55: The Future of Humanitarianism with Michael N. Barnett
Michael Barnett is a leading thinker and scholar on humanitarianism, which as he says cannot be separated from humanity. Michael frames humanitarianism in the context of Empire, discussing the ongoing tensions between paternalism/control and compassion/giving that have been present since humanitarianism began. In more recent times humanitarianism has shifted from a voluntarism ethos to an exper...
48m Feb 07, 2023
48m
54: Complacency and Psychoanalysis with Julian Lousada
Julian is a British psychoanalyst who has worked in the public health sector for many years. In this podcast, he begins by reflecting on how complacent ways of thinking and being are becoming more commonplace, particularly in the consulting and psychotherapeutic world. He discusses a particular clinical case to emphasise this. Julian then explores the connection between complacency and action ...
35m Jan 26, 2023
35m
53: A Jungian Coaching Conversation with Laurence Barrett
In this episode, we focus on Carl Jung's work in relation to coaching and consulting.  Laurence is an eminent Jungian practitioner and author who is trying to bring the magic of Jungian thinking to the modern world of coaching and consulting.  In this rich exchange Laurence shares why he believes Jung's work is so important.  At the heart of this approach is a recovery of the 'soul' that is so ...
36m Dec 08, 2022
36m
52: The Meaning of Life (Coaching) with Nick Bolton
In this podcast, Nick and Simon go on an intriguing journey that explores coaching from different perspectives. Nick shares his experiences of what is called ‘life coaching’ and reflects on how this differs, and shares common ground with, executive coaching and other forms of helping relationships such as counselling and psychotherapy. Nick believes that coaching is a new configuration, built ...
40m Oct 20, 2022
40m
51: Animal Rights with Esther Salomon (Co-Founder of Animal Think Tank)
Animal rights activism is at the heart of Esther’s work and life. In this podcast, Esther shares her thinking on the entanglements between the way we treat animals and how we live in consumer capitalist cultures. Esther discusses the economic structures behind our mistreatment of animals and the ways in which they are commodified and treated as resources that mirror slavery. She then also offer...
41m Oct 09, 2022
41m
50: 50th Episode Special: Monarchy and Meaning with Leslie Brissett
We are celebrating our Golden Jubilee with the 50th episode of Edgy Ideas and thought it appropriate to reflect on the monarchy and its meaning. My guest Leslie Brissett draws on his wealth of experience in human dynamics and as Director of Group Relations at the Tavistock Institute to share his thoughts on what is projected onto the monarchy from the people, and what the monarchy represents, ...
40m Sep 26, 2022
40m
49: The State of Coaching Today with Liz Hall
In this episode, Liz Hall draws on her experience of editing 'Coaching at Work' journal to reflect on the state of coaching today. Liz shares how she believes coaching is thriving for two key reasons First, the demand on managers increasingly means they need a reflective space, and support to help them navigate the emotional and relational people side of the work, and the intensity of work dem...
34m Sep 16, 2022
34m
48: Web3 & Human Dynamics with Shermin Voshmgir
Shermin Voshmgir is a leading thinker in the world of Web 3. This podcast explores the intersections between human dynamics and Web 3 developments. Shermin discusses the new possibilities of more democratic and decentralised ways of being and organising, and shares her growing concerns about how old politics, ego-driven behaviours, and simply the lack of awareness around potential dangers. Ther...
46m Sep 02, 2022
46m
47: #IsThereEnough? with Daniel Matalon
Daniel Matalon is on a mission. Dan asserts that humanity’s biggest existential threat is not climate change, tribalism, or inequality but our inability to make agreements with each other at the level we require to address our challenges.  In this podcast Simon explores both the mission and what's behind it, making interesting connections to how the personal and the project come together.  The ...
36m Aug 19, 2022
36m
46: Leading by Nature with Giles Hutchins
Giles Hutchins shares his work and thinks about how to lead organizations following nature's flow rather than using nature as an external resource.  Since the industrial revolution, we have been an extractive society, taking from the environment, without understanding or considering our interconnectivity and interdependence with the environment.  We are now paying heavily for this way of thinki...
