The Mediator's Studio

Pankaj Saran on the human face of nations

Pankaj Saran, former Deputy National Security Advisor of India, takes listeners inside more than four decades at the heart of Indian diplomacy. He shares lessons from negotiations that shaped India’s relationships with its neighbours, including the landmark India-Bangladesh Land Boundary Agreement and efforts to manage India-China tensions. Saran reveals what it takes to negotiate across deep political divides, highlighting the importance of finding the right partners, understanding the people behind national interests, and refusing to give up on difficult issues. He reflects on a lifetime in diplomacy and why, despite the challenges, he remains fascinated by the way nations deal with each other. We value your opinion! Please take a moment to share your feedback by participating in our 1-minute listener survey. https://0lotay3liy7.typeform.com/to/BszSNdLf

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Manal Radwan on how words shape realities

Dr Manal Radwan, Special Envoy and Advisor of the Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs for Negotiations and Peace Efforts, draws on two decades at the centre of Middle East diplomacy, from the Saudi-Iran rapprochement to the international campaign for the recognition of Palestinian statehood. She shares the behind-the-scenes work of building coalitions, navigating pressure from powerful actors, and using diplomacy to create openings in some of the region’s most entrenched conflicts. Speaking about the human cost of war, Dr Radwan describes the emotional weight of diplomacy and the responsibility to keep pursuing solutions, even when progress feels distant. We’d love to hear from you! Please take a moment to share your thoughts in our 1-minute listener survey. https://0lotay3liy7.typeform.com/to/BszSNdLf

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Roger Carstens on finding the key to the cell

Roger Carstens, former United States Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, reflects on five years negotiating the release of dozens of Americans held captive abroad. Drawing on cases involving Russia, Iran, Syria and Venezuela, he offers a rare insider's perspective on the diplomacy behind some of the world's most sensitive hostage negotiations. Carstens discusses the importance of intuition, trust and understanding who truly holds power, arguing that successful negotiations often depend on broadening the conversation beyond the immediate dispute. He also reflects on working across two US administrations, coordinating competing government agencies, and why the most meaningful measure of success is not the deal itself, but seeing hostages reunited with their families. We value your opinion! Please take a moment to share your feedback by participating in our 1-minute listener survey. https://0lotay3liy7.typeform.com/to/BszSNdLf

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Sneak Peek: The Mediator’s Studio – Season 8

Recorded at the Oslo Forum in June 2026, Season 8 of The Mediator’s Studio explores the decisions, relationships and human moments that shape modern peacemaking. Across four episodes, diplomats, negotiators and envoys reflect on the difficult choices behind some of the world’s most challenging conflicts — from hostage negotiations and regional upheaval to efforts to create new openings for diplomacy. This season features conversations with those working at the heart of global crises: from the hidden world of hostage negotiations and the search for political solutions, to four decades of statecraft and the pursuit of dialogue amid deep divisions. These stories reveal the persistence, judgement and human connections that allow peacemakers to keep searching for solutions — even when the path ahead seems impossible.

Staffan de Mistura on timing in mediation, as in life and love

Staffan de Mistura, veteran UN diplomat and currently the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Western Sahara, shares insights from a career spanning more than fifty years, twenty-one missions, and service under four UN Secretaries-General. From humanitarian beginnings to senior political roles in Lebanon, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria, de Mistura has been at the heart of some of the world’s most complex conflicts. He speaks about his enduring passion for the art of mediation—how moments that seem impossible can suddenly become entry points, why mediators must avoid preconditions that stall progress, and the crucial role of timing in both peacemaking and life. He also reflects on the personal costs of a career in conflict resolution and the lessons it offers about balance and commitment. Above all, de Mistura shows that effective mediation depends on both speed and patience, the ability to seize fleeting opportunities, and a deep understanding of human connection—even in the most dangerous and unpredictable contexts. We value your opinion! Please take a moment to share your feedback by participating in our 1-minute listener survey. https://0lotay3liy7.typeform.com/to/BszSNdLf

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Al-Ansari on making peace when dialogue fails

Recorded in November 2025, Dr Majed Mohammed Al-Ansari, advisor to the Prime Minister of Qatar and spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, shares first-hand experience from the front lines of mediating today’s most brutal and entrenched conflicts. From Gaza to the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Russia–Ukraine war, Qatar has found itself at the table in crises where dialogue can feel impossible. Dr Al-Ansari reflects candidly on what it takes to bring adversaries back into the same room, even when violence has claimed their loved ones, and why lasting peace requires confronting that pain directly. Above all, Dr Al-Ansari emphasises learning from people on the ground, reminding us that effective mediation is shaped as much by human connection as by diplomacy. We’d love to hear from you! Please take a moment to share your thoughts in our 1-minute listener survey: https://0lotay3liy7.typeform.com/to/BszSNdLf

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Uhuru Kenyatta on using coffee breaks to advance mediation

The fourth President of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta, shares his unique perspectives on mediation efforts both during his tenure as head of state and within regional peace initiatives, including in Eastern DRC and Ethiopia’s Tigray region. He highlights the challenges posed by frequent changes in mediators and the importance of collaboration to build on prior progress and address root causes. As the son of Kenya’s first president, he reflects on invaluable lessons passed down from his father and on early encounters with various heads of state during his childhood. President Kenyatta also opens up about his passion for politics while candidly discussing the 2007-2008 electoral violence that shook Kenya and his leadership, and the path forward toward lasting peace. We value your opinion! Please take a moment to share your feedback by participating in our 1-minute listener survey. https://0lotay3liy7.typeform.com/to/BszSNdLf

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Claire Hajaj on why talking to guys with guns is the only way

Born to a Palestinian father and a Jewish mother, Clare Hajaj grew up with an intimate understanding of how deeply divided narratives can shape lives—and conflicts. Now Executive Director of Inter Mediate, she works behind the scenes to support dialogue in some of the world’s most protracted crises. She explains how each negotiation builds on past failures and shares insights from working with political leaders in Afghanistan and Myanmar. Speaking about her recent work in Haiti, Hajaj explores the growing challenge of mediating in contexts where criminal violence, rather than ideology, holds sway. A novelist as well as a mediator, she draws compelling parallels between storytelling and peacemaking: both seek structure, emotional truth, and the hope of resolution. We value your opinion! Please take a moment to share your feedback by participating in our 1-minute listener survey. https://0lotay3liy7.typeform.com/to/BszSNdLf

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Nazih Elnaggary on when to step in and when to hold back

Egyptian diplomat Nazih Elnaggary shares hard-won lessons from a career bridging fault lines across the Middle East—and now between Russia and the West. He recounts brokering compromises among Syrian opposition groups in Cairo during the early years of Syria’s civil war, and mediating political tensions in Lebanon to help form a government. Now Egypt’s Ambassador to Russia, Elnaggary explains how he builds understanding amid sharply divided worldviews to keep dialogue alive. We value your opinion! Please take a moment to share your feedback by participating in our 1-minute listener survey. https://0lotay3liy7.typeform.com/to/BszSNdLf

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Kyung-wha Kang on quiet diplomacy

Former South Korean Foreign Minister Kyung-wha Kang reflects on the power of diplomacy in efforts toward peace on the Korean Peninsula. From her early days as a translator for President Kim Dae-jung to leading inter-Korean talks as Foreign Minister, she shares rare insights into moments of breakthrough—and breakdown. She recalls the emotional highs of North and South marching under one flag at the Olympics, the delicate choreography of summit diplomacy, and the deep disappointment after the collapse of US–North Korea talks. She also draws on her years working for the UN on human rights and humanitarian issues in conflict zones. We value your opinion! Please take a moment to share your feedback by participating in our 1-minute listener survey. https://0lotay3liy7.typeform.com/to/BszSNdLf

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Hans Grundberg on the one rule in mediation – no lies

UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg pulls back the curtain on high-stakes mediation efforts in Yemen. He takes us inside tense negotiations in a frosty castle near Stockholm, recounts how he juggles the competing interests of international players at the UN Security Council, and explains how he steers through mounting regional crises. Grundberg also underscores the strength of behind-the-scenes teamwork and points to real progress—like the 2022 nationwide truce, the reopening of Sanaa airport, and the release of detainees. He shares candid insights into how he stays resilient and mentally grounded amid the pressure and unpredictability of armed conflict. We’d love to hear from you! Please take a moment to share your thoughts in our 1-minute listener survey. https://0lotay3liy7.typeform.com/to/BszSNdLf

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Sneak Peek: The Mediator’s Studio – Season 7

Recorded mostly at the Oslo Forum in June 2025, Season 7 of The Mediator’s Studio offers a rare window into the inner lives of those working to defuse some of the world’s most complex and protracted conflicts. Across five compelling episodes, mediators, diplomats, and envoys reflect on the delicate craft of dialogue—from backchannel negotiations to public diplomacy. This season features conversations with a novelist-turned-mediator who works behind the scenes in crises from Myanmar and Afghanistan to gang-controlled Haiti; the UN’s envoy to Yemen revealing the emotional toll of high-stakes negotiations; and a former head of state who believes real breakthroughs can happen over coffee breaks. Listeners will also hear from South Korea’s first female Foreign Minister on inter-Korean diplomacy and an Egyptian ambassador navigating tensions from Beirut to Moscow. These stories offer an unfiltered look at the challenges, humanity, and hope at the heart of mediation.

