PodcastsGovernmentWhat Could Go Right?

What Could Go Right?

The Progress Network with Zachary Karabell and Emma Varvaloucas
What Could Go Right?
Latest episode

215 episodes

  • What Could Go Right?

    Is the World Order Actually Disintegrating? | with Ian Bremmer

    04/22/2026 | 40 mins.
    What happens when the rules of the global game are being rewritten in real-time? Ian Bremmer, the founder of Eurasia Group and GZERO Media, joins host Zachary Karabell to discuss how to navigate a world defined by a "long geopolitical recession" and the erosion of the post-1945 order.

    From the escalating conflicts in the Middle East and the surprising vulnerabilities of the economic models in the Gulf to the "asymmetric war fighting" that allows drones to bring the global economy to its knees, this episode reckons with a world that seems to be disintegrating rather than coming together. Bremmer and Karabell explore why we aren’t getting a better picture of what’s happening on the ground in places like Iran and Yemen, and whether the "noise" of modern social media is a tool for freedom or a new mechanism for state control.

    As political revolutionaries rise and established media organizations downsize, Bremmer and Karabell ask: is our current information environment worse than it was 30 years ago, or can individuals still "sniff out" the truth?

    And: Is this the peak of global chaos, or just a cyclical trough before a new rebound?

    What Could Go Right? is produced by The Progress Network and Kaleidoscope.

    For transcripts, to join the newsletter, and for more information, visit: theprogressnetwork.org

    Subscribe to our (FREE) Substack newsletter: https://theprogressnetwork.org/newsletter/

    Watch the podcast on YouTube: / theprogressnetwork

    Follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok: @progressntwrk

    Subscribe to Zachary’s Substack: www.edgyoptimist.substack.com/

    Follow him LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/zacharykarabell

    Follow Zachary on X @zacharykarabell
  • What Could Go Right?

    How Hungary Ousted an Authoritarian + Ocean Progress, Falling Rents, and Thailand’s New DM Laws

    04/20/2026 | 10 mins.
    Hungary just voted out its authoritarian prime minister of 16 years, and did it with an 80% voter turnout powered by Gen Z. Emma Varvaloucas, the Executive Director of The Progress Network, breaks down how they pulled it off and what it means for democracies under pressure elsewhere. 

    Plus: over 10% of the world's oceans are now protected, US rents are finally dropping, and Thailand just criminalized online sexual harassment, including in your DMs.

    What Could Go Right? is produced by The Progress Network and Kaleidoscope.

    For transcripts, to join the newsletter, and for more information, visit: theprogressnetwork.org

    Subscribe to our (FREE) Substack newsletter: https://theprogressnetwork.org/newsletter/

    Watch the podcast on YouTube: / theprogressnetwork

    Follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok: @progressntwrkFollow Emma on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heyemmavarv/
  • What Could Go Right?

    Do we need a NEW America? | with Anne-Marie Slaughter

    04/15/2026 | 54 mins.
    What do we do when our systems stop working? Anne-Marie Slaughter, the CEO of New America, former Director of Policy Planning at the U.S. State Department under Secretary Hillary Clinton, and one of the most influential voices in American foreign policy joins Zachary Karabell to reckon with a country in the middle of a massive realignment.

    From democratic reform and the collapse of the two-party system to America's fraying role on the world stage, this conversation refuses easy answers. In this wide-ranging discussion, they explore the shifting geopolitical landscape, including the heightened risks associated with the war in Iran, and how the escalating competition with China challenges us to look inward and ask what we truly stand for. Then they revisit the question Anne Marie has been trying to answer for much of her career, whether or not modern women really can have it all. 

    So, what does it mean to still believe in liberal democracy when the system isn't delivering? Is this a moment of unraveling, or the messy beginning of a rebirth?

    What Could Go Right? is produced by The Progress Network and Kaleidoscope.

    For transcripts, to join the newsletter, and for more information, visit: theprogressnetwork.org

    Subscribe to our (FREE) Substack newsletter: https://theprogressnetwork.org/newsletter/

    Watch the podcast on YouTube: / theprogressnetwork

    Follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok: @progressntwrk

    Subscribe to Zachary’s Substack: www.edgyoptimist.substack.com/

    Follow him LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/zacharykarabell

    Follow Zachary on X @zacharykarabell
  • What Could Go Right?

    Turning Down the Headline Noise

    10/08/2025 | 54 mins.
    Let’s close out Season 7! Zachary and Emma look back on seven months of thought-provoking positive conversations, from global politics to the depths of sci-fi, exploring how to stay hopeful in a world hooked on negative news. They dive into protecting your mental health by controlling your news intake while also celebrating how social media platforms empower 8 billion voices to be heard!What Could Go Right? is produced by The Progress Network and The Podglomerate.For transcripts, to join the newsletter, and for more information, visit: theprogressnetwork.orgWatch the podcast on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/theprogressnetwork⁠⁠⁠And follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok: @progressntwrk
  • What Could Go Right?

    Introducing Curiosity Weekly

    10/08/2025 | 1 mins.
    Stay up to date with the latest science and technology trends with Curiosity Weekly, a podcast from Discovery. We have become regular listeners and hope you enjoy it too!

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About What Could Go Right?

It's easy to be pessimistic, especially with headlines dominated by global challenges like a changing geopolitical landscape, the rise in authoritarianism, and a seemingly unstable global economy. But what if, despite all that, humanity is actually making progress?Join Progress Network Founder Zachary Karabell every Wednesday as he chats with leading experts like Ian Bremmer and Anne Marie Slaughter to challenge the negativity and find out whether we should be so pessimistic about everything from sustainability and polarization to the future of work. Plus, start your week right with Progress Network Executive Director Emma Varvaloucas, who delivers a weekly dose of essential good news every Monday. If environmental success stories and medical breakthroughs are your thing, you won’t want to miss it.Tune in to discover the evidence for progress and find your reason for cautious optimism.
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