The Fletcher Forum Podcast

KP (MALD '26) spoke with Professor Erin Coughland de Perez on the connection between climate science and climate policy.

Professor Coughlan de Perez is an Associate Professor at the Friedman School of Nutrition and Science Policy at Tufts University. She is a leading expert on climate risk management at the Feinstein International Center. Her work sits at the intersection of climate science, policy, and humanitarian practice, focusing on how we can anticipate and respond to extreme events like droughts, floods, and heatwaves before they occur. Professor Coughlan de Perez is also a Lead Author of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's Sixth Assessment Report, where she contributed to global thinking on climate risk and decision making.

Matt Livesay (MGA '26) and Maya Spalding-Fecher (MALD '26) are joined by Abby Wulf for a timely discussion on critical minerals.

Abby is the founder and CEO of Lattice Strategies, a DC-based consultancy, and was previously the Head of the American Battery Metals Initiative (ABMI) until 2025. ABMI is a coordinated, interagency effort between the White House and Department of Energy to secure the minerals needed to meet the United States' electric vehicle and broader electrification goals. Before working for the Federal government, Abby was the founding Executive Director at SAFE's 'Center for Critical Minerals Strategy,' a nonpartisan nonprofit organization where she worked closely with industry, academia, members of Congress, and Federal officials to support vital critical mineral supply chain initiatives for the United States and its allies.

In this episode, Ryan Long and Katherine Walsh (MALD '26) explore the evolving landscape of intelligence, risk, and resilience, including what skills will matter even more in the AI era. Ryan also discusses the realities of building a career in intelligence today, the tensions shaping multigenerational teams, and what organizations are still struggling to develop in their analysts and security professionals. He offers clear and practical insight for anyone navigating the modern risk landscape.

Ryan Long is the Founder of INTELAB Ventures, a hybrid firm and incubator that equips risk and resilience practitioners with the advice, tools, and resources they need to succeed. Ryan is also the co-founder of the Pathfinder Collective and AI x Intelligence Exchange. He hosts The Business of Intelligence Podcast.

What does it mean to depend on a world you cannot trust? In this episode of the Summer 2026 Print Edition series, Armaan Mathur (MALD'26) and Katherine Walsh (MALD'26) sit down with scholar, columnist, and author Dr. Happymon Jacob to excavate the fractures and possibilities of a global order in flux. From the death of normative globalization to the rise of minilateralism, Jacob argues that the old architecture of collective security and multilateral institutions was never as universal as it claimed, and that its unraveling may be less a tragedy than an opportunity for the Global South to finally claim its seat at the table. Drawing on India's quest to become a pole in international politics, he maps a world where trust is transactional, alignment is strategic, and values and interests are far less separable than once assumed. Provocative, pragmatic, and cautiously optimistic, this conversation challenges us to ask not how we restore the old order, but whether we should want to.

In this episode of the Summer Print Edition Series, Fletcher Forum Editor-in-Chief Armaan Mathur (MALD '26) speaks with Professor Rana Mitter, ST Lee Chair in US-Asia Relations at the Harvard Kennedy School, about what the evolving US-China relationship means for the world order. Professor Mitter notes how the theme of "Interdependence Without Trust" is exemplified in the paradox at the heart of Sino-American relations: the two economies are more deeply integrated than ever, yet trust between them may be at an all time low. With a landmark Xi-Trump summit on the horizon, Professor Mitter explores how trade diplomacy might navigate deeper structural tensions — and what Beijing's quiet outreach to Taiwan's opposition, its role in the Iran crisis, and its ambitions within multilateral institutions reveal about China's long game.

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The Summer Print Edition is here! Listen to Lauren Davis (Managing Print Editor), Armaan Mathur (Editor-in-Chief), and Katherine Walsh (Managing Podcast Editor) discuss the origins of the theme "Interdependence Without Trust", what pieces they are most excited to share, and how current geopolitical challenges informed the Summer Print Edition.

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Shabnam Waheed (MALD '26) sat down with Dr. Sima Simar, a medical doctor, human rights advocate, and visiting fellow at the Fletcher School. They discussed Afghanistan's past and present, international responsibility, and the resiliency of Afghan girls.

Katherine Walsh (MALD '26) was joined by retired Ambassador Daniel Rosenblum for a candid conversation on U.S.–Central Asian relations as well as career advice for anyone interested in diplomacy. Daniel Rosenblum is a distinguished career diplomat with decades of service in the U.S. State Department. He retired in March 2025 after a tenure that included roles as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Central Asia, U.S. Ambassador to Uzbekistan, and U.S. Ambassador to Kazakhstan. A graduate of Johns Hopkins SAIS, he serves on the board of trustees for the American Councils for International Education and is co-host of the American Diplomat podcast at Arizona State University.

Shabnam Waheed (MALD '26) sat down with Dr. Marlene Daut to break down Haiti's rich history, covering topics in her latest book, The First and Last King of Haiti: The Rise and Fall of Henry Christophe. Daut is a Professor of French and African Diaspora Studies at Yale University

Rupture in the rules-based international order, the role of middle powers, and the future of multilateral climate governance and more! Listen to Krishna Priya (MALD '26) in conversation with Jennifer Morgan, Senior Fellow at the Climate Policy Lab on the rise of plurilateral agreements, the need to reform COP processes, and how to stay hopeful in light of current geopolitical challenges.