Rephonic
Artwork for Why It Matters
Climate Change
China
National Security
Ukraine
Tariffs
United States
Foreign Policy
Trade
India
Donald Trump
Russia
Artificial Intelligence
Nuclear Energy
US Federal Debt
Fossil Fuels
Brain Drain
Covid-19 Pandemic
Water Scarcity
Trade Agreements
Hindu Nationalism

Each 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.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes100Founded7 years ago
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Artwork for Why It Matters

Latest Episodes

On this episode of Why It Matters, we sit down with experts to discuss medical tourism, examining the forces that push patients to go abroad for care, the countries that have capitalized on demand, and the question of who bears the cost.

Host:

Gabr... more

YouTube

What happens if the world’s pharmacy decides to close? From ibuprofen to amoxicillin, a majority of the essential medicines used in the United States depend on ingredients from China. This dependence has left the United States vulnerable to a geopoli... more

YouTube

GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic have become some of the world's most-wanted medicines, but soaring demand has also turned them into a stress test for the global drug system.

On this episode of Why It Matters, we trace how the GLP-1 trend led to shortage... more

YouTube

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

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Recent Guests

Valorie Crooks
Health geographer and Associate Vice President of Research at Simon Fraser University
Simon Fraser University
Episode: Cabin Crew, Prepare for Surgery
Glenn Cohen
Professor at Harvard Law School specializing in health law and bioethics
Harvard University
Episode: Cabin Crew, Prepare for Surgery
Rush Doshi
C.V. Starr Senior Fellow for Asia Studies and Director of the China Strategy Initiative
Council on Foreign Relations
Episode: Side Effects May Include Dependency on China
Olivia Kosloff
Senior Fellow at the American Economic Liberties Project
American Economic Liberties Project
Episode: Side Effects May Include Dependency on China
Prashant Yadav
Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, expert in global health and pharmaceuticals
Council on Foreign Relations
Episode: How Demand for GLP-1s Overwhelmed the Global Drug System
Anthony Vinci
CEO of an AI company called Vico; former intelligence officer
Vico
Episode: Honey, I Tracked the War
Sam Vigersky
International Affairs Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations; UN Security Council experience
Council on Foreign Relations
Episode: Honey, I Tracked the War
Cat Buchatskiy
Director of Analytics, Snake Island Institute
Snake Island Institute
Episode: One Woman's Path From a U.S. College Campus to the Ukrainian Battlefield
Liana Fix
Senior fellow for Europe at the Council on Foreign Relations
Council on Foreign Relations
Episode: Allies, Partners, or Frenemies?

Host

Gabrielle Sierra
Host of Why It Matters; focused on policy, international affairs, and analysis drawn from the Council on Foreign Relations

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars from 1.1k ratings
  • 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 Podcasts
    5
    PodsforPeoplePayingAttention
    United States8 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 Podcasts
    5
    MCAALSD
    United Statesa year 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 Podcasts
    4
    Beatpulsing
    United States2 years 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 Podcasts
    1
    neal.j.fisher
    United 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 Podcasts
    1
    ALK444
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Production quality and pacing are praised, though some listeners find the show a bit noise-heavy at times.
Episodes on Ukraine and global security are particularly well-received for their clear context and expert perspectives.
Some listeners feel occasional bias or editorial framing; others see balanced, policy-forward discussion as a strength.
Guests are consistently deep experts who translate complex global issues into accessible insights.
The host's interview style is thoughtful and informed, with strong storytelling that keeps topics engaging.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Cabin Crew, Prepare for Surgery
Q: If I go to Mexico or Turkey or Brazil to get something, a procedure, I come home and it's just messed up. Can I sue them in the other country?
Cohen says lawsuits may be possible abroad or at home, but can be difficult because of barriers such as finding a lawyer and expert witnesses, establishing jurisdiction, applying foreign law, and enforcing a judgment.
Cabin Crew, Prepare for Surgery
Q: What are we talking about here?
Glenn Cohen describes medical travel for procedures that are legal in both countries, treatments that are illegal at home but legal at the destination, and illegal gray-market care such as organ transplantation.
Side Effects May Include Dependency on China
Q: So how can we stop ourselves from stumbling into the same trap?
The guests say the United States needs sustained investment, incentives for innovative and cleaner manufacturing, and stronger production capacity shared among allies, so essential medicines do not depend on China alone.
Side Effects May Include Dependency on China
Q: So how did China become so deeply embedded in the medicine cabinet of the United States? And what happens if that supply is disrupted?
The guests explain that U.S. manufacturers and buyers prioritized low prices over supply-chain resilience while China invested in lower-cost production. If key inputs are cut off, manufacturers may be unable to produce essential medicines, causing shortages and giving China geopolitical leverage.
One Woman's Path From a U.S. College Campus to the Ukrainian Battlefield
Q: Can you describe what victory looks like for Ukraine in practical terms?
Victory means the Ukrainian nation remaining whole and sovereign, with a legitimate state, a functioning democracy, and the ability to live in peace and security, including regaining control over occupied territories while building long-term stability.

Audience Metrics

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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?

Why It Matters covers pressing global issues through in-depth conversations with policy makers, researchers, and industry experts. Episodes frequently center on geopolitics, international security, technology's impact on modern warfare, and humanitarian concerns, with a strong emphasis on analysis from CFR-affiliated thought leaders. Notable strengths include access to high-caliber guests, a thoughtful, policy-forward lens, and the ability to translate complex topics into accessible narratives for professionals and informed listeners. A standout aspect is the show's willingness to explore how technology, civilians, and institutions intersect in today's world, offering actionable context for decision-makers and communicators alike.

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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. The Foreign Affairs Interview
3. Foreign Policy Live
4. The Spillover
5. Planet Money

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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What guests have appeared on Why It Matters?

Recent guests on Why It Matters include:

1. Valorie Crooks
2. Glenn Cohen
3. Rush Doshi
4. Olivia Kosloff
5. Prashant Yadav
6. Anthony Vinci
7. Sam Vigersky
8. Cat Buchatskiy

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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