The Global Gambit

Pyotr S. Kurzin
  • 4.4 (22)
  • POLITICS
  • UPDATED SEMIMONTHLY

The Global Gambit (TGG) is the preeminent independent social podcast on geopolitics, foreign policy, macroeconomics and current affairs, involving live, interactive audience participation. Each month, TGG brings you top-tier interviews or panels consisting of policymakers, journalists, or academics covering every region and theme in international relations. Previous guests include experts from the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), Atlantic Council (AC), Crisis Group (ICG), and Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). Support TGG by subscribing as a patron at www.patreon.com/theglobalgambit and receive unique perks insights AND be featured in future episodes. Follow & engage with us on Facebook or Twitter at The Global Gambit. Download Clubhouse to participate in future events.TGG is hosted by Pyotr Kurzin, a geopolitical & UN professional, with an MA from Johns Hopkins University, and whose English-Russian origins make him a product of the Cold War and broader geopolitical events. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theglobalgambit Email: theglobalgambit@gmail.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/theglobalgambit Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Global-Gambit-102112199163652/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 8H AGO

    General Mick Ryan on What Trump's Iran War Tells Us About America’s Future

    Donald Trump's war with Iran is the reflection of something much bigger, perhaps much worse, happening with the USA, its foreign policy and its standing in the evolving world order. Can the United States still impose political outcomes abroad without triggering wider economic, geopolitical, and strategic blowback? In this part 1 of 2 Retired Australian Major General Mick Ryan joins The Global Gambit to break down the dangerous new phase of the US-Iran conflict, why Trump’s strategy may be backfiring, and what this confrontation reveals about the future of American power. From escalation traps and nuclear deterrence to China’s growing advantage and the global economic fallout, this conversation explores why the Iran crisis is about far more than just the Middle East. Subscribe to Substack Read as well as listen as l overthink for you: https://substack.com/@pyotrskurzin Follow The ShowX/Twitter: https://twitter.com/PKurzin YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7-TPqKMViddKZeo4K2P2jg/ Support The ShowPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/theglobalgambitBuy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theglobalgambit Leave a quick rating—it's free, easy, and honestly, the least you can do after I've blessed your ears with such wisdom. Where would you be without me? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    21 min

  2. 1D AGO

    The Real Hormuz Crisis Is Still Coming

    The US-Iran ceasefire may still technically be holding — but experts worry and warn that it is already beginning to rot. In this conversation, we break down why Iran is targeting the UAE, why the Strait of Hormuz remains the key pressure point, and why Trump’s attempt to claim victory may be colliding with economic reality. Alan Eyre - distinguished diplomatic fellow at the Middle East Institute, argues that the real test is not rhetoric, press conferences, or military theatre — it is whether ships actually return to Hormuz. If maritime traffic does not resume, the crisis could become far more expensive, far more global, and far harder for Washington to control. Subscribe to Substack Read as well as listen as l overthink for you: https://substack.com/@pyotrskurzin Follow The ShowX/Twitter: https://twitter.com/PKurzin YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7-TPqKMViddKZeo4K2P2jg/ Support The ShowPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/theglobalgambitBuy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theglobalgambit Leave a quick rating—it's free, easy, and honestly, the least you can do after I've blessed your ears with such wisdom. Where would you be without me? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    43 min

  3. APR 15

    Something Huge is Happening to Global Democracy

    Global democracy is changing and Hungary’s election may signal more than just a political shift — it could mark the beginning of a broader democratic rebound. In this episode, I speak with Katherine Stewart about whether the world is moving out of a decade-long “democracy recession,” why Orbán’s defeat matters, and what it tells us about the resilience of democratic systems. We also explore the global implications — from Ukraine and Europe to rising political risk and shifting power dynamics worldwide. Katherine Stewart is the Head of Impact Research at Economist Impact, part of The Economist Group. Subscribe to Substack Read as well as listen as l overthink for you: https://substack.com/@pyotrskurzin Follow The ShowX/Twitter: https://twitter.com/PKurzin YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7-TPqKMViddKZeo4K2P2jg/ Support The ShowPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/theglobalgambitBuy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theglobalgambit Leave a quick rating—it's free, easy, and honestly, the least you can do after I've blessed your ears with such wisdom. Where would you be without me? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    44 min

  4. APR 13

    What Trump’s Blockade Really Means for the Iran War

    The collapse of US–Iran negotiations highlights a deeper structural problem: escalation is now outpacing diplomacy. Following a high-level meeting in Islamabad that failed to produce any meaningful breakthrough, the United States has escalated by moving to blockade the Strait of Hormuz—raising serious questions about strategy, sustainability, and the risk of broader regional spillover. In this episode, I speak with Ross Harrison about the strategic logic behind both sides’ actions. We analyse the role of coercive diplomacy, the limits of military pressure as a negotiating tool, and the increasing complexity of the conflict as Iran expands the theatre horizontally through proxies and regional pressure points. We also explore whether the United States has a coherent theory of change, how Iran is leveraging asymmetric tactics to shape outcomes, and why the absence of a clear off-ramp may be the most dangerous factor of all. Ross Harrison is a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, specialising in US foreign policy, Iran, and regional security dynamics. Subscribe to Substack Read as well as listen as l overthink for you: https://substack.com/@pyotrskurzin Follow The ShowX/Twitter: https://twitter.com/PKurzin YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7-TPqKMViddKZeo4K2P2jg/ Support The ShowPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/theglobalgambitBuy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theglobalgambit Leave a quick rating—it's free, easy, and honestly, the least you can do after I've blessed your ears with such wisdom. Where would you be without me? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    53 min

