It’s been 30 years since a group of young protestors faced down military tanks in China’s Tiananmen Square to protest for Democracy. This, of course, was a battle lost. 2019 also marks another anniversary - one which remains relevant today as the U.S. and China renegotiate their relationship and its balance of power. In 1919, a book was published without which Stratfor would likely not exist. It is Democratic Ideals and Reality: A Study in the Politics of Reconstruction, written by Halford Mackinder. It’s a book that resonates with Stratfor’s VP of Strategic Analysis, Rodger Baker. And also with scholar of history and author, Dr. Jeremi Suri.

It's been more than three decades since, in the deep dark night April 26, 1986, the number 4 reactor at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant failed. The nuclear disaster released heavily radioactive gas into the atmosphere for days. The number of people it killed is unclear to this day, because the event from that day, and to some extent even today, remains shrouded in mystery. At the time of the disaster, it took the Soviet authorities weeks to inform citizens of what had happened. Chernobyl was long considered the worst nuclear failure, unmatched for devastation and contamination. Until the 2011 Fukushima meltdowns. On this episode of the Stratfor Talks podcast, we discuss the accident, how it changed the world's view of nuclear, the safety constraints that make it one of the most costly ways to produce energy, and how nuclear fits into a transition to low-or-no emission energy.  Hosted by Ben Sheen, with Eugene Chausovsky and Rebecca Keller.  

"In a perfect world, the State Department is able to work out the conflicts that we're having with other nations. And the second option, traditionally, historically, is war. So only after 1947, after the national security act was this third option put into play, which is the CIA's hidden hand. So in essence if diplomacy fails and war is unwise, call on the CIA's Special Activities Division." Those are the words that investigative journalist and author Annie Jacobsen uses to describe the work of the CIA's paramilitary arm. And that work is the subject of Jacobsen's latest, Surprise, Kill, Vanish: The Secret History of CIA Paramilitary Armies, Operators, and Assassins. In this episode of Stratfor Talks' Pen and Sword, host Fred Burton speaks with Jacobsen about her inspiration, how she conducted her research and what she learned about the element of U.S. foreign policy payed out in secret. 

In this episode of Stratfor Talks, Stratfor analysts, Emily Hawthorne and Rodger Baker discuss what we know about the escalation between the US and Iran, what is not known and what Stratfor forecasts for the next few weeks.  Open questions include the role of Houthis, Israel and the United Arab Emirates. 

On this episode, we’re checking in on the general election underway in India. Some 900 million people in India are eligible to vote in 2019. Think about that. And think about the country’s current Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. He and his party are projected to win when the final vote tally is complete on May 23. But there are so many issues at play in this election, we asked Stratfor’s South Asia Analyst Faisel Pervaiz to provide guidance.

In the news over the past few weeks were reports of major cybercrime. From a massive supply chain hack disrupting businesses and ransomware attacks to Israel's military reaction to a reported cyber attack. On today's episode of Stratfor Talks, Chief Security Officer Fred Burton and VP of Tactical Analysis, Scott Stewart, discuss the connection between major hacks, and state-and-non-state-sponsored hackers, and how businesses can do due diligence before a hack occurs.

Kimberly Haley-Coleman is founder and Executive Director of Globe Aware, a nonprofit company that develops short-term volunteer programs in international environments. The idea is to provide an immersive volunteer experience for busy professionals who want to make a difference in a short amount of time on projects that are actually requested by the communities they serve. Prior to this adventure, Haley-Coleman had a varied professional, private sector career with one recurring theme: international business. Success in working internationally can hinge on some basic applied geopolitics: of the implications of the history, social and cultural mores, business practices, geography, politics and infrastructure of the countries where you choose to business. Because Haley-Coleman knows Global Awareness first-hand as both a for-profit and non-profit leader, Stratfor decided to interview her. Two main themes emerged in the following conversation: Being aware of and mitigating risk, and the need to understand at a deeper level where and with whom you are working. Both of which are core to Stratfor's forecasting. 

