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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
Climate Change
Public Health
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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes457Founded19 years ago
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Latest Episodes

Artificial intelligence has ignited one of the most spectacular surges of investment, hype, and technological promise, but some worry that the enthusiasm is resembling a bubble, with valuations racing ahead of fundamentals and enormous compute and en... more

Even with a fragile ceasefire in place between the U.S., Israel, and Iran, we wanted to revisit this prescient debate from last fall. In the past few weeks of war, autonomous systems, AI-driven targeting, and drones were heavily used by both sides le... more

At some point, we all ask: “Is this what I’m meant to do?” In this "Think Twice" episode, social scientist Arthur C. Brooks joins Open to Debate's CEO Lia Matthow to explore why meaning feels harder to find. Drawing on research from his book "The Mea... more

Sports fans can place bets on their favorite teams and athletes faster and easier than before, thanks to legalized sports gambling. But was it the wrong bet to make? Advocates say it’s been good for fans, the economy, and the sports industry.  Those ... more

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Recent Guests

Sebastian Malaby
Tech author with a new AI-focused book
MarketWatch / The Infinity Machine Demis Sabis, Deep Mind and the Quest for Superintelligence
Episode: Will the AI Bubble Burst?
Laura Walker McDonald
Senior Advisor for New Technologies and Conflict, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
ICRC
Episode: Wartime Kill Decisions: Human or AI?
Michael Horowitz
Senior Fellow for Technology and Innovation, CFR; former DoD; Director, Perry World House
Council on Foreign Relations
Episode: Wartime Kill Decisions: Human or AI?
Elliot Ackerman
Former Marine, CIA officer; author
Independent/Author
Episode: Wartime Kill Decisions: Human or AI?
Jack Shanahan
Lieutenant General; inaugural director, Joint Artificial Intelligence Center; Senior Fellow at CNA
Joint AI Center / Center for a New American Security
Episode: Wartime Kill Decisions: Human or AI?
Arthur C. Brooks
Author of The Meaning of Life, Finding Purpose in the Age of Emptiness; behavioral scientist
Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard Business School; former AEI president
Episode: Think Twice About The Meaning of Your Life with Arthur C. Brooks
Sonia Lubomirski
Happiness researcher and psychology professor
University of California, Riverside
Episode: Think Twice About The Meaning of Your Life with Arthur C. Brooks
Matthew Kroosman
Pastor and Yale Center for Faith and Culture lecturer
Yale Divinity School
Episode: Think Twice About The Meaning of Your Life with Arthur C. Brooks
Julia Pogachevsky
Senior Health Reporter for Business Insider
Business Insider
Episode: Think Twice About The Meaning of Your Life with Arthur C. Brooks

Host

John Donvan
Host of Open to Debate

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 Statesa month 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 States5 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 States5 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 States8 months ago
  • The Absolute Best

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    khooks1
    United States8 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the structured and respectful debates that illuminate complex issues.
Overall, the podcast is recognized for its mission to foster civil discourse in a divided political landscape.
There are criticisms regarding perceived biases in guest selections and the overall balance of viewpoints.
Many find the content intellectually stimulating, highlighting the diversity of perspectives presented.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Will the AI Bubble Burst?
Q: Christine G. asks about layoffs in big tech and whether AI is driving productivity enough to offset job losses, and what policy responses might look like.
The panelists acknowledge displacement is likely but argue for robust social safety nets and government role to cushion transitions, while also noting AI can create new productivity and growth avenues that may offset some job losses in the long term.
Will the AI Bubble Burst?
Q: Sebastian Malaby asks whether a bubble can exist when hyperscalers have ample revenue streams so they can weather a downturn, and whether the bubble label applies to huge capital investments by giants.
The debaters discuss that the capital stack matters less for solvency of large firms but more for return expectations; some argue big incumbents can weather downturns, while others warn that if AI payoffs don't materialize, investor expectations could collapse, affecting equity value.
Think Twice About The Meaning of Your Life with Arthur C. Brooks
Q: What is the difference between having meaning and having a sense of meaning?
Meaning is a deep, overarching sense that one's life matters, while a sense of meaning can be a present, evolving feeling that one is finding or seeking it, with both grounded in coherence, purpose, and significance.
Will AI Make Work Obsolete?
Q: What should students do to prepare for AI-driven changes in the job market?
Be flexible, develop critical thinking, and pursue adaptable skills; coding is less of a guaranteed path and more emphasis should be on versatile problem-solving and learning how to learn.
Smart Girl Dumb Questions: Will the Market Crash in 2026? With Andrew Ross Sorkin
Q: What is the financial innovation that we're seeing now?
One of the things that's happening right now is after the Genius Act, which was passed earlier this year, there's a whole new move to basically make private equity investments and venture capital investments and private credit available to the public.

Audience Metrics

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

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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?

This podcast focuses on fostering civil discourse around contentious issues, bringing together diverse perspectives for structured and respectful debates. It covers a wide array of topics including politics, technology, culture, and global affairs, aiming to provide a platform for expert analysis and good-faith arguments. The format encourages listeners to engage critically while appreciating the nuances of varying opinions, striving towards a more balanced public dialogue. Notably, it seeks to counteract the polarization prevalent in contemporary discourse and has evolved from its previous iteration as a debate series into a platform emphasizing understanding and respect in debates.

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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. KCRW's Left, Right & Center
4. The Ezra Klein Show
5. Interesting Times with Ross Douthat

How many episodes of Open to Debate are there?

Open to Debate launched 19 years ago and published 457 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. Sebastian Malaby
2. Laura Walker McDonald
3. Michael Horowitz
4. Elliot Ackerman
5. Jack Shanahan
6. Arthur C. Brooks
7. Sonia Lubomirski
8. Matthew Kroosman

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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