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Room for Discussion
by Room for Discussion
Room for Discussion conducts free live interviews at the University of Amsterdam, with leading voices in politics, economics, journalism and more. Each interview is fully led and conducted by students.
Episodes
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Investigative Journalism with Patrick Radden Keefe
From exposing the Sackler dynasty’s role in the opioid crisis to investigating the Northern Irish Troubles, Russian oligarchs, and organized crime, Patrick Radden Keefe has built a career uncovering stories that powerful people would rather keep hidden. We were thrilled to welcome Patrick Radden...
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(De) Groot Expectations: Investing in Europe with EIB VP Robert de Groot
Investment bank or political organ? Climate bank or war chest?The European Union is asking the European Investment Bank to do more than ever, and all at once: finance the green transition, strengthen European infrastructure, boost competitiveness, and now even help rebuild our defences. Where…
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You Can’t Kill the Story Laurent Richard, Founder of Forbidden Stories
🎙 Together with Laurent Richard, investigative journalist of 25+ years, Emmy-winning documentarian for his series on Pegasus, and founder of Forbidden Stories, we will discuss the implications of declining press freedoms and increasing threats to journalists around the world. 🔗:...
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Regulation, Sweet Regulation: Protecting Consumers with Martijn Snoep
Grocery prices are increasing, Meta flaunts its dominant position on the market, and the Paramount acquisition of WarnerBros marks an era of massive media consolidation. It seems that companies hold all the power, but who can hold them accountable?Join us on 20th of May, 13:00-14:00 at the REC...
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Talking Back and Looking Forward-- Prof. Kimberlé Crenshaw on Intersectionality
Few academic concepts have travelled as far as intersectionality. Coined nearly four decades ago, it transformed how we think about race, gender, power, and inequality, while also becoming one of the most debated ideas of our time. We were thrilled to welcome Kimberlé Crenshaw, legal scholar,...
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Promoting Peace or Power? With Paige Alexander, CEO of Carter Center
Palestine, Sudan, Iran. Global conflicts dominate the headlines every day. But what does it actually take to build lasting peace? And who gets to decide what that peace looks like? Together with Paige Alexander, the CEO of the Carter Center, we explore the role of the international community in...
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From Tulips to Turmoil: Ambassador Fatma Ceren Yazgan on Türkiye in Transition
With war at its doorstep, Türkiye is once again in the middle of geopolitical turmoil. Whether it’s the Syrian refugee crisis, the war in Gaza, or the closure of the strait of Hormuz, Türkiye has had to consistently re-balance and re-negotiate its partnerships. Turkish Ambassador H.E. Fatma Ceren...
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When Germany Sneezes, Europe Catches a Cold - A Conversation with Economist Marcel Fratzscher
Germany has been Europe’s economic engine for quite some time, both its industrial powerhouse and fiscal anchor in times of deep uncertainty. While Southern Europe suffered deep recessions during the Eurocrisis, Germany maintained low unemployment and a massive trade surplus. After 5 years of...
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Balancing BRICS and Beyond: A conversation with Dutch Ambassador to South-Africa Joanne Doornewaard
The relationship between the Netherlands and South Africa stretches back centuries, shaped by both painful history and meaningful cooperation. It includes dark chapters, such as the Netherlands’ role in using South Africa as part of the slave trade, but also moments of solidarity, including the...
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The Pursuit of More: Evan Osnos on Prosperity in China and the US
What happens when wealth does not just buy comfort, but an entirely different reality? When power does not mean responsibility anymore, but the option to escape all consequences? When ambition turns into status anxiety? From rural China to billionaire bunkers, Evan Osnos gets up close to people,...
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Sticking Up for the Human(ities): SSE President Lars Strannegård on Rethinking Education
While the way we live has changed a lot in the last few years, the way we learn has remained largely the same. Our education systems have stagnated, relying on inflexible grading systems and standardized tests, as they need to conform to the demands of the job market. Is now the time for academia...
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A Tale of Two Americas (at War): Aviva Chomsky on Latin American History
What does it mean when the United States bombs a neighboring country, seizes its president, and flies him to New York to face criminal charges? Days into 2026, US forces launched a dramatic operation in Venezuela, bombing targets in Caracas and capturing President Nicolás Maduro. Such flagrant...
