Podcasts about external affairs

What Does Your Legacy Really Mean? When you hear the word legacy, what comes to mind? A name on a building? A foundation created after you're gone? Or something far simpler — the way you show up every day and the impact you quietly leave behind? I sat down with Kari Alterman, founder of Good Name Advisors, to explore how each of us can shape our legacy with intention — starting now, not someday. Kari helps individuals and families clarify their values, elevate their giving, and preserve their good name through thoughtful, lasting philanthropy. What struck me most in our conversation is that legacy isn't about wealth or waiting until the end of life. It's about how you treat people, where you choose to give, and how you align your actions with your values today. My Take Too many people wait to think about their legacy. They assume it starts with money or ends with a big gesture. Kari reframed this for us: legacy is built moment by moment — through kindness, intention, and generosity that matches who you are. Whether you give $5,000, $50, or just your time, what matters most is purpose and INTENT.

This is Derek Miller, Speaking on Business. Since 1963, Ballet West has been an important part of Utah's arts community, bringing world-class performances, timeless productions and opportunities for dancers and audiences to connect through ballet. Senior Director of External Affairs, Erika Stone, joins us with more. Erika Stone: At Ballet West, we believe the arts do more than entertain — they inspire creativity, bring people together and strengthen communities. As one of the nation's leading ballet companies, we've seen firsthand how live performance can create lasting connections and meaningful experiences for people of all ages. Productions like Willam Christensen's The Nutcracker, America's first and longest-running version of the ballet, continue to draw audiences from across the region each year, supporting downtown businesses and welcoming thousands of patrons through our doors. Beyond performances, Ballet West reaches communities across Utah through school programs, scholarship opportunities and access initiatives for underserved families. For many children, it's their first experience seeing live performance, opening the door to creativity, curiosity and confidence. By investing in the arts, Ballet West is helping create a more connected, vibrant future for Utah — one that supports culture, community and economic growth for generations to come. Derek Miller: By bringing people together through the arts, Ballet West helps make Utah a more creative, connected and culturally vibrant place to live. To learn more about performances and programs, visit BalletWest.org. I'm Derek Miller, with the Salt Lake Chamber, Speaking on Business. Originally aired: 6/11/26

June 9, 2026 ~ Chris Renwick and Lloyd Jackson talk with Leslie Boissiere, Vice President of External Affairs at the Annie E. Casey Foundation, about declining child well-being and brain chip technology. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

India's relations with Europe are often viewed through the lens of Brussels, Paris, Berlin, or London. But in recent years, India has also been deepening its ties with another important set of partners: the Nordic countries. Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi traveled to Oslo for the third India-Nordic Summit, bringing together India and the five Nordic countries—Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, and Denmark.  The agenda for the six countries was wide-ranging, covering trade, investment, green technology, maritime cooperation, the Arctic, and the Indo-Pacific.  The visit also marked the first official trip by an Indian prime minister to Norway in more than four decades. As a result of the summit, Norway and India have elevated their bilateral relationship with new agreements on climate, technology, science, and the blue economy. To discuss what all of this means for India, Norway, and the changing global order, Milan is joined this week by May-Elin Stener, who serves as Ambassador of Norway to India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and the Maldives. Prior to taking up this position, Ambassador Stener was the Deputy Director General of the Regional department in the foreign ministry. She has served as Norway's Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York as well as Deputy Head of the Norwegian Embassy in Pretoria, South Africa. She has been a member of the Norwegian Foreign Service since 1995. Milan and Ambassador Stener discuss the outcomes of the India-Nordic summit, the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA), and the green technology partnership Norway envisions with India. Plus, the two discussed linkages between the Arctic and the Indo-Pacific and the controversy over a Norwegian journalist's questioning of Indian officials in Oslo.  Episode notes: Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, “India-Norway Joint Statement,” May 18, 2026. Government of Sweden, “Joint Statement: 3rd India-Nordic Summit, Oslo, 19 May 2026,” May 19, 2026. Priyanka Shankar, “India-Nordic summit: Why is Modi wooing Northern Europe?” Al Jazeera, May 19, 2026. “The India-Nordic Summit: What It Is and What Has Now Been Set in Motion,” India's World, May 20, 2026. Suhasini Haidar, “Commitment to democracy makes India, Nordic nations natural partners: Modi,” Hindu, May 20, 2026.

Rural crime and livestock worrying are serious issues across Scotland's countryside.In this episode of Scotland Matters, host Cameron Gillies, Head of External Affairs at Scottish Land & Estates, takes a closer look at rural crime—an issue that affects rural communities in direct and often deeply personal ways.From theft and vandalism to wildlife crime and fly-tipping, rural crime takes many forms. But at this time of year, with lambing and calving in full swing, the focus turns to one particularly urgent issue: livestock worrying.As always, thank you for supporting the podcast and if you'd like to find out more check out the links below!Check out our Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/2CSHv068KPoYIkhdnJ8d3r?si=lIi7f2qxSFWy_I51DguAyQ&nd=1&dlsi=e01a374fbd… Find out more about Scottish Land & Estates - www.scottishlandandestates.co.uk Find out about the Helping it Happen Awards - www.scottishlandandestates.co.uk/helping-it-happen

A major takedown disrupts the GlassWorm botnet. The White House rewrites federal cyber logging rules as CISA faces cuts amid rising AI threats. Federal agencies ramp up scrutiny of so-called anti-tech extremism. GCHQ warns Russia is targeting UK infrastructure. Researchers uncover stealthy new malware, AI coding agent supply chain risks, and in-person extortion tactics targeting U.S. law firms. Europe grabs satellite spectrum. Ben Yelin joins us to discuss the bipartisan push for more support of CISA. Hacking your way to the main stage.  Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Miss an episode? Sign-up for our daily intelligence roundup, Daily Briefing, and you'll never miss a beat. And be sure to follow CyberWire Daily on LinkedIn. CyberWire Guest Our Caveat co-host and Program Director for Public Policy & External Affairs at the University of Maryland Center for Cyber Health and Hazard Strategies, Ben Yelin, joins Dave to talk about the bipartisan push for more support of CISA. Selected Reading GlassWorm Botnet Disrupted (SecurityWeek) OMB Scraps Biden-Era Cyber Logging Rules (BankInfoSecurity) US law enforcement warns of "anti-tech extremism" as AI hatred grows (Ars Technica) Russia 'relentlessly targeting' critical infrastructure and democracy, GCHQ says (BBC) Trump hobbled top cyber agency just as AI learned to hack (Axios) EU to squeeze US space tech out of prized satellite airwaves (Politico)  Phishing Campaign Deploys JavaScript-Driven PureLogs Variant to Steal Sensitive Data (FortiGuard Labs) FBI warns of in-person data theft attacks from extortion gang (Bleeping Computer) ‘SymJack' Attack Turns AI Coding Agents Into Supply Chain Attack Delivery Systems (SecurityWeek) How to guarantee a speaker gig: Hack the system. Literally (The Register) Share your feedback. What do you think about CyberWire Daily? Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts with us by completing our brief listener survey. Thank you for helping us continue to improve our show. Want to hear your company in the show? N2K CyberWire helps you reach the industry's most influential leaders and operators, while building visibility, authority, and connectivity across the cybersecurity community. Learn more at sponsor.thecyberwire.com. The CyberWire is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Rocky sits down with artist and museum professional Lucia Simek for a reflective conversation about creativity, identity, and the courage to choose oneself. Together they unpack the tension of leaving a high-profile career to reclaim an "origin story," the difficulty of being a "hyphenate" person in a culture that demands linear identities, and the transformative power of vulnerability. Lucia shares how her history of caretaking shaped her leadership, why she is walking away from the "nonprofit machine" to prioritize her essential self, and her vision for creating a hybrid space that truly represents her multifaceted creative heart. This episode challenges listeners to rethink success, embrace uncertainty as an instructor, and recognize the value of staying true to one's core morality.Episode Highlights with Timestamps:00:00:43 — Why choosing a "crazy but healthy" exit from a major museum role was necessary for self-preservation.00:01:10 — The challenge of being a "hyphenate" person with multiple identities in a culture that prefers clear career paths.00:01:52 — Reclaiming an "origin story" as an artist and prioritizing essential happiness over financial security.00:02:39 — Defining "non-negotiables" and shifting focus from fundraising to building genuine community.00:07:38 — Embracing a "revolutionary heart" and the desire to create spaces that benefit the next person.00:10:38 — The vision for a hybrid physical space for art and film that reflects a multifaceted identity.00:13:34 — How deep moral care for a community can be both a leadership strength and an art world barrier.00:20:45 — Reflections on a life of caretaking, from raising seven siblings to bringing those instincts into the workplace.00:30:42 — The speaker challenges Lucia on the fear of asking for help when you are used to being the problem solver.00:45:20 — Why pain and trauma are the "best teachers" and instructors for future choices and personal growth.Get to Know Our GuestLucia Simek is an artist, writer, curator, and museum professional with an MFA in sculpture from Texas Christian University. She spent eight years at the Nasher Sculpture Center leading communications and international programs. In 2022, she joined Dallas Contemporary as Director of External Affairs and was later promoted to Deputy Director, overseeing public programs, publications, and education. She launched initiatives like DC Empty and the NTX Graduate Student Program to support regional artists. After serving as interim director, she was named Executive Director in February 2025. She stepped down in December 2025 to focus on her independent art, curatorial work, and writing, including her upcoming book Occiput through Deep Vellum Publishing.Learn more about Lucia's workLucia as a museum curator:Best in Class: Dallas Contemporary exhibitHeni News: Lucia SimekGlasstire: Lucia Simek to step downPatron Magazine: Doomscrolling by Cheryl DoneganLucia as an artist:Glasstire: Occiput at The Reading RoomDallas Observer: From her eyes to yoursDallas News: Artists tackle issues of identity in CleaverJoin Rocky, LIVE on Zoom, in conversation about leadership, humanity, and everything in between: http://rockygarza.com/confidence

Day Break | Indictments, Innovation & International Drama --- 00:00 - Monologue 18:51 – Bradley J. Birzer, historian, Hillsdale College professor, and Russell Amos Kirk Chair in American Studies. Birzer discusses his new book The Declaration of Independence: A Radical Experiment in Liberty. The conversation explores the founding principles of America, the meaning of liberty, and the enduring significance of the Declaration of Independence in modern society. 27:46 – James Morrone, energy analyst at Americans for Prosperity. Morrone discusses President Trump's trip to China and why rare earth minerals have become increasingly important to national security, manufacturing, and energy policy. He explains America's dependence on foreign supply chains and the push for domestic resource development. 37:59 - Monologue 47:00 – Elizabeth Troutman Mitchell, reporter for The Daily Signal and co-host of The Daily Signal Podcast. Mitchell discusses her recent interview with SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler and the current outlook for small businesses. The conversation covers inflation, the economy, approval ratings for President Trump, and broader economic sentiment before escalating global conflicts. 57:08 – Noah Rothman, senior writer at National Review. Rothman discusses his book Blood and Progress: A Century of Left-Wing Violence in America, examining political extremism, ideological violence, and historical movements tied to radical activism in the United States. 1:16:15 - Monologue 1:25:16 – Jesse Arm, Vice President of External Affairs at the Manhattan Institute. Arm discusses the political implications of Abdul El-Sayed's candidacy and what it could mean for the future direction of the Democratic Party in Michigan. 1:35:26 – Lamar Alexander, former U.S. Senator from Tennessee. Alexander discusses his book The Education of a Senator, reflecting on leadership, public service, education policy, and lessons learned throughout his career in government. --- Check out our brand new podcast, 'Forgotten America'... Episode 15 is live NOW at Steve Gruber on YouTube! Link below: https://youtu.be/2DY74e9ffLY

How does the Climate Change Committee approach external affairs and communications? What can we learn from other countries when planning for future climate policies in the UK? In this special edition of the podcast, CSCEN's Millie Cave explores these questions and more with the Climate Change Committee's (CCC) Director of External Affairs Sophie Vipond. This podcast was recorded live at the annual CSCEN conference. Guest Bio:Sophie Vipond is a communications and engagement specialist. She is currently the Director of External Affairs at the CCC. She has recently led on the communications strategy for the UK's 7th Carbon Budget (which we also discuss in this episode) and the upcoming 'Well Adapted UK' report. Highly experienced in global climate policy, she also co-chairs the International Climate Council Network's Communications Working Group. Connect With Us:Join the conversation: ⁠⁠⁠environment.network@energysecurity.gov.uk⁠⁠⁠CSCEN website:  ⁠⁠⁠Civil Service Climate + Environment Network | CSCEN Online⁠⁠⁠Disclaimer: The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker's own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of the Civil Service Climate and Environment Network or the Civil Service. The material and information presented here is for general information purposes only

KCSB's Nico Brown-Corrada sat down for an interview with Sarah Bacon. Bacon is a candidate running for California's Congressional 24th district, and is currently the Vice President of External Affairs of UCSB's Graduate Student Association.

May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, and it serves as an important reminder that simple actions — like taking an extra second to look twice — can save lives. Joining Chris to talk about how Michigan is working to improve motorcycle safety, and the role awareness campaigns play in changing driver behavior, are the Deputy Chief of External Affairs from the Michigan Department of State, Joshua Elliott, and Sr. Strategist and Research Manager from Güd Marketing, Chelsea Maupin!

Ollie talks to Will Chamberlain - Senior Counsel at The Article III Project who serves as the VP of External Affairs for the Edmund Burke Foundation. He's a leading strategist at the forefront of modern American conservatism. 0:00 Intro 2:28 Will's debate exposing Tucker Carlson's brother on Piers Morgan 8:28 What does Tucker actually believe and why? 13:40 Why is some of the right turning on Israel and Trump? 19:53 Thomas Massie vs Trump 27:20 Will antisemitism on left and right rise or fall? 35:45 Keir Starmer and Tommy Robinson's UK march 41:48 Iran: will the regime be allowed to survive?Watch the new J-TV+ Documentary ‘Chosen: The Sibling Jealousy Behind The World's Oldest Hatred' - https://j-tv.plus/chosen-the-sibling-jealousy-behind-the-worlds-oldest-hatred/Watch the new J-TV+ Documentary on ‘Zionism & Judaism: The False Separation' - https://j-tv.plus/zionism-and-judaism-the-false-separation/Donate to J-TV - https://www.paypal.com/donate?token=xpzZJa2os2Nc3EIhZeEFGA9rpjNPQWfOgV3Eljccs_ajpomAAypUhw-1h0-hXn2xr5sx_ViMd97cDmTI

