Listen Now

For more than six decades, Fidel Castro's words have echoed through the politics of Latin America. His towering political influence still looms over the region today.The swing to the Left in Latin America, known as the 'Pink Tide', was the most important political movement in the Western Hemisphere in the 21st century. Yet today, this wave of populism has left the Americas in the hands of some of the most authoritarian and dangerous leaders since the military dictatorships of the 1970s. In this week's episode BBC correspondent Will Grant speaks to Mark Mardell about his new book Populista and how strongmen have shaped the region. To buy the book click here: https://amzn.to/3qqT5ke Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/intelligencesquared.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

For today's episode we have something a little different for you. We wanted to introduce you to a new podcast we think you’ll love called Power: The Maxwells.Everyone’s heard of Ghislaine Maxwell (Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged partner in crime). But there’s a shadowy figure who hangs above her who you likely don’t know: her father, media tycoon Robert Maxwell. His rise from nothing to fall… from the deck of his super yacht under mysterious circumstances is straight out of a crime novel. His favorite daughter Ghislaine’s theory: her father was murdered. From Somethin’ Else, makers of ‘The Immaculate Deception’ and ‘Faultline: Bush, Blair & Iraq’, hosted by Investigative journalist Tara Palmeri, ‘Power: The Maxwells’ is a seven part series on the incredible true story of a media mogul whose legacy is still being felt today.Power: The Maxwells is available on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/intelligencesquared.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

2021 is already set to be a monumental year. On January 1 Britain finally Brexited with a deal. On January 20 Joe Biden will become President of the United States. And as we move towards the summer months more and more of us will be vaccinated against COVID-19.What will these seismic events mean for the future of Britain and America? As the pandemic eases, will we see fairer more unified nations? Or will our economic and cultural divides open up and become even more pronounced?To discuss and debate these questions, Will Davies and Matthew Goodwin, two of Britain’s most popular political thinkers – one left-leaning, the other right-of-centre – joined us in January 2021. The event was hosted by journalist and author Jenny Kleeman. To find out more about the speakers books see below: Will Davies, This is Not Normal: https://bit.ly/2XkWUuLMatthew Goodwin, National Populism: https://bit.ly/3pXLskQJenny Kleeman, Sex Robots and Vegan Meat: https://bit.ly/3q1C5AA Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/intelligencesquared.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This episode was recorded in September 2020. 'The undercover economist' and Numbers and economics guru Tim Harford takes a deep dive into the world of statistics. Drawing on the ideas in his new book, How to Make the World Add Up: Ten Rules for Thinking Differently About Numbers, Harford takes us on a journey through art forgery, fake news, big data and dangerous political narratives, relaying the stories behind our understanding of what numbers mean, and showing why using them properly can give us unparalleled insight into every area of life.Harford was joined by David Spiegelhalter, Winton Professor for the Understanding of Risk at the University of Cambridge, who has been described by Harford on his Radio 4 show More or Less as a ‘statistical national treasure’. Chairing the event was the mathematician Hannah Fry, whose acclaimed television and radio documentaries have brought the world of maths, data and algorithms to a wide public audience.To buy the book click here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/how-to-make-the-world-add-up/tim-harford/9781408712245 Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/intelligencesquared.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In 2018 journalist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered by Saudi regime operatives, shocking the world and drawing widespread condemnation. Mohammad bin Salman, the kingdom’s young crown prince, denied any involvement in the killing but his reputation as a moderniser was tarnished. Bin Salman had tried to build an international reputation as a reformer by allowing women to drive and permitting concerts in Saudi Arabia for the first time, but the brutal killing reminded the world that the kingdom was still one of the most repressive societies on earth.In December 2020, Madawi Al-Rasheed, a Saudi dissident and author of the new book The Son King, came to Intelligence Squared to describe what she sees as essentially a con-trick: a purported programme of reforms that mask a new regime of oppression. In conversation with the BBC’s Middle East Editor Jeremy Bowen, she discussed the Saudi regime’s new online strategy of disinformation intended to promote a progressive image to the outside world, while cracking down on diverse critical voices—religious scholars, feminists and dissident youth at home. Al-Rasheed will also challenge what she calls an Orientalist view of despotism in the West, that sees dictatorship as the only pathway to stable governance in the kingdom. To find out more and order the book click here: https://www.hurstpublishers.com/book/the-son-king/ Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/intelligencesquared.