We begin with Sanam and Kavita discussing the reaction to the escalating war in Iran.

Sanam shares what she is hearing from inside Iran as US and Israeli forces continue to strike across the country — reflecting on the school strike, the sinking of a naval vessel by a US submarine, and the election of a new Supreme Leader. She considers where this chaos and violence may ultimately lead.

Sanam and Kavita then sit down with Maya and Nancy Yamout, two extraordinary sisters from Lebanon who understand better than most the long-term consequences of war, extremism, and violence.

Maya and Nancy Yamout are forensic social workers renowned for their deradicalisation work targeting Islamist extremists within Lebanon's prison system. Following the death of a mutual friend who had joined an extremist group, they co-founded the non-governmental organisation Rescue Me in 2011, focusing on rehabilitating at-risk youth and inmates.

This conversation explores the complex world of countering extremism through personal testimony, rehabilitation, and community rebuilding in Lebanon. Maya and Nancy share their experiences working inside prisons, navigating family dynamics, and fostering empathy as a tool to prevent violence.

If You Were In Charge is brought to you by ICAN⁠ ⁠⁠International Civil Society Action Network⁠⁠⁠

Original Music, Little Monster Media 

Executive Producer: Pearse Lynch

This is an ⁠⁠⁠ADA Production⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A world leader has been assassinated, schools and hospitals have been hit, and Donald Trump thinks that Keir Starmer is no Winston Churchill. It’s all kicking off as the US and Israel’s illegal war escalates across the Middle East. All of this with the open admission of no real plan for what comes next. 

Struggling to absorb it all? Wondering if there’s another way? British-Iranian peace strategist Sanam Naraghi Anderlini MBE is here to fill us in. She joins Coco and comedian Sophie Duker, who is in the hotseat for Nish this week.

Soaring oil prices was not the backdrop Chancellor Rachel Reeves was hoping for ahead of her second Spring Statement. Finalised before the conflict broke out, her economic plan was “Trumped” before it was even delivered - so where does this leave the UK?

Plus - just as the UK gets dragged into this latest destabilising conflict, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood rips up the rules on UK asylum. 

Got a burning question for Nish or Coco? Big or small - they will be answered in a special episode! Email: [email protected] 

GUEST

Sanam Naraghi Anderlini MBE, founder and CEO of the International Civil Society Action Network (ICAN)

USEFUL LINKS

Sophie Duker
https://thesophieduker.com/

If You Were In Charge with Sanam Naraghi Anderlini and Kavita Nandini Ramdas.
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/if-you-were-in-charge/id1770618616

CREDITS

Sophie Duker - Live at the Apollo / BBC One 
Keir Starmer / X
Parliament TV 
PBS News Hour / YouTube
BBC News 
Zoe Gardner / IG
Manchester Evening News 

Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media.
Get in touch - contact us via email: [email protected]
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Welcome back to a new season of If You Were in Charge.

This week, we sit down with Ben Cohen, co-founder of Ben & Jerry's, who has built a life creating an ice cream empire while also becoming a passionate activist fighting against military spending, which he believes is irrational and immoral, and is used to keep ordinary people poor and oppressed.

We explore his journey from ice cream to activism, and his unwavering belief in the power of collective action.

This episode also features Sanam’s daughter, Soleh. Together, they discuss the ongoing Epstein fallout and why it is cutting through the media noise, Marco Rubio’s imperialist speech in Munich, and Iran—along with what America is going to do next.

That's this week on If You Were in Charge, the radical leadership podcast about people, power, and possibilities, hosted by Sanam Naraghi Anderlini, founder of ICAN and a peace strategist who has worked with women in conflict zones for over thirty years, and co-host Kavita Nandini Ramdas, senior advisor to the International Planned Parenthood Federation and former head of the Global Fund for Women.

