Podcasts about Kosovo

partially recognised state in the Balkans

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  • Aug 16, 2026LATEST
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Best podcasts about Kosovo

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Latest podcast episodes about Kosovo

Harde Mottak
Ævvrovision: Albania på under ti minutter

Harde Mottak

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 16, 2026 6:34


Hovedstad: Tirana Innbyggertall: ca. 2,3–2,4 millioner (offisielle estimater 2026; folketallet har sunket de siste årene) Naboland: Montenegro, Kosovo, Nord-Makedonia og HellasAreal: 28 748 km² Offisielt språk: Albansk Valuta: Lek (ALL) Statsform: RepublikkTakk til våre sponsorer Advokatfirmaet Mageli og Löfbergs Kaffe.

The High Performance Podcast
James Blunt: Criticism, Confidence & What Success Took From Me

The High Performance Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 14, 2026 71:17


We're revisiting this conversation with James Blunt because it's among the most disarming things we've recorded about belief, ridicule, and where confidence actually comes from.James made his first album on nothing but belief. He'd burnt his bridges with every record label in Britain and was playing to about twenty people on the twentieth floor of a Ramada hotel — and he was still completely certain the whole world was going to hear it. Understanding the real odds, he says, would have taken the wind out of his sails entirely.James tells Jake and Damian why you keep your powder dry until you're genuinely equipped, because you only get one shot with the people who matter. Why he never answers criticism on the day it lands — the sting always comes out overnight. Why the only opinions worth weighing come from the people who'll take the mickey out of you to your face. And the three things he carried out of commanding soldiers in Kosovo and into running the same band for twenty years: a good team, real respect for that team, and the conviction to make the call.Then there's what it cost him... the orchestrated press campaign that turned James into a national punchline and how he dealt with it. Being held back in a dressing room so that Damon Albarn didn't have to stand near him. The hug from Keith Flint he never forgot. And the night in Carrie Fisher's bathroom that produced Goodbye My Lover in a single, unrepeatable take.AG1

La ContraHistoria
¿Por qué pierden todas las guerras? - Episodio exclusivo para mecenas

La ContraHistoria

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 7, 2026 15:30


Agradece a este podcast tantas horas de entretenimiento y disfruta de episodios exclusivos como éste. ¡Apóyale en iVoox! Desde 1945 Estados Unidos ha intervenido en numerosas guerras y casi todas las ha perdido o las ha dejado en un desagradable empate, quizá también la actual con Irán, donde todavía no ha logrado ninguno de los objetivos declarados por el Gobierno de Trump. La lista habla por sí misma. La de Corea acabó en tablas, Vietnam fue una derrota clara, y lo mismo cabe decir de Irak en 2003 y de los veinte años que junto a sus aliados de la OTAN pasó en Afganistán, dos décadas y un dineral gastado para huir a la carrera en agosto de 2021. De la de Kosovo en 1999 se suele hablar como una victoria, pero lo cierto es que Serbia obtuvo al final mejores condiciones que las ofrecidas antes de los combates. La única excepción fue la guerra del Golfo de 1991. El fracaso no se explica por falta de dinero, potencia de fuego ni valentía de sus soldados, porque de todo eso van sobrados. Las razones son estratégicas y estructurales. Estados Unidos libra guerras que escoge librar allá donde no se despacha nada especialmente grave para sus intereses nacionales, pero los objetivos que se ponen suelen ser muy ambiciosos. Esos objetivos a menudo pasan por rehacer otros países a su imagen y semejanza. Sus enemigos, en cambio, se juegan la supervivencia o la independencia, de modo que están mucho más dispuestos al sacrificio. En las guerras asimétricas el débil no vence en el campo de batalla, sino evitando ser aniquilado hasta que el fuerte concluye que seguir metido en eso no le compensa. Esto explica buena parte de la historia bélica de Estados Unidos desde el final de la segunda guerra mundial. China frenó en Corea lo que veía como amenaza existencial, el nacionalismo comunista venció en Vietnam, y Saddam Hussein no suponía una amenaza en 2003 cuando se puso en marcha la Operación Libertad Iraquí. Unos años antes, en la guerra del Golfo, todo funcionó bien porque los objetivos bélicos coincidieron con los intereses nacionales, Bush padre terminó rápido y no tomó Bagdad. La cuestión es que una superpotencia tan absoluta no encuentra intereses vitales que justifiquen grandes sacrificios, aunque precisamente por eso, porque son muy poderosos, tengan propensión a intervenir en cualquier parte. Su problema siempre ha sido elegir las guerras y los objetivos equivocados. Si ese problema persiste es porque la élite que maneja la política exterior en Washington se resiste a rendir cuentas y aprender de sus errores. Escucha el episodio completo en la app de iVoox, o descubre todo el catálogo de iVoox Originals

La ContraCrónica
¿Por qué pierden todas las guerras? - Episodio exclusivo para mecenas

La ContraCrónica

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 7, 2026 15:30


Agradece a este podcast tantas horas de entretenimiento y disfruta de episodios exclusivos como éste. ¡Apóyale en iVoox! Desde 1945 Estados Unidos ha intervenido en numerosas guerras y casi todas las ha perdido o las ha dejado en un desagradable empate, quizá también la actual con Irán, donde todavía no ha logrado ninguno de los objetivos declarados por el Gobierno de Trump. La lista habla por sí misma. La de Corea acabó en tablas, Vietnam fue una derrota clara, y lo mismo cabe decir de Irak en 2003 y de los veinte años que junto a sus aliados de la OTAN pasó en Afganistán, dos décadas y un dineral gastado para huir a la carrera en agosto de 2021. De la de Kosovo en 1999 se suele hablar como una victoria, pero lo cierto es que Serbia obtuvo al final mejores condiciones que las ofrecidas antes de los combates. La única excepción fue la guerra del Golfo de 1991. El fracaso no se explica por falta de dinero, potencia de fuego ni valentía de sus soldados, porque de todo eso van sobrados. Las razones son estratégicas y estructurales. Estados Unidos libra guerras que escoge librar allá donde no se despacha nada especialmente grave para sus intereses nacionales, pero los objetivos que se ponen suelen ser muy ambiciosos. Esos objetivos a menudo pasan por rehacer otros países a su imagen y semejanza. Sus enemigos, en cambio, se juegan la supervivencia o la independencia, de modo que están mucho más dispuestos al sacrificio. En las guerras asimétricas el débil no vence en el campo de batalla, sino evitando ser aniquilado hasta que el fuerte concluye que seguir metido en eso no le compensa. Esto explica buena parte de la historia bélica de Estados Unidos desde el final de la segunda guerra mundial. China frenó en Corea lo que veía como amenaza existencial, el nacionalismo comunista venció en Vietnam, y Saddam Hussein no suponía una amenaza en 2003 cuando se puso en marcha la Operación Libertad Iraquí. Unos años antes, en la guerra del Golfo, todo funcionó bien porque los objetivos bélicos coincidieron con los intereses nacionales, Bush padre terminó rápido y no tomó Bagdad. La cuestión es que una superpotencia tan absoluta no encuentra intereses vitales que justifiquen grandes sacrificios, aunque precisamente por eso, porque son muy poderosos, tengan propensión a intervenir en cualquier parte. Su problema siempre ha sido elegir las guerras y los objetivos equivocados. Si ese problema persiste es porque la élite que maneja la política exterior en Washington se resiste a rendir cuentas y aprender de sus errores. Escucha el episodio completo en la app de iVoox, o descubre todo el catálogo de iVoox Originals

Kunststof
Gerri Eickhof, journalist

Kunststof

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 5, 2026 50:00


Gepensioneerd NOS-verslaggever Gerri Eickhof is terug voor de camera met 'Ongelijke Behandeling', een driedelige documentaireserie over de invloed van inkomen, culturele achtergrond en gender op de gezondheidszorg die mensen ontvangen. Eickhof staat bekend om zijn eigenzinnige binnenlandse reportages en reisde de hele wereld af om verslag te doen van oorlogen en crises in onder meer Bosnië, Kosovo, Irak en Rwanda. Op dit moment schrijft hij aan zijn memoires. Presentatie: Carine van Santen

The Peak Daily
Under the influence ☮️- Ottawa's foreign influence registry goes live, Canada cuts back on peacekeeping.

The Peak Daily

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 5, 2026 7:30


Ottawa's new foreign influence registry is now live, requiring anyone working on behalf of a foreign government or agency to influence Canadian politics to register within 60 days, but critics say the rules are both too broad and too toothless. Plus, Canada is sharply cutting back its UN peacekeeping commitments, withdrawing troops from missions in Congo, South Sudan, Cyprus, and Kosovo as NATO defence priorities take precedence over a core part of the country's foreign policy identity.And in The Big Picture: Moderna begins Canadian trials for a Bundibugyo Ebola vaccine, Canada-U.S. trade talks continue ahead of a tariff deadline, wildfires destroy hundreds of homes in B.C., Canadian VC firms do fewer but bigger deals, and Canada's trade surplus hits a four-year high.The Peak Daily is produced in partnership with reframevid.com

My Simplified Life
The Lake Club with Lina Patton

My Simplified Life

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 4, 2026 32:27


In this episode of Read the Damn Book, host Michelle Glogovac welcomes debut author Lina Patton to discuss her novel The Lake Club. Lina shares the inspiration behind her first book, how living abroad shaped her perspective as a writer, and the role that travel and personal experiences played in crafting the novel's setting and characters.The conversation explores Lina's creative process, from developing compelling, emotionally resonant characters to balancing authentic settings with fictional storytelling. She also offers an honest look at the publishing journey as a debut author, the challenges of bringing a first novel to life, and the lessons she learned along the way.What We're Talking About...Lina Patton's journey to writing her debut novel, The Lake ClubHow living in Kosovo inspired her storytelling and creative perspectiveChoosing authentic character names and crafting immersive fictional settingsThe six-year journey of writing, revising, and publishing a debut novelExploring themes of home, belonging, friendship, and social dynamics in contemporary fictionWeaving personal experiences and real-life inspiration into fictional storiesBehind the scenes of the novel writing, editing, and publishing processHow publishing trends and market timing influence book deals and releasesLina Patton's creative hobbies, including doodling, stationery, and artistic inspirationChapters00:00 Introduction to Lina Patton and The Lake Club04:02 Making up characters based on real life08:55 The Kosovo connection and personal experiences10:25 Incorporating hockey into the story12:37 Cover design and visual details16:23 Sponsorship message and agency26:17 Surprise plot twist and reader reactions30:37 Where to find Lina and her bookLinks MentionedLina Patton's website: www.linapatton.com

Jurte-Gespräche - Begegnungen unterm Filzdach
Staffel 2 - Folge 21 mit Rebecca Himmerich

Jurte-Gespräche - Begegnungen unterm Filzdach

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 4, 2026 84:32


"Sonne über Trümmern”. So heißt das neue Buch von Rebecca. Sie hat den Balkan bereist, mit Menschen gesprochen und den Zwiespalt zwischen Vergangenheit, Gegenwart und Zukunft nachempfunden. Eine Reise von Budapest über Sarajevo, den Kosovo bis Sofia und viele Stationen mehr. Der Jugoslawienkrieg hat Spuren hinterlassen, die bis heute reichen. www.rebeccahimmerich.de

