Best Students at the Blavatnik School of Government Podcasts (2025)

1
Between Evidence and Action: Rethinking How Education Reforms Really Happen 51:29

4d ago51:29

51:29

Nikunj Agarwal is a public policy practitioner, an Oxford MPP alumna, and currently the Strategic Stakeholder Country Lead for the What Works Hub for Global Education at the British Council In this episode, he reflects on bridging the gap between evidence and policymaking, the power of listening over telling, and what it takes to make education ref…

1
Empowering Communities Through Environmental Justice 31:57

14d ago31:57

31:57

🌱Empowering Communities through Climate Justice🎙️ In this episode, we are joined by Alexandra Gallo, a policymaker specialised in environmental justice and climate resilience. From working on California's Transformative Climate Communities programme to implementing the largest environmental justice grant in US history under the Inflation Reduction …

1
Intersections: Race, Ethnicity & the Global Fight Against Gender-Based Violence 42:05

19d ago42:05

42:05

In this episode, Madison Jennings, Glória Almeida da Silva and Famin Ahmed explore how race and ethnicity shape the experience of gender-based violence around the world. Together, they discuss the legal and systemic barriers women of color face, the narratives that silence survivors, and the grassroots and policy efforts pushing for justice. Drawin…

1
Shaping the AI we want: A conversation with Gabriela Ramos 47:14

22d ago47:14

47:14

🎙️ Shaping the AI we want: A conversation with Gabriela Ramos In this episode of the Oxford Policy Pod, MPP students Melissa Muñoz (Dominican Republic) and Gloria Almeida (Brazil) sit down with Gabriela Ramos, Assistant Director-General for Social and Human Sciences at UNESCO and one of the world’s foremost voices in ethical artificial intelligence…

1
Something's Brewing with Shinnosuke and Mamiko 1:17:40

26d ago1:17:40

1:17:40

"Something’s Brewing" is a laid-back podcast hosted by MPP student Wynsey, where conversations flow freely—just like the drinks. In each episode, a member of the Blavatnik School community joins over a favorite beverage from home to share personal stories, career reflections, and the life that happens beyond policy. In this episode, Wynsey sits dow…

1
Busyness, Burnout, and Boundaries in Public Service 42:53

1M ago42:53

42:53

This episode takes a step back from policy topics to dive into a pervasive phenomenon in public service work: constant busyness and burnout. Ronan Harrington, an international speaker, expert on burnout and resilience, and MPP alumnus, joins MPP student Nate for a conversation on why burnout is so pervasive in public service careers and what we can…

1
Leading Boldly: Education, Power and Purpose with Siviwe Gwarube, Minister of Basic Education, South Africa 25:49

2M ago25:49

25:49

Siviwe Gwarube is South Africa’s Minister of Basic Education and one of the country’s youngest-ever Cabinet members. A fierce advocate for gender equity, evidence-based policymaking, and the foundational right to education, she brings a new voice and vision to the continent’s education leadership. In this episode, Minister Gwarube reflects on her f…

1
Nudging Policy: How Behavioral Science Shapes Better Decisions 54:04

3M ago54:04

54:04

Carlos Scartascini is a global leader in behavioral economics and its real-world application to public policy. As Deputy Chief Economist and head of the Behavioral Economics Group at the Inter-American Development Bank, he’s led research and projects that use behavioral science to tackle everyday policy challenges—like boosting tax compliance, impr…

1
Governing Education: Lessons from Leading National and Global Education Systems with Jaime Saavedra 42:19

3M ago42:19

42:19

Jaime Saavedra is one of the world’s most influential education reformers. Former Minister of Education in Peru and now Director of Human Development for Latin America and the Caribbean at the World Bank, he has led and advised some of the region’s most ambitious efforts to improve learning outcomes at scale. In this episode, he unpacks what it rea…

1
Something's Brewing with Nami and Kenneth 1:15:34

3M ago1:15:34

1:15:34

"Something’s Brewing" is a laid-back podcast hosted by MPP student Wynsey, where conversations flow freely—just like the drinks. In each episode, a member of the Blavatnik School community joins over a favorite beverage from home to share personal stories, career reflections, and the life that happens beyond policy. In this episode, Wynsey sits dow…

