Best Dr Robert Huish Podcasts (2024)

1
What is holding Human Development Back? The Fog of Misperception. 22:07

3M ago22:07

22:07

Political polarization and disinformation is not just out of control - it is crippling Global Development. The 2023/2024 UNDP Human Development Report makes the case with sound methods and transparent data that political polarization is creating a trench in human development. We know about the supply of political populism and disinformation. What a…

1
India's greatest strength and toughest challenge: Diversity 19:47

3M ago19:47

19:47

India is experiencing dramatic change economically and politically. As India's influence continues to grow globally, what happens at home? And what happens in regions that have highly diverse populations along religious or cultural lines? Srijana Karki has worked in, and between, diverse communities in India. She joins us on GDP to share her experi…

1
It's Gone Off the Rails: The Global Sustainability Crisis. 24:29

3M ago24:29

24:29

We're 6 years out from the Sustainable Development Goals, and it's not looking good. The COVID-19 pandemic, Russia's war against Ukraine, and now war in the Middle East have put a handbrake on the global goals. What's more, the cost of everything has gone up, and it will likely mean that hundreds of millions of people will not ascend out of poverty…

1
Meet your New Neighbours: Why Cities Need More Help for Migration and Climate Crises 25:44

4M ago25:44

25:44

Mass migration and climate change are urban crises. The lack of preparedness of cities around the world to handle climate adaptation is lagging. What's more the current and future stresses on mass migration due to climate and conflict will impact cities the most...and in particular a handful of cities in the global South. How can cities be better p…

1
Send in the Clowns: Why Vladimir Putin Fears Comedians. 30:52

4M ago30:52

30:52

"We all remember Alexander the Liberator [Alexander II] and Yaroslav the Wise [Yaroslav I]. Well, now we’ll have Vladimir the Poisoner of Underpants...and it is the duty of every person to defy him" Some of the final words from the late Russian Opposition Leader Aleksei Navalny. Navalny was a ferocious opponent to Vladimir Putin, and he was also pr…

1
Right Now, We Need You: A Story of Advocacy From a Father and Son Living with Autism 26:24

5M ago26:24

26:24

In so many parts of the world children with intellectual disabilities are excluded from education opportunities. Once they are shunned, they are stigmatized. Once stigma sets in, entire families can fall victim to various acts of hatred. It is why inclusive education for persons with physical and intellectual disabilities needs to count. The Honour…

1
Live with the Tension: Rethinking Development Politics 34:22

5M ago34:22

34:22

How many times have we pursued Global Development Projects, from agricultural technology to power grids, with the promise that it will all be okay, and then it falls short? All the time. How many times have Global Development Theories encouraged a change in discourse to rest upon idolized examples that mask over important complexities? All the time…

1
Soledad: What life is like for imprisoned asylum seekers in the United States 22:10

5M ago22:10

22:10

Soledad is a documentary by Peabody Award Winner Lisa Molomot that tells the story of a young woman from Central America who was imprisoned in the Eloy Detention Facility when she sought asylum in the United States. Soledad set out on a perilous journey from her homeland after enduring horrific persecution where she was kidnapped, sex-trafficked, t…

1
Is Development Dead? Far from it: Get Ready For A New Era of Global Development Education 33:23

5M ago33:23

33:23

There is a lot of talk amongst Global Development Studies as to whether or not the discipline itself is in decline. One of the key features of global development education was the opportunity to gain real world experience in cross-cultural settings. Dodgy past practices, climate concerns, and decolonial critique have put service learning abroad out…

1
The "Multilateralverse": What Multilateral firms do for development, and how you can join them. 31:03

5M ago31:03

31:03

Clean energy is coming to Asia. But who is going to get it there? Multilateral development agencies like the Asian Development Bank are sometimes overlooked, or not well understood as important players by development scholars. But big ideas, big projects, and big dollars are involved in taking on ambitious development work. To get a sense of how th…