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In November 2020 author and podcaster Otegha Uwagba came to Intelligence Squared to discuss her new book, Whites: On Race and Other Falsehoods. Containing reflections on racism, whiteness, and the mental labour required of Black people to navigate relationships with white people, Whites is a record of Uwagba’s observations on this era-defining moment in history.In the wake of George Floyd’s brutal murder, the subsequent protests and scrutiny of institutional racism, it has been impossible to ignore how race is embedded in every aspect of our lives. ‘A reluctant expert’, as she describes herself, Uwagba explored the impacts of whiteness; not only discussing its effect on Black people’s lives, but also how it can shield white people from truly facing their own privilege and prevent them from being effective allies in the fight against racism. The episode was hosted by CEO of gal-dem Mariel Richards. To find out more and order the book click here: https://bit.ly/359AKjt Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/intelligencesquared.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

No speaker in the history of Intelligence Squared has generated as many YouTube views as Daniel Goleman. His 2013 talk for us has been viewed 3.2 million times. Goleman returned to celebrate the 25th anniversary of his number one, multi-million copy international bestseller, Emotional Intelligence. The book, revolutionary at the time, taught us that qualities such as self-awareness, impulse control, persistence, motivation, empathy and social deftness are more important than raw IQ. These so-called softer skills are the ones which determine whether or not people excel at work, have flourishing relationships and are able to navigate difficult conversations.In this podcast, Goleman shared new insights into the brain architecture underlying emotion and rationality, and showed precisely how emotional intelligence can be nurtured and strengthened in all of us. The episode was chaired by host of the Stories of Our Times podcast Manveen ana To buy the book click here: https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/emotional-intelligence-9780747528302/ Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/intelligencesquared.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The pandemic of 2020 has turned our lives upside down. Home working and homeschooling have become the norm for millions of us. And while you might think that the absence of long commutes, live entertainment and late-night socialising means we are more rested, many of us are more frazzled than ever, finding it difficult to separate work from downtime and unable to take proper time out for ourselves. And when we do, we often feel guilty that we aren’t doing something more productive.In this live podcast taken from Intelligence Squared Plus, Claudia Hammond explained that rest is not just a matter of doing nothing – it is a vital part of self-care. Her book, The Art of Rest, draws on ground-breaking research she uncovered through ‘The Rest Test’, the largest global survey into rest ever undertaken, which was completed by 18,000 people across 135 different countries. Much has been written on the value of sleep in recent years, but rest is different; it is how we unwind, calm our minds and recharge our bodies. And, as the survey revealed, how much rest you get is directly linked to your sense of well-being. The episode was hosted by Oceanographer and physicist Helen Czerski. To buy the book, click here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-art-of-rest/claudia-hammond/9781786892829 Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/intelligencesquared.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Black Lives Matter began as a hashtag when Alicia Garza wrote what she calls ‘a love letter to Black people’ on Facebook, after George Zimmerman was acquitted of fatally shooting Trayvon Martin, an unarmed black teenager, in 2013.In this week's podcast Garza spoke to Yassmin Abdel-Magied about how she and her co-founders built Black Lives Matter into the most influential social justice movement of recent times. The phrase she coined was chanted by millions of people around the world this year in protests against the brutal killing in May of George Floyd by a police officer. But, as she pointed out, hashtags don’t build movements, people do. The work was done not through celebrity influencers or a leader swooping down from on high, but by people at the grass roots knocking on doors, building a base, and acting collaboratively to fight the persistent message that Black lives are of less value than white lives.Drawing on the themes of her new book, The Purpose of Power: How to Build Movements for the 21st Century, Garza set out her commitment to bring real change to those whose economic opportunities have been blighted by racism.To find out more and order the book, click here: https://amzn.to/3p1SIM4 Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/intelligencesquared.