For many Americans, European society is seen as the model that American society should aspire to. In this episode, Ryan speaks with Mari Buljo who is a Norwegian citizen, college student, model, and speaker of 7 different languages whom he met during his studies in Japan. Ryan and Mari discuss Norway, currently ranked as the world's happiest country, and the contrast with Nordic values in education, religion, and social welfare (among others), compared with those in the states.
During his studies in Tokyo, Ryan met Manny Militello, a man with a great mind for international relations, who is currently working in consulting related to The Middle East and North Africa. In this episode, some of the main issues Ryan and Manny discuss include Obama’s legacy in the Middle East, the Syrian Civil War, ISIS, the utility of certain narratives on terrorism, and refugee assimilation in the west.