Meet the Influectuals

Nov 17 2023 38 mins 1

Meet the Influectuals Podcast artwork

Welcome to Meet the Influectuals! They're influential. They're intellectuals. Yes, you got it: they are the influectuals. Sonia Jalfin and John Schwartz are on a quest to find out the best ways to communicate knowledge, ideas, and evidence. In each episode, they will meet a leading influectual who can help them on this mission. This podcast is produced by Soapbox and Sociopúblico, two design and communications agencies working at the intersection of research and social progress. You can learn more about us at designbysoapbox.com and sociopublico.com.

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AI & Research communications - Nick Scott

Nov 17 2023 39 mins

How did we imagine the future of policy communications 10 years ago? How does the present compare? In this episode, Sonia and John join Nick Scott to explore the transformative role of AI in research communications, from audience engagement to redefining authorship. They discuss the importance of think tanks embracing continuous learning and collaboration to be prepared for this ev

Future Ideas - Geoff Mulgan

Nov 17 2023 41 mins

In today's context, it seems increasingly difficult to imagine a different, optimistic future. Sonia and John meet with Geoff Mulgan to discuss how to overcome this crisis of imagination in order to foster positive change. They explore the potential and limitations of generative ideas, and the importance of bridging theory and practice to effectively translate creative ideas i

Pain and public policy - Lucía Macchia

Oct 04 2023 28 mins

Understanding how the human mind works and processes information is crucial for communicators. In this episode, Sonia and John meet with Lucía Macchia to delve into the potential of behavioral science for disseminating research and influencing policy. To explore the complex intersection of behavioral science and policy, they focus on a topic that most of us dread: pain. Lucía ex

IFS: Communicating expertise - Helen Miller

Oct 04 2023 38 mins

Tax policy issues can seem quite technical and obscure to most people. So how has the Institute for Fiscal Studies positioned itself as one of the most influential think tanks in the UK? Why do people care about what they have to say? In this episode, Sonia and John meet with Helen Miller, Deputy Director at the IFS, to find out how much of this reputation is owed to the IFS’s ap

Political process design - Chiara Rosselli

Jun 12 2023 33 mins

Sonia and John are in London attending the On Think Tanks Conference at Chatham House. Among so many people with diverse –and sometimes conflicting– opinions, some pressing questions arise: Why does collaboration seem to be lacking in so many policy processes these days? How can we translate these dialogue instances into constructive decision-making processes? And how can proce

Public influence - Paul Constance

May 01 2023 45 mins

In today’s world of constant information and noise, it can be difficult to stand out. But some organizations and individuals have managed to become true thought leaders, shaping the way we think and talk about the issues of our time. So, what sets them apart? Paul Constance is the perfect guest to help us answer these questions. Paul is a master of public influence. He worked

Global South - Enrique Mendizabal

May 01 2023 42 mins

Live from Berlin, Sonia and John explore the notions of Global North and Global South. What do these terms actually mean? They clearly aren’t limited to geography. For many think tanks and knowledge institutions in the North, the need to collaborate with organizations in the South is becoming an imperative. But we need new words and ideas to communicate these emerging relationsh