Global Tennessee

Amb Dick Bowers and Pat Ryan host a weekly review of current global events with commentary and assessments on hot topics in the news. This week we welcome Dr. Marieta Velikova as a guest host. May 12, 2020 - This week's topics: 1 – Covid News – almost all Covid, all the time 2 – Russia and Election Interference – Part 1 – Background and Context 3 – Russia and Election Interference – Part 2 – Current Developments 4 – China-US Relations – Election year, global pandemic – what could go wrong 5 – Middle Powers and Diplomacy – Australia has had enough China and America Ambassador, U.S. Foreign Service (Retired) @United States Department of State Charles Richard (Dick) Bowers served as the US Ambassador to Bolivia from 1991 through 1994. During that time, the American Embassy in Bolivia’s capital, La Paz, was the largest and most complex U.S. embassy in South America. Ambassador Bowers grew up in the San Francisco Bay area, attended the University of California, Berkeley. He entered the U.S. Foreign Service in 1967. From 1961 to 1964 he served in the U.S. Army as a Russian linguist in West Berlin at the height of the Cold War. As a career member of the U.S. diplomatic corps, Ambassador Bowers served in the U.S. Embassies in Panama, Poland, Singapore, Germany and Bolivia. He retired from the Foreign Service in 1995. Amb Bowers has been a Board Member of the Tennessee World Affairs Council since 2012. LCDR Patrick Ryan, President Tennessee World Affairs Council Patrick Ryan is a native of New York City. He enlisted in the Navy at age 17 and volunteered for submarine duty. He served aboard nuclear fast attack and ballistic missile boats during the Cold War, rising to the rank of Chief Petty Officer. In 1982 he was commissioned and served aboard a cruiser in the Western Pacific before becoming a Navy Intelligence Officer. Ryan served aboard the carrier Constellation in the Pacific, the Joint Staff Intelligence Directorate in the Pentagon, the Center for Naval Analysis, and the Intelligence Directorate of U.S. Central Command. Ryan retired from the Navy in 1998 and worked as a consultant on Intelligence Community projects and as the VP/COO of the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations. Ryan ran a newsletter publishing business on international affairs from 1999-2016. He founded the Tennessee World Affairs Council in 2007.

This week former Mayor Dean will talk with Doug Kreulen, the head of the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority (MNAA) which overseas Nashville International Airport (BNA) and John C. Tune airport. They will talk about Doug’s background including his career in the US Air Force; the BNA Vision project; the damage at Tune airport from the Super Tuesday tornado; the impact of Covid-19 on BNA and the airline industry; BNA as a global gateway; and how MMNA sees Nashville as a global city. Douglas E. Kreulen President and CEO Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority Doug Kreulen joined the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority in 2012 and was named president & Chief Executive Officer in December 2017. He previously served as Chief Operating Officer, where he oversaw Operations, Facilities Maintenance, Public Safety and Development and Engineering departments for both Nashville International and John C. Tune airports. Before joining MNAA, Kreulen served four years as director of Operations for Huntsville International Airport, during which time the airport received the highly regarded FAA Southern Region Airport Mark of Distinction Award and FAA Air Carrier Airport Safety Award. Prior to beginning his career in the commercial aviation sector, Kreulen served in the United States Air Force for 27 years, earning the rank of Colonel. During his service, he held prominent command and staff leadership positions including: Chief of Staff for the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo.; Vice Commander of the 374th Airlift Wing at Yokota Air Base in Japan, with responsibility for 11,000 civilian and military personnel involved with operations, support, maintenance and medical; Commander of the 314th Operations Group at Little Rock Air Force Base, with responsibilities for 2,000 military personnel and a fleet of 50 C-130s; Chief of the Readiness Division for the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Washington D.C., charged with evaluating the armed services ability to carry out the National Military Strategy; and Commander of the 37th Airlift Squadron, Ramstein Air Base, Germany. Kreulen is a decorated veteran, earning the Bronze Star (Kosovo), Legion of Merit, Defense Superior Service Medal (National Military Strategy and Service on Joint Staff Crisis Action Team following events of 11 September 2001); Air Medal and Meritorious Service Medal (Bosnia-Herzegovina). An Accredited Airport Executive (AAE), Kreulen is a graduate of National War College with a Master of Science in National Security Strategy, Troy University with a Master of Science in Personnel Management and Auburn University with a Bachelor of Science in Laboratory Technology.

--Moderator, Ambassador William Luers, US Foreign Service (Retired), Director, The Iran Project --Dr. Gary Sick, Senior Research Scholar, Columbia University’s Middle East Institute and Adjunct Professor at the School of International and Public Affairs --Ellie Geranmayeh, Senior Policy Fellow and Deputy Program Head, Middle East and North Africa Program at the European Council on Foreign Relations --Host, LCDR Patrick Ryan, USN (Retired), President, Tennessee World Affairs Council This special edition of the TNWAC Global Dialogue: International Speakers series presents a conversation about current developments in relations with Iran. Ambassador Bill Luers will moderate a conversation with Professor Gary Sick of Columbia University and Ellie Geranmayeh of the European Council on Foreign Relations. Iran remains at the center of U.S. decision makers attention in the Middle East as Tehran grapples with the effects of Washington’s “Maximum Pressure” campaign and the catastrophic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Meanwhile Tehran continues its “Maximum Resistance” response through maritime provocations, space vehicle (potential ICBM) launches and backing Iraqi militias that are in conflict with U.S. forces. This Tennessee World Affairs Council Webinar is part of the “CxC Amplified: Ideas Summit – Putting the World Back Together Again” — a weeklong series of virtual events organized by the 90+ councils of the World Affairs Councils of America.

This episode of the "Global Dialogue: International Speakers Program" organized by the Tennessee World Affairs Council (TNWAC.org) featured Jeremy Goldkorn and John Scannapieco with host Patrick Ryan (TNWAC President). This superb discussion of the current tension in the Sino-American relationship focused on the consequences of the Covid-19 virus spread, the commercial ties and the national security issues that have shaped Beijing's and Washington's "lobbing of hand grenades" back and forth. Excellent background, context and analysis of the situation. GOLDKORN Jeremy Goldkorn is editor-in-chief of SupChina.com, and co-host of the Sinica Podcast. He moved to China in 1995 and became managing editor of Beijing’s first independent English-language entertainment magazine. In 2003, he founded the website and research firm, Danwei, which tracked Chinese media, markets, politics and business. It was acquired in 2013 by the Financial Times. While in China, Jeremy published and edited several magazines, books, and websites. He also lived in a workers dormitory, and produced a documentary film about African soccer players in Beijing. SCANNAPIECO John M. Scannapieco is a shareholder in the Nashville office of Baker Donelson and is a co-leader of the Firm’s Global Business Team. John provides strategic guidance and counsel to businesses and individuals regarding their existing global operations or to those contemplating global expansion. He also advises companies that are contemplating pursuing a China strategy, as well as those companies that are currently doing business in China or with China-based businesses. John assists U.S. manufacturing companies with their activities overseas and foreign companies desiring to expand operations to the United States. He is a board member of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce’s International Business Council and a member of the board of the Japan American Society of Tennessee. He has been recognized by Mid-South Super Lawyers in International Law. Around town, John, has been chair of the Community Resource Center – a key element of Nashville’s Super Tuesday tornado relief and the supply line to the front lines of poverty. John also serves on the board of Sister Cities of Nashville, and more. Last note, John is the Honorary Consul of the United Kingdom to the State of Tennessee.

Amb Dick Bowers and Pat Ryan host a weekly review of current global events with commentary and assessments on hot topics in the news. This week we welcome Dr. Marieta Velikova as a guest host. May 5, 2020 - This week's topics: 1 – Covid Update 2 – Covid and Its Impact on the Economy 3 – China – Strategic Friction 4 – China – Economic Implications 5 – Iran – Maximum Pressure meets Maximum Resistance Dr. Marieta Velikova, Associate Professor of Economics, Belmont University Dr. Marieta V. Velikova received her undergraduate degree from the People's Friendship University of Russia. Her M.A. in Financial Economics and Ph.D. in Applied Economics were both earned at Mississippi State University, where she worked as a research assistant, academic tutor, and instructor of economics. She teaches graduate and undergraduate economics and international business courses in Belmont University’s Jack C. Massey College of Business Administration, where she has advised members of ENACTUS, and has been involved in the creation of the IB Society - an organization for students interested in international studies. Dr. Velikova has led numerous travel-study trips to Turkey, Japan, Guatemala, Cuba, London, Peru, Chile, Argentina and Brazil. Her research interests include macroeconomics and monetary economics; energy and natural gas industry, however, her primary area of specialization at Belmont has been pedagogical research. [more at Belmont.edu] LCDR Patrick Ryan, President Tennessee World Affairs Council Patrick Ryan is a native of New York City. He enlisted in the Navy at age 17 and volunteered for submarine duty. He served aboard nuclear fast attack and ballistic missile boats during the Cold War, rising to the rank of Chief Petty Officer. In 1982 he was commissioned and served aboard a cruiser in the Western Pacific before becoming a Navy Intelligence Officer. Ryan served aboard the carrier Constellation in the Pacific, the Joint Staff Intelligence Directorate in the Pentagon, the Center for Naval Analysis, and the Intelligence Directorate of U.S. Central Command. Ryan retired from the Navy in 1998 and worked as a consultant on Intelligence Community projects and as the VP/COO of the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations. Ryan ran a newsletter publishing business on international affairs from 1999-2016. He founded the Tennessee World Affairs Council in 2007.

This episode of former Nashville Mayor Karl Dean's conversations with community leaders featured Sean Henry, Nashville Predators President and CEO, with co-host Pat Ryan, TNWAC President. Karl asked Sean about his background and the experiences he has brought to the Predators organization. They talked about the situation for the Predators and Bridgestone arena as a result of the pandemic and shutdown of in-person events; prospects for returning to operations; and what the organization is doing during the pandemic. They talked about the "new normal" we can expect after the pandemic. Karl asked about the international dimension of the Predators and players' experiences and outlooks about Nashville especially all of the foreign-born athletes. Sean described the locker room "melting pot" of international backgrounds of the team and the attention accorded Nashville through media in a variety of global markets. They concluded by asking Sean about the prospects for NHL games in Europe and the 20/21 season plans for the Predators to play in Switzerland and the Czech Republic.

