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The McKay Interview
by Michael McKay
Michael McKay conducts in depth interviews with decision makers and local leaders.The McKay Interview was founded on a simple idea: that listeners would tune in regularly to listen to intelligent yet relaxed, English-language conversation between Michael McKay and interesting people who do interesting things.A variety of prominent and thoughtful people have accepted the invitation and a wide range of topics have been covered.
Episodes
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Clyde McKenzie OD | The First Global Culture: Why Jamaica Boxes Above Its Weight
A small island of fewer than three million people has given the world a religion, a language, a musical genre that soundtracks protest from Kingston to Tel Aviv, and a string of Olympic champions. How does Jamaica do it? In this episode, Michael McKay opens a short series of conversations with...
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Dr. Jean-Marc Rickli | AI's Exponential Threat & The Cognitive Apocalypse
For generations, Western Europe has lived in an unprecedented era of peace. Today, with war returning to the Continent and the Middle East, national defence budgets are skyrocketing as warfare undergoes a terrifying technological evolution. In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Jean-Marc Rickli,...
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Debbie Stettler | The "Can-Do" Mindset: Rethinking Disability in Business
What happens when you write 155 job applications as a 16-year-old, only to face constant rejection due to a physical disability? You develop an unstoppable "can-do" mindset. In this episode, we travel to Horgen, Switzerland, to visit the regional headquarters of Dow, Inc., one of the world's...
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Walter Stresemann | The Legacy of the Weimar Republic’s Chancellor
In this episode, we take a step back in time to explore a deeply personal family story intertwined with mid-twentieth century European history. Broadcasting from the village of Thoiry in France, immediately adjacent to Geneva, we sit down with Walter Stresemann to discuss the enduring legacy of…
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Marco ten Bruggencate | The "Tragedy" of the Green Deal & Europe's Industrial Future
In this episode of The McKay Interview, we venture into the industrial sector from the picturesque Zurich countryside to speak with Marco ten Bruggencate, President, Industrial Intermediates & Infrastructure; Executive Oversight, Europe, Middle East, Africa, and India at Dow. Operating as a titan...
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Karen Tse | Defending the Defenceless: The Fight Against Global Torture and Axis to Justice
Is justice a global privilege? Dr Karen Tse joins the McKay Interview to reveal how providing early access to a lawyer can end investigative torture. In this episode, we sit down with Dr Karen Tse, the visionary Founder and CEO of International Bridges to Justice (IBJ). While many view the lack…
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Ross Clark | Not Zero: The Hidden Costs of the Climate Crusade
In this episode, we are joined by acclaimed journalist and author Ross Clark to dissect one of the most consequential, yet under-debated, shifts in modern governance: the legally binding commitment to Net Zero. While public opinion often supports climate action in theory, Ross argues that the...
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Martin Pfister | Life Under Fire: 18 Years in Kyiv
We are joined by Martin Pfister, a Swiss expatriate who has called Kyiv home for nearly two decades. While the world often views the conflict in Ukraine through the lens of geopolitical strategy and military maps, Martin provides a raw, "straight from the shoulder" account of the daily reality on...
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The Rt Hon Diane Abbott MP | Mother of the House: 40 Years in Politics
In this episode, we are joined by the Right Honourable Diane Abbott MP, a titan of British politics and a history-maker whose legacy was forged in the landmark general election of 1987. As the first Black woman ever elected to the House of Commons, she has spent nearly four decades at the heart…
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Prof. Dr. Lana Kandalaft | How Vaccines Will Treat Cancer
In this episode, we sit down with Professor Dr. Lana E. Kandalaft, a world-renowned expert in immunotherapy and the Chief of Clinical and Translational Research at the Swiss Medical Network. The interview was recorded on the 17th November 2025. For decades, the "one-size-fits-all" approach to...
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Gen. Sir Gordon Messenger | Inside the King’s Foundation: Harmony & Heritage
General Sir Gordon Messenger, Trustee of the King’s Foundation and former Vice Chief of the Defence Staff, joins the programme from Geneva to discuss the intersection of military leadership, sustainable development, and royal vision. This interview was recorded on 18th of November 2025.…
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Ambassador Dr. Richard Brown | Jamaica’s Recovery After Hurricane Melissa
Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm with winds reaching nearly 300 km/h, recently devastated Jamaica, leaving over 600,000 people displaced and wiping out nearly 30% of the country’s GDP. In this episode of The McKay Interview, Jamaican Ambassador Dr. Richard Brown outlines the full scale of…
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Michael Møller | Is the United Nations Still Fit for Purpose?
