This first episode of season 5 is a lovefest with the founders and advisory board members of Diversity in National Security Action Network (DINSN). Together with Bunmi, Camille Stewart, Marcus T. Coleman Jr., and Clifford Pulley III recount the contributions of DINSN and share the call to action for others to continue the imperative of bringing greater diversity to foreign policy. They also share their thoughts on topics of the day related to voting rights, cybersecurity and competition with Chi...
Apr 01, 2021•36 min•Season 5Ep. 39
After nearly four incredible years of discussing foreign policy issues, sharing laughs, and groovin' to some of the greatest music of our time, Bunmi Akinnusotu says her goodbyes to the extraordinary community of supporters and listeners.
Apr 01, 2021•3 min
We've all heard that we are living in "unprecedented times" and "a new normal”. The last time the world faced a pandemic was over a century ago. So, what does it take to actually lead during the COVID-19 global pandemic in 2020? During this episode, we talk with three women who are leading in this time of crisis: Dr. Tener Veenema, an internationally recognized expert in disaster nursing; Grelia Steele, a vibrant emergency manager and Phebean Akinwande, a Nigerian immigrant who for 30 years has ...
Oct 12, 2020•50 min•Season 4Ep. 38
The 72-year-old global organization known as the World Health Organization (WHO) has been at the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, President Trump has ceased contributions to the organization and has begun America's withdrawal--a move that has left many wondering about America's influence. On this episode, human rights expert and former UN worker, Pushkar Sharma (Twitter: @PushkarMSharma), explains how the WHO works and how international organizations serve American interests. This ep...
Oct 02, 2020•45 min•Season 4Ep. 37
America's existence has grown as a result of decades of flexing its political power. While contested by various nations and "non-state actors", America's "grand strategies" has still been virtually unmatched. In the midst of COVID-19 though, we're wondering if America still has the power. Has China "won" the global competition for respect, influence, and dominance? Ali Wyne ( @Ali_Wyne ), nonresident Fellow at the Atlantic Council, explains the foreign policy concept known as "grand strategy" an...
Aug 22, 2020•41 min•Season 4Ep. 36
During this defining moment in history, the world is watching as the United States addresses protests and racial injustice, cheats its own democratic values, and fumbles the management of the COVID-19 pandemic. What can a progressive approach do to course-correct? Host Bunmi Akinnusotu and featured guests Anka Lee (@anka_Lee), Meg Guliford (@mkguliford) and Laicie Heeley (@Laicie) put forth ways progressive leaders can seize the opportunity to restore faith in America's global engagement and men...
Aug 20, 2020•42 min•Season 4Ep. 35
One of the greatest hip hop groups of all time, the Wutang Clan, once chanted: Cash rules everything around me. America, by way of the dollar, has been the ruling authority of global economic institutions and standards--to which we owe much of our modern-day comforts. Today though, Cornoravirus has wreaked economic havoc and has required new considerations for the movement of money, goods and services. Whether it's responding to the threat of empty aisles of toilet paper or the movement of money...
Jul 10, 2020•44 min•Season 4Ep. 34
Continuing on the theme “Is America Dead?”, this episode explores the intersection of race and foreign policy. The foreign policy block is hot. The recent racial and political unrest has lit a fire of debate and reflection in foreign policy. Scholars, policymakers, and everyone in between have finally joined the party and are now grappling with America’s (and the world’s) longstanding avoidance of white supremacy and racial discrimination. Camille Stewart (Twitter: @CamilleEsq ) and Dr. Muhammad...
Jun 26, 2020•45 min•Season 4Ep. 33
In this season 4 kick-off, Bunmi Akinnusotu is joined by Ambassador Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley, a 30-year diplomat to discuss the health of the Department of State and America's "situationship" with the rest of the world. Amid a global pandemic, the dismissal of norms and expectations of diplomacy, Ambassador Abercrombie-Winstanley argues America has been weakened but there is hope! Follow Ambassador Abercrombie-Winstanley, the Cleveland native and Temptations fan, on Twitter and stay up to dat...
Jun 19, 2020•40 min•Season 4Ep. 32
Season 4 of What in the World? with Bunmi Akinnusotu, returns with a five-part conversation exploring America's global leadership. Has America reached political atrophy? Is it's global muscle still there? Is America still influential? Relevant? Necessary? COVID-19 and the political unrest stemming from police brutality has certainly toppled the image of America so many once knew. From the lens of foreign policy experts of color in Bunmi explores the death of America in 2020. Listen to the entire...
