Laura Ballman, a former CIA operations officer, is now a sought-after speaker, writer and geopolitical analyst. In this special season opener, co-host Melissa Ricci and I speak to Laura about her career, whether it is a viable option for females, the war in Ukraine and cultural theft, whether tech platforms such as TikTok are safe - and much, much more!
Read MoreAs the war in Ukraine entered its second month, co-hosts Michael Bociurkiw and Melissa Ricci spoke with the London-based scholar and author, Olesya Khromeychuk, about the impact of the war on the country, the role of women, rehabilitation and re-construction - as well as the book she wrote about the loss of her brother: A Loss: The Story of a Dead Soldier Told by His Sister
Read MoreDmytro Kuleba is among the youngest foreign ministers to walk the corridors of power on the world stage. Co-hosts Melissa Ricci & Michael Bociurkiw engage Ukraine’s foreign minister on a variety of topics.
Read MoreKnown for the bold and abrupt way she parted ways with Fox News, American journalist Ivory Hecker discusses her career, the changing media business, censorship, the Covid-19 pandemic and more.
Read MoreAn in-depth conversation with Peter Maurer, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). It is one of the most widely recognized and respected organizations in the world, having won three Nobel Peace Prizes in 1917, 1944, and 1963. Because of its mandate and its ability to maintain trust, aid workers often describe the organization as ‘first in, last out.’
Read MoreStarting with the situation in Belarus. Then the poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. And then onto the situation of Covid-19 and it’s impact on travel and the food & beverage industry. Recorded on-location in Canada’s national capital, Ottawa.
Read MoreFrom Hong Kong to China to Jordan to Ukraine and Russia. We discuss various geopolitical hotspots with the Globe and Mail's senior international correspondent, Mark MacKinnon. Also - how strongmen are manipulating Civid-19. President Putin's tightening grasp on power in Russia, the shoot-down of MH17 and the state of journalism.
Read MoreJuly 1, 2020 marked not only the anniversary of Hong Kong's handover to China, it was also a day when the territory's people woke up to news that a draconian, wide-sweeping National Security Act signed by Chinese President Xi Jinping had taken effect. Passed rapidly and without consultation, it criminalizes many acts which for decades Hong Kong people had taken for granted. Within hours of its promulgation, the local police began arresting people for carrying slogans deemed offensive to the motherland. In this episode we get into the ramifications. Later in the podcast we have an update on the coronavirus situation as well as the worrying developments in Ukraine which has set off alarm bells in various western capitals.
Read MoreOne of the first witnesses called to testify publicly in the House Democrats' impeachment inquiry was the respected career diplomat William Taylor. We managed to catch up with him this week in Washington, DC to cover a wide range of topics, including: the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine, President Zelensky’s next steps, the new charges against Petro Poroshenko, the state of the world as the US disengages, the brain drain from the US State Department and much more.
Read MoreThree months after the WHO declared a global public health emergency, we travel to Maryland to speak to the former Acting Surgeon-General of the United States, Dr. Boris Lushniak. About the coronavirus pandemic globally - and more locally in the United States. With some very important advice at the end about coping with the lockdown.
Read MoreIn this launch episode of Global Impact, we present the latest update on the spread of the coronavirus - how some countries such as Israel are enacting draconian measures to limit infection. And how the relationship between WHO and UN member states complicates its work. Also the MH17 criminal trial and a bonus tidbit from my work on Digital Crack - my forthcoming book on smartphone and social media addiction.
Read More
