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The Briefing

Monocle
Iran
Donald Trump
United States
Ukraine
Lebanon
Russia
China
European Union
Israel
Gaza
Venezuela
Greenland
Germany
Japan
France
NATO
World Economic Forum
World Government Summit
United Nations
Canada

A pacy round-up of the day’s main news stories, anchored from London by a Monocle editor. The show features informed reporting, prescient business analysis and invaluable industry reports covering everything from technology to aviation and retail to media.

PublishesDailyEpisodes134Founded15 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsDaily NewsNews

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Artwork for The Briefing

Latest Episodes

We discuss the latest global economic forecast and what it means for financial systems as the IMF warns of ‘resilience under strain’. Plus: commissioning contemporary art and the Paris Auto Show opens to the public.

See omnystudio.com/listener for p... more

Monocle and Hitachi Energy host a series of exclusive events in New Delhi featuring our editors and invited experts. Then: what’s getting everyone revved up at the Paris Motor Show? Plus: The CEO of Dubai Airports explains how the Gulf can make it th... more

We’re in Oslo as the Nobel Institute recognises the achievements of the former UN rights chief and ICJ judge who stood up against apartheid. Plus: Anthony Vaccarello leaves Saint Laurent.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We get the latest from our Gulf correspondent as explosions hit the Saudi capital. Then: Italy prime minister Giorgia Meloni secures final approval for electoral overhaul. And: the latest on protests in Paris.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Paulo Velasco
CineTutu founder
CineTutu
Episode: South African Navanethem ‘Navi’ Pillay wins the Nobel Peace Prize
Anne Hidalgo
Former Mayor of Paris
Episode: South African Navanethem ‘Navi’ Pillay wins the Nobel Peace Prize
Sally Capp
Former Lord Mayor of Melbourne
Episode: South African Navanethem ‘Navi’ Pillay wins the Nobel Peace Prize
Am y Casman
Financial Times Rome correspondent
Financial Times
Episode: Houthis claim Riyadh attacks and Italy approves controversial electoral-reform law
Nathan Rich
Creative professional from Peterson Rich Office, design/architecture expert
Peterson Rich Office
Episode: Mail-in or early voting? How to get votes in ahead of the US midterm elections
Jesper Brodin
Chair of the Earthshot Prize
Earthshot Prize
Episode: Mail-in or early voting? How to get votes in ahead of the US midterm elections
Gilles Rosier
Éternel Parisien founder
Éternel Parisien
Episode: France’s day of demonstration
Bernard Khoury
Lebanese architect and founder of DW5, spoke about Beirut architecture
DW5
Episode: Spain calls a snap election and Brazil heads to a runoff
Christiana Figueres
Former executive secretary of the UNFCCC
Former UNFCCC
Episode: Spain calls a snap election and Brazil heads to a runoff

Hosts

Thomas Waterhouse
Host of The Briefing
Chris Cermak
Host of The Briefing; Studio host

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 498 ratings
  • Great show, corny music countdown

    I love this show — a unique survey across many topics, just like Monocle. As much as I also love Fernando Augusto Pacheco, the global countdown features some of the corniest, least interesting music on earth. It can be fun and interesting occasionally but most of the time it’s full of poorly recycled pop (of late it’s been local takes on the “reggaeton beat + robot vocal” thing that every country now has their own version of). Can we do better on the music, guys?

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    ryan_ryan
    United States3 months ago
  • Excellent

    Excellent reporting and journalism. Enjoy the hosts sense of humor. I am a big fan of everything Monocle !

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    PepoPepa69
    United Statesa year ago
  • What BBC radio 4 should be

    Monocle entertains, educates and provides inspiration in a Reithian mix of content. Something that Lord Reith’s own BBC now fails to do.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Our boy Ged
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • Smug and Boring

    Yawn

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    lolololol 12334
    United States2 years ago
  • Disappointed

    I have adored Monocle for years, however I have found its neutral, almost pro-Zionist coverage of the genocide in Gaza incredibly disappointing. I listen to The Briefing every morning and feel frustrated most days. I thought Monocle stood for more and wanted to see the world a better place.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Clickalick
    Australia2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Essential part of my morning routine, great source of daily news.
I love the magazine and the hosts, great daily briefing with insightful guests.
Very well produced, love the presenter and his voice, funny at times, like channel four news if it was a podcast and a longer version of The Economist's Intelligence podcast.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#116
Canada/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#190
United Kingdom/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#179
Australia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#211
France/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#238
Italy/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#31
Chile/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

South African Navanethem ‘Navi’ Pillay wins the Nobel Peace Prize
Q: What does the Nobel Committee's choice suggest about the role of international law in current geopolitics?
The guest explained that Pillay's work reflects a long-standing commitment to international law and human rights, signaling that despite political tensions, the framework of international justice remains a critical reference point for global governance.
Spain calls a snap election and Brazil heads to a runoff
Q: How might Lula reposition ahead of the runoff against Bolsonaro?
Lula is expected to try to woo centrist and center-right voters, though the center's political space is shrinking, complicating any broad reorientation.
Spain calls a snap election and Brazil heads to a runoff
Q: What is driving Pedro Sánchez to call a snap election now?
The housing protests, especially the eviction of an elderly pensioner, have crystallized public discontent and provided Sánchez with a left-leaning issue to mobilize voters, even as he fights to gather parliamentary support.
Does the UN still have teeth? Plus: Monocle’s October style issue
Q: What has kept the UN relevant in an era of powerful unilateral leaders and shifting alliances?
Historical milestones and ongoing missions, like peacekeeping and treaties, show the UN's value when member states invest in it and uphold its norms, though credibility hinges on broad consensus and consistent commitment.
‘Greatness or obliteration’: Can the UNGA help Iran and the US secure a deal?
Q: What broader regional dynamics are influencing the talks?
The involvement of GCC leaders and regional actors like Jordan, Turkey, and others indicates a broader push for regional alignment and stability, even as the US and Iran remain at odds.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Briefing

What is The Briefing about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A brisk, global-coverage briefing that threads international diplomacy, geopolitics, energy markets, and macro-economic trends with cultural and design-conscious interludes. Episodes frequently examine multilateral diplomacy, Arctic and energy security, European politics, and major electoral contests, often pairing fast-paced news rundowns with on-the-ground reporting and expert analysis. A standout is the way guests from policy, business, and culture are woven into a single narrative, offering both rigorous context and broad interest, making it useful for listeners who want a grounded, world-facing view of today's headlines and long-term trends.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Briefing?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Briefing. 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 The Briefing and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Briefing get?

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What are the audience demographics for The Briefing?

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How many subscribers and views does The Briefing have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Briefing 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 The Briefing?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Briefing:

1. The Monocle Daily
2. The Globalist
3. Monocle on Sunday
4. The Foreign Desk
5. The Urbanist

How many episodes of The Briefing are there?

The Briefing launched 15 years ago and published 134 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 The Briefing?

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 The Briefing?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Briefing from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Briefing. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on The Briefing?

Recent guests on The Briefing include:

1. Paulo Velasco
2. Anne Hidalgo
3. Sally Capp
4. Am y Casman
5. Nathan Rich
6. Jesper Brodin
7. Gilles Rosier
8. Bernard Khoury

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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