Direct Talk: 2021 season 2024

Believing in the Strength of the African People: Ogawa Shingo / Director of NGO Supporting Social Reintegration of Child Soldiers

Delicious Dishes, Zero Waste: Phanuphon Bulsuwan / Owner/Chef, Blackitch Artisan Kitchen

The Rewilding of an Aristocrat's Farm: Isabella Tree / Writer, Environmentalist

A New Era of Drama: Stephen Garrett / Drama Producer

Giving Back to Society: Tamai Yoshiomi / President & Founder, Ashinaga

Have the Courage to Open Up Your Future: Jimmy Pham / Founder of KOTO

Pushing the Boundaries: Iida Masashige / Visual Artist

Technology to Defeat the Coronavirus: Tran Ngoc Phuc / Chairman, Metran

Relief Beds Made of Cardboard: Mizutani Yoshihiro / President, J Packs

Beyond the Divide: Richard Misrach / Photographer

Floating a Sinking City: Kotchakorn Voraakhom / Landscape Architect

Comic Books Give Us Hope: Takahama Kan / Comic Book Artist

Rescuing People from Domestic Violence: Marc Hull-Jacquin / Founder/Executive Director of Shelter Movers

Human Diversity for a Flourishing Life: Rosemarie Garland-Thomson / Bioethicist

Music Education for Democracy: Gilles Delebarre / Music Pedagogue, Philharmonie de Paris

Connecting a Divided World Through Film: Eric Khoo / Filmmaker

Ethnic Equality Through Music: Chi Suwichan Phatthanaphraiwan / University Professor, Social Artivist

Uprising for Human Rights: Wanda Traczyk-Stawska / Former Warsaw Uprising Soldier

Protecting Hornbills and Communities: Nureehan Da-ouli / Hornbill Conservationist

Dancing Through a Pandemic: Akram Khan / Dancer and Choreographer

Documenting Lebanon's Pain: Carol Mansour / Documentary Filmmaker

Textiles Overcoming Crises: Olga Reiche / Guatemalan Textile Expert

Reimagine Hope With Music: Paul Miller aka DJ Spooky / Multimedia Artist, Composer, Author

A Mission To Share Music: Wasfi Kani / Founder & CEO, Grange Park Opera

Reimagining Education: Christopher Emdin / Associate Professor, Columbia University

Unlocking UAE's Future With Science: Sarah Al Amiri / Minister of State for Advanced Technology, UAE

Saving Wild Animals With VR: Ulrico Grech-Cumbo / VR Filmmaker

Life Is Like Prélude: Alice Sara Ott / Pianist

Brexit and Beyond: Anand Menon / Professor of European Politics and Foreign Affairs

Flourishing Past Seventy: Maye Musk / Dietitian and Fashion Model

Exploring the Origins of Life: Tsuda Yuichi / Hayabusa2 Project Manager

Saving Lives in the Mediterranean: Pietro Bartolo / Doctor and MEP

Sharing Voices from Our Refugee Camp: Omar Ahmad / Citizen Journalist, Campji

Defender of Indigenous Peoples: Rukka Sombolinggi / Secretary General of AMAN, Indigenous Peoples Alliance of the Archipelago

The World Beneath the Waves: Kagii Yasuaki / Underwater Photographer

The Positive Power of Comedy: Saku Yanagawa / Stand-Up Comedian

Braving Press Freedom: Maria Ressa / Journalist

Reality of Refugees Through Video Games: Lual Mayen / Video Game Developer

Never Giving Up: Ranulph Fiennes / Expedition Leader & Author

Dancing Up a Storm: SIROCO / Flamenco Dancer

Capturing the Truth Beneath the Waves: Sirachai Arunrugstichai / Conservation Photographer

E-waste to Treasure: Mohamed Tarek El-Fatatry / Social Entrepreneur

3D Printers Evolve With an Open-Source Approach: Josef Prusa / Founder and CEO of Prusa Research

Share the Sunshine!: Chang Sung-un / CEO of YOLK

Living With Wildlife: Alain Reynes / Environmentalist / NPO Pays de l'Ours - Adet

A Decade After 3.11 Part 1: Iwai Shunji / Film Director

A Decade After 3.11 Part 2: Iwai Shunji / Film Director

Connecting Ourselves With Folk Music: Tigran Hamasyan / Pianist and Composer

Flushing Taboos Away: Jack Sim / Founder of the World Toilet Organization

First-rate Dining, Sustainable Food: Mauro Colagreco / Owner and Chef, Mirazur

Meeting the Moment Through Art: Bill T. Jones / Choreographer, Artistic Director

Making the Climate Crisis Personal: Mary Robinson / Former President of Ireland

Refugees Give Back: Waheed Arian / Emergency Doctor and Founder of Arian Teleheal

On the Front Line of the Infodemic: Baybars Örsek / Director, International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN)

Misinformation in a Time of COVID: Imran Ahmed / CEO, Center for Countering Digital Hate

Glowing Glass: Sasaki Rui / Glass Artist

Singing With Nightingales: Sam Lee / Folk Musician

Fighting Anti-Asian Hate: Cynthia Choi / Co-founder, Stop AAPI Hate

Boundless Mobility: Sugie Satoshi / CEO, Whill

Copper Plates Filled with Wonder: Tanaka Kiyo / Children's Book Author

Traveling Blind: Amar Latif / Traveler and Founder of Traveleyes

Lighting Up the Future With Small Inventions!: Ann Makosinski / Inventor and Speaker

