Best Mark Galeottis Podcasts (2025)

1
MATTHEW CAMPBELL: Dead in the Water 48:55

2h ago48:55

48:55

The global shipping industry, vital for international trade, is a hotbed for criminal activities like maritime fraud. In this podcast episode, journalist and author Matthew Campbell, co-author of Dead in the Water, joins Mark to unravel the Brillante Virtuoso case. In 2011, this oil tanker, traveling from Crimea to China, was reportedly attacked by…

1
In Moscow's Shadows 209: Eagle, Dragon, Bear - how the Ukraine war drives Moscow into Beijing's orbit 52:12

3d ago52:12

52:12

In the first half, I offer a (rather pessimistic) assessment of not just Trump's 50-day ultimatum but also recent EU and UK sanctions, before pivoting to explore how the US president has inadvertently made it clear that it is not him but China's Xi Jinping who has more influence with Putin. What is the nature of the Sino-Russian relationship, and w…

1
FEDERICO VARESE: Russia in Four Criminals 50:50

7d ago50:50

50:50

Russia in Four Criminals: Exploring Russian Organized Crime with Federico Varese. Join host Mark in a riveting episode of Underworlds as he interviews renowned academic and author Federico Varese about his book, Russia in Four Criminals. With over 30 years studying global organized crime, Varese offers unparalleled insights into Russian organized c…

1
In Moscow's Shadows 208: 5 Million Downloads and Counting! A Q&A Compilation 56:41

10d ago56:41

56:41

In Moscow's Shadows has crossed the 5 million downloads barrier! This happens to coincide with this being an episode in which I tackle Patrons' questions on everything from why Russians fight and Chinese legal and criminal influence in the Russian Far East through to who would play whom in the film 'Death of Putin', and my own impartiality. Enjoy! …

1
SANNE DE BOER - Mafiopoli: Living Among the ’Ndrangheta – Italy's Most Powerful Crime Organisation 45:02

14d ago45:02

45:02

Mafiopoli: Uncovering the ’Ndrangheta, Italy’s Most Powerful Mafia. In this episode of Underworlds, host Mark interviews Dutch journalist and author Sanne De Boer about her book, Mafiopoli: Living Among the ’Ndrangheta – Italy’s Most Powerful Crime Organisation. Based in Calabria, home to the rugged Aspromonte Mountains, De Boer reveals the ’Ndrang…

1
In Moscow's Shadows 207: What Is Going On Between Baku and Moscow? 45:04

17d ago45:04

45:04

In one corner, Azerbaijan's Ilhan Aliev, in the other, Russia's Vladimir Putin, two autocrats locked in an increasingly acrimonious political conflict sparked by, of all things, the arrest of some gangsters in Ekaterinburg. But it's bigger than that, and I locate the conflict in the context of Russia's receding role as regional hegemon, the politic…

1
GEOFF WHITE: Rinsed: How the Tech Industry Washes Money for the World's Deadliest Crooks 55:21

21d ago55:21

55:21

Rinsed: How Tech Fuels Money Laundering for Cartels and Cybercriminals In this episode of Underworlds, host Mark interviews journalist and author Geoff White about his book, Rinsed: From Cartels to Crypto: How the Tech Industry Washes Money for the World's Deadliest Crooks. Discover how cybercriminals exploit platforms like Axie Infinity, Call of D…

1
In Moscow's Shadows 206: Corruption, Putinism's Achilles' Heel 56:59

24d ago56:59

56:59

After some thoughts about the recent NATO summit in The Hague, I focus on the perennial challenge of corruption. Even Russian officials are admitting it is again on the rise, and becoming more predatory, While there is a regular litany of middle-ranking officials charged and sentenced, there is no political will to tackle grand corruption at the to…

1
CARYN DOLLEY: Man Alone: Mandela’s top cop – exposing South Africa’s ceaseless sabotage 58:45

30d ago58:45

58:45

Man Alone: Mandela’s top cop – exposing South Africa’s ceaseless sabotage In this episode Mark sits down with journalist Caryn Dolley to discuss her latest book, ‘Man Alone: Mandela’s top cop – exposing South Africa’s ceaseless sabotage’. Man Alone follows the career of a remarkable South African police officer called André Lincoln, who passed away…

