

The CGAI Podcast Network
The Canadian Global Affairs Institute
The CGAI Podcast Network is created and produced by the Canadian Global Affairs Institute. Join us each week to explore the energy, defense, and international affairs stories that matter to Canadians. Listen now to CGAI podcasts “The Global Exchange”, “Defence Deconstructed”, and “Energy Security Cubed”, and partner podcasts “Battle Rhythm" and “Conseils de sécurité”. Visit www.cgai.ca for more, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn.
The Canadian Global Affairs Institute (CGAI) is a charitable, independent, non-partisan, research institute based in Ottawa, Ontario and Calgary, Alberta.
The Canadian Global Affairs Institute (CGAI) is a charitable, independent, non-partisan, research institute based in Ottawa, Ontario and Calgary, Alberta.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jul 23, 2025 • 44min
Does Canada Need More Oil Export Pipelines?
On this episode of the Energy Security Cubed Podcast, Kelly Ogle and Joe Calnan talk with Marty King about the potential need for additional oil export pipeline infrastructure.
For the intro session, Joe and Kelly talk about Australian and Canadian LNG comparisons and pipeline politics in Eastern Europe.
Marty King's blog post: https://rbnenergy.com/youve-got-a-friend-in-me-will-enbridges-expansions-avert-another-canadian-oil-pipeline-capacity-crunch
Kelly's LNG paper: https://www.cgai.ca/a_study_of_liquefied_natural_gas_development_in_australia_and_requisite_learnings_for_canada
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Guest Bio:
- Marty King is Managing Director - North America Energy Market Analysis at RBN Energy LLC
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Host Bio:
- Kelly Ogle is Managing Director of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute
- Joe Calnan is VP, Energy and Calgary Operations at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute
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Reading recommendations:
- "The Dynasties of China: A History", by Bamber Gasciogne: https://www.amazon.ca/Dynasties-China-History-Bamber-Gascoigne/dp/0786712198
- "Augustus: The Life of Rome's First Emperor", by Anthony Everitt: https://www.amazon.ca/Augustus-Life-Romes-First-Emperor/dp/0812970586
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Interview recording Date: July 10, 2025
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Energy Security Cubed is part of the CGAI Podcast Network. Follow the Canadian Global Affairs Institute on Facebook, Twitter (@CAGlobalAffairs), or on LinkedIn. Head over to our website at www.cgai.ca for more commentary.
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Produced by Joe Calnan. Music credits to Drew Phillips.

Jul 21, 2025 • 38min
A President's View: Valdis Zatlers
On this episode of #TheGlobalExchange, Colin Robertson sits down with Former Latvian President, Valdis Zatlers, to discuss the President's previous visit to Ottawa, Russia's impact on Latvian culture and operations, and Canada's presence in Latvia through the multinational brigade.
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Participants' bios
Valdis Zatlers is the Former President of Latvia (2007-2011)
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Host bio:
Colin Robertson is a former diplomat and Senior Advisor to the Canadian Global Affairs Institute.
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Reading Recommendations:
- "The Afghanistan File" by Prince Turki AlFaisal Al Saud
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Music Credit: Drew Phillips | Producer: Jordyn Carroll
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Recording Date: July 17, 2025
Release date:
July 21, 2025

Jul 18, 2025 • 21min
Canadian Defence in the Carney Era
In this episode of #DefenceDeconstructed we sit down with David Coletto to discuss the current data of public opinions towards Canadian defence and some of the initiatives the Carney government is taking. We look at views of defence spending against Carney himself, his government and the country's political parties.
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Guest bios:
David Coletto is the CEO of Abacus Data
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Host bio:
David Perry is President and CEO of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute
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Recommended Readings:
- "Abundance" by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson
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Defence Deconstructed was brought to you by Irving Shipbuilding.
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Music Credit: Drew Phillips | Producer: Jordyn Carroll
Release date:
18 July 2025

