At the Coalface Fri, 17 Jul 2026 17:56:33 -0400 http://atthecoalface.buzzsprout.com en-gb © 2026 At the Coalface yes Support this Podcast 00d83b8e-bbda-5764-897b-76dd1f8d1611 mister.pilips@gmail.com Philippe Rose episodic false At the Coalface is a series of conversations hosted by Philippe Rose.

Philippe's guests share stories about their life beyond the headlines of international affairs. They look for lessons learned about making an impact in the world as practitioners in diplomacy, international organisations, NGOs, journalism and the private sector.

Many of Philippe's guests are connected by their common experience of taking time away from work to attend graduate school at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy of Tufts University.

]]> Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) Fletcher; GMAP; podcast; alumni; international affairs; politics; conversation Philippe Rose mister.pilips@gmail.com https://storage.buzzsprout.com/jbiv3qsklt5g4ozzj9rapriw7oxi?.jpg At the Coalface http://atthecoalface.buzzsprout.com Philippe Rose Chris Salinas – To Lead, First Learn to Follow Chris Salinas – To Lead, First Learn to Follow In this episode, I sit down with Chris Salinas, a former U.S. Coast Guard officer whose career has spanned international security, maritime cooperation, and technology.

Chris reflects on the experiences during his teenage years that first drew him toward a life of service, and how those early influences led him to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. He shares how working alongside partners across cultures shaped his approach to leadership, trust, and international cooperation.

We talk about his years working across Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia, exploring what successful international partnerships have in common, the lessons learned from operating in complex environments, and how those experiences changed his perspective on America's role in the world.

Recorded on 25 June 2026.

Connect with Chris on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissalinas/.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I sit down with Chris Salinas, a former U.S. Coast Guard officer whose career has spanned international security, maritime cooperation, and technology.

Chris reflects on the experiences during his teenage years that first drew him toward a life of service, and how those early influences led him to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. He shares how working alongside partners across cultures shaped his approach to leadership, trust, and international cooperation.

We talk about his years working across Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia, exploring what successful international partnerships have in common, the lessons learned from operating in complex environments, and how those experiences changed his perspective on America's role in the world.

Recorded on 25 June 2026.

Connect with Chris on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissalinas/.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Chris Salinas Buzzsprout-19108483 Wed, 15 Jul 2026 18:00:00 +0800 3645 126 full false Laura B. - Insuring the uninsurable: helping the private sector navigate political risk Laura B. - Insuring the uninsurable: helping the private sector navigate political risk In this episode, I explore Laura’s journey into the fascinating world of political risk insurance, a space that is exploding in relevance as business leaders grapples with an ever more complex geopolitical landscape. Laura shares her insights into the way businesses navigate political risk and the leadership and organisational blindspots she’s noticed. She then distils a few principles that the most geopolitically savvy firms follow.

Recorded on 27 June 2024.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Laura on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/laura-burns-b1661b18/.

Laura mentions DWN Bookshelf, a book club for graduates of Fletcher School’s GMAP programme. The Instagram account lists the books the club is reading. Laura makes a reference to Zsuzsanna Szelényi’s book, Tainted Democracy. Zsuzsanna was a guest of a previous episode.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I explore Laura’s journey into the fascinating world of political risk insurance, a space that is exploding in relevance as business leaders grapples with an ever more complex geopolitical landscape. Laura shares her insights into the way businesses navigate political risk and the leadership and organisational blindspots she’s noticed. She then distils a few principles that the most geopolitically savvy firms follow.

Recorded on 27 June 2024.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Laura on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/laura-burns-b1661b18/.

Laura mentions DWN Bookshelf, a book club for graduates of Fletcher School’s GMAP programme. The Instagram account lists the books the club is reading. Laura makes a reference to Zsuzsanna Szelényi’s book, Tainted Democracy. Zsuzsanna was a guest of a previous episode.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Laura B. Buzzsprout-15073599 Wed, 01 Jul 2026 18:00:00 +0800 2894 125 full false Tjark Egenhoff - Revolutions, Democracy, and the Courage to Be Yourself Tjark Egenhoff - Revolutions, Democracy, and the Courage to Be Yourself In this episode, I sit down with Tjark Marten Egenhoff, a development and foreign policy leader whose life has been shaped by movement, service, and the search for belonging.

Tjark reflects on growing up across countries and cultures, from revolutionary Iran to Argentina during periods of political upheaval. He shares how those early experiences, together with a strong sense of justice instilled by his family, shaped the way he sees the world.

We talk about his path into politics, development, and international cooperation, and the optimism of a generation that came of age believing in European integration and a more connected world.

In the latter part of the conversation, Tjark reflects on leadership, identity, and belonging. He speaks candidly about coming out later in life, navigating different cultures and institutions, and why authenticity became central to the way he leads.

Recorded on 4 May 2026.

Connect with Tjark on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/tjark-marten-egenhoff-42579246/.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I sit down with Tjark Marten Egenhoff, a development and foreign policy leader whose life has been shaped by movement, service, and the search for belonging.

Tjark reflects on growing up across countries and cultures, from revolutionary Iran to Argentina during periods of political upheaval. He shares how those early experiences, together with a strong sense of justice instilled by his family, shaped the way he sees the world.

We talk about his path into politics, development, and international cooperation, and the optimism of a generation that came of age believing in European integration and a more connected world.

In the latter part of the conversation, Tjark reflects on leadership, identity, and belonging. He speaks candidly about coming out later in life, navigating different cultures and institutions, and why authenticity became central to the way he leads.

Recorded on 4 May 2026.

Connect with Tjark on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/tjark-marten-egenhoff-42579246/.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Tjark Egenhoff Buzzsprout-19108481 Wed, 17 Jun 2026 18:00:00 +0800 3105 124 full false Mariana Deluera - Between Roots and Reinvention: Making Sense of a Changing World Mariana Deluera - Between Roots and Reinvention: Making Sense of a Changing World In this episode, I sit down with Mariana Deluera, a geopolitical risk analyst whose life has been shaped by movement, adaptation, and the search for belonging.

Mariana reflects on growing up across five countries as the daughter of a Mexican diplomat. She shares what it was like to become repeatedly uprooted and re-rooted, and how returning to Mexico as a teenager left her feeling both at home and like a foreigner.

We talk about the influence of her mother and grandmother, two women whose very different life journeys shaped her outlook, as well as her path from immigration and asylum work into geopolitical analysis during the uncertainty of the COVID pandemic.

In the latter part of the conversation, Mariana reflects on how living between cultures influences the way she thinks about geopolitical risk today, the importance of staying open to different perspectives, and why adaptability matters in a rapidly changing world.

Recorded on 23 April 2026.

Connect with Mariana on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/mariana-deluera-aa9626142.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I sit down with Mariana Deluera, a geopolitical risk analyst whose life has been shaped by movement, adaptation, and the search for belonging.

Mariana reflects on growing up across five countries as the daughter of a Mexican diplomat. She shares what it was like to become repeatedly uprooted and re-rooted, and how returning to Mexico as a teenager left her feeling both at home and like a foreigner.

We talk about the influence of her mother and grandmother, two women whose very different life journeys shaped her outlook, as well as her path from immigration and asylum work into geopolitical analysis during the uncertainty of the COVID pandemic.

In the latter part of the conversation, Mariana reflects on how living between cultures influences the way she thinks about geopolitical risk today, the importance of staying open to different perspectives, and why adaptability matters in a rapidly changing world.

Recorded on 23 April 2026.

Connect with Mariana on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/mariana-deluera-aa9626142.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Mariana Deluera Buzzsprout-19108471 Wed, 03 Jun 2026 18:00:00 +0800 2877 123 full false Stephen Hunnewell - Service, Narratives, and a Changing World Order Stephen Hunnewell - Service, Narratives, and a Changing World Order In this episode, I sit down with Stephen Hunnewell, a former national security and irregular warfare practitioner whose career has spanned Special Operations, geopolitics, technology, and strategic competition.

Steve reflects on growing up in a single-parent household, the values that shaped him early on, and the impact 9/11 had on his generation. We talk about the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the limits of overwhelming military force, and the mismatch between Western assumptions and local realities on the ground.

Drawing on years working alongside partners across the Middle East, Europe, and Asia, Steve reflects on how America’s role in the world has changed, the growing importance of narratives in modern conflict, and how technology and social fragmentation are reshaping competition from Ukraine to elsewhere.

In the latter part of the conversation, Steve reflects on parenthood, family life, and what years focused abroad have taught him about service, community, and meaning at home.

Recorded on 22 April 2026.

Connect with Steve on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/hunnewellstephen/.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I sit down with Stephen Hunnewell, a former national security and irregular warfare practitioner whose career has spanned Special Operations, geopolitics, technology, and strategic competition.

Steve reflects on growing up in a single-parent household, the values that shaped him early on, and the impact 9/11 had on his generation. We talk about the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the limits of overwhelming military force, and the mismatch between Western assumptions and local realities on the ground.

Drawing on years working alongside partners across the Middle East, Europe, and Asia, Steve reflects on how America’s role in the world has changed, the growing importance of narratives in modern conflict, and how technology and social fragmentation are reshaping competition from Ukraine to elsewhere.

In the latter part of the conversation, Steve reflects on parenthood, family life, and what years focused abroad have taught him about service, community, and meaning at home.

Recorded on 22 April 2026.

Connect with Steve on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/hunnewellstephen/.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Stephen Hunnewell Buzzsprout-19020194 Wed, 20 May 2026 18:00:00 +0800 3612 122 full false Gian Jones - You Can’t Serve If You’re Bought Gian Jones - You Can’t Serve If You’re Bought In this episode, I sit down with Gian Jones, a real estate investor, community builder, and congressional candidate.

Gian reflects on growing up in the Rockaways in a single-parent household, taking on responsibility early as the oldest of three, and a childhood that was modest but grounded in strong family and community.

He shares how he found his way into real estate, first as a way to make money, and then as a career. He also speaks about early financial success, losing much of it, and what he learned from having to start again.

We talk about his early exposure to politics, and how it shaped his belief that public service requires financial independence.

Finally, Gian explains why he is running for Congress, what he believes government gets wrong about ordinary people, and what he hopes to change.

Recorded on 20 April 2026.

Connect with Gian on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/gian-a-jones-55713216.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I sit down with Gian Jones, a real estate investor, community builder, and congressional candidate.

Gian reflects on growing up in the Rockaways in a single-parent household, taking on responsibility early as the oldest of three, and a childhood that was modest but grounded in strong family and community.

He shares how he found his way into real estate, first as a way to make money, and then as a career. He also speaks about early financial success, losing much of it, and what he learned from having to start again.

We talk about his early exposure to politics, and how it shaped his belief that public service requires financial independence.

Finally, Gian explains why he is running for Congress, what he believes government gets wrong about ordinary people, and what he hopes to change.

Recorded on 20 April 2026.

Connect with Gian on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/gian-a-jones-55713216.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Gian Jones Buzzsprout-18982517 Wed, 06 May 2026 18:00:00 +0800 2333 121 full false Daniel Freeman - The Search for Belonging, Reinvention, and Second Chances Daniel Freeman - The Search for Belonging, Reinvention, and Second Chances In this episode, I sit down with Daniel Freeman, a former U.S. Air Force intelligence officer, entrepreneur, and community builder whose life has been shaped by movement, reinvention, and the search for belonging.

Daniel reflects on growing up in a military family, constantly adapting to new places while carrying a quiet sense of not fully fitting in. Over time, that same tension would shape his path through service, marriage, fatherhood, and a deeper journey of self-understanding. 

We talk about his 20 years in intelligence, what it revealed about how large systems really function, and why institutions so often drift away from the people they are meant to serve. 

Daniel also speaks candidly about leaving the military, hitting a personal low point, and the transformative role of therapy, recovery, and community in rebuilding his life. He shares how those experiences led him into entrepreneurship, where he now helps veterans build businesses with less risk while pursuing a broader mission around poverty, second chances, and access to meaningful mental health care. 

Recorded on 16 April 2026.

Connect with Daniel on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/danieljfree/.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I sit down with Daniel Freeman, a former U.S. Air Force intelligence officer, entrepreneur, and community builder whose life has been shaped by movement, reinvention, and the search for belonging.

Daniel reflects on growing up in a military family, constantly adapting to new places while carrying a quiet sense of not fully fitting in. Over time, that same tension would shape his path through service, marriage, fatherhood, and a deeper journey of self-understanding. 

We talk about his 20 years in intelligence, what it revealed about how large systems really function, and why institutions so often drift away from the people they are meant to serve. 

Daniel also speaks candidly about leaving the military, hitting a personal low point, and the transformative role of therapy, recovery, and community in rebuilding his life. He shares how those experiences led him into entrepreneurship, where he now helps veterans build businesses with less risk while pursuing a broader mission around poverty, second chances, and access to meaningful mental health care. 

Recorded on 16 April 2026.

Connect with Daniel on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/danieljfree/.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Daniel Freeman Buzzsprout-18807765 Wed, 22 Apr 2026 18:00:00 +0800 3184 120 full false Barker Keith - Between Idealism and Interests: Law, Risk, and the Real World Barker Keith - Between Idealism and Interests: Law, Risk, and the Real World In this episode, I sit down with Barker Keith, whose career spans military service, law, and sovereign risk management.

Barker reflects on growing up in Venezuela, and how his early, idealised view of the United States was challenged by friends who saw the world less through ideology and more through national interests.

He shares formative experiences from his time in the U.S. Army, his transition into law and political risk insurance, and the complexities of structuring protection for international investments. Drawing on decades of experience, Barker offers a behind-the-scenes view of how nationalism shapes outcomes, and what it takes to navigate risk in a world driven less by rules and more by interests.

Recorded on 8 April 2026.

Connect with Barker on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/barker-keith-329b1b8.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!


Support the show

]]> In this episode, I sit down with Barker Keith, whose career spans military service, law, and sovereign risk management.

Barker reflects on growing up in Venezuela, and how his early, idealised view of the United States was challenged by friends who saw the world less through ideology and more through national interests.

He shares formative experiences from his time in the U.S. Army, his transition into law and political risk insurance, and the complexities of structuring protection for international investments. Drawing on decades of experience, Barker offers a behind-the-scenes view of how nationalism shapes outcomes, and what it takes to navigate risk in a world driven less by rules and more by interests.

Recorded on 8 April 2026.

Connect with Barker on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/barker-keith-329b1b8.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!


Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Barker Keith Buzzsprout-18807764 Wed, 08 Apr 2026 20:00:00 +0800 2645 119 full false Siobhán MacDermott - Risk, Identity, and a Life Between Worlds Siobhán MacDermott - Risk, Identity, and a Life Between Worlds In this episode, I speak with Siobhán MacDermott, a cybersecurity and public policy expert whose career spans Silicon Valley, global finance, and advisory.

Siobhán reflects on an itinerant childhood and how constantly being the “new kid” shaped her relationship with risk, identity, and belonging. What began as an ambition to become an ER doctor took unexpected turns, from scouting mobile tower locations to eventually working at the intersection of cyber risk, geopolitics, and financial stability.

We talk about how she found her voice in high-stakes, often male-dominated environments, and the role risk-taking has played throughout her life.

Siobhán also reflects on her current focus protecting children from the risks of social media, connecting her work today to her own experiences of vulnerability, parenting, and growth.

TeenAegis is accessible at: https://teenaegis.com/portal/platform-danger.

Siobhán mentions The Anxious Generation: https://www.anxiousgeneration.com.

Recorded on 20 March 2026.

Connect with Siobhán on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/siobhanmacdermott/.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I speak with Siobhán MacDermott, a cybersecurity and public policy expert whose career spans Silicon Valley, global finance, and advisory.

Siobhán reflects on an itinerant childhood and how constantly being the “new kid” shaped her relationship with risk, identity, and belonging. What began as an ambition to become an ER doctor took unexpected turns, from scouting mobile tower locations to eventually working at the intersection of cyber risk, geopolitics, and financial stability.

We talk about how she found her voice in high-stakes, often male-dominated environments, and the role risk-taking has played throughout her life.

Siobhán also reflects on her current focus protecting children from the risks of social media, connecting her work today to her own experiences of vulnerability, parenting, and growth.

TeenAegis is accessible at: https://teenaegis.com/portal/platform-danger.

Siobhán mentions The Anxious Generation: https://www.anxiousgeneration.com.

Recorded on 20 March 2026.

Connect with Siobhán on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/siobhanmacdermott/.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Siobhán MacDermott Buzzsprout-18807762 Wed, 25 Mar 2026 18:00:00 +0800 3297 118 full false Jay Truesdale - Purpose, Diplomacy, and the Craft of Understanding Risk Jay Truesdale - Purpose, Diplomacy, and the Craft of Understanding Risk In this episode, I sit down with Jay Truesdale, a geopolitical risk adviser and former U.S. diplomat and Navy Reserve officer whose career spans diplomacy, military service, and private sector leadership.

Jay traces his sense of duty back to childhood, inspired by family stories of wartime service. That early call led him into diplomacy and the Navy Reserve, with formative experiences across Russia, Ukraine, and South Asia.

We talk about the craft of diplomacy in the real world: building trust with local leaders, listening far from Washington, and learning how countries actually work beneath the surface.

Jay also reflects on his transition to the private sector, first helping bring political risk into the traditional business risk approach, and later leading two geopolitical risk consultancies. Drawing on frontline experience, he shares the frameworks he uses to help leaders think clearly about risk in a world where the old rules are rapidly breaking down.

The book Jay mentions is The Captive Mind by Czesław Miłosz, published in 1953.

Recorded on 6 March 2026.

Connect with Jay on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jrtruesdale/.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I sit down with Jay Truesdale, a geopolitical risk adviser and former U.S. diplomat and Navy Reserve officer whose career spans diplomacy, military service, and private sector leadership.

Jay traces his sense of duty back to childhood, inspired by family stories of wartime service. That early call led him into diplomacy and the Navy Reserve, with formative experiences across Russia, Ukraine, and South Asia.

We talk about the craft of diplomacy in the real world: building trust with local leaders, listening far from Washington, and learning how countries actually work beneath the surface.

Jay also reflects on his transition to the private sector, first helping bring political risk into the traditional business risk approach, and later leading two geopolitical risk consultancies. Drawing on frontline experience, he shares the frameworks he uses to help leaders think clearly about risk in a world where the old rules are rapidly breaking down.

The book Jay mentions is The Captive Mind by Czesław Miłosz, published in 1953.

Recorded on 6 March 2026.

Connect with Jay on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jrtruesdale/.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Jay Truesdale Buzzsprout-18439542 Wed, 11 Mar 2026 18:00:00 +0800 3385 117 full false Andres Boaz Munoz Mosquera - History in the Blood, Service in the Present Andres Boaz Munoz Mosquera - History in the Blood, Service in the Present In this episode, I sit down with Andres Boaz Munoz Mosquera, a former Spanish military officer, NATO legal adviser, professor of international law, and spiritual caregiver, whose life has been shaped by war, democracy, and service.

Andrés describes himself as “the product of three wars”: the Spanish Civil War, Spain’s colonial conflicts in North Africa, and the war in Bosnia in the 1990s. His family history carries the trauma of exile under Francisco Franco, a grandfather imprisoned in concentration camps, a father who returned to Spain through the Foreign Legion, and a childhood where politics were largely left unspoken.

We talk about his decision to join the military and what it meant to be trained not just as a soldier but in constitutional law. From there, he takes us to Bosnia in 1994, where serving under the United Nations exposed him to both the limits of peacekeeping and the realities of bureaucracy in wartime. Later, working within NATO, he saw how institutions function under pressure, and why he still believes international cooperation is necessary.

In the final part of the conversation, we shift to a different kind of service, Andres's call to accompany people at the end of life.

The book Andres mentions is ”Seeking in the Company of Others – The Wisdom of Group Spiritual Direction”, written by Roslyn G. Weiner (https://www.bu.edu/sth/seeking-in-the-company-of-others-the-wisdom-of-group-spiritual-direction-by-dr-roslyn-g-weiner-sth0103/).

Recorded on 6 February 2026.

Connect with Andres on LinkedIn at Andres Boaz Munoz Mosquera | LinkedIn.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I sit down with Andres Boaz Munoz Mosquera, a former Spanish military officer, NATO legal adviser, professor of international law, and spiritual caregiver, whose life has been shaped by war, democracy, and service.

Andrés describes himself as “the product of three wars”: the Spanish Civil War, Spain’s colonial conflicts in North Africa, and the war in Bosnia in the 1990s. His family history carries the trauma of exile under Francisco Franco, a grandfather imprisoned in concentration camps, a father who returned to Spain through the Foreign Legion, and a childhood where politics were largely left unspoken.

We talk about his decision to join the military and what it meant to be trained not just as a soldier but in constitutional law. From there, he takes us to Bosnia in 1994, where serving under the United Nations exposed him to both the limits of peacekeeping and the realities of bureaucracy in wartime. Later, working within NATO, he saw how institutions function under pressure, and why he still believes international cooperation is necessary.

In the final part of the conversation, we shift to a different kind of service, Andres's call to accompany people at the end of life.

The book Andres mentions is ”Seeking in the Company of Others – The Wisdom of Group Spiritual Direction”, written by Roslyn G. Weiner (https://www.bu.edu/sth/seeking-in-the-company-of-others-the-wisdom-of-group-spiritual-direction-by-dr-roslyn-g-weiner-sth0103/).

Recorded on 6 February 2026.

Connect with Andres on LinkedIn at Andres Boaz Munoz Mosquera | LinkedIn.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Andres Boaz Munoz Mosquera Buzzsprout-18439541 Wed, 25 Feb 2026 18:00:00 +0800 3499 116 full false Iman Kamel - An Inquiry into Resisting, Transforming, Being Iman Kamel - An Inquiry into Resisting, Transforming, Being In this episode, I sit down with Iman Kamel, an Egyptian filmmaker, writer, artist and creator, whose work explores inner resistance, transformation, and living between worlds.

Living between Germany and Egypt, Ima’s path spans dance, visual art, film, and international relations. Her films blur the line between documentary and fiction, using embodied storytelling to explore fear, rebellion, and belonging.

We talk at length about her book, Quantum Leaps & Lost Socks, where she brings together personal narrative, ancient wisdom, and “quantum” metaphors to explore transformation, interconnectedness, and what she calls the “holographic being.” The book reflects the same concerns that run through her films: how inner life shapes reality, and how meaning emerges through everyday experience.

Ima's book: https://www.holographicbeing.com/quantum-leaps-lost-socks-book

Recorded on 16 January 2026.

Connect with Ima on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/iman-kamel-1a720425/.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I sit down with Iman Kamel, an Egyptian filmmaker, writer, artist and creator, whose work explores inner resistance, transformation, and living between worlds.

Living between Germany and Egypt, Ima’s path spans dance, visual art, film, and international relations. Her films blur the line between documentary and fiction, using embodied storytelling to explore fear, rebellion, and belonging.

We talk at length about her book, Quantum Leaps & Lost Socks, where she brings together personal narrative, ancient wisdom, and “quantum” metaphors to explore transformation, interconnectedness, and what she calls the “holographic being.” The book reflects the same concerns that run through her films: how inner life shapes reality, and how meaning emerges through everyday experience.

Ima's book: https://www.holographicbeing.com/quantum-leaps-lost-socks-book

Recorded on 16 January 2026.

Connect with Ima on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/iman-kamel-1a720425/.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Iman Kamel Buzzsprout-18439540 Wed, 11 Feb 2026 18:00:00 +0800 3935 115 full false Guillermo de los Santos - Fundraising for Good: On Ethical Persuasion Guillermo de los Santos - Fundraising for Good: On Ethical Persuasion In this episode, I speak with Guillermo de los Santos, a humanitarian fundraiser whose career began as an unintended detour.

After studying international relations with hopes of working in diplomacy, Guillermo found himself stuck in telemarketing. What felt like a dead end became an unexpected training ground in persuasion, listening, and human motivation.

A chance opportunity led him to UNICEF, where fundraising clicked as a way to combine purpose, creativity, and data. From there, he built a career across organisations such as Médecins Sans Frontières and UNHCR, developing an approach to fundraising that is both effective and ethical.

We talk about how people decide to give, the tension between persuasion and manipulation, and why asking for money in humanitarian work is often misunderstood.

This is a conversation about detours, curiosity, and finding purpose in work you never planned to do.

Recorded on 9 January 2026.

Connect with Guillermo on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/guillermo-de-los-santos-msc-oxon-mba-6a739310.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I speak with Guillermo de los Santos, a humanitarian fundraiser whose career began as an unintended detour.

After studying international relations with hopes of working in diplomacy, Guillermo found himself stuck in telemarketing. What felt like a dead end became an unexpected training ground in persuasion, listening, and human motivation.

A chance opportunity led him to UNICEF, where fundraising clicked as a way to combine purpose, creativity, and data. From there, he built a career across organisations such as Médecins Sans Frontières and UNHCR, developing an approach to fundraising that is both effective and ethical.

We talk about how people decide to give, the tension between persuasion and manipulation, and why asking for money in humanitarian work is often misunderstood.

This is a conversation about detours, curiosity, and finding purpose in work you never planned to do.

Recorded on 9 January 2026.

Connect with Guillermo on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/guillermo-de-los-santos-msc-oxon-mba-6a739310.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Guillermo de los Santos Buzzsprout-18026930 Wed, 28 Jan 2026 18:00:00 +0800 3318 114 full false Mahendra Shunmoogam - A Life Working Toward a Better Society Mahendra Shunmoogam - A Life Working Toward a Better Society In this episode, I sit down with Mahendra Shunmoogam, a South African policy thinker working at the intersection of industry, trade, and climate diplomacy.

Mahendra’s path spans HIV/AIDS activism, science and economic policy, government diplomacy, corporate affairs, and global climate governance. From working with Zackie Achmat at the Treatment Action Campaign to coordinating negotiations for the G77 at the UNFCCC, his career offers a rare perspective on how values travel across institutions.

We talk about growing up in Cape Town as an Indian South African, the debates that shaped his worldview, and how questions of belonging later surfaced inside global negotiations. Mahendra reflects on the tension between the moral clarity of activism and the compromises required in multilateral diplomacy.

We also explore how evidence enters policy, how companies really think about serving society, and what just international negotiations might look like for countries in the Global South.

Recorded on 5 December 2025.

Connect with Mahendra on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/mahendra-shunmoogam-b794a51.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I sit down with Mahendra Shunmoogam, a South African policy thinker working at the intersection of industry, trade, and climate diplomacy.

Mahendra’s path spans HIV/AIDS activism, science and economic policy, government diplomacy, corporate affairs, and global climate governance. From working with Zackie Achmat at the Treatment Action Campaign to coordinating negotiations for the G77 at the UNFCCC, his career offers a rare perspective on how values travel across institutions.

We talk about growing up in Cape Town as an Indian South African, the debates that shaped his worldview, and how questions of belonging later surfaced inside global negotiations. Mahendra reflects on the tension between the moral clarity of activism and the compromises required in multilateral diplomacy.

We also explore how evidence enters policy, how companies really think about serving society, and what just international negotiations might look like for countries in the Global South.

Recorded on 5 December 2025.

