
Talking Geopolitics
A non-partisan podcast brought to you by Geopolitical Futures, an online publication founded by internationally recognized geopolitical forecaster George Friedman. Geopolitical Futures tells you what matters in international affairs and what doesn’t. Go to https://geopoliticalfutures.com/podcast for details.
Latest episodes

Feb 25, 2019 • 29min
Leighton and George, Part II
After focusing on China in Part I, George and Leighton are at it again, this time talking about the US, Brexit, and a host of other important geopolitical issues.

Feb 15, 2019 • 24min
China's Failure
Part one of a conversation between GPF CEO George Friedman and Newstalk ZB's Leighton Smith. They discuss GPF's 2019 forecast, China's shortcomings, and New Zealand's place in the world.

Feb 5, 2019 • 27min
The Week Ahead: Intervention and Partition
Cole and Jacob discuss the latest on Venezuela, Brexit, and Afghanistan.

Jan 11, 2019 • 43min
Not Another Cold War -- China Edition
Jacob and Cole wrestle with whether or not the United States and China are fighting a new Cold War. Then, they take a look at events around the world, including the recent coup attempt in Gabon, a potential roadmap for peace in Afghanistan, and future prospects for Ukraine and Belarus. Sign up for free updates on topics like this! Go here: https://goo.gl/zt6tzx

Jan 3, 2019 • 25min
George Friedman's Mailbag
George joins the podcast to answer your questions about geopolitics. What did he get wrong in "The Next Hundred Years"? How will China's economic woes affect the global economy? How is President Trump shaping US foreign policy compared to other US presidents? Tune in for answers to all these and more. Sign up for free updates on topics like this! Go here: https://goo.gl/zt6tzx

Dec 25, 2018 • 44min
What’s Next in Northern Syria
Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump announced the withdrawal of all troops from Syria, a move that has obvious implications for everyone involved in civil war, including the Kurds, Turkey, Russia, Iran, Israel, the Islamic State and Syria itself. Who benefits the most from the departure? Or, is that even the right question to ask? On this week’s podcast, Jacob, Cole and Xander discuss the situation, try to separate fact from fiction, and get lost in semantic arguments. Sign up for free updates on topics like this! Go here: https://goo.gl/zt6tzx

Dec 21, 2018 • 53min
2019 Forecast Preview: Part 2
2018 is coming to an end, so there’s no better time to think about the future. Every year, GPF produces an Annual Forecast that lays out the trends that will shape the international system, and 2019 no different. The report, which publishes next week, will showcase predictions on the global economy, power politics in unlikely places, European disunion, developments in the Middle East and much more. In this week’s podcast, hosts Jacob and Cole will give you a sneak peek of what’s to come. Sign up for free updates on topics like this! Go here: https://goo.gl/zt6tzx

Dec 20, 2018 • 41min
2019 Forecast Preview: Part 1
2018 is coming to an end, so there’s no better time to think about the future. Every year, GPF produces an Annual Forecast that lays out the trends that will shape the international system, and 2019 no different. The report, which publishes next week, will showcase predictions on the global economy, power politics in unlikely places, European disunion, developments in the Middle East and much more. In this week’s podcast, hosts Jacob and Cole will give you a sneak peek of what’s to come. Sign up for free updates on topics like this! Go here: https://goo.gl/zt6tzx

Nov 22, 2018 • 56min
Countries That Confuse Us
Geopolitics is slow and largely predictable, but anyone who claims to have all the answers for an international system as strange and as volatile as ours isn’t paying enough attention. Some countries are just plain difficult to understand, whatever the reason. For some, it’s a lack of data. For others, it’s unrealized potential. For others still, it’s overachievement. With our annual forecast on the horizon, this is the time of year when we revisit our assumptions about what makes the world go ‘round, especially the countries that are now the basis of political organization. So now is the perfect opportunity for Allison, Phil, Jacob and Cole to discuss the countries they can’t quite pin down. Sign up for free updates on topics like this! Go here: https://goo.gl/zt6tzx

Oct 11, 2018 • 43min
Not Another Cold War: Part 2
Description: GPF Director of Analysis Jacob Shapiro welcomes Dr. Andrey Sushentsov, founder and head of Eurasian Strategies, to the show to discuss US-Russia relations and what Americans and Russians don't understand about each other. Sign up for free updates on topics like this! Go here: https://goo.gl/zt6tzx