Podcasts about Howden

Football has always been a game of fine margins, but CA Osasuna's 2025–26 campaign managed to turn the pitch into a high-stakes financial thriller. Facing a brutal relegation battle, the Pamplona club took out a standard insurance policy to protect its finances—only for that policy to mutate into a million-dollar prediction market trade across the Atlantic.In this episode, we unpack one of the strangest, most fascinating financial anomalies in modern sports history: Inside Osasuna's completely legal €1.2 million insurance policy with broker Howden, designed to cushion the devastating €40–€60 million blow of dropping out of La Liga.How quant trading giant Susquehanna ended up on the other side of a mirrored relegation trade on the American prediction market Kalshi, netting a cool seven-figure profit.Recapping the agonizing final day of the season where Osasuna lost 0-1 to Getafe but miraculously survived in 17th place purely on goal difference.Discussing the thorny integrity questions raised as professional sports risk management officially collides with speculative trading desks.We dive into the club's firm denial of any direct involvement with Kalshi and explore how the line between prudent corporate hedging and outright gambling has officially become razor-thin. CA Osasuna, La Liga 2026, Kalshi prediction market, football finance podcast, sports insurance hedging.

Welcome to another episode of the Data Debrief, the companion show to Driven by Data: The Podcast, where hosts Catherine Dowden-King and Kyle Winterbottom unpack Tuesday's episode, share what's been on their minds, and explore the realities of leadership, culture, and capability across the data and AI landscape.This week, Catherine and Kyle reflect on the conversation with Sarah Emerson, Group Director of Insight & Business Partnering at Howden, diving deeper into the growing importance of commercial thinking, business partnering, and the role relationships play in driving value from data.They cover:Why Sarah's background in finance and corporate strategy offers a unique perspective on data leadership, and how commercial acumen can become a powerful differentiator for leaders looking to influence organisational outcomesThe challenge of connecting data strategy to business strategy, why many organisations struggle to articulate strategic priorities clearly, and the practical ways data leaders can uncover them regardlessWhy curiosity about business value shouldn't be reserved for senior leaders, and how analysts at every level can develop a stronger understanding of commercial impactThe growing importance of business partnering as a dedicated capability, and how organisations can bridge the gap between technical teams and business stakeholders more effectivelyThe realities of operating model design, why federated approaches continue to gain traction, and the trade-offs organisations must consider when balancing proximity to the business with cost and complexitySarah's view that self-service analytics has largely failed to deliver on its original promise, and what that means for the future of data enablement and adoptionWhy understanding how business leaders are measured, incentivised, and rewarded can dramatically improve stakeholder engagement and increase adoption of data-led initiativesThe challenges of discussing performance, incentives, and accountability within organisations, and why trust and relationship-building remain critical leadership skillsThe evolving role of the Chief Data Officer, the increasing consolidation of data responsibilities back into CIO organisations, and what this shift could mean for the future of data leadershipHow AI has accelerated organisational debates around ownership, accountability, and transformation, with many businesses still determining where responsibility ultimately sitsThe emergence of broader transformation and innovation leadership roles that combine data, technology, AI, digital, and business transformation under a single mandateKyle's thought of the week: as more organisations place data leadership responsibilities back under the CIO, many of the lessons learned throughout the evolution of the CDO role risk being forgotten. The challenge now is ensuring that value creation, business engagement, and commercial impact remain at the centre of the agenda, regardless of where accountability sits.This episode explores the realities of commercial leadership in data, the importance of business partnering, and why understanding people, incentives, and organisational dynamics is often just as important as understanding data itself.

0:00 - The Vegas Golden Knights weren't even supposed to make the playoffs, and here they are 2 wins away from bringing Lord Stanley back to the desert. They're the definition of an enigma. In particular, what's gotten into Brett Howden?? He's played the best hockey of his ENTIRE CAREER during this postseason run!13:28 -   Brandon Aiyuk recently went on IG Live and blasted the 49ers for how they handled his injury/contract situation. And we're SO thankful we don't have an Aiyuk/AJ Brown/Antonio Brown/Diva/locker room cancer on the Broncos roster. Everyone is bought in. All for one, one for all.32:01 - Oh, by the way...FIFA is letting fans buy a message that will appear on the jumbotron during World Cup games. It's yours for the low low price of $79!Oh, by the way...Brendan Sorsby will appear in court to hash things out with the NCAA...in early February! After the college football season is over. Well, isn't that convenient?Oh, by the way...LIV Golf is on life support at this point, and the league probably won't survive through the end of the season. The experiment is all but over.

In Episode 10 of Season 7 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom was joined by Sarah Emerson, Group Director of Insight & Business Partnering at Howden, where they discuss why commercial thinking and business partnering are the keys to uncovering business strategy and making data genuinely matter, which includes;Why having a non-technical background can give you a competitive edge as a data leader.How to infer business strategy when corporate goals are unclear or poorly defined.Why Sarah believes commercial KPIs should always take priority over internal data metrics.How finding out what a stakeholder is bonused on is the fastest route to their engagement.Why federated operating models consistently deliver more commercial value — and why they're expensive.Why self-serve analytics will never truly scale, particularly in relationship-driven industries like insurance.How conversational AI is poised to succeed where a decade of self-serve dashboards has failed.Why inconsistent data definitions across divisions remain the biggest hidden barrier to AI adoption.The importance of executive sponsorship in driving data culture — and what to do when you don't have it.How financially incentivising sales teams based on data adoption could become the industry's next big shift.Why embedded business partners bridge the gap between analytical output and real commercial impact.How to uncover business strategy when no one will give you the time or the meeting.Why defaulting to technical language is one of the fastest ways a data leader can lose the room.Why the business, not just the data team, needs to take accountability for driving data product adoption.How embedding analysts within business teams is what drives genuine commercial impact.Thanks to our sponsor, Data & AI Literacy Academy.Data & AI Literacy Academy is leading the way in transforming enterprise workforces with data literacy across the organisation, through a combination of change management and education. In today's data-centric world, being data literate is no longer a luxury, it's a necessity.If you want successful data product adoption, and to keep driving innovation within your business, you need to start with data & AI literacy first.At Data & AI Literacy Academy, they don't just teach data skills. They empower individuals and teams to think critically, analyse effectively, and make decisions confidently based on data. They're bridging the gap between business and data teams, so they can all work towards aligned outcomes.From those taking their first steps in data & AI literacy to seasoned experts looking to fine-tune their skills, our data experts provide tailored classes for every stage. But it's not just learning tracks that they offer. They embed a deep data culture shift through a transformative change management programme.They take a people-first approach, working closely with your executive team to win the hearts and minds. We know this will drive the company-wide impact that data teams want to achieve.Get in touch and find out how you can unlock the full potential of data in your organisation. Learn more at www.dl-academy.com.

The Stanley Cup Final is all tied up after Carolina stormed back in the third period to even the series.We break down the controversial coach's challenge that changed the game, Tomas Hertl's costly penalty after looking like the hero, and Howden's incredible playoff scoring run.

What does it look like to turn a hobby into a thriving business — with no roadmap, no industry model to follow, and a drafty warehouse as your starting point? Melissa Joy, CFP®, sits down with Christy Howden, CEO and co-founder of Wolverine Pickleball, to trace an extraordinary entrepreneurial journey from stay-at-home mom to leader of one of the country's first pickleball-centric destination facilities.Christy shares how a 2017 New Year's resolution sparked a business she never could have predicted, and how she and her business partner bootstrapped their way from rented school gyms to a 38,000 square foot facility that has become a community hub for connection, play, and purpose. Along the way, Melissa Joy, CFP®, weighs in on what financial planners can and cannot say about investing in private businesses and why having a frank conversation with your advisor matters more than the answer you get.What You'll LearnHow Christy and her business partner built Wolverine Pickleball from the ground up with sweat equity, community volunteers, and a minimum viable product mindsetWhy 80% of their investors were women and what it means to make a lifestyle investment that overrides professional financial adviceHow Melissa Joy, CFP®, approaches conversations about investing in small businesses and passion projectsThe funding realities female entrepreneurs face and why the statistics around fundraising make building community capital even more importantHow a second act business can emerge from a life transition and why community is often the renewable energy source behind entrepreneurial endurancePractical ways listeners can support small businesses beyond just showing upConnect with Christy: wolverinepickleball.comhttps://www.instagram.com/wolverinepickleball/ https://www.facebook.com/WolverinePickleball/Third-party rankings and recognition from rating services or publications are no guarantee of future investment success. Working with a highly rated advisor does not ensure that a client or prospective client will experience a higher level of performance or results. These ratings should not be construed as an endorsement of the advisor or by any client, nor are they representative of any one client's evaluation. Generally, ratings, rankings, and recognition are based on information prepared and submitted by the advisor. This ranking is based on data as of 12/31/2025. The ranking was released on 02/12/2026. Pearl Planning and Melissa Joy did not pay any compensation to be considered for this rating and does not pay an annual fee for marketing usage of the logo. The methodology used to determine The Michigan 50 Companies to Watch award can be found here: Please visit the ranking methodology page for more info.The previous presentation by PEARL PLANNING was intended for general information purposes only.  No portion of the presentation serves as the receipt of, or as a substitute for, personalized investment advice from PEARL PLANNING or any other investment professional of your choosing. Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk, and it should not be assumed that future performance of any specific investment or investment strategy, or any non-investment related or planning services, discussion or content, will be profitable, be suitable for your portfolio or individual situation, or prove successful. Neither PEARL PLANNING's investment adviser registration status, nor any amount of prior experience or success, should be construed that a certain level of results or satisfaction will be achieved if PEARL PLANNING is engaged, or continues to be engaged, to provide investment advisory services. PEARL PLANNING is neither a law firm nor accounting firm, and no portion of its services should be construed as legal or accounting advice. No portion of the video content should be construed by a client or prospective client as a guarantee that he/she will experience a certain level of results if PEARL PLANNING is engaged, or continues to be engaged, to provide investment advisory services. A copy of PEARL PLANNING's current written disclosure Brochure discussing our advisory services and fees is available upon request or at https...

You can design the best HR strategy, introduce brilliant benefits, or roll out an important change - but if people do not understand it, engage with it, or take action, none of it matters.That is why employee communication sits right at the heart of your impact in HR.In this episode of HR Coffee Time, Fay is joined by Nik Nawaaz, Head of Employee Communications at Barnett Waddingham (now part of Howden) to unpack exactly how HR professionals can communicate in a way that builds trust, gets buy-in, and encourages people to take action - whether that is using their benefits, completing an engagement survey, preparing for a performance review, or navigating organisational change.With over 20 years of experience in employee communications, Nik shares practical, immediately actionable advice — no jargon, no fluff.In This Episode, You'll Learn:Why employee communication is the “connective tissue” of an organisationWhy HR can sometimes feel like a faceless department - and how to change thatThe common mistake HR professionals make when writing employee communicationsWhy your message needs to answer “So what?” within the first few secondsHow to shift from explaining features to showing benefitsWhy phrases like “HR is pleased to announce” or “Please be advised” can stop people engagingHow to make your communication feel more human, conversational and directWhy reading your message aloud can help you spot corporate languageHow to use Microsoft Word's read-aloud feature to improve scripts and written communicationWhy a one-size-fits-all approach rarely works for benefits communicationHow to tailor messages for different groups and generations in your workforceWhy line managers are so important when you want messages to landHow a simple manager toolkit can make communication more effectiveWhy listening for the first five minutes of a meeting can help build trustHow to communicate during times of fear, uncertainty and changeWhy silence can lead people to create their own “horror story”How to be honest when you do not yet have all the answersWhy storytelling and real-world proof can be more persuasive than project updatesWhy employee communication needs support from across the organisation - not just HRChapters00:00 - When great HR work goes unnoticed03:24 - What employee comms really means04:20 - Why HR can feel "faceless" — and how to fix it06:19 - The #1 mistake: writing for yourself, not your audience08:49 - Quick win: delete your opening line09:49 - Drop the corporate speak — write like a human11:35 - The Word trick that makes your writing sound natural13:04 - How to get people to actually use their benefits17:30 - Tailoring messages for different generations20:58 - Line managers as your communication allies22:59 - The "First Five" technique24:01 - Communicating through change and uncertainty25:58 - Use storytelling, not project updates28:06 - Resource recommendation: Simon Sinek's Golden CircleUseful LinksConnect with Fay on LinkedInLearn about Fay's Essential HR PlannerLearn about Fay's Inspiring HR Leadership ProgrammeTake Fay's freeHR Leadership Impact Assessment.Connect with Nik (Nikolas) Nawaaz on LinkedInFind out more about Barnett Waddingham's employee communications workWatch Simon Sinek's TED Talk:How Great Leaders Inspire ActionHelpful Episode to Listen to NextIf you enjoyed this episode and would like more support with writing clear, effective communication at work, listen to:

