Talking Podcasts 1

There is a discipline that the intelligence profession imposes on its practitioners: that of describing the world as it is rather than as you would wish it to be. Sir Richard Dearlove spent four decades at MI6 — including four years as its Chief — serving governments of all political stripes by providing them with the clearest possible picture of reality, regardless of what they wanted to hear. That discipline is often missing from public discourse about global affairs today.

In an era when the podcasts that dominate the charts increasingly know exactly where they stand politically and ideologically, One Decision has built a substantial audience by doing something harder: seeking out expert opinions and engaging in a collective, humble effort to make sense of our complex reality. In this session, veteran journalist and One Decision co-host Kate McCann and Sir Richard examine what that commitment actually requires when they approach an interview.