Join us for an in-depth interview with Julian Lam and Nancy Luo, two ex-presidents of UBC's International Relations Student Association who have gone on to lead successful careers in in geopolitical risk-analysis and national economic development. Together with our hosts, Julian and Nancy provide a fresh perspective on the politics of AI governance and risk-negation, as well as some possible pathways for IR students after graduation and the day-to-day occupations of UBC law students.

Join us for a conversation with Charley Ward, a research assistant working on IMF reform, sovereign debt, and climate finance at the Center for Global Development. Together with hosts Raza and Guarav, Ward maps out the likely future of international trade and collaboration, and sheds some light on what it takes to work in a think tank and make a career for oneself in international development.

In this episode of Global Getdown, host Raza Sidhu sits down with special guest Sachiko Akashi, a longtime educator and scholar whose journey from studying English literature in Japan to researching international relations in the U.S. offers a unique lens on global politics and peacebuilding. Together, they unpack the big question: what exactly is international relations? Listeners get a clear and approachable guide to IR.

In an era where multilateralism is fragmenting, defining the Global South has never been more complicated. As new challenges like climate change, the concentration of technology and AI and increasing inequality emerge, older threats like militarism and even nuclear tensions are making a comeback. Every country today is moving towards strategic autonomy - charting their own paths through geopolitical uncertainty and being forced to view everything through the lens of individualism. And yet, as this happens, the global challenges we were supposed to be addressing loom closer. Talking specifically about the Global South, how can such a diverse group of nations, from rising global powers like China, India and Brazil to debt-ridden economies or small island states, find common ground? And what does global cooperation look like when the foundations of the world order, are shifting? Join us today with special guest Aude Darnal, an International Policy Researcher and Program Manager of the Global South in the World Order Project at the Stimson Center to explore multilateralism today on the Global Get Down podcast.

The Montreal Protocol from 1987 banned gases and refrigerants that deplete the ozone layer. This is something that even a backbencher in an elementary school science class could tell you. But what is less commonly known today in 2025, is that there are still millions of gas canisters all over the world containing dangerous and banned ozone refrigerants like R-12, either sitting around in warehouses, lying around in remote farms or being illegally traded. These gases are both ozone depleting substances and greenhouse gases, so they’re absolute environmental stinkers. But Tradewater’s work, essentially making them an agent of the Montreal Protocol, often involves shipping rotting refrigerant gasses halfway across the world to their secure destruction facilities. And when customs agencies and port authorities that they encounter midway, well-versed in the Basel Convention (the treaty moderating the shipment of waste), see what they are trying to ship, it looks an awful lot to them like waste being shipped across the world. Ana Fernandez, a Logistics Associate at Tradewater, joins us today to talk about how her work places her right in between two environmental treaties, and how one of them, the Basel Convention, ends up blocking her efforts to achieve the aims of the Montreal Protocol. Join us as we unpack a journey involving tense international negotiations, complex bureaucracy at security checkpoints and how in this odd instance, one race to save the world is being blocked by another.

In times like these, staying informed and engaged with political developments is more crucial than ever. With tensions between the US and Canada escalating over tariffs and trade wars, we need to tune in and understand the underlying issues at play. If there's one expert who can shed light on our current political climate, it's Bart W. Édes. As a Professor at McGill University, Bart brings invaluable insights into the dynamics shaping global politics and economics. At McGill, he contributes to the Institute for the Study of International Development (ISID), focusing on social protection in developing Asia, digital technologies for development, and investment by ASEAN-based enterprises in Canada. In our latest episode, Professor Édes explores the implications of the US’s tariffs on Canada, the motivations behind these moves, and what they mean for the future of US-Canada relations. From the fentanyl crisis to Canada’s response and the broader impact on global trade, this is a critical moment we all need to be paying attention to. Stay informed, stay educated, and listen to experts like Bart W. Édes to better understand the political landscape and its impact on our countries and economies. #PoliticalEngagement #USCanadaRelations #GlobalEconomy #StayInformed #Leadership #TradeWars #UBC #Canada

