At the Coalface

About At the Coalface

At the Coalface is a series of conversations hosted by Philippe Rose. Philippe's guests share stories about their life beyond the headlines of international affairs. They look for lessons learned about making an impact in the world as practitioners in diplomacy, international organisations, NGOs, journalism and the private sector. Many of Philippe's guests are connected by their common experience of taking time away from work to attend graduate school at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy of Tufts University.

Publisher

Philippe Rose

Category

business · education · science

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

8 Sept 2021

Latest episode

7 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

132 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   7 Oct 2026

   David Browne - Home Beyond Borders

   In this episode, I sit down with David Browne, a former USAID Foreign Service Officer whose career has taken him from Bolivia and Bangladesh to the West Bank, Uganda, and now back home to local government in North Carolina. David reflects on growing up between India and the United States, never quite fitting neatly into a single cultural identity, and how those early experiences shaped his lifelong curiosity about people, cultures, and the wider world. He shares how music, poetry, and an unex...

2. 

   23 Sept 2026

   Robert (Mark) Nelson - You Can't Be Fully Loved Until You're Fully Known

   In this episode, I sit down with Rob (Mark) Nelson, a pharmacist and lifelong student of languages, culture, and global affairs. Mark reflects on growing up in New Mexico, where a rich blend of cultures, languages, and family influences first sparked his curiosity about the wider world. He shares how formative experiences in Mexico deepened his appreciation for cultural understanding and reinforced the importance of meeting people where they are. We explore his journey into pharmacy, the less...

3. 

   9 Sept 2026

   Perry Boyle - The Three Wars in Ukraine

   In this episode, I sit down with Perry Boyle for the second time, two years after our first conversation about his efforts to build Ukraine's domestic defence industry. Much has changed since then, with Ukraine emerging as one of the world's most innovative defence ecosystems and developing technologies that other countries are increasingly looking to learn from. Perry reflects on how this transformation has changed his own perspective, and how MITS Capital has evolved alongside it. We explor...

Who has been a guest on At the Coalface

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Curtis A Smith
• Eileen Barber
• Athanasia Shinas
• Jeff Dodson

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

7 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

6 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 61 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

94

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

68

Contact At the Coalface

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

Questions about At the Coalface