FO Podcasts

Fair Observer is an independent, nonprofit media organization that engages in citizen journalism and civic education. Our digital media platform has 2,500 contributors from 90 countries, cutting across borders, backgrounds and beliefs. With fact-checking and a rigorous editorial process, we provide diversity and quality in an era of echo chambers and fake news.

FO Podcasts is a news podcast hosted by Fair Observer, with 63 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Fair Observer hosts FO Podcasts, a news show with 63 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #65

  Cockroach Chronicles: Making Sense of the CJP | Fair Observer

  Aug 18, 202635 min

  2026 has been an eventful year for India. Exam leaks, economic pressures, floods, political tensions, and more. Through the thick of it all, Gen Z folks in India have begun the Cockroach Janta Party, a satirical parody of the right-wing ruling Bharatiya Janta Party. The movement is rapidly growing, gaining millions of followers within a matter of a couple of weeks. As the movement continues today, some questions begin to arise. How did this begin? What is the end goal of the movement? What can India and its government take away from this movement? Fair Observer’s Editor-at-Large Ranjani Iyer Mohanty joins her husband and Global Social-Impact Leader & Former McKinsey Principal Barun Mohanty to take a deep dive at these loaded questions. The conversation covers the exam leaks, India’s education system, Gen Z India, how the movement came to be, and more. Want to be involved in the conversation? Subscribe, share and discuss, and become a part of the Fair Observer community!

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  Episode #64

  Stairways to the Skies: The Secrets of Hiking | Fair Observer

  Jul 16, 20261h 1m

  The pandemic killed the world of hiking, one of the world’s most beloved outdoor activities. In the years that followed, hiking came back even stronger than ever before. Despite its being around for hundreds of years, hiking still has been ever-evolving. How has hiking survived all this time? What do we enjoy about the wilderness? How are changing landscapes affecting our hiking? What challenges do we face hiking in unfamiliar territory, and what impact does our hiking have on the generations after us? Hiker Christine Gabriel joins Fair Observer’s Editor-at-Large Ranjani Mohanty to take a deep dive into these thought-provoking matters. The conversation offers a guide to hiking on trails in areas all across the world (such as Canada, Portugal, Spain, New Zealand and Turkey), the trails near one’s own home, hiking after COVID, how to start hiking, why hiking is so beloved and more! As they discuss their journeys, they reminisce and discover the joys and impact that hiking makes on so many lives. Want to be involved in the conversation? Subscribe, share and discuss and become a part of the Fair Observer community!

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  Episode #63

  What the West Ignores About China’s Digital Nationalism | Fair Observer

  Jul 7, 202657 min

  Digital nationalism has been one of China’s most defining focuses in the last decade, influencing much of the globe. And yet, world discussions about China often ignore much of what’s going on behind the curtains. What is digital nationalism, and what can it tell us about modern day China and its future? Author and Modern China Studies professor of Leiden University Florian Schneider joins Eminent Geopolitical Analyst Haruko Satoh to explore these subjects. The conversation examines the role online spaces play in the shaping of national identity, recent visa policy and more. As they discover China’s evolving role in the world and how digital nationalism plays into its evolution as a global powerhouse, a question arises: if China is neither the country its critics nor its supporters describe, what does the real China look like?

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  Episode #62

  Why Narcoterrorism Still Matters | Fair Observer

  Apr 26, 202654 min

  Narco-terrorism sits at the intersection of organised crime and political violence — but its implications extend far beyond either domain. In this FO Podcasts episode Fair Observer’s Founder, CEO and Editor-in-Chief Atul Singh speaks to former counterterrorism operative Jeffrey James Higgins examines how illicit drug networks have evolved into sophisticated actors capable of funding insurgencies, destabilising states and undermining institutions. From the Taliban’s historic reliance on opium to the rise of synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, the relationship between narcotics and conflict has become increasingly entrenched. The discussion explores how cartels in Latin America are acquiring paramilitary capabilities, how transnational gangs like MS-13 operate across borders and how drug economies erode state authority over time. It also considers the broader policy debate: should narcotics be treated primarily as a public health issue or as a national security threat? As criminal networks grow in scale and influence, the boundary between crime and warfare is becoming harder to define.

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  Episode #61

  The Big Paradox: Why Immigration Divides America Like Nothing Else | Fair Observer

  Mar 29, 202635 min

  Why do Americans support strict border control—but oppose mass deportations? In this podcast, Fair Observer’s Founder, CEO and Editor-in-Chief Atul Singh speaks to Kent Jenkins on the “immigration paradox” shaping US politics today. While Donald Trump’s policies successfully reduced illegal border crossings, they also triggered widespread backlash when enforcement moved into American cities. This conversation examines the psychological and political divide at the heart of the issue: people fear immigration as an abstract problem, yet empathize deeply with individual immigrants in their communities. Through real-life cases, historical research, and political analysis, this discussion reveals why public opinion shifted so dramatically. From border security to deportation policies, and from public outrage to political strategy, this episode unpacks one of the most complex debates in modern America. 00:00 Immigration Paradox 05:30 Trump’s ICE Deployment 11:00 Open Borders 19:00 Racism and Anti-Migrant Sentiments 28:00 Democrats vs Republicans

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