Economist Podcasts

Anton LaGuardia, diplomatic editor explaining the end of the New START nuclear treaty and implications for global arms dynamics. Carla Suborana, news editor unpacking how games, Discord and social media fuel modern cult recruitment. Sam Westron, producer exploring why more young men seek hair transplants and how online life heightens balding anxiety. Multiple short, punchy conversations on nuclear risk, online radicalisation and self-image.

Duncan Robinson, Britain political editor who unpacks the fallout from newly revealed Epstein files and Peter Mandelson’s resignation. Simon Wright, industry editor who explains Ryanair’s ruthless low-cost strategy and why it reshaped European air travel. Bella, a researcher/journalist who outlines surprising findings on same-sex sexual behaviour across animals and links to environment and social structure.

Archie Hall, US economics editor who decodes Kevin Warsh’s Fed nomination; Erin Connolly, Asia diplomatic editor reporting on Thailand’s youth-led parties and royal influence; Emma Irving, Hong Kong news editor highlighting the city’s iconic trams. They discuss the politics around the Fed pick, Thailand’s contested election dynamics and monarchy’s role, and how trams quietly sustain Hong Kong tourism.

Tom Sasse, South Asia bureau chief at The Economist, gives a crisp read on Narendra Modi’s political rebound, policy moves and coalition strategy. Tim Cross, senior science writer, explores research on child prodigies and why early specialization may not produce the ultimate superstars. Short, topical conversations on politics, policy shifts and the science of talent.

Tom Blomfield, entrepreneur and investor who co-founded Monzo and now partners at Y Combinator, discusses how generative AI will reshape work and software engineering. He argues AI will automate much knowledge work and thin the large operational workforce. He explores rapid AI startup growth, layered autonomous agents, and where humans still matter.

Anne Rowe, obituaries editor, reflects on Mark Tully’s career in India. Noah Snyder, East Asia bureau chief, explores Kim Jong-un’s daughter and succession signaling. Charlotte Howard, New York bureau chief, examines rising public anger over ICE, legal fights and political pressure. Short, focused conversations on immigration tensions, North Korean dynasty moves and a celebrated broadcaster’s legacy.

Bret Taylor, tech entrepreneur and CEO of Sierra and chairman of OpenAI, discusses the rise of AI agents and why every company will need one. He talks about when to build versus buy, model limitations and guardrails, monitoring AI with AI, outcomes‑based pricing, and how AI will reshape jobs and workflows.

Ludwig Siegele, senior tech editor who mapped AI’s jagged frontier, and Tom Blomfield, entrepreneur and ex-Monzo founder now advising startups. They discuss how AI will thin knowledge-work layers, where it excels and fails, experiments with AI in newsroom workflows, and why everyone should try AI to find promising small wins.

Nick Pelham, Middle East correspondent for The Economist, gives on-the-ground reporting from Iran. He discusses the country’s sharp split into regime supporters and royalist returnists. He describes why protests turned bloodier and the roles — or absences — of key leaders. He assesses the risks of foreign intervention and possible scenarios if Iran’s leadership falls.

AI is changing how we work. It's turning us all into managers. Be a good one.The Economist’s management columnist, Andrew Palmer, takes on the bots in the third season of Boss Class. From cloning to coding, agents to entry-level jobs, he tackles the threat head on and figures out how to turn anxiety into opportunity. Along the way he meets bulls and bears and the people who can help you to master management in the age of AI.Full Season 3 out 29th January 2026.To listen to the full series, subscribe to Economist Podcasts+.https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plusIf you’re already a subscriber to The Economist, you have full access to all our shows as part of your subscription. 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.