The soybean is more than just a humble legume—it’s a major geopolitical player that feeds the international meat market, shapes trade wars, and transforms economies. In Episode 4, we tell the story of how the soybeans that feed pigs around the world have shaped the geopolitical behavior of what some call “the Meat Triangle”: the United States, Brazil, and China.

Barbecue Earth, Episode 4: Uncle Sam and the Magic Beanstalk

The World Unpacked is a biweekly foreign policy podcast hosted by Sophia Besch that breaks down the hottest global issues of today with experts, journalists, and policymakers who can explain what is happening, why it matters, and where we go from here. Tune in to get smart on foreign policy.

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Dara Massicot sits down with Sophia to unpack the war effort in Ukraine.

Ukraine Aid: Will It Be Enough?

In her first episode as host of The World Unpacked, Sophia Besch welcomes Karim Sadjadpour to unpack Iran's unprecedented attack on Israel and what comes next.

Iran Strikes Israel - Here's What Might Happen Next

Winners and losers—every major transition has them. For the world to meet its climate goals, it needs to undergo a partial shift away from traditional meat and toward alternative proteins. But who would be the winners and losers of a global protein transition? In Episode 6, we investigate what this transition might look like and what it could mean for national security and geopolitics.

Barbecue Earth, Episode 6: Food Security Reimagined

There’s a lot to learn from the lobster. Its transformation from disdained prison food to fine-dining delicacy reveals how culture shapes our palate and how people could start to get a taste for food that does less damage to the planet than a bacon cheeseburger. In Episode 5, we look to the future of alternative proteins—from bean burgers to lab-grown nuggets—and ask what it would look like to live in a world less centered on traditional meat production.

Barbecue Earth, Episode 4: Uncle Sam and the Magic Beanstalk

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