The Global List Podcast

Hosted by David Solomon Bassiouni

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Jun 2026

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About the show

Hosted by David Solomon Bassiouni, The Global List features unexpected journeys with leaders, thinkers and innovators worldwide. From Business to Climate Change to Geopolitics, we aim to provide timely insights into the key issues and topics shaping the world -- by connecting with and learning from leading experts and voices. Each episode features a new destination/country.

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27 recent

June 13, 202636 min

Iran: The Escalation Trap (Part 1)

The US-Iran-Israel War has been raging for over 3 months, and regardless of the next phase, something has fundamentally changed in the Mideast and globally. What led to the crisis? Why is the ceasefire/peace deal so fragile? How was the Strait of Hormuz transformed into such a critical point of leverage? What is the Escalation Trap, and why did the U.S. fall into it? How can we analyze the conflict within the context of the Escalation Trap? What do we need to understand about the illusion of air power? What are the escalation and de-escalation pathways? Furthermore, what are the geopolitical & economic consequences of this conflict over the short and long term? What should we expect in the next phase? We spoke to Prof. Robert Pape, the renowned political scientist & international security affairs expert, who developed the Escalation Trap framework, to gain a deeper understanding of the complexities of the conflict. Part 1 of 2.

April 3, 2026Episode 648 min

Red Pill: Incel Culture and the Manosphere

Young men today are in the middle of a crisis that has largely gone unnoticed until recently. The Netflix show "Adolescence" lifted the veil, and Louis Theroux's new "Manosphere" documentary opened up the conversation. But what is really driving the crisis and what's driving the rise of incel culture, red pill culture, popular trends like "looksmaxxing," and the manosphere in general? What's behind the male loneliness epidemic, increased depression rates and sobering socio-economic statistics? What do we need to know about incel culture – including its origin and pervasive influence? What are the perceived dynamics of the sexual marketplace as viewed through the red pill? For the first episode in our "Red Pill" mini-series, we turned to Prof. Miriam Lindner, a social and evolutionary psychologist who examines violent cognition and the dark sides of human group living – focusing on intergroup aggression, microaggressions, hate crime, and terrorist violence.

March 7, 2026Episode 648 min

Drug Wars: Decoding Cartels & Transnational Crime

On June 17, 1971, President Nixon officially declared the "war on drugs". Now, 55 years removed, 10 presidents later, and with over $1T spent, that war is still ongoing, and demand continues to surge in line with trafficking, crime, and violence. What do we need to understand about the nature of the "war on drugs" and the organizations involved in narco- and human trafficking? Why is it important to view "cartels" as complex adaptive systems instead of cartels? What is the blindspot in the U.S. "kingpin" strategy? How is the trafficking landscape changing, and how is technology re-shaping the approach on both sides? What are we missing in the overall analysis, and how can we separate fact from fiction? Our guest is Dr. Guadalupe Correa-Cabrera, Professor at the Schar School of Policy and Government, George Mason University, a leading expert on cartels and transnational crime, and the author of Los Zetas Inc.: Criminal Corporations, Energy, and Civil War in Mexico and (forthcoming) Cartels Inc: A "New Generation" of Criminal Networks.

February 27, 2026Episode 51 hr 15 min

Venezuela: Chávez, Maduro & Trump

In the early morning hours of January 3rd, 2026, a U.S. military operation in Caracas, Venezuela, ended with the capture of Nicolás Maduro. Now, one month later, we face many questions. What is really happening in Venezuela right now, and what does the future hold? What is the U.S. endgame and what are the pitfalls? What do we need to understand about the situation on the ground in terms of the political and security landscape? What internal dynamics should we keep in mind? What is the legacy of Hugo Chávez and chavismo, and how will that clash with the Trump administration's "Donroe" (Monroe) Doctrine? Our guest is Dr. Pablo Ribeiro Uchoa from the UCL Institute of the Americas – a Venezuela expert with a PhD in political science who has studied Chávez's Bolivarian revolution, examining themes of nationalism, militarism/militarization, the military ethos, and the military's role and relationship with broader society.

