Todays conversation is the epitome of why we started the show. We are joined today by Chris Hines MBE, the co-founder of Surfers against sewage, the former sustainability director for the Eden Project, a world-renowned campaigner, and a true inspiration for those looking to take up the fight for the many challenges our society faces.
In this conversation, Chris Hines shares his journey from a childhood spent in nature to becoming a prominent environmental activist. He discusses the evolution of activism, the importance of education, and the role of community in driving change. We explore the need for intelligent activism that utilises modern tools while fostering resilience and collective action.
Chris ultimately reflects on the significance of inspiring the next generation and the legacy we leave behind, advocating for a world where care, respect, and appreciate that sustainability needs to be at the forefront of everything we do.
You can connect with Chris and find out more via the links below:
In this conversation, we are joined by Cath Pendleton exploring her remarkable journey in swimming, particularly focusing on her experiences with cold water swimming and her incredible swim in Antarctica.
We discuss the mental health benefits of swimming, the formation of the Dippy Dragons, and the challenges faced during her journey to becoming an ice swimmer. Cath shares her insights on making one's own luck and the importance of preparation and community support in achieving extraordinary goals.
Ultimately, she encourages others to embrace new experiences and follow their passions. Cath’s journey was documented by the BBC for the fantastic documentary The Merthyr Mermaid, which you can find via the link below: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000qnb4/the-merthyr-mermaid
You can connect with Cath on:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swimcathswim/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/catherine.howard.33449138
Website: http://www.merthyrmermaid.co.uk/index.html
Louise Minchin's book Fearless, in which Cath features, can be found here: https://amzn.eu/d/183YjpX
This weeks guest is a hurricane of energy. In an interview with Forbes, our guest Jacqueline Williams is quoted as saying:
"Decide you have a destination and go there. If you say you are going to the store and there is a detour or roadblock you don't just stop and turn around to go home. You figure out another route. There is always another way. Always.”
Is there a more accurate embodiment of why we started our podcast in the first place?! Jac shares with us her transformative journey from the Midwest to Los Angeles, detailing how a personal tragedy set her on a path to start a successful business focused on sustainability.
She reflects on the lessons learned from grief, the importance of resourcefulness, and how her experiences shaped her values as a parent. The discussion emphasises the significance of finding purpose and fulfilment in life, even amidst challenges.
Jac is part of the wider Do Lectures family that a number of our guests have emerged from, and once you’ve completed with today’s conversation, please check out the link to The Do Lectures, as for anyone in the creative space, it is a must to explore. https://thedolectures.com/
In this conversation, we’re joined by the inspiring Tiana Gordon. A professional rugby player and founder of Peak Team Performance, Tiana shares her journey from being a former competitive swimmer, before starting rugby at university, through to her current role in empowering coaches and athletes.
She discusses the importance of coaching relationships, the impact of social connection on performance, and her mission to optimize athlete wellbeing. She reflects on her experiences in high-performance environments and emphasizes the need for balance between performance and mental health. The conversation also explores the coaching landscape and the significance of community building among coaches!
You can connect with Tiana and Peak Team Performance via the links below:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tianagordoncx/
https://www.instagram.com/tianagordon7
In this conversation, Rachelle shares her unique journey from being an elite alpine skier to becoming an airline pilot. We discuss the challenges she faced during her athletic career, including the pressures of balancing academics and sports, the impact of her upbringing, and the transition to aviation.
She emphasises the importance of resilience, support from her family, and following her passions despite initial fears. Her story highlights the significance of adaptability and the pursuit of personal growth in the face of change.
Connect with Athlete Interactions and Rachelle:
https://www.athleteinteractions.org/
https://www.instagram.com/athleteinteractions/
Direct to link to request support from Athlete Interactions: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScS3U8QBlfzugYm9373XMHF-X2QXFoKLcUG9-h8nGwsfbowZg/viewform
https://thecognitiveequestrian.substack.com/
https://www.instagram.com/the.cognitive.equestrian/
For this conversation we are joined by Dr Amy Whitehead and Jen Coe, who come from the world of Sports Psychology and Sports Coaching respectively. Collectively, the dynamic duo have co-edited a number of books, including most recently the Myths of Sports Performance, which is the topic of our conversation.
