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Iran
Gaza
Israel
United States
Hamas
Donald Trump
Russia
Ukraine
Sudan
Venezuela
Hezbollah
International Crisis Group
Middle East
Crisis Group
China
Haiti
NATO
Trump Administration
Turkey
Democratic Republic Of Congo

Join Crisis Group's Executive Vice President Richard Atwood as he dives deep into the conflicts that rage around the globe with Crisis Group analysts and special guests. These experts bring a unique, on-the-ground perspective to understanding both why those conflicts persist — and what could bring them to an end.

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Artwork for Hold Your Fire!

Latest Episodes

In this episode of Hold Your Fire!, Richard speaks with Crisis Group’s India expert Praveen Donthi about escalating ethnic violence in Manipur and militancy in India-administered Kashmir. They first discuss Manipur, where fighting between the Kuki-Zo... more

In this episode of Hold Your Fire!, Richard is joined by Ali Wyne, Crisis Group’s Senior Research and Advocacy Adviser for U.S.-China and Senior Northeast Asia Analyst William Yang, to discuss U.S. President Donald Trump’s summit with Chinese Preside... more

In this episode of Hold Your Fire!, Richard is joined by Olga Oliker, Crisis Group’s European Security director, to discuss the latest developments in Ukraine, more than four years into full-scale war with Russia. They talk about the mood in Kyiv, re... more

In this episode of Hold Your Fire!, Richard is joined by Crisis Group’s deputy Sahel director Ibrahim Yahaya Ibrahim to discuss a major wave of coordinated attacks by the al-Qaeda affiliated Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) and Tuareg rebe... more

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Recent Guests

William Yang
Crisis Group's Northeast Asia Senior Analyst
International Crisis Group
Episode: The Trump-Xi Summit: What Happened in Beijing?
Ali Wyne
Senior Advisor on U.S.-China relations
International Crisis Group
Episode: The Trump-Xi Summit: What Happened in Beijing?
Ibrahim Yahaya Ibrahim
Crisis Group's Deputy Sahel Director
International Crisis Group
Episode: Jihadist and Separatist Rebels Gain Ground in Mali
Heiko Wimmen
Lebanon, Syria and Iraq director at Crisis Group
International Crisis Group
Episode: Lebanon’s Uneasy Truce
Ali Vaez
Crisis Group's Iran director and senior advisor to the president
Crisis Group
Episode: What Hope for the U.S.-Iran Talks in Islamabad?
Yasmine Farouk
Crisis Group's Gulf and Arabian Peninsula Director
Crisis Group
Episode: What Hope for the U.S.-Iran Talks in Islamabad?
Shewit Woldemichael
Crisis Group Sudan expert
Crisis Group
Episode: After Three Years of War in Sudan, What Hope for a Ceasefire?
Alan Boswell
Crisis Group Horn of Africa Director
Crisis Group
Episode: After Three Years of War in Sudan, What Hope for a Ceasefire?
David Wood
Lebanon expert at Crisis Group
International Crisis Group
Episode: Escalation or off-Ramp in the Gulf? And What Hope for a Ceasefire in Lebanon?

Host

Richard Atwood
Host of Hold Your Fire; Crisis Group executive voice guiding discussions across conflicts and peace processes

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 363 ratings
  • Stay informed

    Always informative and easy to listen to. Gives different perspectives on what is happening on the ground.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    FrenchHeather
    France3 months ago
  • Great

    I find the ICG podcasts incredibly interesting, informative and insightful.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Cloudbreak2020
    Australia3 months ago
  • Telling it straight

    Thank you for your sincerity and deep knowledge of complex situations worldwide

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    stilllearningtoo
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • Excellent and quite balanced analysis of some of the worlds most pressing conflicts.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Heinz
    a year ago
  • Great substance

    Hold Your Fire! is my favorite podcast for substantive insight on conflict and peacebuilding. I find the variety of topics nicely curated and sufficiently diverse to provide one with a good basis of understanding of key conflict dynamics taking place across the globe. The insight offered by Crisis Group analysts is concise, nuanced, balanced, and digestible. My only wish is that they offered more episodes, but perfection takes time, and there are always the Crisis Group’s sister podcasts, The Ho... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    dbalke23
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Balanced, substantive analysis of complex conflicts
Clear, insightful geopolitics discussion with strong guest lineups
High-quality, in-depth conversations with Crisis Group analysts

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

What Hope for the U.S.-Iran Talks in Islamabad?
Q: What are the two top issues the US is likely to prioritize in the next phase of diplomacy?
The nuclear file, especially the whereabouts of highly enriched uranium, and the Strait of Hormuz and freedom of navigation, with other issues receding temporarily in importance.
After Three Years of War in Sudan, What Hope for a Ceasefire?
Q: What would a broader peace deal look like, and what are the main sticking points between SAF and RSF?
Both sides seek security guarantees and influence over future political and security structures; the SAF demands disarmament and withdrawal of the RSF from urban areas, while the RSF pushes for security sector reform and a new national army; external backers and Islamist faction dynamics remain major complicating factors.
After Three Years of War in Sudan, What Hope for a Ceasefire?
Q: Is the Quad diplomacy ongoing, and can it realistically push a ceasefire given the preconditions reportedly held by both sides?
The Quad diplomacy continues at a functional level, with a humanitarian truce proposal being circulated, but high-level pressure to secure meaningful concessions from Burhan and the RSF remains lacking, making a durable ceasefire unlikely without broader regional consensus.
Operation Epic Folly? Trump’s and Netanyahu’s War on Iran
Q: And what do you make of all these mixed messages around what was an enormously consequential decision to go to war?
The episode suggests that the goals are varied and not fully unified across the administration, with Trump signaling regime change at times but lacking a cohesive, publicly explained plan for how to end the conflict.
Special Episode: Regime Change or Regional War? U.S. and Israel Kill Iran’s Supreme Leader
Q: Ali, what does the four-layer succession look like, and how might that shape the interim leadership if the Supreme Leader is removed?
Vaez explains that a three-member interim council would take over briefly, while the Assembly of Experts would later select a formal successor, a process that could stabilize or further complicate governance depending on the crisis's duration.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Hold Your Fire!

What is Hold Your Fire! about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A analytically rigorous geopolitical program that features Crisis Group analysts and regional experts unpacking conflicts worldwide, from wars and ceasefires to governance, diplomacy, and regional power dynamics. Episodes center on how on-the-ground realities intersect with strategic diplomacy, sanctions, and mediation efforts, with a focus on nuanced, non-optimistic assessments of what it takes to achieve peace. A standout pattern is a steady cadence of deep dives with subject-matter authorities across Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and Asia, often tying local developments to broader international implications. The show's strengths include clear, balanced discussions, access to a broad network of crisis-informed guests, and practical tak... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Hold Your Fire!?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Hold Your Fire!:

1. The Horn
2. Middle East Focus
3. Foreign Policy Live
4. The Foreign Affairs Interview
5. War & Peace

How many episodes of Hold Your Fire! are there?

Hold Your Fire! launched 6 years ago and published 229 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 Hold Your Fire!?

Recent guests on Hold Your Fire! include:

1. William Yang
2. Ali Wyne
3. Ibrahim Yahaya Ibrahim
4. Heiko Wimmen
5. Ali Vaez
6. Yasmine Farouk
7. Shewit Woldemichael
8. Alan Boswell

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