It happened unexpectedly. The whole city was afraid. No one could see. Many could not breathe. And amid the terror of London's Great Smog of 1952, a different, equally sinister drama was underway. The London Smog killed an estimated 12,000 people. But those were not the only people who died in those dark days. Kate Winkler Dawson’s book, Death in the Air, tells two parallel stories of the Great Smog, both of which left victims choking.

You're fed up. You're considered the world's most dangerous assassin. A lot of people want to take you down. And you still have to get your job done. Mission Critical is the latest in Mark Greaney's Gray Man series. This one involves state actors, espionage, a secret prisoner and a race against time. Mark Greaney sits down to discuss his career, his Gray Man series and espionage with Stratfor's Fred Burton.

Author Michael Pullara spent years trying to solve the question of why CIA agent, Freddie Woodruff, was murdered in 1993. Amid transformative world events, Pullara manages to discover enough to set a wrongfully accused free and to connect the dots of espionage and counter-espionage during the end of the Cold War.  

There are people in this world who need protecting; among them presidents, royals, diplomats, the rich and the famous. And then there are the people who do the protecting; the secret service, the bodyguards, the security officers. But who are these people and how are they trained? And why do they undertake such a profession? Stratfor Chief Security Officer Fred Burton sits down with international security and intelligence professional and now author, Michael W. Trott to discuss his book, The Protected, which offers a peek inside the practice of Executive Protection.

How did Cold War governments plan to preserve the continuity of power in the face of devastating nuclear war? Lots of planning and a fair amount of creative problem solving. In this episode of the Stratfor Podcast, Chief Security Officer Fred Burton sits down with author Garrett Graff to discuss his book, Raven Rock: The Story of the U.S. Government’s Secret Plan to Save Itself–While the Rest of Us Die.

North Korea has indicated its interested in holding a second summit between Kim Jong-Un and U.S. President Donald Trump. The White House has indicated its interest in a summit as well, but when would it take place... if it happens at all? Stratfor Senior Vice President of Strategic Analysis Rodger Baker explains the geopolitical constraints and opportunities surrounding any second U.S.-North Korea summit.

On April 18, 1983, a vehicle packed with explosives detonated in front of the United States Embassy in Beirut. Those killed in the suicide attack included the entire U.S. intelligence presence in Lebanon at that time. The man sent by the CIA to pick up the pieces was William Buckley. Buckley’s story is the focus of the latest book from New York Times best selling authors Fred Burton and Samuel Katz. In this episode of the podcast, host Ben Sheen sits down with Stratfor Chief Security Officer Fred Burton to discuss Beirut Rules: The Murder of a CIA Station Chief and Hezbollah’s War Against America.  

As Great Britain prepared its military to battle Nazi Germany in World War II, a select few were deployed behind enemy lines as part of a new program to lead a resistance, carry out intelligence operations and harass German forces, slowing their ability to solidify control of the continent. In this episode of the podcast, we hear the true story of two brothers tasked with just such a mission. Stratfor Chief Security Officer Fred Burton sits down with author, journalist and Stratfor Worldview Contributor Charles Glass to discuss his latest book, They Fought Alone: The True Story of the Starr Brothers, British Secret Agents in Nazi-occupied France.  

As China moves toward what it sees as an imperial dawn, in this episode of the Stratfor Podcast we take a look back at the last time China wielded great power on the global stage with professor and author Stephen R. Platt. Platt sits down with Stratfor Senior Vice President of Strategic Analysis Rodger Baker and Asia Pacific Analyst Evan Rees to discuss his latest book, Imperial Twilight: The Opium War and the End of China’s Last Golden Age.

What would happen if a U.S. special forces operator with a score to settle brought the insurgent tactics he’d been fighting against overseas back home? That’s the idea behind The Terminal List, the debut novel from former Navy SEAL and Special Operations Task Unit Commander Jack Carr. In this episode of the Stratfor Podcast, Carr sits down with Stratfor Chief Security Officer Fred Burton to discuss his background, his writing and what comes next.

