In this episode of Plaza Central, guest host Anders Beal is joined by Heraldo Muñoz, former foreign minister of Chile, to discuss the results of Chile’s constitutional plebiscite and what the rejection of the proposed constitution means for the future of Chilean democracy.

In September, the Riyada podcast will highlight the world of arts and film, a budding sector across the MENA region. To kick off the discussion, co-hosts Merissa Khurma and Imad Shawa spoke with Amin Matalqa, a pioneering filmmaker from Jordan. Amin’s first film, Captain Abu Raed (2008), won the Sundance World Cinema Audience Award and was the first Oscar submission from Jordan. He’s gone on to direct other films and TV shows, including Disney’s soccer drama The United (2012) and Jinn (2019), Netflix’s first Arabic show.

In this episode of the Brazil Institute podcast, host Nick Zimmerman speaks with Richard Back, head of political analysis and strategy for XP Investimentos and a former advisor to the president of the lower Brazilian congressional chamber, about how the Congress is evolving, what to watch for in the upcoming legislative elections this October, and how the composition of the next Brazilian Congress will shape the political and policy environment in the country in 2023.

Romouz Sadeq joined the Riyada podcast to discuss her transition from the corporate to startup world in Jordan. Romouz is the Founder & CEO of Mrayti – or ‘My Mirror’ – the Arab world’s first specialized mobile beauty salon. Mrayti delivers beauty services and products to customers’ homes, offices, and gatherings at any time and at any place.

This month, the Riyada podcast commemorated International Youth Day – recognized on August 12 – by featuring vibrant, young entrepreneurs from the MENA region. In this interview, co-hosts Merissa Khurma and Imad Shawa sat down with UNICEF’s youth expert at Jordan’s country office, Giorgia Varisco, to learn more about what she sees as the most pressing challenges and promising solutions facing youth.

Giorgia detailed the organization’s work to address Jordan’s high youth unemployment - particularly among women - with an emphasis on preparing young people for the world of work. This includes connecting them to employment opportunities and providing tailored programs to build entrepreneurship skills and increase access to finance.

The Americas are an energy powerhouse. From the hemisphere’s vast solar and wind energy potential to its significant oil and gas reserves, the region holds a wealth of renewable and non-renewable energy resources. In this episode of Americas 360, originally released in February 2022, our Wilson Center experts discuss how Canada and Latin American nations are addressing their energy needs and economic goals while pursuing environmental objectives and seizing opportunities from the global energy transition.

This week, Denny Heck, 17th Lieutenant Governor of the State of Washington, joins Chris and Scotty in their Calgary pop up studio to talk about border restrictions, the Columbia River Treaty, trade with China, and the concept of “Northwest Nice.”

Dalia Said, Co-Founder and Learning Director at ElRehla, is a young social entrepreneur from Egypt. ElRehla - or ‘The Journey’ - hosts unconventional networking experiences outside of urban settings, bringing together founders, industry leaders, and corporate teams for a reflective and habit-changing retreat. The organization aims to create a more connected community of professionals in Egypt and across MENA.

On August 7, Gustavo Petro was sworn-in as Colombia’s first-ever leftist president. Petro’s campaign platform promised important changes domestically and in foreign policy that could reshape Colombia’s relationship with the United States. In this episode, host Benjamin Gedan speaks with William Brownfield, a distinguished fellow at the Wilson Center and a former U.S. ambassador to Chile, Venezuela and Colombia, about the implications of Petro’s presidency for U.S.-Colombia ties.

Hamad Al Amari is a young stand-up comedian, entrepreneur, and marketing expert from Qatar. On this episode of the Riyada podcast, Hamad shared his decision to pursue an unconventional career route in the MENA region, later inspiring other young people to join the media and arts. He also discussed the importance of enhancing digital literacy so MENA’s youth can take advantage of emerging opportunities, especially in the post-Covid global economy.