Brian J Matos

Brian interviews Lyman Stone, a demographer who discusses the global decline in fertility rates and the relationship between fertility and religion. Lyman explains that religious people tend to have more children and provide more support to other parents in their community. However, he also notes that fertility rates are declining among both religious and secular people. Stone emphasizes the impor...

Brian is joined by Gustavo Ribeiro, award-winning journalist and Founder/Editor-in-Chief of  The Brazilian Report , an independent, English language news website covering Brazilian politics, economics and social issues.  This episode features part 2 of the conversation where Gustavo discusses Brazil's foreign policy and its unique position as the largest country in Latin America. Brian and Gustavo...

Brian is joined by Gustavo Ribeiro, award-winning journalist and Founder/Editor-in-Chief of The Brazilian Report , an independent, English language news website covering Brazilian politics, economics and social issues.  This episode features part 1 of the conversation where Gustavo explains the current political landscape in Brazil, including the major players and the current government under Pres...

Part 2 of Brian's conversation with Fulton Armstrong explores the global geopolitical perspective of Latin American nations. Fulton discusses the impact of Chinese influence in the region and the perception that the United States has stepped back from regional leadership. The conversation also touches on the internal political situation in Venezuela and the role of neighboring countries in finding...

Fulton Armstrong and Brian explore the origins of the migration challenges in Latin America, focusing on the push and pull factors that drive people to leave their home countries. They discuss the role of violence, weak institutions, and climate change as major drivers of migration. The conversation also delves into the issue of gangs and drug cartels in the region, highlighting their impact on vi...

This episode is a thank you message to the listeners and a recap of the topics covered so far in Season 2 that include issues being discussed on this show well before they emerge in legacy media coverage. Brian emphasizes the importance of understanding big global trends and the benefits of staying ahead of the next big story, so you can confidently make informed decisions for yourself, your busin...

Rishi Iyengar, the global technology reporter for Foreign Policy Magazine, joins Brian for a conversation on the US-China cyber rivalry and the strategic objectives of both countries in cyber space. He explains that the US sees itself as a cyber defender, focusing on critical infrastructure protection, while China has shifted its tactics to become a disruptive cyber actor. The discussion also cove...

Catherine Reyes-Housholder, PhD, joins Brian for a conversation about women in positions of political power in Latin America and beyond, particularly their rise to the presidency.  Catherine is an Assistant Professor at the  Institute of Political Science within the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile . She is also an Associate Researcher at the university's multi-disciplinary Center for Socia...

As the need for mental health care services continues to rise across the world, access to the system of care continues to be a major challenge. A shortage of mental health care providers combined with confusion about how to seek help in a complex, often siloed care system has led to needless suffering for individuals and families. Ben Carrington, a cancer biologist turned entrepreneur, joins Brian...

Matthew Solomon, a filmmaker and conflict resolution expert, joins Brian for a conversation about his documentary, Reimagining Safety, and the growing demands for new approaches to ensure public safety. Matthew shares his personal experiences growing up in a diverse community and witnessing differences in how local police interacted with his friend groups. He explains how his background in sociolo...

While the world watches in amazement as the best athletes on Earth compete for the top global prizes in their respective sport, there are criminals lurking in the shadows of these events and behind the scenes.  Joining Brian to discuss the dark sidelines of these international competitions is Claudia Villa. She is an International Safeguarding Specialist & Consultant with experiences working in hu...

Nick Denning, Diegesis CEO, joins Brian for a second conversation on the current and emerging challenges in cybersecurity that every leader needs to know to protect their organization and the public should be aware of. Season 1, Episode 6 was the first converstion for those who want a refresher. In this conversation, Brian and Nick discuss the increasing publicity of ransomware attacks and data br...

Brian interviews David Evan Harris, a Chancellor's Public Scholar at UC Berkeley and a continuing lecturer at the Haas School of Business. The main topic of the conversation is the race to safeguard against the risks of artifical intelligence misuse.   David teaches courses including AI Ethics for Leaders; Social Movements & Social Media; Civic Technology; and Scenario Planning & Futures Thinking....

Brian interviews Matthew Ebert, founder and principal of Ebert Educational Consulting and a former Baltimore Public School principal, about the state of the education system in the U.S. Matthew has 20+ years of experience in education, primarily focused on school leadership in urban settings. Matthew's consulting is grounded in his experiences as a teacher, director of academic innovation, academy...

Brian interviews Jennie Chan, a Chinese medicine practitioner, Qigong (pronounced chee-guhng ) instructor and founder of Spectra Wellbeing, a wellness company promoting the practice of Qigong in individivual and group settings.  Brian and Jennie explore her personal story from high-powered, high-stress finance professional to traditional medicine practitioner. In this conversation, Jennie explains...

Brian welcomes demographic consultant, Bradley Schurman, back to the series for an updated and in-depth conversation on how key demographic trends are likely to impact politics, business, culture and societies around the world in the years to come. Bradley stands at the forefront of navigating the complexities of demographic evolution as the visionary Founder and CEO of  Human Change , an entity b...

Brian is joined by Carlo Ruzza, Senior Professor of Political Sociology at the University of Trento School of International Studies, for a conversation on populism, nationalism, the rule of law  and their interplay in the global political landscape. Carlo provides insights into the definitions and interpretations of these concepts and discusses how populist parties, especially across Europe, chall...

Peyman Pouryekta is a consultant and advisor to tech industry startups, helping them create stronger, more focused teams and leaders. In recent years, Peyman has worked with venture capital firms, directly with startups as a strategic advisor and has served in C-Level positions. In these roles, Peyman coaches his clients how to set strategy, develop world class products and evaluate technology nee...

Brian wraps up season 1 with his reflections on the topics covered over the past year and some memorable interviews with his guests. He takes a few minutes to share the most popular episodes based on downloads from season 1 as well as important conversastions included in his "Innovation Series".  Brian then takes a few minutes to follow up on the topic of healthy aging, covered in episodes 18 and...

 Brian interviews Alexander Motyl, Rutgers University political science professor and deputy director of the school's Division of Global Affairs. Alexander   is noted for his prolific writings on contemporary politics in Eastern Europe, Ukraine, and Russia, as well as for more theoretical explorations into the nature of nationalism, empire, and revolution. Over the past two and a half decades, he...

Brian interviews Louisa Ha, Ph. D., professor in the School of Media and Communications at Bowling Green State University in the U.S. state of Ohio. She is the Founding-Editor-in-Chief of  Online Media and Global Communication , and also the former editor of  Journalism and Mass Communication Quarterly , the flagship journal of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. Sh...

Brian interviews Grace McNamara, CEO of Exercise Intelligence, about her company and its personalized healthcare app, one that can be prescribed by a doctor who can use it to monitor adherance to a care plan. Grace emphasizes the need for personalized exercise programs and meaningful incentives to encourage adherence. Grace highlights the powerful role of exercise in managing various conditions an...

Brian speaks with Irina Tsukerman, a human rights and national security lawyer, the Editor in Chief of  The Washington Outsider and President of Scarab Rising, Inc., a strategic advisory firm. After graduating from Fordham University School of Law, Irina built a professional practice focused on relentlessly championing underreported international causes, especially through publications, media appe...

Brian is joined by Alison Crosthwait, a former Wall Street professional, who shares her journey from traditional psychotherapy to alternative medicine. The conversation explores the emerging topic of alternative health care options, espeically related to mental health disorders. Alison talks about the importance of happiness and the challenges and obstacles people face in finding it. Traditional a...

In this conversation, University of Michigan cultural anthropologist Greta Uehling discusses the impact of war on Ukrainians and the challenges they face in everyday life. She shares insights from her research in Ukraine, including the dynamics of living in occupied territories and the effects of war on relationships and communities. Uehling also explores the cultural diversity of Ukraine and the...