Episódios
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Colin Bryar, former vice-president of Amazon and Jeff Bezos' right-hand man, shares the secrets that have transformed Amazon into the world's leading e-commerce company.
In this interview, he discusses the philosophy of putting the customer at the centre of all decisions, the importance of analysing the right data to understand and respond to consumer needs, and the steps that led to the company's continuous innovation. From changes in packaging - prompted by direct customer feedback - to the emergence of Amazon Web Services, which created the cloud computing industry. In addition, he explores how customer prioritisation and the intelligent use of data have shaped the company's success in the digital marketplace.
Bryar also explains how companies can apply these lessons to grow, innovate and solve real problems. In this episode of ‘It's not that simple’, discover the impact of digital transformation, the future of online commerce and the strategies that continue to position Amazon at the forefront of e-commerce and technology.
More on the topic:
Alcott Global interview
Colin Bryar's LinkedIn
Agile Education interview
Q&A from the Think Like Amazon podcast
Commonplace Expertise interview -
It's the tightest race for the White House in 60 years. CNN data reporter Harry Enten believes that Pennsylvania will be the state most likely to decide the outcome of theNovember 5 elections, where Kamala Harris and Donald Trump face off.
In this interview, Harry Enten goes through the details of the American elections, explaining how the country's electoral system works, which is very different from those in force in Europe.
«In the United States, there are 50 state elections - as well as those in the District of Columbia - and the winner in each of these states gets the electoral college votes allocated to that state», he explains. «If Donald Trump wins Florida with 50% of the vote, against 49% for Kamala Harris, all the electoral college votes from that state would go to Trump», he explains.
Analyzing the national polls, Enten points out that they don't serve to predict possible winners, but only to show how close an election can be. And this one, in particular, he describes as «crazy».
This race for the White House is particularly tight: “when you look at the decisive states, in all of them, the candidates are separated by less than 3 percentage points”. And that's unprecedented since there have been reliable polls in the US.
Between now and election day, the candidates will have to bet on strategies that will guarantee them the support of undecided voters, and the political scientist assures us that it is their positions on the country's economy, their rhetoric and the reinforcement of television ads that could make the difference for those who have not yet decided their vote.
More on the topic:
Episodes of CNN's «Margins of Error» podcast
Harry Enten's official X account
Interview with Mediaite's Press ClubArticles on the «Five Thirty-Eight» website
Profile and content on CNN's website
«The Forecast Fest» podcast (2020) -
How does food influence mental well-being?
Nutritional psychiatrist and author of the bestseller «This Is Your Brain on Food» Uma Naidoo argues that food is not only crucial for a healthy body, but also essential for a healthy mind. And the Mediterranean diet, known for its physical health benefits, can also help combat mental disorders.
According to Naidoo – who leads the first and only Nutritional and Metabolic Psychiatry Service in a US hospital – many diseases, such as diabetes or hypertension, are aggravated by a poor diet, and the same applies to mental health.
She points out that «people don't associate food with mental and emotional well-being», but bad moods, lack of energy or anxiety can also sometimes be explained by «the level of sugar they eat».
In this episode of «It's not that simple», the author explores how a healthy, nutrient-rich diet can significantly improve cognitive abilities. She highlights the intrinsic relationship between the brain and the gut, which share a common origin in embryonic cells, explaining how what we eat directly affects mental health. She also highlights how a high-sugar diet can feed harmful microbes in the gut, promoting inflammation processes that harm the body.
Uma Naidoo stresses the importance of adopting a diet that avoids ultra-processed foods and includes a wide variety of vegetables, always adapted to each case and each reality. She also reminds us that a healthy diet is far from being synonymous with tastelessness.
More on the topic
Harvard Nutrition Expert: «These Foods FUEL Anxiety | Dr. Uma Naidoo x Rich Roll Podcast»«Ten Percent Happier» podcast interview
Food And Mood» Imperfectly Perfect podcast interview
Uma Naidoo's official websiteUma Naidoo's instagram
X's account
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American activist and author Ashton Applewhite tackles the issue of ageism in this «It's not that simple» interview. With an assertive approach, Applewhite shatters myths about ageing and combats ageism.
The activist stresses that ageing is a natural and inevitable process and that we should look at it with a more positive outlook, because «people with positive feelings about ageing live longer».
The author of «This Chair Rocks» explains that ageism manifests itself acutely in the workplace, where both younger and older generations face marked prejudices.
Applewhite points out that ageism is also a gender issue, as women are judged more harshly in the workplace. From being seen as "too sexy" at the start of their careers to being considered "no longer attractive" as they age, discrimination against women is a constant.
To combat this form of discrimination, Ashton Applewhite suggests a simple but powerful solution: «make an older or younger friend». For the activist.
By calling for a cultural change about age, Applewhite continues her fight for a world without discrimination, challenging concepts and encouraging a new vision of ageing.