Connect with Mahendra on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/mahendra-shunmoogam-b794a51.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Mahendra Shunmoogam Buzzsprout-18026929 Wed, 14 Jan 2026 18:00:00 +0800 2609 113 full false Rob Palmer - From the Battlefield to the Beltway, on Leadership and Influence Rob Palmer - From the Battlefield to the Beltway, on Leadership and Influence In this episode, I sit down with Rob Palmer, corporate government relations executive and retired U.S. Air Force Reserve public affairs officer, for a wide-ranging conversation on leadership, influence, and the art of translating complexity across the worlds of politics, the military, and industry.

Rob’s career spans trade association lobbying, military public affairs, NATO operations, and today the defence industrial base. Introduced to me by Rob Palm, his path offers a compelling parallel: not leadership from the cockpit or the field, but from the arenas where narrative, perception, and policy shape outcomes.

We explore how upbringing and serendipity shaped his trajectory, what he learned negotiating across grey zones with politicians seeking clarity rather than detail, and how his Air Force Reserve service, including deployments to Bosnia and the Gulf, honed his ability to bridge perspectives.

Recorded on 22 October 2025.

Connect with Rob on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/robertppalmer.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I sit down with Rob Palmer, corporate government relations executive and retired U.S. Air Force Reserve public affairs officer, for a wide-ranging conversation on leadership, influence, and the art of translating complexity across the worlds of politics, the military, and industry.

Rob’s career spans trade association lobbying, military public affairs, NATO operations, and today the defence industrial base. Introduced to me by Rob Palm, his path offers a compelling parallel: not leadership from the cockpit or the field, but from the arenas where narrative, perception, and policy shape outcomes.

We explore how upbringing and serendipity shaped his trajectory, what he learned negotiating across grey zones with politicians seeking clarity rather than detail, and how his Air Force Reserve service, including deployments to Bosnia and the Gulf, honed his ability to bridge perspectives.

Recorded on 22 October 2025.

Connect with Rob on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/robertppalmer.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Rob Palmer Buzzsprout-18026928 Wed, 31 Dec 2025 18:00:00 +0800 3750 112 full false Emma N’Gouan Anoh - Bringing grassroots experience for better development partnerships in Africa Emma N’Gouan Anoh - Bringing grassroots experience for better development partnerships in Africa In this episode, I speak with Emma N’Gouan Anoh. Emma shares her journey and insights as a seasoned development professional currently working at the UNDP in Djibouti. Emma traces the pull she felt towards development to conversations with her father when noticing the jarring inequalities in her home country of Ivory Coast. In our conversation, we discuss what stakeholder participation means in practice and the ingredients for realising positive outcomes in deep partnership with local institutions.

Recorded on 30 September and on 10 December 2024.

Connect with Emma on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/emma-n%E2%80%99gouan-anoh-373843169/.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!


Support the show

]]> In this episode, I speak with Emma N’Gouan Anoh. Emma shares her journey and insights as a seasoned development professional currently working at the UNDP in Djibouti. Emma traces the pull she felt towards development to conversations with her father when noticing the jarring inequalities in her home country of Ivory Coast. In our conversation, we discuss what stakeholder participation means in practice and the ingredients for realising positive outcomes in deep partnership with local institutions.

Recorded on 30 September and on 10 December 2024.

Connect with Emma on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/emma-n%E2%80%99gouan-anoh-373843169/.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!


Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Emma N’Gouan Anoh Buzzsprout-15811723 Wed, 17 Dec 2025 18:00:00 +0800 3621 111 full false Dylan Monaghan - Reengineering Our World, The Self Beyond the Mind Dylan Monaghan - Reengineering Our World, The Self Beyond the Mind In this episode, I speak with Dylan Monaghan, engineer, pilot, linguist, digital nomad, and author of Singlethreading. Dylan’s life is a study in reinvention: from a childhood in the Virgin Islands to an elite school in White Plains, from the discipline of the U.S. Air Force to the creative freedom of Japan. His story moves across cultures and identities, and somehow he has stitched these chapters into a coherent, deeply intentional way of living.

We discuss the interplay between discipline and curiosity, and Dylan’s awakening to the idea that you are not your brain. He explains how the autonomous parts of the mind can be retrained and rewired, reshaping our perception of the world itself.

We end with a reflection on identity, legacy, and what remains when all the titles labels fall away.

Recorded on 9 October 2025.

Connect with Dylan on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/dylanmonaghan. Dylan's book, Singlethreading, is available on Amazon: amazon.com/Singlethreading-Just-Thing-Doing-More/dp/1961513013.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!


Support the show

]]> In this episode, I speak with Dylan Monaghan, engineer, pilot, linguist, digital nomad, and author of Singlethreading. Dylan’s life is a study in reinvention: from a childhood in the Virgin Islands to an elite school in White Plains, from the discipline of the U.S. Air Force to the creative freedom of Japan. His story moves across cultures and identities, and somehow he has stitched these chapters into a coherent, deeply intentional way of living.

We discuss the interplay between discipline and curiosity, and Dylan’s awakening to the idea that you are not your brain. He explains how the autonomous parts of the mind can be retrained and rewired, reshaping our perception of the world itself.

We end with a reflection on identity, legacy, and what remains when all the titles labels fall away.

Recorded on 9 October 2025.

Connect with Dylan on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/dylanmonaghan. Dylan's book, Singlethreading, is available on Amazon: amazon.com/Singlethreading-Just-Thing-Doing-More/dp/1961513013.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!


Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Dylan Monaghan Buzzsprout-17820922 Wed, 03 Dec 2025 18:00:00 +0800 2893 110 full false Fredrik Norman - The Long Ride: Values, Change and Continuity Fredrik Norman - The Long Ride: Values, Change and Continuity In this episode, I speak with Fredrik Norman, whose story captures Norway’s remarkable transformation, from a country built on fishing to one where new generations could freely choose their path.

We spoke about navigating career choices in a rapidly changing economy, and Fredrik’s journey through the energy industry, a path we both share, before he moved into public service.

We also touched on marriage in a two-career household, and how identity evolves as work and family life intersect. Outside of work, Fredrik is an extreme cyclist, finding balance and focus on long, demanding rides that take him far beyond the office.

This is a thoughtful conversation about values, change and continuity.

Recorded on 28 August 2025.

Connect with Fredrik on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/fredriknorman.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I speak with Fredrik Norman, whose story captures Norway’s remarkable transformation, from a country built on fishing to one where new generations could freely choose their path.

We spoke about navigating career choices in a rapidly changing economy, and Fredrik’s journey through the energy industry, a path we both share, before he moved into public service.

We also touched on marriage in a two-career household, and how identity evolves as work and family life intersect. Outside of work, Fredrik is an extreme cyclist, finding balance and focus on long, demanding rides that take him far beyond the office.

This is a thoughtful conversation about values, change and continuity.

Recorded on 28 August 2025.

Connect with Fredrik on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/fredriknorman.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Fredrik Norman Buzzsprout-17820919 Wed, 19 Nov 2025 18:00:00 +0800 3539 109 full false Nicodemus Ajak Bior - The Long Walk from War to Leadership Nicodemus Ajak Bior - The Long Walk from War to Leadership In this episode, I speak with Nicodemus Ajak Bior, a former child soldier from South Sudan who defied unimaginable odds to become a scholar, public servant, and advocate for transparency.

At just eight years old, Nicodemus was taken by rebels and thrust into a world of survival, separation, and loss. His escape, walking over hundreds of kilometres barefoot through war zones and jungles, marks the beginning of a story that is both harrowing and inspiring.

From makeshift schools under trees in refugee camps to earning a degree at the Fletcher School, Nicodemus’s journey is one of profound resilience, human connection, and the power of education to transform lives.

We talk about what it means to survive and rebuild, how hope persists even in the darkest places, and how leadership is forged by perseverance.

Recorded on 26 August 2025.

Connect with Nicodemus on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/nicodemus-a-bior-0948b291/.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I speak with Nicodemus Ajak Bior, a former child soldier from South Sudan who defied unimaginable odds to become a scholar, public servant, and advocate for transparency.

At just eight years old, Nicodemus was taken by rebels and thrust into a world of survival, separation, and loss. His escape, walking over hundreds of kilometres barefoot through war zones and jungles, marks the beginning of a story that is both harrowing and inspiring.

From makeshift schools under trees in refugee camps to earning a degree at the Fletcher School, Nicodemus’s journey is one of profound resilience, human connection, and the power of education to transform lives.

We talk about what it means to survive and rebuild, how hope persists even in the darkest places, and how leadership is forged by perseverance.

Recorded on 26 August 2025.

Connect with Nicodemus on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/nicodemus-a-bior-0948b291/.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Nicodemus Ajak Bior Buzzsprout-17820916 Wed, 05 Nov 2025 18:00:00 +0800 4409 108 full false Michael Klein - How to Talk About Economics Without Losing the Plot Michael Klein - How to Talk About Economics Without Losing the Plot In this episode, I speak with Professor Michael Klein, founder and co-editor of EconoFact and Professor of Economics at The Fletcher School. Michael has served as Chief Economist in the U.S. Treasury and as a visiting scholar at the Federal Reserve and the IMF.

We discuss how sound economic analysis can cut through noise and polarization, and why clear communication of facts is critical for better policy. We talk about the motivation behind EconoFact, and how it helps bridge the gap between academic research and public understanding, offering accessible, evidence-based insights on today’s most debated economic issues. 

This conversation explores the intersection of economics, policy, and public trust, and what it takes to communicate complexity with honesty and clarity in an age of information overload.

Recorded on 10 September 2025.

Connect with Michael on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/michael-klein-5979431 and at Econofact.org.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I speak with Professor Michael Klein, founder and co-editor of EconoFact and Professor of Economics at The Fletcher School. Michael has served as Chief Economist in the U.S. Treasury and as a visiting scholar at the Federal Reserve and the IMF.

We discuss how sound economic analysis can cut through noise and polarization, and why clear communication of facts is critical for better policy. We talk about the motivation behind EconoFact, and how it helps bridge the gap between academic research and public understanding, offering accessible, evidence-based insights on today’s most debated economic issues. 

This conversation explores the intersection of economics, policy, and public trust, and what it takes to communicate complexity with honesty and clarity in an age of information overload.

Recorded on 10 September 2025.

Connect with Michael on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/michael-klein-5979431 and at Econofact.org.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Michael Klein Buzzsprout-17703768 Wed, 22 Oct 2025 18:00:00 +0800 3428 107 full false Krystal Ramsden: From Faith to Fractures, a Journey Through Mining, Resilience, and Meaning Krystal Ramsden: From Faith to Fractures, a Journey Through Mining, Resilience, and Meaning In this episode, I speak with Krystal Ramsden. Krystal was raised in an ultra-religious, homeschooled environment. Her early world was one of strict boundaries, until science, education, and the wider world cracked it open. What followed was a lifelong pursuit of knowledge and a career that has taken her from field camps in the Yukon to the geopolitical battlegrounds of mining finance and fragile states.

Krystal also shares her parallel story of surviving abuse, and transforming trauma into advocacy and other practical initiatives.  We explore her expertise in the geopolitics of resources, how inequality, governance, and security converge in the global race for critical minerals.

Recorded on 26 August 2025.

Connect with Krystal on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/krystalramsden/.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I speak with Krystal Ramsden. Krystal was raised in an ultra-religious, homeschooled environment. Her early world was one of strict boundaries, until science, education, and the wider world cracked it open. What followed was a lifelong pursuit of knowledge and a career that has taken her from field camps in the Yukon to the geopolitical battlegrounds of mining finance and fragile states.

Krystal also shares her parallel story of surviving abuse, and transforming trauma into advocacy and other practical initiatives.  We explore her expertise in the geopolitics of resources, how inequality, governance, and security converge in the global race for critical minerals.

Recorded on 26 August 2025.

Connect with Krystal on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/krystalramsden/.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Krystal Ramsden Buzzsprout-17703766 Wed, 08 Oct 2025 18:00:00 +0800 3462 106 full false William Morrissey: Adaptability is key, frontline lessons from special forces to business William Morrissey: Adaptability is key, frontline lessons from special forces to business In this episode, I speak with William Morrissey about his remarkable journey from a career in the special forces to leadership roles in the private sector. Bill reflects on pivotal moments in his path, when he chose to persevere through challenges, and when he decided it was time to cash his chips and move on.

We explore how his military career shaped his approach to leadership, including his work setting up innovative counterterrorism practices and designing training programmes for international partners. Bill shares the lessons he carried forward into civilian life, emphasizing the values that remain constant across both worlds: adaptability, integrity, and cultural sensitivity.

Recorded on 22 August 2025.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I speak with William Morrissey about his remarkable journey from a career in the special forces to leadership roles in the private sector. Bill reflects on pivotal moments in his path, when he chose to persevere through challenges, and when he decided it was time to cash his chips and move on.

We explore how his military career shaped his approach to leadership, including his work setting up innovative counterterrorism practices and designing training programmes for international partners. Bill shares the lessons he carried forward into civilian life, emphasizing the values that remain constant across both worlds: adaptability, integrity, and cultural sensitivity.

Recorded on 22 August 2025.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and William Morrissey Buzzsprout-17703764 Wed, 24 Sep 2025 18:00:00 +0800 3737 105 full false Jeff Taliaferro: Against the Grain, The Making of a Realist Jeff Taliaferro: Against the Grain, The Making of a Realist In this episode, I speak with Professor Jeffrey Taliaferro of the Fletcher School, a leading scholar of international relations and a key voice in the development of neoclassical realism. We explore the formative experiences that led him to study great power strategy and the complex relationships between great powers and their allies. Jeff reflects on realism’s resurgence after Russia’s annexation of Crimea, the degree to which international relations theories shape policy - or fail to - and how orthodoxies can create blind spots even for scholars. We close with his observations on teaching new generations of students and the enduring lessons of history for today’s world.

Recorded on 21 August 2025.

Connect with Jeff on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/jeff-taliaferro-3a403a/.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I speak with Professor Jeffrey Taliaferro of the Fletcher School, a leading scholar of international relations and a key voice in the development of neoclassical realism. We explore the formative experiences that led him to study great power strategy and the complex relationships between great powers and their allies. Jeff reflects on realism’s resurgence after Russia’s annexation of Crimea, the degree to which international relations theories shape policy - or fail to - and how orthodoxies can create blind spots even for scholars. We close with his observations on teaching new generations of students and the enduring lessons of history for today’s world.

Recorded on 21 August 2025.

Connect with Jeff on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/jeff-taliaferro-3a403a/.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Jeff Taliaferro Buzzsprout-17429690 Wed, 10 Sep 2025 18:00:00 +0800 3768 104 full false Natalia Navarre - Shamanism, Intuition, and the Entrepreneur’s Journey Natalia Navarre - Shamanism, Intuition, and the Entrepreneur’s Journey In this episode of At the Coalface, I sit down with Natalia, an entrepreneur and seeker whose story weaves together Russia, Ecuador, Canada, and beyond.

Born to a Russian mother and Ecuadorian father, Natalia grew up in Quito feeling like both an insider and an outsider. Her father, a doctor in the jungle, would return with stories from indigenous peoples that sparked her lifelong fascination with health, spirituality, and tradition. She went on to explore African-influenced practices like Candomblé in Brazil, connect with northern indigenous communities in Canada, and reflect on the Russian superstitions and esotericism that shaped her upbringing.

We talk about the renaissance of indigenous wisdom and psychedelics. For Natalia, true healing comes through inner work, supported by the role of community, something all spiritual traditions share, and something she finds sorely lacking in Western culture, where people often suffer in isolation.

Our conversation also explores her journey as an entrepreneur navigating political risk, the tension between intuition and control, and the resilience she forged through personal loss and reinvention.

Recorded on 13 August 2025.

Connect with Natalia on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/natalianavarre/.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> In this episode of At the Coalface, I sit down with Natalia, an entrepreneur and seeker whose story weaves together Russia, Ecuador, Canada, and beyond.

Born to a Russian mother and Ecuadorian father, Natalia grew up in Quito feeling like both an insider and an outsider. Her father, a doctor in the jungle, would return with stories from indigenous peoples that sparked her lifelong fascination with health, spirituality, and tradition. She went on to explore African-influenced practices like Candomblé in Brazil, connect with northern indigenous communities in Canada, and reflect on the Russian superstitions and esotericism that shaped her upbringing.

We talk about the renaissance of indigenous wisdom and psychedelics. For Natalia, true healing comes through inner work, supported by the role of community, something all spiritual traditions share, and something she finds sorely lacking in Western culture, where people often suffer in isolation.

Our conversation also explores her journey as an entrepreneur navigating political risk, the tension between intuition and control, and the resilience she forged through personal loss and reinvention.

Recorded on 13 August 2025.

Connect with Natalia on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/natalianavarre/.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Natalia Navarre Buzzsprout-17429686 Wed, 27 Aug 2025 18:00:00 +0800 3380 103 full false Gul Rukh Rahman - The Rebel from Peshawar on the Politics of Philanthropy Gul Rukh Rahman - The Rebel from Peshawar on the Politics of Philanthropy In this episode, I speak with Gul Rukh Rahman, a woman whose life and work cross continents, cultures, and the fault lines of global politics.

Born in Pakistan and raised in countries including Libya and Saudi Arabia, Gul moved to the US for university before settling in Europe 15 years ago. She grew up in conservative Peshawar in the protective bubble of a military family, yet in a region marked by instability and violence, including bomb blasts during Eid celebrations. Family expectations came with tightly controlled choices for education and relationships, leading Gul to go on a hunger strike to avoid dentistry school.

Culturally hard to categorise and politically impossible to intimidate, Gul reflects on identity as a woman and a Muslim in the aftermath of 9/11, her decision to wear the hijab as a political statement, and the circumstances that prompted her to take it off. She chose activism over the safety of a corporate career, driven by a commitment to speak uncomfortable truths.

Now teaching at the University of Geneva, Gul works far beyond the classroom, advising philanthropists and nonprofits, investigating where the money really goes, and exposing the darker side of “doing good.” We dive into silent philanthropy, the geopolitics shaping global giving, and how vast wealth from the Global South still flows into bank accounts in Switzerland and Dubai while the South continues to “beg” the North.

This conversation blends biography, political critique, and a fearless look at philanthropy’s contradictions. Gul doesn’t pull her punches: and that’s exactly why you should listen.

Recorded on 24 July 2025.

Connect with Gul on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/gul-rukh-rahman-1b74604.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I speak with Gul Rukh Rahman, a woman whose life and work cross continents, cultures, and the fault lines of global politics.

Born in Pakistan and raised in countries including Libya and Saudi Arabia, Gul moved to the US for university before settling in Europe 15 years ago. She grew up in conservative Peshawar in the protective bubble of a military family, yet in a region marked by instability and violence, including bomb blasts during Eid celebrations. Family expectations came with tightly controlled choices for education and relationships, leading Gul to go on a hunger strike to avoid dentistry school.

Culturally hard to categorise and politically impossible to intimidate, Gul reflects on identity as a woman and a Muslim in the aftermath of 9/11, her decision to wear the hijab as a political statement, and the circumstances that prompted her to take it off. She chose activism over the safety of a corporate career, driven by a commitment to speak uncomfortable truths.

Now teaching at the University of Geneva, Gul works far beyond the classroom, advising philanthropists and nonprofits, investigating where the money really goes, and exposing the darker side of “doing good.” We dive into silent philanthropy, the geopolitics shaping global giving, and how vast wealth from the Global South still flows into bank accounts in Switzerland and Dubai while the South continues to “beg” the North.

This conversation blends biography, political critique, and a fearless look at philanthropy’s contradictions. Gul doesn’t pull her punches: and that’s exactly why you should listen.

Recorded on 24 July 2025.

Connect with Gul on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/gul-rukh-rahman-1b74604.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Gul Rukh Rahman Buzzsprout-17429683 Wed, 13 Aug 2025 18:00:00 +0800 3545 102 full false Honey Al Sayed: Reinvention in exile and owning the past before it owns you Honey Al Sayed: Reinvention in exile and owning the past before it owns you What does it take to rebuild your life, again and again, when the ground keeps shifting beneath you?

In this personal and wide-ranging conversation, Philippe sits down with Honey Al Sayed, a media pioneer turned executive coach, whose life has spanned seven countries, three wars, and countless reinventions. Born in Kuwait to Syrian parents, Honey's path was anything but linear, from escaping war as a teenager, to becoming the voice behind Good Morning Syria, to eventually rebuilding her life in exile.

Together, they explore:

  • Honey’s extraordinary journey through conflict, migration, and media under authoritarian regimes
  • Her time creating Syria’s most popular morning radio show, and navigating the “invisible lines” of censorship
  • The quiet power of kindness, faith, and unexpected allies in times of upheaval
  • How being constantly uprooted shaped her identity, purpose, and relationship with resilience
  • The emotional cost of endurance, and the importance of self-compassion and healing
  • Her current work helping others find their voice as a communications and leadership coach

Honey reflects on the pain and gift of reinvention, the legacy of trauma on the body and psyche, and the hope that even in the worst moments, “something good is going to come out.”

Recorded on 17 July 2025.

Connect with Honey on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/hasd and on her website, https://honey-and.com.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> What does it take to rebuild your life, again and again, when the ground keeps shifting beneath you?

In this personal and wide-ranging conversation, Philippe sits down with Honey Al Sayed, a media pioneer turned executive coach, whose life has spanned seven countries, three wars, and countless reinventions. Born in Kuwait to Syrian parents, Honey's path was anything but linear, from escaping war as a teenager, to becoming the voice behind Good Morning Syria, to eventually rebuilding her life in exile.

Together, they explore:

  • Honey’s extraordinary journey through conflict, migration, and media under authoritarian regimes
  • Her time creating Syria’s most popular morning radio show, and navigating the “invisible lines” of censorship
  • The quiet power of kindness, faith, and unexpected allies in times of upheaval
  • How being constantly uprooted shaped her identity, purpose, and relationship with resilience
  • The emotional cost of endurance, and the importance of self-compassion and healing
  • Her current work helping others find their voice as a communications and leadership coach

Honey reflects on the pain and gift of reinvention, the legacy of trauma on the body and psyche, and the hope that even in the worst moments, “something good is going to come out.”

Recorded on 17 July 2025.

Connect with Honey on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/hasd and on her website, https://honey-and.com.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Honey Al Sayed Buzzsprout-17182177 Wed, 30 Jul 2025 18:00:00 +0800 4661 101 full false Robert Palm: Leadership at Altitude: on Service, Fairness, and Space Robert Palm: Leadership at Altitude: on Service, Fairness, and Space In this episode, I sit down with Rob Palm, former U.S. Navy aviator, military diplomat, and now space tech executive, for a wide-ranging conversation on military diplomacy, reinventions and leadership.

Over a 29-year Navy career, Rob flew F-14s and later served as a Foreign Area Officer, advancing U.S. defence collaboration across Europe and the Middle East. Today, he’s helping to shape the future of space-based intelligence, leveraging radio frequency data at the cutting edge of the commercial space sector.

We explore how early life shapes worldview, what it takes to build military partnerships across cultures, and how to balance diplomacy, defense, and business. We also talk about what it means to lead with emotional intelligence in high-stakes environments and what legacy looks like after decades of global service.

Recorded on 27 June 2025.

Connect with Rob on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/robertpalmjr.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I sit down with Rob Palm, former U.S. Navy aviator, military diplomat, and now space tech executive, for a wide-ranging conversation on military diplomacy, reinventions and leadership.

Over a 29-year Navy career, Rob flew F-14s and later served as a Foreign Area Officer, advancing U.S. defence collaboration across Europe and the Middle East. Today, he’s helping to shape the future of space-based intelligence, leveraging radio frequency data at the cutting edge of the commercial space sector.

We explore how early life shapes worldview, what it takes to build military partnerships across cultures, and how to balance diplomacy, defense, and business. We also talk about what it means to lead with emotional intelligence in high-stakes environments and what legacy looks like after decades of global service.

Recorded on 27 June 2025.

Connect with Rob on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/robertpalmjr.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Rob Palm Buzzsprout-17182176 Wed, 16 Jul 2025 18:00:00 +0800 3660 100 full false Curtis A. Smith - The Doctrine of No: Power, Identity & the Politics of Refusal Curtis A. Smith - The Doctrine of No: Power, Identity & the Politics of Refusal In this episode, I sit down with Curtis A. Smith, a political thinker, author, and practitioner whose journey spans the worlds of media, finance, and direct community service. From a childhood steeped in conversations that challenged liberal orthodoxies, to feeding the homeless and working with youth in recovery, Curtis has developed a rich and personal understanding of power, injustice, and resilience.

We explore his early awakening to systems that weren’t as neutral as they seemed - race, governance, democracy - and how his African American identity evolved into a broader sense of African agency. We trace his path from independent media to the corporate finance world and ask how he makes sense of power across such divergent arenas.

Curtis shares how human connection, not theory, has most shaped his understanding of justice, and how his work today aims to bridge grassroots experience with geopolitical insight.

Recorded on 25 June 2025.

Connect with Curtis on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/curtis-a-smith-30a04621a.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!


Support the show

]]> In this episode, I sit down with Curtis A. Smith, a political thinker, author, and practitioner whose journey spans the worlds of media, finance, and direct community service. From a childhood steeped in conversations that challenged liberal orthodoxies, to feeding the homeless and working with youth in recovery, Curtis has developed a rich and personal understanding of power, injustice, and resilience.

We explore his early awakening to systems that weren’t as neutral as they seemed - race, governance, democracy - and how his African American identity evolved into a broader sense of African agency. We trace his path from independent media to the corporate finance world and ask how he makes sense of power across such divergent arenas.

Curtis shares how human connection, not theory, has most shaped his understanding of justice, and how his work today aims to bridge grassroots experience with geopolitical insight.

Recorded on 25 June 2025.

Connect with Curtis on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/curtis-a-smith-30a04621a.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!


Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Curtis A. Smith Buzzsprout-17167201 Wed, 02 Jul 2025 18:00:00 +0800 3267 99 full false Eileen Barber - Impact and Impermanence and What It Takes to Keep Aid Working Eileen Barber - Impact and Impermanence and What It Takes to Keep Aid Working In this episode, I speak with Eileen Barber about her career in international development and the transformative years she spent in Colombia helping farmers improve their livelihoods. We explore the power of foreign aid programmes rooted in strong community engagement, and why it's just as important to communicate their impact back home to sustain political and public support. Eileen reflects on how shifts in U.S. political leadership disrupted this work and how she navigated a pivot toward more private-sector-oriented development. We discuss the evolving landscape of aid, and the resilience and adaptability required to keep making a difference in a changing world.

Recorded on 15 May 2025.

Connect with Eileen on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/eileen-barber-9377916.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I speak with Eileen Barber about her career in international development and the transformative years she spent in Colombia helping farmers improve their livelihoods. We explore the power of foreign aid programmes rooted in strong community engagement, and why it's just as important to communicate their impact back home to sustain political and public support. Eileen reflects on how shifts in U.S. political leadership disrupted this work and how she navigated a pivot toward more private-sector-oriented development. We discuss the evolving landscape of aid, and the resilience and adaptability required to keep making a difference in a changing world.

Recorded on 15 May 2025.

