Orion Talks

This episode of Orion Talks , hosted by Marta Furlan, features Dr. Mauro Lubrano examining the rise of anti-technology extremism. He begins by distinguishing it from anti-technology activism, emphasizing that conflating the two risks discrediting legitimate concerns and may even contribute to further radicalization. The discussion situates recent attacks on tech leaders and infrastructure within a...

In this episode of Orion Talks , hosted by Suat Cubukcu, we are joined by Dr. Kerry Chavez to explore how drones are reshaping modern warfare and homeland security. As commercial drone technology becomes more accessible, the barriers to air power are rapidly eroding, enabling non-state actors and even lone individuals to challenge traditional military dominance. Dr. Chavez examines this shift thro...

In this episode, host Marta Furlan talks with Juan Luis Manfredi Sánchez reflecting on the new world order that is taking shape under President Donald Trump. Manfredi Sánchez talks about an end of the liberal order and a return to “areas of influence”. He goes on to note that the recent direct US intervention in Venezuela is a clear sign of a new approach with which Latin American and European cou...

In this Orion Talks episode, hosted by Suat Cubukcu, Dr. Imdat Oner joins the conversation to unpack Venezuela’s sudden political turning point following the capture of Nicolás Maduro and his transfer to the United States. Dr. Oner examines the immediate fallout in Caracas, the rise of interim president Delcy Rodríguez, and the competing forces, domestic and international, now shaping the transiti...

In this episode, host Marta Furlan talks with Fola Aina about the current security situation in Nigeria and the threat posed by Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province. The episode starts with Dr. Aina giving a comprehensive and detailed overview of the current status of the Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgency in Nigeria. He then moves on to talk about the recent targeting of farmers' co...

In this episode of Orion Talks, host Marta Furlan talks with Héctor Camilo Morales Muñoz about the current situation in Colombia. The conversation starts with an overview of the current political and security climate in Colombia, with some reflections on where the country stands half a year before the elections in May 2026. Morales Muñoz then proceeds to reflect on the relations between Colombia a...

In this episode of Orion Talks, host Marta Furlan talks with Mehmet Metehan Ciftci about the socio-political harms linked to the mining of critical minerals. The conversation starts with Mete explaining the paradox of green minerals being extracted in the Global South, where their harmful impacts are felt, and end technologies being enjoyed in the Global North. He then reflects on conflicts surrou...

In this episode of Orion Talks, host Marta Furlan speaks with Dr. Joshua Walker about the current conflict and peace dynamics in the Eastern DRC. Following M23’s capture of Goma and Bukavu in late January 2025, Dr. Walker starts by describing the state of the current peace processes. Highlighting the role and leverage of Qatar and the US, Dr. Walker compares their efforts with the shortcomings of...

In this episode of Orion Talks, host Marta Furlan talks with Dr Nicholas Barnes on criminalized governance inside some of Rio de Janeiro's favelas. After sharing the process that led him to focus his research on political violence and non-state governance as observed in some of Rio's neighborhoods, Dr Barnes explains how the gangs that control favelas develop relationships with the communities liv...

In this episode of Orion Talks, host Marta Furlan talks with Prof. David Des Roches on the recent developments in Yemen as the US revisits its approach to the country under President Trump. Prof. Des Roches starts by discussing the US approach to Yemen and the Houthis, over the past years - from the first to the second Trump Presidency, passing through Biden's time in office. As he does so, he ill...

In this episode of Orion Talks, host Marta Furlan talks with Mr Abdulghani Al-Iryani on the recent developments in Yemen as the US revisits its approach to the country under President Trump. To start, Mr. Al-Iryani offers an overview of the current state of affairs in Yemen, focusing on the conflict between the Houthis and the internationally recognized government and the conflict between the Hout...

In this episode of Orion Talks, host Marta Furlan talks with Mr. Giorgio Cafiero on the approach of the Gulf monarchies towards the new government in Syria led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and we will discuss how Gulf countries may end up shaping future events in Syria. After reviewing the posture that the GCC countries maintained towards Syria during the years of the civil war, Mr Cafiero proceeds to...

In this episode of Orion Talks, host Marta Furlan talks with Mr. Marcos Sebares Jimenez-Blanco on the battle of narratives around Syria. With the fall of the Assad regime in Syria, Russia and Iran have lost an important ally in the Middle East that was key to their capacity to advance their military, strategic, and geopolitical goals in the region. Mr Sebares explains how Moscow and Teheran have b...

