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Wikistrat Insider is a podcast series featuring in-depth discussions with members of our community, which spans over 5000 experts in a wide range of fields: from technology to geopolitics, health, and the future of work. We focus on the less-discussed angles of the most significant events happening around the world, to give you the insiders' scoop.
48 Episodes
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Donald Trump's second presidency has reached the one-year mark without triggering the catastrophic outcomes many predicted, yet without resolving the fundamental tensions his approach creates. Alliances strained but held, tariffs disrupted trade flows without collapsing them, and military force was deployed in sharp bursts rather than prolonged campaigns. On January 26, Wikistrat hosted Dr. Richard Weitz to examine what this volatile first year reveals about Trump's foreign policy instincts, how the world has adapted to his methods, and what the remainder of his term is likely to look like
Thousands dead, internet blackouts, and a currency in freefall. When merchants in Tehran's upscale Monet Street shopping center closed their stores on December 28, 2025, they triggered something the Islamic Republic hadn't faced in its 46-year history: sustained, nationwide protests met with unprecedented brutality. With over 2,000 casualties, a collapsing economy, and an 86-year-old Supreme Leader whose refusal to compromise has left the regime with no exit strategy, Iran finds itself at a crossroads. On January 13, Wikistrat convened Iran experts Dr. Sina Azodi, Ahmad Hashemi, and Alex Vatanka to assess whether this time is different and what comes next
Taiwan is not on the brink of a 2027 invasion; the real danger is unfolding quietly in the gray zone. In this NYU Riskathon-exclusive webinar, Dr. Minxin Pei dismantles the widely accepted countdown narrative and argues that Beijing's most destabilizing tools are already in motion, from coercive military drills to pressure on undersea cables and commercial air routes. The flashpoint ahead is not the date everyone cites, but the political convergence of 2028, when elections in Taipei, Washington, and across the region collide with a Chinese leadership refining hybrid warfare options that stop short of war yet carry strategic shockwaves. Far from a distant scenario, Pei frames this as an imminent shift in the Taiwan Strait, concealed within procedural escalations that markets and policymakers are still treating as routine
Rare earth elements sit at the heart of the clean energy transition, digital infrastructure, and advanced weapons, yet public debate often treats them as mysterious and easily weaponized. China dominates the processing and magnet making stages that turn raw ore into strategic inputs, which fuels concern in Washington, Brussels, Tokyo, and elsewhere about overdependence on a single supplier. On December 4, Wikistrat hosted critical minerals expert Dr. Marina (Yue) Zhang to examine how China built this position, what it really means for energy security and defense, and how the rare earths market could evolve over the next years
Iran’s nuclear program has reached a moment where every path carries risk. Advancing toward a weapon could ignite a larger war, stepping back from enrichment would look like capitulation, and holding the line preserves a status quo that is already eroding under sanctions, strikes, and regional setbacks. On November 26, Wikistrat hosted Iran expert Dr. Sina Azodi to examine why Tehran is stuck between these choices, how the leadership interprets pressure at home and abroad, and what the next phase of Iran’s nuclear strategy is likely to look like
Putin isn't losing the war in Ukraine, at least, not in his own mind. He believes time is on his side, that Russia can outlast Ukrainian resistance, and that the West's resolve will crack before his does. But is this confidence justified, or the product of an authoritarian system that can no longer tell him the truth? On November 5, Wikistrat hosted Mark Galeotti to examine the Kremlin's actual objectives, the forces shaping Russian decision-making, whether Moscow's strategy is working, and what might force Putin to change course
Leaders today face not one crisis at a time, but overlapping shocks that feed into each other, what scholars call a polycrisis, creating uncertainty that demands new ways of thinking. In the latest Wikistrat podcast episode, Prof. Benjamin Laker drew from cases of companies that rerouted supply chains to bypass sanctions and firms that leapfrogged competitors by hiring during recessions to present counterintuitive principles for navigating this uncertainty
Information warfare has evolved from leaflets and radio broadcasts to botnets, deepfakes, and AI-generated content. While the technologies have changed, the objective remains constant: shaping perceptions, sowing doubt, and undermining trust. On September 9, Wikistrat hosted information warfare and cyber operations expert Ari Ben Am to analyze one of the most pressing security challenges of our time
Is the four-day workweek a passing workplace perk, or the blueprint for how we will work in the future? As trials spread from startups to local governments, the question is no longer hypothetical. On September 8, Wikistrat hosted Professor Brendan Burchell, who led the UK’s groundbreaking 2022 trial, the world's largest four-day workweek experiment at the time, to share insights on what actually happens when organizations make this transition, from the psychological mechanisms that drive success to the implementation factors that determine whether companies thrive or struggle.
