The Why Podcast

Every piece of academic research starts with a question to answer or puzzle to solve. Listen in as London Business School faculty describe how they set about making new discoveries on a subject they’re curious about, what their findings suggest, and discuss the current and potential future impact of their research for you and your business. A Think at London Business School podcast.

The Why Podcast is a education podcast hosted by London Business School, with 41 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

London Business School hosts The Why Podcast, a education show with 41 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #11

  The Why Podcast: 10 key takeaways on AI, belonging and the future of work

  Jul 17, 202615 minS3

  What do AI, burnout, student debt, workplace belonging and diversity have in common? In this special season wrap-up of The Why Podcast, we step back from individual episodes to explore the three big themes that kept emerging across our conversations with leading researchers and experts. From the rise of AI and the enduring value of human judgement, to the changing nature of work, workplace culture, fairness and opportunity, this episode connects the ideas shaping the future of business and society. Along the way, we revisit powerful insights on the impact of workplace design, the rise of freelancing, burnout and hidden pressures, student debt and so much more. We engaged with timeless questions, such as asking ‘how many summers do you have left?’ and we addressed one of the most transformative tools of our time in AI and how it is shaping the future. Whether you're interested in leadership, organisational culture, the future of work, AI, or behavioural science, this episode brings together some of the season's most memorable ideas and asks the questions that matter most. For more thought leadership and business insights from London Business School faculty and alumni, visit ⁠⁠⁠https://www.london.edu/think. Sign up to receive a curated selection of articles, podcasts and films direct to your inbox twice a month at ⁠⁠⁠https://www.london.edu/think?entry=true#subscribeScreen. Follow us on social media: ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠X.com/LBS⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linkedin.com/school/london-business-school⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠  ⁠⁠facebook.com/LondonBusinessSchool⁠⁠⁠ 

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  Episode #10

  The Why Podcast: Why do performance incentives so often lead to burnout?

  Jul 17, 202630 minS3

  Professor Jean-Pierre Benoît joins Katie Pisa on The Why Podcast to explore a surprising question: why do so many high-performing employees end up burned out? Drawing on his latest research, Jean-Pierre explains that burnout is not simply the result of long hours or personal resilience. Instead, it can be a predictable consequence of the way organisations design incentives. Through an economist's lens, he reveals how bonuses, commissions and performance targets can encourage employees to work harder in the short term while quietly increasing the risk of exhaustion over time. The conversation explores how burnout develops gradually rather than appearing suddenly. As effort accumulates, so does fatigue, making it increasingly costly for employees to sustain high levels of performance. This creates a challenge for organisations seeking to motivate people without pushing them towards disengagement, ill health or turnover. Three key themes emerge from the discussion: • Burnout is often a systemic issue rather than an individual failing, arising from the way organisations structure work and reward performance. • Strong incentives can drive short-term results, but when effort accumulates over time they may also increase the risk of exhaustion, declining productivity and employee turnover. • Sustainable performance requires more than wellbeing initiatives alone; organisations must design incentive systems that allow employees to manage effort over the long term. For leaders, managers and employees alike, the episode offers a fresh perspective on one of the most pressing challenges in modern working life. The key insight is simple: burnout is not always an accident. In many cases, it is a predictable outcome of how organisations choose to motivate people. Discover more about Jean-Pierre and his research: ⁠https://www.london.edu/faculty-and-research/faculty-profiles/b/benoit-j For more thought leadership and business insights from London Business School faculty and alumni, visit ⁠⁠https://www.london.edu/think⁠⁠ Sign up to receive a curated selection of articles, podcasts and films direct to your inbox twice a month at ⁠⁠https://www.london.edu/think?entry=true#subscribeScreen⁠⁠ Follow us on social media: ⁠⁠https://x.com/LBS⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/school/london-business-school/⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/LondonBusinessSchool

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  Episode #10

  Why do performance incentives so often lead to burnout?

  Jun 17, 202630 minS3

  <p>Professor Jean-Pierre Benoît joins Katie Pisa on The Why Podcast to explore a surprising question: why do so many high-performing employees end up burned out?</p> <p>Drawing on his latest research, Jean-Pierre explains that burnout is not simply the result of long hours or personal resilience. Instead, it can be a predictable consequence of the way organisations design incentives. Through an economist's lens, he reveals how bonuses, commissions and performance targets can encourage employees to work harder in the short term while quietly increasing the risk of exhaustion over time.</p> <p>The conversation explores how burnout d...

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  Episode #9

  The Why Podcast: Why we think we'll forever

  May 29, 202637 minS3

  <p>Professor David Faro joins Katie Pisa on The Why Podcast to explore a deceptively simple question: why does the way we think about how long we have left to live change how we live today? </p> <p>Drawing on his latest research, David explains how life expectancy can be framed in two ways, as an age we might reach or as the time we have left. While the numbers are identical, the impact is not. Seeing life as a finite amount of time prompts people to think differently about goals, priorities and trade‑offs.  </p> <p>The conversation explores how this s...

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  Episode #8

  The Why Podcast: Why we are who we are

  Apr 17, 202628 minS3

  <p>Professor Nigel Nicholson joins Katie Pisa on The Why Podcast to explore why individuality matters more than ever in the age of AI, and why ignoring it carries serious consequences for leadership and relationships.</p> <p><br></p> <p>Drawing on his latest book, ‘Unique You: How Individuality Works and Why It Matters’, Nigel explains why each person inhabits a distinct inner world shaped by biology and experience and why no two people ever truly share the same experience.</p> <p> </p> <p>The conversation examines how modern organisations often overlook individuality in favour of averages, categories and standardised metri...

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