Épisodes

  • Juliet Rosenfeld on Affairs

    Juliet Rosenfeld on Affairs
    Jun 7 2025
    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 author Juliet Rosenfeld.Juliet’s book, Affairs: Stories of Love, Lies, Hope and Desire, is an intimate look at why people have affairs, how those relationships shape us, and what they reveal about the unconscious forces at work in our lives.Episode SummaryIn a fascinating discussion, we talk about the stories she gathered for the book, how she approached them ethically, and what she’s learned about the powerful, often destructive, pull of infidelity.I also ask Juliet about her own experience as a psychoanalyst; how she balances her clinical insights with the need to write in a way that’s both honest and protective of the people involved. Juliet explains how she turned the consulting room into a space for exploration, not exposure, and how the stories she’s collected show just how deeply affairs touch the lives of everyone they involve. From the idea of the couple to the unconscious roots of our desires, we unpack some of the most complex questions about relationships and risk. Throughout our conversation, Juliet brings a refreshingly human — and humane — perspective to a topic that’s often shrouded in shame and secrecy. Whether you’ve ever experienced an affair yourself or just want to understand why people cross these lines, this episode offers insights that go far beyond the headlines. Guest Biography Juliet Rosenfeld is an author and a psychoanalyst working in private practice in London. She is particularly interested in the unconscious forces that shape our relationships and behaviours.Juliet’s second book, Affairs: Stories of Love, Lies, Hope and Desire, explores the complex terrain of infidelity through a psychoanalytic lens, blending real stories with her own reflections and insights. She is a member of professional psychotherapy and psychoanalysis associations in the UK and is deeply engaged in thinking about the ethical dimensions of her work. Beyond her practice, Juliet has also been a board member of the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) and is passionate about making the insights of psychoanalysis accessible to a general audience.AI-Generated Timestamp Summary[00:00:00] Introduction to the episode and Juliet Rosenfeld[00:01:00] Exploring what affairs are really about and how unconscious forces shape them[00:02:00] Juliet’s background as a psychoanalyst and the role of the unconscious[00:04:00] How relationship struggles underpin so many issues Juliet sees in her work[00:05:00] Why Juliet wrote the book and how affairs are inherently risky[00:07:00] The foundational idea of the couple and how it shapes us from birth[00:08:00] Ethical dilemmas of writing about real people’s affairs[00:11:00] Juliet’s approach: interviewing participants who weren’t her patients[00:13:00] Balancing her clinical mindset with the demands of writing[00:16:00] The role of supervision in psychotherapy and its relevance to Juliet’s work[00:18:00] The challenge of anonymising the stories while staying true to them[00:20:00] Juliet’s thoughts on police requests for therapist notes and patient confidentiality[00:22:00] The differences in the regulation of therapists in the UK vs the US[00:26:00] The importance of trust, supervision, and the intense relationship with a supervisor[00:30:00] Why Juliet believes statutory regulation of psychotherapy is important[00:34:00] How affairs spark intense public reactions and fascination[00:37:00] The long-term impact of divorce and affairs on children[00:42:00] How affairs can be a way of finding solutions to deep personal problems[00:45:00] The uniqueness of each affair story and the problem of generalisations[00:47:00] The role of disappointment and the challenges of long-term love[00:49:00] Juliet’s thoughts on how therapy can help couples[00:53:00] Why no one comes to see her at the start of an affair[00:56:00] The emotional investment and secrecy that affairs demand[00:59:00] The final reflections on why Juliet wrote the book and what it revealed to her[01:05:00] Closing remarks and where to find Juliet’s bookLinksJuliet’s website with details of her work and books: https://julietrosenfeld.co.uk/The UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP): https://www.psychotherapy.org.uk/
    Voir plus Voir moins
    1 h et 7 min
  • Dr Chengwei Liu on Luck & Serendipity