In this episode, we’re honoured to welcome Wenjie Chen, Deputy Division Chief in the IMF African Department, for an in-depth discussion on the region’s emerging role in the global clean energy transition. We begin by defining Sub-Saharan Africa and outlining the countries and territories that make up this vibrant, resource-rich region. Chen provides an overview of Sub-Saharan Africa’s current economic standing, highlighting both the region’s potential and challenges within the global development context. How can rising global demand for critical minerals, like cobalt, lithium, and nickel transform the region’s economies? From investment opportunities to the potential for local processing industries, Wenjie discusses how regional cooperation and policy reforms could help these countries maximise their mineral wealth, creating new jobs, stabilising economies, and fostering sustainable growth. Tune in to explore Sub-Saharan Africa’s potential as a powerhouse in the clean energy transition and hear firsthand insights from a leading IMF economist!

In this episode of the Global Get Down, host Gaurav is joined by climate finance expert Jonathan Beynon from the Center for Global Development for a primer on climate finance. They address the current scale of ambition to finance climate mitigation and adaptation, and discuss the different sources for the trillions of dollars in investment needed to address the impacts of climate change. They also speak about a third pillar of climate finance which goes beyond the traditional categories of mitigation and adaptation to address losses and damages. Together, they delve into the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) and what its pivotal role shall be in addressing the financial needs for global climate action. As a key provision of the Paris Agreement, climate finance has helped drive ambitious goals toward achieving net zero. Tune in to understand how the NCQG is shaping efforts to combat climate change and what it means for the future of global sustainability.

Ever come across the term ‘Special Drawing Rights’ or ‘SDRs’ and felt completely bewildered? Check out this latest episode of the Global Get Down, where Host Gaurav has a conversation with an expert on the IMF and the SDRs. Mark Plant joins us as Senior Policy Fellow at the Center for Global Development, where he currently dedicates the bulk of his research on making the case that Central Banks should Recycle their excess SDRs issued by the IMF, to promote international development and climate finance goals and prevent these potential assets from “sitting around” in a “clumsy” financial order. They cover the basics of how SDRs are allocated to IMF member countries according to their Quota Formula, and how this can lead to inefficient distribution where advanced economies with no explicit need for these excess SDRs get allocated the most while vulnerable countries who have the highest need for SDRs have access to the least. They analyse some different options for well-meaning advanced economies to ‘recycle’ their excess SDRs to allow vulnerable nations to benefit from them and talk about why Central Banks today are sometimes hesitant to let their SDRs go. This is based in the context of the history of the SDR and their establishment in 1969. Mark Plant is championing the cause of distributing SDRs in a careful and prudent manner through the different Trust Funds of the IMF. We’re pleased that he could join this episode and help us understand the opportunities, challenges and prospectus for SDRs in the context of increasing development and climate finance. Link to CGD's YouTube Video on 'Fighting Climate Change with SDRs': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Un5ywRiObA Link to the CGD Blog on SDRs: https://www.cgdev.org/tags/imf-support-covid-19-recovery

Renowned American historian, journalist and author Adam Hochschild joins us for a deep dive into the colonial history of what is today the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and to help explain how the 'Resource Curse' phenomenon has shaped this tragic history of exploitation.

Rachel Silverman Bonnifield, currently Senior Fellow at the Center for Global Development in Washington DC joins us to talk about her extensive research on addressing neglected global health crises: specifically, her work on Widespread Lead Poisoning of Children. Rachel and Host Gaurav cover, among other things, the scope of the problem, a brief history of action to address Lead Poisoning, specific case studies of action around the world, what the role of institutions like hers can be to help make this issue more visible, and the scale of global financing required to address this issue by 2030.

Karen Mathiasen, Project Director at the Center for Global Development (CGD) in Washington DC, joins us for a Deep Dive into Multilateral Development Bank (MDB) Reform. She discusses, among other things, shareholder dynamics at the World Bank, the Bridgetown Agenda, the recently concluded Spring Meetings, her appraisal of the World Bank’s reform agenda and some of the issues to watch out for in MDB Reform, with Host Gaurav.