34m Aug 04, 2022
34m
45: Transpersonal Coaching with Hetty Einzig
Hetty explores how transpersonal coaching takes us ‘beyond the person’ and into the wider ecosystems in which we live and work, including the spiritual realm. Hetty and Simon share their own faith journeys that have shaped how they engage with this work. They discuss how spirituality is either ignored in the workplace because it is not relevant to a high-performance ‘modern’ work culture and be...
51m Jun 09, 2022
51m
44: The Tavistock Institute of Human Relations with Dr Eliat Aram
Our guest this week is Dr Eliat Aram, CEO of The Tavistock Institute of Human Relations (TIHR).  Dr Eliat Aram has been the CEO of TIHR for over 13 years. The TIHR, a not-for-profit outfit operating in the UK and abroad is celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2022 and is a world-leading research, evaluation, consultancy, and professional development organisation. Believing in the abundant poten...
41m May 06, 2022
41m
43: Exploring the Unconscious with Susan Long
Susan Long has studied and practiced working with the unconscious for many years. She brings fresh thinking to help us understand the unconscious in its many forms. Susan discusses the pre-Freudian unconscious drawing on the romantic philosopher Friedrich Schelling’s work who thought of the unconscious as a source of creativity. Susan reflects on the ‘repressed unconscious’ of Freud, and how ...
45m Apr 07, 2022
45m
42: Ukraine: Weaving War Reflections with Simon Western and Caroline Bainbridge
In this episode, Simon Western is joined by organisational consultant, certified Analytic Network coach, and Emerita Professor of Psychoanalysis and Culture Caroline Bainbridge to reflect on what is happening in Ukraine, drawing on psychosocial thinking. Their aim is not to provide answers but to stimulate thinking and insights. This horrific, shocking, and unnecessary war is about the Putin re...
42m Mar 23, 2022
42m
41: Large Group Identity and War with Dr Vamik Volkan
In this podcast Dr Vamik Volkan shares his fascinating personal journey, and some of the theories that have gained him an international recognition.   Born in 1932, Vamik a Turkish Cypriot lived in Cyprus under British rule, with the second world war and Nazi’s in the shadows as he grew up.  His journey took him to study medicine in Turkey, and psychiatry and psychoanalysis in the USA.  Experie...
40m Mar 02, 2022
40m
40: Leading Change in the Catholic Church with David McCallum
Father David McCallum is at the heart of a very interesting change process taking place in the Catholic Church.  Pope Francis has called for a 2 year process to advance a synodal church.  David discusses how a synodal church embraces leadership from the edges, engaging the laity and being less hierarchical and clerical in its approach.   Simon and David share thoughts on how this process might ...
44m Feb 10, 2022
44m
39: Working with Elite Athletes with Danny Donachie
Danny is a leading practitioner working with elite athletes. In this podcast he shares his reflections on working at a leading premiership football club in the UK. Drawing on his experiences of studying at the Tavistock clinic, Danny discusses the leadership and power dynamics at play in these soccer clubs.  He applies Menzies-Lyth theory of social defences against anxiety to his experience, ob...
45m Jan 27, 2022
45m
38: Psychoanalysis and Revolution with Ian Parker
Ian Parker is a practising psychoanalyst, an academic and a revolutionary activist.  Ian discusses the radical roots of psychoanalysis and how these have changed overtime, to make psychoanalysis fit with contemporary capitalist society.   Ian believes that psychoanalysis should be a radical practice than impacts on individuals and society, rather than an elite practice that adapts individuals t...
45m Jan 13, 2022
45m
37: 'Promoting Understanding Of Society' with Olya Khaleelee
Olya Khaleelee shares her experiences and thoughts on 'OPUS, An organisation promoting the understanding of society'.  OPUS aims to develop a deeper understanding of conscious and unconscious organisational and social dynamics; and to promote reflective citizenship – using this understanding to act authoritatively and responsibly as members of society and organisations within society.  Olya sha...
42m Dec 16, 2021
42m
35: Trans Liberation with Josephine Inkpin
Josephine is Australia’s first out Transgender priest and on this podcast, shares her experiences, and why she believes that trans people can help to shine a light into the world.   Simon and Josephine reflect on why transphobia occurs, and how trans, queer and non-binary ways of being create anxieties for those who fear transition in their own lives.  Josephine believes that trans liberation i...
