Seth Kahan’s Podcast
Grand Challenges represent the wicked problems that society faces—complex, persistent, and difficult to solve due to incomplete, contradictory, and ever-changing demands. Yet, addressing them is essential for humanity and life on Earth to survive and thrive. My work is dedicated to confronting these monumental issues.
These challenges are too vast for any single mind to fully comprehend or solve. They are multi-dimensional, with deep systemic roots that are reflected in legislation, policies, social behavior, and even individual thoughts and mindsets. These factors limit our ability to effectively address them.
However, there are models and frameworks I’ve developed to help organizations and activists collaborate in making tangible progress. These stem from my experience at the World Bank, where I’ve witnessed both the successes and failures of multinational efforts, and from my work with Grand Challenges in sectors that include maternal health in Kenya, earth science, finance, nursing, and mental health.
Episodes
21 episodes
Agency, Accountability, and the Soul of Medicine
In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Ehsan Samei, a Distinguished Professor of Radiology at Duke University, to explore the deep shifts occurring at the intersection of technology and patient care. We begin by examining the nature of agency and...
Cracking the AI Activation Code with Neil Sahota
Is AI a "bolt-on" tool for your current processes, or is it the engine for your next big innovation? In this episode, Grand Challenge Expert Seth Kahan sits down with Neil Sahota—CEO of ACSI Labs, UN Advisor, and lead architect of the IBM Watso...
From the Steel Works to Global Impact: Amplifying Good with Chris Cooper
What does a steelworker’s son from Northern England know about global business elevation? Quite a lot, as it turns out. My guest today, Chris Cooper, has a story that feels less like a traditional career ladder and more like a masterclas...
How Andrew Kutt Built a School That Teaches Children to Lead With Peace and Character
In this episode, I sit down with my longtime friend and collaborator Andrew Kutt, founder and Board Chair of Oneness-Family Montessori School in Chevy Chase, MD—a school that mattered deeply to my family during my kids’ ear...
Fighting Back: Joe Feldman on Covering Mental Health Care
In this episode, I sit down with Joe Feldman, founder and CEO of Cover My Mental Health. His website, CoverMyMentalHealth.org, is filled with free resources—including helpful instructions and templates—designed to empower families and clinician...
Turning Pain Into Purpose with Filmmaker Max Blaska
In this episode, I talk with filmmaker and mental health advocate Max Blaska, whose short film Last Rung on the Ladder—an adaptation of a Stephen King story—became both a tribute to his late aunt and a lifeline in his own battle with anxiety an...
Executive Leadership In Turbulent Times
In this episode of my podcast, I dive into a question every leader faces sooner or later: What do we do when the world around us is filled with uncertainty, challenge, and disruption? While the circumstances of today may feel unique, we’ve been...
From Isolation to Community: The Global Impact of Clubhouse International with Joel Corcoran
In today’s episode, we meet Joel Corcoran, CEO of Clubhouse International, a groundbreaking global network restoring hope and community for people living with mental illness.Joel shares how a grassroots group in 1940s New York City beca...
“Grand Challenges” – A Visionary Conversation with Dale Cyr, CEO of Inteleos
In this powerful episode, Seth Kahan sits down with Dale Cyr, CEO of Inteleos, to explore how bold leadership, smart technology, and collaborative ecosystems are reshaping global healthcare—starting with portable ultrasound.Cyr leads In...
Dr. Robert Jeraj on Medical physics and its role in modern healthcare
Medical physics plays a vital role in nearly every aspect of modern healthcare. From diagnostic scans like CT imaging to advanced treatments such as radiotherapy, medical physics is behind the technology and precision that drive these procedure...
Chris McEntee and the Thriving Earth Exchange connect science to community needs, impacting millions
Chris and I discuss the origins of the Thriving Earth Exchange, a program connecting scientific expertise with local community needs. The initiative began around 2016 with a young scientist's idea to address community challenges through scienti...
Grand Challenge with the American Association of Physicists in Medicine and Dr. Ehsan Samei
I'm thrilled to share insights from a recent conversation with Dr. Ehsan Samei, Reed and Martha Rice Distinguished Professor of Radiology at Duke University. We discussed an exciting Grand Challenge I’m leading with the American Association of ...
Breaking the Stigma: How Stop Stigma Together is Leading a Grand Challenge in Mental Health
Welcome to the podcast on grand challenges. Today, I’m diving into Stop Stigma Together, an initiative I lead that aims to eliminate stigma surrounding mental health and substance use disorders on a national scale. This effort was laun...
Join the Fight with Glenn Kreiner and Me on Ending Mental Health Stigma Grand Challenge
In this interview, I sit down with Glenn Kreiner, the Ellis Skaggs presidential chair in business ethics at the University of Utah, to discuss his involvement with the Stop Stigma Together initiative, a Grand Challenge focused on addressing men...
Tackling Wicked Problems Through Grand Challenges: Navigating Complex Systems and Interdependencies
In this podcast, we’ll explore “wicked problems” —complex social issues like poverty or climate change—using a “systems model for change.” This model emphasizes three interconnected levels: personal beliefs, social systems, and structural syste...
Eliminating Mental Health Stigma with Dr Darrell Kirch
This conversation explores Dr. Darrell Kirch's personal and professional journey in addressing mental health stigma. It highlights the formation of the "Stop Stigma Together" initiative, the impact of COVID-19, and the challenges and successes ...
10 Key Elements to a Social Movement
In this episode, I talk about the 10 key elements for social change that have inspired my approach, based on the work of Dr Christina Economos and a team she led in 2001. This rubric is intuitive, easy to understand, and has an enormous i...
Former ANA CEO Marla Weston discusses Healthy Nurse Healthy Nation
Former CEO of the American Nurses Association, Marla Weston led the Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation Grand Challenge to improve nurses' health and impact patient outcomes. The initiative engaged diverse stakeholders and overcame challenges, but We...
Overview of the Grand Challenges I Work On
This episode introduces six grand challenges I've helped design and lead, including two I'm actively working on and four in progress. Here's an overview, followed by details and links to learn more:Thriving Earth Exchange – T...
Tackling Wicked Problems Through Grand Challenges: NavigatingComplex Systems
In this inaugural episode, Seth Kahan introduces listeners to the transformative potential of Grand Challenges as a force for systemic change. He draws on his extensive experience leading initiatives that tackle societal issues, including his w...
Seth Kahan and former U.S. Congressman Patrick Kennedy discuss leading a national mental health initiative
In this episode, Seth Kahan sits down with Patrick Kennedy, former U.S. Congressman and renowned mental health advocate, for a candid conversation on the urgent need to address mental health and substance use stigma. Drawing from his personal a...