Episode #241

Jack Sim’s Toilet Revolution: Flushing Stigma, Building Impact

About this Podcast:

In this episode, social entrepreneur Jack Sim, founder of the World Toilet Organization, shares how he turned a global taboo into a movement. From starting the Restroom Association of Singapore to launching the first World Toilet Summit in Delhi with support from leaders like Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Jack has helped bring toilets to 2.5 billion people. He discusses India’s Swachh Bharat Mission, films like Toilet: Ek Prem Katha, and partnerships with Reckitt’s Harpic World Toilet College. With wit and wisdom, he explores sanitation’s impact on health, climate, and CSR, while offering bold strategies to navigate bureaucracy and inspire change.

Key Takeaways:

  • Jack Sim, founder of the World Toilet Organization, turned toilets into a global movement.
  • India’s Swachh Bharat Mission and leaders like Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam helped mainstream sanitation.
  • Bollywood films like Toilet: Ek Prem Katha (Akshay Kumar) helped break taboos.
  • Sanitation has a 5–20x social return—better health, less disease, and more tourism.
  • CSR in India (2% profit rule) should prioritize sanitation for high impact.
  • Jack’s “Four Jacks” show how to tackle bureaucracy: Reject, Eject, Deject, Hijack.
  • Harpic World Toilet College trained 35,000 sanitation workers with Reckitt’s support.
  • Even gossip can drive change—used in Cambodia’s community-led toilet efforts.
  • Sanitation is linked to climate, public health, and economic growth.
  • True leadership = serving where no one else wants to.

Tune in to this powerful public health podcast exploring how sanitation shapes health, climate, and community impact.

00:00 Highlights
01:14 Introduction
01:45 Breaking the Silence on Sanitation
03:30 From Businessman to Social Entrepreneur
05:10 Making Toilets a Political Agenda
09:08 The Power of Media and Public Engagement
12:11 Sanitation as a Climate and Environmental Issue
13:24 Corporate Social Responsibility in Sanitation
14:56 Navigating Bureaucracy for Change
18:06 Capacity Building for Sustainable Sanitation
21:17 Opportunities and Challenges in India
23:16 Empowering Young Change Makers
24:45 Leadership Lessons from the Sanitation Movement
25:58 A Call to Action for Global Leaders
27:05 Engaging with the Sanitation Cause

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Connect with Us
Mohua Chinappa: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mohua-chinappa/
The Mohua Show: https://www.themohuashow.com
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Connect with Guest
Jack Sim: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-sim-75732313b/

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Disclaimer
The views expressed by our guests are their own. We do not endorse and are not responsible for any views expressed by our guests on our podcast and its associated platforms.
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#JackSim #WorldToiletOrganization #SwachhBharatMission #ToiletEkPremKatha #PublicHealth #SocialEntrepreneurship #HarpicWorldToiletCollege #OpenDefecationFree #ToiletRevolution #LeadershipForChange #WASHInitiative #ToiletsSaveLives

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