EPISODE 7: Can We Ever End Poverty And Hunger? with Mohsen Sarhan

In this conversation, Mohsen Sarhan opens up about his unlikely path—from a life of privilege to leading the Egyptian Food Bank, one of the region’s most impactful organizations tackling hunger. He reflects on the paradox of abundance in some corners of society, while millions remain trapped in cycles of poverty and food insecurity.

What does it take to break these cycles? Why do systemic inequalities continue to leave the most vulnerable behind, despite decades of aid and policy reforms?

EPISODE 6: Is Optimism For Tackling Climate Change And Migration Justified? with Ovais Sarmad

From surviving a plane crash to navigating the frontlines of the climate crisis, former Deputy Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC Ovais Sarmad’s life has been shaped by moments where the odds seemed insurmountable.

As a top UN climate official, he’s wrestled with the moral and political weight of a warming planet, the growing wave of climate migration, and the urgency to act before tipping points become irreversible.

Through it all, he holds onto an unshakable optimism, not as a naive belief, but as a deliberate choice. For Sarmad, hope is the engine of action. The question is: Can the rest of the world summon the same resolve before time runs out?

EPISODE 5: Is the Future of Global Governance Stuck in Bureaucratic Gridlock? with Claus Sorensen

Is the true architecture of peace and progress found in quiet, painstaking compromise or in bold vision?

Global economist Claus Haugaard Sorensen speaks to Mukesh Kapila on his journey from a skeptical young Dane resisting European integration to a key architect in helping Central and Eastern European countries join the European Union.

Yet, Sorensen does not shy away from acknowledging the limitations and contradictions that haunt the European project. The rise of nationalism, economic inequality, and the perception of a “fortress Europe” complicate the narrative of European unity and inclusivity.

If inclusivity and solidarity lie at the heart of European ideals, why are so many citizens in both old and new member states feeling left behind?

His warnings echo in the unsettled present: Are supranational projects like the European Union vulnerable to accusations of fortress mentality, or can they reinvent themselves to deliver justice and security for all?

When democracies struggle with distance—geographical, linguistic, and institutional—what will restore the social contract and bridge the gap between citizens and distant power centers?

Listen to the conversation