    Dr Chengwei Liu on Luck & Serendipity
    Jun 1 2025
    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 assumptions about skill, effort, and fairness – and why the outcomes we see are often far more random than we’d like to believe. We discuss why many successful strategies and best practices are built on shaky ground, and how our tendency to downplay luck creates illusions of control and reinforces unfair systems. Chengwei explains how beliefs in fairness – like the ‘just world’ hypothesis – shape everything from business cultures to political systems, and how luck and misperceptions of it can create cycles of privilege or disadvantage. Chengwei also shares practical insights on how to become a smart contrarian: someone who can harness the power of randomness and serendipity while avoiding the pitfalls of bias and overconfidence. From the dangers of blindly following the ‘successful’ to the need to look inward and embrace uniqueness, it’s a thought-provoking conversation that will change the way you think about risk, decision-making, and what it really means to get ahead. Guest BiographyDr. Chengwei Liu is an Associate Professor of Strategy and Behavioural Science at Imperial College London. He describes himself as someone fascinated by how luck, randomness, and human biases shape success and failure – both in business and in broader society. Chengwei’s work challenges mainstream management thinking and explores how much of what we attribute to skill is actually the result of random factors. His book, Luck: A Key Idea for Business and Society, examines these dynamics and how we can learn to navigate them. Beyond his academic roles, Chengwei has also worked as a management consultant, drawing on his experience in both research and practice to uncover how to harness luck and uncertainty. AI-Generated Timestamped Summary[00:00:00] Introduction[00:02:00] Chengwei explains his research focus on randomness and variance in firm performance [00:04:00] The overlooked 50% of variance in outcomes: luck and randomness [00:06:00] Defining luck as what lies beyond our control and foresight [00:08:00] The conflict between fairness beliefs and the reality of luck [00:10:00] Luck’s societal implications: why fairness perceptions differ across countries [00:11:00] Skill versus luck – how we confuse the two in our narratives [00:13:00] Why successful people over-attribute their success to skill [00:15:00] Managers vs entrepreneurs: how they differ in acknowledging luck [00:17:00] The challenges of researching an elusive concept like luck [00:18:00] Using mathematical models to understand Black Swan events [00:20:00] Why successful predictions of Black Swan events don’t indicate forecasting skill [00:23:00] The problem with best practices from ‘successful’ firms [00:26:00] Selection bias in business books and the danger of survivor bias [00:29:00] The ‘too good to be true’ heuristic as a guide [00:31:00] Contrarian thinking as a survival strategy for uncertainty [00:33:00] The replication crisis and the problem with social science predictability [00:35:00] Human curiosity: the power of moderate surprises [00:37:00] The difference between luck and serendipity [00:39:00] How to encourage serendipity in our lives [00:41:00] Embracing uniqueness and avoiding conformity [00:44:00] Lessons for the age of AI and human creativity [00:46:00] The dangers of ignoring randomness: when biases become destructive [00:48:00] Exploiting others’ biases for strategic advantage [00:50:00] Why ‘smart contrarian’ thinking is more important than ever [00:53:00] Testing contrarian ideas like a scientist [00:56:00] The limits of trial and error: learning from mistakes [00:58:00] Chengwei’s ongoing research: minority decision-making in venture capital [01:00:00] How passion and variance link to VC investment strategies [01:02:00] Wrapping up with reflections on luck, curiosity, and human creativity LinksDr. Chengwei Liu’s book, Luck: A Key Idea for Business and Society: https://www.routledge.com/Luck-A-Key-Idea-for-Business-and-Society/Liu/p/book/9781138094260? Chengwei Liu’s Imperial College faculty webpage: https://profiles.imperial.ac.uk/c.liu
    Voir plus Voir moins
    1 h et 4 min
  • Professor Magda Osman on Psychological Harm

