The Defuse Podcast: Risk in Private and Public Life

"Countering Extremism with Guy Mathias" – The Defuse Podcast 

This two-part podcast features an in-depth conversation between Philip Grindell and Guy Mathias, a renowned security expert with extensive experience countering extremism, particularly in the pharmaceutical and research sectors.

Episode Summary

In this fascinating discussion, Guy Mathias shares insights from his distinguished career addressing extremist threats, particularly from animal rights groups in the UK during the 1980s through the 2000s. The conversation explores the evolution of extremist tactics, sophisticated intelligence gathering methods, and how organizations can prepare for and counter modern extremist threats.

Guy discusses how extremist groups evolved from direct action like arson attacks to more sophisticated operations involving infiltration, data mining, and targeted pressure campaigns. He emphasizes the importance of preparedness, risk assessment, and understanding both direct threats and supply chain vulnerabilities.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Guy's background and entry into security without traditional military/police experience
• The evolution of animal rights extremism in the UK, particularly the SHAC (Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty) campaign
• Sophisticated tactics used by extremist groups including: 
  • Direct action (arson, liberation of animals)
  • Infiltration and insider threats
  • Intelligence gathering and targeting
  • Supply chain disruption
• How extremist tactics have transferred to other causes and evolved with technology
• The importance of preparedness and risk assessment
• Challenges of screening and vetting employees
• Protecting organizational leadership
• Current and future extremism trends

Notable Quotes:

"The tactics were a local level. They were at a national level. They became an international level tactic." - Guy Mathias

"I would certainly argue that there is a requirement for those of us working in the sector be that security risk or resilience, to be prepared. What does preparedness look like?" - Guy Mathias

Practical Advice for Organizations:

• Develop and maintain a dynamic risk register that is regularly reviewed
• Understand your organization's supply chain vulnerabilities
• Implement thorough pre-employment screening
• Consider ongoing screening for high-risk positions
• Educate leadership about potential threats
• Conduct vulnerability assessments for executives
• Prepare resilience plans for disruptions

The podcast provides valuable historical context and practical security insights for organizations facing potential extremist threats in today's complex environment.

Guy Mathias - https://www.linkedin.com/in/guy-mathias-19555673/

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What do you do when your reputation or brand is threatened?

Reputation management can mean different things depending on your status.  An organisation may have spent millions on developing and building its brand reputation, whilst private clients, UHNW individuals or influencers may rely on their good name to maintain their position and their wealth.

Public inquiries are a subject of constant debate; they can be exhaustive, hugely detailed, politically motivated and take years to conclude. How do you protect your reputation when you're involved in such a public investigation?

In part 2 of this podcast, lawyer Andrew Sanderson provides the answers. Andrew has successfully represented clients in all three of the above scenarios and discusses the complexities and the rights and wrongs of navigating these often deeply personal threats.

Bio

Andrew has nearly 20 years of experience working as a lawyer based in the City of London, advising large national and multinational clients on complex highly complex issues.

He has always adopted a commercial approach when dealing with clients and opponents.

With extensive legal, risk, and business experience, Andrew is a Solicitor-Advocate with rights of audience in the higher courts, both Criminal and Civil.

He has recently joined a new firm, Kingsley Napley

https://www.kingsleynapley.co.uk/our-people/andrew-sanderson

https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-sanderson-fcilt-minstta-8023b015/

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In this, my first video recorded podcast without a guest, I’ll share why subscribing to this podcast will deliver even more value this year, with an episode every week.

In this episode I’ll share my thought of the appalling circumstances that led to a young female British soldier taking her own life following a campaign of sexual harassment by not one, but two of her superiors.

This case illustrates why so few cases are in fact reported, as it highlights the four reasons why victims don’t report allegations and why addressing these issues in important, morally, financially and for security and safety reasons.

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What do you do when your reputation or brand is threatened?

Handling a threatened reputation requires both short-term crisis management and long-term strategic efforts to rebuild trust and credibility.

