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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.