POLEMICS REC.

POLEMICS

POLEMICS REC. is a student-run podcast at the Diplomatische Akademie Wien – Vienna School of International Studies, built from the voices, creative contributions, and editorial input of our diverse student body.  Benefiting from the vibrant international community here in Vienna, it produces two monthly formats. In Conversation is an expert interview series covering contemporary issues in international affairs by sitting down with global leaders, diplomats, and experts in their field. In the other format, The Roundtable, students take the lead in exploring the same issues through open and diverse debate. Polemics Rec. further cooperates closely with Polemics Magazine to supply topical content across both outlets and to put together events for students at the Academy.Contact:Email: polemics.rec@da-vienna.at

  1. Oct 9

    Polemics Rec. | In Conversation with Amb. Khaled Shamaa

    Few areas of international security have shifted as dramatically in recent years as the global nuclear order. With New START expiring earlier this year, arsenals being modernized rather than reduced, and the latest NPT Review Conference ending without a consensus outcome, the architecture that has long governed disarmament and non-proliferation is arguably under more strain than at any point since the Cold War.  In this month's episode, we sat down with Ambassador Khaled Shamaa at the Vienna International Institute for Middle East Studies (VIIMES). With a diplomatic career spanning more than three decades, the Ambassador most recently served as Egypt's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, the IAEA and the OSCE in Vienna, as well as Ambassador to Austria, having earlier played a key role in negotiating the Middle East Action Plan at the 2010 NPT Review Conference. Together with our hosts Hannah Huber and Nicole Pinto, the Ambassador reflects on the art of negotiation and why trust remains its foundation, before turning to the growing appeal of nuclear deterrence, the case for consensus in security matters, and the long road towards a Middle East zone free of weapons of mass destruction.  Stay tuned for more! Jingle: Dreamers by Nobou (royalty-free music from Artlist)  --- --- --- Polemics Rec. is the official podcast of Polemics Magazine. As a student-run production, the podcast features the voices, creative contributions, and editorial input of the diverse student body at the Diplomatische Akademie Wien. The podcast takes advantage of the vibrant international community here in Vienna by interviewing diplomats, policymakers, academics, and cultural figures. Our new season features two core formats. In Conversation presents in-depth interviews with leading voices in foreign policy, diplomacy, and global governance. The Roundtable brings you student-led discussions on major global questions, offering a range of perspectives from inside the Academy. Follow POLEMICS MAGAZINE at https://www.polemics-magazine.com Check out the Diplomatische Akademie Wien at https://www.da-vienna.ac.at

    Polemics Rec. | In Conversation with Amb. Khaled Shamaa

  2. Sep 18

    Polemics Rec. | In Conversation with Amb. Camilleri Vettiger

    To this day, the topic of gender in international affairs is often still treated as one item on a long agenda, or reduced to a question of mere numbers. In practice, however, it runs much deeper than that, cutting across realms such as security, health, and law, and shaping whose experiences inform policy and the responses that follow. But how is a gender perspective actually translated into multilateral diplomacy, and what does it take to hold that space open in times when consensus is fragile, and even the very language itself is so often contested? Looking back to the International Day of Women in Diplomacy on 24 June, this month's episode brings you a conversation we had with H.E. Ambassador Francesca Camilleri Vettiger of Malta, one of the youngest Ambassadors in Vienna and an International Gender Champion. Together with our hosts Hannah Huber and Nicole Pinto, the Ambassador reflects on her own path in this field and on why questions around gender are far more than a "women's issue." Stay tuned for more! Jingle: Dreamers by Nobou (royalty-free music from Artlist) --- --- --- Polemics Rec. is the official podcast of Polemics Magazine. As a student-run production, the podcast features the voices, creative contributions, and editorial input of the diverse student body at the Diplomatische Akademie Wien. The podcast takes advantage of the vibrant international community here in Vienna by interviewing diplomats, policymakers, academics, and cultural figures. Our new season features two core formats. In Conversation presents in-depth interviews with leading voices in foreign policy, diplomacy, and global governance. The Roundtable brings you student-led discussions on major global questions, offering a range of perspectives from inside the Academy. Follow POLEMICS MAGAZINE at https://www.polemics-magazine.com Check out the Diplomatische Akademie Wien at https://www.da-vienna.ac.at

