The Decision Advantage

RANE’s Essential Geopolitics podcast is your primary source for quick and reliable geopolitical risk intelligence. In this episode, the United States has eased some sanctions on Venezuela, in hopes it would help further negotiations between President Nicolás Maduro's government and the opposition. Both also agreed to a U.N.-managed plan for the country’s poor. Is it possible that long-stalled nego...

RANE’s Essential Geopolitics podcast is your primary source for quick, and reliable geopolitical risk intelligence.  Not too long ago, Denmark released a report on the damage to the Nordtream pipeline. It said leaks were caused by "powerful explosions." Some blame Moscow for the explosions. But gas pipelines aren’t the only critical infrastructure at potential risk deep under the oceans of the wor...

In this episode of RANE’s Essential Geopolitics podcast, David Newman, a security analyst with RANE, talks us through what's happening in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In August 2022, U.S. Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, visited Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 2022 saw a marked flare-up of their conflict in border areas. The UN says Rwanda is supporting a rebel group...

One notable development in the Asia Pacific region over the past few years has been the remilitarization of Japan. You may recall, after World War Two, the victorious allies demanded the complete de-militarization of Japanese society and government. For decades, Japan continued that policy. But things are changing. Scott Kardas is RANE’s Asia Pacific analyst. He says Japan is rapidly building up i...

Applied Geopolitics is the podcast series from the Stratfor Center for Applied Geopolitics at RANE. Its host is Rodger Baker, the center's executive director, a veteran geopolitical strategist whose expertise includes the Korean Peninsula, Southeast Asia, and the Arctic. In this episode, Baker's guest is Fred Burton, the Executive Director, Ontic Center for Protective Intelligence; former special...

For most of 2022, the world watched teh progress of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Russia's early advances, Ukraine’s determined defense, and the intricate diplomatic dance as both Russia and Ukraine sought assistance for their efforts. In late October, Russia began leaving one of the cities it had captured early in the war, Kherson. Much has been made of Russia’s withdrawal, Ukraine’s advance, and...

During the COVID-19 pandemic, RANE delivered a weekly podcast debunking misinformation and sharing best practices from two of the world’s leading infectious disease experts. Drs. Bill Lang and Fred Southwick. Now, we're looking beyond Covid to monitor the latest infectious disease information and what it could mean for you, your family, and your business. On today’s podcast, our host David Lawrenc...

In this episode of RANE's Essential Geopolitics, the #1 essential geopolitics podcast on Apple podcasts, Emily Donahue hears from Ekta Raguwanshi  RANE’s south Asia analyst.  Political scandals, major environmental disasters and serious financial difficulties have plagued Pakistan in 2022. But 2022 is not yet over. Nor are the political imbroglios. Imran Khan, the former prime minister who was out...

In this episode of RANE’s essential geopolitics podcast, (the #1 ranked essential geopolitics podcast on Apple podcasts) Emily Donahue speaks to Asia Pacific analyst, Nate Fischler about Malaysia's upcoming election and the much larger geopolitical power struggle in play. Malaysia sits in the South China Sea, not too far from Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines… and deep in China’s shadow. The...

In this episode of the RANE Insights podcast series called "Cyber Survival", our host and RANE founder David Lawrence, speaks to Terry Roberts, the founder and CEO of Whitehawk, Inc. They talk about why we need and how to make more effective underwriting models for cyber insurance. Terry Roberts is the founder and CEO of Whitehawk, Inc., the first online Cyber Security Exchange. You can find out m...

In this episode of the Essential Geopolitics podcast from RANE, the risk intelligence company we're turning our attention to Indonesia. In a recent analytical review, Scott Kardas wrote that the Indonesian government has decided to ban raw ore exports. Kardas, RANE’s Asia-Pacific analyst, explains why Indonesia is banning raw ore exports. Members of the RANE community trust our analysis. We trust...

This podcast is part of the thought leadership events from the Stratfor Center of Applied Geopolitics at RANE. Its host is Rodger Baker, the center's executive director and a veteran geopolitical strategist whose expertise includes the Korean Peninsula, Southeast Asia, and the Arctic. In this episode, Baker's guests are Julie Kitka, President of the Alaska Federation of Natives, and Richard Glenn,...