Connect with Eileen on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/eileen-barber-9377916.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Eileen Barber Buzzsprout-17004461 Wed, 18 Jun 2025 18:00:00 +0800 2713 98 full false Athanasia Shinas - Where Service Meets Self: A Senior Military Logistician on Purpose and Leadership Athanasia Shinas - Where Service Meets Self: A Senior Military Logistician on Purpose and Leadership In this episode, I sit down with Athanasia Shinas just hours after her graduation from The Fletcher School to reflect on her remarkable 28-year career as a senior military logistics officer. What begins as a conversation about career choices, from a childhood love of archaeology to joining ROTC, evolves into a deeply personal exploration of leadership, service, and growth. Athanasia shares how she fell in love with the mission, the challenges of commanding through complexity, and the importance of understanding what truly motivates people. We explore the power of the ladder of inference, what setbacks teach us, and learning to live with loss.

Recorded on 20 May 2025.

Connect with Athanasia on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/athanasia-shinas-79672a65.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I sit down with Athanasia Shinas just hours after her graduation from The Fletcher School to reflect on her remarkable 28-year career as a senior military logistics officer. What begins as a conversation about career choices, from a childhood love of archaeology to joining ROTC, evolves into a deeply personal exploration of leadership, service, and growth. Athanasia shares how she fell in love with the mission, the challenges of commanding through complexity, and the importance of understanding what truly motivates people. We explore the power of the ladder of inference, what setbacks teach us, and learning to live with loss.

Recorded on 20 May 2025.

Connect with Athanasia on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/athanasia-shinas-79672a65.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Athanasia Shinas Buzzsprout-17004462 Wed, 04 Jun 2025 18:00:00 +0800 3771 97 full false Jorge Tuddón - The Diplomat’s Detour: on Stories, Spirit, and Starting Over Jorge Tuddón - The Diplomat’s Detour: on Stories, Spirit, and Starting Over In this episode, former Mexican diplomat Jorge Tuddón shares his journey into the foreign service and reflects on the unexpected influences, what he calls “angels”, that shaped his career path. He recounts the emotional weight and richness of serving as a mobile consular officer across the U.S., where he encountered the powerful and often untold stories of Mexicans abroad. Jorge also opens up about his pivot away from public service, choosing instead a more independent and creative path, one rooted in self-expression and personal growth. It's a conversation about identity, transition, and listening to the quiet signals that guide our lives.

Recorded on 8 May 2025.

Connect with Jorge on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/jtuddon. Jorge's media outlet is The Wireless Cable.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> In this episode, former Mexican diplomat Jorge Tuddón shares his journey into the foreign service and reflects on the unexpected influences, what he calls “angels”, that shaped his career path. He recounts the emotional weight and richness of serving as a mobile consular officer across the U.S., where he encountered the powerful and often untold stories of Mexicans abroad. Jorge also opens up about his pivot away from public service, choosing instead a more independent and creative path, one rooted in self-expression and personal growth. It's a conversation about identity, transition, and listening to the quiet signals that guide our lives.

Recorded on 8 May 2025.

Connect with Jorge on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/jtuddon. Jorge's media outlet is The Wireless Cable.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Jorge Tuddon Buzzsprout-17004459 Wed, 21 May 2025 18:00:00 +0800 3740 96 full false Theo R. - Trauma and Power in Africa’s Great Lakes Theo R. - Trauma and Power in Africa’s Great Lakes In this episode, Theo offers a deeply informed perspective on the conflict unfolding in the Great Lakes region of Africa. He unpacks the forces shaping the crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda’s role in it, drawing connections between colonial legacies, economic interests, and the personal influence of political leaders.

With the region still carrying the unhealed trauma of genocide and war, Theo reflects on what’s truly at stake. What kind of leadership is needed to break the cycle of violence and chart a path toward healing, justice, and stability?

In our conversation, Theo refers to the book The Wounded Healer by Henri Nouwen.

Recorded on 8 April 2025.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> In this episode, Theo offers a deeply informed perspective on the conflict unfolding in the Great Lakes region of Africa. He unpacks the forces shaping the crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda’s role in it, drawing connections between colonial legacies, economic interests, and the personal influence of political leaders.

With the region still carrying the unhealed trauma of genocide and war, Theo reflects on what’s truly at stake. What kind of leadership is needed to break the cycle of violence and chart a path toward healing, justice, and stability?

In our conversation, Theo refers to the book The Wounded Healer by Henri Nouwen.

Recorded on 8 April 2025.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose Buzzsprout-16744367 Wed, 07 May 2025 18:00:00 +0800 4652 95 full false Derreck Kayongo - From Soap to Soul: on Legacy and Leadership Derreck Kayongo - From Soap to Soul: on Legacy and Leadership In this episode, I speak with Derreck Kayongo, founder of the Global Soap Project, which recycles hotel soap for communities in Africa without access to basic sanitation. In a conversation that moves between the idealistic and the deeply personal, we explore the trauma that fuelled his entrepreneurial drive and the lessons he's learned as a change-maker. We talk about how embodying a brand—through clothes, words, and gestures—can inspire a movement. Derreck also opens up about confronting the shadows in his inner closet, and how the spectre of legacy continues to shape his path.

Recorded on 16 April 2025.

Connect with Derreck on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/derreckkayongo and on Instagram @derreckkayongo.

Derreck mentioned the book Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!


Support the show

]]> In this episode, I speak with Derreck Kayongo, founder of the Global Soap Project, which recycles hotel soap for communities in Africa without access to basic sanitation. In a conversation that moves between the idealistic and the deeply personal, we explore the trauma that fuelled his entrepreneurial drive and the lessons he's learned as a change-maker. We talk about how embodying a brand—through clothes, words, and gestures—can inspire a movement. Derreck also opens up about confronting the shadows in his inner closet, and how the spectre of legacy continues to shape his path.

Recorded on 16 April 2025.

Connect with Derreck on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/derreckkayongo and on Instagram @derreckkayongo.

Derreck mentioned the book Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!


Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Derreck Kayongo Buzzsprout-16744366 Wed, 23 Apr 2025 18:00:00 +0800 3395 94 full false Nelly Arocha Dagdug - Rediscovering purpose, a journey of self-discovery and healing Nelly Arocha Dagdug - Rediscovering purpose, a journey of self-discovery and healing In this episode, I speak with Nelly Arocha Dagdug. Nelly shares her professional journey working for Mexico’s government on improving transparency in the electoral process and then in the field of information disclosure. Her story gives a fascinating insight into Mexico’s shift towards a more pluralistic political system and the cultural shock that came with it. Our conversation switches gear to explore the other dimension of Nelly’s life, her passion for yoga and meditation that eventually became Nelly’s second career as a coach and meditation teacher. She talks about how she explored her self-awareness and how she guides her clients to do the same. Our episode concludes with a brief guided mediation.

Recorded on 3 April 2025.

Connect with Nelly on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/nellyarochadagdug. Nelly offers her services in person and on line at nellyarocha.com.

Nelly mentioned she loves reading the poet Rumi and I've found The Masnavi Book One a good way to get familiar with his work.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I speak with Nelly Arocha Dagdug. Nelly shares her professional journey working for Mexico’s government on improving transparency in the electoral process and then in the field of information disclosure. Her story gives a fascinating insight into Mexico’s shift towards a more pluralistic political system and the cultural shock that came with it. Our conversation switches gear to explore the other dimension of Nelly’s life, her passion for yoga and meditation that eventually became Nelly’s second career as a coach and meditation teacher. She talks about how she explored her self-awareness and how she guides her clients to do the same. Our episode concludes with a brief guided mediation.

Recorded on 3 April 2025.

Connect with Nelly on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/nellyarochadagdug. Nelly offers her services in person and on line at nellyarocha.com.

Nelly mentioned she loves reading the poet Rumi and I've found The Masnavi Book One a good way to get familiar with his work.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Nelly Arocha Dagdug Buzzsprout-16461916 Wed, 09 Apr 2025 18:00:00 +0800 3646 93 full false Lasha Kasradze - From Georgia to Florida: Navigating Chaos, Freedom, and Identity Lasha Kasradze - From Georgia to Florida: Navigating Chaos, Freedom, and Identity In this episode, Lasha Kasradze shares his journey from growing up in the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic to witnessing the chaos following the collapse of the Soviet Union and eventually moving to the United States as a teenager.

The conversation explores how his experience of straddling cultures and striving to integrate shaped his worldview, fuelled his drive to survive and thrive in the U.S., and led him to entrepreneurial ventures across different fields. Over time, Lasha found his niche as an international affairs analyst and media producer.

He reflects on how his perspectives have evolved over the past decade, particularly in light of dramatic changes in the global landscape since graduating from the Fletcher School.

The book that Lasha mentions at the end of the episode is Conflict After the Cold War Arguments on Causes of War and Peace Edited By Richard Betts, Routledge.

Recorded on 5 March 2025.

See more content from Lasha on Neutrality Studies' YouTube channel.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> In this episode, Lasha Kasradze shares his journey from growing up in the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic to witnessing the chaos following the collapse of the Soviet Union and eventually moving to the United States as a teenager.

The conversation explores how his experience of straddling cultures and striving to integrate shaped his worldview, fuelled his drive to survive and thrive in the U.S., and led him to entrepreneurial ventures across different fields. Over time, Lasha found his niche as an international affairs analyst and media producer.

He reflects on how his perspectives have evolved over the past decade, particularly in light of dramatic changes in the global landscape since graduating from the Fletcher School.

The book that Lasha mentions at the end of the episode is Conflict After the Cold War Arguments on Causes of War and Peace Edited By Richard Betts, Routledge.

Recorded on 5 March 2025.

See more content from Lasha on Neutrality Studies' YouTube channel.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> Buzzsprout-16461915 Wed, 12 Mar 2025 18:00:00 +0800 3178 92 full false Sang Yeob Kim - Balancing interests and personalities in high stakes diplomacy Sang Yeob Kim - Balancing interests and personalities in high stakes diplomacy In this episode, I speak with Sang Yeob Kim. Sang shares his experience growing up across cultures, being exposed to Latin America as a child. This planted the seed for him to return as an adult to work as a diplomat, initially working for Chile. In our conversation, Sang shares his secrets about navigating high stakes diplomacy at the UN and, at the other end of the spectrum, about delivering results in the field for the UNDP. This episode is full of pearls of wisdom and lessons learned in the real world, explained in beautiful stories and metaphors.

Recorded on 19 February 2025.

Connect with Sang on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/sangyeobkim.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I speak with Sang Yeob Kim. Sang shares his experience growing up across cultures, being exposed to Latin America as a child. This planted the seed for him to return as an adult to work as a diplomat, initially working for Chile. In our conversation, Sang shares his secrets about navigating high stakes diplomacy at the UN and, at the other end of the spectrum, about delivering results in the field for the UNDP. This episode is full of pearls of wisdom and lessons learned in the real world, explained in beautiful stories and metaphors.

Recorded on 19 February 2025.

Connect with Sang on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/sangyeobkim.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Sang Yeob Kim Buzzsprout-16461914 Wed, 26 Feb 2025 18:00:00 +0800 3291 91 full false David Kovar - Managing the existential threat of UAV cybersecurity David Kovar - Managing the existential threat of UAV cybersecurity In this episode, I speak with David Kovar. David shares his thought leadership in the field of cybersecurity and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles forensics. David’s work addresses cyber crime and informs domestic and international policies on these important  yet often poorly understood topics. David shares his philosophy about bringing the temperature down, finding a common language and translating complexity into frameworks that enable constructive action and effective collaboration. We also explore how to manage life reinventions and how to engage with people whose perspectives are antithetical to our own.

Recorded on 20 December 2024.

Connect with David on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/davidkovar.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I speak with David Kovar. David shares his thought leadership in the field of cybersecurity and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles forensics. David’s work addresses cyber crime and informs domestic and international policies on these important  yet often poorly understood topics. David shares his philosophy about bringing the temperature down, finding a common language and translating complexity into frameworks that enable constructive action and effective collaboration. We also explore how to manage life reinventions and how to engage with people whose perspectives are antithetical to our own.

Recorded on 20 December 2024.

Connect with David on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/davidkovar.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and David Kovar Buzzsprout-16298635 Wed, 12 Feb 2025 18:00:00 +0800 4480 90 full false Kelly Sims Gallagher - The art of climate diplomacy and navigating the U.S.-China relationship Kelly Sims Gallagher - The art of climate diplomacy and navigating the U.S.-China relationship In this episode, I speak with Professor Kelly Sims Gallagher, Dean of the Fletcher School. In our conversation, we explore how Kelly’s early life and exposure to air pollution shaped her desire to dedicate her life to environmental issues. Kelly shares the insights of her research on China in the late 1990s and her realisation that China would become a world leader in climate issues, both as emitter and as clean technology superpower. We talk about how the Global South can compete in the clean tech space and how the new US administration’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement could impact momentum on climate negotiations. We wrap up with Kelly’s vision for the role of the Fletcher School in a changed world.

Recorded on 28 January 2025.

Connect with Dean Gallagher on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/kelly-sims-gallagher.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I speak with Professor Kelly Sims Gallagher, Dean of the Fletcher School. In our conversation, we explore how Kelly’s early life and exposure to air pollution shaped her desire to dedicate her life to environmental issues. Kelly shares the insights of her research on China in the late 1990s and her realisation that China would become a world leader in climate issues, both as emitter and as clean technology superpower. We talk about how the Global South can compete in the clean tech space and how the new US administration’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement could impact momentum on climate negotiations. We wrap up with Kelly’s vision for the role of the Fletcher School in a changed world.

Recorded on 28 January 2025.

Connect with Dean Gallagher on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/kelly-sims-gallagher.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Kelly Sims Gallagher Buzzsprout-16298638 Wed, 29 Jan 2025 18:00:00 +0800 3064 89 full false Olena Tregub - The power of civil society to reform Ukraine's governance in the midst of war Olena Tregub - The power of civil society to reform Ukraine's governance in the midst of war In this episode, I speak with Olena Tregub. Olena shares her fascinating trajectory, growing up in Soviet times and witnessing her country’s independence. The relative immaturity of the political landscape at the time prompted her to get involved politically at a young age. Olena shares the unique role that civil society plays in Ukraine and its power to affect deep change. Her organization, NAKO, is focusing on improving transparency and governance in military procurement, with great success. Join me for this rare behind-the-scenes perspective on the inner workings of Ukraine’s government administration.

Recorded on 17 December 2024.

Connect with Olena on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/olenatregub. Find out more about Olena's organisation, The Independent Anti-Corruption Commission (NAKO) at nako.org.ua/en.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!


Support the show

]]> In this episode, I speak with Olena Tregub. Olena shares her fascinating trajectory, growing up in Soviet times and witnessing her country’s independence. The relative immaturity of the political landscape at the time prompted her to get involved politically at a young age. Olena shares the unique role that civil society plays in Ukraine and its power to affect deep change. Her organization, NAKO, is focusing on improving transparency and governance in military procurement, with great success. Join me for this rare behind-the-scenes perspective on the inner workings of Ukraine’s government administration.

Recorded on 17 December 2024.

Connect with Olena on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/olenatregub. Find out more about Olena's organisation, The Independent Anti-Corruption Commission (NAKO) at nako.org.ua/en.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!


Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Olena Tregub Buzzsprout-16089788 Wed, 15 Jan 2025 18:00:00 +0800 3559 88 full false William Moomaw - Our climate emergency: why net zero won’t be enough, we need to maintain natural systems William Moomaw - Our climate emergency: why net zero won’t be enough, we need to maintain natural systems In this episode, I speak with Professor William Moomaw. Prof. Moomaw is a world renowned expert in sustainable development. He has been a long-time contributor and lead author for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, including in 2007 when the IPCC was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Prof. Moomaw has changed the worldview of many of his students as part of his teaching at the Fletcher School. He’s inspired a number of us to make profound changes to our relationship with nature and to refocus our professional direction accordingly. I’m honoured to be hosting Bill on this podcast and delighted to be sharing this conversation with you.

Recorded on 16 December 2024.

Connect with Bill Moomaw on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/william-moomaw-09a8525.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I speak with Professor William Moomaw. Prof. Moomaw is a world renowned expert in sustainable development. He has been a long-time contributor and lead author for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, including in 2007 when the IPCC was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Prof. Moomaw has changed the worldview of many of his students as part of his teaching at the Fletcher School. He’s inspired a number of us to make profound changes to our relationship with nature and to refocus our professional direction accordingly. I’m honoured to be hosting Bill on this podcast and delighted to be sharing this conversation with you.

Recorded on 16 December 2024.

Connect with Bill Moomaw on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/william-moomaw-09a8525.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and William Moomaw Buzzsprout-16089785 Wed, 01 Jan 2025 18:00:00 +0800 5716 87 full false Jeff Dodson - Leadership lessons from a life in finance, executive search and teaching Jeff Dodson - Leadership lessons from a life in finance, executive search and teaching In this episode, I speak with Jeff Dodson. Jeff shares his life and leadership lessons from his multiple careers, first as an investment banker working on Wall Street, then in the beverage industry, then pivoting to the executive search business, and most recently as a high school teacher. In our conversation, we reflect on what characterises the best leaders, what they think about in the shower, why leaders struggle to let go, how to manage a pivot, and what it’s like being a teacher.

Recorded on 19 November 2024.

Connect with Jeff on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/jeff-dodson-13839114/. Jeff's recent book, "Sculpting the Mists", is available on Amazon and can be ordered from bookstores in the U.S.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I speak with Jeff Dodson. Jeff shares his life and leadership lessons from his multiple careers, first as an investment banker working on Wall Street, then in the beverage industry, then pivoting to the executive search business, and most recently as a high school teacher. In our conversation, we reflect on what characterises the best leaders, what they think about in the shower, why leaders struggle to let go, how to manage a pivot, and what it’s like being a teacher.

Recorded on 19 November 2024.

Connect with Jeff on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/jeff-dodson-13839114/. Jeff's recent book, "Sculpting the Mists", is available on Amazon and can be ordered from bookstores in the U.S.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Jeff Dodson Buzzsprout-15811730 Wed, 18 Dec 2024 18:00:00 +0800 5975 86 full false Jivan Ljupčo Gjorginski - Calming things down: the high stakes of bioweapons diplomacy Jivan Ljupčo Gjorginski - Calming things down: the high stakes of bioweapons diplomacy In this episode, I speak with Jivan Gjorginski. Together we dive into the complexities of diplomatic efforts to regulate biological and toxins weapons that Jivan has been spearheading. We also touch on his earlier work on lethal autonomous weapons. Jivan reflects on his personal journey, straddling Macedonia and Canada, and how his drive for calming things down guided his decisions and career.

Recorded on 2 October 2024.

Connect with Jivan on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/gjorgjinski. Jivan's podcast, "Diplomacy, Light", is available on Spotify.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I speak with Jivan Gjorginski. Together we dive into the complexities of diplomatic efforts to regulate biological and toxins weapons that Jivan has been spearheading. We also touch on his earlier work on lethal autonomous weapons. Jivan reflects on his personal journey, straddling Macedonia and Canada, and how his drive for calming things down guided his decisions and career.

Recorded on 2 October 2024.

Connect with Jivan on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/gjorgjinski. Jivan's podcast, "Diplomacy, Light", is available on Spotify.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Jivan Gjorginski Buzzsprout-15811726 Wed, 04 Dec 2024 18:00:00 +0800 3232 85 full false Ifeoma Okali - A lifelong pursuit of equality and justice in Nigeria and beyond Ifeoma Okali - A lifelong pursuit of equality and justice in Nigeria and beyond In this episode, I speak with Ifeoma Okali. Ifeoma shares her journey growing up in Nigeria, finding her way into the legal profession, animated by a strong sense of the importance of equality and protecting civil rights in a society that was still very male dominated. We talk about her experience of 12 years working  for the UN International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and the role of international law in bringing closure for victims of  horrific conflicts. We conclude our conversation on what she found out about the state of Nigeria, in particular its judicial system, on her return, and how she is seeking to bring change today as an educator.

Recorded on 26 September 2024.

Connect with Ifeoma on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ifeoma-okali-53293942.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I speak with Ifeoma Okali. Ifeoma shares her journey growing up in Nigeria, finding her way into the legal profession, animated by a strong sense of the importance of equality and protecting civil rights in a society that was still very male dominated. We talk about her experience of 12 years working  for the UN International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and the role of international law in bringing closure for victims of  horrific conflicts. We conclude our conversation on what she found out about the state of Nigeria, in particular its judicial system, on her return, and how she is seeking to bring change today as an educator.

Recorded on 26 September 2024.

Connect with Ifeoma on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ifeoma-okali-53293942.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Ifeoma Okali Buzzsprout-15811722 Wed, 20 Nov 2024 18:00:00 +0800 3576 84 full false Adam Barbina - Where love is absent, power fills the vacuum: on geostrategy, bridging divides and living after cancer Adam Barbina - Where love is absent, power fills the vacuum: on geostrategy, bridging divides and living after cancer In this episode, I speak with Adam Barbina. Adam shares his memories of growing up in rural Ohio in a hard working, religious and conservative family. After studying at a liberal grad school and living in New York City, Adam still remains connected to his roots and understands conservative viewpoints, wishing more people could see both sides. We talk about his career break into geostrategy consultancy and how the private sector grapples with geopolitical issues. Adam reflects on his difficult journey with health, his sense of gratitude, and how it’s shaped who he is today.

Recorded on 31 October 2024.

Connect with Adam on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/adam-barbina-2b076b3/.
Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I speak with Adam Barbina. Adam shares his memories of growing up in rural Ohio in a hard working, religious and conservative family. After studying at a liberal grad school and living in New York City, Adam still remains connected to his roots and understands conservative viewpoints, wishing more people could see both sides. We talk about his career break into geostrategy consultancy and how the private sector grapples with geopolitical issues. Adam reflects on his difficult journey with health, his sense of gratitude, and how it’s shaped who he is today.

Recorded on 31 October 2024.

Connect with Adam on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/adam-barbina-2b076b3/.
Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Adam Barbina Buzzsprout-15811729 Wed, 06 Nov 2024 18:00:00 +0800 3764 83 full false Zack Peterson - Tackling childhood stunting door to door: a grassroots mission to change the world Zack Peterson - Tackling childhood stunting door to door: a grassroots mission to change the world In this episode, I speak with Zack Peterson. Zack founded 1000 Days Fund, an NGO addressing childhood stunting in Indonesia at a grassroots level with specially trained community health workers. Zack was working at the World Bank when he was confronted with the pernicious creep of stunting that was about to affect his daughter - and he decided to jump out and start his NGO. 1000 Days Fund has had incredible results, even with the painstaking work of tackling malnutrition household by household, challenging the conventional model of dumping food aid on people. Being in Zack’s presence to record this conversation moved me deeply, Zack is incredibly authentic and purpose-driven with a raw energy that I’m sure you’ll find infectious too.

Recorded on 26 September 2024.

Connect with Zack on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/zackpetersen1/. Watch the recently released documentary, Indonesia’s Silent Emergency: Stunting in Rural Populations.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I speak with Zack Peterson. Zack founded 1000 Days Fund, an NGO addressing childhood stunting in Indonesia at a grassroots level with specially trained community health workers. Zack was working at the World Bank when he was confronted with the pernicious creep of stunting that was about to affect his daughter - and he decided to jump out and start his NGO. 1000 Days Fund has had incredible results, even with the painstaking work of tackling malnutrition household by household, challenging the conventional model of dumping food aid on people. Being in Zack’s presence to record this conversation moved me deeply, Zack is incredibly authentic and purpose-driven with a raw energy that I’m sure you’ll find infectious too.

Recorded on 26 September 2024.

Connect with Zack on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/zackpetersen1/. Watch the recently released documentary, Indonesia’s Silent Emergency: Stunting in Rural Populations.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Zack Peterson Buzzsprout-15811721 Wed, 23 Oct 2024 18:00:00 +0800 2805 82 full false Zack Peterson Philippe Rose Carolina Neal - From Costa Rica to Missouri: a story of building roots by restoring buildings Carolina Neal - From Costa Rica to Missouri: a story of building roots by restoring buildings In this episode, I speak with Carolina Neal. Carolina is originally from Costa Rica, a country with a deep connection to the wisdom of nature. Her grandmother, the powerful head of her family, had picked Carolina out among her many siblings for her smarts and sent her for higher education. Carolina’s life was destined for high political office, but love got in the way and she ended up in Joplin, Missouri. Carolina shares her fascinating reinvention, the way she connected the many dots in her life, and started restoring historical buildings with her husband, with an incredible impact on her new community. In our conversation, we reflect on what it takes to build roots and to nourish our inner purpose.

Recorded on 25 September 2024.

Connect with Carolina on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/carolina-neal-1275b19b.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I speak with Carolina Neal. Carolina is originally from Costa Rica, a country with a deep connection to the wisdom of nature. Her grandmother, the powerful head of her family, had picked Carolina out among her many siblings for her smarts and sent her for higher education. Carolina’s life was destined for high political office, but love got in the way and she ended up in Joplin, Missouri. Carolina shares her fascinating reinvention, the way she connected the many dots in her life, and started restoring historical buildings with her husband, with an incredible impact on her new community. In our conversation, we reflect on what it takes to build roots and to nourish our inner purpose.

Recorded on 25 September 2024.

Connect with Carolina on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/carolina-neal-1275b19b.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Carolina Neal Buzzsprout-15662648 Wed, 09 Oct 2024 18:00:00 +0800 3582 81 full false Nino Kalandadze - The new Iron Curtain and the Russian state capture in Georgia Nino Kalandadze - The new Iron Curtain and the Russian state capture in Georgia Nino Kalandadze was one of our first guests on this podcast. Then, she spoke about her experience forged as a young politician while her country, Georgia, was fighting a war with Russia. In this conversation, Nino sheds light on the direction Georgian politics have taken, as a capture of state institutions is under way by interests aligned with Russia. The upcoming Parliamentary elections and the question of whether a peaceful transfer of power can occur will mark a turning point in the country’s history. Nino argues her country may fall behind a new Iron Curtain, reshaping Europe’s future.

Recorded on 9 September 2024.

Connect with Nino on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ninokalandadze. Nino recommended the book A Little History of the World by E. H. Gombrich, Yale Books.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> Nino Kalandadze was one of our first guests on this podcast. Then, she spoke about her experience forged as a young politician while her country, Georgia, was fighting a war with Russia. In this conversation, Nino sheds light on the direction Georgian politics have taken, as a capture of state institutions is under way by interests aligned with Russia. The upcoming Parliamentary elections and the question of whether a peaceful transfer of power can occur will mark a turning point in the country’s history. Nino argues her country may fall behind a new Iron Curtain, reshaping Europe’s future.

Recorded on 9 September 2024.

Connect with Nino on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ninokalandadze. Nino recommended the book A Little History of the World by E. H. Gombrich, Yale Books.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Nino Kalandadze Buzzsprout-15616747 Wed, 25 Sep 2024 18:00:00 +0800 3446 80 full false Dana Dumitrascu - How to (re)discover our vocation and fill our inner void Dana Dumitrascu - How to (re)discover our vocation and fill our inner void In this episode, I speak with Dana Dumitrascu. Dana just published a book, How To Discover Your Vocation. In our conversation, we explore Dana’s backstory and how she grew into becoming a vocational coach. Her book helps people, young and experienced in life, shed the conditioning we’ve all inherited about work and jobs, and look at vocation in a new way. Dana’s framework is practical and involves building on our natural inclinations to regain agency over what we choose to do. Her toolkit helps fill a void in meaning that individual pursuits never fully satisfy. Her advice takes on a spiritual dimension as she links vocation and fulfilment with serving others.
 
Recorded on 3 September 2024.

Connect with Dana on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/danatudosetianu. Dana's book is How to Discover Your Vocation [Amazon.com].