The pandemic crisis has created a “stay at home” reality for students, teleworkers and others. The “Global Engagement” video webinar will offer a week-day, weekly or bi-weekly opportunity to talk about current international events with co-hosts Ambassador Charles Bowers and TNWAC President LCDR Patrick Ryan (USN,Ret). They will run down the week’s current global events and invite your questions and comments during the live webinar. You can participate in future programs via interactive Webinars -- see TNWAC.org. You can support the TNWAC global affairs awareness programs like this one through membership, donation or sponsorship. Visit TNWAC.org for details. This week in the world: 1 - Covid-19 – What’s going on around the world? 2 – North Korea – Leadership Questions 3 - Israel – pending annexation of parts of the West Bank 4 – China – Wolf Warriors – Aggressive foreign policy 5 – Covid and Art – how staying at home inspires creativity Your Hosts Ambassador Charles Bowers (U.S. Foreign Service (Retired)) Charles Richard (Dick) Bowers served as the US Ambassador to Bolivia from 1991 through 1994. During that time, the American Embassy in Bolivia’s capital, La Paz, was the largest and most complex U.S. embassy in South America. Ambassador Bowers grew up in the San Francisco Bay area, attended the University of California, Berkeley. He entered the U.S. Foreign Service in 1967. From 1961 to 1964 he served in the U.S. Army as a Russian linguist in West Berlin at the height of the Cold War. As a career member of the U.S. diplomatic corps, Ambassador Bowers served in the U.S. Embassies in Panama, Poland, Singapore, Germany and Bolivia. He retired from the Foreign Service in 1995. Amb Bowers has been a Board Member of the Tennessee World Affairs Council since 2012. More info here. LCDR Patrick Ryan, USN(Ret) (President,Tennessee World Affairs Council) Patrick Ryan is a native of New York City. He enlisted in the Navy at age 17 and volunteered for submarine duty. He served aboard nuclear fast attack and ballistic missile boats during the Cold War, rising to the rank of Chief Petty Officer. In 1982 he was commissioned and served aboard a cruiser in the Western Pacific before becoming a Navy Intelligence Officer. Ryan served aboard the carrier Constellation in the Pacific, the Joint Staff Intelligence Directorate in the Pentagon, the Center for Naval Analysis, and the Intelligence Directorate of U.S. Central Command. Ryan retired from the Navy in 1998 and worked as a consultant on Intelligence Community projects and as the VP/COO of the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations. Ryan ran a newsletter publishing business on international affairs from 1999-2016. He founded the Tennessee World Affairs Council in 2007.

NASHVILLE, APRIL 21: The pandemic crisis has created a “stay at home” reality for students, teleworkers and others. The “Global Engagement” video webinar will offer a week-day, weekly or bi-weekly opportunity to talk about current international events with co-hosts Ambassador Charles Bowers and TNWAC President LCDR Patrick Ryan (USN,Ret). They will run down the week’s current global events and invite your questions and comments during the live webinar. You can participate in future programs via interactive Webinars -- see TNWAC.org. You can support the TNWAC global affairs awareness programs like this one through membership, donation or sponsorship. Visit TNWAC.org for details. This week in the world: 1 - Covid-19 – What’s going on around the world? (China – US relations getting rockier) 2 – Earth Day/Climate Crisis – looming existential threat off the radar 3 – North Korea – Dear Leader get well card 4 – Immigration Ban 5 – Ramadan – start of the holy month Subscribe to TNWAC newsletters at the web site (TNWAC.org) and check the site calendar to be kept up to date on “Global Engagement” program schedules.

NASHVILLE, APRIL 21: The Middle East is still there and the Covid-19 pandemic has not made any of the troubles there any better. Let's have a dialogue. Join us for a tour d'horizon of this important region where Americans serve in harm's way with David DesRoches, retired US Army Colonel and Professor at the Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies at the National Defense University. We're pleased to present internationally recognized expert David Des Roches. He is a regular commentator on Voice of America, Sky News, Arabia, France 24, Al Jazeera, Turkish Radio-Television and Al Araby; he is an authority quoted in The New York Times and Washington Post. You won't find anyone more conversant in the Middle East region, a part of the world where American interests continue to be challenged, a part of the world where thousands of men and women in our armed forces are in harm's way every day. Our Zoom Webinar included a briefing by Colonel Des Roches and your questions. Registration for our Webinar events is free but we ask you to consider making a donation to offset our unanticipated expenses to create video-based programming, and to become a member of the World Affairs Council. www.TNWAC.org. Thanks!

Global Engagement World News: Review and Commentary With Ambassador Dick Bowers and LCDR Pat Ryan Video: https://youtu.be/3pv6r5YV3iU April 14, 2020 In this episode Dick and Pat review these topics in the news: 1 - Covid-19 – What’s going on around the world? 2 – U.S. Role in International Organizations 3 - Iraq – What’s going on in the politics of this pivotal Middle East country 4 - USS Theodore Roosevelt and Covid, what are the national security implications 5 - Global Economy and Environment – can we have both economic recovery and compliance with the Paris Accord? We invite you to listen to this Webinar and join us for future editions of "Global Engagement" and other TNWAC video and Podcast programs -- check TNWAC.org for Webinar schedules. We invite our community business friends to sponsor this and other TNWAC video programs. Contact [email protected] for details. Runtime: 56:31 LINKS 1 – COVID UPDATE Religious Bigotry in India https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/12/world/asia/india-coronavirus-muslims-bigotry.html China Medical Supply Chains and Broader Trade Issues - Congressional Research Service https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R46304?fbclid=IwAR0VK6CPcJ6GzFuUL7Yw-Szjrlmt4psS4YAsOkds9WrLFbJXDq1s_yO3iJM 2 – U.S. ROLE IN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS The U.S. Role in International Organizations’ Response to COVID-19 – US State Department https://www.state.gov/the-u-s-role-in-international-organizations-response-to-covid-19/ 3 -- IRAQ – WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE POLITICS Intel: US signals support for Iraq’s latest prime minister-designate https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2020/04/intel-us-signal-support-iraq-prime-minister-kadhimi.html#ixzz6JbGL604y 4 -- USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT AND COVID, WHAT ARE THE NATIONAL SECURITY IMPLICATIONS Michael O’Hanlon – “Why Crozier was Correct” Brookings https://www.brookings.edu/blog/order-from-chaos/2020/04/07/why-crozier-was-correct/ 5 -- GLOBAL ECONOMY AND ENVIRONMENT – CAN WE HAVE BOTH ECONOMIC RECOVERY AND COMPLIANCE WITH THE PARIS ACCORD? Japan Minister: Paris Accord under threat if coronavirus trumps climate change https://www.reuters.com/article/us-climate-change-japan/japan-minister-paris-accord-under-threat-if-coronavirus-trumps-climate-change-idUSKCN21V13T

In this episode Karl Dean, former Nashville Mayor, talks with Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce CEO Ralph Schulz about the business environment in Nashville during this time of pandemic. We invite you to listen to this Webinar and join us for future editions of "Global Nashville with Karl Dean" -- check TNWAC.org for Webinar schedules. April 14, 2020 Runtime: 31:58 00:01 Welcome / Introduction -- Invitation to friends in the business community to sponsor “Global Nashville with Karl Dean.” Contact [email protected] 02:30 Prior to pandemic how was business in Nashville? 03:36 How has the business community been affected by the pandemic? 05:35 What role has the Nashville Chamber had dealing with these circumstances? 07:04 Is hospitality the hardest hit sector in the pandemic? 08:10 Healthcare sector impact. 08:46 Tell us about business expansions and relocations. 09:18 Interest on the part of global tech in Nashville. 09:30 How is the Federal response, money flow from Washington? 09:59 PPP and other programs have been life preservers for some businesses. 10:33 What connections have you had with other chambers? Best practices? 11:02 Today’s chambers’ call – interesting range of cities, where they are in the pandemic. 11:55 People are working toward the ‘things’ that will help companies come back. 12:13 Businesses most interested in their plan going forward, adaptation to the current situation is done. How fast can we get back to being fully productive? 12:48 Hot topic is reopening, getting back to “normal.” How will that play out? 13:29 Some sort of “phasing” will be necessary to return to “normal.” 14:30 Education is a major focus of the Chamber; how do you see school situation? 16:09 Global economy and Nashville: what has the Chamber’s approach been? 18:15 How has the pandemic impacted the global economic sector? 18:42 Nashville’s “calling card” is how it responds to adversity. 19:18 Alliance Bernstein an example of business approach to Nashville culture. 19:48 Like coming out of the flood and recession Nashville will demonstrate how to bounce back. 20:15 Optimism makes Nashville a special place. 20:40 Is the pandemic the biggest challenge you’ve faced at the Chamber? 21:08 The recovery from the flood was “no small task” either. 21:50 Hopefully we can be helpful and supportive of businesses and the public sector. 22:20 More “unknowns” and “uncertainty” in the pandemic recovery – vast array of problems. 23:10 Unknowns are compounded by progression of the virus. Scary in some ways, energizing in some other ways. Confronting issue out of necessity. 23:59 Entrepreneurship. Nashville has benefited greatly. How do you keep that spirit of optimism in entrepreneurship going? 24:46 Entrepreneurs in Nashville are drawn to the next big challenge. 25:00 24% of economy in the region is driven by entrepreneurship. 25:33 Key for Nashville is to be a community to attract and retain creative people. 25:55 New enterprises will come out of the crisis because entrepreneurs are here. 26:20 Do you see a role for the Chamber in support to small businesses. 26:42 Small businesses are the largest and most fragile part of the economy under these circumstances. 27:22 Nashville has the ability to adapt, but small businesses have a tough outlook, but Nashville small business owners usually find a way when others don’t 27:49 What about Metro’s response? 28:53 City has a lot to proud of. 29:13 Proud of Chamber’s staff. Adjusting to new circumstances. Delivering value. 29:57 Last thoughts? Nashville is “well positioned to exceed expectations” coming out of this crisis. You, Mayor Dean, were personally a big part of establishing that personality for Nashville that has led to our momentum. A lot of faith in Nashville and its people. 30:50 Nashville’s best days are ahead. 31:07 Invitation to friends in the business community to sponsor “Global Nashville with Karl Dean.” Contact [email protected]

“Global Engagement” A Review of News and Issues in World Affairs Presented by the “Global Tennessee” project of the Tennessee World Affairs Council [www.TNWAC.org] April 7, 2020 With Amb Charles Bowers, USFS(Ret) LCDR Patrick Ryan, USN(Ret) This week in the news: 1 - Covid-19 Update 2 – United Kingdom 3 - US-Iran Developments 4 - Global Governance and Democracy 5 - Afghanistan and America’s Longest War Welcome to Global Engagement. This is a World Affairs Council global affairs awareness project that connects you with current events. We’re starting this during the “stay at home” period of the pandemic response especially as students are working from home and can find this conversation useful in knowing the world. Each week we’ll share five important topics from the news and provide background, context and analysis. And we’ll get you involved through the Webinar’s interactive features. Global Engagement will be broadcast live every Tuesday at 2pm Central Time as a Webinar on Zoom where you can participate with your questions and comments. The series will be archived by video on the Tennessee World Affairs Council’s Youtube Channel and by audio on our “Global Tennessee” Podcast. You can find links to all of the episodes on our web site, TNWAC.org. Timeline 00:30 Introduction. Ryan 02:01 Discussing TNWAC pivot to Webinars. “Going Zoom.” Bowers 04:50 Discussing TNWAC Educational Outreach Program: WorldQuest, Tennessee Global Scholar Certificate Program, “What in the World?” Weekly Quiz. Ryan 07:52 On to the news Japan – Olympics/Paralympics postponed Emergency conditions in some cities What are you doing in response to Covid? 15:45 Italy – European epicenter Infections “plateau” European Union not much of a union Universal healthcare responds to pandemic 20:15 What’s going on in Russia? What about China? POTUS dropped “China Virus” talk Which countries are doing well against Covid? 22:39 Stay Calm and Carry On – What about the UK? Queen Elizabeth talks to her nation PM Boris Johnson, an early Covid-denier, infected, in ICU Who’s going to pick the crops? Migrant issues. 25:40 New leader of the UK Labor Party “Competence vs Charisma” Who’s in charge? 28:20 Iran and the pandemic Distinguished leaders sign statement favoring easing limitations on medical supplies to Iran during pandemic Holy city of Qom epicenter of Covid infections 33:40 Reliability of data. How many actual infections? 35:46 Iran-backed militias in Iraq Trump will “go up the food chain” if more attacks on US forces Time for a humanitarian gesture to lessen tension? Tough sell 38:27 Global Governance and Democracy “You are living in historic times” Now in a fight to save our democracy… and how our way of life will be. Side note: take a look at think-tank newsletters and reports, good content in their studies and reports. e.g. CFR, CSIS, Carnegie Endowment Carnegie Report: “How will the Coronavirus Reshape Democracy and Governance Globally” Concern about breakdowns, civil wars, riots as people become desperate Bottom up pressure, top down pressure Pandemic as cover to seize power Viktor Orban in Hungary – indefinite rule by decree. End of checks/balances. 46:50 Brazil – Bolsonaro another Covid-denier Any countries remain without Covid? 48:40 Afghanistan Endgame Who are the Taliban? 9/11 terrorist safe haven America’s longest war Afghan government – two heads? US-Taliban agreement. Government not onboard. 53:05 Dick’s Book Picks “Prisoners of Geography” by Tim Marshall Pat’s Book Pick “A Problem from Hell: America and the Age of Genocide“ by Samantha Power 55:40 Calendar of TNWAC video broadcasts Sign Off

