Intelligence Squared

Intelligence Squared calls itself the home of lively debate, and with four episodes a week and over 1,600 in the archive, it has the track record to back that claim. The show covers economics, politics, literature, health, technology, and current affairs through in-depth interviews and structured debates with experts who genuinely disagree with each other. Episodes run 29 to 51 minutes and feature authors, policymakers, scientists, and public intellectuals discussing the ideas shaping the world right now. The 4.3-star rating from about 720 reviews reflects a smaller but dedicated audience. What makes Intelligence Squared stand out in a crowded field is the debate format. Rather than presenting a single perspective on a contested topic, the show stages real arguments and lets listeners hear strong cases on multiple sides. The quality of the guests is consistently high — these are people who have spent years thinking about their positions and can defend them under pressure. The show also includes branded partnership series and author conversation episodes that provide variety within the feed. For listeners who want to sharpen their thinking on complex issues rather than just absorb information passively, this show provides a model for how intelligent disagreement is supposed to work.