

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

Feb 12, 2025 • 25min
Defence Deconstructed: A US Coast Guard Perspective on Arctic Security
On this episode of Defence Deconstructed, Charlotte Duval-Lantoine speaks to William Woityra about Arctic security.
Defence Deconstructed is brought to you by Irving Shipbuilding.
Guest:
William Woityra is the 2025 Council on Foreign Relations International Affairs Fellow, and a US Coast Guard Captain. https://www.cgai.ca/william_woityra
Host:
Charlotte Duval-Lantoine is CGAI's VP, Ottawa Operations.
Recorded 14 Feb 2025
Music Credits: Drew Phillips
Producer: Charlotte Duval-Lantoine

Feb 7, 2025 • 33min
Defence Deconstructed: Re-Examining the Role of the Coast Guard
On this episode of Defence Deconstructed, David Perry speaks to Chris Henderson about the role of the Canadian Coast Guard and what can be done to enhance its efficacy.
Defence Deconstructed is brought to you by Irving Shipbuilding.
Guest Bio: Chris Henderson is former Commissioner of the Coast Guard.
Host bio: David Perry is President and CEO of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute
Read Chris' paper: https://www.cgai.ca/a_constabulary_role_for_the_canadian_coast_guard
Recorded: 7 Feb 2025
Music credit: Drew Phillips. Producer: Charlotte Duval-Lantoine

Feb 4, 2025 • 1h 14min
Energy Security Cubed: Why Trade Balances Matter with Brad Setser
On this episode of the Energy Security Cubed Podcast, Joe Calnan interviews Brad Setser about the American global trade deficit, why it matters, and why it makes no sense to blame Canada for it.
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For the intro, Kelly and Joe look into Nigerian oil refining and growing energy nationalism in Scandinavia.
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Guest Bio:
- Brad W. Setser is the Whitney Shepardson senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations
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Host Bio:
- Kelly Ogle is Managing Director of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute
- Joe Calnan is a Fellow and Energy Security Forum Manager at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute
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Reading recommendations:
- "Salt: A World History", by Mark Kurlansky: https://www.amazon.ca/Salt-World-History-Mark-Kurlansky/dp/0142001619
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Interview recording Date: February 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.

Feb 3, 2025 • 1h
The Global Exchange: How Not to Shoot Yourself in the Foot Negotiating with Trump
For this episode of the Global Exchange podcast, Colin Robertson talks with Louise Blais, Fen Hampson and Tim Sargent about Canada-US relations as we face a trade war of tariffs and counter-tariffs.
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Participants' bios
- Louise Blais is a career diplomat who served as our Consul General to Atlanta and as Ambassador to the United Nations
- Fen Hampson is a prolific author and editor of 48 books, and is Chancellor’s Professor of International Relations at Carlton University
- Tim Sargent is Senior Fellow and Director of Domestic Policy at the Macdonald Laurier Institue. He previously held Deputy Minister and Associate Deputy Minister positions at Fisheries and Oceans, International Trade, Finance, and Agriculture and AgriFood, as well as senior positions at the Privy Council Office
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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:
- "Vienna: How the City of Ideas Created the Modern World", by Richard Cockett: https://www.amazon.ca/Vienna-Ideas-Created-Modern-World/dp/0300266537
- "The Myth of the Strong Leader: Political Leadership in the Modern Age", by Archie Brown: https://www.amazon.ca/Myth-Strong-Leader-Political-Leadership/dp/0465027660
- "John Anderson: Conversations": https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/john-anderson-conversations/id1370741457
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Recording Date: February 3, 2025.

Jan 28, 2025 • 37min
Defence Deconstructed: Supporting Defence Personnel
On this episode of Defence Deconstructed, Charlotte Duval-Lantoine speaks to Robyn Hynes about the latest issues in personnel policy.
Defence Deconstructed is brought to you by Irving Shipbuilding
Guest bio:
Robyn Hynes is the interim DND/CAF Ombudsperson – https://www.canada.ca/en/ombudsman-national-defence-forces/information-about-office/ombudsman.html
Host bio:
Charlotte Duval-Lantoine is the Vice President, Ottawa Operations at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute –https://www.cgai.ca/staff#Lantoine
What Robyn is reading:
The Pivot Year by Brianna Wiest – https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/the-pivot-year/9781949759624.html
Resources:
Military Benefits Browser: https://www.canada.ca/en/ombudsman-national-defence-forces/education-information/caf-members/compensation-benefits/mbb.html
DND/CAF Ombudsperson Reports: https://www.canada.ca/en/ombudsman-national-defence-forces/reports-news-statistics.html
2025 Report on Language and Cultural Advisors: https://www.canada.ca/en/ombudsman-national-defence-forces/reports-news-statistics/investigative-reports/standing-together-lcas.html
Recorded January 28, 2025.
Music by Drew Philipps. Producer: Charlotte Duval-Lantoine

Jan 27, 2025 • 1h 8min
Energy Security Cubed: Exploring Better Alternatives to Energy Export Restrictions with Trevor Tombe
On this episode of the Energy Security Cubed Podcast, Kelly Ogle and Joe Calnan interview Trevor Tombe about his recent article for The Hub, "Premier Smith is right that restricting oil exports is a bad idea. Here’s a better option": https://thehub.ca/2025/01/22/trevor-tombe-premier-smith-is-right-that-restricting-oil-exports-is-a-bad-idea-heres-a-better-option/
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For the intro, Kelly and Joe unpack some articles from leading pro-tariff thinkers influencing the Trump Administration.
- Miran: https://www.hudsonbaycapital.com/documents/FG/hudsonbay/research/638199_A_Users_Guide_to_Restructuring_the_Global_Trading_System.pdf
- Bessent: https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/scott-bessent-talk-tariffs-its-time-revitalize-alexander-hamiltons-favorite-tool
- Pettis: https://www.foreignaffairs.com/united-states/how-tariffs-can-help-america
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Guest Bio:
- Trevor Tombe is a Professor at the University of Calgary's Department of Economics and the Director of Fiscal and Economic Policy at The School of Public Policy
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Host Bio:
- Kelly Ogle is Managing Director of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute
- Joe Calnan is a Fellow and Energy Security Forum Manager at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute
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Reading recommendations:
- "Dominion: The Railway and the Rise of Canada", by Stephen Bown: https://www.amazon.ca/Dominion-Railway-Canada-Stephen-Bown/dp/0385698720
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Interview recording Date: January 27, 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.

Jan 24, 2025 • 39min
Defence Deconstructed: Driving Innovation within NATO
On this Triple Helix edition of the podcast, David Perry talks to James Appathurai about NATO’s innovation efforts and the work done on emerging and disruptive technologies.
Defence Deconstructed is brought to you by Irving Shipbuilding
Guest:
- James Appathurai is NATO’s Deputy Assistant Secretary General Innovation, Hybrid, Cyber.
Host:
- David Perry is the President and CEO of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute.
Recorded on January, 24, 2025
Music by Drew Phillips. Produced by Charlotte Duval-Lantoine.

Jan 24, 2025 • 55min
The Global Exchange: Dealing with Trump 2.0
For this episode of the Global Exchange podcast, Colin Robertson talks with Hon. Perrin Beatty, Meredith Lilly, and Hon. Gary Mar about Canada-US relations in the wake of the Inauguration and the triumphalist return to presidential power of Donald Trump.
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Participants' bios
- Perrin Beatty is co-chair of the Carlton and CGAI sponsored Canada-US export group on Canada-Us relations. Most recently, he serves as the President and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce
- Meredith Lilly is Professor and Simon Reisman Chair at Carleton University’s Norman Paterson School of International Affairs. She previously served as International Trade Advisor to Prime Minister Harper
- Gary Mar is President and CEO of the Canada West Foundation. A member of the Alberta legislature he held various cabinet portfolios. He later served as Alberta’s Representative in Washington and then in Hong Kong and then returned to the private sector
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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:
- "Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania", by Erik Larson: https://www.amazon.ca/Dead-Wake-Last-Crossing-Lusitania/dp/0307408876
- "A Gentleman in Moscow": https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8230448/
- "Curse of Politics: The Herle Burly Political Panel": https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/curse-of-politics-the-herle-burly-political-panel/id1579125546
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Recording Date: January 24, 2025.

