# intelligence squared (audio feeds) — RSS Amplifier Recent posts from the 2 feeds in the RSS Amplifier directory that cover intelligence squared. Page: Feed: --- ## How George Michael Changed Music Forever, with Sathnam Sanghera (Part Two) _2026-08-20 · Intelligence Squared_ George Michael wrote Careless Whisper, one of the biggest pop songs of our age, in an hour in his childhood bedroom. Alongside his childhood best friend Andrew Ridgeley he founded Wham!, a revolutionary pop group which became one of the defining bands of the 1980s, selling over 30 million records. Yet behind the genius of George Michael was the complex personal story of Georgios Kyriacos… [Listen](https://pdst.fm/e/pscrb.fm/rss/p/traffic.megaphone.fm/NSR9689500547.mp3) ## How George Michael Changed Music Forever, with Sathnam Sanghera (Part One) _2026-08-18 · Intelligence Squared_ George Michael wrote Careless Whisper, one of the biggest pop songs of our age, in an hour in his childhood bedroom. Alongside his childhood best friend Andrew Ridgeley he founded Wham!, a revolutionary pop group which became one of the defining bands of the 1980s, selling over 30 million records. Yet behind the genius of George Michael was the complex personal story of Georgios Kyriacos… [Listen](https://pdst.fm/e/pscrb.fm/rss/p/traffic.megaphone.fm/NSR2652452278.mp3) ## Spielberg, Coppola and Lucas: The Remaking of Modern Cinema, With Paul Fischer _2026-08-16 · Intelligence Squared_ By the early 1980s Francis Ford Coppola, Steven Spielberg and George Lucas were the richest, best-known filmmakers in the world, with an empire of their own. Coppola had directed The Godfather, then the highest-grossing film of all-time, until Spielberg surpassed it with Jaws — whose record Lucas broke with Star Wars, which Spielberg surpassed again with E.T. In a new book, The Last Kings of… [Listen](https://pdst.fm/e/pscrb.fm/rss/p/traffic.megaphone.fm/NSR8639698612.mp3) ## Colm Tóibín on Stories of Exile (Part Two) _2026-08-15 · Intelligence Squared_ Colm Tóibín is widely acclaimed for the emotional restraint and quiet power of his prose. His writing explores exile, abandonment, loss and denial, the things that go unspoken and the feelings not acted upon. His novels include Nora Webster; Brooklyn, which was turned into a film starring Saoirse Ronan; and its sequel, Long Island, both telling the story of a young Irishwoman who emigrates to the… [Listen](https://pdst.fm/e/pscrb.fm/rss/p/traffic.megaphone.fm/NSR3228304442.mp3) ## Is Death Final? (Encore) _2026-08-14 · Open to Debate_ Near-death experiences have long challenged our understanding of consciousness and mortality. Some who come close to death report leaving their bodies, encountering vivid visions, or feeling profound peace. Are these experiences evidence that consciousness can survive death — or can they be explained by what happens in a dying brain? This 2014 debate is one we're still thinking about today. We ask… [Listen](https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/traffic.megaphone.fm/ADL2139110699.mp3) ## Colm Tóibín on Stories of Exile (Part One) _2026-08-13 · Intelligence Squared_ Colm Tóibín is widely acclaimed for the emotional restraint and quiet power of his prose. His writing explores exile, abandonment, loss and denial, the things that go unspoken and the feelings not acted upon. His novels include Nora Webster; Brooklyn, which was turned into a film starring Saoirse Ronan; and its sequel, Long Island, both telling the story of a young Irishwoman who emigrates to the… [Listen](https://pdst.fm/e/pscrb.fm/rss/p/traffic.megaphone.fm/NSR8567749359.mp3) ## Uncovering the Epstein Story, with Emily Maitlis and Amy Wallace (Part Two) _2026-08-11 · Intelligence Squared_ The Jeffrey Epstein story has created shockwaves on both sides of the Atlantic. As new documents continue to emerge, and as journalists continue to report around those documents, we’re increasingly seeing how the powerful and well-connected can evade scrutiny. At its core, this is a story about a system of privilege that shielded Epstein – and failed the women and girls around him. Amy Wallace and… [Listen](https://pdst.fm/e/pscrb.fm/rss/p/traffic.megaphone.fm/NSR1689426829.mp3) ## Uncovering the Epstein Story, with Emily Maitlis and Amy Wallace (Part One) _2026-08-09 · Intelligence Squared_ The Jeffrey Epstein story has created shockwaves on both sides of the Atlantic. As new documents continue to emerge, and as journalists continue to report around those documents, we’re increasingly seeing how the powerful and well-connected can evade scrutiny. At its core, this is a story about a system of privilege that shielded Epstein – and failed the women and girls around him. Amy Wallace and… [Listen](https://pdst.fm/e/pscrb.fm/rss/p/traffic.megaphone.fm/NSR7322731369.mp3) ## Is the Algorithm Destroying Taste? With Polyester Editor-In-Chief Ione Gamble _2026-08-08 · Intelligence Squared_ What we like has never been entirely our own. Taste has always been shaped by class, culture and the people around us. But in the age of algorithms and AI, our preferences are increasingly being predicted, curated and sold back to us. In this episode, Mia Sorenti speaks with Ione Gamble, founding editor of Polyester zine, about how taste is formed, why it matters, and what happens when algorithms… [Listen](https://pdst.fm/e/pscrb.fm/rss/p/traffic.megaphone.fm/NSR7967834627.mp3) ## Are Primary Elections Ruining Democracy? (Encore) _2026-08-07 · Open to Debate_ The midterms are coming up this fall, and right now we are in the middle of a contentious primary season, with a lot of new faces challenging incumbents—and many winning. It’s in this context that we revisit our debate from 2022: Are Primary Elections Ruining Democracy? Arguing YES Elaine Kamarck, Founding Director of the Center for Effective Public Management at the Brookings Institution Arguing… [Listen](https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/traffic.megaphone.fm/ADL3967353309.mp3) ## [AI Summaries & Audio Briefings (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/FrAVo3AL1vTk) _2026-08-07 · **Sponsored**_ Read AI summaries and listen to concise audio briefings for the latest stories. ## How Do Our Sibling Relationships Shape Us? With Catherine Carr _2026-08-06 · Intelligence Squared_ For many of us, our relationships with our siblings are the longest of our lives. They shape our earliest experiences of love, rivalry, identity and belonging. Yet despite their lasting influence, they are often overlooked in favour of relationships with parents, partners or children. In this episode, journalist and critic Mythili Rao speaks with broadcaster Catherine Carr about the overlooked… [Listen](https://pdst.fm/e/pscrb.fm/rss/p/traffic.megaphone.fm/NSR5957099786.mp3) ## Can the US Survive Donald Trump? With Pod Save the US’ Ben Rhodes (Part Two) _2026-08-04 · Intelligence Squared_ Ben Rhodes served as one of Barack Obama’s closest foreign-policy aides, holding the role of Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications and Speechwriting from 2009 to 2017. He acted as the lead negotiator in secret talks that normalised U.S.–Cuba relations and was central in building political support for the Iran nuclear deal. Since leaving government, Rhodes has been an… [Listen](https://pdst.fm/e/pscrb.fm/rss/p/traffic.megaphone.fm/NSR9177231489.mp3) ## Can the US Survive Donald Trump? With Pod Save the US’ Ben Rhodes (Part One) _2026-08-02 · Intelligence Squared_ Ben Rhodes served as one of Barack Obama’s closest foreign-policy aides, holding the role of Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications and Speechwriting from 2009 to 2017. He acted as the lead negotiator in secret talks that normalised U.S.–Cuba relations and was central in building political support for the Iran nuclear deal. Since leaving government, Rhodes has been an… [Listen](https://pdst.fm/e/pscrb.fm/rss/p/traffic.megaphone.fm/NSR2933122568.mp3) ## America 250: Is It Time To Stop Idolizing the Founders? _2026-07-31 · Open to Debate_ As America celebrates 250 years since the Declaration of Independence, the legacy of the Founders is under renewed scrutiny. Were they visionary architects of liberty whose achievements and creations should be celebrated, or has reverence for them sanitized the past, how we think of democracy, and the compromises embedded in the nation's founding? As the U.S. marks its semiquincentennial, we… [Listen](https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/traffic.megaphone.fm/ADL9153945447.mp3) ## Should the Death Penalty Be