S5 E1: Former CIA Spy Laura Ballman

Fresh from an undercover trip to earthquake-ravaged Myanmar, BBC South Asia and Afghanistan correspondent Yogita Limaye joins me to share what she witnessed on the ground—and how locals are surviving with little to no aid. We also discuss the plight of women and girls in Afghanistan, her reporting from post-Assad Syria, developments in India, the war in Ukraine, the future of journalism, and much more. For this episode, I was in Thailand and Yogita was speaking to me from her home base in India.

In this special new season-opener, former CIA spy and now geopolitics expert, Laura Ballman, speaks to co-hosts Michael Bociurkiw and Melissa Ricci about what its like to be a spy, whether the field is accepting of women, the vulnerability of tech platforms such as TikTok, the war in Ukraine - and much more!

As the war in Ukraine entered its second month, co-hosts Michael Bociurkiw and Melissa Ricci spoke with the London-based scholar and author, Olesya Khromeychuk, about the impact of the war on the country, the role of women, rehabilitation and re-construction - as well as the book she wrote about the loss of her brother: A Loss: The Story of a Dead Soldier Told by His Sister

In this special episode of Global Impact, co-hosts Michael Bociurkiw and Melissa Ricci speak to multi award-winning journalist, war correspondent and author Janine di Giovanni. Her new book, The Vanishing, anchors a discussion on the shocking decline in numbers of Christians in the Middle East. Why she became a journalist, the dangers of the profession, the long-term impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on humanity and much more! Closing music: Psalm 121 - Ambrosian Choir, conducted by John McCarthy Janine's website: https://www.janinedigiovanni.com/ The Vanishing: https://www.publicaffairsbooks.com/titles/janine-di-giovanni/the-vanishing/9781541756717/

A moving and memorable chat with Sage Gallon - the published and award winning multi-media artist. Co-hosts Melissa Ricci and Michael Bociurkiw speak to a man who has so much to offer in terms of life lessons, overcoming the impossible, surviving addiction and homelessness, creating art - and much more.

Co-hosts Melissa Ricci and Michael Bociurkiw chat with European marketing expert Thomas Barta about brand strategy, the influence of influencers, the impact of the pandemic on business and his likes and dislikes.

Not only is he one of the youngest diplomats to have emerged out of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba is among the youngest foreign ministers to walk the corridors of power on the world stage. Co-hosts Melissa Ricci & Michael Bociurkiw engage the minister on a variety of topics - from his thoughts on the relevance of the United Nations and why the EU seems to be slow-motioning Ukraine’s ascension to the bloc, to his path to diplomacy - and his favourite method of preparing Ukraine’s iconic national dish!

Mark Henick's TEDx talk, "WHY WE CHOSE SUICIDE", is among the most watched in the world with over 6 million views. His story of searching for “THE MAN IN THE LIGHT BROWN JACKET” who saved his life from a teenage suicide attempt went viral around world. Informed by his direct experience with stigma and the mental health care system, Mark dedicated his life from an early age to opening minds and creating change. Mark has previously served as the youngest president of a provincial Canadian Mental Health Association division in history, the youngest member of the board of directors for the Mental Health Commission of Canada, and a national spokesperson for the Faces of Mental Illness campaign. Mark has also worked as a front line mental health counsellor, and the manager of a national workplace mental health training program. Today, MARK is sought after public speaker and active media commentator on issues related to mental illness and mental health and appeared in hundred television segments, and countless more radio, print, and online features about mental health. His work has frequently appeared across Canada by media such as CTV National News, Entertainment Tonight, and The Globe and Mail; in the United States by CNN, the Chicago Tribune, and The New York Daily News; and in the UK by The Independent, The Daily Mail, and The Sun. Mark's first book "SO-CALLED NORMAL: A MEMOIR OF FAMILY, DEPRESSION AND RESILIENCE" depicts his story about growing up in a broken home and the events that led to that fateful night on the bridge.   MARK HENICK websites ( book, podcast, TEDx Talk): https://markhenick.com https://www.instagram.com/markhenick/

Known best for the bold and abrupt way she parted ways with Fox News, American journalist Ivory Hecker discusses her career, the changing media business, censorship, the Covid-19 pandemic and more. Ivory's website: https://ivoryhecker.com/

From Los Angeles and New York City, co-hosts Michael Bociurkiw and Melissa Ricci speak to top US infectious diseases expert Dr. Nahid Bhadelia - starting with the question of whether we have seen the worst of the Covid-19 pandemic. They also talk about the release of Michael's new book - Digital Pandemic - Covid-19: How Tech Went From Bad to Good.