If You Were In Charge – Details, episodes & analysis

Welcome back to a new season of If You Were in Charge, the leadership podcast about people, power and possibilities. This week, we sit down with Ben Cohen, co-founder of Ben & Jerry's, who has built a life creating an ice cream empire while also becoming a passionate activist fighting against military spending, which he believes is irrational and immoral, and is used to keep ordinary people poor and oppressed. We explore his journey from ice cream to activism, and his unwavering belief in the power of collective action. This episode also features Sanam’s daughter, Soleh. Together, they discuss the ongoing Epstein fallout and why it is cutting through the media noise, Marco Rubio’s imperialist speech in Munich, and Iran—along with what America is going to do next. That's this week on If You Were in Charge, the leadership podcast about people, power, and possibilities, hosted by Sanam Naraghi Anderlini, founder of ICAN and a peace strategist who has worked with women in conflict zones for over thirty years, and co-host Kavita Nandini Ramdas, senior advisor to the International Planned Parenthood Federation and former head of the Global Fund for Women. Enjoyed this episode? Follow If You Were In Charge wherever you listen and leave a rating to help more people find the show. Get in touch and stay connected: Email ICAN: info@icanpeacework.org Sign up to the ICAN newsletter: https://icanpeacework.org/2025/03/sign-up-to-icans-newsletter/ More from us: adapodcasts.com If You Were In Charge is brought to you by ICAN, the International Civil Society Action Network. An ADA Production. Original Music, Little Monster Media  Executive Producer: Pearse Lynch key topics Ben Cohen's background and activism journey The role of business in social justice Campaign against militarism and Pentagon budget Ben and Jerry's stance on Gaza and Palestine Corporate social responsibility and social mission The importance of collective action and community engagement The influence of personal values on business decisions Strategies for engaging the public on social issues The intersection of peacebuilding and business Inspiration for young activists and entrepreneurs Chapters 00:00 Health Care vs. Militarism 01:50 Public Outrage: Epstein vs. Gaza 04:44 The Role of Youth in Activism 06:44 Political Extremism and Identity 08:50 The Absurdity of Militarism 13:02 Ben Cohen: Activism and Ice Cream 14:29 The Origins of Ben and Jerry's 15:13 Childhood Aversion to Militarism 17:42 Economic Violence and Lead Poisoning 20:57 Connecting Militarism to Everyday Issues 24:59 Human Security vs. National Security 25:26 Activism and Business: A Dual Role 30:44 The Game of Business and Social Responsibility 33:45 Innovative Financing and Community Engagement 35:10 The Balance of Wealth and Fulfillment 37:12 Corporate Responsibility and Social Justice 38:21 Ben & Jerry's Social Mission and Unilever 40:41 Political Stance and Corporate Complicity 42:43 Hope Amidst Outrage and Activism 47:01 Vision for a Better World 49:39 People Power and Collective Mobilization 51:32 Cultural Connections Through Ice Cream Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to a new season of If You Were in Charge The leadership podcast about people, power & possibilities from ICAN and ADA is excited to announce a new co-host! Kavita Nandini Ramdas, senior advisor to the International Planned Parenthood Federation and former head of the Global Fund for Women, joins host Sanam Naraghi Anderlini, founder of ICAN and a peace strategist who has worked with women in conflict zones for over thirty years.  Sanam and Kavita represent voices rarely heard in podcasting. Two powerful advocates for peace and social justice, women leaders with roots in India and Iran, who have built careers as global citizens at the highest levels. Launching officially Tuesday February 24th!  Welcoming an extraordinary range of guests including… Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh on advocating for survivors of sexual violence in war Ben Cohen, peace activist & founder of ‘Ben & Jerry’s’ on his battle with the Pentagon Alex Crawford, celebrated foreign correspondent, on this moment of global uncertainty Enjoyed this episode? Follow If You Were In Charge wherever you listen and leave a rating to help more people find the show. Get in touch and stay connected: Email ICAN: info@icanpeacework.org Sign up to the ICAN newsletter: https://icanpeacework.org/2025/03/sign-up-to-icans-newsletter/ More from us: adapodcasts.com If You Were In Charge is brought to you by ICAN, the International Civil Society Action Network. An ADA Production. Original Music, Little Monster Media  Executive Producer: Pearse Lynch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Politics and poetry may seem like an odd couple. But throughout history, and across cultures, through symbolism and story telling, writers and poets have captured the spirit of their age and shared them with us through time and geography - helping us make sense of human foibles, and the events of our our own world. A leadership podcast about people, power and possibilities. In Episode 6 of If You were in Charge Sanam takes a different tack in her conversation with Christine Van Ruymbeke, The Soudavar Professor of Persian literature and culture at Cambridge University. It is said that the key to understanding Iran is through poetry, with Iranians often turning to verse to express their hopes and frustrations in everyday life. Familiarity with Persian poetry and the study of its rich, deep history in the West has suffered due to the Western world’s antagonism toward the Iranian regime. Yet these works hold profound cultural significance, particularly through Sufism and its global philosophical resonance. During an uncertain time in the world what wisdom to the poets of the past have for us about how navigate our modern world.  Sanam also speaks with her daughter, Soleh, a PhD student at Cambridge, to reflect on the conversation and the role poetry played in their family life—with a few laughs along the way. So join us to hear about the enduring cultural power of classical poets such as Rumi and Saadi, and how these centuries-old verses continue to resonate with contemporary challenges. The episode also highlights the role of women in literature, showcasing their intellectual force and strategic insight in navigating cultural and social currents. Guest.  Professor Christine van Ruymbeke Head of Middle Eastern Studies at Cambridge University Ali Reza & Mohamed Soudavar Professor of Persian Studies Enjoyed this episode? Follow If You Were In Charge wherever you listen and leave a rating to help more people find the show. Get in touch and stay connected: Email ICAN: info@icanpeacework.org Sign up to the ICAN newsletter: https://icanpeacework.org/2025/03/sign-up-to-icans-newsletter/ More from us: adapodcasts.com If You Were In Charge is brought to you by ICAN, the International Civil Society Action Network. An ADA Production. And ICAN International Civil Society Action Network You can find out more information or how to get in touch following the link to our homepage -  https://shows.acast.com/if-you-were-in-charge Original Music, Little Monster Media  Executive Producer: Pearse Lynch This is an ADA Productions Chapters 00:00 The Power of Poetry and Literature 05:00 Exploring Persian Literature 10:10 The Significance of Rumi and Saadi 20:13 Lessons from Persian Fables 30:04 Women in Persian Literature and Their Power 37:23 Reviving Literature in Education 42:12 The Importance of Humanities 45:38 Funding and Institutional Support for Literature 47:48 Hope for the Future of Literature 49:23 Connecting Poetry to Society and Governance 58:35 The Role of Literature in Understanding Human Nature ProfessorChristine van Ruymbeke Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the war on Gaza raging and violence escalating in the West Bank, few see hope for peace in the Middle East.  A leadership podcast about people, power and possibilities. But Marwa Hammad of Woman of the Sun in Palestine and Yael Braudo-Bahat of Women Wage Peace of Israel, refuse to give in to such despair, and they refuse to give up on the future. In Episode 5 of If You Were in Charge, Sanam Naraghi Anderlini takes on the toughest conflict of our times, offering a slice of hope and a glimpse into the resilience and courage of the women Peacebuilders who persist in waging peace. Stressing the urgent need to shift investment from conflict to peace, advocating for a future where women play a central role in forging a sustainable resolution. They also explore the challenges posed by funding cuts to civil society initiatives and the vital role of personal narratives in humanizing the cost of war. Despite mounting obstacles, the conversation finds hope in the tenacity of women working at the grassroots to foster understanding and drive meaningful change. At the end of the podcast Sanam is joined by her daughter to Soleh to reflect, get her views on what she made of the conversation and catch up on her news. Women of the Sun - https://womensun.org/ Women Wage Peace - https://www.womenwagepeace.org.il/en/ Enjoyed this episode? Follow If You Were In Charge wherever you listen and leave a rating to help more people find the show. Get in touch and stay connected: Email ICAN: info@icanpeacework.org Sign up to the ICAN newsletter: https://icanpeacework.org/2025/03/sign-up-to-icans-newsletter/ More from us: adapodcasts.com If You Were In Charge is brought to you by ICAN, the International Civil Society Action Network. An ADA Production. And ICAN International Civil Society Action Network Original Music, Little Monster Media  Executive Producer: Pearse Lynch This is anADA Productions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on the leadership podcast If You Were In Charge, Sanam Naraghi Anderlini is joined by two distinguished voices in global diplomacy to examine the United Nations at a critical juncture. A leadership podcast about people, power and possibilities. Richard Gowan, Director for UN and Multilateral Diplomacy at the International Crisis Group, and María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, former President of the UN General Assembly, Foreign Minister of Ecuador, and poet, delve into the mounting pressures facing the UN amid intensifying great power rivalries. Their conversation explores the urgent need for institutional reform, the vital importance of gender parity in global leadership, and the UN’s responsibility in advancing preventive diplomacy to sustain peace and security. The guests call for a renewed commitment to multilateralism, accountability in implementing resolutions, and