[Podcast] The history of drinks and diplomacy: An interview with Tom Standage

In January 2021, Diplo began a series of online discussions titled History of Diplomacy and Technology led by Dr Jovan Kurbalija.

As part of the series, Kurbalija interviewed journalist and author Tom Standage to find out more about the influence that drinks had on ancient societies and diplomacy. From beer, wine, and rum, to tea and coffee, drinks have lubricated talks during diplomatic gatherings.

Standage is deputy editor of The Economist and is responsible for the newspaper’s digital strategy and the development of new digital products. He is the author of six history books, including Writing on the Wall: Social Media — The First 2,000 Years, the New York Times bestseller A History of the World in 6 Glasses (2005), and The Victorian Internet (1998) on the history of the telegraph.