About podcast

The Mind Behind

On The Mind Behind, we explore what real, everyday leadership looks like with leaders who are unique, influential, engaging, and have that extra something. We get below the surface and ask the questions you want answered. We get to the heart of what’s worked, what hasn’t, and what makes the difference. We look at what’s happening now and gain insights into what’s next. One thing for sure, we encourage opinions.

Listen in for open conversations, honest insights, new ideas, and a bit of fun.

Featured Episodes

Episode 42
When the Work Changes, Who Are You? with Que Jephcott

Most conversations about AI focus on what it can do. This one asks something harder: when the work changes around us, how do we know who we are?

In this episode, Graham sits down with Que Jephcott, Head of Analysis at Endava, to explore what AI transformation actually feels like from the inside of a technology consulting firm and why the hardest part has nothing to do with the technology.
In this episode, Graham sits down with Que Jephcott, Head of Analysis at Endava, to explore what AI transformation actually feels like from the inside of a technology consulting firm and why the hardest part has nothing to do with the technology.

Que shares how his team is navigating the shift from building things to governing the AI agents that build things for them and what that means for how we think about our roles, our skills, and our identity at work.


Tune in to explore:
💡 Why most tech projects fail before a single line of code is written
💡 The shift from "can we build this?" to "should we?"💡 What delegating to AI agents actually looks like in practice
💡 Why identity and job titles are a risk in an AI-powered world
💡 What Que tells his team when they ask: what should I be upskilling in right now?


Whether you work in technology or not, this conversation will challenge how we think about our roles, our identity, and what it really means to stay relevant when the work around us keeps changing.


Connect with Que Jephcott:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/que-jephcott/
Connect with Graham Dobbin:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/grahamdobbin/


Resources & Mentions

Superagency — how AI is reshaping work, from Reid Hoffman
🔗 https://www.superagency.ai/
Something Big Is Happening — a powerful take on the pace of AI right now, by Matt Shumer
🔗 https://shumer.dev/something-big-is-happening
Dava.Flow — a real-world example of AI in action from Endava
🔗 https://www.endava.com/dava-flow

Episode 41
One Word Changes Everything with Russell Mills

Can the words in a written statement reveal a lie? Forensic linguist Russell Mills breaks down the science of deception detection in insurance fraud investigations.

Russell Mills is a forensic consultant, linguistics expert, and PhD researcher who has spent decades analysing written claims to identify deception indicators. In this episode of The Mind Behind, Russell joins host Graham Dobbin to unpack what linguistic analysis actually reveals, what it doesn't, and why some of the most trusted investigative techniques may not hold up under academic scrutiny.

If you work in insurance investigations, fraud detection, claims management, or risk, this conversation will challenge how you read written statements and conduct interviews.

In this episode:

💡How forensic linguistics is used in insurance fraud investigations

💡Why pronoun shifts in written statements may not be a reliable deception indicator

💡What Russell's PhD research reveals about longstanding investigative theory

💡How AI tools like ChatGPT are changing the way fraud investigators work

💡Why reducing false positives is just as important as catching fraudulent claims

💡Why the human interview remains the most critical part of any fraud investigation

Who is Russell Mills? Russell Mills is a consultant to the insurance industry on fraud matters, with over 30 years of expertise spanning forensic accident reconstruction, fraud prevention, investigations, and compliance. A Certified Fraud Examiner, ANZIIF Senior Associate, and Certified Insurance Professional, his career includes time with the NSW Police and private investigation sectors, as well as building fraud departments across multiple general insurance companies.

Connect with Russell Mills: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rnmills

Connect with Graham Dobbin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grahamdobbin/

Episode 40
The Snail in the Algorithm: AI, Negligence & Who Pays

AI is already being used to draft advice, screen candidates, write comms, and support decisions at work. The question is: what happens when it gets it wrong and no one can explain why?

In this episode, Graham and Ted Miller (lawyer, academic, lifelong student of philosophy) unpack what black-box AI means in practice: who carries the risk, what happens when systems scale harm, and what leaders can put in place now.

Tune in to explore:

💡 Accountability: vendor vs user vs organisation

💡 The “snail in the bottle” story (and why it fits AI perfectly)

💡 Robodebt as the warning about automation at scale

💡 Guardrails that keep AI useful, not risky

If AI is already creeping into hiring, advice, comms, or compliance, this is a grounded listen on using it without losing control or trust.

Connect with Ted (James Miller):

🔗 Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-miller-5a8183299/

Episode 39
Bell Shakespeare’s Voice Director on Leadership Presence

Ever walked out of a meeting knowing you had the right message, but feeling like it didn’t quite land?

In this episode, Graham chats with Jack Starkey-Gill (Voice Director at Bell Shakespeare and Founder of JSG Voice) about voice as one of the most practical and overlooked leadership tools we have.

Jack shares how his journey from acting into voice direction shaped what “voice work” really means: not sounding polished for the sake of it, but building clarity, flexibility, and connection.

