The McKay Interview

Britain and Switzerland have never been at war, and their first treaty of friendship dates from 1855. Yet the man who has represented His Majesty in Berne for the past four years says the relationship’s best days may still lie ahead. What does it take to keep an old friendship ambitious?Coming to the end of his tour of duty, His Excellency Mr James Squire, His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Swiss Confederation and the Principality of Liechtenstein, sits down with Michael McKay at the Warwick Hotel in Geneva. He reflects on what Switzerland has taught him, why two very different countries work so well together, and how he explains British politics to his Swiss friends.In this episode, you will learn:The Many Switzerlands: Why the Ambassador set out to visit all 26 cantons officially, and why in several of them he was the first ambassador to ask in a very long time.What Switzerland Teaches: Direct democracy, long-term decision making and a vocational education system that the UK could learn a lot from.Natural Partners: The two biggest European economies outside the EU, around 57 billion Swiss francs in annual trade, and 12 of Europe’s top 20 research-intensive universities between them.A Groundbreaking Agreement: How the Berne Financial Services Agreement, in force since 1 January 2026, became the first of its kind.Replacing 1972: Why the newly concluded Free Trade Agreement, covering services, data, digital trade and business mobility, is designed to be practical rather than to create warm feelings.Five Prime Ministers in Four Years: How the Ambassador answers the Swiss who ask what is going on in Britain, and why he believes untidy democracies can still be resilient ones.Two Unforgettable Moments: The Lionesses’ penalty shoot-out win at the Women’s Euro 2025 final in Basel, and the village of Hochwald’s decades of care for the families bereaved by the 1973 air disaster.About the Guest: James Squire took up his post as His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Swiss Confederation and non-resident Ambassador to the Principality of Liechtenstein in January 2023. He was previously Head of the North East Asia and Pacific Department and Head of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea Department at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, and served as British Deputy Ambassador to Afghanistan in 2018. Since joining the Diplomatic Service in 2008, his roles have included four years at the UK Mission to the United Nations in New York. Before that, he was a Fund Manager with Schroders and is a Chartered Financial Analyst charterholder. This conversation was recorded at the Warwick Hotel in Geneva on 4 November 2026.

A small island of fewer than three million people has given the world a religion, a language, a musical genre that soundtracks protest from Kingston to Tel Aviv, and a string of Olympic champions. How does Jamaica do it?In this episode, Michael McKay opens a short series of conversations with authentic Jamaican voices. Born in Jamaica and raised in England, he returns to the island’s paradoxes with Clyde McKenzie OD, cultural commentator, musicologist, broadcaster and entertainment consultant, and, as it happens, his former pupil at St George’s College in Kingston in the early 1970s. Speaking via Zoom from Kingston, Clyde explains why Jamaicans can call themselves “the first global culture”, what the Windrush generation did for British music, and why the island still struggles to look after what it has.In this episode, you will learn:The First Global Culture: Why the collision of European, African and Asian influences produced a culture in which almost everyone can see a piece of themselves.The Windrush Beachhead: How nostalgic Caribbean migrants in 1950s Britain became the vectors that carried Jamaican music to the world, from My Boy Lollipop to Bob Marley.Cultural Confidence: The theories behind Jamaican assertiveness, from absentee colonial overlords to the island being the last drop-off point for the most rebellious enslaved Africans.The Pantheon: Why Bob Marley, the cultural theorist Stuart Hall and the folklorist Louise Bennett (“Miss Lou”) stand as the outstanding examples of Jamaican culture.Music as Protest: Why reggae is played from Israel to Japan, and what people with grievances around the world find in its rhythm.Potholes and Civic Pride: A frank exchange on why the island neglects its pavements and roads while Devon House gleams.Safety and the Caribbean’s Future: What to tell nervous visitors, and why Caribbean integration, food security and currency convertibility are back on the agenda.About the Guest: Clyde McKenzie OD is a Jamaican cultural commentator, musicologist, broadcaster and entertainment consultant. He was the first general manager of IRIE FM, the island’s all-reggae radio station, where he hosted Musically Speaking, and later a key figure at the Shocking Vibes production house, co-producing Beenie Man’s Grammy-winning album Art and Life. Today he is a director of C2W Music, a columnist for The Gleaner and a frequent commentator on Jamaican television. In 2017 he was awarded the Order of Distinction (Officer Class) for services to the creative industries, media and broadcasting. This conversation was recorded via Zoom in September 2026.

For generations, Western Europe has lived in an unprecedented era of peace. Today, with war returning to the Continent and the Middle East, national defence budgets are skyrocketing as warfare undergoes a terrifying technological evolution. In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Jean-Marc Rickli, Head of Global and Emerging Risks at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP). Nicknamed "Dr. Doom" in policy circles, he delivers a sobering reality check on the dark side of emerging technologies.Moving beyond the hype of ChatGPT, Dr. Rickli breaks down the shift from generative AI to "agentic" AI—algorithms capable of autonomous decision-making and surrogate warfare. From AI models breaking out of security sandboxes to the alarming decline in human cognitive skills, this conversation is a vital, uncompromising look at the negative externalities of unchecked technological growth and the capitalist systems funding it.In this episode, you will learn:The AI Evolution: How artificial intelligence transitioned from simple machine learning in the 2010s to today's autonomous, goal-oriented "agentic" systems.The Law of Exponentiality: Why human brains struggle to comprehend AI development, and why LLMs could be a million times more powerful in just 20 years.The "Cognitive Apocalypse": How offloading our critical thinking to algorithms is contributing to a spike in psychiatric disorders among Gen Z.Surrogate Warfare: How states and non-state actors are replacing human proxies with autonomous algorithms on the modern battlefield.The Sandbox Escape: The chilling, real-world instance where an AI model broke out of its controlled testing environment and hacked an external system.The Capitalism Trap: Why the business models of tech giants (driven by data monetization and polarizing content) make responsible AI regulation nearly impossible.About the Guest:Dr. Jean-Marc Rickli is the Head of Global and Emerging Risks at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP). A leading expert on the intersection of geopolitics and emerging technologies, he formerly served as a professor at Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi and King's College London, where he trained high-ranking military officials. He is the co-author of the pioneering book Surrogate Warfare and regularly advises international governments and organizations on anticipating and mitigating global security threats.

