Rephonic
Artwork for Need to Know

Need to Know

Wilson Center
United States
China
Ukraine
Middle East
Pakistan
Russia
Indo-Pacific
Refugees
Israel
Wilson Center
Japan
Populism
Us-China Agricultural Cooperation
Asylum Seekers
North Korea
Imran Khan
U.S. Economy
Myanmar
Tariffs
Liberal Democratic Party

The Need To Know podcast is a production of the Office of Congressional Relations at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. Each episode we will bring our nonpartisan research to life through interviews with experts and practitioners covering the world. Our goal is to bring the best independent research, open dialogue and actionable ideas to congressional staff, policy makers, and a... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes144Founded7 years ago
Category
News

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Need to Know

Latest Episodes

NOTE: This interview was recorded before the 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar and Thailand on Friday, March 28. Please see the statement from our guest, Lucas Myers, which follows the episode description below.In this episode of Need to Know, ... more

YouTube

NOTE: This episode of Need to Know was recorded March 12, 2025... 2 days before Mark Carney was sworn in as prime minister.

In this episode of Need to Know, Xavier Delgado, Senior Program Associate for the Wilson Center's Canada Program, joins us to... more

YouTube

In this episode of Need to Know, Robin Quinville, Director of the Wilson Center’s Global Europe Program, joins host John Milewski to break down Germany’s recent elections, the rise of the far right, economic challenges, and the evolving US-EU relatio... more

YouTube

In this episode of Need to Know, host John Milewski speaks with Benjamin Gedan, Director of the Wilson Center's Latin America Program, about the geopolitical and economic significance of the Panama Canal. They explore the immediate and potential futu... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Lucas Myers
Senior Associate for Southeast Asia with the Wilson Center's Indo-Pacific Program
Wilson Center
Episode: Myanmar’s Junta and the 2026 Elections: A Fig Leaf for Legitimacy?
Kellee Wicker
Director of the Wilson Center Science and Technology Innovation Program
Wilson Center
Episode: Is the US Losing the AI Race?
Merissa Khurma
Director of the Middle East Program at the Wilson Center
Wilson Center
Episode: From Headlines to Trendlines: US Policy and the Future of the Middle East
Dr. Rebecca Pincus
Director of the Wilson Center's Polar Institute
Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
Episode: Navigating the Arctic: The Ice Pact and the Future of Icebreakers
Robin Quinville
Director of the Wilson Center's Global Europe Program
Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
Episode: Populism in Europe: Far-Right Movements and EU Challenges
Oge Onubogu
Director of the Wilson Center’s Africa Program
Wilson Center
Episode: China-Africa Relations: Threat to US Interests?
Robert Daly
Director of the Kissinger Institute on China and the United States
Kissinger Institute
Episode: China-Africa Relations: Threat to US Interests?
Dr. Karen Mancl
Professor of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering and Water Quality Specialist
Ohio State University
Episode: US-China Agricultural Cooperation: A Deep Dive
Mark Kennedy
Director of the Wahba Institute for Strategic Competition and former member of Congress from Minnesota.
Wahba Institute for Strategic Competition
Episode: Enhancing US Global Competitiveness: Insights from the G7 Summit

Host

John Milewski
Host with a strong background in international relations, focusing on delivering expert discussions related to global political issues and trends.

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 20 ratings
  • Perfectly titled

    Clearly, this is the best most informative pod cast out there. I really enjoy listening to this podcast because it does such a great job breaking down information that we really do need to know. This is how current events and worlds matters should be presented. So thank you.

    - life time subscriber

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    drmcarroll
    United States6 years ago
  • Very informative!!

    I love that this podcast is just enough information to bring you up to speed on a situation or issue without being too long or bogging you down. The perfect thing to listen to in order to be informed about international affairs! Love it!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    congstaffer
    United States6 years ago
  • The Wilson Center

    The Wilson Center is a well respected, non-partisan center for independent research. I can’t say enough about the quality and non-partisanship of their work. Thank you!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Rtobsfuovaqtjk
    United States7 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the podcast for its informative content and the ability to break down complex international issues into understandable insights.
The nonpartisan approach of the discussions is praised, allowing for a balanced view of current global affairs.
Many find it a reliable source for staying up to date with significant political events and their global implications.

Top News Podcasts

The Daily
The DailyThe New York Times
Pod Save America
Pod Save AmericaPod Save America
The MeidasTouch Podcast
The MeidasTouch PodcastMeidasTouch Network
The Tucker Carlson Show
The Tucker Carlson ShowTucker Carlson Network
The Ben Shapiro Show
The Ben Shapiro ShowThe Daily Wire
Pivot
PivotNew York Magazine

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Myanmar’s Junta and the 2026 Elections: A Fig Leaf for Legitimacy?
Q: How reliable is the information that we're receiving about Myanmar?
While there are challenges due to the conflict, many reports of human rights violations have corroborating witnesses and credible sources.
Myanmar’s Junta and the 2026 Elections: A Fig Leaf for Legitimacy?
Q: What are your thoughts on the military junta's announced elections in Myanmar?
The elections would likely be fraudulent without any genuine intention of legitimacy from the military junta.
Canada’s New Leader: Mark Carney Steps In Amid US Tensions
Q: How serious is all these talks about Canada becoming the 51st state?
Canadians are uncertain about Trump's seriousness regarding Canada, with recent polls indicating a shift in public sentiment toward viewing the US as an adversary.
Canada’s New Leader: Mark Carney Steps In Amid US Tensions
Q: What will be immediate priorities for the prime minister?
Addressing the new trade relationship with the United States will be Carney's main priority, compounded by concerns from the former prime minister's administration.
Canada’s New Leader: Mark Carney Steps In Amid US Tensions
Q: Could he be a short-term PM?
The Canadian electoral system allows for potential early elections, and Carney, lacking a parliamentary seat, may need to secure a mandate soon.

Audience Metrics

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

Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Need to Know

What is Need to Know about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Focused on delivering insightful analysis and expert commentary, this podcast covers a wide array of international issues and political developments. Topics frequently discussed include U.S. foreign policy, relations with various countries, and pressing global challenges such as human rights abuses, trade relations, and geopolitical dynamics involving major powers like China and Russia. The program is likely to appeal to listeners interested in understanding the complexities of international affairs and the implications of current events on global stability and policy, featuring interviews with subject matter experts from think tanks and research institutions.

Notably, the approach taken is nonpartisan, allowing a balanced exploration of s... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Need to Know?

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

How many listeners does Need to Know get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Need to Know, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Need to Know?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Need to Know, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Need to Know have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Need to Know 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 Need to Know?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Need to Know:

1. The Foreign Affairs Interview
2. Real Time with Bill Maher
3. Throughline

How many episodes of Need to Know are there?

Need to Know launched 7 years ago and published 144 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 Need to Know?

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 Need to Know?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Need to Know from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Need to Know?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Need to Know. 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 Need to Know?

Recent guests on Need to Know include:

1. Lucas Myers
2. Kellee Wicker
3. Merissa Khurma
4. Dr. Rebecca Pincus
5. Robin Quinville
6. Oge Onubogu
7. Robert Daly
8. Dr. Karen Mancl

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days