TẠP CHÍ KINH TẾ
Kinh tế - An ninh : Châu Âu trước thách thức Mỹ giảm quân số

TẠP CHÍ KINH TẾ

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 4, 2026 9:25


Hoa Kỳ đã thông báo kế hoạch giảm quân số tại châu Âu, nơi mà từ sau Thế Chiến Thứ Hai, Washington đã thiết lập các căn cứ thường trực trải dài từ Groenland xuống đến tận Địa Trung Hải. Gần 40 % lính Mỹ đồn trú ở hải ngoại tập trung tại châu Âu,  nhất là tại Đức, Ý và Tây Ban Nha. Sau Chiến tranh Lạnh, Mỹ đã thiết lập các căn cứ quân sự tại nhiều nước đông Âu như Rumani, Ba Lan, Bulgari và cũng đã mở rộng địa bàn tại vùng Baltic. Những kế hoạch thu hẹp sự hiện diện quân sự của Mỹ tại châu Âu là một thách thức lớn đối với các đối tác của Hoa Kỳ tại châu lục này cả về kinh tế lẫn an ninh. Từ đầu tháng 5/2026 bộ trưởng Quốc Phòng Mỹ, rồi tổng thống Hoa Kỳ liên tiếp thông báo kế hoạch « cắt giảm quân số tại châu Âu ». Hôm 18/06/2026 Lầu Năm Góc cho biết đang « xét lại » việc triển khai lực lượng tại các nước châu Âu thành viên NATO (Liên Minh Bắc Đại Tây Dương). Từ Anh Quốc đến Thổ Nhĩ Kỳ, từ Iceland đến Rumani, nơi Hoa Kỳ đã đặt những cơ sở quân sự, nước nào cũng lo ngại. Đứng đầu trong số này là Đức, nơi có hơn 30 cơ sở quân sự của Mỹ đã hoạt động từ 70-80 năm nay và khoảng 50.000 lính Mỹ đang đồn trú đã thực sự trở thành một yếu tố trong đời sống xã hội và kinh tế của nền kinh tế số một châu Âu này. Đức và lo ngại mất một phần trong số 50.000 quân nhân Mỹ Ramstein, miền tây nam nước Đức, là căn cứ không quân lớn nhất của Hoa Kỳ ở hải ngoại. Căn cứ này là cả « một thành phố trong một thành phố » với trường học, bệnh viện ... dành riêng cho các quân nhân Mỹ và gia đình. Rất nhiều đường phố ở Ramstein mang tên các vị tổng thống Mỹ. Tại các cửa hàng, người ta cũng có thể thanh toán bằng đô la bên cạnh đồng euro. Phóng sự trên đài phát thanh Pháp France Inter của thông tín viên Sébastien Baer từ căn cứ quân sự Mỹ tại thị trấn Vilseck cho thấy quyết định của Washington cắt giảm 5.000 lính Mỹ tại Đức là một tai họa:  « Một góc nhỏ của nước Mỹ, thị trấn Vilseck của vùng Bayern, đông nam nước Đức từ hơn 80 năm nay gắn bó với sự hiện diện của quân đội Hoa Kỳ. Với khoảng 6.500 dân cư, Vilseck là nơi mà một lữ đoàn của Mỹ đóng quân, thế nhưng sự hiện diện này có thể sẽ chấm dứt, do Donald Trump thông báo sẽ rút 5.000 lính Mỹ trong thời gian tới. Nào là nước ngọt Coca-Cola, nào là bia Mỹ và sốt BBQ chồng chất ngay lối vào một siêu thị. Travis, một quân nhân Mỹ 27 tuổi từ bang Texas đến, đang chất hàng vào xe, anh nói : ‘Tôi được điều đến đây đã 9 tháng. Tối rất thích nơi này. Phong cảnh ở đây rất đẹp. Tôi thích các món ăn bản địa như xúc -xích, thịt thăn chiên bột. Người dân ở đây thì thân thiện, đi lại cũng dễ dàng. Ở Texas phải lái xe hàng giờ để đi từ nơi này đến nơi khác. Tại đây chỉ chỉ cần 5 phút là tôi đến được một công viên xinh đẹp. Tôi đang học tiếng Đức với ứng dụng Duolingo'. Travis tìm được một ngôi nhà trên sườn đồi của thành phố, nhà có vườn. Mười ba ngàn quân nhân Mỹ đóng quân ở khu vực này. Từ sau Đệ Nhị Thế Chiến, kinh tế địa phương phụ thuộc vào sự hiện diện của quân đội Mỹ. Là chủ một tiệm tạp hóa nhỏ của gia đình đã hoạt động từ những năm 1950, Katrin Kredle kể lại : ‘Một trong những người lính Mỹ đầu tiên đến mua hàng của bà ngoại tôi là danh ca Elvis Presley. Khi đang nhập ngũ, anh đến đây mua chuối. Bà tôi rất tự hào được phục vụ một khách hàng như anh. (…) Những người Mỹ đã hoàn toàn hòa nhập vào cuộc sống ở đây. Trẻ nhỏ đi học ở trường hay được gửi trong các nhà trẻ, chúng tham gia các câu lạc bóng đá, các hội đoàn hóa trang trong mùa lễ Carnaval… Rất nhiều người lấy vợ Đức, họ sống ở đây. Thậm chí ở lại hẳn một khi xuất ngũ ». Do vậy đối với cả thành phố này, thông báo Mỹ rút 5.000 quân khỏi nước Đức là một bất ngờ. Chỉ riêng căn cứ quân sự tại Vilseck mỗi năm đem về 700 triệu euro doanh thu cho chính quyền quyền đia phương. Valantis, 32 tuổi, vừa từ Anh Quốc đến đây mở một hiệu ăn, chủ yếu để phục vụ các thực khách Mỹ. Nhà hàng của ảnh chỉ cách căn cứ Rose Barracks vài trăm mét. Anh nói : ‘Chúng tôi đã thu xếp tất cả để phục vụ các quân nhân Mỹ, chiều theo khẩu vị của họ. Chúng tôi có món bánh mì kẹp thịt ba chỉ, sốt BBQ và thịt heo xé phay … Nếu người Mỹ bỏ đi thi mọi chuyện sẽ kết thúc. Nhà hàng phải đóng cửa. Tháng trước họ ra nước ngoài một tháng để tập luyện, lượng khách của chúng tôi lập tức giảm đi 70 %' ».   Nói cách khác, chỉ cần Mỹ rút bớt quân khỏi Đức thì sẽ ảnh hưởng đến rất nhiều lĩnh vực kinh tế của người dân địa phương, không chỉ có doanh thu của giới tiểu thương, mà còn đến cả thị trường địa ốc của những thành phố như Stuttgart, hay Kaiserslautern …. cũng bị tác động lây. Việc làm của hàng ngàn, thậm chí hàng chục ngàn người tại những địa phương có căn cứ của Mỹ đều sẽ bị ảnh hưởng.  Một kế hoạch được báo trước  Thực ra từ cuối 2025 Nhà Trắng đã báo trước « rà soát lại toàn bộ và sẽ bố trí lại » sự hiện diện quân sự của Mỹ tại Châu Âu cũng như trên toàn thế giới. Cũng cuối năm ngoái Washington nêu lên khả năng giảm 1.000 quân đang đồn trú tại Rumani. Ngoài thông báo rút 5.000 lính Mỹ tại các căn cứ quân sự ở Đức, giữa tháng 5/2026, Lầu Năm Góc vào giờ chót đã hoãn lại chương trình triển khai 4.000 quân sáng Ba Lan. Theo giới quan sát được báo Le Monde trích dẫn, cho dù những thông báo từ phía chính quyền Trump gây hoang mang cho các đối tác châu Âu nhưng cho đến hiện tại Lầu Năm Góc vẫn duy trì khoảng 80.000 binh sĩ trên Lục Địa Già. ngay cả trong trường hợp giảm quân số, chỉ để thu hẹp hiện diện quân sự của Mỹ đang từ 80.000 xuống còn 76.000 lính thì « chính quyền Trump cần có sự chấp thuận của Quốc Hội ». Trên đài truyền hình Arte của Pháp và Đức, chuyên gia quân sự giảng dạy tại đại học Sorbonne Guillaume Lasconjarias nhắc lại, trước Donald Trump, tổng thống Barack Obama từ 2014 đã chủ trương giảm sự hiện diện quân sự của Mỹ tại châu Âu. Riêng trong giai đoạn 2022-2023, khi Nga đưa quân xâm chiếm Ukraina, nhất thời dưới chính quyền Biden, quân số Mỹ tại châu Âu được tăng lên tới 100.000. Tác động về an ninh Nghịch lý ở đây là vào lúc căng thẳng về địa chính trị tại nhiều nơi trên thế giới không ngừng gia tăng, không chỉ vì chiến tranh Iran và xung đột Ukraina, thì Hoa Kỳ lại thông báo các kế hoạch thu hẹp sự hiện diện quân sự. Về câu hỏi Mỹ giảm quân tại châu Âu sẽ dẫn tới những hệ quả nào về an ninh đối với lục địa này, chuyên gia về quân sự Jean- Baptiste Noé chủ nhiệm tạp chí chuyên đề Conflits lưu ý, ở châu Âu, Hoa Kỳ hiện có hơn 20 căn cứ quân sự thường trực, phần lớn tại các nước Tây Âu như Ý, Đức, Tây Ban Nha hay Anh Quốc … Bên cạnh đó, lính Mỹ được triển khai tại các căn cứ của các nước châu Âu mà chủ yếu là ở các quốc gia từng thuộc Liên Xô cũ. Trên đài truyền hình Arte nhà nghiên cứu Aurélien Duchêne thuộc cơ quan tư vấn Eurocréative, đặc trách các khu vực Trung và Đông Âu, giải thích vì sao Hoa Kỳ là quốc gia đã thiết lập một mạng lưới các căn cứ ở hải ngoại « dày đặc » tại châu Âu: « Các căn cứ quân sự của Mỹ ở hải ngoại đóng một vai trò kép : sự hiện diện của lĩnh Mỹ tại một quốc gia như Estonia không làm Matxcơva thay đổi chiến lược nếu Nga muốn xâm chiếm quốc gia vùng Baltic này, thế nhưng Điện Kremlin cũng phải cân nhắc rất kỹ khi biết rằng can thiệp vào Estonia nơi có các đơn vị của Mỹ đồn trú tức là sẽ đụng độ trực tiếp với Hoa Kỳ. Nói cách khác, các căn cứ của Mỹ trong trường hợp này là một công cụ răn đe. Bên cạnh đó các căn cứ quân sự của Hoa Kỳ tại châu Âu còn đóng vai trò hậu cần, là các trạm tiếp liệu … cho các chiến dịch ở ngoài lãnh thổ Mỹ, như trong trường hợp xung đột tại Trung Đông hiện nay (…) Căn cứ Ramstein tại Đức có thể ví như một ‘hàng không mẫu hạm'khổng lồ : đây là nơi có hai sân bay quân sự với khoảng 600 chiến đấu cơ đủ loại mà Hoa Kỳ đang sử dụng trong chiến tranh Iran. Sau cùng, việc thiết lập một căn cứ quân sự thường trưc tại một quốc gia còn cho phép Washington xây dựng một mối bang giao vững chắc với quốc gia đó ». 128 hay 800 căn cứ quân sự ở hải ngoại ? Theo báo cáo chính thức của Hạ Viện Hoa Kỳ, Mỹ đặt 128 căn cứ quân sự tại 51 quốc gia trên thế giới. Nguyên giáo sư David Vine, trường American University tại Washington, cho rằng con số này thấp hơn thực tế rất nhiều. Theo thẩm định của ông, Mỹ có từ 750 đến 800 cơ sở ở hải ngoại « bên cạnh rất nhiều  thực thể khác được xây dựng trong vòng bí mật ». Những cơ sở đó đôi khi chỉ là nơi đặt các hệ thống radar để theo dõi.  Như vừa nói, 50.000 lính Mỹ đang đồn trú tại Đức; Tây Ban Nha, với hai căn cứ, là nơi tiếp nhận hơn 3.000 quân có nhiệm vụ giám sát khu vực eo biển Gibralta và châu Phi ; Căn cứ của Hoa Kỳ tại Sctoland, Anh Quốc chủ yếu có nhiệm vụ thu thập thông tin tình báo. Sự hiện diện của Mỹ trong vùng biển Baltic trước hết là công cụ răn đe nhắm vào nước Nga. Còn các cơ sở trên lãnh thổ Ba Lan, hay Cộng Hòa Sec, Bulgari … là nhằm củng cố sườn đông cho NATO. Thổ Nhĩ Kỳ, Hy Lạp và Kosovo là những địa điểm để quan sát toàn khu vực Địa Trung Hải và Trung Âu.

The Gay Tennis Podcast
Talking US Open Mixed Doubles & More with Hanlon Walsh

The Gay Tennis Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2026 46:11


Our friend and tennis journalist Hanlon Walsh is back to talk tennis, travel and the US Open mixed doubles teams. We chat about: Why would Taylor Townsend play US Open mixed with Zverev? Will we see Vanus and Serena in the mixed and women's doubles draw? Which teams we think will do well at the US Open mixed event.How we would change (and improve!) the event this year. Hanlon's recent trip to Kosovo and why tennis tells a lot about local culture.More random tennis news.Read my latest substack about a bizarre week in tennis this week. And like and subscribe the podcast if you're enjoying our episodes. Also, be sure to check out the Out Wide podcast's episode about the WTA's controversial new genetic testing rule. It's well researched and must listen. For more from us, follow along on Instagram, TikTok and Twitter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

History of Modern Greece
166: The Battle of Kosovo

History of Modern Greece

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 30, 2026 39:35


 While Manuel Palaiologos struggles to preserve what remains of the Byzantine Empire, events beyond Constantinople reshape the future of the Balkans. On the Kosovo Plain, Prince Lazar and a coalition of Christian lords confront Sultan Murad's Ottoman army in one of medieval Europe's most consequential battles. The deaths of both commanders, the rise of Bayezid I "the Thunderbolt," and the political chaos that follows will usher in a new era of Ottoman expansion—and leave Byzantium facing an even more formidable master. The History of Modern Greece Podcast covers the events from Ancient Greece, the Roman Empire, and the fall of Constantinople in 1453, to the years under the Ottoman Empire, and 1821 when the Greeks fought for independence... all the way to the modern-day.EMAIL US: historyofmoderngreece@gmail.comWebsite: www.moderngreecepodcast.comSOCIAL MEDIA: Go here to chat with us. https://www.instagram.com/historyofmodern%20greece/https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578023316172Music by Mark Jungerman: www.marcjungermann.comHistory AnalyzedHistory Analyzed is a podcast which investigates both history's biggest moments and...Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

The Glitter
Optimizing Health and Life with Ron Fry from Red Rock Health

The Glitter

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 28, 2026 49:24 Transcription Available


How does someone go from serving in U.S. Army Special Forces to helping transform healthcare in Southern Utah?In this episode of The Samantha Parker Show, Samantha sits down with Ron Fry, co-owner of Red Rock Health Optimization in St. George, Utah, to discuss his remarkable journey from military service to entrepreneurship and preventative health.Ron shares his experiences serving as an Army airborne infantry officer, earning his Green Beret, training during the aftermath of 9/11, learning Mandarin for Special Forces missions, and deploying to Afghanistan where he worked alongside local forces during one of the most challenging periods of the war.He also discusses his book, currently being developed for television and the real-life experiences that inspired it.But this conversation goes far beyond military service.Ron explains why he co-founded Red Rock Health Optimization, one of Southern Utah's premier longevity and performance clinics, and why he believes healthcare should focus on prevention instead of simply treating symptoms.We also dive into:The journey from BYU to U.S. Army Special ForcesServing in Kosovo and AfghanistanLeadership lessons from military serviceThe true story behind Ron's book and TV adaptationWhy DEXA scans reveal far more than your weightMetabolic testing, VO₂ max testing, and biological ageStem cell therapy and regenerative medicinePeptides and health optimizationTrevor Higgins' remarkable recovery storyBuilding Red Rock Health Optimization in St. GeorgeLiving longer, healthier, and strongerWhether you're interested in military leadership, entrepreneurship, longevity, health optimization, or personal growth, this episode is packed with practical insights and unforgettable stories.If you're in St. George, Utah, and want to learn more about proactive healthcare, body composition testing, metabolic health, or optimizing your performance, this conversation is a must-watch.Subscribe for more conversations with entrepreneurs, business owners, creators, health experts, and inspiring leaders on The Samantha Parker Show.Chapters00:00 Meet Ron Fry01:02 Book to Screen Plans02:15 Military Roots & Special Forces Training05:50 9/11 and Becoming a Green Beret08:40 Language Training & Global Missions11:17 National Guard Deployment15:51 Afghanistan Mission Story20:21 Military to Entrepreneurship22:54 Building Red Rock Health Optimization24:44 Why DEXA Scans Matter25:53 Muscle, Fat & Bone Health28:04 Why BMI Gets It Wrong28:52 Resting Metabolic Rate & VO₂ Max Testing31:37 Biological Age & Performance Metrics34:03 Health Optimization vs. Sick Care36:18 Trevor Higgins Recovery Story40:54 Living Longer Through Preventative Health44:59 Building a Healthier Southern Utah47:33 Final ThoughtsWant to Work with The Samantha Parker for Content Management  CLICK HEREFollow me on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@samanthaparkershowYouTube https://www.youtube.com/@thesamanthaparkerInstagram https://www.instagram.com/thesamanthaparker/