What do you do when the cost of staying healthy begins to strain the family budget? For many households, health care has become one of the biggest financial pressures they face. Groceries, utilities, and everyday expenses are already stretching families thin. But medical costs often feel like they are in a category of their own. Even when traditional coverage feels out of reach, families are not without options. That's why Lauren Gajdek, Senior Director of External Affairs at Christian Healthcare Ministries (CHM), joined the show today to discuss medical cost sharing, how it works, and why more families are taking a closer look. The Pressure Families Are Feeling Many families are still dealing with the effects of higher prices across the board. While inflation may have cooled in some areas, that does not mean prices have returned to their previous levels. Groceries, utilities, housing, and other essentials still cost more than they did before, leaving many households with less room in their monthly budgets. Health care adds another layer of pressure. Employer-sponsored family health insurance can now cost thousands of dollars each year when accounting for both employer and employee contributions. Marketplace plans can also be expensive, especially for those who do not qualify for subsidies. Behind those rising premiums are the increasing costs of hospitals, medications, and other medical services. For families trying to manage their resources wisely, those numbers can feel overwhelming. What Options Are Available? When traditional health insurance becomes too expensive, families may begin looking for alternatives. One option is COBRA, which allows someone who has lost employer-sponsored coverage to keep the same plan for a time. But COBRA is often very expensive because the individual is typically responsible for the full cost of the plan without employer assistance. Another option is the health insurance marketplace at Healthcare.gov. For those who qualify for subsidies, this may provide some relief. But without subsidies, marketplace plans may still be difficult to afford. A third option is medical cost-sharing through an organization such as Christian Healthcare Ministries. CHM is not insurance. Instead, it is a community of believers who voluntarily come together to help share one another's eligible medical expenses. How Medical Cost-Sharing Works Most people are familiar with the traditional insurance model: premiums, deductibles, provider networks, and claims. Medical cost sharing operates differently. With Christian Healthcare Ministries (CHM), members receive medical care from their provider and then work with that provider to receive the bill directly. The member submits the bill to CHM, and eligible medical costs are shared or reimbursed in accordance with the program guidelines. CHM describes this as “assurance” rather than insurance. Members are supported not only financially but also spiritually by a community of believers committed to helping one another. Christian Healthcare Ministries has been serving members for more than 40 years and has shared more than $13 billion in medical costs. What Does It Cost? CHM offers several programs designed to fit different household needs and budgets. Their Gold program is $299 per unit per month. Silver is $169 per unit per month, Bronze is $115 per unit per month, and CHM also offers a senior program for $119 per unit per month. Costs are based on household size and the number of participating members. Dependent children can participate as one unit, and no family pays for more than three units. For some families, that structure may provide a more affordable way to manage health care costs while staying aligned with their values. A Values-Aligned Approach Health care decisions are both practical and personal. Families need to consider costs, coverage needs, medical history, risk tolerance, and how each option fits their overall financial plan. For those seeking an alternative to traditional insurance, medical cost sharing may be worth exploring. It offers believers a way to come together in community, helping one another carry the burden of medical expenses. Christian Healthcare Ministries is a longtime underwriter of Faith & Finance, and many listeners—as well as some members of the FaithFi team—have used CHM for years. To learn more, visit CHMinistries.org/FaithFi. On Today's Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions: I'm 71 and receiving a survivor Social Security benefit from my late husband. I've worked for years, but was told my own benefit will always be lower. Is that correct, and is there anything I can do? I applied for Social Security Disability after a stroke and am still waiting. As a self-employed mechanic, it's getting harder to work. If I'm approved, can I still work at all without losing my benefits? I'm a stay-at-home mom with a small business and a few hundred dollars to invest, with plans to add more over time. Where should I start? I'm retired on Social Security with a very low income and small annual losses from cattle. Do I still need to file a tax return, or am I exempt? Resources Mentioned: Faithful Steward: FaithFi's Quarterly Magazine (Become a FaithFi Partner) Christian Healthcare Ministries (CHM) Healthcare.gov Schwab Intelligent Portfolios® SSA.gov (Social Security Administration) Our Ultimate Treasure: A 21-Day Journey to Faithful Stewardship by Rob West Wisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on Money Look At The Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and Anxiety Rich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich Fool Find a Certified Kingdom Advisor® (CKA) FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions every workday at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. You can also visit FaithFi.com to connect with our online community and partner with us as we help more people live as faithful stewards of God's resources. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Send us Fan MailThe NCUA looks to be getting a new board chair: John Crews, a longtime Washington DC hand and currently Deputy Assistant Secretary at the Treasury Department.  Prior jobs include Policy Director of the Senate Banking Committee and Policy Advisor to House majority leader Steve Scalise.  He's a guy who knows his way around inside the Beltway.There's an urgency to his nomination because present  NCUA board chair Kyle Hauptman has been named to the board of the Public Company Accounting Oversight board.  Hauptman also is the only member of the NCUA's current board. There are two other seats but their occupants presently are involved in litigation and no longer serve.Will Crews cross the finish line in the Senate and assume the top job at NCUA?On the show is Washington DC lobbyist Elizabeth Ergubian, herself a former staffer at NCUA where she served as  Director of External Affairs & Communications and Policy Advisor to the Chair.Before that she was Deputy Chief Advocacy Officer & Senior Counsel at CUNA.She knows the Beltway doings, she knows credit unions, and here she tells what to expect in Crew's confirmation hearing - and when to expect it.Listen up.Like what you are hearing? Find out how you can help sponsor this podcast here. Very affordable sponsorship packages are available. Email rjmcgarvey@gmail.com  And like this podcast on whatever service you use to stream it. That matters.  Find out more about CU2.0 and the digital transformation of credit unions here. It's a journey every credit union needs to take. Pronto

Alan Hand, Environmental Enforcement Warden and Kevin Kelly, Head of Policy, Partnerships and External Affairs at Vision Ireland.

This episode recorded live at the Becker's 16th Annual Meeting features Stephen Parodi, EVP, External Affairs, Communications & Brand, The Permanente Federation & The Permanente Medical Group. He discusses leading through healthcare transformation, expanding value-based care into new markets, leveraging technology to improve outcomes, and building authentic leadership cultures that support innovation and workforce resilience.

In this episode of Ask Cuyahoga, we explore the work of the Cuyahoga County Animal Shelter and the services it provides to residents and their pets.The conversation focuses on what happens when a dog is lost, how the shelter works to reunite pets with their owners, and why licensing and microchipping are critical. It also highlights resources available to residents, including free microchip registration, pet food assistance, and programs designed to keep dogs in their homes.This episode also covers ways to get involved, from volunteering and fostering to initiatives like Dogs Day Out and community programs aimed at improving outcomes for dogs across the County.Guests:Mindy Naticchioni, Administrator, Cuyahoga County Animal ShelterJen Huettich, Manager of External Affairs, Cuyahoga County Animal ShelterWatch here: https://youtu.be/hdEhaaIYvpw

On this episode of the Hangin' with the AD Podcast, we head to the Natural State and sit down with Matt Whiting, the Director of Athletics at University of Central Arkansas. Since stepping into the lead chair in 2024, Matt has been navigating the challenge of following a longtime athletic director, leading through one of the most transformational periods in college athletics, and helping shape the future of the Bears' athletic department. Before taking the top role, Matt spent nearly eight years at UCA as Associate Athletic Director for External Affairs and began his journey at his alma mater, University of Arkansas at Monticello—building a career rooted in relationships, strategic growth, and servant leadership. In this conversation, we dive into leadership transitions, decision-making in the era of NIL, the transfer portal, facility management, AI in leadership, and what today's changing collegiate landscape means for the next generation of student-athletes. Matt gives us an honest look at the realities of leading in the “big chair” and the intentional habits leaders need to grow, to adapt and stay effective.If you're an athletic administrator, coach, or educational leader trying to navigate change while staying grounded in purpose, this is an episode you won't want to miss.Now, let's settle in and get to know Matt Whiting.

Japan is witnessing its largest anti-war protests in decades. Since coming into power, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has taken major steps away from Japan's post-war pacifism, lifting restrictions on lethal weapons exports and actively seeking political support for revising the constitution. As a result, a sentiment against remilitarization is gaining momentum in Japan. How worrisome is Japan's deviation from pacifism under Takaichi? How far will Tokyo go in that direction? Host Ding Heng is joined by Professor Anna Rosario Malindog-Uy, Director and Vice President for External Affairs of Asian Century Philippines Strategic Studies Institute; Lee Pei May, Assistant Professor of Political Science at the International Islamic University Malaysia; Zoon Ahmed Khan, Research Fellow at Center for China and Globalization.

Awesome show where we learned about the Santa Cruz Boardwalk from Kris who is the Director off External Affairs & Strategic Development with the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.

Chief Executive Andrew Carter is joined by Caitlin Rollison, External Affairs and Policy Manager, and Jess Tulasiewicz, Head of Public Affairs and Policy. They discuss the manifestos for the upcoming Scottish and Welsh elections as well as the English local elections and discuss what more politically diverse councils could mean for mayors. 

It's a volatile world. Energy security, trade in primary resources and food supply are all reshaping the rules of resilience.  In this timely episode, CPA Australia's experts unpack how global conflict is affecting the operating environment for business, finance and policy leaders.  With the current geopolitical tensions as the backdrop, learn how energy shocks, supply chain disruption and inflation pressures are forcing a rethink of long-term strategy.  CPA Australia's policy leaders lean into what this crisis also means for net zero targets and sustainability.  Key issues examined include:   • how energy chokepoints drive inflation and policy decisions • why lean supply chains are now a structural risk • what resilience really looks like in practice across business and government • the evolving trade-offs between energy security and net zero goals • why sustainability is becoming a core part of national security and business planning  Listen in for expert-led insight.  Host: Elinor Kasapidis, Chief of Policy, Professional Standards and External Affairs, CPA Australia.  Guests: Gavan Ord, Business Investment and International Lead, Policy and Advocacy, CPA Australia, and Patrick Viljoen. ESG Lead, Policy and Advocacy, CPA Australia.  For more, head to the CPA Australia website for business strategies to help navigate today's uncertain global landscape.  And check out our YouTube live webinar series on the CPA Australia channel, where you'll find a three-part ESG webinar series, as well as our upcoming live webinar for the federal budget.  We also have insights from the small business survey and a range of other interesting webinars coming up.  Loving this episode?  Listen to more With Interest episodes and other CPA Australia podcasts on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@CPAaustralia/podcasts  And don't forget to click subscribe to the channel for a wide range of content that will help your career and keep you informed.  CPA Australia publishes four podcasts, providing commentary and thought leadership across business, finance and accounting:  With Interest https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/with-interest  INTHEBLACK https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/intheblack  INTHEBLACK Out Loud https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/intheblack-outloud  Excel Tips https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/excel-tips  Search for them in your podcast platform. Email the podcast team at podcasts@cpaaustralia.com.au 

Big K Hour 02: S&B USA Construction's Vice President of External Affairs and Sustainability Joins the Show full 1382 Mon, 13 Apr 2026 12:29:56 +0000 MeWDVlYB1qRMrBNubdtZOAI6hl9ZUPyT news The Big K Morning Show news Big K Hour 02: S&B USA Construction's Vice President of External Affairs and Sustainability Joins the Show The Big K Morning Show 2024 © 2021 Audacy, Inc. News False

It's a volatile world, and businesses are under pressure.  In this episode of With Interest, Gavan Ord, Business Investment and International lead at CPA Australia, explores how businesses are navigating an increasingly unstable global environment marked by geopolitical conflict, cost pressures and economic shocks.  The conversation draws on insights from CPA Australia's Asia-Pacific Small Business Survey to unpack how small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are coping, and what separates those that merely survive from those that emerge stronger.  The discussion emphasises that while volatility is becoming the norm, uncertainty does not have to result in paralysis.  Instead, thoughtful planning, investment in capability, and trusted advice can help businesses build resilience and position for long‑term growth, even as governments and markets remain focused on short‑term crises.  Key areas covered:  How global conflicts, fuel price shocks and inflation affect small businesses across Australia and the APAC region.  How a risk‑averse mindset changes business decision‑making, and the risks of focusing only on cost‑cutting.  What role accountants and advisors can play through scenario planning, forecasting and calming decision‑making.  Why businesses that continue investing in technology, innovation and management capability perform better during crises.  If you're navigating uncertainty in business, this episode has expert insights to help.  Host:  Elinor Kasapidis, Chief of Policy, Standards and External Affairs, CPA Australia  Guest: Gavan Ord, Business Investment and International lead, Policy and Advocacy, CPA Australia  For more, head online for CPA Australia's 17th Asia-Pacific Small Business Survey.  CPA Australia also has tips for managing through tough times and managing through a high cost environment  ABC News finance journalist Alan Kohler talking about fluctuating oil prices on April 7, mentioned in this episode. Loving this episode? Listen to more With Interest episodes and other CPA Australia podcasts on YouTube.  https://www.youtube.com/@CPAaustralia/podcasts  And don't forget to click subscribe to the channel for a wide range of content that will help your career.  CPA Australia publishes four podcasts, providing commentary and thought leadership across business, finance and accounting:  With Interest https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/with-interest  INTHEBLACK https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/intheblack  INTHEBLACK Out Loud https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/intheblack-outloud  Excel Tips https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/excel-tips  Search for them in your podcast platform. Email the podcast team at podcasts@cpaaustralia.com.au 

Christina Koch is ready to make history. She is one of the four astronauts of Artemis 2 which is set to head around the Moon in the next few days. During her career as a Nasa astronaut, she has spent more than 300 days aboard the International Space Station, and she was part of the first all-woman spacewalk with Jessica Meir. This mission will take her and her crewmates on a 10-day journey, further into space than any humans have ever gone. Joining Krupa Padhy to talk more about Christina and the importance of having women in space, is planetary and space scientist Professor Caroline Smith, Chair of the European Space Agency Human Spaceflight and Exploration Science Advisory Committee and also Head of Collections at the Natural History Museum, and Natasha Carr, PhD researcher at the University of Leicester, who is researching planetary sciences and space instrumentation. Millions of voters will head to the polls on Thursday 7 May for the biggest set of elections since the 2024 general election. Today a group of organisations, including the Electoral Commission, are calling for the elections to be free from abuse. The Commission's most recent research, following the 2025 local elections, found that 61% of respondents experienced harassment or security threats during the campaign and previous research found that respondents who were women were twice as likely to report serious abuse and those from ethnic minorities were three times as likely. To discuss the impact of this, Krupa is joined by Niki Nixon, Director of Communications and External Affairs at the Electoral Commission, and Hannah Perkin, a Liberal Democrat councillor on Faversham Town Council in Kent. According to the NHS, one in eight known pregnancies end in miscarriage. For some women, they will experience more than one miscarriage, and for those who have more than three, then this is known as 'recurrent miscarriage', which affects around one in 100 women. It is a hugely devastating experience for those going through it, and is one that is often underrepresented on screen. A new BBC drama, Babies, aims to bring this issue in to the light, as it follows a young couple on their journey to parenthood. Siobhán Cullen plays Lisa and she tells Krupa about playing the role. They are joined by Zoe Clark-Coates, CEO of the baby loss charity The Mariposa Trust.The countdown to May's Eurovision song contest in Austria is on. As critics and fans analyse all 35 competing entries, it's Romania's song that is attracting a lot of attention. Choke Me is performed by Alexandra Căpitănescu and is facing criticism from sexual violence campaigners. The song repeats the phrase ‘choke me' around 30 times in three minutes, raising concerns that it glamorises strangulation, a practice linked to brain injury and even death. Alexandra Căpitănescu has defended the track, saying the lyrics refer to the feeling of being overwhelmed by emotion and ‘being suffocated by self-doubt'. Krupa hears from Dr. Catherine White, Medical Director for the Institute for Addressing Strangulation, and Lisa-Jayne Lewis, Broadcaster and Commentator specialising in the Eurovision Song Contest.Presenter: Krupa Padhy Producer: Andrea Kidd

The conversation begins with a look at where the conflict stands today and how Iran has managed to absorb significant military pressure while still responding in a measured way. Dharmendra explains how the conflict has expanded beyond immediate borders, affecting energy flows and drawing in multiple countries, while also reinforcing a sense of internal unity despite economic strain. It then turns to Iran's internal system, where different power centres, from the political leadership to the security establishment, continue to function together even under pressure. The episode also reflects on the role of nationalism, suggesting that even in a deeply ideological state, a shared national identity plays a strong role in shaping public response during moments of crisis. In the final part, the focus shifts to India. The discussion looks at how India manages its relationships across the region, from Iran to the Gulf, and the constraints created by sanctions and global politics. It also touches on long-term projects like Chabahar and what their future might look like. The episode closes with a broader reflection on where the region may be headed and what space there is for stability after the conflict. Episode Contributors Srinath Raghavan is a nonresident senior fellow at Carnegie India. He is also a professor of International Relations and History at Ashoka University. His primary research focus is on the contemporary and historical aspects of India's foreign and security policies. Gaddam Dharmendra is a nonresident senior fellow at Carnegie India. He joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1990 and served in various capacities in Indian Missions across the world and at the Ministry of External Affairs, South Block. His overseas assignments include stints at Indian Missions in Tehran, Dushanbe, Washington D.C., and Dhaka. Every two weeks, Interpreting India brings you diverse voices from India and around the world to explore the critical questions shaping the nation's future. We delve into how technology, the economy, and foreign policy intertwine to influence India's relationship with the global stage.As a Carnegie India production, hosted by Carnegie scholars, Interpreting India, a Carnegie India production, provides insightful perspectives and cutting-edge by tackling the defining questions that chart India's course through the next decade.Stay tuned for thought-provoking discussions, expert insights, and a deeper understanding of India's place in the world.Don't forget to subscribe, share, and leave a review to join the conversation and be part of Interpreting India's journey.

The power industry's workforce crisis is well documented — an aging labor force, too few new recruits, and a surge of infrastructure investment that's only widening the gap. But on this episode of The POWER Podcast, two guests offer a practical blueprint for closing it. Derek O'Connor, Workforce Development Manager in the Office for Research and Innovation at Stony Brook University, and Rosalie Drago, Vice President for External Affairs and Strategic Engagement at Haugland Group, discuss the suite of workforce programs they've built together — from a paid summer experience for high school students called Taste of the Trades, to drone piloting certification, HVDC power systems training, an energy cybersecurity program, and EmpowerHER, a program designed to bring young women into the construction trades. Their model is built on a simple but powerful insight: many high school students need to earn income over the summer, which steers them toward retail and food-service jobs instead of career-building experiences. By braiding together government youth employment funding, industry sponsorship, and university research expertise, the Stony Brook–Haugland partnership pays students to explore energy and infrastructure careers — and then offers them a clear pathway from that first exposure all the way through college and into the workforce. O'Connor and Drago share real student success stories, explain how they've adapted their curriculum to a shifting energy landscape, and make the case that every community in the country already has the building blocks to replicate what they've done. They also discuss why investing in teacher training and community education delivers returns that go well beyond filling open positions.

(00:00:00) The AACA Museum in Hershey began with a passionate group of automobile enthusiasts whose idea evolved into a broader mission to preserve and share America’s automotive history. Incorporated as a nonprofit in 1993, the museum launched a $12 million campaign to create a world‑class facility. Their vision became reality in 2003 with the opening of a 71,000‑square‑foot museum featuring interactive exhibits, rare vehicles, and educational programs. Today, visitors can explore eight decades of motoring history, supported by workshops and community programs that highlight the automobile’s impact on American life. The museum is recognized as a Smithsonian Affiliate and houses renowned collections, including the world’s largest Tucker automobile collection and the Museum of Bus Transportation collection. (00:22:51) Kelsey McMahon, a Communications Specialist with the Peace Corps, is a Southeast Pennsylvania native with family roots in Lewistown—where her grandfather helped launch Juniata River’s Goose Day. She is a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer who served in South Africa from 2014–2016, later supported a South African organization through the Peace Corps’ Virtual Service Pilot in 2021, and now works in the agency’s Office of External Affairs in Washington, D.C. She will discuss several key topics: the Peace Corps Week celebration, the 65th anniversary of the agency, its new nostalgia‑themed recruitment campaign (“Still the Toughest Job You’ll Ever Love”), the launch of the Tech Corps initiative supporting AI adoption abroad, and her personal journey through service and communications roles within the organization. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chachi Angelo, Director of External Affairs at Pennie, the State of Pennsylvania's Health Insurance Marketplace, joined the podcast to discuss how state healthcare marketplaces and local governments are interconnected. He shared what the healthcare marketplace does and how residents interact with it, how municipalities partner with Pennie during enrollment periods, and how to communicate in a way that builds trust at the local level. Host: Marissa Baum

CNN's Kaitlan Collins got owned by press secretary Karoline Leavitt and reminded everyone that she's truly just out to get President Trump. Kristi Noem has been fired as DHS Secretary and will be replaced by Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla). RINO Rep. Tony Gonzales (Texas) finally admitted to sexually preying on one of his staffers, leading her to set herself on fire. H-1B update: India's Ministry of External Affairs is complaining that all these new reforms to the H-1B visas are causing people to get stranded … in their own country. CEO of Teacher Freedom Alliance Ryan Walters exposes teacher unions for brainwashing students. ► Watch my latest H-1B visa scam documentary: https://youtu.be/ApBnRnGFht4?si=1RZxBe3SR50B-wMV ► Watch my first documentary on how I exposed H-1B visa scams: https://youtu.be/9sfeESywMUs?si=23qLeBI8neFymdFu ► Email me at saratips@blazemedia.com if you have uncovered potential fraud in your area. ► Subscribe to my second YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@SaraGonzalesTX?sub_confirmation=1 Sponsors: ► PreBorn Donate securely at https://www.preborn.com/sara or dial #250, keyword BABY. ► BlazeTV Head over to https://www.blazetv.com/sara and subscribe today. Use code SARA to save $20 on your annual subscription. Timestamps: 00:00 – Kaitlan Collins Shows Her Hand 19:15 – Kristi Noem Fired 23:09 – Tony Gonzales Admits to Affair 30:41 – H-1B Crybabies 40:33 – Teacher Union Brainwashing Connect with Sara on Social Media: https://twitter.com/saragonzalestx https://www.instagram.com/saragonzalestx http://facebook.com/SaraGonzalesTX ► Subscribe on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sara-gonzales-unfiltered/id1408958605 ► Shop American Beauty by Sara: http://americanbeautybysara.com Sara Gonzales is the host of Sara Gonzales Unfiltered, a daily news program on Blaze TV. Joined by frequent contributors & guests such as Chad Prather, Eric July, John Doyle, Jaco Booyens, Sara breaks down the latest news in politics and culture. She previously hosted "The News and Why It Matters," featuring notable guests such as Glenn Beck, Ben Shapiro, Dave Rubin, Michael Knowles, Candace Owens, Michael Malice, and more. As a conservative commentator, Sara frequently calls out the Democrats for their hypocrisy, the mainstream media for their misinformation, feminists for their toxicity, and also focuses on pro-life issues, culture, gender issues, health care, the Second Amendment, and passing conservative values to the next generation. Sara also appears as a recurring guest on the Megyn Kelly Show, The Sean Spicer Show, Tim Pool, and with Jesse Kelly on The First TV. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chief Executive Andrew Carter is joined by External Affairs and Policy Manager Caitlin Rollison and Intern Zoe Johnson to discuss the findings of our latest briefing ‘Around the world: How do visitor levies work in other countries?'. As the Government looks to enable mayors to introduce visitor levies in England they dive into examples drawn from a range of countries and cities across the globe that have already implemented a levy.

