Rephonic
Artwork for The Diplomat

The Diplomat | ديبلومات

Joe Kawly
Iran
United States
Israel
Iraq
Middle East
Hezbollah
Lebanon
Gaza
Turkey
Syria
Diplomacy
Arab Spring
Mohammed Bouazizi
Russia
Saudi Arabia
China
Tunisia
Nuclear Proliferation
Isis
Ben Ali

In the rooms where war, peace, and power are decided, words matter most. The Diplomat brings you raw conversations with ambassadors, envoys, and negotiators who shaped the hardest decisions in U.S. foreign policy and Middle East diplomacy. Hosted by Joe Kawly. Recorded from Washington. Produced by Middle East Broadcasting Networks (MBN). Joe Kawly brings extensive experience from conflict zones in... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes24Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsNews

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Diplomat

Latest Episodes

Israel and Lebanon have signed a framework agreement both sides are calling historic. Lebanon’s parliament speaker has rejected it, warning of civil war. A secret security annex has leaked. And the question of whether Hezbollah will actually disarm r... more

Four months into the war with Iran, Congress just voted on whether it should continue. Congressman Michael Baumgartner was at the center of that debate.

A member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and its Middle East subcommittee, Baumgartner se... more

The war with Iran is paused, not closed. Gaza is at a stalemate with no clear way forward. Lebanon is holding under a fragile ceasefire. And Washington just released a counterterrorism strategy that is raising alarm among the people who wrote the ori... more

Ambassador Tom Nides served as U.S. Ambassador to Israel under President Biden. He had screaming matches with Netanyahu. He sat with families who buried their children. He was in the room when Saudi normalization almost happened.

Now he is speaking ... 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.

Global News Podcast
Global News PodcastBBC World Service

Recent Guests

Danny Danon
Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations
State of Israel
Episode: Who Controls Southern Lebanon? | Amb. Danny Danon on the Israel-Lebanon Framework
Michael Baumgartner
Congressman, Republican from Washington State, member of House Foreign Affairs Committee
U.S. Congress
Episode: Middle East: Oil and Turmoil
Susan Ziadeh
Former US Ambassador to Qatar; senior postings across the Gulf and the Levant
U.S. Department of State (retired)
Episode: Nothing Works Without Stability
Tom Nides
Ambassador, former US Ambassador to Israel
Blackstone
Episode: The Middle East Rewritten: This Is the Inside Story
Alex Vatanka
Senior Fellow at the Middle East Institute and Founding Director of its Iran program
Middle East Institute
Episode: S2 E8 | After Khamenei: Who Rules Iran Now?
Dennis Ross
Ambassador, counselor and distinguished fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy
Washington Institute for Near East Policy
Episode: S2 E7 | Bridge or War: U.S. and Iran in Oman
Will Todman
Chief of Staff at the Center for Strategic and International Studies
CSIS
Episode: S2 E6| Syria: Washington’s Bet and Risks on the Ground
Assaf Orion
Brigadier General, Senior Researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies
Institute for National Security Studies
Episode: S2 E5|Israel at a New Strategic Crossroad
Soner Çağaptay
Director of the Turkish Research Program at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, a sharp interpreter of Turkish power
Washington Institute for Near East Policy
Episode: S2 E4| Partner or Problem: Turkiye’s Power Explained

Host

Joe Kawly
Host of The Diplomat

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 16 ratings
  • Excellent content

    This podcast has quickly become my go-to source for thoughtful, in-depth Middle East news and analysis . Joe strikes a perfect balance between journalistic integrity and engaging storytelling, breaking down complex issues with clarity and nuance. Each episode delivers well-researched content in a very intelligent tone. Highly recommended for anyone who values quality journalism and wants to better understand the Middle East world.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Osama Alkahily
    United Statesa year ago
  • One of the best Podcasts

    I think this podcast will be on of the greatest podcasts that discuss foreign affairs, political history, middle eastern politics in a storytelling way which is on the best way to express and describe the moments that happened behind closed doors. Hands off to Joe and his team for amazing job and research. Keep the music down a bit please ;)

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    GhailanKh
    Swedena year ago
  • The Diplomat

    This podcast has a wonderful flow through the world of diplomacy with a deep dive into the humanitarian side of the actors. Joe asks the right questions, you can feel his qualities shine as a host. It also clarifies certain actors and events which give us an honest perspective of what was happening behind closed doors. I look forward to more, thank you, Joe!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Patricia Audrey
    Canadaa year ago
  • Refreshing politics!

