English poet and author
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We are all born into a house of stories. That is something Dan, Jacob's dad, believes deeply, and it shapes everything about how he has carried his grief. Dan is a professional storyteller by trade, and when his son Jacob was born fragile and uncertain in the NICU, not expected to survive, Dan did the only thing he knew how to do. He sat by his side and talked. He told stories, sang songs, even recited Chaucer in Middle English, because he believed his voice could be a beacon, something Jacob's soul could navigate by to find his way into the world. He called the experience talking him in. Jacob lived. He was eventually diagnosed with Prader-Willi syndrome, a condition Dan explains in simple terms as leaving someone always, organically hungry, with locks needed on the fridge not because Jacob was sneaky, but because his body simply could not register being full. He grew up big, sometimes teased, slow to make friends, but open to the world in a way Dan deeply admired. His great-grandmother told him once that he was born for a purpose, and Jacob carried that with him quietly for the rest of his life. Years later, working as a beloved school crossing guard in Toronto, he helped save a toddler who had run into oncoming traffic, and told his dad afterward, through tears, maybe that is why I chose to live. Jacob died at 26, eight days after a car accident, with enough time for his mother and brother to make it to his bedside. Dan calls those final eight days talking him out. He believes there is a kind of circle in that. Talked in at the beginning of his life. Talked out at the end of it. In the two years that followed, Dan did something he had spent years encouraging other people to do, first as a storyteller in residence at Baycrest Health Sciences, and later in palliative care settings. He became Jacob's story keeper. He gathered every scrap of Jacob he could find, poems, apology letters, nicknamed lists of fishing rods and fedoras, all of Jacob's own words and ways, and wove them into a book written entirely in Jacob's imagined voice. It is called I Am Full: Stories for Jacob, and a major publisher offered to print it if Dan would write about his own experience instead. He said no. The book was never meant to be about him. It was meant to be about Jacob. Dan's belief is simple and profound. We are each other's story keepers. Not just parents and children, but everyone who has ever loved someone and chosen to remember them out loud. He shares the story of an Italian woman in a palliative care unit, encouraged to collect her dying mother's proverbs in her final days, who became her mother's story keeper in the process. He shares the old expression that a person is not truly dead until they are forgotten. This podcast exists, in many ways, to do exactly what Dan describes. We tell stories. We collect stories. We keep them, together, so that no child is ever just a name on a headstone, but a whole, full, remembered life. If this conversation moves you, Dan's book I Am Full: Stories for Jacob is available through Signature Editions, a small publisher out of Winnipeg and can be purchased on Amazon.
In this episode of Making Risk Flow, Juan de Castro sits down with Kristoffer Lundberg, CEO of Insurtech Insights, to explore how AI is transforming insurance from a story of disruption into one of collaboration. Recorded at InsureTech Insights in New York, the conversation examines what it takes to deploy AI at scale, from defining clear business goals and building the right partnerships to redesigning operating models around automation. Kristoffer shares lessons from real-world AI implementations, including claims transformation, and explains why insurers must “think slow, execute fast” to create lasting value. The episode reveals how ecosystem partnerships, human-centered design, and measurable outcomes will shape the next era of insurance innovation. Kristoffer Lundberg is the CEO of Insurtech Insights, a global insurance technology community connecting insurers, startups, investors, and technology leaders to accelerate innovation across the industry. Since joining Insurtech Insights in 2018, Kristoffer has helped grow the platform into a leading global destination for insurance transformation, hosting major conferences across Europe, the U.S., and Asia. His work focuses on bringing industry stakeholders together to explore emerging technologies, collaboration, and the future of insurance. Fan Mail: Got a challenge digitizing your intake? Share it with us, and we'll unpack solutions from our experience at Cytora.To receive a custom demo from Cytora, click here and use the code 'Making Risk Flow'.Our previous guests include: Bronek Masojada of PPL, Craig Knightly of Inigo, Andrew Horton of QBE Insurance, Simon McGinn of Allianz, Stephane Flaquet of Hiscox, Matthew Grant of InsTech, Paul Brand of Convex, Paolo Cuomo of Gallagher Re, and Thierry Daucourt of AXA.Check out the three most downloaded episodes:The Five Pillars of Data Analytics Strategy in Insurance | Craig Knightly, Inigo20 Years as CEO of Hiscox: Personal Reflections and the Evolution of PPL | Bronek MasojadaImplementing ESG in the Insurance and Underwriting Space | Simon Tighe, Chaucer, and Paul McCarney, Moody's
In this episode of Making Risk Flow, Juan de Castro sits down with Greg Brown, Partner at Oxbow Partners, to explore the strategic choices reshaping the London insurance market. As market conditions soften and technology advances accelerate, Greg explains why firms must clearly define whether they are true leaders, niche leaders, capacity leaders, or followers, and align their operating models accordingly. The conversation examines how misalignment between market position and business architecture can erode profitability and competitive advantage. Greg also discusses the growing importance of portfolio management, the evolution of facilities from cyclical tools to permanent market infrastructure, and the role of AI in enhancing underwriting decision-making. Greg Brown is a Partner at Oxbow Partners, a strategic advisory firm focused exclusively on the insurance industry. He specializes in helping Lloyd's and London Market organizations navigate strategic transformation, from underwriter modernization to launching digital business units. Combining expertise in strategy, operations, and technology, Greg helps insurers develop ambitious, practical plans that drive sustainable growth and competitive advantage.Fan Mail: Got a challenge digitizing your intake? Share it with us, and we'll unpack solutions from our experience at Cytora.To receive a custom demo from Cytora, click here and use the code 'Making Risk Flow'.Our previous guests include: Bronek Masojada of PPL, Craig Knightly of Inigo, Andrew Horton of QBE Insurance, Simon McGinn of Allianz, Stephane Flaquet of Hiscox, Matthew Grant of InsTech, Paul Brand of Convex, Paolo Cuomo of Gallagher Re, and Thierry Daucourt of AXA.Check out the three most downloaded episodes:The Five Pillars of Data Analytics Strategy in Insurance | Craig Knightly, Inigo20 Years as CEO of Hiscox: Personal Reflections and the Evolution of PPL | Bronek MasojadaImplementing ESG in the Insurance and Underwriting Space | Simon Tighe, Chaucer, and Paul McCarney, Moody's
Wasted Potential Podcast is back with a fiery commentary track for 1996's Dragon Heart! Oh boy its a rambling one in which we discuss some film facts, give our awful opinions, but mostly discuss other more interesting movies. We play some trivia games like Shot or Not, Creature or Feature (???), and Quaid or Costner. Side note: if anyone has a functioning taint and wants to offer it for a transplant, reach out to Hobo Dan at podcastwastedpotential@gmail.com. Thanks! Hobo Dan's Dragonheart synopsis: Our knight and shining armor…the man with a plan…the man who is gonna save us from Pokémon. Martin Lawrence with a jets jersey on. Ohhh no wait…it's just Dennis quaid is the knight or some shit I think. I'm assuming there is gonna be time travel or he goes back in time and befriends a dragon and some religious aspect to it comes into play. The movie is called dragonheart or dragon slayer. I hope they play a slayer song in this movie that would be sweet. Sean Connor is the guy that's anti dragons and Dennis quaid tries to save the dragon. But it's maybe Dennis quaid may want to fuck the dragon at the end maybe he falls in love with him. Oh no maybe his love becomes a dragon and then fucks it. That would be the best movie ever okay let's do that. You will believe in fucking dragons. A movie before it's time!0:00 - Advertisements 3:05 - Introductions6:24 - Games12:37 - Dragon Heart 1:54:32 - Recommendations & Outro1:59:29 - OuttakesThis week we are sponsored by Fire Breathing Starter Pack and No More Jock Straps Pills. Our Drinking Games this podcast: 1. Quote the Old Code2. Fire loogiesSignature Drink: Dragon's Nostril1 part Fireball3 parts Chaucer's Raspberry MeadEnd Theme made by: brainless_bearyann. Check him out on Instagram! Thanks to FreeSounds.org contributors.Follow us:Instagram: podcastwastedpotentialEmail: podcastwastedpotential@gmail.com#prayfortaint #dragonheart #seanconnery #dennisquiad
Trascrizione con glossario (gratis)In questo episodio di livello intermedio, parliamo del rapporto tra l'Italia e la letteratura inglese: da Chaucer a Shakespeare, da Milton ai poeti romantici Byron, Shelley e Keats. Un viaggio attraverso i secoli per scoprire come e perché l'Italia ha ispirato alcuni dei più grandi scrittori di lingua inglese.Altri link e risorse utili:Dentro l'Italia - Corso di italiano avanzato (C1)Ebook gratuito: come raggiungere il livello avanzato in italiano"Ebook gratuito, "50 modi di dire per parlare come un italiano"YouTubeInstagramFacebook
