I can only imagine you share my disgust and horror at what’s going on in Ukraine. It’s heart breaking. This week on Fresh Dialogues, we get an intimate look at the war, from a Ukrainian in Silicon Valley who has team members on the front lines.

Just Start! Julian Guthrie shares her Action Mindset Tips

Dec 9th, 2021

Last week I had the pleasure of interviewing Julian Guthrie about her action packed career as a journalist, best selling author and founder of Alphy, an exciting new app designed to empower and inspire women. Julian is the epitome of an action

Climate Action Mindset in Glasgow: A BBC Dialogue

Nov 16th, 2021 7m

It was hard to focus on anything else these last two weeks as the Climate Conference took place in my home city of Glasgow. Although the deal isn’t perfect, I have three reasons for hope. This week on Fresh Dialogues, I’m sharing those reasons

Finding Your Purpose, the Hard Way: A BBC Report

Aug 6th, 2021

This is a timely story about addiction, suffering, and how one tenacious woman found her purpose in life. Everyone I’ve talked to about this story has been fascinated, full of questions. That got me more and more excited about sharing it. Somet

Value Curiosity over Conviction says “Superstar Thinker” Adam Grant: A BBC Dialogue

Apr 28th, 2021 9m

Hyperbole is overused these days, but when the Financial Times calls someone a superstar, I’m apt to repeat the title, especially if the person in question is so humble that he insists his impact is “a mystery.” Adam Grant is a Wharton School P

How do we Close The Divide, Be the Light? A BBC Report

Feb 11th, 2021 11m 30s

If someone had told you on January 19th that a skinny young woman from L.A. would upstage the inauguration of our new President Joe Biden, dramatic performances by J.Lo and Lady Gaga, and even the joyful swearing-in of our first female VP, Kama

The Secret to Staying Positive in Dark Times: A BBC Report

Jan 12th, 2021 16m 23s

I hope you and yours are staying well despite the violent insurrection in Washington DC on January 6th. This week, I want to bring you some hope and optimism for the future from an unlikely source. More on that below. First, I’d like to share t

Assume Good Intent: A BBC Dialogue

Dec 18th, 2020 9m

I hope you and yours are staying well and relatively cheerful through this holiday season. Our family experienced a seismic shock last week and I’m feeling quite rattled. More on that below… This dreadful year has made me more thankful than eve

In Tough Times, Mind your Own Light: A BBC Report

Nov 5th, 2020 14m 52s

How are you? I hope you’re managing to keep your head above water these last tumultuous hours and days. This week on Fresh Dialogues, I have some reassuring wisdom and some practical tips to bring you comfort and help you keep hope alive. Like

You are powerful and your voice matters: A BBC Dialogue

Oct 16th, 2020 7m

With less than three weeks until the election, it’s a nerve wracking time here in the United States. Some call it a battle for the soul of the nation. Certainly the stakes could not be higher. This election will determine the future of the Unit

How Animals Can Help You Handle Stress, Anxiety: A BBC Report

Aug 26th, 2020 9m 49s

I’m excited to share my latest BBC report with you and introduce a remarkable woman who changed the way I see the world. When I heard my report on the BBC World Service last week, I was moved to tears. A lot has happened since I filed it in ear

Red Scare and Trump, the Masked and Unconscionable

Aug 5th, 2020

Why is Trump accusing China of hacking biotech companies, and threatening to ban TikTok? Smart policy or Red Scare tactics to distract us from his fatal response to the pandemic ? Last month, Donald Trump finally started wearing a mask and dol

How to Save America? A BBC Dialogue about Race, Police & The Truth

Jun 24th, 2020 8m 30s

Last week, as demonstrations and outrage continued across America, I received an invitation that made me very nervous: I was invited to join a live BBC World Service program to discuss the view from California. I felt ill-equipped to contribut

How to face death? A Personal BBC Report about Death

Jun 11th, 2020 11m 20s

By Alison van Diggelen, host of Fresh Dialogues “Everyone deserves dignity at the end of life,” Isabel Stenzel Byrnes, bereavement counsellor and hospice care worker. This week’s podcast is a deeply personal story of how the Covid-19 pandemic i

Will the Pandemic Stimulate a Green Recovery? A BBC Dialogue

May 8th, 2020

___ By Alison van Diggelen, host of Fresh Dialogues “Mother Nature is a very powerful educator” and her power has never been more apparent than during Covid-19.* But what have we learned from this unprecedented pandemic? Firstly: That what was

How to Help in a Time of Crisis? An Inspiring BBC Report

Apr 7th, 2020 6m 45s

___ If you’re stuck at home and thinking: what can I do to help my community? I hope today’s podcast will inspire you. Last week, my colleagues at The BBC World Service invited me to join the show Business Matters and share news from Silicon Va

Greta Thunberg, Elon Musk, Climate Action. A BBC Dialogue

Sep 25th, 2019 9m 44s

___ This week, Greta Thunberg, the Swedish teenager, stole the show at the United Nations General Assembly. Thanks to her, climate change is on the minds of the world. I was invited to discuss climate change action on the BBC World Service this

Secrets of Venture Capital: An Insider’s View of Bias, Ethics, Rule Breaking

Jun 25th, 2019

Have you ever wondered how venture capitalists in Silicon Valley decide what startups to fund and what ones to skip? I had the opportunity to sit down with one of these “masters of the universe” and explore the secrets of venture capital. Scott

College cheaters – who suffers most? A BBC Report

Apr 10th, 2019

Perhaps you weren’t shocked by the college applications scandal that recently broke in the United States? I must confess, I was deeply upset because it reveals a low tide mark in our society’s ethics today and underlines the absence of integrit

Homeless & Addicted in Silicon Valley: One Woman’s Solution

Oct 25th, 2018

Over 100 Americans die every day from opioid overdose, that’s about 40,000 a year. What can be done to reverse the recent spike in fatalities? In San Francisco, a team of public health workers is focused on treating the most vulnerable: homeles

Madonna: Why does she matter more than ever?

Aug 16th, 2018

What makes Madonna the ultimate female bad-ass role model? On the eve of Madonna’s 60th birthday, I was invited to join the BBC’s Roger Hearing in London and Bloomberg’s Enda Curran in Hong Kong to discuss the queen of pop’s controversial life

Suicide Prevention: How To Help Vulnerable People? A BBC Report

Jun 14th, 2018

With the tragic news of Anthony Bourdain and Kate Spade’s recent deaths by suicide, the spotlight is on suicide this month. The latest trends are chilling: The suicide rate in the United States has grown by over 25% since 1999, according to the

Silicon Valley Teens Tell Emma Gonzalez: We Stand With You on Gun Control

Apr 5th, 2018

This week’s report addresses gun violence in the United States. Many of us have been inspired by the fearless survivors of the Florida High School shooting on Valentine’s Day. Powerful speeches by teenagers, Emma Gonzalez and David Hogg have ch

Influential Women, Men Speak Out on Guns: Amal Clooney, Emma Gonzales, Kelly McEvers, Rick Steves

Mar 7th, 2018

Amal Clooney, Emma Gonzales, Rick Steves. These are just a few of the influential people who’re standing up to gun violence since the Florida high school massacre on February 14th. Amal Clooney addressed an audience of 6500 women at the Waterma

Is High Tea For You? Female Entrepreneurs Offer Marijuana-infused Tea

Jan 31st, 2018

This year, California became the 6th state in the U.S. to make it legal to sell marijuana for recreational use. The BBC World Service asked me to explore an all-female startup that’s hoping to become a global power house for “high tea.” Amanda