How to Thrive

"The core human factors knowledge stands you in good stead whatever industry you work in. There is so much that we can learn from other industries, and we should."

This week on the How to Thrive podcast, Claire and Helen are joined by Fran Ives, chartered human factors specialist, founder of Ergoscape, knowledge mobilisation fellow at Keele University, and current President of the Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors.

She also has the chain to prove it, and is terrified of losing it.

Fran is one of a rare breed who decided at 18 to study ergonomics. What followed was a career that took her from automotive test tracks to nuclear power stations to NHS operating theatres, and eventually to leading the professional body for human factors in the UK.

In this episode, Claire and Helen talk to Fran about what human factors and ergonomics actually are, why they transfer so powerfully across industries, and why she's fighting to stop people in different industries working in silos.

She also talks about her fascinating work in knowledge mobilisation: the art of taking brilliant research off dusty shelves and making it actually land in the real world.

More about Fran:

Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors: ergonomics.org.uk

Fran's business: https://www.ergoscape.co.uk/

Fran's podcast (currently on pause): All Systems Ergo

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 https://www.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 https://www.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 https://www.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 https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

"Organisations are operating at a time of unusually intense and overlapping change. But history provides us with an optimistic message about our ability to adapt."

This week on the How to Thrive podcast, Claire and Helen are joined by Alessandro De Arcangelis, Senior Research and Policy Analyst at Lewis Silkin.

Alessandro spent a decade in universities studying and teaching the history of political thought, before he eventually felt the pull of wanting his work to matter closer to where decisions are being made, and made the move into the corporate world via Lewis Silkin, where his research now focuses on the future of work.

In this episode, Claire and Helen explore what history can teach us about the moment we're living through right now - the AI revolution, geopolitical instability, the collapse of the linear career, and why organisations are so dangerously obsessed with short-term thinking.

Alessandro argues that disruption always looks catastrophic from the inside, that human adaptability has never yet failed us, and that the language we use about AI is often shaped more by tech companies' PR than by any neutral reading of the evidence.

They also discuss what COVID took from the generation of junior professionals who missed out on osmotic learning, why universities are failing to prepare graduates for the world that actually awaits them, and why becoming comfortable with uncertainty might be the most important organisational skill of the next decade.

With thanks to our sponsors for this episode:

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 https://www.lewissilkin.com/.

JHB & Partners: https://jhbandpartners.com/

Many of the in-house lawyers who listen will recognise Josh Blake as an expert in legal resourcing. Last year he established JHB & Partners and continues to support in-house legal teams to build, scale and optimise their legal functions.

With their extensive experience in resourcing and strategic insight, Josh and his team at JHB & Partners provide a real sense of calm and reassurance, which is exactly what you need whether you're hiring or looking for a role. You can find out lots more about Josh and his team at www.jhbandpartners.com. Get in touch and don't forget to mention the podcast when you do.

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 https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

"You can't lead others until you know how to lead yourself."

We're back. It's September, the leaves are turning, and Claire and Helen are settling back in for Season 4 of the How to Thrive podcast. No guest this week, just the two of us catching up on a busy summer and looking forward to the autumn and winter ahead.

Helen has been to South Africa, picked up a RCVS Inspiration Award for her work bringing human factors into the veterinary profession.

Claire has been to France, wrestled her Sharpies back from her daughter, shouted at new parents outside the school, and has been sitting with it ever since.

In between the catching up, they dig into some genuinely meaty territory: why brilliant professionals so often make struggling leaders, what automaticity has to do with it, and why giving yourself five minutes in the bathroom during a board meeting might be the most effective leadership tool you have.

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 https://www.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 https://www.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 https://www.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 https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's episode comes live from the balcony of a woodland lodge in the Chiltern Hills, fresh off the back of the very first residential Agile Leader retreat.

Joined over the course of a day and a half by ten senior legal leaders, plus regular podcast guests Victoria Smith-Murphy and Sean Brooking, the retreat explored what it really means to lead with agility.

