

The Thread, from Alpha
Alpha International
The Thread is a space for fresh perspectives on Christian leadership, global culture, and evangelism in our changing world. Brought to you by Alpha, The Thread shares timely talks, relevant insights, and hosts open free-flowing conversations with diverse leaders from around the globe. All hosted by Stephen Foster.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jun 4, 2021 • 51min
Rick & Kay Warren on Navigating the Pain of Loss, Building Resiliency & Rebuilding in the Post-Pandemic World
Rick and Kay Warren are pastors, authors and global influencers. They founded Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California in 1980. Since then Saddleback has become one of the most influential churches in the United States and Rick and Kay continue to be at the forefront of the evangelical movement, encouraging churches everywhere to be a sanctuary for hope and healing.
https://www.alpha.org/blog/leadership-conversations-with-nicky-gumbel-podcast-rick-kay-warren

May 21, 2021 • 25min
Heidy Quah on Becoming an Advocate for Refugees at Age 18, Where Her Courage Comes From & Her Advice for Aspiring Young Difference Makers
Heidy Quah is a 26-year-old human rights activist who founded Refuge For The Refugees [RFTR], a one-stop centre that looks into advocating for the rights of refugees in Malaysia. Almost a decade into working with underserved populations, Heidy specializes in taking on highly complex human trafficking cases, as well as advising corporations on their anti-slavery and human trafficking policies. Heidy is currently an Associate Professor at Taylors Lakeside University, and a supervisor to a PHD candidate in Australia Catholic University. Heidy’s work over the past decade has seen her recognized regionally and globally, winning two notable awards – The Queen’s Young Leaders Award and the South East Asia Women Of The Future Award, marking some of the best practices in the region.
https://www.alpha.org/blog/leadership-conversations-with-nicky-gumbel-podcast-heidy-quah

May 7, 2021 • 38min
Dr. Francis Collins on Leading in the Fight Against COVID, Reconciling Faith With Science & Why He's Hopeful For Our Future
Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D. was appointed the 16th Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the Senate in 2009. In this role, Dr. Collins oversees the work of the largest supporter of biomedical research in the world, spanning the spectrum from basic to clinical research. Dr. Collins is a physician-geneticist noted for his landmark discoveries of disease genes and his leadership of the international Human Genome Project, which culminated in April 2003 with the completion of a finished sequence of the human DNA instruction book. He served as director of the National Human Genome Research Institute at NIH from 1993-2008.
Dr. Collins is an elected member of both the National Academy of Medicine and the National Academy of Sciences, was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in November 2007, and received the National Medal of Science in 2009. In 2020, he was elected as a Foreign Member of the Royal Society (UK) and was also named the 50th winner of the Templeton Prize, which celebrates scientific and spiritual curiosity.
https://www.alpha.org/blog/leadership-conversations-with-nicky-gumbel-podcast-francis-collins

Apr 23, 2021 • 31min
Rebecca Stewart on How to Effectively Interview Someone, the Right Way to Let A Team Member Go & the Obligation to Dissent
Rebecca served on the staff at the HTB Group for 14 years, as Head of Alpha UK, COO and Group CEO, prior to which she worked in banking, consulting and head-hunting. Rebecca now works with charitable foundations and is the Vice-Chair of Alpha International. She is married to Alex and they have two children.
https://www.alpha.org/blog/leadership-conversations-with-nicky-gumbel-podcast-rebecca-stewart/

Apr 9, 2021 • 52min
Cardinal Luis Tagle on Not Taking Yourself Too Seriously, the Power of Storytelling & What Helps Him Hold Leadership Lightly
Jump into the Leadership Conference archives to hear this conversation between Cardinal Luis Tagle and Nicky Gumbel from 2017.
Cardinal Tagle is currently living in Rome working as the Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. He was the 32nd Archbishop of Manila from 2011 to 2020. Today he also serves as the president of Caritas International, a federation of Catholic relief, development, and social service organizations, and of the Catholic Biblical Federation. More recently in 2021, he has become a member of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Holy See.
https://www.alpha.org/blog/leadership-conversations-with-nicky-gumbel-podcast-cardinal-luis-tagle

