Best Doha Debates Podcasts (2026)

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A new season of the Doha Debates Podcast 🎙️ 1:12

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4h ago1:12

1:12

Start the year 2026 with us as we discuss the questions shaping our world: What happens when disagreement is labeled disinformation? Can aging be cured — and should it be? After Gaza, who decides what justice looks like? The Doha Debates Podcast returns with a bold, reimagined season, featuring Majlis-style debates that challenge you to think diffe…

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How a Small Island Nation Pushed for a Deal on Loss and Damage 40:41

35m ago40:41

40:41

Developing countries are the least responsible for climate change, but they are the most affected by it. That’s why the Alliance of Small Island States first proposed a fund to mitigate that damage back in 1991. But 31 years later, a deal had still not been reached, and Aminath Shauna, the environment minister of the Maldives, was no longer willing…

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Negotiating Gaza: From Hostage Deal to Cease-Fire 52:03

3d ago52:03

52:03

Last week, we heard about a negotiation at the U.N. Security Council that led to a brief pause in the fighting between Israel and Hamas in November 2023. As part of the pause in the fighting, Israel and Hamas agreed to exchange captives. Israeli American hostage negotiator Mickey Bergman takes us inside the complicated set of negotiations that led …

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Before the Cease-Fire, Malta Negotiated a ‘Humanitarian Pause’ to the War in Gaza 35:00

10d ago35:00

35:00

In late 2023, a few weeks after the start of the war in Gaza, the United Nations Security Council was at odds over how to respond. Any one of the council’s permanent members can veto a resolution—and they often do when it comes to issues related to Israel and Palestine. Malta’s Vanessa Frazier held one of the nine rotating seats on the council. Ove…

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Inside the ‘Impossible’ Deal That Averted an Environmental Disaster in Yemen 37:14

18d ago37:14

37:14

For decades, the FSO Safer had been used to store oil off the coast of Yemen. But when the Houthis took control of the capital city of Sanaa in 2014, the government-owned tanker was suddenly located in Houthi-controlled territory. The tanker fell into disrepair, and by 2022, there was a real concern that the vessel could sink, releasing more than a…

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How 193 Countries Agreed on the Crime of Aggression 40:29

25d ago40:29

40:29

When the International Criminal Court was established in 1998, the crime of aggression was identified as the supreme international crime. But countries couldn’t come to an agreement on how the crime would be defined or how the court would exercise its jurisdiction. There simply wasn’t enough time. Those questions were revisited 12 years later, in K…

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Coming Soon: The Negotiators Season 5 2:23

1M ago2:23

2:23

The Negotiators is back with a new host and all new stories from some of the world's most dramatic negotiations. Journalist Femi Oke takes us behind the scenes at a luxury resort in Uganda, as government representatives gather to establish the International Criminal Court's jurisdiction to prosecute leaders for unjust wars. We'll go scuba diving th…

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Global order: Which principles should shape our future? 1:29:00

1y ago1:29:00

1:29:00

Today, the global order is facing challenges from shifting power and ongoing conflicts around the world. In this moment of rapid change, our latest town hall sought to examine the competing values and principles that underpin our societies—and uncover fundamental truths about which philosophical building blocks are most essential to building a bett…

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The Afghan Impasse, Part 7: Talking to the Taliban 29:07

1+ y ago29:07

29:07

Since taking power, the Taliban have cracked down on human rights and deprived Afghan women and girls of fundamental freedoms. The outlook for productive engagement is dim. Yet there may have been a window, in the early months after the fall of the republic, to do things differently. Researcher Ashley Jackson speaks to aid workers and activists inv…

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The Afghan Impasse, Part 6: Digital Dunkirk 36:40

1+ y ago36:40

36:40

Once it became clear that U.S. troops were leaving Afghanistan, the situation on the ground turned to panic. In August 2021, radio reporter Shirin Jaafari found herself in the middle of the effort to find safe passage for Najiba Noor, a 27-year-old Afghan policewoman who was the target of threats and harassment by the Taliban. For this episode, Shi…