48m Nov 04, 2021
48m
34: Yarning About First Nation Worldviews with Mishel McMahon
Dr Mishel McMahon, a Yorta Yorta First Nations woman from Australia, draws from 60,000 years of Aboriginal cultural experience to discuss what she terms ‘Relational Ontology’ - ontology meaning how we understand reality, what’s real and what’s not real.   She says “Relational ontology is a view of reality that all entities; plants, animals, elements, seasons, skies, waterways, the land, the spi...
40m Oct 21, 2021
40m
33: Thinking About Climate Change with Paul Hoggett
Paul brings deep insights into climate change drawing on psycho-social thinking. This conversation explores climate anxiety, climate denial and climate delay, and how we as ‘moderns’ find it very difficult to escape deeply embedded ideas that entrap us. Paul relates this thinking back to our founding myths from Judeo-Christianity that throws humanity outside of the Edenic garden, and outside of...
31m Oct 07, 2021
31m
32: The Century of the System with James Krantz
This conversation is important for anyone working in organisations, and trying to make sense of systems thinking.  Jim has been working with systems for many years and offers insights into how systems thinking evolved, why it is so important, and also why it is problematic and creates resistances.  Drawing on psychoanalysis as a ‘moral’ practice, Jim believes that unless we understand the psych...
37m Sep 23, 2021
37m
31: Organisational Ecology with Joan Lurie
This episode explores what it means to shift our mindsets towards ecological thinking and practice in organisations. This shift is away from the dominance of mechanistic and psychological thinking, not to replace these but in addition to them. Joan shares her long experience of working to disrupt organisations and help them to 'liberate' themselves from patterns that entrap them.  To achieve th...
38m Sep 09, 2021
38m
30: Faith in Leadership with Krish Raval OBE
Krish Raval is the Founder and Director of Faith in Leadership (FiL), Britain’s main leadership development organisation working with inter-faith communities. As a practicing Hindu he works with senior leaders and clerics from Muslim, Christian and Jewish faith communities.  In this conversation Krish shares his work and experiences of leading this inter-faith community.    Simon and Krish shar...
47m Jun 24, 2021
47m
29: Psychoanalysis & Culture with Caroline Bainbridge
Caroline is Professor of Culture and Psychoanalysis and in this podcast she shares her thoughts on a wide range of topics. She shares reflections on how our engagement with social media shapes our emotional and relational lives, and how psychoanalysis can help us untangle ourselves from the pervasive media and culture that we can't escape. Our cell phones are not only objects and tools that we ...
44m Jun 10, 2021
44m
28: Neuropsychoanalysis with Mark Solms
Mark is a pioneer in the field of neuroscience founding the term Neuropsychoanalysis.  In this very rich discussion Mark shares his insights into ‘where the brain meets the mind’.   Previously the neuroscience focus was to study the brain in terms of cognition and behaviour, yet Mark saw that this missed out on what is really astonishing about the brain, that it is an organ of feeling, emotion ...
29m May 27, 2021
29m
27: Psychoanalysis and Organisations with David Armstrong
David Armstrong is a thought leader and inspiration to many working in the field of psychoanalysis and organisations. In this podcast David shares his experiences of working with pioneers in the field after joining the Tavistock Institute in 1959. David describes how alive the Tavistock project was in its early days.  Innovations coming from the Tavistock Clinic through infant observation, atta...
37m May 13, 2021
37m
26: Whistleblowing with Professor Kate Kenny
Professor Kate Kenny is a leading expert in the field of Whistleblowing.  In this podcast Kate draws on psychosocial approaches to take a fresh look at Whistleblowing.   Whistle-blowers are consistently treated by the media and public as traitors or hero’s. Take Edward Snowden, for some he is a courageous hero who sacrificed his career and put himself in danger for ‘truth-telling’, for others h...
35m Apr 29, 2021
35m
25: Does Accreditation Undermine Coaching Quality with Daniel Doherty
In this episode Daniel shares his research and experience of credentialing and accreditation in coaching.  His findings ask many questions about the credibility of practices, often delivered by self-appointed regulation bodies, some that make a lot of money from the process.  Daniel identifies eight consumer types of coaches in relation to accreditation and credentialing:  The Enthusiast, Compl...
