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Circus AND Circuit: Unraveling Global Trade with Kate ForondaEpisode 13: 12 Trade Lessons in 12 Episodes | Mid-Year RecapIn this mid-year special Episode 13 of Circus and Circuit: Unraveling Global Trade, host Kate Foronda recaps the first 12 episodes of the podcast, exploring the key lessons learned across commodities, sanctions, shipping, social commerce, AI, and more. Whether you’ve been with her from Episode 1 or you’re just tuning in, this is your all-in-one look at the shifts, surprises, and stories shaping global trade in 2025. Topics include:· What’s changed since January in global trade. · Behind the scenes of podcast production. · Why reflection is essential in fast-moving markets. · What’s com...2025-07-3016 minCircus AND Circuit: Unraveling Global Trade with Kate ForondaEpisode 12: TikTok Trade Winds: Social Media’s Role in Global CommerceIn 2024, global social commerce sales hit an estimated $1.3 trillion — and by 2028, that number is expected to nearly double. What’s fueling this surge? Not traditional supply chains, but short videos, viral trends, and influencer-driven demand. In this episode, host Kate Foronda unpacks how platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube are becoming the new global storefronts — transforming how products are discovered, sold, and shipped across borders. From a beauty product going viral in Brazil to U.S. brands trending in Indonesia, social media is now a powerful engine in global trade.Tune in to l...2025-07-1913 minCircus AND Circuit: Unraveling Global Trade with Kate ForondaEpisode 11: Invisible Intelligence: How AI is Transforming Logistics, Customs, and NegotiationFrom U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) using AI to catch fake goods at the border, to Amazon’s AI-driven warehouses and Maersk’s smart ports — Episode 11 explores how artificial intelligence is rapidly taking over global trade.You will learn:How logistics giants like Amazon and Maersk are using AI to streamline operations. How CBP uses algorithms to detect fraud and flag suspicious shipments. How AI is even stepping into trade negotiationsAnd why AI isn’t magic — it’s only as smart as the data it’s trained onWhether you’re in logistics, g...2025-06-2715 minCircus AND Circuit: Unraveling Global Trade with Kate ForondaEpisode 10, Part 2: Culture as a Commodity: Homogenization, Hybridization, Glocalization + InstagrammabilityFrom McDonald’s glocal menus and Netflix’s global programming to fashion mashups and Instagram-optimized spaces, global trade is reshaping not just how we consume culture — but what culture even is. In Part 1, we looked at how culture enters the market. Now in Part 2, we examine what happens after it’s sold.Join Kate Foronda as she breaks down the forces driving this transformation: #Homogenization – Is global trade making everything feel the same?#Hybridization – How blended traditions are rewriting identity (Korean tacos, Afrobe...2025-06-1312 minCircus AND Circuit: Unraveling Global Trade with Kate ForondaEpisode 10, Part 1: Culture as a Commodity: The Marketplace of MeaningWhat do Netflix, Disney, BTS, and McDonald’s have in common?They don’t just sell content, music, or meals — they sell culture. And they’ve built billion-dollar strategies around turning identity into product.In Part 1 of this two-part episode, Kate Foronda unpacks how culture has become a global commodity — branded, packaged, and monetized at scale. From fast fashion runways to streaming platforms and tourist destinations, cultural storytelling is now a major force in international trade.You’ll explore:How companies like Netflix, Disney, Duolingo, and Gucci...2025-06-1312 minCircus AND Circuit: Unraveling Global Trade with Kate ForondaEpisode 9: Sustainability in Commodities TradingCan you call your business sustainable if your supply chain pollutes — or your company avoids taxes? In this powerful Episode 9, host Kate Foronda unpacks one of the most urgent shifts in global trade: the rise of sustainability as a strategic advantage in the commodities industry.With over $1.7 trillion in trade now influenced by ESG-related policy, the way companies extract, transport, and finance raw materials is under global scrutiny. And it’s not just oil majors or mining giants feeling the heat — soy, cocoa, cobalt, and even cotton t...2025-05-2719 minCircus AND Circuit: Unraveling Global Trade with Kate ForondaEpisode 8: The Inclusion Imperative: DEI in International MarketsWhy does Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) matter in international business — and why are so many people still being left out of global trade?In this episode, host Kate Foronda breaks down the critical connection between DEI and global markets. We explore who gets a seat at the table, what structural and cultural barriers still hold others back, and why many DEI programs fail to deliver real impact — especially in high-risk, fast-moving industries like commodities, logistics, and tech. From shifting political climates in the U.S. to legally mandated inclusion in Europ...2025-05-1616 minCircus AND Circuit: Unraveling Global Trade with Kate ForondaEpisode 7: Sanctions in Motion: The Unseen Battles of Global TradeSanctions are powerful tools — but they are often invisible to the public eye.In the episode 7 of Circus & Circuit: Unraveling Global Trade, Kate Foronda takes you behind the scenes of how sanctions shape global markets, disrupt supply chains, and impact both nations and everyday people.Kate will break down:What sanctions are and who enforces them.How sanctions have played out in real-world cases — from Russia’s dark fleet oil tankers to Venezuela’s black-market oil sales, to the U.S.