The CGAI Podcast Network
The Canadian Global Affairs Institute
The CGAI Podcast Network is created and produced by the Canadian Global Affairs Institute. Join us each week to explore the energy, defense, and international affairs stories that matter to Canadians. Listen now to CGAI podcasts “The Global Exchange”, “Defence Deconstructed”, and “Energy Security Cubed”, and partner podcasts “Battle Rhythm" and “Conseils de sécurité”. Visit www.cgai.ca for more, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn.
The Canadian Global Affairs Institute (CGAI) is a charitable, independent, non-partisan, research institute based in Ottawa, Ontario and Calgary, Alberta.
The Canadian Global Affairs Institute (CGAI) is a charitable, independent, non-partisan, research institute based in Ottawa, Ontario and Calgary, Alberta.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 27, 2026 • 33min
The Future of the ITAR Exemption
In this Triple Helix episode of Defence Deconstructed, David Perry sits down with Dr. Lilit Klein to discuss her latest paper, "Canada, the EU, and the Future of the ITAR Exemption".
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Guest bios:
Dr. Lilit Klein is the Editor of Research and Publications at the CDA Institute
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Host bio:
David Perry, President & CEO, Canadian Global Affairs Institute
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Recommended Readings:
- "Canada, the EU, and the Future of the ITAR Exemption" by Dr. Lilit Klein
- "The Rest of Our Lives" by Ben Markovits
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Defence Deconstructed was brought to you by Irving Shipbuilding.
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Music Credit: Drew Phillips | Producer: Jordyn Carroll
Release date:
27 March 2026

Mar 25, 2026 • 51min
Pre-War Context of Iran-U.S. Energy Geopolitics
On this episode of the Energy Security Cubed Podcast, we feature a re-run where Kelly Ogle and Joe Calnan interview Greg Brew about the Trump Administration's possible stance toward Iran and the wider Middle East.
For the intro, Joe unpacks the meaning of attacks on energy infrastructure in the Persian Gulf and the discussions at CERAWeek.
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Guest:
Greg Brew is a CGAI Fellow, an analyst with Eurasia Group's Energy, Climate & Resources team focusing on the geopolitics of oil and gas, and Eurasia Group's country analyst for Iran.
Hosts:
Kelly Ogle is a Director of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute.
Joe Calnan is VP Energy and Calgary Operations at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute.
Reading recommendation:
"The Great Transformation: China’s Road from Revolution to Reform" by Odd Arne Westad and Chen Jian: https://www.amazon.ca/Great-Transformation-Chinas-Revolution-Reform/dp/0300267088
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Interview recording Date: January 23, 2025
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Energy Security Cubed is part of the CGAI Podcast Network. Follow the Canadian Global Affairs Institute on Facebook, Twitter (@CAGlobalAffairs), or on LinkedIn. Head over to our website at www.cgai.ca for more commentary.
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Produced by Joe Calnan. Music credits to Drew Phillips.

Mar 23, 2026 • 52min
Dissecting USMCA
On this episode of #TheGlobalExchange, Colin Robertson sits down with Christopher Sands, Carlo Dade, Matthew Holmes and Laurence Herman to discuss Chris' latest publication, "United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement 2026: Review and déjà vu".
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Participants' bios:
Christopher Sands is the Director for the Centre of Canadian Studies at The Johns Hopkins University - Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS).
Carlo Dade is the Director of International Policy at the School of Public Policy at the University of Calgary.
Matthew Holmes is Executive Vice President & Chief of Public Policy at Canadian Chamber of Commerce
Lawrence Herman is Counsel, International Trade & Investment, Public Policy and Government Relations
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Host bio:
Colin Robertson is a former diplomat and Senior Advisor to the Canadian Global Affairs Institute.
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Reading Recommendations:
- "United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement 2026: Review and déjà vu" by Christopher Sands
- "Reluctant Conquest" by Kathryn Lavelle
- "Pachinko" by Min Jin Lee
- "The Revolt of The Public" by Martin Hurri
- "The Dollar a Year Men" by Allan Levine
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Music Credit: Drew Phillips | Producer: Jordyn Carroll
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Recording Date: March 10, 2026
Release date:
March 23, 2026

Mar 20, 2026 • 22min
Indo-Pacific Ambitions
In this Triple Helix episode of Defence Deconstructed, David Perry sits down with Dr. Julie Kim, our Korea Fellow, to discuss Prime Minister Mark Carney’s trip to Australia, India and Japan, opportunities for cooperation with Indo-Pacific countries and Canada-ROK maritime security cooperation.
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Guest bios:
Dr. Julie Kim is the Korea Fellow at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute
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Host bio:
David Perry, President & CEO, Canadian Global Affairs Institute
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Recommended Readings:
- "Antkind" by Charlie Kaufman
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Defence Deconstructed was brought to you by Irving Shipbuilding.
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Music Credit: Drew Phillips | Producer: Jordyn Carroll
Release date:
20 March 2026

