The 2 Best The Conversation Weekly Podcast Episodes
1) Crypto countries: Nigeria and El Salvador's opposing journeys into digital currencies
We dive into the world of crypto and digital currencies in this episode to take a close look at two countries approaching them in very different ways. In 2021, El Salvador made the cryptocurrency bitc...Show More
2) Degrowth: why some economists think abandoning growth is the only way to save the planet
Some economists have long argued that to really save the planet – and ourselves – from the climate crisis, we need a fundamental overhaul of the way our economies work. In this episode, we explore the...Show More
3) How Timor-Leste is fighting back against Asia’s scamming gangs
Oecusse, a rugged, remote district of Timor-Leste in south-east Asia, is usually a pretty sleepy place. But in August, Oecusse was rocked by a large police raid on a suspected scam centre, later linke...Show More
4) Why the US is fixated on South Africa’s white Afrikaners
Donald Trump’s fixation on South Africa’s white Afrikaner minority has become a central plank of US refugee policy, with their applications now given priority under a new refugee system.This...Show More
5) The 40 scientists who decide which flu shot you'll get
Twice a year, 40 scientists gather together for five days to decide what strains of influenza to vaccinate against for the next flu season. It takes around six months to prepare the vaccine – which us...Show More
6) How China cleaned up its air pollution
As Pakistanis and Indians struggle with hazardous air quality, in Beijing – a city once notorious for its smog – the air quality is currently rated as good.Ahead of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the...Show More
7) How early climate models got global warming right
Since the 1960s, scientists have been developing and honing models to understand how the earth’s climate is changing. One such pioneer of early climate modelling is Syukuro Manabe, who won the Nobel p...Show More
8) How organised crime infiltrated Brazil
At dawn on October 28, residents of Rio de Janeiro woke to the sound of gunfire. Battles continued throughout the day in the favelas of Alemão and Penha, as police mounted a huge operation targeting t...Show More
9) Ghosts vs demons: a 16th century Halloween showdown
In the 16th century, witches and demons weren’t just for Halloween. People were terrified and preoccupied with them – even kings.In 1590, James VI of Scotland – who was later also crowned James I of E...Show More
10) Bitcoin buys: the risks and rewards of companies buying crypto
One American company called Strategy owns more than 3% of all bitcoin in existence. In August 2020, its executive chairman, Michael Saylor, pioneered a new business model where publicly listed compani...Show More