Global Tennessee

Roundtable with TNWAC Alumnae

We kick off this episode of “Global Tennessee” with a conversation with Ali Humbrecht and Colleen Ryan about their World Affairs Council experiences as interns and volunteers and representatives to the World Affairs Councils of America (WACA) National Conferences. We also talked about their extensive international travel as students in study abroad programs.

Ali Humbrecht is a 2018 graduate of Belmont University. She worked as an intern with TNWAC as the liaison between the Council and Belmont University and coordinated the Council's social media operations. Ali attended a National Conference of WACA as a scholarship student. Last year she spent a semester at Bard College in Berlin. Ali served as tour guide for Colleen and her family last spring when they visited Berlin.

Colleen Ryan has been a volunteer with the Tennessee World Affairs Council since its inception in 2007. She attended the University of Tennessee as a Haslam Scholar and graduated in 2017 with a degree in Global Studies and Sociology. Colleen attended the University of York as a Fulbright Scholar completing her Master of Arts in Post-War Recovery Studies before heading to Beijing, China where she is completing a Masters in Management Studies as a Schwarzman Scholar at Tsinghua University.

Interview with Sister Cities of Nashville (Start at 22:31)

In our second segment we talked with Heather Cunningham and Dr. Marieta Velikova of Sister Cities of Nashville. Heather is Executive Director and Marieta serves as Board Chairman. They discussed the origins and mission of this bridge-building organization and its relationship and programs with Nashville's eight sister cities: Belfast, Northern Ireland; Caen, France; Edmonton, Canada; Kamakura, Japan; Madgeburg, Germany; Mendoza, Argentina; Tiayuan, China; and Tamworth, Australia.  

Heather and Marieta explained the mission of Sister Cities: creating relationships based on cultural, educational, information and trade exchanges, creating lifelong friendships that provide prosperity and peace through person-to-person “citizen diplomacy.”

GLOBAL TENNESSEE

The Wide World With Dick and Pat #1

This episode launches a new “Global Tennessee” program in which Ambassador Dick Bowers, USFS (Ret) and LtCdr Patrick Ryan, USN (Ret), will occasionally discuss current issues in global affairs. Their experience across 50 years of service and travel in about 120 countries between them will be applied in analysis, commentary and entertaining discussion of current events, hot topics and international affairs trends.

Today they open their program with a review of 2018 through discussion of a top 10 list published by the Council on Foreign Relations and their personal insights and perspectives on top issues of the year. After the break they’ll look at the year ahead and talk about challenges to the United States in the world and how American decision makers are approaching the world.

Dick and Pat also mix in conversations about local international food haunts in Nashville and offer recommendations for your bookshelf.

So take a listen, write a review and send feedback directly to Dick and Pat ([email protected]).

Notes:

Ten Most Significant World Events in 2018 | Council on Foreign Relation

https://www.cfr.org/blog/ten-most-significant-world-events-2018

Opinion | Why 2018 Was the Best Year in Human History! - The New York Times

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/05/opinion/sunday/2018-progress-poverty-health.html

Can China join the big free-trade deal that Donald Trump failed to kill? | South China Morning Post

https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/2181439/can-china-join-big-free-trade-deal-donald-trump-failed-kill

Secretary's Remarks: A Force for Good: America Reinvigorated in the Middle East

https://www.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2019/01/288410.htm

CLIMATE We have 12 years to limit climate change catastrophe, warns UN | Environment | The Guardian

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/oct/08/global-warming-must-not-exceed-15c-warns-landmark-un-report

CHINA. Remarks by Vice President Pence on the Administration's Policy Toward China | The White House

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-vice-president-pence-administrations-policy-toward-china/

CHINA. Pence’s China Speech Seen as Portent of ‘New Cold War’ - The New York Times

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/05/world/asia/pence-china-speech-cold-war.html?login=email&auth=login-email

Signal: Top Risks for 2019

https://mailchi.mp/eurasiagroup/signal-top-risks-for-2019-a-lion-ride-in-sudan-dr-congo-delayed-count?e=9024203d9c

Global Tennessee co-hosts Patrick Ryan and Jim Shepherd talked with Ralph Schulz about the Nashville Chamber's role in international business, why global companies are finding good homes in the region, how Nashville makes itself attractive to foreign trade and investment, the impact of the Japan-Tennessee relationship on the city's and state's economic well-being, the "Big Stories" of 2018 in Nashville and a glimpse into the year ahead for Nashville businesses. Don't miss this episode.

