Oxford Policy Pod

Behind the Feed: Algorithmic Justice, Misogyny and User Rights 21.05.2026 35min

In this episode of the Oxford Policy Pod, Thenu and Jasmine speak with Chanel Contos about the growing influence of social media algorithms on young people, relationships, and public discourse. Known for her advocacy around consent education and sexual violence prevention, Chanel reflects on how digital platforms can both amplify social movements and expose users to harmful online ecosystems.The conversation explores the ways algorithms shape behaviour, reinforce social norms, and contribute to the spread of misogynistic and radicalising content online, particularly among young men. It also examines the tension between engagement-driven platform design and user wellbeing, alongside the challenges governments and tech companies face in creating safer and more accountable digital spaces.The episode further discusses Chanel’s latest campaign on algorithmic accountability, including its goals, the barriers to reform, and what gives hope for the future of online safety and digital justice.

Populism and the Billionaire Backlash | Pepper Culpepper 17.05.2026 46min

In this episode of the Oxford Policy Pod, Master of Public Policy students Felix Wu and Meredith Lehman sit down with Pepper Culpepper — Vice Dean of the Blavatnik School of Government — to discuss his new book, Billionaire Backlash: The Age of Corporate Scandal and How it Could Save Democracy.In Billionaire Backlash, Culpepper and his co-author Taeku Lee argue that scandals centered on corporate malfeasance are a unique political force which leaders can leverage to compel lasting policy change. This discussion charts a path for how their theory applies to the present moment, at a time when populism is on the rise in democracies across the world.Recorded at the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford.

Moving Europe Forward | Margrethe Vestager 11.05.2026 39min

In this episode of the Oxford Policy Pod, Master of Public Policy students Marc Naro and Cristian Iftodii sit down with Margrethe Vestager, former Executive Vice-President of the European Commission and one of Europe’s leading voices on competition and digital policy.The conversation explores some of the defining challenges of our time — from artificial intelligence and climate change to economic security and the future of the international order. Drawing on her years at the heart of European decision-making, Margrethe Vestager shares her vision for how Europe can navigate technological transformation while defending democratic values and global cooperation.Recorded at the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford.

The Future of International Law | A Discussion with Professor Philippa Webb KC 07.05.2026 48min

In a time when international law is increasingly being tested, challenged, and at times openly undermined, we speak with Professor Philippa Webb KC about the pressures facing the international legal order and the future of global governance. Drawing on her work across academia, legal practice, and international institutions, she reflects on whether the current moment represents a genuine crisis for international law, or part of a longer pattern of contestation and adaptation within the international system.The conversation explores the role of international courts in an era of selective state compliance, the tension between geopolitical realism and multilateral cooperation, and how institutions can remain effective and legitimate amid growing international instability. We also discuss technology’s impact on justice, the resilience of international institutions under strain, and her idea of “incremental creativity” — the belief that meaningful reform can still emerge from within existing legal frameworks, even during periods of profound uncertainty.

A Children-Focused Approach to Climate Policy | A Discussion with Alan Stein 03.05.2026 37min

In this episode of the Oxford Policy Pod, MPP students Amal Ali and Isabella Notarpietro speak with Professor Alan Stein, Director of the Children and Climate Initiative and Senior Research Fellow in Global Health and Public Policy at the Blavatnik School of Government. An expert in early childhood development with over 300 scientific journal publications, Alan has worked throughout his career with children and families facing adversity. He has made major contributions from both scientific and clinical perspectives to understanding the relationship between parents in adversity and their babies. This episode explores the intersections between climate change and children’s health. Starting with a discussion of the unique ways in which climate change impacts children, both globally and across different regions, it then examines approaches to policymaking that foreground their experiences and incorporate their voices. The conversation also explores the Children and Climate Initiative, a groundbreaking new research and policy development collaboration led by Alan. The Initiative aims to show how climate change negatively impacts children’s health outcomes, anticipate where these effects will be most severe in the future and work with policymakers to translate these insights into policy responses. We discuss how the Initiative is contributing to increasing attention to the health impacts of climate change, particularly for children, on the global stage.