1
What can public policy learn from literature?: A conversation with Colombian novelist Juan Gabriel Vásquez 42:35

3M ago42:35

42:35

Juan Gabriel Vásquez has a central preoccupation: the past —a theme that has shaped much of his fiction. His latest novel, Los nombres de Feliza, published in January, explores the life of Colombian sculptor Feliza Bursztyn, who was politically persecuted and forced into exile during the Cold War. In this episode of Oxford Policy Pod, the acclaimed…

1
A Direct Take on Democracy’s Biggest Challenges with Cayetana Álvarez de Toledo 51:51

5M ago51:51

51:51

Cayetana Álvarez de Toledo is one of Spain’s most prominent political voices. A historian and journalist, she is a Member of the Spanish Parliament and a staunch advocate for democracy, freedom, and constitutionalism. Educated at Oxford, where she studied under Sir John H. Elliott, she transitioned from academia to journalism at El Mundo before ste…

1
Sacrifice Zones: The Price of Progress? 25:01

5M ago25:01

25:01

🎙️🌎 Sacrifice Zones: The Price of Progress? In this episode of the Oxford Policy Podcast, we sit down with legal scholar Iza Linazasoro to uncover the harsh realities of sacrifice zones—communities forced to bear the cost of industrial development at the expense of their health and environment. Featuring the Quintero Bay case in Chile, Linazasoro h…

1
The challenges of freedom of expression in times of democratic crisis with Martin Baron 36:30

5M ago36:30

36:30

Martin Baron led two of the world's most important newsrooms, those of The Boston Globe and The Washington Post. He was at the former when the newspaper exposed the network of cover-ups of pedophile Catholic priests in the Archdiocese of Boston. At the latter, he was present during the Edward Snowden leaks about the National Security Agency (NSA)'s…

1
Possible Utopia - Gendered View of Politics 36:01

6M ago36:01

36:01

Releasing Possible Utopia – the podcast where we explore the intersection of politics, gender, and leadership to imagine a better world. From navigating challenges of safety and well-being in public life to uncovering the motivations that drive them, we’ll delve into the stories behind the individuals shaping our societies. Together, we’ll tackle t…

1
Something's Brewing with Juan Pablo 47:15

6M ago47:15

47:15

"Something's Brewing" is a relaxed podcast series hosted by MPP student Wynsey. Each episode features a guest from the Blavatnik School of Government, sharing candid stories about their journey, experiences, and life beyond policy—all over a favorite drink from their home. In this episode, we hear about the life of Juan Pablo, a fellow MPP candidat…

1
From Science to Government: Leading Climate Action with Minister Maisa Rojas 53:07

6M ago53:07

53:07

🌍🎙️ How does a world-renowned climate scientist become a leading environmental policymaker? In this episode of the Oxford Policy Podcast, we sit down with Chile's Minister of the Environment, Maisa Rojas, to explore her journey from Oxford's labs to global climate negotiations. 👩‍🔬From Lead Author of IPCC's Assessment Reports researching paleoclima…

1
What are the threats to Democracy? Global Report on Democracy 40:14

6M ago40:14

40:14

What are the threats to Democracy? In this episode, Helen Orjuela and Marie Vanolli are joined by Dr. Kevin Casas-Zamora, Secretary-General of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, to discuss the global state of democracy. Together, they explore critical issues, including the erosion of freedoms like press and expressi…

1
Something's Brewing with Binka 53:56

7M ago53:56

53:56

"Something's Brewing" is a relaxed podcast series hosted by MPP student Wynsey. Each episode features a guest from the Blavatnik School of Government, sharing candid stories about their journey, experiences, and life beyond policy—all over a favorite drink from their home. In this episode, we hear about the life of Binka, a fellow MPP candidate fro…

1
The Human Side of Policy-Making with Marcos Peña and Francisco Sánchez Moreno 47:28

7M ago47:28

47:28

What does it mean to lead in the field of public policy? How do leaders navigate uncertainty and social pressures when making key decisions In this inaugural episode, we sit down with two special guests—Marcos Peña, Former Chief of Staff of Argentina (2015-2019), and Francisco Sánchez Moreno, a leadership expert with extensive experience in the pub…

1
The Mexican Judicial Overhaul: resisting democratic backsliding 30:38

10M ago30:38

30:38

Mexico is undergoing a constitutional and institutional crisis that is eroding its already fragile democracy. This is due to a recently approved constitutional reform that jeopardises checks and balances, the division of powers, the rule of law, judicial independence and democracy itself. (For more context of this reform, please read this article b…

1
John Roome on Global Development, Leadership, Climate Action, and Public Service 1:04:20

10M ago1:04:20

1:04:20

In this episode of the Oxford Policy Podcast, MPP student and Australian Rhodes Scholar Tahlia Smith sits down with John Roome, who recently retired after a distinguished 35-year career at the World Bank. A fellow Oxford alum, John reflects on how his time at Oxford and the Rhodes Scholarship shaped his path to international public service and lead…

1
Navigating Djibouti’s Future: Youth Empowerment, Diplomacy, and Development with Haibado Abdoulkader Yacin 1:11:57

11M ago1:11:57

1:11:57

In this episode of the Oxford Policy Podcast, host Nick Fabbri sits down with Haibado Abdoulkader Yacin, a Mastercard Foundation AfOx Scholar and Master of Public Policy student at Oxford’s Blavatnik School of Government. Haibado, a dedicated public servant from Djibouti, shares her incredible personal story and journey from Djibouti, in the Horn o…

1
Gargi Sharma Goel on Economic Policy, India, and her Journey at Oxford 50:02

12M ago50:02

50:02

In this episode, Nick Fabbri speaks with Gargi Sharma Goel about her life and career in New Delhi, India, her work in the Ministry of Finance and Indian Revenue Service, key economic and tax policy interests, her journey to the Master of Public Policy at Oxford, balancing parenthood with studies, and the happiest memories from her time in the UK. *…

1
Christian Meyer on Economics, Behavioural Science, and Technology as tools for Positive Impacts on Livelihoods and the Labour Market 46:36

12M ago46:36

46:36

In this episode, Oluwatamilore Oni speaks with Dr Christian Johannes Meyer, the Director of the Future of Development programme at the Oxford Martin School. Christian’s career spans research and programming focused on livelihoods and labour market interventions for vulnerable groups at the University of Oxford, the World Bank and the Center for Glo…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Students At The Blavatnik School Of Government Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

1
Oxford Policy Pod

Students at the Blavatnik School of Government, Oxford University

1
Between Evidence and Action: Rethinking How Education Reforms Really Happen 51:29

1
Empowering Communities Through Environmental Justice 31:57

1
Intersections: Race, Ethnicity & the Global Fight Against Gender-Based Violence 42:05

1
Shaping the AI we want: A conversation with Gabriela Ramos 47:14

1
Something's Brewing with Shinnosuke and Mamiko 1:17:40

1
Busyness, Burnout, and Boundaries in Public Service 42:53

1
Leading Boldly: Education, Power and Purpose with Siviwe Gwarube, Minister of Basic Education, South Africa 25:49

1
Nudging Policy: How Behavioral Science Shapes Better Decisions 54:04

1
Governing Education: Lessons from Leading National and Global Education Systems with Jaime Saavedra 42:19

1
Something's Brewing with Nami and Kenneth 1:15:34

1
What can public policy learn from literature?: A conversation with Colombian novelist Juan Gabriel Vásquez 42:35

1
A Direct Take on Democracy’s Biggest Challenges with Cayetana Álvarez de Toledo 51:51

1
Sacrifice Zones: The Price of Progress? 25:01

1
The challenges of freedom of expression in times of democratic crisis with Martin Baron 36:30

1
Possible Utopia - Gendered View of Politics 36:01

1
Something's Brewing with Juan Pablo 47:15

1
From Science to Government: Leading Climate Action with Minister Maisa Rojas 53:07

1
What are the threats to Democracy? Global Report on Democracy 40:14

1
Something's Brewing with Binka 53:56

1
The Human Side of Policy-Making with Marcos Peña and Francisco Sánchez Moreno 47:28

1
The Mexican Judicial Overhaul: resisting democratic backsliding 30:38

1
John Roome on Global Development, Leadership, Climate Action, and Public Service 1:04:20

1
Navigating Djibouti’s Future: Youth Empowerment, Diplomacy, and Development with Haibado Abdoulkader Yacin 1:11:57

1
Gargi Sharma Goel on Economic Policy, India, and her Journey at Oxford 50:02

1
Christian Meyer on Economics, Behavioural Science, and Technology as tools for Positive Impacts on Livelihoods and the Labour Market 46:36

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