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I speak with Dana Dumitrascu. Dana just published a book, How To Discover Your Vocation. In our conversation, we explore Dana’s backstory and how she grew into becoming a vocational coach. Her book helps people, young and experienced in life, shed the conditioning we’ve all inherited about work and jobs, and look at vocation in a new way. Dana’s framework is practical and involves building on our natural inclinations to regain agency over what we choose to do. Her toolkit helps fill a void in meaning that individual pursuits never fully satisfy. Her advice takes on a spiritual dimension as she links vocation and fulfilment with serving others.
 
Recorded on 3 September 2024.

Connect with Dana on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/danatudosetianu. Dana's book is How to Discover Your Vocation [Amazon.com].

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Dana Dumitrascu Buzzsprout-15616746 Wed, 11 Sep 2024 18:00:00 +0800 2658 79 full false Bernard Zongo - Shaping Burkina Faso with music and words, an unlikely journey from nothing to mining Bernard Zongo - Shaping Burkina Faso with music and words, an unlikely journey from nothing to mining In this episode, I speak with Bernard Zongo. Bernard’s story inspires me in so many ways. He grew up in a poor environment where the odds were stacked against him doing much with his life. His relentless determination to pursue education, with a sprinkle of help along the way, led him to blaze a path in local development, urbanism, humanitarian interventions in conflict zones and more recently, in stakeholder management for the mining sector. And this is far from the whole story: Bernard is accomplished in sports, theatre, music and writing, and has used his talents to shape political reform in Burkina Faso. I feel there is so much more to come for him, but let's learn from his already incredibly rich journey.

Recorded on 16 August 2024.

Corrigendum: Bernard's scholarship when at the University of Montréal was 450 Canadian dollars, not Euros (450 CAD was equiv. to 300 EUR). Bernard also refers to Botswana as an example of a country that wasn't colonised, when it was a British Protectorate. He intended to use the example of Ethiopia.

In the conversation, Bernard mentions Professor Ian Kershaw's book, Hitler: A Biography.

Connect with Bernard on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/bernard-zongo-316a1929.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I speak with Bernard Zongo. Bernard’s story inspires me in so many ways. He grew up in a poor environment where the odds were stacked against him doing much with his life. His relentless determination to pursue education, with a sprinkle of help along the way, led him to blaze a path in local development, urbanism, humanitarian interventions in conflict zones and more recently, in stakeholder management for the mining sector. And this is far from the whole story: Bernard is accomplished in sports, theatre, music and writing, and has used his talents to shape political reform in Burkina Faso. I feel there is so much more to come for him, but let's learn from his already incredibly rich journey.

Recorded on 16 August 2024.

Corrigendum: Bernard's scholarship when at the University of Montréal was 450 Canadian dollars, not Euros (450 CAD was equiv. to 300 EUR). Bernard also refers to Botswana as an example of a country that wasn't colonised, when it was a British Protectorate. He intended to use the example of Ethiopia.

In the conversation, Bernard mentions Professor Ian Kershaw's book, Hitler: A Biography.

Connect with Bernard on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/bernard-zongo-316a1929.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Bernard Zongo Buzzsprout-15391261 Wed, 28 Aug 2024 18:00:00 +0800 4725 78 full false Michael Brasseur - Robotics and AI for a digital ocean: lessons in leadership and innovation from a life at sea Michael Brasseur - Robotics and AI for a digital ocean: lessons in leadership and innovation from a life at sea In this episode, I speak with Michael Brasseur. Michael is a man of the seas, who’s made a living sailing the oceans for the US Navy and grappled with some of the most fascinating naval and security challenges of our time. Michael shares his leadership lessons from decades of building winning teams, summed up as having a vision, clear values and a strong culture. He talks about his journey of injecting imagination and creativity in NATO to incorporate robotics and AI as a resource multiplier in the Persian Gulf in record time: this is the story of Task Force 59.

Recorded on 26 July 2024.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Michael on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/michael-d-brasseur-53b23645/.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I speak with Michael Brasseur. Michael is a man of the seas, who’s made a living sailing the oceans for the US Navy and grappled with some of the most fascinating naval and security challenges of our time. Michael shares his leadership lessons from decades of building winning teams, summed up as having a vision, clear values and a strong culture. He talks about his journey of injecting imagination and creativity in NATO to incorporate robotics and AI as a resource multiplier in the Persian Gulf in record time: this is the story of Task Force 59.

Recorded on 26 July 2024.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Michael on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/michael-d-brasseur-53b23645/.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Michael Brasseur Buzzsprout-15391256 Wed, 14 Aug 2024 18:00:00 +0800 3443 77 full false Diana Chigas - Understanding corruption dynamics to unlock durable development in conflict areas Diana Chigas - Understanding corruption dynamics to unlock durable development in conflict areas In this episode, I speak with Professor Diana Chigas. Diana is one of the foremost experts in international negotiation and conflict resolution. She has worked in El Salvador, South Africa, Ecuador and Peru and in the Georgia/South Ossetia peace process, facilitated inter-ethnic dialogue in Cyprus and in Central and East Africa. She co-directs the Corruption, Justice and Legitimacy Project that aims to improve the effectiveness of anti-corruption programming in fragile and conflict-affected contexts. In our conversation, we reflect on the evolution of the field of negotiation to encompass social factors such as identity and narratives, and the importance of systems thinking, with corruption as a key barrier to unlocking durable development.

Recorded on 22 July 2024.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Diana on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/diana-chigas-732b283/. The organisation she co-leads has a fascinating blog accessible at corruptionjusticeandlegitimacy.org/blog.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I speak with Professor Diana Chigas. Diana is one of the foremost experts in international negotiation and conflict resolution. She has worked in El Salvador, South Africa, Ecuador and Peru and in the Georgia/South Ossetia peace process, facilitated inter-ethnic dialogue in Cyprus and in Central and East Africa. She co-directs the Corruption, Justice and Legitimacy Project that aims to improve the effectiveness of anti-corruption programming in fragile and conflict-affected contexts. In our conversation, we reflect on the evolution of the field of negotiation to encompass social factors such as identity and narratives, and the importance of systems thinking, with corruption as a key barrier to unlocking durable development.

Recorded on 22 July 2024.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Diana on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/diana-chigas-732b283/. The organisation she co-leads has a fascinating blog accessible at corruptionjusticeandlegitimacy.org/blog.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Diana Chigas Buzzsprout-15391254 Wed, 31 Jul 2024 18:00:00 +0800 3680 76 full false Steve Viola - The hardest part was surrendering: working through trauma with plant medicine Steve Viola - The hardest part was surrendering: working through trauma with plant medicine In this episode, I catch up with Steve Viola. We last spoke on this podcast about 2 1/2 years ago when he shared his fascinating career in the Navy and as special warfare operator. Since that last conversation, I had been following Steve’s work advocating for opening up new treatment protocols for veterans suffering from trauma. We speak about the healing power of plants with psychotropic properties, Steve’s own journey with these modalities, and his work today helping veterans with the hard part - integration. We wrap up by discussing entry pathways for people seeking to improve their mental wellbeing. I hope you’ll join us with an open mind as we explore this potentially life-saving and fascinating ancient technology.

Recorded on 22 May 2024.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Steve on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/stevenviola1/. The organisation he supports as Executive Director is The Mission Within (missionwithin.org). His moving testimony at the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission is available here:  https://www.instagram.com/p/CzJwjenrkEf.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I catch up with Steve Viola. We last spoke on this podcast about 2 1/2 years ago when he shared his fascinating career in the Navy and as special warfare operator. Since that last conversation, I had been following Steve’s work advocating for opening up new treatment protocols for veterans suffering from trauma. We speak about the healing power of plants with psychotropic properties, Steve’s own journey with these modalities, and his work today helping veterans with the hard part - integration. We wrap up by discussing entry pathways for people seeking to improve their mental wellbeing. I hope you’ll join us with an open mind as we explore this potentially life-saving and fascinating ancient technology.

Recorded on 22 May 2024.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Steve on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/stevenviola1/. The organisation he supports as Executive Director is The Mission Within (missionwithin.org). His moving testimony at the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission is available here:  https://www.instagram.com/p/CzJwjenrkEf.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Steve Viola Buzzsprout-15073589 Wed, 17 Jul 2024 18:00:00 +0800 3303 75 full false Zsuzsanna Szelényi - On safeguarding democracy from the autocrat's playbook, lessons from Hungary Zsuzsanna Szelényi - On safeguarding democracy from the autocrat's playbook, lessons from Hungary In this episode, I speak with Zsuzsanna Szelényi. Zsuzsanna shares with me her incredible journey at the heart of Hungary’s political transformation since the fall of the Soviet Union. She talks about the early days of Hungarian democracy and the levers used by Victor Orban to shape the country’s institutions towards a more authoritarian, illiberal form of governance. This was the subject of her acclaimed book, Tainted Democracy, published in 2022. Zsuzsanna talks about her personal trajectory as a lifelong politician and how she dedicated her career to issues of human rights, migration,  and development, the bedrock of European democracy.

Recorded on 19 June 2024.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Zsuzsanna on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/zsuzsanna-szelenyi-69047318. You can find more information about Zsuzsanna's latest book, Tainted Democracy Viktor Orbán and the Subversion of Hungary, on her publisher's website.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I speak with Zsuzsanna Szelényi. Zsuzsanna shares with me her incredible journey at the heart of Hungary’s political transformation since the fall of the Soviet Union. She talks about the early days of Hungarian democracy and the levers used by Victor Orban to shape the country’s institutions towards a more authoritarian, illiberal form of governance. This was the subject of her acclaimed book, Tainted Democracy, published in 2022. Zsuzsanna talks about her personal trajectory as a lifelong politician and how she dedicated her career to issues of human rights, migration,  and development, the bedrock of European democracy.

Recorded on 19 June 2024.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Zsuzsanna on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/zsuzsanna-szelenyi-69047318. You can find more information about Zsuzsanna's latest book, Tainted Democracy Viktor Orbán and the Subversion of Hungary, on her publisher's website.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Zsuzsanna Szelényi Buzzsprout-15073594 Wed, 03 Jul 2024 18:00:00 +0800 3224 74 full false Rahul Sharma - On the role of trust in foreign relations: a journalist's global perspective on politics and leadership Rahul Sharma - On the role of trust in foreign relations: a journalist's global perspective on politics and leadership In this episode, I speak with Rahul Sharma. Rahul has had a fascinating international career in journalism, media, corporate and political affairs. He’s worked  at the Economic Times, Khaleej Times and Reuters among others, covering business and political stories, while also living in Hong Kong, Singapore and Sri Lanka. He has a unique perspective about China, watching the country rise while his native India was undergoing its own transformation. We talk about his early career, his pivot to the private sector and advising top corporate leaders, India’s elections and conclude with musings about leadership.

Recorded on 13 May 2024.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Rahul on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/rahul-sharma-41a451b. His blog is called Looking Beyond Borders (lookingbeyondborders.com).

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I speak with Rahul Sharma. Rahul has had a fascinating international career in journalism, media, corporate and political affairs. He’s worked  at the Economic Times, Khaleej Times and Reuters among others, covering business and political stories, while also living in Hong Kong, Singapore and Sri Lanka. He has a unique perspective about China, watching the country rise while his native India was undergoing its own transformation. We talk about his early career, his pivot to the private sector and advising top corporate leaders, India’s elections and conclude with musings about leadership.

Recorded on 13 May 2024.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Rahul on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/rahul-sharma-41a451b. His blog is called Looking Beyond Borders (lookingbeyondborders.com).

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Rahul Sharma Buzzsprout-14890651 Wed, 19 Jun 2024 18:00:00 +0800 4097 73 full false Perry Boyle - On living one's values, scaling the fight on poverty, investing in Ukraine's defence industry Perry Boyle - On living one's values, scaling the fight on poverty, investing in Ukraine's defence industry In this episode, I speak with Perry Boyle. Perry shares with me his multiple lives and how he reinvented himself as his life goals evolved and as his values broadened. We talk about his initial career in investment banking and private equity, his pivot to equity research, and then his decision to reframe his purpose towards scaling a successful NGO tackling acute poverty in Africa. Perry shares his outrage at the threats to the liberal rule based order by autocracy, and how he decided to put all his life experience to use in setting up an investment bank focusing on developing Ukraine’s defence industry. This is a broad ranging and personal conversation about living one’s beliefs, reinvention, leaning in and letting go.

Recorded on 17 May 2024.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Perry on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/perryboyle. BOMA's website is  boma.ngo.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I speak with Perry Boyle. Perry shares with me his multiple lives and how he reinvented himself as his life goals evolved and as his values broadened. We talk about his initial career in investment banking and private equity, his pivot to equity research, and then his decision to reframe his purpose towards scaling a successful NGO tackling acute poverty in Africa. Perry shares his outrage at the threats to the liberal rule based order by autocracy, and how he decided to put all his life experience to use in setting up an investment bank focusing on developing Ukraine’s defence industry. This is a broad ranging and personal conversation about living one’s beliefs, reinvention, leaning in and letting go.

Recorded on 17 May 2024.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Perry on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/perryboyle. BOMA's website is  boma.ngo.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Perry Boyle Buzzsprout-14890654 Wed, 05 Jun 2024 18:00:00 +0800 4693 72 full false Kamran Balayev - An international lawyer's quest to safeguard human rights and foster individual prosperity Kamran Balayev - An international lawyer's quest to safeguard human rights and foster individual prosperity In this episode, I speak with Kamran Balayev. Kam is a lawyer specialised in human rights and international law. He grew up in Azerbaijan but has made London home. He divides his energy between commercial consulting projects and international transactions and his work on human rights. Kam is passionate about improving the political and legal structures that underpin business and enable individual prosperity: he took this to heart when he decided to run for Mayor of London  a few years ago. I was delighted to catch up with Kam and record this conversation.

Recorded on 29 April 2024.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Kam on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/kamran-balayev-93751ba4.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I speak with Kamran Balayev. Kam is a lawyer specialised in human rights and international law. He grew up in Azerbaijan but has made London home. He divides his energy between commercial consulting projects and international transactions and his work on human rights. Kam is passionate about improving the political and legal structures that underpin business and enable individual prosperity: he took this to heart when he decided to run for Mayor of London  a few years ago. I was delighted to catch up with Kam and record this conversation.

Recorded on 29 April 2024.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Kam on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/kamran-balayev-93751ba4.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Kamran Balayev Buzzsprout-14890648 Wed, 22 May 2024 18:00:00 +0800 2900 71 full false Scott Malcomson - The hard-earned insights of an author, reporter, foreign affairs analyst on why international and local structures never win over one another Scott Malcomson - The hard-earned insights of an author, reporter, foreign affairs analyst on why international and local structures never win over one another In this episode, I speak with Scott Malcomson. Scott is an accomplished author, reporter, editor, foreign affairs analyst and investigator, with experience working in government advising leaders that have defined our era, as well as for the  private sector. He’s travelled all over the world to dive deep into the local dynamics of far flung places, from Latin America to Central Asia to the Pacific Islands, speaking to rebels and guerrilleros. In our conversation, we reflect on what forces have shaped his life, his early encounter with racial issues and political violence, his fascination with empires and with the perpetual tensions between international and local structures. There is so much to Scott’s life that we barely scratched the surface, but I hope you’ll enjoy this glimpse behind the scenes of Scott’s prolific work.

Recorded on 12 April 2024.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Scott on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/scottmalcomson.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I speak with Scott Malcomson. Scott is an accomplished author, reporter, editor, foreign affairs analyst and investigator, with experience working in government advising leaders that have defined our era, as well as for the  private sector. He’s travelled all over the world to dive deep into the local dynamics of far flung places, from Latin America to Central Asia to the Pacific Islands, speaking to rebels and guerrilleros. In our conversation, we reflect on what forces have shaped his life, his early encounter with racial issues and political violence, his fascination with empires and with the perpetual tensions between international and local structures. There is so much to Scott’s life that we barely scratched the surface, but I hope you’ll enjoy this glimpse behind the scenes of Scott’s prolific work.

Recorded on 12 April 2024.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Scott on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/scottmalcomson.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Scott Malcomson Buzzsprout-14534922 Wed, 08 May 2024 18:00:00 +0800 5314 70 full false Alberto Montrond - Lessons in service and diplomacy from Boston to Cape Verde Alberto Montrond - Lessons in service and diplomacy from Boston to Cape Verde In this episode, I speak with Alberto Montrond. Alberto is originally from Cape Verde and moved to the US as a child. In our conversation, we explore what it meant to grow up in an environment with bullying,  racial and social  challenges. Alberto shares how he turned these negative forces into a source of strength and self-discipline thanks to martial arts, leading him to use this wisdom to serve his community. He shares his journey into electoral politics to drive change to Cape Verde. And how he’s today putting all of his skills to work in science diplomacy as Senior Fellow in the Emergency Preparedness Research, Evaluation and Practice Program at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston, focusing on fascinating multidisciplinary and multi-stakeholder programmes ranging from countering violent extremism and human trafficking.

Recorded on 11 April 2024.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Alberto on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/alberto-montrond-55264b25.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I speak with Alberto Montrond. Alberto is originally from Cape Verde and moved to the US as a child. In our conversation, we explore what it meant to grow up in an environment with bullying,  racial and social  challenges. Alberto shares how he turned these negative forces into a source of strength and self-discipline thanks to martial arts, leading him to use this wisdom to serve his community. He shares his journey into electoral politics to drive change to Cape Verde. And how he’s today putting all of his skills to work in science diplomacy as Senior Fellow in the Emergency Preparedness Research, Evaluation and Practice Program at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston, focusing on fascinating multidisciplinary and multi-stakeholder programmes ranging from countering violent extremism and human trafficking.

Recorded on 11 April 2024.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Alberto on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/alberto-montrond-55264b25.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Alberto Montrond Buzzsprout-14534919 Wed, 24 Apr 2024 18:00:00 +0800 3340 69 full false Journel Jospeh - Al Frontiers: The New Wave of Innovation Driving Entrepreneurship and Globalization Journel Jospeh - Al Frontiers: The New Wave of Innovation Driving Entrepreneurship and Globalization In this episode, I speak with Journel Jospeh. Journel shares his fascinating story into the world of AI entrepreneurship. He grew up in Haiti and initially pursued a journalistic ambition. In the US, he moved into data science and saw opportunities for digital technologies to improve some of the disparities and inequalities with access to quality healthcare. We talk about the dangers and opportunities of AI, in particular for the global South, and reflect on the raw intensity of life as an entrepreneur with no safety net.

Recorded on 8 March 2024.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Journel on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/journeljoseph.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I speak with Journel Jospeh. Journel shares his fascinating story into the world of AI entrepreneurship. He grew up in Haiti and initially pursued a journalistic ambition. In the US, he moved into data science and saw opportunities for digital technologies to improve some of the disparities and inequalities with access to quality healthcare. We talk about the dangers and opportunities of AI, in particular for the global South, and reflect on the raw intensity of life as an entrepreneur with no safety net.

Recorded on 8 March 2024.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Journel on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/journeljoseph.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Journel Jospeh Buzzsprout-14343022 Wed, 10 Apr 2024 18:00:00 +0800 3923 68 full false Janine di Giovanni - On giving a voice to victims of conflict Janine di Giovanni - On giving a voice to victims of conflict In this episode, I speak with Janine Di Giovanni. I first met Janine at a crisis simulation workshop as part of our degree programme at the Fletcher school and remember being struck by her energy, but also the ease with which she navigated the harrowing scenario of an ambassador needing to take immediate action as staff were caught hostage. Janine needs no introduction, she is one of the world’s most experienced and acclaimed war reporter, more than that: a human rights reporter. Janine has dedicated her life to giving a voice to those caught in the middle of many of the most gruesome conflict of the last decades. In our conversation, we talk about what inspired her to take the path she did, the meaning of failure, faith in war, and grappling with evil.

Warning: this episode touches on subjects that could be traumatic to some.

Recorded on 13 March 2024.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Janine on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/janine-di-giovanni, on Instagram @janinedigi, on X @janinedigi and at her website janinedigiovanni.com.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I speak with Janine Di Giovanni. I first met Janine at a crisis simulation workshop as part of our degree programme at the Fletcher school and remember being struck by her energy, but also the ease with which she navigated the harrowing scenario of an ambassador needing to take immediate action as staff were caught hostage. Janine needs no introduction, she is one of the world’s most experienced and acclaimed war reporter, more than that: a human rights reporter. Janine has dedicated her life to giving a voice to those caught in the middle of many of the most gruesome conflict of the last decades. In our conversation, we talk about what inspired her to take the path she did, the meaning of failure, faith in war, and grappling with evil.

Warning: this episode touches on subjects that could be traumatic to some.

Recorded on 13 March 2024.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Janine on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/janine-di-giovanni, on Instagram @janinedigi, on X @janinedigi and at her website janinedigiovanni.com.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Janine Di Giovanni Buzzsprout-14343023 Wed, 27 Mar 2024 18:00:00 +0800 3235 67 full false Katarina Kavec - A journey in other people’s minds, as interpreter and psychotherapist Katarina Kavec - A journey in other people’s minds, as interpreter and psychotherapist In this episode, I speak with Katarina Kavec. Katarina grew up in the drab setting of former Yugoslavia, where she had a window seat on the colours and choices available right across the border in Italy.  She shares with me the opportunities that came her way and those that eluded her... and the philosophy she developed to embrace whatever comes your way, to trust that everything will work out. I’m moved by the fits and starts of Katarina’s life, and how it all seems to have been for a reason: the moment everything came crashing down at 18, the failure to pass the interpreter accreditation exam the first time, but also the people who stepped into the picture to bring encouragement and new opportunities... leading her to a what is now a rich life as an interpreter, psychotherapist, yoga teacher and sommelier.

Recorded on 20 January 2024.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Katarina on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/katarina-kavec-ab340083.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I speak with Katarina Kavec. Katarina grew up in the drab setting of former Yugoslavia, where she had a window seat on the colours and choices available right across the border in Italy.  She shares with me the opportunities that came her way and those that eluded her... and the philosophy she developed to embrace whatever comes your way, to trust that everything will work out. I’m moved by the fits and starts of Katarina’s life, and how it all seems to have been for a reason: the moment everything came crashing down at 18, the failure to pass the interpreter accreditation exam the first time, but also the people who stepped into the picture to bring encouragement and new opportunities... leading her to a what is now a rich life as an interpreter, psychotherapist, yoga teacher and sommelier.

Recorded on 20 January 2024.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Katarina on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/katarina-kavec-ab340083.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Katarina Kavec Buzzsprout-14343021 Wed, 13 Mar 2024 18:00:00 +0800 3493 66 full false Anabel Bueno Santana-Dolenc - A lifetime of international experience and serving Dominican Republic Anabel Bueno Santana-Dolenc - A lifetime of international experience and serving Dominican Republic In this episode, I speak with Anabel Bueno Santana-Dolenc. Anabel shares her unusual story growing up in a politically active family in Dominican Republic, who had to find refuge in the US for many years.  Her background provided the impetus to seek a path that would lead her to serve her country. Her calling was working in the UN and multilateral agencies, managing lending and donation programmes in agriculture at a very young age, and later in development cooperation. Following an assignment as Ambassador for Dominican Republic at the Organisation of American States, she was recently appointed by her country to the UN Tourism Agency in a new role where she will continue to be making a difference. We talk about the role of chance in life, leadership lessons as a young female professional, the importance of  carving out one’s space and reflect on emerging models in South South cooperation.

The book Anabel refers to is From Dessalines to Duvalier: Race, Colour and National Independence in Haiti by David Nicholls, published in 1996.

Recorded on 22 May 2023.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Anabel on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/anabel-bueno-santana-dolenc-94253bab.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I speak with Anabel Bueno Santana-Dolenc. Anabel shares her unusual story growing up in a politically active family in Dominican Republic, who had to find refuge in the US for many years.  Her background provided the impetus to seek a path that would lead her to serve her country. Her calling was working in the UN and multilateral agencies, managing lending and donation programmes in agriculture at a very young age, and later in development cooperation. Following an assignment as Ambassador for Dominican Republic at the Organisation of American States, she was recently appointed by her country to the UN Tourism Agency in a new role where she will continue to be making a difference. We talk about the role of chance in life, leadership lessons as a young female professional, the importance of  carving out one’s space and reflect on emerging models in South South cooperation.

The book Anabel refers to is From Dessalines to Duvalier: Race, Colour and National Independence in Haiti by David Nicholls, published in 1996.

Recorded on 22 May 2023.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Anabel on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/anabel-bueno-santana-dolenc-94253bab.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Anabel Bueno Santana-Dolenc Buzzsprout-12265065 Wed, 28 Feb 2024 18:00:00 +0800 3859 65 full false Moges Gebremedhin - On the importance of peace and stability to enable development to take roots Moges Gebremedhin - On the importance of peace and stability to enable development to take roots In this episode, I speak with Moges Gebremedhin. I’d long wanted to have a longer conversation with Moges after meeting him at an event where he was a panelist and we had a Q&A on his thoughts about the trajectory of East Africa where he grew up, between Ethiopia and Kenya, yet originally from Eritrea. Moges shares his story of multiple identities common to many people in the region, connected by similar challenges yet also divided by complex affiliations and loyalties. We talk about  what factors matter most in the trajectory of development of these countries, the trade-off that can occur between peace and democratic participation, and the devastating impact war can have on any progress these countries have made.

Recorded on 4 January 2024.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Moges on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/moges-gebremedhin.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I speak with Moges Gebremedhin. I’d long wanted to have a longer conversation with Moges after meeting him at an event where he was a panelist and we had a Q&A on his thoughts about the trajectory of East Africa where he grew up, between Ethiopia and Kenya, yet originally from Eritrea. Moges shares his story of multiple identities common to many people in the region, connected by similar challenges yet also divided by complex affiliations and loyalties. We talk about  what factors matter most in the trajectory of development of these countries, the trade-off that can occur between peace and democratic participation, and the devastating impact war can have on any progress these countries have made.

Recorded on 4 January 2024.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Moges on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/moges-gebremedhin.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Moges Gebremedhin Buzzsprout-14184033 Wed, 14 Feb 2024 18:00:00 +0800 3331 64 full false Laurie Charlés - Healing trauma in conflict zones: capacity building in family systems therapy Laurie Charlés - Healing trauma in conflict zones: capacity building in family systems therapy In this episode, I speak with Laurie Charlés. Laurie is a family therapist who has taken her expertise to regions in the throes of conflict, violence and fragility - countries where mental health concerns can be dire - yet the resources available to help are rudimentary. She’s helped coach and train the people who support vulnerable groups and victims of gender-based violence in places like DRC, Burundi, Kosovo, Lebanon for Syrian refugees, among so many others... and our conversation made me realise the staggering amount of trauma left in the wake of conflict. We talk about her journey into becoming a therapist, the biases she’s had to overcome and insights from the thousands of hours spent speaking to families.

Recorded on 20 December 2023.

Corrigendum: Laurie attended her first graduate degree for 4.5 years. It is her second graduate degree that took her six years. Laurie also referred to GDZ when she meant  GDR (East Germany).