1
In Moscow's Shadows 205: The Peace Crisis that faces Russia after the Ukraine War 59:08

1M ago59:08

59:08

There is a range of serious practical problems that an end to the war in Ukraine -- whenever that may be -- will pose for the Kremlin. However, if the Soviet war in Afghanistan is any comparison, arguably every bit as important will be the narratives, how people frame the war and use it to attack or defend Putin's regime. I feel this is a political…

1
Season 2! Underworlds with Mark Shaw 2:14

1M ago2:14

2:14

Underworlds with Mark Shaw is returning for another season. Mark sits down with authors to discuss their investigations into the murky world of organized crime. In season two, we hear about a range of stories such as money laundering and cryptocurrency; the 'Ndrangheta's expansion from Calabria, Italy to other countries of Europe. Also the story of…

1
In Moscow's Shadows 204: The Opportunity and the Threat, Moscow and Iran, Moscow and the West 56:34

1M ago56:34

56:34

In the first half, I explore what the eruption of open conflict between Israel and Iran means for Russia. Will Putin be tempted to throw Iran under the bus? He certainly has much more scope and reason to do so than in 2022-24. In the second half, I climb onto my soapbox to consider -- criticise -- some recent rhetoric about the Russian threat and b…

1
In Moscow's Shadows 203: Can Putin Afford To End The War? 57:05

2M ago57:05

57:05

A pervasive argument is that for reasons personal, political or economic, Putin simply cannot afford to end his war: that he needs the excuse for tyranny, or that his economy would stagnate. I dig into these and other claims, and - spoiler alert - conclude that Putin could certainly afford to end the war... but that there are enough challenges to p…

1
In Moscow's Shadows 202: What Is This Resilience Thing Anyway? 57:18

2M ago57:18

57:18

An IMS on a Thursday? Although I'm still not quite yet over the cold that stopped me recording on Sunday, as I can't record next Sunday, needs must... In the first part, I look at recent development around Ukraine. Then, in the second, I look at the recent 'electoral wargame' held by Conducttr and spin off that more broadly to consider the challeng…

1
In Moscow's Shadows 201: Peacetalkers and Warfighters 50:21

2M ago50:21

50:21

Negotiations (of a sort) in Istanbul: a real engagement or just a piece of theatre? The answer, of course, is a bit of both. And what can one read into the elevation of Colonel General Mordvichev as the new commander of Russian Ground Forces? The link to the Conducttr wargame I mention is here. The podcast's corporate partner and sponsor is Conduct…

1
In Moscow's Shadows 200: Victory Day (whose?) 44:06

2M ago44:06

44:06

The 200th episode! Hard to believe. After briefly assessing Putin's late-night offer of talks with Kyiv, I dig into the Victory Day parade and what it means, especially from an international angle, and how it was part of a love letter to Xi Jinping. The events I mentioned next week in Prague are at CEVRO University, the Institute of International R…

1
In Moscow's Shadows 199: the General in GenPop 49:33

3M ago49:33

49:33

General Ivan Popov, once hailed as one of the heroes and rising stars of the Russian army, has just been sentenced to 5 years in a general regime penal colony on what seem questionable charges. What brought down this 'fighting general' -- and what does it tell us about late Putinism and the potential nationalist critique of the regime? The sign-up …

1
In Moscow's Shadows 198: War (in Russia's underworld) and Peace (in Ukraine)? 53:18

3M ago53:18

53:18

In the first half, I consider the latest twists in the saga of the US-pushed 'ceasefire' plan. Has Trump has an epiphany in the Vatican, or will Kyiv still face a choice of evils? In the second, I draw a line between the gunning down of a mobster in Tbilisi with the twilight of Putinism, through leaking roofs and the likelihood of mob wars. The pod…

1
In Moscow's Shadows 197: Russia's future fascist turn? 50:12

3M ago50:12

50:12

An intemperate recent interview from Foreign Minister Lavrov, at which he warned that 'fifth columnists' within the elite wanted to hand Russia to the West on a platter, is typical of a new tome of populist nationalism that got me wondering. Putin's Russia is often called 'fascist' but this is a label of dubious accuracy. Are there hints that Russi…

1
In Moscow's Shadows 196: Space, the Failing Frontier 48:10

3M ago48:10

48:10

In the first half, I look at developments regarding Ukraine (I'm getting more sceptical about Putin's interest in a deal) and profile former FSB general Sergei Beseda, 'the Baron.' In the second half, for Cosmonautics Day, I look at the ailing Russian space programme. The FPRI report by Pavel Luzin I mention is here. The podcast's corporate partner…

1
In Moscow's Shadows 195: Q&A, Part 2 51:42

4M ago51:42

51:42

A bonus second batch of questions, relating to war, peace and my attitudes to social media! The CASE survey of emigre attitudes is here. The RUSI commentary on the OSCE is here. The podcast's corporate partner and sponsor is Conducttr, which provides software for innovative and immersive crisis exercises in hybrid warfare, counter-terrorism, civil …

1
In Moscow's Shadows 194: Q&A, Part 1 1:00:15

4M ago1:00:15

1:00:15

Comrades! Forgive the tedious title, but this episode is the first of two answering questions set by my esteemed Patrons, covering Russian domestic and foreign policy, with another to follow covering the war and more. Climate change and oligarchic rivalry, Belarusian cunning and Central Asian balancing, all this and a lot more... The Washington Pos…

1
In Moscow's Shadows 193: Mishustin's Annual Report: what he says, what he doesn't 58:59

4M ago58:59

58:59

One, I suspect, more for the wonks. I dig into Prime Minister Mishustin's lengthy and not-so-exciting annual report to parliament, and the responses from the 'opposition' for what is said, and what's not. The podcast's corporate partner and sponsor is Conducttr, which provides software for innovative and immersive crisis exercises in hybrid warfare…

1
In Moscow's Shadows 192: What if Ukraine could join the EU in months, not years? 58:09

4M ago58:09

58:09

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda has suggested Ukraine should be allowed into the EU on 1 January 2030 (by which time the war will be over or frozen...). What if it could be in months not years? It won't happen, for all kinds of reasons, but let's entertain it as a 'what if?' thought experiment. PS: I got my digits muddled: it's Article 42, cla…

1
How new is the new world order, Margaret MacMillan? 39:21

4M ago39:21

39:21

We are witnessing changes in the world order which many thought we would never live to see. The US, long a bedrock of democracy, appears to go heading down an anti-democratic path. Traditional alliances are falling apart, while longtime enemies are drawing closer together. Meanwhile Europe, long a central player in geopolitics, seems increasingly s…

1
In Moscow's Shadows 191: How is Russian Foreign Policy Made? 51:57

4M ago51:57

51:57

What shapes Russian foreign policy? I start by looking at the core issue of the moment, Moscow's thinking over the proposed ceasefire, then consider more broadly what kind of a bizarre and varied mix of institutions and individuals actually shape policy. The Sunday Times article I mention is here. The podcast's corporate partner and sponsor is Cond…

1
Are the tech bros taking over the White House, Eoin Higgins? 31:02

4M ago31:02

31:02

Tech billionaires are exerting an enormous influence on the current Trump administration. It is not just Elon Musk and DOGE who are reshaping the American state. Behind the scenes, figures like Peter Thiel, Marc Andreessen, and David Sacks are pushing an anti-regulation agenda and an anti-democratic entrepreneurial vision of politics. In this conve…

1
In Moscow's Shadows 190: Sanctions, Spies, and Suspect Legitimacy 51:02

5M ago51:02

51:02

Reflecting the chaotic and fast-moving nature of the times, another podcast of two parts. In the first, looking at various issues of the week, from Trump's apparent threat to increase sanctions on Russia to a spy case in the UK. In the second half, I look at two recent books, Political Legitimacy and Traditional Values in Putin's Russia, edited by …

1
What can we learn from the Peasants' War of 1525, Lyndal Roper? 45:30

5M ago45:30

45:30

We are living through a time of immense upheaval, with geopolitical, social, and economic shifts reshaping our world every day. However, this is not the first time humanity has faced such dramatic changes. In this episode, Misha Glenny and Eva Konzett are joined by historian Lyndal Roper to take us back 500 years to the Peasants' War of 1524–25 – t…

1
In Moscow's Shadows 189: Oval Office Mugging and Russia's Police in Crisis 49:08

5M ago49:08

49:08

Much as I would love not to have to keep talking about Trump, it's inevitable that I cover the extraordinary events of this week: Trump as King Lear, demanding obsequious flattery, Zelensky perhaps ought not to have made the trip to DC. So where now? And in the second half, the Russian police in crisis, demoralised, under-strength and with corrupti…

