Conduit Conversations

We're kicking off the second series of Conduit Conversations with CNN's Chief International Anchor, Christiane Amanpour. Paul and Christiane speak about what she learned about women's sexual freedom around the world from her new Netflix documentary, the experience of reporting from Saddam Hussein's trial and why she's calling for every citizen to become a 'truthteller'. 

Paul's guest this week is the Secretary General of Amnesty International (and fellow South African), Kumi Naidoo. From protesting against apartheid to heading up Greenpeace, Kumi reflects on his life as an activist, explains why he feels civil disobedience is so necessary and shares his take on our current global political climate.  This episode concludes series one of Conduit Conversations - we hope you've enjoyed it! We'll be back with for series two in the autumn, bringing you a new group of exceptional people who have changed the world for the better.

Paul's guest this week is Sir Ronald Cohen, an international philanthropist, venture capitalist, private equity investor and social innovator, who has been described as the “father of social investment”. He reflects on how his early experience fleeing Egypt in the wake of the Suez Crisis shaped his core values and beliefs, shares why he believes every business model should have impact at its heart and gives his advice for the next generation of social entrepreneurs.

This week, Principal at Oxford Sciences Innovation, Lachlan MacKinnon, joins Paul on the podcast. They discuss the ethics of genetic modification, the balance between deep science and positive impact, and the radical medical breakthroughs that will transform our future.

Paul's guest this week is Shoshana Stewart, Chief Executive of Kabul-based Turquoise Mountain. She shares why she fell in love with Afghanistan, the market opportunity in traditional crafts and skills, and the lessons she's learned from running an international company.

Paul's guest this week is Mark Campanale, founder of the Carbon Tracker Initiative. They delve into Mark's childhood in the Italian countryside, the importance of aligning capital markets with the realities of climate change, and how his recent trip to the Vatican will affect the future of the energy industry.

This week, Paul is in conversation with Merlin Labron-Johnson, who, at 24, became Britain's youngest Michelin-starred chef. They discuss how his childhood in Devon influenced his approach to food, his experience cooking in refugee camps across Europe and his commitment to creating kinder kitchens.

Paul’s guest this week is Christiana Figueres a Costa Rican diplomat with 35 years of experience in high level national and international policy and multilateral negotiations. She was appointed Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in July 2010, six months after the failed COP15 in Copenhagen.

This week, The Conduit co-founder, Paul van Zyl, is in conversation with author, Crossbench Peer and modern slavery campaigner, Baroness Lola Young. They discuss how her upbringing as a young black woman shaped her passion for social justice, her journey from the theatre to House of Lords, and why she’s driven to be an ‘upstander, not a bystander’.

Paul’s guest this week is Wikipedia co-founder and Internet entrepreneur Jimmy Wales. They talk about the role of Wikipedia in an age of fake news, the complex ethics of social media platforms and how to ensure that technology is used as a force for good.