1
To the bankers: Better community-based savings and financing could lead to a more peaceful planet. 29:18

6M ago29:18

29:18

2024 is turning out to be deadly for many. Expanding war in the Middle East, the war of attrition continues in Ukraine, and now gangs are trying over run Ecuador. How do we answer the question "Why is this happening"? To some degree the answer lies in understanding why young men, and they are mostly men, are willing to enter into high risk deadly c…

1
Think getting your grandparents connected to new technology is tricky? Try 3.7 billion people. Digitalization and International Development. 27:58

6M ago27:58

27:58

If you think it's a real chore getting your parents or grandparents connected to new technology? Try 3.7 billion people! That's the digital divide we're facing today on a global scale. Industry wants to see this happen, and as we've seen in the past, there are ethical concerns about getting connected too quickly. Where are governments on this in te…

1
Special Feature: Why Ukraine Is Running Low On Ammunition & Support on the Bill Kelly Podcast. 2:58

6M ago2:58

2:58

⁠CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE ON THE BILL KELLY PODCAST.⁠ Nearly two years into the war in Ukraine, is the west still paying attention, notably the United States? If funding or support from Washington wanes, will Ukraine be able to win a war of attrition against Russia? For this special issue of GDP, Dr. Bob is interviewed by legendary …

1
El miedo en el medio del mundo: Gang Violence Takes Ecuador. 29:32

6M ago29:32

29:32

Ecuador has tumbled into a state of fear and peril. In early January 2024 armed men stormed a popular evening television show in Guayaquil. It was a brazen visualization of growing gang violence across the country. Under state of emergency, Ecuador is now facing declared internal conflict. Why? In part due to the changing geography of narco-traffic…

1
So you want to work in Global Development? Here's how. 28:39

7M ago28:39

28:39

So you want a career in Global Development? You asked your professor about what to do next, and their response was underwhelming? A lot of that going around. This is why Gretchen Villegas is the person to talk to. In this interview with GDP, Gretchen shares some powerful advice on how to get involved in global development. Sharing stories of her ow…

1
Scaling Up Development: Why it is mission critical. 25:55

7M ago25:55

25:55

Today, nearly one billion people lack electricity, over three billion lack clean water, and 750 million lack basic literacy skills. Many of these challenges could be solved with existing solutions, and technology enables us to reach the last mile like never before. Yet, few solutions attain the necessary scale to match the size of these challenges.…

1
The Scarcest Resource in the Middle East is Trust: How Water Management Could be a building block towards peace. 27:42

9M ago27:42

27:42

The war between Israel and Hamas is unfolding into a humanitarian catastrophe. Water is the most precious resource for Gaza, and it is in short supply. Ground water supplies are sparse, and Israel controls inflow into Gaza. To punish Hamas, Israel temporarily turned off the taps which led to further humanitarian emergencies. Israel has mastered sca…

1
A burger with a side order of methane: The Staggering Consequences of Animal Industrial Agriculture 22:08

10M ago22:08

22:08

As smelly as they are, flatulent cattle really take their toll on the climate. Major producers of methane, cattle, and other industrialized animals in agriculture, produces detrimental levels of methane which warm the planet faster than carbon. Not only is there no end in sight to seeking alternatives to this industry, but the World Bank has approv…

1
Why Humanitarian Hurt is Being Used as a Military Tactic in Gaza. 24:12

10M ago24:12

24:12

War is raging in The Gaza Strip. As Israel prepares for a ground invasion, Hamas holds dozens of prisoners, and now with knowledge that U.S. citizens are in the mix, it all spells disaster for Gaza. The Gaza Strip, home to 2.3 million people under a heavy blockade on movement and basic resources, are now facing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis …

1
The Deep Digital Divide & Frugal Innovation 23:48

10M ago23:48

23:48

Almost 1/3 of the 8 billion people on this planet have never used the internet. Landlocked countries, conflict zones and remote islands have the highest rates of people who have never "logged on". This is a problem that goes beyond being a new face of inequality. As Anir Chowdhury says, the internet "is like oxygen"as those who have it, exist throu…

