In this opening episode of Modern Insurgent: Mexico, Joe Collins speaks with Professor Ben Smith — historian at the University of Warwick and author of The Dope: The Real History of the Mexican Drug Trade.

Together, we trace the roots of Mexico’s modern conflict: how colonial legacies, rural inequality, and decades of U.S. intervention helped shape a war that was never just about drugs.

From the birth of the Sinaloa traffickers to the militarisation of Mexico’s countryside, this conversation lays the foundation for understanding the violence, corruption, and resilience that define today’s drug war.

• Hosted by Joe Collins
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As a wrap-up and bonus, we speak to our Chief Reporter, Michael Archer, to investigate the elusive role of BOAK in the Ukrainian War. Thanks to Michael's work on BOAK (including our documentary on the group), we use primary information to analyse their tactics, alliances, and their broader impact on regional stability and conflict dynamics.

Dive into the shadowy world of the Wagner PMC alongside Bianca Bridger, one of our Managing Editors, in order to explore their role, strategies, and the broader implications of employing mercenaries in modern warfare within the Ukrainian conflict.

Explore the emergence of the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics along with Liam Coyle, our Head of Photojournalism & one of our Contributing Writers. In this episode, we unravel their goals, governance, and complex relations with Russia and Ukraine amidst ongoing regional tensions.

In this episode, we speak to Michael Godwin (MikeReports) to trace the origins and pivotal moments of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, from Crimea's annexation to the ongoing conflict. An excellent analysis of key events and their impact on the regional and global stage.

In this outstanding third episode, we speak to Taras Kuzio, a Political Scientist at National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, to examine the rise of Slavic nationalism in the wake of the Russian invasion. An incredible insight that helps understanding its cultural, historical, and geopolitical ramifications, including the controversial concept of "Russkiy Mir."

Join us in our second episode featuring Elliott Chapman, PhD student at Leeds Beckett University & Expert on Labour Relations in Post-Soviet Societies, as we delve into the economic and political aftermath of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Here, we analyse the dramatic shifts under the shock doctrine and its profound impact on Ukraine’s society and governance.

In this first episode, our host Joe Collins speaks to Zbigniew Wojnowski, an Associate Professor at Oxford University, to uncover the deep historical roots between Ukraine and Russia. We explore the complex ties and conflicts that have shaped their turbulent relationship and set the stage for contemporary geopolitical struggles.