Best-selling author, rock star historian and world-renowned thinker Peter Frankopan introduces his new project: I’ve Been Thinking...with Peter Frankopan. Peter talks to experts, academics and thinkers about current affairs and cutting-edge research that often do not get covered in the mainstream media.
EP23: Parag Khanna on migration, future movements and predicting the reasons why
Migration is a topic at the top of many different agendas but why are people moving and what can we learn from history to map out possible futures? Peter discusses this and more with Parag Khanna, founder & managing partner of FutureMap, a data and scenario based strategic advisory firm.
Parag's new book MOVE and past work can be found on his website - www.paragkhanna.com
Keep up to date with Peter's latest news via www.peterfrankopan.com or on twitter - @peterfrankopan
Produced, edited and mixed by @producerneil
11/1/2021 • 42 minutes, 31 seconds
EP22: The environmental footprint of food choices with Sarah Briddle
When we choose what we eat it can have a huge impact on our environmental footprint.
Author Sarah Briddle has written one of the books of the year, Food and Climate Change Without the Hot Air: Change Your Diet: The Easiest way to Help Save the Planet, and within it she measures the choices we take and what they mean for the world around us.
Well worth investigating more of Sarah's work via - www.sarahbridle.net/index.html
Keep in touch with Peter on Twitter - @peterfrankopan
Produced, edited and mixed by @producerneil
10/25/2021 • 29 minutes, 12 seconds
EP21: Refugees, remittance and the potential for ideological change with Pennsylvania State University's Professor Joseph Wright
Refugees and migrants take their path for many different reasons one of which is economic. How does the money they send back to their homes - remittance - change their families, communities and even governments? Outside of this how does their new cultural capital impact how they see the world around them and from where they travelled from?
Pennsylvania State University's Joseph Wright, along with Abel Escribà-Folch and Covadonga Meseguer have written Migration and Democracy: How Remittances Undermine Dictatorships - available in the US right now and the UK early 2022 - to look at these questions and more.
Peter and Joseph spoke over Zoom for this episode of I've Been Thinking.
Professor Joseph Wright's bio at Pennsylvania State University including links to further reading - https://polisci.la.psu.edu/people/jgw12
Peter's Oxford bio can be accessed here - https://www.history.ox.ac.uk/people/professor-peter-frankopan#/
Produced, edited and mixed by @producerneil
10/18/2021 • 40 minutes, 11 seconds
EP20: James Bond - the real world of MI6, espionage and the fact in the fiction
The 25th Bond film is in cinemas now and in this episode of I've Been Thinking with Peter Frankopan he digs into the real life world of espionage, counter terrorism and the life of Bond creator Ian Flemming.
First up Peter is in conversation with Sir David Omand. He was the first UK Security and Intelligence Coordinator, served on the Joint Intelligence Committee, Permanent Secretary of the Home Office, and before that Director of GCHQ. His recent book How Spies Think: Ten Lessons in Intelligence gives a real insight into information gathering.
In part two we hear from Dr Robert Bartholomew about the mysteriousHavana Syndrome. Are Western embassies across the World being targeted by a new sonic weapon? He along with Dr Robert Baloh have written extensively on the subject.
And to wrap this episode we speak to Andrew Lycett, author of an outstanding biography of Ian Flemming - the creator of the one and only 007.
Should you wish, all of today's guests and there work can be found on the links below as well as the wider web...
Sir David Omand - www.penguin.co.uk/authors/138288/david-omand.html
Dr Robert Bartholomew - www.rebartholomew.com
Andrew Lycett - www.andrewlycett.co.uk
Peter can be found on Twitter via @peterfrankopan
Produced, edited and mixed by @producerneil
10/15/2021 • 35 minutes, 7 seconds
EP19: The economics of kidnapping with Professor Anja Shortland
You've taken a hostage, but what are they worth? 97.5% of all hostages who are taken for ransom are returned but pricing is as important a factor as the negotiating.
In this episode of I've Been Thinking Peter is in conversation with Professor Anja Shortland from King's College London on the economics of kidnapping and also the world of art theft where the usual rules of law and to an extent crime, don't apply.