In this episode, Claire and Helen reflect on the themes that surfacedd, the paradox of performance versus wellbeing, the consensus that human connection is craved more than ever in the age of AI, tand what it means to sit in the in-between.

We also get a little visit from some deer!

With thanks to our sponsors for this episode:

JHB & Partners: https://jhbandpartners.com/

Many of the in-house lawyers who listen will recognise Josh Blake as an expert in legal resourcing. Last year he established JHB & Partners and continues to support in-house legal teams to build, scale and optimise their legal functions.

With their extensive experience in resourcing and strategic insight, Josh and his team at JHB & Partners provide a real sense of calm and reassurance, which is exactly what you need whether you're hiring or looking for a role. You can find out lots more about Josh and his team at www.jhbandpartners.com. Get in touch and don't forget to mention the podcast when you do.

Summize: https://www.summize.com/

Summize is an AI-powered contract lifecycle management platform, designed to break the cycle of forgotten obligations, scattered intake, and contract chaos.

Meeting teams where they already work, embedding seamlessly into tools like Outlook, Teams, Slack, Salesforce, and HubSpot, Summize makes adoption simple. With self-serve contracting to reduce workload, seamless integrations to create structure, and powerful AI that supports and enhances legal expertise, Summize helps legal teams operate with confidence and clarity, freeing up that all-important capacity so that we humans can focus on the areas where we add unique value.

Get in touch with them at www.summize.com - and mention the How to Thrive podcast.

Your How to Thrive hosts:

Claire Sanders, former Corporate Lawyer, General Council and Co-Founder of .

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 https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

"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 https://www.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 https://www.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 https://www.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 https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

"The consultant said, mentally, it'll be a challenge. I smiled and said, mentally, it absolutely isn't going to be a challenge. You do what you need to do in terms of the treatment. I'll take care of this."

This week on the How to Thrive podcast, Claire and Helen are joined by Neil Edge - mental performance speaker, coach, and ultra endurance athlete.

Neil spent years studying psychology, CBT, NLP and acceptance commitment therapy, not because he planned to become a coach, but because he couldn't work out why he kept getting to the launch point of new businesses and turning back. What he eventually uncovered was imposter syndrome. And in solving it for himself, he found his calling in helping others do the same.

Claire and Helen talk to Neil about the remarkable story of his late-stage cancer diagnosis and how he got quite excited by the challenge it presented, and how every tool he'd spent years teaching others was suddenly on the line.

He also shares his RESET framework, why decision debt is a precursor to burnout, and why professional services teams are leaving enormous performance gains on the table by ignoring what elite sport figured out years ago.

More about Neil:

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/neiledgespeaks

Website: https://www.neiledgespeaks.com

With thanks to our sponsors for this episode:

JHB & Partners: https://jhbandpartners.com/

Many of the in-house lawyers who listen will recognise Josh Blake as an expert in legal resourcing. Last year he established JHB & Partners and continues to support in-house legal teams to build, scale and optimise their legal functions.

With their extensive experience in resourcing and strategic insight, Josh and his team at JHB & Partners provide a real sense of calm and reassurance, which is exactly what you need whether you're hiring or looking for a role. You can find out lots more about Josh and his team at www.jhbandpartners.com. Get in touch and don't forget to mention the podcast when you do.

Summize: https://www.summize.com/

Summize is an AI-powered contract lifecycle management platform, designed to break the cycle of forgotten obligations, scattered intake, and contract chaos.

Meeting teams where they already work, embedding seamlessly into tools like Outlook, Teams, Slack, Salesforce, and HubSpot, Summize makes adoption simple. With self-serve contracting to reduce workload, seamless integrations to create structure, and powerful AI that supports and enhances legal expertise, Summize helps legal teams operate with confidence and clarity, freeing up that all-important capacity so that we humans can focus on the areas where we add unique value.