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The Afghan Impasse, Part 5: The Envoy Speaks 34:04

1+ y ago34:04

34:04

When a diplomatic deal goes bad, the blame usually falls on the politicians. Often, we don’t even remember the names of the negotiators. But in the wake of the return of the Taliban, a lot of people have blamed one man: Zalmay Khalilzad, the U.S. special representative for Afghanistan reconciliation. Khalilzad was born in Afghanistan but had served…

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The Afghan Impasse, Part 4: History Repeats 39:24

1+ y ago39:24

39:24

As soon as the Doha Agreement was signed, the clock started counting down to May 1, 2021—the day the United States had agreed to withdraw all troops. That gave the Afghan Republic and the Taliban 14 months to negotiate a power-sharing deal. That’s not a lot of time, even under the best of circumstances. Afghan American reporter Ali Latifi has an in…

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The Afghan Impasse, Part 3: The Art of the (Separate) Deal 28:14

1+ y ago28:14

28:14

As a candidate for the U.S. presidency, Donald Trump vowed to end the war in Afghanistan. But seven months after his inauguration, he changed his mind, saying that the United States should “fight to win.” A year later, with the Taliban controlling or contesting more territory than at any point since 2001, representatives from the Trump administrati…

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The Afghan Impasse, Part 2: Secret Talks 32:35

1+ y ago32:35

32:35

By 2006, the United States and the Afghan Republic had been fighting the Taliban for five years. Neither side was poised to win. That’s when U.S. political scientist Barnett Rubin received a phone call from a Taliban intermediary that would mark the beginning of a four-year, clandestine process of “talks about talks”—even as fighting was intensifyi…

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The Afghan Impasse, Part 1: Original Sin 35:32

1+ y ago35:32

35:32

All manner of the rich and powerful have passed through the doors of the mountaintop Hotel Petersberg in Bonn, Germany. But perhaps never as motley a cast as the one that arrived on November 27, 2001 to negotiate an end to the wars in Afghanistan. Warlords, exiled monarchists, intellectuals, and enemies so fierce, some had already been trying to ki…

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Season 4: The Afghan Impasse Trailer 2:31

1+ y ago2:31

2:31

We all remember how the story ends, with the fall of Kabul and the return of the Taliban. But in this special seven-episode season of The Negotiators, we’re going back to the beginning, to try to understand why some of the world’s smartest and most experienced negotiators failed for 20 years to mediate a peace deal in Afghanistan.…

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Narrative Power: Are Western narratives promoting global justice? 1:29:35

1+ y ago1:29:35

1:29:35

For the greater part of a century, conversations and narratives about global justice and free speech have been dominated by the West. From seminal works of history to newspapers of record to media networks to politics to public discourse, Western voices have often been louder than the rest. And while the West has long claimed to act in the name of …

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Should everything be up for debate? 33:17

1+ y ago33:17

33:17

At Doha Debates, we believe that debate can help solve some of the world's most challenging problems. But are there limits to what free speech and debate can accomplish? Social media has allowed more people to connect and share their perspectives than ever before. That has led to an immense amount of learning and progress—but it's also led to an up…

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Going green: Can the global south develop without fossil fuel? 38:29

1+ y ago38:29

38:29

Climate anxieties—and global temperatures—are on the rise. According to the United Nations, if the planet warms by 1.5 degrees Celsius, we’ll be facing irreversible climate damage. To stop that increase, we need to reach net zero emissions by 2050. Reaching such an ambitious goal means changing a lot of our behaviors, including cutting back on our …

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Do race-based policies create a more equitable world? 39:08

1+ y ago39:08

39:08

Dozens of countries have implemented race-based policies, which factor race into hiring decisions or school admissions, in an effort to address historical traumas. Critics say that affirmative action and similar policies are counterproductive. Is it time to consider color-blind policies instead? Thandiwe Ntshinga, South African author and researche…

