Leading 4 Life "Stories"

This episode is also available as a video podcast on my YouTube channel here:

https://youtu.be/jtn6mcItmDs

I first talked about credibility as a leadership theme way back in Episode 2 of the podcast when, for obvious reasons, I was seeking to establish my own credibility with you the audience.  At that stage I bundled it together with self awareness and imposter syndrome, but I mentioned at the time that I would return to all these themes later to cover them in more detail.

In this episode I examine the issue of credibility in rather more detail.  I highlight the fact that it is borrowed early but needs to be earned over time, and then move through a series of related themes that hopefully will prompt you to look in the mirror and do a health check on your own standing with regard to professional credibility.  The question I pose near the end is the critical one: "if your title disappeared tomorrow,  what would people still trust you for?"  

I hope you enjoy the episode and, as ever, please let me know what you think?

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What stood out for you in this episode? I would genuinely welcome your thoughts, experiences and suggestions for future programmes. Use the “Send me a Text Message” link above or leave a comment on YouTube.

If you enjoyed the episode, please follow Leading 4 Life “Stories” on your podcast platform so that you receive future episodes automatically. Sharing it with someone who might find it valuable is also one of the best ways to support the show.

SUPPORT LEADING 4 LIFE “STORIES”

If you value the content and would like to help me continue producing the podcast, you can become a Supporter, Champion or Patron by clicking the "Support the show" link above or by going to:
https://www.patreon.com/leading4life/ 

Any contribution is greatly appreciated, but listening, following, sharing and providing feedback are equally valuable.

CONNECT WITH BOB JUDSON

LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/judsonbob/

Website:
https://leading4life.co.uk/

YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@Leading4Life

X:
https://x.com/JudsonBob

This episode is also available as a video podcast on my YouTube channel here:

https://youtu.be/QAauQiXyl0Y

One of the most fascinating (and frequent) things I was privileged to do whilst I was the Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (Operations) was to work in the UK Government's Crisis Centre, colloquially known as COBRA.

COBRA is a place which few will ever have the chance to see, never mind work in so, in this episode, within the bounds of what I can say, I attempt to shed a bit of light on what it is like and how it operates.  

I talk about the physical site itself and how it works, the various levels at which COBRA meetings can function, and I give a few examples of the types of meetings that I was part of during my time.  

Inevitably much of the detail about specific events remains classified and so I can't go there, but I hope this short episode gives you at least a flavour of the place so that the next time you hear it being mentioned on the UK news, you can perhaps visualise the environment a little more clearly. 

I really hope you enjoy the episode; please let me know what you think!

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What stood out for you in this episode? I would genuinely welcome your thoughts, experiences and suggestions for future programmes. Use the “Send me a Text Message” link above or leave a comment on YouTube.

If you enjoyed the episode, please follow Leading 4 Life “Stories” on your podcast platform so that you receive future episodes automatically. Sharing it with someone who might find it valuable is also one of the best ways to support the show.

SUPPORT LEADING 4 LIFE “STORIES”

If you value the content and would like to help me continue producing the podcast, you can become a Supporter, Champion or Patron by clicking the "Support the show" link above or by going to:
https://www.patreon.com/leading4life/ 

Any contribution is greatly appreciated, but listening, following, sharing and providing feedback are equally valuable.

CONNECT WITH BOB JUDSON

LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/judsonbob/

Website:
https://leading4life.co.uk/

YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@Leading4Life

X:
https://x.com/JudsonBob

This episode is also available as a video podcast on my YouTube channel here:

https://youtu.be/fbdkM56Wn6s

Season 4 of Leading 4 Life "Stories" kicks off in style with an interview with Andrew Dyckhoff, the Founder and CEO of Energising Leaders.  

Andrew has a fascinating career and very diverse career history with a range of CEO roles and some momentous achievements behind him.

As the Founder and CEO of Energising Leaders he is now working to share the huge stockpile of knowledge and experience he has built up with other leaders at all levels.  

Given that we have similar objectives in our current roles, Andrew and I have a great conversation not only covering his career story, but also about leadership in the round.  I really hope you enjoy what I thought was a fascinating discussion.  Please let me know what you think!  

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JOIN THE CONVERSATION

What stood out for you in this episode? I would genuinely welcome your thoughts, experiences and suggestions for future programmes. Use the “Send me a Text Message” link above or leave a comment on YouTube.

If you enjoyed the episode, please follow Leading 4 Life “Stories” on your podcast platform so that you receive future episodes automatically. Sharing it with someone who might find it valuable is also one of the best ways to support the show.

