Economist Podcasts

Mac daddy: Apple’s new boss

Tim Cook is stepping down after overseeing 15 years of spectacular growth. We take a look at his successor [https://www.economist.com/business/2026/04/21/tim-cook-hands-apple-over-to-its-hardware-guru?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners]. Japan’s rural women are disproportionately heading to cities, and their home towns are working hard [https://www.economist.com/asia/2026/04/01/why-women-more-than-men-are-abandoning-rural-japan?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners] to lure them back. And a historical examination of boredom, and why Britons have perhaps less of it than they should [https://www.economist.com/britain/2026/04/05/britons-are-less-bored-than-they-used-to-be-this-is-bad?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners]. Guests and host: * Tom Lee-Devlin, business editor * Moeka Iida, Japan reporter * Catherine Nixey, culture correspondent * Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence” * Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence” Topics covered:  * Apple, technology, CEO, John Ternus * Japan, demographics * Britain, boredom Get a world of insights by subscribing to Economist Podcasts+ [https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus]. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page [https://myaccount.economist.com/s/article/What-is-Economist-Podcasts] or watch our video [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gczo71bg1uY] explaining how to link your account. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Now boarding: America seizes an Iranian ship

This week’s peace talks are endangered after American forces fired on and boarded a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz. We visit Chernobyl’s ruined reactor to assess the damage done [http://economist.com/interactive/europe/2026/04/20/chernobyls-forgotten-nuclear-lessons] by a Russian drone to its enormous safety structure. The likes of McDonald’s and KFC have long been [https://www.economist.com/podcasts/2024/08/06/why-chinese-consumers-are-turning-their-backs-on-american-fast-food-chains?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners] in China’s cities; now they are expanding at pace [https://www.economist.com/business/2026/04/05/why-mcdonalds-and-kfc-are-growing-like-wildfire-in-china] in the countryside. Guests and host: * Gregg Carlstrom, Middle East correspondent * Sarah  Lawrynuik, deputy editor of “The Intelligence” * Don Weinland, China business and finance editor * Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence” * Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence” Topics covered:  * Iran war, Strait of Hormuz * Chernobyl, Ukraine war * China, fast food Get a world of insights by subscribing to Economist Podcasts+ [https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus]. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page [https://myaccount.economist.com/s/article/What-is-Economist-Podcasts] or watch our video [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gczo71bg1uY] explaining how to link your account. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Inside Caracas: Venezuela after Maduro

When America seized Venezuela’s president Nicolas Maduro in January, it left the rest of his regime intact. Three months on, our correspondent finds optimism [https://www.economist.com/leaders/2026/04/16/donald-trump-has-made-venezuela-a-better-place?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners] and some loosening of repression. Venezuela’s opposition leader María Corina Machado [https://www.economist.com/briefing/2026/04/16/venezuela-is-not-the-triumph-donald-trump-claims-but-its-improving?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners] fled to America, now she explains her ambitions for the country. And celebrating the life of Nick Pope [https://www.economist.com/obituary/2026/04/16/nick-pope-investigated-ufos-for-the-ministry-of-defence?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners], who spent decades investigating UFOs. Guests and host: * Kinley Salmon, Latin America correspondent * Ann Wroe, obituaries editor * Rosie Blau, host of “The Intelligence” Topics covered:  * Venezuela, oil, Maduro, Trump * María Corina Machado, elections * Nick Pope, UFOs, aliens, NASA Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+ [https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus] For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page [https://myaccount.economist.com/s/article/What-is-Economist-Podcasts] or watch our video [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gczo71bg1uY] explaining how to link your account. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Talks of life: can Israel and Lebanon find peace?

After six weeks of Israel’s offensive [https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2026/04/14/why-israel-continues-to-batter-lebanon?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners] against Hizbullah, Lebanon’s president and Israel’s prime minister are due to talk today. What can they achieve? Britain’s “triple lock” pensions are unsustainable. And Uzbekistan’s footballers prepare for the World Cup. Vote for The Economist at the Webby Awards: “The Last Boat [https://vote.webbyawards.com/PublicVoting#/2026/podcasts/individual-episode/history]” podcast, TikTok channel [https://vote.webbyawards.com/PublicVoting#/2026/video-film/series-channels/news-politics] and language [https://vote.webbyawards.com/PublicVoting#/2026/video-film/series-channels/animation] series.  Guests and host: * Anshel Pfeffer, Israel correspondent * Josh Roberts, capital markets correspondent * Jon Fasman, senior culture correspondent * Rosie Blau, host of “The Intelligence” Topics covered:  * Israel, Lebanon, Hizbullah, Netanyahu * State pension, Britain, triple lock, inflation * World Cup, Uzbekistan Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+ [https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus] For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page [https://myaccount.economist.com/s/article/What-is-Economist-Podcasts] or watch our video [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gczo71bg1uY] explaining how to link your account.  ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Food awakening: Iran’s ripple effect

The Iran conflict and blockades in the Strait of Hormuz are slowing supply not just of fuel, but food and fertiliser. Geophysics could worsen the approaching hunger crisis: an El Niño weather event is predicted for this year. Anti-conversion laws are resulting in horrific scenes at Christian burial sites [https://www.economist.com/asia/2026/04/09/indias-religious-minorities-face-harsher-anti-conversion-laws?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners] in India. And why Britain’s vets [https://www.economist.com/britain/2026/03/24/a-golden-decade-for-british-vets-is-coming-to-an-end?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners] are struggling. Guests and host: * Catherine Brahic, environment editor * Avantika Chilkoti, global business writer * Kira Huju, Asia correspondent * Carla Subirana, news desk editor * Rosie Blau, host of “The Intelligence” Topics covered:  * Iran conflict, oil, food crisis, fertilisers, El Niño * India, Hindu nationalism, Christian conversions, Modi * Britain, pets, vets Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+ [https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus] For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page [https://myaccount.economist.com/s/article/What-is-Economist-Podcasts] or watch our video [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gczo71bg1uY] explaining how to link your account.  ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.