This week we hope to gain an insight on Grassroot Communities and the challenges faced by underserved communities and the wider voluntary sector. In an era of rising inequality, political polarisation, and climate instability, grassroots organisations are becoming critical pillars of resilience, not just locally, but globally. 

Today we explore how hyper-local community action intersects with global risk trends. From youth mental health to climate resilience and institutional trust, grassroots organisations are absorbing the fallout from geopolitical instability, austerity, and fractured public infrastructure. We’ll unpack how these organisations are adapting under pressure, and what their struggle tells us about state fragility, systemic failure, and the strategic risks we’re ignoring.

Ben Carpenter is the Founder & CEO of Grassroot Communities, a Youth and Community worker, Educator, Environmentalist, and City Fellow. He’s passionate about supporting individuals, communities and organisations to be the changes they want to see.

If you are interested in this, Grassroot Communities have an upcoming event called: The Bristol Birdman. Also check out this Grassroot Communities 2 page Delivery overview for info on the wider work of Grassroot Communities. 

In his episode, Ben discusses their GAP project. You can find out more about the Mini GAP overview and young leader showreels, the need for Yearlong GAP, what Yearlong GAP is, and Yearlong GAP Young Leaders. 

The International Risk Podcast is a must-listen for senior executives, board members, and risk advisors who need more than headlines. Each week, Dominic Bowen cuts through the noise to bring you unfiltered insights on emerging risks, geopolitics, international relations flashpoints, boardroom blind spots, and strategic opportunities. Hosted by Dominic Bowen, Head of Strategic Advisory at one of Europe's top risk consulting firms, The International Risk Podcast brings together global experts to share insights and actionable strategies from the people who have been there, done it, and shaped outcomes at the highest levels.

The International Risk Podcast – Reducing risk by increasing knowledge.

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Today we have Alison Phipps on the podcast to discuss Sexual Violence in Racial Capitalism. Dominic and Alison discuss: What sexual violence means in terms of racial capitalism; What racial capitalism is; How framing sexual violence as a tool of racial capitalism changes the way we think about its causes and solutions; The ways in which the narrative of 'sexual threat' serves modern colonialism, justice systems, policing, the courts, and capitalist interests; What a genuinely inclusive, anti-capitalist, anti-racist response to sexual violence look like in practice; And more!

Want to find out more about transformative justice and what you can do? A few links:

• Transform Harm
• Abolitionist Futures (UK)
• Critical Resistance (US)
• Abolition Feminism for Ending Sexual Violence

The two books Alison also talks about, apart from her own, are The Rise of Femonationalism by Sarah R. Farris and Women and Gender in Islam by Leila Ahmed. 

Alison Phipps is a UK-based scholar, writer and teacher working in the area of gender, with a specific focus on sexual violence. She’s currently Professor of Sociology at Newcastle University and honorary Professor in the Centre for Women’s Studies at the University of York. Her latest book is called Me, Not You: the trouble with mainstream feminism and is published by Manchester University Press. There is currently a 50% discount code for UK purchases: OTH583. 

Alison’s forthcoming book is called Sexual Violence in Racial Capitalism, and is also with Manchester University Press. Do subscribe to her website to get any future discount codes and to keep in the loop for her upcoming book!

The International Risk Podcast is a must-listen for senior executives, board members, and risk advisors who need more than headlines. Each week, Dominic Bowen cuts through the noise to bring you unfiltered insights on emerging risks, geopolitics, international relations flashpoints, boardroom blind spots, and strategic opportunities. Hosted by Dominic Bowen, Head of Strategic Advisory at one of Europe's top risk consulting firms, The International Risk Podcast brings together global experts to share insights and actionable strategies from the people who have been there, done it, and shaped outcomes at the highest levels.

Dominic's 25 years of experience managing complex operations in high-risk environments, combined with his role as a public speaker and university lecturer, make him uniquely positioned to guide these conversations. From conflict zones to corporate boardrooms, he explores the risks shaping our world and how organisations can navigate them. Whether he is speaking with intelligence operatives, CEOs, political advisors, or analysts, Dominic helps leaders gain competitive advantage through these conversations.

The International Risk Podcast – Reducing risk by increasing knowledge.

