We produce over 400m tonnes of plastic waste every year but what if you could convert that waste into ecofriendly spider silk and other materials? What if you could engineer a bacteria to digest and transform polyethylene plastic waste – the kind used in many single-use items – into a high-value protein product? This isn’t science fiction – it’s actual science. Join us for an informative and engaging conversation with Prof. Helen Zha and Prof. Mattheos Koffas (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute) to learn more about their groundbreaking research. This is part of The Global List Podcast's ongoing “Future Materials” series which examines innovative & sustainable breakthroughs in materials science, biomaterials, bioengineering, biotechnology and nanotechnology.

MDMA has emerged as a highly effective treatment for PTSD and one organization is leading the way. In this insightful and uplifting conversation, we speak with Juliana Mercer, the Director of Public Policy for the nonprofit organization Healing Breakthrough, which advocates for system-wide adoption of MDMA-Assisted Therapy in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Join us for a very special episode of The Global List Podcast and find out how MDMA is helping veterans to manage and overcome PTSD, and what it means for therapy in general. May is Mental Health Awareness Month.

The Ukraine-Russia War, the largest armed conflict in Europe since WW2, will reach the 2-year mark on February 24, 2024. It’s a critical milestone to assess the overall progress and what lies ahead. We flew to Berlin for another in-depth and engaging conversation with Dr. Marina Miron of King’s College (London). We covered a wide range of topics including Ukraine’s 2023 counteroffensive (what went right/wrong), the key lessons learned, relative strengths and weaknesses, strategic and tactical factors, the rapid advances in drone warfare, NATO’s challenges and opportunities, PMCs and the overall outlook for 2024. We also discuss Russia’s broader war and multipronged effort in geopolitical realignment, information/cyber warfare and active measures. This is a conversation you need to hear.