Podcasts about british diplomat

[SPECIAL] Fmr. British Diplomat to Russia - IAN PROUD: Can Europe Defend Ukraine?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Vladimir Putin has said he has many questions about the proposed US-brokered ceasefire with Ukraine and appeared to set out a series of sweeping conditions that would need to be met before Russia would agree to such a truce. We heard from Ian Bond, former British Diplomat in Moscow, and now the Deputy Director of the Centre for European Reform.

Vladimir Putin has said he has many questions about the proposed US-brokered ceasefire with Ukraine and appeared to set out a series of sweeping conditions that would need to be met before Russia would agree to such a truce. We heard from Ian Bond, former British Diplomat in Moscow, and now the Deputy Director of the Centre for European Reform.

Ian Proud (fmr. British Diplomat): European Leaders' Ignorance of Russia.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this extended Frontline conversation, James Hanson speaks to the former British diplomat and visiting professor of war studies at Kings College London, Tim Willasey-Wilsey about the war in Ukraine.The World in 10 is the Times' daily podcast dedicated to global security. Expert analysis of war, diplomatic relations and cyber security from The Times' foreign correspondents and military specialists. Watch moreRead more Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ian Proud - (fmr British Diplomat to Russia): NATO Building An Arsenal.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

[NEW GUEST] - Ian Proud - Former British Diplomat to Russia: Stealing From Russia to Fund Ukraine.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Former British diplomat, Intelligence professional Christopher Steele joins Thom Hartmann to discuss his first new book, UNREDACTED: Russia, Trump, and the Fight for Democracy. What an inside view of Donald Trump, Putin and the plot to destroy American Democracy and what Western governments—and all of us—can and should do to counter this generational threat. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Outgoing British Consul General Peter Abbott joined Radio Boston to reflect on his time representing the U.K. in Boston, his impressions of the city and what he'll remember most.

Patrick Davies OBE is a former UK Diplomat with 25 years of service representing Queen and Country in the UK and abroad. In the fallout of Brexit, and caring for his father who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's, Patrick sought a profound change, embarking on an incredible journey that took him across the length of Britain on foot, tackling each of the three nations highest peaks along the way. In this episode, Patrick shares his insights from the front lines of diplomacy, his thoughts on US and foreign affairs, and the personal revelations he encountered while walking the diverse landscapes of Britain. We explore what drove him to take on such a monumental journey and how it has reshaped his perspective on life and how he spends his time. Patrick's Book - Where Skylarks Sing: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CP68MN6Q Patrick's Book: The Great American Delusion: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1838251200/ For more information on Patrick, please visit: https://patrickjdavies.com/ SUPPORT THE PODCAST: Get a whopping 65% off your first Gousto box at: ⁠www.gousto.co.uk/raf/?promo_code=TOM42277653⁠ Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 03:08 Life as a British Diplomat 06:10 Breaking Foreign Office norms 09:23 Working alongside Robin Cook and Jack Straw 12:42 Witnessing Donald Trumps rise to power 18:50 Tom's perspective on the US 23:05 How America's success is vital to us 29:17 Russia's influence in elections + climate change 36:20 The fallout of Brexit inspired change in Patrick 38:27 Patrick's Dad's Alzheimer diagnosis 47:24 The cost of Alzheimer's 49:31 The challenge of putting someone into care 54:25 Deciding to do a long walk 59:35 Having a tight deadline 01:02:34 Putting a spin on Land's End to John O'Groats 01:05:03 Where Skylarks Sing 01:08:20 The beauty in walking 01:12:31 Finding answers in time 01:16:03 How a simple life gives you more time 01:19:07 Finding happiness and contentment in life 01:22:27 Stripping back life to what is important 01:27:50 Kindness in Llanidloes 01:36:26 Life as a nomad 01:39:53 The beauty of the UK 01:43:43 Experiencing Brexit on the walk 01:49:00 Camping meals 01:53:16 Taping up feet 01:59:30 What it takes to go on a long journey

