Economist Podcasts

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Latest Episodes:

Mistrusting the process: containing Congo’s Ebola outbreak Jun 01, 2026

Show notes

Aid is ramping up to the Democratic Republic of Congo, and vaccine work is progressing. But what the Ebola response most lacks is trust of the community. European governments and businesses are wary of their dependence on America’s tech giants; we examine a spate of home-grown efforts. And sticky toffee pudding, a staid British classic, gets a sweet social-media boost.

Guests and host:

John McDermott, chief Africa correspondent
Christian Odendahl, European economics editor
Ọrẹ Ogunbiyi, Africa correspondent and sticky toffee pudding enthusiast
Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

Ebola outbreak, Democratic Republic of Congo, epidemiology, vaccines
European technology, American tech giants, technological sovereignty
sticky toffee pudding

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New world of warcraft: how conflict has forever changed May 29, 2026

Show notes

Our outgoing defence editor reflects on how war has changed during the eight years of his tenure. Wars have become easier to start and harder to finish, and the little guy has a better chance than ever before. And our obituaries editor pays tribute to Barney Frank, a trailblazing Democratic congressman.

Watch extended clips from Insider here

Guests and host:

Shashank Joshi, defence editor
Ann Wroe, obituaries editor
Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

war, technology, Ukraine, Iran
Barney Frank

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Deal or ordeal: Trump’s bad options in Cuba May 28, 2026

Show notes

The American administration’s next round of sabre-rattling has been directed at Cuba. But more military adventures there would probably prove disastrous. We profile the three starkly different contenders in Colombia’s hyper-polarised presidential election. And our series looking at World Cup squads goes to Mexico.

Guests and host:

Sarah Birke, bureau chief for Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean
Kinley Salmon, Latin America correspondent
Jon Fasman, senior culture correspondent
Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

Cuba, American foreign policy
Colombia’s elections
World Cup, Mexico

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What price victory? Ukraine on the front foot May 27, 2026

Show notes

Economic support, drone capability, defence under new management: the tide may have turned for Ukraine. But domestic politics and perceptions will define what kind of win the country might hope for. We examine how Home Depot, the world’s largest DIY chain, is a window into America’s ailing housing market. And what is pinching the supply of England’s famed cricket bats.

Guests and host:

Oliver Carroll, Ukraine correspondent
Vinjeru Mkandawire, news editor
Andrew Rummer, Britain contributor
Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

Ukraine war
America’s housing market, Home Depot
cricket bats, supply chains

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No big deal: murky Iran-war negotiations May 26, 2026

Show notes

More mixed messages from President Donald Trump and air strikes that seem to violate the ceasefire: all that is remotely in prospect is a deal to keep on dealmaking. China’s “superapps” are pioneering the use of agentic AI—with some odd outcomes. And the curious reason that grouse harm themselves on ski lifts (and how to save them).

Guests and host:

Gregg Carlstrom, Middle East correspondent
Don Weinland, China business and finance editor
Matt Kaplan, science correspondent
Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”
Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

Iran war, diplomacy
China, business, agentic AI
birds, science

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Pulp fiction v the classics: summer reading May 25, 2026

Show notes

What do we mean by a “good book”? Some people choose a holiday read that demands time and attention. Others pick rip-roaring novels that require little thought. Our bookworms discuss whether art has to be improving to be praiseworthy, and give genre fiction some much-needed air time.

This is a full list of the books mentioned in the show:

“Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen

“Red Rising” by Pierce Brown

Jack Reacher series by Lee Child

“The Hunt for Red October” by Tom Clancy

“Riders” and the other Rutshire chronicles by Jilly Cooper

Dungeon Crawler Carl series by Matt Dinniman

“Middlemarch” by George Eliot

“Ulysses” by James Joyce

“Wolf Hall” by Hilary Mantel

“The Diamond Age” by Neal Stephenson

The Murderbot series by Martha Wells

“The Martian” by Andy Weir

“American Wife” by Curtis Sittenfeld

Guests and host:

Catherine Nixey, culture and Britain correspondent
Tom Standage, Economist deputy editor
Alexandra Suich Bass, culture editor
Alex Hern, AI writer
Rosie Blau, host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

Fiction, romance, sci-fi, crime, thrillers, fantasy, romantasy
Jane Austen, Jilly Cooper, Curtis Sittenfeld, Lee Child
Matt Dinniman, Pierce Brown, Neal Stephenson

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Big boosts to fill: SpaceX’s giant IPO May 22, 2026

Show notes

Elon Musk has launched the largest stockmarket listing in history. The accompanying space mission remains grounded. Our correspondent weighs SpaceX’s extraordinary ambitions. The Republican party trades on its masculine image, but some young men are turning away. And, after a blind tasting 50 years ago unleashed a new wave of wine drinking, the market is drying out.

Watch extended clips from Insider here

Guests and host:

Tim Cross, senior science writer
Robert Guest, Economist deputy editor
Alexandra Suich Bass, culture editor
Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”
Jason Palmer, co-hosts of “The intelligence”

Topics covered:

SpaceX, Starlink, XAI, Elon Musk
Donald Trump, Republicans, masculinity
Wine, Judgement of Paris

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+

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The Peking order: Xi meets Putin after Trump May 21, 2026

Show notes

Within the space of a week Chinese president Xi Jinping has welcomed both Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin to Beijing. Our correspondent explains the significance of these consecutive meetings. How the Premier League got its kick – and became one of Britain’s most successful businesses. And, some relax on holiday, others relish adrenaline-fuelled activities.

Guests and host:

Jeremy Page, chief China correspondent
Sonny Loughran, Britain writer
Caitlin Talbot, culture correspondent
Rosie Blau, co-host of “The intelligence”
Jason Palmer, co-host of “The intelligence”

Topics covered:

Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump
Premier League, football, soccer
Adrenaline holidays, darecations

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+

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Bibi, one more time? Israel’s election launches May 20, 2026

Show notes

Is Binyamin Netanyahu’s time up as Israel’s prime minister? As a vote in parliament triggers the election campaign, our correspondent – and Netanyahu’s biographer – analyses what comes next. We join a US-backed counter-terrorism training exercise in Africa and question whether such missions will outlast Trump. And how Cape Verde came to take part in its first World Cup.

Guests and host:

Anshel Pfeffer, Israel correspondent
Tom Gardner, Africa correspondent
Jon Fasman, senior culture correspondent
Rosie Blau, host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

Binyamin Netanyahu, Israel, Knesset, Gaza, Hizbullah, Iran
Ivory Coast, jihadism, anti-terrorism, overseas aid
World Cup, FIFA, Cape Verde

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+

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Spread too thin: Africa’s next Ebola outbreak May 19, 2026

Show notes

The latest Ebola emergency is different from previous ones: there is no vaccine, and the kind of community-level work that stops the spread has been thinned by aid cuts. Britain is likely to get a new prime minister soon; we profile Andy Burnham, the Labour party’s polling favourite. And celebrity book clubs abound—but useful criticism in them does not.

Guests and host: