Global Dispatches -- World News That Matters

Global Dispatches

United Nations

United States

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Donald Trump

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Russia

Ukraine

Sudan

Humanitarian Aid

Climate Change

Trump Administration

Syria

Iran

Israel

Humanitarian Crisis

UNRWA

Nuclear Weapons

Rapid Support Forces

International Crisis Group

Venezuela

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

749 ratings

Publishes	Twice weekly	Episodes	1291	Founded	13 years ago
Number of Listeners		Categories	NewsPoliticsNews Commentary

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Latest Episodes

What is the Future of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty?

The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty is the "glue" that holds the entire global nuclear security architecture together — but is it fraying?

I spent much of last month at the United Nations covering the review conference of the Nuclear Non-Prolifera... more

28 May 2026 • 34 min

How to Prevent Global Catastrophic Risks | Stefan Löfven and Jens Orback

Today's episode is produced in partnership with the Global Challenges Foundation. The foundation is dedicated to raising awareness of global catastrophic risks and strengthening global governance to address them. The Global Challenges Foundation's 20... more

26 May 2026 • 27 min

Stopping Ebola Requires Multilateralism. America's Retreat Is Making That Harder | To Save Us From Hell

An Ebola outbreak is spiraling in the Democratic Republic of the Congo — and one of the clearest lessons from past outbreaks is that Ebola requires multilateralism: countries working together through existing institutions like the United Nations and ... more

21 May 2026 • 37 min

A Surprise Attack in Mali Puts the Government -- and Russia -- on the Defensive

In late April, an unlikely alliance of Islamist militants and separatists from the Tuareg ethnic group launched a series of surprise attacks against government forces in Mali. They attacked the capital, Bamako; killed Mali's defense minister; and eve... more

18 May 2026 • 32 min

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Recent Guests

Norman Sempijja

Associate professor with focus on international relations, conflicts, and peacekeeping (UN/EU)

Mohammed VI Polytechnic University

Episode: A Surprise Attack in Mali Puts the Government -- and Russia -- on the Defensive

Romana Kofler

Program Management Officer

United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs

Episode: How to Prevent an Asteroid Impact | Global Catastrophic Risks

Anja Olin-Pape

Head of Programs

Global Challenges Foundation

Episode: How to Prevent an Asteroid Impact | Global Catastrophic Risks

Dallia Mohamed

Sudan analyst

Episode: How the Iran War Is Making Sudan's Civil War Even Worse

Tony Payan

Executive Director of the Claudio X. González Center for the US and Mexico at Rice University's Baker Institute; professor and author on U.S.–Mexico relations

Claudio X. González Center for the US and Mexico, Baker Institute at Rice University

Episode: Introducing: "Houston At Large" -- A New Podcast About How America's Fourth Largest City Impacts the World

Anand Gopal

Author of Days of Love and Rage

Episode: A Brilliant New Book Tells The Extraordinary Story Of Ordinary Syrians In The Civil War

Kelsey Davenport

Director for Non-Proliferation Policy at the Arms Control Association

Arms Control Association

Episode: The High Stakes of a Major UN Meeting on Nuclear Weapons

Kate Philipps-Barrasso

Vice President for Policy and Advocacy at Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps

Episode: How the Iran War Is Already Fueling a Global Food Crisis

Kyle Lascurettes

Professor at Lewis & Clark College

Lewis & Clark College

Episode: Can International Institutions Survive Democratic Backsliding? Live from Lewis & Clark College

Hosts

Mark Leon Goldberg

Host with a long-running emphasis on international affairs; frequent guest and lead interviewer on global security, diplomacy, and UN-related topics.

Anjali Dayal

Co-host of a dual-issue program; associate professor of international politics with expertise in global governance and policy analysis.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 749 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

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Listeners Say

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

The show is praised for bringing practitioners and academics together to dissect complex global issues.

Some listeners mention intro production quirks but view content quality as consistently strong and informative.

Many reviews highlight the show's usefulness for professionals and students aiming to deepen their understanding of international affairs.

Listeners appreciate the depth and breadth of guest expertise and the thoughtful, issue-focused dialogue.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts	#246	United States/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts	#78	Canada/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts	#106	United Kingdom/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts	#250	United Kingdom/News
Apple Podcasts	#130	Australia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts	#149	Germany/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How the Iran War Is Making Sudan's Civil War Even Worse

Q: Can I just have you kind of sketch for viewers and for listeners where things stand in terms of the conflict today?

The conflict is effectively partitioned, with the RSF controlling Darfur and the SAF holding much of the east, but the country remains unstable, with ongoing fighting and a fragile humanitarian situation. The violence is interwoven with proxy and regional dynamics, and there's no credible peace process in sight.

A Brilliant New Book Tells The Extraordinary Story Of Ordinary Syrians In The Civil War

Q: What lessons from Manbij might apply to other contexts, such as Iran, in terms of protest movements and governance under pressure?

Protesters had to learn to rely on themselves, build constituencies, and translate rhetoric about freedom into tangible material protections like jobs, housing, and justice; external intervention can disrupt these processes, so local self-organization becomes crucial.

A Brilliant New Book Tells The Extraordinary Story Of Ordinary Syrians In The Civil War

Q: What happened after the regime withdrew from Manbij, and how did the democratic experiment unfold in real time?

After the regime withdrew in July 2012, the revolutionary council took over and attempted to govern basic services, education, and press freedom, leading to a period of democratic experimentation despite ongoing war and economic strain.

A Brilliant New Book Tells The Extraordinary Story Of Ordinary Syrians In The Civil War

Q: How did the Syrian Civil War come to Manbij, and what was the initial social fabric like before the upheaval?

The protests began in 2011, spreading from Daraa to Manbij; early participation was small and the city had a pluralistic society with Arab majorities but sizable Kurdish and Circassian minorities, blended by a tradition of secular civic life.

Introducing: "Houston At Large" -- A New Podcast About How America's Fourth Largest City Impacts the World

Q: How do current events like the Iran conflict and global supply chain disruptions affect Houston and Texas energy ties with Mexico?

Energy prices and supply chains are more volatile in the near term, but Texas benefits from high-quality oil and active cross-border trade; the broader impact includes inflationary pressures for consumers and opportunities for energy companies depending on market dynamics.

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?

A deep-dive international affairs show that hosts policymakers, journalists, and specialists to unpack global developments, security issues, development, and diplomacy. Recent episodes highlight AI governance and arms control, Middle East and Africa conflicts, UN diplomacy, and US foreign policy, often featuring practitioners with on-the-ground experience or academic insights. The show is likely to appeal to listeners who want nuanced, long-form analysis from practitioners and researchers, with a track record of high-caliber guests and rigorous discussion. A standout strength is its ability to connect global trends to concrete policy implications, offering historical context and forward-looking perspectives that aren't always present in mai... more

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1. Foreign Policy Live
2. Hold Your Fire!
3. The Foreign Affairs Interview
4. The President’s Inbox
5. Mark Leonard's World in 30 Minutes

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 13 years ago and published 1291 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. Norman Sempijja
2. Romana Kofler
3. Anja Olin-Pape
4. Dallia Mohamed
5. Tony Payan
6. Anand Gopal
7. Kelsey Davenport
8. Kate Philipps-Barrasso

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