Guest: Anne-Sophie Amiot

Host: Sarah Brennand

Original interview used in the creation of the book Balancing Act - Mastering Work, Wealth and Wellbeing

In this extended Balancing Act conversation, Anne-Sophie Amiot reflects on how she navigates life at the intersection of scientific thinking and human connection. Rather than treating science and relationships as opposing worlds, she explains how her curiosity-driven approach shapes both, grounding her in observation, openness, and a willingness to reassess assumptions.

Anne-Sophie speaks about the complexity of human relationships, especially in multicultural environments, and why they resist fixed rules or neat formulas. She highlights how passion and energy grow from genuine interest, not technical ability, and why the drive to discover is central to both her work and her way of relating to others.

This conversation offers a thoughtful lens on balance – balancing analysis with empathy, structure with intuition, and learning with experience. It fits seamlessly within the Balancing Act book’s themes of self-awareness, personal growth, and the ongoing calibration of work, wealth and wellbeing.

Key Topics Covered

• How curiosity shapes both scientific work and human relationships
• Balancing analytical thinking with emotional understanding
• Why human relationships require ongoing reassessment
• The limitations of rules or formulas when dealing with people
• Passion, energy and the difference between proficiency and personal meaning
• Discovery as a motivating force in work and relationships
• Navigating cultural awareness in multicultural settings
• How continuous learning supports connection and clarity
• Personal reflections on growth, reassessment and staying open
• Integrating logic, intuition and curiosity in everyday life

Visit www.balancing-act.co.uk for more episodes, insights, to buy the book and to access the Balancing Act Resource Hub

Guest: Adam Burgess OLY

Host: Sarah Brennand

Original interview used in the creation of the book Balancing Act - Mastering Work, Wealth and Wellbeing (author - Sarah Brennand).

In this Balancing Act conversation, Olympic silver medallist Adam Burgess reflects on a career defined by both breakthrough success and the relentless reality of elite performance. Fresh from becoming the first British man since 2008 to reach the Olympic podium in the C1 event, securing a historic silver medal at the Paris 2024 Games, Adam speaks openly about the emotional contrasts of the season: the exhilaration of team success, the sting of a single costly mistake in his individual race, and the psychological pressure of constantly performing under intense scrutiny.

Adam shares how injuries, expectations, and the business side of elite sport shaped his mindset, leading him toward a second passion: breathwork, recovery science, and physiological balance. After a career-threatening shoulder injury, breathwork became central to his rehabilitation and later formed the foundation of the Inspired Breath Academy, where he now coaches athletes, leaders and wellbeing professionals.

What emerges is a conversation about more than medals, it’s about identity, emotional regulation, resilience, and the move from competing to coaching. Adam’s reflections offer a rare look at the realities behind high performance and how he now channels his competitive experience into educating others on breathing, balance and sustainable success.

Key Topics Covered

• Achieving a historic Olympic silver medal in the C1 event
• The emotional contrast between team success and personal disappointment
• How one mistake can define an elite performance, and how to recover mentally
• The psychological load of Olympic cycles and high-stakes competition
• Overcoming a career-threatening shoulder injury
• Breathwork as a tool for performance, regulation and long-term resilience
• The creation and mission of the Inspired Breath Academy
• Training independently and building self-leadership in elite sport
• Understanding the business, pressure and uncertainty behind the athlete lifestyle
• Shifting identity from athlete to educator and coach
• Recovery, emotional regulation and high-performance habits
• Building a life that “performs under pressure” across sport, work and wellbeing

Visit www.balancing-act.co.uk for further episodes, insights, to buy the book and to access the resource hub.

Guest: Alison Oliver MBE

Host: Sarah Brennand

Original interview used in the creation of the book Balancing Act - Mastering Work, Wealth and Wellbeing (author - Sarah Brennand)

In this Balancing Act conversation, Alison Oliver speaks candidly about the realities of growth, motivation and responsibility, and how leaders can stretch people in ways that inspire rather than overwhelm. Drawing on her experience supporting individuals through transition, pressure and change, Alison reflects on the fine line between pushing someone to thrive and placing so much on their shoulders that the weight becomes counterproductive.

She explores why failure, when framed well, becomes a catalyst for development, and why empowerment isn’t about giving people more to carry but helping them understand their capacity, confidence and direction. The discussion aligns closely with the themes in Balancing Act, touching on wellbeing, mission, personal accountability and the emotional intelligence needed to support others without creating burnout.

Alison offers a grounded, compassionate view of growth, one that recognises challenge as necessary, failure as informative, and responsibility as something to nurture rather than impose.

Key Topics Covered

• Balancing motivation with realistic responsibility
• How challenge helps people grow without tipping into overwhelm
• Why failure is not an endpoint but an essential teacher
• Empowerment through support, clarity and self-awareness
• The emotional intelligence behind stretching others safely
• Understanding capacity and resilience in personal and professional transitions
• How leaders can create conditions for sustainable growth
• The relationship between wellbeing, pressure and performance
• Navigating career and personal shifts with honesty and reflection
• What it means to take responsibility without carrying unnecessary weight

Visit www.balancing-act.co.uk for more episodes, insight, to access the Resource Hub and to buy the book.

Guest: Floyd Woodrow MBE DCM

Host: Sarah Brennand

Original interview used in the creation of the book Balancing Act - Mastering Work, Wealth and Wellbeing (author - Sarah Brennand)

In this wide-ranging and energising conversation, recorded as a conversation to inform content you’ll find in the book ‘Balancing Act: Mastering Work, Wealth and Wellbeing’, Floyd Woodrow shares the principles that have guided his journey from military service to international leadership development.

The discussion explores what success really means, why understanding yourself is foundational, and how resilience is built through daily practice, emotional intelligence and alignment between who you are and what you pursue. Floyd reflects on passion, purpose and the Compass for Life model, while also exploring how AI is reshaping human performance and personal development.

The episode highlights the importance of intuition, the role of a strong support network, and the habits that sustain momentum. It is a conversation about growth, adaptability and designing a life that feels meaningful, balanced and high-performing.

Key Topics Covered:

• Redefining success as an ongoing journey
• The transition from military service to business leadership
• Purpose, passion and the Compass for Life framework
• Self-understanding as the gateway to sustainable growth
• Building resilience through practice, structure and self-awareness
• Emotional intelligence and authenticity in leadership
• The importance of support networks for performance and wellbeing
• Mental-Physical alignment and daily habits that enhance performance
• Navigating career pivots and adapting with confidence
• Rest, recovery and resilience
• AI as a tool for human development and enhanced self-awareness
• Social resilience, connection and energy management

Visit: www.balancing-act.co.uk for more episodes and to access the Balancing Act Resource Hub.