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World Affairs Council of Greater Houston
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Stay informed on global affairs with the World Affairs Council of Greater Houston Podcast. Featuring expert insights from world leaders, diplomats, and thought leaders, this podcast brings you the impactful discussions and engaging conversations from our live events—now available anytime, anywhere. Gain a deeper understanding of international issues, global economies, and cultural perspectives that shape our world. Tune in and stay globally connected.

  1. Oct 8

    TGL 37 | SUDAN, HAITI, GAZA - The Crises Nobody Is Talking About - Senior VP of IRC Ciarán Donnelly

    A humanitarian crisis doesn’t announce itself — but Ciaran Donnelly, Senior Vice President for Crisis Response, Recovery and Development at the International Rescue Committee, sees the warning signs before most of the world looks up. In this episode of The Greater Loop, host Maryanne Maldonado sits down with Donnelly to tour the IRC’s 2026 Emergency Watch List, from the collapsed peace deal driving renewed conflict in South Sudan to the world’s largest humanitarian crisis unfolding in Sudan itself. They cover the IRC’s work in Gaza, the gang-controlled collapse of state authority in Haiti, and the frontline support keeping Ukrainian communities through another hard winter. Plus: the overlooked crises in Afghanistan, Yemen, and Ethiopia that rarely make headlines, and what keeps Donnelly hopeful after 25 years in the field. Hosted by Maryanne Maldonado | The Greater Loop — A podcast of the World Affairs Council of Greater Houston Subscribe for global affairs content that connects the world to your world. What’s Covered The IRC’s annual Emergency Watch List and why it ranks crises by risk of deterioration, not just severitySouth Sudan’s collapsed 2018 peace deal and the return to conflict driving a worsening humanitarian emergencySudan’s civil war as the world’s largest ongoing humanitarian crisis, and its spillover into neighboring countriesThe IRC’s work in Gaza since December 2023 — malnutrition services, mental health support, and water delivery under severe constraintsHow humanitarian neutrality works in practice when operating alongside the Israeli government and other state and non-state actorsHaiti’s collapsed state authority, gang control of Port-au-Prince, and famine-level food insecurityThe IRC’s early, preemptive response in Ukraine and its ongoing work near the front lines ahead of winterDangerously overlooked crises — Afghanistan, Yemen, and a resurging conflict in Ethiopia’s Tigray regionWhy Donnelly believes the world has entered an era of permanent humanitarian crisis, and where he finds hope anywayAbout the World Affairs Council of Greater Houston The World Affairs Council of Greater Houston believes that understanding the world isn’t optional, it’s essential. For more than 50 years, the Council has brought the diplomats, journalists, experts, and world leaders who shaped global events for honest, unfiltered conversations about what’s really happening globally. Learn more at wachouston.org.

    TGL 37 | SUDAN, HAITI, GAZA - The Crises Nobody Is Talking About - Senior VP of IRC Ciarán Donnelly

  2. Sep 17

    TGL 36 | The AfD Wins — Now What? - Former President of the European Parliament Hans-Gert Pöttering

    A single state election result put a number on Germany's anxiety — 44 percent — but says former European Parliament President Hans-Gert Pöttering, the real story is what comes next. In this episode of The Greater Loop, host Maryanne Maldonado sits down with Pöttering, who led the European Parliament from 2007 to 2009 and spent four decades at the center of European politics, to unpack the AfD's rise in Saxony-Anhalt, what's driving support for the party in the former East, and why he insists the numbers shouldn't be exaggerated even as he takes the threat seriously. Plus: the fraying trust in the US-Europe relationship, what a stronger AfD could mean for German support of Ukraine, and Pöttering's case for why nationalism, in the end, always means war. Hosted by Maryanne Maldonado | The Greater Loop — A podcast of the World Affairs Council of Greater Houston Subscribe for global affairs content that connects the world to your world. What's Covered The AfD's 44 percent showing in Saxony-Anhalt — and why Pöttering says context matters before conclusionsWhy Eastern Germany's post-reunification experience shapes AfD support and skepticism toward backing UkraineThe erosion of transatlantic trust — from Eisenhower and Dean Rusk to today's tensionsWhat an AfD role at the federal level could mean for the EU and the euroA tour of Europe's right-wing landscape: Meloni's Italy, Orbán's Hungary, and the shifting French rightGermany's energy dependence on Russia and the case for closer US-German cooperation on LNGThe unfinished project of European integration — and the European Parliament's growing power under the Treaty of LisbonPöttering's closing message to Americans: support freedom in Europe, and be wary of nationalism's costs

    TGL 36 | The AfD Wins — Now What? - Former President of the European Parliament Hans-Gert Pöttering

  3. Sep 14

    P Series 21 | 6 Minutes After Impact: Inside the Pentagon on 9/11 | FBI Commander Christopher Combs

