Best Georgetownuniversity Podcasts (2025)

1
Mélanie Gouby on the Conflict in the DRC 34:52

12d ago34:52

34:52

Interview with Mélanie Gouby on conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo - 19:40 Read more about Tristen Naylor, Kelly's new co-host, on our website: https://isd.georgetown.edu/profile/tristen-naylor/ Kelly and Tristen break down the Trump administration’s new tariffs, the revival of U.S.-Iran nuclear talks, and Ecuador’s recent presidentia…

1
Jeremi Suri on History & the Policymaker 30:32

19d ago30:32

30:32

For our sixth episode of "History and our Current World," Jeremi Suri joins Kelly to discuss how policymakers can effectively use historical analogies without falling into the trap of oversimplification. They discuss how examining multiple historical cases rather than relying on a single analogy like Munich or Vietnam can result in better policy ou…

1
Alper Coşkun on Türkiye’s Crisis of Democracy 36:12

26d ago36:12

36:12

Interview with Alper Coşkun on Türkiye's political crisis - 21:10 This week is our third episode with Kelly's new co-host, Tristen Naylor, a non-resident fellow at ISD. Read more about Tristen on our website: https://isd.georgetown.edu/profile/tristen-naylor/ Kelly and Tristen give updates on renewed fighting in Gaza and how domestic Israeli politi…

1
Daniel Immerwahr on America's Hidden Empire 32:53

1M ago32:53

32:53

For our fifth episode of "History and our Current World," Daniel Immerwahr joins Kelly to uncover how U.S. foreign policy has been shaped by a hidden history of territorial expansion. They dive into the myths surrounding the U.S. "logo map" and overlooked overseas territories, and discuss how a selective understanding of this history impacts our fo…

1
Canada, Ukraine, and South Sudan, plus Nick Thompson on Undersea Cable Attacks 42:30

1M ago42:30

42:30

Interview with Nick Thompson on Undersea Cables - 22:20 This week is our second episode with Kelly's new co-host, Tristen Naylor, a non-resident fellow at ISD. Read more about Tristen on our website: https://isd.georgetown.edu/profile/tristen-naylor/ Kelly and Tristen analyze the recent conflict in South Sudan and Canadian politics, as well as the …

1
Jason Steinhauer on How Historians Must Adapt to Social Media 36:00

2M ago36:00

36:00

For our fourth episode of "History and our Current World," Kelly welcomes author Jason Steinhauer to explore how social media has impacted historical narratives. They dive into the idea of "e-History" and how social media has made it harder for professional historians to cut through the noise in an age where misinformation is constantly competing f…

1
Syria, Germany, the G20, and Edward Fishman on Ukraine 1:10:05

2M ago1:10:05

1:10:05

Interview with Edward Fishman on Ukarine & Russia - 40:50 This week, Kelly introduces our new co-host, Tristen Naylor, a non-resident fellow at ISD. Read more about Tristen on our website: https://isd.georgetown.edu/profile/tristen-naylor/ Kelly and Tristen analyze recent developments in German and Syrian politics and the recent G20 summit in South…

1
Katie Stallard on Mythmaking & History in Russia, China, and North Korea 46:41

2M ago46:41

46:41

For our third episode of "History and our Current World," Kelly welcomes journalist Katie Stallard to explore how historical mythmaking shapes foreign policy. We examine how Russia, China & North Korea have manipulated national narratives to legitimize their global ambitions and create powerful collective identities. Katie is a senior editor for Ch…

1
Omar Mahmood on Somaliland's Political Future 31:30

2M ago31:30

31:30

Interview with Omar Mahmood on Somaliland - 16:40 This week, Kelly sits down with International Crisis Group Senior Analyst Omar Mahmood for an in-depth look at Somaliland's history and quest for international recognition. Before that, he and Freddie discuss Trump's USAID cuts, political turmoil in the Philippines, and Ecuador's presidential electi…

1
Margaret Macmillan: Why Does History Matter? 41:18

2M ago41:18

41:18

For our first full episode of Season 8, Kelly is joined by Margaret MacMillan to discuss the importance of history in shaping the behavior of individuals, politicians, and entire societies. Margaret MacMillan is an emeritus professor of History at the University of Toronto and an emeritus professor of International History at Oxford University. She…

