What happens when war, resilience, and optimism collide on a tiny island in the Indian Ocean?
In this special Boxing Day episode of The Week UnSpun, David Gallagher is off so Doug Downs and Farzana Baduel trade headlines for heart as Farzana shares her recent three-week journey through Sri Lanka, a country shaped by civil war, natural disasters, and powerful recovery. From her work with the Halo Trust, the world’s largest demining organization, to meeting the Prime Minister and local heroes reclaiming their land, Farzana brings vivid stories of courage and transformation.
The episode shifts gears into lighter fare with a fun, AI-generated “Board of Advisors,” exploring 2026 PR trends and cheeky questions like everyone’s favorite ice cream. It’s a soulful blend of global awareness, digital imagination, and strategic storytelling, all wrapped in warmth, wit, and curiosity.
GPT Board Members (and Good Sports) Included:
• Anne-Marie Blake
• Catherine Arrow
• Candace Kuss
• Rod Cartwright
• Aaron Berger
Watch For
00:42 Why is Sri Lanka one of the most heavily mined countries in the world?
04:16 How are women leading Sri Lanka’s post-war recovery?
06:12 What should Sri Lanka’s global brand really be?
11:00 What if you could build your own AI-powered board of advisors?
12:55 What PR trends will shape 2026?
The Week Unspun is a weekly livestream every Friday at 10am ET/3pm BT. Check it out on our YouTube Channel or via this LinkedIn channel
Listen on your favorite podcast app https://podcast.storiesandstrategies.ca/episodes/