    Polemics Rec. | In Conversation with Amb. Camilleri Vettiger

  3. Jun 12

    Polemics Rec. | In Conversation with Barbara Trionfi

    In the age of the digital revolution, freedom of the media is ever harder to govern and ensure. Each year on the 3rd of May, World Press Freedom Day reminds us that the media is not a subsidiary component of civil society, but a core and essential pillar-stone of both democracy and security. So how do we defend that freedom at times when threats keep multiplying? In this month's episode, we sat down with Barbara Trionfi, Principal Advisor to the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, to discuss the state of media affairs in the OSCE region and beyond. Together with our hosts Hannah Huber and Ulla Gerhard, Ms. Trionfi dives into the many struggles in protecting media freedom and the pressures facing the discipline of journalism as a whole. The conversation traverses many areas, drifting from the vulnerability of female journalists to online attacks, to the various ways tech platforms both use and abuse media. Stay tuned for more! Jingle: Dreamers by Nobou (Royalty-free music from Artlist) --- --- --- Polemics Rec. is the official podcast of Polemics Magazine. As a student-run production, the podcast features the voices, creative contributions, and editorial input of the diverse student body at the Diplomatische Akademie Wien. The podcast takes advantage of the vibrant international community here in Vienna by interviewing diplomats, policymakers, academics, and cultural figures. Our new season features two core formats. In Conversation presents in-depth interviews with leading voices in foreign policy, diplomacy, and global governance. The Roundtable brings you student-led discussions on major global questions, offering a range of perspectives from inside the Academy. Follow POLEMICS MAGAZINE at https://www.polemics-magazine.com Check out the Diplomatische Akademie Wien at https://www.da-vienna.ac.at

    Polemics Rec. | In Conversation with Barbara Trionfi

  4. May 15

    Polemics Rec. | In Conversation with Ambassador Fatène Benhabylès-Foeth

    In the current geopolitical environment, multilateral institutions are being tested like never before. The OSCE, bringing together 57 participating states from Vancouver to Vladivostok, continues to serve as a crucial forum where dialogue is maintained across political and geographic divides. But what does that actually look like in practice, and how does the organization meet today's security challenges? In this month's episode, we explore these questions by bringing you a conversation with Ambassador Fatène Benhabylès-Foeth, France's Permanent Representative to the OSCE. Together with our hosts Hannah Huber and Philippe Rauscher, the Ambassador reflects on her experiences during France's recent chairpersonship of the Forum for Security Co-operation, the enduring relevance of the OSCE's foundational mission, and the important role multilateral diplomacy continues to play in navigating today's complex international environment.  Stay tuned for more! Jingle: Dreamers by Nobou (Royalty-free music from Artlist) --- --- --- Polemics Rec. is the official podcast of Polemics Magazine. As a student-run production, the podcast features the voices, creative contributions, and editorial input of the diverse student body at the Diplomatische Akademie Wien. The podcast takes advantage of the vibrant international community here in Vienna by interviewing diplomats, policymakers, academics, and cultural figures. Our new season features two core formats. In Conversation presents in-depth interviews with leading voices in foreign policy, diplomacy, and global governance. The Roundtable brings you student-led discussions on major global questions, offering a range of perspectives from inside the Academy. Follow POLEMICS MAGAZINE at https://www.polemics-magazine.com Check out the Diplomatische Akademie Wien at https://www.da-vienna.ac.at

    Polemics Rec. | In Conversation with Ambassador Fatène Benhabylès-Foeth

  5. Apr 17

    Polemics Rec. | In Conversation with Michael Zinkanell-Süss

    In an increasingly digital world, security challenges are no longer confined to physical borders. Cyberattacks on critical infrastructure, coordinated disinformation campaigns, and other hybrid threats have become central concerns for governments, international organizations, and societies alike. In this month’s episode, we take a closer look at these evolving dynamics. Together with Michael Zinkanell-Süss, Director of the Austria Institute for European and Security Policy (AIES), our hosts Hannah Huber and Jakob Sebök discuss the growing importance of cyber and hybrid threats, their implications for international security, and how policymakers can respond to these complex challenges. Stay tuned for more! Jingle: Dreamers by Nobou (Royalty-free music from Artlist) --- --- --- Polemics Rec. is the official podcast of Polemics Magazine. As a student-run production, the podcast features the voices, creative contributions, and editorial input of the diverse student body at the Diplomatische Akademie Wien. The podcast takes advantage of the vibrant international community here in Vienna by interviewing diplomats, policymakers, academics, and cultural figures. Our new season features two core formats. In Conversation presents in-depth interviews with leading voices in foreign policy, diplomacy, and global governance. The Roundtable brings you student-led discussions on major global questions, offering a range of perspectives from inside the Academy. Follow POLEMICS MAGAZINE at https://www.polemics-magazine.com Check out the Diplomatische Akademie Wien at https://www.da-vienna.ac.at

    Polemics Rec. | In Conversation with Michael Zinkanell-Süss

  6. Mar 6

    Polemics Rec. | In Conversation with Ambassador Ana María Alonso Giganto

    Just in time for International Women's Day, this episode explores a topic that has gained increasing international and academic attention: Feminist Foreign Policy. Together with Ambassador Ana María Alonso Giganto, Ambassador-at-Large for Feminist Foreign Policy at the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and member of the Alliance of Feminist Foreign Policy Ambassadors, our hosts Hannah Huber and Nicole Pinto discuss the evolution of Feminist Foreign Policy, its practical implementation and how Ambassador Giganto’s own experiences have shaped her work and priorities in this particular field of diplomacy. Stay tuned for more! Jingle: Dreamers by Nobou (Royalty-free music from Artlist) --- --- --- Polemics Rec. is the official podcast of Polemics Magazine. As a student-run production, the podcast features the voices, creative contributions, and editorial input of the diverse student body at the Diplomatische Akademie Wien. The podcast takes advantage of the vibrant international community here in Vienna by interviewing diplomats, policymakers, academics, and cultural figures. Our new season features two core formats. In Conversation presents in-depth interviews with leading voices in foreign policy, diplomacy, and global governance. The Roundtable brings you student-led discussions on major global questions, offering a range of perspectives from inside the Academy. Follow POLEMICS MAGAZINE at https://www.polemics-magazine.com Check out the Diplomatische Akademie Wien at https://www.da-vienna.ac.at

    Polemics Rec. | In Conversation with Ambassador Ana María Alonso Giganto

  7. 12/22/2025

    Polemics Rec. | In Conversation with Ambassador Martin Eichtinger

    Welcome to the first episode of In Conversation, our new expert interview format, where we bring you in-depth conversations with distinguished voices in foreign policy, diplomacy, and other pressing issues in global governance. In this episode, Hannah and Phil sat down with Ambassador Martin Eichtinger, Director of the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna. Together, they discussed a wide range of topics, including changes in diplomacy and multilateralism in 2025, his priorities for the Academy in the coming academic years, and his advice for future diplomats.  Stay tuned for more! Jingle: Dreamers by Nobou (Royalty-free music from Artlist) --- --- --- Polemics Rec. is the official podcast of Polemics Magazine. As a student-run production, the podcast features the voices, creative contributions, and editorial input of the diverse student body at the Diplomatische Akademie Wien. The podcast takes advantage of the vibrant international community here in Vienna by interviewing diplomats, policymakers, academics, and cultural figures. Our new season features two core formats. In Conversation presents in-depth interviews with leading voices in foreign policy, diplomacy, and global governance. The Roundtable brings you student-led discussions on major global questions, offering a range of perspectives from inside the Academy. Follow POLEMICS MAGAZINE at https://www.polemics-magazine.com Check out the Diplomatische Akademie Wien at https://www.da-vienna.ac.at

    Polemics Rec. | In Conversation with Ambassador Martin Eichtinger

  8. 12/05/2025

    Polemics Rec. | The Roundtable Ep. 1: Mamdani Election

    We're so back baby, with a new season of Polemics Rec.! With 2 new formats, In Conversation and The Roundtable! In this first episode of The Roundtable, Ilana and Phil dive into the election of Zohran Mamdani to the NYC mayor's office and its implications for the wider United States and the rest of the world. Stay tuned for more! --- --- --- Polemics Rec. is the official podcast of Polemics Magazine. As a student-run production, the podcast features the voices, creative contributions, and editorial input of the diverse student body at the Diplomatische Akademie Wien. The podcast takes advantage of the vibrant international community here in Vienna by interviewing diplomats, policymakers, academics, and cultural figures. Our new season features two core formats. In Conversation presents in-depth interviews with leading voices in foreign policy, diplomacy, and global governance. The Roundtable brings you student-led discussions on major global questions, offering a range of perspectives from inside the Academy. Follow POLEMICS MAGAZINE at https://www.polemics-magazine.com Check out the Diplomatische Akademie Wien at https://www.da-vienna.ac.at

    Polemics Rec. | The Roundtable Ep. 1: Mamdani Election
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About

POLEMICS REC. is a student-run podcast at the Diplomatische Akademie Wien – Vienna School of International Studies, built from the voices, creative contributions, and editorial input of our diverse student body.  Benefiting from the vibrant international community here in Vienna, it produces two monthly formats. In Conversation is an expert interview series covering contemporary issues in international affairs by sitting down with global leaders, diplomats, and experts in their field. In the other format, The Roundtable, students take the lead in exploring the same issues through open and diverse debate. Polemics Rec. further cooperates closely with Polemics Magazine to supply topical content across both outlets and to put together events for students at the Academy.Contact:Email: polemics.rec@da-vienna.at

Information

  • Creator
    POLEMICS
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    23
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 POLEMICS REC.
  • Show Website
    POLEMICS REC.