    On the morning of September 11th, 2001, only minutes after the first plane hit the World Trade Center’s North Tower, former FBI Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Christopher Combs was racing to the airport to fly to and assist in New York. As an FBI Counterterrorism leader, he was needed immediately at the Twin Towers; but he received another urgent message – a massive explosion had just hit the Pentagon. Combs quickly rerouted. He arrived at the devastation and chaos at the Pentagon, only 6 minutes after the attack. The world’s largest office building was ablaze, unknown numbers had been killed and many more were injured – and trapped inside. While overseeing the immense investigation and enormous, ongoing rescue operations, Combs also had to content with the imminent threat of a major structural collapse of the western side of the Pentagon and a new alert that 4th hijacked plane was only minutes away from Washington D.C. – a possible 2nd strike on the Pentagon. For the next many tense and harrowing weeks following 9/11, Combs served as the FBI On-Scene Commander at the Pentagon and then as the FBI representative to Unified Command for the duration of on-scene operations. In addition to his work on-site at the Pentagon, Combs was part of the FBI’s leadership that would uncover and thwart numerous terrorist attacks orchestrated to kill Americans across the U.S. and abroad. In commemoration of the 25th anniversary of 9/11, Combs presents a unique, expert and first-hand account of Al Qaeda’s attack on the Pentagon and the U.S.’s ensuing counterterrorism decisions and actions, which have shaped not just our nation, but much of the world, since 2001. About the speaker: Christopher Combs is Chief Security Officer at Phillips 66 and a retired FBI Special Agent in Charge with 26 years of federal law enforcement experience. Prior to joining Phillips 66, he led the FBI’s San Antonio Field Office and held senior leadership roles in counterterrorism, crisis response, and national security operations. Throughout his career, Combs directed responses to major national incidents, including the 9/11 Pentagon attack, the 2001 anthrax attacks, the Sutherland Springs church shooting, and the Austin serial bombing investigation. He is also a Senior Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School’s Ash Center. About the World Affairs Council of Greater Houston The World Affairs Council of Greater Houston believes that understanding the world isn't optional, it's essential. For more than 50 years, the Council has brought the diplomats, journalist, experts, and world leaders who shaped global events for honest, unfiltered conversations about what's really happening globally. Learn more at wachouston.org

    P Series 21 | 6 Minutes After Impact: Inside the Pentagon on 9/11 | FBI Commander Christopher Combs

  4. Sep 10

    TGL 35 | When America Leads, America Can Win - Tom Selinger

    Ask an American diplomat what he'd tell the next president, and the answer isn't policy — it's relationships. In this episode of The Greater Loop, host Maryanne Maldonado sits down with Tom Selinger, Executive Director of the Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training and a 27-year Foreign Service veteran, to trace 250 years of American diplomacy — from Benjamin Franklin's fur-cap debut at the French court to today's era of great power competition. They dig into what made Franklin's diplomacy revolutionary, the 1924 reform that professionalized the Foreign Service, the unseen embassy staff who keep the mission running, and the diplomatic wins and failures that shaped the modern era. Plus: what young Foreign Service officers need to succeed today, and why Selinger insists diplomacy is nothing like a business transaction. Hosted by Maryanne Maldonado | The Greater Loop — A podcast of the World Affairs Council of Greater Houston Subscribe for global affairs content that connects the world to your world. What's Covered Benjamin Franklin's unconventional diplomacy in Paris and how he won French support for the RevolutionThe Rogers Act of 1924 and the birth of a professional, nonpartisan Foreign ServiceWhat actually happens inside an embassy — from local staff and medical teams to security specialistsUntold diplomatic successes, including the evacuation of 2,500 Americans from Sierra Leone and James Baker's role in German reunificationA candid look at diplomatic failure: the early US response to the Balkans crisisHow career diplomats balance professional continuity with implementing a new administration's policyThe skills the next generation of diplomats will need — curiosity, flexibility, and resilienceSelinger's advice for the next US president: diplomacy is relationship-building, not a transaction

    TGL 35 | When America Leads, America Can Win - Tom Selinger

  5. Sep 3

    TGL 34 | Trump Has Underestimated Canadians - Dr. Christopher Sands

    Trade wars are rarely about trade alone — the real question, says Johns Hopkins SAIS trade expert Dr. Christopher Sands, is whether either side can afford to keep digging in. In this episode of The Greater Loop, host Maryanne Maldonado sits down with Sands to unpack how the US-Canada relationship went from decades of stable alliance to full-blown tariff escalation in just eighteen months, what's really driving Trump's approach to Canada, and whether Carney's "no deal is better than a bad deal" stance can hold. Plus: the ripple effects on American households and small businesses, the political theater behind the Lake Ontario renaming, and what's actually at stake for USMCA's future. Hosted by Maryanne Maldonado | The Greater Loop — A podcast of the World Affairs Council of Greater Houston Subscribe for global affairs content that connects the world to your world. What's Covered How eighteen months of tariffs, IEEPA rulings, and Section 122 and 338 actions took the US-Canada relationship from USMCA cooperation to open trade warTrump's long game: reshoring industry, "Buy America," and why he views Canada as free-riding on US defenseMark Carney's political comeback — uniting Canada's provinces and opposition around a hardline stanceThe Lake Ontario/"Lake America" flashpoint and what it reveals about Trump's negotiating styleWhy small and mid-sized businesses are absorbing the brunt of retaliatory tariffs, and what it means for inflationCanada's September 8th retaliation and the looming January 2027 US counter-retaliationThe future of USMCA: can a 16-year renewal survive this level of legal and political frictionSands' case for what a real North American trade bloc could still become — if both sides can find their way back to the table

