Podcast Episodes

Episode 49: War in the Middle East

Episode 49

Ali and Suzanne take stock on the contest between Iran and Israel, especially considering the impact in Iran of recent setbacks. 

What might be the consequences domestically and in terms of the confli…

Published on 11 months, 3 weeks ago

Episode 48: North Korea's TikTok sensation

Episode 48

Suzanne Raine is joined by Dr John Nilssen-Wright and Alexandra Leonzini to learn more about the story behind a recent North Korean viral TikTok hit. Alexandra and John explore the role of music in t…

Published on 1 year, 3 months ago

Episode 47: Death of a President

Episode 47

What happens next in Iran? Ali Ansari and Suzanne Raine look at the consequences of the death of President Raisi, and discuss the forthcoming Iranian elections on 28 June.  Who will stand, and how wi…

Published on 1 year, 4 months ago

Episode 46: Iran - Reflecting on recent events

Episode 46

Suzanne and Ali look back over the events of April -May 2024, including the first direct military exchange between Israel and Iran, and ask where this leaves us. How are we to judge the failure of th…

Published on 1 year, 4 months ago

Episode 45: Cyber

Episode 45

Suzanne and Ali talk with Ciaran Martin, the former head of the National Cyber Security Centre on the threats – real and imagined – posed by the rapid transformation of our digital world, the role of…

Published on 1 year, 6 months ago

Episode 44: Sinjar - an arena for other conflicts?

Episode 44

Ali and Suzanne are joined by Renad Mansour and Zmkan Ali of Chatham House to discuss their new report on cross-border conflict. Why is Sinjar, stuck between Iraq and Syria, enmired in other ongoing …

Published on 1 year, 7 months ago

Episode 43 - Taiwan's elections: what do the results signify?

Episode 43

Professor Ali Ansari and Suzanne Raine are joined by Professor Bill Hurst, Director of the Centre for Geopolitics, to ask what we should conclude from the results of the Taiwanese elections on 13 Jan…

Published on 1 year, 8 months ago

Episode 42: Iran's wars

Episode 42

Suzanne Raine and Ali Ansari start with Baluchistan, and then widen the lens to look at what is driving Iranian aggression in the Middle East. They examine how the threat of force becomes the use of …

Published on 1 year, 8 months ago

Episode 41: Can Ukraine win?

Episode 41

Professor Phillips O'Brien joins Suzanne and Ali to discuss why enabling Ukraine to win is in the US's strategic interest, and why limited assistance not only protracts the conflict but raises the ri…

Published on 1 year, 9 months ago

Episode 40: Taking Difficult Decisions

Episode 40

Recent events in Israel and Gaza have highlighted how hard it is to orientate in the absence of clear facts. At these times of crisis, how do political leaders decide what to do? Ali Ansari and Suzan…

Published on 1 year, 10 months ago