Rephonic
Artwork for SoftPower/FulStories

SoftPower/FulStories

Christopher Wurst
Peace Corps
U.S. Disaster Relief
Financial Technology
Hello Alice
American Red Cross
Entrepreneurship
Sierra Leone
World War I
HIV/AIDS
Bolivia
Women's Empowerment
Haiti
Julia Irwin
Cold War
USAID
Micronesia
Guatemala
The Gambia
Yokohama
Tokyo

Epic weekly tales from every corner of the globe. Forget politics, academia, or the office, these are "soft, powerful stories" told by those who lived them. Is what happens in Kinshasa really important in Kansas? Should an Idahoan care about the problems of an Indonesian? (The answer is yes, but...) SP/FS gives the human story center stage. People can debate the virtues of global soft power, but n... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes24Founded6 months ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CulturePlaces & Travel

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for SoftPower/FulStories

Latest Episodes

Join us at the Thanksgiving table when Aunt Deb brings both her green jello mold (the celery is a must) and, of course, her dubious questions. Over four hearty courses, she has four barbed questions--for former USAID veteran Steve Callahan, returned ... more

As a young man, Aaron Williams challenged the norms of his peers by aspiring to broaden his horizons as a Peace Corps volunteer. It was something they hadn't seen coming. But then, Aaron likely even surprised himself when, after two decades of work i... more

MaryAnn Shank is a writer and former teacher who, despite growing up surrounded by the birth of Silicon Valley, found her deepest inspiration among the women of Somalia, half a world away. She has been celebrating strong and passionate women ever sin... more

This is less a bonus episode than it is a bookend. (We recommend you start with Episode #13.) Last time around, Skip Waskin barely survived his first-ever USAID assignment in then-Zaire. Flash forward, and he is now leading USAID's biggest mission in... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

The Ezra Klein Show
The Ezra Klein ShowNew York Times Opinion
The New Yorker Radio Hour
The New Yorker Radio HourWNYC Studios and The New Yorker
Science Friday
Science FridayScience Friday and WNYC Studios

Recent Guests

Fred de Sam Lazaro
Executive Director of the Undertold Stories Project
PBS NewsHour
Episode: SP/FS BONUS: Soft Powerful (Under-Told) Stories (Fred de Sam Lazaro)
Dr. Julia Irwin
T. Harry Williams Professor of History at Louisiana State University, expert in U.S. disaster relief
Louisiana State University
Episode: SP/FS BONUS: Catastrophic Diplomacy (Dr. Julia Irwin)
Roland Merullo
Bestselling novelist and author of 28 books of fiction and non-fiction
Episode: SP/FS BONUS: Merullo's Island
Betsy Small
Served in the Peace Corps in Sierra Leone and has over 30 years of experience working with divided communities.
Author of Before Before
Episode: #5 - Betsy Small
Elizabeth Gore
Co-founder and president of Hello Alice, focused on empowering entrepreneurs.
Hello Alice
Episode: #2 - Elizabeth Gore

Host

Christopher Wurst
Host and producer with a focus on storytelling that highlights global perspectives and personal journeys. He is known for providing context and insight that connects international experiences to universal human themes.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 23 ratings
  • Stories with implications

    It’s wonderful to listen to these stories through the voice of those that had impact and represent the goodwill of the American people, guided by Chris’ masterful story arch. This podcast is preservation of history and a constant reminder of the importance of engaging in the world and of the human connection.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Wacuncius
    United States2 months ago
  • Real power at many levels

    Great stories from Roland Merullo showing the value of cultural interaction, both at the individual level and the national level. More please!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    dataylor1
    United States2 months ago
  • Eye opening tales

    I have found these stories fascinating, charming, poignant, heroic and disarming (and at times humorous.) The podcasts are professionally done with the soothing voice of Christopher Wurst providing context for each episode. I get teary thinking about what we lose when we gut programs such as USAID and the Peace Corps. Listen and be enthralled!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    D Deneaux
    United States2 months ago
  • Essential stories for the current era