February 4, 2026Episode 41 hr 5 min

Drone Wars: The Future of Warfare (Part 2)

Welcome to part 2 of the "Drone Wars" episode — a deeper dive into drones and the future of warfare. In the Ukraine-Russia War, we are witnessing the real-time and devastating impact of drones. We are also witnessing considerable innovation and tactical adaptation. So, how are drones changing the battlespace, and how will they impact the future of warfare beyond the conflict? How are drones reshaping military strategy, tactics, and operations? What is the significance of Operation Spiderweb, and how are both sides innovating in the sky and underwater? What is happening on the ground in Ukraine right now, and what critical factors do we need to know? We spoke to Dr. Marina Miron, a military expert at King's College, to gain deeper insights and technical analysis to understand the broader implications for the conflict, Europe, NATO, and the world — part 2 of 2.

December 18, 2025Episode 21 hr 3 min

Drone Wars: The Future of Warfare (Part 1)

Drones are redefining the battlefield and redefining war. In the Ukraine-Russia War, we are witnessing the real-time and devastating impact of drones. We are also witnessing considerable innovation and tactical adaptation. So, how are drones changing the battle space, and how will they impact the future of warfare beyond the conflict? How are drones reshaping military strategy, tactics, and operations? What is the significance of Operation Spiderweb, and how are both sides innovating in the sky and underwater? What is happening on the ground in Ukraine right now, and what critical factors do we need to know? We spoke to Dr. Marina Miron, a military expert at King's College, to gain deeper insights and technical analysis to understand the broader implications for the conflict as well as Europe, NATO, and the world. Part 1 of 2.

November 11, 2025Episode 11 hr 12 min

Going Nuclear: Is Nuclear Energy the Answer?

Welcome to season 3! The word "nuclear" can seem frightening. But maybe it's time to unpack it. Right now, we are in the midst of a Nuclear Renaissance as we witness the emergence of small modular reactors, micro-reactors, new power stations, hyperscalers – emerging to meet ever-increasing energy demands, the rapid surge of data centers due to Artificial Intelligence (AI), and, most importantly, the challenges posed by climate change. So, is it time to "go nuclear?" Is nuclear energy part of the answer? What are the key challenges and opportunities? Which critical innovations are underway? Join us for the first episode of season 3 – an engaging and insightful conversation with Seth Grae, the CEO and Chairman of Lightbridge Corporation, which specializes in the development of advanced nuclear fuel technology.

December 16, 2024Episode 81 hr 6 min

Argentina: The Milei Experiment (One Year Later)

Javier Milei swept into the Argentinian Presidency on the back of a populist and popular yet controversial movement. But what has happened so far (one year in) and what does the future hold? How does Milei's economic prescription fit in the political and economic history of Argentina? What lessons can we draw for Argentina, South America and the United States as Trump prepares to take office? What is the best and worst case scenario and what trends are taking shape right now? Join us for an in-depth conversation with Prof. Matías Vernengo, Full Professor at Bucknell University, and the Director of the Bucknell Institute for Public Policy (BIPP).

June 17, 2024Episode 740 min

Future Materials Series: Plastic Waste/Spider Silk

We produce over 400m tonnes of plastic waste every year but what if you could convert that waste into ecofriendly spider silk and other materials? What if you could engineer a bacteria to digest and transform polyethylene plastic waste – the kind used in many single-use items – into a high-value protein product? This isn't science fiction – it's actual science. Join us for an informative and engaging conversation with Prof. Helen Zha and Prof. Mattheos Koffas (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute) to learn more about their groundbreaking research. This is part of The Global List Podcast's ongoing "Future Materials" series which examines innovative & sustainable breakthroughs in materials science, biomaterials, bioengineering, biotechnology and nanotechnology.

May 24, 2024Episode 634 min

PTSD, MDMA and Veterans: A New Breakthrough

MDMA has emerged as a highly effective treatment for PTSD and one organization is leading the way. In this insightful and uplifting conversation, we speak with Juliana Mercer, the Director of Public Policy for the nonprofit organization Healing Breakthrough, which advocates for system-wide adoption of MDMA-Assisted Therapy in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Join us for a very special episode of The Global List Podcast and find out how MDMA is helping veterans to manage and overcome PTSD, and what it means for therapy in general. May is Mental Health Awareness Month.