33m Apr 15, 2021
33m
24: Women's Leadership: My Journey with Lynne Sedgmore CBE
In this episode Lynne shares her personal leadership journey and thoughts on women's leadership. Lynne was born into a working-class community, and travelled a long and fascinating journey to the top of the educational establishment.  Lynne draws on two defining influences that have shaped her work, feminism and spirituality.  Lynne now runs her own leadership programme based on Goddess spiritu...
33m Apr 01, 2021
33m
23: Work is Absurd with Richard Claydon
Richard is a thought leader who looks at organisational life through the lens of irony and absurdity.    In this discussion with Simon, he shares his thoughts on the need to support those ironists who bring something special and vitally important to organisational life.   He shares his research that revealed 4 types of ironist, the Apollonion ironist who sits like a God looking down, commenting...
41m Mar 18, 2021
41m
22: Queer Culture with Lauren Levy
Lauren identifies as a queer creative.  Growing  up as straight female, Lauren embraced her Queerness at the age of 27.  Since then professionally and in her personal life she is devoted to exploring life outside the Eurocentric norm and how this impacts on herself and others.  In this discussion Simon and Lauren explore how queer and non-binary ideas and practices meet resistance and why this ...
40m Mar 04, 2021
40m
21: Learning with Elephants: Eco-Leadership in Practice with Trevor Hough
This conversation draws on Trevor's experience and passion of living in the Kruger National Park South Africa.  Trevor brings his coaching and therapeutic background to inform his consultancy and coaching at work.  Unusually he brings a particular edge to this organisational work that comes from his engagement with the natural world.  Trevor recently completed his 'tracker training" and shares ...
44m Feb 18, 2021
44m
20: Humanising Organisations with Gianpiero Petriglieri
Gianpiero is an internationally renowned thinker in the field of leadership and learning in the workplace. He brings a clinical lens to his research and teaching, which he begun acquiring while training as a medical doctor and a psychiatrist, and refined in two decades of coaching, consulting, teaching, and researching people’s working lives.  At the heart of this conversation is the idea that...
43m Feb 04, 2021
43m
19: Teams: The Heartbeat of Organisations with Tara Nolan
Tara Nolan is fascinated by teams and has worked extensively with teams as a coach.  In this episode, Tara reflects on her work and her insights from interviewing experts and team leaders in her podcast ‘A Game of Teams’.   Teams are the heartbeat of organisational success and this episode Tara and Simon discuss team dynamics, team leadership and the changing nature of how teams are working in ...
41m Jan 21, 2021
41m
18: From the Barricades to the Boardroom with Chris Yates, CTO, Ford Motor Company
Chris Yates has travelled a big journey, coming from the West Indies to London as a child, brought up by a single parent, he has held some of the biggest 'people jobs' in the business world. Currently Chief Talent Officer at Ford Motor Company, previously General Manager of Learning & Development at Microsoft, Chief Learning Officer and Head of People and Organizational Development for Caterpil...
43m Dec 17, 2020
43m
17: Diversity and Inclusion: Are You Performing or Reforming with Pooja Sachdev
Pooja Sachdev is a leading practitioner in the diversity and inclusion space. Pooja discusses with Simon the real challenges faced by organisations when working on diversity and inclusion. This conversation reveals how language can be used to silence people rather than open up discussions, and how we need to 'decriminalise bias' if we are to acknowledge our conscious and unconscious biases.    ...
41m Dec 03, 2020
41m
16: A Voice from Egypt with Dina Hassan
Dina Hassan lives in Egypt and works as a clinical forensic psychoanalyst.   In a wide ranging conversation, Dina shares her experience of life in Egypt and her time spent studying in Ireland.  Dina is 30 years old and a few years ago chose to wear a veil and she shares her experience of how this played out with her peers and challenges our perceptions of what it means to wear a veil.  Dina dis...
27m Nov 19, 2020
27m
15: Why Coaching Needs to Change with Professor Tatiana Bachkirova
Professor Tatiana Bachkirova shares her deep knowledge of coaching and in conversation with Simon they explore some of the limitations of coaching practice today, and what can be done to change this.   Tatiana and Simon are both advocates for coaching and believe coaching to be a hugely important developmental practice, yet they see problems in how coaching is practiced today.  The mainstream c...
36m Nov 05, 2020
36m
14: Technology and Culture with Jeff de Klein
Jeff is a sinologist and has spent many years working and living in China. He works as a leader in the world of technology and has worked in global tech companies and now is CEO /owner of a mid size tech company.   In 2018 Simon and Jeff presented together at a conference exploring how new technologies pull us in two competing directions, towards centralisation and to decentralisation. Techno u...
33m Oct 22, 2020
33m
13: In Praise of the Flask: The Art of Living the Good Life with Simon Western
In this podcast I read a short essay that explores the art of living the good life through the lens of the thermos flask. Internalised as a childhood ‘good object’ that represented happy times- family holidays and mountain walks- and it produced ‘good things’ that comforted me; warm nourishing soup and hot coffee. It acted as a transitional object when I travelled, bridging home and my place o...
20m Oct 01, 2020
20m
12: The Pleasures of Power with Jonathan Gosling
Professor Jonathan Gosling has been working in leadership development across the globe and in diverse settings for many years.  In this podcast he discusses with Simon the pleasures of power. They reflect on their own relationships to power, those of leaders they have coached and the tangled collusions around domination and submission. Many leaders who seem powerful to others feel themselves to...
42m Sep 17, 2020
42m
11: The Whiteness Paradigm with Michael Lindsay
Michael and Simon, two white men, discuss whiteness as a paradigm. Their conversation draws on their personal experiences and addresses the wider systemic issues that are at play. They reflect on how white fragility plays out, and what it will take to enable people to move from being defensive, to engage with the vulnerable curiosity that is required to lead to change?     Whiteness is often re...
42m Sep 03, 2020
42m
10: Anarchism, Management and Social Change with Professor Martin Parker
Edgy ideas are a speciality from my guest Martin Parker.  As Professor of Organization Studies at Bristol University, Martin challenges mainstream ideas about how we think about organisations, leadership and management.  His recent books ‘Shut down the Business school’ and 'Anarchism, Organization and Management' are discussed in this vibrant conversation. Martin draws on his sociology, anthrop...
37m Aug 20, 2020
37m
9: From Martin Luther King to Black Lives Matter with Dr Kathy White
This very special episode of Edgy Ideas addresses issues of race from MLK to BLM, on a journey experienced by my esteemed guest Dr Kathleen Pogue White. Kathy met Dr King as a student and shares her unique experience of living and working through periods of hope and despair in relation to racism in the USA and beyond.  As BLM puts racism back at the top of an international agenda, Kathy shares ...
43m Aug 06, 2020
43m
8: Developing Leaders with Manfred Kets de Vries
World-renowned author, academic and award-winning teacher,  Manfred Kets de Vries joins Simon to share his invaluable insights on working with leaders and organisations.  Manfred discusses his work with CEOs,  family business leaders, and his work in Russia.  In his new e-book 'Journeys into Coronavirus Land'  Manfred sets out the five fundamentals that guide good leadership - Belonging, Purpos...
37m Jul 23, 2020
37m
7: Identity, Race and Society with Leslie Brissett (Part 2)
In Part 2 Simon continues his conversation with Leslie Brissett and they explore faith, belonging, monastic calling and the beauty of trees amongst other issues relating to identity.    Leslie is from the UK with a Caribbean heritage, and recently relocated to live in Arkansas USA. Leslie is Director of Group Relations at the Tavistock Institute of Human Relations and has studied human dynamic...
29m Jul 09, 2020
29m
6: Identity, Race and Society with Leslie Brissett (Part 1)
In this episode Simon invites special guest Leslie Brissett to share his personal experience of race and identity.     This delightful and deeply human conversation meanders through race and identity exploring otherness and drawing on psychoanalytic insights. Leslie shares his reflections and insights on these big issues bringing his unique perspectives on what it means to live a good life and...
27m Jun 25, 2020
27m
5: Pandemic Psychodynamics in Russia with Irena Izotova
Our special guest today is Irena Izotova from Moscow, who will be sharing her thoughts and experience from a Russian perspective. Our conversation meanders through our experiences of the pandemic and we touch on how the 'Discourse of the Master' returns to impose prohibitions on us during the lockdown.  This is something new to many in the west, but Irena points to this being historically fami...
27m Jun 18, 2020
27m