Share

cover art for Meditations on Insurance And Society 6: Everyone Everywhere All At Once

Insurance Covered

Meditations on Insurance And Society 6: Everyone Everywhere All At Once

Season 4, Ep. 22

Welcome to Insurance Covered summer special mini series Meditations on Insurance and Society.  


Normally on this podcast Peter is joined by a guest to discuss an aspect of the wonderful world of insurance. But, this August, we are doing something different. Instead of our normal fortnightly podcast, we are releasing an 8 episode mini series focusing on the role that insurance has played throughout history in shaping society. They will incorporate a bit of history, a bit of philosophy, some psychology, a lot of insurance and… who knows what else.


In part six we look at:

  • How insurance developed into the global industry it is today
  • How insurance came to be 'everywhere'
  • How technology and enhanced trade encouraged the growth of insurance
  • The impact war in the 1900s had on dismantling the insurance network centred around Britain and the development of more national insurance industries
  • The development of specialist reinsurers
  • The use of microinsurance in developing countries
  • The welfare system making insurance available to everyone


We hope you enjoy the first of our summer special series and will follow along with new episodes releasing every Monday and Thursday throughout August.


Regular episodes will resume in September

More episodes

View all episodes

  • 21. A look at a Lloyd's Managing Agent (With Lorraine Harfitt)

    36:07||Season 6, Ep. 21
    Welcome to Insurance Covered, the podcast that covers everything insurance.In this episode, Peter Mansfield interviews Lorraine Harfitt, CEO of Asta, to explore the role of Lloyd's Managing Agents. Lorraine shares her journey in the insurance industry, the structure of Lloyd's, and the responsibilities of managing agents. The conversation delves into the differences between managing agents and members agents, the history of managing agents, and the regulatory framework governing them. Lorraine also discusses the future of Asta and the Lloyd's market, highlighting opportunities for young professionals in the insurance sector.We hope you enjoyed this episode, if you did please subscribe to be notified when new episodes release.
  • 20. Insurance-linked Securities, Catastrophe Bonds and the convergence of the insurance and capital markets (With Steve Evans)

    35:46||Season 6, Ep. 20
    Welcome to Insurance Covered, the podcast that covers everything insurance.In this episode, Peter Mansfield dives into the intricate world of insurance-linked securities and catastrophe bonds with expert Steve Evans. They explore the convergence of insurance and capital markets, discussing how these financial instruments provide protection against major natural disasters. Steve shares insights on the growth of the ILS market, the benefits for insurers and investors, and the future potential of these innovative financial products. Whether you're new to the topic or looking to deepen your understanding, this episode offers a comprehensive overview of a niche yet rapidly expanding market. Tune in to learn how these securities are shaping the future of risk management.We hope you enjoyed this episode, if you did please subscribe to be notified when new episodes release.
  • 19. The Great Fire of London and the birth of fire insurance (With Howard Benge)

    40:55||Season 6, Ep. 19
    Welcome to Insurance Covered, the podcast that covers everything insurance.In this episode, Peter Mansfield is joined by Howard Benge, Director at the Insurance Museum, and they delve into the Great Fire of London, exploring its origins, the conditions leading up to it, and its devastating impact on the city and its inhabitants. They discuss the historical context of London in 1665, the construction methods of the time, and the inadequate fire management practices that contributed to the disaster. Eyewitness accounts provide a vivid picture of the chaos and destruction, while the conversation also touches on the aftermath and the birth of fire insurance as a response to such catastrophic events. This conversation explores the historical significance of the Great Fire of London, its impact on the city, and the subsequent development of fire insurance. The discussion highlights the rapid recovery of London post-fire, the innovative contributions of Nicholas Barbon in establishing fire insurance, and the evolution of insurance companies in response to changing risks. The long-term legacy of these developments is examined, showcasing how the Great Fire shaped modern insurance practices and fire prevention methods.We hope you enjoyed this episode, if you did please subscribe to be notified when new episodes release.keywordsGreat Fire of London, fire insurance, history, urban development, eyewitness accounts, London history, heritage consulting, insurance museum, 1666, urban fire management, Great Fire of London, fire insurance, Nicholas Barbon, rebuilding London, historical context, insurance history, fire prevention, insurance companies, legacy of insurance, London history
  • 18. What can poker teach us about insurance? (With Nick Wealthall)

    44:12||Season 6, Ep. 18
    Welcome to Insurance Covered, the podcast that covers everything insurance. In this engaging conversation, Peter Mansfield and Nick Wealthall explore the intriguing parallels between poker and the insurance industry. They discuss how the skills learned in poker, such as emotional control, decision-making under pressure, and understanding human psychology, can be applied to underwriting and claims handling. Nick shares his unique journey from a professional poker player to a consultant, emphasising the importance of trust, experience, and the ability to navigate incomplete information.We hope you enjoyed this episode, if you did please subscribe to be notified when new episodes release.
  • 17. Why we hate filling in online forms (and how insurers can improve them) (With Alun Lucas)

    25:18||Season 6, Ep. 17
    Welcome to Insurance Covered, the podcast that explores all things insurance. In this episode, Peter is joined by Alun Lucas to talk about online forms: why they often frustrate us, and more importantly, how they can be improved. We discuss why so many organisations, including insurers, rely on online forms to gather information, and how this process can be made better for both the organisation and the user. Finally, we play a round of Family Formtunes, a game highlighting the form questions most likely to make people abandon the process altogether. We hope you enjoyed this episode, if you did please subscribe to be notified when new episodes release.
  • 16. The Lloyd's Lab and insurance innovation (With Rosie Denée)

    30:10||Season 6, Ep. 16
    Welcome to Insurance Covered, the podcast that covers everything insurance. In this episode, we dive into the world of insurance innovation with Rosie Denee, Head of Lloyd's Lab. Discover how Lloyd's Lab serves as the innovation engine for the Lloyd's marketplace, supporting the development of new insurance products and de-risking innovation for the market. Rosie shares insights on the evolution of Lloyd's Lab, its award-winning accelerator program, and the significant partnerships that drive innovation in the insurance industry. Tune in to explore the challenges and opportunities in insurance innovation and how Lloyd's Lab is shaping the future of the industry. We hope you enjoyed this episode, if you did please subscribe to be notified when new episodes release.
  • 15. Why does everyone ignore insurance? (Even though it's the answer for everything) (With Lorcan Hall)

    48:27||Season 6, Ep. 15
    Welcome to Insurance Covered, the podcast that covers everything insurance.In this conversation, Peter Mansfield and Lorcan Hall explore the critical yet often overlooked role of insurance in achieving the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They discuss the current status of the SDGs, the significant funding gap needed to meet these goals, and the reasons why insurance is frequently ignored in development agendas. They discuss the importance of integrating insurance into sustainable development strategies and provides insights from research on how the insurance industry can better articulate its value to public sector organizations.We hope you enjoyed this episode, if you did please subscribe to be notified when new episodes release.keywords: insurance, sustainable development, SDGs, UN 2030 Agenda, climate change, financial systems, risk management, funding gap, insurance industry, public sector, sustainable development, innovation, partnerships, SDGs, insurance, economic growth, societal impact, climate change, resilience, private sector
  • 14. A look at run-off and legacy insurance (With Andy Creed)

    30:41||Season 6, Ep. 14
    Welcome to Insurance Covered, the podcast that covers everything insurance.In this conversation, Peter Mansfield interviews Andy Creed about runoff and legacy insurance, exploring its significance in the insurance ecosystem. They discuss the evolution of the legacy market, Riverstone's role, the reasons insurers sell their books of business, and the value proposition for Riverstone. The conversation also delves into the differences between reinsurance and legacy insurance, the importance of relationships, active claims management, and the nature of legacy claims. Andy shares insights on the future of the legacy insurance sector and offers career advice for those interested in this field.We hope you enjoyed this episode, if you did please subscribe to be notified when new episodes release.keywords runoff insurance, legacy insurance, Riverstone Group, insurance market, claims management, reinsurance, insurance liabilities, insurance transactions, insurance career, insurance ecosystem
  • 13. Insuring today's diversity (With Heidi McCormack)

    30:29||Season 6, Ep. 13
    Welcome to Insurance Covered, the podcast that covers everything insurance.In this episode, Peter Mansfield is joined by Heidi McCormack, CEO at Emerald Life, to discuss the importance of diversity and inclusion in the insurance industry, focusing on the unique challenges faced by underrepresented groups, particularly the LGBTQ+ community. Heidi shares her journey from working in Russia to co-founding Emerald Life, an insurance company dedicated to addressing the needs of diverse populations. They explore the barriers to insurance uptake, the discriminatory practices within the industry, and the innovative steps Emerald Life is taking to create inclusive products and services. The discussion also touches on the importance of feedback and continuous improvement in serving their customer base. In this conversation, Peter Mansfield and Heidi McCormack discuss the evolving landscape of community and inclusion within the insurance industry, emphasizing the importance of diversity, addressing unconscious bias, and the future of insurance products. They explore how businesses can champion equity and the necessity of compassion in customer interactions.We hope you enjoyed this episode, if you did please subscribe to be notified when new episodes release.keywords insurance, diversity, inclusion, LGBTQ+, underinsurance