Journalist Hamish Macdonald joins Mark Kenny to get under the skin of some of the world’s most prominent political leaders.

How did Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin make their way to the top of their respective political systems?

What does the leadership of Giorgia Meloni suggest about how Italy has grappled with its past?

And how does Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s power extend around the world, including into Australia?

In this episode of Democracy Sausage, Walkley Award-winning journalist Hamish Macdonald joins Professor Mark Kenny to discuss what makes political leaders tick and his new podcast series, Take Me To Your Leader.

Hamish Macdonald is a journalist, broadcaster and host of the new ABC podcast, Take Me To Your Leader.

Mark Kenny is a Professor at ANU Australian Studies Institute. He came to the University after a high profile journalistic career including six years as chief political correspondent and national affairs editor for The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and The Canberra Times.

Democracy Sausage with Mark Kenny is available on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

This podcast is produced by The Australian National University.

Top image: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (left) and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Photo: Salma Bashir Motiwala/Shutterstock.com

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