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Artwork for World Class
Ukraine
Russia
China
NATO
Democracy
Sanctions
United States
Iran
Russian Democracy
Healthcare
Vladimir Putin
Donald Trump
Political Parties
Israel
Gaza
Middle East
Human Rights
International Law
European Union
European Security

Podcast from the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies (FSI) at Stanford University, featuring Director Colin Kahl, former under secretary of defense for policy at the U.S. Department of Defense. Colin and his guests dive into critical international issues, offering insights into the history and context of the biggest stories in the news.

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes169Founded9 years ago
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Artwork for World Class

Latest Episodes

On February 28, 2026, the United States and Israel launched wide-spread, coordinated attacks against Iran which struck military, naval, and nuclear infrastructure and killed many of the country’s senior leaders. On a special episode of World Class, C... more

H.R. McMaster and Jake Sullivan, the respective national security advisors of the first Trump administration and the Biden administration, join Colin Kahl to sort through everything that has happened in U.S foreign policy since the start of the year,... more

YouTube

There are a lot of changes happening in the world, from the "rupture" in the global order to a new host of World Class! Colin Kahl, the new director of the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies at Stanford University, joins Michael McFau... more

Gabrielius Landsbergis is the former minister of foreign affairs of the Republic of Lithuania. Previously, he was the chairman of the Homeland Union Party while concurrently a member of the Lithuanian Parliament. Before assuming these roles, Landsber... more

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Recent Guests

Abbas Malani
Hamid and Christina Moghadam Director of Iranian Studies at Stanford University; visiting professor
Stanford University
Episode: An Iranian, Israeli, and American Perspective on the War in Iran
HR McMaster
Former National Security Advisor (Trump administration)
The Hoover Institution (Visiting Fellow)
Episode: Two National Security Advisors on Two Breakneck Months of U.S. Foreign Policy
Jake Sullivan
Former National Security Advisor (Biden administration)
Harvard Kennedy School; University of New Hampshire; The Long Game podcast
Episode: Two National Security Advisors on Two Breakneck Months of U.S. Foreign Policy
Gabrielius Landsbergis
Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania; Bernard and Susan Liautaud visiting fellow at FSI
Lithuania; Freeman Spogli Institute
Episode: Hope and Despair: The Emotional Response to the War in Ukraine
Marshall Burke
Climate change expert (Stanford)
Stanford University
Episode: How to Tackle Global Challenges
Colin Kahl
Former under secretary of defense for policy
DOD (former)
Episode: How to Tackle Global Challenges
Ori Rabinowitz
Security analyst for the Middle East
FSI
Episode: How to Tackle Global Challenges
Larry Diamond
Democracy expert
Stanford
Episode: How to Tackle Global Challenges
Steven Pifer
Former US ambassador to Ukraine
US State Department (former)
Episode: How to Tackle Global Challenges

Hosts

Colin Kahl
Director of the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies at Stanford University; former under secretary of defense for policy
Michael McFaul
Former U.S. ambassador to Russia; prominent scholar and public commentator

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 66 ratings
  • Guests are throttled

    You cannot claim that this is an “in depth” discussion when you give your guests so little time to speak.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Bohemian_Peasant
    United Statesa year ago
  • Super interesting

    On each episode Mike McFaul leads a vibrant discussion with other Stanford scholars on issues that may affect and shake the world

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Araj Turos
    United States3 years ago
  • Michael McFaul is a terrific guy and a wonderful podcast host. I wish he had episodes more often.

    Podcast Addict
    MSC
    4 years ago
  • Michael McFaul is a terrific guy and a wonderful podcast host. I wish he had episodes more often.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    MSC
    4 years ago
  • Such a great podcast!

    I just discovered this, so pleased. Love Professor McFaul's soothing and intelligent voice -- you're a wonderful interviewer. So smart, low-key, and you stay out of the way and let your subjects talk, while nonetheless very deftly guiding them to fill in context and explain references not everyone might be familiar with. Great guests. Learning a lot. Well done.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sophie Majeski
    United States7 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Experts commend the host's calm, clear questioning and deep knowledge, creating a rigorous but accessible tone.
Some listeners note audio quality issues but value the depth and credibility of discussions.
Guests appreciate the level of preparation and ability to pull in historical context without losing policy relevance.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#229
Taiwan/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#247
Ukraine/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

An Iranian, Israeli, and American Perspective on the War in Iran
Q: What are the main dynamics that will determine how long the war lasts?
Military dynamics (Iran expanding and dragging targets across the region) and political dynamics (pressure at home to declare victory and international diplomacy) will largely determine duration; the war could drag on weeks to months depending on how exhaustion and external mediation play out.
How Democracy Is Doing Around the World
Q: How did we get here, and why is this happening now?
Diamond points to a historical trajectory of executive concentration and a broader pattern of polarization, with the party-political gridlock fueling authoritarian tendencies; he also cites the influence of a specific playbook and intellectual lineage that advocates power consolidation and weakened checks and balances.
How Democracy Is Doing Around the World
Q: Are you surprised, Larry, by the fact that we're now talking about American democracy in the way that we used to talk about other countries?
Larry Diamond expresses that he is not surprised, arguing the United States has long faced internal battles over presidential power and institutional checks, but the current convergence with global patterns of autocratic tendencies is notable and warrants heightened scrutiny.
Lessons from the Latest India-Pakistan Clash
Q: What does this crisis reveal about India's current military capabilities and its strategy to deter Pakistan without crossing into major warfare?
India now demonstrates credible standoff strike capabilities and a strengthened air defense network that reduces the likelihood of escalation; the approach focuses on costly, targeted actions against terrorist sites rather than broad invasions, thereby managing strategic stability with nuclear-armed neighbors.
Lessons from the Latest India-Pakistan Clash
Q: Take us back to that moment. What occurred that made people alarmist, and why did it not turn into a larger war?
It stemmed from a Pakistan-based terrorist attack in India aimed at provoking a communal backlash; India retaliated with targeted standoff strikes while avoiding a full-scale war, and the episode ended after some days of tit-for-tat attacks and international diplomatic engagement.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About World Class

What is World Class about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show features high-level conversations on global politics, alliances, and security with a Stanford-affiliated host and a rotating roster of prominent policymakers, scholars, and analysts. Episodes frequently center on great-power competition (notably the U.S.–China and U.S.–Russia dynamic), regional conflicts and diplomacy, democracy and governance, and the strategic role of alliances. A standout pattern is the rigorous, data-informed dialogue led by a former U.S. official, often drawing on personal experience in government and deep academic insight to illuminate complex policy choices for a well-educated, policy-minded audience. The format tends to mix historical context with near-term developments, emphasizing practical implications ... more

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1. Stay Tuned with Preet
2. The Ezra Klein Show
3. The David Frum Show
4. The Foreign Affairs Interview
5. The Bulwark Podcast

How many episodes of World Class are there?

World Class launched 9 years ago and published 169 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 World Class?

Recent guests on World Class include:

1. Abbas Malani
2. HR McMaster
3. Jake Sullivan
4. Gabrielius Landsbergis
5. Marshall Burke
6. Colin Kahl
7. Ori Rabinowitz
8. Larry Diamond

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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