Global Roaming with Geraldine Doogue and Hamish Macdonald

Four years ago, Vladimir Putin rolled Russian tanks into Ukraine at the start of a full-scale invasion. Now, as peace talks lead by Trump and the USA fail to make progress, there is no easy end in sight for the most deadly conflict in Europe since World War Two. With host Latika Bourke (The Nightly) in Kyiv for the anniversary of the war, she joins Kylie Morris in speaking to official Yuiry Sak about why Ukraine is emerging from Winter 'stronger and more united'. Guest: Yuriy Sak, former advisor to Ukraine's Ministry of Strategic IndustriesGet in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.auFind all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts. 

With the possibility of charges against Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, being removed from the line of succession could be the last of the former Prince's worries. But with the House of Windsor in freefall following the latest Epstein revelations, have King Charles and Buckingham Palace been transparent about what they knew, and when? Andrew's unauthorised biographer, Andrew Lownie, knows what its like to navigate the British Royal Family's web of power. He joins Geraldine Doogue and Latika Bourke to talk about the financial corruption at the centre of the Royal power, whether Albanese has jumped the gun on removal calls, and why he's still a monarchist.Guest: Andrew Lownie, historian and author of Entitled: The rise and fall of the House of YorkGet in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.auFind all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts. 

Should Australia turn its back on the United States? And what's at stake if it did? This episode hosts Kylie Morris and Hamish Macdonald turn their attention to the Indo-Pacific as the US scrambles to project power in the increasingly volatile region. To find out more they speak with former high-ranking US official Dr Ely Ratner, who argues America's traditional allies should show some resolve and strengthen their military pacts even as Trump tears up the international rules based order.  Guest: Dr Ely Ratner, former US Assistant Secretary of Defence for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Get in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.auFind all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts. 

There's a growing trend on TikTok of being in a "very Chinese era of life". It's associated with changing shoes indoors, drinking hot water, and preparing traditional Chinese meals. It's being called 'Chinamaxxing'. But what exactly is this indicating more broadly?China has been growing in 'soft power' -- the kind of power that comes from cultural influence and intrigue rather than more forceful geopolitical approaches.Kaiser Kuo, heavy metal rocker and host of the Chinese current affairs podcast, Sinica Podcast, will join Hamish Macdonald and Geraldine Doogue to talk about the internal cultural shifts of China, including how much creative expression exists under Xi Jinping's regime.Guest: Kaiser Kuo, host of Sinica Podcast.Recommendations: Geraldine – The Infrastructure of Jeffrey Epstein's Power, The Ezra Klein Show Hamish – L-FRESH The Lion, 2006, The Year that Made Me------------- Get in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.auFind all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.  

It's not often we get the opportunity to ask a senior US official about AUKUS: Will the nuclear powered submarines be delivered? Can we trust Washington? Will America expect us to join them in any future conflict with China? Geraldine Doogue and Hamish Macdonald are joined by serving Democrat Senator Tim Kaine to talk all things AUKUS. Kaine represents the state of Virginia, where our nuclear submarines will be built. Back in 2016, Kaine was the Vice Presidential candidate in Hilary Clinton's Presidential bid. Now, he's the lead Democrat on the armed services and foreign relations committee, and a passionate advocate of the Australia-US alliance. Guest: Senator Tim KaineGet in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.auFind all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts. 

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office, with King Charles making clear “the law must take its course.” Hamish, Latika and Kylie have jumped into a studio to discuss the shocking arrest of Prince Andrew and the allegations behind it.They examine the royal family's response, the media scrutiny surrounding the case, and what it means for accountability.And they ask the bigger question: what could this moment mean for the future of the monarchy?

As the four-year anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine looms, finding a diplomatic end to the conflict is more unlikely than ever. With Trump's back turned and Europe grappling with the prospect of war further west, where has Zelenskyy's support gone? Kylie Morris and Latika Bourke are joined by Ukrainian-born Yaroslav Trofimov, the chief foreign-affairs correspondent at The Wall Street Journal, who has reported on the conflict since its inception.Guest: Yaroslav Trofimov, chief foreign-affairs correspondent at The Wall Street JournalGet in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.auFind all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts. 

