Best Conducttr Podcasts (2025)

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Episode 300: Conducttr and Robert Pratten: Risk Prevention 27:40

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7d ago27:40

27:40

In this episode, Dominic Bowen and Robert Pratten discuss why storytelling is one of the most powerful (and underused) tools in crisis management, which shapes how leaders, their teams, and organisations behave under pressure. Find out more about how immersive, narrative-driven crisis simulations build confidence, reveal real decision-making styles…

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Episode 303: Traceability of Critical Raw Material with Romane Dideberg 28:43

2h ago28:43

28:43

This episode with Romane Dideberg explores responsible mineral sourcing in the context of rising geopolitical risk, with a focus on the Sahel. We examine how insecurity, military coups, and shifting alliances are reshaping control over critical minerals, driving resource nationalism, and complicating governance in fragile and conflict-affected stat…

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Episode 302: Srebrenica and the Politics of Memory: Enduring Genocide Legacies in the Western Balkans with Aidan Hehir 38:08

1d ago38:08

38:08

In this episode, Dominic Bowen and Aidan Hehir discuss the legacy of the Srebrenica genocide, the politics of remembrance, and why, nearly thirty years later, the region continues to struggle with denial, revisionism, and rising ethnic tensions. Find out more about how competing narratives have shaped post-war identities, the role of international …

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Episode 301: Lessons Learned 2025 - Part One with Dominic Bowen and Melanie Meimoun 30:12

3d ago30:12

30:12

2025 wasn't just a year with a few bumps, it really was a live fire activity when it comes to leadership, business models, political systems and geopolitics and I think we've had some amazing guests on the International Risk Podcast this year. I'm Dominic Bowen, host of the International Risk Podcast and as wars are dragging on, new ones are flicke…

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In Moscow's Shadows 228: Blood & Soil versus Bread & Butter 48:25

4d ago48:25

48:25

Putin's latest marathon press conference/call-in show Itogi Goda ('Results of the Year'), once Direct Line, has become an annual ritual. 4.5 hours, 3M submitted questions, but what can we learn? Intransigence over Ukraine, attempts to talk up the economy, but a marked disconnect with a population that feels its social contract has been broken... an…

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Episode 299: Grey Zone Warfare and Strategic Ambiguity: Risk, Deterrence, and the Space Between Peace and Conflict with Dr Andrew Mumford 36:48

9d ago36:48

36:48

Today, Dominic Bowen hosts Dr Andrew Mumford on The International Risk Podcast to examine how grey zone warfare, hybrid tactics and strategic ambiguity are reshaping the contemporary security environment. They explore why sub-threshold activity has become a central feature of modern geopolitics, how states exploit ambiguity and deniability to pursu…

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Episode 298: Where does Egypt stand within the Arab world, and in its relation with Israel? Insights from former Ambassador Hesham Youssef 37:25

10d ago37:25

37:25

In this episode, Dominic Bowen and Hesham Youssef discuss the growing tensions between Egypt and Israel, the fragile state of regional diplomacy, and the pressures placed on long-standing agreements such as the Camp David Accords. Find out more about why Egypt views forced displacement from Gaza as an existential red line, how humanitarian access h…

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In Moscow's Shadows 227: It's War! (within the emigre opposition, at least) 53:10

11d ago53:10

53:10

A demilitarised zone that invites armoured cars. A referendum that can’t be fairly run. A €210 billion pot that solves today’s bills but complicates tomorrow’s peace. We start with shuttle diplomacy and the hard edges of a potential DMZ in Donetsk. On paper it pauses the fight; in practice Rosgvardiya blurs policing and militarisation, turning “dem…

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Episode 297: Threat Multiplier: Understanding the Climate-Violence Nexus with Peter Schwartzstein 36:08

14d ago36:08

36:08

Around the world, more and more communities are finding that climate change isn’t only about rising temperatures or shifting weather patterns, but for many communities, the first signs of climate change appear in far more everyday pressures: a harvest that doesn’t come in, a water source that no longer lasts the season, a job that disappears becaus…

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Episode 296: The Shifting Landscape of Far-Left Extremism with Felix Neumann 29:36

16d ago29:36

29:36

Our conversation today with Felix Neumann traces the shifting landscape of far-left extremism, beginning with the broader global pressures shaping today’s political climate. We unpack how certain ideological threads have evolved, splintered, and re-formed, creating a movement that is at once fragmented and unexpectedly resilient. Along the way, we …

