Brazil Institute Podcast

In this episode, Bruna Santos and Carlos Affonso Souza dive into the evolving landscape of digital regulation in Brazil. Carlos, the Director of the Institute of Technology and Society of Rio de Janeiro (ITS Rio) and a Professor of Law at Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ), brings his expertise to discuss the critical questions surrounding the accountability of digital platforms and the implications of Article 19 of Brazil’s Internet Bill of Rights.

In this episode of the Brazil Institute podcast, Bruna Santos talks about upcoming municipal elections in Brazil with Thiago Vidal, Director of Political Analysis at Prospectiva Public Affairs Lat.Am. With 5,570 municipalities and over 156 million voters deciding on new mayors and city council members, the results are critical and often overlooked from an international perspective. Bruna explores with Thiago how these elections will serve as a test for Lula’s administration and, facing the current polarization, the perspectives for the next presidential race in 2026.

In this episode of the Brazil Institute podcast, Bruna Santos talks with Jennifer Prescott about the evolving tech landscape in Brazil. Jennifer highlights the economic impact of cloud computing and AI, collaborations with the Brazilian government on AI regulation, and the country's growing AI ecosystem. They also discuss efforts in digital training and how global best practices can help shape Brazil's regulatory framework.

In this episode, host Bruna Santos talks to Venezuelan journalist Paula Ramón for an insider's view on Venezuela's elections, the impact of Chavismo on citizens, and Lula's controversial stance.

In this episode, host Bruna Santos talks to Leticia Phillips, founder and managing partner of the Ridge Road Group, about Brazil-US cooperation for energy transition.

In this episode, host Lina Doherty discusses the historic climate crisis in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, with guests Natalie Unterstell and Anabel Teixeira. They explore the local government’s response, the vital role of civil society, and the imperative for sustainable reconstruction.

In this episode, Bruna Santos and Oscar Vilhena, law professor and Wilson Center global fellow, reflect on Brazil one year after its momentous 2022 election bringing Lula back into power. They analyze early challenges confronting Lula’s administration, from political turmoil to polarization, while discussing the road ahead for institutional stability. 

In this episode, host Bruna Santos talks to labor lawyer Stanley Gacek about the new Partnership for Workers’ Rights between the US and Brazil. Announced at the 2022 UN General Assembly, the accord aims to promote higher standards and strengthen protections for workers in key sectors of both countries. Gacek provides an insider’s look at the partnership’s origins, goals, and potential impact on empowering unions and improving labor conditions in the US and Brazil.

In this episode of the Wilson Center’s Brazil Institute Podcast, host Bruna Santos talks with Vanessa Canado, director of the Tax Research Center at Brazil’s Instituto de Ensino e Pesquisa, about Brazil’s bold tax reform proposal, the state of Congressional negotiations, and its potential impact on businesses, consumers, and economic growth. Notably, Canado drafted the constitutional amendment bill that inspired the proposal soon to be deliberated in the Senate.

In this episode of the Brazil Institute podcast, guest host Talita Fernandes speaks with Raoni Rajão. As a professor at Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, member of the cabinet of Brazil’s Minister of Environment, and a former Brazil Institute Fellow, Rajão sheds light on the profound impacts of misinformation in science, specifically relating to the environment and climate change.