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Intelligence Squared

Intelligence Squared
Volodymyr Zelensky
Ukraine
Democracy
Supercommunicators
Russia
Climate Change
The Showman
Artificial Intelligence
Communication
Crimea
Donbas
Time Magazine
Clotilda
Transatlantic Slave Trade
Historical Perspectives
Political Theory
Political Science
Prague
Homo Sapiens
Imperial War Museum

Intelligence Squared is the home of lively debate and deep-dive discussion. Follow Intelligence Squared wherever you get your podcasts and enjoy four regular episodes per week taking you to the heart of the issues that matter in the company of the world’s great minds. We’d love to hear your feedback and what you think we should talk about next, who we should have on and what our future debates sho... more

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Latest Episodes

Demis Hassabis – CEO and co-founder of Google DeepMind – is one of the world’s most visionary technologists. A child chess prodigy from North London, Hassabis was awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for using artificial intelligence to predict ... more

Chemistry is everywhere. From cosmetics and the clothes we wear to life-saving medicines and kitchen experiments, chemical processes are all around us, defining our interactions with the world we live in.

In this episode, Professor Dame Ijeoma Ucheg... more

The Cambridge Five - Donald Maclean, Guy Burgess, Kim Philby, John Cairncross and Keeper of the Queen's Pictures Anthony Blunt - made up one of the most notorious spy rings of the 20th century. Besotted with communist ideology and radicalised while a... more

Our changing climate is accelerating conflict and migration, with the potential to drive political instability from the Sahel to Saudi Arabia to Siberia. From the water-stressed mountains of the Arabian Peninsula to the wildfires raging through Ameri... more

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Recent Guests

Catherine Ostler
Writer and historian, author of The Renoir Girls
Author
Episode: Who Are Renoir’s Mystery Girls? With Catherine Ostler
Josh Ireland
Historian and author of The Death of Trotsky
Historian
Episode: Stalin vs Trotsky: The Assassination That Changed History, with Josh Ireland
Ken Rideout
Endurance athlete, investor and author
Self-employed / Author
Episode: Can Discomfort Be the Key to a Better Life? With Ken Rideout
Dr. Lixing Sun
Distinguished Research Professor in Behaviour and Evolution
Central Washington University
Episode: How and Why did Sexual Reproduction Evolve on our Planet? With Dr Lixing Sun
Prue Leith
Dame Prue Leith, Bake Off judge and restaurateur
Leith School of Food and Wine; former Bake Off judge
Episode: Hungry for Life! An Evening with Prue Leith (Part One)
Brooke Newman
Author of The Crown's Silence, The Hidden History of Slavery and the British Monarchy
Virginia Commonwealth University (associate professor); Royal Society fellow
Episode: How deeply was the British Crown involved in the transatlantic slave trade? With author of The Crown’s Silence, Brooke Newman
David Tripp
Former director of Sotheby's coin, tapestry and musical instrument departments; leading numismatic expert
Sotheby's
Episode: The Specialist | The Coin Worth More Than Its Weight in Gold, with Selby Kiffer and David Tripp
Selby Kiffer
Sotheby's International Senior Specialist for Books and Manuscripts
Sotheby's
Episode: The Specialist | The Coin Worth More Than Its Weight in Gold, with Selby Kiffer and David Tripp
Liam Byrne
Labour MP, author of Why Populists Are Winning and How to Beat Them
House of Commons, UK
Episode: Why Are Populists Winning? With Liam Byrne and Will Hutton

Host

Mia Sorenti
Producer, Intelligence Squared

Reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars from 2.3k ratings
  • Afraid

    Intelligence squared always seemed a great place for debate until the

    Israeli genocide started. Then silence.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Lonnach123
    Ireland2 months ago
  • Prostate cancer - Intelligence Halved

    I listened to this 30 minute episode and know absolutely nothing more about prostate cancer than I did going in (which was very little). 30 minutes of vague generalities that could have applied to just about any disease or condition. You have three experts on, plus a moderator that presumably did some research - provide some actual details about the unique experiences of prostate cancer, symptoms, treatment, prognosis, typical course of the disease, etc.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    DigDug2222222
    United States5 months ago
  • Mostly painfully dumb

