Conversation Changers
Conversation Changers is a podcast by Salzburg Global, an organization based at Schloss Leopoldskron. It features conversations with thought leaders, artists, policymakers, and change-makers from around the world, aiming to reframe dialogue and explore new ideas to tackle pressing global challenges. The podcast is hosted in English and distributed internationally.
Episodes
Being Counted: Disability Rights in India with Shameer Rishad
What does it truly mean to be recognised by the state, and what are the perilous consequences for minority populations when they are left out of the data that shapes public policy?In this episode of Conversation Changers, host Eric Olander explores the urgent intersection of technology, data, and human rights. As big data, AI, and machine learning increasingly dictate who holds power, marginalised
The Future of US-Iran Relations with Ali Vaez
How can the international community navigate the deeply fractured relationship between the United States and Iran amidst a backdrop of historic mistrust, regional conflicts, and shifting geopolitical alliances?In this episode of Conversation Changers, host and Salzburg Global President and CEO Martin Weiss explores the evolving landscape of US-Iran diplomacy following years of volatile engagements
Student Activism and the Future of Education with Alison Bellwood & Gloria Figueroa
How can we empower the next generation to shape their future amidst a backdrop of global uncertainty, rapid technological change, and shifting educational paradigms?In this episode of Conversation Changers, host Eric Olander explores the evolving landscape of student activism and the urgent need for a new intergenerational dialogue. While today’s youth face unprecedented pressures, from climate ch
Tech, Migration, and the Fight Against Isolation with Shizuka 'Zucca' Nagahama & Sanchari Chandra
What happens to the human heart when economic migration forces a choice between supporting your family and actually seeing them grow up?In this episode of Conversation Changers, host Eric Olander dives into a poorly understood aspect of the global migration debate: the steep emotional and mental toll of social isolation. While political headlines focus on border policies and economic metrics, mill
Resistance and The Power of Neighbouring with Amanda Lovelee & Carl Swanson
What happens when a community decides to stand between their neighbours and a federal crackdown?In this episode of Conversation Changers, host Eric Olander explores the aftermath of an unprecedented immigration crackdown in the United States, where aggressive raids and mass deportations have become a daily reality. While the administration aimed for a swift, large-scale operation, they met a wall
Human Flourishing: The True Purpose of Education with Vishal Talreja
Is the traditional education system preparing young people for a world of work that no longer exists, or is it causing harm to the most vulnerable?In this episode of Conversation Changers, host Eric Olander explores the shifting landscape of global education and the workforce. As the economy transitions from a traditional "triangle" model to a "diamond" shape, entry-level oppor
Challenging Western Myths About China’s Rise with Chandran Nair
Is China an expansionist threat to the global order, or a misunderstood civilisational state focused on internal harmony and stability?In this episode of Conversation Changers, host Eric Olander explores the meteoric rise of China—a country that has transformed from a state where food was rationed with coupons to the world’s largest economy by purchasing power parity in just four decades. Joining
The Mirage of Diplomacy: Navigating the New Phase of the Iran Conflict with Aaron David Miller
Is the war in Iran truly shifting from the battlefield to the negotiating table, or are we witnessing a sophisticated diplomatic ruse?In this episode of Conversation Changers, our co-hosts Eric Olander and Martin Weiss (President and CEO of Salzburg Global) are joined by a true heavyweight of international diplomacy, Aaron David Miller.Aaron is a veteran US State Department advisor who spent 24 ye
Peace Through Power: The Pragmatic Origins of the UN with Lukas Haynes
In this episode of Conversation Changers, host Eric Olander is joined by Lukas Haynes, a Salzburg Global Fellow and author of the provocative new book ‘Peace Through Power: FDR’s Military Leaders and the Pragmatism of the UN Charter’. As the UN faces what Secretary General Antonio Guterres calls a risk of imminent financial collapse and a deepening crisis of legitimacy, Haynes argues that we must
The Radical Science of Flexible Thinking with Leor Zmigrod
