The podcast episodes provided explore various aspects of conflict escalation, including the potential for escalation of regional conflicts, such as the tensions between Israel and Hezbollah PREVIEW: #IRAN: #HEZBOLLAH: Conversation with colleague Jonathan Schanzer, FDD, re when will Hezbollah attack Israel with its vast arsenal and hundreds of thousands of trained soldiers? More tonight., as well as the broader geopolitical shifts and power dynamics that could contribute to the risk of a new 'Cold War' or even a major military conflict Velina Tchakarova on China, Russia, and the Future of Geopolitics.

The episodes also delve into the role of natural disasters and other environmental factors in shaping the dynamics of armed conflicts, and how these catastrophic events can be exploited by various actors to further escalate tensions Tobias Ide, "Catastrophes, Confrontations, and Constraints: How Disasters Shape the Dynamics of Armed Conflicts" (MIT Press, 2023).