The Inquiry

Linguists Andreea Calude, Valerie Fridland and Christopher Strelluf, alongside accent coach Elspeth Morrison, explore why influencers sound so alike. They examine urgency, uptalk, vocal fry, code-switching and advertising’s hyper-energetic delivery. The discussion also considers parasocial imitation, algorithm-driven speech convergence, one-way communication and whether social media is reshaping linguistic diversity.

Mathew Trinca, an Australian museum scholar, joins Julien Volper, an African art curator, Patricia Rahemipour, a museum studies expert, and historian Samuel J. Redman to examine the future of national museums. They explore museums’ links to empire and science, contested collections and repatriation, the case for universal museums, climate responsibility, technology, and sharing power with diverse communities.

Abiodun William, a former UN strategy director, Sarah von Billerbeck, a UN scholar, and Teresa Whitfield, a mediation specialist, examine the daunting challenges awaiting the next Secretary-General. They explore funding crises, Security Council reform, conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza and Sudan, and whether bold diplomacy can revive cooperation on climate, AI, humanitarian action and international law.

Valérie Niquet, a French strategic affairs specialist; James DJ Brown, a scholar of Russian politics; John Nilsson-Wright, an expert on Japanese foreign policy; and Tessa Morris-Suzuki, a modern Japan historian, examine the Kuril Islands dispute. They explore Ainu heritage, wartime annexation, deported residents, failed negotiations and Putin’s provocative visit. Could humanitarian links offer a path forward, or is a sovereignty deal out of reach?

Esther Brimmer, a Council on Foreign Relations fellow focused on global governance; Amy Verdun, a political scientist specializing in European integration; and Imran Bayoumi, a geopolitics and security analyst, explore the rise of middle powers. They discuss Canada’s pivot toward Europe, shifting ties across the Gulf and Indo-Pacific, and whether flexible coalitions can challenge US-China dominance.

Ritu Bharadwaj, a climate finance expert in London; Santosh Nepal, a Himalayan water researcher; Dinesh Paudel, a sustainable development professor; and Neera Shrestha Pradhan, a mountain disaster specialist, examine Nepal’s recovery after catastrophic floods. They explore shattered hydropower, trade and tourism, intensifying glacier-related hazards, early-warning systems, safer resettlement, and the international finance gap threatening reconstruction.

Lorenzo Pregliasco, a polling analyst and University of Bologna professor; Nathalie Tocci, a European foreign-policy scholar; and Rosario Forlenza, a historian of Italian democracy, explore Italy’s surprising political durability. They trace the fall of old parties, the rise of Berlusconi and Giorgia Meloni, Meloni’s strategic opposition years, coalition constraints, migration, ties with Europe, and whether voters will sustain this new stability.

Marc Lanteigne, an Arctic geopolitics scholar; Nan Hao, an economic security researcher; Katarzyna Zysk, an international security professor; and Karen van Loon, a European defence analyst, examine China’s Polar Silk Road. They discuss the Northern Sea Route, Russia’s role, Arctic law, climate change, and growing Asian interest. Could this seasonal passage reshape trade between China and Europe?

Seydina Moussa Ndiaye, a Senegalese AI governance researcher; Teki Akuetteh, a Ghanaian digital rights lawyer; Juanita Clark, a South African infrastructure specialist; and Mark Kaigwa, a Kenyan data and AI entrepreneur, explore Africa’s digital ambitions. They discuss mobile money’s global impact, the digital divide, foreign-owned data infrastructure, privacy, fragmented policies, and the long road toward homegrown technology and digital sovereignty.

Naveeda Khan, Johns Hopkins anthropologist, studies river life and environmental politics. Erin O’Donnell, a water-law scholar, explores legal rights for rivers. Conservationist Pier-Olivier Boudreault shares the Magpie River campaign, while river scientist Nick Mount examines global threats. Together, they debate whether personhood can protect waterways, the risks of river liability, and why laws often falter without enforcement and community action.