Best SWI swissinfo.ch Podcasts (2025)

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War, Peace and Cake: The World in 2025 44:07

5h ago44:07

44:07

Send us a text 2025 has been a year of conflict, upheaval, and huge challenges to the international system. Gunilla von Hall, Svenskadagbladet: "It all started downhill from 20th of January. Since then, it's just, well, ‘the Ukraine war will be over in 24 hours?’ Nothing happened. It just got worse. Then we had Gaza, then we have Iran, Israel. Then…

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Gaza's Aid Crisis: The Failed Militarization of Humanitarian Relief 34:39

14d ago34:39

34:39

Send us a text Israel blocked aid into Gaza for 10 weeks. Then the US and Israel came up with a new plan – without the United Nations. Established aid agencies had doubts. Inside Geneva finds out why. Jan Egeland,secretary general, Norwegian Refugee Council: ‘We would welcome anything that would allow us to resume work for a population that is star…

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Inside Geneva: pandemics and climate change, can multilateralism still work? 34:05

28d ago34:05

34:05

Send us a text The world just agreed a pandemic treaty. But without the United States. Is it really a milestone? ‘‘It is a major step forward. I mean, just imagine if we failed. We would not only go back to the point before the pandemic, before COVID-19 struck us, we'd go back to a point much further back,” said Zeid Ra’ad al Hussein from the Inter…

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Toxic masculinity and the rollback of gender equality 34:09

1M ago34:09

34:09

Send us a text It’s been 30 years since the Beijing Declaration on Women, a landmark agreement to empower women and girls. “The Beijing declaration was such an incredible moment to say that enough is enough. Women are half of humanity and we have to be better,” says Lata Narayanaswamy, associate professor at the School of Politics and International…

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Women, girls and cuts to humanitarian aid 45:10

2M ago45:10

45:10

Send us a text On Inside Geneva this week, aid agencies count the costs of funding cuts. “I am most sad for all the millions of people living with HIV and affected by HIV whose lives have been upended. They have lost access to life-saving medication. They have showed up at clinics for support, only to find no one there to help them,” says Angeli Ac…

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Multilateralism, the Global South and the future 35:17

2M ago35:17

35:17

Send us a text On Inside Geneva this week, we ask whether the United Nations (UN) and multilateralism have a future. “Is the UN anachronistic? I mean, it was formed after the Second World War. Obviously, it’s getting a little bit dusty,” says political analyst Daniel Warner. Younger generations from the Global South tell us where they see the UN’s …

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Lost Cells, Ep.6: The Canaries 42:47

3M ago42:47

42:47

Send us a text This is the final episode of 'Lost Cells', a short investigative podcast series. The production is an original SWI swissinfo.ch trilingual podcast made in collaboration with Piz Gloria Productions, Futur Proche, and Studio Ochenta. This gripping investigative podcast series has been uncovering the human stories behind the promises an…

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Democratic rights and freedoms at a crossroads? 36:29

3M ago36:29

36:29

Send us a text The world is changing fast. Are democracy and human rights under threat? Our Inside Geneva podcast takes a deep dive. “Donald Trump is unravelling the constitution, where I believe we could describe this as a coup d'état,” says human rights lawyer Reed Brody. What happens when Big Tech gets involved in politics? “It is fine for Insta…

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Lost Cells, Ep.5: In Limbo 28:23

3M ago28:23

28:23

Send us a text Over the next two episodes, we're proud to present 'Lost Cells', a short investigative podcast series. The production is an original SWI swissinfo.ch trilingual podcast made in collaboration with Piz Gloria Productions, Futur Proche, and Studio Ochenta. This gripping investigative podcast series uncovers the human stories behind the …

1
Ep 6 - The Canaries 42:23

3M ago42:23

42:23

Send us a text In our series finale, the Lost Cells team digs deeper into the international standards of the cord blood banking industry. Antoine confronts the Swiss authorities for answers. Tatiana and Ratko vow to go public and warn parents all over the world with everything they’ve learned about cord blood banking. An original SWI swissinfo.ch t…

