This week’s episode not only demonstrates the importance of context and nuance, but also of going beneath the various layers to develop a better understanding of a topic. In this case, we will be exploring a place that is being talked about quite frequently: Russia.
I grew up during the Cold War, when Russia was the enemy. It would appear that this is a country on the path to being the enemy once again. While I am no fan of the current US administration, I think there is a problem with the potential vilification of a country. In thinking about all this, the question I arrived at is “what does Russia want?”
I am no expert on Russia. However, I am very fortunate that my guest today is, and is very well placed to answer this question. Meet Tim Stanley. Tim is a Brit based in Moscow and is Senior Partner for Russia/CIS at Control Risks, an independent global risk consultancy. Tim has been living and working in Russia for the past ten years helping clients manage the various risks associated with working in the country.
However, Tim’s interest in Russia goes beyond this. This is Tim’s second stint in the country. His first started back in 1991 when he arrived as a student shortly after the August putsch. The country was in a state of incredible transition and Tim was similarly present during Gorbachev’s dissolution of the USSR later that year. Tim return in 2007 after living in the USA for several years.
To truly understand a country as a foreigner I believe that one needs to live there for an extended period of time, speak the language, and understand the culture. Tim possesses all of these qualifications and is in a position to provide a level of understanding of Russia that you will find very difficult to obtain elsewhere.
On the show, Tim shares:
Tim is very knowledgeable and is a great guy. I am very grateful for his appearance on All Things Risk and I am sure that after listening, you will too.
Show notes:
Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History, Ep. 59 “The Destroyer of Worlds” - http://www.dancarlin.com/hardcore-history-59-the-destroyer-of-worlds/
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Today, I have the honour of bringing you the youngest guest I have had so far on All Things Risk – but you perhaps wouldn’t know that from speaking to him. Meet 18-year old Souleyman Bah (remember that name!). Souleyman is a sprinter on Team GB (Great Britain)’s paralympic team. In 2015, he gold in the 100 metres at the Paralympic School Games in Rio – a junior paralympic games. He is currently training for the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo.
However, there is more to Souleyman than sprinting. He as born in Guinea (Conakry) in West Africa – one of the poorest counties on earth. At a young age, it was clear that he had a problem with his vision but because of a lack of facilities in the country, no diagnosis was possible. Souleyman’s parents decided to move to Britain so that their son could get proper diagnosis and treatment. He was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa – a type of severe “tunnel vision” that degenerates over time. Souleyman has this in one eye and is completely blind in the other.
Souleyman’s has a very profound, mature and inspiring attitude towards life and it comes through in this conversation. He has a great You Tube channel, has participated in a BBC 3 show about visual impairment and has inspired many people. We have a wide-ranging conversation that covers:
Show notes:
Souleyman on You Tube – https://www.youtube.com/user/Soulbah1
On Twitter – https://twitter.com/KingSoulGB
On Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/kingsoulgb/
On Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/souleymanb1
Souleyman BBC interview – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctZhWiJ63_I
Souleyman’s gold medal performance at the 2015 Paralympic School Games - http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/partially-blind-london-teen-wins-gold-at-paralympic-school-games-a3131211.html
BBC 3 show “Things not to say…” - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL64ScZt2I7wGxZlXAu0r0UPqpvzF23mgc
Sophie’s World by Jostein Gaardner - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10959.Sophie_s_World?ac=1&from_search=true
Simon Sinek on millennials - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hER0Qp6QJNU
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We now live in a "post-truth" world where objective facts are seemingly less relevant than personal emotions and beliefs. What does this mean for the concepts of "gut feel" and critical thinking? Are these two concepts at odds with one another? I explore this question in this in-betweenisode.
Show notes:
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What’s the formula or recipe for making a living as a “One Man Variety Show” in which you travel the world and connect with audiences? Well, there isn’t one. The probability of following someone else’s exact journey is infinitesimally small. However, there is a formula for creating a path that is your own and which leads to fulfilment and success. The first step is to “just go”.
Meet Chris Ruggiero. Chris is an entertainer, author and podcaster. He has travelled throughout the USA and internationally doing his “one man variety show” which involved juggling fire, throwing knives, and connecting with all types of audiences. Chris has appeared on the Ellen De Generes Show (a highly popular show in the USA) and has written a book called Just Go: Adventures of a Travelling Entertainer and a Guide to Living Your Dream.
Chris is fun and interesting and he joins me on Episode 39 in which we cover:
Show notes:
Did you like what you heard? Subscribe to the All Things Risk podcast, leave a rating or review, and share it on social media:
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