Cognitive Engineering

Click bait and switch: has the internet swapped out knowledge for monetisation? Search engine optimisation, advertising run amok, users as customers: has the internet become a little bit crap and, if so, how do we fix it? In this podcast, we discuss the problem with the internet's funding model, whether it could learn a thing or two from the BBC, and continue a seemingly futile quest for a decent cheese-ranking website. A few things we mentioned in this podcast: - Is Google Getting Worse? https://downloads.webis.de/publications/papers/bevendorff_2024a.pdf - Hacker News forum says ‘yes' https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39013497 - How Google is killing independent websites https://housefresh.com/david-vs-digital-goliaths/ - Dead Internet Theory https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_Internet_theory - The Eternal September https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eternal_September For more information on Aleph Insights visit our website https://alephinsights.com or to get in touch about our podcast email podcast@alephinsights.com

Tech it or leave it: what is the best technology? The bed, writing, antibiotics? In this podcast we ask: how do we define technology, and can we objectively measure the best of it? We take a look at potential metrics - from the number of people who benefit to quantifying the overall happiness created - and wonder whether the best is yet to come. A few things we mentioned in this podcast: - Estimates of historical world population https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estimates_of_historical_world_population - Timeline of inventions https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_historic_inventions - The philosophy of intellectual property https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/intellectual-property/ For more information on Aleph Insights visit our website https://alephinsights.com or to get in touch about our podcast email podcast@alephinsights.com

The missing link: why are we fascinated by lost media? From Celebrity Number Six to the original Backrooms photo, Love's Labours Won to absent Doctor Who episodes: what is it about lost media that intrigues and inspires us? In this podcast, we discuss the neurological itch that solving such mysteries can scratch, and how any media - in the age of the internet - is at risk of vanishing. A few things we mentioned in this podcast: Reddit: Celebrity Six https://www.reddit.com/r/CelebrityNumberSix/comments/1dr71l4/celebrity_six_mega_post/ - Information about the finding of Celebrity Number Six https://www.reddit.com/r/CelebrityNumberSix/comments/1fc1rci/information_about_the_finding_of_celebrity_number/ - The location of the Backrooms photo https://docs.google.com/document/d/1G5rA1PseLZozA6oUYjdVN6Rn8GNdEVY7bTXV4SmVp7E/edit# - The Lost Media Wiki https://lostmediawiki.com/Home - Kidd and Hayden (2015), The Psychology and Neuroscience of Curiosity https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4635443/ For more information on Aleph Insights visit our website https://alephinsights.com or to get in touch about our podcast email podcast@alephinsights.com

Is bigger really better? Does a company's product suffer the larger its owner gets? And if so, why? In this podcast, we discuss all things 'enshittification' - the perceived process of service and platform decay - and ask what is responsible: from growing beyond core competencies to ignorance of novel solutions.

In this podcast, we're discussing old age and when, exactly, it befalls us. Do we simply wake up one day absent of youth? Or can we estimate its proximity by certain metrics, such as daily medication or number of grandchildren? We take a look at how old age has been historically codified, and reason why it might not be just a number. A few things we mentioned in this podcast: - The Sorites Paradox https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sorites_paradox - Mortality in England and Wales: past and projected trends in average lifespan https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/lifeexpectancies/articles/mortalityinenglandandwales/pastandprojectedtrendsinaveragelifespan - Perception of when old age starts has increased over time https://www.theguardian.com/science/2024/apr/22/when-old-age-starts-perception-study - Cognitive Engineering: Seven Ages: First Puking and Mewling https://soundcloud.com/aleph-insights/seven-ages-first-puking-and-mewling For more information on Aleph Insights visit our website https://alephinsights.com or to get in touch about our podcast email podcast@alephinsights.com

Leisure bound: what exactly makes a hobby a 'hobby'? In this podcast, we discuss all things structured fun. From train spotting to Morris dancing, board games to beach-going, we consider what actually constitutes a hobby - an activity for its own sake? Or are other metrics, like regularity, important? - and how their nature has changed through the decades. A few things we mentioned in this podcast: - A history of trainspotting https://www.railwaymuseum.org.uk/what-was-on/trainspotting#:~:text=1942%3A%20Ian%20Allan's%20ABC,of%20Britain%20through%20their%20hobby. - Dwayne Dibbley https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oU6Skc4yZKQ - Geeks, MOPs, and Sociopaths https://meaningness.com/geeks-mops-sociopaths For more information on Aleph Insights visit our website https://alephinsights.com or to get in touch about our podcast email podcast@alephinsights.com

On the hunt: what does it take to be a National Treasure? In this podcast, we discuss what it takes to be awarded National Treasure status: from niceness metrics and longevity to likeability and media endorsement. We reason why David Attenborough most definitely is a National Treasure while Bradley Walsh—alas—probably isn't, and predict who might be bestowed the honorific in decades to come.

Buff or bust: why do we study history? In this podcast, we explore the value of studying history and discuss why it's more than a pastime meandering through past times. From crucial analogies and timeless lessons to methodologies for ensuring hindsight is always 20/20, we take a look at why history matters. A few things we mentioned in this podcast: - Why Study History? https://www.lse.ac.uk/International-History/Degrees/why-study-history - Banking Act of 1933 (Glass-Steagall) https://www.federalreservehistory.org/essays/glass-steagall-act For more information on Aleph Insights visit our website https://alephinsights.com or to get in touch about our podcast email podcast@alephinsights.com

Preposterous protocols, nonsensical norms, and peculiar policies: what makes a rule weird? In this podcast, Nick, Ben, Leon, and Fraser discuss the British army's recent dropping of the ban against beards: the history behind the ban, what motivated the recent change, and what the whole affair can tell us about 'weird' rules more generally. A few things we mentioned in this podcast: - British Army May Lift Beards Ban After 300-plus Years https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/dec/04/hair-today-why-british-army-may-lift-beards-ban-after-300-plus-years - Crimean Heroes https://www.nationalgalleries.org/art-and-artists/34493/ - 130 Years of Facial Hair Trends, in One Chart https://www.vox.com/2015/3/1/8123457/beard-history-chart - Did Van Halen's Concert Contract Require the Removal of Brown M&Ms? https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/brown-out/ For more information on Aleph Insights visit our website https://alephinsights.com or to get in touch about our podcast email podcast@alephinsights.com