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Laurie on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/laurielcharlesphdlmft.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I speak with Laurie Charlés. Laurie is a family therapist who has taken her expertise to regions in the throes of conflict, violence and fragility - countries where mental health concerns can be dire - yet the resources available to help are rudimentary. She’s helped coach and train the people who support vulnerable groups and victims of gender-based violence in places like DRC, Burundi, Kosovo, Lebanon for Syrian refugees, among so many others... and our conversation made me realise the staggering amount of trauma left in the wake of conflict. We talk about her journey into becoming a therapist, the biases she’s had to overcome and insights from the thousands of hours spent speaking to families.

Recorded on 20 December 2023.

Corrigendum: Laurie attended her first graduate degree for 4.5 years. It is her second graduate degree that took her six years. Laurie also referred to GDZ when she meant  GDR (East Germany).

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Laurie on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/laurielcharlesphdlmft.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Laurie Charlés Buzzsprout-14163852 Wed, 31 Jan 2024 18:00:00 +0800 3426 63 full false Peter Stanbury - Getting things done in difficult places, on the political economy of unintended consequences Peter Stanbury - Getting things done in difficult places, on the political economy of unintended consequences In this episode, I speak with Dr Peter Stanbury. Peter has developed a unique expertise over decades of guiding companies, international agencies, governments and civil society organisations on the politics of economic development in emerging markets. He’s helped these organisations design economic activities that take account of local dynamics, such as what happens to social structures when income levels change, how do communities respond and what spillover effects happen. Peter’s work is about effecting change in the real world, based on understanding how it really is, rather than how we wish it to be. His perspective is invaluable in navigating the ethical dilemmas of operating in places with weak governance, where dogma and rules rarely work as a compass.

Recorded on 20 December 2023.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Peter on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/dr-peter-stanbury-0911bb18b/.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I speak with Dr Peter Stanbury. Peter has developed a unique expertise over decades of guiding companies, international agencies, governments and civil society organisations on the politics of economic development in emerging markets. He’s helped these organisations design economic activities that take account of local dynamics, such as what happens to social structures when income levels change, how do communities respond and what spillover effects happen. Peter’s work is about effecting change in the real world, based on understanding how it really is, rather than how we wish it to be. His perspective is invaluable in navigating the ethical dilemmas of operating in places with weak governance, where dogma and rules rarely work as a compass.

Recorded on 20 December 2023.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Peter on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/dr-peter-stanbury-0911bb18b/.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Peter Stanbury Buzzsprout-14163850 Wed, 17 Jan 2024 18:00:00 +0800 3394 62 full false Ernesto Gonzalez - From oil painting in a Chilean favela to the UN Security Council Ernesto Gonzalez - From oil painting in a Chilean favela to the UN Security Council In this episode, I speak with Ernesto Gonzalez. Ernesto shares with me his incredible life trajectory, from modest beginnings in Chile to the inner workings of the UN’s Security Council. Ernesto grew up in poverty, where one pair of shoes had to last for an entire year. His story is one that combines focus and grit with openness to chance encounters - such as the offer to help pay for his stay in the US to learn English, a step that changed his life. I was fascinated by how Ernesto found his way from there into a diplomatic career, then making himself useful to a series of countries in their engagements with the Security Council. Ernesto’s outlook on leadership and life is refreshingly optimistic, and I hope you’ll enjoy his inspiring words as much as I did.

Recorded on 18 December 2023.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Ernesto on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ernesto-gonzalez-77a53833.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I speak with Ernesto Gonzalez. Ernesto shares with me his incredible life trajectory, from modest beginnings in Chile to the inner workings of the UN’s Security Council. Ernesto grew up in poverty, where one pair of shoes had to last for an entire year. His story is one that combines focus and grit with openness to chance encounters - such as the offer to help pay for his stay in the US to learn English, a step that changed his life. I was fascinated by how Ernesto found his way from there into a diplomatic career, then making himself useful to a series of countries in their engagements with the Security Council. Ernesto’s outlook on leadership and life is refreshingly optimistic, and I hope you’ll enjoy his inspiring words as much as I did.

Recorded on 18 December 2023.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Ernesto on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ernesto-gonzalez-77a53833.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Ernesto Gonzalez Buzzsprout-13997126 Wed, 03 Jan 2024 18:00:00 +0800 3776 61 full false Monica Smith - On navigating a career in the corporate world: have you forgotten the spices? Monica Smith - On navigating a career in the corporate world: have you forgotten the spices? In this episode, I speak with Monica Smith. Monica shares how her upbringing in a family that moved frequently across the US and her experience of travelling and living abroad early on shaped her outlook on the world and softened her philosophical principles.  She talks about her career in the corporate world, her approach to succeeding in hierarchies and  lessons in global leadership as she helped her organisations tap into talent in India and China. She reflects on the importance of lifelong learning, service and setting boundaries. We talk about her transition into coaching an  how she guides her clients in restoring alignment with themselves.

Recorded on 15 December 2023.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Monica on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/monica-smith-07219932.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, early access to episodes and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I speak with Monica Smith. Monica shares how her upbringing in a family that moved frequently across the US and her experience of travelling and living abroad early on shaped her outlook on the world and softened her philosophical principles.  She talks about her career in the corporate world, her approach to succeeding in hierarchies and  lessons in global leadership as she helped her organisations tap into talent in India and China. She reflects on the importance of lifelong learning, service and setting boundaries. We talk about her transition into coaching an  how she guides her clients in restoring alignment with themselves.

Recorded on 15 December 2023.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Monica on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/monica-smith-07219932.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, early access to episodes and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Monica Smith Buzzsprout-13997125 Wed, 20 Dec 2023 18:00:00 +0800 2960 60 full false Josy Joseph - An investigative journalist's fight for the future of Indian democracy Josy Joseph - An investigative journalist's fight for the future of Indian democracy In this episode, I speak with Josy Joseph. Josy is proudly Indian, an acclaimed investigative journalist who uncovered a series of major corruption stories that have exposed systemic issues plaguing the very fabric of India’s democracy. In this conversation, we talk about the origin of the West’s romantic narrative of India, and how this vision is blinding many of us to dangerous  faultlines that are appearing. We talk about Josy’s concern with the direction India is taking. We reflect on the challenges facing storytellers in India in reaching a domestic audience. I’m amazed by how Josy’s optimism still shines through despite all the censorship, threats and pressures:  a powerful lesson in resilience and perseverance.

Recorded on 17 November 2023.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Josy on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/josy-joseph-73359b8/ and through his website josyjoseph.in.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, early access to episodes and my deep gratitude!



Support the show

]]> In this episode, I speak with Josy Joseph. Josy is proudly Indian, an acclaimed investigative journalist who uncovered a series of major corruption stories that have exposed systemic issues plaguing the very fabric of India’s democracy. In this conversation, we talk about the origin of the West’s romantic narrative of India, and how this vision is blinding many of us to dangerous  faultlines that are appearing. We talk about Josy’s concern with the direction India is taking. We reflect on the challenges facing storytellers in India in reaching a domestic audience. I’m amazed by how Josy’s optimism still shines through despite all the censorship, threats and pressures:  a powerful lesson in resilience and perseverance.

Recorded on 17 November 2023.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Josy on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/josy-joseph-73359b8/ and through his website josyjoseph.in.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, early access to episodes and my deep gratitude!



Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Josy Joseph Buzzsprout-13818133 Wed, 06 Dec 2023 18:00:00 +0800 3689 59 full false Jeffrey Fang - What it took to awake and pursue my dream of being happily unemployed Jeffrey Fang - What it took to awake and pursue my dream of being happily unemployed In this episode, I speak with Jeffrey Fang. This is a bit of a different conversation today. Jeff is an accomplished corporate professional from Singapore, who decided to break away from the logical professional path of corporate promotions and step out to follow a path much more aligned to who he wanted to be and what his intuition was telling him. In this rather personal exchange, we explore how our upbringing and culture shaped our vision of what matters in life - chasing validation and achievements that are not always healthy, and then what it took to wake up to get in touch with ourselves.

The monastery Jeff mentions is the San Francesco Convent in Fiesole (Wiki).

Recorded on 10 November 2023.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Jeff on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/jfangjj and on Instagram @jfstop.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, early access to episodes and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I speak with Jeffrey Fang. This is a bit of a different conversation today. Jeff is an accomplished corporate professional from Singapore, who decided to break away from the logical professional path of corporate promotions and step out to follow a path much more aligned to who he wanted to be and what his intuition was telling him. In this rather personal exchange, we explore how our upbringing and culture shaped our vision of what matters in life - chasing validation and achievements that are not always healthy, and then what it took to wake up to get in touch with ourselves.

The monastery Jeff mentions is the San Francesco Convent in Fiesole (Wiki).

Recorded on 10 November 2023.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Jeff on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/jfangjj and on Instagram @jfstop.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, early access to episodes and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Jeffrey Fang Buzzsprout-13818129 Wed, 22 Nov 2023 18:00:00 +0800 3178 58 full false Alexandra Vitard - Meditations on privilege, women and living a purposeful life Alexandra Vitard - Meditations on privilege, women and living a purposeful life In this episode, I speak with Alexandra Vitard. Alexandra talks about the influence her multicultural, globetrotting background had on her life, and what happened when she came face to face with the realisation of what living with privilege meant. She shares how she brought the insights and skills honed in her early career in government to women who needed them. She was inspired by Nasim Taleb’s ideas on the power of being anti-fragile (as opposed to being just resilient). Her encounter with stoicism helped cement the rules she aspired to follow in life: helping others, being truthful and speaking up. She reflects on how the little things we do can have a huge impact on the lives of others around us, providing the inspiration to break beyond imaginary mental barriers and to just dare.

Recorded on 6 October 2023.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Alexandra on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/alexandravitard and on Instagram @alexandravitard.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, early access to episodes and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I speak with Alexandra Vitard. Alexandra talks about the influence her multicultural, globetrotting background had on her life, and what happened when she came face to face with the realisation of what living with privilege meant. She shares how she brought the insights and skills honed in her early career in government to women who needed them. She was inspired by Nasim Taleb’s ideas on the power of being anti-fragile (as opposed to being just resilient). Her encounter with stoicism helped cement the rules she aspired to follow in life: helping others, being truthful and speaking up. She reflects on how the little things we do can have a huge impact on the lives of others around us, providing the inspiration to break beyond imaginary mental barriers and to just dare.

Recorded on 6 October 2023.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Alexandra on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/alexandravitard and on Instagram @alexandravitard.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, early access to episodes and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Alexandra Vitard Buzzsprout-13435737 Wed, 08 Nov 2023 18:00:00 +0800 3235 57 full false Alicia Pérez-Porro - Swinging between the branches of science from marine research to climate diplomacy Alicia Pérez-Porro - Swinging between the branches of science from marine research to climate diplomacy In this episode, I speak with Alicia Pérez-Porro. Alicia is a a scientist working in the space of climate diplomacy. She trained as a marine biologist researching sponges, but her heart wasn’t really in research. A life-changing journey to Antarctica helped her discover her passion in science activism. We speak about her childhood connection with nature and the importance of role models in opening perspectives and helping with self acceptance. We both express our conviction that our connection with nature - and deeply grasping how we humans are part of nature, is central in solving today’s climate and biodiversity crises. I hope this conversation inspires you to become an activist too!

Recorded on 18 September 2023.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Alicia on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/aliciaperezporro and on X (Twitter) @aliciaprzporro.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, early access to episodes and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I speak with Alicia Pérez-Porro. Alicia is a a scientist working in the space of climate diplomacy. She trained as a marine biologist researching sponges, but her heart wasn’t really in research. A life-changing journey to Antarctica helped her discover her passion in science activism. We speak about her childhood connection with nature and the importance of role models in opening perspectives and helping with self acceptance. We both express our conviction that our connection with nature - and deeply grasping how we humans are part of nature, is central in solving today’s climate and biodiversity crises. I hope this conversation inspires you to become an activist too!

Recorded on 18 September 2023.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Alicia on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/aliciaperezporro and on X (Twitter) @aliciaprzporro.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, early access to episodes and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Alicia Pérez-Porro Buzzsprout-13435734 Wed, 25 Oct 2023 18:00:00 +0800 3296 56 full false Aicha Pere - Dreams of my grandfather, on transforming Togo's agriculture Aicha Pere - Dreams of my grandfather, on transforming Togo's agriculture In this episode I speak with Aicha Pere. Aicha shares her story of growing up in Togo as a bookish, introverted girl, but inspired by her grandfather whose passion for agriculture and food set the foundations for her professional direction. Aicha talks about how she overcame her reserved nature to achieve elected leadership positions and become a trusted partner in agricultural projects, both in the field and more recently in policy as part of the Togo President’s Delivery Unit. Aicha gives me a glimpse of a young, dynamic country where everything is to be built but talented people such as her dedicate their energies to creating a brighter future.

Recorded on 25 August 2023.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Aicha on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/aicha-pere/ and on X (Twitter) @aicha_pere.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, early access to episodes and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> In this episode I speak with Aicha Pere. Aicha shares her story of growing up in Togo as a bookish, introverted girl, but inspired by her grandfather whose passion for agriculture and food set the foundations for her professional direction. Aicha talks about how she overcame her reserved nature to achieve elected leadership positions and become a trusted partner in agricultural projects, both in the field and more recently in policy as part of the Togo President’s Delivery Unit. Aicha gives me a glimpse of a young, dynamic country where everything is to be built but talented people such as her dedicate their energies to creating a brighter future.

Recorded on 25 August 2023.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Aicha on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/aicha-pere/ and on X (Twitter) @aicha_pere.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, early access to episodes and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Aicha Pere Buzzsprout-13073053 Wed, 11 Oct 2023 18:00:00 +0800 2698 55 full false Hital Muraj - The power of technology to help the disadvantaged dream, a Kenyan story of acceptance Hital Muraj - The power of technology to help the disadvantaged dream, a Kenyan story of acceptance In this episode, I speak with Hital Muraj. Hital grew up in Kenya as a 4th generation Indian in a well-to-do setting. But hers is a story of riches to rags, as her family suddenly ended up on the street. As a teenager, she had to drop out of school to earn a living. Hital shares how she eventually found her way into an IT career in Cisco, a position she used to bring access to technology to disadvantaged communities.... people like the girl she was when she lost everything. We talk about how technology can make an impact on  education, health, but most importantly, on people’s mindsets, helping them dream new dreams. Hital shares her struggle with identity as a Kenyan who is often labeled an outsider because of her appearance, and her coming full circle now she’s pursuing a master’s degree, after a life spent with an unfinished  a high school diploma.

Recorded on 8 September 2023.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Hital on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/hital-muraj and on X (Twitter) @HitalMuraj.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, early access to episodes and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I speak with Hital Muraj. Hital grew up in Kenya as a 4th generation Indian in a well-to-do setting. But hers is a story of riches to rags, as her family suddenly ended up on the street. As a teenager, she had to drop out of school to earn a living. Hital shares how she eventually found her way into an IT career in Cisco, a position she used to bring access to technology to disadvantaged communities.... people like the girl she was when she lost everything. We talk about how technology can make an impact on  education, health, but most importantly, on people’s mindsets, helping them dream new dreams. Hital shares her struggle with identity as a Kenyan who is often labeled an outsider because of her appearance, and her coming full circle now she’s pursuing a master’s degree, after a life spent with an unfinished  a high school diploma.

Recorded on 8 September 2023.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Hital on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/hital-muraj and on X (Twitter) @HitalMuraj.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, early access to episodes and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Hital Muraj Buzzsprout-13073049 Wed, 27 Sep 2023 18:00:00 +0800 3241 54 full false Paula Fynboh - Overcoming the systems that perpetuate gun violence, homelessness and barriers to education Paula Fynboh - Overcoming the systems that perpetuate gun violence, homelessness and barriers to education Today I speak with Paula Fynboh. Paula shares her journey helping people with some of the most intractable social issues of our time, homelessness, gun violence and access to education. She shares how she’s observed our society has systems in place that tend to lock people in negative dynamics where even the most determined face unsurmountable odds to get their lives back on track. A lack of empathy and fear of the other makes it difficult to dismantle these systems and find lasting solutions. This is a real eye opening conversation for me and I hope that those of us who live life from a position of privilege can drop our guard and learn something new. 

Recorded on 11 August 2023.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Paula on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/paulafynboh/ and on Instagram @pjfynboh.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, early access to episodes and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> Today I speak with Paula Fynboh. Paula shares her journey helping people with some of the most intractable social issues of our time, homelessness, gun violence and access to education. She shares how she’s observed our society has systems in place that tend to lock people in negative dynamics where even the most determined face unsurmountable odds to get their lives back on track. A lack of empathy and fear of the other makes it difficult to dismantle these systems and find lasting solutions. This is a real eye opening conversation for me and I hope that those of us who live life from a position of privilege can drop our guard and learn something new. 

Recorded on 11 August 2023.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Paula on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/paulafynboh/ and on Instagram @pjfynboh.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, early access to episodes and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Paula Fynboh Buzzsprout-13073048 Wed, 13 Sep 2023 18:00:00 +0800 2720 53 full false Irene Mbari-Kirika - Creative inclusion: helping Kenya's disabled from the ground up Irene Mbari-Kirika - Creative inclusion: helping Kenya's disabled from the ground up In this episode, I speak with Irene Mbari-Kirika. Irene shares her story of coming face to face with the challenges of young people with disabilities, and her journey to do something about it. Irene founded InAble over 16 years ago with the mission of helping the visually impaired in schools in Kenya with assistive technology. inAble has reached over 15,000 students, enabling them to learn and to gain the skills today’s world demands. Irene talks about the arduous journey of setting up her organisation from scratch, and incrementally growing it with persistence, consistence, creativity and resilience. And we reflect on why helping with disabilities in Africa was a concept that took years to resonate until inclusion became more ‘mainstream’ over the past 2 years.

Irene mentions the book Creative Leadership: Born from Design by Rama Gheerawo.

Recorded on 24 July 2023.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Irene on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/irene-mbari-kirika/ and at inable.org.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, early access to episodes and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I speak with Irene Mbari-Kirika. Irene shares her story of coming face to face with the challenges of young people with disabilities, and her journey to do something about it. Irene founded InAble over 16 years ago with the mission of helping the visually impaired in schools in Kenya with assistive technology. inAble has reached over 15,000 students, enabling them to learn and to gain the skills today’s world demands. Irene talks about the arduous journey of setting up her organisation from scratch, and incrementally growing it with persistence, consistence, creativity and resilience. And we reflect on why helping with disabilities in Africa was a concept that took years to resonate until inclusion became more ‘mainstream’ over the past 2 years.

Irene mentions the book Creative Leadership: Born from Design by Rama Gheerawo.

Recorded on 24 July 2023.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Irene on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/irene-mbari-kirika/ and at inable.org.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, early access to episodes and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose Buzzsprout-12879446 Wed, 30 Aug 2023 18:00:00 +0800 3297 52 full false Kjell Bergh - How an auto entrepreneur became the confidant of Kings and Presidents Kjell Bergh - How an auto entrepreneur became the confidant of Kings and Presidents Today, Siri and I speak with Kjell Bergh. Kjell’s life could really be a movie - about the American Dream, the power of seizing opportunities, of following one’s instinct and moral impulse, of being open to random encounters and willing to be helpful without expecting something in return. The story of the humble car salesman turned diplomat, peace broker and confidant of Kings and Presidents is unbelievable and we're excited to uncover some of Kjell’s secrets and lessons learned in the art of selfless networking.

(Corrigendum: Kjell clarified that he was given the Mustang for a month, not a year)

Recorded on 29 June 2023.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Kjell on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/kjell-bergh-2780347/.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, early access to episodes and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> Today, Siri and I speak with Kjell Bergh. Kjell’s life could really be a movie - about the American Dream, the power of seizing opportunities, of following one’s instinct and moral impulse, of being open to random encounters and willing to be helpful without expecting something in return. The story of the humble car salesman turned diplomat, peace broker and confidant of Kings and Presidents is unbelievable and we're excited to uncover some of Kjell’s secrets and lessons learned in the art of selfless networking.

(Corrigendum: Kjell clarified that he was given the Mustang for a month, not a year)

Recorded on 29 June 2023.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Kjell on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/kjell-bergh-2780347/.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, early access to episodes and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose, Siri Khalsa and Kjell Bergh Buzzsprout-12879445 Wed, 16 Aug 2023 18:00:00 +0800 4544 51 full false Ellen Yount - Building political capacity in fledgling democracies Ellen Yount - Building political capacity in fledgling democracies In this episode, I speak with Ellen Yount. From a young age, Ellen was drawn to exploring the world beyond the rural Pennsylvania she grew up in. She shares her early start in politics and the inspiration for public service from working with Tom Ridge on his gubernatorial campaign and later as his Communications Director. Ellen made a bold jump moving to Former Yugoslavia where she worked on political capacity building in fledgling democracies. This was the foundation of a global career in governance and international development. We talk about the evolution of political communications  in autocratic and democratic systems, its importance in the Russia/Ukraine conflict, and about  her passion for giving back.

Recorded on 19 June 2023.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Ellen on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ellenyount/ and on Twitter @EYount.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, early access to episodes and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I speak with Ellen Yount. From a young age, Ellen was drawn to exploring the world beyond the rural Pennsylvania she grew up in. She shares her early start in politics and the inspiration for public service from working with Tom Ridge on his gubernatorial campaign and later as his Communications Director. Ellen made a bold jump moving to Former Yugoslavia where she worked on political capacity building in fledgling democracies. This was the foundation of a global career in governance and international development. We talk about the evolution of political communications  in autocratic and democratic systems, its importance in the Russia/Ukraine conflict, and about  her passion for giving back.

Recorded on 19 June 2023.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Ellen on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ellenyount/ and on Twitter @EYount.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, early access to episodes and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Ellen Yount Buzzsprout-12879443 Wed, 02 Aug 2023 18:00:00 +0800 2726 50 full false Bettina Muscheidt - Nudging for peace in the world's most protracted conflicts Bettina Muscheidt - Nudging for peace in the world's most protracted conflicts In this episode, I speak with Bettina Muscheidt. Bettina was until recently EU Ambassador to Nicaragua and has had a string of postings in some of the most diplomatically challenging locations in the world. She served in a similar capacity in Libya and in Yemen, and worked on Afghanistan as part of the European Action Service. Her career spans policy, development and mediation. Bettina is a true global citizen, not in the meaning of a well travelled jet setter but as someone who is able to belong in the places she finds herself in. It’s my great pleasure to be catching up with her today and to share with you a slice of Bettina’s infectious love for life.

Recorded on 5 May 2023.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Bettina Muscheidt on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/bettina-muscheidt-49590928.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, early access to episodes and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I speak with Bettina Muscheidt. Bettina was until recently EU Ambassador to Nicaragua and has had a string of postings in some of the most diplomatically challenging locations in the world. She served in a similar capacity in Libya and in Yemen, and worked on Afghanistan as part of the European Action Service. Her career spans policy, development and mediation. Bettina is a true global citizen, not in the meaning of a well travelled jet setter but as someone who is able to belong in the places she finds herself in. It’s my great pleasure to be catching up with her today and to share with you a slice of Bettina’s infectious love for life.

Recorded on 5 May 2023.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Bettina Muscheidt on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/bettina-muscheidt-49590928.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, early access to episodes and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Bettina Muscheidt Buzzsprout-12265063 Wed, 19 Jul 2023 18:00:00 +0800 3465 49 full false Anita Orban - On energy security, leadership and how to shape the world Anita Orban - On energy security, leadership and how to shape the world In this episode, I speak with Anita Orbán. Anita shares her inspiring story, growing up in Hungary, back then a satellite country of the Soviet Union, and then starting her professional life as an academic researching Russia’s use of energy as a tool of foreign policy. Her work caught the attention of the Hungarian government,  asking her to turn her groundbreaking findings into policy in a newly created ambassadorial position. Followed a fascinating career within government and later in the private sector. We revisit her seminal insights from the perspective of the 2022 Russia/Ukraine war, talk about her lessons learned on leadership and what she's up to today.

Recorded on 8 May 2023.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Anita on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/anita-orban-30854a5.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, early access to episodes and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I speak with Anita Orbán. Anita shares her inspiring story, growing up in Hungary, back then a satellite country of the Soviet Union, and then starting her professional life as an academic researching Russia’s use of energy as a tool of foreign policy. Her work caught the attention of the Hungarian government,  asking her to turn her groundbreaking findings into policy in a newly created ambassadorial position. Followed a fascinating career within government and later in the private sector. We revisit her seminal insights from the perspective of the 2022 Russia/Ukraine war, talk about her lessons learned on leadership and what she's up to today.

Recorded on 8 May 2023.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Anita on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/anita-orban-30854a5.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, early access to episodes and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Anita Orban Buzzsprout-12265064 Wed, 05 Jul 2023 18:00:00 +0800 3355 48 full false Naqib Noory - From Kabul to New York and on finding a school for peace Naqib Noory - From Kabul to New York and on finding a school for peace In this episode, I speak with Naqib Noory. Naqib is currently Director of the Office of Security Cooperation at the United Nations Population Fund. He has an inspiring story of resilience and drive to constantly develop himself through education. He grew up in Afghanistan but had to flee to Pakistan during the Soviet invasion. The decision to learn English as a young adult was the first of many educational door openers that would enable Naqib to find his way into the security profession, initially in his home region and later on as international staff of the UN, working in Bosnia, Sudan and now at UN Headquarters in New York.

Recorded on 25 August 2022.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Naqib Noory on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/naqib-noory.

Please subscribe to At the Coalface wherever you get your podcasts to receive a new episode every two weeks: Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  |  Google Podcasts

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, early access to episodes and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I speak with Naqib Noory. Naqib is currently Director of the Office of Security Cooperation at the United Nations Population Fund. He has an inspiring story of resilience and drive to constantly develop himself through education. He grew up in Afghanistan but had to flee to Pakistan during the Soviet invasion. The decision to learn English as a young adult was the first of many educational door openers that would enable Naqib to find his way into the security profession, initially in his home region and later on as international staff of the UN, working in Bosnia, Sudan and now at UN Headquarters in New York.

Recorded on 25 August 2022.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Naqib Noory on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/naqib-noory.

Please subscribe to At the Coalface wherever you get your podcasts to receive a new episode every two weeks: Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  |  Google Podcasts

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, early access to episodes and my deep gratitude!

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Naqib Noory Buzzsprout-10324264 Wed, 21 Jun 2023 18:00:00 +0800 3927 47 full false Arthur Sculley - A story, Bermuda to Fletcher, and global lessons in leadership Arthur Sculley - A story, Bermuda to Fletcher, and global lessons in leadership In this episode I speak with Arthur Sculley. Arthur shares his amazing journey, growing up between Long Island and Bermuda, his curiosity about the world inspired by his grandfather’s eclectic life stories. Arthur went to Southeast Asia at the time of the Vietnam war and managed to explore the region in his down time - he got hooked by the people and the energy he encountered. He had an opportunity to work in Hong Kong in the 1970s, and to have front row seat on the astounding economic transformation in the decades that followed. I’m fascinated by Arthur’s approach to life. He’s endlessly curious, a passionate believer in the power of networks. His entrepreneurial mind never stops. And he cleverly ensures the light always shine on others, winning friends for life. There are so many nuggets of wisdom here, I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did.

Recorded on 2 March 2023.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Please subscribe to At the Coalface wherever you get your podcasts to receive a new episode every two weeks: Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  |  Google Podcasts

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during upcoming recordings. Thank you.

