Why It Matters
Council on Foreign RelationsEach episode of Why It Matters breaks down an issue that is shaping our world’s future. Join host Gabrielle Sierra as she speaks with the leaders and thinkers who are facing these questions head on. Fueled by the minds at the Council on Foreign Relations, Why It Matters brings some of the world’s most compelling stories home to you.
| Publishes | Twice monthly | Episodes | 100 | Founded | 7 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category | News | ||||
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Latest Episodes
This episode explores how drones, cell phones, and other widely-available intelligence tools are turning civilians and aid workers into frontline witnesses—documenting war in real time, guiding humanitarian aid, and helping build evidence that could ... more
This episode traces one young woman's journey home to a new kind of war—and Ukraine’s fight for survival.
Host:
Gabrielle Sierra, Director of Podcasting, Council on Foreign Relations (CFR)
Guest:
Catarina Buchatskiy, Co-Founder & Director of Anal... more
This episode outlines the global network sustaining both sides of the war in Ukraine, with NATO allies on one side and Russia with backing from China, Iran, and North Korea on the other, and how the limits and tensions within these alliances are shap... more
This episode explores how the emergence of drone warfare and innovation under fire is transforming power and forcing nations to rethink strategy and military capacity.
Host:
Gabrielle Sierra, Director of Podcasting, Council on Foreign Relations (CF... more
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Reviews
- Topics Fascinate
I really enjoy the range of topics covered. The pace is great and the length works so well for short commutes. Interesting guests, concise and easy to follow, and takes big stories and looks more deeply but in an accessible way. They’re Webby nominated for their stories. Really good pod.
Apple Podcasts5PodsforPeoplePayingAttention
United States4 months ago - Top global conflicts to watch
Happy to have Gabrielle and the podcast back. This episode handled a huge topic in an interesting and informative way. I applaud your for that. I would love for you to do an episode focusing only on Venezuela.
Apple Podcasts5MCAALSDUnited States6 months ago - Good show, overproduced
I enjoy this show but I find that I often have to skip a lot bc it just has a lot of filler noises and clips.
Apple Podcasts4BeatpulsingUnited Statesa year ago - Extremely Biased
The Council on Foreign Relations podcasts claim the opinions presented are that of their hosts and the Council takes no positions on policy as an institution. However, this belies the fact that every one of their hosts is a progressive liberal and views anyone to the right of a liberal as a fascist.
Apple Podcasts1neal.j.fisherUnited States2 years ago - Not Impressed
I was a loyal Foreign Affairs subscriber for a decade or more after college, but over time the content and impartiality eroded. This podcast is a great example. Take the recent episode about abortion where the views of the Guttmacher Institute were represented as objective truth rather than arguments from an advocacy group. The podcast consistently argued the US was one of a handful of countries reducing abortion and was thus swimming against the tide, without acknowledging Roe created one of th... more
Apple Podcasts1ALK444United States2 years ago
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Chart Rankings
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Apple Podcasts | #195 |  Austria/News |
Apple Podcasts | #240 |  Russia/News |
Talking Points
Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Why It Matters
What is Why It Matters about and what kind of topics does it cover?
This program consistently examines geopolitical, security, and tech-driven issues shaping global affairs, often through expert interviews with CFR-affiliated analysts, policy researchers, and industry leaders. Episodes commonly explore topics like Ukraine, great power dynamics, drone and AI-enabled warfare, civilian roles in conflict, and the evolving landscape of international law and alliance structures. Notable strengths include rigorous analysis, access to top policy minds, and a willingness to tackle complex, high-stakes questions with nuance. Listeners who want strategic context behind headlines and in-depth perspectives on security, diplomacy, and technology will likely find it especially valuable.
Where can I find podcast stats for Why It Matters?
Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Why It Matters. 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 Why It Matters and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.
How many listeners does Why It Matters get?
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What are the audience demographics for Why It Matters?
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How many subscribers and views does Why It Matters have?
To see how many followers or subscribers Why It Matters 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 Why It Matters?
These podcasts share a similar audience with Why It Matters:
1. The President’s Inbox
2. On the Record
3. The Foreign Affairs Interview
4. Foreign Policy Live
5. War on the Rocks
How many episodes of Why It Matters are there?
Why It Matters launched 7 years ago and published 100 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 Why It Matters?
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 Why It Matters?
Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Why It Matters from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.
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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Why It Matters?
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What guests have appeared on Why It Matters?
Recent guests on Why It Matters include:
1. Anthony Vinci
2. Sam Vigersky
3. Cat Buchatskiy
4. Liana Fix
5. Joseph Torigian
6. Paul Stares
7. Brad Setser
8. Heather Hurlburt
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.