At last year's Munich Security Conference, Vice President JD Vance shocked the world with his fiery attack on Europe. This year, when Secretary of State Marco Rubio fronted the world's biggest security conference, attended by more than 60 heads of state, he got a standing ovation. But was his speech really that different? Fresh from the conference, co-host Latika Bourke (The Nightly) and fellow attendee Ravi Agrawal join Geraldine Doogue to talk all things Munich; the highs and lows; Elbridge Colby and the future of AUKUS; and how Ukraine was left in the cold. Guest: Ravi Agrawal, editor-in-chief of Foreign PolicyGet in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.auFind all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts. 

As Artemis II prepares for launch, our first trip near the moon since the 1970s, a successful voyage could bring a lunar colony closer to reality. But as tech billionaires compete for NASA contracts, from Elon Musk's SpaceX to Jeff Bezos' Blue Origins, can we trust corporations to act on humanity's behalf?Hamish Macdonald and Jonathan Webb (Lab Notes) speak to rockstar physicist Professor Brian Cox, about who owns space, and why tech billionaires are not the bad guys, but not the good guys either. Guest: Professor Brian Cox, UN Champion for SpaceGet in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.auFind all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

With Indonesia becoming the first nation to commit soldiers to Trump's "Board of Peace", Hamish Macdonald and Geraldine Doogue put the spotlight on some of our closest neighbours; from President Prabowo Subianto's motivations in Gaza; to the conservative election wins in Thailand and Japan.Joining the conversation is Amanda Hodge, The Australian's Asia-Pacific correspondent, to talk about whether Sanae Takaichi's will rewrite Japan's pacifist constitution, and the surprise win of "Cannabis King" Anutin Charnvirakul in Thailand. And as our region grapples with the impacts of climate change, why has the environment fallen off the global agenda? Guest: Amanda Hodge, Asia-Pacific correspondent for The AustralianGet in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.auFind all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts. 

As Trump continues nuclear talks with Iran, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rushed to Washington to influence any potential deal. But amid uprisings, sanctions, and conflict with Israel, the Islamic regime is in its "end chapter". Will either side get what they want? Geraldine Doogue and Hamish Macdonald are joined in studio by Vali Nasr, who advised the US State Department on Iran during the Obama era. They talk about why Trump fell for his own saviour narrative, and how October 7 is still reshaping the region.Guest: Vali Nasr, Professor of Middle East Studies and International Affairs at Johns Hopkins University and former US State Department adviser on Iran. Get in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au

The nuclear umbrella has a few holes in it now a key treaty between Russia and the USA has expired. Some fear the end New START might trigger a nuclear weapons arms race between Trump and Putin. Could it also inspire the middle powers in Europe and Asia to follow suit? Kylie Morris and Latika Bourke (The Nightly) speak to former US State Department Official Joel Wit, who sat at the table for nuclear talks with North Korea and the Soviet Union, about why we shouldn't give up on non-proliferation, and where the US went wrong in their nuclear diplomacy.Guest: Joel Wit, distinguished fellow at the Stimson Centre and author of Fallout: The Inside Story of America's Failure to Disarm North Korea.Get in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.auFind all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts. 

Ice is melting. Seas are rising. Even anthrax is emerging out of the permafrost. But the climate crisis is changing more than the environment. The Arctic is fast becoming a pressure point for NATO, Russia and China as they wrestle for control of the thawing north. But what do they want it for? Geraldine Doogue and Latika Bourke (The Nightly) are joined by Klaus Dodds to talk about the transformation of the Arctic from a "zone of peace", as former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev called it, to the major powers' hottest property.   Guest: Klaus Dodds, Professor of Geopolitics at Middlesex University London. Get in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.auFind all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts. 

Martin Luther King III was ten years old when his father, the hero of the modern US civil rights movement, was assassinated for his advocacy against racism. King III has picked up his father's fight for a free and equal America, but is his father's dream still possible in 2026? King joins Hamish Macdonald and Kylie Morris to talk about whether the spirit of non-violent resistance can help push back against ICE, whether there'll be mid-term elections under Trump, and what he would ask the Reverend if his father were alive today. Guest: Martin Luther King IIIGet in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.auFind all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts. 

With the Munich Security Conference looming and Washington firmly in focus, Hamish Macdonald and Geraldine Doogue put your questions to the big issues shaping the global outlook; elections, defence, and Australia's place in a shifting strategic landscape.Joining the conversation is Carrington Clarke, freshly returned from Washington as the ABC's North America Correspondent, offering insight into the state of US politics and institutions, including questions being raised about the resilience of American democracy and the conduct of future elections.As the Prime Minister visits Jakarta and signs a new security agreement with Indonesia, Hamish and Geraldine also examine Australia's relationship with its closest neighbour: is the partnership strong enough?Get in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.auFind all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts. 

