The Hostage Negotiator

The Hostage Negotiator

August 9, 2026 · 1h 46m · Season 17 · Episode 8

About this episode

Scott Walker, an experienced hostage negotiator, shares insights on negotiation tactics and stress management in a conversation with Olly Mann.

What would you do if your phone rang and someone told you they'd kidnapped a member of your family? Scott Walker knows. As one of Britain's most experienced hostage negotiators, he spent years helping families through the worst moments of their lives before moving into the private sector, where he negotiated with pirates and organised crime gangs across the world. In this revealing conversation with Olly, Scott explains why lying almost always backfires, why the calmest person in the room usually wins, and how to keep your nerve in a seriously stressful ‘Red Centre’. Scott’s books, Order Out Of Chaos and The Eye of the Storm, are out now.  _____________ Meanwhile, in the Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart takes time out of his holiday golf regime to discuss humane alternatives to rat traps. Are rodent populations on the rise, thanks to global warming? And how should you stay safe while dealing with droppings and drains that spread disease? _____________ Elsewhere, down the Foxhole, Alix Fox tackles the thorny dilemma of what to do when a man you used to hook up with turns up on Are We Dating The Same Guy? Are you responsible for warning his current spouse of his non-consensual history…

People in this episode

Host: Olly Mann

Guest: Scott Walker

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Girl On The Net

Books & works: Order Out Of Chaos, The Eye of the Storm

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