Rephonic
Artwork for The Foreign Affairs Interview

The Foreign Affairs Interview

Foreign Affairs Magazine
China
Russia
United States
Donald Trump
Ukraine
Iran
Taiwan
Trump Administration
Hamas
Israel
Middle East
Xi Jinping
Gaza
NATO
United States Foreign Policy
National Security
Hezbollah
Ukraine War
International Order
Joe Biden

Foreign Affairs invites you to join its editor, Daniel Kurtz-Phelan, as he talks to influential thinkers and policymakers about the forces shaping the world. Whether the topic is the war in Ukraine, the United States’ competition with China, or the future of globalization, Foreign Affairs’ weekly podcast offers the kind of authoritative commentary and analysis that you can find in the magazine and... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes100Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsNewsNews Commentary

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Foreign Affairs Interview

Latest Episodes

The world today is more dangerous and more violent than it’s been at any time since 1945. States everywhere have jettisoned commitments to cooperation and opted for aggression. The so-called rules-based order seems to have come apart. Yet the interna... more

YouTube

Both of Donald Trump’s presidential administrations have prompted sharp debates about the direction of U.S. foreign policy. But how to discern a strategic logic behind Washington’s approach, and whether it’s even possible to do so, have been particul... more

Orville Schell may be the United States’ greatest chronicler and observer of several decades of U.S.-Chinese relations. Foreign Affairs was extremely lucky to have him in Beijing this week for the summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chines... more

YouTube

Not long ago, it was practically a truism to say that a hard line on China was the only real bipartisan position in American foreign policy. To the extent such a consensus ever existed, Donald Trump has upended it in his second term—leaving considera... more

YouTube

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.

Foreign Policy Live
Foreign Policy LiveForeign Policy
The President’s Inbox
The President’s InboxCouncil on Foreign Relations
Pekingology
PekingologyCenter for Strategic and International Studies
Global Security Briefing
Global Security BriefingThe Royal United Services Institute
ChinaPower
ChinaPowerCSIS | Center for Strategic and International Studies

Recent Guests

Thant Myint-U
Historian and author, subject of The Peacemaker
Author, Historian
Episode: How to Prevent the Next World War: A Conversation With Thant Myint-U
Wess Mitchell
Former Assistant Secretary of State for Europe under the Trump administration
Independent/Policy Think Tank mentions in episode
Episode: Does Trump Have a Strategy? A Conversation With A. Wess Mitchell
Nicholas Burns
A longtime American diplomat who served as ambassador to China until January 2025
U.S. Department of State
Episode: When Two Superpowers Meet: A Conversation With Nicholas Burns
Victor Cha
Analyst and author on North Korea policy
Foreign Affairs (author of new essay)
Episode: Learning to Live With a Nuclear North Korea
Jake Sullivan
Former U.S. National Security Advisor
Episode: Is America Losing the High Ground?
Matias Spektor
Professor of Politics and International Relations, Sao Paulo
University in Sao Paulo, Brazil
Episode: How the Iran War Is Shaping a Post-American World
Kishore Mahbubani
Veteran diplomat, former Singaporean ambassador to the United Nations
Foreign Affairs contributor
Episode: How the Iran War Is Shaping a Post-American World
Suzanne Maloney
Vice President of the Brookings Institution and Director of its Foreign Policy Program
Brookings Institution
Episode: Will the Cease-Fire With Iran Hold?
Bill Burns
Former CIA Director and diplomat
Central Intelligence Agency / U.S. Government
Episode: America in a World of Upheaval

Host

Dan Kurtz-Phelan
Host of The Foreign Affairs Interview

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 1.6k ratings
  • Trump Apologists

    What role should Trump apologists play dialogues moving forward? While it’s been unfortunate to observe the endless parade of human failings that have led to the Trump era, it might be helpful to initiate a reset. First, we have lots of problems, seemingly intractable. Acknowledging that the support of a moronic, criminal madman is yet another symptom of our problems, not a solution, is a good place to start. I look forward to a future where more people engage is reasonable, honest conversation... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    #*#^#+
    United States10 days ago
  • A Wess Mitchell interview

    Dan, my man, it took way too long for you to push back on the absolute lunacy of this man’s statements. I understand for journalistic reasons it’s good to allow these types of deranged cooks to embarrass themselves by letting them just be honest, but we’re 10 years into this mess and you’re in a position to call them out for their absolutely unhinged positions. I could hear in your voice you were holding back, but please challenge these types on the spot every opportunity you get. Whether or no... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    CledisBoozer
    United States13 days ago
  • Dan is great!

