Explore every episode of the podcast The Great British Foreign Affairs Podcast

What’s the world look like through a global defence lens today? On this special episode, we team up with the Facing Coming Storms podcast, brought to you by the British Army’s Centre for Historical Analysis and Conflict Research, in partnership with the Project for the Study of the 21st Century.

Peter Apps, host of Facing Coming Storms, takes the hot seat, quizzed by Anna-Joy on massive global shifts—Washington’s focus on China, Europe’s worry about Russia, and the UK stuck between big dreams and European realities. Recorded just after Trump’s first 100 days, we explore bold US moves in the Middle East, Taiwan’s growing tensions, and how trade wars, tech, and alliances are changing everything.

Anna-Joy asks tough questions about NATO’s strength, rising isolationism, and the future of tech in warfare. Can Europe step up as the US looks to Asia? Is Taiwan’s 2027 deadline trouble? What’s J.D. Vance’s role in all this? It’s a clear, honest look at a world in turmoil —great for anyone wanting to understand what’s driving us toward calm or chaos.

Key moments

1:54 - US Global Threats Perspective

14:09 - Shifts in Global Alliances

22:35 - Taiwan's Risk Assessment

31:33 - Technology's Impact on Warfare

40:29 - The Future of NATO

To sign up to the newsletters mentioned in this podcast go to:

www.projects21.com for Peter App’s regular Reuters column

and www.worldshapingleadership.com/newsletter for Anna-Joy’s Wonderful World, Wonderful Life newsletter - a well-travelled soulful conversation on world affairs, travel and living intentionally in a changing world.

Day Four training to accompany the free 5-day challenge running from 31st March to 4th April to kickstart our Quarter 2 of 2025. Last chance to sign up at www.worldshapingleadership.com as Day Five's training is exclusively for those signed up to the challenge so won't be here on the podcast.

Day Three training to accompany the free 5-day challenge running from 31st March to 4th April to kickstart our Quarter 2 of 2025. Sign up now (it’s ok if it’s mid-week) to download the strategic weekly planner that the challenge revolves around at www.worldshapingleadership.com

Day One training to accompany the free 5-day challenge running from 31st March to 4th April to kickstart our Quarter 2 of 2025. Sign up now (it’s ok if it’s mid-week) to download the strategic weekly planner that the challenge revolves around at www.worldshapingleadership.com

Summary - You being you!

Anna-Joy Rickard guides participants through the importance of aligning with one's true self to enhance productivity, happiness, and overall life satisfaction. Through various angles, including personal reflection, understanding one's rhythms, and embracing the messiness of life, listeners are encouraged to reclaim their authentic selves and explore their unique paths. The session concludes with powerful questions aimed at fostering deeper self-awareness and growth.

Takeaways

• Transforming ordinary weeks into extraordinary results is possible.

• Aligning with your true self enhances productivity and happiness.
• Finding your 'one thing' can clarify your next season
• Understanding your natural rhythms can improve daily productivity.
• Playing out the scenarioes of a sabbatical and a rest can inspire us to understand ourselves more deeply
• Embracing the messiness of life is part of the journey.
• Perfectionism can hinder personal growth and authenticity.
• Done is better than perfect; focus on progress, not perfection.

Chapters

00:00 Welcome to the Challenge

01:24 Embracing Your True Self

05:09 Exploring Your Unique Path

10:53 The Power of Resetting

12:18 Finding Your Voice and Message

Keywords

personal development, self-discovery, coaching, productivity, life goals, mindset, transformation, leadership, authenticity, empowermentsummaryIn this session,

Day One training to accompany the free 5-day challenge running from 31st March to 4th April to kickstart our Quarter 2 of 2025. Sign up now (it’s ok if it’s mid-week) to download the strategic weekly planner that the challenge revolves around at www.worldshapingleadership.com

SHOW NOTES

In this session, Anna-Joy Rickard introduces a five-day challenge aimed at transforming ordinary weeks into extraordinary results. She emphasizes the importance of setting intentions, understanding the concept of 'Big Rocks' in life and work, and identifying what no longer serves us. The session encourages listeners to reflect on their priorities and make space for meaningful goals, ultimately leading to personal and professional growth.takeaways:

