The Being Human Podcast

Amelia and Jez sit down with renowned photo editor and visual storyteller Kira Pollack to explore how photographs shape what (and who) we see. From her years at TIME Magazine to her role as Creative Director at Vanity Fair, she lifts the lid on the often‑invisible role of the photo editor: commissioning photographers, advocating for their work, and navigating the creative and ethical decisions behind some of the world’s most recognisable and powerful images. Through her fellowship at Harvard, she’s exploring how technology and oral histories might help us preserve visual history while protecting authorship and trust, turning her role of advocating for photographers shot by shot into a longer‑term project to build archives where images are remembered not just as files, but as evidence of what they saw, and the stories, risks, and relationships behind each frame.

For the first episode of series four, Amelia and Jez sit down with ethics advisor Ben Wilberforce-Ritchie to explore how ordinary people make ethical choices in a messy, pressurised world. From speed limits and office policies to laws and social norms – exploring that fact that “we can” is not the same as “we should.” Ben shares how his work in high-risk corporate environments has shaped his view that ethics isn’t about being perfect, but about thinking critically, noticing the grey areas, and trying to polish our small corner of the world. Ben gives advice on how we can build better judgment, create cultures where people feel safe to speak up, and make good decisions when it matters most.

In this final episode of series 3 of the Being Human Podcast, hosts Amelia Vegting and Jez Francis are joined by leadership, team culture and resilience expert Mark Denton. Mark shares his remarkable experience leading a diverse, amateur crew in the world’s toughest round-the-world yacht race, highlighting the importance of vulnerability, inclusive leadership, and teamwork under intense pressure. Through candid stories of success, setbacks, and learning from failure, Mark reveals what it takes to build genuine togetherness and high performance - whether at sea or in the workplace!

In this episode, Amelia and Jez are joined by endurance athlete and Guinness World Record holder Natalie Dau. Together, they explore what it means to be human by embracing failure, finding growth in discomfort, and noticing joy in everyday moments. Natalie shares her journey of running ultramarathons, including her two epic 1,000 km solo runs across Southeast Asia. She reflects on the importance of support systems and the lasting impact of kindness from strangers during her adventures - reminding us that as long as you’ve tried your best, that is more than enough.

Amelia and Jez explore the human voice. With Heather Hanson, an expert in global communication, they explore the power of voice and accent in shaping identity and status. Heather shines a light on accent bias and how it persists both socially and professionally, and the price we pay as a result. The notion of 'good' and 'bad' English is challenged, and the case for more inclusivity in how we perceive and value different accents is made. The conversation delves into practical strategies for individuals to make their voices heard in the workplace and beyond, and for leaders to create more inclusive communication cultures. Heather's insights reveal how deeply ingrained accent biases are and the importance of self-awareness in overcoming them, ultimately emphasising that being human means communicating and connecting with others, regardless of how we sound.

Amelia and Jez explore journeys with award-winning writer Oliver Smith. In his book "On This Holy Island," Oli reimagines pilgrimage beyond traditional contexts, by retracing routes across time; from murmurs of ritual journeys in the depths of the Ice Age, to 21st century treks to football stadiums and music festivals. The conversation explores the resurgence of routes like the Camino de Santiago and the personal growth that can come from stepping out of one's comfort zone. Oli’s perspective offers a fresh take on finding meaning and connection with others in an increasingly digital world through intentional travel and embracing new experiences. Amelia shares a story of culinary surprises in Barcelona, and Jez gets distracted by a man changing a billboard poster.