There is no such thing as 100% certainty. So in today’s heavily quantified world, where much of the information we receive is communicated in metrics and where we translate our ambitions into targets, how do we make sure we can trust the numbers we’ve come to rely on so heavily in every day life? Should we be taken in by an argument that relies solely cold hard numbers or be ready to explore the debates behind the statistics? Joining Matthew to help make the figures add up is Mathematical Biologist, Kit Yates, Senior Lecturer at the University of Bath and author of 'How to Expect the Unexpected: The Science of Making Predictions and the Art of Knowing When Not To'. Recorded in the week where the UK Government rowed back on its Net Zero targets, we learn the difference between self-fulfilling and self-defeating prophesies and why, when convincing others of your point of view, it might be useful to introduce a little bit of uncertainty into your convictions. For a copy of Kit's book, please visit: https://geni.us/KitYatesBooksFor updates from Matthew, visit: https://twitter.com/ConfedMatthewFor more information on The Forward Institute, visit: https://www.forward.institute/podcasthttps://www.linkedin.com/company/forward-institutehttps://twitter.com/ForwardInstA Tempo & Talker Productionhttps://www.tempotalker.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We live in societies saturated with rules. Some unpopular, some resisted, but also some that are so unspoken and engrained that we would never dare break them. So should leaders be tempted by their instinct to make more of them? Perhaps by understanding their complexities and contradictions, we might become better decision makers. In today’s episode, Lorraine Daston sweeps us through history to learn about the different types of rules that govern our lives. We learn about the concept of ’thick’ and ’thin’ rules, why rules that restrict individual expression are often doomed to fail, and how in some cases it might take generations, centuries even, for a rule to take hold. Lorraine Daston is Director emerita of the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science. Her book ‘Rules: A Short History of What We Live By’ is available on Princeton University Press. https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691156989/rulesFor updates from Matthew, visit: https://twitter.com/ConfedMatthewFor more information on The Forward Institute, visit: https://www.forward.institute/podcasthttps://www.linkedin.com/company/forward-institutehttps://twitter.com/ForwardInstA Tempo & Talker Productionhttps://www.tempotalker.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is it possible to make a real difference to the world when we are trapped in our roles as consumers? Should we be building a new system of government that allows individuals to be more active in shaping policy? These are ideas put forward by today’s guest, Jon Alexander, co-founder of the New Citizenship Project and co-author of ‘Citizens’. In this conversation we trace human history through three stories: the Subject Story, the Consumer Story, and the Citizen Story. It is only in this final role that Jon argues we can tackle some of the biggest problems facing the world today. We hear from Taiwan and the ‘g0v’ movement that changed the relationship between citizen and state, and why in the UK, with a General Election looming, it’s more important than ever to create a moment where the story can shift. For more information on Jon, his book, and the New Citizenship Project please visit: www.jonalexander.netwww.newcitizenship.org.ukFor updates from Matthew, visit: https://twitter.com/ConfedMatthewFor more information on The Forward Institute, visit: https://www.forward.institute/podcasthttps://www.linkedin.com/company/forward-institutehttps://twitter.com/ForwardInstA Tempo & Talker Productionhttps://www.tempotalker.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of the world's leading economists, Daron Acemoglu, joins Matthew to discuss the impact of AI on the way we live and work. Drawing on thousands of years of history, Daron reveals the pivotal role technology has played in shaping society. From medieval Europe's agricultural advancements benefiting the elite to industrialization in England causing stagnant incomes for the masses, often technological advancements have benefited the few at the expense of the many. But can the arrival of AI buck that trend? Can it really help to empower and democratise, rather than marginalize and concentrate power? Daron is a professor of economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and is the coauthor (with James A. Robinson) of 'Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty'. His latest book 'Power and Progress: Our Thousand-Year Struggle Over Technology and Prosperity', co-authored with Simon Johnson, is out now published by John Murray Press. For updates from Matthew, visit: https://twitter.com/ConfedMatthewFor more information on The Forward Institute, visit: https://www.forward.institute/podcasthttps://www.linkedin.com/company/forward-institutehttps://twitter.com/ForwardInstA Tempo & Talker Productionhttps://www.tempotalker.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ready to take the leap into leadership but worried you can't hack the pressure? Discover the hidden gems of leadership development as Matthew meets Ruth Turner and Jonathan Gosling, authors of ‘Character, Company and Context: A Practical Framework for Leaders Under Pressure’. They reveal the essential skills needed to thrive and create meaningful change in any organisation. You’ll learn how you can become a strong leader by listening to the experience of others, and relying on the abilities of your co-workers. https://cbj.sljol.info/articles/10.4038/cbj.v14i1.142For updates from Matthew, visit: https://twitter.com/ConfedMatthewFor more information on The Forward Institute, visit: https://www.forward.institute/podcasthttps://www.linkedin.com/company/forward-institutehttps://twitter.com/ForwardInstA Tempo & Talker Productionhttps://www.tempotalker.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are living through an age of mass industrial action here in the UK. Strike action is impacting services across the board from transport, to schools, to hospitals. But does striking actually work? Do hard-won victories over pay and better conditions only encourage a public backlash against the unions and the workers themselves? Or do they provide an effective way of highlighting the important role the public sector plays in keeping Britain moving?  Joining Matthew to discuss the potency of industrial action is Lydia Hughes, co-author of 'Troublemaking: Why You Should Organise Your Workplace'. Drawing on stories of industrial action from across the world, Lydia explains why organising at work can lead to a better workplace - and society. https://www.versobooks.com/en-gb/products/2889-troublemakingFor updates from Matthew, visit: https://twitter.com/ConfedMatthewFor more information on The Forward Institute, visit: https://www.forward.institute/podcasthttps://www.linkedin.com/company/forward-institutehttps://twitter.com/ForwardInstA Tempo & Talker Productionhttps://www.tempotalker.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if you were designing a society, but you didn't know what your place would be within it and where you would sit on the scale of inequality? What would you like that society to look like? This is the thought experiment central to the work of the political philosopher John Rawls and expanded on by author, economist, and philosopher Daniel Chandler in his new book, 'Free and Equal: What Would a Fair Society Look Like?' In this episode of Forward Vision, Daniel joins us to discuss how Rawls offered political theories that are useful practically, how they could be applied in the organisations we work in and, with a general election looming, for wider society.https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/316077/free-and-equal-by-chandler-daniel/9780241428382For updates from Matthew, visit: https://twitter.com/ConfedMatthewFor more information on The Forward Institute, visit: https://www.forward.institute/podcasthttps://www.linkedin.com/company/forward-institutehttps://twitter.com/ForwardInstA Tempo & Talker Productionhttps://www.tempotalker.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are becoming increasingly used to hearing about AI. As the technological revolution continues we are discovering more uses for it in everyday life. However the conversation can often be doom-laden, with occasional prognostications on the existential threat that it poses. But what if the real risks posed by AI are actually based on human fallibilities? Data journalism professor Meredith Broussard joins Matthew to discuss her book, 'More than a Glitch: Confronting Race, Gender, and Ability Bias in Tech', and to examine whether the tools being designed to help leap humanity forward are actually holding sections of our society back. https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262047654/more-than-a-glitch/For updates from Matthew, visit: https://twitter.com/ConfedMatthewFor more information on The Forward Institute, visit: https://www.forward.institute/podcasthttps://www.linkedin.com/company/forward-institutehttps://twitter.com/ForwardInstA Tempo & Talker Productionhttps://www.tempotalker.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Democracy and capitalism are strange bedfellows, and the continuing growth of globalisation has often caused the intricacies of this relationship to be brought into question. But what happens when democracy itself is sidelined in favour of free-market libertarianism? In this episode Matthew is joined by author and historian, Quinn Slobodian, to discuss his new book Crack-Up Capitalism: Market Radicals and the Dream of a World without Democracy. Here they explore the economic zones, tax-havens, free-ports and city states where ultra-capitalists thrive, and the implication this has for democracy when the model is replicated further throughout the world.https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/316685/crack-up-capitalism-by-slobodian-quinn/9780241460245For updates from Matthew, visit: https://twitter.com/ConfedMatthewFor more information on The Forward Institute, visit: https://www.forward.institute/podcasthttps://www.linkedin.com/company/forward-institutehttps://twitter.com/ForwardInstA Tempo & Talker Productionhttps://www.tempotalker.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this surprising episode, The Reverend Fergus Butler-Gallie joins Matthew to discuss his humorous and moving book 'Touching Cloth: Confessions and communions of a young priest'. It is a conversation that touches on Fergus' experiences navigating an extraordinary institution, describes the nature of sacrificial leadership, and also asks us to consider lessons that can be learned from the past about leadership today.https://www.penguin.co.uk/authors/288790/fergus-butler-gallieFor updates from Matthew, visit: https://twitter.com/ConfedMatthewFor more information on The Forward Institute, visit: https://www.forward.institute/podcasthttps://www.linkedin.com/company/forward-institutehttps://twitter.com/ForwardInstA Tempo & Talker Productionhttps://www.tempotalker.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matthew speaks to Lucy Parker, co-author of ‘The Activist Leader’, about how organisations - and their leaders - have a responsibility to tackle the major crises facing society today. And the difference made when this mission is placed at the heart of an organisation, rather than as a secondary purpose.Lucy Parker is strategic advisor at the Brunswick Group, helping companies think differently about their roles in society. https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-activist-leader-a-new-mindset-for-doing-business-lucy-parkerjon-miller?variant=41004022202402For updates from Matthew, visit: https://twitter.com/ConfedMatthewFor more information on The Forward Institute, visit: https://www.forward.institute/podcasthttps://www.linkedin.com/company/forward-institutehttps://twitter.com/ForwardInstA Tempo & Talker Productionhttps://www.tempotalker.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the first episode of Forward Vision, Matthew Taylor speaks to entrepreneur Margaret Heffernan. This is a wide ranging conversation covering individual responsibility within organisations; the dangers of failing to address social and moral dilemmas by hiding behind shareholder value; and what lessons can be learned from the slow response to climate change when facing the dangers presented to society by AI. Dr. Margaret Heffernan is an entrepreneur, author, academic and Lead Faculty for the Forward Institute’s Responsible Leadership Programme. Her most recent book, Uncharted: How to Map the Future explores how understanding and being prepared for uncertainty, both as individuals and leaders of organisations, helps navigate modern life. For updates from Matthew, visit: https://twitter.com/ConfedMatthewFor more information on The Forward Institute, visit: https://www.forward.institute/podcasthttps://www.linkedin.com/company/forward-institutehttps://twitter.com/ForwardInstA Tempo & Talker Productionhttps://www.tempotalker.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matthew Taylor chats with Forward Institute founder and CEO Adam Grodecki about Forward Vision, our brand-new podcast that'll help you think differently, feel differently and lead differently. Find out more about upcoming episodes and guests – all inspirational thinkers and experts from the front line of change and leadership.For updates from Matthew, visit: https://twitter.com/ConfedMatthewFor more information on The Forward Institute, visit: https://www.forward.institute/podcasthttps://www.linkedin.com/company/forward-institutehttps://twitter.com/ForwardInstA Tempo & Talker Productionhttps://www.tempotalker.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.