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 inadvertently increase human risk.
Episodes
April 27, 2025 • 61 mins
What's the most important thing we can all do to be happy? According to my guest on this episode, it's embracing the thing that made us weird as kids.
🎙️ Episode Summary
On this episode, I’m joined once again by the inimitable James Victore — artist, author, and creative provocateur — to explore the power of embracing your inner weirdo.
James has just published Hey Weirdo, an eBook that argues the very things that made us weird a...
🎙️ Episode Summary
On this episode, I’m joined once again by the inimitable James Victore — artist, author, and creative provocateur — to explore the power of embracing your inner weirdo.
James has just published Hey Weirdo, an eBook that argues the very things that made us weird a...
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April 18, 2025 • 66 mins
Why was there a women’s orchestra in Auschwitz, and what can that help us understand human resilience?
In this deeply moving episode of the show, I speak with Anne Sebba — renowned biographer, historian, and journalist — about one of the Holocaust’s most extraordinary and little-known stories: the Women’s Orchestra of Auschwitz.
Anne’s latest book tells the story of how a group of female prisoners were forced to form an orchestra i...
In this deeply moving episode of the show, I speak with Anne Sebba — renowned biographer, historian, and journalist — about one of the Holocaust’s most extraordinary and little-known stories: the Women’s Orchestra of Auschwitz.
Anne’s latest book tells the story of how a group of female prisoners were forced to form an orchestra i...
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April 12, 2025 • 61 mins
What makes people want to go to museum? How can they ensure they still remain relevant?
I spend a lot of my time in museums. They inspire me, inform me and put me into mindsets I wouldn't otherwise be in. So I wanted to learn more about them.
Episode Summary
On this episode, I sit down with Matthew McNerney, Chief Creative Officer of Luci Creative, to explore the hidden psychology behind museum design. Matthew has worked on everyt...
I spend a lot of my time in museums. They inspire me, inform me and put me into mindsets I wouldn't otherwise be in. So I wanted to learn more about them.
Episode Summary
On this episode, I sit down with Matthew McNerney, Chief Creative Officer of Luci Creative, to explore the hidden psychology behind museum design. Matthew has worked on everyt...
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April 5, 2025 • 64 mins
What if the problem isn’t that you’re not happy enough — but that you’re chasing the wrong kind of happiness altogether?
Show Summary
On this episode I’m joined by Dr Mark Fabian, Associate Professor of Public Policy at the University of Warwick and author of Beyond Happy: How to Rethink Happiness and Find Fulfillment.
Mark argues that our modern obsession with happiness often leads us astray, locking us into an endless cycle of str...
Show Summary
On this episode I’m joined by Dr Mark Fabian, Associate Professor of Public Policy at the University of Warwick and author of Beyond Happy: How to Rethink Happiness and Find Fulfillment.
Mark argues that our modern obsession with happiness often leads us astray, locking us into an endless cycle of str...
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March 29, 2025 • 62 mins
What makes an organisation toxic, and how can we spot the signs before it’s too late? What are the common traits that make seemingly unrelated organisations, ranging from the Catholic Church to corporations, do harm?
On this episode, I’m joined once again by one of my favourite guests — Professor Benjamin van Rooij — for a deep dive into the hidden dangers of organisational life.
Benjamin and his co-author, Professor Nicholas Lord, a...
On this episode, I’m joined once again by one of my favourite guests — Professor Benjamin van Rooij — for a deep dive into the hidden dangers of organisational life.
Benjamin and his co-author, Professor Nicholas Lord, a...
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March 1, 2025 • 90 mins
How can we prevent violence against women? And what role do men who don't engage in violence, have to play?
This episode tackles a serious, but important topic. Violence against women affects millions worldwide, yet too often, the focus is placed on how women can protect themselves rather than addressing the behaviors and systems that enable violence in the first place. This isn’t a problem women can solve alone—society as a whole...
This episode tackles a serious, but important topic. Violence against women affects millions worldwide, yet too often, the focus is placed on how women can protect themselves rather than addressing the behaviors and systems that enable violence in the first place. This isn’t a problem women can solve alone—society as a whole...
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February 15, 2025 • 49 mins
What does tea have to do with human behaviour? A lot more than you might think. On this epusoed, I'm exploring one of the world's most popular drinks and what we can learn from it.
Summary
My guest is Giles Oakley, a professional tea taster, entrepreneur, and long-time friend. Giles began his career at Tetley before co-founding Two Spoons Tea, a company dedicated to celebrating tea as the hero crop it is.
