Leading 4 Life "Stories"

Way back in September 2023 (Episode 8), I published a thematic episode on personal resilience and self-care.  

The world feels very different since that episode was published and so I thought it was time that I put out some more thoughts on resilience, but this time I thought it more appropriate to focus on national and societal resilience, especially given the increasingly challenging geopolitical situation the world is currently facing.

I always try to stay clear of political positions in my podcasts and this is no exception; however, I passionately believe that a much more robust debate on national security and national resilience is long overdue.  Having cut my early career teeth in the last years of the Cold War, I am only too aware of the impact of the resultant "peace dividend" that affected many countries, particularly across Western Europe following the collapse of the Soviet Union.

In this episode I also highlight another podcast that has recently been published by Sky News.  Entitled "The War Game", it is outstanding and I highly recommend that you listen to it.  Not only does it have startling relevance to recent events across the globe, it also features role play in the "game" by a wide range of senior UK political, civilian and military figures who have themselves had very prominent roles within the UK Government or wider national security structure.  It is not comfortable to listen to, but it is certainly important to listen to!  

Our political leaders continue to "talk the talk" about national security but, understandably, they are also driven by the perceived priorities of their electorates and those same electorates (especially in the UK) are certainly not yet feeling any form of existential threat to their own borders and shores.  I believe we need to change that narrative and that will require collective work from across the population.  If you believe in the same priorities, I hope you will add your own voice to this critical issue.

I hope you enjoy the episode; please do let me know what you think.

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

With my epic tour in command of Kandahar Airfield behind me, my next posting took me back to the Ministry of Defence in London to be the Head of Targeting and Information Operations.  

In many respects this was an amazing job and a great tour, albeit that much of it cannot be discussed on this podcast because the majority of the actual work was highly classified.  However, it wasn't the work environment that defined this chapter of my life.  It was the personal challenges that dominated and the handling of which I still reflect on to this day! 

In this episode I try to shed some light on those challenges and offer some advice and thoughts about how you might respond in similar circumstances.  This is definitely one occasion when that advice is mostly focused on "don't do what I did" and I very much hope you find it useful. 

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

We live in exceptionally turbulent and risky geopolitical times and, in a slight break from my normal guest episodes, this week I am delighted to feature Francis Tusa.  Francis is a long standing friend and we have also crossed paths professionally many times during my time in uniform.  

Francis has spent all his career as a defence analyst and is a very frequent contributor to both broadcast and print media on defence issues.  He is also the founder and ongoing editor of Defence Analysis, a very widely read defence publication that has been running for almost 27 years.

Given his CV, there are few better with whom to discuss the defence aspects of the current geopolitical position and, although we do a light touch on Francis' leadership and personal experiences, the majority of this episode is dedicated to a broader conversation about exactly that.  

The combination of my own near 35 year military career and Francis' similar time in defence analysis certainly gave us plenty to talk about, and I hope you find the discussion interesting, although I must warn you that it might not make you more relaxed about the risks we currently face both globally and in the 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

I recorded this on 31 May 2025, a day which also marks the 10th anniversary of my final day in the Royal Air Force.  Leaving after nearly 35 years was a huge moment in my life and so I took the opportunity to reflect back, not only on my departure from the RAF but also on some other major inflection points in my life.  

All too often I have not handled these significant life moments as well as I would like to have done, and so the prime focus of this episode is to pass on my own experience, together with some thoughts about how you might prepare better than I did, and hence avoid mismanaging your own major inflection points.

I really hope you enjoy the thoughts - please do let me know what you think.

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

Career transition is something that happens to almost everyone, sometimes multiple times through their working life.  In my case, I faced a major transition out of the RAF after almost 35 years, and into Deloitte where I encountered a world full of brand new and very demanding challenges.

In this episode I offer a range of tips and advice drawn heavily from my own experience.  I have had many conversations with people over the past 10 years as they make their own career transitions, and I am in absolutely no doubt that preparing yourself well is key to making the change work quickly and effectively, so that you really do set yourself up for success in the best possible way.

