inSUBSTANTIAExploring Ideas - Challenging Assumptions.

What happens when healthcare technology is not designed for people, but with them? InSubstantia welcomes Anam Hijab, the founder of AtPulse, a health technology company tackling one of the largest and least understood diabetes crises in the world. Pakistan is home to 55 million people living with or on the verge of diabetes. Anam is building technology to address this crisis.  Following a career i...

What does mediation actually mean? In this episode of Insubstantia, I speak with mediator and author Manon Schonewille about why mediation is not a single, uniform practice. Even within the same country, the mediator’s role, level of intervention, and ethical boundaries can differ significantly. Once mediation crosses borders, those differences become unavoidable. Drawing on comparative work acros...

Economies, Power, and Systems That Make Harm Profitable This is part 2 of my conversation with Guillaume. If violence is not a distortion of economic life but one of its foundations, what does that mean for markets, governance, and political power? In the second part of the conversation with Guillaume Soto-Mayor, we sharpen our focus on the arguments and case studies explored in his book, The Econ...

Part I: Memory Identity and What We Learn Not to See We often think of violence as something visible: a war, a riot, a gun. Yet much of the violence shaping our world is quieter—folded into the ways we trade, govern, build institutions, and even convince ourselves we are doing good. My guest today, Guillaume Soto-Mayor, examines how violence becomes part of economic and social life, how it hides b...

If Part 1 names the crisis, Part 2 confronts the consequences of continuing as we are. This second part of my conversation with Arthur Keller moves from diagnosis to responsibility, and from observation to choice. We explore what collapses first when systems fail, not just infrastructures, but trust, meaning, and social cohesion. 🧠 Psychological denial 🔥 Escalating systemic shocks 🏙 Fragile urba...

🎙 The Future We Must Build - Part 1 The world is entering a period of deep instability and  no society will be spared . In this first part of my conversation with  Arthur Keller , we explore the forces already reshaping the conditions of life on this planet. 🌡  Climate overshoot 🌿  Biodiversity collapse ⛽  Resource depletion 📉  Economic fragility 🏛  Institutions unable to think systemically The...

Artificial intelligence now influences decisions in health, justice, and finance. In this episode of  inSUBSTANTIA , Gabor Farkas speaks with Mariana de la Roche Wills, Co Chair of INATBA’s AI and Blockchain Convergences Task Force and leader at BlackVogel. They explore how blockchain can enhance trust, transparency, and accountability in AI, the limits of decentralisation, and why human oversight...

Platforms, Power, and Purpose In Part 2 of this two-part conversation, we shift our focus to Building Bridges as a platform: its role within Geneva’s global landscape, the challenges of multistakeholder governance, and the ethical tensions that arise when finance, diplomacy, and development intersect. Karen Hitschke reflects on what it means to hold space for collaboration across sectors and world...

A Life in Systems Thinking In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, Karen Hitschke, CEO of Building Bridges, shares the personal and professional journey that shaped her leadership. From childhood experiences during the Cold War and the Ethiopian famine, to a career in biology, consulting, venture capital, and impact investing. We explore: • The values that shaped her worldview • The pivotal momen...

🎙️ What does  circular economy  really mean, beyond the green slogans? ♻️ In this conversation, Gabor and  Dr Phillip Wallat  cut through the buzz to explore why turning circular theory into practice is messy, political, and full of trade-offs. ✨  What you’ll hear: 🚫 Why circularity ≠ just recycling 🔧 The design choices that decide repairability and reuse ⚖️ Trade-offs between cost, performance...

Europe and China remain deeply connected yet increasingly cautious of each other. In this second part of our conversation, intercultural leadership consultant  Gabor Holch  joins me to explore the political, economic and technological dimensions shaping EU–China relations today. We begin with technology as one of the sharpest areas of strategic friction — the Huawei controversy, Apple’s role, and...

Europe and China are deeply interdependent yet increasingly uncertain about each other. In this first part of a two‑part conversation, intercultural leadership consultant  Gabor Holch  joins Gabor Farkas to explore the cultural and historical dynamics shaping EU and China relations. We discuss Holch’s personal journey from diplomacy to more than two decades of consulting in China. We examine how c...

This analysis explores the  rearmament of Europe  and the systemic habit of  outsourcing security  to the  United States . Featuring Brigadier General (Res.) Dr Salvador Sánchez Tapia, we examine the  Readiness-2030  plan and the tension between  NATO-reliance  and  European strategic autonomy .

In this episode of  inSUBSTANTIA , host Gabor Farkas speaks with Eric Heinze, Professor of Law and Humanities at Queen Mary University of London, about the complex and often contentious role of free speech in democratic societies. Their conversation explores the philosophical and historical roots of free expression, including Karl Popper’s famous paradox of tolerance. ex Heinze contrasts US and Eu...

Continuing our conversation with Adam Kahane, Part 2 explores practical strategies for conflict resolution. Learn how to implement exercises like 'paired walks' to build empathy, understand the balance of power, love, and justice, and embrace tension as a catalyst for growth. Adam also discusses navigating unexpected outcomes in facilitation and challenging the status quo. This episode offers valu...

In this insightful conversation, Gabor Farkas sits down with Adam Kahane, a renowned author and facilitator known for his work on resolving complex conflicts. Kahane discusses his career, starting from his unexpected journey at Royal Dutch Shell to his pivotal involvement in South Africa's historic dialogues. The conversation delves into his new book, 'Everyday Habits for Transforming Syst...

In the second part of our compelling conversation with Dr. Ewa Lombard, we delve into the nuances of decision-making and collective action. We uncover how peer pressure can significantly impact our choices, and explore creative methods like hackathons to encourage long-term thinking. We also debate the effectiveness of different messaging strategies, particularly in climate change advocacy. This e...

In this thought-provoking episode of 'inSUBSTANTIA,' host Gabor Farkas welcomes neuroscientist and behavioural economist Dr Ewa Lombard to unravel the intricate workings of the human brain and its impact on our lives. Part 1 of this two-part conversation takes you on a journey through the dynamics of sustainable decision-making, the powerful influence of emotions and stress, and a discussi...

Abstract Are we witnessing the erosion of democracy in Europe, or a chance for revitalization? Explore shifting ideologies and global dynamics with Prof. András Bozóki on the latest episode of 'Insubstantia.' A deep dive into the heart of Central and Eastern European political change.  A Changing Definition of Democracy Recently, I had the privilege of discussing with András Bozóki, a Professor of...

In this episode, Gabor Farkas talks with Sandro Cattacin, a sociology professor at the University of Geneva, about his interdisciplinary approach to research and his engagement to address vulnerabilities and injustices in society. The conversation explores the conditions that spark civic engagement that make people step beyond their individual concerns and commit to something bigger than themselve...

🎙️  In this episode, Gabor Farkas dives deep with Dr. Federica Russo, a trailblazing philosopher of science, to unravel the powerful intersections of knowledge, technology, and ethics. Dr. Russo introduces her groundbreaking concept of  'epistemology cum ethics' —the idea that producing knowledge is never neutral but deeply ethical, especially in the world of AI and data science. Together, they ex...

In this episode, Gabor Farkas talks with Dr Jennifer Blanke, an economic development expert and former chief economist at the World Economic Forum. They discuss the challenges of meeting urgent global needs while ensuring sustainable and equitable progress. The conversation addresses systemic issues in the current economic model, including climate change, socio-economic inequality, and the need fo...

In this episode, Gabor Farkas talks with physicist and finance expert Jean-Christophe de Mestral about the global challenge of meeting growing energy demands sustainably. They discuss the expected growth in global energy demand by 2050, the dominant energy sources, and the limitations of renewable energy. The conversation also delves into the environmental impact of current energy sources, the pot...

Switzerland is about to vote on a new government-led electronic identity system. This decision will shape how citizens prove who they are online for years to come. 🗳️  Why does it matter? Three years ago, Swiss voters rejected a private sector model for eID. The new proposal keeps digital identity in public hands and sets a high bar for privacy, security, and user control. 🎙️  In this episode: Dr...

In this episode, Gabor talks with Dan Davies about how accountability vanishes in our increasingly complex institutions. Why do massive systems routinely make disastrous decisions, and why does no one seem responsible? Dan Davies draws on his experience in banking regulation and equity research, along with cybernetics and information theory, to explain how feedback loops collapse and decisions eme...