The Collators cover art

The Collators

The Collators

Written by: Mark Lockwood Howard Atkin
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About this listen

 Dive into the philosophy and practice of analysis and information sharing, with insights from leaders in tech, academia, intelligence and beyond on how they make sense of the world. Hosts Mark and Howard draw on experience in intelligence, law enforcement and academia to unpack the ideas and methods that shape understanding. Thoughtful but accessible, it's a podcast for anyone who wants to sharpen their thinking in a complex, fast-changing world.2025 Philosophy Science Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Imagination Matters: Interview with Ian Jackson

    Imagination Matters: Interview with Ian Jackson
    May 15 2026

    Mark and Howard are joined by Ian Jackson for a wide-ranging conversation about comics, science fiction, nostalgia, imagination, and critical thinking. Ian shares his journey from archaeology, theatre, travel, and art handling to running a one-man comic shop built around nostalgia, community, and geek culture.

    This is not just an episode about comics or science fiction. It is about why imagination matters; how stories shape identity, how science fiction helps us ask "what if?", and why the ability to think beyond the obvious may be one of the most important skills we have.

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    59 mins
  • The Collators Office

    The Collators Office
    May 3 2026

    In this episode, Mark and Howard are joined by David Allen, a former Metropolitan Police officer who joined the job in 1966 and later became a collator at Bow Street. David shares what policing the West End was really like, how the Collator's Office worked, and why apparently trivial scraps of information could sometimes become the key to serious investigations.
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    1 hr and 22 mins
  • Analysis under pressure: An interview with David Jimenez

    Analysis under pressure: An interview with David Jimenez
    Apr 9 2026
    In this episode of The Collators, Howard and Mark are joined by veteran intelligence professional David Jimenez, whose career spans military intelligence, federal law enforcement, counter-drug analysis, and higher education. The conversation explores what really transfers across intelligence, law enforcement, and the private sector; the pressures analysts face when decision-makers want certainty without enough data; the role of ethics and professional standards in analysis; and whether the profession is keeping pace with modern demands.
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    1 hr and 30 mins
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