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Jonathan Powell on angel papers and influencing the great Satan

British negotiator turned mediator Jonathan Powell reveals the ebb and flow of the world’s major peace processes. He takes us through secret negotiations that led to the Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland and the following decade of talks on its implementation. He drew on this experience to support the dialogue with ETA in Spain, as well as the negotiation between the Colombian government and the FARC to end Latin America’s longest civil war. Jonathan Powell shares insights from meeting conflict parties in their hideouts, as well as the lessons learned from advising leaders in Afghanistan and Myanmar. We value your opinion! Please take a moment to share your feedback by participating in our 1-minute listener survey. https://0lotay3liy7.typeform.com/to/BszSNdLf

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Joanne Liu on no time to cry

Former International President of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and current Chair of HD’s Board, Joanne Liu provides her humanitarian insights to better inform the practice of mediation. Inspired by an MSF doctor's book she read as a teenager, she has worked as a humanitarian paediatrician in conflict zones for 30 years. Joanne Liu recounts her negotiations for humanitarian access in Yemen, her advocacy at the UN for an emergency response to Ebola, and how she stood up to the US administration after the bombing of an MSF hospital in Afghanistan. She also shares what helps her to keep faith in humanity in the face of devastating crises. We value your opinion! Please take a moment to share your feedback by participating in our 1-minute listener survey. https://0lotay3liy7.typeform.com/to/BszSNdLf

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Molly Phee on conflict negotiations the American way

Senior US diplomat Molly Phee reflects on her mediation and negotiation experience in the last three decades. She recalls leveraging her influence to drive parties to a peace agreement in South Sudan and takes us behind the scenes of intense negotiations with the Taliban in Afghanistan from 2018 to 2020. As the current US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, she discusses her approach to addressing the aftermaths of military coups in the Sahel, supporting talks in Sudan, and using creative approaches to defuse tensions in the Great Lakes region. We value your opinion! Please take a moment to share your feedback by participating in our 1-minute listener survey. https://0lotay3liy7.typeform.com/to/BszSNdLf

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Retno Marsudi on the art of inter-state mediation

Indonesia’s Foreign Minister takes stock of her country’s peacemaking initiatives over the past decade. In this episode, recorded at the Oslo Forum in June 2024, she explains how Indonesia is trying to make a difference in thorny conflicts, from Afghanistan to the Middle East and Myanmar. As the first female foreign minister of the world’s largest Muslim country, Retno Marsudi fervently advocates for the inclusion of women in diplomacy and peace processes. She shares her experience of overcoming frustration and not giving up, especially in mediating protracted conflicts. We value your opinion! Please take a moment to share your feedback by participating in our 1-minute listener survey. https://0lotay3liy7.typeform.com/to/BszSNdLf

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Nicholas Haysom on mediators as managers

In his first-ever podcast, veteran mediator and head of the UN Mission in South Sudan Nicholas Haysom retraces three decades of peacemaking in Sudan, South Sudan, and Afghanistan. He recalls how his activism against Apartheid led him to become Nelson Mandela’s Chief Legal Adviser and launched his career in mediation. He reflects on why the time when peacemakers chose to talk to some and not to others has long passed. While drawing lessons that can be applied to current peace efforts, he explains how the internationalisation of intra-state conflicts has complicated conflict resolution processes. We value your opinion! Please take a moment to share your feedback by participating in our 1-minute listener survey. https://0lotay3liy7.typeform.com/to/BszSNdLf

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Sneak Peek: The Mediator’s Studio – Season 6

Recorded in June 2024 at the Oslo Forum, season 6 takes you behind the scenes of negotiations to end some of the most violent conflicts of our time. Over five episodes, prominent voices share their insights on their ways to engage with conflict parties. Guests in this season include state diplomats who navigate geopolitics in support of peace, a humanitarian paediatrician who stood up to the Obama administration, a government negotiator turned private mediator, and a veteran UN peacemaker who has gone through the thick and thin of major mediation processes.

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Alvaro de Soto on opportunities seized in El Salvador and missed in the Middle East

As a Peruvian diplomat with a 25-year career at the United Nations, Alvaro de Soto has dedicated fifty years of his life to diplomacy and conflict resolution across the globe. From negotiations with Hamas and the Quartet on the Middle East to shuttling between the FMLN and the El Salvador government, Alvaro de Soto shares a tour de force account that offers crucial insights into the craft of mediation. His first-hand narrative reveals lessons learned from his experiences and mentors, highlighting the significance of temperament over technique and effective ways to publicly spotlight agreements for ensuring accountability in their implementation. We value your opinion! Please take a moment to share your feedback by participating in our 1 minute listener survey. https://0lotay3liy7.typeform.com/to/BszSNdLf Find out more about the Oslo Forum’s journey over the past two decades. https://hdcentre.org/insights/the-oslo-forum-at-20-a-visual-journey-of-mediation-and-peacemaking/

Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka on women fighting for peace

South Africa’s first female deputy president, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, reflects on her journey as a member of the high-level African Union panel that facilitated the Pretoria agreement between the Ethiopian government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front. Beyond this process, she shares her experiences as the executive director of UN Women from 2013-2021, discusses her role as a female mediator, and reflects on the challenges associated with ensuring the engagement of women in peace processes in Colombia, Sudan, and South Sudan. Tracing her path as a student activist during the Apartheid era, she shares her story of finding courage and emphasises the need for perseverance to keep moving forward. We value your opinion! Please take a moment to share your feedback by participating in our 1 minute listener survey. https://0lotay3liy7.typeform.com/to/BszSNdLf Find out more about the Oslo Forum’s journey over the past two decades. https://hdcentre.org/insights/the-oslo-forum-at-20-a-visual-journey-of-mediation-and-peacemaking/