Podcasts about international affairs

For much of the past two decades, discussions of Latin American democracy have centred on decline — elected autocrats, weakened institutions, and a slide toward competitive authoritarianism. Building on joint work with Scott Mainwaring, Dr Bizzarro contends that the more common, and in some ways more troubling, pattern is not democratic collapse but stagnation. He argues that most of the region's democracies are neither dying nor deepening: they are stuck — hobbled by entrenched elites who block reform, governments that fail to deliver, and weak states that neither fully protect rights nor fully provide security. Dr Bizzarro examines what this stagnation costs: economically, in slower growth; politically, in eroding support for democratic institutions and the rise of anti-system outsiders; and internationally, in a region less able to anchor democratic norms abroad. This event examines why Latin American democracy's central problem may not be a single dramatic crisis, but a long, quiet plateau whose consequences deserve closer attention. Dr Bizzarro is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Boston College, and for the 2026-2027 academic year, a Visiting Professor at Yale University. A comparativist working on Latin America, his research explores the nature, causes, and consequences of democracy and political parties across the region. He completed his Ph.D. in Harvard University's Department of Government in 2023 and was previously a Postdoctoral Associate at Yale's Jackson School of International Affairs. His work has appeared in the Journal of Democracy, World Politics, and Electoral Studies, and he is co-authoring a book with Scott Mainwaring on democratic deepening in Latin America.

What if one of the things Americans believe most deeply about America simply isn't true?Americans have a powerful story about who they are and why America acts when it does.Historian Robert Kagan, a Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution, says America's own history tells a very different story.He discusses:● The biggest myth Americans believe about their own country● What American history looks like when you strip that myth away● Why America keeps doing something it insists it doesn't want to do● Whether America's wars were really forced upon it● The unexpected connection between American power and the threats America faces● What China and Russia may understand about America that Americans don't● What happens if America turns inward againWhat if the biggest thing Americans misunderstand about their role in the world isn't the world?It's America.

Episode Summary In this episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast, Benoy Thanjan speaks with Sachu Constantine, Executive Director of Vote Solar, about why state-level policy is becoming increasingly important to the future of solar. They discuss major industry challenges including interconnection delays, permitting, policy uncertainty, and rising electricity demand from AI, data centers, EVs, and electrification. Sachu also explains how solar plus storage can improve grid reliability and how emerging solutions such as plug-in or balcony solar could expand access to renters and apartment residents. Despite political and regulatory headwinds, Sachu remains optimistic about solar's future because of falling costs, improving technology, growing consumer demand, and the need for faster deployment of new electricity generation. Biographies Benoy Thanjan Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy, a solar development and consulting firm, and the host of the Solar Maverick Podcast. He also serves as a strategic advisor to multiple cleantech startups. Over his career, Benoy has developed more than 100 MWs of solar projects across the United States, advised on more than 1 GW of energy projects worldwide, helped launch some of the first residential solar tax equity funds at Tesla, and brokered approximately $50 million in renewable energy credit transactions. Before founding Reneu Energy, Benoy worked in Tesla's Project Finance Group as an environmental commodities trader, where he managed one of the company's largest environmental commodities portfolios. He originated renewable energy credit transactions and worked with senior leadership to develop monetization and hedging strategies supporting the company's expansion into East Coast markets. Benoy also served as Vice President at Vanguard Energy Partners, a solar and energy storage construction company, where he developed project finance solutions for commercial-scale solar portfolios. At Ridgewood Renewable Power, a private equity fund with approximately 125 MW of U.S. renewable energy assets, he evaluated investment opportunities, supported portfolio strategy, and played a key role in the sale of the firm's renewable energy portfolio. Earlier in his career, Benoy worked in Energy Structured Finance at Deloitte & Touche and in Financial Advisory Services at Ernst & Young. He also completed an internship on the trading floor at D. E. Shaw & Co., a global investment and technology development firm. Benoy holds an MBA in Finance from Rutgers University and a Bachelor of Science in Finance and Economics from the NYU Stern School of Business, where he was an Alumni Scholar. Sachu Constantine Sachu Constantine is the Executive Director of Vote Solar, where he leads the organization's strategy and advocacy to expand access to affordable, equitable clean energy. He previously served as Vote Solar's Regulatory Managing Director from 2017 to 2022 and as Interim Executive Director in 2021. Before joining Vote Solar, Sachu spent five years as Director of Policy at the Center for Sustainable Energy, overseeing its policy, regulatory, and legislative work. His career also includes senior roles at SunPower Corporation, the California Public Utilities Commission, and the Alliance to Save Energy. Sachu's experience spans domestic and international energy and environmental work, including service as a Peace Corps volunteer in Ghana. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs from the University of Colorado Boulder and a Master's Degree in Public Policy from the University of California, Berkeley. Stay Connected: Benoy Thanjan Email: info@reneuenergy.com LinkedIn: Benoy Thanjan Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com Website: https://www.solarmaverickpodcast.com/ Sachu Constantine Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/sachu-constantine-05a4176/ Biography: https://votesolar.org/team/sachu-constantine/ Vote Solar: https://votesolar.org/ Subscribe to Vote Solar's newsletter through its website for policy updates, resources, and stories from communities advancing clean energy. Sponsor: DCE Solar This episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast is brought to you by DCE Solar. Since 2009, DCE has built a unique model in the solar industry by bringing design, racking, and construction together under one roof. DCE Design provides full-scope electrical design across multiple project types. DCE Solar manufactures fixed-tilt, tracker, carport, and rooftop racking systems for commercial and utility-scale projects. DCE Services handles installation. DCE Services was named the number-one commercial ground-mount installer by Solar Power World in 2025 and the number-one commercial rooftop installer in 2026. This gives customers one company and one point of accountability, from utility-scale projects with IPPs and developers to turnkey commercial and industrial projects. Learn more about DCE and its company story in SMP 288: Why Solar Racking Can Make or Break a Project, featuring DCE Founder and CEO Bill Taylor: https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/smp-288-why-solar-racking-can-make-or-break-a-project/id1441876259?i=1000774004477 You can also meet the DCE team at RE+ Las Vegas or visit: https://dcesolar.com/ Thank you to DCE for supporting the Solar Maverick Podcast. Reneu Energy Reneu Energy provides expert consulting across solar and storage project development, financing, energy strategy, and environmental commodities. The team helps clients originate, structure, and execute opportunities across community solar, commercial and industrial, utility-scale, and Renewable Energy Credit markets. To learn more, visit: https://www.reneuenergy.com/ You can also email the team at info@reneuenergy.com. Listen and Subscribe Subscribe to the Solar Maverick Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or your favorite podcast platform. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a rating and review. It helps more people discover conversations with the leaders shaping the future of solar, storage, and the energy transition.  

