Free Daily Podcast Summary
One Decision: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Listen Now Media
Tough decisions rattle us all to the core. But for our guests on One Decision— the choices they are up against can also shape history. No pressure! They take us through all of their doubts, emotions and—sometimes unexpected--consequences. A fresh take on foreign policy. Hear the former head of Mi6, Sir Richard Dearlove alongside international journalists as they analyse, interview, and discuss.
Latest Episodes
The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- 3 days ago1h 1m
Is Iran Secretly Building a Bomb at Pickaxe Mountain? A Nuclear Physicist Answers (w/ Ali Vaez)
Israel and the US may have extraordinary intelligence on Iran. But intelligence isn't the same as comprehension, according to nuclear physicist and 2015 Iran deal negotiator Ali Vaez. Vaez joins John Raine and Sir Richard Dearlove to break down what Iran's nuclear capabilities really look like after the 12-day war. Plus, how Iran's Supreme National Security Council stays united under duress, how the Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps maintains primacy over the regular army, and why sanctions now at "nine out of ten" still won't force collapse. Iran doesn't need to win this standoff. It just needs not to lose. In this episode: Ali Vaez on wartime Iran Is Iran's leadership a monolith or divided? Power centers: the SNSC, the Basij, and the IRGC The mystery of Mojtaba Khamenei Economic and military pressure on Iran A forever war? Gulf States, Saudi Arabia, and the Houthis What does the Iranian public actually think? Iran's nuclear program: what do we really know? Israeli intelligence, diplomacy, and the Ahmadinejad theory The decision only Donald Trump can make Hosted by Sir Richard Dearlove (former MI6 Chief) and co-host John Raine (International Institute for Strategic Studies). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- 6 days ago43 min
How Real Is Netflix's The Diplomat? Ex-MI6 Chief Fact-Checks It (w/ Creator Debora Cahn)
Debora Cahn, the writer behind The Diplomat, Homeland, The West Wing, and Grey's Anatomy, joins Kate McCann and Sir Richard Dearlove to talk about writing political drama in an era when reality keeps outpacing fiction. Debora explains how "spy camp" research trips with real diplomats, spies, and generals shape her scripts, why she resists making her stories too close to current events, and what she learned about the strange double life of foreign service officers: the loneliness of constant relocation, the jockeying for a seat in the room, and the quiet patriotism that keeps them showing up. Sir Richard, a former head of MI6, adds his own view from the other side of the table, including a story about deliberately keeping a British ambassador out of the room in Washington. In this episode: 00:00 Cold Open 02:58 Russia Story Rewritten 04:11 Borgen Inspiration 06:15 Spy Camp Research 08:22 Diplomacy In The Dirt 09:35 Ambassadors Real And Fake 18:39 CIA And Embassy Dynamics 21:24 From West Wing To Diplomat 23:14 No Evil Characters 24:29 MI6 Reality Check 29:59 Demystifying Government Work 31:12 Female President Choice 33:51 Future Of Ambassadors Hosted by Sir Richard Dearlove (former MI6 Chief) and Kate McCann (Political Editor at Times Radio). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- 1 weeks ago1h 9m
Inside the CIA and MI6 on 9/11 (w/ John McLaughlin, CIA Deputy Director on September 11th)
Part Two of our two-part series marking the 25th anniversary of 9/11 reunites former leaders of the US and UK intelligence services, both of whom were in high office on September 11, 2001. Former deputy director of the CIA John McLaughlin joins former MI6 chief Sir Richard Dearlove and co-host Kate McCann to give the insider’s perspective on the intelligence world’s response to the attacks. McLaughlin details what the CIA knew beforehand, the immediate aftermath inside CIA headquarters, and the rapid attribution to al-Qaeda. He also discusses the power of the US-UK "special relationship," the surge in CIA resources after 9/11, the Bush administration's push toward the Iraq War, the effects of the global war on terror on American civil liberties, and why the war in Ukraine is the single most important geopolitical issue today. In this episode: Emotion is a Luxury in Intelligence John McLaughlin Introduction Pre-9/11 Threats Why Was 9/11 A Surprise? Considering the "What Ifs" M16 Rushes to DC CIA on 9/11 Post-9/11 Intelligence Overhaul Origins of the Iraq Focus Legacy of 9/11 in America One Decision: Importance of the Ukraine Conflict Takeaways and Wrap Up Hosted by Sir Richard Dearlove (former MI6 Chief) and co-host Kate McCann (Political Editor at Times Radio). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- 1 weeks ago1h 7m
