
The World Unpacked
The World Unpacked is a biweekly foreign policy podcast hosted by Sophia Besch that breaks down the hottest global issues of today with experts, journalists, and policymakers who can explain what is happening, why it matters, and where we go from here. Tune in to get smart on foreign policy.
Latest episodes

Apr 18, 2019 • 23min
How Saudi Arabia and Iran Shape the Middle East
Jen talks to Karim Sadjadpour and Kim Ghattas about the rivalry between Saudi Arabia and Iran, and how it shapes the Middle East. This episode originally aired on March 30, 2018. We'll be back with a new name, a new look, and new episodes on May 9.

Apr 11, 2019 • 27min
The Largest Elections in History
879 million Indians head to the polls in the largest elections in history. Jen talks to Milan Vaishnav, host of Grand Tamasha, about what's at stake in the 2019 Indian general election. To learn more, check out Milan's explanation of the Indian elections, and listen to more election analysis on Milan's weekly podcast on Indian politics, Grand Tamasha.

Apr 4, 2019 • 16min
Trump’s Golan Heights Gambit and Kushner’s Rumored Peace Plan
What does Trump’s decision to recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights mean for Israel, Syria, and the region? And what groundwork does it lay for Jared Kushner’s rumored Middle East peace plan? Jen talks to Marwan Muasher about his view on the prospects for peace, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s political future.

Mar 28, 2019 • 54min
DiploPod Live: Bill Burns on American Diplomacy
In our first ever live show, Jen talks to Carnegie President Bill Burns about his new book, The Back Channel: A Memoir of American Diplomacy and the Case for Its Renewal. They talked about his thirty-five year career in diplomacy, what it's like to meet with Muammar Qaddafi and Vladimir Putin.

Mar 21, 2019 • 25min
Ukraine Five Years After Crimea
Jen talks with Andrew Weiss and Balázs Jarábik about Ukraine five years after Russia's annexation of the Crimean peninsula and a week before the Ukrainian presidential elections.
Don't forget to register for our live show! It's on Tuesday, March 26, at 11:00 a.m. at our Washington, DC office. Register here - it's free to attend, and books will be available for purchase.

Mar 14, 2019 • 38sec
DiploPod Live is Coming!
We're is taking a hiatus this week as we recover from the Carnegie International Nuclear Policy Conference, but we’ll be back in your feed next week! In the meantime, don’t forget to register to attend our first live show! It’s at our Washington DC headquarters at 11am on Tuesday, March 26. I’ll interview Bill Burns about his new book, The Back Channel. Bill is one of the most renowned diplomats around, so you’ll definitely want to hear what he has to say. It’s free to attend, and you can register at carnegieendowment.org/diplopodlive.
See you next week!

Mar 7, 2019 • 30min
What Happened Between India and Pakistan?
Jen talks to Carnegie Vice President George Perkovich about last week's tensions between India and Pakistan
Also – DiploPod is having its first live show! It's on Tuesday, March 26, at 11:00 a.m. in Washington, DC. Sign up to attend for free at CarnegieEndowment.org/DiploPodLive
Get George's book, Not War Not Peace? here. And read Eliza Griswold's piece in the New Yorker, "The Violent Toll of Hindu Nationalism in India".

Feb 28, 2019 • 11min
Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un in Vietnam
While Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un were talking in Vietnam, Jen sat down with Carnegie expert Toby Dalton about the what a successfully negotiated agreement with North Korea might look like.

Feb 21, 2019 • 33min
Where is the U.S.-China Relationship Going?
Jen talks to Evan Feigenbaum about how Xi Jinping has changed China, what people around the United States really think of China, and where the U.S.-China relationship is headed.

Feb 14, 2019 • 24min
The Future of the U.S.-Saudi Relationship
Saudi Arabia has received a lot of negative attention in recent months, from the murder of Jamal Khashoggi to recent reporting about U.S. weapons originally sold to the Saudis showing up in Yemen. Have there been any consequences for their relationship with the United States? And how have these events changed the power structures in the region? Jen talks to Carnegie expert Frederic Wehrey to find out.