April 7, 2020 A conversation on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic in Nashville and around the world and the TNWAC pivot to digital global awareness programs With Former Nashville Mayor Karl Dean Amb Charles Bowers, USFS(Ret) Jim Shepherd, Chairman, TNWAC Board John Scannapieco, Chair Baker Donelson Global Business Team LCDR Patrick Ryan, USN(Ret) Check TNWAC.org for program schedule Karl Dean | Welcome to the new Global Nashville. Today, we’re going to tell you about the World Affairs Council, about the programs we’re building to keep you connected to global issues, and we’ll have a discussion of the events that are shaping developments in Nashville and the elements that will make up the “new normal.” With me today are several members of the World Affairs Council board in addition to President Pat Ryan, a former Navy intelligence officer. Here today are Jim Shepherd, Chairman of the Council board and former president of a company with international reach; Ambassador Dick Bowers, a career diplomat and former US Ambassador to Bolivia; and John Scannapieco, an attorney at Baker Donelson and chair of the firm’s global business team. John is an expert on international commercial relationships, especially with the Far East. TIMELINE 00:00 Introduction / welcome 01:35 Former Nashville Mayor Karl Dean provides an overview 02:39 Jim Shepherd, TNWAC Chair, on the role, mission and programs of the World Affairs Council 09:05 Ambassador Charles Bowers talks about TNWAC’s pivot from in-person programs to Webinars for speakers programs and global affairs awareness programs. 12:45 John Scannapieco, Baker Donelson Global Business Team Chair and Community Resource Center board member, talks about Nashville’s tornado relief and pandemic response. CRCNashville.org 17:04 John Scannapieco, what should we know about what’s happening in America’s relationships with East Asia? 18:30 Significant issues in China. Supply chain impact. Freight capacity reductions. 20:14 Countries cutting off export of medical supplies. Lack of multilateralism affecting ability to fight the pandemic. 21:15 Do we have the global institutions needed to fight the pandemic? What do we need to build? Dean. 22:29 Building higher walls is not a solution. Ryan 23:30 Most existential crisis faced since WWII. U.S. became a global leader in response. Current paucity of leadership. World becoming more fractured and fragmented. Amb Bowers not optimistic about global outlook. 25:30 Are we seeing a reordering of the global institutions? Shepherd 26:02 Wrong thing when we’re competing with our allies for scarce resources instead of mobilizing America’s industrial might. Bowers 26:50 We’re in for a long troubled time. Strongmen. Food shortages. Bowers. 27:20 We’ll be seeing changes in global commerce, supply chains, global stocks. Change in who people look to for leadership. Unless things change it’s not going to be the United States. Scannapieco. 28:32 Possibly the final piece in nations deciding who to follow. 29:09 Signs of higher inclination to pull up the drawbridge in the international scene. Rough road ahead for globalization and America’s place in the world. Ryan 30:21 American leadership, at federal level, needed for internal purposes too. Bowers 31:02 Can’t imagine this retreat from leadership is what most Americans want. “Lord of the Flies” scenario. We used to see marshaling of effort. Scannapieco 32:57 Summing up. Implications are enormous. Need better international system. Issues will be discussed constantly. World Affairs Council has strong role to play. Dean 34:17 Last points? People need to be knowledgeable about these issues. 35:06 World Affairs Council programs ahead. “Zoom world.” Global Nashville with Karl Dean, Global Dialogue, Global Engagement. Bowers 36:29 Reach out to friends and family to participate in the conversations. Shepherd 37:01 Be optimistic, take care of yourself. Dean

Recorded: Oct 8, 2019 A conversation on the U.S.-Korea business relationship, US-Japan relations and U.S. In this episode we hear from the United States Ambassador to the Republic of Korea (ROK) Harry Harris, a Tennessee native. He was in Nashville to visit with business leaders as part of his effort to promote trade ties. Ambassador Harris spoke to a group hosted by the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce. TNWAC was a partner for the event along with the Tennessee Valley Authority, and the U.S. Commercial Service. Ambassador Harry Harris was confirmed by the United State Senate on June 28, 2018 as the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Korea (ROK) following a distinguished naval career which culminated in commanding the U.S. Pacific Command. He is the first Asian-American to hold four-star rank in the U.S. Navy and the first to head USPACOM. Prior to USPACOM, he commanded the U.S. Pacific Fleet. From 2011 to 2013, Ambassador Harris served as the representative of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to the Secretary of State. In this role, he traveled to over 80 countries with the Secretary and participated in most of the Secretary’s meetings with foreign leaders. He also served as the U.S. Roadmap Monitor for the Mid-East Peace Process. Ambassador Harris was born in Japan and reared in Tennessee and Florida. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1978. He holds master’s degrees from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government and Georgetown’s School of Foreign Service. He also did post-graduate work at Oxford University and completed the Seminar 21 fellowship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Originally recorded: Sep 12, 2019 In this episode we will bring you conversations on an organization promoting “Smartpower” and an organization promoting development and humanitarian aid. The USGLC works in our nation’s capital and across the country to strengthen America’s civilian-led tools — development and diplomacy — alongside defense. By advocating for a strong international affairs budget, the USGLC is working to make America’s international affairs programs a keystone of U.S. foreign policy. They’re all about “Smartpower.” We’re going to learn more about USGLC from their national outreach coordinator Carey Campbell. Carey comes to the USGLC from her previous position as Chief of Staff to the South Carolina House of Representatives Deputy Minority Leader James Smith, where she oversaw all political and legislative priorities. Her previous experience includes serving as South Carolina Deputy Political Director for the Hillary for President campaign during the 2008 primaries and a former lobbyist for a South Carolina education organization. Carey has worked on numerous political campaigns at the local, state, and presidential level overseeing field, fundraising, and policy development. She graduated with honors from the University of South Carolina, where she focused on political science. She is a native of native of Decatur, Alabama and spent several years in Nashville. Carey was in Nashville recently along with Jeremy Tolbert, the Outreach Coordinator for the Southeast. They organized a community event featuring David Stanton from USAID. USAID leads international development and humanitarian efforts to save lives, reduce poverty, strengthen democratic governance and help people progress beyond assistance. It was created by President John F. Kennedy in 1961 to lead the us government’s international development and humanitarian efforts. More on the agency at: usaid.gov David Stanton is a public health leader and the former Director of the U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID’s) office of HIV/Aids. He has 19 years of experience working with USAID’s HIV/Aids program and over 30 years of experience in public health, including working on sexually transmitted infections, HIV and aids treatment, and clinical epidemiology. David has 4 years of overseas experience in West Africa. Additionally, he served on the transition team that established the office of the U.S. Global Aids Coordinator at the U.S. Department of State. We thank Carey and Jeremy for bringing David Stanton to Nashville and we thank Carey and David for taking time to talk with Global Tennessee.

Special Episode - Coronavirus - Medical and Commercial Implications In this episode arranged in response to the rapid spread of Coronavirus into a global and U.S. health emergency we talk with Medical Epidemiologist Dr. Mary-Margaret Fill of the Tennessee Department of Health's Communicable and Environmental Diseases and Emergency Preparedness (CEDEP) Division about the medial implications of the Coronavirus outbreak. John Scannapieco, Chief of the Global Business Team at Nashville's Baker Donelson law firm and a long-time specialist on China commercial relations will talk about the impact on trade and investment in China and with U.S. businesses. Listen to this important special Podcast episode to be up to date on the Coronavirus implications on health and commerce. References: John Scannapieco and his colleagues at Baker Donelson authored an article with must know insights, "Novel Coronavirus Outbreak in China - What You Need to Know Right Now." Find it here: Baker Donelson Paper https://www.bakerdonelson.com/novel-coronavirus-outbreak-in-china-what-you-need-to-know-right-now An excerpt: A new coronavirus is causing an outbreak of respiratory illness that began in the city of Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. The outbreak began in early December 2019 and continues to spread in China and beyond. As of January 28, 2020, Chinese health officials have confirmed 4,565 cases and 106 deaths related to the virus. In addition, there are more than 70 confirmed cases globally, including five confirmed cases in the United States. In an effort to slow the spread of the virus, Chinese authorities are imposing quarantines and restricting travel throughout the country. Hong Kong has closed some of its borders with mainland China and has stopped issuing travel permits to mainland Chinese tourists. Mongolia and Russia (Far East border) have closed their respective borders with China. Mainland Chinese authorities are trying to keep citizens at home by extending the Chinese New Year holiday through February 3, 2020, with some areas (Shanghai, Suzhou, Guangdong Province and Zhejiang Province) extending the holiday through February 9, 2020. While Chinese health officials claim that the virus can spread by a person before symptoms appear by what is known as asymptomatic transmission, the Center for Disease Control in the United States (CDC) and state health officials believe it is unlikely that the virus can be transmitted until an individual appears symptomatic. Biography - Dr. Mary-Margaret Fill Dr. Mary-Margaret Fill is a Medical Epidemiologist with the Tennessee Department of Health, where she oversees waterborne and zoonotic disease surveillance and outbreak response, and directs overarching strategy for communicable disease surveillance systems and informatics initiatives. She received her undergraduate degree (BS) in Microbiology and a minor in Security and Intelligence from The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. She then earned her Doctor of Medicine from the Mercer University School of Medicine in 2011, where she was inducted into both the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society and the Gold Humanism Society. She completed dual-residency training in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and is board certified in both specialties. Following residency, Dr. Fill served as an Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, assigned to the Tennessee Department of Health, and she was a member of the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security Emerging Leaders in Biosecurity Initiative Class of 2017. Dr. Fill has worked on food-borne, waterborne, vaccine-preventable and healthcare-associated disease outbreaks, emerging pathogens, and analysis of surveillance systems and novel datasets. John Scannapieco Bio https://www.bakerdonelson.com/john-m-scannapieco

