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Social Steps

Social Steps

By Luiz Guilherme N de Mello

A series of conversations (in English and Spanish) with professionals around the world who are making positive change in society: the professional experiences; their academic research; and the challenges they face. A new journey every month.
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Una serie de conversaciones (en inglés y español) con profesionales de todo el mundo que están logrando un cambio positivo en la sociedad: las experiencias profesionales; su investigación académica; y los desafíos que enfrentan. Una nueva conversación cada mes.
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Diálogos con el Cuerpo Docente, Claudio J. Lutzky (Universidad de Buenos Aires) - Social Steps #10

Social StepsApr 19, 2022

00:00
44:55
Profesionales de Impacto Social, Ex Diplomático en Asia y Subjefe de Misión de la Embajada de Mexico en China, Social Steps #13

Profesionales de Impacto Social, Ex Diplomático en Asia y Subjefe de Misión de la Embajada de Mexico en China, Social Steps #13

¿Cómo es el día a día de un diplomático? ¿Cómo es trabajar en países con culturas totalmente diferentes de sus orígenes? ¿Y los bastidores de las negociaciones internacionales entre países?

Hoy la conversación es con Cuauhtémoc Villamar, un ex diplomático mexicano e investigador de los estudios asiáticos que durante décadas trabajó en países como China, Singapur, Tailandia y Canadá.

En el diálogo hablamos sobre sus experiencias culturales en países tan diferentes a México, la carrera de la diplomacia, las relaciones entre la política internacional y la historia (especialmente con los Galeones de Manila, ruta comercial de España que unía América Latina y Asia entre los siglos XVI y XIX) y cómo fue haber trabajado como diplomático de México a China en dos momentos diferentes en este país: en la década de 1980 y en la década de 2010, cuando trabajó como subjefe de la misión diplomática mexicana en China.

Explicación: los Galeones de Manila eran barcos comerciales españoles que cruzaban el Océano Pacífico entre los siglos XVI y XIX, una o dos veces al año, navegando entre Manila en Filipinas y Acapulco en México, entonces Virreinato de la Nueva España.

Anfitriones:

Invitado:

  • Cuauhtémoc Villamar, ex diplomático y economista. Ph.D en Historia por la National University of Singapore

Sítio web de Cuauhtémoc: lanaova.blogspot.com

Para comentarios y sugerencias, puede enviarme una mensaje a luizguilhermenm.socialsteps@gmail.com

Creado y desarrollado por: Luiz Guilherme Natalio de Mello y Danilo Gomes Campos

Sep 15, 202201:02:27
Profesionales de Impacto Social, Consultor en Gobernanza del Riesgo de Desastres Urbanos en Alemania - Social Steps #12

Profesionales de Impacto Social, Consultor en Gobernanza del Riesgo de Desastres Urbanos en Alemania - Social Steps #12

La planificación de ciudades más resilientes es un desafío para cualquier administración pública en todo el mundo. ¿Y sabías que existe una carrera totalmente enfocada a esta área?

Vicente es un chileno que después de graduarse en diseño se fue a estudiar y trabajar en Europa como consultor e investigador en gobernanza del riesgo de desastres urbanos. Actualmente trabaja en el Disaster Research Unit de Freie Universität Berlin en Alemanía y tiene experiencia en la Comisión Europea y otros organismos internacionales, habiendo dado ya consultoría en varios países del mundo.

En este episodio, Vicente habla sobre la rutina de trabajo en esta área, cómo los factores culturales están directamente relacionados con la resiliencia de las ciudades, las conexiones entre la sociología, el análisis de datos y la gestión de riesgos, así como orientaciones de carrera para las personas interesadas en estudiar y trabajar en ese campo.

Anfitrión:

Invitado:

  • Vicente Sandoval, consultor e investigador. PhD in Development Planning at the Bartlett Development Planning Unit (DPU), University College London

Recomendaciones de Vicente Sandoval:

  • Libro - At Risk: Natural Hazards, People's Vulnerability and Disasters de Ben Wisner, Piers M. Blaikie, Terry Cannon e Ian Davis
  • Libro - Why Vulnerability Still Matters The Politics of Disaster Risk Creation de Dorothea Hilhorst y Greg Bankoff
  • Libros de Allan Lavell y Manuel Castells
  • Site – Red de Estudios Sociales en Prevención de desastres en América Latina

Para comentarios y sugerencias, puede enviarme una mensaje a luizguilhermenm.socialsteps@gmail.com

Creado y desarrollado por: Luiz Guilherme Natalio de Mello - https://luizguilhermenmello.com/

Aug 04, 202258:04
Social Impact Professionals, Yaacob Ibrahim, Former Minister for Environment and Water Resources of Singapore - Social Steps #Special Episode

Social Impact Professionals, Yaacob Ibrahim, Former Minister for Environment and Water Resources of Singapore - Social Steps #Special Episode

What does a minister for the environment do day to day? How does Singapore protect the environment? And the challenges to work with environmental and climate topics at the highest level of the government?

