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Podcast

The Women Leaders podcast: Iran at a crossroads

Iran is at a boiling point. In January, mass protests broke out across the country, and many thousands of people were wounded and killed. Meanwhile, the US has moved an aircraft carrier and a number of destroyers close to Iran in a military threat which remains unclear in its aims. To untangle these and many other threads, ELN Senior Associate Fellow Ilana Bet-El welcomes back Iran specialist Roxane Farmanfarmaian, her co-Senior Associate Fellow at the ELN, for a deep and fascinating examination of Iran at a crossroads.

Podcast

The Women Leaders podcast: When dignity dies

The second Trump administration has strained democracy, alliances, and the postwar order. Allies feel abandoned, betrayed, and disrespected, and the US retreat from the Global South has allowed Russian and Chinese influence to grow in its place. Europe confronts a painful reckoning, questioning trust, values, and its future role in an era of accelerating geopolitical change. To break this down, ELN Senior Associate Fellow Ilana Bet-El is joined by Almut Möller, Director for European and Global Affairs at the European Policy Centre (EPC), and former senior Danish diplomat Signe Biering.

23 January 2026 | Ilana Bet-El and Florence Ferrando
Podcast

The Women Leaders podcast: A cracking start to the year

2026 started with President Trump’s astonishing show of force in Venezuela, culminating in the seizure of President Maduro to face drug charges in the US. Whilst Venezuela’s future may be unclear, one thing that is now more than apparent is President Trump’s willingness to use might and ignore norms and laws to advance what he views as America’s foreign policy interests. To understand this better, Rachel Ellehuus, Director General of the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), joins ELN Senior Associate Fellow Ilana Bet-El.

9 January 2026 | Ilana Bet-El and Florence Ferrando
Podcast

The Women Leaders podcast: Africa all around

There is a common tendency to view and discuss Africa in terms of the problems affecting the continent. More recently, the West has also started to look anxiously on as China and Russia build influence with African leaders. However, Africa is a continent as vast as it is diverse, with the economic potential to match. To understand both the issues affecting Africa and its future potential, ELN Senior Associate Fellow Ilana Bet-El is joined by Amaka Anku, Head of Africa Practice at the Eurasia Group.

12 December 2025 | Ilana Bet-El and Florence Ferrando
Podcast

The Women Leaders podcast: Bad plans come unstuck

Last week, President Trump announced his 28-point plan for peace to end Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. His proposal has attracted much controversy, with opponents alleging that it prioritises Russia’s demands first, American financial interests second, and Ukraine’s sovereignty and security third. To break down what Trump’s plan would mean for Ukraine and the world, ELN Senior Associate Fellow Ilana Bet-El is joined by Dr Hanna Shelest, Director of Security Programmes at the Foreign Policy Council “Ukrainian Prism”, and Iryna Krasnoshtan, Programme Director at the International Centre for Ukrainian Victory.

28 November 2025 | Ilana Bet-El and Florence Ferrando
Podcast

The Women Leaders podcast: Ukraine inside and out

In the latest episode of the Women Leaders podcast, ELN Senior Associate Fellow Ilana Bet-El speaks with Kristina Zeleniuk (TSN) and Kim Barker (The New York Times) about reporting from Ukraine’s war zones. They explore how journalists effectively balance truth, safety, and state security whilst navigating frontline realities, civilian risks, and the pressures a long, brutal conflict places on independent journalism.

14 November 2025 | Ilana Bet-El and Florence Ferrando