    TGL 34 | Trump Has Underestimated Canadians - Dr. Christopher Sands

  6. Aug 20

    TGL 33 | Is The U.S. Winning In Iran? - Michael O'Hanlon

    Fear of a wider war is easy — the harder question, says defense strategist Michael O'Hanlon of the Brookings Institution, is how this one actually ends. In this episode of The Greater Loop, host Maryanne Maldonado sits down with O'Hanlon, six months into the US-Iran conflict, to unpack why "short war" predictions almost always fail, what's really happening in the Strait of Hormuz, and whether Iran is betting it can outlast Washington politically. Plus: the strain in the US-Israel relationship, what role China and Russia are playing behind the scenes, and O'Hanlon's blunt definition of what "winning" should actually mean. Hosted by Maryanne Maldonado | The Greater Loop — A podcast of the World Affairs Council of Greater Houston Subscribe for global affairs content that connects the world to your world. What's Covered Why leaders who promise short wars are almost always wrong — and how overconfidence shaped the US-Iran conflictIran's Strait of Hormuz strategy: wearing down the US economy ahead of the midtermsIs diplomacy still realistic? What has to happen before talks can actually workThe strained state of US-Israel alignment and Netanyahu's influence on Trump's decision-makingHow China and Russia are indirectly propping up Iran's ability to withstand the warWhy the Gulf states are stuck between fear of Iran and fear of all-out confrontationSuccession inside Iran's leadership — and why the next generation may be even harder lineO'Hanlon's case for what "winning" should really mean: reopening the Strait, ending the violence, and curtailing Iran's nuclear ambitions

    TGL 33 | Is The U.S. Winning In Iran? - Michael O'Hanlon

  7. Aug 6

    TGL 32 | AI Won't Take Your Job. Standing Still Will - Leon Coe

    Fear of AI is everywhere — but according to Leon Coe, founder of Amplify Intelligence and president of the Houston AI Club, the only way that fear becomes reality is by doing nothing about it. In this episode of The Greater Loop, host Maryanne Maldonado sits down with "the Houston AI guy" to unpack what AI actually is, why compute is becoming the new oil, and how Houston — with its energy, medicine, and shipping muscle — could quietly become the applied AI capital of the world. Plus: who should write the rules for AI, the biggest AI myths still floating around, and why Leon's boldest predictions for 2026 came true months ahead of schedule.

    TGL 32 | AI Won't Take Your Job. Standing Still Will - Leon Coe

  8. Jul 14

    TGL 31 | America's Foreign Policy Report Card: The Best and the Worst - James Lindsay CFR

    What makes a foreign policy decision great? And what turns one into a historic catastrophe? Jim Lindsay, Senior Vice President at the Council on Foreign Relations, surveyed hundreds of historians from the world's largest professional association devoted to US foreign policy, and asked them to rank the 10 best and 10 worst decisions in American history, spanning from the Declaration of Independence in 1776 all the way to 2020. The results are fascinating, sobering, and uncomfortably relevant right now. The best decision? The Marshall Plan, the post-WWII commitment that rebuilt Western Europe, pushed back Soviet expansion, and solidified democracy across the continent. The worst? The US invasion of Iran, a war launched on pretenses, followed by a bloody occupation that squandered blood and treasure for little strategic gain. But the list doesn't stop there. The refusal to admit Jewish refugees before World War II. The Vietnam War doubling down. The Senate's rejection of the Treaty of Versailles. And the lessons embedded in each one that echo loudly in the decisions being made right now. Hosted by Maryanne Maldonado | The Greater Loop: A podcast of the World Affairs Council of Houston Subscribe for global affairs content that connects the world to your world. Topics covered: The #1 best US foreign policy decision — and why historians agreed overwhelmingly The #1 worst — and what it reveals about military overreach Why foreign policy failures come from doing too much AND too little The Jewish refugee crisis as a foreign policy failure of inaction Vietnam: how LBJ doubled down on a war he didn't believe in The Marshall Plan's secret — George Kennan's two words: "Avoid trivia" America's isolationist era and what it cost the world What history tells us about global leadership vs. turning inward How to find CFR's full ranking of 120 decisions at CFR.org   Check the upcoming program with James Lindsay https://wachouston.org/event/james_lindsay/

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About

Stay informed on global affairs with the World Affairs Council of Greater Houston Podcast. Featuring expert insights from world leaders, diplomats, and thought leaders, this podcast brings you the impactful discussions and engaging conversations from our live events—now available anytime, anywhere. Gain a deeper understanding of international issues, global economies, and cultural perspectives that shape our world. Tune in and stay globally connected.

Information

  • Creator
    World Affairs Council of Greater Houston
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    58
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 World Affairs Council of Greater Houston
  • Show Website
    WAC Houston

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