On this week’s WhoWhatWhy podcast, I explore the intricate landscape of global terrorism, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the geopolitical reverberations of recent events.

My guest is Kenneth Katzman, a senior adviser with The Soufan Group and a preeminent expert on the Middle East. Specializing in Iran, the Persian Gulf states, Iraq, and Afghanistan, Katzman has previously served as a senior analyst at the Congressional Research Service and an analyst at the CIA.

My conversation with Kenneth Katzman:

 To access my conversation with Ken Katzman, please go to our new Substack page By doing so, and signing up, you'll receive them directly in your email and ensure that you don't miss anything during our transition to Substack.

Navigating the New Geopolitics: A Conversation with Sam Ramani

Sam Ramani, is a distinguished Oxford scholar specializing in international relations. Ramani, also a member of London's Royal United Services Institute, brings a wealth of firsthand experience from Russia and Ukraine, as well as academic insights into Russia's military involvements in Chechnya and Syria.

Ramani describes our global politics as increasingly volatile due to the erosion of international law and the rise of a multipolar world. He views Russia's invasion of Ukraine not merely as a breach of sovereignty but as a symptom of a larger, systemic decay in international norms.

My conversation with Sam Ramani:  

To access my conversation with Sam Ramani, please go to our new Substack page By doing so, and signing up, you'll receive them directly in your email and ensure that you don't miss anything during our transition to Substack.

Carl Safina on Nature, Philosophy, and Unexpected Teachers

In a digital age that often alienates us from nature, ecologist and author Carl Safina offers a transformative tale in 'Alfie & Me.' Rescuing Alfie, a near-death baby screech owl, with his wife Patricia, Safina challenges conventional ideas about interspecies boundaries and our philosophical relationship with the world. Set amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the story serves as a poignant reminder that life's deepest lessons often come from unexpected sources. A MacArthur "genius" and Stony Brook professor, Safina's work illuminates the intricate tapestry of life, nature, and human experience.

My conversation with Carl Safina:

To access my conversation with Carl Safina, please go to our new Substack page By doing so, and signing up, you'll receive them directly in your email and ensure that you don't miss anything during our transition to Substack.

Can America Survive Its Own Constitution? The Tyranny of the Minority

On this week’s WhoWhatWhy podcast, Harvard professor Daniel Ziblatt, co-author of the new book Tyranny of the Minority, takes a hard look at the institutional inertia and political extremism that is threatening the future of American democracy.

Ziblatt argues that the nation’s precarious condition is defined by two contrasting views of what George Washington called “the last great experiment for promoting human happiness”: one that aspires toward a multiracial, multicultural democracy focused on equity and inclusion, and another that leans toward authoritarianism — a dichotomy Ziblatt says is epitomized by the events of January 5 and 6.

My WhoWhatWhy conversation with Daniel Ziblatt:  

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The Invisible Frontlines: Israel’s Secret War Against a Nuclear Iran

Updated October 8, 2023 — The podcast below was recorded earlier this week before the horrific events in Israel and Gaza. However, while the focus of the podcast is on Israel’s efforts to halt Iran’s nuclear program, it clearly lays out what could be considered the precursor to the Hamas attack. The weakness and division within Israel, the broad effort to isolate Iran through the Abraham Accords, and attempts to establish peace between Israel and Saudi Arabia are all contributing factors.

October 6, 2023 — While Iran may not be dominating today’s headlines, its nuclear ambitions are as fervent as ever. Equally unyielding is Israel’s determination — covert or otherwise — to thwart these ambitions.

On this week’s exclusive WhoWhatWhy podcast, Yonah Jeremy Bob, a senior analyst for the Jerusalem Post and former high-ranking Israeli official, pulls back the curtain on Israel’s covert operations against Iran.

Bob’s latest book, Target Tehran, offers a rare glimpse into Israel’s multilayered strategy to counter Iran through sabotage, cyberwarfare, assassination, and secret diplomacy.

My WhoWhatWhy conversation with Yonah Jeremy Bob:

To access my conversation with Yonah Jeremy Bob, please go to our new Substack page By doing so, you'll receive them directly in your email and ensure that you don't miss anything during our transition to Substack.