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Masterclass: Reading the room
What if the key to connecting with groups - whether its for facilitation influencing or leading —isn’t about having all the answers. But is actually reading the room?
In this episode of 1AM Talks, Andry McFarlane and Rachael Palmer share their personal journeys—from teaching and youth work to coaching and training—and how their experiences have shaped the way they work, live and lead today.
For facilitators, educators, and L&D professionals, this episode offers:
Connect:
To discuss us supporting your team, staff and managers do reach out for a chat.
UK focused individuals and teams: [email protected].
Global individuals and teams: [email protected]
Follow the podcast on Instagram:
⭐ If this episode resonated with you, share it with a colleague, rate the podcast, and subscribe for more real conversations on learning, leadership, and adaptability.
Podcast recording and production team:
#1AMTalks #FacilitationSkills #ReadingTheRoom #L&D #YouthWork #EmotionalIntelligence #ValuesDrivenWork #SquigglyCareers #CoachingCulture
Masterclass: Reading the room
Mastering the art of leading and facilitation often hinges on learning to read the room. And it’s one of our favourite topics. Meet your hosts and get tips that took them years to figure out!
For facilitators, educators, HR and L&D professionals, the full episode offers:
Connect:
To discuss us supporting your team, staff and managers do reach out for a chat.
UK focused individuals and teams: [email protected].
Global individuals and teams: [email protected]
Follow the podcast on Instagram:
⭐ If this trailer resonated with you, share it with a colleague, rate the podcast, and subscribe for more real conversations on learning, leadership and thriving at work.
#1AMTalks #FacilitationSkills #ReadingTheRoom #L&D #YouthWork #EmotionalIntelligence #ValuesDrivenWork #SquigglyCareers #CoachingCulture
Podcast recording and production team:
Can one coaching session make a difference to leaders?
Together, we discuss:
Reflection Questions for Your Team:
🎧Find more episodes for free on Spotify Podbean and Apple podcasts
Find Out More about your hosts:
Explore The Learning Moment’s L&D and OD services in the UK:
Guest Details:
Rachael Palmer – General Manager, Impact Brixton
⭐ If this episode inspired you, share it with your team, rate the podcast, or subscribe for more real stories about learning, leadership, and growth.
Podcast production by:
#Coworkingleadership #entrepreneurs
#1AMTalks #CoachingThatWorks #LeadershipDevelopment #HR #L&D #WorkplaceCulture #ImpactBrixton #OneSessionWonders
Can one coaching session make a difference to leaders?
In this trailer for our upcoming 1AM Talks episode, Gerald Vanderpuye, CEO of Impact Brixton, shares his leadership mantra: "Your job is to look after the people, not the business. Help them go from 70% to 90% of themselves—that’s what coaching is for."
But this full episode that drops this week, isn’t only about Gerald leading. Rachael Palmer Impact Brixton’s resident General Manager is back too and you’ll discover lots about her journey to leadership. Discover..
🎧Full episode dropping soon. Listen for free on Spotify Podbean and Apple podcasts
#1AMTalks #CoachingThatWorks #LeadershipDevelopment #HR #L&D #WorkplaceCulture #ImpactBrixton #OneSessionWonders #Coworkingleadership #entrepreneurs
Tight L&D budgets, big staff learning ambitions, constant OD pressure? 1AM Talks shares bite-sized, real stories about what actually works in learning and organisational development. Each 20-minute episode takes a 360° look at one real programme — through the eyes of the commissioner, the facilitator and the participant. Launching 5th November.
🎙Your host Andry McFarlane shares a taste of what’s to come in Episode 1, when Andry and co-host Rachael Palmer meet Amanda Cummins and Karen Nelson from South West London and St George’s Mental Health Trust, exploring how wellbeing and communication focused coaching and a workshop, were designed to help staff build confidence, speak up and thrive at work.
#LearningAndDevelopment
#ProgrammeDesign
#HRLeadership
#OrganisationalDevelopment
#PsychologicalSafety
#WorkplaceWellbeing
We’d love to hear from you:
💭 What are your thoughts on designing learning that meets both individual and organisational needs?
⏱ Moments to look out for in the Full Episode
00:00 — Andry introduces 1AM Talks and sets the scene at Impact Brixton, Brixton, London
01:37 — Gerald reflects on why he first sought coaching — and the make-or-break moment that changed everything for his business
02:47 — “Filter the signal, not the noise” — Gerald on how coaching sharpened his decision-making as a leader
09:17 — Andry shares how Impact Brixton inspired her to offer a voluntary coaching programme to the staff team — and what made it unique
12:23 — Gerald on building a non-hierarchical culture and why coaching filled the accountability gap his team needed
17:30 — Rachael and Gerald on why Impact Brixton is more than a workspace — and what it means when members bring their families to show it off
💭 Reflective Questions — For HR & L&D Managers
1.When your organisation invests in coaching, how do you assess whether the coach is the right fit — not just on paper, but in terms of trust and culture alignment?
2.Gerald describes coaching as helping leaders “filter signal from noise” in high-pressure moments. How are you currently supporting your managers to make quality decisions when the stakes are high?
