Remember the 1998 film "Armageddon", when Bruce Willis leads a team of oil drillers to save Earth from an asteroid? It might seem fanciful — but in this episode of Visionary, we explore the real-life innovations that could one day prevent the end of the world.

Our guest is journalist and author Tom Ough, whose new book "The Anti-Catastrophe League" investigates the world's most catastrophic risks — and the remarkable people working to prevent them. From super-volcanoes and lab-made pandemics to solar storms, AI takeovers, and even the dream of transcending death, Tom explains how the worst-case scenarios might be closer than we think — and how they could also unlock transformational breakthroughs in science and society.

With humour and clarity on subjects that are often sensationalised, Tom argues that the most powerful tool we have is human ingenuity. His call is simple: take the threats seriously, support the people solving them... but don’t forget the water and torch.

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What does it feel like to see music — not metaphorically, but literally? And what can we learn from artists whose perception challenges everything we think we know about the senses?

This week on Visionary, Georgina Godwin meets Sarah Kraning, the Minnesota-based artist whose synesthesia allows her to experience sound as vivid colour, movement, and texture. Recorded at Here East, the conversation explores how Sarah transforms her neurological condition into breathtaking visual art — and why she sees it not as a disorder, but as a gift.

From the first time she heard Holst’s Jupiter to her recent collaboration with RÜFÜS DU SOL, painting songs that feature the calls of endangered and extinct species, Kraning shares how her unique sensory world is helping others reimagine the connection between music, art, and the mind.

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From war zones to Westminster, Christina Lamb has spent nearly four decades telling the stories that matter — often long before the rest of the world catches up.

Chief Foreign Correspondent at The Sunday Times, bestselling author, and a tireless advocate for global education, Christina joins Georgina Godwin to discuss her recent reporting on the mass abduction of Ukrainian children — a chilling campaign of forced assimilation and erasure — and reflects on what it takes to keep speaking out when the headlines move on. We discuss finding your voice in a noisy world, the moral responsibilities of journalists, and why some stories stay with you for life.

A measured, moving conversation with one of the finest foreign correspondents of her generation.

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In the age of TikTok, AI-generated content, and hyper-personalised feeds, the rules of PR have changed — but the fundamentals remain. Liam Keogh, Entrepreneur in Residence for Media at City University and a strategist with two decades of experience, shares the tools, mindset, and repeatable routines that anyone can use to build influence in a noisy world.

“PR is no longer about press releases,” he says. “It’s about shaping how you're perceived by the people who matter to you — and doing it with purpose.”

Liam lays out a step-by-step strategy for building a public profile that cuts through — whether you're running a business, launching a podcast, or simply looking to grow your influence. He argues that authenticity, clarity of purpose, and rhythm are the new currency of trust — and offers a rare inside look at how the best campaigns work from the ground up.

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What does it take to build a world-leading tech ecosystem — almost overnight? And what can the rest of the world learn from Saudi Arabia’s astonishing rise?

Georgina Godwin meets Mike Champion, chief executive of Tahaluf and the man behind LEAP, now the most attended tech event on the planet. Recorded at Here East, the conversation reveals how bold government strategy, global capital, and a deep embrace of AI are turning the Kingdom into a powerhouse of innovation.

From billion-dollar deals to seamless matchmaking between startups and investors, Mike shares the inside story of a tech transformation happening at unprecedented speed — and why this is just the beginning.

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Broadway has always balanced the bright lights of spectacle with the beating heart of storytelling. But in an era of IP-driven productions, star casting, and streaming-era attention spans, what does it take to create theatre that still moves people? Enter Brian Moreland, one of Broadway’s most thoughtful and boundary-pushing producers.

In this episode of Visionary, Georgina Godwin speaks with Moreland about what it means to produce stories that are both commercially viable and emotionally true. From classic revivals starring Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal to bold new works with Daniel Radcliffe, his career has spanned the spectrum — and always with an eye on representation, craft, and meaningful connection.

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Georgina Godwin meets acclaimed artist Conrad Shawcross, whose monumental sculptures and kinetic installations blur the line between science, philosophy, and public space. From his latest work Umbilical — debuting at Here East before moving to MONA in Tasmania — to his reflections on failed theories, urban transformation, and the role of unpredictability in art, Shawcross offers a fascinating look at how creativity connects people to place.

This is an episode about vision, beauty, and the evolving role of the artist in a fast-changing world.

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