Talking Foreign Affairs with Adil Cader

Sanna Marin’s viral dancing video sparked a global debate about misogyny, media scrutiny and the double standards faced by women in politics. But what did the controversy reveal about leadership in the public eye?In this episode of the Talking Foreign Affairs podcast, Adil Cader speaks with the former Finland Prime Minister (2019–2023) who at the time became the youngest-ever head of government at just 34 years.Marin reflects on leading Finland through the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the country’s decision to join NATO. She discusses resilience when the stakes are high and public scrutiny is intense.She also revisits the dancing controversy and its wider impact on women leaders. Marin speaks about solidarity with leaders such as Jacinda Ardern and balancing political leadership with motherhood.The conversation explores social media, online harassment and the emotional toll of constant public scrutiny. Marin also explains why protecting young people from online hostility matters.Drawing on her book, Hope in Action: A Personal Account of Leadership and Resilience, Marin shares why hope is not simply something we feel. It is something we act on.Listen to a candid conversation about leadership, women in politics, Finland, Ukraine, NATO, social media and the power of hope.

The ocean shaped the sound of a generation. Today, Al Jardine believes protecting it is one of the most important challenges we face.As part of a special World Oceans Day campaign with Talking Foreign Affairs, Beach Boys founder Al Jardine joins Adil Cader for a conversation on music, surf culture, and the future of our oceans.From the early days of California surf culture and working alongside Brian Wilson to witnessing the decline of marine ecosystems and the challenges facing the world's oceans today, Al shares never-before-heard stories about what motivated some of the biggest hit songs of a generation and why he remains passionate about protecting the ocean.Topics include Brian Wilson, Dennis Wilson, surf culture, California, the Great Barrier Reef, ocean conservation, climate change, and World Oceans Day.

Is being a microstate a limitation or a hidden advantage?As a nation of just 40,000 people, yet one of the highest GDPs per capita in the world, Liechtenstein makes a compelling case that even the smallest states can think, and act, big.In this episode, Brigitte Haas, the Prime Minister of Liechtenstein, joins Adil Cader for a wide-ranging conversation about what it really means to lead a microstate in an increasingly complex world order. #Leadership #Liechtenstein #BrigitteHaas #Diplomacy #Geopolitics #InternationalRelatoins #ForeignPolicy #Multilateralism #UnitedNations #ForeignAffairs

Is Swiss neutrality still real, or is it being redefined in real time?In this episode, Adil Cader speak with Doris Leuthard who served twice as President of Switzerland, about what neutrality actually means in today’s shifting global order. And some important life lessons she has learnt from it.From its roots after the Battle of Marignano in 1515 and formal recognition at the Congress of Vienna in 1815 , neutrality has shaped Switzerland’s identity for centuries.But in a world marked by trade tensions, rising great power rivalry and pressure on multilateral institutions, how does Switzerland interpret neutrality today?#Leadership #Switzerland #DorisLeuthard #Geopolitics #InternationalRelations #ForeignPolicy #Diplomacy #Multilateralism #UnitedNations #PoliticalLeadership #GlobalAffairs

You may know her as Ashley from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air or as a Grammy-nominated artist. But today, Tatyana Ali is here to talk about something very few people expect. In this episode, Tatyana joins Adil to share her own childbirth experience and the moment she realised she was not being listened to. What followed was not just frustrating. It was frightening. And it opened her eyes to a much bigger problem facing mothers around the world.Across countries and health systems, women of African descent face far higher risks during pregnancy and birth. Being dismissed, ignored, or not taken seriously is part of that story. This is not rare. It is happening every day.As part of her campaign with the UNFPA, Tatyana speaks honestly about birth trauma, medical bias, and why motherhood is still dangerous for too many women worldwide.Want to support our show? Clicking ‘follow’ on Apple and Spotify is the best way to do that, and we're super grateful to anyone who leaves a five-star review while they're at it.