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

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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

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In this episode, I sit down with Chris Salinas, a former U.S. Coast Guard officer whose career has spanned international security, maritime cooperation, and technology.

Chris reflects on the experiences during his teenage years that first drew him toward a life of service, and how those early influences led him to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. He shares how working alongside partners across cultures shaped his approach to leadership, trust, and international cooperation.

We talk about his years working across Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia, exploring what successful international partnerships have in common, the lessons learned from operating in complex environments, and how those experiences changed his perspective on America's role in the world.

Recorded on 25 June 2026.

Connect with Chris on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissalinas/.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

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

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In this episode, I explore Laura’s journey into the fascinating world of political risk insurance, a space that is exploding in relevance as business leaders grapples with an ever more complex geopolitical landscape. Laura shares her insights into the way businesses navigate political risk and the leadership and organisational blindspots she’s noticed. She then distils a few principles that the most geopolitically savvy firms follow.

Recorded on 27 June 2024.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

Connect with Laura on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/laura-burns-b1661b18/.

Laura mentions DWN Bookshelf, a book club for graduates of Fletcher School’s GMAP programme. The Instagram account lists the books the club is reading. Laura makes a reference to Zsuzsanna Szelényi’s book, Tainted Democracy. Zsuzsanna was a guest of a previous episode.

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

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In this episode, I sit down with Tjark Marten Egenhoff, a development and foreign policy leader whose life has been shaped by movement, service, and the search for belonging.

Tjark reflects on growing up across countries and cultures, from revolutionary Iran to Argentina during periods of political upheaval. He shares how those early experiences, together with a strong sense of justice instilled by his family, shaped the way he sees the world.

We talk about his path into politics, development, and international cooperation, and the optimism of a generation that came of age believing in European integration and a more connected world.

In the latter part of the conversation, Tjark reflects on leadership, identity, and belonging. He speaks candidly about coming out later in life, navigating different cultures and institutions, and why authenticity became central to the way he leads.

Recorded on 4 May 2026.

Connect with Tjark on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/tjark-marten-egenhoff-42579246/.

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 Mariana Deluera, a geopolitical risk analyst whose life has been shaped by movement, adaptation, and the search for belonging.

Mariana reflects on growing up across five countries as the daughter of a Mexican diplomat. She shares what it was like to become repeatedly uprooted and re-rooted, and how returning to Mexico as a teenager left her feeling both at home and like a foreigner.

We talk about the influence of her mother and grandmother, two women whose very different life journeys shaped her outlook, as well as her path from immigration and asylum work into geopolitical analysis during the uncertainty of the COVID pandemic.

In the latter part of the conversation, Mariana reflects on how living between cultures influences the way she thinks about geopolitical risk today, the importance of staying open to different perspectives, and why adaptability matters in a rapidly changing world.

Recorded on 23 April 2026.

Connect with Mariana on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/mariana-deluera-aa9626142.

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 Stephen Hunnewell, a former national security and irregular warfare practitioner whose career has spanned Special Operations, geopolitics, technology, and strategic competition.

Steve reflects on growing up in a single-parent household, the values that shaped him early on, and the impact 9/11 had on his generation. We talk about the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the limits of overwhelming military force, and the mismatch between Western assumptions and local realities on the ground.

Drawing on years working alongside partners across the Middle East, Europe, and Asia, Steve reflects on how America’s role in the world has changed, the growing importance of narratives in modern conflict, and how technology and social fragmentation are reshaping competition from Ukraine to elsewhere.

In the latter part of the conversation, Steve reflects on parenthood, family life, and what years focused abroad have taught him about service, community, and meaning at home.

Recorded on 22 April 2026.

Connect with Steve on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/hunnewellstephen/.

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