Next in Foreign Policy

Zoe and Natalya sit down this week with journalist and researcher John Lechner to discuss the impact of Yevgeny Prigozhin's death on the Wagner Group and Russian domestic politics. John is the author of a forthcoming book on the subject entitled, "Putin's Chef, Wagner, and the War for Ukraine." They also discussed navigating a career path as an independent researcher, and how to travel to challeng...

Elections and tech policy expert Malika Mehrotra joins Zoe and Natalya this week to discuss the risks posed by mis- and disinformation in upcoming election cycles. They discuss Malika's early career experience in politics and how it has shaped her interest in the impact of new technology on civics and political integrity. They also touch on potential regulatory approaches and whether generative AI...

Zoe and Natalya are joined this week by Joey Arora, partner at the Outpost, where he supports companies in securing government contracts in defense, and a former co-founder of AFWERX. They talk about Joey's path from the Air Force to entrepreneurship, trends in defense tech investing, and what every founder should know before trying to secure a government contract. If you are under 40 and interest...

This week Zoe teams up with Jordan Schneider of ChinaTalk for a special crossover episode. They discuss the changing mood on China relations, AI competition, and TikTok. They also explored what it's like to be an independent researcher in the foreign policy space and the intellectual freedom it allows. You can hear more from Jordan at chinatalk.media. If you are under 40 and interested in being fe...

Zoe is joined by arms control and nonproliferation implementation specialist April Arnold this week, fresh from the Aspen Security Forum. They discuss highlights from the Forum, as well as April's assessment of the nuclear threat from North Korea, Iran, Russia, and China. They also discuss the portrayal of nuclear risks in entertainment and media in the wake of the release of Oppenheimer. If you a...

This week Zoe and Natalya are joined by Lucy Montgomery, the founder of the Women's College Players Association, to talk about the nexus of sports and global affairs. They discuss how athletes can serve as global ambassadors, but also frequently bear the burden of international strife and conflict worldwide. If you are under 40 and interested in being featured on the podcast, be sure to fill out t...

This week Maggie Feldman-Piltch, founder of Unicorn Strategies and #NatSecGirlSquad, joins the show to share her journey as a policy entrepreneur and rule-breaker. She also discusses her forthcoming book, Non-State Actress: National Security But Not Boring, how government agencies are like midcentury modern furniture, and how to rock purple hair in Washington. If you are under 40 and interested in...

This week Zoe and Natalya are joined by Aaron Schwartzbaum, a 2023 Templeton Fellow with the Eurasia Program at the Foreign Policy Research Institute to discuss Kremlinology, Great Power competition, and the war in Ukraine. Aaron currently hosts FPRI's Bear Market Brief, The Continent, and Report in Short podcasts. If you are under 40 and interested in being featured on the podcast, be sure to fil...

This week Zoe and Natalya are joined by CEO of Reality Defender Ben Colman, to discuss the power of synthetic media and the risks it poses to geopolitics and democracy. They discuss a recent deepfake of an attack at the Pentagon, as well as potential regulatory solutions. If you are under 40 and interested in being featured on the podcast, be sure to fill out this form. Learn more about your ad ch...

This week Zoe is joined by new co-host Natalya Thakur to discuss activism, social media, and Iran with technologist Sameera. Sameera also discussed her work-in-progress novel and how storytelling is a powerful form of cross-cultural exchange. If you are under 40 and interested in being featured on the podcast, be sure to fill out this form. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adch...

This week Grant and Zoe talk with Charles Dunst about his new book "Defeating The Dictators: How Democracy Can Prevail In The Age Of The Strongman". Can democracies actually learn something from dictators? Are people more interested in economic well being or social ax-grinding? Find out during this exciting conversation.  In our final segment Charles recommends The Cairo Trilogy: Palace Walk, Pala...

Next in Foreign Policy is doing a mini-series on culture and foreign policy. In the final episode of the mini-series, Grant and Zoe talk with Bonner Price about Video Games and how they interact with foreign policy. In the final segment, Zoe talks about TiTANiQUE and Grant rants against ticket fees. If you are under 40 and interested in being featured on the podcast, be sure to fill out this form....