    Professor Magda Osman on Psychological Harm
    May 24 2025
    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 which remains vague, slippery, and surprisingly unhelpful when it comes to actually protecting people. Together, we explore what psychological harm really means, why defining it matters, and why regulating it, especially in digital contexts, is so tricky.We draw comparisons to physical harm, ask whether some emotional distress might be necessary, and consider what kinds of harm are moral rather than measurable. The conversation touches on loneliness, AI companions, consent, and even chainsaws!👤 Guest Biography Magda is a Principal Research Associate at the Judge Business School, University of Cambridge, and holds a Professorial position at Leeds Business School, University of Leeds, where she supports policy impact.She describes herself as a psychologist by training, with specific interests in decision-making under risk and uncertainty, folk beliefs in the unconscious, and behavioural change effectiveness.Magda works at the intersection of behavioural science, regulation, and public policy, offering practical insights that challenge assumptions and bring clarity to complex issues. ⏱️ AI-Generated Timestamped Summary[00:00:00] Introduction and framing of psychological harm[00:02:00] The conceptual problems with defining psychological harm[00:05:00] Psychological harm and the precautionary principle in digital regulation[00:08:00] Social context, platform functions, and why generalisations don’t work[00:12:00] The idea of rites of passage and unavoidable suffering[00:15:00] AI companion apps and emotional dependency[00:17:00] Exploitation, data harvesting, and moral transparency[00:22:00] Frustration as normal vs. actual psychological damage[00:26:00] The danger of regulating the trivial and the need for precision[00:29:00] Why causal links are necessary for meaningful intervention[00:33:00] Legal obligations and holding tech companies to account[00:38:00] What users actually care about: privacy, data, trust[00:42:00] Society’s negotiation of what counts as tolerable harm[00:45:00] Why this isn’t an unprecedented problem — and how we’ve faced it before[00:50:00] The risk of bad definitions leading to bad regulation[00:54:00] Two contrasting examples of online services and their impacts[00:57:00] What kind of regulation might we actually need?[00:59:00] The case for rethinking how regulation itself is structured[01:01:00] Where to find Magda’s work and final reflections 🔗 LinksMagda's LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/magda-osman-11165138/Her website: https://www.magdaosman.com/ Magda’s previous appearances on the show exploring:Behavioural Interventions that fail:https://www.humanriskpodcast.com/dr-magda-osman-on-behavioural/ Unconscious Bias: what is it, and can we train people not to show it?https://www.humanriskpodcast.com/dr-magda-osman-on-unconscious/Compliance, Coercion & Competencehttps://www.humanriskpodcast.com/professor-magda-osman-on-compliance-coercion-competence/ Misinformationhttps://www.humanriskpodcast.com/professor-magda-osman-on-misinformation/ Risk Prioritisationhttps://www.humanriskpodcast.com/professor-magda-osman-on-risk-prioritisation/
    Voir plus Voir moins
    1 h et 2 min
  • Sarah Ward on Chemistry, Committees & Cooking

