Executive Protection can no longer be treated as a purely physical discipline. In this episode, Phelim and Shaun are joined by Jason Bolwell, Global Executive Protection Manager at BP, to explore how AI is reshaping the threat landscape for senior leaders.

The conversation makes one thing clear: digital exposure now routinely creates physical risk. AI has lowered the barrier to entry for threat actors, enabling individuals, activists, and criminal groups to scrape personal data, track executive movements, and amplify narratives at speed. Jason argues that modern EP must fuse digital privacy, cyber security, and physical protection into a single, joined-up protective model, supported by better intelligence discipline, cultural awareness, and defensible decision-making.

Key discussion points

1. AI has democratized threat capability — everyday actors now access tools once limited to specialists
2. Digital exposure → physical risk — online data increasingly drives real-world disruption
3. Activist tactics are evolving — focus shifting from companies to named executives
4. Deepfakes raise the stakes — voice and video manipulation threaten reputation and markets
5. OSINT is getting harder — closed channels, platform restrictions, and legal caution reduce visibility
6. Optics and legality matter more than ever — not every threat is kinetic, but all are reputational
7. A data-led EP future — Jason outlines a 2026 event-scoring tool to standardize risk, resourcing, and accountability

The episode challenges protectors to move from reactive responses to proactive, intelligence-led protection, anticipating threats across all domains, not just the physical one.

About Jason:

LinkedIn

More about the Circuit:

The Circuit Magazine is written and produced by volunteers, most of who are operationally active, working full time in the security industry. The magazine is a product of their combined passion and desire to give something back to the industry. By subscribing to the magazine you are helping to keep it going into the future. Find out more >

Newsletter:

If you liked this podcast, we have an accompanying weekly newsletter called 'On the Circuit' where we take a deeper dive into the wider industry. Opt in here >

The Circuit team is:

1. Jon Moss
2. Shaun West
3. Phelim Rowe
4. Elijah Shaw

Connect with Us:

Circuit Magazine

Why is networking such an enduring topic for the protector community? Are we doing it 'right' and what does that actually look like? We are delighted to welcome John Morrison back to the Circuit Magazine podcast to look at key takeaways for the protector in an on and offline world of networking and positioning.

About John:

LinkedIn

More about the Circuit:

The Circuit Magazine is written and produced by volunteers, most of who are operationally active, working full time in the security industry. The magazine is a product of their combined passion and desire to give something back to the industry. By subscribing to the magazine you are helping to keep it going into the future. Find out more >

Newsletter:

If you liked this podcast, we have an accompanying weekly newsletter called 'On the Circuit' where we take a deeper dive into the wider industry. Opt in here >

The Circuit team is:

• Jon Moss
• Shaun West
• Phelim Rowe
• Elijah Shaw

Connect with Us:

Circuit Magazine

BBA Connect

NABA Protector

British Bodyguard Association

What if convergence wasn't a single security professional but an interoperable partnership? We are delighted to speak with Toro Solution's Cyber lead Katie Barnett and Physical and Corporate Security Lead Gavin Wilson on their amazing partnership and converged service including:

• How to cross train in other security disciplines for operational success
• How to sell converged or interoperable security services to a physical security focused client
• When to look to a third party to augment your services and when to develop them in house
• What 'cyber' security actually means and just how technical is it today

About Katie:

LinkedIn

About Gavin:

LinkedIn

More about the Circuit:

The Circuit Magazine is written and produced by volunteers, most of who are operationally active, working full time in the security industry. The magazine is a product of their combined passion and desire to give something back to the industry. By subscribing to the magazine you are helping to keep it going into the future. Find out more >

Newsletter:

If you liked this podcast, we have an accompanying weekly newsletter called 'On the Circuit' where we take a deeper dive into the wider industry. Opt in here >

The Circuit team is:

• Jon Moss
• Shaun West
• Phelim Rowe
• Elijah Shaw

Connect with Us:

Circuit Magazine

BBA Connect

NABA Protector

British Bodyguard Association

Reading Between the Lines: Gary Simpson on Silent Signals That Could Save Lives

What if the difference between life and death for your principal came down to a subtle shift in body language you almost missed? In this explosive episode, former military operator turned executive protection expert Gary Simpson reveals the invisible communication happening all around us – and why tomorrow's protection specialists must master the art of reading what's never spoken.

Key Discussion Points:

• ANPA: The Afghanistan Connection - How Gary's deployment experiences taught him to spot "Absence of the Normal, Presence of the Abnormal" – the critical skill that helped identify threats overseas and now serves as an early warning system for executive protection teams in civilian environments.
• Military-to-Private Security Translation - Discover how battlefield-tested observation techniques from counter-insurgency operations seamlessly transfer to boardroom protection, from reading crowd dynamics at corporate events to identifying potential threats in seemingly safe environments.
• The Persuasion Power Play - Learn why the best protection specialists aren't just human shields but master communicators who can defuse situations through strategic non-verbal influence, using everything from positioning and posture to micro-expressions that either escalate or de-escalate tensions.

• Future-Proofing Protection Skills - Gary breaks down how tomorrow's elite protection specialists must become behavioural analysts, combining cutting-edge technology with ancient human instincts to create an invisible shield around their principals.