RTL Today - In Conversation with Lisa Burke
Albania’s EU Accession Sprint: Will Europe Keep Its Side of the Bargain?, 25/07/2026

RTL Today - In Conversation with Lisa Burke

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 25, 2026 60:30


Ferit Hoxha and Petras Auštrevičius on Albania's rapid progress, EU reform, Kosovo, Bosnia and the security cost of delay. Last weekend, the first of my two conversations on the Western Balkans was released. This discussion examined the danger of leaving six European neighbours indefinitely in the EU's waiting room. This conversation moved from the reasons for enlargement to the mechanics of making it happen. Billions of euros are being directed towards reforms, infrastructure and economic convergence, but money alone cannot build functioning institutions, settle historical disputes or manufacture political will. The European Union promised the Western Balkans a European future at Thessaloniki in 2003. Croatia joined in 2013, then enlargement largely stalled. Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine changed the strategic calculation. The region is now seen less as a distant policy file and more as a space inside Europe where Russian influence, Chinese investment, disinformation and organised crime can exploit political uncertainty. Albania and Montenegro have emerged as the front-runners, while North Macedonia, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia remain caught in very different political knots. My guests could hardly have been better placed to examine both sides of the process. Ferit Hoxha, Albania's Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, has spent more than 35 years in diplomacy. He has represented Albania at the United Nations, twice presided over the UN Security Council, and served as ambassador to the European Union, France and UNESCO. Beside him was Petras Auštrevičius, the European Parliament's standing rapporteur on EU enlargement and the man who personally negotiated Lithuania's accession as its chief negotiator from 2001 to 2002. From watching Europe to playing for Europe For Auštrevičius, membership changed Lithuania's position fundamentally. A candidate country may align its legislation, contribute to European security and accept decisions made in Brussels, yet it still remains outside the room where those decisions are shaped. Joining that team is a formidable task. The body of EU law, the acquis communautaire, already ran to around 120,000 pages when Lithuania was negotiating. Accession, Auštrevičius stressed, is far more than a bureaucratic exercise in changing national laws. Governments must explain the process, secure public confidence, involve businesses and social partners, and prepare institutions to function within an entirely new system. The European Union can appear excessively complicated, but common rules also create common standards, consumer protections and access to one of the world's largest markets. Auštrevičius described the EU as a globally exceptional project, imperfect and often cumbersome, yet still capable of turning former adversaries into partners. Albania's 13-month sprint Albania has moved through the revised accession system at remarkable speed. It opened all six negotiating clusters within 13 months and has now passed the interim assessment of the Fundamentals cluster, covering the judiciary, fundamental rights, justice, freedom and security. That allows the country to begin the difficult final phase of closing individual chapters, with the ambition of concluding negotiations by the end of 2027. The European Parliament has praised Albania's momentum while insisting that progress must remain strictly merit-based and that reforms must be implemented, not simply written into law. The country's momentum is real, but the remaining work is extensive. Corruption, judicial effectiveness, media freedom, political pressure on journalists and environmental protection all remain under close scrutiny. Albania must show that reforms are durable and that its institutions can enforce the standards they adopt. Environmental rules are particularly demanding because protecting biodiversity, upgrading infrastructure and modernising public administration require time, expertise and considerable investment. Hoxha accepted that the list is long. “The negotiation is about the gap,” he said: where Albania is now, where it must reach and how the country intends to bridge the distance. Merit must work in both directions Auštrevičius described two possible models of enlargement. Under the “convoy” approach, every candidate moves at the pace of the slowest. Under the “regatta” principle, each country competes against the same standards and advances according to its own performance. “To be first is good, but you have to be the best. What is promised must be implemented.” Petras Auštrevičius That distinction matters because the Western Balkans are too often treated as a single political problem. Albania's progress should not be slowed by another government's failure to reform. Equally, geopolitical urgency cannot become an excuse to admit countries whose institutions, democratic safeguards or foreign-policy choices remain incompatible with membership. Hoxha agreed that the process must remain merit-based, but argued that reciprocity is essential to its credibility. A candidate that fulfils an agreed condition must be allowed to move forward. Otherwise, public trust deteriorates and reformers struggle to explain why difficult changes bring no visible reward. Hoxha's response is to move before the political opportunity closes. Can countries begin joining before they become members? One answer may be gradual integration, giving reforming countries access to parts of the European system before full membership. This could include the single market, the SEPA payments area, EU programmes and eventually roaming without additional charges. Such measures make enlargement tangible to citizens who might otherwise wait years for its benefits. Albania already aligns fully with the EU's common foreign and security policy, Hoxha said. European sanctions become Albanian sanctions, and European missions become Albanian missions. His question was direct: if Albania accepts and implements those decisions, why should its representatives not attend relevant meetings as observers? This would also allow Albanian civil servants to understand how European decisions are formed before they must help administer them as members. Accession brings access, influence and funding, but also competition, obligations and responsibility. Preparation inside the institutions may ultimately be more effective than preparation from outside them. Europe is not a menu The sharpest part of the discussion concerned strategic alignment. Some candidate countries seek EU investment while also cultivating Russian political ties or Chinese involvement in infrastructure, telecommunications and other strategic sectors. Auštrevičius questioned whether a country can claim that Brussels is blocking its progress while its own decisions repeatedly pull it away from European foreign policy. Hoxha's answer was unequivocal: For Albania, European alignment is the first test applied to foreign-policy decisions. This is increasingly important because enlargement is intended to strengthen the Union. If new members carry the strategic influence of hostile powers into European decision-making, the process could weaken Europe from within. Auštrevičius compared accession to “a responsible marriage”. A country cannot demand solidarity, market access and financial support while refusing the political responsibilities that accompany them. Kosovo, Bosnia and the unfinished history of the region Kosovo remains unrecognised by five EU member states: Cyprus, Greece, Romania, Slovakia and Spain. Hoxha noted that practical relationships have nevertheless developed. Kosovo now has visa-free travel, its passports are recognised, and the five countries maintain varying degrees of contact. Yet the Serbia-Kosovo normalisation process remains slow despite dozens of agreements. The same tension is visible in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Dayton Peace Agreement stopped a horrific war and maintained peace, but the structure it created has also contributed to political blockages and competing centres of power. Hoxha argued that peace arrangements designed for an emergency should not automatically be considered permanent constitutional solutions. Yet Europe cannot simply impose unity upon a divided political system. “You cannot import a consensus. It has to be grown from within.” Ferit Hoxha The accession of Albania or Montenegro could provide the region with something it has lacked for more than a decade: visible proof that the door remains real. Citizens elsewhere may then exert greater pressure on leaders who use identity, history or institutional paralysis to avoid reform. The EU must also be ready to change Every stage of accession can be delayed by unanimity. Auštrevičius argued for qualified-majority voting on intermediate decisions, reducing the ability of one government to hold an entire country hostage to a bilateral dispute. This would not remove the final consent required for membership, but it could prevent accession from becoming an arena for historical retaliation. Hoxha went further, saying Albania would be willing to commit in its future accession treaty not to use a veto when it stood alone against every other member state. It was a striking promise from a country still outside the Union: Albania is already considering how to make Europe more functional once it enters. “Enlargement is our strength, not our weakness. Let us agree politically to do it on time.” Petras Auštrevičius Enlargement has always produced apprehension. Yet each previous expansion increased the Union's population, market, influence and strategic reach. For Hoxha, Albania's direction is no longer a question under discussion. The question is therefore no longer whether Albania wants Europe. It is whether Europe can reform itself, recognise progress when it occurs and act before another generation concludes that the promise was never meant to be kept.

Talk Eastern Europe
Ukraine's Top General Fired, Secret Russia Talks & Serbia Stuns Vučić | Weekly News Roundup

Talk Eastern Europe

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 24, 2026 18:47


In this week's news roundup, Talk Eastern Europe co-hosts Adam Reichardt and Aleksandra Karppi provide the latest developments in the region.Firstly, Ukraine has replaced its commander-in-chief in oneof the biggest wartime leadership changes since Russia's full scale invasion, sparking debate about military reform, democracy during wartime, and the future of Ukraine's defence strategy.Meanwhile, reports of secret meetings between Russian andGerman representatives in Azerbaijan have raised fresh questions about Europe's approach to Russia and the future of the war.We also head to the Balkans, where Kosovo remains trapped in political deadlock after coalition talks collapsed, while Serbia's student movement has overtaken President Aleksandar Vučić's party in the latest opinion polls—potentially reshaping the country's political future. In our extended version of the podcast goes even deeper intopolitical developments in Serbia, available exclusively to the patrons of the podcast.

Scottish Football
Hibs on the brink, Motherwell in control, Celtic still waiting

Scottish Football

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 24, 2026 29:45


Motherwell made it look comfortable in Europe with a professional 2-0 win over HB Tórshavn – but how much credit does new boss Alfred Johansson deserve for keeping the momentum going?Hibs suffered a frustrating defeat in Kosovo, but is it too early to judge David Gray's side before the return leg at Easter Road?David Currie joined by Craig Telfer and Cillian Sheridan look ahead to a decisive weekend in the League Cup group stage, with Falkirk, St Mirren, Dunfermline, Livingston and Stenhousemuir all battling for places in the knockout rounds.And with the Premiership season fast approaching, why is the lack of transfer activity causing growing concern among Celtic supporters?

Scottish Football
Can Hibs and Motherwell deliver in Europe and is McInnes ban fair?

Scottish Football

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2026 28:08


European nights are back - but will they bring a winning start for Hibs and Motherwell? David Currie is joined by Joelle Murray and Andy Halliday to preview two intriguing Conference League qualifiers.Can Hibs cope without key absentees in Kosovo? Will Alfred Johansson's new-look Motherwell side hit the ground running against HB from the Faroes? The team also assess summer recruitment, the challenge of balancing Europe with domestic ambitions, and whether Hibs and Motherwell can build on promising campaigns.Plus, was Derek McInnes' four-match touchline ban justified, or has the punishment gone too far?

Superscoreboard
RANGERS SIGN PARTIZAN BELGRADE CAPTAIN VANJA DRAGOJEVIC | THURSDAY 23RD JULY

Superscoreboard

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2026 43:35


Scott Allan joins Gabriel Antoniazzi in the studio, following the news that Partizan defensive midfielder Vanja Dragojević has joined Rangers for an undisclosed fee. We're discussing where he fits in the Rangers team, as well as who the next captain of the club should be, following their 2–1 friendly win against Saint-Étienne.Plus, after Hibs' defeat in Europe to Kosovo side Malisheva, what's next for Scottish teams in Europe?It's also the penultimate night of the Beat The Pundit summer season – can you win a signed ball against Scott Allan?Listen to previous shows on Rayo: https://hellorayo.co.uk/podcasts/superscoreboard/X: https://x.com/ClydeSSBInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/clyde1ssbFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/clyde1TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@clydessb

Detours: An Ultra Cycling & Adventure Podcast
Why Not Me? Dilara Tuna on Building Confidence Across Trail Running & Bikepacking

Detours: An Ultra Cycling & Adventure Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2026 63:49


What does it take to win an ultra-distance bikepacking race and then run 192 kilometres across the Balkans three days later? Dilara Tuna is a Belgian adventurer who moves as comfortably on foot as she does on two wheels. In 2026 she took the women's win at the Trans Balkan Race, riding on women's record pace for much of it, before heading straight out to run the Peaks of the Balkans trail through Albania, Montenegro and Kosovo.  In this episode of Detours, we talk about what running and cycling each teach you about the other, why the women's field in ultra running feels years ahead of bikepacking, and the voice that told her for years she was "too slow" to sleep — and how working with a coach helped her finally rest, race smarter, and go faster because of it. We also get into racing Silk Road in a pair with a man she'd met days earlier, the thunderstorm that cost her the record, the stray dog that followed her for five hours, and the problem with chocolate in a heatwave. Follow Dilara's adventures on Instagram @tunafisch Follow Mel on Instagram: @melwwebbFollow Detours on Instagram: @detourscyclingFollow Albion on Instagram: @albion.cyclingUse code DETOURS15 to get 15% off your next order from AlbionIf you enjoy listening please consider pledging your support to sustain producing this show: https://buymeacoffee.com/detourspodcast

Getting Unstuck - Shift For Impact
424: Telling the Story You Can't Forget

Getting Unstuck - Shift For Impact

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 21, 2026 11:32


The story behind this episode The story I relate in this episode emerged when, in September 2019, I walked some of the World War I battlefields in Belgium and France with my guide, Iain McHenry. As we walked along where a trench had existed during the war, Iain told me the story of an archaeological dig that recovered and eventually identified the remains of a British soldier who was killed there in November 1914 in a German mortar attack. The story has stayed with me because of how the soldier, Richard Lancaster, was finally identified and because there are literally thousands of other Richards who've never been found. Rather than tell the story as a straight historical narrative, I wanted the piece to have a distinct voice, so I chose to write it from the perspective of Richard's unique dog tag, which led to his identification. After we visited the site where Richard was found, we visited where he was later buried. (see the photo) Our final stop on this part of the journey was the nearby Principals Cindy House is the author of Mother Noise, a memoir in essays and a regular opener for David Sedaris on his tours across the country. She teaches nonfiction at the Gotham Writers Workshop. She also offers private writing classes. Cindy is my writing coach, and our Friday meetings are a high point of my week. This essay came out of a prompt she suggested: "Write about a headline that never left you." She epitomizes good teaching: she is quick to challenge me to "dig deeper for my real story," offers sound suggestions, and then praises me when I hit a strong note. I can't imagine taking this writer's journey with anyone else. When we had completed the essay, I asked her for her thoughts on producing an audio version. Unexpectedly, she was quick to offer her voice. You can't see me smiling, but trust me, I still am. Iain McHenry was born in Belfast and, after leaving school, joined the British Army, embarking on a career that took him all over the world. He was stationed in Germany, Northern Ireland, Canada, the Falkland Islands, and Belgium, and he has completed operational tours in Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Kosovo, and Sierra Leone. He has always had a passion for WW1, and after leaving the army, he started his own business in Belgium, working as a WW1 researcher, battlefield guide, and published author.

