No, this isn’t a Freaky Friday situation – we’re talking about the places the U.S. trades! National Foreign Trade Council President Jake Colvin sits down with Christer Sands Christopher Sands for a lively discussion about explore the prolific and diverse trade relationship between the U.S. and Canada, global considerations for the U.S., and the careful balance of domestic regulation vs. global cooperation. Whether you're an avid trade enthusiast or just curious about what and why things cross Canusa Street, this episode promises a deep dive into the world of cross-border commerce.

Get ready for a population party as we celebrate Canada’s recent milestone of hitting 40 million people. Chief Statistician of Canada Anil Arora joins the show to shed light on the factors that led to Canada’s rapid population growth, how we can compare it to U.S. demographic data and the fascinating vantage point that Anil’s position and expertise offers him on cross-border policy, cultural issues, and quality of life.

Water. Earth. Fire. Air. Everything in-between. Natural resources are as central to the history of Canada-US relations as the world’s longest land border or hockey rivalries. This week, Scotty and Chris welcome Daniel Macfarlane, associate professor of environment and sustainability at the University of Western Michigan, to discuss bilateral resource management, balancing politics and science, and the concept of natural security. Purchase his book, “Natural Allies: Environment, Energy, and the History of Canada-US Relations”, here: https://www.mqup.ca/natural-allies-products-9780228017592.php

Canada is famous for its participation in United Nations peacekeeping, but the US rule in UN missions has been an untold story until now. On this episode Scotty and Chris talk to retired US Army Colonel L. Scott Lingamfelter, a former UN Peacekeeper and author of a new book, Yanks in Blue Berets: American UN Peacekeepers in the Midde East (University Press of Kentucky, 2023).  Col. Lingamfelter discusses the qualities that make a good peacekeeper, the conditions on the ground necessary for a UN peacekeeping mission to succeed , and the prospects for UN peacekeeping missions in Ukraine and Haiti. We also learn about Scotty's personal connection to peacekeeping, a story that appears in Lingamfelter's book.

When Al Mussell isn’t leading research for the Agri-Food Economic Systems, or counting his cows, he likes to unravel the complexities of food security, innovation, and policy regulations. Scotty and Chris sat down with him to harvest his insights on the intricate world of agriculture, supply chains, and where Canada and the U.S. compare and differ.