The News Items Podcast
John Ellis talks with interesting people doing important work. Some you've heard of. Some you haven't. All of them are worth listening to, at some length.
Episodes
18 episodes
Hollywood's Stress Test, with Richard Rushfield (Episode 18)
John Ellis talks with Richard Rushfield, founder of The Ankler, about a Hollywood business model under stress. Rushfield traces the industry’s troubles back to the end of fin-syn rules, the rise of Netflix, and a wave of consolidation ...
Germany in the World, with David Blackbourn (Episode 17)
John Ellis talks with historian David Blackbourn, author of Germany in the World: A Global History, 1500-2000, about five centuries of German history viewed through a global lens. They discuss Germany before there was a German state; t...
Episode 16: Russ Howard
John Ellis talks with retired Brigadier General Russ Howard about the wars in Iran and Ukraine, why modern warfare is changing faster than most militaries can adapt, and a much bigger problem that could be coming down the road. Howard argues th...
Episode 15: Jeff Greenfield
California's primaries may be local elections, but Jeff Greenfield argues they're offering an early glimpse of the political battles that could define the next presidential cycle. Joining John Ellis, the veteran political analyst breaks down th...
Episode 14: Josh Tyrangiel
In this episode of the News Items podcast, Josh Tyrangiel joins John Ellis for a wide-ranging conversation about the promises, dangers, and strange human realities of artificial intelligence. Drawing from his new book, AI for Good, Tyr...
Episode 13: Sebastian Mallaby
In this episode of News Items, John Ellis sits down with author and Council on Foreign Relations fellow Sebastian Mallaby to unpack the astonishing rise of Demis Hassabis and the race to build artificial general intelligence. From Hassabis’s ch...
Episode 12: Stephen Roach
On this episode of the News Items Podcast, John Ellis sits down with economist and longtime China watcher Stephen Roach for a sweeping conversation about the uneasy future of the U.S.-China relationship. Roach reflects on three decades of watch...
Episode 11: Taegan Goddard
In this episode of the News Items podcast, John Ellis sits down with Taegan Goddard, the founder of Political Wire, for a sprawling conversation about the chaos engine that is modern American politics. G...
Episode Ten: Daniel Adamson
In this episode of the News Items Podcast, John Ellis speaks with venture capitalist Daniel Adamson about investing at the cutting edge of global innovation. Adamson explains his “network model,” partnering with elite investors worldwide to acc...
Episode Nine: John Heilemann
John Ellis sits down with journalist John Heilemann for a sharp, fast-moving tour of a volatile geopolitical moment. They unpack a fragile Iran ceasefire, the limits of “madman theory” diplomacy, and the reputational damage to U.S. power abroad...
Episode Eight: Ben Hodges
Retired U.S. Army Europe commander Ben Hodges joins the show to deliver a bracing reality check: the next war won’t look like the last one, and it may already be underway. Drawing on his book Future War and the Defense of Europe, Hodge...
Episode Seven: Jeffrey Stern
On this episode of The News Items Podcast, host John Ellis sits down with award-winning journalist Jeffrey Stern, author of Warhead, for a sweeping conversation about how precision-guided bombs reshaped not only modern warfare but also...
Episode Six: Charlie Cook
In this episode of the News Items Podcast, host John Ellis welcomes political analyst Charlie Cook, founder of the Cook Political Report. They delve into the evolution of American politics since the late 1970s, discussing the stark polarization...
Episode Five: Juan Enriquez
In the latest News Items Podcast, Juan Enriquez and John got together and discussed the life sciences revolution, the AI revolution, scientific research, the impact of advanced technologies on nation-states and the perils of brain drain. There ...
Episode Four: Rick Cordella
In this episode of the News Items Podcast, host John Ellis interviews Rick Cordella, the president of NBC Sports. Rick shares his journey from being a sports enthusiast and basketball player at Providence College to leading NBC Sports. He discu...
Episode Three: Sven Beckert
In this conversation, John Ellis interviews Sven Beckert about his book Capitalism: A Global History. Beckert discusses the definition of capitalism, its historical evolution, and its global implications. He emphasizes the importance o...