    Sarah Ward on Chemistry, Committees & Cooking
    May 18 2025
    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 switching — for reasons she explains on the show — to regulation. And now she’s a chef. In a fascinating discussion, I explore with Sarah how her scientific background shapes her approach to teaching cooking, emphasizing that it’s not just about following recipes but about understanding the structure and science behind the food. Sarah shares how a pivotal experience teaching cooking at her son's school reignited her passion and led her to create a unique culinary space that blends chemistry and cookery. Sarah also reflects on her regulatory background, discussing the unexpected parallels between governance and gastronomy. From her time at the Bank of England to her experiences in professional kitchens, she reveals how good governance and good cooking share common themes – structure, discipline, and the ability to adapt under pressure. She also touches on how her teaching methods aim to empower everyday cooks to feel more confident and creative in the kitchen. We round off the conversation by discussing her vision for the Cookery Lab, her thoughts on the art versus science debate in cooking, and how she’s combining her corporate experience with her culinary passion to teach life skills through food. Whether you love to cook or avoid the kitchen at all costs, Sarah’s insights offer valuable lessons for anyone looking to rethink their relationship with food and/or their career. Guest Biography:Sarah describes herself as a chef, educator, and owner of the Cookery Lab – a unique cookery school that uses a science-led approach to teaching cooking skills.Prior to founding the Cookery Lab, Sarah worked in chemistry, financial regulation, and governance at the Bank of England. Her background in chemistry informs her cooking classes, where she helps everyday cooks understand the scientific principles behind recipes, encouraging them to experiment and build confidence in the kitchen. The Cookery Lab is designed to look like a chemistry classroom, complete with lab chairs, beakers, and test tubes, reinforcing Sarah’s mission to demystify cooking through science. The Cookery Lab offers classes for all ages, focusing on life skills, confidence-building, and the joy of cooking, regardless of prior experience. AI-Generated Timestamp Summary[00:00:00] Introduction to Sarah Ward and her career path[00:01:00] From chemistry to regulation to cooking [00:02:30] What is the Cookery Lab?[00:04:00] Why cooking is a life skill everyone should learn [00:05:30] The pivotal moment at her son's school kitchen[00:07:00] Childhood memories of a sandwich shop project[00:10:00] The governance and gastronomy connection[00:12:00] The leap from chemistry to financial regulation [00:14:00] What Solvency II taught her about governance[00:16:00] The importance of reading board minutes [00:20:00] How Sarah applied her regulatory background in the kitchen[00:23:00] Learning leadership lessons from Michelin-starred chefs[00:27:00] Kitchen culture and the art of giving feedback [00:30:00] The challenges of transitioning from corporate to culinary[00:34:00] How science influences her teaching style[00:38:00] Creating a unique learning space at the Cookery Lab[00:42:00] How cooking can be both art and science [00:46:00] Lessons learned from running the Cookery Lab[00:50:00] Final thoughts and where to find Sarah Links:The Cookery Lab: https://www.thecookerylab.com/ Sarah on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-ward-87406147/ Tech Camp, the business run by Sarah’s husband teaching kids real engineering and programming through custom take-home projects: https://www.techcamp.org.uk/Leith’s culinary school: https://leiths.com/ The research that shows that eating together can increase happiness: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2025/mar/comment-why-sharing-meals-can-make-people-happier-what-evidence-142-countries-shows
    Voir plus Voir moins
    1 h et 5 min
  • Sarah Aalborg on Secure by Choice

    Sarah Aalborg on Secure by Choice
    May 11 2025
    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 approach IT security.

    Rather than focusing on firewalls and tech solutions, Sarah examines the human behaviours that can undermine even the best-designed security systems.

    Her new book, Secure by Choice, challenges conventional security thinking by exploring how cognitive biases affect security professionals and how to use behavioural design to reshape security culture.

    We discuss the pitfalls of traditional security training – particularly those phishing tests that feel more like traps than training – and how to flip the script by focusing on what we want people to do rather than what we want them to avoid.

    Sarah shares practical strategies for using positive reinforcement, creating engaging training experiences, and making security less about fear and more about action.

    By applying principles of behavioural science and risk-based thinking, Sarah explains how we can bridge the gap between security policies and everyday human behaviour.

    Guest Biography
    Sarah Aalborg is a cybersecurity expert and behavioural design advocate, focusing on how cognitive biases impact IT security professionals and their decision-making processes.

    She is the author of Secure by Choice, a book that challenges conventional approaches to cybersecurity training by applying principles of behavioural science to security culture.

    With a background in IT security spanning over two decades, Sarah speaks at major security events and consults with organisations on how to create more effective, engaging, and human-centric security programs.

    AI-Generated Timestamped Summary
    [00:00:00] Introduction

    [00:01:00] Meet Sarah Aalborg – Why she wrote Secure by Choice and her journey into behavioural design.

    [00:03:00] The '20-centimetre above the keyboard' exercise – How human inaction impacts tech security.

    [00:05:00] Why phishing tests feel like entrapment – and how to flip the script.

    [00:08:00] Turning phishing tests into positive reinforcement opportunities.

    [00:10:00] How a simple 'Report Suspicious Email' button can change behaviours.

    [00:12:00] The problem with fear-based messaging in cybersecurity.

    [00:14:00] Why telling people what NOT to do isn’t effective.

    [00:15:00] Sarah’s four-step framework for creating risk-aware security cultures.

    [00:17:00] Why most security training is designed to address the wrong problem.

    [00:20:00] The McDonald's kiosk example – What we can learn from other industries.

    [00:25:00] The importance of actionable examples in security training.

