The Defuse Podcast: Feel Safer in Public Life

In this podcast, the first of 2024 we delve into what It really takes to be an elite performer with Guy Batchelor. Guy is the CEO and founder of Minerva Elite, an elite global risk management service. Minerva Elite is a highly professional and effective risk management and resilience consultancy formed to provide clients with a competitive advantage and bespoke solutions to their security needs. G...

This month's very special guest is Gabrielle Thompson, PI, CPP.  I am delighted to have Gabby as our Christmas guest. Gabby has recently announced that after a glittering 25-year career at Gavin de Becker & Associates (GDBA), she has decided to move on and seek new opportunities. During her time with GDBA,  Gabby acted as the firm's subject matter expert on threat assessment by handl...

The Defuse Podcast with Benjamin Barrontine –  Social engineering, digital exploitation and cyber targeting.  In an increasingly digital age staying safe requires an understanding of how adversaries operate in order to build an operational system that works.  In this podcast we hear from an expert who has used social engineering, digital exploitation and cyber targeting offensively when targeting...

This month’s podcast is all about doing business in the Gulf region. For many people, the Gulf region is an unexploited opportunity. It is a culture that is perceived to be at odds with the West. Corina is an expert in the region and shares with us her wisdom in unravelling the perceived complexities and making doing business more approachable.  What is it like doing business in the Gulf region as...

In this podcast we speak with Jameson Ritter, there are only 200 individuals globally that have the same level of qualifications as Jameson when it comes to threat assessments. Jameson has recently published his excellent book titled “This Book Saves Lives: 10 Steps to Building a Threat Management Program in Your Organization, Prevent Workplace Violence, and Take Care of Your People” We discuss wh...

In an increasingly unpredictable and sometimes divisive world how do we help the workplace be a safer place, not just physically but psychologically?  It is one thing ensuring that your workplace, place of worship or education is safe, it is quite another making it a place where you feel safe.  Do mass shooter drills at schools make students feel safer or make them feel anxious and scared?  In thi...

In this podcast HR and Threat Management specialist Melissa Muir discusses How grievances drive issues at work. How to say goodbye to employees leaving an organisation. The power of multi-disciplinary teams How to overcome the issue of confidentiality. The power of feedback and rewards in reducing hostility Communication between HR and security – what goes wrong?  And much more which you’ll have t...

In this podcast, we speak with Rory Steyn. Rory has a unique story having gone from an officer investigating the ANC to the one chosen to protect Mandela on his release from prison and election to lead South Africa. During the next 5 years, Rory developed a close relationship and knowledge of Nelson Mandela protecting him in South Africa and abroad from different and emerging threats. He recalls h...

Kim Leadbeater MBE MP is the Labour party MP for Batley and Spen.  It is the same constituency that he sister Jo Cox MP held when she was murdered in 2016.  Kim is a friend of mine, a hugely bubbly inspiring person who had her life changed by the awful events of her sister’s murder.  Kim is a hugely popular figure, and a very recognisable one. Her story is unique.  She never wanted or expected to...

In this podcast we talk with one of the genuine legends of the Threat Assessment industry. Frederick is one of the co-authors behind some of the key elements of assessing threats used by every recognised individual and organisation globally. From the concept know as ‘Hunters & Howlers’ which differentiates those who pose threats from those that seek to frighten, to the ‘Pathway to Intended Vio...

To many the subject of workplace violence brings up US based scenarios of multiple shootings at work and within educational facilities. In this podcast, Dr White discusses how whether in the US scenario of the less ‘violent’ UK scenarios of harassment, disruption, and non-fatal violence the same principals and behavioural indicators apply. . Dr. White, in collaboration with Dr. Reid Meloy, develop...

Ailsa Anderson is the person the most high profile in the world go to when they require the composite professional manage their communications. In this podcast Ailsa shared anecdotes from her time working the UK Government and Alistair Campbell, the Late Her Majesty the Queen and more recently the Archbishop of Canterbury, the head of the Anglican Church. Ailsa talks about how decisions about when...