The insurance industry is shifting fast, and this episode of RiskCellar doesn't let a single headline slide. Hosts Brandon Schuh and Nick Hartmann are back in the cellar breaking down three of the most talked-about stories in the industry right now. The Rad Power Bikes wrongful death lawsuit and what it means for micro-mobility product liability, the escalating legal fallout from Howden's alleged broker raid on Brown & Brown, and the accelerating softening of the reinsurance market that's reshaping valuations across the board. Plus a deep dive on the collapse of litigation finance as an asset class, and why that might matter more than anyone's admitting.Brandon brings his front-row seat at the Christensen Group specialty desk to every story, and Nick matches him stride for stride with sharp market observations from the field. The episode covers the wrongful death suit filed by Shannon Stephens against Rad Power Bikes after an e-bike lithium-ion battery fire in an Alabama garage on January 3, 2025, killed her husband, Dr. Keith Stephens. Brandon unpacks the legal complexity of successor liability after Rad Power's bankruptcy, notes that the company's assets were reacquired for roughly $13 million, and questions whether the evidence standard will meet the plaintiff's burden given expert testimony that focused on design containment, not outright defect. The CPSC's intervention requiring UL certification for e-bike batteries is also examined in the context of legacy stock.The second half of the episode is equally dense. Brandon and Nick dissect the Brown & Brown vs. Howden broker raid litigation, including a new Minnesota temporary restraining order barring 16 former Brown & Brown employees now at Howden from soliciting clients or recruiting staff. With $31 million in business allegedly lost and Howden carrying roughly $5 billion in total debt against a $3 billion revenue base, the guys ask tough questions about runway and financial viability. They also explore the quiet implosion of litigation finance as an asset class, Burford Capital's 47% stock drop on a single day after a $16.1 billion Argentina judgment was overturned in a US appeals court being the centerpiece moment, alongside JP Morgan's latest analysis calling for continued reinsurance price softening into 2027. It's a dense, entertaining, and genuinely insightful look at where the market stands right now.Key Takeaways:Rad Power Bikes faces a wrongful death lawsuit tied to a lithium-ion battery thermal runaway event in January 2025Successor liability questions are unresolved, old entity is defunct; assets were acquired for ~$13M in bankruptcyBrown & Brown obtained a Minnesota TRO barring 16 former employees at Howden from soliciting clients or staffBrown & Brown disclosed ~$31M in lost business from the Howden broker raid on a recent earnings callHowden carries approximately $5B in debt against a ~$3B broker revenue base, a tight leverage positionChapters:00:00 Introduction01:55 Banter, Travel & Industry Events09:45 Rad Power Bikes Wrongful Death Lawsuit14:05 E-Bike Battery Safety, CPSC & UL Certification17:25 Brown & Brown vs. Howden, Broker Raid Update20:55 Howden's Debt Load & Financial Runway24:05 Property Rate Softening, Real Numbers from the Field26:40 Deductible Buy-Down Policies & Adverse Selection Risk29:45 Litigation Finance Collapse, Burford Capital & Argentina37:40 JP Morgan: Reinsurance Softening Into 202739:15 Three Truths and a Lie: Space Edition47:00 AI at Insurance Innovators Conference51:25 Data Centers in Space? Cooling Logistics Debate52:45 Wrap-Up & CheersConnect with Risk Cellar:Website: https://www.riskcellar.comBrandon SchuhLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandon-stephen-schuhInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/schuhpapaFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552710523314Nick HartmannLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickjhartmann

Recorded live at Consensus Miami 2026, I sat down with Karen Knox, digital assets insurance specialist at Howden, for one of the most unexpected origin stories I've heard on this show. From Andy Griffith's hometown in North Carolina, to converting to Judaism, raising her daughter in Tel Aviv, and becoming one of the go-to names in crypto insurance — Karen's path is anything but straight.This episode is sponsored by FirstRead — the AI-powered legal assistant that reads, marks up, and chats through contracts right inside your Word document. If you're a founder, builder, or anyone dealing with legal agreements, FirstRead is a game-changer.

A new series begins on Yachting International Radio.In the first episode of American Refit, host Maria Pierce Schoenheit, Owner | Director of Operations at MPS 913 | Maritime Project Solutions, leads a direct conversation on the real state of yacht refit in America and what the industry needs to do to rebuild confidence, improve predictability, and deliver stronger outcomes for owners, captains, managers, shipyards, and service providers.Maria is joined by Colin Lord, Michelle Terorotua, and Robert Mac Keen for a practical discussion on U.S. yacht refit, project planning, procurement, customs, logistics, bonded warehouses, foreign trade zones, owner expectations, yard period oversight, and the importance of honest communication before a vessel enters the shipyard.This episode explores why confidence in the American refit market depends on early planning, accurate scope, realistic timelines, coordinated procurement, experienced shore-side support, and a willingness to align the people responsible for getting the project done properly.Featured in this episode:Maria Pierce Schoenheit Host, American Refit Owner | Director of Operations MPS 913 | Maritime Project Solutions

Send us Fan MailThis week, we are breaking down the standout themes from some of real estate recent conferences, including: - The Association for Rental Living Tech Conference; including where AI goes beyond resident comms and into planning, development, and even the legal work behind projects. - LD Events Property Student Housing Conference; we talk affordability as the real crisis, the “value gap” students feel when price and product don't match, and why universities and operators need better alignment.- Inner Circle Events in Bristol; discussing the Temple Quarter regeneration, showing how placemaking, infrastructure, and housing connect when you're serious about keeping talent in cities.We also discuss the Renters' Rights Act and what we're seeing from operators and students, and why clear resident communication matters right now.Make sure you follow this LinkedIn page plus subscribe and follow the podcast to be kept up to date with all the key happenings and takeaways.Dan Smith is Founder of RESI Consultancy and Co-Founder of Verbaflo.AI.Sarah Canning and Deenie Lee are Directors and Co-Founders of The Property Marketing Strategists - Elevating Marketing in Property.Thank you to our season four sponsors:Mystudenthalls.com -  Reach thousands of students searching every month with 0% commission student accommodation listings.Utopi - The smart building platform helping real estate owners protect the value of their assets.Washstation - Leading provider of laundry solutions for Communal and Campus living throughout the UK and Ireland.Howden  - With a lifetime of expertise, Howden provides tailored insurance, property risk management, and wellbeing solutions for accommodation providers across the UK.Who this episode is for:PBSA and student accommodation professionalsBTR, co-living and rental operatorsProperty developers and investorsUniversity and higher education leadersAnyone working in or around housing policy and shared livingThe views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of their employers, organisations, clients, or partners. This podcast is for general discussion and informational purposes only. Nothing said should be taken as professional, legal, financial, or investment advice. While we aim to be accurate, we make no guarantees and accept no liability for decisions made based on the content of this podcast. This was a jointly sponsored podcast. 

What's really happening in today's collector car market? I sit down with Stewart Howden of Classic Auto Mall to break it all down—from shifting buyer behavior to which cars are gaining momentum (and which ones are quietly cooling off). We also go behind the scenes of Classic Auto Mall's unique consignment model, how they're navigating today's market dynamics, and what it takes to move inventory in a changing landscape. Whether you're buying, selling, or just watching the trends, this is a candid, insider look at where the collector car world is headed. #CollectorCars #ClassicCars #CarMarket #CarTrends #AutoIndustry #ClassicAutoMall #CarCollecting #MarketInsights #CarPodcast #TheCollectorCarPodcast Learn more at: https://www.classicautomall.com/ Need help buying or selling your collector car? Contact Greg at Greg@TheCollectorCarPodcast.com or collectorcarslimited@gmail.com.

Send us Fan MailWith less than 3 weeks to go until the Housed Summit taking place at UKREiiF in Leeds, this week we are focusing on the three-day event and what's in store for anyone attending.We walk through the venue, the agenda, the big debate panels, and how we're designing the experience around real networking and real takeaways.You can also hear from some of our partners, speakers and attendees about which panels they are most looking forward to; Chanel Turner-Ross, Alex Gooch, Nicky Scanlan, Shahriar Arain, Jade Chalmers, Matt Christie, Joanna Alsford, Jenny Shaw and Anca Stefanescu.Make sure you follow this LinkedIn page plus subscribe and follow the podcast to be kept up to date with all the key happenings and takeaways.Dan Smith is Founder of RESI Consultancy and Co-Founder of Verbaflo.AI.Sarah Canning and Deenie Lee are Directors and Co-Founders of The Property Marketing Strategists - Elevating Marketing in Property.Thank you to our season four sponsors:Mystudenthalls.com -  Reach thousands of students searching every month with 0% commission student accommodation listings.Utopi - The smart building platform helping real estate owners protect the value of their assets.Washstation - Leading provider of laundry solutions for Communal and Campus living throughout the UK and Ireland.Howden  - With a lifetime of expertise, Howden provides tailored insurance, property risk management, and wellbeing solutions for accommodation providers across the UK.Who this episode is for:PBSA and student accommodation professionalsBTR, co-living and rental operatorsProperty developers and investorsUniversity and higher education leadersAnyone working in or around housing policy and shared livingThe views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of their employers, organisations, clients, or partners. This podcast is for general discussion and informational purposes only. Nothing said should be taken as professional, legal, financial, or investment advice. While we aim to be accurate, we make no guarantees and accept no liability for decisions made based on the content of this podcast. This was a jointly sponsored podcast. 

The Philadelphia Flyers closed out the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 6 OT, capping a surprisingly solid “bridge year” for Pittsburgh’s aging core, with Evgeni Malkin expressing interest in returning at 40 and Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang also expected back. Philly, meanwhile, nearly let a 3–0 series slip but got a great performance from goalie Dan Vladar leading to Cam York’s eventual winner, though a tough matchup with the Carolina Hurricanes awaits. The Montreal Canadiens moved within one win of eliminating the Tampa Bay Lightning thanks to Alex Texier’s Game 5 winner and stellar goaltending from Jakub Dobes, while Brendan Gallagher made an immediate impact in his playoff debut, setting up a raucous Game 6 at the Bell Centre. Out West, Brett Howden scored a shorthanded double-OT winner to give the Vegas Golden Knights a 3–2 edge over Utah in a series where goaltending has been uncertain at best, and at times, chaotic. The Edmonton Oilers face elimination on the road against the Anaheim Ducks in Game 6, needing early pressure on Dostal, but also the consistency they’ve lacked all season. The Minnesota Wild have an opportunity at home to eliminate the Dallas Stars behind Jesper Wallstedt and their heavy-minute defenders, who are proving to be a difficult matchup.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The great cliché about our sector is that while business trends come and go – it's the people who remain the constant. Today's guest is someone whose business follows this philosophy to the letter. Dan Topping is the CEO of London-focused, publicly-listed private equity firm B.P. Marsh with just under 20 years in the business. The firm he leads is a household name in the London Market with a 30-year often idiosyncratic pedigree backing entrepreneurs in the intermediary segment. Countless brokers and MGAs, including Howden and Nexus have benefitted from the investment and counsel from this singular institution. Given the highly-focused nature of what B.P. Marsh does, Dan and his colleagues will have seen almost every early-stage investment opportunity in the London market of the last 20 years. That gives a kaleidoscopic perspective and that knowledge and understanding seeps through every pore of Dan's being. The prime job of a podcast like this is to help tease out specialist knowledge accumulated in the market and share it with you the listener. I have known Dan for almost all of his time at the firm and that made this interview really relaxed and much more revealing than most. If there ever were any trade secrets about what has driven the compound growth of this impressive highly-focused business, they won't be secrets after this podcast. If you want to know what makes entrepreneurialism in the specialty insurance sector tick, this is the place to come. Together we'll examine some of the surprising trends Dan is seeing in what many would view as an ultra-consolidated intermediary segment. Dan is as eloquent and relaxed as he is knowledgeable and the time will fly by. And perhaps you too will be inspired and emboldened to dare strike out on your own entrepreneurial journey. Clichés come about because by and large they are expressing an underlying universal truth. A quick listen and I think you'll agree that Dan is living proof that it really is the people that make the market what it is. LINKS: We thank our naming sponsor AdvantageGo, now part of Sapiens: https://www.advantagego.com

Send us Fan MailSend us Fan MailWe're back! After a 2 week break over the Easter holidays the latest Housed episode is out now.On this episode we are delighted to be joined by Billy FitzJohn - Associate Director at Howden to discuss the Howden Student Happiness Index 2025/26. This unique piece of research offers the sector insights into how happy students are, what worries them and what motivates them.Sign up for the Student Happiness Index here.We are also discussing: - The hospitality vs home debate - how do tourist guests impact the residential experience?- PBSA - did we call it? The news is full of 'the end of PBSA' - what can be done to protect the UK PBSA market?  - The impact of the 2-year degree on accommodation.Stay up to date on Housed podcast via the website and LinkedIn page Dan Smith is Founder of RESI Consultancy and Co-Founder of Verbaflo.AI.Sarah Canning and Deenie Lee are Directors and Co-Founders of The Property Marketing Strategists - Elevating Marketing in Property.Thank you to our season four sponsors:Mystudenthalls.com -  Reach thousands of students searching every month with 0% commission student accommodation listings.Utopi - The smart building platform helping real estate owners protect the value of their assets.Washstation - Leading provider of laundry solutions for Communal and Campus living throughout the UK and Ireland.Howden  - With a lifetime of expertise, Howden provides tailored insurance, property risk management, and wellbeing solutions for accommodation providers across the UK.Who this episode is for:PBSA and student accommodation professionalsBTR, co-living and rental operatorsProperty developers and investorsUniversity and higher education leadersAnyone working in or around housing policy and shared livingThe views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of their employers, organisations, clients, or partners. This podcast is for general discussion and informational purposes only. Nothing said should be taken as professional, legal, financial, or investment advice. While we aim to be accurate, we make no guarantees and accept no liability for decisions made based on the content of this podcast. This was a jointly sponsored podcast. 

In Episode 2, of Season 7 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom was re-joined (over 2.5 years on) by Barry Panayi, Group Chief Data Officer at Howden, where they discuss, how the CDAO role continues to evolve and whether accountability is being diluted, which includes;Why the CDAO role is splitting between commercial outcomes and BAU leadershipWhy the biggest trade-off today is speed vs sustainable valueA pragmatic view on AI ownership: enterprise enablement vs bespoke buildThe risk of over-indexing on ROI and neglecting foundational data capabilityThe danger of the CDAO role being watered downWhy many organisations still hire CDAOs for the wrong mandateHow culture and incentives shape whether data leaders can succeedHow AI is making value measurement easier than traditional data workWhy proving quick wins can sometimes slow long-term progressWhy CDAO–CTO chemistry now matters more than job titlesThe leadership lesson: make the least bad decision with convictionWhy Barry wrote The AI of the Beholder as a leadership decision simulatorThe reality that there is rarely one “right” leadership choiceWhy future board opportunities for CDAOs require broader leadership breadthWhat boards actually value from ex-CDAO leaders in NED roles

Send us Fan MailWe're tackling some of the tougher topics this week, including:- Why first impressions of student accommodation count?- Does the sector prepare students for shared living?- Why is it so hard to build PBSA or BTR right now?- Is there an energy crisis? This episode includes data from The Property Marketing Strategists Youth Forum on Gen Z's First Impressions of Accommodation.Stay up to date on Housed podcast via the website and LinkedIn page Dan Smith is Founder of RESI Consultancy and Co-Founder of Verbaflo.AI.Sarah Canning and Deenie Lee are Directors and Co-Founders of The Property Marketing Strategists - Elevating Marketing in Property.Thank you to our season four sponsors:Mystudenthalls.com -  Reach thousands of students searching every month with 0% commission student accommodation listings.Utopi - The smart building platform helping real estate owners protect the value of their assets.Washstation - Leading provider of laundry solutions for Communal and Campus living throughout the UK and Ireland.Howden  - With a lifetime of expertise, Howden provides tailored insurance, property risk management, and wellbeing solutions for accommodation providers across the UK.Who this episode is for:PBSA and student accommodation professionalsBTR, co-living and rental operatorsProperty developers and investorsUniversity and higher education leadersAnyone working in or around housing policy and shared livingThe views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of their employers, organisations, clients, or partners. This podcast is for general discussion and informational purposes only. Nothing said should be taken as professional, legal, financial, or investment advice. While we aim to be accurate, we make no guarantees and accept no liability for decisions made based on the content of this podcast. This was a jointly sponsored podcast. 