RANE’s essential geopolitics podcast is your go-to source for quick, and reliable geopolitical intelligence. A combination of high storage levels and warm weather is causing natural gas prices to decline consistently in Europe since last summer, leading many to believe Europe’s energy crisis may not be as bad as most had feared. But, with the heating season yet to begin on much of the continent, t...

RANE’s Essential Geopolitics podcast is your go-to source for quick and reliable geopolitical intelligence.  In this episode, host Emily Donahue speaks with RANE's Eurasia analyst, Matthew Orr. Kazakhstan celebrates its independence Day each year to commemorate its separation from the Soviet Union. It was the last former Soviet Republic to declare independence. Now, after Russia’s invasion of Ukra...

In this episode of the Essential Geopolitics podcast from RANE, the risk intelligence company, we look at Chinese leader Xi Jinping, who secured a new term and a thoroughly loyal cabinet following China's quinquennial 20th Party Congress. RANE subscribers can get the full rundown of geopolitical analysis. But here, Chase Blazek, RANE's Asia Pacific analyst, offers some insight into developments fr...

In this episode of RANE’s essential geopolitics podcast, we’re talking about the United States' efforts to curb China’s access to advanced semiconductor manufacturing equipment. A move, that, could seriously disrupt China’s chip ambitions. Matthew Bey, RANE’s senior global analyst, has the details. Matthew Bey's analysis of U.S. export controls on China's semiconductor industry appears in RANE Wor...

On today’s episode of the RANE Insights podcast, our host David Lawrence talks with Dr. Bill Lang and Dr. Fred Southwick about COVID misinformation, flu season, and the dangers of misreporting on "gain of function" research on viruses. Dr. Fred Southwick is an infectious disease specialist at the University of Florida College of Medicine. Dr. Bill Lang is an expert in public health responses to bi...

In this podcast, Rodger Baker, executive director of the Stratfor Center for Applied Geopolitics at RANE, discusses the practice of applied geopolitics. He speaks with Jacob Shapiro, director of geopolitics at Cognitive Investments. They look at Russia's war in Ukraine, Putin's effort to leverage energy to break European cooperation, China's 20th Party Congress, and Xi Jinping's goals, all through...

In this episode of the Essential Geopolitics podcast from RANE, we are talking about who is helping who during the Russian war in Ukraine. We know NATO countries are helping Ukraine. But who is helping Russia? Iran has sent military equipment to Russia. But is that all? Ryan Bohl is RANE’s senior Middle East and North Africa analyst. He talks about the relationship between Iran and Russia and the...

When Israel and Lebanon signed a U.S.-mediated maritime deal after last-minute negotiations, it opened, if not a door, maybe a window that long had been closed. Or did it? In this Essential Geopolitics podcast, RANE's Senior Middle East and North African analyst, Emily Hawthorne looks at the potential promise and roadblocks to further cooperation between Israel and Lebanon. RANE (Risk Assistance N...

On October 6, the Czech Republic hosted the first summit of the European Political Community. That is a platform for dialogue between 44 European countries. The leaders of the 27 members of the European Union were there. But also were representatives from countries as diverse as the United Kingdom, Turkey, and Ukraine. So, was this meeting a big deal? In this episode of RANE's Essential Geopolitic...

In this Essential Geopolitics podcast episode, we take a closer look at China. It’s been a historic year for the country; its long battle against Covid, a slowing economy, increased geopolitical tension with the United States and some neighbors in the Pacific, and - so much more. And then there’s the historic 20th Party Congress. Chase Blazek, who is an Asia Pacific analyst with RANE, tells us wha...

In this episode of RANE's Essential Geopolitics podcast, we discuss the relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia. For many years, oil was the basis of the relationship. Then, strategic goals. And now: confusion. Emily Hawthorne, senior Middle East and North Africa analyst with RANE, talks about the relationship and Saudi Arabia’s new prime minister, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin S...

Following the 2021 Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, many Southeast Asian governments -- particularly the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia -- worried that events in Afghanistan may reverse the broad decline in militancy the region has experienced since 2019. Has that happened? RANE global security analyst, Isaia Galace runs us through the risks. RANE (Risk Assistance Network + Exchange) is a gl...

During the COVID-19 pandemic, we brought you a weekly podcast debunking misinformation and sharing best practices from two of the world’s leading infectious disease experts. Drs. Bill Lang and Fred Southwick. The pandemic raised people’s awareness of infectious diseases - and also the hunger for information about emerging diseases. So this podcast is looking beyond Covid, to update you on the New...