The Fletcher Forum Podcast

In the latest Fletcher Forum podcast, Editor in Chief Elissa Miller and Senior Podcast Editor Maria Ory sit down with retired Colonel and Fletcher PhD candidate Frank Sobchak to discuss the recently published two-part volume on the history of the U.S. Army in the Iraq War from 2003-2011. The nearly 1,500 page report, according to Sobhack, one of the lead authors, aims to provide a comprehensive operational-level history of the war and examine and incorporate lessons learned within an official narrative. The panel discusses key takeaways from the report, including insights into civil-military relations and future military planning. Tune in!

In the latest episode of the Fletcher Forum podcast, Editor-in-Chief Elissa Miller and Senior Web Editor Chloe Logan sit down with former FBI General Counsel James Baker to discuss the latest developments in counterintelligence and artificial intelligence. Baker reflects on his time as a public servant at the FBI, gives listeners an inside glance into the world of technology and cybersecurity, and sheds light on how the United States aims to advance and protect its interests in these evolving domains. Listen in for an engaging conversation that looks to the future.

In the latest episode of the Fletcher Forum podcast, Elissa Miller, Courtney Hulse, and Maria Ory sit down with Fletcher alumna and former first-ever Special Representative to Muslim Communities at the US Department of State, Farah Pandith. As Pandith argues in her forthcoming book, How We Win: How Cutting-Edge Entrepreneurs, Political Visionaries, Enlightened Business Leaders, and Social Media Mavens Can Defeat the Extremist Threat, we must go "all in" to stop the spread of violent extremism worldwide. Drawing upon her time at the State Department and on the National Security Council, she shares her wisdom with Fletcher students and makes the case that we can stem the threat of extremist ideologies once and for all. The full interview can be found in the latest Winter print edition of the Fletcher Forum.

In this year's first Fletcher Forum podcast, Professor Sulmaan Khan sits down with Fletcher students Sarah Davis, Karst Brandsma, and Kacie Yearout to reflect on the origins of World War I and the centenary of the end of the war. Drawing parallels between the lead up to World War I and today's current state of global affairs, this episode's guests discuss the similarities and differences of today's world and that of the early 1900s, as well as the role of analogies in historical analysis. This episode gives listeners a peek inside the themes explored in the Forum's Winter print edition, "Global Transformations: A Century Since the Great War," which will be published this month. Stay tuned for more episodes this semester!

In this episode of the Fletcher Forum Podcast, podcast editor Alexander Thomas sits down with Ambassador Sinead Walsh and Dr. Oliver Johnson to talk about their new book Getting to Zero: A Doctor and a Diplomat on the Ebola Frontline. During their conversation, they discuss Ambassador Walsh's and Dr. Johnson's involvement in the West African Ebola outbreak in 2014, the international community's response since, and the currently unfolding Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Tune in to hear the latest.

In the latest episode of the Fletcher Forum podcast, Forum staff members Lexi Kriss and Siobhan Heekin-Canedy sit down with Assistant Washington Editor of the New York Times and Fletcher alum Thom Shanker. Drawing on his extensive career, including as a Pentagon correspondent at the Times, Shanker discusses the evolving role of journalism in today's digital era. He also reflects upon his time at Fletcher and how his education informed his reporting and offers sage advice to current and future Fletcher students. Tune in!

In this latest episode of the Fletcher Forum podcast, editor-in-chief Elissa Miller and senior podcast editor Maria Ory sit down with Dr. Nussaibah Younis, an expert on the politics, foreign policy, and economy of Iraq and founder of the Iraq Leadership Fellows Program. Following parliamentary elections last May, Iraq's new Prime Minister, Adil Abdul-Mahdi has only recently assumed office. Dr. Younis walks us through the current on-the-ground dynamics and sentiment of Iraq's population and complex political system. The conversation then turns to the international level where we discuss the impact that U.S. sanctions on Iran will have on Iraq's economy. Listen in for the latest on politics in Iraq.

In this episode of the Fletcher Forum Podcast, podcast editor Alexander Thomas sits down with Ambassador Diego Arria, former President of the UN Security Council and a prominent member of the Venezuelan opposition. During their conversation, they discuss Ambassador Arria's career in diplomacy and his thoughts on the Venezuelan economic and migration crisis. Ambassador Arria shares his hopes for the future of Venezuela, and the role he sees the international community playing in their fruition. We hope you enjoy!

In this edition of the Fletcher Forum podcast, podcast editor Shawn Ghuman sits down with Dr. Amjad Saqib, the Executive Director of Akhuwat, the largest Islamic microfinance organization in the world. While microfinance takes many forms all over the world, Dr. Saqib's interest-free microloans program in Pakistan serves as a noteworthy testament to both human nature's inherent generosity as well as every human's desire to provide for themselves and their family. In this discussion with Dr. Saqib, we learn about what inspired him to start Akhuwat, the organization's successes so far, and how he hopes to expand this model across the globe.