Michael Møller, former United Nations Under Secretary-General and Director-General of the UN Office at Geneva, returns to The McKay Interview for a hard-hitting, wide-ranging discussion. With over four decades of service across five continents, Møller offers deep insight into the challenges…
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Victoria Curzon-Price | Tariffs, Trump, and Switzerland: What’s Really at Stake
We speak with Professor Emerita Victoria Curzon Price of the University of Geneva, economics department, a leading thinker in international economics and an old friend of the programme. Together, we unpack the shifting global trade landscape, the resurgence of tariffs, and what it all means for...
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Doreen Bogdan-Martin | The Global Battle for Connectivity: Satellites, AI, and the ITU’s Mission in a Divided World
Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), leads one of the world’s most powerful yet least-known organizations from her base in Geneva. The ITU is responsible for everything from managing global radio frequencies and satellite orbits to bringing…
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Helen Clark | Can Democracy Survive? Global Elections, Power Shifts, and the View from New Zealand
Michael McKay sits down with the Right Honourable Helen Clark—former Prime Minister of New Zealand and former head of the United Nations Development Programme—for a wide-ranging conversation on democracy, multilateralism, women in leadership, and global governance. Helen Clark is widely regarded…
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David Willey OBE, papal biographer and former BBC Rome Correspondent | From Francis to Leo: The Vatican in Transition
Michael reconnects with veteran BBC Vatican correspondent David Willey OBE for a compelling conversation on the end of Pope Francis’ papacy and the early days of his successor, Pope Leo. The interview was recorded on the 12th June 2025. Drawing on over four decades of covering the Holy See…
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Prof. Marcel Salathé, Director of the AI centre at EPFL | Artificial Intelligence: Promise, Peril, and Power – A Swiss Perspective
Michael McKay sits down with Professor Marcel Salathé, joint director of the EPFL AI Center in Lausanne, to explore the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence—and what it means for us all. The interview was recorded on the 20th May 2025. Professor Salathé offers a rare combination of...
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Dr. Brian Costello and Professor Jacques Bernier | Global Health Collaboration: Mayo Clinic Meets Swiss Medical Network
Michael McKay speaks with Dr. Brian Costello, Medical Director of Mayo Clinic Global Consulting and Professor of Oncology and Urology, and Professor Jacques Bernier, Swiss Medical Network’s Chief Science Officer and Specialist in Radio-Oncology and Nuclear Medicine. The interview was recorded on...
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Frédéric Lelièvre | The Changing Landscape of Swiss Banking: Insights and Challenges
In this episode of The McKay Interview, host Michael McKay sits down with Frédéric Lelièvre, CEO and Editor-in-Chief of L’Agefi, the leading financial newspaper in French-speaking Switzerland. Speaking from Lausanne, they explore the evolving landscape of Swiss banking — from overregulation to...
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Sir Richard Dearlove | MI6: Intelligence, Leadership, and the Shape of Our Times
In this wide-ranging and thoughtful conversation, Sir Richard Dearlove — former Chief of the British Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) — joins The McKay Interview to reflect on geopolitics, national security, technology, and leadership in today’s uncertain world. Now Chairman of the Board of...
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Lt. Gen. (rtd.) Ben Hodges | Ukraine, NATO, and the Shifting Sands of Strategy
In this third appearance on The McKay Interview, retired Lieutenant General Ben Hodges returns with hard truths and strategic insight into the war in Ukraine and its global implications. Speaking from Frankfurt, the former Commander of U.S. Army Europe reflects on what’s changed — and what hasn’t…
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Jeremy Lack | From Courtroom Battles to Creative Solutions: Understanding the Power of Mediation
In this episode of The McKay Interview, Michael McKay sits down with Jeremy Lack, a Geneva-based independent lawyer and one of Switzerland’s leading experts in dispute resolution. Trained as a barrister in England and admitted to the bars of New York, Geneva, and England and Wales, Jeremy has…
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Pioneering Medical Innovation: Inside Switzerland’s Genolier Innovation Hub
In this episode of The McKay Interview, we discover the Genolier Innovation Hub, Switzerland’s groundbreaking medical and biotech innovation center. Located in the French-speaking canton of Vaud, the Hub is revolutionizing how medical advancements move from research labs to real-world patient…
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Pamela Coke-Hamilton | Trade Wars, Global Shifts, and Small Business Survival
In this episode of The McKay Interview, Michael McKay speaks with Pamela Coke-Hamilton, Executive Director of the International Trade Centre (ITC), for an in-depth discussion on the evolving landscape of global trade and the economic forces shaping our world today. With a career dedicated to...