On this episode of The Jayhawker, Nate Bukaty sits down with Jason Booker, Deputy Athletics Director for External Affairs and Revenue Generation at the University of Kansas. The two dive into the major announcement that the Algeria national football team will use KU and Rock Chalk Park as its home base during the FIFA World Cup. They discuss what this opportunity means for the university on a global stage from increased visibility and recruiting advantages to long-term partnerships and revenue growth. Jason also explains the behind-the-scenes work that went into making this partnership a reality and how KU positioned itself as a premier destination. Beyond campus, the conversation highlights the economic and cultural impact this will have on Lawrence, Kansas including tourism, community engagement, and the chance to showcase the city to an international audience. The Jayhawker Podcast is presented by the University of Kansas Health System and by Xfinity, get the smartest WiFi only for Xfinity, imagine that!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of The Jayhawker, Nate Bukaty sits down with Jason Booker, Deputy Athletics Director for External Affairs and Revenue Generation at the University of Kansas. The two dive into the major announcement that the Algeria national football team will use KU and Rock Chalk Park as its home base during the FIFA World Cup. They discuss what this opportunity means for the university on a global stage from increased visibility and recruiting advantages to long-term partnerships and revenue growth. Jason also explains the behind-the-scenes work that went into making this partnership a reality and how KU positioned itself as a premier destination. Beyond campus, the conversation highlights the economic and cultural impact this will have on Lawrence, Kansas including tourism, community engagement, and the chance to showcase the city to an international audience. The Jayhawker Podcast is presented by the University of Kansas Health System and by Xfinity, get the smartest WiFi only for Xfinity, imagine that!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to RIMScast. Your host is Justin Smulison, Business Content Manager at RIMS, the Risk and Insurance Management Society.   In this episode, Justin interviews Randy Nornes, the 2025 Harry and Dorothy Goodell Award Winner, about his career. They talk about uncertainty and a long-term approach to risk. Randy won the 2025 Goodell Award for his lifetime achievements. He is a problem solver. Randy advises risk professionals not to focus on what they did yesterday, but on what is happening today, and to stay current with risks such as AI and cyber risk. Randy talks about how staying with Aon for years has given him the latitude to look across the company and focus on the next risk. Listen for tips on laying the groundwork before the risks.   Key Takeaways: [:01] About RIMS and RIMScast. [:16] About this episode of RIMScast. Our guest is 2025 Goodell Award Winner Randy Nornes. We will learn all about his fascinating career and his risk philosophies. But first… [:42] RIMS Virtual Workshops. On March 10th and 11th, we have a two-day course led by John Button for the RIMS-CRMP Exam Prep. [:53] On March 17th and 18th, RIMS will align with AFERM for a two-day RIMS-CRMP-FED Exam Prep Course. [1:01] On March 4th and 5th, we have a virtual workshop, "Facilitating Risk-Based Decision Making", with Joe Milan. On April 15th, we have a virtual workshop covering "Emerging Risks", led by Joseph Mayo. [1:18] Register today and strengthen your risk knowledge. RIMS members always enjoy deep discounts on the virtual workshops. [1:26] Webinars. On March 6th, RIMS presents "Hard Hats & High Stakes: Women Leaders Shaping Construction Risk Management". We'll be joined by a Chief Risk Officer, an underwriter, and a broker. [1:40] They will explore their career paths, risk and safety philosophies, and lend some insight as to why this is the time for the next generation of leaders to rise. [1:51] For a quick preview, check out last week's episode with Cynthia Garcia. She is the Chief Risk Officer from Bernards, who will be joining us on that exciting panel. [2:00] On March 12th, Global Risk Consultants returns with "Don't Waste the Soft Market: Where to Reinvest Insurance Savings Before the Window Closes". Register for these and other webinars by visiting RIMS.org/webinars and the links in this episode's show notes. [2:20] On with the Show! Our guest today, Randy Nornes, is the 2025 Harry and Dorothy Goodel Award Winner. [2:29] Named after the first President of RIMS and his wife, the Harry and Dorothy Goodell Award honors an individual who has furthered the goals of risk management and the Society through outstanding service and lifetime achievement. [2:41] Randy Nornes exemplifies all that and more. He has been with Aon for 38-plus years. Currently, Randy is the Executive Vice President and Enterprise Client Partner for Technology, Media, and the Communications Industry. He has done some volunteer work, which we will talk about. [3:00] Randy has a fascinating career. We're going to learn about it as well as his leadership style, his risk philosophy, and how he is keeping Aon at the forefront of AI innovation. [3:09] [If you've been to RISKWORLD, you've seen Randy in the halls and the educational sessions. He has been an ever-present force there. And he is a highly-regarded member of the Chicago RIMS Chapter. Let's get to it! [3:23] Interview! 2025 Goodel Award Winner, Randy Nornes, welcome to RIMScast! [3:44] Randy is proud of that award. He wonders, after receiving a lifetime achievement award, what's next? Retirement? Should he write a book? [4:11] On the day of the award, Randy was backstage with Martha Stewart and had a chance to visit with her and discuss risk management. [4:21] Randy's wife and one of his sons were in the audience. When Martha Stewart came out and spoke, she referred to their conversation. Randy gained credibility at home that Martha Stewart listened to what he had to say! [4:52] Justin says that RISKWORLD 2025 was fantastic! Randy says he has probably attended three dozen RISKWORLD conferences. He says they get better and are different every time. You can see, decade by decade, what's important. [5:31] There is a wonderful profile on Randy Nornes, written by Russ Banham, in the special Awards edition of RIMS Risk Management Magazine. It is still available online. That's how Justin got to know Randy Nornes before this interview. [5:57] Randy always tries to link up with what the next big thing is. Since late 2025, Randy has been leading Aon's AI infrastructure efforts, from the financing of data centers, to the construction, to the development, to the operation, and to the energy attached to that.  [6:28] AI is the next big thing. Randy says that 40% of GDP is coming through the lens of building AI infrastructure. Aon has a big team for it, and that's what Randy does every day. He says it's massive, exciting, and relentless. [7:03] Randy says, Because it's coming so fast and furious, it's not something you have time to sit back and think about. He says we're seeing this thing evolve week by week. It's global. Risk management is at the center of making it all work. [7:27] Randy says there's a different lens depending on where you sit in the AI infrastructure world. Everyone is thinking about the risks of the construction, the operation, the access to power, and the climate. It's all melded into one thing. [7:48] Randy calls the Chicago RIMS Chapter big and vibrant. Chicago is unique in having representation from so many different industries. It's not highly concentrated. People have a lot of lenses to look at risks through. It makes for good conversations. [8:11] Justin notes that last year's Risk Manager of the Year, Jennifer Pack, was from Chicago. The Rising Star, Megan Smalter, was originally from Chicago. Randy has spent time on the West and East Coasts, and he finds the Chicago Chapter unique, with 25 different industries. [8:49] Justin gives a shout-out to Julie Bean, the 2024 Heart of RIMS Award Winner. Justin says Randy is in great company. The talent coming out of Chicago brings something special to RIMS. [9:27] Randy was going to be a banker. A banker manages risk around lending and projects. It's not a huge leap to get to the world of risk management from there. [9:44] In the 1980s, it was a turbulent time for banking. We had just come out of a tough inflationary period, with real estate bankruptcies and banks and savings and loans going under. His advisor told him not to go into banking. [10:18] Randy interviewed someone from Chubb. Chubb was scaling up a new product, Directors' and Officers' insurance. Randy was good at case studies in business school. Underwriting D&O insurance is a case study. Randy thought he could do that job. [10:54] Randy started at Chubb and ended where he is today. In 1987, Randy moved to Frank B. Hall, acquired by Aon in 1992. He was young and a good worker, so he was kept by the company. He says it was a trip working alongside Pat Ryan and learning the business at Chubb. [11:48] Pat Ryan took Randy and others under his wing. He is a great mentor. Randy credits him for access. Randy mentions other early supporters, Al Diamond and Skip Dunn. With Pat Ryan, Randy was always looking for the next big risk to come along or a new framework. [13:00] In the 1990s, governance, Sarbanes-Oxley, and enterprise risk frameworks came to the forefront, following bankruptcies of major companies that had appeared to be successful. [13:28] When enterprise risk became a thing, it needed frameworks. That led Randy to build one of the first enterprise-risk-focused teams to help companies think about it. This was before COSO. [13:55] Randy says a lot of the clients they dealt with in those early days were in industries where someone had already gone through some trauma, and they wanted to make sure they weren't next up. It was a lot of, "Hurry up and make sure we're OK!" [14:26] Randy says, in the 1990s, they were doing risk modeling. The reinsurance teams had risk models that ran on AS400 mainframe computers. They had to book computing time to run a scenario with a set of assumptions. They would run 10,000 simulations in a day. [14:55] If they wanted to change the assumptions, they had to book another time. [15:02] Now it's all on the laptop. The quality of data is significantly higher. They can do it in real time. Risk managers today may not recognize how lucky they are. [15:24] Randy says, We're always trying to decide what problem we're trying to solve for and what we know about that particular issue. The modeling is the entry point to know what to do or what matters. [16:10] Randy thinks risk is a terrible word. We risk professionals have a hard time communicating with people who aren't in our space when we use the word risk. Everyone has a different definition of risk. Randy says everyone can get on board with certainty and uncertainty. [16:34] Randy says, what we're doing with modeling is trying to understand what the distance between certainty and uncertainty looks like. Then, we have to decide what's comfortable and where our tolerance is. Then, decide what to do with the part that we want to get rid of. [16:48] That's at the core of risk management, and it hasn't changed in decades. The tools we have now have changed dramatically. [16:56] Justin cites Christy Kaufman from the profile article, who said that Randy is far more than a traditional broker; he is a thought partner and a problem-solver. Justin asks what allows Randy to move beyond transactional work into a strategic advisory mindset. [17:19] Randy says insurance is a complete waste of money, unless you can show how you're adding value. You can get there by showing this uncertainty spectrum and understanding it. [17:58] Randy says the mindset is, "I've parachuted in. What do we have going on?" If I did that today, I'd be looking at supply chain issues. It's amazing when you have that lens. Early on, he looked at a supply chain that was "perfect, end-to-end" on spreadsheets. [18:27] Everything was manually entered. Managers were judged on average inventory levels, and wanted to keep the levels as low as possible. To game the system, they ran inventory at the lowest level.  [18:57] They would raise the inventory at the end of the month to make it look like they were on target. It was not a real-time inventory. It looked like risk management was fine, but the chance of a stockout or a long-term impact was pretty great. [19:24] A Quick Break! RISKWORLD 2026 will be held from May 3rd through the 6th in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. RISKWORLD attracts more than 10,000 risk professionals across the globe. It's time to Connect, Cultivate, and Collaborate with them. [19:43] Booth sales are open now. General registration and speaker registration are also open right now. Marketplace and hospitality badges will be available starting on March 3rd. Links are in this episode's show notes, and be sure to check out RIMS.org for more information. [20:02] Save the dates March 18th and 19th, 2026, for the RIMS Legislative Summit, which will be held in Washington, D.C.! Join us in Washington, D.C. for two days of Congressional meetings, networking, and advocating on behalf of the risk management community. [20:19] Visit RIMS.org/advocacy for more information and to register. Also, check out the prior episode of RIMScast, Episode 378, featuring RIMS General Counsel and Vice President of External Affairs, Mark Prysock, as we discuss the top priorities for RIMS in 2026 and beyond. [20:39] The Second Annual RIMS Texas Regional Conference will be held in San Antonio from August 10th through August 12th. [20:46] The call for submissions for educational sessions is open through March 18th. Check out the link in this episode's show notes and make a pitch! Hopefully, you get selected, and we'll see you in San Antonio! [20:59] Let's Return to Our Interview with 2025 Goodel Award Winner, Randy Nornes! [21:19] Justin asks how Randy delivers good or bad news to a high-level executive. Randy says he was gifted by his radio announcer father with a very calm demeanor. You're delivering what it is, based on some fact. Randy has had to deliver a lot of crazy facts over the years. [22:29] Early in his career, Randy had a financial institution client. They had some major issues. He was standing outside the boardroom, ready to go in to tell them whether they had insurance or not. They did not. He was on the phone with London, working out some coverage. [23:28] He got the message while he was in there that they had managed to land something for the client, so he could pivot. His colleagues said they couldn't believe how calm he had been, going in. [24:11] Randy says it's best to set the landscape with executives before extra risk is taken, showing alternatives and strategy, so if something happens, it was foreseen, you were just unlucky in that year. [24:53] If you hadn't done the front-end work and gotten everybody onboard to see why it was the right strategy, then the news of unanticipated issues gets a lot harder to deliver. [25:04] There's a lot of front-end work to do. To drop bad news on people without any prep is going to be a lot harder. Being transparent and on the same page, especially with finance people, makes communication easy. This flows up to the CFO and higher. Set the foundation. [25:51] Randy has 100s of people focused on data centers. They have analysts and use AI for some things. There are people from the financial institution vertical, construction, operations, cyber, AI, energy, and renewal. They gather together. It's multidisciplinary, under one umbrella. [27:05] Randy says his leadership style is collaborative. He tries to lift the whole team, orchestrating how it comes together. He lets them have the success they deserve. Randy is a strong proponent of mentorship. It's the secret to his success. [27:50] Randy has worked with some people for his entire career, as clients, colleagues, or competitors, and he stays connected with them. Hundreds of people fit that profile. [28:17] Another Quick Break! The Spencer Educational Foundation's Risk Manager on Campus application period will open on April 1st, 2026, and it will close on June 30th. Grant awardees, colleges, and universities are typically notified in September. [28:43] The Course Development Grant application deadline for Interval Number 2 will be on June 15th, 2026. Award notifications will be sent out in late July. [28:57] General Grant applications will open on May 1st, 2026, and the application deadline is July 30th. Internship Grant applications open on August 15th and close on October 15th. [29:10] Links to each of these grants are in this episode's show notes. Visit SpencerEd.org for more information. [29:18] Let's Conclude Our Interview with 2025 Goodel Award Winner, Randy Nornes. [29:39] Randy worked with Pat Ryan to lead the Risk Management and Financial Guarantee Team for Chicago's 2016 Summer Olympic bid. Randy says when Pat retired as CEO of Aon, he took on this project to head Chicago's Olympic bid. He invited Randy to the project. [30:19] In an Olympic Bid, the city has to sign a Host City Agreement that says they will take on the risks of delivering the Games. There's an effective financial guarantee. Globally, it is often done on a country level. That's not how it operates in the U.S. [30:43] Pat and Randy had to figure out how to de-risk the games so that what the city's guarantee would look like was limited because the team had built insurance and risk management. On the construction side, they had contractors take on risks. [31:03] They created a de-risking model. It was the first time anyone had done that for an Olympic Games. Chicago was not successful, but the work the team did on de-risking the Games became the model that a lot of Western cities took on for their Olympic bids. [32:03] Randy says you start with a line-item budget that the bid team puts out. A big part of it is the construction of venues, living spaces, technology, including massive broadcast bandwidth, tens of thousands of volunteers to transport and train, and secure. [32:35] Randy says they took the line-item budget and worked on each item separately, to create certainty and shrink the distance between certain and uncertain, so that when they put the umbrella guarantee on top of it, it touched a lot fewer things and had a lot more certainty. [33:01] The biggest thing the umbrella policy covered is delivering the Games on a certain date. No delays. All the costs are front-end. If, for some reason, the Games don't happen: terrorism, global war, or pandemic, you're stuck with all those front-end costs. It's the worst case. [33:39] The closer you get to the event, the more risk you have. Then you have the three or four weeks when you're delivering the Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games. [33:49] Randy says it was interesting. They did a white paper on it, "How to De-risk Games." It was done to encourage cities not to be afraid to host the Games. [34:19] Randy says, over the years, when cities in North America are bidding for Winter or Summer, they reach out, and Pat and Randy give them the template. San Francisco, LA, Boston, and Calgary all asked for it. [34:51] Most of the people on the Bid Committee were on the City level. It was Mayor Daley, his staff, and 50 aldermen. Randy says, We gave them lots of transparency into what we were doing. [35:16] Randy says they provided 1,200 pages of material, in 3-ring binders, for each of the aldermen. They also put all the text on discs to search electronically. Later, an alderman called Randy, angry because he couldn't listen to the disc in his car. Randy explained it to him. [3:24] Randy thinks a city should be thankful to host the Olympic Games. They make the city sparkle. The city gets a big influx of outside money. Chicago would have gotten a lot of Federal money. The transportation system would have been upgraded. It would make the city better. [36:49] Randy describes how London and Paris were improved by hosting the Olympic Games. If you're thinking of bidding, it's worth it. Randy wishes Chicago's bid had been successful. [37:33] Justin and Randy comment on the Milan Winter Olympics Opening and Closing Ceremonies. The next Winter Olympics will be on the French side of the Alps. [38:01] Justin says that Chicago is known for its colorful history of notorious characters. [38:45] Justin asks Randy about Project Six. Project Six came out of the Olympic Bid. Seeing corruption in the city government, Randy and a few committee members put together Project Six, referring to the six business leaders who partnered with Elliot Ness to go after Al Capone. [39:44] They set up Project Six as a nonprofit whistleblower organization so people could come to report corruption. They got hundreds of whistleblower tips. They published things and gave information on criminal activity to Federal prosecutors. [40:07] Some things were not criminal but unethical. When the Chicago Cubs were playing in the World Series, public officials paid face value for Cubs tickets instead of the market price. Project Six brought it to the ethics committee, and they changed that practice for tickets. [41:31] Randy says they did not make a lot of friends in public office. Project Six is closed. [41:47] Randy talks about angering a bunch of people in public office. They went after Project Six because they weren't getting whistleblower tips on Republicans. There might have been one Republican commissioner in Chicago. [42:20] Randy says some of the senior people they ruffled went after donors. So it was a better idea to shut it down. It ran for three and a half years. [42:41] Randy says the biggest frustration was how slow things move. It takes years for some convictions to go through. You would like justice to happen faster. Randy hopes that when high-profile people go to prison, others pause to consider. [43:59] Randy gives his advice on what separates a good risk manager or problem solver from a great one. He says not to get too focused on what you did yesterday. Every day, step back and ask, Am I still doing the right stuff? Am I focused on the right thing? [44:26] You have a fixed amount of money to spend to solve your risk problems. You're insuring your buildings for fire, but over time, you've engineered them to be fire-resistant. There is less risk. At the same time, you have AI, cyber risk, and new things that come in. [44:48] Is it better to direct money to solve cyber risk and take on more risk for property? Don't get hung up on what you did yesterday. Stepping back and staying on top of what's happening with the business has never been more important. [45:17] Businesses are transforming before our eyes, and AI is leading the transformation. Make sure you're interacting with your business to stay current on what the business is all about. [46:02] Randy says being at Aon a long time has given him a lot of latitude to do all the things he has done. He can look for new things, cut across the towers that exist and think about risk at the broadest level. [46:40] If you move company to company, you'll step into the new role, fix a few things, and move to the next company. You won't have the latitude to experiment with new things or ask what comes next. You're there because you're needed at that time. [47:07] Randy says, That can be comfortable. But don't get too comfortable and make sure you're staying current. [47:17] We really appreciate you joining us here on the show. I want to wish you congratulations again on the Goodel Award. It's a big honor here at RIMS, and you certainly deserve it. [47:27] I look forward to meeting you in Philadelphia, from May 3rd through the 6th at RISKWORLD! Thank you so much for joining us here on RIMScast, Randy! [47:40] Special thanks again to 2025 Goodel Award Winner, Randy Nornes, for joining us here on RIMSCast! A link to his profile in RIMS Risk Management Magazine's Awards Edition 2025 is in this episode's show notes. [47:57] He's one of our men in Chicago. Check out ChicagoRIMS.org. They have a live event coming up called "Nuclear Verdicts: Live Mock Trial for Evaluating Litigation Risk and Strategy"  at the Aon Center (Chicago), on March 11th. You might see Randy there! [48:14] We've got the Chicago RIMS Annual Golf Outing on September 21st, and the 11th Annual Chicagoland Risk Forum on September 24th at the Old Post Office in Chicago. They're one of our most active and vibrant chapters, so check out those events and visit ChicagoRIMS.org. [48:34] Plug Time! You can sponsor a RIMScast episode for this, our weekly show, or a dedicated episode. Links to sponsored episodes are in the show notes. [49:02] RIMScast has a global audience of risk and insurance professionals, legal professionals, students, business leaders, C-Suite executives, and more. Let's collaborate and help you reach them! Contact pd@rims.org for more information. [49:20] Become a RIMS member and get access to the tools, thought leadership, and network you need to succeed. Visit RIMS.org/membership or email membershipdept@RIMS.org for more information. [49:37] Risk Knowledge is the RIMS searchable content library that provides relevant information for today's risk professionals. Materials include RIMS executive reports, survey findings, contributed articles, industry research, benchmarking data, and more. [49:54] For the best reporting on the profession of risk management, read Risk Management Magazine at RMMagazine.com. It is written and published by the best minds in risk management. [50:08] Justin Smulison is the Business Content Manager at RIMS. Please remember to subscribe to RIMScast on your favorite podcasting app. You can email us at Content@RIMS.org. [50:20] Practice good risk management, stay safe, and thank you again for your continuous support!   Links: RIMS Legislative Summit — March 18-19, 2026 on Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C. | Register now! RISKWORLD 2026 Registration — Open for exhibitors, members, and non-members! Reserve your booth at RISKWORLD 2026! Spencer Educational Foundation — Scholarships and Grants RIMS Texas Regional Conference 2026 Education Content Submission — Deadline March 18, 2026! RIMS-CRO Certificate Program In Advanced Enterprise Risk Management | April ‒ June 2026 Cohort | Led by James Lam RIMS Compensation Survey 2025 — Download Today RIMS Risk Management magazine | Contribute | Awards Edition 2025 RIMS Now RIMS-Certified Risk Management Professional (RIMS-CRMP) | Insights Video Series Featuring Joe Milan! The Strategic and Enterprise Risk Center RIMS Diversity Equity Inclusion Council RIMS-CRMP Story, featuring John Button RIMScast Canada — Episodes Now Live RISK PAC | RIMS Advocacy Upcoming RIMS-CRMP Prep Virtual Workshops: RIMS-CRMP Exam PrepMarch 10‒11 | April 21‒22 | June 9‒10 RIMS-CRMP-FED Exam Prep with AFERM | March 17‒18 Full RIMS-CRMP Prep Course Schedule See the full calendar of RIMS Virtual Workshops RIMS Virtual Workshop – Facilitating Risk-Based Decision Making | March 4‒5 | Register Now Risk Appetite Management | March 25‒26 Claims Management | April 7‒8 Emerging Risks | April 15 | Register Now! Upcoming RIMS Webinars: Hard Hats & High Stakes: Women Leaders Shaping Construction Risk Management | March 6 | Presented by RIMS Don't Waste the Soft Market: Where to Reinvest Insurance Savings Before the Window Closes | March 12 | Sponsored by Global Risk Consultants RIMS.org/Webinars   Related RIMScast Episodes: "Investing In Yourself with RIMS 2026 President Manny Padilla" "RIMS 2024 Goodell Award Winner Eamonn Cunningham"   Sponsored RIMScast Episodes: Secondary Perils, Major Risks: The New Face of Weather-Related Challenges | Sponsored by AXA XL (New!) "The ART of Risk: Rethinking Risk Through Insight, Design, and Innovation" | Sponsored by Alliant "Mastering ERM: Leveraging Internal and External Risk Factors" | Sponsored by Diligent "Cyberrisk: Preparing Beyond 2025" | Sponsored by Alliant "The New Reality of Risk Engineering: From Code Compliance to Resilience" | Sponsored by AXA XL "Change Management: AI's Role in Loss Control and Property Insurance" | Sponsored by Global Risk Consultants, a TÜV SÜD Company "Demystifying Multinational Fronting Insurance Programs" | Sponsored by Zurich "Understanding Third-Party Litigation Funding" | Sponsored by Zurich "What Risk Managers Can Learn From School Shootings" | Sponsored by Merrill Herzog "Simplifying the Challenges of OSHA Recordkeeping" | Sponsored by Medcor "How Insurance Builds Resilience Against An Active Assailant Attack" | Sponsored by Merrill Herzog "Third-Party and Cyber Risk Management Tips" | Sponsored by Alliant   RIMS Publications, Content, and Links: RIMS Membership — Whether you are a new member or need to transition, be a part of the global risk management community! RIMS Virtual Workshops On-Demand Webinars RIMS-Certified Risk Management Professional (RIMS-CRMP) RISK PAC | RIMS Advocacy RIMS Strategic & Enterprise Risk Center RIMS-CRMP Stories — Featuring RIMS President Manny Padilla!   RIMS Events, Education, and Services: RIMS Risk Maturity Model®   Sponsor RIMScast: Contact sales@rims.org or pd@rims.org for more information.   Want to Learn More? Keep up with the podcast on RIMS.org, and listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.   Have a question or suggestion? Email: Content@rims.org.   Join the Conversation! Follow @RIMSorg on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.   About our guest: Randy Nornes, at Aon   Production and engineering provided by Podfly.

