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Artwork for The World Unpacked
China
United States
Ukraine
Climate Change
Iran
Russia
US Foreign Policy
Artificial Intelligence
NATO
Israel
Middle East
Gaza
International Relations
Drones
Democracy
Presidential Elections
Tariffs
Carnegie Endowment For International Peace
Donald Trump
Animal Agriculture

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

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Artwork for The World Unpacked

Latest Episodes

Data centers may be the most controversial objects in America. They’re blamed for draining water reservoirs, stressing electrical grids, and driving up utility bills.  Communities throughout the country are pushing back and seeking moratoria.

But An... more

NATO’s future remains in doubt as Donald Trump again threatens to pull U.S. troops from Europe. But the practical stakes of these debates aren’t always clear. What military capabilities does Europe stand to lose? How long would it take to replace the... more

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The U.S. and Israel just fought a second war over Iran's nuclear program—and one of the world's leading nuclear experts says America lost. Iran's uranium stockpile sits fully intact in tunnels too deep to reach, and Tehran walked away with more lever... more

YouTube

A U.S.-China war over Taiwan would be catastrophic for all sides and the world. Preventing such a war requires understanding how it might unfold—from start to finish—including worst-case scenarios.

How much warning would there be? Where might China ... more

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Recent Guests

Sophia Besch
German defense policy expert who has worked inside NATO
German defense policy expert
Episode: How Europe Fights Russia Without the U.S.
James Acton
A trained theoretical physicist who has spent decades tracking Iran's nuclear program
James Acton, Nuclear Policy Expert
Episode: Iran Will Probably Still Get Nukes – Here’s How
Charles Hooper
Retired three-star general, former Defense Attaché and senior China policy official
U.S. Army; Office of the Secretary of Defense; Indo-Pacific Command
Episode: How a U.S.-China War Would Unfold
Marwan Muasher
Former foreign minister and deputy prime minister of Jordan
Former Jordanian government
Episode: The Real Middle East Crisis Hasn't Started Yet
Theo Baker
Author and Stanford student journalist; author of How to Rule the World
Stanford University
Episode: Is Silicon Valley Corrupting Stanford?
Sasha Prokopenko
Former Moscow insider, author of a book on Russia's power structure
Author; former advisor at the Russian Central Bank
Episode: Putin Is Losing His Grip on Russia
Javier Corrales
Professor at Amherst College, expert on Cuba
Amherst College
Episode: What to Know Before Trump Attacks Cuba
Nick Pickles
Chief Policy Officer at Tools for Humanity
Tools for Humanity
Episode: How Humans Take Back the Internet From AI Bots
Quinn Slobodian
Co-author of Muskism, historian/academic
Author of Muskism
Episode: Elon Musk Is Reinventing Capitalism

Host

Jon Bateman
Host of The World Unpacked

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 141 ratings
  • Carnegie Endowment

    Hi Apple Podcasts, I hope you have a good day. My name is David Zavala and I manage and operate a very good and a very successful Business called Sense Counseling LLC. We are filed in Texas. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, I enjoy the podcasts because they give me a deeper understanding of the climate that we live in today and allows me as one Doctor among millions in the United States that will fly to move and live in Oxford or Cambridge as a new incoming Doctor that will complete a... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sense Counseling LLC
    United States7 months ago
  • Failsafe, dynamite yeah right

    Did the author watch the movie “Failsafe” before ripping it off?

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    J Clam
    United States8 months ago
  • 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 States10 months 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 States2 years 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

Listeners Say

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

A minority feel episodes occasionally lean too heavily on authors promoting books or specific viewpoints.
Volleys of praise for high production quality and consistently strong guest lineups.
Some listeners feel the host's interviewing style can be vocal or directive at times.
Listeners praise the depth and relevance of topics and the credibility of guests.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How a U.S.-China War Would Unfold
Q: How do geography and allied access influence the viability of a U.S. response?
Geography is critical; without access to bases in Japan, Korea, or the Philippines, sustaining a major operation would be extremely difficult; allies' access to airfields and sea-lanes shapes the United States' ability to project power quickly and deter or respond.
How a U.S.-China War Would Unfold
Q: Hooper, what would be the warning signals before a major Chinese incursion into Taiwan?
The most likely indicators would include a visible buildup and massing of forces near the coast, but the more dangerous and decisive step would be the timing and how quickly China tries to capitalize on that signal; delays or misreads could invite miscalculation, while a rapid mobilization would demand immediate allied and American responses.
Is Silicon Valley Corrupting Stanford?
Q: What is the How to Rule the World class and who runs it?
The class is a secret, exclusive seminar taught by a Silicon Valley CEO, limited to 12 students a year, with a rigorous admissions process that emphasizes testing personal character and ambition.
Putin Is Losing His Grip on Russia
Q: Why did internet shutdowns and security measures occur at this moment?
They reflect a broader shift in who defines state interest, the erosion of a single center of power, and a tactic by security services to manage a more uncertain social contract amid ongoing war and sanctions.
Putin Is Losing His Grip on Russia
Q: What happens to a dictatorship when the dictator stops dictating?
The guest explains that power is now fragmented among siloviks, technocrats, and elites, with internal competition intensifying as Putin's attention shifts away from domestic governance to war and geopolitics.

Audience Metrics

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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?

A thoughtful, high-signal foreign policy and global affairs show that regularly features policy experts, academics, journalists, and think-tank insiders. Episodes tackle geopolitics, international law, and the ethical and practical implications of technology on governance, security, and society. Hosts guide deep-dive conversations with voices that illuminate power dynamics, state strategies, and the intersection of money, influence, and policy. Notable is the willingness to explore uncomfortable questions—ranging from authoritarian resilience and democratic backsliding to AI in modern warfare and the realities of think tanks and policy influence—through rigorous analysis and firsthand experience. Potential listeners who enjoy long-form, ide... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The World Unpacked?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The World Unpacked:

1. The Foreign Affairs Interview
2. Foreign Policy Live
3. The President’s Inbox
4. Mark Leonard's World in 30 Minutes
5. Russian Roulette

How many episodes of The World Unpacked are there?

The World Unpacked launched 10 years ago and published 282 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. Sophia Besch
2. James Acton
3. Charles Hooper
4. Marwan Muasher
5. Theo Baker
6. Sasha Prokopenko
7. Javier Corrales
8. Nick Pickles

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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