If I listed everything I do for the podcast, it might sound like a full-time job. I: Research topics that interest me Search for and reach out to potential guests Juggle communication and scheduling with different guests Prepare interview questions and do background research Record each interview Edit each episode Publish to podcast platforms and the website On top of that, there’s building the website, learning marketing and promotion,...
Episode Summary In this episode, we examine five moments in history that involve Swiss individuals. From maritime events to political roles and exploration, we explore how people from Switzerland engaged with global events. We discuss stories that illustrate various contributions and experiences of Swiss people beyond their home country. Expect to learn about Swiss passengers on the Titanic and the controversial and horrific sinking of the...
Episode Summary Switzerland may not have a space agency, but it plays a surprisingly important role in global space exploration. In this episode, we explore the Rosetta mission—the first spacecraft to orbit and land on a comet—and the Swiss-led instrument that made key discoveries along the way. Expect to learn how Swiss engineering helped make the mission possible, what comets can teach us about the early solar system, and why the...
The two most common questions I get asked within my inner circle are: How do you find these people? How do you get them to say yes? To be honest, the first question is probably the more interesting and insightful of the two. It can be quite a process, and I’ve approached it from a few different angles. It always starts with: “What do I find interesting right now?” Then I come up with a big, messy list of topics, the list is always...
Episode Summary At the height of Nazi power in 1942, Switzerland was surrounded—geographically and politically—by Axis-controlled countries. While the country maintained a stance of neutrality throughout World War II, that neutrality came with trade-offs, contradictions, and difficult decisions. In this episode, historian Jakob Tanner helps unpack what life was really like in Switzerland during the war. We explore the widespread fear of...
I was working for a Big 4 consulting firm and knew I wanted to do something else. I’d figured out what I wanted my next job to be and was patiently waiting for the right opportunity. I wasn’t unhappy where I was, I just had an itch that couldn’t be scratched by my current role. Eventually, I found a job that seemed like the perfect match. The description fit exactly what I was after, and the skills they were looking for lined up with...
Episode Summary Nora Markwalder, former prosecutor and professor of criminal law and criminology at the University of St. Gallen, joins me to unpack how Switzerland’s criminal justice system really works. Drawing on her deep experience across criminal procedure, white-collar crime, and criminology, Nora explains what happens from the moment a crime is investigated all the way to sentencing. Expect to learn how Switzerland’s justice system...
Looking back, my approach to interview preparation has truly evolved. A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of interviewing Jakob Tanner, a leading Swiss historian, about Switzerland during WWII. Getting the chance to sit down with someone like Jakob and ask questions about a topic I’m genuinely curious about is why I happily spend my Sundays updating the website and editing audio. For those unfamiliar, Jakob is widely considered the top...
Starting a podcast is fun, but it’s also hard. There are a bunch of decisions to make and skills to learn, and unless you have a background in radio or editing, they’ll all be new. I thought it might be helpful to share what I’ve learned, so if you’re thinking about starting your own podcast, you can get up and running faster than I did. As a general approach, I started by doing everything for free, using open-source software or...
Episode Summary Switzerland is often seen as a country of opportunity, but how easy is it to move up the economic ladder? And why do people believe inequality is rising when the data says otherwise? In this episode, Melanie Häner-Müller, economist and Head of Social Policy at the Institute for Swiss Economic Policy (IWP), explains the realities of social mobility and income inequality in Switzerland. We break down how social mobility is...