Full Disclosure with James O'Brien
Ravi Singh: The man who runs towards disaster

Full Disclosure with James O'Brien

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 17, 2026 61:50


What makes someone run towards places most people are desperate to escape?Long before Ravi Singh became one of Britain's most remarkable humanitarian figures, he was a child caught between worlds: born in Singapore, raised in a Punjabi village, and brought to Britain at 11, where he encountered racism, loss and dislocation almost as soon as he arrived. Years later, he would go on to found Khalsa Aid, the international relief organisation known for delivering aid in some of the most dangerous and devastated places on earth.In this episode of Full Disclosure, James O'Brien sits down with Ravi to trace the experiences that shaped his lifelong commitment to service - from a childhood marked by community, faith and hardship, to the moment he realised that compassion could become a form of action in the face of injustice.Ravi reflects on growing up in a village shared by Sikh, Muslim and Hindu families, losing his father at a young age, and arriving in Britain unable to speak English, where he was confronted almost immediately by racism and exclusion. He describes the values instilled by his mother, the discipline and belonging he found in the Air Cadets, and the personal and political awakening that followed news of atrocities in Punjab.They discuss faith, identity and activism; the Sikh principles of seva and Sarbat Da Bhala; the founding of Khalsa Aid during the Kosovo crisis; and what it means to deliver practical help in places devastated by war, displacement and disaster - from Iraq and Syria to Somerset and Slough.Passionate, reflective and deeply moving, this is a conversation about loss, service, solidarity and the moral courage required to see other people's suffering as your own.Find out more about Khalsa Aid here Full Disclosure is a Global ProductionListen or watch every Friday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.

Bharatvaarta
Professional Politicians Are The Most Dangerous People | Bhaskar Rao - On Bengaluru collapse

Bharatvaarta

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 17, 2026 53:15


Why did Bengaluru - a city that could have been India's New York, Chicago or Tokyo - collapse into traffic, flooding, garbage, water shortage and "work in progress" chaos? Former Bengaluru Police Commissioner Bhaskar Rao (IPS) sits down with Bharatvaarta for an unflinching conversation on urban governance, the broken BBMP-mayor system, police reforms, corruption, and the political rot he calls the single most dangerous force in the country. From the Bengaluru of the 1970s to today's civic breakdown, Bhaskar Rao explains WHO actually runs Bengaluru (and why nobody is accountable), why the mayor is treated "like a beggar," how weak Chief Ministers and professional politicians hollowed out the city, why India's laws punish a pickpocket harder than a killer on the road, and what real police reform in India would look like. He also shares extraordinary stories from the COVID frontline, the CAA protests, and a policing career that ran from Kosovo to Karnataka. This is essential viewing for anyone who cares about Bengaluru, urban India, governance, and the future of policing. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS / CHAPTERS ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 00:00 - Cold open 01:40 - Bhaskar Rao on Bharatvaarta: the introduction 02:21 - Why policing in India is harder than ever 03:54 - Cybercrime: the frontline police aren't trained for 06:24 - The Bengaluru that was & how migration changed it 09:09 - "Bengaluru could be New York": what governance destroyed 11:20 - The mayor as a beggar: who actually runs Bengaluru? 16:11 - "The answer is punishment": weak laws & weak CMs 17:09 - Roads, safety & the ₹5,000 price of a human life 23:30 - The British hangover: how bad governance corrupts police 25:53 - Courage & COVID: how Bengaluru police fed a whole city 34:08 - "Keep your hands clean": the Virat Kohli test 39:09 - Police corruption vs political corruption 43:22 - The reforms India's police actually need 44:53 - Staying calm in the CAA protests & how officers get used 50:57 - Gen Z, term limits & why professional politicians are the most dangerous ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

RTL Today - In Conversation with Lisa Burke
Western Balkans EU Enlargement: How Long Can Europe Keep Its Neighbours Waiting?, 17/07/2026

RTL Today - In Conversation with Lisa Burke

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 17, 2026 55:16


North Macedonia has waited 21 years at the EU's door. Zoran Dimitrovski and Linas Kojala ask what delay now costs Europe. Look at a map and the unresolved logic is striking. Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia are almost entirely surrounded by EU and NATO members. These countries are not on some distant European frontier. They form an enclave within the Union's own geography. In 2003, at the Thessaloniki summit, the EU promised the Western Balkans a European future. More than two decades later, Croatia remains the last country to have joined, back in 2013. Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, enlargement has shifted from a slow technical process to an urgent geopolitical question: what happens when Europe leaves a space inside its own borders unfilled? My guests brought two unusually powerful perspectives to that question. Zoran Dimitrovski, North Macedonia's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, spent 35 years as a journalist before entering government. He edited some of his country's leading newspapers, reported from Washington, wrote more than 1,500 articles and investigations, and continues to teach critical thinking and analytical writing. Alongside him was Linas Kojala, CEO of the Geopolitics and Security Studies Center in Vilnius and a lecturer at Vilnius University. A Fulbright scholar with studies at Oxford, Cambridge and Harvard, Kojala has written about Lithuania's own journey into the European Union and has been ranked among his country's most influential public figures. Twenty-one years at the front door North Macedonia became an EU candidate in 2005, around the same time as Croatia. Yet it still has not opened substantive accession negotiations. The country first faced a long dispute with Greece over its name, eventually resolved through the Prespa Agreement and the adoption of the name North Macedonia. That opened the way into NATO. A second dispute then emerged with neighbouring Bulgaria, involving language, identity, history and the recognition of a Bulgarian community within North Macedonia's constitution. Zoran Dimitrovski did not deny the work still required within his own country. North Macedonia must continue aligning its laws with the EU, strengthening the judiciary and fighting corruption. His argument was that these shortcomings were not the principal reason the country had been stopped. This describes one of the demands that, in Dimitrovski's view, reach beyond the Copenhagen criteria governing democratic institutions, human rights, the rule of law and a functioning market economy. There is, however, responsibility on both sides of the border and both sides of the accession table. The European Parliament's latest assessment expresses regret at North Macedonia's lack of progress, calling for the constitutional amendments, stronger cross-party cooperation and deeper reforms. Yet that same resolution warns that bilateral disputes over language, culture and national identity should not be used to obstruct accession. This is the uncomfortable heart of the story: the EU must remain demanding enough for membership to retain meaning, while remaining fair enough for its promises to retain credibility. The rules were written for a different Europe Kojala argued that the enlargement machinery itself must adapt to a radically altered security landscape. The process still requires unanimity at critical stages, allowing one member state to hold up another country's progress. Under normal circumstances, such caution might be defensible. These, he stressed, are not normal circumstances. The EU's decision-making can be painfully slow because 27 governments must agree on decisions touching sovereignty, money and national interest. Kojala compared it to 27 friends attempting to choose a restaurant, except that several of them may not be friends and the decisions are monumental. The central question is therefore whether procedures devised 20 years ago are still adequate for a Europe facing war, cyber-attacks, sabotage, disinformation and growing competition from authoritarian powers. Railways, bridges and the architecture of security EU enlargement may sound abstract, but it rapidly becomes concrete. It is about railway lines, bridges, roads, energy systems and digital networks. Dimitrovski pointed to Corridors VIII and X, which cross North Macedonia and connect the Adriatic, Black and Aegean Seas with wider Europe. These routes matter for trade and daily life, but also for NATO's ability to move personnel and equipment across the continent. A bridge too weak to carry military vehicles is simultaneously an infrastructure problem, an economic weakness and a security vulnerability. Kojala offered a useful challenge to the language of cost. Security spending is often discussed as money disappearing from productive use. Yet roads, schools, housing, communications and transport capacity remain in the communities where they are built. The same is true of enlargement: investment in the Western Balkans is not charity at Europe's edge. It is investment in the resilience of the continent as a whole. A vacuum rarely stays empty Russia remains an influential force in Serbia and parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina, while Chinese lending and infrastructure investment have expanded across the region. Dimitrovski was careful not to suggest that the Western Balkans would simply abandon Europe for Moscow or Beijing. His warning was more subtle. Prolonged uncertainty can produce weaker institutions, frustrated populations and a region increasingly exposed to financial pressure, political manipulation and disinformation. Europe therefore faces a choice that is larger than whether another flag appears outside the institutions in Brussels. It must decide whether the Western Balkans are genuinely part of its future, and demonstrate that belief through fair conditions, credible timelines and visible results. Kojala described the European Union as something close to a “boring miracle”: cumbersome, imperfect and endlessly predicted to collapse, yet remarkably capable of adapting and surviving. That miracle now requires another act of political imagination. The Western Balkans have spent more than 20 years hearing that their future lies inside the European Union. Europe may now need to ask a harder question of itself: how long can a promise remain credible before waiting becomes its own form of rejection?

Regionaljournal Zürich Schaffhausen
10 Jahre Zürcher Finanzdirektor: Ernst Stocker zieht Bilanz

Regionaljournal Zürich Schaffhausen

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 17, 2026 22:07


Weniger Schulden, ein tieferer Steuerfuss und kein einziges Sparpaket - so bilanziert der Zürcher Finanzdirektor seine Amtszeit auf einem Sommerspaziergang. Besonders erwähnenswert sei, dass die ganze Wirtschaft im Kanton in dieser Zeit mehr gewachsen ist, als die Ausgaben des Kantons. Weitere Themen: · In immer mehr Gemeinden darf nicht mehr grilliert oder Feuerwerk abgebrannt werden. Nun auch in Winterthur und Uster. · Bob Dylan kommt nach Zürich. Der 85-jährige weltberühmte Musiker tritt am 1. November im Hallenstadion auf. · In der Sommerserie aller Regionaljournale zu Netzwerken geht es heute um Fussball. Vor über 30 Jahren haben Migranten aus dem Kosovo in Zürich den FC Kosova gegründet. Heute gibt es den Club immer noch und die erste Mannschaft spielt in der ersten Liga. Der FC Kosova ist ein wichtiges Netzwerk und neben dem Fussball ein Ort der Begegnung.

Best in Fest
Arta Dobroshi on Acting, Resilience, Motherhood & Building a Global Film Career | Best in Fest

Best in Fest

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 7, 2026 42:10


In this inspiring episode of Best in Fest, acclaimed Kosovo-Albanian actress and producer Arta Dobroshi shares her extraordinary journey from performing as a young artist in Kosovo to building an international career in film.Arta opens up about how growing up amid war and political instability shaped her perspective, her performances, and her commitment to humanity. She discusses her acting process, including Stanislavski-based training, script preparation, emotional presence, and what it takes to fully inhabit complex characters on screen.The conversation also explores Arta's experience working with celebrated directors, producing independent projects, balancing a demanding film career with motherhood, and advocating for refugees and greater unity across cultures. She offers heartfelt advice for emerging actors, creatives, and women entering the entertainment industry: trust your inner voice, do not be discouraged by rejection, and keep moving toward the life you envision.This is a candid conversation about film, purpose, resilience, creativity, and the power of joy.

THE LONG BLUE LEADERSHIP PODCAST
Finding Your Voice - Lt. Col. (Ret.) Kimberly Ford '90

