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The Human Risk Podcast

The Human Risk Podcast

By: 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.

To pitch guests please email guest@humanriskpodcast.comCopyright Human Risk Science Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Professor Mark Stoyle on The Western Rising of 1549

    Professor Mark Stoyle on The Western Rising of 1549
    Mar 22 2026
    What lessons does a religious protest that led to an uprising in 1549 have to do with human risk?

    At first glance, not very much. It’s easy to see it as a distant historical event — something about religion, kings, and a very different world. But as my guest, Professor Mark Stoyle explains, the Western Rising of 1549 is far more than that. It’s a powerful example of what happens when authority imposes change without understanding how people will react.

    Episode Summary
    This episode started on a train journey to Exeter, where I was due to give a talk. Looking for a local story to make my presentation more relevant, I stumbled across a battle that had taken place just outside the venue in 1549. The more I read, the clearer it became that this wasn’t just history, it was a case study in compliance, behaviour, and unintended consequences.

    Guest Profile
    Mark is a historian and leading expert on what he calls the Western Rising of 1549. In this conversation, we explore how sweeping religious changes imposed by those in power triggered resistance, how small incidents escalated into a major rebellion, and why identity, belief, and emotion played such a critical role. Along the way, we discuss how history is written (and biased), why changing language can provoke outrage rather than acceptance, and what this story reveals about leadership, risk, and human behaviour today.

    AI-Generated Timestamped Summary
    00:00 – Introduction: a compliance failure in 1549
    01:00 – The train journey to Exeter
    02:00 – Discovering the rebellion
    04:00 – Why this is a human risk story
    05:15 – Introducing Professor Mark Stoyle
    07:30 – Setting the historical context
    10:00 – Power, authority, and instability
    13:30 – What triggered the rising
    17:00 – Why language change caused outrage
    22:00 – Early resistance and local incidents
    25:00 – The tipping point: violence begins
    29:00 – How the rebellion spreads
    33:00 – The siege of Exeter
    37:00 – How history is written by the victors
    41:00 – Crushing the rebellion
    45:00 – Cultural consequences and language loss
    48:00 – Lessons for today
    52:00 – Polarisation and modern parallels
    57:00 – Final reflections In this episode we discuss

    Key Topics
    • Why imposed change can trigger resistance
    • How small incidents escalate into major crises
    • The role of identity, belief, and emotion in decision-making
    • Why language and culture matter in compliance
    • How authority can misjudge human behaviour
    • The dangers of polarisation and “us vs them” thinking
    • Why compromise becomes impossible in extreme positions
    • How history is shaped by those who win
    • The unintended consequences of leadership decisions
    • What a 16th-century rebellion teaches us about modern risk
    Guest Profile
    Mark Stoyle is Professor of History at the University of Southampton. He specialises in Tudor rebellions, the English Civil War, and the history of witchcraft. Originally from Devon, his work on the Western Rising of 1549 draws on decades of research and a deep personal connection to the region where these events took place.

    Links
    The Western Rising of 1549, Mark's book - https://yalebooks.co.uk/book/9780300276886/the-western-rising-of-1549/

    Mark's University of Southampton profile page - https://www.southampton.ac.uk/people/5wyxqy/professor-mark-stoyle

    Mark's publisher profile: - https://www.worldturnedupsidedown.co.uk/team/mark-stoyle/
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    1 hr and 5 mins
  • Jeffrey Ludlow on What A Sign Is...

    Jeffrey Ludlow on What A Sign Is...
    Mar 14 2026
    What exactly is a sign? At first glance, that might sound like a strange question. Signs are everywhere: telling us where to go, what to do, what not to do, and sometimes what might happen if we ignore instructions. But as my guest, Jeffrey Ludlow Saentz explains, signs are much more than bits of information on walls or beside roads.

    Episode Summary
    Jeffrey is a signage designer who works on complex buildings and environments around the world — airports, offices, museums, and other places where helping people find their way really matters. He’s also the author of A Sign Is..., a fascinating book exploring the history, meaning, and cultural significance of the signs that shape our everyday behaviour.

    In this conversation, we explore why good signage is often invisible, how buildings “speak” to us through wayfinding systems, and what signs reveal about power, trust, and human behaviour. Along the way we discuss hacked traffic signs, casino design, airport navigation, and why something as simple as an arrow carries centuries of history.

    AI-Generated Timestamped Summary
    00:00 – Introduction: why signs are more interesting than they first appear
    03:00 – How Jeffrey became a signage designer
    04:00 – The challenge of helping people navigate complex buildings
    07:00 – What actually is a sign?
    09:00 – Why “everything can be a sign”
    11:00 – The power dynamics behind signage and authority
    13:00 – How designers observe signage in the real world
    14:30 – Cultural differences in wayfinding and navigation
    19:30 – Why Jeffrey wrote A Sign Is..
    22:00 – The fascinating history of fire safety signage
    24:00 – Curiosity and the stories hidden behind everyday signs
    27:00 – Hacked construction signs and unexpected messages
    31:00 – Trust, authority, and information on signs
    35:00 – Advertising, nudging, and attention
    36:00 – Information overload and competing signals
    39:00 – The learned language of signs and symbols
    41:00 – Why good signage is “invisible” when it works
    43:00 – Airports, trust, and wayfinding design
    46:00 – How people become signage designers
    47:30 – How casinos, airports, and museums use signs differently
    50:00 – The psychology of navigation
    54:00 – Why signage can’t work perfectly for everyone
    57:00 – Why wayfinding is an art rather than a science
    01:02:00 – Jeffrey’s book A Sign Is and where to find it
    01:04:00 – What signs might look like in the future In this episode we discuss