More on the topic
«Yo, Is This Ageist?» blog
Ashton Applewhite, «Addressing Ageism: Building a Better World for All Ages»
«We Can Do Hard Things: Pro-Aging: Why the Best is Yet to Come», with Ashton Applewhite
«Magnificent Midlife - How to end ageism», with Ashton Applewhite
Presentation on ageism for the United Nations
Interview with Brené Brown
Ted Talk
«This Chair Rocks» official website
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In a world increasingly defined by global environmental challenges and changes, the perspective of historian Peter Frankopan, author of the best-selling «The Silk Roads», is crucial to helping us understand a planet in constant change.
In this interview, Frankopan discusses the consequences of climate change over time and highlights the importance of human resilience - a constant in human history - which is essential for human adaptation to current challenges. He also emphasizes the imminence of historical disasters and the international cooperation that is fundamental to effective crisis management.
His vision offers an in-depth analysis of humanity's challenges and the strategies needed to face the new global reality. Peter Frankopan stresses the urgency of a collective response to problems, and calls for the need to prepare new generations for a world where populism and political crises are intensifying.
The interview with the historian not only gives us a perspective about the future, but also reinforces the importance of learning from the past in order to better manage the present and plan for the future.
More on this topic
Channel 4 News interviewHedgeye interview
Peter Frankopan's oficial website
Podcast «I've Been Thinking», with Peter Frankopan
Podcast «Wild with Sarah Wilson»
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«The Western world faces more complex challenges today than at any time in the past», says former CIA director David Petraeus. In this «It's not that simple» interview, the american general analyzes the geopolitical context according to his 37 years in the US army and his experience in multiple wars.
«We [the US, its allies and partners] are the circus performer who keeps many plates spinning on many sticks», he illustrates. According to Petraeus, the «relationship between the US, the West and China is the biggest and most important plate», since good relations must be guaranteed to avoid additional tension, mistrust and competition between these nations.
But at the same time, the US and its allies also have to deal with Russia, which is «the most threatening plate».
As for the future of invaded Ukraine, the author of the book Conflict: The Evolution of Warfare from 1945 to Ukraine shields himself with a «it depends»: «it depends on the continuation of US support, which is already at 61 billion dollars, the EU's contribution - which is 50 billion -, the ukrainian capacity to increase military training and it also depends on the technological progress of Ukraine and Russia», he argues.
Maintaining the allegory of the circus, the general emphasizes that there are other «plates» in balance, which cannot be neglected and which must continue to «spin» without major oscillations. This is the case of North Korea's nuclear investment and the case of Iran «which has been expanding its nuclear, drone and missile program, and supporting malign Shiite and even Sunni militias, such as Hamas».
Asked about the biggest challenge that humanity is facing, David Petraeus highlights the «inequality of wealth between the global North and South». He claims, however, that the conflicts in various parts of the world, the growth of extremist groups, criminal organizations, cyber threats, forced migration due to climate change, and populism would be equally valid responses.
More on this topic
David Petraeus on Israel, Ukraine, and the evolution of warfareWisdom From The Top with Guy Raz
Firing Line with Margaret Hoover
In Conversation with Gen. David H. Petraeus
Conflict: The Evolution of Warfare from 1945 to Ukraine with Gen. David H. Petraeus
David Petraeus' Linkedin
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«The European Union is one of the largest and richest consumer markets. And few global companies can afford not to do business in the EU», says Anu Bradford, a specialist in global economics and digital regulation, who coined the term ‘Brussels Effect’ to describe Europe's influence on global markets.
In this «It's not that simple» interview, the author of The Brussels Effect: How the European Union Rules the World - considered one of the best books of 2020 by Foreign Affairs magazine - explains that despite the dispute between the US and China over influence on how various industries (including technology) operate, it's still Europe that sets the rules of this chess.
Paradigmatic are the strict regulations imposed by the EU, which end up becoming the global standard, influencing companies in other countries to adopt them in order to succeed in the coveted European market. Anu Bradford argues that «global companies like uniformity» and it's in Europe that they find the standard. The expert uses the car industry as an example, pointing out that [manufacturers] don't want to have several different production lines to produce cars for each market.
The «Brussels Effect» extends to multiple concerns that are the order of the day, such as issues of environmental protection or data privacy with the development of technology, including Artificial Intelligence.
For the Columbia Law School professor, stricter European environmental standards and legislation protecting personal data show how Europe has responded positively to current challenges.
But could this undermine Europe's competitiveness? And could it stifle the development of the technological sector? Bradford thinks not, but she also believes that the European Union still has much to learn from how other powers handle, for example, failure.
With the elections to the European Parliament just around the corner, Anu Bradford talks about the problems of today and those that lie ahead. «We will see in the long term that the path europeans have set themselves consists mainly of making the right choices», she says. However, she warns that future decisions must guarantee «not only the well-being, but also the fundamental safety and security of Europeans».
More on this topic
Institute of International and European Affairs interview about the book The Brussels Effect: How the European Union Rules the WorldDigital Empires: The Global Battle to Regulate Technology, with Anu Bradford
Podcast episode: International Law Behind the Headlines
Tech Policy.Press interviewAnu Bradford's X (Twitter)
Anu Bradford's LinkedIn
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«There is nothing more permanent than a temporary migrant. Don't create any illusions that a fair share of migrants in not going to stay», says sociologist Hein de Haas, in this episode of «It's Not That Simples», a podcast by the Francisco Manuel dos Santos Foundation.
