Best Positive Transformation Net Podcasts (2025)

1
Gen. Donahue on Deterring Russia in Europe 26:05

1d ago26:05

26:05

Gen. Christopher Todd Donahue, who leads U.S. Army Europe and Africa as well as Allied Land Command, joined Ryan for a discussion at WOTR HQ. For the first five minutes, they chat about his Army story, his time in the Ranger Regiment, before discussing how the Army Transformation Initiative is unfolding in Europe, from maneuver brigades, new techno…

1
Converting ambition into action: Lessons from London Climate Action Week 2025 37:39

21h ago37:39

37:39

In this episode, Mark Lee is joined by ERM colleagues Mathias Lelievre, Linden Edgell and Andrew Probert to unpack their key takeaways from London Climate Action Week (LCAW) 2025. Together, they reflect on evolving business approaches to sustainability quantification and implementation, and explore how climate strategy is adapting during current gl…

1
Introducing "The Iran Reckoning with Afshon Ostovar" 40:30

8d ago40:30

40:30

War on the Rocks is launching a new show called "The Iran Reckoning with Afshon Ostovar." It's a members-only show but this first episode is free for all. Join us as renowned Iran scholar Afshon Ostovar takes you inside one of America's most complex and consequential adversaries. In this episode, Ryan introduces you to Afshon and his background (ab…

1
How to Think About the Future of War 31:10

9d ago31:10

31:10

Gen. Jim Rainey, the commander of Army Futures Command, joins Ryan to share how emerging technologies are set to transform the way America’s soldiers will fight and win. He also shares some key insights about the Army Transformation Initiative.

1
Building the future: Breaking stereotypes and innovating in construction 33:52

11d ago33:52

33:52

In today’s world, buildings are becoming more complex than ever before. With the world racing to build the infrastructure of the green transition, the fourth Industrial Revolution and create resilient communities for growing populations, there is a pressing need for the industry to shift away from traditional processes and embrace new ways of desig…

1
Making Professional Military Education More Agile in the Air Force 16:24

16d ago16:24

16:24

Lt. Gen. Andrea Tullos joined Ryan at WOTR HQ to talk about her experience and insights into professional military education, both for the joint force and especially the Air Force. She shares what Air University, which she commands, has been doing to optimize its mission for competition with China, the pacing threat, and a high intensity fight wher…

1
The Israeli-Iranian War: How We Got Here & What It Means 27:53

17d ago27:53

27:53

Israel's strikes against Iran's military and nuclear infrastructure, as well as its key military and security leadership, shocked the world. How did we arrive here? What did the Israeli strikes accomplish? What options does Iran have? How did the Iranian-U.S. nuclear talks fail to forestall this? Will the United States become a party to the conflic…

1
WSP's Positive Impact Podcast - Coming Soon! 1:24

23d ago1:24

1:24

The WSP’s Positive Impact Podcast series explores the ideas, innovations, and voices shaping a more sustainable, resilient, and future-ready world. In each episode, environmental journalist and presenter Lucy Siegle is joined by WSP experts and industry leaders to unpack the big topics driving change — from climate resilience and net zero to digita…

1
Episode 31: Achieving zero freshwater use featuring Cemex 42:09

25d ago42:09

42:09

In this episode, Mark Lee is joined by Vicente Saiso Alva, Global Vice President of Sustainability at Cemex, and Greg Koch, Technical Consulting Director at ERM, to discuss Cemex’s recent achievement of zero freshwater use and how companies can better manage water risk in their operations. Their conversation covers: · Cemex’s zero freshwater use ac…

1
Moving Fast and Breaking Things 23:16

1M ago23:16

23:16

"Innovation adoption is a contact sport." As the chief technology officer of the Department of the Navy, Justin Fanelli is one of the leaders responsible for ensuring warfighters have access to bleeding-edge solutions. Listen to his conversation with Ryan Evans, recorded live at an event in Washington, DC — our first episode of Cogs of War, a new v…

