Direct Talk

Impossible Foods CEO Dr. Patrick Brown discusses his mission to counter the environmental threat caused by animal agriculture and his creation of sustainable meat substitutes using biotechnology.

Kostas Kostarelos, a world expert in nanotechnology talks about how it will revolutionize medicine with tissue regeneration, new drug delivery methods, and neural interface and bio sensing devices.

As its newly appointed director, Professor Joe Smith wants to take the Royal Geographic Society forward to embrace the crucial issues of our time - including climate change and the environment.

The Harmony Project provides free music lessons to children of low-income families. Dr. Margaret Martin, the project's founder, talks about how the project has used the power of music to mentor them.

Satoshi Fukushima lost his eyesight at 9, and hearing at 18. He is a professor of disability studies at the University of Tokyo. What is his vision for a society where everyone can live happily?

Harvard psychologist Mahzarin Banaji devised a test to measure our hidden biases towards others, according to race, gender, or social class. She discusses the origins of bias and its cost to society.

Ivan Penn is an African American NY Times reporter leading a NPO "The Power of Song" performing the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He's traveled globally promoting social justice through music.

Along with the development of Chinese modern art, renowned photographers RongRong from China and Inri from Japan create works together. They defy commercialization to protect the essence of art.

Koji Muraoka is CEO of a company known for a pancake mix made with grains produced on the southwestern Japanese island of Kyushu. He hopes to make the hotcakes a key part of the region's brand.

Doctors Without Borders brings medical care to places that lack it. We speak with Yuko Shirakawa, a nurse who has worked for the NGO in conflict zones including Syria and South Sudan.

Ayyam Sureau founded a school to help refugees in Paris smoothly integrate into French society. Her successful methods offer hints for accepting diverse people and cultures.

Nobel laureate James Heckman demonstrated a connection between developing non-cognitive skills in early childhood and success in life. He advocates supporting parents, to lift children from poverty.

Margarita Mamun, the 2016 Olympic All-around Champion in rhythmic gymnastics, talks about her life since retirement and Russia's emphasis on achieving the ultimate aesthetic in her sport.

Toru Oki is a pioneer in the effort to increase the adoption of therapy dogs in Japan. He rescues dogs that would otherwise be put down, and trains them to provide comfort and love to people.

Morinari Watanabe, president of the International Gymnastics Federation, is committed to sports innovation for athletes and spectators alike. He talks about his career, his vision, and his approach.

Lee So-hyun, the founder of a company supporting people with autism, looks forward to a time when individuals with autism are accepted, feel comfortable, and can fully play their part in society.

Grigory Sergeev set up a non-profit search-and-rescue organization in Russia, where a person goes missing every 30 minutes. He talks about the reasons behind its founding.

Charles Pépin teaches popular philosophy classes at a Paris movie theater to make the topic more accessible. He hopes to enrich modern people's lives using philosophy.

Takahiro Yagi is the sixth-generation head of Kaikado, a long-established Kyoto manufacturer of traditional tea caddies. How does he balance tradition with the drive to create something new?

Merrill J. Fernando, is CEO of Dilmah, the first ‘producer owned' tea brand in the world.　He says the business profits should be shared towards the dignified empowerment of underprivileged people.

University of Chicago economist Raghuram Rajan calls for the regeneration of local community to balance markets, as globalization leaves large pockets of society feeling powerless and left behind.

Kenichi Yoshida is a musician who plays the tsugaru-jamisen, a stringed instrument from Japan's Tohoku region. We speak with him about his efforts to share tsugaru-jamisen music with the world.

Rino Nakasone is an LA-based dancer/choreographer who has worked with Janet Jackson and Britney Spears, and has choreographed many routines for K-pop stars. She talks about the thrill of entertaining.

Taiwanese activist Lin Nien-tzu founded a workshop to spread important knowledge on menstruation to Nepalese women. She helps them produce eco-friendly sanitary products.

Ni Sat Tin Htoo, a social worker in Myanmar, cares for ethnic-minority children affected by decades of conflict, helping them rebuild their lives so they can contribute to a more peaceful future.

Venture Whisky in Chichibu, Japan has won top prize two years running at an international whisky competition. President Ichiro Akuto talks about his quaint Japanese distillery's coveted spirits.

