I’ve never been much of a podcast listener. I think to listen to a podcast you have to be engaged in something that keeps your body busy but lets your mind focus on what you’re listening to. Like housework, knitting, driving, crafting, or the like. I don’t do those things much. I do housework, but I never spend an hour doing housework at one time. I drive, but I don’t drive very far.
So I’m kind of late to the podcast game. But I’ve been listening to a podcast called “Pod Save America” for a couple of months now, and I like it. I’m going to tell you more about this podcast tomorrow. The same group of people launched a new podcast in the fall of 2022. “Pod Save the World” is a weekly podcast that breaks down international news and foreign policy developments, but doesn’t feel like homework. Each week, Tommy Vieter (former White House chief spokesperson for the Obama National Security Council) and former Obama deputy national security advisor and Ben Rhodes walk you through the latest world developments with a variety of experts and take you behind the scenes of big decisions with the people who were there.
I listened to this podcast for the first time this week, and I’ll be back. A new episode drops each Wednesday, and you can get it on Spotify (or wherever you get your podcasts) or access it through their YouTube Channel.
Here’s what they talked about today:
The ongoing crisis in Sudan
The Pope’s visit to Hungary
The upcoming coronation of King Charles
Prince Harry’s lawsuits against Rupert Murdoch.
The approaching elections in Turkey
The UAE’s influence in the US
The South Korean President’s “karaoke moment” at the White House State Dinner last Wednesday
Ron DeSantis’s embarrassing trip abroad.
Tommy followed this with an interview with Deputy National Security Advisor for International Economics Mike Pyle on securing technological advances domestically, investments in green energy, and the need for a unified approach to China among the US and its allies.
All of this in about 75 minutes. You won’t learn everything you need to know about what’s going on in the world from listening to this podcast, but you’ll know more than you knew before you listened to it.
These smart and politically astute people can talk about serious topics and maintain a light and inviting tone. They are unabashed Democrats, which is probably one reason why I enjoy them so much. They are hilarious (at least I think so) and irreverent (although, oddly, I think they’re funnier on their audio podcast than in their video on YouTube). Kind of a combination of MST3K and Rachel Maddow. But they care deeply about what’s going on in the world, and they want you to care also.
You could find a worse way to spend an hour or so each week.
Agree about having something to do that keeps your body busy while you listen. I can't just listen, I drift away. Driving ia the perfect way to do audio books and podcasts.
Thanks for this information, Karen. I’m not much of a pod person either but I’ll tune in and give it a try. Enjoy your day!