At the Coalface

Nikole Burroughs – Finding Common Ground in a Divided Capital

In this episode, I catch up with Nikole Burroughs, whose career has taken her from Capitol Hill to the State Department and USAID, and now to government affairs and lobbying in Washington. Growing up in rural Vermont, Nikole had little exposure to international affairs until a university class on the European Union opened up a new world. Her instinct to challenge injustice was already there, though: from protesting the cancellation of a school dance at age 12 to being struck by the difference in prescription drug prices across the Canadian border, which her own grandmothers struggled to afford. We talk about what it takes to turn good intentions into actual results when policy, budgets and political priorities collide. Nikole shares stories from behind the scenes of Washington, where progress often depends less on public posturing than on understanding what motivates the person across the table. She also reflects on moving between very different institutional cultures, and on learning to lead through listening and trust rather than sheer force of argument. There are plenty of surprises along the way, including why bipartisan relationships still matter, why she believes you don't have to stay in a job that makes you miserable, and the advice she gives young people trying to navigate careers alongside family life. Recorded on 5 October 2026. Connect with Nikole on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/nikole-burroughs-7b71bb51. Instagram: @at.the.coalface And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks. Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude! Support the show

Kim Wilson: Beyond Vulnerability: The Ingenuity We Overlook

In this episode, I sit down with Kim Wilson, a financial inclusion scholar and practitioner whose work has taken her from the world of business and finance to the everyday financial lives of migrants and communities often overlooked by formal institutions. Kim reflects on how her early career in finance led her towards international development, and how her experiences with microfinance challenged some of her assumptions about what helps people escape poverty. She explains why access to credit is not always the answer, and how community-based savings groups can offer a more practical, sustainable and empowering alternative. We explore the ingenious financial networks people build for themselves, from rural women's savings groups in Kenya to immigrant-run savings clubs in the United States. These arrangements reveal a side of migration that is often missed: beyond the very real vulnerabilities people face, there is resourcefulness, entrepreneurship and an extraordinary capacity to organise and support one another. Ultimately, this is a conversation about looking beyond statistics and assumptions to listen to people's stories, and discovering how much we can learn from the ways they navigate the world. Recorded on 23 September 2026. Connect with Kim on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/kim-wilson-723aa31/ and at Journeysproject.org. Her book, Backyard Bankers, Immigrants, money clubs, and the pursuit of the American dream is available for download here: https://practicalactionpublishing.com/book/3017/backyard-bankers. Instagram: @at.the.coalface And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks. Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude! Support the show

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 unexpected journey into international development helped him make sense of belonging and purpose. We explore the realities of serving overseas through moments of profound uncertainty, from the Arab Spring to COVID-19, and the leadership lessons he learned about trust, inclusion, and empowering others. Along the way, David reflects on what it means to build community, continually reinvent yourself, and remain open to new experiences long after your career path seems set. Ultimately, this is a conversation about identity, curiosity, and discovering that home is often found not in a place, but in the people who help us become who we are. Recorded on 6 August 2026. Connect with David on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/david-browne-cpa-cgfm. His music is available on YouTube. Instagram: @at.the.coalface And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks. Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude! Support the show

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 lessons he has learned about service, trust, and compassion through caring for patients, and how his faith has shaped his understanding of leadership and responsibility. Along the way, we discuss the role of healthcare in building bridges across divides, the challenge of rebuilding trust in an increasingly polarised world, and his ongoing search for ways to combine his medical background with a growing commitment to international affairs. Ultimately, this is a conversation about curiosity, empathy, and discovering that meaningful service is defined less by the title we hold than by the way we choose to care for others. Recorded on 5 August 2026. Connect with Mark on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/robert-mark-nelson. Instagram: @at.the.coalface And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks. Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude! Support the show

