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The Foreign Desk

Monocle
Ukraine
Donald Trump
Russia
United States
NATO
Iran
Israel
European Union
China
Syria
Hezbollah
Bashar Al-Assad
Turkey
Hamas
Gaza
Lebanon
Middle East
Immigration
Australia
Greenland

​Presented by ​Andrew Mueller, Monocle’s flagship global-affairs show features​ expert guests ​and in-depth analysis of the big issues of the week. Nominated for ‘Best Current Affairs’ show and the ‘Spotlight Award’ in the 2022 British Podcast Awards.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes103Founded13 years ago
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NewsPoliticsNews Commentary

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Latest Episodes

Mexico has made a promising start on the pitch but what other victories is the nation eyeing up? Andrew Mueller is joined by former ambassador to the US Arturo Sarukhán, among others.

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While Fifa faces reports of unsold tickets, one seat at France’s World Cup matches is being deliberately left empty. But why?

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Live from the Black Sea Security Forum, we hear from Ukrainian MPs on the country’s future and the state of warfare. As Ukraine fights on, it has shifted from needing aid to providing new intelligence.

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Ivanka Trump has revealed extensive plans to redevelop Albanian island Sazan into a luxury resort. But after thousands gathered in protest, will it go ahead?

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Recent Guests

Vladislav Davydov
Political analyst, author of From Odessa with Love, former editor-in-chief of The Odessa Review
Independent analyst (Odessa)
Episode: Lessons from Odesa: the changing landscape of war
Salomé Zourabichvili
Fifth President of Georgia
Georgia (as president)
Episode: Lessons from Odesa: the changing landscape of war
Mamuka Mamoulashvili
Founder and commander of the Georgian Legion
Georgian Legion, Ukrainian Army
Episode: Lessons from Odesa: the changing landscape of war
Ruben Gallego
U.S. Senator from Arizona
United States Senate
Episode: Lessons from Odesa: the changing landscape of war
Ojazvi Jalal
Founder of Cauldron
Cauldron
Episode: Upping the ante: How prediction markets are shaking geopolitics
Sahil Desai
Senior Editor at The Atlantic
The Atlantic
Episode: Upping the ante: How prediction markets are shaking geopolitics
John Aristotle Phillips
Founder and CEO of PredictIt, political data analytics entrepreneur
Aristotle / PredictIt
Episode: Upping the ante: How prediction markets are shaking geopolitics
Alex von Tunzelmann
Historian, screenwriter, author of Red Heat, Conspiracy, Murder, and the Cold War in the Caribbean
Author/Historian
Episode: The Cuban man-made crisis: will the US’s maximum-pressure campaign topple Havana’s government?
Liz Oliver Fernandez
Havana-based journalist and filmmaker for Belly of the Beast
Belly of the Beast (Cuba)
Episode: The Cuban man-made crisis: will the US’s maximum-pressure campaign topple Havana’s government?

Host

Andrew Mueller
Host of The Foreign Desk, with Monocle. Known for dry humor and in-depth international coverage.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 870 ratings
  • Weekly dose of reality

    Excellent listen, every week, pretty much without fail. Feels like an oasis of calm, reasoned analysis in a very uncertain world...

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    big paddy la
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • Excellent satire

    Andrew is natural.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    andrewb1001
    United Kingdom5 months ago
  • What does Latina Burke say?

    Nothing sensible. She’s a fascist

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    BradyDaSilveira
    Australia5 months ago
  • Intersting but not exactly unbiased

    A very interesting approach and informative .But some of the language used didn’t seem unbiased .Is this meant to be his Personal opinion with no attempt at a non biased journalistic Approach?

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    veganman1961
    United Kingdom10 months ago
  • It’s my go-to

    Very much enjoy the foreign desk, it’s my go to for long journeys in the car, of which there are many. Top level guests, a refreshing and enlightened slant with just the perfect dash of charisma. Love it. Thanks guys keep it up x

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RJHumphries
    United Kingdoma year ago

Listeners Say

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

Very informative with excellent range of international topics and guests.
The host weaves analysis with interview rigor; a standout in global affairs.
Some listeners feel the coverage shows a bias, but the depth is strong and informative.
Insightful, witty, and well sourced with high-profile guests.
A reliable go-to for deep dives on geopolitics and policy.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#92
Canada/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#198
United Kingdom/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#86
Italy/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#150
Australia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#24
Indonesia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#30
United Arab Emirates/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Lessons from Odesa: the changing landscape of war
Q: What are the practical implications of Western support or lack thereof for Ukraine on the ground?
The guest described reliance on Patriot-like systems and emphasized the need for sustained, tangible military and political backing to deter aggression and support front-line resilience.
Lessons from Odesa: the changing landscape of war
Q: I began by asking Senator Gallego why it had been important for him to make the trip to Odessa.
He emphasized the symbolic nature of Ukraine's sovereignty for global freedom and argued that backing Ukraine reflects a commitment to democratic values and the rule of international norms.
Upping the ante: How prediction markets are shaking geopolitics
Q: What are the main risks or concerns about insider trading or manipulation?
Risks include insiders trading on non-public information and the potential for manipulative bets; however, in many platforms there are safeguards like position limits and identity verification to mitigate abuse.
Upping the ante: How prediction markets are shaking geopolitics
Q: Why might prediction markets be more accurate than polling or focus groups?
Markets incentivize participants to reveal true beliefs through financial stakes, and the price dynamics adjust with new information faster than traditional polling, offering a real-time barometer of probabilities.
Upping the ante: How prediction markets are shaking geopolitics
Q: John, first of all, introduce PredictIt to our listeners. What does it actually do and how does it work?
PredictIt is a prediction market structured like a stock market for politics and other events, where people buy and sell $1 winner-take-all contracts based on whether an event will occur. Prices reflect collective odds as traders' beliefs change, giving real-time insight into likely outcomes.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Foreign Desk

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

Global affairs discussion with a lean toward deep-dive geopolitics, policy, and international security. Regularly features on-the-ground reporting, high-level policymakers, and seasoned analysts to unpack wars, alliances, and strategic shifts, with a mix of explainer-style segments and longer interviews. Notable strengths include a dry, witty host voice and a track record of high-profile guests, spanning U.S. and European policymakers, regional leaders, and experts on drones, election dynamics, and transatlantic diplomacy. This show often centers on how regional conflicts, great-power competition, and middle-power diplomacy reshape global security and economic policy, making it a strong fit for listeners who want rigorous context and varied... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Foreign Desk?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Foreign Desk:

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

How many episodes of The Foreign Desk are there?

The Foreign Desk launched 13 years ago and published 103 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 The Foreign Desk?

Recent guests on The Foreign Desk include:

1. Vladislav Davydov
2. Salomé Zourabichvili
3. Mamuka Mamoulashvili
4. Ruben Gallego
5. Ojazvi Jalal
6. Sahil Desai
7. John Aristotle Phillips
8. Alex von Tunzelmann

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