It’s Day 12 of Riskmas and – also the final episode of the Risktory Podcast. Today, a story that feels as real today as it did back then. Cathy Freeman, the great Australian runner, winning gold at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. A great tale that proves you don’t need the best of everything, to be the best. The Risktory Podcast is created, written, hosted and produced by Jacinthe A Galpin. All rights reserved.

Welcome to Day 11 of Riskmas. Today, let’s talk about the great musician, Miss Tammy Wynette. If Dolly is the Queen, Tammy was – and still is – the first lady of country. She broke all the ceilings, laying the groundwork for every female country singer coming after her. The Risktory Podcast is created, written, hosted and produced by Jacinthe A Galpin. All rights reserved.

It is Day 10 of Riskmas and, today, the song Tenterfield Saddler. When you think of the great Australian, Peter Allen, you think of – quite naturally – I still call Australia home. But for those of us of a certain vintage and/or who are fans of Peter Allen, we all know that Tenterfield Saddler is perhaps his best work. While I still call Australia home is an expat love song, a song that exuberantly celebrates all that makes my homeland great, Tenterfield Saddler is a sadder, more poignant...

Today, it’s Part 2 of my exploration into Russian dissident: Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. On day 7, I looked at Solzhenitsyn’s life, positing the idea that Solzhenitsyn may never have gotten close to being as influential as he was, and is, were it not for the utter chaos that seemed to accompany him wherever he went. Today, I wanted to look at the big lessons we can take from Solzhenitsyn. Lessons that I think are especially important to know, in these chaotic times. The Risktory Podcast is...

When Simone Biles pulled out of the Tokyo Olympics, I was so incredibly sad. I have loved watching this underdog win everything and I was genuinely excited to see her dominate. I kinda thought. Well, what next then? I mean, who else in the US Gymnastic Team can compete with the ferocity and dominance of Biles? Suni Lee. The Risktory Podcast is created, written, hosted and produced by Jacinthe A Galpin. All rights reserved.

Welcome to Day 7 of Riskmas, and Part I of two Riskmas episodes dedicated to the Russian dissident, Alexander Solzhenitsyn. Alexander Solzhenitsyn is one of the most influential philosophers to have ever lived, and his work is work that – even today – is incredibly relevant. On Part 1 today, I look at the life of Solzhenitsyn and the extraordinary roller coaster he experienced and endured. In Part 2, I’ll explore his ideas and share with you just why Solzhenitsyn’s work will always stand...

It is Day 6 of the 12 Days of Riskmas. The half way point. And today, it’s a battle of the countries. The US versus Australia. What are the five big differences between the two countries, and why do those differences matter. The Risktory Podcast is created, written, hosted and produced by Jacinthe A Galpin. All rights reserved.

It’s Day 5 of the 12 Days of Riskmas and, today, let’s talk about COVID-19’s latest mutation: Omicron. What you should know. What you should be on the look out for. And why you should not panic. The Risktory Podcast is created, written, hosted and produced by Jacinthe A Galpin. All rights reserved.

Welcome to Day 4 of Riskmas, and welcome to Classic Liberalism, the lost Philosophy. I don’t tend to engage in political discussion on the podcast, but I have mentioned a few times that I am a classic liberal. And I’ve received many an email and message along the lines of ‘I never picked you for a liberal’ or ‘I thought you had more common sense than to be a liberal’ or ‘You like socialism?’ I think there is confusion about classic liberalism versus progressive liberalism, which is a very...

Welcome to Day 3 of Riskmas. Today, let’s talk about Isaiah Lees, one of history’s greatest detectives and – arguably – the inspiration for Sherlock Holmes. The Risktory Podcast is created, written, hosted and produced by Jacinthe A Galpin. All rights reserved.

Welcome to Day 2 of Riskmas. Today, let’s talk about new Twitter Chief Executive Officer, Parag Agrawal, and – specifically – controversial comments he has made about the purpose of Twitter. Which may bring Twitter – once again – into direct conflict with Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. The Risktory Podcast is created, written, hosted and produced by Jacinthe A Galpin. All rights reserved.

Welcome to The 12 Days of Riskmas. The 12 Days of Riskmas is my way of saying thank you to all of my listeners – both the OGs and the newer listeners – for their support in 2021. Each day, for the next twelve days, I will be publishing a new Risktory episode, with each episode focused on a risk theme or concept. These won’t be full length episodes: more bite sized pieces. But they will be stories of risk that I think you guys will enjoy in the leadup to one of my favorite holidays of...

Coming up this week, how do you solve a problem like the Volkswagen Emissions Scandal. Not just the scandal itself, but the canary in a coalmine risks the scandal unveiled. Potential threats we might have thought unthinkable ten, heck, maybe five years ago. They were realized in brutal form during the Volkswagen Emissions Scandal. On this week’s episode, I explore the Volkswagen Emissions Scandal. And I delve into the two major threats that I believe still remain, even though the scandal...

On this week’s episode, the historic victory, in 1983, of Australia over the United States, to snatch the coveted America’s Cup yacht race. For those Australians of a certain vintage. I was in third grade at the time. I remember waking up on September 26 1983, getting ready for school, all the while watching the television broadcast, live from , Newport, Rhode Island. I remember every moment of Australia II crossing the finishing line, the cannons exploding, signifying that we had...

Coming up this week, I make sense of the Kyle Rittenhouse trial and verdict. While I don’t actively try to court controversy on the podcast, I feel like there has been a huge amount of disinformation surrounding this trial. There are conversations that need to be had. Learnings to be heeded. But we – as a nation – are never going to find some kind of peace if we are transacting on the basis of falsehoods. So, today, I’m going to unpack what we know happened on August 25 2020. I’m going...

Coming up on this week’s episode, the epic story of Madam CJ Walker. America’s first female self-made millionaire. CJ Walker is a great illustration of ‘when life hands you lemons, throw up that middle finger and go build yourself an empire. And make sure those who doubted, know about it’. On this week’s episode of The Risktory Podcast, the life and times of Master of the Risk Universe, Madam CJ Walker. The Risktory Podcast is created, written, hosted and produced by Jacinthe A...

Coming up on this week’s episode, the story of Operation Varsity Blues. An FBI investigation into a criminal conspiracy to influence undergraduate admissions at American colleges. It is estimated that more than $25 million exchanged hands between thirty three parents – including actors Lori Laughlin and Felicity Huffman – and William Singer, a College Adminissions Coach. You have often heard me speak about risk being agnostic. That some of history’s biggest monsters – Adolf Hitler, Che...

On this week’s episode, whatever happened to Circuit City? How did such a mainstay of the American Retail Ecosystem collapse. Today’s episode will contain no surprises in terms of how or why Circuit City found itself cast adrift. Having said that, while there might not be any surprises in terms of how and why Circuit City collapsed, the concept of interdependent risk realized is at the heart of Circuit City’s decline. Risk doesn’t exist in a vacuum: treat it like it does, and you’re...

On today’s episode, something a little different. One of the most popular Risktory episodes of 2021, or ever, really, has been the episode ‘Make it make sense… Gamestop’ where I documented how a bunch of Reddit bros went up against Wall Street and stripped wealthy investors of over a billion dollars through a stock trading strategy called short-selling. Ever since that episode first aired in February 2021, I’ve been inundated with questions about stock trading strategies. And I’ve found...

Coming up this week, an episode I’ve long wanted to cover, and now – this week – it’s time. Master of the Risk Universe. Peter Allen. Peter Allen occupies a curious place in Australian lore. At least, in my Australian world, there is no debate as to whether you love, or hate, Peter Allen. He has, over time, transcended the judgements we usually ascribe to celebrities. Peter Allen is a national deity and his song, I Still Call Australia Home, our unofficial national anthem. As an...

Coming up on this week’s episode, whatever happened to Wirecard? The German-based payment processor and financial services unicorn that collapsed in August of 2020. The story, and the lessons learned, from the Wirecard collapse: It’s an exercise of what happens when threat is in plain sight, where the canary in the coalmine is practically comatose, and yet, nothing is done to right the ship. Until it’s too late. On this week’s episode, the rise and fall of a European darling,...

So, as many of you would know, in the last week, I became an American Citizen. And with that, I had a lot of questions about our immigration journey from Australia to America. And a lot of suggestions that our immigration journey might be a great episode in terms of personal risk and how we – as a family - balanced the challenges of the unknown with the incredible opportunity that immigration to the US offers. So, this week, instead of a How They Did It episode, this is a How We Did It...

Coming up this week, the story of how the behemouth that is Trader Joe’s all began. The start-up story of Trader Joe’s is the stuff of beautiful, disruptive, opportunistic risk taking. It’s a start of one man, who saw a gap, and chose to innovate that gap, creating a brand that – in the US – is universally loved and cherished. The startup story of Trader Joe’s has all the hallmarks or characteristics you’d expect from the disruptors: ambition, curiosity, diligence, resilience. A lot of...

Coming up on this week’s episode, let’s talk about COVID-19 vaccine mandates. Specifically, the sweeping vaccine mandates announced by President Joe Biden last week week. Not surprising in modern day America, there are those who are cheering Biden, believing that this is the decisive move America needs to get back to normal. And there are those who believe this is an unconstitutional grab for power, and the unfortunate start of America’s journey into totalitarianism. On this week’s...