Welcome to RIMScast. Your host is Justin Smulison, Business Content Manager at RIMS, the Risk and Insurance Management Society.   In this episode, Justin interviews Cynthia Garcia about her career journey. She credits mentors and sponsors for paving the way for her success. Justin and Cynthia discuss the demands of the Chief Risk Officer role and how Cynthia works with stakeholders who have competing priorities. Cynthia shares her perspective on construction risk and safety. She is seeing more diversity in the rising generation of risk professionals, with amazing opportunities for all.   Cynthia shares how her Confucianist upbringing still makes it a struggle for her to receive recognition. Despite that, she posted on LinkedIn about receiving the 2025 Bill McIntyre Leadership Award at the International Risk Management Institute (IRMI) Construction Risk Conference. That post led Justin to reach out to her. Cynthia speaks of her involvement with the Spencer Educational Foundation, including being a Risk Manager on Campus. Justin and Cynthia talk about the March 6th Webinar, "Hard Hats & High Stakes: Women Leaders Shaping Construction Risk Management", that she joins as a featured panelist. Listen for tips on careers in risk management for construction.   Key Takeaways: [:01] About RIMS and RIMScast. [:16] About this episode of RIMScast. Our guest is Cynthia Garcia, the award-winning Chief Risk Officer for Bernards. We will talk all about her career in construction risk and get some "inspirado." But first… [:44] RIMS Virtual Workshops. On March 10th and 11th, we have a two-day course led by John Button for the RIMS-CRMP Exam Prep. [:55] On March 17th and 18th, RIMS will align with AFERM for a two-day RIMS-CRMP-FED Exam Prep Course. [1:02] On March 4th and 5th, we have a virtual workshop, "Facilitating Risk-Based Decision Making", with Joe Milan. On April 15th, we have a virtual workshop covering "Emerging Risks", led by Joseph Mayo. [1:20] Register today and strengthen your risk knowledge. RIMS members always enjoy deep discounts on the virtual workshops. [1:27] Webinars. On March 6th, RIMS presents "Hard Hats & High Stakes: Women Leaders Shaping Construction Risk Management". We'll be joined by a Chief Risk Officer, an underwriter, and a broker. [1:42] They will explore their career paths, risk and safety philosophies, and lend some insight as to why this is the time for the next generation of leaders to rise. [1:53] On March 12th, Global Risk Consultants returns with "Don't Waste the Soft Market: Where to Reinvest Insurance Savings Before the Window Closes". Register for these and other webinars by visiting RIMS.org/webinars and the links in this episode's show notes. [2:14] On with the Show! Our guest today is Cynthia Garcia. She is the Chief Risk Officer for Bernards. [2:22] Cynthia made a big impact on the risk landscape in 2025 when she received the Bill McIntyre Leadership Award from the International Risk Management Institute during its Construction Risk Conference. [2:35] I wanted to learn all about her career and what it's like to be the risk officer for a major construction company. [2:42] Earlier, I mentioned the March 6th RIMS Webinar, "Hard Hats and High Stakes," and Cynthia will, in fact, be the Chief Risk Officer mentioned there. [2:51] If you like what you hear in this episode and want to learn more about career development, construction risk, and why rising risk professionals should seize the opportunities in the construction sector, you can register for that Webinar. [3:04] Cynthia is a fascinating individual, and I am so pleased to present this interview! Let's get to it! [3:09] Interview! Cynthia Garcia, welcome to RIMScast! [3:27] Justin and Cynthia are going to be collaborating on a RIMS Webinar on March 6th, "Hard Hats and High Stakes." It's all about how women have and can continue to thrive in construction risk management. Cynthia is the ideal Chief Risk Officer to have on that panel. [3:46] Justin thanks Cynthia in advance for being on that panel and being a guest on RIMScast. [4:07] Cynthia is the CRO for Bernards, based in California. [4:33] Like many in her generation, Cynthia stumbled into risk management. She started as an administrative assistant for Morley Builders, an amazing employee-owned general contractor in Santa Monica, California. [4:52] She was fortunate to have several sponsors and mentors within the organization. They helped her see that she belonged at the table. They saw something in her that she hadn't seen in herself, which is the beauty of a mentor. [5:16] In spaces she was not in, they advocated for her and said, Why don't we give this to Cynthia? That's the beauty of a sponsor. Cynthia says she was blessed to be in the right place at the right time. She was able to lean in. [5:32] Cynthia says that the thing that attracts her about risk management and what she does is finding the hard yes. Risk management doesn't say, "No." [5:50] Risk management, when practicing its craft, is fully integrated with operations and understanding what the business needs. It is strategically aligned and helps make sure the organization is making those thoughtful business decisions that allow taking risks. [6:11] Then, risk management takes it to the next step to ask how this adds to our shareholder equity, how this aligns with who we want to be as a company and as people. Risk management threads the needle between entrepreneurship and "cowboyism." [6:28] Risk management leads with "Help me understand, and help us get to the hard yes. We can do it, but here are some of the things we need to do to make sure that it's successful."  [6:50] Cynthia always likes to start by making sure she is coming in with a lot of curiosity. She asks for help to understand what she's not seeing to try to connect the dots. If Cynthia doesn't understand the needs of her business partners, she's not creating value. [7:11] Cynthia joined Bernards as Chief Risk Officer four years ago next month (March). Bernards created the position for her. She says she's blessed to work with talented people. She credits an amazing group of rockstar individuals. She says a rising tide lifts all boats. [8:00] Cynthia says her team carries the weight and does it beautifully. She says the genius of true leadership is understanding we're paving the way for our replacement. Leaders who are afraid of talent need to pause and rethink what that means. [8:26] Cynthia's Risk and Safety team has 13 staff members. [8:45] Cynthia has a VP of Risk and Safety who is definitely a genius at making the wheels turn. He is Cynthia's only direct report. He does an amazing job setting the tone and the pace. [9:03] Cynthia says, We focus on listening to the voices of our internal and external customers. As an employee-owned company, we try to understand what our business partners need, whether it's accounting, finance, human resources, operations, or estimating. [9:22] Cynthia focuses on what our business partners need from risk management to help achieve mission success. [9:27] Cynthia says, from day to day, it's everything from safety to claims, to insurance issues, to coverage questions, but a fair part of the job is when business teams proactively reach out with questions about issues that have come up. [9:50] Cynthia says the beauty of being in a smaller organization is that Risk Management is not siloed. It's not just insurance and claims but also litigation management and contracts. Risk partners closely with the CHRO on policies and employment practices. [10:13] Risk partners closely with Finance and Accounting on a variety of issues. Cynthia feels it is fortunate that Risk is viewed and valued as an internal resource to its business partners and part of the critical strategy to achieve the company's goals. [10:41] Bernards has a little fewer than 400 employee-owners. Cynthia credits Finance and Accounting for paying vendors on time and treating trade partners fairly. She credits Marketing for helping the brand, highlighting company accomplishments, and creating community buzz. [11:30] Cynthia credits the very customer-centric Tech team, who have helped her a lot, and the Virtual Construction Design team, who help with clash detection and getting ahead of constructability issues early on. [11:59] She notes the estimating team getting ahead of what's out there and making sure we have the right projects to go after. It takes a village. [12:14] Cynthia says we like to think all of us employee-owners have a vested interest in mission success. We're all in construction. [12:27] Quick Break! RISKWORLD 2026 will be held from May 3rd through the 6th in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. RISKWORLD attracts more than 10,000 risk professionals across the globe. It's time to Connect, Cultivate, and Collaborate with them. [12:45] Booth sales are open now. General registration and speaker registration are also open right now. Marketplace and hospitality badges will be available starting on March 3rd. Links are in this episode's show notes, and be sure to check out RIMS.org for more information. [13:04] Save the dates March 18th and 19th, 2026, for the RIMS Legislative Summit, which will be held in Washington, D.C.! Join us in Washington, D.C. for two days of Congressional meetings, networking, and advocating on behalf of the risk management community. [13:20] Visit RIMS.org/advocacy for more information and to register. Also, check out the prior episode of RIMScast, Episode 378, featuring RIMS General Counsel and Vice President of External Affairs, Mark Prysock, as we discuss the top priorities for RIMS in 2026 and beyond. [13:41] Let's Return to Our Interview with Bernards' Chief Risk Officer, Cynthia Garcia! [13:58] When Cynthia joined Bernards, there were about 10 people on the Risk and Safety team. Then they went into remodel mode, with a different strategic vision. Continuous improvement is a Bernards core value. It's a 52-year-old company with processes and talent in place. [14:27] Cynthia says we've been looking at the areas where we can have the greatest impact, picking off the low-hanging fruit first, and then building out processes that allow us to scale without reinventing ourselves every few years. [14:57] Cynthia says safety is our priority. Bernards added safety to its core values this year. Cynthia says it was a grass-roots movement. It percolated up through Operations and said, This is who we need to be. [15:24] Cynthia says a risk management team's job is to safeguard all the resources of the organization. That includes people and things, clients, and trade partners. The Risk and Safety team has a holistic view. They can't be good by themselves. They can't be safe by themselves. [15:42] For Cynthia, safety takes on a larger meaning than physical well-being, including creating spaces where people are allowed to be vulnerable. [15:57] Cynthia talks about leading with empathy, with top priority not only for physical safety but also for a psychologically safe environment, where you can show up, be seen, heard, and thrive. [16:41] Cynthia says she works on building connections through conflict. For what could be tough conversations, it helps if you are willing to check your ego at the door and come in curious. Cynthia often states her intention up front. [17:01] Cynthia might say, "My intention isn't to challenge you, it's to have you help me understand your perspective and help me see what I'm missing." Cynthia says she asks a billion questions because there is so much she doesn't know. She always tries to get with the "why." [17:32] Cynthia says, When I try to understand what it is that my counterpart needs to happen, then we can figure out the path forward together. As employee-owners, our goals are aligned. We're looking in the same direction. [17:52] Cynthia says, We may fuss with the GPS a little bit, but we know the destination is set and we have a commitment to one another. Once we are willing to shut up, listen, and ask the questions to learn, then we can figure out how to be of service. [18:16] Cynthia says her job isn't to convince, it's first to understand. [18:22] A Quick Break! The Spencer Educational Foundation's Risk Manager on Campus application period will open on April 1st, 2026, and it will close on June 30th. Grant awardees, colleges, and universities are typically notified in September. [18:51] The Course Development Grant application deadline for Interval Number 2 will be on June 15th, 2026. Award notifications will be sent out in late July. [19:06] General Grant applications will open on May 1st, 2026, and the application deadline is July 30th. Internship Grant applications open on August 15th and close on October 15th. [19:18] Links to each of these grants are in this episode's show notes. Visit SpencerEd.org for more information. [19:27] Let's Conclude Our Interview with Bernards' Chief Risk Officer, Cynthia Garcia. [19:41] As Cynthia mentioned earlier, Bernards is employee-owned. Cynthia thinks that Bernards being 100% employee-owned makes all its employee-owners better businesspeople. The heart of risk management is making those good choices. [20:27] Looking across the table and knowing she is betting with her fellow owner's retirement, makes Cynthia think about that a little bit differently. She thinks the employee ownership structure lends itself to amazing risk management. [20:49] Cynthia says you have to be disciplined. You're not spending somebody else's money on this. We're working together, and when we all make good choices, we are ultimately rewarding ourselves and impacting future generational owners, too. That's quite meaningful. [21:09] Cynthia says it's the best of both worlds. You have the umbrella of a big company paying the bills, but you're rewarded for smart entrepreneurism. [21:27] Cynthia has a long-term view when making decisions. It's not about what's in it for her. It's how does this support who we want to be today, and who we want to try to be tomorrow? It makes us look further into the horizon. [22:24] May 4th through May 8th, 2026, is Safety Week, here in the U.S. That coincides with RISKWORLD 2026. Cynthia will be at RISKWORLD. [22:41] Cynthia says for Safety Week, Bernards has planned activities on each job site to highlight the good things that men and women are doing to build the communities in which they work and live, and doing them in such a way that they go home to families and loved ones. [23:01] Justin notes that settlements from construction site accident injuries can be astronomical. Part of Cynthia's job is to minimize accidents from the outset, which connects to Bernards' core value safety-first mindset. [23:34] Cynthia says client response has been amazing. Recently, one of the project executives at Bernards was invited to the school district and won an award acknowledging their efforts on safety. That felt good because it wasn't Bernards saying it, but the clients saying we see it. [23:58] Bernards has trademarked "A Better Experience." It's a phrase they are proud of. They're building not only to create a better experience for their employee-owners, but also for project success for owners who value safety. [24:15] Bernards is a large school builder, working on many programs up and down the state. Bernards is cognizant of the impact they are having on the future generation of leaders and citizens. They're very grateful to have that acknowledgement from their clients. It's special. [25:29] Cynthia says she is absolutely seeing more opportunities for women in risk management and in construction. Construction tends to be inclusive. It's an industry filled with optimists. Its people bring that can-do attitude. They are very generous and gracious with their support. [26:13] Cynthia says she has been in the risk profession for about 30 years. The demographics have changed, and she sees diversity in the new young talent permeating the industry. [27:10] Cynthia thinks the work that the Spencer Educational Foundation does in partnership with RIMS is tremendous. She says it is amazing that colleges and universities are offering the Risk Management and Insurance degree and concentration. Cynthia never heard of that before. [27:35] Cynthia says that people her age moved into risk management from adjacent areas. She is pleased that now people come into risk management intentionally. She talks about risk managers trying to figure out how to help businesses thrive and grow to the next level. [28:47] Cynthia is one of Spencer's Risk Managers on Campus. She explains how the grants to colleges work. Spencer works tirelessly to make sure the next generation of leaders know what an amazing career this is and the opportunities it offers. Cynthia is grateful to be part of it. [30:15] Justin mentions that other Risk Manager On Campus risk professionals have been guests on RIMScast, and they have inspiring stories to tell. They love reaching the young people who are going to be the future of the profession. [30:35] Megan Miller, Spencer CEO, was a recent RIMScast guest. Check out SpencerEd.org for grants and opportunities. If you know somebody interested, send them the link to explore. If they connect with people like Cynthia through the RMOC grant, their experience will be richer. [31:28] Cynthia came to Justin's attention through a LinkedIn post about her being honored as the 2025 Bill McIntyre Leadership Award recipient at the International Risk Management Institute (IRMI) Construction Risk Conference. [32:08] Cynthia says you're always a little bit surprised but so pleased when you get acknowledged by your peers. As IRMI is pre-eminent in the construction risk management space, it was more special to Cynthia, as she knew of the great work they did. [32:33] Cynthia remembers starting in risk management and going to them as a resource. She knows the people who make IRMI thrive. They're people Cynthia looks up to. She is very grateful that it was her turn to be acknowledged. She feels there are way more qualified folks out there! [33:41] Cynthia says she is an immigrant. English is her second language. She is Korean and grew up in a Confucianist household. In terms of philosophy, you should be seen, not heard. The collective win is celebrated. [34:06] Cynthia has had to work to get over the heebie-jeebies about self-promotion or what could be viewed as arrogance. She's working on it and doing better at accepting compliments. It's an opportunity to show others who are coming up behind her that diversity exists. [34:45] Cynthia says it's hard for us to visualize ourselves in a role without models who came before us. What are the opportunities that exist? Can I also think about this? Cynthia said the marketing team is genius. Justin said that was what caught his eye on LinkedIn. [35:19] Cynthia says she is very fortunate to be supported by so much talent and such a community that helps uplift you. [35:27] Justin comments that the "seen and not heard" thing is not just Confucianism, but also old-world Brooklynism. His old relatives said, "Children should be seen and not heard." [35:52] Cynthia says we all have shared experiences within our collective. People tend to focus on the differences. It is important to celebrate our differences, but there's so much more in common, regardless of the geography and the generation in which we were raised. [36:10] There is so much in shared value. Cynthia says she is constantly inspired by those stories of people who saw a different future or leaned into a hand up. That motivates her to try to be better and drives her. [36:35] Justin says posting is a networking opportunity too. If that post had not gone up, Justin would not have met Cynthia. It's a way to broaden your network and meet more people. Justin says it's OK to do a humblebrag. Justin is known as the shameless self-promoter. [37:11] Justin says it is very special when you are acknowledged outside your company. [37:20] Cynthia's post triggered a series of events, one of which is, in recognition of Women's History Month, RIMS will present the webinar on March 6th, "Hard Hats & High Stakes: Women Leaders Shaping Construction Risk Management", with Cynthia as a featured panelist. [37:38] Cynthia will provide the CRO perspective. Also on the panel are Danette Beck from Astrus and Jessica Risullo from WTW. Cynthia shares how she knows these amazing, trailblazing women. Cynthia is grateful to be on a panel with them. They're rockstars! [38:47] Justin says it's going to be excellent! The link is in this episode's show notes, or visit RIMS.org/webinars. Megan Miller, the CEO of the Spencer Educational Foundation, will kick things off with a special introduction. [39:15] It's going to be a wonderful way to observe and celebrate Women's History Month, ahead of RISKWORLD and Construction Safety Awareness Week. [39:30] Justin thanks Cynthia for joining us on RIMScast, sharing with listeners her construction risk perspective and career path. There's a lot to take away. Justin thanks Cynthia for her perspective and her time. [39:45] Cynthia says she appreciates Justin and the work RIMS is doing to put a spotlight on our amazing industry and the opportunities that exist. She says she is grateful for the opportunities Justin and RIMS are creating and thoughtfully curating. [40:04] Special thanks again to Cynthia Garcia for joining us here on RIMScast. You can hear more from her directly on March 6th during the RIMS Webinar "Hard Hats & High Stakes: Women Leaders Shaping Construction Risk Management". [40:17] RIMS members, keep in mind that RIMS Webinars are complimentary for you. That is one of the many benefits of a RIMS membership. Visit RIMS.org/webinars and the link in this episode's show notes to register. That's going to be a fantastic session! [40:34] Plug Time! You can sponsor a RIMScast episode for this, our weekly show, or a dedicated episode. Links to sponsored episodes are in the show notes. [41:03] RIMScast has a global audience of risk and insurance professionals, legal professionals, students, business leaders, C-Suite executives, and more. Let's collaborate and help you reach them! Contact pd@rims.org for more information. [41:21] Become a RIMS member and get access to the tools, thought leadership, and network you need to succeed. Visit RIMS.org/membership or email membershipdept@RIMS.org for more information. [41:38] Risk Knowledge is the RIMS searchable content library that provides relevant information for today's risk professionals. Materials include RIMS executive reports, survey findings, contributed articles, industry research, benchmarking data, and more. [41:55] For the best reporting on the profession of risk management, read Risk Management Magazine at RMMagazine.com. It is written and published by the best minds in risk management. [42:09] Justin Smulison is the Business Content Manager at RIMS. Please remember to subscribe to RIMScast on your favorite podcasting app. You can email us at Content@RIMS.org. [42:21] Practice good risk management, stay safe, and thank you again for your continuous support!   Links: RIMS Legislative Summit — March 18‒19, 2026 on Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C. | Register now! RISK PAC | RIMS Advocacy RISKWORLD 2026 Registration — Open for exhibitors, members, and non-members! Reserve your booth at RISKWORLD 2026! Construction Safety Week RIMS-CRO Certificate Program In Advanced Enterprise Risk Management | April‒June 2026 Cohort | Led by James Lam RIMS Compensation Survey 2025 — Download Today RIMS Risk Management magazine | Contribute RIMS Now RIMS-Certified Risk Management Professional (RIMS-CRMP) | Insights Video Series Featuring Joe Milan! The Strategic and Enterprise Risk Center RIMS Diversity Equity Inclusion Council RIMS-CRMP Story, featuring John Button RIMScast Canada — Debut Episode Now Live Spencer Educational Foundation — Scholarships and Grants RIMS Texas Regional Conference 2026 Education Content Submission — Deadline March 18, 2026! Hard Hats & High Stakes: Women Leaders Shaping Construction Risk Management | March 6 | Presented by RIMS — Featuring Today's Guest, Cynthia Garcia! Upcoming RIMS-CRMP Prep Virtual Workshops: RIMS-CRMP Exam PrepMarch 10‒11 | April 21‒22 | June 9‒10 RIMS-CRMP-FED Exam Prep with AFERM | March 17‒18 Full RIMS-CRMP Prep Course Schedule See the full calendar of RIMS Virtual Workshops RIMS Virtual Workshop — "Facilitating Risk-Based Decision Making" | March 4‒5 | Register Now "Risk Appetite Management" | March 25‒26 "Claims Management" | April 7‒8 "Emerging Risks" | April 15 | Register Now! Upcoming RIMS Webinars: "Hard Hats & High Stakes: Women Leaders Shaping Construction Risk Management" | March 6 | Presented by RIMS "Don't Waste the Soft Market: Where to Reinvest Insurance Savings Before the Window Closes" | March 12 | Sponsored by Global Risk Consultants RIMS.org/Webinars   Related RIMScast Episodes: "Investing In Yourself with RIMS 2026 President Manny Padilla" "Strategic Risk Career Transitions with Susan Hiteshew" "Supply Chain Integrity and Sustainability with Nicole Sherwin of EcoVadis"   Sponsored RIMScast Episodes: "Secondary Perils, Major Risks: The New Face of Weather-Related Challenges" | Sponsored by AXA XL (New!) "The ART of Risk: Rethinking Risk Through Insight, Design, and Innovation" | Sponsored by Alliant "Mastering ERM: Leveraging Internal and External Risk Factors" | Sponsored by Diligent "Cyberrisk: Preparing Beyond 2025" | Sponsored by Alliant "The New Reality of Risk Engineering: From Code Compliance to Resilience" | Sponsored by AXA XL "Change Management: AI's Role in Loss Control and Property Insurance" | Sponsored by Global Risk Consultants, a TÜV SÜD Company "Demystifying Multinational Fronting Insurance Programs" | Sponsored by Zurich "Understanding Third-Party Litigation Funding" | Sponsored by Zurich "What Risk Managers Can Learn From School Shootings" | Sponsored by Merrill Herzog "Simplifying the Challenges of OSHA Recordkeeping" | Sponsored by Medcor "How Insurance Builds Resilience Against An Active Assailant Attack" | Sponsored by Merrill Herzog "Third-Party and Cyber Risk Management Tips" | Sponsored by Alliant   RIMS Publications, Content, and Links: RIMS Membership — Whether you are a new member or need to transition, be a part of the global risk management community! RIMS Virtual Workshops On-Demand Webinars RIMS-Certified Risk Management Professional (RIMS-CRMP) RISK PAC | RIMS Advocacy RIMS Strategic & Enterprise Risk Center RIMS-CRMP Stories — Featuring RIMS President Manny Padilla!   RIMS Events, Education, and Services: RIMS Risk Maturity Model®   Sponsor RIMScast: Contact sales@rims.org or pd@rims.org for more information.   Want to Learn More? Keep up with the podcast on RIMS.org, and listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.   Have a question or suggestion? Email: Content@rims.org.   Join the Conversation! Follow @RIMSorg on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.   About our guest: Cynthia Garcia, Risk Manager at Bernards   Production and engineering provided by Podfly.

