Brian J Matos

Brian is joined by Professor Alfred W. McCoy, one of the world's foremost historians of empire, intelligence, and covert power, for a wide-ranging conversation that reframes how we understand the Cold War, the rise and fall of imperial powers — and the world we're living in today.

Prof. McCoy, a Yale Ph.D., is the Fred Harvey Harrington Professor of History at the University of Wisc...

How do you grow a company without burning out the parents who make it run—including you? In this episode, Brian sits down with Amit Singh Kalley, founder of For Working Parents, to map a practical, humane path to high performance. Amit shares his journey from being an educator to becoming an entrepreneur focused on helping working parents navigate the complex...

Richard Ellis joins the show to cut through the noise surrounding AI and digital transformation. We discuss the real state of AI adoption, what organizations must do to get data-ready, and how leaders can measure ROI amid rapid change. Richard also breaks down the rising challenges in cybersecurity, data privacy, and workforce skills as businesses adapt to the next era of intelligent technology.

...

Parenting in 2025 is noisy, fast, and full of trade-offs. In this episode, Brian speaks with experienced writer, editor and journalist, Zara Hanawalt, to unpack the realities shaping family life today—from tech and TikTok advice to school choices, cultural norms, and even the "tradwife" discourse. We explore why the defaul...

Protectionism is back. Tariffs, export controls, and "de-risking" are reshaping supply chains, prices, and growth. In this episode, Brian sits down with Dr. Muhammad Ali Nasir, Associate Professor of Economics at the University of Leeds, to unpack what this policy turn really means—for businesses, workers, and investors...

In this episode, Brian J. Matos sits down with Professor Charles Kupchan—renowned international relations scholar, former White House advisor, and senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations—for a deep dive into the rapidly changing global landscape.

Together, they explore the decline of Western dominance and the emergence of a multipolar world, the erosion...

What happens when elections continue, but democratic values quietly erode?

In this episode, Brian J. Matos sits down with veteran intelligence analyst and policy adviser Fulton T. Armstrong to explore the rise of illiberal democracies—governments where democratic structures exist in form, but not in function. Drawing from decades of experience in U.S. intelligenc...

In this thought-provoking episode, Brian is joined by Lieutenant Colonel Paul Lushenko—U.S. Army strategist, drone warfare expert, and co-editor of Drones and Global Order—to explore the evolving battlefield shaped by drones and artificial intelligence.

Together, they unpack how drone warfare is changing military strategy, publ...

As global alliances realign and authoritarian regimes grow bolder, is the U.S. losing its grip on the world order it once led?

In this episode, Brian welcomes back Irina Tsukerman — human rights attorney, geopolitical analyst, and president of Scarab Rising, Inc. — for a wide-ranging conversation on the evolving dynamics of international power. Irina offers sharp...

In this episode, Brian speaks with Kate Howells, Public Education Specialist at The Planetary Society, editor of The Planetary Report and former member of Canada's Space Advisory Board. Kate is a leading voice in global space science advocacy, helping connect the dots between cutting-edge exploration, public engagement, and the long-term benefits of science for society.

Listen to this show, then give us your perspective.

...

Brian interviews Phillip Ullmann, a self-described social business entrepreneur, with a track record ...

Brian explores the legal and practical concepts of ceasefire deals with Marika Sosnowski, an Australian-qualified lawyer, a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Melbourne Law School and a Research Associate at the German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA) in Hamburg. She works as a legal anthropologist with primary research interests in the fields of critical security studies (mainly ceasefires), local/rebel governance and leg...

Brian interviews Raul Lomeli-Azoubel, Co-Founder, Chairman & Chief Community Officer at Welcome Tech, Inc., the "digital Ellis Island" and future global platform for immigration.

Welcome Tech is a venture funded mobile tech platform helping immigrant communities connect to opportunity including optimal information, products and services they need to succeed in a n...

Brian speaks with Dr. Mehmood Hussain to discuss his authorship on the Kashmir conflict and the concept of "Responsibility to Protect" (R2P). Dr. Hussain is an Assistant Professor and Coordinator of the Department of International Relations at the University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Muzaffarabad, Pakistan. His writings have appeared in the Chinese Political Science Review, East Asia Journal, Journal of Globalization Studies, Asian...

Brian interviews Fritznel Octave, an award-winning journalist with over 25 years of experience covering Haitian news, culture, politics, economics and social justice. He serves as Haiti Editor for The Haitian Times online newspaper. An author, speaker and coach, Fritznel has committed his life to impactful storytelling and amplifying marginalized voices.

His latest book, "Haiti Between Pestilence And Hope," offers readers a pathway...

Brian speaks with Svetlana Chigozie Onye, a climate justice advocate, writer, journalist, and researcher.

In this conversation, Svetlana and Brian discuss the critical intersection of mental health and climate change, particularly in the context of African nations. She highlights the unique challenges faced by African countries, including the disproportionate impact of climate change despite low emissions, the role of transnational...

Brian is joined by Demitri Fierro, a writer and a Sustainability and Stakeholder Strategist. He has published more than 100 articles to date on The Cool Down, where he is an avid contributor on subjects like electric vehicle adoption, wildlife conservation and climate tech.

Demitri recently earned an MBA in Sust...

Brian interviews Stephanie L. Canizales, PhD, a researcher, author, and professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of California, Berkeley, where she is Faculty Director of the Berkeley Interdisciplinary Migration Initiative. She earned her PhD in Sociology from the University of Southern California (2018).

Stephanie specializes in the study of ...