In this episode host Patrick Ryan talked with Tomas Baert, Head of Trade and Agriculture of the European Union Delegation to the United States based in Washington, DC. They talked about US-EU trade, Brexit, multilateral relations and issues of the day. If you want to know insights about Brexit -- the separation of the UK and the EU -- you won't get elsewhere take a listen to this interesting Podcast that will bring you up to date on the hot topics in European Union developments. Check out these important references: Delegation of the EU to the US https://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/united-states-america_en EU-US Trade https://ec.europa.eu/trade/policy/countries-and-regions/countries/united-states/ Biography Tomas Baert is the head of the Trade and Agriculture section at the Delegation of the European Union to the United States. Between 2016 and 2018, Tomas was the Head of Unit for Trade Strategy at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Trade (DG Trade). He led the team responsible for the development and implementation of the 2015 Trade for All strategy and the 2017 Communication on A balanced and progressive trade policy to harness globalisation. In this capacity, he also coordinated DG Trade's work on questions relating to the withdrawal of the UK from the EU, including the preparatory discussions on the future EU-UK trade relationship. Prior to becoming a Head of Unit, from 2014 to 2016, Tomas was an assistant to Director-General for Trade Jean-Luc Demarty, advising on a number of trade priorities such as the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) and World Trade Organisation (WTO) negotiations in the run-up to the tenth Ministerial Conference in Nairobi, Kenya. Tomas holds an MSc from the London School of Economics (LSE) and an MA from the Catholic University of Leuven (KUL), Belgium. He spent a term at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva, Switzerland and completed the Mastering Trade Policy program at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Recorded: Jan 8, 2020 -- In this episode Canada's Consul General to the Southern US, Nadia Theodore talked with host Patrick Ryan, Ambassador Charles Bowers and TNWAC Chair Jim Shepherd about the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement signed by President Trump on Jan 29, 2020; about US-Canada and US-Tennessee commercial relations and the global issues connecting Americans and Canadians. Biography Nadia Theodore joined the Canadian civil service in 2000. She has made her career in the Trade Agreement and Negotiations Branch of Global Affairs, holding leadership positions on several recent and major trade initiatives of Global Affairs Canada, including serving as one of the two Deputy Chief Negotiators for the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and as the Executive Director of Canada’s Secretariat for the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement. Consul General Theodore previously served at Canada's Permanent Mission to the World Trade Organization and at Canada's Permanent Mission to the United Nations, in Geneva Switzerland. Directly prior to being named Consul General for the US Southeast, in August 2017, she served in Ottawa as Chief of Staff and Executive Director to Canada’s Deputy Minister for International Trade. With over 10 years of trade policy experience, Ms. Theodore’s appointment came as Canada, Mexico and the United States launched negotiations to modernize the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). As part of Canada’s international trade negotiating team, Ms. Theodore built a reputation for forging strong partnerships with government and business leaders and managing complex, priority trade initiatives. Ms. Theodore was born and raised in Ottawa, Ontario. She holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of London and an M.A. in Political Science from Carleton University. -- United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Why was an agreement necessary? NAFTA shortcomings? What are the main points of the agreement? What are the benefits for Canada? What are the benefits for the USA? -- CPTPP – Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans Pacific Partnership Can you tell us about Canada’s reaction to the death of the TPP and its participation in the CPTPP? -- Canada commercial activity with Tennessee Discuss the scope of trade/investment What should Tennessee business people know about Canada opportunities? THE RELATIONSHIP -- What is the state of US-Canada relations?

"In foreign affairs Congress has a big role." -- Rep Jim Cooper Every American has three people who represent their interests in Congress — two Senators and a Representative — on issues of war and peace, commerce and prosperity, and the functioning and aims of U.S. foreign policy and national security. There can be little of more importance to our understanding of world affairs than what our elected representatives’ roles and perspectives are in the arena of foreign relations. In this episode Global Tennessee host Patrick Ryan and TNWAC Chairman Jim Shepherd talk with Congressman Cooper about the role of Congress in U.S. foreign policy, Cooper's role as Chair of the HASC Subcommittee responsible for nuclear weapons and more, and a review of current global challenges for the Untied States. Congressman Cooper represents Tennessee's 5th Congressional District. He is assigned to the three most significant committees in the U.S. House of Representatives. He serves on the Armed Services Committee which ensures the military has the resources needed to defend America. The Committee oversees a $660 billion military budget. Congressman Cooper serves as the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces which overseas our nation’s strategic weapons, ballistic missile defense, space programs and the Department of Energy national security programs. He also serves on the Seapower & Projection Forces Subcommittee and the Intelligence, Emerging Threats & Capabilities Subcommittee. If you like the Global Tennessee Podcast please subscribe so you get future episodes and consider becoming a member of the World Affairs Council at: wwwnTNWAC.org/join. Thanks!

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE RUSSIAN INFORMATION OPERATIONS CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE UNITED STATES AND ABOUT MALCOLM NANCE, A SPECIALIST ON INTELLIGENCE, TERRORISM, NATIONAL SECURITY AND THE RUSSIAN ATTACK ON AMERICA. Today we’re coming to you from beautiful Belmont University where we’re talking with Malcolm Nance, career Navy man, counter-terrorism and national security specialist, author and expert on the Russian information warfare campaign being waged against the United States. There could be no more timely conversation just as headlines focus on a new effort by Vladimir Putin and Russia, to deflect blame for its information campaign against the 2016 election. We will unpack Russian information operations with Nance whose books, public speaking and television appearances have earned him recognition as an expert on the subject. But first we’re going to talk with him about his background, Navy service, and work in intelligence and national security that led him to getting inside the Russian attack on America. Mr. Nance hails from a family rich with military tradition, traced back to a great grandfather and grand uncle who escaped slavery and joined a regiment of the Federal Colored Troops in Tennessee. Nance chose the Navy like his father, a career Master Chief Petty Officer and was trained as a linguist in the Cryptologic community – the Navy’s elite group that exploits adversaries’ communications. He became an expert in Russian Cold War military and intelligence activities and in the Arab world. Nance retired after 20 years and promotions to Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer. Among his post-military pursuits was work in preparing Navy special operations forces, SEALs and others, in methods to endure captivity at the hands of a new class of enemies like Al Qaeda militants. He also worked in security and intelligence activities in Iraq after the 2003 U.S. invasion. Along the way he became an expert on extremist threats in Iraq and literally wrote the book on ISIS producing a handbook that became a counter-terrorism bible. Nance’s research and writing about ISIS’ use of electronic media led to his dive into what was to emerge as a wide-ranging Russian information warfare capability and campaign. In the months leading to the 2016 presidential election Nance knocked out a book called, “The Plot to Hack America.” It was written and released in the same timeframe as the U.S. Intelligence Community’s analysis of the Russian support for the Trump campaign and eventual public statement charging Moscow with an attack on America’s elections. What followed? What is the story of Nance’s relentless analysis and speaking out? That’s what we’re getting into today with Malcolm Nance – Navy leader, intelligence and national security expert, author, commentator. MORE INFORMATION AT: https://www.TNWAC.org/podcast INFORMATION ABOUT MALCOLM NANCE'S BOOKS - visit Amazon.com

Complete Podcast Notes: https://www.tnwac.org/2019/11/12/global-nashville-with-karl-dean-china-with-john-scannapieco-gnkd5-ep-32/ Podcast Notes Excerpt: 03:00 Tell us about your background. How did you become involved in global business? 05:11 Was international business your focus in college and law school? 06:32 Tennessee has significant interests in global commercial relations, how did you become involved in work with Chinese businesses? 08:35 How much travel time do you spend on the global business portfolio? 09:20 What is the importance of the US-China business relationship? 10:41 What do Americans want from China in terms of goods? 12:18 What does China want from the United States? 13:25 US-China trade wars. How did it begin? What led us to this point? 15:50 Prior to tariffs last year was it a relatively free bilateral trade relationship? 17:12 China expected to have world’s largest economy, is that right? 18:40 Tell us about the tariff process that is the center of the trade war. 20:34 How are we feeling the tariffs in Tennessee? 21:00 What about the TPP? What was it? What happened to it? 24:35 What was the geo-strategic and political implications of TPP? 25:34 BREAK 28:25 What is the issue with China over Intellectual Property (IP)? 33:01 What are the big issues with China and will they get worked out? Is the deal that the U.S. wants possible? 35:35 What can the U.S. lose in the trade war with China, particularly in Tennessee? 37:39 How do the issues fit into the process of globalization? 39:08 Are walls going up? Are we seeing economic dislocations? 41:15 What does China trade mean to Tennessee -- by the numbers? 43:25 What references and resources do you suggest for people who want to know more about U.S.-China relations and the trade war? 46:00 End For more go to: https://www.tnwac.org/2019/11/12/global-nashville-with-karl-dean-china-with-john-scannapieco-gnkd5-ep-32/

"Why Europe Matters" Recorded: September 10, 2019 Ambassador John C. Kornblum has a long record of service in the United States and Europe both as a diplomat and as a businessman. He is recognized as an eminent expert on U.S.-European political and economic relations, in particular in Central and Eastern Europe. He served as the U.S. ambassador to Germany from 1997 to 2001. Before that, he occupied a number of high-level diplomatic posts, including U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European affairs, Special Envoy for the Dayton Peace Process, U.S. Ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (Helsinki Process), Deputy U.S. Ambassador to NATO, and U.S. minister and deputy commandant of forces in divided Berlin. Join us as we gain insights and perspectives hard to find unless you're talking to someone who has lived the history. As Ambassador Kornblum said, "Living history is part of understanding the world. Understanding history that you didn’t live if harder.” So that you may appreciate not only history but also where the U.S. and Europe are as we move forward, we are proud to present this Global Tennessee Podcast episode with John Kornblum. 3:25 Why Nashville? “Nashville is the place we like the best.” 4:30 Why does Europe Matter? Europe and a close relationship and close cooperation is in America’s interest. 6:30 Need in Europe for America to exert leadership. Largest community, the US with Europe, of like minded economies. Largest investment and trade community in the world. Trade: $1 billion a day. 8:58 Better to have a partner like Europe than to be finding our way alone in the world. 10:47 NATO is the only integrated defense force in the world. Article 5 (common self-defense) first invoked after US attacked on 9/11. 13:30 Should there be a focus on China? 14:20 What does it cost the U.S. for the Transatlantic Alliance. 17:40 Why isn’t Europe good enough for you. Europe IS paying their bills. 19:50 Amb Kornblum and an important role in resolving the Balkan conflict where over 200,000 people died – a real war. 23:51 American security begins in Europe – the Balkans conflict and US intervention. 24:38 Amb Kornblum assigned to implement the agreement. 26:17 What was the role of diplomacy in ending the conflict in the Balkans? 28:06 15,000 US troops involved, no combat casualties. 28:57 The Dayton Accord – “a very dramatic experience” 31:40 “Mr. President, you sit down!” -- three weeks with Slobodan Milosevic. 33:18 Break 35:15 Taking a look at Brexit. Starting from the beginning. Born out of sense of disunity and keeping up with progress. Confrontation within the Conservative Party. Basis: England is not Europe – like Texas and Massachusetts. 42:02 “If there was ever a time for the United States and Europe to stick together, it’s now.” No alternative to working with others. There’s no “Make America Great Again” by being angry. 43:45 What is the feeling for other “Brexits”? There could be countries that “fall out.” 45:49 Freedom of movement in Europe. Lost generation in Italy. The danger of societies not being able to keep up. Conflict building in Europe between north and south. 46:54 “If you want to see a real wall go to the Serbian-Hungarian border.” Immigrant, refugee problem. 48:11 City/Countryside differences. People being left behind results in confrontation. 48:46 The world is coming together in ways we never expected not because of brilliant achievements but through the pressures of society – passage of time, immigration, technology, etc. 49:42 What’s going on in the U.S. diplomatic service? 50:20 Three Administrations have pushed away from traditional foreign policymaking. 51:04 New generations coming with new points of view. Sleep walking since 1990. “Living history is part of understanding the world. Understanding history that you didn’t live if harder.” 54:09 Last thoughts. Even a country as big and strong as the United States can’t go it alone.

