New Thinking for a New World - a Tallberg Foundation Podcast

Democracy Succeeds (At Least in Bangladesh)

05 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Democracy may be struggling across much of the world, but Bangladesh offers a rare counterexample. In the summer of 2024, a student-led movement force...

This Is What Leadership Looks Like

26 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

What does great leadership look like today? In this special episode, we bring together the 2025 Tällberg-SNF-Eliasson Global Leadership Prize laureat...

Middle Eastern Challenges

19 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Much of the world’s attention remains fixed on Iran, Israel, and the Palestinian question. But another rivalry is quietly reshaping Middle Eastern p...

GOOOAL!!!

29 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

As the world braces for another difficult year, a single global event promises to capture the attention of billions: the FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by ...

Thinking Differently About the Rainforests

18 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

For decades, warnings about the destruction of the Amazon and Congo rainforests have grown louder, even as meaningful action has lagged behind. Intern...

Inheriting Trauma

11 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The world is entering a new era of conflict: more violent, more fragmented, and with more civilians caught in the crossfire than at any time since Wor...

What Has the Whale to Say?

04 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sperm whales are among the most extraordinary creatures on the planet—massive, deep-diving, highly social, and constantly communicating. David Grube...

Greek Classics—Modern Life

27 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

For thousands of years, Greek tragedies have helped people make sense of fear, grief, conflict, and the complexities of being human. Bryan Doerries—...

Reimagining Environmental Journalism

20 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Climate change is accelerating, but reliable information about what is really happening on the ground is still far too rare. Rhett Ayers Butler—foun...

Interesting Times: Colombia Edition

06 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

“May you live in interesting times,” goes the old saying—and for Colombia, these are indeed interesting times. The country faces rising politica...

Rinsing and Repeating Our Way to Climate Disaster? Is There a Better Way?

30 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Thirty years after the United Nations first called for global action on climate change, progress remains painfully slow. Year after year, world leader...

Conserving Nature and Humanity—For the Good of Both

23 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The snow leopard, a mysterious and endangered big cat, roams the High Himalayas across a dozen countries—many of them rivals in politics, religion, ...

Nothing Says “War” Like “Forever”

09 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What happens when a failed War on Drugs collides with a War on Terror? President Donald Trump has rebranded drug cartels as terrorist organizations, b...

Iran v. Israel: Who Won, Who Lost, What Next? - Part Two

21 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In the second half of this two-part conversation, host Alan Stoga continues his discussion with journalist Francesca Borri, former Iranian diplomat Ho...

Iran v. Israel: Who Won, Who Lost, What Next? - Part One

21 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Six weeks after Iran and Israel fought a brief but intense 12-day war, a fragile ceasefire holds—but for how long, and at what cost? In this two-par...

A River Runs Through It

17 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Congo Basin, the world’s second-largest rainforest, is vital to global climate health. But unlike the Amazon, its biggest threat isn’t farming...

Can Profit Help Save the Rainforest?

03 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Can profit and planet go hand in hand? As public climate financing falls short, attention turns to the private sector. But can businesses do good for ...

Mutually Assured Madness?

05 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We’re living through a moment of global upheaval—where the old order is crumbling, and the future feels dangerously uncertain. At the heart of thi...

Voodoo Economics: Tariffing Our Way to Prosperity or Doom?

30 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump’s trade war, regulatory overhaul, and fiscal shake-up aim to rewire the U.S. and global economies. Can it work—or backfire? Econom...

Ancient Words, Modern Wounds

22 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Great art is timeless—it reveals how we think and why we act. What if classics like Greek tragedy or Shakespeare were used to explore today’s chal...

Has the Amazon Run Out of Chances?

08 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In 2019, Brazilian scientist Carlos Nobre warned of an approaching Amazon tipping point. Five years later, record droughts and fires suggest that mome...

In the Struggle With Trump, Does the Congress Matter?

01 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Does Congress still matter in the Trump era? With presidential power expanding and checks and balances under pressure, this question is more urgent th...

Best New Thinking: Doctor, Doctor Give Me the News

10 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Healthcare is personal. Whether it’s a baby in Uganda struggling to breathe or a father in New York contracting MERS after surgery, individual exper...

Helping Refugees Help Themselves: The Play Really is the Thing!

03 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Shakespeare wrote in Hamlet, “The play’s the thing, wherein I’ll catch the conscience of the king,” highlighting drama’s power. That same fo...