Get in touch with them at www.summize.com - and mention the How to Thrive podcast.

Your How to Thrive hosts:

Claire Sanders, former Corporate Lawyer, General Council and Co-Founder of .

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 https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the How to Thrive podcast, Claire and Helen are joined by Bonita Norris, mountaineer, keynote speaker, and the youngest British woman to reach the summit of Everest.

She was 22 years old, had never climbed a mountain before university, and the whole thing started with a hungover phone call.

Bonita talks candidly about making a mistake on her descent and carrying it for years, about returning to the Himalayas to climb Lhotse (the world's fourth highest peak) and about the moment she handed her record to the next generation.

Claire, Helen and Bonita discuss the team it takes to get one person to the top of the world, the surprising parallels between mountaineering and corporate life, and the power of a debrief.

Find out more about Bonita: https://www.bonita-norris.com/

With thanks to our sponsors for this episode:

Lewis Silkin: https://www.lewissilkin.com/

Lewis Silkin is a full-service law firm that works closely with organisations to help protect and enhance what matters most. Whether it's navigating an increasingly complex political and economic landscape or aligning legal strategy with broader business goals, their approach is thoughtful, commercial and deeply human.

Serious expertise delivered in a way that's engaging, practical and genuinely enjoyable to work alongside.

Find out more about their work at https://www.lewissilkin.com/

Lawyers on Demand: https://www.lodlaw.com

Many of our listeners will be all too familiar with the increasing pressure to deliver more value, operate efficiently and bring meaningful insight into their organisations, often all at once. That's exactly where Lawyers on Demand comes in.

Working with in-house legal teams around the world, Lawyers on Demand provides access to world-class flexible legal talent and innovative legal operations solutions. They support teams to build legal functions that are not only efficient but truly strategic, responsive and ready for whatever comes next. And just as importantly, they're also creating opportunities for legal professionals to work in more flexible and fulfilling ways.

You can find out more about their amazing work at www.lawyersondemand.com

Springbird IP: https://www.springbirdip.com/

Springbird is 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.

Working on a fixed fee and subscription basis, they ensure clients always know where they stand, no clock watching and no hidden surprises.

They act as an extension of your team, giving businesses the confidence and clarity to focus on creativity and innovation, giving them more time to work on the areas where they can add the greatest value.

You can find out more about their work at http://www.springbirdip.com/

Your How to Thrive hosts:

Claire Sanders, former Corporate Lawyer, General Council and Co-Founder of .

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 https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

"We've all got lots of stuff we should do. Should exercise more, should eat healthier, should do this, should do that. We end up shoulding all over ourselves. Just have a challenge and go - I will learn from this."

We are absolutely delighted to welcome Andy Green to the How to Thrive podcast this week. Andy is a neuro-strategist, leadership and culture specialist, TEDx speaker, and the bridge between the veterinary and legal worlds in more ways than one.

Andy spent 27 years as a clinical vet before stepping back from practice to focus full-time on leadership, coaching and culture - work that had been quietly growing alongside his clinical career for years.

That transition didn't come easily. When he finally told his fellow directors, he was in tears. It struck at the very core of who he thought he was.

In this episode, Claire and Helen talk to Andy about the striking parallels between how vets and lawyers define themselves by their profession, what it really takes to separate your identity from your job title, and why curiosity and vulnerability are more closely linked than most people realise.

More about Andy:

• Find Andy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-green-07425312/
• Watch Andy's TEDx talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZI6d26w9T_w
• Andy is speaking at the How to Thrive event in Manchester — find out more at https://www.being-human.legal/ under Events

With thanks to our sponsors for this episode:

JHB & Partners: https://jhbandpartners.com/

Many of the in-house lawyers who listen will recognise Josh Blake as an expert in legal resourcing. Last year he established JHB & Partners and continues to support in-house legal teams to build, scale and optimise their legal functions.

With their extensive experience in resourcing and strategic insight, Josh and his team at JHB & Partners provide a real sense of calm and reassurance, which is exactly what you need whether you're hiring or looking for a role. You can find out lots more about Josh and his team at www.jhbandpartners.com. Get in touch and don't forget to mention the podcast when you do.

Summize: https://www.summize.com/

Summize is an AI-powered contract lifecycle management platform, designed to break the cycle of forgotten obligations, scattered intake, and contract chaos.

Meeting teams where they already work, embedding seamlessly into tools like Outlook, Teams, Slack, Salesforce, and HubSpot, Summize makes adoption simple. With self-serve contracting to reduce workload, seamless integrations to create structure, and powerful AI that supports and enhances legal expertise, Summize helps legal teams operate with confidence and clarity, freeing up that all-important capacity so that we humans can focus on the areas where we add unique value.

Get in touch with them at www.summize.com - and mention the How to Thrive podcast.

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.

Your How to Thrive hosts:

Claire Sanders, former Corporate Lawyer, General Council and Co-Founder of .

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 https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

"Nothing changes until it does. You can create change. You just have to find the hook - and keep creating ripples until they become waves."

This week on the How to Thrive podcast, Claire and Helen are joined by Karen Sheriff, clinical physiotherapist and Executive Director at Project RED-D - a global initiative tackling one of the most under-recognised syndromes in high performance: Relative Energy Deficiency (RED) in dancers.

Karen's background spans elite rugby, cricket and the performing arts, including eight years at the Royal Ballet School where she grew the healthcare team and built world-class multidisciplinary pathways around athlete health.

It was there that she became a leading voice on RED-S - Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport - and its particular manifestation in dance, ultimately being asked by her seed funders to "change the world" by taking the work global through Project RED-D.

In this episode, Karen explains what RED-S actually is - what happens to the body when it is chronically under-fuelled, why elite athletes and dancers are especially at risk, and the striking parallels with other high-pressure professions, where sleep deprivation and over-working have historically been worn as badges of honour.

More about Karen:

Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-sheriff-b27694b4/

Find out more about Red-D: https://red-d.com/

Books mentioned in the episode:

Belonging by Owen Eastwood: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Belonging-Ancient-Togetherness-Owen-Eastwood/dp/1529415063

With thanks to our sponsors for this episode:

Lewis Silkin: https://www.lewissilkin.com/

Lewis Silkin is a full-service law firm that works closely with organisations to help protect and enhance what matters most. Whether it's navigating an increasingly complex political and economic landscape or aligning legal strategy with broader business goals, their approach is thoughtful, commercial and deeply human.

Serious expertise delivered in a way that's engaging, practical and genuinely enjoyable to work alongside.

Find out more about their work at https://www.lewissilkin.com/

Lawyers on Demand: https://www.lodlaw.com

Many of our listeners will be all too familiar with the increasing pressure to deliver more value, operate efficiently and bring meaningful insight into their organisations, often all at once. That's exactly where Lawyers on Demand comes in.

Working with in-house legal teams around the world, Lawyers on Demand provides access to world-class flexible legal talent and innovative legal operations solutions. They support teams to build legal functions that are not only efficient but truly strategic, responsive and ready for whatever comes next. And just as importantly, they're also creating opportunities for legal professionals to work in more flexible and fulfilling ways.

You can find out more about their amazing work at www.lawyersondemand.com

Springbird IP: https://www.springbirdip.com/

Springbird is 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.

Working on a fixed fee and subscription basis, they ensure clients always know where they stand, no clock watching and no hidden surprises.

They act as an extension of your team, giving businesses the confidence and clarity to focus on creativity and innovation, giving them more time to work on the areas where they can add the greatest value.

You can find out more about their work at http://www.springbirdip.com/

Your How to Thrive hosts:

Claire Sanders, former Corporate Lawyer, General Council and Co-Founder of .

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 https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

"Take the stress out of sleep, and you start to sleep better."