The Lessons of 9/11 & the Global War on Terror (w/ Peter Bergen, who Interviewed Bin Laden)
In 1997, Peter Bergen found himself in the mountains of Afghanistan, face-to-face with al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden. During the ensuing landmark interview, bin Laden foreshadowed the terrorist attacks of September 11. In Part One of our two-part series commemorating the 25th anniversary of 9/11, journalist and author Peter Bergen sits down with former head of MI6 Sir Richard Dearlove and co-host John Raine to discuss the legacy of the 9/11 attacks, including the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Bergen talks about why negotiating with Osama bin Laden would have been a nonstarter and why the attacks bin Laden orchestrated generated shock, not surprise, within government intelligence agencies. Bergen and the hosts also discuss decisions after the attacks that Dearlove witnessesed firsthand, the proper relationship between intelligence and policy, how the war on terror reshaped the US view of coalitions and allies, and how the conflict in Ukraine points to the future of warfare. In this episode: Lessons of Afghanistan and Iraq Wars Would Negotiating with Osama bin Laden Have Worked? Feeling in US Immediately Post-9/11 Origins of Iraq War Policy and Intelligence Imperial Power of the Presidency Why Were There No Major Attacks After 9/11? Role of Coalitions and Allies Legacy of Fighting Global War on Terror Importance of Tribalism Scale of Troop Presence and Outcome Ukraine as Laboratory for Modern Warfare One Decision: Why Trump Should Declare Victory in Iran Takeaways and Wrap Up Hosted by Sir Richard Dearlove (former MI6 Chief) and guest co-host John Raine (International Institute for Strategic Studies) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- 2 weeks ago1h 4m
Why the US Lost in Afghanistan (w/Jon Lee Anderson, the Journalist Who Saw the Taliban Rise Twice)
It has been five years since the US withdrew its forces from Afghanistan in August 2021, accepting defeat after a 20-year presence in the country. Was this ever a winnable war? War correspondent Jon Lee Anderson of The New Yorker walks former head of MI6 Sir Richard Dearlove and co-host John Raine through the Taliban resurgence. Anderson discusses why it was a strategic error to not allow Hamid Karzai to actually govern, and how that blunder facilitated both the return of opium production and the Taliban comeback. He also talks about what happened to the Northern Alliance, the complexities of Afghan allegiances and loyalties, lessons in counterinsurgency, the importance of winning the hearts and minds of a people, and what diplomatic relations with a Taliban-led Afghanistan could look like. In this episode: Ceding an Aura of Invincibility Was Afghanistan Ever a Winnable War? Karzai and State Building Opium Production and Taliban Shadow Taliban Government What Happened to the Northern Alliance? Navigating US-Afghani Cultural Differences Afghanistan’s Geography Lessons in Counterinsurgency Legacy of Afghanistan War Persistence of Taliban Government Diplomatic Relations with Taliban One Decision: The West Must Engage Afghanistan Takeaways and Wrap Up Hosted by Sir Richard Dearlove (former MI6 Chief) and guest co-host John Raine (International Institute for Strategic Studies) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- 3 weeks ago1h 1m
MI6 Spymaster: Was Israel Serious About Regime Change in Iran? (Ft. Ronen Bergman & Mark Mazzetti)
How did a Holocaust-denying, hardline former president of Iran become the centerpiece of an Israeli plan to topple the regime in Tehran? Former head of MI6 Sir Richard Dearlove and co-host John Raine sit down with New York Times investigative journalists Mark Mazzetti and Ronen Bergman to detail the high-stakes intelligence mission that preceded Operation Epic Fury. They explain how Israel’s Mossad groomed former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad into an intelligence asset, and how Mossad director David Barnea Ahmadinejad to the White House in February 2026 as part of a plan for rapid regime change in Iran. They also discuss the plan’s collapse within days of the decapitation strikes, why the plan to use Kurdish forces as a ground proxy was a non-starter, how the political fallout from the war may forever change US-Israel relations, and the electoral implications for both US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this fall. Legacy of the Iran War Origins of Ahmadinejad Plot Planning Iranian Regime Change Was Ahmadinejad a Double Agent? Why Recruit Ahmadinejad? Selling Trump on Regime Change Credibility of Kurdish Option War Planning vs. Reality Legacy of Ahmadinejad Plot Did Israel Manipulate the US? Mood of Iranian People Deal Prospects Maximum Pressure on Iran Impact of Israel’s Coming Elections Takeaways, Audience Comments, and Wrap Up Hosted by Sir Richard Dearlove (former MI6 Chief) and guest co-host John Raine (International Institute for Strategic Studies) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Aug 20, 20261h 17m
