The Human Risk Podcast

What do Magic, Money & The Mind have in common? They're all things that interest my guest on this episode, Paul Craven. As he explains, the tricks our minds play on us is what allows magic tricks to amaze us and drives many of our financial decisions. Paul is an expert in behavioural science, decision making, investment and psychology, applying the inner operations of the mind to the economic world. On this episode, you can hear Paul do a magic trick on the podcast - no mean feat, given you can't see him and hear about what he's learned from his extensive career in finance. He's got some fabulous stories and fascinating insights, which he tells in an engaging style.In our discussion, Paul talks about:Aristotle's ideas on Rhetoric: 👉 https://boords.com/ethos-pathos-logosCharles Ellis 'Winning The Loser's Game' 👉 https://g.co/kgs/FPoVmRIllusionist Derren Brown's story about dealing with a potential attacker by distracting him 👉https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/derren-brown-explains-how-reduce-mugger-tears-using-nothing-words-9859017.htmlLouise Leakey's TED Talks on Humanity's Origins 👉 https://www.ted.com/talks/louise_leakey_a_dig_for_humanity_s_origins?language=enPareidolia, the idea that we see faces in everyday objects. For more on that, I recommend 👉 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22686500 and 👉 https://earthsky.org/human-world/seeing-things-that-arent-thereThe Makapansgat jaspilite cobble 👉 https://www.researchgate.net/figure/The-Makapansgat-jaspilite-cobble-a-manuport-from-South-Africa-scale-in-cm_fig4_322234501You can find out more about Paul on his personal website 👉 https://www.paulcraven.com/ & find him on social media 👉 https://twitter.com/cravenpartners

What's the biggest challenge facing humanity? While the impact of COVID has been severe, an even bigger crisis awaits us if we don't take action. That crisis is the Climate Emergency and it's the subject of this episode. As the effects of climate change become more obvious, and the need to take action ever more urgent, I wanted to speak to someone at the forefront of trying to change human behaviour on a global scale. That person is Roc Sandford, who is my guest on this episode. Roc is a member of Extinction Rebellion (XR) - an environmental movement, that started in the UK which is focussed on persuading governments to take action to stop climate change. XR's methods have been highly successful in terms of generating publicity, but they've also been met with criticism. Given they need public support to succeed, how can they balance the need to get the public's attention, with activities that might alienate the very people they need to get on board? That's what I explored in my discussion with Roc, where I asked him about his background, XR's mission and the thoughts he has about how they are approaching the challenge they've set for themselves. We also look at the human risks inherent in their approach - how can they attract a broad coalition, without the risk of individuals doing things that might put others off?Roc's insights and arguments are fascinating. Not just about the environment, but also in terms of subjects like corporate governance - it might surprise you, but a democratic protest group has some ideas that might just help companies to improve the way they run things.For more on Extinction Rebellion visit their website. In the UK that's https://extinctionrebellion.uk/and outside the UK https://rebellion.global/To learn more about Roc, you can visit his website: http://www.rocsandford.com/

How do differences in context, impact behaviour? That’s what my guest on this episode, Behavioural Scientist Elina Halonen, has been exploring as part of her work on behavioural change projects. As she explains, much of the study of behavioural science has been driven by research and the experience of people in so-called WEIRD - that’s Western, educated, industrialized, rich and democratic - countries. Yet, a large percentage of the world’s population doesn’t live in that type of environment. The culture we live in, the language we speak, and other contextual elements, can all impact how we make decisions. That matters if we're trying to understand and influence others. What might it, for example, mean for companies who try to impose global standards or cultures?Elina is also a keen dog lover and discovered, as she was training her dogs, that it had a lot in common with the ways we try to influence human decision-making. We also explore that, and what it has in common with cross-cultural psychology.On the show, Elina mentions:The Behaviour Change Society - https://behaviorchangesociety.com/homeMind In Context, her resource on cross-cultural psychological research - https://www.mindincontext.com/Her company Square Peg Insight - https://www.squarepeginsight.com/Keith Payne’s book The Broken Ladder: How Inequality Affects The Way We Think, Live & Die - https://www.weidenfeldandnicolson.co.uk/titles/keith-payne/the-broken-ladder/9781474601139/?v2=trueJoseph Henrich’s book The Weirdest People In The World - https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/193/193790/the-weirdest-people-in-the-world/9781846147968.html

