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The Foreign Affairs Interview

Foreign Affairs Magazine
China
United States
Russia
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
NewsNews CommentaryPolitics

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Latest Episodes

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

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Fiona Hill has spent her career trying to understand—and, in one case, advise— leaders with grandiose ambitions, high risk tolerance, and an unshakeable sense of themselves as world-historic figures. She has been a close observer of Vladimir Putin fo... more

For most of the past few decades, North Korea was considered a top challenge for American foreign policy. In the past few years, however, it has mostly receded from attention—not because the U.S. approach to the problem succeeded but because it so co... more

It is an understatement to say that the United States finds itself at a particularly fraught geopolitical juncture. The outcome of the war in Iran is still uncertain. The war in Ukraine continues with no end in sight. Add to that U.S.-Chinese competi... more

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Recent Guests

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
Nathalie Tocci
Avid geopolitical analyst and co-author of the referenced essay in Foreign Affairs
Institute of International Affairs (Italy) / Foreign Affairs
Episode: Are Europe and the United States Finally Heading For Divorce?
Matthias Matthijs
Political scientist and co-author of the referenced essay in Foreign Affairs
University of Tilburg / Foreign Affairs
Episode: Are Europe and the United States Finally Heading For Divorce?
Stephen Kotkin
Historian and analyst discussed in the episode
Princeton University (as author and scholar of authoritarian regimes)
Episode: How Strong Are Iran’s Strongmen?

Host

Daniel Kurtz-Phelan
Host and editor, known for insightful hosts and interview style that fosters informed discussions.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 1.5k ratings
  • 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 States21 days ago
  • How the Iran War is Shaping the Post-American World

    I like this podcast generally but to hear the line by the guest that Iran is at an ADVANTAGE after a month of fighting and have the host skip over that entirely is the height of accommodating falsehoods. The political skew of the podcast has, in this case, compromised its academic integrity.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Icantfindagoodnicknameistaken
    United Statesa month ago
  • 5 * for

    Quality of interviewees / essay writers

    Current relevance of content

    Dexterity of interviewer

    Knowledge acquisition opportunities

    Hey, it's the podcast of one of *the best magazines* in the world. It's gonna be good!

    Podcast Addict
    5
    NutEgo
    a month ago
  • Interview with Stephen Kotkin

    The conversation with Stephen Kotkin on the US and Iran in March 2026 was brilliant. Analytical, in-depth, well described and argued. I am still waiting for the transcript. Sadly, the pursuing interview with Nathalie Tocci was just the opposite: prejudiced, personal and one sided. I don’t know which Europe she was referring to, it was definitely not the one I live in.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Emma1960
    Germanya month ago
  • "At a time that Israel was committing War crimes"?! Not 20 minutes into this and I am already tired of hearing him. This is such a biased and absolutely bogus interview. Clearly he has no knowledge of international law commensurate with the position he takes as an expert on this subject.

    Podcast Addict
    1
    David
    2 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Some critics note a perceived bias in favor of certain political narratives, which can detract from the perceived objectivity of discussions.
Listeners appreciate the authoritative insights and expert guests, often highlighting the podcast's capacity to navigate complex international topics effectively.
The quality of the discussions is recognized as being of high intellectual caliber, combining well-informed perspectives with meaningful analysis.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#69
United States/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#198
United States/News
Apple Podcasts
#44
Canada/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#60
United Kingdom/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#139
United Kingdom/News
Apple Podcasts
#150
Canada/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Will the Cease-Fire With Iran Hold?
Q: What do you think are going to be the most problematic disagreements or stumbling blocks to any kind of lasting deal?
The guest notes that a durable deal is unlikely under the current 10- to 15-point plans, with fundamental gaps on strategic end-states: Iran's wish to formalize control of Hormuz and relief from proxies, versus U.S. insistence on denying ballistic missiles and broader nuclear program access, making a cold peace or hot ceasefire plausible but fragile.
Will the Cease-Fire With Iran Hold?
Q: Is that your read of it as well, that the ceasefire is likely to be favorable to Iran and not fully constrain its leverage?
Maloney explains that while Iran may have regained leverage through control of the Strait and a negotiated off-ramp, the longer-term arrangements remain uncertain and will depend on how coalition powers and Iran negotiate a broader settlement, not just a temporary pause in fighting.
Will the Cease-Fire With Iran Hold?
Q: What do you think the last six weeks of fighting have revealed about the relative strength of the two sides, and maybe just as important about their abilities to estimate their own strength and that of their opponents?
The host frames the question about miscalculation; Maloney responds that the Trump administration misjudged Iran's durability and the regime's ability to withstand strikes, stressing that Iran's leadership structure and its security apparatus allow continuity even after leadership losses, which complicates the prospect of a quick political demise.
America’s War of Choice on Iran
Q: What would you tell President Trump now about the best course forward given what we know at this moment?
Swanson suggests aiming for a negotiated settlement that focuses on nuclear and ballistic missile constraints, while offering targeted sanctions relief and a framework for a ceasefire, potentially re-opening talks to align incentives for de-escalation and to manage expectations about what a long-term agreement could look like.
America’s War of Choice on Iran
Q: Could you just in very broad strokes explain sort of what your role was most recently in the Trump administration and especially in terms of the negotiations with Iran?
Swanson explains a long career handling Iran policy, noting his role on the Iran policy front during the Trump administration involved a script of limited meetings and input from a few advisors, with the core aim of assessing whether a new deal could be feasible, while acknowledging the overall decision-making process was less centralized than in earlier administrations.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Foreign Affairs Interview

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

Conversations in this series focus primarily on contemporary geopolitical issues, examining subjects such as the war in Ukraine, U.S.-China relations, and shifts in global power dynamics. The discussion often features prominent guests, including policymakers and scholars, who provide expert analysis on pressing topics like international security, economic policies, and the impact of major political events. The insights reflect a deep understanding of the complexities influencing global affairs, making it a valuable resource for those interested in in-depth, authoritative perspectives on current issues affecting the world. The podcast differentiates itself by combining rigorous academic inquiry with real-world implications, appealing to list... more

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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. The Asia Chessboard
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.

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What guests have appeared on The Foreign Affairs Interview?

Recent guests on The Foreign Affairs Interview include:

1. Victor Cha
2. Jake Sullivan
3. Matias Spektor
4. Kishore Mahbubani
5. Suzanne Maloney
6. Bill Burns
7. Nathalie Tocci
8. Matthias Matthijs

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.

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