Podcasts about as head

This episode hosts David Daley to examine the accelerating role of gerrymandering in shaping American democracy and what it reveals about the pressures facing modern electoral systems. The conversation explores his argument that democratic strain is driven not only by electoral cycles or individual political choices, but by the deliberate drawing of electoral maps that enables political actors to select their voters, weaken accountability, and reshape the incentives that underpin democratic competition. Daley argues that while gerrymandering has long been part of American politics, its contemporary form is defined by greater precision, scale, and the degree to which it is now enabled by advanced data systems and a permissive legal environment.The episode examines how technological change has transformed redistricting into a highly sophisticated analytical process. Drawing on census data, historical voting patterns, and commercially available behavioural datasets, political operatives are now able to model electoral outcomes at the level of individual households. Advanced mapping software allows thousands of district configurations to be tested and refined before any boundaries are finalised, turning what was once a broadly geographic exercise into a data-driven process of political optimisation. This technological shift has strengthened the ability of parties to entrench advantage in an era of deep political polarisation.A central focus of the conversation is the evolving legal framework governing redistricting in the United States. Daley highlights the Supreme Court's 2019 decision in Rucho v. Common Cause, which removed federal courts from adjudicating partisan gerrymandering claims and effectively eliminated a key national constraint on extreme map-drawing. He also points to the longer-term weakening of Voting Rights Act enforcement following Shelby County v. Holder (2013), which dismantled the federal pre-clearance system. Taken together, these rulings have shifted oversight away from federal institutions and into a fragmented landscape of state courts, constitutions, and political processes, producing uneven constraints across the country and enabling more aggressive partisan behaviour in many jurisdictions.David Daley is a journalist, political commentator, and bestselling author of Ratf**ked, a landmark study of partisan gerrymandering in the United States first published in 2010. His work examines how changes in redistricting strategy, electoral law, and political technology have reshaped American democracy over the past two decades. Daley has written extensively on the impact of map-drawing on representation, highlighting how advances in data analytics and shifts in judicial oversight have transformed gerrymandering from a relatively blunt political practice into a precise instrument of partisan advantage.The International Risk Podcast brings you conversations with global experts, frontline practitioners, and senior decision-makers who are shaping how we understand and respond to international risk. From geopolitical instability and organised crime to cybersecurity threats and hybrid warfare, each episode explores the forces transforming our world and what smart leaders must do to navigate them. Whether you're a board member, policymaker, or risk professional, The International Risk Podcast delivers actionable insights, sharp analysis, and real-world stories that matter.Dominic Bowen is the host of The International Risk Podcast and Europe's leading expert on international risk and crisis management. As Head of Strategic Advisory and Partner at one of Europe's leading risk management consulting firms, Dominic advises CEOs, boards, and senior executives across the continent on how to prepare for uncertainty and act with intent. He has spent decades working in war zones, advising multinational companies, and supporting Europe's business leaders. Dominic is the go-to business advisor for leaders navigating risk, crisis, and strategy; trusted for his clarity, calmness under pressure, and ability to turn volatility into competitive advantage. Dominic equips today's business leaders with the insight and confidence to lead through disruption and deliver sustained strategic advantage.Subscribe for all our updates!Tell us what you liked!Tell us what you liked!

Mattheos Georgiou has spent three decades in luxury hospitality, working across Tokyo, Moscow, Dubai and beyond, shaped by crises as much as by calm. As Head of Global Operations for One&Only, SIRO and Rare Finds, he now oversees brands with very different ambitions, but a shared conviction that hospitality should help you perform at your best. In this episode, Anant and Mattheos get into what it means to build a wellness brand with genuine substance, why the guests turning up to SIRO aren't who anyone expected, and what the hospitality industry still hasn't fixed since 1985. They also talk leadership through crisis, lobbying for ideas in Tokyo, and the Ottoman mansion in rural Greece that started a second obsession.

In "Fleet Profitability Unleashed: The Optimal Dynamics Advantage", Joe Lynch and Zach Schuchart, Senior Vice President, Head of Sales at Optimal Dynamics, discuss how decades of academic research and advanced decision intelligence are being used to automate complex logistics and maximize carrier profitability. Zach Schuchart Zach Schuchart is the Senior Vice President, Head of Sales at Optimal Dynamics. He has over 20 years of experience in the North American and European transportation industries, including roles at UPS, CHAINalytics, and XPO, he brings deep expertise and leadership to the Optimal Dynamics team. As Head of Sales, he oversees a talented group of Account Executives and Solutions Engineers, guiding prospective customers through the evaluation of advanced optimization solutions that drive operational success. About Optimal Dynamics  Optimal Dynamics provides the decision intelligence layer that powers logistics transformation. Born out of 40 years of research at Princeton University, Optimal Dynamics leverages proprietary artificial intelligence technology to automate, optimize, and radically improve decision-making across trucking and transportation operations. Headquartered in New York City, Optimal Dynamics is backed by marquee investors including Koch Disruptive Technologies, Bessemer Venture Partners, The Westly Group, and Activate Capital. Learn more at www.optimaldynamics.com. Key Takeaways: Fleet Profitability Unleashed: The Optimal Dynamics Advantage In "Fleet Profitability Unleashed: The Optimal Dynamics Advantage", Joe Lynch and Zach Schuchart, Senior Vice President, Head of Sales at Optimal Dynamics, discuss how decades of academic research and advanced decision intelligence are being used to automate complex logistics and maximize carrier profitability. From Research to Reality: The Princeton Pedigree. Optimal Dynamics isn't just another tech startup; it is built on 40 years of academic research from Princeton University. This provides a level of scientific rigor and proprietary AI that differentiates their solutions from standard off-the-shelf logistics software. The Power of "Decision Intelligence". While many platforms focus on data visibility (showing you what is happening), Zach highlights the shift toward Decision Intelligence. This layer automates and optimizes the choice itself, helping carriers move from reactive management to proactive, data-driven execution. Bridging the Gap Between Planning and Execution. Leveraging Zach's 20+ years of experience at giants like UPS and XPO, the episode explores how traditional planning often fails when it hits the "real world." Optimal Dynamics focuses on creating dynamic plans that account for the inherent volatility in trucking operations. Leveraging High-Dimensional Artificial Intelligence. The core technology focuses on solving "high-dimensional" problems. Instead of looking at simple variables, the platform uses AI to process thousands of data points simultaneously—such as driver hours, fuel costs, and lane profitability—to find the "Optimal" solution. Automating the Complexities of Trucking. Automation isn't just about replacing manual tasks; it's about augmenting human capability. Zach discusses how their solutions allow sales and operations teams to evaluate complex scenarios in minutes rather than days, drastically reducing the "evaluation-to-action" cycle. Maximizing Profitability in Volatile Markets. In an industry with razor-thin margins, "Optimal Dynamics" means finding the most profitable way to move freight despite fluctuating market conditions. The platform helps fleets identify which loads to accept and how to route them to ensure maximum fleet utilization. Strategic Backing for Long-Term Transformation. The company's growth is fueled by marquee investors like Bessemer Venture Partners and Koch Disruptive Technologies. This level of backing underscores the industry's belief that Optimal Dynamics is a foundational player in the future of global logistics infrastructure. Learn More About Fleet Profitability Unleashed: The Optimal Dynamics Advantage Zach Schuchart Optimal Dynamics | Linkedin Optimal Dynamics Optimizing for the Future: D.M. Bowman Embraces Decision Automation Shifting From Manual Grind to Automated Growth Driving Strategic Growth and Innovation with Decision Automation How Smarter Planning Leads to Stronger Performance Rapid Transformation and Record-Breaking Results at Grand Island Express During Freight Recession, BCB Transport Sees 19.6% Increase in Revenue Per Truck After Embracing Artificial Decision Intelligence The Logistics of Logistics Podcast If you enjoy the podcast, please leave a positive review, subscribe, and share it with your friends and colleagues. The Logistics of Logistics Podcast: Google, Apple, Castbox, Spotify, Stitcher, PlayerFM, Tunein, Podbean, Owltail, Libsyn, Overcast Check out The Logistics of Logistics on Youtube

Everyone thinks the future of work means spending more time interacting with AI. Aaron Mitchell Finegold believes the opposite. As Head of Product Marketing at Adobe, Aaron sits at the intersection of enterprise AI, agentic workflows, brand intelligence and the future of how work gets done. In this conversation with Liam Lawson, he explains why most companies are approaching AI adoption incorrectly, what an agentic content supply chain actually looks like, and why trust, judgment and human relationships may become even more valuable in an AI-first world. Stories Covered This Week: Why most companies are deploying AI agents the wrong way What an agentic content supply chain actually looks like inside the enterprise How Adobe is building systems that combine humans and AI agents Why generative AI without guardrails can damage brand integrity The difference between work that should be done by humans versus agents How enterprises are turning brand knowledge into AI-readable intelligence Why trust matters for both humans and AI systems The personality traits that will thrive in an AI-driven workplace Aaron's vision for the future of work and why it may involve less interaction with machines than people expect Episode Timestamps: 00:00 Intro and Aaron's background 03:01 Hands-on experience building with AI 04:41 The biggest misconception about generative AI 05:38 What an agentic content supply chain looks like 07:30 When should AI agents replace humans? 08:40 How Adobe's Brand Intelligence works 10:44 Where AI starts and human creativity ends 12:09 Aaron's vision for the future of work 13:41 What trust means for humans and AI agents 16:34 Reliability, AI systems and enterprise adoption 19:34 The personality traits that will thrive in the AI era 21:38 Why do you do what you do? Connect with Aaron on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finegold/ Partner Links Upgrade your AI toolkit: https://www.theaireport.ai/ai-executive-pass Subscribe to our free newsletter: https://newsletter.theaireport.ai/subscribe Join the community: www.theaireport.ai/leaders-launch-guide Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode hosts David Higgins to explore the complex and often misunderstood boundary between military operations, humanitarian action, and political stabilisation in modern conflict environments. Drawing on two decades of experience across the British Army, the United Nations, and geopolitical advisory work, we look at how different institutions operating in the same space can interpret the same conflict in fundamentally different ways, and how those differences shape outcomes on the ground. The discussion focuses on David's central argument that civil-military coordination frameworks still assume a level of clarity between “military space” and “civilian space” that increasingly no longer exists. While these distinctions were difficult but workable in conflicts such as Afghanistan and Somalia, today's environments are far more fragmented, with blurred front lines, overlapping actors, and the increasing weaponisation of civilian domains including information, finance, and infrastructure. As a result, coordination mechanisms risk becoming procedurally active but operationally ineffective. David Higgins is Head of Humanitarian Access and Civil-Military Coordination in Somalia for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). He has spent twenty years working across the civil-military boundary as a British Army infantry officer, humanitarian and stabilisation adviser, and geopolitical analyst, including deployments to Helmand Province and roles across Afghanistan, Iraq, and East Africa. He previously served as Head of Geopolitical Analysis at M&C Saatchi World Services and as a reservist Lieutenant Colonel with the British Army's 77th Brigade, and holds a research master's focused on hybrid threats and UK national security. The International Risk Podcast brings you conversations with global experts, frontline practitioners, and senior decision-makers who are shaping how we understand and respond to international risk. From geopolitical instability and organised crime to cybersecurity threats and hybrid warfare, each episode explores the forces transforming our world and what smart leaders must do to navigate them. Whether you're a board member, policymaker, or risk professional, The International Risk Podcast delivers actionable insights, sharp analysis, and real-world stories that matter. Dominic Bowen is the host of The International Risk Podcast and Europe's leading expert on international risk and crisis management. As Head of Strategic Advisory and Partner at one of Europe's leading risk management consulting firms, Dominic advises CEOs, boards, and senior executives across the continent on how to prepare for uncertainty and act with intent. He has spent decades working in war zones, advising multinational companies, and supporting Europe's business leaders. Dominic is the go-to business advisor for leaders navigating risk, crisis, and strategy; trusted for his clarity, calmness under pressure, and ability to turn volatility into competitive advantage. Dominic equips today's business leaders with the insight and confidence to lead through disruption and deliver sustained strategic advantage. Subscribe for all our updates! Tell us what you liked! Tell us what you liked!

Ep. 265: As Head of Client Solutions and Wealth Management at Guardian Life Insurance, Mike has learned that the most transformational moments in business look a lot like cycling: riders who trust each other, rotate leadership, and communicate constantly can cover ground together that no one could cover alone. In this episode, you will learn: How finding a coach — whether on a bike or in a boardroom — speeds up every kind of growth. Why the best response to a crisis is not reacting to the event itself, but locking onto what you can actually control. How making space for every voice in the room doesn't just improve morale — it produces better ideas and stronger teams. Do you want to write a book? In my new role as Publisher at Forbes Books and with the incredible resources and expertise of their team, we're making it easier than ever to help YOU to tell your story. Send us a message here to get started: https://books.forbes.com/don/ Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness. Special thanks to Guillermo Orellana and Johnathan Levin for making this episode possible.

This episode hosts Erez Levin to examine the shifting boundaries of acceptable public speech and what this reveals about the health of modern democratic societies. The conversation explores his central argument that liberal democracies depend not only on formal legal frameworks, but also on informal social guardrails, shared moral taboos that limit the public acceptability of overt hateful bigotry and dehumanising rhetoric. As these guardrails weaken in fragmented and algorithmically driven information environments, previously marginal forms of rhetoric can become more visible, more tolerated, and in some cases gradually normalised within mainstream political discourse.Erez Levin is an advertising technologist and former Google employee whose work focuses on the intersection of digital media systems, online advertising incentives, and the health of public discourse. Through his “Holding the Line” project and writing on Substack, he examines how societies can maintain democratic resilience by reinforcing shared norms that constrain the social acceptability of overt hateful bigotry, while preserving space for open political debate.The International Risk Podcast brings you conversations with global experts, frontline practitioners, and senior decision-makers who are shaping how we understand and respond to international risk. From geopolitical instability and organised crime to cybersecurity threats and hybrid warfare, each episode explores the forces transforming our world and what smart leaders must do to navigate them. Whether you're a board member, policymaker, or risk professional, The International Risk Podcast delivers actionable insights, sharp analysis, and real-world stories that matter.Dominic Bowen is the host of The International Risk Podcast and Europe's leading expert on international risk and crisis management. As Head of Strategic Advisory and Partner at one of Europe's leading risk management consulting firms, Dominic advises CEOs, boards, and senior executives across the continent on how to prepare for uncertainty and act with intent. He has spent decades working in war zones, advising multinational companies, and supporting Europe's business leaders. Dominic is the go-to business advisor for leaders navigating risk, crisis, and strategy; trusted for his clarity, calmness under pressure, and ability to turn volatility into competitive advantage. Dominic equips today's business leaders with the insight and confidence to lead through disruption and deliver sustained strategic advantage.Subscribe for all our updates!Tell us what you liked!

For our 100th episode, we had an extra special guest: Tim Sant. And we ask him the questions that only the Head of Dance at Ceroc can tell us: Why do you keep changing the beginner's syllabus? Why was SILC developed? Has the dance styles changed with the music, or is music changing the dance? Who thinks of new ideas to implement in Ceroc classes?   But we also find out some of Tim's personal history: his dance journey at 14 years of age; how it changed the course of his education and his life; what are the proudest bits of his job.   This is a great chat to celebrate our milestone.   Chapters: Where did Tim's dance journey start? [0:54] Listen to how dancing impacted Tim's education choices [4:58] As Head of Dance, Tim explains part of the process of changing moves [11:11] What is the process for updating the beginner's syllabus? [16:38] Has dance styles changed with the music? [18:28] Tim gives some examples of new ideas and how to roll them out to Ceroc classes [22:06] Why was SILC developed? [27:13] Find out why Tim thinks music is ruined for dancers! [30:32] What is Tim's proudest moment as the head of Ceroc? [35:42] Summary [38:29] Up next [40:14]   What did you think? Add your comments at https://www.facebook.com/share/193Kmyf5xP/?mibextid=wwXIfr   Go to our Facebook page and hit our Follow button at https://www.facebook.com/jivebuddiespodcast so you get the links to every new episode.

BONUS: The Communication Tax — Why Your Team Collaborates Too Much and What to Cut First In this BONUS episode, Roman Nikolaev challenges one of the most deeply held beliefs in the agile world: that more collaboration is always better. As Head of Technology at Cambri, Roman has watched teams burn their best hours in meetings and handoffs that create the feeling of productivity without the outcomes. He shares practical tools — from the vacation test to RFC processes — that help teams find the minimum viable level of collaboration. From Senior Engineer to Accidental Manager "I kind of accidentally ended up in management. I didn't want to lead anyone, I wanted to be just a senior engineer doing my stuff. But somehow, four months in the job, I was already leading a team, and then one year after, I was head of technology."   Roman's career in engineering goes back to the early 2000s. When he changed jobs during COVID, he specifically didn't want a management role — he wanted to code. But within months he was leading a team, and within a year he was running the entire technical organization at Cambri. That unexpected shift from hands-on engineering to leading teams gave him a front-row seat to how collaboration actually works — and how often it doesn't. What he noticed was that the most important differentiator for technical teams isn't technical knowledge — it's communication, and the tax you pay when communication goes wrong. The Communication Tax Is Real "The communication tax is real. The less we need to pay for communication, the more we can concentrate and own things end to end."   Roman describes a pattern most teams will recognize: stakeholders inside and outside the team — product managers, QA, scrum masters, product owners — and at some point, it becomes a game of telephone. The people doing the actual work don't have the context they need. The result? Unnecessary features, wrong implementations, suboptimal technical solutions that don't scale. His argument isn't that collaboration is bad. It's that every handoff, every meeting, every "quick sync" has a cost — and most teams aren't honest about how much they're paying. Handoffs Aren't Collaboration "If you look at a typical software development lifecycle — a ticket created by a product owner, refinement with the team, development, code review, QA, acceptance — there are quite many handoffs. If we can reduce some of this, we get a more effective workflow."   Roman walks through the standard ticket lifecycle and counts the handoffs: PO creates ticket, team refines, developer picks it up, code review with other developers, QA phase, acceptance phase. Each transition is a potential information loss. His provocation: instead of involving more people when someone struggles with a task, give the person working on it the tools and knowledge to complete it independently. The trigger for his thinking was a real team conversation where someone suggested everyone should "jump on the ticket" to help. Roman's response: wouldn't it be better to equip the individual rather than create more dependencies? Async Tools That Actually Work "Instead of gathering a meeting where people come unprepared or with some raw ideas, we have ownership for a task. Someone takes their time, writes down their thoughts, options in a document, and then we assign people to review it."   Roman shares two async practices his teams use at Cambri. First, the RFC (Request for Comments) process on Confluence — one person owns a decision, writes it up with options, and assigned reviewers sign off asynchronously. It turns out to be more effective at finding better technical solutions while spreading knowledge without requiring synchronous deep-dives. Second, his Monday written updates: every week, he spends about 90 minutes writing a detailed post covering all project statuses, what happened last week, what's coming, and business context. The team feedback in skip-level meetings is consistently positive, and he fields far fewer questions about business context and priorities than before the practice started. The Vacation Test "One heuristic would be that if one of the team members goes on vacation, the rest of the team can continue working on their task."   Roman learned this the hard way. He went on a typical Finnish one-month vacation. Before leaving, he explained the architecture and intent for a key task to his team. He came back to discover they'd built the completely wrong thing — wasting one month of a two-month project. He spent the remaining time working weekends, on planes, on trains, just to hit the deadline. The lesson wasn't that he needed more collaboration or synchronous communication before leaving. It was that he needed better communication — and a way to test whether shared context actually exists. His heuristic: if Alice goes on vacation, can Bob continue from where she stopped? If not, you don't need more meetings. You need better async context-sharing. Where to Start: Ownership First, Then Cut Meetings "I would probably first look into if a particular initiative, a feature, or some kind of process has an owner and well-defined roles. Usually, if there is no clear owner, that leads to a lot of synchronous meetings."   For Scrum Masters and team leads looking for a practical starting point, Roman offers a two-step approach. First, ensure every initiative, feature, and process has a clear owner with well-defined roles. Without clear ownership, meetings multiply because nobody is sure who's responsible, so everyone attends everything. Second, look at the team calendar starting with the biggest meetings and ask: can this be an RFC? A message? An email? Then experiment — cancel a meeting, replace it with an async channel, and see what happens. You can always bring it back. In the agile world, Roman argues, we should embrace experimentation with our own processes, not just our products. Recommended Resources Roman recommends Team Topologies by Matthew Skelton and Manuel Pais. The book gave him a clear mental model for independent teams that own their area end to end — teams aligned to value streams that own the customer problem completely. For more of Roman's thinking on collaboration, check out his Substack newsletter: Is Your Collaboration Good or Evil? on High Impact Engineering. About Roman Nikolaev Roman Nikolaev is Head of Technology at Cambri. He's spent his career thinking about how teams actually get work done — and his contrarian view that most teams collaborate too much has sparked real debate in the agile community.   You can link with Roman Nikolaev on LinkedIn.

In this episode of The International Risk Podcast, Dominic Bowen speaks with Phil Booth, coordinator of medConfidential and a long-standing campaigner on medical confidentiality, patient consent and data governance, about what Palantir's growing role in the NHS reveals about public trust, private technology companies and the data infrastructure increasingly underpinning the modern state. The conversation examines the NHS Federated Data Platform, the use of Palantir Foundry and the wider risks that arise when critical public infrastructure becomes dependent on private technology companies. Phil argues that the central issue is not only whether the software works, but who controls it, how easily it can be scrutinised or replaced, and whether patients have any meaningful choice over how their health data is used. Dominic and Phil discuss the limits of pseudonymisation, weaknesses in current opt-out arrangements, the commercial value created around NHS workflows and data systems, and the danger of long-term vendor lock-in. Phil reflects on earlier disputes surrounding care.data and the extraction of GP records, arguing that successive governments have repeatedly failed to treat public consent as a necessary condition of legitimate health-data use. They also explore how Palantir's work with military, intelligence and policing organisations can create ethical and strategic tensions when the same company becomes deeply embedded in healthcare systems. The International Risk Podcast brings you conversations with global experts, frontline practitioners, and senior decision-makers who are shaping how we understand and respond to international risk. From geopolitical instability and organised crime to cybersecurity threats and hybrid warfare, each episode explores the forces transforming our world and what smart leaders must do to navigate them. Whether you're a board member, policymaker, or risk professional, The International Risk Podcast delivers actionable insights, sharp analysis, and real-world stories that matter. Dominic Bowen is the host of The International Risk Podcast and Europe's leading expert on international risk and crisis management. As Head of Strategic Advisory and Partner at one of Europe's leading risk management consulting firms, Dominic advises CEOs, boards, and senior executives across the continent on how to prepare for uncertainty and act with intent. He has spent decades working in war zones, advising multinational companies, and supporting Europe's business leaders. Dominic is the go-to business advisor for leaders navigating risk, crisis, and strategy; trusted for his clarity, calmness under pressure, and ability to turn volatility into competitive advantage. Dominic equips today's business leaders with the insight and confidence to lead through disruption and deliver sustained strategic advantage. Subscribe for all our updates!Tell us what you liked!

This episode with Ulf Laessing examines the recent escalation of unrest in Mali and what it reveals about the deeper fragmentation of authority across the central Sahel. The conversation explores how sustained insurgent pressure, weak state institutions, and shifting alliances between military governments and armed groups are reshaping the trajectory of the Malian state.We discuss why Mali has become a central node in the wider Sahel crisis, how jihadist groups are adapting their operational strategies, and what the breakdown of territorial control means for regional spillover into Niger, Burkina Faso, and coastal West Africa. The episode also considers the role of external actors, including Russian security partnerships and regional bloc responses, in shaping both stability and instability.Ulf Laessing is the Head of the Sahel Programme at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation. His work focuses on governance, security dynamics, insurgency trends, and political risk across the central Sahel region.The International Risk Podcast brings you conversations with global experts, frontline practitioners, and senior decision-makers who are shaping how we understand and respond to international risk. From geopolitical instability and organised crime to cybersecurity threats and hybrid warfare, each episode explores the forces transforming our world and what smart leaders must do to navigate them. Whether you're a board member, policymaker, or risk professional, The International Risk Podcast delivers actionable insights, sharp analysis, and real-world stories that matter.Dominic Bowen is the host of The International Risk Podcast and Europe's leading expert on international risk and crisis management. As Head of Strategic Advisory and Partner at one of Europe's leading risk management consulting firms, Dominic advises CEOs, boards, and senior executives across the continent on how to prepare for uncertainty and act with intent. He has spent decades working in war zones, advising multinational companies, and supporting Europe's business leaders. Dominic is the go-to business advisor for leaders navigating risk, crisis, and strategy; trusted for his clarity, calmness under pressure, and ability to turn volatility into competitive advantage. Dominic equips today's business leaders with the insight and confidence to lead through disruption and deliver sustained strategic advantage.Tell us what you liked!

In this episode, we host Professor Meru Sheel to examine whether global health systems are prepared for the next major infectious-disease outbreak. Drawing on her work in infectious-disease epidemiology, vaccine research, emergency preparedness and global health security, Professor Sheel explores the difficult questions now facing governments, public-health agencies and international institutions: how quickly outbreaks can be detected, how effectively information is shared, and how public-health systems can respond before local emergencies become wider international crises. Set against the recent Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, and the international response to the MV Hondius hantavirus outbreak, this conversation looks at the race between disease spread, surveillance, public trust and political coordination.We discuss why outbreaks test far more than medicine alone. Professor Sheel explains how public-health responses depend not only on vaccines, diagnostics and contact tracing, but also on logistics, risk communication, community engagement and trust in institutions. We explore the difference between individual severity and population-level risk, why a virus can be highly fatal without necessarily posing a pandemic-style threat, and why public-health messaging must warn people without creating panic. The episode also examines the role of the International Health Regulations, the World Health Organization, national governments and multidisciplinary response teams in managing complex, cross-border outbreaks involving cruise ships, repatriation, quarantine, clinical care and international contact tracing.Professor Meru Sheel is Professor of Infectious Diseases and Global Health at the University of Sydney. Her work focuses on epidemiology, vaccine research, outbreak preparedness, emergency response and immunisation systems, particularly across Australia and the Asia-Pacific region. She has worked extensively on the relationship between routine vaccination systems and health emergency preparedness, and her research examines how surveillance, community engagement, vaccine delivery, public-health coordination and equity shape the ability of countries to prevent, detect and respond to infectious-disease threats. The International Risk Podcast brings you conversations with global experts, frontline practitioners, and senior decision-makers who are shaping how we understand and respond to international risk. From geopolitical instability and organised crime to cybersecurity threats and hybrid warfare, each episode explores the forces transforming our world and what smart leaders must do to navigate them. Whether you're a board member, policymaker, or risk professional, The International Risk Podcast delivers actionable insights, sharp analysis, and real-world stories that matter.Dominic Bowen is the host of The International Risk Podcast and Europe's leading expert on international risk and crisis management. As Head of Strategic Advisory and Partner at one of Europe's leading risk management consulting firms, Dominic advises CEOs, boards, and senior executives across the continent on how to prepare for uncertainty and act with intent. He has spent decades working in war zones, advising multinational companies, and supporting Europe's business leaders. Dominic is the go-to business advisor for leaders navigating risk, crisis, and strategy; trusted for his clarity, calmness under pressure, and ability to turn volatility into competitive advantage. Dominic equips today's business leaders with the insight and confidence to lead through disruption and deliver sustained strategic advantage.Subscribe for all our updates!Tell us what you liked!