Frank starts the third hour talking to Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, Professor of Medicine at Stanford University, a research associate with the National Bureau of Economics Research and a Senior Fellow at the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research. They discuss sickness in the U.S. and government censorship in relation to the pandemic. He moves on to talk with Ian Proud, a former British Diplomat, serving in Russia, internationalist and author of the book A Misfit in Moscow: How British Diplomacy Failed in Russia. They discuss attempts to end the Russia-Ukraine war and Putin's visit to North Korea. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Frank starts the show joined by WABC host Dominic Carter to discuss the passing of baseball icon Willie Mays. Frank starts the hour discussing if felons should be able to serve on a jury. He moves on to talk with Dick Larson, a counselor with a background in education as they discuss meditation and spirituality. Frank starts the third hour talking to Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, Professor of Medicine at Stanford University, a research associate with the National Bureau of Economics Research and a Senior Fellow at the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research. They discuss sickness in the U.S. and government censorship in relation to the pandemic. He moves on to talk with Ian Proud, a former British Diplomat, serving in Russia, internationalist and author of the book A Misfit in Moscow: How British Diplomacy Failed in Russia. They discuss attempts to end the Russia-Ukraine war and Putin's visit to North Korea. Frank wraps up the show talking about the anniversary of the imploding Titan submersible as well as the anniversary of Curtis Sliwa being shot.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ian Proud, a former British Diplomat, serving in Russia, internationalist and author of the book “A Misfit in Moscow: How British Diplomacy Failed in Russia” Topic(s): Attempts to end Russia-Ukraine war; Putin visit to North Korea Website: https://www.prouddiplomat.com/ Book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Misfit-Moscow-British-diplomacy-2014-2019/dp/1739543106 Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/prouddiplomat https://twitter.com/proud_diplomat https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-proud-427431108 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For more than 30 years, Alexandra Hall Hall worked as a diplomat in the British Foreign Office, with postings in Bangkok, Delhi, Bogota,Tbilisi, and Washington. She resigned in December 2019 because she felt unable to represent the Government's position on Brexit with integrity. She is the co-host, with Jason Pack, of Disorder podcast. In this discussion, she talks to Greg Olear about Georgia, British politics, the monarchy, the role of diplomacy in crisis zones, Biden's handling of the Israel-Hamas War, the death of Navalny, and the Baltimore Ravens. Plus: 867-5309 (Ginni) (remix).Follow Alex:https://twitter.com/alexhallhallRead her columns at Byline Times:https://bylinetimes.com/author/alexandrahallhall/Listen to Disorder Podcast: https://linktr.ee/disorderpodPrevail is sponsored by BetterHelp. Get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/gregSubscribe to the PREVAIL newsletter:https://gregolear.substack.com/aboutWould you like to tell us more about you? http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=BffJOlI7qQcF&ver=short Subscribe to the PREVAIL newsletter:https://gregolear.substack.com/aboutWould you like to tell us more about you? http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=BffJOlI7qQcF&ver=short

In this Roots of Reality Experiences episode, historian Ben Baumann speaks with former British Diplomat about the controversial legacy of WikiLeaks, its impact on international diplomacy, and the relationship between founder Julian Assange and the Russian Government. Bio- www.uottawa.ca/faculty-health-sc…/raywat-deonandan Twitter- twitter.com/deonandan?ref_src=t…erp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor If you like the podcast, leave a review at: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/root…ty/id1466338710 Follow Roots of Reality on Social Media: Facebook- facebook.com/RootsofReality Twitter- twitter.com/_RootsofReality Instagram- instagram.com/rootsofreality/?hl=en YouTube- youtube.com/channel/UCvmG6sKFW9…isable_polymer=true (Views and memories stated by guests in interviews do not represent Roots of Reality)

