At The Boundary

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How is space is shaping our future, and are we ready for it?
In this episode of GNSI’s At the Boundary, host Jim Cardoso is joined by NASA astronaut Nicole Stott and space industry leader Chris Stott for a conversation that redefines what space really means for life on Earth, and why it matters now more than ever.
From GPS and global communications to climate monitoring and data security, space quietly powers the modern world. Drawing on Nicole Stott’s time aboard the International Space Station, and Chris Stott’s work building off-world data infrastructure, the discussion reveals how space has become essential to national security, economic resilience, and everyday life.
The episode explores the Moon as the next strategic frontier, the role of international cooperation in keeping space stable and secure, and how new commercial ventures, from lunar data centers to space-based solar power, could reshape global competition and resource access.
Along the way, Stott and Stott challenge the idea of space as a distant or scarce domain, offering a compelling vision of space as a source of opportunity, collaboration, and long-term abundance.
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At the Boundary from the Global and National Security Institute at the University of South Florida, features global and national security issues we’ve found to be insightful, intriguing, fascinating, maybe controversial, but overall just worth talking about.

A "boundary" is a place, either literal or figurative, where two forces exist in close proximity to each other. Sometimes that boundary is in a state of harmony. More often than not, that boundary has a bit of chaos baked in. The Global and National Security Institute will live on the boundary of security policy and technology and that's where this podcast will focus.

The mission of GNSI is to provide actionable solutions to 21st-century security challenges for decision-makers at the local, state, national and global levels. We hope you enjoy At the Boundary.

Look for our other publications and products on our website publications page.

Text the ATB Team! We'd love to hear from you!
In this episode of At the Boundary, retired U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral Mark Fedor joins GNSI’s Dr. Tad Schnaufer for a wide-ranging conversation on how space is rapidly emerging as a critical domain for national security, commercial innovation, and operational risk.

What does a retired Coast Guard Rear Admiral know about space? As it turns out, quite a lot. Fedor is currently Executive Vice President with a veteran-owned company (Operator Solutions), which specializes in rescue, recovery, and operational support services for outer space missions.

Drawing on his decades of maritime leadership and his current work supporting commercial space missions, Fedor explains why the growing launch volume is creating new demands for astronaut rescue, space vehicle recovery, and hazard response. The discussion explores space debris, private astronauts, space tourism, and the rise of space-based manufacturing and orbital supply chains with potential military and commercial applications. Fedor also draws compelling parallels between governing the maritime commons and the need for international norms in space.

As commercial activity accelerates and regulation struggles to keep pace, the episode highlights the strategic, legal, and human challenges shaping the future of space operations—and why preparedness on Earth remains essential.

Episode Links:
Operator Solutions
St. Petersburg Conference on World Affairs "Space: International Collaboration and Competition" (Feb 10-11, 2026)
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At the Boundary from the Global and National Security Institute at the University of South Florida, features global and national security issues we’ve found to be insightful, intriguing, fascinating, maybe controversial, but overall just worth talking about.

A "boundary" is a place, either literal or figurative, where two forces exist in close proximity to each other. Sometimes that boundary is in a state of harmony. More often than not, that boundary has a bit of chaos baked in. The Global and National Security Institute will live on the boundary of security policy and technology and that's where this podcast will focus.

The mission of GNSI is to provide actionable solutions to 21st-century security challenges for decision-makers at the local, state, national and global levels. We hope you enjoy At the Boundary.

Look for our other publications and products on our website publications page.

Text the ATB Team! We'd love to hear from you!
Field Historian Daniel Armes explains the deep historical ties between Russia and the Ukraine, and how that context is significant to the current conflict on GNSI’s “At the Boundary” podcast.
Along with Tad Schnaufer, PhD, Armes breaks down his “Journal of Strategic Security” article which broadens the perspective of the region’s tension. The struggle between the two countries dates back to the 800s, and is influenced by the Byzantine Empire, the Great Schism of 1054, and the impact of the Mongol invasions. 
The episode also touches on how the Russia-Ukraine war affects other global and national security issues.
Links from the episode:
Daniel Arme’s JSS Article
USF article on research investment rising and outpacing AAU members
Tampa Bay Business & Wealth Article on 5th Best City
Video Series Interview with Austin Becker
Episode 5 Generalship Series 
SPCWA Conference
Cyber Beacon Registration
GNSI Tampa Summit 6 Registration 
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GNSI on Linkedin
GNSI on YouTube

At the Boundary from the Global and National Security Institute at the University of South Florida, features global and national security issues we’ve found to be insightful, intriguing, fascinating, maybe controversial, but overall just worth talking about.

