Graham Priest is one of the world’s leading philosophers of logic. He is Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at the CUNY Graduate Center and also holds positions at the University of Melbourne and University of St Andrews.Priest is best known for developing dialetheism, the controversial philosophical view that some contradictions can actually be true. His work has had a major influence on modern logic, the philosophy of mathematics, and metaphysics. He is also a leading figure in paraconsistent logic, a field that studies logical systems capable of handling contradictions without collapsing into triviality.He has written numerous influential books including In Contradiction, Beyond the Limits of Thought, and Logic: A Very Short Introduction. His work also explores connections between Western philosophy, Buddhist philosophy, paradoxes, and the limits of human reasoning.

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Jonathan Wolff is a leading political philosopher at the Blavatnik School of Government at Oxford University. He has advised governments, shaped public policy debates, and written extensively on inequality, justice, and democracy, and social reform.It was an absolute pleasure to speak with Jonathan Wolff, he's a lovely man. In this episode, we explore the philosophy of inequality, the tension between equality and democracy, nationalism, libertarianism, and whether modern politics is built on hidden assumptions most of us never question.Is equality about money — or about how we treat one another?Can democracy survive if people reject equality?And are we misunderstanding what “left” and “right” really mean?This is a deep conversation on power, justice, and the future of democratic societies.

David Betz is a Canadian academic and Professor of War in the Modern World at King’s College London. He specialises in civil war, insurgency, information warfare, and the changing character of conflict. His research has advised policymakers and military institutions, and his recent academic papers have gained significant media attention for warning that North America, Western Europe, and the UK may soon be entering a phase of civil war.In this episode of Inspire Us, we discuss:– Whether Britain has passed a tipping point– The collapse of political legitimacy– Immigration and social trust– Elite fragmentation– Brexit and national identity– What modern civil conflict could actually look likeIs the UK really heading toward civil war, are these fears overstated, is this a self fulfilling prophecy?

Abdullahi Shafi Mohamed is an emerging leader in international development and humanitarian work, with experience across Kenya, Niger, Somalia and beyond. A Chevening scholar and SOAS Development Studies graduate, he has worked with the United Nations in Somalia supporting government systems and community delivery in one of the world’s most complex operating environments.

In this episode, Abdullahi takes us through Somalia’s collapse after 1991, the shifting conflicts and political realities that followed, and how decades of state absence shaped both governance and society. He reflects on returning to Somalia as part of the diaspora, navigating weak institutions, security constraints, and a system that often rewards loyalty over competence rather than merit. The conversation explores corruption not simply as stolen money, but as the deeper problem of the wrong people occupying positions of responsibility.We also discuss a striking contrast within Somalia today.

While public institutions struggle to deliver services, the private sector in areas such as banking, telecommunications, and utilities has shown remarkable resilience and efficiency. Abdullahi explains what this means for rebuilding a functioning state and why strong institutions remain essential for long-term stability.

The episode also turns to Abdullahi’s personal journey growing up in the Dadaab refugee camp, the changing reality facing refugees today as global support declines, and the psychological experience of living between countries without fully belonging. He shares the motivation behind Telepath, a new initiative designed as a community hub connecting diaspora returnees and young people with mentorship, opportunity, and pathways to contribute to Somalia’s future.

Abdullahi is also a close friend who we met during our Master’s studies, where both this podcast and our work connected to Dadaab refugee camp first began. Recording this conversation two years later is a powerful moment, bringing the story full circle from where it started to where the journey has now taken us.

Topics include Somalia’s state collapse, diaspora return, UN work on the ground, corruption and governance, private sector success, refugee camp life, rebuilding government capacity, and the Talepath initiative.Chapters:00:00 “1991: Somalia Collapsed Overnight” (Civil War & State Breakdown)03:30 From Refugee to Rebuilder: Why I Went Back to Somalia05:17 “I Knew I Wasn’t Welcome” — Migrants in the UK06:38 Working in Somalia Is HARD: Weak State, Security Barriers10:05 Why NGOs Replaced the Government (And the Damage It Causes)15:00 Somalia’s REAL Corruption: The Wrong People in Power22:14 Private Sector vs Government: Why Businesses Work (But the State Fails)31:06 What Gives Hope? Somalia CAN Rebuild — But Not Without Government34:06 Democracy vs Authority in Africa: “We Need Discipline to Function”40:42 Growing Up in Dadaab: The World’s Biggest Refugee Camp44:43 Resettlement Is Ending — Is Somalia the Only Solution Left?50:50 Kenya Never Felt Safe: Deportations, Police, Living on Edge57:26 Talopath: The Plan to Connect Diaspora & Rebuild Somalia1:04:10 Full-Circle Moment: Dadaab Project, Jersey Signed, Final Message

Mourad Mkinsi is a Moroccan academic whose work sits at the intersection of cultural studies and socio-political analysis. His research and teaching engage with questions of gender and politics, civil society, social movements, and postcolonial dynamics, with a particular focus on multiculturalism in contemporary Morocco.

