Conversation Changers

In this episode, we’re continuing our conversation on disability rights, but this time shifting the focus to the South Caucasus. Georgia, a post-Soviet candidate for European Union membership, finds itself navigating a critical transitional period. While European integration promises social reforms, growing democratic backsliding, authoritarian legislation, and a lingering Soviet mindset continue to leave disabled Georgians excluded from civic, economic, and daily life.Joining the conversation from Tbilisi, Salzburg Global Fellow Esma Gumberidze explores the frontlines of grassroots activism in Georgia. As a blind activist and legal scholar, Gumberidze details how structural barriers, from inaccessible court systems and public infrastructure to retaliatory fines and anti-protest measures, are actively used to disenfranchise vulnerable populations and strip disabled citizens of their political agency.From the medicalised approach to disability status to the criminalisation of civil assembly, this episode provides a candid look at the brave fight for accessibility, representation, and basic human rights at the intersection of a nation’s democratic future.Chapters 00:00 EU Ambitions, Soviet Legacies, and Georgia’s Crossroads 02:22 The Medical Model: How the State Determines Disability 05:12 Democratic Backsliding and its Impact on Disability Activism 09:14 Weaponised Stigma, Legal Aid, and Loss of Agency 11:00 Fines, Safety, and the Risks Facing Activists on the Streets 13:12 Physical and Institutional Barriers: The Fight for Accessible Courts 16:19 Why Accessibility Progress Remains Stalled in 2026 20:51 From Infantilisation to Political Agency: Changing the Narrative 22:14 Gender, Quotas, and the Invisibility of Disabled Women 25:33 Media Representation and Challenging Ableist AssumptionsAbout The Guest: Esma Gumberidze Esma Gumberidze is a Salzburg Global Fellow, human rights defender, disability rights activist, citizen journalist, and blogger based in Tbilisi, Georgia. Holding a degree in law, Esma is at the forefront of the movement uniting accessibility campaigns with the broader struggle for democracy and human rights in the South Caucasus. Through strategic litigation, grassroots organising, and public advocacy, she works forcefully to challenge societal ableism, dismantle systemic barriers, and ensure disabled citizens, particularly disabled women, are recognised as equal actors in shaping their nation's future.Follow Esma Gumberidze below to find out more about her work with civil society initiatives in Georgia: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/esma-gumberidze-408955306/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/esma.gumberidze/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@esmagumberidze833 About The Host: Eric OlanderEric Olander is a veteran journalist and media executive with over 30 years of experience reporting for world-leading organisations including CNN, France 24, and the BBC World Service. He is a Salzburg Global Fellow and the Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief of The China-Global South Project, an independent media initiative exploring global engagement with the developing world.Follow Eric Olander on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/olander/Find out more about Salzburg Global: https://www.salzburgglobal.org/

What does it truly mean to be recognised by the state, and what are the perilous consequences for minority populations when they are left out of the data that shapes public policy?In this episode of Conversation Changers, host Eric Olander explores the urgent intersection of technology, data, and human rights. As big data, AI, and machine learning increasingly dictate who holds power, marginalised communities, particularly people with disabilities, face a growing risk of digital and systemic exclusion.Joining the conversation from New Delhi is Shameer Rishad, a Salzburg Global Fellow and the founder of the Javed Abidi Foundation. Rishad is leading vital initiatives to challenge societal perceptions of disability in India, advocating for a shift from a historical model of charity and sympathy to one rooted firmly in human rights and empathy.From the structural hurdles of the upcoming 2027 Indian census to the political mechanics of "vote banks," this episode offers a striking look at the battle for visibility. Rishad reveals how a lack of localised data directly translates into a denial of healthcare, education, and basic infrastructure, explaining why being counted is the first essential step toward real political representation.Chapters00:00 Technology, Power, and the Arbiters of Data01:42 What It Means to Be Counted by the State02:55 The Mechanics and History of the Indian Census07:12 The Missing Budgets and Training Manuals09:22 Political "Vote Banks" and the Power of Collectivisation13:09 The Compounding Consequences of Data Exclusion17:41 Civil Society, Bureaucracy, and Public Interest Litigations22:05 Looking Ahead to 2027: Realism vs. Optimism24:41 Shifting the Narrative: From Sympathy to EmpathyAbout The Guest: Shameer Rishad Shameer Rishad is a Salzburg Global Fellow and the founder of the Javed Abidi Foundation based in New Delhi, India. Inspired by the legacy of his late uncle, the pioneering disability rights activist Javed Abidi, Shameer leads grassroots and national-level initiatives dedicated to challenging societal perceptions of disability. Through advocacy, media engagement, and legal action, he works tirelessly to transition disability narratives from a framework of charity to one of human rights, ensuring that marginalised populations are accurately enumerated, politically represented, and legally protected.Follow Shameer Rishad on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shameer-rishad-7594ab1b3/ Find out more about https://www.linkedin.com/company/javed-abidi-foundation/ About The Host: Eric Olander Eric Olander is a veteran journalist and media executive with over 30 years of experience reporting for world-leading organisations including CNN, France 24, and the BBC World Service. He is a Salzburg Global Fellow and the Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief of The China-Global South Project, an independent media initiative exploring global engagement with the developing world.Follow Eric Olander on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/olander/ Find out more about Salzburg Global: https://www.salzburgglobal.org/ 