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Ambassador Jean Daniel Ruch | Switzerland’s Neutrality, Global Power Shifts, and Middle East Realities
In this episode, Jean Daniel Ruch, a recently retired Swiss ambassador, joined us on the 7th January 2025, for an insightful discussion on diplomacy, neutrality, and global geopolitics. With a distinguished career spanning multiple high-stakes postings—including Serbia and Montenegro, Israel, and...
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Ambassador Petros Mavromichalis | Switzerland and the EU: Negotiations, Migration, and the Future of Europe
Switzerland is often described as the "hole in the EU doughnut", a country deeply intertwined with the European economy but not a member of the European Union. Today, I sit down, on January 12, 2025, with Ambassador Petros Mavromichalis, the EU’s Ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein, to...
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Ambassador Jean-Arthur Regibeau | Understanding the Triad: America, Russia, and Europe
Just two weeks after Donald Trump’s victory over Kamala Harris, on the 19th November 2024, I sit down with Ambassador Jean-Arthur Regibeau, Belgium’s recently retired ambassador to the U.S. and Russia, to discuss the complex relationship between America, Russia, and Europe. We cover: The U.S....
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Alexandre Fasel | Switzerland’s Role in a Changing World
In this episode, I sit down with Alexandre Fasel, Switzerland’s State Secretary for Foreign Affairs, at the Federal Palace in Bern on 25th November 2024. With the world in flux, we discuss Switzerland’s evolving role in global diplomacy, security, and multilateralism. We explore: The war in…
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Dame Stephanie Shirley | A Life of Giving, Innovation, and Resilience
In this episode, I sit down once again with Dame Stephanie Shirley, the remarkable IT pioneer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, whose extraordinary life journey—from a Kindertransport refugee to one of Britain’s most influential businesswomen—has inspired many. We discuss: From war refugee to…
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Jean Ayoub | 100 Years of ISS: The Silent Force Behind Global Social Work
In this episode, recorded on the 6th June 2024, I sit down with Jean Ayoub, Secretary General and CEO of International Social Services (ISS), to uncover the remarkable century-long history of this little-known yet crucial organization. While the Red Cross and Geneva Conventions are globally...
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James Fleming | Exploring the Legacy of Ian Fleming and the World of James Bond
In this episode, recorded on the 16th June 2024, I sit down with James Fleming, critically acclaimed author and nephew of Ian Fleming, the legendary creator of James Bond. From the picturesque French countryside near Geneva, we discuss Ian Fleming’s literary and personal legacy, the origins of…
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Maggie Jackson | The Wisdom of Uncertainty
In this episode, I sit down with Maggie Jackson, an award-winning American author and journalist, to explore insights from her latest book, Uncertain: The Wisdom and Wonder of Being Unsure. Jackson challenges our conventional aversion to uncertainty and presents it as a vital skill for…
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Diplomat David Moran | Understanding Eurasia
In this episode, I sit down with David Moran, a seasoned diplomat with extensive experience in Central Asia, the South Caucasus, and Europe. Moran shares his deep insights into the geopolitical complexities of Eurasia, drawing from his time as UK ambassador to countries such as Switzerland and...
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Dr. Daniel Warner | Analyzing the Historic 2024 U.S. Presidential Election
In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Daniel Warner to analyze Donald Trump's historic victory over Kamala Harris in the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election, held on November 5th. As Trump returns to the White House, becoming both the forty-fifth and forty-seventh president, Dr. Warner provides an...
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Ed Flaherty, American / Swiss attorney based in Geneva.
I discuss the imminent, US Presidential Election with Ed Flaherty, an American/Swiss attorney of long experience, based in Geneva, and who is also Legal Counsel to Republicans Overseas Switzerland. We cover the following topics: His prediction of the result His views on the campaigns of Donald...
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Ambassador (rtd.) Charles C. Adams, Jr. Senior Partner, Director of Strategic Relationships Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP; Former US Ambassador to Finland
In this McKay Interview I ask Charles Adams To explain if he thought the bundling of President Joe Biden out of running for a second term was unseemly for a head of state What he thought of Kamala Harris, as very few of us seem to know anything about her Whether he thought the attempted...
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Selahattin Bilgen, CEO of Istanbul International Airport, known as iGA Istanbul
Insights into the success of managing the most connected airport in the world. In this episode we discuss: -The reasons for his new airport's success -His plans for the future -How he manages the risks and "unknowns" of such a large and dynamic airport.