War evolves. From technology and tactics to the strategic imperatives shaping the future of conflict, we explore the evolution of war since World War I in this episode of the Stratfor Podcast. Stratfor Senior Military Analyst Omar Lamrani and Director of Analyst Operation Paul Floyd join Editorial Director Ben Sheen to explore why and how military strategies have changed over the last 100 years and what war between nations will look like in the future.  

On August 17, 1988, PAK-1 crashed near Bahawalpur, Pakistan. Those on board the Pakistani presidential aircraft included President Zia-ul-Haq and multiple members of his joint chiefs of staff. United States Ambassador Arni Raphel and U.S. Army Brigadier General Herbert Wassom were also on board. There were no survivors. In this episode of the Stratfor Podcast, Chief Security Officer Fred Burton reflects back on the crash with South Asia Analyst Faisel Pervaiz and discusses his role on the small State Department team sent to investigate. Then in part two of the podcast, Stratfor Vice President of Tactical Analysis Scott Stewart offers an update on Stratfor Threat Lens, our protective intelligence solution for companies, organizations and government agencies operating around the world.  

Faced with dramatically fluctuating oil prices and pressing demographic realities, Saudi Arabia is working to envision a future beyond reliance on energy markets. That, however, is easier said than done. In this episode of the Stratfor Podcast, we discuss Saudi Arabia’s ambitious Vision 2030 plan, the motivations for reform and the challenges ahead with Stratfor Vice President of Global Analysis Reva Goujon, Senior Global Analyst Matthew Bey and Middle East and North Africa Analyst Emily Hawthorne. Then in part two of the podcast, Evan Rees and John Gennace sit down to highlight several books included on Stratfor’s 2018 summer reading list.

What would a nation do to avoid going to war? That’s the central question in Spy Master, the latest book from New York Times bestselling author Brad Thor. Thor returns to the Stratfor Podcast to discuss the international intrigue, espionage, betrayal and geopolitics behind Spy Master with Stratfor Chief Security Officer Fred Burton. Read our latest analysis on this topic and more at Stratfor Worldview. If you’re not already a Worldview member, you can subscribe today at: https://worldview.stratfor.com/subscribe  

About a year ago, Stratfor connected with a group of world geography teachers at the Liberal Arts and Science Academy, also known as LASA High School, in Austin, Texas. We were interested to see what would happen if we provided all of their freshman students full access to the geopolitical analysis and forecasting available through Stratfor Worldview. The results exceeded even our expectations. In this episode of the Stratfor Podcast, we sit down with LASA High School World Geography teachers Cody Moody and Neil Loewenstern, as well as freshmen Abigail Goff, Jacob Hammonds, Dylan Woolard and Tess Frazer. They tell us how LASA integrated Stratfor’s analysis into their projects and coursework this past year and what it’s meant to these students, both in and outside of the classroom.

Amid Turkey’s turbulent political and economic environment, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called for early elections on June 24. To better understand why he’s making this move now and what it means for Turkey, the Middle East and beyond, Stratfor Vice President of Global Analysis Reva Goujon and Middle East and North Africa Analyst Emily Hawthorne sit down to unravel early Turkish elections in this episode of the Stratfor Podcast.  

Just hours after North Korea destroyed the tunnels at its Punggye-Ri nuclear test site in front of an audience of international reporters, U.S. President Donald Trump issued a formal letter calling off direct talks between himself and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un scheduled for June 12 in Singapore. For more insight on these latest moves and if the summit is in fact off for good, we sit down with Stratfor Senior Vice President of Strategic Analysis Rodger Baker and Asia-Pacific Analyst Evan Rees in this episode of the Stratfor Podcast.  

Although an enigma to many, there are some with unique insight into life within North Korea’s closed society. One of them is James Church, a former Western intelligence officer who’s written a series of Inspector O mystery novels based on his experience and interactions inside North Korea. In this episode of the Stratfor Podcast, Church sits down with Chief Security Officer Fred Burton to discuss his unique perspective on North Korea and what his main character, Inspector O, would make of developments unfolding on the Korean peninsula today.

Echoes of the Cold War are increasingly emerging today. Nowhere is that trend toward more clandestine activities, espionage and subterfuge more apparent than the unfolding drama in the United Kingdom surrounding the poisoning of former Russian intelligence officer Sergei Skripal and his daughter.