One of the most enlightened but also thought provocative voices of migrations, Hein de Haas explains that this hot topic of today is neither a phenomenon nor a novelty.
«Migration is part and parcel of who we are as human beings, as a society», he explains, emphasizing that migratory movements have been taking place «for as long as humanity has existed».The difference lies in Europe's position in this chessboard, having shifted from being a point of departure (in colonialism or world wars) to being a continent where citizens from all over the world arrive.
Highlighting that it is impossible to stop this movement, the sociologist warns against the hypocrisy of policies that punish migrants instead of those who accept them illegally. «In the United States, the number of employers who are prosecuted each year for employing undocumented migrants is between 10 and 15 a year, with no zeros», he claims.
«If you would really be serious as a politician when you say 'I want to combat smuggling, I want to combat illegal migration'... If you really want to do that, you better punish employers», Hein de Haas explains, adding that the lack of consequences for those who employ them fuels exploitation and abuse.
Breaking down the false narratives on this issue - from the left, which sees immigrants as «victims and refugees», and from the right, which speaks of the threat of those who «arrive to steal jobs» - the expert believes that these discourses hide the real problem: the fact that «in Western Europe and the US, there is the biggest labor shortage ever, especially of low-skilled migrants».For further info:
Hein de Haas's blog Interview with «Observador» How To Academy Podcast Hein de Haas' X (formerly Twitter) Selection of videos from the official website Interview with the International Migration Institute on migration in Morocco Interview with Melissa Siegel -
Two dollars (about 1.85 euros) per day to cover all needs. This is the benchmark set by the World Bank to define extreme poverty, already accounting for differences in purchasing power among different countries around the globe.
Esther Duflo, awarded with the Nobel Prize in Economics in 2019 for her work on alleviating extreme poverty, provides insights on how to address inequalities. The author advocates for «practical solutions», arguing that "it is much easier to think about the effect of something than its cause" and reveals how small measures can have a significant impact.
The economist advocates a methodology based on a "plumber mentality." With this strategy, she demonstrates how important it is to experiment various solutions until arriving at one that solves the problem.
In this interview, the Nobel laureate in Economics explains how small changes in access to healthcare and education have long-term implications for the lives of the poorest. Using the example of deworming children in Kenya, she demonstrates how this measure has led to health improvements but also contributed to a reduction in school absenteeism, providing students with better learning outcomes.
Throughout the conversation, Esther Duflo also emphasizes the contribution of immigration to the economies of countries, explaining that the workforce and youth of immigrants contribute to the development of nations rather than impoverishing them.
In the fight against poverty, climate change is fueling new inequalities: the wealthiest countries are the major polluters, but it is the poorest who are suffering the most intense consequences of the climate crisis. Duflo thus calls for a global approach to this problem.
Nobel Prize; Prize Lecture: Esther Duflo, Prize in Economic Sciences 2019; HEC TALKS with Esther Duflo: Good Economics for Warmer Times; Ted Talk “Experimentos sociais para combater a pobreza”; MIT Esther Duflo, Randomized Controlled Trials and Policy Making in Developing Countries; A Podcast of One's Own with Julia Gillard - Nobel Prize winner Esther Duflo on economics as a lever of action for the world; Ted Talk "Taken for Granted: Esther Duflo wants you to think like a plumber"; The Guardian article; El Pais Brasil interview
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What’s it like to be a teenager these nowadays? What challenges do they face? How can adults contribute to their well-being? To answer these questions, Pedro Pinto interviews Lisa Damour in this episode of “It’s Not That Simple”, a podcast by the Francisco Manuel dos Santos Foundation.
A clinical psychologist, Damour is the author of three New York Times best sellers: Untangled, Under Pressure, and The Emotional Lives of Teenagers. She co-hosts the Ask Lisa podcast, works in collaboration with UNICEF, and is recognized as a thought leader by the American Psychological Association. Damour is also a regular contributor to The New York Times and CBS News. She serves as a Senior Advisor to the Schubert Center for Child Studies at Case Western Reserve University and has written numerous academic papers, chapters, and books related to education and child development. She maintains a clinical practice and speaks to schools, professional organizations, and corporate groups around the world on the topics of child and adolescent development, family mental health, and adult well-being. Damour graduated with honors from Yale University and worked for the Yale Child Study Center before earning her doctorate in Clinical Psychology at the University of Michigan. She has been a fellow at Yale’s Edward Zigler Center in Child Development and Social Policy and the University of Michigan’s Power Foundation. She and her husband are the proud parents of two daughters.
In this episode, Damour explains why it is harder to be a teenager now than it was decades ago. She also explores how social media and the digital world affect teenagers and their well-being, while considering the differences between boys and girls in the way they engage with the digital environment. Damour then advises parents to “go slow” on giving their kids access to digital technology and social media. Furthermore, she discusses the role and impact of “caring adults” on a teenager’s mental health. Finally, she warns parents about what kinds of behavior should make them worry about their teenage kids, in a conversation well worth listening to.
