Global Inquirer

Sticks and stones may break my bones, and gaffes might hurt me too. Researcher Nick Mortensen spoke with Professor Brad Carson about the impact of embarrassing gaffes in politics. It turns out that awkward moments don’t necessarily end political careers. Rather, blunders stick and stain a politician’s reputation when the blunder fits into a narrative about the politician. Host: Balthazar Merrin Re...

Gone are the days when countries bought vast quantities of foreign territory in the interest of expanding their borders...or are they? Beginning with President Trump's interest in a purchase of Greenland, we look both at the history of nations buying control over one another, as well as a glance to the future. What happens when nations are forced to buy foreign land because of the threats of sea l...

Imagine being imprisoned for praying. Imagine being unable to communicate with your family. For the Uighurs in Eastern China, this is a reality. Every part of their identity as Muslims is being systematically erased: their mosques, their language, their culture. On our last episode of the season, we cover the humanitarian crisis unfolding in China. Researcher Anna Von Spakovsky interviewed a Uighu...

We’ve all heard and even experienced the impacts of social media: the distraction, the anxiety of checking likes. Today, our technical director Andy Carluccio steps up as the host to talk about social media with researcher Sarah Rocca. Social media is designed to be addicting, so how do users and governments alike tackle the addiction? Using case studies from the UK, France, and South Korea, Sarah...

It’s fair to assume that hummus has become a widely popular grocery staple in the US. Its murky origins, however, have rendered it a symbol of political tensions in the Middle East. The cultural dispute over hummus ownership has indeed been absorbed into the general framework of the Arab-Israeli conflict. Researcher Gabriella Soriano interviewed Professor Darren Zook to investigate the relevance o...

Join UVA’s premier undergraduate research podcast, the Global Inquirer for a special discussion on housing development, inequality and activism to gain a better understanding of our community. The event featured community leaders and activists as well as Andrew Kahrl, professor of History and African American studies here at UVA. Check out the broadcast on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/G...

On today's episode, editor-in-chief Emi Lockwood interviewed John Sipher, former Clandestine Service officer at the CIA. They discussed heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, the U.S. North Korea summit, and the Michael Cohen hearing for the House Oversight Committee. The interview was conducted on March 1st, so things might have changed since then. Given his extensive foreign service exp...

Iran is so often perceived as a dangerous country that is too difficult to understand. Today, we challenge that assumption, giving you a basic framework of what happened in 20th century Iran to understand the present. New researchers Ari Ghasemian and Gabierlla Soriano interviewed Professor Nader Entessar to understand the current Iran Nuclear Deal. PS: Iran has an exciting history complete with a...

The way we live matters now more than ever. The decision between walking or driving to the grocery store is not as much of a personal choice, it’s about how cities and suburbs are built to help its citizens. Today, researchers Emma Ross and Tyler Hinkle discuss how we can rethink transportation and city development. Emma spoke with residents of Moscow, Russia and Fukuoka, Japan to bring external p...

What if you had to flee your home because it was swallowed by the sea? According to the Climate and Migration Coalition, In 2015, 24 million people were forced to vacate their homes in face of environmental problems like rising sea levels or catastrophic storms. Today, researchers Walter Sharon and Quincy Stiles discuss the topic of climate change refugees with Professor Willis Jenkins. Tune in fo...

Give me two examples of animals that are suffering because of climate change. Polar bears and helpless sea turtles, right? In our first episode of Season 5, we sit down with Dr. Reese Halter to discuss how bees and potatoes are endangered by climate change. It turns out that the effects of rising global temperatures are broader than we anticipated. Host: Balthazar Merrin Researcher: Roma Chitko an...

The long-term consequences of American nuclear tests rarely receive much attention. Even the largest tests in American history are rarely seen as anything more than an episode in the greater history of the Cold War. With the atmospheric tests long halted, and the Cold War over, what have these tests left behind? In the Marshall Islands in the Pacific, the costs are grave and enduring. Sit down as...

