Economist Podcasts

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Latest Episodes:

(Another) all-out war: Afghanistan and Pakistan Mar 24, 2026

Show notes

Air strikes and border raids have turned cross-border tensions into hot conflict. We ask what raised the temperature, and whether the Iran war may act to lower it. Meanwhile that war’s oil shock brings with it fears of rising inflation; we examine how recent disruptions might inform policy decisions. And “listening parties”, once for music-industry insiders, are becoming the norm.

Guests and host:

Tom Sasse, south Asia bureau chief
Joshua Roberts, capital markets correspondent
Caitlin Talbot, digital culture correspondent
Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

Afghanistan, Taliban, Pakistan, TTP
Iran war, oil shock, inflation
music, albums, listening parties

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From bad to awful: Trump’s four options in Iran Mar 23, 2026

Show notes

As the war in Iran progresses, none of the options available to Donald Trump looks good. We examine each of them. Thailand’s Buddhist monks are implicated in lots of lawless and dodgy behaviour—but clearing out the bad apples is more complicated than it seems. And gene-editing comes to the fruit bowl: we look at what science is serving up next.

Guests and host:

Gregg Carlstrom, Middle East correspondent
Alizée Jean-Baptiste, Asia senior podcasts producer
Maria Lisik, news editor
Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”
Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

Iran war, Donald Trump
Thailand, Buddhist monks
gene-editing, fruit

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Who will deal the final blow? Israel, Lebanon and Hizbullah Mar 20, 2026

Show notes

As attention has focused on war in Iran, Israel sees an opportunity to crush a weakened Hizbullah in Lebanon. Our correspondent says it would be far better for the Lebanese state to do so. As south-east Asia is modernising, Islam is counterintuitively gaining greater primacy in civic life. And a tribute to Jürgen Habermas, Germany’s and perhaps Europe’s most prominent intellectual.

Guests and host:

Gareth Browne, Middle East correspondent
Sue-Lin Wong, Asia correspondent
Ann Wroe, obituaries editor
Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”
Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

Lebanon, Hizbullah, Israel, Iran war
Islam, south-east Asia
Jürgen Habermas, obituaries

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An act of self-harm: Trump’s latest war might be his undoing Mar 19, 2026

Show notes

A rash entry into a war of choice exposes President Donald Trump in a number of ways—and he may prove more dangerous as he becomes weaker. Turkey’s foreign entanglements mask the democratic backsliding at home; that is bad news for an opposition figure whose trial just began. And Americans seem to be taking their anger out on food-delivery robots.

Guests and host:

Robert Guest, deputy editor
Piotr Zalewski, Turkey correspondent
Rebecca Jackson, Southern correspondent
Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

Donald Trump, war in Iran
Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Ekrem Imamoglu
America, delivery robots

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Flagging carriers: war shuffles the Gulf-airline flight deck Mar 18, 2026

Show notes

Cancelled flights, longer routes, higher prices: the war in Iran is taking its toll on the airline industry. The conflict may force lasting change on the big Gulf carriers. We ask why the once-frothy fake-meat industry is losing its bite. And why PDFs, one of technology’s most pervasive file types, may meet their end thanks to AI.

Guests and hosts:

Simon Wright, industry editor
Hollie Berman, news editor
Shera Avi-Yonah, business writer
Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”
Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

airline industry, Iran war
meat substitutes, plant-based meats
PDFs, AI

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Barrel vault: a Nigerian refining giant rises Mar 17, 2026

Show notes

Nigeria sorely needed the enormous oil refinery built by Aliko Dangote, who was already Africa’s richest man. We ask what that new capacity means for him, for Nigeria and for the continent. We speak to the surprisingly large and diverse Iranian diaspora in Los Angeles. And how a cancer diagnosis seems to drive some people to a life of crime.

Guests and host:

Ọrẹ Ogunbiyi – Africa correspondent
Aryn Braun – West Coast correspondent
Ainslie Johnstone – data journalist
Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”
Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

Aliko Dangote, Nigeria, oil, energy security
Iran’s diaspora, California
cancer, crime, data

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Let me get this strait: the Iran-war escalation risk Mar 16, 2026

Show notes

Control of the Strait of Hormuz has become the focus of the war in Iran. The options available point to an acute risk of a broadening regional conflict. China is making great strides in building humanoid robots—but so far they are more about entertainment than utility. And a look at the science to help you get power naps right.

Guests and hosts:

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

Topics covered:

Iran war, Strait of Hormuz, Middle East
China, humanoid robots
power naps, wellness

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Lone goals: will US-Israel war aims diverge? Mar 13, 2026

Show notes

As Israel continues to pound Iran and expands its offensive against Hizbullah in Lebanon, there are rumblings of disunity with America over the path and goal of the conflict. Why now is the time to buy rubbish stocks. And celebrating the life of grand-clown Philippe Gaulier.

Guests and host:

Anshel Pfeffer, Israel correspondent
Josh Roberts, capital markets correspondent
Ann Wroe, obituaries editor
Rosie Blau, host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

Israel, Iran, Lebanon, Netanyahu, Trump, Hizbullah, refuelling plane
Markets, oil prices, quality stocks, junk stocks, investment
Philippe Gaulier, clowns, obituary

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Blood from a drone: Iran’s deadly arsenal Mar 12, 2026

Show notes

Iran continues to retaliate against attacks with ferocity. Though many of its ballistic missile facilities have been razed, its vast drone armoury is powerful and destructive. Who will benefit from India’s boom in data centres? And why giant board games are not child’s play.

Guests and host:

Shashank Joshi, defence editor
Gavin Jackson, South Asia business and finance correspondent
Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”
Jason Palmer, co-host of “The intelligence”

Topics covered:

Iran, America, Shahed drones, Geran, Ukraine, Zelenksy
India, data centres, Amazon, Meta, Google, Nvidia
Monopoly, board games, toys, kidults

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

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Strait of shock: Iran economic fallout Mar 11, 2026

Show notes

Overnight, the Pentagon said it “eliminated” 16 Iranian mine-laying ships, raising further jitters about the global impact of the war in Iran. Fifteen years after a tsunami caused the Fukushima nuclear disaster, Japan is restarting reactors. And our correspondent meets Jafar Panahi, the Iranian director whose film is nominated for two Oscars this weekend.

Guests and host:

Rachana Shanbhogue, business and finance editor
Noah Sneider, East Asia bureau chief
Andrew Miller, “Back Story” columnist
Rosie Blau, host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

Iran, oil prices, Donald Trump, Strait of Hormuz, Brent crude, International Energy Agency, Russia
Japan, nuclear, Fukushima, tepco
Oscars, “It Was Just An Accident”, Jafar Panahi

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

For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.

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