Economist Podcasts

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News
Updated Daily

Every weekday our global network of correspondents makes sense of the stories beneath the headlines. We bring you surprising trends and tales from around the world, current affairs, business and finance — as well as science and technology. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1d ago • Subscribers Only

The Weekend Intelligence: How to Retire at 30

Do you worry about a future where your job is replaced by AI? Are you a high earner but never seem to have any money? Would you like to work less and spend more time pursuing joy? Then FIRE might be right for you! Tamara Gilkes Borr delves into the “Financial Independence, Retire Early” movement to find out how to step back from work and what you have to sacrifice to do so. Topics covered: FIRE Early retirement Financial independence environmentalism Links to articles: https://www.economist.com/leaders/2026/05/14/prepare-for-an-ai-jobs-apocalypse https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2026/05/14/the-jobs-apocalypse-a-very-short-history https://www.economist.com/business/2024/01/25/why-you-should-never-retire 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 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.

46 min
2d ago

Pregnant pause: India’s slumping fertility

After decades of overpopulation worries, the country now has the opposite concern. We examine India’s unusual demographic turn, and why it is a wider warning to the world. Vegan substitutes have broadly improved in recent years—so why is there no good vegan cheese? And remembering Sonny Rollins, an absolute colossus of the saxophone. Watch extended clips from Insider here. Guests and host: Tom Sasse, South Asia bureau chiefSam Colbert, senior series producer, Economist PodcastsJon Fasman, senior culture correspondentJason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence” Topics covered: India, fertility rates, global populationvegan cheeseSonny Rollins, jazz Get a world of insights by subscribing 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

24 min
2d ago • Subscribers Only

America’s plans for Cuba

The Trump administration wants wholesale change in Cuba. Since America cut off oil supplies to the island earlier this year life there has become increasingly difficult. How much longer can Cuba’s regime stagger on? Guests and hosts: John Prideaux, US editor and host of “Checks and Balance” Charlotte Howard, executive editor James Bennet, Lexington columnist Sarah Birke, bureau chief for Mexico, Central America & the Caribbean Hugo Cancio, Cuban-American businessman Topics covered: Conditions within Cuba The history of US-Cuba relations What might happen next on the island 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.

48 min
3d ago

A murder exploited: Britain’s George Floyd moment that wasn’t

Nigel Farage, leader of the populist-right Reform UK party, wants Britons to be enraged by a killing in the street. We ask why his tone has changed from “colour-blind” to race-baiting. NATO must now take seriously the idea that America is pulling back; we ask how it is adjusting. And why skipping title sequences is forgoing some of television’s magic. Guests and host: Hugo Gye, British political correspondentJonathan Rosenthal, international correspondentAndrew Miller, “Back Story” columnistJason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence” Topics covered: British politics, race relationsNATO, American foreign policytelevision, media Get a world of insights by subscribing 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

24 min
3d ago • Subscribers Only

How franchising made Americans rich

How do you get rich in today’s America? With many careers threatened by AI, running a franchise looks like a good bet. McDonald’s has plausibly created more millionaires than any firm in history. Now the franchising model can be found everywhere from hotels to Pilates studios. Is franchising the future? Guests and hosts: Greg Flynn, CEO of Flynn Group Mike Bird, co-host of “Money Talks” Alice Fulwood, co-host of “Money Talks” Topics covered: Franchising Fast food High street Transcripts of our podcasts are available via economist.com/podcasts. 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.

37 min
4d ago

Focused group: Ukraine is now Europe’s war

Now that America has stepped back, Europe is at last stepping up. We examine the bloc’s tactics (if not yet a strategy) and how steady its support is likely to be. With the coming public listings of SpaceX and Anthropic, we ask whether stockmarkets can handle a string of “giga-IPOs”. And our World Cup series looks at Iran’s side. Guests and host: Tom Nuttall, chief Germany correspondentJoshua Roberts, capital markets correspondentJon Fasman, senior culture correspondentJason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence” Topics covered: Europe, security, Ukraine warIPOs, investment, stockmarkets, SpaceX, Anthropic, OpenAIWorld Cup, Iran Visit education.economist.com and use code 5YEARS to save 15% on courses developed by our editors and correspondents. Get a world of insights by subscribing 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

21 min
4d ago • Subscribers Only

Influencers v evidence-based medicine (part two)

There’s a lot of medical misinformation online. How do you know who, or what, to trust? To help you think through the fog, we’re bringing you two conversations on health, medicine, evidence and trust in the digital age. In this second episode, we discuss how scientists build consensus and what that can teach the rest of us about navigating an era of confusing, social-media-driven health advice. Guests and hosts: - Helen Pearson, author of “Beyond Belief” and a senior editor at Nature - Alok Jha, The Economist’s science and technology editor Topics covered: - Evidence-based medicine - Clinical trials - Artificial intelligence Transcripts of our podcasts are available via economist.com/podcasts. 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.

