Small World, Big Problems

JHU SAIS Philip Merrill Center for Strategic Studies
  • ٥٫٠ (١٥)
  • حكومة

Small World, Big Problems – a SAIS Strategy Podcast. ​A SAIS student podcast supported by the Philip Merrill Center for Strategic Studies. ​In Small World, Big Problems, we ask the experts about the biggest challenges in the world of strategy and national security. ​It’s a small world, and it’s only getting smaller. But it seems like every day, there is a new problem on the horizon: great power conflict, political extremism, climate change – the list goes on and on. In this student podcast sponsored by the Philip Merrill Center for Strategic Studies, we ask leading experts in the fields of national security, strategy, and statecraft about what problems the world is facing and, more importantly, how to solve them. ​Please address any questions to SAISStrategyPodcast@gmail.com.

  1. ٥ فبراير

    Inside Iran with Trita Parsi

    This episode was recorded on Jan 21, 2026. Wasay Mir hosts a conversation with Trita Parsi, Executive Vice President of the Quincy Institute and one of the most influential voices on US-Iran relations in Washington. A Johns Hopkins SAIS PhD and author of four books on American foreign policy in the Middle East, Parsi unpacks Iran's unfolding domestic crisis in January 2026. Seven months after devastating strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities, mass protests have erupted amid economic collapse and an unprecedented regime crackdown. Together, they explore whether this uprising differs from past movements like the Green Revolution or Mahsa Amini protests, what the collapse of Iran's regional proxy network means for the regime's survival, and whether Gulf states actually want a weakened Iran or fear what comes after. Parsi's personal history as the son of an outspoken academic who faced repression under both the Shah and Ayatollah Khomeini provides unique insight into Iranian authoritarianism. Produced by the Phillip Merrill Center for Strategic Studies at Johns Hopkins SAIS. Researched and hosted by Wasay Mir; edited by Vishal Gogusetti

    ٥٤ من الدقائق

  2. ٢١‏/١١‏/٢٠٢٥

    National Security Business: How to Get Started

    Sanjana Polapragada hosts a two-speaker conversation with Robert Miller, a seasoned “startup statesman” who has advised companies such as CrowdAI (now acquired by Saab) and Hawkeye 360 (now valued at over a billion dollars), and Emma Bates, CEO and founder of Cachai, a dual-use tech company (for both civilian and military purposes) focused on collaborative autonomy and drone innovation in the national security space. Together, they unpack how to navigate the national security startup ecosystem, secure government contracts, and cross the many “valleys of death” that mission-driven ventures face. Aimed at anyone with a concrete, government-focused venture idea, the episode offers practical how-tos for entering and thriving in the field. If you're curious about building a mission-driven venture in national security, this episode is your starting point. Produced in partnership with the Pava Center for Entrepreneurship at Johns Hopkins. Researched and hosted by Sanjana Polapragada; edited by Vishal Gogusetti.

    ١ س ٧ د

  3. ٠٦‏/١١‏/٢٠٢٥

    Diplomacy Without Borders: Negotiating the Future of Global Governance

    Leila Olukoga talks with Ambassador Juan Jose Gomez Camacho of Mexico. Ambassador Gomez Camacho has represented his country as ambassador to eight countries and led international negotiating efforts on a wide range of issues – ranging from politics, economics, and trade to security, disarmament, humanitarian issues, and a host of other subjects. Researched and hosted by Leila Olukoga; edited by Vishal Gogusetti

    ٤٦ من الدقائق

  4. ٢٥‏/٠٤‏/٢٠٢٥

    The Evolution of Modern Airpower with Brigadier General Geoffrey Weiss

    Connor Hall talks with US Air Force Brigadier General Geoffrey Weiss on the evolution of modern airpower theory, the role airpower has played in recent conflicts, and the future of manned aircraft in an environment increasingly dominated by attritable unmanned systems. General Weiss is currently serving as the Director of Regional Affairs in the office of the Secretary of the Air Force for International Affairs (SAF/IA) at the Pentagon. His critically-acclaimed book The New Art of War was published in 2021 by Cambridge University Press and has been an Amazon bestseller in military history and military science. Researched and hosted by Connor Hall; edited by Emma Ding. The views expressed in this episode are those of Geoffrey Weiss and do not reflect the official stance of the US Air Force or the US Department of Defense.