Backtracks Episodes Master Backtracks Episodes Master 100% 10 E625 After more than a year of soaring tensions and heated rhetoric between the United States and North Korea, two key summits on the horizon could change the dynamic completely. Following an inter-Korean summit on April 27, President Donald Trump will potentially sit down with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un for direct talks. For more on what we should or should not expect from U.S.-North Korea talks and what may be different this time around, Stratfor Chief Security Officer Fred Burton speaks with Vice President for Strategic Analysis Rodger Baker for this episode of the Stratfor Podcast.        After more than a year of soaring tensions and heated rhetoric between the United States and North Korea, two key summits on the horizon could change the dynamic completely. Following an inter-Korean summit on April 27, President Donald Trump will potentially sit down with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un for direct talks. For more on what we should or should not expect from U.S.-North Korea talks and what may be different this time around, Stratfor Chief Security Officer Fred Burton speaks with Vice President for Strategic Analysis Rodger Baker for this episode of the Stratfor Podcast.   2 collaborators have joined the document. Link bubble visible with link: https://worldview.stratfor.com/subscribe. Press the tab key to focus bubble. Link bubble hidden. FALSE Has unchecked checkbox A626 FALSE Row 626 selected. Text decoration set to Strikethrough in A626 through F626 FALSE Row 626 deselected. 04/12/2018 B626 Episode_57_Geopolitics-of-Jordan_April2018 C626 Geopolitics of Jordan D626 U.S.-North Korea Summit: Trump, Kim and What’s Different Now D625 After more than a year of soaring tensions and heated rhetoric between the United States and North Korea, two key summits on the horizon could change the dynamic completely. Following an inter-Korean summit on April 27, President Donald Trump will potentially sit down with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un for direct talks. For more on what we should or should not expect from U.S.-North Korea talks and what may be different this time around, Stratfor Chief Security Officer Fred Burton speaks with Vice President for Strategic Analysis Rodger Baker for this episode of the Stratfor Podcast. Read our latest analysis on this topic and more at Stratfor Worldview. If you’re not already a Worldview member, you can subscribe today at: https://worldview.stratfor.com/subscribe Related Reading: Cheeseburgers in the Worker’s Paradise by Rodger Baker - https://worldview.stratfor.com/article/united-states-north-korea-trump-kim-jong-un-summit-nuclear-talks Handling A Nuclear North Korea, a five part series examining the measures that could be taken to inhibit North Korea’s nuclear weapons program. - https://worldview.stratfor.com/series/handling-nuclear-north-korea Stratfor’s 2018 Annual Forecast: Asia-Pacific Region - https://worldview.stratfor.com/article/2018-annual-forecast/asia-pacific Make sure you don’t miss an episode of the Stratfor Podcast by subscribing on any of these platforms. iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/stratfor-talks/id1022071615?mt=2 Google Play: https://play.google.com/music/listen#/ps/Ivmzpgbaecd6nfe5dxjmgml4ube Stitcher: http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/stratfor-talks SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/stratfortalks YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-6y2ai9iFHBMd-19rDy1Dj_OL1JGakPt RSS Feed: http://backtracks.fm/stratfor/stratfor-podcast/feed Have a question or comment for the Stratfor Podcast? Leave us a message and we may include your comment in a future episode. You can leave a message for our podcast team at 1-512-744-4300 x 3917 or email us at [email protected]. E625 E625 set to After more than a year of soaring tensions and heated rhetoric between the United States and North Korea, two key summits on the horizon could change the dynamic completely. Following an inter-Korean summit on April 27, President Donald Trump will potentially sit down with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un for direct talks. For more on what we should or should not expect from U.S.-North Korea talks and what may be different this time around, Stratfor Chief Security Officer Fred Burton speaks with Vice President for Strategic Analysis Rodger Baker for this episode of the Stratfor Podcast. With its close proximity to major regional conflicts, artificial borders dictated by imperial politics instead of geography, limited natural resources and a swelling refugee population, we sit down to discuss the geopolitics of Jordan in this episode of the Stratfor Podcast. Stratfor analysts Emily Hawthorne and Mark Fleming-Williams take close look at Jordan’s rich history, incredible success maintaining a stable government and both the economic challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for this Middle East kingdom. Read our latest analysis on this topic and more at Stratfor Worldview. If you’re not already a Worldview member, you can subscribe today at: https://worldview.stratfor.com/subscribe Has link E626 After more than a year of soaring tensions and heated rhetoric between the United States and North Korea, two key summits on the horizon could change the dynamic completely. Following an inter-Korean summit on April 27, President Donald Trump will potentially sit down with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un for direct talks. For more on what we should or should not expect from U.S.-North Korea talks and what may be different this time around, Stratfor Chief Security Officer Fred Burton speaks with Vice President for Strategic Analysis Rodger Baker for this episode of the Stratfor Podcast. E625 U.S.-North Korea Summit: Trump, Kim and What’s Different Now D625 U.S.-North Korea Summit: Trump, Kim and What’s Different Now D625 After more than a year of soaring tensions and heated rhetoric between the United States and North Korea, two key summits on the horizon could change the dynamic completely. Following an inter-Korean summit on April 27, President Donald Trump will potentially sit down with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un for direct talks. For more on what we should or should not expect from U.S.-North Korea talks and what may be different this time around, Stratfor Chief Security Officer Fred Burton speaks with Vice President for Strategic Analysis Rodger Baker for this episode of the Stratfor Podcast. E625 After more than a year of soaring tensions and heated rhetoric between the United States and North Korea, two key summits on the horizon could change the dynamic completely. Following an inter-Korean summit on April 27, President Donald Trump will potentially sit down with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un for direct talks. For more on what we should or should not expect from U.S.-North Korea talks and what may be different this time around, Stratfor Chief Security Officer Fred Burton speaks with Vice President for Strategic Analysis Rodger Baker for this episode of the Stratfor Podcast. E625 After more than a year of soaring tensions and heated rhetoric between the United States and North Korea, two key summits on the horizon could change the dynamic completely. Following an inter-Korean summit on April 27, President Donald Trump will potentially sit down with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un for direct talks. For more on what we should or should not expect from U.S.-North Korea talks and what may be different this time around, Stratfor Chief Security Officer Fred Burton speaks with Vice President for Strategic Analysis Rodger Baker for this episode of the Stratfor Podcast. 