In this special episode to celebrate the first birthday of the Social Steps Podcast, Yaacob Ibrahim shares his story of commitment to public service in Singapore and remarkable experiences at the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources (current Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment).

He talks about his involvement in climate change conferences (2007 Bali, Copenhagen 2009, and Cancun 2011), the intersections of sustainability and technology, the importance of public transportation to a healthier environment, and other crucial aspects of what cities can do to ensure the well-being of their residents.

Yaacob started his career as a Member of Parliament in Singapore, and held several positions at the highest levels of the Government of Singapore. Apart from his work at the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources. He also served as a Minister in the Ministries of Community Development and Sports (2002 – 2004) and Communications and Information (2011 – 2018).

It's rare to get to speak with someone who has been so close to the highest levels of environmental and climate politics. So, I hope you enjoy this episode.

Hosts:

Guest:

  • Yaacob Ibrahim, civil engineer and former politician. PhD in Civil Engineering from Stanford University

Yaacob's recommendations:

  • Life on Earth: A Natural History by David Attenborough
  • Cosmos by Carl Sagan

For suggestions, comments, and feedback you can email me at luizguilhermenm.socialsteps@gmail.com 

Created and developed by: Luiz Guilherme Natalio de Mello and Lucian Tan

Jul 12, 202201:07:32
Women in STEM, Environmental Scientist and Researcher in the United States - Social Steps #11

Women in STEM, Environmental Scientist and Researcher in the United States - Social Steps #11

What's it like to work as an environmental scientist and researcher? Why do we need more women in this field?

I'm highly honored to start a new category called 'Women in STEM'. The main goal is to inspire and empower women to get into science, technology, engineering and math.

I'll speak with women who are pursuing STEM degrees or working in the field and discuss their stories, experiences, challenges they face, goals they have, study and career advice.

To kick off this category, I catch up with the environmental scientist and researcher Matilda Odera. After getting a scholarship, she moved from Kenya to the US to study and set up a successful career in the environmental sector.

Matilda talks about how she managed to go to the US, her challenges as an international student, research experiences in graduate school, funding opportunities for prospective graduate students, the importance of networking and why we need more women in environmental science.

Host:

Guest:

  • Matilda Odera, environmental scientist and researcher. Master of Science in Natural Resources with a concentration in Policy and Administration from North Carolina State University

Organization mentioned by Matilda for scholarships and funding:

  • Zawadi Africa

Matilda's recommendations:

  • Avatar by James Cameron
  • Okja by Bong Joon-ho
  • Storms by Linda Hogan
  • Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Giasi
  • An Enemy of the People by Arthur Miller
  • A Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold
  • Toxic Communities by Dorceta Taylor
  • Spring by Rachel Carson
  • The Big Conservation Lie by Mordecai Ogada and John Mbaria

For suggestions, comments, and feedback you can email me at luizguilhermenm.socialsteps@gmail.com 

Created and developed by: Luiz Guilherme Natalio de Mello - https://luizguilhermenmello.com/

Jun 21, 202253:07
Profesionales de Impacto Social, Javier Naranjo, ex-ministro de Medio Ambiente de Chile - Social Steps #Episodio Especial
May 19, 202238:31
Diálogos con el Cuerpo Docente, Claudio J. Lutzky (Universidad de Buenos Aires) - Social Steps #10

Diálogos con el Cuerpo Docente, Claudio J. Lutzky (Universidad de Buenos Aires) - Social Steps #10

¿Sabías que existe un área del derecho enfocado en la lucha contra el cambio climático y que puedes trabajar incluso internacionalmente en este campo? En ese episodio, hablé con el profesor Claudio Lutzky de la Universidad de Buenos Aires, director del Programa de Derecho del Cambio Climático en la misma institución y abogado con una profunda experiencia en proyectos de mitigación del cambio climático y el mercado de carbono.

En nuestra conversación, hablamos sobre la trayectoria inspiradora del profesor Claudio Lutzky, sus investigaciones y trabajos, consejos de estudio y carrera y otros puntos interesantes sobre el tema climático.