Over the course of our conve...
Summary
My guest is Giles Oakley, a professional tea taster, entrepreneur, and long-time friend. Giles began his career at Tetley before co-founding Two Spoons Tea, a company dedicated to celebrating tea as the hero crop it is.
Over the course of our conve...
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February 1, 2025 • 71 mins
How do we create systems that encourage whistleblowing without incentivizing malicious reporting? Should we reward whistleblowers financially? Why is closure important, both for whistleblowers and the organisations they are whistleblowing on?
Episode Summary
On this episode, I speak with Pav Gill, the whistleblower behind the Wirecard scandal and former General Counsel for Wirecard’s Asia Pacific operations.
But this conversation is...
Episode Summary
On this episode, I speak with Pav Gill, the whistleblower behind the Wirecard scandal and former General Counsel for Wirecard’s Asia Pacific operations.
But this conversation is...
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January 25, 2025 • 63 mins
What is the edge of possibility and how can storytelling help us to find it? My guest isn't a storyteller — she's a lawyer, working in compliance — but she's got some fascinating insights to share about how it can help us to effect change. Or, in her words, to find the edge of our possibility.
I've been wanting to get Dr Hemma Lomax on the show for some time, and I'm delighted that in this episode, I've managed to make that happen...
I've been wanting to get Dr Hemma Lomax on the show for some time, and I'm delighted that in this episode, I've managed to make that happen...
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January 12, 2025 • 61 mins
How does a major global bank keep surviving crises; until it doesn't?
Episode Summary
On this episode, I’m joined by Duncan Mavin, author of Meltdown: Scandal, Sleaze, and the Collapse of Credit Suisse.
Duncan’s book dives deep into the bank’s dramatic downfall, uncovering decades of mismanagement, scandals, and cultural clashes that eventually led to its collapse.
As someone with intersecting touchpoints with Credit Suisse throughout...
Episode Summary
On this episode, I’m joined by Duncan Mavin, author of Meltdown: Scandal, Sleaze, and the Collapse of Credit Suisse.
Duncan’s book dives deep into the bank’s dramatic downfall, uncovering decades of mismanagement, scandals, and cultural clashes that eventually led to its collapse.
As someone with intersecting touchpoints with Credit Suisse throughout...
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January 5, 2025 • 56 mins
What can we learn about a country from its favourite sport? A lot. Particularly when that country has a history and culture like Germany. Which is what I'm exploring on this episode.
Even if you're not a football fan, this episode — in a year when Germany goes to the polls — will have something of interest.
Episode Summary
On this episode, I speak with Kit Holden, a British-German journalist and author whose love for German footbal...
Even if you're not a football fan, this episode — in a year when Germany goes to the polls — will have something of interest.
Episode Summary
On this episode, I speak with Kit Holden, a British-German journalist and author whose love for German footbal...
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December 27, 2024 • 92 mins
What role does experimentation play in making big life and creative decisions? What lessons can podcasters teach us about effective communication in business?
Show Summary
To answer these questions, in this festive episode, I’m thrilled to welcome back two friends of the show, two of my favorite podcasters, Tim Houlihan and Kurt Nelson, co-hosts of the Behavioral Grooves podcast.
Known for their brilliance in behavioral science and k...
Show Summary
To answer these questions, in this festive episode, I’m thrilled to welcome back two friends of the show, two of my favorite podcasters, Tim Houlihan and Kurt Nelson, co-hosts of the Behavioral Grooves podcast.
Known for their brilliance in behavioral science and k...
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December 21, 2024 • 98 mins
What does a pink puppet called Connie have to do with ethics? More than you might think. On this episode, I'm speaking with a lawyer, whose innovative approach to getting employees to engage in ethics, involved turning to something we all know from our childhood, a puppet.
Episode Summary
That lawyer and my guest on this episode is Fraser Simpson, Associate General Counsel at the Wellcome Trust. He's on the show to me to tell me abo...
Episode Summary
That lawyer and my guest on this episode is Fraser Simpson, Associate General Counsel at the Wellcome Trust. He's on the show to me to tell me abo...
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December 6, 2024 • 67 mins
Can you distill a complex concept into a single sketch? Jono Hey can and on this episode, he joins me to talk about Sketchplanations —a project that explains the world, one sketch at a time.
Summary
I’ve been a long-time admirer of Jono’s work, which makes complex ideas accessible and engaging through simple, elegant sketches.