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Inside Geneva: where are women's voices in peace talks? 41:47

3M ago41:47

41:47

Send us a text In Ukraine, and in the Middle East, men say they are negotiating peace. But are they? “Ending war is necessary to peace without a doubt, but ending war does not mean peace. So, whenever these men use the word ‘peace’ in order to say ‘ceasefire’ and ‘stop the guns’, this is not peace,” says Deborah Schibler from PeaceWomen across the …

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Ep 5 - In Limbo 27:59

3M ago27:59

27:59

Send us a text Families across Europe feel like they’re being held hostage. Who owns their cells? Do they have any rights? They fight back with the only thing they do have: their own tenacity and an international network of sleuths. An original SWI swissinfo.ch trilingual podcast series in collaboration with Piz Gloria Productions, Futur Proche and…

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Lost Cells, Ep.4: The Hunt 28:47

3M ago28:47

28:47

Send us a text Over the next three episodes, we're proud to present 'Lost Cells', a short investigative podcast series. The production is an original SWI swissinfo.ch trilingual podcast made in collaboration with Piz Gloria Productions, Futur Proche, and Studio Ochenta. This gripping investigative podcast series uncovers the human stories behind th…

1
Ep 4 - The Hunt 28:23

4M ago28:23

28:23

Send us a text Luis Daniel, Tatiana and Ratko investigate in multiple European jurisdictions. The international band of families turns to Antoine Harari and Valeria Mazzucchi, two journalists based in Geneva, to give them the answers they can’t get from a company in turmoil. Luis Daniel visits Poland looking for assurances that his daughter's stem …

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Lost Cells, Ep.3: The Program 17:24

4M ago17:24

17:24

Send us a text Over the next four episodes, we're proud to present 'Lost Cells', a short investigative podcast series. The production is an original SWI swissinfo.ch trilingual podcast made in collaboration with Piz Gloria Productions, Futur Proche, and Studio Ochenta. This gripping investigative podcast series uncovers the human stories behind the…

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Books to make you think 2025: Are Human Rights Being Ripped Away? 41:22

4M ago41:22

41:22

Send us a text On Inside Geneva this week, we take a step back from the breaking news and talk to the authors of two books about the better side of humanity. “The defence of human rights is not a matter of holding a candle and singing Kumbaya. The defence of human rights is about playing hardball. It's about putting pressure on governments, making …

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Ep 3 - The Program 17:00

4M ago17:00

17:00

Send us a text Tatiana and Ratko prepare to move their frozen stem cells but things don’t go as planned. Perhaps the company and its marketing aren’t everything they’ve been promised? Families around Europe begin asking questions about their cells, and where and how they’re being stored. Swiss authorities are alerted and arrange an inspection. What…

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Lost Cells, Ep.2: Seeds of Hope 21:12

4M ago21:12

21:12

Send us a text Over the next five episodes, we're proud to present 'Lost Cells', a short investigative podcast series. The production is an original SWI swissinfo.ch trilingual podcast made in collaboration with Piz Gloria Productions, Futur Proche, and Studio Ochenta. This gripping investigative podcast series uncovers the human stories behind the…

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Ep 2 - Seeds Of Hope 20:48

4M ago20:48

20:48

Send us a text Tatiana and her husband Ratko choose cord blood banking in Switzerland for their daughter’s cells. They seek out a top US university conducting research in stem cell transplants and are offered a rare opportunity to be part of this leading-edge program. An original SWI swissinfo.ch trilingual podcast series in collaboration with Piz …

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Lost Cells, Ep.1: The Promise 27:03

4M ago27:03

27:03

Send us a text Over the next six episodes, we're proud to present 'Lost Cells', a short investigative podcast series. The production is an original SWI swissinfo.ch trilingual podcast made in collaboration with Piz Gloria Productions, Futur Proche and Studio Ochenta. This gripping investigative podcast series uncovers the human stories behind the p…

