Alaska World Affairs Council Presents: Recent Episodes
Alaska Public Media
KSKA Public Radio (kska.org) and the Alaska World Affairs Council (alaskaworldaffairs.org) bring you a series of speakers from around the world discussing matters of politics, economics, history, culture and more. You can attend the live speaking events in Anchorage or subscribe to this podcast.
mimies, Consul General of Finland in Los Angeles. This program is a part of the Evangeline Atwood Distinguished Speakers Series and Ambassadors Unplugged, a series of talks with Ambassadors on issues such as climate change, gender equality, technology, alternative energy, and the world post-Covid.
The global COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we live, work and learn and has required school leaders and teachers to work tirelessly to maintain student learning amidst constant changes and uncertainty. Join this discussion with AKWorld and Professor Yong Zhao to consider the future of schooling and the positive opportunities for change as a result of the pandemic.
Join AKWorld for a critical conversation focusing on the diplomatic, political, economic, and cultural circumstances on the Korean Peninsula, as well as broadening and deepening understanding of the U.S.-Korea relations. From a decades-old military alliance to deep economic ties and a large and vibrant Korean-American community, the linkages between the United States and the Korean Peninsula remain as important as ever.
groundbreaking account of the rise of North Korea’s dictator Kim Jong Un, from his nuclear ambitions to his summits with President Donald J. Trump–from a former CIA analyst considered one of the leading American experts on the North Korean leader inside and outside the U.S. government.
General Howie Chandler transitioned from military service following duty as the Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force in March 2011 after completing over 36 years of distinguished service. As the second highest ranking officer in the Air Force, he formulated Air Force policy and guidance for over 680,000 Active-Duty, Guard, Reserve and Civilian Airmen serving in the United States and overseas. He was responsible for organizing, training, and equipping Air Force personnel for worldwide operations.
Dr. Mel Gurtov takes issue with the widespread view that China is on the way to rivalling, or even displacing, the US as the dominant world power.
Join Alaska World Affairs Council and Nancy Lindborg, President/CEO of the United States Institute of Peace, to discuss the global challenge of fragility and conflict, including a vision of the way forward.
The Secret Life of an American Diplomat: Facing a Firing Squad in Africa, Living in Communist Romania, Leading the US Peace Corps, Fighting Fires, & More
In his lecture, Serhii Plokhii draws on new sources to lay bare the flaws of the Soviet nuclear industry, tracing the disaster to the authoritarian character of Communist party rule, the regime’s control of scientific information, and its emphasis on economic development over all else. Today, the risk of another Chernobyl, claims Plokhii, looms in the mismanagement of nuclear power in the developing world.
Join Alaska World Affairs Council for an in-depth discussion from Brigadier General on the US-Canadian military alliance, as well as military operations in Alaska.
Dr. Dalee Sambo Dorough (Inuit-Alaska) is the newly elected International Chair of the Inuit Circumpolar Council, a non-governmental organization that represents approximately 165,000 Inuit from the Russian Far East, Alaska, Canada and Greenland.
Join Alaska World Affairs Council in honoring and celebrating the women leaders in our community. Thanks for listening!
A surprising feature of resource-rich economies is slow growth. It is often argued that natural-resource production impedes development by creating market or institutional failures. A declining resource sector is disproportionately reflected in resource-dependent countries. Dr. James Alexander argues that there is little evidence that resource dependence impedes growth in non-resource sectors. Thanks for listening!
Join Alaska World Affairs Council and Former Lt. Gov & Chair of the U.S. Arctic Research Commission Fran Ulmer for a conversation about the arctic, climate change, and the intersections of environmental science and policy. Thanks for listening!
The United States and China are major trade partners, but current economic tensions between the two countries could have far-reaching affects. Erin Ennis, Senior Vice President of the US-China Business Council spoke at the Alaska World Affairs Council about what these trade issues might mean for Alaska. Thanks for listening!
This unfiltered conversation will feature, Hynek Kmoníček, current Ambassador of the Czech Republic to the USA, speaking on Czech's role in European affairs, the Middle East, energy, and more. There will also be time for a number of audience members to pose their questions to the Ambassador directly. Thanks for listening!
A distinguished panel discussion with Rear Admiral (RET) Lars Saunes, Chief Liasion Michael Hjorth, Deputy Chief Hreinn Pálsson, and US State Department Jon Harrison.
Thanks for listening!
On this week’s program we have “Middle East Myth or Reality: Separating Fact from Fiction” presented by the Alaska World Affairs Council. This conversation features John Moore, a 20-year veteran of public, private, and non-profit organizations throughout the Islamic world, and Lt. Col. Ty Moore – no relation – who served in both Iraq and Afghanistan. The two speakers offer their insight into the Middle East and take questions from the audience. Thanks for listening!
