Brian J Matos Brian J Matos

While the world watches in amazement as the best athletes on Earth compete for the top global prizes in their respective sport, there are criminals lurking in the shadows of these events and behind the scenes. 
Joining Brian to discuss the dark sidelines of these international competitions is Claudia Villa. She is an International Safeguarding Specialist & Consultant with experiences working in humanitarian and sport safeguarding, including International Sport Federations, National Governing Bodies, Sport Governance and Management as well as Major Event Hosting.  
As a Safeguarding Advisor, Claudia ensures that the Centre for Sport & Human Rights’ safeguarding governance, systems, policy and procedures are implemented effectively across the organisation. Claudia also advises on safeguarding best practices across different projects that the Centre for Sport & Human Rights is undertaking. In addition,  Claudia is part of the Council of Europe pool of international experts on safe sport and  International Safeguards for Children in Sport working group.
In this conversation, Brian and Claudia cover a range of human rights issues related to major sporting events inlcuding the exploitation of athletes and event workers as well as criminal groups who target attendees, tourists and immigrants as well as children and other vulnerable people. 
Claudia highlights the need for awareness and prevention measures, as well as the importance of establishing clear jurisdiction for law enforcement and collaboration among a complex web of stakeholders. She emphasizes the need for clear policies, procedures, and independent oversight to protect athletes, fans, local populations and workers. She also discusses the role of attendees and sponsors in promoting safeguarding protocols. 
To learn more about Claudia Villa and her work:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claudia-villa-757a9a41/ Website: https://www.sporthumanrights.org/about-us/who-we-are/claudia-villa Human Trafficking is a crime involving the exploitation of someone for the purposes of compelled labor or a commercial sex act through the use of force, fraud, or coercion. Where a person younger than 18 is induced to perform a commercial sex act, it is a crime regardless of whether there is any force, fraud, or coercion. Victims can be anyone from around the world or right next door: women and men, adults and children, citizens and noncitizens alike.
If you live in the United States, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 to:
GET HELP and connect with a service provider in your area; REPORT A TIP with information on potential human trafficking activity; or LEARN MORE by requesting training, technical assistance, or resources. The National Human Trafficking Hotline is a national, toll-free hotline available to answer calls from anywhere in the country, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year. The Hotline is not a law enforcement or immigration authority and is operated by a nongovernmental organization funded by the Federal government.
Individuals across the world can report suspicious criminal activity to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Tip Line. The Tip Line is accessible internationally by calling 1-802-872-6199. Highly trained specialists take reports from both the public and law enforcement agencies on more than 400 laws enforced by ICE HSI, including those related to human trafficking.
If you suspect someone in your community may be a victim of human trafficking or abuse, the U.S. State Department has compiled a full list of resources including the ones listed in this description: https://www.state.gov/domestic-trafficking-hotlines/ and most countries around the world have set up sites with similar resources for their constituents. 
Find more episodes like this at http://www.brianjmatos.com/
Question for Brian? Email: info@brianjmatos.com or DM on Twitt

Nick Denning, Diegesis CEO, joins Brian for a second conversation on the current and emerging challenges in cybersecurity that every leader needs to know to protect their organization and the public should be aware of. Season 1, Episode 6 was the first converstion for those who want a refresher.
In this conversation, Brian and Nick discuss the increasing publicity of ransomware attacks and data breaches, as well as the challenges businesses face in protecting themselves from the growingh threat. They explore the impact of cyber attacks on insurance programs and the difficulty in obtaining insurance coverage for ransomware. They also discuss the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in cybersecurity, the potential risks and benefits of generative AI, and the need for explainability in AI decision-making. The conversation touches on the importance of proactive cybersecurity measures, such as the United Kingdom's Cyber Essentials framework, and the advantages of moving business data to "the cloud" for enhanced security. 
As a reminder, Nick is the CEO of Diegesis, a UK-based tech consultancy supporting organizations looking to develop, integrate or migrate legacy systems to the latest, cutting-edge frameworks. His team also delivers a cyber security management platform called Cyber Security Policy Monitor (CSPM) to help small and medium sized businesses set up appropriate and cost effective security policies.
A mathematics graduate, Nick started his career serving as an Officer in the British Army leaving the Royal Signals as a Captain after 8 years’ of service, spend three years at Logica, then the UK’s leading system house before starting his first company Strategic Thought Group, in 1987.  STG floated on AIM in 2005 to develop their risk management product Active Risk Manager, used by Lockheed Martin to manage risk on the Lockheed Martin F35 development.  
As a company director with his broad background of software development, consultancy, entrepreneurship and business leadership, Nick is well qualified to discuss all aspects of modern cybersecurity risks. He guides organizations large and small on digital transformation, the management of associated risk and how to delivery great business outcomes while placing security by design at the heart of all projects.  He is a strong supporter of the UK government Cyber Essentials scheme, for which certification is available for organizations worldwide, promoting CE through sales of CSPM.
To learn more about Nick Denning, his company and his work:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/nickdenning Twitter: @NickHDenning Websites: http://www.diegesis.co.uk and https://policymonitor.co.uk/ Find more episodes like this at http://www.brianjmatos.com/
Question for Brian? Email: info@brianjmatos.com or DM on Twitter @BrianJMatos