About Gary:

LinkedIn

More about the Circuit:

The Circuit Magazine is written and produced by volunteers, most of who are operationally active, working full time in the security industry. The magazine is a product of their combined passion and desire to give something back to the industry. By subscribing to the magazine you are helping to keep it going into the future. Find out more >

Newsletter:

If you liked this podcast, we have an accompanying weekly newsletter called 'On the Circuit' where we take a deeper dive into the wider industry. Opt in here >

The Circuit team is:

• Jon Moss
• Shaun West
• Phelim Rowe
• Elijah Shaw

Connect with Us:

Circuit Magazine

BBA Connect

NABA Protector

British Bodyguard Association

Do you know who you are and why you do what you do?

Knowing oneself is essential for protectors, especially as they transition from military or law enforcement to the private security sector. Many professionals might believe they understand their identity, yet in this episode, we discuss how introspection can make you a better protector.

This week, we're joined by James Hamilton, founder of the Hamilton Security Group, where we explore:

• Why is it important to know yourself as a person when entering and operating in protection?
• What factors from your past do you need to acknowledge and understand to be an effective protector?
• Do those who have not come from the services have an advantage or a different method of 'knowing' themselves?
• Does this methodology help protectors plug skills gaps?
• Do you need to truly understand protector colleagues as they understand themselves for operational success?

About James:

LinkedIn

More about the Circuit:

The Circuit Magazine is written and produced by volunteers, most of who are operationally active, working full time in the security industry. The magazine is a product of their combined passion and desire to give something back to the industry. By subscribing to the magazine you are helping to keep it going into the future. Find out more >

Newsletter:

If you liked this podcast, we have an accompanying weekly newsletter called 'On the Circuit' where we take a deeper dive into the wider industry. Opt in here >

The Circuit team is:

• Jon Moss
• Shaun West
• Phelim Rowe
• Elijah Shaw

Connect with Us:

Circuit Magazine

BBA Connect

NABA Protector

British Bodyguard Association

Are all Principals open to being educated by their protector? We are delighted to welcome Hector Robles Conde back to the Circuit Magazine Podcast for the second time to explore:

• What does effective principal training look like?
• Should the first approach be through the outer or family office or should you go direct?
• How much time can an UHNW or comparable principal allocate to this type of training?
• Does this training extend to their wider family?
• 
  

About Hector:

LinkedIn

More about the Circuit:

The Circuit Magazine is written and produced by volunteers, most of who are operationally active, working full time in the security industry. The magazine is a product of their combined passion and desire to give something back to the industry. By subscribing to the magazine you are helping to keep it going into the future. Find out more >

Newsletter:

If you liked this podcast, we have an accompanying weekly newsletter called 'On the Circuit' where we take a deeper dive into the wider industry. Opt in here >

The Circuit team is:

• Jon Moss
• Shaun West
• Phelim Rowe
• Elijah Shaw

Connect with Us:

Circuit Magazine

BBA Connect

NABA Protector

British Bodyguard Association

Where do you know them from? For many it might be an occasional irritation but for 'Super Recognizers' never forgetting a face is a profession. We are delighted to speak with Kelly Desborough, founder of Face Detect and actual Super Recognizer to ask:

• Can you learn to be a super recognizer?
• Where does or would this skill benefit EP?
• Can you match other pieces of information to a super recognizer skill?
• How fast can someone with this gift locate a face?
• What might prevent them from accurately recognizing a face?

About Kelly:

Website

LinkedIn

More about the Circuit:

The Circuit Magazine is written and produced by volunteers, most of who are operationally active, working full time in the security industry. The magazine is a product of their combined passion and desire to give something back to the industry. By subscribing to the magazine you are helping to keep it going into the future. Find out more >

Newsletter:

If you liked this podcast, we have an accompanying weekly newsletter called 'On the Circuit' where we take a deeper dive into the wider industry. Opt in here >

The Circuit team is:

• Jon Moss
• Shaun West
• Phelim Rowe
• Elijah Shaw

Connect with Us:

Circuit Magazine

BBA Connect

NABA Protector

British Bodyguard Association

We are delighted to catch up with incoming ASIS International EP Chair Kevin Palacios to look at priorities for the coming year and also explore his wealth of regional experience. Join us as we ask:

• What career pathways are available for EP within the wider Corporate Security ecosystem?
• Where do operational and managerial standards converge and diverge?
• What should we expect to see from ASIS International this coming year in the field of EP?
• How has your regional experience informed your passion for EP modernization?

About Kevin:

LinkedIn

More about the Circuit:

The Circuit Magazine is written and produced by volunteers, most of who are operationally active, working full time in the security industry. The magazine is a product of their combined passion and desire to give something back to the industry. By subscribing to the magazine you are helping to keep it going into the future. Find out more >

Newsletter:

If you liked this podcast, we have an accompanying weekly newsletter called 'On the Circuit' where we take a deeper dive into the wider industry. Opt in here >

The Circuit team is:

• Jon Moss
• Shaun West
• Phelim Rowe
• Elijah Shaw

Connect with Us:

Circuit Magazine

BBA Connect

NABA Protector

British Bodyguard Association