Rephonic
Artwork for The World Unpacked
China
United States
Ukraine
Climate Change
Iran
Artificial Intelligence
Russia
US Foreign Policy
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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes284Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsGovernment

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The World Unpacked

Latest Episodes

With political violence on the rise and new weapons like drones proliferating, is it still possible to protect America’s leaders? Why has such a basic governmental mission been overstretched and underfunded? Which is the bigger threat—invisible “lo... more

People are worried that AI will automate their jobs. Yet Brian Merchant has interviewed hundreds of workers disrupted by AI, and what he sees isn’t a technological revolution but a centuries-old power struggle: bosses wielding new tech as leverage to... more

YouTube

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

YouTube

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

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
Foreign Policy Live
Foreign Policy LiveForeign Policy
The Asia Chessboard
The Asia ChessboardCenter for Strategic and International Studies

Recent Guests

Ron Rowe
Former Secret Service official who protected multiple presidents and ran the agency's protective operations
Secret Service (former)
Episode: Inside the Secret Service | An Impossible Job Is Getting Harder
Brian Merchant
Prominent tech journalist and critic who has written about AI and labor
Episode: A Luddite's Guide to the AI Economy
Andy Masley
Environmentalist, debunker of data center myths, former high school physics teacher
Independent researcher/blog author
Episode: Data Centers Are Fine, Actually
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

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 144 ratings
  • Carnegie podcasts are in a league of their own…

    I listen to many, many, international relations podcasts- and they usually fall into a few categories

    Establishment podcast that is too afraid to lose their job to say anything interesting.

    Expert interview podcast where the expert can’t share their actual knowledge at length because low audience audience education assumption, and just provide generic commentary.

    And expert interview which is way too technical and boring and dry despite good insights.

    Carnegie The World Unpacked is none of t... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    SerialReviewer2
    Australiaa month ago
  • Data centres are bad, actually

    Unsubscribed due to misinformation. Don’t make data centres palatable, hate you for that

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Gotta_wonder
    Canada2 months ago
  • 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 States9 months ago
  • Failsafe, dynamite yeah right

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

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    J Clam
    United States10 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 Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the breadth of topics from AI to geopolitics handled with nuance.
Thoughtful, rigorous conversations—deep dives beyond headlines.
Hosts bring credible guests with practical insights for policymakers.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#186
Austria/News
Apple Podcasts
#225
India/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Inside the Secret Service | An Impossible Job Is Getting Harder
Q: Is the country really secure, given the current environment, and what should the public understand about protection efforts?
Protection is a team sport reliant on a broad ecosystem of government and non-government partners; while no system can be 100% guaranteed, leaders are protected through sustained effort, coordination, and ongoing improvements in capability and infrastructure.
Inside the Secret Service | An Impossible Job Is Getting Harder
Q: How has the threat landscape evolved with technology, and how does the Secret Service adapt?
Threat vectors now include drones and digitally-driven radicalization; the Service leverages partnerships, AI as a force multiplier for threat detection, and layered security to extend protection beyond traditional ground-based risks.
Inside the Secret Service | An Impossible Job Is Getting Harder
Q: What does it take to be a Secret Service agent and what does a day look like for someone on a protective detail?
The job combines dedication to public service with strict discipline about readiness, including rotating duty posts, constant situational awareness, rehearsing responses for various threats, and working within a tight network of local and federal partners to maintain a seamless protective posture.
A Luddite's Guide to the AI Economy
Q: What have been your takeaways from all of these conversations?
There is a broad spectrum of impact; creative work is AI-exposed and can be displaced or supplemented, while some fields experience immediate declines but also new niches. The key takeaway is that the effects are uneven, and meaningful reform will require empowering workers and rethinking how AI is deployed within workplaces to sustain both productivity and fair livelihoods.
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.

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 show features long-form conversations with policy, journalism, and academic insiders who dissect global issues from labor and AI to geopolitics and defense. Episodes typically pair a seasoned host with guests who bring technical depth, historical context, and sharp policy analysis, resulting in nuanced takes on technology, international security, and governance. A recurring strength is the ability to connect complex topics to practical implications for policymakers, business leaders, and informed listeners, often exploring trade-offs, incentives, and democratic governance in a rapidly changing world. Noteworthy is the mix of former officials, leading researchers, and investigative journalists who ground provocative questions in rigorou... 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 four 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. Independent Thinking
4. Foreign Policy Live
5. The Asia Chessboard

How many episodes of The World Unpacked are there?

The World Unpacked launched 10 years ago and published 284 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. Ron Rowe
2. Brian Merchant
3. Andy Masley
4. James Acton
5. Charles Hooper
6. Marwan Muasher
7. Theo Baker
8. Sasha Prokopenko

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