Intelligence Squared is the home of lively debate and deep-dive discussion. Follow Intelligence Squared wherever you get your podcasts and enjoy four... more
Ever since the discovery of DNA scientists have been on a quest to understand the secrets of the human genome.... more
Ever since the discovery of DNA scientists have been on a quest to understand the secrets of the human genome.... more
Samira Ahmed speaks to Academy Award-nominated actor Jude Law. They speak about his life and career, skipping school to go... more
This is not a debate of religion vs. secularism. This is a debate about where and how the values in... more
War - Do we care enough? In this episode, distinguished historian Margaret MacMillan explains why we should care about war... more
Tony Blair is the man who reinvented Labour, won a landslide majority in 1997 and went on to win three... more
How did the Iraq war fuel terror and extremism around the world? What is the connection between Al-Qaeda and ISIS?... more
Over the last twenty years, award-winning Iraqi journalist Ghaith Abdul-Ahad, has watched his nation disappear time and time again. Sectarian... more
What happened in Iraq once the Americans and the British arrived? Why was the transfer of power a far from... more
Exactly twenty years ago today on the 20th March 2003, the US along with its allies launched a shock and... more
In 2015, Intelligence Squared staged the ultimate clash of civilisations: Greece vs Rome. Boris Johnson, at that time Mayor of... more
Ever since she was a young child, journalist Hayley Campbell has been fascinated by death. It's the theme of her... more
We tend to imagine Western Civilisation as a golden thread connecting ancient Greece to modern Europe, from Plato to NATO.... more
The literal translation of amateur is ‘lover of’ so why is it a word so often steeped in derogatory overtones?... more
We have some really exciting news for you, we've launched a brand new podcast – Intelligence Squared Arts & Culture. Join us... more
International Women's Week on Intelligence Squared. Feminism is not a monolith; often in the western world to help understand the... more
International Women's Week on Intelligence Squared. On this episode we’re hearing a compilation from our award-winning podcast series How I Found... more
International Women's Week on Intelligence Squared. There are seven necessary sins for women and girls, that's according to Egyptian writer... more
International Women's Week on Intelligence Squared. "My pen is the wing of a bird; it will tell you those thoughts... more
International Women's Week on Intelligence Squared. Equality is no longer enough, women need equity - that's the message of former... more
International Women’s Week on Intelligence Squared. Change is never easy, it requires putting up a fight, going against the status... more
International Women’s Week on Intelligence Squared. On this episode we hear from some of the women who helped sparked the... more
For the Sunday Debate this week, a dip back into the archive to 2019 when we partnered with Waitrose to... more
How has Western culture depicted powerful women down the ages? To what extent have they been packaged into a male... more
Senator Bernie Sanders is seen by many as the leader of the progressive movement in the United States. On this... more
We have some really exciting news for you, we're launching a brand new podcast – Intelligence Squared Arts & Culture. Join us... more
Journalist Tania Branigan has spent years covering China and is Foreign Leader writer for the Guardian. Her new book, Red... more
As the war in Ukraine reaches its one year anniversary, there is still no clear end in sight. And while... more
On this episode of the podcast we look back on one year of Russia’s war in Ukraine by revisiting 10... more
Emmanuel Iduma is a Nigerian author and critic whose new book, I Am Still With You, explores the legacy of... more
Language is perhaps humanity's most astonishing accomplishment but one that remains poorly understood. On this episode of the podcast we... more
Does God exist? In this archive debate from 2009, we invited a panel of expert speakers to discuss whether atheism... more
Investigative journalist Patrick Radden Keefe joins us on the podcast to tell the story of an unlikely criminal mastermind, Sister... more
It’s been 25 years since the release of James Cameron’s cult classic, Titanic. The epic movie, which early fans will... more
Intelligence Squared and Harewood House partner for this live podcast exploring the power of portraiture in representing Britain’s complex history.... more
It’s an issue that only gets more contentious with time - is porn good for us? To debate this issue... more
Los Angeles, 1981. A group of beautiful, rich, high school students are playing adult in their absentee parents' empty mansions,... more
When world-renowned economist Ha-Joon Chang first arrived in Britain in the 1980s he recoiled in horror at how dull and... more
On 27 January 2023, broadcaster Mahmoud Al-Mossallami hosted BBC Arabic radio’s final transmission after 85 years on air. It's the... more
This week marked the three year anniversary of Brexit, the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union. On... more
Samira Ahmed speaks to journalist, satirist, and editor of the magazine Private Eye, Ian Hislop. They speak about his life... more
Between 1993 and 1997 Natasha Lance Rogoff, award-winning television producer and filmmaker, was the executive producer of Ulitsa Sezam, the... more
Mark Galeotti is one of the world’s leading experts on modern Russia. His new book, Putin’s Wars: From Chechnya to... more
For this archive debate from 2019, we invited a panel of top speakers to discuss the motion: The West Should... more
Are eggs now a luxury item? For the past year an economic crisis has been brewing in Egypt, only to... more
In the current cost of living crisis it has never been more important to understand the financial world and take... more
Juicing, biohacking, mindfulness apps, collagen supplements: the wellness industry has exploded into a $4.4 trillion movement. Wellness industry journalist Rina... more
As the world ushered in a new year on the 31st of December 2022, it also said goodbye to possibly... more
