The HCSS Sleighride Soundbites bring you a delightful collection of top-notch podcasts handpicked with joy by our vibrant team of staff and interns. Dive into a world of captivating stories, from mesmerising world history tales to the latest hot takes from British politics. These podcasts are the perfect cheerful companions for cozy nights by the fireplace or spirited winter strolls.
Assistant Analyst Tom Connolly recommends Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History: Supernova in the East
“Supernova in the East,” a compelling podcast by Dan Carlin (a veteran podcaster from the 2000s), dissects the tumultuous events of the Pacific Theatre in World War II. Carlin’s immersive storytelling brings alive the complexities of the conflict, delving into the cultural, military, and political landscapes of the era. With meticulous research and a captivating narrative, he unveils the clash of ideologies, strategies, and the human cost within the Pacific War. Carlin’s deep dive into the battles, ideologies, and the transformative impact on societies provides a rich understanding of a pivotal historical period. For history aficionados seeking a gripping exploration of the Pacific Theatre, this podcast is an illuminating journey.
Assistant Analyst Abe de Ruijter recommends Trade Talks by Chad P. Bown of the Peterson Institute for International Economics (PIIE).
I find “Trade Talks” to be an essential podcast for anyone trying to grasp the intricacies of international trade. In an era where globalization is retreating, industrial policy is fashionable again, and economic interdependencies are increasingly being weaponized, Bown’s podcast serves as a source of deep insight and nuanced perspectives.
Assistant Analyst Arne Eichholtz recommends The Lex Fridman Podcast
Originally started out as the AI Podcast, this podcast is a conversation between the host – Lex Fridman – and a guest from AI, technology, business, politics or anything else really. Interesting episodes are the conversations with Stephen Kotkin (on Russia and Ukraine) and Fiona Hill (on Putin and Trump); related to AI, the episodes with Demis Hassabis (founder of DeepMind) and Andrej Karpathy (important AI person) are great.
PR and Communications Assistant Alessandra Barrow recommends The Politics Joe Podcast
An exceedingly funny British politics podcast (sometimes aided by beer). There are a lot of very good UK politics podcasts out there but listening to this one always winds up with me giggling on the metro (like a psycho). They also do a weekly analysis of PMQs (prime ministers questions) which somehow manages to always be interesting and earnest despite the deep level of political geekiness this speaks to.
Strategic Advisor Energy Jilles van den Beukel recommends The Rest Is Politics
Rory Stewart’s book was a pleasure to read and his podcast The Rest is Politics, with Alastair Campbell, also comes highly recommended. It’s a British podcast where they talk about news and politics. There are usually two episodes a week – one main episode and an episode with questions from the listeners.
Communications and Events Assistant Stephanie Govaerts recommends The Disorder Podcast
The Podcast that aims to ‘order the disorder’ of the world we live in. Why are states no longer working together to solve complex crises and are instead feeding off of the chaos? The Disorder podcast covers everything from climate change to unregulated cyberspace, to Neo-populism, to the wars in Ukraine or Libya and more. Not only do the hosts of the podcast cover current topics, but they also propose innovative solutions while being able to provide their listeners with witty comedic relief.
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