GNKD4 | Global Nashville with Karl Dean focuses on the elements of Nashville that make it a global place. Today's episode is a roundtable on current issues with former Mayor Karl Dean talking with TNWAC Board Chair Jim Shepherd, Ambassador Dick Bowers and co-host TNWAC President Pat Ryan. The roundtable started with tales of the North Atlantic with Mayor Dean recounting his summer sailing vacation in the Svalbard archipelago in the far North Atlantic, and the story of his "abandoning ship" and subsequent helicopter rescue. He also talked about Svalbard, the Arctic and climate change. The other topics tackled by today's roundtable were the new leadership in Nashville with the election of Mayor Cooper; international business in Nashville; the city as an international "destination" including the work of Sister Cities of Nashville; developments with New Americans including refugee resettlement and TIRRC, and cultural events in the city. Karl Dean -- former Mayor of Nashville Jim Shepherd -- Chairman, TNWAC Board; former President of Carlex Glass and chairman of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce International Business Council Amb Dick Bowers -- U.S. Foreign Service (Ret), career diplomat and former U.S. Ambassador to Bolivia Pat Ryan -- LCDR, USN (Ret) President Tennessee World Affairs Council, Executive Producer Global Tennessee Podcast service Resources: Nashville Chamber International Business Council https://www.nashvillechamber.com/economic-development/international-business/international-business-council New Americans Advisory Council https://www.nashville.gov/Mayors-Office/Diversity-and-Inclusion/New-Americans/New-Americans-Advisory-Council.aspx World Population Review | Nashville Tennessee Ranke #1 in Business Climate https://businessfacilities.com/2019/07/business-facilities-15th-annual-rankings-state-rankings-report/ http://worldpopulationreview.com/us-cities/nashville-population/ Sister Cities of Nashville https://www.scnashville.org Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition https://www.tnimmigrant.org THE MISSION of the nonprofit, nonpartisan Tennessee World Affairs Council is to promote international awareness, understanding and connections to enhance the region’s global stature and to prepare Tennesseans to thrive in our increasingly complex and connected world. THE VISION of the Tennessee World Affairs Council is a well-informed community that thinks critically about the world and the impact of global events. Learn more about the Council and find how you can join, donate and volunteer at: www.TNWAC.org — Join / Donate / Volunteer

Ambassador Christopher R. Hill: *Chief Advisor to the Chancellor for Global Engagement, University of Denver *Dean, Korbel School of International Studies, University of Denver *Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs *Ambassador to the Republic of Korea *Head, U.S. Delegation to Six Party Talks on North Korean Nuclear Weapons *U.S. Ambassador to Poland *U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Macedonia *Special Envoy to Kosovo Ambassador Christopher Hill is one of America’s most distinguished ambassadors who—in his career of service to his country—was sent to some of the most dangerous outposts of American diplomacy. From the wars in the Balkans to the brutality of North Korea to the endless war in Iraq, he will offer insight about the real life of an American diplomat negotiating with difficult partners. Based on his experiences, Ambassador Hill lays out a vision for the role of diplomacy in addressing national crises, and America’s role in global politics. Biography: ABOUT AMBASSADOR HILL Christopher R. Hill served as the Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs and as Ambassador to the Republic of Korea among other significant diplomatic posts as a career member of the Foreign Service. Ambassador Hill is currently the chief advisor to the chancellor for global engagement and professor of the practice in diplomacy at the University of Denver. Prior to this position, he was the dean of the Josef Korbel School of International Studies at the University, a position he held from September 2010 to December 2017. On February 14, 2005, he was named as the head of the U.S. delegation to the Six-Party Talks on the North Korean nuclear issue. Previously he has served as U.S. ambassador to Poland (2000-04), ambassador to the Republic of Macedonia (1996-99) and special envoy to Kosovo (1998-99). He also served as special assistant to the president and senior director for southeast European affairs in the National Security Council. Earlier in his Foreign Service career, Ambassador Hill served tours in Belgrade, Warsaw, Seoul, and Tirana, and on the Department of State’s Policy Planning staff and in the department’s Operation Center. While on a fellowship with the American Political Science Association he served as staff member for Congressman Stephen Solarz working on Eastern European issues. He also served as the Department of State’s senior country officer for Poland. Ambassador Hill received the State Department’s Distinguished Service Award for his contributions as a member of the U.S. negotiating team in the Bosnia peace settlement, and was a recipient of the Robert S. Frasure Award for Peace Negotiations for his work on the Kosovo crisis. Prior to joining the Foreign Service, Ambassador Hill served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Cameroon. Ambassador Hill graduated from Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, with a BA in economics. He received a master’s degree from the Naval War College in 1994. He speaks Polish, Serbo-Croatian and Macedonian. Ambassador Hill is author of Outpost: Life on the Frontlines of American Diplomacy: A Memoir, a monthly columnist for Project Syndicate, and a highly sought public speaker and voice in the media on international affairs.

Episode 28 of "Global Tennessee" opens our conversations with candidates for Federal office in 2020. We talked with Mr. James Mackler, candidate for U.S. Senate and the Democrat nomination. Mr. Mackler's web site: https://www.jamesmackler.com "Global Tennessee" host Patrick Ryan talked with Mr. Mackler about his background, education, military service and family. Then they discussed the role of the U.S. Senate in foreign policy -- war powers, advise and consent, military appropriations. Then they discussed positions and perspectives on global issues and challenges including: relations with Russia, China and international institutions such as the United Nations, NATO, etc.; existential threats - global nuclear weapons proliferation, the new nuclear arms race, US nuclear modernization plans, the climate threat; regional issues across the Middle East, Africa, Asia, South America and Europe; international commerce - trade, tariffs, trade wars; and international alliances. The conversation ended with the question: Where do you see America in the world? ***The Tennessee World Affairs Council is a nonpartisan educational charity but strives to bring speakers with diverse views on global affairs to the community. The World Affairs Council does not endorse any candidate or party and invites all serious candidates for Federal office to participate in our "Global Tennessee" Podcast. Executive Producer: Patrick Ryan Technical Director: Bill Ryan Voice of Global Tennessee: Ben Olson

Tick Tock... The "Doomsday Clock" is set at two minutes to midnight, a "new abnormal" according to the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists. You should understand the fundamentals of global nuclear proliferation and the expansion and modernization being undertaken by the major nuclear powers. Dr. Susan Haynes talked with the "Tick Tock Project" of our "Global Tennessee" Podcast about nuclear weapons strategies and concepts as well as a review of Chinese and Russian nuclear forces. Haynes also discussed the United States nuclear forces and modernization and the impact of strategic missile defenses on proliferation. Dr. Susan Haynes is a Professor of Political Science, Lipscomb University and author of "Chinese Nuclear Proliferation: How Global Politics is Transforming China's Weapons Buildup and Modernization." Join us for this Podcast, the second Podcast episode in our "Tick Tock Project" -- a six month deep dive at the Tennessee World Affairs Council into the existential threat posed by nuclear weapons, made even more critical with the current proliferation, expansion and modernization. Check the TNWAC.org/calendar for other programs related to our examination of global nuclear issues. As always send feedback and suggestions to [email protected]. Thank you.

Joe Cirincione, President of the Ploughshares Fund talked with TNWAC's President Patrick Ryan for an edition of "Know Now" presented by the World Affairs Councils of America. There is a high risk that someone will use, by accident or design, one or more of the 17,000 nuclear weapons in the world today. Many thought such threats ended with the Cold War, but they remain an ongoing nightmare. Author of the books Nuclear Nightmares: Securing the World Before It Is Too Late, Bomb Scare: The History and Future of Nuclear Weapons and Deadly Arsenals: Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Threats, Joe Cirincione is one of the leading experts in the country on U.S. nuclear weapons. Join Cirincione as he discusses the major nuclear weapons threats the world faces today and the debate over the best policies to counter them with Tennessee WAC's Patrick Ryan.

Former Homeland Security Secretary and current University of California President Janet Napolitano talked with Patrick Ryan at "Global Tennessee" about her new book, "How Safe Are We: Homeland Security Since 9/11?" She talked about the mission of DHS, what DHS got right, where DHS needs to improve and homeland security in the current era. Napolitano described some of the challenges she faced as Homeland Security Secretary: aviation security; natural disasters; environmental catastrophes like the Deepwater Horizon; pandemics like the H1N1 threat; terrorism like the Boston Marathon bombing and much more. After the break they talked about the southern border security challenge and the current immigration, refugees and asylum seekers issues; the cyber threat to U.S. infrastructure systems and elections; and existential threats from nuclear weapons and climate change. Napolitano concluded with a conversation about "Black Swans" -- low probability, high risk phenomena and policy through risk analysis. About the Book: "How Safe Are We: Homeland Security Since 9/11" by Janet Napolitano (Author), Karen Breslau (Contributor) 240 pages; Publisher: Public Affairs (March 26, 2019) Biography of President Napolitano Janet Napolitano is the 20th president of the University of California, and the first woman to serve in this role. She leads a university system of 10 campuses, five medical centers, three affiliated national laboratories, and a statewide agriculture and natural resources program. The UC system has more than 273,000 students, 223,000 faculty and staff, an operating budget of $36.5 billion, and two million living alumni. A distinguished public servant, Napolitano served as the U.S. secretary of homeland security from 2009 to 2013, as governor of Arizona from 2003 to 2009, as attorney general of Arizona from 1998 to 2003, and as U.S. attorney for the District of Arizona from 1993 to 1997. More.. https://www.ucop.edu/president/about/index.html Global Tennessee is the Podcast series of the Tennessee World Affairs Council. For more information about becoming a member visit TNWAC.org/join or TNWAC.org/donate. Mission The mission of the nonprofit, nonpartisan Tennessee World Affairs Council is to promote international awareness, understanding and connections to enhance the region’s global stature and to prepare Tennesseans to thrive in our increasingly complex and connected world. Vision A well-informed community that thinks critically about the world and the impact of global events.