    [00:30:00] The generative AI paradox – When tech meets human bias.

    [00:35:00] Why AI is the ultimate behavioural science challenge.

    [00:40:00] The 'Operating System' analogy – Why the human brain is still running Stone Age software.

    [00:50:00] Why cyber professionals need to look outside their own industry for inspiration.

    [00:55:00] The role of curiosity and exploration in designing effective security programs.

    Links:Sarah’s website: https://securebychoice.com/
    Sarah on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-aalborg-bb348a1/
    Secure by Choice:https://securityblendbooks.com/products/secure-by-choice?
    Voir plus Voir moins
    1 h et 4 min
  • Human Risk: Behind The Scenes

    Human Risk: Behind The Scenes
    May 3 2025
    What really happens Behind The Scenes at Human Risk? 📝 Episode SummaryIn 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 my career. We discuss the origins of my interest in human behaviour, the evolution of the Human Risk brand, and how blending personal experiences with professional insights can lead to more authentic and engaging content. I reflect on the challenges and rewards of building a brand that aligns closely with one's identity, the importance of storytelling, the role of improvisation in presentations, and the value of staying curious. I also talk about the show, why I started it, and the principles behind it. 👤 Guest BiographyChristian Hunt is the host of the show and the founder of Human Risk Ltd, a behavioural Science-led consultancy and training firm. Guest host Sarah Abramson is a marketing and communications professional with a passion for storytelling and human-centred design. She is the Head of Marketing at Acteon, a communication and learning agency based in Cambridge. Sarah also organises ‘Speak to the Human’ an annual event, which focuses on effective communication strategies in organisations. Her work emphasises the importance of understanding human behaviour to drive meaningful change. ⏱️ AI-Generated Timestamped Summary[00:00:00] Sarah introduces the episode and takes over hosting duties [00:02:00] Christian shares how his curiosity about human behaviour began in childhood [00:04:00] Why irrational behaviour fascinates him and how literature shaped his thinking [00:06:00] From regulation to behavioural science — realising compliance needed a human lens [00:12:00] Christian explains why Human Risk is really a “C2C” business, not B2B [00:15:00] The three types of clients who engage him and why middle-ground organisations don’t [00:21:00] The Twitter account mix-up that made Christian realise the brand is him [00:27:00] Christian describes his creative process and taking inspiration from odd places [00:32:00] Why performance matters in speaking — and why he refuses to send slides early [00:38:00] On using virtual presentation tools to create better audience experiences [00:43:00] Why rinse-and-repeat keynotes don’t work — what live shows can learn from comedians [00:56:00] Using personality and humour to engage on social media and at conferences [01:03:00] Christian explains how podcasting fits his personal and professional goals [01:24:00] Advising clients: letting them be the hero and respecting their resistance [01:26:00] The psychology of change and why agency matters [01:28:00] What excites Christian about AI — especially human responses to it [01:30:00] Wrap-up and final thoughts 🔗 Relevant Links & Podcast Episodes Acteon Communications: https://www.acteoncommunication.com/ Human Risk pod Sarah Abramson on Speaking to The Human 🎧 👉 https://www.humanriskpodcast.com/sarah-abramson-on-speaking-to-the-human/ Hannah Williams on the Art of Live Scribing 🎧 👉 https://www.humanriskpodcast.com/hannah-williams-on-the-art-of-live-scribing/ Heather Urquhart on Improvisation Part One 🎧 👉 https://www.humanriskpodcast.com/heather-urquhart-on-improvisation-part-one/ Part Two 🎧 👉 https://www.humanriskpodcast.com/heather-urquhart-on-improvisation-part-two/Fraser Simpson on Making Ethics Engaging 🎧 👉 https://www.humanriskpodcast.com/fraser-simpson-on-making-ethics-engaging/Speak To The Human pod Christian Hunt on Bringing Behavioural Science to Risk Management🎧 👉 https://www.acteoncommunication.com/podcast/episode-2/ Fraser Simpson on a Game-Changing Ethics Engagement🎧 👉 https://www.acteoncommunication.com/podcast/episode-5/ Heather Urquhart on Overcoming Fear of Failure 🎧 👉 https://www.acteoncommunication.com/podcast/episode-9/ Hannah Williams on Visual Communication 🎧 👉 https://www.acteoncommunication.com/podcast/episode-12/
    Voir plus Voir moins
    1 h et 33 min
  • James Victore on Being Weird