What if your climate risk assessments could predict the future with greater accuracy than historical data alone?In part two of this conversation on Making Risk Flow, Jake Harding continues his discussion with Joan Saladich, Founder of Geoskop, exploring how insurers can move beyond static climate risk models and embrace a more sophisticated, forward-looking approach to decision-making. Joan explains why annual climate model updates can create misleading conclusions, how vegetation and soil dynamics reshape wildfire risk, and why relying on single-source data leaves carriers exposed to blind spots. The conversation also examines the role of AI and large language models in processing complex climate datasets, emphasising that technology should enhance, not replace, human judgment. Joan outlines a practical framework for combining historical data, future climate projections, alternative statistical models, and socioeconomic context to generate more accurate, explainable, and actionable climate risk intelligence. Fan Mail: Got a challenge digitizing your intake? Share it with us, and we'll unpack solutions from our experience at Cytora.To receive a custom demo from Cytora, click here and use the code 'Making Risk Flow'.Our previous guests include: Bronek Masojada of PPL, Craig Knightly of Inigo, Andrew Horton of QBE Insurance, Simon McGinn of Allianz, Stephane Flaquet of Hiscox, Matthew Grant of InsTech, Paul Brand of Convex, Paolo Cuomo of Gallagher Re, and Thierry Daucourt of AXA.Check out the three most downloaded episodes:The Five Pillars of Data Analytics Strategy in Insurance | Craig Knightly, Inigo20 Years as CEO of Hiscox: Personal Reflections and the Evolution of PPL | Bronek MasojadaImplementing ESG in the Insurance and Underwriting Space | Simon Tighe, Chaucer, and Paul McCarney, Moody's
This month's latest episode explores the aerial acrobats that are falcons. Meet two that call the Trust home, Chaucer the Lanner Falcon and Farah the Peregrine Falcon. Hear how Peregrine Falcons have made remarkable recoveries in some areas, while others remain vulnerable due to major data gaps, emerging threats, and ongoing exploitation. The illegal wildlife trade is a sizeable, established and growing threat, and the future of large falcons will depend on current choices. Nature's a Hoot is the podcast brought to you by the Hawk Conservancy Trust - a conservation charity with a mission to conserve birds of prey and their habitats, and visitor attraction centre in Hampshire, England. This podcast is hosted by our Deputy Head of Living Collection, Tom Morath. Find out more about our conservation and research work with birds of prey
What if the climate risk data you're using to underwrite policies is fundamentally flawed?In this first of two-part episode of Making Risk Flow, host Jake Harding speaks with Joan Saladich, CEO and co-founder of Geoskop, about why traditional climate risk scores often fail insurers and what a more sophisticated approach looks like. Joan explains how deterministic ratings and traffic-light systems oversimplify complex climate realities, making them unsuitable for underwriting decisions. He explores the value of probabilistic climate modeling, AI-powered analysis, and uncertainty quantification in assessing evolving risks. The conversation also examines changing reinsurance dynamics, which are pushing more climate-related exposure onto commercial insurers. Joan discusses the importance of validating climate models through measurable accuracy and transparency, while highlighting how outdated scenario assumptions can distort risk assessments. Together, they show how embracing data complexity can create a meaningful competitive advantage in modern insurance underwriting. Fan Mail: Got a challenge digitizing your intake? Share it with us, and we'll unpack solutions from our experience at Cytora.To receive a custom demo from Cytora, click here and use the code 'Making Risk Flow'.Our previous guests include: Bronek Masojada of PPL, Craig Knightly of Inigo, Andrew Horton of QBE Insurance, Simon McGinn of Allianz, Stephane Flaquet of Hiscox, Matthew Grant of InsTech, Paul Brand of Convex, Paolo Cuomo of Gallagher Re, and Thierry Daucourt of AXA.Check out the three most downloaded episodes:The Five Pillars of Data Analytics Strategy in Insurance | Craig Knightly, Inigo20 Years as CEO of Hiscox: Personal Reflections and the Evolution of PPL | Bronek MasojadaImplementing ESG in the Insurance and Underwriting Space | Simon Tighe, Chaucer, and Paul McCarney, Moody's
Six seveeeen. Ok, ma che vuol dire? Non è dato saperlo, se non si è in quell’età compresa fra zero e 12 anni, però vi possiamo dire un sacco di cose a riguardo, che vi potrebbero scioccare. Ad esempio: quando nasce questo “modo di dire”? 2024? 2025? No. Lo usava Shakespeare e, prima di lui, addirittura Chaucer nel 1300.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Greg Jenner is joined in medieval England by Professor Marion Turner and comedian Mike Wozniak to learn all about Geoffrey Chaucer, author of the Canterbury Tales.Since the 15th century, Chaucer has been referred to as the father of English literature. He was one of the first authors to champion the use of Middle English for poetry instead of Latin, and after the invention of the printing press, his works became the foundation of the English literary canon – long before Shakespeare ever put quill to parchment. But Chaucer's life was as extraordinary as his legacy, living as he did through the Black Death, the Hundred Years' War between England and France, and the Peasants' Revolt.In this episode, Greg and his guests explore Chaucer's dramatic biography: growing up the son of a wine merchant in fourteenth-century London, his work for the royal court and long career as a medieval civil servant, his relationship with John of Gaunt through his mistress Katherine Swynford, and his travels throughout Europe. They also examine the poets that influenced him – including Petrarch, Bocaccio and Dante – and take a deep dive into the famous Canterbury Tales.This is a radio edit of the original podcast episode. For the full-length version, please look further back in the feed.Hosted by: Greg Jenner Research by: Rosalyn Sklar Written by: Dr Emmie Rose Price-Goodfellow, Dr Emma Nagouse, and Greg Jenner Produced by: Dr Emmie Rose Price-Goodfellow and Greg Jenner Audio Producer: Steve Hankey Production Coordinator: Gill Huggett Senior Producer: Dr Emma Nagouse Executive Editor: Philip Sellars
In this week's episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts Prof. Albert Cheng of the University of Arkansas and Alisha Searcy of the Center for Strong Public Schools speak with Andrew Hadfield, Emeritus Professor of English at the University of Sussex and British Academy Fellow, about the life, works, and legacy of the great poet Edmund Spenser. Prof. Hadfield explains how Edmund Spenser's uncertain family background and humanist education at Merchant Taylors' School and Cambridge, grounded in Virgil, Ovid, Petrarch, and Chaucer, shaped his literary imagination within Elizabethan England. He situates Spenser amid the many political and religious tensions of Queen Elizabeth I's reign, and traces Spenser's rise through The Shepheardes Calender and patronage under the 4th Earl of Leicester, Robert Sidney. Then, Prof. Hadfield turns to The Faerie Queene, its epic allegorical knights, virtues, and the Spenserian stanza, all of which widely influenced British literature and ultimately the English language across the globe. He addresses Spenser's controversial Irish writings and reflects on his enduring reputation as a foundational “poet's poet.” Prof. Hadfield closes the interview with a reading from The Faerie Queene.
What if the data you needed to price complex agricultural risks were available in near-real time instead of months later?In this episode of Making Risk Flow, host Jake Harding speaks with Caroline Grey, co-founder and CRO at Treefera, about how satellite imagery, AI, and scientific modelling are reshaping the future of insurance risk assessment. Caroline explains why the industry is moving beyond broad regional assumptions towards plot-level intelligence that enables faster underwriting, more accurate pricing, and entirely new insurance products. The conversation explores how insurers can use near-real-time agricultural and climate data to reduce claims exposure, improve operational efficiency, and respond proactively to supply chain volatility. Caroline also shares practical guidance on structuring complex datasets for different business stakeholders, building scalable partnerships, and validating new solutions through low-risk pilots. This episode offers valuable insight into how data-driven underwriting is creating a competitive advantage across commercial insurance markets. Fan Mail: Got a challenge digitizing your intake? Share it with us, and we'll unpack solutions from our experience at Cytora.To receive a custom demo from Cytora, click here and use the code 'Making Risk Flow'.Our previous guests include: Bronek Masojada of PPL, Craig Knightly of Inigo, Andrew Horton of QBE Insurance, Simon McGinn of Allianz, Stephane Flaquet of Hiscox, Matthew Grant of InsTech, Paul Brand of Convex, Paolo Cuomo of Gallagher Re, and Thierry Daucourt of AXA.Check out the three most downloaded episodes:The Five Pillars of Data Analytics Strategy in Insurance | Craig Knightly, Inigo20 Years as CEO of Hiscox: Personal Reflections and the Evolution of PPL | Bronek MasojadaImplementing ESG in the Insurance and Underwriting Space | Simon Tighe, Chaucer, and Paul McCarney, Moody's
In this episode, Zelda Cahill-Patten and Sofia Holmberg explore the unusual tomb of Alice Chaucer, a wealthy and influential noblewoman living in 15th-century England. Together, Zelda and Sofia unpack clues about Alice's life as a pious and powerful widow, from her religious practices of bodily discipline, to the books she read, to the striking monument itself.For more information, visit www.multiculturalmiddleages.com.