Giving Ballet an African Flair: Daniel Owoseni Ajala / Founder of Leap of Dance Academy

A Sanctuary for Ex-Gang Members: Greg Boyle / Founder of Homeboy Industries

Eradicating Eye Disease: Kubota Ryo / Ophthalmologist & CEO, Kubota Pharmaceutical Holdings

A Model for Sustainable Support: Doya Yuto / CEO, Cloudy/President, NPO Doooooooo

Silent Voice of Panama Hotel: Jan Johnson / Owner of Panama Hotel

Turning Others Away From Hate: Christian Picciolini / Former Extremist, Founder of Free Radicals Project

The Genius of Persistence: Hori Takahide / Film Director

Find Your Own Color: Kodo Nishimura / Buddhist Monk, Makeup Artist

Nothing Is Impossible: Massimiliano Sechi / No Excuses CEO

Dreaming of Wild Wolves: Otake Hidehiro / Photographer

U.N. Lessons for Local Action: Murakami Kiyoshi / Strategy Advisor, City of Rikuzentakata

The Illusion of Reality: Egawa Etsuko / Special Effects Makeup Artist

Dancing With My Passion: Kaneko Fumi / Principal of The Royal Ballet

Intertwining Architecture and Nature: Fujimori Terunobu / Architect, Architectural Historian

We Need Stories to Make the World a Better Place: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie / Writer

Sustainability Through Shoes: Tim Brown / Co-Founder, Allbirds

Raising a Courageous Voice: Lori Matsukawa / Seattle Broadcast Journalist

Secret Help for Domestic Violence: Krysia Paszko / Founder, Camomiles and Pansies

A Safe Space for Disaster Survivors: Kaneta Taio / Buddhist Monk

Supporting Struggling Artists: Kajiya Yuriko / Ballet Dancer

The Irresistible Urge to Write: Sasha Filipenko / Writer

A New Era With More Female Astronauts: Christina Koch / NASA Astronaut

The Spotlight on South Africa's Shack Dwellers: S'bu Zikode / President of Abahlali baseMjondolo

Overcoming Cultural Barriers in Business: Jane Hyun / Global Leadership Strategist and Executive Coach

Women's Rights Trailblazer: Fawzia Koofi / Politician, Women's Rights Activist

Cultivating Hope: Miura Hiroshi / Farmer/President, NPO Nomado

Shea Butter Creating a Sustainable Future: Olivier Baussan / L'Occitane Founder and L'Occitane Foundation Vice President

Freedom from Period Poverty: Emilia Kaczmarek / Founder, Menstruation Action

Questioning Normality: Murata Sayaka / Novelist

Between Two Worlds: Hosoda Mamoru / Anime Director

Fighting for LGBTQ Children To Thrive: Amber Briggle / Advocate for LBGTQ Children's Rights

Kashana, Schools for All: Abdul Baqi Samandar / Founder, Kashana School

A Future Through Technology and Dialogue: Abeer Bandak / Tech2Peace Cofounder

Making Wine in Tropical Thailand: Visootha Lohitnavy / Oenologist, GranMonte Vineyard and Winery

Disaster Recovery Professionals With a Human Touch: Sheldon Yellen / CEO of BELFOR Holdings

My Dear Afghanistan: Yasui Hiromi / Photo Journalist

The Heart of Judo: Amano Akiko / Referee, International Judo Federation

The Power of Ostrich Antibodies: Tsukamoto Yasuhiro / Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Ph.D., President, Kyoto Prefectural University

Independence for the Co-Existence: Lilianne Fan / Co-Founder of Geutanyoe Foundation

The Education Emergency Facing Migrant Children: Andrea Rincon / Advocate for Migrant Children

The First To Get Noticed: Yano Koji / Actor

Designing for Human Behavior: Nakamura Hiroshi / Architect

A World Where You Can Be Yourself: Hoshi Kento / CEO, JobRainbow

Giving and Receiving, Challenge for a Gift Economy: Rebecca Rockefeller / Co-Founder of the Buy Nothing Project

An Icy Solution to Poverty, Hunger and Empowerment: Pankaj Garg / CEO, Innovation Thru Energy

Tackling Climate Change: Hirata Kimiko / International Director, Kiko Network

Creating Original Ainu Art: Kaizawa Toru / Woodcarver

Local Communities Taking the Lead: Fujita Chiyoko / Nurse/Chief, PMS Support Unit Japan

Carving Out a Place for Myself: Lito / Leaf-Cutting Artist

Paving the Way for Minorities: Douangmany Heuangkhamsene (Tookta) / Founder of Her Works, Social Entrepreneur

Touchless Technologies of Tomorrow: Otsubo Makoto / Aerial Imaging Display Developer

Lighting the Fire to Win: Tom Hovasse / Former Head Coach, Japan Women's National Basketball Team

A More Inclusive World: Adli Yahya / Founder of Autism Café Project

AI: Cracking the Code of Drug Discovery: Noor Shaker / Founder, Glamorous AI

Music That Stirs Your Soul: Ichika Nito / Guitarist

Small Moments of Happiness: SHOGEN / Artist

Sake That Expresses Terroir: Imada Miho / Sake Master Brewer

Stopping Discrimination Against Women's Bodies: Bak Seulgi / Obstetrician-Gynecologist

Venezuelan Brings Diversity to Podium: Glass Marcano / Conductor

Sculptures That Produce Sound: Doriano Sulis / Biwa Artisan

Saving Lives and Restoring Dignity: Kojima Marina / Midwife

The Art of Perception: Amy Herman / Founder of the Art of Perception