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Today we are cutting through the noise to tackle one of the most urgent and uncomfortable realities of our time: how hate has gone mainstream. From anonymous forums to prime-time politics, far-right extremism is no longer a fringe threat — it’s a digital, cultural, and political force shaping our democracies.

Dominic and Aaron discuss: 

• How certain radical ideas are now echoed in parliaments and presidential campaigns
• What is considered more dangerous today: the violent fringe, the influencers on the margins, or the polished politician who flirts with their rhetoric for votes
• Whether liberal democracy is naïve in thinking it can tolerate hate speech and survive untouched
• How elites are using conspiracy theories and radicalisation to shape political discourse, protect privilege, and maintain power
• What psychological or socio-economic factors make individuals more susceptible to far-right radicalisation
• And more!

Dr. Aaron Winter (BA Hons. York; MA Warwick, DPhil Sussex) is Senior Lecturer in Sociology (Race and Anti-Racism), Deputy Doctoral Director and Director of the Centre for Alternatives to Social and Economic Inequalities (CASEI) at Lancaster University. He previously taught at the Universities of Brighton, Sussex, Abertay and East London.

His research is on the far right with a focus on racism, historical change, mainstreaming, violence, counterextremism and counterterrorism. 

The International Risk Podcast is a must-listen for senior executives, board members, and risk advisors who need more than headlines. Each week, Dominic Bowen cuts through the noise to bring you unfiltered insights on emerging risks, geopolitics, international relations flashpoints, boardroom blind spots, and strategic opportunities. Hosted by Dominic Bowen, Head of Strategic Advisory at one of Europe's top risk consulting firms, The International Risk Podcast brings together global experts to share insights and actionable strategies from the people who have been there, done it, and shaped outcomes at the highest levels.

Dominic's 25 years of experience managing complex operations in high-risk environments, combined with his role as a public speaker and university lecturer, make him uniquely positioned to guide these conversations. From conflict zones to corporate boardrooms, he explores the risks shaping our world and how organisations can navigate them. Whether he is speaking with intelligence operatives, CEOs, political advisors, or analysts, Dominic helps leaders gain competitive advantage through these conversations.

The International Risk Podcast – Reducing risk by increasing knowledge.

Follow us on LinkedIn  and Instagram for all our great updates.

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Today we are discussing Pagan Extremism, and especially Norse Paganism. Dominic and Ross Downing dive into how Norse paganism is being hijacked by white separatists and radical influencers, how the pagan extremism evolves, and how communities fight back to reclaim meaning and identity from the clutches of hate.

Ross Downing is an affiliate researcher of UK non-profit organisation Inform, and a registered subject matter expert with the EU knowledge hub on prevention of radicalisation. Ross specialises in extremist ideologies. He is co-editor of the book Germanic & Slavic Paganisms: security threats and resiliency with Kaarina Aitamurto, published January 2025 on Bloomsbury Academic Press.

The International Risk Podcast is a must-listen for senior executives, board members, and risk advisors who need more than headlines. Each week, Dominic Bowen cuts through the noise to bring you unfiltered insights on emerging risks, geopolitics, international relations flashpoints, boardroom blind spots, and strategic opportunities. Hosted by Dominic Bowen, Head of Strategic Advisory at one of Europe's top risk consulting firms, The International Risk Podcast brings together global experts to share insights and actionable strategies from the people who have been there, done it, and shaped outcomes at the highest levels.

Dominic's 25 years of experience managing complex operations in high-risk environments, combined with his role as a public speaker and university lecturer, make him uniquely positioned to guide these conversations. From conflict zones to corporate boardrooms, he explores the risks shaping our world and how organisations can navigate them. Whether he is speaking with intelligence operatives, CEOs, political advisors, or analysts, Dominic helps leaders gain competitive advantage through these conversations.

The International Risk Podcast – Reducing risk by increasing knowledge.

Follow us on LinkedIn  and Instagram for all our great updates.

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This week on The International Risk Podcast, Dominic Bowen speaks with Dr. Kai-Uwe Schrogl, one of the world’s leading experts on international space policy and the former Chair of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space Legal Subcommittee.

In this critical episode, they explore the growing risks in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), where satellites are increasingly exposed to hostile acts such as signal jamming, cyber intrusion, and close-proximity maneuvers. As these grey-zone operations expand, a fundamental legal question remains unanswered: does interference with a satellite amount to an act of war?