With its close proximity to major regional conflicts, artificial borders dictated by imperial politics instead of geography, limited natural resources and a swelling refugee population, we sit down to discuss the geopolitics of Jordan in this episode of the Stratfor Podcast. Stratfor analysts Emily Hawthorne and Mark Fleming-Williams take close look at Jordan’s rich history, incredible success maintaining a stable government and both the economic challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for this Middle East kingdom. Read our latest analysis on this topic and more at Stratfor Worldview. If you’re not already a Worldview member, you can subscribe today at: https://worldview.stratfor.com/subscribe

On March 18, Russians re-elected Vladimir Putin as president. Beyond questions of whether the elections were fair or if opposition candidates were allowed the opportunity to campaign in earnest, the interesting question for Stratfor analysts is what comes next. With a stagnant economy, rising poverty, ongoing sanctions and a highly divisive political climate, Russia faces a wide range of challenges over the next six years, not the least of which is the question of who could follow Putin as Russia’s next leader. To discuss those challenges and more, we sit down with Stratfor Senior Eurasia Analysts Lauren Goodrich and Eugene Chausovsky for the latest edition of the Stratfor Podcast.

When Stratfor analysts work to understand the constraints and compulsions of nations, they always begin with geography. It’s at the core of our unique methodology, grounded in the practice of applied geopolitics, that shapes how we view the world. In this episode of the podcast, we explore the geopolitics of Spain and the primary geographic challenges that come from within its own borders. From the invasion of the Moors to the secessionist movement in Catalonia, Stratfor analysts Mark Fleming-Williams and Emily Hawthorne discuss the history of constraints facing this southern European nation, how it has responded throughout time and what new opportunities the future holds for Spain.

