The Open Canada Podcast

44: Partners in a Changing World: Canada, Brazil, and the Road to COP30

In this episode of Open Canada, host Ruth Mojeed Ramirez speaks with Ambassador Emmanuel Kamarianakis, Canada's Ambassador to Brazil, about Canada's role in advancing climate diplomacy ahead of COP30 in Brazil. They explore how Canada and Brazil are collaborating on sustainable growth, innovation, and cultural exchange, and why public diplomacy and people-to-people ties matter more than ever in shaping Canada's global engagement.

43: Canada at the Crossroads: NATO, Diplomacy, and the Global South with Kerry Buck

Ruth Mojeed Ramirez speaks with Kerry Buck, former Canadian Ambassador to NATO and seasoned diplomat, about Canada's place in an increasingly complex and contested global landscape. They discuss NATO's evolving role beyond Europe, Canada's lagging investment in multilateral institutions, and why regional crises like the conflict in the Global South demand greater Canadian engagement. As shifting alliances redefine global diplomacy, this conversation explores where Canada stands and what it must do to stay relevant.

42: Chaos or Opportunity: Re-thinking Fault Lines in Iran-Israel Relations with Alireza Yazdi

In this episode, Ruth Mojeed Ramirez sits down with Alireza Yazdi, director on the board of the Canadian International Council, a Canadian with both Persian and Jewish roots, to explore the deeply personal and political complexities of the Israel-Iran relationship. Against the backdrop of escalating conflict and shifting power dynamics in the Middle East, they discuss identity, belonging, and what it means to witness two ancestral homelands in tension. Is there space for dialogue and diplomacy, or are we entering a new era of entrenched division?

#41 - Patricia Fortier: A Diplomatic Journey Through Conflict, Crisis, and Global Engagement

In this episode, Ruth welcomes Patricia Fortier who is a retired Canadian diplomat whose career spanned over three decades, marked by significant contributions to international relations, crisis management, and governance.

#40 Rethinking Canadian Foreign Policy and Global Indigenous Law with Leah Sarson

In this episode, Ruth Mojeed Ramirez dives into Canadian foreign policy and Indigenous governance with Leah Sarson whose recent work explores the evolving roles of leadership, law, and resource management.