PODCAST · government
OTT Podcast
by On Think Tanks
OTT Podcast brings you interviews and discussions with leading thinktankers. Follow us on onthinktanks.org
Episodes
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Special episode: Q&A with Liliana Alvarado, General Director, Ethos Public Policy Laboratory
This video is available to everyone as a limited-time preview of the OTT Membership. For complete access to recordings of past masterclasses, Q&A sessions, and more resources, join now: patreon.com/onthinktanks In our first-ever Think Tank Leader Q&A, Enrique Mendizabal sat down with Liliana...
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Innovating with integrity: Monika Sie Dhian Ho speaks on foreign policy dynamics in Europe
In this OTT Talks episode, co-hosts Enrique Mendizabal and Goran Buldioski return for a conversation on European foreign policy think tanks with guest Monika Sie Dhian Ho, former General Director of the Clingendael Institute. She compares the Dutch context to the famous Italian novel Il…
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From Rome to Brussels: Nathalie Tocci on balancing tradition and innovation in foreign policy think tanks
OTT Talks returns with co-hosts Enrique Mendizabal and Goran Buldioski, in conversation with Nathalie Tocci, Director of the Istituto Affari Internazionali in Rome and former adviser to the EU High Representative. Nathalie likens today’s European context to “One Battle After Another,” describing...
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Crises and Responsibilities: Rosa Balfour's Insights from Carnegie Europe
In this episode of OTT Talks, co-hosts Enrique Mendizabal and Goran Buldioski speak with Dr Rosa Balfour, Director of Carnegie Europe, about how Europe’s successive crises since the 2008 financial crash—through the Arab Spring, Crimea, Brexit, and Trump—have reshaped the foreign policy landscape...
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A conversation with Ivor Chipkin from the New South Institute on public service reform, evidence use, and the role of think tanks
In this OTT Talks episode, Enrique Mendizabal speaks with Ivor Chipkin, co-founder and director of South Africa’s New South Institute, shortly after President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the Public Service Amendment Act 2025. Chipkin explains how, since 1994, political leaders have held extensive...
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OTT Conference special | Do think tanks matter? by Rosa Balfour
Recorded live at the OTT Conference 2026 in Rabat, Morocco, this special edition of OTT Talks brings you the keynote speeches from the 10th edition of the conference. In an era marked by democratic uncertainty, technological disruption and geopolitical instability, do think tanks still matter? In...
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OTT Conference special | If we don’t tell the story, others will: Think tanks in a polarised world by Héctor Cárdenas
Recorded live at the OTT Conference 2026 in Rabat, Morocco, this special edition of OTT Talks brings you the keynote speeches from the 10th edition of the conference. How can think tanks remain trustworthy institutions in increasingly polarised political environments? In this keynote from the OTT...
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OTT Conference special | Trusted by whom? Rethinking think tank legitimacy in the African context by Denis Foretia
Recorded live at the OTT Conference 2026 in Rabat, Morocco, this special edition of OTT Talks brings you the keynote speeches from the 10th edition of the conference. Who are think tanks ultimately accountable to? In this keynote from the OTT Conference 2026, Denis Foretia examines the complex...
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OTT Conference special | The knowledge in this room: What comes next by Erica Schoder
Recorded live at the OTT Conference 2026 in Rabat, Morocco, this special edition of OTT Talks brings you the keynote speeches from the 10th edition of the conference. What happens to think tanks when artificial intelligence can produce analysis in seconds? In this keynote from the OTT Conference...
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OTT Conference special | Rebalancing narratives and nurturing talent: Karim El Aynaoui’s welcoming remarks
Recorded live at the OTT Conference 2026 in Rabat, Morocco, this special edition of OTT Talks brings you the keynote speeches from the 10th edition of the conference. In his welcoming remarks at the OTT Conference 2026 in Rabat, Karim El Aynaoui, Executive Director of the Policy Center for the…
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Leading in a changing Europe: Scarlett Varga on neutrality, relevance, and funding
In this OTT Talks episode, co-hosts Enrique Mendizabal and Goran Buldioski interview Scarlett Varga, Secretary General of Bruegel, about how an economic think tank navigates Europe’s shifting political and economic context. Scarlett argues that “neutrality” is contested: Bruegel defines…
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Leading the Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies: Mario Holzner on economic think tanks, funding, and independence
In this episode, co-hosts Enrique Mendizabal and Goran Buldioski interview Mario Holzner, Executive Director of the Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies (wiiw), about conducting economic research on Central, East and Southeast Europe from Vienna amid shifting geopolitical and media...
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Leading a think tank in Slovakia: Richard Durana on INESS and 20 years of free‑market advocacy
In this episode, co-hosts Enrique Mendizabal and Goran Buldioski interview Richard Durana, co-founder and director of INESS (Institute of Economic and Social Studies) in Slovakia. Richard describes his move from chemistry to economics and how INESS has operated for two decades in a largely…
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Beyond the report: How think tanks actually influence policy
In this episode of OTT Talks, Enrique Mendizabal hosts David Watson, former Director of Communications at Chatham House and seasoned UK policymaker, in a conversation exploring David’s extensive background in government and think tanks. David reflects on his experiences within the UK government,...
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Petra Reszkető from the Budapest Institute on leading an economic think tank in Hungary
OTT Talks: Think tanks in a changing Europe is back for season 4. In the opening episode, co-hosts Enrique Mendizabal and Goran Buldioski speak with Petra Reszkető, Co-Director and Senior Researcher at the Budapest Institute, about leading an independent, project-based economic think tank in...
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Being “the African in the room”: Diversity, power, and proximate funding in global philanthropy — in conversation with Christopher Chibwana & Savior Mwambwa
What does it feel like to become a funder when you've spent your career as a researcher? And what does it reveal about philanthropy when the person holding the chequebook doesn't look the part? In this special episode of OTT Talks, host Enrique Mendizabal speaks with Christopher Chibwana (Hewlett...
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Myanmar’s think tanks after 2021: Risk, exile, and transnational policy influence
In this episode of OTT Talks, co-hosts Enrique Mendizabal and Samar Verma speak with Ngu Wah Win, Research Director at the Knowledge Circle Foundation and an alumna of the School for Thinktankers, about how Myanmar’s think tank and evidence-informed policy landscape has changed before and after...
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Myanmar’s think tanks in a time of crisis: From policy influence to sense-making
In this episode of OTT Talks, co-hosts Enrique Mendizabal and Samar Verma speak with Min Zar Ni, a PhD student at the University of Southern Denmark and former Deputy Director of Research at Myanmar’s Centre for Economic and Social Development, about how Myanmar’s political upheaval has reshaped...
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Reimagining Myanmar’s think tanks: Resistance research, diaspora networks, and policy influence
In this episode of OTT Talks, co-hosts Enrique Mendizabal and Samar Verma speak with Napas Thain, inaugural research fellow at the Myanmar Policy and Community Knowledge Hub (MYPAC) at the University of Toronto, about Myanmar’s political crisis since 2021 and how it has reshaped the country’s…
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Running a think tank in a changing Europe: Strategic debates, independence and the future of policy advice in Germany
How has the role of think tanks in Germany and Europe evolved in an era of polarisation, disinformation, and shifting funding models? In this episode, we speak with Dr Daniela Schwarzer, Executive Board Member at the Bertelsmann Foundation, former Director and CEO of the German Council on Foreign...
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Running a think tank in a changing Europe: Lessons on leadership, credibility and resilience from Athens
What does it take to maintain independence while navigating the turbulence of national crisis and European transformation? In this episode, we speak with Loukas Tsoukalis, President of the Board at ELIAMEP, Greece’s most prominent think tank on European and foreign policy. Drawing on over two...
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Running a think tank in a changing Europe: People, politics and the fight for relevance (bonus content)
In this bonus episode, we continue our conversation with Mathieu Lefèvre, Co-Founder and CEO of More in Common, to explore some of the critical forces shaping civic life and political discourse in Europe today. We begin with a look at the current imbalance in funding within the market of ideas,...