In this episode, we discuss whether Morocco’s recent momentum reflects real development or deeper tensions beneath the surface. We talk about culture and power, Morocco–Algeria relations, Western Sahara, youth frustration, inequality, and how identity and politics shape the country’s future.We had the chance to record this podcast in Morocco and are grateful to the Mkinsi family for their warmth and hospitality.Hope you enjoy!Chapters:00:00 – Is Morocco Really a Success Story?02:00 – Why Economists Praise Morocco’s Development Model04:00 – The Monarchy’s Role: Stability, Reform & Power08:30 – Why Morocco Survived the Arab Spring13:00 – The 2011 Constitution: Reform or Smart Maneuvering?24:21 – Language, Identity & Everyday Coexistence in Morocco29:18 – Morocco’s Jewish Heritage & the Power of Soft Power32:20 – What Is Soft Power — and How Morocco Uses It35:00 – Morocco vs Algeria: A Soft Power & Geopolitical Rivalry40:07 – Decolonisation Compared: Morocco vs Algeria44:22 – France’s Legacy — and Why Morocco Is Shifting to English54:47 – Western Sahara: Autonomy, Sovereignty & Legitimacy01:02:15 – Infrastructure Boom, China, and the Inequality Question01:09:00 – Stadiums vs Hospitals: Can Inequality Be Reduced?01:20:10 – World Cup 2030: National Pride or Strategic Mistake?01:23:20 – Soft Power, African Confidence & Morocco’s Global Image01:42:00 – Final Thoughts (and the Tajine Question)Thanks for watching!

Nick Pelletier is an ultra-endurance athlete and host of the Comforts Breed Complacency podcast. He has run some of the world’s hardest ultra races, including the Moab 240, and completed extreme human-powered expeditions, from cycling across the United States to cycling the entire length of Africa solo.In this episode, Nick breaks down what ultra-endurance really teaches you about life, suffering, gratitude, and resilience. We talk about running 240 miles nonstop, surviving alone across nine African countries, navigating war zones, breakdowns, hunger, danger, and moments of unexpected human kindness.Nick shares what it’s like to be robbed just minutes from finishing a continent-wide journey, how ultra races compress years of personal growth into days, and why there is no single mindset for pushing through pain.Podcast available on all platforms:

https://linktr.ee/InspireUsPodcastChapters:00:00 Moab 240, 100 Hours of Pain & Cycling Across Africa01:39 From Concussions to Ultra Endurance03:49 Cycling the Length of Africa: Cairo to Cape Town05:50 Sudan, War Zones & Route Decisions08:01 Robbed in the Final 2km of the Journey09:26 Border Crossings, Bribes & Military Encounters17:22 Mechanical Failures, Crater Roads & Survival Riding23:25 Kilimanjaro: From Africa’s Lowest to Highest Point26:41 Why Doing Extreme Endurance Alone Changes You30:30 The Hardest Thing He’s Ever Done: 70+ Hour Open-Water Swim40:33 Ultra Endurance as a Metaphor for Life44:19 Last Man Standing Races & What’s Next

In this episode of the Inspire Us Podcast, Professor Fabrice Cavarretta (ESSEC Business School, author of Gérer, c’est jardiner) dismantles the global myths around entrepreneurship, risk, and innovation. He argues that the real entrepreneur isn’t in Silicon Valley — it’s the woman running a food stand in Lagos, or the small business owner adapting daily to complex realities.Cavarretta explains why France and the UK are better startup ecosystems than many believe, how regulation can support rather than stifle innovation, and why “taking risk” is one of the biggest misconceptions in business.He offers a philosophical yet grounded vision of entrepreneurship — one rooted in patience, learning, and realism — reminding us that business is less like building a machine and more like cultivating a garden.

Economist Michael Hudson joins the Inspire Us Podcast to discuss the rise of financialization, the dominance of the rentier class, and the decline of industrial capitalism in Britain and beyond.Hudson explains how Thatcherism and Blairism turned the UK into a rentier economy, why GDP measures are misleading, and how financialization fuels inequality, debt, and deindustrialization across the West. We explore the politics of debt cancellation, central banks, the EU, China’s development path, and the prospects for systemic change.Michael Hudson is the author of Super Imperialism, Killing the Host, and The Collapse of Antiquity.Shoutout Steve Keen for setting this up!

In this episode of the Inspire Us Podcast, we speak with Professor John L. Esposito, one of the world’s leading scholars on Islam, religious pluralism, and contemporary geopolitics. Today’s UK political climate has sparked Tommy Robinson marches, anxieties over Sharia, and debates about blasphemy and the weaponisation of scripture. We brought our questions, and John delivered—offering historical context, data-driven insights, and a rich perspective shaped by a lifetime of work on moving from fear to civic understanding. Enjoy the conversationTrigger / safety note: This conversation includes discussion of sensitive current events. We aim to present scholarly context and not to sensationalise.