This episode with Dr. Emma Salisbury explores how the closure of the Strait of Hormuz exposed the vulnerabilities of the global maritime system, revealing how a regional conflict can rapidly become a global economic and security crisis. The conversation examines why critical maritime chokepoints remain central to international trade, energy security, and geopolitical competition, and what recent disruptions tell us about the resilience of the modern global economy.We discuss the challenges of reopening contested waterways, the balance between disruption and protection at sea, and why freedom of navigation is becoming increasingly contested from the Persian Gulf to the South China Sea. The episode also considers the state of Western naval readiness, the growing importance of maritime resilience, and what a more fragmented and competitive international order could mean for global trade, critical infrastructure, and security.Dr. Emma Salisbury is a maritime security specialist and Non-Resident Senior Fellow in the National Security Program at the Foreign Policy Research Institute. Her work focuses on naval strategy, maritime power, defence policy, and the role of sea power in contemporary geopolitics.The International Risk Podcast brings you conversations with global experts, frontline practitioners, and senior decision-makers who are shaping how we understand and respond to international risk. From geopolitical instability and organised crime to cybersecurity threats and hybrid warfare, each episode explores the forces transforming our world and what smart leaders must do to navigate them. Whether you're a board member, policymaker, or risk professional, The International Risk Podcast delivers actionable insights, sharp analysis, and real-world stories that matter.Dominic Bowen is the host of The International Risk Podcast and Europe's leading expert on international risk and crisis management. As Head of Strategic Advisory and Partner at one of Europe's leading risk management consulting firms, Dominic advises CEOs, boards, and senior executives across the continent on how to prepare for uncertainty and act with intent. He has spent decades working in war zones, advising multinational companies, and supporting Europe's business leaders. Dominic is the go-to business advisor for leaders navigating risk, crisis, and strategy; trusted for his clarity, calmness under pressure, and ability to turn volatility into competitive advantage. Dominic equips today's business leaders with the insight and confidence to lead through disruption and deliver sustained strategic advantage.Subscribe for all our updates!Tell us what you liked!

In this episode, we host Sam Goodman to explore China's global campaign of transnational repression, shadow policing, and pressure against critics abroad. Drawing on his work on Hong Kong, UK-China relations, sanctions, the BN(O) community, and economic transnational repression, Sam explains how Chinese and Hong Kong authorities project power beyond their borders through surveillance, diaspora intimidation, legal pressure, financial coercion, and attempts to silence pro-democracy voices far beyond China and Hong Kong.We discuss the recent UK National Security Act case involving two men convicted in London for assisting a foreign intelligence service in a case centred on Hong Kong authorities, pro-democracy activists, and alleged shadow policing on British soil. Sam explains why this case matters, what it reveals about the vulnerability of open societies, and how Chinese state-linked activity can move through trade offices, former police networks, private security actors, immigration systems, community intermediaries, and financial institutions.The conversation also explores the everyday impact of transnational repression on Hong Kongers and other diaspora communities in the UK, including fear of infiltration, pressure on family members back home, self-censorship, and the chilling effect on civic participation. Sam also explains why economic transnational repression remains under-recognised, from frozen bank accounts and blocked pension access to professional disqualification, tax pressure, lawsuits, and compliance systems that can turn Western institutions into unwitting enforcers of authoritarian political objectives.Sam Goodman is Senior Policy Director at the China Strategic Risks Institute and co-founder of the New Diplomacy Project, a Labour-focused foreign policy think tank. He was previously Policy and Advocacy Director at Hong Kong Watch, where his work focused on Hong Kong, UK-China policy, sanctions, the BN(O) community, and responses to the Hong Kong National Security Law. He is also the author of The Imperial Premiership: The Role of the Modern Prime Minister in Foreign Policymaking 1964–2015. His recent work at the China Strategic Risks Institute examines economic transnational repression and how the PRC and Hong Kong authorities can use financial pressure, bank accounts, pension access, professional qualifications, tax claims, and compliance systems to coerce dissidents abroad.The International Risk Podcast brings you conversations with global experts, frontline practitioners, and senior decision-makers who are shaping how we understand and respond to international risk. From geopolitical instability and organised crime to cybersecurity threats and hybrid warfare, each episode explores the forces transforming our world and what smart leaders must do to navigate them. Whether you're a board member, policymaker, or risk professional, The International Risk Podcast delivers actionable insights, sharp analysis, and real-world stories that matter.Dominic Bowen is the host of The International Risk Podcast and Europe's leading expert on international risk and crisis management. As Head of Strategic Advisory and Partner at one of Europe's leading risk management consulting firms, Dominic advises CEOs, boards, and senior executives across the continent on how to prepare for uncertainty and act with intent. He has spent decades working in war zones, advising multinational companies, and supporting Europe's business leaders. Dominic is the go-to business advisor for leaders navigating risk, crisis, and strategy; trusted for his clarity, calmness under pressure, and ability to turn volatility into competitive advantage. Dominic equips today's business leaders with the insight and confidence to lead through disruption and deliver sustained strategic advantage.Subscribe for all our updates! Tell us what you liked!

In this episode, we host Dr Giulia Gallo to explore hantavirus, the recent MV Hondius cruise ship outbreak, and why a rare but serious infectious disease can generate global headlines without necessarily becoming a pandemic-style threat. Drawing on her work in molecular virology, viral-host interactions and viral glycoproteins at The Pirbright Institute, Dr Gallo explains what hantaviruses are, why they are not new, how they are carried by rodents, and why different hantaviruses cause different disease patterns in different parts of the world.  We discuss the difference between Old World and New World hantaviruses, why Andes virus is unusual because of its capacity for limited human-to-human transmission, and what public-health officials mean when they describe that transmission as “limited”. Dr Gallo explains why hantavirus can be extremely severe for an infected individual while still presenting a low risk to the wider population, and why the difference between individual severity and population-level transmissibility is so important for public understanding. The conversation also examines the MV Hondius outbreak, including the possible land-based exposure in Argentina, the role of the cruise ship as a confined environment, and why enclosed spaces, close contact, limited airflow and international travel can make outbreak response more complex. Dr Gallo also takes us into the science of viral glycoproteins: the proteins on the outside of viral particles that help viruses enter host cells. She explains why viral entry matters, how it shapes infection, and why studying these mechanisms helps scientists understand how viruses move between animals and humans.Dr Giulia Gallo is a postdoctoral scientist in the Viral Glycoproteins Group at The Pirbright Institute. Her work sits at the intersection of molecular virology, viral-host interactions, viral entry, immune responses and zoonotic spillover. Her research has included work on orthohantaviruses and how viral proteins interact with human immune responses, making her especially well placed to explain hantavirus biology, viral transmission and the scientific uncertainty surrounding rare but serious infectious diseases. Her expert commentary on the hantavirus outbreak has featured on Sky News, BBC World News, Channel 4 News, Associated Press and other national and international media.The International Risk Podcast brings you conversations with global experts, frontline practitioners, and senior decision-makers who are shaping how we understand and respond to international risk. From geopolitical instability and organised crime to cybersecurity threats and hybrid warfare, each episode explores the forces transforming our world and what smart leaders must do to navigate them. Whether you're a board member, policymaker, or risk professional, The International Risk Podcast delivers actionable insights, sharp analysis, and real-world stories that matter.Dominic Bowen is the host of The International Risk Podcast and Europe's leading expert on international risk and crisis management. As Head of Strategic Advisory and Partner at one of Europe's leading risk management consulting firms, Dominic advises CEOs, boards, and senior executives across the continent on how to prepare for uncertainty and act with intent. He has spent decades working in war zones, advising multinational companies, and supporting Europe's business leaders. Dominic is the go-to business advisor for leaders navigating risk, crisis, and strategy; trusted for his clarity, calmness under pressure, and ability to turn volatility into competitive advantage. Dominic equips today's business leaders with the insight and confidence to lead through disruption and deliver sustained strategic advantage.Subscribe for all our updates! Tell us what you liked!

Episode 146: This week, Kyle Van Pelt talks with Vib Arya and Sean Meighan of Envestnet. As Head of Strategic Relationship Management, Vib is a seasoned wealth and investment management leader with more than 25 years of experience driving innovation and efficiency across RIA, institutional, wirehouse, and fintech channels. As Head of RIA Distribution, Sean has spent his career helping advisory firms navigate growth, technology adoption, and operational strategy within the evolving RIA landscape. Vib and Sean talk with Kyle about how modern RIAs can scale fast. They explore how technology has evolved from a support function into a true growth multiplier, powering efficiency, enabling personalization at scale, and helping firms navigate complexity. They also discuss the ongoing battle against tech sprawl and how Unified Managed Accounts (UMAs) act less like a product and more like an automated trading chassis capable of handling everything from high-net-worth personalization to account efficiency.  In this episode: (00:00) - Intro (01:11) - How technology fits into the RIA growth equation  (02:34) - Designing the ideal advisor workflow (04:00) - What shaped Sean's and Vib's technology philosophy (08:49) - Diagnosing tech stacks and aligning them with firm strategy  (13:00) - The hidden cost of tech sprawl  (18:01) - How UMAs are evolving for modern RIAs  (24:29) - Separating AI hype from practical application in wealth management  (31:49) - Vib's and Sean's Milemarker Minute Key Takeaways The best tech decisions begin with a clear vision of the client and advisor experience. Workflow clarity should dictate your tech stack, not the other way around. Don't let tech sprawl slow you down. Chasing best-in-class tools can create fragmented systems that are hard to manage. At some point, simplicity and integration become a competitive advantage. UMAs are evolving into a flexible growth engine. What used to be a high-net-worth solution is now becoming a scalable infrastructure for firms of all sizes, handling everything from simple ETF models to complex multi-manager portfolios.  Ground AI in workflow and data basics. With AI moving at a rapid pace, firms seeing the most meaningful AI opportunities are the ones that already have clean data, intentional systems, and clearly defined processes. Quotes "RIA growth is going to be driven by scale, consistency, and risk control. But you can't do that without technology." ~ Sean Meighan "The UMA is a tech chassis that can solve a myriad of problems an RIA faces today." ~ Sean Meighan "There's an opportunity for Envestnet to provide RIAs and advisors with as much complexity, personalization, and sophistication as they would like, and as simple a form as possible, with one account having multiple strategies and multiple sleeves." ~ Vib Arya "As client demands become more sophisticated and complex, the UMA is a perfect ecosystem to provide all of that, and we're proud to offer it." ~ Vib Arya Links  Vibhaw Arya on LinkedIn Sean Meighan on LinkedIn Envestnet  Shufro Rose Tamarac | Envestnet Good to Great The Game Connect with our hosts Milemarker.co Kyle on LinkedIn Jud on LinkedIn Subscribe and stay in touch Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube The information, analysis and opinions expressed herein are for informational purposes only and do not necessarily reflect the views of Envestnet. These views reflect the judgement of the author as of the date of writing and are subject to change at any time without notice. Nothing contained in this piece is intended to constitute legal, tax, accounting, securities, or investment advice, nor an opinion regarding the appropriateness of any investment, nor a solicitation of any type. Intended for investment professionals only. Past performance is not indicative of future results. 

Libby Bahat returns to The Vertical Space. Last time we talked to him about building an airspace for drones in peacetime. This time he's the regulator who decides whether a 777 full of people lands in a country under missile fire. As Head of the Aerial Infrastructure Department at the Israel Civil Aviation Authority, Libby is one of a small number of people anywhere who has had to build a quantitative framework, debris models, interception zones, penetration probabilities, that lets a civil aviation authority make its own war risk call. Most regulators don't have to do this. Israel does, and Libby is the guy.We spent most of the conversation not on the war but on the judgment underneath it: where the numbers actually come from, how wide the error bars really are, the levers a CAA actually controls, the friendly-fire failure mode etc. Libby was honest about what he wishes he had ("I wish I had a criteria, like an engineer, very specific numbers") and about what he doesn't get to have. It's a rare look at how a serious regulator reasons when the only data point that would prove him wrong is the one he's organized his entire career to never see.

The Gulf is entering a period of profound geopolitical and economic uncertainty. As tensions around the Strait of Hormuz continue and global energy markets face mounting pressure, the United Arab Emirates has taken the extraordinary decision to leave OPEC, raising major questions about the future of energy coordination, regional alliances, and global economic stability.Today on The International Risk Podcast, we are joined by Dr Dania Thafer, one of the leading analysts of Gulf politics, energy security, and regional geopolitics. Dr Thafer is the Executive Director of the Gulf International Forum and an expert on Gulf security, political economy, and US Gulf relations.In this episode, we explore why the UAE chose to leave OPEC, how the conflict with Iran is reshaping Gulf strategy, the growing vulnerability of global chokepoints, the future of fossil fuel markets in an era of technological transformation, and what rising instability in the Gulf could mean for international trade, energy security, and the global economy.The International Risk Podcast brings you conversations with global experts, frontline practitioners, and senior decision-makers who are shaping how we understand and respond to international risk. From geopolitical volatility and organised crime, to cybersecurity threats and hybrid warfare, each episode explores the forces transforming our world and what smart leaders must do to navigate them. Whether you're a board member, policymaker, or risk professional, The International Risk Podcast delivers actionable insights, sharp analysis, and real-world stories that matter.Dominic Bowen is the host of The International Risk Podcast and Europe's leading expert on international risk and crisis management. As Head of Strategic Advisory and Partner at one of Europe's leading risk management consulting firms, Dominic advises CEOs, boards, and senior executives across the continent on how to prepare for uncertainty and act with intent. He has spent decades working in war zones, advising multinational companies, and supporting Europe's business leaders. Tell us what you liked!