    In a time where I’m jaded of listening to the news, any news, The Diplomat caught me off guard with a refreshing and stimulating take on events! It doesn’t just give you the news from an entirely different perspective, it actually stimulates your thinking rather than tell you what to think! So happy I found this!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    aliyounis
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

The host asks sharp questions and clarifies complex issues without biased framing.
Guests and topics are timely, covering region-wide diplomacy with real-world implications.
Listeners appreciate the thoughtful, in-depth analysis and balanced journalism.
The show delivers fresh perspectives that challenge conventional narratives.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#125
Switzerland/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#210
Saudi Arabia/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Who Controls Southern Lebanon? | Amb. Danny Danon on the Israel-Lebanon Framework
Q: There is talk of a secret annex and Article 4 about freedom of operation against threats in southern Lebanon, yet there are claims of no automatic withdrawals or fixed timelines. Why publish nothing and keep such provisions quiet?
There is no desire to stay in southern Lebanon; the Lebanese military should take full control, and if they cannot, Israel will respond as needed, with a preference for direct Lebanese leadership and international support to maintain balance.
Who Controls Southern Lebanon? | Amb. Danny Danon on the Israel-Lebanon Framework
Q: But clause 6 says Lebanon holds exclusive sovereign authority to make war and peace and rejects any third party exercising military or security roles on its behalf, which is what you're trying to say. How do you reconcile that with clause 7 about Israel's right to self-defense inside Lebanese territory?
The Lebanese government should handle security threats; if Hezbollah threatens the border, Israel will respond, but the overall aim is Lebanese sovereignty and cooperation with the Lebanese military, supported by the US mechanism.
S2 E7 | Bridge or War: U.S. and Iran in Oman
Q: What signals would indicate the talks are moving toward a real de-escalation path rather than a casual pause?
Clear indicators would include an agreed agenda or framework, visible progression on core topics (nuclear, missiles, regional behavior), and a public willingness to translate private understandings into concrete steps that reduce tensions.
S2 E7 | Bridge or War: U.S. and Iran in Oman
Q: Why is Oman being used as a venue, and does it affect the chances of direct talks?
Oman is being used as a discreet, neutral mediator to bridge gaps and manage perceptions, but it does not eliminate the need for direct talks; the key will be whether ground rules and the agenda can be agreed to keep negotiations moving.
S2 E7 | Bridge or War: U.S. and Iran in Oman
Q: From Washington's perspective, what would a minimally acceptable understanding look like today?
A minimal framework would likely require zero enrichment on Iranian soil, a halt to ongoing enrichment, and limits on ballistic missiles, coupled with mechanisms to ensure compliance and verifiable transparency, while addressing regional proxies and sanctions relief in a way that preserves leverage.

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 The Diplomat

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

The program centers on high-stakes diplomacy, U.S. foreign policy, and Middle East politics, featuring in-depth conversations with former diplomats, policymakers, and analysts. Episodes commonly explore how policy translates to on-the-ground outcomes, the trade-offs of diplomacy, and the personalities shaping regional strategy—from Lebanon and Syria to Turkey and Israel. A standout trait is the host's focus on nuanced storytelling and candid, behind-the-scenes insights from seasoned practitioners, often challenging official narratives and highlighting human impacts behind geopolitical moves.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Diplomat?

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

How many listeners does The Diplomat get?

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

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Diplomat, 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 The Diplomat have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Diplomat 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 The Diplomat?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Diplomat:

1. Global News Podcast

How many episodes of The Diplomat are there?

The Diplomat launched a year 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 The Diplomat?

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 The Diplomat?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Diplomat 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 The Diplomat?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Diplomat. 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 The Diplomat?

Recent guests on The Diplomat include:

1. Danny Danon
2. Michael Baumgartner
3. Susan Ziadeh
4. Tom Nides
5. Alex Vatanka
6. Dennis Ross
7. Will Todman
8. Assaf Orion

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