In this episode of Orion Talks, host Marta Furlan talks with Professor Dawisson Belém Lopes on Brazil's foreign policy outlook, including its relations within the Latin American region and its relations with the US. The episode starts with Prof Lopes giving a detailed overview of Brazil's foreign policy outlook under the current Presidency of Mr Lula da Silva. To better understand Lula's current f...

In this Orion Talks conversation hosted by Suat Cubukcu, Dr. Colin Clarke explores the potential implications of Donald J. Trump’s return to the White House. He analyzes how a second Trump presidency could reshape U.S. foreign policy priorities, alter the trajectory of the war between Russia and Ukraine, and test NATO’s cohesion and deterrence strategies. Additionally, Dr. Clarke examines Trump’s...

In this episode of Orion Talks, host Marta Furlan is joined by Kawa Hassan to discuss the Israel-Lebanon war and its implications for the region. The conversation starts with a reflection on the implications of the death of Hassan Nasrallah and other top Hezbollah leaders may have on Hezbollah as an organization. It then moves to a discussion on the implications that the most recent confrontation...

In this episode of Orion Talks , Suat Cubukcu sits down with Dr. Zachary Zwald, Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Houston, to explore the critical intersection of advanced technology and international security. Dr. Zwald, an expert in AI, decision-making, and security, shares insights from his current research. The conversation begins with a discussion of how public per...

In this episode of Orion Talks, host Marta Furlan is joined by Brig. Robbie Boyd for a discussion on NATO. Building on his decades-long experience with the Organization, Brig. Boyd explains the continued relevance and significance of NATO in the contemporary global landscape. He then discusses some of the most relevant changes that he has been witnessing taking place within NATO over the years, wi...

In this episode of Orion Talks, Marta Furlan is joined by Dr. Angela Robinson for a discussion on human trafficking, one of the most widespread yet least talked about human rights violations. After sharing her considerations on the moral and economic cost of human trafficking for our societies, Dr. Robinson discusses how her research has utilized participatory methods to identify strategies for im...

In this episode of Orion Talks, our podcast host, Suat Cubukcu, is joined by Dr. Jenny Schell and Dr. Linda Geven. With their multinational research team, including Dr. Teresa Schneider (who could not join the conversation), they have been documenting wrongful convictions and exoneration cases across Europe. Drs. Schell and Geven delve into their methodology, explaining how they conceptualize and...

In this episode of Orion Talks, Suat Cubukcu is joined by Travis Moran, a renowned expert in electric infrastructure security. Travis provides an in-depth overview of what constitutes critical infrastructure within the realm of electric energy, highlighting essential assets beyond nuclear power plants. He sheds light on the major threats facing U.S. electric infrastructure, discussing their vulner...

In this episode of Orion Talks, Marta Furlan is joined by Dr Rahul Verma to discuss and explain India’s latest elections. Dr Verma reflects on some of the reasons - economic anxiety, unemployment, disaffection - that may explain why the BJP (the party of Prime Minister Narendra Modi) fared worse than expected and lost a number of seats. He then explains in great detail some of the specific factors...

In this episode of Orion Talks, Marta Furlan is joined by Prof Min Ye to discuss President Xi Jinping's recent visit to France, Serbia, and Hungary - his first visit to Europe in five years. Prof Ye sheds light on the overall objective of this trip and explains how this trip situates itself within China's foreign policy objectives and China-EU relations. From there, Prof Ye guides us through the c...

In this episode of Orion Talks, Marta Furlan is joined by Dr Joseph Siegle. Dr Siegle sheds light on the relations between Ethiopia and Somalia over the past few months, following a surprise MoU between Ethiopia and the breakaway region of Somaliland whereby the latter would lease coastal land to Addis Ababa in exchange for recognition of statehood. After outlining the main events and the position...

In this episode of Orion Talks, Suat Cubukcu is joined by Professor Hussain Shaheed Soherwordi. Professor Soherwordi delves into the current economic and political landscape of Pakistan, shedding light on its relations with the Taliban government in Afghanistan and the tense dynamics between the two nations. He discusses the recent surge of terrorist attacks targeting Pakistan, as well as Pakistan...