The Human Risk Podcast

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 autho r Juliet Rosenfeld . Juliet’s book, Affairs: Stories of Love, Lies, Hope and Desire , is an intimate look at w...

Have you ever wondered how much of your success is down to luck? What if the world is far less fair and predictable than we’d like to think?   On this episode, I explore the complex and fascinating role of luck in our lives and decisions with Dr. Chengwei Liu, Associate Professor of Strategy and Behavioural Science at Imperial College London. Chengwei shares how his research challenges our assumpt...

What is psychological harm, and can we really regulate it? Should an AI-companion app be allowed to dump the person who is using it?   📝 Episode Summary On this episode, I’m joined once again by Professor Magda Osman, someone who’s been on the show several times before, who always has something compelling to say. This time, we're talking about psychological harm, a term you’ve probably heard, but...

What do chemistry, committees and cooking have in common?  They’re all things which have formed part of the career of my guest on this episode. She’s  Sarah Ward , owner of The Cookery Lab , a unique cookery school that uses a science-led approach to teaching cooking skills.  I first met Sarah when we worked together on governance at the Bank of England.  She began her carerer as a chemist, before...

What do people have to do with cybersecurity?  A lot. As with other fields of human risk, it’s people that are typically the root cause of problems in the cybersecurity world.  Which is where my guest’s expertise in behavioural design comes into play. On this episode, I’m speaking with Sarah Aalborg , a cybersecurity and behavioural design expert who’s on a mission to change how organisations appr...

What really happens Behind The Scenes at Human Risk?  📝 Episode Summary In this special ‘takeover’ episode of the show, I’m taking you behind the scenes of my work at Human Risk. Because interviewing myself would be odd, friend of the show Sarah Abramson takes the interviewer’s seat. She delves into my journey, exploring the intersections of curiosity, compliance, and creativity that have shaped...

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...

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 prison...

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 muse...

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,...

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...

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 wome...

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 c...

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 Paci...

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 episo...

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 t...

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 an...

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...

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. ...

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...

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 a...

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 uniq...

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,...

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 randomn...

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...