Jen has been on the show previously, exploring her journey on episode 28, which has moved on lots since then. We start with an overview of both our guests, then dive straight into some of the most poignant topics in their most recent book.
You can connect with Amy and Jen via their linked-in below:
Amy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-amy-whitehead-1b431441/
Jen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenny-coe-1a308a49/
You can check out their latest book, Myths of Sports Performance here: https://amzn.eu/d/hJV0jPe
In this episode, Mike Martin shares his inspiring journey from being a professional basketball player and representing his country, medaling at the Commonwealth Games, through to facing a life-altering brain cancer diagnosis. He discusses the importance of sports in shaping his mindset, the challenges of transitioning out of professional sport, and lessons learned along the way.
Part of his recent journey has included hiking to Mount Everest base camp, and raising funds and awareness for those diagnosed with Brain Cancer. It is a very deep and humbling conversation and we are extremely grateful to Mike for being so open and honest with us.
You can connect with Mike on both Instagram and Linkedin:
https://www.instagram.com/mikemartinfitness/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-martin-b727a171/
In this episode, Chris Martin shares his inspiring journey from being a paramedic and avid runner to facing a life-altering cancer diagnosis. He discusses the importance of sports in shaping his resilience and teamwork mentality, the unexpected birth of his YouTube channel, and the emotional challenges of navigating cancer treatment while supporting his family.
Chris emphasizes the significance of mental health, open communication, and the power of community support during difficult times. As he prepares for the London Marathon, he reflects on the lessons learned and the importance of pursuing happiness in life.
Chris will be running for Cancer Research UK and you can support his journey here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/chris-martin-ems?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL&utm_campaign=015
You can connect with Chris’s Youtube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@ChrisMartinEMS
In this episode, we sit down with 2x World Record Holder, cyclist, speaker and author Leigh Timmis. Leigh’s book, The Race of Truth, will go down for me as one of the fastest books we have ever consumed, devouring all 368 pages in under 24 hours! His story is absolutely captivating! We won’t share too many spoilers, as Leigh’s story you have to hear first hand, but suffice to say, his travel stories are incredible, his record breaking rides are mind bogglingly fast, and his humility and graciousness is extremely humbling. You can connect with Leigh via the links below: https://www.leightimmis.com/ https://www.instagram.com/leightimmis/ The Race of Truth (paperback and audiobook): https://amzn.eu/d/89ZtI1g
We are excited to share this conversation with you as we speak to Jake Osborn (sibling of one of our former guests, Lauren Osborn - episode 77). The former high level gymnast was on the performance pathway alongside a certain Max Whitlock, before his life headed in a different direction. In this conversation he talks to us about that transition to life in a gymnasium to that of being on film sets and travelling the world. His filmography includes many Marvel films, Mission Impossible, 1917 and most recently both Wicked and Gladiator 2. We explore how he got started, his experiences along the way and reflections on his amazing journey including being face to face with Ariana Grande, and performance as the stunt double for Ethan Slater in the Wicked movie! You can connect with Jake on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jake.osborn/
Our latest guest is Rich Christiansen. He is a globally-recognized thought leader, educator, mentor, parallel entrepreneur, and humanitarian. He assists people in fearlessly facing their dragons, making peace with them, and navigating the intricate mazes of their lives.
Rich’s story, both personally and professionally is incredible and there is so much to take from this conversation about navigating life’s curveballs!
Connect with Rich and find out more about his books and other work via his website here: https://richchristiansen.com/
You can also connect with him on instagram and linkedin:
https://www.instagram.com/richristiansen_/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/richristiansen/
On 3rd February 2022, a major international scientific expedition set sail from Cape Town to explore the Antarctic – one of the coldest, harshest and most remote locations in the world. Their mission was to find the ship called Endurance, which hadn’t been seen for more than 100 years. Using underwater robots, helicopters and other state-of-the-art technology, the Endurance22 expedition was the first to locate and survey Sir Ernest Shackleton’s lost ship which sank in the Weddell Sea in Antarctica in 1915.
