At the Coalface

Apr 10 2024
At the Coalface Podcast artwork

At the Coalface is a series of conversations hosted by Philippe Rose.

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

Many of Philippe's guests are connected by their common experience of taking time away from work to attend Fletcher School's Global Master of Arts Programme.

RSS feed Share
Copy RSS


Subscribe on Podcast Addict


Journel Jospeh - Al Frontiers: The New Wave of Innovation Driving Entrepreneurship and Globalization

Apr 10 2024 65 mins  
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 dange

Janine di Giovanni - On giving a voice to victims of conflict

Mar 27 2024 53 mins  
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

Katarina Kavec - A journey in other people’s minds, as interpreter and psychotherapist

Mar 13 2024 58 mins  
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 wi

Anabel Bueno Santana-Dolenc - A lifetime of international experience and serving Dominican Republic

Feb 28 2024 64 mins  
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 dona

Moges Gebremedhin - On the importance of peace and stability to enable development to take roots

Feb 14 2024 55 mins  
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

Laurie Charlés - Healing trauma in conflict zones: capacity building in family systems therapy

Jan 31 2024 57 mins  
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

Peter Stanbury - Getting things done in difficult places, on the political economy of unintended consequences

Jan 17 2024 56 mins  
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 str

Ernesto Gonzalez - From oil painting in a Chilean favela to the UN Security Council

Jan 03 2024 62 mins  
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 pa

Monica Smith - On navigating a career in the corporate world: have you forgotten the spices?

Dec 20 2023 49 mins  
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 leadershi

Josy Joseph - An investigative journalist's fight for the future of Indian democracy

Dec 06 2023 61 mins  
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 dangero