SUPPORT LEADING 4 LIFE “STORIES”

If you value the content and would like to help me continue producing the podcast, you can become a Supporter, Champion or Patron by clicking the "Support the show" link above or by going to:
https://www.patreon.com/leading4life/ 

Any contribution is greatly appreciated, but listening, following, sharing and providing feedback are equally valuable.

CONNECT WITH BOB JUDSON

LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/judsonbob/

Website:
https://leading4life.co.uk/

YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@Leading4Life

X:
https://x.com/JudsonBob

This episode is also available as a video podcast on my YouTube channel here:

https://youtu.be/2FxAZyM0hHQ

In this final episode of Season 3, I provide a review of Leading 4 Life "Stories" across the year of 2025.  It is a season that includes 15 personal story episodes, 11 thematic episodes covering a wide range of themes, and 26 amazing guest interviews.  

As I reviewed what we have covered this season, I was really struck by the diversity of the content, and especially of all the fantastic guests that have generously given their time to be on the show; I am immensely grateful to all of them for their candour and terrific input.  

If you are looking for a quick summary of what has been included over the past year, this episode will help to give you that, and although I obviously hope you enjoy it all, I am sure you will find at least something that is of real interest to you.

Looking forward to Season 4 and 2026, there will be plenty more stories, themes and guest interviews for you to enjoy, and I very much hope that you continue to watch or listen to the show.  

Please do subscribe, follow, comment, and provide me some feedback.  The feedback is something that I find extremely useful, and subscribing or following really helps to boost the podcast across the algorithms that manage the various platforms.

I am very grateful for your support across the year, and I look forward to giving you more great content in the year to come! 

Send me a Text Message

Support the show

JOIN THE CONVERSATION

What stood out for you in this episode? I would genuinely welcome your thoughts, experiences and suggestions for future programmes. Use the “Send me a Text Message” link above or leave a comment on YouTube.

If you enjoyed the episode, please follow Leading 4 Life “Stories” on your podcast platform so that you receive future episodes automatically. Sharing it with someone who might find it valuable is also one of the best ways to support the show.

SUPPORT LEADING 4 LIFE “STORIES”

If you value the content and would like to help me continue producing the podcast, you can become a Supporter, Champion or Patron by clicking the "Support the show" link above or by going to:
https://www.patreon.com/leading4life/ 

Any contribution is greatly appreciated, but listening, following, sharing and providing feedback are equally valuable.

CONNECT WITH BOB JUDSON

LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/judsonbob/

Website:
https://leading4life.co.uk/

YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@Leading4Life

X:
https://x.com/JudsonBob

This episode is also available as a video podcast on my YouTube channel here:

https://youtu.be/gu9CR1eAvyc

Emma Henderson is now a highly successful motivational speaker and a published author, but this episode focuses mostly on her back story which is an amazing and very impressive one!

Married to a Royal Air Force pilot soon after university, Emma also had the desire to fly, and a chance posting on exchange to New Zealand offered her the opportunity to realise her dream.  She returned from there with a full commercial pilot's licence and then went on to finalise her qualifications and subsequently joined Easyjet.  Rising to be one of far too few female captains in the airline industry as a whole, the effective shutdown of the airline industry during the Covid19 pandemic then caused a further direction change for this inspiring lady.  

Seeing the plight of the National Health Service staff during the pandemic, Emma had the vision to found Project Wingman, a concept that then saw huge numbers of volunteer airline aircrew from across the industry set up and run "airline style lounges" to give the hard pressed hospital staff some respite.  The idea blossomed and at its peak there were 104 Project Wingman lounges running in the UK and America.  Subsequently Emma's outstanding work was rightly rewarded with the honour of an MBE. 

This was another incredibly enjoyable conversation with a really inspiring and fascinating guest; I really hope you enjoy it.  Please share widely, comment and send feedback if you do!

You can find Emma here:

Website: https://www.emma-henderson.com/

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-henderson-speaker

Instagram: @emmahendersonspeaker

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/emmahendersonspeaker

If you wish to purchase Emma's book, you can do so directly from this link:

https://www.emma-henderson.com/store/p/nv1ngu6mup4daujb7r8i0yc9csrwdw

Send me a Text Message

Support the show

JOIN THE CONVERSATION

What stood out for you in this episode? I would genuinely welcome your thoughts, experiences and suggestions for future programmes. Use the “Send me a Text Message” link above or leave a comment on YouTube.

If you enjoyed the episode, please follow Leading 4 Life “Stories” on your podcast platform so that you receive future episodes automatically. Sharing it with someone who might find it valuable is also one of the best ways to support the show.

SUPPORT LEADING 4 LIFE “STORIES”

If you value the content and would like to help me continue producing the podcast, you can become a Supporter, Champion or Patron by clicking the "Support the show" link above or by going to:
https://www.patreon.com/leading4life/ 

Any contribution is greatly appreciated, but listening, following, sharing and providing feedback are equally valuable.

