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The Brief with Maya Plentz

Maya Plentz
United Nations
Torture
IAEA
World Health Organization
World Food Programme
Peace and Security
Middle East Conflict
Security Council
Artificial Intelligence
Meudon
Hangar Y
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
United States
Staff Reductions At WHO
World War II
Global Hunger
NPT Safeguards Agreement
Multilateralism
Nuclear Safety
Digital Government

Hear first hand from the diplomats, tech executives, investors, UN and EU officials that are changing the world through dialogue and are using emerging technologies for good. theunbrief.substack.com

PublishesDailyEpisodes43Founded4 years ago
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Latest Episodes

Do you want to know how the UN is funded? Read on.

On 30 June 2026, the UN’s Fifth Committee delivered one of the most important budget decisions in years: it agreed to change the way the Organization returns unspent funds to Member States, a reform... more

1 for 8 Billion Campaign is a Misnomer *

Who bankrolls the 1 for 8 Billion Campaign?

UNA-UK is a steering committee member and co-founder of the earlier 1 for 7 Billion campaign, and part of the campaign’s institutional support structure. Publicly ... more

How is the UN Secretary-General selected?

The UN Secretary-General is not directly elected by the public or freely chosen by the General Assembly.

Under Article 97 of the UN Charter, the Secretary-General is appointed by the General Assembly on th... more

How is the UN Secretary-General selected?

The UN Secretary-General is not directly elected by the public or freely chosen by the General Assembly.

Under Article 97 of the UN Charter, the Secretary-General is appointed by the General Assembly on th... more

SOBRE O THE BRIEF

O THE BRIEF foi criado para tornar o multilateralismo, a diplomacia, as políticas de tecnologia e a governança global mais fáceis de acompanhar — com contexto, entrevistas e análises feitas com as pessoas que estão moldando essa ag... more

ABOUT THE BRIEF

THE BRIEF was created to make multilateralism, diplomacy, technology policy, and global governance easier to follow — with context, interviews, and analysis from the people shaping the agenda.

Our interviews showcase diplomats, UN o... more

ITU REPORT ON CYBERSECURITY

Geneva, Paris, Brussels

European officials are no longer treating advanced AI cybersecurity tools as a narrow technology question. They are treating them as a financial-stability issue.

In Brussels, European Economic Co... more

Link to full interventions

Michelle BacheletUN Web TV dialogue: webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1s/k1sw4mso7z

Rafael GrossiUN Web TV dialogue: webtv.un.org/en/asset/k10/k105axdjuz

Rebeca GrynspanUN Web TV dialogue: webtv.un.org/en/a... 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.

Recent Guests

Rafael Grossi
Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
IAEA
Episode: Selecting the Next UN Secretary-General | On Participatory Democracy | Francis Fukuyama
Carl Skau
Deputy Executive Director of the World Food Programme
World Food Programme
Episode: Carl Skau: Iran and the Energy-Food Nexus | Jayati Ghosh: UN International Inequality Panel
Patrick Cronin
Coordinator for WHO Human Resources and Talent
World Health Organization
Episode: U.S. Finalizes WHO Withdrawal
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
Director-General of the World Health Organization
World Health Organization
Episode: U.S. Finalizes WHO Withdrawal
Yann Groeger
Deputy Chief Credit Officer at BlueOrchard Finance
BlueOrchard Finance
Episode: Impact Investing: Interview with Yann Groeger | Carlos Lopes: Africa’s Changing Demographics
David A. Chikvaidze
Former chief of staff for four directors general at the United Nations offices in Geneva
United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG)
Episode: UN at 80: Interview with Dr. David Chikvaidze
Ian Richards
Representative from the United Nations Trade and Development Agency
United Nations Trade and Development Agency
Episode: From the Archives | The Digital Transformation of Government Institutions in Sub-Saharan Africa

Host

Maya Plentz
Host of The Brief with frequent leadership in diplomacy, development, and technology policy discussions.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#248
Switzerland/News/Tech News

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Week Ahead: Macron and Rafael Grossi to Host Nuclear Energy Summit in Paris | Interview with Former Ambassador of Ireland to Washington
Q: Can you walk me through a moment when a literary event produced a tangible diplomatic outcome?
A crisis-era exchange in Germany led to a practical pivot: the embassy declared a year of Yeats to open dialogues with universities and economic departments, using literature as a doorway to discuss Ireland's crisis and future potential.
U.S. Finalizes WHO Withdrawal
Q: What role did voluntary early retirement play in the staffing changes?
Voluntary early retirement was offered to staff, with many taking the option, particularly those 55 and older, contributing significantly to the reductions alongside other attrition strategies.
U.S. Finalizes WHO Withdrawal
Q: Can you break down how the 22% reduction is being achieved?
Approximately half of the reduction comes from natural attrition, such as not filling positions that have opened due to retirements, while the other half comes from voluntary early retirement, especially among staff aged 55 and above; together these mechanisms explain the global separations noted.
U.S. Finalizes WHO Withdrawal
Q: How many people have been laid off by the WHO given the funding circumstances?
The officials explained that layoffs aren't the sole driver of headcount changes; the 22% reduction comes from a mix of natural attrition, non-replacement of retiring positions, and voluntary early retirement, with specific figures fluctuating as vacancies are filled. By mid-2026, staff are projected to be around 7,360, down 22% from 2025, and about 1,052 vacancies were included in that total.
UN at 80: Interview with Dr. David Chikvaidze
Q: What lessons do experiences from Western Sahara to Chernobyl offer for today's crisis diplomacy?
Across crises, there is a need to balance patience with firmness, uphold universal values, and ensure that all parties gain something tangible from mediation efforts, recognizing the persistent challenges of double standards and manipulation.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Brief with Maya Plentz

What is The Brief with Maya Plentz about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A policy-forward program that brings together diplomats, international officials, tech leaders, and development experts to unpack how dialogue and emerging technologies intersect with global governance, security, and humanitarian action. Across episodes, listeners encounter deep dives on UN reform, nuclear safety and diplomacy, energy and food security, digital government, and responsible AI governance, with concrete case studies from the IAEA, WHO, WFP, FAO, and UN agencies. Guests are often senior officials or respected practitioners who translate complex geopolitics into practical strategies for leadership, policy, and impact. The show's standout angle is the cross-pollination between public sector diplomacy and tech-enabled development,... more

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The Brief with Maya Plentz launched 4 years ago and published 43 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 Brief with Maya Plentz?

Recent guests on The Brief with Maya Plentz include:

1. Rafael Grossi
2. Carl Skau
3. Patrick Cronin
4. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
5. Yann Groeger
6. David A. Chikvaidze
7. Ian Richards

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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