• ​This week is about transforming ordinary weeks into extraordinary results.
• ​Setting intentions is crucial for the success of this challenge.
• ​There are more opportunities for us than we can imagine.
• ​Identifying 'Big Rocks' helps prioritize what truly matters.
• ​Small tasks can feel good to tick off and distract us from our bigger goals.
• ​Reflecting on what no longer serves us is essential for growth so we can let go and create more space in our weeks
• ​Tuning into our inner wisdom can guide our decisions.
• ​Making time for our big dreams can lead to significant progress - even in 20 minutes a day
• ​Change in our schedules can create space for new opportunities.
• ​This challenge is a journey towards self-discovery and transformation.
• ​

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Week of Possibility

02:24Setting Intentions for Transformation

04:16 Understanding the Concept of Big Rocks

10:10Identifying What No Longer Serves You

Keywords

leadership, personal development, transformation, coaching, big rocks, intention setting, productivity, self-awareness, time management, life goals

Exciting announcement for my regular podcast listeners!

Alongside foreign affairs and travel episodes, this podcast is going to start to house World-shaping Leadership episodes and I’ve got something exciting happening next week for you.

As many of you know, I coach and run leadership training alongside and within my foreign affairs work, and I want to bring some of that inspiration, those strategies and lifehacks to listeners here.

So next week – Monday 31st March to Friday 4thApril I’m going to be running a FREE 5-day challenge to kick-start Quarter 2. It’s called ‘Your Week of Possibility’ and its about reshaping your weeks to get ready for your next move – whether you secretly want a new venture, legacy-defining impact, or a complete lifestyle redesign. It starts with redesigning your weeks so they reflect more of you.

Sign-up at www.worldshapingleadership.com to get

• Your free strategic weekly planner  
• Daily trainings
• Easy actionable exercises with zero overwhelm

It’s not about cramming more in – its about being intentional and that’s what we’re going to do together to kick-start Q2.

The daily trainings will be here on the podcast each day next week BUT you need to sign up to get the weekly planner which is central to the challenge and trainings. Go to www.worldshapingleadership.com to sign-up easily and quickly and you’re in!

If you only want foreign affairs and travel episodes, fear not! - they’ll be another episode in April, but I know lots of my listeners have big dreams they want to make happen. So if that’s you, sign up, and I’ll see you on Monday so we can transform ordinary weeks into extraordinary results!

www.worldshapingleadership.com

In this episode I talk to Dr. Guy Kioni, a British-Congolese geostrategic advisor on international diplomacy, critical minerals, and digital transformation. He is the CEO of London-based advisory and management consultancy firm Missang Ltd.

This episode I talk about 2025 with Matt Patterson, political communications specialist and former Secretary General's Spokesperson and Director of Communications for the Commonwealth Secretariat.

Continuing my notes and reflections from my Autumn round-the-world trip with my kids - this time from East Asia covering South Korea, Japan and Taiwan plus a footnote on our time in Sri Lanka

Continuing to share my journey across the world this Autumn with my kids - this time capturing thoughts ad reflections on Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and the UAE and Oman

From my around-the-world trip with my 3 children I bring notes from different sections of our trip. This first one covers our travels in Europe section from late August to September....

As we come into land at the end of Series 3, in this episode I talk about Turkey with Sami Kent, journalist and radio producer and author of a new book on Turkey 'The Endless Country: A personal journey through Turkey's first hundred years'

In this episode I continue my cinversation with Aline Burni, this time focusing on her home country of Brazil. We dive into Brazil's unique foreign policy and how the country is a country of contrasts

In this episode we talk about the first foreign policy moments of the new UK Labour government against the backdrop of the NATO summit in Washington and ahead of hosting the 4th European Political Community summit. Plus an update on the Ukraine war, French elections, China-Taiwan and what UK leadership on the world stage looks like. Peter Apps brings us his in-depth insights on these topics as well as intel from his recent visit to Washington for the US launch of his book 'Deterring Armageddon: A Biography of Nato'.

