The PriceWriter Podcast

This episode explores Murky Water and what it reveals about how environmental risk and social inequality collide. We look at why geography shapes vulnerability, how systems amplify disadvantage, and what this means for insurers who price, select and support risk every day. An important conversation for anyone who needs water or insurance daily.

Checklists are not bureaucracy. They are cognitive safety nets. We explore The Checklist Manifesto, and how checklists reduce avoidable errors, free up judgement rather than replace it, and how teams can use them to move faster with fewer mistakes. Simple tools, big impact.

This episode is all about better conversations. Inspired by SuperCommunicators , we look at how to listen, how to connect, and how to create dialogue where people feel understood rather than managed.

Is insurance pricing totally bullshit? This week, Catrin and Jeremy talk about pointless tasks, villainous goons and whether meetings are a waste of time while reviewing David Graeber’s book, Bullshit Jobs.

Jeremy and Catrin just wrapped a brilliant conversation on the podcast about Buy Back Your Time, and this one will hit a nerve with any “I’ll just do it myself”-ers… Pricing leaders are used to delivering technical work, so delegation often isn’t our first thought. But what’s the cost of not delegating? We dug into: A fab framework for categorising tasks to delegate The hidden cost of doing work y...

Stepping into a new pricing leadership role comes with expectations, pressure, and very little room to get it wrong. In this episode of the PriceWriters Podcast, Jeremy and Catrin explore Lead Your Team in Your First 100 Days by Neve O’Keeffe and walk through what actually holds up in an insurance context.    They get into where pricing leaders tend to fall short early on, especially the...

In this episode of The Price Writers Podcast, Jeremy Keating and Catrin Townsend discuss Catrin’s book, A Risky Business, and the story behind how it came to be written.  Catrin shares how the idea for the book emerged during lockdown conversations with her father while on maternity leave — and how those discussions sparked a desire to explain actuarial science and risk in a way that anyone c...

In this special World Book Day episode of the Price Writers Podcast, Catrin Townsend turns the tables on Jeremy Keating to explore the story behind his award-winning book, Price Writer: Nine-Step Method to Becoming a Highly Successful General Insurance Pricing Leader . Jeremy shares why he felt compelled to write a practical leadership book for general insurance pricing professionals, not another...

In this episode of the Price Writers Podcast, Jeremy Keating and Karin Townsend dive into Rebooting American Healthcare by Amy Finkelstein and Liran Einav. They explore the authors’ proposal for a universal basic level of healthcare funded by taxation, layered with optional private insurance for enhanced cover and what that could mean for insurers, regulators, and society more broadly. From anti-s...

What if being quieter actually makes you a better leader? 🤔 In the latest episode of The PriceWriters Podcast, Catrin and Jeremy discuss Quiet: The Power of Introverts and explore how workplaces, leadership expectations, and even collaboration are often designed for extroverts. They share where they think the book gets it right, where it falls short, and what this all means for pricing profession...

In this episode of the Price Writer Podcast, Jeremy Keating and Catrin Townsend discuss Senior Leadership: An Essential Guide for Actuaries by Julia Lessing.  This is a leadership book designed to be worked through rather than skimmed, using practical exercises, reflections, and prompts drawn from real leadership situations. We explore what changes as you move from management into senior lead...

We’re kicking off 2026 by rethinking how we set and achieve goals. In this episode of the Price Writers Podcast, Jeremy and Catrin explore The 12 Week Year by Brian Moran and Michael Lennington, and why shorter, more focused planning cycles can be far more effective than traditional annual goals. They discuss how compressing goal setting into 12-week periods creates urgency, clarity, and momentum,...

In this episode of the Price Writers Podcast, Catrin and Jeremy share their yearly book roundup. History and nonfiction to fiction that genuinely surprised them, this conversation goes well beyond a simple reading list.   They explore what reading outside technical comfort zones can offer, from perspective and empathy to slowing down and thinking differently. Along the way, they discuss stand...