1
How America's Special Operators are Preparing for a High-Tech Future 17:10

2M ago17:10

17:10

Down in Tampa on the sidelines of SOF Week, Ryan spoke with Lt. Gen. Frank Donovan, vice commander of Special Operations Command, in front of a live audience about how America's special operators are leading the way on the the future of warfare, from great power competition to data and AI — or, how our guest puts it, from the seabed to low earth or…

1
The Risks of the Latest India-Pakistan Crisis 40:41

2M ago40:41

40:41

We are sharing a free episode of Thinking the Unthinkable with you all due to fast-moving events between India and Pakistan. This episode features host Ankit Panda and guest Sameer Lalwani discussing the risks involved in a military conflict between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan. This episode was recorded after the April 22 attack in Kashmir tha…

1
The Army's Upcoming Transformation, with Secretary Driscoll and Gen. George 36:17

2M ago36:17

36:17

Ryan popped across the Potomac to the Pentagon to speak with Secretary of the Army Daniel Driscoll and Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George about the ambitious Army Transformation Initiative. Following a directive from the secretary of defense, the initiative aims to streamline the Army’s force structure, cut wasteful spending, and rapidly moderni…

1
Will Russia's War on Ukraine Keep Resisting Trump's Diplomacy? 40:42

2M ago40:42

40:42

Michael Kofman and Dara Massicot join Ryan to unpack how the Trump administration's ambitious peace efforts have collided with reality. They dive into how strategic calculations, politics, military conditions, and societal developments have shaped diplomacy, assessing how various pressures and intentions could redefine — or derail — pathways toward…

1
Gen. Berger on Leadership in a Turbulent Era 24:16

2M ago24:16

24:16

In today's world, turbulence isn't temporary — it's the new normal. In this episode, Gen. (ret.) David Berger, former commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps, shares why adaptability, resilience, and grit are not just desirable but essential traits for leaders in an uncertain and unpredictable age. Successful leaders must embrace disruption rather than…

1
The Future of Sweden's Military with Chief of Defense Michael Claesson 18:35

3M ago18:35

18:35

Gen. Michael Claesson, Chief of Defense of the Swedish Armed Forces, joined Ryan during a visit to Washington to share how NATO has changed Sweden's armed forces as well as the details of their modernization, consolidation, and expansion efforts — on land, at sea, and in the air. They also discuss the challenges of mobilization in future wars defin…

1
Not the Last Net Assessment 27:40

3M ago27:40

27:40

In this joint episode with the Net Assessment crew, recorded last week on "Liberation Day," Ryan joins Chris, Zack, and Melanie to talk about what's happening in the world as well as the future of Net Assessment, which is moving on to its forever home with the Stimson Center. If you would like to support Net Assessment, please consider donating to …

1
Episode 30: Navigating the EU Omnibus 39:28

3M ago39:28

39:28

In this episode, Mark Lee speaks to Johann Weicht, Jennifer Klie and Aiste Brackley about the latest updates to the EU Omnibus regulation. The Omnibus proposals aim to streamline the CSRD, CSDDD, EU Taxonomy and CBAM are expected to bring significant changes to the regulated sustainability disclosure and due diligence landscape. The episode delves …

1
Episode 29: Transforming towards sustainable chemicals featuring WBCSD and Syensqo 45:56

3M ago45:56

45:56

In this episode, Mark Lee is joined by Anne-Laure Brison, Senior Manager of Circular Products and Materials at World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD); Titta Rosvall-Puplett, Chief Sustainability Officer at Syensqo; and Cristina Pellegrino, ERM Global Industry Leader of Chemicals, to discuss “Towards Planet Positive Chemicals, A …

1
A Stroll Through the Indo-Pacific, the Most Important Region in the World 43:02

3M ago43:02

43:02

In this episode, we get into what's driving the Indo-Pacific's security dynamics, from China's threats to Taiwan to AUKUS and the Quad to stability (or lack thereof) on the Korean Peninsula to bases in the Philippines. We also touch on how prepared the United States may be to deliver military power in the Indo-Pacific based on forthcoming resourcin…

