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Mark Leonard's World in 30 Minutes

ECFR
European Union
Ukraine
China
United States
Russia
Donald Trump
NATO
Iran
Gaza
Israel
Germany
Poland
European Council On Foreign Relations
Trump Administration
France
Middle East
Taiwan
Tariffs
Hamas
Europe

Weekly podcast on the events, policies and ideas that will shape the world.World in 30 minutes is curated by Mark Leonard, Director of the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), and features top-level speakers from across the EU and beyond to debate and discuss Europe’s role in the world. It was awarded “Best podcasts on EU politics” by PolicyLab in 2019.Member of the EuroPod network.

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PublishesWeeklyEpisodes658Founded17 years ago
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Artwork for Mark Leonard's World in 30 Minutes

Latest Episodes

In late September, 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal was evicted from the Madrid flat she had lived in for seven decades, sparking nationwide protests over Spain’s housing crisis. Pedro Sánchez’s government responded with two emergency housing decrees w... more

In September 2025, Binyamin Netanyahu told Israelis their country was in “a sort of isolation” and would need to become a “super-Sparta”: its economy would have “autarkic characteristics” and its arms industry would be able to produce what it needs. ... more

This week Mark Leonard welcomes Aslı Aydıntaşbaş, associate senior policy fellow at ECFR and a fellow at the Center on the United States and Europe at the Brookings Institution in Washington, to discuss a recent policy brief for ECFR, authored alongs... more

This week, Mark Leonard is joined by Jana Kobzova, co-director of ECFR’s European Security programme, to discuss the mounting pressures facing Ukraine as it enters another wartime winter. Despite Ukraine’s success in disrupting Russian logistics and ... more

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Recent Guests

Beth Oppenheim
Policy fellow in ECFR's Middle East and North Africa program
ECFR
Episode: The ideas of Israel
Ariel David
Researcher focusing on religious Zionism and Mizrahi identity
Hebrew University
Episode: The ideas of Israel
Neri Zilber
Journalist and analyst covering Israel for the Financial Times; hosts the Israel Policy Pod
Financial Times; Israel Policy Forum
Episode: The ideas of Israel
Aslı Aydıntaşbaş
Associate Senior Policy Fellow at ECFR; Fellow at Brookings Institution, Washington
ECFR; Brookings Institution
Episode: Turkey’s place in Europe
Cary Fowler
Founder and President of the Food Security Leadership Council; father of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault
Food Security Leadership Council / ECFR
Episode: The geopolitics of global hunger
Jim O'Brien
Distinguished visiting fellow at ECFR; former US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs
ECFR / U.S. Department of State
Episode: The geopolitics of global hunger
Hugh Lovatt
Senior policy fellow at ECFR
European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR)
Episode: Can a Ceasefire Survive Israel’s Election?
Jana Puglierin
Head of ECFR's office in Berlin and senior policy fellow at ECFR
ECFR
Episode: Political crisis in Germany
Jörg Lau
International correspondent for Die Zeit
Die Zeit
Episode: Political crisis in Germany

Host

Mark Leonard
Host of World in 30 Minutes; Director of ECFR

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 611 ratings
  • How did The World in 30 Minutes become Surviving Chaos

    I have seen people like Ross Barkan shamelessly plug their books on Substack and others like John Ganz pitch theirs more subtly. But Mark Leonard has commandeered his own podcast to turn it (at least in recent episodes) into a sales platform for his latest book. It has affected his choice of guests as well because it then becomes a backdoor for amping up his book sales. There are references to his book throughout the conversations with his guests. As to the quality of the discussions on question... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    sidneyhart
    United States4 months ago
  • Super smart and useful

    Always interesting and deep. Good job Jeremy this week! I am a fan

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    yvesTT
    Canadaa year ago
  • Gladden Pappin interview

    Another excellent podcast in your terrific summer series on right wing politics. The guests have been very well chosen and have provided really informative perspectives. I’m not sure why Mark‘s questions all had echoes while Pappin’s didn’t but that’s a minor quibble. Everything was clear and understandable. I look forward to further podcasts on the subject of the right, whether in the summer series or not.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Tom4362
    United Statesa year ago
  • An absolute must

    Brilliant podcast on the challenges of classical liberalism from the right

    - great intro by Mark Leonard & Ivan Krastev on the current situation, where liberalism is currently under pressure from a conceptual view point and the need to hear the perspective from the non-liberal conservative side

    - great, very civil exchanges with conservative thinkers who are able to explain where they are coming from and fully articulate their cases in a way which leaves room for the audience to make up their mi... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Antoine_K&K
    Francea year ago
  • Excellent discussion!

