Knowing You with Sarah Cripps

As an actor, Dick Bradnum worked for 30 years across TV, film and radio, appearing in The Office, High Hopes and My Hero. Under his own name Dick Johns, he has written and performed three successful solo shows at Chapter, Cardiff: Dick Johns - What Midlife Crisis? (2016), Let's Talk About Death, Baby (2018) and in 2022 a documentary record of The Great Pandemic Sofa Show. Alongside this Dick works in the corporate sector having written, designed and facilitated leadership programmes for clients including Network Rail, Sony Games, Astra Zeneca, the NHS, LinkedIn, Marks and Spencer and hundreds more.

His work contributions have led to many awards being won for his diverse clients and his focus is helping people to have better conversations. He talks optimistically about the next generation and how engaged they are in being inclusive in their conversations, especially around neuro-divergency, and how much more empathy they have.

Dick is definitely more aware of the world around him since the pandemic era and wishes we all had more time for play in the workplace.

He selects his 3 words for a balanced life and explains why he choose them – Sunshine, Poetry and Glamour - and he reveals how a gold tie is sometimes his secret weapon!

Sarah:

Instagram: cripps.sarah and bigbalancetheory

Twitter: @sarahcripps7 and @theory_balance LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahcrippsand https://www.linkedin.com/company/big-balance-theory/

Linktr.ee/bigbalancetheory [email protected]

Guest: Dick Johns (2) dick johns | LinkedIn

website Dickjohns.co.uk

Producer, Karen Pirie

Twitter: @karenepirie

In this episode my conversation is with Nicky Applegarth, MD of award winning digital marketing agency, Ayima. This agency serves many of the world's biggest brands with a global team of just over 100. Nicky started her digital career back in 1999 in a small website design and build agency at a time when mobile phones were simply used to make phone calls and send text messages. In 2013 she took a five-month career and life break exploring South America on her own. The experience gave her a new sense of balance but it was shortlived and she was soon on 'that treadmill'. Lockdown forced her to revisit balance and she shares how.

Nicky gives us her three words for happiness, success and balance:

NO

FIT and

KINDNESS

and our conversation explores the challenges of recruiting a younger generation and how expectations have changed for this generation

Recommended read: Every Dog, A book of over 450 breeds – Nancy Hajeski

Recommended film: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

Recommended podcast: Drinking from the Toilet – Hannah Branigan

Sarah:

Instagram: cripps.sarah and bigbalancetheory

Twitter: @sarahcripps7 and @theory_balance

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahcrippsand https://www.linkedin.com/company/big-balance-theory/

Linktr.ee/bigbalancetheory

[email protected]

Guest: Nicky Applegarth

(14) Nicky Applegarth | LinkedIn

Nicky Applegarth (@nickyapplegarth) • Instagram photos and videos

Producer, Karen Pirie

Twitter: @karenepirie

Hear Julie's honest and heart-searching experience of what it was like being a Principal of a secondary school during lockdown and how, post-pandemic, more specialist staff have been appointed to support students' social and emotional needs. Past guests have shared at least one benefit from lockdown but for Julie it was the worst period of her career in education with no work-life balance. We talk about the impact to the young and why growing the workforce with apprenticeships is key and we learn the support mechanisms in place to make the apprenticeships' journey and workplace integration successful.

Sarah:

Instagram: cripps.sarah and bigbalancetheory

Twitter: @sarahcripps7 and @theory_balance LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahcrippsand https://www.linkedin.com/company/big-balance-theory/

Linktr.ee/bigbalancetheory [email protected]

Guest: Julie Robinson Linkedin (1) Julie Robinson | LinkedIn

Producer: Karen Pirie

Twitter: @karenepirie

Self-affirmed 'Queen of Business' Libby shares her entrepreneurial journey from building a sizeable business in 2009 to now being a no-BS (her words) Business Coach helping other entrepreneurs to be happy and successful in their work. Nothing stands in Libby's way, not even ADHD or Autism. Her interview is inspiring, energetic and down-to-earth and you will definitely get something from this interview on how to get balance in your business

(Recommended reads at the end of the interview)

Sarah:

Instagram: cripps.sarah and bigbalancetheory

Twitter: @sarahcripps7 and @theory_balance

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahcrippsand https://www.linkedin.com/company/big-balance-theory/

Linktr.ee/bigbalancetheory

[email protected]

Guest: Libby Langley

Linkedin(5) Libby Langley | LinkedIn

Instagram LIBBY - Business Coach & Strategist (@libbylangley) • Instagram photos and videos

Facebook (6) Facebook

Podcast – Life in Business

Producer:

Twitter: @karenepirie

Instagram: karen.pirie

Recommended reads

Pursuit of Happiness – Ruth Whippman

Delivering Happiness – Tony Hseih

Life in Business – Libby Langley

This is our last episode of 2023 snd it's full of all things work-life balance. In this two-year anniversary pod, producer Karen Pirie and I go over the highlights of the 20 plus guests we have been lucky enough to interview since we launched in November 2021. We reflect on how the world of work has changed, how businesses have innovated and adapted and we have a lengthy discussion on how these changes have impacted the younger generation entering the workplace. There's also some top tips on how to continue good habits and we share the most popular recommended book and podcast so far.