THE LONG BLUE LEADERSHIP PODCAST

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 7, 2026 33:38


Leadership isn't about changing who you are; it's about becoming the fullest expression of who you were meant to be.   SUMMARY What does quiet leadership look like? From military deployments to the flight deck at Alaska Airlines, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Kimberly Ford '90 explains how preparation, trust and listening can be just as powerful as command.    COL. FORD'S TOP 10 LEADERSHIP TAKEAWAYS 1. Leadership doesn't have to be loud to be effective. Ford's journey demonstrates that quiet, thoughtful leaders can inspire just as deeply as outspoken ones. Authenticity is what earns trust and influence. 2. Feedback can become the catalyst for transformation. Receiving a poor leadership evaluation at the U.S. Air Force Academy was painful, but instead of allowing it to define her, Ford used it as the beginning of her growth as a leader. 3. Finding your voice begins by believing your perspective matters. Confidence wasn't something Ford was born with. It was developed through mentors, experience and the courage to share her passion with others. 4. The best mentors don't remove fear, they help you move through it. From the jump master to her pilot instructors, Ford's mentors equipped her with the mindset and confidence to act despite uncertainty rather than waiting for fear to disappear. 5. Preparation creates confidence under pressure. Chair flying, visualization, repetition and mastering the fundamentals allowed Ford to perform when the stakes were highest. Excellence begins long before execution. 6. Trust is earned through competence and consistency. Whether flying combat missions or commercial aircraft, Ford explains that teams build trust quickly when they know each member is prepared, dependable and committed to doing their job well. 7. Leadership must adapt to the mission. Effective leaders recognize when decisive command is required and when empathy, patience and service are the qualities the moment demands. 8. Listening is one of leadership's greatest strengths. Ford's approach emphasizes seeking feedback, understanding different perspectives and creating an environment where others feel heard before decisions are made. 9. Resilience is built through daily disciplines, not extraordinary moments. Grounding practices, physical fitness, reflection, continual learning and intentional self-care help leaders remain ready for whatever challenges come next. 10. Great leaders remain lifelong students. Ford's advice to her younger self reflects her enduring philosophy: believe in yourself, seek mentors, embrace feedback, learn from mistakes and never stop growing.   CHAPTERS 00:00:13 – Meet Lt. Col. (Ret.) Kimberly Ford, USAFA Class of 1990 00:00:57 – The "Rate Your Neighbor" Moment that Changed Everything 00:05:33 – Finding Her Voice & Honoring the Tuskegee Airmen and WASPs 00:08:34 – Family, Faith and the Foundation of Leadership 00:11:00 – Jump School: Fear, Courage and Asking for Help 00:15:15 – Developing a Warrior Mindset Through Preparation 00:17:24 – Transitioning from Military Aviation to Alaska Airlines 00:20:06 – Leading Under Pressure in Combat Operations 00:23:38 – Adapting Your Leadership to Fit the Mission 00:27:28 – Daily Habits That Make Better Leaders 00:29:43 – Advice to Her Younger Self & the Power of Mentorship 00:31:26 – Final Reflections: Leading with Quiet Confidence     ABOUT COL. FORD BIO Lt. Col. (Ret.) Kimberly Ford, USAFA Class of 1990, is a distinguished combat aviator, senior mobility leader and lifelong advocate for aviation, leadership, and service. During her 25-year U.S. Air Force career, she served as a KC-135 and C-17 command pilot, instructor pilot and mission commander, logging more than 11,000 flight hours while supporting combat, humanitarian and contingency operations around the world. She also served in strategic leadership roles at Air Mobility Command, helping shape enterprise-level operations and leadership development across the Air Force's global mobility mission. Following her military service, Col. Ford has continued to lead through aviation and community engagement as a commercial airline pilot, board leader and champion for preserving the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen and Women Airforce Service Pilots while expanding opportunities in aerospace and STEM education. A recipient of numerous military and civilian honors, including induction into the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals Hall of Fame, she remains dedicated to mentoring the next generation of leaders through a life defined by service, resilience and authentic leadership. CONNECT WITH KIM LINKEDIN CONNECT WITH THE LONG BLUE LINE PODCAST NETWORK TEAM Ted Robertson | Producer and Editor:  Ted.Robertson@USAFA.org Send your feedback or nominate a guest: socialmedia@usafa.org Please note: we are only considering USAFA graduates as guests at this time. Ryan Hall | Director:  Ryan.Hall@USAFA.org  Bryan Grossman | Copy Editor:  Bryan.Grossman@USAFA.org Wyatt Hornsby | Executive Producer:  Wyatt.Hornsby@USAFA.org     ALL PAST LBL EPISODES  |  ALL LBLPN PRODUCTIONS AVAILABLE AT USAFA.ORG/LONGBLUELEADERSHIP AND ON ALL MAJOR PODCAST PLATFORMS     FULL TRANSCRIPT Guest, Matthew Ayers '99  |  Host, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Naviere Walkewicz '99    Lt. Col. (Ret.) Naviere Walkewicz 0:00 Sometimes leadership isn't about speaking the loudest; it's about finding the courage to speak when your voice matters most. I'm Naviere Walkewicz, Class of '99; Long Blue Leadership starts now. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 0:13 Today's guest is Air Force Lt. Col. (Ret.) Kimberly Ford, United States Air Force Academy, Class of 1990. She has had a remarkable career through KC-135, C-17 command pilot, instructor pilot, senior air mobility command leader. Today she serves as an Alaska Airlines pilot, aviation advocate, and champion — preserving the legacy of our Tuskegee Airmen and Women Airforce Service Pilots, WASP, while inspiring the next generation of aerospace leaders. I should also add that Kim is our 2025 — one of our 2025 recipients — of the Leadership Achievement Award. Kim, we're so glad to have you here. Lt. Col. (Ret.) Kimberly Ford 0:53 Thank you so much. It's just an honor to be here to speak with you today. Thank you. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 0:57 Absolutely. And so, here on Long Blue Leadership, we like to jump right on to a really key moment in your life, and one, if we dial back the time a little bit, goes back to your three-degree year at the Air Force Academy, and they had something at the time, I think you mentioned it was “Rate Your Neighbor,” so something that you all did, and you scored a D. And I'm curious on what that was about, and then can you take us back to that conversation that time. Col. Kimberly Ford 1:23 Correct, they had something at the time called Rate Your Neighbor, and that called for your classmates, your peers, people above you and below you, rating your ability to be a leader in the Cadet Wing and in your squadron, and then eventually a leader in the Air Force, and so everyone in your class would get a rating. I had come into the to the meeting thinking that I had done really well, and that my passion was shining through, and so imagine my surprise when I found out that I received the equivalent of a D grade. My air officer commanding was empathetic, but he was also very concerned, and what I did appreciate was he did give me the chance to respond. At that time, I just felt really disappointed. You know, I'd come into the Academy, I really wanted to be in aerospace, I was really excited about STEM. I was so happy to have the opportunity to be there, and so I must admit that I really felt crushed when I heard his words, that I hadn't done as well as I thought I had. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 2:32 It almost sounds a little bit like a 360-degree kind of assessment. What, in particular, I guess attributed to that, kind of that score, that rating from your peers? What did they see, I guess, in that to give you that score? Col. Kimberly Ford 2:49 Yes, you know, looking back with my lens now, I know that there are different types of leadership, different styles of leadership, but I think at the time the type of leadership that was expected was someone who was assertive, who was upfront, who was more sort of direct. At the time, I was a young cadet who definitely needed to be mentored and learn some skills. I think what they saw in me was someone who was very quiet. I had not had the opportunity or taken the opportunity to speak about who I was, my background, my passion for aviation, someone who didn't make eye contact, and you know, someone who maybe didn't greet them on a personal level, who didn't check in before a session, during a session and maybe after a session. And so they just really weren't sure about my aptitude, and I can understand that big picture. I was someone who definitely needed to be mentored and definitely needed to learn those skills in a style that was commensurate with my personality and what I had to bring to the table. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 3:55 Well, you talked about being passionate and you went in feeling really good and hoping that it shined through. How did you adjust, maybe, or adapt after that feedback to bring your voice and that passion forward. What did that look like in your leadership journey at that time? Col. Kimberly Ford 4:10 Yes, I remember the air officer commanding said, “Hey, you know, let's talk about this. What do you — what are you bringing to the table?” And so I said, “Wow, I'm someone who wants to be here. I'm someone who wants to fly. I am someone who wants to give back to my country, and I want to serve my nation.” And so, after that, I'm lucky that I had a good group of mentors, both peers and older cadets, and I was able to sit down with them and get that constructive feedback and constructive criticism. So I was able to speak with my flight commander about, you know, goals that I have. I want to do, you know, eventually I want to do the soaring program. I want to do — which I may have already finished by that point. I want to do the T-41 program, which was the solo program at the time. I would like to be a pilot. And so I really practiced making eye contact, speaking about my goals, sharing my passion, and just really checking in and making sure I receive that feedback from my leadership, and then also points where I could improve. You know, as an 18-, 19-year-old, you know, young woman who was very shy, that was a lot for me. But it just — so it took a lot of courage, so I'm really proud of myself for being able to get there, to be able to interact and have those conversations that I needed to have with my cadet leadership at the time. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 5:33 Well, let's fast forward now, because I feel like that voice that you found has been really instrumental in some of the advocacy and work that you've done around really highlighting the legacies of our Tuskegee Airmen and the Women Air Service Pilots, or WASPs. Can you talk about, you know, where that came into play, or how finding your voice, what that looked like, and what some of that work, important work, was that you did? Col. Kimberly Ford 5:59 Yeah, yeah, I will go back. When I was a young woman, still in high school, I had really started to show interest in aviation, and we didn't know a lot of people who were pilots or in aerospace, and so what my parents did for me, especially my mother, who loved to read, is she found me a lot of books, and she found me books about the Tuskegee Airmen and about the Women's Air Service Pilots as examples. And so I read about these courageous, you know, young people who were serving during World War II, all of the challenges and barriers that they had to overcome, and the life lessons that they had to share. And so I really took that to heart, and that really helped to inspire me during my career. I had the opportunity to speak with some Tuskegee Airmen during my Air Force career by attending conferences. As I moved back to the Seattle area, when I came back to Joint Base Lewis-McChord, I had the opportunity to serve at the Seattle Museum of Flight and serve in panels. We would talk about subjects such as the Berlin Airlift, some of the flying out of a Ramitelli in Italy, and just sort of passing along those leadership lessons. I had also joined my Sam Bruce Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen. We were able to work on some youth programs and grow them from very small programs to larger programs, which really passed along those important leadership lessons to young people and inspired them on their journeys to becoming pilots. I had another opportunity to volunteer with the Congressional Gold Medal ceremony for the Women's Air Service Pilots. So, I went to Washington, D.C. I was able to pass along the Congressional Gold Medal to June Lecky and spend time with her family and learn about her service, so I always called her my WASP. I'm lucky that I was able to go to the museum, the Women's Air Service Pilot Museum in Sweetwater, Texas, and have the chance to interview WASPs, volunteer alongside of WASPs, and as well pass along my message of my service and sort of help to grow young people. Through my Sam Bruce Chapter, I met mentors such as Bill Holloman, who was an original Tuskegee Airmen, and Ed Drummond, who shared their stories of just leadership and courage. So to me, those lessons are so important to pass on to the next generation. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 8:34 I think you hit it on the, you know, hit the nail on the head when you talk about sharing the stories, and as we share your story today, I think it's really important that our viewers and our listeners kind of really appreciate that not all leaders, you know, approach things in the same way. To your point, you know, you start off really shy, and you found your voice, and then you're able to even share stories of other leaders. I'm curious, in your journey, of, you know, how that continued to evolve, you know, where did you find yourself really championed, perhaps? You mentioned your parents early on, and you know, understanding your love for aviation, did they also kind of show up for you in that way of helping you to hone in on your leadership skills a little earlier? Col. Kimberly Ford 9:20 Yes, yes. As a young person, I knew early on that I wanted to go to college, that I wanted to achieve a graduate degree, and seeing those examples of my father serve overseas, and my mother alongside with him… Col. Naviere Walkewicz 9:37 Both your parents served? Col. Kimberly Ford 9:38 Actually, my father was in the Army, he got up to the rank of captain, and my mother, they had just gotten married, and my mother joined him in France, where they served outside of Paris at a place called Saran, France. So I just saw that example. They started taking me to museums, as I mentioned, they had me read books, but they did see that I was more shy and more quiet, and so they started really relating to me, they just passed along that I, that I'm a leader, you know, I am a leader in my own way. These were often quiet messages, they weren't often direct, but I just remember when I showed up at the Academy, they just, I remember that that message, that I am a leader, that I am capable, that I can do these jobs, that I had just as much of an opportunity to succeed, they were really just strongly, strongly instilled in me. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 10:37 I love those affirmations, and I'm curious, you know, obviously you went on to go to pilot training. How did that continue to evolve, and being a quiet leader, show up in, you know, in the cockpit or amongst your peers? Were there times where you had to be more assertive, or use a different voice? How did you kind of deal with how you're wired, so to speak, with what was needed for the moment? Col. Kimberly Ford 11:00 Yeah, so one story that I'll take you back to goes back to jump school. One of my friends wanted me to take jump school, I was really uncertain about this, and she's like, "No, we let's take jump school together.” We were both seniors, and it was just a great opportunity. We went through the training. I had always thought of the people that did jump school as just these amazing people. I wasn't sure if I could just reach that pinnacle. I'm so lucky that we made it. We both made it to the through the training, and then you get to the point where you, you're standing in the door, so this is the point where you take all of your training and you are going to execute this training, and you're going to face this really critical, intense moment. And so to me it was sort of like a parallel of I was finding my voice, I'm a cadet, and then I have the chance to go to pilot training. I remember before we stood in the door on the ground, I'd spoken to the jump master, which was really intimidating for me as a young cadet, and I said, "I want to jump out the door. Can you help me get there? Can you sort of show me how you get yourself ready to do that?” And so, looking back now, when I got into the door, he basically looked me in the eye, and he helped me to take a deep breath, to settle myself, and to take that big step forward. And I jumped out the door, and I went on to do five jumps, and I completed that program. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 12:21 I have to give you props, because I think the fact that you recognized in yourself, giving yourself the permission to ask for help, right? You said, "Can you help me get to and through the door and accomplish this jump?” And then go on to get your jump wings. I think it's really powerful and a leadership lesson in itself. Was that something that you just you — it happened, or you've seen it modeled before you, or you just, it was just something in you that, “I'm going to ask for help here?” Col. Kimberly Ford 12:52 He certainly helped me to get that warrior mindset. So, I believe even back before, you know, maybe wanting to do a certain program at in high school, or even wanting to apply for the Academy, my father said, “You know, you just have to step forward and do it.” Also, dating back to my father's father, who was one of the first Black policemen in Baltimore City. He was a very, he was also a very reserved man, very much like myself. And I remember speaking to him about being nervous about applying to the Academy and going to the Academy, and he said, “You know what, Kim? You've just got to get started, you've just got to take that first step.” So, basically, putting yourself in that space, that mental space, being prepared, being confident, and believing in yourself, and taking that step forward. I was able to carry that through, going to pilot training. I was really nervous. A lot of cadets had the opportunity to do a lot of flying, a lot of discovery flights or programs like Civil Air Patrol or scouting, and my parents were only able, they were able to provide me with one amazing discovery flight, but it was tough. I had to learn a lot of information in a short period of time. I had an amazing UPT instructor for my first flight. His name is Colonel, retired now, Kevin Mastin, and he actually went on to become a Thunderbird. He went to the University of Washington, where I'm from, so a neat link there. And I just told him about my fears. “I'm nervous. I don't know if I have what it takes. I don't know if I can keep up with the other students.” And he was — he said, "Do you really want to do this and finish this program?” And I said, “I really do,” and he said, “Well, let's work together, basically to develop this warrior mindset, or this mindset of focus, of intensity, of bringing your best, of being excellent like the Tuskegee Airmen.” So he really worked with me and helped me to do that. So I was basically able to bring that to serving throughout my career up to serving in Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom. You know, just really taking that deep breath, knowing that I am capable, knowing that I am a good leader, and sort of executing the mission, working with the crew, or working with the team that I'm working with at the time. So I'm really proud that that started, as you know, as a child with my parents was honed also at the Air Force Academy and with other mentors through my career. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 15:15 Were there particular pillars of leadership or things that he said this is how, you know, your process to thinking like a warrior having that warrior mindset. What did that look like? Col. Kimberly Ford 15:25 Yes, yes, he always he focused on telling me to sort of don't listen to the noise and the other inputs. You know, fly the airplane and focus on the important tenets, the important things that you need to do. You know, “You need to fly the airplane into the air, you need to make it act in ways that you want it to act.” He spoke with me about, you know, learning all of the information, such as, you know, chair flying or visualizing. He said, "I want you to know that information cold. So, if you know the information cold and you're nervous, you're it'll allow you to fly the airplane and focus. So, we would actually have study sessions where we would go to the squadron, and we would basically go through our steps and procedures, and just really practice focusing and just eliminating all of that noise, flying the aircraft, and putting the airplane, you know, in acrobatics and VFR flight and IFR flight. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 16:20 And for someone who's not in aviation, what does VFR flight and IFR flight mean? Col. Kimberly Ford 16:23 Visual flight rules, where you can see, and instrument flight rules, where there are clouds, and you're not to see the ground. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 16:31 Well, I can imagine that's really helpful, going through the repetition of actually being in the cockpit, you know, not in the cockpit, right? Like you said, chair flying. I think that's really powerful, visualizing. Were there any other kind of key instructions or thoughts in that process of putting on the warrior mindset and being able to push through any of the self-doubt or kind of the reservations that not just you but I think other leaders share? Col. Kimberly Ford 16:57 I think it's also, you know, being the consummate professional, you know, always learning about your craft, so I'm always learning something new, I'm always reading, always listening to what others might say, always listening to feedback. And always showing up, you know, being early, looking professional, having your uniform look well — just sort of those are some of the other tenants that he taught me, also. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 17:24 And I think about what you're doing now. So you're a current pilot with Alaska Airlines. Oftentimes, you know, many of our graduates do go into, especially those who served as pilots, go into, I think, you know, commercial aviation. You know, was that an easy process for you? How did that challenge you as a leader? Was that something that was already kind of written in your game plan of life? Col. Kimberly Ford 17:47 Right, so I actually became a commercial pilot in 2001, so it was right around the time of 9/11. It was a little bit challenging, just because I had just finished my active duty, where I was flying the KC-135. I did the Kosovo operations, and also Northern and Southern Watch, where you're basically flying around Saudi Arabia. I finished that and I was just starting my time as an Air Force reservist as a C-17 pilot. So I did initial training for the MD-80 at the time, which was an older passenger airline for Alaska Airlines, and I was also starting training for the C-17. There is quite a difference in culture — you're learning with, you know, working with a different crew, slightly different style of crew resource management. Your purpose is, you know, a little bit different. You're flying passengers and some cargo to get to where they need to go. So I'm really lucky that I was able to rely on mentors to step me through, do that visualizing and share flying. Soon after that, I was actually called up to serve full time for the Air Force for about three to five years for Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom, that's operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. So I always had to, you know, I took copious notes. We had a lot of conversations on those flight decks as we were doing our military operations. There were a lot of Alaska Airlines and other airline pilots, and so I'm so lucky that I could fly with some really experienced crew members who could really talk to me about this civilian procedures. It is fast paced — you're working at large civilian airports, so I had to learn those standardized procedures, and I had to learn to work with the crews to be able to execute that civilian mission well. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 19:41 I'm curious about, you know, your service while you were deployed in support of those different operations. If you could talk about where you saw yourself evolve as a leader. How did you continue to grow in that space from, you know, where you started as a quiet, more reserved leader, still quite passionate, but where did that show up, and how did it show up in the deployed spaces? Col. Kimberly Ford 20:06 Right, let's see, in the deployed spaces, just to give people an idea of the operations at the time, they were a very fast-paced. This is like around 2001, 2002 and on. We had to fly a large part of the mission because a lot of the experience was in the Air Force Reserve. I was serving at a joint-based Lewis-McChord, and so we would take large contingents of especially Army personnel from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, usually to the East Coast, maybe to Europe, such as Germany, and then overseas. It might have been the opportunity for me to sort of have a briefing, and then in general the mission would match the briefing, usually, usually in the KC-135. I would say in the C-17 it was very intense, where you were on alert, and then the mission could change and evolve. It might be incredibly intense where it was at night, — you might be landing with night vision goggles on a runway that wasn't lit, and so they were very intricate details. So changing mission, very intense missions. In the last part was very long missions. So I believe that I had to really dig deep and always be willing to have that resilience and more resilience and more endurance than I'd ever, ever had before. Also, working with a larger crew for a longer period of time. Just really — I knew that the people around me knew their jobs well, they were motivated, they wanted to serve, and they could execute well, and they were passionate about the mission, so I think just having that stamina and endurance, and flying in more challenging conditions. Definitely. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 21:57 When you're stepping into some of those roles, there's this need to build a team very quickly, and trust, and you know, obviously leadership is part of pulling all that together. How did you do that successfully? I mean, aside from, you know, having stamina and really just, I think, being ready, were there any other things that you thought you really tapped into from your strengths that helped you to navigate that cohesion and that trust together pretty quickly? Col. Kimberly Ford 22:24 Right, it seems like one of the easiest ways to build trust and have that team as — there are really standardized roles that are expected in the crew, and when the crew knows that you know your role inside and out, and that you can execute well, that you will, you know, speak the way you need to speak, that you'll fly the way you need to fly, that really quickly helps to build trust. I think, also, it helps to be able to speak through the mission to be able to talk about some of those key crunch points, and you know, options that we would have as a crew, and basically work together to make decisions, and also if that one person had information that the rest of the crew didn't have, such as the need to go around or to stop or to turn the other way, that the entire crew, especially the other pilot, would listen to that information and execute immediately. So, building that trust by performing your role, being prepared, going over the mission, going over those crunch points and acting quickly when you needed to act, that really seemed to form a cohesive crew. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 23:38 You know, if we can go back a little bit, I'm curious to your time, you know — I guess it's not really going back, it's a bit more current now — but you'd mentioned a little bit ago that working with Alaska Airlines, the pace is a little different, and the mission has changed. I'm curious on how your leadership has evolved when you think about a changing mission, and maybe it's not life or death or national security, but how do you continue to evolve as a leader when the stakes aren't as high? Col. Kimberly Ford 24:06 Right, right, so in the military mission, it was more — it was usually time critical, and it called for often a very assertive type of quiet leadership. So you're still bringing that assertive type of quiet leadership, but you're also bringing customer service to families and passengers who are getting to where they need to go, whether it be a vacation or to visit family, or, you know, taking a businessperson where they want me to go, so you're having that patience, letting people know that they're welcome, that you're happy to see them on board, you're working with crew members who may not have that sort of military background. And so there are different communication styles, different, you know, they're different people, and so you're really sort of reading who they are and making sure that you can communicate information in a way that is effective for them as a person, and their age and experience level. You are — it is also a compressed timeframe, so ensuring that you're getting loaded and boarded within that timeframe, and sort of helping the airline to get those, you know, different pushes of different aircraft at different times off on time. So I think I had to just sort of maybe dial it back a little bit in my presentation; make sure I just gave that great customer service. I would say in the cockpit it is that same — in the flight deck, I'm sorry — you're giving that same crew resource management. That same — building that same trust within the person who, you know, letting them know that you know your job and that you're ready to execute. So I would say it's probably more the same within the flight deck there. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 25:53 I would almost go so far as to say is the ability to understand when you need to assert more, and when maybe a more quiet and customer service-oriented leadership style needs to be used — you almost have a superpower of understanding when to employ them, and I might, I might ask you this: You know, how do you help others who maybe have the other side of the leadership spectrum, where they come in very — “I'm a very assertive type leader.” How do you help them see the value in your approach that is natural to you? Col. Kimberly Ford 26:25 We have a moment at the end of our flights at Alaska Airlines, where we sort of, we sit back and we basically say, “How do we think that went?” You know, “What could we change?” And we speak about, you know, “How did the crew receive our message? How did the passengers receive our message? How did the gate personnel receive our message?” And sometimes you could say, like, “OK, well, maybe we could have said this this way. Maybe we could have responded this way as we were flying the approach.” And so I'm able to sort of give my perspective, and maybe how I might have done things, or perhaps sometimes the will divide duties, and the captain will say, "OK, I see here, maybe you would be great at doing this duty, could you take this over?” And so I think that's how I can show that maybe a different style of leadership would be more effective in those certain situations, and we're trained to really listen and just take in the feedback that's coming towards us, and I would say all of the crew members are very good at listening, adjusting and taking in what's offered to them. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 27:28 By you kind of sharing the ability to listen, but also share your perspectives, I think, in itself, is another great leadership lesson that strong leaders have the ability to listen to others and take in other inputs before making decisions or moving forward. So I think that was a wonderful recollection of how you do that in the civilian world in aviation. So one of the things we love to do is ask our guests: What they're doing every day to be a better leader? Would you mind sharing with us what that is? Col. Kimberly Ford 27:59 Let's see, I do a number of things. One is I try to take a quiet moment just to do some breathing and just really to center myself and ground myself, so a quiet moment. I'm trying to get enough sleep. It's amazing how much, you know, good sleep can affect your ability to execute your day properly. I'm trying to get some exercise every day, so whether it be — I'm trying to do a lot of weightlifting, Pilates, yoga, doing things to strengthen myself as well as ground myself. And I'm also making sure I'm taking a break to do something fun, you know, something that I enjoy with my spouse or a friend, going out to lunch or something like that. So, you know, trying to take care of myself and make sure I take some time for fun and just set time for grounding and for breathing a few minutes each day. I find those things very helpful. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 28:57 Is that something that you sort of employed as, you know, you've become more understanding of time and experience, or have you always kind of operated in that way — just to kind of appreciate the moments, you know, take time to fill your cup, etc.? Col. Kimberly Ford 29:12 You know, I would say that that is something that my parents instilled in me a long time ago. My mother instilled in me, especially just that: that breathing and just taking that moment and just grounding yourself. I remember we went to some sort of exercise classes together when I was in junior high and high school, so I'm really proud that she instilled that in me early. My father also exercised with me as I was getting ready for my Academy initial fitness test to get in. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 29:43 Well, frankly, I mean they really did help prepare you so well for being a cadet and then going on to be highly successful, both as an officer and then in the civilian world. But speaking of when you're a cadet, if you could go back in time now, Kim, and tell, you know Cadet Kimberly Ford, you know, something that she should be thinking about to be a better leader down the road, what would you tell her? Col. Kimberly Ford 30:06 I would say always believe in yourself. Know that you can do this, that you are capable, and you have an important perspective to bring to the table. Your voice is necessary, and you have something to bring. So, I would just say it's coming. Keep believing yourself, and I would also say to her, you know, keep finding different mentors, you know. Some mentors are sort of focused on the operation that you're doing on a narrow scale, and some are more big picture mentors, so rely on those mentors and peers, and continue taking that feedback, and always growing, remain a student, always improving, making corrections, and it's OK to have those missteps. And it's an amazing journey as you keep learning and growing and becoming a better leader. That I would tell Cadet Kim. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 30:59 That is outstanding. And may I ask you, what are you most proud of about yourself as a leader? Col. Kimberly Ford 31:06 I am proud of resilience, but I learned how to be resilient leader, you know, that I learned from my parents, relatives and, most importantly, through those programs and leadership at the Academy instilled in me that I'm a resilient leader, that I have a lot to offer. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 31:26 Awesome, this has been amazing. I mean, we always enjoy being able to take a peek behind the story of our Air Force Academy graduates and our leadership journeys, but I really appreciate the time, and you really pulling back the layers, taking it back to your family, taking it back to some of the, you know, just right away the lessons you learned from peer feedback and how to adapt and evolve and be resilient, and then when the moment calls for it, bring your voice back to those important moments when you need to help others see a different perspective. It's been an absolute pleasure having you on Long Blue Leadership today. Col. Kimberly Ford 31:59 Thank you so much. And I just have to say, Mighty '90 for the class, as well as War Eagles for the CS-15 War Eagles. But thank you so much. It's been just an honor to be here with you, and I have really very much enjoyed this. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 32:13 Thank you. And for all of you watching this or listening, be sure to share this journey with others who are also in their leadership journeys, whether in aviation or not. Right? Just looking for what are those ways that our leaders are taking shape. We do this on this particular Long Blue Leadership episode, and all of our others at longblueleadership.org. What really stuck with me about this particular conversation is to really be a leader for what the moment calls for, and I think that Lt. Col. (Ret.) Kim Ford, Class of '90, Mighty '90, as she said, did it really well. So until next time, I'm Naviere Walkewicz, Class of '99 and we'll see you on Long Blue Leadership, KEYWORDS Quiet leadership, authentic leadership, finding your voice, leadership development, leadership philosophy, resilient leadership, leadership resilience, mentorship, servant leadership, emotional intelligence, courageous leadership, confidence, self-belief, constructive feedback, growth mindset, warrior mindset, leadership under pressure, trust, team building, crew resource management, aviation leadership, military leadership, Air Force Academy, USAFA, combat leadership, decision-making, adaptability, resilience, visualization, chair flying, lifelong learning, personal growth, women in leadership, women in aviation, Tuskegee Airmen, Women Airforce Service Pilots, WASP, professional excellence, leadership communication, leadership lessons.   The Long Blue Line Podcast Network is presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy Association & Foundation        