Conversations are a key part of how we communicate - but how do they actually work & what might go wrong? That's what my guest on this episode, Professor Elizabeth Stokoe, helps me to understand in...a conversation! Liz is the Professor of Social Interaction at Loughborough University in the UK. Her research analyses conversations in a wide range of settings. In our discussion, we explore some of the findings of her studies, how she came to specialise in the subject and her thoughts on COVID. Unsurprisingly, given her discipline, Liz is engaging, insightful and entertaining. To learn more about Liz's research, visit her faculty website 👉https://www.lboro.ac.uk/subjects/communication-media/staff/elizabeth-stokoe/To find Liz on Twitter 👉 https://twitter.com/LizStokoeYou can watch Liz's TED Talk 📺 here 👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtOG5PK8xDATo learn more about her book 📕Talk: The Science of Conversation 👉 https://www.hachette.co.uk/titles/elizabeth-stokoe/talk/9781472140845/

How can we best manage remote teams? What skills can we develop & techniques can we deploy, to be more effective when we're not face to face.It's a question that doesn't just apply to Line Managers - it's also relevant to those managing human risk. If we want to get the best out of employees, then we need to understand how best to engage with them in a virtual environment. That's what my guest on this episode, David Burkus, explores in his new book 'Leading from Anywhere: The Essential Guide to Managing Remote Teams'. Filled with practical suggestions, its a guide to engaging with people who aren’t in the same location as you. In our discussion, David shares some fascinating insights about what he’s learned about the subject, that obviously apply to leaders but are also hugely relevant to everyone trying to engage with others remotely. 
For more on the book 👉https://davidburkus.com/books/leading-from-anywhere/To learn about the Compliance Communication Toolkit, a joint project with FrontLine AntiBribery, visit 👉https://www.human-risk.com/toolkit

How can making people accountable change their behaviour and mitigate human risk? Given recent history, can enforcing accountability in the banking industry, drive behaviour change?That's what my guest on this episode Professor Elizabeth Sheedy, helps me to explore. She has been researching rules recently implemented by Financial Services regulators to ensure senior management are held accountable for their actions - like, for example, the Australian Banking Executive Accountability Regime (BEAR) and the UK's Senior Managers & Certification Regime (SMCR). Elizabeth, who has been a previous guest on the — link 👇— is at Macquarie University in Sydney, and she specialises in researching Risk Governance, Culture and Remuneration in Financial Institutions. Her latest research explores whether the introduction of BEAR has resulted in a change in behaviour in the Australian banking system.In our discussion, we explore the rationale for introducing an Accountability regime, what lessons can be learned from it so far & whether it has been successful. We also look at how Elizabeth's work helps to keep regulators in check.For more on BEAR 👉https://bit.ly/2MRfXuH and SMCR 👉https://www.fca.org.uk/firms/senior-managers-certification-regimeYou can read Elizabeth's research 👉http://ssrn.com/abstract=3775275 with a summary article on it 👉https://www.afr.com/companies/financial-services/apra-macquarie-says-bear-regime-is-showing-sharp-teeth-20210204-p56zfrTo discover more of Elizabeth's research 👉https://researchers.mq.edu.au/en/persons/elizabeth-sheedyFor more on the Australian Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry 👉https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Commission_into_Misconduct_in_the_Banking,_Superannuation_and_Financial_Services_IndustryYou can hear Elizabeth's previous appearance on the podcast 🎧 👉 https://www.podpage.com/the-human-risk-podcast/professor-elizabeth-sheedy-on-behaviour-in-banking/