As the saying goes, if you didn’t photograph it, it didn’t happen. That task of capturing the entire Endurance22 expedition fell on the shoulders of Nat Hewitt and her camera team. Filming in one of the most inhospitable places on earth came with a lot of challenges, and Nat alluded to this when we first spoke to her about her career journey in episode 95, but this time round, Nat takes us on the full expedition, from concept through to the discovery itself.
It is a wonderful story and we cannot recommend enough watching the Endurance film which is LIVE on National Geographic / Disney +
Connect with Nat here:
In this episode we dive into a very sensitive topic and one that does not get much of a spotlight. It can make people uncomfortable, and in some cases it feels easier to simply not talk about it. For episode 105 we’re exploring the mental health and suicide prevention space.
Our host and two guests Alex and Justine, all wear different hats in the space, but it's a very rich and engaging discussion. Alex works for Papyrus, a UK charity dedicated to the prevention of suicide and the promotion of positive mental health and emotional wellbeing in young people.
Our other guest Justine is a sporting parent, who supports the work of papyrus, but has also experienced the challenges sporting parents face when supporting a young person's mental health.
Our hosts own experiences range from company support when managing grief through to speaking to former soldiers, fighter pilots and emergency service staff who have all navigated this mental health journey with support from those around them.
Between us, we have a candid discussion, shining light on an area that many people struggle to verbalise, or feel surrounded by stigmas when they want to say something. Today we quash some of those myths and taboos, emphasising that there are resources and support available for those in need.
If you personally are affected by any of the topics today and need to speak to someone, the details you need can be found below:
https://www.papyrus-uk.org/places-to-turn-for-help/
Papyrus have a 24/7 hopeline available if you would like to speak to someone immediately: https://www.papyrus-uk.org/papyrus-hopeline247/
Be sure to subscribe to our Youtube Channel, with lots more content dropping soon…
https://www.youtube.com/@TheRogueMonkeyPodcast/videos
Find out more about The Podcast and all our activities here:
https://linktr.ee/roguemonkeypod
Head to our Etsy store to support the podcast here:
https://roguemonkeypod.etsy.com
Our guest for this episode is someone who is an incredible inspiration as well as a truly wonderful person! Tom Leonard is a Horticulturist, Activist, TV Presenter and Rugby Player. He is known also as the Drag Queen Gardener.
We explore the therapeutic nature of gardening, as an activity filled with hope and positivity in a world far too often full of doom and gloom. Taking up gardening with the ‘have a go’ method, despite a few hiccups along the way, he’s learned to embrace the process of learning and has created an incredible following on his instagram @ dragqueen_gardener - which would hugely advocate following!
Dovetailed with his passion for being a drag queen, our conversation today is a wonderful blend of wellbeing, happiness, finding a path in life, not worrying about what other people think of you and we even explore the mad situation of what it's like being told you’re on the right track by none other than Dame Judy Dench.
You can connect with Tom here: https://www.instagram.com/dragqueen_gardener/
Be sure to subscribe to our Youtube Channel, with lots more content dropping soon: https://www.youtube.com/@TheRogueMonkeyPodcast/videos
Find out more about The Podcast and all our activities here: https://linktr.ee/roguemonkeypod
Head to our Etsy store to support the podcast here: https://roguemonkeypod.etsy.com
Our guest for this episode is Mark Covenden. He is the founder of the incredible Snap Sponsorship. Spending many years in the rugby space, Mark’s belief in community sport was embedded into his DNA and his passion morphed into something that now benefits hundreds of clubs across the country. His purpose is to deliver more support for grassroots sports teams, and in our conversation we discuss the importance of sponsorship in grassroots sports and the journey of building a successful sponsorship platform.
He shares insights on leveraging digital tools to streamline the sponsorship process and create a supportive community for volunteer-run clubs. The conversation covers the onboarding process for clubs using the platform, the impact of sponsorship on club growth, and the balance between personal passion and professional sustainability. We also touch on the importance of starting sponsorship initiatives early and the potential for increased participation in sports during Olympic and World Cup years.
You can find out more about SNAP Sponsorship here: https://partners.snapsponsorship.com/theroguemonkey
You can connect with Mark here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markcovington/
Save 20% on using the platform through our exclusive promo code: “SNAP-PODCAST”
Be sure to subscribe to our Youtube Channel, with lots more content dropping soon…
https://www.youtube.com/@TheRogueMonkeyPodcast/videos
Find out more about The Podcast and all our activities here:
https://linktr.ee/roguemonkeypod
Head to our Etsy store to support the podcast here:
https://roguemonkeypod.etsy.com
Our latest guest is Mike Mongo, an astronaut teacher, Ted-x speaker, and author.
Mike shares his journey and passion for space exploration. From a young age, Mike was fascinated by superheroes and space, which led him to pursue a career as an astronaut. He emphasises the importance of giving children permission to dream and explore their interests without limitations.
Mike also discusses the value of embracing one's past selves and the joy of experiencing zero gravity in his training to become a commercial astronaut. Overall, his story highlights the power of imagination and the impact it can have on shaping our future.
Watch his Ted Talk here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RWL1UzHUx4&t=586sHead to Mike's website and find out more about the amazing work he does here: https://www.mikemongo.com/
In this conversation, we speak to Jordan Wright, a graphic designer and climate activist, Jordan shares her journey and experiences in the fields of sustainability and environmental activism.
We discuss the influence of nature and risk-taking in shaping her passion for climate activism. We dive into the importance of resilience, community, and vulnerability in navigating personal and professional challenges.
Jordan highlights the significance of communication and asking for help, as well as the value of living life to the fullest. It is a beautiful conversation and one we hope you take a lot from.
Photo credits @Kateland and @Dan Rubin
Here it is... 100 episodes and what better way to mark it than with the incredible Lucy and Reece Charles Barclay. They both joined us back in 2020 in our second season of the show and at that stage were embarking on a quest, for Lucy to win the World Championships in Kona. Having reached the summit of their dream in the autumn of 2023, the husband and wife duo join us a few months later, having taken time to absorb, enjoy and reflect on what has been an amazing journey. Lucy is now full immersed in the T100 series and we explore both the journey to now, but also what is coming next for Team Charles Barclay.
A special mention to Holly Charles, who leads on all of Team Charles Barclay's content and has captured many of the special moments we explore in this conversation. You can connect with Lucy and Reece at the links below: https://www.instagram.com/reecebarclaytri/ https://www.instagram.com/lucycharles93/ Find out more about Team Charles Barclay below: https://www.teamcharlesbarclaycoaching.com/ Connect with Holly Charles below: https://www.instagram.com/hollycharlesphotography_/
Today we speak to Lottie Unwin, founder at Up World and Brand Hackers. We met Lottie at a conference last year on the west coast of Wales and the community she has built, Up World, is somewhere we have no doubt, creative marketers from around the world will be drawn. It’s a place for curious and ambitious minds!
Whether you’ve got a side hustle you’re looking to market yourself and grow or you are an established business and you are looking for some fresh insights, our conversation today will hopefully have something you can take away and utilise. Lottie is hugely passionate about what she does so be sure to connect with her straight after the interview so keep up with all the amazing things she brings to the marketing space.
Connect with Up World here: http://www.up-world.co/
Find out more about Brand Hackers here: http://www.brand-hackers.co/
Follow Lottie on Linked-In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lottie-unwin-she-her-7b577742/
Our guest for this episode is former Royal Engineer, Rugby Player and business founder Matt Trussell.
Matt has been on a long journey from the frontline in Afghanistan through to finding happiness in both his working and personal life, using lessons learned along the way to inform how he leads a company, leads a family and performs on the rugby pitch.
We explore mental health, leading a team, taking your health seriously, transferable lessons and reflecting since we last spoke to Matt almost three years ago in episode 39.
You can find out more about Go Big Digital here:
Website: https://gobig-digital.co.uk
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/26209720/
Be sure to subscribe to our Youtube Channel, with lots more content dropping soon… https://www.youtube.com/@TheRogueMonkeyPodcast/videos
Find out more about The Podcast and all our activities here: https://linktr.ee/roguemonkeypod
Head to our Etsy store to support the podcast here:https://roguemonkeypod.etsy.com