Grand reportage
«Le supplément du dimanche» du 5 juillet 2026

Grand reportage

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 5, 2026 48:30


Direction Libreville. À l'instar de nombreuses sociétés d'Afrique centrale, mais plus qu'ailleurs, la société gabonaise est meurtrie par les crimes rituels. Chaque année, ils font leur lot de victimes au nom de croyances pour des raisons politiques ou à cause de réseaux de crime organisé. On retrouve des corps abandonnés avec des organes manquants. En 2è partie, le Kosovo vit très mal les accusations de crimes de guerre portées contre les leaders de l'UCK qui ont mené le pays à l'indépendance.  Gabon: la détresse sans fin des familles de victimes de crimes rituels  C'est une plaie de nombreuses sociétés d'Afrique centrale, mais elle est particulièrement vive au Gabon : les crimes rituels font chaque année des victimes. Des corps retrouvés sans vie, auxquels on a ôté des organes comme le cœur, les yeux ou le pénis. Dans bien des cas, ces crimes ne sont jamais punis, ou alors seul l'exécutant est arrêté, et pas le commanditaire. Les familles des victimes, elles, se sentent abandonnées face à ces actes qui associent spirituel, politique et criminalité organisée. Un Grand reportage de François Mazet qui s'entretient avec Jacques Allix. Héros ou criminels, les leaders de l'UCK face aux juges  C'est le dernier grand procès lié aux guerres qui ont déchiré l'ex-Yougoslavie. Vingt-sept ans après le conflit au Kosovo, le verdict est attendu normalement dans les toutes prochaines semaines pour les anciens dirigeants de l'UÇK,  l'Armée de libération. Ils risquent jusqu'45 ans de prison, eux, les premiers dirigeants du Kosovo indépendant. Mais ce tribunal spécial, de droit kosovar, avec juges internationaux à La Haye, suscite une profonde indignation dans le jeune État. Pour beaucoup, les 4 accusés ont libéré le pays de l'oppression du régime de Milošević et porté la cause de l'indépendance. Un Grand reportage de Louis Seiller qui s'entretient avec Jacques Allix.