Jesús Huerta de Soto traces the Austrian school's intellectual roots from the Spanish scholastics to Rothbard, making the case that anarcho-capitalism is the natural endpoint of the classical liberal tradition.The Ludwig von Mises Memorial Lecture, sponsored by Yousif Almoayyed.The Austrian Economics Research Conference is the international, interdisciplinary meeting of the Austrian school, bringing together leading scholars doing research in this vibrant and influential intellectual tradition.Full Text version of the Lecture (Submitted by Prof. Huerta de Soto):Thank you very much to the Mises Institute and Joe Salerno for his kind introduction as well as for inviting me to deliver this “Ludwig von Mises Memorial Lecture” to celebrate the one hundredth anniversary of Murray N. Rothbard's birthday. It is the second time I visit the Mises Institute to deliver this most important lecture: The first one was almost thirty years ago, back in April 1997, when I delivered a lecture on “The Scholastic Roots of the Austrian School”. In this second opportunity I am very happy to have been able to accept Joe's invitation and to come with a very well represented retinue of ten of my colleagues and doctoral students. All of them are teaching as professors or making their research at our more than twenty-year-old Doctoral and Master Programs in Austrian Economics at King Juan Carlos University back in Madrid, and which is the only one officially approved and with full validity inside the whole European Union. You have already had the opportunity to hear from each one of them a detailed description of the so-called “Madrid Austrian Research Hub” and of all the activities we are developing every year, including the 54 Doctoral Theses on Austrian Economics that have been read up to now in our program. And here you have also copies of the English version of our main books published by Routledge, Edward Elgar, and by the Macmillan Austrian Series edited by my Madrid Colleagues, the German professor Philipp Bagus and the Canadian professor Dave Howden. And you will have the unique opportunity to buy these books that, as you know, have a hefty price of almost 100 pounds each one, at the almost “stolen property” and symbolic price of 5 dollars per copy, thanks to the most generous help of the Spanish Jesús Huerta de Soto Foundation that is helping to finance our participation in this important event.And now what I will do in the next forty minutes is to try to summarize not only my main contributions, but also “The Libertarian Vision of the Scientific and Moral Truth” as we see it from our Austrian School Hub in Madrid. And I will do it by focusing on a series of fundamental points.Precisely, the youngest of all sciences, Economics is the one that has provided Humanity with the most important scientific contributionThe first one is that Economics, being the last science to arrive, or as Mises said, "the youngest of all sciences," has nevertheless achieved the milestone of providing Humanity with the most important scientific contribution. For the first time, and thanks to Economic Science, human beings have discovered and understood that voluntary social cooperation, free from all institutional and systematic external coercion, generates a spontaneous order that cannot be designed nor organized by anyone, and that peacefully and without limits drives the prosperity and expansion of Humankind.This transcendental message of Economic Science, on the one hand, resolves the impossible antithesis of attempting to apply, within the realm of interactions carried out by human beings endowed with free will, the manipulative approach of external entities that human beings have no choice but to use, supported by technology and the natural sciences, in order to dominate the subject of the material world. And on the other hand, this is a radically revolutionary message: for the first time, it has been scientifically demonstrated that states, in any of their forms, are neither necessary nor viable; that Society, understood as a process of voluntary human interactions, does not need anyone to govern it, because it regulates and organizes itself spontaneously; and that the attempt to coordinate Society on the basis of social engineering and state coercive commands is impossible, doomed to failure, and gives rise to all kinds of distortions, social conflicts and violence, that continually hinder and block human progress.Economic science is generalized into a complete Theory of Liberty that makes it possible to reinterpret History and promote the expansion of civilizationThe second point is that Economics has been generalized into a whole Theory of Liberty, understood as the most essential attribute and requirement of human nature. Liberty means that all human actions are carried out voluntarily, based on the principle of non-aggression, and free of external coercion or violence imposed and organized from above by the always minority group of human beings who, under whatever title, exercise any kind of political power.Moreover, Economics dismantles and turns upside down the erroneous and biased account of Thomas Hobbes and his followers. Neither was the "state of nature" a terrifying situation, nor did a supposed "social contract" ever exist or was it necessary to create and maintain a State that would impose order and guarantee peace. What happened was precisely the opposite: natural evolution consisted, above all, in the spontaneous discovery of the great advantages provided by voluntary exchanges and peaceful trade. Systematic and generalized violence, war, and terror arose only with the appearance of States, as coercive institutions composed of the most antisocial and violent human beings, who wanted (and still want) to live at the expense of plundering those citizens who earn their living by working and trading peacefully with each other (Oppenheimer, 1926).Thus, Economics, demonstrates that what Étienne de La Boétie named "voluntary servitude", is an anti-human aberration to which human beings have been subjected for centuries. And that it is not necessary to continue with the resigned habit of obeying the State; nor do governments enjoy an aura of prestige (but are literally "stripped" of any attribute of intellectual or moral superiority); nor is the caste—or “praetorian guard”—of intellectuals, “experts”, and acolytes that surround states and rulers to be regarded as untouchable; nor should we allow ourselves to be seduced and deceived by subsidies or perks, whether supposed or real, with which they seek to purchase the will and secure the loyalty of exploited human beings, so that they will consent, voluntarily and permanently, to their exploitation and servitude (De la Boétie, 1975).Economics is the Science developed by the Austrian School of Economics, which should in fact be known as the Spanish School, as it has its origins in the thinking of our scholastics of the Spanish Golden AgeThe third point is that Economic Science has reached its highest level of development thanks to the Austrian School of Economics. As you know, our school is based on the realism of its analytical assumptions, in the dynamic approach based on the entrepreneurial, creative, and coordinating capacity of every human being, and in the study of the spontaneous and self-regulated order of the social process of voluntary human interactions (Huerta de Soto, 2008). The institutional and multidisciplinary approach of the Austrian School is also very relevant. As a result of the spontaneous social process important institutions emerge which, in turn, make it possible and drive it forward: Law and property rights rooted in human nature and discovered and developed spontaneously outside the state; the family, a basic and essential institution, on which the expansion of Humanity is made possible and consolidated; moral principles, which act as a true "automatic pilot" for liberty and which human beings internalize and transmit from generation to generation, thanks to the family and other community or religious institutions; economic institutions, and in particular, money, which also evolves spontaneously outside the State, and which can and should be considered the social institution par excellence, since by overcoming the problems of barter, it enables the exponential multiplication of voluntary exchanges and human interactions, within which the rest of the social, linguistic, moral, legal, economic, and religious institutions are discovered, shaped, and perfected.Our fourth point is that the first theorists of the spontaneous order emerged in the field of law, led by the great jurists of classical Rome. They were the first ones to understand the organic and evolutionary nature of the social process, and so they became, without being aware of it, the first economists. Their tradition was kept alive throughout the Middle Ages thanks to the Catholic Church and, through thinkers such as Saint Thomas Aquinas, Saint Antoninus of Florence, and Saint Bernardino of Siena, eventually came to influence the Spanish scholastics of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries gathered around the University of Salamanca. As Rothbard demonstrated (Rothbard, 1976) these thinkers of the Spanish Golden Age should be considered the most immediate precedent of the Austrian School of Economics, which, precisely for this reason, should be called the Spanish School of Economics. And in fact, these Spanish scholastics were already able to articulate the following ten essential principles which constitute the theoretical foundation of the Austrian School:Firstly, the subjective theory of value developed by the Bishop of Segovia, Diego de Covarrubias, who as early as 1555 clearly explained that, although the objective nature of wheat is the same in Spain as in America, its price was higher in America because there human beings subjectively valued it much more highly; from this follows the correct relationship between prices and costs set out by Luis Sarabia de la Calle, in the sense that it is market prices that determine costs and not the other way around, as equilibrium theorists mistakenly believe; the Scholastics also realized that equilibrium models and prices lack realism and theoretical meaning because they presuppose a degree of knowledge “so complex that only God, and in no case human beings, could ever acquire it” (in latin “pretium iustum mathematicum licet soli Deo notum”), as already explained by the Jesuit cardinals Juan de Salas in 1617 and Juan de Lugo in 1643, more than three hundred years earlier than Hayek could conclude that “a science which assumes knowledge that can never be acquired is not a Science”; also the dynamic concept of competition is fundamental, understood as a process of rivalry among sellers based on the dynamic conception of market processes developed by Jerónimo Castillo de Bobadilla and Luis de Molina in 1589 and 1597, and that has nothing to do with the static model of "perfect competition" of equilibrium theorists; and also the important contributions of the Spanish Scholastics related with capital theory, business cycles, and the effects of fiduciary media generated by banks; so, particular emphasis should be placed on the rediscovery of the principle of time preference by Martín de Azpilcueta, following what Lessines had already stated in 1285; as well as on the fact that bankers commit mortal sin when they operate with fractional reserves, creating bank deposits as a form of virtual money (or chirographis pecuniarium, as Luis de Molina said in latin) that only exists in their accounting books and distorts the structure of relative prices, creating bubbles and deep economic crises that ultimately "bring everything crashing down," as Saravia de la Calle and Tomás de Mercado so vividly explained in the 16th Century; and in short, the Scholastic's idea that it is impossible to organize society through coercive commands due to lack of the information that would be required to give them coordinating content; as well as the discovery that inflation is a hidden and very harmful tax that arises from an act of tyranny, since it is neither known nor accepted by citizens, which would even justify the assassination of the King according to the theory of tyrannicide, a contribution originally made by the Castilian Comuneros eventually defeated by the tyrant King Charles V in 1521, and developed by Father Juan de Mariana almost a century later [in 1610].This entire line of proto-Austrian scholastic thought also spread throughout the Americas, especially in the newly founded universities of San Marcos in Lima and Mexico City in 1551 where brilliant disciples of these Scholastics, who had studied at the University of Salamanca itself, came to occupy prominent academic positions. Thus, for example, we should mention the cases of Bartolomé Frías de Albornoz in Mexico, and above all the great Juan de Matienzo, who became judge and president of the Royal Audiencia of Charcas and Lima from 1560 onwards (Popescu, 1997).Finally, the doctrine of our scholastics did spread even to North America two centuries later through the books of Juan de Mariana, who greatly influenced Thomas Jefferson and the founding fathers of the United States.However, the southern part of the continent ultimately proved unable to neutralize the wave of growing statism and centralization that first came with the arrivals of the Habsburgs in Spain, and which was intensified even further after the arrival of the Bourbons with Philip V at the beginning of the eighteenth century (Martínez Marina, 1820). How different and much more prosperous and libertarian might the historical evolution of Spain and Latin America have been, had the statist centralism of the Habsburgs and the Bourbons not prevailed, and had the far more libertarian, local, and decentralized traditional representative institutions of the kingdoms of Castile instead remained predominant—institutions that were dismantled, together with Europe's first libertarian revolution, beginning with the defeat of the Castilian Comuneros at Villalar on April 23, 1521 (Leonard Liggio, 2025).The most important and far-reaching contributions of economic scienceLet us now turn, in greater detail, to the most important contributions of Economics, as developed by the Austrian School.First, human cooperation takes place spontaneously, without the need for anyone to organize it coercively from outside. This is so because human beings are endowed with an entrepreneurial and creative capacity that continually drives them to discover the multiple opportunities for profit that arise in their environment. Each of these opportunities embodies a previous discoordination in human behavior that remains latent until it is discovered and overcome by the corresponding entrepreneurial act. This entrepreneurial act always arises from a creative tension and interpretation of events of the outside world that is essentially subjective and, therefore, cannot be reproduced by any artificial intelligence algorithm; in other words, the same objective events can be interpreted in multiple ways, even contradictory ones, without it being possible to postulate which is correct until the corresponding entrepreneurial process is completed in the form of a subjective profit. In any case, every entrepreneurial act involves, firstly, the creation of information that did not exist before (regarding the profit opportunity that arose from the previous discoordination that had gone unnoticed); secondly, the transmission of that knowledge (directly to the parties involved in the entrepreneurial act and indirectly through a series of institutions and signals such as market prices); and third and finally, the coordination of the previous maladjustments takes place when the parties involved learn motu proprio, that is, voluntarily and for their own benefit, to discipline their behavior according to the needs of others (for example, when they discover that they achieve their ends more effectively by specializing and trading peacefully the mutual results of their efforts). The discovery of the essence of this pure entrepreneurial act, with its elements of creation and transmission of information and the spontaneous coordination of the previous maladjustments continually generated by human coexistence, constitutes the most important contribution that Economic Science has provided to Humanity, and explains why the spontaneous process of voluntary social cooperation that drives the multiplication of human beings and the expansion of civilization does not require any statist system of institutional coercion.Another essential contribution of Economics is the concept of Dynamic Efficiency, understood as the process of unlimited expansion of human creativity and entrepreneurial coordination that arises only within a specific institutional framework of moral and legal norms. This framework is the one grounded on the ethical principle according to which every human being has a natural right to appropriate the results of his entrepreneurial creativity; that is, a property right over what one has created and which did not previously exist, which is the most obvious and important human right. For this reason, (dynamic) Efficiency and Morality and Justice (properly understood) cannot be separated one from the other; or, as we might say, they are two sides of the same coin in the sense that only Justice and Morality induce and generate efficiency; and at the same time, what is dynamically efficient in economic terms cannot be neither unjust nor immoral. All of which, on the other hand, demonstrates the integrated order that exists in the social universe, and highlights the three levels of research (theoretical, ethical, and historical) that complement and reinforce with each other and are essential in our search for truth (Huerta de Soto, 2000).Finally, another key contribution of Economic Science is to have demonstrated the impossibility of socialism, or better, the impossibility of statism, in the sense that it is impossible for the State to achieve and coordinate what it promises for the following four reasons:First, because of the enormous volume of information required for such coordination, which the State cannot acquire because it is dispersed in the minds of the eight billion human beings who participate and interact in the social process every day. Second, given the tacit and inarticulate character of this information (and therefore its inability to be transmitted in an objective manner). Third, because the information that is generated is not "given," nor is it static, but instead changes continuously as a result of human creativity, making it impossible to transmit today information that will only be created tomorrow, and which is precisely the information that the organs of State intervention and the so-called “experts” would need today in order to direct society to achieve their objectives tomorrow. And fourth, and above all, because the coercive nature of State commands blocks the entrepreneurial activity of creating the very information which the State organization itself would need in order to give its commands a coordinating content. In sum, the State is always and everywhere violence and coercion; coercion blocks the entrepreneurial act of creation, discovery, and adjustment of discoordinated human behavior, while at the same time preventing the creation of the information and the emergence of free market prices that make economic calculation and social coordination possible. For this reason, statism is not only unnecessary but is also scientifically impossible.The impact of these essential contributions of Economics on the course of social evolution has so far been very limitedAll of these scientific contributions have so far achieved only a very partial, imperfect, and limited impact on the inertia of a social and political reality that has for centuries been characterized by the coercive power of States and rulers, and by the more or less resigned servitude of the citizens. And despite the very limited nature of this impact to date, which at best has materialized in a series of naïve and "liberal" revolutions aimed, with as much arrogance as lack of success, toward the impossible objective of trying to separate and limit the powers of states and rulers through political constitutions and "liberal democracies" (Rothbard, 2009); Humanity has been propelled as never before in those places and historical moments where it has managed, despite everything, to at least partially free itself from the State and open up some of the new channels of liberty shown by the teachings of Economics. Beginning with the Industrial Revolution, which was but the first chapter of the never-completed "Revolution of Liberty" inspired by Economics. And although what has been achieved in terms of prosperity and standard of living by the now eight billion human beings seems relatively significant—and indeed it is—we cannot even conceive of the standard of living and population size that could be achieved if Humanity were able to take full advantage of and fully implement the teachings of Economic Science.We can be few and poor in a context of servitude and submission to the State, or many and wealthy in a context of liberty (Hayek, 1988, p. 133). The globe is practically empty of human beings (the Earth's current population would fit into an area equivalent to that of the state of Alaska, with a population density equal to that of Brussels). And we cannot even imagine the prosperity that could be achieved in a free market daily driven by eighty billion, or even eight hundred billion, human beings. Economics explains and demonstrates that the increasing prosperity of an ever-growing population of human beings never results from deliberate and coercive State plans, nor from the egalitarian income redistribution, nor from increases in public spending, nor from subsidies, debt, or inflation, but only arises from the free market of the capitalist system. This consists of the process of voluntary exchanges among all human beings who, endowed with an innate entrepreneurial and creative capacity, are able to detect and assess, through the system of free prices, the relative urgency and necessity of each good and service, overcoming the relative scarcity of each and satisfying, every day and in the best humanly possible way, the desires and needs of billions of consumers. Entrepreneurs who succeed in this never-ending process of profit-seeking accumulate significant resources, which, in turn, are saved and invested in capital goods and new technologies that make human beings increasingly productive, boosting their wages and standards of living; a virtuous process of continuously expanding prosperity and population growth that, if not coerced or hindered by the State, has no limits.Therefore, it is crucially important for the future of Humanity that it be able to take full and maximum advantage of the lessons and essential message in pursuit of human liberty that Economics provides. But this will only be possible if we are able to unmask and carefully analyze the powerful forces of the pseudoscientific and counterrevolutionary reaction that has been mobilized to prevent the advance of the theory of liberty derived from Economic Science. Despite their diverse origins, they all converge on the same objective: to attempt to justify and preserve State coercion at all costs under the appearance of scientific legitimacy. They are driven by the "fatal conceit" (Hayek, 1988) of many visionaries, thinkers, and supposed "experts" who believe themselves to be clever enough to correct the spontaneous market order, of course, using the violence and coercive power of the State. Together with a privileged caste of rulers, bureaucrats and acolytes, they continually manipulate a Humanity that is sadly accustomed to serving the State. For all of them, it is vital that statism be maintained and that the message of liberty provided by Economics never prevail.Next, we will list the main reactionary pseudoscientific currents that have infiltrated Economic Science like a lethal virus and constitute, in Hayek's terminology, "the counter-revolution of science" (Hayek, 1955).Pseudoscientific reactionary currents opposed to Economic Science. The role played as “useful innocents” by many libertarian economists of the counterrevolutionary mainstreamFirst, positivism and scientism as pseudoscience. By "scientism" we must understand the improper application of the methods of the natural sciences to the field of Economic Science. Thus, while the natural sciences study their object of research as something external, measurable, and quantifiable, Economics studies the implications of the voluntary actions of human beings. And given the essentially creative nature of human beings, the supposed empirical "evidence" has, at best, only a superficial, partial, and always historically contingent value. In Bastiat's words, of "what is seen" —or rather, what is believed to have been seen— but not "what is not seen" (Bastiat, 1995); and at worst, it always entails the assumption, that human beings are an object of research that can be manipulated as the matter of the external world studied by the natural sciences. This inevitably introduces the idea that to improve the world, the State and its rulers must use their coercive power to manipulate and change the things they believe they see in their historically contingent "empirical photos." But these "empirical photos" cannot capture the underlying dynamic essence of spontaneous social processes, let alone what is already happening spontaneously to solve and coordinate every problem. Therefore, it is not surprising that from the very first steps of Economic Science promoted by the Austrian School, its most violent opponents were the "socialists of the chair" gathered around the German Historical School, reinforced in France by the empiricists of the school of Saint-Simon, the insane Comte, and Durkheim, who sought to create a new and alternative pseudoscience of society. And their unhealthy positivist and ultra-empirical influence has persisted to the present day, first through American Institutionalism and later through the massive compilation of empirical data, for example, in the work of Wesley C. Mitchell or Henry Schultz, the latter, as shown by Professor Salerno, having gone on to exert a decisive influence on his assistant Milton Friedman and, through him, even on the Chicago School itself (Salerno, 2023).Secondly, the pseudoscience of neoclassical economics is characterized by its claim that only its own approach constitutes true “science,” that is, the approach based on the principles of equilibrium, maximization, and constancy. Moreover, in addition to the lack of realism of its assumptions, it adds the reductionism of a mathematical language that has developed in response to the needs and demands of the natural sciences, but which is alien to Economic Science because it does not allow for the subjective concept of time or entrepreneurial creativity. Neoclassical economists develop their pseudoscience based not on real human beings of flesh and blood, but on "ideal types" that are