Wicked Problems Podcast

This long-form episode of Wicked Problems is a practical conversation about AI adoption after the initial hype. Toby Corballis and Marcellus Lindsay look beyond the promise of automation and ask what happens when AI is introduced into organisations that cannot yet govern its cost, risk, data, accountability or human impact. The discussion moves between real-world implementation, change leadership,...

Is your firm spending money on new software when the real problem is hiding in plain sight, inside the processes, handovers, and habits your team has quietly built around a broken system? In this episode, Toby Corballis is joined by Winnie Barnwell, a digital transformation consultant and project and change manager who works primarily with law firms and professional services businesses. Winnie bri...

Are your engineering decisions based on what your system actually does, or on what your team believes it does? Most software teams are navigating in the dark. Developers spend more than half their time reading code, yet reading doesn't scale, and it rarely produces accurate decisions. As AI tools generate code faster than ever, the problem is getting worse, not better. This episode challenges the...

Is the steel industry's carbon problem actually a resource problem in disguise? In this episode of Wicked Problems, we explore one of the most promising, and least-discussed, frontiers in industrial decarbonisation. Dr Harriet Kildahl is the CTO and co-founder of Perocycle, a deep tech spin-out from the University of Birmingham focused on eliminating carbon emissions from heavy industry through a...

Is your strategy a vision built on solid foundations , or a story you've told yourself with nothing underneath it? And if the industry shifted tomorrow, would you even see it coming? This episode of Wicked Problems goes deep on Wardley Mapping , one of the most rigorous and underused frameworks in strategy today. Simon Wardley, the creator of Wardley Maps, joins the show to explain how the methodo...

Are your teams working flat out, but delivery still feels slow, unpredictable, and hard to explain to stakeholders? In this episode of Wicked Problems, Toby speaks with Sonya Siderova, founder and CEO of NAVE, a flow analytics platform that helps software and delivery teams identify process bottlenecks, reduce cycle times, and make performance visible through data. Sonya brings over a decade of ex...

Electric vehicles aren't just for driving — they're powerful batteries on wheels. In this clip, Claire Miller breaks down how new V2G (vehicle-to-grid) technology could let you earn money by simply keeping your EV plugged in. From smart tariffs to grid balancing, this is the future of energy — and it's already rolling out.

Join us on Wicked Problems as we explore the groundbreaking world of electric aircraft with Guy Hayden, Chief Commercial Officer at Aerovolt. Discover the challenges and innovations driving this nascent industry, from lightweight aircraft to electric vertical take-off taxis. Guy shares exclusive insights into the first public electric aircraft charging network, the parallels with early EV developm...

Chris Pateman-Jones, CEO of Connected Kerb, discusses the company's efforts to build one of the fastest-growing public EV charging networks in the UK. Connected Kerb focuses on making charging infrastructure equitable, reliable, and accessible, particularly for drivers without home charging. Chris highlights challenges like land access, grid constraints, and government policy, and shares how AI an...

Melanie Shufflebotham, co-founder and COO of Zap-Map, the UK's leading app for electric vehicle (EV) drivers to locate charging stations and plan trips, shares Zap-Map's journey from a basic Google Map overlay in 2014 to a robust platform with live data, user reviews, and payment options. Zap-Map also supports businesses and local authorities with insights into EV charging trends to prepare for a...

Toby and Jon Burdekin dive into the challenges and opportunities of fleet electrification. They discuss the evolution of electric vehicle infrastructure, the growing role of salary sacrifice schemes in making EVs more accessible, and the misconceptions surrounding EV adoption. Jon shares insights on how businesses can smoothly transition their fleets while avoiding common pitfalls. Jon has 30 year...

Toby speaks with Neill Emmett, Global Marketing & Brand Director at Gilbarco Veeder-Root , a company with a 160-year legacy in refueling and energy solutions. Now leading the EV transition, Gilbarco's Konect provides turnkey solutions for fuel retailers adapting to electric charging. Neill shares insights on seamless EV infrastructure, retail profitability, and the future of fuel stations in the e...

Toby speaks with George Symes, founder of Evaluate Strategy, a consultancy specialising in decarbonising complex fleets. With over 15 years in transport and infrastructure consulting, George shares insights on the challenges and opportunities of electrifying emergency services, rental fleets, and logistics companies. From the UK's ZEV mandate to fleet telematics, this discussion dives into the fut...

Matthew Lumsden, CEO of Connected Energy, discusses how his company repurposes second-life EV batteries for energy storage solutions. Connected Energy, founded in 2013, emerged from an EV charging project that highlighted grid limitations. By working with Renault and securing investments from Volvo Energy and Caterpillar, they've created an innovative approach to sustainable energy. Matthew shares...

Linda Grave, founder of EV Driver, discusses her journey from renewable energy to pioneering the EV charging sector. She shares how she built and sold a successful charging network, her passion for user-friendly EV solutions, and the importance of interoperability. Linda offers insights on industry challenges, innovations like battery storage and solar PV integration, and promotes her upcoming EVE...

We dive into the critical role of truth and clarity in the world of clean energy and technology. Join us as we explore the myths and misconceptions surrounding electric vehicles, renewable energy, and sustainable living. Dan Caesar, CTO and presenter of the Fully Charged Show discusses how misinformation impacts progress and what we can do to empower communities with facts, inspire action, and dri...

Battery chemist and founder of Plug Life Television, Dr. Euan McTurk, uncovers the facts behind EV batteries, from ethical sourcing and recycling to cutting-edge technology that's driving down costs and boosting range. Discover why EV fires are rare, how new charging methods can extend battery life, and what the latest advancements mean for the future of small, powerful, and sustainable cars. Dr E...

About the episode: EV industry pioneer Sam Clarke, a record-holding entrepreneur with over two decades in electric mobility shares his journey from importing electric motorbikes in the early 2000s to founding a zero-emissions logistics company and advising on national EV infrastructure. We discuss debunking myths around electric vehicles and explore how the concept of 'grazing' can reset our expec...

About the episode: Jordan Brompton of myenergi explores the evolving challenges and opportunities in the electric vehicle industry, focusing on sustainability, resilience, and how she's preparing for a potential zombie uprising! Myenergi is a provider of Home EV chargers, solar PV systems, and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) - or, as Jordan says, Home Energy Management Systems (HEMS). Jordan...

About the episode: How can businesses share data to enable them to collaborate effectively whilst still retaining control of their data? Ali Nicholl at IOTICS thinks his company has the answer. Guest Name:  Ali Nicholl Ali Nicholl is part of IOTICS' founding team and IOTICS' Head of Engagement, working across transport, logistics, utilities, the built environment, and defence, focusing on interope...

About the episode: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in the US called last year the hottest on record "by far". During the year we saw many climate-related catastrophes – from large scale fires to unprecedented flooding. And yet, for some, the science of climate change is controversial. Many claim that even climate scientists don't believe it can be attributed to anthropogenic ac...

As we increasingly connect our devices and our lives to the online world, product security and quality become ever more important. In this episode Toby is joined by Andrew Gordon-Brooks, COO of Secure Delivery, a firm specialising in providing security improvement programmes for software engineers, product managers and leadership. Andrew is also a founding member of the OWASP Education and Trainin...