This month, we speak with esteemed London lawyer Andrew Sanderson.

In part 1 of the podcast, Andrew shares how and why he became a lawyer and chose to focus on his niche.

Andrew debunks the myths surrounding the use of Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs), explains the differences between defamation, slander, and libel, and describes why and how you should consider your options when facing such threats to your brand or reputation.

Bio

Andrew has nearly 20 years of experience working as a lawyer based in the City of London, advising large national and multinational clients on complex highly complex issues.

He has always adopted a commercial approach when dealing with clients and opponents.

With extensive legal, risk, and business experience, Andrew is a Solicitor-Advocate with rights of audience in the higher courts, both Criminal and Civil.

He has recently joined a new firm, Kingsley Napley

https://www.kingsleynapley.co.uk/our-people/andrew-sanderson

https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-sanderson-fcilt-minstta-8023b015/

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Subscribe to 'Defuse News', our weekly update of the week's events on our website.

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Right of Bang – Preparing for the next critical incident with Gene Deisinger Ph.D.

How many times have we heard organisations tell us that they will learn the lessons from an incident? If like me, you have been involved in these post incident reviews you may also have shared my frustration of how rarely the lessons are implement and therefore lack confidence in preventing the challenges being repeated.

When a traumatic incident occurs, its impact is experienced far wider than those immediately involved. Organisations, communities, health services and law enforcement and others can become overwhelmed and surprised by the response to a critical incident.

Dr. Deisinger discusses his experience in conducting root cause analysis to understand what happened leading up to the event how to prevent this happening again whilst identifying the likely issues to anticipate post event that may create challenges such as;

• The hypervigilance created by an event that causes an increase in reporting
• The management of funeral and memorial services and the associated pressures of dignitaries attending, distribution of gifts and money being contributed
• The costs of absenteeism and trauma to staff
• The over reliance of the response capability and the need for proactive creation of teams.
• Outsiders seeking to exploit the opportunities they identify for their own benefit.
• The destabilization of the wider vulnerable community.

Bio:

Dr. Gene Deisinger is President of Deisinger Consulting, LLC, specializing in operational psychology, protective intelligence, and behavioural threat assessment & management for an international base of clients in business, education, healthcare, government, military, law enforcement, non-profit organizations, and security & protective operations.

Dr. Deisinger helps clients develop, implement, and operate comprehensive, holistic & collaborative programs to prevent & mitigate harm, sustain continuity of operations, and enhance the safety & well-being of the organization and its members.

In June 2022, the U.S. Department of Justice appointed Dr. Deisinger to serve as a subject matter expert on the Critical Incident Review Team regarding the mass casualty incident at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, TX.

Since 2021, Dr. Deisinger has served as a founding member and subject matter expert for the Mass Violence Advisory Initiative, a joint project of the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance.

Since February 2015, Dr. Deisinger has been retained as the Threat Management Consultant for the Virginia Center for School & Campus Safety. Dr. Deisinger provides threat management training and consultation for schools, campuses, and government & law enforcement agencies across Virginia.

Until his retirement in December 2014, Dr. Deisinger served as Deputy Chief of Police & Director of Threat Management Services for Virginia Tech, positions to which he had been recruited following the 2007 mass casualty incident at that campus.

As executive officer for the Virginia Tech Police Department, Dr. Deisinger provided leadership for law enforcement operations to support a safe and secure campus environment and directed the university’s multi-disciplinary threat management functions across its global facilities.

Dr. Deisinger earned his doctorate in psychology from Iowa State University. He is a licensed psychologist, a certified health service provider in psychology, and, until his retirement, a certified law enforcement officer.

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Right of Bang – Preparing for the next critical incident with Gene Deisinger Ph.D.

How often have we heard organisations tell us they will learn the lessons from an incident? If, like me, you have been involved in these post-incident reviews, you may also have shared my frustration with how rarely the lessons are implemented and, therefore, lack confidence in preventing the challenges from being repeated.