For some kids, the most powerful support is not one more program. It is an adult who keeps showing up. Jorie Das is the Executive Director of Friends of the Children Los Angeles, an organization doing something that immediately got my attention: pairing children who have experienced significant adversity with paid, professional mentors who make a 12-plus-year commitment to them. These are not volunteers dropping in for a semester or a program that disappears when the funding cycle ends. Friends spend intentional time with kids at school, at home, and in the community while helping them navigate goals, transitions, new experiences, and the very ordinary business of growing up. As Jorie says, childhood is not a program cycle. A kid can be doing beautifully at eight and struggling enormously at thirteen. Schools change. Families change. Adolescence happens. The commitment is designed to stay in place through those changes because the child does not have to reach a milestone or behave a particular way to earn the relationship. That becomes especially important when we talk about trauma. Jorie explains that we cannot expect a child who has experienced instability in relationships to immediately trust a new adult just because that adult has excellent intentions. Kids may pull away, shut down, or test whether this person is really staying. The mentor gets to respond through their actions: "You don't have to earn my consistency. I'm still here." Over time, that relationship can create new experiences of safety, predictability, and repair. Mentorship is not a replacement for therapy when a child needs clinical care, but a safe and consistent adult can absolutely be part of the healing environment. What I also love about the Friends model is that the child is not treated as though they exist in a vacuum. The organization supports caregivers, works with schools, connects families with community resources, and supports the mentors themselves. Because if we are asking adults to show up consistently for kids carrying a lot, those adults need people showing up for them too. We also talk about neurodivergence and educational advocacy. Jorie shares that a large percentage of the young people served by Friends LA have IEPs, which has pushed the organization to build more training around ADHD, autism, IEPs, and helping caregivers communicate with schools. Sometimes the parent knows something is not working but does not know the language, the process, or even who they are supposed to talk to. Having someone who knows the child and can help bridge that gap can change the entire conversation. And underneath all of this is something very simple and very human: kids need people who do not give up on them. Not because the relationship will always be easy. In fact, sometimes the most important moment may be after the really hard day, when the adult can say, "I'll see you Tuesday." For a child who has learned that people or support can disappear, knowing somebody is coming back can be a very big deal. Key Takeaways Consistency can be an intervention, especially for children who have experienced trauma or instability in relationships. Children should not have to behave a certain way or reach a milestone to earn a trusted adult's continued presence. Long-term relationships give adults the chance to know the whole child as they grow and change over time. Trauma can make it difficult for children to trust adults, even when those adults have good intentions. Safe, predictable relationships can create new experiences of trust, repair, and connection. Mentorship can support healing, but it does not replace therapy or other clinical care when those services are needed. Supporting children also means supporting caregivers, schools, mentors, and the larger community around them. Neurodivergent children and their caregivers may need additional support navigating IEPs and advocating within school systems. When a child pushes an adult away, curiosity about what they have learned about relationships can be more useful than taking the behavior personally. Sometimes the most powerful message an adult can give a child is simply, "I'm still here." About Jorie Das Jorie Das is the Executive Director of Friends of the Children Los Angeles, where she leads an evidence-based professional mentoring program serving children and families impacted by the child welfare system. With more than a decade of experience in nonprofit management, youth programming, and advocacy in Greater Los Angeles, Jorie is deeply committed to positive youth development, trauma-informed care, and the transformative power of long-term relationships. Her own experience in foster care also brings an important lived perspective to her work. Under Jorie's leadership, Friends LA has expanded its reach across Los Angeles County, growing the number of youth and families served and developing additional programming to support young people as they move toward adulthood. She previously served as Interim Executive Director at InsideOUT Writers and held executive roles at Baby2Baby and Free Arts. Jorie holds a BA in Ethnic Studies and Art from the University of Oregon and an MA in International Affairs and Business from Chapman University. About Your Host, Gabriele Nicolet I'm Gabriele Nicolet, toddler whisperer, speech therapist, parenting life coach, and host of Complicated Kids. Each week, I share practical, relationship-based strategies for raising kids with big feelings, big needs, and beautifully different brains. My goal is to help families move from surviving to thriving by building connection, confidence, and clarity at home. Complicated Kids Resources and Links:

Todays episode of The Indo Daily is brought to you by our sister podcast, The BelTel. Johnny Adair, commonly referred to as ‘Mad dog Adair', was one the most well-known terror bosses of the Troubles. He said his war was aimed at the IRA, but innocent Catholics were more often than not his real victims. His C Company of the west Belfast UDA also turned their guns on their fellow loyalists. Who is Mad dog Adair, what does he believe, and how does he view his murderous reign? Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Aaron Edwards, a Senior Lecturer in Defence and International Affairs at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and author of ‘Enemies within: The explosive true story of Johnny ‘Mad dog' Adair'.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The U.S. and Saudi Arabia have signed a civil nuclear cooperation agreement that supporters say could strengthen ties, advance normalization, and give Washington greater influence over the kingdom's nuclear ambitions. Critics warn that without stronger restrictions on uranium enrichment and inspections, assistance could create a pathway toward nuclear weapons and weaken nonproliferation norms. Would American involvement reduce the risks or enable them? Now we debate: Does the U.S.-Saudi Civil Nuclear Agreement Serve America's Interests?  Arguing Yes:  Daniel Poneman, Former Deputy Secretary of Energy; Distinguished Fellow of the Atlantic Council's Global Energy Center and Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security  Amos Hochstein, Former White House Senior Advisor to President Biden; Managing Partner at TWG Global  Arguing No:  Sharon Squassoni, Research Professor at the Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University; Former Director of Nonproliferation and Prevention at CSIS  Joe Cirincione, Former Director for Non-Proliferation at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace   Emmy award-winning journalist John Donvan moderates  This debate was produced in partnership with the Council on Foreign Relations.  Join the conversation on Substack—share your perspective on this episode and subscribe to our weekly newsletter for curated insights from our debaters, moderators, and staff.  Follow us on YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, Facebook, and TikTok to stay connected with our mission and ongoing debates.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Donald Trump ruled out using military force to annex Canada. The head of US Pacific Command called the idea of attacking Canada "preposterous." But Mark Carney called it an "extreme tail risk" that would be "irresponsible" not to prepare. We unpack the Canadian Prime Minister's eye-catching interview with the New York Times, with Stephen Saideman, a professor of political science at Carleton University's Norman Paterson School of International Affairs, and Wendy Gilmour, Vice-Chair of the Board of the Conference of Defence Associations Institute.

Key TopicsWhat Trump's UN speech and meeting with Xi tell us about the current state of diplomacyHow seriously to take Europe's warnings about Russian threatsThe challenges NATO faces in deterring—and responding to—gray-zone attacksWhether Germany's far-right gains foreshadow a wider European trendWhy cultural identity and distrust of established parties are reshaping politicsLinksKaren DeYoung - https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/karen-deyoung/Steve Erlanger - https://www.nytimes.com/by/steven-erlangerJamie Dettmer - https://www.politico.eu/staff/jamie-dettmer-3/Ivo Daalder - https://www.ivodaalder.com/Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs — belfercenter.orgWorld Review with Ivo Daalder — belfercenter.org/world-review-ivo-daalder

After catching you up on some of the big stories of the week, Amanda Lang discusses the risk of broader conflicts in Europe with Stephen Saideman, Paterson Chair in International Affairs at Carleton University, and Director of the Canadian Defence and Security Network.

Congress directed DOD to modernize and professionalize its security cooperation workforce. A new GAO review finds the department has made significant progress, while still facing some important implementation challenges. Joining me with more details is Jim Reynolds a director in GAO's International Affairs and Trade team.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Why is India continuing to buy Russian crude despite growing pressure from the United States? And what happens if Washington imposes steep tariffs on Indian exports over those purchases? In this episode of The Hindu's InFocus, we spoke to Professor Anuradha Chenoy, Adjunct Professor at the Jindal School of International Affairs and former Dean and Professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University's School of International Studies. We discussed India's strategic autonomy and its dependence on Russian oil, the potential impact of secondary tariffs on Indian exports, and the unusual reversal in the oil trade after Ukrainian drone strikes disrupted Russian refining capacity. Host: Nitika Francis Producer: Shiksha Jural Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are:Terry Gipson - Preceptor in Public Speaking for the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University.Frederic Hof - Diplomat in residence at Bard College Ambassador.Pushkala Prasad - the Arthur Zankel Chair in Management for Liberal Arts at Skidmore College where she teaches International Affairs and Business Management.Judy Patrick - Former Vice President for Editorial Development at the New York Press Association and a longtime editor of the Daily Gazette.

Johnny Adair, commonly referred to as ‘Mad dog Adair', was one the most well-known terror bosses of the Troubles. He said his war was aimed at the IRA, but innocent Catholics were more often than not his real victims. His C Company of the west Belfast UDA also turned their guns on their fellow loyalists. Who is Mad dog Adair, what does he believe, and how does he view his murderous reign? Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Aaron Edwards, a Senior Lecturer in Defence and International Affairs at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and author of ‘Enemies within: The explosive true story of Johnny ‘Mad dog' Adair'. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Key TopicsMartin Wolf argues that the Fed's move is politically significant as much as economically justified, because Donald Trump's demand for 1 percent rates is, in his words, “insane.”Missy Ryan adds that Trump's economic focus seems centered less on inflation itself and more on the stock market and the AI boom, especially with the midterms looming.Peter Spiegel links Fed policy to the broader debt and tech borrowing picture, arguing that AI spending may be helping prop up markets even as it pushes rates higher.The panel debates whether higher rates can really fight a global inflation environment shaped by war, oil prices, and supply shocks.On Canada and Europe, Peter Spiegel says Mark Carney's approach is partly symbolic but politically powerful, since it has helped rally Canadian patriotism against Trump.Missy Ryan stresses that Canada's stance is rooted in sovereignty and values, but also constrained by how tightly integrated the Canadian and U.S. economies remain.Martin Wolf argues Europe is in a very different position from Canada because most of its trade is internal, and it could survive even a major rupture with the United States.The discussion returns repeatedly to the question of permanence: is Trump's approach a temporary disruption, or a long-term reordering of U.S. alliances and trade policy?In the Saudi segment, Missy Ryan describes the Houthi conflict and the Iran war as a destabilizing force that has widened old regional fractures and exposed U.S. limits.Peter Spiegel raises the possibility that Gulf states may respond by diversifying security ties and increasing their own defense spending, even if China is not yet able to replace the United States.Martin Wolf suggests that if the United States becomes unreliable, regional powers may eventually move closer to Iran and a broader regional balance of power, rather than count on Washington.The episode closes on oil prices, with Wolf arguing that while the market could still worsen, it has so far adjusted better than expected and may not reach the catastrophic levels many feared.LinksMissy Ryan - https://www.theatlantic.com/author/missy-ryan/Martin Wolf - https://www.ft.com/martin-wolfPeter Spiegel - https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/peter-spiegel/Ivo Daalder - https://www.ivodaalder.com/Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs — belfercenter.orgWorld Review with Ivo Daalder — belfercenter.org/world-review-ivo-daalder