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Marco Buti- On the Future of the EU
Europe is entering a period of growing fragmentation. Rising defence pressures, economic stagnation, and geopolitical dependence are colliding at a moment when the European Union appears increasingly unable to act collectively. We welcome Marco Buti, former Director General for Economic and...
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CSR Debate 2026 – with party leaders of INTER, Activisten Partij, Vrije Student and UVAsociaal
🫵Student well-being, collaborations with other countries and affordability of education. These are all issues in which the Central Student Council, the CSR, has influence over decisions made by the UvA which have tangible effects on the daily life of all students.Vote here:...
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Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Postwar Paralysis – Conversation with High Representative Christian Schmidt
❗️On11th of May, Christian Schmidt announced that he will step down as High Representative for Bosnia and Hercegovina as soon as his successor is found. This interview took place on Wednesday, April 22nd at Roeterseiland Campus Thirty years after the end of one of Europe's bloodiest post-Cold War...
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Dr. Christine Webb On the Exceptionalism of Human Arrogance
Human exceptionalism, the idea that humans are intellectually, morally and socially superior to other lifeforms on this planet, is so fundamental that we barely recognise that it is there. Dr. Christine Webb is assistant professor of environmental studies at New York University and Author of...
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Tax the rich! Sure, but how? - A Discussion with Gabriel Zucman
“The billionaires’ nightmare”, “Rockstar Economist”, or “far-left activist”, Professor Gabriel Zucman goes by many names.With Elon Musk on his way to reaching trillionaire status, public debt accelerating, and far-right parties threatening democratic institutions, a consensus is emerging that...
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Appetite for Change - Financial Market Reform with Ann Pettifor
We are living through a collision of overlapping crises: an increasing cost-of-living, climate change and a deepening state of political disillusionment. While these issues are often treated as isolated government failures, our next guest argues that they share a single, predatory origin: the...
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The Original Sinn – Limits to European Integration with Hans-Werner Sinn
Fifteen years on from the Eurozone crisis, with surging public debt, increasing climate risks, rising geopolitical tensions, and a constant need for monetary injections, the need for change in Europe has never been more obvious. But how do we get there? Is more or less integration the answer that...
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From Statecraft to Standards: Governing Business and Human Rights in Myanmar
Myanmar remains one of the world’s most repressive states. Political prisoners fill its jails, civil freedoms are crushed, and the military junta presses ahead with sham elections while defending itself at the International Court of Justice. What responsibilities do foreign governments and...
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Words and Weapons with Ambassador Ammar Hijazi, Head of the Palestinian Mission to the Netherlands
Without formal recognition from the Netherlands, the Palestinian Mission is forced to rely on law, institutions, and words in a political landscape where others wield hard power. These constraints shape every aspect of how Palestine is represented internationally, even amidst what the UNHRC...
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The Realities of Childhood in Wartime Ukraine: A Conversation with Kyrylo Lapko
What does it mean to grow up in a war?On the 20th October, from 13:00 to 14:00 in the E-Hall, Room for Discussion will host Kyrylo Lapko, Head of Reintegration and International Relations at the Coordination Center for Family Upbringing and Child Care Development in Ukraine.As the war continues,...
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From Humiliation to Rejuvenation: Steve Tsang on The Rise of China
As global tensions sharpen, the world is asking whether a new great power rivalry is emerging, with China at the center of attention. Understanding its direction has never been more urgent.Join us for a focused conversation tracing the forces behind China’s rise: the legacy of the century of...
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Political Optimism: Necessity or Naivety? -with Marnix van Rij, former State Secretary of Finances
When the CDA and governments were falling apart, Marnix van Rij was called back to bring calm to the chaos. Most people told him not to do it. He did it anyway. Not because it was easy, but because as he says, “someone has to stay optimistic.”With the release of his new book ‘Reflections of a...
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Farewell To the Welfare State? - Gøsta Esping-Andersen On The Future of Welfare Capitalism
Increased inequality, crumbling welfare services and skyrocketing rents. What has happened to the welfare state? And can it survive our decreasing taxpayer bases and ageing populations?Joining us on the Room for Discussion stage to discuss these questions, is one of the world's leading analysts…
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Diversity – Driver for Success, a Conversation with Anahit Galstyan, BASF
Join us as we welcome Anahit Galtsyan, a Principal Scientist at BASF, to the Room for Discussion stage. Her work brings together the science of genomics with the realities of innovation in a global company, offering a unique perspective on how research develops in practice and how the people…
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Saving for a Rainy Decade: Finance Minister Eelco Heinen on Europe’s Economic Future
Is Europe saving wisely, or simply doing too little, too late?With defence costs rising, growth slowing, and the green transition underway, the debate on how Europe spends or saves has never been more urgent. Should the EU expand joint borrowing to meet global challenges, or double down on…
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Amsterdam 750: a Conversation with Mayor Femke Halsema
Amsterdam turned 750 this year and stands at a crossroads. Prosperity has made it one of Europe’s most vibrant capitals, but also one of its most strained. Housing, tourism, and social divides test the city’s fabric, while national politics and budget cuts tighten the pressure from above.Join…
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Verkiezingsserie: Rob Jetten, leider van D66
Premier van Nederland
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Verkiezingsserie: Jimmy Dijk, leider van de SP
With the elections in mind, this interview focuses on planning: priorities for affordable housing, European cooperation, and the SP's security policy. Will the SP succeed in governing for the first time?
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Verkiezingsserie: Ines Kostic, Tweede Kamerlid van Partij voor de Dieren
Op 29 oktober gaat Nederland naar de stembus, zo ook de 30.000 stemgerechtigde UvA-studenten. Daarom ontvangen we op 9 oktober Ines Kostić, Tweede Kamerlid van de Partij voor de Dieren. ️Met het oog op de verkiezingen gaan we langs onderwerpen zoals dierenwelzijn, wonen, defensie, moreel...
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Geography as Destiny - Conversations with Historian Ian Morris
Why did the centre of power shift across the world throughout human history, and why did it settle in the West after the 18th century? Did wars only serve to create a winner and a loser, or did they help spur the developments necessary for the safer, richer societies we enjoy today? Historian Ian...
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Changing Currents: The Future of the Alliance with former Dutch Minister of Defence Kajsa Ollongren
On the sidelines of the NATO Summit in The Hague, Room for Discussion will host an exclusive morning interview with former Dutch Minister of Defence Kajsa Ollongren. With war on Europe’s doorstep, uncertainty in Washington, and rising ambitions for European defense, NATO stands at a crossroads.…
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Ukraine, Diplomacy, and the Road Ahead: A Talk with Ambassador Alle Dorhout
Join us for an exclusive interview with Alle Dorhout, the Dutch Ambassador to Ukraine and former Director of Intelligence at the AIVD. With valuable insights into the intersection of diplomacy and intelligence, Alle offers a firsthand perspective on navigating the complex political landscape…
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CSR Election Debate 2025 - University of Amsterdam Central Student Council
CSR Election Debate - University of Amsterdam From looming budget cuts in higher education to government directives on de-internationalisation, from defending the right to protest to safeguarding the mental well-being of students – this year, the university faces major decisions that will shape…
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Ctrl+Alt+Defend_ Stéphane Duguin on the Fight for CyberPeace
As cyberattacks grow in scale and sophistication, the lines between cybercrime, state-sponsored hacking, and digital warfare are becoming increasingly blurred. How can we protect individuals, and democratic institutions from the rising tide of cyber threats? Who should be held accountable for...
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The Failure of Good Intentions – Philippe Sands on the Limits of International Law
When the newspapers are full of horrifying stories, international law sometimes feels impotent. Why is it still important? In what way is the term “genocide” political? Is our international system failing if world powers don’t subscribe to it? And why would we need a fifth international crime of...
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Keenly Unorthodox: Rethinking Economics with Steve Keen
On the 9th of April, 13:00-14:00, in the E-Hall, Room for Discussion welcomed Steve Keen – outspoken critic of mainstream economics, author of “The New Economics: A Manifesto”, and one of today’s most rebellious economic thinkers. Keen has made it his mission to dismantle the neoclassical...