Are truces a mere time-out in conflict zones or do they promise a glimmer of sustainable peace?" Join us as we journey into the heart of conflict management with our guest - a seasoned negotiator who has weathered the storm of truce negotiations. We unravel the intricacies of truces, their fragile nature, and the often complex dynamic that leads to their breakdown. The conversation takes a deep dive into the tactical chess game that unfolds during these temporary ceasefires, with parties repositioning, remanufacturing, and resupplying in anticipation of the next round of conflict.#IsraelGaza #GazaUnderAttack #IsraelUnderFire #Palestine #MiddleEastConflict #Ceasefire #IsraeliOccupation #FreePalestine #GazaStrip #WarCrimes #HumanRights #UNResolution #PeaceInTheMiddleEast #InternationalRelations #PrayForGaza #Turkey #Iran #China #RussiaSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Unpack the truth surrounding the Israeli Defense Forces' claims about the Hamas headquarters in Gaza. Our expert guest dissects the misinformation and gives an eye-opening perspective on the reality of where the headquarters are located. This episode conjures a similar incident in 2006, where false intelligence led to misconceptions about the whereabouts of Hassan Nasrallah's command center in Beirut. Prepare for an enlightening discussion on how such false narratives are often disseminated, with a revealing example involving the recruitment of the Philippines in Lebanon by the Israelis.Brace yourself for the second part of our conversation where we scrutinize the devastating aftermath of these military strikes on innocent civilians. We share heartbreaking stories of premature babies' emergency evacuation to Egypt, the death of hundreds of sick people unrelated to the war, and the tragic toll on children's lives. This episode is not just about the conflict, but also the collapse of morality and values in its wake. Moreover, we explore the damaging effects this has on Middle East diplomacy, particularly on the efforts put forth by the U.S over the last two decades. Our guest paints a chilling picture of the escalating resentment towards the West. Tune in for this powerful and enlightening conversation.#AlastairCrooke#IsraelEthics#MoralJustifications#ThoughtProvoking#EthicalDebate#IsraelPolitics#HistoricalAnalysis#PoliticalInsights#SocialContext#NuancedExploration#EthicalConsiderations#MoralDilemmas#CriticalThinking#IsraelDebate#globalethics #Israel#Hamas#Gaza#IsraelPalestine#MiddleEastConflict#PeaceInTheMiddleEast#GazaUnderAttack#Ceasefire#Jerusalem#PrayForPeaceSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Alastair Crooke (fmr. British Diplomat) - What is Biden's endgame in Gaza?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

James Cleverly is the first top diplomat from the UK to visit China in five years (02:34). Military officers in Gabon have seized power after President Ali Bongo Ondimba's election win (09:42). And typhoons are causing trouble in southern China and North America (18:55).

Judge Napolitano and Former British Diplomat, Alastair Crooke have an in-depth discussion and analysis as tensions escalate regarding an alleged potential attack on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant intensify. President Zelenskyy has made a startling accusation, suggesting that Russia may have planted explosives on the facility's roof, further fueling concerns over the security of the nuclear power plant.In Makiivka, a town near Donetsk, a major Russian ammunition depot was reportedly destroyed in a HIMARS strike by Ukraine. Russia-installed officials claimed one civilian death and 36 injuries, but this is unverified. Ukraine's military stated that they had targeted and destroyed a Russian forces formation along with an ammunition depot. Video footage showed the destruction of the depot. Kyiv reported a successful counteroffensive against Putin's forces but acknowledged the challenge posed by Russian defenses and mine-laying tactics.#ukraine #russia #france #freedomSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode I am joined by Professor John Myrdhin Reynolds, also known as Lama Vajranatha: writer, teacher, translator and scholar/practitioner of Tibetan Buddhism.  Professor Reynolds recounts his adventurous life of practice and scholarship, including extensive travels throughout Asia and discipleship under revered gurus such as Dudjom Rinpoche, Namkai Norbu, and Lopon Tenzin Namdak. Professor Reynolds details his journey through American academia, explains why he turned down an invitation from the CIA to create Tibetan propaganda, and shares anecdotes of Tibetologists such as Hugh Richardson and Edward Conze, including the latter's escape from the Nazis and defection from Communist activism. Professor Reynolds also recalls his first out of body experience brought on by a car crash, the mystical visions of water spirits, dakinis, and other beings that have featured in his life since, and tells the story of the tragic consequences of the Gelugpa destruction of the psychic barrier erected by Padmasambhava to protect Tibet from China. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep200-lama-vajranatha-professor-john-myrdhin-reynolds 
Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast'. … Topics Include: 00:00 - Intro 01:16 - Unusual upbringing and resonance with Greek myth 05:01 - Early interest in Indian religion 07:27 - Encountering the ‘Tibetan Book of the Dead' 09:46 - Education at Columbia University 10:50 - Western Esotericism and transfer to University of Washington 13:10 - Influence of the British Diplomat and Tibetologist, Hugh Richardson 14:20 - Close relationship with the controversial Professor Edward Conze 16:31 - Escaping the Nazis and running a Communist cell in London 19:29 - Disillusionment with Communism 23:17 - Approached by the CIA to make Tibetan propaganda 28:42 - Leaving his PhD and meeting Tarthang Tulku 33:11 - Boarding a ship for India and meeting Swami Omkar 43:11 - Darjeeling and meeting Kangyur Rinpoche, Dudjom Rinpoche, and others 48:00 - Adventures in Kathmandu 57:49 - Warning about Dharma politics 59:03 - Stories about Namkhai Norbu and other Dzogchen teachers 01:06:19 - Dudjom Rinpoche vs Namkai Norbu's Dzogchen teaching style 01:07:54 - Surprising Iranian influence on Buddhism and Tibet 01:10:23 - Lopon Tenzin Namdak and Bon 01:14:59 - OBE and a lifetime of psychic experiences and entity visions 01:19:49 - Dakini visionary warning about climate change 01:23:31 - Lama stories of psychic siddhi and the invasion of Tibet 01:27:24 - How to open psychic capacities 01:28:57 - Edward Conze's Marxism and Buddhism 01:33:48 - Edward Conze's Visuddhimagga meditation attainments 01:35:41 - Stalin, Buddhism, and Lama Wangyal 01:37:20 - Stories of Tibetan Buddhist missionary incursions into France 01:46:39 - Buddhism's spread in England via figures such as Ananda Bodhi and Chogyam Trungpa 01:48:32 - The many scandals of Trungpa and his successors 01:49:41 - Dalai Lama tongue-sucking scandal … To find our more about Professor John Myrdhin Reynolds visit: - https://vajranatha.com/ For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - https://www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi' by Steve James