Brian interviews David Evan Harris, a Chancellor’s Public Scholar at UC Berkeley and a continuing lecturer at the Haas School of Business. The main topic of the conversation is the race to safeguard against the risks of artifical intelligence misuse.
 
David teaches courses including AI Ethics for Leaders; Social Movements & Social Media; Civic Technology; and Scenario Planning & Futures Thinking. Harris is an affiliated faculty member with the Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society (CITRIS); Center for Latin American Studies; Center for Equity, Gender, and Leadership (EGAL); and the Business and Public Policy Group at UC Berkeley.
 
In this episode, Brian and David discuss the current state of AI adoption and regulation. A key topic of conversation is the "dual use" of AI and the need for regulations to address both its civilian and weaponized applications. Harris emphasizes the importance of catching up with AI development and implementing guardrails to prevent misuse. He also discusses the regulation race between China and the European Union. In terms of AI's impact on democracies, Harris expresses concerns about deepfakes, AI-generated content, and the use of encrypted messaging platforms for election interference. The conversation covers the use of encrypted messaging platforms for disinformation, the controversy at OpenAI regarding governance issues, the balance between profit motives and ethics in AI companies, and the need for regulation in advanced AI development.
In his previous role at Meta (formerly Facebook), David managed teams of quantitative and qualitative researchers working on responsible AI, social impact, and civic integrity. During his close to five years with the company, he and his teams covered topic areas including AI fairness and inclusion; AI governance and accountability; global election integrity; misinformation; coordinated inauthentic behavior; hate speech; human rights; political violence; harassment and online safety for activists, journalists, and politicians; community organizing; civic participation; racial justice; authoritative information; volunteering and non-profit organizations.
At the Institute for the Future (IFTF), he served as research director, leading research on the future of media, philanthropy, governance, international development, and social movements from 2008-2018. Harris studied at the University of São Paulo (MS, Sociology) and UC Berkeley (BA, Political Economy of Environment & Development). As a student, he was an intern at the White House Council on Environmental Quality and a confidential assistant at the Office of Management and Budget, Natural Resources Division.

To learn more about David Evan Harris:
UC-BERKLEY BIO: https://haas.berkeley.edu/faculty/harris-david/ X: http://www.twitter.com/davidevanharris LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidevanharris/ Find more episodes like this at http://www.brianjmatos.com/
Question for Brian? Email: info@brianjmatos.com or DM on Twitter @BrianJMatos

Brian interviews Matthew Ebert, founder and principal of Ebert Educational Consulting and a former Baltimore Public School principal, about the state of the education system in the U.S. Matthew has 20+ years of experience in education, primarily focused on school leadership in urban settings. Matthew's consulting is grounded in his experiences as a teacher, director of academic innovation, academy leader, and a decade of successful leadership as a public charter school principal. 
 
The conversation starts with an overview of the fundamental structure and philosophy of the American education system including the distinction between neighborhood schools and charter schools as well as the role socio-economic factors play in determining school environment quality. Brian and Matthew explore the question of whether the current American education system is capable of meeting the demands of the modern economy.
 
