States of Play with Sam Olsen

Hunted from Above

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit samolsen.substack.com [https://samolsen.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_7] In this episode of States of Play, Sam Olsen speaks with Elizabeth Bullock, a British civilian who spent three years working on the ground in Ukraine following Russia’s full-scale invasion. Bullock recounts her journey from evacuating women and children to operating in frontline zones across the Donbas and southern Ukraine, delivering medical aid, restoring water supplies, and later supporting reconstruction in liberated areas. Drawing on firsthand experience, she challenges Western misconceptions about the war, details Russia’s deliberate targeting of civilians and infrastructure, and explains why the conflict cannot be contained within Ukraine. The conversation explores hybrid warfare, national resilience, and why Russia poses a direct strategic threat to Europe.

States of Play podcast Episode 17: The New Economic Iron Curtain

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit samolsen.substack.com [https://samolsen.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_7] In this episode of the States of Play podcast, Sam Olsen talks to the economist Stewart Paterson to unpack The Great Split—the accelerating bifurcation of the global economy into competing US-led and China-led spheres. They explore how the collapse of the era of globalisation is reshaping trade, investment, finance, and corporate strategy; how China’s Belt and Road and dual-circulation policies have built an alternative system; and how future sanctions, counter-sanctions, and rising jurisdictional risk could force companies and countries to choose sides. They also examine Europe’s acute vulnerabilities, the City of London’s exposure, and whether any path remains to avoid a full geopolitical and economic rupture.

States of Play podcast Episode 15: The Polycrisis 2027 Scenario

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit samolsen.substack.com [https://samolsen.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_7] Show Summary In this episode of States of Play, Sam Olsen speaks with Justin Crump, CEO of Sibylline, about their new report Polycrisis 2027. They explore how converging shocks - from China’s 2027 Taiwan deadline and Russia’s rearmament to AI disruption and Western instability - could create a single systemic crisis. The conversation asks: can the West act fast enough to prevent a global crunch?

States of Play podcast Episode 14: Europe’s Fractures, Russia’s Opportunity

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit samolsen.substack.com [https://samolsen.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_7] In this episode of States of Play Sam Olsen interviews analyst Alexander Lord on Europe’s mounting political and social fractures, from Germany’s extremist violence to France’s paralysis. We look at how Russian grey-zone pressure, cybercrime and influence ops are exploiting them. We also assess EU/UK cohesion if Moscow tests Estonia, the role of China in this, and where resilience and leadership may still emerge today.

States of Play podcast Episode 13: China and India - Eclipsing the West?

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit samolsen.substack.com [https://samolsen.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_7] Show Summary Former UK Business Secretary and economist Sir Vince Cable joins States of Play to unpack whether China and India are truly eclipsing the West. We cover GDP power shifts, China’s property bust vs tech leapfrogging, India’s services-led surge, MAGA-era economics, BRICS, and how the West can adapt - if at all.