Each episode of Why It Matters breaks down an issue that is shaping our world’s future. Join host Gabrielle Sierra as she speaks with the leaders and thinkers who are facing these questions head on. Fueled by the minds at the Council on Foreign Relations, Why It Matters brings some of the world’s most compelling stories home to you.
Why It Matters
Claim This Podcastby Council on Foreign Relations
4.7(118 reviews)
121 episodes
Updated Daily
Accepts GuestsHas SponsorsLocation 🇺🇸
46
Podcast Authority
BetaFairBased on show quality, social media presence, reviews, charts, and more
Quality56
Social0
YouTube0
Engagement90
Podcast Overview
Each episode of Why It Matters breaks down an issue that is shaping our world’s future. Join host Gabrielle Sierra as she speaks with the leaders and thinkers who are facing these questions head on. Fueled by the minds at the Council on Foreign Relations, Why It Matters brings some of the world’s most compelling stories home to you.
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
10/2/2019
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46
Podcast Authority
BetaFairBased on show quality, social media presence, reviews, charts, and more
Quality56
Social0
YouTube0
Engagement90
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excellent
Episode Length
34 minutes
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Recent Episodes
April 10, 2026
Honey, I Tracked the War
This episode explores how drones, cell phones, and other widely-available intelligence tools are turning civilians and aid workers into frontline witnesses—documenting war in real time, guiding humanitarian aid, and helping build evidence that could power future war crimes cases. Host: Gabrielle Sierra, Director of Podcasting, Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) Guest: Anthony Vinci, Cofounder and CEO, Vico; Adjunct Senior Fellow, Technology and National Security Program, Center for a New American Security (CNAS) Sam Vigersky, International Affairs Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) We discuss: How drones, satellites, smartphones, and other widely-available tools are changing who gets to document war. How civilians are no longer just witnesses to conflict but are also recording attacks in real time and helping gather intelligence As Anthony Vinci puts it: “We’re becoming civilian spies.” How ordinary people are building digital evidence libraries online that may later support investigations into war crimes and accountability efforts. How drones are blurring the line between surveillance, intelligence gathering, and direct attacks on the battlefield. Why more access to information does not always lead to justice, especially when politics and institutions fail to act. How journalists, aid workers, and civilians face greater danger when documenting violence and sharing what they see. Why the growing flood of footage, data, and digital records is changing how audiences process war emotionally. Read more: Anthony Vinci, The Fourth Intelligence Revolution Sam Vigersky, “Beyond Conventional Aid: Institutionalizing Public-Private Partnership in Ukraine’s Humanitarian Response,” CFR.org “Counting the Dead,” Human Rights Watch “Listen, Run, Hide: How Russia Uses Quadcopter Drones to Hunt and Kill Civilians in Kherson, Ukraine,” Human Rights Watch “UN Commission Concludes that Russian Armed Forces’ Drone Attacks Against Civilians in Kherson Province Amount to Crimes Against Humanity of Murder,” United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner Want to keep up with Why It Matters? Sign up to receive an email alert when new episodes drop. Why It Matters is a production of the Council on Foreign Relations. The opinions expressed on the show are solely those of the host and guests, not of the Council, which takes no institutional positions on matters of policy.
March 26, 2026
One Woman's Path From a U.S. College Campus to the Ukrainian Battlefield
This episode traces one young woman's journey home to a new kind of war—and Ukraine’s fight for survival. Host: Gabrielle Sierra, Director of Podcasting, Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) Guest: Catarina Buchatskiy, Co-Founder & Director of Analytics, Snake Island Institute We discuss: The story of a young Ukrainian woman who left college in the U.S. to join the fight at home within days of the invasion. How Ukraine transformed its drone manufacturing from garage shops to a sophisticated, rapidly scaling defense industry. Ukraine’s surprising dependence on China in its drone supply chain, and its push to make ‘China-free’ drones by 2026. Stories of Ukrainian resilience and resolve. How the Snake Island Institute bridges the gap between the battlefield and Western policymaking by connecting Ukrainian military insights to the allies who are shaping defense strategy. As Buchatskiy puts it: “The overarching definition of victory is that the Ukrainian nation is whole, that the state is legitimate, that we have control over the state, that we have our democracy, and that we’re at peace and can live freely.” Want to keep up with Why It Matters? Sign up to receive an email alert when new episodes drop. Why It Matters is a production of the Council on Foreign Relations. The opinions expressed on the show are solely those of the host and guests, not of the Council, which takes no institutional positions on matters of policy.
March 11, 2026
Autonomous Ukraine: Allies, Partners, or Frenemies?
Liana Fix and Joseph Torigian explore the complex global alliances fueling the war in Ukraine and their implications for future security.
121 total episodes available with 10 transcripts
Recent guests on Why It Matters
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Joseph Torigian
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Michael C Horowitz
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Paul B Stares
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Michael Froman
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Shannon K O’Neil
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Brad W Setser
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Matthew Costello
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Frequently asked questions
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- What is Why It Matters?
- How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates daily.
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This podcast is available on 9 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
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Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.
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