This week on the How to Thrive podcast, Claire and Helen are joined by James Wilson, better known as The Sleep Geek, for a myth-busting, no-nonsense conversation about one of the most fundamental pillars of performance and wellbeing: sleep.

James is a sleep expert, keynote speaker and founder of Sleep Unity, whose clients range from Premier League football clubs, to the NHS, the Department of Transport and household names like Mr Kipling and Red Bull. He's also a self-confessed poor sleeper!

At a time when sleep has become yet another thing to optimise, obsess over and feel guilty about, James is on a mission to take the pressure off. He talks about the difference between sleep strugglers and sleep optimisers, why trying harder is often the worst thing you can do, and why the explosion of wearable trackers and sleep influencers may actually be making us sleep worse.

Find out more about James on his website: https://www.thesleepgeek.co.uk

With thanks to our sponsors for this episode:

JHB & Partners: https://jhbandpartners.com/

Many of the in-house lawyers who listen will recognise Josh Blake as an expert in legal resourcing. Last year he established JHB & Partners and continues to support in-house legal teams to build, scale and optimise their legal functions.

With their extensive experience in resourcing and strategic insight, Josh and his team at JHB & Partners provide a real sense of calm and reassurance, which is exactly what you need whether you're hiring or looking for a role. You can find out lots more about Josh and his team at www.jhbandpartners.com. Get in touch and don't forget to mention the podcast when you do.

Summize: https://www.summize.com/

Summize is an AI-powered contract lifecycle management platform, designed to break the cycle of forgotten obligations, scattered intake, and contract chaos.

Meeting teams where they already work, embedding seamlessly into tools like Outlook, Teams, Slack, Salesforce, and HubSpot, Summize makes adoption simple. With self-serve contracting to reduce workload, seamless integrations to create structure, and powerful AI that supports and enhances legal expertise, Summize helps legal teams operate with confidence and clarity, freeing up that all-important capacity so that we humans can focus on the areas where we add unique value.

Get in touch with them at www.summize.com - and mention the How to Thrive podcast.

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.

Your How to Thrive hosts:

Claire Sanders, former Corporate Lawyer, General Council and Co-Founder of .

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 https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are absolutely delighted to welcome Alexander Bell to the How to Thrive podcast this week (no, not Alexander Graham Bell).

Alexander is a keynote speaker whose expertise sit at the intersection of technology and productivity - specifically, how our relationship with technology impacts our performance, our wellbeing, and the people we care about most.

Having built and sold a Google spin-out agency, he reached a turning point when his then-seven-year-old son Dexter asked for an iPhone for Christmas and turned the tables on him with a question he couldn't answer: "If they're really that bad, why are you and mummy on yours all the time?"

That moment set Alexander on a mission to help professionals and parents build a healthier, more intentional relationship with the technology that dominates their lives.

We cover peak performance, AI note-takers, and Alexander shares his three top tips for thriving.

With thanks to our sponsors for this episode:

Springbird IP: https://www.springbirdip.com/

Springbird is 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.

Working on a fixed fee and subscription basis, they ensure clients always know where they stand, no clock watching and no hidden surprises.

They act as an extension of your team, giving businesses the confidence and clarity to focus on creativity and innovation, giving them more time to work on the areas where they can add the greatest value.

You can find out more about their work at http://www.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.

Your How to Thrive hosts:

Claire Sanders, former Corporate Lawyer, General Council and Co-Founder of .

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 https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our guest this week is wellbeing expert, bestselling author, keynote speaker and “doctor in happiness” - Andy Cope.

Andy really does have a PhD in happiness and after spending just an hour with him, our days already felt brighter.

That ripple effect is a big part of what Andy talks about, how just a few people with positive energy, giving just a few minutes of their time, can make a huge difference at work and at home.

We also discuss mindfulness, the Japanese phrase "ichi-go ichi-e" (for this time only), and noticing the positives.

It was also Andy who introduced us to the concept of the seven-second hug. If you’ve listened to the podcast before, you’ll almost certainly have heard us mention it!