Dr. Schrogl draws on decades of experience advising the European Space Agency, national governments, and international legal bodies to unpack why space law has failed to keep pace with the technological and strategic realities of orbit. The discussion covers alarming recent case studies—from Russia’s jamming of Starlink signals over Ukraine, to China’s Shijian-21 maneuvering near foreign satellites, and the Viasat cyberattack that disrupted infrastructure across Europe.

Together, they examine how states are exploiting legal ambiguity for strategic gain, why attribution remains elusive, and how a lack of enforceable norms may lead to escalation without warning. Dr. Schrogl also outlines urgent priorities for the international community—from tightening governance and clarifying use-of-force thresholds, to building greater transparency in satellite operations.

With insights into the legal, political, and security risks unfolding above Earth, this episode is essential listening for defence analysts, policymakers, legal scholars, and anyone shaping the future of strategic stability in space.

Dr. Kai-Uwe Schrogl is Special Advisor for Political Affairs at the European Space Agency and one of the foremost authorities on space law and governance. He has authored more than 150 publications on space policy, chaired UN legal bodies, and continues to advise institutions across Europe on the future of space security.

The International Risk Podcast is a must-listen for senior executives, board members, and risk advisors who need more than headlines. Each week, Dominic Bowen cuts through the noise to bring you unfiltered insights on emerging risks, geopolitics, international relations flashpoints, boardroom blind spots, and strategic opportunities. Hosted by Dominic Bowen, Head of Strategic Advisory at one of Europe's top risk consulting firms, The International Risk Podcast brings together global experts to share insights and actionable strategies from the people who have been there, done it, and shaped outcomes at the highest levels.

Dominic's 25 years of experience managing complex operations in high-risk environments, combined with his role as a public speaker and university lecturer, make him uniquely positioned to guide these conversations. From conflict zones to corporate boardrooms, he explores the risks shaping our world and how organisations can navigate them. Whether he is speaking with intelligence operatives, CEOs, political advisors, or analysts, Dominic helps leaders gain competitive advantage through these conversations.

The International Risk Podcast – Reducing risk by increasing knowledge.

Follow us on LinkedIn  and Instagram for all our great updates.

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Tell us what you liked!

Today on we’re diving headfirst into a threat vector that’s been hiding in plain sight: the toxic, metastasising digital subcultures, that are radicalising young men globally and fuelling a new wave of misogynistic violence. Hear the discussion about the risk of these online ideologies, the struggle of categorising, early warning signs, and how to combat this ideology!

Dr. Allysa Czerwinsky (she/her) is a Research Fellow in AI Trust and Security and PhD Candidate at the University of Manchester. Her research explores how male supremacism and misogynist extremism manifest in digital environments, accounting for the complex interplays between technology, harm, and violence. Her doctoral work traces the narratives present in stories shared to several incel-focused forums, uncovering how these stories help legitimise harm and provide additional knowledge about potential pathways into and out of inceldom. Alongside this, she’s interested in ethical approaches to conducting research in public-facing online spaces, and adopts a reflexive intersectional feminist praxis in her work.

The International Risk Podcast is a must-listen for senior executives, board members, and risk advisors who need more than headlines. Each week, Dominic Bowen cuts through the noise to bring you unfiltered insights on emerging risks, geopolitics, international relations flashpoints, boardroom blind spots, and strategic opportunities. Hosted by Dominic Bowen, Head of Strategic Advisory at one of Europe's top risk consulting firms, The International Risk Podcast brings together global experts to share insights and actionable strategies from the people who have been there, done it, and shaped outcomes at the highest levels.

Dominic's 25 years of experience managing complex operations in high-risk environments, combined with his role as a public speaker and university lecturer, make him uniquely positioned to guide these conversations. From conflict zones to corporate boardrooms, he explores the risks shaping our world and how organisations can navigate them. Whether he is speaking with intelligence operatives, CEOs, political advisors, or analysts, Dominic helps leaders gain competitive advantage through these conversations.

The International Risk Podcast – Reducing risk by increasing knowledge.

Follow us on LinkedIn  and Instagram for all our great updates.

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In this episode of the International Risk Podcast, we turn our focus to the South Caucasus, where Armenia stands at a critical geopolitical juncture. Our guest is Dr. Vahram Ter-Matevosyan, Associate Professor of Political Science and International Affairs at the American University of Armenia and a leading voice on regional security and Armenian foreign policy.

