
The CGAI Podcast Network
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.
Latest episodes

Mar 21, 2025 • 59min
Non-Military Threats To Canada
The media’s focus on military and warfare consumes a vast amount of attention, neglecting other major threats. Today, Colin Robertson sits down Joe Ingram, Dr. Ted Manning, Geoff Strong and Andrew Welch to discuss global warming, harming biodiversity, health impacts, and refusal to acknowledge the need for social change.
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Participants' bios
- Joe Ingram is the Chairman of GreenTech labs, served with the International Development Agency, former President/CEO of the North-South Institute, was the Deputy Director at the World Bank Institute, including as its Special Representative to the UN and WTO.
- Dr. Ted Manning is the President of Tourisk Inc., a consultant to the UN World Tourism Organization, advisor to the World Wildlife Fund and lectures in tourism and environmental topics internationally.
- Geoff Strong is an atmospheric climate scientist, sits of the Board of Directors for the Canadian Association for the Club of Rome, a fellow and former national President of the Canadian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society. He was nominated in 2023 for the prestigious Patterson Medal from Environment Canada.
- Andrew Welch is the author of The Value Crisis and sits of the Board of Directors for the Canadian Association for the Club of Rome. He is an Emergency Response Team Site Manager (volunteer) with the Canadian Red Cross, and was a founding member of their National Disaster Management Evaluation Team.
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Host bio:
Colin Robertson is a former diplomat and Senior Advisor to the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, www.cgai.ca/colin_robertson
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Reading Recommendations:
- "Canadian Industry and Security on an Age of Existential Threat", by Joe Ingram.
- The Value Crisis, by Andrew Welch.
- Risk and Resilience in the Era of Climate Change, by Vinod Thomas.
- The Age of American Unreason in a Culture of Lies, by Susan Jacoby.
- Sustainable Tourism in the Americas, by Ted Manning.
- Silent Spring, by Rachel Carson.
- Anaximander: And the Birth of Science, by Carlo Rovelli.
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Music Credit: Drew Phillips | Producer: Jordyn Carroll
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Recording Date: February 18, 2025
Release date:
March 24, 2025

Mar 18, 2025 • 1h 12min
The Return of Russian Natural Gas to Europe? With Dr. Thierry Bros
On this episode of the Energy Security Cubed Podcast, Joe Calnan interviews Thierry Bros about the future of natural gas supply in Europe and whether Russian natural gas could return.
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For the intro, Kelly and Joe talk about the possibility of an energy infrastructure ceasefire in Ukraine and the new U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.
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Guest Bio:
- Dr. Thierry Bros is a natural gas researcher, Professor at Sciences Po Paris and a contributor to Natural Gas World
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Host Bio:
- Kelly Ogle is Managing Director of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute
- Joe Calnan is an Energy Security Analyst and Energy Security Forum Manager at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute
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Reading recommendations:
- "Le gaz et la guerre en Ukraine: Où va le marché international ?", by Sadek Boussena and Catherine Locatelli: https://www.amazon.ca/gaz-guerre-Ukraine-march%C3%A9-international-ebook/dp/B0CWCK7222
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Interview recording Date: March 4, 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.

Mar 14, 2025 • 45min
Sudan and What Canada Can Do To Help
The ongoing war in Sudan has displaced over 14 million people. Today, Colin Robertson sits down with Nisrin Elamin and Nicholas Coghlan about Canada’s response to the crisis and it’s large-scale implications to the African community.
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Participants' bios
-Nisrin Elamin is an Assistant Professor of Anthropology in the African Studies program at the University of Toronto.
-Nicholas Coghlan served as Canada’s First Resident in Khartoum, Sudan and the First Resident Canadian Ambassador in Juba, South Sudan.
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Host bio:
Colin Robertson is a former diplomat and Senior Advisor to the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, www.cgai.ca/colin_robertson //
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Reading Recommendations:
- Under Wide and Starry Skies: 50 Sailing Destinations in Seas Less Travelled, by Nicholas Coghlan.
- "In Sudan, the People's Revolution Versus the Elite's Counterrevolution", by Sara Abbas, Nisrim Elamin, Rabab Elnaiem and Abdelraouf Omer.
- Middle East Report: The Struggle for Sudan, by Deen Sharp, Nisrin Elamin, Najib Hourani and Paul Silverstein.
Support Sudan here: https://www.sudansolidarity.com
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Recording Date: March 14, 2025
Release date:
March 17, 2025