34 min
5d ago

Head out of the cloud: Nvidia’s personal-computer shift

The AI world’s go-to chipmaker is blazing a trail toward your personal computer. We ask what moving out of the cloud indicates about the future of computing. The three candidates for mayor of Los Angeles could not be more different, and they are running neck and neck. And updating generic filler text for the business-jargon era. Guests and host: Shailesh Chitnis, global business writerAryn Braun, West Coast correspondentAndrew Palmer, executive editor and “Bartleby” columnistJason Palmer (no relation), co-host of “The Intelligence” Topics covered: Nvidia, AI, technologyLos Angeles, American politicscorporate jargon Get a world of insights by subscribing 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

21 min

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Join Jason Palmer and Rosie Blau for noise-cancelling news and analysis from The Economist's global network of correspondents. Every weekday this award-winning podcast picks three stories shaping your world—the big shifts in politics, business and culture, plus things you never knew you needed to know. On Saturdays, download The Weekend Intelligence to dive deep into a single story, vividly told. 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.

4.5 (2441)

Daily News
The World in Brief tells you what’s on the global agenda in the coming day, what to look out for in business, finance and politics and, most importantly, what to make of it. Economist Podcasts+ subscribers and digital subscribers to The Economist should log in at economist.com/audio/podcasts/the-world-in-brief for access to the full World in Brief. Sign up for Economist Podcasts+ here: www.economist.com/podcastsplus-worldinbrief. For more information about Economist Podcasts+, including how to get access, please visit our FAQs page here https://myaccount.economist.com/s/article/What-is-Economist-Podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

4.1 (1033)

Daily News
Unlock American politics with The Economist’s John Prideaux, Charlotte Howard and James Bennet. Taking one big theme every week, they dig into the data, the ideas and the history behind it. Politicians, pollsters and political scientists join them to discuss where the great experiment of American democracy is headed. Published every Friday. 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 here https://myaccount.economist.com/s/article/What-is-Economist-Podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

4.5 (1432)

Politics
Join The Economist’s Mike Bird, Alice Fulwood and Ethan Wu for award-winning reporting and discussion on the stories that move markets. They speak to top bosses, investors and analysts around the world for unmatched insight into global finance, business and economics. Published every Thursday. 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.

4.3 (930)

Business News
Babbage is The Economist’s weekly podcast on science and technology—named after Charles Babbage, the grandfather of computing. Explore the science changing the way we live from AI to genetics, particle physics and space travel with Alok Jha. This award-winning podcast features in-depth interviews with top scientists and special episodes investigating wellness trends. Published every Wednesday. 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 here https://myaccount.economist.com/s/article/What-is-Economist-Podcasts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

4.8 (589)

Science
Stay ahead with a selection of handpicked articles read aloud from the latest issue of The Economist. Published every Monday to Thursday. 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 here https://myaccount.economist.com/s/article/What-is-Economist-Podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

4.3 (524)

News

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Alice Fulwood

Host
Mike Bird

Host
Patrick Lane

Host
Tom Lee-Devlin

Host
Tom Sasse

Guest
Jon Fasman

Guest
Shashank Joshi

Guest
Ann Wroe

Guest
Sarah Birke

Guest
Kinley Salmon

Guest

4.3

out of 5

3,789 Ratings

Too many obituaries

11/21/2025

Matt v222

Lately it feels like there are three obituaries a week. I listen to the intelligence to get a quick overview of current events while getting ready in the morning. The obituaries don’t fit that goal. Maybe give them their own separate show that can be punished when relevant?
But not Israel

May 30

NYC22spl

It’s hard to fathom how you can talk about Russian atrocities like bombing a hospital and completely omit Israel from doing that and far worse. It’s inexplicable unless it isn’t.
Interesting Perspectives and Analysis

May 9

Evolution is a fraud

Although the Economist has a decidedly liberal bias, it is helpful to hear their perspective and analysis. They cover many news topics that you never hear about the US and the rest of the world. Many topics and countries that the US media ignore. Interesting perspectives on US and other nations issues and news.
Significant Bias

Mar 29

MCoop12345

The Economist has been letting bias through in reporting more and more. I use to view them as a news outlet to get global coverage and well rounded reporting. They have become an opinion outlet and should label their coverage as such. No longer reliable as a result - because of bias any reporting now will need to be confirmed by other sources before relying on it. If you accept this is opinion and not fact, it becomes a little bit easier to listen to but only if that is what you are looking for.

Every weekday our global network of correspondents makes sense of the stories beneath the headlines. We bring you surprising trends and tales from around the world, current affairs, business and finance — as well as science and technology. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.