“We're people in a messy, complicated world, and most of us want to get some things done - how do we do that?”
What’s it like to find the perfect place for you? Rich Watkins joins the podcast to talk about his unconventional route into some amazing work, as well as learning where and how he fitted in and the extraordinary contribution he was able to make. There’s also some discussion of his groundbreaking work with groups, what it means to function well as a group and how he supports teams working together. A must listen for anyone leaving school or university, or taking the next step in their career.
Show Notes:
A transcript of this podcast is available to read here.
“If it doesn’t really stand by my mission, it’s not worth it to me…”
What is it like to be a full time online content creator? We talked to TikTok and YouTube star Liv Pearsall to find out. Liv shared her definition of the role and her story so far, as well as her aspirations for the future and the importance of analytics and craft behind her content. But even for those of us who don’t aspire to create content online, there’s some fascinating insight into how, if we approach our work with a strong sense of our values and our purpose, it can create a kind of confidence that we can close the gap between where we are today and where we aspire to be. And from that place, some amazing results can be created.
“You know, it’s never going to get solved if you don’t bring it up. So just talk…”
Mental health at work: are we talking about it? Kickstart graduate Ryan Casey joins the podcast to talk about his experience opening up on male mental health, speaking out and being the change you want to see in the world. He also talks about his time training with Darius through the Kickstart Scheme, which lifted him out of long-term unemployment and into his current career, as well as dealing with imposter syndrome and launching his own podcast. The future is bright with people like Ryan in our workplaces - spend an hour with him here.
Show Notes:
“If you’re in a crisis and you know you’ve got nothing left to lose, you become more decisive…”
How do you start life in a Russian military unit and get to award winning entrepreneur in less than 30 years? Ekaterina Blake knows exactly what to do. She joins the podcast after winning the Young Professional of the Year Award to share her incredible journey, from dealing with school bullies to moving to the UK and ultimately starting her own successful business. Ekaterina also talks about pushing out of your comfort zone, going against the crowd and why you should never lie on your CV. The perfect listen for anyone facing challenges or starting a new adventure.
Show Notes:
“Most people listening to this: there’s a huge amount to be grateful for…”
What happens when we take a moment to connect with gratitude? That’s the question Darius and producer Harry are discussing this week, as well as expressing gratitude to the people in your life, taking power from vulnerability and noticing the things in your life that you already have. Sometimes What’s Your Work? is about making changes and trying new things. But what have you already got to draw on? And how can you share it?
Darius is joined by producer (and writer of these show notes - thanks for reading!) Harry. You can connect with me on LinkedIn @Harry McMullen.
“That’s just the way it is, and I can’t be something I’m not”
How joyful is your life? Alice Reeves joins the podcast to talk about audience-first marketing, as well as sharing her own journey with neurodiversity, starting her own business and owning who she really is - and how powerful that can be. It’s a wonderfully open and generous conversation, and if you’re interested in building an authentic and joyful working life for yourself - listen now.
“People think they have to know everything. And I don't think you can know everything”
What would you do if you realised your calling was somewhere else entirely? If you’re Femi Bola MBE, you put your PhD in the bin and go pursue that calling. Femi joins the podcast for a fascinating conversation about her journey, as well as the mentors and relationships that changed her life and set her on her way. There’s also some great insight for young people feeling the pressure to know everything right away, sharing journeys and allyship in 2022.
Show Notes:
“It's such a gift that I've cultivated, received everything, that it's just very clear I want to share that with others”
Zeeger Scholten, founder of INJOY, joins the podcast to share his mission: to support people expanding consciousness and raising their quality of life. In the conversation he and Darius define consciousness, as well as taking a mindful quiet moment to check in on it. Zeeger also shares the story behind his recent viral story, as well as discussing the relationship between surrendering to what is and creating what will be. What does it mean to have a mission? How can we live that practically every day?
Show Notes:
A transcript of this episode is available to read here.
“What you're committed to is what's going to show up in your life”
When we’re passionately connected to an idea, we’re called forth in a different way. That’s been the journey of International Transformation Coach Helen Guinness, who joins the podcast to talk about living with integrity, people pleasing, saying no, finding courage and being fierce. What are you committed to?
A transcript of this podcast is available to read here.
“Is it about you? Or what you’re creating?”
What happens when we start something new? Darius is joined by producer Harry for a conversation around the energy of creation - be it a new job, career change, starting a venture or just a new chapter in your life. The two talk about being intentional from the beginning, the temptation to always “be in the story” and the relationship between “getting” and contributing. The podcast about who you are becoming asks, how do you start things?
Show Notes:
A transcript of this episode is available to read here.
“One conversation is sometimes all that’s needed”
Ian King’s work is people. Since 2013 he has worked as a coach to help people realise their potential - but the truth is, he’s been supporting people far longer than that. Ian joins the podcast to reflect on his practice, his journey and his purpose in the world moving forward. Themes of the discussion include empowering others, being an agent of change, asking for help and ultimately self-compassion - something that can be in startlingly short supply. Ian shares some of his practices for finding ways to love yourself, as well as the missing pieces of community, camaraderie and learning.