Global Tennessee is the Podcast of the Tennessee World Affairs Council, a nonprofit, nonpartisan educational association. We rely on support of members and donors to sustain our global affairs awareness efforts. We ask you to become members and make a gift, and for businesses to contact us about sponsoring and participating in Global Tennessee and other community and education outreach programs that bring the world to Tennessee. Contact Patrick Ryan (931-261-2353 / [email protected])

Ralph Schulz was named president and CEO of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerceby the Chamber’s board of directors in November 2006, following a 30-year career in nonprofit management, marketing and fundraising. In taking the position, he accepted a leadership role at one of Middle Tennessee’s oldest and largest business federations, an organization dating back to its founding in 1847.

During his tenure, the Chamber has played a key role in helping the region emerge from the 2007 recession to a period of unprecedented growth with a business relocation and expansion strategy known as Partnership 2020. Additionally, the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce was the lead organization in the creation of the nationally recognized Nashville Entrepreneur Center and the passage of a public referendum supporting construction of the Music City Center convention facility. Since Schulz has taken on the role of president and CEO, the Chamber has also led the movement to improve public school performance through the creation of the Academies of Nashville, established the Moving Forward initiative to ensure the creation of a regional transportation solution through a cohesive community effort and developed into a respected publisher of data on the Nashville Metropolitan Statistical Area with the annual publication of the Vital Signs report.

In 2009, the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce was named “Chamber of the Year” by the American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE), recognizing the Nashville Chamber’s organizational excellence, service to members, development of leaders and volunteers and its impact on key community priorities. The ACCE award referenced the Nashville Chamber’s role in the creation of Nashville for All of Us,a campaign made up of community leaders aligned to defeat a 2009 charter referendum which would have prohibited Nashville city government from conducting business in a language other than English. The Chamber was also praised for its creation of A Leading Edge, a broad range of programs aimed at helping Chamber members navigate the turbulent waters of the recession.

Global Tennessee brings you a special Podcast featuring renowned photographer Ronald Modra, 25 years with “Sports Illustrated” and a whopping 70 “SI” covers!

In our second segment we talk with Lisset Diaz, lead singer of the Sweet Lizzy Project, a band with its roots in Havana, Cuba that is now working hard to make it big in Music City in the process making some great sounds.

LEGENDARY LENSMAN

Mention any legendary athlete from the last four decades and there’s a likelihood that she or he has been at the other end of Ron Modra’s camera lens. Mickey Mantle, Muhammad Ali, Pete Rose, Brett Favre, Nolan Ryan, Martina Navratilova, Lawrence Taylor, Tom Brady, Cal Ripken, Joe Montana. World Series, Olympic Games. Portraits, action shots, coffee table books. Well you get it. Ron’s 25 years with SI put him front row with the world’s best. Then there’s his love of the Blues and his portraits of some of America’s finest musicians.

But there’s more.

Travel photography. We loved talking with Ron about the best of the best professional athletes and his great stories – like winding up in Gordie Howe’s home for Thanksgiving dinner – but our lane in the road is Ron’s international travel photography. Galapagos, Argentina, Cuba, China, Italy, Scotland, and many more. Special images of people and places – bringing the world to you in the magic of still photography.

Join us in our conversation with photographer Ronald Modra, one of the people who make Nashville a special place, as we learn about capturing the world with a camera.

Also learn about how you can join Ron and his colleague, Don Smith, on an upcoming photo excursion. “Fall in the Scottish Highland” next October can be your chance to experience the mystical landscapes and villages of the Isle of Skye, Isles of Harris and Lewis and the Glencoe area. Check Don Smith’s web site for details on this fabulous opportunity.

http://www.ronaldcmodra.com

http://www.donsmithphotography.com

SWEET LIZZY PROJECT

“Turn up the radio.” Indeed. In our conversation with Cuban native Lisset Diaz (aka Lizzy of the Sweet Lizzy Project) we learned the value of being in the right places at the right times. If making great music is only part of the formula for success in a tough business Sweet Lizzy Project is well on their way. Mix in their good fortune of being profiled in a PBS documentary “Havana Time Machine” along with the “Mavericks” from Nashville and lead singer Raul Malo. That connection led to an invitation to Nashville, an opportunity that was almost lost to Washington’s change in visa policy under the current White House. Fortunately Sweet Lizzy Project had performed for American diplomats in Cuba and managed to get their paperwork through just under the wire.