When a traumatic incident occurs, its impact is far wider than those immediately involved. Organisations, communities, health services, law enforcement, and others can become overwhelmed and surprised by the response to a critical incident.

Dr. Deisinger discusses his experience in conducting root cause analysis to understand what happened leading up to the event and how to prevent this from happening again whilst identifying the likely issues to anticipate post-event that may create challenges such as;

• The hypervigilance created by an event that causes an increase in reporting
• The management of funeral and memorial services and the associated pressures of dignitaries attending, distribution of gifts and money being contributed
• The costs of absenteeism and trauma to staff
• The over-reliance on the response capability and the need for proactive creation of teams.
• Outsiders seek to exploit the opportunities they identify for their benefit.
• The destabilization of the wider vulnerable community.

Bio:

Dr. Gene Deisinger is President of Deisinger Consulting, LLC, which specializes in operational psychology, protective intelligence, and behavioural threat assessment and management for an international base of clients in business, education, healthcare, government, military, law enforcement, non-profit organizations, and security and protective operations.

Dr. Deisinger helps clients develop, implement, and operate comprehensive, holistic & collaborative programs to prevent & mitigate harm, sustain continuity of operations, and enhance the safety & well-being of the organization and its members.

In June 2022, the U.S. Department of Justice appointed Dr. Deisinger to serve as a subject matter expert on the Critical Incident Review Team regarding the mass casualty incident at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, TX.

Since 2021, Dr. Deisinger has served as a founding member and subject matter expert for the Mass Violence Advisory Initiative, a joint project of the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance.

Since February 2015, Dr. Deisinger has been retained as the Virginia Center for School & Campus Safety Threat Management Consultant. Dr. Deisinger provides threat management training and consultation for schools, campuses, and government & law enforcement agencies across Virginia.

Until his retirement in December 2014, Dr. Deisinger served as Deputy Chief of Police & Director of Threat Management Services for Virginia Tech, positions to which he had been recruited following the 2007 mass casualty incident at that campus.

As executive officer for the Virginia Tech Police Department, Dr. Deisinger provided leadership for law enforcement operations to support a safe and secure campus environment and directed the university’s multi-disciplinary threat management functions across its global facilities.

Dr. Deisinger earned his doctorate in psychology from Iowa State University. He is a licensed psychologist, a certified health service provider in psychology, and, until his retirement, a certified law enforcement officer.

https://deisingerconsulting.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/gene-deisinger-02045612

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With the rise in disruptive and problematic workplace issues, this month we talk with Dr. Marc McElhaney, CEO of Critical Response Associates based out of Atlanta, Georgia.

In this podcast Marc shares decades of experience of investigating and defusing problems within corporations.

He discusses how the term ‘workplace violence’ is unhelpful, how identifying behaviours of concern early and dealing with them help stop make the workplace a safer place and protects companies from incidence of violence, lawsuits, reputational harm, and a decline in performance.

Marc shares his expertise, published in two books, about the emotional, situational and behavioural triggers that we should all be aware of. The two categories of people, the troubled and the troubling and how to reduce risk and eliminate disgruntled employees causing problems.

Bio.

Dr. Marc McElhaney is CEO of Critical Response Associates (CRA) , a national team of experienced psychologists and behavioural specialists who specialize in identifying and resolving high-risk threats and violence in the workplace.

He is a licensed consulting psychologist and registered mediator known for his work in the areas of threat assessment, critical incident management and conflict resolution.

Since 1977, he has consulted with corporations, government agencies and large organizations on the assessment, management, and resolution of high-risk incidents. He has also helped develop workplace violence policies and crisis response programs.

He is the author of “Aggression in the Workplace: Preventing and Managing High‐ Risk Behaviour” 2004 as well as

CRA’s core training program, “Preventing Workplace Violence,” one of the most detailed and effective educational guides on the topic.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcmcelhaney/

Critical Response Associates  https://craorg.com/

Marc’s books

The Risks Within: Preventing and Managing Workplace Violence

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Risks-Within-Preventing-Managing-Workplace/dp/B0B92KGRN1

Aggression in the Workplace: Preventing and Managing High-Risk Behavior

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Aggression-Workplace-Preventing-Managing-High-Risk/dp/1418461954

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On the 22nd May 2017, Figen Murray’s life as she knew it changed forever.

Her son, Martyn Hett, was one of the 22 people killed in the devastating Manchester Arena terrorist attack.

The acts of kindness and support that followed the tragic loss of Martyn Hett in the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing highlight the strength of community in times of grief.

Figen's advocacy for peace and positive change, rather than succumbing to anger, is truly inspiring. In memory of Martyn, Figen led the call for Martyn's Law, aiming to enhance security measures at public venues and prevent future tragedies.

The proposed UK legislation, the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill 2024, seeks to improve preparedness and response to terrorist threats. Figen's dedication to turning personal tragedy into a force for societal advancement is commendable. Her commitment to promoting safety and resilience in the face of adversity is a powerful example of the impact one individual can have on shaping a safer future for all.

https://www.figenmurray.co.uk/

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This podcast provides an insight into the causes and possible solutions of mass attacks in the US. 

In this podcast Mark discusses:

• Importance of Talking to Attackers
• Key Elements of Threat Assessment
• Challenges in Reporting Threats
• The Role of Social Media in Threat Assessment
• The Importance of Human Connection in Threat Assessment

Mark discusses his recent investigative project on Elliot Rodger, the perpetrator of the Isla Vista mass shooting in 2014, and how his ongoing relationship with Elliot’s mother.

• He explains the unique aspects of Elliot's case, including his skill at hiding his intentions and the lack of warning signs that were missed.
• Mark highlights the importance of understanding the conditions of suicidality and isolation in threat assessment.
• He emphasizes the need to focus on how people behave and the process they go through to commit violent acts, rather than simplistic explanations like mental illness or ideology

BIO

Mark Follman is a longtime investigative journalist and author of the acclaimed bestseller, TRIGGER POINTS: Inside the Mission to Stop Mass Shootings in America.

Since 2012, when he created a pioneering online database of mass shootings, his various investigations into gun violence and its impact on society have been honoured with numerous awards.

His work has been featured on NPR’s “Fresh Air,” PBS NewsHour, and in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and Mother Jones, where he is the national affairs editor. He is a frequent keynote speaker at threat assessment trainings and at conferences focused on violence prevention, mental health, and safety in education. 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-follman-4a9b0620/

https://amzn.eu/d/fjqA0ab

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With the The Power of Awareness you can change your approach to personal safety from passive bystander to becoming your own personal safety expert.

Your personal safety is your responsibility and no one else’s. That is a simple fact. And the two foundations your safety stands upon are possessing situational awareness and listening to your intuition. 

The first can be developed and improved. The second is a million years of self-preservation that is already speaking to you, in a tiny voice, if you listen.

New York Times bestselling author Dan Schilling, Lt. Col., USAF (ret.) spent more than 30 years in special operations, primarily as a Combat Controller and Special Tactics Officer, but began military service as an infantry paratrooper.

His numerous combat, clandestine, rescue, and humanitarian missions have taken him around the world and include Operation Gothic Serpent, popularly known as Black Hawk Down, where he is credited with saving the lives of a Ranger and Team Six SEAL while under heavy enemy fire.

He later conceived, founded, and then served as the first commander of two special operations squadrons, one of which’s name and purpose remains classified. His military certifications include HALO and static line master parachutist, Special Forces combat diver, parachute rigger, and Combat Control pipeline instructor. His final military assignment was the Joint Special Operations Command weapons of mass destruction U.S. interagency and intelligence community director.

In 2023 Dan was inducted into the Air Commando Hall of Fame and received the Freedom Foundation’s national medal for public service. He is also a 2022 U.S. Air Force Gathering of Eagles inductee. His book Alone at Dawn is a New York Times and Amazon #1 international bestseller. He and his wife Julie, a retired NSA cyber warfare specialist, live in Utah

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