For $5 a month, become a Useful Idiot! Get extended interviews, Thursday Throwdowns, and chat live with Katie and Aaron in the Absurd Arena at http://usefulidiots.substack.com Or find us on Locals at http://usefulidiots.locals.com Join the Absurd Arena live chat with Katie and Aaron every Tuesday at 12pm est at https://usefulidiots.substack.com/chat Watch this week's Thursday Throwdown: Aaron Maté vs British Diplomat at UN https://open.substack.com/pub/usefulidiots/p/aaron-mate-vs-british-diplomat-at?r=je5va&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

At a United Nations meeting that addressed a Syria cover-up scandal at the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Aaron Maté of The Grayzone responds to a challenge from British diplomat Thomas Phipps. Support Pushback: https://www.patreon.com/aaronmate

The revelation that spies working for the Soviet Union, recruited at Cambridge University in the 1930s, had deeply penetrated the British intelligence and diplomatic systems causes shockwaves throughout the 1950s, 60s and 70s as more and more either defected or were exposed. The fascinating figure of Guy Burgess was at the heart of the scandal, and his secret flight to Moscow in 1951 stunned the world, shaking confidence in Britain in its Cold War ally, the USA. Andrew wrote a much acclaimed biography of Burgess and this week he talks Phil through his remarkable story, and that of the other key spies. And they discuss whether Burgess was the most important of them all. They're joined by one of Britain's greatest ever writers on intelligence, Nigel West. Nigel met with Anthony Blunt, one of the most important Cambridge spies, and gained access to previously secret Soviet files. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Stalins-Englishman-Lives-Guy-Burgess/dp/1473627362 www.nigelwest.com Andrew Lownie.twitter.com/andrewlownie Phil Craig.twitter.com/philmcraig You can now get in touch with the show...team@podcastworld.org (Place 'Scandal Mongers' in the heading please) This show is Part of the PodcastWorld.org network. Recorded in Kentish Town, London. Production byTheo X,Kerem Isik,David Kurzer. Available on YouTube, Apple, Stitcher, Spotify, Soundcloud, Amazon Music, Googleplay, Acast and more! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Francis Campbell, British Diplomat, Academic and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Notre Dame in Australia

As Rishi Sunak's spring budget looms, should he ditch the national insurance rise? David Davis joins Nigel in the studio to explain why he rebelled against the Nationality and Borders Bill. Then in Talking Pints, former British Diplomat, Sir Christopher Meyer discusses his career. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On this Back Story long time  campaigner for sanctions against Russia Bill Browder who says sanctions will isolate Russia, but we are in for heart break in Ukraine.We talk to Dr. Ben Connable, a retired Marine Corps intelligence officer, a senior nonresident fellow at the Atlantic Council,  professor of security studies at Georgetown University. And author of an article for RealClearDefense, “Troop-to-Task: A Russian Invasion of Ukraine.” What would it actually take for Putin to invade and occupy Ukraine and what are the risks for Russia? And Ian Bond, from the  Centre for European Reform and a former British Diplomat on the chances of a direct clash with Russia and NATO and Putins state of mind.

