We’ve all got a lot savvier about sustainability in recent years. We know the size of the climate challenge facing the planet. And we know that the planet needs more than statements, green logos and commitments to use the printer less to tackle it. As we all make more sustainable choices and changes in our personal lives, we look to the businesses we buy from and work for to do the same. Our expectations are higher than ever before, but are some businesses better placed to meet them than others?...
Jul 15, 2025•39 min•Season 10Ep. 89
In a data-driven world, it’s easy to get lost in a maze of metrics. We start by looking for helpful measurements that will allow us to track our progress, set goals and make more informed decisions. But we can quickly lose sight of what we’re tracking and why we’re tracking it. Because it’s easy to collect data – the challenge is knowing how best to use it. So, what needs to happen to ensure metrics aren’t just numbers on a page, but drivers of real change? And how do we use them to give what we...
Jul 01, 2025•35 min•Season 10Ep. 88
What you know matters, but who you know matters more. That’s not quite how the original saying goes, but perhaps it’s time for an update. Whereas once ‘It’s not what you know, it’s who you know’ might have been whispered and accompanied by a raised eyebrow, things have shifted. A strong network doesn’t, or shouldn’t, act as a substitute for our skills. But it can provide us with more opportunities to demonstrate them. According to LinkedIn, 70% of jobs aren’t even advertised on job websites, wit...
Jun 17, 2025•40 min•Season 10Ep. 87
You learn something new every day. At least, that’s how the saying goes. But it’s not always how the reality goes – particularly when it comes to our work. Even though 84% of us feel like learning adds more purpose to our work, demanding deadlines and overflowing inboxes often stop us from finding time to focus on our own development. But being given the time and space to learn new things can lead to some seriously good things, like new opportunities, career growth and improved mental wellbeing....
May 27, 2025•41 min•Season 10Ep. 86
“Well done is better than well said.” You might have heard that famous saying from Benjamin Franklin. And it’s one that reminds us of the importance of action over words. But what does it take exactly? When it comes to solving some of the world’s biggest problems or doing business in a more sustainable and responsible way, there’s no shortage of people talking and theorising. And that’s a good thing. Hearing and learning from others is important. But right now, the world needs more people drivin...
May 13, 2025•40 min•Season 10Ep. 85
Sailing a ship is effortless when seas are calm and the wind is blowing in the right direction. And in business, it’s easier to feel confident and in control when conditions are idyllic, profits are high and growth is steady. But what do you do when a storm hits? How do you turn things around and not only weather the storm, but emerge stronger? Turnarounds are challenging - in fact, within business, 70% of them fail. And the weight of expectation can test even the most experienced leaders and te...
Mar 25, 2025•36 min•Season 9Ep. 84
Better healthcare and schools. More jobs. A growing economy. Improved infrastructure. Planet-saving solutions and disruptive technology. Anything else? As the list for what would improve our lives gets longer, our demand on governments around the world gets greater. In fact, research shows our expectations are at an all-time high. But can all the things that the world needs really be delivered by new policies, new budgets and new leaders alone? Or is it our expectations that need to change? The ...
Mar 11, 2025•39 min•Season 9Ep. 83
Setting timers. Downloading apps. Standing desks. Getting up at 5am. A new week, a new productivity ‘hack’. But is chasing productivity actually helping us to get more done? Or simply giving us more to do? Feeling productive can mean different things on different days. Sometimes it’s flying through our to-do list. Sometimes it’s spending hours thinking of an idea that will go on to change everything. But do we value one type of productivity more than the other? And could doing so be holding us b...
Feb 25, 2025•33 min•Season 9Ep. 82
We’re all familiar with change. Our schedules change. Projects change. The world changes. It’s the only constant, as they say. And so, we learn how to adapt to new landscapes, adjusting our plans and executing accordingly. But transforming something and making real progress – that’s another beast altogether. It’s about moving from who you are to who you want to be. About reinventing a business for the future. Or shaping a project that will impact lives for years to come. Making progress involves...
Feb 11, 2025•41 min•Season 9Ep. 81
Rome wasn’t built in a day. The tortoise beats the hare. More haste, less speed. We’ve heard the adages. And we know why they’re used. We know that behind every overnight success is years of hard work. But that doesn’t stop us being fascinated by them. Whether it’s a singer, a new app, a sports team or a start-up, we can all think of sudden stratospheric rises. They’re exciting, they’re inspiring and we want to know the secrets behind them. But once the smoke clears and the spotlight has faded, ...
