In this episode of Thread by Thread, we dive into the electrifying and complex world of biotechnology—where cutting-edge science meets global power struggles. Through the story of a Danish geneticist suddenly cut off from a decade-long collaboration, we explore how biotech has become a new frontline in geopolitics.

Discover how a booming $546 billion industry is transforming medicine, innovation, and national security all at once. We'll unpack the soaring investments, shifting supply chains, and rising export controls that are reshaping the biotech landscape. Then, zoom out to the geopolitical tensions driving a “biotech cold war” — with the U.S. and China racing to control genetic data, supply chains, and revolutionary therapies.

What does all this mean for patients waiting for life-saving treatments, startups navigating fractured markets, and the future of global scientific collaboration? Join us as we pull the threads connecting economics, politics, and human stories in the biological century.

A storm is sweeping across the global job market — and it’s made of code. In this episode of Thread by Thread, we dive into the unsettling rise of artificial intelligence and what it really means for the future of work. From warehouse robots to generative models writing ad copy, the line between human and machine labor is blurring fast.

I once wrote about the future of work before ChatGPT existed — and now, much of what seemed speculative back then is unfolding in real time. In Segment 1, we trace the economic shockwaves: mass layoffs, vanishing middle-skill jobs, and a world where having a degree may no longer protect your paycheck. Then we scale up in Segment 2 — where AI isn’t just an economic force, but a geopolitical weapon. Who’s winning the AI arms race? Why are some countries pulling ahead while others get left behind?

In this episode, we shift focus from headlines to riverlines—exploring the politics, economics, and science of the world’s most undervalued resource: WATER. I am joined by Robin Singh from TU Dresden, a hydroscience researcher specializing in mathematical flood risk prediction, to unpack how rising water stress, floods, and failing infrastructure are reshaping the world.

From urban water wars and megadroughts to climate injustice and global inaction, we discuss how a warming planet is rewriting the rules of survival—and how geopolitics, inequality, and misplaced priorities make everything worse.

This isn't just a climate conversation. It's about data, denial, and decision-making in an era when even water can become a weapon.