Jan 23, 2025 • 51min
Energy Security Cubed: The Trump Administration in the Middle East, with Greg Brew
On this episode of the Energy Security Cubed Podcast, Kelly Ogle and Joe Calnan interview Greg Brew about the Trump Administration's possible stance toward Iran and the wider Middle East.
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For the intro, Kelly and Joe unpack the implications of the Trump administration for the Inflation Reduction Act and Canada's EV factories.
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Guest Bio:
- Greg Brew is a CGAI Fellow, an analyst with Eurasia Group's Energy, Climate & Resources team focusing on the geopolitics of oil and gas, and Eurasia Group's country analyst for Iran.
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Host Bio:
- Kelly Ogle is Managing Director of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute
- Joe Calnan is a Fellow and Energy Security Forum Manager at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute
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Reading recommendations:
- "The Great Transformation: China’s Road from Revolution to Reform" - https://yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300267082/the-great-transformation/
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Interview recording Date: January 15, 2024
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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.

Jan 19, 2025 • 1h 3min
The Global Exchange: Canadian Foreign Policy Experts react to Trump's Second Inauguration
For this episode of the Global Exchange podcast, Colin Robertson moderates a panel of prominent experts on their first takeaways from the Inauguration and considerations for how Canada should respond to the coming storm.
Participants' bios
- Martha Hall Findlay is the Director and Palmer Chair, of the School of Public Policy at the University of Calgary.
- Glenn Williamson is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Canada Arizona Business Council
- Bernard Etzinger is a former Canadian diplomat with assignments in New York, Silicon Valley and Washington, DC
- John Parisella is a Senior Advisor, Business Outreach at NATIONAL Public Relations and a former delegate general in New York City and Washington D.C. for the Government of Quebec
Host bio:
Colin Robertson is a former diplomat and Senior Advisor to the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, www.cgai.ca/colin_robertson
Read & Watch:
- "Permacrisis: A Plan to Fix a Fractured World" - https://www.amazon.ca/Permacrisis-Plan-Fix-Fractured-World/dp/1398525618
- "The End of the World Is Just the Beginning: Mapping the Collapse of Globalization" - https://www.amazon.ca/End-World-Just-Beginning-Globalization/dp/006323047X
- "Autocracy, Inc." - https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/725302/autocracy-inc-by-anne-applebaum/
- "Good To Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap...And Others Don't" https://www.amazon.ca/Good-Great-Some-Companies-Others/dp/0066620996
- "Pod Save America" - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pod-save-america/id1192761536
- "Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty",
https://www.amazon.ca/Why-Nations-Fail-Origins-Prosperity/dp/0307719227
- "Age of Revolutions: Progress and Backlash from 1600 to the Present" https://www.amazon.ca/Age-Revolutions-Progress-Backlash-Present/dp/0393239233
- "An Unfinished Love Story: A Personal History of the 1960s", https://www.amazon.ca/Unfinished-Love-Story-Personal-History/dp/1982108665
- "The Situation Room: The Inside Story of Presidents in Crisis" - https://www.amazon.ca/Situation-Room-Inside-Presidents-Crisis/dp/1538740761
- "Ebola, Bombs, and Migrants by Dr. Joanne Liu" -
https://www.mcgill.ca/global-public-health/channels/event/book-launch-ebola-bombs-and-migrants-dr-joanne-liu-361139
- "In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin", https://www.amazon.ca/Garden-Beasts-Terror-American-Hitlers-ebook/dp/B004HFRJM6
- "Confronting Illiberalism: A Canadian Perspective" https://utorontopress.com/9781487561161/confronting-illiberalism/?srsltid=AfmBOop5wA_jcssCn6KE2O7qo1-kUp4aSX_9FvDwqcNwnsk554B1Wnz7
Recording Date: January 20, 2025.