Inspire Us Podcast

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.

In this episode of the Inspire Us Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Hillary Briffa, Lecturer in National Security Studies at King’s College London, whose research focuses on the security strategies of small states, neutrality, and the intersection of defense and climate change.We discuss:Why “peace” since WWII is a myth for many regions The hidden power and vulnerabilities of small statesNATO, neutrality, and the future of European defenseHow climate change is reshaping security and sovereigntyWhy small island states like Tuvalu and Kiribati are on the frontlines of survival What big powers can learn from the innovation of small states

In this episode of the Inspire Us Podcast, we sit down with Professor Jules Coleman — one of the most influential figures in philosophy of law and legal theory. Coleman is widely recognized for pioneering work on corrective justice, tort law, free speech, and the philosophy of education.About Jules Coleman:Jules L. Coleman is a leading legal philosopher and professor emeritus of law and philosophy. His work has reshaped thinking on tort law, corrective justice, and the relationship between law, morality, and economics. He has taught at Yale Law School, NYU, and Harvard, and has published extensively on justice, responsibility, and the rule of law.

In this episode of the Inspire Us Podcast, we sit down with Christine Cheng — Professor in War Studies at King’s College London and author of Extralegal Groups in Post-Conflict Liberia. We explore fragile states, corruption, security sector reform, the challenges of peacebuilding, and how global power dynamics shape post-war societies.Chapters00:00 – Belonging and Identity in Britain09:00 – Understanding Global Conflict15:00 – Conflict, Peace, and Social Cohesion26:00 – History, Empathy, and Understanding Conflict40:00 – Liberia’s Conflict and Aftermath55:00 – Peacekeeping, Interventions, and State-Building01:07:00 – Trump, Russia, and Global Peacekeeping01:21:00 – Human Nature, Tribes, and the Future of Peace01:33:00 – Cognitive Frames and International Relations

Economist and author Charlie Robertson joins us in this controversial and eye-opening episode to discuss his theory that economic development hinges on one key factor: fertility rates.Check out Charlie's book "The Time-Travelling Economist": https://www.amazon.co.uk/Time-Travelling-Economist-Education-Electricity-Fertility/dp/3030975967

We’re back for our third podcast with one of the most provocative and visionary economists of our time — Professor Steve Keen. A globally renowned post-Keynesian thinker, Keen is best known for predicting the 2008 financial crash, his fierce critique of neoclassical economics, and his work on modeling capitalist instability using systems dynamics and Minskyan debt analysis.In this episode, we had the pleasure of traveling to Amsterdam to meet Steve in person. What followed was a deeply engaging conversation on the failures of mainstream economics, the looming threats of global debt, and the urgent need for a new economic paradigm. From financial crises to ecological breakdown, Keen lays out why the stakes are higher than ever — and what we can do about it.