At the Coalface

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.Connect with Jorge on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/jtuddon. Jorge's media outlet is The Wireless Cable.Instagram: @at.the.coalfaceAnd 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.Instagram: @at.the.coalfaceAnd 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.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.coalfaceAnd 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.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.coalfaceAnd 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.See more content from Lasha on Neutrality Studies' YouTube channel.Instagram: @at.the.coalfaceAnd 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.coalfaceAnd 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.coalfaceAnd 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.coalfaceAnd 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.coalfaceAnd 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.coalfaceAnd 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.coalfaceAnd 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.coalfaceAnd 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.coalfaceAnd 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.coalfaceAnd 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.coalfaceAnd 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.coalfaceAnd 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.coalfaceAnd 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.coalfaceAnd 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.coalfaceAnd 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.coalfaceConnect 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 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.coalfaceConnect 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 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.coalfaceConnect 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 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.coalfaceConnect 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 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.coalfaceConnect 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 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.coalfaceConnect 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 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.coalfaceConnect 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.

Share what you think and send us a message!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.coalfaceConnect 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 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.coalfaceConnect 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 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.coalfaceConnect 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 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.coalfaceConnect 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 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.coalfaceConnect 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 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.coalfaceConnect 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 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.coalfaceConnect 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 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.coalfaceConnect 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 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.coalfaceConnect 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 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.coalfaceConnect 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 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.coalfaceConnect 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 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.coalfaceConnect 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 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.coalfaceConnect 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 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.coalfaceConnect 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 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.coalfaceConnect 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 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.coalfaceConnect 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 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.coalfaceConnect 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

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.coalfaceConnect 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

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.coalfaceConnect 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

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.coalfaceConnect 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

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.coalfaceConnect 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 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.coalfaceConnect 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 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.coalfaceConnect 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 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.coalfaceConnect 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 PodcastsHelp 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 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.coalfacePlease subscribe to At the Coalface wherever you get your podcasts to receive a new episode every two weeks: Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  |  Google PodcastsHelp 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