The Art of Diplomacy - Munich Security Conference

The Art of Diplomacy is a bi-weekly podcast that brings global politics down from the podium and into conversation. Hosted by Florence Gaub and Joshua Yaffa, and created by the Munich Security Conference, it opens up the often opaque world of diplomacy to a broader audience.
Through in-depth one-on-one interviews, the podcast explores diplomacy as a craft. Each episode features experienced practitioners — policymakers, diplomats, military leaders, and thinkers — who have spent their careers negotiating agreements, managing crises, and trying to resolve conflicts.
Together, they reflect on what diplomacy really looks like in practice: how decisions are made under pressure, how trade-offs are navigated, and how common ground is found.
Recorded in part on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, the podcast offers rare personal insights into the realities behind world politics — and asks one central question: What is the Art of Diplomacy?

New episodes are released every other Friday.

Florence Gaub is Director of the Research Division at the NATO Defense College in Rome, where she focuses on future security challenges and strategic foresight. She brings deep expertise on how conflicts evolve — and how they can be prevented.

Joshua Yaffa is a staff writer at The New Yorker, covering Russia, Ukraine, and international politics. His work combines sharp political analysis with a strong sense for the human stories behind global events.