This week's show features stories from Radio Deutsche-Welle, France 24, NHK World Radio Japan, and Radio Havana Cuba. http://youthspeaksout.net/swr260918.mp3 (29:00) From GERMANY- The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, proposed a new associate partnership between Canada and the European Union. There would be cooperation on tech, defense, and energy. Roland Paris, a professor of International Affairs at the University of Ottawa, explains what the change in status would do for both Canada and the EU. Canada has many resources the EU needs, especially since the US under Trump has has added huge tariffs and a general attitude of coercion to its relationship with Europe. Canadian PM Carney appears open to a new alliance with Europe. From FRANCE- Press reviews from the US, Canada, and Europe on the proposed new partnership between Canada and Europe. On 9/11 many papers gave opinions as to the success of the the US war on terror after the Twin Towers attack. Then a press review of the US proposed $2.8 billion arms sale to Israel. From JAPAN- Iceland may quit whaling next year, leaving only Japan and Norway defying the global moratorium by the International Whaling Commission enacted in 1986. A brief update on the human toll in the floods in Nepal from 3 weeks ago. The Chinese Defense Minister urged countries to exercise vigilance against militarism, seemingly aimed at Japan over comments on the conflicts between Taiwan and China. Iran has restated that it will not negotiate with the US until its conditions are met- meanwhile Houthis have effectively blocked Saudi oil exports. China urged Iran and the US to hold talks leading to a diplomatic resolution on the memorandum of understanding. After meeting with Marco Rubio, the recently elected president of Peru, Keiko Fujimori, says her country will participate with US led forces targeting drug crime. From CUBA- The Pentagon released another video of an alleged drug boat being blown up by US forces in the Caribbean. An Israeli human rights group, B'tselem, accuses Israel of systematically dismantling the conditions that allow Palestinians in the occupied West Bank to function as a community. Israeli forces have continued severe attacks on Lebanon, despite a US brokered ceasefire earlier this year. The head of the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization was blocked from attending the annual gathering of the UN Nuclear Agency in Vienna- a BRICS declaration urged restraint in the war on Iran. Available in 3 forms- (new) HIGHEST QUALITY (160kb)(33MB), broadcast quality (13MB), and quickdownload or streaming form (6MB) (28:59) Links at outfarpress.com/shortwave.shtml PODCAST!!!- https://feed.podbean.com/outFarpress/feed.xml (160kb Highest Quality) Website Page- < http://www.outfarpress.com/shortwave.shtml ¡FurthuR! Dan Roberts "O take heart, my brothers. Even now ... with every leader & every resource & every strategy of every nation on Earth arrayed against Her - Even now, O even now, my brothers, Life is in no danger of losing the argument! - For after all ... (as will be shown) She has only to change the subject." --Kenneth Patchen Dan Roberts Shortwave Report- www.outfarpress.com YouthSpeaksOut!- www.youthspeaksout.net

Today on Uncommon Sense with Ginny Robinson, I'm clarifying something about where this show is headed and what I am, and am not, here to do.Over time, people have tried to attach my voice to all kinds of movements, causes, and political factions. I'm not a mouthpiece for anybody's movement. My focus is moving back to the two subjects that have always been at the center of my work: Christianity and America.I'm again addressing my position on Palestine and the Middle East. I still support the Palestinian people, while also believing that Palestinians have to take responsibility for supporting and building their own society. Being opposed to the actions or policies of the Israeli government does not mean that I have adopted every belief, political position, or religious identity associated with the Palestinian cause.The Middle East has experienced conflict for generations, and my audience should not expect me to become a Muslim or pretend to be a Palestinian simply because I oppose particular actions of the Israeli government. My Christian faith and my commitment to America remain central to how I understand the world.We'll also discuss updates on Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and the Ed Sheeran vs Macklemore drama.--https://www.youversion.com/bible-app

Leading Turkish LGBTQ activist Yildiz Tar explains why Turkey's authoritarian government is escalating repression of their community. The crackdown has less to do with public morals than an effort to divert public attention away from soaring inflation, poverty and joblessness, Tar notes.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In the season 11 premiere of the Courage My Friends podcast series, we are pleased to welcome environmentalist, feminist, peace activist and Senior Researcher with Canadian Voice of Women for Peace, Tamara Lorincz and climate policy researcher and advocate with Greenpeace Canada, Keith Stewart.  As we head into the Global Week of Action for Peace and Climate Justice, we discuss Canada's accelerating shift toward a militarized economy, what this looks like and how this is not only failing to address our true security needs, but is coming at considerable cost to our sovereignty, people and planet On claims that militarization is about protecting our sovereignty, Lorincz says: "Since Canada became a member of NATO in 1949, our military has become deeply integrated into the US military. We actually have no sovereignty over our military policy because .. it's dominated and influenced by Washington. And we also really have no sovereignty over our budget because of this demand that we reach a 5% target… already 70% of our military procurement dollars are buying American weapons systems. So Americans control our weapons. Americans really control our military. Canadians should really see ourselves as basically a troop of the US military… It's really Washington, DC that is influencing this massive militarization, increase of military spending in Canada. ..And so this is what our women's groups have been calling for.. for Canada to withdraw from NATO and to instead really work with the UN community on the greatest security challenges that we're facing: poverty, inequality, and the climate crisis." According to Stewart: "One of the new things that's surprising to me, was the way in which the tech military alliance is really worsening this problem. ..Amazon Web Services ..work very closely with companies like Palantir and Anduril, which are heavily involved in military tech and surveillance technologies. .. Amazon itself is also very involved in autonomous weapons systems, which is basically allowing AI to sort of pick targets without human input… So Amazon lobbied the federal government 65 times in the last year on military spending. ..They met with the head of the Canadian Armed Forces... with the Minister of Defense, the Minister of AI, the Minister of Finance. This isn't business as normal. You don't get these types of meetings at this high level, this many of them, unless the government is interested in what you're selling and it costs a hell of a lot ..[And] it's all happening behind closed doors without anybody noticing." About today's guests:  Tamara Lorincz is recently graduated with her PhD in Global Governance at the Balsillie School for International Affairs at Wilfrid Laurier University. She has a Masters in International Politics & Security Studies from the University of Bradford and a Law degree and MBA specializing in environmental law and management from Dalhousie University. She's a senior researcher with the Canadian Voice of Women for Peace and a member of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom-Canada. Her research focuses on the climate and environmental impacts of the military. She's a long-time environmentalist, feminist and peace activist and a mother with two teenage boys.  Keith Stewart has been a climate policy researcher and advocate for over 30 years, including the last 16 years with Greenpeace Canada. He has a Ph.D. from York University and teaches a course on energy and environmental policy at the University of Toronto.    Also check out:  CVOW - 1000 Women+ Call for Care Not Warfare Seniors' Climate Witness Global Week of Action for Peace and Climate Justice Transcript of this episode can be accessed at georgebrown.ca/TommyDouglasInstitute or here.  Image: Tamara Lorincz, Keith Stewart  / Used with permission. Music: Ang Kahora. Lynne, Bjorn. Rights Purchased.  Intro Voices: Ashley Booth (Podcast Announcer); Bob Luker (Tommy)  Courage My Friends Podcast Organizing Committee: Chandra Budhu, Ashley Booth, Resh Budhu.  Produced by: Resh Budhu, The Tommy Douglas Institute of Labour and Social Justice and Nick Seebruch, rabble.ca.  Host: Resh Budhu. 