More on this topic
Untangled: Guiding teenage girls through the seven transitions into adulthood, Lisa Damour, 2016; Under Pressure: Confronting the epidemic of stress and anxiety in girls, Lisa Damour, 2019; The Emotional Lives of Teenagers: Raising Connected, Capable, and Compassionate Adolescents, Lisa Damour, 2023; Ask Lisa, Damour’s podcast Lisa Damour on “What’s Going On With Teenagers?”; Lisa Damour on “The Emotional (and Sometimes Chaotic) Life of Teenagers”; Lisa Damour on the “3 Steps of Anxiety Overload – and How You Can Take Back Control” Lisa Damour on teen mental health “The teenage brain”, a conference held by the Francisco Manuel dos Santos FoundationOther references in Portuguese:
Podcast Da Capa à Contracapa “Os Adolescentes, as suas vidas, o seu futuro”, with Margarida Gaspar de Matos and Daniel Sampaio Podcast Aqui Entre Nós, “Como crescem os portugueses” with André Rodrigues and Maria do Céu Machado Podcast [IN]Pertinente “E se procurássemos compreender a adolescência?”, with Ana Markl and Rui Costa Lopes •Essay of the Foundation “Adolescentes”, by Maria do Céu Machado Essay of the Foundation “Adolescentes: As suas Vidas, o seu Futuro”, by Margarida Gaspar de Matos -
How important is the European Union? What is its role in today’s world? Is it still too distant from European citizens? How can it better reach out to young people? To answer these questions, José Maria Pimentel interviews the President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola, in this episode of “It’s Not That Simple”, a podcast by the Francisco Manuel dos Santos Foundation.
As President of the European Parliament (EP), Roberta Metsola is also the Head of the Partit Nazzjonalista (PN) Delegation, one of the political forces within the European People’s Party Group in the European Parliament.
A lawyer by profession, specializing in European law and politics, Roberta graduated in 2003, the same year that her country Malta, decided to join the European Union. She was first elected as an MEP for Malta and Gozo in 2013, being re-elected in 2014 and 2019 and becoming in this way, one of the first Maltese women elected to the EP.
In 2020, Metsola was elected as the First Vice-President of the European Parliament, during this time, she was responsible for the EP's relations with national parliaments and for the Parliament's participation in the interreligious and non-confessional dialogue. On 18th January 2022 Roberta Metsola was elected President of the European Parliament, becoming the youngest ever person to occupy this role.
In this episode, Metsola discusses her efforts to talk with young people in every country she visits, to persuade them to engage with politics and the European Union (EU). She addresses the perception that “Brussels is too far away” and what can be done to change that. Metsola also explains how much Malta becoming a member of the EU changed her country for the better. She then talks about her term as President of the EP and the many crises the EU has had to face during that time. Finally, Metsola considers the specific role of the EP within the EU’s institutional framework, and its impact on people’s lives, in a conversation well worth listening to.
Roberta Metsola’s State of Europe Speech - 9th November 2023 Roberta Metsola debating the “Future of Europe” with Paulo Rangel and Guy Verhofstadt Roberta Metsola’s speech at the World Leaders Forum at Columbia University - 18th September 2023
More on this topicOther references in Portuguese
Essay of the Foundation “O Futuro da União Europeia”, by Eugénia da Conceição Essay of the Foundation “Eleições na União Europeia”, by Nuno Sampaio “Não se abstenha: três razões e mais uma para votar nas eleições europeias”, an essay by Nuno Sampaio Essay of the Foundation “A Democracia na Europa”, by Catherine Moury “Portugal nas decisões europeias”, a study coordinated by Alexander Trechsel and Richard Rose for the Francisco Manuel dos Santos Foundation “Os futuros da Europa”, an essay by Teresa de Sousa “Afinal que Europa é que queremos?”, a debate held by the Francisco Manuel dos Santos Foundation, with Carlos Moedas, Elisa Ferreira, Eugénia da Conceição and Lívia Franco -
What does the world look like today? What can explain the many wars currently taking place around the globe? Will conflicts like the one in the Middle East between Israel and the Palestinians ever end? How dangerous is the Russian war against Ukraine? To answer these questions, Pedro Pinto interviews Simon Sebag Montefiore in this episode of “It’s Not That Simple”, a podcast by the Francisco Manuel dos Santos Foundation.
In this episode, Montefiore discusses his latest book The World: A Family History of Humanity, a world history written with the grit of a biography, which uses family, the one thing all humans have in common, to tell the story of humanity, and examines how the current “world disorder” is just the end of “what we thought was the way the world normally worked”, describing this “new disorder” as a “multiplayer computer game” in which an array of continental powers and aspiring superpowers are challenging the United States.
Montefiore also addresses Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7th and the war in Gaza, stating that the only way out is a "two-state solution", each with new leaderships.
The bestselling author of history and novels, awarded several prizes for his previous books, including Jerusalem: The Biography, Stalin: The Court of the Red Tsar and The Romanovs, then expresses his concerns about the danger of nuclear proliferation, before considering the Russian invasion Ukraine and why the West must help the latter in fighting of the former. Finally, Montefiore delves into what might happen if Donald Trump is once again elected President of the United States in the 2024 election, in a conversation well worth listening to.
