Global Law and Business

Haiti — Robert Fatton Jr.

In Episode #70, we are joined by Robert Fatton Jr., the Julia A. Cooper Professor of Government and Foreign Affairs in the Department of Politics at the University of Virginia and one of the foremost experts on Haiti.

We discuss:

• Prof. Fatton's path from Port-au-Prince to Charlottesville
• Our guest's experience as a sportscaster during Haiti's 1974 World Cup appearance and how he became a Real Madrid fan
• Why the Haitian Revolution is a fundamental event in world history, which shapes Haiti to this day
• The 1915-1934 U.S. occupation of Haiti
• The mysteries surrounding the recent assassination of President Jovenel Moïse
• Haiti's challenges ahead
• Listening, and watching recommendations from:
  • Robert
    • The Black Jacobins: Toussaint L'Ouverture and the San Domingo Revolution by C. L. R. James
    • Avengers of the New World by Laurent Dubois
    • Exterminate All the Brutes, a documentary series by acclaimed filmmaker Raoul Peck
    • Rhum Barbancourt
  • Jonathan
    • Ban on transgender athletes in girls sports stalls in Utah Senate committee, Deseret News
  • Fred
    • The Side of Haiti You've Never Seen
    • Barbancourt over ice cream (H/T Joe Callahan)

We’ll see you next week for another exciting and informative episode when we sit down with Zoe Lee, Taiwan's pioneering cannabis lawyer!

Journalism, Podcasting, and Asia — Andrew Peaple

In Episode #69, we are joined by Andrew Peaple, editor at The Wire China, and co-founder and presenter of the Asia Matters podcast.

We discuss:

• Andrew's journalism career, including a 16-year stint at The Wall Street Journal.
• The JET Program and why it represents a soft power triumph for Japan.
• How journalism has been impacted by the growth of the public relations industry, as well as the emergence of social media.
• Asia Matters, and how it was partly motivated by existing gaps in non-China Asia coverage.
• The importance of understanding how Asians are interacting with each other - not just DC thinktank perspectives.
• The culture shock of returning to the UK after many years abroad.
• Brexit and Britain's importation of the American culture wars.
• What it means if someone in the UK compares you to Marmite.
• Listening, and watching recommendations from:
  • Andrew
    • In Our Time (BBC podcast)
    • Invisible China, by Scott Rozelle and Natalie Hell
  •  Fred
    • Asia Matters, of course!

We’ll see you next week for another exciting and informative episode when we sit down with Robert Fatton Jr., one of the foremost experts on Haiti.

Women-Focused Insurance in U.K. and Australia – Sam White

In Episode #68, we are joined by Sam White, serial entrepreneur and CEO at Freedom Services Group, a UK-based insurance agency.

We discuss:

• How Sam's first job at a car insurance brokerage led to starting her own international insurance group focused on women.
• Data bias against women in insurance and medical science, including male drug testing, seatbelts designed for the male torso, financial services, and insurance policy coverage language focused more on golf clubs than baby equipment and handbags.
• Insurance liability limits across oceans.
• Australia's win-win business environment compared to the U.S. and U.K.'s win-lose environment.
• Listening, and watching recommendations from:
  • Sam
    • Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado Pérez
    • Everything is F*cked: A Book About Hope by Mark Manson
    • The Chimp Paradox: The Acclaimed Mind Management Programme to Help You Achieve Success, Confidence and Happiness by Steve Peters
  • Fred
    • Corridos, POLITICO Canadian focused newsletter
  • Jonathan
    • Agatha Christie's Ordeal By Innocence stream on Amazon
    • Agatha Christie's The Pale Horse stream on Amazon
    • Agatha Christie's The ABC Murders stream on Amazon

We’ll see you next week for another exciting and informative episode when we sit down with Andrew Peaple from Asia Matters Podcast!

Crypto and Blockchain – Enrique Martinez

In Episode #67, we are joined by Enrique Martinez, CEO and founder of WebCapitalists Corp., a cryptocurrency and blockchain consulting company.

We discuss:

• Why an aerospace engineer became an early adopter of Bitcoin.
• The Byzantine Generals Problem and what it tells us about blockchain.
• How Hurricane Maria and the devastation it brought about in his native Puerto Rico made Enrique a more vocal technologist for crypto.
• Blockchain's applications to fields as varied as healthcare and art sales.
• Enrique's work with retired athletes looking to earn revenue by tokenizing their collectibles.
• Why ticket scalpers need to be beware of blockchain.
• Criticisms of crypto.
• Listening, and watching recommendations from:
  • Enrique
    • Bitcoin White Paper by Satoshi Nakamoto
    • The Bitcoin Standard: The Decentralized Alternative to Central Banking by Saifedean Ammous
    • Stay up to date with Wyoming's cryptocurrency
    • Stay up to date with Miami's cryptocurrency 
    • Bitcoin.org
    • Stay up to date with Twitter CEO, Jack Dorsey
  • Fred
    • Global Law and Business Episode 47 – James Cooper (Intellectual Property and Blockchain)
    • The China History Podcast
  • Jonathan
    • "The secret economics of a VIP party," The Economist, by Ashley Mears

We’ll see you next week for another exciting and informative episode when we sit down with Sam White to discuss the insurance world, the differing work styles across the Anglosphere, and more!

Tales of the Tribunal Podcast – Chris Cambpell

In Episode #66, we are joined by Chris Campbell, in-house attorney for Baker Hughes and Tales of The Tribunal podcast host.

We discuss:

• The evolution of Chris's podcast, Tales of The Tribunal
• Risotto, wine, and sunshine - or how Chris ended up in Italy
• A lawyer's perspective on the oil and gas industry
• The pros and cons of working as in-house counsel
• Chris's education in China and experience working on China-related matters
• Up-and-coming fields of law
• Recommendations from Tales of the Tribunal
• Listening, and watching recommendations from:
  • Chris
    • Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know About the People We Don’t Know by Malcolm Gladwell
    • High on the Hog: How African American Cuisine Transformed America (Netflix)
  • Fred
    • Revisionist History by Malcom Gladwell
  • Andrew Smith (guest host)
    • "Advancing sustainable development with FDI: Why policy must be reset," Hinrich Foundation, by Simon J. Evenett and Johannes Fritz

We’ll see you next week for another exciting and informative episode when we sit down with Enrique Martinez to discuss global cryptocurrency markets!

Cannabis in Ireland – Natalie O’Regan

In Episode #65, we are joined by Natalie O’Regan, a cannabis activist in Ireland.

We discuss:

• The state of cannabis legislation in Ireland.
• Natalie's research on drug policy.
• The "hamster wheel" of stigma in the context of drugs.
• Society's need for labeling and its connection to cannabis laws.
• Ireland's road ahead toward cannabis legalization.
• Listening, and watching recommendations from:
  • Natalie
    • Chasing the Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs by Johann Hari
    • Drug Use for Grown-Ups: Chasing Liberty in the Land of Fear by Carl Hart
  • Fred
    • Screen your calls before you answer them
    • DarkHorse Podcast with hosts Bret Weinstein and Dr. Heather Heying
  • Jonathan
    • 2020 U.S. Olympic Trials on YouTube
    • 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics

We’ll see you next week for another exciting and informative episode when we sit down with Chris Campbell to discuss his The Tales of the Tribunal Podcast, and much more!

Technology in Law & International Trade – Simon Igelman

In Episode #64, we are joined by Simon Igelman, an international business associate at Garfinkle Biderman LLP, a Canadian-based law firm.

We discuss:

• Simon's background in technology and how he created his website Trade Law Report that pulls the most up to date online chatter about international trade from around the web, including Twitter.
• Balancing artificial intelligence (AI) advances and legal concerns.
• The process of becoming a lawyer in Canada, including articling.
• International trade in Canada and how it varies from but is largely intertwined with the United States.
• Covid-19's impact on timber prices in the United States and Canada.
• Listening, and watching recommendations from:
  • Simon
    • Trade Law Report
    • World Trade Law: Text, Materials and Commentary by Simon Lester, Bryan Mercurio, Arwel Davies
    • All the Shah's Men: An American Coup and the Roots of Middle East Terror by Stephen Kinzer
  • Fred
    • "How Academic Freedom Ends" by Timothy McLaughlin, The Atlantic
  • Jonathan
    • "Why is Lumber So Expensive? And when will things get back to normal?" by Ben Sprague, Substack

We’ll see you next week for another exciting and informative episode when we sit down with Natalie O'Regan to discuss cannabis in Ireland.

Latin America – Alberto Villarreal

In Episode #63, we are joined by Alberto Villarreal, Managing Director at Nepanoa Transformation Advisory.

We discuss:

• An inside look at international consulting firms.
• Latin America (LatAm) as a marketplace and for back office or company operations.
• LatAm's talented labor force and affinity for Western-style work culture.
• Concerns for a company looking at utilizing LatAm, including security and costs.
• Why companies with strong culture generally have an easier time establishing themselves in LatAm.
• Advice for people considering a consulting career and pursuing an MBA at the University of Chicago.
• Listening, and watching recommendations from:
  • Alberto
    • Follow the U.S.-Mexico Foundation
    • Piece of advice, "Don't be afraid to work internationally."
  • Adrián
    • The Cheat Code: Going Off Script to Get More and Go Faster by Brian Wong
    • La Ingenieria de la Exportacion, by Nicola Minervini
  • Jonathan
    • The Spy Who Came In from the Cold by John le Carré

We’ll see you next week for another exciting and informative episode when we sit down with Simon Igelman, as we discuss technology in law and international trade.

Toys – Azhelle Wade

In Episode #62, we are joined by Azhelle Wade, The Toy Coach.

We discuss:

• How a passion for working with children led to a career in toy design and development.
• The importance of market research for aspiring toymakers.
• Legal concerns for toymakers, including intellectual property and testing.
• Toys as a case study in the importance of protecting molds when manufacturing overseas.
• What toy entrepreneurs doing business in China can expect.
• The difficulties of reshoring toy production.
• Salsa, bachata, and the joy of dancing across language barriers.
• Listening, and watching recommendations from:
  • Azhelle
    • Online Marketing Made Easy, podcast by Amy Porterfield
    • The Toy Coach Podcast
    • The Toy Coach Instagram
    • Toy Creators Academy
  • Fred
    • Dunkirk
  • Jonathan
    • "Manufacturing costs are rising," by Jared Van Orden, Utah Business

We’ll see you next week for another exciting and informative episode when we sit down with Alberto Villarreal, as we discuss business expansion and barriers in Latin America.

Canada – Andrew House

In Episode #61, we are joined by Andrew House, partner and co-leader of the national security team at Fasken.

We discuss:

• Andrew's career trajectory, from criminal defense work in Halifax to Canada's national security establishment in Ottawa.
• The challenges of working in post-conflict Kosovo.
• Foreign investment reviews in Canada, and the outsized role of America's concerns.
• Why legal knowledge is beneficial when working in government relations.
• The shifting tides of Canada's COVID experience, and why the pandemic constitutes a healthy wake-up call on Canada's industrial base.
• Canada's challenges in its relationship with China.
• Key differences between Canadian and U.S. officialdoms.
• Listening, and watching recommendations from:
  • Andrew
    • The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, by William L. Shirer
    • Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln, by Doris Kearns Goodwin
    • The Comey Rule, on Showtime
  • Fred
    • "Gargantuanisation," by John Lanchester, London Review of Books
  • Jonathan
    • Why Does the C.I.A. Need Puppets?, on Sway, New York Times podcast

We’ll see you next week for another exciting and informative episode when we sit down with Azhelle Wade, AKA The Toy Coach!