In this episode of The Price Writers Podcast, Catrin and Jeremy look back at the books that shaped their year. With the holiday season approaching, they share a lively mix of titles spanning statistics, capitalism, consumerism, politics, society, and the stories that reshape how we see money, work and modern life.  If you enjoy book recommendations with a blend of economics, society and a tou...

This week on The Price Writer Podcast, Catrin and Jeremy step away from pricing books and dive into something a little more festive: the joy of gifting books!  From childhood classics to modern bestsellers, thoughtful finds, and even a few “avoid if you can” picks, they share their favourite books to give, receive, and re-read. Here they share stories of nostalgic gifts, surprisingly emotiona...

Everyone wants to win. But winning isn’t just about working harder: it’s about creating the right conditions for success. In this episode, we explore what it takes to ensure your efforts are recognised and your value is seen.   If you’ve ever felt overlooked, underappreciated, or frustrated that your hard work isn’t noticed, this episode is for you. Learn how to set yourself up to achieve you...

In this episode of The Price Writer Podcast, Catrin and Jeremy explore "The Pathfinders" by Will Iredale, the remarkable story of an elite Royal Air Force unit that transformed the accuracy of bombing missions during World War II. Together, they discuss what pricing professionals can learn from this extraordinary group, including the importance of clear organisational goals, leadership, specialisa...

🚫 An organisation without hierarchy?! This week on the PriceWriters Podcast , we’re diving into Holacracy by Brian Robertson: a radical rethink of how organisations can operate without traditional management structures. But could this bold approach work in the world of insurance pricing ? We unpack the principles, the potential, and the pitfalls, plus share some practical takeaways (no matter how...

Stepping up into management is one of the toughest transitions an actuary, pricing professional, or data scientist can make. Technical expertise will only take you so far, and the real challenge is leading people, delegating effectively, and finding time for your own development.  In this episode of The Price Writer Podcast, Catrin and Jeremy discuss Aspiring Actuarial Leaders - The Modern Ma...

In this episode, Jeremy and Catrin explore why gender diversity in pricing is more than a pipeline issue and what leaders can do to actively support inclusion. Drawing on insights from a powerful book, they discuss practical steps leaders can take, including a 12-point “cheat sheet” of actions to put into practice straight away. From the way coding skills are described on CVs to the subtle biases...

Fresh from Philadelphia, where Jeremy accepted his Indie Book Award win for The Price Writer, he and Catrin sat down to unpack the standout titles from the awards ceremony, including a few that might just change the way you lead, think, and work.  In this episode, they explore three books that caught their attention and offer surprising relevance to pricing professionals:  The Productive...

This week, Jeremy and Catrin share their top book picks for aspiring pricing professionals, or anyone who loves a great science or stats read. Catrin recommends three accessible books to spark curiosity (Storm in a Teacup), sharpen data communication (How to Lie with Statistics), and master problem-solving (Thinking Mathematically). Along the way, they debate dust jackets, spilt coffee science, an...

In this episode of The Price Writers Podcast, Jeremy and Catrin explore Why Insurance Markets Fail and What to Do About It by economists Liran Einav, Amy Finkelstein, and Ray Fisman.  They tackle the tricky concept of anti-selection, sharing why it confuses even seasoned insurance professionals. With examples ranging from U.S. medical insurance to American Airlines’ baffling ticket offers, th...

In this episode, Jeremy and Catrin explore Rebel Ideas by Matthew Syed, reflecting on how its themes of cognitive diversity and constructive challenge apply directly to pricing teams. They unpack the idea that diversity of thought rather than background alone can drive innovation, and they share personal stories of when uniform thinking held back progress. From project team dynamics to the impact...

Join Jeremy Keating and Catrin Townsend as they relaunch the Price Writer Podcast with a fresh new focus on books and their relevance to insurance pricing teams.  In this episode, we explore The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni and examine how the model applies to technical and data-driven teams in insurance. From the challenge of building trust in large departments to the valu...