Dr Virgilio Sacchini is a leading Italian breast surgeon and oncologist, internationally recognized for his expertise in breast cancer treatment and research. In this episode, he reflects on his medical career and the evolution of cancer surgery, highlighting advances in early detection, personalized care and multidisciplinary approaches. He also discusses the importance of prevention, the doctor-patient relationship, and the ongoing challenges and innovations shaping modern oncology.

Nicholas Vreeland is a Tibetan Buddhist monk, photographer, and former abbot of Rato Monastery in India. In this episode, he reflects on his journey from a Western upbringing and career in photography to monastic life, sharing insights into compassion, discipline and spiritual commitment. He explores Buddhist philosophy, non-attachment, and personal responsibility, and reflects on his relationship with Dalai Lama, offering a perspective on compassion and inner transformation in today’s complex world.

Maurizio Marinella is the head of E. Marinella, the historic Neapolitan brand founded in 1914 and renowned worldwide for its handcrafted ties. In this episode, he retraces the origins and evolution of the company, reflecting on its growth from a local business to an international brand, the balance between tradition and innovation, and the value of artisanal craftsmanship, with the tie as an expression of identity and personal style.

Maurizio Marinella è alla guida di E. Marinella, storica maison napoletana fondata nel 1914 e conosciuta nel mondo per le sue cravatte artigianali. Nell’episodio l’imprenditore ripercorre le origini e l’evoluzione dell’azienda, dalla dimensione locale all’espansione internazionale, soffermandosi sull’equilibrio tra tradizione e innovazione, sul valore dell’artigianato e sulla cravatta come espressione di identità e stile personale.

Clémence and Didier Krzentowski are the founders of Galerie kreo in Paris, one of the leading galleries dedicated to contemporary design. Since its creation in 1999, the gallery has worked closely with some of the most influential designers of our time, fostering a space where experimentation, craftsmanship and innovation come together. In this episode, they reflect on the origins and evolution of Galerie kreo, their collaborations with designers, and the relationship between contemporary and historic design.

Axel Rüger is a German art historian, curator, and museum director. Formerly director of the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam and the Royal Academy of Arts in London, he assumed the directorship of The Frick Collection in New York in March 2025. In this episode, he discusses the museum's history as a Gilded Age mansion built by Henry Clay Frick, its recent redevelopment, and his vision for preserving its intimate character while enhancing public access, exhibitions, and cultural programs.

Born to Bengali parents and raised in the United States, Jhumpa Lahiri is an author whose work explores themes of identity, language and displacement. In this episode, she discusses the evolution of her literary career and the personal and creative journey that led her to embrace the Italian language, also reflecting on writing as a space for exploration and transformation.

Ludovico Einaudi is one of the most internationally acclaimed contemporary composers and pianists. Born in Turin and raised in an environment deeply connected to Italy’s cultural and intellectual life, he reflects on how his origins shaped his sensibility while inspiring him to seek an independent artistic voice. In this episode, Einaudi discusses his creative journey and the role of music as a universal language. He also explores his approach to composition, live performance, and film scoring, sharing personal reflections on creativity, travel, silence, and the idea of music as a space of connection, calm, and love in an increasingly complex world.

Leonardo Ferragamo, the fifth son of Salvatore and Wanda Ferragamo, is the Chairman of Salvatore Ferragamo S.p.A. since 2021. He studied economics at the University of Lausanne (UNIL), then at Columbia University. He started working for Ferragamo in menswear, and created Ferragamo Men Division. Today, he is also President of the Lungarno Collection of hotels in Florence, Rome and Milan, and CEO of Palazzo Feroni Finanziaria, one of the Ferragamo family’s two holding companies, which operates in real estate and other diversified businesses. Leonardo Ferragamo is also President of Sawa SRL, which has to do with his personal love of sailing boats and in particular the Nautor Swan yachts, to ensure whose future on August 1st 2024 he sold to Sanlorenzo, a worldwide leader in the production of made-to-measure yachts.

Maria Balshaw is Director of Tate since June 2017. The author of Gathering of Strangers: Why Museums Matter, published by Tate Publishing in June 2024, previously Maria was Director of the Whitworth, University of Manchester; Director of Manchester City Galleries; and Director of Culture for Manchester City Council. She is the first female director of the Tate, with overall responsibility for Tate’s strategic direction and day-to-day operations, and each of the four Tate galleries has their own site Director who reports in to her.

Michelangelo Pistoletto, born in 1933, is a pivotal figure in contemporary art and the founder of the Arte Povera movement. Celebrated for his reflective works and the Third Paradise concept, he integrates art and social practice, advocating for a harmonious future. In 2023, he was honored with a major retrospective, "Molti di Uno," at the Castello di Rivoli, highlighting his lifelong contributions to art and society.