The International Risk Podcast

What does the future hold for Israel and how will its political divisions, regional security challenges and changing relationship with the United States shape the country in the years ahead?

In this episode of the International Risk Podcast, host Dominic Bowen speaks with Professor Dov Waxman about the major forces shaping Israel’s future, from the war in Gaza and the challenges of regional security to the changing dynamics of US-Israel relations.

In this episode:

- Israel’s political future and the prospects for change after Netanyahu

- Why military force alon...

In this episode of The International Risk Podcast, Dominic Bowen speaks with Vinay Lal about the youth-led protests sweeping India and what they mean for the future of the world’s largest democracy.
The discussion examines how the “Cockroach Janta Party”, a movement that began as an online joke, has grown into a serious challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government. 

The conversation explores:
 -The controversy over the removal of 130 million names from India’s voter lists
-What is happening in India, and how an insult from India’s Chief Justice sparked a youth movement...

Global markets are sending some extraordinary signals right now with guaranteed borrowing costs surging. Bond yields at their highest levels that we haven't seen in decades and geopolitical tensions that honestly are starting to reshape some capital flows. But what does this mean for the world? What does it mean for the markets, for the world's safest bonds and for global risk as this is going on? 

In this episode Dominic sits down with Ka Lok (Steve) Wong, a macroeconomist at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. The conversation starts at borrowing costs and i...

Almost two years after the fall of the Assad regime, where is Syria heading? In this episode of the International Risk Podcast, producer and researcher Andrea Crafoord-Wiklund flips the script and interviews regular host Dominic Bowen, who joins from Damascus after a week of meetings with Syrian government ministries.
Dominic shares what he is seeing on the ground, from the professionalization of the police to rebuilt roads, and explains why the gap between a quick revolution and a long rebuilding process is the biggest misperception abroad.

In this episode:
- Why Syria is still a...

What is at stake in the upcoming US Midterms? In this episode, Dominic Bowen sits down with Marquita Bradshaw, the Democratic nominee for the US Senate Elections on November 3rd. The conversation spans what challenges working people within the USA are currently facing, what change is necessary for Americans, and the dynamics within the political system today. 

It is clear there is a loss of faith. Marquita talks about her experiences engaging with voters, hearing their stories, and how this currently drives her priorities along her campaign trail. With rocketing fuel prices, concerned business owners, and a m...

In this episode of The International Risk Podcast, Dominic Bowen speaks with Sophie Schmalenberger about the AfD’s historic result in the Saxony-Anhalt state election and what it means for Germany’s political future. 

The discussion examines what is driving the party’s rise, particularly in eastern Germany, and whether Germany’s postwar “firewall” against the far right can still hold. It also explores how the AfD uses history and emotion to build support, and what a stronger AfD could mean for Germany’s role in the EU.

The conversation explores:
-What the AfD is, where it ca...

More than five years after the Taliban returned to power, millions of Afghan women and girls remain shut out of education, work and public life, while governments around the world are quietly normalising relations with Kabul.

In this episode of the International Risk Podcast, host Dominic Bowen speaks with Shaharzad Akbar, former chairperson of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission and founder of Rawadari, an organisation documenting Taliban abuses and pursuing accountability from exile.

Shaharzad shares her journey from a childhood of displacement and refugee life in Pakistan to Smith College and...

What happens when voters hear promises about cheaper living — but see their government focused elsewhere? Dominic Bowen puts that question to international pollster Alex Tarascio of Cygnal in episode #405 of The International Risk Podcast. Their conversation examines voter frustration, the US #midterm #elections and the gap between political headlines and the choices people make at the ballot box. They explore shifts in the Republican coalition, the politics of the cost of living and Iran, what interest in socialism tells us about younger voters, and why st...

Sweden's voters handed the centre-left opposition a win by just three seats, 176 to 173, and yet no one can form a government. The Sweden Democrats lost ground at the ballot box, but they may still hold the key to what happens next. With investors, NATO allies and Ukraine supporters watching closely, this is a stress test for one of Europe's steadiest democracies.

Host Dominic Bowen is joined by Anders Sannerstedt, a political scientist at Lund University who studies the Sweden Democrats, local elections and Swedish party politics. Together they unpack why winning an election doesn't guarantee governing, and...

Before you let ChatGPT or Claude influence your next business decision, ask yourself: are you trusting the evidence or how convincing the answer sounds?

Dominic Bowen joins AI researcher Herbert Roitblat, author of Algorithms Are Not Enough, to examine what business leaders should demand from artificial intelligence, and where human judgment remains essential.

Drawing on his experience as a senior management consultant, Dominic explains why telling a client “I’m not confident yet” can be more valuable than delivering a polished answer. Together, they explore how to challenge AI outputs, identify useful applications and measure whethe...

In this episode of The International Risk Podcast, Dominic Bowen speaks with Sarah Logan about the global race to secure Africa's critical minerals. The discussion examines how China, the US, and Europe are positioning themselves in this race, and whether African countries can move beyond simply hosting the competition. It also explores why refining is the real choke point in this race, and why China's head start there now gives it a durable structural advantage.

The conversation explores:
-What critical minerals are, where they're found, and why demand is only accelerating
-Why China is so...

In this episode, Dominic sits down with Dr. Maryanne Wolf, a cognitive neuroscientist at UCLA who has spent her career studying what she calls "the reading brain." Maryanne explains why reading doesn't come naturally to us the way language or vision does. It's a skill the brain has to build, circuit by circuit, and one that can atrophy if we stop exercising it.

The numbers are stark. Nearly a third of American adults score at the lowest level of literacy. Fourth grade reading scores are at a two decade low. Eighth graders are performing worse than they...

The International Risk Podcast with Tzvi Gottlieb

In this episode, Dominic Bowen and Tzvi Gottlieb examine the intersection of war, politics and national security in Israel, asking how domestic political pressures are shaping decisions over Iran, Gaza and the wider Middle East. From Benjamin Netanyahu’s political future and Israel’s confrontation with Iran to the resilience of Israeli democratic institutions and the country’s increasingly strained relationship with the United States, the conversation explores the strategic risks facing Israel at a pivotal moment for the country and the region.

We discuss:
- Whether Israel...

In Episode 399 of The International Risk Podcast, Dominic and Craig examine the real economics of artificial intelligence: how CFOs should measure AI returns, when automation becomes job displacement, why agentic workflows are changing competitive advantage, and how AI is becoming a geopolitical and governance challenge.

They discuss:
- How CFOs can distinguish durable AI value from hype
- Why some companies are cutting headcount while others avoid new hiring
- The shift from AI experimentation to operational agentic workflows
- Competition and regulation across the United States, Europe and China
- How...

In this episode of the International Risk Podcast, host Dominic Bowen is joined by Simeon de Brouwer, policy advisor at European Digital Rights (EDRi), Europe’s largest network of digital rights organisations. Simeon explains the controversial EU proposal known as “Chat Control” and explores what mandatory scanning of private communications could mean for encryption, privacy, security and child protection across Europe.

We discuss:

In this episode of the International Risk Podcast, host Dominic Bowen is joined by Dr. Holly Bell, economist, former professor and academic administrator at the University of Alaska Anchorage, and author of the geopolitical novel Occupied Alaska. Holly shares the real events that inspired her book, drawing on her own work opposing a proposed $43 billion Chinese-backed gas pipeline deal in Alaska, and explains why economic dependence on foreign capital, technology and infrastructure can constrain a nation's sovereignty just as effectively as military force.

We discuss:

In this episode of The International Risk Podcast, Dominic Bowen speaks with Stephanie Wolters about security, governance, and stability across the Democratic Republic of Congo. Stephanie Wolters unpacks why the DRC cannot be ignored, and why the roots of the conflict stretch far beyond its own borders.