Listen to this Global Tennessee Podcast to hear the rest of Lisset’s and the band’s story of making great music in Nashville, inside a Tennessee mountain cavern and in their travels around America – “a distinctive sound imbued with overtones of classic American indie pop-rock suffused with an intoxicating Latino flair.” We have several of Sweet Lizzy Project’s songs in our Podcast for your enjoyment.

The Sweet Lizzy Project – official web site

https://www.sweetlizzyproject.com

The Sweet Lizzy Project perform in “Bluegrass Underground” inside the Caverns of the Cumberland Mountains

https://youtu.be/IUsO-M7oEc8

“Havana Time Machine”

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/havana-time-machine-full-episode/7326/ (Paywall for NPT members)

“Raul Malo explores music, Cuban heritage in 'Havana Time Machine'”

https://www.tennessean.com/story/entertainment/2017/10/04/raul-malo-havana-time-machine-documentary-pbs/724224001/

European Consuls General based in Atlanta from UK, France, Germany, Ireland, Belgium, and Greece talked to Global Tennessee about business to business relations -- trade, foreign direct investment, tariffs; government relations and politics -- issues between the current US Administration and EU partners; and developments in Europe. Check out this special report interview for a snapshot of US-European relations and analysis of current issues. Interview conducted by TNWAC's Patrick Ryan and "The Tennessean's" David Plazas, Opinion Engagement Editor.

Consul General of France -- Louis de Corail; Consul General of Germany in Atlanta -- Dr. Heike Fuller; Consul General of the United Kingdom -- Andrew Staunton; Consul General of Greece -- Emmanouil Androulakis; Consul General of Ireland -- Shane Stephens; Consul General of Belgium -- William De Baet.

In our Roundtable segment Pat talks with Lori Odom, VP International Business about Nashville developments -- new business, Amazon, EY, direct international flights from BNA and global business impact and trends. In our "Conversation" segment Dr. Marieta Velikova, native of Western Siberia and current Professor of Economics at Belmont and Keith Simmons, distinguished Nashville attorney and former Cold War USAF ICBM missile officer talk about preconceived notions, stereotypes and perspectives on Russia, with Keith sharing his observations from recent travel in the Russian Federation. Marieta and Keith reflect on the importance of building bridges among people despite the challenges of national security relationships.

Pat Ryan talks with Prof. David Des Roches (Col, USArmy Ret.) from the Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies at the National Defense University. He is an expert on Middle East affairs, especially US-Saudi relations and talked about the crisis in the relationship since the murder of Jamal Khashoggi in October 2018. Prof. Des Roches also provides insights and perspectives on developments in the Middle East and the challenges to US policymakers.

About Professor Des Roches

David Des Roches is an Associate Professor at the Near East South Asia Center for Security Studies. Prior to this, he was the director responsible for defense policy concerning Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen. Prior to this assignment, he has served in the Office of the Secretary of Defense as the DoD Liaison to the Department of Homeland Security, as the senior country director for Pakistan, as the NATO operations director, and as the deputy director for peacekeeping. His first job in government was as a special assistant for strategy and later as the international law enforcement analyst in the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.

A British Marshall Scholar, he has also attended the Federal Executive Institute, the German Staff College’s Higher Officer Seminar, the US Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare School and the US Army Command and General Staff College.

An Airborne Ranger in the Army Reserve, he was awarded the Bronze Star for service in Afghanistan. He has commanded conventional and special operations parachute units and has served on the US Special Operations Command staff as well as on the Joint Staff.

The Global Tennessee team does a deep dive into the "Braving A New World" National Conference of the World Affairs Councils of America in Washington. They walk through the most insightful panels and speakers like: America's global leadership status, US China relations, the health of the Transatlantic Alliance, the global commons of space and much more. Part II, "The Conversation" is an interview with the Asia Development Bank's Bart Edes talking about Pacific trade and the work of international development banks.

This special edition of Global Tennessee is an extended presentation by Afshin Molavi, Senior Fellow, Foreign Policy Institute at John Hopkins University, SAIS and Co-Director, emerge85 Lab. Molavi's "Where Are We Going?" presentation is a remarkable collection of his insightful assessments of global trends and facts on the ground that shape the world we live in and where it is headed. You will finish this edition of Global Tennessee much better equipped to deal with the news and information that shapes your world.

U.S. Senator Bob Corker, Chairman Senate Foreign Relations Committee, spoke at a Tennessee World Affairs Council event about international issues, U.S. foreign policy and domestic politics. Corker offered a fascinating and very candid glimpse into the world from the perspective of Capitol Hill and the Congress' leader on U.S. international policies, laws, and oversight.