This week on the program we are taking a, somewhat humorous, but scientifically accurate look, at whether a zombie apocalypse, or other devastating plague could affect the arctic. LISTEN
On previous episodes of this program we’ve heard a lot about how, in the past, Alaska and Russia helped to melt the 'Ice Curtain'. That was an important time in US and Russian relations. Things are a little different today though, and this program asks the question “Are we headed back to the cold?” Thanks for listening!
We’re featuring something a little different on the program this week. We’ll hear from a World Matters storytelling event titled “Foreign Faux Pas - Stories of Navigating Cultural Differences.” Formatted in the style of Arctic Entries, we’ll hear some “Oh no” moments from fellow Alaskans that have traveled abroad. Thanks for listening!
KSKA: Tuesday, March 12 at 2pm. On the program this week we get to learn about the Alaskan Consular Corps. We’ll answer some questions like “who are consuls?” “why do we have them in Alaska?” and “what do they do?” This was a panel discussion featuring some very experienced consuls sharing with us what their jobs entail and what to expect when traveling to their home countries.
LISTEN HERE
KSKA: Tuesday, February, 27 2018, at 2:00 p.m. This week we’ll explore an answer to the question “Will killing the Nuclear Deal bring the US and Iran closer to war?” It’s a complicated topic, but today’s speaker, Trita Parsi, an expert on US-Iranian relations, is as qualified as anyone to answer it. LISTEN HERE
KSKA: Tuesday, February, 20 2018, at 2:00 p.m. We're bringing you a show about a time when Alaskans and Russians were reunited and found they shared a common heritage. We’re going to hear incredible tales from key players in melting the Alaska-Russia Ice Curtain in the mid-1980s discuss how Alaska helped end the Cold War, launching a 30-year era of productive commercial and personal relations across the Bering Strait.LISTEN HERE
This event centered on the history, and future, of freight, flight and shipping in Alaska and it's relationship to Asia and the whole Pacific region. What has it taken to get us this far? What can Anchorage, and Alaska, do to expand our influence in the region.
KSKA Tuesday, Dec. 5 2017, at 2:00 p.m. This week we’re hearing in-depth opinions on the Trump administration and its relationship with the middle east. Greg Roman, CEO of the Middle East Forum, discusses the U.S.’s current relationship with middle eastern countries and how decisions made now can have lasting effects for international relations going forward. LISTEN HERE
This event brought together a number of Alaskan entrepreneurs to share ideas and their enthusiasm for trying new things. Each of the panelists for this panel discussion has tried their hand at a number of different projects and has great advice and insight for us all. LISTEN HERE
KSKA: Tuesday, November, 21 2017, at 2:00 p.m. During this show we’ll be hearing an unfiltered conversation about at U.S. national security with former Ambassador John Negroponte and General Joseph Ralston. Ambassador Negroponte served as Deputy Secretary of State and the first Director of National Intelligence under President George W. Bush. LISTEN HERE
KSKA: Tuesday, November 07, at 2:00 p.m. This week we’re taking a look back at mistakes made in Iraq from an insider’s perspective. Emma Sky, author of “The Unraveling:High Hopes and Missed Opportunities,” and Director of the World Fellows Program at Yale University, discusses how both internal and external political forces caused the mission in Iraq to fail and created lasting instability in the whole region.
LISTEN HERE
KSKA Tuesday, Oct. 31 2017, at 2:00 p.m. This week we’re hearing about Alaska’s role in the commercial space industry. We feature two distinguished guests to discuss the rapidly growing commercial space industry and Alaska’s potential role. LISTEN HERE
This was a discussion about the importance of teaching Alaska's history and it's connection to America's military history, race issues, and the rest of the world.