    The world is a better place when we’re exploring it together.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    AndyReviewsThings
    United States2 months ago
  • Powerful Soft Power Stories

    As the positive influence and reputation of the United States around the world decline, it is crucial to hear stories from people who have successfully promoted American values globally. American soft power complements hard power by building goodwill toward the United States. Positive attitudes from other nations create opportunities for the U.S. government, the American private sector, educational institutions, nonprofits, and individuals, facilitating the exchange of ideas, knowledge, goods, a... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    PJelena
    United States3 months ago

Listeners Say

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

The content is seen as both educational and entertaining, bridging the gap between personal stories and broader societal themes.
Listeners praise the storytelling quality and the depth of personal experiences shared.
Reviews consistently highlight the engaging and relatable narratives that provide insight into global issues.
Many appreciate the emphasis on human connection and understanding across cultures, making complex topics accessible.
The host is often commended for his engaging delivery and ability to weave compelling tales that resonate with audiences.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

SP/FS BONUS: Catastrophic Diplomacy (Dr. Julia Irwin)
Q: The notion of the transactional quality of disaster relief, what are your thoughts about that?
Disaster relief has humanitarian motivations but is also recognized as a national interest for the United States.
SP/FS BONUS: Catastrophic Diplomacy (Dr. Julia Irwin)
Q: In the evolution of our disaster relief, was there a moment where that kind of became the template?
There was learning and knowledge, with references to historical disasters informing more systematic responses starting after World War II.
SP/FS BONUS: Catastrophic Diplomacy (Dr. Julia Irwin)
Q: When you said there were arguments about foreign assistance, what were the arguments back then against foreign assistance?
Many believed the U.S. had too many problems at home and should focus on domestic issues rather than aid abroad.
SP/FS BONUS: Catastrophic Diplomacy (Dr. Julia Irwin)
Q: Was there ever a sense that this was a message for the American people to be proud about using our wealth and our influence?
Yes, many Americans saw this as a way to define the United States as a new type of world power, good world power on the international stage.
#4 - Ambassador Pamela White
Q: Shouldn't the United States fix its own house before trying to fix the world?
AID is the face of America around the world. And Soft Power means it's a part of our national defense system.

Audience Metrics

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions About SoftPower/FulStories

What is SoftPower/FulStories about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Featuring engaging narratives from diverse backgrounds, the episodes focus on the power of human connections across borders, with personal stories from individuals involved in humanitarian efforts, cultural exchanges, and exploration. The content revolves around themes such as international aid, cultural understanding, and the experiences of individuals from different nations, including those who served in the Peace Corps or worked with USAID. Listeners are likely to appreciate the emphasis on empathy, social justice, and the significance of soft power in building global relationships, inviting them to reflect on their place within these global narratives.

Episodes highlight the challenges faced by aid workers and travelers, encouraging wo... more

Where can I find podcast stats for SoftPower/FulStories?

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

How many listeners does SoftPower/FulStories get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for SoftPower/FulStories, 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 SoftPower/FulStories?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for SoftPower/FulStories, 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 SoftPower/FulStories have?

To see how many followers or subscribers SoftPower/FulStories 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 SoftPower/FulStories?

These podcasts share a similar audience with SoftPower/FulStories:

1. The Ezra Klein Show
2. The New Yorker Radio Hour
3. Science Friday
4. Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!
5. Fresh Air

How many episodes of SoftPower/FulStories are there?

SoftPower/FulStories launched 6 months 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.

How do I contact SoftPower/FulStories?

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 SoftPower/FulStories?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for SoftPower/FulStories 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 SoftPower/FulStories?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of SoftPower/FulStories. 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 SoftPower/FulStories?

Recent guests on SoftPower/FulStories include:

1. Fred de Sam Lazaro
2. Dr. Julia Irwin
3. Roland Merullo
4. Betsy Small
5. Elizabeth Gore

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