Tales from the Hat – with Neil Manfred
Podcast

Real conversations about technology leadership, AI governance, and the stories that shaped modern digital organisations. Honest. Accessible. With a bit of personality.

Latest Episodes

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04
podcast 6 May 2026
🎙️“My Daughter Says AI Is Killing the Planet”
In this episode of Tales from the Hat, Neil shares a surprising conversation with his 16‑year‑old daughter, who challenges the environmental impact of AI and questions why we use it…
03
podcast 26 Apr 2026
🎙️ “The Chennai Office Move: What Could Go Wrong… Did”
We’re talking: What happens when a perfectly planned office move in Chennai meets traffic, physics, and fate? In this episode of Tales from the Hat, I’m welcoming a wave of…
02
podcast 19 Apr 2026
🎙️ “Why Brakes Make You Faster: The Hidden Power of Control in Technology and Leadership”
There’s a saying in Formula 1 that sounds completely backwards the first time you hear it: “Brakes make you faster.” On the surface, it makes no sense. Brakes slow you…
01
Tales From The Hat 16 Apr 2026
🎙️Tales From The Hat: Intro Episode
🎙️ Episode 1 — The Story Behind the Hat Every story starts somewhere and for Tales from the Hat, it begins with the hat itself.In this first episode, Neil Manfred shares how a simple piece of headwear…

Real stories from
inside the room

Tales from the Hat isn't a news show or a tech lecture. It's a candid look at the human side of technology leadership — the decisions, the pressures, the failures, and the breakthroughs that never make the press release.

Hosted by Neil Manfred — founder of Fredian Shield, Certified Director, and the guy in the hat — every episode draws on real experience at the board table and in the IT trenches.

About the Podcast →
Weekly Episodes
3 Platforms
30+ Yrs Experience
100% No Hype

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