like "robotic penguins" who, even in their most sophisticated dynamic stochastic general equilibrium models are limited to moving and reacting to events and State coercion as if they were characters of a sort of economic video game ("videogame economics"). Yet neoclassical pseudoscience, despite its apparent and ever-increasing sophistication, is not capable of accounting for the immense complexity of the real world and rebels against the idea of spontaneous market order in two ways that are equally harmful to human liberty: on the one hand, by promoting the coercive "social engineering" of central banks, States, and governments to use "fine tuning" to force reality toward to the mathematical optimum of their models; and, on the other hand, by labeling as "market failures" everything they believe they observe in reality that does not coincide, in their empirical studies, with their ghostly models of “perfect” equilibrium and adjustment (Milei, 2023); failures that, according to them, refute the "benefits" of the spontaneous order of the market and human liberty, and justify their elimination as soon as possible by a coercive State authority. Note also how neoclassical pseudoscience needs, and feeds upon, the empirical work of the previous pseudoscience, positivism, in order to justify its conclusions against human liberty and in favor of State coercion, so that positivists and neoclassicists join hands and end up reinforcing each other in their reactionary agenda.Third, Keynesianism and macroeconomics as pseudoscience. The very “macro” approach already entails, inevitably, an obvious bias in favor of justifying State intervention, aggression, and coercion against the spontaneous order of the market and human liberty. As F. A. Hayek pointed out in his Nobel Prize acceptance speech in 1974 (Hayek, 1978), macroeconomists ignore everything they cannot measure, specifically truly relevant economic processes and theories. At the same time, they believe that certain aggregate concepts—which lack genuine economic meaning—possess a “real” existence, that permits to collect empirical information or evidence that can be manipulated and statistically treated. Once again, macroeconomic pseudoscience goes hand in hand with positivist pseudoscience, and the two reinforce with each other in their counterrevolutionary reaction. Furthermore, Keynesianism is particularly harmful: not only does it flatly deny the coordinating capacity of creative entrepreneurship and the spontaneous market order, but it also builds as an alternative explanation a whole model—of course—of equilibrium with permanent unemployment, to justify the coercive intervention of the State in the lives of human beings in the form of all kinds of fiscal and monetary manipulations. Moreover, the macroeconomic and Keynesian pseudoscience feeds upon, and is reinforced by, the pseudoscientific approach of the Neoclassical School, to the point that, the so-called "neoclassical Keynesian synthesis" became, throughout the twentieth century, the main reactionary movement inside Economics. Keynesians and macroeconomists thus become the champions of that intoxication with statism, manipulation, and political power which constitutes the framework, orchestrated by governments and central banks, to which we have, regrettably, become accustomed and in which we are forced to live. This context repeatedly destabilizes the spontaneous market order, generates serious financial and economic crises and social conflicts, and continually hampers the prosperity and advance of civilization.We have left the quasi-religious mysticism of Marxist pseudoscience for last, because Marxism was scientifically dead even before it was born: in fact, it emerged with—and was theoretically demolished by—the subjectivist revolution led by the Austrian School of Economics. From the beginning, the Austrian School's development of time preference and capital theory revealed the contradictions and grave scientific errors of Marxism, while at the same time exposing its pronounced character as an intellectual fraud (Böhm-Bawerk, 1949). This intellectual fraud was historically illustrated by the collapse of the Soviet Union, and of virtually all other communist countries, after many decades of unspeakable human suffering for a large part of the world's population, all of which was perfectly consistent with the theory on the impossibility of statism developed by the Austrian School beginning with the von Mises of 1920 (Mises, 1936), and which was the final nail that forever sealed the coffin of the corpse of Marxist pseudoscience (Huerta de Soto, 2010).Finally, in this context, we must mention the destructive role played by a number of distinguished economists who, although they defend liberty and the market economy, could be described as a kind of "useful innocents" in Mises' terminology (Mises, 1947). This is so because, even though they officially oppose rampant statism and defend liberty, by accepting—even if only partially—some of the postulates of the reactionary pseudoscientific currents we have described, they ultimately end up, often without intending to and much to their regret, providing additional impetus to the statist reaction within our discipline; for example, when they insist on advising States with proposals aimed at making them more efficient and at helping them do somewhat better things that they should not be doing at all. By way of illustration, we should include in this category of “useful innocents”, for example, thinkers as the Karl Popper of The Open Society and Its Enemies (Popper, 1966, p. 366), who came to admire the “scientific capacity” and even the “humanism” of Karl Marx, and who proposed a statist strategy of “piecemeal social engineering”; or George Stigler, when he claimed that only empirical evidence could determine which economic system, socialism or capitalism, might function (Stigler, 1975, pp. 1-13); and, more generally, the members of the Chicago School, led by Gary Becker and Milton Friedman. Becker when defending that only economics developed within the strict limits of equilibrium, constancy, and maximization, typical of the neoclassical pseudoscience, constitutes true "economic science." And even more serious could be considered the case of Milton Friedman, whose very sincere love of liberty and intense and popular media support for free markets stand in sharp contrast to his pseudoscientific approach based on the aggregate method of economics of Keynesian origin, on positivist empiricism, and on the full acceptance of the unrealism of assumptions. Only in this way it can be explained Friedman's litany of scientific errors which, much to his regret, have invariably ended up reinforcing statist interventionism, to the point that Hayek himself was forced to conclude that after Keynes's The General Theory, the book that has done the greatest harm to Economic Science has been Friedman's Essays in Positive Economics (Hayek, 1994, pp. 145).The failure of democracy and classical liberalism: the triumph of statismAs we see, many classical liberals and advocates of liberal democracy have also acted as "useful innocents." The fatal error of classical liberals lies in the failure to realize that their program is theoretically impossible, because it incorporates within itself the seeds of its own destruction, precisely to the extent that it considers necessary and accepts the existence of a State (even if it is "minimal") understood as the monopolistic agency of institutional coercion. Therefore, the great error of classical liberals is very basic: they believe in a program of political action and economic doctrine that aims to limit the power of the State, while at the same time accepting it and even considering state's existence necessary. However Economic Science has already shown that the State is unnecessary, that statism (even in its minimal form) is theoretically impossible, and that, given human nature, once the State exists, it is impossible to limit its power. On the other hand, liberal democracy is a concept as naïve as it is impossible. Mises already warned us that democracy could only function if all its participants accepted the classical liberal principles, which is impossible because democracy itself encourages and amplifies vote-buying and the partisan use of power. So, the inevitable conclusion is that "liberal democracy" is a contradiction in terms as absurd as speaking (following Anthony de Jasay) of a “square circle,” of “hot snow,” or of a “virgin prostitute” (A. de Jasay, 1990). And even Hayek considered democracy unworkable if it is understood as the exercise of absolute power by majorities (Kratos in classical Greek). It should therefore come as no surprise that democracy once and again tends to be a perverse system based on lying and buying votes with money stolen through taxation.The fact is that the State attracts like a magnet the worst passions and vices of human nature, for instance, when individuals try to obtain rents produced by others using the State's coercive power. Moreover, the combined effect of the privileged groups, the phenomena of governmental myopia and vote-buying, the megalomaniacal character of politicians, and the irresponsibility and blindness of bureaucracies generate a dangerous, unstable and explosive cocktail, continually shaken by social, economic, and political crises which, paradoxically, are always used by the political caste to justify further doses of intervention and statism that, instead of solving problems, further aggravate them. Statism therefore corrupts the entire social body and at the same time blocks the spontaneous and free market solutions of social and economic problems.In fact, the State has become the "idol" that almost everyone turns to and worships. Statolatry is the most serious and dangerous social disease of our time. We are educated to believe that all problems can and must be detected and solved by the State. Our destiny depends on the State, and the politicians who control it are expected to guarantee everything our well-being may require. Human beings remain immature and rebel against their own creative nature, which makes their future always uncertain. They demand a crystal ball that assures them not only knowing what will happen, but also that any problems that arise will be solved for them. This "infantilization" of the masses is encouraged by politicians, as it justifies their own existence and ensures their popularity, position of dominance, and capacity to control. In addition, a whole legion of intellectuals, so-called "experts," and social engineers join in this arrogant intoxication of power. Not even the Church and the most respectable religious denominations have been able to realize that statolatry today constitutes the principal threat to the free, moral, and responsible human being; that the State is a false idol of immense power, worshipped by all, and that does not allow Humanity to be free from its control or have moral or religious loyalties beyond those the state can dominate. Furthermore, it is kept hidden from the public that the state is the true source of social conflicts and evils, and "scapegoats" (such as "capitalism" or private property) are blamed for the problems, and they become the goal of the most serious condemnations, even from moral and religious leaders, almost none of whom have realized the deception or dared to denounce that statolatry is the main threat in the present century to religion, morality, and, therefore, to human civilization.Perhaps the main exception within the Church is included in the brilliant biography of Jesus of Nazareth written by Benedict XVI. That the State and political power constitute the institutional incarnation of the Antichrist should be obvious to anyone with a minimal knowledge of history who reads the former Pope's considerations on the most serious temptation that the Evil One can present to us (and I quote Ratzinger literally): "The tempter is not so crude as to propose to us directly the worship of the devil. He merely proposes that we opt for the rational solution, that we prefer a planned and organized world in which God may have a place as a private spiritual matter, but must not be allowed to interfere in our essential purposes. Soloviev attributes to the Antichrist a book entitled The Open Road to World Peace and Prosperity; it becomes the new Bible, and its core message is the worship of well-being and rational planning," by the state (Ratzinger, 2007). And so, we should not be surprised that, for example, the great author of The Lord of the Rings, J. R. Tolkien, whose Catholic anarchism I fully share, went so far as to say that he would arrest anyone for simply daring to pronounce the word "State." Because the State is, always and everywhere, a reality of violence and systematic coercion against the most intimate essence of the human being, which is his capacity to act freely, creatively, and spontaneously; and so, it is unavoidable to conclude that the State is essentially immoral and that statism constitutes the principal threat to humankind.A theological digression: the dismantling of statism as a logical necessity inseparable from the work of GodAnd almost without realizing it, we can go ahead with a theological digression on how dismantling the State is a logical and moral necessity inseparable from the work of God. I fully understand that referring to God in this conference may come as a shock to many of those present, but I would ask that even those who do not believe in God, at least for dialectical purposes, make an effort of imagination and, for the next few minutes, imagine that God does indeed exist.And what do we mean by God? We must understand God to be a Supreme Being, Creator out of love for all things. And the most important creature that God has created is precisely the human being: in His image and likeness. And if there is a point of connection between God and man, it is precisely in the creative entrepreneurial ability: the capacity to discover, to see, and to create new things, goals and actions. But now I am going to go one step further and attempt to demonstrate that God is not only the Supreme, loving Creator of all things, but that—moreover—God is libertarian.And what does it mean to say that God is libertarian? It means that God, the Lord of all the Universe, has absolute power over it, and yet He chooses not to use force, but always leaves his creatures free. To the point that He gives human beings the freedom to rebel against Him; even though, again and again, God forgives human beings and allows them to rise up and begin anew.God always lets the universe He has created, flow in a spontaneous manner ("laissez faire, laissez passer, le monde va de lui même" could be the motto of our libertarian God). And this despite the fact that human beings tempt God again and again and demand that He manifest His absolute power, that He give us clear and indisputable signs of His existence and supreme power in order for us to believe in Him. But of course, God does not accept our challenge. Why? Because love and liberty are inseparable, and a forced conversion, for example by an evident cataclysm, would be completely contrary to that liberty with which God has created human beings out of love.Moreover, the Kingdom of God is not of this world; Jesus himself says this to a fearful Roman state official, who was also in charge of judging him: "My kingdom is not of this world." Does this mean that there are two types of kingdoms? The kingdoms of this world or States, which would be legitimate at their own level (remember "render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's"), and the Kingdom of God, of ("render unto God the things that are God's"). That is the standard interpretation that has prevailed until now, but I think is completely wrong. The Kingdom of God—which is the exact opposite of the kingdoms or States of this world—never makes systematic use of violence and coercion: it is a Kingdom that has already come to us and, moreover, has been given to us freely, in an act of immense mercy and love (Deus caritas est). And just as the hateful institution of slavery came to an end, the Kingdom of God will also dismantle the kingdoms of this world, the states of this world, or as St. Paul said, of every principality, power, and glory (Ephesians 1:21-23), because God is libertarian and man is made in the image and likeness of God.Ludwig von Mises, in his book Interventionism, introduced the term "destructionism" to refer to the economic and social effects of statism. If Evil (represented by statist destructionism in Mises' terminology) were to prevail, the human race and civilization would have disappeared long ago. The fact that, despite everything and the immense power of seduction of statism over humankind, the process of social cooperation continues to unfold and even prosper in certain historical periods and geographical areas, is a clear manifestation that God does not abandon the world nor leave libertarians alone in their struggle against the Evil; and that Good, represented by liberty, the principle of non-aggression, the spontaneous order of the market, entrepreneurial creativity and coordination, and above all, moral principles, always with God's help, prevails and is capable of overcoming Evil, represented by the fatal conceit of the statist ideal and the destruction that it produces.And now I will finish with some thoughts on anarcho-capitalism as the only possible system of social cooperation truly compatible with human natureAnd now I will finish with some thoughts on anarcho-capitalism as the only possible system of social cooperation truly compatible with human nature. The most important intellectual and moral event that is taking place nowadays is the full fusion between Christianity and anarcho-capitalism. Because anarcho-capitalism is the only possible system of social cooperation that is truly compatible with human nature. Anarcho-capitalism is the purest representation of the spontaneous market order in which all services, including law, justice, and public order, are provided through a voluntary process of social cooperation. In this system, no area is closed to the drive of human creativity and entrepreneurial coordination; efficiency and justice in the resolution of problems are simultaneously enhanced, while the conflicts, inefficiencies, and discoordinations generated by the State are eradicated at their root.The progressive abolition of States and their gradual replacement by a dynamic network of private agencies different legal systems, and providing all kinds of prevention and defense services, constitutes the most important social transformation that will take place in the twenty first century. Without forgetting that exactly what prevents us from knowing with precision what the future without the state will look like, the creative nature of entrepreneurship, is what gives us the peace of mind of knowing that any problem will tend to be resolved and overcome, once the entrepreneurial effort and creativity of Humanity are devoted to its solution (Kirzner, 1985).Therefore, the revolution against the “Old Régime” carried out in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries by the old classical liberals, today finds its natural continuation in the anarcho-capitalist revolution of the twenty-first century. The message of anarcho-capitalism is clearly revolutionary. Revolutionary in terms of its goal: the dismantling of the State and its replacement by a competitive market process consisting of a network of private agencies, associations, and organizations. And revolutionary in terms of its means, especially in the scientific, economic-social, and political fields:a) First, Scientific revolution, in the field of Economic Science, which becomes the general theory of spontaneous market order extended to all social areas. And by contrast and opposition, the theory and analysis of the effects of social discoordination generated by statism in any sphere in which it operates, as well as the study of the transition process from the State towards liberty.b) Second, an Economic and social revolution, as we cannot even imagine today the immense human achievements and discoveries that could be made in an entrepreneurial environment totally free from statism. Today, and despite continuous governmental harassment, an unknown civilization is already developing, with a degree of complexity that is beyond the reach and control of the state, and which will achieve unlimited expansion once it manages to completely rid itself of statism. And when human beings become more and more aware of the perverse nature of the State that restricts them, and of the immense possibilities that are frustrated each day when the State blocks the driving force of their entrepreneurial creativity, the social demand to reform and dismantle the State will multiply creating a future that is largely unknown to us but that will elevate human civilization to heights that we cannot even imagine today.c) And finally, a political revolution in which, although day-to-day political struggle is important, it should not be the top priority. It is true that the least interventionist alternatives must always be supported, in clear alliance with the efforts of classical liberals in their long term impossible democratic limitation of the State (including reforms such as those proposed by Hayek in the third volume of Law, Legislation, and Liberty). But the anarcho-capitalist does not stop at this task, for he knows that he can and must do much more. He knows that the ultimate goal is the total dismantling of the State, and this goal leads all his imagination and political action in everyday life. And here we cannot fail to mention the unprecedented impact of our disciple and follower of our Master Program in Austrian Economics in Madrid, the President of Argentina, Javier Milei, who has done more than anyone else before to disseminate the principles of the Austrian School and the anarcho-capitalist ideal. Principles that he never ceases to quote and explain and defend once and again in all his public appearances, from the United Nations to the Davos Forum; and in all his meetings with other Heads of State, universities, and parliaments, to whom he even gives copies of the most important Austrian works by Mises, Hayek and even myself, as he did, for example, with the two popes, Francis and Leo XIV, with the French President Macron, the Italian Prime Minister Meloni, and even with Elon Musk. For us, it is a great honor that Milei has, to a large extent, emerged from the Austrian School of Madrid and that he continually keeps drawing inspiration from us. This is, without a doubt, much more important than incremental political steps in the right direction—which should of course be welcomed—and that should never fall into a political pragmatism that could betray the ultimate goal of achieving the end of the State (Huerta de Soto, 2010).And all this with tireless enthusiasm in the search for scientific and moral truth, an attitude that, inspired by the immortal work of Miguel de Cervantes, we could describe as follows: "It matters not whether they be giants or windmills, when the plume of our helm is stirred by the winds of tenacity and faith." And always creating a future that, although it may seem distant today, may at any moment witness giant steps that will surprise even the most optimistic among us. History has entered into an accelerated process of change which, although it will never stop, will open a whole new chapter when humankind finally succeeds in ridding itself definitively of the State, reducing it to no more than a dark historical relic of tragic memory.Thank you very much.REFERENCESBASTIAT, Frédéric: Selected Essays on Political Economy, Foundation for Economic Education, New York 1995.DE LA BOÉTIE, Étienne: The Politics of Obedience: The Discourse of Voluntary Servitude, Free Life Editions, Nueva York 1975.BÖHM-BAWERK, Eugen von: Karl Marx and the Close of His System, Augustus M. Kelley, Nueva York 1949."The Exploitation Theory," Capital and Interest, Vol. I: History and Critique of Interest Theories, Libertarian Press, South Holland 1959.HAYEK, Friedrich A. von: The Counter-Revolution of Science, Free Press, New York, 1955.Hayek on Hayek: An Autobiographical Dialogue (eds. Stephen Kresge and Leif Wenar), University of Chicago Press, Chicago 1994.Law, Legislation and Liberty, Vol. III: The Political Order of a Free People, Routledge & Kegan Paul, London 1979.The Fatal Conceit: the Errors of Socialism, The University of Chicago Press, Chicago 1988."The Pretence of Knowledge," in New Studies in Philosophy, Politics, Economics and the History of Ideas, University of Chicago Press, Chicago 1978.HUERTA DE SOTO, Jesús: Socialism, Economic Calculation and Entrepreneurship, Edward Elgar, Cheltenham y Northampton 2010."A Hayekian Strategy to Implement Free Market Reforms," in Theory of Dynamic Efficiency, Routledge, Oxfordshire, 2010.Proyecto Docente, Chapter I: "Ciencia y Economía," Rey Juan Carlos University, Madrid 2000.The Austrian School: Market Order and Creative Entrepreneurship, Edward Elgar, Cheltenham y Northampton 2008.DE JASAY, Anthony: Market Socialism: A Scrutiny, published by the Institute of Economic Affairs, Occasional Paper no. 84, 1990.KIRZNER, Israel: "The Perils of Regulation: A Market Process Approach" in Discovery and the Capitalist Process, University of Chicago Press, 1985.LIGGIO, Leonard: "The Hispanic tradition of Liberty," published in Procesos de Mercado: Revista Europea de Economía Política, vol. XXII, nº 1, Summer 2025, pp. 403-420.MARTÍNEZ MARINA, Francisco: Teoría de las cortes o grandes juntas nacionales de los reinos de León y Castilla, Collado, 1820.MILEI, Javier: Capitalism, Socialism, and the Neoclassical Trap, in The Emergence of a Tradition: Essays in Honor of Jesús Huerta de Soto, Volume II (editors Howden, D., Bagus, P.), Palgrave Macmillan, Cham, 2023.MISES, Ludwig von: Socialism: An Economic and Sociological Analysis, Jonathan Cape, London 1936.Planned Chaos, Foundation for Economic Education, Irvington-on-Hudson 1947.OPPENHEIMER, Franz: The State, Vanguard Press, Nueva York 1926.POPESCU, Oreste: Studies in the History of Latin American Economic Thought, Routledge, London 1997.POPPER, Karl: The Open Society and its Enemies, Princeton University Press, Princeton 1966.RATZINGER, Joseph. Jesus of Nazareth: From the Baptism in the Jordan to the Transfiguration. Translated by Adrian J. Walker. Doubleday, New York, 2007.ROTHBARD, Murray N.: "New Light on the Prehistory of the Austrian School," in The Foundations of Modern Austrian Economics (editor Edwin G. Dolan), Sheed and Ward, Kansas City 1976, pp. 52–74.Anatomy of the State, Ludwig von Mises Institute, Auburn 2009.SALERNO, Joseph. "Milton Friedman's Views on Method and Money Reconsidered in Light of the Housing Bubble", in The Emergence of a Tradition: Essays in Honor of Jesús Huerta de Soto, Volume I, (editors Howden, D., Bagus, P.), Palgrave Macmillan, Cham, 2023.STIGLER, George: The Citizen and the State, University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 1975, pp. 1-13.

Send us Fan MailIn this week's episode, Dan fills us in on the RETCON real estate technology and innovation conference he attended and tells us why the UK are so far behind the US when it comes to using AI in this sector.  We're are also discussing:- Attitudes to renting are changing — but is the sector keeping up?- Does student accommodation still equal thriving high streets?- And flexible living sounds great, but how can it really be achieved?- The latest Zoopla rental data analysisThe reports discussed on this episode include:Will I ever own a homeUniversities have a responsibility for the high street too - WonkheFlexible learning needs flexible housing - WonkheStay up to date on Housed podcast via the website and LinkedIn page Dan Smith is Founder of RESI Consultancy and Co-Founder of Verbaflo.AI.Sarah Canning and Deenie Lee are Directors and Co-Founders of The Property Marketing Strategists - Elevating Marketing in Property.Thank you to our season four sponsors:Mystudenthalls.com -  Reach thousands of students searching every month with 0% commission student accommodation listings.Utopi - The smart building platform helping real estate owners protect the value of their assets.Washstation - Leading provider of laundry solutions for Communal and Campus living throughout the UK and Ireland.Howden  - With a lifetime of expertise, Howden provides tailored insurance, property risk management, and wellbeing solutions for accommodation providers across the UK.Who this episode is for:PBSA and student accommodation professionalsBTR, co-living and rental operatorsProperty developers and investorsUniversity and higher education leadersAnyone working in or around housing policy and shared livingThe views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of their employers, organisations, clients, or partners. This podcast is for general discussion and informational purposes only. Nothing said should be taken as professional, legal, financial, or investment advice. While we aim to be accurate, we make no guarantees and accept no liability for decisions made based on the content of this podcast. This was a jointly sponsored podcast. 

How has the London insurance market responded to the conflict which has engulfed the Middle East?According to Chris Jones, CEO of the International Underwriting Association, the marine war market has stepped up, and has been offering coverage throughout the crisis, despite the obvious challenges.Chris lifts the lid on how these situations unfold behind the scenes, and highlights that it is safety rather than unavailable insurance which is contributing to the breakdown of trade flows in the Persian Gulf.In addition, Insurance Insider editor at large Adam McNestrie provides unparallelled insight into the latest strategic challenges for Howden as it pursues its quest to conquer the US market.

Send a textSarah, Dan and Deenie are discussing:- BTR viability warning- Catastrophic warning signs for the housing market- Scaremongering headlines (again)- Is the cost of first year student accommodation influencing commuters?- Study visa changesStay up to date on Housed podcast via the website and LinkedIn page Dan Smith is Founder of RESI Consultancy and Co-Founder of Verbaflo.AI.Sarah Canning and Deenie Lee are Directors and Co-Founders of The Property Marketing Strategists - Elevating Marketing in Property.Thank you to our season four sponsors:Mystudenthalls.com -  Reach thousands of students searching every month with 0% commission student accommodation listings.Utopi - The smart building platform helping real estate owners protect the value of their assets.Washstation - Leading provider of laundry solutions for Communal and Campus living throughout the UK and Ireland.Howden  - With a lifetime of expertise, Howden provides tailored insurance, property risk management, and wellbeing solutions for accommodation providers across the UK.Who this episode is for:PBSA and student accommodation professionalsBTR, co-living and rental operatorsProperty developers and investorsUniversity and higher education leadersAnyone working in or around housing policy and shared livingThe views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of their employers, organisations, clients, or partners. This podcast is for general discussion and informational purposes only. Nothing said should be taken as professional, legal, financial, or investment advice. While we aim to be accurate, we make no guarantees and accept no liability for decisions made based on the content of this podcast. This was a jointly sponsored podcast. 

Send a textWith a deep dive into two different industry reports; hereSAY BTR leasing benchmarking report and COHO - The UK Loneliness Report 2026. We discuss:- Is the sector lacking in sales skills? - Is blended living actually wanted?- The Unite Students barometer of PBSA health- The simple solution to reduce loneliness in shared living.We are also celebrating reaching 25,000 downloads this week

Insurance leaders Brandon Schuh and Nick Hartmann unpack the real impact of AI on insurance operations after Insurify's ChatGPT app triggered a 3.9% drop in the S&P 500 Insurance Index. They separate hype from reality, examining how AI actually enhances productivity versus serving as a scapegoat for strategic workforce reductions. The conversation explores Munich Re's Ergo unit cutting 1,000 positions partly through AI integration, while contrasting this with AIG's ambitious 500,000-submission target using their AIG Assist platform by 2030.Major consolidation continues reshaping the industry landscape with Zurich's £8 billion ($11 billion) acquisition of specialty insurer Beazley following rejected initial bids, and Sompo Holdings' regulatory-approved $3.5 billion purchase of Aspen Insurance. Brandon and Nick also analyze the explosive Brown & Brown versus Howden lawsuit after approximately 200 employees departed during holiday season 2025, revealing tensions around non-compete enforcement and talent mobility in brokerage.Beyond M&A drama, Schuh and Hartman discuss underwriting culture at Lloyd's marketplace where reputation risk follows individual decisions, the legal profession's AI adaptation challenges for entry-level associates, and why operational visibility, not more tools, solves agency productivity problems. They emphasize that AI's greatest value lies in eliminating tedious data analysis so professionals can focus on client relationships and strategic advisory work.Key Takeaways- Insurify's ChatGPT integration caused temporary market panic but represents comparison shopping evolution, not industry disruption- AI productivity gains enable faster policy reviews while freeing teams for high-value client advisory work- Munich Re's Ergo unit (not entire company) plans 1,000 position reductions over five years with AI assistance- Zurich secured Beazley acquisition after multiple rejected bids reached £8 billion valuation- Sompo Holdings (not Sampo) received regulatory approval for $3.5 billion Aspen Insurance acquisition- Howden faces multiple lawsuits after approximately 200 Brown & Brown employees departed simultaneously in December 2025- Lloyd's underwriters carry personal reputation risk with each binding decision in the marketplace- Operational visibility tools like FreeFlow.ai solve agency bottlenecks without replacing producersChapters00:00 Episode introduction and sponsor FreeFlow.ai01:35 Return from hiatus and personal updates06:15 Bourbon tasting and Bob Dylan discussion07:14 Insurify ChatGPT app market impact analysis08:42 AI fears versus realistic productivity gains10:33 Legal profession AI adaptation challenges12:48 Policy review efficiency transformation potential13:07 Munich Re Ergo workforce reduction reality check18:15 Industry consolidation: Zurich/Beazley and Sompo/Aspen deals19:39 Brown & Brown versus Howden employee poaching lawsuit21:38 Underwriting culture and reputation risk at Lloyd's marketplace27:22 Ping An and global insurance employment statistics28:44 AIG Assist platform exceeding submission targets30:50 Two truths and a lie game segment33:42 Closing remarks and next episode previewFact Checks Correction: Sompo Holdings (Japanese insurer), not "Sampo," acquired Aspen Insurance for $3.5 billion with regulatory approval expected H1 2026 Clarification: Munich Re's Ergo primary insurance unit (not entire Munich Re) plans 1,000 position reductions in Germany over five years with AI integration Connect with RiskCellar:Website: https://www.riskcellar.com/Brandon Schuh:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552710523314LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandon-stephen-schuh/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/schuhpapa/Nick Hartmann:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickjhartmann/

DEATHGASM 2 is finally being released and what better way than to invite director Jason Lei Howden back to the podcast. This is our 3rd time with the master of SPLATTER METAL HORROR! Gore Club Podcast is:Steve VessellAce CarrierDeathmetal Dave RobertsRecorded by Kreepy Katie RutherfordBadly Edited by Steve VessellFIND US ON YOUTUBE! FIND US ON FACEBOOK! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...facebook at / thelouisvillegoreclub / stevevessell / deathmetaldave / foreversteelmusic provided by Karl Casey Karl@whitebataudio.com

Our sister publication Reinsurance News spoke with David Flandro, Managing Director, Head of Industry Analysis and Strategic Advisory at Howden Re, just weeks after the reinsurance broker released its comprehensive January 1st, 2026, renewal report. During the interview, Flandro discussed the opportunities and risks that could emerge from what Howden Re describes as a period of re-balancing, highlighting the important focus on geopolitics and macroeconomics as these trends are a big part of what's happening in the commercial insurance and reinsurance market. As geopolitical and macroeconomic trends reshape an increasingly risky world, and reinsurance pricing comes off of its peak in numerous lines of business, there's a clear need for rationality, with plenty of opportunity for underwriters to continue to achieve profitable growth, according to Flandro. Listen to this full interview with Flandro of Howden Re, as he discusses reinsurance market conditions in 2026 and how use of capital within reinsurance has changed.

In this episode of The Responsive Lab, Carly Berna and Scott Holthaus sit down with Sonja Schappert Howden, Chief Impact Officer at Seed Impact, to unpack what meaningful impact really looks like and how fundraisers can communicate it in ways donors understand and trust. Drawing from more than two decades of experience in faith-based nonprofits, Sonja explains why outputs are only the starting point, how outcomes reveal personal change, and why true impact often happens outside your organization's walls. She introduces the SEED Competency Ladders, a framework grounded in being, doing, and relating, and shows how this approach helps fundraisers tell more human, donor-centered impact stories. You'll also hear why impact is not linear, why collaborative measurement matters more than ever, and how removing jargon can help donors connect emotionally before they ever engage intellectually. Links from the episode: • Learn more about Seed Impact at https://www.seedimpact.org/ • Email Sonja at sonja@seedimpact.org Free impact report reviews available for a limited time here: https://www.seedimpact.org/impact-report-review/January-26th-Impact-Report-Review-p801608951

How do you turn three people and a dog into a 23,000-strong global business? For David Howden, Founder and Group CEO of Howden, the answer begins not in a boardroom but in childhood adversity. David lost his father aged seven and watched his family lose their home overnight - a moment that forged lifelong resilience and a hunger to build something of his own.That experience would power a career in insurance defined by imagination, not paperwork. David explains how he came to see insurance not as a grudge purchase, but as the oil in the engine - or, in his words, the Tesla battery - that enables societies, businesses and individuals to take risks, innovate and grow. Today Howden operates in 56 countries, fuelled by a culture that has employee ownership at the heart of it, puts people first, and which welcomes mistakes as lessons rather than failures.From empowering teams to build their own businesses to shaping grassroots change through ambitious partnerships across rugby, equine sports and Emirates GBR in SailGP. David talks culture, leadership, risk, global growth and why being the underdog matters. This is the story of an entrepreneur building a business to be proud of, and inviting others to build it with him.________________________________The Performance People podcast, in partnership with J.P. Morgan Private Bank, talks to high-performers in the world of sport and beyond, to bring defining moments, hard-earned insights and expert advice to everyday performance. New episodes every Tuesday.ainslie + ainslie NIGHT POWDER, winner of Best Sleep Supplement in the GQ Sleep Awards 2025.We love performance, which is why we've launched ainslie + ainslie – the first supplement brand to be developed inside elite sport. Now available for everyone. Find out more at www.ainslieainslie.com________________________________Connect with Performance PeopleHit subscribe today for the latest.

In this episode, Trey and Micah talk with Brandon Schuh, a multi-million dollar producer in the product liability space.Brandon shares his unique insight into the Howden vs. Brown & Brown drama as an ex-Hays Cos producer, and it's implications for brokerage valuations, and the future of non-solicit agreements in the commercial insurance industry.The conversation also covers the importance of building relationships, the challenges faced by new producers, and how to structure successful teams....

Most of the time most of the people working in insurance and reinsurance are way too busy doing their jobs to stop and think and engage with the big ideas that are driving the markets they operate in. One of the great luxuries of being a journalist is that it is our day job to talk to the people with the big ideas and report back to you. And these days with the podcast medium you get to be right in the room with me when I talk to those people and you can hear and learn for yourself first hand. This 1st January reinsurance renewal pricing fell sharply: that's interesting in itself, but it's far more interesting to be able to talk to someone whose job it is to work out what made that happen and what this means for the rest of the year and beyond. We can all see when it has rained but it's far more useful to know what forces are driving the weather and get some idea of whether we need to pack umbrellas for the morning commute tomorrow. David Flandro is the Head of Industry Analysis and Strategic Advisory at Howden Re. To put it simply he is one of the smartest people in our business and his job is to analyse and think hard about our sector and tell us and his clients what he sees. And if you've heard him on the podcast before you'll already know that he's also great fun to spend time with. Howden Re have an excellent 1.1 Renewal report out – it's called Re-balancing. There's a link to the report in the notes below. I recommend you stop and download it now and give it quick read. Then come back and listen to the podcast and then re-read the report. It's really comprehensive and will prime you for the year ahead in globally important topics, way broader than just insurance and reinsurance. If your New Year's Resolution was to learn more about how the industry you work in really works and how it really fits in with the global economy then this one is for you. LINKS: Howden Re's Re-Balancing report can be found here: https://www.howdengroupholdings.com/sites/default/files/2025-12/howden-re-balancing-2026-FINAL.pdf A shout out should also go the report authors, Julian Alovisi and Peter Evans. We thank our naming sponsor AdvantageGo: https://www.advantagego.com

This episode of RiskCellar features a deep dive into the psychology behind jury decisions, covering why verdicts have surged 116% in just one year, alongside a breakdown of the shocking 200-person overnight raid by Howden on Brown & Brown's Minneapolis operations.Host Brandon Schuh and co-host Nick Hartmann examine the litigation chaos while interviewing Christina Marinakis, CEO of Verdict Insight Partners, who reveals how jury composition has fundamentally shifted toward anti-corporate sentiment, particularly among millennial jurors. The conversation exposes the data-driven science of jury selection, the rise of polarized deliberation rooms, and what defense counsel must understand about modern juror psychology in an era where median verdicts have jumped from $21 million to $51 million in just four years.Chapters00:00 - Introduction05:00 - The Howden Raid Breakdown: Brown & Brown Story 14:00 - Hayes Companies History & $750M Acquisition Details 15:00 - Jim Hayes' Journey & Relationship with Howden 18:00 - Minneapolis Benefits Exodus & Covenants Discussion 22:00 - Court Victory & Temporary Restraining Order 25:00 - Settlement Values & Account Damages 28:00 - Howden's Strategy Backfire & Client Relationships 35:00 - Guest Introduction: Christina Marinakis 36:00 - Jury Consultant Background & Gene Hackman Comparison 40:00 - Mock Trials vs. Real Trials & Shadow Juries 45:00 - Verdict Inflation Trends: $21M to $51M in Four Years 50:00 - Locus of Control: Core Predictor of Juror Bias 58:00 - Anti-Corporate Millennial Generation & COVID Impact Takeaways1. Nuclear Verdicts Are Accelerating: 135 nuclear verdicts ($10M+) in 2024 represent a 52% increase over 2023, with the median verdict jumping to $51 million from $21 million in 2020, driven by advertising, social media anchoring, and third-party litigation funding.2. Locus of Control Is the Strongest Predictor: The most reliable indicator of a plaintiff vs. defense juror is internal vs. external locus of control, whether jurors believe individuals or external factors determine outcomes, more predictive than demographics or experience.3. Millennials Are the Anti-Corporate Generation: Millennials experiencing economic hardship (home ownership, debt) and exposed to corporate scandals (Enron, Wells Fargo) now dominate juries with significantly higher anti-corporate bias than prior generations.4. COVID Destroyed Government Credibility Defense: Pre-COVID, "FDA/EPA approved" arguments worked; post-COVID, jurors distrust government agencies and dismiss regulatory compliance as a defense strategy due to shifting messaging around masks, vaccines, and guidance.5. Jury Polarization Is Creating Contentious Deliberation Rooms: Hung juries increased from 2-3 annually (pre-2022) to 12 in 2022 alone, with escalating incidents of jurors being excused due to verbal conflict, reflecting broader societal polarization bleeding into the jury box.Connect with RiskCellar:Website: https://www.riskcellar.com/Christina MarinakisCEO, Verdict Insight PartnersEmail: christina.marinakis@verdictinsight.comWebsite: verdictinsight.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christina-marinakis-18328410Brandon Schuh:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552710523314LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandon-stephen-schuh/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/schuhpapa/Nick Hartmann:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickjhartmann/

Brandon Schuh sits down with Dean Hildebrandt, President and CEO of Assurex Global, to explore how mega-broker consolidation is reshaping the insurance brokerage landscape. As consolidation accelerates in 2025, with mega-brokers absorbing smaller firms through billion-dollar acquisitions, including Willis Towers Watson's $1.3 billion purchase of Newfront and Baldwin Group's $1 billion acquisition of CAC Group, the conversation reveals how private equity is driving transactions that, while profitable for financial sponsors, leave clients, carriers, and employees bearing the costs. Dean brings two decades of expertise from his leadership at Associated Benefits and Risk Consulting and his pivotal role at Ahmann-Martin before joining Assurex.Dean challenges the prevailing narrative around these mega-deals, arguing that the real winners aren't clients or carriers but private equity firms extracting value through EBITDA portfolio plays. Throughout the episode, he details how consolidation is accelerating talent acquisitions and market share gains for independent, regionally-focused brokers like those in the Assurex network, firms that prioritize relationships, client service, and stability over spreadsheet metrics. The discussion also highlights Assurex's structural innovation: the launch of AG London, a first-of-its-kind London wholesale broker owned by 30 Assurex firms that operates under perpetual independence and cannot be acquired or sold.As the industry looks ahead to 2026-2027, Dean and Brandon examine how technology and AI will reshape brokerage operations while emphasizing that true competitive advantage lies in understanding the full value chain. The episode underscores a fundamental tension in modern insurance. Whether consolidation will create better client outcomes or simply enrich financial sponsors while destabilizing the very firms and relationships that hold the industry together. For independent brokers navigating this landscape, the conversation offers both cautionary lessons and a compelling vision of an alternative future.Chapters02:30 – Wine recommendations and AI tool comparisons07:00 – Introduction to Dean Hildebrandt and his background10:00 – Dean's entry into brokerage and early career with Ahmann-Martin14:00 – Overview of 2025 consolidation trends and mega-broker activity16:30 – Willis Towers Watson acquires Newfront for $1.3 billion19:00 – Baldwin Group purchases CAC Group for $1 billion22:00 – Private equity's role in driving M&A transactions26:00 – How consolidation impacts clients, carriers, and employees31:00 – The absence of client perspective in private equity discussions35:00 – Deal sizing and EBITDA economics in mega-acquisitions39:00 – Why independent brokers are thriving amid consolidation42:00 – Introduction to Howden's US market entry strategy46:00 – Assurex's strategic response: AG London launch and structure51:00 – Dean's journey to Assurex Global leadership54:00 – Technology, AI, and automation in brokerage operations58:00 – How carriers are adapting to industry transformation61:00 – Conclusion and future outlook for independent brokerageConnect with RiskCellar:Website: https://www.riskcellar.com/Brandon Schuh:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552710523314LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandon-stephen-schuh/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/schuhpapa/Nick Hartmann:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickjhartmann/ Dean Hildebrandt - President & CEO, Assurex GlobalWebsite: https://www.assurexglobal.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dean-hildebrandt-09810baAbout Assurex Global:Founded in 1954, Assurex Global is the world's largest privately held commercial insurance, risk management, and employee benefits brokerage group, combining local expertise with global reach across more than 600 partner office

In this episode of Last Week in Insurance, Trey and Micah break down what's actually happening in the insurance world without boring you to tears.We're diving into the M&A feeding frenzy (including some hostile takeovers that got spicy), why commercial insurance pricing is finally acting normal again, California's latest regulatory drama, and OSHA deciding they're done playing nice with enforcement.If you're a producer who wants to sound smart at the next agency meeting or just needs to know what's coming so you're not blindsided—this is for you. The industry moves fast. We help you keep up without the boring parts.

RiskCellar is back with episode 70, marking a major milestone for hosts Brandon Schuh and Nick Hartmann as they dive into the most pressing insurance broker consolidation trends shaping 2025. The episode kicks off with major industry news on the Baldwin and CAC merger, a billion-dollar deal that reflects ongoing consolidation in the insurance brokerage space. While the acquisition comes in smaller than recent mega-deals, the merger creates what Baldwin calls the largest majority colleague-owned publicly traded insurance broker, signaling continued market consolidation and M&A activity that benefits independent brokers.The hosts explore critical developments in insurance technology and autonomous vehicle safety, including Tesla's recent sensor and camera upgrades designed to improve their self-driving system performance in challenging conditions. The conversation reveals how insurance industry players are monitoring autonomous vehicle advancements, telematics driver monitoring programs, and commercial auto liability trends, including the growing use of cameras and driver scoring to reduce claims. They also discuss the implications of unlimited liability insurance in the UK market and significant pricing differences in Canadian insurance, where casualty risk pricing can be 40% lower than US market rates.A major highlight involves the Rad Power bike battery recall and CPSC safety concerns, where the federal agency issued a unilateral opinion declaring all RAD batteries defective without conducting independent testing. The hosts debate the fairness of this regulatory action, noting that Rad Power faces potential bankruptcy from a million-unit recall despite only 31 documented incidents causing $750,000 in cumulative damage. The episode also covers Lloyd's of London CEO John Neal's resignation following an inappropriate workplace relationship scandal, insurance industry news on Ryan Specialty's new public sector MGU launch, Howden's aggressive hiring expansion, and a playful segment on insurance truths and lies featuring alien abduction coverage.Tesla's autonomous vehicle technology still lacks adequate camera systems compared to competitors like Waymo, delaying full self-driving capabilityTelematics and driver monitoring are becoming essential risk management tools for commercial auto liability, despite employee privacy concernsCPSC regulatory actions can devastate companies without scientific testing, raising questions about fairness and due process in product safety decisionsInternational insurance markets show dramatic pricing variations, with Canadian and UK markets offering 02:00 Thanksgiving Turkey Cooking Methods & Holiday Stories 03:30 Episode Celebration & Drinking Toast 04:35 Baldwin & CAC Merger: $1B Insurance Broker Consolidation 09:25 Ryan Specialty's Public Sector MGU Launch10:00 Public Sector Insurance Competition & School Bidding Challenges 11:15 Canadian Insurance Market & International Pricing Differences 14:15 Tesla Autonomous Vehicle Camera Upgrade Challenges 16:00 Chevrolet Diesel Truck & Frank Cruz Shout Out 16:30 Howden Hiring Expansion & Legal Costs Impact 8:50 John Neal Lloyd's CEO Scandal & AIG Withdrawal 21:40 New Zealand Kiwi Cultural Reference & Gender Diversity in Insurance 23:25 Rad Power Battery Recall & CPSC Regulatory Overreach 26:00 Battery Incident Statistics & Scientific Method Concerns 28:15 Dog Interruption & Personal Stories29:10 Don Julio Tequila & Podcast Memorabilia 31:30 Alien Abduction Coverage Predictions for 2026 32:50 Recall of the Week: Ozark Trail Camping Stove 35:25 Upcoming Guests & Litigation Funding Panel Discussion Connect with RiskCellar:Website: https://www.riskcellar.com/Brandon Schuh:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552710523314LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandon-stephen-schuh/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/schuhpapa/Nick Hartmann:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickjhartmann/

Jim Stemke / DSP Recordings email Start Name Artist Album Year Comments   Thou Swell Mark Herman ATOS 2025 Milwaukee Highlights 1 2025 3-12 Wurlitzer, Ryan Jonas Residence, Elkhorn, WI; 2025-07-21 3:43 There Will Never Be Another You Simon Gledhill ATOS 2025 Milwaukee Highlights 1 2025 5-80 Wurlitzer, Sanfilippo Residence, Barrington Hills, IL; 2025-07-21 7:41 A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square Ben Forsthoffer ATOS 2025 Milwaukee Highlights 2 2025 3-14 Barton, Capitol Theatre (Overture Center), Madison, WI; 2025-07-24 14:09 Cool Tango Donnie Rankin ATOS 2025 Milwaukee Highlights 2 2025 4-90 Wurlitzer, Carma Labs, Franklin, WI; 2025-07-26 18:09 Mele Kalikimaka Aaron Hawthorne The Most Wurlitzer Time of the Year [NETOA CDHLW1008] From NETOA             From COS 2024 3-19 Wurlitzer, New Victoria Centre, Howden le Wear; ex New Victoria/Gaumont/Odeon Bradford 21:53 Carol of the Bells Aaron Hawthorne, Rock Choir The Most Wurlitzer Time of the Year [NETOA CDHLW1008] From NETOA             From COS 2024 3-19 Wurlitzer, New Victoria Centre, Howden le Wear; ex New Victoria/Gaumont/Odeon Bradford 24:10 The Easy Winners Dave Wickerham Dave Wickerham UK Tour March 2025 2025 3-11 Compton plus Melotone, Fentham Hall, Hampton-in-Arden, Solihull; ex Tower Cinema, West Bromwich (1935) 28:52 Love Is Blue Walt Strony ATOS 2023 Chicago Highlights 1 2023 4-21 Hybrid, St. Mary of the Lake Seminary, Mundelein, IL; opening concert 2023-07-03 32:43 Tiger Rag Richard Hills ATOS 2023 Chicago Highlights 2 2023 5-80 Wurlitzer, Sanfilippo Residence, Barrington Hills, IL; Preglow 2023-07-02 37:40 Blue Chimes John Muri The Legendary Theatre Organists of Chicago [DSP 1911] 1969 3-10 Wurlitzer, Indiana Theatre, East Chicago, IL 41:44 War March of the Priests Tom Hazleton From Bach to Runway [DSP 2001] 1994 4-28 Wurlitzer, Shea's Theatre, Buffalo, NY 47:50 How High The Moon John Seng Seng Rediscovered [HP3001] 1967 4-19 Howell-Wurlitzer, St. Mary of the Lake Seminary, Mundelein, IL 53:56 Times Square Boogie George Wright King George [Banda CD 201803] 1950 4-36 Wurlitzer, Paramount Theatre, New York, NY 57:03 The Vamp George Wright Live In Concert - Portland Organ Grinder, 1976 [Banda 201802] 1976 4-41 Wurlitzer, Organ Grinder Pizza, Portland, OR; console ex-Metropolitan Theatre, Boston; concert November 20, 1976

Steve Patterson joins Bob to analyze a recent interview of Curtis Yarvin, in which he favorably discusses Mises' views on money and banking.Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:The YouTube version of this episode.Yarvin on the Peter McCormack show.Bob's prior critique of Yarvis on libertarianism and finance.Bagus and Howden responding to Block and Barnett on maturity mismatching.Steve Patterson on three paradoxes in mathematics.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.

Welcome to a really exciting re-encounter with someone who has been out of our industry for some years but is now back with a highly original new proposition. In my line of work I get to see an awful lot of new insurance ideas and so it takes a lot to fire up my imagination. And when I talk to people on this podcast about those new ideas – often the new product niche or service they are looking at might have a total addressable market of a few billion dollars. But today our guest has something that is applicable to the entire multi-trillion dollar capital base of the global P&C insurance industry. Andre Finn is the Chief Strategy Officer of Intellegri, a business looking to apply advanced mathematical and computational techniques to capital modelling. Now if that sounds a bit dry at first, please bear with me. At present our industry holds large amounts of excess capital to cover possible adverse development in reserves, based around wide probability ranges around what our tail risk is. If we could narrow that range down, even a tiny amount, we could release large amounts of capital, which would improve our returns and make our sector much more attractive to investors. But since this technology can also model scenarios to high new levels of detail and accuracy, it could also be applied to creating entirely new insurance products to cover perils that are currently uninsurable. Any surplus capital could then be applied to these new products and we could expand the insurance market, again making our sector far more attractive overall. The possibilities are genuinely exciting. I promise you that this is not going to be a maths podcast. Andre is authentic and incredibly down to earth and focused on the practical delivery of something new and genuinely revolutionary. Andre was also the founder and CEO of another advanced modelling and analytics firm called Sciemus for almost 15 years from 2001 and so has long industry experience, and possibly a few scars and lessons learned to show for it. Back then the insurtech phenomenon hadn't yet come into being, so sitting here in 2025 the timing would appear to be far better than it was back after the turn of the millennium. NOTES: Highly recommended further reading on Intellegri is to be found here: https://www.intellegri.com/ Andre rightly thanked Howden for the use of their London office for this recording. He also mentioned former collaborator Henry Sopher  LINKS: We thank our naming sponsor AdvantageGo: https://www.advantagego.com

Vital need for insurance to bridge the region’s ‘protection gap’ and drive the green transition. Synopsis: Every first and third Tuesday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. Insurance is a safety net and is increasingly vital as climate change risks grow and as more people, homes and businesses are in the path of disaster. But in South-east Asia, the majority of people do not have access to insurance. And the region is facing worsening threats from floods, sea-level rise and heat stress. Only 5 to 7 per cent of all climate-related losses are insured in South-east Asia, says Mr Daniel Fairweather, head of food security systems and biodiversity at Howden, an insurance broking firm. But there is plenty of hope to bridge this “protection gap”, he tells Green Pulse podcast hosts Audrey Tan and David Fogarty. There are insurance products that can help communities when disaster strikes by rapidly releasing cash payments to meet emergency needs. Mutualised insurance risk pools that combine premiums can also pay out in times of need. Two things are key: Insurers need to work closely with governments and businesses to better assess climate risks and vulnerabilities. Secondly, spread the financial risk by building connections across the region, such as linking up local and national insurance mechanisms, such as risk pools. “Every risk is insurable,” Mr Fairweather says, adding that insurance coverage is also critical to accelerate green investments in the region. Have a listen, and let us know what you think! Highlights of conversation (click/tap above): 1:04 What are some of South-east Asia’s top climate change risks? 4:51 Will insurance losses increase mainly because of climate change or for other reasons, too? 9:10 What are some of the insurance products that can protect communities in the region? 16:06 In some places in the US, insurance coverage has been withdrawn. What’s the reason for this? 24:28 What about the role of insurance in boosting green initiatives in South-east Asia. Is it a catalyst? 28:28 Can the insurance industry thrive despite the rapid march of climate change? Follow Audrey Tan on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/848W Read her articles: https://str.sg/JLM2 Follow David Fogarty on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/jcvy Read his articles: https://str.sg/JLMu Hosts: Audrey Tan (audreyt@sph.com.sg) & David Fogarty (dfogarty@sph.com.sg) Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX --- #greenpulseSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Vital need for insurance to bridge the region’s ‘protection gap’ and drive the green transition. Synopsis: Every first and third Tuesday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. Insurance is a safety net and is increasingly vital as climate change risks grow and as more people, homes and businesses are in the path of disaster. But in South-east Asia, the majority of people do not have access to insurance. And the region is facing worsening threats from floods, sea-level rise and heat stress. Only 5 to 7 per cent of all climate-related losses are insured in South-east Asia, says Mr Daniel Fairweather, head of food security systems and biodiversity at Howden, an insurance broking firm. But there is plenty of hope to bridge this “protection gap”, he tells Green Pulse podcast hosts Audrey Tan and David Fogarty. There are insurance products that can help communities when disaster strikes by rapidly releasing cash payments to meet emergency needs. Mutualised insurance risk pools that combine premiums can also pay out in times of need. Two things are key: Insurers need to work closely with governments and businesses to better assess climate risks and vulnerabilities. Secondly, spread the financial risk by building connections across the region, such as linking up local and national insurance mechanisms, such as risk pools. “Every risk is insurable,” Mr Fairweather says, adding that insurance coverage is also critical to accelerate green investments in the region. Have a listen, and let us know what you think! Highlights of conversation (click/tap above): 1:04 What are some of South-east Asia’s top climate change risks? 4:51 Will insurance losses increase mainly because of climate change or for other reasons, too? 9:10 What are some of the insurance products that can protect communities in the region? 16:06 In some places in the US, insurance coverage has been withdrawn. What’s the reason for this? 24:28 What about the role of insurance in boosting green initiatives in South-east Asia. Is it a catalyst? 28:28 Can the insurance industry thrive despite the rapid march of climate change? Follow Audrey Tan on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/848W Read her articles: https://str.sg/JLM2 Follow David Fogarty on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/jcvy Read his articles: https://str.sg/JLMu Hosts: Audrey Tan (audreyt@sph.com.sg) & David Fogarty (dfogarty@sph.com.sg) Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX --- #greenpulseSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Todays' Episode was a joy to make. It was a face-to-face meeting that crackled from the moment my interviewee walked through the door and shook my hand all the way through to a swift exit to a pressing engagement. As I was tidying cables and packing away my microphones into their case, I already knew this was going to be a really strong Episode. Now that I've had a listen back for the final run-through I know it to be the case. They say the best leaders embody their businesses and if that is true Howden Re should be absolutely buzzing along because this encounter with that business's CEO Tim Ronda highlights someone bursting with confidence, smarts, charisma, energy and something else that we don't see so often – genuine happiness. Tim is clearly enjoying himself in his role. The podcast covers all the issues of the day in the reinsurance market and quite a lot more besides. Discussions about M&A, Casualty, AI and even the competitive reinsurance broking landscape all make an appearance. Also, despite running a reinsurance broker that has reached such a size and scale that it can no longer be referred to as a challenger and is still growing at pace, Tim doesn't tend to engage that regularly with the media. Given what you are about to hear, I think that's probably a mistake but I ‘m also grateful that Tim has given The Voice of Insurance an outsized allocation of his rare press time. As the nights draw in I can highly recommend this episode as a warming and energising tonic. It'll bring you right up to date, put a smile on your face and a spring in your step. LINKS: We thank our naming sponsor AdvantageGo: https://www.advantagego.com

If you're a business owner, there's one acronym you need to know: SBA. The Small Business Administration is your gateway to funding, growth, and opportunity. In this episode, we sit down with our very own Brett Howden, Director of Credit, SBA at Provide, a division of Fifth Third Bank. He's a pro at connecting entrepreneurs with the right financial products to level up their businesses. We'll cover: How SBA loans stack up against conventional loans The SBA programs that could fuel growth Who qualifies — and what it takes to get approved How to decide if an SBA loan is the right move for your business Are you ready to take control of your future and start building your legacy? Visit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠getprovide.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Provide is a division of Fifth Third Bank, National Association. All opinions expressed by the participant are solely their current opinions and do not reflect the opinions of Provide, its affiliates, or Fifth Third Bank. The participant's opinions are based on information they consider reliable, but neither Provide, its affiliates nor Fifth Third Bank warrant its completeness or accuracy and should not be relied upon as such. This content is for informational purposes and does not constitute the rendering of legal, accounting, tax, or investment advice, or other professional services by Provide or any of its affiliates. Please consult with appropriate professionals related to your individual circumstances. All lending is subject to review and approval.

Saints safety Jordan Howden joined sideline reporter Jeff Nowak after New Orleans' 26-14 victory over the Giants.

Saints safety Jordan Howden joined sideline reporter Jeff Nowak after New Orleans' 26-14 victory over the Giants.

eKartingNews turns 25, and what better way to celebrate then putting together a LIVE show. The Happy Hour with Howden is BACK! One of the original podcast shows that began back in 2005 returns to hit the livestream platform for the first time. Rob Howden hosts with producer David Cole, as they talk about the past 25 years of history in the sport and with the EKN as ‘hub of karting on the internet'. They welcome a few special guest during a fun, relaxed show to rejoice EKN 25.

Iterating has become the business norm—but project teams are struggling to keep up with the relentless pace of change. How can change management professionals and project leaders help? We discuss this with: Sharon Casey, director, change management, Adobe, Austin, Texas, USA: Casey discusses how the persistent pace of change is affecting project teams and contributes to change fatigue. She also explains how change practitioners can support project professionals and teams going through change—sharing how her team's “service tiers” offer assistance—and ways to ensure project teams and senior stakeholders buy into change initiatives. Plus, how artificial intelligence is helping leaders at Adobe learn to better manage change.  Senkodi Murugesan, CPMAI, PMP, previously a project manager at Howden, a Chart Industries company, Chennai, India: Murugesan discusses how change has evolved through his career, how to find opportunities amid sudden change on a project, and he shares an example of how he led teams through a major tech change. He also explains why an agile mindset is crucial when it comes to leading project teams through change.Key themes[02:08] How the increasing pace of change affects teams[04:02] Building buy-in for change—and avoiding burnout[09:16] How Adobe change practitioners support teams during change[11:18] Using AI to assist project leaders during change initiatives [16:15] A project professional's perspective on how managing changed has evolved[18:51] Helping teams through major tech changes [21:38] An agile mindset: A must-have for project leaders handling change

The gang summons a blind demon this week, as they review the New Zealand indie comedy horror, Deathgasm. Kick off our B-movie September with a movie that is arguably not even a B movie, but is loads of fun, with buckets of blood. The story behind how the movie was made is almost as fun as the movie itself, and keep your eyes peeled for the sequel set to release this year. Watch Deathgasm on your streaming service of choice then weigh in on it in the comments!Visit the YouTube channel Saturdays @ 12:30 PM Pacific to get in on the live stream, or just watch this episode rather than just listen!Channel:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCI1lVsk1xjMSBgZK82uAzgQThis Episode:https://youtu.be/Ui0rKNBQD7whttp://www.MCFCpodcast.comhttps://www.twitch.tv/MCFCpodcasthttp://www.facebook.com/MCFCpodcasthttp://www.twitter.com/podcastMCFChttp://www.tiktok.com/middleclassfilmclasshttp://www.instagram.com/middleclassfilmclass   Email: MCFCpodcast@gmail.comMerch store - https://middle-class-film-class.creator-spring.com/    Join the Patreon:www.patreon.con/middleclassfilmclass Patrons:JavierJoel ShinnemanLinda McCalisterHeather Sachs https://twitter.com/DorkOfAllDorksChris GeigerDylanMitch Burns Robert Stewart JasonAndrew Martin Dallas Terry Jack Fitzpatrick Mackenzie MinerAngry Otter (Michael)Joseph Navarro     Pete Abeyta  and Tyler Noe

Our primary source this month comes from the 12th century English chronicler, Roger of Hoveden (Howden). This excerpt was chosen as it references a number of castles that dotted the Cypriot landscape during Richard the Lionheart's campaign. You'll hear him refer to Buffavent (Buffavento), Kantara, Dieu D'Amour (a possible corruption of the Greek name, Didymus -- now St. Hilarion) and an unknown castle in Nicosia called Cherin. Its significance is that the castles predate Richard's conquest (i.e., they are Byzantine structures) and serves as a nice segue into my interview next month with Dr. James Petre on the Castles of Cyprus!

Steve and Bobby interviewed Saints safety Jordan Howden after the team's Thursday practice session. Howden discussed his journey to New Orleans, the Saints' new defensive scheme under DC Brandon Staley, and his place in the team's offseason safety competition.

Steve and Bobby interviewed Saints safety Jordan Howden after the team's Thursday practice session. Howden discussed his journey to New Orleans, the Saints' new defensive scheme under DC Brandon Staley, and his place in the team's offseason safety competition.

We're excited to kick off a new season of the RiskCeller podcast after a well-deserved break! In this episode, we not only catch up on personal adventures and favorite wines, but we also unveil a shift in our show's format, moving beyond insurance industry news to tackle a wider range of timely topics and in-depth interviews. This fresh approach is about delivering a perfect mix of hard-hitting news and thoughtful, expert discussions for our listeners, whether you're an insurance professional or just intrigued by the broader legal landscape.One of the major issues we explore is third-party litigation funding and its destabilizing effects on the insurance sector. We discuss how litigation financing, where outside investors fund lawsuits for a slice of the settlement, has grown rapidly in the U.S., fueling what's often called “social inflation.” This trend is creating complications for insurers by inflating the costs of claims and pushing up premiums for everyone, from homeowners to small businesses. Notably, the episode centers on our interview with Minnesota State Senator Judy Seberger, an insurance defense attorney leading efforts for more transparency and consumer protections in litigation funding. Her bill, SF-2929, aims to shine light on industry practices and guard against predatory lending in the legal system.Throughout the episode, we reflect on the ripple effects that rising litigation costs have on insurance premiums and consumer experience. We compare trends across states, dig into the ethical and economic challenges posed by third-party funding, and debate if more states should follow Minnesota's lead. Our ongoing mission is to clarify the impact of legal and insurance industry changes and share insights from credible guests. If you're seeking fresh perspectives and actionable information on insurance, legal news, and consumer protection, you won't want to miss this season.Takeaway List:The podcast is changing its format to cover broader topics beyond just insurance.Litigation financing is destabilizing the insurance sector.Howden is making significant moves in the insurance brokerage space.Third-party litigation funding is a growing concern in the legal industry.Judy Seberger is advocating for transparency in litigation funding.The SF-2929 bill aims to protect consumers from predatory practices.Insurance premiums are affected by rising litigation costs.State legislation on litigation funding is evolving, with few states having robust laws.Social inflation is fueled by third-party funding in lawsuits.Industry experts like Chubb's CEO are calling for ethical and systemic reforms.The podcast will feature more interviews with industry leaders and policymakers.Listeners can expect a mix of breaking news, analysis, and practical advice.Chapters:00:00 Welcome Back and Summer Adventures05:27 Changes in the Podcast Format06:52 Current Events and Legal News13:54 Insurance Industry Developments16:28 Deep Dive into Litigation Funding26:23 Interview with Judy Seberger56:05 Wrap-Up and Future DiscussionsConnect with RiskCellar:Website: https://www.riskcellar.com/Guest: Judy SebergerLinkedIn: Judy Seberger's LinkedIn Profilelinkedin.com/in/judy-sebergerJudy Seberger, State Senator, Minnesota Senate Official Page: senate.mn/members/member_bio.html?mem_id=1248Email: sen.judy.seberger@senate.mnBrandon Schuh:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552710523314LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandon-stephen-schuh/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/schuhpapa/Nick Hartmann:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickjhartmann/