The Mediator's Studio

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

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

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

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, 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…

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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/

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.…

Veteran Lebanese intelligence chief Abbas Ibrahim takes us behind the scenes of some of his most sensitive negotiations. He recalls a secret mission to a Palestinian refugee camp in the hope of diffusing tensions, and the painstaking shuttle diplomacy that eventually led to a border agreement between Lebanon and Israel. He also reveals his political aspirations, and explains why he is trusted to broker deals to free Western detainees in Syria and Iran. 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/

Climate mediator Nisreen Elsaim joins Adam Cooper to explore the intersection of activism and peacemaking. She recounts her role in the student uprisings that preceded the 2019 revolution in Sudan and reflects on how a shooting on campus changed her life. Now a self-confessed “climatolic,” she argues that climate mediation is crucial for conflict prevention, and looks ahead to a time when future generations won’t have to worry about climate change. 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/

Karim A. A. Khan KC, Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), reflects on his path leading to joining the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in 1997 and, more recently the ICC. He shares the intricacies and dilemmas faced by the ICC in grappling with the scope of international law. He articulates his vision for the future of the ICC as an institution capable of effectively contributing to global justice. 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/

Monica Juma, National Security Advisor to the President of Kenya, reflects on her extensive career in government and shares the lessons she has learned about peacemaking. She explains the challenges that the conflict in Sudan presents to mediators. She also discusses Kenya’s role in ending the Tigray crisis in Ethiopia. Additionally, she reflects on how meeting victims of the 2013 Westgate Mall attack in Nairobi affirmed the values she brings to her work. 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/

Senior Qatari diplomat Mutlaq Al-Qahtani recalls his role in the 2020 Doha Agreement between the US and the Taliban, leading to the US withdrawal from Afghanistan. He reflects on his visit to Kabul in 2021 as the Taliban closed in on the city, sharing insights into his involvement in evacuating people and narrowly avoiding a bomb blast at the Kabul airport. Al Qahtani sheds light on his motivations to address the root causes of conflict. 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/

Welcome to Season 5 of The Mediator's Studio podcast. This special season marks the 20th anniversary of the Oslo Forum in 2023 – and its importance as the place where peacemakers meet. Over seven episodes – most of them recorded at this year’s Oslo Forum retreat – we delve into deep conversations with prominent mediators on what it takes to make peace. Because we sat down in June 2023, the interviews were done before the conflict in Gaza began. While some episodes reflect events predating the war, we are sure the insights are as relevant as ever about seeking peace in the region.

Journalist Ghaith Abdul Ahad reflects on 20 years of reporting from conflict areas including Yemen and Afghanistan. Recalling the 2003 US invasion of Iraq that made him leave his former career as an architect, he reveals how he once talked his way into Saddam Hussein’s palace and what it’s like to sit across the table from people who committed atrocities. He also reflects on the challenges of mediation – arguing that people are often less concerned with ideological narratives than sheer survival and how armoured convoys and green zones can get in the way of real connection with people on the ground.

EU Special Representative for the Horn of Africa, Annette Weber, provides us with a front-row perspective on her decades-long work in the region, beginning with her time as a young researcher writing about female combatants in South Sudan and Eritrea. She reveals why she still gets goose bumps when thinking about the recent revolution in Sudan, and discusses what it’s like to sit down in the evenings with people who have been fighting each other during the day.

Former President of Mozambique Joaquim Chissano charts his journey from freedom fighter to head of state. He discusses his role in securing Mozambique’s independence from colonial rule and reveals why he did not want to become president after his predecessor’s sudden death in 1986. As a peacemaker, he reflects on how he convinced the Mozambican people to reconcile with former RENAMO fighters after the country’s civil war. He also shares why he introduced transcendental meditation to the military and what it’s like to be friends with Nelson Mandela.

Former UN Deputy Special Envoy for Syria, Khawla Mattar, charts her path from covering the Lebanese civil war as a young journalist to her long career in the multilateral system. Starting out as the “joke of the UN” - an Arab Muslim woman not expected to succeed in negotiating with extremists - she quickly proved doubters wrong by crossing into ISIL and al-Nusra territory and successfully negotiating local ceasefires. Her first-hand account of wartime Syria not only reveals the horrors and desperation of war, but also her admiration for the resilience of young Syrians and her unwavering hope for a rebuilt country.

