At the Coalface
At the Coalface is a series of conversations hosted by Philippe Rose.
Philippe's guests share stories about their life beyond the headlines of international affairs. They look for lessons learned about making an impact in the world as practitioners in diplomacy, international organisations, NGOs, journalism and the private sector.
Many of Philippe's guests are connected by their common experience of taking time away from work to attend graduate school at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy of Tufts University.
At the Coalface
Curtis A. Smith - The Doctrine of No: Power, Identity & the Politics of Refusal
In this episode, I sit down with Curtis A. Smith, a political thinker, author, and practitioner whose journey spans the worlds of media, finance, and direct community service. From a childhood steeped in conversations that challenged liberal orthodoxies, to feeding the homeless and working with youth in recovery, Curtis has developed a rich and personal understanding of power, injustice, and resilience.
We explore his early awakening to systems that weren’t as neutral as they seemed - race, governance, democracy - and how his African American identity evolved into a broader sense of African agency. We trace his path from independent media to the corporate finance world and ask how he makes sense of power across such divergent arenas.
Curtis shares how human connection, not theory, has most shaped his understanding of justice, and how his work today aims to bridge grassroots experience with geopolitical insight.
Recorded on 25 June 2025.
Connect with Curtis on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/curtis-a-smith-30a04621a.
Instagram: @at.the.coalface
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