Do visit Professor Anja Shortland's page at King's College London with links to further papers and books - www.kcl.ac.uk/people/anja-shortland-1
Keep up to date with Peter on Twitter - @peterfrankopan
Produced, edited and mixed by @producerneil
10/11/2021 • 36 minutes
EP18: Alexei Navalny - A thorn in Putin's side, but is he Russia's great hope?
He's been the face of opposition politic in Russia for sometime but who is Alexei Navalny? What are his goals? What tools does he wield to achieve them? How do the Kremlin head him off?
In order to answer those questions and more, Peter is joined by the authors and scholars behind Navalny: Putin's Nemesis, Russia's Future? on this episode of I've Been Thinking - Ben Noble is Lecturer in Russian Politics at University College London, Jan Matti Dollbaum is a postdoctoral researcher at Bremen University, specialising in activism and civil society in Russia and Morvan Lallouet, a PhD candidate at the University of Kent, researching Navalny and the Russian opposition.
You can buy Navalny: Putin's Nemesis, Russia's Future? in all good shops or direct from the publisher - www.hurstpublishers.com/book/navalny
All of this episodes contributors can be found via their websites;
Ben Noble - www.ben-noble.com
Jan Matti Dollbaum - www.janmatti.dollbaum.de
Morvan Lallouet - www.mlallouet.com
More from Peter on Twitter - @peterfrankopan
Produced, edited and mixed by @producerneil
10/4/2021 • 47 minutes, 1 second
EP17: Supply Chains - Success, failings and a map for the future with Ross Kennedy
An extra episode of I've Been Thinking with Peter Frankopan in your podcast feed this week.
In the media we see daily stories of projected food shortages, lack of workers and of course right now across the UK, queues on petrol forecourts.
The UK is not alone in seeing disruption to its supply chains with incidents and examples across the globe not least due to the Covid pandemic and the Ever Given shipping incident in the Suez Canal.
Ross Kennedy is a U.S.-based logistics and supply chain expert with more than fifteen years in worldwide transportation, procurement, and analysis, and on this episode of I've Been Think Peter and Ross discuss the routes of the problems we see today of food shortages on our supermarket shelves, why the UK and others are in a bind and Ross lays out the historic nature of the supple chain model.
Do follow Ross on Twitter - @man_integrated and Peter @peterfrankopan.
I've Been Thinking episode 18 looks at the face of Russian opposition politics, Alexei Navalny.
Produced, edited and mixed by @producerneil
9/30/2021 • 34 minutes, 18 seconds
EP16: China Unbound: A New World Disorder with journalist and author Joanna Chiu
China Unbound: A New World Disorder, journalist Joanna Chiu takes her experience of over a decade examining China's expansion and puts pen to paper to give the reader a view of it's economic power, it's sway over foreign countries, and how China's growth has been handled by Western Nations.
Peter and Joanna go under the hood of leader Xi Jinping's policies and understand how China's actions in Honk Kong should be closely observed by all nations as it could be closer to home in the future, how China has retaliated to moves against it's citizens on foreign soil and they discuss the policy of Wolf Warrior diplomacy.
You can find China Unbound: A New World Disorder in all good shops and online, and find out further information about Joanna's work at her website - www.joannachiu.com
Further thoughts, work and projects from Peter can be found via - www.peterfrankopan.com
* NOTE - this episode was recorded and produced before the release of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou and Canadians Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig.
Produced, edited and mixed by @producerneil
9/27/2021 • 43 minutes, 21 seconds
EP15: Private education with author of Sad Little Men, Richard Beard
What is private education? Who goes in and who comes out?
Like Peter, Richard Beard experienced such an education and writes about its impact and how it has shaped modern government in his latest book Sad Little Men: Private Schools and the Ruin of England.
He and Peter get into private education's history, the breeding ground of power and its positives and negatives.
Richard's website is - www.richardbeard.info - were you can find out more about Sad Little Men: Private Schools and the Ruin of England and his other works.
Peter can be found on Twitter via @peterfrankopan.