A Russian spy? Secret kompromat? The latest Epstein file drop, the most comprehensive since the notorious sex offender's death, has us questioning everything.But one thing is clear. New files alleging shared information between the former UK ambassador to the US Peter Mandelson and Jeffrey Epstein could be a scandal big enough to sink Prime Minister Keir Starmer.Geraldine Doogue and Hamish Macdonald speak to The News Agents' Jon Sopel about spiralling headfirst into the Epstein conspiracy, the new allegations against Bill Gates, and what the Kremlin has to do with Epstein island.Guest: Jon Sopel, former BBC News North America editor.Get in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.auFind all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts. 

It's the biggest humanitarian disaster in the world right now, yet few outside the conflict are aware of it. But Sudan's brutal civil war, which has displaced millions and turned cities like El Fasher into a mass grave, has found unlikely backers in the region. So why are Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates lining up to pick sides? Latika Bourke and Kylie Morris speak to journalist Mat Nashed about who stands to gain from drawing out the conflict, and his warning against middle power imperialism. Guest: Mat Nashed, freelance journalist covering SudanGet in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.auFind all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts. 

As nuclear talks begin between the Islamic Republic of Iran and US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump's armada of ships off Iran's coast are proving an effective negotiating tool. But for the people of Iran calling for intervention and regime change, the results of these talks may offer little relief. And as the staggering death toll of January's protests is starting to come into focus, how many of its own citizens is the regime is willing to shoot in order to crush an uprising?Geraldine Doogue and Latika Bourke speak to Iranian-American expert Holly Dagres about why the Iranian regime has reached a point of no return, even if the US chooses not to act. Guest: Holly Dagres, senior fellow at the Washington Institute's Programme on Iran and US Policy.Get in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.auFind all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts. 

With the Winter Olympics about to kick off in Milano-Cortina, the news that Team USA will be joined by officers from the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has caused a stir. It sends a mixed message to the world, especially given that in July, the notoriously anti-immigration Trump administration will host millions of international visitors for the biggest sporting event on the planet, the FIFA World Cup. Hamish Macdonald and Kylie Morris speak to journalist Nahal Toosi about the collision of MAGA and sports, and why an "America First" World Cup is riddled with contradictions.Guest: Nahal Toosi, senior foreign affairs correspondent for POLITICOGet in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.auFind all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts. 

Hamish and Geraldine dig into the questions you actually want answered.From how to break out of our political and cultural echo chambers, to making sense of Donald Trump's behaviour, to the lessons history offers about what middle powers can achieve - inspired, no doubt, by Canada PM Mark Carney.Plus, we look ahead to a very particular VIP visit from the Middle East to Australia.Suggested reading/watching mentioned in this episode:The Kaiser At Mar A LagoLowy Interpreter Middle Powers Can't Run The WorldUnHoly - Two Jews On The News Get in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.auFind all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts. 

With the purging of another top general, China's President Xi Jinping has ripped a hole in the People's Liberation Army leadership. Only two of his nine top generals remain in office.It's been explained as an anti-corruption move, but what's really going on? And how will it impact Beijing's behaviour towards Taiwan? Guest: Neil Thomas, Asia Society Policy Institute's Center for China AnalysisMentions:"China's top general accused of giving nuclear secrets to US" - Wall Street Journal "The demise of Zhang Youxia hits different" - Drew Thomson, Substack article.Recommendations:Geraldine: It was just an accident - film, dir. Jafar PanahiHamish: But also John Clarke - documentary, ABC iViewGet in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.auFind all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.  

The former UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, has spent his working life on the frontline of humanitarian crises - from the "catastrophic" situation in Sudan, to Syria in the Middle East. But with the international rules-based order facing an existential crisis of its own, is the UN still up to scratch?As he steps down from his role, Filippo talks to Kylie Morris and Latika Bourke about why the world shouldn't turn away from Sudan, and why Trump's Gaza 'Board of Peace' will never replace the UN - for all its flaws.Guest: Filippo Grandi, former United Nations High Commissioner for RefugeesGet in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.auFind all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts. 

