Risktory: The Story Of Risk

On this week’s episode, an exploration into the mind of an opportunist, John Dudley, the Duke of Northumberland. In July 1553, Northumberland took advantage of a risk vacuum to place Lady Jane Grey, his daughter in law, on the English throne, making her England’s first queen.I often speak on the podcast about opportunists and disruptors but, while I’ve dedicated a number of episodes to the disruptors – Edison, Tesla, Apgar, Parks, Bonaparte – I’ve never dedicated an episode to the wily, devious and always entertaining chess masters that are the pure opportunists. Until now.On this week’s episode, I explore how Dudley was able to position Lady Jane Grey to become Queen, how he was able to almost effortlessly master a political landscape more volatile than a south American dictatorship, and how he – eventually – came undone, and lost his head.The Risktory Podcast is created, written and produced by Jacinthe A Galpin.Soundtrack (sourced from www.freemusicarchive.org)Podington Bear - Elephants on ParadeAlan Spi