Show Notes:
A transcript of this podcast is avalable to read here.
“The only way we learn is by finding the boundaries”
Futurist Tom Goodwin joins the podcast to discuss a wide range of topics, including the quality of authenticity. How is it to simply be you at all times? What does that do? And in being in those questions, the quality of curiosity emerges - a powerful learning frame, simply to be curious about the people, places and things all around us. Tom and Darius also share stories of learning and growing in work, being with people and entrepreneurship, as well as suggestions for a vision of the future.
Show Notes:
A transcript of this podcast is available to read here.
“That’s the work that makes your eyes light up”
Charlie Welch has made a career of working with young people, helping them to be at their natural best. She joins the podcast to share some of her own incredible life story, as well as stories of the brilliant young people she has worked with along the way, native genius, and how finding the things in life that light you up allow you to make a lasting impact.
Show Notes:
A transcript of this podcast is available to read here.
“Do you know how powerful you are?”
Hazel Beckett is an expert in working with young people, giving them the opportunity to make their voices heard. She joins the podcast to share some of her own journey, getting to the heart of meaningfully engaging with young people and the growth mindset of learning. Hazel then meets with the No Alarm Clock group as they check in with their ongoing experiment, exploring the deeper questions of trust, the authentic self and how our view of the world can change radically through deep work. Some podcast discussions are eye-opening; for a world-opening exploration, listen to this episode now.
Show Notes:
A transcript of this podcast is available to read here.
“Now everything is motivated by me, rather than anxiety or shame”
The No Alarm Clock experimenters return to the podcast for a discussion on how the experiment went and what they learned from waking up without an alarm clock for seven days. There’s reflections on the impact of setting an intention, being afraid to let go of control, being rigorous about how we commit to experimenting and how we measure results, as well as the magic that can happen in the world when we connect to a deep trust - in ourselves and in the energy of the universe around us.
Show Notes:
A transcript of this episode is available to read here.
“If we had 100 million, what would we do? Exactly what we do now…”
CEO of Tufflederskarptraning and author of Coaching Jobseekers, Karin Tenelius, is an expert in creating work places built on employee power. In this episode she and Darius discuss the flaws in conventional working weeks, how covid has changed the way that businesses operate, and a vision for how day-to-day working could be. Karin also explains being “allergic to meetings that aren’t empowering” and what happens when your work is rooted in your calling.
Show Notes:
A transcript of this episode is available to read here.
“It feels good to be living on purpose…”
The People and Their Brilliance team comes back together on the topic of resolutions. Harry feeds back on his experiment with a new sleeping habit, which leads to a discussion about the relationship between new habits and trust. Darius shares a deep wish for everyone to develop the kind of deep trust in the self that forms the foundation of confidence, of ease and of power. Then the team explores the challenge of a no alarm clock experiment to bring back in a future podcast. If there’s one thing the What’s Your Work podcast is about, it’s creating more ease and more spaciousness in the world, and this episode speaks to that in a powerful way.
Show Notes:
A transcript of this podcast is available to read here.
“Our stories belong to the world”
Gamal Turawa has unlocked some amazing conversations by sharing his experiences, and is now the subject of Bafta-awarded film The Black Cop. He joins the podcast to talk about his experience making the film and the moments in his life it depicts, as well as giving up control, compassion for others, imposter syndrome and meeting people where they are in their journey. He also shares some personal stories from childhood, the angels he’s met along the way, and how that’s shaped his life’s work. Gamal is a brilliant guest and we hope listening to his story is as powerful for you as it was for us.
Show Notes:
A transcript of this episode is available to read here.
“I’d like to think that if I wanted something to change, I would just do it.”
In this compact edition of What’s Your Work, the team starts off the New Year thinking about resolutions. What is this practice of New Year’s Resolutions? And how come it never works? The conversation also turns to habits, how they get created, how to sustain new habits and letting yourself fail as part of the journey. Thinking of connections for yourself - what are your habits? What happens when you try to affect change in your life? And what would you like to try and shift for yourself moving forward?
Show Notes:
A transcript of this podcast is available to read here.
"This is the beautiful gift that you can give yourself"
At the end of the year, the team at People and Their Brilliance sit down to reflect on where they are at and what is the work they want to do moving forward. First, Harry leads a group discussion of what they want to bring to this episode’s conversation, thinking about “what is the best use of our time together?” Then Darius hears each of the burning questions, opening up a conversation around drive, confidence, motivation and action. At the root of all these themes is the courage and skill of asking the question: “Is what I am doing wanted and needed?” It can be so easy to sleepwalk through life, unaware of the answer to that question. By being in that question, and confronting the answer, so many possibilities open up.
Show Notes:
You can read a transcript of this episode here.