Recorded: June 13, 2019 Iranian scholar Dr. Neda Khodaverdi is completing a year as a Hubert H. Humphrey Fellow at Vanderbilt University. Global Tennessee spoke with her about her year in Nashville as a fellow. The purpose of the fellowship, how she got involved, what was her experience with the fellows from around the world and what she has seen and done in Nashville and the United States. Dr. Khodaverdi was joined in the Podcast with her husband Saed Sahebjamee, who runs the SAED Cultural and Educational Institute in Tehran and Terry Rustan, a TNWAC volunteer and a Humphrey Fellowship "Friendship Family." Dr. Khodaverdi thanked Nancy Dickson, Humphrey Fellowship Coordinator at Vanderbilt University and Dr. Eric Carter, Professor of Special Education at Vanderbilt University. We also talked with Dr. Khodaverdi about her work in Iran teaching English as a second language to children on the autism spectrum. About Dr. Neda Khodaverdi Neda Khodaverdi, from Iran, is an adjunct university lecturer at Islamic Azad University and an Educational Supervisor and English teacher at SAED Educational and Cultural Institute in Tehran. Her professional focus includes training new teachers of English language, and teaching English as a foreign language to Persian-speakers, including children with special needs. She has developed her own teaching methodology for students with high-functioning autism, and is currently in the process of developing professional development resources to train more instructors to work with special-needs populations. Her previous appointments include English teacher and supervisor at schools and private language centers, and lecturer at Allameh Tabataba’I University. Ms. Khodaverdi holds a Doctorate of Philosophy in TEFL from the Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Faculty of Foreign Languages and Literature, Tehran, Iran, a Master’s in TEFL from Allameh Tabataba’i University, Tehran, Iran, and a Bachelor’s in English Language Translation from Islamic Azad University, North Branch, Tehran, Iran. She also holds honors certificates in IELTS Teacher Preparation and Knowledge of English Language Teaching Test from TESOL Arabia Testing, Assessment, and Evaluation. About Saed Sahebjamee Saed Sahebjamee is a Petrochemical engineer who was born in Tehran, Iran in 1983. He got his BS from Islamic Azad University in 2006. Since then he has worked in his field study. Besides, he established his own language institute in Tehran in 2011 under the title of SAED Cultural and Educational Institute. His mission is teaching English to Persian speaking students and more importantly, help the Iranian students to get familiar with other countries and their cultures by registering students in summer camps of international schools around the world. He is so passionate about his job. About Terry Rustan Terry is a Humphrey Fellowship "Friendship Family" and a volunteer with the Tennessee World Affairs Council staff in addition to many other service activities in the community. She has worked in China at the Zhejiang Ocean University and at the University of Washington Program on the Environment. Terry holds a Master of Marine Affairs from the University of Washington. About the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship The program brings accomplished educational leaders from developing nations and emerging democracies to the United States for an academic year to study, gain related professional experience, build their leadership capacity and foster mutual understanding. The program provides a basis for lasting ties between US citizens and the Fellows while strengthening the global exchange of knowledge and expertise. Humphrey Fellows are selected based on their potential for leadership and their commitment to public service in either the public or the private sector.

Former Nashville Mayor Karl Dean hosts a conversation with Rear Admiral Brian Pecha of the U.S. Navy along with TNWAC President Patrick Ryan. They discussed Navy Week in Nashville, Admiral Pecha's career in the Navy and the Navy's operations in support of national security around the world. “Global Nashville with Karl Dean” Podcasts present leaders from Nashville and other specialists who are connected with global issues or an aspect of the city and region that contributes to the international flavor. The conversations, with former Mayor Karl Dean, touch on their roles, experiences, and accomplishments in the city and region and their insights and perspectives on all of the things that make Nashville a “global city.” In this episode Karl talks with Rear Admiral Brian Pecha, U.S. Navy. Admiral Pecha, a Memphis native, was in Nashville for Navy Week in early June 2019. TNWAC President Patrick Ryan, a retired Navy man, joined the conversation. Run time: 36.41 Including his deployment to Anbar Province in 2006 at the height of the insurgency in Iraq. 01:43 Former Nashville Mayor Karl Dean Welcoming 02:02 “Tell us about what Navy is bringing to Nashville.” 03:44 “What is the impact on Navy public affairs of having sailors walking around Nashville?” 06:11 Talking to organizations around the community – Rotary, Vanderbilt, businesses, local leaders, people in service to the community. 08:03 “How did you get from where you were to where you are?” 10:56 Talking about service with the U.S. Marines, the “green side” of the Navy. 11:45 “Tell us about your deployment to Iraq in 2006.” 15:23 Talking about service at U.S. Pacific Command and U.S. Fleet Forces Command. 16:48 Break 17:33 “What’s going on in the world and how the Navy fits in?” 19:30 We live in a global neighborhood and not all the neighbors are friendly. 19:52 Talking about the Navy’s international humanitarian missions. 20:25 How much impact does the humanitarian mission have on Navy “optempo”? 21:37 “How has the rise of China and the Chinese Navy impacted the U.S. Navy? 23:11 Talking about Chinese expansion in the South China Sea and Indian Ocean. 24:15 “A large part of what we do is ensuring freedom of the seas.” 26:03 “Can you talk about Navy presence in the Middle East, Persian Gulf?” 27:40 Talking about Russian military modernization and their return to the world stage. 29:20 The new competition over Arctic access and resources. 30:35 “What would you say to a young Tennessean who dreams about seeing something different; what are the opportunities in the Navy?” 32:40 “Loved ones are always anxious to tell the story of their family member.” 33:29 “Army-Navy. What the heck is going on?” 34:15 Thanks to the World Affairs Council. Tennesseans can benefit from broadening their view of the world. Bio - Rear Admiral Brian S. Pecha, MC, USN, Reserve Fleet Surgeon, U.S. Fleet Forces Command https://www.navy.mil/navydata/bios/bio.asp?bioID=712

Global Tennessee talked with Nashville native Sam Denney and the road he took from Montgomery Bell Academy and Vanderbilt University to the fast-paced environment of the Brookings Institution, a world-renowned public policy think tank in Washington, DC. We discussed his work in Germany at the Budestag (Parliament) and scholarship at the Georgetown University, School of Foreign Service. Learn about the path from Music City to Massachusetts Avenue and the inside workings of one of the premier think tanks that shapes important policy in the nation's capital. Also hear Sam's take on hot topics around the world, especially European Union politics, and life in Washington.

“Global Nashville with Karl Dean” Podcasts present leaders from Nashville and other specialists who are connected with global issues or an aspect of the city and region that contributes to the international flavor. The conversations, with former Mayor Karl Dean, touch on their roles, experiences, and accomplishments in the city and region and their insights and perspectives on all of the things that make Nashville a “global city.” Global Nashville with Karl Dean Renata Soto Director, Conexión Américas 00:30 Welcome / Global Nashville with Karl Dean Intro 01:05 Introduction of Renata Soto 02:57 Karl Dean Opening 03:30 “Tell us about your background.” 07:00 “What are your memories, what do you love about Costa Rica?” 11:20 “You eventually co-founded an organization, Conexión. Tell us what Conexión does and why you founded it.” 14:48 “You’re one of the most established organizations in the city, highly respected and doing great work. How small were you at the beginning?” 17:15 “What does [Casa] Azafran mean?” 19:35 “When you began this project in 2002, did you have a sense of what the non-native population of Nashville was at that point?” 21:30 Break 22:35 “I want to talk about Conexion Americas more. You mentioned that when the organization began in 2002 there were new census figures that Nashville was becoming the home to more and more people with a Latin American background. That only intensified in the years following. Is that fair?” 23:44 “People noticed that the community was changing … you faced challenges because of those reactions … one of those most important reactions was the effort to pass legislation through a referendum that would make Nashville an “English only” city. What was your reaction to that?” 25:58 “And that was in ‘09 and as you said the city, you can be proud, the city rejected that.” 27:02 “The city stood up and said this is not who we are … came out of that much stronger … your public profile increased dramatically … people in Nashville felt this is a cause we should be supportive of.” 28:46 “Immigrants are very entrepreneurial … talk about that.” 31:35 “We still saw resistance and concerns, particularly at the state level, being voiced about immigration. The issue of the Dreamers became an important issue … you reached the point where the President of the United States comes to see you. Tell us about that.” 36:53 “There’s been a change in the presidency … just looking at Nashville and Tennessee what are the biggest challenges that immigrants face? What’s number one on your list of things that need to happen?” 41:54 “Immigration issues in terms of the Federal Government, in immigration reform seem so difficult. Are you optimistic about the future?” 44:39 “This is Global Nashville … and Nashville has become so much more of a diverse city not only with the people’s background who live here, but with business, education … it seems to me that’s a trend that’s going to continue.” 46:13 “So what is next for you?” 48:35 RS comments on rise of the right. 50:03 End About Conexión Américas from the Web site Our Mission At Conexión Américas, our mission is to build a welcoming community and create opportunities where Latino families can belong, contribute and succeed. Our Approach We believe successful efforts to promote the integration of immigrant families into their new community recognize that integration is a multi-dimensional process.

We talked with the 2019 winners of the World Affairs Council's Anne Smedinghoff Academic WorldQuest Challenge championship match about their experiences visiting international organizations in Washington and competing in the national title match. The team -- Sarah Matthews, Gillian Sjoblom, Libby Riddle and Christine Li with their teacher/coach Philip Lovell -- represented TNWAC this year and were back to back champs. The team (w/o Gillian) talked about the highlights of the Washington visit and their preparations for the competition -- good tips for next year's teams. They also discussed the importance to them of the competition being named in honor of Anne Smedinghoff, a U.S. Foreign Service Office killed in the line of duty in Afghanistan in 2013. 01:28 About Anne Smedinghoff, namesake of the TNWAC Academic WorldQuest challenge 04:18 Segment 1 - Our WorldQuest team talks about their Washington DC experience and the national championship match of Academic WorldQuest 26:27 Segment 2 - Christine, Libby and Sarah reflect on Anne Smedinghoff. The team gives away their secrets to producing a championship team. Notes: Academic WorldQuest - http://www.tnwac.org/worldquest TNWAC Honors Falled Diplomat - https://bit.ly/2Dpmchs Photos of the Team Visits in DC - https://www.flickr.com/photos/tnwac

Blessed are the peacemakers! Global Tennessee's Pat Ryan talked with Ann-Louise Colgan, Director of Public Education at the United States Institute of Peace. They talked about her visit to Centennial High School in Franklin, TN to visit one of four USIP "Peace Teachers" in the country and about the mission and function of USIP in fostering peace in numerous international potential conflict, current conflict and post conflict zones. Ann-Louise Colgan U.S. Institute of Peace, Director of Public Education Ann-Louise Colgan is the director of public education at the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP). The work of this department is grounded in USIP’s original congressional mandate and is dedicated to increasing the American public’s understanding of international conflicts and nonviolent approaches that can be used to resolve them. The department extends USIP’s longstanding educational work through outreach to new audiences in all 50 states, offering resources and initiatives that bring peacebuilding to life and offer opportunities for engagement with the work of the Institute. Ann-Louise joined USIP in 2010 after more than a decade working at organizations focused on international human rights issues, peace and conflict, and U.S. foreign policy. Her background includes research and policy work, as well as extensive experience in communications and public education. From human rights organizations to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, where she managed the high-level Genocide Prevention Task Force and subsequently served as director of the Museum’s Academy for Genocide Prevention, Ann-Louise developed and implemented plans to engage policymakers and educate a broad public audience on issues of peace and conflict and other global priorities. She holds a master’s degree in International Studies and a bachelor’s degree in European Studies, and she is certified as a Teacher of English as a Foreign (Second) Language. ABOUT THE US INSTITUTE OF PEACE The United States Institute of Peace is a nonpartisan, national institute, founded by Congress and dedicated to the proposition that a world without violent conflict is possible, practical, and essential for U.S. and global security. In conflict zones abroad, the Institute works with local partners to prevent or halt bloodshed. To reduce future crises and the need for costly interventions, USIP works with governments and civil societies to help their countries solve their own problems peacefully. It provides expertise, training, analysis, and support to those who are working to build peace. More at www.USIP.org