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Professor Benoit Dubuis, President of the Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences
My discussion with Professor Dubuis centres around food and nutrition, and vaccine and food security. In this episode we discuss: -What functional food is and its place in the diet of a healthy population. -Whether the poor of the world are badly served by the relatively rich north, which appears...
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Clive Thompson, retired private banker and wealth management advisor
Over a career in finance spanning almost 50 years, Clive Thompson watches, among other things, growing levels of government debt, especially in the USA, and worries about it. In this episode we discuss -Why growing government debt is a problem, especially for the USA. -What happens when…
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Dr. André Schneider, CEO of Geneva Airport
As André Schneider's mandate comes to an end after 8 years as CEO, he talks openly to me about the airport, air travel and business. We also discuss his achievements and disappointments; and to what extent air travel has returned to pre-Covid levels. In this episode we discuss: -How the airport...
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Professor Xavier Oberson, Professor of Swiss and International Tax Law, University of Geneva
Our topic in this McKay Interview is Tax and Taxation. We discuss the following points: We go back to the very beginning and talk about the origins of Tax, and what Tax was used for -The turbulent history of public consent to pay taxes -The difference between Avoidance and Evasion; the politics…
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Bernard Salzmann, a Swiss, world traveller, on a mission to drive, alone, around the world
He is "at home" on 3 continents, having been born in Madagascar and lived many years in Africa. He studied in the USA, and has his home in Switzerland. Stories of his driving experiences to the ends of the Earth, the vehicle he has chosen, the people he has met, and above all his personal...
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Adolf Ogi, twice President of the Swiss Confederation.
Twice President of the Swiss Confederation, and thirteen years a Federal Councillor, Adolf Ogi, one of Switzerland's most admired and popular leaders in modern times shares his personal reflections and some of his guiding principles with me. In this episode we discuss: -The importance of good...
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Dr. Conrad Hughes, Director-General of the International School of Geneva
My wide-ranging interview with Dr Hughes takes place in the year of the 100th anniversary of the International School of Geneva - ISG (1924-2024). In this episode we discuss: -His career journey to one of the top jobs in international education. -How the ISG/Ecolint started and why. -What he and...
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Professor Julian Lindley-French, Chairman of the Alphen Group
Professor Julian Lindley-French is Chairman of the Alphen Group in the Netherlands and an expert analyst focussing on security and defence strategy and policy. In this episode we discuss: -Is the world is a safer place than in 2014 when I first interviewed him. -Whether the West is still strong....
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Nadia Sikorksy PhD, Co-founder and Editor of NashaGazeta.ch
Dr Nadia Sikorsky, a Russian/Swiss dual national, is Co-founder and Editor of NashaGazeta.ch, the first Russian-language online newspaper in Switzerland. In this episode we discuss: -Given what she writes about, whether it is safe for her to visit Russia -What mistakes the West made in dealing…
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Lt. Gen. (rtd.) Ben Hodges, former Commander of the United States Army in Europe
Just over a year since our last radio conversation, I ask General Hodges -For his assessment of the progress of the war in Ukraine against Russia's illegal invasion -How long he thinks the war will continue -What the West needs to do to support Ukraine better -The interplay between politics and...
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Grégoire Ribordy, Co-founder and CEO of ID Quantique.
ID Quantique has been a Geneva success story for the past 20 years in the area of quantum and cybersecurity. We talk about current developments and where the future may take us in this exciting area. In this episode we discuss: -What is the big picture regarding developments in quantum? -What are...
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Bru Pearce, Founder of Envisionation, and environmental consultancy
This is the second part of my radio conversation with Bru Pearce, started at Eastertime 2023. We discuss in greater detail how to repair the badly damaged biosphere. Restore it to life again. And who pays! It is a complex topic. In this episode we discuss: -How to repair the badly damaged…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Michael McKay conducts in depth interviews with decision makers and local leaders.The McKay Interview was founded on a simple idea: that listeners would tune in regularly to listen to intelligent yet relaxed, English-language conversation between Michael McKay and interesting people who do interesting things.A variety of prominent and thoughtful people have accepted the invitation and a wide range of topics have been covered.
HOSTED BY
Michael McKay
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How many episodes does The McKay Interview have?
The McKay Interview currently has 152 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The McKay Interview about?
Michael McKay conducts in depth interviews with decision makers and local leaders.The McKay Interview was founded on a simple idea: that listeners would tune in regularly to listen to intelligent yet relaxed, English-language conversation between Michael McKay and interesting people who do...
How often does The McKay Interview release new episodes?
The McKay Interview publishes regularly with 152 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
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You can listen to The McKay Interview 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 The McKay Interview?
The McKay Interview is created and hosted by Michael McKay.
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