The discussion examines the international intervention in DRC, including MONUSCO, and what daily life actually looks like for communities living under armed group control. It also explores Rwanda's influence in the crisis.

The conversation explores:
 
-The regionally-driven roots of the conflict and why it's about power m...

In this episode of the International Risk Podcast, host Dominic Bowen is joined by Kirtan Pandit, conservation researcher and co-founder of GeoSutra, an environmental intelligence company whose team deployed drones within 24 hours of the catastrophic Nepal flood to carry out rapid damage assessments in Nuwakot district. Kirtan shares a firsthand account of the disaster response, drawing on his work using drones to assess and deliver aid to flood affected communities, and explains why this event, and Nepal's growing exposure to glacial hazards, must be understood as a climate risk issue with global implications.

We discuss:

In this episode of the International Risk Podcast, host Dominic Bowen is joined by Vincent Maitre, Swiss lawyer and political representative in Switzerland's National Council. Vincent examines Switzerland’s changing political and economic landscape and explains what the country’s controversial 10 million referendum reveals about immigration, housing, direct democracy, and political stability. Drawing on his experience as a Swiss National Councillor and lawyer in Geneva, he explores the tensions between population growth and economic competitiveness, the role of consensus politics, and why Switzerland’s approach to democracy and neutrality matters in a rapidly changing Europe.

We discuss:

In this episode of the International Risk Podcast, host Dominic Bowen is joined by Tal Kollender, former military cyber specialist, cybersecurity expert, and CEO of Remedio. Tal explores the rapidly evolving cyber risk landscape and explains why businesses must rethink cybersecurity as a strategic and geopolitical risk—not simply an IT problem. Drawing on her experience working with global enterprises and at the intersection of cybersecurity, operational resilience, and geopolitical risk, she examines how nation-state attacks, AI, zero-day vulnerabilities, configuration drift, and increasingly autonomous AI tools are changing the threat landscape.

We discuss:

The International Risk Podcast with Lucy Wark

In this episode, we explore how artificial intelligence is actually reshaping labour markets, not the headline version where everyone loses their job overnight, but the messier, still-unfolding reality visible in the data so far. We break down what economists mean when they say a job is "exposed" to AI, why that word gets misread as a prediction of job loss, and why the real question isn't whether AI is powerful but whether it's being used to replace workers or make them more productive. From junior employees in software engineering and...

The International Risk Podcast with Federico Saleri

In this episode, we explore how Europe’s rapidly changing security environment is reshaping the risks facing businesses, why geopolitical disruption can no longer be treated as a temporary shock, and how companies can build resilience against an increasingly unpredictable threat landscape. From Russia’s war in Ukraine and hybrid warfare to sabotage, critical infrastructure vulnerabilities and supply-chain disruption, geopolitical risk is increasingly something boards and executive teams must actively prepare for and govern.

We discuss:
- How Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has transformed the risk enviro...

Third-Party Risk: What Companies Get Wrong | The International Risk Podcast with Tom Garrubba

As organisations increasingly rely on outsourcing, cloud providers, and complex global supply chains, third-party risk has become one of the biggest challenges facing business leaders. But where do organisations most often go wrong—and how can they build more resilient supplier relationships?

In this episode, we explore how organisations can strengthen third-party risk assurance through better supplier due diligence, governance, and ongoing oversight.

We break down:
- Why third-party risk has evolved far beyond procurement and contract management
...

In this episode of The International Risk Podcast, host Dominic Bowen is joined by Lisa Sachs, Director of the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment at Columbia University's Climate School, to unpack why critical minerals have become one of the defining forces in global geopolitics, economics and security, and why the countries richest in them so often stay poor.

Sachs draws on two decades advising governments, investors and international institutions on resource governance to explain why minerals like lithium, cobalt and copper are not a new story but a long overlooked one, now thrust into the headlines by...