3.The coaching offered to the Impact Brixton team was a single 90-minute session with no follow-up or evaluation. What does this challenge you to think about in terms of how your organisation measures the value of coaching interventions?
💡What does it take to go with courage and make values based decisions when the risks are high?
💡In the Full Episode You’ll Hear:
🎙 Thanks for Listening
Thank you for tuning into this trailer for 1AM Talks. If this has sparked your curiosity, the full episode is available now. Share it with a colleague, leave us a review, or continue the conversation on socials. Every episode is a real learning journey and we’re glad you’re part of it.
Recorded live at Impact Brixton by the production team at Artifact Films:: https://www.artifactfilms.co.uk/
🎧 You’ll hear:
✔️Coaching communities of practice in action—not the formal groups, but the informal spaces where managers and teams use coaching skills to drive change.
💡 Key takeaways for L&D, OD, and education leaders:
🔹 How coaching supported one manager’s journey to enhance students experiences , including enhancing safeguarding services.
🔗 Listen now to explore how coaching can transform leadership, enhance quality, and create inclusive environments where staff and students alike can thrive.
#CoachingInEducation #FurtherEducation #HigherEducation #StudentSuccess #InclusiveLeadership #QualityInEducation #PeerMentoring #L&D #OD #1AMTalks
➡️ In the next episode, we continue the conversation with more practical reflections on coaching, leadership and learning cultures.
To find out more about your hosts, Andry and Rachael:
Our learning and development work in the UK
About us and global work too:
Connect with Andry Anastasis McFarlane and global work on LinkedIn
Follow the podcast on Instagram
🎧Only 20 mins to listen? 💫 Follow , share and listen to 1AM talks episodes for free on Spotify Podbean and Apple podcasts
#Quality
#ManagerAsCoach
#FurtherEducation
#HigherEducation
#inclusion
#Student services
#OFSTED
#LeadershipDevelopment
We’d appreciate your ideas:
How is your organisation widening its use of coaching, peer learning or action learning to support staff and students?
What shifts are you seeing in leadership and development across FE or HE?
💡How does coaching impact on the quality of student services? Can L&D truly change the experience for leaders, teams, and students in Further and Higher Education?
💡What is the End of the ‘hero leader’? How are FE and HE beginning to shift, in small but important ways, towards peer mentoring, peer coaching and action learning and could they move from ‘superhero leaders’ to more co-owned leadership?
🎉 New Episode coming this week
🎙️In the full episode you’ll hear:
✔️Coaching communities of practice in action—not the formal groups, but the informal everyday spaces where managers and teams use coaching skills to drive change.
💡 Key takeaways for L&D, OD, and education leaders:
🔹 How coaching supported one manager’s journey to enhance students experiences , including enhancing safeguarding services.
Guests
Kieren McIntosh — Vice Principal for Curriculum and Quality, Lewisham College
Rebecca Henry Litteck — Head of Learning and OD for SHMS, City St George’s
Hosts
To find out more about your hosts, Andry and Rachael:
To find out more about the team’s workshops, coaching, and consultancy work with UK organisations for your staff:
Connect with Andry Anastasis McFarlane and global work on LinkedIn
🎧Only 2 mins to listen? 💫 Follow , share and listen to 1AM to other 1AM talks trailers for free on Spotify Podbean and Apple podcasts
#Quality
#qualityeducation
#HigherEducation
#inclusion
#FurtherEducation
#Student services
#OFSTED
PeerMentoring
How does Manager as Coach L&D and support staff leading Student Services? And how do you go from MAC to a community of coaches?
🎉New Episode
For HR, OD and L&D practitioners, this 20 minute episode shows:
➡️ In the next episode, we continue exploring the impact and practical insights from the MAC learning and development programme with Kieren and Rebecca.
To find out more about your hosts, Andry, Miranda, and Rachael:
Learning and development work in the UK
Connect with Andry Anastasis McFarlane on LinkedIn
Follow the podcast on Instagram
⭐ If you found this episode useful, consider sharing it with colleagues, rating the podcast and subscribing to help others discover these conversations on learning, leadership and organisational development.
Rebecca Henry-Litteck and Kieren McIntosh
Rebecca Henry-Litteck has nearly 15 years’ experience leading learning, leadership and organisational development initiatives across Higher Education and Further Education. Previously Head of Learning and Organisational Development at St George’s, University of London, she is now Head of Learning and ODI for the School of Health and Medical Sciences at City St George’s.
Kieren McIntosh is Vice Principal at Lewisham College, part of NCG.
Kieren McIntosh is Vice Principal at Lewisham College, part of NCG. He has worked in the Further Education sector for 18 years also previously at New City College before returning to Lewisham College.
His role focuses on ensuring that teaching, learning, and assessment are well supported, that teams have the clarity and tools needed to deliver consistently, and that learners experience a well‑structured and supportive environment.
We’d appreciate your ideas:
How is your organisation using Managers as Coach, peer coaching or coaching communities to support leaders, staff and students?
#qualityeducation
#HigherEducation
#inclusion
#FurtherEducation
#LeadershipDevelopment
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