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Intelligence Squared

Intelligence Squared
Artificial Intelligence
Russia
Donald Trump
Mental Health
Climate Change
China
Ukraine
United States
Afghanistan
Clean Water
Philosophy
Wateraid
Sotheby's
Democracy
World War II
Iran
Populism
United Kingdom
Iranian Revolution
American Democracy

Ideas shape the world. Intelligence Squared brings you the conversations that explain them. In every episode, we bring together leading thinkers, writers, scientists, policymakers and entrepreneurs, to challenge assumptions, test ideas and debate the questions shaping our future. If you want to think more clearly about the world and where it's heading, you're in the right place. If you’d like to s... more

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Latest Episodes

Francis Fukuyama is one of the most influential political thinkers of our time. His famous 1989 essay, The End of History? – written as the Berlin Wall fell and communism collapsed – posed a provocative idea: that Western liberal democracy had triump... more

Francis Fukuyama is one of the most influential political thinkers of our time. His famous 1989 essay, The End of History? – written as the Berlin Wall fell and communism collapsed – posed a provocative idea: that Western liberal democracy had triump... more

When the MeToo movement ignited in 2017, many believed it would be a turning point for women after which positive change would become inevitable. And for a brief time, it felt like the world was finally listening to women’s voices.

But in 2026, that... more

When the MeToo movement ignited in 2017, many believed it would be a turning point for women after which positive change would become inevitable. And for a brief time, it felt like the world was finally listening to women’s voices.

But in 2026, that... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Ed Conway
Economics and data editor at Sky News; author of Trade World
Sky News
Episode: How Trade Shapes Our World, With Ed Conway
Marlon James
Booker Prize-winning author
Episode: NYT’s Novel of the Century? Marlon James on The Disappearers
David Olusoga
Historian and writer
Award-winning historian
Episode: The Secret History in Our DNA: Adam Rutherford Meets David Olusoga (Part One)
Adam Rutherford
Science broadcaster and author
University College London (Professor of Genetics and Society)
Episode: The Secret History in Our DNA: Adam Rutherford Meets David Olusoga (Part One)
Jill Lepore
Harvard historian and New Yorker staff writer
Harvard University
Episode: Can Democracy Survive the Age of AI? With Jill Lepore
Tom Overton
Writer, editor, and researcher; curator of John Berger archive at the British Library
British Library (archive project)
Episode: What John Berger Saw That We Still Don’t, with Tom Overton
Jared Cooney Horvath
Neuroscientist, educator, bestselling author of The Digital Delusion
The Digital Delusion / author
Episode: Is Tech Making Our Kids Less Capable? With Dr Jared Cooney Horvath
Charlotte Higgins
Chief culture writer at The Guardian
The Guardian
Episode: Is Ukraine’s Culture Worth Fighting For? With Charlotte Higgins
Sathnam Sanghera
Author and journalist, author of Tonight the Music Seems So Loud
Author
Episode: How George Michael Changed Music Forever, with Sathnam Sanghera (Part One)

Host

Mia Sorrenti
Host and producer, appears across Intelligence Squared events and episodes

Reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars from 2.3k ratings
  • “Hotels with History”: the wet lettuce leaf of podcasts … Is it really even a podcast?

    What the heck? How can such a potentially interesting topic with a great narrator, Mr Grant, be such a wet limp thing. Aggrandising trivialities and never really getting into the heart of anything. Just run an ad … honestly. Not just a waste of effort, this is worse; giving “ick” on these hotels I used to enjoy. And now Raffles is also dead to me … uggh. Why are these Hotels With History podcast episodes so bad? Well done, chaps

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Charlotte Burgman
    United States3 months ago
  • UFO Misinformation

    The latest UFO episode was garbage! 👎🏻

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    PawdKast
    United States4 months ago
  • Consistently Exceptional

    I listen to many and varied podcasts. Intelligence2 is consistently exceptional, nuanced, well researched, thought through and….witty!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Palafoxiana
    United States4 months ago
  • Great, with one « but »

    One issue: the journalist Adam talks way too much. His questions are too long and convoluted. Would really replace him. I find that he takes away from the guests and makes the podcast difficult to listen to.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    UmbBra
    Switzerland5 months ago
  • Afraid

    Intelligence squared always seemed a great place for debate until the

    Israeli genocide started. Then silence.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Lonnach123
    Ireland7 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listener frustration with short-form non-subscriber clips and paywalls.
High-quality guests and analyses keep this show valuable for listeners who want depth and nuance.
Consistently exceptional and thoughtfully researched debates are a hallmark.

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 John Berger Saw That We Still Don’t, with Tom Overton
Q: What was he like as a person?
Overton describes Berger as intensely focused and telegenic, with a powerful, penetrating gaze that could make people feel seen; he was passionate and persistent in his intellectual commitments, yet capable of warmth and generosity toward others.
The Secret History in Our DNA: Adam Rutherford Meets David Olusoga (Part One)
Q: How has the pace of genetic discovery changed since the Human Genome Project?
Advances have accelerated dramatically, turning genetics from a descriptive science into a dynamic source of historical data, capable of revising established narratives with direct evidence from ancient DNA and genome sequencing.
NYT’s Novel of the Century? Marlon James on The Disappearers
Q: How did Jamaica's AIDS crisis influence the novel's development?
James describes erasure and fear around AIDS and how the event shaped public attitudes, personal relationships, and the characters' coping mechanisms.
NYT’s Novel of the Century? Marlon James on The Disappearers
Q: What was the role of the play Havlock curates in the book?
Havlock uses a gay prison play to push against stereotypes and to confront the risks and possibilities of art as a form of political and personal expression.
Is Tech Making Our Kids Less Capable? With Dr Jared Cooney Horvath
Q: What practical advice does Horvath offer to parents and teachers?
Encourage analog approaches at home (printing worksheets, using hard copies), consider opt-out options for non-essential tech in classrooms, and focus on building deep knowledge and metacognitive strategies that help students bring expertise to tools like AI.

Audience Metrics

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

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Gender Skew
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Age Range
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Frequently Asked Questions About Intelligence Squared

What is Intelligence Squared about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful, idea-driven interview series that brings together writers, journalists, policymakers, and thought leaders to explore culture, politics, science, and society. Episodes frequently center on memory, history, and the dynamics of power, with deep dives into books, current events, and major global topics. Notable strengths include challenging conversations with high-profile guests, live event formats, and a willingness to tackle complex ethical issues, AI, journalism, and democracy. The show often blends personal storytelling with rigorous analysis, making it appealing to listeners who enjoy nuanced debate and cross-disciplinary perspectives.

Where can I find podcast stats for Intelligence Squared?

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How many listeners does Intelligence Squared get?

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How many subscribers and views does Intelligence Squared have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Intelligence Squared 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 Intelligence Squared?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Intelligence Squared:

1. Empire: World History
2. More or Less
3. In Our Time
4. Past Present Future
5. The Audio Long Read

How many episodes of Intelligence Squared are there?

Intelligence Squared launched 13 years ago and published 1748 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 Intelligence Squared?

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 Intelligence Squared?

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What guests have appeared on Intelligence Squared?

Recent guests on Intelligence Squared include:

1. Ed Conway
2. Marlon James
3. David Olusoga
4. Adam Rutherford
5. Jill Lepore
6. Tom Overton
7. Jared Cooney Horvath
8. Charlotte Higgins

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.

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