Standing ovations are rare at Davos, the annual World Economic Forum conference. But Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney tore the roof down with a speech calling on the world's middle powers to forge a united path away from the hegemony of American power. And Trump isn't happy about it. Geraldine Doogue and Latika Bourke speak to former Canadian Liberal Party leader Michael Ignatieff about how much Australia and Canada have in common, and why Europe and Great Britain are the middle powers to watch. Guest: Michael Ignatieff, Professor at the Central European University in Vienna and former leader of the Liberal Party of CanadaGet in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.auFind all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts. 

Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is a China hawk, and if she wins February's snap election, she'll use that mandate to prepare for conflict over Taiwan.So says the former Japanese ambassador to Australia, who's a foreign policy whisperer, well connected to the Prime Minister.But is President Trump on board? And what about Canberra?Guest: Shingo Yamagami, former Japanese ambassador to Australia Get in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.auFind all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts. 

The 24 hour international news cycle often leaves us with more questions than answers, so in this episode of Global Roaming Hamish and Geraldine will be exploring the things YOU actually want to know. Like whether we should be following the money when it comes to Venezuela - does President Trump have a personal financial stake which helps explain his actions there? And if Australia's international fuel supplies were to be cut off by an act of sabotage or war, how many days could we continue to function? Turns out the answer is more surprising than you think... Plus Hamish and Geraldine discuss what they've been thinking deeply about - from the inner workings of the US Republican Party, to the history of the international radical Islamist group Hizb ut-Tahrir, which is now caught up in the Australian government's moves to target to hate groups. Suggested reading/watching mentioned in this episode:Middle East Forum: Hizb ut-Tahrir: Political Doctrine, Global Reach, and Challenge to the International OrderThe Australian - Amanda Hodge: Why banning radical Islamist Hizb ut-Tahrir is only half the battleForbes: How Trump's Attack On Venezuela May Have Made Him MoneyABC 7:30: Concerns over how long Australia's fuel supplies would last in an emergency Get in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.auFind all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

When UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer came to power in 2024, he was seen as a safe, if slightly boring, pair of hands. Now, UK Labour is threatened by the return of an unlikely figure - the man known as the 'father of Brexit': Nigel Farage. Geraldine Doogue and Hamish Macdonald sit down with Channel 4 News anchor Krishnan Guru-Murthy to chat about why Keir Starmer is failing to cut through, whether Reform UK could win the next election and what England's loss at the Boxing Day test reveals about the state of the country.Recommendations:Krishnan - Younger - TV series on Netflix Geraldine - My Brother's Band - FilmHamish - Tehran - TV series on Apple TV Get in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.auFind all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

Since the Cuban Missile Crisis of the 1960s brought the world to the brink of nuclear war, the Caribbean island has been a geopolitical plaything of the major global powers. Now, after US President Donald Trump's stunning Venezuela intervention, could Cuba be back in America's sights? Kylie Morris and Latika Burke (The Nightly) speak to Latin American correspondent Jon Bonfiglio about the mood in Cuba, and why US secretary of state Marco Rubio says Havana should be "worried".Guest: Jon Bonfiglio, Latin American correspondent based in Mexico

The cornerstone of NATO is that an attack on "one of us" is an attack on "all of us". But what happens when the alliance is threatened by one of it's own? As tensions over Greenland reach a breaking point, and Trump remains bitter about not winning a Nobel Prize, the US-Europe relationship is being tested to it's limit. Geraldine Doogue and Latika Burke (The Nightly) speak to former NATO spokesperson Oana Lungescu about the cards Europe has yet to play when it comes to salvaging the broken relationship. Guest: Oana Lungescu, former spokesperson for NATO and distinguished fellow at RUSI, the Royal United Services Institute in London.Get in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.auFind all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts. 

Myanmar's election ends this weekend, but there'll be no prizes for guessing the outcome. It's the first time the junta has held elections since the 2021 coup and Hamish Macdonald and Kylie Morris speak to democracy activist Mon Zin about what it means for the people of Myanmar, and the surprising connection between the Hunger Games and Myanmar's youth-led Spring Revolution. Plus, they explore why China's leader Xi Jinping is watching the outcome more closely than most... Guest: Mon Zin, Myanmar democracy activist based in AustraliaGet in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.auFind all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts. 

