In the first episode of 2023, Kate Whiting speaks to academics and authors Professor Andrew Pettegree and Dr Arthur der Weduwen about their book The Library: A Fragile History. They discuss why, despite our love of collecting books, they have often been neglected and become tools and targets during times of war, while romance novels have gone from scourge to saviour of the modern-day library.

The Library: A Fragile History

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SUGI is a unique global organization that brings pocket forests -- ultra-dense, biodiverse forests leveraging the proven Japanese Miyawaki Method -- to cities all over the world. The group has built 200 pocket forests in 42 cities so far, with each providing a key form of "urban acupuncture" that can protect biodiversity, restore ecosystems, and even better reconnect people to nature. Founder and CEO Elise Van Middelem shares more about SUGi and how it got started - and the unique ways these projects are reviving places from England to Cameroon.  This interview was recorded at the Urban Transformation Summit in Detroit, Michigan in October 2023. 

The founder using 'pocket forests' to transform cities and protect biodiversity

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 :

The Library: A Fragile History

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