At the Coalface

Hosted by Philippe Rose

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Episodes

132

Latest episode

Oct 2026

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EN-GB

About 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.

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60 recent

October 21, 2026Episode 13345 min

Kim Wilson: Beyond Vulnerability: The Ingenuity We Overlook

In this episode, I sit down with Kim Wilson, a financial inclusion scholar and practitioner whose work has taken her from the world of business and finance to the everyday financial lives of migrants and communities often overlooked by formal institutions. Kim reflects on how her early career in finance led her towards international development, and how her experiences with microfinance challenged some of her assumptions about what helps people escape poverty. She explains why access to credit is not always the answer, and how community-based savings groups can offer a more practical, sustainable and empowering alternative. We explore the ingenious financial networks people build for themselves, from rural women's savings groups in Kenya to immigrant-run savings clubs in the United States. These arrangements reveal a side of migration that is often missed: beyond the very real vulnerabilities people face, there is resourcefulness, entrepreneurship and an extraordinary capacity to organise and support one another. Ultimately, this is a conversation about looking beyond statistics and assumptions to listen to people's stories, and discovering how much we can learn from the ways they navigate the world. Recorded on 23 September 2026. Connect with Kim on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/kim-wilson-723aa31/ and at Journeysproject.org . Her book, Backyard Bankers, Immigrants, money clubs, and the pursuit of the American dream is available for download here: https://practicalactionpublishing.com/book/3017/backyard-bankers . 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

October 7, 2026Episode 13256 min

David Browne - Home Beyond Borders

In this episode, I sit down with David Browne, a former USAID Foreign Service Officer whose career has taken him from Bolivia and Bangladesh to the West Bank, Uganda, and now back home to local government in North Carolina. David reflects on growing up between India and the United States, never quite fitting neatly into a single cultural identity, and how those early experiences shaped his lifelong curiosity about people, cultures, and the wider world. He shares how music, poetry, and an unexpected journey into international development helped him make sense of belonging and purpose. We explore the realities of serving overseas through moments of profound uncertainty, from the Arab Spring to COVID-19, and the leadership lessons he learned about trust, inclusion, and empowering others. Along the way, David reflects on what it means to build community, continually reinvent yourself, and remain open to new experiences long after your career path seems set. Ultimately, this is a conversation about identity, curiosity, and discovering that home is often found not in a place, but in the people who help us become who we are. Recorded on 6 August 2026. Connect with David on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/david-browne-cpa-cgfm . His music is available on YouTube . 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

September 23, 2026Episode 13146 min

Robert (Mark) Nelson - You Can't Be Fully Loved Until You're Fully Known

In this episode, I sit down with Rob (Mark) Nelson, a pharmacist and lifelong student of languages, culture, and global affairs. Mark reflects on growing up in New Mexico, where a rich blend of cultures, languages, and family influences first sparked his curiosity about the wider world. He shares how formative experiences in Mexico deepened his appreciation for cultural understanding and reinforced the importance of meeting people where they are. We explore his journey into pharmacy, the lessons he has learned about service, trust, and compassion through caring for patients, and how his faith has shaped his understanding of leadership and responsibility. Along the way, we discuss the role of healthcare in building bridges across divides, the challenge of rebuilding trust in an increasingly polarised world, and his ongoing search for ways to combine his medical background with a growing commitment to international affairs. Ultimately, this is a conversation about curiosity, empathy, and discovering that meaningful service is defined less by the title we hold than by the way we choose to care for others. Recorded on 5 August 2026. Connect with Mark on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/robert-mark-nelson . 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

September 9, 2026Episode 13054 min

Perry Boyle - The Three Wars in Ukraine

In this episode, I sit down with Perry Boyle for the second time, two years after our first conversation about his efforts to build Ukraine's domestic defence industry. Much has changed since then, with Ukraine emerging as one of the world's most innovative defence ecosystems and developing technologies that other countries are increasingly looking to learn from. Perry reflects on how this transformation has changed his own perspective, and how MITS Capital has evolved alongside it. We explore the rapidly changing nature of warfare, from drones and autonomous systems to counter-drone technology, missile defence, and the growing importance of industrial capacity and resilient supply chains. We also discuss what Perry sees as the three interconnected wars being fought around Ukraine: the war on the battlefield, the broader confrontation between democracy and autocracy, and the struggle to transform Ukraine itself. Finally, Perry reflects on what the past two years have taught him personally about purpose, agency, and the power of an outsider to make a difference. Ultimately, this is a conversation about how a once-contrarian idea became reality, and what it means to keep adapting when the world around you is changing faster than expected. Recorded on 13 August 2026. Connect with Perry on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/perryboyle . 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

August 26, 2026Episode 1291 hr 19 min

Carolina L. - Between Stimulus and Response There Is a Space

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. Please subscribe to At the Coalface wherever you get your podcasts to receive a new episode every two weeks: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter . Your subscription will go towards our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during upcoming recordings. Thank you. Support the show

August 12, 2026Episode 12850 min

Tyson Johnson - From Being Dead Right to Leading Well

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! Support the show

July 29, 2026Episode 12745 min

Mildred Pantouw - Learning Before Helping: Lessons from a Life in Development

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

July 15, 2026Episode 1261 hr 0 min

Chris Salinas – To Lead, First Learn to Follow

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. 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

July 1, 2026Episode 12548 min

Laura B. - Insuring the uninsurable: helping the private sector navigate political risk

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. 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

June 17, 2026Episode 12451 min

Tjark Egenhoff - Revolutions, Democracy, and the Courage to Be Yourself

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! Support the show

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