All Episodes

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S1 E48 Jul 16, 2026

Craft - What the word reveals about where your real power at work lives (Word at Work Series)

This week's word at work is craft.We've stuck the word craft onto almost everything — craft beer, craft fairs, hand-crafted, small-batch, artisanal — until it's gone s...

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S1 E47 Jul 10, 2026

Portfolio - the discipline of what you leave out (Word at Work Series)

Most of us hear "portfolio" and typically picture two things: a trader's spreadsheet, or a designer's best work. Trace the word back far enough — Italian porta foglio,...

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S1 E46 Jun 25, 2026

Cultivate — why the best leaders tend conditions (Word at Work Series)

This week's word is cultivate.I bought my copy of Growing a Business second-hand. Inside the cover, written by hand from a father to his son, was a single line: "To To...

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S1 E45 Jun 19, 2026

Amateur — why being a beginner isn't an insult (Word at Work Series)

We use the word amateur to dismiss people — as if not-yet-knowing is the problem, rather than the starting point.But amateur comes from the Latin amator: lover. It arr...

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S1 E44 Jun 12, 2026

Idea - Why it all starts with seeing (Word at Work Series)

The word idea comes from the Greek idein — to see.Not to invent. Not to create. To see.That single detail changes how we understand what an idea actually is. It wasn't...

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Recommended Episode S1 E43 Jun 05, 2026

Mottainai — the regret of waste (Word at Work Series)

Welcome to Season 2 of Here's an Idea Worth Playing With — a new direction for the podcast. Each episode, one word. Its origin, its meaning, and what it still has to s...

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S1 E42 May 26, 2026

Fun at work is an early warning system

It's 32 degrees in the UK. The kids are in the pool. The music is blasting from the garden. And I'm in the studio recording a podcast about why fun at work is one of t...

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S1 E41 May 18, 2026

Five books that made me a better leader

Five books I keep returning to — for managing better, leading better, and understanding how businesses actually work.These aren't the obvious picks. No productivity bi...

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S1 E40 May 13, 2026

Why most feedback arrives too late

A thought that's been on my mind: most organisations don't lack feedback. They just get it too late to use it. By the time the signal arrives, the decisions that neede...

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S1 E39 Mar 30, 2026

Creativity Is a Climate Problem — Not a Talent Problem

Most organisations don’t have an idea problem.They have a climate problem.You’ve probably felt it.Your best ideas don’t show up at your desk. They show up walking.Trav...

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S1 E38 Mar 24, 2026

The Real Value of Your First Ideas (It’s Not What You Think)

Most people think the value of an idea sits at the end — in the outcome, the money, the success.But especially at the start, the real value is something else entirely....

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S1 E37 Feb 10, 2026

Choosing What to Study - Learning, Interest, and Career Value

In this episode, I reflect on the decision point that appears whenever we choose what to learn next — the moment where time, energy, and attention become real, committ...

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S1 E36 Jan 11, 2026

Unfinished ideas, wintering, and the discipline of attention

Meditations on Management didn’t begin as a book.It began as fragments — unfinished articles, notes made between meetings, and observations that felt true enough to ke...

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S1 E35 Nov 03, 2025

From Idea to Keynote: Five Lessons from Budapest

At 4 a.m. in Luton Airport, I head to Budapest to deliver a keynote — and along the way, unpack what it really takes to turn an idea into a valuable talk.In this trave...

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S1 E34 Oct 02, 2025

The Power of Appearance: How Clothing Shapes First Impressions and Performance

In this episode of Here's An Idea Worth Playing With, I cover the science of clothing and appearance. Your clothes don’t just influence how others see you — they shape...

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S1 E33 Sep 30, 2025

The Art of Noticing: How Creative Awareness Can Make You a Better Leader

In this episode of Here's An Idea Worth Playing With, I explore The Art of Noticing — a subtle but powerful skill that can separate effective leaders from the rest. Fa...

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S1 E32 Sep 26, 2025

How to Build an Internal Coaching and Consulting Function That Drives Business Value

Internal coaching and consulting teams can be powerful assets — or costly afterthoughts. In this episode of Here's an idea worth playing with, we break down how to des...

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S1 E31 Sep 23, 2025

Overcoming the Fear of Public Speaking: Essential Skills for Career Growth and Leadership

Do you get nervous at the thought of speaking in public? You’re not alone — and mastering this skill can be a game-changer for your career and leadership growth. In th...

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S1 E30 Sep 19, 2025

Climb the Career Ladder: 8 Key Principles to Thrive, Add Value, and Accelerate Your Career

In this episode, I share the 8 principles that shaped my own career journey — from software tester to executive leader. We’ll explore how to define what thriving looks...

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S1 E29 Sep 16, 2025

Spinning Plates: A Simple Productivity System for Work, Family, and Projects

In this episode, I break down the productivity system that helps me manage work, family life, content creation, and side projects - all without feeling overwhelmed. It...