Are you passionate about safeguarding the well-being of entire communities? In this episode, Dr. Tara Elton-Marshall, an Associate Professor in the School of Epidemiology and Public Health at the University of Ottawa, provides an insightful look into the University of Ottawa's Master of Public Health (MPH) program. We explore its three distinct concentrations: Public Health Practice, Global Health, and Public Health Policy. Dr. Elton-Marshall also delves into the program's policy training offered by the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, the MPH+ language option, the comprehensive 16-month curriculum that includes a practicum and capstone project, and the invaluable mentorship that guides students in launching successful careers in public health.Learn more:MPH program: https://www.uottawa.ca/faculty-medicine/graduate-postdoctoral/programs-admission/program-information/MPHMPH+ with language training: https://www.uottawa.ca/faculty-medicine/graduate-postdoctoral/programs-admission/program-information/master-public-health-plusSchool of Epidemiology and Public Health: https://www.uottawa.ca/faculty-medicine/epidemiologyDr. Elton-Marshall's profile: https://www.uottawa.ca/faculty-medicine/directory/dr-tara-elton-marshall

mit Noura Maan, Sara Hassan, Josefa Niedermaier, Ali Dönmez, Tamara Ehs, Flavia Matei und Mara Verlič„Wer gegen wen?“: Ungleichheit ist kein Zufall, sondern politisch gemacht und gewollt.  Menschen in Bereichen wie Arbeit, Bildung, Wohnen oder Pflege werden oft in einem dauerhaften Wettbewerbs-Diskurs gegeneinander ausgespielt. Doch wer profitiert von dieser Erzählung eines „Gegeneinanders“: Gemeinsam mit verschiedenen ExpertInnen analysiert Sara Hassan, wer von sozialer Ungleichheit profitiert, wie Machtstrukturen funktionieren und welche Möglichkeiten es gibt, mehr Solidarität und Gerechtigkeit zu schaffen.Um die Frage „Wer gegen wen?“ gemeinsam zu beantworten – oder ihr zumindest ein Stück näherzukommen –, bietet der Abend Raum für vertiefende Perspektiven und offenen Austausch .Die Herausgeber:innen Sara Hassan und Josefa Niedermaier kommen mit  Stadtsoziologin Mara Verlič, Demokratieforscherin Tamara Ehs, Aktivistin der IG24 Flavia Matei und Logopäde Ali Dönmez ins Gespräch und werden ihre Gedanken über das Buch hinaus weiterführen und zur Diskussion stellen. Moderiert wird die Veranstaltung von Noura Maan. In einem anschließenden interaktiven Gespräch besteht die Möglichkeit, Fragen, Erfahrungen und eigene Perspektiven einzubringen und gemeinsam über Wege zu mehr Solidarität und Gerechtigkeit nachzudenken.Sara Hassan, Autorin, ehemalige Referntin im EU-Parlament, beschäftigt sich in Ihrer Arbeit damit, wie Macht institutionell gebraucht, aber auch missbraucht wird.Josefa Niedermaier, freie Lektorin, begleitet (Sach-)Buch- und Textprojekte rund um die Themen Gesellschaft, Inklusion und Nachhaltigkeit. Mehr unter stimmt-das-so.at. Ali Dönmez, Logopäde und Lehrer für Deutsch als Fremd- und Zweitsprache (DaF/DaZ) leitet Workshops zum Thema der Mehrsprachigkeit und rassismuskritischen Bildung.Tamara Ehs, Politikwissenschafterin und Demokratieberaterin, ist Associate Fellow der Academy of International Affairs in Bonn und berät u.a. das Competence Centre on Participatory and Deliberative Democracy der Europäischen Kommission und die European Association for Local Democracy in Brüssel.Flavia Matei, Lehrende und Forscherin an der Kunstuniversität Linz, arbeitet derzeit im #ConnectingMinds-Projekt zu sozial-ökologisch nachhaltiger Architektur. In ihrer Freizeit engagiert sie sich als Aktivistin für die Rechte migrantischer Care-Arbeiter:innen in Österreich.Mara Verlič, Referentin in der Abteilung Kommunalpolitik der Arbeiterkammer Wien mit besonderem Fokus auf städtische Migrations- und Wohnungspolitik.Moderation:Noura Maan Noura Maan arbeitet als Chefin vom Dienst und Außenpolitikredakteurin beim STANDARD. In ihrer journalistischen Arbeit beschäftigt sie sich unter anderem mit dem Nahen Osten, US-Politik sowie gleichstellungspolitischen Themen und kommentiert regelmäßig aktuelle internationale Entwicklungen. 2023 gab sie gemeinsam mit Beate Hausbichler den Sammelband „Geradegerückt – Vorverurteilt, skandalisiert, verleumdet: Wie die Biografien prominenter Frauen verzerrt werden“ im Verlag Kremayr & Scheriau heraus

Dr. Donna Hicks is an Associate at the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard University and the former Deputy Director of the Program on International Conflict Analysis and Resolution (PICAR). She facilitated dialogues in numerous unofficial diplomatic efforts in the Middle East, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Colombia, Cuba, Libya and Syria. She was a consultant to the BBC in Northern Ireland, where she co-facilitated a television series, Facing the Truth, with Archbishop Desmond Tutu. She has taught courses in conflict resolution at Harvard and Columbia Universities and conducts seminars in the US and abroad on dignity leadership training and on the role dignity plays in resolving conflict. She consults to corporations, governments, schools, churches, and non-governmental organizations. Her book, Dignity: It's Essential Role in Resolving Conflict, was published by Yale University Press in 2011. Her second book, Leading with Dignity: How to Create a Culture That Brings Out the Best in People, was published by Yale University Press in August 2018.    

Why do some new democracies develop peacefully while others descend into criminal wars? Accountability Shock (coauthored by Guillermo Trejo, Lucia Tiscornia and Juan Albarracin, Cambridge University Press 2026) argues that the answer lies in how newly elected governments confront — or ignore — their authoritarian past. When post-authoritarian elites pursue truth commissions and criminal prosecutions for past atrocities, they break the cycle of state impunity that enables criminal violence to take hold. Where they extend amnesty and silence instead, criminal wars follow. The book's findings challenge a long-standing policy assumption: accountability is not a threat to fragile democracies — impunity is.In this discussion with the IIEA, Lucia Tiscornia and Roger Mac Ginty will discuss the role of accountability in conflict prevention, and how post-authoritarian states can strengthen democratic institutions, address legacies of violence and build the foundations for sustainable peace and security. Lucía Tiscornia is Associate Professor in the School of Politics and International Relations at University College Dublin and Faculty Fellow at the Geary Institute for Public Policy. She works at the intersection of political science, criminology, and international relations, with research expertise in criminal governance, state violence, and security sector reform. Her most recent project, funded through a European Research Council Starting Grant, focuses on understanding criminal governance in contexts where one would not expect to find it. Roger Mac Ginty is Professor in Defence, Development and Diplomacy in the School of Government and International Affairs at Durham University. He works on peace and conflict, with a particular focus on the intersection between top-down and bottom-up approaches to peacemaking and on everyday peace. He co-directs the Everyday Peace Indicators project and co-edits the journal Peacebuilding. His research has been funded by the EU, the ESRC, and the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Key TopicsNicholas Burns recounts being the new U.S. ambassador to NATO when the attacks happened and describes the urgent push to invoke Article V for the first time in NATO history.Meghan L. O'Sullivan explains how 9/11 helped push a generation of foreign policy professionals into government and public service, including her own move from Brookings to the State Department.Juliette Kayyem recalls being on maternity leave and on an Amtrak train to New York when the attacks unfolded.The group discusses how 9/11 changed the American national security mindset from treating terrorism as a niche issue to making it a central organizing concern.O'Sullivan breaks down the evolution of the phrases “you're with us or against us” and “the war on terror,” arguing that both became more problematic over time than they were at the moment they were first used.Burns emphasizes that NATO allies were unified immediately after the attacks and that Canada was the first country to raise the idea of invoking Article V.The guests contrast the diplomatic and alliance-based response to 9/11 with the later turn toward preemption, especially in Afghanistan and Iraq.O'Sullivan explains why the Iraq invasion cannot be understood apart from the post-9/11 atmosphere, even if the Iraq-9/11 connection itself was not proven.Kayyem describes the creation of homeland security as a major structural shift, from fragmented local and federal systems to a more centralized architecture with FEMA, the FBI, state homeland security advisors, and fusion-style coordination.The panel argues that domestic terrorism, political violence, technology, and radicalization now pose different challenges than the international terrorism focus that dominated the years after 9/11.Burns warns that the State Department and broader foreign policy bureaucracy have been weakened, arguing that America needs experienced diplomats and allies more than ever.The conversation closes with a shared lesson: America is strongest when it relies on friends, coordinates across institutions, and resists making the military the sole organizing principle of foreign policy.LinksJuliette Kayyem - https://www.hks.harvard.edu/faculty/juliette-kayyemMeghan L. O'Sullivan - https://www.hks.harvard.edu/faculty/meghan-osullivanNicholas Burns - https://www.hks.harvard.edu/faculty/nicholas-burnsIvo Daalder - https://www.ivodaalder.com/Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs — belfercenter.orgWorld Review with Ivo Daalder — belfercenter.org/world-review-ivo-daalder

