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The Conversation Weekly

The Conversation
Right-Wing Nationalism
Social Media Influence
Anti-Feminism
Far-Right Politics
Women's Roles In Politics
Online Radicalization
Social Media Influencers
Traditional Gender Roles
Conspiracy Theories
Covid-19 Misinformation
Auschwitz
Israel
Academic Freedom
Tattoo
Generational Trauma
Dreams
Biodiversity
Conservation
Amazon Rainforest
Cognitive Load

A show for curious minds, from The Conversation. Each week, host Gemma Ware speaks to an academic expert about a topic in the news to understand how we got here.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes271Founded5 years ago
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Latest Episodes

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The day after the US began bombing Iran, US Central Command confirmed it had used a new, cheap type of kamikaze drone called a Lucas for the first time in a combat operation. These drones were made in America, but their roots actually lie in Iran – t... more

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Six years ago, as countries around the world went into COVID lockdowns, the air got cleaner. Factories slowed down, roads emptied and aeroplanes were grounded. As people stayed home, the world burned fewer fossil fuels and so carbon dioxide emissions... more

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Recent Guests

Arun Dawson
Researcher and PhD candidate, Department of War Studies, King's College London
King's College London
Episode: How the US cloned Iran's drones
Philippe Ciais
Researcher, Laboratory of Climate and Environmental Science, Paris-Saclay University
Paris-Saclay University
Episode: Mystery covid methane spike solved
Simon Mabon
Professor of International Relations at Lancaster University, expert on Iran, Saudi Arabia and Gulf geopolitics
Lancaster University
Episode: Was the Gulf blindsided on Iran?
Stuart Gietel-Basten
Professor of social science and public policy specializing in demography, aging, and birth rates
Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Episode: South Korea's birth rate is rising, but the population is still shrinking
James Rodgers
Associate Professor in International Journalism at City St George's University of London
City St George's University of London
Episode: The 'national humiliation' behind Russia's war on Ukraine
Daniel Cueto-Villalobos
Doctoral candidate in sociology studying race, religion, and social movements
University of Minnesota
Episode: How Minneapolis is organising against ICE
John Affleck
Night Chair in Sports Journalism and Society at Penn State University
Penn State University
Episode: The Super Bowl that kickstarted prop betting in America
Amin Naeni
Ph.D. researcher on digital authoritarianism at Deakin University and visiting fellow at Dublin City University
Deakin University
Episode: How Iran shut down the internet
Paul Bierman
Professor of Natural Resources and Environment at the University of Vermont
University of Vermont
Episode: A lost US military base under Greenland's ice sheet

Hosts

Gemma Ware
Host of The Conversation Weekly; contributor to global affairs coverage.
Justin Bergman
International Affairs Editor at The Conversation; covers global security and international politics.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 391 ratings
  • Top

    Great job

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Alfelfe
    Francea month ago
  • I had high hopes but this seems to be more biased than advertised. Still, it's an interesting podcast.

    Podcast Addict
    3
    bjt282
    2 months ago
  • This is a great initiative! So glad i found this. I listen to nearly every episode. Great for learning about the leading edge of our world.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Aurorespera
    4 months ago
  • Informative & Fascinating

    Try listening! You will keep going back to this podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Reading Ruth
    Australia4 months ago
  • Always articulate, interesting and informative. Enjoy!

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Accipitridus
    4 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Essential listening: The Conversation Weekly is always interesting, never trivial, and essential listening to anyone wishing to better understand the world we live in.
Informative & Fascinating: Try listening! You will keep going back to this podcast.
Varied and fascinating: In-depth discussions on a diverse range of interesting topics. Highly recommended.
Calm and rational: It is such a joy to hear people who can think and talk without recourse to shouting or demonising others.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Mystery covid methane spike solved
Q: What were some of your initial hypotheses for what might have been going on?
We considered both human-emission sources (like fossil fuel extraction and agriculture) and natural emissions, as well as the atmospheric removal process, since OH radicals drive methane breakdown and can change with pollution levels.
How the US cloned Iran's drones
Q: What are the main attribution and strategic challenges with mixed drone ecosystems?
Attribution becomes extremely difficult when Iranian, Russian, and American drones look similar, and friendly nations can shoot down aircraft that appear to belong to adversaries; this complicates intelligence, defense planning, and escalation control in future conflicts.
How the US cloned Iran's drones
Q: How did the Lucas drone compare to the Shahed, and what does this imply for future warfare?
Lucas resembles the Shahed in form and capability, with differences in networking modules that could enable control of multiple drones and more sophisticated coordination, signaling a shift toward drone swarms and autonomous functionality rather than single, piloted strikes.
How the US cloned Iran's drones
Q: What sparked the U.S. interest in copying a Shahed drone, and why pursue this path at all?
The U.S. interest grew out of observing how low-cost drones could disrupt warfare in places like the Middle East and Ukraine, showing that inexpensive systems could be used in large numbers to overwhelm defenses and create strategic advantage, especially when paired with networking and AI.
Was the Gulf blindsided on Iran?
Q: What impact did the 2023/2024 conflicts have on Gulf states' alignment with the U.S.-Israel axis?
The episodes sharpened debates about security guarantees, pushing some Gulf states to balance traditional security partnerships with broader regional diplomacy, while maintaining strong ties to the U.S. and Israel where they see strategic value but wary of over-commitment.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Conversation Weekly

What is The Conversation Weekly about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful show that pairs editors with academic experts to unpack current affairs. Recent episodes highlight Gulf-Iranian geopolitics, demographic shifts in East Asia, internet censorship, global governance of oceans, and how autocratic tactics appear in modern politics. Guests are drawn from international relations, political science, demography, and related fields, offering historical context, data-driven insight, and clear implications for policy and business strategy. The format tends to be interview-led, with a calm, analytical tone and a focus on explaining complex issues accessibly for informed audiences. A standout trait is its strong emphasis on scholarly perspectives applied to timely global questions, making it especially valu... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Conversation Weekly?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Conversation Weekly:

1. Politics with Michelle Grattan
2. 7am
3. Full Story
4. Big Ideas
5. Global Roaming with Geraldine Doogue and Hamish Macdonald

How many episodes of The Conversation Weekly are there?

The Conversation Weekly launched 5 years ago and published 271 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 The Conversation Weekly?

Recent guests on The Conversation Weekly include:

1. Arun Dawson
2. Philippe Ciais
3. Simon Mabon
4. Stuart Gietel-Basten
5. James Rodgers
6. Daniel Cueto-Villalobos
7. John Affleck
8. Amin Naeni

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