In this episode I talk to Ari Ratner, a former state department official and founder of strategic comms and policy advisory firm Danari Global

In this episode I have two conversations - firstly getting an update from Aline Burni in Brussels on the state of play in Europe following the EU Parliament elections and then onto Mike Buckley in Sheffield looking at UK-EU relations

In this episode I talk to Daniela Luque about Colombia catching up on the political developments in the country, where the peace process is up to and a surprising discovery about how much we can learn from the Colombia-UK relationship 

In this inaugural podcast fireside chat, Matt Godwin and our host, Anna-Joy Rickard share some of their thinking on how the UK finds a confident identity and optimistic way forward in the changing world of today

To kick off Series 3, I speak to writer and journalist Jonn Elledge on his new book 'A History of the World in 47 Borders: The Stories Behind the Lines on Our Maps'. We delve into the stories you should know about but probably don't, the history that never happened, the optimistic stories and of course - how Britain looks at its history.

In this episode I chat to Hannah Methven, a sustainability specialist at Explore, the adventure travel company, about falling in love again with train travel. The episode is packed full of inspiration, tricks and tips for exploring the world by train.

In this episode I discuss Argentina with Emmanuel Artusa-Barrell, an Argentinian living in London. Manu has a background in political risk management and is a former advisor to embassies in Argentina and the UK.

Summary

Emmanuel Artusa-Barrell discusses Argentina's food, culture, and geography, highlighting its melting pot of communities who immigrated from Europe and its diverse wildlife. He also explains Argentina's place in Latin America and the recent political upset in the country. The conversation delves into the economic challenges Argentina has faced, including the 2001 crash and cyclical crises. The resilience and adaptability of the Argentine people is explored, as well as the country's role in the changing geopolitical landscape. The conversation continues with a discussion on the legacy of the military dictatorship and the importance of defending human and civil liberties. This conversation explores the historical and current relationship between Argentina and the UK, covering the Falklands/ Malvinas War, and the opportunities for collaboration between the two countries. It also discusses the UK's approach to Latin America, and gains Emmanuel’s insights, as an Argentinian living in London, about the role of the UK in the world.

Takeaways

• Argentina is a diverse country with a rich culture, delicious food, and stunning geography.
• The country has a history of political and economic challenges, including cyclical crises and a recent political upset.
• The Argentine people have shown resilience and adaptability in the face of economic hardships.
• Argentina's role in the changing geopolitical landscape and its relationships with other countries is evolving.
• The legacy of the military dictatorship still influences the country's consciousness, and the defense of human and civil liberties remains important. The Mothers and Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo played a significant role in Argentina's history, searching for their missing loved ones and advocating for human rights.
• The Falklands/Malvinas War was a tragic event that still has emotional significance for both Argentina and the UK. While there are differing opinions on the sovereignty of the islands, both sides recognize the need for dialogue and friendship.
• There are numerous opportunities for collaboration between Argentina and the UK, including trade, investment, and resource-sharing. Both countries have valuable resources and expertise that can benefit each other.
• The UK should pay attention to Latin America and strengthen its relationships in the region. Latin America offers stability, educated populations, and economic opportunities.
• The UK has significant strengths, including soft power, economic and military strength, and historical ties. However, it needs to use its power strategically and learn from past mistakes to navigate the changing world effectively.

In this episode I talk to Emma Ruiters, an economist from South Africa, and we hear about the elections this year, how South Africa’s history shapes the country it is today and about the role it is playing on the world stage

In this episode I’m welcoming back author and Reuters foreign affairs columnist, Peter Apps to talk about his new book 'Deterring Armageddon: A biography of NATO'. On the second year anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and with a potential return of Trump to the White House this year, it is all eyes on NATO. Here we discuss its history, stories and lessons alongside its current debates and concerns, including what they mean for the UK military.

This podcast episode is Part Two of my conversation with David Lawrence. If you haven’t listened to the previous episode on China yet, that’s definitely one to listen to! Here in this episode we discuss the geopolitics of artificial intelligence drawing on his work at Chatham House and wider thought leadership on this issue.

