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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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes474Founded20 years ago
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Latest Episodes

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

Near-death experiences have long challenged our understanding of consciousness and mortality. Some who come close to death report leaving their bodies, encountering vivid visions, or feeling profound peace. Are these experiences evidence that conscio... more

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The midterms are coming up this fall, and right now we are in the middle of a contentious primary season, with a lot of new faces challenging incumbents—and many winning. It’s in this context that we revisit our debate from 2022: Are Primary Election... more

As America celebrates 250 years since the Declaration of Independence, the legacy of the Founders is under renewed scrutiny. Were they visionary architects of liberty whose achievements and creations should be celebrated, or has reverence for them sa... more

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Recent Guests

Kaveh Madani
Head of the Research Program, United Nations University (appearing in personal capacity)
United Nations University
Episode: Can Humans Adapt to Climate Change? (Encore)
Michele Wucker
Economic policy expert and founder, Gray Rhino & Company
Gray Rhino & Company
Episode: Can Humans Adapt to Climate Change? (Encore)
Matthew Kahn
Provost Professor of Economics and Spatial Sciences, USC
University of Southern California
Episode: Can Humans Adapt to Climate Change? (Encore)
Bjorn Lomborg
President of Copenhagen Consensus Center and author of False Alarm
Copenhagen Consensus Center
Episode: Can Humans Adapt to Climate Change? (Encore)
Eben Alexander
Academic neurosurgeon, former Harvard Medical School faculty, author of Proof of Heaven
Harvard Medical School (former) / Author
Episode: Is Death Final? (Encore)
Raymond Moody
Founder of near-death experience field, author of Life After Life
University-affiliated researcher
Episode: Is Death Final? (Encore)
Sean Carroll
Physicist at Caltech, author of The Particle at the End of the Universe
California Institute of Technology
Episode: Is Death Final? (Encore)
Steven Novella
Neurologist at Yale, host of Skeptics' Guide to the Universe
Yale School of Medicine
Episode: Is Death Final? (Encore)
Elaine Kamarck
Debater, expert on elections and governance
Brookings Institution; Harvard Kennedy School
Episode: Are Primary Elections Ruining Democracy? (Encore)

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 States9 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.

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.
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.

Audience Metrics

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

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Gender Skew
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Professions
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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 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. Freakonomics Radio
2. Hidden Brain
3. Science Friday
4. Interesting Times with Ross Douthat
5. On Point with Meghna Chakrabarti

How many episodes of Open to Debate are there?

Open to Debate launched 20 years ago and published 474 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 Open to Debate?

Recent guests on Open to Debate include:

1. Kaveh Madani
2. Michele Wucker
3. Matthew Kahn
4. Bjorn Lomborg
5. Eben Alexander
6. Raymond Moody
7. Sean Carroll
8. Steven Novella

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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