In this episode we explore the lasting impact of landmines. Across Ukraine, Syria, Myanmar, Afghanistan, and dozens of other conflict-affected countries, landmines and unexploded ordnance continue to kill, injure, and displace civilians long after wars have ended. Fields cannot be farmed, schools cannot reopen, refugees cannot safely return home, and communities remain trapped by the hidden legacy of conflict beneath their feet.This is not only a humanitarian issue. Landmine contamination affects food security, economic recovery, infrastructure development, migration, investment, political stability, and long-term human security. From Ukraine's agricultural heartlands to villages in Myanmar and post-conflict communities in Syria, explosive remnants of war continue to shape how people live, travel, rebuild, and recover.Today on The International Risk Podcast, we are joined by The HALO Trust Director of Strategy James Denselow. With more than two decades of experience working across conflict and post-conflict environments, including Syria and Lebanon, James has also held roles at Chatham House, Crisis Action, and Save the Children.The International Risk Podcast brings you conversations with global experts, frontline practitioners, and senior decision-makers who are shaping how we understand and respond to international risk. From geopolitical volatility and organised crime, to cybersecurity threats and hybrid warfare, each episode explores the forces transforming our world and what smart leaders must do to navigate them. Whether you're a board member, policymaker, or risk professional, The International Risk Podcast delivers actionable insights, sharp analysis, and real-world stories that matter.Dominic Bowen is the host of The International Risk Podcast and Europe's leading expert on international risk and crisis management. As Head of Strategic Advisory and Partner at one of Europe's leading risk management consulting firms, Dominic advises CEOs, boards, and senior executives across the continent on how to prepare for uncertainty and act with intent. He has spent decades working in war zones, advising multinational companies, and supporting Europe's business leaders. Tell us what you liked!Tell us what you liked!

Across Ukraine, Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, and now the Gulf, water systems are no longer just collateral damage. They are becoming targets and tools of coercion. Dams, desalination plants, pumping stations, rivers, reservoirs, and electricity grids are being pulled into the battlespace, with civilians paying the highest price.This matters far beyond the battlefield. When water infrastructure is attacked, the consequences ripple through food security, energy production, public health, migration, fertiliser markets, political stability, and the legitimacy of states themselves. In a world already shaped by climate stress, fragile governance and geopolitical escalation, attacks on water and our access to water are becoming yet another significant international risk.Today on The International Risk Podcast, we are joined by Dr Marcus King, Professor of the Practice in Environment and International Affairs at Georgetown University's Walsh School of Foreign Service, Vice Chair of the Council on Strategic Risks, and one of the world's leading experts on water weaponisation. Dr King is the author of Weaponizing Water: Water Stress and Islamist Extremist Violence in Africa and the Middle East, and his work has helped define how states and non-state actors use water as a weapon, a bargaining chip, and a tool of control.The International Risk Podcast brings you conversations with global experts, frontline practitioners, and senior decision-makers who are shaping how we understand and respond to international risk. From geopolitical volatility and organised crime, to cybersecurity threats and hybrid warfare, each episode explores the forces transforming our world and what smart leaders must do to navigate them. Whether you're a board member, policymaker, or risk professional, The International Risk Podcast delivers actionable insights, sharp analysis, and real-world stories that matter.Dominic Bowen is the host of The International Risk Podcast and Europe's leading expert on international risk and crisis management. As Head of Strategic Advisory and Partner at one of Europe's leading risk management consulting firms, Dominic advises CEOs, boards, and senior executives across the continent on how to prepare for uncertainty and act with intent. He has spent decades working in war zones, advising multinational companies, and supporting Europe's business leaders. This episode was produced by Anna KummelstedtTell us what you liked!

Your favorite museum might be built on stolen goods. Nicole Dowd works inside the Smithsonian,  and she's not here to defend it. Saadia Khan sits down with Nicole to break it all down.  As Head of Public Programs at the National Museum of Asian Art, she's sitting with the uncomfortable truth: Western museums have a colonial problem, and a fresh coat of "inclusivity" paint won't fix it. We get into repatriation, who really has access to art, the model minority myth, and what it means to be Korean, adopted, and suddenly surrounded by Korean treasures every day at work. This is the museum conversation nobody wants to have and exactly why we're having it. Link to NMAA website: https://asia.si.edu/ Link to IlluminAsia 2026 programming: https://asia.si.edu/whats-on/events/event-series/illuminasia-arts-and-culture-festival/ NMAA IG: @natasianart| post about IlluminAsia NMAA FB: https://www.facebook.com/NatAsianArt | post about IlluminAsia Join us in creating new intellectual engagement for our audience. You can find more information at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://immigrantlypod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Please share the love and leave us a review on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠to help more people find us!  You can connect with Saadia on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠IG ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@itssaadiak⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Helena is on IG ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email:saadia@immigrantlypod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Host & Producer: Saadia Khan I Content Writer: Saadia Khan I Editorial review: Shei Yu I Sound Designer & Editor: Lou Raskin I Immigrantly Theme Music: Simon Hutchinson | Other Music: Epidemic Sound Immigrantly Podcast is an Immigrantly Media Production. For advertising inquiries, contact us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠info@immigrantlypod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ BOYOT (Belong On Your Own Terms) is the next step. It's our new app, designed to help you think through identity, culture, ambition, relationships, and the stories we carry — with guided reflections, prompts, and frameworks developed over years of conversations on this show. It's thoughtful. It's challenging. And honestly, it's the kind of space many of us wish existed earlier in our lives. If you're ready to go deeper than the podcast, subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BOYOT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and start the journey. Don't forget to subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Immigrantly Uninterrupted⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for insightful podcasts. Follow us on social media for updates and behind-the-scenes content. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chris Stark is Head of UK's Mission for Clean Power, As Head of Mission Control at DESNZ, no one sees the constraint costs, grid bottlenecks and reform of National Pricing trade-offs more clearly. The UK is building a clean power system at a pace not seen since the 1960s, connecting record volumes of wind and solar while transmission, storage and gas all reshape around them. Constraint costs have hit £1.7 billion, gas is being squeezed off the system, and the government has just rewritten the rules of the wholesale market.Chris joins Ed Porter to break down what Mission Control is actually delivering, where flexibility and storage fit into the 2030 plan, and what Reformed National Pricing means for investors, generators and consumers.They cover:Why building UK transmission lines takes 8-10 years — and why bringing two projects forward by a year is worth £4bn to consumers.Why the UK chose to build the grid and the generation simultaneously, and the risks that creates.Why the strategic spatial energy plan is the biggest energy decision coming in the next 12 months and how it sets up a "build it once" network for the future.The reform of National Pricing decision, what the wholesale CfD means in practice and how electricity is being de-linked from gas.Why flexibility is the "forgotten third child" of the energy transition and how dunkelflaute, long-duration storage and household batteries fit into the 2030s system.Chris's contrarian take on carbon pricing - why he thinks the Treasury's decision to remove the Carbon Price Support from gas signals carbon pricing is "coming down the list of things that matters.”Want to model how Clean Power 2030, REMA and the wholesale CFD reshape GB power prices? Ko, Modo Energy's AI analyst, is built for exactly these questions. Free sign up: https://modoenergy.com/sign-up?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=youtube&utm_campaign=chris_stark&utm_content=ko_signup────────────────────────────⏱ CHAPTERS00:00 - Introduction01:09 - What everyone gets wrong about Mission Control03:00 - Constraint costs as a UK grid health metric04:30 - Why the £7 billion constraint cost forecast may not land09:18 - The biggest UK transmission build since the 1960s10:36 - Sea Link, Norwich to Tilbury and the £4 billion question15:29 - Building a UK grid ready to double electricity demand by 205017:59 - From centralised transmission to flexible, dynamic networks21:16 - Reform of National Pricing: why the UK said no to zonal28:48 - Wholesale CfDs and decoupling UK power from gas prices37:13 - Flexibility, batteries and the forgotten third pillar42:16 - Markets versus state intervention in UK energy47:28 - Long duration energy storage and the battery technology race49:35 - Managing the UK gas fleet down to 5% by 203053:21 - Chris's contrarian view: the end of carbon pricing?55:42 - Closing thoughtsYou can watch or listen to new episodes every Tuesday. Transmission is a Modo Energy production. Your host is Ed Porter - Director EMEA & APAC at Modo Energy.

Chris Stark is leading the UK's Clean Power 2030 mission. As Head of Mission Control at DESNZ, no one sees the constraint costs, grid bottlenecks and reform of National Pricing trade-offs more clearly. The UK is building a clean power system at a pace not seen since the 1960s, connecting record volumes of wind and solar while transmission, storage and gas all reshape around them. Constraint costs have hit £1.7 billion, gas is being squeezed off the system, and the government has just rewritten the rules of the wholesale market.Chris joins Ed Porter to break down what Mission Control is actually delivering, where flexibility and storage fit into the 2030 plan, and what Reformed National Pricing means for investors, generators and consumers.They cover:Why building UK transmission lines takes 8-10 years — and why bringing two projects forward by a year is worth £4bn to consumers.Why the UK chose to build the grid and the generation simultaneously, and the risks that creates.Why the strategic spatial energy plan is the biggest energy decision coming in the next 12 months and how it sets up a "build it once" network for the future.The reform of National Pricing decision, what the wholesale CfD means in practice and how electricity is being de-linked from gas.Why flexibility is the "forgotten third child" of the energy transition and how dunkelflaute, long-duration storage and household batteries fit into the 2030s system.Chris's contrarian take on carbon pricing - why he thinks the Treasury's decision to remove the Carbon Price Support from gas signals carbon pricing is "coming down the list of things that matters.”Want to model how Clean Power 2030, REMA and the wholesale CFD reshape GB power prices? Ko, Modo Energy's AI analyst, is built for exactly these questions. Free sign up: https://modoenergy.com/sign-up?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=youtube&utm_campaign=chris_stark&utm_content=ko_signup────────────────────────────⏱ CHAPTERS00:00 - Introduction01:09 - What everyone gets wrong about Mission Control03:00 - Constraint costs as a UK grid health metric04:30 - Why the £7 billion constraint cost forecast may not land09:18 - The biggest UK transmission build since the 1960s10:36 - Sea Link, Norwich to Tilbury and the £4 billion question15:29 - Building a UK grid ready to double electricity demand by 205017:59 - From centralised transmission to flexible, dynamic networks21:16 - Reform of National Pricing: why the UK said no to zonal28:48 - Wholesale CfDs and decoupling UK power from gas prices37:13 - Flexibility, batteries and the forgotten third pillar42:16 - Markets versus state intervention in UK energy47:28 - Long duration energy storage and the battery technology race49:35 - Managing the UK gas fleet down to 5% by 203053:21 - Chris's contrarian view: the end of carbon pricing?55:42 - Closing thoughtsYou can watch or listen to new episodes every Tuesday. Transmission is a Modo Energy production. Your host is Ed Porter - Director EMEA & APAC at Modo Energy.

This episode with Michael Julian explores the growing realities of workplace violence, active threats, and organisational preparedness in an increasingly volatile security environment. The conversation examines why physical violence is becoming a more pressing concern for companies, schools, and public institutions, and how rising social instability, economic pressure, insider risks, and wider geopolitical tensions are reshaping workplace security planning.We discuss the behavioural and psychological pathways that often precede acts of violence, including changes in behaviour, emotional crisis, isolation, and escalating personal stress. The episode also explores why many organisations remain underprepared for physical threats despite investing heavily in cyber resilience and crisis management, and why proactive training, situational awareness, and psychological preparedness are becoming increasingly important components of organisational resilience.Michael explains the logic behind his A.L.I.V.E. framework for active shooter survival training, which focuses on assessment, decision-making under stress, and practical responses during violent incidents. The discussion also considers how emerging pressures, including social polarisation and AI-driven economic disruption, could intensify future workplace tensions and security risks, and why organisations can no longer afford to treat violence preparedness as optional.Michael Julian is a security professional, workplace violence prevention specialist, and creator of the A.L.I.V.E. Active Shooter Survival Training programme. He has spent decades training organisations, schools, and institutions on crisis response, situational awareness, and active threat preparedness, with a focus on the psychological realities of survival during violent incidents.The International Risk Podcast brings you conversations with global experts, frontline practitioners, and senior decision-makers who are shaping how we understand and respond to international risk. From geopolitical instability and organised crime to cybersecurity threats and hybrid warfare, each episode explores the forces transforming our world and what smart leaders must do to navigate them. Whether you're a board member, policymaker, or risk professional, The International Risk Podcast delivers actionable insights, sharp analysis, and real-world stories that matter.Dominic Bowen is the host of The International Risk Podcast and Europe's leading expert on international risk and crisis management. As Head of Strategic Advisory and Partner at one of Europe's leading risk management consulting firms, Dominic advises CEOs, boards, and senior executives across the continent on how to prepare for uncertainty and act with intent. He has spent decades working in war zones, advising multinational companies, and supporting Europe's business leaders. Dominic is the go-to business advisor for leaders navigating risk, crisis, and strategy; trusted for his clarity, calmness under pressure, and ability to turn volatility into competitive advantage. Dominic equips today's business leaders with the insight and confidence to lead through disruption and deliver sustained strategic advantage.Subscribe for all our updates!Tell us what you liked!