Abolished? _2026-07-24 · Open to Debate_ Fifty years after the Supreme Court reinstated capital punishment, the death penalty remains one of America's most divisive issues. Supporters argue it delivers justice for the most heinous crimes, provides closure for victims’ families, and ensures the worst offenders can never kill again. Opponents point to wrongful convictions, racial disparities, and the moral consequences of allowing the… [Listen](https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/traffic.megaphone.fm/ADL7848382560.mp3) ## Generational Divides with Nick Gillespie: Are We Overcomplicating Love and Sex? _2026-07-17 · Open to Debate_ Forget "happily ever after." As marriage and birth rates fall, young adults have less sex, and assumptions about love and commitment are being challenged. In this episode of “Generational Divides,” Reason editor-at-large Nick Gillespie brings together a Gen X-er, a Millennial, and a Gen Z-er to debate these questions about intimacy and love in the 21st century: Should Gen Z have more sex? Is… [Listen](https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/traffic.megaphone.fm/ADL9283470316.mp3) ## Who Is Winning the Iran War: Tehran or Trump? _2026-07-10 · Open to Debate_ After signing a Memorandum of Understanding in June, the U.S. and Iran entered a delicate peace. As negotiators worked toward a permanent deal, one question loomed: Who won the war in Iran — Tehran or Trump? Hours after we concluded a debate on that very question, strikes resumed. By morning, President Trump declared the truce over. Today, we bring you that debate, and the question of who holds… [Listen](https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/traffic.megaphone.fm/ADL5544944642.mp3) ## BONUS: The Blessings of Liberty: Jeffrey Rosen & Ken Burns on America’s 250th _2026-07-07 · Open to Debate_ As a bonus, today we’re sharing a special episode of The Blessings of Liberty, a new podcast from Open to Debate debater Jeffrey Rosen and our friends at FIRE, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression. In celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, Jeffrey sits down with award-winning filmmaker Ken Burns, walking through the Declaration of Independence, clause by clause, to encapsulate… [Listen](https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/traffic.megaphone.fm/ADL2377340976.mp3) ## Is the American Dream in Decline? _2026-07-03 · Open to Debate_ The American Dream – the idea that anyone can achieve success in the U.S. through hard work and determination – is under scrutiny, and some worry it’s no longer achievable for the broader population. Those who agree say increasing healthcare, education, and housing costs create difficulty in having financial stability. Those who disagree argue that the U.S. still offers more opportunities for… [Listen](https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/traffic.megaphone.fm/ADL2409177072.mp3) ## The Pursuit of Happiness: Virtue or Pleasure? _2026-06-26 · Open to Debate_ Happiness is a complex emotion and mental state that can be achieved through virtue or pleasure. But should it be for the good of the individual or society? Those in favor of virtue point to the Stoics and the Founding Fathers, saying you should strive for a life of moral virtue and rationality. Those in favor of pleasure say everyone should be able to experience it and define their sources of… [Listen](https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/traffic.megaphone.fm/ADL3132736988.mp3) ## [One platform, from silicon to agent (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/zgUOPGGgRgsc) _2026-06-26 · **Sponsored**_ Serverless inference plus Inference Router to optimize cost and latency at scale. ## World on the Brink? _2026-06-19 · Open to Debate_ As the Iran war reshapes the Middle East and raises new questions about America’s role in the world, Danielle Pletka and Julia Ioffe join moderator-in-chief John Donvan at the Cascade PBS Ideas Festival for a debate-esque conversation on U.S. foreign policy in President Trump’s second term. From Iran and Russia to global stability and American leadership, they offer competing visions for… [Listen](https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/traffic.megaphone.fm/ADL8549201816.mp3)