Jan 27, 2025•45 min•Season 9Ep. 80
After many years of space exploration, what was once science fiction is now a reality – and a thriving industry. The space economy is predicted to grow at twice the speed of GDP over the next 10 years. Which is great news for the people in spacesuits, the people at ground control and the entrepreneurs behind it all. But what does it mean for the rest of us? As infinity and beyond moves closer into view, there’s a lot to be explored. And although we’re not entirely sure what’s out there, experts ...
Jan 14, 2025•41 min•Season 9Ep. 79
Have you ever heard of a ‘vibecession’? It’s when we feel like we’re in a recession, without actually being in one. When there’s a disconnect between feelings and facts. Feel familiar? Economists are telling us that things are on the up. GDP is growing. Inflation is down. And wages are up. So why does it feel like the mood of the population is heading in the opposite direction to the graphs? It could be because our day-to-day experiences don’t match up with the data. It’s expensive to fill up ou...
Dec 10, 2024•35 min•Season 9Ep. 78
It’s estimated that 15 to 20% of the global population is neurodivergent. 1 in 5 people. But fear of stigma prevents many from disclosing this in their workplaces. That’s a lot of people not bringing their full selves – and skills – to work. And companies not getting the best of their brilliant talent. For some, choosing to disclose can be empowering and spotlight their strengths. But it can also be complex to navigate. Especially when there’s stereotypes or lack of education and understanding. ...
Nov 26, 2024•40 min•Season 9Ep. 77
Beating the odds. Getting the gold. Staying fearless. Showing strength. Never stopping. We hear those words used about some of the world’s biggest role models. The people who, when the spotlight shines on them, seem superhuman. But what if we switched that spotlight to focus on the human too, rather than just the super? Instead of beating the odds, our hero got beaten – but came back next time. Instead of staying fearless, they felt the fear but did it anyway. Instead of showing strength, they s...
Nov 05, 2024•40 min•Season 9Ep. 76
Ding. Breaking news. Ding. New email. Ding. Whatsapp group. Ding. New email. Ding. Whatsapp again. Ding. Another email. Ding. Ding. Ding. Studies show that we have more information in our brains than almost anyone alive hundreds of years ago processed in their lifetime. And it feels like it, doesn’t it? So we’re receiving more information than ever before. And there are more ways than ever before to send it. But that doesn’t mean we’re any better at communicating it. That we’re understanding it....
Oct 22, 2024•40 min•Season 9Ep. 75
Chief Happiness Officer. Head of Wellbeing. Chief Sustainability Officer. Diversity and inclusion leader. A scroll on LinkedIn will point to many of these kinds of roles that exist within companies these days. But should they? Being an inclusive business. Making sure operations are sustainable. And people are happy. These things have always been important in business. And our understanding of matters like diversity and sustainability has never been better. So, why is it still hard to see positiv...
Oct 01, 2024•39 min•Season 9Ep. 74
All day, every day, we can access masses of information at the touch of a button. Or the sound of a voice command. However, we can access a lot of misinformation too. We’ve all seen examples of deepfakes, online scams and misinformation shape the headlines – and then become the headlines. The most common conclusion? It’s AI’s fault. Would it surprise you that 70% of us are concerned about the use of deepfakes, data privacy issues, security risks and the spread of misinformation? And although the...
Sep 17, 2024•33 min•Season 9Ep. 73
“In a world where you can be anything, be kind.” It’s a famous saying. And it sounds simple enough. But is it? And is there room for it at work if we want to achieve our career goals? Being kind to others may come easy, but what about being kind towards ourselves while chasing our dreams? But this isn’t just a nice to have. In the UK alone, mental health problems cost employers £51 billion per year. So how can we get better at looking after ourselves? And what roles do leaders play in cultivatin...
Sep 03, 2024•43 min•Season 9Ep. 72
Success and glory. Blood. Sweat. And tears. A legacy left behind. It’s built on the truth that winning is a win for one. But the reality is that firsts are a win for everyone. Our athletes have each left their own legacy, but what is the true power of doing something of such magnitude for the first time? In the final episode of the series, we reflect on what life is like after “the first”. What does it mean for the world and what legacy does it leave behind? What’s the inspiration for others who...
Jul 16, 2024•25 min•Season 9Ep. 5
They’ve done it. They’ve become the first. Now what? Sometimes you have to take a step back to see the impact that you’ve made. But what is it really like being at the centre of it all? What emotions do you go through and when are you finally able to realise the importance of what’s just happened? Episode four looks at the immediate aftermath of their first. What do they remember from that moment? Was it all about the singular event or did they see the wider impact it would have? Does it leave a...
