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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes259Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
GovernmentNews

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The World Unpacked

Latest Episodes

The Trump administration apparently seeks regime change in Venezuela and may soon attack the country. But American leaders have so far refused to openly state their intentions, stifling public debate on the momentous choice ahead.

In an urgent conve... more

YouTube

The new U.S. National Security Strategy is the clearest and boldest statement of President Donald Trump’s global vision. It reveals U.S. plans to dominate Latin America, transform politics in Europe, and seize commercial opportunities in Asia. Leader... more

YouTube

The AI boom is the biggest investment mania in decades, channeling trillions of dollars into data center infrastructure.  If investors bet right, they may usher in technological breakthroughs that produce vast wealth.  If they’re wrong, they could cr... more

YouTube

We’re living through an era of information disruption.  Novel technologies like AI and social media are unleashing pent-up social and political energies—releasing floods of new information and triggering intense battles for narrative control.

While ... 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.

The Foreign Affairs Interview
The Foreign Affairs InterviewForeign Affairs Magazine
The President’s Inbox
The President’s InboxCouncil on Foreign Relations
SpyTalk
SpyTalkSpyTalk, Jeff Stein
Russian Roulette
Russian RouletteCenter for Strategic and International Studies

Recent Guests

Stephen Wertheim
Author and foreign policy expert
Episode: Decoding Trump’s Foreign Policy Blueprint
Ed Zitron
A frequent critic of the AI industry, providing insights into the economic challenges faced by AI companies.
Episode: AI’s Biggest Skeptic Sees a Bubble
Alicia Wanless
Author of 'The Information Animal, Humans, Technology, and The Competition for Reality'
Episode: Why Information Refuses to Be Controlled
Peter Harrell
A lawyer involved in the tariff case and former advisor in the Biden administration.
Formerly with the Biden administration
Episode: Trump’s $200 Billion Tariff Showdown at the Supreme Court
Noah Oppenheim
Acclaimed writer and former journalist
Screenwriter of A House of Dynamite
Episode: "A House of Dynamite” Writer on How Nuclear War Works
Steven Dudley
Author of the book MS-13 and expert on gang violence
Episode: Inside MS-13, the Gang That Swallowed a Country
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

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 133 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 States3 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 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.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#118
Argentina/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Decoding Trump’s Foreign Policy Blueprint
Q: What did you learn when you read this?
Trump's National Security Strategy presents contrasts to his first one, signaling a different approach to the U.S. role in the world, such as the omission of 'great power competition' and a clear shift in focus to domestic issues.
AI’s Biggest Skeptic Sees a Bubble
Q: What should people who don't buy the bubble case watch for that could change their mind?
They should look at the revenue increases which are likely accompanied by rising costs.
"A House of Dynamite” Writer on How Nuclear War Works
Q: What gives you hope for future nuclear policy changes?
History shows that nuclear powers have come together to reduce arsenals, and public engagement can lead to policy changes, which is essential for addressing the nuclear threat.
"A House of Dynamite” Writer on How Nuclear War Works
Q: Why did you choose category one instead of category two as a way to dramatize this issue?
To highlight the urgent decision-making challenges during a nuclear threat rather than focus on the aftermath, which could dilute the immediate stakes of nuclear warfare.
Inside MS-13, the Gang That Swallowed a Country
Q: What has Bukele's presidency meant for the gang situation in El Salvador?
Bukele's aggressive tactics have transformed gang dynamics, leading to substantial drops in homicide rates, but at the cost of potential authoritarianism and human rights violations.

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 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

Where can I find podcast stats for The World Unpacked?

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

How many listeners does The World Unpacked get?

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

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The World Unpacked, 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 World Unpacked have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The World Unpacked 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 World Unpacked?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The World Unpacked:

1. The Foreign Affairs Interview
2. The President’s Inbox
3. SpyTalk
4. Russian Roulette
5. War on the Rocks

How many episodes of The World Unpacked are there?

The World Unpacked launched 9 years ago and published 259 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 World Unpacked?

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 World Unpacked?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The World Unpacked 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 World Unpacked?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The World Unpacked. 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 World Unpacked?

Recent guests on The World Unpacked include:

1. Stephen Wertheim
2. Ed Zitron
3. Alicia Wanless
4. Peter Harrell
5. Noah Oppenheim
6. Steven Dudley
7. Rachel Bonnifield
8. Nate Soares

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