# simon western (audio feeds) — RSS Amplifier Recent posts from the 1 feeds in the RSS Amplifier directory that cover simon western. Page: Feed: --- ## [109: The Wisdom of Uncertainty](https://audioboom.com/posts/8926968) _2026-07-13 · Simon Western · Edgy Ideas_ Show Notes In this episode of Edgy Ideas, Simon Western is joined by Maria Guerrero - social entrepreneur and leadership educator - to explore leadership, power and human development. Starting from Maria's work in education, faith-based institutions and social transformation, the conversation asks what kind of leadership is needed when expertise and authority are no longer enough. Drawing on… [Listen](https://audioboom.com/posts/8926968.mp3?modified=1783951413&sid=5022464&source=rss) ## [108: Group Relations Conferences: Leadership, Authority and the Human Condition](https://audioboom.com/posts/8912793) _2026-06-05 · Simon Western · Edgy Ideas_ Show Notes In this episode, Simon Western is joined by his long-time colleague, Leslie Brissett, to explore the history, purpose and enduring relevance of Group Relations Conferences. They trace the roots of this pioneering methodology from the early Leicester Conferences and the Tavistock Institute tradition to its contemporary applications in leadership, organisations and society. They discuss… [Listen](https://audioboom.com/posts/8912793.mp3?modified=1780654381&sid=5022464&source=rss) ## [107: The Emotional Life of Organisations with Anton Obholzer](https://audioboom.com/posts/8908780) _2026-05-28 · Simon Western · Edgy Ideas_ Show Notes In this episode, Simon Western speaks with seasoned psychoanalyst and organisational consultant Dr. Anton Obholzer about the hidden emotional and relational dynamics shaping leadership, organisations and society. Anton is a hugely respected organisational consultant from the Tavistock tradition, and it is a delight to hear his wisdom and insights on this podcast. Moving beyond technical… [Listen](https://audioboom.com/posts/8908780.mp3?modified=1779955190&sid=5022464&source=rss) ## [106: What happened to the working class?](https://audioboom.com/posts/8905349) _2026-05-19 · Simon Western · Edgy Ideas_ Show Notes In this episode, Simon Western speaks with political theorist and author Professor Brad Evans about the collapse of traditional working-class politics and the growing sense of abandonment across post-industrial communities. Drawing on Brad’s experiences growing up in the South Wales Valleys, the conversation explores how solidarity, class identity and community structures have been… [Listen](https://audioboom.com/posts/8905349.mp3?modified=1779285907&sid=5022464&source=rss) ## [105: The Liberal Order and the Fight for the Soul](https://audioboom.com/posts/8877601) _2026-03-23 · Simon Western · Edgy Ideas_ Show Notes In this episode of Edgy Ideas, Simon Western speaks with Gareth Owen OBE, former Humanitarian Director of Save the Children UK, about what it means to practice humanitarianism in a world where the global order is shifting rapidly. Drawing on more than three decades working in conflict zones - from Somalia and Angola to leadership roles shaping global humanitarian response - Gareth… [Listen](https://audioboom.com/posts/8877601.mp3?modified=1774271013&sid=5022464&source=rss) ## [104: When Anthropology meets Therapy](https://audioboom.com/posts/8863856) _2026-02-20 · Simon Western · Edgy Ideas_ Show Notes What happens when anthropology turns its gaze on psychology and coaching? In this episode, Simon Western is joined by social anthropologist Dr Mikkel Kenni Bruun and social scientist Dr Rebecca Hutten to explore what sits beneath contemporary mental health, therapy, and coaching practices. Together, they discuss culture, power, and the often-invisible assumptions shaping therapeutic… [Listen](https://audioboom.com/posts/8863856.mp3?modified=1771599759&sid=5022464&source=rss) ## [103: Lacanian Insights on AI](https://audioboom.com/posts/8837620) _2026-01-21 · Simon Western · Edgy Ideas_ Show Notes In this episode Simon and Dr. Jack Black, Associate Professor at Sheffield Hallam University, think dangerously about AI through the unsettling lens of Lacanian psychoanalysis. This is a conversation about desire, discourse, power and the fantasies we project onto machines. Drawing on Lacan, Jack reframes AI not as a neutral tool or intelligent object, but as a relational phenomenon -… [Listen](https://audioboom.com/posts/8837620.mp3?modified=1769007704&sid=5022464&source=rss) ## [102: Humanism in Psychometrics](https://audioboom.com/posts/8828033) _2026-01-09 · Simon Western · Edgy Ideas_ Show Notes In this episode of Edgy Ideas, Simon talks with Stewart Desson, founder of Lumina Learning, whose work has reshaped the field of psychometrics by bringing a deeply humanistic, culturally sensitive, and relational approach to understanding personality at work. Stewart reflects on the evolution of psychometrics, from traditional trait-based systems to more nuanced, emergent models that… [Listen](https://audioboom.com/posts/8828033.mp3?modified=1767963349&sid=5022464&source=rss) ## [101: The Future of Coaching: AI, Ethics, and Belonging](https://audioboom.com/posts/8817175) _2025-12-10 · Simon Western · Edgy Ideas_ Show Notes In this episode Simon speaks with Tatiana Bachkirova, a leading scholar in coaching psychology. They explore how AI is impacting on the field of coaching and what it means to remain human in a world increasingly driven by algorithms. The discussion moves fluidly between neuroscience, pseudo-science, identity, belonging, and ethics, reflecting on the tensions between performance culture… [Listen](https://audioboom.com/posts/8817175.mp3?modified=1765377038&sid=5022464&source=rss) ## [100: Soul at Work: Living a Good Life in a Disruptive Age](https://audioboom.com/posts/8791591) _2025-10-15 · Simon Western · Edgy Ideas_ Show Notes In this special 100th episode of Edgy Ideas, we mark a moment of reflection and celebration. Simon is joined by a panel of thoughtful voices; Chris Yates, Leslie Brissett, Eleanor Moore and Hetty Einzig, to explore a topic close to the heart, the soul at work and what it means to live a good life amidst the turbulence of our times. They reflect on the quiet yet powerful force of soul,… [Listen](https://audioboom.com/posts/8791591.mp3?modified=1760531314&sid=5022464&source=rss) ## [AI News Summaries & Audio (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/O4ieDa7mvxCK) _2025-10-15 · **Sponsored**_ Tap an article for an AI summary and an audio briefing. ## [99: Analytic Listening](https://audioboom.com/posts/8772173) _2025-09-04 · Simon Western · Edgy Ideas_ Show Notes In this episode of Edgy Ideas, Simon Western is joined by David Rothauser, psychoanalyst, organisational consultant, and executive coach, to explore the practice of analytic listening. They discuss what it means to listen beyond words, to hear silences as much as speech, and to create spaces where deeper human connection becomes possible. Their discussion explores the role of voice and… [Listen](https://audioboom.com/posts/8772173.mp3?modified=1756990974&sid=5022464&source=rss) ## [98: Freedom and Meaning: Existential Coaching Approach](https://audioboom.com/posts/8765194) _2025-08-19 · Simon Western · Edgy Ideas_ Show Notes In this episode, Simon is joined by Natalie to open up the existential questions that lie at the heart of coaching: What does it mean to live well? How do we find meaning in a finite life? How do we coach for authenticity, freedom and responsibility? Far from being bleak, existentialism is revealed here as a liberating practice. Death is not avoided but faced - giving urgency and… [Listen](https://audioboom.com/posts/8765194.mp3?modified=1756461954&sid=5022464&source=rss) ## [97: Ikigai in Coaching Practice](https://audioboom.com/posts/8759954) _2025-08-07 · Simon Western · Edgy Ideas_ Show Notes: Simon Western is joined by Yoko Kunii Aldous - lecturer, coach, hypnotherapist and cultural translator - to explore the deeper roots of this Japanese concept, revealing it to be less a “life purpose formula” and more a way of being-in-the-world. Yoko reflects on her journey from Japan to the UK and how living between languages and cultures opens up inner landscapes. She shares the real… [Listen](https://audioboom.com/posts/8759954.mp3?modified=1756476586&sid=5022464&source=rss) ## [96: Place: Identity and Belonging](https://audioboom.com/posts/8753884) _2025-07-25 · Simon Western · Edgy Ideas_ Show Notes In this episode, Simon Western is joined by Daniel B. Frank and Caro Bainbridge to explore how our connection to place shapes who we are, how we relate to others, and how we make sense of the world. They share stories of growing up in Chicago and Liverpool, revealing how personal and collective histories are held within the places we call home. The conversation moves between the… [Listen](https://audioboom.com/posts/8753884.mp3?modified=1756514055&sid=5022464&source=rss) ## [95: The Leadership of Pope Francis](https://audioboom.com/posts/8746304) _2025-07-09 · Simon Western · Edgy Ideas_ Show Notes In this episode of Edgy Ideas, Simon Western is joined by Fr. David McCallum, a Jesuit priest and Executive Director of the Program for Discerning Leadership. Together, they explore the unique leadership style of Pope Francis and what it means for the future of the Catholic Church - and humanity at large. The conversation unfolds around the radical shift Pope Francis has led,… [Listen](https://audioboom.com/posts/8746304.mp3?modified=1756549389&sid=5022464&source=rss) ## [94: Building Civil Society: Reflections from a Lebanese Activist](https://audioboom.com/posts/8728082) _2025-05-30 · Simon Western · Edgy Ideas_ Show Notes In this episode, Simon Western speaks with Lebanese scholar and activist Karim Safieddine. Together, they discuss the vibrant and volatile political landscape of Lebanon, exploring how social movements, intellectual traditions, and grassroots activism collide and coalesce in the streets of Beirut. Karim shares his personal story of growing up amidst conflict, complexity, and… [Listen](https://audioboom.com/posts/8728082.mp3?modified=1756612050&sid=5022464&source=rss) ## [93: Living Through Conflict: Insights from Ukraine](https://audioboom.com/posts/8713817) _2025-05-01 · Simon Western · Edgy Ideas_ Show Notes In this compelling and deeply human episode, Simon speaks with Daria (Dasha) Kuznetsova, a Ukrainian humanitarian professional working amidst the war in Ukraine. Daria brings a grounded yet emotionally resonant perspective on what it means to live in a war zone - not just physically, but psychologically and spiritually. She discusses how individuals and communities survive amidst… [Listen](https://audioboom.com/posts/8713817.mp3?modified=1756906204&sid=5022464&source=rss) ## [92: Modern Temples of Power](https://audioboom.com/posts/8699635) _2025-04-03 · Simon Western · Edgy Ideas_ Show Notes In this conversation, Chris Yates and Simon Western discuss how organizations have become modern temples of power, shaping societal norms in positive and challenging ways. Organizations offer spaces to be productive, to deliver services and to provide meaning and development for individuals, yet they also can stifle individuality and feedback through corporate conformity. The podcast… [Listen](https://audioboom.com/posts/8699635.mp3?modified=1756973917&sid=5022464&source=rss) ## [91: Racial Consciousness in Coaching and Work](https://audioboom.com/posts/8691885) _2025-03-20 · Simon Western · Edgy Ideas_ Show Notes In this episode Bernice Hewson and Simon Western challenge the conventional coaching paradigm, exposing its tendency to operate in a decontextualized bubble—detached from the social, political, and historical forces shaping our identities. Bernice brings personal insights from her own journey toward racial consciousness, unpacking the ways coaching often fails to engage with racial… [Listen](https://audioboom.com/posts/8691885.mp3?modified=1756998613&sid=5022464&source=rss) ## [90: Narcissistic Leadership and Relational Leadership](https://audioboom.com/posts/8668366) _2025-03-13 · Simon Western · Edgy Ideas_ Show Notes Prof. Manfred Kets de Vries, is a global thought leader, who is best known for applying psychoanalytic thinking to the challenges of leaders and organisations. He discusses his journey from psychoanalysis to leadership development, the societal forces that shape leaders, and the critical role of emotional awareness in navigating today’s volatile landscapes. Kets de Vries exposes the… [Listen](https://audioboom.com/posts/8668366.mp3?modified=1757231993&sid=5022464&source=rss) ## [Non-Custodial Crypto Gateway (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/Ewkt1sFs5sPN) _2025-03-13 · **Sponsored**_ Accept multi-chain crypto, automated fee handling, and trustless escrow with real-time settlement. ## [89: Psychoanalysis, the Unconscious and the Spiritual](https://audioboom.com/posts/8664976) _2025-03-06 · Simon Western · Edgy Ideas_ Show Notes Professor Susan Long and Dr. Simon Western's conversation takes us on a journey into the roots of the unconscious, tracing its lineage from early philosophical thought to contemporary psychoanalysis. Susan challenges the dominant view that confines the unconscious to an individual and pathological framework, arguing instead for a more expansive understanding—one that is inherently… [Listen](https://audioboom.com/posts/8664976.mp3?modified=1757242010&sid=5022464&source=rss) ## [88: Navigating Troubled Times: Capitalism in Crisis](https://audioboom.com/posts/8659569) _2025-02-25 · Simon Western · Edgy Ideas_ Show Notes In this conversation, Simon and Amitabh discuss the current state of the world characterized by a polycrisis, primarily driven by neoliberalism. They explore the implications of this crisis on civil society, the role of the left, and the importance of grassroots movements. The dialogue emphasizes the need for emotional engagement in advocacy and the potential for change through… [Listen](https://audioboom.com/posts/8659569.mp3?modified=1740513563&sid=5022464&source=rss) ## [87: Ecology, Psychoanalysis and the Good Life](https://audioboom.com/posts/8651592) _2025-02-10 · Simon Western · Edgy Ideas_ Show Notes In this conversation, Anna Harvey discusses her integration of psychoanalysis and ecology in her work as a senior lecturer in social work. She emphasizes the importance of understanding child protection within a broader sociopolitical context and advocates for a public health approach to social work. Anna explores how ecological perspectives can inform systemic thinking and the… [Listen](https://audioboom.com/posts/8651592.mp3?modified=1739188634&sid=5022464&source=rss) ## [86: AI Coaching: A Deep Dive](https://audioboom.com/posts/8639265) _2025-01-17 · Simon Western · Edgy Ideas_ Show Notes: In this provocative episode, Simon and Lauri dive into the disruptive potential of AI to reshape coaching as we know it. They challenge traditional coaching paradigms, exploring how systemic coaching can integrate with AI to amplify impact. The conversation takes a sharp turn into ethics, questioning the accountability of AI designers and the values underpinning these technologies.… [Listen](https://audioboom.com/posts/8639265.mp3?modified=1737653492&sid=5022464&source=rss) ## [85: Re-enchantment with First Nations Worldviews](https://audioboom.com/posts/8624359) _2024-12-16 · Simon Western · Edgy Ideas_ Show Notes In this conversation, Simon and Mishel explore the significance of First Nations worldviews, and how through the modern worldview we have lost our relationships to the land and wider ecologies including our ancestors. Mishel McMahon, a proud Yorta Yorta woman living on Djaara Country, northern Victoria, Australia, and shares her lived experience and her academic research to help us… [Listen](https://audioboom.com/posts/8624359.mp3?modified=1734339300&sid=5022464&source=rss) ## [84: Breaking Together with Jem Bendell](https://audioboom.com/posts/8611724) _2024-11-21 · Simon Western · Edgy Ideas_ Breaking Together In this conversation, Jem Bendel discusses his journey from a career in corporate sustainability to advocating for a radical shift in how we approach climate change and societal collapse. He reflects on his influential paper, 'Deep Adaptation,' which argues that the sustainability movement is no-longer appropriate and that we should prepare for societal collapse. Jem introduces… [Listen](https://audioboom.com/posts/8611724.mp3?modified=1732177929&sid=5022464&source=rss) ## [83: Psychoanalysis and Humanising the Workplace with Gabriella Braun](https://audioboom.com/posts/8577720) _2024-09-26 · Simon Western · Edgy Ideas_ Psychoanalysis and Humanising the Workplace Gabriella Braun, a renowned consultant and author, delves into her fascinating journey, sharing her insights from her latest book, All that we are: Uncovering the Hidden Truths Behind Our Behaviour at Work . Gabriella discusses how psychoanalytic principles can provide deep insights into organizational dynamics and group behavior, influencing everything… [Listen](https://audioboom.com/posts/8577720.mp3?modified=1727702574&sid=5022464&source=rss)