Summary In this conversation we talk with Graham House, a former senior officer in the RAF. Graham discusses his decision to leave the military due to a serious conflict of values. He highlights instances of alleged cover-ups of rape and war crimes, as well as the mistreatment of whistleblowers. Graham emphasizes the importance of effective governance and the need for individuals in positions of power to ask difficult questions and prioritize serving the public. He also discusses the tactics used to discredit dissenting voices. Graham discusses the importance of widening belief systems and the need for self-awareness, self-trust, resilience, and self-confidence. He shares his personal journey of rebuilding himself and his house after a destructive phase in his life. Graham emphasizes the need for individuals to take self-responsibility and prepare for tough times, as well as the importance of collaboration and cooperation in public service. He also discusses his involvement in Justice for Troops, an organization that aims to address crimes and cover-ups within the armed forces. Finally, Graham introduces , the Social Impact Academy, which aims to bring together capable people to create positive change.

https://thesocialimpactacademy.co.uk

KeywordsGraham House, RAF, conflict of values, cover-ups, rape, war crimes, mistreatment of whistleblowers, effective governance, serving the public, mental health, discrediting dissenting voices, belief systems, self-awareness, self-trust, resilience, self-confidence, rebuilding, self-responsibility, collaboration, cooperation, public service, Justice for Troops, crimes, cover-ups, armed forces, Social Impact Academy, positive change

Summary In this conversation we talk with Graham House, a former senior officer in the RAF. Graham discusses his decision to leave the military due to a serious conflict of values. He highlights instances of alleged cover-ups of rape and war crimes, as well as the mistreatment of whistleblowers. Graham emphasizes the importance of effective governance and the need for individuals in positions of power to ask difficult questions and prioritize serving the public. He also discusses the tactics used to discredit dissenting voices. Graham discusses the importance of widening belief systems and the need for self-awareness, self-trust, resilience, and self-confidence. He shares his personal journey of rebuilding himself and his house after a destructive phase in his life. Graham emphasizes the need for individuals to take self-responsibility and prepare for tough times, as well as the importance of collaboration and cooperation in public service. He also discusses his involvement in Justice for Troops, an organization that aims to address crimes and cover-ups within the armed forces. Finally, Graham introduces , the Social Impact Academy, which aims to bring together capable people to create positive change.

https://thesocialimpactacademy.co.uk

KeywordsGraham House, RAF, conflict of values, cover-ups, rape, war crimes, mistreatment of whistleblowers, effective governance, serving the public, mental health, discrediting dissenting voices, belief systems, self-awareness, self-trust, resilience, self-confidence, rebuilding, self-responsibility, collaboration, cooperation, public service, Justice for Troops, crimes, cover-ups, armed forces, Social Impact Academy, positive change

SummaryLucy Johnston discusses the Power Threat Meaning Framework (PTMF), an alternative to the diagnostic model of distress. The PTMF aims to move away from labeling and medicating distress and instead focuses on narrative practice and understanding. It emphasizes the role of power and the links between personal distress and wider social, political, and economic contexts. The PTMF has received both positive and negative reactions, with some seeing it as radical and threatening existing power structures. Lucy discusses the challenges and criticisms she has faced and the importance of continuing the conversation and promoting alternative narratives.

KeywordsPower Threat Meaning Framework, diagnostic model, distress, narrative practice, power, social context, alternative narratives

Dr Lucy Johnstone is a consultant clinical psychologist, author of 'Users and abusers of psychiatry' (3rd edition Routledge 2021) and ‘A straight-talking guide to psychiatric diagnosis’ (PCCS Books, 2nd edition 2022); co-editor of 'Formulation in psychology and psychotherapy: making sense of people's problems' (Routledge, 2nd edition 2013); and co-author of ‘A straight talking introduction to the Power Threat Meaning Framework’, 2020, PCCS Books) along with a number of other chapters and articles taking a critical perspective on mental health theory and practice. She is the former Programme Director of the Bristol Clinical Psychology Doctorate in the UK and has worked in Adult Mental Health settings for many years, most recently in a service in South Wales. She is Visiting Professor at London South Bank University, and Honorary Fellow of the BPS, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. Lucy was lead author, along with Professor Mary Boyle, for the ‘Power Threat Meaning Framework’ (2018), a British Psychological Society publication co-produced with service users, which outlines a conceptual alternative to psychiatric diagnosis and has attracted national and international attention. Lucy is an experienced conference speaker and lecturer, and currently works as an independent trainer. She lives in Bristol, UK.

Takeaways

• The Power Threat Meaning Framework (PTMF) offers an alternative to the diagnostic model of distress, focusing on narrative practice and understanding.
• The PTMF emphasizes the role of power and the links between personal distress and wider social, political, and economic contexts.
• The framework has received both positive and negative reactions, challenging existing power structures and identities tied to diagnostic labels.
• It is important to continue the conversation and promote alternative narratives to address the root causes of distress and support well-being.

SummaryLucy Johnston discusses the Power Threat Meaning Framework (PTMF), an alternative to the diagnostic model of distress. The PTMF aims to move away from labeling and medicating distress and instead focuses on narrative practice and understanding. It emphasizes the role of power and the links between personal distress and wider social, political, and economic contexts. The PTMF has received both positive and negative reactions, with some seeing it as radical and threatening existing power structures. Lucy discusses the challenges and criticisms she has faced and the importance of continuing the conversation and promoting alternative narratives.

