In this compelling episode of the Inspire Us Podcast, we sit down with Professor Jonathan Goodhand, a leading expert on war economies, illicit trade, and development. We explore the complex intersections of drug economies, armed conflict, and state formation — from Afghanistan’s opium fields to Myanmar’s meth labs and Colombia’s coca trade.Jonathan shares deep insights from decades of field research, revealing how illicit economies often act as lifelines in fragile states, offering employment, infrastructure, and social cohesion — all while fueling global markets and reshaping power structures.This conversation challenges conventional narratives about the “war on drugs,” international aid, and the myth of development as a purely lawful process. We also discuss the rise of synthetic drugs, corporate capture in legal drug markets, and the deep entanglement of conflict zones with global cities like Dubai and London.