The Human Risk Podcast

Why do we struggle to talk about grief? Why that matters and what we can do about it, is the subject of this episode.

Summary
Grief is something almost all of us will experience, and yet something we still struggle to talk about openly. Not because it’s rare, but because it makes us uncomfortable. We lack a shared language for it, feel uneasy about how long it lasts, and often don’t know how to sit with people who don’t simply “move on”. 

On this episode, I'm joined by Amy Kean, founder of Good Shout, for a deeply human conversation about grief, work, identity, and what it really means to give people space to be themselves.

Amy has been on the podcast before. Since first encountering her work, I have been consistently inspired by her willingness to be unashamedly herself: thoughtful, curious, and open about experiences many of us keep hidden. When she recently shared reflections on grief on LinkedIn, it sparked a desire to invite her back; not for a tightly structured discussion, but for a conversation that could explore the wider dynamics around loss. 

What follows is an unusual episode. It begins with grief, but moves into related territory: compassionate leave versus compassionate return, what actually helps when someone is struggling, why workplaces are often so bad at dealing with loss, and why talking about difficult things might be one of the most important human skills we have.

Rather than offering neat frameworks or tidy conclusions, this conversation creates space; for reflection, for discomfort, and for honesty. 

If you’ve experienced loss, this episode may offer comfort or recognition. If you haven’t, it may give you insight into how to show up better for others when the time comes. And above all, it helps normalise the idea that grief is not something to be hidden or hurried past, but something we should be able to talk about.

The episode is dedicated to Amy’s dad, Lord Terence Kean.

Relevant Links
Good Shout, Amy's company — https://goodshoutcommunity.com/

Amy on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/amycharlottekean/

Amy’s previous appearance on the show talking aboiut Communicating Effectively —
https://www.humanriskpodcast.com/amy-kean-on-communicating-effectively/

Death of an Ordinary Man by Sarah Perry —
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60324067-death-of-an-ordinary-man

AI-Generated Timestamp Summary
01:05 – Why Amy, why now
03:40 – Remembering Amy’s dad
08:30 – Double grief and anticipatory loss
10:40 – Stroke, hope, and uncertainty
14:40 – Grief, work, and performance
17:35 – Naming emotions out loud
22:05 – Talking about grief on LinkedIn
27:40 – Compassionate return 
30:05 – The cognitive cost of grief
33:05 – Why we don’t talk about death
35:05 – How to help someone who’s grieving 
41:05 – Creativity, curiosity, and grief
49:05 – AI, voice, and being human
53:05 – Shameless and deathbed economics
01:02:00 – Final reflections and dedication

Are we losing our ability to think critically as we rely more on AI?

Episode Summary
My guest is social psychologist Dr Guy Champniss to explore the role of behavioural science in business and the emerging challenges of AI in the workplace. We discuss why behaviour change is so hard to sell, the myth that behavioural science is only needed when everything else fails, and how organisations often overlook the human factors in transformation. Guy brings deep insight into how behavioural science is perceived inside organisations—often as a last resort when more traditional methods fail. 

We examine why that is, and how a better understanding of human behaviour can actually de-risk strategy, improve engagement, and lead to more successful outcomes. We also explore the psychology of AI: how we trust it, how we interact with it, and what we might be losing in the process. From loss of credibility and collaboration among employees, to the risks of over-automation and cognitive offloading, the conversation raises timely questions about what kind of future we're building, and how prepared we really are.

You'll hear thoughtful takes on the challenges of selling behavioural science, powerful metaphors to help reframe the debate, and real-world examples from the classroom to the call centre. If you’re curious about the intersection of technology, psychology, and organisational behaviour, this is a must-listen.

About Guy Champniss
Dr Guy Champniss is a social psychologist and behavioural science practitioner. He teaches at IE Business School in Madrid and consults through Meltwater Consulting. Guy’s current work focuses on how AI is changing human behaviour in organisations—particularly its impact on trust, agency, and critical thinking. He’s also worked extensively in the sustainability space, helping businesses drive lasting behavioural change.

AI Generated Timestamp Summary
[00:00:00] – Intro to Dr Guy Champniss and sets up the discussion around behavioural science and AI.

[00:03:30] – Behavioural Science’s Struggle for Acceptance
Why it’s often brought in too late and why it needs itself to be sold effectively.

[00:10:00] – Organisational Blind Spots
How businesses resist behaviour-led approaches and prefer short-term fixes.

