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Open to Debate

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

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes477Founded20 years ago
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Latest Episodes

What shapes us more: our DNA or the way we’re raised? The “nature” camp points to genetic research and studies of twins raised apart, arguing that traits from personality to abilities are strongly influenced by inherited biology, limiting how much pa... more

A century after Henry Ford helped popularize the five-day, 40-hour week, could working 32 hours be next? Supporters say shorter weeks can improve well-being without sacrificing productivity, especially as AI would make workers more efficient. Others ... more

Capitalism has long been credited with driving innovation and prosperity, yet many Americans increasingly believe the system is no longer working for them. Is the problem capitalism itself or the policies surrounding it? In this debate, an entreprene... more

The dangers of climate change are “no longer over the horizon.” Humanity may soon pass the “point of no return.” These are the phrases U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres used to describe what he called an “utterly inadequate” global response to ... more

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Recent Guests

Robert Plomin
Professor of Behavioral Genetics, King's College London
King's College London
Episode: Is Parenting Overrated? (Encore)
Nancy Segal
Professor of Psychology, Director of the Twin Studies Center
California State University Fullerton
Episode: Is Parenting Overrated? (Encore)
Paige Harden
Professor of Psychology, University of Texas; Twins researcher
University of Texas at Austin
Episode: Is Parenting Overrated? (Encore)
Ann Pleshette Murphy
Author and parenting expert; ABC Good Morning America contributor
ABC; Author
Episode: Is Parenting Overrated? (Encore)
Andrew Solomon
Columbia University Medical Center lecturer; author
Columbia University
Episode: Is Parenting Overrated? (Encore)
Leandra Ram
Opera singer; donor-conceived individual discussing 23andMe impact
Episode: Is Parenting Overrated? (Encore)
Lonnie Golden
Professor of economics and labor at Penn State, Abington
Penn State Abington
Episode: Is America Ready for a Four-Day Work Week?
Tim Parady
Future of work correspondent at Business Insider
Business Insider
Episode: Is America Ready for a Four-Day Work Week?
Nick Hanauer
Entrepreneur, investor, thinker who made billions under capitalism
Civic Ventures
Episode: Is Capitalism Broken?

Host

John Donvan
Host of Open to Debate

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 2.8k ratings
  • Great show but…

    Enough with the reruns. There should be many engaging topics to discuss that can help you avoid posting the same debate twice within a year.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    consumer1156
    United States3 months ago
  • Intellectually stimulating & well organized and moderated...!

    Intellectually stimulating & well organized and moderated...!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Shel Lynn
    United States6 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 States9 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 States10 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 Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Audience appreciation for nuanced, data-driven arguments from multiple perspectives.
Critiques include calls for more diverse viewpoints and live formats.
Overall, impressions highlight thoughtful discussions and high-quality guests.
Listeners praise civil discourse and strong moderation.
Some reviews note topic repetition and debate format changes.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Is Parenting Overrated? (Encore)
Q: Are IQ, income, educational attainment, religious preference, and other traits determined by DNA?
They are not deterministic; DNA influences probability and predisposition, but environment and experiences shape how traits express themselves, with varying degrees of heritability across traits.
Can Humans Adapt to Climate Change? (Encore)
Q: Given that it's all very uncertain, how do we go about making a decision whether or not we're going to spend on this problem?
The panelists discuss balancing costs and benefits, comparing mitigation investments that yield long-term returns with adaptation that provides immediate protection, and considering policy tools like carbon taxes vs. adaptation investments.
Who Is Winning the Iran War: Tehran or Trump?
Q: How do you define victory in a war where the regime remained in power and the strategic aims were not fully realized?
Suzanne argues that true victory requires a lasting change in regime behavior and strategic outcomes, which she says the war did not achieve; Matthew counters that strategic gains, such as degraded Iran's nuclear program and increased U.S. deterrence, constitute a form of victory.
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.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Open to Debate

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

Open to Debate is a structured, moderator-led forum that brings diverse, well-informed voices to contested topics across politics, science, technology, and culture. Episodes typically feature two to four debaters presenting data-driven arguments, with live crossfire, audience questions, and live voting or polling to surface shifts in perception. The show emphasizes civil discourse, rigorous reasoning, and a broad, sometimes provocative range of perspectives—from elections reform and constitutional rights to bioethics, foreign policy, and cultural heritage. A standout is its habit of pairing specialists with varying viewpoints to illuminate trade-offs and foster nuanced understanding, making it useful for listeners who want clarity on comple... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Open to Debate?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Open to Debate:

1. Intelligence Squared
2. The Gray Area with Sean Illing
3. Making Sense with Sam Harris
4. The Ezra Klein Show
5. Freakonomics Radio

How many episodes of Open to Debate are there?

Open to Debate launched 20 years ago and published 477 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?

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What guests have appeared on Open to Debate?

Recent guests on Open to Debate include:

1. Robert Plomin
2. Nancy Segal
3. Paige Harden
4. Ann Pleshette Murphy
5. Andrew Solomon
6. Leandra Ram
7. Lonnie Golden
8. Tim Parady

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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