Where Great Minds Meet

Intelligence Squared

Channel · 17 Shows

Society & Culture

Society & Culture

Updated daily
Society & Culture

Society & Culture

Updated weekly
Business

Business

Updated 12/09/2023
Natural Sciences

Natural Sciences

Updated weekly
Business

Business

Updated weekly
Society & Culture

Society & Culture

Updated 11/04/2023
News

News

Weekly series

4 days ago

The Truth About Trump's Venezuela Oil Deal, with Anne Applebaum

Who stands to benefit from Donald Trump’s Venezuela oil deal? Anne Applebaum joins Intelligence Squared co-host Conor Boyle to discuss her investigation for The Atlantic into Trump’s dealings in Venezuela since the removal of Nicolás Maduro in January 2026. They explore the opaque agreements reshaping the country’s oil industry, Washington’s ties to the surviving regime and whether promises of democratic change are giving way to the pursuit of profit. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
1 day ago

Does The World Still Need America? with Shadi Hamid

What would a world without American leadership look like? Shadi Hamid joins Intelligence Squared co-host Conor Boyle to discuss his book The Case for American Power and why he changed his mind about America’s role in the world. They explore the legacy of the Iraq War, the contradictions of American foreign policy and whether the United States remains essential to a more peaceful and democratic world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2 days ago

Shakespeare vs Milton: The Kings of English Literature Debate [Archive]

Nearly four centuries after his death, no writer has come close to matching Shakespeare’s understanding of the world – or his gift for dramatic poetry. It’s not just kings and queens that he captured so uniquely in his transcendent verse. Shakespeare analysed the human condition, not just for Elizabethan England, but throughout the world and for eternity. Britain may not have matched the Continent for music or art but when it comes to literature, Shakespeare sees off all international rivals, whether it’s in the spheres of comedy, tragedy or the sonnet. Even today you and I quote Shakespeare without knowing it: if you act more in sorrow than in anger, if you vanish into thin air or have ever been tongue-tied, hoodwinked or slept not one wink, you’re speaking the Bard’s English. Milton, say his fans, works on an altogether different, higher plane. In Paradise Lost – the best poem ever written in English – Milton moved beyond the literary to address political, philosophical and religious questions in a way that still resounds strongly today. In his complex, intellectual poetry he drilled down deep into the eternal truths and sought to embody new scientific discovery in his work. His engagement with the issues of the day – with the nature of knowledge, slavery, free will, love and creation – was unparalleled. Despite complete blindness in middle age, he was the English republic’s best known, most fervent apologist, and a key civil servant for Oliver Cromwell. In his other works, notably in Areopagitica, his attack on censorship, he showed himself as much a master of prose as poetry. He defines not only his age, but our own. To help you decide who should be crowned king of English letters we brought together advocates to make the case for each writer, and they called on a cast of leading actors to illustrate their arguments with readings from the works. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
6 days ago

What Do the Dead Internet Theory and Russian Intelligence Operations Have in Common? With Carl Miller

The dead internet theory began as an obscure online conspiracy. Its proponents claimed the internet had been overrun by bots and automated content. In 2021, much of it sounded paranoid. Today, parts of the theory are beginning to look uncomfortably plausible. According to Cloudflare, machines now generate more web traffic than people, while AI-generated music, images and writing are flooding online platforms. Some material is even designed not for human readers, but for other bots and AI systems that retrieve and cite it. In this episode, Mia Sorenti speaks with researcher Carl Miller about an internet increasingly shaped by machines talking to machines. Drawing on new research from Demos, Carl sheds light on findings that suggest Russian propagandists are already manipulating the information served up by LLMs - and how we can fight back in a new age of information warfare. Carl Miller is a Demos Fellow and co-founder of the Centre for the Analysis of Social Media. He is co-author of the Demos report GEO for Geopolitics. Mia Sorenti is Senior Producer at Intelligence Squared. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
13 Oct

Can Europe Defend Itself? Timothy Garton Ash on Europe's Future

Europe’s past is not past. The borders of vanished empires still surface in election results. The European Union and Nato face a world in which Russia is aggressive, America is less dependable and Europe’s own ability to act remains fragmented. Here in Britain, the political argument has begun to move from whether Brexit worked to what a return might demand. In this episode, Margherita Volpato speaks to historian Timothy Garton Ash. His new book, Europe in 7½ Chapters: The Shortest Introduction to the World’s Oldest and Newest Continent. They question what Europe’s past can teach us about its present and future. Should Britain consider rejoining the European Union? Is it time for Europe to create its own army? What is the future of liberal democracy? Ash builds on the historical past of Europe to suggest where the continent can and should go next. Timothy Garton Ash is a historian, political writer, Guardian columnist and Professor of European Studies Emeritus at the University of Oxford. Margherita Volpato is Senior Producer at Intelligence Squared. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
1 Nov

