Episodes

  • Inside Magic Mountain: How the IAF made Magic happen!

    Inside Magic Mountain: How the IAF made Magic happen!
    Dec 23 2025
    For thirty years, the International Academy for Leadership shaped liberal thinkers, activists and future decision-makers from more than 130 countries. In this special episode of “IAF Continued Conversations,” host Sven Gerst speaks with Bettina Solinger, Verena Schweickhard and Axel Friedrichsen about what made the IAF unique. They discuss the spirit of Gummersbach, the craft behind great facilitation, the power of safe learning spaces and the countless human stories that defined the Academy. As the IAF closes its doors at the Magic Mountain, this conversation captures its legacy and the lessons that will continue to matter.
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    1 hr and 24 mins
  • Understanding Gen Z Movements

    Understanding Gen Z Movements
    Dec 9 2025
    Around the world, young people are taking to the streets to challenge failing governance systems, rising living costs and limited opportunities. These Gen Z movements share a common call for accountability, transparency and a political system that reflects their realities and expectations. In this episode of IAF Continued Conversations, hosts Arpita Nepal and Rainer Heufers speak with Kathya Berrada from Morocco and Dhananath Fernando from Sri Lanka about the rise of Gen Z Movements across the Global South. Together, they explore what sparked these youth-driven uprisings, how economic pressures and governance failures shaped public anger, and why younger generations increasingly distrust traditional political structures. Drawing on recent developments from Colombo to Casablanca, the conversation highlights how societies respond when young citizens demand accountability, transparency and a new political mindset.
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    1 hr and 6 mins
  • Networks, Talent, and Trust: The Foundations of Resourced Organisations

    Networks, Talent, and Trust: The Foundations of Resourced Organisations
    Nov 25 2025
    What does it really take for an organization to survive and succeed when resources are tight and expectations are high? In this episode of IAF Continued Conversations, hosts Marike Groenewald and Clinton du Preez from Anew - a leadership and organisational development agency speak with campaign, strategy and fundraising expert Jonathan Moakes about the real foundations of a resourced organization. They explore why people development is not a luxury, how to grow networks beyond familiar circles, how credibility and culture attract support, and why effective storytelling is central to modern fundraising. Packed with practical insights, honest reflections and examples from political and civil society work around the world, this episode offers leaders clear direction for building resilient organizations with lasting impact.
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    58 mins
  • Why Land Rights Matter: Rethinking Development Through Property Rights

    Why Land Rights Matter: Rethinking Development Through Property Rights
    Nov 4 2025
    What makes land rights such a powerful tool for freedom, development, and climate resilience? In this episode of IAF Continued Conversations, hosts Arpita Nepal and Rainer Heufers speak with land governance expert Karol Boudreaux from Landesa about why secure property rights are at the heart of liberty and prosperity. They discuss why land titles alone aren’t enough, how customary systems can work with formal law, and why patient, locally driven approaches—not top-down aid—create lasting change. From women’s empowerment in Tanzania to community-based conservation in Namibia, this conversation offers a grounded look at what truly works in development.
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    1 hr and 19 mins
  • The Return of Power Politics - Dragonbear and the West

    The Return of Power Politics - Dragonbear and the West
    Oct 21 2025
    The liberal world order is under pressure. Geopolitics is not making a comeback — it was never gone. In this episode of IAF Continued Conversations, hosts Bettina Solinger and Sven Gerst talk with geopolitical strategist Velina Tchakarova about shifting power dynamics, strategic uncertainties, and what the “bifurcation” of the global order really means. From the “Dragonbear” axis between Russia and China to Europe’s strategic hesitation, this conversation explores how liberal democracies can respond to a more competitive, fragmented world.
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    1 hr and 9 mins
  • How to Build 'Hard Hope'

    How to Build 'Hard Hope'
    Oct 7 2025
    What does it mean to practice “hard hope” in politics and leadership today? In this episode of IAF Continued Conversations, hosts Marike Groenewald and Clinton du Preez from Anew - a leadership and organisational development agency - talk with Lisa Witter, CEO of the Better Politics Foundation and co-founder of Apolitical. Lisa shares her ideas on “hard hope”, a mindset that faces reality, embraces difficulty, and chooses action anyway. Together they explore how leaders can stay resilient in times of fatigue and crisis, why empathy and curiosity are crucial political skills, and what it means to build “better politics” through facilitative leadership. From neuroscience to nature, from women in politics to the role of AI in leadership, Lisa connects practical tools with deep purpose. A conversation for anyone striving to lead with integrity, courage, and a sense of possibility — even when things feel hard.
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    1 hr and 7 mins
  • Peak Human - How openness and institutions shape progress across time

    Peak Human - How openness and institutions shape progress across time
    Sep 23 2025
    What makes societies flourish—and what causes their decline? In this episode of IAF Continued Conversations, hosts Arpita Nepal and Rainer Heufers talk with Johan Norberg about his latest book Peak Human: How We Can Learn from the Rise and Fall of Golden Ages. Drawing on examples from Athens to Baghdad and Song China, Norberg shows how openness to ideas, trade, and innovation has fueled human progress across time and cultures. Together they explore the balance between strong institutions and creative freedom, the tension between traders and tribalists in every society, and what it takes to sustain progress in today’s interconnected world.
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    1 hr and 5 mins
  • The Liberal Utopia of Próspera? Charter Cities, Autonomous Zones, and the Future of Governance

    The Liberal Utopia of Próspera? Charter Cities, Autonomous Zones, and the Future of Governance
    Sep 11 2025
    What if a city could write its own rules? In this episode of IAF Continued Conversations, hosts Bettina Solinger and Sven Gerst explore the world of charter cities together with Honduran attorney and IAF alumnus Christian Betancourt, who lives and works in Próspera on the island of Roatán. Charter cities are autonomous zones with their own regulatory frameworks for business, taxation, and labor — a radical idea that challenges our usual understanding of the nation-state. Próspera is one of the most ambitious examples of this concept, offering entrepreneurs, innovators, and residents the chance to experiment with new ways of living and working. Christian shares his unique perspective as both a legal expert and a resident, giving insight into how Próspera came into being, what daily life looks like, and why Honduras, of all places, became a pioneer in this field. From its legal foundations and economic opportunities to the diverse mix of residents who call it home, this conversation brings theory and practice together in a way that makes the experiment tangible. Tune in to learn how charter cities are reshaping governance, what challenges they face, and what they might mean for the future of freedom and innovation.
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    1 hr and 16 mins