The McKay Interview

Insights into the evolution of the Geneva Observatory and its long history; what use Astronomy serves; and Geneva's contribution to the science of Astronomy in the larger frame of research worldwide.

In this episode we discuss:

-The significant advances in Astronomy during his career.

-In a world of bewildering acronyms, what do XRIM, GAIA and EUCLID mean?

-I ask Professor Pepe if it is difficult to attract young people to study Astronomy.

General Richards discusses with me matters of war and grand strategy.

In this episode we discuss:

-The war in Ukraine

-His view that Russia has lost the war already, strategically

-Whether NATO wants Ukraine to "win" but does not want Russia to "lose"

-His lament on the dearth of statesmen and the death of "grand strategy".

Avivah and I discuss the implications of living longer and working longer; what it means for pensions, for younger colleagues in the workplace and for families.

We cover the following topic:

-Isn't Longevity just a first-world problem? You might be surprised by Avivah's answer. And how will younger people adjust to having work colleagues around them the age of their grandparents!

A radio conversation about Switzerland's relationship and role at the U.N. especially now that it is a Non-permanent Member of the Security Council.

In this episode we discuss:

-If there is the remotest chance that the Security Council can reform itself.

-We touch on the extent to which the Swiss population takes an interest in the U.N. and whether or not that is important.

-We talk about Swiss neutrality and what it really means these days.

-I ask him about his duties and obligations as head of the host country's delegation to the U.N. in Geneva.

Selma explains, among other things, the changes in shopping retail since the end of Covid lockdown a couple of years ago.

In this episode we discuss:

-What she thinks will be the next big thing around the corner for the retail shopping business

-To what extent do women dress in order to be attractive to men

-What men do when they go into her Etam shops to buy twice a year!

Jared Bibler, an American, arrived in Iceland a few years before the financial meltdown which started in 2008. He worked in the financial services sector and then, when it was all over, the investigator. He tells me his compelling personal story during that extraordinary period.

Some of the topics we cover:

-What sort of odd things he noticed in the practices of bank in which he was working

-How his peers and superiors reacted when he asked perfectly proper questions about some of the unusual practices that he noticed

-What the consequences of the malpractices were

-Could the same thing happen elsewhere, like for example Switzerland.

A radio conversation from a prominent, Conservative MP who has been very close to the centre of British politics in the Tory Party for over ten years.

In this episode we discuss:

-His opinion on whether or not the Conservative Party has run out of steam after 13 years in power

-The strength of opposition to or difficulties for the Conservative Party

-How politicians can regain the lost trust of the electorate

-Why are so many political leaders of questionable character so popular with voters.

In this episode, Professor Matt Goodwin explains what the data show about current changing political and social attitudes in the U.K.

Some of the topics we cover:

-Britain, as viewed from abroad, does not seem to be doing so well these days. Why?

-The immigration debate in Britain seems poisonous. Is the UK still a welcoming place?

-How did the National Health Service come to be elevated to something approaching a national deity?

In this episode, Kirsten Neuschaefer's account of her experiences before and during her remarkable, round-the-world voyage.

We cover some of the following topics:

-Why Kirsten was motivated to make such a huge sea voyage alone.

-How she prepared for her journey. How she navigated?

-Why men seem to dominate the Golden Globe Race?

-Whether she had time for spiritual reflection during 235 days alone at sea. And what she will do next?

Jean-Pierre Roth, a former President of the Swiss National Bank, explains the history and the current situation of this iconic, Swiss military institution in Vatican City.

We discuss many aspects of the Pontifical Swiss Guard including:

-Why they are there, since when have they been guarding the Pope

-What do they actually do and how many constitute the Swiss Guard

-Why the barracks need renovation and how much money is required?

We discuss the key, cybersecurity threats and what the future is likely to look like.

Some of the points we cover:

-What are the key, cybersecurity threats to businesses, organisations and individuals?

-What does "resilience" mean?

-What is your assessment of the role of organised crime as a threat to cybersecurity?

-Should we fear Artificial Intelligence?

In this episode, we talk about the current state of the biosphere and Bru Pearce's Envisionation Biosphere Restoration Plan.

Some of the questions we try to answer:

-What can be done to repair the damage to the biosphere?

-Does man have the capacity to be up to this dauting task?

-What future is there for our grandchildren?

In this episode we have a conversation with the Chief of the Swiss Armed Forces about a variety of topical, relevant and sensitive subjects.

