
In this episode, we speak with Dr. Tom Catena, the current Chair of the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative, about his work at the Mother Mercy Hospital in the Nuba Mountain region of Sudan.



The people of Sudan’s Nuba Mountains have long been marginalized by the government of Sudan under the regime of Omar Al-Bashir. Since the region rebelled against Sudan’s rule in 2011, Nubians have lived under constant fear of government violence.



Dr. Catena provides insights into the current conflict, his work to provide medical assistance to those suffering in the region, and how localized aid can offer much-needed support to the Nuba Mountain region and other conflict-ridden areas.



You can find out more about Dr. Catena’s work by watching his documentary, The Heart of Nuba. 



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Take a look at some of our favorite resources that we came across while researching this topic:



* African Mission Healthcare* Aurora Humanitarian Initiative





The Heart of Nuba: A Conversation With Doctor Tom Catena

Young professionals in Washington, DC get together weekly to discuss underreported global issues over drinks.

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Sporting events such as the Olympics or the FIFA World Cup never fail to capture the world’s attention, no matter what other international events are going on. Governments have noticed sports as a global attention-getter and for decades have been using sports as a means to achieve higher global standing or other foreign policy objectives. In this episode, we discuss soft power in the form of “sports diplomacy.”



Dig Deeper



* “The Mixed Record of Sports Diplomacy.” Council on Foreign Relations. https://www.cfr.org/interview/mixed-record-sports-diplomacy* “Thing Again: Soft Power.” Foreign Policy. https://foreignpolicy.com/2006/02/23/think-again-soft-power/* “Soft Power and the Public Diplomacy Revisited.” The Hague Journal of Diplomacy. https://www.hks.harvard.edu/publications/soft-power-and-public-diplomacy-revisited



Featured photo by Tim Hipps, FMWRC Public Affairs





Sports Diplomacy


In this episode, we focus on Mongolia, one of the least densely populated countries in the world at 2 people per square kilometer. We outline the history of the country, its domestic politics, where it sits in relation to the rest of the world, and what that means for its future.



Dig Deeper



Take a look at some of our favorite articles that we came across while researching this topic:



* Mongolia’s President Is Slicing Away Its Hard-Won Democracy, Foreign Policy, Anand Tumurtogoo* Mongolia: Bridge or Buffer in Northeast Asia?, The Diplomat, Elizabeth Wishnick* History of Mongolia, Embassy of Mongolia to the United States

Spotlight: Mongolia


In this episode, we speak with Mark Hofberg from the International Fund for Animal Welfare to talk about human-wildlife conflict. We discuss the inherent challenges that both humans and wildlife face while trying to simply exist in an increasingly hungry and crowded world.



Dig Deeper



Take a look at some of our favorite articles that we came across while researching this topic:



* 1995 Reintroduction of Wolves in Yellowstone, Yellowstone Park, Tori  Peglar* Human-wildlife conflict in Africa, Food and Agricultural Organization of the UN



Photo Credit: Doug Smith

Human-Wildlife Conflict


In this episode, we discuss the origins, successes, and challenges of the East African Community, a political and economic bloc comprising Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.



Dig Deeper



Take a look at some of our favorite articles that we came across while researching this topic:



* EAC Webpage* Headwinds toward East African regional integration: Will this time be different?, Brookings Institute, Aloysius Uche Ordu* DR Congo applies for admission to East African Community, The East African,  Aggrey Mutambo





The East African Community


In this episode, we explore the history of compromised infrastructure, which countries are engaged in this kind of behavior, and what sort of advantages they seek to gain. 

The Heart of Nuba: A Conversation With Doctor Tom Catena

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