This episode hosts John Goedschalk to examine the relationship between environmental sustainability, economic development, and long-term climate resilience in the Amazon rainforest and the Guiana Shield. The conversation explores why the forests of Suriname are disproportionately important to global climate stability, regional rainfall systems, and food production across South America. Drawing on the science behind the “Flying Rivers” system, the discussion explains how rainforest evapotranspiration helps generate and transport moisture across the continent, and why large-scale deforestation could trigger ecosystem collapse, water scarcity, and agricultural disruption far beyond the Amazon itself. The episode also examines the environmental and socioeconomic risks associated with deforestation, illegal gold mining, agricultural expansion, and weak land governance, particularly in regions where communities face poverty, limited education, and few economic alternatives.The episode further explores the intersection of environmental governance, state capacity, and international economic incentives. We discuss how weak institutions, limited enforcement capacity, and poor land-use planning contribute to illegal mining, mercury contamination, and long-term ecological degradation in rainforest regions. The conversation also examines the role of international demand for commodities such as gold, timber, and agricultural products, alongside broader debates within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change around carbon markets, sequestration, and compensation for maintaining standing forests. A central theme throughout the episode is the argument that the perceived trade-off between economic growth and environmental preservation is often false, particularly when sustainable industries, indigenous stewardship, regenerative sourcing, and nature-based economic models are properly supported. The discussion also highlights the role of indigenous and tribal communities in protecting the Amazon rainforest, the pressures these communities face, and the geopolitical and economic dynamics shaping the future of one of the world's most critical ecological systems.John Goedschalk is a climate economist, sustainability advocate, and former climate negotiator for Suriname. He previously served as Executive Director of Conservation International Suriname and currently advises on climate and biodiversity finance. His work focuses on sustainable economic development, rainforest conservation, carbon finance, and creating commercial models that support standing forests and indigenous communities while reducing pressure from extractive industries.The International Risk Podcast brings you conversations with global experts, frontline practitioners, and senior decision-makers who are shaping how we understand and respond to international risk. From geopolitical instability and organised crime to cybersecurity threats and hybrid warfare, each episode explores the forces transforming our world and what smart leaders must do to navigate them. Whether you're a board member, policymaker, or risk professional, The International Risk Podcast delivers actionable insights, sharp analysis, and real-world stories that matter.Dominic Bowen is the host of The International Risk Podcast and Europe's leading expert on international risk and crisis management. As Head of Strategic Advisory and Partner at one of Europe's leading risk management consulting firms, Dominic advises CEOs, boards, and senior executives across the continent on how to prepare for uncertainty and act with intent. He has spent decades working in war zones, advising multinational companies, and supporting Europe's business leaders. Dominic is the go-to business advisor for leaders navigating risk, Tell us what you liked!

This episode with Jake Clapham explores the growing fragility of the international order, examining how institutional collapse, strategic miscalculation, and great power rivalry can transform regional crises into global conflicts. Drawing on the history of Imperial Japan, the Second World War, and contemporary flashpoints including Ukraine, Taiwan, and the Strait of Hormuz, the conversation considers whether the world is entering a new era of prolonged geopolitical instability.We discuss how Japan's expansion into China and the attack on Pearl Harbor reflected not strategic confidence but strategic desperation, and why understanding the internal logic, culture, and decision-making structures of rival powers remains essential to avoiding catastrophic miscalculation today. The episode traces the historical links between conflicts in Europe and Asia during the 1930s, exploring how aggression in Manchuria weakened international norms and helped create the conditions for wider global war.The conversation also examines the contemporary erosion of trust in democratic and international institutions, the rise of political polarisation within liberal societies, and the growing risks posed by declining confidence in alliances such as NATO. We consider how domestic politics increasingly shape foreign policy, why economic interdependence does not necessarily prevent conflict, and how instability in regions such as the Middle East could accelerate wider confrontation in East Asia.Jake is a History Youtuber who focuses on the intersection between the past and present - most recently shooting a documentary in Japan about the causes and consequences of ww2.The International Risk Podcast brings you conversations with global experts, frontline practitioners, and senior decision-makers who are shaping how we understand and respond to international risk. From geopolitical instability and organised crime to cybersecurity threats and hybrid warfare, each episode explores the forces transforming our world and what smart leaders must do to navigate them. Whether you're a board member, policymaker, or risk professional, The International Risk Podcast delivers actionable insights, sharp analysis, and real-world stories that matter.Dominic Bowen is the host of The International Risk Podcast and Europe's leading expert on international risk and crisis management. As Head of Strategic Advisory and Partner at one of Europe's leading risk management consulting firms, Dominic advises CEOs, boards, and senior executives across the continent on how to prepare for uncertainty and act with intent. He has spent decades working in war zones, advising multinational companies, and supporting Europe's business leaders. Dominic is the go-to business advisor for leaders navigating risk, crisis, and strategy; trusted for his clarity, calmness under pressure, and ability to turn volatility into competitive advantage. Dominic equips today's business leaders with the insight and confidence to lead through disruption and deliver sustained strategic advantage.Tell us what you liked!

This episode with Zsuzsanna Szelényi explores Hungary's dramatic political transformation following the end of Viktor Orbán's 16-year rule, examining how an entrenched illiberal system was dismantled through democratic means and what this reveals about the resilience of liberal democracy in Europe. The conversation traces the structural factors that converged to break Orbán's grip on power—including economic mismanagement, systemic corruption, generational shift, and Hungary's confrontational stance towards the European Union and Ukraine. We discuss how Orbán methodically constructed an illiberal state by capturing institutions, centralising media, and leveraging constitutional power whilst maintaining democratic appearances, and why the process of unwinding this system presents both extraordinary opportunities and significant dangers for Hungary's new government. The episode also considers how Hungary's experience challenges prevailing assumptions about the inevitability of illiberal forces in Europe, what the transition means for Hungary's relationship with Russia and the European Union, and why the new government's ability to exercise restraint despite holding a constitutional majority will shape democratic governance far beyond Hungary's borders.Zsuzsanna Szelényi is a foreign policy specialist, former member of the Hungarian Parliament, and Programme Director at the CEU Democracy Institute. She was an early member of Fidesz party in the 1990s and later returned to Hungarian politics from 2012 to 2018 as part of the opposition. She is the author of Tainted Democracy, which examines Hungary's transformation over three decades and the erosion of democratic norms under Orbán's rule.The International Risk Podcast brings you conversations with global experts, frontline practitioners, and senior decision-makers who are shaping how we understand and respond to international risk. From geopolitical instability and organised crime to cybersecurity threats and hybrid warfare, each episode explores the forces transforming our world and what smart leaders must do to navigate them. Whether you're a board member, policymaker, or risk professional, The International Risk Podcast delivers actionable insights, sharp analysis, and real-world stories that matter.Dominic Bowen is the host of The International Risk Podcast and Europe's leading expert on international risk and crisis management. As Head of Strategic Advisory and Partner at one of Europe's leading risk management consulting firms, Dominic advises CEOs, boards, and senior executives across the continent on how to prepare for uncertainty and act with intent. He has spent decades working in war zones, advising multinational companies, and supporting Europe's business leaders. Dominic is the go-to business advisor for leaders navigating risk, crisis, and strategy; trusted for his clarity, calmness under pressure, and ability to turn volatility into competitive advantage. Dominic equips today's business leaders with the insight and confidence to lead through disruption and deliver sustained strategic advantage.Subscribe for all our updates!Tell us what you liked!

This episode hosts Doug Weir from the Conflict and Environment Observatory to examine the environmental consequences of modern warfare and the wider ecological risks created by armed conflict. The conversation explores how conflict generates complex forms of pollution, from toxic air emissions and oil fires to groundwater contamination and long-term ecological damage, often with impacts that persist decades after the fighting ends. Drawing on recent conflicts including Ukraine and developments across the Middle East, we discuss how environmental harm in conflict is assessed in practice, including the different pollution risks associated with military sites, energy facilities, industrial infrastructure, and damaged landscapes, and why these impacts remain underreported in both policy and media narratives.The episode also examines the broader environmental dimensions of warfare, distinguishing between direct damage, such as bombed landscapes, spills, fires, and soil contamination, and indirect impacts, including weakened environmental governance, deforestation, disrupted resource systems, and growing pressures on water and energy infrastructure. Drawing on lessons from Ukraine, where researchers have begun mapping the emissions footprint of conflict, the discussion highlights how the carbon cost of war is only one part of a much wider environmental picture. A central theme throughout the episode is the gap between the immediate visibility of conflict, through destruction and casualties, and the slower, less visible environmental consequences that unfold over years or decades. We also explore the challenges of accountability, the lack of transparency around military emissions, and how geopolitical instability can undermine global environmental cooperation and climate governance.Doug Weir is a leading expert on the environmental dimensions of armed conflict and works with the Conflict and Environment Observatory, where he focuses on monitoring and addressing conflict-related environmental harm. His work examines issues including conflict pollution, military emissions, and the long-term environmental impacts of warfare, contributing to international efforts to improve data, accountability, and policy responses in this area.The International Risk Podcast brings you conversations with global experts, frontline practitioners, and senior decision-makers who are shaping how we understand and respond to international risk. From geopolitical instability and organised crime to cybersecurity threats and hybrid warfare, each episode explores the forces transforming our world and what smart leaders must do to navigate them. Whether you're a board member, policymaker, or risk professional, The International Risk Podcast delivers actionable insights, sharp analysis, and real-world stories that matter.Dominic Bowen is the host of The International Risk Podcast and Europe's leading expert on international risk and crisis management. As Head of Strategic Advisory and Partner at one of Europe's leading risk management consulting firms, Dominic advises CEOs, boards, and senior executives across the continent on how to prepare for uncertainty and act with intent. He has spent decades working in war zones, advising multinational companies, and supporting Europe's business leaders. Dominic is the go-to business advisor for leaders navigating risk, crisis, and strategy; trusted for his clarity, calmness under pressure, and ability to turn volatility into comTell us what you liked!

In this episode, we host Edmund Fitton-Brown to explore how Iran projects power beyond its borders through proxies, criminal networks, intelligence services, and deniable operations. Drawing on his experience as a former British Ambassador to Yemen and former senior United Nations expert on ISIS, al-Qaeda and the Taliban, Edmund explains why Iran's external operations cannot be understood simply through the language of “sleeper cells” or conventional state espionage.We discuss why Iran's threat model is increasingly hybrid, asymmetric, and difficult to categorise. From the Houthis' role in the Red Sea and Hezbollah's weakened but still significant position in Lebanon, to alleged Iranian-backed plots in the UK, the use of organised criminals, the evolving relationship between Iran and al-Qaeda, and the wider breakdown of international counterterrorism cooperation after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, this conversation offers a timely guide to how state-backed coercion, terrorism, proxy warfare, and organised crime now overlap.Edmund Fitton-Brown is a former British diplomat and counterterrorism specialist. He joined the UK Foreign Service in 1984 and served in several Middle Eastern and European postings, including as British Ambassador to Yemen from 2015 to 2017. He later joined the United Nations Security Council Sanctions Monitoring Team, becoming Coordinator in 2018 and leading work on sanctions and global threat assessment relating to ISIS, al-Qaeda and the Taliban until 2022. He is currently a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a Senior Advisor at the Counter Extremism Project, a RUSI Senior Associate Fellow, and co-host of the CounterPod podcast. His work focuses on Iran, terrorism, proxy warfare, Middle East security and the state-backed threats that blur the boundaries between intelligence activity, organised crime and political violence. The International Risk Podcast brings you conversations with global experts, frontline practitioners, and senior decision-makers who are shaping how we understand and respond to international risk. From geopolitical instability and organised crime to cybersecurity threats and hybrid warfare, each episode explores the forces transforming our world and what smart leaders must do to navigate them. Whether you're a board member, policymaker, or risk professional, The International Risk Podcast delivers actionable insights, sharp analysis, and real-world stories that matter.The International Risk Podcast is sponsored by Conducttr, a realistic crisis exercise platform. Conducttr offers crisis exercising software for corporates, consultants, humanitarian, and defence & security clients. Visit Conducttr to learn more.Dominic Bowen is the host of The International Risk Podcast and Europe's leading expert on international risk and crisis management. As Head of Strategic Advisory and Partner at one of Europe's leading risk management consulting firms, Dominic advises CEOs, boards, and senior executives across the continent on how to prepare for uncertainty and act with intent. He has spent decades working in war zones, advising multinational companies, and supporting Europe's business leaders. Dominic is the go-to business advisor for leaders navigating risk, crisis, and strategy; trusted for his clarity, calmness under pressure, and ability to turn volatility into competitive advantage. Dominic equips today's business leaders with the insight and confidence to lead through disruption and deliver sustained strategic advantage.Subscribe for all our updates! Tell us what Tell us what you liked!

Catherine Gu has always been at the center of the shift toward the decentralization of money, a transformation that was once theoretical but is now actively reshaping global financial markets through stablecoins and on-chain infrastructure.Inspired in part by Hayek's vision of competing private forms of money, Catherine's work sits at the intersection of that idea and its real-world implementation. As Head of Product for Digital Assets at the Solana Foundation, she is helping build what is increasingly viewed as the internet capital market, where speed, scale, and global access redefine how value moves. Before joining Solana, she was one of the earliest members of Visa's crypto team, where she spent years bridging traditional finance and blockchain and leading the development of tokenized asset infrastructure designed for financial institutions.In this conversation, Ari and Catherine trace that journey and explore what it means for the future of financial markets. We discuss why Solana has emerged as a critical platform for stablecoin activity, what it means to embed compliance and trust into infrastructure from the outset, and how performance, liquidity, and developer resilience are shaping the next phase of institutional adoption.This is no longer a debate about whether money will evolve. It is a conversation about how that evolution is being built in real time.

This episode hosts Dr Peter Solomon to examine the widening gap between our capacity to build transformative technologies and our ability to govern them, with a particular focus on the international risks that emerge when innovation outpaces regulation. The conversation explores how rapid technological advancement is reshaping the global risk landscape at unprecedented speed and scale, with artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, and emerging technologies creating governance vacuums that states and institutions are struggling to fill. We discuss how the risks of ungoverned technology are understood in practice, breaking it down across the domains of development, deployment, and geopolitical competition, and why these risks remain largely absent from mainstream policy and security frameworks.Peter R. Solomon, PhD is a Physicist, Entrepreneur, Educator, and Author with over 60 years of experience in scientific research, technology development, and science education. He is the Founder and Chairman of the Board of Advanced Fuel Research, a technology development firm in East Hartford, Connecticut, and CEO of TheBeamer, an educational media company.The International Risk Podcast brings you conversations with global experts, frontline practitioners, and senior decision-makers who are shaping how we understand and respond to international risk. From geopolitical instability and organised crime to cybersecurity threats and hybrid warfare, each episode explores the forces transforming our world and what smart leaders must do to navigate them. Whether you're a board member, policymaker, or risk professional, The International Risk Podcast delivers actionable insights, sharp analysis, and real-world stories that matter.The International Risk Podcast is sponsored by Conducttr, a realistic crisis exercise platform. Conducttr offers crisis exercising software for corporates, consultants, humanitarian, and defence & security clients. Visit Conducttr to learn more.Dominic Bowen is the host of The International Risk Podcast and Europe's leading expert on international risk and crisis management. As Head of Strategic Advisory and Partner at one of Europe's leading risk management consulting firms, Dominic advises CEOs, boards, and senior executives across the continent on how to prepare for uncertainty and act with intent. He has spent decades working in war zones, advising multinational companies, and supporting Europe's business leaders. Dominic is the go-to business advisor for leaders navigating risk, crisis, and strategy; trusted for his clarity, calmness under pressure, and ability to turn volatility into competitive advantage. Dominic equips today's business leaders with the insight and confidence to lead through disruption and deliver sustained strategic advantage.Subscribe for all our updates! Tell us what you liked!Tell us what you liked!