1
Can the U.S.-Ukrainian Rift Be Healed? 41:34

4M ago41:34

41:34

Last week, a meeting with President Zelensky of Ukraine at the White House exploded into acrimony in front of the cameras. Since then, an era-defining drama has been unfolding across the West as Europe prepares for a world where it might not be backed by U.S. military power. U.S. military aid and at least some intelligence support for Ukraine have …

1
Lt. Gen. Sklenka on Staying in the Fight 31:27

4M ago31:27

31:27

The Marine general and deputy commandant in charge of installations and logistics was kind enough to join Ryan for a wide-ranging conversation on military service, logistics, and so much more. Whether you are a servicemember or someone interested in how the U.S. military will be able to stay in the fight should a war break out in the Indo-Pacific, …

1
The Puzzling Diplomacy over Ukraine's Future 37:34

4M ago37:34

37:34

Nothing about the war in Ukraine is simple — including the diplomacy, which might be even messier than the battlefield. Michael Kofman, Justin Logan (Cato), and Liana Fix (the Council on Foreign Relations) joined Ryan to help him understand the negotiations underway about Ukraine's fate. From the minerals deal to Zelensky's approach to Trump to the…

1
"We Stand with Free People" — U.K. Security & Strategy with Tom Tugendhat 20:39

5M ago20:39

20:39

Member of U.K. Parliament and military veteran Tom Tugendhat was recently in Washington and was kind enough to join Ryan for a short but weighty conversation. Tugendhat chaired the Foreign Affairs Select Committee between 2017 and 2022 and then served in the previous government as minister of state for security. They discussed his time in governmen…

1
Transforming NATO for the Future Fight 28:12

5M ago28:12

28:12

Will NATO be able to innovate and adapt before a crisis? Adm. Pierre Vandier popped into War on the Rocks HQ for a most interesting chat about this very question. He serves as Supreme Allied Commander Transformation. A senior leader in the French navy and career fighter pilot, Vandier is responsible for the transformation of NATO's military structu…

1
Episode 28: Sustainability trends in 2025 43:17

5M ago43:17

43:17

Mark Lee talks with the authors of ERM’s Annual Trends Report - Aiste Brackley, Andrew Angle, Rebecca Green and Ricardo Zibas – about the key business sustainability trends to expect across the globe in 2025, from climate change to AI, and how companies can respond. Their conversation covers: Changes to the sustainability landscape in 2025 Progress…

1
Assessing Ukraine's Prospects in 2025 22:34

5M ago22:34

22:34

Mike Kofman joined Ryan for a wide-ranging conversation on the challenges faced by both Ukraine and Russia this year. They discuss losses on both sides, manpower challenges, the importance of following the discourse in Ukraine, the Russian economy, and whether the Russian pace of operations will clearly slow down. This episode is brought to you by …

1
Championing NATO's Digital Transformation 17:54

6M ago17:54

17:54

On the sidelines of I/ITSEC in Orlando, we hosted a live podcast recording. Our guest for this very special episode was Maj. Gen. Dominique Luzeaux of France, currently championing NATO's digital transformation. This wide-ranging conversation between Ryan and Maj. Gen. Luzeaux covered training with new technologies, lessons from Ukraine, AI and mor…

1
Episode 27: Accelerating wind energy in Asia Pacific featuring GWEC 33:12

7M ago33:12

33:12

The Asia Pacific (APAC) region holds immense potential for wind energy. From 2024 to 2030, APAC is expected to account for 61% of global new wind capacity. As the industry looks to ramp up the pace of new capacity installations, the APAC region has an important role in delivering the wind energy needed for the global net zero transition. Mark Lee t…

1
Waiting for a Theory of Victory in Ukraine 23:06

7M ago23:06

23:06

Mike Kofman and Ryan have a high-level conversation on strategy in this war, or the lack thereof. From Ukraine's mobilization reluctance to the Biden administration's curious approach to sequencing authorities and capabilities, they review what might ultimately cost Ukraine the war. And make no mistake, that is where the war is trending. Ryan also …