Conflict is inevitable, but lip service in lieu of resolution doesn't need to be.  Dr. Donna Hicks, Associate at the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard University and author of "Dignity", walks us through the key elements that contribute to positive outcomes in conflict resolution, and how we can maintain our dignity - and the dignity of others - while at the negotiating table.

Interview recorded - 9th of September, 2026On this episode of the WTFinance podcast I had the pleasure of welcoming back Professor Vali Nasr. Vali Nasr is a Professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, a senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and one of the most authoritative voices on Iran, having advised American policymakers and diplomats on the country for decades. He is also the author of Iran's Grand Strategy: A political history.During our conversation we spoke about the current situation in the Middle East, the reshaping of the continent, why the US is the real loser in this conflict, whether it'll be a forever war and more. I hope you enjoy!0:00 - Introduction2:37 - Current phase of Iran war5:58 - Challenges of agreement8:51 - Sanction pressure12:34 - Lack of trust14:58 - Forever war?17:31 - Iranian shift post war23:21 - Opposition parties?28:40 - Reshaping the Middle East34:33 - Winner of the conflict?38:53 - One message to takeaway?Vali Nasr is the Majid Khadduri Professor of International Affairs and Middle East Studies at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), and Non-Resident Senior Advisor in the Middle East Program at CSIS. He served as the eighth Dean of Johns Hopkins SAIS between 2012 and 2019 and served as Senior Advisor to U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Ambassador Richard Holbrooke between 2009 and 2011.Professor Nasr is the author of Iran's Grand Strategy: A Political History, The Dispensable Nation: American Foreign Policy in Retreat; Forces of Fortune: The Rise of a New Middle Class and How it Will Change Our World; The Shia Revival: How Conflicts within Islam will Shape the Future; Democracy in Iran: History and the Quest for Liberty; Islamic Leviathan, Islam and the Making of State Power; Mawdudi and the Making of Islamic Revivalism; Vanguard of Islamic Revolution: Jama'at-i Islami of Pakistan, and co-author of How Sanctions Work: Iran and the Impact of Economic Warfare; as well as numerous articles in scholarly journals and commentary in Financial Times, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, New York Times, Washington Post, and Wall Street Journal. He has advised senior American policymakers, world leaders, and businesses, including the President, Secretary of State, senior members of the Congress, and presidential campaigns. He has written for New York Times, Foreign Affairs, Financial Times, Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post, among others.Vali Nasr - X - https://x.com/vali_nasrBook - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Irans-Grand-Strategy-Political-History/dp/0691268924/WTFinance -Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/67rpmjG92PNBW0doLyPvfniTunes -https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wtfinance/id1554934665?uo=4LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-fatseas-761066103/Twitter - https://twitter.com/AnthonyFatseas

Banu Guven, a widely respected TV presenter, became the first Turkish journalist to host Kurdish leader Mazlum Kobane on national TV in Turkey. Until recently, interviewing the former commander of the now dissolved Syrian Democratic Forces was a punishable offense. But with Kurdish peace talks underway in Turkey and the integration of Kurdish structures in Syria's northeast advancing, the mood has shifted.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Visit us at Network2020.org.A major shift is underway in the defense posture of Northern Europe. Finland and Sweden joined NATO, ending long periods of non-alignment. Together, the “Nordic-Baltic Eight” (NB8) give more military aid to Ukraine as a percentage of GDP. Strong balance sheets, driven by innovation and digital transformation, have enabled the region to become leaders in European security.What does this shift in power mean within the European Union and for transatlantic relations, especially following the crisis over Greenland? How have the NB8 countries changed since the invasion of Ukraine, and what do their changes mean for the future? Are they ready for the economic and political risks that come with increased importance in European security?Join us for a discussion with Dr. Hiski Haukkala, Director of the Finnish Institute of International Affairs, Dr. Jacob Funk Kirkegaard, Senior Fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, and Dr. Kristi Raik, Director of the International Centre for Defence and Security, on how eight countries became leaders in European security — and whether that leadership can survive economic and political turbulence.Music by Aleksey Chistilin from Pixabay

As global power dynamics shift, how do we strike the right balance between deterrence, dialogue, and sustainable development in the Arctic? And what do the changes underway mean for Arctic governance, stability, and cooperation?Joining the conversation are:Bergdís Ellertsdóttir, then-Senior Arctic Official of IcelandGuðbjörg Ríkey Th. Hauksdóttir, Program Manager, Centre for Arctic Studies, University of Iceland; PhD Candidate, University of Iceland; Fellow, Harvard Kennedy School's Arctic InitiativeSvein Vigeland Rottem, Senior Researcher, Fridtjof Nansen Institute, NorwayMarc Lanteigne, Associate Professor, UiT The Arctic University of NorwayThe Session is moderated by Pia Hansson, Director of the Institute of International Affairs, University of Iceland.This discussion was recorded live at the Arctic Circle Rome Forum - Polar Dialogue, held March 3rd–4th, 2026.Arctic Circle is the largest network of international dialogue and cooperation on the future of the Arctic. It is an open democratic platform with participation from governments, organizations, corporations, universities, think tanks, environmental associations, Indigenous communities, concerned citizens, and others interested in the development of the Arctic and its consequences for the future of the globe. It is a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization.  Learn more about Arctic Circle at www.ArcticCircle.org or contact us at secretariat@arcticcircle.orgTWITTER:@_Arctic_CircleFACEBOOK:The Arctic CircleINSTAGRAM:arctic_circle_org

In this episode of The International Risk Podcast, Dominic Bowen speaks with Stephanie Wolters about security, governance, and stability across the Democratic Republic of Congo. Stephanie Wolters unpacks why the DRC cannot be ignored, and why the roots of the conflict stretch far beyond its own borders.The discussion examines the international intervention in DRC, including MONUSCO, and what daily life actually looks like for communities living under armed group control. It also explores Rwanda's influence in the crisis.The conversation explores: -The regionally-driven roots of the conflict and why it's about power more than resources-Rwanda's role in the crisis-The impact and limits of international intervention on the ground-What daily life is actually like for communities in areas controlled by armed groups-The challenge of managing outbreaks like Ebola in conflict-affected areasStephanie Wolters is a Senior Research Fellow at the South African Institute of International Affairs and founding director of Okapi Consulting, with over 25 years of experience researching conflict and political economy across the Great Lakes region.The International Risk Podcast brings you conversations with global experts, frontline practitioners, and senior decision-makers who are shaping how we understand and respond to international risk. From geopolitical instability and organised crime to cybersecurity threats and hybrid warfare, each episode explores the forces transforming our world and what smart leaders must do to navigate them. Whether you're a board member, policymaker, or risk professional, The International Risk Podcast delivers actionable insights, sharp analysis, and real-world stories that matter.Dominic Bowen is the host of The International Risk Podcast and Europe's leading expert on international risk and crisis management. As Head of Strategic Advisory and Partner at one of Europe's leading risk management consulting firms, Dominic advises CEOs, boards, and senior executives across the continent on how to prepare for uncertainty and act with intent. He has spent decades working in war zones, advising multinational companies, and supporting Europe's business leaders. Dominic is the go-to business advisor for leaders navigating risk, crisis, and strategy; trusted for his clarity, calmness under pressure, and ability to turn volatility into competitive advantage. Dominic equips today's business leaders with the insight and confidence to lead through disruption and deliver sustained strategic advantage. Subscribe for new episodes every week Tell us what you liked in the comments belowShare this episode with colleagues in risk, policy, and security #Geopolitics #DRC #GreatLakes #MONUSCO #Congo #Rwanda #PoliticalRisk #InternationalRisk #Strategy #AfricaTell us what you liked!