Mar 18, 2026 • 38min
Historical Precedent for the Persian Gulf Oil Crisis
On this episode of the Energy Security Cubed Podcast, Joe is joined by David Detomasi to discuss the ongoing crisis in the Persian Gulf and the historical precedents of the 1970s and 1980s.
You can find David's book here: https://www.amazon.ca/Profits-Power-Navigating-Politics-Geopolitics/dp/1487520107
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Guest Bio:
- David Detomasi is a Professor & Distinguished Teaching Fellow of International Business at Queen's University
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Host Bio:
- Joe Calnan is VP Energy and Calgary Operations at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute
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Reading recommendations:
- "The Persian Puzzle: The Conflict Between Iran and America", by Kenneth Pollack: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/0812973364?ref_=cb_interstitial_us_ca_desktop_unrec_location_unk_dp_dp
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Interview recording Date: March 17, 2026
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Energy Security Cubed is part of the CGAI Podcast Network. Follow the Canadian Global Affairs Institute on Facebook, Twitter (@CAGlobalAffairs), or on LinkedIn. Head over to our website at www.cgai.ca for more commentary.
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Produced by Joe Calnan. Music credits to Drew Phillips.

Mar 16, 2026 • 42min
Discussing Ukraine, Iran and Canada in World Order
On this episode of #TheGlobalExchange, Colin Robertson sits down with Andrew Rasiulis and `Paul Meyer to discuss Ukraine, Iran and what current events mean for Canada and world order.
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Participants' bios:
Andrew Rasiulis is a CGAI Fellow. He served in the Canadian Forces and then with the Department of National Defence responsible for Eastern Europe.
Paul Meyer served as Canada’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN and the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva. He is a fellow in international security and adjunct Professor of International Studies at Simon Fraser University, and a Director of the Canadian Pugwash Group.
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Host bio:
Colin Robertson is a former diplomat and Senior Advisor to the Canadian Global Affairs Institute.
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Reading Recommendations:
- "The Ukraine War & the Eurasian World Order" by Glenn Diesen
- "Great Power Diplomacy: The Skill of Statecraft from Attila the Hun to Kissinger" by A. Wess Mitchell
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Music Credit: Drew Phillips | Producer: Jordyn Carroll
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Recording Date: March 04, 2026
Release date:
March 16, 2026

Mar 13, 2026 • 47min
Inside Canada's Naval Command
In this of Defence Deconstructed, David Perry sits down with Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee, Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy. We discuss where the RCN sits today, fleet assets regarding the submarine program, personnel and Coast Guard operations.
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Guest bios:
Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee is the Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy
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Host bio:
David Perry, President & CEO, Canadian Global Affairs Institute
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Recommended Readings:
- "Pirate of the Adriatic" by Sean Livingston
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Defence Deconstructed was brought to you by Irving Shipbuilding.
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Music Credit: Drew Phillips | Producer: Jordyn Carroll
Release date:
13 March 2026

Mar 10, 2026 • 37min
Trump, Iran, and the Most Volatile Day in the History of Oil Prices
On this episode of the Energy Security Cubed Podcast, we feature an "as it happens" conversation between Joe and Rory Johnston as oil prices react to the possible end of American strikes on Iran.
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Guest Bio:
- Rory Johnston is a CGAI Fellow and Founder of Commodity Context
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Host Bio:
- Joe Calnan is VP Energy and Calgary Operations at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute
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Reading recommendations:
- "1929: Inside the Greatest Crash in Wall Street History--and How It Shattered a Nation", by Andrew Ross Sorkin: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/665634/1929-by-andrew-ross-sorkin/9780593296967
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Interview recording Date: March 9, 2026
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Energy Security Cubed is part of the CGAI Podcast Network. Follow the Canadian Global Affairs Institute on Facebook, Twitter (@CAGlobalAffairs), or on LinkedIn. Head over to our website at www.cgai.ca for more commentary.
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Produced by Joe Calnan. Music credits to Drew Phillips.

Mar 9, 2026 • 41min
Beyond CUSMA
On this episode of #TheGlobalExchange, Colin Robertson sits down with Francisco Suarez Davila to discuss the current status of Canada-Mexico relations, where we are at with CUSMA and multilateralism in the new world.
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Participants' bios:
Francisco Suarez Davila is the former Mexican Ambassador to Canada
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Host bio:
Colin Robertson is a former diplomat and Senior Advisor to the Canadian Global Affairs Institute.
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Reading Recommendations:
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Music Credit: Drew Phillips | Producer: Jordyn Carroll
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Recording Date: March 09, 2026
Release date:
March 09, 2026

Mar 6, 2026 • 31min
Unpacking the Canadian Joint Forces Command
In this Triple Helix episode of Defence Deconstructed, we sit down with LGen Darcy Molstad and CWO Donovan Crawford of the newly created Canadian Joint Forces Command. We talk about the role of the CJFC in the CAF, it's areas of focus and the goals of the organization in bringing together a new culture with a number of different subcultures from long standing parts of the Canadian Armed Forces.
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Guest bios:
- Lieutenant-General Darcy Molstad is the Commander of the Canadian Joint Forces Command
- Chief Warrant Officer Donovan Crawford is the Canadian Joint Forces Command Sergeant-Major
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Host bio:
David Perry, President & CEO, Canadian Global Affairs Institute
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Recommended Readings:
- "Unit X" by Raj M. Shah and Christopher Kirchhoff
- "The triangle of Power" by Alexander Stubb
- "New Cold Wars" by David Sanger
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Defence Deconstructed was brought to you by Irving Shipbuilding.
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Music Credit: Drew Phillips | Producer: Jordyn Carroll
Release date:
06 March 2026