We discuss how he manages to turn abstract or intricate concepts into visual explanations that resonate with...
Summary
I’ve been a long-time admirer of Jono’s work, which makes complex ideas accessible and engaging through simple, elegant sketches.
We discuss how he manages to turn abstract or intricate concepts into visual explanations that resonate with...
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November 29, 2024 • 63 mins
What makes communicating effectively such a critical skill in today’s world?
On this episode, I dive into the fascinating world of communication with Amy Kean, a psychosociologist, educator, and the founder of Good Shout, a company redefining how we teach and communicate. Amy brings her unique blend of humour, honesty, and sharp insights to a conversation that will leave you thinking differently about how you connect with others.
We ...
On this episode, I dive into the fascinating world of communication with Amy Kean, a psychosociologist, educator, and the founder of Good Shout, a company redefining how we teach and communicate. Amy brings her unique blend of humour, honesty, and sharp insights to a conversation that will leave you thinking differently about how you connect with others.
We ...
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November 23, 2024 • 77 mins
How does one become a political cartoonist? And what lessons can we learn from their craft?
Episode Summary
In this episode, I sit down with legendary political cartoonist Steve Bell to explore the artistry and challenges behind his provocative work.
From his early struggles as a teacher to his meteoric rise as a satirical voice at The Guardian, Steve shares the experiences that shaped his unique style.
We delve into his creative pr...
Episode Summary
In this episode, I sit down with legendary political cartoonist Steve Bell to explore the artistry and challenges behind his provocative work.
From his early struggles as a teacher to his meteoric rise as a satirical voice at The Guardian, Steve shares the experiences that shaped his unique style.
We delve into his creative pr...
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November 14, 2024 • 68 mins
How do tiny changes in our surroundings create big impacts on our daily lives? And what does that have to do with house flies?
Episode Summary
In this episode, I’m thrilled to welcome Dr. Eva Van Den Broek and Tim Den Heijer to discuss their new book, The Housefly Effect, which explores the hidden ways behavioral science influences our daily decisions.
We dive into fascinating examples of nudges, from a simple housefly sticker in a u...
Episode Summary
In this episode, I’m thrilled to welcome Dr. Eva Van Den Broek and Tim Den Heijer to discuss their new book, The Housefly Effect, which explores the hidden ways behavioral science influences our daily decisions.
We dive into fascinating examples of nudges, from a simple housefly sticker in a u...
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November 4, 2024 • 64 mins
What if embracing randomness could unlock better decision-making in your work?
In this episode, I welcome back Matt Ballantine, a returning guest known for his insightful and playful take on work and life. This time, Matt dives into the concept of randomness and how it can be a strategic tool in navigating complex problems that defy traditional solutions.
From engaging discussions on how randomness applies to decision-making to his ...
In this episode, I welcome back Matt Ballantine, a returning guest known for his insightful and playful take on work and life. This time, Matt dives into the concept of randomness and how it can be a strategic tool in navigating complex problems that defy traditional solutions.
From engaging discussions on how randomness applies to decision-making to his ...
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October 25, 2024 • 73 mins
What would you do if someone you trusted turned out to be living a double life?
Episode Summary
On this episode, I speak with Anna Rowe, a brave and resilient advocate for victims of romance fraud. Anna shares her deeply personal story of being deceived by someone who led a double life, manipulating her emotions and trust for over a year. Her journey from victim to activist is one of courage and determination to bring awareness to th...
Episode Summary
On this episode, I speak with Anna Rowe, a brave and resilient advocate for victims of romance fraud. Anna shares her deeply personal story of being deceived by someone who led a double life, manipulating her emotions and trust for over a year. Her journey from victim to activist is one of courage and determination to bring awareness to th...
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October 18, 2024 • 63 mins
How can road trips and curiosity shape our perspectives on life?
In this episode, I speak with Dr Holly Bell, a former professor, author, and spontaneous traveller.
Holly’s diverse background, which includes teaching economics, writing thrillers, and even working in corporate management at a Fortune 100 company, is rooted in her insatiable curiosity and love of reinvention.
Together, we discuss her fascinating career journey and how ...
In this episode, I speak with Dr Holly Bell, a former professor, author, and spontaneous traveller.
Holly’s diverse background, which includes teaching economics, writing thrillers, and even working in corporate management at a Fortune 100 company, is rooted in her insatiable curiosity and love of reinvention.
Together, we discuss her fascinating career journey and how ...
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