Even after weeks of protests, the Iranian regime looks like it has a firm grip on power and its unclear whether Trump will follow through on threats of American intervention. What is it that Iranians themselves want to happen next? And just how realistic is change? Plus, Global Roaming has changed in 2026. We give you a taste of what we have in store. Guest: Barbara Slavin - distinguished fellow at the Stimson Center in Washington and a lecturer in international affairs at George Washington University.  Get in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.auFind all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts. 

In this Global Roaming limited series, Hamish Macdonald and Geraldine Doogue are inviting big thinkers from different fields to consider how Australia can not just survive - but thrive - in a more challenging world. In this final instalment, Michael Stutchbury - Former editor-in-chief of the Australian Financial Review and Executive director of the Centre for Independent Studies, says that Australia's economic luck is about to run out. He argues we need break the cycle of high spending and low growth if we want to retain anything like the prosperity we're accustomed to. Get in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.auFind all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts. 

In this Global Roaming limited series, Hamish Macdonald and Geraldine Doogue are inviting big thinkers from different fields to consider how Australia can not just survive - but thrive - in a more challenging world. In this episode the Lowy Institute's Lydia Khalil shatters the perception that our geography alone is enough to protect us from the insidious new security threats that are already making their way to our shores, and she outlines how we can protect ourselves going forward. Lydia's recommendations:The Man in the High Castle - TV series on Amazon PrimeFor All Mankind - TV series on Apple TVGet in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.auFind all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts. 

In this Global Roaming limited series, Hamish Macdonald and Geraldine Doogue are inviting big thinkers from different fields to consider how Australia can not just survive - but thrive - in a more challenging world. In this episode Australia's former Chief Scientist Dr Alan Finkel shares his thoughts on how Australia can feasibly get to net zero, and harness our potential as a clean energy superpower. Plus, he has a radical new idea to safeguard art against AI...Alan's recommendations:The Prince and the Pauper by Mark TwainSeascraper by Benjamin WoodProve It: A Scientific Guide for the Post-Truth Era by Elizabeth Finkel Get in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.auFind all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts. 

In this Global Roaming limited series, Hamish Macdonald and Geraldine Doogue are inviting big thinkers from different fields to consider how Australia can not just survive - but thrive - in a more challenging world. In this episode former Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Varghese attempts to shake Australia out of our complacency and excite us about the potential of new foreign policy possibilities. Peter's recommendations:The Golden Road by William Dalrymple - you can find our conversation with William the link to his new book HEREWhy Great Powers Sleepwalk to War — A Masterclass with Hugh White - Joe Walker podcast Get in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.auFind all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts. 

In this Global Roaming limited series, Hamish Macdonald and Geraldine Doogue are inviting big thinkers from different fields to consider how Australia can not just survive - but thrive - in a more challenging world. First up is Hannah Ferguson, the CEO of Cheek Media, who has disrupted Australia's traditional media landscape. She shares her ideas for re-connecting Australians to news and politics and to 'make caring cool again'. Hannah's recommendations:The Good Fight: What Does Labor Stand For? Quarterly Essay by Sean KellyCareless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism by Sarah Wynn-Williams Get in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.auFind all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts. 

After Sunday's horrific terror shooting at Bondi Beach, Geraldine Doogue joined Hamish Macdonald at Bondi Pavilion to reflect on what this moment means for Australia. Together, they speak to Holocaust survivor Eddie Jaku's granddaughter Danielle Jaku and hear from members of the Bondi community, Chief Executive Officer at Surf Life Saving NSW Steve Pearce and NSW's new Opposition leader Kellie Sloane who found herself in the thick of the traumatic events as they unfolded. 

From huge diplomatic fallouts, to political assassinations, to historic jewellery heists, 2025 has been a HUGE year for international news. Hamish and Geraldine reflect on the most shocking moments and are joined by Foreign Policy's Editor-in-Chief and host of FP Live Ravi Agrawal to discuss the trendlines that have defined the year. Plus, we announce some big news about Global Roaming in 2026... Recommendations: Geraldine Doogue: Ken Burns' The American Revolution on SBS on DemandRobert Manne - SubstackHamish Macdonald: Global Roaming's Summer Series: Getting Lucky... AgainGet in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.auFind all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts. 

