The Library of Mistakes EP 54: The Weekend Of Mistakes (with Leila Johnston)
Mar 26, 2026
Mary Duffy, trustee and chair who focuses on debt and mental health. Paul Greatbatch, festival co-creator and masterful session moderator. They discuss the Weekend of Mistakes festival, panels on debt, mental health and historical debt practices. Conversations cover festival identity, eclectic sessions like stablecoins, mafia and queer nightlife, and geopolitics. The report captures lively, thought-provoking highlights.
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Festival Identity Built On Eclectic Expertise
- The Weekend of Mistakes found its identity by mixing economists, financiers, campaigners, academics and unexpected guests into a single festival.
- Paul Greatbatch and Alice Sherwood curated 20+ sessions across three channels at Hay Castle to create cross-disciplinary intellectual stimulation.
Demystify Finance Jargon To Prevent Mistakes
- Learn and demystify finance jargon to avoid mistakes and make better decisions.
- David Clark's jargon-busting session offered plain-language definitions for terms like debt and usury and distributed a glossary to attendees.
Incentives And Regulation Complement Moral Standards
- Markets need incentives and regulation because relying solely on internal moral standards fails.
- Panelists argued for rewarding good behaviour and regulating to prevent downward pressure on standards like degree mills.