In this episode, Siri and I sit down with Carolina L., an Argentinian economist and humanitarian whose career with the United Nations took her from New York to East Timor and Iraq. Carolina reflects on the experiences that first drew her to international affairs, her fascination with diplomacy, and the sense of purpose she found working in some of the world's most challenging environments.

Carolina shares her memories of helping rebuild East Timor following its independence, the relationships she formed there, and meeting her partner, Sergio Vieira de Mello. She describes their shared commitment to peacebuilding and public service, and the optimism that sustained them through complex international missions.

We also talk about the 2003 bombing of the UN headquarters in Baghdad, in which Sergio and 21 of Carolina's colleagues were killed, and the long journey that followed. Carolina reflects with remarkable honesty on grief, rebuilding a life after profound loss, finding meaning through Viktor Frankl's work, and carrying Sergio's legacy forward through mentorship and service.

Recorded on 12 April 2022, with new introduction recorded in July 2026.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Carolina on Instagram @carolina.larriera. Centro Sergio Vieira de Mello (sergiovieirademello.org) aims to keep Sergio's legacy alive by bringing diplomatic skills to Brazil's underprivileged youth.

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In this episode, I sit down with Tyson Johnson, a leader whose career has spanned intelligence, enterprise risk, cybersecurity, digital transformation, and artificial intelligence.

Tyson reflects on the conversations around his family's dinner table, the influence of his World War II veteran grandfather, and the curiosity that first led him to explore how the world works. He shares how a career that began in intelligence gradually evolved into a broader quest to understand risk, organisations, and leadership.

We explore the transition from being a subject matter expert to leading through collaboration, the mentors who transformed his approach, and why he believes curiosity and lifelong learning are among the most important qualities a leader can cultivate.

Finally, we discuss how AI, geopolitics, and increasing global uncertainty are reshaping the way organisations make decisions, and why Tyson believes the greatest challenge ahead is not technological, but fundamentally one of leadership.

Recorded on 4 August 2026.

Connect with Tyson on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/tyson-johnson-ma-84b8375/.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

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In this episode, I sit down with Mildred Pantouw, a public health and international development leader whose career has taken her from Indonesia to the United States, Guinea, and back to Indonesia.

Mildred reflects on growing up between two cultures and how navigating life between Indonesia and the United States shaped her understanding of identity, community, and service. She shares how her faith, childhood experiences, and early curiosity about the wider world led her into public health and international development.

We talk about her first experiences working in Guinea, the importance of listening before acting, and why trust and relationships matter more than any programme or intervention. We also explore the changing landscape of international development, the need to adapt as traditional donor models evolve, and the role that resilience and hope have played throughout her career.

At the time of publication, Mildred serves as Vice CEO of the Center for Indonesia's Strategic Development Initiatives (CISDI), where she works on strengthening primary healthcare through partnerships involving academia, government, and the private sector.

Recorded on 10 July 2026.

Connect with Mildred on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/mildred-pantouw-77ba454.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.

Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!

Support the show