New Books Network
Olivier Hein, "Mother of the World: The Remarkable History of Turkmenistan" (Hurst, 2026)

New Books Network

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 2, 2026 53:45


Turkmenistan rarely makes international headlines–and when it did, it was often stories that highlighted things like the strange cult of personality that surrounded Saparmurat Niyazov, its first post-Soviet president, who named months after himself and made his memoir required reading. Olivier Hein joins us on the show today to talk about Turkmenistan's long history: as a possible origin for Zoroastrianism, the first monotheistic faith; the rise of Merv, at one point possibly one of the world's largest cities; the emergence of the Turkmen; and how this region ended up becoming the crossroads of empires. Olivier's work is now a book Mother of the World: The Remarkable History of Turkmenistan (Hurst, 2026) Olivier Hein is a Mauritian-British author whose books include Star and Key: The Historical Adventure of Mauritius and Borneo: The History of an Enigma. Formerly a UN, UK and OSCE diplomat, posted to New York, Paris, Kosovo and Turkmenistan, he also contributes to The Chap magazine. You can find more reviews, excerpts, interviews, and essays at The Asian Review of Books. Follow on Twitter at @BookReviewsAsia. Nicholas Gordon is an editor for a global magazine, and a reviewer for the Asian Review of Books. He can be found on Twitter at @nickrigordon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

New Books in Central Asian Studies
Olivier Hein, "Mother of the World: The Remarkable History of Turkmenistan" (Hurst, 2026)

New Books in Central Asian Studies

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 2, 2026 53:45


Turkmenistan rarely makes international headlines–and when it did, it was often stories that highlighted things like the strange cult of personality that surrounded Saparmurat Niyazov, its first post-Soviet president, who named months after himself and made his memoir required reading. Olivier Hein joins us on the show today to talk about Turkmenistan's long history: as a possible origin for Zoroastrianism, the first monotheistic faith; the rise of Merv, at one point possibly one of the world's largest cities; the emergence of the Turkmen; and how this region ended up becoming the crossroads of empires. Olivier's work is now a book Mother of the World: The Remarkable History of Turkmenistan (Hurst, 2026) Olivier Hein is a Mauritian-British author whose books include Star and Key: The Historical Adventure of Mauritius and Borneo: The History of an Enigma. Formerly a UN, UK and OSCE diplomat, posted to New York, Paris, Kosovo and Turkmenistan, he also contributes to The Chap magazine. You can find more reviews, excerpts, interviews, and essays at The Asian Review of Books. Follow on Twitter at @BookReviewsAsia. Nicholas Gordon is an editor for a global magazine, and a reviewer for the Asian Review of Books. He can be found on Twitter at @nickrigordon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/central-asian-studies

New Books in Ancient History
Olivier Hein, "Mother of the World: The Remarkable History of Turkmenistan" (Hurst, 2026)

New Books in Ancient History

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 2, 2026 53:45


Turkmenistan rarely makes international headlines–and when it did, it was often stories that highlighted things like the strange cult of personality that surrounded Saparmurat Niyazov, its first post-Soviet president, who named months after himself and made his memoir required reading. Olivier Hein joins us on the show today to talk about Turkmenistan's long history: as a possible origin for Zoroastrianism, the first monotheistic faith; the rise of Merv, at one point possibly one of the world's largest cities; the emergence of the Turkmen; and how this region ended up becoming the crossroads of empires. Olivier's work is now a book Mother of the World: The Remarkable History of Turkmenistan (Hurst, 2026) Olivier Hein is a Mauritian-British author whose books include Star and Key: The Historical Adventure of Mauritius and Borneo: The History of an Enigma. Formerly a UN, UK and OSCE diplomat, posted to New York, Paris, Kosovo and Turkmenistan, he also contributes to The Chap magazine. You can find more reviews, excerpts, interviews, and essays at The Asian Review of Books. Follow on Twitter at @BookReviewsAsia. Nicholas Gordon is an editor for a global magazine, and a reviewer for the Asian Review of Books. He can be found on Twitter at @nickrigordon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Asian Review of Books
Olivier Hein, "Mother of the World: The Remarkable History of Turkmenistan" (Hurst, 2026)

Asian Review of Books

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 2, 2026 55:45


Turkmenistan rarely makes international headlines–and when it did, it was often stories that highlighted things like the strange cult of personality that surrounded Saparmurat Niyazov, its first post-Soviet president, who named months after himself and made his memoir required reading. Olivier Hein joins us on the show today to talk about Turkmenistan's long history: as a possible origin for Zoroastrianism, the first monotheistic faith; the rise of Merv, at one point possibly one of the world's largest cities; the emergence of the Turkmen; and how this region ended up becoming the crossroads of empires. Olivier's work is now a book Mother of the World: The Remarkable History of Turkmenistan (Hurst, 2026) Olivier Hein is a Mauritian-British author whose books include Star and Key: The Historical Adventure of Mauritius and Borneo: The History of an Enigma. Formerly a UN, UK and OSCE diplomat, posted to New York, Paris, Kosovo and Turkmenistan, he also contributes to The Chap magazine. You can find more reviews, excerpts, interviews, and essays at The Asian Review of Books. Follow on Twitter at @BookReviewsAsia. Nicholas Gordon is an editor for a global magazine, and a reviewer for the Asian Review of Books. He can be found on Twitter at @nickrigordon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/asian-review

Grand reportage
Héros ou criminels, les leaders de l'UCK face aux juges

Grand reportage

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2026 19:30


C'est le dernier grand procès lié aux guerres qui ont déchiré l'ex-Yougoslavie. Vingt-sept ans après le conflit au Kosovo, le verdict est attendu normalement dans les toutes prochaines semaines pour les anciens dirigeants de l'UÇK,  l'Armée de libération. Ils risquent jusqu'45 ans de prison, eux, les premiers dirigeants du Kosovo indépendant. Mais ce tribunal spécial, de droit kosovar, avec juges internationaux à La Haye, suscite une profonde indignation dans le jeune État. Pour beaucoup, les 4 accusés ont libéré le pays de l'oppression du régime de Milošević et porté la cause de l'indépendance.   « Héros ou Criminels, les leaders de l'UCK face aux juges », un Grand reportage au Kosovo de Louis Seiller.

Entrepreneur Rx
Visar Berisha: Proving What's Real in the Age of Deepfakes

Entrepreneur Rx

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2026 29:47


How do you prove that the person speaking to you is actually human? In this episode of Entrepreneur Rx, host John Shufeldt sits down with Visar Berisha, founder and CEO of OriginStory, to explore one of the most urgent problems emerging in the age of artificial intelligence: how to verify reality when voice, video, and identity can be convincingly replicated. Visar shares how today's AI tools can clone a person's voice in seconds, why deepfakes are becoming a serious threat in financial transactions, hiring, healthcare, and everyday communication, and how OriginStory is working to create a new layer of “proof of personhood” for digital interactions. Rather than trying to detect fake content after the fact, OriginStory's technology verifies human speech at the source by pairing audio with radar-detected biomechanical signals from the body.  The conversation also explores Visar's journey from Kosovo to Arizona, his academic path through ASU and MIT, his earlier work using speech and AI to track neurological disease progression, and the lessons he learned building and exiting his first company.  From synthetic identities to AI-driven scams, enterprise security, entrepreneurship, and the future value of human connection, this episode looks at what it may take to build trust in a world where seeing and hearing are no longer enough.  About Visar Berisha: Visar Berisha is a Professor at Arizona State University, with a joint appointment in the College of Engineering and the College of Health Solutions; and founder and CEO of OriginStory. Berisha's main research interests reside at the intersection of AI and the human voice. He has developed and commercialized new speech AI models for healthcare and cybersecurity. This work is primarily funded by the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Defense, and the National Science Foundation. This work has led to many academic publications, several patents, and two VC-backed companies.  Berisha's work has been featured in the New York Times, on ESPN, National Public Radio, the Wall Street Journal, and a number of other international media outlets. He was the 2023-2024 ISCA Distinguished Lecturer.  About OriginStory: OriginStory is a proof-of-personhood company building the trust layer for human communication in the age of AI. OriginStory verifies that a real, live human is behind any conversation or recording. Its edge technology captures speech alongside human biosignals in real time, confirming the two align in a way only a genuine person can produce, and delivers continuous proof of personhood through a hardware-software platform. The approach is privacy-first (no biosignal data leaves the user's device) and validated to authenticate human-generated content, restoring trust in high-stakes moments like financial approvals, medical sessions, and executive communications where deepfakes and AI impersonation pose real risk.  About Xcellerant Ventures: Xcellerant Ventures is a venture capital firm that invests in innovative companies across healthcare, technology, defense, and other emerging industries. Through multiple funds and investment vehicles, including the Jetstream Venture Fund ($5,000 minimum interval fund), the firm partners with visionary founders, provides strategic guidance, and helps connect investors with opportunities in the private markets. Its portfolio includes companies developing solutions that have the potential to transform industries and improve lives.  Disclosure for Jetstream: Investors should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of the Fund before investing. The prospectus contains this and other information about the Fund and can be obtained by emailing ⁠⁠jetstream@sweaterfunds.com⁠⁠ or by visiting the ⁠⁠Fund's website⁠⁠. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing. 

The MisFitNation
Purple Heart. PTSD. Survival. The Iraq War Story That Refused to Stay Buried | Jason Rumbaugh

The MisFitNation

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 23, 2026 63:35


Some battles end when you leave the battlefield. Others follow you home. In this unforgettable episode of The ToosDay Crüe Show, host Rich LaMonica sits down with Purple Heart recipient, Iraq War veteran, Combat Engineer, husband, father, and author Jason Rumbaugh for one of the most honest conversations we've ever had about war, trauma, resilience, and what it truly means to rebuild a life after combat. Jason's story begins like many young Americans seeking purpose through military service. But what followed was a journey through Germany, Kosovo, Iraq, roadside bombs, combat patrols, leadership failures, brotherhood, loss, and the kind of experiences that permanently change how a person sees the world. When an IED explosion left Jason wounded in Iraq, the physical injuries were only part of the story. The deeper wounds would take years to understand. Years of trying to adapt. Years of searching for purpose. Years of carrying memories that never seemed to fade. But instead of allowing those experiences to define him, Jason transformed them into something powerful. His memoir, Waves of Shrapnel: A Soldier's Journey, became both a tribute to the soldiers who never made it home and a roadmap for understanding the struggles many veterans face after returning from war. Throughout this emotional and often surprisingly funny conversation, Jason shares stories that are raw, human, heartbreaking, and inspiring all at once. You'll hear about:

The Cognitive Crucible
#246 IPA APEX Conference

The Cognitive Crucible

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 23, 2026 30:53


The Cognitive Crucible is a forum that presents different perspectives and emerging thought leadership related to the information environment. The opinions expressed by guests are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of or endorsement by the Information Professionals Association. During this episode, Dave Acosta and Austin Branch discuss IPA's APEX conference which will be September 8–9, 2026 at the CARASOFT facility in Reston VA. As governments, militaries, industries, and societies confront increasingly sophisticated influence operations, disinformation campaigns, and cognitive warfare activities, the need for cognitive security education, research, and professional development has never been greater. APEX 2026 is a two-day educational forum dedicated to advancing the emerging field of cognitive security. Bringing together educators, researchers, students, practitioners, government representatives, and industry leaders, APEX seeks to foster collaboration, strengthen professional expertise, and contribute to the development of future approaches to Operations in the Information Environment (OIE). Recording Date: 19 June 2026 Resources: APEX Conference Link to full show notes and resources Guest Bio:  Austin Branch is a nationally recognized leader in cognitive security, strategic influence, and information operations. A retired Army Officer and senior U.S. government executive, he pioneered the Army's Information Operations career field and served as the first Senior Director for IO in the Office of Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict. He is the co-founder of the Information Professionals Association and Managing Partner of Crescent Bridge Corporation, advancing cross-sector solutions to achieve cognitive advantage. He also serves as Professor of Practice at the University of Maryland's Applied Research Lab for Intelligence and Security and as an Adjunct Professor at The Citadel, where he teaches Cognitive Security. A contributor to The Cipher Brief, Austin also designs college-level curricula on intelligence and gray zone competition, blending operational insight with academic rigor to mentor the next generation of strategic thinkers. David Acosta is a Board Member of the Information Professionals Association and focuses on the Association's education portfolio. Additionally, Dave serves as a Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve, currently commanding the 2nd Brigade, 91st Training Division, headquartered in Denver, Colorado. He served at various levels throughout his career from the company/battery level to the Headquarters, Department of the Army G-3/5/7. He commanded the 303d Information Operations (IO) Battalion, 151st Theater IO Group at Camp Parks CA and served as the G3 Information Operations (IO) Chief for the US Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne). He also served as the Assistant Deputy Director for Joint Warfighting Development, Joint Staff J-7 in Suffolk, Virginia. His operational tours include deployments to Kosovo in 1999, Bosnia-Herzegovina in 2002, and Iraq in 2007 and 2009. Additionally, Dave is a Professor of Practice of Technical Operations in the Information Environment at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. Dave holds a Bachelors of Science in History (Russian Area) from the US Air Force Academy, a Master of Science in Joint Information Operations from the Naval Postgraduate School, and a Master of Strategic Studies from the Army War College. He is a PhD student of International Studies at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. About: The Information Professionals Association (IPA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to exploring the role of information activities, such as influence and cognitive security, within the national security sector and helping to bridge the divide between operations and research. Its goal is to increase interdisciplinary collaboration between scholars and practitioners and policymakers with an interest in this domain. For more information, please contact us at communications@information-professionals.org. Or, connect directly with The Cognitive Crucible podcast host, John Bicknell, on LinkedIn. Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, 1) IPA earns from qualifying purchases, 2) IPA gets commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

I'm On the Phone with Kacey K
141: BOY BYE, SHES GOING ON TOUR

I'm On the Phone with Kacey K

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 18, 2026 41:13


Ariana has kicked off the Eternal Sunshine tour. While the vocals are serving, people are concerned about her health. She also has broken up with her Wicked costar boyfriend, Ethan Slater. Dua Lipa and her family are putting together a concert festival in her hometown of Kosovo, hoping to boost the city's tourism. She has asked Katy Perry to be the main headliner. Taylor Swift has yet another number 1 single, this time with the new Disney song, I Knew It, I Knew You, for the new Toy Story 5 movie. Tom Brady has a new line of coconut water and the flavors seem questionable to me. Charli is ready to say goodbye to the Brat era and start touring again. The pop star has announced her new album and tour, Music, Fashion, Film. And lastly, Khloe Kardashian is launching a new summer fragrance titled XO Blue.Thanks for listening!- Kacey

