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PODCAST

The Human Risk Podcast

People are often described as the largest asset in most organisations. They are also the biggest single cause of risk. This podcast explores the topic of "human risk", or "the risk of people doing things they shouldn"t or not doing things they should", and examines how behavioural science can help us mitigate it. It also looks at "human reward", or "how to get the most out of people". When we manage human risk, we often stifle human reward. Equally, when we unleash human reward, we often

science social sciences

All Episodes

64:50

James Geary on The Art of The Aphorism

The Human Risk Podcast ·

2025/11/09

Can a single sentence change the way you see the world? My guest on this episode, James Geary thinks so.Episode SummaryOn this episode, I speak with writer and journalist James, whose lifelong fascination with aphorisms — the world’s shortest literary form — reveals why brevity really is the soul of wit. James explains what makes an aphorism work, shares the five laws that define them, and explores how these concise little sayings have guided human thought from ancient times to social media. We

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62:24

Dr Nicholas Wright on How the Brain Shapes War and...

The Human Risk Podcast ·

2025/11/01

What can war teach us about how the human brain really works? And why is human decision-making a more significant factor than military strength in wars?Episode SummaryOn this episode, I'm exploring how the human brain truly manifests in conflict—and what that reveals about everyday decision-making. Dr Nicholas Wright, a neurologist-turned-neuroscientist who advises the Pentagon Joint Staff, joins me to discuss his new book Warhead: How the Brain Shapes War and War Shapes the Brain. In our

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66:34

Dr Nikolay Kukushkin on Memory

The Human Risk Podcast ·

2025/10/25

What if your body is learning things your mind doesn’t know? What if memory wasn't just something that our brain has?Episode Summary On this episode, I'm exploring a bold idea with neuroscientist Dr Nikolay Kukushkin: memory doesn’t just live in the brain. It might be a basic property of life itself. We unpack how scientists define memory (behavioural change over time) versus how the rest of us use the word, and why that distinction matters—from sea slugs to kidney cells. I ask the “muscle memory”

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68:37

Richard Chataway on Designing AI for Humans

The Human Risk Podcast ·

2025/10/18

What if the biggest AI risk isn’t bias or data, but human behaviour itself? How might AI impact the people using it and what does that mean for how we design solutions and deploy the technology?Episode SummaryOn this episode, I’m joined by a returning guest. Richard Chataway is a behavioural science expert and strategist who joins me to explore how we can design AI systems that truly work for humans. Richard brings a unique lens to the conversation, combining insights from advertising, government

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55:14

Tom Hardin On Turning A Crime Into A Calling

The Human Risk Podcast ·

2025/10/05

What happens when the worst thing you’ve ever done becomes the foundation for your life’s work?Episode SummaryMy guest on this episode is Tom Hardin, otherwise known as Tipper X. He's been on the show before, but this time we're tackling a different angle.If you don’t already know his story, Tom was a rising star in the hedge fund world in his twenties when he became involved in insider trading. Caught by the FBI, he made the decision to cooperate — ultimately becoming one of the most prolific

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64:46

James Healy on BS at Work (Bullshit & Behavioural...

The Human Risk Podcast ·

2025/09/27

Why do so many workplaces run on bullshit processes and procedures? And how might Behavioural Science help resolve them?Episode SummaryIn this episode, I sit down with author, speaker and advisor James Healy to explore his book BS at Work — and the everyday nonsense we all recognise inside organisations.James argues that while behavioural science has transformed public policy and consumer behaviour, workplaces have lagged behind. We dig into why leaders keep choosing rituals over results, why

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63:07

Pep Rosenfeld on Work Laugh Balance

The Human Risk Podcast ·

2025/09/06

What if the most powerful tool at work isn’t logic, but laughter? On this episode I'm speaking to a comedian who far from thinking humour is a workplace distraction, thinks it might be one of our most powerful tools. Episode SummaryMy guest is Pep Rosenfeld: comedian, improviser, and co-founder of the Amsterdam-based comedy institution Boom Chicago. He’s also the author of Work Laugh Balance, a manifesto for injecting humour into the working world. We explore why humour matters; not just as

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54:21

Ella Jenkins & Pete Dyson on Why Do Cyclists Run Red...

The Human Risk Podcast ·

2025/08/31

Why do cyclists in London run red lights? It's against the law, and yet, if you've cycled, driven or just observed London's cyclists, you'll know that many of them don't stop when there's a red light. Confession time: I'm one of them. Not all the time, but some of the time, and weirdly not when I'm in Munich — the other city I live in — but only in London.The question of why this happens — not just my red light running, but the act in general — is the subject of this episode. Because I think this

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67:23

Dr Nuno Reis on Rare Dots

The Human Risk Podcast ·

2025/08/24

What if the ideas that linger in the back of your mind — the ones you can’t quite explain — are the ones you most need to pay attention to?Episode SummaryIn this episode, I explore that question with Dr Nuno Reis, a former physicist and investment banker turned thinker and guide in uncovering what he calls rare dots — those unique, pre-verbal insights that feel deeply resonant but don’t yet fit into our existing models of the world.Our conversation begins with Nuno’s unusual career path, from string

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69:22

Professor Christian van Nieuwberg on Radical Listening

The Human Risk Podcast ·

2025/08/17

Is listening a hidden superpower we’ve overlooked? You've heard of Active Listening, but what is Radical Listening and why does it matter?Episode SummaryOn this episode, I’m joined by Professor Christian van Nieuwerburgh, an academic who also describes himself as 'Coach on a Motorcycle'. He's on the show to help me explore what he calls 'Radical Listening'.Christian is Professor of Coaching and Positive Psychology at the University of East London and the co-author, with Dr Robert Biswas-Diener, of

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62:54

Dr Sunita Sah on Defiance - how to speak up when it...

