New Thinking for a New World - a Tallberg Foundation Podcast

Tällberg Foundation
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Aiming to provoke people to think — and therefore act — differently about the global issues that are shaping their future, the Tällberg Foundation is sharing some of its conversations in podcast form. The podcast invites you to hear from leaders from different sectors and geographies as they explore issues that are challenging and changing our societies.

  1. Democracy Succeeds (At Least in Bangladesh)

    MAR 5

    Democracy Succeeds (At Least in Bangladesh)

    Democracy may be struggling across much of the world, but Bangladesh offers a rare counterexample. In the summer of 2024, a student-led movement forced out the long-ruling government of Sheikh Hasina. Less than 20 months later, the country conducted elections widely described as mostly free, fair, and peaceful—leading to a democratically elected government replacing the interim administration led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus. In this episode, Aysha Siddiqua Tithi and Umama Fatema—leaders of Students Against Discrimination and central figures in the revolution—share what it took to organize, mobilize, and persist. They reflect on the risks they faced, the hopes that sustained them, and what democracy’s revival in Bangladesh might signal for a world increasingly skeptical of democratic governance.

    36 min
  2. This Is What Leadership Looks Like

    FEB 26

    This Is What Leadership Looks Like

    What does great leadership look like today? In this special episode, we bring together the 2025 Tällberg-SNF-Eliasson Global Leadership Prize laureates: Rhett Ayers Butler, founder of Mongabay; Bryan Doerries, founder of Theater of War Productions; and David Gruber, founder of Project CETI. Moderated by Helena Nilsson, Prize jury member and Deputy CEO of the MiL Institute, the conversation spans journalism, art, and science—revealing how curiosity, creativity, and moral courage can reshape how we confront global challenges. Together, these leaders demonstrate that meaningful leadership transcends politics and borders, grounded instead in universal values and persistent commitment to making the world better.

    24 min
  3. Middle Eastern Challenges

    FEB 19

    Middle Eastern Challenges

    Much of the world’s attention remains fixed on Iran, Israel, and the Palestinian question. But another rivalry is quietly reshaping Middle Eastern politics: Saudi Arabia versus the United Arab Emirates. Once close partners, the two Gulf powers now find themselves moving from cooperation toward competition—and perhaps even confrontation. In this episode, Professor Rob Geist Pinfold explores what is driving the shift, what is at stake for regional leadership, and how Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed are maneuvering for influence. While definitive answers may be premature, informed analysis reveals why this evolving relationship matters far beyond the Gulf.

    37 min
  4. GOOOAL!!!

    JAN 29

    GOOOAL!!!

    As the world braces for another difficult year, a single global event promises to capture the attention of billions: the FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States. In this episode, New Thinking for a New World takes a detour from geopolitics and climate to explore how an event of this scale actually comes together. Gabriela Cuevas—an experienced Mexican political leader—has the daunting task of coordinating Mexico’s role in a 104-match tournament watched around the globe. She joins the podcast to discuss the logistical, political, and cultural challenges of hosting the world’s most popular sporting event—and the opportunities it creates for countries and communities alike.

    30 min
  5. Thinking Differently About the Rainforests

    12/18/2025

    Thinking Differently About the Rainforests

    For decades, warnings about the destruction of the Amazon and Congo rainforests have grown louder, even as meaningful action has lagged behind. International summits and political declarations continue, but the forests edge closer to dangerous tipping points. In this episode, we ask whether a different approach is needed. Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka, Dr. Fernando Trujillo, and Sam Muller bring perspectives shaped by hands-on experience in conservation, science, justice, and governance. Together, they argue that protecting the world’s great rainforests is not only an environmental challenge, but also one of equity, economic development, and power—and that lasting solutions are more likely to emerge from the ground up than from global pledges alone.

    1h 5m
  6. Inheriting Trauma

    12/11/2025

    Inheriting Trauma

    The world is entering a new era of conflict: more violent, more fragmented, and with more civilians caught in the crossfire than at any time since World War II. But the consequences of war may extend far beyond the battlefield. Rana Dajani, Jordanian molecular biologist and long-time member of the Tällberg network, is part of a research team uncovering how traumatic violence might alter gene expression and affect not only survivors but also their children and grandchildren. In this episode, she explains the emerging science behind intergenerational trauma and explores what these findings could mean for societies living through—and after—conflict.

    33 min
  7. What Has the Whale to Say?

    12/04/2025

    What Has the Whale to Say?

    Sperm whales are among the most extraordinary creatures on the planet—massive, deep-diving, highly social, and constantly communicating. David Gruber, marine biologist and founder of Project CETI, leads a global team of scientists using cutting-edge technology to decode the vocalizations of these remarkable animals. A 2025 Tällberg-SNF-Eliasson Global Leadership Prize winner, Gruber explains how understanding whale communication isn’t about speaking to them, but about learning how they see and interact with the world we share. In this episode, he discusses the science, wonder, and purpose behind CETI—and what unlocking whale language could mean for humanity.

    36 min
  8. Greek Classics—Modern Life

    11/27/2025

    Greek Classics—Modern Life

    For thousands of years, Greek tragedies have helped people make sense of fear, grief, conflict, and the complexities of being human. Bryan Doerries—co-founder and Artistic Director of Theater of War Productions and a newly selected Tällberg-SNF-Eliasson Global Leadership Prize winner—has spent nearly two decades bringing these timeless texts to contemporary audiences. In this episode, he reflects on how classical stories open space for empathy, dialogue, and healing in the 21st century. By stripping away the myth that our struggles are unique to our time, Doerries helps reveal what connects us across cultures and generations.

    45 min
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Aiming to provoke people to think — and therefore act — differently about the global issues that are shaping their future, the Tällberg Foundation is sharing some of its conversations in podcast form. The podcast invites you to hear from leaders from different sectors and geographies as they explore issues that are challenging and changing our societies.

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