(2017) A still relevant discussion with Congressman Rick Crawford on Cuban-American relations and the connection that America's Heartland has to the island through agriculture exports. Cohosting* the interview are Frank Mora, Director of the Kimberly Green Latin American and Caribbean Center, Sebastian Arco, Associate Director of the Cuban Research Institute, and Michael Scadden, an independent regional consultant and also a Research Associate of the Jack D. Gordon Institute for Public Policy.

*All participants are referred to by their roles at the time

A discussion with then Consul General of Mexico in Miami on topics relevant to US-Mexico relations including trade, immigration, and entrepreneurship in Mexico.

Despite this interview taking place in 2017, much of the information is still relevant and worth taking some time to listen and consider...

Original live recording on Youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36U19AZXfxQ

Guests Victoria Brian de Moura & Henry Gordon Smith of Agritecture elaborate on the current status, viability, and future of Controlled Environment Agriculture in Latin America-and how women participating in the sector may be key to unlocking its growth and benefits within food systems.

Links:

Victoria Brian de Moura

https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoria-bmoura/

Henry Gordon-Smith

https://www.linkedin.com/in/hgordonsmith/

Michael Scadden

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mscadden/

Women in CEA:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/women-in-cea/

Christine Gould: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinergould/

Thought for Food LATAM:

https://www.instagram.com/tfflatam/

Agritecture:

https://www.agritecture.com/

A discussion with Dr. R. Evan Ellis, a subject matter expert affiliated with the US Army War College, CSIS, and FIU's Gordon Institute of Public Policy:

- Recent developments in the PRC's engagement with Latin American and Caribbean countries

- The commercial, social, and strategic implications

- Industries and sectors of focus for China's interests

- Private sector risk exposure and mitigation

- How Chinese interests align with other extra regional geopolitical actors

- How the US government, local national governments, and the private sector are responding or could respond to Chinese influence in the region

- How local communities or the average person in the region is or could be impacted

Support this podcast:

https://linktr.ee/ocelotlgroup

Connect with Dr. R. Evan Ellis:

https://revanellis.com/

https://x.com/REvanEllis

https://substack.com/@evanellis

Connect with Michael Scadden:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mscadden/

https://x.com/mjscadden

Amanda & Michael team up again, this time to discuss Israeli diplomacy and engagement in Latin America with former Israeli diplomat Mike Driquez, who served as Deputy Ambassador to Costa Rica and later Deputy Consul General to several US states including Florida and Puerto Rico. They cover a range of topics in this discussion including:

- Historical connections in the region

- Technology diplomacy in sectors such as agriculture, cybersecurity, and water resource management

- Cultural diplomacy and public perception

- Possibility of outreach to Latin American communities with Palestinian, Lebanese, and other Middle Eastern heritage

- Diversity of representation in Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to include diplomats of Arab, Druze, and Jewish heritage

- Differences in managing diplomatic relations in the US vs Latin America and navigating the uniqueness of Puerto Rico as a US territory

Support this podcast: https://linktr.ee/ocelotlgroup

Follow & support Great Work with Amanda Peterson:

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/greatworkpodcast

Connect with ambassador Mike Driquez:

⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikedriquez⁠

Follow Amanda Peterson on X:

https://x.com/amandatalks__

Connect with Michael Scadden:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mscadden/

Until the recent series of conflicts in the Middle East, the average person in other parts of the world was only vaguely aware of Hezbollah at all. Even now with the organization in the spotlight most people are shocked to learn of its longtime presence in Latin America, and the scope of its activities there. This includes influence operations, terror plots, money laundering, and collaborations with cartels.

In this episode, cohosted with the Great Work podcast, we discuss the history, present, and future of Hezbollah in Latin America with Emanuele Ottolenghi. As a leading expert on the topic, Emanuele helps us explore how Hezbollah’s activities affect everything from risk exposure for the private sector, to national security interests, to the very real threat of its planned terror attacks on Jewish communities in the region.

Support this podcast: https://linktr.ee/ocelotlgroup

Follow and support the Great Work podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/greatworkpodcast

About Emanuele Ottolenghi:

https://www.fdd.org/team/emanuele-ottolenghi/

https://x.com/eottolenghi

Follow Amanda Peterson on X: https://x.com/amandatalks__

Connect with Michael Scadden: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mscadden/

Additional Resources:

Foundation for the Defense of Democracies https://www.fdd.org/

Center for a Secure Free Society https://www.securefreesociety.org/

Gordon Institute for Public Policy https://gordoninstitute.fiu.edu/

James McKeigue, Managing Editor of LatAm Investor magazine, joins us from Guayaquil, Ecuador where the UK-based James is currently sequestered as the region faces another in a long line of challenges: COVID19. James shares insights into the region's current status as the world manages the COVID19 outbreak, and leaders at all levels look at ways to manage the economic impacts of worldwide shutdowns. Between the challenges, and at the other end of the crisis, there may be opportunities in the Latin America and Caribbean region, for investors and for communities.