logo
episode-header-image
Mar 2025
21m 34s

Is the world ready for the next pandemic...

Al Jazeera
About this episode

The clock is ticking down to the next pandemic, which could be deadlier than the last, as new zoonotic diseases emerge and global vaccine inequity persists. Five years since COVID-19, what lessons have we learned and what needs to change before it’s too late?

In this episode:

  • Drew Ambrose (@drew_ambrose), Al Jazeera journalist, “Flatten the Curve”

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Chloe K. Li, Ashish Malhotra, and Tamara Khandaker, with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Amy Walters, Sarí el-Khalili, Marcos Bartolomé, and our guest host, Kevin Hirten. It was edited by Noor Wazwaz.

The Take production team is Marcos Bartolomé, Sonia Bhagat, Sarí el-Khalili, Tamara Khandaker, Phillip Lanos, Chloe K. Li, Ashish Malhotra, Khaled Soltan, Amy Walters, and Noor Wazwaz. Our editorial interns are Melanie Marich and Hanah Shokeir. Our guest host is Kevin Hirten. Our engagement producers are Adam Abou-Gad and Vienna Maglio. Aya Elmileik is lead of audience engagement.

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our video editor is Hisham Abu Salah. Alexandra Locke is the Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio. 

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Instagram, X, FacebookThreads and YouTube

Up next
Today
Famine has been declared in Gaza. Will anything change?
Famine has been declared in Gaza City and surrounding areas, with more than half a million Palestinians facing “catastrophic conditions,” according to a UN-backed monitor. As Israel advances its plan to seize Gaza City, what scars will famine leave on Palestinians for generations ... Show More
20m 34s
Yesterday
How did Lula da Silva cut Amazon deforestation in half?
When Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva took office more than a year ago, he pledged to end deforestation in the Amazon by 2030. He’s on the right track: Last year, the forest shrank 50% less than in 2022. But the clock is ticking. Will Lula manage to keep his word? Th ... Show More
23m 12s
Aug 23
Another Take: Why hasn't Pakistan recovered from its catastrophic floods?
Every Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on February 22, 2023. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed. Pakistan is still reeling from 2022’s deadly floods, which put a third of the country underwater. Tho ... Show More
20m 45s
Recommended Episodes
Jun 18
Five boroughs. One mayor. Mad drama.
New York Public Radio icon Brian Lehrer breaks down the New York City mayor's race and New York magazine's David Freedlander explains what Democrats nationally can learn from the two leading candidates. This episode was produced by Peter Balonon-Rosen and Denise Guerra, edited by ... Show More
27m 53s
Apr 2025
India’s middle-class debt crisis
Nvidia says it expects to take a $5.5bn blow as the US clamps down on the Silicon Valley group’s ability to export artificial intelligence chips to China, and PwC is exiting 12 countries. Plus, the junk bond market has basically ground to a halt, and India’s middle class is deali ... Show More
11m 5s
Jul 25
Crashing out
Everyone from Love Island’s Huda to Hunter Biden is screaming, crying, or throwing up for the cameras. The big emotions are real, but so are the downsides of having them in public. This episode was produced by Rebeca Ibarra and Devan Schwartz, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checke ... Show More
25m 51s
Jun 23
Are We Headed For Another Endless Middle Eastern War?
The Times Opinion columnist Nick Kristof weighs in on the uncertainties following the United States’ surprise bombing of Iran and Tehran’s retaliation. “President Trump thinks that this is going to be successful and worth it, but the enemy gets a vote as well,” Kristof cautions.T ... Show More
13m 24s
Sep 2024
Antibiotics for coral reefs
Vox’s Benji Jones takes us diving in a coral reef to learn how scientists are trying to save them.This episode was produced by Avishay Artsy, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Patrick Boyd, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram.Transcript at vox.com/to ... Show More
28m 46s
Jul 30
AI is killing the internet
In a first-of-its-kind decision, an AI company wins a copyright infringement lawsuit brought by authors. It's part of a larger fight that is remaking the internet. This episode was made in partnership with Vox’s ⁠Future Perfect⁠ team. It was produced by Gabrielle Berbey, edited b ... Show More
26m 5s
Aug 15
The future of work is agentic
Think about your org chart. Now imagine it features both your current colleagues—humans, if you’re like most of us—and AI agents. That’s not science fiction; it’s happening. And it’s happening relatively quickly, according to McKinsey Senior Partner Jorge Amar. In this episode of ... Show More
35m 2s
Jan 2025
The Value of the Truth
Ruth Thalía’s truth would cost her everything. On national television in Peru, the nineteen-year-old revealed her darkest secrets for a prize, only to be found dead just two months later.  A game show called ‘The Value of the Truth’ launched in South America in 2012. In it, conte ... Show More
33m 6s
Aug 12
Sanjay: No, That’s Not Me Hawking Cures
There’s an ad going around on social media claiming Dr. Sanjay Gupta has discovered a natural cure for Alzheimer’s. Spoiler: it’s a deepfake. Sanjay breaks down how to tell when AI is faking it and answers a listener’s question about spotting signs prostate cancer has spread. Pag ... Show More
11m 38s
Mar 2025
Captagon: Syria’s Hidden Drug Empire
Was al-Assad's Syria a narco-state? Captagon—a deadly, addictive amphetamine—has turned Syria into the heart of a $2 billion drug empire few know about, with the Assad regime at the center of it all. From secret labs to smuggling routes, we uncover how this shadowy network operat ... Show More
29m 45s