Support the show

]]> In this episode I speak with Arthur Sculley. Arthur shares his amazing journey, growing up between Long Island and Bermuda, his curiosity about the world inspired by his grandfather’s eclectic life stories. Arthur went to Southeast Asia at the time of the Vietnam war and managed to explore the region in his down time - he got hooked by the people and the energy he encountered. He had an opportunity to work in Hong Kong in the 1970s, and to have front row seat on the astounding economic transformation in the decades that followed. I’m fascinated by Arthur’s approach to life. He’s endlessly curious, a passionate believer in the power of networks. His entrepreneurial mind never stops. And he cleverly ensures the light always shine on others, winning friends for life. There are so many nuggets of wisdom here, I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did.

Recorded on 2 March 2023.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Please subscribe to At the Coalface wherever you get your podcasts to receive a new episode every two weeks: Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  |  Google Podcasts

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during upcoming recordings. Thank you.

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Arthur Sculley Buzzsprout-12075492 Wed, 07 Jun 2023 18:00:00 +0800 4195 46 full false Christabell Makokha - Design thinking in development interventions Christabell Makokha - Design thinking in development interventions In this episode, I speak with Christabell Makokha. Christabell shares her a fascinating expertise in designing development interventions that work and that take stakeholders’ needs into account. We explore the limits of development aid and the pitfalls of programmes that use a single-sector approach. We talk about the topic of power and who holds it - an exchange that stretches my worldview and hopefully will yours too.

Recorded on 27 January 2023.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Christabell on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/christabell-makokha-4944a116/.

Please subscribe to At the Coalface wherever you get your podcasts to receive a new episode every two weeks: Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  |  Google Podcasts

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during upcoming recordings. Thank you.

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I speak with Christabell Makokha. Christabell shares her a fascinating expertise in designing development interventions that work and that take stakeholders’ needs into account. We explore the limits of development aid and the pitfalls of programmes that use a single-sector approach. We talk about the topic of power and who holds it - an exchange that stretches my worldview and hopefully will yours too.

Recorded on 27 January 2023.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Christabell on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/christabell-makokha-4944a116/.

Please subscribe to At the Coalface wherever you get your podcasts to receive a new episode every two weeks: Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  |  Google Podcasts

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during upcoming recordings. Thank you.

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Christabell Makhoka Buzzsprout-12075490 Wed, 24 May 2023 18:00:00 +0800 3588 45 full false Alexander Grif - Civilians in war: the impact of humanitarian advocacy Alexander Grif - Civilians in war: the impact of humanitarian advocacy In this episode, I speak with Alexander Grif. Alexander is a passionate advocate for the protection of civilians - and as a humanitarian, he has dedicated his life to carrying out this advocacy where it matters, on the ground of some of the most protracted conflicts on Earth. It’s a real privilege to be having this conversation with Alexander. We explore the dilemmas of trying to make a difference in conflict zones for individuals, real people, whose lives are torn apart through no fault of their own.

Recorded on 24 January 2023.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Alex on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/alexander-grif-0799a4144/.

Please subscribe to At the Coalface wherever you get your podcasts to receive a new episode every two weeks: Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  |  Google Podcasts

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during upcoming recordings. Thank you.

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I speak with Alexander Grif. Alexander is a passionate advocate for the protection of civilians - and as a humanitarian, he has dedicated his life to carrying out this advocacy where it matters, on the ground of some of the most protracted conflicts on Earth. It’s a real privilege to be having this conversation with Alexander. We explore the dilemmas of trying to make a difference in conflict zones for individuals, real people, whose lives are torn apart through no fault of their own.

Recorded on 24 January 2023.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Alex on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/alexander-grif-0799a4144/.

Please subscribe to At the Coalface wherever you get your podcasts to receive a new episode every two weeks: Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  |  Google Podcasts

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during upcoming recordings. Thank you.

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Alexander Grif Buzzsprout-11316434 Wed, 10 May 2023 18:00:00 +0800 3753 44 full false Pam Onyanyo - Building an energy system in sync with the people who need it Pam Onyanyo - Building an energy system in sync with the people who need it In this episode, I speak with Pam Onyanyo. Pam is such an amazing source of inspiration. She had a modest upbringing in rural Kenya but with grit and determination found her way to the US, where she built an amazing life for herself, climbing the career ladder of corporate America. But there was always a purpose behind this drive, to come home and apply what she learned where it could make an impact. She successfully combined her business acumen, her understanding of local livelihoods, her familiarity with project finance and her access to regulators.  Her entrepreneurship  in solar and off-grid solutions for underserved communities is remarkable and I’m delighted Pam is happy to share some of her lessons learned with us.

Recorded on 18 January 2023.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Pam on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/pam-onyanyo-5b24884.

Please subscribe to At the Coalface wherever you get your podcasts to receive a new episode every two weeks: Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  |  Google Podcasts

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during upcoming recordings. Thank you.

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I speak with Pam Onyanyo. Pam is such an amazing source of inspiration. She had a modest upbringing in rural Kenya but with grit and determination found her way to the US, where she built an amazing life for herself, climbing the career ladder of corporate America. But there was always a purpose behind this drive, to come home and apply what she learned where it could make an impact. She successfully combined her business acumen, her understanding of local livelihoods, her familiarity with project finance and her access to regulators.  Her entrepreneurship  in solar and off-grid solutions for underserved communities is remarkable and I’m delighted Pam is happy to share some of her lessons learned with us.

Recorded on 18 January 2023.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Pam on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/pam-onyanyo-5b24884.

Please subscribe to At the Coalface wherever you get your podcasts to receive a new episode every two weeks: Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  |  Google Podcasts

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during upcoming recordings. Thank you.

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Pam Onyanyo Buzzsprout-11168776 Wed, 26 Apr 2023 18:00:00 +0800 3825 43 full false Serhat Çubukçuoğlu - On Middle East foreign policy scholarship: making sense and shaping opinion Serhat Çubukçuoğlu - On Middle East foreign policy scholarship: making sense and shaping opinion In this episode, I catch up with Serhat Çubukçuoğlu. Serhat was our first guest on this podcast in September 2021. We spoke about the transition he was embarking on from working in the private sector but with a passion for international affairs, to wanting to turn this passion into a full-time activity. We meet today in Abu Dhabi, where Serhat is starting a new career as a foreign policy expert in a think tank. We talk about his area of research, his professional pivot and some of insights he’s gathered along the way.

Serhat contributed to the recently launched book, Aftermath of War in Europe: The West vs. the Global South?

Recorded on 7 January 2023.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Serhat Çubukçuoğlu on  Instagram @scubukcuoglu and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/scubukcuoglu.

Please subscribe to At the Coalface wherever you get your podcasts to receive a new episode every two weeks: Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  |  Google Podcasts

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during upcoming recordings. Thank you.

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I catch up with Serhat Çubukçuoğlu. Serhat was our first guest on this podcast in September 2021. We spoke about the transition he was embarking on from working in the private sector but with a passion for international affairs, to wanting to turn this passion into a full-time activity. We meet today in Abu Dhabi, where Serhat is starting a new career as a foreign policy expert in a think tank. We talk about his area of research, his professional pivot and some of insights he’s gathered along the way.

Serhat contributed to the recently launched book, Aftermath of War in Europe: The West vs. the Global South?

Recorded on 7 January 2023.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Serhat Çubukçuoğlu on  Instagram @scubukcuoglu and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/scubukcuoglu.

Please subscribe to At the Coalface wherever you get your podcasts to receive a new episode every two weeks: Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  |  Google Podcasts

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during upcoming recordings. Thank you.

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Serhat Çubukçuoğlu Buzzsprout-10819913 Wed, 12 Apr 2023 18:00:00 +0800 2701 42 full false Steve Schmida - Partnerships with Purpose: an entrepreneur's story of helping companies navigate sustainability Steve Schmida - Partnerships with Purpose: an entrepreneur's story of helping companies navigate sustainability In this episode, Siri and I co-host a conversation with Steve Schmida. Siri is also launching her own podcast called the Corporate Activist. So we thought of releasing this episode on both our podcasts because this conversation has great crossovers. Siri and Steve have known each other for almost 20 years. The three of us share the common link of having graduated from the Fletcher School's GMAP programme in international affairs. I'm excited about this conversation because I want to hear Steve''s perspective on how he's helping companies with their sustainability, climate and ESG commitments through projects in rural communities and in emerging markets and how he's making sense of stakeholder needs and local dynamics in designing programmes that create value in difficult places.

Steve is the co-founder and the Chief Innovation Officer of Resonance, which is a frontier markets solutions firm. Steve was working out of his spare bedroom together with his wife Nazgul and bootstrapped Resonance into an award-winning, global consulting firm with more than 100 staff today. Resonance's clients include Fortune 500 and international donor agencies along with non profits and foundations. Steve has worked in more than 40 countries. Prior to founding Resonance, Steve worked in Russia and Central Asia where he established and led programmes for the Eurasia Foundation and the National Democratic Institute. Recently, Steve published the book Partner with Purpose, a step-by-step guide to planning, launching and maintaining cross-sector partnerships.

Recorded on 20 February 2023.

Steve's book is Partner with Purpose: Solving 21st-Century Business Problems Through Cross-Sector Collaboration, published in June 2020 by Rivertowns Books and available at major bookstores including on Amazon.

Connect with Steve on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/steve-schmida-57823a10.

Siri launched her new podcast, the Corporate Activist, where this episode was also published on 24 March 2023. It's available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Instagram: @corpactivist.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Please subscribe to At the Coalface wherever you get your podcasts to receive a new episode every two weeks: Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  |  Google Podcasts

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during upcoming recordings. Thank you.

Support the show

]]> In this episode, Siri and I co-host a conversation with Steve Schmida. Siri is also launching her own podcast called the Corporate Activist. So we thought of releasing this episode on both our podcasts because this conversation has great crossovers. Siri and Steve have known each other for almost 20 years. The three of us share the common link of having graduated from the Fletcher School's GMAP programme in international affairs. I'm excited about this conversation because I want to hear Steve''s perspective on how he's helping companies with their sustainability, climate and ESG commitments through projects in rural communities and in emerging markets and how he's making sense of stakeholder needs and local dynamics in designing programmes that create value in difficult places.

Steve is the co-founder and the Chief Innovation Officer of Resonance, which is a frontier markets solutions firm. Steve was working out of his spare bedroom together with his wife Nazgul and bootstrapped Resonance into an award-winning, global consulting firm with more than 100 staff today. Resonance's clients include Fortune 500 and international donor agencies along with non profits and foundations. Steve has worked in more than 40 countries. Prior to founding Resonance, Steve worked in Russia and Central Asia where he established and led programmes for the Eurasia Foundation and the National Democratic Institute. Recently, Steve published the book Partner with Purpose, a step-by-step guide to planning, launching and maintaining cross-sector partnerships.

Recorded on 20 February 2023.

Steve's book is Partner with Purpose: Solving 21st-Century Business Problems Through Cross-Sector Collaboration, published in June 2020 by Rivertowns Books and available at major bookstores including on Amazon.

Connect with Steve on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/steve-schmida-57823a10.

Siri launched her new podcast, the Corporate Activist, where this episode was also published on 24 March 2023. It's available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Instagram: @corpactivist.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Please subscribe to At the Coalface wherever you get your podcasts to receive a new episode every two weeks: Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  |  Google Podcasts

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during upcoming recordings. Thank you.

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose, Siri Khalsa and Steve Schmida Buzzsprout-12075491 Wed, 29 Mar 2023 17:00:00 +0800 3915 41 full false Samer Sobh - On running a growing travel start-up through the pandemic, and being a mindful father Samer Sobh - On running a growing travel start-up through the pandemic, and being a mindful father Today, I speak with Samer Sobh for our second episode. Samer was one of the very first guests on this podcast in September 2021. At the time we spoke about his growing up in Lebanon, his volunteering work, his life in the corporate world, and leaving the safety net to become and entrepreneur - he started Dubz, a company that helps travellers manage the hassle of having to carry around luggage to and from the airport. We catch up in Dubai, my first time back since I left in summer 2018.

Recorded on 6 January 2023.

The book Samer refers to is The Innovators: How a Group of Hackers, Geniuses, and Geeks Created the Digital Revolution, by Walter Isaacson.

The company behind the mindfulness programme that Samer reviewed is Qyro. Their offering is for corporates and individuals.

And I recommend the Mindfulness Frame by Frame video series by Mark Williams.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Samer on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/samer-sobh-aba0035/.

Dubz is available for bookings at dubz.com.

Please subscribe to At the Coalface wherever you get your podcasts to receive a new episode every two weeks: Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  |  Google Podcasts

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during upcoming recordings. Thank you.

Support the show

]]> Today, I speak with Samer Sobh for our second episode. Samer was one of the very first guests on this podcast in September 2021. At the time we spoke about his growing up in Lebanon, his volunteering work, his life in the corporate world, and leaving the safety net to become and entrepreneur - he started Dubz, a company that helps travellers manage the hassle of having to carry around luggage to and from the airport. We catch up in Dubai, my first time back since I left in summer 2018.

Recorded on 6 January 2023.

The book Samer refers to is The Innovators: How a Group of Hackers, Geniuses, and Geeks Created the Digital Revolution, by Walter Isaacson.

The company behind the mindfulness programme that Samer reviewed is Qyro. Their offering is for corporates and individuals.

And I recommend the Mindfulness Frame by Frame video series by Mark Williams.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Samer on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/samer-sobh-aba0035/.

Dubz is available for bookings at dubz.com.

Please subscribe to At the Coalface wherever you get your podcasts to receive a new episode every two weeks: Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  |  Google Podcasts

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during upcoming recordings. Thank you.

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Samer Sobh Buzzsprout-11533715 Wed, 15 Mar 2023 18:00:00 +0800 3426 40 full false Kaddu Sebunya - Conserving Africa's environment: the key to climate change Kaddu Sebunya - Conserving Africa's environment: the key to climate change In this episode, I speak with Kaddu Sebunya. Kaddu is passionate about nature conservation. In his role as CEO of African Wildlife Foundation, he rallies African elites to lead the fight against the destruction of valuable habitats and wildlife. He believes that conservation by Africans for Africans is at the heart of addressing the continent’s challenges around economic development and equality, it’s the right place to start. I’m delighted to be having this conversation with Kaddu, he has such an important message that he shares with an infectious energy that I hope will inspire you too!

The book that Kaddu mentions is What We Owe the Future by William MacAskill.

Recorded on 16 January 2023.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Kaddu on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/kaddu-kiwe-sebunya-384b4658 and on Twitter @AWFCEO.

Please subscribe to At the Coalface wherever you get your podcasts to receive a new episode every two weeks: Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  |  Google Podcasts

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during upcoming recordings. Thank you.

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I speak with Kaddu Sebunya. Kaddu is passionate about nature conservation. In his role as CEO of African Wildlife Foundation, he rallies African elites to lead the fight against the destruction of valuable habitats and wildlife. He believes that conservation by Africans for Africans is at the heart of addressing the continent’s challenges around economic development and equality, it’s the right place to start. I’m delighted to be having this conversation with Kaddu, he has such an important message that he shares with an infectious energy that I hope will inspire you too!

The book that Kaddu mentions is What We Owe the Future by William MacAskill.

Recorded on 16 January 2023.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Kaddu on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/kaddu-kiwe-sebunya-384b4658 and on Twitter @AWFCEO.

Please subscribe to At the Coalface wherever you get your podcasts to receive a new episode every two weeks: Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  |  Google Podcasts

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during upcoming recordings. Thank you.

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Kaddu Sebunya Buzzsprout-11168779 Wed, 01 Mar 2023 18:00:00 +0800 4100 39 full false Lila Ramos Shahani - Straddling disciplines, straddling worlds Lila Ramos Shahani - Straddling disciplines, straddling worlds In this episode, Siri and I co-host a conversation with Lila Ramos Shahani. Lila was Siri's classmate at the Fletcher School’s GMAP degree programme in international affairs. I realise I rarely have the chance of speaking with someone so embedded in their country’s history, politics and society, in this case the Philippines, but also someone trying to shape their country’s direction towards greater inclusion and better governance.

Lila is an Expert and Associate Member of two International Scientific Committees of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), where she specializes in the Interpretation and Presentation of Cultural Heritage Sites (ICIP) and Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICICH).

During her tenure as Secretary-General of the Philippine National Commission to UNESCO, she and her team obtained four UNESCO designations for the country: in Intangible Cultural Heritage, Memory of the World and Creative Cities. 

Lila has taught at several universities in the Philippines and has worked for Oxford University Press and the United Nations (UNICEF and UNDP) in New York. She has a B.A. from Brown, an M.A. from the Fletcher School at Tufts, and is a doctoral candidate at Oxford.

Lila has a book chapter coming out soon, see Chapter 6, The Politics of Erasure: De-Commemorating "Comfort Women" in the Philippines, in Fallen Monuments and Contested Memorials,  Routledge.

Recorded on 1 December 2022.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Lila on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/lila-shahani-91a69370/.

Please subscribe to At the Coalface wherever you get your podcasts to receive a new episode every two weeks: Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  |  Google Podcasts

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during upcoming recordings. Thank you.

Support the show

]]> In this episode, Siri and I co-host a conversation with Lila Ramos Shahani. Lila was Siri's classmate at the Fletcher School’s GMAP degree programme in international affairs. I realise I rarely have the chance of speaking with someone so embedded in their country’s history, politics and society, in this case the Philippines, but also someone trying to shape their country’s direction towards greater inclusion and better governance.

Lila is an Expert and Associate Member of two International Scientific Committees of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), where she specializes in the Interpretation and Presentation of Cultural Heritage Sites (ICIP) and Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICICH).

During her tenure as Secretary-General of the Philippine National Commission to UNESCO, she and her team obtained four UNESCO designations for the country: in Intangible Cultural Heritage, Memory of the World and Creative Cities. 

Lila has taught at several universities in the Philippines and has worked for Oxford University Press and the United Nations (UNICEF and UNDP) in New York. She has a B.A. from Brown, an M.A. from the Fletcher School at Tufts, and is a doctoral candidate at Oxford.

Lila has a book chapter coming out soon, see Chapter 6, The Politics of Erasure: De-Commemorating "Comfort Women" in the Philippines, in Fallen Monuments and Contested Memorials,  Routledge.

Recorded on 1 December 2022.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Lila on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/lila-shahani-91a69370/.

Please subscribe to At the Coalface wherever you get your podcasts to receive a new episode every two weeks: Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  |  Google Podcasts

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during upcoming recordings. Thank you.

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose, Siri Khalsa and Lila Ramos Shahani Buzzsprout-10645204 Wed, 15 Feb 2023 18:00:00 +0800 4331 38 full false Christa Case Bryant - 'Just be fair': A journalist's path covering polarising issues Christa Case Bryant - 'Just be fair': A journalist's path covering polarising issues In this episode, I speak with Christa Case Bryant about her fascinating journalistic career. She’s reported on US politics and domestic heartland issues. She’s also worked as Middle East editor, and been based in Jerusalem as bureau chief. And she’s now Senior Congressional correspondent. Her diverse experience gives her stories both a global lens and a very human perspective. We speak about maintaining fairness and impartiality when covering deeply divisive issues, dealing with our biases and how to cover stories that don’t neatly fit in a polarized set of narratives.

Recorded on 2 January 2023.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Christa on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/christa-case-bryant-a301101 and on Twitter @christacbryant.

Please subscribe to At the Coalface wherever you get your podcasts to receive a new episode every two weeks: Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  |  Google Podcasts

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during upcoming recordings. Thank you.

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I speak with Christa Case Bryant about her fascinating journalistic career. She’s reported on US politics and domestic heartland issues. She’s also worked as Middle East editor, and been based in Jerusalem as bureau chief. And she’s now Senior Congressional correspondent. Her diverse experience gives her stories both a global lens and a very human perspective. We speak about maintaining fairness and impartiality when covering deeply divisive issues, dealing with our biases and how to cover stories that don’t neatly fit in a polarized set of narratives.

Recorded on 2 January 2023.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Christa on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/christa-case-bryant-a301101 and on Twitter @christacbryant.

Please subscribe to At the Coalface wherever you get your podcasts to receive a new episode every two weeks: Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  |  Google Podcasts

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during upcoming recordings. Thank you.

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Christa Case Bryant Buzzsprout-11533704 Wed, 01 Feb 2023 16:00:00 +0800 3462 37 full false Robert McMahon - A life in journalism, covering the world since 1990 Robert McMahon - A life in journalism, covering the world since 1990 In this episode, Siri Khalsa and I co-host a conversation with Bob McMahon. Bob and Siri were classmate on the Fletcher School’s GMAP programme in International Relations.

Bob has spent more than 3 decades at the intersection of journalism and international affairs, including stints as the Associated Press World Desk Editor in New York, Director of Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty's central new operation in Prague, and the UN correspondent for RFE/RL, and now he is Managing Editor of the award-winning website of the Council on Foreign Relations.
 
In our conversation, Bob mentions Shannon K. O'Neil's new book, The Globalization Myth: Why Regions Matter. Bob hosts the weekly podcast The World Next Week.

Recorded on 29 November 2022.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Bob on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/bob-mcmahon-438037a/.

Please subscribe to At the Coalface wherever you get your podcasts to receive a new episode every two weeks: Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  |  Google Podcasts

Support the show

]]> In this episode, Siri Khalsa and I co-host a conversation with Bob McMahon. Bob and Siri were classmate on the Fletcher School’s GMAP programme in International Relations.

Bob has spent more than 3 decades at the intersection of journalism and international affairs, including stints as the Associated Press World Desk Editor in New York, Director of Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty's central new operation in Prague, and the UN correspondent for RFE/RL, and now he is Managing Editor of the award-winning website of the Council on Foreign Relations.
 
In our conversation, Bob mentions Shannon K. O'Neil's new book, The Globalization Myth: Why Regions Matter. Bob hosts the weekly podcast The World Next Week.

Recorded on 29 November 2022.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Bob on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/bob-mcmahon-438037a/.

Please subscribe to At the Coalface wherever you get your podcasts to receive a new episode every two weeks: Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  |  Google Podcasts

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose, Siri Khalsa, Bob McMahon Buzzsprout-10645195 Wed, 18 Jan 2023 18:00:00 +0800 3640 36 full false Harriet Cross - High Commissioner to Trinidad & Tobago, on being true to values and country Harriet Cross - High Commissioner to Trinidad & Tobago, on being true to values and country In this episode, I speak with Harriet Cross. Harriet is the British High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago. She’s had a fascinating career in diplomacy, with postings in the US, Yemen at a particularly challenging period, in Morocco and the UN. She’s also worked on trade policy and human rights , international cooperation on crime, and had a stint in academia. What fascinates me about Harriet is her authenticity: by that I mean her ability to stay as true to her values as she can whilst still representing her government. She shares her lessons learned on the role diplomacy and on  leadership. Harriet’s zest for life is contagious and I hope some of it reaches you as you listen to our conversation.

Recorded on 14 November 2022.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Harriet Cross on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/harrietcross and on Twitter @harryvx.

Please subscribe to At the Coalface wherever you get your podcasts to receive a new episode every two weeks: Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  |  Google Podcasts

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I speak with Harriet Cross. Harriet is the British High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago. She’s had a fascinating career in diplomacy, with postings in the US, Yemen at a particularly challenging period, in Morocco and the UN. She’s also worked on trade policy and human rights , international cooperation on crime, and had a stint in academia. What fascinates me about Harriet is her authenticity: by that I mean her ability to stay as true to her values as she can whilst still representing her government. She shares her lessons learned on the role diplomacy and on  leadership. Harriet’s zest for life is contagious and I hope some of it reaches you as you listen to our conversation.

Recorded on 14 November 2022.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Harriet Cross on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/harrietcross and on Twitter @harryvx.

Please subscribe to At the Coalface wherever you get your podcasts to receive a new episode every two weeks: Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  |  Google Podcasts

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Harriet Cross Buzzsprout-10819911 Wed, 04 Jan 2023 17:00:00 +0800 4422 35 full false Lily Adhiambo - A life in journalism and peace making Lily Adhiambo - A life in journalism and peace making In this episode, I speak with Lily Adhiambo. It’s a huge joy to be recording this conversation together in Geneva, her home and my home town. Lily is a fascinating person. She’s a seasoned humanitarian with the United Nations. She grew up in Kenya and Uganda and started out in life as a journalist before finding her way into the UN.  Her career has been focusing on multiple theatres of conflict in Eastern, Central and Western Africa. She initially worked in Emergency Response, helping direct resources to support IDPs and health emergencies and other crises, and later on in Early Warning and Risk Management, trying to prevent crises through early action. In her current period of life here in Geneva, she also spends her time with the BMW Foundation's Responsible Leaders Network, working with change makers on figuring out new ways of tackling major global issues such and climate change and inequality.

Recorded on 26 September 2022.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Please subscribe to At the Coalface wherever you get your podcasts to receive a new episode every two weeks: Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  |  Google Podcasts

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I speak with Lily Adhiambo. It’s a huge joy to be recording this conversation together in Geneva, her home and my home town. Lily is a fascinating person. She’s a seasoned humanitarian with the United Nations. She grew up in Kenya and Uganda and started out in life as a journalist before finding her way into the UN.  Her career has been focusing on multiple theatres of conflict in Eastern, Central and Western Africa. She initially worked in Emergency Response, helping direct resources to support IDPs and health emergencies and other crises, and later on in Early Warning and Risk Management, trying to prevent crises through early action. In her current period of life here in Geneva, she also spends her time with the BMW Foundation's Responsible Leaders Network, working with change makers on figuring out new ways of tackling major global issues such and climate change and inequality.

Recorded on 26 September 2022.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Please subscribe to At the Coalface wherever you get your podcasts to receive a new episode every two weeks: Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  |  Google Podcasts

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Lily Adhiambo Buzzsprout-11316433 Wed, 21 Dec 2022 16:00:00 +0800 3829 34 full false Akjemal Magtymova - A Turkmen's perspective on health diplomacy from North Korea to Syria Akjemal Magtymova - A Turkmen's perspective on health diplomacy from North Korea to Syria In this episode I speak with Akjemal Magtymova. Akjemal recounts her story growing up in the Soviet Socialist Republic of Turkmenistan, her early career as a young medical doctor practicing right as the USSR collapsed and the health system failed. She speaks about her journey into the international health sector (first with UNFPA and then WHO), that led her to postings in Laos, DPR Korea, India, Yemen, Syria and others. She shares lessons learned from her experience in health diplomacy in the field. I’m especially fascinated by how Akjemal’s values shaped her life trajectory, and by her reflections post covid on the values she feels we need today.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Akjemal Magtymova on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/akjemal-magtymova-67457236.

Please subscribe to At the Coalface wherever you get your podcasts to receive a new episode every two weeks: Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  |  Google Podcasts

Support the show

]]> In this episode I speak with Akjemal Magtymova. Akjemal recounts her story growing up in the Soviet Socialist Republic of Turkmenistan, her early career as a young medical doctor practicing right as the USSR collapsed and the health system failed. She speaks about her journey into the international health sector (first with UNFPA and then WHO), that led her to postings in Laos, DPR Korea, India, Yemen, Syria and others. She shares lessons learned from her experience in health diplomacy in the field. I’m especially fascinated by how Akjemal’s values shaped her life trajectory, and by her reflections post covid on the values she feels we need today.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Akjemal Magtymova on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/akjemal-magtymova-67457236.