We explore the career of Sophie Jump, who wears many hats in the business of wine, from Director of Jump start to CEO of the International Wine Clubs Association. She started off her journey not in wine, but as a British Diplomat, until she landed an opportunity to study the OIV (International Organisation of Vine and Wine) diploma, and since then, she has ventured into the business of wine and never looked back. You can learn more about her career at https://www.sophiejump.com/.

“Due to COVID 19 people have been questioning their basic contract. Is this government protecting me, and are these politicians doing what they claim to do, which is to look after us and to protect our health?”  Once a British diplomat and now self proclaimed 'gentle anarchist', Carne Ross describes how solving today's problems starts with shedding our assumptions about what works and what is possible. Drawing inspiration from diverse movements and places - the ancient Greeks, the philosophy of anarchy, and a Brazilian city - Ross reveals practical steps for re-imagining democracies so that they are capable of tackling the biggest challenges of our times. ----------------------Produced by the Green Economy Coalition, the world's largest movement for a green and fair economy: https://greeneconomycoalition.orgCarne Ross on Twitter:  https://twitter.com/carnerossCarne's website: http://www.carneross.comIndependent Diplomat: https://independentdiplomat.org-----------------------Learn more about Power, People & Planet by visiting:https://powerpeopleplanet.org

We talk to Richard Hyde, the British Consul General based in Texas.A keen Liverpool fan, he talks about England's defeat to Italy, the racism that followed the game but then the outpouring of support that followed.We talk about poorly-behaved England fans, how much better things are nowadays and the risks of social media giving a voice to those who don't deserve it.He talks about his experiences watching John Barnes as a young Liverpool fan, the racism he saw then and being on the beach in Marseilles when England fans rioted in 1998.A candid and insightful discussion with a modern diplomat about racism in Britain and how he is proud how the country reacted to it.

Awake 2 Oneness Radio with Simon Parkes of Connecting Consciousness on Friday, June 11, 2021, at 8:00 PM EDT. This program was prerecorded.  Simon grew up in a family that had links to British and American intelligence. Simon's mother worked for Mi5, however while she was managed by Mi5 she was in reality working for the NSA. Simons Grandfather was employed by the Secret Intelligence Service, better known as Mi6, in reality he was reporting to the CIA. Simon's Grandfather was also a British Diplomat, holding the position of Vice Consul and then Consul of the British Embassy in Pondicherry (Puducherry) India. While in India his grandfather was awarded the OBE and CBE medals and turned down a Knighthood. To learn more about Simon and Connecting Consciousness visit: https://www.simonparkes.org/

In this episode, Manas and Cheyenne talk to Dr Kerry Brown, a former British Diplomat to Beijing and Director of the Lau China Institute at Kings College London. Exploring the significance of China's growth and future projections, Manas tackles the questions of underrated political risks in China, economic de-coupling, and the UK's ever-growing Indo-Pacific shift. Cheyenne examines the economic, social, and political interactions and relations with surrounding South Asian countries and the South China Sea region. Listen to this episode if you want an informative and detailed insight into the complexities of China's current place in the world, and why countries near and far are keeping China on their radar.

British diplomat, Samuel Nicholls, who is currently based in Erbil, Kurdistan, joins us for the final episode of season one of Beginnings. In this episode we talk about how Samuel became a diplomat, diversity in politics and the Foreign Office, as well as his project to improve social mobility in the UK.

On Tuesday 4th August 2020, the city of Beirut was devastated by a catastrophic explosion. The blast killed over a hundred people, injuring thousands and leaving many more homeless. A large fire had broken out in the Port of Beirut and as it spread from warehouse to warehouse a small explosion was witnessed, before what were seemingly fireworks being lit by the flames. Moments later there was a large explosion, which formed a mushroom cloud in the air and sent a shockwave through the city and surrounding area. Lebanon's President, Michel Aoun, has said the source of the explosion was 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate that was being stored unsafely in one of the port's warehouses. President Aoun has now promised an investigation into the catastrophe. Tom Fletcher formerly served as the UK's Ambassador to Lebanon from 2011-2015 - an experienced British Diplomat, Fletcher had previously advised Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and David Cameron on Foreign Policy. During his time as Ambassador, the UK government budget for Lebanon grew from £2m to £200m, and Tom led a huge partnership between the two countries. His transparent and open diplomacy style is now world-renowned and brought him a lot of attention, through his blogs and his obvious admiration for Lebanon. Tom Fletcher speaks to Andy Bell about the fragility of the Lebanese state and how it came to be through civil war. He discusses the challenges Beirut may now face after the smoke and rubble of the explosion has cleared. How did we get here? Explaining the news is a podcast from 5 News. Join Andy Bell as he explains the world's biggest news stories through interviews with politicians, experts, and analysts.