Tune in to explore:

💡 Why pressure so often changes how we sound

💡 How to bring presence without feeling like you’re “putting on a performance”

💡 Jack’s simple “outer hear → inner feel” cue to reduce self-monitoring

💡 Why clarity and human nuance build trust, especially now

Whether you’re leading a team, presenting complex ideas, or simply wanting to feel calmer when you speak, this one offers a grounded, practical way to think about finding (and training) your voice, so your message comes through clearly when it matters.

Connect with Jack / JSG Voice:

🔗 jsgvoice.com

Episode 38
No Spin, Just Trust: Real-World Crisis Lessons for Leaders

In this episode of The Mind Behind, Graham Dobbin sits down with Mick Ord, former BBC journalist turned crisis communications specialist, to explore what it really takes to build trust when scrutiny is relentless and information is messy.

Drawing on decades inside one of the world’s most watched media institutions, Mick shares how newsroom principles can help leaders communicate clearly, calmly, and credibly when the stakes are high.

Tune in to hear:

• How to build trust when the cameras are rolling

• The illusion of message control and what really matters instead

• Authenticity under pressure and how to lead with it

• Why “no comment” is never a strategy

• How AI and social media are changing crisis response

🎧 If you lead, communicate, or get called on when things go wrong, this one’s for you. Practical, honest insights on staying calm, clear, and credible when the heat’s on.

Connect with:

Mick: linkedin.com/in/mick-ord-80911bb

Graham: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grahamdobbin

Additional links:

Gerald Ratner story: https://thehustle.co/gerald-ratners-billion-dollar-speech
Cyber attack opinion: https://www.mickord.com/british-library-cyber-attack-a-lesson-for-us-all/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Hillsborough Disaster: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-merseyside-47697569
Toxteth Riots: https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2015/sep/14/toxteth-riots-1981-summer-liverpool-burned-patrick-mi...
Heysel: https://www.brusselstimes.com/1601436/the-heysel-stadium-disaster-40-years-on

Episode 37
AI Won’t Replace You, But Slow Thinking Will

Everyone’s talking about AI. Few are talking about how to keep humans at the centre of it.

In this episode, Graham Dobbin and Sharbani Dhar unpack what happens when innovation stalls under its own caution. From the Australia–India corridor to empathy-led design and human-in-the-loop AI, they explore how trust, curiosity, and capability turn technology into transformation.

🎧 Tune in to explore:

• Why empathy still outperforms algorithms

• How human-centred design is reshaping manufacturing

• What Australia can learn from India’s bold innovation culture

• Why upskilling, not replacement, defines the real future of work

Because staying relevant isn’t about keeping up with AI, it’s about keeping up with ourselves.

Connect with:

Sharbani: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharbanidhar

Graham: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grahamdobbin

Additional links:

https://www.dotinfinity.co/

Episode 36
The Moment Marketing Becomes Mindset

What if the secret to better marketing isn’t more data, campaigns, or ROI — but a completely different way of thinking?

In this episode, Graham Dobbin talks with Ross Hastings, CEO of Ne-Lo and Anatomy of Marketing Training, about how real growth begins when marketing stops being a department and becomes part of how everyone thinks, decides, and connects.

Together, they explore how to:

💡Shift from doing marketing to being marketing and why that changes everything

💡Build capability and confidence across teams

💡Lead with curiosity instead of control

💡Align culture and brand from the inside out

💡Draw lessons from Apple, Spotify, and Rory Sutherland’s Alchemy

Smart, challenging, and refreshingly human, this episode reveals what happens when leaders stop chasing ROI and start creating cultures that think marketing.

Connect with:

Ross: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ross-hastings/

Graham: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grahamdobbin/

Additional links:

Ne-Lo: https://www.ne-lo.com/

Anatomy of Marketing Training: https://anatomyofmarketing.training/

Alchemy: The Surprising Power of Ideas That Don't Make Sense: https://www.amazon.com.au/Alchemy-Surprising-Power-Ideas-Sense/dp/0753556529/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1RQD3B9U9S6S2&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.yuIt7AXfDuRfCAVlniNUxk5X9kSBPNl4QKTtPu_aqgY-71wNvsGNipyDyI9w-6meHwEp_RAjOBezl6tf57VRRZEqKOVgbst7_YHDb5XmqUk.HoEIYSAcBzryKnorbXMoDRu_Ll-riZ9-nInyJCO8ehA&dib_tag=se&keywords=rory+sutherland+alchemy&qid=1761700969&sprefix=rory+suther%2Caps%2C628&sr=8-2

Episode 21
Doing It Anyway with Marc Randolph, the first CEO of Netflix

Marc Randolph is a veteran Silicon Valley entrepreneur, advisor, and investor. As co-founder and founding CEO of Netflix, he laid much of the groundwork for a service that’s grown to 150 million subscribers, and fundamentally altered how the world experiences media.

He is the author of the new book, That Will Never Work!

