High Net Purpose

Islandbridge

Most of us are in pursuit of purpose, but it can be especially hard to bring purpose into your business. On this show, we invite growing businesses and industry leaders to share their purpose and give us ‘the pitch’.    We want to find out how entrepreneurs and global leaders in our network are allocating capital in a more responsible and purposeful way. But more importantly, we want to know what isn’t in the pitch deck. Joe McCarthy hits his guests with the hard questions in order to find the paradoxes and nuances in their pitches.   High Net Purpose is hosted by Joe McCarthy, founder of Islandbridge, a company focused on helping highly successful people allocate their capital in a meaningful way. Whilst traditional investing is often solely focused on the accruement of more wealth, Joe has been working hard to shift the focus to purpose-led investing and show that’s it’s not black and white, but it is worth it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. How Compassion Rewires Your Brain with Dr. James Doty

    28 AUG

    How Compassion Rewires Your Brain with Dr. James Doty

    What if compassion wasn’t just a virtue, but a science that could rewire your brain, reduce stress, and even extend your life expectancy? This conversation is one of our earliest recordings, now released for the first time, with the late Dr. James Doty: Stanford neurosurgeon, New York Times bestselling author, entrepreneur, and founder of Stanford’s Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education (CCARE). Recorded in our early days but never shared until now, this conversation captures Dr. Doty’s extraordinary wisdom on the science and practice of compassion. He explains how compassion rewires the brain, simple self-compassion techniques to silence the inner critic, and why compassionate organisations consistently outperform those built on fear. Along the way, he reflects on his own journey - from losing $80 million at the height of success to finding true fulfilment in service, and the role the Dalai Lama played in shaping his work at Stanford. Dr. Doty’s life was devoted to proving that compassion is not soft, but the foundation of human flourishing. We’re honoured to share this conversation from our archives as a tribute to his enduring legacy. To learn more about Dr Doty's life and legacy, visit: https://www.jamesrdotymd.com/ Follow High Net Purpose on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/highnetpurpose Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 2m
  2. How We Lose Control of AI - and How to Stop It, with Kristian Rönn

    24 JUL

    How We Lose Control of AI - and How to Stop It, with Kristian Rönn

    Everyone’s talking about ChatGPT—but what if the real threat from AI is happening elsewhere? Kristian Rönn is the co-founder of Lucid, a company helping governments track the movement and usage of AI chips globally. He previously founded Normative, the carbon accounting platform that helped shape EU and UK climate disclosure rules—and began his career researching existential risk at Oxford’s Future of Humanity Institute. He’s also the author of The Darwinian Trap, a bestselling book that explores how misaligned incentives—and short-term thinking—can push systems toward catastrophic outcomes. It’s a framework he now applies to AI, arguing that without global coordination, the very infrastructure powering this technology could spiral out of control. In this conversation, he explains why AI’s biggest risks aren’t in the models—but in the chips, supply chains, and silent diffusion happening behind the scenes. We explore: • Why frontier models are a distraction from the real governance challenge • The one global policy move governments must make before it’s too late • What a chicken sandwich teaches us about AI’s hidden complexity • And what carbon accounting taught Kristian about building systems that actually scale If you care about who’s really in control of AI—and how we avoid losing the plot—this is essential listening. Chapters 00:00 – Intro: Welcome to High Net Purpose 00:29 – Kristian Rönn: From Philosopher to AI Safety Pioneer 01:31 – Early Life: What Shaped Kristian’s Worldview 04:29 – The Impact of Peter Singer and Utilitarian Thinking 08:31 – Exploring Existential Risks and the Road to AI 13:20 – Building Normative: The Startup That Changed Carbon Accounting 21:29 – Why Kristian Left Climate Tech for AI Governance 23:22 – The Darwinian Trap: Why Good Incentives Lead to Bad Outcomes 25:36 – Darwinian Demons vs. Cooperative Systems 34:47 – The Challenge of Global AI Governance 35:23 – Centralization vs. Decentralization in AI Control 37:33 – The Chicken Sandwich Analogy: AI and Hidden Value Chains 39:28 – Can Decentralized Governance Actually Work? 40:49 – Enlightenment Thinking and Biological Drives 45:11 – AI Assurance, Risk Management, and Value Chain Complexity 48:27 – Who Should Govern AI? Security, Policy, and Global Standards 53:09 – What the Future of AI Regulation Could Look Like 01:05:18 – Final Thoughts: Purpose, Power, and What Comes Next Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 10m
  3. The CIA, Area 51 & a world of secrets hidden in plain sight — with Annie Jacobsen

    26 JUN

    The CIA, Area 51 & a world of secrets hidden in plain sight — with Annie Jacobsen

    What if the most powerful secrets shaping our world were hidden in plain sight? Annie Jacobsen is America’s most fearless investigative journalist. A seven-time bestselling author and Pulitzer Prize finalist, she’s spent decades uncovering the truth behind the CIA, covert military operations, nuclear war planning, and the government’s deepest classified programs - from Area 51 to assassination missions you were never meant to know about. Annie pulls back the curtain on stories that challenge what we think we know about power, secrecy, and war. She shares what it’s like to earn the trust of the world’s most dangerous men - and why the truth is often stranger, and scarier, than fiction. You’ll learn: How Annie went from earning $0 as a writer to breaking into national security reportingThe advice that changed her life — and how it led to bestselling investigationsWhat it takes to gain the trust of CIA operatives and intelligence insidersWhy “alpha individuals” survive — and what their psychology reveals about resilienceHow secrets stay buried despite being technically declassifiedWhy U.S. ICBMs don’t have the range to hit North Korea without flying over RussiaThe chilling truth behind the 72-minute nuclear war scenarioHow a single miscommunication between the U.S. and Russia could trigger World War III Chapters: 00:00 Welcome to High Net Purpose 00:24 Meet Annie Jacobsen: Master of Government Secrets 02:45 Annie’s Purpose: Telling Astonishing True Stories 05:13 From Struggling Writer to National Security Reporter 09:31 Billy Waugh: The CIA’s Most Legendary Spy 16:31 Inside the Shadow World of Espionage 22:02 The Secrets Behind Intelligence and Covert Ops 25:49 The CIA’s First Hunt for Bin Laden 26:23 Clinton, Bin Laden, and the Mission That Didn’t Happen 27:59 Disguises, Deception & Espionage Tactics Revealed 29:05 From Field Reporting to Bestseller Author 29:53 The Lucky Break That Led to Area 51 30:58 Nuclear War Planning: Too Real to Ignore 36:56 NATO, Russia, and the Future of Global Security 42:12 Writing About Dangerous Truths: The Personal Risks 45:56 Staying Grounded in a World of High-Stakes Secrets 49:51 Final Words for Future Truth Tellers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    51 min
  4. Longevity by Design: Lessons from Blue Zones Founder Dan Buettner

    29 MAY

    Longevity by Design: Lessons from Blue Zones Founder Dan Buettner

    What if everything you’ve been told about living longer was wrong? Dan Buettner has spent decades uncovering the truth. He’s the mastermind behind Blue Zones - the five places in the world where people live the longest, healthiest lives on Earth. His discovery of the Blue Zones sparked a global movement. Since then, he’s written four New York Times bestselling books, starred in a hit Netflix series, won 3 Emmy awards and helped over 70 cities redesign themselves for better public health - impacting more than 10 million lives for good. In this episode, Dan shares the powerful habits, community rituals, and environmental designs that make living well in to you 100s not just possible - but probable. You’ll learn: What every Blue Zone has in commonThe overlooked food that could add 4 years to your lifeThe ritual proven to reduce stress in minutesWhy purpose is a stronger predictor of longevity than any supplementHow cities are using design to make well-being the default Chapters: 00:33 – Dan Buettner: Explorer, Author, Longevity Pioneer 01:52 – Ancient Wisdom, Modern Living 03:16 – His Global Quest for the Secrets of Long Life 08:06 – How the Blue Zones Were Born 09:42 – Why Where You Live Shapes How Long You Live 17:06 – What the Longest-Lived People Really Eat 23:27 – Purpose, Belonging & the Longevity Effect 25:02 – The Link Between Volunteering & Wellbeing 25:34 – Rethinking Public Health Through Urban Design 25:46 – Inside the Blue Zones Projects 28:10 – Longevity in Action: Real-World Results 31:01 – What Singapore Got Right About Health 34:00 – Love, Connection & Relationships That Last 35:41 – Loneliness: The New Public Health Crisis 37:04 – Food vs. Pharmaceuticals: What Works Best? 39:42 – How to Manage Stress Like a Blue Zoner 45:04 – Dan Buettner’s Playbook for a Longer, Better Life 46:36 – Final Reflections on Health, Happiness & Legacy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    49 min
  5. Martha Lane Fox: From lastminute.com to Lasting Impact

    1 MAY

    Martha Lane Fox: From lastminute.com to Lasting Impact

    At 25, Martha Lane Fox co-founded the early internet disruptor lastminute.com and became one of Britain’s first true digital pioneers. But it was surviving a near-fatal accident that truly reshaped her life and sense of purpose. Today, Martha leads far beyond technology. She is President of the British Chambers of Commerce, a crossbench peer in the House of Lords, Chancellor of The Open University, and sits on the boards of British Airways, Chanel, and Multiverse. Her work is reshaping business, education, and the future of digital transformation. In this episode, Martha shares her extraordinary story of resilience, reinvention, and leadership - and what it really takes to create lasting impact. You'll learn: The 3-question framework to use before saying yes to anything.How a near-fatal car crash changed everything, and nothing.The brutal reality still facing female founders.What most leaders get wrong about digital transformation.What it really takes to change government systems.The one decision she regrets from the Lastminute.com journey.Why legacy isn't about status - it's about example. Chapters 00:00 – Welcome to High Net Purpose 00:26 – Martha Lane Fox: Tech Pioneer & Digital Leader 02:00 – Her Decision-Making Framework for Purpose & Impact 03:46 – Why Diversity Fuels Innovation in Tech 05:06 – Navigating Change in a Rapidly Evolving Digital World 07:46 – Founding Lastminute.com: Early Startup Lessons 11:06 – Her Life-Changing Accident & New Perspective 15:41 – Advice to Young Founders & Entrepreneurs 20:45 – From Tech to Government: Driving Digital Inclusion 22:36 – Fixing the Digital Divide: Access, Jobs & Equity 23:07 – How Tech Can Reconnect Local Communities 24:16 – What Government Should Learn from Startups 24:50 – Inside the Creation of GDS (Government Digital Service) 25:57 – Lessons from Scaling Tech in the Public Sector 26:16 – Why Prime Ministerial Backing is a Game-Changer 27:15 – Building Effective Teams in High-Stakes Environments 27:43 – Her Personal Growth Through Government Work 29:25 – Joining the House of Lords: A New Platform for Change 31:46 – The Real Role of Boards: Governance, Influence & Integrity 34:51 – The Power of Mentorship in a Purpose-Driven Career 37:47 – True Digital Transformation Starts with Culture 39:26 – The Future: Climate, AI, and Diversity in Leadership 41:55 – Family, Legacy & What Drives Her Now 44:01 – Final Reflections from Martha Lane Fox Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    45 min
  6. How Andrew White built FundApps from a spare room to monitoring $27 trillion in AUM without VC funding

    27 MAR

    How Andrew White built FundApps from a spare room to monitoring $27 trillion in AUM without VC funding

    Andrew White is the founder of FundApps, one of Europe’s most under-the-radar success stories.   Bootstrapped from a spare bedroom above a London pub, FundApps now monitors over $27 trillion in assets daily - roughly 17% of the world’s total AUM.   Today, it’s a global reg-tech powerhouse, trusted by 5 of the world’s 10 largest hedge funds and several of North America’s biggest pension funds. Now, it’s on track to become Europe’s leading reg-tech unicorn.   This is the captivating story of how an independent thinker built a values-driven business from the ground up, scaled globally, and never compromised.   Listen to hear: • Why he turned down external funding • How bootstrapping became a long-term strategic edge • The moment that reshaped his idea of success • Why he hires for mindset, not credentials • How FundApps embedded purpose at the heart of its culture • Why he avoids meetings and believes indecision is the real killer • What it takes to serve the world’s largest asset managers while staying true to your values Chapters: 00:00 – Welcome to High Net Purpose 00:24 – Andrew White: The Quiet Disruptor 00:51 – Why He Never Fit the Mold 01:08 – From Pub to Product: Starting Fund Apps 01:23 – Becoming the UK’s First B Corp SaaS Company 02:00 – Finding Purpose in Code, Culture & Capital 03:09 – Growing Up Irish: Early Influences & Hustle 05:54 – How He Became a Reluctant Technologist 07:55 – One Backpack, One Year: Travel That Changed Everything 12:41 – How Fund Apps Was Born 16:22 – Bootstrapping to Success: Lessons from the Hard Way 18:07 – Playing the Long Game in a Fast World 21:11 – Selling to Banks? Here’s What No One Tells You 26:09 – Sticking to Your Vision (Even When It’s Hard) 28:54 – Scaling a Company Without Losing Soul 29:37 – How to Hire People Who Actually Fit 31:23 – The Secret to Retaining a High-Performing Team 32:33 – Why Purpose Beats Perks 37:25 – Fund Apps Goes Global 46:55 – Giving Back: A Founder’s Take on Philanthropy 53:04 – If He Could Start Again: Andrew’s Final Reflections Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    55 min
  7. Next Gen & Tech: Making Digital Childhood Safer with Alexandra Evans

    27 FEB

    Next Gen & Tech: Making Digital Childhood Safer with Alexandra Evans

    The next generation face a challenge their parents never did, a digital childhood that shapes their future. Alexandra Evans has spent her career fighting to make the digital space safer. From shaping human rights law at Mishcon de Reya to leading policy at TikTok and the British Board of Film Classification, she’s been at the forefront of child safety in a world where technology is evolving faster than regulation, and children are paying the price. Now, as the founder of the Digital Childhood Agency, Alexandra is working with policymakers, brands, and tech platforms to create a future where kids can thrive online—not just survive it. You'll learn: How parents, policymakers, and businesses can take back control in a rapidly evolving digital world.Why screen addiction is not the biggest problem. How social media algorithms push kids towards riskier content. The real power and responsibility of tech companies in shaping digital childhood.The truth about banning smartphones in schools.Whether AI will become the biggest threat to childhood or a tool for protection.What needs to change for a safer digital future. Chapters: 00:00 – Welcome to High Net Purpose 00:24 – Alexandra Evans: Protecting Kids in a Digital World 03:28 – Her Career Journey: Law, Policy & Purpose 05:27 – Tech and Child Safety: What’s Really at Stake 07:00 – Harm vs. Thrive: A New Way to Talk About Risk 10:51 – What Makes a Safe Childhood in the 21st Century? 15:42 – How Digital Transformation Is Reshaping Childhood 18:26 – Why Parents & Policymakers Are Struggling 27:27 – Real-Life Family Scenarios: The Digital Disconnect 34:56 – Why Kids Feel Socially Obligated Online 35:45 – Is Tech Changing How We Show Up for Each Other? 37:00 – Are We Addicted to Our Phones? 38:10 – Can Children Thrive with Technology? 40:08 – Should Schools Ban Smartphones? 42:27 – Inside Trust & Safety Teams at Big Tech 45:51 – What Age-Appropriate Design Really Means 47:38 – Why Age Verification Is So Hard (and So Crucial) 58:42 – Generative AI & The Future of Childhood 01:05:33 – Final Reflections from Alexandra Evans Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 9m
  8. The Recipe for Change: Henry Dimbleby, Co-Founder of LEON, on Food, Sustainability, and Systemic Solutions

    23 JAN

    The Recipe for Change: Henry Dimbleby, Co-Founder of LEON, on Food, Sustainability, and Systemic Solutions

    What does it take to fix a food system that’s making us, and the planet, sick?   Henry Dimbleby, co-founder of LEON, architect of the National Food Strategy, and author of the Sunday Times bestseller Ravenous, is doing just that. From launching a fast-food revolution to shaping the UK’s policies on food, health, and sustainability, Henry’s career is a masterclass in bold ideas and transformative action. Now, through his latest venture, Bramble Partners, he’s supporting the next generation of food innovators determined to fix the system.   You'll learn: The truth about ultra-processed foods: why they dominate our diets and how they’re designed to keep us hooked.The systemic challenges of fixing a broken food system—and why it requires more than just individual action.How purpose-driven companies are fixing our food system while delivering profits and impact.How the National Food Strategy is tackling inequality, climate change, and what’s next.Where investments can transform the food system for good.Practical steps you can take today to shape the future of food.How AI and technology are rewriting the rules of food production and fighting waste.  Chapters: 00:00 – Welcome to High Net Purpose 00:33 – Henry Dimbleby: From Food Startups to Government Policy 02:13 – Finding Purpose: What Drives Henry Today 04:38 – How Our Food System Is Failing—and What Can Change It 09:29 – Inside the Broken Economics of What We Eat 17:05 – Health, Climate & the Hidden Costs of Food 23:03 – Food and Climate: The Second Big Transition 25:58 – Why Food 2.0 Is a Massive Investment Opportunity 28:51 – Rethinking Agriculture: From Soil to Supply Chain 29:08 – The Rise of Asset-Heavy Food Ventures 29:55 – What’s Really Blocking Regenerative Farming? 32:32 – Can Tech Revolutionize Farming? 34:07 – Personalized Nutrition: The Next Frontier 35:11 – Ultra-Processed Foods, Appetite Drugs & the Junk Food Cycle 38:20 – AI, Gut Biomes & the Future of Food Science 41:37 – Waste Less, Grow More: Circular Thinking in Food 45:06 – Where Smart Food Capital Is Going Next 46:34 – Inside Bramble Partners: Purpose-Driven Investing 52:18 – How Henry Stays Energized (Without Burning Out) 53:34 – What He’d Tell His Younger Self 54:32 – Final Thoughts & Wrap-Up Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    55 min
See All (23)

About

Most of us are in pursuit of purpose, but it can be especially hard to bring purpose into your business. On this show, we invite growing businesses and industry leaders to share their purpose and give us ‘the pitch’.    We want to find out how entrepreneurs and global leaders in our network are allocating capital in a more responsible and purposeful way. But more importantly, we want to know what isn’t in the pitch deck. Joe McCarthy hits his guests with the hard questions in order to find the paradoxes and nuances in their pitches.   High Net Purpose is hosted by Joe McCarthy, founder of Islandbridge, a company focused on helping highly successful people allocate their capital in a meaningful way. Whilst traditional investing is often solely focused on the accruement of more wealth, Joe has been working hard to shift the focus to purpose-led investing and show that’s it’s not black and white, but it is worth it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Islandbridge
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    23
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Joe McCarthy
  • Show Website
    High Net Purpose

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