    Key Topics
    • Why signage is a form of behavioural communication
    • How buildings “talk” to people through wayfinding systems
    • The psychology of navigation and spatial awareness
    • Why good signage is invisible
    • How casinos deliberately make navigation harder
    • Why museums minimise signs while airports maximise them
    • The cultural differences in how places are navigated
    • What hacked traffic signs reveal about trust in authority
    • Why signs act as nudges that shape behaviour
    • The limits of signage when designing for large groups
    • How digital navigation may change our relationship with physical signs
    About Jeffrey
    Jeffrey Ludlow is a signage and wayfinding designer and founder of Point of Reference Studio, a design practice specialising in signage systems, environmental graphics, and branding for public environments. Trained as an architect, Jeffrey’s work sits at the intersection of architecture, graphic design, and behavioural psychology — helping people navigate complex spaces more intuitively. He is the author of A Sign Is, a book exploring the cultural, historical, and behavioural significance of the signs that surround us.

    Links
    Jeffrey's book 'A Sign Is...' - https://oroeditions.com/product/a-sign-is

    Point of Reference, the Madrid-based studio Jeffrey founded - https://pointofreference.studio/
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    1 hr and 5 mins
  • Marc Ross on The Art of The Negroni

    Marc Ross on The Art of The Negroni
    Mar 7 2026
    What Can a Cocktail Teach Us About Curiosity and Creativity? At first glance, documenting Negronis around the world might sound like a frivolous hobby. But could a simple cocktail become a vehicle for curiosity, experimentation and creative thinking? On this episode, I speaks with geopolitical strategist Marc A Ross about an unusual passion project: ordering and documenting Negronis wherever he travels. What began as a casual habit has evolved into a magazine-style project called 50 Negronis, capturing cocktails from elegant bars to chaotic airport lounges. Along the way, the project has revealed something deeper about travel, culture and the value of experimentation. But as the conversation unfolds, it becomes clear this episode isn’t really about cocktails. Instead it’s about how curiosity leads to discovery, why creative side projects matter, and how experimentation can enrich both our professional and personal lives. Curiosity Starts With Small ExperimentsMarc’s Negroni project began almost accidentally. While travelling frequently for his work as a geopolitical strategist, he started ordering Negronis and photographing them. What made the idea interesting wasn’t a search for the perfect drink.Instead, Marc documented the entire experience — the great cocktails, the mediocre ones, and the truly terrible ones. That curiosity created a lens through which to experience the world differently. Bars became places for conversation, experimentation and discovery, and the project grew into a collection of stories from cities across the globe. Creativity Through PlayA key theme of the conversation is the importance of playfulness. Marc deliberately avoids treating the project too seriously. The photos are simple smartphone snapshots, the documentation is intentionally loose, and the goal isn’t perfection.That approach mirrors how many creative projects evolve; by removing the pressure to produce something “definitive,” the project becomes an experiment. And in the process, it becomes easier to create, learn and iterate. Authenticity, Communication and Personality We also explore how side projects can sharpen professional skills. Marc argues that communicators, leaders and even politicians should experiment creatively and share aspects of their personality. Authenticity matters. Whether it’s documenting cocktails, running unconventional events, or experimenting with new formats, people connect more with ideas that feel genuine. Sometimes the most powerful way to communicate is simply to follow an idea that genuinely interests you.AI-Generated Timestamped Summary00:00 – A cocktail as a conversation starterIntroduction; why Negronis might seem like an unusual topic for a podcast about human behaviour and yet… 02:00 – Recording in Sundance, UtahMarc describes the Brigadoon gathering and its focus on conversation rather than traditional conference formats. 04:00 – The origins of the NegroniMarc explains the history of the cocktail and why it remains a classic drink. 07:00 – The “50 Negronis” projectA disappointing airport Negroni sparks the idea of documenting the drinks Marc encounters while travelling. 10:00 – Capturing cocktails around the worldMarc explains how he photographs the drinks and records the ingredients when possible. 13:00 – Cocktail culture and experimentationThey discuss how bartenders experiment with ingredients and create new variations. 18:00 – Why the details don’t matterThe project becomes less about recipes and more about stories, places and experiences. 22:00 – Learning through experimentationChristian reflects on how creative side projects can help people learn and explore new ideas. 30:00 – Lessons for communicators and politiciansMarc explains why authenticity and personality matter in leadership. 37:00 – Staying curious and having funThe conversation turns to persistence, creativity and the value of pursuing ideas simply because they’re interesting. 42:00 – Where to follow Marc’s workMarc shares details about Brigadoon events and his geopolitical newsletter. Links Caracal Global, Marc’s consultancy and advisory firm - https://www.caracal.global/Brigadoon, Marc’s series of lovingly curated events - https://www.brigadoon.live/ Marc on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcaross/ Marc’s previous appearance on the show - https://www.humanriskpodcast.com/marc-ross-on-communication-strategy/ Sundance Mountain Resort - https://www.sundanceresort.com/
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    46 mins
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