It’s not that simple is a podcast by Francisco Manuel dos Santos Foundation dedicated to major interviews with international personalities linked to politics, economy and society. Conducted by renowned journalist Pedro Mendonça Pinto, the conversations with our special guests aim to demystify and simplify some of the most fascinating and relevant topics of our time. They will be objective, frontal, informal and informed dialogues to clarify why some issues «are not that simple». The Francisco Manuel dos Santos Foundation was founded in 2009 by Alexandre Soares dos Santos and his family to study the country’s major hindrances and bring t...
Latest episodes
-
35 min
INTERNATIONAL CORRUPTION, with Ricardo Soares de Oliveira
The received wisdom often views corruption as a domestic problem, internal within each country. However, Ricardo Soares de Oliveira, professor of Political Science at CERI–Sciences…
-
40 min
GENETICS, with Alfonso Martínez Arias
For decades, we believed DNA held all the answers. But biologist Alfonso Martínez Arias offers a different view: «Genetics is simple, the problem is thinking it’s the answer to who…
-
34 min
INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM, with Mariana van Zeller
How far should a reporter go in search of the truth? Investigative journalism demands time, resources, and risk. In this episode of «It's not that simple», with journalist Mariana…
-
31 min
GEOGRAPHY, with Tim Marshall
British journalist and bestselling author Tim Marshall, known for the book «Prisoners of Geography», takes us on a journey through the real world: the one shaped by mountains, rive…
-
35 min
PHYSICS, with Helen Czerski
In this interview, physicist and oceanographer Helen Czerski demonstrates that physical patterns are all around us and explains how they shape our daily lives, connecting human lif…
-
32 min
PERFECTIONISM, with Thomas Curran
«If you look at the amount of spending that's going on right now, on self-optimisation, on self-help and self-improvement, we're at record levels. There’s never been more spending…
-
29 min
PRODUCTIVITY, with Nicholas Bloom
How do we measure and assess productivity? What impact does remote working have on productivity? And what about artificial intelligence? In this episode of It’s Not That Simple, UK…
-
33 min
INFLATION, with Ricardo Reis
What if a single mistake by the European Central Bank could send Europe into a recession? Ricardo Reis, one of the most awarded Portuguese economists of his generation, dismantles…
-
31 min
SPACE EXPLORATION, with Ezinne Uzo-Okoro
Are we safe hovering in the unknown? Harvard researcher and former assistant director for Space Policy at the White House, Ezinne Uzo-Okoro, is the guest of this «It's not that sim…
-
41 min
Artificial Intelligence, with Neil Lawrence
AI: a dangerous threat or an indispensable tool for today and the future? «Artificial Intelligence is the most disruptive technology we've ever seen», claims Neil Lawrence, DeepMin…
-
45 min
GLOBALIZATION, with Anil Gupta
There is a clear Cold War between the US and China, but it differs from the one between the US and the Soviet Union and is «far more dangerous». The warning is given by Anil Gupta,…
-
44 min
BIOTECHNOLOGY, with Andrew Hessel
Will we be able to programme the human genome like we programme computers? And will we be able to stop ageing or create medicines and vaccines in record time? Geneticist and synthe…
-
32 min
THE FUTURE OF NATO, with Peter Apps
The alliance that has ensured peace throughout most of Europe is now at the centre of all attention. «We are in a very dangerous era. The next 25 years will probably be the most ch…
-
46 min
E-COMMERCE, with Colin Bryar
Colin Bryar, former vice-president of Amazon and Jeff Bezos' right-hand man, shares the secrets that have transformed Amazon into the world's leading e-commerce company. In this in…
-
32 min
AMERICAN ELECTIONS, with Harry Enten
It's the tightest race for the White House in 60 years. CNN data reporter Harry Enten believes that Pennsylvania will be the state most likely to decide the outcome of the November…
-
32 min
FOOD AND BRAIN, with Uma Naidoo
How does food influence mental well-being? Nutritional psychiatrist and author of the bestseller «This Is Your Brain on Food» Uma Naidoo argues that food is not only crucial for a…
-
32 min
AGEISM, with Ashton Applewhite
American activist and author Ashton Applewhite tackles the issue of ageism in this «It's not that simple» interview. With an assertive approach, Applewhite shatters myths about age…
-
41 min
CHANGING PLANET, with Peter Frankopan
In a world increasingly defined by global environmental challenges and changes, the perspective of historian Peter Frankopan, author of the best-selling «The Silk Roads», is crucia…
-
50 min
WAR AND PEACE, with David Petraeus
«The Western world faces more complex challenges today than at any time in the past», says former CIA director David Petraeus. In this «It's not that simple» interview, the america…
-
30 min
BRUSSELS EFFECT, with Anu Bradford
«The European Union is one of the largest and richest consumer markets. And few global companies can afford not to do business in the EU», says Anu Bradford, a specialist in global…