A joint initiative between Queen's University Belfast (QUB) and the Trinity Long Room Hub chaired by Jane Ohlmeyer, Director of the Trinity Long Room Hub with a conversation facilitated by Richard English, Professor of Politics and Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Internationalization and Engagement at QUB. Jonathan Powell and Rory Montgomery have had distinguished careers which have seen them act as key negotiators in conflict resolution from Northern Ireland to the Basque Country and Colombia. In this conversation-style discussion, Professor Richard English will probe both Rory and Jonathan on their experience of working in environments of conflict, covering topics such as the importance of dialogue and the legacies of the peace process in jurisdictions such as Northern Ireland. They will also discuss the relationship between Ireland, the UK and the EU, reflecting on the new context Brexit poses; and finally, how states respond to crisis, challenges and change such as that posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. Rory Montgomery recently retired from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Prior to his retirement, he served as Second Secretary General with responsibility for EU issues, including Brexit. Before that he was EU adviser to Taoiseach Enda Kenny (2014-16), Ambassador to France (2013-14), Permanent Representative to the European Union (2009-13), and Political Director, dealing with foreign and security policy, (2005-9). He was a member of the Irish team which negotiated the Good Friday Agreement and the establishment of North/South institutions.He is currently a Public Policy Fellow at the Trinity Long Room Hub and an Honorary Professor of Practice at Queen's, and is also a consultant on EU issues. Jonathan Powell is CEO of Inter Mediate, the charity he founded in 2011 to work on conflict resolution around the world. Jonathan worked on the negotiations with ETA in the Basque country, on the negotiations in Colombia with the FARC and on the peace negotiations in Mozambique. Inter Mediate is working on 14 conflicts at the moment. Jonathan was Chief of Staff to Tony Blair from 1995 to 2007 and from 1997 to 2007 was also Chief British Negotiator on Northern Ireland. From 1978-79 he was a broadcast journalist with the BBC and Granada TV and from 1979 to 1994 a British Diplomat. He is the author of ‘Great Hatred, Little Room: Making Peace in Northern Ireland', ‘The New Machiavelli, How to Wield Power in the Modern World' and ‘Talking to Terrorists, How to End Armed Conflict'

Norman Houston is the longest serving British Diplomat in Washington D.C. and is our Northern Irish representative for all of America.   We had the incredible opportunity to sit down with Norman in the Fitzpatrick Hotel in Manhattan to reflect on his career, what he’s learned along the way and what’s next.   // To see a 'treasure trove' of all things related to Norman (including a photo) please visit https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/norman-houston-ni-bureau   Best Of Belfast is Northern Ireland's #1 Interview Podcast. We've shared 100+ hour-long conversations with incredible people from Northern Ireland.   To find out more, or join 'The Producers Club' please visit https://bestofbelfast.org/   Cheers!   — Matt 

This episode’s guest is Chris Wigley, who is a former British Diplomat and now Partner at McKinsey and Solution Partner at Quantum Black, which advises businesses all over the world on how to best implement AI and machine learning. He also regularly talks about the ethics of AI and it is in this capacity that I most interested in. The ethics of AI as a conversation hasn’t matured as fast as the technology it often cautions against. And as the purposeful business trend continues to march, how can entrepreneurs square using best-in-class tech within positive ethical contexts if they don’t know the full impact of those technologies? It’s Chris’ job to talk to business leaders about that very topic, so what are the ethical considerations of AI?

As the political debate over Brexit grows ever more polarised in the UK exposing deep fractures within the political parties, questions are also being asked about the how the machinery of government is working. Lord Ricketts, a former top diplomat, and national security adviser has very publicly condemned the current government’s handling of Brexit negotiations describing them as a fiasco and expressing the fear that Brexit will leave Britain permanently and significantly weakened. This public airing of views has created the impression that the supposedly apolitical civil service, particularly the foreign office, is institutionally and temperamentally opposed to Brexit – a policy which was of course approved by a national referendum in 2016. Does this represent a real problem in Britain’s democracy and in the relationship between the people and the government?

