The McKay Interview

By Michael McKay

Michael McKay conducts in depth interviews with decision makers and local leaders.

The McKay Interview was founded on a simple idea: that listeners would tune in regularly to listen to intelligent ye... more

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FAQs about The McKay Interview:

How many episodes does The McKay Interview have?

The podcast currently has 138 episodes available.

The McKay Interview episodes:

December 19, 2021Lt. Gen. (rtd.) Ben Hodges, holder of the Pershing Chair in Strategic Studies at the Center for European Policy Analysis. Formerly, Commander of the United States Army in Europe.
Ben Hodges answers questions about strategy and the balance of power in today’s geo-political world.
Some of the points we covered during the interview:
Four months to the day after the Taliban swept into Kabul, and in the wake of the US/Allied Forces withdrawal from Afghanistan – and as you know, some call it a humiliating defeat - how would you characterise what happened? And in light of that how reliable is the United States as the leader, militarily speaking, of the free world?

The front cover story of The Economist this week is “What will America fight for?” How would you answer that newspaper’s question?

Is the USA treaty-bound to defend Taiwan? How would that be done? What scenarios do military people examine?
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30min
December 13, 2021Diccon Bewes, Author, Travel Writer, Chocolate-Lover and Englishman in Bern
A radio conversation with best-selling author, travel writer, chocolate-lover and Englishman in Bern.
Some of the questions we covered during the interview:
Why is Switzerland successful? By all logic, with all its diversity, it shouldn’t be a success story. But it is? What is your theory?

You are a good example of “integration”. Please tell me how you see the efforts the Swiss make toward social cohesion. Have you had good and not so good experiences?

You live in Bern. Give me some examples of your observations of the differences – even tensions - between town and country in this varied country. I know from my observations, having lived here even longer than you, that this is real, particularly at times of local and national votes.
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28min
November 28, 2021Dr François Carrard, Director-General of the International Olympic Committee, 1989-2003: an informed opinion about Sport and the Olympics.
François Carrard answers my questions about why the Tokyo Olympics took place in the teeth of a global pandemic; Ideals versus Money - has Pierre de Coubertin’s vision, as founder of the Modern Olympics in 1896, been trashed by Mammon?; and what the true meaning of sport is.
Some of the questions we covered during the interview:
Do new sports like beach volleyball, skateboarding, “breaking” (breakdancing) and BMX bicycling have a place in the Modern Olympiad along with traditional sports like athletics, swimming, gymnastics, even fencing.

Where will all this adaptation end. And does it really matter to the good health of young people and the wholesomeness of sport.

A question on the Paralympics and in particular a focus on prosthetic devices (think “blade runner”). Prosthetic devices are so advanced that some amputee track athletes are achieving times that make competition with able-bodied/non-disabled athletes feasible (Oscar Pistorius from South Africa comes to mind from a few years ago), but is running on a prosthesis the same as running on two natural legs? Indeed, does your legal and sporting mind offer any “good” arguments for allowing the inclusion of Paralympians in Olympic competition?
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27min
November 13, 2021 The Rt. Hon. Stephen Timms MP, UK Trade Envoy to Switzerland and Liechtenstein
Current prospects for UK international trade, especially with Switzerland. Physical attacks on British Members of Parliament. Declining standards of public behaviour in Britain towards MPs. The low esteem in which the political classes are held by British voters.
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29min
November 05, 2021 Olivier Jankovec, Director-General, Airports Council International Europe (ACI Europe)
An in depth view of how the airports sector has been affected by the pandemic and a view from the top of future challenges.
Here are some of the questions I put to my guest:
-What are the things that look large – very large - in your sights that need to be fixed for business to return to normal…or almost normal?
-There is much talk that the pandemic has changed many things fundamentally. That things will never be the same again. How do you see that?
-What has changed irrecovably in your industry? Explain why it will be prohibitive to change it back to how it was?
-And how you and your colleagues around Europe will adjust to the “new reality”.
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23min
October 22, 2021 Ambassador Amanda Ellis, Arizona State University's (ASU) Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory and formerly New Zealand’s Permanent Representative to the UN & International Organizations
Amanda Ellis talks to me about Leadership, Sustainability, Greta Thunberg and Youth, Climate Change and many other topics.
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32min
October 10, 2021 Peter Brabeck-Letmathe, President of the Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipator (GESDA) Foundation
The President of the GESDA Foundation, former Chairman & CEO of Nestlé S.A., gives his experienced perspective on a range of issues including GESDA's unique contribution, public/private partnerships, "international" Geneva and water.
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34min
October 04, 2021 Dr Cynthia Cherrey and Professor Mike Hardy
Dr Cynthia Cherrey and Professor Mike Hardy on leadership. What are the different types of Leadership? Technology changing the nature of Leadership. Populism and Leadership.
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32min
September 17, 2021 "John", a Swiss expatriate with over 25 years' experience in aviation, charter, air ambulance, airline, corporate and humanitarian operations. Very recently evacuated from Kabul and speaking on condit
"John", a Swiss expatriate with over 25 years' experience in aviation, charter, air ambulance, airline, corporate and humanitarian operations. Very recently evacuated from Kabul and speaking on condition of anonymity. A frank, personal opinion on the current situation in Afghanistan from a seasoned, humanitarian operative.
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31min
August 31, 2021 Ambassador Michael Gaffey, Permanent Representative of the Irish Republic to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva
The Irish Republic's multilateral agenda at the UN Geneva, as well as other matters
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29min

FAQs about The McKay Interview:

How many episodes does The McKay Interview have?

The podcast currently has 138 episodes available.