Congo’s Unending Tragedy

27 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Despite its vast natural wealth, the Democratic Republic of Congo is trapped in cycles of war, corruption, and foreign meddling. Armed militias, repor...

Will Palestinians and Israelis Ever Find Peace?

20 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023, ignited another cycle of devastation, leaving countless lives lost or shattered—mostly Palestinian, but also I...

Is Trump Good for Europe?

13 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Donald Trump has long criticized the EU, calling it unfair to the U.S. and favoring tariffs and direct deals with Moscow over cooperation with allies....

Best New Thinking: Tyranny’s Most Dangerous Foe

06 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Winston Churchill once said, “A free press is the unsleeping guardian of every other right… the most dangerous foe of tyranny.” Today, as trust ...

What’s Going On in the United States???

27 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Donald Trump has been president for just five weeks, yet the whirlwind of executive orders, budget cuts, nominations, and sweeping policy shifts has m...

The Brave New World Is Here: Are We Ready?

20 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We live in a rapidly evolving, technology-driven world that is transforming how we learn, create, and interact. Ideally, this transformation would mak...

Best New Thinking: Can the Amazon Be Saved?

13 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Amazon rainforest, with its vast influence on global weather, its rivers supplying a quarter of the world’s freshwater, and its role as home to ...

Through a Viewfinder, Brightly

06 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We live in a violent and complex world—wars, mass migrations, cartel violence, climate disasters, and pandemics shape our daily reality. Yet, despit...

Leaders Leading

30 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When leaders fail, democracy suffers—and too many are failing today. That’s why the Tällberg Foundation has spent a decade honoring bold, innovat...

The Worry List

16 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The start of 2025 brings a cascade of global challenges: the war in Ukraine, Middle East conflicts, tensions around Taiwan, environmental crises, and ...

Welcome to the Year of Trump

09 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When Donald Trump becomes the 49th President of the United States, the world will be watching. For many Americans, however, Trump never really went aw...

Best New Thinking: Truth, and Nothing But

02 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In a world overflowing with information, facts often fuel division rather than informed discussions, as individuals promote their own narratives. Tech...

Best New Thinking: Arctic Heat

26 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Arctic, warming nearly four times faster than the rest of the planet, serves as a critical climate indicator, with the 2023 Arctic Report Card doc...

Best New Thinking: Politicians, Cartels, Murders, Oh My!

19 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Politics in Mexico is fiercely competitive and violent. Last month’s elections saw Claudia Sheinbaum become the first female president with record v...

Can the Amazon Be Saved?

11 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Amazon rainforest, with its vast influence on global weather, its rivers supplying a quarter of the world’s fresh water, and its role as home to...

Tyranny’s Most Dangerous Foe

05 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Winston Churchill once said, “A free press is the unsleeping guardian of every other right… the most dangerous foe of tyranny.” Today, as trust ...

Doctor, Doctor Give Me the News

27 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Healthcare is personal. Whether it’s a baby in Uganda struggling to breathe or a father in New York contracting MERS after surgery, individual exper...

It’s Up to the Women

21 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In 2015, the world pledged to achieve gender equality by 2030 as part of the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals. Nearly a decade later, it’s cle...

Africa’s Mental Health Emergency

07 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Youth mental health is in crisis. Globally, one in seven adolescents faces mental disorders, with depression, anxiety, and behavioral issues leading t...

Welcome to Dante’s Inferno

31 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank have long felt abandoned by the world, facing deadly, low-intensity conflict with Israel. The October 7th attac...

Seeking Safe Passage

24 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Over 250 years ago, Robert Burns wrote, "Man's inhumanity to man makes countless thousands mourn." His words resonate today as millions are forced to ...

America’s Unhappy Choice

26 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Americans are once again gearing up for a presidential election, often called the most important in their lifetimes. The two candidates, former Presid...

A New Iran?

12 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This summer, Iranians elected Masoud Pezeshkian, a cardiac surgeon and political reformer, as their new president, surprising many foreign observers w...

Best New Thinking: The Art of Dying Well

05 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Explore the intricacies of end-of-life care and perspectives on death in this episode of "New Thinking for a New World." Dr. Christian Ntizimira, foun...

Best New Thinking: Truth, and Nothing But

29 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In today's world, facts are everywhere, but instead of fostering informed discussions, many people push their own "facts." Technology, like the broom ...