I hope there is something in here for you, regardless of what type of organisation or industry you are in, and if this whets your appetite for more information and help, please do not hesitate to get in touch with me directly.

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

In this final part of my Afghanistan stories, I highlight a range of the key leadership takeaways that really resonated with me at the conclusion of this hugely challenging tour.  Although I was only there for 9 months, I packed in so much and had so many diverse experiences, it felt considerably longer in the context of my overall RAF career.

The scale and scope of the role was like no other leadership challenge that I  faced before or since that time.  It was a tour of massive highs but also huge lows and I have tried to bring those to life over the previous parts in this series.  Although the experience was an obviously military one, and some of the individual features and events are unlikely (hopefully!!) to ever be replicated in the civilian world, many of the leadership lessons translate directly, and are just as relevant to anyone in any senior leadership position.  

I really hope you enjoy the episode and please don't hesitate to give me feedback as to what you think!

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

My guest this week is Amy Lane, the Artistic Director of Copenhagen Opera Festival and a Freelance Opera & Musical Theatre Director.  Amy and I met by pure chance whilst sat next to each other on a flight from Copenhagen to London.  We had a fantastic conversation and I knew immediately that she would be a perfect guest for the podcast.

We talk extensively about opera and the great work that Amy is doing to make the art form more accessible to the general public, but of course we also cover her own leadership journey and the many things she has learned along the way.  It was a really great discussion and I very much hope you enjoy it too!

You can find Amy here:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-lane-7a023b23/

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amy.lane.562

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

Without a shadow of a doubt, losing people that work for you, and who die in the pursuit of the work you preside over, is the toughest thing for any leader to deal with.  Whilst many commanders on operations have had a great many more casualties to deal with than me, the memory of the loss of the two airmen from 3 Squadron, Royal Air Force Regiment during my time in Afghanistan will stay with me for ever.

This is an episode that I had to cover because it is such a key memory for me but I won't try to suggest that it is an easy listen or an upbeat story.  13 April 2008 was the longest and the hardest day in my RAF career and is one that I will certainly never forget.  In this episode I do my best to tell the story of how we dealt with the loss of SAC Graham Livingstone and SAC Gary Thompson both in the immediate aftermath and over the ensuing days.  

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

Having been mentored myself, and having mentored a great many others over the years both formally and informally, I have always been conscious of the value of mentoring.  When I received some executive coaching and subsequently added coaching qualifications to my own repertoire a few years ago, I became equally conscious that the two disciplines are often muddled and confused by many.

In this thematic episode, I aim to provide some guidance both to those looking for coaching and mentoring and to those who provide it.  The thoughts are my own but heavily drawn from a plethora of conversations I have had with others over many years now.  

I believe it extremely important to be aware of the difference between coaching and mentoring and, although blurring of the two can be done intentionally, there are too many that provide mentoring, but think that they are providing coaching.  Both have their place and are highly beneficial to the recipients but, as with all things, clarity about what you expect from the process is very important.  I hope that my thoughts will help in that respect.

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 best viewed on video (link below).  It was filmed in an outside environment using an Apple iPhone 16 Pro and Apple AirPods Pro.  As a result the audio quality is a rather variable as the camera shots change.  Apologies for this; I'm sure this limitation is due to my amateurish skills rather than the equipment's capabilities!

I haven't done a video episode of the podcast for quite a while and so I thought this would be a good opportunity to do another one, not least because I was at Deloitte University this past week and had a chance to reflect a lot on what I have done over my career.  The video aspect of this episode also affords me the opportunity to show off the stunning Deloitte University campus and so I strongly recommend you watch this one on video if you can.  You will find the video version on my YouTube channel here:

https://youtu.be/Eq6_qeeamQE

It is only a very short episode but I hope it also gives you the incentive to be a bit reflective on your own life for a while - I bet you will be surprised at yourself if you really stop to consider all that you have achieved, regardless of how old you are right now.  I hope you enjoy the video version of this episode and, as ever, I would be delighted to hear your feedback if you have the time.

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