    ٥٢ من الدقائق

  5. ٠٣‏/٠٣‏/٢٠٢٥

    How China Became a Great Power, with Dr. Oriana Skylar Mastro

    Erik Schuh talks with Dr. Oriana Skylar Mastro about how China became a great power, discussing her recent book on the topic. They dive into China's rise compared to historical global powers and where the U.S.-China relationship stands today. Dr. Mastro is a Center Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies and Courtesy Assistant Professor of Political Science at Stanford University. Dr. Mastro's Book: Upstart: How China Became a Great Power Follow Dr. Mastro: https://x.com/osmastro This episode was researched and hosted by Erik Schuh; it was edited by Emma Ding.

    ٢٢ من الدقائق

  6. ٠٢‏/١٢‏/٢٠٢٤

    Dr. Ursula Wilder - Intelligence and Leader Psychological Assessment

    Luke Litle talks with Dr. Ursula Wilder about the importance of understanding the psychology of foreign leaders and of ourselves, the psychology of historical figures, and the psychology of deterrence. Dr. Wilder takes us down her career path and offers invaluable advice to students and young professionals in the national security space. We explore the frontiers of the study of psychology as applied to intelligence work, such as the fields of cyber psychology and artificial intelligence. Dr. Wilder is a clinical psychologist at the Central Intelligence Agency, where she has served for 27 years. She’s done operational work with the CIA’s counter-terrorism center, analyzed the psychology of extremists in the DNI’s counter-terrorism center, and has spent considerable time assessing the psychology of world leaders for CIA.

    ١ س ٢٣ د

  7. ١٨‏/١١‏/٢٠٢٤

    Dr. Mara Karlin - The Pentagon's Chief Strategist on Deterrence and US National Security

    Luke Litle talks with Dr. Mara Karlin about the development of the 2022 National Defense Strategy, various practical approaches to deterring adversaries, recent US security challenges, and potential future global security threats. Dr. Karlin is a professor of practice at SAIS and is the co-lead for the Security, Strategy, and Statecraft focus area. She has served in national security roles for six U.S. secretaries of defense, advising on policies spanning strategic planning, defense budgeting, the future of conflict, and regional affairs involving the Middle East, Europe, and Asia. Most recently, she served as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy, Plans, and Capabilities, leading the development and implementation of the 2022 National Defense Strategy, Nuclear Posture Review, and Missile Defense Review.

    ٤١ من الدقائق

  8. ٢٨‏/٠٦‏/٢٠٢٤

    German Awakening: Zeitenwende and Germany’s New Role in Europe

    Days after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia in 2022, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, new in office, gave the now famous Zeitenwende speech in which he proclaimed a dramatic turn in German foreign policy and national security policy in response to Russia’s full-scale aggression. The speech generated a lot of discussions and, sometimes, unrealistic optimism. Two years later, Germany has been at the forefront of supporting Ukraine militarily and economically, but as the war has turned into a war of attrition, Germany is still a long way from the ambitious undertaking of Zeitenwende and divided over the extent to which to support Ukraine. In this episode, Jeff Rathke, the President of the American-German Institute, Washington’s only think tank focusing exclusively on Germany and U.S.-German relations, discusses with Martin Makaryan Germany’s role in the security architecture of Europe and within NATO, the practical implications of Zeitenwende, the war in Ukraine, and what the future holds for U.S.-German relations and Germany’s new role in Europe. This episode was recorded by Martin Makaryan and produced by Luke Litle and Andrew Whelan.

    ٤٨ من الدقائق
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Small World, Big Problems – a SAIS Strategy Podcast. ​A SAIS student podcast supported by the Philip Merrill Center for Strategic Studies. ​In Small World, Big Problems, we ask the experts about the biggest challenges in the world of strategy and national security. ​It’s a small world, and it’s only getting smaller. But it seems like every day, there is a new problem on the horizon: great power conflict, political extremism, climate change – the list goes on and on. In this student podcast sponsored by the Philip Merrill Center for Strategic Studies, we ask leading experts in the fields of national security, strategy, and statecraft about what problems the world is facing and, more importantly, how to solve them. ​Please address any questions to SAISStrategyPodcast@gmail.com.

المعلومات

  • صناع العمل
    JHU SAIS Philip Merrill Center for Strategic Studies
  • سنوات النشاط
    ٢٠٢٣ - ٢٠٢٦
  • الحلقات
    ٢٣
  • التقييم
    ملائم
  • حقوق النشر
    © JHU SAIS Philip Merrill Center for Strategic Studies 2023
  • موقع البرنامج على الويب
    Small World, Big Problems