At The Boundary

• From Battlefield to Battery: The Critical Mineral Supply Crisis

  Text the ATB Team! We'd love to hear from you! In this episode of At the Boundary, guest host GNSI publications coordinator Heather Ward speaks with Dr. Vlado Vivoda of the University of Queensland to explore the strategic role of critical minerals in modern technology, clean energy, and national security.Dr. Vivoda explains why minerals like lithium, cobalt, nickel, and rare earth elements are vital to everything from EV batteries and smartphones to advanced defense technology. The discussion highlights the risks of supply chain vulnerability, including China’s dominance in mineral refining and global production, and the regulatory challenges facing U.S. mineral policy. Key topics include:🔹 The role of critical minerals in defense and energy 🔹 Why the U.S. mineral supply chain is at risk 🔹 How mineral recycling and alternative tech could reduce dependency 🔹 The need for faster mine permitting and strategic resource planning🎙️ Learn why securing critical materials is essential to global stability, economic resilience, and national defense.Links from the episode:• GNSI Decision Brief: “De Oppresso Liber – Applying Green Beret Identity and Ethos to Build U.S. Military Resiliency” By Drs. Joseph Long and Rob Burell and retired Lt General Charles Cleveland• GNSI Video Series Interview with Ambassador John J. SullivanAt the Boundary from the Global and National Security Institute at the University of South Florida, features global and national security issues we’ve found to be insightful, intriguing, fascinating, maybe controversial, but overall just worth talking about.A "boundary" is a place, either literal or figurative, where two forces exist in close proximity to each other. Sometimes that boundary is in a state of harmony. More often than not, that boundary has a bit of chaos baked in. The Global and National Security Institute will live on the boundary of security policy and technology and that's where this podcast will focus. The mission of GNSI is to provide actionable solutions to 21st-century security challenges for decision-makers at the local, state, national and global levels. We hope you enjoy At the Boundary.Look for our other publications and products on our website publications page.

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• Iran’s Axis of Resistance: Can It Shift the Balance of Power?

  Text the ATB Team! We'd love to hear from you! In this episode of At the Boundary, host Jim Cardoso sits down with Dr. Armand Mahmoudian to introduce a major new research initiative from the Global and National Security Institute (GNSI) at the University of South Florida: Axis of Resistance.The conversation explores Iran’s growing influence across the Middle East through its network of proxies in Iraq, Lebanon, Yemen, and beyond. Mahmoudian provides historical context for Iran’s regional strategy, its support for Shia groups, and the current challenges surrounding Iran’s nuclear ambitions.Listeners will also learn about GNSI’s upcoming monthly expert panels, featuring former officials, regional specialists, and voices from affected communities—all aimed at delivering comprehensive insights into the evolving geopolitical landscape of the Middle East.🎧 Tune in to learn how Iran’s power projection is reshaping security dynamics across the region—and why understanding it matters now more than ever.At the Boundary from the Global and National Security Institute at the University of South Florida, features global and national security issues we’ve found to be insightful, intriguing, fascinating, maybe controversial, but overall just worth talking about.A "boundary" is a place, either literal or figurative, where two forces exist in close proximity to each other. Sometimes that boundary is in a state of harmony. More often than not, that boundary has a bit of chaos baked in. The Global and National Security Institute will live on the boundary of security policy and technology and that's where this podcast will focus. The mission of GNSI is to provide actionable solutions to 21st-century security challenges for decision-makers at the local, state, national and global levels. We hope you enjoy At the Boundary.Look for our other publications and products on our website publications page.

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• The Hidden Risks of a Ukraine Ceasefire

