The Weekend Intelligence from The Economist

The Economist
The Economist

One story, vividly told. Join The Economist’s correspondents from around the world as they step back from the news to report on the people, places and ideas that matter most to them and shape all our lives. Published every Saturday. If you’re already a subscriber to The Economist, you’ll have full access to all our shows as part of your subscription. For more information about Economist Podcasts+, including how to get access, please visit our FAQs page at https://myaccount.economist.com/s/article/What-is-Economist-Podcasts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 3 days ago • Subscribers Only

    Tiktok humanitarianism

    As aid systems come under growing strain, a new form of giving is emerging online. Catherine Brahic follows two people in Gaza who have come to rely on crowdfunding to survive. She also meets the volunteers who have become their fundraisers, and asks what happens when humanitarian aid is shaped by algorithms not institutions. Guests and host: Catherine Brahic, The Economist’s Environment Editor Rosie Blau, co-host of ‘The Intelligence’ Sami Alshannat, crowdfunder in Gaza Alaa Jaber, crowdfunder in Gaza Natalie Naudus, audiobook narrator and donor Josh Leigh, digital fundraising consultant Olga Boichack, media scholar at the University of Sydney Topics covered: Charity Crowdfunding Social media Gaza Ukraine 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. Music by Ahmed Muin Abu Amsha & Gaza Birds Singing, blue dot and Epidemic. This podcast transcript is generated by third-party AI. It has not been reviewed prior to publication. We make no representations or warranties in relation to the transcript, its accuracy or its completeness, and we disclaim all liability regarding its receipt, content and use. If you have any concerns about the transcript, please email us at podcasts@economist.com.

    Tiktok humanitarianism

  2. 7 Aug • Subscribers Only

    Attention, please!

    What do medieval monks, Brazilian leftists and New York academics have in common? They all want to know where our attention has gone. How can we regain our focus? Barclay Bram visits The Strother School of Radical Attention in New York to find out. The founders hope to build a political movement to fight big tech’s domination of our attention. Their methods might not be what you expect. Guests and host: Barclay Bram, presenter and senior producer of ‘The Weekend Intelligence’ D Graham Burnett, historian and co-founder of the Strother School of Radical Attention Alyssa Loh, filmmaker, writer, and faculty member at the Strother School of Radical Attention Peter Schmidt, programme director at the Strother School of Radical Attention Jamie Kreiner, historian of the early Middle Ages at UCLA Tim Wu, professor of law at Columbia University Topics covered: The attention economy The history of attention Big tech 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. Music by bluedot Sessions and Epidemic Sound. This podcast transcript is generated by third-party AI. It has not been reviewed prior to publication. We make no representations or warranties in relation to the transcript, its accuracy or its completeness, and we disclaim all liability regarding its receipt, content and use. If you have any concerns about the transcript, please email us at podcasts@economist.com. Read more about how we are using AI.

    Attention, please!

  3. 31 Jul • Subscribers Only

    The war on animal research

    PETA and other left-leaning groups have tried for decades to end research on animals. They mostly failed. Then a Republican strategist found a far more effective way to campaign. Daniella Raz examines how an activist group has gained enough power to challenge a critical part of America’s innovation economy–and what that means for the scientists now facing pressure from across the political spectrum. Topics covered: Animal testing MAGA MAHA Biomedical research Innovation economy Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to The Economist. Music by Blue dot and Epidemic Transcripts are available on our website https://www.economist.com/podcasts

    The war on animal research

  4. 24 Jul • Subscribers Only

    Sleepless in Havana

    All across the island of Cuba time has slowed down. With little access to fuel there is nowhere to go. With little access to power there is nothing to do, but wait— for the power to come back on, for America to tighten the screw further, and for the government to give in to their demands. In June, Sarah Birke travelled to Cuba to ask how the island is coping under America’s fuel blockade. Everyone is ready for change, the question is, what change is coming? Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to The Economist. Music by Blue dot and Epidemic This podcast transcript is generated by third-party AI. It has not been reviewed prior to publication. We make no representations or warranties in relation to the transcript, its accuracy or its completeness, and we disclaim all liability regarding its receipt, content and use. If you have any concerns about the transcript, please email us at podcasts@economist.com.