The taming of the shrewd: how do we rationally agree to disagree? In this podcast, Nick, Peter, Chris, and Fraser discuss the finer details of polite polemics, courteous clashes, and respectful repartees. Whether a code of conduct or dangerous hand-washing, they delve into the fundamentals of agreeing to disagree: from group identity and global significance to cultural pressure and mutual benefit. A few things we mentioned in this podcast: - Aumann's Agreement Theorem https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aumann%27s_agreement_theorem For more information on Aleph Insights visit our website https://alephinsights.com or to get in touch about our podcast email podcast@alephinsights.com

Think fast! But ideally don't. In this podcast, Nick, Peter, and Fraser discuss Daniel Kahneman, the Nobel-prize-winning psychologist whose scholarship challenged economists' presumed rationality of human decision-making. From coining the term 'cognitive bias' and the development of prospect theory with Amos Tversky in 1979 to articulating the frequent errors which affect our decision-making heuristics, they reflect on his lasting contributions to economic science. A few things we mentioned in this podcast: - Daniel Kahneman, Nobel laureate who upended economics https://www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2024/03/27/daniel-kahneman-dead/ - Dual Process Theory https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dual_process_theory - Living, and thinking about it: Two perspectives on life https://kahneman.scholar.princeton.edu/sites/g/files/toruqf3831/files/kahneman/files/living_dk_jr_2005.pdf - Peak-end Rule https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peak%E2%80%93end_rule For more information on Aleph Insights visit our website https://alephinsights.com or to get in touch about our podcast email podcast@alephinsights.com Image: Andreas Weigand via Flickr

Cremated, buried or donated to science? How much have you thought about what happens to you or your body after you die? Who owns your body after you die? And is having a legacy truly important? In this podcast, Nick, Peter and Fraser revisit the Hull funeral investigation, touch on how different cultures, religions and the animal kingdom deal with death and grief, and ask if what happens to us after we die really matters. A few things we mentioned in this podcast: - Legacy funeral pair were arrested at Heathrow - police https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-68631122 - Blackstone on Property https://oll.libertyfund.org/pages/blackstone-on-property-1753 - Law Regarding Who Has the Right to Deal with an Adult's Body after Death https://www.lawteacher.net/free-law-essays/english-legal-system/law-regarding-who-has-the-right-to-deal-with-an-adults-body-after-death-3419.php - R. v Bentham (2005) - A hand cannot be an imitation firearm https://www.cps.gov.uk/legal-guidance/firearms#:~:text=Putting%20a%20hand%20inside%20a,Bentham%20%5B2005%5D%20UKHL%2018. - The Depths of Animal Grief https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/article/animal-grief/ For more information on Aleph Insights visit our website https://alephinsights.com or to get in touch about our podcast email podcast@alephinsights.com

In this podcast, we explore user interfaces. Specifically, we discuss the development, integration, progress and limitations of interfaces, and consider what could be next. ChatGPT with a brain? Neuralink? Tom Cruise's desk in Minority Report? A few things we mentioned in this podcast: - Smartphone typing speeds catching up with keyboards https://www.aalto.fi/en/news/smartphone-typing-speeds-catching-up-with-keyboards - The rate of inner speech https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.2466/pms.1990.71.3.1043 -Content Agility 2013 - Minority Report UI [Congility] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SFeCgoep1c For more information on Aleph Insights visit our website https://alephinsights.com or to get in touch about our podcast email podcast@alephinsights.com

Plagiarism is a complex concept that spans a spectrum from inspiration to theft. But is plagiarism strictly black and white? Can it occur unintentionally and can it be considered permissible under certain circumstances? As the rise of generative AI continues, are users inadvertently plagiarising when they use these tools? In this week's episode, we discuss plagiarism. We speak about the recent Claudine Gay case, definitions and historical examples of plagiarism, the entropy of plagiarising exact wording, legal concepts that relate to plagiarism such as copyright law, patents and trademark infringement and how generative AI could create new forms of plagiarism. Finally, we share our favourite plagiarism examples. A few things we mentioned in this podcast: - Harvard's Claudine Gay was ousted for ‘plagiarism'. How serious was it really https://www.theguardian.com/education/2024/jan/06/harvard-claudine-gay-plagiarism - Harvard retains President Claudine Gay despite alleged plagiarism on her part https://whyevolutionistrue.com/2023/12/12/harvard-retains-its-president-despite-allegations-of-plagiarism-on-her-part/ -Entropy and Redundancy in English https://cs.stanford.edu/people/eroberts/courses/soco/projects/1999-00/information-theory/entropy_of_english_9.html - George Harrison Guilty of Plagiarism https://www.nytimes.com/1976/09/08/archives/george-harrison-guilty-of-plagiarizing-subconsciously-a-62-tune-for.html - LLMs are definitionally plagiaristic https://nickfthilton.medium.com/llms-are-definitionally-plagiaristic-fc8c00299ae3 - Why ChatGPT can't Plagiarise https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-chatgpt-cant-plagiarize-mike-mcaulay/ For more information on Aleph Insights visit our website https://alephinsights.com or to get in touch about our podcast email podcast@alephinsights.com

Where is the much vaunted line between genius and madness? At a glance, it seems like they could be two sides of the same coin. Is the opposite of genius simply sheer stupidity? Is there a difference between the two or are they outputs of the same phenomenon? And where might there be some overlap? In this week's episode we discuss genius and madness. We discuss mental health conditions, historical figures and concepts that were considered quackery or fraudulent during their time, neurodiversity, Copernican heliocentrism, the germ theory of disease, AlphaGo and correlations between personality traits and levels of intelligence. Finally, we share examples of where we felt we were in the presence of genius. For more information on Aleph Insights visit our website https://alephinsights.com or to get in touch about our podcast email podcast@alephinsights.com

The pursuit of immortality is a tantalising idea that appears in science and technology as well as works of art and literature. But who actually wants to live forever? What does it mean to ‘cure' ageing? And what might be some unforeseen consequences of perpetual longevity? In this week's episode, we discuss the age-old problem of ageing. We discuss the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents dataset, demographics, education, governance, resource allocation, economics, intergenerational social interactions, family life, monogamy and cultural stagnation vs innovation. Finally, we share our best examples of the elderly. For more information on Aleph Insights visit our website https://alephinsights.com or to get in touch about our podcast email podcast@alephinsights.com

The observant among us will have noted that 2023 ended on a Sunday. For those who believe Sunday marks the end of the week, this seems like a logical day to end the year. But why do we find these types of phenomena satisfying? Is it slightly obsessive or should we strive for this symmetry in our daily lives? The bigger question might be: is it even possible to produce neatness in our messy world? In this week's episode, we discuss neatness. We debate which day is the first day of the week, and discuss the universal three-act structure, epicycles, special relativity, Kolmogorov complexity, prime numbers, crosswords, emergent complexity and the metric system. Finally, we share our best and worst attempts to impose neatness on the world around us. A few things we mentioned in this podcast: - Kolmogorov Complexity https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kolmogorov_complexity - Sabbath https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shabbat - A Mathematician's Apology: https://archive.org/details/AMathematiciansApology-G.h.Hardy For more information on Aleph Insights visit our website https://alephinsights.com or to get in touch about our podcast email podcast@alephinsights.com

You would be forgiven for missing it, but late last year Google Maps changed its colour scheme. This caused an outcry across the Twittersphere and social media platforms, with many outraged the change took place without their endorsement or consent. After observing this spectacle unfold we thought that it prompted some thought-provoking ideas - should we just swallow our discontent with technical features to enjoy free services? Do we complain too much in this day and age? Have we forgotten how difficult life was without recent technological advances? In this episode, we discuss moaners. We speak about Google Maps, Google Earth, cartography, complaining, the origins of legal liability, journalism and newspapers, the concept of gratitude and a crisis in open-source software. Finally, we share some of our favourite maps. - Is Gratitude a Moral Affect? https://www.researchgate.net/publication/230896629_Is_Gratitude_a_Moral_Affect#:~:text=Gratitude%20is%20conceptualized%20as%20a,such%20as%20empathy%20and%20guilt - First World Problems https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_World_problem - Map of Southern Sommerlund from Lone Wolf https://shop-magnamund.com/cdn/shop/products/Screenshot2022-03-23at19.33.11.jpg?v=1668683483 For more information on Aleph Insights visit our website https://alephinsights.com or to get in touch about our podcast email podcast@alephinsights.com

What do Trump, Johnson, Wilders and Milei all have in common? No, it's not politics, it's an eccentric and recognisable coiffure. Do these examples allow us to draw a theory between politics and hair or is it just a happy coincidence? If there is a connection, why might it exist? In this week's episode, we discuss populist hairstyles. We talk about the relationship between populism and hairstyles, data on hair and physical condition, the connection between shoes and personalities, signalling, Donald Trump's hair, and Jordan presents a typology for populism. Finally, we share the people from history we most admire who have a distinctive hairstyle. A few things we mentioned in this podcast: - The Guardian: ‘Populism is all about hair' https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2023/dec/03/populism-is-all-about-hair-what-rightwing-leaders-are-trying-to-tell-us-with-their-wild-coiffures - Hair Analysis in Health Assessment https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0009898113000405 -Cue masking and cultural signals https://research.vu.nl/ws/portalfiles/portal/121656045/Cue_masking_and_cultural_signals_Testing_contextspecific_preferences_for_balding_leaders.pdf - Politico: ‘Boris Johnson's hair shows he's too posh to fail' https://www.politico.eu/article/how-boris-johnsons-hair-defined-britain/ For more information on Aleph Insights visit our website https://alephinsights.com or to get in touch about our podcast email podcast@alephinsights.com

When we think of good and evil the picture appears obvious. The side of good is attractive, righteous and persuasive while the bad side is ugly, flawed and fallible. But does the way we intuitively expect good and evil to work line up with how it is portrayed in popular fiction and the arts? Are literature and film teaching us that might is right or is something else at play? In this week's episode, we discuss baddies with special guest Jamie Lear. We speak about Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, Thomas Midgley, consequentialism and deontological philosophy, Rousseau and Hobbes and Nick presents a taxonomy for good and evil. Finally, we reveal our favourite fictional baddies. A few things we mentioned in this podcast: - Hobbes vs Rousseau: are we inherently evil? https://iai.tv/articles/hobbes-vs-rousseau-are-we-inherently-evil-or-good-auid-1221 - TV Tropes: Always Chaotic Evil https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/AlwaysChaoticEvil - How do Orcs breed? https://www.vintageisthenewold.com/game-pedia/how-do-orcs-breed For more information on Aleph Insights visit our website https://alephinsights.com or to get in touch about our podcast email podcast@alephinsights.com Image by jasonwang7 via Deviant Art

When we go on holiday or experience an interruption to our daily lives, we are often reminded that a change can be as good as a rest. But is doing something different actually better than doing nothing? If true, what kind of implications would this have for our society? In this week's episode, we discuss change vs rest. We discuss the origins of the proverb, models of fatigue, data on industrial productivity, psychology of rest, and ego depletion. Finally, we share the best and most recent change we've experienced. For more information on Aleph Insights visit our website https://alephinsights.com or to get in touch about our podcast email podcast@alephinsights.com

People who spread lies and deceive others are treated with contempt by society, and rightfully so. But what happens when the people we lie to and deceive are ourselves? Using the case of Walter Mitties as a starting point, we explore the prevalence of exaggeration, fantasy and our inner selves. In this week's episode, we look at figments of the imagination. We discuss Herbie Popnecker, differences between US and UK attitudes to military valorisation, virtue imposters, intention vs self-delusion, cosplay, Aesop's Fox and the Grapes fable, catfishing, authenticity and status. Finally, we reveal the biggest self-serving exaggerations we committed ourselves A few things we mentioned in this podcast: - The military imposters who can't resist wearing an unearned medal https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/10/01/military-imposters-unearned-medal-nick-adderley/ - Waltenkommando https://www.arrse.co.uk/wiki/Waltenkommando - Alan Mcilwraith https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Alan_Mcilwraith&oldid=25222978 For more information on Aleph Insights visit our website https://alephinsights.com or to get in touch about our podcast email podcast@alephinsights.com