Being a tax collector in medieval London was not exactly a popularity-enhancing career choice.
What if the insurance industry could move at the speed of modern technology?In this episode of Making Risk Flow, Christian Stobbs, Chief Strategy & Corporate Development Officer at Markel, joins host Juan de Castro to discuss what it takes to build a preeminent specialty insurer in an increasingly technology-driven market. Christian explains why speed, customer obsession, technical expertise, and principled decision-making must work together as a unified competitive advantage. The conversation explores how insurers can localize strategy across international markets, reduce costly operational inefficiencies, and deploy AI to enhance underwriting and claims without losing critical human judgment. Christian also shares why transformational technology initiatives should operate with startup-style urgency, how AI will reshape underwriting roles, and why the insurers that adapt fastest will define the future of specialty insurance. Fan Mail: Got a challenge digitizing your intake? Share it with us, and we'll unpack solutions from our experience at Cytora.To receive a custom demo from Cytora, click here and use the code 'Making Risk Flow'.Our previous guests include: Bronek Masojada of PPL, Craig Knightly of Inigo, Andrew Horton of QBE Insurance, Simon McGinn of Allianz, Stephane Flaquet of Hiscox, Matthew Grant of InsTech, Paul Brand of Convex, Paolo Cuomo of Gallagher Re, and Thierry Daucourt of AXA.Check out the three most downloaded episodes:The Five Pillars of Data Analytics Strategy in Insurance | Craig Knightly, Inigo20 Years as CEO of Hiscox: Personal Reflections and the Evolution of PPL | Bronek MasojadaImplementing ESG in the Insurance and Underwriting Space | Simon Tighe, Chaucer, and Paul McCarney, Moody's
“You have been weighed. You have been measured. And you have been found wanting.” Join Ian & Liam for our 331st episode as we joust for glory, dance to Queen in medieval Europe, and revisit Brian Helgeland's wildly anachronistic crowd-pleaser A Knight's Tale (2001). Megs isn't with us this week — she's apparently been appointed to the royal court after successfully inventing modern fashion 600 years early. Kev? Last seen trying to enter a jousting tournament under a fake noble title before being immediately exposed by Paul Bettany. This week we discuss: Heath Ledger's breakout leading-man performance — charming, earnest, rebellious. Was this the moment Hollywood realised he could do absolutely anything? The film's glorious tonal chaos — medieval sports movie, romantic comedy, rock concert, underdog drama. Why does this bizarre cocktail somehow work? Paul Bettany's Chaucer — flamboyant, scene-stealing, and possibly the film's secret MVP. Liam breaks down the film's anachronisms — Queen, Bowie, Nike-energy editing. Does the film transcend historical accuracy through sheer confidence? Ian explores the underdog narrative — class, identity, and whether William's rise actually challenges the social order or merely slips inside it. The romance between William and Jocelyn — genuine chemistry or the weakest part of the film? The sports-movie structure — training montages, rivalries, and comeback arcs dressed in chainmail. The “show vs tell” balance — does the film earn its emotional moments through character work, or simply overwhelm you with charisma and music? Rufus Sewell's Count Adhemar — classic villainy, simmering resentment, and one of the great sneering performances of the era. What's with the romantic plot's detour in Act II - where did that come from? The ending — triumphant, ridiculous, emotionally earned… or all three simultaneously? And finally, whether A Knight's Tale is the Best Film Ever — or simply one of the most aggressively lovable films of the 2000s. Become a Patron of this podcast and support the BFE at https://www.patreon.com/BFE Juleen from It Goes Down In The PM Hermes Auslander James DeGuzman Synthia Shai Bergerfroind Ariannah Who Loves BFE The Most Paul Komoroski Duane Smith (Duane Smith!) Andy Dickson Aashrey Chris Pedersen Randal Silva Nate The Great Rev Bruce Richard Ryan Kuketz Dirk Diggler Stew from the Stew World Order podcast NorfolkDomus John Humphrey's Right Foot Timmy Tim Tim Youth Hosteling with Chris Eubank
Good morning. Reed Hoffman, one of the founders of Linked In, tells us that typing is over and voicepilling is here.This is the word he has coined to capture the way, he says, we are set to bypass keyboards. After the quill the pen, then the typewriter, the text, the voice note… but in voicepilling entire articles, essays or books - everything actually - is spoken directly to the machine for production. Hands-free.Is voicepilling a word that will stick? Sounds unlikely but who knows? New words seem to be invented more rapidly than ever but then language is always being born again.At an open mic event I was at this week one poet used the beautiful expression ‘sonder' - the kind of neglected word from Chaucer or Shakespeare which etymologists and crossword compilers love to rediscover. Sonder is defined as one's realization that each person you pass by ‘is the main character in their own story, in which you are just an extra.'The definition comes from John Koenig in his Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows, a collection of words he created to capture emotions that he says, ‘we feel but don't have the words too express'.Some words or phrases disappear, some morph into new meaning… while others stick around for ever.Few writers have had more stickability than William Tyndale. The 500th anniversary of his English New Testament is currently being celebrated in an exhibition at the British Library and, from next month, at St Paul's Cathedral.Tyndale believed it shouldn't only be priests who could access the Bible, but that everyone should hear it in everyday English. His translation, published in 1526, was so popular that when King James commissioned his 'Authorized Version', nearly a century later, the royal translation team ripped ninety percent of their text straight out of Tyndale.His phrases continue to haunt the language: 'from strength to strength'; ‘for better or worse'; ‘lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil'; ‘salt of the earth' and ‘fight the good fight'.Tyndale was after a poetic language understood by ordinary people and was so successful that, as someone said, ‘No Tyndale, No Shakespeare'.Or as playwright David Edgar put it: ‘No Tyndale, No Kindle'.But in democratizing religion, in translating the divine into the human, he was branded the ‘most dangerous man in England' and burned at the stake. The political powers could see, to use another of his phrases, ‘the writing on the wall'.Words are dangerous. Once you can speak the divine in your own tongue then you can bring god down from heaven onto earth and decide for yourself what your religion means for your life.You can, as Tyndale wrote, ‘let there be light'
Send Catherine a text Message“All things change; nothing perishes.”-- OvidOvid was a Roman poet who wrote his master work, The Metamorphoses or "Transformations," in 8 C.E.. He weaves more than 250 Greek myths together in one long poem to tell a story of transformation, and explore the complexities of love as an agent of change. Ovid's voice has been influential over the centuries. The Metamorphoses was an important touchstone for Dante, Chaucer, Shakespeare, and other artists and thinkers whose works are foundational to today's dominant culture. HIs perspective and the story that he tells are worth examination. Is it still useful to us? Does it offer anything to our vision of the future?Support the showEmail Catherine at catherine@mythicmojo.comPost a positive review on apple podcasts! Learn how you can work with Catherine at https://mythicmojo.comBuy me a coffee. Thank you!
We continue to snoop through Jack's Bookshelf, with Dr. Simon Horobin introducing us to Geoffrey Chaucer...[Show Notes]
In this special compilation episode of Making Risk Flow, we bring together five standout conversations exploring how agentic AI, digital transformation, and organizational culture are reshaping the insurance industry. Featuring insights from leaders including Antonio Grimaldi of McKinsey & Company, Sam Lewis, Nicolas Zerbib, Richard Hartley, Bill Harris & Drake Slaikeu-Lawhead, the episode examines why AI leaders are generating dramatically stronger returns than competitors and how technologies like stateful agents, spatial intelligence, and headless orchestration are changing underwriting and distribution.Beyond technology itself, the discussion highlights the cultural shifts required to unlock transformation at scale. From reducing workflow friction to improving underwriting precision and scaling operations without proportional hiring, this episode offers practical frameworks for carriers, brokers, and tech leaders navigating insurance's next era. Fan Mail: Got a challenge digitizing your intake? Share it with us, and we'll unpack solutions from our experience at Cytora.To receive a custom demo from Cytora, click here and use the code 'Making Risk Flow'.Our previous guests include: Bronek Masojada of PPL, Craig Knightly of Inigo, Andrew Horton of QBE Insurance, Simon McGinn of Allianz, Stephane Flaquet of Hiscox, Matthew Grant of InsTech, Paul Brand of Convex, Paolo Cuomo of Gallagher Re, and Thierry Daucourt of AXA.Check out the three most downloaded episodes:The Five Pillars of Data Analytics Strategy in Insurance | Craig Knightly, Inigo20 Years as CEO of Hiscox: Personal Reflections and the Evolution of PPL | Bronek MasojadaImplementing ESG in the Insurance and Underwriting Space | Simon Tighe, Chaucer, and Paul McCarney, Moody's
A KNIGHT'S TALE Born a peasant, William Thatcher sets out to change his stars, win the heart of a noble maiden, and shake up the medieval world around him. With the help of his loyal friends, he enters the brutal world of tournament jousting, where he must prove he has the courage, skill, and heart to become a legend. Craig and Elisabeth talk about Chaucer, naughty cross-stitching, droopy eyes and the movie “A Knight's Tale” on this week's Matinee Heroes! Show Notes 00:00:00 Introduction 00:00:42 Craig and Elisabeth talk about naught cross-stitch and embroidery. 00:08:46 Craig and Elisabeth discuss "A Knight's Tale." 00:50:50 Recasting 01:22:08 Double Feature 01:24:52 Final Thoughts 01:29:41 A preview of next week's episode "Excalibur." Next week, medieval May continues with the 80's classic "Excalibur."
This “Best of the Year Thus Far” episode of Making Risk Flow brings together 11 standout conversations that map how insurance is being reshaped in real time. Across the conversations with AI leaders, risk modelers, and operators, a clear pattern emerges: the gap between leaders and laggards is widening, driven by speed of execution, not just strategy. Industry leaders explore how richer context, whether through spatial intelligence, stateful systems, or agentic workflows, is transforming underwriting from a static, data-driven exercise into a dynamic, decision-driven discipline. But technology alone isn't the answer. Culture, incentives, and human relationships remain critical to unlocking value. Together, these insights reveal an industry shifting from managing risk as a probability to understanding it as a living, evolving system.Fan Mail: Got a challenge digitizing your intake? Share it with us, and we'll unpack solutions from our experience at Cytora.To receive a custom demo from Cytora, click here and use the code 'Making Risk Flow'.Our previous guests include: Bronek Masojada of PPL, Craig Knightly of Inigo, Andrew Horton of QBE Insurance, Simon McGinn of Allianz, Stephane Flaquet of Hiscox, Matthew Grant of InsTech, Paul Brand of Convex, Paolo Cuomo of Gallagher Re, and Thierry Daucourt of AXA.Check out the three most downloaded episodes:The Five Pillars of Data Analytics Strategy in Insurance | Craig Knightly, Inigo20 Years as CEO of Hiscox: Personal Reflections and the Evolution of PPL | Bronek MasojadaImplementing ESG in the Insurance and Underwriting Space | Simon Tighe, Chaucer, and Paul McCarney, Moody's
A major new look at Africa's influence on European culture and how colonization remade Africa in the image of a medieval Europe.Virgil. Chaucer. Petrarch. These names resonate with many as cornerstones of European culture. Yet, in Atlas's Bones: The African Foundations of Europe (U Chicago Press, 2025), D. Vance Smith reveals that much of what is claimed as European culture up to the Middle Ages—its great themes in literature, its sources in political thought, its religious beliefs—originated in the writings of African thinkers like Augustine, Fulgentius, and Martianus Capella, or Europeans who thought extensively about Africa. In fact, a third of Virgil's Aeneid takes place in Africa. Francis Petrarch believed his most important achievement was his epic Africa; while Geoffrey Chaucer wrote repeatedly about the figures of Scipio Africanus, actually two different men who defeated and destroyed Carthage.Smith tells the story of how Europe created a false “medieval” version of Africa to acquire resources and power during the era of imperialism and colonialism. The first half of the book, “Reading Africa,” traces Egypt's, Libya's, and Carthage's influence on classical and medieval thinking about Africa, highlighting often ignored literary and legendary traditions, for example, that Alexander the Great named himself the son of an African god. The second part, “Writing Africa,” focuses on how the different cultures of the two great African cities—Carthage and Alexandria—shaped modern literary criticism and political theology and examines the cross-influences of modern anthropology, medieval studies, and colonial law.Atlas's Bones firmly re-establishes the significance of Africa in European intellectual history. It will be essential reading for anyone seeking to understand how much of Africa informs our artistic and cultural world. D. Vance Smith is professor of English and former director of medieval studies at Princeton University. His many books include Arts of Dying: Literature and Finitude in Medieval England, also published by the University of Chicago Press. Morteza Hajizadeh is a Ph.D. graduate in English from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. His research interests are Cultural Studies; Critical Theory; Environmental History; Medieval (Intellectual) History; Gothic Studies; 18th and 19th Century British Literature. YouTube Channel: here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network
A major new look at Africa's influence on European culture and how colonization remade Africa in the image of a medieval Europe.Virgil. Chaucer. Petrarch. These names resonate with many as cornerstones of European culture. Yet, in Atlas's Bones: The African Foundations of Europe (U Chicago Press, 2025), D. Vance Smith reveals that much of what is claimed as European culture up to the Middle Ages—its great themes in literature, its sources in political thought, its religious beliefs—originated in the writings of African thinkers like Augustine, Fulgentius, and Martianus Capella, or Europeans who thought extensively about Africa. In fact, a third of Virgil's Aeneid takes place in Africa. Francis Petrarch believed his most important achievement was his epic Africa; while Geoffrey Chaucer wrote repeatedly about the figures of Scipio Africanus, actually two different men who defeated and destroyed Carthage.Smith tells the story of how Europe created a false “medieval” version of Africa to acquire resources and power during the era of imperialism and colonialism. The first half of the book, “Reading Africa,” traces Egypt's, Libya's, and Carthage's influence on classical and medieval thinking about Africa, highlighting often ignored literary and legendary traditions, for example, that Alexander the Great named himself the son of an African god. The second part, “Writing Africa,” focuses on how the different cultures of the two great African cities—Carthage and Alexandria—shaped modern literary criticism and political theology and examines the cross-influences of modern anthropology, medieval studies, and colonial law.Atlas's Bones firmly re-establishes the significance of Africa in European intellectual history. It will be essential reading for anyone seeking to understand how much of Africa informs our artistic and cultural world. D. Vance Smith is professor of English and former director of medieval studies at Princeton University. His many books include Arts of Dying: Literature and Finitude in Medieval England, also published by the University of Chicago Press. Morteza Hajizadeh is a Ph.D. graduate in English from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. His research interests are Cultural Studies; Critical Theory; Environmental History; Medieval (Intellectual) History; Gothic Studies; 18th and 19th Century British Literature. YouTube Channel: here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/critical-theory
A major new look at Africa's influence on European culture and how colonization remade Africa in the image of a medieval Europe.Virgil. Chaucer. Petrarch. These names resonate with many as cornerstones of European culture. Yet, in Atlas's Bones: The African Foundations of Europe (U Chicago Press, 2025), D. Vance Smith reveals that much of what is claimed as European culture up to the Middle Ages—its great themes in literature, its sources in political thought, its religious beliefs—originated in the writings of African thinkers like Augustine, Fulgentius, and Martianus Capella, or Europeans who thought extensively about Africa. In fact, a third of Virgil's Aeneid takes place in Africa. Francis Petrarch believed his most important achievement was his epic Africa; while Geoffrey Chaucer wrote repeatedly about the figures of Scipio Africanus, actually two different men who defeated and destroyed Carthage.Smith tells the story of how Europe created a false “medieval” version of Africa to acquire resources and power during the era of imperialism and colonialism. The first half of the book, “Reading Africa,” traces Egypt's, Libya's, and Carthage's influence on classical and medieval thinking about Africa, highlighting often ignored literary and legendary traditions, for example, that Alexander the Great named himself the son of an African god. The second part, “Writing Africa,” focuses on how the different cultures of the two great African cities—Carthage and Alexandria—shaped modern literary criticism and political theology and examines the cross-influences of modern anthropology, medieval studies, and colonial law.Atlas's Bones firmly re-establishes the significance of Africa in European intellectual history. It will be essential reading for anyone seeking to understand how much of Africa informs our artistic and cultural world. D. Vance Smith is professor of English and former director of medieval studies at Princeton University. His many books include Arts of Dying: Literature and Finitude in Medieval England, also published by the University of Chicago Press. Morteza Hajizadeh is a Ph.D. graduate in English from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. His research interests are Cultural Studies; Critical Theory; Environmental History; Medieval (Intellectual) History; Gothic Studies; 18th and 19th Century British Literature. YouTube Channel: here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/african-studies
A major new look at Africa's influence on European culture and how colonization remade Africa in the image of a medieval Europe.Virgil. Chaucer. Petrarch. These names resonate with many as cornerstones of European culture. Yet, in Atlas's Bones: The African Foundations of Europe (U Chicago Press, 2025), D. Vance Smith reveals that much of what is claimed as European culture up to the Middle Ages—its great themes in literature, its sources in political thought, its religious beliefs—originated in the writings of African thinkers like Augustine, Fulgentius, and Martianus Capella, or Europeans who thought extensively about Africa. In fact, a third of Virgil's Aeneid takes place in Africa. Francis Petrarch believed his most important achievement was his epic Africa; while Geoffrey Chaucer wrote repeatedly about the figures of Scipio Africanus, actually two different men who defeated and destroyed Carthage.Smith tells the story of how Europe created a false “medieval” version of Africa to acquire resources and power during the era of imperialism and colonialism. The first half of the book, “Reading Africa,” traces Egypt's, Libya's, and Carthage's influence on classical and medieval thinking about Africa, highlighting often ignored literary and legendary traditions, for example, that Alexander the Great named himself the son of an African god. The second part, “Writing Africa,” focuses on how the different cultures of the two great African cities—Carthage and Alexandria—shaped modern literary criticism and political theology and examines the cross-influences of modern anthropology, medieval studies, and colonial law.Atlas's Bones firmly re-establishes the significance of Africa in European intellectual history. It will be essential reading for anyone seeking to understand how much of Africa informs our artistic and cultural world. D. Vance Smith is professor of English and former director of medieval studies at Princeton University. His many books include Arts of Dying: Literature and Finitude in Medieval England, also published by the University of Chicago Press. Morteza Hajizadeh is a Ph.D. graduate in English from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. His research interests are Cultural Studies; Critical Theory; Environmental History; Medieval (Intellectual) History; Gothic Studies; 18th and 19th Century British Literature. YouTube Channel: here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/intellectual-history