Jul 16, 2025 • 1h 12min
Adapting Canadian Energy Policy for AI
On this episode of the Energy Security Cubed Podcast, Kelly Ogle and Joe Calnan talk with Graeme Harrison about how Canada should think about AI energy demand.
For the intro session, Joe and Kelly talk about the real impact of changes to the IAAC and the potential for big shifts on AI and energy.
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Guest Bio:
- Graeme Harrison is Managing Partner of Augur VC
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Host Bio:
- Kelly Ogle is Managing Director of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute
- Joe Calnan is VP, Energy and Calgary Operations at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute
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Reading recommendations:
- "The Age of Spiritual Machines: When Computers Exceed Human Intelligence", by Ray Kurzweil: https://www.amazon.ca/Age-Spiritual-Machines-Computers-Intelligence/dp/0140282025
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Interview recording Date: July 14, 2025
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Energy Security Cubed is part of the CGAI Podcast Network. Follow the Canadian Global Affairs Institute on Facebook, Twitter (@CAGlobalAffairs), or on LinkedIn. Head over to our website at www.cgai.ca for more commentary.
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Produced by Joe Calnan. Music credits to Drew Phillips.

Jul 15, 2025 • 49min
A New Chapter: Canada, Europe, and the Future of Defence
On this episode of #TheGlobalExchange, Colin Robertson sits down with Hon. Perrin Beatty, Vice-Admiral (Retd) Mark Norman, Vincent Rigby and Tim Sargent to discuss the risks and opportunities of the recently announced Canada-European Union Security and Defence partnership.
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Participants' bios
- Hon. Perrin Beatty is a former Minister of National Defence, former President and CEO of CBC and former President and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.
- Vice-Admiral (Retd) Mark Norman served as the Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy and former Vice Chief of the Defence Staff.
- Vincent Rigby is a former National Security and Intelligence Advisor to the Prime Minister and is Slater Family Professor of Practice at McGill's Max Bell School of Public Policy.
- Tim Sargent served as Deputy Minister in several portfolios and is now Senior Fellow and Director of the Domestic Policy Program at the MacDonald-Laurier Institute.
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Host bio:
Colin Robertson is a former diplomat and Senior Advisor to the Canadian Global Affairs Institute.
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Reading Recommendations:
- "The Allies Strike Back, 1941-1943" by James Holland
- "The Three-Body Problem" by Cixin Liu
- "On Freedom" by Timothy Snyder
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Music Credit: Drew Phillips | Producer: Jordyn Carroll
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Recording Date: July 11, 2025
Release date:
July 15, 2025

Jul 11, 2025 • 46min
The RCAF In Manitoba and Ontario
In this episode of #DefenceDeconstructed we sit down Col. Steeve Belley, LCol Craig Greeley, and CWO Rene Gagnon to examine the Royal Canadian Air Force’s response to the wildfires that impacted northern Ontario and Manitoba earlier this year. We delve into the strategies used, the deployment of equipment, and the timelines involved in carrying out safe and effective evacuation and firefighting operations.
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Guest bios:
- Col. Steeve Belley is the Commanding Officer of 2 Wing.
- LCol Craig Greeley is the Commanding Officer of the Royal Canadian Air Force's (RCAF) 8 Air Maintenance Squadron.
- CWO Rene Gagnon is the Warrent Officer of the Royal Canadian Air Force's (RCAF) 8 Air Maintenance Squadron.
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Host bio:
David Perry is President and CEO of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute
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Recommended Readings:
-Tom Clancy Books.
- "Ghost Fleet" by P. W. Singer and August Cole
- "Turn The Ship Around!" by L. David Marquet
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Defence Deconstructed was brought to you by Irving Shipbuilding.
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Music Credit: Drew Phillips | Producer: Jordyn Carroll
Release date:
11 July 2025