Jul 16, 2024•24 min•Season 9Ep. 4
It’s what they’ve worked towards. But it’s more than that. It’s a moment not just for them, but for everyone. That moment of realisation. The dream achieved. A generation inspired. A moment that will go down in history, not just for the result but for what it means. Episode three, in our five-part series, takes our athletes back to the moment where they became “the first” and asks them to talk us through that moment – their feelings, their memories, the barriers they overcame. Did they realise a...
Jul 16, 2024•29 min•Season 9Ep. 3
When does a dream become a realistic goal? And once it becomes a goal, how hard is the work to get there? Episode two, in our five-part series, explores when our athletes first realised their dreams could become a reality and the path they took to shape their careers. How did they come to that decision and what did their friends and family think? How did they decide to make the jump into the unknown and follow their heart? Did they have to overcome thoughts of doubt and what did they tell themse...
Jul 16, 2024•23 min•Season 9Ep. 2
Nicola Adams, Natalie du Toit, Sarah Attar and Rose Lokonyen were all first - they share their story in this powerful and emotional documentary. But what does being first actually mean? Winning is a win for one. But firsts are a win for everyone. They unlock something in humanity and move the world forward. Breaking through. Breaking the cycle. Breaking the glass ceiling. Speaking about the power of firsts can change the world. In this series, we explore the story of four incredible Olympians an...
Jul 16, 2024•24 min•Season 9Ep. 1
What does being first actually mean? Winning is a win for one. But firsts are a win for everyone. They unlock something in humanity and move the world forward. Breaking through. Breaking the cycle. Breaking the glass ceiling. Speaking about the power of firsts can change the world. This all-new five-part series explores the power of firsts with intimate conversations with four inspiring Paralympians and Olympians who’ve helped change the world by being first. Join them - and us - for the whole s...
Jul 10, 2024•1 min
As we get older, work and play feel worlds apart. But as kids, playing is our job – and many of us played at having jobs. We set out shops. Operated on our teddies. Cut our dolls’ hair. Explored the outer edges of space in the garden. And although we might not have gone on to be any of the things that we pretended to be, those early experiments still shaped us into who we are today – and how we work. They gave us the chance to try new things, learn new things and feel new things. But not every c...
Jun 25, 2024•40 min•Season 8Ep. 71
We all have good ideas. But some of us have to clear more hurdles than others. If you’re a founder, you want to make your ideas happen and grow your business. But it’s not always that easy. If you’re an investor, you want to back the best ideas and companies out there. But are some of those ideas not even landing on your desk in the first place? If you're a female founder, scaling your business should be just as easy as that of your male counterpart. But that isn’t always the case. The question ...
Jun 04, 2024•42 min•Season 8Ep. 70
The anticipation as the lights drop. The roar of the crowd. The beat of the music. The feeling that you just had to be there – and you were. Whether it’s the band that you never thought you’d get to see, the music festival that you build your calendar around or the comedian who you’ll quote forever, nothing beats the feeling of seeing it live. And it’s not just crowd surfing and crowd singing, there’s the corporate side of live events too. The summits. The launches. The awards. All a chance to c...
May 21, 2024•48 min•Season 8Ep. 69
Medals. Cheering. Split seconds. Finish lines. Every four years, Olympians and Paralympians come together from around the world and compete on the biggest stage. That stage is also the last stage. A moment in time. A day when all eyes are on you. What we don’t often see is what it took to get there. The hard work. The training. The setbacks. Those who helped. And of course, the wider movement it inspires. Because it’s one thing to be a champion. And another thing to champion something. So, what ...
May 07, 2024•41 min•Season 8Ep. 68
Friend or threat? Help or hindrance? Possibilities or problems? The headlines about artificial intelligence often force us to fit the technology into one of two columns. It’s going to be good or bad. It’s going to be us or the robots. But as with most things in life, it’s not that simple. Is it time to change the conversation about AI to one that’s less ‘either/or’ and more open? Open to possibilities. Open to change. Open to discussion. It’s been suggested that AI could bring about as big a tra...
Apr 23, 2024•42 min•Season 8Ep. 67
Getting people to change how they do things can be hard, even if everyone agrees that things need to change. Take energy transition, for example. The case for switching to greener, more renewable sources of energy is well-made. And well-understood. But whether it’s in your own home or the business you work in and lead, the challenge is now how do we make that change happen? And when there’s so many solutions and little consensus on which is the right way to go, how do we not let paralysis take h...
Mar 12, 2024•41 min•Season 8Ep. 66
