Intelligence Squared

Latest Episodes:

VS from Intelligence Squared: Cars VS Bicycles Jun 17, 2023

Show notes

VS is the new podcast from Intelligence Squared exploring those little debates that are always a big deal to someone. For the first episode, two expert guests go head to head to decide once and for all who is king of the road for the debate Cars VS Bicycles. Yassmin Abdel-Magied is a writer, broadcaster, social advocate and one-time racing car engineer. Her upcoming book later this summer is Stand Up and Speak Out Against Racism. Roma Agrawal – also known as Roma the Engineer – is a structural engineer, author and broadcaster, whose expertise helped build the Shard skyscraper in London. Her latest book is, Nuts and Bolts: Seven Small Inventions That Changed the World (in a Big Way). These two mechanical minds are both intrigued by the engineering marvels that make the world go round, but Yassmin says we should do it with four wheels in a car, and Roma with just two on a bicycle. Coco Khan is your host with the roadmap to victory and there can only be one winner – you the listeners decide – follow the link below to cast your vote.

https://intelligencesquared.com/vs/

We’d love to hear your feedback and what you think we should talk about next, who we should have on and what our future debates should be.

Send us an email or voice note with your thoughts to vs@intelligencesquared.com or Tweet us @intelligence2.

And if you’d like to get ad-free access to all Intelligence Squared podcasts, including exclusive bonus content, early access to new episodes of VS and much more, become a supporter of Intelligence Squared today for just £4.99, or the equivalent in your local currency .

Just visit intelligencesquared.com/membership to find out more.

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The Reoccurring Tragedy of Geopolitics with Robert Kaplan and John Gray Jun 16, 2023

Show notes

The great dilemmas of geopolitics are not battles of good against evil, where the choices are clear. They are contests of good against good, where the choices are often painful, incompatible and fraught with consequence. That’s the argument that political scientist Robert Kaplan who's joined here in conversation by political philosopher John Gray. Together they discuss how the insights of the Greek tragedians – Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides – as well as Shakespeare and modern philosophers and classic authors can help us understand the central subjects of international politics: order, disorder, rebellion, ambition, loyalty to family and state, violence, and the mistakes of power. And they explored how viewing events through a tragic lens could guide the West’s strategy for dealing with Russia and China today.

We’d love to hear your feedback and what you think we should talk about next, who we should have on and what our future debates should be.

Send us an email or voice note with your thoughts to podcasts@intelligencesquared.com or Tweet us @intelligence2.

And if you’d like to get ad-free access to all Intelligence Squared podcasts, including exclusive bonus content, early access to new episodes and much more, become a supporter of Intelligence Squared today for just £4.99, or the equivalent in your local currency .

Just visit intelligencesquared.com/membership to find out more.

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When is the Next Great Financial Crash Coming? Jun 14, 2023

Show notes

Since the Wall Street Crash in 1929, financial meltdowns have repeatedly sent shockwaves through our world. From the currency crises of the 1980s and 1990s, to Japan’s housing crash, the dot com boom and bust, the global financial meltdown, the euro crisis and the COVID pandemic. In May 2023, economist Linda Yueh came to Intelligence Squared to tell the stories of these historic events and what we can learn from them. Drawing from her new book The Great Crashes, Yueh warns about where the next crash might come from and shows how to prepare for them and prevent them. Joining her in conversation is politician and author, Jesse Norman.

We’d love to hear your feedback and what you think we should talk about next, who we should have on and what our future debates should be.

Send us an email or voice note with your thoughts to podcasts@intelligencesquared.com or Tweet us @intelligence2.

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Can We Live Well Without Economic Growth? - Part 2 Jun 12, 2023

Show notes

This episode is part two of our live event on economic growth. In May 2023, journalist Kamal Ahmed, was joined by three influential economists, Kate Raworth, Helen Thompson, and Bim Afolami to discuss if we can indeed have prosperity without growth.

Part three of this event is available ad free, for subscribers now.

This conversation is part of Intelligence Squared’s live debate partnership with the Southbank Centre.

We’d love to hear your feedback and what you think we should talk about next, who we should have on and what our future debates should be.

Send us an email or voice note with your thoughts to podcasts@intelligencesquared.com or Tweet us @intelligence2.

Just visit intelligencesquared.com/membership to find out more.

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Can We Live Well Without Economic Growth? - Part 1 Jun 11, 2023

Show notes

As the UK and other countries around the world grapple with a bleak economic forecast and the creeping effects of climate change, the debate over economic growth and its role in our economies has come into sharp focus.

In part one of this live event journalist Kamal Ahmed, was joined by three influential economists, Kate Raworth, Helen Thompson, and Bim Afolami to discuss if we can indeed have prosperity without growth.