Anfitrión:

Invitado:

  • Profesor Claudio J. Lutzky, abogado y consultor en clima. Director del Programa de Derecho del Cambio Climático, UBA

E-mail de contacto: clutzky@derecho.uba.ar

Recomendaciones del profesor Claudio Lutzky:

  • Programa de actualización en Cambio Climático y Transición Ecológica, Universidad de Buenos Aires del profesor Claudio J. Lutzky
  • Storms of My Grandchildren: The Truth about the Coming Climate Catastrophe and Our Last Chance to Save Humanity de James Hansen
  • La Sociedad Abierta y sus Enemigos de Karl Popper
  • Así Habló Zaratustra de Friedrich Nietzsche
  • Libros de Shakespeare

Para comentarios y sugerencias, puede enviarme una mensaje a luizguilhermenm.socialsteps@gmail.com

Creado y desarrollado por: Luiz Guilherme Natalio de Mello - https://luizguilhermenmello.com/

Apr 19, 202244:55
Diálogos con el Cuerpo Docente, María Paulina Castro (Universidad de Chile) - Social Steps #09
Mar 24, 202249:35
Social Impact Professionals, Anesthesiologist in Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) - Social Steps #08

Social Impact Professionals, Anesthesiologist in Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) - Social Steps #08

To start the second season of Social Steps Podcast in the most inspiring way possible, I speak with the brilliant Portuguese anesthesiologist Marta Rodrigues about her fascinating experiences in Afghanistan and Cameroon with Doctors Without Borders, a.k.a. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), and how to get into this NGO.

In many places, MSF is the only organization that provides medical assistance to people affected by disasters, conflict, extreme poverty, and more.

Host:

Guest:

  • Marta Rodrigues, anesthesiologist in Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (Afghanistan and Cameroon)

Marta's recommendations:

  • For Sama by Waad Al-Kateab and Edward Watts
  • Beasts of No Nation by Cary Fukunaga
  • The Shadow of the Sun (Heban) written by Ryszard Kapuściński

For suggestions, comments, and feedback you can email me at luizguilhermenm.socialsteps@gmail.com

Created and developed by: Luiz Guilherme Natalio de Mello - https://luizguilhermenmello.com/

Feb 15, 202201:21:44
Social Impact Professionals, Climate Activist and Environmental Writer/Journalist in Thailand - Social Steps #07

Social Impact Professionals, Climate Activist and Environmental Writer/Journalist in Thailand - Social Steps #07

In this episode, I talk to Nanticha (Lynn) Ocharoenchai. She is currently working as an environmental writer/journalist and climate activist in Thailand. Lynn holds a bachelor's degree in Communication Management from Chulalongkorn University and founded the Climate Strike Thailand. Her work aims to spread sustainable awareness through journalism, film, and activism.

We speak about her experience in organizing climate movements and working as an environmental writer/journalist in Thailand. I hope you find this episode insightful for understanding our current climate moment - what is at stake and what we can do about it.

Host:

Guest:

Lynn's recommendations:

Books:

  • Good News by David Suzuki and Holly Dresdel
  • Life on Earth by David Attenborough
  • The Island of Knowledge - Marcelo Gleiser
  • Ecological Design - Sim Van der Ryn
  • Heretics - Will Storr

Film/Documentaries:

  • Simon Reeve
  • Wannasingh Prasertkul (Thai docummentary producer)
  • The Surgeon's Cut
  • Vox (YouTube channel)
  • Planet Earth

For suggestions, comments, and feedback you can email me at luizguilhermenm.socialsteps@gmail.com

Created and developed by: Luiz Guilherme Natalio de Mello - https://luizguilhermenmello.com/

Dec 15, 202131:32
Dialogues with the Faculty, Alessandro Morosin (DePauw University) - Social Steps #06

Dialogues with the Faculty, Alessandro Morosin (DePauw University) - Social Steps #06

Environmental Sociology and Latin American studies are fascinating fields for those willing to investigate the intersection of environmental degradation and other social issues in one of the world's most unequal regions. This interview with my guest, Professor Alessandro Morosin, inaugurates a new category in this Social Steps Podcast. I call this category "Dialogues with the Faculty".

At the beginning of his career, professor Alessandro taught English as a Second Language in Los Angeles public schools, especially for adult migrants from Latin America. The curiosity in understanding what drives Hispanic people to migrate to the United States encouraged Alessandro to investigate this topic in graduate school, beginning what would become an involvement in Environmental Sociology and Latin American studies. After completing his Ph.D. at the University of California-Riverside, Professor Morosin taught one year at the University of San Diego (in California), and currently he teaches at DePauw University in Indiana. He is also a political activist and a member of Alarma, a latin alternative music band that advocates for social and environmental causes.