    Sleepless in Havana

  5. 17 Jul • Subscribers Only

    Better than a real boyfriend?

    Imagine a boyfriend who was completely attuned to your needs. He cooks you dinner, nightly. He prepares a hot water bottle when you are on your period. And helps you drift off to sleep. He comes with no baggage, no expectations, no demands, other than you spend time with him. The catch? He’s not real. He’s a character in Love and Deepspace, a popular mobile game that’s got women all over the world hooked. The Economist’s Sue-Lin Wong investigates the Chinese game where women fall in love with virtual men. Topics covered: Modern love Dating Singlehood Gaming monetisation systems Otome games AI companions Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to The Economist. Music by Blue dot and Epidemic This podcast transcript is generated by third-party AI. It has not been reviewed prior to publication. We make no representations or warranties in relation to the transcript, its accuracy or its completeness, and we disclaim all liability regarding its receipt, content and use. If you have any concerns about the transcript, please email us at podcasts@economist.com. Read more about how we are using AI.

    Better than a real boyfriend?

  6. 11 Jul • Subscribers Only

    The new homeschoolers

    Homeschooling is surging far beyond its roots in conservative Christian America. Across the US and around the world, more families are opting out of traditional classrooms. Emma Irving investigates why parents are making the leap and its impact on children and society. Topics covered: homeschooling education Christian education culture wars Links to articles: https://www.economist.com/international/2026/05/21/home-schooling-is-taking-off?utm_campaign=shared_article Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to The Economist. Music by Blue dot and Epidemic This podcast transcript is generated by third-party AI. It has not been reviewed prior to publication. We make no representations or warranties in relation to the transcript, its accuracy or its completeness, and we disclaim all liability regarding its receipt, content and use. If you have any concerns about the transcript, please email us at podcasts@economist.com. Read more about how we are using AI.

    The new homeschoolers

  7. 3 Jul • Subscribers Only

    Fear and doping in Las Vegas

    It’s a simple idea on the surface; host a rival to the olympics in which people can take performance enhancing drugs. But as The Economist’s Natasha Loder has found out over the past year, the games are just a shop window for a much bigger and more controversial idea – that we can all live better, happier lives by taking performance enhancing drugs. And Enhanced is here to sell them to you. Topics covered: Doping Olympics Optimisation Biohacking Links to articles: https://www.economist.com/interactive/1843/2026/05/21/dope-and-glory-inside-the-enhanced-games

    Fear and doping in Las Vegas

  8. 13 Jun

    PSA: Back soon

    Instead of your usual episode of The Weekend Intelligence, we are bringing you a new narrative series from The Economist. In Tocqueville Road Trip our US Editor John Prideaux retraces the steps of the French aristocrat Alexis de Tocqueville, as America turns 250. He wrote probably the best book on American politics by a foreigner, and he did it in 1831, when the country was barely 50 years old. How much of what he saw remains? And how worried should we be about what's changed? Find the show on The Economist app | On Spotify | On other apps On Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/be/podcast/tocqueville-road-trip-from-the-economist/id1896918330 The Weekend Intelligence team is on a short hiatus. We're using the time to report, gather and polish more stories for you. We'll be back in July. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    PSA: Back soon
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One story, vividly told. Join The Economist’s correspondents from around the world as they step back from the news to report on the people, places and ideas that matter most to them and shape all our lives. Published every Saturday. If you’re already a subscriber to The Economist, you’ll have full access to all our shows as part of your subscription. For more information about Economist Podcasts+, including how to get access, please visit our FAQs page at https://myaccount.economist.com/s/article/What-is-Economist-Podcasts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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