KeywordsPower Threat Meaning Framework, diagnostic model, distress, narrative practice, power, social context, alternative narratives

Dr Lucy Johnstone is a consultant clinical psychologist, author of 'Users and abusers of psychiatry' (3rd edition Routledge 2021) and ‘A straight-talking guide to psychiatric diagnosis’ (PCCS Books, 2nd edition 2022); co-editor of 'Formulation in psychology and psychotherapy: making sense of people's problems' (Routledge, 2nd edition 2013); and co-author of ‘A straight talking introduction to the Power Threat Meaning Framework’, 2020, PCCS Books) along with a number of other chapters and articles taking a critical perspective on mental health theory and practice. She is the former Programme Director of the Bristol Clinical Psychology Doctorate in the UK and has worked in Adult Mental Health settings for many years, most recently in a service in South Wales. She is Visiting Professor at London South Bank University, and Honorary Fellow of the BPS, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. Lucy was lead author, along with Professor Mary Boyle, for the ‘Power Threat Meaning Framework’ (2018), a British Psychological Society publication co-produced with service users, which outlines a conceptual alternative to psychiatric diagnosis and has attracted national and international attention. Lucy is an experienced conference speaker and lecturer, and currently works as an independent trainer. She lives in Bristol, UK.

Takeaways

• The Power Threat Meaning Framework (PTMF) offers an alternative to the diagnostic model of distress, focusing on narrative practice and understanding.
• The PTMF emphasizes the role of power and the links between personal distress and wider social, political, and economic contexts.
• The framework has received both positive and negative reactions, challenging existing power structures and identities tied to diagnostic labels.
• It is important to continue the conversation and promote alternative narratives to address the root causes of distress and support well-being.

Summary 2024 is a general election year in the UK and David and Naomi wanted to have a conversation about the criminal justice system because the topic receives so little attention elsewhere. However the topic is so wide and complex that we found that we could only begin and hope to return to the subject again. The conversation explores the ethical considerations around imprisonment and the need for more investment in the prison service. The speakers discuss their experiences working in prisons and the challenges they faced. They highlight the importance of addressing trauma and providing a supportive environment for rehabilitation. They also discuss the limitations and flaws of the current prison system, including the lack of resources and support for released prisoners. The conversation raises questions about the effectiveness and ethics of imprisonment as a form of punishment.

In this extraordinary conversation Ian Foxley, a retired army lieutenant colonel and founder of Parrhesia, shares his experience as a whistleblower in the Airbus corruption scandal. He discovered wrongdoing while working as a program director for an Airbus subsidiary in Saudi Arabia. He found irregularities in the budget, questionable projects, and secret payments to subcontractors. When he reported his findings to the MOD, he faced threats and had to escape the country. He later provided evidence to the MOD Fraud Squad and the Serious Fraud Office, leading to a criminal investigation into Airbus. Airbus was fined €3.6 billion, and GPT, the subsidiary, pleaded guilty to corruption. Ian Foxley discusses the aftermath of blowing the whistle on corruption in defense procurement, including the legal proceedings and trials that took place. He emphasizes the need to hold government departments accountable for their involvement in corruption and calls for transparency and personal accountability. The conversation also touches on the challenges faced by whistleblowers, including the impact on their careers and personal lives. Foxley shares his own experiences and highlights the importance of a strong support network. He concludes by discussing the work of Parrhesia, an organization he founded to advocate for whistleblower protection and contribute to policy changes.

https://www.parrhesia.org.uk/

(Parrhesia is an Ancient Greek term meaning “to speak freely” implying not only freedom of speech, but the obligation to speak the truth for the common good, even at great personal risk.)

Keywordswhistleblower, Airbus, corruption, Saudi Arabia, budget, subcontractors, threats, escape, evidence, investigation, fine, guilty plea, whistleblowing, corruption, defense procurement, accountability, government departments, trials, support network, Parheesia

In this extraordinary conversation Ian Foxley, a retired army lieutenant colonel and founder of Parrhesia, shares his experience as a whistleblower in the Airbus corruption scandal. He discovered wrongdoing while working as a program director for an Airbus subsidiary in Saudi Arabia. He found irregularities in the budget, questionable projects, and secret payments to subcontractors. When he reported his findings to the MOD, he faced threats and had to escape the country. He later provided evidence to the MOD Fraud Squad and the Serious Fraud Office, leading to a criminal investigation into Airbus. Airbus was fined €3.6 billion, and GPT, the subsidiary, pleaded guilty to corruption. Ian Foxley discusses the aftermath of blowing the whistle on corruption in defense procurement, including the legal proceedings and trials that took place. He emphasizes the need to hold government departments accountable for their involvement in corruption and calls for transparency and personal accountability. The conversation also touches on the challenges faced by whistleblowers, including the impact on their careers and personal lives. Foxley shares his own experiences and highlights the importance of a strong support network. He concludes by discussing the work of Parrhesia, an organization he founded to advocate for whistleblower protection and contribute to policy changes.

https://www.parrhesia.org.uk/

(Parrhesia is an Ancient Greek term meaning “to speak freely” implying not only freedom of speech, but the obligation to speak the truth for the common good, even at great personal risk.)

Keywordswhistleblower, Airbus, corruption, Saudi Arabia, budget, subcontractors, threats, escape, evidence, investigation, fine, guilty plea, whistleblowing, corruption, defense procurement, accountability, government departments, trials, support network, Parheesia

Robert Verkaik, author and journalist, discusses his passionate interest in social inequality and the impact of poverty on communities. He shares his personal experiences and observations that have shaped his interest in the subject. The conversation also touches on the difference between being rich and being wealthy, the ethics of wealth, the impact of the austerity agenda, and the portrayal of poverty in the media. Robert suggests solutions such as tax reform, a universal basic income, and addressing the issues surrounding private education. The conversation concludes with a discussion on Robert's latest book, 'The Traitor of Arnhem', and the lingering effects of World War II on Russia's political culture.

Bio