The Brave

Why global growth demands a different kind of thinking #75

Tue, 25 Nov 2025 17:36:04 GMT

In the first episode of our new season Bethan talks to Marcus Wang of Coda Global Ventures about building businesses in and across the US, the UK and China, and draws on his experience in discussing how to navigate the complex relationships and subtle differences across cultures and marketplaces.

Links from the episode

codaglobalventures.com

Marcus on LinkedIn

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Curiosity, Care, and Courage: Why psychological safety is your competitive edge #74

Wed, 11 Jun 2025 07:31:37 GMT

In this episode Bethan is joined by executive coach and leadership mentor Anni Townend. Taking Anni's work as a starting point they discuss how senior leaders can create high-performing teams embedding psychological safety at the heart of their culture. Anni shares why curiosity, care and courage aren’t just good intentions: they’re the foundations of effective leadership.

Links from the episode:

Anni's website: annitownend.com

Find Anni on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/anni-townend-leadership

Collaboration Equation: collaborationequation.com

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Fashion Futures: Sustainability and scale in the fashion industry #73

Tue, 08 Apr 2025 09:25:31 GMT

In this episode Bethan chats with Gillian Ridley Whittle, founder of Peachaus, about her journey from a career in fast fashion to creating an ethical underwear and lifestyle brand. We talk about the industry's environmental and social issues and the lack of - and need for - sustainable practices, and what the future might hold for the brands of today.

Links from the episode

Peachaus.com

Peachaus on Instagram

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New Networks: Unlocking the Internet of Things with AI #72

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 14:34:59 GMT

In this episode Bethan talks with Phil Brunkard about developments in the integration of the Internet of Things (IoT) with AI, and how AI can be used to make sense of IoT data.

They explore different use cases, such as monitoring temperature and humidity in agriculture and manufacturing, and security concerns, including firmware exploits and denial-of-service attacks.

Phil explains the rise of edge computing to process data locally, reducing latency and transmission costs, and we also touch on the future potential of AI and IoT in improving environmental management and creating smarter cities.

Links from the episode

Find Phil on LinkedIn

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Digitising Service Economies: from idea to scale-up #71

Tue, 22 Oct 2024 10:09:41 GMT

Andy Callaghan was an experienced programmer and musician when we realised there was a significant gap in the music studio booking experience. Everything was either managed offline, or handled via one-size-fits-all booking apps that didn't cater to the specific demands and challenges of bands and studios.

If sometimes founders create a solution for themselves without an addressable market to go after, this definitely wasn't the case with Andy and Jammed. Unfortunately, Covid was just around the corner, with national lockdown in the UK temporarily closing his potential first customers.

Nearly five years later and that challenging beginning is a distant memory, with 110 customers hailing from all over the world. Jammed's story is one of resilience, perseverance and using personal experience to develop a world-class product.

Find Andy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andycallaghan/

Jammed: https://jammed.app/

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Investing in our Future: Can capitalism save the planet? #70

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 13:28:05 GMT

Can capitalism and financial markets be a force for good? Rob Gardner certainly thinks so. Rob has a background in investment banking and pension funds, but as the founder and CEO of Rebalance Earth—an equity fund manager that invests in nature-based solutions—he believes that by redirecting capital towards the right things can help to create and maintain a world worth living in.

During this fascinating and in-depth conversation, Rob and Bethan discuss the critical subject of tackling climate change and how where we invest our money can make a difference.

Links from the episode

Find Rob on LinkedIn

Rebalance Earth

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Getting Your House in Order: Democratising personal financial management #69

Mon, 24 Jun 2024 08:41:50 GMT

Richard Dana has been working in finance, in one way or another, for two decades, so it's safe to say he knows a thing or two about money.

After starting out his career as a chartered accountant, Richard became Chief Financial Officer at Founders Factory Ltd in 2016, before launching Tembo Money in 2020. Tembo's mission is to democratise the concept of the 'Family Office'—a way for families to manage their money more effectively together, and something that previously had been the reserve of the wealthiest in society.

During this conversation with Richard we touched on some really important and interesting topics, I hope you enjoy it!

Links from the episode

Find Richard on Linke dIn

Tembo

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Green Inspiration: How we can all make more sustainable choices #68

Fri, 17 May 2024 10:17:13 GMT

Sometimes it can be difficult to feel optimistic about the future of the planet in the face of the threat posed by climate change, but Alex Robinson's positivity about how every single one of us can make a difference is infectious.

Alex is CEO and founder of Hubbub, an environmental charity with a mission to inspire action that's good for the environment and for all of us. In this episode, Bethan had a fascinating conversation with Alex, where they discuss key topics such as the impact of individual action versus the need for structural change, as well as sustainability in the context of Capitalism.

Links from the episode

Find Alex on LinkedIn

Hubbub

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Building for the future: long-term sustainability in business #67

Mon, 04 Mar 2024 15:03:05 GMT

For two decades, Sarah Mukherjee was Environment Correspondent for the BBC across TV, radio and online, including presenting 'Countryfile' on BBC One and 'Farming Today' and 'The Food Programme' on BBC Radio.

Today, Sarah is CEO at IEMA, professional body for everyone working in environment and sustainability, and promotes good science, better regulation and best practice—all while ensuring the lightest possible carbon footprint.

In this episode we chat to Sarah about IEMA's work, their mantra that all jobs need to be green, and what businesses need to do in order to implement a culture of sustainability.

Links from the episode

Find Sarah on LinkedIn

IEMA

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Breaking Down Barriers With AI Sign Language Translation #66

Fri, 09 Feb 2024 10:29:40 GMT

In this episode I had the pleasure of speaking to Sally Chalk, the founder and CEO of Signapse. Signapse is an organisation dedicated to breaking down barriers with an AI sign language translator.

In the midst of lockdown, a dynamic team of successful entrepreneurs, leading researchers, and deep tech experts joined forces to address the urgent needs of both hearing clients and Deaf individuals. Fueled by questions such as "how do I get this interpreted right now?" and "why can't I have access to what is being said?" they set out to create Signapse.

Join us as we explore Signapse’s inspiring journey, innovative technologies, and commitment to making a positive impact.

Links from the episode

Find Sally on LinkedIn

Signapse

BSL translation of this episode

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Revolutionising Financial Services for Frontline Workers #65

Tue, 16 Jan 2024 15:36:42 GMT

In this episode we speak to Peter Briffett the founder of Wagestream, a company dedicated to transforming the way frontline workers access financial services through employer-based benefits. Peter delves into the impact of monthly pay cycles on employees in the UK, emphasising the company's dedication to reducing the "poverty premium" and its mission to enhance the financial health of workers.

Links from the episode

Find Peter on LinkedIn

Wagestream

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Sustaining Business Growth for a Greener Tomorrow #64

Wed, 13 Dec 2023 12:30:41 GMT

In this episode, we sat down with Ankit, the Co-founder and CEO of Climajo, a cutting-edge procurement platform dedicated to conscious brands. Climajo empowers climate-aware businesses by uniting a curated community of sustainable suppliers and partners. The platform goes beyond by providing clear reporting and metrics, such as CO2 output per product, to enable effective tracking.

Tune in to hear Ankit share insights on the challenges of sustainable growth and discover compelling reasons to be optimistic about the future. Let's navigate the path towards a greener tomorrow together!

Links from the episode

Find Ankit on linkedIn

ClimaJo

The Sahaj Foundation (The Vriksh Initiative)

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Net Zero for All: Can We Make It Happen? #63

Fri, 01 Dec 2023 10:32:29 GMT

As we step into the week of the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), we're excited to share our latest episode featuring an insightful conversation with Ian Ormerod, the Co-founder and CEO of @Switch2Zero. This innovative green-tech startup has set a global mission — to accelerate the transition to net-zero carbon emissions for people and businesses everywhere.

In this episode, we explore key themes like carbon offsetting, greenwashing, and corporate responsibility and delve deeper into the reason behind Ian choosing to leave a successful banking career to champion this mission. Join us in amplifying the conversation on climate action and reaching the path to net zero!

Switch2Zero has also pledged to plant a tree for every Brave listener who signs up on their platform (it's free!). Check out the link below to find out more.

Links from the episode

Find Ian on linkedIn

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Megaprojects, AI and Project Management #62

Wed, 13 Sep 2023 11:00:16 GMT

In this episode, I chat to Greg Lawton, co-founder of Nodes and Links, and delve into the transformative role of technology, particularly AI, in streamlining the delivery of large-scale infrastructure and mega projects.

In an ever more complex operating environment, we examine what constitutes a world-class process and why it's crucial to effective project delivery. Our conversation extends beyond mega projects as we explore how lessons and principles from the largest scales can be applied by smaller businesses and across different industries.

We also assess the value of traditional project management methodologies like Lean and Agile in a rapidly evolving landscape. Join us as we unpack these questions and their implications for project management in today's world.

Links from the episode

Find Greg on LinkedIn

Nodes and Links

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The Future of Commercial Space Technology #61

Fri, 23 Jun 2023 10:25:35 GMT

In the first of two episodes featuring Phil Brunkard, an experienced Technology Leader with a passion for Digital Transformation and Innovation, we slip the surly bonds of Earth to explore the revolution happening within commercial space technology.

The low earth orbit (LEO) sector is currently experiencing significant expansion. In this episode we explore the new markets and spaces this is opening up, and the opportunities it presents for businesses and consumers.

We also look at the risks, both commercial and social, associated with this growth, such as space junk (Kessler Syndrome), privacy issues, and inconsistent regulation across national boundaries.

Finally we look at long-term future of LEO technologies, and their potential to become a core pillar of digital infrastructure.

Links from the episode

Find Phil on LinkedIn

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Predicting the future of the internet #60

Wed, 10 May 2023 18:26:03 GMT

Something is changing. A great shift looms on the horizon, heralding the dawn of a new era for the internet as we know it. In this episode, I embark on a journey through the realms of the new online age, guided by the wise and insightful John Alderson, Head of SEO at Yoast. Together, we unravel the secrets of Google's intricate web, divine the patterns of evolving business trends and witness the forging of tools that shape the destiny of everything digital.

Episode summary

We discuss topics such as schema markup, IoT, and the monopolisation of e-commerce by, well, monopolies
The importance of brand presence, narrative, and story is highlighted in a world where other aspects of a brand are replaceable.
The fragmentation of the internet and the decline of platforms like Facebook and Twitter are discussed, impacting online conversations and collaborations.
The risks of relying on "rented land" platforms and the value of owning a website for businesses are debated.
The role of AI in shaping the web and its implications for marketers, including content creation for AI consumption, are explored.
The concept of 'demand SEO', the future of voice search and potential legal and privacy issues are also discussed.
The challenge of "solved query spaces" and whether the ultimate goal of search engines is canonical answers to every conceivable question

Links from the episode

Find Jono online outside of rented land

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Is Lifelong Learning The Future of Education? #59

Wed, 01 Mar 2023 12:32:12 GMT

In this conversation, our guest Maury Shenk, founder and CEO of LearnerShape, and Director and General Counsel of PeopleCert, talks with Bethan about the importance of lifelong learning in the fast-changing world we live in.

They delve into the need for education to prepare people for the types of work required in the 21st century and the significance of personalisation in the future of education. They also explore the role of technology in enhancing traditional learning environments and creating a more flexible learning experience.

Join us as we dive deeper into the future of education and the potential impact of technology on the way we learn.

Links from the episode

LearnerShape.com

Find Maury on LinkedIn

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Leveraging AI: Mitigating risks and maximising marketing impact in 2023 #58

Fri, 03 Feb 2023 14:23:20 GMT

In this episode we explore how AI, with the specific example of chat GPT, is shaking up the marketing and wider content sectors, what we can use it for, and what are its strengths and weaknesses.

This episode is a conversation between Bethan Vincent, founder of Open Velocity, Jon Paget, one of our senior partners, and Katie Thompson, managing director of content marketing agency Katie Lingo. It was originally broadcast as a live webinar in January 2023. If you're interested in attending future live events, you can sign up for email notifications on the open velocity website.

Links from the episode

Katie Lingo

ChatGPT

Can an app unchain us from our desks? #57

Fri, 13 Jan 2023 11:34:50 GMT

The new year is a time when a lot of us think about making positive changes to our health and fitness.

In this episode, we interview founder and CEO Toby Cannon about the motivations and challenges behind Myles, an app supporting fitness and wellbeing in a work environment.

We talk about the inspiration behind Myles, the challenges workers face when breaking free from their desks and the risks of sharing health data with your employer.

Links from the episode

MylesWellbeing.com

Find Toby on LinkedIn

Myles Challenges

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Stress, sleep and better supplements #56

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 14:06:11 GMT

Is modern life driving driving insomnia? How do you build a trusted brand in a traditionally controversial space? How can D2C brands navigate recessionary and inflationary pressures?

In a rather wide ranging conversation I ask Joe Welstead, CEO and Co-Founder of Motion Nutrition, about building a trusted health brand and how his experience as an athlete made him re-think the role of supplements.

Links from the episode

Find Joe on LinkedIn

Find out more about Motion Nutrition

About The Brave

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Follow The Brave on Twitter @TheBraveListen

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Contact on hello@bethanvincent.com

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Can we automate decision making? #55

Thu, 19 May 2022 12:49:46 GMT

Can we trust machines with commercial decision making? What are the advantages and limitations? Can we truly use data to get insights into irrational human preferences?

In this episode I speak to Peter Denby, COO of Hyper Group, about decision intelligence. What is it? How are companies using it and how can machines augment human decision making.

Links from the episode

Find Peter on LinkedIn

Find out more about Hyper

About The Brave

Find out more at https://shows.acast.com/the-brave

Follow The Brave on Twitter @TheBraveListen

Join our newsletter here

Contact on hello@bethanvincent.com

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Crossing the future chasm #54

Thu, 05 May 2022 17:22:42 GMT

In an era of accelerating technological change and digital disruption, how do companies robustly respond to and adapt to uncertainty and rapidly shifting foundations?

This is the question that preoccupies Tom Goodwin, Author, Consultant, Speaker, TV Presenter and guest on this episode.

We speak about the meaning of Digital Darwinism (a term coined by Tom), adapting to cultural change, the potential end of our guilded age and how to become a changemaker.

It's admittedly a wide ranging discussion, but well worth a listen. Tom has the uncommon ability to simplify the complex while retaining nuance.

Links from the episode

Follow Tom on Twitter

Find out more about Tom and his work

About The Brave

Find out more at https://shows.acast.com/the-brave

Follow The Brave on Twitter @TheBraveListen

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Net zero unemployment through AI #53

Wed, 20 Apr 2022 14:53:08 GMT

Welcome back to series three of The Brave! We're kicking things off with a really interesting episode which explores how we can use new technologies for good.

In the first episode of our new series I speak to Katie Gibbs, Founding Partner at Emergence Partners, a tech consultancy on a mission to drive the thoughtful adoption of technologies including AI. Emergence has a bold manifesto which focuses on achieving net zero unemployment through AI. We chat about what this means and how companies can approach adopting new technologies without harming employees or their wider sphere of influence.

Links from the episode

Emergence Partners - https://emergencehq.com/

Emergence's manifesto - https://emergencehq.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Net-zero-unemployment-manifesto-designed.pdf

Connect with Katie on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-gibbs-82b6ab84/

About The Brave

Find out more at https://shows.acast.com/the-brave

Follow The Brave on Twitter @TheBraveListen

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Contact on hello@bethanvincent.com

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Reimagining Recruitment #52

Fri, 01 Oct 2021 10:04:44 GMT

The recruitment industry has a divisive reputation, especially in the digital sector. Low barriers to entry encourage cowboy operators, misaligned incentives lead to low-quality hires and poor practices lead to poor candidate experiences. However many companies rely on recruiters to identify, access and tempt talent, a challenge that is ever-growing in candidate-scarce sectors.

Companies and candidates are rightly starting to ask - is there a better way to hire and be hired?

In this episode, we speak to recruiter and tech founder Shannon Smith about how we might re-imagine the recruitment industry for the better and build inclusive hiring models that work for both companies and candidates.

Links from the Show

Connect with Shannon on Linkedin

Find out more about Welfound

About The Brave

Find out more at https://shows.acast.com/the-brave

Follow The Brave on Twitter @TheBraveListen

Join our newsletter here

Contact on hello@bethanvincent.com

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Can technology solve the climate crisis? #51

Tue, 24 Aug 2021 19:36:29 GMT

In this episode I speak to Dr Karen Parkhill about the different reactions the unfolding climate crisis has provoked across communities and governments and explore the fundamental role technology can play in both deepening and responding to the crisis. We also dig into the power of individual and community action, and contrast that with larger-scale, national and international approaches, including geoengineering.

Karen is a lecturer in human geography at The University of York. Her research interests span energy geographies and geographies of risk. She uses qualitative methods to explore how the public engages with/resists notions of low carbon lifestyles and low carbon transitions, including examining how they themselves consume and perceive energy.

Links from the Show

Find Karen's University of York profile here

About The Brave

Find out more at https://shows.acast.com/the-brave

Follow The Brave on Twitter @TheBraveListen

Join our newsletter here

Contact on hello@bethanvincent.com

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Solving the mobility challenge #50

Sun, 18 Jul 2021 15:08:41 GMT

In this episode of The Brave we take a look at the future of inner-city transport through the lens of micromobility, which, if you don't know, refers to the shared electric scooters and bikes popping up in cities around the world.

My guest this week is Georgia Yexley, Head of Cities for the UK and Ireland for TIER Mobility, Europe's largest operator of shared e-vehicles. We explore the explosive expansion of this new industry, unpick the implications this has for how we get around, and find out how these new options fit into existing transport infrastructure.

TIER is also an environmentally neutral company, and we dig into the way increased climate awareness is changing the landscape (if you’ll pardon the pun) within which infrastructure businesses operate, and the innovative ways of working this requires.

Links from the Show

Find out more about Tier

Connect with Georgia on LinkedIn

Follow Tier on LinkedIn

About The Brave

Find out more at https://shows.acast.com/the-brave

Follow The Brave on Twitter @TheBraveListen

Join our newsletter here

Contact on hello@bethanvincent.com

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Building & Positioning Better Brands #49

Mon, 10 May 2021 19:52:58 GMT

In this episode of The Brave Podcast, we speak to positioning expert April Dunford about building and positioning better businesses and brands.

We discuss how can the explosion of post-COVID start-ups stand out in a saturated market, why is positioning so important when building companies that last and the power of keeping your marketing strategies simple.

Links from the Show

Find out more about April's work here.

Get Obviously Awesome

Follow April on Twitter

About The Brave

Find out more at https://shows.acast.com/the-brave

Follow The Brave on Twitter @TheBraveListen

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Contact on hello@bethanvincent.com

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Breaking the class ceiling #48

Sat, 03 Apr 2021 18:04:56 GMT

In the UK tech sector, 19% of workers are from a working-class background compared to 33.3% of the nationwide population (2014 Labour Force Survey).

In this episode I speak to Jem Henderson, a technology professional, poet and outspoken advocate for diversity and inclusion.

"Well, I’m not your standard tech worker. I'm non-binary, I grew up in a council house and I didn't go to Oxford or Cambridge. I started out in the creative field with degrees in art, English and creative writing. I was signed off sick with mental health issues for a long time, finally realising that I have ADHD in the last few years." https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/doing-diversity-inclusion-right-jem-henderson-she-they-/

I talk to Jem about their career path and how companies can tackle the barriers which still prevent people from working class backgrounds from entering the tech industry.

Links from the Show

Find Jem on Twitter here and here

Why do so many professional, middle-class Brits insist they're working class?, The Guardian

About The Brave

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What can we expect from the next phase of space innovation? #47

Tue, 23 Feb 2021 15:04:27 GMT

With the increasing visibility of private space companies, the safe arrival of the Perseverance rover on Mars, and renewed interest in space exploration, it seems like space is now solidly back in the public imagination.

We traditionally associate space innovation with the US, China and Russia, but the UK is at the forefront of the new space economy, with 5.1% share of the global space market and plans to capture 10% by 2030.

In this episode I speak to Melissa Thorpe, Interim Head of Spaceport Cornwall, about the next phase of space innovation, how horizontal launch capabilities are being built here in the UK, and the economic and technological opportunities this will provide.

(Spaceport Cornwall is the horizontal space launch site at Cornwall Airport Newquay, in South West England. Spaceport Cornwall is a partnership between Cornwall Council, commercial launch operator Virgin Orbit and Goonhilly Earth Station. The consortium will deliver small satellite launch into lower Earth Orbit, for the first time ever from the UK by 2022.)

Links from the Show

Find out more about Spaceport Cornwall

About The Brave

Find out more at https://shows.acast.com/the-brave

Follow The Brave on Twitter @TheBraveListen

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Contact on hello@bethanvincent.com

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When Employees Become Influencers #46

Mon, 25 Jan 2021 17:29:00 GMT

What happens when an employee has more followers and social clout than the organisation they work for? It's becoming increasingly common as people carve out "personal brands" - but does this cause friction or create opportunities for the brand they work for?

In this episode I speak to Stephen Kenwright, COO and Co-Founder, Rise at Seven. Taking the digital agency scene by storm, Rise at Seven have grown from 0 - £1.5 million turnover in one year, winning briefs from brands including Pretty Little Thing, Missguided, ODEON, USwitch, GoCompare, GAME and more.

Some of their impressive growth is down to their team's social presence, especially on platforms Twitter. I ask Stephen how the strategy of leveraging employee influencers has led to business wins and how he feels brands can and should empower their people to be active and vocal across social media (yes, I do ask what happens when someone tweets something "off-brand")!

Also for people looking to build their own professional profiles, Stephen shares his top tips on how to get yourself out there and build a personal brand.

Links from the Show

Follow Stephen on Twitter

Find out more about Rise at Seven and follow on Twitter

About The Brave

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Follow The Brave on Twitter @TheBraveListen

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What Is The Future of Retail? #45

Sun, 10 Jan 2021 15:48:50 GMT

Post-pandemic retailers are facing an existential crisis. Online is quickly becoming the default as physical locations are forced to close. Consumer behaviour is changing as demand shifts to reflect our new reality. How can retailers adapt and thrive under these difficult and ever changing conditions?

In this episode we speak to Chris Dee, an experienced retail CEO and NED in the premium and luxury food, drink and home sectors and online entrepreneur. Formerly CEO of Booths and Director of Food and Home at Harrods, Chris shares his insights on the future of retail and what stores need to focus on to ensure they remain relevant and endure.

Links from the Show

Follow Chris' latest venture - https://maltreleaseradar.com

About The Brave

Find out more at https://shows.acast.com/the-brave

Follow The Brave on Twitter @TheBraveListen

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The Shock of the New Normal: Crises and Creativity #44

Tue, 27 Oct 2020 16:26:38 GMT

In this special episode recorded for York Design Week we explore the impact of social, political and economic turmoil on creativity and artistic movements.

We will discuss pivotal moments from history and their impact on creative practices spanning music, culture and visual art. We will also explore how the current pandemic is impacting and affecting the work and practice of artists today.

Dr Desmond Clarke is an artist who works with generative and algorithmic processes to explore the intersection of the natural and numeric.

Dr Stef Conner is a lecturer the University of York. Stef began her career as pianist and backing singer in the Northumbrian folk band The Unthanks. Since then, Stef has carved a niche for herself in the misty borderlands between the classical and traditional music worlds, combining the intense emotional sincerity of traditional song with jazz-infused contemporary harmony and a palette of techniques drawn from the study of ancient music and poetry

Get involved with the full York Design Week programme

Find Out More About Stef

Find out more about Stef at stefconner.com

Buy Stef’s debut album, Riddle Songs, available from Delphian Records

Follow Stef on Twitter

Find Out More About Des

Follow Des on Instagram

See Des’ prints at Holgate Gallery and online

About The Brave

Find out more at bethanvincent.com/thebrave

Follow The Brave on Twitter @TheBraveListen

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Living For Today & Listening To Your Gut #43

Mon, 17 Aug 2020 15:30:03 GMT

Suffering an unexpected and tragic family bereavement forced Sophie to seriously reassess her life and career. In this episode I chat to Sophie about the impact of this period and how she made the leap from a traditional corporate career to pursue her passion.

We talk about why fear can be a good thing, managing other people’s expectations about your life and choices and how one person’s decision to veer off the “normal” path can inspire others to follow.

We also talk about why we need to listen to our gut and not ignore the niggling voice in our head that points us towards our purpose.

Find Out More About Sophie

Find out more about Sophie’s coaching and group programmes

Follow Sophie on Twitter and Instagram

About The Brave

Find out more at bethanvincent.com/thebrave

Follow The Brave on Twitter @TheBraveListen

Join our newsletter here

Contact on hello@bethanvincent.com

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Sending Messages Into The Future #42

Tue, 28 Jul 2020 19:51:32 GMT

“This place is a message and part of a system of messages. Pay attention to it. Sending this message was important to us. We considered ourselves to be a powerful culture.”

In this episode Desmond Clarke and I discuss the challenges of creating messages that are universally translatable by future human and non-human cultures.

We explore the challenges of communicating with unknown future societies about dangers such as nuclear waste, alongside discussing the messages intended for a non-human intelligence that we have sent out into the depths of space.

About The Brave

Find out more at bethanvincent.com/thebrave

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How to Get Fit When You're Lacking Motivation #41

Tue, 21 Jul 2020 20:10:43 GMT

Back in 2012 I lost over 5 stone through adopting a proper exercise routine. I’ve kept it off ever since.

In this episode I talk about my fitness journey and how I’ve kept up my motivation and kept on going with my commitment to my health for the past eight years.

About The Brave

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Beating Procrastination At Work #40

Wed, 15 Jul 2020 18:51:19 GMT

For 1 in 5 of us, procrastinating is something that affects our lives and work daily. Most people seem to experience it frequently.

Delaying or putting off starting a task can be a hard habit to break. In this episode we explore why people procrastinate and some of the tips and techniques that can get the ball rolling again.

Links From The Episode

Procrastination Statistics

Why You Procrastinate (It Has Nothing to Do With Self-Control)

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Future-Proofing Your Finances #39

Mon, 06 Jul 2020 14:59:58 GMT

In this episode we talk money and how to get your financial house in order to better withstand shocks and changes in your income.

The big caveat here is that I’m not a financial advisor, but in this episode I do share the strategies I deploy to understand my financial landscape and ensure my money works for me long-term.

Links From The Episode

Forever Employable - Jeff Gothelf

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Making Remote Work Long-Term #38

Tue, 30 Jun 2020 16:34:27 GMT

After over a 100 days of working remotely, a lot of us are starting to ask - “is remote the future of work?”

In this episode I chat to Darren Murph, Head of Remote at GitLab, the world’s largest all remote organisation.

With over 15 years experience working across the remote spectrum, Darren shares his thoughts on how organisations and individuals can make remote work sustainable, productive and most importantly, enjoyable.

Links From The Episode

Download the GitLab Remote Playbook

Follow Darren on Twitter

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What Comes Next? What To Expect From The "New Normal" #37

Mon, 22 Jun 2020 10:35:08 GMT

It’s now clear the the pre-pandemic world is gone. We are unlikely to return to an exact replica as life in the 21st century has undergone a substantial shift.

The big question remains - what comes next?

In this episode we take a look at what we might expect from the new normal, with a focus on three key areas:

Urban unbundling - will cities thrive?

The acceleration of the digital economy

Proliferation of green/eco friendly attitudes

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Self-Coaching & Being Your Own Mentor #36

Mon, 08 Jun 2020 19:28:33 GMT

Self-improvement doesn’t have to be expensive, contrived or onerous. We are all capable of showing up for ourselves and making small, sustainable changes that support our ambitions and goals.

In this episode we talk about how you can about develop a personal toolbox of techniques and strategies that will allow you to identify goals, challenge negative thinking and increase self-motivation through developing consistent habits.

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What Mindset Do I Need To Succeed? #35

Mon, 01 Jun 2020 19:31:17 GMT

In this episode we explore the concept of a mindset - the collection of thoughts, values and beliefs that shape your world view, habits and actions.

We discuss the differences between fixed and growth mindsets and ask whether these categories are useful in defining the root cause of someone’s success (or lack of).

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What Is Innovation, Really? #34

Mon, 18 May 2020 09:43:22 GMT

Over the last nine years, Claire has worked as part of lean innovation and CX teams at top companies including Amazon.

Now working as an independent consultant, Claire is passionate about innovation, AI and utilising tech for good.

All of these three terms are bandied about in the tech world, often with little context around what they actually mean. In this episode Claire and I explore deeper meanings and examples of actual implementations.

Links Mentioned In The Show

Find Claire on LinkedIn

Artificially Intelligent Claire

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Resilience in the Arts, Cultural and Heritage Sectors #33

Sun, 10 May 2020 13:24:08 GMT

Resilience is a concept that can be applied beyond both personal and organisational spheres. Systems and entire sectors can be resilient (or not) which leads us to ask what resilience means within a wider context.

In this episode I speak to Sophia Woodley, Design Manager at Golant Innovation and co-author of What is Resilience Anyway: A Review (Arts Council England), a report which seeks to answer:

How is resilience currently understood in the arts and culture sector?

Are organisations becoming more resilient and, if so, how are they doing this?

What opportunities might there be to develop the sector’s resilience in the future?

We chat about the report’s major findings and how innovation and creativity can be harnessed to help the sector adapt and endure.

Links Mentioned In The Show

“What is Resilience Anyway” read full report here

Find out more about Golant Innovation

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How Can You Future-Proof Your Career? #32

Sun, 03 May 2020 13:18:40 GMT

What are the skills and capabilities that will be required for the jobs of the future?

How can you build a meaningful career that is aligned to your interests and strengths?

What can you do to unlock career opportunities and develop your yourself professionally?

Links Mentioned In The Show

Ask A Manager Blog

Udemy (Courses)

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Can We Make A Difference Going Plastic-Free? #31

Sun, 19 Apr 2020 17:06:35 GMT

In this episode we explore environmental resilience and sustainable lifestyles with guest Charlie Gill.

In 2018, sisters Charlie and Trina founded Life Before Plastik, a UK plastic free shop aimed at helping people find plastic free alternatives to everyday items.

Throughout the episode we discuss some of the simple switches you can make to plastic free alternatives, why you should bother in the first place and some of the wider sustainability issues such as travel and recycling.

Links Mentioned In The Show

www.lifebeforeplastik.com

Follow LB4P on Instagram

The Man in Seat 61

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How To Maintain Positive Relationships at Home #30

Sun, 05 Apr 2020 19:17:07 GMT

This episode explores maintaining positive and harmonious relationships in less-than-ideal living situations. From shared houses and university dorms, to social isolation and living with a partner who has a different lifestyle, I chat to my other half about our experiences adapting to different living situations and creating positive domestic atmospheres.

About Des

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What Does "Happiness" Really Mean? #29

Sun, 29 Mar 2020 18:01:27 GMT

The meaning and source of happiness has been debated for millennia - How do we define it? How do we obtain it? Is it “made” or genetically defined?

In this episode we take a look at some of the modern research on happiness and Bethan’s top 5 tips for ensuring our focus remains on the positive.

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Bibliography

https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/feeling-it/201307/the-science-behind-the-joy-sharing-joy

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2012/feb/01/top-five-regrets-of-the-dying

http://sonjalyubomirsky.com/wp-content/themes/sonjalyubomirsky/papers/LSS2005.pdf

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0805087494?slotNum=0&linkCode=g12&imprToken=KdYZBzzrMK2XLfcXcDRYVQ&creativeASIN=0805087494&tag=psychcentra0c-21

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(18)30227-X/fulltext#seccestitle10

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How Can You Look After Your Mental Health While Social Distancing? #28

Sun, 22 Mar 2020 21:05:28 GMT

This is a very special episode, as it a features an interview with my mum recorded on Mother’s Day 2020! Sadly this was done remotely due to UK government advice which asks us all to strictly adhere to social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sue Thurlow (AKA Mum, to me anyway) is an experienced Therapist, Supervisor & Clinical Trustee/Adviser with over 20 years of experience in academic, independent, voluntary and local authority settings.

In this episode I ask Sue about how to best manage your mental health while social distancing. We talk about staying productive at home, managing catastrophic thinking, the importance of staying entertained and how to shut out negative news and social media messages.

You can find out more about Sue on her website.

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Coping With Uncertainty and Coronavirus Anxiety #27

Sun, 15 Mar 2020 15:44:27 GMT

With my own personal anxiety around coronavirus on the rise, I wanted to take a step out from the usual The Brave programme to share my own thoughts around how we can remain resilient over the next few months of uncertainty and upheaval.

In this episode, I discuss managing your mental health, pulling together as a community and my top tips for working from home and keeping sane indoors.

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Why Build Your Personal Brand? #26

Sun, 08 Mar 2020 16:42:08 GMT

Careers in the 21st century now consist of multiple employers, job-titles, focuses and industries. For some, the idea of a “squiggly career” may seem daunting, however I believe this shift will free people from labels and previous narrow definitions of success.

The defining characteristic of your career is now you, but this raises it’s own problems - what does it mean to define “you”in a professional content.

In this episode we look at the power of building a personal brand - why bother in the first place? How can you defining your personal brand? How to you express it to the rest of the world?

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How To Navigate Conflict Constructively #25

Sun, 01 Mar 2020 12:36:02 GMT

Being able to navigate conflict constructively is a key skill in developing effective people, teams and organisations. Whether you’re personally a conflict avoider or conflict seeker, it’s vital to be able to communicate effectively and ideally work towards outcomes that work for both parties

In this episode we uncover the strategies for overcoming fear of conflict, how to have a constructive mindset in argumentative situations and the importance of understanding when you might be wrong.

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How Did The Black Death Impact Late Medieval England? #24

Sun, 23 Feb 2020 19:01:56 GMT

"One citizen avoided another, hardly any neighbour troubled about others, relatives never or hardly ever visited each other. Moreover, such terror was struck into the hearts of men and women by this calamity, that brother abandoned brother, and the uncle his nephew, and the sister her brother, and very often the wife her husband. What is even worse and nearly incredible is that fathers and mothers refused to see and tend their children, as if they had not been theirs.”

Boccaccio, Giovanni, The Decameron vol. I

What happens when society is faced with a pandemic that results in over half of the population dying?, 14th Century

While this is undoubtedly the realm of apocalyptic literature, we do actually have a case study to draw on - The Black Death, which hit Europe between 1347-9 and resulted in significant mortality and social change.

In this episode we travel back in time to uncover the impact of the Black Death and explore how people and society responded to and surprisingly carried on after such a cataclysmic event.

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What can running marathons teach us about business? #23

Sun, 16 Feb 2020 15:19:57 GMT

In this episode I chat to Charlie Rogers, a final year student at Loughborough university. As a competitive runner, Charlie is used take a disciplined approach to training and achieving his goals.

We chat about his approach to physical endurance, alongside how he has taken his lessons learned from training and made them applicable to entrepreneurship.

It seems that marathons and business have more in common than we think...

Find out more about Charlie and his business, Postey, here

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Rest and Recovery, What's the Difference? #22

Sun, 09 Feb 2020 14:18:27 GMT

In our 24/7 non-stop culture, have we forgotten the importance of rest and recovery? Especially when it comes to mental exertion.

In this episode we explore why recovery is important, whether there’s a difference between rest and recovery and how we can ensure we make time to recharge.

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Developing Sales Skills Without Selling Your Soul #21

Sun, 02 Feb 2020 18:00:00 GMT

For most people the idea of having to sell something, especially on a cold call, is the stuff of nightmares.

However the ability to influence and persuade is key to many professions and life in general. All of us are selling something at some point, whether it’s our ideas, businesses or ourselves.

With over 20 years experience in sales and training sales teams, Jon Cunningham has built his career on being confident in picking up the phone and convincing prospects to engage with him and his proposition.

In this episode I pick Jon’s brain about developing confidence in your sales skills. We cover how to deal with rejection and adversarial conversations, how to convince people without being annoying and the importance of forming resilient long-term relationships over short-term transactional conversations.

Find out more about Jon and his work here

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Lessons Learned from 24 Years in the CIA #20

Sun, 26 Jan 2020 12:55:30 GMT

With over 24 years experience in the CIA, Thomas Pecora is used to surviving and thriving under tough conditions.

Tom retired from the CIA as a GS 15 where he worked in protective operations, counterterrorism, and security training. Chief of Security in Southeast Asia, South Asia, and the Middle East, Tom was responsible for countrywide security programs ensuring the safety and security of all CIA personnel in high threat environments.

I chat to Tom about some of his toughest moments, leading teams in challenging times and how organisations can respond to complex threats and fast-paced changes,

Find out more about Thomas here

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What is it Like to Perform Under Pressure As a Personal Assistant? #19

Sun, 17 Nov 2019 15:13:18 GMT

Having had a 22 year career as a Personal Assistant/Executive Assistant, Suzie has experienced first-hand the many challenges that come from working in such a demanding role and within the corporate environment. If any role requires resilience above all else, this is it.

In this episode we cover:

The responsibilities of Personal and Executive Assistants and the pressures you can face as part of the role

How both roles have dramatically changed in the last 20 years

The importance of managing inter-personal relationships and having empathy for both sides, i.e. PA’s and the executives they represent

Finding coping mechanisms to help you both personally and professionally

Dealing with big career changes such as redundancy and being action oriented to deliver the results you want after a seismic shift

Making time for yourself and the importance of creating space for rest and relaxation

Perhaps most importantly, why you should always ask for help

About Susie

Suzie helps Personal Assistants create more freedom, flexibility and independence in their lives by supporting them in creating a plan to transition safely into their own business.

She is passionate about helping PAs see their worth, release self-doubts, gain clarity and live a happier more authentic life. She gives her clients the confidence to follow their dreams, realise their potential and get into action.

To find out more about Suzie and her coaching services please visit www.suzieflynn.com or take a look at her LinkedIn profile.

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Leaving A Career In Law to Recover from Burnout #18

Sun, 03 Nov 2019 16:12:37 GMT

After building an impressive career as a Solicitor after years of training and hard work, Leah decided enough was enough and quit the law to focus on her recovery from burnout. Inspired her experience, Leah’s mission now is to spread awareness of what can contribute to burnout and how individuals and companies can prevent it.

During this episode we talk about the immense pressure lawyers and professionals can face when their roles are emotionally and mentally demanding and how this can lead to burnout.

Leah also makes the point that it is the brightest and most engaged employees that are at most of risk of burnout (and most likely to hide it).

We also chat about why understanding and preventing burnout should be a high priority for all organisations, alongside some of the adjustments that can be made to help employees thrive.

Find out more about Leah and her work:

Www.searchingforserenity.co.uk
Hello@searchingforserenity.co.uk
Www.linkedin.com/in/LeahySteele
Www.fb.com/serenitysearch

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How to Build a Long-Term, Resilient Businesses #17

Sun, 13 Oct 2019 12:30:19 GMT

In this episode I speak to Helen Darlington, CEO of Woven, an award winning branding and design agency.

We chat about a lot of things, but the story really focuses on how Helen has built and grown a resilient business over the past 17 years.

We cover things like staying ahead in changing, challenging markets, staying determined when times get tough and how to reframe weaknesses as strengths.

We also chat about her experience of being a woman leading a business and whether gender has been a limiting factor (Helen has a really interesting view on this!)

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Resilience in the face of societal instability #16

Mon, 09 Sep 2019 19:18:14 GMT

There is no coincidence that this episode has been recorded during one of the most politically tumultuous weeks Britain has ever experienced. In this episode I share some of my thoughts on and strategies around coping in an age of instability and rapid change.

Book mentioned: The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable

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Making the Choice Not to Have Children #15

Fri, 16 Aug 2019 19:05:31 GMT

In this episode I speak to the extremely brave Ashely Smith about her choice not to have children.

Ashley shares how and why she made the decision, alongside outlining how she has approached telling friends and family. She also offers extremely thoughtful advice for anyone else considering making a similar choice, whether for personal, medical or environmental reasons.

This is a subject which is still not talked about enough in society and is sometimes still wrongly considered taboo. I'm proud to be able to welcome Ashley to the show and discuss her story.

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Coping Strategies for Social Media Anxiety and FOMO #14

Wed, 31 Jul 2019 19:47:24 GMT

Social Media Anxiety, LinkedIn Envy, Instagram Jealousy - whatever you want to call it, social media can have a profound impact on our mental health. In this episode Bethan explores why we have these reactions to seeing and sharing our lives online. She also offers 5 crowdsourced tips (from social media, a hint of irony here!) on how to deal with these negative feelings and adapt your social media usage to promote a more positive online experience.

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Non-Linear Careers and Chasing Perfection #13

Sun, 14 Jul 2019 17:52:57 GMT

In this episode I chat to Dan Merriman, Product Owner at Raspberry Pi, about his varied career so far and how taking a non-linear career path has allowed him to pursue a work that is both fulfilling and meaningful.

We dig into why academic careers can be particularly challenging and the exploitative work environments that young academics can face.

We also reflect on whether the tech industry has managed to combat high workloads with processes such as Agile and what the transition into tech looked like for Dan after leaving academia.

We also touch on managing mental health in work and whilst job hunting and why you can’t measure your own life against social media.

Join us for a really wide-ranging conversation that really challenges what people are looking for from their job environments, why we shouldn’t be afraid of changing our minds and the importance of cultivating a critical mindset when assessing what we want to do and how we want to live.

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Public Speaking and Delivering Under Pressure #12

Tue, 18 Jun 2019 15:12:13 GMT

Speaking in public in front of groups (large or small) is pretty stressful and uncomfortable for most people….

I was actually inspired to put this episode together after delivering a talk to 1400 people at the Lead Developer Conference in London - an experience which almost made me literally vomit with stress/anxiety. As someone who speaks regularly at events, I’ve had to develop a number of coping mechanisms in order to prepare and deliver on the day.