1
Is Trump preparing a constitutional coup, Mark Medish? 41:12

5M ago41:12

41:12

In this episode of Future Discontinuous, we dive deep into the political turmoil following Donald Trump’s inauguration as the 46th President of the United States. From overhauls in US domestic policy to disruptions in global diplomacy, this episode breaks down Trump‘s dramatic reshaping of the world order. Together with Mark Medish, policy consulta…

1
In Moscow's Shadows 188: War and Peace and Trump 47:45

5M ago47:45

47:45

In a more-freeform-than usual episode, I consider the aftermath of the Munich Security Conference, why Trump is such a Putin fanboy (more about being a wannabe strongman than because of any kompromat), and what this means for peace in Ukraine. The summary? There is no deal on Ukraine, and we shouldn't get ahead of ourselves, but there is at least a…

1
Are Ultra-Processed Foods the New Silent Killers, Rosie Boycott? 41:06

5M ago41:06

41:06

Ultra-Processed Foods lie at the heart of a global increase in a variety of chronic and fatal diseases from cancer to Type 2 Diabetes. The food industry has been pouring billions into convincing governments not to regulate these additives which make everything from baby food to burgers addictive, persuading customers to return for more. Rosie Boyco…

1
Who has a plan for peace in the Middle East, Dahlia Scheindlin? 49:12

5M ago49:12

49:12

The flood of headlines about the war in Israel and Gaza can feel overwhelming. Season two of Future Discontinuous kicks off with an episode examining the current state of the conflict, highlighting geopolitical dynamics and influential players. In conversation with Dahlia Scheindlin, hosts Eva Konzett and Misha Glenny explore Israeli public opinion…

1
In Moscow's Shadows 187: Tatarstan 48:50

5M ago48:50

48:50

As Russia-watchers, we know that Russia is not just Russian, or Russian Orthodox, but there is also a glib assumption that to be Muslim or otherwise a minority is to be depressed, repressed, and suppressed. So how to explain Tatarstan, one of the few regions where the titular nationality is a majority (54% Tatar, 54% Muslim), yet one which seems to…

1
In Moscow's Shadows Bonus Minipod: Ukrainskii Sindrom 19:08

6M ago19:08

19:08

Originally one of the 'Twelve Days of Shadowy Christmas' bonuses for Patrons, in this short pod I explore whether, when the soldiers come home, Russia is likely to experience a problem of a dispossessed and alienated generation akin to the 'Afghan Syndrome' which faced the veterans of the Soviet Afghan war. Sadly, the answer is probably so. Support…

1
In Moscow's Shadows 186: Why is Putin's Russia so Prone to Conspiracy Theories? 48:28

6M ago48:28

48:28

The Russian response to Tucker Carlson's claim that the Biden administration tried to assassinate Putin has to a large extent been driven by political expediency -- it makes a great propaganda narrative -- but there does seem to be more to it than that? Why is modern Russia, from Putin down, so prone to seeing the world through a conspiratorial len…

1
In Moscow's Shadows 185: The One With All The Stuff 51:28

6M ago51:28

51:28

How else, frankly, to title an episode which covers Trump and Putin, the CIA's Ukrainian cooperation, Russo-Iranian and -Indian relations, Belarus, and four books on Crimea's history? The Vlad Vexler commentary I mentioned is here. The Moscow Times article on Russian-Indian relations is here. The four books I cover are: The Eurasian Steppe by Warwi…

1
In Moscow's Shadows 184: One Hundred Years of Companionship? 45:44

6M ago45:44

45:44

The UK has signed a 'One Hundred Years Partnership Agreement' with Ukraine -- what's really involved under this grandiose title, and what does it show us about the wider challenges (and some missed opportunities) for supporting Kyiv? The texts are available here. The podcast's corporate partner and sponsor is Conducttr, which provides software for …

1
In Moscow's Shadows 183: War and Peace (and Public Opinion) 42:21

6M ago42:21

42:21

We pundits have done more than our fair share speculating on whether, how, when and with what consequences there could be peace or a ceasefire in Ukraine, but instead it seems a good time to see what various research projects suggest about what ordinary Russians and Ukrainians think. This is something that is actually harder to ascertain than one m…