As agentic AI moves from research labs into real-world organizations, will it simply enhance how we work—or fundamentally rewrite what work means? On July 28, Wikistrat hosted Matthew Versaggi, White House Presidential Innovation Fellow in AI, to explore how cognitive agents, built on decades of neuroscience-inspired architecture, are reshaping leadership, strategy, and human relevance in the workplace. In a world where machines can reason, act, and collaborate, the line between tool and teammate is quickly blurring—and those who fail to adapt may be left behind.Matthew Versaggi is a White House Presidential Innovation Fellow in Artificial Intelligence (AI), and a patent‑holding specialist in cognitive technology and quantum computing. He has led Fortune‑5 healthcare AI initiatives, founded the "College of Artificial Intelligence," and has over 30 years of experience as an entrepreneur and technologist.
As Israel and Iran traded blows in a 12-day war, would Moscow and Beijing truly stand by Tehran if conflict escalated—or is the “Axis” narrative more myth than reality? On July 10, Wikistrat hosted Dr. Richard Weitz, Senior Fellow and Director of the Center for Political-Military Analysis at the Hudson Institute, to assess how China and Russia reacted, what they learned, and what this reveals about the limits of their partnership with Iran. In a world of shifting alliances, the future of this axis may shape the balance of power far beyond the Middle East.
Following headlines of front-line shifts and rumors of a “new phase” in the Ukraine war, is the conflict truly evolving—or are these continuations of deeper, long-term trends? On July 3, Wikistrat hosted Keir Giles to assess Russia’s trajectory, Ukraine’s resilience, and Europe’s readiness in a grinding war that may shape the continent’s future. As the conflict slips from the headlines, the stakes for Europe’s security are only growing.Keir Giles is a Senior Consulting Fellow with the Russia and Eurasia Programme at Chatham House, specializing in Russian military strategy, information warfare, and cybersecurity. He is the author of Russia’s War on Everybody (2022), and co-author of the 2023 Chatham House report How to End Russia’s War on Ukraine.
Following Israel’s strikes on Iran’s nuclear and missile programs, Tehran faces its most vulnerable moment since the Islamic Revolution. Its long-standing deterrence doctrine—built on proxies, missiles, and nuclear ambiguity—has been severely shaken. How will Iran’s leadership navigate this crisis while Khamenei’s frail rule nears its end? On June 30, Wikistrat hosted a podcast with Dr. Raz Zimmt to assess Iran’s post-war strategy, internal calculations, and regional trajectory.Dr. Raz Zimmt is Director of the Iran and Shiite Axis Research Program at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) and a Research Fellow at the Alliance Center for Iranian Studies at Tel Aviv University.
Following a 12-day military confrontation between Israel and Iran, the Islamic Republic faces a critical inflection point. Its long-standing national defense doctrine—centered on regional alliances, missile deterrence, and nuclear ambiguity—has been significantly strained. How will Tehran respond to the setbacks in its regional posture, domestic cohesion, and international standing? On June 26, 2025, Wikistrat hosted a pocast with Dr. Sina Azodi to assess Iran’s strategic outlook, internal dynamics, and post-conflict options.Dr. Sina Azodi is the Program Director of the M.A. in Middle East Studies at George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs, where his research and teaching focus on Iranian foreign policy, nuclear non-proliferation, and U.S.–Iran relations.