1
Striking Today & Voting Tomorrow: How Youth Activists are tackling the climate crisis. 17:16

10M ago17:16

17:16

Howard Zinn said, "People in all countries need the spirit of disobedience", and that "once they organize and protest and create movements—have a voice no government can suppress". High school students like Iman Mannathukkaren are doing exactly that. Concerned about the the world that they are going to inherit, and ready to talk to the highest offi…

1
🇰🇵"Kim Jong Gone"? Pursuing human rights and doing research in North Korea. 🇰🇵 32:53

10M ago32:53

32:53

In April 2020 rumour spread like wildfire that Kim Jong Un died. Greg Scarlatoiu and Dr. Bob Huish didn't believe it. They were right. So how did the world get this story so wrong? In this episode of GDP, Dr. Bob chats with Greg Scarlatoiu, the Executive Director of the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea (HRNK) in Washington, D.C., about the…

1
Who is trying to help? The Commitment to Global Development Index. 26:57

11M ago26:57

26:57

The Sustainable Development Goals were at the top of the agenda for the United Nations General Assembly in New York this year. How many donor countries get a failing grade when it comes to meeting the target of contributing 0.7% of their Gross National Income? A lot. But 3 countries in Europe are standing out as leaders in surpassing the 0.7% commi…

1
Development Beyond Brexit: Furthering Global Britain in East Africa. 32:31

11M ago32:31

32:31

Did the bedlam of Brexit impact the United Kingdom as a global partner and donor? Is Russia and China pushing the UK out of Africa? Are partner nations in Africa rejecting the "assistance" from former colonial powers? Looking at the changing dynamics in East Africa, Simon Rynn and Michael Jones take a deep dive into the subject with their recent po…

1
Why The Vegas Buffet, Isn't The Way: Digging into the hunger project. 27:03

11M ago27:03

27:03

It continues to baffle many as how hunger remains in a planet of 8 billion people when there is the ability and potential to feed everyone. In this conversation with Tim Prewitt, CEO of the Hunger Project, we explain why Las Vegas buffets probably won't save humanity from hunger. But local level community development projects in Uganda just might. …

1
Ponying up for the New Green Industrial Age 24:02

1+ y ago24:02

24:02

The spring meetings of the IMF and the World Bank are underway. Climate change adaptation is a top concern, and many wonder whether or not emerging economies can be part of the New Green Industrial Age. Technology, resources and political will exist. But do the finances? Will green technology remain a reserved commodity for affluent nations? Is it …

1
What we need to do to avoid the next Global Pandemic. 24:42

1+ y ago24:42

24:42

Globally, public health is pretty beat up after the pandemic. High and low income countries alike are struggling to get their own health systems back to capacity, let alone think about preparing for the next global pandemic. Yet, if pandemics teach us anything, being prepared for the next one is what really matters. As Spring meetings commence for …

1
The Foggy Crystal Ball: Global Development by 2050 23:46

1+ y ago23:46

23:46

It's hard to predict what will happen next week, let alone more than 25 years down the road. Nevertheless a new report has come out from the Centre for Global Development titled: Scenarios for Future Global Growth to 2050. In it, there are many positive calls made. Severe poverty may disappear as we currently know it and measure it. Military spendi…

1
Men Lead and Women Deliver: Global Health's Glass Ceiling. 28:29

1+ y ago28:29

28:29

During the COVID-19 pandemic women health care leaders stood out. Jurisdictions with women as elected leaders or top public health policy experts seemed to manage the challenges of the pandemic a bit better, and with a bit more public trust. Well before the pandemic, in parts of rural India communities that train Dalit women as community health wor…

1
Could feminism fend off threats to our democracies? You better believe it can. 27:39

1+ y ago27:39

27:39

Many countries around the world are growing deeply concerned about the health and well being of their democracies. China's foreign interference in elections is is a major concern at the moment for Canada, as it has been to New Zealand. But foreign governments are not necessarily the greatest to the health of democracies. In fact, one of the greates…