Next in Foreign Policy is doing a mini-series on culture and foreign policy. In the second episode of the mini-series, Grant and Zoe talk with Helen Zhang of International Intrigue about how foreign policy media works and how she made her own niche. In the final segment, Zoe talks about the Dems moving their first presidential primary to South Carolina, Grant talks about The Last of Us, and Helen...

Next in Foreign Policy is doing a mini-series on culture and foreign policy. In this first episode of the mini-series, Grant and Zoe talk with Tamar Nisbett about her work in streaming and focusing on audiences in Eastern Africa and the Middle East. Tamar recommends checking out Young Famous and African and Blood Sisters if you are trying to dip your toes into content made by and for Africans. In...

South America faces a number of challenges, from sustained protests in Peru, a riot in Brasilia, increasing inequality, democratic decline, and much more. Zoe and Grant talk with Diego Area, deputy director for strategic development at the Adrienne Arsht Latin American Center of the Atlantic Council, about all of these issues, what links them, and what (if anything) the United States can do about...

The Development Finance Corporation is one of America's newest organizations in foreign policy. Zoe and Grant talk with Naz El-Khatib, DFC’s Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy, about the organization, its work, and the intersection of foreign policy and finance. For our final segment Naz talks about the Australian Open, Zoe discusses 'Goblin Mode', and Grant comments on the insurrection in Brazil.  ...

The World Cup may be over but the questions about the politics of FIFA and soccer remain. Zoe and Grant talk with Ben Valdez-Hempel of District Sports and Manchester City about the beautiful game and the people and policies that are making it so ugly. For our final segment Zoe talks about George Santos lying about his resume, Ben goes down the rabbit hole on Scientology, and Grant recommends Guill...

Protests following the death of Masha Amini continue to put pressure on Iran. Grant and Zoe talk with Sara Haghdoosti of Win Without War about the protests, what America can do to help, and how literature can cross boundaries. For our final segment Zoe talks about Topdog/Underdog, Sara gives a shout out to Bluey, and Grant talks about border clashes between China and India.   If you are under 40 a...

As we come back from the Thanksgiving holiday, Grant and Zoe go guest-less and talk about a variety of issues they are following. First, they talk about the World Cup and the intersection of human rights and international sports. Next, they turn to an open letter from a variety of outlets on the prosecution of Julian Assange. Then they take on the protests in China before finally turning to the re...

A core challenge facing the American defense enterprise is the pace of technology innovation. Grant and Zoe sat down with Cameron McCord to talk about how his experience in the military and on the Hill make him think differently about the issue of tech innovation within government. In our final segment, Zoe talks about the collapse of FTX, Cameron discusses this article in Breaking Defense, and Gr...

The Chinese Communist Party's 20th Congress is in the rearview mirror but what lessons can we take from it about the future of China's domestic and foreign policy. Grant and Zoe sat down with Jacob Stokes of the Center for a New American Security to break it down. In our final segment, Jacob recommends the mamaRoo bassinet, Zoe talks about the Just Stop Oil protests, and Grant talks about George M...

Congress is supposed to be the preeminent branch of government but in foreign policy and technology issues it often feels woefully behind. Grant and Zoe talk about this issue with Geo Saba, Chief of Staff to Ro Khanna (CA-17), and about his experience working on Capitol Hill.   In our final segment, Zoe discusses the success of the DART program, Geo Saba talks about the Nobel Prize winners in Phys...

With so much going in foreign policy, it is vital to have access to outlets that distill the most important news into easily digestible pieces. One of the best is National Security Daily the Politics Newsletter anchored by Alex Ward. Zoe and Grant sat down with Alex to hear about his work and get his hot takes on the foreign policy issues of the day. In our final segment, Grant recommends The Bear...

The Queen is dead and Brexit lives on. Grant and Zoe talk with Scott Bade of the Eurasia Group about how these changes will impact the United Kingdom and elsewhere. In our all podcast final segment, Zoe talks about Patagonia and the Climate, Scott talks about Space Policy, and Grant talks about a variety of border clashes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the heels of Blinken's trip to Africa, Grant and Zoe talk with Bo Machayo, co-chair of NextGen's Africa Working group about a variety of issues facing the continent, a diaspora centered foreign policy, and much more. In our all podcast final segment, Bo talks about the origins of the Samosa, Zoe brings you some PSL facts, and Grant continues to highlight the genocide in Xinjiang. If you are und...