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 explore the rapidly changing nature of warfare, from drones and autonomous systems to counter-drone technology, missile defence, and the growing importance of industrial capacity and resilient supply chains. We also discuss what Perry sees as the three interconnected wars being fought around Ukraine: the war on the battlefield, the broader confrontation between democracy and autocracy, and the struggle to transform Ukraine itself. Finally, Perry reflects on what the past two years have taught him personally about purpose, agency, and the power of an outsider to make a difference. Ultimately, this is a conversation about how a once-contrarian idea became reality, and what it means to keep adapting when the world around you is changing faster than expected. Recorded on 13 August 2026. Connect with Perry on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/perryboyle. Instagram: @at.the.coalface And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks. Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude! Support the show

Carolina L. - Between Stimulus and Response There Is a Space

In this episode, Siri and I sit down with Carolina L., an Argentinian economist and humanitarian whose career with the United Nations took her from New York to East Timor and Iraq. Carolina reflects on the experiences that first drew her to international affairs, her fascination with diplomacy, and the sense of purpose she found working in some of the world's most challenging environments. Carolina shares her memories of helping rebuild East Timor following its independence, the relationships she formed there, and meeting her partner, Sergio Vieira de Mello. She describes their shared commitment to peacebuilding and public service, and the optimism that sustained them through complex international missions. We also talk about the 2003 bombing of the UN headquarters in Baghdad, in which Sergio and 21 of Carolina's colleagues were killed, and the long journey that followed. Carolina reflects with remarkable honesty on grief, rebuilding a life after profound loss, finding meaning through Viktor Frankl's work, and carrying Sergio's legacy forward through mentorship and service. Recorded on 12 April 2022, with new introduction recorded in July 2026. Instagram: @at.the.coalface Connect with Carolina on Instagram @carolina.larriera. Centro Sergio Vieira de Mello (sergiovieirademello.org) aims to keep Sergio's legacy alive by bringing diplomatic skills to Brazil's underprivileged youth. Please subscribe to At the Coalface wherever you get your podcasts to receive a new episode every two weeks: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during upcoming recordings. Thank you. Support the show

Tyson Johnson - From Being Dead Right to Leading Well

In this episode, I sit down with Tyson Johnson, a leader whose career has spanned intelligence, enterprise risk, cybersecurity, digital transformation, and artificial intelligence. Tyson reflects on the conversations around his family's dinner table, the influence of his World War II veteran grandfather, and the curiosity that first led him to explore how the world works. He shares how a career that began in intelligence gradually evolved into a broader quest to understand risk, organisations, and leadership. We explore the transition from being a subject matter expert to leading through collaboration, the mentors who transformed his approach, and why he believes curiosity and lifelong learning are among the most important qualities a leader can cultivate. Finally, we discuss how AI, geopolitics, and increasing global uncertainty are reshaping the way organisations make decisions, and why Tyson believes the greatest challenge ahead is not technological, but fundamentally one of leadership. Recorded on 4 August 2026. Connect with Tyson on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/tyson-johnson-ma-84b8375/. Instagram: @at.the.coalface And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks. Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude! Support the show

Mildred Pantouw - Learning Before Helping: Lessons from a Life in Development

In this episode, I sit down with Mildred Pantouw, a public health and international development leader whose career has taken her from Indonesia to the United States, Guinea, and back to Indonesia. Mildred reflects on growing up between two cultures and how navigating life between Indonesia and the United States shaped her understanding of identity, community, and service. She shares how her faith, childhood experiences, and early curiosity about the wider world led her into public health and international development. We talk about her first experiences working in Guinea, the importance of listening before acting, and why trust and relationships matter more than any programme or intervention. We also explore the changing landscape of international development, the need to adapt as traditional donor models evolve, and the role that resilience and hope have played throughout her career. At the time of publication, Mildred serves as Vice CEO of the Center for Indonesia's Strategic Development Initiatives (CISDI), where she works on strengthening primary healthcare through partnerships involving academia, government, and the private sector. Recorded on 10 July 2026. Connect with Mildred on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/mildred-pantouw-77ba454. Instagram: @at.the.coalface And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks. Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude! Support the show

