Portugal has become one of the world’s most talked‑about destinations — and after spending time there, I understand why.

Last week, I shared Pathways in Portugal, a reflection on how Lisbon and Porto revealed themselves through movement and stillness. This week, I’m focusing on the people — the conversations, small moments, and unexpected connections that shaped the experience in ways no itinerary ever could.

What stayed with me long after I returned home wasn’t the architecture or the food, but the people. These encounters revealed something about Lisbon, something about Porto, and something about myself.

I hope you enjoy meeting them.

The final episode of Rittener Reflections for 2025.

When I launched this podcast back in January, I opened with five certainties I believed would shape cross‑border trade in the year ahead. What I didn’t anticipate—what none of us anticipated—was just how unpredictable 2025 would become. If Episode 1 was about preparing for volatility, this episode is about living through it.

With this episode, I will close the loop. I’ll revisit those five certainties, reflect on what actually happened, and then share some personal reflections on why, for me, 2025 became the year of the unexpected.

Portugal has become one of the world’s most popular destinations — a place people are visiting, revisiting, and in many cases choosing to call home. After hearing so much about it, especially from my daughter who traveled there last year, I finally had the chance to explore it myself. Her insights shaped how I planned the trip and how I approached each day, and in many ways this episode continues that conversation.

This one is special: I share my journey from San Francisco to Valencia, Spain — culminating in my victory at the Valencia Marathon.

Episode 19 arrives just before Thanksgiving: lessons from a lopsided mug and a turbulent year.”

A lopsided mug from my childhood has become my metaphor for this ugly year in trade and in life. In this episode, I share its story, the turbulence of 2025, and five lessons worth keeping.

I’ll leave you with a gentle invitation: What “ugly mugs” have you kept? What stories do they hold?

And stay tuned—Episode 20 may come to you from Spain, as I run the Valencia Marathon and reflect on what’s next.

Welcome back to Rittener Reflections Episode 18 and to Part 3 of our series on export controls which I have called, “I can see clearly now” (Not!) You see, we’ve looked back, we’ve looked around—and now we look ahead. But clarity is elusive. Will the world split into two economic spheres? Can AI help automate classification? Should we revive old licensing models? And what is the key to success in creating some means of predictability in a world of geopolitical uncertainty? Once again, I am joined by Bruce Jackson and together we will explore these questions with candor, curiosity, and maybe a little humor. Because in export controls, déjà vu isn’t just a feeling—it’s a forecast.”

Welcome back to this three-part series of Rittener Reflections where we seek to understand the complex, critical and ever-changing world of export controls, the past, present and the way forward. In Part 1, which I called The Long Strange Trip, we explored the historical arc of export controls. Today, we turn to the present—and it’s complicated. From China’s tech ambitions to Russia’s impact on multilateral regimes, from AI’s promise and peril to the post-COVID compliance landscape, exporters face a maze of challenges. I am again joined by Bruce Jackson, whose depth of experience helps us make sense of this shifting terrain and brings deep insight into how companies are adapting, what regulators are prioritizing, and where the real risks lie. This is the reality check.

The Long Strange Trip. In this first session, I’m joined by Bruce Jackson*, a longtime practitioner and friend whose depth of experience spans government, industry, and the multilateral frameworks that define this space. Bruce has not only witnessed the evolution of export controls—he’s helped shape how companies and policymakers respond to it. We will trace the long, strange trip: from the Cold War’s COCOM era to the post-Berlin Wall regulation rewrites, from the rise of multilateral controls to the relaxation of those same controls, and into the regulatory shifts of the past two administrations—including entity list, Huawei, and semiconductors.

Welcome to a special episode of Rittener Reflections. Today, I’m stepping away from my usual format to share something deeply personal. Last month, my mom passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by family. A few days later, I gave a talk at her memorial service—a tribute honoring her faith, family, and the things she loved most. This episode begins with that recording. It’s also about my dad, who passed away in March 2022. I’ve re-recorded his tribute—not only to preserve his memory but to reflect on the themes that shaped his life: his past, his patriotism, and his passions.

One year ago today, I testified before the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations.

I was still with Intel. The topic: export controls, diversion risk, and the role of U.S. technology in global conflict.

This week on my podcast, I’m telling the story—not of what I said, but of what it meant.

It’s about showing up when the stakes are high.