In this episode, we explore how artificial intelligence is transforming power, accountability, and trust inside organisations. From algorithmic hiring and performance management to the legal risks of "shadow AI" and workplace surveillance, we discuss what businesses need to understand as AI increasingly shapes employment decisions.

We discuss:
How far AI has already moved into hiring, performance management, and employment decisions
Whether our legal systems and employment frameworks are prepared for accelerating AI capability
What "human in the loop" really means, and the legal risks when it's missing
Real-world litigation, including the Workday hiring-discrimination...

Is Hong Kong Still Safe for Business? | The International Risk Podcast with Megan Khoo

Hong Kong has long been regarded as one of the world's safest and most attractive places to do business. But following the introduction of the National Security Law, growing geopolitical tensions between China and the West, and increasing scrutiny from international governments, many organisations are reassessing the risks of operating in the territory.

In this episode, we explore how Hong Kong's changing political and legal landscape is reshaping the business environment, what international companies should understand before investing or...

In this episode of The International Risk Podcast, Dominic Bowen speaks with Ibrahim Aboubacar Hama about climate change and its impact on food security, livelihoods, and stability across West Africa. Ibrahim shares what climate change looks like on the ground, and why national strategies often don't match lived reality.

The discussion examines whether government frameworks like Senegal's agenda can keep pace with a food security crisis that's projected to nearly double during the lean season, and why bridging the gap between science and affected communities is still one of the region's biggest challenges. We also explore the...

Jennifer Parker examines the rapidly changing security environment across the Indo-Pacific and explains why maritime competition, strategic deterrence, and AUKUS matter far beyond defence circles. Drawing on her experience as a former Royal Australian Navy warfare officer and defence strategist, she explores the growing risks posed by China's military expansion, the future of Australia's submarine capability, and why governments and businesses alike must rethink their assumptions about global security.

We discuss:

- Why the Indo-Pacific has become the world's most strategically contested region
- What AUKUS is designed to achieve and the risks and...

In this episode of The International Risk Podcast, host Dominic Bowen is joined by Lord Peter Ricketts, the UK's first National Security Advisor, former Permanent Under-Secretary at the Foreign Office, and former British Ambassador to France, to unpack what Andy Burnham's rise to Downing Street means for Britain's place in the world.

Ricketts examines why Burnham, arriving as the UK's seventh Prime Minister in ten years with almost no track record on foreign policy, inherits a fragile but consequential legacy from Keir Starmer, from steadfast support for Ukraine to a more assertive European security posture. He explains...

This re-released and condensed episode with Elizabeth Bullock examines the lived reality of modern conflict in Ukraine, drawing on her three years providing frontline humanitarian aid. From evacuating civilians under fire to navigating the evolving threats of drones, hypersonic missiles, and weaponised infrastructure, Elizabeth provides an unflinching look at how war shapes both society and strategy and what it reveals about the future of global security.

We discuss:

In this episode of The International Risk Podcast, host Dominic Bowen is joined by Professor Michele Goodwin, a leading bioethicist and constitutional law scholar at Georgetown Law, to unpack the history, law, and power structures shaping reproductive rights in America.

Goodwin challenges the assumption that abortion criminalization has always been the norm, tracing its roots to the U.S. Civil War and the political battle over slavery. She explains why the Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade wasn't simply a return to democratic decision-making, why abortion is medically far safer than pregnancy itself, and why today's map...

In this episode of The International Risk Podcast, host Dominic Bowen is joined by Peter Bendor-Samuel, founder and executive chairman of Everest Group and one of the world's leading experts on IT services and enterprise transformation, to unpack the forces reshaping global outsourcing, offshoring and near-shoring.

Bendor-Samuel challenges the assumption that AI is set to end labor arbitrage, arguing that companies willing to change how they operate are already seeing major productivity gains without moving work back onshore. He explains why India's dominance in tech services delivery isn't going anywhere, why the falling cost of cyberattacks is...

As India cements its position as one of the world's leading technology and outsourcing hubs, international organisations face an increasingly complex cyber, legal, and regulatory environment.

In this episode of The International Risk Podcast, Dominic Bowen speaks with N.S. Nappinai, Senior Advocate at the Supreme Court of India and one of the country's leading experts on cyber law, data protection, and digital governance.

The conversation explores how businesses can navigate India's rapidly evolving cyber and data protection landscape while balancing innovation, compliance, and operational resilience. From outsourcing technology services and cross-border data...

In this episode of The International Risk Podcast, Dominic Bowen speaks with Dr Duncan Depledge about climate change and its growing impact on the world's militaries.

This conversation looks at the geopolitics of the Arctic, the role of energy and logistics in warfare, and the growing competition across the High North, exploring how environmental change has become a central concern in defence planning.

 Duncan explains why it is a problem for militaries today rather than in the future, and why armed forces now treat a warming world as a practical operational challenge instead of a d...

This could be the most controversial World Cup in history. In this episode of The International Risk Podcast, host Dominic Bowen is joined by Professor Simon Chadwick, one of the world's leading experts on the geopolitical economy of sport, to unpack the politics behind the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Chadwick challenges the term "sportswashing," arguing it has been selectively applied by the global north while similar issues in co-hosts Mexico and Canada go largely unexamined. He explains why recent tournaments reveal the limits of soft power in sport, why hard power increasingly defines how host nations operate, and...

For more than six decades, USAID sat at the centre of the global humanitarian and development system. A little over a year ago, USAID became one of the first targets of the Trump administration’s DOGE campaign. Today, the hum and development sector is grappling with profound uncertainty at precisely the moment humanitarian needs are growing, especially with the rise in intrastate conflicts. What has the loss of USAID meant in practice? How are communities responding? And what does the future of international development look like in a world of shrinking aid budgets but rising humanitarian need? 

And...

This episode hosts David Daley to examine the accelerating role of gerrymandering in shaping American democracy and what it reveals about the pressures facing modern electoral systems. The conversation explores his argument that democratic strain is driven not only by electoral cycles or individual political choices, but by the deliberate drawing of electoral maps that enables political actors to select their voters, weaken accountability, and reshape the incentives that underpin democratic competition. Daley argues that while gerrymandering has long been part of American politics, its contemporary form is defined by greater precision, scale, and the degree to...

This episode hosts David Higgins to explore the complex and often misunderstood boundary between military operations, humanitarian action, and political stabilisation in modern conflict environments. Drawing on two decades of experience across the British Army, the United Nations, and geopolitical advisory work, we look at how different institutions operating in the same space can interpret the same conflict in fundamentally different ways, and how those differences shape outcomes on the ground. 

The discussion focuses on David’s central argument that civil-military coordination frameworks still assume a level of clarity between “military space” and “civilian space” that increasingly no longer e...

This episode hosts Erez Levin to examine the shifting boundaries of acceptable public speech and what this reveals about the health of modern democratic societies. The conversation explores his central argument that liberal democracies depend not only on formal legal frameworks, but also on informal social guardrails, shared moral taboos that limit the public acceptability of overt hateful bigotry and dehumanising rhetoric. As these guardrails weaken in fragmented and algorithmically driven information environments, previously marginal forms of rhetoric can become more visible, more tolerated, and in some cases gradually normalised within mainstream political discourse.

Erez...

In this episode of The International Risk Podcast, Dominic Bowen speaks with Phil Booth, coordinator of medConfidential and a long-standing campaigner on medical confidentiality, patient consent and data governance, about what Palantir’s growing role in the NHS reveals about public trust, private technology companies and the data infrastructure increasingly underpinning the modern state. 

The conversation examines the NHS Federated Data Platform, the use of Palantir Foundry and the wider risks that arise when critical public infrastructure becomes dependent on private technology companies. Phil argues that the central issue is...