Fredrik Norman - The Long Ride: Values, Change and Continuity
In this episode, I speak with Fredrik Norman, whose story captures Norway’s remarkable transformation, from a country built on fishing to one where new generations could freely choose their path.We spoke about navigating career choices in a rapidly changing economy, and Fredrik’s journey through the energy industry, a path we both share, before he moved into public service.We also touched on marriage in a two-career household, and how identity evolves as work and family life intersect. Outside of work, Fredrik is an extreme cyclist, finding balance and focus on long, demanding rides that take him far beyond the office.This is a thoughtful conversation about values, change and continuity.Recorded on 28 August 2025.Connect with Fredrik on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/fredriknorman.Instagram: @at.the.coalfaceAnd 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
--------
58:59
--------
58:59
Nicodemus Ajak Bior - The Long Walk from War to Leadership
In this episode, I speak with Nicodemus Ajak Bior, a former child soldier from South Sudan who defied unimaginable odds to become a scholar, public servant, and advocate for transparency.At just eight years old, Nicodemus was taken by rebels and thrust into a world of survival, separation, and loss. His escape, walking over hundreds of kilometres barefoot through war zones and jungles, marks the beginning of a story that is both harrowing and inspiring.From makeshift schools under trees in refugee camps to earning a degree at the Fletcher School, Nicodemus’s journey is one of profound resilience, human connection, and the power of education to transform lives.We talk about what it means to survive and rebuild, how hope persists even in the darkest places, and how leadership is forged by perseverance.Recorded on 26 August 2025.Connect with Nicodemus on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/nicodemus-a-bior-0948b291/.Instagram: @at.the.coalfaceAnd 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
--------
1:13:29
--------
1:13:29
Michael Klein - How to Talk About Economics Without Losing the Plot
In this episode, I speak with Professor Michael Klein, founder and co-editor of EconoFact and Professor of Economics at The Fletcher School. Michael has served as Chief Economist in the U.S. Treasury and as a visiting scholar at the Federal Reserve and the IMF.We discuss how sound economic analysis can cut through noise and polarization, and why clear communication of facts is critical for better policy. We talk about the motivation behind EconoFact, and how it helps bridge the gap between academic research and public understanding, offering accessible, evidence-based insights on today’s most debated economic issues. This conversation explores the intersection of economics, policy, and public trust, and what it takes to communicate complexity with honesty and clarity in an age of information overload.Recorded on 10 September 2025.Connect with Michael on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/michael-klein-5979431 and at Econofact.org.Instagram: @at.the.coalfaceAnd 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
--------
57:08
--------
57:08
Krystal Ramsden: From Faith to Fractures, a Journey Through Mining, Resilience, and Meaning
In this episode, I speak with Krystal Ramsden. Krystal was raised in an ultra-religious, homeschooled environment. Her early world was one of strict boundaries, until science, education, and the wider world cracked it open. What followed was a lifelong pursuit of knowledge and a career that has taken her from field camps in the Yukon to the geopolitical battlegrounds of mining finance and fragile states.Krystal also shares her parallel story of surviving abuse, and transforming trauma into advocacy and other practical initiatives. We explore her expertise in the geopolitics of resources, how inequality, governance, and security converge in the global race for critical minerals.Recorded on 26 August 2025.Connect with Krystal on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/krystalramsden/.Instagram: @at.the.coalfaceAnd 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
--------
57:42
--------
57:42
William Morrissey: Adaptability is key, frontline lessons from special forces to business
In this episode, I speak with William Morrissey about his remarkable journey from a career in the special forces to leadership roles in the private sector. Bill reflects on pivotal moments in his path, when he chose to persevere through challenges, and when he decided it was time to cash his chips and move on.We explore how his military career shaped his approach to leadership, including his work setting up innovative counterterrorism practices and designing training programmes for international partners. Bill shares the lessons he carried forward into civilian life, emphasizing the values that remain constant across both worlds: adaptability, integrity, and cultural sensitivity.Recorded on 22 August 2025.Instagram: @at.the.coalfaceAnd 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
At the Coalface is a series of conversations hosted by Philippe Rose.Philippe's guests share stories about their life beyond the headlines of international affairs. They look for lessons learned about making an impact in the world as practitioners in diplomacy, international organisations, NGOs, journalism and the private sector.Many of Philippe's guests are connected by their common experience of taking time away from work to attend graduate school at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy of Tufts University.
New Zealand