Observed from afar, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine might appear to be a replay of the Cold War stand-off between Russia... more
Does the conversation on race need a reset? That is the question that Coleman Hughes and Kenan Malik explored when... more
Why does the world appear different when we’re in love? How can one colour make us feel anger and another... more
In this archive debate from 2018, we invited expert speakers to discuss the cultural sensitivities of the statues and memorials... more
In today's episode of Intelligence Squared, we hear from our podcast dedicated to exploring the possibilities of what lies ahead:... more
In his new memoir, Spare, Prince Harry has opened a Pandora's box of revelations on the carefully managed public image... more
Russia's war on Ukraine, Liz Truss's mini budget and soaring inflation have all hammered the UK in recent months. But... more
Some of the richest people in the world have decided against bequeathing their fortunes to their children; from Bill Gates... more
Powerful women have too often been overlooked by history. Of course we know about Boudica, Cleopatra, Elizabeth I and Catherine... more
Are narwhals the closest creature to unicorns that we can ever know? How does the Greenland shark fill its 500... more
To celebrate some of the most influential and impactful speeches ever made, we invited Barack Obama’s director of speechwriting, Cody... more
Letters grant us a glimpse into fascinating lives, whether through the eyes of a genius, a monster or of an... more
Continuing our series of cultural highlights from the Intelligence Squared archive, we revisit the event The Power of Poetry, which... more
Intelligence Squared has been producing agenda-setting events for over a decade. During the holiday season we're looking back over that... more
What is it about Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol that has enchanted the public since its publication in 1843? Few... more
For our final look at some of the best books to have hit shelves in 2022, we dive back into... more
For the third in our 12 Books of Christmas episodes, we revisit a thought-provoking discussion with Dipo Faloyin, whose book... more
For the second instalment of our 12 Books of Christmas series, we hear from three more authors who have set... more
Intelligence Squared has enjoyed hundreds of great conversations on the podcast, across our online talks and onstage at our live... more
Given the disruptive events unfolding in China in recent weeks, what does the future holds for Xi Jinping and the... more
Why are women known as the slimier sex? How did the US Navy replicate hagfish slime for ballistics protection? In... more
ChatGPT is the Internet's new favourite toy. This is some of AI’s most impressive technology yet, but could the creation... more
In February 2022 Russian shells rained down on Kyiv as tanks crossed the border into Ukraine. At the time American... more
Since Russia invaded Ukraine last February the West has ramped up sanctions against Russia to an unprecedented level, but are... more
Will democracy survive? According to Nobel Peace Prize Winner Maria Ressa, "we're in the last two minutes". In November she... more
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This is the third and final episode of The Great Energy Transition, a series from Intelligence Squared in partnership with... more
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We need a new model of masculinity, one that allows us to hold two thoughts in our head at once:... more
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Can advertising’s immense power to change behaviour be used for good? In this brand new podcast, produced by Intelligence Squared,... more
In part two of our debate 'Is America a force for good in the world?', foreign policy experts Shadi Hamid... more
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Can advertising’s immense power to change behaviour be used for good? In this brand new podcast, produced by Intelligence Squared,... more
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On January 6 2021 a pro-Trump mob stormed the U.S Capitol seeking to overturn the 2020 presidential election result. Rioters... more
With the climate crisis mounting, cycling is often touted as being part of the solution for how we can make... more
One year ago the United States decided to withdraw from Afghanistan after two decades in the country. The Taliban, a... more
For this archive episode from 2021, journalist and BBC News broadcaster Razia Iqbal is joined by the acclaimed author Salman... more
To unpack the truth behind the often confusing information about the food we eat, in this archive discussion from 2017,... more
This month will mark a year since the Taliban takeover of Kabul in August 2021 and the chaotic withdrawal of... more
In an era of fake news and 'alternative facts', the issue of truth and how it is presented to the... more
Reni Eddo-Lodge, the journalist, podcaster and author of essential book, Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race,... more
In this archive debate, we revisit a discussion from 2018 when an assembled panel of smart thinkers gathered to reflect... more
Japan's recently assassinated former prime minister Shinzo Abe was a leader who leaves behind a complex legacy. Internationally, he strengthened Japan's relationship... more
We welcome back Fiona Hill, the foreign affairs and national security expert, to discuss Putin, foreign policy, and what could... more
For this episode focusing on how craft, creativity and our relationship with the planet can help us rethink established narratives and... more
For this week's Sunday Debate, we're dipping back into the archive to 2014, when we gathered a panel of expert... more
For this edition of Intelligence Squared, we join Alannah Weston, Chairman of Selfridges Group, for her podcast How to Lead a... more
In the midst of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, award-winning journalist John Sweeney reported from Kiev, drawing on his decades of... more
Robin Dunbar has been hailed as one of the most insightful and creative evolutionary thinkers of our time, famed for... more
In this archive listen from 2013, we explore the global political impact of a leader whose legacy and influence is... more