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ENCORE: Rise of the Rest: Who should lead in a multipolar world? 1:22:52

1+ y ago1:22:52

1:22:52

What does a shift in the balance of power mean for the world? For much of the last 100 years, Western countries have dominated the global order. But now, with many nations vying for power, new regional partnerships and middle powers are on the rise. Economically, strategic alliances like BRICS are bolstering the influence of non-Western countries. …

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Digging in: Should we mine in space? 44:26

1+ y ago44:26

44:26

The business of space is booming: Humans are leaving Earth’s atmosphere to mine for precious minerals that could bring trillions of dollars in profit. But with only a handful of laws currently regulating the final frontier, will space mining deepen existing global inequalities or could it save humanity? Alice Gorman, space archaeologist, says space…

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ENCORE: Digital dilemma: Does AI help or harm the creative community? 40:13

2y ago40:13

40:13

It can write emails, essays and even songs. It has created award-winning pieces of art, and it can take simple text prompts and generate eerily life-like videos. That’s right—we’re talking about artificial intelligence. Generative AI programs such as ChatGPT, Sora and Midjourney are getting smarter and more powerful by the day—just this week, Nvidi…

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Is obesity a choice? 31:56

2y ago31:56

31:56

Globally, 650 million people meet the threshold for obesity. With those numbers on the rise, we ask: Is obesity a matter of individual choice, or is it rooted in larger systemic problems? Greg Doucette, a bodybuilder and health coach, says that obesity is a choice, and argues that everyone can lose weight if they follow a healthy diet and exercise …

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ENCORE: Driving change: Is it time to ban gasoline cars? 26:42

2y ago26:42

26:42

This week, we’re airing one of our favorite past episodes. This debate is spirited, informative and centered on a question that remains intensely relevant: Is it time to ban gasoline-powered vehicles? Climate activist and author Aakash Ranison says that while electric vehicles may not be a silver-bullet solution to climate change, they are an impor…

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Equal Education: How can we ensure AI access for all? 41:29

2y ago41:29

41:29

Let's face it. Artificial intelligence is everywhere around us—on our phones, in our homes, in our cars and in our schools. But that doesn't mean that we all have equal access to the best and most helpful learning technologies. As AI continues to develop and get smarter, how can we ensure universal access to these educational technologies so that a…

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Living to work: Is hustle culture healthy? 35:18

2y ago35:18

35:18

Do you live to work, or work to live? The World Happiness Report says that factors such as social support, economic security and work-life balance all contribute to life satisfaction and overall fulfillment. But checking all those boxes is easier said than done. Can we work hard toward our professional goals without sacrificing other parts of our l…

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Peacekeeping power: Can the UN prevent wars? 34:30

2y ago34:30

34:30

Since its inception in 1945, the United Nations has committed to preventing world wars. However, recent and devastating conflicts, like the wars in Gaza, Ukraine and elsewhere, have brought the UN's shortcomings on this front into high relief. Is the United Nations capable of preventing war and keeping the peace, or is the institution too antiquate…

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The maestro of mediation 49:17

2y ago49:17

49:17

This week on the Doha Debates Podcast, we’re thrilled to share an episode from one of our other podcasts, The Negotiators. William Ury is one of the most famous negotiation experts in the world. He co-wrote the classic book Getting to Yes and co-founded Harvard’s program on negotiation. In this episode, Ury shares negotiation advice and stories fro…

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Rise of the Rest: Who should lead in a multipolar world? 1:22:23

2y ago1:22:23

1:22:23

What does a shift in the balance of power mean for the world? For much of the last 100 years, Western countries have dominated the global order. But now, with many nations vying for power, new regional partnerships and middle powers are on the rise. Economically, strategic alliances like BRICS are bolstering the influence of non-Western countries. …