It's YOUR time to #EdUp with Karolyn Pearson, Senior Executive Vice President Operations, EducationDynamics, Matt Harris, Sr. Director of Communications, & Scott Bacon, Senior Vice President for External Affairs, Jacksonville UniversityIn this episode, recorded Live from the 2026 InsightsEDU Conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, February 17-19,YOUR host is ⁠⁠Dr. Joe SallustioHow does AI create feedback loops for crisis comms by writing coverage in both positive & negative light to prepare for multiple scenarios?Why use AI as thought partner to craft narratives around financial challenges when media members are using AI too?What makes strategic PR shift narrative from lazy financial challenge coverage to addressing workforce needs with Mayo Clinic & Baptist Health partnerships?Listen in to #EdUpThank YOU so much for tuning in. Join us on the next episode for YOUR time to EdUp!Connect with YOUR EdUp Team - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvin Freytes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠& ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Dr. Joe Sallustio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠● Join YOUR EdUp community at ⁠The EdUp Experience⁠We make education YOUR business!P.S. Want to get early, ad-free access & exclusive leadership content to help support the show? Become an #EdUp Premium Member today!

Baillee Brown is Head of Government and External Affairs at Inclusive Abundance, which works to help members of Congress get more interested in abundance-policy areas, principally housing, energy, science, innovation, and good governance.She worked on Capitol Hill for 10 years, for Congressman Scott Peters from San Diego. She began as scheduler, moved to the legislative team, and was most recently his chief of staff in the DC office.For the full transcript of this conversation, go to www.statecraft.pub. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.statecraft.pub

A fast-track consent is currently being sought for a major gold mine in Cromwell, Central Otago.  This follows the approval of a controversial $8 billion dollar mine that received fast-track approval for the Coromandel in December.  Local response has largely presented environmental concerns, and raise questions of alternative initiatives for mineral mining in Aotearoa.  Producer Jasmine Gray spoke to Sue Coutts, Director of External Affairs at Zero Waste Aotearoa, about the potential of e-waste and a circular economy for mining gold and other materials.

Welcome to RIMScast. Your host is Justin Smulison, Business Content Manager at RIMS, the Risk and Insurance Management Society.   In this episode, Justin interviews RIMS General Counsel Mark Prysock on RIMS Public Policy Focus in 2026.   The RIMS Public Policy Committee is focusing on several legislative issues in 2026. These include the reauthorization of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act, a federal government backstop in the event of a catastrophic terrorist attack. The bipartisan legislation would reauthorize program funding through 2034.   The Public Policy Committee is tracking an association tax reform proposal to levy a 21% tax on nonprofits' net earnings. Republicans and Democrats together are interested in the potential tax revenue of this proposal. RIMS serves on the Steering Committee of an association coalition led by ASAE to try stop this new tax from moving forward.   Other legislative interests include reforming the National Flood Insurance Program, mandating disclosures around third-party litigation funding of civil lawsuits, and providing the risk management perspective on various cybersecurity and data privacy initiatives.   This year's Legislative Summit, scheduled for March 18th and 19th in Washington, DC, will allow RIMS members to meet with their members of Congress to discuss these issues. Registration for the Summit is now open. Justin and Mark discuss these topics and more in today's interview.   Finally, if you haven't already done so, please consider contributing to RISK PAC, the Society's political action committee.   Key Takeaways: [:01] About RIMS and RIMScast. [:16] About this episode of RIMScast. Our guest is RIMS General Counsel and VP of External Affairs, Mark Prysock. He's here to tell us what's going on with RIMS advocacy efforts and the top items on our legislative agenda in 2026 and beyond. But first… [:47] RIMS Virtual Workshops. On March 10th and 11th, we have a two-day course led by John Button for the RIMS-CRMP Exam Prep. [:57] On March 17th and 18th, RIMS will align with AFERM for a two-day RIMS-CRMP-FED Exam Prep Course. [1:06] On March 4th and 5th, we have a virtual workshop, "Facilitating Risk-Based Decision Making", with Joe Milan. On April 15th, we have a virtual workshop covering "Emerging Risks", led by Joseph Mayo. [1:22] Register today and strengthen your risk knowledge. RIMS members always enjoy deep discounts on the virtual workshops. [1:29] Webinars. On March 6th, RIMS presents "Hard Hats & High Stakes: Women Leaders Shaping Construction Risk Management". We'll be joined by a Chief Risk Officer, an underwriter, and a broker. [1:43] They will explore their career paths, risk and safety philosophies, and lend some insight as to why this is the time for the next generation of leaders to rise. [1:54] On March 12th, Global Risk Consultants returns with "Don't Waste the Soft Market: Where to Reinvest Insurance Savings Before the Window Closes". Register for these and other webinars by visiting RIMS.org/webinars and the links in this episode's show notes. [2:12] The RIMS 2025 Compensation Survey is now available through the link in this episode's show notes. The survey incorporates data from 867 U.S. and 201 Canadian Risk Professionals. Download it today and see how you measure up to your peers. [2:32] RIMScast has its first spinoff, RIMScast Canada! It is a video podcast hosted by RIMS Canada Conference Committee Chair, Aaron Lukoni, with Justin as co-host. Check it out at RIMS.org/canada. This is a monthly series, and we are stoked to share it with you! [2:57] On with the Show! Our guest today is Mark Prysock, the General Counsel and Vice President of External Affairs here at RIMS. It is always wonderful to have him on the show. [3:07] He's here to remind us of the RIMS legislative priorities of 2026 and how they will be addressed during the RIMS Legislative Summit on March 18th and 19th in Washington, D.C., and who qualifies to attend. [3:19] He will also talk about what else we can expect in the way of public policies that RIMS would like to prevent, and those we support. There are lots of links in this episode's notes. You can visit RIMS.org/advocacy, as well. [3:30] Let's learn about the policies that are changing the risk landscape. [3:34] Interview! Mark Prysock, welcome back to RIMScast! [4:15] Mark says the RIMS priorities for 2026 include third-party litigation funding, where third parties, often from other countries, invest in civil litigation. This is of great concern from a national security perspective.  [5:22] If a foreign firm wants to invest in a lawsuit against a defense manufacturer, that foreign investor will have access to everything that comes out in discovery. [5:36] There's a lot of information that can be gleaned through civil litigation. That is a national security concern. That's one of the things we are hoping Congress will address. [5:55] Justin notes that RIMS had a couple of webinars about TPLF in 2025. The webinar panelists were incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about prevention. They covered ways to spot it and what to do about it. [6:21] Mark states that there is a strong link between TPLF agreements and nuclear verdicts for substantial amounts of money. [6:34] There's a real risk from a commercial insurance buyer's perspective if you are in an industry that is subject to TLPF arrangements, that the insurance for these types of lawsuits could dry up or become substantially more expensive. This could be extremely problematic. [7:15] Congress is considering reauthorizing the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA). There is bipartisan support for it. The full House will be voting on it before too long. This may get wrapped before the RIMS Legislative Summit. The reauthorization would extend through 2034. [7:40] Mark says that overall, RIMS would support a long-term reauthorization of the program. [9:25] A proposal to tax the net earnings of non-profits came up almost two years ago. Some members of Congress feel that non-profits compete with for-profit organizations but don't bear the same tax burdens. Congress is always looking for new revenue streams. [11:08] Congress is not done with budget bills and comprehensive tax bills. If there is a bill that comes forward this year, RIMS will try to make sure that there are no changes in the way that non-profits are taxed. [11:28] Justin points out that RIMS is serving on the steering committee of a broad-based association coalition led by the American Society of Association Executives. It's called the Community Impact Coalition. A substantial number of associations in the D.C. area are involved. [11:50] Being on the steering committee means that RIMS plays a very active role in settling on the legislative strategy in dealing with this issue. [12:01] Mark says it's great to be involved in working with this group. They had a great deal of success last year in making sure none of these new tax provisions were included in the budget reconciliation bill. [12:15] WMark says that we just need to make sure again, for the last half of this session of Congress, that those tax provisions don't rear their ugly heads again. [12:24] Justin states that we love ASAE at RIMS. In 2023, RIMScast won an NYSAE Award for MarCom Excellence. [12:40] Justin asks about the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). It is typically funded as part of the Continuing Resolution, a bill that funds the federal government in general. That bill is considered by Congress every three to nine months. [13:22] We often reach a point where the issues regarding the Continuing Resolution are hashed out at the eleventh hour. Sometimes, they're not, and the government experiences a partial shutdown, which, at the time of recording this episode, we are currently in. [13:42] At present, the NFIP is not funded. RIMS advocates for the NFIP to be reauthorized, with enhancements, for an extended time, such as two or three years. However, if it were not part of the Continuing Resolution, it would no longer be considered must-pass, and it might go away. [15:31] Mark talks about attending the RIMS Legislative Summit. You may attend if you are a RIMS member working for a company that does business in the United States. [15:37] Mark says we are looking for RIMS members who represent companies that are constituents of Members of Congress, so you can go in, talk to a Member, say I am here on behalf of RIMS, and I work for a company that has X number of employees in your district. [15:59] Say that these are some risk management issues that my company is facing right now. I'd like to talk to you about those, if I could. [16:08] Quick Break! The RIMS CRO Certificate Program in Advanced Enterprise Risk Management is RIMS' live virtual program, led by James Lam. Great News! A brand new cohort has been announced. Registration closes on April 6th. [16:29] Beginning on April 14th, bi-weekly workshops will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time through June 23rd. Register now! A link is also in this episode's show notes. [16:42] February is Insurance Careers Month! That coincides nicely with the Spencer Educational Foundation's 7th Annual Spencer Day, which will be February 23rd. [16:54] Spencer's CEO, Megan Miller, was recently a guest on RIMScast, and we were discussing how everyone can join in this virtual celebration. Spencer is seeking $47 donations in honor of its 47th year. [17:11] The goal on Spencer Day is to raise $7,500 to support an additional scholarship, which will be awarded in the Spring. A link to Spencer Day information is in this episode's show notes. Visit Spencered.org/spencer-day. [17:27] Let's Return to Our Interview with RIMS General Counsel and Vice President of External Affairs, Mark Prysock! [17:58] Mark says the RIMS Legislative Summit will take place in Washington, D.C., on March 18th and 19th. March 18th is Education Day, held at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Building in D.C. There will be training on the various advocacy issues. [18:28] There will be panel discussions around third-party litigation funding, reauthorizing the National Flood Insurance Program, and association tax reform. They bring together many people from the D.C. community to talk about these issues. [18:45] This includes lobbyists, people from the administration, Congressional staffers, and people who are going to bring different perspectives to provide RIMS attendees with a well-rounded understanding of each of these issues. [19:04] After that, there will be a basic presentation on how to lobby Members of Congress, with all the dos and don'ts. By that time, RIMS members will be ready to go. There will be one-page leave-behinds that outline an issue in depth and have a specific ask for Members of Congress. [19:27] Mark says we'll make sure that those one-pagers are transmitted to all the Congressional offices we'll be visiting, before our meetings, and also have printed leave-behinds for our members to take with them when they go to the Hill. [19:41] Thursday, March 19th, will be a full day. We release the hounds! Everybody hits the Hill, talks to Congressional staff members, and maybe Members of Congress, about our legislative priorities. [20:11] Mark says the pitch in 2025 was solid. One issue, the Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow's Workforce Act, liberalized the use of 529 College Savings Accounts for credentials, certifications, and things that might advance their careers in other ways. [21:06] There was very strong bipartisan support in the House and the Senate. Mark says RIMS participated in a very effective lobbying campaign on this. That legislation was passed into law using the exact language that our lobbying campaign recommended. [21:28] For Mark, that was a high point from last year's RIMS Legislative Summit. Another high point was the attendance numbers. There were about 100 Congressional visits in total. RIMS was very well-represented last year, and Mark hopes we outdo ourselves this year. [21:52] A Final Break! RISKWORLD 2026 will be held from May 3rd through the 6th in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. RISKWORLD attracts more than 10,000 risk professionals from across the globe. It's time to Connect, Cultivate, and Collaborate with them. [22:12] General registration is open, and you can lock in the Advance Rates through February 28th. Marketplace and Hospitality Badges will be available starting March 3rd. Links are in the show notes. Check RIMS.org for more information. [22:29] Let's Conclude Our Interview with RIMS General Counsel and Vice President of External Affairs, Mark Prysock. [22:48] Beyond the Legislative Summit, the RIMS Public Policy Committee wants to work very closely with the RISK PAC Trustees to raise awareness around RISK PAC and the important role that it plays in supporting our legislative program. [23:05] RISK PAC is the RIMS political action committee. It's a vehicle to raise personal funds from RIMS members and use those dollars to support the reelection campaigns of Members of Congress who RIMS believes already support our issues or are in a position of influence. [23:38] Mark says we have some fairly exciting new things happening with RISK PAC this year. The first is a fundraising reception at RISKWORLD on Sunday afternoon, just before the opening general reception. [24:29] Any RIMS member who is a U.S. citizen can support the RISK PAC. Make a contribution to the PAC in order to attend. [24:58] RISK PAC will have a fundraiser at the Florida RIMS Conference in July. They are planning on more exposure at other regional conferences this year, as well. [25:36] Mark expects a lot of good things to happen for the RISK PAC this year, and hopes to raise a good amount of money to support our legislative initiatives. [26:14] Mark says TRIA is becoming a new, very relevant issue to the risk management community. It's all about extending an existing program. [26:39] Last week's RIMScast guest was RIMS's 70th President, Manny Padilla. Mark says Manny has been a long-time supporter of the Public Policy Program and Committee. He's a financial supporter of RISK PAC. He's a regular attendee at the RIMS Legislative Summit. [27:41] Having someone in the President's role who is enthusiastic and supportive of our Public Policy Program is great for us. [27:50] Mark says that Manny Padilla has been great for connecting the Public Policy Committee with other people working on similar issues. [28:10] Justin and Mark look forward to speaking more, later in the year, about what is accomplished on these issues. [28:33] If you have any questions before the RIMS Legislative Summit, you can visit RIMS.org/advocacy or reach out to Mark Prysock directly. He'd love to hear from you. [28:53] Special thanks again to Mark Prysock for joining us here on RIMScast and providing these very critical advocacy and legislative updates. The RIMS Legislative Summit will be held on March 18th and 19th. [29:10] Register today at RIMS.org/advocacy. There is also information about the RISK PAC. We want you to get involved and take part in advocating for your profession! [29:26] Plug Time! You can sponsor a RIMScast episode for this, our weekly show, or a dedicated episode. Links to sponsored episodes are in the show notes. [29:54] RIMScast has a global audience of risk and insurance professionals, legal professionals, students, business leaders, C-Suite executives, and more. Let's collaborate and help you reach them! Contact pd@rims.org for more information. [30:12] Become a RIMS member and get access to the tools, thought leadership, and network you need to succeed. Visit RIMS.org/membership or email membershipdept@RIMS.org for more information. [30:31] Risk Knowledge is the RIMS searchable content library that provides relevant information for today's risk professionals. Materials include RIMS executive reports, survey findings, contributed articles, industry research, benchmarking data, and more. [30:47] For the best reporting on the profession of risk management, read Risk Management Magazine at RMMagazine.com. It is written and published by the best minds in risk management. [31:01] Justin Smulison is the Business Content Manager at RIMS. Please remember to subscribe to RIMScast on your favorite podcasting app. You can email us at Content@RIMS.org. [31:13] Practice good risk management, stay safe, and thank you again for your continuous support!   Links: RIMS Legislative Summit – March 18‒19, 2026 on Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C. | Register now! RISK PAC | RIMS Advocacy RISKWORLD 2026 Registration – Open for exhibitors, members, and non-members! Reserve your booth at RISKWORLD 2026! Spencer Educational Foundation | Spencer Day — Feb. 23, 2026 RIMS-CRO Certificate Program In Advanced Enterprise Risk Management | April‒June 2026 Cohort | Led by James Lam RIMS Compensation Survey 2025 — Download Today  RIMS Risk Management magazine | Contribute RIMS Now RIMS-Certified Risk Management Professional (RIMS-CRMP)| Insights Video Series Featuring Joe Milan! The Strategic and Enterprise Risk Center RIMS Diversity Equity Inclusion Council RIMS-CRMP Story, featuring John Button RIMScast Canada — Debut Episode Now Live Upcoming RIMS-CRMP Prep Virtual Workshops: RIMS-CRMP Exam PrepMarch 10‒11 | April 21‒22, 2026 | June 9‒10 RIMS-CRMP-FED Exam Prep:  Feb 17‒18 | Led by Joseph Mayo Full RIMS-CRMP Prep Course Schedule See the full calendar of RIMS Virtual Workshops RIMS Virtual Workshop — "Facilitating Risk-Based Decision Making" | March 4‒5 | Register Now "Risk Appetite Management" | March 25‒26 "Claims Management" | April 7‒8 "Emerging Risks" | April 15 | Register Now! Upcoming RIMS Webinars: "Hard Hats & High Stakes: Women Leaders Shaping Construction Risk Management" | March 6 | Presented by RIMS "Don't Waste the Soft Market: Where to Reinvest Insurance Savings Before the Window Closes" | March 12 | Sponsored by Global Risk Consultants RIMS.org/Webinars   Related RIMScast Episodes: "Investing In Yourself with RIMS 2026 President Manny Padilla" RIMS Public Policy Committee: "Navigating Cyber and IT Practices to Legal Safe Harbors" "Spencer Day 2026 | The Future of Strategic Risk Management" "Risk Outlook '26 with Morgan O'Rourke and Hilary Tuttle"   Sponsored RIMScast Episodes: "Secondary Perils, Major Risks: The New Face of Weather-Related Challenges" | Sponsored by AXA XL  (New!) "The ART of Risk: Rethinking Risk Through Insight, Design, and Innovation" | Sponsored by Alliant "Mastering ERM: Leveraging Internal and External Risk Factors" | Sponsored by Diligent  "Cyberrisk: Preparing Beyond 2025" | Sponsored by Alliant  "The New Reality of Risk Engineering: From Code Compliance to Resilience" | Sponsored by AXA XL  "Change Management: AI's Role in Loss Control and Property Insurance" | Sponsored by Global Risk Consultants, a TÜV SÜD Company  "Demystifying Multinational Fronting Insurance Programs" | Sponsored by Zurich  "Understanding Third-Party Litigation Funding" | Sponsored by Zurich  "What Risk Managers Can Learn From School Shootings" | Sponsored by Merrill Herzog  "Simplifying the Challenges of OSHA Recordkeeping" | Sponsored by Medcor "How Insurance Builds Resilience Against An Active Assailant Attack" | Sponsored by Merrill Herzog "Third-Party and Cyber Risk Management Tips" | Sponsored by Alliant   RIMS Publications, Content, and Links: RIMS Membership — Whether you are a new member or need to transition, be a part of the global risk management community! RIMS Virtual Workshops On-Demand Webinars RIMS-Certified Risk Management Professional (RIMS-CRMP) RISK PAC | RIMS Advocacy RIMS Strategic & Enterprise Risk Center RIMS-CRMP Stories — Featuring RIMS President Manny Padilla!   RIMS Events, Education, and Services: RIMS Risk Maturity Model®   Sponsor RIMScast: Contact sales@rims.org or pd@rims.org for more information.   Want to Learn More? Keep up with the podcast on RIMS.org, and listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.   Have a question or suggestion? Email: Content@rims.org.   Join the Conversation! Follow @RIMSorg on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.   About our guest: Mark Prysock, RIMS General Counsel & VP External Affairs   Production and engineering provided by Podfly.

Unlock the future of farming with insights from one of America's leading agriculture champions. Aubrey Bettencourt, Chief of the NRCS, and Host Monte Bottens, talk through how innovative programs, voluntary practices, and market-driven solutions are transforming the ways farmers conserve resources, improve soil health, and remain resilient. Hear how the new, USDA outcomes-based regen pilot program is set to redefine the way we address resource concerns—making conservation efforts more practical, impactful, and sticky for farmers from coast to coast. Chief Bettencourt reveals the bold strategy behind the NRCS's reinvigorated mission: keeping farmers on the land and demonstrating that soil health and water management are not just buzzwords but vital pathways to economic and environmental security. We break down how existing programs like EQIP and CSP are being harnessed in innovative ways to accelerate regenerative practices without adding burdens—ensuring voluntary, flexible, and locally driven adoption. Aubrey shares her vision for a future where farmers are empowered, markets are aligned, and soil health becomes a shared goal—ultimately transforming agriculture into a resilient, sustainable engine for generations to come. Click to learn more about NRCS and the Regen Pilot Program: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhuHrYrPXfM About NRCS​: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/ ***About Our Guest: Aubrey J.D. Bettencourt serves as Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the primary private lands conservation agency at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). NRCS helps producers, soil and water conservation districts, and other partners protect and conserve natural resources on private working lands while supporting American agricultural productivity throughout the United States. NRCS employees in the field work side-by-side with producers in every State and territory. Aubrey is a prominent leader in agriculture, water, and sustainability, most recently serving as the Global Director of Government Relations and External Affairs for Netafim, an Orbia Company. Prior to serving at Netafim, Aubrey was the President and Chief Executive Officer for the Almond Alliance, the national trade association advocating for American almond growers and processors. Prior to joining the Alliance, Aubrey served as the Sustainability Director for Western United Dairies, specifically leading initiatives in groundwater management. During the first Trump Administration, Aubrey worked with both the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) and USDA. As a Deputy Assistant Secretary with the DOI, she oversaw water and science policy. Prior to serving at DOI, Aubrey was the State Executive Director of USDA's Farm Service Agency in California where she directed the administration of farm commodity programs providing support, security, and emergency relief for producers throughout the state. Her work reflects her personal commitment to keep farmers farming through sound water policy, agricultural support, technology, and sustainable practices. This is supported by her family's farming roots in California's great Central Valley. Aubrey is a third-generation farmer at Bettencourt Farms in Kings County, California, alongside her father, mother, husband, daughter, and loyal farm dogs. Aubrey is an Eisenhower Agricultural Fellow and holds a degree in History from Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California.