Key TopicsThe Venezuela oil deal is framed as a huge geopolitical gamble, with claims of 65 billion barrels and a U.S. stake in a private Venezuelan company.Nahal Toosi explains why the deal is surrounded by legal, constitutional, and practical doubts, including questions about infrastructure, financing, and corruption.Alex Ward argues the deal reflects a Trump-era foreign policy that treats oil and regime change as spoils of victory, not just strategic assets.Shashank Joshi notes that Europeans see echoes of earlier resource anxieties, from Greenland to the Falklands, and worry about a broader collapse of principle in U.S. policy.The panel raises the possibility that the Venezuela arrangement could create incentives to delay democratic transition and keep an anti-democratic regime in place.The military segment focuses on the strain caused by extended deployments in the Middle East, especially the impact on munitions stockpiles, carrier availability, and long-term maintenance.Joshi cites the depletion of Patriot interceptors and the ripple effects in Ukraine, where reduced interceptor capacity may be affecting defense against Russian missile attacks.Toosi warns that the U.S. is simultaneously damaging its diplomatic, development, trade, and military advantages, leaving Congress and Pentagon leadership slow to respond.On Russia, Alex Ward says Ratcliffe's Moscow trip appears to be both a warning and a broader attempt to preserve a back-channel with Russian intelligence.Joshi and Toosi discuss Russian hybrid risk, including the concern that Moscow may test NATO without triggering a classic Article 5-style response.LinksNahal Toosi - https://www.politico.com/staff/nahal-toosiAlexander Ward - https://www.wsj.com/news/author/alexander-wardShashank Joshi - https://mediadirectory.economist.com/people/shashank-joshi/Ivo Daalder - https://www.ivodaalder.com/Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs — belfercenter.orgWorld Review with Ivo Daalder — belfercenter.org/world-review-ivo-daalder

Colombia is one of the most unequal countries in the world regarding agriculture and land ownership. Violence in the Colombian countryside has often allowed corporate agriculture to displace land once held by small farmers, known as “campesinos”, and transform it into new frontiers for capital.Jaskiran Kaur Chohan tells Alasdair that “armed conflict undermines the productive systems of campesinos, which reinforces the corporate food regime and the modernisation of agriculture”. They discuss how corporate food regimes take root in the aftermath, and how the country's smallholders can survive. Dr Kaur Chohan is a political ecologist at the University of Bristol, whose work focuses on rural communities in Colombia and the intersection of violence, conflict, and agriculture.Further reading: 'Violent conflict, capitalism and insurgent food sovereignty', The Journal of Peasant Studies, 2026'Have monopolies broken agricultural markets?', The Land and Climate Podcast, 2025'The corporate food regime in conflict zones: Armed violence and agriculture in the Zona de Reserva Campesina-Valle del Río Cimitarra, Colombia', Geoforum, 2024'Sugar cane is eroding Colombian biodiversity', Land and Climate Review, 2024'Tough Tradeoffs: Coca crops and agrarian alternatives in Colombia' , International Journal of Drug Policy, 2021'Slow violence and corporate greening in the war on drugs in Colombia', International Affairs, 2021 'Zonas de Reserva Campesina: ¿Estrategia de Desarrollo Regional y contra el Desplazamiento?', Mama Coca, 2020'Grassroots masquerades: development, paramilitaries, and land laundering in Colombia', Geoforum, 2013Broken Republic: Three Essays, Arundhati Roy, 2011Send us Fan MailFind all our latest investigations, features and interviews at www.landclimate.org

Today's guest is Jennifer Brick Murtazashvili, Founding Director of the Center for Governance and Markets and a Professor at the University of Pittsburgh's School of Public and International Affairs. She is a nonresident scholar at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and a Distinguished Fellow of Peace and International Cooperation at the Institute for Humane Studies. In this episode, Alon and Jennifer discuss the situation in Afghanistan under the Taliban, particularly the difference between the Taliban 1.0 that ruled in the 1990s prior to the US invasion, and the current Taliban 2.0, the Taliban's relations with Afghanistan's neighboring countries, women's rights in Afghanistan currently, and the prospective for insurgency against the Taliban. Full bio Jennifer Brick Murtazashvili is Founding Director of the Center for Governance and Markets and a Professor at the University of Pittsburgh's School of Public & International Affairs. Her research focuses on issues of self-governance, security, political economy, and public sector reform in Eurasia, Central Eurasia, and South Asia. She is a nonresident scholar at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and a Distinguished Fellow of Peace and International Cooperation at the Institute for Humane Studies. Murtazashvili is the author of several books including Land, the State, and War: Property Institutions and Political Order in Afghanistan (Cambridge University Press, 2021) with Ilia Murtazashvili, and Informal Order and the State in Afghanistan (Cambridge University Press, 2016), which received the Best Book Award in Social Sciences by the Central Eurasian Studies Society and received honorable mention from the International Development Section of the International Studies Association. Murtazashvili has advised the United States Agency for International Development, the Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit, World Bank, the US Department of Defense, the United Nations Development Program, and UNICEF. She is the President of the Central Eurasian Studies Society and a board member of CEDOS a Kyiv-based organization focused on urban policy and education in Ukraine. She is a member of PONARS Eurasia, a research organization focused on security issues in Eurasia. She previously served as a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council's Eurasia Center.

We examine China's space diplomacy across the Middle East and North Africa with the authors of their recent Texas National Security Review article, "Choosing Orbits: China's Space Diplomacy in the Middle East." The discussion analyzes how regional states—specifically Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and Iran—utilize space partnerships with Beijing to serve distinct domestic, economic, and security imperatives . Our guests challenge assumptions that smaller powers are passive subjects in great power rivalry and detail how Middle Eastern states exercise strategic agency through hybrid alignment strategies . Guests Lawrence Rubin | Professor at the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs at the Georgia Institute of Technology, co-director of the GTDC Pathways to Policy program, and associate fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies . Lincoln Hines | Assistant Professor at the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs at the Georgia Institute of Technology and Fellow with the Carnegie China Fellowship at the University of Maryland . Dayana Alagirova | PhD student at the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs at the Georgia Institute of Technology, Fulbright Scholar, and space policy researcher . Hosts: Sheena Chestnut Greitens Ryan Vest Producer: Jordan Morning

Former President George W. Bush was wrong when he iconically stated "Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning?" Actually, it's asked all the time (dubious grammatical structuring aside). Politicians and social influencers are quick to bemoan the state of education, but thoughtful conversations on how we might meaningfully change things for the better are few and far between. Saving Elephants has assembled an all-star panel to have a real conversation about education: Have we failed to educate our children? To what extent are problems in education a matter of bad policies, structures, or philosophy? What is the purpose of education, and do our schools align with that purpose?   The panel includes:   Brooke Medina From spn.org Brooke Medina serves as Vice President of Communications for State Policy Network. She is SPN's on-the-record spokesperson. Prior to joining SPN, Brooke was the Vice President of Communications at the John Locke Foundation, a state-based think tank in Raleigh, North Carolina. Brooke's writing has been published in outlets such as Fox News, The Hill, Entrepreneur, Washington Examiner, WORLD, Daily Signal, and other publications. In addition, she is a contributor to The Digital Public Square: Christian Ethics in a Technological Society, published by B&H Academic Press. Brooke was also the executive producer of Sowing Resilience, Securing Our Food Supply from Farm to Table, a feature length film about North Carolina's food systems and agriculture industry, as well as A Letter to the King, a film highlighting the historical significance of the Edenton Tea Party, America's first all-female political movement.   Luke Sheahan From lukesheahan.com Luke Sheahan is Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at Duquesne University, Non-Resident Scholar at the Program for Research on Religion and Urban Civil Society (PRRUCS) at the University of Pennsylvania, and editor of The University Bookman. Luke's research and speaking focuses upon civil society and freedom of association. Luke is the author of Why Associations Matter: The Case for First Amendment Pluralism.     Caylan Ford From caylanford.com Caylan Ford is a documentary filmmaker, writer, researcher, charter school founder, and a former political candidate. Born in Calgary, Canada, and earning a Bachelor's degree (Hons.) in Chinese history at the University of Calgary, Caylan obtained a Master's degree in International Affairs from the George Washington University, and worked on and off as a senior policy advisor for Canada's foreign ministry. Between the birth of her two children she earned another Master's in International Human Rights Law at the University of Oxford. In 2022 Caylan founded Canada's first tuition-free classical charter school network, Alberta Classical Academy. Here is a short video introduction to their work and how they aim to promote knowledge of things that are true, good, and enduring.