In this episode I chat about my experiences speaking in public and how you can prepare yourself for a talk, manage anxiety on the day and also look after yourself post-public speaking.

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Endometriosis and Living with Chronic Pain #11

Sun, 09 Jun 2019 16:16:03 GMT

Welcome to Season 1 of The Brave, a podcast all about resilience where we share stories of how a diverse range of people have coped under pressure and with numerous challenges.

Endometriosis is a chronic and debilitating condition that causes painful or heavy periods and can also cause infertility, fatigue and bowel/bladder problems. Around 1.5 million women in the UK are currently living with the condition which affects an estimated 1 in 10 women. In this episode I speak to Parysa Hosseini-Sech about her struggle to get diagnosed and the impact the condition has had on her life. Parysa also shares her top tips on coping with a long-term chronic pain condition and how she has created her resilient mindset.

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Find out more about Endometriosis at Endometriosis UK

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Preventing Burnout #10

Sun, 19 May 2019 15:11:09 GMT

Welcome to Season 1 of The Brave, a podcast all about resilience where we share stories of how a diverse range of people have coped under pressure and with numerous challenges.

In a world that is moving ever-faster, burnout seems to be on the rise. Extreme pressure and chronic stress can can have massive psychological, physical and occupational consequences. In episode 10 I explore burnout with Lucile Allen-Paisant, founder of Leeds Wellbeing Week and Mind It UK. We discuss how to spot burnout, how to prevent it and how to manage it if you've already experienced it.

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Beating Imposter Syndrome #9

Mon, 06 May 2019 16:22:01 GMT

Welcome to Season 1 of The Brave, a podcast all about resilience where we share stories of how a diverse range of people have coped under pressure and with numerous challenges.

This episode features an interview with Rebecca Raffety, co-founder of Women in Tech York. We chat about being a woman working in tech, dealing with imposter syndrome and why you sometimes have to be brave and change career track in-line with your goals and interests.

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Coping With Homesickness While Living Abroad #8

Sun, 28 Apr 2019 09:38:55 GMT

Welcome to Season 1 of The Brave, a podcast all about resilience where we share stories of how a diverse range of people have coped under pressure and with numerous challenges.

This episode features an interview with Rebecca Mendoza where we talk about her experiences living abroad in several countries and how she coped with homesickness and adapting to multiple different cultures.

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What does it mean to be brave? #7

Thu, 18 Apr 2019 18:43:55 GMT

Welcome to Season 1 of The Brave, a podcast all about resilience where we share stories of how a diverse range of people have coped under pressure and with numerous challenges.

In this episode I explore the concept of bravery and how it has been constructed in our society through narrative archetypes. I also suggest that quiet, everyday bravery should be celebrated and that your everyday acts of courage and resilience do make you a brave person.

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Recovering From Physical Trauma #6

Sun, 07 Apr 2019 19:13:42 GMT

Welcome to Season 1 of The Brave, a podcast all about resilience where we share stories of how a diverse range of people have coped under pressure and with numerous challenges.

In this episode I interview Owen Turner, Founder of United By Design, about how he dealt with and overcame severe physical trauma a few weeks after leaving his job and setting up his first business.

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Resilience at Work, Deadlines and Managing Anxiety #5

Sun, 31 Mar 2019 12:34:46 GMT

Welcome to Season 1 of The Brave, a podcast all about resilience where we share stories of how a diverse range of people have coped under pressure and with numerous challenges.

In this episode I interview Rob Kendal, a Senior UI Developer who works in tech. We take a deep dive into the world of work to discuss some of the pressures and pitfalls of working life - including managing stress and deadlines, deadline with mental health at work and helping staff thrive.

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Find Rob’s blog here

Find out more about The Brave at www.bethanvincent.com/thebrave

Follow on Twitter @TheBraveListen

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Coping with a cancer diagnosis aged 25 #4

Sat, 23 Mar 2019 12:19:00 GMT

Welcome to Season 1 of The Brave, a podcast all about resilience where we share stories of how a diverse range of people have coped under pressure and with numerous challenges.

In this episode I interview Laura Sanderson, a York based graphic designer. Aged 25, Laura received a cancer diagnosis. In this episode we discuss her approach to the diagnosis and subsequent treatment, alongside her desire for cancer to be spoken about freely and in a normalised manner.

Follow Laura on Twitter

Find Laura’s website here

Find Paperclip Studio (pins and badges) here

Find out more about The Brave at www.bethanvincent.com/thebrave

Follow on Twitter @TheBraveListen

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An introduction and my story of resilience #1

Sun, 10 Mar 2019 15:47:00 GMT

Welcome to Season 1 of The Brave, a podcast all about resilience where we share stories of how a diverse range of people have coped under pressure and with numerous challenges.

In this first episode I introduce the podcast and also share my story of resilience and challenge from my time spent studying abroad in the Netherlands.

Find out more about The Brave here

Follow on Twitter @TheBraveListen

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Careers, Stress and Wellbeing #2

Sun, 10 Mar 2019 14:01:00 GMT

Welcome to Season 1 of The Brave, a podcast all about resilience where we share stories of how a diverse range of people have coped under pressure and with numerous challenges.

This episode features an interview with Alex Burbidge, Founder & Lead Consultant at Big Smiles. We talk about managing stress at work, climbing the corporate ladder and managing priorities. Alex also shares his story of resilience and how he managed to go from achieving poor exam results to working in a high flying corporate career.

Find out more about The Brave here

Follow on Twitter @TheBraveListen

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Changing Careers, Dealing with Perfectionism and Building a Support Network #3

Sun, 10 Mar 2019 12:18:31 GMT

Welcome to Season 1 of The Brave, a podcast all about resilience where we share stories of how a diverse range of people have coped under pressure and with numerous challenges.

In this episode I interview former Junior Doctor, Jamie Nguyen, about his experiences coping under pressure, dealing with perfectionism and the importance of support networks. You will also find out more about how and why Jamie has made the brave leap from being a doctor to the world of tech.

Find out more about The Brave at www.bethanvincent.com/thebrave

Follow on Twitter @TheBraveListen

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.