Between Giants: How Small Caribbean States Can Respond to Global Shocks | Hon. Mark Brantley 01.05.2026 49min

In this episode of the Oxford Policy Pod, MPP Student from Saint Lucia in the Caribbean, Rahym R. Augustin-Joseph, sits with Hon. Mark Brantley, Premier of Nevis, and Leader of the Opposition in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, in the Eastern Caribbean. Premier Brantley serves as Premier of Nevis and Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly of Saint Kitts and Nevis. Brantley previously held the post of Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2015 to 2022. Before entering politics, he built a career as an attorney engaged in international litigation. In this episode, we address the known fact, which is that the Caribbean and Small States, are deleteriously affected by global shocks between world powers, not of their making, such as climate change, wars, geopolitical tensions, policy shifts, and a growing rightward trend among states that affects migration, international multilateral assistance and the rules based order that have protected their sovereignty. However, one cannot as said in the Caribbean, ‘lay down and play dead’, but instead, the Caribbean must employ a suite of policy and diplomatic measures that can insulate them from these global shocks, while using these windows to transform their societies. This episode addresses some of these measures that Premier Brantley believes can be done, while still focusing on what he has attempted to do in Nevis to transform.

A Discussion with Renato Godihno: Can Multilateralism end Global Hunger and Poverty 28.04.2026 36min

In this episode of the Oxford Policy Pod, MPP students Cristian Iftodii and Ana Luiza Barbosa speak with Renato Domith Godinho, Director of the Support Mechanism of the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty. A Brazilian diplomat with over twenty years of experience in multilateral governance, Renato has played a leading role in shaping international development cooperation, including in the reform of the UN Committee on World Food Security and the establishment of the Biofuture Platform. He now leads the Alliance's secretariat, based at FAO headquarters in Rome, coordinating the work of more than 200 members across 103 countries.The conversation explores whether multilateralism is still capable of solving the world's most persistent problems, and what it would take to move from political commitments to real outcomes for the hundreds of millions still living in hunger and extreme poverty. We discuss the design of the Alliance, the role of Brazil and the Global South in reshaping the development agenda, and the gap between what governments promise and what they deliver.Renato also reflects on the politics of hunger as a structural choice rather than an inevitability, the strengths and limits of the current multilateral architecture, and what an Alliance built around country leadership rather than donor priorities can achieve. The discussion closes with his thoughts on what the next decade of development cooperation should prioritise, and what role rising middle powers can play in shaping it.

Can International Law Deliver Justice for Ukraine? with Judge Mykola Gnatovskyy (ECHR) 13.04.2026 50min

In this episode of the Oxford Policy Pod, MPP student Marc Naro sits with Judge Mykola Gnatovskyy, Ukrainian Judge at the European Court of Human Rights.Judge Gnatovskyy was elected to the European Court of Human Rights in June 2022. He previously served as President of the Council of Europe's Committee for the Prevention of Torture, as an academic partner of the International Committee of the Red Cross, and as Associate Professor of International Law at the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv.The conversation addresses the functioning of the European Court of Human Rights and the role of a judge within it, the evolving case law on Russia's accountability following the judgment in Ukraine and the Netherlands v. Russia of July 2025, and the legal implications of Russia's expulsion from the Council of Europe in 2022. It also examines the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression established within the Council of Europe framework, the independence of international judges and the pressures they currently face, and the prospects for justice and reparation for the Ukrainian people.

Politics, Platforms and Public Engagement | A discussion with Hannah Ferguson 07.04.2026 18min

In this episode of the Oxford Policy Pod, MPP students Thenu Herath and Florence Guyomar speak with Hannah Ferguson, co-founder and CEO of Cheek Media Co, an Australian independent news commentary platform reshaping how people engage with politics and culture. Hannah is also the co-host of Big Small Talk and the bestselling author of Bite Back and Taboo. Her work spans journalism, law and media, with writing featured in outlets including The New York Times and The Guardian.The conversation explores how platforms are transforming political engagement and how Cheek Media bridges politics and pop culture to make public discourse more accessible. We explore the role of algorithms in shaping political engagement, the tension between engagement and quality, and the extent to which creators can push back against platform incentives. Hannah discusses the need for greater transparency and accountability in digital platforms, what effective regulation might look like, and her vision for the future of political media.Finally, the discussion turns to Hannah’s decision to run as an independent in the next federal election, including what it means to move from commenting on politics to participating in it.