Produced, edited and mixed by @producerneil
9/20/2021 • 36 minutes, 39 seconds
EP14: An Atlantic Slave War and competition within Africa with Professor Vincent Brown of Harvard
On this episode of I've Been Thinking Peter is in conversation with Vincent Brown, Professor of American History and Professor of African and African American Studies at Harvard and author of the excellent Tacky's Revolt released in 2020.
He and Peter discuss who Tacky was, the implications of the revolt on the American revolution that was to come but also the competition within Africa between Europeans and African states themselves.
More from Vincent can be found on his Harvard profile - www.scholar.harvard.edu/vbrown/biocv
Further reading and updates from Peter via - www.peterfrankopan.com
Produced, edited and mixed by @producerneil
9/13/2021 • 30 minutes, 42 seconds
EP13: The Taliban, their roots and other terrorist organisations operating in Afghanistan
Welcome to the second part of this deep look into Afghanistan.
Peter speaks to Professor Sumit Ganguly who provides the history and background of the Taliban's origins, and Professor Amira Jadoon one of the world's foremost experts on ISIS-K.
You can find Professor Amira Jadoon on Twitter - @AmiraJadoon - and her website is www.amirajadoon.net
Further reading by Professor Sumit Ganguly is available on his website www.sumitganguly.com
Still to come on I've Been Thinking episodes with Vincent Brown, Professor of American History and Professor of African and African American Studies at Harvard, and author of Sad Little Men: Private Schools and the Ruin of England, Richard Beard, so please do subscribe or follow the podcast from where you listen.
Produced, edited and mixed by @producerneil
9/6/2021 • 27 minutes, 59 seconds
EP12: How Afghanistan fell and why Pakistan may shape their neighbours future
This is a two part special of I've Been Thinking, digging deeper into the situation in Afghanistan.
In this episode Peter is in conversation with Ajmal Ahmady, until very recently the Governor of the Central Bank of Afghanistan and Minister of Commerce who saw the eye storm of the Taliban takeover and tries to answer "what comes next for the country?"
Secondly Peter speaks to Senator Sherry Rehman chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee in Pakistan allowing her to give an insight into the conflict on the other side of the border and how Pakistan may shape the future of Afghanistan.
You can follow both Ajmal Ahmady and Senator Sherry Rehman on Twitter - @aahmady / @sherryrehman and Peter can be found on Twitter via @peterfrankopan.
Part two of this special features Professor Sumit Ganguly and Professor Amira Jadoon and looks at the anti-colonial roots of the Taliban and at terrorist organisations operating in Afghanistan at the moment.
Should you wish to if you've been enjoying the podcast please do leave a review as it helps the podcast be more visible to others.
Produced, edited and mixed by @producerneil
9/6/2021 • 32 minutes, 15 seconds
EP11: Pacific trade routes of the Americas after the arrival of Columbus with Mark Moyama & Fernando Artaga
The Pacific Ocean trade routes have fascinated many for a long time including economic historians Mark Koyama & Fernando Arteaga. Together with their colleague Desiree Desierto they have written an extensive paper on trade across the Pacific Ocean in the centuries after the arrival of Columbus and Europeans in the Americas.
In this episode of I've Been Thinking Peter asks in particular why so many ships were lost during the crossings, what role greed and personal profit played in decision-making, and how these influenced the downfall of the Spanish Empire.
To read the Desiree, Mark and Fernando's work and to find out more about the 3 authors head here - https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3693463
If you have a topic you would like to hear on the podcast then Peter can be reached on Twitter - @peterfrankopan
Produced, edited and mixed by @producerneil
8/30/2021 • 34 minutes, 47 seconds
EP10: Afghanistan: The past, present, future and ramifications of what we see happening before us
This episode of I've Been Thinking with Peter Frankopan is a special one as we look at the developing situation in Afghanistan.
Peter has spent a lot of time working on the history of Afghanistan and its neighbours, so the dramatic events have sparked lots of questions about what happened, why and what may happen next.