He also served on the Netflix board of directors until retiring from the company in 2003. Marc’s career as an entrepreneur spans four decades. He’s founded or co-founded six other successful startups, mentored hundreds of early stage entrepreneurs, and as an investor has helped seed dozens of successful tech ventures (and just as many unsuccessful ones).

Most recently, he co-founded analytics software company Looker Data Sciences, where he now serves as director. Outside of the tech and startup world, Marc sits on the boards of Chubbies Shorts, Augment Technologies, the environmental advocacy group 1% For The Planet, and the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), which he’s been involved with for most of his life. A resident of Santa Cruz, California, Marc travels and speaks all over the world, and still probably manages to go surfing more than you do.

Episode 35
What 2,000 Years of Wisdom Reveals About Leading Through Change

What can a Roman emperor teach us about leadership in 2025?

On this episode of The Mind Behind, Graham Dobbin is joined once again by Ted Miller, lawyer, academic, and lifelong student of philosophy, to explore the enduring lessons of Marcus Aurelius and the Stoic tradition.

What you’ll discover in this episode:

💡 How Marcus Aurelius became the original “philosopher king”

💡 The Stoic principles shaping clarity, judgment, and resilience in leadership

💡 Why timeless thinking still drives performance in complex environments

💡 How to turn ancient philosophy into practical choices that shape culture, strategy, and results

🎧 Whether you’re leading a team, building a business, or just curious about how ancient wisdom shapes modern thinking, this episode shows why Stoicism still matters, and how it can change the way you lead today.

-------------------------------------

🔗 Resources Mentioned

Meditations by Marcus Aurelius — foundational text of Stoic philosophy (Gregory Hays translation):https://www.amazon.com.au/Mod-Lib-Meditations-Marcus-Aurelius/dp/0812968255

The Daily Stoic  — modern reflections on Stoic principles:https://dailystoic.com/

Stoicism – Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy — academic overview:https://iep.utm.edu/stoicism/

Ted Miller on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-miller-5a8183299/

Graham Dobbin on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/grahamdobbin/

Sponsored by Dale Carnegie Australia: https://www.dalecarnegietraining.com.au/https://www.linkedin.com/company/dale-carnegie-au

No Spin, Just Trust: Real-World Crisis Lessons for Leaders

In this episode of The Mind Behind, Graham Dobbin sits down with Mick Ord, former BBC journalist turned crisis communications specialist, to explore what it really takes to build trust when scrutiny is relentless and information is messy.

Drawing on decades inside one of the world’s most watched media institutions, Mick shares how newsroom principles can help leaders communicate clearly, calmly, and credibly when the stakes are high.

Tune in to hear:

• How to build trust when the cameras are rolling

• The illusion of message control and what really matters instead

• Authenticity under pressure and how to lead with it

• Why “no comment” is never a strategy

• How AI and social media are changing crisis response

🎧 If you lead, communicate, or get called on when things go wrong, this one’s for you. Practical, honest insights on staying calm, clear, and credible when the heat’s on.

Connect with:

Mick: linkedin.com/in/mick-ord-80911bb

Graham: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grahamdobbin

Additional links:

Gerald Ratner story: https://thehustle.co/gerald-ratners-billion-dollar-speech
Cyber attack opinion: https://www.mickord.com/british-library-cyber-attack-a-lesson-for-us-all/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Hillsborough Disaster: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-merseyside-47697569
Toxteth Riots: https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2015/sep/14/toxteth-riots-1981-summer-liverpool-burned-patrick-mi...
Heysel: https://www.brusselstimes.com/1601436/the-heysel-stadium-disaster-40-years-on

AI Won’t Replace You, But Slow Thinking Will

Everyone’s talking about AI. Few are talking about how to keep humans at the centre of it.

In this episode, Graham Dobbin and Sharbani Dhar unpack what happens when innovation stalls under its own caution. From the Australia–India corridor to empathy-led design and human-in-the-loop AI, they explore how trust, curiosity, and capability turn technology into transformation.

🎧 Tune in to explore:

• Why empathy still outperforms algorithms

• How human-centred design is reshaping manufacturing

• What Australia can learn from India’s bold innovation culture

• Why upskilling, not replacement, defines the real future of work

Because staying relevant isn’t about keeping up with AI, it’s about keeping up with ourselves.

Connect with:

Sharbani: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharbanidhar

Graham: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grahamdobbin

Additional links:

https://www.dotinfinity.co/

Meet the host

Graham Dobbin

Never one to hold back, Graham brings a direct, curious voice to every conversation. As a podcast host, facilitator and speaker, he asks the tough questions that get people thinking and knows how to engage audiences of all kinds.

Naturally inquisitive from a young age, that same curiosity now drives him to explore what makes people, teams and organisations really tick.

Today, Graham works with organisations like Specsavers, Amazon, LinkedIn and Macquarie across Australia, the US and the UK, exploring the shifts shaping work — from new skill demands and AI to leadership, culture and the everyday challenges of hybrid teams and talent.