The McKay Interview

In this episode, we take a step back in time to explore a deeply personal family story intertwined with mid-twentieth century European history. Broadcasting from the village of Thoiry in France, immediately adjacent to Geneva, we sit down with Walter Stresemann to discuss the enduring legacy of his grandfather. Walter’s grandfather, Gustav Stresemann, was a towering figure in German history, servi...

In this episode of The McKay Interview, we venture into the industrial sector from the picturesque Zurich countryside to speak with Marco ten Bruggencate, President, Industrial Intermediates & Infrastructure; Executive Oversight, Europe, Middle East, Africa, and India at Dow. Operating as a titan in the B2B sector, Dow is a Fortune 500 company whose chemical products are the unsung cornerstone...

Is justice a global privilege? Dr Karen Tse joins the McKay Interview to reveal how providing early access to a lawyer can end investigative torture. In this episode, we sit down with Dr Karen Tse, the visionary Founder and CEO of International Bridges to Justice (IBJ). While many view the lack of legal representation in developing nations as an insurmountable tragedy, Karen sees it as a problem w...

In this episode, we are joined by acclaimed journalist and author Ross Clark to dissect one of the most consequential, yet under-debated, shifts in modern governance: the legally binding commitment to Net Zero . While public opinion often supports climate action in theory, Ross argues that the practical reality—legislation, regulation, and skyrocketing costs—is leading "Mr and Mrs John Public...

We are joined by Martin Pfister , a Swiss expatriate who has called Kyiv home for nearly two decades. While the world often views the conflict in Ukraine through the lens of geopolitical strategy and military maps, Martin provides a raw, "straight from the shoulder" account of the daily reality on the ground. Recorded in early 2026, this conversation marks the four-year anniversary of th...

In this episode, we are joined by the Right Honourable Diane Abbott MP , a titan of British politics and a history-maker whose legacy was forged in the landmark general election of 1987. As the first Black woman ever elected to the House of Commons, she has spent nearly four decades at the heart of Westminster, recently earning the title of Mother of the House . This episode was recorded on the 4t...

In this episode, we sit down with Professor Dr. Lana E. Kandalaft , a world-renowned expert in immunotherapy and the Chief of Clinical and Translational Research at the Swiss Medical Network. The interview was recorded on the 17th November 2025. For decades, the "one-size-fits-all" approach to cancer treatment has been the standard. But Professor Kandalaft is at the forefront of a medica...

General Sir Gordon Messenger, Trustee of the King’s Foundation and former Vice Chief of the Defence Staff, joins the programme from Geneva to discuss the intersection of military leadership, sustainable development, and royal vision. This interview was recorded on 18th of November 2025. Established by King Charles III in 1990, the King’s Foundation is distinct from the King’s Trust, focusing not j...

Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm with winds reaching nearly 300 km/h, recently devastated Jamaica, leaving over 600,000 people displaced and wiping out nearly 30% of the country’s GDP. In this episode of The McKay Interview , Jamaican Ambassador Dr. Richard Brown outlines the full scale of the destruction and the urgent need for stronger global support — particularly from international organi...

Michael Møller, former United Nations Under Secretary-General and Director-General of the UN Office at Geneva, returns to The McKay Interview for a hard-hitting, wide-ranging discussion. With over four decades of service across five continents, Møller offers deep insight into the challenges facing multilateralism — and the urgent reforms the United Nations must now confront. This interview was rec...

We speak with Professor Emerita Victoria Curzon Price of the University of Geneva, economics department, a leading thinker in international economics and an old friend of the programme. Together, we unpack the shifting global trade landscape, the resurgence of tariffs, and what it all means for Switzerland and the wider world. This interview was recorded on 24th of September 2025. We discuss: Why...

Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), leads one of the world’s most powerful yet least-known organizations from her base in Geneva. The ITU is responsible for everything from managing global radio frequencies and satellite orbits to bringing 2.6 billion people online and shaping the digital future. This interview was recorded on 29th of August...

Michael McKay sits down with the Right Honourable Helen Clark—former Prime Minister of New Zealand and former head of the United Nations Development Programme—for a wide-ranging conversation on democracy, multilateralism, women in leadership, and global governance. Helen Clark is widely regarded as a modern-day stateswoman, with decades of experience in public service, diplomacy, and international...