Montefiore’s essay in The Atlantic on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict Montefiore’s interview on CNN Portugal Montefiore discussing his book The World: A Family History of Humanity at The Temple Emanu-El Streicker Center in New York An interview with Montefiore on The World: A Family History of Humanity Montefiore on “The Power of Family Dynasties” An interview with Montefiore about his book Jerusalem: The Biography Catherine the Great and Potemkin, Simon Sebag Montefiore, 2001 Stalin: The Court of the Red Tsar, Simon Sebag Montefiore, 2003 Young Stalin, Simon Sebag Montefiore, 2007 Monsters: History's Most Evil Men and Women, Simon Sebag Montefiore, 2008 Jerusalem: The Biography, Simon Sebag Montefiore, 2011 Titans of History, Simon Sebag Montefiore, 2012 The Romanovs 1613–1918, Simon Sebag Montefiore, 2016 The World: A Family History of Humanity, Simon Sebag Montefiore, 2022
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What are “Blue Zones”? Where in the world do people live better and healthier lives? What makes them live longer and healthier? To answer these questions, Pedro Pinto interviews Dan Buettner in this episode of “It’s Not That Simple”, a podcast by the Francisco Manuel dos Santos Foundation.
The author of five books on longevity and happiness, Buettner discovered the five places in the world—dubbed Blue Zones—where people lived the longest, healthiest lives and shared this information with the world. His books were all national bestsellers. Together with his writing, Buettner works in partnership with municipal governments, large employers, and health insurance companies to implement Blue Zones Projects in communities, workplaces, and universities. He is also a three-time Guinness World Record distance cycling holder.
In this episode, Buettner explains what he means by “Blue Zones”: the five areas of the world where people live the longest, healthiest lives. He considers how our environment (the food we eat, our social habits, our incentives) affects our quality of life. Buettner then explores how factors like family or a sense of purpose can contribute to a longer life expectancy, and highlights how a “peasant diet” is an essential element of the “Blue Zone” life. Buettner also discusses what people in countries like the United States are doing wrong that makes them live shorter and less healthy lives than people in the “Blue Zones”. He also talks about his work with city governments in the United States to develop and implement policies to nudge people to adopt better habits and improve their well-being. Finally, he addresses the potential negative consequences of a longer life, in a conversation well worth listening to.
The Blue Zone: Lessons for Living Longer From the People Who've Lived the Longest, Dan Buettner, 2008 Thrive. Finding Happiness the Blue Zones Way, Dan Buettner, 2010 The Blue Zones, Second Edition: 9 Lessons for Living Longer From the People Who've Lived the Longest, Dan Buettner, 2012 The Blue Zones Solution: Eating and Living Like the World's Healthiest People, Dan Buettner, 2015 The Blue Zones Kitchen: 100 Recipes to Live to 100, Dan Buettner, 2019 The Blue Zones Challenge: A 4-Week Plan for a Longer Better Life, Dan Buettner, 2021 Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones, the Netlifx series about the “Blue Zones” Dan Buettner on Learning from the World’s Happiest People Dan Buettner on Who are the Happiest People on Earth Dan Buettner on The Blue Zones of Happiness” Podcast It’s Not That Simple The challenge of longevity, with Andrew J. Scott
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What is scientific knowledge? How can it be relayed to the general public in our era of social media and fake information? What is the role of science in our society? To answer these questions, Pedro Pinto interviews Brian Cox in this episode of “It’s Not That Simple”, a podcast by the Francisco Manuel dos Santos Foundation.
A renowned experimental physicist, Brian Cox is the Professor of Particle Physics at Manchester University, The Royal Society Professor for Public Engagement in Science, and a key part of the ATLAS experiment at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. He is also the presenter of the blockbuster TV shows Wonders of the Universe, The Planets, Wonders of Life, and Forces of Nature, each looking at the fundamental science behind everything from stars and planets to atoms and microbiology. Cox has also presented Stargazing, Space Hoppers, The Big Bang, and numerous editions of Horizon. His books accompanying the Wonders of... series have become huge bestsellers, as did his co-authored titles Why Does E=mc2? and The Quantum Universe. Cox also co-hosts Radio 4's comedy and science show Infinite Monkey Cage, and tours with a solo lecture show, Universal: Adventures in Space and Time.
In this episode, Cox explores the difference between reliable knowledge and opinion, as well as the challenges social media and its “noise” pose to scientists in communicating their findings to the general public. He discusses the issue of climate change and how astronomy shows us how both insignificant and special we are as a species. Cox also addresses the possibility of colonizing a “Planet B”, before explaining how remote the possibility of an Artificial Intelligence becoming sentient is. On the other, he warns of the very serious risks associated with letting AI making decisions for us. Cox also explains what black holes are and why he’s so fascinated by them. Finally, he considers the likelihood of extraterrestrial life, in a conversation well worth listening to.
More on this topic
• Why Does E=mc²? (And Why Should We Care?), Brian Cox and Jeff Forshaw, 2009
• Wonders of the Solar System, Brian Cox and Andrew Cohen, 2010
• Wonders of the Universe, Brian Cox and Andrew Cohen, 2011
• The Quantum Universe (And Why Anything That Can Happen, Does), Brian Cox and Jeff Forshaw 2011
• Wonders of Life: Exploring the Most Extraordinary Phenomenon in the Universe, Brian Cox and Andrew Cohen, 2013
• Human Universe, Brian Cox and Andrew Cohen, 2014
• Forces of Nature, Brian Cox and Andrew Cohen, 2016
• Universal: A Guide to the Cosmos, Brian Cox and Jeff Forshaw, 2016
• Black Holes: The Key to Understanding the Universe, Brian Cox and Jeff Forshaw, 2022
• A conversation with Brian Cox
• Brian Cox on how Physics can explain Life
• Brian Cox On The Multiverse And Life On Other Planets
• Brian Cox on “Our Place in the Universe”
• Brian Cox on “The Wonders of the Solar System”
•Brian Cox on Artificial Intelligence
• Podcast It’s Not That Simple “Cosmos”, with Vitor Cardoso
• A conversation about the Cosmos between Vítor Cardoso and fellow astrophysicists Michio Kaku and Carlo Rovelli
• Vítor Cardoso on black holes
• Vítor Cardoso on “black holes as engines of discovery”
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What do we mean by “innovation”? Why do we need it? How can companies and societies encourage it? To answer these questions, Pedro Pinto interviews Niron Hashai in this episode of “It’s Not That Simple”, a podcast by the Francisco Manuel dos Santos Foundation.
An expert on innovation and entrepreneurship, Hashai is a Full Professor at the Arison School of Business, The Interdisciplinary Center, Herzliya, Israel. He currently serves as the school's Dean. Hashai obtained his BSc in Computer Science from the Technion and his MBA and PhD from Tel Aviv University. His research was published in top strategy, management, international business, and innovation journals, including Journal of International Business Studies, Journal of Management, Research Policy, Strategic Management Journal and Strategy Science, and he on the boards of the Strategic Management Journal, Journal of International Business Studies, and the Global Strategy Journal, among others. Before joining the Interdisciplinary Center, Hashai was a tenured faculty member at the School of Business Administration of the Hebrew University, where he also served as Vice Dean, Head of the Asper Center for Entrepreneurship, Head of the Strategy and Entrepreneurship area, the Academic Director of the EMBA program and held the Albertson-Waltuch Chair in Business Administration. Hashai is also a visiting Professor at the University of Manchester and an associate member at the John H. Dunning Research Centre, University of Reading. He has also held visiting positions at the Stern School of Business, New York University, the Blavatnik School of Government, the University of Oxford and Leeds University Business School. Hashai is co-founder and advisory board member of the Israel Strategy Conference (ISC).
In this episode, Hashai explains how innovation is born of an openness to “disobey your superiors”, while also being able to collaborate with your coworkers. He stresses the importance of risk-taking and of one’s willingness to fail to innovate, while “not failing too much”. Hashai also describes what a “culture of innovation” looks like: he gives some examples of companies that innovated and thereby improved their businesses, before examining the kind of corporate structure that can foster that kind of innovation. Later in this episode, he also discusses the dangers of “innovation for innovation’s sake” Finally, he considers the potential benefits and dangers of Artificial Intelligence, in a conversation well worth listening to.
More on this topic
The Future of Foreign Direct Investment and the Multinational Enterprise, Niron Hashai (with Ravi Ramamurti, eds.) 2011 FDI, International Trade and the Economics of Peacemaking, NironHashai (with Tamar Almor, eds.), 2000 Niron Hashai’s study on “Within-industry diversification and firm performance” Niron Hashai’s study on “Sequencing the Expansion of Geographic Scope and Foreign Operations by 'Born Global' Firms” Niron Hashai’s study on “How Outsourcing Affects Technological Knowledge Exploration Niron Hashai’s study (with Sarit Markovich) on “The Effect of Competition Level and Startup Innovativeness” -
What do we mean by “human capital”? What is the relationship between democracy, human rights and economic prosperity? Are poor people doomed to remain poor? To answer these questions, Pedro Pinto interviews James Heckman in this episode of “It’s Not That Simple”, a podcast by the Francisco Manuel dos Santos Foundation.
A Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences laureate in 2000, Heckman is the Henry Schultz Distinguished Service Professor in Economics at the University of Chicago. His research has focused on such subjects as inequality, social mobility and economic opportunity; labor economics; lifecycle dynamics of skill formation; microeconometrics; and causal models rooted in economic theory. He is also the Director of the Center for the Economics of Human Development and the Co-Director of the Human Capital and Economic Opportunity Global Working Group. In 1983, he won the John Bates Clark Medal. Heckman has also been a fellow of the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation since 1978, a Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, a Fellow of The Econometric Society (since 1980), and a member of the National Academy of Sciences.