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Ceesked
    a year ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise the show for thoughtful, high-level policy discussions and well-chosen guests.
Audience appreciates European-centric geopolitical analysis presented concisely, with bookshelf recommendations valued by many.
Audio quality and host interview technique are frequent points of feedback, with some episodes criticized for sound issues.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#89
Poland/News
Apple Podcasts
#181
Spain/News
Apple Podcasts
#201
Sweden/News
Apple Podcasts
#235
Denmark/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The ideas of Israel
Q: Beth, what are the kind of big ideas of Israel that define national identity and politics at the moment?
Beth outlines four main camps—liberal Zionists, nationalists, ultra-orthodox, and religious nationalists—arguing that illiberal and ethno-nationalist forces have become mainstream, reshaping democracy and security debates.
Turkey’s place in Europe
Q: What practical steps does 'managed interdependence' imply for EU-Turkey relations?
It means moving away from forcing alignment and instead pursuing selective, issue-based cooperation—especially in defense, defense industrial ties, and a modernized economic relationship—while engaging on human rights and democratic backsliding in a calibrated way.
The geopolitics of global hunger
Q: Can you explain the trends which you mentioned in the commentary and how they're converging to create this situation?
Cary Fowler outlines that global hunger is driven by already high levels of food insecurity, rising stunting in children, climate-related agricultural stress, and geopolitical shocks like the Ukraine war and strategic chokepoints. He emphasizes the need for a coordinated, multi-year response including climate-adaptive farming, targeted funding, and resumed export flows to prevent a crisis.
Emergency Room: The AfD’s victory in Saxony-Anhalt
Q: Could a ban on the AfD be a viable solution?
Experts argued that while a ban has historical precedent in Germany, it remains politically controversial, legally complex, and may not resolve the underlying support for the party, potentially driving support underground or radicalizing voters further.
Emergency Room: The AfD’s victory in Saxony-Anhalt
Q: What are the possible coalitions for the AfD if they govern or influence governance?
Possible coalitions include aligning with the CDU, forming a minority government with abstentions, or cooperating with the small Wagenknecht party, each option carrying different political risks and implications for Merz's leadership.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Mark Leonard's World in 30 Minutes

What is Mark Leonard's World in 30 Minutes about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Across episodes, expect high-level geopolitical analysis, with a focus on European policy, global power dynamics, and the evolving role of Europe on the world stage. Conversations frequently center on foreign policy, security, regional diplomacy, and how big-global trends—like US-China relations, NATO, and regional alignments—shape Europe's choices. Notable strengths include access to ECFR experts and seasoned policymakers, plus a clear emphasis on pragmatic, policy-oriented discussion. Potential listeners who enjoy concise, idea-forward briefings with smart guests from think tanks, government, and academia will likely find it valuable, especially those tracking Europe's stance in global affairs. A recurring plus is a bookshelf or reading l... more

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1. Brussels Playbook Podcast
2. The Foreign Affairs Interview
3. The Rachman Review
4. Foreign Policy Live
5. Hold Your Fire!

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Mark Leonard's World in 30 Minutes launched 17 years ago and published 658 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 Mark Leonard's World in 30 Minutes?

Recent guests on Mark Leonard's World in 30 Minutes include:

1. Beth Oppenheim
2. Ariel David
3. Neri Zilber
4. Aslı Aydıntaşbaş
5. Cary Fowler
6. Jim O'Brien
7. Hugh Lovatt
8. Jana Puglierin

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