"Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun" - Mao Zedong, 1927
"In the 21st century, culture is power" - Park Geun-hye (ex President of South Korea, home of Gangnam Style)
How do other countries win the political game without force? Why is language such a fantastic tool to project power across the world? What is Donald Trump doing for US interests o ... Show More
Oct 8
#636 | Victor Lustig: The Man Who Sold the Eiffel Tower
In 1925, Victor Lustig convinced a Paris scrap-metal dealer that the French government was selling the Eiffel Tower. His secret was a mixture of official papers, careful acting, and victims too embarrassed to report him. He later returned to Paris and tried to sell it again. Vict ... Show More
24m 34s
Sep 24
#634 | Nuclear Power's Unlikely Comeback
Nuclear power was meant to disappear in much of Europe, but Germany, Belgium and Italy are changing their minds. Rising energy demand, climate concerns and artificial intelligence are making old reactors and new designs attractive again. Germany’s Chancellor admits closing nuclea ... Show More
23m 30s
Jun 2024
S5E10: Cultural Influence as a Form of Soft Power
In this episode, Kris and I discuss the concept of soft power and its influence on global relations. We explore how the United States, as a global power, exerts its soft power through cultural, economic, and military influence. We also touch on the impact of American pop culture, ... Show More
47m 37s
Feb 2025
Shaping perceptions: the global impact of soft power
In this episode of Our World, Connected, we explore the concept of soft power—what it is, how it differs from hard power, and why it’s crucial in today’s interconnected yet fractured world. From the staggering reach of K-pop to the global legacy of the Olympics, soft power shapes ... Show More
38m 56s
Apr 2024
ENCORE: Rise of the Rest: Who should lead in a multipolar world?
What does a shift in the balance of power mean for the world? For much of the last 100 years, Western countries have dominated the global order. But now, with many nations vying for power, new regional partnerships and middle powers are on the rise. Economically, strategic allian ... Show More
1h 22m