If You Were In Charge is brought to you by ICAN⁠ ⁠International Civil Society Action Network⁠⁠

Original Music, Little Monster Media 

Executive Producer: Pearse Lynch

This is an ⁠⁠ADA Production

key topics

Chapters

00:00 Health Care vs. Militarism

01:50 Public Outrage: Epstein vs. Gaza

04:44 The Role of Youth in Activism

06:44 Political Extremism and Identity

08:50 The Absurdity of Militarism

13:02 Ben Cohen: Activism and Ice Cream

14:29 The Origins of Ben and Jerry's

15:13 Childhood Aversion to Militarism

17:42 Economic Violence and Lead Poisoning

20:57 Connecting Militarism to Everyday Issues

24:59 Human Security vs. National Security

25:26 Activism and Business: A Dual Role

30:44 The Game of Business and Social Responsibility

33:45 Innovative Financing and Community Engagement

35:10 The Balance of Wealth and Fulfillment

37:12 Corporate Responsibility and Social Justice

38:21 Ben & Jerry's Social Mission and Unilever

40:41 Political Stance and Corporate Complicity

42:43 Hope Amidst Outrage and Activism

47:01 Vision for a Better World

49:39 People Power and Collective Mobilization

51:32 Cultural Connections Through Ice Cream

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Welcome back to a new season of If You Were in Charge

The radical leadership podcast about people, power & possibilities from ICAN and ADA is excited to announce a new co-host!

Kavita Nandini Ramdas, senior advisor to the International Planned Parenthood Federation and former head of the Global Fund for Women, joins host Sanam Naraghi Anderlini, founder of ICAN and a peace strategist who has worked with women in conflict zones for over thirty years. 

Sanam and Kavita represent voices rarely heard in podcasting. Two powerful advocates for peace and social justice, women leaders with roots in India and Iran, who have built careers as global citizens at the highest levels. Launching officially Tuesday February 24th! 

Welcoming an extraordinary range of guests including…

If You Were In Charge is brought to you by ICAN⁠ International Civil Society Action Network⁠

Original Music, Little Monster Media 

Executive Producer: Pearse Lynch

This is an ⁠ADA Production

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sanam Naraghi Anderlini and Kavita Ramdas offer a feminist take on the pervasive issues of misogyny, the culture of impunity surrounding powerful men, and the systemic exclusion of women from influential spaces. The implications of the Epstein case, the normalization of sexual exploitation, and the backlash against feminism. The dialogue emphasizes the need for accountability and the importance of recognizing the voices of women in power dynamics, while also highlighting the hope that exists amidst the darkness of these societal issues.

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If You Were In Charge

In this special edition, Sanam Naraghi Anderlini and new co-host Kavita Ramdas take an incisive look at the current crisis in Iran, where economic collapse, renewed protests, and a brutal government crackdown have converged into a pivotal moment for the nation. Sanam examines the latest developments and the historical roots of dissent, including her own family’s history as key actors in 20th-century Iran.

Kavita and Sanam also discuss the resurgence of women as visible leaders of resistance, and the complex interplay of sanctions, politics, and social change. Through deep analysis and personal testimony, the conversation explores why peaceful dialogue and inclusive solutions are essential, and how the resilience of the Iranian people could help shape a future beyond despair.

If You Were In Charge is brought to you by ICAN⁠ International Civil Society Action Network⁠

Original Music, Little Monster Media

Executive Producer: Pearse Lynch

This is an ⁠ADA Production⁠

ICAN’s newsletter: ⁠https://icanpeacework.org/2025/03/sign-up-to-icans-newsletter/

02:59 Understanding the Current Unrest in Iran

05:57 Historical Context: The Roots of Iranian Resistance

09:04 The Role of Women in the Protests

11:56 Economic Factors Behind the Protests

15:02 The Impact of Sanctions on Iranian Society

17:59 The Complexity of the Iranian Regime

20:46 The Need for Dialogue and Non-Violence

23:55 Imagining a Future for Iran

26:55 Hope Amidst the Struggle

30:09 Final Thoughts and Call to Action

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Welcome back to our special “If You Were in Charge” summer series with Sanam Naraghi Anderlini. Each week, we’re thematically pairing some of our favorite conversations and this time, we’ve brought together two powerful voices on wealth and generosity.

First, filmmaker and activist Abby Disney shares what it was like to grow up as an heiress to the Disney fortune, and why she’s urging the ultra-wealthy to give more, and give boldly.

Then, Chris Worman from Giving Tuesday explores how philanthropy can be reclaimed by ordinary people as a force for good, personal fulfillment, and even joy.

If You Were In Charge is brought to you by the⁠ ⁠⁠Bjian Ghaisar Foundation⁠

And ICAN⁠ International Civil Society Action Network⁠

Original Music, Little Monster Media 

Executive Producer: Pearse Lynch

This is an ⁠Africa Digital Audio Production⁠

ICAN’s newsletter: ⁠https://icanpeacework.org/2025/03/sign-up-to-icans-newsletter/

00:00 Exploring Wealth Inequality and Philanthropy

07:27 The Impact of Extreme Capitalism

12:05 Fundamentalist Capitalism and Its Consequences

17:50 Political Power and Wealth Dynamics

25:28 Racial Justice and Economic Inequality

32:06 Philanthropy vs. Systemic Change

45:25 The Role of Civil Society in Crisis

57:06 Building Local Infrastructure for Generosity

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As we gear up for Season 3 of If You Were in Charge, we’re revisiting some of Sanam’s most compelling conversations, curated into thematic pairings to offer deeper insights into the complex issues we explore.

This week, we bring you two powerful perspectives on building peace between Israelis and Palestinians—even in these dark and challenging times.

First, Sanam speaks with Rabbi Hanan Schlesinger about the surge in violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. They discuss the urgent need for lasting peace and the difficult path to achieving it.

Then, she sits down with Mohammad Darawshe, a leading political analyst and expert on Jewish-Arab relations inside Israel. Darawshe unpacks the intricate realities of coexistence, the struggles faced by Palestinian citizens, and the transformative power of education in forging a shared future.

If You Were In Charge is brought to you by the Bjian Ghaisar Foundation

And ICAN International Civil Society Action Network

You can find out more information or how to get in touch following the link to our homepage - 

https://shows.acast.com/if-you-were-in-charge

Original Music, Little Monster Media 

Executive Producer: Pearse Lynch

This is an Africa Digital Audio Production

ICAN’s newsletter: https://icanpeacework.org/2025/03/sign-up-to-icans-newsletter/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sir Richard Dalton, former British ambassador to Iran, joins Sanam Naraghi Anderlini on this week's episode of If You Were In Charge. They discuss the collapse of diplomacy following recent U.S. strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities, examining how Trump's withdrawal from the JCPOA, Netanyahu's hardline policies, and the Ayatollah's defiance have escalated regional tensions. Dalton argues that without renewed multilateral engagement, lasting peace will remain elusive, criticizing Britain's failure to lead in condemning Gaza atrocities. Despite these challenges, he maintains that dialogue and diplomacy offer the best path toward a collective future.

As Iran is Sanam's childhood home, she also speaks with her daughter Soleh before and after the main interview, both to hear how Soleh's college community has responded to recent events and to reflect on loved ones directly impacted by the conflict in Iran, as well as those watching from afar.

If You Were In Charge is brought to you by the⁠ ⁠⁠Bjian Ghaisar Foundation⁠

And ICAN⁠ International Civil Society Action Network⁠

Original Music, Little Monster Media 

Executive Producer: Pearse Lynch

This is an ⁠Africa Digital Audio Production⁠

ICAN’s newsletter: ⁠https://icanpeacework.org/2025/03/sign-up-to-icans-newsletter/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A personal reflection from Sanam on two weeks of war in Iran. What it is like watching the bombardment of her childhood neighborhood from afar. —

We also wanted to celebrate our former guests, Women of the Sun from Palestine, who won the 2025 Vigdís Prize for Women’s Empowerment.

So we re-uploaded our conversation with Marwa Hammad of Women of the Sun in Palestine and Yael Braudo-Bahat of Women Wage Peace in Israel two remarkable women who refuse to give in to despair, and who refuse to give up on the future.

Women of the Sun - https://womensun.org/

Women Wage Peace - https://www.womenwagepeace.org.il/en/

If You Were In Charge is brought to you by the⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Bjian Ghaisar Foundation⁠⁠

And ICAN⁠⁠ International Civil Society Action Network⁠⁠

ICAN’s newsletter: ⁠⁠https://icanpeacework.org/2025/03/sign-up-to-icans-newsletter/⁠⁠

Original Music, Little Monster Media

Executive Producer: Pearse Lynch

This is an ⁠⁠Africa Digital Audio Production⁠

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