In this bonus episode of Global Roaming with Hamish Macdonald and Geraldine Doogue, one of Australia's most beloved actors Russell Crowe speaks about his new film Nuremberg and he gets philosophical about the need to speak to those we disagree with, in order to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past. Get in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.auFind all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

In a broad-ranging conversation, Hamish Macdonald speaks to historian and host of the hit podcast Empire William Dalrymple about the pitfalls of trying to understand the contemporary world without a firm grasp of the past, whether India can replicate its success as an ancient superpower and how countries like Australia and Britain deal with uncomfortable truths from their past. Recommendations:Geraldine: Murder House: Zhong Na on the Silicon Valley Tragedy That Exposed the Cracks in China's Meritocracy - Sinica Podcast.Hamish: The Golden Road: How Ancient India Transformed the World by William Dalrymple.Get in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.auFind all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

The ABC's biggest investigative true crime podcast Unravel has just dropped their new season, Huntsman, and it's already rocketing up the podcast charts.You might remember when former Jetstar pilot Greg Lynn was convicted of murder in the High Country. The story made headlines when Lynn admitted to burning the campers' bodies to cover his tracks.But behind the scenes, people who knew him years ago began talking and sending messages.It sparked an ABC investigation that uncovered the full story of his dark past and his abusive relationship with his first wife, Lisa Lynn, which ended in tragedy.In this new season, investigative reporter Rachael Brown uncovers the details of Greg Lynn's former life and the fear and damage he left behind him in the suburbs.You can find the podcast on ABC listen, or search for Unravel: Huntsman wherever you get your podcasts.

What began as targeted strikes against alleged drug smuggling boats has now turned into the largest military build-up in the Caribbean since the 1989 invasion of Panama. It's all part of a campaign to place pressure on Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro, but to what end? Geraldine Doogue and Hamish Macdonald speak to Latin American correspondent Jon Bonfiglio about the deeper, darker motivations that could be driving the Trump administration's gunboat diplomacy in their own 'backyard'.Recommendations:Geraldine: Hurricaines From Above, SBS on Demand Hamish: ABC news clip about Helene Chung - ABC Facebook Get in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.auFind all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

Australia does elections pretty well - in fact, we might be the world's hottest ambassador for democracy. But according to former Australian Electoral Commissioner Tom Rogers we need to be wary of 'the curse of the sausage'; the idea that our own success makes us vulnerable. In this discussion with Hamish Macdonald and Geraldine Doogue he offers a simple idea to protect our elections against growing threats, both at home and abroad. Recommendations:Hamish and Geraldine: Annabel Crabb's Civic Duty : ABC iviewGet in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.auFind all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

If you thought Netflix's hit series The Diplomat was pure fiction, think again... According to creator Deborah Cahn the show was inspired by a real-life diplomat that she has described as "a superhero in a pant suit" - Ambassador Beth Jones. We tracked down Ambassador Jones and her husband Don to ask what it's really like to work in places like Kabul, Cairo, Baghdad and Kazakhstan and it turns out the truth is sometimes stranger than fiction. Recommendations:Hamish: “Anchored in the region” – What the new Australia–Indonesia security treaty really means, article by Natalie SambhiGeraldine: Saturday Extra's Diplomacy mini-series from 2021, featuring interview with former diplomats: John McCarthy Sue Boyd Geoff Raby US Consul General Sharon Hudson Dean (Kylie Morris hosted) The late Martin Indyk Get in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.auFind all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts. 

Geraldine has returned from London where she had a front row seat as the BBC was engulfed in it's biggest crisis in decades. She joins Hamish for a conversation about how the BBC got here, what the various forces are at play and why the BBC might need to get "down and dirty" to combat Donald Trump's threats. Plus, we unpack some fascinating listener feedback on our recent China episodes, which has sparked quite a debate in the Global Roaming planning room... Get in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.auFind all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts. 

This week democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani became New York City's first Muslim and South Asian Mayor, beating former New York governor Andrew Cuomo. At a time when faith in the Democratic Party is at an all-time low, Mamdani found a way to reach – and win over – disaffected voters, becoming a household name not just in New York, but all over the world.  Hamish Macdonald and special guest host Amelia Lester (Foreign Policy) ask whether there is more to Mamdani than just 'rizz'? Are there lessons in his campaign for a flailing Democratic Party? Or is it simply a distraction from the real work required to win back voters?Then they speak to Timothy Shenk, a historian of modern American politics at George Washington University to discuss some of the ideas he's put forward in a thought-provoking essay for The New York Times entitled Democrats Are in Crisis. Eat-the-Rich Populism Is the Only Answer. Recommendations:Amelia: Equator magazine and article ‘He's an African Leader': Why my Ethiopian relatives voted for Trump by Adom Getachew.Hamish: Amelia Lester's Boyer Lecture: AI on Australia's termsGet in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.auFind all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts. 