    James Victore on Being Weird
    Apr 27 2025
    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 the very things that made us weird as kids are exactly what make us great as adults. We talk about where those quirks come from, how society teaches us to repress them, and why reclaiming them might just be the most important thing we do.The book is based on a series of interviews with people that have succeeded by embracing their inner weirdo. In our conversation, James shares some of these powerful and deeply personal stories, including his personal memory of a melted crayon puddle that’s coloured his creative journey ever since. We reflect on how childhood experiences, especially the ones where we were scolded or told off for stepping out of line, often hold the keys to our authentic selves.James also shares details of the other interviews from the book, revealing how other successful creatives found their voice by tuning into what made them “weird.” This episode is funny, raw, and honest. We talk about creative freedom, workplace conformity, artistic boundaries, and why our quirks are not only worth celebrating but essential for a fulfilling life.It’s a call to arms for anyone who’s ever felt out of place, and a reminder that the world doesn’t need more normal — it needs more you. 👤 Guest Bio - James VictoreJames Victore is an artist, lecturer, author, and self-described firestarter. He’s a creative provocateur whose work and teaching challenge people to trust their weirdness and embrace their unique voice.James is the author of multiple books, including Feck Perfuction and his latest, Hey Weirdo, which builds on his belief that the things that made us weird as kids are the very things that can make us great as adults.Beyond how he describes himself, James is also a celebrated designer and educator whose work has appeared in the Museum of Modern Art and who has taught at the School of Visual Arts in New York.His Instagram feed (@jamesvictore) is a playground of raw creativity, insight, and bold truth-telling — a direct extension of his belief in living a life on your own terms. 🔗 Useful LinksJames' new book: Hey WeirdoHis last book: Feck PerfuctionHis first appearance on this show: talking about Creative Courage: Social media: James on InstagramThe DO Book Company,the publisher for whom James designs coversJames' podcast The Right Questions⏱️ AI-Generated Timestamped Summary [00:00:00] Introduction to the episode and theme of being weird[00:01:00] James joins and introduces his new eBook Hey Weirdo[00:03:00] Exploring the etymology of "weird" and book origins[00:05:00] Childhood norms, creativity, and self-love[00:07:00] The melted crayon memory and its lifelong creative influence[00:10:00] The emotional contrast between child and parent perspectives[00:11:00] Interview with Suzy Batiz and floral wallpaper insight[00:13:00] Lena Jensen’s story and discovery of her own weirdness[00:15:00] Society’s role in normalising behaviour and stifling creativity[00:17:00] The play, joy, and love that get trained out of us[00:19:00] How weirdness becomes a superpower[00:21:00] Workplace conformity and annual performance boxes[00:23:00] Why truly creative people are disruptive — and that’s good[00:24:00] Autonomy vs chaos: setting creative boundaries[00:26:00] How to reconnect with childhood weirdness[00:28:00] Workbook coming soon to help readers find their voice[00:29:00] Reflecting on discomfort in adulthood as a weirdness clue[00:30:00] Trauma from work, education, and criticism[00:32:00] Tolerance and respecting other people’s weirdness[00:33:00] The emotional resistance to following your voice[00:35:00] Changing jobs vs changing yourself[00:37:00] How Lena Jensen built a creative career by being herself[00:39:00] Why commoditised paths are actually riskier[00:41:00] The lie behind “brave” career choices[00:43:00] The real sin: not using your voice or your gifts[00:45:00] Memories are made from weirdness, not routine[00:46:00] Green rooms, creative boundaries, and artistic standards[00:48:00] How James negotiated creative freedom in client work[00:50:00] Trusting your weirdness and finding your audience[00:52:00] Negative feedback, criticism, and learning to accept it[00:54:00] Why everything — good or bad — is a teacher[00:56:00] The danger of chasing money over fulfilment[00:57:00] Corporate incentives and “compensation”[00:59:00] Where to find James and how to get Hey Weirdo
    Voir plus Voir moins
    1 h et 1 min
  • Anne Sebba on The Women's Orchestra of Auschwitz

