The CSIS Podcast: Top 10 Most Listened to in 2016
From a Frozen Conflict to Europe’s Migrant Crisis
Podcasts are pretty much everywhere now, but they still sit strangely in the world of digital publishing. You record, you edit, you write, and then you push the episode out in to the world. There’s no comment section, no like button, and so the only real feedback (beyond some helpful people on twitter) lies in the back-end numbers. And although they don’t tell the full story, they’ve given me an insight in to what kind of audience the podcast has and what people are looking for when they click play.
Below are the top ten in terms of total downloads this year and, if anything, they prove that variety is important to our audience. And if the top podcast is anything to go by, there is an appetite for the untold story. Stand by for more of those in 2017…
1. “A Dormant Conflict Erupts”
April 8, 2016 | Around 50 people died this week as the frozen conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region escalated in to military exchanges. With powerful players on both sides, CSIS’s Olga Oliker explains the broader implications. Listen on iTunes.
2. “Malcolm Turnbull on Australia’s International Future”
January 24, 2016 | Australia’s Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull speaks on the international challenges facing the country, and its role in the global order. Listen on iTunes.
3. “ISIS in Indonesia”
January 17, 2016 | After ISIS claims an attack in the center of Jakarta, CSIS Southeast Asia expert Ernie Bower discusses what’s next for Indonesia as it deals with the aftermath. Listen on iTunes.
4. “Saudi Arabia and Iran Cut Ties”
January 10, 2016 | As Saudi Arabia and Iran’s rivalry threatens to boil over, CSIS’s Jon Alterman talks through the external and internal pressures driving behavior in both states. Listen on iTunes.
5. “Apple vs. the U.S. Government”
February 27, 2016 | With Apple and the U.S. government in a standoff surrounding the locked iPhone of one of the San Bernardino shooters, CSIS’s Jim Lewis explains the nuances of the case and what it means for the future of privacy and counterterrorism. Listen on iTunes.
6. “Turkey’s Kurdish Problem”
February 21, 2016 | With Turkey suffering another bombing in Ankara this week, CSIS’s Bulent Aliriza explains the situation on the ground. Listen on iTunes.
7. “Decoding North Korea”
March 21, 2016 | As North Korea continues its erratic behavior, CSIS Korea Chair Victor Cha discusses ways forward in dealing with the Hermit Kingdom. Listen on iTunes.
8. “March: The Month of Terror”
April 1, 2016 | As different terrorist groups struck in multiple locations across the world in the month of March, this episode discusses what is driving this trend of an increased number of attacks. With Juan Zarate, hosted by Colm Quinn. Listen on iTunes.
9. “Understanding the Zika Virus”
February 14, 2016 | With over a million people infected with the Zika virus and still little known about its effects — CSIS’s Steve Morrison discusses the international response and the steps the United States and international community is taking. Listen on iTunes.
10. “Europe’s Migrant Tradeoff”
March 13, 2016 | As Europe’s leaders consider a controversial agreement with Turkey to deal with the ongoing migration crisis, Heather Conley explains the deal and Europe’s current crisis of leadership. Listen on iTunes.
To keep up with the foreign policy events of 2017, subscribe to “The CSIS Podcast” with Colm Quinn on iTunes or anywhere you get podcasts.