1
Liana Fix on Germany’s Political Crisis 30:17

3M ago30:17

30:17

Interview with Liana Fix on Germany - 16:00 NOTE: This episode was recorded before the ceasefire in the DRC began to break down. This week, Kelly sits down with Council on Foreign Relations fellow Liana Fix for an update on Germany's political crisis just weeks ahead of the federal elections. Before that, Kelly and Freddie break down the release of…

1
Season 8 Preview: History and our Current World 4:29

3M ago4:29

4:29

This week, Kelly teases the upcoming season of Diplomatic Immunity, titled "History and our Current World." The new series explores how history shapes foreign affairs—from the lessons of the Treaty of Versailles to the myths fueling conflicts in Ukraine and the South China Sea. Don’t miss our next episode on February 13th, when Kelly interviews ren…

1
Mona Yacoubian on Syria: HTS's Rise and Reconstruction Ahead 23:09

3M ago23:09

23:09

Interview with Mona Yacoubian on Syria — 10:57 This week, Kelly interviews Mona Yacoubian from the U.S. Institute of Peace to provide insights into Syria's future, focusing on the rise of HTS, reconstruction challenges, and the role of international actors. Before that, Kelly and Freddie cover the latest developments in the Israel-Hamas ceasefire a…

1
Richard Fontaine: The Russo-Chinese Alliance & U.S. Foreign Policy 31:38

3M ago31:38

31:38

To kick off 2025, Kelly talks with Richard Fontaine, CEO of the Center for New American Security, about his new report with the Council on Foreign Relations: No Limits? The China-Russia Relationship and U.S. Foreign Policy. Richard is the chief executive officer of the Center for a New American Security. Prior to CNAS, Richard was a foreign policy …

1
2024: Year in Review with Amy Mackinnon and Ellen Laipson 31:33

4M ago31:33

31:33

This week, Kelly looks back on the major events of 2024 with Amy Mackinnon and Ellen Laipson. Amy Mackinnon is an award-winning national security and intelligence reporter at Foreign Policy. She has reported from across Eastern Europe and was previously based in Moscow and in Tbilisi, Georgia, as senior editor for the crisis reporting site Coda Sto…

1
Lessons in Diplomacy with Former UK Ambassador Leigh Turner 53:21

5M ago53:21

53:21

This week, Kelly talks with former British Ambassador Leigh Turner about a wide range of topics, from crisis and safety issues facing embassies around the world to how technology is transforming the role of the diplomat, and how he sees European, Russian, and British foreign policy developing in the next few years. Leigh Turner is a writer based in…

1
Ambassador Samuel Ducroquet: Sports Diplomacy After Paris 2024 36:00

5M ago36:00

36:00

This week, Kelly talks with the French Ambassador for Sports, Samuel Ducroquet, about the growing role of sports in diplomatic efforts. Samuel Ducroquet was appointed French ambassador for sport in February 2023. He joined the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs in 2007 as an International Civilian Volunteer at the French Permanent Mission to t…

1
Dan Byman on Israel; updates on Georgian Elections, COP29, and Venezuela 32:25

5M ago32:25

32:25

Interview with Dan Byman on Israel — 14:36 This week, Kelly speaks with Georgetown Professor Dan Byman for an update on Israel and Lebanon, days before a ceasefire was announced in the year-long conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. Before that, Kelly and Freddie talk through the recent elections in Georgia and Venezuela, and the negotiations at t…

1
ISD Live: NYT's Edward Wong Receives the 2024 Weintal Prize 1:04:07

5M ago1:04:07

1:04:07

On November 13, ISD Director Ambassador (ret.) Barbara Bodine awarded New York Times correspondent Edward Wong with the Edward Weintal Prize for diplomatic reporting. Ed's lecture, "Empires in Extremis," covers his family's story as it intertwines with the rise of the CCP and Xi Jinping, leading into his own career as a diplomatic correspondent and…

1
Dr. Lindsay Chervinsky: U.S. History & the Biden-Trump Transition 22:18

6M ago22:18

22:18

This week, Kelly talks with Dr. Lindsay Chervinsky about the history of Presidential transitions, and how the Biden-Trump transition is shaping up. Dr. Lindsay Chervinsky is a presidential historian and Executive Director of the George Washington Presidential Library. Her research focuses on the development of political institutions and political c…