The Human Risk Podcast ·

2025/08/09

Why do we follow orders or go along with things that feel wrong? Why might defiance be better than compliance? And how can we go about becoming more defiant?Episode SummaryI’ve always been fascinated by why people obey, even when it clashes with their instincts or values. In this conversation, I’m joined by Dr Sunita Sah — a physician-turned-organisational psychologist whose work explores the hidden social, cultural, and psychological forces behind compliance. Drawing from her research and personal

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60:39

Dr Libby Maman on Measuring and (Re-)building Trust

The Human Risk Podcast ·

2025/08/02

What happens when citizens lose faith in the institutions that serve them? And how can we rebuild that trust?Episode SummaryOn this episode, I'm speaking to someone who cares passionately about this subject and who has made it her life's work to research and solve it. From politicians who lie, to corruption scandals, to public services that simply don’t work the way we expect—especially when we're paying taxes and getting poor value—something feels broken. I want to know: how do we understand and

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65:09

Iain Morrison on When The Show Mustn't Go On

The Human Risk Podcast ·

2025/07/26

We’ve all heard the phrase ‘the show must go on’. But when shouldn’t the show go on? To help me answer that, I’m speaking to someone who has spent 35 years managing some of Australia’s most iconic large-scale events — from Taylor Swift concerts to public city spectacles with crowds over 200,000, and corporate experiences — and has often faced the question: when should the show really stop?My guest is Iain Morrison, wh,o as well as having a background in events, is now the CEO of a startup that

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69:45

Zsike Peter on Thinkbait

The Human Risk Podcast ·

2025/07/19

What if the real risk of AI isn’t job loss but brain atrophy?Episode SummaryIf you've spent any time on social media recently, you'll be familiar with the flood of low-quality AI-generated sludge. And on this episode, I'm speaking to someone who is leading a one-woman campaign against it and in favour of human-generated content. Her name is Zsike Peter and she's the fiercely human founder of an agency called Vampire Digital; you'll hear why its called that on the show. Zsike is also the author of a

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62:24

Dr Kiran Bhatti & Professor Thomas Roulet on...

The Human Risk Podcast ·

2025/07/12

What if we treated mental health like a capability instead of a crisis? On this episode, I'm talking to a business school professor and a counselling psychologist about their new book that looks at practical ways we can manage mental health. Not after it manifests itself, but beforehand.Episode SummaryMental health has become part of the workplace conversation, but all too often, that conversation stops at slogans and superficial gestures. On this episode, I explore what it really means to build

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62:12

Tahira Endean on Joy as a KPI (or why live events...

The Human Risk Podcast ·

2025/07/06

What if joy became the most important metric when we organised events? Or, to put it another way, why are so many events uninspiring and not very joyful?Episode SummaryOn this episode, I’m joined by event strategist, educator, and author Tahira Endean to explore a provocative question: what if we measured events not just by financial metrics, but by the joy they deliver?Drawing from her new book Our KPI is Joy: How Live Events Catalyze Happiness, Productivity and Trust, Tahira shares deep insights

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70:37

Claus Raasted on Getting Shit Done

The Human Risk Podcast ·

2025/06/29

Why is getting shit done so hard, and what can we do about it?Episode Summary Getting shit done isn’t just about motivation or tools, it’s about design. In this episode, I speak to Claus Raasted: consultant, author, speaker, experience designer, and someone who describes himself — with tongue firmly in cheek — as an “overpaid rockstar consultant.” But behind the flair is a deep understanding of how to remove friction, reframe work, and help people build systems that actually work for them. Claus and

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53:40

Katy Diggory on communicating across borders

The Human Risk Podcast ·

2025/06/21

What happens when a British communications expert takes her political instincts and corporate storytelling skills to Germany? 🎙️ Overview On this episode, I speak with Katy Diggory, who’s done exactly that — and learned a lot about tone, culture, and translation along the way. It’s a brilliant conversation that blends politics, international business, and linguistic nuance. We explore the difference between translating and localising a message, why AI struggles to sound human, and how tone of voice

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68:05

Kevin Evers on The Strategic Genius of Taylor Swift

The Human Risk Podcast ·

2025/06/14

What can a global pop icon teach us about business strategy? In the case of Taylor Swift, more than you might think.Episode SummaryOn this episode, I’m joined by Kevin Evers, senior editor at Harvard Business Review and the author of There's Nothing Like This: The Strategic Genius of Taylor Swift. We dive deep into what makes Swift not just a pop icon but a master strategist — someone who has repeatedly made bold, counterintuitive business decisions and turned them into career-defining moments

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66:30

Juliet Rosenfeld on Affairs

The Human Risk Podcast ·

2025/06/07

Why do people have affairs? What lessons can we learn from infidelity?It's estimated that an affair will impact one in five of us, yet it tends to be a taboo subject. So, on this episode, I'm going to break that taboo and explore the hidden world of affairs with psychoanalyst and author Juliet Rosenfeld.Juliet’s book, Affairs: Stories of Love, Lies, Hope and Desire, is an intimate look at why people have affairs, how those relationships shape us, and what they reveal about the unconscious forces at

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351 results

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