When the future gets smaller: Dr Ryan Kemp on addiction

What can addiction teach us about being human? In this episode, I'm joined by Dr Ryan Kemp, a clinical psychologist and Director of Therapies at a large NHS Trust. Ryan is also an author and Honorary Professor of Clinical Practice at Brunel, University of London. Ryan has worked in the field of addiction for more than 20 years. When he was last on People Soup, we talked about his journey into psychology and some of the pivotal moments in his career. This time, I wanted to understand something I'd never really explored with him: why addiction has held his interest for so long. Ryan has developed a distinctive approach to addiction based on phenomenology — starting with the lived experience of the person. In this first part of our conversation, we explore: Why Ryan became interested in addiction What phenomenology can tell us about addiction Why Ryan moved away from describing people experiencing addiction as simply "impulsive" How addiction can change a person's experience of time What happens when the future becomes harder to hold in mind and the immediate becomes increasingly important The relationship between addiction and pleasure, reward and relief Why Ryan believes dishonesty can begin with the relationship we have with ourselves The stories and narratives we construct to make sense of difficult experiences How those patterns can affect relationships with other people What some of these ideas might reveal about ordinary human behaviour and our tendency to choose short-term relief over longer-term consequences We also begin to explore what this might mean for workplaces and organisations — and that's where we'll pick up the conversation in Part Two. One of the ideas I'm taking away from this conversation is Ryan's description of addiction as an experience in which time can become compressed into the now. We don't have to be experiencing addiction to recognise the pull of the immediate. The quick win. The avoidance of an uncomfortable feeling. The path of least resistance. The thing that gives us relief now, even when we know something else might matter more in the longer term. I'm not suggesting these ordinary behaviours are the same as addiction. But I do think Ryan's perspective gives us an interesting lens through which to examine our own behaviour. This is Part One of a two-part conversation with Ryan. People Soup: Real conversations about work, leadership, and being human — grounded in behavioural science, with practical ideas you can actually use. If this episode resonated with you, please consider following People Soup, leaving a rating or review, or sharing it with someone who might find it useful. Every recommendation helps more people discover practical, evidence-based conversations about work, leadership and being human. Transcending Addiction by Ryan Kemp Connect with Ryan on LinkedIn Here's the People Soup Website. And you can subscribe to the People Soup YouTube Channel here. Visit Ross' Website. Connect with Ross on LinkedIn People Soup on Instagram which also features plenty of Ross' photos of the Andalusian life.