1
Technology, the Battlefield, and Beyond in Ukraine 1:01:34

7M ago1:01:34

1:01:34

We are sharing a free Thanksgiving episode of the Russia Contingency with you all to express our gratitude for your listenership and support. This episode, brought to you by OneBrief, features Michael Kofman and Rob Lee discussing the state of the Russo-Ukrainian War and the role of technology, especially drones. Many of the insights they share are…

1
Episode 26: Reflections from COP29 38:38

7M ago38:38

38:38

Mark Lee talks with ERM leaders ‌Sabine Hoefnagel, ‌Linden Edgell and ‌James Stacey about their reflections from the COP29 climate talks in Baku and what the event means for businesses in terms of moving forward with climate strategy and implementation. Their conversation covers: What was anticipated going into Baku Progress in hard-to-abate sector…

1
Episode 25: The future of water resilience in the US featuring J.P. Morgan 42:31

8M ago42:31

42:31

Mark Lee talks to Vamsi Alla, Managing Director in J.P. Morgan's Corporate Advisory and Sustainable Solutions team, and Pradipta Parhi, an Executive Director in J.P. Morgan’s Climate Technology, Innovation and Strategic Investment team, about their new report with ERM exploring the critical challenges and opportunities surrounding water resilience …

1
Episode 24: Developing hydrogen ecosystems featuring HYCAP and MorGen Energy 41:20

8M ago41:20

41:20

Mark Lee talks to Ben Madden, Chief Technology Officer at Hydrogen investment fund HYCAP, and Patrick Huber, Head of Project Finance at green hydrogen developer MorGen Energy, about the challenges and opportunities in hydrogen ecosystem development, including hydrogen generation, transport infrastructure and accessing new markets for hydrogen. Thei…

1
As Ukraine Stumbles and Russia Advances, What Does it Mean? 21:13

8M ago21:13

21:13

Mike Kofman came by WOTR HQ to discuss the state of the front and findings from his most recent research trip to Ukraine. From North Korean troops, to manpower woes, to Donald Trump coming back to the Oval Office, what does it all add up to for Ukraine?

1
Episode 23: Navigating nature tech solutions for business featuring the NatureTech Alliance 52:24

8M ago52:24

52:24

Mark Lee talks to members of the NatureTech Alliance, including Salesforce, NatureMetrics and Planet, about their new report exploring how nature tech solutions can help companies to navigate a path towards nature positive. They also discuss the outcomes of the United Nations COP16 biodiversity conference. Their conversation covers: COP16 outcomes …

1
The Transformation of Marine Marksmanship 32:22

8M ago32:22

32:22

Ryan popped over to Quantico to speak with four marines at the forefront of major advances in marksmanship in America's 9-1-1 force. Listen in as Maj. Steve Stephenson, Capt. Phil Williams, Gunner Josh Grayek, and Gunnery Sgt. Jude Stewart of Weapons Training Battalion explain how they are making the Marine Corps more lethal and capable than ever b…

1
Episode 22: How to sell sustainability to business leaders featuring John Elkington 32:35

9M ago32:35

32:35

Mark Lee talks to John Elkington, founder of Volans, about his latest book ‘Tickling Sharks: How We Sold Business on Sustainability’. They look back at how corporate sustainability has evolved over the past 50 years, anticipate how it will progress in the future and debate the most effective ways to engage business leaders on sustainability. Their …

1
Episode 21: What Climate Week NYC meant for business 35:12

9M ago35:12

35:12

Mark Lee talks to ERM leaders and experts across climate markets, social performance and nature, about how Climate Week NYC 2024 shaped the global business sustainability agenda. They also discuss implications and expectations for the upcoming United Nations COP16 biodiversity and COP29 climate change conferences later this year. Their conversation…