  5. APR 10

    How Israel is Threatening Iran and US to Restart War

    While Trump's fragile ceasefire with Iran continues to hold, Israel is now going after Hezbollah in Lebanon, putting the entire Middle East on edge. We are joined by David Daoud of the FDD to understand why Israel’s escalation in Lebanon was likely once the Iran front quietened, and why Hezbollah remains far harder to uproot than many assume. We discuss the limits of decapitation strategies, Hezbollah’s deep roots in Lebanese Shiite society, the risk of a prolonged Israeli security zone in southern Lebanon, and why Washington may see Hezbollah as a core threat without wanting direct US involvement. The conversation also explores the wider geopolitical fallout for Europe, NATO, and Israel’s standing in American politics as the war drags on. David Daoud is Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. Subscribe to Substack Read as well as listen as l overthink for you: https://substack.com/@pyotrskurzin Follow The ShowX/Twitter: https://twitter.com/PKurzin YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7-TPqKMViddKZeo4K2P2jg/ Support The ShowPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/theglobalgambitBuy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theglobalgambit Leave a quick rating—it's free, easy, and honestly, the least you can do after I've blessed your ears with such wisdom. Where would you be without me? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    51 min

  6. APR 8

    What Really Comes Next for Putin’s War in Ukraine

    Russia’s apparent momentum in Ukraine is misleading. As David Petraeus argues, it reflects adaptation and external support rather than lasting strength, while Ukraine’s innovation has been underestimated. The war is also reshaping how conflicts are fought — with drones, decentralised tactics, and rapid adaptation replacing traditional military dominance. Ultimately, the outcome will depend less on the battlefield and more on Western unity and Europe’s economic backing, which remain decisive. David Petraeus is a retired U.S. Army four-star general, former commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, and ex-Director of the CIA. Subscribe to Substack Read as well as listen as l overthink for you: https://substack.com/@pyotrskurzin Follow The ShowX/Twitter: https://twitter.com/PKurzin YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7-TPqKMViddKZeo4K2P2jg/ Support The ShowPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/theglobalgambitBuy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theglobalgambit Leave a quick rating—it's free, easy, and honestly, the least you can do after I've blessed your ears with such wisdom. Where would you be without me? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    28 min

  7. MAR 15

    Why the Iran War is Creating Something Even Worse

    The conflict between Iran, the United States, and Israel is entering a far more complex and dangerous phase than many expected. In this conversation, I’m joined by Ali Vaez - Iran Project Director and Senior Adviser to the President of the International Crisis Group to examine what is actually happening behind the headlines. Why the war has shifted into a grinding war of attrition, why Iran’s leadership prepared for a long confrontation rather than a quick collapse, and how the balance of power inside Iran may now be shifting toward the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). We also discuss the growing divergence between U.S. and Israeli strategic objectives, the limits of military escalation, and the wider regional risks—from Kurdish separatism to the possibility of a broader regional conflict drawing in major powers. If the fighting stops, it may only produce a fragile ceasefire, not a real resolution. Subscribe to Substack Read as well as listen as l overthink for you: https://substack.com/@pyotrskurzin Follow The ShowX/Twitter: https://twitter.com/PKurzin YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7-TPqKMViddKZeo4K2P2jg/ Support The ShowPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/theglobalgambitBuy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theglobalgambit Leave a quick rating—it's free, easy, and honestly, the least you can do after I've blessed your ears with such wisdom. Where would you be without me? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    35 min

  8. FEB 26

    Something Doesn't Make Sense in the US-Iran Escalation

    The United States has deployed one of its largest military buildups in the Middle East in decades — and yet, nothing has happened. So why assemble overwhelming force if conflict was never inevitable? In this episode, Pyotr Kurzin speaks with Con Coughlin, Defence and Foreign Affairs Editor at The Daily Telegraph, to unpack the real strategy behind America’s military pressure on Iran. We explore how Donald Trump is using military leverage to force a new nuclear deal, why Iran’s weakened regional position has shifted the balance, and how Tehran is relying on diplomacy, Russia, and China to survive. This is a conversation about coercion, credibility, and why the most powerful military deployments are often designed not to be used — but to reshape the negotiating table. Chapters 00:00 The Military Buildup and Its Implications 10:01 Iran's Current Position and Internal Dynamics 19:57 The Role of External Influences and Regional Dynamics 29:42 Future Scenarios: Engagement or Conflict? Subscribe to Substack Read as well as listen as l overthink for you: https://substack.com/@pyotrskurzin Follow The ShowX/Twitter: https://twitter.com/PKurzin YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7-TPqKMViddKZeo4K2P2jg/ Support The ShowPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/theglobalgambitBuy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theglobalgambit Leave a quick rating—it's free, easy, and honestly, the least you can do after I've blessed your ears with such wisdom. Where would you be without me? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    37 min
See All (80)

4.4
out of 5
22 Ratings

About

The Global Gambit (TGG) is the preeminent independent social podcast on geopolitics, foreign policy, macroeconomics and current affairs, involving live, interactive audience participation. Each month, TGG brings you top-tier interviews or panels consisting of policymakers, journalists, or academics covering every region and theme in international relations. Previous guests include experts from the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), Atlantic Council (AC), Crisis Group (ICG), and Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). Support TGG by subscribing as a patron at www.patreon.com/theglobalgambit and receive unique perks insights AND be featured in future episodes. Follow & engage with us on Facebook or Twitter at The Global Gambit. Download Clubhouse to participate in future events.TGG is hosted by Pyotr Kurzin, a geopolitical & UN professional, with an MA from Johns Hopkins University, and whose English-Russian origins make him a product of the Cold War and broader geopolitical events. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theglobalgambit Email: theglobalgambit@gmail.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/theglobalgambit Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Global-Gambit-102112199163652/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Pyotr S. Kurzin
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    80
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Global Gambit
  • Show Website
    The Global Gambit

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