1
In Moscow's Shadows 182: Things To Watch in 2025 54:59

7M ago54:59

54:59

Outright prediction may be a mug's game, but what are some of the people and processes I will be watching in 2025? For those who get lost in the flow, they are: PERSONALIA · Elvira Nabiullina · Ramzan Kadyrov · Alexander Khinshtein · Alexei Dyumin · Sergei Naryshkin · Nikolai Patrushev · (Not Mikhail Mishustin/Anton Vaino) INSTITS · Security Counci…

1
In Moscow's Shadows 181: Strap in for a Bumpy 2025 34:47

7M ago34:47

34:47

Sabotage under the Baltic, a grudging apology, a possible attack on a Russian cargo ship, firebombing ATMs, energy blackmail in Moldova... what connects them beyond a sense that, having changed his rules of engagement abroad in 2024, Putin may find this coming to bite him in 2025. Either way, it looks like the coming year will be a bumpy one, to sa…

1
In Moscow's Shadows 180: Keep Calm and Carry On 57:48

7M ago57:48

57:48

What can one learn from Putin's 4½-hour-long end of year press conference? Essentially, his message to his people is that - however they might feel - everything is fine and they should stay the course. Meanwhile, over Ukraine if anything his line may be hardening: he may talk of 'compromise', but is trying to define the terms of any future peace. A…

1
Do we have to destroy the environment to save it, Julie Klinger? 41:18

7M ago41:18

41:18

It is no news that humanity will have to extract enormous amounts of rare earths and other critical raw materials to move away from carbon-based economies. In episode four of Future Discontinuous, hosts Misha and Eva invite Julie Klinger, who studies the geopolitics of resource usage, to discuss the pitfalls of the green energy transition, whether …

1
In Moscow's Shadows 179: Sex, Drugs & Rocky Roads 52:24

7M ago52:24

52:24

We tend to focus on the big challenges facing Russia: war, sanctions, the struggle of authoritarianism vs the remnants of civil society. Maybe it is time to look at some of the less often discussed problems that nonetheless characterise the emerging Russian 'polycrisis': demographics, the mephedrone epidemic, and crumbling transport infrastructure:…

1
What does the fall of Assad mean for Russia, Mark Galeotti? 41:44

7M ago41:44

41:44

Making sense of the current geopolitical moment is no easy undertaking. In the third episode of Future Discontinuous, hosts Misha Glenny and Eva Konzett invite prolific author, historian, and Russia expert Mark Galeotti on the podcast. Together with their guest, they try to illuminate the murky waters of Russia’s foreign policy, the repercussions o…

1
In Moscow's Shadows 178: Assad la vista, baby - what does Damascus's fall mean for Russia? 46:13

8M ago46:13

46:13

So Bashar al-Assad's blood-drenched regime has fallen. Hurrah. But what now for Russia? Is this a terrible geopolitical defeat, or actually something that perversely frees it from a commitment made in 2015, yet less relevant today? What are the likely knock-on effects for Russia's position in the Mediterranean and Africa? The hottest of hot takes. …

1
Why do we need a world government, Nils Gilman? 41:31

8M ago41:31

41:31

In the second episode of Future Discontinuous, hosts Misha Glenny and Eva Konzett are joined by historian Nils Gilman, COO of the Berggruen Institute in Los Angeles. Together with their guest, they take a deep dive into the national, the global, and the planetary, and discuss how the outbreak of the Black Death in the 1300s differed from COVID-19, …

1
In Moscow's Shadows 177: Adaptation in Russia and Ukraine 50:22

8M ago50:22

50:22

President Zelensky's suggestion that military attempts to retake the occupied territories could be abandoned in return for rapid NATO membership for Ukraine does mark a change in tack. What is driving this political-diplomatic adaptation? And, in the second half, I draw on four books that speak in different ways to how Russia has managed (and somet…

1
What does another Trump presidency mean for global politics, Stephen Walt? 46:52

8M ago46:52

46:52

In the first episode of Future Discontinuous, hosts Misha Glenny (IWM) and Eva Konzett (FALTER) welcome international relations scholar and Harvard Professor Stephen Walt. In a wide-ranging conversation, they discuss the US elections and their implications for the international stage. Against the backdrop of heightened global tensions, what does th…

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Mark Galeottis Podcasts

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