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POLITICO’s daily audio briefing on what’s moving Brussels — and why it matters. The Brussels Playbook Podcast is the audio extension of the Brussels Playbook newsletter. Hosted by POLITICO's chief EU correspondent, Zoya Sheftalovich, the podcast runs Monday through Thursday, offering a clear, reporting-driven guide to EU politics in under 15 minutes. It’s a perfect companion for your morning coffee. Each episode takes listeners inside the decisions, power shifts and debates shaping the day in Brussels — and explains how they connect to national capitals across Europe. Clear, conversational and shaped by reporting from the heart of the EU, the Brussels Playbook Podcast brings context to EU politics as your day begins. On Fridays, the same feed features a longer episode that goes deeper into the week’s biggest themes, offering context and analysis beyond the daily news cycle — with Sarah Wheaton behind the mic.
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Contact path
Verified email
Booking probability
39%
Guest openness
Selective
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Signup to Generate a PitchPOLITICO’s daily audio briefing on what’s moving Brussels, and why it matters. The Brussels Playbook Podcast is the audio extension of the Brussels Playbook newsletter. Hosted by POLITICO's chief EU correspondent, Zoya Sheftalovich, the podcast runs Monday through Thursday, offering a clear, reporting-driven guide to EU politics in under 15 minutes. It’s a perfect companion for your morning coffee.
Brussels Playbook Podcast is hosted by POLITICO. The show has published 666 episodes to date.
Recent episodes include "The Putin call dividing EU leaders" (28 October 2026, 19 minutes), "Inside von der Leyen's Commission shake-up" (27 October 2026, 17 minutes), and "It’s complicated: The status of EU-Canada relations" (26 October 2026, 17 minutes).
Brussels Playbook Podcast publishes roughly daily, with episodes averaging 19 minutes across 666 episodes.
Booking probability for Brussels Playbook Podcast is 39%, and the host is rated Selective on guests. Brussels Playbook Podcast requires a Pod Score of 80 or higher. Brussels Playbook Podcast's contact route on record: verified email.
The strongest fits for Brussels Playbook Podcast are Government & Politics. Brussels Playbook Podcast has a news audience.
POLITICO hosts Brussels Playbook Podcast, a news podcast with 666 episodes published.
Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.
Episode #139
Europe's united front on Ukraine is showing cracks. Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre have opened a direct line to Vladimir Putin, drawing criticism from some fellow...
Episode #138
Ursula von der Leyen’s plan to slim down and reorganize the European Commission moves a step closer, with outside advisers calling for a stronger center, fewer bureaucratic silos and potentially far-reaching changes to...
Canada and the EU want a much closer relationship — but they still disagree over what that relationship actually is. Zoya Sheftalovich and Nick Vinocur look ahead to this week’s EU-Canada summit in Montreal, where...
U.S. President Donald Trump has the world’s war crimes court in his crosshairs. By sanctioning the entire International Criminal Court, his administration is threatening its ability to function. Europe has rushed to the...
As the U.S. pushes to revive peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, a question is causing tensions in Brussels: Who actually speaks for the EU? Zoya Sheftalovich and Sarah Wheaton examine the growing influence of...
With Washington's support for Kyiv increasingly uncertain, Brussels is looking to its allies to help keep Ukraine afloat. The price tag: €70 billion. On today's show, Zoya Sheftalovich and Kathryn Carlson discuss how...
Episode #134
The Arctic is becoming a geopolitical battleground — and the EU wants a bigger role. The European Commission is unveiling a new strategy focused on security, as Russia builds up its military presence, China explores new...
Episode #133
Donald Trump’s latest moves on Russia and Ukraine have alarmed Kyiv and European capitals alike. But rather than scrambling to contain the fallout, EU leaders are keeping their cool. Zoya Sheftalovich and Nick Vinocur...
Brussels Playbook Podcast
It's been a packed agenda at the European Council summit, with little sign of progress on key issues. EU leaders continued to argue over the bloc's long-term budget, with energy supply and security taking up much of the...
Episode #132
EU leaders meet today for their first chance to beef about the budget face to face. On the show, Zoya Sheftalovich and Sarah Wheaton dive deeper into why leaders look increasingly unlikely to reach an agreement on the...
Episode #128
Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič is kicking off his visit to China today — and the stakes are high. On today’s show, Zoya Sheftalovich and Sarah Wheaton discuss the most important topic on the agenda: Europe’s trade...
Russia’s hybrid attacks across Europe — cyberattacks, sabotage, drone incursions — have been ramping up in recent months. But European governments are quietly preparing for something much worse. On today’s show, Zoya...
Episode #126
Spain’s snap election is poised to upend not just domestic politics ... but EU politics, too. On today’s show, Zoya Sheftalovich and Ian Wishart break down all the far-reaching impact the tumult in Madrid could have for...
The race for some of the EU’s most coveted diplomatic jobs is under way. Zoya Sheftalovich and Nick Vinocur unpack why this year’s routine EEAS rotation is attracting unusually strong interest from senior Commission...
Episode #21
Europe’s gray-zone war with Russia is getting harder to ignore. Sarah Wheaton speaks to security expert and author Elisabeth Braw about how Europe should respond as sabotage, arson, cyberattacks and attacks on critical...
Episode #124
Ukraine’s prime minister is warning of a $20 billion defense funding gap as Russia intensifies its attacks and Kyiv struggles to protect its skies and keep the country running. Zoya Sheftalovich and Sarah Wheaton look...
Episode #123
Ursula von der Leyen is heading on her annual tour of the Western Balkans to visit some of the countries in line to join the EU. But Bosnia & Herzegovina and Serbia, two accession hopefuls, are not on the itinerary. On...
Episode #122
Another surge in energy prices risks making life even more expensive for Europeans — especially once winter rolls around. So when EU energy ministers meet in Dublin today, affordability will be at the top of their...
Brussels Playbook Podcast
As ultra-fast fashion has gotten cheaper, textiles have become disposable to many Europeans. The average EU consumer purchased 95 articles of textiles last year — an increase of 12 percent since 2019. Europe now...
Episode #121
Europe’s defense ministers are meeting today to discuss whether the EU needs its own version of NATO’s article 4. This so-called Emergency Security Protocol would allow capitals to bring together all EU countries in the...
Recent guests on Brussels Playbook Podcast. Study who booked and why before you pitch.
Chair of Brookfield Asset Management and Head of Transition Investing, Bank of England / Canada (unclear from context)
CDU Federal Chairman and candidate for Chancellor, Christian Democratic Union
senior economist, Centre for European Reform
President of Ukraine, government of Ukraine
PitchCentric classifies Brussels Playbook Podcast under these industries. Guests from them are the closest fit, and each links to the best podcasts in that industry.
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