Creative Collisions

Supermodel and environmental activist Lily Cole joins the former Wired editor David Rowan for the exclusive launch of her new book Who Cares Wins – they discuss the future of socially responsible business, and how innovators are responding to issues like fast fashion, renewable energy and gender equality.

This episode is part of a new series presented by Second Home and Berggruen Institute – free public events that bring together the most inspiring and celebrated figures of our time to exchange and discuss groundbreaking cultural, social and political ideas.

We celebrated 100 years of the American Civil Liberties Union – America's premier defender of civil rights and social justice – powerhouse literary couple Michael Chabon & Ayelet Waldman joined Hector Villagra of ACLU Southern California to discuss their new collection of essays Fight of the Century.

Former Chair of the Arts Council Peter Bazalgette talks to Rohan Silva about his book The Empathy Instinct, at Second Home Holland Park. He highlights the problem of online echo chambers and how they can incubate erroneous, sometimes dangerous opinion. Plus, the critical balance between nature and nurture and how the arts play a fundamental role in enabling us to understand each other.

Rohan Silva and his guests discuss the idea of 'skin in the game' and how it looks in our modern world. They consider associated economic terms such as incentives, accountability, and transfer of risks. More specifically, they discuss what it is that determines the long-term success of an idea and the often contradictory social and scientific factors at play.

Bella Freud discusses the importance of having worked with genius designer, Vivienne Westwood and the core advice imparted by her late father, the painter, Lucian Freud, of dedicated perseverance. She describes going on to create her own collections, ingeniously developing her own content marketing – and showcasing her work in short films with the likes of John Malkovich.

Design architect Thomas Heatherwick talks to Rohan Silva about the evolution of his thinking and his passion for ordinary public spaces – the gaps in between – and how to make 'rubbish' things brilliant.

Second Home founder Rohan Silva talks to editor of GQ Dylan Jones on the creative genius of David Bowie. After an initial nine year spell of struggle, Jones outlines Bowie’s ability to transform failure into eventual creative success. And with that Bowie’s unique collaborative vision, most notably with Brian Eno (famously in Berlin) and Iggy Pop.

Former chief editor of The Guardian, Alan Rusbridger, talks to Rohan Silva about playing the piano and learning Chopin – during one of the most tumultuous years in British journalism.

Rohan Silva welcomes charismatic internet pioneer Martha Lane Fox to Second Home Lisbon. They discuss Martha’s creation of lastminute.com and her subsequent focus on social justice and the internet. Working in government with Rohan to set-up Gov.co.uk they also consider gender inequality in tech and the importance of appointing more women VCs.

Second Home co-founder Rohan Silva introduces feminist and author of Rise-Up, Women! Diane Atkinson. Diane discusses the Suffragette Movement of early 20th century Britain – describing the group's fearless and creative resolve in the face of repeatedly brutal and shameful treatment at the hands of the state.