Discussing New Approaches In AI, Data and Tech

Hosted by Eric Walker-Rawson

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Jun 2026

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Hello! I'm Eric Walker-Rawson, founder of Talos Executive Search, and this is Discussing New Approaches: a podcast aimed at sitting down with interesting people and discussing new approaches in their fields of expertise. If you want to learn about new and cutting-edge approaches in AI, Data, Technology and the wider Scientific world, this is the show for you! Each season will take place over a year, almost like a research project. My eventual aim is to take questions from the DNA community and follow up directly with the guests, taking the discussion even further. Join the journey.

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16 recent

June 3, 2026Episode 1156 min

Most Companies Can't Do BI — Never Mind AI | Data & AI Governance With Data Leader Adrian Smith

AI is being discussed in every boardroom, but are companies actually ready for it? Probably not.This is a conversation all about breaking down this contradiction. What are the fundamentals that many companies are still struggling with, and will this new AI era herald governance issues and mistakes we haven't seen before? If you are someone working in data and trying to wrangle your company into caring about Data & AI governance before things like the EU AI Act come into place, this is the conversation for you. GUESTAdrian Smith: Head of Data at Space - data strategy, transformation & governance leader.Connect with Adrian: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrian-smith-9876547/ABOUT THE SHOWDiscussing New Approaches in AI, Data and Tech is exactly what it says on the tin. Real conversations with experts and entrepreneurs exploring new ideas and work. Our whole purpose is to ignite conversation. Hosted by Eric Walker-Rawson, founder of Talos Executive Search, which funds the production of the show.

April 16, 2026Episode 1038 min

Why Nobody Uses Your Dashboards | Data Leadership, AI & Adoption

Most companies say they want to be data-driven. Most data leaders know the real problem is adoption. In Episode 10, Sam Wrench (Reality Mine) explains why data is not just engineering, why you should never AI the parts of a job people love, and why the “Export to Excel” button might be one of your most important product features.We get into:- stakeholder politics and why insight creates friction- how to build a data culture people actually buy into- hiring for thinking, not just SQL- why dashboards fail when they ignore the human element- what it takes to build a data function from scratch

February 25, 2026Episode 91 hr 13 min

Why Nations are Losing the Data & AI Battle: The Infrastructure Gap | Geopolitical Strategic Advisor

Explore the current state of the global AI & Data arms race with Geopolitical Strategic Intelligence Analyst and Advisor Suki Fuller.In Episode 9, I've sat down with Suki to get to the bottom of what is the current state of the Geopolitical environment when it comes to AI, Data and Tech. Who are the key players and resources, what is needed to stay in the game, and what are the very real threats to individuals like you and me caught in the geopolitical game of push and pull? Who is Suki? Starting out as an Intelligence Technology Analyst for the US Department of Defence, she has forged a career in assessing the state of the world in relation to technology. Nowadays, she has founded a Geopolitical Strategic Intelligence Advisory called Miribure, where she advises leaders and organisations worldwide. As always, we want to hear from you and keep the conversation going. If you have any questions, put them in the comments, and if we get enough conversation going, we'll follow up with Suki to discuss them. Also, remember to subscribe if you liked this episode to support the podcast!#ai #geopolitics #infrastructure

December 16, 2025Episode 843 min

Veteran Turned Entrepreneur - AI Can Solve The PTSD Crisis: 350 Million People Globally, Drones, Moral Injury, Active War zones, Civilian PTSD

Episode 8 of Season 2. PTSD wasn't something I knew a lot about before sitting down to have this conversation with Tom. Now the crisis is clear: 350 million people worldwide are suffering from PTSD, with 200,000 of those choosing to end everything, every year.That's why Tom founded Sentra AI. To provide more support through Technology and AI to a global mental health system that is struggling. Here is the breakdown of our conversation: 00:00 - Intro.01:47 - The Data and Facts of the Global PTSD Crisis.04:08 - What is PTSD? What do we know about it? 08:12 - How is moral injury a rising problem in both war zones and civilian life? 14:16 - What are the current support systems, and why aren't they working? 17:52 - How Sentra is using conversational AI, machine learning, data privacy, and technology to fight the PTSD problem.24:54 - How can we stop people from becoming dependent on AI? The AI love problem. 29:15 - What does Sentra phase 2/the future look like for PTSD support.31:39 - What new forms of warfare create new PTSD problems. 38:07 - What's the end goal for Sentra/are we, as a society, ready for this?As always, we want to hear from you. Let us know in the comments what you think about the topics we discussed in this episode, and let's keep the conversation going.If we get enough questions, I'll follow up with Tom to answer them. Also consider following if you want to continue to break through the hype of AI, Data and Tech to find out what work is being done by brilliant experts and entrepreneurs. Here are the links: To follow Sentra directly: https://getsentra.ai/Tom on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-sherwood1/And if you, or anyone you know, has been effected by the topics we've discussed today and you need support: https://combatstress.org.uk/https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/programs/mental-wellness/veteran-ptsd-treatment-support-resourcesFor immediate action call: 988 for US helpline116 123 for UK Samaritans