How Knowledge Drives Economic Growth | César Hidalgo 03.04.2026 53min

In this episode of the Oxford Policy Pod, MPP students Diego Peñaranda and Iván Lozano speak with Professor César Hidalgo, a physicist, complexity scientist, and one of the leading thinkers on knowledge and development.Professor Hidalgo is a tenured professor at the Toulouse School of Economics and leads the Center for Collective Learning. He is widely recognized for co-developing the Economic Complexity Index and for his research on how knowledge shapes growth.The conversation explores his intellectual journey from physics to economics, and his central idea that development depends on expanding what societies know how to do. Drawing on his latest book, The Infinite Alphabet, Hidalgo explains how knowledge grows, spreads, and is sometimes lost, and what this means for public policy.The episode also discusses how countries can build capabilities, the role of talent and networks, and the potential impact of artificial intelligence on knowledge and decision-making.

Leading a Multilateral Development Bank in Times of Crisis | Inside EBRD with President Renaud-Basso 25.03.2026 25min

🎙️ How to Finance Development and Reconstruction in Times of Crisis?In this new episode of the Oxford Policy Pod, MPP students Marc Naro and Cristian Iftodii sat down with Odile Renaud-Basso at the EBRD headquarters. As the first woman to lead the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and a central figure in Europe’s economic response to the war in Ukraine, she brings a unique perspective at the intersection of finance, geopolitics, and reconstruction.In this episode, we explore the EBRD’s role in supporting Ukraine during wartime and preparing for long-term reconstruction, the Bank’s expansion into new regions, and how development finance adapts in times of crisis. We also discuss her vision for the EBRD’s future.A candid conversation on what it means to lead a multilateral bank in a world shaped by conflict and economic uncertainty. Many thanks to the EBRD team for hosting us.🎧 The episode is out now on YouTube and all major platforms!

A Career in Service of the Left Behind | A Discussion with Paul Collier 12.03.2026 56min

In this episode of the Oxford Policy Pod, students Marc Naro and Cristian Iftodii sit down with Paul Collier — one of the world's most influential development economists. The conversation traces his journey from studying the poorest countries on earth to asking why communities in wealthy nations are falling behind, and what policymakers can do about it.Paul Collier is Professor of Economics and Public Policy at the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford, and co-director of the International Growth Centre. He previously served as Director of the Development Research Group at the World Bank, and is the author of several landmark books including The Bottom Billion, Exodus, and most recently Left Behind, which won a 2025 Axiom Business Book Award.

The Future of Europe | A Discussion with Nicu Popescu 03.03.2026 44min

In this episode of the Oxford Policy Pod, students Marc Naro and Cristian Iftodii have a wide-ranging discussion with Nicu Popescu — one of Europe's most influential foreign policy thinkers. The conversation explores Europe's future, its place in a shifting global order, and the big strategic questions facing the continent.Nicu Popescu is a political scientist and diplomat who served as Moldova's Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration. He previously held senior roles at the European Union Institute for Security Studies and the European Council on Foreign Relations, and is the author of several widely cited works on European neighbourhood policy and conflict resolution.

Paraguay's Path to Stability and Reform with Minister Carlos Fernandez Valdovinos 🇵🇾 27.02.2026 29min

🎙️How does a small open economy build credibility, stability, and sustained growth in a volatile global environment?In this episode, Paraguay’s Minister of Economy and Finance, Carlos Fernández Valdovinos, joins Cecilia Esteche and Billy Blackett to unpack Paraguay’s reform agenda, fiscal consolidation efforts, and investment strategy. He shares insights on institutional reform, crisis resilience, and the leadership required to steer economic transformation.Recorded at the Blavatnik School of Government, University of OxfordFollow us on: ‪@OxfordPolicyPod‬

Building Southeast Asia’s Strongest Economy with Sri Mulyani 20.02.2026 38min

In this episode, Sri Mulyani Indrawati, Indonesia’s former Minister of Finance, joins Oxford Master’s students Marc Naro and Diego Peñaranda for a conversation on leadership, crisis management, and the strategy behind Indonesia’s economic rise.From navigating global financial shocks to strengthening fiscal discipline and driving long-term growth, she reflects on the hard decisions that shape a nation’s future.Recorded at the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford.

Gambling on Development with Stefan Dercon 13.02.2026 49min

On the Oxford Policy Pod, Blavatnik School of Government students Marc Naro and Meredith Lehman sit down with Stefan Dercon, Professor of Economic Policy at the University of Oxford. Dercon is also the author of Gambling on Development: Why Some Countries Win and Others Lose. Drawing on insights from his last book, Gambling on Development: Why Some Countries Win and Others Lose, the discussion explores how countries mobilise resources for growth, the political foundations of successful development strategies, the evolving role of multilateral institutions, and the challenges facing international economic cooperation in an increasingly fragmented world. Recorded at the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford.