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US-Russia talks on Ukraine: peace or appeasement? 36:57

4M ago36:57

36:57

Send us a text On the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Inside Geneva has some big questions about the US-Russia talks this week on ending the war in Ukraine. “Is this really a peace deal or is it just a deal about money? Or is it even some kind of capitulation or a power grab?” asks Inside Geneva host Imogen Foulkes. What does US …

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Lost Cells is out now! 3:12

4M ago3:12

3:12

Send us a text Please sign up for the latest episode SWI swissinfo.ch's new podcast tells the story of the families affected by a private stem cell banking scandal with Switzerland at its heart. Subscribe for free to our new podcast ‘Lost Cells’ wherever you get your podcasts. Episode one is released on February 18, 2025. Listen to this new podcast…

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Aid, cuts and consequences 43:42

4M ago43:42

43:42

Send us a text On Inside Geneva, we take a deep dive into the United States’ cuts in foreign aid. “In Colombia, they’ve just had to lay off 200 staff who were doing the demining in the south of the country. So, all of a sudden, these families have no work. And the alternative in the area, you know what it is: coca plants. So how is that in the US i…

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Ep 1 - The Promise 26:39

4M ago26:39

26:39

Send us a text Luis Daniel suffers from a rare blood cancer. Could promising stem cell research, and a baby be the chance he’s been looking for? Banking his baby’s cord blood offers an opportunity to secure a potential cure. He looks to a leading company based in Switzerland to help him protect himself and his family. An original SWI swissinfo.ch t…

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A new podcast is coming soon 2:54

4M ago2:54

2:54

Send us a text Get in touch! Email us at [email protected] Twitter: @ImogenFoulkes and @swissinfo_en Thank you for listening! If you like what we do, please leave a review or subscribe to our newsletter. For more stories on the international Geneva please visit www.swissinfo.ch/ Host: Imogen Foulkes Production assitant: Claire-Marie Germain…

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Donald Trump, the UN and the future 43:54

5M ago43:54

43:54

Send us a text With Israel banning UNRWA and the US planning to withdraw from WHO, our Inside Geneva podcast reports on a turbulent couple of weeks for United Nations agencies. In Gaza, Israel’s ban on the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has come into effect. “UNRWA is what we call the backbo…

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Coming Soon 2:37

5M ago2:37

2:37

Send us a text An original SWI swissinfo.ch trilingual podcast series in collaboration with Piz Gloria Productions, Futur Proche and Studio Ochenta.By SWI swissinfo.ch

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What makes a good peace deal? 31:02

5M ago31:02

31:02

Send us a text In this week’s Inside Geneva podcast episode, we ask: what makes a good peace agreement? “Peace is not just a status. Peace is a process, and it’s a process that is part of politics in general,” says Laurent Goetschel from Swisspeace. So, are quick peace deals possible? “When someone says, ‘I want to have an agreement in 24 hours,’ m…

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Geneva and climate change, start local and change the world 37:43

6M ago37:43

37:43

Send us a text For our planet, each year brings new climate records, and they’re not good ones. “We now know that 2024 is on track to be the warmest year on record. At the same time, we have accumulated more CO2 than ever in the history of human life on Earth,” says Celeste Saulo, Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization. On Insid…

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Can the UN and international law survive? 38:12

6M ago38:12

38:12

Send us a text In 2024 there are more than 100 conflicts ongoing, worldwide. A record number of aid workers have been killed. Tom Fletcher, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator: ‘It’s not just the ferocity of these conflicts, Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, Syria. It’s about that wilful neglect of international humanitarian law. And as a result we seem to have lo…

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Unveiling Ancient Life: Microorganisms in Melting Glaciers in Swiss Alps 16:22