"Global Nashville with Karl Dean" A Conversation with Matthew WiltshireDirector, Nashville Mayor's Office of Economic and Community Development Recorded: April 4, 2019 at Belmont University "GLOBAL NASHVILLE WITH KARL DEAN" is a regular feature of the Global Tennessee Podcast from the Tennessee World Affairs Council. It explores business, culture, education, politics, New American's issues and more -- all in an effort to highlight the people, places and things that make Nashville a global city.We welcome your thoughts on topics or individuals to talk to on "Global Nashville with Karl Dean" and to hear your feedback on our Podcasts. Does your company want to sponsor and participate in "Global Tennessee" Podcasts? Contact: [email protected] ABOUT Matthew Wiltshire Matthew A. Wiltshire (Matt) Chief Strategy and Intergovernmental Affairs Officer Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency In April 2019, Matthew Wiltshire was named the Chief Strategy and Intergovernmental Affairs Officer for the Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency in Nashville. In this capacity, Wiltshire is responsible for helping to guide Mayor David Briley’s $750 million affordable housing initiative, UnderOneRoof2029 (www.underoneroof2029.com). Prior to joining MDHA, Wiltshire served for eight years as the Director of the Mayor’s Office of Economic and Community Development in Nashville. In this capacity, Wiltshire helped recruit companies to Nashville, including Amazon, AllianceBernstein, Lyft, Philips, Warner Music and Warby Parker. He also worked with companies that expanded operations in the city such as HCA, Bridgestone, UBS, Asurion and AIG. During Wiltshire’s time in this role, the unemployment rate in Davidson County fell from over 8% to 2.3%. Before joining the Mayor’s Office, Wiltshire was a Director in the Investment Banking Group at Avondale Partners, a Nashville-based investment banking firm, and was a partner at NEST-TN, LLC, a venture capital firm. Prior to returning to Nashville to join Avondale, Wiltshire helped found Greenbridge Partners, a private capital firm in Greenwich, CT and was a principal at Compass Advisers, an investment banking boutique in New York City. Wiltshire began his investment banking career as an analyst with Montgomery Securities in San Francisco and in New York. A Hume-Fogg Academic High School alumnus, Wiltshire graduated with a BA degree in government from Dartmouth College. He was a member of Dartmouth’s heavyweight crew team and won multiple awards at collegiate, national and international competitions. Prior to joining the Mayor’s Office, Wiltshire served as the president of the board of Hands On Nashville and on the executive committee of the boards of the Center for Nonprofit Management and the Tennessee Justice Center. He enjoys running and cycling and has climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Kenya. Matt is married to Crissy Wieck and has two sons, a daughter, two stepdaughters and a stepson. ABOUT Karl Dean Karl Dean was the 68th Mayor of Nashville and the sixth mayor of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County. He was elected on Sept. 11, 2007 and was re-elected on Aug. 4, 2011. He completed his second term in office on September 25, 2015. He was the Democrat Party nominee for the office of Governor of Tennessee in 2018.Dean first held public office when he was elected as Nashville’s Public Defender in 1990, a post he was re-elected to in 1994 and 1998. He served as Metro Law Director from 1999 to January 2007, when he resigned to run for the office of mayor. He has also served as an Adjunct Professor of Law at Vanderbilt.

What's going on in Kurdistan in northern Iraq? Who are the Kurds? What is their status within Iraq? Michael McClellan, career American diplomat and current President of the American University of Kurdistan Foundation was at the Tennessee World Affairs Council for a standing room only Global Town Hall on March 20, 2019 to talk about these questions and about AUK and its exchange programs with Tennessee Universities. This topic plays on a common Kurdish saying, but leaves open the possibility to talk about a wide range of topics and will allow a Q&A to go all over the place. One of the central points I want to make is that Kurds finally have the chance to run their OWN educational system and they are making choices that will benefit Kurds throughout the world. By establishing two American-style universities, Kurds are preparing for a future that can go either way and that is the vital thing now. Also, it is a chance to promote Kurdish culture and language globally, an opportunity that Iran, Turkey, and Syria do not afford the Kurds, but Iraq does. Kurdistan is one of the very few bright lights in the Middle East – the cornerstone of stability and a model of tolerance and diversity for the entire region. McClellan’s brief will be upbeat, but realistic, will address independence/autonomy, but focus on the positive role of education in advancing the cause of the Kurds. About Michael McClellan Michael McClellan became President of the American University of Kurdistan Foundation in August 2018. Prior to that, he was Diplomat-in-Residence at Western Kentucky University and a Recruitment and Outreach Officer with the U.S. Department of State, responsible for recruiting for the U.S. Foreign Service by increasing awareness of the many internship, fellowship, and career opportunities available with the Department. During his three decades with the U.S. Information Agency and the U.S. Department of State, Michael served as a Public Diplomacy Officer in Yemen, Egypt, Russia, Serbia, Germany, Kosovo, Ireland, Iraq (twice), Ethiopia, and South Sudan, where he served as Deputy Chief of Mission. He was also Diplomat-in-Residence at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. He retired in 2014 with the rank of Minister-Counselor. Michael’s work in Public Diplomacy focused on press and media, often as the official Embassy Spokesman. He was Spokesman in Kosovo right after the NATO bombing campaign and then in Iraq when the U.S. military withdrew in 2011. However, Michael’s proudest accomplishment in the Foreign Service was founding the American University in Kosovo, which opened its doors in 2004 and continues educating Kosovo’s youth from all communities to this day. As a Public Affairs Counselor in several embassies, Michael oversaw the Public Diplomacy grants to local NGOs and was responsible for ensuring compliance of grantees with USG regulations. Throughout his career, Michael maintained a lifelong interest in photography and religions, which culminated in a book on Egypt’s Coptic Church monasteries that was published by the American University in Cairo Press and extensive outreach on Muslim-Christian interfaith understanding during several overseas assignments. Later in his career, working mainly in Africa, he promoted organic and sustainable farming and Appalachian culture. A Kentucky native, Michael has a B.A. in Journalism and Political Science from the University of Louisville, an M.A. in Photojournalism and International Relations from Syracuse University, and completed doctoral studies in International Communication at Indiana University in Bloomington. As a diplomat, Michael spoke Russian, Arabic, and German, as well as some Serbian and Albanian. He lives in Dohuk, Kurdistan, as well as Bowling Green, Kentucky, where he has a small organic farm and keeps bees.

Global Tennessee host Patrick Ryan talked with Karl Dean, 68th Mayor of Nashville (2007-2015) and 2018 Gubernatorial Candidate in Tennessee, John Scannapieco (TNWAC Board) and Logan Monday (TNWAC Staff). Dean discussed his post-mayoral experiences including running for Tennessee Governor and his views on international affairs and global affairs awareness and education. The Roundtable talked about Nashville as a Global City and the relations through Sister Cities and organizations like the Consulate of Japan. We welcome you to this episode to gain a new view on Nashville as an international place and the work of the World Affairs Council and other organizations to help its citizens 'know the world.'

Today Global Tennessee presents an interview with Ambassador of Japan to the United States H.E. Shinsuke J. Sugiyama and in our second segment an interview with Project C.U.R.E. President Dr. Douglas Jackson. TNWAC President Patrick Ryan and Board Member John Scannapieco (and Chairman of the Japan-America Society of Tennessee) talked with Ambassador Sugiyama about U.S.-Japan relations, Japan-Tennessee commercial relations and foreign direct investment and people to people connections -- cultural, educational and other bridge building activities. Ambassador Sugiyama has represented Japan in Washington since March 2018. He previously served as Deputy Minister and Vice Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs among other leadership positions in Japan's foreign service. Ambassador Sugiyama's visit to Nashville and his participation in the "Global Tennessee" Podcast have been coordinated by our friends at the Consulate of Japan in Nashville and Consul-General Hiroyuki Kobayashi. In our second segment of this episode Dr. Doug Jackson, PhD, C.U.R.E. President and Ms. Katherine Lay Miller, Nashville Executive Director, talked with Patrick Ryan about their organization (Commission on Urgent Relief and Equipment) that identifies, solicits, collects, sorts and distributes medical supplies and services according to the imperative needs of the world to over 130 countries. Dr. Jackson talked about the history and mission of the organization. Notes: Amb Sugiyama Bio - https://bit.ly/2twhV6M Consulate of Japan in Nashville - https://bit.ly/2TXS4Qx Japan-America Society of Tennessee - https://japanamericasocietyoftennesseeinc.wildapricot.org Project C.U.R.E. - https://projectcure.org Dr. Douglas Jackson Bio - https://projectcure.org/people/douglas-jackson-phd-jd Ms. Katherine Lay Miller Bio - https://projectcure.org/people/katherine-lay-miller

Joe Cirincione is the preeminent voice on the existential threat to life on earth posed by nuclear weapon proliferation. He heads Ploughshares Fund, the preeminent group working to reduce and eliminate this threat. Join us for a conversation with Joe during his Nashville speaking tour to hear about the top 5 issues and what is happening in the US government and elsewhere to address the scourge of nuclear weapons, the "new arms race" and the situation with Iran and North Korea. Notes: "The Doomsday Clock is ticking. How can we turn it back?," "The Tennessean," by Joseph Cirincione and Patrick W. Ryan, February 10, 2019 https://soundcloud.com/tnwac/global-tennessee-episode-013 Ploughshares Fund https://www.ploughshares.org "The Next Trump-Kim Summit," Ploughshares.org, February 4, 2019 https://www.ploughshares.org/issues-analysis/article/next-trump-kim-summit Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), U.S. State Department https://www.state.gov/e/eb/tfs/spi/iran/jcpoa/

Roundtable with TNWAC Alumnae We kick off this episode of “Global Tennessee” with a conversation with Ali Humbrecht and Colleen Ryan about their World Affairs Council experiences as interns and volunteers and representatives to the World Affairs Councils of America (WACA) National Conferences. We also talked about their extensive international travel as students in study abroad programs. Ali Humbrecht is a 2018 graduate of Belmont University. She worked as an intern with TNWAC as the liaison between the Council and Belmont University and coordinated the Council's social media operations. Ali attended a National Conference of WACA as a scholarship student. Last year she spent a semester at Bard College in Berlin. Ali served as tour guide for Colleen and her family last spring when they visited Berlin. Colleen Ryan has been a volunteer with the Tennessee World Affairs Council since its inception in 2007. She attended the University of Tennessee as a Haslam Scholar and graduated in 2017 with a degree in Global Studies and Sociology. Colleen attended the University of York as a Fulbright Scholar completing her Master of Arts in Post-War Recovery Studies before heading to Beijing, China where she is completing a Masters in Management Studies as a Schwarzman Scholar at Tsinghua University. Interview with Sister Cities of Nashville (Start at 22:31) In our second segment we talked with Heather Cunningham and Dr. Marieta Velikova of Sister Cities of Nashville. Heather is Executive Director and Marieta serves as Board Chairman. They discussed the origins and mission of this bridge-building organization and its relationship and programs with Nashville's eight sister cities: Belfast, Northern Ireland; Caen, France; Edmonton, Canada; Kamakura, Japan; Madgeburg, Germany; Mendoza, Argentina; Tiayuan, China; and Tamworth, Australia. Heather and Marieta explained the mission of Sister Cities: creating relationships based on cultural, educational, information and trade exchanges, creating lifelong friendships that provide prosperity and peace through person-to-person “citizen diplomacy.”