LISTEN HERE
This was a conversation featuring leaders of multiple faiths and audience participation. LISTEN HERE
KSKA Tuesday, Aug. 01 2017, at 2:00 p.m. This week we’re hearing from Ambassador Carlos García de Alba, the Consul General for Mexico in Los Angeles on “The New NAFTA: Mexico-US Relations & Trade in the Trump Era.” The ambassador shares his views on the relationship between the U.S. and Mexico. He also discusses what all of the North American countries have to gain by working together instead of moving apart. LISTEN HERE
KSKA: Tuesday, June 27, at 2:00 p.m. The Right to Be Cold is a human story of resilience, commitment, and survival told from the unique vantage point of an Inuk woman who, in spite of many obstacles, rose from humble beginnings in the Arctic community of Kuujjuaq, Quebec. LISTEN HERE
KSKA: Tuesday, June, 06 2017, at 2:00 p.m. Though the Arctic regions of the world are remote and less populated, there can still be plenty of innovation to be found. In this show we’ll be hearing from a number of innovators about projects under way, both here in Alaska and abroad. LISTEN HERE
KSKA: Tuesday, May 30, at 2:00 p.m. This episode we’re featuring an expert on German, European, and transatlantic foreign and security policy and strategy. LISTEN HERE
KSKA Tuesday, May 09 2017, at 2:00 p.m. This week we’re examining the future of China, and its precarious position as a developing nation. This presentation was given by Damien Ma, a political analyst, and author of the book In Line Behind a Billion People: How Scarcity Will Define China’s Ascent in the Next Decade. His talk is called “China as Number One: So What?” and examines how far China has developed over the last 35 years, and where they are headed now.
LISTEN HERE
KSKA: Tuesday, April 25, at 2:00 p.m. This week we’re learning more about politics and regional issues in Egypt. Eric Trager, the author of Arab Fall: How the Muslim Brotherhood Won and Lost Egypt in 891 Days, is the Esther K. Wagner Fellow at The Washington Institute. LISTEN HERE
KSKA: Tuesday, March 07, at 2:00 p.m. This time we’re learning more about the military here in Alaska and it's influence on the state. You'll hear from two generals and their perspective on the financial situation on the state and continued growth.
LISTEN NOW
KSKA Tuesday, March 21 2017, at 2:00 p.m. This week we’re featuring a World Matters storytelling event titled “Intercultural Alaska: Celebrating Diversity & Connecting Through Stories.” Five storytellers share with us their stories of immigration, culture, heritage and integration. All of which help make Alaska such a diverse place to live.
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KSKA: Tuesday, March, 14 2017, at 2:00 p.m. Suki Kim is a South Korean-born, American novelist and investigative journalist and the only writer ever to go live undercover in North Korea. LISTEN NOW
Captain Gary (Yuri) Tabach was born in Moscow, USSR and lived there until 1976 when his family immigrated to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Upon graduation from Temple University School of Pharmacy in 1985, he was commissioned an Ensign in the U.S. Navy. Captain Tabach holds the distinction of being the first Soviet-born citizen to be commissioned an officer in the Armed Forces of the United States. LISTEN NOW
KSKA: Tuesday, March 07, at 2:00 p.m. This week we’re learning more about space travel and planetary colonization. Charles Wohlforth discusses his new book, Beyond Earth, and answers questions about humanity and its potential for reaching new worlds. LISTEN NOW
KSKA: Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2017. This week we’re learning more about Islam from some of our fellow residents of Anchorage. We’ll hear from a panel of three people as they answer questions and discuss the interfaith relationships of modern religions.
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After watching the film "America's Diplomats" the Alaska World Affairs Council hosted a live Q&A with Ambassador John Yates. LISTEN NOW
KSKA: Tuesday, Jan. 03, at 2:00 p.m. On the next Addressing Alaskans we'll hear from a panel discussion on Alaskan Native Corporations and their affect on the word Economy. This panel featured the CEOs of several companies speaking about what their companies are doing for the economies of Alaska, the United States and the world. LISTEN NOW
KSKA Tuesday, December 13 2016, at 2:00 p.m. Charles Shapiro is president of the World Affairs Council of Atlanta and a senior lecturer at the Robinson College of Business at Georgia State University. Previously, he held numerous senior positions at the U.S. Department of State, including Ambassador to Venezuela, principal deputy assistant secretary for the Western Hemisphere, and Coordinator for Cuban Affairs.
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In a moderated discussion with Israel’s First Bedouin Diplomat, Ishmael Khaldi, we will explore the topic of Israel’s counter-terrorism strategies.
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A 24-year veteran of the CIA’s Clandestine Service, Ambassador Crumpton served as an operations officer in the foreign field, including tours as Chief of Station. In 2005 the President of the United States appointed Crumpton as Ambassador-at-Large and the Coordinator for Counterterrorism at the US Department of State. He speaks about what we, as a nation, have learned since the events of 9/11 and his thoughts on our future. LISTEN NOW
Admiral Robert J. Papp, Jr., USCG (Ret.) will lead the effort to advance U.S. interests in the Arctic Region, with a focus on Arctic Ocean governance, climate change, economic, environmental, and security issues in the Arctic region as the United States holds the chairmanship of the Arctic Council from 2015-2017.
LISTEN NOW