Welcome to the second part of this deep look into Afghanistan.

Peter speaks to Professor Sumit Ganguly who provides the history and background of the Taliban's origins, and Professor Amira Jadoon one of the world's foremost experts on ISIS-K.

You can find Professor Amira Jadoon on Twitter - @AmiraJadoon - and her website is www.amirajadoon.net

Further reading by Professor Sumit Ganguly is available on his website www.sumitganguly.com

Still to come on I've Been Thinking episodes with Vincent Brown, Professor of American History and Professor of African and African American Studies at Harvard, and author of Sad Little Men: Private Schools and the Ruin of England, Richard Beard, so please do subscribe or follow the podcast from where you listen.

Produced, edited and mixed by @producerneil

This is a two part special of I've Been Thinking, digging deeper into the situation in Afghanistan.

In this episode Peter is in conversation with Ajmal Ahmady, until very recently the Governor of the Central Bank of Afghanistan and Minister of Commerce who saw the eye storm of the Taliban takeover and tries to answer "what comes next for the country?"

Secondly Peter speaks to Senator Sherry Rehman chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee in Pakistan allowing her to give an insight into the conflict on the other side of the border and how Pakistan may shape the future of Afghanistan.

You can follow both Ajmal Ahmady and Senator Sherry Rehman on Twitter - @aahmady / @sherryrehman and Peter can be found on Twitter via @peterfrankopan.

Part two of this special features Professor Sumit Ganguly and Professor Amira Jadoon and looks at the anti-colonial roots of the Taliban and at terrorist organisations operating in Afghanistan at the moment.

Should you wish to if you've been enjoying the podcast please do leave a review as it helps the podcast be more visible to others.

Produced, edited and mixed by @producerneil

The Pacific Ocean trade routes have fascinated many for a long time including economic historians Mark Koyama & Fernando Arteaga. Together with their colleague Desiree Desierto they have written an extensive paper on trade across the Pacific Ocean in the centuries after the arrival of Columbus and Europeans in the Americas.

In this episode of I've Been Thinking Peter asks in particular why so many ships were lost during the crossings, what role greed and personal profit played in decision-making, and how these influenced the downfall of the Spanish Empire.

To read the Desiree, Mark and Fernando's work and to find out more about the 3 authors head here - https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3693463

If you have a topic you would like to hear on the podcast then Peter can be reached on Twitter - @peterfrankopan

Produced, edited and mixed by @producerneil

This episode of I've Been Thinking with Peter Frankopan is a special one as we look at the developing situation in Afghanistan.

Peter has spent a lot of time working on the history of Afghanistan and its neighbours, so the dramatic events have sparked lots of questions about what happened, why and what may happen next.

He is joined by Bruno Macaes, former Europe Minister of Portugal who got out of Kabul 36 hours before the Taliban took control, Professor Jen Brick Murtazashvili, one of the world’s foremost experts on Afghanistan and Central Asia; Professor Max Abrams, a specialist on international security and terrorist dynamics; and Tom Fletcher, former foreign policy advisor to three British Prime Ministers - Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and David Cameron.

All four answer some of the most important questions being asked right now.

Please leave a review as it helps further the podcast's discovery, and subscribe from where you get your podcasts for all future episodes.

Produced, edited and mixed by @producerneil

Leticia Arroyo and Noel Maurer are New York based academics who have written a fascinating work on if and how pandemics shape elections following their paper on the 1918 Spanish Flu. In this episode they discuss the steps taken in America to curb the Spanish Flu, and how certain measures were similar to those taken recently for Covid-19 but the public reaction to them was far more extreme.

To read Noel and Leticia's paper head here - https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3680286

For further information about Peter's work you can visit www.peterfrankopan.com where you can also find links to Peter's social channels.

Produced, edited and mixed by @producerneil

Tim Marshall was Diplomatic Editor and foreign correspondent for Sky News but after three decades he chose to step away to focus on analysis and writing of what he had witnessed and learn in his career. He is the author of the huge international bestseller Prisoners of Geography. In this episode he talks to Peter about what shape a new Cold War could take, why some cultural reforms can lead to unexpected challenges and about how to use the current landscape a projection of potential events across the next 10 years.

@Itwitius is Tim's handle on Twitter and his website were you can listen to his own podcast is www.thewhatandthewhy.com

If you're enjoying I've Been Thinking then don't forget Peter's books such as The Silk Roads are available now.

Produced, edited and mixed by @producerneil

Birmingham Yardley MP Jess Phillips never intended being an active member of parliament despite being a member of the Labour Party. She is one of the most visible MPs which comes with many positive and negative impacts professionally and privately. On this episode of I've Been Thinking Jess shares learnings from her latest book, Everything You Need To Really Know About Politics, as well as what keeps her grounded and in touch with her constituents.

Jess's website is here - www.jessphillips.net and her book Everything You Need To Really Know About Politics plus previous books are available now.

Keep in touch with Peter on Twitter - @peterfrankopan and if you would like to leave a review please do and it will help others discover this podcast.

Episode 8 sees Peter in conversation with author Tim Marshall.

Produced, edited and mixed by @producerneil

Former Chief Economist at Spotify Will Page is Peter's guest on episode 6 of I've Been Thinking.

Peter and Will discuss his book, Tarzan Economics, and the examples within showcasing economics impacting music but also everything in our wider culture. Will reveals how streaming is changing the way music is written, how a high street chain we're all familiar with broke a hit record and why other older media streams should look at the music industry for clues as to how best adapt to the changing technological landscape around us.

Please do subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss future episodes and a positive review is always appreciated.

You can order Will's book, read further writing and listen to playlists curated by Will on his website - www.tarzaneconomics.com

Peter can be contacted on Twitter, @peterfrankopan or via his website - www.peterfrankopan.com

Produced, edited and mixed by @producerneil

Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei left China in 2015 and has since lived in several countries including the UK and most recently Portugal. Growing up with his own father in exile, Ai Weiwei's art has always featured his activism and in his most recent work including documentary film he looks at refugees across the world and the stories they tell.

Thank you to the How To Academy who recorded this interview. A full version can be found at www.howtoacademy.com. The fascinating How To Academy podcast can also be found there, or wherever you choose to get your podcasts.

Please subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss future episodes and a positive review is always appreciated.

Peter can be found on Twitter, @peterfrankopan.

Produced, edited and mixed by @producerneil

West Indian fast bowling legend Michael Holding speaks to Peter about how he came to write his most recent book Why We Kneel How We Rise, educating himself on racism, his hopes for change in the future and the most recent racist abuse members of the England team faced after their Euro 2020 final defeat.

If you're enjoying the podcast please do leave a review as it helps others discover it and also subscribe so as not to miss future episodes. Episode 5 of I've Been Thinking with Peter Frankopan will be with Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei.

Peter can be found on Twitter, @peterfrankopan, where you can learn more about what he is reading and his own book details.

Produced, edited and mixed by @producerneil