What global experts worry about in 2026

The military action in Venezuela sent shockwaves around the world, but that is not the only hotspot with potential for war. Paul Stares is General John W. Vessey Senior Fellow for Conflict Prevention and director of the Center for Preventive Action, Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). He joins host Krys Boyd to discuss CFR’s annual conflict risk assessment survey, which looks at U.S. national security threats and potential areas for international instability in 2026. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Venezuela’s future looks uncertain, and the entire region is bracing for what comes next. Will Freeman is a fellow for Latin America studies at the Council on Foreign Relations. He joins host Krys Boyd to discuss Nicolás Maduro’s removal and the United States’ new bid for dominance in Latin America, what oil means for regional economies, and how Colombia, Cuba and other countries might meet this moment. His article in Foreign Affairs is “The Shock Waves of Venezuela.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

 If you’re chugging orange juice or sipping chicken soup to battle colds, you might’ve been sold a bill of goods. Daniel M. Davis is head of life sciences and professor of immunology at Imperial College London. He joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the facts vs. myths of keeping your immune system healthy, why too strong an immune system might be detrimental, and the surprising remedies that actually work. His book is “Self-Defense: A Myth-Busting Guide to Immune Health.”  Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

In an angry, polarized world, it’s good to remember the many benefits of a good laugh. Chris Duffy is a comedian and host of TED’s podcast “How to Be a Better Human,” and he joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the link between humor and innovation, how social bonds are formed over jokes and chuckles, and why humor is a key to a happy, healthy life. His book is “Humor Me: How Laughing More Can Make You Present, Creative, Connected, and Happy.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

A.I. is changing the way business is done in every industry — including the business of sex. Avantika Chilkoti, Global Business Correspondent for The Economist, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss how A.I. is affecting the pornography industry, which brings in billions of dollars annually, and to ponder whether computer-generated content will put human sex workers out of a job. Her article is “A.I. is upending the porn industry.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

 There’s a fine line between a voracious hobby and an out-and-out obsession. David Greene, journalist, author and former host of NPR's Morning Edition, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss his dive into people’s personal obsessions, what drives us to latch on and grow certain fascinations and why so often these have nothing to do with the ways we make a living. His podcast is “David Greene is Obsessed” from Campside Media.  Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Binary thinking is black or white, on or off, good or bad – and our modern world requires a more nuanced approach. New York Times opinion columnist Thomas L. Friedman joins host Krys Boyd to discuss our modern age of global multipolarity and how we can start thinking in terms of “poly.” His article is “Welcome to Our New Era. What Do We Call It?”  Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

 One way to understand the intelligence of a species is if they can feel pain. Marina Bolotnikova, Deputy Editor for Vox’s Future Perfect, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss how scientists are coming to the conclusion that fish feel pain, why it’s so difficult to observe them in their natural environment and compare their nervous systems to that of a human’s, and why this study new information has deep ethical implications. Her article is “The surprisingly profound debate over whether fish feel pain.”  Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Of all the renewable energy sources, the one most overlooked might be the one to save us all. New Yorker staff writer Rivka Galchen joins host Krys Boyd to discuss geothermal energy, which pulls energy from the ground. And while it’s been used successfully in volcanic hotspots, we’ll consider why, as of yet, the U.S. has declined to invest or even encourage its development. Her article is “Why the Time Has Finally Come for Geothermal Energy.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Neuroscientists have successfully altered memories in a lab, and yours could be next. Steve Ramirez, neuroscientist and associate professor of psychological and brain sciences at Boston University, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss how certain memories might be edited with pulses of light, what this means for people dealing with life-altering trauma, and how we figured out how to manipulate the mind. His book is “How to Change a Memory: One Neuroscientist’s Quest to Alter the Past.“ Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices