Podcasts for Understanding the World

As an avid learner, podcasts are a really useful tool for learning about what is going on in the world around us. It is easy to get caught up in day-to-day life, forgetting about what is happening in 194 other states around the world. Here is a list of my favourite podcasts, that help me to learn about key events happening today and yesterday, and even some that occurred years ago that are still worth recognising.

1. Global Dispatches - World News that Matters. I have been listening to this podcast, hosted by Mark Leon Goldberg, for nearly a year now. He interviews insightful people, including economists, key political leaders, and various academics. There are new episodes released twice a week, often covering topics that are scarcely mentioned in headline news. Some of my favourite episodes include: Do International Criminal Courts Actually Deter War Crimes? with Jacqueline McAllister; and China's Demand for Soybeans is Fuelling the Destruction of the Amazon Rainforest, with Melissa Chan.

2. Ways to Change the World. The Channel 4 News podcast explores key thinkers and members of society, who have helped shape the world we live in. Not all the episodes are necessarily political, but with interviews with Margaret Atwood, Waad and Hamza al-Kateab, and Matt Brittin, it is undoubtably facscinating. It also allows you to see the world through the eyes of so many people, from a variety of backgrounds. Personally, I found the episode with Sayeeda Warsi completely captivating.

3. How to Build a Healthy City. This podcast by the Financial Times draws on examples from around the world, including Toyko, Manchester and Copenhagen. It shows how different countries and cities are exploring a range of issues that are concurrent for so many people. This podcast views health as not only a physical state, but also psychological. I am a big advocate for having a healthy mind and a healthy body, and appreciated having a take on this as a wider perspective, seeing how it can be incorporated into cities and nations.

4. Caliphate. As a politics student, it is hard not to be drawn into the contemporary issues that arise in the Middle East. As a historian, I know that these are not new phenomenons, but stem back decades. For anyone who is wanting to learn about the rise of ISIS and other religiously motivated groups, Rukmini Callimachi's account of reporting in Iraq and Syria is breathtaking. The podcast is sensitive, engaging and pertinent. A must if you are new to the topic and region!

In a world where we are constantly connected, there is no shortage of information about politics and world affairs. However, I found these the best I have come across. They are interesting, short and concise. Perfect for a walk around the local park, or doing your grocery shop! They are manageable introductions to complex issues, and allow you to grasp the complexity of the world a little bit better.

Happy listening!