Putin's Russia, Ukraine's Reparations (ft. Jamison Firestone) | German Spies, Iceland-EU, Iran
Vladimir Putin promised Russia a "dictatorship of law" when he took office in 2000. He delivered the dictatorship -- but not the law. This week, Russia expert, human rights lawyer, and founder of Russia's first independent foreign law firm Jamison Firestone joins journalist Rosanna Lockwood and former head of MI6 Sir Richard Dearlove to discuss his new book, Rule of Lies: My Wild Ride Through Chaos, Corruption, and Murder in Putin's Russia. Firestone lived through the upheaval of the early 1990s and worked alongside Sergei Magnitsky, who was murdered after exposing a Russian state built to loot itself. Firestone explains why Russia may now be close to a historical tipping point, how $300 billion in frozen Russian assets could be legally transferred to Ukraine to fund Kyiv;s war effort, and the ways in which Donald Trump has emulated Putin and Yeltsin. Plus, in Brief: changes coming to Germany's BND, the legacy of former Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji, Iceland's referendum on restarting EU membership talks, and the latest in the Iran War. In this episode: Why Ukraine Matters Germany Expands BND Powers Zhu Rongji Iceland EU Vote and NATO Role Iran Deadline and Strait Tensions Meet Jamison Firestone Growing Up Around Gangsters Loving Russia Despite Putin Can Russia Reach a Tipping Point Mobilization Pressure and Next Steps Ukraine Aid and Frozen Funds Legal Case For Seizure Reparations Loan Explained US Politics And Trump Parallels How Putin Could Fall Can Russia Be Democratic Putin Isolation And Ukraine Motive Life In London And Safety Magnitsky Legacy And Costs Drone Swarms And Future War Show Notes: Rule of Lies: My Wild Ride Through Chaos, Corruption, and Murder in Putin's Russia | https://www.harpercollins.com/products/rule-of-lies-jamison-r-firestone?variant=44366648180770 Website to learn more about Jamison Firestone’s advocacy: https://makeputinpay.org/ Hosted by Sir Richard Dearlove (former MI6 Chief) and guest co-host Rosanna Lockwood (International Journalist) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Aug 13, 20261h 13m
CIA Under Trump (ft. Tim Weiner) | China’s UK Spy Nest, US to Squeeze Cuba, Russia Tests NATO
What role do intelligence services play under a president that does not heed their advice? That’s one of the questions Pulitzer Prize–winning reporter Tim Weiner posits in his most recent book, The Mission, which details how the modern Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has evolved during the era of the global war on terror. Weiner describes the evolution of the missions undertaken by the CIA, which were historically driven by presidential desires to change the world through covert action, and contrasts them with the post-Cold War agency that grapples with trust and reputation in the information era. Weiner also discusses how the delicate interplay between betrayal and trust underwrites intelligence work, the common aim of pursuing secrets that intelligence and journalism share, and why he believes the cumulative effects of partisan purges within intelligence services under President Donald Trump leaves the United States in a dire state of danger. Sir Richard Dearlove and guest co-host Rosanna Lockwood dive into the news stories in geopolitics shaping the world this week: how a secret CIA task force in Cuba may be laying the groundwork for a more American-friendly government, why the construction of a new giant embassy for China is igniting political NIMBY-ism in London, and what US intelligence says about how stray Russian missiles and drones may be Putin’s way of testing NATO’s resolve. Secret CIA Cuba Task Force New Chinese Embassy in London Will Putin Test NATO’s Resolve? Interview with Tim Weiner Difficulty of Writing About the CIA Human Element of Espionage Evolution of the CIA Sir Richard’s Post-9/11 Intel Recollections Journalists, Intelligence, and Secrecy Intelligence and Policy Modern CIA Missions Under Trump Partisan Purges in US Intel Services Can Institutional Trust Recover? Trump’s Potential Paradoxical Legacy One Decision to Watch Takeaways, Audience Comments, and Wrap Up Hosted by Sir Richard Dearlove (former MI6 Chief) and guest co-host Rosanna Lockwood (international journalist). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Get One Decision summaries in your inbox
Free AI-powered daily recaps. Key takeaways, quotes, and mentions — in a 5-minute read.