During the Second World War, Rudolph Vrba was one of the very few people to escape the horrors of the... more
Trolling, conspiracy theories, racist algorithms, cyberwarfare – every day our headlines are ablaze with negative stories about the internet. The... more
Activist, academic and author Ibram X. Kendi joins us for a discussion on his new book, How to Raise an... more
The British countryside is often heralded for its natural beauty, but much of these bucolic landscapes are, of course, man-made.... more
What do bees sense in flowers? What do songbirds hear in each others’ tunes? And what’s that smell sending your... more
How do we define value? How has this changed over time? And who decides what is deemed valuable? For centuries,... more
Oxford University economist Kate Raworth has been described by the author and environmentalist George Monbiot as, "The John Maynard Keynes... more
In a debate that spans centuries created in partnership with Sotheby's, we hear from Peabody Award-winning spoken-word performer George the... more
What is it like to treat some of the most troubled men and women in society? Dr Ben Cave is... more
In a special programme following the resignation of Boris Johnson as Prime Minister of the UK, we hear from columnist,... more
Dr Ruja Ignatova, an Oxford-educated, self-styled cryptocurrency guru, promised her followers a financial revolution through her project: OneCoin. Then, in... more
Language is expressive, a way of opening doors or a tool for creating new dialogue. But a tool so powerful... more
In today's world, we're often encouraged to think that sex is no longer a subject burdened with shame or repressed... more
Across Britain, it’s no secret that the people who make up the country's elected government have gone through the same... more
In recent years China has been accused of committing crimes against humanity and possibly genocide against the Uyghur ethnic group... more
Christopher Blattman is an economist, political scientist and Ramalee E. Pearson Professor of Global Conflict Studies at The University of... more
The Northern Ireland Protocol – agreed between the United Kingdom and the European Union in 2019 – has been a... more
Tracing Russia’s vast border, which meets those of 14 other countries, helps tells the history of Russia itself. From its... more
Activist, historian and academic Ibram X. Kendi's book, How To Be and Antiracist, won the National Book Award for nonfiction... more
Bisexuality is the world’s largest sexual minority but is potentially the least understood. In her new book, Bi: The Hidden... more
We delve back into the archive to 2018, when we held a debate getting to the heart of nature vs... more
Susan Cain shot to fame in 2012 with her international bestseller Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can’t Stop Talking,... more
In an increasingly polarised world, it’s not often we get books saying that difference is our greatest strength. But Farhan... more
Whether rapidly advancing artificial intelligence will eventually become a friend or foe to humanity is a pressing question when it... more
It was always going to be a disaster. Queues of HGVs stretching miles from Dover. The Good Friday Agreement threatened... more
George Monbiot is a journalist, campaigner and author, who is telling the world that the time for action on the climate crisis... more
Intelligence Squared podcast is the home of lively debate and deep-dive discussion. Now we’re adding extra depth to our audio... more
In this episode of Intelligence Squared's How to Lead a Sustainable Business with Alannah Weston podcast, Alannah is joined by... more
Does the world have too many people – or not enough? That’s one of the big questions that demographer Paul... more
A delve into the archive and back to 2019 when we debated a motion asking whether the left’s policies of... more
Professor Jim Al-Khalili is the physicist who makes science look easy. He’s the author of several books, the latest of... more
Writer and academic Kerry Brown's latest book is Xi: A Study in Power, which profiles the policies and personality behind China's... more
How do you put a ghost on trial? In Linda Kinstler's deeply personal new book, Come to This Court and... more
Between 2007 and 2020, China invested $23 billion into infrastructure for nations across Africa, $8 billion more than the other... more
How we understand mental health and the level of compassion we show to those suffering from depression and other forms... more
Palaeobiologist and bestselling author Thomas Halliday is helping us better understand how the natural world evolved over the past 500... more
Every second of the day, tiny biological clocks are ticking throughout your body, from the neural pathways of your brain... more
The political Left often purports that it has society’s best interests at heart and that it works for the good of... more
Chris Hirst, Global CEO of advertising group Havas Creative, cuts through the bullshit and gets to the heart of modern... more
Afghan women’s voices are at increasing risk of being silenced and as more of their rights slip away, so do... more
Author and environmental journalist Eugene Linden's new book, Fire and Flood: A People’s History of Climate Change from 1979 to... more
Is it time to abandon the five-day work week? Or is the "five-days on, two days off" cadence of work... more
During an era of identity politics, culture wars and increasing awareness of the structural biases that contribute to global inequality,... more
We live in a time of greater uncertainty than ever before in human history. We are poised between the twin... more
Is the West doing enough to help Ukraine? What kind of endgame should Ukraine be seeking – all-out victory over... more
Reportedly the planet's richest person, multibillionaire Elon Musk is currently seeking to buy the World's online public square, Twitter. Should... more
Since the war in Ukraine began, dwindling remaining hopes of maintaining even the outward appearance of a free democratic process... more
For the second part of our analysis of one of the most tense elections in Europe of recent years, we... more
Afghan women’s voices are at increasing risk of being silenced and as more of their rights slip away, so do their stories.... more