Some of our listeners may be familiar with the popular Roman Empire meme doing the rounds on TikTok recently. The meme illuminates many nebulous concepts from our collective psychology in a humorous way, but there seems to be one central principal: we are sharing the world with people who often have radically different thoughts to our own. So, what does it mean to think about the Roman Empire? Why does it appear to be gendered? What does it mean to think about something in the first place? In this week's episode, we discuss thinking about the Romans. We speak about gender disparities in thoughts and interests, thought as a philosophical concept, thought modelling, computational thinking, narrative and storytelling, data scarcity, AI and Peter shares his wishlist of thought-enhancing technologies. A few things we mentioned in this podcast: - How Often Do You Think About the Roman Empire? https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/how-often-do-you-think-about-the-roman-empire - How Often Do Women Think About … ? https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/20/arts/roman-empire-women-tiktok.html - Men and things, women and people: a meta-analysis of sex differences in interests https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19883140/ For more information on Aleph Insights visit our website https://alephinsights.com or to get in touch about our podcast email podcast@alephinsights.com

Political returns are not unusual, but there are varying degrees of success. With the recent return of David Cameron to politics as Foreign Secretary, we started to think about how to stage a triumphal return. Are there predictable pitfalls that must be avoided? How do you know the time is right? Why are we so intrigued by the idea of a return in the first place? In this week's podcast, we discuss the art of the return. We discuss the return of David Cameron, the history of political returns, the theme of returns and homecomings in literature, Lord of the Rings, Homer's Odyssey, prisoner's dilemma and Nick presents typologies for different categories of return. Finally, we share examples of our own returns and future returns we would like to see happen. A few things we mentioned in this podcast: - David Cameron returns to cabinet table after seven years https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-67411550 - British Prime Ministers who returned to government https://www.gov.uk/government/news/british-prime-ministers-who-returned-to-government - TV Tropes: One Last Job https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/OneLastJob For more information on Aleph Insights visit our website https://alephinsights.com or to get in touch about our podcast email podcast@alephinsights.com

What springs to mind when you think of McDonalds, Apple or BT? When it comes to the reputation of companies, first impressions seem to matter. But how does a reputation work? Is a negative reputation stickier than a positive one? and how long does reputation last? In this week's podcast, we discuss reputation. We unpick company and football statistics and data for listed companies. We also discuss the relationship between reputation and quality, Apple vs Microsoft, the scale vs quality trade-off, the concept of reputation in the judicial system and OBEs. Finally, we present what we consider to be some of the most glaring mismatches between reputation and quality. For more information on Aleph Insights visit our website https://alephinsights.com or to get in touch about our podcast email podcast@alephinsights.com

Many of our listeners will be familiar with Black Swan events - rare occurrences that have significant, often unforeseen consequences - yet fewer will be aware of Grey Rhinos. Like a large, lumbering rhino charging towards us, these are highly probable threats that we can see coming, but choose to ignore. So how can we communicate risk more accurately? Are there ways to improve our powers of predictability to mitigate the associated risks? In this week's podcast, we discuss Grey Rhinos with our special guest Jerry Smith from CHC Global. We discuss the UK inquiry into Covid-19, pandemics, insurance, the psychology of risk, short-termism, probabilistic thinking, black jellyfish events and the climate crisis. Finally, we nominate some of our own Grey Rhino events. A few things we mentioned in this podcast: - Healthcare Capacity, Health Expenditure, and Civil Society as Predictors of COVID-19 Case Fatalities: A Global Analysis https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2020.00347/full - The Animals in the Jungle of Risk https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/animals-jungle-risk-aminath-shaeera-cpa-irmcert/ For more information on Aleph Insights visit our website https://alephinsights.com or to get in touch about our podcast email podcast@alephinsights.com

Incentives and punishments are opposite ends of the same spectrum. In their opposing ways, both attempt to steer people towards a prescribed set of goals and behaviours. But which is most effective in getting people to behave better? Or is a society of universally well-behaved individuals simply a utopian fantasy? In this week's episode, we discuss the carrot and stick approach. We unpack the carrot and stick metaphor, discuss the concept of zero tolerance, toilet passes in schools, Plutarch, dictatorships, corporal punishment and data on punishments. A few things we mentioned in this podcast: - Parents say strict Spilsby school is breaching human rights https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-67139220 - Carrot and Stick https://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-car4.htm - Blame https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/blame/ For more information on Aleph Insights visit our website https://alephinsights.com or to get in touch about our podcast email podcast@alephinsights.com

Models are widely used in science to represent complex real-world phenomena in simplified forms to advance understanding. Though often overlooked, models can facilitate analysis by reducing scale and complexity and help to visualise things that are difficult to understand. But what makes for a good model and how does an approximation of something tell us more about the thing itself? In this week's podcast, we discuss models. We explore the desert kites of Asia and Africa, discuss heuristics, cartography, Borges, AI and machine learning, the historical development of models and examples of models that may surprise you. Finally, we describe some of our favourite model memories. A few things we mentioned in this podcast: - The oldest plans to scale of humanmade mega-structures https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0277927 - On Exactitude in Science https://kwarc.info/teaching/TDM/Borges.pdf - Spinal Tap - Stonehenge https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAXzzHM8zLw - Bourton-on-the-Water model village https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bourton-on-the-Water_model_village - Mary Poppins: Let's Go Fly a Kite https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyhJhf6Q7lg For more information on Aleph Insights visit our website https://alephinsights.com or to get in touch about our podcast email podcast@alephinsights.com