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In its earliest days, WeWork promised the impossible: to make the workplace cool. In episode one of Intelligence Squared Business Reeves Wiedeman tells the story of how WeWork attracted billions of dollars from some of the most sought-after investors in the world, to build a global empire. Based on more than two hundred interviews, Wiedeman's book Billion Dollar Loser chronicles the breakneck speed at which WeWork's CEO Adam Neumann built and grew his company. Culminating in a day-by-day account of the five weeks leading up to WeWork's botched IPO and Neumann's dramatic ouster, Wiedeman exposes the story of the company's desperate attempt to secure the funding it needed in the final moments of a decade defined by excess. The episode was hosted by economist and broadcaster Linda Yueh.Subscribe to Intelligence Squared Business here: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/intelligence-squared-business/id1542365818?i=1000500483797 Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/intelligencesquared.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this week's episode Eric Weiner speaks to Danielle Sands about what philosophy can teach us in the age of COVID-19. From Socrates and ancient Athens to Simone de Beauvoir and twentieth-century Paris they discuss philosophers and places that provide important signposts as we navigate today’s chaotic times.To find out more about the book click here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Socrates-Express-Search-Lessons-Philosophers/dp/1501129015 Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/intelligencesquared.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It’s the issue that’s more divisive than Brexit, more polarising than politics. The world is full of animal lovers but we can’t agree on which pet is more worthy of our love – the loyal, obedient dog, or the inscrutable, capricious cat. In this week's episode philosopher John Gray goes up against writer Will Self to debate the age old question of which animal is superior. The debate was chaired by writer, academic and broadcaster Shahidha Bari. To find out more about John Gray's book click here: https://amzn.to/2LkoipK Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/intelligencesquared.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The world had been waiting for the news and on November 9 it finally came: a vaccine produced by Pfizer and BioNTech had proved to be more than 90% effective in preventing COVID-19 in clinical trials. And then just a week later another pharmaceutical company, Moderna, announced the results of its own clinical trials. Moderna’s vaccine showed a remarkable 95% efficacy in preventing Covid-19. With further promising results from the Oxford/AstraZenica vaccine showing between 70 – 90% protection, many policymakers now believe we are on track for a mass rollout of multiple vaccines in 2021 and a chance of normality resuming within months. But how realistic is this? And what questions still need to be answered?Many experts are warning that, while the news about vaccines is an encouraging episode in the pandemic story, it is by no means the end of it. We have many ethical and logistical challenges ahead of us in the coming months. The chief scientist behind the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, Uğur Şahin, has said we are unlikely to see any signs of the pandemic receding before the summer of 2021. In the meantime, a lot of questions remain unanswered: Should we continue with lockdowns until the summer or beyond? Who should be vaccinated first? The elderly so we can save lives and reduce the burden on healthcare providers? Or – as some are suggesting – the young, so we can kickstart the economy? And more broadly, is it fair that pharmaceutical companies should make vast profits from a vaccine?To answer these questions, Sarah Gilbert, Project Leader for the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, Richard Horton, editor of The Lancet, and Tim Spector, epidemiologist and founder of the ZOE Covid symptom tracking app, joined us in December 2020. The event was hosted by Anjana Ahuja, leading science contributor for the Financial Times. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/intelligencesquared.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In December 2020 we were joined by British Conservative MP Tom Tugendhat, who argued that we need to prevent a Beijing-dominated world, and Singaporean author Kishore Mahbubani, who contends that the West should accept that it’s only a matter of time before China usurps the US as the world’s most influential superpower. The debate was chaired by Manveen Rana, senior investigative journalist and host of the 'Stories of Our Times' podcast. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/intelligencesquared.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Lionel Barber was editor of the Financial Times for the tech boom, the global financial crisis, the continuing rise of China, Brexit, and the established media’s fight for survival in the age of disinformation.In this episode he revealed what transpired during interviews and private meetings and exchanges with Vladimir Putin, Angela Merkel and Prince Andrew. From the rise of China to conversations with billionaire bankers facing economic meltdown, Barber offered unique insight into the people who continue to shape our world and who, quite literally, make the news. Barber was in conversation with Manveen Rana, senior investigative journalist and host of the Stories of Our Times podcast. To find out more about Barber's book, click here: https://bit.ly/3mu62b8 Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/intelligencesquared.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

At this point in history we are witnessing the highest levels of migration on record. About 258 million people, or one in every 30, were living outside their country of birth in 2017. But whatever an individual’s reason for travel the experience tends to vary greatly depending on the colour of the traveller’s skin.In November 2020, writer and political analyst Nanjala Nyabola came to Intelligence Squared to discuss her new book 'Travelling While Black' and offer thoughtful and original reflections on migration, race and identity from an African woman abroad. She will speak of her experiences exploring the world, from working with migrants crossing the Mediterranean to confronting how tourism is often exclusively designed for white people. Drawing from her experiences in places including Nepal, Botswana, Sicily, Haiti, New York and Nairobi, Nyabola asks tough questions and offers surprising, shocking and sometimes funny answers. The event was hosted by award-winning journalist Yousra Elbagir.To find out more about the book click here: https://amzn.to/33qj6XM Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/intelligencesquared.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week's episode features another debate from our friends at Intelligence Squared Germany, who in partnership with The European Council on Foreign Relations debated whether the election of Joe Biden as U.S President will really change the relationship between Europe and The United States. The debate featured Matt Karnitschnig, Chief Europe Correspondent, POLITICO going up against Sudha David-Wilp, Deputy Director, German Marshall Fund. The debate was chaired by Jana Puglierin, Senior Policy Fellow and Head of Berlin Office, European Council on Foreign Relations. To find out more about the ECFR click here: https://ecfr.eu/ Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/intelligencesquared.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week Anthony Scaramucci, the former Director of Communications in President Donald Trump’s White House, and Danielle Pletka, former Vice President at the American Enterprise Institute, debate the Republican Party's response to the US election and the future of America. The podcast was hosted by Jonathan Freedland, columnist for the Guardian and regular presenter on BBC Radio 4. Find out more about Danielle Pletka's podcast here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-the-hell-is-going-on/id1467993804 Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/intelligencesquared.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this special podcast brought to you by the Home Office and Intelligence Squared, Director of Border and Immigration Policy at the Home Office Philippa Rouse, Head of Immigration Policy at the FSB Emelia Quist, and Partner at Fragomen Ian Robinson discuss the UK's new points based immigration system and what it will mean for businesses and individuals. Hosted by broadcaster Linda Yueh, the panel delves into the key changes and dates businesses need to look out for and the guidance on offer to steer them through the process. For more information go to gov.uk/hiringfromtheEU Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/intelligencesquared.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Margaret MacMillan is a distinguished historian, known for her masterly grasp of her subject matter as well as her gift for vivid storytelling. In November 2020 she came to Intelligence Squared Plus to discuss war, a topic which, she argues, we should be talking about more than we currently are.MacMillan explained how war has shaped our societies and our very concept of ourselves. Once you embark on war you need structures and soldiers. You need people to give orders and to take orders. All that requires societal organisation. And from war we get many of our political institutions, our values and ideas. Our very language, our public spaces, our private memories, and some of our greatest cultural treasures have been influenced by war – from Homer to the paintings of Paul Nash.Drawing on the themes of her new book, 'War: How Conflict Shaped Us', MacMillan examined the benefits that war has brought us, from votes for women to the mass availability of penicillin, and (arguably) nuclear power. And debated such questions as: When did war first start? Does human nature doom us to fight one another? Why has war been described as the most organised of all human activities? Why are warriors almost always men? Is war ever within our control?In conversation with bestselling historian of The Silk Roads Peter Frankopan, MacMillan revealed the many faces of war – the way it has determined our past, and will continue to shape our future. To find out more about the book click here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/War-How-Conflict-Shaped-Us/dp/1984856138 Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/intelligencesquared.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.