More about Andy:

The Art of Brilliance https://www.artofbrilliance.co.uk/

The Art of Being Brilliant https://www.artofbrilliance.co.uk/product/the-art-of-being-brilliant-book-new-edition/

Spy Dog (children’s book) https://www.amazon.co.uk/Spy-Dog-Andrew-Cope/dp/0141318848

With thanks to our sponsors for this episode:

JHB & Partners: https://jhbandpartners.com/

Many of the in-house lawyers who listen will recognise Josh Blake as an expert in legal resourcing. Last year he established JHB & Partners and continues to support in-house legal teams to build, scale and optimise their legal functions.

With their extensive experience in resourcing and strategic insight, Josh and his team at JHB & Partners provide a real sense of calm and reassurance, which is exactly what you need whether you're hiring or looking for a role. You can find out lots more about Josh and his team at www.jhbandpartners.com. Get in touch and don't forget to mention the podcast when you do.

Summize: https://www.summize.com/

Summize is an AI-powered contract lifecycle management platform, designed to break the cycle of forgotten obligations, scattered intake, and contract chaos.

Meeting teams where they already work, embedding seamlessly into tools like Outlook, Teams, Slack, Salesforce, and HubSpot, Summize makes adoption simple. With self-serve contracting to reduce workload, seamless integrations to create structure, and powerful AI that supports and enhances legal expertise, Summize helps legal teams operate with confidence and clarity, freeing up that all-important capacity so that we humans can focus on the areas where we add unique value.

Get in touch with them at www.summize.com - and mention the How to Thrive podcast.

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.

Your How to Thrive hosts:

Claire Sanders, former Corporate Lawyer, General Council and Co-Founder of .

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 https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

"I hear what you say" - it's the biggest lie in the organisational world, according to this week's guest Kay Scorah, who prefers to be introduced as either "a ranty old witch" or "an inappropriate elder."

Kay is a communications expert, coach, and consultant who has had what she describes as "a very eventful 70 years" - from growing up with a suffragette grandmother, to finding herself in a kayak next to a Nobel Prize-winning scientist in Maine.

She joins Claire and Helen to share some truly fascinating concepts, including "excellent sheep” versus "freaky goats" (it’s all about how our experiences shape the way we think), and her work on learning from disease - where she asks organisations to consider what they can learn from how viruses adapt and survive.

Kay also talks about the importance of reverse mentoring, her "Turning the Tables" conference, and the power of listening and noticing.

Find out more about Kay: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kayscorah/

With thanks to our sponsors for this episode:

Springbird IP: https://www.springbirdip.com/

Springbird is 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.

Working on a fixed fee and subscription basis, they ensure clients always know where they stand, no clock watching and no hidden surprises.

They act as an extension of your team, giving businesses the confidence and clarity to focus on creativity and innovation, giving them more time to work on the areas where they can add the greatest value.

You can find out more about their work at http://www.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.

Your How to Thrive hosts:

Claire Sanders, former Corporate Lawyer, General Council and Co-Founder of .

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 https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to season three of the How to Thrive podcast!

After a break, we’re back - and we’re not wasting any time tackling the question that's probably on everyone's mind in January: how are you really feeling about the new year?

We discuss the pressure we put on ourselves in January, why nature's new year doesn't really start until spring, and how we’re reframing this month as a "warm-up phase" rather than an all-guns-blazing fresh start.

In this episode, we discuss human factors, why wellbeing is a wonderful ‘side-effect’ of having systems that work for people, and why reflection time should be mandatory across all professions.

It’s great to be back!

With thanks to our sponsors for this episode:

JHB & Partners: https://jhbandpartners.com/

Many of the in-house lawyers who listen will recognise Josh Blake as an expert in legal resourcing. Last year he established JHB & Partners and continues to support in-house legal teams to build, scale and optimise their legal functions.