It may have been the most significant hour and forty minutes in global geopolitics this year...If the highly anticipated summit between Presidents Xi and Trump in South Korea was about putting out the fires of a great power trade war, the flames seem to be under control... for now. But was it a win-win for everyone? Geraldine Doogue and Hamish Macdonald discuss which cans made it onto the negotiating table and were kicked down the road. Then they have a frank conversation with the former Singaporean diplomat Bilahari Kausikan about how South-east Asian countries responded to Trump's whirlwind tour through Asia and why they might be uniquely positioned to deal with a character like Donald Trump. Recommendations:Geraldine: The Myth of the Asian Century | A Lowy Institute Paper: Penguin Special by Bilahari KausikanHamish: Aiming Higher: Universities and Australia's Future by George WilliamsGet in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.auFind all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts. 

If you thought we'd never see a repeat of the GFC or even the dotcom bubble, think again... So far financial markets have proved remarkably resilient to the geopolitical shocks and uncertainty brought about by Trump 2.0, but economists are warning that this could be largely thanks to an AI bubble that is artificially propping up the US economy. Geraldine Doogue and Hamish Macdonald discuss the growing fears of what happens if and when this bubble bursts and how Australia is particularly exposed to a downturn through our superannuation system. Then Geraldine sits down with the acclaimed Irish economist and author David McWilliams to put this moment in historical perspective and get his frank assessment of what comes next.   Get in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.auFind all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts. 

While we were all preoccupied with Prime Minister Albanese's meeting with Donald Trump, another hugely important meeting was taking place behind closed doors in Beijing. At the highly anticipated Fourth Plenum there were political purges, hints at succession, and clues about what one of the world's great superpowers is planning to achieve over the next five years.Geraldine Doogue and Hamish Macdonald are joined by China analyst Neil Thomas to unpack everything you need to know about the Fourth Plenum and how it might affect President Xi jinping's thinking as he heads into his own highly anticipated meeting with President Trump next week in South Korea.Recommendations:Geraldine: Adam Tooze -  Chartbook+ A House of Dynamite now on NetflixHamish: Season 3 of The Diplomat on NetflixGet in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.auFind all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts. 

One week on from the ceasefire deal and the commencement of the first phase of Trump's peace plan, things look fragile. At this point, peace seems to be very much in the hands of one man: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He has a reputation as a wily political player, and the personal and political stakes for him are sky high. So, what are the calculations he's making? Can he, and will he, deliver peace? Former speaker of the Israeli Parliament Avraham 'Avrum" Burg shares his thoughts. Plus, to find out what 'peace' actually looks like at the moment on the ground in Gaza, Hamish Macdonald and Geraldine Doogue spoke to Ahmed Kamal Junina – Linguistics professor at Al-Aqsa University, in Gaza City.Recommendations:Geraldine: Nepalese hostage's final poem to mum before Hamas death revealed, Wall Street Journal via The Australian.Hamish: Nexus, by Yuval Noah Harari.Get in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.auFind all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts. 

Japan has entered a new political era after the election of Sanae Takaichi who is poised to become the country's first female prime minister. A protege of the late Shinzo Abe and a fan of Margaret Thatcher, she styles herself as Japan's 'Iron Lady' and she could be one of its most right-wing and nationalistic leaders since the Second World War. Asia editor of The Times and The Sunday Times Richard Lloyd Parry has lived in Japan and covered it for 30 years. He joins Hamish Macdonald and Geraldine Doogue to discuss what Takaichi's leadership might mean for Japan, and for Australia. Recommendations:China's middle class rides migration wave to Tokyo - AFRIn The Time Of Madness - Richard Lloyd ParryGet in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.auFind all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts. 

Geraldine and Hamish were live on air on ABC Sydney when Donald Trump broke the news this morning that a deal had been reached on the 'first phase' of a Gaza ceasefire deal. They raced into another studio to record a bonus episode of Global Roaming about this enormous development in the Middle East. Here's everything you need to know about what's just happened, what's still to come and whether peace might really be within reach. Recommended reading and listening:Northern Ireland, Gaza and the Road to Peace - The New York Times ABC Rear Vision Get in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.auFind all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.