If you're a fan of JK Rowling, Jack Vettriano or Manchester United you're probably not surprised by the denigration they receive from critics. There is a whole host of cultural artefacts that seem to be universally popular yet despised by critics. Is it just gatekeeping or do the critics have a point? In this week's podcast, we discuss criticism. We speak about the role of the critic, James Wood, Matthew Arnold, Richard Feynman, status-seeking, thrifting, gatekeepers and wargaming. Finally, we share examples of art and media where we are undecided on whether it is good or bad. A few things we mentioned in this podcast: - Upset by Einaudi? https://interlude.hk/upset-by-einaudi/ - Twilight vampires? Bah! Fangs ain't what they used to be… https://www.theguardian.com/global/booksblog/2009/jan/08/twilight-vampire - The Premium Mediocre Life of Maya Millennial https://www.ribbonfarm.com/2017/08/17/the-premium-mediocre-life-of-maya-millennial/ - Unpopular Opinions https://xkcd.com/2184/ - Geeks, MOPs, and sociopaths in subculture evolution https://meaningness.com/geeks-mops-sociopaths For more information on Aleph Insights visit our website https://alephinsights.com or to get in touch about our podcast email podcast@alephinsights.com Image by Jack Vettriano / PA Wire via Flickr

What would the world be like if we could instantly teleport to different places and parts of the world in seconds? How might it work and what impact would it have on society? What kinds of questions does it raise about the identity of the teleported entity? In this week's episode, we discuss teleportation. We explain how teleportation could theoretically work and discuss matter manipulation, 3D printers, Hisenberg's Uncertainty Principle, Tsar Bomba, anti-matter, energy requirements, the history of transportation, Derek Parfit's Teleportation Paradox and on-demand streaming services. Finally, we discuss our most memorably awful travelling experiences. A few things we mentioned in this podcast: - Collisions of Light Produce Matter/Antimatter from Pure Energy https://www.bnl.gov/newsroom/news.php?a=119023 - Teletransportation Paradox https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teletransportation_paradox - To infinity and beyond: Teleporting humans into space https://phys.org/news/2013-07-infinity-teleporting-humans-space.html For more information on Aleph Insights visit our website https://alephinsights.com or to get in touch about our podcast email podcast@alephinsights.com Image: Jason Jacobs via Flickr

Have you ever yearned to pull off a grand escape or run away from your current life to start anew? The recent high-profile prison escape by Daniel Khalife got us thinking - how do you disappear in the modern world and is it even possible to do it successfully? In this week's episode, we discuss great escapes. We discuss famous disappearances, statistics on missing people and prison escapees in the UK, CCTV cameras, Nick presents a framework for optimising disappearance and we describe our theories for successful evasion of the authorities. Image: Terry Fincher via Wikimedia Commons

Do you prefer a Georgian terraced house or a new build? Classic cars or a Tesla? We often assume that because something is old it must hold intrinsic value. But is there a downside to valuing the old over the new? How old do things have to get before age becomes a defining feature? In this week's episode, we discuss the old and new. We speak about architecture, pubs, psychology, technological progress, house prices, John Betjeman, Chesterton's fence and Peter presents an idea for an old vs new thought experiment. Finally, we share our favourite old and new things. A few things we mentioned in this podcast: - The Ancient House, Walthamstow: London's oldest house https://lookup.london/walthamstow-ancient-house/ - List of demolished buildings and structures in London https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_demolished_buildings_and_structures_in_London - Buying a new build vs old house: Which is better? https://www.comparemymove.com/advice/new-build-homes/new-build-vs-old-build#:~:text=More%20Expensive%20%E2%80%93%20Although%20new%20builds,could%20affect%20the%20completion%20date For more information on Aleph Insights visit our website https://alephinsights.com or to get in touch about our podcast email podcast@alephinsights.com

History is replete with infamous grudges. Invasions launched by Julius Caesar, political rivalry between Gladstone and Disraeli and musical enmities that turn tragic in the case of Biggie Smalls and Tupac Shakur. But are grudges good or bad? What is the best way to deal with them and why do we have them in the first place? In this week's episode, we discuss grudges. We define the key characteristics of a grudge, compare them to feuds and vendettas, explore the notion of a good grudge and touch upon the animal kingdom, first impressions and justice. Finally, we reveal our favourite and longest-held grudges. - Werner Herzog anecdote about Klaus Kinski's "egomania" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCaTAGNkYQc - Grudge: the emotional side of resentment https://bristoluniversitypressdigital.com/view/journals/emsoc/5/2/article-p139.xml#:~:text=Following%20this%20perspective%2C%20Max%20Scheler,25 For more information on Aleph Insights visit our website https://alephinsights.com or to get in touch about our podcast email podcast@alephinsights.com

At a time when marketing has infiltrated our physical and virtual worlds, how should we think about it? Is it just advertising in different clothing or can it reveal deeper insights into our psychology and social interactions? In this week's podcast, we discuss marketing with special guest David Folkman, who has had a 20-year career in marketing and entrepreneurialism. We discuss the impact of technology, the psychology of advertisers, advertising models, Tinder, canned water, AI, creativity and the future. Finally, we ask David about his biggest marketing disasters and industry takeaways. David has a long career working for consumer brands including Mars, Nestle, and Innocent Drinks, and co-founded a number of food and drink businesses including CleanCo and Cheesies. He has also advised numerous companies on sales and marketing strategy. His new website is coming soon and can be found at www.davidfolkman.com For more information on Aleph Insights visit our website https://alephinsights.com or to get in touch about our podcast email podcast@alephinsights.com

Recent footage of orcas ramming fishing boats has given some pause for concern - has our old friend the sea finally turned against us? If the sea creatures have decided to declare war on us, what would their course of action be? Would they succeed? And how can we best fight back? In this podcast, join us for a maritime thought experiment where we analyse a hypothetical battle between humans and sea dwellers. We discuss biology, Abyssal and Hadal zones, shipwrecks, amphibians, water deities, global warming, robotic augmentation and shark attacks. Finally, we share our best aquatic experiences. A few things we mentioned in this podcast: - The orcas are attacking https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jul/19/orcas-boats-human-killer-whales-animal-life#:~:text=In%20the%20past%20few%20years,number%20so%20far%20this%20summer. - All the Biomass of Earth, in One Graphic https://www.visualcapitalist.com/all-the-biomass-of-earth-in-one-graphic/ For more information on Aleph Insights visit our website https://alephinsights.com or to get in touch about our podcast email podcast@alephinsights.com

