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Open to Debate

Open to Debate
Donald Trump
China
Israel
United States
Mental Health
Artificial Intelligence
Tiktok
Republican Party
Free Speech
Democratic Party
Iran
Democracy
Public Health
Climate Change
First Amendment
Russia
Hamas
Joe Biden
Feminism
Ukraine

America is more divided than ever—but it doesn’t have to be. Open to Debate offers an antidote to the chaos. We bring multiple perspectives together for real, nonpartisan debates. Debates that are structured, respectful, clever, provocative, and driven by the facts. Open to Debate is on a mission to restore balance to the public square through expert moderation, good-faith arguments, and reasoned ... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes462Founded19 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsSociety & Culture

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Latest Episodes

These days, it can feel like raising kids has become a minefield. Somewhere along the way, older generations started looking at younger generations and asking, “Are the parents alright?” In this episode of “Generational Divides", Reason editor-at-lar... more

Global powers are increasingly shaping markets and taking equity positions in strategic industries. But recently, Washington’s role in the economy has expanded, with stakes in companies like Intel, different from its traditionally hands-off approach.... more

Modern science has given us the ability to edit our genes, life-saving vaccines, and glimpse the origins of the universe. But is the same system holding itself back? Critics argue that the pressure to publish and fierce competition for funding reward... more

For centuries, museums in Europe and the U.S. built their collections during eras of empire and unequal power. Now, institutions face growing calls to return artifacts taken through colonial rule or war, from the Benin Bronzes to Indigenous objects. ... more

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Recent Guests

Laura Taylor-Kale
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy
U.S. Department of Defense
Episode: Government as Shareholder: Proactive Competitive Strategy or Last Resort?
Richard Falkenrath
Former counter-terrorism official and CFR fellow
Center for a New American Security / CFR
Episode: Government as Shareholder: Proactive Competitive Strategy or Last Resort?
Bob Pozen
Former Fidelity Investments president; MIT Sloan/Brookings expert
MIT Sloan School of Management; Brookings Institution
Episode: Government as Shareholder: Proactive Competitive Strategy or Last Resort?
Yasheng Huang
Professor at MIT Sloan; author and analyst
MIT Sloan
Episode: Government as Shareholder: Proactive Competitive Strategy or Last Resort?
Elizabeth Marlowe
Professor of Art and Director of the Museum Studies Program, Colgate University
Colgate University
Episode: Should Museums Repatriate Cultural Artifacts?
Graham Bolley
Investigative reporter who covers the world of culture
The New York Times
Episode: Should Museums Repatriate Cultural Artifacts?
Chika Okeke-Agulu
Artist and curator; professor of art, archaeology and African American studies at Princeton; director of Princeton's Africa World Initiative
Princeton University
Episode: Should Museums Repatriate Cultural Artifacts?
Leila Amineddoleh
Art and cultural heritage lawyer
Law firm (unspecified)
Episode: Should Museums Repatriate Cultural Artifacts?
Dominic Selwood
Historian, barrister, and author
Independent historian; author on British Museum project
Episode: Should Museums Repatriate Cultural Artifacts?

Host

John Donvan
Host of Open to Debate with a long-running role moderating and guiding discussions across topics.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 2.8k ratings
  • Intellectually stimulating & well organized and moderated...!

    Intellectually stimulating & well organized and moderated...!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Shel Lynn
    United States3 months ago
  • The most valuable podcast in America

    John Donvan is extraordinary as a moderator. The guaranteed thing we will takeaway when well qualified debaters take each other on in a respectful manner is just how nuanced and complex the issues are. Something our political climate would never admit.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    dklc
    United States6 months ago
  • You couldn’t find a better boomer than Joe Nocera??

    As a 73 year old, I’ve heard a lot of quibbling, interrupting, know-it-all curmudgeons. Put Nocera in a rocking chair on the porch to yell at passersby, but please, no more debates.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    No props 4 neurotic rich..
    United States7 months ago
  • Open to Debate = Liberals and Leftists vs. Liberal Republicans

    I have listened to this for years and rarely is there a true conservative on here. Most times I see a conservative, it’s one of the “I’m a conservative, BUT obviously I hate Trump and he’s a horrible human being and I vote Democrat now.”

    John Donovan is pretty fair but he and his OTD team don’t seem to understand everyday GOP voters—they bring in the limousine, Ivy League elitist GOP-ers to debate. Like or hate Trump, his views are held by a majority of the right half of the country today and ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    ConstitutionalConservativeVet
    United States9 months ago
  • The Absolute Best

    The civil discourse and timely topics give me life! Thank you!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    khooks1
    United States9 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate diverse guests and data-driven questions, though some wish for broader ideological representation.
Some critics describe perceived bias or format fatigue in long-running debates.
Audience praise for civil discourse and rigorous moderation.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Government as Shareholder: Proactive Competitive Strategy or Last Resort?
Q: What about governance concerns, such as the golden chair and potential conflicts of interest?
Guardrails, transparency, and clear institutional design are essential to mitigate conflicts of interest while preserving the ability to influence strategically important firms.
Government as Shareholder: Proactive Competitive Strategy or Last Resort?
Q: How do you assess the efficiency and effectiveness of government intervention elsewhere in Europe in particular?
In some places independent agencies with strong governance perform better; in others, government-led efforts are less efficient, so accountability and design matter a lot.
Is the Scientific Enterprise Too Risk-Averse?
Q: Dimari asks who is responsible for risk aversion in the system and what can be done to change it.
Kate and Brandon point to the ecological and structural factors—tenure norms, funding priorities, and institutional cultures—and advocate for more multidisciplinarity, independent science organizations, and programs that empower researchers to pursue high-risk ideas without being pigeonholed by funding agendas.
Is the Scientific Enterprise Too Risk-Averse?
Q: Leon asks about the social and existential risks of certain types of research and the role of democracy in managing them.
Kate Biberdorf emphasizes that democracy provides checks and balances and that risk management should involve transparent communication about both potential risks and benefits, while science must continue to pursue ambitious goals with public understanding and consent.
Should We Separate the Art from the Artist?
Q: What role should museums play in this debate, when deciding what to display?
Aruna argues museums bear moral responsibilities and should not simply reward or excuse harmful behavior; she emphasizes that displaying certain works without critical context risks endorsing the artist's behavior.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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Age Range
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Frequently Asked Questions About Open to Debate

What is Open to Debate about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Open to Debate features structured, civil, multi-perspective debates on science, technology, policy, and culture. Episodes commonly pair experts from academia, journalism, policy, and industry to explore timely topics such as AI, gene editing, ethics in technology, and societal impact. Moderation is a core strength, with a focus on clear argumentation, audience questions, and a balanced exchange of ideas. The show often surfaces nuanced views, contests ideas across sides, and maintains a nonpartisan, evidence-driven tone. Noteworthy is its broad roster of high-profile guests and its willingness to tackle controversial subjects with rigor and civility, making it a strong fit for listeners who want thoughtful debate without partisan rancor.

Where can I find podcast stats for Open to Debate?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Open to Debate. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Open to Debate and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Open to Debate get?

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What are the audience demographics for Open to Debate?

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How many subscribers and views does Open to Debate have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Open to Debate 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 Open to Debate?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Open to Debate:

1. Intelligence Squared
2. Freakonomics Radio
3. The Ezra Klein Show
4. Making Sense with Sam Harris
5. Interesting Times with Ross Douthat

How many episodes of Open to Debate are there?

Open to Debate launched 19 years ago and published 462 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 Open to Debate?

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 Open to Debate?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Open to Debate from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Open to Debate?

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What guests have appeared on Open to Debate?

Recent guests on Open to Debate include:

1. Laura Taylor-Kale
2. Richard Falkenrath
3. Bob Pozen
4. Yasheng Huang
5. Elizabeth Marlowe
6. Graham Bolley
7. Chika Okeke-Agulu
8. Leila Amineddoleh

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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