7M ago16:22

16:22

Send us a text This episode takes listeners to the Rhone glacier in the Alps, which is rapidly melting and releasing ancient microorganisms. These microorganisms, which have been trapped in the ice for thousands of years, are now being studied by scientists from the Swiss Federal Research Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape (WSL). Journalists …

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How has the world changed in 2024? UN correspondents look back 34:14

7M ago34:14

34:14

Send us a text In this week’s Inside Geneva episode, UN correspondents in Geneva and New York look back at 2024. Dorian Burkhalter, journalist, SWI swissinfo.ch: ‘Wars everywhere, climate change, deepening inequalities, AI…it’s just threats everywhere. But it just seems like the more global our problems are becoming, the weaker the UN is also becom…

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Climate solution for the future: How to keep cities cool during heatwaves 17:08

7M ago17:08

17:08

Send us a text Cities tend to get hotter than the countryside when a heatwave hits. What can be done about these urban heat traps? How can hot summers be made more tolerable for city dwellers? SWI swissinfo.ch asked an expert at the federal technology institute ETH Zurich. If you are interested in reading about this story or other science stories f…

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Turning concrete into a carbon sink: an innovative Swiss approach to decarbonizing the construction industry 13:36

7M ago13:36

13:36

Send us a text This episode explores a groundbreaking Swiss innovation that could revolutionise the construction industry. Join us as we delve into Neustark's pioneering method of turning concrete waste into a carbon sink, permanently removing CO2 from the atmosphere. Discover how this technology not only helps decarbonise the concrete industry but…

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Europe, the UN and the battle for human rights 31:36

7M ago31:36

31:36

Send us a text Is the world still committed to human rights? Our Inside Geneva podcast is in Strasbourg, where the Council of Europe is discussing how to defend the fundamental principles we agreed upon after the Second World War. “We can’t just say, ‘Do it because it’s a human right’ or ‘Do it because it’s in a treaty.’ We have to demonstrate: ‘Do…

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Young Swiss scientists boost rocket research 13:58

7M ago13:58

13:58

Send us a text Swiss students are propelling the future of space travel with innovative reusable rocket technology, putting Switzerland on the map in the global space race. SWI swissinfo.ch took a closer look at their projects in northern and western Switzerland. Visit SWI swissinfo.ch for more on these exciting rocket projects and a video on this …

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Inside Geneva goes to New York: what really happens at the UN? 31:30

7M ago31:30

31:30

Send us a text This week Inside Geneva goes to New York. The United Nations (UN) General Assembly is hearing multiple reports of serious human rights violations. “I think it’s more difficult to get the human rights message [across] here in New York at the General Assembly. But hopefully we will be heard,” says Mariana Katzarova, UN special rapporte…

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Why Swiss scientists want to find ice on comets 13:06

7M ago13:06

13:06

Send us a text Using a new type of instrument, two astrophysicists from the University of Bern hope to get a little closer to unravelling the mystery of the solar system's origins. They believe the key to this lies in the ice that can occur in a dust layer on comets. Please visit SWI swissinfo.ch for more information about this research and a video…

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Herwig Schopper, Former CERN head has served science and peace for 100 years 17:07

8M ago17:07

17:07

Send us a text Swissinfo talks to Herwig Schopper, former CERN director, the grandfather of the world’s most powerful particle accelerator, who helped promote peace through a Middle Eastern science hub and has his qualms about the Nobel Prize. If Herwig Schopper has learned anything during his 100 years on Earth, it’s that breakthroughs only happen…

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Love for life in Gaza and COP29’s ethical dilemma in Azerbaijan 43:08

8M ago43:08

43:08

Send us a text On Inside Geneva this week we talk to the people behind a new book about life in Gaza, told through the words of those who live there. “People are actually travelling in the middle of a war, in the middle of Gaza at midnight – the peak of the risk, if you like – to get somewhere where they can get a better internet so they can actual…

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Does it matter to the UN who’s in the White House? 38:48