A "boundary" is a place, either literal or figurative, where two forces exist in close proximity to each other. Sometimes that boundary is in a state of harmony. More often than not, that boundary has a bit of chaos baked in. The Global and National Security Institute will live on the boundary of security policy and technology and that's where this podcast will focus.

The mission of GNSI is to provide actionable solutions to 21st-century security challenges for decision-makers at the local, state, national and global levels. We hope you enjoy At the Boundary.

Look for our other publications and products on our website publications page.

Text the ATB Team! We'd love to hear from you!
In this episode of "At the Boundary," GNSI's Jim Cardoso and guests Dr. Rob Burrell and Dr. Homer Harkins discuss the complex history and current state of Venezuela. They delve into the country's socio-economic evolution, from oil exploitation to democratic transition, and the rise and fall of political leaders like Hugo Chavez and Nicolas Maduro. They detail the recent military operation that removed Maduro, highlighting the use of advanced technology and multi-domain tactics. The discussion also covers potential democratic transitions, the role of the U.S., and the importance of international support, emphasizing the need for a long-term, unbiased understanding of Venezuela's situation.
Links from the episode:
Rob Burrell on Substack
St. Petersburg Conference on World Affairs Outer Space: International Collaboration and Competition
"What Happens if Donald Trump Bombs Iran?" article by Dr. Arman Mahmoudian
GNSI Tampa Summit 6: Cracks in the Lamp - Freeing the Nuclear Genie
Other noteworthy links:
Caracas Chronicles
Maria Corina Machado on X

GNSI on X
GNSI on Linkedin
GNSI on YouTube

At the Boundary from the Global and National Security Institute at the University of South Florida, features global and national security issues we’ve found to be insightful, intriguing, fascinating, maybe controversial, but overall just worth talking about.

A "boundary" is a place, either literal or figurative, where two forces exist in close proximity to each other. Sometimes that boundary is in a state of harmony. More often than not, that boundary has a bit of chaos baked in. The Global and National Security Institute will live on the boundary of security policy and technology and that's where this podcast will focus.

The mission of GNSI is to provide actionable solutions to 21st-century security challenges for decision-makers at the local, state, national and global levels. We hope you enjoy At the Boundary.

Look for our other publications and products on our website publications page.

Text the ATB Team! We'd love to hear from you!
In this episode of the “At the Boundary” podcast, GNSI’s Jim Cardoso and retired Lieutenant General Michael Plehn break down the newly released 2025 National Security Strategy (NSS) from the Trump administration, and why it places unprecedented focus on the Western Hemisphere.
They explore why this NSS dedicates four full pages to the region, far more than any previous version, and what that means for U.S. national security.
The conversation examines: The expanding role of U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) in humanitarian assistance, disaster response, and security cooperation, China’s growing influence in Latin America and the Caribbean through the Belt and Road Initiative, and why the U.S. military must be better educated, technologically adaptive, and ready for rapidly evolving threats.
This episode provides a clear, accessible breakdown of a major shift in U.S. strategy — and what it means for policymakers, practitioners, and the future of Western Hemisphere security.
Links from the Episode: 
• Northeastern University Global Leadership Summit 2025: GLS 2025 - An Aerial View of U.S. and Latin American Relations on Vimeo 
Other noteworthy links:
• GNSI Tampa Summit 6: Cracks in the Lamp: Freeing the Nuclear Genie
• 2026 International Security Experience
• Sign up for the GNSI Newsletter
GNSI on X
GNSI on Linkedin
GNSI on YouTube

At the Boundary from the Global and National Security Institute at the University of South Florida, features global and national security issues we’ve found to be insightful, intriguing, fascinating, maybe controversial, but overall just worth talking about.

A "boundary" is a place, either literal or figurative, where two forces exist in close proximity to each other. Sometimes that boundary is in a state of harmony. More often than not, that boundary has a bit of chaos baked in. The Global and National Security Institute will live on the boundary of security policy and technology and that's where this podcast will focus.

The mission of GNSI is to provide actionable solutions to 21st-century security challenges for decision-makers at the local, state, national and global levels. We hope you enjoy At the Boundary.

Look for our other publications and products on our website publications page.