Dr. Ter-Matevosyan offers a compelling analysis of Armenia’s post-2020 political landscape, the complexities of its relationship with Azerbaijan, and the challenges of negotiating peace amid uncertainty. We explore how domestic expectations, historical narratives, and external pressures intersect in shaping Armenia’s strategic choices.

What are the risks of a fragile peace process? How are regional and global actors influencing the outcome? And what does the future hold for a country navigating between tradition, reform, and realpolitik?

Dr. Vahram Ter-Matevosyan is an Associate Professor of Political Science and International Affairs at the American University of Armenia and a leading scholar on Turkish foreign policy, regional security, and post-Soviet politics. He has advised government agencies, published extensively on nationalism and regional dynamics, and brings deep, evidence-based analysis to some of the most pressing questions about Armenia’s place in an increasingly multipolar world.

The International Risk Podcast is a must-listen for senior executives, board members, and risk advisors who need more than headlines. Each week, Dominic Bowen cuts through the noise to bring you unfiltered insights on emerging risks, geopolitics, international relations flashpoints, boardroom blind spots, and strategic opportunities. Hosted by Dominic Bowen, Head of Strategic Advisory at one of Europe's top risk consulting firms, The International Risk Podcast brings together global experts to share insights and actionable strategies from the people who have been there, done it, and shaped outcomes at the highest levels.

Dominic's 25 years of experience managing complex operations in high-risk environments, combined with his role as a public speaker and university lecturer, make him uniquely positioned to guide these conversations. From conflict zones to corporate boardrooms, he explores the risks shaping our world and how organisations can navigate them. Whether he is speaking with intelligence operatives, CEOs, political advisors, or analysts, Dominic helps leaders gain competitive advantage through these conversations.

The International Risk Podcast – Reducing risk by increasing knowledge.

Follow us on LinkedIn  and Instagram for all our great updates.

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Today we discuss the New Scramble for Africa! Dominic and Ian Linden dive into the differences between the ‘new’ scramble for Africa and the ‘old’ scramble of Africa, how strong the US influence is and whether it is currently weakening - or not, the economic opportunities offered by foreign investments, and much more!

Professor Ian Linden formerly taught at the School of Oriental & African Studies in London and is a visiting Professor at St Mary's University, Strawberry Hill, London. He worked for the Swedish Government in the 1980s liaising with the African National Congress in apartheid South Africa.  A past director of the Catholic Institute for International Relations where he first worked on the southern Africa desk, he was awarded an Order of St Michael and St George for his work for human rights in 2000. 

His research for the former- British Government Department for International Development, DfID, has been on faith and development with special emphasis on Muslim approaches to development in West Africa, and for the Commonwealth Foundation on multi-faith programmes in the Commonwealth. He has written books on conflict in Zimbabwe and Rwanda and his latest book Global Catholicism provides an historical analysis of the political impact of the Catholic Church.

The International Risk Podcast is a must-listen for senior executives, board members, and risk advisors who need more than headlines. Each week, Dominic Bowen cuts through the noise to bring you unfiltered insights on emerging risks, geopolitics, international relations flashpoints, boardroom blind spots, and strategic opportunities. Hosted by Dominic Bowen, Head of Strategic Advisory at one of Europe's top risk consulting firms, The International Risk Podcast brings together global experts to share insights and actionable strategies from the people who have been there, done it, and shaped outcomes at the highest levels.

Dominic's 25 years of experience managing complex operations in high-risk environments, combined with his role as a public speaker and university lecturer, make him uniquely positioned to guide these conversations. From conflict zones to corporate boardrooms, he explores the risks shaping our world and how organisations can navigate them. Whether he is speaking with intelligence operatives, CEOs, political advisors, or analysts, Dominic helps leaders gain competitive advantage through these conversations.

The International Risk Podcast – Reducing risk by increasing knowledge.

Follow us on LinkedIn  and Instagram for all our great updates.

Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly briefs.

Tell us what you liked!

This week on The International Risk Podcast, Dominic Bowen speaks with Jason Costain, one of the UK’s leading fraud strategists and the founder of Javloc, a specialist consultancy in financial crime prevention.