In this episode I talk to David Lawrence about China, drawing on his professional work at Chatham House but also his experience growing up as a child there. This is part 1 of our conversation and in Part 2 - coming up in our next podcast episode - we focus on an equally meaty topic of the geopolitics of AI, so look out for that one too.

It’s an honour to jointly host this episode with The Story of Woman podcast by Anna Stoecklein - which features interviews with those who explore our world through the female gaze. Together we talk about feminist foreign policy with Kristina Lunz, the author of ‘The future of foreign policy is feminist’ and Co-founder and Director of the Centre for Feminist Foreign Policy in Berlin. We dive into what it is, where it came from and what it means for today. *Find The Story of Woman podcast here: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-story-of-woman/id1610515650

In this first episode of the year I talk to Andrew Bruce about the bumper election year of 2024 with over 40% of the world's population living in countries holding national elections this year. We hear his wisdom from 20 years of experience in international election observation missions and related work and take a whizz-stop tour through: *The elections of most global consequence *The elections that could lead to protest/violence *The elections that won't be genuine *The conflict/crisis elections *The potential upsets *The good news stories *The political risk elections, and *The surprises!

Our last episode of the year brings The Great British Foreign Affairs Podcast’s wrap-up of the year. We say goodbye to the world of 2023 and hello to 2024 with Peter Apps - foreign affairs reporter, writer and commentator. We do a quick stop tour looking back at the year and forwards to the next, and you’ll find it packed with insights, stats and big picture observations, as well as brilliant examples coming directly from his current Asia travels.

In this episode Paymana Assad tells us stories - of the food, geography and communities of Afghanistan, of growing up in the UK as a refugee and of the before and after of the fall of Kabul. This is an absolute must-listen to understand Afghanistan behind the headlines, and sometimes now - hidden from the headlines, and what we should be calling for from the UK.

In this Bonus Suitcase Edition for the month (aka travel and adventure episode) I share my tips and tricks for creating amazing memories in Paris - from the practicalities of the Eurostar to my favourite off-the-beaten-track Parisien neighbourhood and even what to bring home in your suitcase! Listen to give you ideas (or daydreams) of mooching around Christmas markets or for year-round inspiration

This Autumn I had the honour of interviewing Prime Minister Patrice Trovoada from the West African island of São Tomé and Príncipe. Listen to this episode where I caught up with him over breakfast and talked about what it's like being the leader of a small nation, how Africa and the UK are connected, how our global connectedness helps fight climate change and his top leadership tip

This episode is our first bonus ‘suitcase episode’ where once a month we’ll connect with adventure, travel, culture and languages, because I know our listeners have a sprinkling of wanderlust AND what we learn about ourselves and others through travel is crucial for being a leader and decision-maker in today’s international environment. In this episode I speak to Dawn Marie LaMonica, a motivational speaker and executive coach, about personal growth through travel

In this episode I talk to Elizabeth Ames on all things Australia - covering why the recent Australian Indigenous Voice Referendum didn't pass, our intwined history and (even more) future, and what we can learn from Australia on 'middle power diplomacy'.

In this episode I speak to Sam Rubens on the Israel-Hamas conflict. My own reflection from the devastating last fortnight is that it is a moment for our generation to understand anew this conflict, and to deepen our knowledge of it in order to be peace builders in our own communities and with the Middle East. So here I speak to my good friend Sam who grew up in the Jewish community in Manchester to understand from him how it has been to live through the last two weeks. 

In this episode I speak to Victoria Vdovychenko on Ukraine, digging behind the headlines to understand more about Ukrainian history and identity, the stories we’re not hearing about and the art of ‘The People’s Diplomacy’

The Sahel region which sits between North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa is increasingly in the news but not known well in the UK. In this episode Bachir Ouedraogo, a former Minister of Energy of Burkina Faso, gives us unique insights into the people, culture and history of the Sahel and how they are facing the crises and opportunities of today...

Welcome to the Great British Foreign Affairs Podcast – where Britain meets the world. Join me for insightful conversations with fascinating people to shape the way that Britain interacts across the globe. Jump into this trailer to discover more....