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Running a think tank in a changing Europe: People, politics and the fight for relevance
What does it take to lead a people-centred policy organisation in today’s polarised and fast-changing Europe? In this episode, we speak with Mathieu Lefèvre, co-founder and CEO of More in Common, a non-profit that uses evidence and social psychology to understand what brings societies together…
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What we’ve learned so far: Reflecting on think tanks in a changing Europe
After seven candid conversations with think tank leaders across Europe, hosts Goran Buldioski and Enrique Mendizabal come together to reflect on the insights shared in these two seasons of Running think tanks in a changing Europe. What has surprised them the most? What are the common threads and...
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Running a think tank in a changing Europe: Foreign policy, fragmentation, and the future of think tanks in Spain
What happens when a think tank operates at the intersection of European, Mediterranean, and global affairs, while based in a city far from the capital? In this episode, we speak with Pol Morillas, Director of CIDOB (Barcelona Centre for International Affairs), one of Spain’s leading foreign…
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Running a think tank in a changing Europe: The evolution of think tanks in Southeast Europe
Every think tank has a unique journey—shaped by its context, mission, and the people driving its vision. But how do think tanks emerge and establish themselves in regions undergoing political and economic transitions? What role do they play in fostering evidence-based policymaking? In this…
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Running a think tank in a changing Europe: Navigating uncertain times in the European Union
In times of fundamental change, recognising the moment and acting accordingly is crucial. But how can think tanks remain resilient in an increasingly challenging environment? How can they collaborate to navigate uncertainty and strengthen their collective impact? In this episode, we speak with...
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Running a think tank in a changing Europe: Navigating uncertain times in Poland
In a rapidly shifting political landscape, how can think tanks continue to provide independent, evidence-based policy advice? What happens when international funding declines, domestic support remains uncertain, and democratic pressures intensify? In this episode, we speak with Karolina Wigura,...
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Running a think tank in a changing Europe: Lessons from the South and East of Europe
How have think tanks in Southern and Eastern Europe adapted to shifting political landscapes, evolving funding models, and growing challenges to policy influence? In this episode, Vessela Tcherneva, Deputy Director of the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), talks about the…
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Running a think tank in a changing Europe: Adapting to new realities in Hungary
In a region where democracy faces growing challenges and international funding is diminishing, how can think tanks remain independent, impactful, and relevant? In this episode, Péter Krekó, Director of the Political Capital Institute in Hungary, shares insights into the evolving role of think…
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Running a think tank in a changing Europe: Adapting to new realities in the Western Balkans with Sonja Stojanovic-Gajic (bonus content)
In an era marked by political shifts, economic transitions, and changing donor landscapes, how do think tanks in the Western Balkans remain relevant and impactful? This is a bonus episode with Sonja Stojanovic-Gajic, former director of the Belgrade Centre for Security Policy. Listen to the full...
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Running a think tank in a changing Europe: Adapting to new realities in the Western Balkans
In an era marked by political shifts, economic transitions, and changing donor landscapes, how do think tanks in the Western Balkans remain relevant and impactful? This episode with Sonja Stojanovic-Gajic, former director of the Belgrade Centre for Security Policy, dives into the unique…
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Innovating Public Policy: The Impact of Student-Led Think Tanks
In this episode of OTT Talks, we explore the unique model of student-led think tanks and how the Building for the Future Initiative supports them through grants, capacity-building, and the facilitation of the exchange of ideas through multi-regional events. Join us to hear about the importance of...
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The small think tank trap
Can small and mid-sized think tanks survive the mounting challenges they're facing and the increasing costs of overcoming them? OTT Talks to Simon Maxwell about alternative think tank models and markets.
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Candid talk about funding: Dana Schmidt, Echidna Giving
OTT Talks to Dana Schmidt, Programme Director at Echidna Giving about her role - the skills and values needed to be a funder, the power dynamics between grantees and funders, and the personal impact of the role.
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Watchdog think tanks
OTT Talks to Liliana Alvarado, Executive Director of Mexican think tank Ethos, on what happens when think tanks have to take on a government watchdog role.
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Thinktanking in the Caribbean
OTT Talks to Dr. Damien King, Executive Director of the Caribbean Policy Research Institute (CAPRI), to explore the think tank sector in Jamaica and the wider Caribbean region.
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Supporting evidence use in the Parliament of Ghana
OTT Talks to Dr. Abraham Ibn Zackaria, Deputy Director of Research in the Parliament of Ghana, shedding light on how evidence is used in Ghanaian policymaking. [Please note that the sound quality in this episode is not optimal. Nonetheless, we believe the insights shared by Dr. Zackaria make it...
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Exploring diversity, equity, and inclusion in think tanks
OTT Talks to Grant Dalton, researcher at the Institute for Government (IFG), a leading British think tank, about the findings of a diversity and inclusion sector report he co-authored and published last year.
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Supporting evidence use in government
Guests: Kuranda Morgan, Evidence Lead in the evidence and experimentation team at Nesta; Mohammed Awal, Team Leader - social accountability and SDGs workstream at the Ghana Center for Democratic Development; and Abeba Taddese, Senior Program Director - evidence for decision making at Results for...
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Candid talk about funding: David Sasaki, Hewlett Foundation
On Think Tanks Director, Enrique Mendizabal talks to David Sasaki, Program Officer at the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation about the need for more accountability in the philanthropic sector; what the job involves; and what it takes to do it well.
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Think tank funding: the outlook
Luis Orlandi, OTT Growth Manager, talks to Enrique Mendizabal, Founder and Director of OTT, about the challenges and opportunities for think tank fundraising.
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From think tank to government
Julia Pomares, Chief Advisor to the Government of the City of Buenos Aires and former CIPPEC Executive Director, talks to Emily Hayter, OTT Associate, about the shift from generating to using evidence and share recommendations to inform decision-making.
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Think tanks innovate amid COVID19
Estefanía Chavert, Head of Programmes at Southern Voice, talks to Enrique Mendizabal, Founder and Director of OTT, about her recent article “The Covid-19 Pandemic as an Opportunity for Leveraging Global South Research and Knowledge”. Read the full article:...
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Young people, politics and change
To celebrate International Youth Day, OTT Talks to Ibrahim Faruk from Yiaga Africa and the ‘Not too young to run’ movement in Nigeria, and Neringa Tumėnaitė, from Humanity Consulting about how youth can shape and participate in politics and change. The conversation is hosted by Cristina Bacalso.
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Rethinking how we publish our research
In this new OTT Talks, Joe Miller, Director of Soapbox Washington Studio, talks to Louise Ball, OTT Communications Director, about his new book Screens, research and hypertext.
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10 years strengthening Indonesia's knowledge sector
Enrique Mendizabal, OTT Founder and Director, talks to Irene Pingkan Umboh from RTI International and Widjajanti Isdijoso from SMERU Research Institute. They look back over the last 10 years of the Knowledge Sector Initiative’s support to 16 think tanks in Indonesia.
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Scientific advisory systems to address global health challenges
For World Health Day, OTT Talks about scientific advisory systems and the global pandemic, with OTT's Marcela Morales and Enrique Mendizabal. Read the full report: ‘Scientific advisory systems: experiences from across the world’, which includes an overview of key features and bodies of scientific...
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OTT Talks with Andrea Ordoñez, Fiona Moejes and Shannon Sutton to mark International Women's Day
For International Women's Day 2022, we have an OTT Talks about women in think tank leadership roles with Andrea Ordoñez, Director at Southern Voice, Fiona Moejes, Interim CEO at Mawazo Institute and Shannon Sutton, OTT Consultant.
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Bob Wekesa, Director of the African Center for the Study of the United States
In this episode of the OTT Podcast, Bob Wekesa tells us about the work he has been doing at the African Center for the Study of the United States, an institution dedicated to studying the impact of US political, economic and trade relations with African countries. He talks about the…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
OTT Podcast brings you interviews and discussions with leading thinktankers. Follow us on onthinktanks.org
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OTT Podcast currently has 50 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
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OTT Podcast brings you interviews and discussions with leading thinktankers. Follow us on onthinktanks.org
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OTT Podcast has 50 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
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