CONNECT WITH BOB JUDSON

LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/judsonbob/

Website:
https://leading4life.co.uk/

YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@Leading4Life

X:
https://x.com/JudsonBob

This episode is also available as a video podcast on my YouTube channel here:

https://youtu.be/gOpH-qjGW8c

Having a purpose in life is fundamental to your health, well being and personal happiness, and yet, when asked the question "why do you do what you do?", many people struggle to be able to actually articulate their reasons.  In recent weeks a number of people have asked me exactly that question and it led me to reflect on the importance of purpose to each and every one of us.  

Purpose isn’t about job titles, promotions, or ticking the next box. It’s about knowing why you do what you do — especially when things get uncomfortable.  You can be busy, capable, successful and yet still feel unfulfilled and empty.  Living with purpose shows up in small, daily choices: how you respond under pressure; what you prioritise when no one is watching; and whether your actions match your values.

Purpose isn’t something you find once. It’s something you choose — repeatedly. Ask yourself one simple question: Does the way I’m living today reflect who I want to be tomorrow?

As we head towards the end of 2025, just take some time to pause and reflect on this critical issue.  I hope that my thoughts in this episode help you to put some structure to that thought process.  Please let me know what you think!

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JOIN THE CONVERSATION

What stood out for you in this episode? I would genuinely welcome your thoughts, experiences and suggestions for future programmes. Use the “Send me a Text Message” link above or leave a comment on YouTube.

If you enjoyed the episode, please follow Leading 4 Life “Stories” on your podcast platform so that you receive future episodes automatically. Sharing it with someone who might find it valuable is also one of the best ways to support the show.

SUPPORT LEADING 4 LIFE “STORIES”

If you value the content and would like to help me continue producing the podcast, you can become a Supporter, Champion or Patron by clicking the "Support the show" link above or by going to:
https://www.patreon.com/leading4life/ 

Any contribution is greatly appreciated, but listening, following, sharing and providing feedback are equally valuable.

CONNECT WITH BOB JUDSON

LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/judsonbob/

Website:
https://leading4life.co.uk/

YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@Leading4Life

X:
https://x.com/JudsonBob

This episode is also available as a video podcast on my YouTube channel here:

https://youtu.be/TTlGEKnM2kQ

Having just returned from a week long work trip to Saudi Arabia, it felt entirely appropriate to produce a short thematic episode on the importance of cultural understanding to leaders.

Culture is often talked about in business discussions and training events but, in my view, rather too often the discussion is somewhat narrowly defined and focuses on the fairly obvious behavioural aspects of cultural difference.  Essentially the emphasis is often on what not to do to avoid offence etc, rather than taking a broader look at the aspects of leadership that culture affects more widely.

This episode seeks to put out some broader ideas about why it is important to be culturally aware as a leader.  It briefly touches on trust, decision making, communication, motivation, conflict, reputation and operational effectiveness, and I hope the ideas will resonate with you as you watch.

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What stood out for you in this episode? I would genuinely welcome your thoughts, experiences and suggestions for future programmes. Use the “Send me a Text Message” link above or leave a comment on YouTube.

If you enjoyed the episode, please follow Leading 4 Life “Stories” on your podcast platform so that you receive future episodes automatically. Sharing it with someone who might find it valuable is also one of the best ways to support the show.

SUPPORT LEADING 4 LIFE “STORIES”

If you value the content and would like to help me continue producing the podcast, you can become a Supporter, Champion or Patron by clicking the "Support the show" link above or by going to:
https://www.patreon.com/leading4life/ 

Any contribution is greatly appreciated, but listening, following, sharing and providing feedback are equally valuable.

CONNECT WITH BOB JUDSON

LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/judsonbob/

Website:
https://leading4life.co.uk/

YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@Leading4Life

X:
https://x.com/JudsonBob

This episode is also available as a video podcast on my YouTube Channel here:

https://youtu.be/ipkhmzY_oFM

Gary Deakin had a highly successful career in the British Army, rising to the rank of Major General, before embarking on what has now become a diverse and equally successful portfolio career outside the military.  

Along the way, Gary has had a series of ups and downs, including a very challenging time whilst he was the MD of GardaWorld UK.  He talks candidly about all these issues and has a lot of terrific thoughts about leadership that he shares in this episode.

I really hope you enjoy what was a fascinating and fun conversation; it you do, please do all the usual things to highlight the episode more broadly and also send me some feedback.  I really appreciate it when I receive feedback from listeners as it helps a lot to build and develop the podcast so please do let me know what you think.