Rupert talks about the challenges of remote coaching, working in isolation with his business partner and wife and how he coached businesses through lockdown. Remote working isn't new for Rupert but what he's witnessing is greater honesty among remote workers and leaders.

Recommended read, listen and legacy and best ever boss at the end of the interview

Sarah:

Instagram: cripps.sarah and bigbalancetheory

Twitter: @sarahcripps7 and @theory_balance

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahcrippsand https://www.linkedin.com/company/big-balance-theory/

Linktr.ee/bigbalancetheory

[email protected]

Guest: Rupert Turton

Linkedin (5) Rupert Turton | LinkedIn

Producer, Karen Pirie

Twitter: @karenepirie

Recommended reads:

Book - SUMO – Shut up and Move On – Paul McGee

Recommended podcasts:

Stephen Bartlett – Diary of a CEO

Bus X – James Vincent

High Performance Podcast – Jake Humphreys and Damian Hughes

Veronica tells the moving story of how hitting rock bottom, emotionally and physically, led to life-changing choices for her and how she's made a business out of helping others improve personal and business relationship.

Recommended read, listen and best ever boss at the end of the interview

Sarah:

Instagram: cripps.sarah and bigbalancetheory

Twitter: @sarahcripps7 and @theory_balance

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahcrippsand https://www.linkedin.com/company/big-balance-theory/

Linktr.ee/bigbalancetheory

[email protected]

Guest: Veronica Weedon

Instagram Veronica Weedon | Health Coach & Hypnotherapist | Writer (@revivalhealthllc) • Instagram photos and videos

Linkedin (10) Veronica Weedon | LinkedIn

Producer, Karen Pirie

Twitter: @karenepirie

Instagram: karen.pirie

Recommended reads – any on the topic of human design

Recommended podcast: Women of Impact Lisa Bilyeu (Co-founder of the billion dollar company Quest Nutrition).

Darius gives us a real insight into why and how recruiting staff has changed. Though lockdown was a contributory factor, Brexit, a shortage of younger talent and the surge in early retirees have all contributed to a growth in vacancies and a skills shortage. Hear how businesses are having to adapt their offering and learn what candidates are looking for in their next career move. Darius shares lessons learned during the lockdown reset and explains how the business and his health are now stronger and more balanced.

Recommended read, listen and his best boss are at the end of the interview

Sarah:

Instagram: cripps.sarah and bigbalancetheory

Twitter: @sarahcripps7 and @theory_balance

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahcrippsand https://www.linkedin.com/company/big-balance-theory/

Linktr.ee/bigbalancetheory

[email protected]

Guest: Darius Matusiak

Instagram Macildowie Recruitment (@macildowieworld) • Instagram photos and videos

Linkedin (2) Darius Matusiak | LinkedIn

(2) Macildowie Recruitment and Retention: Overview | LinkedIn

Facebook (1) Facebook

Producer, Karen Pirie

Twitter: @karenepirie

Instagram: karen.pirie

Recommended reads:

Book: Viktor E Frankl – Man's Search for Meaning

Recommended podcasts:

The High Performance Podcast – Jake Humphrey and Professor Damian Hughes

Laura shares the impact of lockdown to her business and her family, particularly for her son who is autistic and her daughter who has dyslexia. Hear how she learned she is more independent than she realised and how communications were critical to getting through lockdown.

Sarah:

Instagram: cripps.sarah and bigbalancetheory

Twitter: @sarahcripps7 and @theory_balance

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahcrippsand https://www.linkedin.com/company/big-balance-theory/

Linktr.ee/bigbalancetheory

[email protected]

Guest: Laura Mayfield

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/marketing_outsidein/

Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurajmayfield/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/marketingOUTSIDEin

Twitter https://twitter.com/MarketOUTSIDEin

Producer: Karen Pirie

Twitter: @karenepirie

Instagram: karen.pirie

James at BeHeard

Be Heard | Podcast Production

Recommended read:

Book - Ignore The Fear by Fiona Quinn

Recommended podcast:

Lex Fridman

Pod - My Therapist Ghosted Me

In this episode we interview Ryan Sneddon. Covid gave him the courage to set up his own business and he has so many lessons and memories to share, from the joy of getting your first paycheck, to moving operations from the kitchen table, to picking and packing facilities. In just 18 months the company has turned over half a million pounds and he's on track to reach a million by 2024.

If you're passionate about your business you'll find a way. Don't listen to the doubters.

His recommended read, listen and legacy are at the end of the interview

Karen:

Twitter: @karenepirie

Instagram: karen.pirie

Sarah:

Instagram: cripps.sarah and bigbalancetheory

Twitter: @sarahcripps7 and @theory_balance

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahcrippsand https://www.linkedin.com/company/big-balance-theory/

Linktr.ee/bigbalancetheory

[email protected]

James at BeHeard

Be Heard | Podcast Production

Email – [email protected]

Recommended read: Neale Daniher (coach and a player MND) When All is Said & Done – letters to his grandchildren and life lessons.