8M ago38:48

38:48

Send us a text The presidential elections in the United States (US) are just a couple of weeks away. What will they mean for international affairs, for Ukraine, for the Middle East, for humanitarian work, for international law and for the United Nations (UN) in Geneva? “When I was in the US, I definitely saw that there is no interest for anything c…

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Special episode: A year of war in the Middle East 32:48

9M ago32:48

32:48

Send us a text It’s been one year since the October 7 attack by Hamas on Israel. Twelve months of violent conflict have followed, with tens of thousands dead. We look back at our coverage over the past year. “What we have to deal with is the immense stupidity of the wars that currently are in place. And here we are having to deal with wars of a sor…

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Forty years of the convention against torture: are we honouring it? 31:56

9M ago31:56

31:56

Send us a text For 40 years, there has been an absolute ban on torture. But it still happens… “Horrific things can happen to you. Nobody is there to help you. Nobody is there to document it, etc. And I think sometimes we speak about torture without putting ourselves in the shoes of what this is,” says Gerald Staberock from the World Organisation Ag…

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Can the UN's Summit for the Future tackle today’s toughest challenges? 36:27

9M ago36:27

36:27

Send us a text This month the United Nations (UN) will host the ‘Summit of the Future’ in New York. What's the point of this high-level event? Inside Geneva investigates. “The UN is not an entity that does anything. I mean, we can all blame it, but what is the UN? It’s just the sum of its parts: the governments,” says Christiane Oelrich, journalist…

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Special episode: Can the WTO shape a fairer world economy? 37:10

10M ago37:10

37:10

Send us a text The World Trade Organisation (WTO) Public Forum is underway in Geneva and its key theme is ‘re-globalisation’. Are we nervous of that word? Inside Geneva sat down with WTO officials to find out what it means. “Trade has been a very powerful force for reducing between-country inequality. Since 1995, for example, since the foundation o…

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Summer profiles: Recognising and supporting survivors of sexual violence 29:27

10M ago29:27

29:27

Send us a text Conflict-related sexual violence has existed for as long as war itself – forever. “It is a weapon of war. I would say it’s a weapon of mass destruction. It is really maximising harm,” says Esther Dingemans, Executive Director of the Global Survivors Fund. In Inside Geneva’s final summer profile, we talk to a woman working to support …

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Switzerland and Silicon Valley: EP6 Sherry Wong ‘Living in a society where capital is strong and the welfare state is weak‘ 23:14

10M ago23:14

23:14

Send us a text For artist and researcher Şerife (Sherry) Wong the popular image of visionary geniuses who change the world from their garages is an illusion. “We are idealising the myth of the inventor, the American dream of the man who, from nothing, becomes super rich and changes the world for the better, but...for whom?” asks Wong, who studies t…

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Summer profiles: Afghan women’s struggle against Taliban oppression 25:57

10M ago25:57

25:57

Send us a text It’s three years since the Taliban took back control in Afghanistan. Inside Geneva talks to an Afghan human rights defender. “I was scared and I could see it coming. Yes, I mean, I think for the women of Afghanistan, we knew that the Taliban taking over would mean a dark future for women,” says Fereshta Abbasi from Human Rights Watch…

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Special episode: World Humanitarian Day stories from crisis zones 30:36

10M ago30:36

30:36

Send us a text Join us for a special extra edition of Inside Geneva to mark World Humanitarian Day, with testimonies from aid workers who have given their all – and who have often lost a great deal. “So I had taken him to the airport together with our child, and, yes, it took me in fact many years to be able to use the same elevator in the airport …

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Switzerland and Silicon Valley: EP5 Fred Turner ‘The dream of tech companies serving humanity has turned into a nightmare‘ 18:35

10M ago18:35

18:35

Send us a text In this episode, we talk to Stanford University professor Fred Turner, who’s been studying the impact of new media technologies on American culture for decades. Turner is also among those most vocal in denouncing the injustices faced by people living and working in Silicon Valley. You can find more written content about this story on…

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