The Whitelist Podcast

How could the Iran War trigger the decline of American power?We sit down with Samir Puri to explore how a regional conflict could have global consequences. As the US and Israel strike Iran and tensions escalate across the Middle East, we break down what this moment reveals about the future of US dominance and the rise of a multipolar world.

How did a small frontier tribe in Anatolia become a 600-year empire and why did it ultimately collapse?In this deep dive, we sit down with Micheal Talbot, an expert Ottoman historian and producer of the Netflix series ‘The Ottomans’ to unpack how the Ottoman Empire rose from obscurity to conquer Constantinople, dominate the Middle East, challenge Europe at Vienna, and eventually collapse after World War I.We explore how the Ottomans built power on the Byzantine frontier, how Mehmed II captured Constantinople, how Suleiman expanded across three continents, and how internal reform, military stagnation, nationalism, and global war brought the empire to an end.⸻What we cover:• How a minor Anatolian tribe became a global empire• The conquest of Constantinople and the claim to Rome• The Janissaries, slavery, and imperial power• The expansion into the Arab world and rivalry with the Safavids• Vienna, Russia, and the limits of Ottoman expansion• Reform, nationalism, and the “Sick Man of Europe”• The Young Turks, World War I, and imperial collapse• Whether the Ottoman legacy is misunderstood today

Liberalism isn’t an abstract ideal, it’s the guardrail between disagreement and disaster. From speech crackdowns to political violence, the stakes feel higher than they have in decades.In this episode, we sit down with Professor Mark Pennington to unpack what liberalism is, where it came from, and whether it can survive pressure from both left and right today.We discuss:• Can liberalism still stop violence amid populism?• From wars of religion to free speech, are we sliding back?• Housing as a freedom fight: NIMBYs, planning, pay to build• Inequality decoded: property booms, cartels, basic income• Borders without backlash: gains, culture, pacing change• China and the Gulf: prosperity with surveillance• After the Charlie Kirk assassination: speech vs incitementSubscribe for more deep-dive conversations on history, technology, and the ideas that shaped our world.Want to be involved / sponsor the Whitelist Podcast: [email protected]

AI isn’t just changing how we shop, scroll, and live — it’s transforming the battlefield. Some experts believe it could even spark the next world war.In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Melanie Garson, a leading expert on cyber policy, AI, and geopolitics, to unpack how artificial intelligence is reshaping war, power, and the global order.We discuss:Could World War 3 be triggered by AI?How drones, autonomous weapons, and cyber tools are already changing the battlefield.The ethics of letting machines make life-or-death decisions.The hidden role of Big Tech in modern warfare.Why semiconductors and chips are the new oil in the U.S.–China rivalry.Where Britain fits in this global struggle.Subscribe for more deep-dive conversations on history, technology, and the ideas that shaped our world.

What if the real driver of history isn’t money or technology—but people? In this episode, we sit with expert demographer Dr Paul Morland to uncover how falling birth rates, aging societies, and Africa’s rise will shape the future.Subscribe for more deep-dive conversations on history, politics, and the ideas that shaped our world.Want to be involved / sponsor the Whitelist Podcast: [email protected]

Why do the borders of the Middle East look the way they do? Why did the 600-year strong Ottoman Empire collapse so suddenly? And could the Arab world have united into a single superstate?In this episode, we sit down with Tariq from Hikma History to unpack the forgotten turning points that created the modern Middle East — from the fall of the caliphate to the secret pacts that split the region between imperial powers.This conversation traces the rise and fall of the Ottomans, the British and French betrayal of Arab independence, and the invention of artificial states like Iraq, Syria, and Jordan. We also explore how Pan-Arabism briefly promised unity, why it failed, and whether a different future was ever possible.What we cover: • How the Ottomans ruled across continents for centuries — and why they collapsed • The secret European deals (Sykes-Picot, Balfour) that redrew the Middle East • The fall of the caliphate and its geopolitical shockwaves • Why Arab states are often called “inorganic” Western creations • Could the Arab world have united after World War I? • How the Cold War, the Nakba, and the Six-Day War shaped today’s fractured mapWhether you’re interested in geopolitics, Islamic history, or the legacy of empire and colonialism, this is an essential deep-dive into how we got here.

What came before the Big Bang? What is our universe expanding into? Does quantum physics explain free will, conciousness and reality?Bestselling author, and world-renowned quantum physicist Professor Vlatko Vedral joins Whitelist to explore the biggest questions in science.In this groundbreaking episode, we discuss:• what came before the Big Bang;• whether “nothing” truly exists;• why space and time may not be the foundation of reality;• why the universe might be made of information—not matter or energy;• can quantum physics could unlock the mysteries of consciousness, AI, free will, and even the end of the universe.🎙️ Subscribe for conversations with the world’s leading thinkers on science, technology, consciousness, and the future of knowledge.See more of Vlatko VedralWebsite: https://www.vlatkovedral.comAmazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Decoding-Reality-Universe-Quantum-Information/dp/0199695741Filmed at Finchley Studio, LondonWant to be involved / sponsor the Whitelist Podcast: [email protected]

Taj Ali is one of the UK’s leading voices on class, race, and inequality. In this episode, we explore how colonialism shaped migration, why working-class South Asians were written out of British history, and how class and race continue to collide in everything from politics to paychecks. From Malcolm X’s visit to Smethwick to the rise of Farage — this is the conversation Britain needs to have.Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more deep dives into world history, politics, and culture.Want to be involved / sponsor the Whitelist Podcast: [email protected]

Hassan Akram is an elite recruiter who has spoken at Harvard, Yale and Oxbridge, an expert in the recruitment process for corporate careers, including corporate law, investment banking and consulting. On today’s episode, we discuss the best strategy to employ to secure a top paying corporate career. Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more in-depth explorations of world history and current events.-Get in touch and follow us on:X: https://x.com/thewhitelistpodInstagram: /thewhitelistpodcast Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/discover/the-w...-Want to be involved / sponsor the Whitelist Podcast: [email protected]

Tam Hussein, an award-winning journalist, is an expert on Syria, having been on the ground and involved in reporting from the region for over a decade.On today's episode, we discuss Syria's recent history, including the creation of the Assad regime that ruled the Syria for over sixty years, the decade-long Syrian Civil War and the rise of HTS in Syria. Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more in-depth explorations of world history and current events.Want to be involved / sponsor the Whitelist Podcast: [email protected]

Sir Walter Bodmer, professor at the University of Oxford, is one of the foremost pioneers in the field of genetics, with over 60 years of groundbreaking contributions. His work spans cancer research, population genetics, and human genetic diversity, shaping much of what we know about the role of genetics in health and disease today. On today’s episode, we discuss the role of genes in determining complexcharacteristics like intelligence, the genetics behind ageing and longevity, the potential of gene editing technologies to manipulate human DNA, and the genetic history of the British Isles. - Timestamps 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:01:08 – Discussion begins 00:01:43 - What is genetics and DNA? 00:04:22 - How does inheritance of traits work? 00:06:54 - Are complex traits (i.e intelligence) significantly inherited? 00:09:07 - Discussion around the impact of genes vs environment for complex traits 00:10:07 – Is IQ an accurate measure of intelligence 00:13:10 - Critique of Robert Plomin’s thesis in ‘The Blueprint’ 00:14:50 - What is heritability in genetics? 00:17:41- The role of genetics in ageing, longevity and death 00:26:39 - Gene editing and CRISPR 00:29:43 - Critique of Bryan Johnson’s Blueprint Programme 00:32:45 - Can we use gene editing to increase traits like height and intelligence? 00:35:16 - Discussion around designer babies 00:40:58 - Predictions on how genetic research will advance in the future 00:42:41 - The genetic history of the British Isles 00:48:05 - Is there a genetic basis for race and ethnicity 00:49:56 - Do genetics show the existence of a native British population? 00:51:53 - The genetic history of migration to the British Isles 00:57:54 - Discussion around DNA tests - Get access to Aqeel’s blog post discussing this podcast and more: https://substack.com/@thewhitelistpodcast - This episode is on the following Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5EXzdfK2Fi8y78JeRvsPHv?si=9ea83f21d2714c3d Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-whitelist-podcast/id1788997061 - Get in touch in the comments below or follow us on: X: https://x.com/thewhitelistpod Instagram: https://instagram.com/thewhitelistpodcast Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/discover/the-whitelist-podcast?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc - Want to be involved / sponsor the Whitelist Podcast: [email protected]

Jay Anderson, the founder behind Project Unity, is a leading UFO researcher. Jay has interviewed countless scientists, military personnel and intelligence officials, with an unparalleled access and insight on UFOs/UAPs, extra-terrestrial beings and government secrets. On today's episode, we explore the recent developments in the Congress investigation into UFOs, the origins and nature of these crafts, the link between religions and the extra terrestrial, and so much more. So buckle up, as we navigate the rabbit hole of UFOs with Jay Anderson.