The Nord Stream 2 Natural Gas pipeline has been a major point of contention within Europe and the NATO alliance, but why? Why is the pipeline so important? Why are the United States and Ukraine so intent on stopping it? Why is Germany so willing to receive energy resources from an adversary? What are the environmental impacts? Tune in to find out! Host: Nicholas Mortensen Researcher: Sarah Rocca S...

Join host Nick Mortensen and technical director Andy Carluccio as they review the season and discuss their favorite production moments so far! Host: Nick Mortensen Producer: Andy Carluccio The Global Inquirer is a production of the International Relations Organization at UVA, and affiliated with TEEJ, UVA’s podcasting network.

​Greece's economic troubles were widely known but hardly understood. Most of us were content to know that a debt crisis was happening, some protests got violent, and bailout measures were eventually approved. What happened afterwards? Why did the crisis actually happen? Are there any enduring consequences of the economic crisis? Listen to first year Emma Ross and Professor Erik Jones from the John...

Numerous high-profile Chinese officials and cultural figures have disappeared, leaving with nothing more than cryptic notices and vague accusations from the Chinese government. Why have these people disappeared, and why have these cases flown under the radar? Host: Nicholas Mortensen Researchers: Derrick Wang Producer: Andy Carluccio The Global Inquirer is a production of the International Relatio...

Catch the video version on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/GlobalInquireratUVA/videos/2237297219888119/ Join UVA's premier undergraduate research podcast, "The Global Inquirer," for a special panel and discussion with Dr. Katie Hasson from the Center for Genetics and Society about the political, social, and privacy ramifications of genetic and biometric data collection by private companies....

Our understanding of poaching of endangered species in Africa can be charitably described as "simplistic." Most of us don't even see Ivory, Rhino Horn, or other products, but did you know that the United States is one of the largest markets for these products? Did you know that most poachers are locals acting out on economic necessity? The story is a complicated intersection of local and internati...

"With the help of UVA Sustainability, the Global Inquirer takes a closer look at what actually goes on after you throw something in the recycling bin. Recycling is a business, but recent global trends might be threatening how lucrative it actually is. Find out how your old cans, local recycling businesses, and global trade all intersect, and how you can make sure you are recycling properly." Host:...

Sanctions, Soccer, and Scandal Sanctions are a tool of foreign policy that are both overused and hardly understood. Some praise them as a decisive punishment and a cure-all of sorts, while others dismiss them as useless after of political theater. In these sweeping generalizations, the truth of the matter is lost. When do sanctions come into play? Who determines when and where are they used? Do go...

Piracy has risen in Venezuela, but it's different from either the swashbuckling romanticism of "old" piracy or the merchant ship heists and hostage crises in international waters off Somalia. Piracy in Venezuela is smaller and fluid. Sometimes the pirates brutally kill their victims and steal their possessions, while other times they simply target anchored yachts. Why have people resorted to pirac...

As students return from programs abroad, they bring stories and perspectives that cannot be found anywhere else. Four students have traveled across the world and experienced different cultures, but also observed similar trends. What stories bind all of these journeys together? What trends transcend thousands of miles? Host: Nick Mortensen Researchers: Tyler Hinkle, Kara Kreiling, Derrick Wang, and...

"After a season that explored trends across the world, researchers Katya Sankow, Tyler Hinkle, Kara Kreiling, and Emi Lockwood sit down to reflect on the trends discussed this season, and the overarching dynamics that tie them all together." Host: Nick Mortensen Researchers: Katya Sankow, Tyler Hinkle, Kara Kreiling, and Emi Lockwood Producer: Andy Carluccio The Global Inquirer is a production of...

Russia will be hosting the World Cup in 2018, in the midst of heavy international criticism, corruption, and controversy. Why is Russia hosting this event? What purpose does it serve? Are there other international influences or trends at play? Join researchers Roma Chitko and Walter Sharon, and Professor Natalie Koch as we answer these questions and many others. Host: Nick Mortensen Researchers: W...

Today we are releasing a special episode of Global Inquirer, a thank you podcast for our now former host and editor-in-chief, Niko Marcich. Niko started this podcast and built if from the ground up, a testament not only to his dedication and work ethic, but also to his amazing leadership abilities. Our research team put together a video, released here as a podcast, to publicly voice our appreciati...