Behind the Lines with Arthur Snell is a geopolitics podcast. Every week we give the listener access to the best informed people to help you understand this turbulent world and get a feel for the things that will matter in the future. I am on Bluesky here and you can read some of my thoughts on world affairs here https://arthursnell.substack.com/ If you enjoyed this podcast please spread the word and give us a positive review - it makes all the difference! I don't have a special subscriber tier for this content, but if you would like to...
Latest episodes
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40 min
Iran, the Middle East and Trump: chaos continues, with Charlie Gammell
An update on the situation in Iran and the Gulf region with Charlie Gammell. If you would like to support this podcast please consider taking out a paid subscription to my Substack…
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42 min
Luke Harding on Trump's Betrayal of the West
Listen to Luke Harding describe the depths of Trump's betrayal of Ukraine, of the West and of the rules-based international order. If you would like to support this podcast please…
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54 min
Deep Connections: Kaja Bego on the undersea cables that underpin the global economy.
Katja Bego is a researcher at Chatham House and an expert on undersea cables. https://www.chathamhouse.org/about-us/our-people/katja-bego f you would like to support this podcast p…
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41 min
Banned from Britain: One Man's Migration Story
Garth St Clair is a military veteran, former drug addict and - for the past few decades - a tireless worker and campaigner in the field of drug demand reduction. In his native Trin…
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50 min
The Houthis Strike Back - Iona Craig on the Red Sea and the Crisis in World Energy Markets
Follow Iona Craig on Bluesky here https://bsky.app/profile/ionacraig.com Her latest reporting on UK complicity in US war crimes is here: https://www.declassifieduk.org/starmer-comp…
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50 min
When the bad guys start using AI: David Wells on counter terrorism and AI
If you would like to support this podcast please consider taking out a paid subscription to my Substack arthursnell.substack.com or if you don't want the hassle of a subscription y…
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54 min
Bytes and Bullets: Steve Feldstein on how tech is reshaping modern warfare
Steve Feldstein is a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment and an expert on how technology is transforming warfare. If you would like to support this podcast please consider taki…
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36 min
Ukraine update: deep strikes on Russian oil and a shifting US position
I caught up with Kyiv-based correspondent Jimmy Rushton to discuss the latest in Ukraine and Russia as the NATO summit met and Trump appeared to have moderated his anti-Ukrainian s…
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44 min
International maritime policy: how far can a country control the seas?
Most of the times, the control of the seas empowers countries, logistically and economically, as well demontrated from Iran which now controls the strait of Hormuz. To discuss this…
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1 h 14
Geopolitical Panel Discussion in Aid of Syrian Refugees
I was delighted to be invited by Will Wintercross of the Syrian Refugee Relief Fund to participate in a panel on geopolitics with Hannah Lucinda Smith, a distinguished foreign corr…
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1 h 01
Behind the Lines Episode 13: The UK's Long March back to Europe?
On the 10th anniversary of the UK's fateful Brexit vote, I wanted to re-issue a conversation I recorded back in November 2023 with the leader of the European Movement, Dr Mike Gals…
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1 h 00
BTL Exclusive: George Osborn on how authoritarians are exploiting the world of video games to geopolitical adv…
It was my pleasure to speak to George Osborn, expert on video games, about how this artform, which is used by over 3 billion people worldwide, has been weaponised and exploited by…
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42 min
EMERGENCY EPISODE: the resignation of John Healey
I spoke to Dr Frank Ledwidge, former serviceman and defence expert about the resignation of John Healey. Recorded on 11 June just after the announcement of Healey's resignation, we…
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42 min
Iran Special: Is a deal about to be signed? Charlie Gammell on the future for the Islamic Republic and the Reg…
Can Donald Trump find a way out of the mess he's made for himself in Iran? Is the Islamic Republic doomed? Who's in charge in Tehran? Charlie Gammell, Iran expert and historian ans…
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41 min
The Latest from Ukraine - is the tide turning?
As Russia faces embarrassment and humiliation with the St Petersburg Economic Forum taking place against a backdrop of plumes of smoke from burning oil refineries, Ukraine has been…
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54 min
Hinterlands: Europe's Unfinished Frontiers, with Hannah Lucinda Smith
Long before Putin's invasion of Ukraine, conflict was simmering on Europe's borders. In overlooked territories in eastern Europe, the eastern Mediterranean and the Caucasus - from…
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59 min
BANK HOLIDAY SPECIAL: the King's troublesome younger brother
Imagine, if you can, a king with two younger brothers. One of them, the youngest, is hardworking and loyal, a little dull, but always shows up when needed. The middle brother is fl…
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39 min
Syria: Is the new government in league with Jihadists?
The new government of Syria, led since last year by former Al-Qaida commander Ahmad Al-Shara'a is allegedly a pragmatic, multifaith movement righting the wrongs of the Assad era. B…
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42 min
The Iran War - the Impact on the Gulf Countries
Why did the UAE announce its departure from OPEC? What does this have to do with the Iran war, relations with Saudi Arabia and Israel and the role of the United States? To answer t…
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1 h 23
Iran and the West - from Crassus to crass US
As an ancient imperial civilisation, Iran (or, to use an earlier name, Persia) has had a complex relationship with the West from the Roman era to the present day. I spoke to histor…