A major new look at Africa's influence on European culture and how colonization remade Africa in the image of a medieval Europe.Virgil. Chaucer. Petrarch. These names resonate with many as cornerstones of European culture. Yet, in Atlas's Bones: The African Foundations of Europe (U Chicago Press, 2025), D. Vance Smith reveals that much of what is claimed as European culture up to the Middle Ages—its great themes in literature, its sources in political thought, its religious beliefs—originated in the writings of African thinkers like Augustine, Fulgentius, and Martianus Capella, or Europeans who thought extensively about Africa. In fact, a third of Virgil's Aeneid takes place in Africa. Francis Petrarch believed his most important achievement was his epic Africa; while Geoffrey Chaucer wrote repeatedly about the figures of Scipio Africanus, actually two different men who defeated and destroyed Carthage.Smith tells the story of how Europe created a false “medieval” version of Africa to acquire resources and power during the era of imperialism and colonialism. The first half of the book, “Reading Africa,” traces Egypt's, Libya's, and Carthage's influence on classical and medieval thinking about Africa, highlighting often ignored literary and legendary traditions, for example, that Alexander the Great named himself the son of an African god. The second part, “Writing Africa,” focuses on how the different cultures of the two great African cities—Carthage and Alexandria—shaped modern literary criticism and political theology and examines the cross-influences of modern anthropology, medieval studies, and colonial law.Atlas's Bones firmly re-establishes the significance of Africa in European intellectual history. It will be essential reading for anyone seeking to understand how much of Africa informs our artistic and cultural world. D. Vance Smith is professor of English and former director of medieval studies at Princeton University. His many books include Arts of Dying: Literature and Finitude in Medieval England, also published by the University of Chicago Press. Morteza Hajizadeh is a Ph.D. graduate in English from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. His research interests are Cultural Studies; Critical Theory; Environmental History; Medieval (Intellectual) History; Gothic Studies; 18th and 19th Century British Literature. YouTube Channel: here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/european-studies
A major new look at Africa's influence on European culture and how colonization remade Africa in the image of a medieval Europe.Virgil. Chaucer. Petrarch. These names resonate with many as cornerstones of European culture. Yet, in Atlas's Bones: The African Foundations of Europe (U Chicago Press, 2025), D. Vance Smith reveals that much of what is claimed as European culture up to the Middle Ages—its great themes in literature, its sources in political thought, its religious beliefs—originated in the writings of African thinkers like Augustine, Fulgentius, and Martianus Capella, or Europeans who thought extensively about Africa. In fact, a third of Virgil's Aeneid takes place in Africa. Francis Petrarch believed his most important achievement was his epic Africa; while Geoffrey Chaucer wrote repeatedly about the figures of Scipio Africanus, actually two different men who defeated and destroyed Carthage.Smith tells the story of how Europe created a false “medieval” version of Africa to acquire resources and power during the era of imperialism and colonialism. The first half of the book, “Reading Africa,” traces Egypt's, Libya's, and Carthage's influence on classical and medieval thinking about Africa, highlighting often ignored literary and legendary traditions, for example, that Alexander the Great named himself the son of an African god. The second part, “Writing Africa,” focuses on how the different cultures of the two great African cities—Carthage and Alexandria—shaped modern literary criticism and political theology and examines the cross-influences of modern anthropology, medieval studies, and colonial law.Atlas's Bones firmly re-establishes the significance of Africa in European intellectual history. It will be essential reading for anyone seeking to understand how much of Africa informs our artistic and cultural world. D. Vance Smith is professor of English and former director of medieval studies at Princeton University. His many books include Arts of Dying: Literature and Finitude in Medieval England, also published by the University of Chicago Press. Morteza Hajizadeh is a Ph.D. graduate in English from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. His research interests are Cultural Studies; Critical Theory; Environmental History; Medieval (Intellectual) History; Gothic Studies; 18th and 19th Century British Literature. YouTube Channel: here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
A major new look at Africa's influence on European culture and how colonization remade Africa in the image of a medieval Europe.Virgil. Chaucer. Petrarch. These names resonate with many as cornerstones of European culture. Yet, in Atlas's Bones: The African Foundations of Europe (U Chicago Press, 2025), D. Vance Smith reveals that much of what is claimed as European culture up to the Middle Ages—its great themes in literature, its sources in political thought, its religious beliefs—originated in the writings of African thinkers like Augustine, Fulgentius, and Martianus Capella, or Europeans who thought extensively about Africa. In fact, a third of Virgil's Aeneid takes place in Africa. Francis Petrarch believed his most important achievement was his epic Africa; while Geoffrey Chaucer wrote repeatedly about the figures of Scipio Africanus, actually two different men who defeated and destroyed Carthage.Smith tells the story of how Europe created a false “medieval” version of Africa to acquire resources and power during the era of imperialism and colonialism. The first half of the book, “Reading Africa,” traces Egypt's, Libya's, and Carthage's influence on classical and medieval thinking about Africa, highlighting often ignored literary and legendary traditions, for example, that Alexander the Great named himself the son of an African god. The second part, “Writing Africa,” focuses on how the different cultures of the two great African cities—Carthage and Alexandria—shaped modern literary criticism and political theology and examines the cross-influences of modern anthropology, medieval studies, and colonial law.Atlas's Bones firmly re-establishes the significance of Africa in European intellectual history. It will be essential reading for anyone seeking to understand how much of Africa informs our artistic and cultural world. D. Vance Smith is professor of English and former director of medieval studies at Princeton University. His many books include Arts of Dying: Literature and Finitude in Medieval England, also published by the University of Chicago Press. Morteza Hajizadeh is a Ph.D. graduate in English from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. His research interests are Cultural Studies; Critical Theory; Environmental History; Medieval (Intellectual) History; Gothic Studies; 18th and 19th Century British Literature. YouTube Channel: here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/british-studies
As Jacke and Emma get ready for the History of Literature Podcast Tour, they're revisiting some past interviews with special guests. In this episode, Jacke talks to the University of Oxford's Marion Turner about her book Chaucer: A European Life. The music in this episode is by Gabriel Ruiz-Bernal. Learn more at gabrielruizbernal.com. Help support the show at patreon.com/literature or historyofliterature.com/donate. The History of Literature Podcast is a member of Lit Hub Radio and the Podglomerate Network. Learn more at thepodglomerate.com/historyofliterature. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What if real-time data and AI could transform compliance from a regulatory burden into a competitive advantage?In this episode of Making Risk Flow, Pierre-Henri Janssens, CEO and Cofounder of Topograph, joins host Jake Harding to rethink compliance in insurance from first principles. They discuss why treating compliance as a regulatory burden limits growth, while real-time data and transparent workflows turn it into a competitive advantage. Pierre-Henri explains how connecting directly to official registries improves data accuracy, how vertical AI enhances document extraction, and why prioritizing high-impact signals prevents data overload.The conversation also explores the build-versus-buy dilemma, the complexity of scaling across jurisdictions, and how orchestrating best-in-class solutions accelerates onboarding and improves conversion. It's a pragmatic look at how insurers can transform compliance into measurable business value.Fan Mail: Got a challenge digitizing your intake? Share it with us, and we'll unpack solutions from our experience at Cytora.To receive a custom demo from Cytora, click here and use the code 'Making Risk Flow'.Our previous guests include: Bronek Masojada of PPL, Craig Knightly of Inigo, Andrew Horton of QBE Insurance, Simon McGinn of Allianz, Stephane Flaquet of Hiscox, Matthew Grant of InsTech, Paul Brand of Convex, Paolo Cuomo of Gallagher Re, and Thierry Daucourt of AXA.Check out the three most downloaded episodes:The Five Pillars of Data Analytics Strategy in Insurance | Craig Knightly, Inigo20 Years as CEO of Hiscox: Personal Reflections and the Evolution of PPL | Bronek MasojadaImplementing ESG in the Insurance and Underwriting Space | Simon Tighe, Chaucer, and Paul McCarney, Moody's
What if insurance workflows could evolve faster than regulation itself? In his third appearance on Making Risk Flow, Bryan Falchuk, best-selling author, speaker, life coach and President and CEO of PLRB, joins host Jake Harding to rethink modernization of Insurance from first principles. They discuss why layering AI onto legacy systems only reinforces the iteration trap, while agentic AI enables carriers to redesign processes around real-time data orchestration. Bryan explains why implementation can shrink from years to weeks, how orchestration replaces brittle workbenches, and why design thinking is the unlock for cultural change. The conversation also explores the shifting role of underwriters and claims professionals, from data processors to strategic advisors. It's a clear-eyed look at how insurers can build adaptive, future-ready operations without wholesale system replacement today.Fan Mail: Got a challenge digitizing your intake? Share it with us, and we'll unpack solutions from our experience at Cytora.To receive a custom demo from Cytora, click here and use the code 'Making Risk Flow'.Our previous guests include: Bronek Masojada of PPL, Craig Knightly of Inigo, Andrew Horton of QBE Insurance, Simon McGinn of Allianz, Stephane Flaquet of Hiscox, Matthew Grant of InsTech, Paul Brand of Convex, Paolo Cuomo of Gallagher Re, and Thierry Daucourt of AXA.Check out the three most downloaded episodes:The Five Pillars of Data Analytics Strategy in Insurance | Craig Knightly, Inigo20 Years as CEO of Hiscox: Personal Reflections and the Evolution of PPL | Bronek MasojadaImplementing ESG in the Insurance and Underwriting Space | Simon Tighe, Chaucer, and Paul McCarney, Moody's
Why do our greatest stories—Chaucer, Shakespeare, and even the Bible—include moments that feel . . . a little crude? In this episode, we make a surprising case: what we call "toilet humor" isn't just childish—it may actually serve a deeper purpose in storytelling. From the shocking story of Ehud in Judges, to Chaucer laughing at farts, to G. K. Chesterton reminding us to "take ourselves lightly," we explore how humor rooted in the body can humble our pride, reconnect us to reality, and remind us all that we're physical creatures with physical bodies.
“Medieval psychology” might sound nearly a millennium out of date, irrelevant to modern science, with its reassurances of cognitive data and peer-reviewed studies. But we often say that Shakespeare's 400-year old plays communicate the human condition, and that wouldn't be possible if the Bard didn't have a deep understanding of what makes our minds tick. Rewind the clock just 200 years further and you'll find, with the help of a Middle English glossary, that the autobiographical writings of Julian of Norwich and Margery Kempe—not to mention Chaucer—seem achingly familiar in their yearning, their humor, and their determination. We're not so different, mentally, from our forebears, and beyond literature, medieval writings on morality and psychology have a lot to offer us. But since cracking open a vellum manuscript to read cramped Latin text is beyond most of us, historian Peter Jones can be our guide in his new book, Self-Help from the Middle Ages. And the starting point for much medieval guidance on living a better life is quite familiar: the Seven Deadly Sins, which were less a catalog of forbidden behaviors than a path to self-knowledge. Just ask Dante. Go beyond the episode:Peter Jones's Self-Help from the Middle Ages: What the Seven Deadly Sins Can Teach Us About LivingFor more about medieval women's religious experience of food, you can't do better than Caroline Walker Bynum's Holy Feast and Holy FastGuillaume de Deguileville's The Pilgrimage of Human Life, in scanned manuscript or translationBernard of Clairvaux's The Steps of Humility and Pride Thomas Aquinas's works are available online in a free side-by-side translationDon't sleep on the early Christian mystics: Julian of Norwich, Margery Kempe, and Catherine of Siena Tune in every (other) week to catch interviews with the liveliest voices from literature, the arts, sciences, history, and public affairs; reports on cutting-edge works in progress; long-form narratives; and compelling excerpts from new books. Hosted by Stephanie Bastek and sponsored by the Phi Beta Kappa Society.Subscribe: iTunes/Apple • Amazon • Google • Acast • PandoraHave suggestions for projects you'd like us to catch up on, or writers you want to hear from? Send us a note: podcast [at] theamericanscholar [dot] org. And rate us on iTunes! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mount your horse and begin your journey to Canterbury with Emma and Ria as they dig into an excellent movie and extremely loosey-goosey adaptation of Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales—2001 cult classic A Knight's Tale! Must an adaptation of a 14 century book be accurate or can it not simply operate on vibes alone? Why is the fact Chaucer is one of the movie protagonists accurate to the book? Who's getting freaky in the Czech Republic on the weekend? All these questions answered and more in today's episode. Content warnings for The Canterbury Tales includes: stories of violence, stories of rape, and 1390's typical racism, sexism, religious opinions, and fart jokes. Content warnings for A Knight's Tale (2001) includes: jousting violence, pre-9/11 crude humor, and a naked Paul Bettany. The articles Emma references in this episode can be found here: https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-may-14-ca-63182-story.html https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/feb/16/how-we-made-a-knights-tale-heath-ledger-paul-bettany-brian-helgeland https://www.theringer.com/2021/05/11/movies/knights-tale-heath-ledger-behind-the-scenes-stories-paul-bettany https://splicedwire.com/01features/bhelgeland.html You can find Emma on bluesky @crabmoney.bsky.social. Ria can be found on bluesky and twitter @ria_tee and on Instagram @riaeliza. Both Unnatural Selection and So Emo I Fell Apart are a part of the Moonshot Network. If you like what you've heard and want to support us, you can become a patron at patreon.com/moonshotnetwork The music for this show was commissioned from and composed by Jake Loranger. You can check out more of his work at https://amaranthine.bandcamp.com/
In this episode of Making Risk Flow: Exploring the Ecosystem, host Jake Harding sits down with Jay Wallace of VulnCheck about how real-time exploit intelligence is reshaping cyber insurance. They unpack why traditional CVSS scoring falls short and how modeling threat actor behaviour offers a clearer picture of risk. Jay explains how carriers can use machine-readable data feeds to automate underwriting and continuously monitor exposure post-binding. The conversation also highlights the value of proactive threat notifications in reducing claims and strengthening client trust. Jay and Jake also explore how AI and automation enhance, not replace, analysts, and why the most successful insurers are shifting from a profit-centric mindset to a partnership-driven approach focused on prevention, resilience, and long-term value creation.Fan Mail: Got a challenge digitizing your intake? Share it with us, and we'll unpack solutions from our experience at Cytora.To receive a custom demo from Cytora, click here and use the code 'Making Risk Flow'.Our previous guests include: Bronek Masojada of PPL, Craig Knightly of Inigo, Andrew Horton of QBE Insurance, Simon McGinn of Allianz, Stephane Flaquet of Hiscox, Matthew Grant of InsTech, Paul Brand of Convex, Paolo Cuomo of Gallagher Re, and Thierry Daucourt of AXA.Check out the three most downloaded episodes:The Five Pillars of Data Analytics Strategy in Insurance | Craig Knightly, Inigo20 Years as CEO of Hiscox: Personal Reflections and the Evolution of PPL | Bronek MasojadaImplementing ESG in the Insurance and Underwriting Space | Simon Tighe, Chaucer, and Paul McCarney, Moody's
Professor and author, Jennifer N. Brown, discusses her new release, THE LOST BOOK OF ELIZABETH BARTON. The discovery of the lost book of Tudor era nun and prophetess, Elizabeth Barton, earns Allison an exclusive invite to an intimate conference of luminaries. But Elizabeth was killed for running afoul of the wrong people, and if Allison isn't careful, she may share her fate. “…prophecy, passion, and peril converge in a page-turning thriller…”―Patti Callahan Henry, New York Times bestselling author Listen in as we chat about why she chose to write about Elizabeth Barton's book, how some of the most notable seers of the past became powerful tools for others, and discover the very cool reason why she knows about moody manors in the English countryside! https://www.mariesutro.com/twisted-passages-podcast https://jennifer-brown.com ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Jennifer N. Brown is from New York City and after falling in love with Chaucer in college, pursued a Ph.D. in medieval literature. Her dissertation and subsequent books and articles have mostly been about devotional literature and medieval women as authors, subjects, and patrons of literary culture in medieval Europe. She has taught medieval literature at several institutions, most recently at Marymount Manhattan College where she taught in the English and World Literatures department for over 15 years. She is currently serving as the Dean of Arts and Sciences at Bentley University in Boston, where she lives with her husband, two children and two miniature dachshunds: Athena and Apollo.
MOVIE KNIGHT! Join Tom, Dan, and Sarah as they sally forth unto the WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS OF JOUSTING in the 2001 live-action sports anime, "A Knight's Tale," the pre-Game of Thrones medieval fantasy that taught us even the lowliest peasant can change his stars, ignore the oppression of a feudal caste system, and make their dad proud if they just believe hard enough. Like a collection of Pilgrim's tales, this movie is greater than the sum of it's parts; this anachronistic period piece uses modern music and The Big Game sports vibes to tap into the melodrama of a rags-to-riches underdog story. Heath Ledger and Paul Bettany give it their all, screaming their passion at you with such unironic intensity that you will be stomp-stomp-clap-ing in your seat like any medieval peasant all jacked up on Queen. Contained within: Chaucer's literary contributions, uncooked pasta lances, and Famous Dan, real-life best friend of British C-tier celebrity.
In this episode of Making Risk Flow: Exploring the Ecosystem, host Juan de Castro sits down with Nicolas Zerbib, Co-President and CIO at Stone Point Capital, to unpack how AI is reshaping, not replacing, the insurance brokerage model. Nick explains why retention and complexity remain the strongest defenses against disruption, and how brokers can use AI to improve efficiency without losing their edge. From reducing operating costs to enhancing onboarding and preserving institutional knowledge, AI emerges as a powerful enabler rather than a threat. The conversation also highlights the structural advantages of the broker channel, including regulatory accountability and E&O risk, which AI cannot easily replicate. For brokers and investors alike, this episode offers a clear, tactical playbook for thriving in a rapidly evolving insurance landscape.Fan Mail: Got a challenge digitizing your intake? Share it with us, and we'll unpack solutions from our experience at Cytora.To receive a custom demo from Cytora, click here and use the code 'Making Risk Flow'.Our previous guests include: Bronek Masojada of PPL, Craig Knightly of Inigo, Andrew Horton of QBE Insurance, Simon McGinn of Allianz, Stephane Flaquet of Hiscox, Matthew Grant of InsTech, Paul Brand of Convex, Paolo Cuomo of Gallagher Re, and Thierry Daucourt of AXA.Check out the three most downloaded episodes:The Five Pillars of Data Analytics Strategy in Insurance | Craig Knightly, Inigo20 Years as CEO of Hiscox: Personal Reflections and the Evolution of PPL | Bronek MasojadaImplementing ESG in the Insurance and Underwriting Space | Simon Tighe, Chaucer, and Paul McCarney, Moody's
Brixton Market, London... a concentrate of cultures.
Agradece a este podcast tantas horas de entretenimiento y disfruta de episodios exclusivos como éste. ¡Apóyale en iVoox! A lo largo de la historia contemporánea se repite un mismo patrón, el de individuos o grupos se erigen en guardianes de la moral ajena, detectan una amenaza (real o imaginaria), la amplifican y desatan persecuciones que dejan tras de sí carreras destruidas y vidas arruinadas. El arquetipo del censor moderno es Anthony Comstock, un puritano de Connecticut que, tras la Guerra Civil, emprendió desde Nueva York una cruzada contra la obscenidad. En 1873 logró que el Congreso aprobara una ley que llevaba su nombre y que prohibía el envío por correo de material considerado indecente. Armado con esa legislación deliberadamente vaga y respaldado por algunos magnates, fundó la Sociedad Neoyorquina para la Supresión del Vicio, que persiguió a médicos, editores, galeristas y dramaturgos. Presumió de haber provocado quince suicidios y arruinado casi 3.700 vidas. Incluso obras de autores clásicos como Aristófanes, Bocaccio o Chaucer sucumbieron, las de los autores contemporáneos sufrieron hostigamiento y censura. El espíritu censor de Comstock tuvo su eco años más tarde en Hollywood con el Código Hays, un sistema de autocensura que durante más de treinta años dictó lo que podía mostrarse en pantalla. Quedaron desterradas la homosexualidad, las relaciones interraciales y cualquier transgresión de lo que se consideraba la moralidad adecuada. Las cláusulas de moralidad en los contratos controlaban también la vida privada de los artistas. El macartismo reprodujo luego el mismo esquema: una amenaza difusa, un aparato institucional complaciente y el señalamiento de los “inmorales". Lo más inquietante es que el fenómeno no ha desaparecido, de hecho se ha amplificado y afecta ahora a ambos lados del espectro político. Las redes sociales han creado un ecosistema donde la indignación moral es moneda de cambio. Derecha e izquierda despliegan sus propias cruzadas moralistas. Unos retiran libros de bibliotecas, otros imponen criterios de género y raciales con cláusulas contractuales más severas que las de 1914. El mecanismo es idéntico al de los censores de la época de Comstock. A ello se debe responder con coraje, sentido común y humor frente al fanatismo de quienes pretenden silenciar la libertad de expresión. Escucha el episodio completo en la app de iVoox, o descubre todo el catálogo de iVoox Originals
Agradece a este podcast tantas horas de entretenimiento y disfruta de episodios exclusivos como éste. ¡Apóyale en iVoox! A lo largo de la historia contemporánea se repite un mismo patrón, el de individuos o grupos se erigen en guardianes de la moral ajena, detectan una amenaza (real o imaginaria), la amplifican y desatan persecuciones que dejan tras de sí carreras destruidas y vidas arruinadas. El arquetipo del censor moderno es Anthony Comstock, un puritano de Connecticut que, tras la Guerra Civil, emprendió desde Nueva York una cruzada contra la obscenidad. En 1873 logró que el Congreso aprobara una ley que llevaba su nombre y que prohibía el envío por correo de material considerado indecente. Armado con esa legislación deliberadamente vaga y respaldado por algunos magnates, fundó la Sociedad Neoyorquina para la Supresión del Vicio, que persiguió a médicos, editores, galeristas y dramaturgos. Presumió de haber provocado quince suicidios y arruinado casi 3.700 vidas. Incluso obras de autores clásicos como Aristófanes, Bocaccio o Chaucer sucumbieron, las de los autores contemporáneos sufrieron hostigamiento y censura. El espíritu censor de Comstock tuvo su eco años más tarde en Hollywood con el Código Hays, un sistema de autocensura que durante más de treinta años dictó lo que podía mostrarse en pantalla. Quedaron desterradas la homosexualidad, las relaciones interraciales y cualquier transgresión de lo que se consideraba la moralidad adecuada. Las cláusulas de moralidad en los contratos controlaban también la vida privada de los artistas. El macartismo reprodujo luego el mismo esquema: una amenaza difusa, un aparato institucional complaciente y el señalamiento de los “inmorales". Lo más inquietante es que el fenómeno no ha desaparecido, de hecho se ha amplificado y afecta ahora a ambos lados del espectro político. Las redes sociales han creado un ecosistema donde la indignación moral es moneda de cambio. Derecha e izquierda despliegan sus propias cruzadas moralistas. Unos retiran libros de bibliotecas, otros imponen criterios de género y raciales con cláusulas contractuales más severas que las de 1914. El mecanismo es idéntico al de los censores de la época de Comstock. A ello se debe responder con coraje, sentido común y humor frente al fanatismo de quienes pretenden silenciar la libertad de expresión. Escucha el episodio completo en la app de iVoox, o descubre todo el catálogo de iVoox Originals
In this episode of Making Risk Flow: Exploring the Ecosystem, host Jake Harding speaks with Nick Franz, founder of Altitude Intelligence, on why traditional underwriting data can obscure true risk exposure. Due to his background in intelligence, Nick has asked that we protect his identity. Nick shares how geospatial and spatial intelligence, rooted in military tradecraft, can transform insurance decision-making. They explore why risk must be understood as a dynamic system, not a static label, and how embedding context at data ingestion enables faster, more accurate underwriting. From identifying hidden dependencies to avoiding outdated datasets, the conversation reveals how leading insurers are building a durable competitive edge. The takeaway is clear: those who integrate intelligence-driven insights today will outperform, while others risk compounding losses and blind spots.Fan Mail: Got a challenge digitizing your intake? Share it with us, and we'll unpack solutions from our experience at Cytora.To receive a custom demo from Cytora, click here and use the code 'Making Risk Flow'.Our previous guests include: Bronek Masojada of PPL, Craig Knightly of Inigo, Andrew Horton of QBE Insurance, Simon McGinn of Allianz, Stephane Flaquet of Hiscox, Matthew Grant of InsTech, Paul Brand of Convex, Paolo Cuomo of Gallagher Re, and Thierry Daucourt of AXA.Check out the three most downloaded episodes:The Five Pillars of Data Analytics Strategy in Insurance | Craig Knightly, Inigo20 Years as CEO of Hiscox: Personal Reflections and the Evolution of PPL | Bronek MasojadaImplementing ESG in the Insurance and Underwriting Space | Simon Tighe, Chaucer, and Paul McCarney, Moody's
Today's guest is Richard Milner, CEO of Chaucer Group. Chaucer is a global specialty insurance and reinsurance institution with a great pedigree and significant scale, both inside and outside the Lloyd's market. Richard is coming up for two years in post as CEO and is beginning to make his mark on the business's long-term strategy. Richard has had the sort of underwriting career that makes him a very relatable guest. He worked his way up from photocopying slips at a Lloyd's box to travelling the insurance world. Now he's in senior management he's easy to talk to because he's still unambiguously an underwriter to his core. As a result this interview is really down-to-earth and practical in focus. In it Richard lays out his five-year plan for Chaucer and we dissect the issues of the day in great detail and variety, ranging from how rates and business flows are holding up in a more competitive market, to an assessment of AI as a new emerging peril and potential new line of business. Richard is great company and I can highly recommend a listen. LINKS: We thank our naming sponsor AdvantageGo: https://www.advantagego.com
In this episode of Making Risk Flow: Exploring the Ecosystem, host Juan de Castro speaks with Sam Lewis, VP of Product, Engineering, and Data at Cytora, about how agentic AI is reshaping insurance workflows. They explore the shift from manual, fragmented processes to seamless, stateful systems that use memory and context to manage end-to-end submissions. Sam explains why the real barrier to digitization has been behavioral, not technical, and how designing for zero workflow disruption drives adoption among brokers. The conversation unpacks how AI agents increase underwriting capacity, improve responsiveness, and enable more consistent risk selection. They also discuss routing submissions intelligently, closing data gaps through enrichment, and freeing underwriters to focus on judgment-based decisions. The result is a more scalable, efficient, and accessible insurance ecosystem powered by always-on automation and intelligent orchestration.Fan Mail: Got a challenge digitizing your intake? Share it with us, and we'll unpack solutions from our experience at Cytora.To receive a custom demo from Cytora, click here and use the code 'Making Risk Flow'.Our previous guests include: Bronek Masojada of PPL, Craig Knightly of Inigo, Andrew Horton of QBE Insurance, Simon McGinn of Allianz, Stephane Flaquet of Hiscox, Matthew Grant of InsTech, Paul Brand of Convex, Paolo Cuomo of Gallagher Re, and Thierry Daucourt of AXA.Check out the three most downloaded episodes:The Five Pillars of Data Analytics Strategy in Insurance | Craig Knightly, Inigo20 Years as CEO of Hiscox: Personal Reflections and the Evolution of PPL | Bronek MasojadaImplementing ESG in the Insurance and Underwriting Space | Simon Tighe, Chaucer, and Paul McCarney, Moody's
1168. This week, we look at the word "leprechaun" and its surprisingly wild origin story involving shoemaking, ancient Rome, and wolf-men. Then we look at the word "equinox": its Chaucer connection, the newer word "equilux," and why the first point of Aries is actually in Pisces now (and headed for Aquarius).
In this episode of Making Risk Flow: Exploring the Ecosystem, host Jake Harding speaks with Jon Francis, Chief Product Officer at Chimnie, about why the future of property insurance underwriting depends on transparent, high-quality data. Jon explains how flawed or overly averaged property data can distort rebuild cost models, misprice risk, and ultimately drive adverse selection across insurance portfolios. He outlines practical methods for validating external data providers at scale, including large-volume testing to uncover hidden discrepancies that vendor samples often miss. The conversation also introduces a structured approach for transitioning to more accurate data systems while maintaining internal trust and regulatory confidence. From uncovering edge-case property characteristics to enabling frictionless quote journeys, Jon shows how granular property intelligence can become a powerful competitive advantage for insurers willing to modernize their risk data infrastructure.Fan Mail: Got a challenge digitizing your intake? Share it with us, and we'll unpack solutions from our experience at Cytora.To receive a custom demo from Cytora, click here and use the code 'Making Risk Flow'.Our previous guests include: Bronek Masojada of PPL, Craig Knightly of Inigo, Andrew Horton of QBE Insurance, Simon McGinn of Allianz, Stephane Flaquet of Hiscox, Matthew Grant of InsTech, Paul Brand of Convex, Paolo Cuomo of Gallagher Re, and Thierry Daucourt of AXA.Check out the three most downloaded episodes: The Five Pillars of Data Analytics Strategy in Insurance | Craig Knightly, Inigo 20 Years as CEO of Hiscox: Personal Reflections and the Evolution of PPL | Bronek Masojada Implementing ESG in the Insurance and Underwriting Space | Simon Tighe, Chaucer, and Paul McCarney, Moody's
ComixLaunch: Crowdfunding for Writers, Artists & Self-Publishers on Kickstarter... and Beyond!
In this session's ComixLaunch Pro spotlight, Clay Adams interviews David Chaucer La Forest, an African-American disabled veteran, award-winning poet/author, and founder of Asani Entertainment, about building an Afrocentric shared fantasy universe rooted in positive representation.
Greg Jenner is joined in medieval England by Professor Marion Turner and comedian Mike Wozniak to learn all about Geoffrey Chaucer, author of the Canterbury Tales. Since the fifteenth century, Chaucer has been referred to as the father of English literature. He was one of the first authors to champion the use of Middle English for poetry instead of Latin, and after the invention of the printing press, his works became the foundation of the English literary canon – long before Shakespeare ever put quill to parchment. But Chaucer's life was as extraordinary as his legacy, living as he did through the Black Death, the Hundred Years' War between England and France, and the Peasants' Revolt. In this episode, Greg and his guests explore Chaucer's dramatic biography: growing up the son of a wine merchant in fourteenth-century London, his work for the royal court and long career as a medieval civil servant, his relationship with John of Gaunt through his mistress Katherine Swynford, and his travels throughout Europe. They also examine the poets that influenced him – including Petrarch, Bocaccio and Dante – and take a deep dive into the famous Canterbury Tales. If you're a fan of medieval literature, historical courtroom dramas, and the tumult of fourteenth-century England, you'll love our episode on Geoffrey Chaucer. If you want more literary history with Mike Wozniak, listen to our episodes on Charles Dickens at Christmas and the Legends of King Arthur. And for more fourteenth-century lives, check out our episode on medieval Muslim traveller Ibn Battuta. You're Dead To Me is the comedy podcast that takes history seriously. Every episode, Greg Jenner brings together the best names in history and comedy to learn and laugh about the past. Hosted by: Greg Jenner Research by: Rosalyn Sklar Written by: Dr Emmie Rose Price-Goodfellow, Dr Emma Nagouse, and Greg Jenner Produced by: Dr Emmie Rose Price-Goodfellow and Greg Jenner Audio Producer: Steve Hankey Production Coordinator: Gill Huggett Senior Producer: Dr Emma Nagouse Executive Editor: Philip Sellars
There's a reason hearing your mother's voice can feel different from hearing anyone else's — even when it's just a phone call. This episode opens with the surprising effects researchers have discovered. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-psychology-of-relationships/202104/two-key-reasons-why-you-should-call-your-mom Guilt feels terrible — and that's exactly what makes it so effective. While we tend to see guilt as something to avoid, it may actually play an essential role in helping us learn, repair relationships, and behave more ethically. Christopher Moore explains why guilt exists, how it evolved, and why feeling guilty can sometimes be a very good thing. Christopher is a professor of psychology and former dean of science at Dalhousie University, whose work has been cited in Psychology Today, Today's Parent, and The New York Times. He is author of The Power of Guilt: Why We Feel It and Its Surprising Ability to Heal (https://amzn.to/3Nrt051). Plagiarism seems like a clear-cut wrongdoing — but the reality is far more complicated. People plagiarize more often than you might think, sometimes without even realizing it. And in some cases, you can be accused of plagiarism even if you've never seen the original work. With only so many ways to tell a story or write a song, where does coincidence end and plagiarism begin? Roger Kreuz joins me to explore this fascinating gray area. He is Associate Dean and professor of psychology at the University of Memphis, a columnist for Psychology Today, and author of Strikingly Similar: Plagiarism and Appropriation from Chaucer to Chatbots. (https://amzn.to/4soVFaS). And finally, there's a widespread belief that dark roast coffee has more caffeine than light roast — or that espresso packs far more caffeine than a regular cup of coffee. Both ideas sound logical, but they're not quite right. We wrap up by explaining what actually determines caffeine content and why these myths persist. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/light-vs-dark-roast-coffee Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices