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What can comedy teach us about human decision-making?

That\u2019s something that my guest on this episode Josh Berry, knows all about. He\u2019s a comedian, impressionist and satirist \u2014 though as you\u2019ll hear on the episode, he\u2019s not hugely keen on that third label. If there\u2019s anyone that can help us to understand human risk, it\u2019s someone who is really good at observing human behaviour and making us laugh about it.

I first discovered Josh last year, thanks to videos he released on social media which went viral. In them he plays, Rafe Hubris, a 25-year-old SPAD - short for SPecial ADviser \u2014 to the current UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The construct Josh uses for his Rafe videos is really simple. Something newsworthy \u2014 usually ridiculous \u2014 has happened in reality and Rafe is on the phone providing strategic and communications advice to whichever government minister has got themselves into trouble.

The comedy comes both from the storyline and Rafe as a character \u2014\xa0the surname Hubris is very apt to describe the incredibly self-confident, posh, entitled Oxford graduate. We know he studied at Oxford because he never ceases to tell us. If you\u2019ve never come across a Rafe, congratulations! \u2014 just imagine what a younger Boris Johnson must have been like.

Since releasing the videos, Josh has written & published Rafe\u2019s 2020 diaries, and is in the middle of a UK tour. Our discussion went on so long, that there's a second episode coming very soon.

To find out more about the topics we discussed:

Josh\u2019s website including details of Rafe\u2019s diary and his tour: www.joshberryofficial.com

Josh on Social Media:
Twitter \u2014 https://twitter.com/JoshBerryComedy
Facebook\xa0\u2014 https://www.facebook.com/JoshBerryImpressions
Instagram \u2014 https://www.instagram.com/joshberrycomedy/
YouTube \u2014 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLtucDoyC9QQyibS8BY3Vew

Mrs Doubtfire - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mrs._Doubtfire
Simon Lipson - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_Lipson

Russell Brand - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russell_Brand

Josh\u2019s interview with Andy Murray - https://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/2017070340302/andy-murray-impressionist-funny-clip/

A clip from Rob & Romesh with Andy Murray - https://twitter.com/robandromeshvs/status/1413148366960164865?lang=en

The Michael Gove tweet that led to the creation of Rafe Hubris \u2014\xa0https://twitter.com/michaelgove/status/1199304826468876288?

Alan Partridge - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Partridge

Jimmy Carr - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Carr

Rafe\u2019s Peppa Pig reference - https://twitter.com/JoshBerryComedy/status/1463203112076910596?s=20

\u2028Frankie Boyle - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frankie_Boyle

Chris Morris - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Morris_(satirist)