In this deep-dive episode, they examine the accelerating threat landscape shaped by fraud, artificial intelligence, and the unintended consequences of digital innovation. From real-time payment systems and synthetic identities to the manipulation of consumer psychology and the exploitation of cryptocurrency hype, this conversation uncovers the critical vulnerabilities facing both individuals and institutions.

Jason shares hard-won insights from three decades at the forefront of fraud detection and response, including his work building and leading fraud defence teams at NatWest Group. The episode also explores how financial institutions can move beyond reactive measures by embedding biometric security, adaptive limits, and customer training into their fraud strategy — all while dismantling siloed thinking between UX, payments, and risk teams.

Jason Costain is the founder of Javloc, and previously served as Head of Fraud Strategy and Relationship Management at NatWest Group. His work has shaped fraud defence systems across the UK banking sector, with a focus on AI, scam prevention, big data, and behavioural risk.

The International Risk Podcast is a must-listen for senior executives, board members, and risk advisors who need more than headlines. Each week, Dominic Bowen cuts through the noise to bring you unfiltered insights on emerging risks, geopolitics, international relations flashpoints, boardroom blind spots, and strategic opportunities. Hosted by Dominic Bowen, Head of Strategic Advisory at one of Europe's top risk consulting firms, The International Risk Podcast brings together global experts to share insights and actionable strategies from the people who have been there, done it, and shaped outcomes at the highest levels.

Dominic's 25 years of experience managing complex operations in high-risk environments, combined with his role as a public speaker and university lecturer, make him uniquely positioned to guide these conversations. From conflict zones to corporate boardrooms, he explores the risks shaping our world and how organisations can navigate them. Whether he is speaking with intelligence operatives, CEOs, political advisors, or analysts, Dominic helps leaders gain competitive advantage through these conversations.

The International Risk Podcast – Reducing risk by increasing knowledge.

Follow us on LinkedIn  and Instagram for all our great updates.

Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly briefs.

Tell us what you liked!

Today we’ll dive into the often-overlooked realities of how women and girls experience armed conflict! Whether women are the victims, combatants, or leaders in peace-building. From the risks of gender-based violence and the underrepresentation of women in disarmament efforts to the long-term socio-economic impacts of the global arms trade, this conversation is both urgent and essential.

Stay with us as we unpack these risks and the intersection of security, gender, and global policy with Anna Provan.

Anna Provan is the Peace and Security Programme Manager at the Centre for Feminist Foreign Policy (CFFP). She has a proven track record of research, writing, public engagement, and capacity-building on the gendered and humanitarian impacts of weapons use and transfer, as well as the wider implications of conflict and militarisation for the pursuit of gender justice and equality. She works on a diverse range of issues related to gender-responsive arms control and disarmament, the Women, Peace, and Security Agenda, feminist peacebuilding, cybersecurity, and AI. In 2024, Anna was recognised as an Emerging Expert by The Forum on the Arms Trade.

Prior to joining CFFP, Anna worked with the ‘Next Generation Democracy’ programme at the World Leadership Alliance in Madrid and as a UN Online Volunteer, providing research and editorial support to the Tanzania Development Trust and Education Watch Pakistan. She has undergraduate degree in International Relations from The University of Edinburgh and an MSc in Social and Cultural Anthropology from University College London (UCL).

The International Risk Podcast is a must-listen for senior executives, board members, and risk advisors who need more than headlines. Each week, Dominic Bowen cuts through the noise to bring you unfiltered insights on emerging risks, geopolitics, international relations flashpoints, boardroom blind spots, and strategic opportunities. Hosted by Dominic Bowen, Head of Strategic Advisory at one of Europe's top risk consulting firms, The International Risk Podcast brings together global experts to share insights and actionable strategies from the people who have been there, done it, and shaped outcomes at the highest levels.

Dominic's 25 years of experience managing complex operations in high-risk environments, combined with his role as a public speaker and university lecturer, make him uniquely positioned to guide these conversations. From conflict zones to corporate boardrooms, he explores the risks shaping our world and how organisations can navigate them. Whether he is speaking with intelligence operatives, CEOs, political advisors, or analysts, Dominic helps leaders gain competitive advantage through these conversations.

The International Risk Podcast – Reducing risk by increasing knowledge.

Follow us on LinkedIn  and Instagram for all our great updates.

Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly briefs.

Tell us what you liked!