    Anne Sebba on The Women's Orchestra of Auschwitz
    Apr 18 2025
    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 prisoners were forced to form an orchestra in one of the most brutal Nazi concentration camps. They played not for celebration or escape, but as part of the machinery of terror — and yet, through music, they found a way to survive. As Anne shares, her journey into this story began with a startling personal discovery: her father was present at Bergen-Belsen shortly after its liberation. That visceral connection led her to uncover the story of Alma Rosé, the orchestra’s conductor and the niece of Gustav Mahler, who used discipline and musical brilliance to save lives. We talk about the complexities of human behaviour, the ethical dilemmas of survival, and the way music — even when twisted into a tool of torture — remained a powerful expression of the human spirit. We also explore how Anne approached telling this story as someone who is neither a survivor nor the child of survivors. She explains the challenges of working with conflicting testimonies, the emotional toll of researching this subject, and why she took piano lessons while writing the book. Above all, this episode is about the resilience of the women who played in the orchestra, and the importance of telling stories that allow us to see history not just in abstract terms, but through individual lives. 👤 About My Guest: Anne SebbaAnne Sebba is a bestselling biographer, historian, and former Reuters foreign correspondent. She describes herself as a “writer of compelling stories about iconic women,” and has written extensively about women in the 20th century, including Les Parisiennes, That Woman: The Life of Wallis Simpson, and Ethel Rosenberg: A Cold War Tragedy. Her latest work explores the story of the Women’s Orchestra of Auschwitz.Anne is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and speaks regularly on women’s history and the ethics of storytelling. Her official website is www.annesebba.com. 🕰️ AI-Generated Episode Timestamps[00:00:00] Introduction to Anne Sebba and the Women’s Orchestra of Auschwitz[00:01:00] How Anne discovered the story and its personal connection[00:04:00] Anne’s father's presence at Belsen and discovering his handwritten notes[00:07:00] Why her father never spoke about the war[00:10:00] Individual stories as a way to process historical horrors[00:13:00] Interviews with survivors and the challenge of conveying memory[00:15:00] Navigating the wealth of material and ethical responsibility[00:18:00] Using memoirs, archives, and testimony[00:21:00] Anne’s personal journey: taking piano lessons for research[00:24:00] Music as a tool of torture and as resistance[00:26:00] The Nazi logic behind having an orchestra in Auschwitz[00:30:00] How Alma Rosé transformed the orchestra[00:34:00] Alma’s strict standards and her life-saving leadership[00:39:00] How tensions within the orchestra reflected broader dynamics[00:44:00] Spotlight on Hélène (Hilda) and her moral clarity[00:48:00] The absence of clear moral choices in the camp[00:51:00] The psychological legacy and postwar trauma[00:54:00] Antisemitism and internal tensions in the orchestra[00:57:00] Were there moments of humanity among perpetrators?[01:01:00] What lessons have — or haven’t — we learned from history?[01:03:00] Anne on future work and how she finds her stories[01:05:00] Closing thoughts 🔗 Resources & LinksAnne Sebba’s official website: www.annesebba.comThe Women’s Orchestra of Auschwitz by Anne Sebba https://www.weidenfeldandnicolson.co.uk/titles/anne-sebba/the-women%E2%80%99s-orchestra-of-auschwitz/9781399610735/Yad Vashem: www.yadvashem.orgShoah Foundation Archive: sfi.usc.edu/vhaUnited States Holocaust Memorial Museum: www.ushmm.orgAlma Rosé on Wikipedia: Alma RoséAlma Rosé playing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQVyd2dz1rkBergen-Belsen Liberation: The Liberation Of Bergen-Belsen 15 April 1945 - The Holocaust | IWM
    Voir plus Voir moins
    1 h et 6 min