The Defuse Podcast: Where Experts Defuse Real Threats
When the threats are real and the stakes are high — what actually works?
Right now, as you're reading this, someone's watching your family, your business rivals are digging through your digital history, and a disgruntled employee knows exactly where your vulnerabilities are. While you're focused on your day job, they're building a plan.
This podcast exists because ignoring threats doesn't make them disappear.
I'm Philip Grindell — former Scotland Yard detective, behavioural threat specialist, and author of Personal Threat Management. After Jo Cox MP was murdered, I was tasked with creating Parliament's specialist threat assessment team. I've spent 35 years stopping people who wanted to hurt prominent individuals, from MPs to royalty to the ultra-wealthy.
What You'll Get From Listening
You'll recognise the warning signs everyone else misses. That "helpful" new employee asking odd questions. The photographer at three different family events. The online critic whose interest feels too personal.
You'll understand how dangerous people operate. The people planning to harm you treat you like a research project — cataloguing your habits, weaknesses, and blind spots whilst you're oblivious.
You'll know what to do when a crisis hits. Not theory — actual steps. How to control the narrative when your reputation's under attack. When to stay silent and when silence destroys you.
You'll discover what's already out there about you. Right now, strangers can map your life using tools you've never heard of.
What You'll Hear
Straight-talking conversations with ex-FBI agents who've tracked serial killers, digital investigators who can find anyone online, crisis managers who've saved billion-pound reputations, and psychologists who understand exactly how fixated individuals think.
Topics include stalking, fixated individuals, insider threats, protective intelligence, reputation management, OSINT, digital vulnerability, and crisis leadership.
These aren't interviews — they're operational briefings. Real cases, real tactics, real consequences.
Who This Is For
You must understand modern threats if you're responsible for protecting someone important (yourself, your family, or your boss). Physical violence is just one possibility. Reputation assassination, digital stalking, insider betrayal — these happen far more often and can be just as devastating.
If you're prominent enough to be a target, you already are one. The question isn't whether someone's paying attention to you — it's whether you're paying attention to them.
What Makes This Different
No corporate nonsense. I've watched too many good people get hurt because they received sanitised advice from people who'd never faced real threats. You'll get the truth, even when it's uncomfortable.
Experience that matters. I've identified planned terrorist attacks, managed stalking cases involving royalty, and helped ultra-wealthy families navigate threats they never considered. Every recommendation comes from cases where lives and reputations were on the line.
Stories that stick. Theory doesn't save lives — understanding does. Every episode includes real cases that show you what threats look like before they turn dangerous.
Because the people planning to hurt you aren't taking the day off.
Subscribe now and learn how to manage threats before they become crises.
Episodes
49 episodes
High Trust, High Stakes, Human Risk Inside Family Offices with Mark Somers
High Trust, High Stakes, Human Risk Inside Family Offices with Mark SomersIn this episode, Philip speaks with Mark Somers, one of the most respected voices in the family office recruitment world. Mark has spent more than 20 ye...
When Cyber Risk Becomes Personal with Lucy Burnford
In this episode of The Defuse Podcast, Philip Grindell is joined by Lucy Burnford, founder of coc00n, a specialist cyber security firm protecting high-risk individuals, families, and senior leaders from targeted digital threats.Lucy work...
Policing, Politics and Prejudice – A Conversation with Neil Basu QPM
In this compelling and straight-talking episode, Philip sits down with Neil Basu QPM, one of the UK’s most respected and outspoken former senior police leaders.Neil shares the lessons, frustrations, and hard truths from over 30 ye...
The Omnipresence of Fear: Understanding Stalker Psychology with Kerry Daynes
This episode features forensic psychologist Kerry Daynes discussing her 25-year career and expertise in stalking behaviour. Kerry transitioned from advertising plans to forensic psychology after university, despite being told it was "no job for...
The Attack Cycle with James Hamilton Part 2
Send us a textIn this compelling two-part episode, Philip Grindell welcomes back security expert James Hamilton to explore the "attack cycle" - a proven model...