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Episode 295: India's Strategic Autonomy and Multialignment Approach in 2025 with Dominic Bowen 34:24

18d ago34:24

34:24

In a world where geopolitical camps are hardening, India continues to play by its own rules on the world stage. It buys oil from Russia, deepens technology and security ties with the US, while trading extensively with China and positions itself as a voice for the Global South – all while tensions simmer across its border, protectionism is on the ri…

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Episode 294: Russian Culture War with Olha Mukha 49:10

21d ago49:10

49:10

In this episode, we journey into the heart of a cultural battleground shaped by war, identity, and resistance with Olha Mukha. Our conversation unpacks how Ukraine’s cultural resilience has become a force of national survival, even as attempts at cultural erasure intensify. We explore grassroots efforts to preserve language, art, and memory, alongs…

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Episode 293: Reko Diq and the Human and Environmental Cost of Mining in Balochistan with Lateef Johar Baloch 31:06

23d ago31:06

31:06

What happens when the world’s hunger for copper collides with a province where 63% live in poverty, most households lack reliable electricity and water, and dissent is met with disappearance? I’m Dominic Bowen, and this is The International Risk Podcast—where we cut through the noise to examine the risks that leaders have to grapple with every day.…

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Episode 292: Critical Infrastructure Under Threat: Securing the Foundations of a Connected World with Dr Tim Stevens 38:47

25d ago38:47

38:47

Today, Dominic Bowen hosts Dr Tim Stevens on The International Risk Podcast to examine how hybrid threats, cyber operations and infrastructure vulnerabilities are reshaping Europe’s security environment. They discuss how adversaries exploit the interdependence of digital, physical and informational systems, why hybrid activity sits deliberately bel…

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In Moscow's Shadows 226: Monsters in the Woods 34:46

25d ago34:46

34:46

There's not all that much to say about the Ukraine peace negotiations as delegations head to the USA and Russia, but I cover a few issues, from Trump's 'businessified' approach to geopolitics to the departures of both Andrii Yermak and Dmitri Kozak. In the second half, I use Russian folklore, and the arrays of terrifying threats in the deep woods a…

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Episode 291: Climate Insecurity, Conflict, and Europe's Expanding Risk Perimeter with Dr Florian Krampe 29:04

28d ago29:04

29:04

Today, Dominic Bowen hosts Dr Florian Krampe on The International Risk Podcast to examine how climate insecurity is reshaping conflict dynamics, governance pressures, and Europe’s expanding risk perimeter. They discuss how environmental stress interacts with fragility, why climate impacts compound existing vulnerabilities, and how these pressures i…

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Episode 290: France at the Crossroads: Debt, Politics & the Wealth Tax Debate with Susannah Streeter 31:53

1M ago31:53

31:53

In this episode, Dominic Bowen and Susannah Streeter discuss France’s increasing fiscal challenges, recent credit downgrades, and the political gridlock complicating meaningful political reform. Find out more about how markets are reacting to rising public debt, the renewed debate over wealth taxes, and the risk of broader European contagion. The c…

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Episode 289: Trump & the World: The New Geopolitics of Trade, Technology, Energy and War with John Sitilides 38:34

1M ago38:34

38:34

Dive into a high-stakes conversation with geopolitical strategist John Sitilides as he unpacks global risks! From shifting tariff strategies and corporate resilience to supply-chain de-risking, digital decoupling, sanctions, energy markets, and the future of the U.S. dollar. A must-listen for leaders navigating an increasingly divided world. John S…

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In Moscow's Shadows 225: A Chance for Peace in Ukraine? 51:35

1M ago51:35

51:35

In the first half of the podcast, I look at the proposed Ukraine peace deal, which is only a foundation for proper negotiations, especially in terms of what it is not. In the second, I spin off Susanna Rabow-Edling's excellent book, The First Russian Revolution. The Decembrist Revolt of 1825 (Reaktion Books) to consider some of the modern resonance…

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Episode 288: Human Trafficking with Dr. Ludmila Bogdan 32:56

1M ago32:56

32:56

Human trafficking isn’t a single story, it’s a global web of exploitation that takes many forms. In this episode with Dr. Ludmila Bogdan, we explore the different types of human trafficking and the challenges in accurately estimating its scope. We dive into the contrasts between sex trafficking and labour trafficking, uncover operational constraint…

