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Artwork for LSE: The Ballpark

LSE: The Ballpark

LSE Film and Audio Team
Us-China Relations
Latino Voters
Global Trade
US Foreign Policy
Neoliberal Globalization
China
U.S. Foreign Policy
Capitalism
Economic Interdependence
United States
Reparations
Onshore and Offshore Manufacturing
Transatlantic Chattel Slavery
Labor Dynamics
Ukraine
Indo-Pacific
Mia Amor-Motley
Democratic Party
Republican Party
Executive Orders

The Ballpark is the LSE Phelan US Centre's regular podcast on the politics and policy of the United States. Through features and interviews with academics from the LSE and elsewhere, The Ballpark looks more closely into what's going on behind the headlines.

PublishesDailyEpisodes5852Founded10 years ago
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Artwork for LSE: The Ballpark

Latest Episodes

From China’s growing influence in Europe to deepening Russia–China cooperation and the ripple effects of Trump’s America First policies, Eurasia has emerged as a single, highly contested geopolitical space.

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Understanding China’s role in the world has never been more important — or more complex. China projects itself variously as a moral global actor, a fiercely defensive power guarding its core interests, and a pragmatic, opportunistic player.

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America is undergoing profound change. Demographic transformation, shifting global power dynamics, and a foreign policy establishment in transition are reshaping how the United States sees itself—and how the world responds.

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To talk about the current state of US-China relations, in October 2025 the Phelan US Centre spoke to Scott Kennedy, Senior Adviser and Trustee Chair in Chinese Business and Economics at the Center for Strategic and International Studies

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Recent Guests

Raja Mohan
Distinguished fellow at the Council on Strategic and Defence Research; visiting professor at the Institute of South Asian Studies, National University of Singapore
Council on Strategic and Defence Research; Institute of South Asian Studies, NUS
Episode: LSE: The Ballpark | America first and the future of Eurasian geopolitics with Dr C Raja Mohan
Todd Hall
Professor of International Relations, University of Oxford; Director of the Oxford China Centre
University of Oxford
Episode: LSE: The Ballpark | China’s Three Personality Problem with Professor Todd Hall
Anne-Marie Slaughter
CEO of New America and a leading thinker on global governance, democracy, and US foreign policy.
New America
Episode: LSE: The Ballpark | America adrift with Professor Anne-Marie Slaughter
Scott Kennedy
Senior Advisor and Trustee Chair in Chinese Business and Economics
Center for Strategic and International Studies
Episode: LSE: The Ballpark | US-China relations in an era of illiberalism with Dr Scott Kennedy
Gordon Hanson
The Peter Wertheim Professor in Urban Policy at Harvard Kennedy School
Harvard Kennedy School
Episode: LSE: The Ballpark | How to help left behind regions and workers with Professor Gordon Hanson
Professor Michael Cox
Founding director of LSE Ideas and emeritus professor of international relations at LSE
London School of Economics
Episode: LSE: The Ballpark | LSE at 130 and the United States with Professor Michael Cox
Charles Kupchan
Professor of International Affairs at Georgetown University and Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations
Georgetown University
Episode: LSE: The Ballpark | The promise and peril of Trump’s America First with Professor Charles Kupchan
Gili Vidan
Assistant Professor of Information Science at Cornell University's Ann S. Bowers College of Computing and Information Science.
Cornell University
Episode: LSE: The Ballpark | AI and deepfakes with Dr Gili Vidan
Dr. Jennifer Lind
Associate Professor of Government at Dartmouth College and expert in international relations of East Asia.
Dartmouth College
Episode: LSE: The Ballpark | Autocracy 2.0: How China’s Rise Reinvented Tyranny with Dr Jennifer Lind

Host

Chris Gilson
Host of The Ballpark

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars from 18 ratings
  • Great Political Science Podcast

    This is a great podcast, sharing insights from political science with the greater public.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Nyvva
    Netherlands7 years ago
  • Well worth subscribing

    On a friend's recommendation gave this series a listen and found it very accessible and interesting. Having studied American foreign policy, Episode 3 had me wanting to put my two pennies worth in which is usually a good sign. Well worth subscribing.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Dan_Breslin
    United Kingdom10 years ago

Listeners Say

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

The show's interviews are praised for clarity and depth, making complex topics approachable.
Listeners find it accessible and well-grounded in political science, without sacrificing rigor.
Guested discussions are seen as insightful and policy-relevant, with strong academic framing.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

LSE: The Ballpark | China’s Three Personality Problem with Professor Todd Hall
Q: Why do these stories about US–China relations have such appeal, and who gets to represent the emotion of a nation?
He explains that stories help people make sense of the world and that the representation of popular emotion is itself a political act, often revealing the ideology of those who frame the discourse and potentially guiding or manipulating public sentiment.
LSE: The Ballpark | China’s Three Personality Problem with Professor Todd Hall
Q: Moving to another aspect of your work, what are the stories policymakers tell themselves about US–China relations and what are their consequences?
He outlines several dominant narratives—forces of history, the democracy vs. autocracy clash, and interests-based stories—each shaping policy preferences, expectations, and potential cooperation or conflict, while recognizing the limits and overlaps among them.
LSE: The Ballpark | China’s Three Personality Problem with Professor Todd Hall
Q: Looking ahead, do you foresee any challenges or problems that might arise from China's three personality problem and its position on the world stage at the moment?
He argues it will be tricky to balance national interests with a benevolent, peaceful image while handling frictions in regions like the South China Sea and managing interactions with other powers; leadership personalities matter, but institutional constraints and multiple drivers shape outcomes.
LSE: The Ballpark | China’s Three Personality Problem with Professor Todd Hall
Q: Well, thanks so much for joining us on The Ballpark today. Just to start off with, could you briefly introduce yourself and your research and work?
Todd Hall describes his two main research threads: the foreign policy of China and the role of emotion in international politics, including how people think and feel about policy and its implications for international behavior.
LSE: The Ballpark | America adrift with Professor Anne-Marie Slaughter
Q: How might or even should other countries adapt or react to the demographic shift occurring in the US, if at all?
She emphasizes that countries need to understand the changing demographics of the US and adjust their foreign policy approaches accordingly.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About LSE: The Ballpark

What is LSE: The Ballpark about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show centers on US politics, foreign policy, and political economy, hosting in-depth conversations with scholars and policy experts. Episodes frequently unpack how demographic shifts, AI governance, media and disinformation, and international relations shape policy and public perception. A notable strength is its ability to translate complex academic research into accessible discussions, with guest scholars from top universities and think tanks providing nuanced analyses of current events and long-term trends. The format is interview-forward, often linking theory to real-world policy implications, making it helpful for listeners who want rigorous, interdisciplinary takes on US and global politics.

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Which podcasts are similar to LSE: The Ballpark?

These podcasts share a similar audience with LSE: The Ballpark:

1. LSE IQ podcast
2. The Foreign Affairs Interview
3. The Rachman Review
4. Ones and Tooze
5. Global Security Briefing

How many episodes of LSE: The Ballpark are there?

LSE: The Ballpark launched 10 years ago and published 5852 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 LSE: The Ballpark?

Recent guests on LSE: The Ballpark include:

1. Raja Mohan
2. Todd Hall
3. Anne-Marie Slaughter
4. Scott Kennedy
5. Gordon Hanson
6. Professor Michael Cox
7. Charles Kupchan
8. Gili Vidan

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