Israeli’s Divided House

22 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Israel is at war, not just with external enemies like Hamas, Iran, and the Houthis, but also with itself. Even before October 7th, internal conflicts ...

Middle East Tinderbox, Houthi Edition

15 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Middle East is a tinderbox, with conflicts across Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Iran, and Israel, any of which could spark a larger war. Yeme...

The Next World War?

08 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

War in Ukraine, conflicts in Gaza, and tensions in the South China Sea and Taiwan—global tensions are rising. Are we on the brink of a new era of g...

Europe’s Shameful Dumping

17 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Many countries create ways to seal their borders from migrants or force them to leave. However, Europe funding countries like Tunisia, Morocco, and Ma...

Politicians, Cartels, Murders, Oh My!

11 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Politics in Mexico is fiercely competitive and violent. Last month’s elections saw Claudia Sheinbaum become the first female president with record v...

France Lurches Right

04 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

France's President Macron's decision to hold elections this year resulted in a major shift: Marine Le Pen’s National Rally won over 33%, the leftist...

Arctic Heat

27 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Arctic is warming nearly four times faster than the rest of the planet, serving as a critical climate indicator. The 2023 Arctic Report Card docum...

India Votes!

20 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

India's recent elections saw 640 million voters and a mixed outcome. Prime Minister Modi's BJP won a third term but lost its majority, needing coaliti...

Deal of the Century?

31 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The past eight months in the Middle East have been marked by significant turmoil, including the horror of October 7th, ongoing violence in Gaza, civil...

Truth, and Nothing But

23 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In today's world, facts are everywhere, but instead of fostering informed discussions, many people push their own "facts." Technology, like the broom ...

War Lessons

09 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The conflict between Hamas and Israel, which began with Hamas terrorists' actions, has escalated into a wider war involving various factions and natio...

Re-thinking Education for Migrant Children

02 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In an age marked by widespread migration, millions face displacement due to conflict, natural disasters, and insecurity, with children bearing a parti...

SPOTLIGHT: “tis the mind that makes the body rich”

23 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Join past Tällberg-SNF-Eliasson Global Leadership Prize winners, neuroscientist Rafa Yuste and human rights lawyer Jared Genser, as they delve into t...

Worth Repeating: A Visionary Leader

18 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Andrew Bastawrous, a dedicated ophthalmologist, initially focused on treating patients across Africa but recognized the limitations of traditional app...

Things Are Never So Bad They Can’t Get Worse…

11 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In the wake of the violent October 7 events and the subsequent Israeli response in Gaza, the region faces a dire humanitarian crisis. Despite the blea...

Defeating the Taliban, One Educated Girl at a Time

04 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Recent ISIS-K attacks in Moscow have brought Afghanistan's terrorism issues to the forefront. Amidst this, Pashtana Durrani, an Afghan leader working ...

“Only the Dead Have Seen the End of War.”

28 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Philosopher George Santayana's words from a century ago still resonate today amidst a world plagued by political and civil conflict. ACLED founder Cli...

Spring Migrations

21 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In a world of political turbulence, mass migration is once again in the spotlight. While fear-mongering politicians capitalize on the issue, Andrew Se...

Worth Repeating: Peace How?

14 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Amid Ukraine's prolonged conflict, George Beebe from the Quincy Institute discusses the realities and risks. He argues that while Western support can ...

Worth Repeating: Can Violent Extremists Leave Their Pasts Behind?

07 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Join guest host Michael Niconchuk as he delves into the global rise of violent extremism, its underlying causes, and the potential for rehabilitating ...

Peace How?

29 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Amid Ukraine's prolonged conflict, George Beebe from the Quincy Institute discusses the realities and risks. He argues that while Western support can ...

A Visionary Leader

22 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Andrew Bastawrous, a dedicated ophthalmologist, initially focused on treating patients across Africa but recognized the limitations of traditional app...

Climb a Tree!

15 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Winners of the Tällberg-SNF-Eliasson Global Leadership Prize share a common approach: they view societal challenges as opportunities, prioritize outc...

SPOTLIGHT: Global Leadership

08 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We’re at a unique point in history, having experienced 70 years of prosperity and peace. However, we now face challenges like climate change, techno...

The Art of Dying Well

01 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Explore the intricacies of end-of-life care and perspectives on death in this episode of "New Thinking for a New World." Dr. Christian Ntizimira, foun...

Teach the Children Well

25 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Delving into the critical challenges within the U.S. education system, this podcast explores alarming statistics, such as low math scores and college ...