He is joined by Bruno Macaes, former Europe Minister of Portugal who got out of Kabul 36 hours before the Taliban took control, Professor Jen Brick Murtazashvili, one of the world’s foremost experts on Afghanistan and Central Asia; Professor Max Abrams, a specialist on international security and terrorist dynamics; and Tom Fletcher, former foreign policy advisor to three British Prime Ministers - Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and David Cameron.
All four answer some of the most important questions being asked right now.
Please leave a review as it helps further the podcast's discovery, and subscribe from where you get your podcasts for all future episodes.
Produced, edited and mixed by @producerneil
8/23/2021 • 41 minutes, 5 seconds
EP9: Pandemic impact on elections and parallels between the Spanish-Flu & Covid-19 with Leticia Arroyo & Noel Maurer
Leticia Arroyo and Noel Maurer are New York based academics who have written a fascinating work on if and how pandemics shape elections following their paper on the 1918 Spanish Flu. In this episode they discuss the steps taken in America to curb the Spanish Flu, and how certain measures were similar to those taken recently for Covid-19 but the public reaction to them was far more extreme.
To read Noel and Leticia's paper head here - https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3680286
For further information about Peter's work you can visit www.peterfrankopan.com where you can also find links to Peter's social channels.
Produced, edited and mixed by @producerneil
8/16/2021 • 42 minutes, 2 seconds
EP8: Former Sky News Foreign Correspondent & best selling author Tim Marshall on border tensions, cultural reform & future hopes
Tim Marshall was Diplomatic Editor and foreign correspondent for Sky News but after three decades he chose to step away to focus on analysis and writing of what he had witnessed and learn in his career. He is the author of the huge international bestseller Prisoners of Geography. In this episode he talks to Peter about what shape a new Cold War could take, why some cultural reforms can lead to unexpected challenges and about how to use the current landscape a projection of potential events across the next 10 years.
@Itwitius is Tim's handle on Twitter and his website were you can listen to his own podcast is www.thewhatandthewhy.com
If you're enjoying I've Been Thinking then don't forget Peter's books such as The Silk Roads are available now.
Produced, edited and mixed by @producerneil
8/9/2021 • 31 minutes, 55 seconds
EP7: The inner workings of Westminster with Jess Phillips MP
Birmingham Yardley MP Jess Phillips never intended being an active member of parliament despite being a member of the Labour Party. She is one of the most visible MPs which comes with many positive and negative impacts professionally and privately. On this episode of I've Been Thinking Jess shares learnings from her latest book, Everything You Need To Really Know About Politics, as well as what keeps her grounded and in touch with her constituents.
Jess's website is here - www.jessphillips.net and her book Everything You Need To Really Know About Politics plus previous books are available now.
Keep in touch with Peter on Twitter - @peterfrankopan and if you would like to leave a review please do and it will help others discover this podcast.
Episode 8 sees Peter in conversation with author Tim Marshall.
Produced, edited and mixed by @producerneil
8/2/2021 • 41 minutes, 26 seconds
EP6: Will Page on Economics at Spotify, artists controlling their product, and how Dolly Parton became a fan
Former Chief Economist at Spotify Will Page is Peter's guest on episode 6 of I've Been Thinking.
Peter and Will discuss his book, Tarzan Economics, and the examples within showcasing economics impacting music but also everything in our wider culture. Will reveals how streaming is changing the way music is written, how a high street chain we're all familiar with broke a hit record and why other older media streams should look at the music industry for clues as to how best adapt to the changing technological landscape around us.
Please do subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss future episodes and a positive review is always appreciated.
You can order Will's book, read further writing and listen to playlists curated by Will on his website - www.tarzaneconomics.com
Peter can be contacted on Twitter, @peterfrankopan or via his website - www.peterfrankopan.com
Produced, edited and mixed by @producerneil
7/26/2021 • 36 minutes, 15 seconds
EP5: Ai Weiwei on activism, art and the Chinese government
Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei left China in 2015 and has since lived in several countries including the UK and most recently Portugal. Growing up with his own father in exile, Ai Weiwei's art has always featured his activism and in his most recent work including documentary film he looks at refugees across the world and the stories they tell.