-China tech war.Why sanctions often hit small countries and private business...2025-04-2922 minCircus AND Circuit: Unraveling Global Trade with Kate ForondaEpisode 6: Trade Wars & Tariffs: Who Really Wins?Episode 6 of Circus and Circuit: Unraveling Global Trade is here!This week, Kate is diving into one of the most talked-about — and misunderstood — forces shaping the world economy: trade wars and tariffs. From rising prices at home to global political tension abroad, we break down who actually benefits… and who’s stuck with the bill.She’ll talk about:Why U.S. tariffs are at their highest levels in nearly a centuryHow businesses in China, Germany, and even the former Soviet Union are reactingAnd what “carbon border taxes” could mean for the future of glob...2025-04-1218 minCircus AND Circuit: Unraveling Global Trade with Kate ForondaEpisode 5: Women in Commodities – Breaking Barriers, Building MarketsIn Episode 5, we explore the world of Women in Commodities — why the industry has been dominated by men for so long, what’s finally starting to shift, and how women will continue bringing strong leadership, fresh ideas, and innovation to the space.You’ll hear inspiring stories, key stats, and real examples of how the future of commodities trading will look different — with more women leading the way.#NewEpisode #WomenInTrade #GlobalBusiness #KateForonda #PodcastRelease #ComingSoonTune in now to discover what’s ahead in the Circus & Circuit of global trade!2025-03-2918 minCircus AND Circuit: Unraveling Global Trade with Kate ForondaEpisode 4: The Secret Life of a Commodity Trader – What really happens behind the scenes in global commodity trading?In Episode 4 of Circus and Circuit, Kate Foronda pulls back the curtain on the real world of physical commodity trading. Forget the image of traders glued to screens, watching stock prices fluctuate. Physical traders deal with real goods, real risks, and real relationships—navigating complex logistics, securing deals, and making split-second decisions that can mean millions in profit or loss. In This Episode, We’ll Answer: - What does a day in the life of a commodity trader look l...2025-03-1620 minCircus AND Circuit: Unraveling Global Trade with Kate ForondaEpisode 3: Containers, Chaos, and the Shipping CrisisDid you know that almost 90% of everything we buy has traveled in a shipping container? Yet, despite this revolutionary invention, global trade still faces massive bottlenecks, delays, and shortages. In the previous episode Kate was talking about The Trade Routes That Shaped the World and today she advances her discourse on international trade and talks about something very essential but often overlooked—the humble shipping container. In this episode, listeners will explore:✅ How one ship changed everything – The Ideal X, the first container ship, and how it slashed...2025-03-1515 minCircus AND Circuit: Unraveling Global Trade with Kate ForondaEpisode 2: The Trade Routes That Shaped the WorldIn this Episode 2: The Trade Routes That Shaped the World, the host Kate Foronda discusses how trade has always been more than just exchanging goods— it’s about power, politics, and profit. She takes listeners on a historical journey through the world’s most influential trade routes, exploring their profound impact on today’s global economy.What’s Inside This Episode?🚛 The Silk Road – A 4,000-mile network that connected East and West, spreading silk, spices, and even the plague!🛳️ The Spice Trade – How nutmeg was once worth...2025-02-1416 minCircus AND Circuit: Unraveling Global Trade with Kate ForondaEpisode 1: Welcome to the Circus & Circuit: Unraveling Global TradeIn this very first episode of Circus & Circuit: Unraveling Global Trade, host Kate Foronda introduces the show, its purpose, and what listeners can expect in the episodes to come. This podcast is all about understanding the two sides of global trade—the structured systems (the Circuit) and the unpredictable challenges (the Circus). Whether you’re a seasoned professional, an entrepreneur, or simply curious about international business, this episode lays the foundation for why mastering both order and chaos is essential for success. Kate also shares why this launch is happen...2025-01-3010 min