1
Tristen Naylor: How is the World Viewing the 2024 Election? 26:27

6M ago26:27

26:27

This week, Kelly talks with Dr. Tristen Naylor, Founder and Managing Director of the geopolitical risk consultancy Diplomatic Solutions, about the outlooks for relationships with leaders in Europe, China, Iran, and other nations, as well as how America’s relationship with multilateral institutions like the United Nations might be impacted by either…

1
Sara Moller on NATO's new Secretary General; updates on Kenya, Tunisia and the Chagos Islands 29:44

6M ago29:44

29:44

Interview with Sara Moller - 13:00 This week, Kelly and Freddie talk through the UK's deal with Mauritius on the Chagos Islands, the Tunisian presidential election, and Kenya's police mission in Haiti. Kelly then talks with Professor Sara Moller about NATO's new Secretary General Mark Rutte. The opinions expressed in this conversation are strictly …

1
Emma Ashford: Trump vs Harris on Foreign Policy 28:02

7M ago28:02

28:02

For our seventh season of Diplomatic Immunity, we’ll be taking a look at the role of foreign policy in the upcoming 2024 presidential election. We’ll be taking you through the key things to know about where the candidates stand on international issues, how a win for either will affect US foreign policy, and how the rest of the world is watching wit…

1
Stephanie Fillion on UNGA Week; Updates on Israel and the South China Sea 26:14

7M ago26:14

26:14

11:40 - Interview with Stéphanie Fillion This week, Kelly and Freddie discuss recent updates in Israel and the South China Sea. Kelly then talks with Stephanie Fillion, a UN correspondent, about high-level week at the UN General Assembly. Stephanie Fillion is an international reporter who covers the UN from its headquarters in New York City. Her wo…

1
Elizabeth Saunders - Does Foreign Policy Matter in US Elections? 26:45

7M ago26:45

26:45

For our seventh season of Diplomatic Immunity, we’ll be taking a look at the role of foreign policy in the upcoming 2024 presidential election. We’ll be taking you through the key things to know about where the candidates stand on international issues, how a win for either will affect U.S. foreign policy, and how the rest of the world is watching w…

1
Myanmar Deep Dive with Richard Horsey 34:15

10M ago34:15

34:15

Kelly speaks with Richard Horsey, Myanmar expert and advisor to the International Crisis Group, for a deep dive into the history of Myanmar's ongoing civil war. Richard is a political analyst and has been a close observer of Myanmar for over 25 years. He specializes in the politics and political economy of the country, as well as armed conflict and…

1
Chris Tuttle on Ukraine & TikTok; Maldivian Elections, Niger, and Blinken Visits China 28:34

12M ago28:34

28:34

13:10 - Interview with Chris Tuttle This week, Kelly and Freddie talk through Secretary of State Blinken's recent visit to China, U.S. troops leaving Niger, and an election in Maldives that saw the country move closer to China. Kelly then talks with Chris Tuttle, senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, about recent Congressional action o…

1
Yuki Tatsumi on the US-Japan Summit; Iran's strike on Israel, Ecuador's Embassy Raid, and Turkish Municipal Elections 28:41

1y ago28:41

28:41

10:40 - Interview with Yuki Tatsumi. This week, Kelly and Freddie talk through Iran's Strike on Israel, Ecudaro's raid on the Mexican embassy in Quito, and the losses for President Erdogan's party in recent Turkish municipal elections. Kelly then talks with the Stimson Center's Yuki Tatsumi about the recent summit between the US, Japan, and the Phi…

1
Military Strategy & The War in Ukraine with Lt Gen Ben Hodges 31:41

1y ago31:41

31:41

Kelly speaks with Lt. Gen (ret.) Ben Hodges, former Commanding General of U.S. Army Europe, about the effect of the Ukraine War on military tactics and strategy. Prior to retiring from the armed forces in 2018, Lieutenant General (ret.) Ben Hodges served as Commanding General of the U.S. Army in Europe. He consults for several companies on Europe, …

1
Dr. Ken Opalo on Sudan's Civil War; Updates on Gaza and Haiti 31:27

1y ago31:27

31:27

10:25 - Interview with Dr. Ken Opalo This week, Kelly and Freddie provide updates on the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the evolving crisis in Haiti, and Kelly talks with Georgetown Professor Ken Opalo for a deep dive into Sudan's civil war. Dr. Opalo is an associate professor at the Georgetown University Walsh School of Foreign Service, where …