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Empire State of Mind: Russell Shorto on the Dutch Roots of New York
New York City was once just a small Dutch outpost called New Amsterdam. How did a modest trading colony become the global icon it is today? Join us for a deep dive with acclaimed historian Russell Shorto, who has spent decades uncovering the Dutch origins of America’s financial and cultural...
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A Lifetime in Diplomacy: Former UN Deputy Secretary General Jan Eliasson
How can the UN uphold its humanitarian mission in an increasingly polarized world? Has it ever truly fulfilled its purpose of protecting human rights, and what role does diplomacy play as global tensions rise? Join us for a hybrid conversation with Jan Eliasson, former UN Deputy Secretary-General...
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Trouble in Paradise: On the Crisis of Democratic Capitalism with Martin Wolf
Martin Wolf is one of the most prominent voices in the world of politics and economics of our times. In an era of inequality, political polarisation, and global power shifts, he asks the uncomfortable questions: Has capitalism betrayed democracy? Is rising authoritarianism a failure of the...
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Israel-Palestine Series: Yossi Klein Halevi on the Role of Narratives
Room for Discussion is proud to announce a new interview series. ❗Disclaimer: Room for Discussion is a journalistic student-led interview platform which encourages open dialogue and the sharing of diverse perspectives. The opinions expressed by individual guests and audience members in our...
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Toppling Europe's Last Dictator: A Conversation with Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya
Join us for a powerful discussion with Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the leader of the Belarusian opposition and a global symbol of the fight for democracy. We'll delve into her journey from presidential candidate to exile, the ongoing struggle against authoritarianism in Belarus, and the challenges…
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Show Me the Money! with Tony Murphy, President of the European Court of Auditors
Ever wondered how €186 billion in EU spending is scrutinized to ensure every euro counts? On 14th January, from 13:00 to 14:00, at the REC E-Hall, we’ll dive into the world of the European Court of Auditors (ECA) with its President, Tony Murphy. As the leader of the EU’s financial watchdog…
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Ruben Brekelmans, Dutch Minister of Defence
The way events unfolded on our platform today once again is deeply unfortunate. While we believe that protest is an integral part of a democratic society, we are dissapointed that the way it was carried out today hindered a free exchange of ideas. We are a platform run by students, for students...
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The Battle Beyond the Frontlines – On “Doctors Without Borders” with Karel Hendriks
Room for Discussion is honoured to welcome Karel Hendriks. He has worked with Médicins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) for over a decade and is now the Deputy General of the organisation and the Director of the Dutch branch, providing immediate life-saving care for people in conflict...
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Post Trade Clarity: Gary Stevenson on Economic Inequality and the Future of Capitalism
Is wealth inequality the defining economic issue of our time? How has quantitative easing deepened the divide between the rich and the poor? What can be done to fix a broken economic system? Gary Stevenson, former Citibank trader turned economic activist, predicted the widening inequality…
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Carbon and Cashflow: Barbara Baarsma’s Vision for Sustainable Growth
How to make finance a force for sustainability? Are there enough incentives in our system to balance short-term profits and the protection of the environment? And what is the role of PwC and Rabo Carbon Bank in shaping the discussion on sustainable growth? Our guest has been at the center of...
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Standing Strong: Economic Solutions in Uncertain Times with Guy Standing
Room for Discussion is honoured to welcome Guy Standing, a British Labour economist, co-founder of the Basic Income Earth Network (BIEN) and professor of Development Studies at the University of London. It will be a conversation offering insights into the changing dynamics of work, inequality…
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Room for Discussion have?
Room for Discussion currently has 138 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Room for Discussion about?
Room for Discussion conducts free live interviews at the University of Amsterdam, with leading voices in politics, economics, journalism and more. Each interview is fully led and conducted by students.
How often does Room for Discussion release new episodes?
Room for Discussion publishes regularly with 138 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
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You can listen to Room for Discussion on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Room for Discussion?
Room for Discussion is created and hosted by Room for Discussion.
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