Intelligence Squared
Intelligence Squared
Intelligence Squared is the home of lively debate and deep-dive discussion. Follow Intelligence Squared wherever you get your podcasts and enjoy four regular episodes per week taking you to the heart of the issues that matter in the company of the world’s great minds. 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.
Episodes
Mentioned books
5 snips
Apr 23, 2025 • 39min
Ritual, Ancestry, and Cultural History in Modern China, with Alice Mah
Alice Mah, a sociologist and author, explores the intricate ties between ancestry and ecological anxiety. Drawing from her family's journey from rice-growing villages in South China to Western Canada, she reflects on the emotions tied to honoring heritage amidst environmental degradation. Themes of cultural memory, the fading Qingming Festival rituals, and the haunting notion of 'hungry ghosts' illustrate deep intergenerational responsibilities. Mah urges us to reconcile with our past while navigating the complexities of modern identity and climate grief.
19 snips
Apr 21, 2025 • 42min
Proto: How One Ancient Language Went Global, with Laura Spinney
Laura Spinney, a renowned science writer and journalist, is joined by global historian Caroline Dodds Pennock to explore the fascinating legacy of Proto-Indo-European, the ancient tongue that influenced countless modern languages. They discuss how this prehistoric language spread across continents due to trade and migration. The duo also unravels the intricate relationship between language evolution and human movement, revealing how wheeled vehicles played a pivotal role in cultural exchange. Their insights shed light on the connections between language, identity, and history.
Apr 20, 2025 • 1h 35min
Classic Debate: Austen vs Brontë
Join literary heavyweights John Mullan, a Professor of English Literature, and Kate Mosse, a devoted Brontë enthusiast, as they dive into the fierce debate between Jane Austen and Emily Brontë. They dissect Austen's sharp social critiques versus Brontë's raw emotional intensity found in 'Wuthering Heights.' Expect discussions on character depth, societal expectations, and revolutionary themes that challenge norms. Personal anecdotes and engaging arguments will have you pondering who truly reigns in English literature.
8 snips
Apr 18, 2025 • 52min
An Evening with Elif Shafak and Peter Frankopan
Elif Shafak, an award-winning novelist celebrated for her cross-cultural storytelling, joins historian Peter Frankopan, known for his insights on civilizations and the environment. They dive into the evolution of storytelling, emphasizing its interconnectedness across cultures from ancient Mesopotamia to today. Shafak discusses the Yazidi narrative's significance, the struggles of immigrant identities through her character Ziliha, and the healing power of literature. Their conversation also touches on the importance of diverse literary voices and environmental awareness in storytelling.
26 snips
Apr 16, 2025 • 47min
Abundance: A New Blueprint for Liberal Politics, With Derek Thompson
Derek Thompson, a staff writer at The Atlantic and host of the Plain English podcast, teams up with writer Carl Miller to dive into the politics of abundance. They explore how current barriers, particularly in housing policy, hinder progress in liberal democracy. Thompson critiques the Democratic Party's disconnect from voters, especially the youth, while discussing the impact of restrictive regulations on urban development. The conversation also touches on innovative solutions for sustainable infrastructure and the tension between growth and environmental needs.
Apr 13, 2025 • 50min
The Illegals: A Secret History of Soviet Espionage, with Shaun Walker
Shaun Walker, an international correspondent for The Guardian with extensive experience in Russian affairs, discusses his book on Soviet espionage with journalist Carl Miller. They dive into the fascinating history of Russia’s deep cover spies and how these 'illegals' operated under false identities, revealing both astonishing successes and costly failures. The conversation covers the ongoing impact of this covert world on modern geopolitics, along with the psychological toll on spies who lived dual lives amidst state terror and political upheaval.
7 snips
Apr 12, 2025 • 46min
Who Owns Our Digital Afterlives? With Carl Öhman
Carl Öhman, an assistant professor at Uppsala University and author of *The Afterlife of Data*, teams up with Stephanie Hare, a researcher and author of *Technology is Not Neutral*, to unravel the enigma of our digital afterlives. They delve into whether we truly own our data after death and the ethical dilemmas facing tech companies in managing deceased users' accounts. The conversation raises pressing questions about digital legacies, the permanence of our online footprints, and the responsibilities we hold for our virtual selves.
18 snips
Apr 10, 2025 • 40min
Ancient Mesopotamia and the Birth of History, with Moudhy Al-Rashid
Dr. Moudhy Al-Rashid, an Honorary Fellow at Oxford specializing in ancient Mesopotamia, explores the thrilling legacy of this civilization. She discusses the inception of writing and how it transformed society, along with captivating stories of everyday people—like Latubashini, an enslaved mother fighting for freedom. Al-Rashid highlights the often-overlooked humanity in Mesopotamian texts and shares insights on how their personal struggles with love and ambition resonate even today. Dive into this fascinating blend of history and human experience!
39 snips
Apr 8, 2025 • 36min
The World in 2025 with Robert Kaplan: Finding A Way Through Permanent Crisis (Part Two)
Join Robert Kaplan, a geopolitical expert and bestselling author, as he navigates the turbulent waters of global instability. He draws intriguing parallels between today's crises and the Weimar Republic, stressing the importance of historical context. Kaplan argues for prioritizing order and historic liberalism over mass democracy to combat the chaotic future ahead. The discussion spans the dynamics between the U.S., China, and India, the risks of polarization in American politics, and insights on military policy amid the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.
25 snips
Apr 6, 2025 • 35min
The World in 2025 with Robert Kaplan: Finding A Way Through Permanent Crisis (Part One)
Join Robert Kaplan, a geopolitical expert and bestselling author, as he dives into the turbulent global landscape of 2025. He draws parallels between today's crises and the Weimar Republic, emphasizing the need for order amidst chaos. Kaplan explores technology's dual role in exacerbating conflicts and the fragility of democracy. He also discusses America’s influence on global stability, scrutinizing NATO’s role and the fragility of modern autocracies like Russia and China. With keen insights, he suggests that historic liberalism may be key to navigating the future.
