“Picking Up Where We Left Off” is a podcast series by the Hollings Center that revisits and explores the themes, discussions, and outcomes of past dialogues and conferences organized by the Center. The series aims to delve into the progress made since these meetings and to address the ongoing relevance of the issues discussed, particularly in the context of the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, and Turkey. Each episode features in-depth conversations with experts, practitioners, and policymakers who reflect on the developments in their respective fields, analyze the current state of affairs, and propose pathways forward. The podcast not only offers a retrospective look at past events but also provides fresh perspectives and insights into contemporary challenges, with a focus on fostering understanding and collaboration.
To learn more about our dialogue programs, visit www.hollingscenter.org
To learn more about our dialogue programs, visit www.hollingscenter.org
Picking Up Where We Left Off on Türkiye-US Defense Relations
In this episode of Picking Up: Where We Left Off, host Michael Carroll, Executive Director of the Hollings Center for International Dialogue, sits down with Hakan Akbaş and Michael Reynolds.
17 Mar 2026
Iraq in a Transitional Era
In the latest episode of Picking Up Where We Left Off, Michael Carroll talks with Shahla Al Kli and Adam Weinstein about Iraq’s shifting political landscape, regional dynamics, and the role the United States could play in shaping what comes next. The episode acknowledges that recent developments involving Iran unfolded after the conversation was recorded, but the insights remain critical for understanding this moment in the Middle East.
16 Jan 2026
Picking Up Where We Left Off on Maritime Security
In this episode of Picking Up Where We Left Off the conversation revisits the evolving maritime security challenges facing Southeast Asia—a region central to global trade and geopolitical stability. Building on insights from a 2024 Hollings Center dialogue in Kuala Lumpur, the episode explores how traditional threats such as smuggling, human trafficking, and illegal fishing are increasingly intertwined with emerging risks, including “dark shipping,” sanctioned oil transfers, and the growing vulnerability of undersea infrastructure. The discussion underscores how Southeast Asia’s heavy reliance on secure sea lanes makes disruptions at sea not only a regional concern, but one with direct implications for international commerce, energy flows, and digital connectivity worldwide.
Featuring perspectives from Gilang Kembara of Nanyang Technological University and Elina Noor of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, the episode highlights the often-overlooked risks to submarine cables that carry the vast majority of global internet traffic, as well as the safety, environmental, and accountability gaps created by illicit maritime practices. The guests emphasize that addressing these challenges requires a coordinated, multi-stakeholder response—one that brings together governments, regional bodies such as Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the United States, and private-sector and cybersecurity actors. Rather than offering simple solutions, the episode makes clear that safeguarding Southeast Asia’s maritime domain will demand sustained cooperation and a whole-of-society approach to managing the region’s increasingly complex maritime risks.
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Apple Podcasts (US)
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5 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
4 ratings
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