We cover the following:

-What does Swiss "neutrality" mean?

-Has the conflict in Ukraine changed the way that the Swiss Armed Forces strategize about warfare?

-What is the role of women in the Swiss Armed Forces?

-What part do the Swiss Armed Forces play in the social cohesion of Switzerland.

Kinza Win is an experienced, independent advisor on Philanthropy, with many years working at a high level in the wealth management and financial services industry.

In this episode we discuss:
-The giving and receiving side of the equation
-The size of the growing Philanthropy sector, the pitfalls, the difference between aid and philanthropy
-Whether sponsorship, as in the case of sports tournaments, is a confusion.

In this episode we discuss climate change and climate science.

Some of the questions we cover:

-What does the current climate science tell us?
-Can't we "unmake" climate change, if man is responsible for making it in the first place?
-Why campaigns about climate change have taken on the mantle of religion in the minds and actions of some?
-The importance of clouds. If humankind won't adapt to climate change, just as we always have done.

In this episode we discuss Ambassador Filipenko's current assessment of the war in Ukraine, just two days before the first anniversary of Russia's illegal invasion.

Some of the topics we cover:
-What the Ambassador has been doing in and around the UN Geneva in the eleven months since we last met.
-Why so many African countries abstain on  important vote relevant to Ukraine resolutions at the UN.
-When will the war end? And how?

In this episode our guest provides an assessment of the current state of the Swiss economy and how Switzerland's peculiarities contribute to its consistent success.

Some of the topics we cover:
-Switzerland's success defies the laws of economics just as the flight of the bumble bee defies the laws of physics.
-The great contribution that migrants have made to Switzerland's success.
-Though Switzerland does well, it is not Shangri-La, so how could it do better?

In this episode we discuss the views and opinions of an Iranian woman - now a naturalised Swiss - who was at university in Iran at the time of the fall of the Shah in 1979 and has lived in  both countries for many years.

Some of the topics we cover:
-How in your opinion has Iran arrived at where it is today in its long and flourishing history?
-What is it in the governing regime's particular version of Islam that is so anti-female?
-How do mothers bring up their sons? What values do they teach them?
-What values do fathers live  by in bringing up their daughters, and their sons?  
-What are the chances of success of this current revolution?

Professor Vicky Pryce gives a brilliant overview of the global economy, including the impact of Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine on energy prices, ageing populations in many parts of the world, climate change, inflation, China and India.

Among other things, we discuss the recent mid-term elections in the USA and their implications for the Presidential Election in 2024, the hypothetical prospect of secession of some states from the Union, should Trump or a Trump-like figure win for the Republicans, the ongoing saga of the former President, himself, and the political and social stresses and strains inside the USA today.

We cover some of the following topics:

-The state of the Union
-The possibility of a Trump revival in '24
-Disunity within the Democratic Party.

In this episode we look at the importance of Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) in today's global energy mix. We discuss what LNG actually is, what it is used for, how clean it is, the impact on supply caused by current tensions with Russia, and future energy needs, not only in the West but also in the Far East and elsewhere.

A discussion about men's health particularly, in this month of Movember, with a focus on prostate cancer and the advances in its diagnosis and treatment in recent years.

In this episode we talk about:

-Dr Rochat answers my questions about the genetic and hereditary aspects of prostate cancer
-The effectiveness of the PSA and other diagnostic tests
-The effects of the disease within the family, in particular on wives, life partners, daughters and granddaughters.

General Hodges gives his professional opinion on the prosecution of the war in Ukraine to date and future direction.

In this episode we discuss:

-I ask him about men (and women) and the machines of military conflict.
-General Hodges explains some of the different kinds of weapon systems.  
-We also talk about the morale of Russian soldiers as winter approaches
-The threat of tactical nuclear weapons.

In this episode I interview Ambassador Mme. Marie-Thérèse Pictet-Althann. We talk about the Sovereign Military Order of Malta and what she does in and around the UN and International Organizations in Geneva. 

In this episode we disucss:
-Its long history
-How it is led
-How it is funded
-How it can be a sovereign state without territory?

Personal reflections on the reign of the late Queen Elizabeth II with four, Commonwealth friends from Canada, India, Jamaica and the U.K.

Some of the questions asked are:

-What did the Queen mean to you?  
-Why Canada has not become a republic?
-How is the British monarchy viewed by present-day Jamaicans?
-India's attitude to the British monarchy and the Commonwealth.