Thank you to the How To Academy who recorded this interview. A full version can be found at www.howtoacademy.com. The fascinating How To Academy podcast can also be found there, or wherever you choose to get your podcasts.
Please subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss future episodes and a positive review is always appreciated.
Peter can be found on Twitter, @peterfrankopan.
Produced, edited and mixed by @producerneil
7/19/2021 • 24 minutes, 4 seconds
EP4: Cricketing legend Michael Holding on race, taking a knee and the power of education
West Indian fast bowling legend Michael Holding speaks to Peter about how he came to write his most recent book Why We Kneel How We Rise, educating himself on racism, his hopes for change in the future and the most recent racist abuse members of the England team faced after their Euro 2020 final defeat.
If you're enjoying the podcast please do leave a review as it helps others discover it and also subscribe so as not to miss future episodes. Episode 5 of I've Been Thinking with Peter Frankopan will be with Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei.
Peter can be found on Twitter, @peterfrankopan, where you can learn more about what he is reading and his own book details.
Produced, edited and mixed by @producerneil
7/16/2021 • 39 minutes, 42 seconds
EP3: Sir Anthony Seldon on what it takes to be a Prime Minister
Is being Prime Minister of the United Kingdom a job you would really want?
Sir Anthony Seldon, author of The Impossible Office?: The History of the British Prime Minister, joins Peter to examine that question and takes Peter through the history of the premiership to explain it's evolution and why we are now in a point in history where those filling the role don't have the necessary experience to maximise the importance of the position.
For further information about Peter's work you can visit www.peterfrankopan.com where you can also find links to Peter's social channels.
Produced, edited and mixed by @producerneil
7/12/2021 • 37 minutes, 38 seconds
EP2: Former FBI Director James Comey on President Trump and his regrets
James Comey was the 7th Director of the FBI from 2013 until his dismissal by President Donald Trump in 2017.
As head of the FBI he opened the investigation into Hilary Clinton's emails on the eve of the US election which many believed aided Donald Trump's rise to power.
Comey and Trump would clash during his time in office which he has written about in his new book, A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies and Leadership.
This interview was recorded by the How To Academy. A full version can be found at www.howtoacademy.com. The fascinating How To Academy podcast can also be found there or wherever you choose to get your podcasts.
Please do subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss future episodes and a positive review is always appreciated.
Peter can be found on Twitter, @peterfrankopan.
Our guest on episode 3 is Sir Anthony Seldon, author of The Impossible Office, The History of the British Prime Minister.
Produced, edited and mixed by @producerneil
7/5/2021 • 28 minutes, 7 seconds
EP1: Professor and presenter Alice Roberts on ancestors and pre-history
Peter's first guest on I've Been Thinking is Professor Alice Roberts. Alice is a biological anthropologist, biologist, presenter and author. In this episode we look into the unbelievable amount of information that can be gleamed from bones, why the lives of ordinary citizens as well as those more famous figures in history are just as important and examining genes, we can trace human migration across the globe.
Alice's latest book, Ancestors is available now, and she can be found at www.alice-roberts.co.uk on via @theAliceRoberts on Twitter.
Peter can be found on Twitter @peterfrankopan
Subscribe and follow the podcast, and please rate and review as this allows other to discover the podcast.
Episode 2 of I've Been Thinking is with former head of the FBI, James Comey.
Produced, edited and mixed by @producerneil
7/5/2021 • 37 minutes, 53 seconds
Trailer: I've Been Thinking with Peter Frankopan
Best-selling author, rock star historian and world-renowned thinker Peter Frankopan is turning his hand to the art of podcasting, with his new project: I’ve Been Thinking...with Peter Frankopan.
In this podcast, Peter, Professor of Global History at Oxford University discusses global topics which inform understanding of the past, present and future. Experts, academics and thinkers reveal all on current affairs, cutting-edge research and the ins and outs of life as Prime Minister or director of the FBI.
Episodes 1 & 2 are available on 5th July, so follow on Global Player or wherever you get you podcasts.