Welcome back everybody to the SAIS Review’s The Looking Glass Podcast. I am your host Davide Donald. On today’s episode we are going to be talking about disaster management in Turkey. Istanbul lies at the heart of the Eurasian and Anatolian tectonic plate fault lines. The prospect of another major earthquake hitting the city of over 16 million people is a question of when, not if. The 6.2 magnitude earthquake that hit Istanbul a few weeks ago on April 23rd–which luckily resulted in only injuries and minor building damage–was a reminder of just how imminent a major quake could be. To discuss the government’s current preparedness and management approach, and the possible consequences of when an earthquake strikes Istanbul in the future, joining us on the podcast today is Dr. Lisel Hintz.Lisel Hintz is an Assistant Professor of International Relations at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. Her research explores how identity struggles interact with domestic politics and foreign policy, focusing on Turkey and its neighboring regions. Drawing on fieldwork and a diverse range of sources, including pop culture and social media, Dr Hintz brings unique insights into how state-society relations evolve in times of crisis. She is a frequent commentator in outlets like Foreign Policy and The Washington Post, and we are eager to have her join us today to discuss the political and societal dimensions of disaster response in Turkey. We hope you enjoy this episode of the Looking Glass Podcast.Host: Davide DonaldAdditional Editors: Sloan Askins, Sophie Haas-Goldberg, Juliette Legein, Magdalena PaddockRemember to leave 5-stars and share with a friend!
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33:38
Radioactive Roots: Life Finds a Way (Even if it Glows a Bit)
Nuclear catastrophes like Chernobyl and Fukushima serve as a stark reminder of the risks that come with harnessing atomic energy — we hear about the evacuations, the health impacts, the geopolitical consequences. But what about the landscapes left behind? What happens to plants, animals, and entire ecosystems when exposed to high levels of radiation over days, months, or even years? To help us unpack these questions, we're joined by Dr. Timothy Mousseau.Dr. Timothy Mousseau is an evolutionary biologist and leading expert on the effects of radiation on wildlife in Chernobyl and Fukushima. He was the first U.S.-based biologist to begin research in Fukushima, starting in July 2011, and his pioneering work in Chernobyl has revealed a wide range of radiation-related impacts on organisms—shifting how we understand the vulnerability of natural populations to environmental contaminants. Most recently, his research has expanded to explore the effects of cosmic radiation in space. With years of fieldwork across continents, Dr. Mousseau’s findings have offered critical insights and sparked ongoing debate within the field of radioecology. Let’s explore what nuclear fallout really means for the natural world — and why this research matters now more than ever. We hope you enjoy this episode of the Looking Glass Podcast.Hosts: Meya Lee and Matthew DowdenAdditional Editor: Jacob WrightRemember to leave 5-stars and share with a friend!
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50:08
Making It Rain? The Promises and Pitfalls of Cloud Seeding
Welcome back, everyone, to the SAIS Review’s The Looking Glass Podcast. We are your hosts, Nassim Ali Ahmad and Rachel Fink. As the world confronts new and novel future crises, among the most concerning will be environmental challenges, driven in many places by the sheer scarcity of water. One answer to that dilemma comes from geoengineering, or the shaping of the environment through technological feats like cloud seeding. To discuss what cloud seeding is, why it has become controversial, and its implications for some of the world’s driest regions, joining us on the podcast today is Dr. James Fleming.Dr. James Fleming is the Charles A. Dana Professor of Science, Technology and Society, Emeritus at Colby College. His research focuses on the history of weather, climate, technology, and the environment. Of particular relevance to today's topic, his book, "Fixing the Sky: The Checkered History of Weather and Climate Control" addresses the promise and potential pitfalls of cloud seeding. We hope you enjoy today’s episode of The Looking Glass Podcast.Hosts: Nassim Ali Ahmad and Rachel FinkAdditional Editors: Gabriel Davis and Sara SylvanRemember to leave 5-stars and share with a friend!
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32:09
Lessons from the Myanmar Earthquake
Hello and welcome to today’s episode of the SAIS Review’s The Looking Glass Podcast. We are your hosts Talita Fernandes and Hantong Wu. Natural disaster relief can pose many challenges, and we have seen that they are only exacerbated by domestic conflict in the area. Since 2021, when the military deposed the democratically elected government, Myanmar has been in a brutal civil war. In the midst of this conflict, a 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar on March 28, complicating the relief efforts and pushing the casualties higher. To discuss the challenges a conflict-ridden area faces when natural disaster strikes, along with the particular implications for Myanmar and its latest disaster, today on the podcast, we are joined by Professor Gregory Gottlieb.Professor Gregory Gottlieb is an expert on humanitarian aid in conflict areas. He formerly served as the director at the Feinstein International Center at Tufts University and as Acting Assistant Administrator at the Bureau for Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). In particular, he extensively participated in the US response to the 2008 Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar, where ultimately, US humanitarian assistance was denied. Following the disaster, he testified on the Death, Displacement, and Humanitarian Aid to Myanmar in the House Foreign Affairs Committee. We hope you enjoy this episode of the Looking Glass Podcast.Hosts: Talita Fernandes and Hantong WuAdditional Editors: Fauvé Liggans-Hubbard and Nourane AwadallahRemember to leave 5-stars and share with a friend!
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50:44
Beneath the Black River-Oil Spills in Ecuador’s Amazon Rainforests
The March 2025 oil spill in Ecuador’s Esmeraldas province is one of the country’s worst recent environmental disasters. Over 25,000 barrels of crude oil leaked from the SOTE pipeline, contaminating rivers, farmland, and coastal mangroves. This spill destroyed local biodiversity, poisoned water supplies, and disrupted the lives of more than half a million people, including Indigenous and rural communities, highlighting the urgent need for environmental justice and stronger protections for Ecuador’s people and ecosystems. To discuss these topics, joining us today is Mr. Paul Paz y Miño.BPaul Paz y Miño is a human rights and environmental justice advocate, currently serving as Deputy Director of Amazon Watch, where he has been since 2007. Since 1995, he has volunteered as the Colombia Country Specialist for Amnesty International USA, monitoring human rights conditions and organizing campaign activities. He previously directed community development and human rights programs with indigenous communities in Chiapas, Mexico, and Guatemala as Program Director at the Seva Foundation. He has also served as an Associate Fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies and has been involved with organizations such as Peace Brigades International USA and the Oil and Gas Action Network. Paz y Miño has lived and worked in Ecuador, Mexico, and the United States, and is recognized for his advocacy on behalf of indigenous rights and environmental protection in the Amazon. We hope you enjoy this episode of the Looking Glass Podcast.Hosts: Max Shannon and Khadija TaufiqAdditional Editors: Yan ShenRemember to leave 5-stars and share with a friend!
The Looking Glass is the premier international relations podcast by The SAIS Review of International Affairs with support from The Foreign Policy Institute. Showcasing fresh, policy-relevant perspectives from professional and student experts, The Looking Glass is dedicated to advancing the debate on leading contemporary issues in world affairs. *The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are the speakers' own, and they do not represent the views or opinions of The SAIS Review of International Affairs, its Editorial Board, or its Advisory Board; the SAIS Foreign Policy Institute; SAIS; or The Johns Hopkins University.*
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