Economist Podcasts

After much hullabaloo America announced its “Operation Economic Outcast”, a new tranche of sanctions. It is thin gruel, and might in fact invite military reprisals from Iran. Call centres form a large part of the economy of the Philippines; surprisingly, AI is not stopping the industry’s rise. And a data-led look at which cities offer the best (relative) paycheques.

Guests and host:
Fraser McIlwraith, foreign correspondent
Joshua Spencer, Asia news editor
Vishnu Padmanabhan, Asia correspondent
Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”
Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:
Iran war, sanctions
AI, offshoring, the Philippines
world cities, pay, economic migration

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Promising trade talks imploded after a literal 11th-hour change from the American side. We examine the new trade barriers being erected, and the complex calculation for Prime Minister Mark Carney. In Japan Gen X workers are even still bearing the costs of an economic bubble-burst from the 1990s. And how fates of civilisations have turned on sieges throughout history.

Guests and host:
Hal Hodson, Americas editor
Moeka Iida, East Asia reporter
Richard Cockett, senior digital editor
Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:
Canada, the United States, tariffs, Mark Carney, trade war
Japan, Gen X, labour market
sieges, world history

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The rise of generative AI has put new urgency into ancient questions. What is consciousness, and can machines ever have it? We dive into the data that reveal a surge in sexually transmitted infections in Europe. And our obituaries editor considers the life of Mary de Rachewiltz, translator and tireless defender of her father, Ezra Pound.

Watch extended clips from Insider here.
Guests and host:
Alok Jha, science & technology editor
Stephen Hurford, newsdesk writer
Ann Wroe, obituaries editor
Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”
Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:
AI, consciousness
sexual health, STIs, STDs, Europe
Mary de Rachewiltz, Ezra Pound

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From anti-corruption probes to a disgruntled ex-minister calling for elections to disrupted grain shipments, headaches are mounting for Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky. China has until now coped with a patchy, pricey system for mental-health treatment. The government is now getting serious about plugging the gaps. And why a debate over “Paw Patrol” is more than just culture-war madness.

Guests and host:
Oliver Carroll, Ukraine correspondent
Sarah Wu, China correspondent
Andrew Miller, special correspondent
Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:
Ukraine war, Volodymyr Zelensky, Mykhailo Fedorov
China, CCP, mental health
Paw Patrol, culture wars

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Orexins are peptides involved in the body’s sleep-wake system—and are big pharma’s next big thing. Like multi-purpose GLPs, they may have far more uses than just regulating shuteye. We ask why Japan’s post-war innovation boom petered out, and what must be done to breed more unicorns. And why procrastination seems to be on the rise, and how to beat it.

Guests and host:
Shailesh Chitnis, global business correspondent
Ethan Wu, Asia business and finance editor
Benjamin Sutherland, science writer
Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”
Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:
orexins, peptides, sleep disorders, pharmaceuticals
Japan, innovation, startups
procrastination

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