Part two and three of this event are available ad free, for subscribers now. And for our listeners who don’t subscribe part 2 will be available in our next episode.

This conversation took place in May 2023 and is part of Intelligence Squared’s live debate partnership with the Southbank Centre.

We’d love to hear your feedback and what you think we should talk about next, who we should have on and what our future debates should be.

Send us an email or voice note with your thoughts to podcasts@intelligencesquared.com or Tweet us @intelligence2.

Just visit intelligencesquared.com/membership to find out more.

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Welcome to VS Jun 10, 2023

Show notes

VS is a light-hearted podcast about the little debates that are always a big deal to someone. Arsenal VS Spurs. McDonald’s VS KFC. Peep Show VS The Office. 80s VS 90s. And many more. Our host Coco Khan invites experts and fans to go head-to-head on the timeless debates that form the lifeblood of friendships. Who wins? You decide with our weekly vote. VS is an Intelligence Squared production. Tune in to new episodes every Friday.

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How Should the British Empire be Remembered? Jun 09, 2023

Show notes

Today, we bring you a thought-provoking discussion with renowned journalist and best-selling author, Sathnam Sanghera. Here he delves into patriotism, the culture wars, and the nuanced narratives of the British Empire and its forgotten, and often purposefully destroyed, history.

Sanghera is joined by fellow journalist and author Kavita Puri, prior to the release of his latest children's book, 'Stolen History'.

This episode was recorded on the 17th of May 2023. The producer was Senior Producer Conor Boyle with editing by Executive Producer Rowan Slaney

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We’d love to hear your feedback and what you think we should talk about next, who we should have on and what our future debates should be.

Send us an email or voice note with your thoughts to podcasts@intelligencesquared.com or Tweet us @intelligence2.

And if you’d like to support our mission to foster honest debate and compelling conversations, as well as ad-free podcasts, exclusive bonus content, early access and much more, become a supporter of Intelligence Squared today.

Just visit intelligencesquared.com/membership to find out more.

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Brainwashed: A New History of Thought Control Jun 07, 2023

Show notes

In this episode we explore the history of brainwashing - the process of pressuring someone into adopting radically different beliefs by using systematic and often forcible means.

Daniel Pick, a Psychoanalyst, Historian, and Professor Emeritus of History at Birkbeck College, University of London, joins Subhadra Das, broadcaster, academic and writer, with a keen interest in the history of eugenics, to delve into the murky history and psychology of brainwashing and to discuss Pick's latest book, 'Brainwashed: A New History of Thought Control'.

This episode was recorded on the 17th of April 2023. It was produced by Senior Producer Tom Hall, with editing by Executive Producer Rowan Slaney

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We’d love to hear your feedback and what you think we should talk about next, who we should have on and what our future debates should be.

Send us an email or voice note with your thoughts to podcasts@intelligencesquared.com or Tweet us @intelligence2.

Just visit intelligencesquared.com/membership to find out more.

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Bach vs Beethoven - Part 2 Jun 05, 2023

Show notes

This episode is part two of our live Bach vs Beethoven. The BBC’s Reeta Chakrabarti was joined by world-renowned cellist Steven Isserlis and acclaimed music critic Norman Lebrecht to discuss who was greater, Bach or Beethoven? Mishka Rushdie Momen accompanies this conversation on the piano.

Part three of this event is available ad free, for subscribers now.

This conversation took place in April 2023. It was produced by Executive Producer Hannah Kaye, with editing by Lead Producer Catharine Hughes

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We’d love to hear your feedback and what you think we should talk about next, who we should have on and what our future debates should be.

Send us an email or voice note with your thoughts to podcasts@intelligencesquared.com or Tweet us @intelligence2.

Just visit intelligencesquared.com/membership to find out more.

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Bach vs Beethoven - Part 1 Jun 04, 2023

Show notes

Johann Sebastian Bach and Ludwig van Beethoven are without doubt two of the most sublime musical geniuses who ever lived. But which of the two was the greater?

To battle it out In part one of this live event, Intelligence Squared brought to the stage two celebrated figures from the world of music: world-renowned cellist Steven Isserlis for Bach and acclaimed music critic Norman Lebrecht for Beethoven.

The event was hosted by the BBC’s Reeta Chakrabarti, with Mishka Rushdie Momen on the piano.

Part two and three of this event are available ad free, for subscribers now. And for our listeners who don’t subscribe part 2 will be available in our next episode.

This conversation took place in April 2023. It was produced by Executive Producer Hannah Kaye, with editing by Lead Producer Catharine Hughes

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We’d love to hear your feedback and what you think we should talk about next, who we should have on and what our future debates should be.

Send us an email or voice note with your thoughts to podcasts@intelligencesquared.com or Tweet us @intelligence2.

Just visit intelligencesquared.com/membership to find out more.

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