Frances Corner, Head of the influential London College of Fashion, speaks out on why fashion should matter to all of us, and how the global fashion industry can be a force for good.

Kim Gee-yang, South Korea's first plus-size model, dreams of a society that will accept diversity and individuality. She talks of the challenges she faces in changing social perceptions.

Noriyuki Sawa is known for bringing a Japanese sensibility to the Czech puppet theater tradition. He currently performs around the world while continuing to explore the possibilities of his art.

In 2018 Pierre Kompany became mayor of Ganshoren, Belgium; having started his life there as a refugee from DR Congo (fmr. Zaire). He speaks on current immigration issues and his personal journey.

Andrey Kurkov, Ukraine's foremost writer witnessed the tumultuous events that shaped independent Ukraine. He explores post-Soviet identity and nationhood in a country where Russia still looms large.

David Hu reproduces the ingenious anatomical functions of animals, using mathematical modeling. Born out of sheer curiosity, his bio-inspired engineering has won acclaim in the science community.

Finnish education got top marks in the OECD's student assessment in 2003. But in these changing times, how can educators best adapt; Finnish education official Anneli Rautiainen shares her views.

One of Africa's most successful entrepreneurs, Mo Ibrahim, discusses the continent's future and how the image many have of Africa is fundamentally wrong.

Dishani Jayaweera is a co-founder of a non-profit organization promoting peacebuilding and conflict transformation in Sri Lanka. She says divided communities need dialogue to build peace.

London based theatre director Yojiro Ichikawa discusses his love of musicals and his ambition of merging Japanese and western theatrical traditions.

In 2018, the famous chef and restaurateur Andre Chiang returned to his hometown in Taiwan. His latest mission is to help Asian cuisine evolve and become known to people around the world.

Florian Wiltschko from Austria is the first foreigner to become an officially recognized priest of Shinto, the ancient Japanese religion. We speak with Wiltschko about the meaning of Shinto.

Reiko Takahashi is a photographer who mostly shoots underwater. In 2018, she won first prize in the National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year contest. What draws her to the sea?

Duan Yuezhong launched a publishing firm specializing in Sino-Japanese relations. With a journalist's eye, he gives voice to the people and promotes mutual understanding through grass-roots efforts.

Jon Jandai is a Thai organic farmer whose self-reliant way of living attracts people from around the world. He simplifies life with the question: "Life is easy, why make it difficult?"

Kentaro Hayashi is a doctor who's worked all over the world. For over a decade now, he's been traveling to Myanmar, providing healthcare and creating a social business focused on plant cultivation.

Masao Hosoo combines traditional craft and the latest tech to create interior decorations and other innovative items made with fine Nishijin textiles. What is his vision for this luxury silk fabric?

Entrepreneur Thai Huong revolutionized Vietnam's dairy industry by producing safe, fresh milk. Her products have restored consumer confidence and created a milk drinking culture in the country.

Taiwanese chain restaurant manager Viola Cheng's dedication to helping the disadvantaged has drawn global attention. She explains the importance of companies fulfilling their social responsibility.

In 2017, Masako Wakamiya developed her first smartphone app. She was 81 years old at the time. We speak with her about how the digital world can change the lives and lifestyles of seniors.

Bunaco is a woodworking company specializing in beech. It has been attracting international attention for its craftsmanship and creative designs. President Masanao Kurata talks about his vision.

Ryo Takeuchi is a popular online content director in China. The Japanese man introduces lifestyles and work of Chinese people living outside of China, hoping to reduce prejudice on both sides.

Aiya is a time-honored matcha green tea producer offering a diverse range of matcha products. It has worked to spread matcha culture worldwide. 5th generation president Takeo Sugita talks strategy.

Philippine-born Jose Antonio Vargas is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist in the U.S. He draws on his own life without papers, to bring attention to the plight of millions of undocumented immigrants.

Nobel laureate and author Svetlana Alexievich of Belarus has unblinkingly covered historical events like WWII and the Chernobyl disaster. She speaks on her work to tell truths behind the facts.

Tadashige Shiga is from Iwaki, a city in Fukushima Prefecture that was affected by the nuclear accident after the 3/11 disaster. He now leads a project to plant 100,000 cherry trees in his hometown.

For 40 years, Hiroshi Nakaso worked at the Bank of Japan, eventually becoming its Deputy Governor. Given his experience with financial crises, what does he see as the keys to Japanese economic growth?

Jalal Ahmed is a Bangladeshi architect. His work goes beyond just creating beautiful buildings. He designs comfortable houses and villages for the poor, as he believes helping them is helping society.

Kiko Matthews broke a world record when she rowed solo and unsupported across the Atlantic. It was just 6 months after having brain surgery for a rare illness. She raised thousands of pounds for the hospital that had saved her life.

Space debris is an increasing problem. Nobu Okada's company is the first to tackle the garbage. In 2020 a test satellite is planned. Okada shares his passion for this mission.

Hironao Hamada makes the world's thinnest handmade traditional Japanese paper, used to repair cultural properties such as paintings and other invaluable artwork. How does he approach papermaking?

Andria Zafirakou, an art teacher, won the Global Teacher Prize 2018 and is using the prize money of $ 1 million to create a foundation to help provide arts in schools with disadvantaged children.

Adam Hickey is fighting against cyberattacks that threaten the US government and private sector. As the number of cyberattacks is increasing, Mr. Hickey explains what is behind this growing threat.

Metrol is a firm that creates precision sensors used in 70+ countries to create machine tools, robots, and so on. We speak to boss Takuji Matsuhashi about his company's unique business strategies.

Daruma dolls are a type of traditional Japanese lucky charm with growing popularity around the world. Rising craftswoman Chihiro Nakata talks about her efforts to promote her craft overseas.

Harvard's McCormick organizes the world's oldest novel, "The Tale of Genji" exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. We ask her about the beauty and importance of the Japanese novel.

Ryojun Shionuma is a Buddhist priest who completed an intense ascetic ritual: hiking a steep 48-kilometer mountain trail 1,000 times. We ask him about the lessons he learned on this journey.

Tatsuya Tanaka photographs dioramas made with 2cm tall figures and everyday objects and food. Over 1.9 million people follow his work on a photo-sharing site. He explains the magic of miniatures.

Acclaimed Japan-China expert and Harvard Professor Emeritus Ezra Vogel discusses the history, cultural connection, and relationship between the 2 nations, and suggests how they can forge closer ties.

In the era of digital streaming music, head of South by Southwest Festivals' music's division, James Minor shares his passion for live performance, supporting unique artists from around the world.

Karate will be an Olympic sport at 2020 in Tokyo; the origins of this martial art lie in Okinawan karate. Kenyu Chinen is an Okinawan karate master who has trained 6,000 students from 30 countries.

"Taberu Tsushin" is a magazine that comes with samples of locally produced food. It was founded in the Tohoku region in 2013, and has counterparts throughout Japan and now Asia. What is its mission?

By examining a company's environmental, social, and governance when analyzing potential stocks, financial advisor Lauren Compere is helping investors make socially responsible investing decisions.

Chinese lawyer Tang Shuai uses sign language to protect the legal rights of his clients who have hearing difficulties. He hopes for a law-abiding society that is more considerate to their needs.

Munroe Bergdorf is a successful transgender model. She also campaigns for LGBT rights and better understanding of the community, which faces discrimination and prejudice.

Masahiro Kikuno is a watchmaker who does it all himself, from design to manufacturing and assembly. One of his best known works is a wristwatch model based on a famous 19th century Japanese clock.

International award-winning artist Toshihiko Hosaka talks about the beauty of sand art and the artistic vision he brings to life through his sculptures, which are made using only sand and water.

Bill Nye leads the international non-profit Planetary Society and talks about the vital role that private groups can play in the advancement of space exploration and planetary science.

Helen Zia's "Last Boat Out of Shanghai" talks about Chinese immigrants, escaping the cultural revolution 70 years ago. She describes what immigrants face during times of tight immigration control.

Tsubakimoto Chain has the world's No. 1 market share in industrial roller chains, used for transmitting power and conveying materials. President Yasushi Ohara talks about its lineup of 20,000 chains.

Since founding The Voice of Libyan Women in 2011, doctor and women's rights advocate Alaa Murabit has challenged the global status quo with initiatives to put women in positions of leadership.

Zeba Islam Seraj is a Bangladeshi molecular biologist. She aims to secure the food security of her populous nation by creating rice that will flourish in the country's salty rice fields.

Shinji Kazama is an adventurer who has accomplished many feats on a motorcycle, like climbing Everest and reaching the North Pole. What drives his unquenchable thirst for adventure and motorcycles?

Professor at Harvard Graduate School of Education Todd Rose demystifies the century-old average-based systems in society and proposes design paradigms to embrace individuality and unique talents.

Yoshiaki Kawashima is a coffee agronomist. From rescuing endangered varieties of bean, to utilizing unsung local production methods, his quest is to grow top-quality coffee in sustainable ways.

Muneyuki Nakazawa crafts violins out of materials salvaged from the wreckage of the Great East Japan Earthquake. Those violins are now captivating audiences worldwide. What is his vision?

Providing work for over 1 million drivers with a smartphone app that is changing how people live in Indonesia, CEO Nadiem Makarim tells us how technology can shape a society.

Sir Chris Bonington has spent a lifetime scaling the world's most difficult mountains. Here the mountaineer, author, and photographer shares his tips on how to manage risk.

Rumiko Seya is committed to improving public safety and training personnel in places like South Sudan, Kenya, and Somalia. What does it take to foster a peaceful society without conflict?

Nick Romaniuk is rescue coordinator for the European charity SOS Méditerranée, leading the team that picks up migrants who are trying to reach Europe, by crossing the Mediterranean from Africa.

Yale Psychology Professor Laurie Santos reveals misconceptions about happiness, features of the mind that lead us to think the way we do, and research that can help us change.

Dr. Jay Keasling is a pioneer of the practical application of synthetic biology. He talks about what impact the study can make on our lives and the concerns regarding the safety of this technology.

Prominent American investor Jim Rogers uses his knowledge of history and world travel experiences as a bellwether for economic change and predicts that the 21st century will be the Asian era.

Yeo Bee Yin became part of Mahathir's cabinet in 2018. She rejects illegal plastic waste coming from other nations and has been getting attention as a young leader tackling environmental issues.

Rheon Automatic Machinery makes machines that automate the process of wrapping dough around filling for foods like steamed buns, stuffed pastries, and filled gnocchi. The company head talks food tech.

Madeline Stuart is a fashion model and entrepreneur with Down syndrome, traveling around the world with the support of her mother Rosanne. She breaks from conventional ways to open people's minds.

World heritage is under threat. At UNESCO in Paris Mechtild Rössler leads the fight to save over a thousand sites of natural beauty and historic importance all over the world.

Mitsuhiro Iwamoto lost his sight at the age of 16. In April 2019, he became the first blind person to sail nonstop across the Pacific Ocean. How did he achieve this incredible feat?

Fisheries scientist Shigeharu Senoo was the first to successfully cultivate Tiger GG. The fish is savored throughout Asia and is now more affordable than ever. Senoo explains the role of fish farming.

Singaporean scientist Sun Xiaolong researches safe treatment of incineration bottom ash and industrial wastewater. Application of his research is helping to protect the environment.

Despite the political tensions on the Korean Peninsula, Stephen Linton has been providing medical assistance to North Korea for over 2 decades, focusing on the treatment of tuberculosis.

Malaysian historian Clement Liang was born and raised in Penang's George Town, designated a UNESCO World Heritage in 2008. What positive and negative effects has this accolade had on his hometown?

Steven Gan, editor-in-chief of the Malaysian news portal Malaysiakini, has dedicated his career to promoting freedom of the press in a country where independent journalists are often silenced.

Fumio Usui is a pioneering prosthetist and orthotist in Japan. He designs prosthetic limbs that fulfill the needs of a wide range of different people, from athletes to expectant mothers.

While imprisoned under fabricated corruption charges, former senior bureaucrat Atsuko Muraki met female victims of abuse. Now, she works to save women who are slipping through the cracks of society.

Franchesca Cubillo is an Aboriginal curator, creating a large fair for Australia's indigenous art. In the event's 13th year, she empowers those facing struggles and brings a future to them through art.

Sen Nathan of Malaysia's Sabah Wildlife Department is devoted to protecting orangutans, elephants, and other native animals. Is there a way the lucrative palm oil business can coexist with wildlife?

American pro wrestler Jan Ohrstrom is an Iraq War veteran. Through wrestling, he overcame PTSD, and regained his will to live. He now gives other veterans hope and courage through the sport.

In 2015, pediatrician Kazuko Kumon opened a facility in Kenya that offers individualized care and attention to children with disabilities. We talk to Dr. Kumon about what drives her work.

Masashi Hirao is a craftsman who cultivates bonsai -- ornamental trees and shrubs grown in pots. He talks about his bonsai art demonstrations set to music, which he performs around Japan and overseas.

We speak with the director of Proyecto Hombre - an NGO providing addiction treatment, mainly for drugs, to 17,000 people per year in Spain - on the true causes and solutions for this modern disease.

Kazunori Kumagai is the first person from Asia to win a prestigious NY Dance and Performance Award -- aka "Bessie" -- in the Outstanding Performer category. He speaks about his passion for tap dancing.

Professor Louise Richardson is the first woman appointed Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford in its 900-year history. She is passionate about the power of education to transform lives.

Sheku Kanneh-Mason is an award-winning cellist. In 2018, he performed at the royal wedding in Britain and became an international star. He is a role model for a new generation of classical musicians.

Sir Antonio Pappano recently became the longest-serving music director of the Royal Opera House in London. He is passionate about sharing the joy of opera and finding new ways to attract a wider audience.

Trinh Khanh Ha works on developing robotic prosthetic arms in Vietnam. With groundbreaking prosthetic arms, she gives hope to disabled people who gave up their work.

In China, most visually impaired people become masseuses or masseurs, but the blind Dong Lina became a verbal artist. She presents her thoughts on the determination needed to overcome many obstacles.

Yoshino Oishi is a photographer who has documented brutal conflicts around the globe, including in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Kosovo. We speak to her about what message she hopes to express to the world.

Leslie Kee has overcome numerous challenges to become one of the top photographers in Asia. As part of the social minority, he seeks to dispel prejudices against minorities through his portraiture.

Hiroto Kawasaki moved to China at age 66 and succeeded in organic farming using cattle dung. Supported by young Chinese, he is working to change local customs long dependent on chemical fertilizer.

Minerva School founder Ben Nelson's innovation approach to learning is fundamentally changing the way we educate college students with a combination of technology and life experience.

Since 2003, Dr. Tetsu Nakamura has built irrigation canals in a drought-plagued region of Afghanistan where people were starving. We hear how his project has succeeded in the face of huge challenges.

Japanese startup Spiber has pioneered tech for mass-producing synthetic spider silk. Kazuhide Sekiyama talks about the next-generation materials that will replace petroleum-based fabrics.

Mother of the Zero Waste Lifestyle movement Bea Johnson inspires people around the globe to simplify their lives while helping the environment with her 5 rules for zero waste.

Mani is a medical equipment maker with a large global market share in products such as surgical needles, ophthalmic knives, and dental drills. Company head Toshihide Takai talks business strategy.

A young engineer tackling the serious issue of landmine clearance in Cambodia has developed an unattended robot to replace dangerous manual demining.

Britain's Advertising Standards Authority has introduced new rules on gender stereotyping. Guy Parker, its chief executive, discusses why 2 TV adverts broke the rules and other issues.

For more than 20 years, architectural designer Karl Bengs has been restoring old folk houses in depopulated areas of Japan as part of an effort to revitalize communities. What drives him?

Delia Ferreira Rubio represents an international NGO that aims to eliminate crimes such as bribery and embezzlement worldwide. How can we prevent corruption, which she says undermines our daily lives?

Kees Veldboer, the Ambulance Wish Foundation founder, has fulfilled over 13,000 final wishes of terminally ill patients. He reveals his thoughts about his contacts with dying people.

Robert Riener founded the Cybathlon, a global contest spurring the development of robotic assistive devices for people with disabilities. What role can robotics play in creating a diverse society?

The Latin American School of Medicine in Cuba educates youths from poor areas to become doctors. In 20 years, 30,000 graduates are active in 105 countries. President Antonio López Gutiérrez explains.

Nobel Prize in Literature winner, Svetlana Alexievich, expressed the hardships endured in the Soviet era through eyewitness testimonials. She shares stories of life in a post-Soviet world.

Since 2014, the conflict in eastern Ukraine has left many soldiers MIA. Yaroslav Zhilkin, the founder of Black Tulip, tells us why he collects bodies in the troubled area.

Ory Yoshifuji creates communication robots that help people who, for whatever reason, have difficulty leaving the house. We speak with Yoshifuji about his determined quest to "end loneliness."

The bikini category of bodybuilding is all about a foundation of muscle that accentuates the feminine shape. MIHARU, Japan's only pro bikini athlete, talks about what building muscle means to her.

Sadan Kaptanoglu, President of BIMCO, the world's largest association of ship owners, talks about the threat to global shipping from tensions between the US and Iran in the Persian Gulf.

Patrick Ky of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency discusses the decision to ground the Boeing 737 MAX after 2 fatal crashes, why the plane is still grounded and the future of aviation safety.

Bart Roetert, co-founder of Instock, a restaurant in the Netherlands, has rescued 800,000 kilograms of food waste. He tells how to address food waste issues in an efficient and positive manner.

NORA is the lead vocalist of Orquesta de la Luz, a world-famous salsa band from Japan. She speaks about her passion for music, and what she hopes to accomplish through her work with the group.

Open source technology advocate, Wikimedia Foundation CEO Katherine Maher encourages everyone to contribute and share knowledge and information on the free online encyclopedia, Wikipedia.

Filmmaker Zacharias Kunuk's works focus on the Inuit of the Canadian Arctic, and underscore the importance of protecting their heritage. He shared his thoughts on the hopes and struggles of his people.

Sho Kitagawa plays the balalaika, a traditional Russian stringed musical instrument. He was the first person from outside Russia to win a prestigious Russian music competition.

Noriaki Imai returned to Japan after a hostage ordeal in Iraq only to face harsh criticism, which made him a social recluse. Today, he supports young people who have similarly withdrawn from society.

Famous for its "Freak Cabaret" performances, the Ukrainian music and theater band Dakh Daughters sings about the harsh situation in Ukraine. Its vocalist explains the thoughts behind the lyrics.

Mitsuhiro Takasaki, President of Engineer Inc., developed innovative heavy-duty pliers that can remove stripped or rusted screws with ease. What is his manufacturing philosophy and business strategy?

Giles Martin is an award-winning music producer at the world-famous Abbey Road Studios. He has remixed 3 of The Beatles' albums and is at the forefront of changes in the music industry.

Yoshua Bengio, a frontrunner in AI research and a recipient of the Turing Award in 2019, discusses AI's potential and its inherent risks. What is the best way forward for humans to coexist with AI?

The key to helping Syrian refugees is to enable refugee widows to earn their own living and raise their children. Jihan Kaisi, the executive director of an NGO, is generating employment for them.

Jane Goodall, known as the greatest field scientist of our time, showed how closely humans are related to chimpanzees. She now campaigns to protect animal habitats and fight climate change.

Katsuobushi is a traditional Japanese foodstuff. It is dried bonito, typically shaved into umami-rich flakes. Mai Nagamatsu is the owner of a restaurant that specializes in recipes using katsuobushi.

Tomosuke Noda is the principal of the River School, a camp designed to teach kids how much fun rivers can be. He talks about the many outdoor activities the kids enjoy and his vision for the program.

Entrepreneur and social activist Ayad Nasser launched a project using art to rejuvenate the slum of Lebanon, and he helped to transform the community from a place of poverty to one of hope.

Yoshihiko Akimoto developed canned bread that can be stockpiled for as long as 3 years. It is used as an emergency food and distributed as relief supplies to areas suffering from food shortages.

Lech Walesa is a Nobel Peace Prize winner who stood up against USSR and accomplished free election of Poland 30 years ago. His struggle never ends, protecting liberal democracy from rise of populism.

Ziauddin Yousafzai is a teacher and activist who stood up to the Taliban in Pakistan. With his daughter Malala, he campaigns for girl's education and equality around the world.

Oyungerel Tsedevdamba is the leader behind the "Let's Change Our Toilets" campaign in Mongolia who says that changing toilets can change lives. She speaks on the problems her country faces.