Six months after the collapse of the Assad regime, Syria is undergoing one of the most complex transitions in the modern Middle East. Can a fragile new government navigate economic collapse, armed fragmentation, and shifting regional dynamics—without triggering renewed instability? On June 25, 2025, Wikistrat hosted a podcast with Charles Lister to explore the trajectory of Syria’s post-Assad transition and the evolving balance of power within and beyond its borders.Dr. Charles Lister is a senior fellow and Director of the Syria Initiative at the Middle East Institute (MEI), specializing in Syria, terrorism, and insurgency across the Levant. He also serves as a consultant to the United Nations’ International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism (IIIM) for Syria and as an expert witness and advisor on counterterrorism for U.S., European, and Australian law enforcement and judicial bodies.
As Israel’s military campaign against Iran’s nuclear program escalates, Tehran’s leadership is grappling with existential questions about survival, deterrence, and internal cohesion. Can the Islamic Republic navigate simultaneous military strikes, elite fractures, and growing public dissent—without conceding on the very ideological pillars that have sustained it for decades? On June 20, 2025, Wikistrat hosted a podcast with Dr. Saeid Golkar, a leading expert on Iran, to explore the regime’s strategic calculations, the shifting mood inside Iran, and the potential endgames now confronting one of the region’s most entrenched autocracies.Dr. Saeid Golkar is a senior fellow at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change.
Less than 48 hours before Israel launched Operation Rising Lion on Iran’s nuclear sites on June 13, 2025, Wikistrat hosted a podcast featuring Dr. Raz Zimmt, Director of the Iran & Shiite Axis Program at INSS. In a strikingly prescient comment, he warned, “we’re at the closest point to military escalation that we ever were.” He went on to dissect the diplomatic flashpoints, Iran’s probable responses, and the potential ripple effects on regional stability. This timely session—including Q&A—is an essential watch for anyone seeking expert insight into the strategic escalation.Dr. Raz Zimmt is Director of the Iran and Shiite Axis Research Program at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) and a Research Fellow at the Alliance Center for Iranian Studies at Tel Aviv University.
Following the most intense escalation between India and Pakistan in decades, the region faces a critical juncture. The Pahalgam terror attack ended four years of relative calm, prompting large-scale Indian airstrikes and cross-border exchanges that tested deterrence thresholds. What does this crisis reveal about the future of India-Pakistan relations and the risk of renewed conflict? On June 9, Wikistrat hosted a podcast with Michael Kugelman to examine the drivers of escalation, regional implications, and potential trajectories ahead.Michael Kugelman is a leading expert on South Asia, with a focus on India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. He writes Foreign Policy's weekly South Asia Brief, offering insights on the region’s political and security dynamics.
How will the Russian invasion of Ukraine affect Brazil's election, and what does it have to do with Donald Trump? Why doesn't BRICS's future look too bright? And what can Australia's COVID-19 policy teach us about China-Brazil relations? In the latest Wikistrat Insider episode, Fabricio Vitorino discusses Brazil's reaction to the war in Ukraine, as well as the country's relationship inside BRICS, with the US, and with China.Fabricio Vitorino holds a master's degree in Russian culture from the University of São Paulo. He also works as a journalist, covering technology, education, and trending events around the world.
One month since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, it has become clear that the war in Ukraine is changing global energy geopolitics. To understand the role of energy in the US response to the Ukraine Crisis, Adam Hoffman and Dr. Rebecca Molloy of Wikistrat interviewed Dr. Umud Shokri, who is a Washington-based senior foreign policy and energy geopolitics advisor, on US energy diplomacy, the impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on the global energy market, and the Biden administration's energy policy.
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