The Fletcher Forum Podcast

In this edition of the Fletcher Forum podcast, podcast editor Shawn Ghuman sits down with Dr. Amjad Saqib, the Executive Director of Akhuwat, the largest Islamic microfinance organization in the world. While microfinance takes many forms all over the world, Dr. Saqib's interest-free microloans program in Pakistan serves as a noteworthy testament to both human nature's inherent generosity as well as every human's desire to provide for themselves and their family. In this discussion with Dr. Saqib, we learn about what inspired him to start Akhuwat, the organization's successes so far, and how he hopes to expand this model across the globe.

On the latest episode of the Fletcher Forum Podcast, senior print editor Emma Friedheim and senior podcast editor Maria Ory sit down with cybersecurity and policy experts Angela McKay of Microsoft and Herb Lin of Stanford University. Relatively speaking, cybersecurity is a fairly new field. The impact of cybersecurity on the intersecting roles of public and private institutions, challenges facing good governance, and personal responsibility remains contested. How does privacy relate to all of this? What about cultural norms? Listen to this episode of the Fletcher Forum Podcast to explore these questions and find out why one of our guests argues that the Russian election meddling isn't necessarily a cyber issue. 

Kicking off the 2018-2019 school year, the Forum's Editor in Chief Elissa Miller and Senior Podcast Producer Maria Ory sit down with interim Dean Johnstone. In the inaugural podcast for the academic year, Dean Johnstone highlights why he chose to accept the position as interim Dean of the Fletcher School and what his hopes and priorities are for the upcoming year. Gleaning from Dean Johnstone’s extensive experience with the United Nations and international organizations more generally, he also discusses the upcoming opening for UN General Assembly and how international organizations can and should stay relevant in today’s ever-changing global order. Have a listen!

In our latest podcast episode, the Forum’s incoming Director for Marketing and Communications, Courtney Hulse, speaks with Ambassador Peter Selfridge, former U.S. Chief of Protocol and current Senior Vice President & Global Head of Digital Government and International Affairs at SAP. During the conversation, he sheds light on the preparation for and the real-time offense and defense that happens during state visits and summits to ensure that everything runs smoothly. Ambassador Selfridge also talks about how the lessons he learned from the world of diplomacy have transferred to the private sector and benefitted him in his current role. Have a listen and check it out!

The Forum’s incoming Director for Marketing and Communications, Courtney Hulse, sits down with Rufus Gifford, former U.S. Ambassador to Denmark under President Obama, for a lively conversation. Ambassador Gifford takes listeners behind the diplomatic curtain and discusses his unique approach to diplomacy, the importance of people-to-people interactions in this field, and delves into more detail about his time in Denmark. Fun fact: Ambassador Gifford is the subject of a docu-series I Am The Ambassador, which is another unique tool he used to promote public diplomacy. You can find it on Netflix! Ambassador Gifford is now running for U.S. Congress in Massachusetts’s 3rd congregational district. 

In its inaugural podcast, members from The Fletcher Forum’s executive team, Maria Selde, Pulkit Aggrwal, and Colin Steele, discuss the latest Winter print edition 42.1. The team highlights features that include an interview with Lord Michael Dobbs and a photo essay by photographer Saskia Keeley. Tune in to upcoming Fletcher Forum podcasts for exciting guest speakers, interviews, roundtables, and debates!