November 13, 2025Episode 740 min

Statistical Expert: Why is Polling Broken, Can We Fix It? Data, Insights and Statistical Theory

Episode 7 of Season 2. Firstly, we want to hear from you! As we mentioned in the episode, I've never been asked to take part in a national opinion poll, nor has anyone I know. We've created our own simple yes-or-no poll on Suffrago to ask this question and see how many people actually come into contact with these polls that are so important. Link is here: https://suff.ag/E1HKND Back to the description. In this instalment, we have a returning hero! Dr Simon Wallace helped me start off this entire journey over two years ago with our first-ever episode. Now, he is back. And here to discuss polling as the CTO and Co-Founder of Suffrago. It's no secret that trust has eroded in polling, and they are increasingly incorrect, sometimes wildly wrong. What are the reasons for this? How does polling even work? How are people chosen? What are the data and statistical methods behind this? In this conversation, we get into it all. Here is a breakdown: 00:00 - Intro01:34 - Why is Modern Polling Broken and the History 11:54 - Can Polls be Manipulated and Abused & How Sampling Works 21:38 - How Suffrago is Solving the Problem24:44 - Local Press Needs to Change and Local Vs National Problems30:39 - How Do You Ensure Anonymity and Accuracy?36:02 - What Does The Future Look Like? Polling 2.039:29 - OutroAs usual, if you have any questions or thoughts (I'd be surprised if you didn't) comment them below and we can answer them or even do a follow up! Link to Suffrago: https://www.suffrago.org/You can follow Simon on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-simon-wallace/

September 24, 2025Episode 644 min

Spatial Scientist Khalid: Geospatial Data, Digital Twin Technology, Satellites, Big Data, AI & Value

This time the conversation is about Geospatial Data and Digital Twin Technology and I brought Khalid, the Chief Scientist and Head of Data at Sensat, into the studio to discuss these Do you use Google Maps? Then you are interacting with both Geospatial Data and Digital Twin Technology every day, but the future of these technologies is even more exciting. Let's Break down the discussion: 00:00 - Intro00:50 - What is Geospatial Data? 3:32 - How is Geospatial Data Collected? Satellites and More. 07:00 - How is Satellite Data Used? How Much Data are we Talking? 10:34 - Are We Extracting Enough Value from These Datasets? The Sensat Journey15:45 - Digital Twin Tech, What is it and Where'd it Come From? 18:52 - National Digital Twin.20:35 - Digital Twins Now, Examples.24:08 - The Impact of AI on These Areas and What the Future Could Look Like.36:02 - Quantum, AI, VR, AR and Closing Thoughts. That's a lot packed into one episode! As usual, if you have any questions or thoughts (I'd be surprised if you didn't) comment them below and we can answer them or even do a follow up!

July 23, 2025Episode 539 min

Medical Research to AI-Powered Doctors - AI is Changing the Future of Healthcare with Rishi Wadhera | S2 Ep5

Back for another Episode, and this time I'm joined by Rishi Wadhera to discuss the Healthcare industry and how the AI wave is going to change the fundamental ways the whole industry operates.Rishi is the CEO of Giles, an AI start-up that is revolutionising medical research. With backing from Google, they have their sights set on transforming the whole Healthcare industry, particularly for patients like you and me. AI-Power Doctors and GPs in the future? It might be closer than you think... If you have any questions or thoughts, then we want to hear them. Comment below! The plan is to start a wider conversation within our community and then bring questions from our audience back to the guests to answer in follow up conversations. To follow Rishi, check out: https://giles.app/ Or follow him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rishiwadhera/ And Follow, if you haven't already, to join a community focused on exploring new ideas in AI, Data and Tech and to catch all the future episodes!

May 21, 2025Episode 41 hr 6 min

Using an AI second brain to support and enhance neurodiverse people with André Skepple | S2 | Ep4

Can we use AI to make a difference in the lives of Neurodivergent people? Make all those daily struggles that little bit easier through a hyper-personalised AI whose sole focus is supporting your life with a host of AI agents at its disposal. That's André's mission with FullSpektrum.It stems from his own difficulties with being diagnosed while at University with Dyslexia and Dyspraxia, and not wanting his son to go through the same experience. And what they are building at FullSpektrum is truly what the potential of AI-for-good can be. This was particularly exciting for me as I've gone through my own journey with ADHD over the last few years. Some of the other things we discussed are: - The issues with the SEN systems and how they've pivoted FullSpektrum - Why and how Tech has failed neurodiverse people. - Creating an AI ecosystem that will evolve with the user base. - Data sovereignty - paying people for both their data and how it will be used to help others by the AI, creating services and products. - How neurodiverse people are the people to create the solutions. - The philosophy that underpins Fullspektrum and how that fuels their AI.- The Agentic AI workflow that makes Akili (their AI) work.- The African concept of Ubuntu.If you've got any questions for André on anything we've discussed here about neurodiversity, AI or what they are building at Fullspektrum, or any of the other topics we’ve discussed in this episode, leave them in the comments below. We’ll do a follow-up video answering them. Let’s keep the conversation going. Follow André on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreskepple/And keep an eye on their website to be re-launched soon: https://fullspektrum.ai/ To give you a quick overview of what we are trying to do here on the Discussing New Approaches channel: Our main aim is to sit down with interesting people to discuss new and cutting-edge approaches in AI, Data, and Technology with the people who are on the frontlines of these innovations!Each season takes place over a year to highlight what New Approaches are being taken. Think of it like a yearly research project with a review and conclusion at the end of the year/season.I ultimately want to create a community to discuss each topic, bring guests back to take the conversation further, and explore the topics and guests that interest you!But that can only happen when there are enough of us! So if that's something you want to be part of, and with plenty more episodes coming your way monthly (for now), give that follow button a click! The Algorithm demands it. You can also follow me on LinkedIn for more weekly posts and info on Data, AI and Tech: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-walker-rawson-talos/

April 15, 2025Episode 31 hr 7 min

Using AI to Combat Fraud used in Human Trafficking with Dr. Janet Bastiman | S2 | Ep3

For the third episode of season two, I'm joined in the newly refurbished studio by Dr Janet Bastiman to discuss how she and Napier AI use AI to combat the financial fraud used in human trafficking rings.This is both a vitally important and fascinating conversation that shows how human trafficking isn't something that is done in secret, but now, in the digital world, it's all around us.And probably something you've seen while scrolling through social media...We get into detail about how these 'bad actors' are using financial fraud (including money laundering) to prey on vulnerable people, what these systems look like, how AI is being used to combat this type of fraud, also how these 'bad actors' are using new AI tech like deepfakes to create new and even more dangerous forms of scamming.We also cover the future, the potential of quantum technologies in this space, and a load of other subjects you'll have to listen to in the episode to discover.If you’ve got any questions for Janet about AI in the anti-fraud and anti-human trafficking or any of the other topics we’ve discussed in this episode, leave them in the comments below, and we’ll do a follow-up video answering them. Let’s keep the conversation going.About Discussing New Approaches:The main aim of Discussing New Approaches is to sit down with interesting people to discuss new approaches in their fields of expertise.If you are interested in new, cutting-edge approaches being taken AI, Data, Technology and the wider science fields, this is the show for you.Each season takes place over a year to highlight what New Approaches are being taken, like a yearly research project with a review and conclusion at the end of the year/season.My eventual aim is to take questions from the DNA community and follow up directly with the guests, taking the discussion even further than just each individual Episode.But that can only happen when there are enough of us!With plenty more episodes coming your way on a monthly basis (for now), if you liked what you saw, then give that follow button a click! The Algorithm demands it.

March 6, 2025Episode 21 hr 1 min

Human Centric Leadership with Nik Walker | S2 | Ep2

In the second episode of season two, I’m joined in the studio by Nik Walker to discuss Human Centric Leadership. A term for a new form of leadership that Nik is pioneering, born from his personal experiences (both bad and good), it is essentially a way for leaders to bring the human element back into business. We also get into his experiences (and my own) of neurodiversity and ADHD, mental health, the Data industry, AI (can’t not talk about it these days), managing teams of people to support them, leader styles and mindsets (old school into new), how to be a better leader to GenZ, and lots more! Check out Nik’s blog here: https://humanleadership.blog/about/If you’ve got any questions for Nik about Human Centric Leadership or any of the topics we’ve discussed in this episode, leave them in the comments below, and we’ll do a follow-up video answering them. Let’s keep the conversation going. The aim of Discussing New Approaches is to sit down with interesting people to discuss new approaches in their fields of expertise.If you are interested in new, cutting-edge approaches being taken AI, Data, Technology and the wider science fields, this is the show for you.Each season takes place over a year to highlight what New Approaches are being taken, like a yearly research project with a review and conclusion at the end of the year/season.My eventual aim is to take questions from the DNA community and follow up directly with the guests, taking the discussion even further than just each individual Episode.But that can only happen when there are enough of us! With plenty more episodes coming your way on a monthly basis (for now), if you liked what you saw, then give that subscribe button a click! The Algorithm demands it.