Jul 9, 2025 • 1h
How the G7 Should Think About LNG
On this episode of the Energy Security Cubed Podcast, Kelly Ogle and Joe Calnan talk with Kathleen Gnocato and Shaz Merwat about the role of Canadian LNG in diplomacy around the G7.
You can find their report for RBC Thought Leadership here: https://www.rbc.com/en/thought-leadership/the-growth-project/a-g7-strategy-for-natural-gas-four-scenarios-for-energy-security-in-the-2040s/
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Guest Bio:
- Kathleen Gnocato is the LNG Research Initiative Lead, Independent Consultant for RBC Thought Leadership
- Shaz Merwat is Energy Policy Lead for RBC's Climate Action Institute
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Host Bio:
- Kelly Ogle is Managing Director of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute
- Joe Calnan is VP, Energy and Calgary Operations at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute
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Reading recommendations:
- "From the Ashes: My Story of Being Métis, Homeless, and Finding My Way", by Jesse Thistle: https://www.simonandschuster.ca/books/From-the-Ashes/Jesse-Thistle/9781982101213
- "Apple in China: The Capture of the World's Greatest Company", by Patrick McGee: https://www.simonandschuster.ca/books/Apple-in-China/Patrick-McGee/9781668053379
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Interview recording Date: July 2, 2025
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Energy Security Cubed is part of the CGAI Podcast Network. Follow the Canadian Global Affairs Institute on Facebook, Twitter (@CAGlobalAffairs), or on LinkedIn. Head over to our website at www.cgai.ca for more commentary.
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Produced by Joe Calnan. Music credits to Drew Phillips.

Jul 7, 2025 • 35min
iChina
On this episode of #TheGlobalExchange, Colin Robertson sits down with Patrick McGee to explore the origins of Apple and examine China's pivotal role in building the global empire it has become, in his new book, Apple in China.
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Participants' bios
Patrick McGee is a NYT best selling author and San Francisco Correspondent at the Financial Times.
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Host bio:
Colin Robertson is a former diplomat and Senior Advisor to the Canadian Global Affairs Institute.
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Reading Recommendations:
- "Apple in China" by Patrick McGee.
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Music Credit: Drew Phillips | Producer: Jordyn Carroll
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Recording Date: June 27, 2025
Release date:
July 7, 2025

Jul 4, 2025 • 58min
Shipyards, Strategy, and Sovereignty
In this episode of #DefenceDeconstructed we sit down with Arianne Reza and James Davies. In this final episode of our National Shipbuilding Strategy series, we explore the growing role of Davie Shipyard in partnership with the Government of Canada. We look at Davie’s development over the years, its integration into the Strategy, and how it contributes to strengthening Canada’s shipbuilding capabilities, economy, and national security.
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Guest bios:
- Arianne Reza is the Deputy Minister for Public Services and Procurement Canada.
- James Davies is the President and CEO of Davie Shipyard.
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Host bio:
David Perry is President and CEO of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute
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Recommended Readings:
- "Inflection Point: How to Reverse the Erosion of U.S. and Allied Military Power and Influence" by David A. Ochmanek et al.
- "Parkinson's Law, and Other Studies in Administration" by Cyril Northcote Parkinson
- "Values" by Mark Carney
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Defence Deconstructed was brought to you by Irving Shipbuilding.
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Music Credit: Drew Phillips | Producer: Jordyn Carroll
Release date:
4 July 2025

Jul 2, 2025 • 34min
Warsaw to Washington: Ed Luce on Zbigniew Brzezinski
On this episode of #TheGlobalExchange, Colin Robertson sits down with Ed Luce to discuss the life and legacy of Zbigniew Brzezinski in his new book, "Zbig: The Life of Zbigniew Brzezinski, America’s Great Power Prophet".
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Participants' bios
Ed Luce is an author and the US national editor and columnist at the Financial Times.
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Host bio:
Colin Robertson is a former diplomat and Senior Advisor to the Canadian Global Affairs Institute.
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Reading Recommendations:
- "Zbig: The Life of Zbigniew Brzezinski, America’s Great Power Prophet" by Ed Luce.
- "Ed Luce’s ‘Zbig’: Brzezinski Finally Gets His Due" by Colin Robertson.
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Music Credit: Drew Phillips | Producer: Jordyn Carroll
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Recording Date: June 4, 2025
Release date:
July 2, 2025