Exploring COVID from a Behavioural Scientist’s perspective.As COVID continues to dominate our lives, there’s no shortage of information about the virus. But often it is presented from a national or global perspective. Yet, if you or someone close to you catches the virus, it’s a deeply personal experience. Given Behavioural Science is all about understanding things from the perspective of the end-user, is there something it can teach us about experiencing COVID?On this episode, Behavioural Scientist Robbie Tilleard helps me to think about COVID from the perspective of someone who has had it. Robbie recently contracted the virus and, after suffering symptoms, went for a test. That came back positive. As a result, he went into isolation. During that experience, he discovered that there was information he’d wished he had to help him during his recovery. So he documented them in a Twitter thread to help others. You can read that thread here: https://twitter.com/rtilleard/status/1348331850150907906What he had to say about the patient journey was really interesting. So I asked him onto the show to hear more. In our discussion, Robbie explores his COVID experience through the lens of Behavioural Science - what was it like and what information or support would it have been useful for him to have? In simple terms, how could we make the experience of someone having to manage the illness at home, easier? Robbie used to work at the Behavioural Insights Team, the UK governments Nudge Unit, so has experience thinking about how to engage large populations more effectively. He now works at Humu - a company that looks at improving employee effectiveness in the workplace. That’s something we also talk about later in our discussion. What emerges are some fascinating insights from someone who understands behaviour and the experience of having COVID.For more on Humu, visit -https://humu.com/To learn more about Robbie’s former employer, The Behavioural Insights Team, visit - https://www.bi.team/Other Human Risk podcasts on a COVID theme:Luca Dellanna with some early insights into COVID that turned out to be highly accurate and insightful - https://www.spreaker.com/episode/23229479Mark Heywood on how COVID impacted the Creative Industries - https://www.spreaker.com/episode/24201065Ricardo Pellafone on how COVID is impacting Ethics & Compliance -https://www.spreaker.com/episode/24677995Social Media Star Eggsy on going viral in a pandemic - https://www.spreaker.com/episode/25527513Pooj Morjaria on holding companies to account under COVID -https://www.spreaker.com/episode/26091563Professor Benjamin Van Rooij on Compliance under COVID - https://www.spreaker.com/episode/26091563Sexologist Jill McDevitt on how our experience in managing HIV, can inform our response to COVID: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/37619266

How do our senses impact our view of the world around us? Can we influence them to change how we perceive things? That's what my guest Professor Charles Spence is here to help me understand.Charles is the author of a new book called Sensehacking: How to Use the Power of Your Senses for Happier, Healthier Living. He's also Professor of Experimental Psychology at Oxford University, where he leads the Crossmodal Research Laboratory that explores how our senses work, so he's well qualified in this space.Charles was a guest on an earlier episode of the podcast (https://www.spreaker.com/episode/31722779) where he talked about gastrophysics. In our discussion, we explore Sensehacking: what does it mean, how does it work and what can we do to improve our lives by using it? As ever, he's a fascinating and insightful guest.For more on Charles' work:https://www.psy.ox.ac.uk/research/crossmodal-research-laboratoryTo read more about his book Sensehacking:https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/308/308513/sensehacking/9780241361139.html

How can Compliance feel less burdensome & more aligned with the businesses it is there to protect? In this episode, I return to exploring how Compliance, a 'brand' I hate but forms a cornerstone of managing Human Risk, can be made more effective. To do that, I'm joined by Nick & Gio Gallo, thought-leaders in the Compliance space.Nick & Gio co-founded and are co-CEOs of a company called ComplianceLine (https://complianceline.com/) and hosts of the Ethics Experts podcast (https://theethicsexperts.simplecast.com/). Having both experienced Compliance on the front line of business, they think there's a better way for organisations to manage risk. I agree; which is why they're on the podcast. In our discussion, we explore why companies sometimes get Compliance badly wrong, and what they can do to get it right. Nick & Gio talk about the shift from Compliance 1.0 (a legal approach of 'keeping people out of jail'), via Compliance 2.0 ('efficiency') to Compliance 3.0 (designing it with humans in mind to maximise the potential for human capital). And they've got some fascinating thoughts about how to make things better.Whether you're in Compliance or are subject to its rules, Nick & Gio's insights are well worth hearing.

What is Unconscious Bias? It's a term we've been hearing a lot recently and you might even have been sent on training to help you understand and manage it. That's what I began exploring with Dr Magda Osman at the end of Episode 92 of the podcast. Both Magda & I felt we had some unfinished business, so she kindly agreed to come back to finish the discussion. So on this episode, we explore both aspects of Unconscious Bias - the Unconscious & Biases.Find out more about Magda & her research here: http://www.magdaosmanresearch.co.uk/The previous episode she featured in (#92) is here: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/42313571