Mark Leonard's World in 30 Minutes

Mark Leonard's World in 30 Minutes

Author: ECFR Language: English Episodes: 100
Each week, Mark Leonard's World in 30 Minutes cuts through the noise of global headlines to explore the deeper forces at play. Curated by Mark Leonard, who directs the European Council on Foreign Relations, this ECFR podcast brings together leading thinkers, policymakers, and analysts from across Europe and the wider world. Their conversations move beyond the day's news to debate the underlying policies, strategic ideas, and geopolitical shifts that are actively shaping our future. The focus is consistently on understanding Europe's place in a complex international landscape, examining how it responds to crises and where it can exercise influence. Recognized for its quality with PolicyLab's 2019 award for best podcast on EU politics, this series delivers concise, substantive dialogue that fits into a busy schedule. As part of the EuroPod network, it offers a vital perspective for anyone looking to grasp not just what is happening, but why it matters. Tune in for a regular dose of informed discussion that connects the dots between events, decisions, and their long-term consequences.
Episodes
Live from Warsaw: Polling European politics under Trump’s shadow [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:55
Recorded live from ECFR’s Annual Council Meeting 2025, this week’s podcast features Mark Leonard in conversation with Ivan Krastev, Chair of the Centre for Liberal Strategies in Sofia and permanent fellow at the Institut…
NATO summit 2025: How Europe can secure its future [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:15
This week, Mark Leonard is joined by Camille Grand, former NATO assistant secretary general and ECFR distinguished policy fellow, for a 15-minute Emergency Room episode dissecting the high-stakes NATO summit in The Hague…
What to expect from the conflict between Israel and Iran [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:00
This week, Mark Leonard is joined by the deputy director of ECFR’s Middle East and North Africa programme, Ellie Geranmayeh, and Eran Etzion, policy planning director for the Israeli foreign ministry and former deputy he…
Doves and Hawks: Foreign policy in the second Trump age [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:15
A humanitarian crisis in Gaza; question marks around Iran; unstable governments in eastern Europe; and the growth of China’s economic and military might. All are cause for concern—and all provide the backdrop to the Trum…
Uncrowded house: European power during demographic change [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:03
How policymakers respond to Europe’s many challenges—from Russian aggression to sluggish economic growth to the shift to clean energy - will shape the continent for decades to come. In the face of these trials, however,…
NATO and Europe first: Britain’s new Strategic Defence Review [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:40
This week, Mark Leonard is joined by Malcolm Chalmers, deputy director general at the Royal United Services Institute and former Labour government advisor, for an Emergency Room episode dissecting the UK’s newly unveiled…
Nawrocki’s win: What Poland’s populist president means for Europe [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:48
This week, Mark Leonard is joined by Piotr Buras, head of ECFR’s Warsaw office, for a 15-minute rapid-response episode dissecting the outcome of Poland’s presidential election. Yesterday, right-wing populist Karol Nawro…
Mobilising Europe: The case for a European Preparedness Act [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:55
This week, Mark Leonard is joined by Tiago Antunes, ECFR associate senior fellow at and former Portuguese secretary of state for European affairs; and Nicu Popescu, ECFR distinguished policy fellow and former Moldovan de…
Crisis and collapse: Europe’s intervention in Gaza [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:00
This week, Mark Leonard is joined by Julien Barnes-Dacey, ECFR’s Middle East and North Africa programme director, for an emergency room episode diving into the dire situation in Gaza. After the March ceasefire collapsed,…