How to Thrive

"Get more comfortable with silence. There's an exercise in improv where you count from one to ten. It forces you to pause, process, form, and then speak."This week on the How to Thrive podcast, Claire and Helen are joined by Jess Rogers, a conversations and improv trainer, and founder of Tama Learning. Jess will already be familiar to those who joined us at How to Thrive Manchester, where she brought the house down with her session on improv for managing change. She'll be doing it all again in London in October.Her day job sits across a spectrum from classic learning and development, all the way through to performing and teaching pure improv with groups like Banana Hut Gang and Blanche Improv in London. Everything she does, she says, comes back to conversations.In this episode, Claire and Helen talk to Jess about what improv actually is, why “yes and…” is widely misunderstood, and how accepting someone else's reality before adding your own perspective can transform the way you show up.We also explore the surprising overlap between improv skills and the skills that underpin every high-performing team.It's also one of the most joyful conversations we've recorded! We hope you enjoy it as much as we did.More about Jess:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jess-rogers-she-her-86766ba2/Tama Learning: https://tamalearning.com/With thanks to our sponsors:Lewis Silkin — a full service law firm that works closely with organisations to help protect and enhance what matters most. Thoughtful, commercial and deeply human. Find out more at lewissilkin.com.Lawyers on Demand — providing access to world-class flexible legal talent and innovative legal operations solutions for in-house legal teams around the world. Find out more at lawyersondemand.com.Springbird — a modern intellectual property firm supporting ambitious, fast-growing businesses with trademark and design protection that's transparent, commercially focused and free from unnecessary complexity. Find out more at springbirdip.com.How to Thrive events:Our events are a chance to come together with other Community Members to network and share learnings in a safe space. All of our events are focussed on HOW to thrive and deliver practical skills that you can incorporate into your work and home lives. Visit our website to find out more.Your How to Thrive hosts:Claire Sanders, former Corporate Lawyer, General Counsel and Co-Founder of Being Human Consulting. Helen Silver-MacMahon, Human Factors Specialist, Veterinary Nurse and Co-Founder of Being Human Consulting.Music Credit: Lo-Fi Hip Hop (Never Old Fashioned) by Alex Kizenkov Podcast Production: Anthony Zahra Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Civility saves lives - you've heard it on the podcast before but in this episode, we meet the man behind the phrase.Chris Turner is an Emergency Medicine Consultant with the NHS and the Co-Founder of Civility Saves Live, a group of healthcare workers who share the evidence base behind why the best teams respect and value each other, and why this leads to the best outcomes for both staff and patients.He speaks to Claire and Helen about the monumental events in his life and career that led to him thinking deeply about incivility, and the impact it can have on people's performance.Chris also talks about why we need to invite people from diverse backgrounds to fill our pool of wisdom, and why saying sorry is a super power.More about Chris:Civility Saves LivesTED Talk - When rudeness in teams turns deadlyFurther reading:Chrstine PorathWith thanks to our sponsors Flank, an AI colleague for your in-house legal team. Flank is designed to work like a high performing team member for your legal department. Flank agents are able to instantly handle commercial team requests, eliminate bottlenecks and ensure your legal team operates at the speed your business demands. Flank agents are always on, always accurate and always ready. If you'd like to discover more about how Flank can redefine your legal operations, then take a look at getflank.ai. If you get in touch with them, please do mention How to Thrive, so that they know that it came from one of our wonderful listeners.How to Thrive events:Our events are a chance to come together with other Community Members to network and share learnings in a safe space. All of our events are focussed on HOW to thrive and deliver practical skills that you can incorporate into your work and home lives.​Visit our website to find out more.Your How to Thrive hosts:Claire Sanders, former Corporate Lawyer, General Council and Co-Founder of Being Human Consulting.Helen Silver-MacMahon, Human Factors Specialist, Veterinary Nurse and Co-Founder of Being Human Consulting.Music Credit: Lo-Fi Hip Hop (Never Old Fashioned) by Alex KizenkovPodcast Production: Anthony Zahra Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"One of my favourite quotes by Socrates talks about the meaning of life and it's to know oneself."We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Emma Roche to the How to Thrive podcast this week, a philosophically-informed coach and lawyer who combines 3,000-year-old wisdom with modern coaching practices.Her approach is fascinating, but you may be wondering where the connection is between ancient philosophy and thriving in today's professional world.Emma, who helps professionals discover their authentic selves beyond their job titles, explains it perfectly: "It's coaching but with a framework... grounded basically in unveiling who we are."We discuss the art of Socratic questioning, separating your role from your identity, and Emma reveals why thinking time should be as habitual as exercise.Find out more about Emma's work: https://www.emma-roche.com/Books mentioned by Emma in the episode:"Consolations of Philosophy" by Alain de Botton"Atomic Habits" by James Clear"21 Lessons for the 21st Century" by Yuval Noah Harari"Time to Think" by Nancy KlineWith thanks to our sponsors Flank, an AI colleague for your in-house legal team. Flank is designed to work like a high performing team member for your legal department. Flank agents are able to instantly handle commercial team requests, eliminate bottlenecks and ensure your legal team operates at the speed your business demands. Flank agents are always on, always accurate and always ready. If you'd like to discover more about how Flank can redefine your legal operations, then take a look at getflank.ai. If you get in touch with them, please do mention How to Thrive, so that they know that it came from one of our wonderful listeners.How to Thrive events:Our events are a chance to come together with other Community Members to network and share learnings in a safe space. All of our events are focussed on HOW to thrive and deliver practical skills that you can incorporate into your work and home lives.​Visit our website to find out more.Your How to Thrive hosts:Claire Sanders, former Corporate Lawyer, General Council and Co-Founder of Being Human Consulting.Helen Silver-MacMahon, Human Factors Specialist, Veterinary Nurse and Co-Founder of Being Human Consulting.Music Credit: Lo-Fi Hip Hop (Never Old Fashioned) by Alex KizenkovPodcast Production: Anthony Zahra Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"Don't have negotiations, have conversations with purpose."We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Nigel Taberner onto the How to Thrive podcast this week to share his experiences as a hostage negotiator, being thrown into some of the most intense, high pressure situations imaginable.His stories are incredible, but you may be wondering where the connection is between that and the corporate world.Nigel, who is now an award-winning public speaker, answers that better than anyone else: "You deal with people. You want to influence people. You want to get them to change their behaviour and do things differently. And so do I."We discuss the art of listening, using your voice as a tool, and Nigel reveals his three top tips for thriving.With thanks to our sponsors Flank, an AI colleague for your in-house legal team. Flank is designed to work like a high performing team member for your legal department. Flank agents are able to instantly handle commercial team requests, eliminate bottlenecks and ensure your legal team operates at the speed your business demands. Flank agents are always on, always accurate and always ready. If you'd like to discover more about how Flank can redefine your legal operations, then take a look at getflank.ai. If you get in touch with them, please do mention How to Thrive, so that they know that it came from one of our wonderful listeners.How to Thrive events:Our events are a chance to come together with other Community Members to network and share learnings in a safe space. All of our events are focussed on HOW to thrive and deliver practical skills that you can incorporate into your work and home lives.​Visit our website to find out more.Your How to Thrive hosts:Claire Sanders, former Corporate Lawyer, General Council and Co-Founder of Being Human Consulting.Helen Silver-MacMahon, Human Factors Specialist, Veterinary Nurse and Co-Founder of Being Human Consulting.Music Credit: Lo-Fi Hip Hop (Never Old Fashioned) by Alex KizenkovPodcast Production: Anthony Zahra Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"I ignored the warning signs and paid the price, I went into my head and almost never came out."That powerful statement from Dan Stanley sets the tone for this episode of the How to Thrive podcast, which aims to shine a light on men's mental wellbeing.Dan says, despite having built himself a life of material success, he came to the realisation that his success was superficial and says his experience nearly cost him his marriage, his sanity and his life. He shares his personal journey of awakening to the superficiality of traditional masculinity, discusses the historical context of masculinity, the challenges modern men face, and the importance of peer support and community. Through his experiences, Dan emphasises the need for men to engage in honest conversations, prioritise self-awareness, and redefine their understanding of masculinity. He also reveals his top tips on how to thrive.Dan is the Founder of BetterMen: https://www.better-men.uk/He has published a book called "Rethinking Masculinity" which you can get a copy of from his website: https://www.better-men.uk/rethinking-masculinity-bookWith thanks to our sponsors Flank, an AI colleague for your in-house legal team. Flank is designed to work like a high performing team member for your legal department. Flank agents are able to instantly handle commercial team requests, eliminate bottlenecks and ensure your legal team operates at the speed your business demands. Flank agents are always on, always accurate and always ready. If you'd like to discover more about how Flank can redefine your legal operations, then take a look at getflank.ai. If you get in touch with them, please do mention How to Thrive, so that they know that it came from one of our wonderful listeners.How to Thrive events:Our events are a chance to come together with other Community Members to network and share learnings in a safe space. All of our events are focussed on HOW to thrive and deliver practical skills that you can incorporate into your work and home lives.​Visit our website to find out more.Your How to Thrive hosts:Claire Sanders, former Corporate Lawyer, General Council and Co-Founder of Being Human Consulting.Helen Silver-MacMahon, Human Factors Specialist, Veterinary Nurse and Co-Founder of Being Human Consulting.Music Credit: Lo-Fi Hip Hop (Never Old Fashioned) by Alex KizenkovPodcast Production: Anthony Zahra Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To mark International Women's Day (March 8th) Claire and Helen sat down for a chat with Amy Martin to talk about a subject that rarely gets a mention in the workplace - menstrual cycles.As Amy puts it: “We want to move away from the narrative that women are ‘funny’ around their period, but for many of us it’s true. Yet we’re ignoring it in the workplace.”Amy is on a mission to get us all (men included) talking about how someone's menstrual cycle can affect them at different times, and how businesses are failing to get the best from their teams by ignoring the natural fluctuations people experience in mood and energy.She talks powerfully about her own struggles with burnout and the power she has gained from getting to know her own menstrual cycle.Amy is a qualified veterinary nurse, as well as a coach and mentor. You can find her at Ark Referrals, The Point of Care Foundation, and Magnolia Coaching.Amy's book recommendations mentioned in the episode:Wild Power by Alexandra Pope and Sjanie Hugo WurlitzerUma Dinsmore-Tuli's Yoni ShaktiWith thanks to our sponsors Flank, an AI colleague for your in-house legal team. Flank is designed to work like a high performing team member for your legal department. Flank agents are able to instantly handle commercial team requests, eliminate bottlenecks and ensure your legal team operates at the speed your business demands. Flank agents are always on, always accurate and always ready. If you'd like to discover more about how Flank can redefine your legal operations, then take a look at getflank.ai. If you get in touch with them, please do mention How to Thrive, so that they know that it came from one of our wonderful listeners.How to Thrive events:Our events are a chance to come together with other Community Members to network and share learnings in a safe space. All of our events are focussed on HOW to thrive and deliver practical skills that you can incorporate into your work and home lives.​Visit our website to find out more.Your How to Thrive hosts:Claire Sanders, former Corporate Lawyer, General Council and Co-Founder of Being Human Consulting.Helen Silver-MacMahon, Human Factors Specialist, Veterinary Nurse and Co-Founder of Being Human Consulting.Music Credit: Lo-Fi Hip Hop (Never Old Fashioned) by Alex KizenkovPodcast Production: Anthony Zahra Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"I was born and raised in a cult. I talk about how cults are like corporates, a lot."Petra Velzeboer is this week's guest on the How to Thrive podcast and we think we can safely say she has one of the most interesting life journeys we've ever come across. Born and raised in the Children of God cult, she grew up in an unconventional setting, before falling pregnant and deciding to leave.But that wasn't the end of her story, she has battled addiction, loneliness, had to adjust to a whole new way of living, and is now a hugely successful CEO, keynote speaker, and author.So how do you thrive in a new world? Claire, Helen and Petra discuss bravery (it "feels like fear"), accepting that "no one is coming to save you", and why many corporates are just like cults.Find out more about Petra's work on her website. Her new book Digital Wellbeing is out now! Order hereWith thanks to our sponsors Flank, an AI colleague for your in-house legal team. Flank is designed to work like a high performing team member for your legal department. Flank agents are able to instantly handle commercial team requests, eliminate bottlenecks and ensure your legal team operates at the speed your business demands. Flank agents are always on, always accurate and always ready. If you'd like to discover more about how Flank can redefine your legal operations, then take a look at getflank.ai. If you get in touch with them, please do mention How to Thrive, so that they know that it came from one of our wonderful listeners.How to Thrive events:Our events are a chance to come together with other Community Members to network and share learnings in a safe space. All of our events are focussed on HOW to thrive and deliver practical skills that you can incorporate into your work and home lives.​Visit our website to find out more.Your How to Thrive hosts:Claire Sanders, former Corporate Lawyer, General Council and Co-Founder of Being Human Consulting.Helen Silver-MacMahon, Human Factors Specialist, Veterinary Nurse and Co-Founder of Being Human Consulting.Music Credit: Lo-Fi Hip Hop (Never Old Fashioned) by Alex KizenkovPodcast Production: Anthony Zahra Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When it comes to nutrition advice, there's so much information (and mis-information) out there that it's easy to become overwhelmed. That's where today's podcast guest comes in.James Collier is the Co-Founder of Huel and now an author, with his new book "Well Fed: How modern diets are failing us and what we can do about it".In this episode of the How to Thrive Podcast, Claire and Helen talk to James about how to separate nutrition fact from fiction, the importance of critical thinking and why eating with others is beneficial in some surprising ways.We also find out James' three top tips for thriving as we start the new year with a bang.With thanks to our sponsors Flank, an AI colleague for your in-house legal team. Flank is designed to work like a high performing team member for your legal department. Flank agents are able to instantly handle commercial team requests, eliminate bottlenecks and ensure your legal team operates at the speed your business demands. Flank agents are always on, always accurate and always ready. If you'd like to discover more about how Flank can redefine your legal operations, then take a look at getflank.ai.How to Thrive events:Our events are a chance to come together with other Community Members to network and share learnings in a safe space. All of our events are focussed on HOW to thrive and deliver practical skills that you can incorporate into your work and home lives.​Visit our website to find out more.Your How to Thrive hosts:Claire Sanders, former Corporate Lawyer, General Council and Co-Founder of Being Human Consulting.Helen Silver-MacMahon, Human Factors Specialist, Veterinary Nurse and Co-Founder of Being Human Consulting.Music Credit: Lo-Fi Hip Hop (Never Old Fashioned) by Alex KizenkovPodcast Production: Anthony Zahra Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.