Thank You Democracy Podcast

In Episode 5 of Season 4 of the Thank You Democracy Podcast, we sat down with Annie Zaman, journalist, media development specialist, and co-founder of Exile Hub, to explore the evolving landscape of democracy across Asia at a moment of growing pressure, transformation, and resilience during our #GDCAsiaRegionalMonth.Drawing on over two decades of experience supporting independent media and freedom of expression, Annie reflects on what it takes to move from moments of democratic opening to lasting democratic change. From Myanmar to Pakistan and beyond, she shares insights into why democratic breakthroughs so often struggle to consolidate, and what is needed to sustain them over time.Throughout the conversation, she highlights how the nature of democratic challenges is shifting. Authoritarianism is no longer expressed only through overt repression, but increasingly through more complex and systemic pressures, from disinformation and surveillance to the erosion of civic space and public trust. At the same time, she emphasizes the critical role of journalism, civil society, and democratic institutions in maintaining accountability and preserving democratic gains.The conversation also points to one of the most defining forces shaping democracy in the region today: the role of young people. Across Asia, a new generation is driving movements for participation, dignity, and accountability, often using new tools and forms of mobilization that are reshaping how democratic engagement takes place.Ultimately, Annie’s reflections remind us that democratic transition is not a single moment, but a long-term process, one that depends on trust, resilient institutions, and the continued engagement of citizens across societies.

In the fourth episode of Season 3 of the Thank You Democracy Podcast, we sat down with Koketso Moeti to discuss the role of race and belonging in shaping participation, how migration and exclusion test the boundaries of democratic practice, and why centering marginalized voices is essential to the renewal of democracy everywhere.Koketso Moeti is a South African activist and the founder of amandla.mobi, a civic engagement platform that harnesses mobile technology to organize collective action among marginalized communities. Often described as one of the most innovative voices in African civic tech, Koketso has spent over a decade building tools that allow low-income women, migrants, and other excluded groups to make their voices heard in policymaking. From advising the World Economic Forum to serving as an inaugural Obama Foundation Fellow and a Kettering Foundation Global Fellow, Koketso’s journey bridges grassroots activism and global thought leadership. Through amandla.mobi, she has mobilized hundreds of thousands of people to challenge unjust evictions, demand accountability from telecommunications companies, and push back against systemic inequality in South Africa.To learn more about Koketso’s journey and perspective, listen to this episode.

In the second episode of Season 3 of the Thank You Democracy Podcast, we sat down with Lyudmyla Kozlovska to discuss the personal cost of activism, the shifting landscape of democratic values, and why solidarity, courage, and clear voices matter more than ever.Lyudmyla Kozlovska is the President of Open Dialogue Foundation, an organization at the forefront of defending democracy, human rights, and the rule of law across Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and beyond. Lyudmyla has spent years confronting authoritarian regimes and advocating for political prisoners, victims of transnational repression, and those silenced by state-sponsored disinformation. Her own story of exile, surveillance, and resilience is a powerful reminder of what it takes to stand up for truth in an age of authoritarian pushback.To learn more about Lyudmyla’s journey and perspective, listen to this episode.

In the final episode of Season 2 of the Thank You Democracy Podcast, we sit down with Danish activist and educator Karim Pedersen, a rare and powerful voice of cross-border solidarity in support of Belarus’s pro-democracy movement.Karim is the only foreigner working in the Office of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, where he serves as Head of International Communications. Though he has no Belarusian roots, he’s spent the past four years working alongside Belarusians in exile in Vilnius, supporting democratic resistance through civic education, communications, and grassroots organizing.This episode comes at a particularly timely moment: just days ago, Siarhei Tsikhanouski, Sviatlana’s husband and a prominent political prisoner, was released after four years of detention by the Lukashenka regime. A well-known opposition figure, Siarhei helped galvanize Belarus’s democratic movement in 2020 before his arrest and imprisonment, which prompted Sviatlana to run in his place and become the face of Belarus’s democratic resistance.A former IT journalist and long-time democracy educator in Denmark, Karim has worked with the Danish-Belarusian association Talaka, developed civic education programs for Belarusians, and remains committed to the vision of opening a folk school in a free and democratic Belarus. In 2023, he was named an Obama Leader for his work.In this deeply personal and wide-ranging conversation, Karim shares what drew him into this struggle, the turning points that led him from teaching to direct action, and what it means to act in solidarity beyond borders. We explore the lessons Denmark’s democratic past offers to today’s movements, the sacrifices involved in standing up for democracy, and the role education must play in rebuilding civic life after authoritarianism.To hear Karim’s inspiring story and reflections on where hope lies in dark times, tune in to Episode 8 of the Thank You Democracy Podcast.

In this episode of the Thank You Democracy Podcast, the Global Democracy Coalition sat down with Ambassador H.E. Kyaw Moe Tun, Myanmar’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations under the democratically elected government, to discuss what it has been like to serve as an ambassador during such a turbulent period in Myanmar’s history, his commitment to democracy and human rights at the UN, his decision to speak out against the military coup at the UN General Assembly in February 2021, the challenges he has faced in ensuring the voices of Myanmar’s people are heard on the global stage, and more. Ambassador H.E. Kyaw Moe Tun has previously served as Myanmar’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva, as well as the Conference on Disarmament, from July 2018 to October 2020. He concurrently served as Ambassador to Switzerland, as well as Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). To learn more about the Ambassador’s journey, and to hear his motivating perspective, listen to this episode.

In this episode of the Thank You Democracy Podcast, the Global Democracy Coalition sat down with Jorge Jraissati, President of our Coalition Partner Economic Inclusion Group, to discuss his professional journey, his decision to focus on the intersection of economic opportunity, financial inclusion, and democracy, the impact anti-money laundering laws and counterterrorism financing regulations have on people’s lives, why it is essential to include young voices in economic policymaking, and more. Jorge, while only 28, brings an experienced background as a researcher at IESE Business School, an economic and policy consultant, and is known for his work advocating in G7 countries for financial reforms to guarantee a “Right to Banking” for immigrants and human rights defenders. Jorge is also an influential voice in his home country, Venezuela, pushing for greater political and economic freedoms. To learn more about Jorge, his journey, and to hear his incredibly unique perspective, listen to this episode.

In this episode of the Thank You Democracy Podcast, the Global Democracy Coalition sat down with Susana Malcorra, the President and cofounders of GWL Voices for Change and Inclusion, to discuss the different paths her career has taken, her candidacy for UN Secretary General, how her organization champions female candidates for global roles, democratic backsliding, and more. Susana brings vast experience and insight as a seasoned diplomat, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Argentina, and a former United Nations Chief of Staff to Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon. For more on Susana’s unique perspective and inspiring journey, listen in to this episode!

In this episode of the Thank You Democracy Podcast, the Global Democracy Coalition sat down with Dr. Kevin Casas Zamora, Secretary General of International IDEA, to discuss his path in public service, the advice he would give to his younger self, effective ways to increase youth engagement in today’s political processes, and his personal story as to why he has dedicated most of his life to promoting and protecting democracy. Kevin brings vast experience and insight as the former Vice President of Costa Rica, a distinguished political scientist, and a globally recognized advocate for democratic governance. For more on Kevin’s unique perspective and personal stories, listen in to this episode!