In this episode, Heckman explains the “set of capacities” that make up human capital and “allow us to function well in the world”. He examines how the promotion of human and civil rights in the United States in 1964 had a positive impact on the country’s economy. Heckman also examines how China’s economic success is a result not so much of its political authoritarianism, but of a much greater access of women to education and their subsequent wider and more qualified participation in the workforce. He then contrasts China with India, which might be hindering its development by putting some minorities in disadvantage. Later in the episode, Heckman addresses the impact of inequality in skill acquisition, and how poor people are often trapped in a vicious cycle of poverty. On the other hand, he disputes the idea that inequality is on the rise in the United States. Finally, Heckman discusses the unintended negative outcomes of well-meaning policies like the minimum wage or rent controls, in a conversation well worth listening to.
Giving Kids a Fair Chance, James Heckman, 2013 James Heckman’s study “Inequality in America: What role for human capital policies?” James Heckman’s Nobel Prize Lecture An interview with James Heckman on the “Emerging Economic Arguments for Investing in the Health of Our Children’s Learning” An interview with James Heckman on his “controversial approach to solving inequality” Podcast It’s Not That Simple “Moving up in life”, with John Friedman An interview with Mariana Mazzucato about “the future of capitalism” An interview with Robert Reich on how to solve the problem of inequality
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What is Blockchain? What is it for? How does it work? What kind of impact can it have on our societies? To answer these questions, Pedro Pinto interviews Don Tapscott in this episode of “It’s Not That Simple”, a podcast by the Francisco Manuel dos Santos Foundation.One of the world’s leading authorities on the impact of technology on business and society, Tapscott is currently Co-Founder & Executive Chairman of the Blockchain Research Institute. He is also an Adjunct Professor at INSEAD, and Chancellor Emeritus of Trent University in Ontario where he served as Chancellor 2013-2019. Tapscott is a member of the Order of Canada, and has authored 16 books, including the global best seller Blockchain Revolution: How the Technology Behind Bitcoin and Other Cryptocurrencies is Changing the World, co-authored with his son Alex. He has coined many concepts that are part of the business lexicon today and is sought by corporate and government leaders globally.In this episode, Tapscott describes what he calls the “second era of the digital age”, and the Blockchain’s role in it. He also discusses the potential of a Web 3.0, in which we can own and monetize our own data. Tapscott looks at the current stage of evolution of artificial intelligence as a form of generative AI, and the impact of the internet and modern technology on our societies. He also explains the importance of privacy in the digital realm, and examines the potential “dark side” of all these new technologies. Finally, Tapscott advocates for the need for a “social contract” for the digital age, in a conversation well worth listening to.
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Supply Chain Revolution: How Blockchain Technology Is Transforming the Digital Flow of Assets, Don Tapscott, 2020 Blockchain Revolution: How the Technology Behind Bitcoin and Other Cryptocurrencies is Changing the World, Don Tapscott (with Alex Tapscott), 2016 The Digital Economy Anniversary Edition: Rethinking Promise and Peril In the Age of Networked Intelligence, Don Tapscott, 2014 Don Tapscott’s Ted Talks Don Tapscott’s op-ed pieces for The Globe and Mail Don Tapscott’s op-ed pieces for The Star Don Tapscott’s op-ed pieces for The Huffington PostOther references in Portuguese
Essay of the Foundation “Inteligência Artificial”, by Arlindo Oliveira “Inteligência artificial: moda passageira ou o futuro da Humanidade”, an essay by Arlindo Oliveira “Uma nova era”, an essay on ChatGPT by Arlindo Oliveira Podcast Da Capa à Contracapa “O que é a Inteligência Artificial” with Arlindo Oliveira and Paulo Gomes Podcast Da Capa à Contracapa “Inteligência artificial, como vai mudar a nossa vida?”, with Daniela Braga and João Castro “Inteligência artificial em Portugal: Chegámos ao futuro?”, a debate hosted by the Francisco Manuel dos Santos Foundation Podcast [IN]Pertinente “O meu trabalho vai ser substituído por uma máquina?”, with Cátia Batista and Hugo van der Ding “Desafios de Segurança no Mundo Digital”, an essay by Pedro Veiga -
What is “vetting”? How does it work? Why is it so important to the quality of public service and government? To answer these questions, Pedro Pintointerviews Alyssa Mastromonaco in this episode of “It’s Not That Simple”, a podcast by the Francisco Manuel dos Santos Foundation.
With many years of experience working in the United States’ government, Mastromonaco served as White House Deputy Chief of Staff for operations in theadministration of President Barack Obama from 2011 to 2014, the youngest woman to hold that position. Prior to that, she was Director of Scheduling and Advance, a position she also held during President Obama’s first campaign. Mastromonaco began working with then Senator Obama in January 2005where she served as an advisor and political director of his PAC, Hopefund. She had previously worked for Senator John Kerry in both the Senate and his 2004 campaign and also served as Congressman Rick Boucher’s (VA-09) press secretary. After leaving the White House, she was President of Global Communications Strategy & Talent at A&E Networks and the chief operating officer of Vice Media. She has also been a contributing editor at Marie Claire magazine. Since 2017, Mastromonaco has been a podcaster with Crooked Media.