1
The Meaning of Creeping Ukrainian Losses in the East 26:15

9M ago26:15

26:15

Michael Kofman popped into WOTR HQ to speak with Ryan about the war. They discussed territorial losses in the Donbas, the situation in Kursk, manpower challenges on both sides, and how Ukraine is seeing war termination on favorable terms. This episode also features a short preview of the most recent episode of Mike's members-only show, "The Russia …

1
Episode 20: How mining can accelerate the energy transition featuring Rio Tinto 34:25

10M ago34:25

34:25

Mark Lee talks to Dominic Barton, Chair at Rio Tinto, and Louise Pearce, Global Industry Lead for Mining and Metals at ERM, about the role of mining in the low-carbon energy transition. Their conversation covers: - Rio Tinto’s environmental and social strategy - Decarbonizing mining and metals - How to increase metals and critical minerals supply -…

1
Can ICE Pact Salvage American Shipbuilding? 32:59

10M ago32:59

32:59

Three sharp directors on the National Security Council staff invited Ryan over to the Eisenhower Executive Office Building to chat about the Icebreaker Collaboration Effort, or ICE Pact, which is a trilateral partnership between the United States, Canada, and Finland that's aimed at delivering the icebreakers America needs while also jump-starting …

1
How Ukraine Re-Introduced Dynamism Into the War 24:27

11M ago24:27

24:27

Mike Kofman popped into WOTR HQ to speak with Ryan about the state of play in Ukraine. From south to north, they review the situation at the front, with special attention to Ukraine's offensive operation into Russian territory, to include its political implications. They talk about manpower and fortifications and explore how much F-16s might change…

1
The Army Wants You to Write. Three Soldiers Explain Why 34:38

11M ago34:38

34:38

The U.S. Army, from the chief of staff on down, is putting its weight behind getting soldiers to take writing and publishing more seriously as an important part of the profession of arms. From the Harding Project to the revitalization of branch journals to the Line of Departure website (coming this fall) to a special forthcoming issue of Military R…

1
Ukraine Goes into Kursk: A Dose of the "Russia Contingency" with Michael Kofman 23:57

11M ago23:57

23:57

This is part one of a two-parter on Ukraine's operation into the Russian oblast of Kursk and it's from our members-only show, "The Russia Contingency" with Michael Kofman. In this episode Mike discusses this fast developing situation with his colleague at the Carnegie Endowment, Dara Massicot. If you're a member, you can listen to part two. Become …

1
The Smartest Conversation on Cyber in the Defense Department You've Heard in a Long Time 1:09:23

11M ago1:09:23

1:09:23

Ryan was joined by Melissa Griffith (SAIS-Johns Hopkins), Anne Marie Schumann (Department of the Navy), Alexis Bonnell (Air Force Research Laboratory), and Tyler Sweatt (Second Front) for a free-wheeling, candid, and thoughtful conversation on the challenges of cyber security in the Defense Department. You won't want to miss this. Please keep in mi…

1
Chapter One of Make Money your Thing! 23:40

11M ago23:40

23:40

This episode is an extra special treat. I'm so excited to be sharing the first chapter of my book Make Money your Thing! This book brings together my top money tips with a focus on supporting women in their financial lives. Chapter one takes the reader through some of the inner work that must be done if you are ready to ditch the shame and fear so …

1
Can Congress Revive Shipbuilding and Maritime Strategy? 33:42

12M ago33:42

33:42

A sailor from a landlocked state and a soldier from a state with the country's second longest coastline are trying to accomplish something transformative for American seapower. Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Rep. Mike Waltz (R-FL) are leading an important bi-partisan and bi-cameral effort to revitalize American shipbuilding and maritime strategy. They …

1
How Dangerous is this Summer for Ukraine? 29:03

12M ago29:03

29:03

Mike Kofman dropped by War on the Rocks HQ to update us on the war, drawing on his findings from his recent field study in Ukraine. They discuss the state of the front (and why developments at the front might be less important than before), mobilization, China's role as a gateway and supplier for Russia, the debate over Ukraine using U.S. weapons f…

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Positive Transformation Net Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

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