    This podcast has become a must listen for me. Dan is a superb interviewer, he has a the credentials and knowledge to be egotistical and insert himself in the interviews, but instead he uses very well-crafted, economical questions to get the best from his guests. I produce podcasts and I know how hard this is! Very poised.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    blobbly56
    Australia18 days ago
  • Insightful!

    Such insightful episodes on foreign policy and affairs.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    S.Raf.
    New Zealand23 days ago
  • Deep expertise in an engaging format

    Amid a desert of pretenders flogging ill-informed opinions, Foreign Affairs is an emerald oasis of real expertise in foreign relations strategy, policy, personalities and statecraft. I am addicted to Foreign Affairs podcast and try never to miss an episode. I would also recommend The Long Game for those with similar interests.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    citizen303
    United Statesa month ago

Listeners Say

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

fans call it essential listening for staying informed on global affairs
audience appreciates long-form, theory-informed discussion with senior policymakers
listener feedback highlights depth, credibility, and nonpartisan analysis from experts
reviews indicate strong perception of high-quality, data-driven perspectives with occasional critiques of perceived bias

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#127
United States/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#74
United Kingdom/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#96
Canada/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#180
United Kingdom/News
Apple Podcasts
#233
Canada/News
Apple Podcasts
#70
France/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How to Prevent the Next World War: A Conversation With Thant Myint-U
Q: What should the UN Secretary General do in times of rising great power tensions, like a China–US competition?
The Secretary General should remain present and active, project dynamism, and engage directly with leaders across big powers and key regions to create space for diplomacy, even if not all efforts succeed.
How to Prevent the Next World War: A Conversation With Thant Myint-U
Q: But you say that assessment is wrong. Why is that the case?
The UN's strength lies in its evolving role and its ability to adapt to different eras; it is not about returning to an idealized past, but about understanding what sort of politics and structure can best prevent conflict today, including stronger mediation and broader international support.
Does Trump Have a Strategy? A Conversation With A. Wess Mitchell
Q: What role do alliances and NATO play in achieving a revised bargain with allies?
Mitchell emphasizes deepening and restructuring alliance commitments, pushing for reciprocity in trade and defense burden-sharing to sustain a long-term, multi-decade alliance framework that supports US strategic aims.
Does Trump Have a Strategy? A Conversation With A. Wess Mitchell
Q: What is the strategic case for consolidation in the Middle East, given the risks of entanglement?
The strategy aims to contain the Iran conflict and keep it limited in scope, while divesting attention toward the Indo-Pacific and rebuilding domestic strength to avoid an open-ended war that could undermine long-term goals.
Does Trump Have a Strategy? A Conversation With A. Wess Mitchell
Q: How would you describe the Trump-era approach to China and how does that compare to the current posture?
Mitchell argues there are two parallel tracks: engage commercially and diplomatically for potential detente, while strengthening the US position at home and in the defense-industrial base to maintain leverage over time.

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 Foreign Affairs Interview

What is The Foreign Affairs Interview about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A high-level, globally focused interview format that brings expert voices—diplomats, scholars, policymakers, and journalists—into long-form conversations about geopolitics, strategy, and major security challenges. Episodes frequently explore U.S.-China competition, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Iran, the Middle East, and Europe's role in a multipolar world, often through historical context, policy analysis, and forward-looking scenarios. The show stands out for its deep-dive, theory-informed discussions with senior figures and its ability to connect global developments to broader strategic implications. Listeners are likely decision-makers and professionals in international affairs seeking credible, data-driven perspectives and nuanced debat... more

Where can I find podcast stats for The Foreign Affairs Interview?

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

How many listeners does The Foreign Affairs Interview get?

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

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Foreign Affairs Interview, 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 Foreign Affairs Interview have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Foreign Affairs Interview 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 Foreign Affairs Interview?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Foreign Affairs Interview:

1. Foreign Policy Live
2. The President’s Inbox
3. Pekingology
4. Global Security Briefing
5. ChinaPower

How many episodes of The Foreign Affairs Interview are there?

The Foreign Affairs Interview launched 4 years ago and published 100 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 Foreign Affairs Interview?

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 Foreign Affairs Interview?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Foreign Affairs Interview 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 Foreign Affairs Interview?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Foreign Affairs Interview. 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 Foreign Affairs Interview?

Recent guests on The Foreign Affairs Interview include:

1. Thant Myint-U
2. Wess Mitchell
3. Nicholas Burns
4. Victor Cha
5. Jake Sullivan
6. Matias Spektor
7. Kishore Mahbubani
8. Suzanne Maloney

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