The World Health Organisation says that outdoor air pollution kills 4.2 million people around the world every year. This is not a problem that only affects the developing world - in fact, almost 100% of cities breach safety guideline limits. Here's a reality check: if you live in a city - ANYWHERE in the world - you are most certainly breathing air that is a danger to your health. There is hope - but it'll take action.

Leading Views podcast

Air pollution: it’s real, it’s dangerous & it’s everywhere - but it’s not too late to tackle it.

Can the technology sector be an engine for development in Africa? Samir Abdelkrim, founder and CEO of StartupBRICS.com, journalist and author of “Startup Lions”, explains the tenacious successes of a burgeoning African tech scene and the obstacles that Europe can help early stage entrepreneurs overcome.

On the tech sector in Africa and how the EU should better engage with the continent

European Climate Foundation UK Director and European Young Leader Joss Garman sheds light on the reality of the global climate emergency and offers a step-by-step guide on how to tackle it.

Joss Garman on the climate crisis: how bad is it (bad!) and can we get out of it (yes!)?

In this episode, Negar Mortazavi, journalist and EYL40 Young Leader, shares her views on Iran’s uninhibited cultural scene, Europe’s crucial role as mediator in the US-Iran dispute and the importance of exercised diplomacy, all the while highlighting her desire to move beyond the reductive tendency of interpreting the current tensions as simply a clash between religious fundamentalism and the values of liberal democracy.

Negar Mortazavi on Europe's role in the US-Iran dispute, the Trump factor and the role of media

Journalist, author and activist Una Mullally was on the front lines of movements that led to Ireland passing marriage equality and repealing its decades old ban on abortion. The European Young Leader discusses how citizens can be galvanised to engage politically and demand change.

Una Mullally on abortion rights, marriage equality and galvanising a generation for change

Thomson Reuters Foundation CEO and founder of Openly, Antonio Zappulla first discusses the role of philanthropy in today's society and why profit with purpose should be at the core of all companies. The European Young Leader also talks about founding Openly, a global digital platform delivering fair, accurate and impartial LGBT+ news to a world that isn’t - because representation matters.

Philanthropy & the business case for human rights with Thomson Reuters Foundation’s Antonio Zappulla

The vast majority of children’s books don’t feature speaking female characters – and certainly not any with professional aspirations. Francesca Cavallo set out to create something that would contribute to creating a new world, where gender doesn’t define how big you can dream and how far you can go. Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls is a series of bedtime stories about the lives of historical women. Tune in to find out more about the challenges Francesca faced bringing this roaring success to life – and where she’s headed next.

Author Francesca Cavallo on Rebel Girls, bro-culture and crowd-funding

Niall Dennehy co-founded AID:Tech, a company that has successfully harnessed the power of blockchain technology to improve humanitarian aid, provide digital identities to displaced people, and tackle the UN Sustainable Development Goals – among many other things.

Niall Dennehy on how AID:Tech uses blockchain to improve humanitarian aid and so much more

Matthew Goodwin, author of ‘National Populism: The Revolt Against Liberal Democracy’ and professor at the University of Kent, is an expert on radicalisation, extremism, integration and populism. This European Young Leader shares his no holds barred take on where progressives went wrong, including the belief that populism is a new phenomenon. With the turbulent times in politics across the world, this interview provides timely and eye-opening lessons on how to tackle today's complexities.

Professor Matthew Goodwin on populism and what the Left got wrong in the democratic project

Dr. Anne-Marie Imafidon is a European Young Leader and the youngest girl ever to pass A-level computing, and was just 20 years old when she received her Master’s Degree from the University of Oxford. She is the co-founder and CEO of Stemettes, an award-winning social enterprise which aims to educate and mentor young women and girls in STEM. She shares her unique perspective on what we're getting wrong, and where we can do better - including sharing more diverse role models from STEM fields (hint: they weren't all old men!)

Stemettes’ Anne-Marie Imafidon on inspiring girls to get into STEM & breaking gender stereotypes

MENA Young Leader Fadi Quran is a Senior Campaigner at Avaaz, the world's largest online activist network, and the founder and CEO of Tayara Energy, which brings wind energy to remote villages and refugee camps. He provides a powerful narrative for peaceful activism - one that is crucial in today's tense global environment - and dreams of a world where a strong European Union and strong Middle Eastern Union can come together to become the beating heart of the world - in a way that transforms us.

Avaaz's Fadi Quran on activism, the Israel/Palestine conflict & Europe's role in the Middle East

Investigative journalist and European Young Leader (EYL40) Bastian Obermayer won the Pulitzer for his extraordinary work uncovering the Panama Papers scandal. His take on fake news and the role that politicians across the world are playing in creating a more dangerous place for journalists could not be more timely: as the tragic assassinations of journalists in Malta and Slovakia in the past year demonstrate, Europe isn't a safe zone anymore.

Journalist Bastian Obermayer on Panama Papers, fake news & politics putting journalists at risk

Sherin Khankan wants to deconstruct the patriarchal structure of Islam and is working with female leaders across other religions to join the fight. From becoming Scandinavia's first female Imam and founding Europe's first female-led mosque, Khankan doesn't shy away from a challenge. Her passion project ExitCircle, is an NGO dedicated to providing support to people in physically and mentally violent relationships and suffering from religious social control.

Denmark's first female Imam Sherin Khankan on Islamic feminism & breaking patriarchal structures

John Collison's trailblazing billion-dollar company Stripe, which he co-founded with his brother at only 19 years old, helps companies of all sizes do business online. The Irish entrepreneur and European Young Leader has a thing or two to say about the challenges Europe faces, and the advantages it has when it comes to tech, digital, and risk-taking.

Stripe's John Collison on disruption, Europe's technical talent and why we need to take risks

Jesse Klaver’s accessible and down-to-earth style helped his party take the last Dutch elections by storm at only 30 years old. Nicknamed “The Jessiah”, Klaver rode a message of tolerance as he led his party to unforeseen success, more than tripling their number of parliamentary seats in the last election.

Jesse Klaver on politics, youth engagement, and learning from populists

Friends of Europe's Leading Views podcast takes you beyond the Brussels Bubble and into the mind of a different type of leader. From politics to the arts, and from business to civil society, each guest offers an alternative and fresh view on how to make Europe better.

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Leading Views podcast

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