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Artwork for Stop the World
Ukraine
China
Russia
Australia
NATO
Artificial Intelligence
United States
Cybersecurity
AUKUS
Indo-Pacific
Iran
European Union
Donald Trump
Geopolitics
Taiwan
AI Safety
Disinformation
National Security
Artificial General Intelligence
Democracy

Everything seems to be accelerating: geopolitics, technology, security threats, the dispersal of information. At times, it feels like a blur. But beneath the dizzying proliferation of events, discoveries, there are deeper trends that can be grasped and understood through conversation and debate. That’s the idea behind Stop the World, the Australian Strategic Policy Institute’s podcast on internati... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes115Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsPolitics

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Artwork for Stop the World

Latest Episodes

Critical minerals and rare earths are atomic marvels — and geopolitical nightmares. They’re vital in high-end technologies including defence equipment but are traded in markets that are all but broken, with China dominating overwhelming shares of pro... more

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ASPI’s head and deputy head of defence strategy, Mike Hughes and Courtney Stewart, join us to dissect Australia’s new National Defence Strategy and Integrated Investment Plan.

It’s the right strategy, but is there enough money, even with the welcome... more

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Want 20 episodes of Black Mirror in a one hour podcast? You’ve come to the right place. After a big week in artificial intelligence—including news of Anthropic’s secret supercyberweapon—we’re joined by ASPI’s Fergus Ryan and Bethany Allen to talk abo... more

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Back by popular demand, Florence Gaub joins David Wroe to dissect the latest global developments.

Florence is Director of Research at the NATO Defense College and an expert in strategic foresight. She shares her key takeaways on Iran and views on t... more

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Recent Guests

Fergus Ryan
ASPI researcher, co-author of The Party's AI report
Australian Strategic Policy Institute
Episode: “The party’s AI”: China’s use of artificial intelligence to protect the state
Bethany Allen
ASPI researcher, co-author of The Party's AI report
Australian Strategic Policy Institute
Episode: “The party’s AI”: China’s use of artificial intelligence to protect the state
Nos Hosseini
Spokeswoman for the Iranian Women's Association in Australia
Iranian Women's Association in Australia
Episode: ‘The Iranian people do need help from the outside’: pro-freedom activist Nos Hosseini
Bo Lidegaard
Former National Security and Foreign Policy Advisor to Danish Prime Ministers; former Editor-in-Chief of Politiken
Denmark government advisory role, Politiken
Episode: Denying Greenlanders self-determination would mean war: former Danish natsec adviser Bo Lidegaard
Jeffrey Lewis
Nuclear strategy and nonproliferation expert, founder of Arms Control Wonk
Middlebury Institute of International Studies, East Asia Nonproliferation Project
Episode: Arms Control Wonk’s Jeffrey Lewis on the Iran war and global nuclear risk
Michael Irwin
Co-CEO of Breaker (Australian defence technology startup)
Breaker
Episode: Aussie defence tech start-up Breaker lets you command swarms of robots. With co-CEO Michael Irwin
Margus Tsahkna
Foreign Minister of Estonia
Estonian Government
Episode: Estonia’s Foreign Minister: “Putin is just playing with Trump” on Ukraine peace
Galyna Mykhailiuk
Member of Parliament in Ukraine, president's representative to parliament
Ukrainian Parliament
Episode: Ukrainian MP Galyna Mykhailiuk: ‘This is the moment when international law either exists or not.’
Lindsay Gorman
Managing Director and Senior Fellow, GMF Technology Program
German Marshall Fund
Episode: Anthropic vs Pentagon, Chinese AI and democracy with the GMF’s Lindsay Gorman

Hosts

David Rowe
Host of Stop the World
Olivia Nelson
Co-host

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#104
Australia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#240
Taiwan/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

“The party’s AI”: China’s use of artificial intelligence to protect the state
Q: How is the global standards scene being shaped by China, and how does this affect AI governance internationally?
They explain China's flagship effort, the Global AI Governance Initiative, and its push to tilt global standards through bodies like TC260, while noting Europe and other democracies are more active in setting norms; they discuss how Chinese models and standards could steer global governance unless balanced by Western leadership.
“The party’s AI”: China’s use of artificial intelligence to protect the state
Q: Can you give an overview of the report and run through the categories of control that China is aiming to strengthen using AI?
Bethany and Fergus outline that China leverages AI for surveillance, censorship, and expanding control across government and society, including the AI justice pipeline (police, courts, jails), ambient censorship, and the use of LLMs to draft and influence legal processes, all framed within the broader goal of regime stability and nationwide deployment.
‘The Iranian people do need help from the outside’: pro-freedom activist Nos Hosseini
Q: What role should Australia and other Western governments play in addressing the situation in Iran?
Nos urges targeted sanctions (Magnitsky-style) and designation of the IRGC as a terrorist organization, calls for accountability for atrocities, and favors international mechanisms like UN-supervised referendums to legitimize any future political changes.
‘The Iranian people do need help from the outside’: pro-freedom activist Nos Hosseini
Q: How has your personal background shaped your activism and advocacy from Australia?
She shares her family's escape from Iran, their refugee journey, and how their experiences with the regime motivate their push for accountability and for influencing foreign policy toward Iran.
‘The Iranian people do need help from the outside’: pro-freedom activist Nos Hosseini
Q: What is your view of the war and the range of views within the Iranian community in Australia?
Nos describes a long history of regime oppression and explains that many in the diaspora see external pressure as a necessary lever to weaken the regime, while stressing that the people on the ground deserve protection and a voice in their own future.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Stop the World

What is Stop the World about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This program consistently centers geopolitics, technology, defense, and security in a global context, often through high-stakes conversations with policymakers, think-tank researchers, and industry leaders. Episodes frequently examine U.S.–China dynamics, European security, AI governance, cyber threats, and regional conflicts, with a Baltic or Australasian perspective shaping pragmatic policy prescriptions. A notable strength is its ability to pair sharp geopolitical analysis with practical implications for national security, diplomacy, and technology strategy, making it valuable for listeners who want both depth and clarity on how international developments affect policy and business strategy.

A standout trait is the roster of guests who ... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Stop the World?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Stop the World:

1. Lowy Institute
2. Australia in the World
3. The Asia Chessboard
4. The Fin
5. Pekingology

How many episodes of Stop the World are there?

Stop the World launched 2 years ago and published 115 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 Stop the World?

Recent guests on Stop the World include:

1. Fergus Ryan
2. Bethany Allen
3. Nos Hosseini
4. Bo Lidegaard
5. Jeffrey Lewis
6. Michael Irwin
7. Margus Tsahkna
8. Galyna Mykhailiuk

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