The podcast episodes discuss the historical efforts to codify rules of war and establish international legal mechanisms to prosecute war crimes, with the Geneva Conventions being a significant development in this process.

The episodes highlight how the Geneva Conventions have been used to guide the treatment of detainees, as seen in the discussions around the Guantanamo Bay detention camp and the controversies surrounding the UK's Overseas Operations Bill, which critics argue undermines the principles of the Geneva Conventions.

The episodes also explore the role of the Geneva Conventions in shaping the development of international law and institutions, such as the Nuremberg trials, the International Court of Justice, and the International Criminal Court.