[00:17:30] – From Sustainability to AI
Guy’s journey into exploring the psychology of AI at work.

[00:24:00] – AI and Human Credibility
What happens when AI performs better than people, and how that undermines trust. 

[00:30:00] – Trust and Bias in AI
Why we trust AI more when it agrees with us and the dangers that brings.

[00:38:00] – AI’s Impact on Collaboration
How automation can quietly erode teamwork and critical thinking.

[00:45:00] – Students and AI
What AI use in classrooms reveals about thinking, learning, and shortcuts.

[00:52:00] – The Real Future of Work
Why it’s not AI replacing jobs—but people who know how to use it.

[00:56:00] – Language, Labels, and Responsibility
The power of how we talk about tech and what it signals.

Links
Meltwater Consulting, Guy's firm - https://www.meltwater-consulting.com/drguychampniss

Guy on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/guychampniss/

His academic profile at IE Business School - https://rhe.ie.edu/speaker/guy-champniss/

Guy's research - https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Guy-Champniss

McKinsey article on AI in Contact Centres - https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/operations/our-insights/the-contact-center-crossroads-finding-the-right-mix-of-humans-and-ai

Onora O'Neil BBC Reith Lectures on A Question of Trust:
Recording: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00ghvd8
Transcript: https://downloads.bbc.co.uk/rmhttp/radio4/transcripts/20020427_reith.pdfv

Why do governments rely on coercion and punishment when voluntary cooperation often produces better, more sustainable outcomes?

Episode Summary
On this episode, I’m joined once again by Professor Yuval Feldman, who returns to explore the core question behind his latest book: Can The Public Be Trusted?

Instead of asking how much we trust our governments, Yuval flips the script, asking how much governments trust us, and whether that trust is deserved. Together, we dive into the concept of voluntary compliance, where people follow rules not because they’re forced to, but because they believe in doing the right thing. We unpack the complexity of this idea through real-world examples, from tax compliance to environmental policy to COVID-19 interventions. 

Yuval explains why people who think they’re ethical can actually be the hardest to regulate, and how misplaced trust can lead to serious regulatory blind spots. We also explore the psychological tension between intrinsic motivation and external enforcement, and why regulators often default to command-and-control, even when trust might offer a better solution.

As ever, Yuval makes nuanced, sophisticated ideas feel accessible and immediately relevant. You'll hear about the role of culture, the limits of nudging, why economists might (sometimes!) actually be right about human behaviour and how AI might help policymakers make better decisions. 

Guest Bio
Professor Yuval Feldman is a legal scholar and behavioural scientist at Bar-Ilan University in Israel. A returning guest and the podcast’s very first interviewee, Yuval is internationally renowned for his work at the intersection of law, psychology, and behavioural economics. His new book, Can The Public Be Trusted? The Promise and Perils of Voluntary Compliance is available open-access via Cambridge University Press (link below).

AI-Generated Timestamped Summary
[00:00:00] Introduction: why this question of “can the public be trusted?” matters for regulation and risk

[00:03:42] Yuval’s personal background: how he came into law + psychology and the origin of his VComp lab

[00:09:15] Defining voluntary compliance: what it means, how it differs from coercion

[00:14:52] Intrinsic motivation vs crowding out: when good intentions are undermined by heavy‑handed regulation

[00:21:30] Designing regulatory systems for trust: frameworks and features that support voluntary compliance

[00:27:47] Case study: Covid‑19 and public cooperation—what we learned about trust, compliance and enforcement

[00:34:10] Tax compliance as a trust test: how citizens respond when they believe the system treats them fairly

[00:39:58] Environmental regulation and the limits of voluntary strategies: when culture or technology create barriers

[00:45:22] Cross‑cultural & technological dynamics: how digital reputation, culture and platforms impact compliance

[00:50:05] The perils of voluntary compliance: when trust can be misplaced, manipulated or simply ineffective

[00:55:30] Final reflections: what this means for risk professionals, policymakers and anyone designing systems of human behaviour

[01:00:12] Closing: how to reframe regulation to see the public not as a risk but as a resource.

Links
Yuval's academic profile -  https://law.biu.ac.il/en/feldman

His profile on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/yuval-feldman-21942514/
 
His open-access book Can the Public Be Trusted? (Cambridge University Press) – https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/can-the-public-be-trusted/B3E11831E3051D4E928B9252B6767A4B

Yuval’s previous appearances on the show 
On The Law of Good People or ‘why we should write rules for good people not bad people’ (2019) - https://www.humanriskpodcast.com/professor-yuval-feldman-on-why/
 
On Trust & Voluntary Compliance (2022) - https://www.humanriskpodcast.com/professor-yuval-feldman-on-trust-compliance?