    So far came across ONE discussion that represented promise in the pod description.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    ETL.sybaritic
    United States6 months ago
  • Disappointing

    Some episodes are getting weaker. None more so than having Michael Gove on the show.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    FjH57
    United Kingdom6 months ago
  • Mediocre show

    It used to be wonderful, now just invites mediocre people who try to sell their books.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Cy19103
    United Kingdom7 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the rigorous debate and access to influential guests.
Quality of conversations varies; some episodes are praised for depth while others are criticized for pacing or focus.
Consensus that the show consistently attracts high-caliber guests and provides thoughtful analysis.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How and Why did Sexual Reproduction Evolve on our Planet? With Dr Lixing Sun
Q: What motivated you to write this book now at this particular time?
The author cites a gap since The Red Queen and the need for clearer, up-to-date science on sex and sexual development, plus contemporary debates about sex and gender that are full of misconceptions, making a comprehensive, evidence-based discussion timely.
How To Overcome Trauma, With Psychotherapist Dr Gwen Adshead (Part Two)
Q: There was a discussion about diagnoses being weaponized in some contexts. How do you balance using diagnostic language with avoiding limiting a patient's narrative?
Diagnosis should serve as a working hypothesis rather than a box; clinicians should focus on the person's lived experience, draw on strengths, and avoid letting labels constrain conversation or enforce rigid consequences, especially in legal settings.
How To Overcome Trauma, With Psychotherapist Dr Gwen Adshead (Part Two)
Q: You also mentioned there are multiple ways of engaging with trauma; could you touch on other methods beyond mindfulness and talk about when psychoanalysis or other approaches might be appropriate?
Different therapies share a core aim of inviting engagement with pain rather than avoidance; the choice of method depends on the person, their condition, and context, with options ranging from mindfulness and psychoanalysis to EMDR and creative therapies, each offering unique pathways to help people process trauma.
How To Overcome Trauma, With Psychotherapist Dr Gwen Adshead (Part Two)
Q: Gwen, you really beautifully brought together Shakespeare, Eliot and your own professional experience. Could you talk about how people might have dealt with trauma in different times and cultures without our modern psychotherapy?
The discussion suggests that while many cultures and epochs used talking, listening, and ritual as ways to cope, the spectrum of approaches—from confession and community support to formal psychotherapy—has expanded, with a common thread of not avoiding pain and finding a pace that fits the individual.
Should You Be Talking To AI? with Jamie Bartlett
Q: Do you think regulation should specifically address addictive design in AI companions and similar tools, as was recently discussed in other tech contexts?
Yes. There should be consideration of accountability for addictive or manipulative design in AI products, including the Eliza-like strategies that keep users engaged; early, proactive regulation could guide safer development.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Intelligence Squared

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

A fast-paced, idea-forward program that hosts high-profile journalists, economists, politicians, and authors to dissect global politics, economics, technology, and culture. Episodes frequently center on crisis leadership, geopolitics, financial markets, and the social implications of tech and science, often featuring intimate conversations with figures like former financiers, renowned correspondents, and noted authors. The show tends to mix rigorous analysis with personal narratives, aiming to reveal the human side of big-system issues. Listeners are likely drawn to well-argued debates, clarity on complex topics, and conversations with people who influence public discourse. A standout is its habit of pairing journalists or scholars with ind... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Intelligence Squared?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Intelligence Squared:

1. Open to Debate
2. Past Present Future
3. In Our Time
4. The LRB Podcast
5. More or Less

How many episodes of Intelligence Squared are there?

Intelligence Squared launched 13 years ago and published 1657 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?

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What guests have appeared on Intelligence Squared?

Recent guests on Intelligence Squared include:

1. Catherine Ostler
2. Josh Ireland
3. Ken Rideout
4. Dr. Lixing Sun
5. Prue Leith
6. Brooke Newman
7. David Tripp
8. Selby Kiffer

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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