GLOBAL TENNESSEE The Wide World With Dick and Pat #1 This episode launches a new “Global Tennessee” program in which Ambassador Dick Bowers, USFS (Ret) and LtCdr Patrick Ryan, USN (Ret), will occasionally discuss current issues in global affairs. Their experience across 50 years of service and travel in about 120 countries between them will be applied in analysis, commentary and entertaining discussion of current events, hot topics and international affairs trends. Today they open their program with a review of 2018 through discussion of a top 10 list published by the Council on Foreign Relations and their personal insights and perspectives on top issues of the year. After the break they’ll look at the year ahead and talk about challenges to the United States in the world and how American decision makers are approaching the world. Dick and Pat also mix in conversations about local international food haunts in Nashville and offer recommendations for your bookshelf. So take a listen, write a review and send feedback directly to Dick and Pat ([email protected]). Notes: Ten Most Significant World Events in 2018 | Council on Foreign Relation https://www.cfr.org/blog/ten-most-significant-world-events-2018 Opinion | Why 2018 Was the Best Year in Human History! - The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/05/opinion/sunday/2018-progress-poverty-health.html Can China join the big free-trade deal that Donald Trump failed to kill? | South China Morning Post https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/2181439/can-china-join-big-free-trade-deal-donald-trump-failed-kill Secretary's Remarks: A Force for Good: America Reinvigorated in the Middle East https://www.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2019/01/288410.htm CLIMATE We have 12 years to limit climate change catastrophe, warns UN | Environment | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/oct/08/global-warming-must-not-exceed-15c-warns-landmark-un-report CHINA. Remarks by Vice President Pence on the Administration's Policy Toward China | The White House https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-vice-president-pence-administrations-policy-toward-china/ CHINA. Pence’s China Speech Seen as Portent of ‘New Cold War’ - The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/05/world/asia/pence-china-speech-cold-war.html?login=email&auth=login-email Signal: Top Risks for 2019 https://mailchi.mp/eurasiagroup/signal-top-risks-for-2019-a-lion-ride-in-sudan-dr-congo-delayed-count?e=9024203d9c

Global Tennessee co-hosts Patrick Ryan and Jim Shepherd talked with Ralph Schulz about the Nashville Chamber's role in international business, why global companies are finding good homes in the region, how Nashville makes itself attractive to foreign trade and investment, the impact of the Japan-Tennessee relationship on the city's and state's economic well-being, the "Big Stories" of 2018 in Nashville and a glimpse into the year ahead for Nashville businesses. Don't miss this episode. Global Tennessee is the Podcast of the Tennessee World Affairs Council, a nonprofit, nonpartisan educational association. We rely on support of members and donors to sustain our global affairs awareness efforts. We ask you to become members and make a gift, and for businesses to contact us about sponsoring and participating in Global Tennessee and other community and education outreach programs that bring the world to Tennessee. Contact Patrick Ryan (931-261-2353 / [email protected]) Ralph Schulz was named president and CEO of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerceby the Chamber’s board of directors in November 2006, following a 30-year career in nonprofit management, marketing and fundraising. In taking the position, he accepted a leadership role at one of Middle Tennessee’s oldest and largest business federations, an organization dating back to its founding in 1847. During his tenure, the Chamber has played a key role in helping the region emerge from the 2007 recession to a period of unprecedented growth with a business relocation and expansion strategy known as Partnership 2020. Additionally, the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce was the lead organization in the creation of the nationally recognized Nashville Entrepreneur Center and the passage of a public referendum supporting construction of the Music City Center convention facility. Since Schulz has taken on the role of president and CEO, the Chamber has also led the movement to improve public school performance through the creation of the Academies of Nashville, established the Moving Forward initiative to ensure the creation of a regional transportation solution through a cohesive community effort and developed into a respected publisher of data on the Nashville Metropolitan Statistical Area with the annual publication of the Vital Signs report. In 2009, the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce was named “Chamber of the Year” by the American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE), recognizing the Nashville Chamber’s organizational excellence, service to members, development of leaders and volunteers and its impact on key community priorities. The ACCE award referenced the Nashville Chamber’s role in the creation of Nashville for All of Us,a campaign made up of community leaders aligned to defeat a 2009 charter referendum which would have prohibited Nashville city government from conducting business in a language other than English. The Chamber was also praised for its creation of A Leading Edge, a broad range of programs aimed at helping Chamber members navigate the turbulent waters of the recession.

Global Tennessee brings you a special Podcast featuring renowned photographer Ronald Modra, 25 years with “Sports Illustrated” and a whopping 70 “SI” covers! In our second segment we talk with Lisset Diaz, lead singer of the Sweet Lizzy Project, a band with its roots in Havana, Cuba that is now working hard to make it big in Music City in the process making some great sounds. LEGENDARY LENSMAN Mention any legendary athlete from the last four decades and there’s a likelihood that she or he has been at the other end of Ron Modra’s camera lens. Mickey Mantle, Muhammad Ali, Pete Rose, Brett Favre, Nolan Ryan, Martina Navratilova, Lawrence Taylor, Tom Brady, Cal Ripken, Joe Montana. World Series, Olympic Games. Portraits, action shots, coffee table books. Well you get it. Ron’s 25 years with SI put him front row with the world’s best. Then there’s his love of the Blues and his portraits of some of America’s finest musicians. But there’s more. Travel photography. We loved talking with Ron about the best of the best professional athletes and his great stories – like winding up in Gordie Howe’s home for Thanksgiving dinner – but our lane in the road is Ron’s international travel photography. Galapagos, Argentina, Cuba, China, Italy, Scotland, and many more. Special images of people and places – bringing the world to you in the magic of still photography. Join us in our conversation with photographer Ronald Modra, one of the people who make Nashville a special place, as we learn about capturing the world with a camera. Also learn about how you can join Ron and his colleague, Don Smith, on an upcoming photo excursion. “Fall in the Scottish Highland” next October can be your chance to experience the mystical landscapes and villages of the Isle of Skye, Isles of Harris and Lewis and the Glencoe area. Check Don Smith’s web site for details on this fabulous opportunity. http://www.ronaldcmodra.com http://www.donsmithphotography.com SWEET LIZZY PROJECT “Turn up the radio.” Indeed. In our conversation with Cuban native Lisset Diaz (aka Lizzy of the Sweet Lizzy Project) we learned the value of being in the right places at the right times. If making great music is only part of the formula for success in a tough business Sweet Lizzy Project is well on their way. Mix in their good fortune of being profiled in a PBS documentary “Havana Time Machine” along with the “Mavericks” from Nashville and lead singer Raul Malo. That connection led to an invitation to Nashville, an opportunity that was almost lost to Washington’s change in visa policy under the current White House. Fortunately Sweet Lizzy Project had performed for American diplomats in Cuba and managed to get their paperwork through just under the wire. Listen to this Global Tennessee Podcast to hear the rest of Lisset’s and the band’s story of making great music in Nashville, inside a Tennessee mountain cavern and in their travels around America – “a distinctive sound imbued with overtones of classic American indie pop-rock suffused with an intoxicating Latino flair.” We have several of Sweet Lizzy Project’s songs in our Podcast for your enjoyment. The Sweet Lizzy Project – official web site https://www.sweetlizzyproject.com The Sweet Lizzy Project perform in “Bluegrass Underground” inside the Caverns of the Cumberland Mountains https://youtu.be/IUsO-M7oEc8 “Havana Time Machine” http://www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/havana-time-machine-full-episode/7326/ (Paywall for NPT members) “Raul Malo explores music, Cuban heritage in 'Havana Time Machine'” https://www.tennessean.com/story/entertainment/2017/10/04/raul-malo-havana-time-machine-documentary-pbs/724224001/

European Consuls General based in Atlanta from UK, France, Germany, Ireland, Belgium, and Greece talked to Global Tennessee about business to business relations -- trade, foreign direct investment, tariffs; government relations and politics -- issues between the current US Administration and EU partners; and developments in Europe. Check out this special report interview for a snapshot of US-European relations and analysis of current issues. Interview conducted by TNWAC's Patrick Ryan and "The Tennessean's" David Plazas, Opinion Engagement Editor. Consul General of France -- Louis de Corail; Consul General of Germany in Atlanta -- Dr. Heike Fuller; Consul General of the United Kingdom -- Andrew Staunton; Consul General of Greece -- Emmanouil Androulakis; Consul General of Ireland -- Shane Stephens; Consul General of Belgium -- William De Baet.

In our Roundtable segment Pat talks with Lori Odom, VP International Business about Nashville developments -- new business, Amazon, EY, direct international flights from BNA and global business impact and trends. In our "Conversation" segment Dr. Marieta Velikova, native of Western Siberia and current Professor of Economics at Belmont and Keith Simmons, distinguished Nashville attorney and former Cold War USAF ICBM missile officer talk about preconceived notions, stereotypes and perspectives on Russia, with Keith sharing his observations from recent travel in the Russian Federation. Marieta and Keith reflect on the importance of building bridges among people despite the challenges of national security relationships.

Pat Ryan talks with Prof. David Des Roches (Col, USArmy Ret.) from the Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies at the National Defense University. He is an expert on Middle East affairs, especially US-Saudi relations and talked about the crisis in the relationship since the murder of Jamal Khashoggi in October 2018. Prof. Des Roches also provides insights and perspectives on developments in the Middle East and the challenges to US policymakers. About Professor Des Roches David Des Roches is an Associate Professor at the Near East South Asia Center for Security Studies. Prior to this, he was the director responsible for defense policy concerning Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen. Prior to this assignment, he has served in the Office of the Secretary of Defense as the DoD Liaison to the Department of Homeland Security, as the senior country director for Pakistan, as the NATO operations director, and as the deputy director for peacekeeping. His first job in government was as a special assistant for strategy and later as the international law enforcement analyst in the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. A British Marshall Scholar, he has also attended the Federal Executive Institute, the German Staff College’s Higher Officer Seminar, the US Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare School and the US Army Command and General Staff College. An Airborne Ranger in the Army Reserve, he was awarded the Bronze Star for service in Afghanistan. He has commanded conventional and special operations parachute units and has served on the US Special Operations Command staff as well as on the Joint Staff.

The Global Tennessee team does a deep dive into the "Braving A New World" National Conference of the World Affairs Councils of America in Washington. They walk through the most insightful panels and speakers like: America's global leadership status, US China relations, the health of the Transatlantic Alliance, the global commons of space and much more. Part II, "The Conversation" is an interview with the Asia Development Bank's Bart Edes talking about Pacific trade and the work of international development banks.

This special edition of Global Tennessee is an extended presentation by Afshin Molavi, Senior Fellow, Foreign Policy Institute at John Hopkins University, SAIS and Co-Director, emerge85 Lab. Molavi's "Where Are We Going?" presentation is a remarkable collection of his insightful assessments of global trends and facts on the ground that shape the world we live in and where it is headed. You will finish this edition of Global Tennessee much better equipped to deal with the news and information that shapes your world.

U.S. Senator Bob Corker, Chairman Senate Foreign Relations Committee, spoke at a Tennessee World Affairs Council event about international issues, U.S. foreign policy and domestic politics. Corker offered a fascinating and very candid glimpse into the world from the perspective of Capitol Hill and the Congress' leader on U.S. international policies, laws, and oversight.

Global Tennessee's (Part I) "Roundtable" with "The Tennessean's" David Plazas and TNWAC's Pat Ryan and Logan Monday explore the nexus of global affairs and the mid-term elections and in "The Conversation" (Part II) Jim Shepherd, TNWAC Board Chair talks about his week-long fact-finding delegation visit to the Persian Gulf State of Qatar with a World Affairs Councils of America leadership group.