Is Politics Beyond Satire? Live with Armando Iannucci, Jan Ravens and Jess Phillips [Archive]

Has satire lost its power in this new world of fake news and ‘alternative facts’ - when our leaders lie so blatantly and frequently, and still manage to get away with it? Or is humour a more important tool than ever to hold those in power to account? We were joined by celebrated comedy writer and producer Armando Iannucci, Labour MP Jess Phillips, and satirist and impressionist Jan Ravens to unpack these questions live on stage at the Union chapel in London. The event was chaired by journalist, writer and broadcaster Samira Ahmed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2 Nov

What Happens If Billionaires Control the Tools of War? With Sharon Weinberger

For decades, Silicon Valley liked to tell a story about itself: brilliant outsiders, working beyond government, moving faster than institutions ever could. But that story leaves something rather important out. The American military and intelligence agencies helped to finance the technologies, companies and ambitions that made the Valley powerful. With governments increasingly relying on privately owned satellites, software, artificial intelligence and autonomous systems, we’re going to explore why the people who control those systems are not simply contractors. They have fortunes, political commitments and power of their own. So who is serving whom? In this episode, Margherita Volpato speaks to Sharon Weinberger. In her new book is Valley of Death: How Big Tech Is Fueling the Future of War, she outlines why governments are increasingly reliant on privately owned satellites, software, artificial intelligence and autonomous systems, and what it means for this level of control to be in the hands of private contractors. Together, they will explore: who is serving whom? Sharon Weinbeger has reported on national security, science and technology for more than 25 years. She is editor-in-chief of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists and was previously national security editor at The Wall Street Journal. Her new book is Valley of Death: How Big Tech Is Fueling the Future of War. Margherita Volpato is Senior Producer at Intelligence Squared. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
30 Oct

The Forgotten War: Inside the Democratic Republic of Congo

In 2005, journalist Anjan Sundaram travelled to the Democratic Republic of Congo to work as a stringer for the Associated Press. What followed was an extraordinary eighteen months, taking him from the chaotic streets of Kinshasa to the country's vast rainforests and into the heart of one of the deadliest conflicts since the Second World War. In this episode, Sundaram joins journalist and author Carl Miller to discuss his acclaimed memoir Stringer, a gripping account of life as a foreign correspondent in one of the world's most troubled countries. Together, they explore the realities of reporting from a war zone, the people and stories that rarely make international headlines, and what his experiences reveal about the Congo, journalism and the search for truth Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
28 Oct

Marina Hyde and Jesse Armstrong, Live in Brighton

Described by Phoebe Waller-Bridge as “the most lethal, vital, screamingly funny truth-teller of our time”, Marina Hyde has become one of Britain’s most popular columnists and podcasters. A Sunday Times bestselling author and co-host of the smash hit podcast The Rest is Entertainment, she has an unrivalled talent for making sense of our stranger-than-fiction times. In September 2026 Hyde came to the Intelligence Squared stage in Brighton, marking the launch of her new book 'What A Time To Be Alive!'. From lambasting the Trump presidency, to the increasing popularity of Nigel Farage's Reform, from the spectacle of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez’s Venice wedding to the Beckham family feud, she is chief chronicler of our gloriously chaotic age. Hyde was joined live on stage award-winning screenwriter and producer Jesse Armstrong. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
24 Oct

Archive: Is Mark Zuckerberg Damaging Society?

