Workplace pensions podcasts
Our Scottish Widows podcasts are now available through various platforms such as Spotify or Podbean. Click the links below to go directly to each one.
2026
AI x Workplace Pensions - what can schemes do to improve what members see?
January 2026
AI is changing how people engage with pensions - whether they’re seeking advice, researching pensions schemes, or making workplace decisions.
Previous podcasts
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21 Years of the Scottish Widows Women and Retirement Report
November 2025
Welcome to 21 Years of the Scottish Widows Women in Retirement Report — a special series exploring women’s financial futures beyond the numbers. Over two decades of insights have shown us that retirement isn’t just about savings and pensions; it’s about life stories, resilience, and change.
September 2025
With over 30 million UK users and the meteoric rise of #FINTOK revolutionising the world of finance comms it's time to go deep. I'm joined by James Bowyer of Tik Tok and Scott Stevenson of Scottish Widows Brand team for a fascinating look behind the Tik Tok success story and look at the role it's already playing in UK pensions planning.
Mithesh Varsani: An Investment Innovator
July 2025
Mithesh Varsani, Head of Investment Solutions at Scottish Widows, shares his fascinating journey from the world of investment start-ups to bringing his private markets expertise to Scottish Widows.
He walks us through how Scottish Widows is reshaping its default fund to better reflect evolving customer behaviours and offers insights into the latest ventures into private market solutions, including the development of new LTAFs.
Scottish Widows' Retirement Report - Love has its dividends
June 2025
The Scottish Widows' Retirement Report sent shockwaves through the media, with the startling revelation that 39%* of the UK population may fall short of a basic standard of living in retirement.
In this episode, Pete Glancy – the report’s author and friend of the podcast – joins Robert Cochran for an exclusive deep dive beyond the headlines. Together, they unravel the complexities of this year’s report, explore the implications for future retirees, and share practical actions that can be taken to help secure a more comfortable retirement. All the time trying to outdo the AI version of the podcast.
*2025 Scottish Widows' Retirement Report
Kevin Doran - A CIO With A Plan
May 2025
Scottish Widows' Chief Investment Officer is shaking up the way hundreds of billions of pounds of assets are managed, focusing on customer behaviour and a goal to get the UK thinking more like a nation of investors, each with a stake in society.
Kevin's path is nothing short of inspiring. From his beginnings as a math teacher to becoming a CIO, his story is filled with fascinating analogies and memorable anecdotes. He shares the four unique "super-powers" that excite him in his new role, making this episode a must-listen, at a time when Default Pension Funds across the board have never been more centre stage.
Digital Inclusion: How Savvy Are You?
May 2025
Join us as we explore the UK’s largest study of digital and financial lives. In this episode Robert Cochran is joined by special guests Jemma Waters, Head of Customer Inclusion for Lloyds Banking Group and sponsor of the report, alongside Lucinda Crowther from the Royal National Institute of Blind People, where we look at the report findings and support available for employers and individuals to help ensure digital inclusion for all.
April 2025
Recorded in front of a live audience of Employers. Robert Cochran is joined by Pension Dashboard experts Chris Curry and Richard Smith.
They have an interactive discussion about dashboards: where the programme is right now, what Richard learned on his European Dashboard trip and answering some great audience questions, including how vulnerable the pension dashboard is to scammers.
Empowering Financial Futures: International Women’s Day
March 2025
Join us for a special International Women’s Day podcast hosted by Jill Henderson, Head of Workplace Strategic Relationships, Jackie Leiper, Managing Director at Scottish Widows, and her daughter Rebecca. In this insightful episode, we hear about their personal journey of closing the pension gap and explore the importance of meaningful financial planning conversations.
March 2025
In our latest podcast, we switch it up to hear from the employer perspective. Paul Bird joins Robert Cochran, sharing his insights from 40 years delivering benefits in the workplace pensions market.
For employer use only.