Knocking on Europe’s Door

18 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this podcast, European politicians' rhetoric on law, justice, dignity, and freedom is examined amid migration concerns. The gap between words and a...

SPOTLIGHT: The Year of the Ballot

11 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In 2024, over 50 countries, including seven of the world's most populous nations, will hold crucial national elections, shaping the trajectory of glob...

Best New Thinking: What’s Wrong with America?

04 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Thinking for a New World, we delve into the profound challenges facing the United States: extreme partisanship, ongoing legal t...

Best New Thinking: Should We Tolerate the Intolerant?

28 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

How can liberal democracies deal with the threat of intolerant extremists? Elisabeth Braw, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, draws...

What’s Warmer, Wetter, and Greener? (Spoiler Alert: The Arctic—and It Shouldn’t Be!)

21 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The Arctic is warming at an alarming rate, posing severe threats to the planet. The recent Arctic Report Card by NOAA paints a grim picture, but there...

Cry for Argentina?

07 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Argentina faces economic turmoil with a soaring inflation rate, widespread poverty, and a devalued currency. Despite its challenges, the country posse...

War Without End?

30 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

"Ukraine's 2023: From New Year's Optimism to Ongoing Struggle" Despite President Zelensky's hopeful New Year's message, the Ukrainian conflict has evo...

Getting Russia Right

09 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Russia is a puzzle that many in the West thought they had solved after the Cold War. But President Putin proved them wrong by strengthening his grip o...

People-Centered Justice

02 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Many people are unhappy with democracy because they lack access to justice and cannot solve their legal problems. How can we fix this? Allyson Maynard...

Can Violent Extremists Leave Their Pasts Behind?

26 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Join guest host Michael Niconchuk as he delves into the global rise of violent extremism, its underlying causes, and the potential for rehabilitating ...

SPOTLIGHT: War is Not Healthy for Children and Other Living Things

24 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The war between Israel and Hamas is a classic “lose/lose” proposition: there can be no winners, with a range of outcomes that stretch from bad tow...

Pandemic Fallout: Unmasking Ethical Failures

12 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The COVID pandemic was a global crisis that required a global solution. But instead of acting together, many rich countries chose to protect themselve...

What’s Wrong with America?

28 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of New Thinking for a New World, we delve into the profound challenges facing the United States: extreme partisanship, ongoing legal t...

Blot Out the Sun?

21 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

From ancient battles to modern climate challenges, explore how Luke Iseman and Andrew Song, pioneers in solar radiation management, are taking action ...

Diplomatically Speaking

07 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Ambassador Ashok Mirpuri, who recently concluded an exceptional 12-year term as Singapore's ambassador to the United States, retired from diplomatic s...

Should We Tolerate the Intolerant?

24 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

How can liberal democracies deal with the threat of intolerant extremists? Elisabeth Braw, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, draws...

Worth Repeating: Is India Back?

17 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

India had the world's largest economy until the 17th century but suffered almost 500 years of decline afterward. However, India is currently the world...

What’s the Point of Freedom if You Don’t Do Something With It?

10 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Shahidul Alam is many things: world-class photographer, Bangladeshi human rights activist, teacher, and author. He is also a provocateur, whose words ...

Pricing the Priceless: The ultimate, maybe the only climate solution

27 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Paula DiPerna, a policy expert and author, discusses her new book "Pricing the Priceless," which proposes a solution to the damaging ...

Trump Agonistes

13 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Join former acting U.S. Attorney Joon Kim on this week’s New Thinking for a New World podcast as he delves into the unprecedented legal challenges s...

Our Blue Planet

06 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Earth, often referred to as "Water" due to its 70% ocean coverage, is profoundly impacted by climate issues. These include rising temperatures, sea le...

“When you strike at a king, you must kill him”

27 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In a recent surprising turn of events, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of paramilitary group Wagner Group, shifted his focus from Ukraine to challenging...

What Does ChatGPT Think?

22 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

OpenAI's ChatGPT has sparked a new era in human-machine interaction. From medicine to creative works, AI's abilities seem boundless. However, concerns...

Georgia on My Mind

15 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has significant implications for the future. Georgia, another former Soviet country, shares similar challenges. Will Geor...

Worth Repeating: Code Red: not for Earth, for Humanity?

08 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Join us as we revisit our conversation with Johan Rockström, renowned earth scientist and Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Resear...