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Orientalism Demystified: Eastern insights on Western myths | Doha Debates Town Hall 1:23:34

2y ago1:23:34

1:23:34

How much influence can a 19th century European art movement really have on the modern Arab world? Orientalism, an aesthetic movement depicting the East by Western artists, was for some the only exposure to Middle Eastern and Asian cultures. Some, like Palestinian American scholar Edward Said, said that Orientalism pervades Western art, pop culture …

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The Maestro of Mediation 49:17

2y ago49:17

49:17

William Ury is one of the most famous negotiation experts in the world. He co-wrote the classic book Getting to Yes and co-founded Harvard’s Program on Negotiation. On today’s episode of the Negotiators, our last of the season, Ury describes his role in mediating some of the world’s most difficult conflicts. His forthcoming book, Possible, includes…

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From Humanitarian Catastrophe to Peace in Yemen? 37:37

2y ago37:37

37:37

After nine years of war in Yemen, a peace deal finally seems at hand. Representatives of the Houthis met with the Saudis in Riyadh in September, in their first official visit since the war in 2014 began. On today’s episode of The Negotiators, we talk to Yemeni mediators about how they have advanced the peace process and what they think is needed to…

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School of thought: Is AI helping us cheat or learn? 38:25

2y ago38:25

38:25

Generative AI has changed the way that some students approach their schoolwork. What does it mean for the state of education when students can ask ChatGPT to write an essay or solve a math problem? Artificial intelligence is causing parents to worry, and governments are struggling to keep up with this rapidly advancing technology. Are there benefic…

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Why Israeli-Palestinian Peace Plans Fail 30:08

2y ago30:08

30:08

The staggering violence between Israelis and Palestinians over the past month has rekindled a question long vexing professionals in the negotiating business: Why have efforts to mediate peace between the two sides failed again and again? To explore that question, we look back to an initiative 20 years ago known as the road map, which seemed to hold…

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State of scrutiny: Is mass surveillance justified? 33:09

2y ago33:09

33:09

Facial recognition software. CCTV cameras. License plate readers. Wiretapping. These are all ways that governments employ mass surveillance. Supporters of surveillance technology say these tools are necessary to keep everyone safe. But opponents raise concerns over privacy and human rights abuses. Where do we draw the line? How do we balance indivi…

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The Water Agreement That Helped Avert a Monumental Resource Crisis 29:34

2y ago29:34

29:34

The Colorado River provides water to about 40 million people in seven U.S. states, 30 Native American tribes, and northern Mexico. But because of climate change, the river has become significantly drier in recent decades. On today’s episode of The Negotiators, we hear how the U.S. states and Native American tribes reached a historic agreement in Ma…

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How Negotiators Navigated the Thorny Issue of Water Rights Between Mexico and the U.S. 31:55

2y ago31:55

31:55

You may have heard about the Colorado River negotiations that ended in May. In a monumentally important agreement, several U.S. states along the Colorado River agreed to cut water use. We will cover that deal in next week’s show. But for today’s episode of The Negotiators, we hear about an earlier round of Colorado River talks between the United St…

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Ethics of editing: Is genetic engineering worth the risk? 35:51

2y ago35:51

35:51

If you could prevent your future child from having a life-threatening disease, would you do it? What if you could prevent addictions or the development of bad habits before they were even born? What if you could genetically engineer your child to be taller, or if you could select their eye color or even their sex? How much of this would you be OK w…

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How Kofi Annan Mediated a Volatile Political Crisis in Kenya 42:39

2y ago42:39

42:39

Former Secretary-General of the United Nations Kofi Annan, who passed away five years ago, was one of the most famous diplomats of his time. On today’s episode of The Negotiators, we hear about Annan’s mediation of a Kenyan political crisis in 2008—which stands out as one of his most impressive acts of diplomacy. A disputed election in late Decembe…

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Top Negotiator for Hollywood Writers Traces Steps That Led to a Deal With Studios 39:24

2y ago39:24

39:24

The Writers Guild of America struck a deal recently with Hollywood studios, ending one of the longest strikes in the union’s history. Ellen Stutzman, Assistant Executive Director of the Writers Guild of America West, was the union’s chief negotiator in the talks. She is our guest this week on The Negotiators. The interview, conducted by our senior …

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Shifting superpowers: Has the US peaked? 42:29

2y ago42:29

42:29

Has the US peaked? For much of the 20th century, the United States of America led the world economically, militarily and even culturally. But is its influence and power now in decline, and what would that mean for the rest of the world? Lavina Lee, senior lecturer at Macquarie University in Australia, says that the US still has an important and pow…

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Negotiating a Truce to End Gang Violence in Los Angeles 33:28

2+ y ago33:28

33:28

Gang violence in Los Angeles surged dramatically in the 1980s. Over a seven-year period beginning in 1985, more than 4,000 people died from gang-related clashes. That’s more than the death toll in some high-profile conflicts around the world, including the Troubles in Northern Ireland. On the latest episode of The Negotiators podcast, we look at th…

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The Lawyer Behind U.S. Women’s Soccer’s Equal Pay Deal 38:34

2y ago38:34

38:34

This bonus episode from the podcast The Closer is a complement to our recent episode about the U.S. Soccer equal pay negotiations. While the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team is among the most decorated teams in the game, until recently, its players were paid only a fraction of what the men took home. On The Negotiators, you heard from Cindy Parlow…

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The Hard Road to Equal Pay in U.S. Soccer 31:30

2+ y ago31:30

31:30

For the first time in U.S. soccer history, the men’s and women’s national teams are getting paid at the same rate. That’s the result of a grueling negotiation that ended last year, led by Cindy Parlow Cone—a former professional player who became the U.S. Soccer Federation President. On the latest episode of The Negotiators podcast, Cone describes h…

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How the Good Friday Agreement Ended Decades of Violence in Northern Ireland 31:52

2+ y ago31:52

31:52

Our podcast The Negotiators launches its third season this week with a look at one of the most famous diplomatic deals ever: the 1998 Good Friday Agreement that ended decades of violence in Northern Ireland. Jonathan Powell was UK Prime Minister Tony Blair’s chief negotiator for the Good Friday Talks. He was also Blair’s newly appointed chief of st…

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Modern men: Is masculinity in crisis? 43:18

2+ y ago43:18

43:18

Ken ventured out into the “real world” from Barbieland and returned with a new definition of masculinity. Andrew Tate’s influence on teen boys has amplified conversations about the “manosphere.” People around the world are eager for new rules for being a man—why? Men are struggling. That’s what Richard Reeves, president of the American Institute fo…

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Coming Soon: Negotiators Season 3 1:56

2+ y ago1:56

1:56

The Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland. U.S. soccer negotiations for gender parity. How Kofi Annan mediated a political crisis in Kenya. The Negotiators podcast is back on Sep. 19 with all new stories from people resolving some of the world’s most dramatic conflicts. Hosted by Jenn Williams, the Negotiators is a production of Doha Debates an…

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Digital dilemma: Does AI help or harm the creative community? 40:13

2+ y ago40:13

40:13

It can write emails, essays and even songs. It has created award-winning pieces of art, and it’s one reason that Hollywood is on strike. That’s right—today’s podcast episode is about artificial intelligence. Generative AI programs such as ChatGPT, DALL-E and Midjourney are worrying artists of all kinds about the future of art. Is AI coming for arti…

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Foreign Policy Live: Has China peaked? 50:39

2+ y ago50:39

50:39

This week, enjoy a special episode from our friends at Foreign Policy Magazine from their podcast FP Live. Has China peaked? After decades of record economic growth, China’s economy is showing signs of a slowdown. In the world’s second-largest economy, recent numbers show a reduced rate of growth. Michael Beckley, senior fellow at the American Ente…