Michael reconnects with veteran BBC Vatican correspondent David Willey OBE for a compelling conversation on the end of Pope Francis’ papacy and the early days of his successor, Pope Leo. The interview was recorded on the 12th June 2025. Drawing on over four decades of covering the Holy See, Willey offers a unique insider's view on the Church’s evolving leadership, the challenges it faces in a...

Michael McKay sits down with Professor Marcel Salathé , joint director of the EPFL AI Center in Lausanne, to explore the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence—and what it means for us all. The interview was recorded on the 20th May 2025. Professor Salathé offers a rare combination of technical insight and clear communication, making this episode essential listening for specialists and...

Michael McKay speaks with Dr. Brian Costello , Medical Director of Mayo Clinic Global Consulting and Professor of Oncology and Urology, and Professor Jacques Bernier , Swiss Medical Network’s Chief Science Officer and Specialist in Radio-Oncology and Nuclear Medicine. The interview was recorded on the 6th May 2025. They discuss the newly launched collaboration between Mayo Clinic and Swiss Medical...

In this episode of The McKay Interview , host Michael McKay sits down with Frédéric Lelièvre, CEO and Editor-in-Chief of L’Agefi , the leading financial newspaper in French-speaking Switzerland. Speaking from Lausanne, they explore the evolving landscape of Swiss banking — from overregulation to global competitiveness, from Credit Suisse's collapse to Donald Trump’s tariffs. Drawing on Frédéric’s...

In this wide-ranging and thoughtful conversation, Sir Richard Dearlove — former Chief of the British Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) — joins The McKay Interview to reflect on geopolitics, national security, technology, and leadership in today’s uncertain world. Now Chairman of the Board of Trustees at the University of London, and formerly Master of Pembroke College, Cambridge, Sir Richard draws...

In this third appearance on The McKay Interview , retired Lieutenant General Ben Hodges returns with hard truths and strategic insight into the war in Ukraine and its global implications. Speaking from Frankfurt, the former Commander of U.S. Army Europe reflects on what’s changed — and what hasn’t — in the 15 months since his last visit. We cover: The state of the battlefield in Ukraine: territory...

In this episode of The McKay Interview , Michael McKay sits down with Jeremy Lack, a Geneva-based independent lawyer and one of Switzerland’s leading experts in dispute resolution. Trained as a barrister in England and admitted to the bars of New York, Geneva, and England and Wales, Jeremy has built a unique international career at the intersection of law, neuroscience, and cross-cultural conflict...

In this episode of The McKay Interview , we discover the Genolier Innovation Hub, Switzerland’s groundbreaking medical and biotech innovation center. Located in the French-speaking canton of Vaud, the Hub is revolutionizing how medical advancements move from research labs to real-world patient care. Joining Michael are Antoine Hubert, Founder and Chairman of the Board, and Anna Gräbner, CEO of the...

In this episode of The McKay Interview , Michael McKay speaks with Pamela Coke-Hamilton , Executive Director of the International Trade Centre (ITC) , for an in-depth discussion on the evolving landscape of global trade and the economic forces shaping our world today. With a career dedicated to international commerce, sustainability, and economic development, Koch Hamilton provides expert insight...

In this episode, Jean Daniel Ruch , a recently retired Swiss ambassador , joined us on the 7th January 2025, for an insightful discussion on diplomacy, neutrality, and global geopolitics. With a distinguished career spanning multiple high-stakes postings—including Serbia and Montenegro, Israel, and Turkey —Ruch brings a wealth of firsthand experience from some of the world’s most complex regions....

Switzerland is often described as the "hole in the EU doughnut" , a country deeply intertwined with the European economy but not a member of the European Union. Today, I sit down, on January 12, 2025, with Ambassador Petros Mavromichalis , the EU’s Ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein , to discuss the complexities of this relationship. We cover: Switzerland’s EU Negotiations: Why Switzerlan...

Just two weeks after Donald Trump’s victory over Kamala Harris , on the 19th November 2024, I sit down with Ambassador Jean-Arthur Regibeau , Belgium’s recently retired ambassador to the U.S. and Russia , to discuss the complex relationship between America, Russia, and Europe . We cover: The U.S. Election Outcome: Why Trump’s landslide victory was both expected and surprising. Why the Democrats Lo...