How can the international community navigate the deeply fractured relationship between the United States and Iran amidst a backdrop of historic mistrust, regional conflicts, and shifting geopolitical alliances?In this episode of Conversation Changers, host and Salzburg Global President and CEO Martin Weiss explores the evolving landscape of US-Iran diplomacy following years of volatile engagements. While both nations face severe internal and external pressures, the path forward remains highly complex, balanced on the fragile floor of temporary agreements and regional necessities.Joining the conversation is Ali Vaez, the Director of the Iran Project at Crisis Group. A former nuclear physicist turned international relations expert, Ali provides a unique perspective on the modern history of the conflict, from his childhood during the Iran-Iraq War to his behind-the-scenes mediation work during the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action negotiations.Together, they discuss why a return to full-scale hot warfare is unlikely, yet why a comprehensive final agreement remains seemingly out of reach. From analysing the critical challenges of monitoring Iran's highly enriched uranium stockpile to examining the financial calculations of Gulf neighbours funding a proposed reconstruction channel, this episode investigates how the Middle East is navigating a highly plastic, pivotal moment.Chapters:00:00 From Nuclear Physics to Conflict Prevention04:05 The Rise and Fall of the 2015 Nuclear Deal09:21 Humanitarian Channels and the Anatomy of Mistrust13:54 The Technical Realities of Uranium Dilution18:33 The Case for Staggered, Incremental Agreements21:39 Rebuilding Better: The New Gulf-Iran Dynamics29:55 Regional Spoilers and Domestic Tight Spots35:44 Inside the Militarised State: The Trajectory of Tehran’s LeadershipAbout the Guest: Ali Vaez Ali Vaez is the Director of the Iran Project at Crisis Group, where he leads the organisation's research and advocacy efforts concerning relations between Iran and the international community. Before joining Crisis Group in 2012, he served as a post-doctoral fellow at Harvard University and worked as a Senior Analyst at the Federation of American Scientists. He holds a PhD in Nuclear Physics and Medicine from the University of Geneva and a Master's degree in International Relations from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies SAIS. Follow Ali Vaez on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ali-vaez-8b647a12/ Learn more about Ali's work at Crisis Group here: https://www.crisisgroup.org/who-we-are/people/ali-vaezAbout the Host: Martin Weiss Martin Weiss is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Salzburg Global. Prior to this role, Martin spent more than 30 years in the Austrian diplomatic corps, serving as Austria’s ambassador to the United States, Israel, and Cyprus. During his career, he also served as the Director of the Press and Information Department at the Austrian Embassy in Washington. Find out more about Salzburg Global Seminar here: https://www.salzburgglobal.org

How can we empower the next generation to shape their future amidst a backdrop of global uncertainty, rapid technological change, and shifting educational paradigms?In this episode of Conversation Changers, host Eric Olander explores the evolving landscape of student activism and the urgent need for a new intergenerational dialogue. While today’s youth face unprecedented pressures, from climate change to the rise of artificial intelligence, they are also demonstrating remarkable agency, critical thinking, and a desire to build a better world.Joining the conversation are Salzburg Global Fellows Gloria Figueroa, General Director of the San José de las Vegas School in Colombia, and Alison Bellwood, Founder of World’s Largest Lesson and Executive Director at Project Everyone, a UK-based creative communications agency dedicated to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Together, they discuss why listening to young people is essential for our collective future and how we can move beyond tokenistic engagement to true power-sharing. From debating the role of AI in the classroom to reimagining the purpose of education, this episode investigates how educators, policymakers, and young people can collaborate to navigate these turbulent times.Chapters: 00:00 The State of Youth Employment and Activism03:02 Defining Activism in the Modern Context06:01 The Importance of Listening to Young Voices09:05 Generational Perspectives on Change11:56 The Role of AI in Education17:57 Navigating the AI Era in Learning24:01 Changing the Conversation on EducationAbout The Guests: Alison Bellwood & Gloria FigueroaAlison Bellwood is the founder of the World's Largest Lesson. She developed the idea in 2014 and works alongside partner UNICEF to encourage the inclusion of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in K-12 learning as a means of weaving sustainability and social action throughout students' school experience. She is also Executive Director of Youth and Education at Project Everyone. Her work includes supporting educators with creative resources for learning that give both educators and students insight into new ways of learning, providing a platform for student voice and advocating for educational transformation. Alison has brought her previous creative and communications background at Unilever, PepsiCo and Interpublic Group together with experience of engaging education projects to develop a program that has engaged millions of teachers and students in understanding the SDGs and applying them to their own local context. She has a degree in Economics and Social History from the University of York, UK.Follow Alison on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alison-bellwood-65503ab/  About The Guests: Gloria FigueroaGloria Mercedes Figueroa Ortiz is the General Director at San José de Las Vegas Corporation in Colombia. She is passionate about education as one of the great solutions for the world's problems and a visionary of the future of learning through ICT and Sustainability, to enhance opportunities for students and citizens of the world. Mrs Figueroa Ortiz holds a Master of Education, specialising in Pedagogy and Human Management.Follow Gloria Figueroa on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gfigueroao  About The Host: Eric Olander Eric Olander is a veteran journalist and media executive with over 30 years of experience reporting for world-leading organisations, including CNN, France 24, and the BBC World Service. He is a Salzburg Global Fellow and the Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief of The China-Global South Project, an independent media initiative exploring global engagement with the developing world.Follow Eric Olander here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/olander Find out more about Salzburg Global: https://www.salzburgglobal.org

What happens to the human heart when economic migration forces a choice between supporting your family and actually seeing them grow up?In this episode of Conversation Changers, host Eric Olander dives into a poorly understood aspect of the global migration debate: the steep emotional and mental toll of social isolation. While political headlines focus on border policies and economic metrics, millions of migrants are quietly navigating intense loneliness, separated from their support networks and families by thousands of miles and rigid visa restrictions.Joining the conversation are Salzburg Global Fellows Shizuka "Zucca" Nagahama, project lead and founding member of the communication startup Tonari, and Sanchari Chandra, an independent Indian researcher and social scientist. Together, they share how the Japan-India Transformative Technology Network is pioneering the use of immersive, "always-on" technology to bridge the physical gap between Indian healthcare workers in Japan and their loved ones back home.From the technical hurdles of creating life-sized digital portals to the systematic cultural barriers surrounding mental health, this episode explores how innovative design can transform human connection across vast distances.Chapters:00:00 Introduction to Migration Challenges03:03 The Japan-India Transformative Technology Network05:57 Understanding Migrant Well-Being08:50 Technology as a Solution for Isolation12:05 Pilot Projects and Future Potential14:55 Scaling Challenges and Opportunities17:54 The Importance of Belonging20:57 Concluding Thoughts on Migration and TechnologyAbout The Guests: Shizuka 'Zucca' Nagahama & Sanchari Chandra Shizuka Nagahama is a Salzburg Global Fellow and a project lead with the Japan-India Transformative Technology Network. She is a founding member of Tonari, a startup that builds cutting-edge, space-connecting technologies. Shizuka leads the non-profit side of the enterprise, focusing on impact-driven projects that utilise recycled units to support critical social use cases, including migration and human connection. Having moved across different countries her whole life, she is deeply passionate about creating a world without the barrier of distance, ensuring people feel a true sense of belonging wherever they live.Follow Shizuka 'Zucca' Nagahama on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shizuka-zucca-nagahama-52364489/ Sanchari Chandra Sanchari Chandra is a Salzburg Global Fellow, an independent Indian researcher and social scientist. Working on the research side of the Japan-India Transformative Technology Network, her work focuses on evaluating the mental health, anxiety, and social stability of first-generation migrant workers. Sanchari is dedicated to exploring how structural isolation impacts human health and how immersive communication tools can build trust, foster cultural assimilation, and provide essential emotional stability.Follow Sanchari Chandra on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sanchari-c-b9778788/ About The Host: Eric Olander Eric Olander is a veteran journalist and media executive with over 30 years of experience reporting for world-leading organisations, including CNN, France 24, and the BBC World Service. He is a Salzburg Global Fellow and the Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief of The China-Global South Project, an independent media initiative exploring global engagement with the developing world.Follow Eric Olander here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/olanderFind out more about Salzburg Global: https://www.salzburgglobal.org/