With their extensive experience in resourcing and strategic insight, Josh and his team at JHB & Partners provide a real sense of calm and reassurance, which is exactly what you need whether you're hiring or looking for a role. You can find out lots more about Josh and his team at www.jhbandpartners.com. Get in touch and don't forget to mention the podcast when you do.

Summize: https://www.summize.com/

Summize is an AI-powered contract lifecycle management platform, designed to break the cycle of forgotten obligations, scattered intake, and contract chaos.

Meeting teams where they already work, embedding seamlessly into tools like Outlook, Teams, Slack, Salesforce, and HubSpot, Summize makes adoption simple. With self-serve contracting to reduce workload, seamless integrations to create structure, and powerful AI that supports and enhances legal expertise, Summize helps legal teams operate with confidence and clarity, freeing up that all-important capacity so that we humans can focus on the areas where we add unique value.

Get in touch with them at http://www.summize.com - and mention the How to Thrive podcast.

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.

Your How to Thrive hosts:

Claire Sanders, former Corporate Lawyer, General Council and Co-Founder of .

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 https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Season two of the How to Thrive podcast is drawing to a close, so what better time to look back at some of the most memorable and impactful guests we've had on the podcast.

In this episode, Claire and Helen reflect on some of the interviews they've done since September 2024 - pulling out the key learnings.

Claire also reveals that she has made big progress on something she first mentioned she intended to do a few months back.

The How to Thrive podcast is taking a short break for the summer but will be back with more amazing guests and conversations in September.

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 Kizenkov

Podcast Production: Anthony Zahra

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

In this episode of the How to Thrive podcast, Claire and Helen are joined by somatic and leadership performance coach (and trainee body psychotherapist) Shaun Brooking to explore the deep connection between our bodies, our emotions and our ability to lead well - in life and at work.

Shaun shares his own experience of burnout, how growing up in a “harder, faster, stronger” culture shaped his body’s response to stress, and what it means to build real resilience by creating safety and resource within ourselves.

He talks about how trauma lives in the body, why rest isn't always restful, and how to retrain our nervous systems for strength, connection and capacity - not just performance.

Shaun also explains how simulation and "somatic reps" can help leaders prepare for challenging moments, why slowing down doesn't mean stepping back, and why thriving starts with listening to what your body is really trying to say.

More about Shaun:

Shaun Brooking Coaching

Be Fully Human

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 Kizenkov

Podcast Production: Anthony Zahra

Hosted on Acast. See https://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 Lives

TED Talk - When rudeness in teams turns deadly

Further reading:

Chrstine Porath

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 Kizenkov

Podcast Production: Anthony Zahra

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

What does it really mean to connect in today's world?

In this episode of the How To Thrive podcast, Claire and Helen explore one of the most fundamental human needs - connection - and how it shapes everything from our personal well-being to our professional success.

We talk about the delicate balance between vulnerability and professionalism, why psychological safety isn't just a buzzword but a business necessity, and how to create a "brave space" for ethical leadership.

We discuss overcoming networking anxiety, the art of maintaining professional boundaries while building genuine friendships with colleagues, and both offer our three top tips for fostering meaningful connections that go beyond your immediate team or community.

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 Kizenkov

Podcast Production: Anthony Zahra

Hosted on Acast. See https://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 Kline

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 Kizenkov

Podcast Production: Anthony Zahra

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

What does it mean to be fully human in a corporate environment?

Our guest this week is Dr Albert Viljoen, Co-Founder of Be Fully Human, a human development consultancy that uses neuroscience-backed strategies to help business leaders optimise and sustain their performance.

He talks brilliantly about tuning into your body, why learning how to have difficult conversations is a bit like building a six pack, and the power of being quiet.

Albert also shares his views on the future of humans in the world of AI, and why he has an optimistic view of that relationship, if we lean into our 'humanness'.

Find out more about Albert's work at Be Fully Human: https://befullyhuman.co/

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 Kizenkov

Podcast Production: Anthony Zahra

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