Chris Salinas – To Lead, First Learn to Follow

In this episode, I sit down with Chris Salinas, a former U.S. Coast Guard officer whose career has spanned international security, maritime cooperation, and technology. Chris reflects on the experiences during his teenage years that first drew him toward a life of service, and how those early influences led him to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. He shares how working alongside partners across cultures shaped his approach to leadership, trust, and international cooperation. We talk about his years working across Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia, exploring what successful international partnerships have in common, the lessons learned from operating in complex environments, and how those experiences changed his perspective on America's role in the world. Recorded on 25 June 2026. Connect with Chris on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissalinas/. Instagram: @at.the.coalface And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks. Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude! Support the show

Laura B. - Insuring the uninsurable: helping the private sector navigate political risk

In this episode, I explore Laura’s journey into the fascinating world of political risk insurance, a space that is exploding in relevance as business leaders grapples with an ever more complex geopolitical landscape. Laura shares her insights into the way businesses navigate political risk and the leadership and organisational blindspots she’s noticed. She then distils a few principles that the most geopolitically savvy firms follow. Recorded on 27 June 2024. Instagram: @at.the.coalface Connect with Laura on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/laura-burns-b1661b18/. Laura mentions DWN Bookshelf, a book club for graduates of Fletcher School’s GMAP programme. The Instagram account lists the books the club is reading. Laura makes a reference to Zsuzsanna Szelényi’s book, Tainted Democracy. Zsuzsanna was a guest of a previous episode. And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks. Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude! Support the show

Tjark Egenhoff - Revolutions, Democracy, and the Courage to Be Yourself

In this episode, I sit down with Tjark Marten Egenhoff, a development and foreign policy leader whose life has been shaped by movement, service, and the search for belonging. Tjark reflects on growing up across countries and cultures, from revolutionary Iran to Argentina during periods of political upheaval. He shares how those early experiences, together with a strong sense of justice instilled by his family, shaped the way he sees the world. We talk about his path into politics, development, and international cooperation, and the optimism of a generation that came of age believing in European integration and a more connected world. In the latter part of the conversation, Tjark reflects on leadership, identity, and belonging. He speaks candidly about coming out later in life, navigating different cultures and institutions, and why authenticity became central to the way he leads. Recorded on 4 May 2026. Connect with Tjark on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/tjark-marten-egenhoff-42579246/. Instagram: @at.the.coalface And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks. Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude! Support the show

• Transcript

Mariana Deluera - Between Roots and Reinvention: Making Sense of a Changing World

In this episode, I sit down with Mariana Deluera, a geopolitical risk analyst whose life has been shaped by movement, adaptation, and the search for belonging. Mariana reflects on growing up across five countries as the daughter of a Mexican diplomat. She shares what it was like to become repeatedly uprooted and re-rooted, and how returning to Mexico as a teenager left her feeling both at home and like a foreigner. We talk about the influence of her mother and grandmother, two women whose very different life journeys shaped her outlook, as well as her path from immigration and asylum work into geopolitical analysis during the uncertainty of the COVID pandemic. In the latter part of the conversation, Mariana reflects on how living between cultures influences the way she thinks about geopolitical risk today, the importance of staying open to different perspectives, and why adaptability matters in a rapidly changing world. Recorded on 23 April 2026. Connect with Mariana on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/mariana-deluera-aa9626142. Instagram: @at.the.coalface And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks. Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude! Support the show

Stephen Hunnewell - Service, Narratives, and a Changing World Order

In this episode, I sit down with Stephen Hunnewell, a former national security and irregular warfare practitioner whose career has spanned Special Operations, geopolitics, technology, and strategic competition. Steve reflects on growing up in a single-parent household, the values that shaped him early on, and the impact 9/11 had on his generation. We talk about the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the limits of overwhelming military force, and the mismatch between Western assumptions and local realities on the ground. Drawing on years working alongside partners across the Middle East, Europe, and Asia, Steve reflects on how America’s role in the world has changed, the growing importance of narratives in modern conflict, and how technology and social fragmentation are reshaping competition from Ukraine to elsewhere. In the latter part of the conversation, Steve reflects on parenthood, family life, and what years focused abroad have taught him about service, community, and meaning at home. Recorded on 22 April 2026. Connect with Steve on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/hunnewellstephen/. Instagram: @at.the.coalface And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks. Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude! Support the show

Gian Jones - You Can’t Serve If You’re Bought

In this episode, I sit down with Gian Jones, a real estate investor, community builder, and congressional candidate. Gian reflects on growing up in the Rockaways in a single-parent household, taking on responsibility early as the oldest of three, and a childhood that was modest but grounded in strong family and community. He shares how he found his way into real estate, first as a way to make money, and then as a career. He also speaks about early financial success, losing much of it, and what he learned from having to start again. We talk about his early exposure to politics, and how it shaped his belief that public service requires financial independence. Finally, Gian explains why he is running for Congress, what he believes government gets wrong about ordinary people, and what he hopes to change. Recorded on 20 April 2026. Connect with Gian on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/gian-a-jones-55713216. Instagram: @at.the.coalface And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks. Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude! Support the show

Daniel Freeman - The Search for Belonging, Reinvention, and Second Chances

In this episode, I sit down with Daniel Freeman, a former U.S. Air Force intelligence officer, entrepreneur, and community builder whose life has been shaped by movement, reinvention, and the search for belonging. Daniel reflects on growing up in a military family, constantly adapting to new places while carrying a quiet sense of not fully fitting in. Over time, that same tension would shape his path through service, marriage, fatherhood, and a deeper journey of self-understanding. We talk about his 20 years in intelligence, what it revealed about how large systems really function, and why institutions so often drift away from the people they are meant to serve. Daniel also speaks candidly about leaving the military, hitting a personal low point, and the transformative role of therapy, recovery, and community in rebuilding his life. He shares how those experiences led him into entrepreneurship, where he now helps veterans build businesses with less risk while pursuing a broader mission around poverty, second chances, and access to meaningful mental health care. Recorded on 16 April 2026. Connect with Daniel on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/danieljfree/. Instagram: @at.the.coalface And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks. Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude! Support the show

Barker Keith - Between Idealism and Interests: Law, Risk, and the Real World

In this episode, I sit down with Barker Keith, whose career spans military service, law, and sovereign risk management. Barker reflects on growing up in Venezuela, and how his early, idealised view of the United States was challenged by friends who saw the world less through ideology and more through national interests. He shares formative experiences from his time in the U.S. Army, his transition into law and political risk insurance, and the complexities of structuring protection for international investments. Drawing on decades of experience, Barker offers a behind-the-scenes view of how nationalism shapes outcomes, and what it takes to navigate risk in a world driven less by rules and more by interests. Recorded on 8 April 2026. Connect with Barker on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/barker-keith-329b1b8. Instagram: @at.the.coalface And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks. Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude! Support the show

Siobhán MacDermott - Risk, Identity, and a Life Between Worlds

In this episode, I speak with Siobhán MacDermott, a cybersecurity and public policy expert whose career spans Silicon Valley, global finance, and advisory. Siobhán reflects on an itinerant childhood and how constantly being the “new kid” shaped her relationship with risk, identity, and belonging. What began as an ambition to become an ER doctor took unexpected turns, from scouting mobile tower locations to eventually working at the intersection of cyber risk, geopolitics, and financial stability. We talk about how she found her voice in high-stakes, often male-dominated environments, and the role risk-taking has played throughout her life. Siobhán also reflects on her current focus protecting children from the risks of social media, connecting her work today to her own experiences of vulnerability, parenting, and growth. TeenAegis is accessible at: https://teenaegis.com/portal/platform-danger. Siobhán mentions The Anxious Generation: https://www.anxiousgeneration.com. Recorded on 20 March 2026. Connect with Siobhán on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/siobhanmacdermott/. Instagram: @at.the.coalface And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks. Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude! Support the show

Jay Truesdale - Purpose, Diplomacy, and the Craft of Understanding Risk

In this episode, I sit down with Jay Truesdale, a geopolitical risk adviser and former U.S. diplomat and Navy Reserve officer whose career spans diplomacy, military service, and private sector leadership. Jay traces his sense of duty back to childhood, inspired by family stories of wartime service. That early call led him into diplomacy and the Navy Reserve, with formative experiences across Russia, Ukraine, and South Asia. We talk about the craft of diplomacy in the real world: building trust with local leaders, listening far from Washington, and learning how countries actually work beneath the surface. Jay also reflects on his transition to the private sector, first helping bring political risk into the traditional business risk approach, and later leading two geopolitical risk consultancies. Drawing on frontline experience, he shares the frameworks he uses to help leaders think clearly about risk in a world where the old rules are rapidly breaking down. The book Jay mentions is The Captive Mind by Czesław Miłosz, published in 1953. Recorded on 6 March 2026. Connect with Jay on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jrtruesdale/. Instagram: @at.the.coalface And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks. Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude! Support the show

Andres Boaz Munoz Mosquera - History in the Blood, Service in the Present

In this episode, I sit down with Andres Boaz Munoz Mosquera, a former Spanish military officer, NATO legal adviser, professor of international law, and spiritual caregiver, whose life has been shaped by war, democracy, and service. Andrés describes himself as “the product of three wars”: the Spanish Civil War, Spain’s colonial conflicts in North Africa, and the war in Bosnia in the 1990s. His family history carries the trauma of exile under Francisco Franco, a grandfather imprisoned in concentration camps, a father who returned to Spain through the Foreign Legion, and a childhood where politics were largely left unspoken. We talk about his decision to join the military and what it meant to be trained not just as a soldier but in constitutional law. From there, he takes us to Bosnia in 1994, where serving under the United Nations exposed him to both the limits of peacekeeping and the realities of bureaucracy in wartime. Later, working within NATO, he saw how institutions function under pressure, and why he still believes international cooperation is necessary. In the final part of the conversation, we shift to a different kind of service, Andres's call to accompany people at the end of life. The book Andres mentions is ”Seeking in the Company of Others – The Wisdom of Group Spiritual Direction”, written by Roslyn G. Weiner (https://www.bu.edu/sth/seeking-in-the-company-of-others-the-wisdom-of-group-spiritual-direction-by-dr-roslyn-g-weiner-sth0103/). Recorded on 6 February 2026. Connect with Andres on LinkedIn at Andres Boaz Munoz Mosquera | LinkedIn. Instagram: @at.the.coalface And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks. Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude! Support the show

Iman Kamel - An Inquiry into Resisting, Transforming, Being

In this episode, I sit down with Iman Kamel, an Egyptian filmmaker, writer, artist and creator, whose work explores inner resistance, transformation, and living between worlds. Living between Germany and Egypt, Ima’s path spans dance, visual art, film, and international relations. Her films blur the line between documentary and fiction, using embodied storytelling to explore fear, rebellion, and belonging. We talk at length about her book, Quantum Leaps & Lost Socks, where she brings together personal narrative, ancient wisdom, and “quantum” metaphors to explore transformation, interconnectedness, and what she calls the “holographic being.” The book reflects the same concerns that run through her films: how inner life shapes reality, and how meaning emerges through everyday experience. Ima's book: https://www.holographicbeing.com/quantum-leaps-lost-socks-book Recorded on 16 January 2026. Connect with Ima on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/iman-kamel-1a720425/. Instagram: @at.the.coalface And don’t forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks. Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude! Support the show