The man who blew the whistle on the United Nations' negligence in the face of the genocide in Darfur.

In this episode we discuss:

-Why do some men and women at the top of organizations created to do good sometimes choose to look the other way when wrong is being committed?
-Has the time of consensus-building in terms of human suffering and humanitarian affairs passed?
-Why should ordinary people care about corruption inside a certain UN Organization based in Geneva?

Professor Flueckiger and I discuss Swiss tertiary education, research, innovation and Horizon Europe, Switzerland being excluded from this important EU organisation, at least for the time being.

In this episode we discuss:

-How confident he feels about a successful outcome to getting Switzerland readmitted to Horizon Europe.

The UK's big and current issues at the UN Geneva plus insights into the current status of the UK/EU relationship.

In this episode we discuss:

-Is multilateralism now dead?
-How much of a distraction are the current upheavals at 10 Downing Street?
-Has the illegal invasion of Ukraine by Russia caused the first paradigm shift in international relations since the peace of 1945?

Dan Basse is an acknowledged expert economist on grains, softs and food supply; and he is also a farmer.

In this episode we discuss:

-We discuss the current status of grain crops and global supply
-Crop yields
-The effects of the war in Ukraine
-China's importance in both the demand and supply of grain
-Climate change.

A sequel to my "McKay Interview" with David Willey in 2013 about prominent issues in the Vatican. We pick up our conversation from 9 years ago and talk about many things, including:
-David Willey's Italian grandparents, the present crises in the Vatican
-The difference that the first ever Jesuit Pope has made
-The state of Pope Francis’s health
-The speculative prospect of three Popes in the Vatican at the same time, as Pope Emeritus Benedict lives, a mere 500 metres away, almost on the Pontiff’s doorstep,

An overview of the current state of the Swiss economy and Swiss business.

In this episode we discuss:

-The recurring problem of a strong, safe-haven currency, namely the Swiss Franc
-The increasing cost of living in Switzerland
-The present impasse between Switzerland and the European Union.

In this episode we discuss Covid19: where it came from, what the current status of the pandemic is, and what the future holds.

In this episode we cover the following topics:

Debora MacKenzie tells me her views on Wuhan and the way the Chinese handled the outbreak. We also talk about the so-called "Swedish" model; and many other things relating to Covid19 and pandemics in general.

In this epsiode, General Sir Richard Shirreff, talks about the war in Ukraine.

We cover the following topics:

-Who is wining the war in Ukraine

-Why writers like Clausewitz and Sun Tzu are still relevant and the risk of war between nuclear powers

In this epsiode Martin Chungong talks about the GESDA Science Diplomacy Week Open Forum and his role as Geneva Coalition co-Chair.

We cover the following topics:

-What is GESDA?  

-Why the coupling of Science and Diplomacy? 

-Who is involved? 

-And how will objectives be achieved?

How the air travel sector in general, and London City Airport in particular, are performing post-pandemic? 

In this episode we discuss:

• I ask Robert if things are really getting better in the air travel industry;
• What has been his experience of the decarbonisation of aviation, and the net zero debate;
• How he gets on with this neighbours, as London City is almost in the heart of London;
• The arithmetic and trading process of buying aviation fuel as prices as gone up so much, recently.

The future of computing, AI, regulation and many other data-related topics from an industry leader with more than 20 years of experience at Google.

In this episode we discuss:

• If the Model T Ford of 1908 was the most influential car of the 20th century, compare the automobile timeline with the data and IT timelines: where is Google now on the comparable timeline of the 21st century?
• Do you have a dystopian view of the future regarding Big Data? Or are you optimistic?

A conversation about the importance of communes in the vibrant, bottom-up democracy of Switzerland.

Some of  my questions are:

• Why do we have two "parties" or "groups" during elections in such a small community?
• How do you deal with wealthy and important persons of families who might be tempted to use their influence to get there way?
• How "international" is Founex?

Ambassador Filipenko explains how her work at the UN & International Organizations, as well as other institutions in "international" Geneva, underpin her country's fight against the illegal invasion.

Some of  my questions are:

• How do you assess the current situation on Ukraine, as we speak, on the 29th March?
• What can you say about the 17% Russian speakers in your country? What are they thinking and saying? 
• Had they, as is claimed by some, been treated badly by Ukrainians, prior to the invasion?

