she would become both the first woman and the first person of Indigenous descent to lead the world body. She joins Mark for a sub... more

Vali Nasr is everywhere in the news these days. The Iranian American scholar has written scores of books and articles about Iran and the Middle East, and even before the U.S.-Israel-Iran war, he was someone policymakers and journalists regularly turn... more

For decades, Cuba has deployed doctors on medical missions around the world, often to places where skilled health workers are badly needed. These missions have a genuine humanitarian component—but they also generate billions of dollars for the Cuban ... more

The world promised to be better prepared for the next pandemic. But has it followed through?

Former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark, who co-chairs the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response, joins me for a wide-ranging conv... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Vali Nasr
Iranian-American scholar and author
Johns Hopkins University
Episode: How Vali Nasr's Life Shaped His Understanding of Iran | From April 2017
Sarah Esten Maslin
Journalist focused on Latin America, contributor to The Economist
The Economist, freelancer
Episode: What Cuba's Doctors Reveal About U.S. Policy Toward Havana
Charles Lichfield
Economist at the Atlantic Council Geoeconomic Center
Atlantic Council Geoeconomic Center
Episode: Russia's War Economy Is Starting to Crack
Michael Hanna
US Program Director
International Crisis Group
Episode: What are the "Causes of Peace" Today? | Live from the Aspen Security Forum with the International Crisis Group
Ginger Jacobs
Senior Analyst for US Advocacy and Research
International Crisis Group
Episode: What are the "Causes of Peace" Today? | Live from the Aspen Security Forum with the International Crisis Group
Carl Skau
Acting Executive Director of the World Food Programme
World Food Programme
Episode: World Food Program Chief Carl Skau on the Perfect Storm Driving Up Global Food Prices
Nicholas Burns
Ambassador to NATO (former) and Ambassador to China
US State Department
Episode: What Is the Future of US-China Relations? | Ambassador Nicholas Burns, Live from the Aspen Security Forum
María Fernanda Espinosa
Former Ambassador to the United Nations for Ecuador; former Foreign Minister and Defense Minister of Ecuador; former President of the General Assembly
Ecuadorian government / United Nations
Episode: UN Secretary-General Candidate María Fernanda Espinosa: The Interview
Yaroslav Trofimov
Chief foreign affairs correspondent at The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal
Episode: How Ukraine Turned the Tide of the War | Live from the Aspen Security Forum

Hosts

Mark Leon Goldberg
Host and interviewer guiding discussions, with a focus on UN affairs, global governance, and international policy.
Luisa Tolda
Co-hosting role related to MGA Podcast and global affairs topics; student/academic background.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 752 ratings
  • Another lefty political pod yawn

    Boring orange man bad

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    very funny and clever pod
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • Disappointing liberal zionist partisan analysis

    I listened to the latest episode with Joel Braunold and actually disappointment underplays how I feel. Mark did not challenge any of the false analysis made by Braunold. This is despite easily sourced connections to zionist organisations and the state of israel. I thought this podcast upheld neutrality and independence but what we get are partisan skewed analyses. I’ve unfollowed.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    tioranta
    Ireland2 years ago
  • Word choice matters.

    Odd to say we should “celebrate” funding wars… the free world must be victorious, and might does not equal right - but what a weird choice of words to use in reference to war. However I’m guessing due to this opinion I’ll be labeled as a “far-right MAGA” ideologue, right?

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Consumer04312
    United States2 years ago
  • Disappointingly Naive

    Only recently came to this podcast.

    So, this review is primarily a response to the podcast on the China-USA relationship, as evidenced by the proposed actions against TikTok.

    Will listen to more episodes in the future, hopefully with better insight.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Exasperatd
    United States2 years ago
  • Excellent Africa analysis

    Its rare to find long form in depth reporting on events in Africa. This podcast regularly devotes entire episodes to African news and generally offers a good perspective for listeners who dont normally deep dive into it

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    DelCoTrash
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

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

High-quality, in-depth international coverage with top guests.
Some criticism about intro production and perceived bias in a few episodes.
Many listeners praise the depth and practical policy insights.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#142
Italy/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#77
Switzerland/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#79
Saudi Arabia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#85
Hong Kong/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#87
Brazil/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#90
India/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

What Cuba's Doctors Reveal About U.S. Policy Toward Havana
Q: Can you explain how the visa-revocation tactic works in practice and which countries are most affected?
Officials from partner countries who negotiate contracts for Cuban doctors faced potential visa revocation, which led to many governments cutting back or ending their programs. Countries in the Caribbean and parts of Africa were notably affected as the tactic demonstrated the reach of US leverage over foreign staffing arrangements.
What Cuba's Doctors Reveal About U.S. Policy Toward Havana
Q: How has the Trump administration sought to impact and squeeze this medical missions program around the world?
The administration used coercive visa restrictions targeting officials involved in these programs to pressure countries to end or scale back participation. This approach aimed to disrupt the host countries' health programs and threaten their budgets, making it costly for governments to maintain Cuban doctors.
What Cuba's Doctors Reveal About U.S. Policy Toward Havana
Q: So your article profiles a few of the doctors on these missions. What are their stories and how do their experiences reflect the tensions between the US and Cuba today?
The doctors' stories show a spectrum from idealism to disillusionment. Some Medicine professionals loved the humanitarian aspect and the chance to serve while others departed or defected seeking better pay and personal freedom. The tension comes from the sense that their work sustains the regime as it faces economic pressure from the US, creating personal conflicts about loyalty, family, and the impact on health care in their home countries.
What Cuba's Doctors Reveal About U.S. Policy Toward Havana
Q: So, Sarah, you have a brilliant article in The Economist, a long-form piece about a Cuba doctor's program. What is the history of this program and why has Cuba been an exporter of medical expertise for so long?
The program originated from the revolutionary government's view that health care is a global human right. It grew into a humanitarian mission and then into a source of soft power and foreign currency, with a system that prioritized doctors out in communities and later began charging host countries on a sliding scale. Over decades, it became central to Cuba's economy and diplomatic strategy, even as it raised labor and ethical questions.
What are the "Causes of Peace" Today? | Live from the Aspen Security Forum with the International Crisis Group
Q: What are the big three themes of the report, and how might they apply to real-world situations today?
The three themes are deterrence with diplomacy, building coalitions of like-minded states, and reaffirming the UN's central role in civilian protection and humanitarian response; these are illustrated with examples from Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

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

This program provides in-depth conversations with policymakers, researchers, and practitioners on international affairs, development, and global governance. Episodes frequently tackle urgent global challenges—from HIV/AIDS funding, multilateral diplomacy, and UN processes to nuclear non-proliferation, climate risk, and humanitarian crises—with a balance of expert analysis and on-the-ground perspectives. The show often features subject-matter specialists, former officials, and academics, offering nuanced takes on long-term policy questions, governance reforms, and the geopolitics shaping world events. A notable strength is the guest diversity and the ability to connect technical issues to practical policy outcomes, making it a solid resource... more

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1. Foreign Policy Live
2. The Foreign Affairs Interview
3. The President’s Inbox
4. Ones and Tooze
5. Independent Thinking

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this podcast launched 14 years ago and published 1319 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 this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Vali Nasr
2. Sarah Esten Maslin
3. Charles Lichfield
4. Michael Hanna
5. Ginger Jacobs
6. Carl Skau
7. Nicholas Burns
8. María Fernanda Espinosa

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