The Collators

Mark Lockwood, Howard Atkin
  • 0.0 (0)
  • PHILOSOPHY

Dive into the philosophy and practice of analysis and information sharing, with insights from leaders in tech, academia, intelligence and beyond on how they make sense of the world. Hosts Mark and Howard draw on experience in intelligence, law enforcement and academia to unpack the ideas and methods that shape understanding. Thoughtful but accessible, it's a podcast for anyone who wants to sharpen their thinking in a complex, fast-changing world.

  1. 12/24/2025

    Comedy, Clients and Leadership with Paul Chato

    For our special Christmas episode, we're honoured to speak to Paul Chato, comedian, TV executive, and YouTuber. We talk about his journey, comedy in general, and more than a fair share of Star Trek nerdiness (spoiler: Paul and Mark are pre-Kelvin fans; Howard denies all knowledge…). Some laughs, banter and occasional hot takes.  All the best for 2026, take it steady folks.  https://thecollators.com

    1h 1m

  2. 12/18/2025

    Guilds vs Clubs - The pros and cons of professionalisation

    In this episode, Mark and Howard unpack what "professionalisation" really means for intelligence and analysis, and why professional bodies can be both a career accelerator and a hidden constraint. They explore the "guild vs club" problem (who controls standards, entry, and accountability), why silos persist across sectors, and why this matters more than ever as AI-driven decision support becomes widespread.

    1h 9m

  3. 12/09/2025

    Information as experience - Interview with Professor Andrew Dillon

    Mark and Howard sit down with Prof. Andrew Dillon (UT Austin) to ask what information really is and why the answer starts with people, not machines. Andrew maps the triangle of data, people and technology and argues that information is an experience, not a spreadsheet.  A discussion of the lure of AI, why judgement still matters, and how we might regulate misinformation the way we regulate food; to nourish and not poison the public. Shownotes, transcript and more available from https://thecollators.com

    1h 9m

  4. 11/26/2025

    Mystics and Statistics - Why is prediction hard?

    In this episode, Mark and Howard explore why forecasting is so often wrong and what prediction really requires. From homicides to the stock market, prediction sounds simple until the future fights back. Statistics and logic can take you far, but judgement, context, and humility do the rest.

    57 min

  5. 11/24/2025

    Virtually Real - What is real?

    In this episode of The Collators, Mark and Howard explore the promises and pitfalls of virtual reality. Not as a gaming gimmick, but as a tool for intelligence, analysis, and decision-making. From Minority Report-style data walls to simple post-it notes, they ask whether VR and data visualisation actually help us see the world more clearly, or just distract us with prettier illusions. Transcript, shownotes and more are available from https://thecollators.com/s1e7

    47 min

  6. 11/19/2025

    Challenge Everything - AI, Raves and Nuclear Subs - Interview with Mike Hawkes, digital inventor.

    From Tandy Radioshack to nuclear submarines, this episode traces an extraordinary journey through the intersections of technology, curiosity, and courage. Mark and Howard talk with Mike Hawkes, a technologist, inventor, and pioneer of secure digital systems whose career began in fixing computers in a local store and ended up influencing the security architecture behind global online transactions that we all use. This is a very human story, with ebbs and flows of good and bad. Innovation, hard work and opportunity, but also cybercrime, litigation and loss. Shownotes, transcript and more at https://thecollators.com

    1h 38m

  7. 11/19/2025

    OMG, TMI - How much information is too much?

    In this episode of The Collators, Mark and Howard dig into the firehose of the digital age. From the days of cereal-box reading and limited TV channels to today's infinite scroll of TikTok, Twitter, and AI-generated content, how has the internet reshaped the way we process and perhaps fail to really think about the information we receive. Visit us at https://thecollators.com

    47 min

  8. 11/10/2025

    Can everything that counts, be counted? Qualitative and quantitative analysis explored

    From crime scenes to classrooms, boardrooms to briefing papers, the tension between numbers and narratives runs through every profession that tries to make sense of the world. Mark and Howard ask whether everything that counts can, in fact, be counted. What happens when we mistake measurement for meaning? Why do humans crave certainty even when the evidence is uncertain? And how do analysts, scientists, and policymakers balance data with judgement? Shownotes, transcript and more available from https://thecollators.com

    45 min
See All (17)

Trailer

About

Dive into the philosophy and practice of analysis and information sharing, with insights from leaders in tech, academia, intelligence and beyond on how they make sense of the world. Hosts Mark and Howard draw on experience in intelligence, law enforcement and academia to unpack the ideas and methods that shape understanding. Thoughtful but accessible, it's a podcast for anyone who wants to sharpen their thinking in a complex, fast-changing world.

Information

  • Creator
    Mark Lockwood, Howard Atkin
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    17
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025
  • Show Website
    The Collators