As geopolitical volatility continues to disrupt energy markets and maritime trade routes, global supply chains face prolonged uncertainty. Intermittent closures of the Strait of Hormuz highlight the brittle nature of global energy systems and the growing necessity for long-term strategic adaptation. In this episode of the Frontlines podcast, host Shaun Haney is joined by geopolitical... Read More
Category: Frontlines
What does the FIFA World Cup tell us about geopolitics? Find out in this episode of the Frontlines podcast! For this episode, host Shaun Haney and geopolitical analyst Jacob Shapiro use the global football tournament as a springboard to discuss nationalism, international institutions, and the role sport plays in bringing people together, while acknowledging that... Read More
Editor’s note: This episode of Frontlines was recorded June 5, 2026. Despite the ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz and rising concerns over global energy supplies, financial markets continue to signal confidence, creating what geopolitical analyst Jacob Shapiro of Bespoke Group describes as one of the more surprising economic disconnects of recent years. Speaking... Read More
The prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz is no longer a hypothetical risk—it’s a live disruption with real consequences for global energy, fertilizer, and food systems. In this episode of Frontlines, Jacob Shapiro of Bespoke Group joins RealAgriculture’s Shaun Haney to unpack what’s driving the escalation of the war with Iran, what the U.S.... Read More
Escalating conflict in the Middle East is raising serious concerns about global energy flows, economic stability, and the broader geopolitical order—issues that could have downstream impacts on Canadian agriculture and trade. In this Frontlines episode, Shaun Haney of RealAgriculture and Jacob Shapiro of Bespoke Group unpack the rapidly evolving situation involving Iran, the United States,... Read More
The sudden and serious military action in the Middle East is raising new questions about energy markets, trade flows, and input costs — all factors that can quickly ripple into agriculture. In this Frontlines episode recorded Monday, March 9, RealAgriculture’s Shaun Haney speaks with Jacob Shapiro of the Bespoke Group to unpack the geopolitical implications... Read More
Canada’s relationship with the United States is entering a far more consequential phase than a typical trade dispute, and how Ottawa responds could reshape North American geopolitics for years. On this episode of the Frontlines podcast, RealAgriculture’s Shaun Haney is joined by Jacob Shapiro of Bespoke Group to unpack Prime Minister Mark Carney’s recent foreign... Read More
The U.S.-led arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro may have been framed as a crackdown on drug trafficking, but its ripple effects could extend deep into agricultural markets across the Americas. In this Frontlines episode, Shaun Haney of RealAgriculture speaks with Jacob Shapiro of the Bespoke Group to explore the implications of Maduro’s removal—not just... Read More
Welcome to this special crossover episode of RealAg Radio and the Frontlines podcast! For today's show, Shaun Haney is joined by Jacob Shapiro of the Bespoke Group where they unpack the impact of global trade on national security, signals that come from Putin's visit to India, and interest in Venezuela. Thoughts on something we talked... Read More
As the global balance of power shifts away from U.S. dominance, Canada must rethink its trade strategy and economic positioning, particularly in agriculture, says Jacob Shapiro, geopolitical strategist with the Bespoke Group on this end-of-October edition of the Frontlines podcast. Shapiro reiterates the world is moving from a unipolar structure led by the United States... Read More