Philanthropod

About Philanthropod

Get to know the people who are making a difference in the world of international development and philanthropy. Start your journey of discovery to learn who the change-makers are, how their journey began and what inspired them to search for solutions to complex global issues that tackle the root cause of systemic poverty. You’ll hear impactful stories from organisations from around the globe and learn how, with investment and encouragement, they’re creating dynamic solutions that will enable both people and our planet to thrive and flourish. Join host Anubha Rawat for Philanthropod. With special thanks to Compact Sound for mixing and editing. Philanthropod is proudly powered by the Australian International Development Network (https://aidnetwork.org.au/). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

Publisher

Powered by the Australian International Development Network

Category

society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

19 Apr 2021

Latest episode

26 Jul 2026

Latest episodes

54 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   26 Jul 2026

   Strong Women, Strong Nation: From Listening to Lasting Change in Timor-Leste

   Dr Kirsty Sword Gusmão has been a long-time advocate for women, children, education, and dignity in Timor-Leste, giving her a front-row seat to the evolution of one of Australia’s closest neighbours. As Kirsty’s own children grew alongside Timor-Leste as a nation post-independence, she witnessed the unthinkable violence and trauma experienced by Timorese women. Kirsty resolved to travel the country asking women directly what their priorities were, listening and learning. In the first episode of Season 15, Philanthropod host Anubha Rawat sits down with Dr Kirsty Sword Gusmão, founder and Chair of Alola Foundation, founder of the Xanana Gusmão Reading Room, and former first lady of Timor-Leste. Together, Anubha and Kirsty take stock of the last quarter century of development for Timor-Leste and explore the vital role of strong women in creating a strong nation. From the opening of a reading room in Dili, the Alola Foundation was born. What began with a focus on economic empowerment – training women in business skills to make a living – soon grew to include a maternal health program, and children’s and girls’ education programs. Alola’s work sits firmly within the longer arc of rebuilding a country, not only through physical infrastructure, but by nurturing women’s confidence, children’s education, maternal health, livelihoods, leadership and dignity. Because when women are safe, educated, healthy, economically secure, and able to lead, the whole nation is stronger. Take a deeper dive into their impact via Alola’s Annual Report: https://www.alolafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Alola-AR2025-Eng-Distwebvers.pdf (https://www.alolafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Alola-AR2025-Eng-Distwebvers.pdf) Visit the Alola Foundation website here: https://www.alolafoundation.org/ (https://www.alolafoundation.org/) If you are interested in joining the upcoming AIDN Insight Tour to Timor-Leste, find out more information and register your interest here: https://aidnetwork.org.au/insight-tour-timor-leste-2026/ (https://aidnetwork.org.au/insight-tour-timor-leste-2026/) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

2. 

   7 May 2026

   The Power of Professionalising Community Health Workers

   ‘In pandemics… it’s disruptions to essential health services which can ultimately kill more people than the outbreak itself’ In this episode of Philanthropod, host Anubha Rawat speaks with CHIC CEO, Dr. Madeleine Ballard, a Rhodes Scholar and evaluation scientist. Dr. Ballard helped launch Liberia's first national professional Community Health Workers (CHWs) program and now leads the Community Health Impact Coalition (CHIC)’s mission to turn evidence-based community health into global policy. CHIC is a global coalition professionalising CHWs at scale. What began between six community health organisations has evolved into a movement activating governments, NGOs and implementers to ensure CHWs are salaried, skilled, supervised and integrated into national health systems. Anubha and Madeleine discuss the 1978 Alma-Ata Declaration that centered CHWs as the key to universal healthcare. While that vision was sidelined by the sovereign debt crisis and shifting international priorities, CHIC addresses a critical oversight: the original model relied on unsupported volunteers. CHWs were not paid, nor did they have supplies, supervision or training to properly benefit the system. By identifying specific barriers holding governments back, such as lack of start-up capital and the absence of global delivery guidelines, CHIC has stepped in to be the unified professional voice and evidence base needed to transform community health into a formal, national priority. Today, CHIC’s pro-CHW policy dashboard tracks accreditation and pay across over 100 countries. Dr. Ballard views this “scoreboard” as a catalyst to double the number of nations adopting professional policies. While the concept of a CHW isn’t new, CHIC is securing the financial and delivery frameworks necessary to empower the“backbone” of primary healthcare to reach its full potential. This episode is recommended listening for anyone interested in global health equity and how to move evidence-based ideas into national policy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

3. 

   7 Apr 2026

   Durable Bicycles For A Durable Future: World Bicycle Relief is Engineering an Ecosystem of Mobility

   For many of us, transport is a background detail: a car in the driveway or a bus at the corner. But for millions in the Majority World, the distance between home and a healthcare appointment or a child’s school is prohibitive. Without safe and affordable transport, access to essential services can become impossible. In this episode of Philanthropod, host Anubha Rawat sits down with Diana Mason, Managing Director Australia at World Bicycle Relief. Born out of the 2004 tsunami response in Asia, World Bicycle Relief has evolved from a bicycle distributor into a pioneer in rural mobility for low-income communities. For the past 22 years, World Bicycle Relief has proven how a reliable and cost-effective bicycle can unlock significant opportunities for economic empowerment, education and healthcare in communities globally. Together, Diana and Anubha track the evolution of World Bicycle Relief’s development model. They dive into the initial challenges of operating in environments where standard bicycles often lack the durability for rugged terrain, quickly becoming “bicycle-shaped objects” without spare parts or trained mechanics. In response, the team at World Bicycle Relief created the Buffalo Bicycle: a strong, purpose-built tool supported by an ecosystem of trained mechanics and access to high quality spare parts, designed to last a lifetime. With one million bicycles distributed across seven countries, World Bicycle Relief has moved beyond simple delivery to integrating mobility into school transport and healthcare systems at scale. Ultimately, this conversation reminds us that with mobility comes possibility, and that by providing a robust tool and a supporting ecosystem, more people will have the freedom and autonomy to plan their own future. Learn more about World Bicycle Relief here: worldbicyclerelief.org/ (https://worldbicyclerelief.org/) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

Reach and audience

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

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

3 ratings

Spotify

4.4 / 5

7 ratings

Contact Philanthropod

Guest appearances

Books guests

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