Pakistan helped the United States contain Soviet power and wage war in Afghanistan. Yet Pakistanis believe America abandoned them once it was no longer useful.Dr. Sidra Khan calls the relationship “instrumental.” She explains how rivalry with India shapes Pakistan's foreign policy… why China offers an alternative to American power… and how decades of war left Pakistanis feeling betrayed and used.In 2026, Pakistan emerged as a mediator between Iran and the United States.Can a relationship built on strategic necessity ever become one built on trust?

Key Topicas Canada's resistance to U.S. tariffs and what it means for Prime Minister Mark Carney Whether economic pressure can succeed against Iran where military action has not The weakening of U.S. leverage when allies are no longer willing to cooperate How Trump's approach is changing the transatlantic relationship What fragmentation in Europe and the Gulf means for future global power Links Prashant Rao - https://www.semafor.com/author/prashant-rao Matina Stevis-Gridneff - https://www.nytimes.com/by/matina-stevis-gridneff Anton La Guardia - https://mediadirectory.economist.com/people/anton-la-guardia/ Ivo Daalder - https://www.ivodaalder.com/ Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs — belfercenter.org World Review with Ivo Daalder — belfercenter.org/world-review-ivo-daalder

Many Kurds across the region feel angered by the Aug. 25 announcement by Syrian Democratic Forces commander-in-chief Mazlum Kobane that the force has been formally dissolved. Ibrahim Hamidi, a veteran Syrian journalist and editor-in-chief of Al Majalla, argues that the push for Kurdish rights is by no means over, and that Kobane's new role as an advisor to Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa will present the Kurds with fresh opportunities.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Key Topics Artificial intelligence as a world-changing technology The promise and risks of AI AI's potential to improve science and medicine Power, agency, and democracy in the AI era The US-China race for AI dominance China's centralized approach to AI development Europe's role in AI governance and sovereignty Why infrastructure and data centers matter for AI The tension between innovation and regulation Safety concerns from AI lab leaders themselves How AI could affect jobs, markets, and national security The need for transparency, accountability, and public oversight How political backlash could shape future AI policy The possibility of global AI guardrails and coordination Links Sebastian Mallaby — https://www.cfr.org/experts/sebastian-mallaby Evan Osnos — https://www.evanosnos.com/ Marietje Schaake — https://cyber.fsi.stanford.edu/people/marietje-schaake Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs — belfercenter.org World Review with Ivo Daalder — belfercenter.org/world-review-ivo-daalder

Plan Dulce Host Michelle E.  Zuñiga, PhD, AICP (she/her/hers) interviews Pamela Agustin-Anguiano (she/her), Coalition Director of Eastside LEADS, an intergenerational coalition of youth, adult, and 8 community-based organizations working together to preserve and develop deeply affordable housing, expand tenant protections, and stop the displacement of low-income residents in East Los Angeles.Pamela was born and raised in Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico, a city located along the California U.S.- Mexico border. At the age of 12 she moved to the Coachella Valley, California where she was struck by the economic and infrastructure divides in the region that were evident during her first drive between Mecca to her step-father's job at a Country Club in Indian Wells. The beautifully manicured green lawns, larger roads, private gated communities, and smiling golf enthusiasts in their golf carts were a stark difference to the unpaved roads, dilapidated housing, and farmworkers toiling in the desert heat close to Mecca. At the time she wondered how could this be a reality in one of the most wealthy nations of the world? How can this be a reality for the families that she saw risk their lives crossing the All American Canal or the desert heat back in Mexicali?This question led her to pursue a double major in International Affairs and Latin American Studies at UC Riverside. But the answers to this question, and more importantly, the impact that local residents can have in shaping solutions to inequality were evident once she began working and organizing in East L.A., a place where residents fight together with support of many local organizations to achieve a more just and equitable L.A.Today, Pamela serves as the Coalition Director of Eastside LEADS, an intergenerational coalition of youth, adult, and 8 community-based organizations working together to preserve and develop deeply affordable housing, expand tenant protections, and stop the displacement of low-income residents in East Los Angeles. She directs strategic planning, campaign development, and fundraising for the Coalition. Under her leadership Eastside LEADS has won important tenant protection and housing policies in L.A. County and helped establish regional partnerships that fight for housing as a human right. Pamela also currently serves as the appointed Commissioner from LA County Supervisorial District 1 to the LA County Rental Oversight Commission.Links and ResourcesEastside LEADShttps://www.eastsideleads.org/ Glendale Tenants Unionhttps://www.instagram.com/glendaletenantsunion?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw%3D%3D --------------------------------------Plan Dulce is a podcast by members of the ⁠⁠Latinos and Planning Division⁠ of the American Planning Association⁠. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only. Want to recommend our next great guests and stay updated on the latest episodes? We want to hear from you! Follow, rate, and subscribe! Your support and feedback helps us continue to amplify insightful and inspiring stories from our wonderfully culturally and professionally diverse community.This episode was conceived, written, and produced by Haydee Urita-Lopez (she/her/hers), Michelle E.  Zuñiga, PhD, AICP (she/her/hers) and co-produced by Vidal F. Márquez (he/him).Connect:Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/plandulcepodcast/ Facebook:⁠https://www.facebook.com/LatinosandPlanning/⁠Youtube:Subscribe to Plan Dulce on Youtube LinkedIn:⁠https://www.linkedin.com/groups/4294535/⁠X/ Twitter:⁠https://twitter.com/latinosplanapa?lang=en⁠—

Tensions between Turkey and Israel have been spiraling over Gaza, the Eastern Mediterranean, the Horn of Africa and above all in Syria. Fears of a confrontation between the US allies grew this week after Israel bombed a military airport near the Turkish border, saying Turkish forces were about to move in. Israeli analyst Danny Citrinowicz believes that with no active deconfliction mechanism in place a hot clash is imminent if not inevitable.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dr. Shane Singh, Professor of Public and International Affairs and Co-Director of Graduate Studies, Political Science & International Affairs at the University of Georgia, joins Karen Conti to discuss his advocacy for a law that would require everyone in the U.S. to vote. Shane talks about voter turnout percentages in general and midterm elections, common […]

On this show, Tamar Yonah speaks with Rabbi Josh Wander who served as an IDF commander in Lebanon, has a Master's degree in Public and International Affairs & politically he served as an adviser in the Israeli parliament. He joins Tamar to speak about all that's happening regarding Israel's 'situation', including these topics: Gaza — Lebanon — Hilltop Youth — The Upcoming Israeli Elections — The Abraham Accords —  Aliyah — The Third Temple — The Redemption Process — Follow Josh at: GeulaMovement.substack.com The Tamar Yonah Show 17AUG2026 - PODCAST

Ever wonder why some brands feel confident showing up in new digital spaces while others seem to hold back? In this episode of Leader Generation, Tessa Burg talks with Stephanie Posner from DoubleVerify about something a lot of people worry about when it comes to AI: trust.  Stephanie's career path has taken her from diplomatic work in the Middle East to Netflix to TikTok and now to DoubleVerify, and she brings all that experience into how she thinks about protecting brands online. Stephanie shares what it actually takes to build a team that blends human judgment with machine learning and why that combo tends to work better than leaning on AI alone.  Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op. About Stephanie Posner: Stephanie Posner is VP of Policy, Safety & Global Affairs at DoubleVerify (NYSE: DV), the industry's leading media effectiveness platform. She leads the global team responsible for the policies and standards that underpin DV's AI-powered brand suitability products — the classification solutions used by the world's largest advertisers to protect their brands across the open web, social platforms, and streaming TV. A recognized policy strategist, public speaker, product leader and trust & safety practitioner, Stephanie has driven landmark initiatives including DV's AI Slop detection product (first-to-market on YouTube and Meta), the Internet Watch Foundation child safety partnership, and the DoubleVerify News Accelerator Publisher Council. She has deep expertise in machine learning, responsible AI, content classification, ad-tech, brand integrity, trust and safety, and international tech regulation from her time at TikTok, Netflix & DoubleVerify. Prior to DV, she led Monetization Product Policy at TikTok and helped shape Netflix's global content and risk strategy. She is passionate about responsible AI, transparent advertising standards, and building a better internet for everyone. Before entering the tech industry, Stephanie was a senior diplomatic advisor in London.  She holds an MBA and MA in Global Affairs from Yale University, where she served as editor-in-chief of the Yale Journal of International Affairs. Stephanie also holds a BA in Classics from Cambridge University and was a Kennedy Scholar at Harvard University. She can be reached on LinkedIn. About Tessa Burg: Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.