Mar 13, 2025 • 41min
Lethal Aid in Ukraine
On this episode of Defence Deconstructed, David Perry speaks to LCol Marc Kieley about Canada's contribution and training in lethal aid to the Ukraine as it continues to face invasion from Russia.
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Guest bios: LCol Marc Kieley is the Commandant of the Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School and former Head of Operational Planning for the Canadian Army. Between the end of 2020 and into 2021, with increased tensions between Ukraine and Russia, LCol Kieley was placed as the Desk Officer for Canada’s response to Russian threats. From 2021-2022, Kieley became the Lead Desk Officer within the Director of Strategic Planning for Canada’s response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
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Host bio: David Perry is President and CEO of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute
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Recommended Readings: "Lethal Aid Delivery to Ukraine and Beyond" by LCol Marc Kieley.
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Defence Deconstructed was brought to you by Irving Shipbuilding.
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Music Credit: Drew Phillips | Producer: Jordyn Carroll

Mar 11, 2025 • 34min
Energy Security Cubed: Why the U.S. Needs Canadian Oil with Tom Kloza
On this episode of the Energy Security Cubed Podcast, Joe Calnan and Kelly Ogle interview Tom Kloza about U.S. refineries and why Canadian oil is needed in the United States.
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For the intro, Kelly and Joe talk about Doug Ford's surcharge on electricity exports to the U.S. and what it means for North-South electricity trade.
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Guest Bio:
- Tom Kloza is Global Head of Energy Analysis at OPIS
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Host Bio:
- Kelly Ogle is Managing Director of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute
- Joe Calnan is an Energy Security Analyst and Energy Security Forum Manager at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute
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Reading recommendations:
- "The Bee Sting: A Novel", by Paul Murray: https://www.amazon.ca/Bee-Sting-Novel-Paul-Murray/dp/0374600309
- "The Nix", by Nathan Hill: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/530893/the-nix-by-nathan-hill/9781101970348
- "The Signal and the Noise: Why So Many Predictions Fail--but Some Don't", by Nate Silver: https://www.amazon.ca/Signal-Noise-Many-Predictions-Fail-but/dp/0143125087
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Interview recording Date: March 6, 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.

Mar 10, 2025 • 57min
The Global Exchange: The Threat to Canada's Sovereignty
In this episode of The Global Exchange podcast, Colin Robertson sits down with Martha Hall Findlay, Philippe Lagassé, Bill Robson and Ian Brodie, to discuss the long-term effects and implications of the Trump-imposed tariffs on Canada.
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Participants' bios
- Martha Hall Findlay is the Director of the School of Public Policy and Palmer Chair in Public Policy, University of Calgary, CEO of the Canada West Foundation, Chief Sustainability Officer for Suncor and a Member of Parliament.
- Philippe Lagasse is an Associate Professor and Barton Chair, Norman Paterson School of International Affairs at Carleton University. He was recently awarded the Canadian Forces Medallion for distinguished service for his exemplary contribution to Canadian defence policy.
- Bill Robson is President and CEO of the C.D Howe Institute.
- Ian Brodie is a Program Director at CGAI and a Professor at the University of Calgary, Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Harper and the InterAmerican Development Bank.
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Host bio:
Colin Robertson is a former diplomat and Senior Advisor to the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, www.cgai.ca/colin_robertson //
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Reading Recommendations:
- "Time to Prepare" by Philippe Lagassé, https://www.readtheline.ca/p/philippe-lagasse-time-to-prepare
- The Thursday Question by Ian Brodie, https://thethursdayquestion.substack.com/about
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Recording Date: March 5, 2025
Release date:
March 10, 2025

