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Artwork for The World Unpacked
Climate Change
China
Ukraine
Animal Agriculture
Israel
Iran
Middle East Conflict
Netherlands
United States
Alternative Proteins
US Foreign Policy
NATO
Nitrogen Pollution
Farmers Movement
Sustainability
Saudi Arabia
Hezbollah
Food Systems
Mobilization For the Environment
Environmental Regulation

The World Unpacked is a weekly podcast where insiders, intellectuals, and iconoclasts dive deep into the most pressing global issues. In a time of violent convulsions and heady new possibilities, host Jon Bateman mixes it up with the thinkers making sense of what’s happening and the power brokers building what comes next. Tune in for lively, free-wheeling conversations with some of the world’s mos... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes252Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
GovernmentNews

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Artwork for The World Unpacked

Latest Episodes

The end of USAID was among the biggest early controversies of President Donald Trump’s second term. The world watched in horror as Elon Musk’s DOGE took a chainsaw to U.S. foreign assistance, placing millions of lives at risk with brutal across-the-b... more

YouTube

Brazil’s Supreme Court has just convicted former president Jair Bolsonaro of attempting a coup to nullify his 2022 election loss. The country’s judicial system and Justice Alexandre de Moraes, a polarizing figure whom the co-conspirators had sought t... more

YouTube

Nate Soares is one of the world’s leading AI “doomers” and co-author of If Anyone Builds It, Everyone Dies: Why Superhuman AI Would Kill Us All—the New York Times Bestseller that everyone in tech is debating. In this debut episode of a revamped The W... more

YouTube

In this episode of The World Unpacked, host Isaac Kardon is joined by Alexander (Sasha) Gabuev, Director of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center in Berlin and one of the world’s leading experts on Russia-China relations. Together, they unpack the growi... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Rachel Bonnifield
Top global health expert at a leading evidence-based research organization for global development
Episode: Trump’s Foreign Aid Cuts Aren’t What You Think
Nate Soares
Co-author of the book 'If Anyone Builds It, Everyone Dies' and president of the Machine Intelligence Research Institute
Machine Intelligence Research Institute
Episode: Will AI Kill us All? Nate Soares on his Controversial Bestseller
Sasha Gabuev
Director of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Episode: Trump’s Greenland Fixation and the China-Russia Strategic Opportunity in the Arctic
Jane Munga
Fellow in the Africa program focusing on tech policy and economic development
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Episode: The New Geopolitics of Subsea Cables
Sophia Besch
Senior Fellow in the Europe program focusing on European defense policies
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Episode: The New Geopolitics of Subsea Cables
Dr. Meg Rithmire
James E. Robison Professor at the Harvard Business School and a renowned scholar of China and political economy.
Harvard Business School
Episode: Party-State Capitalism: China's Communist Party and Rule by Market
Ankit Panda
Stanton Senior Fellow of the Nuclear Policy Program
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Episode: Why We All Need to Care About Nukes Again
Dr. Sheena Chestnut Greitens
Associate professor at the LBJ School of Public Affairs and expert in Indo-Pacific security
University of Texas at Austin
Episode: How China Is Reshaping International Security Cooperation
Zaha Hassan
A fellow in Carnegie's Middle East program and a human rights lawyer, she previously served as the senior legal advisor to the Palestinian negotiating team.
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Episode: Gaza's Ceasefire in Limbo: U.S. Policy, Regional Plans, and What's Next

Hosts

Isaac Kardon
Senior Fellow in the Asia Program and host of various episodes, focusing on international relations and geopolitical dynamics.
Sophia Besch
Host and Senior Fellow in the Europe program focusing on European defense policies and global affairs.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 126 ratings
  • Worthy of Your Time

    I remember the Jen days of the podcast, very fondly. The Laura days were also good. These halcyon days of talent were followed by a terrible and directionless period, which was just total off the rails. Stewart was a good host, who dragged the podcast from the Doug-abyss of having been a venue for connected academics and relatives to push books that nobody ever wanted to read. Stewart gave the podcast the serious reboot that it deserved. We were rewarded with Sophia, who has been excellent. ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RJG179
    United States12 days ago
  • I Love a Good Besch Sesch!

