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The Human Risk Podcast

The Human Risk Podcast

Auteur(s): Human Risk
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 People are often described as the largest asset in most organisations. They are also the biggest single cause of risk. This podcast explores the topic of 'human risk', or "the risk of people doing things they shouldn't or not doing things they should", and examines how behavioural science can help us mitigate it. It also looks at 'human reward', or "how to get the most out of people". When we manage human risk, we often stifle human reward. Equally, when we unleash human reward, we often inadvertently increase human risk.Copyright Human Risk Science Sciences sociales
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  • Dr Nuno Reis on Rare Dots

    Dr Nuno Reis on Rare Dots
    Aug 24 2025
    What if the ideas that linger in the back of your mind — the ones you can’t quite explain — are the ones you most need to pay attention to?

    Episode Summary
    In this episode, I explore that question with Dr Nuno Reis, a former physicist and investment banker turned thinker and guide in uncovering what he calls rare dots — those unique, pre-verbal insights that feel deeply resonant but don’t yet fit into our existing models of the world.

    Our conversation begins with Nuno’s unusual career path, from string theory and theoretical physics into financial modelling and risk management, before moving into transparency roles in finance. From there, we trace the thread of his enduring curiosity: how crises drive paradigm shifts, why models are useful but limited, and what happens when we acknowledge that not everything fits into neat rational frameworks.Nuno then introduces the concept of rare dots and explains how he’s harnessing AI in a novel, deeply human way: not to replace thought, but to help us surface the preverbal ideas that shape our uniqueness. Together, we explore how rare dots can guide creativity, meaning, and innovation in our work and lives — and why paying attention to the things that don’t quite make sense may be the most sensible thing we can do.

    Guest Biography
    Dr Nuno Reis describes himself as a physicist turned banker turned explorer of human thinking. After completing a PhD in theoretical physics with a focus on string theory, he transitioned into investment banking at UBS and later into financial engineering and transparency initiatives at Bloomberg.

    Over 18 years in finance, he applied scientific methods to risk modelling, hedging, and complex derivatives, all while maintaining a deep curiosity about the limits of logic and models.

    Today, Nuno is the creator of the Rare Dots framework, which helps individuals and organisations uncover the pre-verbal insights that drive creativity and meaning. He combines philosophy, history of thought, and cutting-edge uses of AI to build environments where people can explore their deepest intuitions.

    Through workshops, cohorts, and his own practice, he guides others in turning those rare dots into pathways for innovation, purpose, and contribution.

    AI-Generated Timestamped Summary
    [00:00:00] Introduction and framing of rare dots as preverbal insights
    [00:01:00] Nuno’s background: from physics to banking and financial modelling
    [00:06:00] Applying scientific methods to markets and the 2008 crisis
    [00:12:00] Replication crisis and paradigm shifts in science
    [00:18:00] Early story of curiosity and existential questions
    [00:21:00] Introduction of rare dots as deeply resonant insights
    [00:26:00] How resonance and intuition shape meaning
    [00:30:00] Creating environments to surface rare dots
    [00:35:00] History of thinking vs history of ideas
    [00:40:00] Using AI as a tool for rare dots and Wittgenstein’s ladder
    [00:46:00] How AI can surface pre-verbal thinking
    [00:52:00] AI as a prompt for deeper human thinking
    [00:56:00] Rare dots exploration as an infinite game
    [01:02:00] Rare dots as a guide for careers and human value

    Links
    Nuno on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nuno-reis/
    Nuno's Substack - https://nunobreis.substack.com/
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    1 h et 7 min
  • Professor Christian van Nieuwberg on Radical Listening

    Professor Christian van Nieuwberg on Radical Listening
    Aug 17 2025
    Is listening a hidden superpower we’ve overlooked? You've heard of Active Listening, but what is Radical Listening and why does it matter?

    Episode Summary
    On this episode, I’m joined by Professor Christian van Nieuwerburgh, an academic who also describes himself as 'Coach on a Motorcycle'. He's on the show to help me explore what he calls 'Radical Listening'.

    Christian is Professor of Coaching and Positive Psychology at the University of East London and the co-author, with Dr Robert Biswas-Diener, of 'Radical Listening: The Art of True Connection'.

    The book offers a research-backed but deeply human exploration of what it means to really hear someone — and how that act alone can change lives. In the book and in his work, Christian blends academic rigour with road-tested coaching insights, drawing from both the lecture hall and long rides through open landscapes. He invites us to look at listening not just as a skill, but as a way of being.

    With a background in positive psychology and a passion for connection, Christian brings a perspective that’s as practical as it is profound. We talk about how listening — when done with presence and intention — becomes far more than a communication technique. It becomes a way of affirming identity, offering empathy, and shaping culture. Christian shares why well-meaning advice often misses the mark, the difference between social and cognitive listening, and what it takes to be with someone, rather than just hearing them.

    This isn’t just for leaders or coaches; it’s for anyone who wants to have better conversations, create stronger relationships, and be more human in how they engage with others. Listening, as we discuss, isn’t neutral. It’s powerful, personal, and radically transformative.

    Guest Biography
    Professor Christian van Nieuwerburgh is a globally recognised executive coach, academic, and author, holding the title of Professor of Coaching and Positive Psychology at the University of East London.