The Attack Cycle with James Hamilton Part 1
In this compelling two-part episode, Philip Grindell welcomes back security expert James Hamilton to explore the "attack cycle" - a proven model used by criminals, terrorists, and assassins to target victims. Following the high-profile New York...
When Crisis Hits: The Real Cost of Getting Reputation Wrong
When Crisis Hits: The Real Cost of Getting Reputation WrongThis week's Defuse Podcast featured Heather Blundell (CEO, Grayling UK) and James Clothier (Head of Crisis) discussing how reputation management has become essential prote...
OSINT Part 2 - The Digital Lens Into Personal Security with Jon BlakeUntitled Episode
OSINT Part 2 - The Digital Lens Into Personal Security with Jon BlakeIn the second part, Philip and Jon delve deeper into technical aspects of OSINT and digital security:- VPNs (Virtual Private Networks): They discuss how VPNs cr...
OSINT Part 1 - The Digital Lens Into Personal Security with Jon Blake
OSINT Part 1 - The Digital Lens Into Personal Security with Jon BlakeIn the first part of this podcast, Philip Grindell interviews Jon Blake, a former Metropolitan Police Detective who has become an expert in Open Source Intelligence...
Countering Extremism with Guy Mathias - Part 2
"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 ext...
Countering Extremism with Guy Mathias - Part 1
"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 ext...
Reputation Management with Andrew Sanderson – Part 2
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 pr...
Sexual Harassment Causes Suicide with Philip Grindell
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 c...
Reputation Management with Andrew Sanderson - Part 1
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 este...
Right of Bang – Post Incident Lessons with Dr. Gene Deisinger
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 thes...
High Risk Workplace Behaviours with Dr. Marc McElhaney
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 investigatin...
Martyn’s Law – Better Protection from Terrorism with Figen Murray
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...
The Trigger Points - Inside the mission to stop mass shootings in America with Mark Follman
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 AttackersKey Elements of Threat AssessmentChall...
Improving Personal Safety with the Power of Awareness with Dan Schilling
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...
Family Office Risk Management with Edward V Marshall
The Defuse Podcast – Family Office Risk Management with Edward V MarshallFrom December 2023 to January 2024, Dentons, led by Edward Marshall, surveyed over 200 family office respondents from 33 countries worldwide, comparing the finding...
Psychology 101 Part 2 – Psychopaths, sociopaths, pathology, Fixation and the impact of Social Media with Dr Caroline Logan
In this episode, part 2 of the series, we expand on the discussion of the psychological terms and learn about psychopathy, how high functioning psychopaths become CEOs, politicians and leaders, the difference between psychopaths and sociopaths,...
Psychology 101 - Part 1 - Demystifying Psychological Labels: A Deep Dive into Narcissism, Psychopathy, and Personality Disorders with Dr. Caroline Logan
In this episode, the first of a two part series, we learn about what exactly a psychologist is and the differences between a Clinical and a Forensic Psychologist. Dr. Caroline Logan, who is a Consultant Forensic Clinical Psychologist, t...
Behavioural Threat Assessment – a political and commercial insight with Bill Zimmerman
Bill Zimmerman has spent over 35 years analysing and managing threats. He started out in the fledgling Threat Assessment team of the US Capital Police shortly after its creation and, having spent over 20 years there, moved into the private sect...
Crisis Communication with Giles Kenningham MBE
Giles Kenningham is an expert in crisis communication. A former journalist who honed his skills at the sharp end of politics as the strategic advisor to Prime Minister David Cameron shares his thoughts on the relevant issues. In this podcast, w...
Mind Management and Psychological Health with Tracey Jones
Being wealthy, prominent, and successful doesn’t mean all your problems disappear. A study co-funded by the Gates Foundation published in the Wall Street Journal found that many of the ‘Ultra-rich’ turn out to be a generally dissatisfied lot wh...