Are our political beliefs hard-wired into our biology?In the season two premiere of Conversation Changers, host Eric Olander sits down with Leor Zmigrod, a leading political neuroscientist and Salzburg Global Fellow, to explore the fascinating intersection of brain science and ideology.As we navigate an era of digital echo chambers and increasing political polarisation, Zmigrod’s research reveals
Navigating the New Frontier of AI and Creativity with Micaela Mantegna
“The problem is not that AI is taking your job, the problem is that AI is taking your income… it’s a problem about redistribution of wealth.” — Micaela MantegnaIn this episode of Conversation Changers, host Eric Olander explores the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence (AI) and its profound implications for human creativity and copyright law. While AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude
Science, Power, and the Future of Global Cooperation with Eric Maskin
What happens when economic expertise meets political upheaval?In this episode of Conversation Changers, Nobel Prize–winning economist Eric Maskin sits down with Salzburg Global CEO & President, Martin Weiss, to reflect on how receiving the Nobel Prize expanded his public role at a time when expertise, science, and democratic institutions are increasingly under pressure. Trained as a mathematic
AI's Impact on Education and Creativity with Jasvin Bhasin
In this thought-provoking episode of Conversation Changers, host Eric Olander sits down with tech philosopher and engineer Jasvin Bhasin to explore one of the defining questions of our time: What does it mean to be human in the age of AI?With 84% of U.S. high school students already using AI for schoolwork and major companies restructuring their workforces around automation, Jasvin and Eric unpack
Using AI to Solve Bias and Preserve Ancestral Knowledge with Malik Afegbua
What if the next frontier of artificial intelligence wasn't about the future but about reclaiming the past? Nigerian artist, filmmaker, and creative technologist Malik Afegbua became a global conversation-changer when his viral "Elder Series"—AI-generated images of stylish seniors on a fashion runway—highlighted the deep-seated biases in AI training data, forcing us to confront the l
Africa at the Centre: Rethinking Conservation with Kaddu Sebunya
Kaddu Sebunya, CEO of the African Wildlife Foundation, joins Salzburg Global President & CEO Martin Weiss to challenge how the world thinks about conservation. For decades, global efforts have focused on protecting wildlife from people — but Kaddu argues that the future of conservation depends on putting people at the centre.In this powerful and thought-provoking conversation, Kaddu shares how
China and the Great Reckoning with Kaiser Kuo
“We have to stop asking, ‘What does China want?’ and start reckoning with what it actually is.” — Kaiser KuoSalzburg Global’s podcast series Conversation Changers brings the spirit of dialogue, openness, and innovation that defines Salzburg Global to audiences worldwide. In each episode, leading thinkers and practitioners explore the forces reshaping our societies — and how we can engage with them
Navigating the Misinformation Maze with Tina Purnat
Salzburg Global’s podcast series Conversation Changers brings the spirit of dialogue, openness, and innovation that defines Salzburg Global to audiences worldwide. In each episode, leading thinkers and practitioners explore pressing global challenges — and how we can rethink them for a better future.In this new episode, host Eric Olander speaks with Tina Purnat, a leading expert on health communic
The Shifting Balance of Power in Europe with Steven Erlanger
In this episode of Conversation Changers our President and CEO Martin Weiss sits down with Steven Erlanger, the chief diplomatic correspondent for the New York Times in Europe. Over four decades, Steven has reported from more than 120 countries, serving as bureau chief in cities from Moscow to Jerusalem to London to Bangkok. He's a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist known for his sharp insights
Pilot: Introducing Conversation Changers
To launch Conversation Changers, Eric Olander speaks with Martin Weiss, our President and Chief Executive Officer, to reflect on Salzburg Global’s origins in the aftermath of WWII — and why our mission of fostering dialogue and reconciliation is more urgent than ever.From the historic setting of Schloss Leopoldskron to the role of the arts and listening in bridging divides, this conversation sets
Conversation Changers (Trailer)
Change begins with conversation.For over 75 years, Salzburg Global has brought together diverse voices at Schloss Leopoldskron to tackle the world’s most pressing challenges. Now, we’re opening the doors even wider.Introducing Conversation Changers — our brand new podcast where thought leaders, artists, policymakers, and change-makers from around the globe come together to reframe dialogue, explor
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