Subscribe to enjoy ad-free listening, early access, and all of our bonus content! The American way of war is broken. Like many of his White House predecessors, Donald Trump is stuck in a stalemate of his own making. In Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq — to name four major wars — the president who went to war was unable to extricate the U.S. from the morass. It was up to his successor to salvage something from the wreckage of U.S. credibility and prestige. Our guest is Will Walldorf, who teaches in the Department of Politics and International Affairs at Wake Forest University. He is a Senior Fellow at Defense Priorities, a Washington think tank. His latest book is To Shape Our World For Good:  Master Narratives and Forceful Regime Change in United States Foreign Policy, 1900-2011. Recommended reading: Trump Needs to Defy History to End the Iran War by Will Walldorf (Foreign Policy) Subscribe today to support our important work! Subscriptions begin at only $5 per month. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The mutual defense pact signed between the regional Muslim powers comes against the backdrop of the Iran war, which has hurt Gulf countries more than any others.Saudi Arabia's oil sales have plummeted. Its energy infrastructure is badly damaged. It hopes Turkey and Pakistan's help will deter further attacks from the Iran-backed Houthis as well. Iran scholar Hamidreza Azizi discusses what the pact means for Tehran and the region.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are Professor of History and International Relations on the Shirley Ecker Boskey Chair at Vassar College He is a specialist on the history of US foreign policy Robert Brigham, the Arthur Zankel Chair in Management for Liberal Arts at Skidmore College where she teaches International Affairs and Business Management Pushi Prasad, Former Mayor of the City of Albany Kathy Sheehan, and Former Times Union Associate Editor Mike Spain.

WE is back! It's been a long break for the pod and we find Nick knee-deep in adventures for the next book in his Around The World in 80 Cigars series. This one will be called The American Dream, published in 2027 - and is a collaboration with the PCA (Premium Cigar Association of America).  In the first episode then of Season 3, Nick is joined by both Joshua Habursky, CEO of the PCA and its head of International Affairs and Education, Ricardo Carioni. Chiming in on this fascinating discussion about different cigar markets, Nick's new book and how the PCA is building initiatives that offer Members new and exciting products, is our old friend, Laurence Davis, owner of Sautters of Mayfair. He and his wife Melanie have created a fantastic range of cigar-focused fashion garments - and this, too, forms part of the PCA's pledge to educate, inform - and offer its Members new product lines to profit from. You can hear how the commission for Nick's latest book came out of the blue - while in the grounds of a Scottish castle! And Laurence Davis can be heard offering his finest Sir Winston Churchill impression, amid lots more laughs and smokes... Happy listening! Please like, subscribe and get in touch with your thoughts, questions and comments.

The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are a senior fellow and faculty member in the Center for the Advancement of Public Action at Bennington College. She is the President of Beyond Plastics and former EPA Regional Administrator. Judith is co-author of the book 'The Problem with Plastic ' Judith Enck, Senior Fellow for Health Policy at The Empire Center for Public Policy Bill Hammond, and Arthur Zankel Chair in Management for Liberal Arts at Skidmore College where she teaches International Affairs and Business Management Pushi Prasad.

Kate is joined by returning guest and friend of the show, Kim Lane Scheppele, the Laurance S. Rockefeller Professor of Sociology and International Affairs at Princeton, and one of the world's leading scholars of democratic backsliding, autocracy, and the rule of law. They discuss how the Supreme Court has been “captured,” the ways Donald Trump is attempting to remake Washington, D.C., in his image, and what Hungary can teach us about autocracy and how to recover from it.Favorite things: Kate:Emil Bove Defended Trump in Court. Then Trump Made Him a Judge, Mattathias Schwartz (NYT); Mailman: My Wild Ride Delivering the Mail in Appalachia and Finally Finding Home, Stephen Starring Grant Kim:Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump, Maggie Haberman & Jonathan Swan; Into the Wood Chipper: A Whistleblower's Account of How the Trump Administration Shredded USAID, Nicholas Enrich; The Dual State, Ernst Fraenkel; The Origins of Totalitarianism, Hannah Arendt; It Can't Happen Here, Sinclair Lewis; Borgen - Power & Glory (Netflix); Gok Wan's Easy Asian (Prime Video) Get tickets for STRICT SCRUTINY LIVE on November 6th in Washington, DC: Crookedcon.comBuy Melissa's book, The U.S. Constitution: A Comprehensive and Annotated Guide for the Modern ReaderBuy Leah's book, Lawless, now out in paperbackFollow us on Instagram, Threads, and BlueskyFor a transcript of an episode of Strict Scrutiny please email transcripts@crooked.com

How much of your marketing and CX investment is being undermined in the final mile by a sales conversation that goes off the rails?Agility requires our customer-facing teams do more than recite a script; they need the situational awareness to navigate complex conversations in real time. This capability isn't just a sales skill—it's a critical component of the overall customer experience.Today, we're talking about the gap between traditional sales training and real-world performance. Most reps forget the majority of what they learn, and classroom theory often fails to prepare them for the pressure and unpredictability of live buyer interactions. We'll explore how AI-powered simulation is moving beyond static role-play to create deliberate practice environments where teams can build the muscle memory needed for high-stakes conversations.To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome, Sam Dorison, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer at ReflexAI. About Sam DorisonSam Dorison is the Cofounder and CEO at ReflexAI. An expert in artificial intelligence strategy and product deployment, Dorison has been involved with AI-powered products in industries ranging from mental health to cybersecurity to smart cities. Before launching ReflexAI, he served as Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer at The Trevor Project, the world's largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ young people. There, he published 5 peer-reviewed articles on mental health and oversaw teams including crisis services, training, research, technology, and finance. Dorison previously worked at McKinsey & Company and Harvard Kennedy School. He graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Princeton University's School of Public and International Affairs. He also holds an LL.M. from Cambridge University and a master's degree from University College London, both as a Marshall Scholar. Beyond ReflexAI, Dorison is heavily involved in causes that support families impacted by cancer. Dorison lives in New York City with his husband. Sam Dorison on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samdorison/ ---------- Resources ---------- ReflexAI: https://www.reflexai.com The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://aglbrnd.co/r/2868abd8085a9703 We're proud to be a media partner for #MAICON26 - Oct. 13-15! Learn how AI can power your marketing and business and help you grow smarter. Use code AGILE150 to save! https://aglbrnd.co/r/7fe458ced0f04658Reach your customers with Reddit. Spend $500 in ad spend, get $500 back in ad credit! Learn more: https://advertalize.com/r/491818c79fb1873fChaser is the only Slack-native project management platform that helps teams turn messages into tracked tasks, automate follow-ups, and maintain team-wide visibility, without adopting another tool. Now integrated with Claude and other generative AI tools, Chaser is the only platform that brings AI-powered project management into Slack, where teams already work. Chaser is based in Toronto, Canada. Learn more at trychaser.com.The most influential minds in software, AI, and engineering leadership will be at WeAreDevelopers World Congress North America, September 23-25 in San Jose. Learn more: https://aglbrnd.co/r/60a7299222a7bcf1 Enjoyed the show? Tell us more at and give us a rating so others can find the show at: https://aglbrnd.co/r/faaed112fc9887f3 Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstromDon't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://aglbrnd.co/r/35ded3ccfb6716ba Check out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.