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From Battlefield to Stage: Ukrainian Opera Singers’ Incredible Survival & Hope | Cultural Forces

From Battlefield to Stage: Ukrainian Opera Singers’ Incredible Survival & Hope | Cultural Forces

by | Jul 22, 2025 | ,

Discover the extraordinary journeys of Ukrainian opera singers Iurii Ivaskevich and Sergii Ivanchuk as they transition from the grand stages to the frontlines in defense of their country. In an inspiring interview, they recount their experiences during the early moments of Russia’s invasion, the life-changing events that followed—including severe injuries and months of recovery—and the critical role of the Cultural Forces initiative, founded by TV personality Mykolai Sierga.
Cultural Forces brings together Ukraine’s creative community to support and uplift wounded soldiers and civilians through the healing power of music and art. Both Iurii and Sergii share powerful reflections on survival, loss, and humanity, and how their return to music is now a mission for hope and unity in Ukraine’s darkest hours.
Watch as these remarkable artists reveal what it means to find purpose and resilience through culture—even in the midst of war.

Cultural Forces with Mykolai Sierga: Ukraine’s Secret Weapon in International Relations (MDE618)

Cultural Forces with Mykolai Sierga: Ukraine’s Secret Weapon in International Relations (MDE618)

by | Jul 20, 2025 | , , , ,

This podcast features an interview with Mikolai Sierga, founder of Cultural Forces, an organisation using art and culture to support Ukraine during the war. Sierga discusses how he joined the army, created Cultural Forces, and uses music and storytelling to connect with audiences worldwide. He shares experiences from performances in the US and Europe, highlighting the power of culture in conveying Ukraine’s message and values.

Key points:

1. Culture and art are powerful tools for sharing Ukraine’s story and building international support.

2. Personal stories and emotional connections are more effective than statistics in engaging audiences and changing perceptions about the war.

Women’s Professional Padel at Mid-Season 2025: A Championship Battle Unfolds

Women’s Professional Padel at Mid-Season 2025: A Championship Battle Unfolds

by | Jul 16, 2025 |

At the midpoint of the 2025 women’s professional padel season, the sport is experiencing unprecedented global growth and fierce competition. The rivalry between Triay/Brea and Sánchez/Josemaría has defined the year’s major finals, while new partnerships like Araújo/Ustero are making headlines with breakthrough victories. Explore the latest FIP rankings, key tournament results, and the shifting dynamics among the world’s top 100 women’s padel players in this in-depth mid-season analysis from Joy of Padel.

Building the Padel Bible: PwC’s Elena Martín on Industry Insights (JOPS03E13)

Building the Padel Bible: PwC’s Elena Martín on Industry Insights (JOPS03E13)

by | Jul 15, 2025 | ,

This podcast delves into the global growth of padel with Elena Martín, co-author of the 2025 Global Padel Report. The discussion explores the sport’s rapid expansion, with a new club opening every 2.5 hours worldwide. Elena shares insights on market maturation, player retention rates, and the potential for padel in various countries. The conversation also touches on the sport’s Olympic aspirations and the challenges it faces in achieving that goal.

Key points:

1. Padel has a 92% retention rate, indicating high player engagement and enjoyment.

2. The USA is projected to become the largest padel market before 2030, signaling significant growth potential.

Radical Clarity – Pete Steege on Transforming Accidental CEOs into Purposeful Leaders (MDE617)

Radical Clarity – Pete Steege on Transforming Accidental CEOs into Purposeful Leaders (MDE617)

by | Jul 13, 2025 | , ,

This podcast explores the concept of meaning in business, featuring guest Pete Steege, author of “Radical Clarity.” Steege discusses how accidental CEOs can uncover meaning, lead with purpose, and accelerate growth. The conversation delves into the importance of shared meaning, the challenges of leadership isolation, and the need for radical clarity in a noisy world. Steege introduces his CMP framework (Clarity, Meaning, Purpose) and emphasizes the role of purpose in driving business success.

Key points:

1. Meaning is essential for business viability and personal fulfillment.

2. Radical clarity involves making room for meaning by finding truth and removing obstacles.

A Report on Men’s Professional Padel at Mid-Season 2025

A Report on Men’s Professional Padel at Mid-Season 2025

by | Jul 11, 2025 |

Discover the latest trends in men’s professional padel at the mid-point of the 2025 season! Dive into the global rankings, see which pairs are dominating the FIP P1, Major, and P2 tournaments, and learn how new nations and rising stars are making their mark. From the powerhouse performances of Spain and Argentina to the grassroots expansion worldwide, our analysis highlights the sport’s explosive growth, competitive balance, and the inspiring journeys of players breaking through. Whether you’re a seasoned fan or new to padel, this update captures the energy and joy of the world’s fastest-growing racket sport.

The Rise of Padel in Saudi Arabia: Najwa Salhab’s Journey (JOPS03E12)

The Rise of Padel in Saudi Arabia: Najwa Salhab’s Journey (JOPS03E12)

by | Jul 2, 2025 | ,

This podcast features Najwa Salhab, a Saudi Arabian padel player, discussing her journey in the sport. She shares insights on padel’s growth in Saudi Arabia, her experiences playing for the national team, and the strategic elements of the game. Najwa highlights the importance of communication and adaptability in padel, drawing parallels between the sport and life skills. The conversation also touches on the differences between men’s and women’s approaches to padel partnerships.

Key points:
1. Padel’s rapid growth in Saudi Arabia, evolving from a trend to a established sport with increasing investment in facilities.
2. The strategic importance of slowing down the game and controlling shots, rather than focusing solely on power.

The Padel Revolution in Greater Manchester: A Tale of Two Cities

The Padel Revolution in Greater Manchester: A Tale of Two Cities

by | Jul 1, 2025 | ,

Padel is booming in the UK, with nearly 900 courts and over 400,000 players as of 2024. Greater Manchester stands out as a regional leader—set to surpass 100 courts by 2025, including the North West’s largest padel hub. Yet, the sport’s rapid growth also highlights stark inequalities: affluent areas like Stockport and Trafford are well-served, while more than 1.3 million residents in boroughs such as Bolton and Salford have no local access. For padel to thrive as a truly inclusive community sport, investment must reach beyond the elite enclaves and into underserved neighborhoods.

To Book Minter!

I’m Minter Dial and I serve my clients by elevating the debate and energy, telling powerful stories and connecting people and ideas. My mission to insert more meaningfulness into our lives and at work. I relish being an engaging professional speaker on leadership, transformation and branding. I’m known for being someone who walks the talk and delivers on or above expectations. I’m the author of four award-winning books, including the second edition of my award-winning book, Heartificial Empathy (April 2023, available in English and French), You Lead published by Kogan Page that won the Business Book Award 2022, and Futureproof (FT-Press/Pearson) that won the Business Book Award 2018. I’m also the producer of the award-winning WWII book and documentary film The Last Ring Home.

My new project is Dialogos, Fostering More Meaningful Conversations that is being published weekly via Substack, which will be converted into a book end of 2023.

Click here to inquire about booking Minter!

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