The Orientalist Express Podcast

The Orientalist Express Team
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The Orientalist Express Podcast

A podcast series by The Orientalist Express that seeks to make foreign affairs interesting and understandable to everyday people.

  1. JAN 23

    Why Are We Here, Episode 1: The Phantom Presence

    We we begin a new administration in Washington, it’s clear that the old way of doing things in American foreign policy needs to be critically evaluated and reconsidered. Core assumptions about why America is involved around the world and why it matters can no longer be taken for granted. The American people have spoken, and it’s time those of us committed to the “traditional” view of American foreign policy need to adapt. So that’s why we’ve decided to shift gears on this podcast with a new series that seeks to challenge long-held beliefs and worldviews about the international order and the “Washington Consensus.” “Why Are We Here” will take a critical look at America’s engagement in places all over the world and try to understand where it makes sense for America to engage, and where it makes sense to pull back our involvement. In “Why Are We Here, Episode I: The Phantom Presence,” we take a very broad look at the U.S.-led international order that has been in place for over 75 years. The “Liberal International Order” as it’s known, is the set of global organizations like the U.N. and rules like “freedom of trade on the ocean” that America has, for the most part, tried to uphold (as opposed to just letting the strongest country do whatever it wants, they have to follow the rules we all agree to). Was this system really to our benefit? Was it all just an illusion of power?

  2. 12/11/2024

    Episode 41, Catching Up On American Foreign Policy

    On this episode, Nicholas is joined joined once again by Stephen and Matthew in our first episode since the 2024 election. In fact, this is our first regular recording in about two and a half years! On this episode, we’ll engage in wild speculation about what American foreign policy might look like for the incoming administration and why it matters to the average American.

  3. 12/21/2023

    Sudan & South Sudan with Lift Up the Vulnerable

    On this episode, Nicholas is joined by Sasha Nicolle, founder of the nonprofit Emanate International and currently the Advancement Officer for the local nonprofit Lift Up the Vulnerable (LUV). They are an international NGO working primarily in Sudan and South Sudan to prevent the trafficking and oppression of vulnerable children and women. Sasha also appeared on a previous podcast episode a couple years ago which focused on Emanate International and the critical need for us to change the way we think about international development. She has joined today to talk more about LUV, the status of international development in Sudan and South Sudan, and why international development is important for us here at home. LINKS Lift Up the Vulnerable LUV Event The Case for Foreign Aid Emanate International Podcast Episode Power of Community to Affect Change

  4. 09/19/2023

    Episode 38: Grant Miller for Utah State House

    On this episode we’re taking a deep dive into local politics. In particular, we’re going to address some very particular issues currently impacting Salt Lake City, Utah. We have the honor of being joined once again by Grant Miller. Grant is a public defender in Salt Lake City and has recently announced his candidacy for the Utah State House of Representatives for House District 24. Grant joined to discuss his campaign platform and talk through some of the issues most critical to Utah and his proposed solutions. LINKS Grant Miller Campaign Website

  5. 12/07/2022

    Episode 37, USAID with John Patterson

    On this episode, Nicholas is joined by guest star John Patterson. John who works at the U.S. Agency for International Development and is a founding board member and adjunct professor for the University of San Diego's new Master's of Science in Humanitarian Action program. They discuss John’s work with USAID, the link between humanitarian assistance and foreign policy, and Minnesota’s vast connections to international development and refugee assistance programs. LINKS University of San Diego Master’s of Science in Humanitarian Action USAID Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism Food for Peace Program Nagorno-Karabakh War MINN 2020 Global Report Alight (formerly American Refugee Committee) USGLC in Minnesota

  6. 07/15/2022

    Episode 36, The NATO Expansion

    Stephen and Nicholas take a deep dive into the latest NATO summit in Madrid. They discuss the importance of NATO’s invitation to bring Finland & Sweden into the alliance, the dramatic increase of NATO forces in Eastern Europe, and NATO’s new Strategic Concept which places a heavy emphasis on countering China’s aggression. They also explain the overall importance of the thawing Arctic region and American leadership during this critical time in international relations. LINKSBlog Post: The Return of the NATO Alliance Blog Post: The Next Phase of the War in Ukraine Russian Invasion of Georgia NATO Baltic Map NATO 2022 Strategic Concept Quad Alliance Blog Post: Global Policy & Climate Change (Arctic Ocean Shipping Lanes) Blog Post: South China Sea (UN Convention on the Law of the Sea) Global Minnesota Minnesota International NGO Network

  7. 03/09/2022

    Episode 35, The War In Ukraine

    On this special edition of The Orientalist Express podcast, we discuss the devastating invasion of Ukraine by Russia’s military forces. Nicholas and Matthew are joined by returning guest host Toms Ratfelders, who previously worked in the Latvian government, and Steve Hatting, who recently returned from living in Ukraine for the past seven years. The team shares their thoughts on this monumental shift in European security and what it could mean for the future of international relations. Steve also shares his personal experiences in Ukraine and his optimism for the continued survival of Ukraine as an independent nation. LINKSAlight (local org) Rapid Response Team in Poland Ukraine Refugee Assistance Support for Kyiv Jewish Community Euromaidan Press Links for Support Ukrainian Army Support (with Crypto donation) Ukrainian Army Support Ukraine President Zelenskyy Plays Piano

  8. 02/10/2022

    Episode 34, Brianne Wolf On Connecting Nebraska With The World

    On this episode, Nicholas is joined by guest star Brianne Wolf. Brianne is a US Global Leadership Coalition Next Gen Leader and was recently appointed to the USGLC Nebraska Advisory Committee. Brianne works as the Director of Global Learning for the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She recently graduated from the University of Nebraska with a Master’s in Natural Resource Sciences as well. They discuss her small-town upbringing and her work connecting UNL students with the world. They also go through the ways in which America’s global engagement benefits the people of Nebraska. LINKSUSGLC In Nebraska Agribusiness Land O Lakes Venture 37 Blog Post: UN Sustainable Development Goals US SDG Academy Book: The Beauty of what Remains Book: I Contain Multitudes University of Nebraska UN SDG Panel University of Nebraska Global Learning Hub

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A podcast series by The Orientalist Express that seeks to make foreign affairs interesting and understandable to everyday people.

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