Nowadays it is almost a cliché to say that content is king. Content seems to have become a ubiquitous catchall term for anything and everything that populates internet web pages. But does the modern usage of content devalue creativity or does it simply draw attention to the vast amount of information stored on the internet? In this week's episode, we discuss content. We unpack the Web 2.0 movement, legacy vs new media, genetics and large language models. Finally, we share our favourite content containers and pieces of content. A few things we mentioned in this podcast: - “Content is King” — Essay by Bill Gates 1996 https://medium.com/@HeathEvans/content-is-king-essay-by-bill-gates-1996-df74552f80d9 - Understanding the Cost of Packaging https://packmojo.com/blog/understanding-packaging-pricing-economies-of-scale/ - The Drum: 'Content' is a terrible term. Please stop using it. https://www.thedrum.com/opinion/2018/05/08/content-terrible-term-please-stop-using-it - Web 2.0 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_2.0 For more information on Aleph Insights visit our website https://alephinsights.com or to get in touch about our podcast email podcast@alephinsights.com Image: Niall Kennedy via Flicker

Is it just us, or does it increasingly feel like Britain is going to hell in a handbasket? We have industrial strikes, a cost of living and energy crisis, high inflation, political instability, perennial problems with the European Union and widespread cultural malaise. But is it true that the UK finds itself in an interminable decline or is it merely a figment of our collective imagination? In this week's podcast, we discuss declinism. We delve into economic data, compare the state of the nation today compared to the 1980s and discuss the British Empire, Netflix, relative decline and evolution. Finally, we share the things we are optimistic about for the future. In this week's podcast, we discuss declinism. We delve into economic data, compare the state of the nation today compared to the 1980s and discuss the British Empire, Netflix, relative decline and evolution. Finally, we share the things we are optimistic about for the future. A few things we mentioned in this podcast: - The illusion of moral decline https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06137-x#citeas - Stagnation nation: how can Britain pull itself out of its economic decline? https://www.lse.ac.uk/research/research-for-the-world/economics/stagnation-nation-how-can-britain-pull-itself-out-of-its-economic-decline - Britain is much worse off than it understands https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/02/03/britain-worse-off-1970s/ - Headlines claim Britain is declining. They aren't new — but are wrong. https://www.washingtonpost.com/made-by-history/2022/10/06/britain-decline/ - The optimism gap https://eupinions.eu/de/text/the-optimism-gap - Human development index https://hdr.undp.org/data-center/country-insights#/ranks For more information on Aleph Insights visit our website https://alephinsights.com or to get in touch about our podcast email podcast@alephinsights.com

As summer arrives there is change in the air. We are ready to take on the day, plunge into new hobbies or revive old ones and explore the world around us. But do you need to live through winter to properly experience summer? Is it the case that sunny weather is objectively better? What is the perfect weather or is there no such thing? In this week's podcast, we discuss optimal weather. We share our experiences in the extremities of temperature, discuss data on the ideal temperature for humans, evolution and natural selection, British weather and construal level theory. Finally, we share some things we like about bad weather. A few things we mentioned in this podcast: - Climate and Happiness https://www3.nd.edu/~nmark/Climate/Rehdanz_Maddision_2005.pdf - Hate The Cold? These Destinations Have Never Even Seen Snow https://www.thetravel.com/which-countries-never-get-any-snow/ - Bad Weather is Good for You https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2022/oct/29/bad-weather-is-good-for-you-take-a-walk-in-the-wind-and-rain For more information on Aleph Insights visit our website https://alephinsights.com or to get in touch about our podcast email podcast@alephinsights.com Image: None via PickPik

Some might say that society is built on rules. Laws set by governments, rules set by individuals and collective codes of behaviour that we are all expected to follow. But are there two types of people: those that follow the rules and those that make exceptions? How do we define a rule and what makes an exception? In this week's podcast, we discuss rules and exceptions. We discuss motorways, religion, the slippery slope, covid-19 lockdown restrictions, the psychology of rule setting, herd mentality, “the bubble” in poker and the Rule of Law Index. Finally we share our favourite arbitrary rules that have been imposed upon us. A few things we mentioned in this podcast: - Slippery Slope https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slippery_slope - Doctrine of Precedent in English Legal System https://www.lawteacher.net/free-law-essays/constitutional-law/doctrine-of-precedent-in-english-legal-system-constitutional-law-essay.php - Herd Mentality https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herd_mentality For more information on Aleph Insights visit our website https://alephinsights.com or to get in touch about our podcast email podcast@alephinsights.com

One of the many criticisms levelled against a show like Jerry Springer is that the controversy was inauthentic and manufactured in order to drive up ratings. But why do we worry about whether fiction is true or not? Should we just stop caring and enjoy it for what it is? In this week's episode, we discuss truth and fiction. We speak about New Journalism, postmodernism, open-world computer games, historiography, the coconut effect, Nick Bostrom's simulation hypothesis, histrionic personality disorder and the nature of reality. Finally we share our favourite fictional media that are based on a true story. A few things we mentioned in this podcast: - Jerry Springer: Era-defining TV host dies aged 79 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-65415348 - Tops in Tele-Trash : ‘Springer' worst stinker on TV guide list https://nypost.com/2002/07/13/tops-in-tele-trash-springer-worst-stinker-on-tv-guide-list/ - "Not Making This Up" Disclaimer https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/NotMakingThisUpDisclaimer - The Coconut Effect https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TheCoconutEffect - Aluminum Christmas Trees https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/AluminumChristmasTrees - Histrionic Personality Disorder https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9743-histrionic-personality-disorder For more information on Aleph Insights visit our website https://alephinsights.com or to get in touch about our podcast email podcast@alephinsights.com

Why does it seem like civilisations - sometimes great distances apart - made similar discoveries at almost exactly the same time? Whether it's the invention of the wheel, agriculture or early forms of writing, there seem to be parallels everywhere you look. Does it provide evidence for a kind of cultural clock that moves civilisations towards a converged form of progress? In this week's podcast, we discuss ancient civilisations and progress. We take a closer look at convergent evolution, the Andaman Islands, Fermi paradox, AI, aliens and the Arecibo message and ponder if globalisation ended this phenomenon. Finally, we share our favourite moments of contact between different civilisations. A few things we mentioned in this podcast: - The Aztecs - A Clash of Worlds https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8JVdpWCKeM - Sid Meier's Civilization Advances Chart https://forums.civfanatics.com/attachments/civ1tech-png.458650/ - Cradle of Civilization https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cradle_of_civilization - Neuroscience, Evolution and the Sapient Paradox: The Factuality of Value and of the Sacred https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2606703/pdf/rstb20080010.pdf - Aztec Technology https://aztecsandtenochtitlan.com/aztec-civilisation/aztec-technology/ For more information on Aleph Insights visit our website https://alephinsights.com or to get in touch about our podcast email podcast@alephinsights.com

Why does it always seem like it's the people who move to the village that complain about the church bells? Or it is those that move next to a pub that are irritated by noise? It seems to indicate that there is an optimal way to live harmoniously. But how does the idea of neighbourliness work and what does it tell us about the nature of society? In this week's podcast, we discuss noisy neighbours. Is annoying your neighbour a tale as old as time or is it a relatively recent phenomenon? We discuss trap and drill music, Horst-Wessel-Lied, whistling, Isaiah Berlin, Coase theorem, intentional communities, Nozick's framework for utopia and cohousing. Finally, we share when we've been annoying neighbours and when we've been most annoyed. A few things we mentioned in this podcast: - Classical musician forced out of London flat after noise complaints https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/may/14/musician-forced-london-flat-fiona-fey-mediaeval-babes-noise-abatement - The Independent Society of Musicians https://www.ism.org/?/join&gclid=CjwKCAjw6vyiBhB_EiwAQJRophs1VCEGCbtO6LFdOy9-016Q1kcqeGdUrttw82iys2x3KyUfmu2qmBoCNVEQAvD_BwE - Forager, Farmer Morals https://www.overcomingbias.com/p/forager-vs-farmer-moralityhtml - Adult ADHD: How to Succeed as a Hunter in a Farmer's World https://www.amazon.co.uk/Adult-ADHD-Succeed-Hunter-Farmers/dp/1620555751 - Robert Nozick's Political Philosophy https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/nozick-political/ For more information on Aleph Insights visit our website https://alephinsights.com or to get in touch about our podcast email podcast@alephinsights.com

Are you the type of person that writes carefully considered and elaborate emails? Or are you the type of emailer that responds with one brief unstructured sentence? Whichever it is, emailing has made a significant impact on modern forms of interaction. But has it led us into a world that is void of thoughtful communication? In this week's podcast, we discuss email. We discuss the origins of email, Google Wave, Whatsapp functionality and the postal service. Finally, we share the communications technologies of the past we wish were still with us. A few things we mentioned in this podcast: - Henry VIII's love letters to Anne Boleyn https://englishhistory.net/tudor/king-henry-viii-love-letters-to-anne-boleyn/ - Google Wave https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Wave - History of Email https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_email For more information on Aleph Insights visit our website https://alephinsights.com or to get in touch about our podcast email podcast@alephinsights.com

We can all think of situations where a small minority is seen to be ruining it for the rest of us. Whether it's someone littering or people talking loudly in a cinema, there seem to be endless examples of a small number of people creating a disproportionately large imposition on others. But what can we put this effect down to and what should we do about it? In this week's episode, we discuss the annoying few. We unpack the Pareto principle, personality types and analyse rates of crime in New York. We explore why phenomena we tend to think of as evenly distributed turn out to be highly concentrated and finally, we share moments when we were part of the annoying minority ourselves A few things we mentioned in this podcast: - The Pareto Principle https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pareto_principle - A Tiny Number of Shoplifters https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/15/nyregion/shoplifting-arrests-nyc.html - The Cart Narcs https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClMUlr8yHymYgSe58DpUH7w - Are we the baddies? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hn1VxaMEjRU For more information on Aleph Insights visit our website https://alephinsights.com or to get in touch about our podcast email podcast@alephinsights.com Image: Lee, Seung-bin via Flickr

In a world awash with influencers and social media personalities, sharing achievements with large numbers of people over the internet is now commonplace. But is there a line between celebrating success and blatant bragging? Are there times when bragging is necessary and what are some strategies for effective bragging? In this week's podcast, we discuss bragging. We construct a working definition of bragging, Peter presents his taxonomy for types of bragging and we discuss the idea of humble bragging and the relationship between bragging and status. Finally, we share some of our most recent brags and the worst braggers we ever knew. A few things we mentioned in this podcast: - TikTok star issues tearful apology after revealing she owns her own home aged 21 https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/tiktok-bradford-buys-house-apology-b2320588.html - Bragging, Humblebragging & Gratitude: Do You Know the Difference? https://www.proresource.com/bragging-humblebragging-gratitude-do-you-know-the-difference/ - Humblebrag subreddit https://www.reddit.com/r/humblebrag/ - You Call It “Self-Exuberance”; I Call It “Bragging”: Miscalibrated Predictions of Emotional Responses to Self-Promotion https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0956797615573516?journalCode=pssa - The Braggart's Dilemma: On the Social Rewards and Penalties of Advertising Prosocial Behavior: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1509/jmr.14.0002?journalCode=mrja For more information on Aleph Insights visit our website https://alephinsights.com or to get in touch about our podcast email podcast@alephinsights.com

As we edge closer to summer we found ourselves looking forward to holidays but dreading the thought of running into British tourists abroad. Is disliking your countrymen while overseas a universal feeling or are we disproportionately hard on ourselves? How do we ensure our holidays won't be ruined by people exactly like ourselves? In this week's podcast, we discuss Brits abroad. We discuss ingroups and outgroups, Newcomb's paradox, the intricacies of the British class system and evolutionary information discovery. Peter shares his strategy for avoiding Brits while on holiday and we share some of our best and worst experiences of meeting Brits abroad. A few things we mentioned in this podcast: - Britons make worst tourists, say Britons https://yougov.co.uk/topics/society/articles-reports/2019/08/30/britons-make-worst-tourists-say-britons-and-spania - Newcomb's Paradox https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/decision-causal/#NewcProb For more information on Aleph Insights visit our website https://alephinsights.com or to get in touch about our podcast email podcast@alephinsights.com

There's something about zombies that makes them the perfect genre to explore our apocalyptic fears and anxieties. Films about zombies seem to constantly reinvent the genre in new ways, whilst staying true to some core tenets. But how are zombies actually supposed to work and why are they so popular? In this week's episode, we discuss zombies with friend-of-the-podcast Mikey Lear. We discuss the etymology of the word zombie and the history of zombie films, the cordycep fungus, technozombism and the brain-in-a-vat thought experiment. We ask whether AIs are zombies and Jordan presents his zombie survival plan. Finally, we share our favourite scenes from zombie films. A few things we mentioned in this podcast: - List of Zombie Films https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_zombie_films - Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy - Zombies https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/zombies/ - How the Zombie Represents America's Deepest Fears https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2016/10/31/13440402/zombie-political-history - The Evolution of the Zombie in Popular Culture http://blog.valdosta.edu/mgnoll/wp-content/uploads/sites/136/2021/03/zombies.pdf For more information on Aleph Insights visit our website https://alephinsights.com or to get in touch about our podcast email podcast@alephinsights.com

If you're a fan of sci-fi you'll know that one of the most important characteristics of the genre is the depiction of a fictional universe. Whether it's Middle Earth, the Death Star or Arrakis, a plausible setting for events to take place is a key requirement. But do we have to accept a certain level of inconsistency between the fictional world and reality in order for it to work? In this week's podcast, we discuss fact versus fiction in media and storytelling. Are there rules for fiction that can be changed and ones that can't? We discuss The Mandalorian, the Rings of Power series, celebrity paradox and construal level theory. Finally, we share some of our favourite fictional universes. A few things we mentioned in this podcast: - TV Tropes: Acceptable breaks from reality https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/AcceptableBreaksFromReality - Vice-Admiral Holdo destroys Supremacy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1r36BUY-ZM - Celebrity paradox examples https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Construal_level_theoryhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/sam_cleal/celebrity-paradox-examples - Construal level theory https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Construal_level_theory For more information on Aleph Insights visit our website https://alephinsights.com or to get in touch about our podcast email podcast@alephinsights.com

After the news that renowned clairvoyant Mystic Meg has recently passed into the next realm, we decided to focus our energy on all things astrological. Zodiacs, tarot cards and horoscopes can seem irrational, but is believing in astrology bad for you or can it shed light on the human condition? In this week's podcast, we discuss astrology. Have beliefs in astrology declined in recent years or have we simply filled this void with other things? We unpack the decline of organised religion in the Western world, the relationship between narcissism and astrology, the Australian Sheep-Goat Scale and discuss how spirituality manifests itself in contemporary society. Finally, we analyse each other's horoscopes. A few things we mentioned in this podcast: - Mystic Meg: Astrologer dies aged 80 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-64900348 - British public reveal their beliefs in new survey https://www.bmgresearch.co.uk/british-public-reveal-beliefs-new-survey/ - Are we becoming more narcissistic? https://www.sciencefocus.com/news/are-we-becoming-more-narcissistic/ - Science says religion is good for your health https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicolefisher/2019/03/29/science-says-religion-is-good-for-your-health/?sh=7b961c513a12 For more information on Aleph Insights visit our website https://alephinsights.com or to get in touch about our podcast email podcast@alephinsights.com

Is it possible to fall over on purpose? What does the construction of words in a sentence tell us about the way we use natural language to convey thoughts and ideas? We often think about language as being an essential part of what it means to be human, but does the rise of new artificial intelligence technologies force us to reconsider this? In this week's podcast, we discuss language. As the popularity of ChatGPT and other large language models continues to grow, we ask what we are giving away to these models and speculate on how they might impact the way we use language. We discuss Ordinary language philosophy, Steven Pinker's theory of the association between words and thoughts and linguistic codes in music from the American South. A few things we mentioned in this podcast: - Del Boy Falls Through the Bar - Only Fools and Horses https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63rcdLeXiU8 - Steven Pinker https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_Pinker#Biography - Noam Chomsky: The False Promise of ChatGPT https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/08/opinion/noam-chomsky-chatgpt-ai.html - The Language Revolution: How LLMs Could Transform the World https://venturebeat.com/ai/the-language-revolution-how-llms-could-transform-the-world/ - Ordinary Language Philosophy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ordinary_language_philosophy - Songs of Slave Resistance https://library.csun.edu/SCA/Peek-in-the-Stacks/slave-resistance For more information on Aleph Insights visit our website https://alephinsights.com or to get in touch about our podcast email podcast@alephinsights.com

One way of thinking about leadership is to separate it into two tasks: thinking and doing. But what does thinking involve and how should you lead people? In this week's podcast, we discuss leadership with our special guest Hugo Marino. Hugo, who has had a long career in the British Army, joins us to provide an insightful account of how he adapted military-style leadership skills to develop a more analytical approach to leading teams. We discuss non-frontline personnel, the Sandhurst model of leadership, intelligence analysis and military doctrine. Finally, we share a few stories from working inside the intelligence services and recount memorable examples of how leadership can go wrong. A few things we mentioned in this podcast: - What Do Leaders in Different Fields Need to Succeed? https://www.ccl.org/articles/leading-effectively-articles/industry-trend-report-final/ - Executive Personality Types: A Comparison of Military and Civilian Leaders in a Single Organization https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3271&context=dissertations - Frequencies of Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) Among Military Leaders https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Frequencies-of-Myers-Briggs-Type-Indicator-(MBTI)-Williams/e4923b6b5e42b5af6ffa56a5838110200d637f82 - Maker's Schedule, Manager's Schedule http://www.paulgraham.com/makersschedule.html For more information on Aleph Insights visit our website https://alephinsights.com or to get in touch about our podcast email podcast@alephinsights.com