Mar 7, 2025 • 28min
Defence Deconstructed: Priming Defence for AI Adoption
On this Triple Helix edition of Defence Deconstructed, David Perry speaks to MGen Zimmer about the work of the Digital Service Group in preparing the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces for a successful adoption of AI.
Triple Helix is a MINDS Collaborative Network.
Defence Deconstructed is brought to you by Irving Shipbuilding.
Guest bio:
Major-General Chris Zimmer is Chief Digital Transformation/Defence Chief Data Officer for the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces – https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/maple-leaf/defence/2024/05/dm-cds-announcement-digital-services-group-dgs.html
Host bio:
Dr. David Perry is President and CEO of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute – https://www.cgai.ca/david_perry
Recorded on October 29, 2024
Music by Drew Phillips
Produced by Charlotte Duval-Lantoine

Mar 3, 2025 • 58min
The Global Exchange: Ukraine, Trapped between Trump and Putin
For this episode of the Global Exchange podcast, Colin Robertson talks with Jeremy Kinsman and John Negroponte about the disastrous meeting between Zelensky, Trump, and Vance, and implications for the war in Ukraine.
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Participants' bios
- Jeremy Kinsman is a former Canadian diplomat who served as our Political Director and as High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and as our Ambassador to Russia, the European Union and Italy amongst other assignments
- John Negroponte is Vice Chairman at McLarty Associates. He served for more than five decades as a U.S. diplomat, including as ambassador to Honduras, Mexico, the Philippines, the United Nations, and Iraq.
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Host bio:
Colin Robertson is a former diplomat and Senior Advisor to the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, www.cgai.ca/colin_robertson //
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Reading Recommendations:
- "The Achilles Trap: Saddam Hussein, the C.I.A., and the Origins of America's Invasion of Iraq" by Steve Coll: https://www.amazon.ca/Achilles-Trap-C-I-Americas-Invasion/dp/0525562265
- "Demon Copperhead: A Novel", by Barbara Kingsolver: https://www.amazon.ca/Demon-Copperhead-Novel-Barbara-Kingsolver/dp/0063251922
- "The Eurasian Century: Hot Wars, Cold Wars, and the Making of the Modern World", by Hal Brands: https://www.amazon.ca/Eurasian-Century-Making-Modern-World/dp/132403694X
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Recording Date: February 28, 2025

Mar 3, 2025 • 50min
Energy Security Cubed: Unpacking LNG Markets, with Ira Joseph
On this episode of the Energy Security Cubed Podcast, Joe Calnan and Kelly Ogle interview Ira Joseph about the current market dynamics for LNG and what it could mean for Canadian projects.
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For the intro, Kelly and Joe unpack the Trump tariffs and how Canada could consider a long-term energy response.
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Guest Bio:
- Ira Joseph is a Global Fellow, Center on Global Energy Policy, Columbia University
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Host Bio:
- Kelly Ogle is Managing Director of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute
- Joe Calnan is an Energy Security Analyst and Energy Security Forum Manager at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute
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Reading recommendations:
- "John Lewis: A Life", by David Greenberg: https://www.amazon.ca/John-Lewis-Life-David-Greenberg/dp/1982142995
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Interview recording Date: February 25, 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.

Feb 28, 2025 • 43min
Defence Deconstructed: What Fate for Ukraine?
On this episode of Defence Deconstructed, David Perry speaks to LGen (ret'd) D. Michael Day and Andrew Rasiulis about the war in Ukraine on the third year anniversary of the Russian full scale invasion, and the recent developments regarding the US's support of Ukraine.
Defence Deconstructed is brought to you by Irving Shipbuilding.
LGen (ret'd) D. Michael Day is a Fellow at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute – https://www.cgai.ca/d_michael_day
Andrew Rasiulis is a Fellow at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute – https://www.cgai.ca/andrew_rasiulis
David Perry is President and CEO of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute – https://www.cgai.ca/david_perry
Music credits: Drew Phillips
Produced by Charlotte Duval-Lantoine