Kenya’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN, Martin Kimani, reflects on his nation’s role as a “clear voice for Africa” on the Security Council, and stresses the importance of calling out hypocrisy and colonial nostalgia on the global stage. Taking us behind the scenes of the UN’s vote on Ukraine, he argues that Western countries should not have framed it as a matter of “East versus West”. He also discusses the challenges of nation building and explains why he would bet that African officials are some of the most advanced political engineers in the world.

Peace negotiator and former President of the Afghan Red Crescent Society, Fatima Gailani, shares behind-the-scenes moments from her long career in Afghan politics – from the 1980s, when she became a spokesperson for the Mujahideen, to 2021, when she came out of retirement to take part in negotiations with the Taliban. She recalls childhood memories of Afghanistan’s “Golden Era” and the subsequent shock of seeing a country scarred by civil war when she returned from exile many years later. Her first-hand account reveals what it is like to be a woman in the predominantly male realm of Afghan politics, and why she continues to hope for a truly inclusive peace.

Special Envoy of President Zelensky, Rustem Umerov, takes us back to the day of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, recalling nightly conversations with the presidential office and the first attempts at negotiation only days after the war had begun. Serving as one of Ukraine’s negotiators, Umerov’s first-hand account of the past months offers unique insights into the dynamics of an ongoing armed conflict. He also shares his personal motivations for going into human rights work, and for choosing to negotiate at a time when war rages at home. If you are interested in learning more about the Oslo Forum, you can find this year's report here.

Welcome back to the fourth season of The Mediator's Studio, bringing you stories from behind the scenes! The new season, recorded at the Oslo Forum 2022, brings you conversations with a freedom fighter turned president, a journalist reporting from the frontlines of conflict as well as mediators and negotiators working in a range of contexts including the Horn of Africa, Syria and Mozambique. Here's a sneak peek of what you can listen to in the next few weeks.

Director of the Policy and Mediation Division at the UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, Teresa Whitfield, takes us through the highlights and challenges of her career in conflict mediation – starting with a chance encounter at the Havana Film Festival that led her to El Salvador in the middle of a civil war. She talks about her transition from journalism to peacemaking and the evolution of mediation support, including the deployment of digital technologies in Libya. And she explains why, despite geopolitical tensions making wars increasingly difficult to resolve, the values and principles of the UN remain a beacon of hope.

Former Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel, Mohamed Ibn Chambas, offers insights from decades mediating conflicts across Africa, from Liberia to Sudan. He takes us behind the scenes of some of the most tense moments of his career – including when he found out about protestors setting the Burkina Faso parliament ablaze while in the middle of delivering an important speech. He also recalls the harrowing experience of coming under mortar fire on a naval ship in Liberia, and how this brought home the brutal reality of war and the importance of seeking peace.

Yemeni activist and international peace advocate, Muna Luqman, reflects on her efforts to reduce suffering in her country’s deadly war – from helping open humanitarian corridors across battlefields to negotiating safe passage for those at risk. Through stories from the frontlines, she illustrates the creativity and courage of local peacemakers, whether using social media to get army tanks removed from the streets or de-escalating tensions around access to water. She also recalls how women have put their lives at risk time and again, and how they have refused to be defeated in their fight for space at the negotiating table.

Former freedom fighter turned UN diplomat, Haile Menkerios, recounts his role in Eritrea’s war of independence and the devastation of being exiled from the country he had fought to create. Reflecting on how his approach as a mediator in Sudan, South Sudan and beyond was shaped by his own experience of war, he stresses the importance of talking to everyone and urges us to “never stop believing in a better future”.

Veteran Algerian diplomat and distinguished conflict mediator, Lakhdar Brahimi, provides a front-row perspective on key moments in Afghanistan’s troubled history – beginning with his appointment as UN Special Envoy in 1997, after Kabul last fell to the Taliban. He reflects on personal regrets and missed opportunities over years of peace negotiations – from Bonn to Doha – and recalls his interactions with Taliban leadership, including the meeting where a young interpreter played an unexpected part in preventing a war. He also discusses his role in Iraq and why, despite his reservations, he couldn’t say no to the task of trying to find a peaceful solution to the war in Syria.

Join us next week for a new season of The Mediator’s Studio podcast. Guests include a veteran mediator in Afghanistan and Syria, a former freedom fighter turned UN diplomat, a peacemaker with decades of experience across Africa, a Yemeni activist and frontline humanitarian, and more! New episodes from 15 February.