Jun 19, 2020•2 min
2019 marks the 70th Anniversary of the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization better known as NATO. The US' participation in NATO has been scrutinized by President Trump as he has expressed some concerns about spending. Transatlantic experts, music lovers, and global trotters, Alex Johnson and Anthony Robinson explain NATO--what it is, how it operates, and how US-Europe relations matter to our every day lives. Credits: Intro Remarks: President Harry S. Truman, Speech at the signing of...
Jan 11, 2020•53 min•Season 3Ep. 31
Houston, do we have a problem? President Trump announced the establishment of Space Force in February. Skeptics have asked, what could we possibly need a space military for when we haven’t found aliens to fight and what's the difference between NASA and Space Force?. Guest experts, Victoria Samson and Krystal Wilson, discuss space security, space technology's beneficial values, and the plans behind President Trump's Space Force. Credits: Intro Remarks: President John F. Kennedy Speech, "We Choos...
Jan 11, 2020•56 min•Season 3Ep. 30
President Maduro, in late January, ordered diplomats in the American embassy in Caracas to leave the country. Since then, Venezuela's crisis has gained national attention here in America, sparking concern about what exactly is happening in the country. The international community has called for Maduro to step down and to allow opposition leader Juan Guiado to claim his position as the elected President. Claims of human rights abuses, severe corruption, and economic degradation have plagued Venez...
Jan 11, 2020•58 min•Season 3Ep. 29
February 15, 2019 was to mark the Presidential election day for some 84 million Nigerians. Nigerians from all over the world flew back to Nigeria to cast their vote in eager anticipation of a new chapter for the nation. But then about 5 hours before polls were about to open, the elections were postponed until February 23rd. Our guest, Chris Ogunmodede, a third culture kid, political risk analyst, and 90 Hip-Hop fan, explains what happened with the elections and why any of it is important to Amer...
Jan 11, 2020•51 min•Season 3Ep. 28
The United States has been immersed in the news of the trade war China and concerns about Chinese currency manipulation. But across the ocean in Africa, the Chinese have a different kind of relationship. Their presence has grown exponentially over several decades. Annually, trade between Africa and China has ballooned to $166B—China IS Africa’s largest trading partner. China’s Africa strategy, though, raises a lot of concerns on the part of the West because of China’s human rights abuses--they a...
Jan 11, 2020•54 min•Season 3Ep. 27
The 116th Congress is in session and the Hill is buzzing with new faces, new agendas, and lots of global issues to tackle. Brian Greer, a Georgia boy, chess player, and Defense expert explains the ins and outs of the power of Congress when it comes to foreign policy and why your understanding of these issues matter. Credits: Theme Song: "Asi ki no ta vive" by Chachi Carvalho Outro Song: "So What" by Miles Davis Photo Credit: Getty
Jan 11, 2020•54 min•Season 3Ep. 26
From hacked emails to questionable election results, Cybersecurity is often looked at as something outside of our control. Our Cyberhero, Tech policy expert, and advocate of digital smarts, Camille Stewart, shares every day cyber tips to protect users and the country. We talk about the basics of cybersecurity (the players, the issues, and challenges), her #EveryDayCyber campaign, and tech policies that impact our lives and issues like national security....
Jan 09, 2020•55 min•Season 3Ep. 25
Brazil's elections, laden with controversy, hate speech, violence, and deep community divide, is reminiscent of America's 2016 Presidential elections. Like President Trump, Jair Bolsonaro, has promised to bring economic stability and an end to the status quo of democratic ideals. At what cost, though? And why should Americans pay attention? Jana Nelson, a Brazilian-born American and expert in Latin America and trade, explains. This episode was released in 2018 via WERA 96.7 FM in Arlington, VA. ...
Jan 09, 2020•53 min•Season 3Ep. 24
Imagine what it's like to work alongside someone whose job is to orchestrate the cooperation of 190+ vastly different countries. Mihn-Thu Pham of the United Nations Foundation shares her experiences being led by the late Secretary-General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan. Born in Vietnam and moving to America with her family, Minh-Thu was called to support Kofi Annan as he led a complicated world and addressed a skeptical American public. Find out what the role of the Secretary-General is, Mr. ...
Jan 09, 2020•47 min•Season 3Ep. 23
A bus full of school children is bombed by Saudia Arabian war weapons purchased from the United States; Women negotiate food supplies for a country where 60% of the population lives in poverty; And a community tries to claim its sovereignty amid dueling powers and violent extremists. Yemen's silent war, for many Americans, is an unknown. Sanam Naraghi-Anderlini of ICAN Peace Network explains the crisis in Yemen and womens' attempts to use the power of the pen to bring about peace. This episode w...