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Episode 287: Forging Solutions for Verifiable Maritime Intelligence to Combat Shadow Fleets with Tuana Yazici and Steven Adler 31:35

1M ago31:35

31:35

Today, Dominic Bowen hosts Tuana Yazici and Steven Adler on The International Risk Podcast to examine the challenge of verifiable maritime intelligence in an era of shadow fleets, uneven enforcement, and rapidly advancing remote sensing technologies. They discuss how traditional surveillance struggles to track unregistered or deliberately obscured …

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Episode 286: The Current Political Landscape in Kosovo with Serbeze Haxhiaj 25:25

1M ago25:25

25:25

In this episode we explore the evolving political landscape of Kosovo with Serbeze Haxhiaj. We discuss the questions of ethnic identity, economic opportunity, and minority integration and their continuation to shape Kosovo's future. Find out more about how media narratives influence public perception, the positive role of civil society, and the cha…

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In Moscow's Shadows 224: In Helsinki's (and Kyiv's) Shadows 44:52

1M ago44:52

44:52

From where's Lavrov to whether it's time for Europe to speak to Putin directly, some questions with wider significance raised during my recent hectic trip to Finland. And, in the second half, how should we think about the likely fall of Pokrovsk and what to make of Ukraine's Midas Case corruption scandal -- and how it's being covered in Russia? The…

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Episode 285: Sudan Now - Famine, Foreign Backers, and the Future of Civilian Voices with Dr. Amgad Faried Eltayeb 30:37

1M ago30:37

30:37

Today, Dominic Bowen hosts Dr. Amgad Fareid Eltayeb on The International Risk Podcast to examine Sudan’s engineered famine, the influence of foreign backers, and the struggle of civilians caught between paramilitary violence and geopolitical ambition. They discuss how starvation, siege tactics, and external intervention have become central features…

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Episode 284: Eyes on the Earth, Power in Orbit: Climate Intelligence and the New Geography of Geopolitical Risk with Sabrina Alam 29:21

1M ago29:21

29:21

Today, Dominic Bowen hosts Sabrina Alam on The International Risk Podcast to explore the intersection of Earth observation, ESG verification, and the geopolitics of space-based data. They discuss how satellites have become central to sustainability reporting, climate monitoring, and economic decision-making, while also forming part of critical infr…

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Episode 283: Humanitarian Crisis in the Sahel with Dr. Jessica Moody 32:03

2M ago32:03

32:03

The Sahel stands at a crossroad, it is torn by crisis, instability, and shifting power. Join Dr. Jessica Moody and Dominic Bowen as they dive deep into the region’s unfolding humanitarian emergency. What does ECOWAS’s withdrawal mean for the people? How is Russian influence rewriting the rules? And why are jihadist groups gaining ground? From Bamak…

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In Moscow's Shadows 223: After Putin, Who... or What? 42:39

2M ago42:39

42:39

We need to talk about post-Putin. It's fruitless at this point to try and come up with names of potential successors -- but maybe we can identify potential archetypes, the kinds of people who might succeed him, depending on the perceived needs of the day. The Julian Waller article I mention is here. The podcast's corporate partner and sponsor is Co…

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Episode 282: Live from Ukraine with Dominic Bowen: The Frontlines of Resilience and the Future of Leadership 42:55

2M ago42:55

42:55

Today, our host Dominic Bowen joins live from Ukraine on The International Risk Podcast for a special episode examining resilience, leadership, and hybrid warfare in the heart of Europe’s most critical conflict. In conversation with one of our international relations specialist, Dominic reflects on daily life in Kyiv amid the largest drone and miss…

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Episode 281: Protests and Public Dissident in Serbia with Vjosa Musliu 27:09

2M ago27:09

27:09

In this episode, Dominic Bowen hosts Vjosa Musliu to analyse the growing wave of protests and dissent across Serbia. Together, they examine the EU’s influence, the controversial lithium extraction agreement, and the role of media bias in shaping public opinion. From political repression to Serbia–Kosovo tensions, they trace how civil rights and dem…

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Episode 280: Paralysis by Consensus: The Collapse of the Plastic Treaty Talks with Christina Dixon and Alexandra Harrington 31:03

2M ago31:03

31:03

I am Dominic Bowen, and I am the host of the International Risk Podcast. At 7am on the 15th of August, after ten days of marathon sessions and a final overtime session that stretched more than 24 hours, the Chair of the UN Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution formally adjourned INC-5.2. What was meant to be the final round o…

