Episode #24 of Impact in the 21st Century features the legendary author, editor, and bibliophile Alberto Manguel.

Alberto Manguel is the acclaimed author of A History of Reading, The Library at Night, and dozens of other works exploring literature, memory, and the profound human need for stories. A lifetime reader and former Director of the National Library of Argentina, Manguel has lived a life shaped by books—reading to Jorge Luis Borges as a teenager, curating libraries across continents, and writing deeply about the roles books play in our personal and collective lives.

In this episode, Manguel offers a masterclass on the power of reading in shaping empathy, identity, and civilization itself. We explore:

• What it means to read deeply in a distracted age
• How libraries function as the “memory of humanity”
• Why stories hold the key to understanding ourselves and our societies
• His reflections on the current state—and future—of reading

This is a timeless conversation for lovers of language, ideas, and the written word.

🎙️ What is Impact in the 21st Century?

Impact in the 21st Century is a podcast that celebrates the impactful work being done around the globe, and shares the stories of the inspiring individuals who are behind it.

👤 Who hosts the podcast? Aaron Friedland is a National Geographic Explorer, PhD Candidate in Econometrics at UBC, and Executive Director of Simbi Foundation.

🦻Who Makes It Sound Good?

Tom Foster is an Award-Winning Recording Engineer and Cinematographer, Up-and-Coming Composer, Film Scoring Student at Berklee College of Music, and Head of Audio & Music for the Sea Change Project.

This podcast is brought to you by Simbi Foundation & The Goood Life.

Episode #23 of Impact in the 21st Century features the dynamic Hylton Kallner.

Hylton is the CEO of Discovery Bank, a trailblazer in digital banking and behavioral economics. With a background in actuarial science and a deep passion for innovation, Hylton has helped shape Discovery’s vision of a shared-value ecosystem—one that rewards people for living healthier and more financially responsible lives.

In this episode, Hylton shares the journey of building Discovery Bank from the ground up, the power of incentives to change behavior at scale, and how technology, when aligned with purpose, can redefine financial services. From tackling inequality to enabling better money habits through gamified banking, Hylton’s insights are both practical and inspiring.

We also dive into his personal motivations, the future of finance, and why South Africa is uniquely positioned to pioneer inclusive banking solutions that make a real difference.

🎙️ What is Impact in the 21st Century?

Impact in the 21st Century is a podcast that celebrates the impactful work being done around the globe, and shares the stories of the inspiring individuals who are behind it.

👤 Who hosts the podcast? Aaron Friedland is a National Geographic Explorer, PhD Candidate in Econometrics at UBC, and Executive Director of Simbi Foundation.

🦻Who Makes It Sound Good?

Tom Foster is an Award-Winning Recording Engineer and Cinematographer, Up-and-Coming Composer, Film Scoring Student at Berklee College of Music, and Head of Audio & Music for the Sea Change Project.

This podcast is brought to you by Simbi Foundation & The Goood Life. This episode is sponsored by RBC.

Episode #22 of Impact in the 21st Century features the inspiring Dr. Charles Owubah.

Dr. Charles Owubah is the CEO of Action Against USA, an organization working to end the global hunger crisis.

Originally from Ghana, Dr. Owubah began his humanitarian work with a Master of Science and Ph.D. in Natural Resource Management and Policy from Purdue University.

From academia and consultancy, Dr. Owubah spent 20 years working at World Vision before moving to Action Against Hunger, where he heads the executive team, providing strategic direction to more than 1,600 staff across 8 countries and facilitating the organization’s support for millions of people around the world experiencing hunger.

In this episode, hear from Dr. Owubah about the true scale of the global hunger crisis, his own experiences growing up hungry, the work of Action Against Hunger to provide nutrition and food services in emergency contexts, and the importance of sustainability.

Learn more about Action Against Hunger USA: https://www.actionagainsthunger.org/

This episode is sponsored by RBC.

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What is Impact in the 21st Century?

Impact in the 21st Century is a podcast that celebrates the impactful work being done around the globe, and shares the stories of the inspiring individuals who are behind it.

Who hosts Impact in the 21st Century?

Aaron Friedland is a National Geographic Explorer, PhD Candidate in Econometrics at UBC, and Executive Director of Simbi Foundation.

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