A Small Voice: Conversations With Photographers

Harriet Logan is a multi-award winning photographer who spent the first half of her career working on international assignments in places such as Sudan, Angola, Chechnya, Afghanistan, Iraq, Kosovo and Somalia for a range of international newspapers and magazines. She subsequently turned her attention to working commercially on advertising campaigns for various big brand clients, including The Pictet Group and Canon, alongside some of the worlds largest advertising agencies. Today she curates the Incite Project, an issue driven collection of photographs broadly based around the subject of world events and conflict. Harriet is also the executive director of The Ian Parry Photojournalism Grant which has run for over 30 years and which she won in 1992. The grant has a mission to support young and emerging Photojournalists. She co-parents 4 boys with her husband Mark, an owl, a peregrine falcon, three dogs, a dressage horse, and a bunch of sheep, cows, chickens and pigs. On episode 284, Harriet discusses, among other things: Her journey into photojournalism from art college in the USA Her early project on an Aids patient, with whom she became close Beginners luck at the Poll tax riots in London in 1990 Ending up in southern Sudan…and then Somalia Winning the The Ian Parry Photojournalism Grant and how it changed everything The reality of being a female photojournalist in the 90's An example of the danger of inadvertantly fucking over your subject He story about victims of rape in Kosovo during the Balkans conflict Being sent to Afghanistan for the first time by The Sunday Times… …And returning four years later to find the women and girls she had photographed there A close call on the road from Kabul to Jalalabad Motherhood, falling out of love with being a photographer, and the decision to quit photojournalism Becoming the Executive Director of the The Ian Parry Photojournalism Grant The new Tom Stoddart Award for Excellence How The Incite Project came about and how she defines what it is The fundamental strangeness of having graphic and disturbing photojounalism framed on your walls Referenced: Eugene Richards, Exploding Into Life Don McCullin Les Wilson Len Greener Josef Koudelka Cartier Bresson Robert Capa W. Eugene Smith Colorific Aidan Sullivan Tom Stoddart Michael Rand Jillian Edelstein Simon Norfolk Jenny Matthews Jeremy Clarkson AA Gill Mark Hix Tristran Lund Giles Duley, Legacy of War Foundation Laura Pannack Omar Ashtawey Trevor Paglen Richard Mosse Ed Burtynsky Luke Delahey Ed Clarke Network Photographers Simon Roberts Matt Black Lorenzo Meloni Chris Donovan Become a A Small Voice podcast member here to access exclusive additional subscriber-only content and the full archive of 200+ previous episodes for £4 per month. Subscribe to my weekly newsletter here for everything A Small Voice related and much more besides. Follow me on Instagram here. Need a new website? I will build you one with Squarespace. Details here.

Sustaining Creativity Podcast
Creative Purpose with Craig D. Forrest

Sustaining Creativity Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 16, 2026 29:11


Creativity through the lens of a documentary filmmaker, film professor, author and illustrator"Creativity should not be something you try to do. IT should be something that's just natural that comes out of you."Award-winning TV director & documentary filmmaker, Craig D. Forrest, has traveled to 160 countries and 6 continents for such clients as CBS, ABC, Discovery Channel, A&E, Animal Planet, PBS, Fox Sports, Travel Channel, HBO, Warner Bros, Lions Gate Films, World Vision, Samaritan's Purse, Voice of the Martyrs, Far East Broadcasting and many others.He has covered subjects as diverse as voodoo, Santeria, tribal warfare, cults, miracles, sex-trafficking, terrorism, famine, poverty, demonic possession and the supernatural. Over 250 overseas assignments have flung him into hot spots such as Iraq, Cuba, Burundi, the Congo, El Salvador, Palestine, Cambodia, Uganda, Haiti, Burma, Zimbabwe, Morocco, Chad, Bosnia & Kosovo. Craig has produced, directed or crewed stories on-location in 111 countries.His media projects have won or been nominated for 29 film festival, television or video awards. Craig was part of the production team for The Amazing Race (Season 14), which won the 2009 Primetime EMMY for Best Reality Competition Program.Former host/producer for SIX WAYS TO SUNDAY podcast - 5 seasons - 54 guests - 167 episodes - 71 countries.Craig is the author of a well-reviewed, engaging memoir NIGHT TRAIN TO CAIRO. Upcoming is a historical novel - THROUGH THE WIRE - about his late grandfather's fighting in the bloody trenches of France during WW1 @ the Battle of the Somme. He is also the author of COMMANDO TACTICS FOR DIGITAL FILMMAKERS & THE INFLUENCE OF ALEXANDER MACKENDRICK ON SCOTTISH FILM. Upcoming books – BUGSY THE BRAVE BUTTERFLY + ROAD TO MACHU PICCHU.DocFA - Redemptive Filmmaking @ Kingdom SeminaryMA - Film Studies @ Chapman UniversityBSc - Theology @ Bethany UniversityCert - Executive Leadership @ Cornell UniversityFormer adjunct professor of TV/Film/Media @ Pepperdine U, Regent U, Concordia - Irvine U.Member - Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (EMMYS)Member - Travelers' Century Club (100+ Countries)https://www.facebook.com/craigdforresthttps://x.com/craigdforresthttps://www.pinterest.com/bordeauxinnlodi/https://www.craigforrest.com/https://www.youtube.com/@craigdforresthttps://www.instagram.com/craigdforrest/https://www.linkedin.com/in/craigdforrest/https://www.tiktok.com/@craigdforrest713https://www.threads.com/@craigdforresthttps://substack.com/@craigdforrestSend us Fan Mail

ETDPODCAST
EU-Erweiterung am Westbalkan: Neue Dynamik zwischen Chancen und geopolitischen Risiken | Nr. 9475

ETDPODCAST

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 16, 2026 9:33 Transcription Available


Die Aufnahme Montenegros, Serbiens, Nordmazedoniens, Albaniens, des Kosovo sowie Bosnien und Herzegowinas würde eine große Lücke auf der EU-Landkarte schließen. Nach Jahren des Stillstands kommt nun wieder Bewegung in den Prozess. Eine Analyse der wichtigsten Chancen und Risiken.

Saint of the Day
Holy Martyr Lazar, Prince of Serbia (1389)

Saint of the Day

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 15, 2026


"He was one of the greatest men of Serbia who ruled the kingdom after king Dušan. Upon the death of King Uroš, Lazar was crowned King of Serbia by Patriarch Ephraim. He sent a delegation to Constantinople, including a monk called Isaiah, to plead for the removing of the anathema from the Serbian people. He went to war on several occasions against the Turkish Pasha, finally clashing with the Turkish king, Amurât, at Kosovo on June 15, 1389, being slain there. His body was taken to Ravanica near Cupria, a foundation of his, and buried there, but was later taken to New Ravanica in Srem. During the Second World War, in 1942, it was taken to Belgrade and placed in the Cathedral, where it is preserved to this day and offers comfort and healing to all who turn to him in prayer. He restored Hilandar and Gornjak, built Ravanica and the Lazarica in Kruševac and was the founder of St Panteleimon, the Russian monastery on the Holy Mountain, as well as numerous other churches and monasteries." (Prologue)

Desert Island Discs
Gary O'Donoghue, journalist

Desert Island Discs

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 14, 2026 51:12


Journalist Gary O'Donoghue is the Chief North America Correspondent for BBC News. Last year his coverage of the 2024 assassination attempt on Donald Trump won the Royal Television Society Breaking News Award. He made the news himself in 2025 when he secured a 20-minute exclusive phone interview with Trump who was by then the US President.Gary was born in London and brought up in Essex. When he was eight he lost his sight and attended specialist schools for blind and partially sighted children. He read philosophy and modern languages at the University of Oxford before embarking on his BBC career.He has reported on mass shootings, filed stories from the Macedonian border during the Kosovo conflict, covered the Iraq War and chronicled seven British general elections. He became the BBC's Washington correspondent in 2014 and, as well as Donald Trump's two terms, has covered the administrations of Presidents Obama and Biden. Gary is based in Washington DC and when in the UK lives in West Yorkshire with his partner Sarah. Presenter: Lauren Laverne Producer: Paula McGinleyDesert Island Discs has cast other journalists away to the island over the years including Lyse Doucet, Clive Myrie and Lindsey Hilsum, You can hear their programmes if you search through BBC Sounds or our own Desert Island Discs website.This episode was recorded before the shooting at the White House Correspondent's Dinner on 25th April 2026.

Inside Europe | Deutsche Welle
Immigration debate, Swiss-style

Inside Europe | Deutsche Welle

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 11, 2026 54:59


Switzerland's knife-edge referendum, Kosovo's former president on the country's post-election malaise, and questions over Irish exports to Russia. Then: a night and dream special featuring a Berlin-based sleep doctor, Amsterdam's night mayor, DW's sleep-deprived Kyiv correspondent, and a whole load of Norwegians drunk on the midnight sun. ++ https://tinyurl.com/4jswz8zs ++?maca=en-podcast_inside-europe-949-xml-mrss

Pharos Fit Podcast
The Guy You Call When the Apocalypse Happens: Military, Movement & Longevity with Andy McKenzie

Pharos Fit Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 9, 2026 60:22


If the apocalypse happens tomorrow and Piet gets one phone call, it's going to Andy McKenzie. Ex-British military, parachute regiment veteran, rehabilitation specialist, strength coach, and one of the most quietly brilliant minds in the health and performance space.Andy joined the military at 16, passed P Company at 17 — one of the hardest physical courses in the British armed forces — and served across Northern Ireland, Kosovo, Sierra Leone and Iraq before a three-story fall fractured his neck and three parts of his spine. Instead of ending his career, that injury sent him down the path of rehabilitation, and he never looked back.In this conversation Andy and Piet cover what real coaching actually looks like — why the job of a great coach is subtraction not addition, how to train an injured athlete without treating them like they're broken, and why smashing people into exhaustion is the laziest and most counterproductive thing a coach can do. Andy shares the philosophy he built over 30 years working with special forces soldiers, professional rugby players, polar explorers, world class ultra marathon runners and everyday people who've been bounced around between doctors, physios and coaches and never got better — until they found him.They also get into fatherhood, the business of coaching, AI, community, and why the biggest predictor of longevity isn't your VO2 max — it's the quality of your relationships.This one is a masterclass.

Monocle 24: The Globalist
Kosovo goes to the polls again and South Africa's immigration protests grow

Monocle 24: The Globalist

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 8, 2026 58:34


As Kosovo votes in its third parliamentary election in 18 months, we explore the presidential deadlock that caused it. Then: South Africa’s leader faces pressure from anti-immigration protests. Plus: life in Cuba, the future of print in the art world and Meta reacts to Australia’s journalist laws. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Met het Oog op Morgen
Drone op Tsjernobyl, sterilisatie van Kosovaarse zwerfdieren en een nieuwe queeste voor Odysseus

Met het Oog op Morgen

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 7, 2026 51:29


Met vandaag: Opslagplaats voor kernbrandstof in Tsjernobyl beschadigd door Russische drone | Nederlandse dierenbeschermers reizen naar Kosovo om zwerfdieren te helpen | Gouden Harp voor succesvolle muziekondernemer Maykel Piron | Kunstenares Elisa Pesapane stuurt een jonge Odysseus op een queeste | Presentatie: Mieke van der Weij

The Christian Science Monitor Daily Podcast
Tuesday, June 2, 2026 - The Christian Science Monitor Daily

The Christian Science Monitor Daily Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 2, 2026


Artificial intelligence is viewed with less optimism in the U.S. than in other countries. The reason for that could be related to messaging around the rapidly advancing technology: In America, the focus is on potential job loss; elsewhere, AI is pitched as an economic boon. Also: today's stories, including how the Israeli military is escalating its campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon; how skyrocketing energy costs have the U.K. looking for solutions — including more drilling for oil and gas in the North Sea; and how one group of widows in Kosovo show that loss does not have to define a life. Join the Monitor's Linda Feldmann for today's news.

The Fifth Column - Analysis, Commentary, Sedition
Ben Rhodes and the Evil Empire State of Mind (#559)

The Fifth Column - Analysis, Commentary, Sedition

Play Episode Listen Later May 27, 2026 112:29


This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.wethefifth.com/subscribeCheck out Ben Rhodes new book: All We Say: The Battle for American Identity: A History in 15 Speeches-Ben Rhodes, wounded '90s Knicks fan-Are we winning in Iran yet?-what should the President do with Iran right now?-Sanctions suck, mostly-Cuba and the Obama opening-Libya and the regime-change trap-Kosovo worked-ish-Responsibility to protect yourself from over-learning lessons-Rhodes wants institutions, not impulse wars-Is Ben Rhodes Tucker-adjacent?-Soft power, hard questions-Navalny didn't want America's money-When Reagan said “Evil Empire”-Reagan also change his mind-Moynihan accuses Rhodes of America pessimism-Ben says it's because he loves America-Private equity killed the vibes-Nostalgia-nomics-The left-populist temptation-JD Vance talks pretty-National identity without a monoculture-Ben Franklin and the virtue of doubt-Experts are annoying but sometimes usefulRead All We Say: The Battle for American Identity: A History in 15 Speeches(Bookshop | Amazon)Prefer to watch & chat live with other members of the Fifdom? This episode premieres over on our YouTube channel at 12PM EST.After 10 years, we've finally found a sponsor we actually like. Ground News pulls coverage of the same story into one place so you can compare headlines across sources and see how framing changes depending on the outlet.Subscribe for 40% off our Vantage plan using our unique link https://groundnews.com/fifth

The Best of Car Talk
#2639: Honda Habitat

The Best of Car Talk

Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2026 35:16


Kristen is moving to Kosovo for a couple of years and has to leave her beloved Honda behind. She's apparently so sentimental about the car that she wants Click and Clack to help her develop a list of criteria for choosing an appropriate storage facility. Does she expect snacks and play time for this thing? Or will four walls and a guard sleeping at the door be enough? Find out on this episode of the Best of Car Talk.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

TED Talks Daily
What Kosovo can teach the world about freedom | Vjosa Osmani Sadriu

TED Talks Daily

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2026 19:41


“Truth is the real oxygen for democracy,” says Vjosa Osmani Sadriu, the 6th President of the Republic of Kosovo. As a child of war, she once longed for someone to save her people. Now she's been in the rooms where decisions are made — and she's never forgotten what brought her there. In conversation with solutions journalist Angus Hervey, she reflects on what it takes to defend democracy in a world where truth itself is under threat. (Recorded on April 14, 2026)Learn more about our flagship conference happening this April at attend.ted.com/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.