Conversation Changers

About Conversation Changers

Change begins with conversation. For over 75 years, Salzburg Global has brought together diverse voices at Schloss Leopoldskron to tackle the world’s most pressing challenges. Now, we’re opening the doors even wider. Introducing Conversation Changers — our brand new podcast where thought leaders, artists, policymakers, and change-makers from around the globe come together to reframe dialogue, explore new ideas, and imagine better futures. Join us now and be part of changing the conversation!

Publisher

Salzburg Global

Category

business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

18 Sept 2025

Latest episode

31 Jul 2026

Latest episodes

21 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   31 Jul 2026

   Georgia’s Fight for Disability Rights with Esma Gumberidze

   In this episode, we’re continuing our conversation on disability rights, but this time shifting the focus to the South Caucasus. Georgia, a post-Soviet candidate for European Union membership, finds itself navigating a critical transitional period. While European integration promises social reforms, growing democratic backsliding, authoritarian legislation, and a lingering Soviet mindset continue to leave disabled Georgians excluded from civic, economic, and daily life. Joining the conversation from Tbilisi, Salzburg Global Fellow Esma Gumberidze explores the frontlines of grassroots activism in Georgia. As a blind activist and legal scholar, Gumberidze details how structural barriers, from inaccessible court systems and public infrastructure to retaliatory fines and anti-protest measures, are actively used to disenfranchise vulnerable populations and strip disabled citizens of their political agency. From the medicalised approach to disability status to the criminalisation of civil assembly, this episode provides a candid look at the brave fight for accessibility, representation, and basic human rights at the intersection of a nation’s democratic future. Chapters 00:00 EU Ambitions, Soviet Legacies, and Georgia’s Crossroads 02:22 The Medical Model: How the State Determines Disability 05:12 Democratic Backsliding and its Impact on Disability Activism 09:14 Weaponised Stigma, Legal Aid, and Loss of Agency 11:00 Fines, Safety, and the Risks Facing Activists on the Streets 13:12 Physical and Institutional Barriers: The Fight for Accessible Courts 16:19 Why Accessibility Progress Remains Stalled in 2026 20:51 From Infantilisation to Political Agency: Changing the Narrative 22:14 Gender, Quotas, and the Invisibility of Disabled Women 25:33 Media Representation and Challenging Ableist Assumptions About The Guest: Esma Gumberidze Esma Gumberidze is a Salzburg Global Fellow, human rights defender, disability rights activist, citizen journalist, and blogger based in Tbilisi, Georgia. Holding a degree in law, Esma is at the forefront of the movement uniting accessibility campaigns with the broader struggle for democracy and human rights in the South Caucasus. Through strategic litigation, grassroots organising, and public advocacy, she works forcefully to challenge societal ableism, dismantle systemic barriers, and ensure disabled citizens, particularly disabled women, are recognised as equal actors in shaping their nation's future. Follow Esma Gumberidze below to find out more about her work with civil society initiatives in Georgia: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/esma-gumberidze-408955306/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/esma-gumberidze-408955306/) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/esma.gumberidze/ (https://www.facebook.com/esma.gumberidze/) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@esmagumberidze833 (https://www.youtube.com/@esmagumberidze833) About The Host: Eric Olander Eric Olander is a veteran journalist and media executive with over 30 years of experience reporting for world-leading organisations including CNN, France 24, and the BBC World Service. He is a Salzburg Global Fellow and the Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief of The China-Global South Project, an independent media initiative exploring global engagement with the developing world. Follow Eric Olander on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/olander/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/olander/) Find out more about Salzburg Global: https://www.salzburgglobal.org/ (https://www.salzburgglobal.org/)

2. 

   16 Jul 2026

   Being Counted: Disability Rights in India with Shameer Rishad

   What does it truly mean to be recognised by the state, and what are the perilous consequences for minority populations when they are left out of the data that shapes public policy? In this episode of Conversation Changers, host Eric Olander explores the urgent intersection of technology, data, and human rights. As big data, AI, and machine learning increasingly dictate who holds power, marginalised communities, particularly people with disabilities, face a growing risk of digital and systemic exclusion. Joining the conversation from New Delhi is Shameer Rishad, a Salzburg Global Fellow and the founder of the Javed Abidi Foundation. Rishad is leading vital initiatives to challenge societal perceptions of disability in India, advocating for a shift from a historical model of charity and sympathy to one rooted firmly in human rights and empathy. From the structural hurdles of the upcoming 2027 Indian census to the political mechanics of "vote banks," this episode offers a striking look at the battle for visibility. Rishad reveals how a lack of localised data directly translates into a denial of healthcare, education, and basic infrastructure, explaining why being counted is the first essential step toward real political representation. Chapters 00:00 Technology, Power, and the Arbiters of Data 01:42 What It Means to Be Counted by the State 02:55 The Mechanics and History of the Indian Census 07:12 The Missing Budgets and Training Manuals 09:22 Political "Vote Banks" and the Power of Collectivisation 13:09 The Compounding Consequences of Data Exclusion 17:41 Civil Society, Bureaucracy, and Public Interest Litigations 22:05 Looking Ahead to 2027: Realism vs. Optimism 24:41 Shifting the Narrative: From Sympathy to Empathy About The Guest: Shameer Rishad Shameer Rishad is a Salzburg Global Fellow and the founder of the Javed Abidi Foundation based in New Delhi, India. Inspired by the legacy of his late uncle, the pioneering disability rights activist Javed Abidi, Shameer leads grassroots and national-level initiatives dedicated to challenging societal perceptions of disability. Through advocacy, media engagement, and legal action, he works tirelessly to transition disability narratives from a framework of charity to one of human rights, ensuring that marginalised populations are accurately enumerated, politically represented, and legally protected. Follow Shameer Rishad on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shameer-rishad-7594ab1b3/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/shameer-rishad-7594ab1b3/) Find out more about https://www.linkedin.com/company/javed-abidi-foundation/ (https://www.linkedin.com/company/javed-abidi-foundation/) About The Host: Eric Olander Eric Olander is a veteran journalist and media executive with over 30 years of experience reporting for world-leading organisations including CNN, France 24, and the BBC World Service. He is a Salzburg Global Fellow and the Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief of The China-Global South Project, an independent media initiative exploring global engagement with the developing world. Follow Eric Olander on LinkedIn here: (https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.linkedin.com/in/olander/)https://www.linkedin.com/in/olander/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/olander/) Find out more about Salzburg Global: https://www.salzburgglobal.org/ (https://www.salzburgglobal.org/)

3. 

   2 Jul 2026

   The Future of US-Iran Relations with Ali Vaez

   How can the international community navigate the deeply fractured relationship between the United States and Iran amidst a backdrop of historic mistrust, regional conflicts, and shifting geopolitical alliances? In this episode of Conversation Changers, host and Salzburg Global President and CEO Martin Weiss explores the evolving landscape of US-Iran diplomacy following years of volatile engagements. While both nations face severe internal and external pressures, the path forward remains highly complex, balanced on the fragile floor of temporary agreements and regional necessities. Joining the conversation is Ali Vaez, the Director of the Iran Project at Crisis Group. A former nuclear physicist turned international relations expert, Ali provides a unique perspective on the modern history of the conflict, from his childhood during the Iran-Iraq War to his behind-the-scenes mediation work during the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action negotiations. Together, they discuss why a return to full-scale hot warfare is unlikely, yet why a comprehensive final agreement remains seemingly out of reach. From analysing the critical challenges of monitoring Iran's highly enriched uranium stockpile to examining the financial calculations of Gulf neighbours funding a proposed reconstruction channel, this episode investigates how the Middle East is navigating a highly plastic, pivotal moment. Chapters: 00:00 From Nuclear Physics to Conflict Prevention 04:05 The Rise and Fall of the 2015 Nuclear Deal 09:21 Humanitarian Channels and the Anatomy of Mistrust 13:54 The Technical Realities of Uranium Dilution 18:33 The Case for Staggered, Incremental Agreements 21:39 Rebuilding Better: The New Gulf-Iran Dynamics 29:55 Regional Spoilers and Domestic Tight Spots 35:44 Inside the Militarised State: The Trajectory of Tehran’s Leadership About the Guest: Ali Vaez Ali Vaez is the Director of the Iran Project at Crisis Group, where he leads the organisation's research and advocacy efforts concerning relations between Iran and the international community. Before joining Crisis Group in 2012, he served as a post-doctoral fellow at Harvard University and worked as a Senior Analyst at the Federation of American Scientists. He holds a PhD in Nuclear Physics and Medicine from the University of Geneva and a Master's degree in International Relations from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies SAIS. Follow Ali Vaez on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ali-vaez-8b647a12/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ali-vaez-8b647a12/) Learn more about Ali's work at Crisis Group here: https://www.crisisgroup.org/who-we-are/people/ali-vaez (https://www.google.com/search?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.crisisgroup.org%2Fwho-we-are%2Fpeople%2Fali-vaez) About the Host: Martin Weiss Martin Weiss is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Salzburg Global. Prior to this role, Martin spent more than 30 years in the Austrian diplomatic corps, serving as Austria’s ambassador to the United States, Israel, and Cyprus. During his career, he also served as the Director of the Press and Information Department at the Austrian Embassy in Washington. Find out more about Salzburg Global Seminar here: (https://www.google.com/search?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.salzburgglobal.org%2F)https://www.salzburgglobal.org (https://www.salzburgglobal.org)

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