Is a four-year degree still the best path to success? Dylan Welch, host of The Intelligence Report, sits down with Jason Seedall, Executive Director of the Roosevelt Alliance, to discuss the growing demand for skilled workers, the return of apprenticeships, and how AI and rising education costs are reshaping the American workforce.

They also explore the Roosevelt Alliance’s work to bring policymakers, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders together in Washington, D.C., including its Theodore Roosevelt Dialogue Series focused on wildlife policy, fair commerce, and practical solutions for rebuilding the American middle class.

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Nahid Karimi and Mahdi Rahimi join Dylan Welch, founder of Welch International, to share their firsthand perspectives on life in Afghanistan, the Taliban’s return to power and the realities facing young Afghans today.

Nahid recounts growing up in Kabul, representing Afghanistan as a gymnast and using music to advocate for peace and women’s rights before the Taliban takeover changed everything. After fleeing to Pakistan with her family, she eventually received a scholarship to study in the United States, where she now advocates for Afghan girls and their right to an education.

This powerful conversation explores displacement, life as a refugee, the loss of fundamental freedoms and the resilience of a generation determined to build a better future for Afghanistan.

Content warning: This episode includes discussion of suicide and other sensitive subjects.

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Coral reefs support roughly a quarter of all marine life, protect vulnerable coastlines and sustain communities and economies around the world. But with reefs disappearing at an alarming rate, traditional conservation funding alone may not be enough.

Dylan Welch sits down with Sam Teicher, co-founder and chief reef officer of Coral Vita, to discuss how the company is building a profitable business around restoring damaged reefs.

Sam shares how a $1,000 grant and a road trip through the Florida Keys grew into an international operation that has cultivated more than 150,000 corals across 52 species. They also explore Coral Vita’s land-based coral farms, the concept of restoration as a service, the economic value of natural infrastructure and why coral conservation continues to receive bipartisan support.

The conversation offers an honest but hopeful look at the future of the world’s oceans, and how business, technology and nature can work together to rebuild what has been lost.

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What can glaciers teach us about our changing planet, and why should people thousands of miles away from the world’s great ice fields care?

In this episode of The Intelligence Report Podcast, Dylan Welch sits down with glacier researcher, journalist, and explorer Grace Cordsen to discuss her work across the Arctic and Antarctic and what she has witnessed firsthand in some of the planet’s most remote environments.

Grace shares her journey from joining an Arctic expedition as a young researcher to working aboard expedition vessels across both polar regions. She discusses researching the visual history of the Arctic, witnessing glaciers retreat over time, the importance of understanding the communities and cultures connected to these environments, and how exploration can transform the way we think about conservation.

One of the most powerful lessons from Grace's work is also one of the simplest: seeing environmental change can change the way we understand it. She describes returning to the same glaciers and comparing them with historical records from decades earlier revealing landscapes that have changed dramatically within a relatively short period of time.

The conversation also explores the role of scientists, journalists, educators, travelers, and everyday people in protecting glaciers and the broader cryosphere. As Grace explains, one of the first things anyone can do is learn about these environments, understand how they are changing, and find meaningful ways to support their protection.

Topics include: Arctic and Antarctic exploration, glacier retreat, climate communication, polar research, conservation, Indigenous and local communities, sustainable expedition travel, and how storytelling can help people understand, and protect, the world's frozen environments.

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In this episode of The Intelligence Report, Dylan Welch sits down with Sahara Maazel and Suman Shah, two high school sophomores and co-founders of the Youth Climate Action Alliance (YCAA), to discuss how young people can turn climate concern into meaningful action.

From launching community solar initiatives and recycling programs at their own schools to building a network of 16 partner schools across New York City, Sahara and Suman share how they transformed a shared passion for the environment into a growing movement focused on practical, school-based climate solutions.

The conversation explores the importance of collaboration over confrontation, how students can work with school administrators to create change, and why making climate action local helps inspire more people to get involved. They also discuss the future of renewable energy, artificial intelligence, climate policy, entrepreneurship, and their aspirations to make an impact on the global stage.

This episode is an inspiring look at the next generation of environmental leadership and a reminder that meaningful change often starts with a small group of people willing to take the first step.

Topics discussed:

• Youth leadership in climate action
• Building the Youth Climate Action Alliance
• Community solar and sustainability initiatives
• Organizing climate programs in schools
• Climate policy and advocacy
• Renewable energy and AI
• Entrepreneurship and climate innovation
• The future of environmental leadership

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In this episode of The Intelligence Report, Dylan Welch sits down with Peng Cau, Director of Siemens for Startups Americas, entrepreneur, investor, and longtime advocate for deep technology innovation.

After building and scaling her own automation company over more than two decades before a successful exit, Peng now helps the next generation of founders navigate one of the most difficult challenges in business: transforming breakthrough technology into commercially successful companies.

The conversation explores why many startups fail despite having exceptional technology, the importance of commercialization strategy, how digital engineering is reducing development costs, and why today's investment landscape is becoming increasingly favorable for hard tech innovators.

Whether you're building a startup, investing in emerging technologies, or simply interested in the future of innovation, this episode provides practical insights from someone who has experienced every stage of the entrepreneurial journey.

Topics include:

• Why commercialization matters more than technology alone
• The biggest mistakes technical founders make
• How Siemens supports hard tech startups
• Digital twins and the future of product development
• Raising capital in deep tech industries
• Building the right founding team
• Aerospace, energy, defense, and medical technology innovation
• The future of hard tech investing

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In this episode of The Intelligence Report, host Dylan Welch sits down with Pat Donohue, world traveler, sustainability consultant at Anthesis, and environmental advocate, to discuss how firsthand experiences around the world shaped his perspective on conservation, business, and meaningful impact.

Pat shares how traveling and working in places like Costa Rica transformed his understanding of environmental challenges, why local communities are essential to long-term sustainability, and how businesses can move beyond good intentions to create measurable change. The conversation explores the intersection of corporate sustainability, global development, and the importance of connecting boardroom decisions with boots-on-the-ground action.

Whether you're interested in sustainability, international business, or building a career that creates real-world impact, this episode offers valuable insights into the power of travel, purpose, and practical leadership.

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In this episode of The Intelligence Report, Dylan Welch sits down with Gia Espinoza, Miss Earth 2026, to discuss the experiences that have shaped her journey beyond the pageant stage. From her philanthropic work and commitment to environmental stewardship to embracing new challenges and constantly seeking opportunities to learn, Gia shares why personal growth begins by putting yourself in unfamiliar situations.

The conversation explores service, curiosity, leadership, and the mindset that has helped her become an advocate for causes larger than herself. Whether she's working with communities, supporting conservation initiatives, or stepping into entirely new experiences, Gia explains why growth comes from saying yes to opportunities that push you outside your comfort zone.

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