Ivanti zero-days trigger emergency warnings around the globe. Singapore blames a China-linked spy crew for hitting all four major telcos. DHS opens a privacy probe into ICE surveillance. Researchers flag a zero-click RCE lurking in LLM workflows. Ransomware knocks local government payment systems offline in Florida and Texas. Chrome extensions get nosy with your URLs. BeyondTrust scrambles to patch a critical RCE. A Polish data breach suspect is caught eight years later. It's the Monday Business Breakdown. Ben Yelin gives us the 101 on subpoenas. And federal prosecutors say two Connecticut men bet big on fraud, and lost. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Miss an episode? Sign-up for our daily intelligence roundup, Daily Briefing, and you'll never miss a beat. And be sure to follow CyberWire Daily on LinkedIn. CyberWire Guest Our guest is Ben Yelin, Program Director for Public Policy & External Affairs at the University of Maryland Center for Cyber Health and Hazard Strategies, talking about weaponized administrative subpoenas. Selected Reading EU, Dutch government announce hacks following Ivanti zero-days (The Record) Singapore says China-linked hackers targeted telecom providers in major spying campaign (The Record) Inspector General Investigating Whether ICE's Surveillance Tech Breaks the Law (404 Media) Critical 0-Click RCE Vulnerability in Claude Desktop Extensions Exposes 10,000+ Users to Remote Attacks (Cyber Security News)  Payment tech provider for Texas, Florida governments working with FBI to resolve ransomware attack (The Record) Chrome extensions can use unfixable time-channel to leak tab URLs (CyberInsider) BeyondTrust warns of critical RCE flaw in remote support software (Bleeping Computer) Hacker Poland's largest data leaks arrested (TVP World) LevelBlue will acquire MDR provider Alert Logic from Fortra. (N2K Pro Business Briefing) Men charged in FanDuel scheme fueled by thousands of stolen identities (Bleeping Computer) Share your feedback. What do you think about CyberWire Daily? Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts with us by completing our brief listener survey. Thank you for helping us continue to improve our show. Want to hear your company in the show? N2K CyberWire helps you reach the industry's most influential leaders and operators, while building visibility, authority, and connectivity across the cybersecurity community. Learn more at sponsor.thecyberwire.com. The CyberWire is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the nation prepares to mark America's 250th birthday, the National Archives is taking some of its most treasured records on the road. It's also unveiled a newly renovated flagship exhibition, giving visitors an immersive, high-tech look at 250 years of U.S. history. To learn about these endeavors and other activities slated for the occasion, Federal News Network's Eric White spoke with Grace McCaffrey, Acting Executive of External Affairs and Communications at NARA.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

CISA's interim director uploaded sensitive government material into the public version of ChatGPT. The cyberattack on Poland's power grid compromised roughly 30 energy facilities. The EU and India sign a new partnership that includes expanded cyber cooperation. Meta rolls out enhanced WhatsApp security features. Researchers uncover a campaign targeting LLM service endpoints. Fortinet and OpenSSL patch multiple vulnerabilities. A high-severity WinRAR vulnerability continues to see widespread exploitation six months after it was patched. The SoundCloud data breach affected nearly 30 million users. Ben Yelin explains the California lawsuit accusing social media platforms of harming kids. A Spanish resort town gets hit with low-rent ransomware.   Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Miss an episode? Sign-up for our daily intelligence roundup, Daily Briefing, and you'll never miss a beat. And be sure to follow CyberWire Daily on LinkedIn. CyberWire Guest Today, Dave is joined by his Caveat co-host Ben Yelin, Program Director for Public Policy & External Affairs at the University of Maryland Center for Cyber Health and Hazard Strategies, to discuss the upcoming trial where Meta and YouTube will make their case against accusations of social media being harmful to children. You can learn more here.  T-Minus Guest Host Our T-Minus Space Daily podcast team is in Orlando, FL this week covering Commercial Space Week. Yesterday while the crew was on travel making their way to the event, Dave Bittner took his first spin behind the mic on T-Minus. Tune in and let us know how Dave did! You can follow along with host Maria Varmazis and producers Alice Carruth and Liz Stokes for event coverage via our LinkedIn profile. Selected Reading Trump's acting cyber chief uploaded sensitive files into a public version of ChatGPT (POLITICO) Cyberattack on Poland's power grid hit around 30 energy facilities, new report says (The Record) Europe/India • Indian 'hackers for hire' to continue to thrive under Brussels-New Dehli trade deal (Intelligence Online) New WhatsApp lockdown feature protects high-risk users from hackers (Bleeping Computer) Hackers hijack exposed LLM endpoints in Bizarre Bazaar operation (Bleeping Computer) Fortinet Patches Exploited FortiCloud SSO Authentication Bypass (SecurityWeek) High-Severity Remote Code Execution Vulnerability Patched in OpenSSL (SecurityWeek) Cybercriminals and nation-state groups are exploiting a six-month old WinRAR defect (CyberScoop) SoundCloud breach added to HIBP, 29.8 million accounts exposed (CyberInsider) Spanish municipality Sanxenxo City Council calls hackers bluff as malware takes over network (Cryptopolitan) Share your feedback. What do you think about CyberWire Daily? Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts with us by completing our brief listener survey. Thank you for helping us continue to improve our show.  Want to hear your company in the show? N2K CyberWire helps you reach the industry's most influential leaders and operators, while building visibility, authority, and connectivity across the cybersecurity community. Learn more at sponsor.thecyberwire.com. The CyberWire is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Economic forecasters expect U.S. growth in 2026 to settle between 1.5% and 2%—sluggish, but not recessionary. Still, analysts warn that if inflation reignites or global trade pressures intensify, a mild downturn is possible. For many households, this uncertainty fuels anxiety—especially around rising health-care costs.On today's program, Lauren Gajdek, Senior Director of External Affairs at Christian Healthcare Ministries (CHM), joins us to offer practical guidance for navigating health-care expenses in a slow-growth, high-uncertainty environment.Lauren notes that beyond slower GDP projections, unemployment remains elevated at 4.4% and inflation has yet to return to the Federal Reserve's 2% target. That combination creates financial pressure for both working families and retirees. If someone loses their job—and, with it, employer-provided health coverage—Lauren explains the options: COBRA allows continuation of benefits, but the individual must pay the full premium, which is extremely costly. Marketplace plans on Healthcare.gov also carry high premiums and, increasingly, high out-of-pocket maximums. For many families, the total annual exposure can exceed $20,000.That's why Lauren highlights an alternative that more Christians are turning to: health-care sharing ministries. CHM—founded on the biblical principle of bearing one another's burdens (Galatians 6:2)—is not insurance. Instead, members remain legally responsible for their medical bills, and CHM facilitates the sharing of eligible expenses among members.To help listeners understand the model, Lauren outlines how cost sharing works in practice. Members pay a monthly amount based on the program level and family size. For example, CHM's Gold program is priced at $299 per “unit,” where each adult is a unit and all dependent children together count as one additional unit—making it particularly advantageous for families. CHM also offers Silver, Bronze, and SeniorShare options, allowing households to tailor participation to their needs and budgets.When medical needs arise—an emergency-room visit, for example—the member pays their defined personal responsibility amount, and CHM shares the remaining eligible expenses. Related follow-up care from the same incident can also be submitted for reimbursement.As the nation's oldest health-care sharing ministry and a longtime underwriter of Faith & Finance, CHM has paid more than $13 billion in medical bills since its founding. Lauren emphasizes that while it operates as a ministry, CHM also provides practical financial support, helping Christians manage health care costs during uncertain economic times.If you're interested in learning more, you can visit CHMinistries.org/FaithFi for additional details.On Today's Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:My husband and I own a small, mortgage-free house on 18 acres, and we'd like to purchase neighboring land at a discount to expand our nonprofit's safe haven for domestic violence survivors. We have limited savings and no debt, and I'm turning 62 next month. Should we consider a reverse mortgage, rent out the smaller house, sell the property, or finance the purchase? What's the wisest option for our situation?I'm about to receive a sizable check from an account that closed. While I look for a financial advisor, where should I park the money for a few weeks or months to earn interest? I know money markets are insured up to $250,000, but what if the deposit is much larger? Do I need multiple accounts, or is there a way to increase the insured amount in one place?When I tithe and give offerings and then receive a giving statement for tax season, is it wrong to claim that deduction? Am I ‘taking money back from God,' or am I just misunderstanding how taxes and deductions work?Resources Mentioned:Faithful Steward: FaithFi's Quarterly Magazine (Become a FaithFi Partner)Christian Healthcare Ministries (CHM)Wisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on MoneyLook At The Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and AnxietyRich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich FoolFind a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA)FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions every workday at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. You can also visit FaithFi.com to connect with our online community and partner with us as we help more people live as faithful stewards of God's resources. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On today's AgCast News, we will visit with Alabama Farmers Federation members and staff who recently returned from the American Farm Bureau annual convention in Anaheim, California. As a part of our coverage, we will get Drew Wendland's reaction to winning the national Young Farmers and Ranchers Achievement Award, along with his wife Lauren. We will also check in with Morgan Desselle, of our External Affairs team, on what's going on at the Alabama Legislature. Plus, we are excited to start a new segment of the AgCast. Chris Prevatt, our in-house economist, will report on the commodity markets and what to look out for in the future.Sign up for Capitol Connection here.Get the latest on the markets here.Find out more about our sponsor, Alabama Ag Credit, and also about Alabama Farmers Federation.

It's hard to keep up with the number of unprecedented actions the second Trump administration has taken, but what happened on January 3 – when the US military extracted Venezuela's president and first lady amidst an aerial assault on Caracas – is impossible to ignore. Also seemingly overnight the U.S. government's narrative on why they were taking action against Venezuela changed – from interdicting the drug trade to restoring the country's oil sector. In this special episode, we look at the many narratives surrounding the U.S. action in Venezuela, and separate fact from fiction. We also discuss what this power shift means for Venezuelans, who have been living under a repressive regime, and a longrunning economic crisis. Our guest is Enrique Roig, an international relations expert whose career has spanned government, NGOs and the private sector, and more than 40 countries. Roig has more than two decades of experience in diplomacy, development and human rights, including extensive experience in Central and South America. He's testified before Congress about human rights abuses committed by the Maduro regime.Roig served in the State Department during the Biden administration, as Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. Currently the Vice President for External Affairs at Human Rights First, he writes about Venezuela and U.S. foreign policy on Substack at Enrique Roig - Unleashed. LEARN MOREEnrique Roig's SubstackOn human rights in Venezuela from Human Rights WatchOn journalism in Venezuela and the diaspora: How Venezuelan journalists broke the information blockade with a 10-hour broadcast of Maduro's ousterListen: MPV's episode with Caracas-based journalist Tony Frangie Mawad:Journalism under authoritarianism: An indie reporter persists in Venezuela ABOUT THE SHOW The Making Peace Visible podcast is hosted by Jamil Simon and produced by Andrea Muraskin. Our associate producer is Faith McClure. Learn more at makingpeacevisible.orgSupport our work Connect on social:Instagram @makingpeacevisibleLinkedIn @makingpeacevisibleBluesky @makingpeacevisible.bsky.social We want to learn more about our listeners. Take this 3-minute survey to help us improve the show!

As Maryland heads toward another consequential legislative session, energy policy is once again front and center, and counties are feeling the pressure.In this episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, hosts Kevin Kinnally and Dominic Butchko are joined by Valencia McClure, Senior Vice President of Governmental, Regulatory, and External Affairs at Exelon, for a wide-ranging conversation on energy security, rising costs, and grid reliability.The discussion explores why Maryland is facing growing risks, including surging demand driven by data centers and electrification, limited in-state generation capacity, and an aging grid. McClure explains what it means for Maryland to be a net importer of electricity, why supply costs are driving up residents' bills, and how projected shortfalls could lead to brownouts as early as 2027 if action is delayed.The episode also dives into the evolving policy debate over who should build new generation, the role utilities could play alongside merchant generators, and why counties, though not energy regulators, are often on the front lines when reliability falters or costs spike.For county leaders, policymakers, and anyone trying to understand what's behind today's energy headlines, this conversation offers timely context on the challenges ahead and the decisions that will shape Maryland's energy future.Learn More:Maryland Power Supply Crisis | Take Back Our Power MDFollow us on Socials!MACo on TwitterMACo on Facebook

The AgNet News Hour kicks off 2026 with a comprehensive discussion on the most critical issue facing California agriculture: water. Hosts Nick Papagni, “the Ag Meter”, and Lorrie Boyer examine how farmers continue to struggle under mounting regulations, high costs, and long-standing policy failures, even as the state experiences multiple strong water years. They emphasize that while agriculture is cyclical, many of California's water challenges are man-made—and solvable—if lawmakers act during wet years instead of waiting for drought-driven crises. A featured interview with Josh Weimer, Director of External Affairs for the Turlock Irrigation District (TID), highlights how local control, reliable surface water, and investment in technology can stabilize farming communities. Weimer explains how TID's proactive management, floodwater capture efforts, groundwater recharge, and advanced snowpack measurement technology—developed in partnership with NASA—have helped protect growers from the worst impacts of SGMA and water shortages. He stresses that every watershed is different and that California must abandon one-size-fits-all policies in favor of region-specific, science-based solutions. The discussion also covers Delta operations, environmental regulations, affordability concerns, and the need to modernize infrastructure built for an outdated hydrology. Weimer notes that agriculture is foundational to California's economy, food security, and rural communities, and that planning for both floods and droughts must happen during average and wet years—not after damage is already done. The program concludes by connecting water policy to consumer trends and food demand. The hosts discuss rising interest in high-fiber diets, fresh produce, and whole foods, alongside concerns about obesity, reduced physical activity, and the long-term impacts of weight-loss medications on food consumption. The episode reinforces a core message: water means food, food means jobs, and agriculture must remain a top priority for California's future.

Are you parenting a teen in a world that feels far more complex than the one you grew up in? What if understanding the adolescent brain could actually help your teen not just survive—but truly thrive? Today's teens and young adults are growing up on a very different bridge to adulthood than previous generations. In this powerful and hopeful conversation, Colleen O'Grady sits down with Lisa M. Lawson, President and CEO of the Annie E. Casey Foundation and author of Thrive: How the Science of the Adolescent Brain Helps Us Imagine a Better Future for All Children. Together, they explore how adolescent brain science—now understood to extend into the mid-20s—can transform the way parents guide, support, and relate to their teens. Lisa invites us to see teens through a lens of possibility rather than problems and introduces five essential “cables” that hold up the bridge of adolescence, from connection and education to financial stability and youth leadership. This episode is both deeply reassuring and incredibly practical for moms who want to widen the bridge for their teens and help them grow into resilient, confident adults. Lisa M. Lawson is the President and CEO of the Annie E. Casey Foundation, where she leads national efforts to improve outcomes for children, youth, and families. Since stepping into the role in 2019, she has championed bold initiatives such as Thrive by 25, focusing on the wellbeing of Generation Z ages 14–24. Prior to becoming CEO, Lisa served as Executive Vice President and Chief Program Officer overseeing all grantmaking strategies, and as Vice President of External Affairs, where she led development of the KIDS COUNT Data Book. Before joining the foundation, she spent 14 years at UPS in senior leadership roles, including President of the UPS Foundation. She is also the author of Thrive, a hopeful and science-based guide to understanding adolescence. ⭐ Three Takeaways for Moms Teen behavior isn't defiance—it's development. Impulsivity, emotional intensity, and peer influence are signs of a brain under construction, not bad character. Parents often serve as their teen's “borrowed prefrontal cortex”—and explaining why decisions matter helps teens learn how to think, not just what to do. Widen the bridge instead of turning it into a tightrope. College, careers, sports, and interests don't have to be high-stakes, one-shot decisions. Teens thrive when they're allowed to explore, pivot, and learn by doing—building confidence and resilience along the way. Connection is the strongest protective factor. Teens don't need perfect parents—they need consistent, caring adults. One solid relationship can change the trajectory of a young person's life. Parenting was never meant to be done alone; it truly takes a village. Learn more at: https://www.aecf.org/people/lisa-lawson Follow at: https://www.instagram.com/annieecaseyfdn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices