The Risk Factor Podcast
The Risk Factor Podcast
Podcast Description
The Risk Factor is a no-nonsense podcast that cuts through the noise in safety, risk, and leadership. Each episode brings in industry experts to have honest conversations about what’s working, what’s failing, and what needs to change in high-risk industries.This series goes beyond surface-level discussions to expose the gaps in safety culture, challenge outdated thinking, and explore the real impact of risk management decisions. The Risk Factor is about getting to the root of the matter, not just looking at what went wrong, but why, and what should happen next.The Root of the Matter" The hard-hitting segmentWith 20 minutes left in each episode, the conversation shifts to "The Root of the Matter", the section where things get direct. This is where we take the biggest issue of the episode and break it down with real talk, tough questions, and clear takeaways. Are safety systems actually reducing risk, or are companies just covering themselves? Are incidents properly investigated, or do organisations just want to move on quickly? What will it take to create real change instead of repeating the same mistakes? "The Root of the Matter" is where the conversation gets sharp, focused, and uncomfortable because that’s what leads to action.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast focuses on safety culture, risk management, and leadership within high-risk sectors, with episodes like 'From catching criminals to catching risks' that highlight the transition from law enforcement to industrial investigations and episodes delving into systemic failures and the betterment of safety systems.
The Risk Factor is a no-nonsense podcast that cuts through the noise in safety, risk, and leadership. Each episode brings in industry experts to have honest conversations about what’s working, what’s failing, and what needs to change in high-risk industries.
This series goes beyond surface-level discussions to expose the gaps in safety culture, challenge outdated thinking, and explore the real impact of risk management decisions. The Risk Factor is about getting to the root of the matter, not just looking at what went wrong, but why, and what should happen next.
The Root of the Matter” The hard-hitting segment
With 20 minutes left in each episode, the conversation shifts to “The Root of the Matter”, the section where things get direct. This is where we take the biggest issue of the episode and break it down with real talk, tough questions, and clear takeaways. Are safety systems actually reducing risk, or are companies just covering themselves? Are incidents properly investigated, or do organisations just want to move on quickly? What will it take to create real change instead of repeating the same mistakes? “The Root of the Matter” is where the conversation gets sharp, focused, and uncomfortable because that’s what leads to action.
“If AI influences the decision, who owns the outcome?”
AI is accelerating how organisations build, test and deploy new ideas, compressing timelines that once stretched for years into a matter of weeks. That speed creates genuine opportunity. It also introduces new forms of exposure, particularly for businesses operating in high-risk, safety-critical or heavily regulated environments.
In this episode of The Risk Factor, Arrash Nekonam, CTO at COMET, is joined by Jaye Deighton, Global Head of ICT & Innovation at Peterson Control Union, and tech entrepreneur Steve Shearman to examine the tension at the heart of AI adoption.
One technology. Two truths.
AI can unlock efficiency and competitive advantage. It can also blur accountability, outpace governance and create overconfidence in systems that are still probabilistic by nature.
Together, they explore:
• The pressure to “do something” with AI • Build vs buy vs wait • Why data quality determines outcomes • The danger of treating AI as infallible • Where responsibility sits when systems influence decisions
This is a grounded, board-level discussion about judgement, discipline and ownership in high-stakes environments.
If you are shaping AI strategy or deploying intelligent systems in operational settings, this episode will challenge how you think about speed, risk and control.
Disclaimer
This podcast’s information is provided for general reference and was obtained from publicly accessible sources. The Podcast Collaborative neither produces nor verifies the content, accuracy, or suitability of this podcast. Views and opinions belong solely to the podcast creators and guests.
For a complete disclaimer, please see our Full Disclaimer on the archive page. The Podcast Collaborative bears no responsibility for the podcast’s themes, language, or overall content. Listener discretion is advised. Read our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy for more details.