“We have to stop asking, ‘What does China want?’ and start reckoning with what it actually is.” — Kaiser Kuo

Salzburg Global’s podcast series Conversation Changers brings the spirit of dialogue, openness, and innovation that defines Salzburg Global to audiences worldwide. In each episode, leading thinkers and practitioners explore the forces reshaping our societies — and how we can engage with them to create a better, more inclusive future.

In this new episode, host Eric Olander speaks with Kaiser Kuo, host of The Sinica Podcast and Salzburg Global Fellow, to unpack one of the defining megatrends of our time: China’s transformation and its impact on global power dynamics.

From ration cards in the 1980s to high-speed trains and artificial intelligence breakthroughs, China’s evolution has been breathtaking — and polarizing. Together, Eric and Kaiser explore how perceptions of China have shifted over the decades, why global debates about its legitimacy and ambitions have hardened, and what this “Great Reckoning” means for the future of global order.

Kaiser argues that this is a civilizational turning point — a moment when the world must come to terms with a China that is no longer rising, but setting the pace.

“Modernity is no longer something the West owns. China has become one of its principal architects.” — Kaiser Kuo

In this episode you'll hear:

How China’s rapid transformation has reshaped society, technology, and prosperity

Why Western hopes that China would “become like us” were misplaced or misunderstood

The enduring divide between “dragon slayers” and “panda huggers” — and what it reveals about Western attitudes

How China’s model of modernization without Westernization inspires the Global South

The role of propaganda, social media, and “infrastructure porn” in shaping perceptions

Why generational shifts suggest a changing global view of China

Kaiser’s call to “stop asking what China wants” and start understanding it on its own terms

The episode underscores a vital idea: modernity is no longer a Western monopoly. Understanding China today means reckoning with a new global reality — one that demands humility, balance, and genuine dialogue.

Chapters:

00:00 China's Transformation: A Historical Perspective

05:10 Polarization in Global Discourse on China

10:01 Engagement vs. Isolation: The West's Approach to China

15:02 The Great Reckoning: Shifting Perspectives on China

19:59 Understanding Modernity: China’s Role in the 21st Century

About Kaiser Kuo

Kaiser Kuo is the host of The Sinica Podcast, a leading platform for nuanced conversations about China and the Chinese diaspora. A writer, musician, and longtime observer of China’s transformation, he has been at the heart of cross-cultural exchange for decades. Kaiser is also a Salzburg Global Fellow, bringing his deep insights on media, identity, and geopolitics to the Salzburg Global community.

Find out more about Kaiser Kuo and the Sinica Podcast here: https://www.sinicapodcast.com/

Follow Kaiser Kuo here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaiserkuo

Follow Eric Olander here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/olander/

Find out more about Salzburg Global here: https://www.salzburgglobal.org

Salzburg Global’s podcast series Conversation Changers brings the spirit of dialogue, openness, and innovation that defines Salzburg Global to audiences worldwide. In each episode, leading thinkers and practitioners explore pressing global challenges — and how we can rethink them for a better future.

In this new episode, host Eric Olander speaks with Tina Purnat, a leading expert on health communication and the social dynamics of information, about the complex realities of navigating health information in today’s digital age. Together, they explore how misinformation spreads, how trust is built and eroded, and what it takes to restore confidence in health systems.

Purnat reflects on the shifting relationship between health authorities, media, and the public, and why trustworthiness — not just trust — lies at the heart of effective health communication. The discussion delves into the role of social media, the growing influence of health influencers, and the importance of cultural context in shaping how people interpret health messages.

What you’ll hear in this episode:

How the digital age has transformed the way people seek and believe health information

Why mistrust in institutions has become a public health challenge

The role of social media and influencers in shaping perceptions of health and science

How cultural context affects the success or failure of public health messaging

Why rebuilding trust begins with self-reflection and community engagement

The episode underscores a vital point: tackling misinformation isn’t just about correcting facts — it’s about reconnecting people, communities, and systems through dialogue and empathy.

Chapters:

00:00 The Erosion of Trust in Health Information

02:56 The Role of Social Media in Health Decisions

05:57 Healthcare Providers and Misinformation

09:10 Cultural Contexts in Health Communication

11:52 The Influence of Health Influencers

15:10 Navigating Health Information Chaos

17:56 Building Trust in Health Systems

About Tina Purnat:

Tina Purnat is a global health expert working at the intersection of data, technology, and policy. With over 20 years of experience—including leadership roles at the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)— she helps organizations navigate complex health systems and design smarter, evidence-based solutions.

Currently, Tina is Vice President of the Global Health section at the European Public Health Association (EUPHA), an Associate Editor for several peer-reviewed journals, and a Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) candidate at Harvard University. Her work spans pandemic preparedness, digital health, trustworthy AI standards and systems, and the intersection of digital society with public health. Tina uses innovative, systems-based approaches to help organizations and governments design resilient, ethical, and people-centered health responses in a rapidly changing world.

Follow Tina Purnat here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tinadpurnat

Follow Eric Olander here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/olander/

Find out more about Salzburg Global at salzburgglobal.org

In this episode of Conversation Changers our President and CEO Martin Weiss sits down with Steven Erlanger, the chief diplomatic correspondent for the New York Times in Europe. Over four decades, Steven has reported from more than 120 countries, serving as bureau chief in cities from Moscow to Jerusalem to London to Bangkok. He's a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist known for his sharp insights on Russia and the shifting balance of power across Europe and beyond.

In this conversation, Steven and Martin discuss the current state of Europe in relation to the United States, the challenges posed by migration, his experiences in Moscow during pivotal moments in history, and the complexities of understanding Putin's narrative regarding Ukraine. The dialogue highlights the shifting dynamics of power, economic decline, and the impact of migration on European societies.

Chapters

00:00 The Decline of Europe: A Historical Perspective

06:01 Migration Challenges in Europe

11:01 Reflections on Moscow: A Journalist's Journey

16:46 Understanding Putin: The Russian Narrative

About Steven Erlanger

Steven Erlanger is the chief diplomatic correspondent for The New York Times, covering Europe from his base in Berlin. He writes on foreign policy, European policy, diplomacy, conflict, migration, and integration, with more recent focus on NATO, American foreign policy, Russia, and the war in Ukraine.

He studied political philosophy and government at Harvard and later taught at the Kennedy School of Government. Having grown up during the Vietnam War, attended Woodstock, and found his way into journalism, he began at The Boston Globe before joining The New York Times in 1987.

Erlanger has reported from more than 120 countries, some of them no longer in existence, and has served as bureau chief in London, Bangkok, Moscow, Paris, Jerusalem, Berlin, Brussels, Prague, and Belgrade, as well as chief diplomatic correspondent in Washington.

Among his many honors, he has shared in two Pulitzer Prizes: one in 2002 for coverage of Al Qaeda and another in 2017 for reporting on Russia.

Find out more about Salzburg Global on salzburgglobal.org