1
The Russo-Chinese Alliance and Great Power Competition with Dr. Tom Lynch 32:55

1y ago32:55

32:55

Season 6 Episode 6. This week, Kelly talks with retired army officer and National Defense University research fellow Dr. Tom Lynch about the impact of Ukraine's war on great power conflict and US-China competition. Dr. Thomas Lynch is an adjunct professor of Security Studies at Georgetown University and distinguished research fellow for South Asia …

1
Jacqueline Charles on the crisis in Haiti; EU's Net-Zero Industry Act, Russia's Space Nukes 33:28

1y ago33:28

33:28

10:40 - Interview with Jacqueline Charles In our seventh episode of Headlines and History, we discuss the recent political crisis in Haiti with Miami Herald report Jacqueline Charles, and Kelly covers the EU's Net-Zero Industry Act and reports of Russia's new space-based nuclear capabilities. Jacqueline Charles is the Haiti and Caribbean correspond…

1
Beverly Ochieng on Senegal's Constitutional Crisis; El Salvador Election, Sweden's NATO accession, World Cup Diplomacy 26:39

1y ago26:39

26:39

11:50 - Interview with Beverly Ocheing on Senegal In our sixth episode of Headlines and History, we discuss the recent crisis in Senegal and its implications for West Africa with Beverly Ochieng, and Kelly covers recent news out of El Salvador, Sweden & NATO, and the 2026 Soccer World Cup. Beverly Ochieng is a senior digital journalist and Africa s…

1
Christine Michienzi on The Ukraine War and the Defense-Industrial Base 28:22

1y ago28:22

28:22

Season 6, Episode 5. Today, we’ll be covering the effects of the War in Ukraine on supply chains, the defense-industrial base, and the private sector. Kelly McFarland talks to Christine Micheinzi, a former senior executive at the U.S. Department of Defense, about how the global economy and defense industry are trying to deal with the knock-on effec…

1
Joanna Lewis on COP28, Taiwan Election Fallout, Ukraine-Congress Update, Somaliland Deal 29:19

1y ago29:19

29:19

In our fifth episode of Headlines and History, we discuss the outcome of the COP28 conference in Dubai with Joanna Lewis, the fallout from Taiwan's Presidential election, the new deal between Ethiopia and Somaliland, and give an update on the status of military aid to Ukraine currently stalled in Congress. Joanna Lewis is a distinguished associate …

1
Holiday Bonus: UN World Basketball Day & Sports Diplomacy with Lindsay Krasnoff 27:46

1+ y ago27:46

27:46

Season 6 Bonus Episode. Today, we’ll be talking about basketball and the power of sports diplomacy as we celebrate World Basketball Day – the first sport ever to receive the honor from the United Nations – which now takes place every year on December 21st. Today, Kelly talks with Lindsay Krasnoff about basketball and the history of sports diplomacy…

1
Professor Erica Marat on Russia's Sphere of Influence 39:10

1+ y ago39:10

39:10

Season 6, Episode 4. For this season’s theme, we’ll be covering the litany of unintended consequences and strategic surprises emanating from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. From energy to technology to intelligence to geopolitical alignment, Russia’s invasion marks a sea change in numerous areas of diplomacy and foreign policy. We’ll be getting toget…

1
Headlines and History 4: Jeremi Suri on Henry Kissinger's legacy, COP28, Sikh Separatist Assassinations 26:03

1+ y ago26:03

26:03

In Diplomatic Immunity's new format, Headlines and History, we take listeners through a roundup of the most important headlines you may have missed in foreign policy and diplomacy, and take a deep dive into our most pressing topic with an expert conversation. Each week, we will alternate between Headlines and History and our regular Diplomatic Immu…

1
Former Ambassadors John Heffern and Alper Coşkun - The Resurgence & Unity of NATO 31:45

1+ y ago31:45

31:45

Season 6, Episode 3. For this season’s theme, we’ll be covering the litany of unintended consequences and strategic surprises emanating from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. From energy to technology to intelligence to geopolitical alignment, Russia’s invasion marks a sea change in numerous areas of diplomacy and foreign policy. We’ll be getting toget…

1
Headlines and History 3: Rita Konaev on Ukraine's Counteroffensive, Biden-Xi Summit, Liberia, Argentina, and Sudan 30:58

1+ y ago30:58

30:58

In Diplomatic Immunity's new format, Headlines and History, we take listeners through a roundup of the most important headlines you may have missed in foreign policy and diplomacy, and take a deep dive into our most pressing topic with an expert conversation. Each week, we will alternate between Headlines and History and our regular Diplomatic Immu…

1
Eurasia Group's Gregory Brew - The War in Ukraine and Global Energy Markets 32:36

1+ y ago32:36

32:36

Season 6, Episode 2. For this season’s theme, we’ll be covering the litany of unintended consequences and strategic surprises emanating from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. From energy to technology to intelligence to geopolitical alignment, Russia’s invasion marks a sea change in numerous areas of diplomacy and foreign policy. We’ll be getting toget…

1
Headlines and History 2: Andrew Imbrie on AI, Subnational Diplomacy, US-China Nuclear Talks, and Pacific Island Diplomacy 31:19

1+ y ago31:19

31:19

In Diplomatic Immunity's new format, Headlines and History, we take listeners through a roundup of the most important headlines you may have missed in foreign policy and diplomacy, and take a deep dive into our most pressing topic with an expert conversation. Each week, we will alternate between Headlines and History and our regular Diplomatic Immu…

1
Former Deputy CIA Director Mike Morell - The Role of Intelligence in War and Diplomacy 33:04

1+ y ago33:04

33:04

Season 6, Episode 1. For this season’s theme, we’ll be covering the litany of unintended consequences and strategic surprises emanating from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. From energy to technology to intelligence to geopolitical alignment, Russia’s invasion marks a sea change in numerous areas of diplomacy and foreign policy. We’ll be getting toget…

1
Headlines and History 1: Liberia, Poland, Russia, and Dan Byman on Hamas 26:20

1+ y ago26:20

26:20

In Diplomatic Immunity's new format, Headlines and History, we take listeners through a roundup of the most important headlines you may have missed in foreign policy and diplomacy, and take a deep dive into our most pressing topic with an expert conversation. Each week, we will alternate between Headlines and History and our regular Diplomatic Immu…

1
Season 5 Wrap-Up with Ambassador Jeffrey DeLaurentis and Tressa Finerty 29:21

2y ago29:21

29:21

Season 5, Episode 8: Our tour through the many fora of multilateral diplomacy is coming to an end. To help us wrap up season five, ISD's own Ambassador Jeffrey DeLaurentis and Tressa Finerty join Dr. Kelly McFarland to explore key themes, re-examine the tough questions, and look forward to the future of consensus-driven multilateral diplomacy. Amba…

1
Food Security and the FAO with Beth Bechdol 46:12

2y ago46:12

46:12

Season 5, episode 7. The United Nations Security Council tends to capture the headlines, but throughout the United Nations system are dozens of organizations and agencies that make a substantial difference in our everyday lives. From standardizing rules around flight to providing data that shape global policy, these institutions are often the unsun…

1
The Surprising Power of Peacekeeping with Dr. Lise Howard 29:45

2y ago29:45

29:45

Season 5, episode 6: Blue helmets have become one of the most visible signs of the UN in the world. These peacekeepers are sent where often nobody else wants to go and asked to accomplish what nobody else often will. After 70 years of service, UN peacekeeping has seen its successes and its well-publicized failures. So in this episode, we took a mor…

1
BONUS: The New Fire: War, Peace, and Democracy in the Age of AI 35:55

2y ago35:55

35:55

Bonus: What, exactly, is AI? What are its applications? Why does it matter for national security and geopolitics? Will machines rise up and destroy us all?! Fellow Hoya Andrew Imbrie discussed these questions and more in a fascinating conversation on his new book, co-authored with Ben Buchannon, titled The New Fire: War, Peace, and Democracy in the…

1
Cooperating on European Security with Allison Hart 32:41

2y ago32:41

32:41

Season 5, episode 5. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has posed an existential crisis for numerous multilateral institutions, worsening several ongoing global issues such as food insecurity while also upending the architecture of European Security. Few organizations understand that or deal with that more than the Organization for Security and Cooper…

1
Telling the Story of the UN with Stéphane Dujarric 24:30

2y ago24:30

24:30

Season 5, Episode 4: How does one tell the story of multilateralism in times rife with conflict, misinformation, and mistrust? How does one communicate with a world as vast and diverse as our own? What's it like to advocate for the United Nations on the global stage? We here at Diplomatic Immunity don't have the answers to those important questions…

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Podcasts Worth a Listen