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The Conversation Weekly

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes269Founded5 years ago
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Latest Episodes

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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As Israel and the US continued to bomb Iran after killing the country's supreme leader Ali Khamenei, Iran lashed out at its neighbours with multiple drone strikes, including against the US embassy in Riyadh.

Saudi Arabia and Iran have a long and bit... more

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South Korea’s very low birth rate and ageing population have long served as a cautionary tale for other governments worried that they’ll see similar demographic challenges.

But now, for the second year running, more people in South Korea are having ... more

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As the 21st century dawned, a newly-elected Vladmir Putin was making friends on the world stage. He smiled for photo ops at G8 meetings, and was the first foreign leader to call George W. Bush after the attacks of 9/11, offering his support against t... more

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Recent Guests

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
Callum Roberts
Professor of Marine Conservation at the University of Exeter focusing on threats to marine ecosystems.
University of Exeter
Episode: A new treaty to protect our oceans
Joe Wright
Political science professor at Penn State University and expert in dictatorships
Penn State University
Episode: The Making of an Autocrat: co-opt the military

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 385 ratings
  • I had high hopes but this seems to be more biased than advertised. Still, it's an interesting podcast.

    Podcast Addict
    3
    bjt282
    a month 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
    3 months ago
  • Informative & Fascinating

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Reading Ruth
    Australia3 months ago
  • Always articulate, interesting and informative. Enjoy!

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Accipitridus
    4 months ago
  • Amy Gaeta episode

    Gaeta’s defense of people with undiagnosed disabilities cheating their employers to ‘get what they need’ when completely unchallenged by the host. This podcast is insufferable.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    DJDane
    United States9 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

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
Was the Gulf blindsided on Iran?
Q: How did the 2019 drone attacks change Gulf security perceptions and the U.S. role in the region?
The attacks underscored Gulf vulnerability and dependence on the U.S. security umbrella, prompting a reassessment of risk, a push for diversified security arrangements, and a more cautious approach to military escalation to protect regional stability.
Was the Gulf blindsided on Iran?
Q: Tell us why the rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran looked like a breakthrough from the outside.
From the outside it appeared as a significant shift because both sides signaled openness to reopening embassies, joint statements, and even shared military drills, which suggested a pragmatic reorientation toward stability after years of adversarial posturing.
South Korea's birth rate is rising, but the population is still shrinking
Q: What policies were introduced in South Korea to address the low birth rate problem?
The Framework Act on Low Birthrate in an Aging Society introduced grants, child allowances, housing benefits, childcare services, and work-life balance support.
South Korea's birth rate is rising, but the population is still shrinking
Q: What was your reaction when you saw the increase in the total fertility rate to 0.8?
It wasn't really surprising, as we've seen increases before, but it's still very low.

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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These podcasts share a similar audience with The Conversation Weekly:

1. Rear Vision — How History Shaped Today
2. If You're Listening
3. The Audio Long Read
4. Science Weekly
5. Today in Focus

How many episodes of The Conversation Weekly are there?

The Conversation Weekly launched 5 years ago and published 269 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. Simon Mabon
2. Stuart Gietel-Basten
3. James Rodgers
4. Daniel Cueto-Villalobos
5. John Affleck
6. Amin Naeni
7. Paul Bierman
8. Callum Roberts

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