Former Lead Negotiator for the Government of the Philippines, Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, takes us inside the peace talks that ended half a century of insurgency in the southern Philippines. She reveals how she worked to unify the positions of the army, police and political establishment on her own side and went on to find common ground with representatives of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, an armed group that for decades had fought for more autonomy. She lays out the milestones towards peace, describing how the parties reached the point of no return “on Heartbreak Hill”, and explains why we must all be radical in the search for peace. Find out more about the Oslo Forum Peacewriter Prize: www.hdcentre.org/osloforum/peacewriter-prize We love to hear your feedback - take our 1 minute listener survey: https://0lotay3liy7.typeform.com/to/BszSNdLf

Former UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Jeffrey Feltman, reveals behind-the-scenes moments from his missions to Iran and North Korea. He also reflects on a career in the US Foreign Service, which threw him into the limelight of Lebanese politics at the time of Syria’s turbulent exit from the country, and recounts the dramatic episode when a talkative contact may have saved him from the huge car bomb that killed Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. We love to hear your feedback – take our 1 minute listener survey: https://bit.ly/3uSaLrH

Former FARC commander, Victoria Sandino, now a Senator in Colombia, and the country’s former High Commissioner for Peace, Sergio Jaramillo Caro, were once enemies, facing each other over the negotiating table. Now they come together in The Mediator’s Studio to give the inside story on how secret talks led the two sides to a lakeside retreat in Cuba, where they forged a peace agreement to end one of Latin America’s longest conflicts. They reveal how they worked together when the Colombian people narrowly rejected the deal in a referendum and talk frankly about protecting an increasingly fragile peace today.

Former Acting Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Libya, Stephanie Williams, reveals how Zoom calls and digital dialogues helped put the country on the path to elections after a decade of conflict and instability. She recalls her shock when a phone call from President Trump undermined the UN-led peace process, and explains how the latest, livestreamed round of the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum turned up the heat on Libya’s political class. We love to hear your feedback – take our 1 minute listener survey: https://bit.ly/3atoQDR.

Businessman turned local mediator, Ibrahim Saleh Hassan, recalls being caught up in intercommunal violence in his home city of Jos and explains why, in the aftermath of this traumatic experience, he chose to be part of the solution rather than seek revenge. He tells Adam how he applied the lessons of this first dialogue process to other mediation efforts across Nigeria’s Middle Belt and why he has found that a peacemaker’s work is never done.

Former EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton, reveals the inner workings of negotiations to secure a deal on Iran’s nuclear programme and looks ahead to prospects for the agreement under a Biden administration. She recalls how she put former enemies at ease in talks between Serbia and Kosovo, argues that Europe has learned the lessons of bitter division and war and explains why, despite the fact that progress is often slow, she remains optimistic about mediation and negotiation.

Special Envoy of the African Union to Sudan, Mohamed El Hacen Lebatt, recounts his mediation role in the political transition in Sudan; his arrival in Khartoum in an atmosphere of fear just ten days after the 2019 coup, his late-night talks with the military authorities and his discussions with opposition groups, particularly after a massacre that killed over one hundred civilians. He recalls shedding tears in the search for peace, and how those tears turned to elation once a deal was done.

Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Yemen, Martin Griffiths, takes us back to the origins of private diplomacy and his early efforts to bring peace to the Indonesian province of Aceh and the Basque region. He talks about the ‘tradecraft’ of starting secret talks and the art of establishing trust with conflict parties. His wealth of experience has taught him invaluable lessons, and he explains how he applies them now, in Yemen – one of the most complex conflicts of our time.

Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General to the African Union, Hanna Tetteh, charts her journey from the legal profession where she defended disadvantaged women to Ghanaian politics, where, as Foreign Minister, she introduced affirmative action into the diplomatic service. She offers robust lessons for would be mediators, describing how she told a negotiator not to lecture her on suffering and making the case for women to take a central role in the search for peace in South Sudan.

Secretary General of the Global Centre for Pluralism, Meredith Preston McGhie, reveals the backroom story of working closely with Kofi Annan to resolve Kenya’s violent political crisis in 2008, typing out the peace deal as each word was negotiated, with senior ministers circling her to glimpse the draft on her laptop. She lays bare the mediator’s craft while describing her work to resolve conflicts in Asia and Africa, admitting that while heavily pregnant she once threatened to go into labour when negotiations began to stall.