the long-overdue appointment of a female Secretary-General. Enjoyed this episode? Follow If You Were In Charge wherever you listen and leave a rating to help more people find the show. Get in touch and stay connected: Email ICAN: info@icanpeacework.org Sign up to the ICAN newsletter: https://icanpeacework.org/2025/03/sign-up-to-icans-newsletter/ More from us: adapodcasts.com If You Were In Charge is brought to you by ICAN, the International Civil Society Action Network. An ADA Production. And ICAN International Civil Society Action Network Original Music, Little Monster Media  Executive Producer: Pearse Lynch This is an ADA Productions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What would have happened, if the US had heeded Afghan women's warnings about the Taliban, and supported their solutions before 2021? What if the international community supported  Afghan women's strategies for ending violence and building peace - then and now?  A leadership podcast about people, power and possibilities. This week on #IfYouWereInCharge, Sanam speaks with Wazhma Frogh, Afghan woman peacebuilder and lawyer specializing in international human rights law and Afghanistan, and recipient of the International Women of Courage Award.  Despite the Taliban's oppressive rule, Wazhma speaks of her vital work in educating, advocating, and offering hope to Afghan women and girls, living day to day under the Taliban's oppressive rule. Where many feel despair, Wazhma still sees resilience, courage and inspiration, and shows how much could be done, if women like her, were in charge.  As always, Sanam is joined by her daughter Soleh, a PhD student at Cambridge, to reflect on the main interview and offer a different generational perspective. Welcome to If You Were in Charge Season 2, a podcast featuring global peace strategist Sanam Naraghi Anderlini. Each week, Sanam tackles a major global challenge and hosts leading practitioners and innovators to share their work and solutions—if they were in charge with the necessary political and financial resources. Enjoyed this episode? Follow If You Were In Charge wherever you listen and leave a rating to help more people find the show. Get in touch and stay connected: Email ICAN: info@icanpeacework.org Sign up to the ICAN newsletter: https://icanpeacework.org/2025/03/sign-up-to-icans-newsletter/ More from us: adapodcasts.com If You Were In Charge is brought to you by ICAN, the International Civil Society Action Network. An ADA Production. And ICAN International Civil Society Action Network Original Music, Little Monster Media  Executive Producer: Pearse Lynch This is an ADA Productions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to If You Were in Charge Season 2, a leadership podcast about people, power and possibilities, featuring global peace strategist Sanam Naraghi Anderlini. This week, Sanam speaks with Chris Worman, Chief Global Strategy & Partnership Officer at GivingTuesday. Together, they discuss the critical role of civil society and philanthropy at a time when the sector is facing significant funding challenges. Their conversation explores the importance of generosity, civic engagement, and the impact of initiatives like GivingTuesday in fostering community resilience and a shared future. At the end of the episode, Sanam is joined by her daughter, Soleh, a PhD student at Cambridge, to discuss this week's topic and how these themes resonate with her and her friends' experiences. The podcast reframes global challenges as global solutions in these extraordinary times of turbulence. What would the world look like if those living through and working on today’s toughest crises were given the power and resources to lead real change? That’s the driving question behind the podcast, hosted by renowned peacebuilder and ICAN founder Sanam Naraghi Anderlini. Each episode features frontline doers and imaginers—activists, organizers, and peacebuilders—whose lived experience, courage, and ideas are reshaping what’s possible. Sanam explores what they’re already achieving, what they could do with greater power and support, and what gives them hope. Enjoyed this episode? Follow If You Were In Charge wherever you listen and leave a rating to help more people find the show. Get in touch and stay connected: Email ICAN: info@icanpeacework.org Sign up to the ICAN newsletter: https://icanpeacework.org/2025/03/sign-up-to-icans-newsletter/ More from us: adapodcasts.com If You Were In Charge is brought to you by ICAN, the International Civil Society Action Network. An ADA Production. And ICAN International Civil Society Action Network Original Music, Little Monster Media  Executive Producer: Pearse Lynch This is anADA Productions Chapters 00:00 The Importance of Civil Society 05:05 Chris Wurman's Journey into Philanthropy 10:14 The Role of Philanthropy in Global Development 15:20 Understanding Generosity and Civic Engagement 20:25 The Impact of Giving Tuesday on Global Generosity 25:42 The Role of Civil Society in Generosity 27:07 Reassessing Aid and Institutional Failures 29:01 Building Local Infrastructure for Giving 30:28 Challenges in International Giving 32:00 Investing in Local Development 35:05 Hope for Civil Society in a Changing World Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to If You Were in Charge Season 2, a leadership podcast about people, power and