Jan 09, 2020•48 min•Season 3Ep. 22
Bunmi Akinnusotu attends Podcast Movement 2018 and speaks to David Direntis, a conference guest and fellow podcaster, about why foreign policy is relevant to the city of Brotherly Love. David shares how he came up close and personal with foreign policy when he and his wife traveled to China on a quest to achieve an important milestone. This episode was released in 2018. Credits: Intro Clip Song: "Its Love" by Jill Scott Outro Song: "Listen Hear" by Eddie Harris
Jan 09, 2020•31 min•Season 3Ep. 21
On June 12, 2018, South Korean President Moon Jae-in ushered in a new era of what will hopefully be, peace and stability along the Korean peninsula. For almost seven decades, the peninsula was a hotbed of nuclear threats between North and South Korea and was an area of contention between the superpowers of the United States and the former Soviet Union. What did America and North Korea agree to do? And why does any of it matter to Americans? Catherine Killough, K-Pop fan and English Lit major tur...
Jan 09, 2020•48 min•Season 3Ep. 20
On August 25, 2017, nearly 1 million Rohingya Muslims fled their homes to escape "cleansing operations" of the Myanmar military. For decades, the Rohingya have been politically, socially, and economically isolated and continue to live under repressive discriminatory practices. Debate team nerd turned Human Rights Advocate, Francisco Benscome, describes the extensive human rights violations by the Myanmar military, shares his experience on the ground in the world's largest refugee camp, and descr...
Jan 09, 2020•57 min•Season 3Ep. 19
What's a Yak? A Sherpa? And what exactly happens at the G7? Listen to Sydney Hulebak, Ryan Migeed, and Ann Love, share what the G7 Summit is all about and why it matters to youth in America and all around the world. Sent on their way to represent youth voices at the Y7 Summit, a subset of the G7, the team also shares thoughts and lessons learned trying to negotiate global policies. Credits: Intro Clip: "I Know I Can" by Nas Theme Song: "Asi ki no ta vive" by Chachi Carvalho Outro Song: "Send Me ...
Jan 05, 2020•49 min•Season 2Ep. 18
Trump recently announced tariffs on steel and aluminum from foreign countries--a move he initially said was a matter of national security and protecting America's trade interests. Thamar Harrigan, our soca groovin' Trade Whisperer talks us through the current trade beef (pun intended), educates us on basic trade principles using familiar household items, and provides her take on the impact a trade war could have on Americans. Credits: Intro Clip of President Trump: PBS Newshour, March 8, 2018 In...
Jan 05, 2020•47 min•Season 2Ep. 17
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., one year prior to his assassination condemned the Vietnam War and U.S. foreign policy of the time. He called on America to lead a global revolution from a place of love and unity. Vasu Mohan of the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), builds on Dr. King's philosophy by reimagining modern foreign policy as the human body and uses hate speech in elections to demonstrate this concept. Credits: Cover Photo: Unknown but thank you to the artist! Theme Son...
Jan 05, 2020•53 min•Season 2Ep. 16
The trickle-down effects of the Arab Spring sparked a wave of protests throughout Arab nations, Syria was one of those nations. Wa'el Azayat, President of Emgage, explains the basics of what's happening in Syria from its colonial history, the strict rule of the Assad family and government, the Syrian people's fight for basic freedoms, and all of the key players' interests, including the United States. Wa'el also discusses how the fight abroad has encouraged American states to adopt laws that fos...
Jan 05, 2020•44 min•Season 2Ep. 15
From Cardi B, Cambodia, and to the Congo, Afropean-American, Laura Kupe and Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, Jalina Porter discuss why women matter in American foreign policy drawing from their colorful tapestry of personal and professional experiences. Both also share the parallels of Foreign Policy and film, Black Panther and acknowledge extraordinary women who inspire them. Credits: Cover Photo: Unknown but thank you to the artist! Intro Background Song - "Who Run The World?" Instrumental by B...
Jan 05, 2020•49 min•Season 2Ep. 14
What in the world is going on in Africa? Africa enthusiasts and trade experts, Brionne Dawson and Jennelle Cray-Pelamoko explain! In celebration of Black History Month and the release of Black Panther, we discuss how the textiles industry and other products, fuel the continent's economic growth and how America benefits from U.S.-Africa partnerships. From colorful fabric to shea butter, African countries contribute numerous goods that are part of our everyday lives. Theme Song: "Asi ki no ta vive...
Jan 05, 2020•45 min•Season 2Ep. 13
Slavery and human trafficking are still a reality for 40 million people, from the corridors of K street in Washington D.C. to Kuwait and elsewhere. The CNN video of a slave auction in Libya has elevated this reality and many have begun to pay attention. To honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., The Civil Rights Center and New Bethel Baptist Church in Washington D.C. and The Civil Rights Center, unpacked this issue from the perspective of four individuals fighting to end slavery and tra...
Jan 04, 2020•46 min•Season 1Ep. 12