This episode hosts Benjamin Neimark and Frederick Otu-Larbi to examine the environmental and climate consequences of modern warfare, with a particular focus on the ongoing conflict involving Iran and its rapidly escalating global impact. The conversation explores how conflict is generating emissions at unprecedented speed and scale, with millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide released in just weeks through fuel consumption, munitions, and the destruction of infrastructure. We discuss how the climate impact of war is measured in practice, breaking it down into pre-conflict preparation, active combat operations, and post-conflict reconstruction, and why these emissions remain largely absent from mainstream policy and security analysis. The episode also considers the broader environmental implications of targeting energy infrastructure, including oil depots, refineries, and desalination plants, and how these attacks create complex spillovers such as air pollution, water contamination, and long-term ecological damage. A central theme is the disconnect between immediate, visible impacts of war, such as casualties and physical destruction, and the slower, less visible climate consequences that accumulate over time. We also explore how conflict reshapes global energy systems, drives supply chain disruption, and accelerates both fossil fuel dependence and, in some cases, the transition toward alternative energy sources. Benjamin Neimark is a Reader at the School of Business and Management whose research focuses on the political ecology of global supply chains, resource extraction, and the environmental impacts of militarisation and conflict. Frederick Otu-Larbi is a researcher at the University of Energy and Natural Resources in Ghana, specialising in the quantification of emissions linked to warfare and reconstruction.  The International Risk Podcast brings you conversations with global experts, frontline practitioners, and senior decision-makers who are shaping how we understand and respond to international risk. From geopolitical instability and organised crime to cybersecurity threats and hybrid warfare, each episode explores the forces transforming our world and what smart leaders must do to navigate them. Whether you're a board member, policymaker, or risk professional, The International Risk Podcast delivers actionable insights, sharp analysis, and real-world stories that matter.The International Risk Podcast is sponsored by Conducttr, a realistic crisis exercise platform. Conducttr offers crisis exercising software for corporates, consultants, humanitarian, and defence & security clients. Visit Conducttr to learn more.Dominic Bowen is the host of The International Risk Podcast and Europe's leading expert on international risk and crisis management. As Head of Strategic Advisory and Partner at one of Europe's leading risk management consulting firms, Dominic advises CEOs, boards, and senior executives across the continent on how to prepare for uncertainty and act with intent. He has spent decades working in war zones, advising multinational companies, and supporting Europe's business leaders. Dominic is the go-to business advisor for leaders navigating risk, crisis, and strategy; trusted for his clarity, calmness under pressure, and ability to turn volatility into competitive advantage. Dominic equips today's business leaders with the insight and confidence to lead through disruption and deliver sustained strategic advantage.Subscribe for all our updates! Tell us what you liked!

Business leaders are operating in a harsher, more expensive, and more politically volatile environment, where geopolitics is now showing up directly in fuel costs, inflation, supply chains, capital markets, alliance structures, and executive decision-making. I'm Dominic Bowen, host of The International Risk Podcast, where we unpack the issues shaping business, leadership, and global risk.Today, the operating environment for business is clear. The Iran conflict is pushing up oil and gas prices. The Strait of Hormuz is back at the centre of global trade risk. Eurozone inflation is reacting to energy costs. Questions are being raised about NATO cohesion and US alliance commitments. And the shockwaves are spreading well beyond energy into shipping, semiconductors, sovereign debt, industrial inputs, and broader business confidence.Our guest today is Jon-Paul Gabriele. He is the founder of Crisis City and brings more than 15 years of crisis management experience. Today, we are discussing the gap between having a crisis management plan and actually leading under pressure.The International Risk Podcast brings you conversations with global experts, frontline practitioners, and senior decision-makers who are shaping how we understand and respond to international risk. From geopolitical volatility and organised crime, to cybersecurity threats and hybrid warfare, each episode explores the forces transforming our world and what smart leaders must do to navigate them. Whether you're a board member, policymaker, or risk professional, The International Risk Podcast delivers actionable insights, sharp analysis, and real-world stories that matter.The International Risk Podcast is sponsored by Conducttr, a realistic crisis exercise platform. Conducttr offers crisis exercising software for corporates, consultants, humanitarian, and defence & security clients. Visit Conducttr to learn more.Dominic Bowen is the host of The International Risk Podcast and Europe's leading expert on international risk and crisis management. As Head of Strategic Advisory and Partner at one of Europe's leading risk management consulting firms, Dominic advises CEOs, boards, and senior executives across the continent on how to prepare for uncertainty and act with intent. He has spent decades working in war zones, advising multinational companies, and supporting Europe's business leaders. Tell us what you liked!

This episode with Professor Jamie Shea explores how contemporary conflict is no longer confined to the battlefield but unfolds across multiple interconnected domains, generating effects that extend far beyond the immediate theatre of operations. The conversation examines how the confrontation involving the United States, Israel, and Iran is producing systemic shockwaves across energy markets, supply chains, and geopolitical dynamics, reshaping how conflict is experienced globally. We discuss how modern warfare increasingly combines military action with economic pressure, cyber activity, and strategic disruption, and why these overlapping dynamics are creating wider and more enduring consequences than conventional conflict alone. The episode also considers how these ripple effects are unevenly distributed, affecting regions and actors far removed from the core of the conflict, and what this reveals about the changing structure of risk in an interconnected world.Professor Jamie Shea is a Professor at the College of Europe, Senior Fellow at Friends of Europe, and Senior Advisor at the European Policy Centre. He previously served in senior roles at NATO, including Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Emerging Security Challenges and Director of Policy Planning. With over four decades of experience in transatlantic security, his work focuses on strategic risk, defence policy, and the evolving nature of global conflict.This episode was recorded April 20 2026The International Risk Podcast brings you conversations with global experts, frontline practitioners, and senior decision-makers who are shaping how we understand and respond to international risk. From geopolitical instability and organised crime to cybersecurity threats and hybrid warfare, each episode explores the forces transforming our world and what smart leaders must do to navigate them. Whether you're a board member, policymaker, or risk professional, The International Risk Podcast delivers actionable insights, sharp analysis, and real-world stories that matter.The International Risk Podcast is sponsored by Conducttr, a realistic crisis exercise platform. Conducttr offers crisis exercising software for corporates, consultants, humanitarian, and defence & security clients. Visit Conducttr to learn more.Dominic Bowen is the host of The International Risk Podcast and Europe's leading expert on international risk and crisis management. As Head of Strategic Advisory and Partner at one of Europe's leading risk management consulting firms, Dominic advises CEOs, boards, and senior executives across the continent on how to prepare for uncertainty and act with intent. He has spent decades working in war zones, advising multinational companies, and supporting Europe's business leaders. Dominic is the go-to business advisor for leaders navigating risk, crisis, and strategy; trusted for his clarity, calmness under pressure, and ability to turn volatility into competitive advantage. Dominic equips today's business leaders with the insight and confidence to lead through disruption and deliver sustained strategic advantage.Subscribe for all our updates!Tell us what you liked!

In this episode, we host Dr Colin P. Clarke to explore how terrorism is evolving in an era of AI, organised crime, proxy warfare, and great power competition. Drawing on decades of work on terrorism, insurgency, illicit finance, and political violence, Dr Clarke explains why today's threat landscape is no longer defined solely by hierarchical jihadist organisations, but by decentralised networks, regional affiliates, lone actors, criminal ecosystems, and state-backed proxies. He also reflects on how groups such as ISIS, Hezbollah, Hamas, and far-right movements adapt to new technologies, exploit geopolitical crises, and sustain themselves through propaganda, illicit finance, and transnational support networks. We discuss why terrorism today is more fragmented, more hybrid, and harder to categorise than many older counterterrorism models suggest. From ISIS's evolution into a franchise-like movement and Hezbollah's diversified funding streams to AI-enabled propaganda, drones, virtual currencies, Russian hybrid warfare, Wagner, and the possibility of terrorism triggering wider interstate conflict, this conversation offers a timely guide to how political violence is mutating – and why policymakers must avoid treating terrorism, organised crime, and great power competition as separate problems.Dr Colin P. Clarke is the Executive Director of The Soufan Center and one of the leading analysts working at the intersection of terrorism, insurgency, organised crime, and geopolitics. He is the author of several books, including Terrorism, Inc. and After the Caliphate, and writes widely on terrorist financing, the crime-terror nexus, ISIS, Hezbollah, proxy warfare, and emerging security threats. His work has appeared in outlets including Foreign Policy and War on the Rocks, and he regularly contributes to public debate on terrorism, political violence, and international security.The International Risk Podcast brings you conversations with global experts, frontline practitioners, and senior decision-makers who are shaping how we understand and respond to international risk. From geopolitical instability and organised crime to cybersecurity threats and hybrid warfare, each episode explores the forces transforming our world and what smart leaders must do to navigate them. Whether you're a board member, policymaker, or risk professional, The International Risk Podcast delivers actionable insights, sharp analysis, and real-world stories that matter.The International Risk Podcast is sponsored by Conducttr, a realistic crisis exercise platform. Conducttr offers crisis exercising software for corporates, consultants, humanitarian, and defence & security clients. Visit Conducttr to learn more.Dominic Bowen is the host of The International Risk Podcast and Europe's leading expert on international risk and crisis management. As Head of Strategic Advisory and Partner at one of Europe's leading risk management consulting firms, Dominic advises CEOs, boards, and senior executives across the continent on how to prepare for uncertainty and act with intent. He has spent decades working in war zones, advising multinational companies, and supporting Europe's business leaders. Dominic is the go-to business advisor for leaders navigating risk, crisis, and strategy; trusted for his clarity, calmness under pressure, and ability to turn volatility into competitive advantage. Dominic equips today's business leaders with the insight and confidence to lead through disruption and deliver sustained strategic advantage.Subscribe for all our updates!Tell us what you liked!

Why does "having it all" feel so much harder than it sounds? In this episode, Rukiya Ross breaks down the real challenges working moms face balancing career, ambition, and motherhood. In this episode of Dreams In Drive, Rana Campbell sits down with operations executive, podcast host, and mom of two Rukiya Ross for an honest conversation about what it really looks like to pursue ambition while navigating motherhood. As Head of Operations at inquirED and co-host of Moms Who Pause, Rukiya helps women rethink how they approach career growth, childcare, and building a life that actually works. In this conversation, she shares how becoming a mother reshaped her relationship with ambition, success, and self-worth—and why so many working moms struggle silently with the pressure to "do it all." Together, Rana and Rukiya unpack the emotional and logistical realities of balancing motherhood and career, from managing the mental load and childcare decisions to navigating guilt, boundaries, and burnout. If you're a working mom trying to pursue your goals without losing yourself in the process, this episode will remind you that ambition doesn't disappear after motherhood—it just requires a new strategy. In This Episode, We Discuss: Why motherhood changes your relationship with ambition The emotional reality of balancing career and family How to make confident childcare decisions without guilt The invisible mental load working moms carry Why so many ambitious women struggle after becoming mothers How to redefine success for your current season of life The importance of building systems that support your family and career Navigating burnout, boundaries, and identity after kids How intentional pauses can help women make better life decisions Why "having it all" may require redefining what "all" means Key Takeaway Motherhood doesn't make you less ambitious. It forces you to become more intentional about where your ambition goes. FIND RUKIYA ON: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rukiyaross Instagram: http://www.instagram/momswhopause

This episode hosts Professor Anja Shortland, returning to the podcast following her previous appearance in 2021,  to examine how ransomware has evolved into a sophisticated and highly organised form of cybercrime, operating as a global market shaped by incentives, reputation, and weak governance. The conversation explores the scale of the threat, with billions in annual losses, and how attacks extend far beyond encryption to include data theft, business disruption, and systemic risk across both public and private sectors. We discuss how ransomware groups operate in practice, from initial access and reconnaissance to pricing ransoms based on a victim's ability to pay, as well as the rise of “double extortion” tactics that increase pressure even when organisations have strong backups. The episode also considers the broader ecosystem that sustains ransomware, including the blurred lines between criminal and state-linked actors, and the expanding role of insurers, negotiators, and cybersecurity specialists in managing incidents. A central theme is the tension between individual and collective responses: while paying ransoms may minimise immediate damage for victims, it reinforces the long-term viability of the model. Professor Anja Shortland is Professor of Political Economy at King's College London. Her research focuses on how criminal markets function in environments where formal governance is weak or absent, including piracy, kidnapping, art theft, and ransomware. She is the author of We Know You Can Pay a Million: Inside the Dark Economy of Hacking and Ransomware (published in North America as Dark Screens: Hackers and Heroes in the Shadowy World of Ransomware), where she examines the economic structures, incentives, and actors shaping the global cybercrime ecosystem. The International Risk Podcast brings you conversations with global experts, frontline practitioners, and senior decision-makers who are shaping how we understand and respond to international risk. From geopolitical instability and organised crime to cybersecurity threats and hybrid warfare, each episode explores the forces transforming our world and what smart leaders must do to navigate them. Whether you're a board member, policymaker, or risk professional, The International Risk Podcast delivers actionable insights, sharp analysis, and real-world stories that matter.The International Risk Podcast is sponsored by Conducttr, a realistic crisis exercise platform. Conducttr offers crisis exercising software for corporates, consultants, humanitarian, and defence & security clients. Visit Conducttr to learn more.Dominic Bowen is the host of The International Risk Podcast and Europe's leading expert on international risk and crisis management. As Head of Strategic Advisory and Partner at one of Europe's leading risk management consulting firms, Dominic advises CEOs, boards, and senior executives across the continent on how to prepare for uncertainty and act with intent. He has spent decades working in war zones, advising multinational companies, and supporting Europe's business leaders. Dominic is the go-to business advisor for leaders navigating risk, crisis, and strategy; trusted for his clarity, calmness under pressure, and ability to turn volatility into competitive advantage. Dominic equips today's business leaders with the insight and confidence to lead through disruption and deliver sustained strategic advantage.Tell us what you liked!

On this episode of Roqe, Iranian-British journalist and documentary filmmaker Bozorgmehr Sharafedin joins from Washington for a timely and revealing conversation on the state of Iran and the global conversation surrounding it. As Head of Digital News at Iran International and a former BBC editor and Reuters reporter, Sharafedin brings deep insight into how Iran is being understood - and misunderstood - right now. The discussion examines whether the Islamic Republic is actually gaining ground, what divisions inside the regime may or may not mean, and how much of what we are seeing on social media reflects reality versus propaganda. The conversation also explores the idea of a “war of perception” - and who is shaping the story of what Iranians want, both inside the country and across the diaspora. Jian Ghomeshi opens the episode with an essay titled “Stop Underestimating Iranians,” challenging the growing narrative that Iranians calling for outside intervention are naïve. The essay argues that Iranians understand global power dynamics better than most - and are making calculated assessments based on lived experience. Guest: Bozorgmehr Sharafedin (Washington, DC) Support the show: https://roqemedia.com This episode is brought to you with the support of: FAMLUXY - https://famluxy.com QUASAR HOMES - https://instagram.com/quasarhomes

This episode with Dr Florian Krampe explores how climate change is no longer a peripheral environmental issue but a central factor reshaping global security. The conversation examines how environmental shifts are already degrading critical military infrastructure, from Arctic early warning systems built on melting permafrost to changing ocean conditions that affect submarine detection and strategic stability. We discuss how these physical changes introduce new forms of uncertainty into deterrence, increase the risk of miscalculation, and challenge long-standing assumptions about how security systems function in practice. The episode also considers the growing gap between rising military expenditure and insufficient investment in climate resilience, and why integrating climate considerations into security frameworks is no longer optional but essential. Dr Florian Krampe is Director of Studies for Peace and Development at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), where he also leads the Climate Change and Risk Programme. His work focuses on the intersection of climate change, peace, and security, examining how environmental factors influence conflict dynamics, military operations, and global stability. He has contributed extensively to research on climate-related security risks, including the impacts of environmental change on infrastructure, governance, and strategic decision-making.The International Risk Podcast brings you conversations with global experts, frontline practitioners, and senior decision-makers who are shaping how we understand and respond to international risk. From geopolitical instability and organised crime to cybersecurity threats and hybrid warfare, each episode explores the forces transforming our world and what smart leaders must do to navigate them. Whether you're a board member, policymaker, or risk professional, The International Risk Podcast delivers actionable insights, sharp analysis, and real-world stories that matter.The International Risk Podcast is sponsored by Conducttr, a realistic crisis exercise platform. Conducttr offers crisis exercising software for corporates, consultants, humanitarian, and defence & security clients. Visit Conducttr to learn more.Dominic Bowen is the host of The International Risk Podcast and Europe's leading expert on international risk and crisis management. As Head of Strategic Advisory and Partner at one of Europe's leading risk management consulting firms, Dominic advises CEOs, boards, and senior executives across the continent on how to prepare for uncertainty and act with intent. He has spent decades working in war zones, advising multinational companies, and supporting Europe's business leaders. Dominic is the go-to business advisor for leaders navigating risk, crisis, and strategy; trusted for his clarity, calmness under pressure, and ability to turn volatility into competitive advantage. Dominic equips today's business leaders with the insight and confidence to lead through disruption and deliver sustained strategic advantage.Subscribe for all our updates!Tell us what you liked!

In this episode, we host Robert Siciliano to examine why the biggest vulnerability in cybersecurity is so often not the technology, but the people using it. Drawing on decades of work in fraud prevention, identity protection, and security awareness, Robert argues that most organisations still treat cyber risk as a compliance issue rather than a human one. He explains why trust, routine, distraction, and fatigue continue to make employees the easiest route into organisations, even as firms invest heavily in technical controls.We discuss why awareness alone does not change behaviour, why phishing simulations and annual training often fail, and why security needs to be taught as a decision-making discipline grounded in empathy and personal relevance. From the “human blind spot” and the “shame barrier” to password habits, two-factor authentication, business email compromise, and the idea of employees as a strategic human firewall, this conversation offers a practical guide to the human side of cyber risk.We also explore how artificial intelligence is accelerating old threats and enabling new ones. From voice cloning and deepfakes to highly personalised scams, pig butchering, and the exploitation of loneliness and emotional vulnerability, Robert explains how criminals are learning to bypass not only technical systems, but human psychology itself.Robert Siciliano is a security expert, private investigator, and public speaker. He is the CEO of Safr.Me and Head Trainer at Protect Now. His work focuses on fraud prevention, identity protection, personal security, and the human side of cyber risk. For more than three decades, he has helped organisations and individuals understand how deception works and how to become tougher targets in an increasingly complex threat environment.The International Risk Podcast brings you conversations with global experts, frontline practitioners, and senior decision-makers who are shaping how we understand and respond to international risk. From geopolitical instability and organised crime to cybersecurity threats and hybrid warfare, each episode explores the forces transforming our world and what smart leaders must do to navigate them. Whether you're a board member, policymaker, or risk professional, The International Risk Podcast delivers actionable insights, sharp analysis, and real-world stories that matter.The International Risk Podcast is sponsored by Conducttr, a realistic crisis exercise platform. Conducttr offers crisis exercising software for corporates, consultants, humanitarian, and defence & security clients. Visit Conducttr to learn more.Dominic Bowen is the host of The International Risk Podcast and Europe's leading expert on international risk and crisis management. As Head of Strategic Advisory and Partner at one of Europe's leading risk management consulting firms, Dominic advises CEOs, boards, and senior executives across the continent on how to prepare for uncertainty and act with intent. He has spent decades working in war zones, advising multinational companies, and supporting Europe's business leaders. Dominic is the go-to business advisor for leaders navigating risk, crisis, and strategy; trusted for his clarity, calmness under pressure, and ability to turn volatility into competitive advantage. Dominic equips today's business leaders with the insight and confidence to lead through disruption and deliver sustained strategic advantage.Subscribe for all our updates!Tell us what you liked!Tell us what you liked!

In this episode of The International Risk Podcast, Dominic Bowen speaks with Irvin Waller about the often-overlooked role of interpersonal violence as a driver of international risk. While violence is frequently treated as a domestic issue, this conversation explores how high levels of homicide and violent crime can shape economic performance, weaken governance, and contribute to broader regional instability, particularly across Latin America and the Caribbean.  The episode considers the wider implications of violence for economic development and governance. With crime and violence estimated to cost countries in Latin America between 3–4% of GDP annually, the discussion highlights how reducing violence can generate significant economic gains, improve investment environments, and strengthen institutional trust. The role of governments, international organisations, and the private sector in supporting prevention-based approaches is explored in depth. Irvin Waller is Professor Emeritus of Criminology at the University of Ottawa and a globally recognised expert on violence prevention and victims' rights. He is the author of Science and Secrets of Ending Violent Crime (2019), which outlines how countries can achieve significant reductions in violence through targeted and evidence-based strategies. The International Risk Podcast brings you conversations with global experts, frontline practitioners, and senior decision-makers who are shaping how we understand and respond to international risk. From geopolitical volatility and organised crime, to cybersecurity threats and hybrid warfare, each episode explores the forces transforming our world and what smart leaders must do to navigate them. Whether you're a board member, policymaker, or risk professional, The International Risk Podcast delivers actionable insights, sharp analysis, and real-world stories that matter.The International Risk Podcast is sponsored by Conducttr, a realistic crisis exercise platform. Conducttr offers crisis exercising software for corporates, consultants, humanitarian, and defence & security clients. Visit Conducttr to learn more.Dominic Bowen is the host of The International Risk Podcast and Europe's leading expert on international risk and crisis management. As Head of Strategic Advisory and Partner at one of Europe's leading risk management consulting firms, Dominic advises CEOs, boards, and senior executives across the continent on how to prepare for uncertainty and act with intent. He has spent decades working in war zones, advising multinational companies, and supporting Europe's business leaders. Dominic is the go-to business advisor for leaders navigating risk, crisis, and strategy; trusted for his clarity, calmness under pressure, and ability to turn volatility into competitive advantage. Dominic equips today's business leaders with the insight and confidence to lead through disruption and deliver sustained strategic advantage.The International Risk Podcast – Reducing risk by increasing knowledge.Follow us on LinkedIn and Subscribe for all our great updates!Tell us what you liked!

This episode with Thomas Barton, founder of the Council for Countering Online Disinformation (CCOD), explores the growing threat of online disinformation, examining how it has evolved from a political and media issue into a systemic risk for markets, institutions, and businesses. We discuss the often-overlooked domestic drivers of disinformation, how false narratives spread through financial systems to influence trading.We also consider how organisations continue to underestimate the scale of the threat, often reacting too late, and what this means for crisis preparedness at the executive level. The conversation looks at how CEOs and boards should treat information integrity as a core enterprise risk, as well as the potential for AI to counter disinformation and whether declining public trust can ultimately be restored.The International Risk Podcast brings you conversations with global experts, frontline practitioners, and senior decision-makers who are shaping how we understand and respond to international risk. From geopolitical volatility and organised crime, to cybersecurity threats and hybrid warfare, each episode explores the forces transforming our world and what smart leaders must do to navigate them. Whether you're a board member, policymaker, or risk professional, The International Risk Podcast delivers actionable insights, sharp analysis, and real-world stories that matter.The International Risk Podcast is sponsored by Conducttr, a realistic crisis exercise platform. Conducttr offers crisis exercising software for corporates, consultants, humanitarian, and defence & security clients. Visit Conducttr to learn more.Dominic Bowen is the host of The International Risk Podcast and Europe's leading expert on international risk and crisis management. As Head of Strategic Advisory and Partner at one of Europe's leading risk management consulting firms, Dominic advises CEOs, boards, and senior executives across the continent on how to prepare for uncertainty and act with intent. He has spent decades working in war zones, advising multinational companies, and supporting Europe's business leaders. Dominic is the go-to business advisor for leaders navigating risk, crisis, and strategy; trusted for his clarity, calmness under pressure, and ability to turn volatility into competitive advantage. Dominic equips today's business leaders with the insight and confidence to lead through disruption and deliver sustained strategic advantage.Tell us what you liked!

This episode with David Mora examines the evolving landscape of organised crime in Mexico, moving beyond narratives focused solely on drug trafficking to explore the broader systems of control, violence, and economic extraction that underpin cartel activity. We discuss how criminal groups have diversified across sectors, why strategies targeting cartel leaders have often led to fragmentation rather than stability, and how territorial control enables expansion into activities such as extortion and migrant smuggling.David Mora is the Mexico Senior Analyst at the International Crisis Group, where he researches organised crime, violence, corruption, and conflict dynamics. His work combines fieldwork, investigative reporting, and policy analysis to understand how criminal groups operate across different regions of Mexico. He has reported for Vice News, NBC News, ProPublica, and The Atlantic, covering issues including cartel dynamics, migration, and governance.The International Risk Podcast brings you conversations with global experts, frontline practitioners, and senior decision-makers who are shaping how we understand and respond to international risk. From geopolitical volatility and organised crime, to cybersecurity threats and hybrid warfare, each episode explores the forces transforming our world and what smart leaders must do to navigate them. Whether you're a board member, policymaker, or risk professional, The International Risk Podcast delivers actionable insights, sharp analysis, and real-world stories that matter.The International Risk Podcast is sponsored by Conducttr, a realistic crisis exercise platform. Conducttr offers crisis exercising software for corporates, consultants, humanitarian, and defence & security clients. Visit Conducttr to learn more.Dominic Bowen is the host of The International Risk Podcast and Europe's leading expert on international risk and crisis management. As Head of Strategic Advisory and Partner at one of Europe's leading risk management consulting firms, Dominic advises CEOs, boards, and senior executives across the continent on how to prepare for uncertainty and act with intent. He has spent decades working in war zones, advising multinational companies, and supporting Europe's business leaders. Dominic is the go-to business advisor for leaders navigating risk, crisis, and strategy; trusted for his clarity, calmness under pressure, and ability to turn volatility into competitive advantage. Dominic equips today's business leaders with the insight and confidence to lead through disruption and deliver sustained strategic advantage.Subscribe for all our updates!Tell us what you liked!

