Rephonic
Artwork for Small Islands Big Picture
Small Island Developing States
Climate Change
Citizenship By Investment
Daphne Caruana Galizia
Caribbean
Golden Visas
Climate Justice
Vanuatu
Bridgetown Initiative
Pacific Islands
Malta
European Union
SIDS
Reparatory Justice
Sargassum
USAID
ICJ Advisory Opinion
Ukraine
Sustainable Blue Economy
Ocean Conservation

Directors of ODI's Resilient and Sustainable Islands Initiative, Emily Wilkinson and Matt Bishop, cut to the heart of the political, economic, social and environmental challenges facing SIDS, and how their incredible people are responding to them. Every episode includes expert guests from the Caribbean, Pacific and elsewhere. To get in touch, visit odi.org/en/about/our-work/resilient-islan... more

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Artwork for Small Islands Big Picture

Latest Episodes

Small Island Developing States (SIDS) have long been recognised by the United Nations as a “special case” for sustainable development. This reflects the fact that small islands across the Caribbean, the Pacific, and the Indian Ocean and Atlantic regi... more

Small islands generally did far better during the pandemic than bigger (and often richer) countries with more complex health systems. In this episode, Emily and Matt ask: what have been the longer-term effects of Covid-19 more than five years on? Hav... more

In this episode, Emily, Matt and the other RESI Directors look back on everything that happened in the world of small islands during 2025, discussing hot topics, highlights and lowlights while looking forward to 2026 will bring. The team also discuss... more

From momentum against fossil fuels to fires breaking out on site, COP30 was anything but routine. Held just outside Brazil’s Amazon rainforest and framed as the ‘COP of implementation’, the talks delivered a mix of drama, hard-won progress, and unfin... more

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Recent Guests

Ilana Seed
Ambassador from Palau, AOSIS Chair
Palau / AOSIS
Episode: Defending the SIDS special case: what happened at the SIDS Future Forum 2026?
Tania Romualdo
Permanent Representative of Cabo Verde to the UN
Cabo Verde
Episode: Defending the SIDS special case: what happened at the SIDS Future Forum 2026?
Walton Webson
Permanent Representative of Antigua and Barbuda to the UN
Antigua and Barbuda
Episode: Defending the SIDS special case: what happened at the SIDS Future Forum 2026?
Nicholas Cox
Deputy Permanent Representative of Barbados to the UN
Barbados
Episode: Defending the SIDS special case: what happened at the SIDS Future Forum 2026?
Roannie Ng Shiu
Senior Research Fellow in the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland; Lancet Countdown SIDS Regional Centre lead
University of Auckland; Lancet Countdown, SIDS Regional Centre
Episode: Have health outcomes in small islands recovered a half-decade after the Covid-19 pandemic?
Aviane Auguste
Assistant Professor in Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health
McGill University
Episode: Have health outcomes in small islands recovered a half-decade after the Covid-19 pandemic?
Sivendra Michael
Permanent Secretary for Environment and Climate Change, Government of Fiji
Government of Fiji
Episode: Drama and decisions: was COP30 a win for Small Islands?
Carola Clark
Associate Professor at CNSPOL, Paris; climate diplomacy scholar
CNSPOL, Paris
Episode: Drama and decisions: was COP30 a win for Small Islands?
George Carter
Senior Fellow, Deputy Head of the Department of Pacific Affairs at ANU; High Chief for SALA in Samoa
Australian National University; SALA (Samoa)
Episode: Drama and decisions: was COP30 a win for Small Islands?

Hosts

Emily Wilkinson
Host of Small Islands Big Picture; senior researcher and RESI director at ODI
Matt Bishop
Host of Small Islands Big Picture; academic at University of Sheffield and RESI director

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 24 ratings
  • Putting SIDS first

    In a time when the international system is unstable, no longer predictable, it is evolving - we must not forget about the small, the islands. This podcast puts perspectives and voices of SIDS first.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    siaosi c
    Australia5 months ago
  • Brilliant podcast

    A truly informative podcast for anyone concerned with island worlds and the various predicaments islanders face in the contemporary moment

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LionPahDa
    United Kingdoma year ago

Listeners Say

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

Strong emphasis on regional collaboration and practical financing tools for resilience.
Guests include high-level diplomats and researchers, offering actionable takeaways for governance and finance.
Listeners appreciate being centered on SIDS perspectives and policy-relevant insights.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#233
France/Science/Nature
Apple Podcasts
#121
New Zealand/Science/Nature
Apple Podcasts
#163
Norway/Science/Nature
Apple Podcasts
#180
Ireland/Science/Nature

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Is AI a threat or an opportunity for small islands?
Q: How can AI help countries, especially smaller states, leapfrog traditional development pathways?
AI offers a path to diversify economies by moving from traditional sectors to knowledge-driven ones, enabling smarter tourism, finance, and agriculture; but success depends on governance, data quality, education, and thoughtful integration rather than a blanket adoption.
Narrating disaster: what’s it like to live through a hurricane or volcanic eruption?
Q: What can preparedness look like in practice beyond technical models?
Preparedness should integrate indigenous and community practices with formal DRR, recognizing local knowledge as data points that can inform adaptation plans and reduce trauma, rather than just a technical checklist.
What does the ICJ climate change decision mean for small islands?
Q: What practical impacts do you foresee for COP negotiations?
Negotiations are likely to reference the advisory opinion as a benchmark for NDC ambition, encourage integration of climate science with international law, and push high-emitting countries to justify actions toward 1.5°C, while possibly opening doors to discussions on compensation or support for loss and damage.
What does the ICJ climate change decision mean for small islands?
Q: Could you explain the most important takeaway of the ICJ advisory opinion for SIDS?
The core takeaway is the reinforced link between climate obligations and human rights, with the 1.5°C target serving as a clear benchmark, and a recognition that obligations extend beyond Paris Agreement commitments to other treaties, enabling stronger leverage for SIDS in negotiations and potential remedies.
How might the Bridgetown Initiative reshape the global financial architecture?
Q: What is the Bridgetown Initiative?
The Bridgetown Initiative is an agenda for reform of the international financial system established by Mia Motley with the goal of increasing climate financing for low-income and middle-income countries.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Small Islands Big Picture

What is Small Islands Big Picture about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show centers on Small Island Developing States (SIDS) governance, finance, resilience, and diplomacy, often through high-stakes discussions with ambassadors, policymakers, academics, and finance experts. Episodes frequently cover debt sustainability, ocean governance, knowledge economies, climate justice, and practical financing tools for resilience. A standout trait is the consistent focus on SIDS-specific priorities within broader global policy, with candid behind-the-scenes negotiation insights, real-world case studies, and a strong emphasis on regional collaboration. Listeners are likely to gain actionable context for policy, partnerships, and sponsorship alignment in the climate, development finance, and ocean resilience spaces.

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1. Today in Focus

How many episodes of Small Islands Big Picture are there?

Small Islands Big Picture launched 3 years ago and published 24 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 Small Islands Big Picture?

Recent guests on Small Islands Big Picture include:

1. Ilana Seed
2. Tania Romualdo
3. Walton Webson
4. Nicholas Cox
5. Roannie Ng Shiu
6. Aviane Auguste
7. Sivendra Michael
8. Carola Clark

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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