    As Managing Director of the International Centre for Coaching Psychology and Executive Director at Growth Coaching International, he bridges rigorous research with practice.

    He co-authored Radical Listening: The Art of True Connection (with Dr Robert Biswas‑Diener), which reorients listening from a background skill to a central act of human connection.

    Famously known as the “Coach on a Motorcycle,” Christian combines his love for the open road with his dedication to how we hear and are heard. Learn more at:

    Links
    Radical Listening - https://www.bkconnection.com/books/title/Radical-Listening
    Radical Listening Audiobook - https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Radical-Listening-Audiobook/B0F2B3TKXV


    Christian's faculty page at Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) - https://people.rcsi.com/chrisvn
    Christian's faculty page at Henley Business School - https://www.henley.ac.uk/people/christian-j-van-nieuwerburgh

    Coach on a Motorcycle - coachonamotorcycle.com

    AI-Generated Timestamped Summary
    • [00:01:45] — The roots of Radical Listening
    • [00:06:30] — How coaching principles intersect with everyday conversations
    • [00:11:55] — When advice becomes unhelpful
    • [00:17:40] — Listening as identity-affirming behaviour
    • [00:22:00] — When a good question stops you in your tracks
    • [00:27:30] — Social vs cognitive listening
    • [00:33:10] — Why you don’t need to understand the topic to be a great listener
    • [00:38:45] — The unspoken costs of poor listening in organisations
    • [00:44:50] — How Radical Listening links to psychological safety
    • [00:49:20] — Motorcycles, mindfulness, and being in flow
    • [00:56:00] — The AI comparison: why listening is a human art
    • [01:01:00] — Practical takeaways for everyday listeners
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    1 h et 9 min
  • Dr Sunita Sah on Defiance - how to speak up when it matters

    Dr Sunita Sah on Defiance - how to speak up when it matters
    Aug 9 2025
    Why do we follow orders or go along with things that feel wrong? Why might defiance be better than compliance? And how can we go about becoming more defiant?

    Episode Summary
    I’ve always been fascinated by why people obey, even when it clashes with their instincts or values. In this conversation, I’m joined by Dr Sunita Sah — a physician-turned-organisational psychologist whose work explores the hidden social, cultural, and psychological forces behind compliance.

    Drawing from her research and personal journey, Sunita reframes defiance as alignment with our true values, not reckless rebellion. We unpack concepts like “insinuation anxiety” — the discomfort of signalling someone else might be wrong — and explore her five-stage model of defiance, from recognising tension to taking decisive action. Sunita explains why compliance is often mistaken for consent, why both have distinct definitions, and why many of us have never practised saying “no” skillfully.

    Along the way, she shares vivid examples from medicine, aviation, parenting, and history, including the calculated defiance of Rosa Parks. For leaders, Sunita offers a challenge: create environments where dissent is safe and effective, and treat defiance as valuable feedback.

    For all of us, she suggests starting small — practising low-stakes resistance to build our “defiance muscle.” Whether you’re a rule-maker, rule-follower, or both, this episode invites you to rethink the stories you tell yourself about compliance, and to see saying “no” as a powerful tool for living with integrity.

    Guest Bio Self-Description:
    Dr Sunita Sah is a physician-turned-organisational psychologist and Professor of Management Studies at Cornell University. Her research examines the social, organisational, and psychological forces that influence decision-making, particularly in contexts involving authority, conflicts of interest, and ethical dilemmas.

    She is the author of Defy: The Power of No in a World That Demands Yes (US title: Defy: How to Speak Up When It Matters), a book that reframes defiance as a vital life skill.

    AI-Generated Timestamped Summary
    [00:00:00] Opening & why we obey even when it feels wrong
    [00:02:00] Sunita’s career journey: medicine to organisational psychology
    [00:05:00] Personal experiences shaping her research
    [00:07:00] Redefining compliance vs. consent
    [00:10:00] The five elements of informed consent
    [00:11:00] Introducing “insinuation anxiety”
    [00:14:00] High-stakes and low-stakes examples of silence
    [00:18:00] Why people resist defiance — lack of skill and practice
    [00:20:00] New definition of defiance as value alignment
    [00:23:00] Tension as the first stage of defiance
    [00:25:00] Stage 3: asking clarification questions
    [00:27:00] Scripts for skilful defiance
    [00:30:00] Practising in low-stakes situations
    [00:33:00] Speaking up for others vs. for oneself
    [00:36:00] Defiance as a skill, not a personality
    [00:38:00] Calculating safety and effectiveness of defiance
    [00:41:00] Costs of compliance vs. costs of defiance
    [00:44:00] Clarifying values to lower stress and improve integrity
    [00:46:00] Leadership responsibility for safe dissent
    [00:48:00] Performative vs. genuine speak-up systems
    [00:50:00] Defiance as contagious behaviour
    [00:52:00] The role of mischief and playful resistance
    [00:56:00] Saying yes when the world expects no
    [00:58:00] Advice for compliance officers and leaders
    [01:00:00] Upcoming courses on defiance and decision-making

    Links
    Sunita's website: https://www.sunitasah.com
    Defy: The Power of No in a World That Demands Yes — https://www.sunitasah.com/defy

    Sunita's Cornell University faculty profile — https://www.johnson.cornell.edu/faculty-research/faculty/sunitasah/
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    1 h et 3 min
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