1
Leaning into Uncomfortable Spaces: Strategies for dealing with Permacrisis 28:35

1+ y ago28:35

28:35

"Permacrisis" was declared word of the year by Collins English Dictionary. The idea is that state of crisis lingers on despite society's best efforts to wish it weren't there. War, climate change, economic crisis, and global inequality are with us. How do we begin to understand what we're up against? Do we pursue learning in order to find solutions…

1
Ay-Ay-Ay, an episode on AI: How ChatGpt will impact teaching, learning, development work, and even podcasts. 29:09

1+ y ago29:09

29:09

We promise that this podcast write up is in fact written by a human being. But we can't say the same about this episode of GDP itself. In this episode we let ChatGpt do some of the work by scripting dialogue, and then we ask it to write an essay about climate change and climate justice. With us this week is Dr. Becca Babcock and Dr. Anders Hayden b…

1
Is it Business as Usual? Why Private Partnerships continue to be a cornerstone of Global Development. 32:37

1+ y ago32:37

32:37

If you've studied global development, you probably didn't get too far into the curriculum before learning about how private partnerships in development have led to ruin more than once. Oil companies, mining companies, water companies, chemical companies and others have all been called out on human rights abuses. Yet, the private sector remains a ma…

1
When the World Went Upside down: A Conversation with Luis Martínez-Fernández 26:58

1+ y ago26:58

26:58

Journalists, it’s often said, write the first drafts of history because they are the first recorders and commentators of current events and social realities. And the last couple of years have been a meaty first draft. A global pandemic, a rise in authoritarianism, economic chaos, war in Europe, and now Artificial Intelligence that will write essays…

1
Tell me a story: The Power & Purpose of Memoirs. 27:52

1+ y ago27:52

27:52

The power of stories in global development cannot be under-estimated. Chronicling experiences, encounters and adventures can inspire others to journey, engage and do the same. Rich stories can build relations and understanding in rich and dynamic ways. Telling stories comes with great power and responsibility. Stereotypes can be forged, speaking on…

1
The Last Line of Defence: The World Bank's Inspection Panel. 25:57

1+ y ago25:57

25:57

When a World Bank Development project gets rolling, people's lives will be impacted. Sometimes for the better? Sometimes for the worse. If you are a person living in a project impacted community, and you feel that your life will worsen, what can you do? Protest? Standby and watch? Leave your home? These are all options, but another key option is to…

1
It's like a Fellini Film: Dissent In & Exodus Out Of Cuba. 25:28

1+ y ago25:28

25:28

Frederico Fellini films are a mix of "memory, dreams, fantasy and desire" that create idiosyncratic interpretations of society. If you're have any ties to, or interests in, Cuba, it might feel like you're in a Fellini script. Cuba entered the pandemic on the front foot. Sending its own health care workers around the world to assist with COVID-19 ca…

1
Inclusive Disability Relief in Moldova: A Commitment to Action 19:38

1+ y ago19:38

19:38

Health and human needs only intensify during a conflict. Persons relying on disability-inclusive spaces and services face enormous challenges when attempting to flee their homes because of the threat of invasion or attack. Moldova continues to receive refugees from Ukraine, many of whom are in great need of disability inclusive care. But Who Cares?…

1
Learning from the Afterlife of Genocide: Chronicles of Guatemala. 24:25

2y ago24:25

24:25

The Guatemalan genocide was the systematic murder of Maya civilians during the government rule in the 1970s and 1980s. Some 200,000 lives were taken by military and paramilitary operations during this era, all the while the government denied it was occurring. Governments are notoriously lousy at hiding secrets forever, and the military dictatorship…

1
Any is too much: How the Out of the Shadows Index can be used to prevent child exploitation around. 28:55

2y ago28:55

28:55

Child exploitation. Any is too much. No government in the world would openly advocate for child exploitation. Yet, it occurs with impunity. The Out of the Shadows Index is a tool that can help get governments get on track to prevent vulnerabilities for child exploitation. Check out this episode with Rute Caldeira from Ignite Philanthropy, who is ov…