possibilities, featuring global peace strategist Sanam Naraghi Anderlini. This week, Sanam speaks with Ece Temelkuran, renowned author of How to Lose a Country: The 7 Steps from Democracy to Dictatorship, which explores the mechanisms of autocracy and the decline of democratic principles. Each week, Sanam tackles a major global challenge and hosts leading practitioners and innovators to share their work and solutions—if they were in charge with the necessary political and financial resources. To bring in the perspective of a younger generation, Sanam is joined each week by one of her twin daughters. This episode features Soleh, a PhD student at Cambridge. Enjoyed this episode? Follow If You Were In Charge wherever you listen and leave a rating to help more people find the show. Get in touch and stay connected: Email ICAN: info@icanpeacework.org Sign up to the ICAN newsletter: https://icanpeacework.org/2025/03/sign-up-to-icans-newsletter/ More from us: adapodcasts.com If You Were In Charge is brought to you by ICAN, the International Civil Society Action Network. An ADA Production. And ICAN International Civil Society Action Network Original Music, Little Monster Media  Executive Producer: Pearse Lynch This is an ADA Productions Chapters00:00 The Rise of Fascism: A Global Concern 03:07 Personal Reflections on Civic Engagement 05:56 Understanding the Steps to Fascism 08:57 The Role of Language and Political Discourse 11:51 Shamelessness in Politics: A Dangerous Trend 15:10 The Complicity of the Progressive Left 18:08 Dignity vs. Freedom: A New Political Narrative 21:09 The Importance of Historical Awareness 24:00 Reclaiming Dignity in Political Discourse 32:04 Radical Love in Politics 33:28 The Need for Honesty in Leadership 36:07 Wealth and Power Dynamics 38:28 The Impact of Inequality on Migration 40:21 Faith in Humanity as Resistance 42:58 Empathy and Human Exchange 43:52 Finding Hope in Community 45:50 The Importance of Giving 49:05 Reflections on Political Discourse 55:21 The Urgency of Political Action Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to If You Were in Charge, We are back for season 2 of your favorite leadership podcast as always featuring global peace strategist, Sanam Naraghi Anderlini. Each week Sanam takes on a major global challenge and hosts leading practitioners and innovators to share their work and their solutions - if they were in charge with the necessary political and financial resources. Episode 1 coming Tuesday March 25th! If You Were In Charge is brought to you by the Bijan Ghaisar Foundation And ICAN International Civil Society Action Network You can find out more information or how to get in touch by going to our homepage   Original Music, Little Monster Media  Executive Producer: Pearse Lynch This is an ADA ProductionsProduction Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Enjoyed this episode? Follow If You Were In Charge wherever you listen and leave a rating to help more people find the show. Get in touch and stay connected: Email ICAN: info@icanpeacework.org Sign up to the ICAN newsletter: https://icanpeacework.org/2025/03/sign-up-to-icans-newsletter/ More from us: adapodcasts.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hi, good news we are working on season 2 of 'If You Were in Charge' A leadership podcast about people, power and possibilities. But in the meantime something a little different this week. We’re partnering with Houses of the Moon Theater Company to share this special episode from their three-part podcast series “De Novo.” It’s adapted from an acclaimed documentary play of the same name. It tells the true story of Edgar Chocoy, a Guatemalan teenager who faces deportation after fleeing to the U.S. In 2002, fourteen-year-old Edgar Chocoy Guzman fled his barrio in Guatemala City, when MS-13, the largest gang in Central America, put a hit on his life. He traveled over 3,000 miles to be reunited with his mother, who had left him when he was a baby to go work in the United States. Detained by Homeland Security, Edgar, whose nickname was Lil’ Silent because of his timid demeanor, spoke clearly and loudly about his fear of being deported: “I’m afraid to go back. They’ll kill me.” A pro bono immigration lawyer helped Edgar argue his asylum case in front of a federal judge and the facts of Edgar’s case are reconstructed by actors working with verbatim text from immigration court transcripts, interviews, letters, and other documents from this real-life asylum case. So enjoy episode one of the three-part “De Novo” series from Houses on the Moon podcast. www.housesonthemoon.org Enjoyed this episode? Follow If You Were In Charge wherever you listen and leave a rating to help more people find the show. Get in touch and stay connected: Email ICAN: info@icanpeacework.org Sign up to the ICAN newsletter: https://icanpeacework.org/2025/03/sign-up-to-icans-newsletter/ More from us: adapodcasts.com If You Were In Charge is brought to you by ICAN, the International Civil Society Action Network. An ADA Production. And ICAN International Civil Society Action Network You can find out more information or how to get in touch following the link to our homepage -  https://shows.acast.com/if-you-were-in-charge Original Music, Little Monster Media  Executive Producer: Pearse Lynch This is an ADA Productions Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices