Aspen UK

In this episode, University of Sheffield Politics Professor Matthew Flinders chairs a conversation on the future of England. He is joined by Gavin Esler, award-winning writer and BBC journalist; Baroness Helena Morrissey, former CEO of Newton and now lead non-executive director at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office; Ella Whelan, author, journalist and co-convener of the 2021 Battle of Ideas Festival; and Justin Audibert, artistic director of the Unicorn Theatre - the UK's leading theatre for children. Together, they discuss the future of the United Kingdom after Brexit; debate federalism and the desire of some UK nations for greater self-determination; and explore the importance of nostalgia in driving change.

This episode was recorded as a live broadcast on the 21st September 2021. 

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In this episode, John Kampfner, award-winning author, broadcaster, commentator and cultural leader guides this conversation on the future of UK-German relations with Jill Gallard, Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany; and the German Ambassador to the UK, Andreas Michaelis. They discuss the current state of Germany following the recent election and formation of a coalition government; explore Germany’s role in Europe and the wider world, and discuss the departure of Chancellor Merkel will impact the relationships.

This episode was recorded as a live broadcast on the 25th October 2021. 

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In this episode, Nicola Smith, Asia correspondent for The Telegraph leads a conversation on the future of Taiwan with Bonnie Glaser, director of the Asia Programme at the German Marshall Fund of the United States; Brian Hioe, co-founding editor of New Bloom, an online magazine covering activism and youth politics; Hsin-Huang Michael Hsiao, senior advisor to the President of Taiwan; Chen-wei Lin, chief executive officer of the Institute for National Defense and Security Research; and Heino Klinck, senior advisor to the National Bureau of Asian Research. Together they discuss the growing tensions between Taiwan and China, considering whether or not military conflict is inevitable; explore how younger generations feel about the future of their country; and review how Taiwanese identity has evolved since gaining independence. 

This episode was recorded as a live broadcast on the 4th October 2021. 

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In February 2021, Myanmar's military seized power in a coup against the democratically elected government. The country’s population has since been living under a state of emergency. In this episode, Jonathan Head, South East Asia correspondent for the BBC has a conversation with Zin Mar Aung, Minister of Foreign Affairs for the National Unity Government of Myanmar; Tom Andrews, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar; Stephen Kinnock MP, Shadow Minister for Asia and the Pacific; and Thin Lei Win, co-founder of the The Kite Tales, a non-profit organisation which chronicles the lives and histories of people across Myanmar. They review the current state of the country; explore what governments around the world can do to support the Burmese people; and discuss what impact the situation will continue to have on healthcare, the economy and lives more generally.

This episode was recorded as a live broadcast on the 15th September 2021. 

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It’s 30 years since Ukraine gained its independence, but it is seven years since the Russian occupation of Crimea and eastern regions of the country. In this episode, Natalia Antelava, co-founder of the award-winning news start-up Coda Story, hosts a conversation with Olha Stefanishyna, Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration; Melinda Simmons, UK Ambassador to Ukraine; Vadym Prystaiko, Ukrainian Ambassador to the UK; Marcin Święcicki, Business Ombudsman in Ukraine; and Yuliya Tychkivska, Executive Director of Aspen Institute Kyiv. They discuss whether Ukraine can expect a closer relationship with the European Union and other allies; explore how trade agreements can help the country’s growth; and consider how important it is that Ukraine begins to move away from fossil fuel and towards alternative energy sources.

This episode was recorded as a live broadcast on the 28th September 2021 .

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In this special episode of the Aspen UK Podcast, Penny Richards is joined by Anthony Scaramucci, host of Mooch FM. They talk about Penny’s unforgettable experiences while working as a foreign reporter at war zones across the world for the BBC. Penny talks about the Aspen Institute’s remarkable ability to “bring people together who fundamentally disagree, to discuss incredibly important topics — and to see how they can effect that change.” In this fascinating chat, Anthony and Penny reflect on how they both live in polarised countries, but how Aspen offers a “comfortable platform” to bridge those divides.

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In this special episode, Penny Richards, head of the Aspen Institute UK leads a conversation on the future of Britain after Brexit. She is joined by Lord Peter Ricketts, former British diplomat; Muddassar Ahmed, managing partner at Unitas Communications; and Ella Whelan, freelance journalist and commentator. The panel explore what life without the European Union looks like, as the UK develops new relationships with it’s global neighbours; discuss the influence Brexit will have on both foreign and domestic policy, and its future; and review how the departure from the economic union will change the relationship between diplomats and politicians, and why in many ways Brexit will “never be done.”

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In this conversation, Lionel Barber, writer, broadcaster and former editor of the Financial Times talks about the future of ethics with Susan Liautaud, author of The Power of Ethics: How to Make Good Choices in a Complicated World. They discuss why ethics are harder to understand than ever before; explore the role of the media in disseminating information and the increased reliance on big tech; and discuss the importance of ethics in the workplace, and how we can learn to handle misconduct in the office, and at home.

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Anand Menon, Professor of European politics and foreign affairs at King's College London leads a discussion on the future of EU-UK relations. He is joined by Sophia Gaston, director of the British Foreign Policy Group; Alyn Smith MP, foreign affairs spokesperson for the SNP; Tom Tugendhat MP, chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee; and Ambassador João Vale de Almeida, ambassador of the European Union to the United Kingdom. In this conversation, the panel discusses the current UK-EU relationship; explore changing attitudes towards foreign policy, with ongoing issues of trust and changes in trade agreements; and describe why cooperation may become a “necessity” in the future.  

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Matt Mueller, the editor of Screen Daily and Screen International leads a discussion on the future of cinema. He is joined by Phil Clapp, CEO of the UK Cinema Association; Akua Gyamfi, founder and managing director of The British Blacklist; and Anna Smith, film critic and broadcaster. In this panoramic conversation, the panel considers the critical impact Covid-19 has had on the cinema industry, and what this means for its current stability and future prosperity; explore the increased popularity of streaming services; and delve into the ways Hollywood award season has transformed over the years - with increased acknowledgement of diversity and inclusivity.

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