As the political debate over Brexit grows ever more polarised in the UK exposing deep fractures within the political parties, questions are also being asked about the how the machinery of government is working. Lord Ricketts, a former top diplomat, and national security adviser has very publicly condemned the current government’s handling of Brexit negotiations describing them as a fiasco and expressing the fear that Brexit will leave Britain permanently and significantly weakened. This public airing of views has created the impression that the supposedly apolitical civil service, particularly the foreign office, is institutionally and temperamentally opposed to Brexit – a policy which was of course approved by a national referendum in 2016. Does this represent a real problem in Britain’s democracy and in the relationship between the people and the government?

In this episode of The #DigitalDiplomacy Podcast, we have talked with Shaun Riordan, Senior Visiting Fellow of the Netherlands Institute for International Relations “Clingendael”, a member of the Social Media Team of the Hague Journal of Diplomacy, and a member of the Public Diplomacy Advisory Board of the Sustainable Development Goals Fund. He served 16 years as a British Diplomat, including postings to New York, Beijing and Madrid, and spells in the Counter-Terrorism and Eastern Adriatic Units of the Foreign Office. Since leaving the Diplomatic Service, he has worked as an independent consultant to both governments and companies on the analysis and management of geopolitical risk and innovation in diplomacy, as well as a lecturer at several international universities and diplomatic academies. Currently, he specialises in Business Diplomacy and Cyberdiplomacy (the application of diplomatic techniques and mindsets to cyberspace). He is author of, a.o., The New Diplomacy (2003), and Cyberdiplomacy: Doing Diplomacy in Cyberspace (2018 – forthcoming), and co-author of Diplomatic Futures: Integrative Diplomacy in the 21st Century (2010). He has contributed to numerous academic journals. He writes a regular blog on diplomacy and geopolitics, which can be found at www.shaunriordan.com, and he can be followed on Twitter at @shaun_riordan . In the interview, Shaun talks to us about the need for a more strategic approach to digital diplomacy, why algorithms and echochambers are serious threats to public diplomacy, the role of MFA's as network managers and much more. Thank you for listening to this episode! If you like it, please share it with others that you think could be interested. And please give us a (nice) review on iTunes or Soundcloud, so that we can continue reaching more people around the world who are interested in the world of diplomacy and international relations in the 21st Century. We’ll be back soon with more interviews with interesting perspectives on the way diplomacy is changing, evolving, and adapting to the disruptive changes our societies and the relationship between them are undergoing these years. The #DigitalDiplomacy Podcast is produced by the Embassy of Denmark in Spain. It is edited and hosted by Communications and Policy Officer Mikkel Larsen. Music by Bebeto, “Ambient Loop” ((CC) / https://freesound.org/people/bebeto/sounds/554/ ).

In this episode, Susan interviews Charles Crawford, who was the British Ambassador for Bosnia and Herzegovina from 1996-1998, Serbia and Montenegro from 2001-2003, and Poland 2003-2007. Crawford previously served as a British Diplomat to the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, South Africa, and Russia. Susan got to know Charles when they were working together conducting a leadership development program for senior women in the Afghan government. Crawford led the component on speech writing – a topic he knows a good deal about. (See Speeches for Leaders, his website and other info in the shownotes.) He is a great storyteller with an amazing assortment of anecdotes from a rich and interesting life. In this episode, Crawford talks about his early days as an ambassador in war-torn Bosnia. With colorful detail, he tells the tale of being part of the ambassadorial group attempting to bring conflicting parties together across ethnic lines. He describes his early days arriving in Bosnia and seeing the absolute destruction of war. He observes that the places massacres occurred in the Bosnian war were the very same as where they happened in World War I, II and maybe earlier -- perhaps “pay back” for sins inflicted on grandparents. He describes the large industry that pops up during peace negotiations – foreign nationals pouring in, eating too much, getting paid too much in comparison with the local population, an assortment of issues arising including things like prostitution. He provides perspective such as – the internet did not exist when he went to Bosnia and reflects on the potential uses the internet can provide now in peacebuilding efforts. He talks about the dilemma of having to engage the worst leaders if you want a deal – something that will suit the extreme ends of a conflict and might not serve the moderate middle. Most noticeably, in contrast to the many processes explored on this podcast, he describes the typical but top-down approach of building peace in Bosnia and the very real influence of the American president at the time, Bill Clinton, who needed an international policy success with ordinary people having little or no say whatsoever in this peace process. Charles was also in South Africa during the Truth and Reconciliation Commission process held there. He talks about the difference between a justice and reconciliation lens with the latter not applied here. He posits that it's reconciliation that is needed if you want a real break from the past and this did not happen in Bosnia. Please enjoy this episode. Charles Crawford is an amazingly bright and interesting teller of a complicated and relevant tale for those interested in creating a more peaceful world.

Sir Peter Westmacott has been posted twice to Turkey and harbors deep personal affection for the country. He believes Turkey and the European Union have much to offer one another. But the direction President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is taking Turkey leads Westmacott to wonder if "Turkey's European Journey", the title of a new booklet he's just written, is about to hit a dead end. This week's Channeling Brussels is brought to you by the Atlantic Council. [Intro/Outro music "Happy Rock" by Bensound under a CC-BY-ND license (www.bensound.com/royalty-free-mus…rack/happy-rock/)]

Welcome to our third podcast episode commemorating the one-year anniversary of Occupy Wall Street. The Civilians conducted interviews with activists in the movement since its start last year at Zuccotti up to this one year anniversary on September 17, 2012 (referred to as #S17 in the Twitter-sphere). The first performance in this episode is by special Civilians guest-star David Cale of an interview with Carne Ross, a British Diplomat who gives us a different perspective on the movement. Next up is Jordan Mahome performing Radio Raheem (the man who inspired the character in Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing), who helped start Paul Robeson Freedom School. To close this episode, join in from home or on the subway or wherever you are, as Mary Kate O’Neil and her band Gerry Giaimo, Robin Eaton, David Shuman, and Mia Theodoratus sing a rendition of John Lennon’s Power to the People. Interviews for this podcast were conducted by Adam Odsess-Rubin and Steven Cosson. The performances you just heard were directed by Mia Rovegno. Thanks for listening. For more, please visit http://www.thecivilians.org.To leave a comment, please visit The Civilians' blog http://blogforthecivilians.blogspot.com/!

For $5 a month, become a Useful Idiot! Get extended interviews, Thursday Throwdowns, and chat live with Katie and Aaron in the Absurd Arena at http://usefulidiots.substack.com Or find us on Locals at http://usefulidiots.locals.com Click here for the full interview with Sharmine Narwani: https://open.substack.com/pub/usefulidiots/p/the-middle-east-kicks-out-the-us?r=je5va&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web Join the Absurd Arena live chat with Katie and Aaron every Tuesday at 12pm est at https://usefulidiots.substack.com/chat Watch this week's Thursday Throwdown: Aaron Maté vs British Diplomat at UN https://open.substack.com/pub/usefulidiots/p/aaron-mate-vs-british-diplomat-at?r=je5va&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web “It's the biggest lie I've ever witnessed in my life. I've never come across this amount of misinformation.” The Middle East, known geographically correct as West Asia, is fogged with years of propaganda and misinformation, lies told to us from within and out. And from just reading western media, the perspective of the region is wholly different than what's really going on. But Sharmine Narwani, columnist at The Cradle, is actually there, interviewing people in Syria, Iran, Lebanon, Palestine, and more, discovering the real story of West Asia. And now she's sharing her findings with Useful Idiots. She explains the truth about the war in Syria and the propaganda coming out of it, lamenting that “a picture is no longer worth a thousand words.” She shares the unreported stories of the women in Iran and the truth about hijab laws. And she reveals a truth about Israel that isn't told by the protective US media: “Israel is being hit from all sides. It's so deeply fractured from within.” It's a chance to learn about a culturally-rich region, outside the veil of western propaganda. Watch the full interview with Sharmine Narwani on the US's “no values” policy on dictators in the region, the truth about the morality police in Iran, and the lie of the US fight against ISIS in Syria. Plus, watch this week's Thursday Throwdown about Aaron's testimony at the United Nations: “Aaron Maté vs British Diplomat at UN.” And join the Absurd Arena live discussion board with Katie and Aaron every Tuesday at 12pm est in the Substack app. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices