Intelligence Squared
Fascinating podcast from NPR, Intelligence Squared US. A panel of experts is chosen and these experts argue for or against a certain proposition. The ones I’ve listened so far were Is Bush (43) the worst president of the last 50 years? and the ever popular Who’s to blame for the financial crisis?. This is apparently an Oxford-style debate (I haven’t found much info on the origins). The panelists get 2 minutes for opening statements. Then they field questions from other panelists and the audience. Before the debate starts, audience’s preference is polled. The audience is polled again at the end of the debate. Whichever team produces the largest sway in the opinion wins. The arguments are passionate and clearly biased, which makes it a fun listen. There’s Intelligence Squared UK, the original forum, which unfortunately doesn’t produce any freely available material. There’s also Intelligence Squared Australia which has links to past episodes on their website, but not in a convenient podcast format. Interesting show for anyone interested in current events and issues. Found via Dan Miessler.
