In this episode, author Jon Alexander joins us to discuss his book Citizens: Why the Key to Fixing Everything Is All of Us. How can we become better citizens? That is the question this book studies, looking at how people and societies moved from the subject story of kings and empires to the current consumer story. He argues it is now time to enter the citizen story.

Jon Alexander

Welcome to our podcast collection featuring expert voices and fascinating stories from around the world.

News

In a polarised world, with the most powerful nations and the UN unable to prevent or end many wars, could the so-called 'middle powers' step up? This week's two guests, both members of the World Economic Forum's Global Future Council on Geopolitics, think so, and say those countries might even consider setting up an 'M-10' of middle powers seeking to resolve conflicts and other problems. This podcast is published ahead of the World Economic Forum's Special Meeting on Global Collaboration, Growth and Energy for Development. Find more information at  and across social media using the hashtag #specialmeeting24. Guests: Susana Malcorra, Senior Advisor at Spain’s IE University and former Argentinian foreign minister and UN Secretary General Chief of Staff. Bruce Jones, Senior Fellow with The Brookings Institution Co-host: Nicolai Ruge, Lead, Geopolitics and Trade at the World Economic Forum. Links: Davos 2024 session:  Global Future Council on the Future of Geopolitics:  Shaping Cooperation in a Fragmenting World:  Special Meeting on Global Collaboration, Growth and Energy for Development:  Related podcasts:       Check out all our podcasts on :  -   - :   - :   - :  Join the :

Why it's time for the 'middle powers' to step up on geopolitics

What workers want - and what keeps them motivated - has changed drastically in recent years. And with big technological and demographic shifts driving labor shortages, knowing how to both retrain and retain your workforce will be more important than ever. Randstad CEO Sander Van't Noordende will share insights from the talent firm's annual Workmonitor survey, giving a one-of-a-kind snapshot on how workers are thinking about everything from ambition, to purpose, to flexibility and pay. He'll also share what new habits leaders will need to adopt (including the value of microfeedback) and how leaders should be approaching everything from how they connect with workers to how they future proof their talent pipelines.   Recorded at the Annual Meeting in Davos, 2024.   Transcript here:

Workers have changed - How leaders must adapt: Randstad's Sander Van't Noordende

“Climate Capitalism is an antidote to the dominant narrative that because we’ve ignored the climate crisis for so long, it will soon be too late. While it’s true that we’ve not done enough yet, we’re nowhere close to being too late.” So says , Bloomberg’s senior climate reporter and host of the podcast Zero, in his new book Climate Capitalism, which looks at ways business and industry and finance can make, and in some cases are making, real progress on climate change. Mentioned in this episode:  Links:  Related podcasts:    Check out all our podcasts on :  -   - :   - :   - :  Join the :

It's cheaper to save the world than destroy it: author Akshat Rathi on Climate Capitalism

For half a century, Nile Rodgers has been making hit records that have touched people's hearts around the world. The creative force behind disco pioneers Chic, and some of the best known songs of David Bowie, Madonna and Beyoncé, tells us the definition of an artist: someone whose work "speaks to the souls of a million strangers". But what if generative AI can make music that's just as good? Is AI a threat or a blessing to art and human expression? We also hear from the head of the Hollywood actors' union on why moviemakers went on strike over the threat posed by AI. And from Refik Anadol, a leading light in AI-generated art. Guests: , National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator of the actors’ union SAG-AFTRA  Media Artist and Director, Refik Anadol Studio , musician and founder of the We Are Family Foundation Watch: Nile Rodgers interview:  Podcasts:       Check out all our podcasts on :  -   - :   - :   - :  Join the :

AI vs Art: Will AI rip the soul out of music, movies and art, or help express our humanity?

As a busy mom working in tech, Ritu Narayan understood the chaos school logistics can bring to kids and parents. Her personal experience inspired her to found Zum, a startup providing an end-to-end solution for districts with optimized bus routes, one including bus fleets to match different-sized schools, and an approach that makes school transit transparent and efficient for the first time in a century. The startup was launched originally as an on-demand service and she shares the key questions that helped her pivot the company for scale -- questions that can help any founder make a big shift happen. She also discusses the unexpected impact family logistics can have on parents (such unpredictability can nudge some moms out of the workforce altogether) and how tackling that can boost opportunity for parents and kids alike.  This episode was recorded at the World Economic Forum's Urban Transformation Summit in Detroit in October 2023. 

Jon Alexander

Download our free app to listen on your phone