In this episode, we host Dr Stanislaw Domaniewski to explore life on Europe's eastern borders, focusing on Kaliningrad, the Polish-Russian frontier, and the politics of the European Union's external edge. Drawing on his work on cross-border cooperation, border mobility, and the lived experience of border communities, Dr Domaniewski explains why these regions matter far beyond lines on a map. They are places where trade, identity, security, and geopolitics meet, and where wider tensions between Russia and Europe are often felt first.We discuss how Kaliningrad moved from being a space of everyday exchange to one of growing isolation, and what that has meant for the people living on both sides of the border. From local trade and service economies to militarisation, amber smuggling, migration pressure via Belarus, and the hardening of borders across Finland and the Baltic region, this conversation offers a grounded look at how macro-level decisions shape ordinary lives. It also asks what borderlands can tell us about Europe's changing security landscape, and why the clearest signs of geopolitical change often appear at the periphery first.Dr Domaniewski is currently a Grant Writer at LUT University in Finland. His published work has examined the small border traffic zone between Poland and the Kaliningrad region, the role of border permeability in shaping local development, and, more recently, how residents of Kaliningrad have adapted to isolation and changing border conditions after Russia's war against Ukraine.The International Risk Podcast brings you conversations with global experts, frontline practitioners, and senior decision-makers who are shaping how we understand and respond to international risk. From geopolitical instability and organised crime to cybersecurity threats and hybrid warfare, each episode explores the forces transforming our world and what smart leaders must do to navigate them. Whether you're a board member, policymaker, or risk professional, The International Risk Podcast delivers actionable insights, sharp analysis, and real-world stories that matter.The International Risk Podcast is sponsored by Conducttr, a realistic crisis exercise platform. Conducttr offers crisis exercising software for corporates, consultants, humanitarian, and defence & security clients. Visit Conducttr to learn more.Dominic Bowen is the host of The International Risk Podcast and Europe's leading expert on international risk and crisis management. As Head of Strategic Advisory and Partner at one of Europe's leading risk management consulting firms, Dominic advises CEOs, boards, and senior executives across the continent on how to prepare for uncertainty and act with intent. He has spent decades working in war zones, advising multinational companies, and supporting Europe's business leaders. Dominic is the go-to business advisor for leaders navigating risk, crisis, and strategy; trusted for his clarity, calmness under pressure, and ability to turn volatility into competitive advantage. Dominic equips today's business leaders with the insight and confidence to lead through disruption and deliver sustained strategic advantage.Subscribe for all our updates!Tell us what you liked! Tell us what you liked!

Today on The International Risk Podcast, we turn to the accelerating transformation of the global economy through artificial intelligence. Firms are making aggressive bets on future demand, and mid-market companies are grappling with rising costs, limited visibility, and mounting pressure to prove ROI.To help us make sense of this, we're joined by Craig Unsworth, a portfolio Chief Product Officer and Non-Executive Director working at the intersection of private equity, AI, and product transformation. With over two decades of experience and more than 60 transactions across SaaS, data, and B2B services, Craig works closely with private equity firms and their portfolio companies to drive growth and deliver high-impact, product-led transformations.For more of Craig's work, check out his Substack: http://chieflyproduct.substack.com/The International Risk Podcast brings you conversations with global experts, frontline practitioners, and senior decision-makers who are shaping how we understand and respond to international risk. From geopolitical volatility and organised crime, to cybersecurity threats and hybrid warfare, each episode explores the forces transforming our world and what smart leaders must do to navigate them. Whether you're a board member, policymaker, or risk professional, The International Risk Podcast delivers actionable insights, sharp analysis, and real-world stories that matter.The International Risk Podcast is sponsored by Conducttr, a realistic crisis exercise platform. Conducttr offers crisis exercising software for corporates, consultants, humanitarian, and defence & security clients. Visit Conducttr to learn more.Dominic Bowen is the host of The International Risk Podcast and Europe's leading expert on international risk and crisis management. As Head of Strategic Advisory and Partner at one of Europe's leading risk management consulting firms, Dominic advises CEOs, boards, and senior executives across the continent on how to prepare for uncertainty and act with intent. He has spent decades working in war zones, advising multinational companies, and supporting Europe's business leaders. Tell us what you liked!

This CEO Is Revolutionizing Aviation Fuel With Waste & Other Cutting Edge MethodsGuest Chris Cooper, Chief Executive Officer XCF Global $SAFX Company XCF.GlobalAbout XCF GlobalXCF Global is one of the only publicly traded U.S. companies focused primarily on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), which can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80% compared to traditional jet fuel while remaining fully compatible with existing aircraft engines. We produce scalable, waste based SAF that is sourced entirely from domestic feedstocks. Our flagship Nevada facility has a permitted annual capacity of 38 million gallons, and we are actively developing additional U.S. sites along with a growing international platform. With modular, replicable infrastructure and secure feedstock access, we are building a SAF system designed for reliability, affordability, and energy security, especially important in today's volatile global fuel markets.NASDAQ Ticker = SAFX GuestChris Cooper, Chief Executive Officer Chris Cooper leverages more than 25 years of experience in the global energy industry. As President of Neste U.S. (North America), he oversaw regional leadership for renewable products, following his tenure as Vice President, Americas, Renewable Aviation. As Head of Renewables Trading at BGN, Chris led global trading activities for renewable fuels, including SAF, renewable diesel, and biogenic feedstocks. Earlier in his career, he spent nearly two decades at Phillips 66 and Chevron, holding a range of leadership roles in commercial strategy, downstream operations, and business development. A professional pilot, Chris brings a unique perspective on the aviation sector, combining operational depth with an international view of energy transition, renewable fuels, and infrastructure innovation.

Today on The International Risk Podcast, we turn to Lebanon, where Israel's invasion, the subsequent displacement of hundreds of thousands of civilians, and political fracture are colliding in ways that could reshape Lebanon for years. As the conflict on the Lebanese front deepens, the questions are no longer just about ceasefires or border tensions, but about forced displacement, civilian survival, psychological warfare, the future of Hezbollah, and whether Lebanon is being pushed toward a far more dangerous breaking point. To help us make sense of it, I'm joined by Paul Hefel-James, a Beirut-based freelance journalist who reports on migration, refugees, conflict, and the humanitarian crisis across the Middle East. His previous publications include explorations of labor migration in Lebanon, Syrian archives and reconstruction and the displacement crisis during the Israel-Hezbollah war. His work has appeared in DAWN's Democracy in Exile, New Internationalist and The Progressive. He is also the author of the Substack, Wayward Bound: https://waywardbound.substack.com/The International Risk Podcast brings you conversations with global experts, frontline practitioners, and senior decision-makers who are shaping how we understand and respond to international risk. From geopolitical volatility and organised crime, to cybersecurity threats and hybrid warfare, each episode explores the forces transforming our world and what smart leaders must do to navigate them. Whether you're a board member, policymaker, or risk professional, The International Risk Podcast delivers actionable insights, sharp analysis, and real-world stories that matter.The International Risk Podcast is sponsored by Conducttr, a realistic crisis exercise platform. Conducttr offers crisis exercising software for corporates, consultants, humanitarian, and defence & security clients. Visit Conducttr to learn more.Dominic Bowen is the host of The International Risk Podcast and Europe's leading expert on international risk and crisis management. As Head of Strategic Advisory and Partner at one of Europe's leading risk management consulting firms, Dominic advises CEOs, boards, and senior executives across the continent on how to prepare for uncertainty and act with intent. He has spent decades working in war zones, advising multinational companies, and supporting Europe's business leaders. Tell us what you liked!

In this episode, we host Norman Leach to explore whether Canada is entering a new era in defence policy. Drawing on his background in military history, defence commentary, and international business, Norman examines the deeper strategic questions now facing Ottawa: how sovereign Canadian defence policy really is, how far Canada can afford to depend on the United States, and what a more uncertain relationship with Washington means for Canada's future security posture. Set against growing concern over Arctic security, renewed debate over defence spending, and wider questions about alliance cohesion, this conversation looks at how Canada is being forced to rethink the balance between dependence, sovereignty, and strategic credibility.We discuss whether the core problem in Canadian defence policy is underinvestment, overreliance on the United States, or a deeper lack of strategic clarity. We also explore the tension between sovereignty and interdependence through NORAD, the challenge of reducing dependence on U.S. defence procurement without undermining interoperability, and the extent to which Ottawa's growing focus on the Arctic reflects a genuine strategic shift rather than simply a response to political uncertainty in Washington.Norman Leach is a Canadian military historian, writer, public speaker, and defence-industry leader whose work spans military history, strategic commentary, and international business. He holds a degree in Political Science and History from the University of Manitoba, has contributed to Canadian Defence Review and other military and historical journals, and has written widely on war, peacekeeping, leadership, and the evolution of Canada's armed forces.The International Risk Podcast brings you conversations with global experts, frontline practitioners, and senior decision-makers who are shaping how we understand and respond to international risk. From geopolitical instability and organised crime to cybersecurity threats and hybrid warfare, each episode explores the forces transforming our world and what smart leaders must do to navigate them. Whether you're a board member, policymaker, or risk professional, The International Risk Podcast delivers actionable insights, sharp analysis, and real-world stories that matter.The International Risk Podcast is sponsored by Conducttr, a realistic crisis exercise platform. Conducttr offers crisis exercising software for corporates, consultants, humanitarian, and defence & security clients. Visit Conducttr to learn more.Dominic Bowen is the host of The International Risk Podcast and Europe's leading expert on international risk and crisis management. As Head of Strategic Advisory and Partner at one of Europe's leading risk management consulting firms, Dominic advises CEOs, boards, and senior executives across the continent on how to prepare for uncertainty and act with intent. He has spent decades working in war zones, advising multinational companies, and supporting Europe's business leaders. Dominic is the go-to business advisor for leaders navigating risk, crisis, and strategy; trusted for his clarity, calmness under pressure, and ability to turn volatility into competitive advantage. Dominic equips today's business leaders with the insight and confidence to lead through disruption and deliver sustained strategic advantage.Subscribe for all our updates!Tell us what you liked!

The global landscape feels increasingly unsettled. Conflict in the Middle East, Sudan and Ukraine to wider geoplitical, technological and climatic shifts, the world is going though a period of rapid change. At the same time, the nature of conflict and the way it's reported has changed dramatically over the past few decades.So today we're stepping back to look at the bigger picture: how the global risk landscape has changed, how today's conflicts compare to those of previous decades, and what today's crisis might tell us about where things are heading next. Our guest today is one of the most experienced foreign correspondents in British journalism.Humphrey Hawksley is an award-winning author, commentator and BBC correspondent whose reporting career has taken him to conflicts and political turning points across the world for more than four decades.He has reported on the Sri Lankan civil war, on the Yugoslav wars, the War on Terror, the rise of many Asian countries with postings in Hong Kong, the Philippines and India, and he was even tasked with opening the BBC's first permanent television bureau in Beijing way back in 1994.Alongside his journalism, Humphrey is the author of several books on global politics and democracy, as well as bestselling political thrillers. He's also the host of the Democracy Forum debates. You can find his books here:Rake Ozenna Series - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0G4D7P7NX?tag=uklinktagbk-21&th=1&psc=1&geniuslink=true Future History - Third World War series - https://www.humphreyhawksley.com/future-history/Asian Waters: The Struggly over the Indo-Pacific and the Challenge of American Power -  https://www.humphreyhawksley.com/book/asian-waters/ Democracy Kills: What's so Good about having the Vote? -                https://www.humphreyhawksley.com/book/democracy-kills-whats-so-good-about-having-the-vote/The International Risk Podcast brings you conversations with global experts, frontline practitioners, and senior decision-makers who are shaping how we understand and respond to international risk. From geopolitical volatility and organised crime, to cybersecurity threats and hybrid warfare, each episode explores the forces transforming our world and what smart leaders must do to navigate them. Whether you're a board member, policymaker, or risk professional, The International Risk Podcast delivers actionable insights, sharp analysis, and real-world stories that matter.The International Risk Podcast is sponsored by Conducttr, a realistic crisis exercise platform. Conducttr offers crisis exercising software for corporates, consultants, humanitarian, and defence & security clients. Visit Conducttr to learn more.Dominic Bowen is the host of The International Risk Podcast and Europe's leading expert on international risk and crisis management. As Head of Strategic Advisory and Partner at one of Europe's leading risk management consulting firms, Dominic advises CEOs, boards, and senior executives across the continent on how to prepare for uncertainty and act with intent. He has spent decades working in war zones, advising multinational companies, and supporting Europe's business leaders. Tell us what you liked!

In this episode we host Ava Shen to unpack the dynamics of Taiwanese politics, the role of the DPP, KMT, and TPP, and how cross-strait tensions shape both domestic discourse and international perceptions. The conversation explores disinformation, shifting political priorities among younger voters, and key misunderstandings in the West about Taiwan and its strategic environment.Ava Shen covers Taiwan and Chinese foreign policy and domestic politics at Eurasia Group. Previously, she interned at Rhodium Group, conducting economic research on China and Taiwan. She also worked as a research assistant at the Stimson Center, focusing on Chinese foreign policy in Asia and China-West Africa cooperation on maritime environmental issues. The International Risk Podcast brings you conversations with global experts, frontline practitioners, and senior decision-makers who are shaping how we understand and respond to international risk. From geopolitical volatility and organised crime to cybersecurity threats and hybrid warfare, each episode explores the forces transforming our world and what smart leaders must do to navigate them. Whether you're a board member, policymaker, or risk professional, The International Risk Podcast delivers actionable insights, sharp analysis, and real-world stories that matter. The International Risk Podcast is sponsored by Conducttr, a realistic crisis exercise platform. Conducttr offers crisis exercising software for corporates, consultants, humanitarian, and defence & security clients. Visit Conducttr to learn more.Dominic Bowen is the host of The International Risk Podcast and Europe's leading expert on international risk and crisis management. As Head of Strategic Advisory and Partner at one of Europe's leading risk management consulting firms, Dominic advises CEOs, boards, and senior executives across the continent on how to prepare for uncertainty and act with intent. He has spent decades working in war zones, advising multinational companies, and supporting Europe's business leaders. Dominic is the go-to business advisor for leaders navigating risk, crisis, and strategy; trusted for his clarity, calmness under pressure, and ability to turn volatility into competitive advantage. Dominic equips today's business leaders with the insight and confidence to lead through disruption and deliver sustained strategic advantage.The International Risk Podcast – Reducing risk by increasing knowledge.Subscribe for all our updates!Tell us what you liked!Tell us what you liked!