1
Minding The Renter Wealth Equity Gap. 18:07

2y ago18:07

18:07

We want affordable housing! And we want housing to be the greatest appreciating asset! How can it be both? This antipodal relationship is not only impossible to fulfill, its consequences are falling on renters. In the United States the average renter has a few thousand dollars of net wealth, while home owners boast hundreds of thousands. Michael Ba…

1
Innovate like your life depends on it...because it does. 34:21

2y ago34:21

34:21

A 17-year old student from Ukraine who may be able to put the land mine business out of business. A video game that connects players to solving pressing climate change challenges. And a robotic habitat for bees. These are 3 stories of innovations that are unfolding not just so people can thrive, but so they can thrive. In this episode of GDP, broad…

1
The Clinton Global Initiative returns to a world with more challenges than ever before. 27:29

2y ago27:29

27:29

Not since 2016 has the Clinton Global Initiative met in person to make commitments for action against pressing global challenges. Climate change, health care, inclusive economic growth, gender inequalities, even the health and well being of bees. It's all on the table. For this episode of GDP, Dr. Bob heads to New York to catch the conversations of…

1
We Say No! How a feminist development organization in Sierra Leone is turning the Development Industry on its head. 22:30

2y ago22:30

22:30

Imagine this. A Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) founded in a post-conflict country in Western Africa that offers assistance to the Global North. And what if that same NGO refuses funds from those who disagree with its feminist mandate, and yet continues to thrive? And what if this organization, Purposeful - based in Sierra Leone, is a leading e…

1
Possibility in a World Hungry for Hope: The 2022 Clinton Global Initiative. 23:16

2y ago23:16

23:16

Great ideas can be contagious. But they need networks, validation, and times mentorship. For the first time since 2016, the Clinton Global Initiative is coming back to New York alongside the United Nations General Assembly to bring together established and emerging leaders from government, business and philanthropy to tackle some of the world's mos…

1
The Slow Pandemic: Antimicrobial Resistance 22:10

2y ago22:10

22:10

Finish your prescriptions even if you feel well. Wash your hands. And get ready for a tough new era of global health: Antimicrobial resistance. Antibiotics were the greatest heroes of World War 2. Thanks to this miracle medicine the 2nd world war was the first major conflict where people died of the actual wounds, not of infection. Praise for antib…

1
Dance, Thrive and Grow: How one community development project in Uganda protects traditional knowledge. 23:49

2y ago23:49

23:49

In Uganda 1 in 5 high-school aged children attend classes. In rural areas the number plummets to only 5% for young girls. This is in a country where 55% of the population is under 18. Ronald Kibirige works with InteRoots, an organization that sees how serious this education crisis is in Uganda. Beyond getting students into classrooms, there is real…

1
When a Breadbasket Burns: The Global Food Crisis of 2022 23:30

2y ago23:30

23:30

People are paying more for food in 2022 - a lot more! And in countries where food security is frail, access to the basics is going to get harder. Price spikes are being felt around the world. In some cases leading to violence, in other cases, triggering famine warnings. Russia's war in Ukraine is fuelling the crisis first by targeting Ukraine's whe…

1
Working in Exile: How development practitioners will get the job done in the post-pandemic world. 22:05

2y ago22:05

22:05

In this season finale of GDP, James Grall joins the conversation about how development practitioners can do what they do best in a challenging post-pandemic world. Will remote working be part of the equation? Are there risks of relying remote technology in countries with heavy handed internet surveillance? Are there opportunities for development sc…

1
Hiding in Plain Sight: Why Savings and Credit are Still Essential to Crushing Poverty. 26:58

2y ago26:58

26:58

Deep poverty is increasing. Since the COVID-19 pandemic is making more people poorer - especially those who are already experiencing poverty. Some estimates suggest that COVID-19 wiped out the global gains on poverty alleviation in the three to four years before the pandemic. Knowing this? Now what? How can development practitioners begin to addres…

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