What happens when you write 155 job applications as a 16-year-old, only to face constant rejection due to a physical disability? You develop an unstoppable "can-do" mindset.In this episode, we travel to Horgen, Switzerland, to visit the regional headquarters of Dow, Inc., one of the world's largest chemical companies, employing well over 30,000 people globally. Our guest is Debbie Stettler, a Digital Customer Manager in Digital Sales, Packaging and Speciality Plastics for the Europe, Middle East, Africa, and India (EMEAI) region. Born with a visible physical disability (shortened arms) and a hidden hearing impairment, Debbie shares her candid journey of navigating the corporate world and societal biases. Beyond her day job, Debbie also serves as the Chair of the Disability Employee Network (DEN) for the EMEAI region. We discuss the true meaning of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), why 80% of disabilities are acquired during a person's lifetime, and how living with a disability inherently forces you to become an elite, out-of-the-box problem solver. The Reality of DEI: A breakdown of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion frameworks designed to promote fair treatment and accessible workplaces for underrepresented groups. The 155 Doors: Debbie’s challenging early journey of writing 155 apprenticeship applications and how finding a safe corporate environment allowed her to finally "breathe."The 80% Statistic: Why disability is a universal issue, given that 80% of disabled individuals acquire their conditions during their lifetime.Disability as an Advantage: How constantly navigating physical barriers naturally builds a fierce "can-do" mindset and highly innovative problem-solving skills.The Role of ERGs: How Employee Resource Groups, like Dow's Disability Employee Network (DEN), ensure that disabled talent is recognised, supported, and never disadvantaged. The Swiss System: A look into Switzerland's federal and cantonal disability allowances, and the cultural attitudes of the Swiss public towards visible disabilities.The Three Pillars of True Inclusion: Debbie's personal philosophy on how self-confidence, open curiosity from able-bodied peers, and collaborative teamwork create a truly inclusive environment.Debbie Stettler is a highly experienced corporate professional serving as the Digital Customer Manager in Digital Sales, Packaging and Speciality Plastics at Dow, Inc., overseeing the Europe, Middle East, Africa, and India (EMEAI) region. Having lived with a disability since birth, she is a passionate advocate for workplace accessibility and equal opportunity, simultaneously serving as the Chair of Dow’s Disability Employee Network (DEN) for EMEAI.

In this episode, we take a step back in time to explore a deeply personal family story intertwined with mid-twentieth century European history. Broadcasting from the village of Thoiry in France, immediately adjacent to Geneva, we sit down with Walter Stresemann to discuss the enduring legacy of his grandfather. Walter’s grandfather, Gustav Stresemann, was a towering figure in German history, serving as the Chancellor of the Weimar Republic in 1923 and as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1923 to 1929. Following the tragic and costly conflicts of World War I, Gustav made huge efforts to establish a lasting peace in Europe. We trace the historical fil rouge (red thread) from the establishment of the League of Nations to the modern day, exploring how the past shapes contemporary Germany. The "Year of Crises": An exploration of Germany in 1923 and why this turbulent period earned its infamous historical title. The Spirit of Locarno: Gustav Stresemann's pivotal role in post-war international relations and the Locarno Treaties. The 1926 Thoiry Meeting: The history and expectations surrounding the famous, discreet meeting between Gustav Stresemann and French statesman Aristide Briand, which took place just hundreds of metres from where this interview was recorded. The Nobel Peace Prize: How the diplomatic breakthroughs of 1926 led to both Stresemann and Briand being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. The Fall of Weimar: The profound political impact that Gustav’s sudden death in October 1929, at the age of 51, had on Germany and its neighbours, including France. The Shadow of the Third Reich: How Gustav Stresemann's legacy was regarded by Hitler's regime, and later by the democratic Germany of Konrad Adenauer. Defining Heimat: Walter's personal reflections on his ties to Germany and the complex, difficult-to-translate meaning of the word Heimat. Walter Stresemann is a Geneva-based finance professional and the Founder and Managing Director of Magnolia Family Office. As the grandson of Weimar Republic Chancellor Gustav Stresemann, Walter offers a completely unique perspective that dovetails his own professional and personal journey with the monumental political narrative of his immediate ancestors. About the Guest:Walter Stresemann is a Geneva-based finance professional and the Founder and Managing Director of Magnolia Family Office. As the grandson of Weimar Republic Chancellor Gustav Stresemann, Walter offers a completely unique perspective that dovetails his own professional and personal journey with the monumental political narrative of his immediate ancestors.