With the release of Aaron Sorkin's new film The Social Reckoning, Mark Zuckerberg and the dark side of Facebook are back in the spotlight.In 2019, Intelligence Squared put Zuckerberg on trial, asking whether Facebook was doing more harm than good. Was the platform connecting billions of people and transforming the world for the better? Or was it undermining democracy, spreading misinformation and fuelling political division?Seven years later, Facebook is part of Meta, artificial intelligence is transforming social media, and questions about the power and accountability of Silicon Valley's technology giants have become more urgent than ever.In this debate from the Intelligence Squared archive, Damian Collins and Nina Schick argue that Facebook is damaging society, while former Facebook executive Dex Torricke-Barton and former UK government minister Ed Vaizey defend the company.As Zuckerberg faces renewed scrutiny, we revisit a debate that asks who should be held responsible for the consequences of social media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ideas shape the world. Intelligence Squared brings you the conversations that explain them.In every episode, we bring together leading thinkers, writers, scientists, policymakers and entrepreneurs, to challenge assumptions, test ideas and debate the questions shaping our future. If you want to think more clearly about the world and where it's heading, you're in the right place. 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Society & Culture
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. Twitter VS TikTok. 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Society & Culture
Chris Hirst, CEO of Havas advertising group, cuts through the bullsh*t and gets to the heart of modern leadership. In this straight talking podcast he interviews leaders from Clive Woodward to June Sarpong on how to inspire, how to keep going when sh*t hits the fan, and ultimately how to get stuff done. Brought to you by Intelligence Squared. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Business
Introducing Energised from Intelligence Squared, made in partnership with Iberdrola, where we explore the most pressing issue of our time: the climate crisis. Temperatures are set to rise more than 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels in the next two decades. Scientists say that such an increase would cause irreversible damage to our planet. But is there still hope? If humans are to blame for climate change, then we must also provide the solutions. Join us as we bring together experts and policymakers to delve deep into the key issues at the heart of the global drive towards net zero and the innovations that promise to accelerate the energy transition and transform the way we live.For more information head over to Intelligencesquared.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Natural Sciences
Breaking down the economic ideas we’ve all heard of but may not fully understand in under 15 minutes. Host Nicola Walton is joined by an economics expert each week to take us through the terminology, statistics and stories of how economic forces shape our world and lives. Brought to you by Intelligence Squared. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Business
A Members Exclusive Limited Series from Intelligence Squared. Head to www.intelligencesquared.com/membership to become a member today and listen whenever you get your podcasts.In recent months it can feel like Saudi Arabia is intent on buying the world. Its Public Investment Fund (PIF) has bought up much of golf, sports teams, many of the globe’s best soccer players to its domestic league, and it owns huge chunks of many of the most famous companies on the planet. But Saudi Arabia is not just on a shopping spree. The once insular, oil rich kingdom is transforming into a major diplomatic player, a pivotal actor in the energy transition, an ever-stronger military power, and a host to high-end cultural events, like the FIFA World Cup in 2034.It feels like the era of the Saudi Project. And the country will become a bigger part of all of our lives. But what exactly is the kingdom trying to achieve? And will it succeed? This series speaks to world leading experts to go past the headlines and help listeners understand Saudi Arabia and it's ambitions more clearly. Providing unique analysis and insight into the complex moral questions all Western nations will have to answer as they work with a rising Saudi Arabia in the years ahead. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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News

Intelligence Squared podcast is the home of lively debate and deep-dive discussion. To listen ad-free, enjoy exclusive content and early access to new episodes, hit subscribe for a 7-day free trial of IQ2 Extra. Our bonus content includes Bright Sparks: quickfire Q&As bringing you closer to some of the brightest minds on the planet. First up is Nobel Prize-winning psychologist, Daniel Kahneman, author of Thinking, Fast and Slow. Early access brings you our Friday shows 48hrs in advance and you can enjoy all of our upcoming listens ad-free. We take you to the heart of the issues that matter, in the company of the world’s sharpest thinkers and most exciting orators. Join the debate, live and online, at www.intelligencesquared.com and download our podcasts every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

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The Truth About Trump's Venezuela Oil Deal, with Anne Applebaum

Does The World Still Need America? with Shadi Hamid

Shakespeare vs Milton: The Kings of English Literature Debate [Archive]

What Do the Dead Internet Theory and Russian Intelligence Operations Have in Common? With Carl Miller

Can Europe Defend Itself? Timothy Garton Ash on Europe's Future

Is Politics Beyond Satire? Live with Armando Iannucci, Jan Ravens and Jess Phillips [Archive]

What Happens If Billionaires Control the Tools of War? With Sharon Weinberger

The Forgotten War: Inside the Democratic Republic of Congo

Marina Hyde and Jesse Armstrong, Live in Brighton

Archive: Is Mark Zuckerberg Damaging Society?

Get exclusive episodes, ad-free listening and more

John Gray and David Runciman on Finding Meaning in a Post-Liberal World

What Lyse Doucet Has Learned from 40 Years Reporting From War Zones, Live

Mariana Mazzucato and Stella Creasy on Making and Taking in the Global Economy, PART 1

Eighty Is The New Thirty: A Guide To Getting Older, PART 3

Thomas Friedman on the Future of America and the World: The Post-Election Dissection

Ctrl, Alt, Delusion: Resetting Reality In The Manosphere

Debate: It’s Time To Ditch the Canon of Great White Men, Part 2

Keir Starmer, Will Hutton, Alastair Campbell and Sonia Sodha on How to Remake Britain, Part Three

Simon Schama on Pandemics and the Health of Nations, Part Two

The 12 Books of Christmas | The Anxious Generation: Jonathan Haidt on How Smartphones Rewired Childhood

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