You can find Gary here:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-deakin/

Website: https://kingfisherconsulting.uk

Send me a Text Message

Support the show

JOIN THE CONVERSATION

What stood out for you in this episode? I would genuinely welcome your thoughts, experiences and suggestions for future programmes. Use the “Send me a Text Message” link above or leave a comment on YouTube.

If you enjoyed the episode, please follow Leading 4 Life “Stories” on your podcast platform so that you receive future episodes automatically. Sharing it with someone who might find it valuable is also one of the best ways to support the show.

SUPPORT LEADING 4 LIFE “STORIES”

If you value the content and would like to help me continue producing the podcast, you can become a Supporter, Champion or Patron by clicking the "Support the show" link above or by going to:
https://www.patreon.com/leading4life/ 

Any contribution is greatly appreciated, but listening, following, sharing and providing feedback are equally valuable.

CONNECT WITH BOB JUDSON

LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/judsonbob/

Website:
https://leading4life.co.uk/

YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@Leading4Life

X:
https://x.com/JudsonBob

This episode is also available as a video podcast on my YouTube Channel here:

https://youtu.be/BLCPo2h6nCU

It was a great privilege to host Martin Shaw for this week's episode of Leading 4 Life "Stories".  Martin has had an incredible 60 year career in acting and, over that time, has featured in numerous, stage productions, television series, documentary programmes, and films.  He is possibly best known for his television roles as Inspector George Gently and Judge John Deed but the list of credits goes way beyond those two and he really is something of a national treasure here in the UK.

I have known Martin personally for more than 25 years but, as he highlights in the episode, we have never previously had the chance for such a wide ranging and in depth conversation so this was particularly special.  Even if you are already a fan and follower of Martin's work, I am certain you will get plenty of new insights into this amazing man's character as you watch or listen to this episode.  Martin doesn't think of himself as a leader but, having reached the top of his profession, and played a number of significant leaders across his career, I can assure you that he has plenty of great thoughts about leadership that emerge during the conversation.

I really hope you enjoy what I think was a particularly fascinating episode.  If you do like it, please subscribe for further episodes, share it widely, and send me some feedback with your thoughts.

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JOIN THE CONVERSATION

What stood out for you in this episode? I would genuinely welcome your thoughts, experiences and suggestions for future programmes. Use the “Send me a Text Message” link above or leave a comment on YouTube.

If you enjoyed the episode, please follow Leading 4 Life “Stories” on your podcast platform so that you receive future episodes automatically. Sharing it with someone who might find it valuable is also one of the best ways to support the show.

SUPPORT LEADING 4 LIFE “STORIES”

If you value the content and would like to help me continue producing the podcast, you can become a Supporter, Champion or Patron by clicking the "Support the show" link above or by going to:
https://www.patreon.com/leading4life/ 

Any contribution is greatly appreciated, but listening, following, sharing and providing feedback are equally valuable.

CONNECT WITH BOB JUDSON

LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/judsonbob/

Website:
https://leading4life.co.uk/

YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@Leading4Life

X:
https://x.com/JudsonBob

This episode is also available as a video podcast on my YouTube Channel here:

https://youtu.be/qfN8fkZujZs

My tour as Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (Operations) was always incredibly busy but was also punctuated by some amazingly memorable events.  

The London 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Games, and working in the Government Emergency Rooms (COBRA) stand out as being particularly significant and I will cover them both separately.

In this episode I focus on two specific things: my first experience of travelling to South America (not just once but twice), and two amazing opportunities to experience the breadth of the Royal Navy's Submarine Service's capability.

Anyone can travel to South America if they have the means and the desire to make the trip, but experiencing what it is like to be underwater in a submarine is something that very few have the opportunity to do!  I hope that I capture a little bit of the magic of both experiences here and that my story gives you some insights that you might not previously have had.  

As ever, please let me have your feedback and don't forget to follow, subscribe and share widely.

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JOIN THE CONVERSATION

What stood out for you in this episode? I would genuinely welcome your thoughts, experiences and suggestions for future programmes. Use the “Send me a Text Message” link above or leave a comment on YouTube.

If you enjoyed the episode, please follow Leading 4 Life “Stories” on your podcast platform so that you receive future episodes automatically. Sharing it with someone who might find it valuable is also one of the best ways to support the show.

SUPPORT LEADING 4 LIFE “STORIES”

If you value the content and would like to help me continue producing the podcast, you can become a Supporter, Champion or Patron by clicking the "Support the show" link above or by going to:
https://www.patreon.com/leading4life/ 

Any contribution is greatly appreciated, but listening, following, sharing and providing feedback are equally valuable.

CONNECT WITH BOB JUDSON

LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/judsonbob/

Website:
https://leading4life.co.uk/

YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@Leading4Life

X:
https://x.com/JudsonBob