Get Free Summaries →Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.
You Might Also Like
Listeners also like.
The Rest Is Classified
Former CIA analyst David McCloskey and journalist Gordon Corera examine real espionage cases and intelligence operations from the Cold War to present.
The Real Story
Experts and decision makers analyze and debate major news stories.
The Truth of the Matter
Breaks down complex global policy issues through informed, balanced discussions without spin or sensationalism.
NatSec Matters
Former national security officials interview top leaders on critical security challenges and U.S. policy responses.
In the Room with Peter Bergen
Peter Bergen examines global news stories through interviews with experts and firsthand reporting on national security, technology, and conflict.
Intelligence Squared
Live debates and in-depth discussions on pressing global issues featuring leading experts and thinkers.
The Team House
Deep-dive conversations on national security with special operations veterans, intelligence professionals, and frontline reporters.
The Interview
In-depth 20-minute conversations with global leaders, cultural figures, and decision-makers on the issues shaping our world.
The Steady State Sentinel
Former national security professionals analyze threats to democracy and the Constitution with expert guests.
Mission Implausible
Former CIA officers investigate the truth behind conspiracy theories and disinformation using their intelligence expertise.
Sources & Methods
A weekly deep dive into national security news with NPR correspondents and interviews with military, intelligence, and diplomatic leaders.
Intelligence Matters
Conversations with U.S. intelligence leaders about their careers and the national security challenges they've faced.
About One Decision
Tough decisions rattle us all to the core. But for our guests on One Decision— the choices they are up against can also shape history. No pressure! They take us through all of their doubts, emotions and—sometimes unexpected--consequences. A fresh take on foreign policy. Hear the former head of Mi6, Sir Richard Dearlove alongside international journalists as they analyse, interview, and discuss.
Customized Recaps
AI-powered recaps with compact key takeaways, quotes, and insights.
Straight to Your Inbox
Get key takeaways from One Decision in a 5-minute read.
Save Hours Every Week
Stay current on your favorite podcasts without falling behind.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Podzilla's One Decision daily summary?
It's a free AI-powered email that summarizes new episodes of One Decision as soon as they're published. You get the key takeaways, notable quotes, and links & mentions — all in a quick read.
How does the One Decision podcast summary work?
When a new episode drops, our AI transcribes and analyzes it, then generates a personalized summary tailored to your interests and profession. It's delivered to your inbox every morning.
Is this an official One Decision product?
No. Podzilla is an independent service that summarizes publicly available podcast content. We're not affiliated with or endorsed by Listen Now Media.
Can I get summaries of other podcasts too?
Absolutely! The free plan covers up to 3 podcasts. Upgrade to Pro for 15, or Premium for 50. Browse our full catalog at /podcasts.
How often does One Decision release new episodes?
One Decision publishes every few days. Our AI generates a summary within hours of each new episode.
What topics does One Decision cover?
One Decision covers topics including News, History, Politics. Our AI identifies the specific themes in each episode and highlights what matters most to you.
Start getting One Decision summaries tomorrow morning.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.