We discussion Austria's history, how Austria's sees it future, multilateralism, Austria and United Nations Geneva, Human Rights, Austria's special neutrality and Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine.

This internationally renowned scientist, highly regarded for his work on bacterial meningitis, discusses his experiences in medical research, the vital significance of vaccines and immunization in public health.

In this episode we discuss:

• What is the biology of a killer, bacterial infection? 
• Why do we really need vaccines? Are there alternatives? 
• What does it take to make a vaccine?  
• How to deal with the "Me versus Us" argument?

Discussion of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, scenarios of how the conflict will end, the role that Switzerland and international Geneva could play, and the meaning of Swiss neutrality in a crisis conflict of this nature.

In this episode we discuss:

• What is the history of GCSP?  
• Can it play a role in this current crisis? 
• What does Swiss neutrality mean in such present circumstances?

Insights into Leadership and Kindness as paths to success in organisations. What is the emotional source code? Why is kindness in organisations both effective and important?  Why are so many successful achievers in pain? And can we really take "influencers" seriously? These are just a few of the topics we discuss.

Ambassador Yvette Stevens of Sierra Leone talks about Africa, Engineering, Women and Energy.

The leader of SWISS International Air Lines in the French-speaking part of Switzerland talks about his company, the state of business coming out of the pandemic and how he manages regulation.

Ben Hodges answers questions about strategy and the balance of power in today’s geo-political world.

Some of the points we covered during the interview:

• Four months to the day after the Taliban swept into Kabul, and in the wake of the US/Allied Forces withdrawal from Afghanistan – and as you know, some call it a humiliating defeat - how would you characterise what happened? And in light of that how reliable is the United States as the leader, militarily speaking, of the free world?
• The front cover story of The Economist this week is “What will America fight for?” How would you answer that newspaper’s question?
• Is the USA treaty-bound to defend Taiwan? How would that be done? What scenarios do military people examine?

A radio conversation with best-selling author, travel writer, chocolate-lover and Englishman in Bern.

Some of the questions we covered during the interview:

• Why is Switzerland successful?  By all logic, with all its diversity, it shouldn’t be a success story. But it is? What is your theory?
• You are a good example of “integration”.  Please tell me how you see the efforts the Swiss make toward social cohesion. Have you had good and not so good experiences?
• You live in Bern. Give me some examples of your observations of the differences – even tensions -  between town and country in this varied country. I know from my observations, having lived here even longer than you, that this is real, particularly at times of local and national votes.

François Carrard answers my questions about why the Tokyo Olympics took place in the teeth of a global pandemic; Ideals versus Money -  has Pierre de Coubertin’s vision, as founder of the Modern Olympics in 1896,  been trashed by Mammon?; and what the true meaning of sport is.

Some of the questions we covered during the interview:

• Do new sports like beach volleyball, skateboarding, “breaking” (breakdancing) and BMX bicycling have a place in the Modern Olympiad along with traditional sports like athletics, swimming, gymnastics, even fencing.
• Where will all this adaptation end. And does it really matter to the good health of young people and the wholesomeness of sport.
• A question on the Paralympics and in particular a focus on prosthetic devices (think “blade runner”). Prosthetic devices are so advanced that some amputee track athletes are achieving times that make competition with able-bodied/non-disabled athletes feasible (Oscar Pistorius from South Africa comes to mind from a few years ago), but is running on a prosthesis the same as running on two natural legs?  Indeed, does your legal and sporting mind offer any “good” arguments for allowing the inclusion of Paralympians in Olympic competition?

Current prospects for UK international trade, especially with Switzerland. Physical attacks on British Members of Parliament. Declining standards of public behaviour in Britain towards MPs. The low esteem in which the political classes are held by British voters.

An in depth view of how the airports sector has been affected by the pandemic and a view from the top of future challenges.

Here are some of the questions I put to my guest:
-What are the things that look large – very large - in your sights that need to be fixed for business to return to normal…or almost normal?
-There is much talk that the pandemic has changed many things fundamentally. That things will never be the same again. How do you see that?
-What has changed irrecovably  in your industry? Explain why it will be prohibitive to change it back to how it was?
-And how you and your colleagues around Europe will adjust to the “new reality”.

Amanda Ellis talks to me about Leadership, Sustainability, Greta Thunberg and Youth, Climate Change and many other topics.