In this episode, Mastromonaco describes what the vetting process consists of, specifically in the United States. She discusses the purpose of the vetting process, as well as it standards. Mastromonaco also looks at how political polarization and the modern media environment have weakened the public strength of the vetting process. She also addresses the challenges of conducting an efficient vetting investigation. Mastromonaco examines the lack of vetting in countries like Portugal and how a thorough vetting process can lead to finding the best people for any given public position. Finally, she explains how lying about one’s past may be more disqualifying for the person being vetted than telling the truth about the person is being asked about, in a conversation well worth listening to.
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Who Thought This Was a Good Idea? And Other Questions You Should Have Answers to When You Work in the White House, Alyssa Mastromonaco (with Lauren Oyler), 2017 So Here's the Thing: Notes on Growing Up, Getting Older and Not Giving a Shit, Alyssa Mastromonaco (with Lauren Oyler), 2019 Hysteria, Alyssa Mastromonaco’s podcast Alyssa Mastromonaco on her book “Who Thought This Was a Good Idea?” Alyssa Mastromonaco on her experience in government Another conversation with Alyssa Mastromonaco about her work in government Podcast It’s Not That Simple, “Corruption”, with Donatella della PortaOther references in Portuguese:
Podcast Da Capa à Contracapa “A Corrupção” Essay of the Foundation “Corrupção”, by Luís de Sousa, 2011 “Eleger mais mulheres só reduz a corrupção no curto-prazo”, an interview with political scientist Miguel Maria Pereira Debate "Os grupos de interesse no sistema político português” -
For the first-time live in Portugal, the historian and writer Yuval Noah Harari, author of «Sapiens» and «Homo Deus», reflects on the advances of humanity, its major threats, and the way in which artificial intelligence must be regulated to prevent it from becoming a «T-Rex» that will destroy humanity as we know it.
In this interview, with the journalist Pedro Pinto, Harari addresses issues such as the preservation of liberal democracy, the confrontation with artificial intelligence, the balance between human humility and the definition of the future of life on Earth, in addition to the possibilities of conflict and peace between the West and China.
A talk recorded 'live on tape' at Estufa Fria, in Lisbon, Portugal on May 2023.
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Is democracy dying? What challenges do democracies around the world face nowadays? How can they overcome such challenges? To answer these questions, Pedro Pinto interviews Daniel Ziblatt in this episode of “It’s Not That Simple”, a podcast by the Francisco Manuel dos Santos Foundation.
An expert on democracy, Ziblatt is Eaton Professor of Government at Harvard University and is director of the Transformations of Democracy research unit at the WZB Berlin Social Science Center in Berlin, Germany. His three books include How_Democracies_Die (Crown, 2018), co-authored with Steve Levitsky), a New York Times best-seller, translated into twenty-two languages. He is also the author of Conservative Parties and the Birth of Democracy (Cambridge University Press, 2017), an account of Europe's historical democratization, which won the American Political Science Association's 2018 Woodrow Wilson Prize for the best book in government and international relations and American Sociological Association's 2018 Barrington Moore Prize. In recent years he has been a fellow or visiting professor at the European University Institute (Florence, Italy), Center for Advanced Study (Stanford), Max Planck Institute (Cologne), University of Munich, and the Ecole Normale Superieure (Paris).
In this episode, Ziblatt identifies the warning signs of when a democracy is being threatened, not by a coup, but by authoritarian politicians “chipping away” at its foundations from within. He also gives examples of countries where democracy is in good health. Ziblatt then looks at the impact of the Russianwar against Ukraine in the world’s democracies and what the future might hold. He addresses the failed attempts – in the US and in Brazil – to overturn theresult of their presidential elections, and what they say about the future of democracy there and around the world. Finally, Ziblatt turns to Portugal and the rise of its populist far-right, discussing how mainstream parties in Western democracies can deal with that threat, in a conversation well worth listening to.
More on this topic:
• How Democracies Die, Daniel Ziblatt (with Steven Levitsky), 2018
• Conservative Parties and the Birth of Democracy, Daniel Ziblatt, 2017
• Daniel Ziblatt on "The Causes of Populism and the Problem of Cultural Majority Rights"
• Daniel Ziblatt (with Alper Yagci and Muharrem Aytug Sasmaz) on “"How Voters Respond to Presidential Assaults on Checks and Balances: Evidence from a Survey Experiment in Turkey"
• Daniel Ziblatt (with Rachel Riedl, Dan Slater, and Joseph Wong) on "Authoritarian-Led Democratization"
• A piece about the book “How Democracies Die”
• An interview with Daniel Ziblatt about the state of American democracy
• Podcast It’s Not That Simple, “Political Polarization”, with Ezra Klein
• Podcast It’s Not That Simple, “Elections”, with Nate Silver
• Podcast It’s Not That Simple, “(I)liberal Democracy”, with Catherine de Vries
• An interview with historian Timothy Snyder about democracy
Other references in Portuguese:
• Podcast [IN] Pertinente “Estará ameaçada a democracia?” with Pedro Vieira and Raquel Vaz Pinto
• Essay of the Foundation “A Qualidade da Democracia em Portugal”, by Conceição Pequito Teixeira, 2018
• “Instituições e qualidade da democracia: cultura política na Europa do Sul”, a study by the Francisco Manuel dos Santos Foundation, coordinated by Tiago Fernandes
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