Between the East and the West

This episode is the final part of the miniseries "Health Is Not a Hospital: Leadership, Prevention & the Courage to Transform Systems" with the global health visionary Dr. Ernest Darkoh. In this concluding part of the conversation, Meenu Gupta and Dr. Ernest Darkoh cut through the idealism and get to the hard truths of what it actually takes to transform health systems. Dr. Darkoh ch...

This episode is part of the miniseries "Health Is Not a Hospital: Leadership, Prevention & the Courage to Transform Systems" with the global health visionary Dr. Ernest Darkoh. Description: In this part of the conversation, Meenu Gupta and Dr. Ernest Darkoh explore what the Global North has yet to learn from Africa's public health experience. Drawing on his role in President Obam...

A deeper look at motivation, complexity, donors and the courage to face reality This episode is part of the miniseries “Health Is Not a Hospital: Leadership, Prevention & the Courage to Transform Systems” with the global health visionary Dr. Ernest Darkoh. In this part of the conversation, Ernest and Meenu go deeper into the human, operational and political realities behind healthcare transfor...

In this conversation, Sarah Gough, Executive Director of Play for Peace, shares how cooperative play can become a powerful tool for peacebuilding, healing, and community resilience. From her first days in Guatemala to projects across more than 40 countries, Sarah reflects on the role of youth leadership, local wisdom, human connection, and joy in communities affected by conflict, displacement, pov...

In this conversation, Meenu Gupta and Emily Teitsworth explore the intersections of climate justice, philanthropy, leadership, and community power. Emily shares insights from decades of work across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the United States, challenging traditional models of development and funding. Together they discuss trust-based philanthropy, why urgency fades at the top, how communiti...

This episode is part of the miniseries “Health Is Not a Hospital: Leadership, Prevention & the Courage to Transform Systems” with the global health visionary Dr. Ernest Darkoh In this conversation, Ernest discusses the reasons why well-funded health initiatives often succeed in pilot phases but fail to scale. He emphasizes the importance of implementation over mere consultancy, the challenges...

This episode is part of the miniseries “Health Is Not a Hospital: Leadership, Prevention & the Courage to Transform Systems” with the global health visionary Dr. Ernest Darkoh The dialogue highlights the complexities of implementing health initiatives and the necessity of understanding local dynamics to achieve sustainable outcomes. In this conversation, Ernest Darkoh discusses the critical im...

This episode is part of the miniseries “Health Is Not a Hospital: Leadership, Prevention & the Courage to Transform Systems” with the global health visionary Dr. Ernest Darkoh. In this conversation, Meenu Gupta and Dr. Ernest Darkoh explore the intricate relationship between health systems, leadership, and community engagement. Dr. Darkoh shares his transformative journey in establishing B...

In this conversation, Meenu Gupta and Jon Bellish explore the intersection of private capital and peace building, discussing how entrepreneurs and businesses can contribute to peace in fragile contexts. They delve into Jon's formative experiences in Somalia and Colombia, the complexities of defining peace and the importance of trust in building relationships. The discussion also covers the rol...

A story of how belief, support and inner strength helped a young Filipina entrepreneur transform her vision — and her local impact — into a model for global sustainability. In this second part of the conversation with the host Meenu Gupta, Aya Fernandez- the founder of Eco-Uling shares how women lead differently than men and how she maintains equanimity in her life with journaling. She speaks abou...

A story of how belief, support and inner strength helped a young Filipina entrepreneur transform her vision — and her local impact — into a model for global sustainability. Aya Fernandez, the founder of Eco-Uling shares how her path as an eco-entrepreneur, artist and advocate took shape. She speaks openly about what it meant to be truly seen and heard by the Bayer Foundation— not only for her work...

In this conversation, Dr. Herrberg, an international peace mediator, shares her insights on the complexities of peacebuilding in a world fraught with conflict. She discusses her journey into the field of peace mediation, the importance of resilience in conflict zones and the inner dimensions of peace. Dr. Herrberg emphasizes the need for cultural competence in mediation, the role of women in peace...

The second part of an animated discussion with Steve Melhuish on the role of women in leadership, the challenges of global agreements like COP and the need for authenticity in business. The dialogue emphasizes the importance of empathy and collaboration in addressing global challenges and offers insights for young entrepreneurs on finding their purpose. Key Takeaways -Social innovation can bridge...

An except from a conversation between the host Meenu Gupta and Steve Melhuish, an entrepreneur turned impact investor- From the relevance/irrelevance of COP to how entrepreneurs and impact builders are handling the issues of climate change, this conversation is a call to action for a re-think of the model that COP has become.

In this conversation, Meenu Gupta and Steve Melhuish explore the complexities of measuring sustainability, the importance of human connection in progress and gender stereotyping from an early age. An exchange on drivers of economy in the east and the west of the world, the realities of developed and emerging economies and a peek into Steve´s journey from  entrepreneurship to impact between Asia an...

An excerpt from a conversation between the host, Meenu Gupta and Dr. Ketakandriana Rafitoson. In this conversation, Meenu Gupta engages with Dr. Ketakandriyana Rafitoson, a political scientist and human rights defender from Madagascar, discussing the urgent need for climate justice and the role of governance in addressing corruption and social justice This except brings out Ke´s views on how COP c...

In this episode of 'Between the East and the West', host Meenu Gupta engages with Barry Shaw, a senior associate for public diplomacy at the Israel Institute for Strategic Studies. The conversation delves into the complexities of public diplomacy, Israel's position in global discourse, and the historical context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Barry shares his personal journey, ex...

In this conversation, Meenu Gupta engages with Dr. Ketakandriyana Rafitoson, a political scientist and human rights defender from Madagascar, discussing the urgent need for climate justice and the role of governance in addressing corruption and social justice. They explore the dynamics between the Global South and North, the importance of grassroots movements, and the necessity of empowering affec...

In this conversation, Meenu Gupta speaks with Kai Müller, the executive director of the International Campaign for Tibet, about his journey in advocating for Tibetan rights and the broader implications of solidarity and human rights. They discuss the evolving perspectives on China, the importance of understanding the Tibetan struggle, and the need for compassion and mindfulness in addressing globa...

In this conversation, Meenu Gupta speaks with Stefan Wilhelm about the transformative power of social innovation and the importance of collaboration across cultures and sectors. They discuss the complexities of defining impact, the need to bridge divides between East and West, and the role of gender in social entrepreneurship. Stefan shares personal stories of how innovative solutions can change l...

In this conversation, Meenu Gupta engages with Juan, a Colombian human rights attorney, to discuss the pressing themes of peace, justice, and reconciliation in the context of Colombia's complex history of conflict. They explore Juan's personal journey into peacebuilding, the challenges faced in Colombia's peace process, the role of international cooperation, and the impact of drug poli...

The second part of this conversation explores the need for inclusive approaches that recognize the contributions of diverse voices and the importance of joint evolution in creating welcoming societies. It also brings out the subject of migration at COP as well as the relevance of this summit. Keywords Migration, climate change, community engagement, integration, philanthropy, policy making, sustai...

This conversation explores the multifaceted issues surrounding migration, including its root causes, the role of local communities, and the importance of philanthropy and policy making in addressing these challenges. Dr. Raffaella Schweiger discusses how migration is often viewed through a narrow lens, while it is deeply interconnected with climate change, social cohesion, and global governance. T...

This conversation explores the legacy of Olof Palme, the state of democracy in 2025, and the role of the Olof Palme International Center in promoting peace, democracy, and social justice. It discusses the challenges of corporate responsibility in the face of international aid cuts, the importance of sustainability beyond greenwashing, and the need for collective action and youth engagement in soci...

This conversation with Joseph Gerson, a lifelong peace and disarmament activist, explores the multifaceted nature of peace, the ongoing threat of nuclear weapons, and the urgent need for transformative dialogue in a world facing climate collapse and rising authoritarianism. Joseph shares his personal journey into activism, the lessons learned from historical conflicts, and the importance of common...