Economist Podcasts

Xi says: who will succeed him?

A giant leadership reshuffle [https://www.economist.com/china/2026/03/29/chinas-leadership-is-about-to-be-shaken-up?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] is underway in China, but one job will stay the same: Xi Jinping is almost certain to secure another five-year term at next year’s party congress. Reasons to be optimistic about Europe’s tech [https://www.economist.com/business/2026/03/01/at-last-reasons-to-be-cheerful-about-european-tech?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] future. And the life of controversial winemaker, Michel Rolland [https://www.economist.com/obituary/2026/04/01/michel-rolland-was-the-worlds-first-flying-winemaker?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: * James Miles, global China writer * Guy Scriven, global business writer * Jon Fasman, senior culture correspondent * Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence” * Jason Palmer, co-host of “The intelligence” Topics covered:  * Xi Jinping, China, Party Congress * Tech, quantum computing * Michel Rolland, wine, obituary 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.

Over the moon: Artemis II launches

NASA has successfully launched its first crewed space mission [https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2026/03/25/nasas-moon-base-plans-mark-a-rethinking-of-its-future?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 over a decade. Our correspondent explains why America wants to build a moonbase. AI models underperform in languages [https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2026/03/18/top-ai-models-underperform-in-languages-other-than-english?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] other than English. And meet China’s social-media stars: influencer-officials [https://www.economist.com/china/2026/03/12/some-of-chinas-officials-are-becoming-social-media-stars?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: * Oliver Morton, senior editor * Deena Mousa, science writer * Gabriel Crossley, China correspondent * Rosie Blau, host of “The Intelligence” Topics covered:  * Artemis II, moon, NASA * AI, LLMs, language * China, Chinese Communist Party, influencers, social media  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.

Drone wolf: Ukraine’s missile mastermind

Ukraine’s resistance to Russia relies on the clever use of drones [https://www.economist.com/europe/2026/03/22/ukraines-top-drone-commander-wants-to-bleed-russias-army-dry?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]. Much of that strategy is down to a single person, a former grain trader with a great idea. Our correspondent meets him. Since the Brexit vote a decade ago, Britain [https://www.economist.com/insider/inside-economics/can-rachel-reeves-shield-britain-from-the-energy-shock?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] has become more like Europe. And why American universities are abandoning the notorious swimming test [https://www.economist.com/united-states/2026/03/04/a-once-proud-tradition-is-becoming-awkward-for-elite-universities?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: * Oliver Carroll, Ukraine correspondent * Matthew Holehouse, Britain public policy editor * Doug Dowson, data journalist * Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence” * Jason Palmer, co-host of “The intelligence” Topics covered:  * Ukraine, drones, Russia, Putin * Britain, Europe, European Union, single market * American universities, race, discrimination, swimming 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.

Refine and dandy: Iran’s war bounty

An Economist investigation reveals that Iran is profiting [https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2026/03/29/how-iran-is-making-a-mint-from-donald-trumps-war?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] from the war as it evades sanctions and oil prices surge. India’s government has promised to crush the country’s Maoist insurgency [https://www.economist.com/asia/2026/03/26/the-end-of-the-worlds-longest-running-maoist-insurgency?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]. Our correspondent visits a former rebel stronghold. And why understudies [https://www.economist.com/culture/2026/02/19/why-understudies-are-seeing-their-wages-rise?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], a theatre’s insurance policy, are underestimated.  Guests and host: * Rachana Shanbhogue, business affairs editor * Kira Huju, Asia correspondent * Hamish Clayton, culture writer * Rosie Blau, host of “The Intelligence” Topics covered:  * Oil, Iran, Kharg Island, sanctions * India, Modi, Maoists * Culture, theatre, understudies 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.

The bog of war: week five begins

The Iran conflict [https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2026/03/29/all-sides-in-the-gulf-war-are-at-risk-of-overplaying-their-hands?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] is escalating with little prospect of an end in sight. Our correspondent explains why a US ground invasion is likely. In an ongoing history series [https://www.economist.com/interactive/america-at-250#chapter-3?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], we look at how America’s attitude to migrants changed as it got richer. And “Project Hail Mary [https://www.economist.com/culture/2026/03/20/what-to-watch-this-week?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]” is a sci-fi film drawing wide audiences. Guests and host: * Gregg Carlstrom, Middle East correspondent * Annie Crabill, a news editor in New York * Alexandra Suich Bass, Culture editor * Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence” * Jason Palmer, co-host of “The intelligence” Topics covered:  * Iran, Houthis, geopolitics, oil * America, migration, colonialism * “Project Hail Mary”, sci-fi 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.