Mar 26, 2021 • 45min
Isaac Borquaye (Guvna B) on the Power of Words, What the Younger Generation Really Wants & the Best Response to Issues of Inequality
Isaac Borquaye (Guvna B) is an author and multi award-winning, record-breaking urban rap artist from London. He has carved out a unique place for himself in the music world, and his other artistic endeavours draw on his personal experiences of life in London, bringing together themes of faith, masculinity and identity.
Since winning his first MOBO Music Award at just 20 years old, Guvna’s journey has been one of breathless success and cutting-edge creativity. In a world often plagued by negativity, Guvna B hopes that he can be a beacon of light. His work is intended to demonstrate the strength and inspiration faith can bring.
He lives in London with his wife and son.
https://www.alpha.org/blog/leadership-conversations-with-nicky-gumbel-podcast-guvna-b

Mar 12, 2021 • 1h 14min
Christine Caine on Wanting to Give up at Age 50, the Value of Seasons in Obscurity & Her Tried Wisdom for Living an Integrated Life
Together with her husband, Nick, Christine founded the anti-human trafficking organization, The A21 Campaign – a recipient of the Mother Theresa Memorial Award for their work combating human trafficking among refugees. They also founded Propel Women, an organization designed to celebrate every woman’s passion, purpose, and potential. Christine and Nick make their home in Southern California with their daughters, Catherine and Sophia.
https://www.alpha.org/blog/leadership-conversations-with-nicky-gumbel-podcast-christine-caine

Feb 12, 2021 • 1h 6min
Nicky & Pippa Interview Jackie Pullinger on Over 55 Years of Missionary Work in Hong Kong
Jackie Pullinger is a missionary in Hong Kong and founder of the St Stephen's Society. She has been serving in Hong Kong since 1966. The early years of her Hong Kong ministry are chronicled in her book Chasing the Dragon.
https://www.alpha.org/blog/leadership-conversations-with-nicky-gumbel-podcast-jackie-pullinger

Feb 1, 2021 • 43min
Jon Tyson Interviews Nicky Gumbel on the Urgency of This Moment
Jon Tyson is a Pastor and Church Planter in New York City. Originally from Adelaide, Australia, Jon moved to the United States twenty years ago with a passion to seek and cultivate renewal in the Western Church. He is the author of Beautiful Resistance, Sacred Roots, A Creative Minority, and The Burden is Light.
Nicky Gumbel is the pioneer of Alpha and Vicar of HTB in London, one of the largest Church of England churches in the UK. He is the author of many books and is married to Pippa.
https://www.alpha.org/blog/leadership-conversations-with-nicky-gumbel-podcast-jon-tyson/

Jan 17, 2021 • 41min
Anthony Tan on Leading a Multi-Billion Dollar Company With Christ-Like Integrity & Sacrificing Profits for Kingdom Values
Anthony Tan is Group CEO and Co-Founder of Grab, Southeast Asia’s leading mobile technology company focused on bringing transport freedom and financial inclusion to the region. Under his leadership, the company has expanded into eight countries across Southeast Asia. Grab's core product platform includes commuting solutions for drivers and passengers with an emphasis on convenience, safety, and reliability, as well as its proprietary mobile payments platform, GrabPay.
By focusing on a hyperlocal business strategy and building strategic partnerships, Anthony and his team successfully transformed Grab from a taxi booking app to the market-leading offline-to-online consumer app that offers the most diversified portfolio of transport services, and its popular mobile payments platform in Southeast Asia.
Anthony graduated with a Bachelor of Arts with Honors in Economics and Public Policy from the University of Chicago and has a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with Honors from Harvard Business School. Anthony has a hands-on leadership style and travels obsessively within Southeast Asia to inspire and fight with his teammates on the ground.
https://www.alpha.org/blog/leadership-conversations-with-nicky-gumbel-podcast-anthony-tan/