New York Times Bestselling Author Ronen Bergman sits down with Stratfor Chief Security Officer Fred Burton in this episode of the Stratfor Podcast to discuss his latest book, Rise and Kill First: The Secret History of Israel’s Targeted Assassinations. Bergman’s book, described as the first definitive history of the Mossad, Shin Bet and the Israel Defense Forces’ targeted killing programs, is the result of seven years of research and over a thousand interviews with the people responsible for leading and carrying out those programs.

From parental leave and women in the workforce to the economic fate of nations, we mark International Women’s Day in this episode of the Stratfor Podcast with a discussion on women and geopolitics. Stratfor Vice President of Global Analysis Reva Goujon sits down with Senior Science and Technology Analyst Rebecca Keller and Middle East and North Africa Analyst Emily Hawthorne to examine the evolving social, economic, cultural and political roles women play around the world today as well as ongoing challenges they face.  

North Korea held its annual military parade a day before the opening of the 2018 Winter Olympics just 40 miles from its border with South Korea. While the timing was no surprise, in this episode of the podcast we take a closer look at the messages Pyongyang meant to send as well some of the hardware they chose to put on display. We also dive into renewed discussions about reviving military parades in the United States, how they’re used as a projection of power and why the United States moved away from them in the past with Stratfor Vice President of Strategic Analysis Rodger Baker and Asia-Pacific Analyst Evan Rees.

Forecasting global trends and developments can prove challenging even when you have the best information available. Stratfor leverages the study of applied geopolitics, tools of intelligence analysis and public report cards on our work to constantly improve our forecasting process. The team at Good Judgment Inc. seeks to directly quantify their forecasts with numerical probability assessments.   In this episode of the Stratfor Podcast, we’re joined by Good Judgment’s Philip Tetlock and Warren Hatch as well as Stratfor’s Rodger Baker and Mark Fleming-Williams to explore how qualitative insight and quantitative rigor can be applied in unison to improve forecasting of global developments. This is part of a larger collaboration between Stratfor and Good Judgment as we explore the future of European integration.  

One of the executive security risks Stratfor continues to track closely is the kidnapping threat to high net worth individuals and their families. In this episode of the podcast, we turn back the clock to the 1960s and take a look at the high-profile kidnapping of brewing empire heir Adolph Coors III. Stratfor Chief Security Officer Fred Burton sits down with author Philip Jett to discuss his book, The Death of an Heir: Adolph Coors III and the Murder That Rocked an American Brewing Dynasty.

As South Korea prepares to host the 2018 Winter Olympics just a short drive from its border with North Korea, we sit down to discuss security at the games in this episode of the podcast. From heightened political tension with North Korea to the ongoing security threats facing every iteration of the games, Stratfor Chief Security Office Fred Burton shares his experience working security at the Olympics during his time with the U.S. Diplomatic Security Service. He’s joined by Stratfor Worldview Contributor Austin Duckworth, a doctoral student in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Education at The University of Texas at Austin. Duckworth’s work focuses on the intersection of security, international politics and sports.

Stratfor’s model of applied geopolitics always starts with geography. We look at how mountains, plains, rivers and mineral resources constrain a nation’s political, security and economic imperatives. In this episode of the Stratfor Podcast, we explore the increasing implications of water scarcity around the globe. Stratfor South Asia Analyst Faisel Pervaiz and Senior Science and Technology Analyst Rebecca Keller explore the nature of water scarcity and the challenge it poses to domestic and foreign policy with a particular eye toward India, Pakistan and the Indus Water Treaty of 1960.

The world isn’t getting any less complicated. Governments, international companies and globally engaged individuals face an ever-increasing mountain of information as they work to make sense of the news each day. The current international environment, however, doesn’t need to be difficult to understand if you know where to focus your energy. In this episode of the Stratfor Podcast, we share a keynote presentation that Vice President of Strategic Analysis Rodger Baker delivered at the 2017 Mackinder Forum. Baker outlines the principle of applied geopolitics that Stratfor was founded upon and explains how businesses, investors, governments and individuals can leverage geopolitical analysis and forecasting to inform strategic decision-making and better understand the underlying forces shaping world events.

As the world continues to focus on the 2016 U.S. presidential election and claims of Russian involvement more than a year later, Russia is preparing for its own presidential election season in 2018. In this episode of the Stratfor Podcast, Vice President of Global Analysis Reva Goujon sits down with Senior Eurasia Analyst Lauren Goodrich to discuss Russia’s upcoming election, growing economic pressure on the Kremlin, a cultural shift underway among Russia’s younger generation and what it all means for President Vladimir Putin’s grip on power.  

Have you ever wondered what the U.S. President’s top secret intelligence briefing is like? In this episode of the Stratfor Podcast, we ask former intelligence officer, manager and daily briefer at the CIA David Priess about his latest book The President’s Book of Secrets: The Untold Story of Intelligence Briefings to America’s Presidents.

Can you predict transformative world events? In this episode of the podcast we explore the past, present and future of black swan events and how geopolitically engaged individuals, investors or organizations can anticipate, or at least mitigate their exposure to, the next major geopolitical inflection point. We’ll discuss how historians and forecasters view the making of a black swan differently with Stratfor Worldview contributor Ian Morris. Then in part two, we’re joined by Visual Capitalist’s Jeff Desjardins to learn how billionaire investors mitigate against these international risks.  

Stratfor senior analysts delve into the world of digital ledger technology in this episode of the podcast to better understand what Bitcoin and Blockchain mean for the future. Stratfor Senior Science and Technology Analyst Rebecca Keller helps explain what Blockchain technology really is and how it’s connected to the already well-known Bitcoin. Then senior analysts Matthew Bey and Mark Fleming-Williams join the conversation to examine just how individuals and organizations are using this technology now and what potential applications it still promises going forward.  

In this episode of the podcast, Stratfor Chief Security Officer Fred Burton sits down with author Samuel M. Katz to discuss his latest book, The Ghost Warriors: Inside Israel’s Undercover War Against Suicide Terrorism. Katz explains the history of Israel’s elite, undercover units and the role they play in Israel’s security operations today. They also discuss how Katz and Burton first met many years ago on a United Nations General Assembly security detail.  

We explore the role of geopolitical intelligence in business today and how the evolution of globalization has changed the playing field for companies. In part one, Stratfor Editor-in-Chief David Judson sits down with Jay Ogilvy, director of Stratfor Worldview’s Board of Contributors. Then in part two, we hear an excerpt from a live webcast where Stratfor VP of Strategic Analysis Rodger Baker and IESE Business School Professor of Strategy Mike Rosenberg discuss how the geopolitical landscape for business has changed and how companies can adapt.

Back in 1987, journalist Charles Glass was held hostage in Lebanon for 62 days. After he escaped, Stratfor’s Fred Burton, then an agent with the US State Department was among those there to help. 30-years later, Burton sits down with Glass, now a Stratfor Worldview contributor, to discuss that experience. Then in part two of the podcast, Stratfor senior analysts discuss the geopolitical significance of maritime chokepoints.

Stratfor launched Threat Leans one year ago to help corporate security professionals and globally engaged organizations anticipate, measure and mitigate threats against their people, assets and interests around the world. In this episode of the podcast, Stratfor’s Fred Burton and Scott Stewart discuss what they’ve learned and what’s coming next ahead of their return to ASIS 2017.

Amid discussions about a multi-speed Europe and two tracks toward integration, we sit down with Stratfor Senior Europe Analyst Adriano Bosoni to discuss the future of the European Union in this episode of the podcast. Then in part two of the podcast, Senior Global Analyst Matthew Bey and Senior Military Analyst Omar Lamrani to discuss the geopolitics of space and evolving security interests there.  

In this episode of the podcast, Stratfor’s Fred Burton discusses counterterrorism and shares his story about Carlos the Jackal with New York Times bestselling author Brad Thor. They also discuss Thor’s latest book, Use of Force. Learn more about Brad Thor’s 17 books, including Use of Force, at www.BradThor.com.