In this podcast we discuss how to keep high profile, corporate and UHNW individuals safe in the 21st century using protective intelligence, countersurveillance and protective security. We discuss everything from safe rooms, to deep fakes, state sponsored and corporate espionage and the threat to commercial IP. Fred Burton is a former police officer, special agent and New York Times best-selling au...

In this podcast, James will share his thoughts on how to onboard a client who requires protection or residential security together with the value for the protective intelligence requires to support those tasked with protecting others.  He discusses the skills required and training needed, the Theory of Controlled Spaces and the key aspects of the arrivals and departure zones, white space and some...

In this podcast we discuss the subject of Protective Intelligence and how it can help professionals identify who might pose a threat, whether that is from a lone actor’s perspective or in the workplace. How can we identify problems and create strategies to prevent these problems happening. We discuss the 4 different types of workplace violence and what distinguishing them from each other. Bio: Dr....

This hugely important podcast with Suky Bhaker, the CEO of the Suzy Lamplugh Trust ( https://www.suzylamplugh.org/ ) discusses the real issues about violence against women and girls (VAWG) in the 21st century. We discuss harassment, street harassment and stalking and follow the evidence of how this impacts all females, and some men.  We discuss the shocking evidence of hugely improved successful p...

The Online Bodyguard Podcast - PR, Crisis Communications and Strategic Advisory to the World's Elite In this podcast we talk with Paul Blanchard, Media consigliere for global CEOs, entrepreneur, broadcaster and author. This is a genuine masterclass on PR, crisis communications, and advising the global elite  Paul gives his views on why sharing a bit about yourself is good for business, what P...

In this podcast we discuss the subject of interviewing with Bram B. van der Meer from Dante Psychology.  This podcast discusses whether building rapport works and how to do it, whether police officers and other professional interviewers are better at it that the general population. We discuss memory and ask how effective is it? What helps us to recall in an interview and why memory can be tainted....

In this episode of The Defuse Podcast, Totti Karpela, Executive board member for the Association of European Threat Assessment Professionals (AETAP) shares his expertise on how to assess persons of concern who may pose a threat to public and prominent figures. He discusses his expertise around conflict management, vexatious complainant, the cultural challenges a threat management professional must...

In an increasingly global market in which employees travel the world and holidaymakers explore ever increasing boundaries accidents and tragedies happen, whether by acts of terrorism, crime, negligence, or accidents. When those tragedies occur, the reputations of the organisations involved can be instantly and permanently damaged, with litigation and blame following close behind. This podcast disc...

In this episode of The Online Bodyguard Podcast, he shares his expertise on how to assess persons of concern who may pose a threat to public and prominent figures. He discusses his extensive case history and expertise of proximal warning behaviours, communicated threats, mental illness in attackers, how they plan, escalate and appropriate interventions. Dr Meloy shares his thoughts of the future o...

Richard Levick Esq was known as the ‘father of modern reputation management,’. He was Chairman & CEO of LEVICK , a crisis communications and public affairs firm, representing countries and companies in the highest-stakes global matters – the Venezuelan crisis, Qatar, the Chinese trade war, the Gulf oil spill; Guantanamo Bay, the Catholic Church and many others. He and his firm have represented...

Dr Lorraine Sheridan is a Chartered Forensic Psychologist and partner in Defuse®. Lorraine completed Europe’s first PhD on stalking. She is a police accredited offender profiler and compiles psychological reports related to offenders, highlighting the risks posed by known or unknown suspects. Lorraine was formerly a senior academic in Perth, Western Australia. Dr. Sheridan is the former President...

On this episode of the Family Business Voice, Philip Grindell, CEO of Defuse Global, and Ramia talk about how family businesses can stay safe in the digital age. Philip Grindell’s background as a Scotland Yard Detective with time spent seconded to British Intelligence gives him an in-depth view on just what can happen in unsafe situations. And now, he’s applying those insights to the world of priv...