Please subscribe to At the Coalface wherever you get your podcasts to receive a new episode every two weeks: Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  |  Google Podcasts

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Akjemal Magtymova Buzzsprout-11168777 Wed, 07 Dec 2022 18:00:00 +0800 5110 33 full false Marta Ferrari - Go for it! A career in the nuclear industry Marta Ferrari - Go for it! A career in the nuclear industry In this episode, Siri Khalsa and I co-host a conversation with Marta Ferrari. Marta and Siri were classmate on the Fletcher School’s GMAP programme in International Relations.

Marta has an interesting background: advanced degree in physics, Master in international relations at the Fletcher School, management studies at the INSEAD Business School and recently completed the Visionary Leadership Programme at Ashoka. She started her career in an engineering company, worked for many years at the International Atomic Energy Agency in a number of technical and management positions. She was recently working in France, holding a director position in the nuclear industry before coming back to the IAEA a few months ago, as a Section Head in Operations in Safeguards.

Recorded on 23 June 2022.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Marta Ferrari on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/marta-ferrari-08834071.

Please subscribe to At the Coalface wherever you get your podcasts to receive a new episode every two weeks: Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  |  Google Podcasts

Support the show

]]> In this episode, Siri Khalsa and I co-host a conversation with Marta Ferrari. Marta and Siri were classmate on the Fletcher School’s GMAP programme in International Relations.

Marta has an interesting background: advanced degree in physics, Master in international relations at the Fletcher School, management studies at the INSEAD Business School and recently completed the Visionary Leadership Programme at Ashoka. She started her career in an engineering company, worked for many years at the International Atomic Energy Agency in a number of technical and management positions. She was recently working in France, holding a director position in the nuclear industry before coming back to the IAEA a few months ago, as a Section Head in Operations in Safeguards.

Recorded on 23 June 2022.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Marta Ferrari on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/marta-ferrari-08834071.

Please subscribe to At the Coalface wherever you get your podcasts to receive a new episode every two weeks: Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  |  Google Podcasts

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose, Siri Khalsa, Marta Ferrari Buzzsprout-10324272 Wed, 23 Nov 2022 17:00:00 +0800 3318 32 full false Alexis Grabar - I'm a North Face guy Alexis Grabar - I'm a North Face guy In this episode, I speak with Alexis Grabar. Alexis is an accomplished entrepreneur who had an early career in aviation sales in the 1990s, in the tough frontier markets of Eastern Europe and Russia. But after a successful run, he decided to stop and go back to school to pursue both a MBA at HEC in Paris and a mid-career degree in international affairs from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy in Boston. He used his professional interlude to crystallise entrepreneurial ideas, and then to launch a business, which became a precursor to Uber for point to point travel for high-net-worth individuals. This was the start of his life as a serial entrepreneur, But beyond business achievements, what really struck me about Alexis is this relentless sense of purpose that probably was instilled at a young age from a family of illustrious personalities in the arts and science, and also his ability to pivot and realign himself when he veered off course. I admire his intuition to make sense of a complex macro environment and anticipate things that most of us don't.

Recorded on 15 September 2022.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Alexis Grabar on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/alexis-grabar-66a97.

Please subscribe to At the Coalface wherever you get your podcasts to receive a new episode every two weeks: Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  |  Google Podcasts

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I speak with Alexis Grabar. Alexis is an accomplished entrepreneur who had an early career in aviation sales in the 1990s, in the tough frontier markets of Eastern Europe and Russia. But after a successful run, he decided to stop and go back to school to pursue both a MBA at HEC in Paris and a mid-career degree in international affairs from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy in Boston. He used his professional interlude to crystallise entrepreneurial ideas, and then to launch a business, which became a precursor to Uber for point to point travel for high-net-worth individuals. This was the start of his life as a serial entrepreneur, But beyond business achievements, what really struck me about Alexis is this relentless sense of purpose that probably was instilled at a young age from a family of illustrious personalities in the arts and science, and also his ability to pivot and realign himself when he veered off course. I admire his intuition to make sense of a complex macro environment and anticipate things that most of us don't.

Recorded on 15 September 2022.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Alexis Grabar on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/alexis-grabar-66a97.

Please subscribe to At the Coalface wherever you get your podcasts to receive a new episode every two weeks: Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  |  Google Podcasts

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Alexis Grabar Buzzsprout-11316432 Wed, 09 Nov 2022 18:00:00 +0800 4202 31 full false Mandy Birch - We're not Lego blocks Mandy Birch - We're not Lego blocks Today I speak with Mandy Birch. Mandy is a hugely accomplished person with a background that is impressive in its breadth (Air Force Academy, distinguished military career, experience in the field, brilliant engineering studies, entrepreneur) and also depth (with senior leadership experience of large cohorts under situations of crises, successful complex change management, deep literacy in Quantum Computing). But it’s Mandy’s wisdom that I’m drawn to the most, her composure under stress, her confidence in going against the grain and her ability to think both in the present and a few steps ahead. I hope you’ll enjoy this conversation as much as I did.

Recorded on 7 July 2022.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Mandy Birch on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/mandybirch.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Support the show

]]> Today I speak with Mandy Birch. Mandy is a hugely accomplished person with a background that is impressive in its breadth (Air Force Academy, distinguished military career, experience in the field, brilliant engineering studies, entrepreneur) and also depth (with senior leadership experience of large cohorts under situations of crises, successful complex change management, deep literacy in Quantum Computing). But it’s Mandy’s wisdom that I’m drawn to the most, her composure under stress, her confidence in going against the grain and her ability to think both in the present and a few steps ahead. I hope you’ll enjoy this conversation as much as I did.

Recorded on 7 July 2022.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Mandy Birch on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/mandybirch.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Mandy Birch Buzzsprout-9889443 Wed, 26 Oct 2022 18:00:00 +0800 4122 30 full false Alicia Eastman - I'm doing what I was meant to do Alicia Eastman - I'm doing what I was meant to do In this episode, Siri and I co-host a conversation with one of Siri's classmates from our GMAP programme in international affairs at the Fletcher School. We speak with Alicia Eastman, who works in an industry close to my heart, hydrogen.

Alicia is President of Intercontinental Energy, a green fuels company with a portfolio of renewable hydrogen projects in Australia and the Middle East. In the past, she has raised and managed growth equity funds, and worked primarily in Asia and the Middle East. She currently lives in London after a long time spent in Hong Kong. She studied with us at the Fletcher School, at the Wharton School and had interesting schooling before that.

Recorded on 2 July  2022.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Alicia Eastman on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/aliciaeastman.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Support the show

]]> In this episode, Siri and I co-host a conversation with one of Siri's classmates from our GMAP programme in international affairs at the Fletcher School. We speak with Alicia Eastman, who works in an industry close to my heart, hydrogen.

Alicia is President of Intercontinental Energy, a green fuels company with a portfolio of renewable hydrogen projects in Australia and the Middle East. In the past, she has raised and managed growth equity funds, and worked primarily in Asia and the Middle East. She currently lives in London after a long time spent in Hong Kong. She studied with us at the Fletcher School, at the Wharton School and had interesting schooling before that.

Recorded on 2 July  2022.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Alicia Eastman on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/aliciaeastman.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose, Siri Khalsa and Alicia Eastman Buzzsprout-10645202 Wed, 12 Oct 2022 16:00:00 +0800 4437 29 full false Tom Morris - Keep the camp in order Tom Morris - Keep the camp in order In this episode, I speak with Tom Morris. Tom is the first person I reached out to when I was considering pursuing the GMAP degree in International Affairs at the Fletcher School, because we’d worked for the same company. As a fellow energy professional I valued his perspective on whether it made sense for me to pursue such a degree. Tom has worked most of his life in the energy industry, helping countries monetise their hydrocarbon resources, including Norway, Greenland, Senegal, Philippines. He now works in a gas venture in Russia, at a time of unprecedented upheaval that we’ll touch on. We’ll speak about his interest in international affairs, how his viewpoints have evolved  and his reflections on what matters in life the most. I’m excited to be reconnecting with Tom at this particularly messy time and hope you’ll enjoy our conversation too.

Recorded on 24 June 2022.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Tom Morris on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/tgmorris.

Please subscribe to At the Coalface wherever you get your podcasts to receive a new episode every two weeks: Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  |  Google Podcasts

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I speak with Tom Morris. Tom is the first person I reached out to when I was considering pursuing the GMAP degree in International Affairs at the Fletcher School, because we’d worked for the same company. As a fellow energy professional I valued his perspective on whether it made sense for me to pursue such a degree. Tom has worked most of his life in the energy industry, helping countries monetise their hydrocarbon resources, including Norway, Greenland, Senegal, Philippines. He now works in a gas venture in Russia, at a time of unprecedented upheaval that we’ll touch on. We’ll speak about his interest in international affairs, how his viewpoints have evolved  and his reflections on what matters in life the most. I’m excited to be reconnecting with Tom at this particularly messy time and hope you’ll enjoy our conversation too.

Recorded on 24 June 2022.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Tom Morris on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/tgmorris.

Please subscribe to At the Coalface wherever you get your podcasts to receive a new episode every two weeks: Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  |  Google Podcasts

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Tom Morris Buzzsprout-10235971 Wed, 28 Sep 2022 18:00:00 +0800 5678 28 full false Joyce Aluoch - There were no role models Joyce Aluoch - There were no role models In this episode, I’m excited to be speaking with Lady Justice Joyce Aluoch. Joyce was my graduation speaker when I completed by Global Master of Arts Programme at the Fletcher School, Joyce had completed the same programme a few years beforehand. Joyce has had a distinguished legal career in Kenya, culminating as a judge on the appellate court (the precursor to the Supreme Court). She was elected on the International Criminal Court in The Hague, working on cases involving war crimes - issues close to her heart as  she has long focused on bringing light to the impact of war on children.  After 44 years on the bench, she is now applying her expertise to the field of mediation and dispute resolution.

Recorded on 24 March 2022.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Joyce Aluoch on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/joyce-aluoch-72a13b1a9.

Please subscribe to At the Coalface wherever you get your podcasts to receive a new episode every two weeks: Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  |  Google Podcasts

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I’m excited to be speaking with Lady Justice Joyce Aluoch. Joyce was my graduation speaker when I completed by Global Master of Arts Programme at the Fletcher School, Joyce had completed the same programme a few years beforehand. Joyce has had a distinguished legal career in Kenya, culminating as a judge on the appellate court (the precursor to the Supreme Court). She was elected on the International Criminal Court in The Hague, working on cases involving war crimes - issues close to her heart as  she has long focused on bringing light to the impact of war on children.  After 44 years on the bench, she is now applying her expertise to the field of mediation and dispute resolution.

Recorded on 24 March 2022.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Joyce Aluoch on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/joyce-aluoch-72a13b1a9.

Please subscribe to At the Coalface wherever you get your podcasts to receive a new episode every two weeks: Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  |  Google Podcasts

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Joyce Aluoch Buzzsprout-10235970 Wed, 14 Sep 2022 12:00:00 +0800 3193 27 full false Arjen van den Berg - Why not have differences come out? Arjen van den Berg - Why not have differences come out? In this episode, Siri and I co-host a conversation with Arjen van den Berg. Arjen was a member of Siri’s cohort at the Fletcher School’s Global Master of Arts Programme (GMAP). Arjen has had a distinguished career with the Dutch Foreign Service. He has served tours in the US, Trinidad and Tobago and The Hague. Over the last 10 years, he has focused on Asia, working in Beijing, Tokyo and is now the Dutch Consul General in Hong Kong and Macau, where he is half way through a 4-year posting.  One of the fun things about having Arjen in our class is that as a working diplomat, he was able to give us a reality check on all of our theoretical discussions on policy and negotiations.

Recorded on 14 March  2022.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Arjen van den Berg on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/arjenvandenberg.

Please subscribe to At the Coalface wherever you get your podcasts to receive a new episode every two weeks: Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  |  Google Podcasts

Support the show

]]> In this episode, Siri and I co-host a conversation with Arjen van den Berg. Arjen was a member of Siri’s cohort at the Fletcher School’s Global Master of Arts Programme (GMAP). Arjen has had a distinguished career with the Dutch Foreign Service. He has served tours in the US, Trinidad and Tobago and The Hague. Over the last 10 years, he has focused on Asia, working in Beijing, Tokyo and is now the Dutch Consul General in Hong Kong and Macau, where he is half way through a 4-year posting.  One of the fun things about having Arjen in our class is that as a working diplomat, he was able to give us a reality check on all of our theoretical discussions on policy and negotiations.

Recorded on 14 March  2022.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Arjen van den Berg on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/arjenvandenberg.

Please subscribe to At the Coalface wherever you get your podcasts to receive a new episode every two weeks: Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  |  Google Podcasts

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Arjen van den Berg Buzzsprout-10235965 Wed, 31 Aug 2022 18:00:00 +0800 3697 26 full false Theo R. - Freedom + Forgiveness + Love = Life Theo R. - Freedom + Forgiveness + Love = Life In this episode, I speak with Theo R. A few months ago, I learned about Theo from reading Michela Wrong’s book Do Not Disturb about Rwanda as part of DWN Bookshelf. Theo had been a member of the President's inner circle, from the time of the struggle when RPF sought to take control of the country and then later into government. Theo embarked on the Fletcher School’s GMAP degree around the time he decided to go into exile in 2005.  Our conversation covers Theo's life as a refugee and the ways it shaped him, his youthful days animated by powerful Marxist ideas, his joining RPF and being part of shaping the new Rwanda, and his gradual realisation that he no longer shared the values of its leadership, prompting a journey back into refugee life.

Recorded on 15 March 2022.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Please subscribe to At the Coalface wherever you get your podcasts to receive a new episode every two weeks: Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  |  Google Podcasts

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I speak with Theo R. A few months ago, I learned about Theo from reading Michela Wrong’s book Do Not Disturb about Rwanda as part of DWN Bookshelf. Theo had been a member of the President's inner circle, from the time of the struggle when RPF sought to take control of the country and then later into government. Theo embarked on the Fletcher School’s GMAP degree around the time he decided to go into exile in 2005.  Our conversation covers Theo's life as a refugee and the ways it shaped him, his youthful days animated by powerful Marxist ideas, his joining RPF and being part of shaping the new Rwanda, and his gradual realisation that he no longer shared the values of its leadership, prompting a journey back into refugee life.

Recorded on 15 March 2022.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Please subscribe to At the Coalface wherever you get your podcasts to receive a new episode every two weeks: Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  |  Google Podcasts

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Theo Buzzsprout-10235969 Wed, 17 Aug 2022 17:00:00 +0800 7984 25 full false Paloma Serra - My call to Africa Paloma Serra - My call to Africa In this episode, I speak with Paloma Serra. Paloma is a career diplomat for Spain, but her life could have taken a very different turn, had her parents not enticed her as a child with images about the beauty of African landscapes. Paloma describes the opportunity she had, as a freshly minted diplomat, to be posted to Ivory Coast and start discovering the continent that had so attracted her. Her experiences there - witnessing both highs and lows of deeply conflicted societies, are her inspiration for her photography and the poems that she wrote and eventually published.

Recorded on 22 February 2022.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Paloma Serra on  Instagram @palomaserraphoto and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/paloma-serra-ab877190.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I speak with Paloma Serra. Paloma is a career diplomat for Spain, but her life could have taken a very different turn, had her parents not enticed her as a child with images about the beauty of African landscapes. Paloma describes the opportunity she had, as a freshly minted diplomat, to be posted to Ivory Coast and start discovering the continent that had so attracted her. Her experiences there - witnessing both highs and lows of deeply conflicted societies, are her inspiration for her photography and the poems that she wrote and eventually published.

Recorded on 22 February 2022.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Paloma Serra on  Instagram @palomaserraphoto and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/paloma-serra-ab877190.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Paloma Serra Buzzsprout-10098388 Wed, 03 Aug 2022 16:00:00 +0800 2741 24 full false Neri Martinez - Our anxiety stems from what we cannot control Neri Martinez - Our anxiety stems from what we cannot control Today I speak with Neri Martinez. Neri is the granddaughter of Cubans who moved into the immigrant melting pot of Florida to start a new life after Castro’s revolution. Neri felt an early calling to work on furthering the rights of the homeless, the vulnerable, minorities and women. She recognised her passion for politics and started working on campaigns for the Republican Party and then relocated to DC. In this conversation, we talk about finding our speed, recognising our biases, and how openness to all foods means openness to others.

Recorded on 21 January 2022.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Neri Martinez on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/neri-martinez-61a00631.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Support the show

]]> Today I speak with Neri Martinez. Neri is the granddaughter of Cubans who moved into the immigrant melting pot of Florida to start a new life after Castro’s revolution. Neri felt an early calling to work on furthering the rights of the homeless, the vulnerable, minorities and women. She recognised her passion for politics and started working on campaigns for the Republican Party and then relocated to DC. In this conversation, we talk about finding our speed, recognising our biases, and how openness to all foods means openness to others.

Recorded on 21 January 2022.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Neri Martinez on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/neri-martinez-61a00631.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Neri Martinez Buzzsprout-9889864 Wed, 20 Jul 2022 17:00:00 +0800 3245 23 full false M. Nawaz Wahla - No matter how hard, you call it as it is M. Nawaz Wahla - No matter how hard, you call it as it is Today I speak with Nawaz Wahla. Nawaz shares his remarkable story, growing up in a rural Pakistan, raised by his father with modest means but with a strong belief in the paramount importance of education, a principle that guided Nawaz’s life through extraordinary hardships. By planting educational seeds well before knowing what to do when they would sprout, Nawaz was able to bounce back after bullets put an end to his military career. He went on to a successful life in law, but the itch to pursue the world’s best education still animates him to this day.

Recorded on 20 January 2022.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Nawaz Wahla on Twitter @mnawazwahla, on Instagram @mwahla01 and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/m-nawaz-wahla-8305311a.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Support the show

]]> Today I speak with Nawaz Wahla. Nawaz shares his remarkable story, growing up in a rural Pakistan, raised by his father with modest means but with a strong belief in the paramount importance of education, a principle that guided Nawaz’s life through extraordinary hardships. By planting educational seeds well before knowing what to do when they would sprout, Nawaz was able to bounce back after bullets put an end to his military career. He went on to a successful life in law, but the itch to pursue the world’s best education still animates him to this day.

Recorded on 20 January 2022.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Nawaz Wahla on Twitter @mnawazwahla, on Instagram @mwahla01 and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/m-nawaz-wahla-8305311a.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Nawaz Wahla Buzzsprout-9889445 Wed, 06 Jul 2022 17:00:00 +0800 3110 22 full false Khaled Mansour - All of us have multiple lives Khaled Mansour - All of us have multiple lives In this episode, I speak with Khaled Mansour. Khaled shares the twists and turns of a fascinating life, during which he grabbed chances to change careers multiple times. He worked as an engineer, then as a translator and journalist, then for the United Nations in the US, Sudan and Afghanistan, then for a small human rights organisation in Egypt, before deciding to become a teacher and writer, just publishing 2 books. There are amazing lessons to be drawn about how to grasp opportunities to reinvent yourself, how to effect change in big organisations, the importance of balancing analysis with empathy and the role parenthood can have in encouraging a life of  responsible citizenship.

Recorded on 18 January 2022.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Khaled Mansour on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/khaled-mansour-6b5b7915.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I speak with Khaled Mansour. Khaled shares the twists and turns of a fascinating life, during which he grabbed chances to change careers multiple times. He worked as an engineer, then as a translator and journalist, then for the United Nations in the US, Sudan and Afghanistan, then for a small human rights organisation in Egypt, before deciding to become a teacher and writer, just publishing 2 books. There are amazing lessons to be drawn about how to grasp opportunities to reinvent yourself, how to effect change in big organisations, the importance of balancing analysis with empathy and the role parenthood can have in encouraging a life of  responsible citizenship.

Recorded on 18 January 2022.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Khaled Mansour on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/khaled-mansour-6b5b7915.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Khaled Mansour Buzzsprout-10098384 Wed, 22 Jun 2022 15:00:00 +0800 3269 21 full false Tamás Landesz - In the footsteps of explorers Tamás Landesz - In the footsteps of explorers In this episode, we’re doing something a little different. Siri Khalsa and I will co-host a conversation with Tamás Landesz. Siri and Tamás were classmates on the Fletcher School’s GMAP degree programme. As Siri is also a podcast aficionado , we thought - why not give it a try and vary the format a little!

Originally from Hungary, Tamás has lived all over the world, speaks 8 languages, has earned PhD, MBA, MPA, MLD degrees. Much of his career has been spent in the UN system. But his love and fascination with international affairs has given him a great depth of understanding in a unique perspective that we're excited for him to be sharing today.

Recorded on 15 February 2022.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Tamás Landesz on  Instagram @landesz.tamas, on Twitter @tamasland and LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/tamaslandesz.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Support the show

]]> In this episode, we’re doing something a little different. Siri Khalsa and I will co-host a conversation with Tamás Landesz. Siri and Tamás were classmates on the Fletcher School’s GMAP degree programme. As Siri is also a podcast aficionado , we thought - why not give it a try and vary the format a little!

Originally from Hungary, Tamás has lived all over the world, speaks 8 languages, has earned PhD, MBA, MPA, MLD degrees. Much of his career has been spent in the UN system. But his love and fascination with international affairs has given him a great depth of understanding in a unique perspective that we're excited for him to be sharing today.

Recorded on 15 February 2022.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Tamás Landesz on  Instagram @landesz.tamas, on Twitter @tamasland and LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/tamaslandesz.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Tamás Landesz Buzzsprout-10084438 Wed, 08 Jun 2022 18:00:00 +0800 3585 20 full false Siri Khalsa - A kaleidoscopic life of business, politics and charity Siri Khalsa - A kaleidoscopic life of business, politics and charity Today I speak with Siri Khalsa. Siri’s life has followed many unconventional paths. She was raised in a spiritual community in New Mexico where she began a life-long practice of yoga and meditation.  Her family was in the tea business, where she started her professional life. She moved into politics, as an aide to New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, campaigning for him. She later worked on Barak Obama’s campaign, providing advice on South Asia,  then worked in the Obama administration in  Afghanistan. She then started supporting a charity that improves livelihood for crafts workers, in Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia. Her charity work later took her to Monaco, where still lives.

Recorded on 4 January 2022, with extra segments on 10 January 2022.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Siri Khalsa on  LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/siri-trang-khalsa-018a5a3.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Support the show

]]> Today I speak with Siri Khalsa. Siri’s life has followed many unconventional paths. She was raised in a spiritual community in New Mexico where she began a life-long practice of yoga and meditation.  Her family was in the tea business, where she started her professional life. She moved into politics, as an aide to New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, campaigning for him. She later worked on Barak Obama’s campaign, providing advice on South Asia,  then worked in the Obama administration in  Afghanistan. She then started supporting a charity that improves livelihood for crafts workers, in Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia. Her charity work later took her to Monaco, where still lives.

Recorded on 4 January 2022, with extra segments on 10 January 2022.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Siri Khalsa on  LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/siri-trang-khalsa-018a5a3.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Siri Khalsa Buzzsprout-9834221 Wed, 25 May 2022 15:00:00 +0800 3215 19 full false Benjamin Lodmell - Poetry saved my life Benjamin Lodmell - Poetry saved my life Today I speak with Benjamin Lodmell. No description could do justice to Ben’s incredible life. Ben is Norwegian-American, whose curiosity for life and the world took him on a journey that is the stuff of novels - or poetry, of which he is a prolific writer. Ben lives in Portugal with his wife and five children, the place he calls home after a globe-trotting life across continents. Ben is an independent advisor for family offices by trade, after a successful banking career, and a brief run for Congress. He set up his company’s charity activities focusing on education in Africa, with capacity to deliver services on the ground.

Recorded on 27 January 2022.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Benjamin Lodmell on  Instagram @blodmell and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/benjaminlodmell.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Support the show

]]> Today I speak with Benjamin Lodmell. No description could do justice to Ben’s incredible life. Ben is Norwegian-American, whose curiosity for life and the world took him on a journey that is the stuff of novels - or poetry, of which he is a prolific writer. Ben lives in Portugal with his wife and five children, the place he calls home after a globe-trotting life across continents. Ben is an independent advisor for family offices by trade, after a successful banking career, and a brief run for Congress. He set up his company’s charity activities focusing on education in Africa, with capacity to deliver services on the ground.

Recorded on 27 January 2022.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Benjamin Lodmell on  Instagram @blodmell and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/benjaminlodmell.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Benjamin Lodmell Buzzsprout-10060829 Wed, 11 May 2022 16:00:00 +0800 4181 18 full false Steve Viola - Taming chaos Steve Viola - Taming chaos Steve Viola has had a distinguished career in the United States’s Navy, most of which in Naval Special Warfare (the SEALs) deployed around the world, where he reached the senior position of Command Master Chief. His training as a leader and a medic makes him particularly attuned to how people tick physically and mentally under chaos, something he is devoting his post retirement life to as speaker, coach and friend. He also provides in-the-field safety and security support to a wide range of clients. Steve’s approach  to dealing with challenges practically and with positive humour always inspired me - so I’m really delighted to have this conversation with him today and hope you’ll enjoy it too.

Recorded on 17 January 2022.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Steve Viola on Twitter @maxperdiem, on Instagram @maxperdiem and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/stevenviola1/.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

A word from the Fletcher school: Register by May 1st for Fletcher LIVE Online. This is collection of 5-week long courses that give you the essential tools for today’s global landscape. Engage with world-renowned faculty and enter a global community of fellow leaders diplomats, CEOs, and innovators tackling many of the same challenges as you. Courses include negotiation, strategy and leadership for social impact, economic inclusion, cyber risk and understanding climate action.
Registration link: https://sites.tufts.edu/fletcherexeceducation

Support the show

]]> Steve Viola has had a distinguished career in the United States’s Navy, most of which in Naval Special Warfare (the SEALs) deployed around the world, where he reached the senior position of Command Master Chief. His training as a leader and a medic makes him particularly attuned to how people tick physically and mentally under chaos, something he is devoting his post retirement life to as speaker, coach and friend. He also provides in-the-field safety and security support to a wide range of clients. Steve’s approach  to dealing with challenges practically and with positive humour always inspired me - so I’m really delighted to have this conversation with him today and hope you’ll enjoy it too.

Recorded on 17 January 2022.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Steve Viola on Twitter @maxperdiem, on Instagram @maxperdiem and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/stevenviola1/.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

A word from the Fletcher school: Register by May 1st for Fletcher LIVE Online. This is collection of 5-week long courses that give you the essential tools for today’s global landscape. Engage with world-renowned faculty and enter a global community of fellow leaders diplomats, CEOs, and innovators tackling many of the same challenges as you. Courses include negotiation, strategy and leadership for social impact, economic inclusion, cyber risk and understanding climate action.
Registration link: https://sites.tufts.edu/fletcherexeceducation

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Steve Viola Buzzsprout-9889441 Wed, 27 Apr 2022 15:00:00 +0800 3615 17 full false Mohamad Al-Arief - You can start a revolution easier these days Mohamad Al-Arief - You can start a revolution easier these days Today I speak with Mohamad Al-Arief. Arief’s life follows the stunning trajectory of Indonesia’s recent history. He was a student as the youth-led push against authoritarianism finally prompted Indonesia’s President Suharto to resign. That's when Arief devoted  his full energy to the efforts that helped cement Indonesia’s transition to the vibrant democracy it is today. He shares his mission to nurture today’s youth to continue serving their country. He talks about his work to harness the potential of the Indonesian diaspora that has been a valuable source of creativity for decades.

Recorded on 14 January 2022.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Mohamad Al-Arief on  LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/mohamad-al-arief-250662190.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

A word from the Fletcher school: Register by May 1st for Fletcher LIVE Online. This is collection of 5-week long courses that give you the essential tools for today’s global landscape. Engage with world-renowned faculty and enter a global community of fellow leaders diplomats, CEOs, and innovators tackling many of the same challenges as you. Courses include negotiation, strategy and leadership for social impact, economic inclusion, cyber risk and understanding climate action.
Registration link: https://sites.tufts.edu/fletcherexeceducation

Support the show

]]> Today I speak with Mohamad Al-Arief. Arief’s life follows the stunning trajectory of Indonesia’s recent history. He was a student as the youth-led push against authoritarianism finally prompted Indonesia’s President Suharto to resign. That's when Arief devoted  his full energy to the efforts that helped cement Indonesia’s transition to the vibrant democracy it is today. He shares his mission to nurture today’s youth to continue serving their country. He talks about his work to harness the potential of the Indonesian diaspora that has been a valuable source of creativity for decades.

Recorded on 14 January 2022.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Mohamad Al-Arief on  LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/mohamad-al-arief-250662190.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

A word from the Fletcher school: Register by May 1st for Fletcher LIVE Online. This is collection of 5-week long courses that give you the essential tools for today’s global landscape. Engage with world-renowned faculty and enter a global community of fellow leaders diplomats, CEOs, and innovators tackling many of the same challenges as you. Courses include negotiation, strategy and leadership for social impact, economic inclusion, cyber risk and understanding climate action.
Registration link: https://sites.tufts.edu/fletcherexeceducation

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Mohamad Al-Arief Buzzsprout-9879517 Wed, 13 Apr 2022 16:00:00 +0800 3244 16 full false Rachel Kyte - What unites us Rachel Kyte - What unites us Today I speak with Rachel Kyte. Rachel is the Dean of the Fletcher School. She has been a lifelong advocate for action on a range of critical issues, coming of age during the Thatcher Era’s relentless drive towards privatisation, away from a collective participatory society and towards individualism.  She has experience working in NGOs and in international organisations, including at the IFC, World Bank and the UN, as a champion for energy access and the environment as a way to fight poverty and climate change. She graduated from the school’s Global Master of Arts Programme in one of its first classes in 2002. Rachel frequently speaks about issues close to her heart, but in this conversation I was keen to discover more about Rachel as a person.

Recorded on 7 January 2022.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Rachel Kyte on Twitter @rkyte365, on Instagram @rkyte365 and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/rachelkyte.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

A word from the Fletcher school: Register by May 1st for Fletcher LIVE Online. This is collection of 5-week long courses that give you the essential tools for today’s global landscape. Engage with world-renowned faculty and enter a global community of fellow leaders diplomats, CEOs, and innovators tackling many of the same challenges as you. Courses include negotiation, strategy and leadership for social impact, economic inclusion, cyber risk and understanding climate action.
Registration link: https://sites.tufts.edu/fletcherexeceducation

Support the show

]]> Today I speak with Rachel Kyte. Rachel is the Dean of the Fletcher School. She has been a lifelong advocate for action on a range of critical issues, coming of age during the Thatcher Era’s relentless drive towards privatisation, away from a collective participatory society and towards individualism.  She has experience working in NGOs and in international organisations, including at the IFC, World Bank and the UN, as a champion for energy access and the environment as a way to fight poverty and climate change. She graduated from the school’s Global Master of Arts Programme in one of its first classes in 2002. Rachel frequently speaks about issues close to her heart, but in this conversation I was keen to discover more about Rachel as a person.

Recorded on 7 January 2022.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Rachel Kyte on Twitter @rkyte365, on Instagram @rkyte365 and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/rachelkyte.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

A word from the Fletcher school: Register by May 1st for Fletcher LIVE Online. This is collection of 5-week long courses that give you the essential tools for today’s global landscape. Engage with world-renowned faculty and enter a global community of fellow leaders diplomats, CEOs, and innovators tackling many of the same challenges as you. Courses include negotiation, strategy and leadership for social impact, economic inclusion, cyber risk and understanding climate action.
Registration link: https://sites.tufts.edu/fletcherexeceducation

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Rachel Kyte Buzzsprout-9865951 Wed, 30 Mar 2022 18:00:00 +0800 3346 15 full false Enrique Ochoa - Someone's terrorist is another's freedom fighter Enrique Ochoa - Someone's terrorist is another's freedom fighter Today I speak with Enrique Ochoa. Enrique is a seasoned humanitarian professional whose expertise is in conflict emergencies. His career has taken him all over the world, from Latin America to the Middle East to South Asia and South East Asia. He’s also a consummate learner, a principled leader and a really engaging person, it’s a great pleasure to be speaking with him on the difficult subject of war.

Recorded on 6 January 2022.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Enrique Ochoa on Twitter @EOchoaICRC and on LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/enrique-ochoa-fernandez-lomana.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

A word from the Fletcher school: Register by May 1st for Fletcher LIVE Online. This is collection of 5-week long courses that give you the essential tools for today’s global landscape. Engage with world-renowned faculty and enter a global community of fellow leaders diplomats, CEOs, and innovators tackling many of the same challenges as you. Courses include negotiation, strategy and leadership for social impact, economic inclusion, cyber risk and understanding climate action.
Registration link: https://sites.tufts.edu/fletcherexeceducation

Support the show

]]> Today I speak with Enrique Ochoa. Enrique is a seasoned humanitarian professional whose expertise is in conflict emergencies. His career has taken him all over the world, from Latin America to the Middle East to South Asia and South East Asia. He’s also a consummate learner, a principled leader and a really engaging person, it’s a great pleasure to be speaking with him on the difficult subject of war.

Recorded on 6 January 2022.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Enrique Ochoa on Twitter @EOchoaICRC and on LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/enrique-ochoa-fernandez-lomana.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

A word from the Fletcher school: Register by May 1st for Fletcher LIVE Online. This is collection of 5-week long courses that give you the essential tools for today’s global landscape. Engage with world-renowned faculty and enter a global community of fellow leaders diplomats, CEOs, and innovators tackling many of the same challenges as you. Courses include negotiation, strategy and leadership for social impact, economic inclusion, cyber risk and understanding climate action.
Registration link: https://sites.tufts.edu/fletcherexeceducation

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Enrique Ochoa Buzzsprout-9850244 Wed, 16 Mar 2022 18:00:00 +0800 3701 14 full false Deborah Winslow Nutter - What matters is what you do now with your life Deborah Winslow Nutter - What matters is what you do now with your life Today I speak with Deborah Winslow Nutter. Deborah was senior associate dean and professor of practice at The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. She founded the Global Master of Arts Program (GMAP) over 20 years ago, that all guests on this podcast attended. She is known to us as the heart and soul of the programme, where she also taught what was for me on of the most personally transformative courses, foreign policy leadership, during which we studied and discussed historic world leaders. After leaving the Fletcher School, Deborah wanted to keep her conversations with the GMAP community alive and thus created DWN Bookshelf, a book club and discussion group for GMAPers that continues her course. She’s also working on completing a large research project 10 years in the making. I’m absolutely thrilled to be having this conversation with Deborah and to share it with you in this way.

Recorded on 17 February  2022.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Deborah Winslow Nutter through dwn bookshelf on Instagram @dwnbookshelf and at dwnbookshelf.com.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Support the show

]]> Today I speak with Deborah Winslow Nutter. Deborah was senior associate dean and professor of practice at The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. She founded the Global Master of Arts Program (GMAP) over 20 years ago, that all guests on this podcast attended. She is known to us as the heart and soul of the programme, where she also taught what was for me on of the most personally transformative courses, foreign policy leadership, during which we studied and discussed historic world leaders. After leaving the Fletcher School, Deborah wanted to keep her conversations with the GMAP community alive and thus created DWN Bookshelf, a book club and discussion group for GMAPers that continues her course. She’s also working on completing a large research project 10 years in the making. I’m absolutely thrilled to be having this conversation with Deborah and to share it with you in this way.

Recorded on 17 February  2022.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Deborah Winslow Nutter through dwn bookshelf on Instagram @dwnbookshelf and at dwnbookshelf.com.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Deborah Winslow Nutter Buzzsprout-10091099 Wed, 02 Mar 2022 18:00:00 +0800 4048 13 full false Per-Olof Schroeder - I'm more koala than shark or owl Per-Olof Schroeder - I'm more koala than shark or owl Today I speak with Per Olof Schroeder. Per Olof and I were classmates on Fletcher School’s GMAP programme in international affairs. He is an accomplished senior executive with a career in energy, consultancy and technology, including at Microsoft, and more recently as CEO of StormGeo, a weather service provider. We discuss our career trajectories, the importance of staying curious, how things in life often come to us and are rarely the outcome of careful planning.

Recorded on 21 December 2021.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface
Clubhouse: clubhouse.com/club/at-the-coalface

Connect with Per-Olof Schroeder on Twitter @poschroeder and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/poschroeder.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

A word from the Fletcher school: Register by May 1st for Fletcher LIVE Online. This is collection of 5-week long courses that give you the essential tools for today’s global landscape. Engage with world-renowned faculty and enter a global community of fellow leaders diplomats, CEOs, and innovators tackling many of the same challenges as you. Courses include negotiation, strategy and leadership for social impact, economic inclusion, cyber risk and understanding climate action.
Registration link: https://sites.tufts.edu/fletcherexeceducation

Support the show

]]> Today I speak with Per Olof Schroeder. Per Olof and I were classmates on Fletcher School’s GMAP programme in international affairs. He is an accomplished senior executive with a career in energy, consultancy and technology, including at Microsoft, and more recently as CEO of StormGeo, a weather service provider. We discuss our career trajectories, the importance of staying curious, how things in life often come to us and are rarely the outcome of careful planning.

Recorded on 21 December 2021.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface
Clubhouse: clubhouse.com/club/at-the-coalface

Connect with Per-Olof Schroeder on Twitter @poschroeder and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/poschroeder.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

A word from the Fletcher school: Register by May 1st for Fletcher LIVE Online. This is collection of 5-week long courses that give you the essential tools for today’s global landscape. Engage with world-renowned faculty and enter a global community of fellow leaders diplomats, CEOs, and innovators tackling many of the same challenges as you. Courses include negotiation, strategy and leadership for social impact, economic inclusion, cyber risk and understanding climate action.
Registration link: https://sites.tufts.edu/fletcherexeceducation

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Per-Olof Schroeder Buzzsprout-9758329 Wed, 16 Feb 2022 18:00:00 +0800 4427 12 full false Rubén Useche - Leaving Colombia's violence to return and build bridges Rubén Useche - Leaving Colombia's violence to return and build bridges In this episode, I speak with Ruben Usesche. Since July, Ruben is the new Director of the Diplomatic Academy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Colombia. Ruben shares with me his journey of personal development, growing up between Colombia and Ecuador, with a strong sense of mission of building bridges between people, of being open to all perspectives (drawing on his Jesuit education), and working towards improving interregional connections and investing in his and his family’s education in the US to be the best he could be and to serve his country.

Recorded on 6 December 2021.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Rubén Useche on  Twitter @rubenucch, on Instagram @rubenucch and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/rubenucch.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

A word from the Fletcher school: Register by May 1st for Fletcher LIVE Online. This is collection of 5-week long courses that give you the essential tools for today’s global landscape. Engage with world-renowned faculty and enter a global community of fellow leaders diplomats, CEOs, and innovators tackling many of the same challenges as you. Courses include negotiation, strategy and leadership for social impact, economic inclusion, cyber risk and understanding climate action.
Registration link: https://sites.tufts.edu/fletcherexeceducation

Support the show

]]> In this episode, I speak with Ruben Usesche. Since July, Ruben is the new Director of the Diplomatic Academy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Colombia. Ruben shares with me his journey of personal development, growing up between Colombia and Ecuador, with a strong sense of mission of building bridges between people, of being open to all perspectives (drawing on his Jesuit education), and working towards improving interregional connections and investing in his and his family’s education in the US to be the best he could be and to serve his country.

Recorded on 6 December 2021.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Rubén Useche on  Twitter @rubenucch, on Instagram @rubenucch and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/rubenucch.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

A word from the Fletcher school: Register by May 1st for Fletcher LIVE Online. This is collection of 5-week long courses that give you the essential tools for today’s global landscape. Engage with world-renowned faculty and enter a global community of fellow leaders diplomats, CEOs, and innovators tackling many of the same challenges as you. Courses include negotiation, strategy and leadership for social impact, economic inclusion, cyber risk and understanding climate action.
Registration link: https://sites.tufts.edu/fletcherexeceducation

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Ruben Usesche Buzzsprout-9683420 Wed, 02 Feb 2022 18:00:00 +0800 3967 11 full false Celeste Marinelli - The children didn't always come back Celeste Marinelli - The children didn't always come back In this conversation, I speak with Celeste Marinelli. Celeste and I were classmates on the Global Masters of Arts Programme (or GMAP) at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. Celeste grew up in Guatemala and is part of her country’s diplomatic service. She was first posted to the Netherlands, then went to Thailand to set up and open Guatemala’s embassy, and recently moved to Washington DC. Celeste seems to have a constant bubbly personality, even when she shares the memories of her childhood amid the violence that marred Guatemala in the 1990s.

Recorded on 1 December 2021.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Celeste Marinelli on  Instagram @celestemab and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/celeste-marinelli-499487b4.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

A word from the Fletcher school: Register by May 1st for Fletcher LIVE Online. This is collection of 5-week long courses that give you the essential tools for today’s global landscape. Engage with world-renowned faculty and enter a global community of fellow leaders diplomats, CEOs, and innovators tackling many of the same challenges as you. Courses include negotiation, strategy and leadership for social impact, economic inclusion, cyber risk and understanding climate action. 
Registration link: https://sites.tufts.edu/fletcherexeceducation

Support the show

]]> In this conversation, I speak with Celeste Marinelli. Celeste and I were classmates on the Global Masters of Arts Programme (or GMAP) at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. Celeste grew up in Guatemala and is part of her country’s diplomatic service. She was first posted to the Netherlands, then went to Thailand to set up and open Guatemala’s embassy, and recently moved to Washington DC. Celeste seems to have a constant bubbly personality, even when she shares the memories of her childhood amid the violence that marred Guatemala in the 1990s.

Recorded on 1 December 2021.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Celeste Marinelli on  Instagram @celestemab and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/celeste-marinelli-499487b4.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

A word from the Fletcher school: Register by May 1st for Fletcher LIVE Online. This is collection of 5-week long courses that give you the essential tools for today’s global landscape. Engage with world-renowned faculty and enter a global community of fellow leaders diplomats, CEOs, and innovators tackling many of the same challenges as you. Courses include negotiation, strategy and leadership for social impact, economic inclusion, cyber risk and understanding climate action. 
Registration link: https://sites.tufts.edu/fletcherexeceducation

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Celeste Marinelli Buzzsprout-9669413 Wed, 19 Jan 2022 18:00:00 +0800 2472 10 full false Robinson Cook - Improving livelihoods in Bogota Robinson Cook - Improving livelihoods in Bogota In this episode, I speak with Robinson Cook. Robinson and I were classmates on the Fletcher’s School Global Master of Arts Programme in International Affairs. When we met, he was running the Bogota Employment Project that he’d launched, helping Colombian women stay in employment with wage subsidies with painstaking field world, one person at a time. In this conversation, we talk about racial justice, growing up in Minnesota and being on the receiving end of heavy-handed policing targeting African Americans. We talk about how he set up the Bogota Employment project, having to pivot as the regulation made his work more difficult, until he eventually had to close shop and decided to work for USAID.

Recorded on 14 December 2021.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Robinson Cook on  Instagram @robinsoncook and on Twitter @robinsoncook.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.


Support the show

]]> In this episode, I speak with Robinson Cook. Robinson and I were classmates on the Fletcher’s School Global Master of Arts Programme in International Affairs. When we met, he was running the Bogota Employment Project that he’d launched, helping Colombian women stay in employment with wage subsidies with painstaking field world, one person at a time. In this conversation, we talk about racial justice, growing up in Minnesota and being on the receiving end of heavy-handed policing targeting African Americans. We talk about how he set up the Bogota Employment project, having to pivot as the regulation made his work more difficult, until he eventually had to close shop and decided to work for USAID.

Recorded on 14 December 2021.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Robinson Cook on  Instagram @robinsoncook and on Twitter @robinsoncook.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.


Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Robinson Cook Buzzsprout-9683457 Wed, 05 Jan 2022 18:00:00 +0800 3259 9 full false Vanessa Calva - When private life empowers public service Vanessa Calva - When private life empowers public service Today, I speak with Vanessa Calva. Vanessa is a career diplomat representing Mexico, currently working as Consul in Leamington, Canada. We were classmates during the Global Master of Arts Programme (GMAP) at the Fletcher School and members of the 'Chuchos' group. Vanessa shares her almost accidental journey into foreign affairs, her passion for serving the interests of Mexicans abroad, and in particular as advocate for LGBT+ rights, when her private sphere came to serve her public one.

Recorded on 4 November 2021.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Vanessa Calva on Twitter @vcalva and on Instagram @vancalva.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Support the show

]]> Today, I speak with Vanessa Calva. Vanessa is a career diplomat representing Mexico, currently working as Consul in Leamington, Canada. We were classmates during the Global Master of Arts Programme (GMAP) at the Fletcher School and members of the 'Chuchos' group. Vanessa shares her almost accidental journey into foreign affairs, her passion for serving the interests of Mexicans abroad, and in particular as advocate for LGBT+ rights, when her private sphere came to serve her public one.

Recorded on 4 November 2021.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Vanessa Calva on Twitter @vcalva and on Instagram @vancalva.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Vanessa Calva Buzzsprout-9501624 Wed, 22 Dec 2021 18:00:00 +0800 3801 8 full false Antonio Martínez López - You need realism, otherwise you would be shooting flowers Antonio Martínez López - You need realism, otherwise you would be shooting flowers Today I speak with Antonio Martinez Lopez. Antonio and I met at an alumni event of the Fletcher School’s Global Master of Arts Programme a few years ago, and kept in touch over the years. Antonio is a diplomat with Venezuela’s Foreign Service. He is currently Head of Political Section at Venezuela’s Embassy in Baghdad. Antonio shares his lifelong aspiration to live the ideals of Simón Bolívar that moved him as a young student and still do today.

Recorded on 22 October 2021.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Antonio Martínez López on  Instagram @antoniojmartinezlopez and on Facebook.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Support the show

]]> Today I speak with Antonio Martinez Lopez. Antonio and I met at an alumni event of the Fletcher School’s Global Master of Arts Programme a few years ago, and kept in touch over the years. Antonio is a diplomat with Venezuela’s Foreign Service. He is currently Head of Political Section at Venezuela’s Embassy in Baghdad. Antonio shares his lifelong aspiration to live the ideals of Simón Bolívar that moved him as a young student and still do today.

Recorded on 22 October 2021.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Antonio Martínez López on  Instagram @antoniojmartinezlopez and on Facebook.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Antonio Martinez Lopez Buzzsprout-9421595 Wed, 08 Dec 2021 18:00:00 +0800 2545 7 full false Jason Clarke - Gold for good in Congo Jason Clarke - Gold for good in Congo Today I speak with Jason Clarke. Jason and I were students in the same class at the Fletcher School’s Global Master of Arts Programme. Jason is one of the most entrepreneurial people I know. His mind is always buzzing with new ideas, and he’s always got business projects cooking in the background. What sets Jason apart is his motivation to place positive social impact at the centre of his ventures’ business models. Not to do charity, but to make a difference on the lives he touches.

Recorded on 9 November 2021.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Jason Clarke on  Instagram @jasonclarke and on his website societyartisanal.com.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Support the show

]]> Today I speak with Jason Clarke. Jason and I were students in the same class at the Fletcher School’s Global Master of Arts Programme. Jason is one of the most entrepreneurial people I know. His mind is always buzzing with new ideas, and he’s always got business projects cooking in the background. What sets Jason apart is his motivation to place positive social impact at the centre of his ventures’ business models. Not to do charity, but to make a difference on the lives he touches.

Recorded on 9 November 2021.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Jason Clarke on  Instagram @jasonclarke and on his website societyartisanal.com.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Jason Clarke Buzzsprout-9518103 Wed, 24 Nov 2021 18:00:00 +0800 3160 6 full false Sunjidmaa Jamba - You’re never far from where you come from Sunjidmaa Jamba - You’re never far from where you come from Today I’m speaking with Sunjidmaa Jamba. Sunji is a classmate from the Global Master of Arts Programme at the Fletcher School and we struck up a friendship. Sunji grew up in Mongolia in a family that loved reading and storytelling. As if mirroring the Mongolian nomadic spirit,  Sunji’s life weaves her country’s recent history, the simpler times of socialist planning through to the democratic revolution and market opening, and now a time of reflection and  giving back that the pandemic spurred. Sunji had a successful career as an entrepreneur, at the World Bank and in the mining sector. I love Sunji’s positivism and energy, and hope you feel it too through our conversation.

Recorded on 15 October 2021.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Sunjidmaa Jamba on  Instagram @sunjidmaa_jamba and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/sunjidmaa-jamba-96537738.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.


Support the show

]]> Today I’m speaking with Sunjidmaa Jamba. Sunji is a classmate from the Global Master of Arts Programme at the Fletcher School and we struck up a friendship. Sunji grew up in Mongolia in a family that loved reading and storytelling. As if mirroring the Mongolian nomadic spirit,  Sunji’s life weaves her country’s recent history, the simpler times of socialist planning through to the democratic revolution and market opening, and now a time of reflection and  giving back that the pandemic spurred. Sunji had a successful career as an entrepreneur, at the World Bank and in the mining sector. I love Sunji’s positivism and energy, and hope you feel it too through our conversation.

Recorded on 15 October 2021.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Sunjidmaa Jamba on  Instagram @sunjidmaa_jamba and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/sunjidmaa-jamba-96537738.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.


Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Sunjidmaa Jamba Buzzsprout-9372844 Wed, 10 Nov 2021 18:00:00 +0800 3630 5 full false Nino Kalandadze - Nothing prepared me for war Nino Kalandadze - Nothing prepared me for war Today I’m speaking with Nino Kalandadze. Nino is a classmate from the Global Master of Arts Programme (GMAP) at the Fletcher School that we both completed. Nino grew up in the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic and read law in Germany as the Soviet Union broke apart. She returned to her country to take part in shaping its fledgling institutions and politics through some of its most dramatic moments of recent history. Nino recounts her experience growing up in Communist Georgia; her first impressions living in Germany; her memories as newly appointed to the foreign service and having to respond to the growing military conflict with Russia; her interactions with the public as Member of Parliament; her work after leaving party politics. Nino radiates the energy of her convictions and belief in change.

Recorded on 1 October 2021.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Nino Kalandadze on  Twitter @NINOKalandadze5, Instagram @nina.kalandadze and on on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ninokalandadze.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Support the show

]]> Today I’m speaking with Nino Kalandadze. Nino is a classmate from the Global Master of Arts Programme (GMAP) at the Fletcher School that we both completed. Nino grew up in the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic and read law in Germany as the Soviet Union broke apart. She returned to her country to take part in shaping its fledgling institutions and politics through some of its most dramatic moments of recent history. Nino recounts her experience growing up in Communist Georgia; her first impressions living in Germany; her memories as newly appointed to the foreign service and having to respond to the growing military conflict with Russia; her interactions with the public as Member of Parliament; her work after leaving party politics. Nino radiates the energy of her convictions and belief in change.

Recorded on 1 October 2021.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Nino Kalandadze on  Twitter @NINOKalandadze5, Instagram @nina.kalandadze and on on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ninokalandadze.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Nino Kalandadze Buzzsprout-9306190 Sun, 10 Oct 2021 08:00:00 +0800 3432 4 full false Samer Sobh - First aider turned entrepreneur Samer Sobh - First aider turned entrepreneur Today I’m speaking with Samer Sobh. We used to be team mates working on a particularly challenging energy project in South Iraq. We used to chat over dinner at the camp’s canteen after long work days, and as I spoke about my experience on the Global Master of Arts Programme (GMAP) at the Fletcher School that I was doing, I think Samer caught the bug as well and joined shortly thereafter. Samer is warm, charismatic and generous, very dedicated to everything he is doing, hugely entrepreneurial (now co-leading a start-up) and also passionate about his country’s future, Lebanon.

Recorded on 28 September 2021.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Samer Sobh on  Twitter @SamerSobh, on LinkedIn at inkedin.com/in/samer-sobh-aba0035 and at Dubz.com.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Support the show

]]> Today I’m speaking with Samer Sobh. We used to be team mates working on a particularly challenging energy project in South Iraq. We used to chat over dinner at the camp’s canteen after long work days, and as I spoke about my experience on the Global Master of Arts Programme (GMAP) at the Fletcher School that I was doing, I think Samer caught the bug as well and joined shortly thereafter. Samer is warm, charismatic and generous, very dedicated to everything he is doing, hugely entrepreneurial (now co-leading a start-up) and also passionate about his country’s future, Lebanon.

Recorded on 28 September 2021.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Samer Sobh on  Twitter @SamerSobh, on LinkedIn at inkedin.com/in/samer-sobh-aba0035 and at Dubz.com.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Samer Sobh Buzzsprout-9279566 Wed, 29 Sep 2021 17:00:00 +0800 3049 3 full false Serhat Çubukçuoğlu - Turkish foreign policy, step by step Serhat Çubukçuoğlu - Turkish foreign policy, step by step In our second episode, I am joined by Serhat Çubukçuoğlu.

Serhat and I met in Dubai at our school's Global Master's of Arts Programme (GMAP) alumni event and struck up a friendship. Today, Serhat is well known for his frequent media appearances as an expert of the Eastern Mediterranean maritime, energy and security issues. However, not too long ago, Serhat was a computer programmer and an IT salesman. In our conversation, Serhat shares how he used the step-wise approach inherent to programming to gradually fill a toolbox in a completely different field.

Our conversation is rich in insights on how to move towards an environment that makes you thrive, how to recognise when you're in a community that makes you grow, and why the playing the piano can help drown out the noise of social media.

Recorded on 2 September 2021.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Serhat Çubukçuoğlu on  Instagram @scubukcuoglu and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/scubukcuoglu.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Support the show

]]> In our second episode, I am joined by Serhat Çubukçuoğlu.

Serhat and I met in Dubai at our school's Global Master's of Arts Programme (GMAP) alumni event and struck up a friendship. Today, Serhat is well known for his frequent media appearances as an expert of the Eastern Mediterranean maritime, energy and security issues. However, not too long ago, Serhat was a computer programmer and an IT salesman. In our conversation, Serhat shares how he used the step-wise approach inherent to programming to gradually fill a toolbox in a completely different field.

Our conversation is rich in insights on how to move towards an environment that makes you thrive, how to recognise when you're in a community that makes you grow, and why the playing the piano can help drown out the noise of social media.

Recorded on 2 September 2021.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Serhat Çubukçuoğlu on  Instagram @scubukcuoglu and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/scubukcuoglu.

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Support the show

]]> Philippe Rose and Serhat Çubukçuoğlu Buzzsprout-9133537 Wed, 08 Sep 2021 16:00:00 +0800 2742 2 full false