Today, the Global Get Down podcast is joined by Jonathan Tee, Recruiter for the Master of Public Policy and Global Affairs (MPPGA) program at UBC, who talks to Host Gaurav about what recruiters and the admissions team at the program are looking for. They talk about the ideal student profile for applicants and how they can aim to set themselves apart in this very competitive program.

In the first part of our 2-day collaboration with the Master of Public Policy and Global Affairs (MPPGA) program at UBC, we are joined by Mercy Muthuuri. She is a current student in the MPPGA program with a background in climate finance and talks to Host Gaurav about how the program is structured, student life and coursework in the MPPGA. This episode is immensely helpful to anyone looking at MA programs in Canada, to help compare how the MPPGA fits into the mix and the unique experiences it can provide.

Adva Saldinger, Senior Reporter at Devex, who covered the recently-concluded Spring Meetings of the World Bank and IMF on the ground from Washington DC, joins us for a primer on the Meetings and discusses World Bank Reform with our Host Gaurav. They cover the main outcomes and announcements from the Spring Meetings and talk about who attended, touching on both the high profile personnel and the various civil society actors who made their presence felt. Tune in to get a sense of the issues currently being discussed at the meeting of the two biggest multilateral development institutions, and get a sense of some of the aspects of the World Bank’s new reform agenda under President Ajay Banga.

Jonathan Arnold from the Canadian Climate Institute joins us to kickstart the mini-series on Sustainable Finance Taxonomies. Our host Gaurav asks Jonathan about the premise of a Climate Taxonomy in Canada, the bureaucratic process it took to set this up and the current political holdup this taxonomy is facing. They also touch upon how the Canadian Taxonomy is unique because of its 'transition' label that includes certain controversial oil and gas projects. Tune in to better understand this unique financial sorting instrument, and witness a 'Sorting Hat' exercise for clean investments.

Join hosts Sriya and Ishita as they explore the history of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in this special episode of the Global Get Down. Our guest, esteemed professor and expert on the topic, Professor Ibrahim Muradov, takes center stage to shed light on the intricacies of this geopolitical saga. His expertise and thorough analysis shed new light on the multifaceted aspects of the conflict. Professor Muradov shares insights into his research journey and personal connection to the topic, highlighting key gaps in existing research that drove his investigation. He discusses the role of internal politics in Ukraine, the differences between the conflicts of 2022 and 2014, and Ukraine’s historical significance to Russia. Tune in as Professor Muradov reframes the context of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, offering fresh perspectives on its impact on contemporary international relations.

Incoming Chairperson of the World Bank Inspection Panel, Mark Goldsmith joins our hosts Belle and Gaurav on this special episode of the Global Get Down to introduce the organisation and tell us about the work it has done in its 30 years of existence. Mark gives us an outline of what the Inspection Panel is and how it functions and talks through his personal journey and the career path that led him to this point. He answers questions about the legacies of the Panel and the impacts he hopes to have in his year of chairmanship. He also briefly touches on some ongoing cases that the Inspection Panel shall deal with over the next few months.

Back for our third episode in the Environmental Policy series running parallel to COP 28, Professor Naoko Ellis from the Chemical and Biological Engineering (CHBE) Department at UBC joins us to explain how Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) works. Hosts Gaurav and Sriya get Professor Ellis's view on when and under which circumstances CCS is a good policy option to encourage, and get a primer on how this technology works, along with learning what the different options to capture, sequester and utilise Carbon Dioxide from the Atmosphere are. This is the Global Get Down's first attempt at instituting an interdisciplinary bridge across the technical and policy facets of a problem. This episode should be of interest to both Engineering and Arts students and faculty.

Our Team spoke to Dr. Peter Arcese from the Faculty of Forestry at The University of British Columbia to help understand what Biodiversity Credits are, how they work and how they link to the more traditional Carbon Credits. Co-hosts Gaurav and Alyssa get Dr. Arcese's take on the inter-disciplinarity involved to make Biodiversity Credits a reality, and dig into the complex researcher-financier-policymaker nexus that this involves. This episode also gets into some of the global diplomacy that has been involved in the pursuit to cash in on conservation. This episode is Part 2 in our Environment Policy series running parallel to COP 28.