  Text the ATB Team! We'd love to hear from you! What’s next in the Russia-Ukraine war, and how should the U.S. respond? In this episode of At the Boundary, we listen in on a critical conversation between Dr. Arman Mahmudian, GNSI Research Fellow, and David Kramer, Executive Director of the George W. Bush Institute.Together, they examine the current state of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, explore the political landscape, and assess the potential for a ceasefire. Kramer outlines Russia’s continued aggression, the vital role of U.S. military and economic support, and the importance of long-term security guarantees for Ukraine.The discussion also covers Ukraine’s battlefield innovations, the risks of premature negotiations, and strategic policy recommendations—including enhanced sanctions, seizing Russian assets, and maintaining pressure to deter future Russian actions.🎧 Tune in for expert analysis on the war’s trajectory, U.S. foreign policy, and what’s at stake for global security.At the Boundary from the Global and National Security Institute at the University of South Florida, features global and national security issues we’ve found to be insightful, intriguing, fascinating, maybe controversial, but overall just worth talking about.A "boundary" is a place, either literal or figurative, where two forces exist in close proximity to each other. Sometimes that boundary is in a state of harmony. More often than not, that boundary has a bit of chaos baked in. The Global and National Security Institute will live on the boundary of security policy and technology and that's where this podcast will focus. The mission of GNSI is to provide actionable solutions to 21st-century security challenges for decision-makers at the local, state, national and global levels. We hope you enjoy At the Boundary.Look for our other publications and products on our website publications page.

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  47:33
• Is Yemen Losing the War Against the Houthis?

  Text the ATB Team! We'd love to hear from you! In this episode of At the Boundary, guest Nadwa Al-Dawsari, a Yemen expert of the Middle East Institute, joins GNSI’s own Dr. Armand Mahmoudian to unpack the rise of the Houthis and their growing impact on regional and global security.The conversation explores the Houthis' ideological roots, inspired by the Iranian Revolution, and their strategic objectives—from dominating Yemen to targeting holy sites and calling for the destruction of Israel. With military backing and training from Iran, the Houthis have become a key player in Middle Eastern geopolitics.The episode also delves into recent U.S. military strikes aimed at stopping Houthi attacks on global shipping, their ties with extremist groups like Al-Shabaab, and the involvement of major powers like Russia and China.What’s next for Yemen—and what does it mean for the world? Tune in for expert insights and critical analysis of one of today’s most volatile security flashpoints.At the Boundary from the Global and National Security Institute at the University of South Florida, features global and national security issues we’ve found to be insightful, intriguing, fascinating, maybe controversial, but overall just worth talking about.A "boundary" is a place, either literal or figurative, where two forces exist in close proximity to each other. Sometimes that boundary is in a state of harmony. More often than not, that boundary has a bit of chaos baked in. The Global and National Security Institute will live on the boundary of security policy and technology and that's where this podcast will focus. The mission of GNSI is to provide actionable solutions to 21st-century security challenges for decision-makers at the local, state, national and global levels. We hope you enjoy At the Boundary.Look for our other publications and products on our website publications page.

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  34:01
• Are U.S. Sanctions Helping the Enemy?

  Text the ATB Team! We'd love to hear from you! How effective are economic sanctions in shaping global behavior—and what happens when they backfire?In this episode of the At the Boundary podcast, host Jim Cardoso is joined by Dr. Zachary Selden, a leading expert on U.S. foreign policy and economic sanctions from the University of Florida. Together, they explore the evolving role of sanctions in diplomacy and global security, using both historical and current examples to examine when sanctions work—and when they don’t.Key topics include:The U.S. embargo on Japan before WWII and its strategic consequencesSanctions on Russia and Iran: impacts, workarounds, and domestic responsesHow sanctions can unintentionally drive local production (like rare earth metals)Why sanctions are more effective when tied to specific goals—not regime changeThe challenges of sanctioning authoritarian regimes with access to alternative suppliers like ChinaWhether you're a policy professional, student of international relations, or just curious about how sanctions shape global events, this episode offers clear, timely insights into one of the most debated tools of modern statecraft. Links from the episode:• Future Strategist Program Cyber Frontier SummitAt the Boundary from the Global and National Security Institute at the University of South Florida, features global and national security issues we’ve found to be insightful, intriguing, fascinating, maybe controversial, but overall just worth talking about.A "boundary" is a place, either literal or figurative, where two forces exist in close proximity to each other. Sometimes that boundary is in a state of harmony. More often than not, that boundary has a bit of chaos baked in. The Global and National Security Institute will live on the boundary of security policy and technology and that's where this podcast will focus. The mission of GNSI is to provide actionable solutions to 21st-century security challenges for decision-makers at the local, state, national and global levels. We hope you enjoy At the Boundary.Look for our other publications and products on our website publications page.

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