If You're Listening
ABC Australia
The world is on fire. There's a coup. Inflation is through the roof, and AI is taking our jobs. What does it all mean? Each week, Matt Bevan explains the biggest story in world news while hiding in his basement from assassins and authoritarian regimes.
Recent episodes include an exploration of the relationship between India and China, a closer look at the Saudi Arabian city of NEOM, the conflict in the Middle East, the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran, and Ukraine's incursions into Vladimir Putin's Russia. Matt Bevan draws connections between stories from the past and the events of the present to help listeners understand world news and international affairs.
The podcast also features series about big moments in world news; previous series have focused on the United States presidential election, the United Kingdom's 14 years of Conservative Party leadership, Donald Trump's relationship with Russia, Donald Trump's presidency and promise to Make America Great Again, the Mueller Report, Vladimir Putin's scheme to destroy western democracies, how the relationship between Australia and China came to the verge of collapse, and Australia's turbulent history with climate change.
There's a new episode of If You're Listening every Thursday.
Recent episodes include an exploration of the relationship between India and China, a closer look at the Saudi Arabian city of NEOM, the conflict in the Middle East, the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran, and Ukraine's incursions into Vladimir Putin's Russia. Matt Bevan draws connections between stories from the past and the events of the present to help listeners understand world news and international affairs.
The podcast also features series about big moments in world news; previous series have focused on the United States presidential election, the United Kingdom's 14 years of Conservative Party leadership, Donald Trump's relationship with Russia, Donald Trump's presidency and promise to Make America Great Again, the Mueller Report, Vladimir Putin's scheme to destroy western democracies, how the relationship between Australia and China came to the verge of collapse, and Australia's turbulent history with climate change.
There's a new episode of If You're Listening every Thursday.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Nov 17, 2019 • 21min
RUSSIA | S03 05 - When the Father of Brexit met Mother Russia
From almost complete obscurity, Nigel Farage rode a wave of British anger to take his idea of leaving the European Union from a fringe fantasy to a mainstream cause.But as Farage rose from community hall meetings to primetime TV debates, he found himself increasingly allied with Vladimir Putin.This is the story of how Mr Brexit came to recognise Putin's power and how it could help his cause.
Nov 10, 2019 • 19min
RUSSIA | S03 04 - Putin's obsession with crushing the mother of Germany
German leader Angela Merkel was the most powerful woman in the world.Which is why Putin was determined to take her down.His campaign started by playing on her famous fear of dogs... and ended with the biggest migrant crisis the world had seen.
Nov 3, 2019 • 21min
RUSSIA | S03 03 - How to spin a war
When is an invasion not an invasion? When Putin's propaganda machine is involved, sowing false narratives, confusion and fear. From Putin's motorcycle gang to his 'little green men' and his hip-hop loving head of misinformation, Russia tried everything to convince the West it wasn't invading Ukraine.The propaganda push worked - sort of, and tells us a lot about the misinformation Russia has gone on to do in the West.
Oct 27, 2019 • 20min
RUSSIA | S03 02 - From spymaster to president
Russian President Vladimir Putin came to power declaring he would kill his terrorist enemies, even if they were in the toilet at the time.His transition from spymaster to President came in the midst of apartment bombings, and brutal crackdowns on those he held responsible.He learned that having an enemy to fight makes you a popular leader.The turbulent first years of his Presidency tell us a lot about why he has picked a fight with the West.
Oct 20, 2019 • 19min
RUSSIA | S03 01 - A cold, wet day in Salisbury
The residents of the sleepy English town of Salisbury woke up one morning to find their town in chaos. Russian agents had attempted to assassinate a traitor with a terrifying weapon, in a brazen chemical attack on British soil. But the attempted assassination of Sergei Skripal is only one step in a series of events which began five years ago and may help bring about Brexit, and the impeachment of a US President.Season 3 of Russia, If You're Listening begins in Salisbury, to tell the whole story of Russian President Vladimir Putin's 5-year attack on the western world.
Oct 16, 2019 • 4min
INTRODUCING Season Three | Putin vs The World
The Russian campaign to meddle in the 2016 US Election was only part of President Vladimir Putin's big plan.Season 3 of Russia, If You're Listening looks at where the scheme to destroy western democracies began, the damage it's done, and where it might end.
May 22, 2019 • 21min
RUSSIA | S02 08 - The night at the wine rooms
It's the meeting at a fancy wine bar in London that sparked the Mueller investigation.Some say it was a boozy, alcohol-fuelled drinking session where a clever spy tricked a Trump official into divulging information about Russia.Others say it was a brief encounter where a Trump official naively blurted something to a senior diplomat.So what is the truth?For the first time, both people at the meeting - George Papadopoulos and Alexander Downer - reveal what really happened that night.Here's one spoiler: they agree they both had a gin and tonic.So pull up a chair and grab a drink, because this story gets weird.
May 2, 2019 • 17min
RUSSIA | S02 07 - Oleg Deripaska: The collusion connection?
Robert Mueller has investigated the relationship between former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort and Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska.Deripaska is an aluminium tycoon with close links to Russian President Vladimir Putin.Manafort tried to funnel secret insider information about the Trump election strategy to him.Was that information then used by Russia to influence the election?The story behind the last remaining collusion question.
Apr 25, 2019 • 19min
RUSSIA | S02 06 - Don McGahn: Mueller's star witness
Lawyer Don McGahn was on the Trump train from the beginning.But the dream job of White House Counsel quickly turned into a nightmare, as he slowly fell out of favour with the President.Then one night McGahn was forced to make a choice of historic proportions: help Trump potentially commit a crime or resign.McGahn has found himself the centre of attention, as his testimony to Robert Mueller implicates the President in possible obstruction of justice.
Apr 18, 2019 • 17min
RUSSIA | S02 05 - Julian Assange: Russia's favourite publisher
When Julian Assange was arrested last week, the only camera to capture it was Russian broadcaster RT.It's the latest event in a long relationship between the Wikileaks founder and the state-sponsored network.Assange has denied working with Russian military hackers to influence the US election.But what does Robert Mueller know about Assange’s links to Russia?