Paul Krugman on the future of Europe and American politics 27.01.2026 38min

In this episode, Marc Naro and Cristian Iftodii host Professor Paul Krugman about the future of Europe, American politics, and China's growth. Paul Krugman is an economist and college professor. In 2008, he won the Nobel Prize for his research on international trade and economic geography. Paul was a New York Times opinion writer from 2000 to 2024 and is now active on Substack.

From Safety to Impact: India’s AI Mission as a Blueprint for the Global Majority with Abhishek Singh 25.12.2025 30min

Abhishek Singh is the CEO of the IndiaAI Mission and Additional Secretary at the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India. A veteran of the 1995 Indian Administrative Services (IAS) batch and an alumnus of IIT Kanpur and Harvard Kennedy School, he has spearheaded some of the world’s largest digital transformations, including DigiLocker, the COVID-19 vaccination platform (CoWIN), and the Bhashini language interface.In this episode, Mr Singh speaks with Avinash Kothuri about India’s unique approach to AI, contrasting it with the regulatory models of the EU and the innovation-led model of the US. He details why India is moving the global AI discourse beyond the "Safety" focus of early summits toward an agenda of "Impact", focusing on the three pillars of People, Planet, and Progress ahead of the landmark 2026 AI Impact Summit.The conversation dives into the importance of infrastructure for all and shared compute, India’s green energy advantage for data centres, and the risks of becoming solely dependent on Western models. Mr Singh also argues for a global governance framework that prioritises responsible use over restrictive development.Grounded in 30 years of experience as a problem solver in the civil service, Mr Singh offers a roadmap for how the Global Majority countries can leverage AI for social empowerment—from agriculture advisories to healthcare access—while ensuring the benefits are democratised across diverse communities.

Changing Education Through International Development Organisations with Emiliana Vegas 01.10.2025 57min

Emiliana Vegas is one of Latin America’s leading voices in education policy. Originally from Venezuela, she studied at Harvard and went on to senior roles at the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank, where—as Division Chief of Education—she managed a portfolio of over $3B a year in grants and loans. In this conversation, she reflects on what it really takes to move from evidence to systems change inside international development organisations. In this episode, Bautista Fazio discusses her new book, Let’s Change the World, and the practical lessons she draws for people working in or with multilaterals: why evidence must travel with values; how autonomy and judgment at the task-team level shape outcomes; the cultural and governance differences between the World Bank and the IDB; and what “cross-regional learning” looks like in practice. Emiliana walks through the Chile reform episode on quality assurance, the importance of co-creation with governments, and her personal “70/30 rule” for knowing when it’s time to seek a new challenge. We also reflected upon Latin America’s education journey in recent years — from the expansion of access to the enduring challenge of learning — and the opportunities that lie ahead. 

Social Protection and Climate Change: Building Resilience and Reducing Vulnerability with Jana Bischler 22.09.2025 51min

Jana Bischler is the focal point for social protection and climate change at the International Labour Organization (ILO), where she works with governments worldwide to design systems that protect people from climate shocks and support long-term resilience. From a career in development consulting to shaping global social protection policy, Jana brings both on-the-ground insight and international perspective. In this episode, Jana explains how cash transfers, pensions, health insurance, and adaptive social protection programs can break the cycle of climate-driven vulnerability, protecting children, older people, informal workers, and whole communities before, during, and after disasters. Drawing on examples from Kenya, Brazil, the Philippines, China, Côte d’Ivoire, and the United States, she shows how countries with different systems can prepare, expand coverage, and respond quickly to floods, droughts, and heatwaves. The conversation also tackles financing and governance challenges from coverage gaps and debt burdens to the role of the new loss-and-damage fund while exploring how national adaptation plans and COP negotiations can bring social protection to the centre of climate action. Jana highlights why stronger coordination between environment and social ministries is key, and how growing public demand for climate action opens a window for universal, climate-ready social protection. Grounded in global evidence and practical country cases, this episode offers a clear roadmap for building resilient, inclusive social protection systems that safeguard lives and livelihoods in an era of worsening climate change. 