In this episode of Geopulse, the host Tamim Asey sits down with Ambassador Ronald Neumann—former U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan, Algeria and Bahrain, and currently the President of the American Academy of Diplomacy—to explore some of the most urgent geopolitical questions shaping our world.

Our conversation spans:

🔸 The collapse of the Afghan Republic and the future of the Taliban’s Emirate
🔸 Prospects for international engagement with Afghanistan without recognition
🔸 Middle East realignments, the Israel–Iran confrontation, and Saudi Arabia’s transformation
🔸 China’s expanding influence in the Gulf and global power politics
🔸 The rise of authoritarian strongmen and the erosion of the rules-based international order
🔸 U.S. foreign policy in a multipolar world and advice for the next generation of diplomats

Ambassador Neumann draws on decades of experience in diplomacy and conflict zones to offer clear-eyed analysis and reflections on how today’s challenges connect to larger global trends.

Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion on war, diplomacy, power and the uncertain road ahead.

In this inaugural episode of Geopulse, host Tamim Asey sits down with legendary journalist Kathy Gannon, whose decades of fearless reporting from Afghanistan, Pakistan and across the region have shaped how the world understands war, resilience and power.

From the fall of Kabul to the shifting sands of geopolitics in South Asia and the Middle East, Kathy shares hard-earned insights on conflict, authoritarianism and the evolving role of journalism in an age of disinformation and global uncertainty.

Together, they explore:

•Lessons from decades on the frontlines of conflict
•The rise of global strongman politics and its human toll
•The future of Afghanistan under Taliban rule
•The role of journalists in bearing witness amid narrative warfare

Join us as we launch Geopulse—a new podcast bringing you sharp, timely conversations at the intersection of power, conflict and global affairs. A must listen!

Welcome aboard!