    I remember the Jen days of the podcast, very fondly. The Laura days were also good. These halcyon days of talent were followed by a terrible and directionless period, which was just total off the rails. Stewart was a good host, who dragged the podcast from the Doug abyss of being a venue for connected academics and relatives to sell books that nobody ever wanted to read, and he gave it the serious reboot that it deserved. Now, we are rewarded with Sophia, who is excellent. The podcast, helm... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RJG179
    United Statesa year ago
  • Stewart is Doing Great!

    UPDATE: I remember the Jen days of the podcast very fondly, then came the Laura days, which were also good, this was followed by a terrible period that was just off the rails. Now, Stewart seems to bringing this podcast back and increasing its value. He’s clearly a credible host and the reboot is going well, so far.

    Previous: I was particularly disappointed by the interview with the Koch-funded “restrainer” advocating repackaged isolationism, who was all but granted free rein by the host. I’... more

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    RJG179
    United States3 years ago
  • Great

    Podcast Addict
    5
    DaniDani
    3 years ago
  • Great

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Dani
    3 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Many reviews express satisfaction with the current hosts' engagement and expertise compared to prior periods, indicating a positive reception to recent changes.
Critique regarding the needs for more diverse guest perspectives and avoiding repetitive themes, especially underwhelming guest quality has been mentioned.
Some listeners have voiced concerns about potential biases in discussions and the focus on political narratives that may overshadow objective analysis.
Listeners appreciate the in-depth analysis and quality of guests, noting the podcast's effectiveness in making complex topics accessible.
The podcast is praised for its relevance to current world events and the clarity it provides on international issues, which listeners find beneficial.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Trump’s Foreign Aid Cuts Aren’t What You Think
Q: What is the Trump administration's emerging strategy for aid?
It emphasizes self-interest related to national security, such as outbreak responses and global health initiatives like PEPFAR, while also seeking to defend the humanitarian spirit of aid.
Trump’s Foreign Aid Cuts Aren’t What You Think
Q: What are the main diseases that people are dying of?
People are dying primarily from crises in humanitarian settings, like Somalia and South Sudan, as well as ongoing health issues in countries like South Africa due to diseases such as HIV.
Trump’s Foreign Aid Cuts Aren’t What You Think
Q: What is the biggest thing that people haven't been paying attention to in this story?
The significant restart of many foreign assistance programs, with new commitments falling significantly but overall disbursements not looking very different from previous years.
Did the Bolsonaro Trial Really Save Brazil's Democracy?
Q: Was pressure from Biden important to the coup's failure?
Yes, US pressure was crucial in supporting democracy in Brazil, with coordinated recognition of election results that would have isolated any coup plot.
Did the Bolsonaro Trial Really Save Brazil's Democracy?
Q: What was it like for Brazilian society and the political system to witness this blockbuster event?
The trial was historic, as it represented a significant shift in holding leaders accountable and was crucial in addressing the historical pattern of impunity for coup attempts in Brazil.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About The World Unpacked

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

This weekly podcast features insightful conversations with leading thinkers, scholars, and political insiders focusing on pressing global issues. Each episode tackles a range of contemporary topics, such as international relations, economic policies, and security dynamics, while delving into complex subjects like climate change, AI risks, and geopolitical strategies. The format encourages lively discourse, presenting diverse perspectives and critical analyses surrounding current events and global trends, making it appealing to listeners seeking in-depth understanding rather than surface-level news reporting. The podcast stands out for its commitment to providing substantial content that challenges listeners to think critically about major w... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The World Unpacked?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The World Unpacked:

1. Foreign Policy Live
2. The President’s Inbox
3. The Foreign Affairs Interview
4. The AI Policy Podcast
5. The Trade Guys

How many episodes of The World Unpacked are there?

The World Unpacked launched 9 years ago and published 252 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 World Unpacked?

Recent guests on The World Unpacked include:

1. Rachel Bonnifield
2. Nate Soares
3. Sasha Gabuev
4. Jane Munga
5. Sophia Besch
6. Dr. Meg Rithmire
7. Ankit Panda
8. Dr. Sheena Chestnut Greitens

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