Meet the Influectuals

What if some of the most powerful tools in policymaking had little to do with reason? In this episode, John and Sonia speak with Martin Smith, Head of Policy Lab at Wellcome, who has spent years exploring how creative and experimental methods can produce different kinds of thinking in policy contexts. From circus arts and collaborative mosaic-making to Brexit simulations and serious games, Martin...

How do ideas actually influence people? We often assume that strong evidence, well-written reports or high-profile campaigns are enough. But in practice, influence tends to work in more subtle - and less predictable - ways. In this episode, John interviews his co-host Sonia Jalfin, exploring what really shapes how ideas are taken up, shared and acted on. As the originator of the term Influectuals...

What does “brand” actually mean for a think tank? Is it a logo, a visual identity - or something more fundamental about how an organisation is understood? In this episode Sonia interviews her co-host, John Schwartz, who has spent nearly two decades shaping how research organisations think about brand. When Soapbox was founded, branding was rarely seen as a priority for think tanks. Today, it plays...

Meet the Influectuals is back for a new season.  Kicking things off, Sonia and John sit down with Joscha Wirtz, who isn’t just talking about AI—he’s building a think tank powered by it. Not a think tank about AI (there are plenty of those already), but one where AI runs research, communications, operations, and even fundraising. In this episode, Joscha challenges the traditional think tank model a...

How did we imagine the future of policy communications 10 years ago? How does the present compare? In this episode, Sonia and John join Nick Scott to explore the transformative role of AI in research communications, from audience engagement to redefining authorship. They discuss the importance of think tanks embracing continuous learning and collaboration to be prepared for this evolving and uncer...

In today's context, it seems increasingly difficult to imagine a different, optimistic future. Sonia and John meet with Geoff Mulgan to discuss how to overcome this crisis of imagination in order to foster positive change.  They explore the potential and limitations of generative ideas, and the importance of bridging theory and practice to effectively translate creative ideas into successful,...

Understanding how the human mind works and processes information is crucial for communicators. In this episode, Sonia and John meet with Lucía Macchia to delve into the potential of behavioral science for disseminating research and influencing policy.  To explore the complex intersection of behavioral science and policy, they focus on a topic that most of us dread: pain. Lucía explains how economi...

Tax policy issues can seem quite technical and obscure to most people. So how has the Institute for Fiscal Studies positioned itself as one of the most influential think tanks in the UK? Why do people care about what they have to say? In this episode, Sonia and John meet with Helen Miller, Deputy Director at the IFS, to find out how much of this reputation is owed to the IFS’s approach to communic...

Sonia and John are in London attending the On Think Tanks Conference at Chatham House. Among so many people with diverse –and sometimes conflicting– opinions, some pressing questions arise: Why does collaboration seem to be lacking in so many policy processes these days? How can we translate these dialogue instances into constructive decision-making processes? And how can process design methods he...

In today’s world of constant information and noise, it can be difficult to stand out. But some organizations and individuals have managed to become true thought leaders, shaping the way we think and talk about the issues of our time. So, what sets them apart?  Paul Constance is the perfect guest to help us answer these questions. Paul is a master of public influence. He worked for years as Chief o...

Live from Berlin, Sonia and John explore the notions of Global North and Global South. What do these terms actually mean? They clearly aren’t limited to geography. For many think tanks and knowledge institutions in the North, the need to collaborate with organizations in the South is becoming an imperative. But we need new words and ideas to communicate these emerging relationships. Who better to...