Why It Matters: When the Microchips Are Down

Storytelling Podcast Week

Join us for this special episode as part of the recorded episode showcase for Storytelling Podcast Week.

This episode is brought to you by the Council on Foreign Relations and the Why It Matters podcast.

…

When the Microchips Are Down

Chips, also known as microchips or semiconductors, are core components in nearly all electronics, from smartphones and laptops to fighter jets, refrigerators, and cars. Their importance has been highlighted over the past year as pandemic-related shortages fueled product delays, factory shutdowns, and trade disputes. At the center of it all is one company, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), which manufactures more than 80 percent of the world’s most advanced chips. TSMC has emerged as a flash point in U.S.-China tensions, and could even play a role in sparking a conflict between the countries if Beijing attempts to reunify Taiwan with the mainland.

In this episode, four expert guests break down the importance of chips to the global economy, innovation, and security, and assess the outlook for cooperation and conflict as countries attempt to secure their supplies.

Episode Guests

Don Clark, Freelance Contributor, New York Times

Ajit Manocha, President and CEO, SEMI Rebecca Heilweil,

Reporter, Vox

David Sacks, Research Fellow

...

Storytelling Podcast Week is brought to you by Podbean.

We’re a podcast hosting and monetizing platform and home to over 500,000 podcasts, and we also offer the ability to livestream directly from the app to your audience with Podbean Live, where podcasts come to life!

You can also start your own live stream for free on Podbean and to get your first 30 days of hosting for free use the code “story”!