Matthew and his consulting firm emphasize the importance of focusing on teacher care and development as a vital part of improving student achievement, especially in large, urban school districts. This topic is covered before the discussion shifts to addressing the challenges and opportunities in under-resourced schools and the need for improved early childhood education options tailored to the needs of diverse students. 
 
Other topics include classroom size, tailoring education to students' strengths, the impact of technology in classrooms, the rise of homeschooling, and the multifaceted role of schools beyond education in modern society. The conversation concludes with a focus on school safety, curriculum development, and the questions to ask political candidates about their views on education.
To learn more about Matthew Ebert and his consulting practice, visit his website and social media pages:
WEBSITE: https://eberteducationalconsulting.com/ INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/eberteducationalconsulting/ X: https://twitter.com/eberteducation LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ebert-educational-consulting/ Find more episodes like this at http://www.brianjmatos.com/
Question for Brian? Email: info@brianjmatos.com or DM on Twitter @BrianJMatos

Brian interviews Jennie Chan, a Chinese medicine practitioner, Qigong (pronounced chee-guhng) instructor and founder of Spectra Wellbeing, a wellness company promoting the practice of Qigong in individivual and group settings. 
Brian and Jennie explore her personal story from high-powered, high-stress finance professional to traditional medicine practitioner. In this conversation, Jennie explains the different aspects of traditional Chinese medicine, including acupuncture, herbal remedies, and physical practices like Tai Chi and Qigong and their observed and potential benefits to our overall health.
Qigong, specifically, is a mindfulness practice that combines movement, breathwork, and meditation to nurture and cultivate vital energy (qi). The practice can be particularly beneficial for managing health and wellness in high-stress environments.
Jennie stresses the importance of adjusting diet and general exercise along with the unique benefits of movement therapy in promoting overall physcial, mental and emotional health by helping people achieve a state of relaxation and calm. She also explores the role of sound in healing and the integration of Qigong routines into daily life. The discussion also highlights the complementary nature of traditional Chinese medicine with Western medicine and the growing interest in Qigong as an alternative healing practice outside Asia.
To learn more about Jennie Chan visit her website and social media pages:
WEBSITE: https://spectrawellbe.com/ INSTAGRAM: @spectrawellbe FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/spectrawellbe/ LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/spectra-wellbeing/ Find more episodes like this at http://www.brianjmatos.com/
Question for Brian? Email: info@brianjmatos.com or DM on Twitter @BrianJMatos

Brian welcomes demographic consultant, Bradley Schurman, back to the series for an updated and in-depth conversation on how key demographic trends are likely to impact politics, business, culture and societies around the world in the years to come. Bradley stands at the forefront of navigating the complexities of demographic evolution as the visionary Founder and CEO of Human Change, an entity born from his earlier initiative, The Super Age. He is also Co-Founder of #NewRules Media a newsletter and forthcoming podcast centered around resilience, innovation, and new ways to navigate the complexities of our turbulent and sharply divided times.
With a keen eye on the horizon, Bradley specializes in equipping leaders with the insights and tools necessary to tackle the multifaceted challenges that demographic shifts entail. 
In this episode, Brian and Bradley discuss how demographics will play a significant role in the 2024 U.S. national election, including how age, the urban-rural divide, and ethnic/racial differences may impact voter's decisions on whether or not to vote and who to vote for. Generational shifts in political alignment are occurring, with younger generations becoming a larger share of the electorate around the world, but we don't know exactly how their voting habits will evolve or how political parties will adapt thier messages to reach this emerging voting bloc. 
The conversation includes an important segment on creating an age-inclusive workplace for businesses to retain talent and adapt to the changing labor market. They topic of fragmented media consumption is also addressed including how challenging it is becoming for any single voice to reach a mass audience.
You can purchase THE SUPER AGE: DECODING OUR DEMOGRAPHIC DESTINY anywhere you get your books including on his website: https://www.thesuperage.com/book and Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Super-Age-Decoding-Demographic-Destiny/dp/0063048752
Follow Bradley Schurman on your favorite social media platform:
LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradleyschurman/ SUBSTACK: https://newrulesmedia.substack.com/ FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/bradleyschurman/ X: @bradleyschurman Find more episodes like this at http://www.brianjmatos.com/
Question for Brian? Email: info@brianjmatos.com or DM on Twitter @BrianJMatos