We all intuitively know that hypocrisy is a bad thing. But what if it isn’t a flaw, but a feature? But maybe the real problem isn’t hypocrisy, it’s how we think about it.

Episode Summary
On this episode, I'm talking to Dr Michael Hallsworth, a leading behavioural scientist and the author of The Hypocrisy Trap. We explore a topic that’s instantly recognisable but not often properly understood. Hypocrisy is something we’re quick to spot in others, slow to acknowledge in ourselves, and often design around as if it were avoidable or inherently wrong. 

What Michael reveals — through personal stories, behavioural experiments, and a careful unpacking of what hypocrisy really means — is that our judgments of hypocrisy say more about us than about the people we’re criticising. In fact, hypocrisy isn’t just common; it’s structurally baked into how we navigate competing priorities, conflicting values and real-world trade-offs. And sometimes, paradoxically, a little hypocrisy might even be useful.

That makes it incredibly relevant to human risk. In compliance, ethics, and organisational culture, we tend to assume people should act consistently with what they believe, and we often penalise them when they don’t. But as Michael explains, this assumption can lead us to build systems that are brittle, punitive or out of touch with how people actually behave. This conversation challenges that frame and offers a more human — and more effective — way of thinking about inconsistency, trust and moral judgment.

Guest Biography - Michael Hallsworth
Dr Michael Hallsworth is Chief Behavioural Scientist at the Behavioural Insights Team (BIT), where he applies behavioural science to policy, organisational design and real‑world behavioural change. He describes himself as someone “helping people apply behavioural science to real‑world problems” and is the author of The Hypocrisy Trap: How Changing What We Criticise Can Improve Our Lives.

At BIT, Michael has led numerous projects spanning government and private sector domains, bridging rigorous academic research with operational behavioural insight. His work is characterised by practical translation of behavioural science and an upfront acknowledgement of human complexity — the grey zones rather than the simple binaries.

His new book brings this lens to the topic of hypocrisy, exploring how our judgments of double standards shape behaviour, institutions and trust in counter‑intuitive ways.

AI-Generated Timestamp Summary
[00:00:00] Intro and framing of hypocrisy as a human behavioural risk
[00:01:00] Why hypocrisy runs deeper than just “saying one thing and doing another”
[00:02:00] Discussion of how organisations treat moral consistency — and the limitations of that approach
[00:03:00] Michael’s background, BIT and the genesis of his book
[00:04:00] Defining hypocrisy: the three‑part structure
[00:06:00] The two‑fold meaning: false image vs double standards
[00:07:00] Michael’s personal story with his daughter + the context of “PartyGate”
[00:09:00] Historical roots: Freud’s view on civilisation and hypocrisy
[00:11:00] Why hypocrisy is a social judgement rather than purely behavioural
[00:13:00] When calling out hypocrisy becomes counterproductive in change efforts
[00:15:00] Real‑world examples: politics, business, everyday life
[00:17:00] The phenomenon of ‘do‑gooder derogation’ and why consistent people make us uneasy
[00:20:00] Hypocrisy as a strategic accusation in social media and organisational life
[00:22:00] The behavioural science of induced hypocrisy and what it tells us about change
[00:25:00] Honest vs. relatable hypocrisy: shifting the narrative
[00:28:00] Michael outlines three categories for navigating hypocrisy
[00:30:00] His reflections on writing the book and the surprises he uncovered
[00:34:00] Balancing moral integrity with public perception and stakeholder expectations
[00:36:00] Hypocrisy in corporate ESG: the tension between expectation and action
[00:39:00] Managing contradictions among stakeholders: the inevitable trade‑offs
[00:41:00] Experiment results: private hypocrisy and moral judge
[00:44:00] The paradox: why we prefer people who are ‘inconsistent but principled’ over ‘consistent and bland’
[00:46:00] Authenticity vs inauthentic leadership — and the hypocrisy dimension
[00:48:00] Is this a practical manual for “how to do hypocrisy well”?
[00:51:00] Final reflections: hypocrisy isn’t always about morality—sometimes it’s about signalling, trust and change
[00:54:00] Michael’s hope for what the book can achieve and closing thoughts
[00:57:00] Wrap‑up, thanks and behavioural nudge for the listener

Links
Michael's website - https://www.michaelhallsworth.com/
The Hypocrisy Trap  – https://www.thehypocrisytrap.com/
Behavioural Insights Team - https://www.bi.team/
Michael's IT profile – https://www.bi.team/people/michael-hallsworth/
'Partygate' explainer - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-59952395

Can a single sentence change the way you see the world? My guest on this episode, James Geary thinks so.

Episode Summary
On this episode, I speak with writer and journalist James, whose lifelong fascination with aphorisms — the world’s shortest literary form — reveals why brevity really is the soul of wit.

James explains what makes an aphorism work, shares the five laws that define them, and explores how these concise little sayings have guided human thought from ancient times to social media.

We discuss:
The difference between aphorisms and proverbs
How short phrases can serve as decision-making tools and emotional signposts
Why humour and contradiction are central to wisdom
How modern culture, marketing, and even AI continue the aphoristic tradition
James’s book The World in a Phrase and why he chose to update it 20 years after originally publishing it
I also ask him whether my friend James Victore's phrase 'what made you weird as a kid, makes you great today' is an aphorism (spoiler alert: it is!).

Guest bio
James Geary is a writer, journalist, and Deputy Curator at Harvard’s Nieman Foundation for Journalism. He is the author of 'The World in a Phrase: A Brief History of the Aphorism' and 'Geary’s Guide to the World’s Great Aphorists'.

Links to topics 
James' book The World in a Phrase: A Brief History of the Aphorism (Second Edition) — University of Chicago Press page. University of Chicago Press
James' official website (book + aphorism archive). jamesgeary.com+1
Harvard Gazette profile piece (“Brief bursts of wisdom”). Harvard Gazette
James Geary — TED Talk “Metaphorically speaking.” TED
Earlier Human Risk podcast episode with James Victore (where he shares “the things that made you weird…”): The Human Risk Podcast
AI-Generated Timestamp Summary
[00:00:00] Opening, why short phrases stick; introducing James Geary and my confession about “aphorism” pronunciation and definition.

[00:01:00] What aphorisms are; oldest literary form; Reader’s Digest spark at age eight.
 
[00:03:00] First memorable line: “difference between a rut and a grave”; why compressing meaning captivated him. 

[00:05:00] The five laws: brief, personal, definitive, philosophical, with a twist; applying them to the Victore quote.
 
[00:06:30] Truth vs. usefulness; contradictions (Johnson vs. Bierce) and situational wisdom.
 
[00:08:45] Aphorisms as everyday philosophy; “signposts” and “violin in public” imagery.
 
[00:10:45] Teenage collecting; writing aphorisms on the backs of rock posters.
 
[00:12:45] Joy + darkness; why humour helps memory; “Why can angels fly? Because they take themselves lightly.”
 
[00:16:30] Family sayings; “If you’re not living on the edge, you’re taking up too much space.”
 
[00:17:45] Redundancy story; “treacherous ground” aphorism as psychological footing.
 
[00:19:30] Secular scripture; Pascal’s tennis metaphor; timelessness across traditions.
 
[00:23:00] Originality vs. recurrence; why the twist makes the familiar new.
 
[00:25:15] Beyond greeting-card obviousness; Emerson’s “braver five minutes longer.”
 
[00:27:45] Knowing when to persist vs. bail; relationship aphorism “don’t let someone show you twice.”
 
[00:31:00] Short form ≠ short attention; links to deep, long thinking.
 
[00:33:30] Craft vs. hot takes; how aphorisms provoke contemplation and dialogue.
 
[00:37:00] Ukraine example; “We kneel before heroes, not invaders” and words+images.
 
[00:41:00] Free speech, calm strength, and the form’s defiance of authoritarianism.
 
[00:43:15] Why a history, not a favourites list; posters to book structure.
 
[00:47:00] Rights reversion; why a new edition now; social media context; more aphorists.
 
[00:49:15] Choosing figures: omitting Wilde; championing Stanisław Lec; “No snowflake in an avalanche ever feels responsible.”
 
[00:53:00] Aphorisms everywhere: t-shirts, bumper stickers, ads; “Lick the lid of life.”
 
[00:56:30] Can AI write aphorisms? Yes — but beware “cognitive laziness.”
 
[01:01:00] Prompts for humans vs. prompts for machines; why discomfort matters.
 
[01:02:15] Book details; publisher; where to find it; closing thanks.
 
[01:04:00] Outro: links, review ask, website, and final behavioural nudge on “phrases you live by.”