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In Moscow's Shadows 222: Are We Seeing A New Putin? 47:43

2M ago47:43

47:43

The forthcoming release of the updated version of my WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT PUTIN gives me an excuse to consider whether and how Putin has changed since I originally wrote the book in 2018. My conclusion: not so much a different Putin as 'Putin squared.' In the second half, I discuss and riff off Russia’s Turkish Wars. The Tsarist Army and the Balka…

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Episode 279: The Role of Organised Crime Groups in The Amazon with César Muñoz Acebes 26:27

2M ago26:27

26:27

In this episode, Dominic Bowen is joined by César Muñoz Acebes to examine the deepening crisis in the Amazon. They unpack the role of organized crime in environmental destruction, the links to drug trafficking and illegal economies, and the devastating consequences for local communities and global stability. A critical look at how crime, politics, …

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Episode 278: Post-Quantum Cryptography and Global Infrastructure Risk with Dr. Michele Mosca 31:12

2M ago31:12

31:12

Today, Dominic Bowen hosts Dr. Michele Mosca on The International Risk Podcast to explore the global urgency surrounding post-quantum cryptography and the risks quantum computing poses to modern infrastructure. They discuss how the question is no longer if but when quantum computers will break today’s encryption, the implications for global finance…

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In Moscow's Shadows 221: Is the Sun Rising over Russo-Japanese Relations? 39:19

2M ago39:19

39:19

The new Japanese PM wants to conclude a long-delayed peace treaty with Russia - but that will mean selling a thorny territorial dispute. Will Moscow show the cunning and vision to try and undermine Japanese support for Ukraine -- indeed, can it, while keeping China and North Korea happy? The podcast's corporate partner and sponsor is Conducttr, whi…

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Episode 277: Skyrocketing gold prices: 2025 geopolitical risks and trends 38:56

2M ago38:56

38:56

In this episode, Dominic Bowen and Dr. Moshe Lander discuss the recent spike in gold prices in $ per ounce, which is unprecedented. Find out more about what pushes gold trends, from uncertain geopolitical trends to Trump’s threats on tariffs, and an overall mistrust in governments and institutions worldwide. The conversation also addresses the psyc…

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Episode 276: China's Push to Build the World's Largest Hydropower Dam System in Tibet with Brian Eyler and Palmo Tenzin 32:59

2M ago32:59

32:59

On 19 July 2025, China began construction on a 60,000-megawatt hydropower project at Medog, with three times the output of Three Gorges and roughly the UK’s entire annual power production. This is a 1.2-trillion-yuan investment (USD 170 B) that Beijing frames as clean energy and development. It is located in southeast Tibert, and only 30km upstream…

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Episode 275: Hybrid Warfare: The New Normal with Cormac Smith 38:53

2M ago38:53

38:53

Dive into the ongoing war with Cormac Smith today. Dominic and Cormac discuss Mariupol, whether the war can be considered genocide, the disinformation war, the reality of Russian aggression, war crimes, hybrid warfare, the need for unity, and more! Today we are joined by Cormac Smith. Cormac works at the intersection of authentic leadership & effec…

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Episode 274: Afghanistan: what future for the country? with Dr. Arian Sharifi 48:31

3M ago48:31

48:31

In this episode, Dominic Bowen and Dr. Arian Sharifi discuss the events leading to the fall of Kabul in August 2021 and the rise of the Taliban to power in Afghanistan. Find out more about what the Taliban have implemented in the country, how they managed to secure most of the territory from terrorism, and set a record of complete control of the te…

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In Moscow's Shadows 220: Power Politics in the FSB and a new 'Most Dangerous Man in Russia'? 44:55

2M ago44:55

44:55

Time to look at the spooks again. It seems that the FSB's Military Counterintelligence Department (in other words, the anti-coup squad) may be getting a new head. What does this mean for the internal struggles to replace the ailing current director, Bortnikov? Is 'crown prince' Sergei Korolev finally going to take his place? And what might this mea…

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Episode 273: America’s AI Strategy: Balancing Innovation, Governance, and Strategic Advantage in the Global Technology Race with Professor Adam Chalmers 31:40

3M ago31:40

31:40

Today Dominic Bowen hosts Professor Adam Chalmers on The International Risk Podcast to explore the global race for leadership in artificial intelligence. They discuss the United States’ AI Action Plan and China’s AI Plus Plan, how these competing strategies reveal different models of governance, regulation, and ideology, and what this competition m…

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Episode 272: The Indus at Risk: Floods, Fragility and the Future of Water Security in Pakistan with Dr. Erum Sattar 29:32

3M ago29:32

29:32

Pakistan is once again underwater. In the country’s north—specifically the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa—torrential monsoon rains dropped 150 millimeters in under an hour. That’s six inches of rain, fast enough to overwhelm any drainage system. But here, it didn’t just flood streets—it destroyed entire communities. At least 700 people are dead. Ov…

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In Moscow's Shadows 219: Decoding Putin in Valdai 49:35

3M ago49:35

49:35

Putin's 4-hour keynote and Q&A at Valdai gives us at least some insight into his thinking and his assumptions, but the interesting thing is that the key themes are strangely also reflected in the thinking of some of his fiercest critics, as everyone oversimplifies a complex world. The podcast's corporate partner and sponsor is Conducttr, which prov…

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Episode 271: Authoritarian Alliances: Strategic Cooperation in a Fragmented Global Order with Doug Livermore 46:15

3M ago46:15

46:15

Today Dominic Bowen hosts Doug Livermore on the podcast to discuss the rise of authoritarian alliances. They dive into the growing cooperation between China, Russia, North Korea, Iran, and their proxies, the economic and military dependencies that underpin these relationships, how authoritarian regimes leverage propaganda and “unrestricted warfare,…

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Episode 270: Syria in Turmoil: Unraveling the Present, Forecasting the Future with Broderick McDonald 27:11

3M ago27:11

27:11

Today Dominic Bowen hosts Broderick McDonald on the podcast to discuss the future of Syria. They dive into the different external actors and their interests, the challenges that the new government of Syria is facing, the fine line of institutional reform and unity, the need for inclusion of the minority groups, what the impact is of sanctions relie…

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In Moscow's Shadows 218: Putin, the Blunderer-in-Chief? 58:44

3M ago58:44

58:44

We spend a great deal of time thinking about Putin's intentions, his strategy. Yet it's hard to argue that this position, mired in Ukraine, sanctioned and facing recession, is where he wanted to be. Maybe, then, a better way of trying to analyse his regime and Late Putinism's prospects is through his blunders... The podcast's corporate partner and …

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Episode 269: Middle East in Transition: Non-State Actors, Trump’s Policy Shift, and Regional Stability with Shayan Talabany 32:06

3M ago32:06

32:06

In this episode Dominic Bowen speaks with Shayan Talabany, Senior Analyst and Advisor at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, about shifting U.S. strategies in the Middle East and what they mean for governance, security, and economic opportunity across the region. They explore how the U.S. retreat from interventionism is reshaping regional p…

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Episode 268: Implications of the Suspension of the Indus Water Treaty with Ashok Swain 27:36

3M ago27:36

27:36

When we think about flashpoints between India and Pakistan, most people picture borders, bombs, or Kashmir. But the most strategic weapon in South Asia today may not be nuclear—it’s water. The Indus Water Treaty has been called one of the world’s most successful peace agreements, surviving wars, nuclear standoffs, and decades of political hostility…

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In Moscow's Shadows 217: MiGs in Estonian skies, exercises on Poland's borders - a threat to Europe? 52:00

3M ago52:00

52:00

MiGs in Estonian airspace, military exercises in Belarus, talk of the next war against NATO being prepared. Are we under threat? Well, maybe that’s up to us. I look at recent events, and Carlo Masala's new book 'If Russia Wins' to wonder if the West risks encouraging Russian pressure and undermining its own position. The podcast's corporate partner…

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Episode 267: Drones Over Poland, Drills on the Border: How Moscow Tests NATO’s Resolve with Antoine Renaux 28:25

3M ago28:25

28:25

With the Zapad Military exercises occurring again near the Polish border, Dominic Bowen has Antoine Renaux on the podcast. They analyse the challenges of NATO, Russia's probing operations, NATO's response, and more importantly, NATO's preparedness. Find out more about Article 5 and the potential scenarios, why hybrid warfare and cyber attacks are t…

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Episode 266: The Current Serbian Protests with Saša Dobrijević 30:21

3M ago30:21

30:21

The student-led protests in Serbia have been going on for months. Today we have Saša Dobrijević on the podcast to discuss: The government response to the protests The current situation in Belgrade What the Drivers are behind the Protest Government Manipulation Media Influence International Influence International Relations And much more! Saša Dobri…