It is a pleasure to bring his unique perspective on how Environmental Sociology, Latin American studies, and music can help uplift humanity and address social problems.

Host:

Guest:

  • Professor Alessandro Morosin, Visiting Assistant Professor of Sociology at DePauw University, and PhD in Sociology from the University of California, Riverside

Professor Morosin's work:

Scholarship:

  • Morosin, Alessandro (2020). Comunalidad, Guendaliza'a and anti-mine mobilizations in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. Journal of Political Ecology, 27(1), 917-938
  • Morosin, Alessandro (Forthcoming 2022). Paramilitaries in Oaxaca, Mexico: Enforcing Accumulation in a Geo-Strategic Region. In Jasmin Hristov, Jeb Sprague-Silgado and Aaron Tauss eds., Paramilitary Groups and the State under Globalization: Political Violence, Elites, and Security. Routledge: London
  • Morosin, Alessandro (Forthcoming 2022) Neglect, Dispossession, and Pacification: Three Mechanisms of Inequality Faced By Oaxaca’s Earthquake Survivors (Latin American Perspectives, special issue on Mexico)

Music:

Activism:

Professor Alessandro's recommendations:

  • Latin American Perspectives (scholarly journal and podcast)
  • Ya no estoy aquí by Fernando Frías de la Parra
  • También la Lluvia by Icíar Bollaín
  • The Three Deaths of Marisela Escobedo by Carlos Peréz Osorio

For suggestions, comments, and feedback you can email me at luizguilhermenm.socialsteps@gmail.com

Created and developed by: Luiz Guilherme Natalio de Mello - https://luizguilhermenmello.com/

Nov 17, 202157:59
Profesionales de Impacto Social, Trabajador Social y Consultor de Investigación en Centroamérica - Social Steps #05

Profesionales de Impacto Social, Trabajador Social y Consultor de Investigación en Centroamérica - Social Steps #05

Trabajar en una organización internacional y generar impacto social es el sueño de muchas personas. Para abrir una serie en español de episodios de Social Steps centrados en profesionales que trabajan en América Latina, hablé con Gerardo Carballo, trabajador social y consultor de investigación del Consejo Noruego para Refugiados (Norwegian Refugee Council - NRC) y del Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime. 

Tras trabajar en organismos internacionales en España, como la Cruz Roja Española y el Programa de las Naciones Unidas para el Desarrollo (PNUD), Gerardo se mudó a Panamá para trabajar en el complejo tema de los migrantes centroamericanos. 

Hablamos de trayectorias profesionales, la situación actual de las caravanas migrantes en Centroamérica, consejos para quienes planean una carrera internacional y generar impacto social, y otros temas. 

Anfitrión

Luiz Guilherme Natalio de Mello, anfitrión 

Invitado

Gerardo Carballo, consultor de investigación del Norwegian Refugee Council y del Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime. Máster en Estrategias y Tecnologías para el Desarrollo por la Universidad Politécnica de Madrid 

Recomendaciones de Gerardo:

  • 21 lecciones para el siglo XXI de Yuval Harari 
  • Years and Years en HBO 
  • Los Miserables de Victor Hugo
  • Libros de Zygmunt Bauman y Byung-Chul Han 

Para comentarios y sugerencias, puede enviarme una mensaje a luizguilhermenm.socialsteps@gmail.com 

Creado y desarrollado por: Luiz Guilherme Natalio de Mello - https://luizguilhermenmello.com/

Oct 16, 202155:32
Studying Law and Sociology Abroad, University of Geneva, Switzerland - Social Steps #Special Edition
Oct 10, 202152:30
Social Impact Professionals, Social Entrepreneur in Portugal - Social Steps #04

Social Impact Professionals, Social Entrepreneur in Portugal - Social Steps #04

Carolina Almeida Cruz is the Portuguese Tech Award Winner 2021 in the category Sustainability & Climate Change Activist. Her most recent social initiative, C-MORE, is aimed to support international organizations, companies, and NGOs in achieving their goals in creating sustainable impact from their activities.

Carolina already worked with social initiatives in India, co-founded Sapana, an NGO in Portugal, and has won prestigious international awards. One of her main inspirations to follow social entrepreneurship is sitting, listen and share experiences with others.

This episode is an interesting conversation to debate our substantial capacity to change the society for better and why social entrepreneurship matters.

Host:

Guest:

  • Carolina Almeida Cruz, co-founder of Sapana and entrepreneur at C-MORE. Recognized as Young Challenger by Muhammad Yunus Foundation. Portuguese Tech Award Winner 2021

Carolina's recommendations:

  • Down and Out in Paris and London by George Orwell
  • In Order to Live: A North Korean Girl's Journey to Freedom by Park Yeon-mi
  • Hadji Murat by Liev Tolstói
  • A World of Three Zeros by Muhammad Yunus
  • Leaving Microsoft to Change the World by John Wood

Movie and TEDx mentioned by Luiz:

  • In Time by Andrew Niccol
  • We = Me by Carolina Cruz

For suggestions, comments and feedback you can email me at luizguilhermenm.socialsteps@gmail.com

Created and developed by: Luiz Guilherme Natalio de Mello - https://luizguilhermenmello.com/

Sep 15, 202145:46
Social Impact Professionals, Epidemiologist and Public Health Researcher in Singapore - Social Steps #03

Social Impact Professionals, Epidemiologist and Public Health Researcher in Singapore - Social Steps #03

Can you imagine a day in the life of an epidemiologist and public health researcher? Why are these professionals so crucial to address social inequities in health, especially among vulnerable populations? 

This month I spoke with Aysha Farwin to reply to these and other questions. Aysha is an epidemiologist and public health researcher at the National University of Singapore (NUS), where she is currently pursuing her PhD degree. According to her own inspiring words, she is "passionate about tackling health disparities in vulnerable populations in the community". 

Despite how pandemics can threaten us, it is an insightful conversation about our potential to build a better society. I am delighted to bring you a great perspective on the role of epidemiology and public health research can play in tackling social vulnerability.

Important notice: Aysha views expressed do not represent the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health – National University of Singapore.

Host:

Guest:

  • Aysha Farwin, PhD candidate at the National University of Singapore (NUS), Master of Public Health (MPH) from the NUS, and Bachelor's Degree in Biological Studies from the Nanyang Technological University (NTU)

Aysha's recommendations:

  • Pandemic: Tracking Contagions, from Cholera to Ebola and Beyond by Sonia Shah
  • Chasing Chaos: My Decade in and Out of Humanitarian Aid by Jessica Alexander
  • Contagion (movie) by Steven Soderbergh
  • edX and Coursera courses
  • Epidemiology by Leon Gordis
  • Medical Statistics by Michael J. Campbell

Research and policy mentioned by Luiz:

For suggestions, comments and feedback you can email me at luizguilhermenm.socialsteps@gmail.com

Created and developed by: Luiz Guilherme Natalio de Mello - https://luizguilhermenmello.com/

Aug 15, 202152:55
Studying Public Policy Abroad, Hertie School in Berlin, Germany - Social Steps #02

Studying Public Policy Abroad, Hertie School in Berlin, Germany - Social Steps #02

This month I catch up with Vincent Ramos, a Filipino economist who decided to study public policy at the Hertie School in Berlin, one of the most prestigious schools of governance in the world. We talk about how to get into Hertie School, life as an international student in Berlin, the German culture shocks as a Filipino, and more.

Host:

Guest:

  • Vincent Jerald Ramos, Master of Public Policy (MPP) from the Hertie School of Governance in Berlin, and Bachelor of Science in Economics (cum laude) from the University of the Philippines Diliman

For suggestions, comments and feedback you can email me at luizguilhermenm.socialsteps@gmail.com 

Created and developed by: https://luizguilhermenmello.com/

Jul 14, 202136:01
Social Impact Professionals, Research Analyst in the United Kingdom - Social Steps #01

Social Impact Professionals, Research Analyst in the United Kingdom - Social Steps #01

How to develop a technology career with a political science degree? Why academic skills are so important to make positive change? 

In this episode, we talk to Francisca Sassetti, a research analyst whose work is focused on migration, modern slavery, and technology. After arriving in the United Kingdom to pursue her master's degree at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), Francisca ended up learning coding skills to work in tech to pay for her studies. Francisca's background in political science and technology inspired her to investigate tech for good in Europe, Asia, and Latin America.

Host:

Guest:

  • Francisca Sassetti, PhD candidate at the Royal Holloway, University of London, MSc in Comparative Politics from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), the United Kingdom, and BSc in Political Science from the Institute of Social and Political Sciences at the University of Lisbon, Portugal. Former Research Assistant at the United Nations University Institute in Macau in the Migrant Tech project

Francisca's book and documentary recommendations:

  • Factory Girls: From Village to City in a Changing China 
  • The True Cost

For suggestions, comments and feedback you can email me at luizguilhermenm.socialsteps@gmail.com

Created and developed by: https://luizguilhermenmello.com/

Jun 13, 202144:45