Perfectly Flawed Podcast

What does it take to break free from your past and create a life of purpose, peace, and impact?

In this inspiring episode of Perfectly Flawed, I’m joined by Gethin Jones—a man whose journey from childhood in care, addiction, and repeated prison sentences to becoming a leader, speaker, and changemaker will leave you in awe. Today, he is the Founder and CEO of Unlocking Potential, a transformative organisation that brings lived experience to the heart of leadership, consultancy, and training.

Gethin is one of the most inspiring, wise, and fun-loving people I know—a jovial, Buddha-like presence who radiates warmth and authenticity. With his trademark Think It, Say It, Do It framework, he now works with individuals, teams, and organisations worldwide, showing them how to build resilience, challenge broken systems, and unlock their true potential.

In this conversation, we explore:
💡 How Gethin turned struggle, addiction, and prison into fuel for transformation.
💡 Why authenticity and acceptance are at the heart of empowerment.
💡 The power of lived experience in creating change that lasts.
💡 How we can all step into our full potential—no matter where we’ve come from.

🎧 Tune in to hear Gethin’s powerful story of redemption and wisdom. His life is living proof that no matter how flawed our past, we can all create extraordinary futures.

Gethin Jones is the Founder and CEO of Unlocking Potential, a transformative organisation dedicated to inspiring change. His journey, from childhood in care to prison and overcoming addiction, fuels his mission to empower individuals and organisations. 

Unlocking Potential’s Associate Model brings together experts with lived experience to deliver bespoke consultancy, leadership development, and training for public and corporate sectors. 

An international speaker and PSA member, Gethin’s Think It, Say It, Do It framework inspires audiences worldwide. His work challenges systems, builds resilient leaders, and drives meaningful transformation, helping people unlock their full potential.

What if the real key to success isn’t chasing perfection—but learning to tell the truth about who you are, flaws and all?

In this episode of *Perfectly Flawed*, I’m joined by **Beth Sherman**—comedian, keynote speaker, and seven-time Emmy Award-winning writer for some of television’s biggest shows, including *The Late Show with David Letterman*, *The Tonight Show with Jay Leno*, *Ellen*, and even the Academy Awards. She’s also performed stand-up across the US and for troops in Iraq, proving her belief that *“truth is funny.”*

Now, through her consultancy **Laughter Connects**, Beth helps people show up authentically, engage with impact, and use humour as a bridge to connection.

Together, we explore:

💡 Why honesty, not perfection, makes us relatable and successful.

💡 How humour helps us navigate struggle and build resilience.

💡 What it means to show up—messy, real, and unapologetically you.

🎧 Tune in for laughter, insight, and a reminder that your truth is not only enough…it’s the funniest thing you’ve got.

Beth Sherman is a comedian, and seven-time Emmy Award-winning Hollywood comedy writer who's written for the biggest shows in American television, including Late Show with David Letterman, The Tonight Show With Jay Leno, Ellen, and the Academy Awards. As a comedian, she’s performed at comedy clubs across the United States, as well as combat outposts and forward operating bases in Iraq. She is the winner of seven (7) Emmy awards, and was nominated for a 2023 Writers Guild Award for the Netflix comedy special, Stand Out: An LGBTQ+ Celebration. She also works as a presentation coach and keynote speaker on connection and engagement through her consultancy, Laughter Connects.

Shelley suggests we think not fist about why but of who we really are. She talks about

changing gender 40 years ago. What it was like then and what it is like now.

What struck me was the sheer bravery of finally recognising who you truly are and then

getting out into the world and living and being it. A real call to action for us all to recognise

our own dreams and ambitions and then take courageous action to be who we truly are and

bring those dreams to fruition.

Bio:

Shelley is a Speaker, Psychotherapist, Hypnotherapist, Trainer, & Author. She has become a

media commentator specialising in psychotherapy & psychology, with appearances on BBC

Television, Sky and Channels 4 and 5 as well Radio 4’s “Woman’ Hour” “Midweek” and the

“Jeremy Vine Show”. She has also featured in “Psychologies,” and “Therapy Today”

magazines.

As a Speaker, Shelley’s topics are Transformational Change, Diversity & Thought

leadership. Although speaking has taken over from performing comedy on the Stand-up

comedy circuit where she performed five one-woman shows at the Edinburgh Festival and

completed a seven-night run Off-Broadway in New York

Links:

https://shelleybridgman.com

linkedin.com/in/purposeandlegacycoach

https://www.facebook.com/shelley.bridgman2

TEDX Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7BdX_CmH7U

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Steve had a terrible car accident that crushed his legs, but he learnt, not just to walk again,

but become a World Champion Para-triathlete.

We talk about how life doesn’t always, if ever, go to plan. We all need to course correct. So

rather than expecting perfection, if we accept the flaws as we go, we can use them to adapt

the plan along the way. Here we talk about how only 4% of the original moon landing voyage

actually went to plan ‘but they knew the astronauts, and everyone was good enough to

adapt along the way’.

We talk about perfectionism and 85% rule. Also, about the link between Steve’s recent

physical septicaemia and his mental and emotional situation at the time. Once he had

figured out that link, he was able to remedy it straight away.

Bio:

Steve’s extraordinary journey of resilience and triumph took him from wheelchair to world

champion and now beyond in business as a professional speaker. Whether addressing a

room full of executives or conducting workshops for diverse groups, Steve brings his energy

and unwavering dedication to empowering individuals to achieve their full potential and their

‘GOLD’ - their Goal, Opportunity, Love and Dream. 

Steve is the author of two books. His autobiography ‘Don’t lean on your excuses’ and

‘GOLD’ which empowers the reader to unlock the power of their potential and achieve their

goals. 

A TEDx speaker, winner of Global Business Awards, Motivational Speaker of the Year and

Regional Speaker of The Year numerous times by his professional association the PSA.

Links:

www.steve-judge.co.uk

Mob: 07939 220784

https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-judge-908293b1/

https://www.facebook.com/Steven-Judge-317765745069694/

https://twitter.com/SteveJudge

https://www.youtube.com/user/JudgeInnovations/videos

Video: https://youtu.be/M2VX9s2QohM

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When Julie took a jeer from a workman, when out training for the London Marathon, she

embraced it and turned it into a global enterprise called “Too Fat to Run”. A huge advocate

of taking “Imperfect Action” Julie has founded both this and multiple other businesses, she’s

run 6 marathons, published 15 books and helped thousands of people take their own

imperfect action and just get on and bring their ideas into reality. She may run the long

events but she her way is to take shortest possible distance between turning an idea into an

action even if its imperfect.

Bio:

Julie Creffield is an expert on innovation, creativity and social mobility. An award-winning

comedienne, 14 times author, 6 times marathon runner, and proud solo parent to her STEM

obsessed 12-year-old. Her career spans 30 years and has included work with Oxford

Innovation, London 2012, the UK Government and industry giants like Google and Disney.

Her life has not been without struggle though, with undiagnosed ADHD, 5 redundancies,

being hospitalised with COVID, and near bankruptcy, she knows a thing or two about having

to bounce forward.

Links:

www.juliecreffield.com

www.juliecreffieldspeaks.com

www.linkedin.com/in/juliecreffield

https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Julie-Creffield/author/B00GRWL4G4

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In this episode we talk about how a terrible accident at school sports day with a javelin led to the death of her friend. Receiving no counselling or support, Lis blamed herself and thought she was a monster. She had to learn to forgive herself and find a true compassion for the human condition.  

Bio:

Where leadership, performance, and wellbeing meet, Lis Cashin is passionate about creating workplaces where people feel seen, heard, valued, and that they belong. An award-winning keynote and TEDx speaker, author and consultant, she helps individuals, leaders, and teams thrive. Currently pursuing an MSc in Applied Positive Psychology, Organisations, and Leadership, Lis brings cutting-edge insights and a strengths-based, systemic approach to developing inclusive, high-performing environments where people and organisations can thrive.

Links:

https://www.liscashin.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lis-cashin/

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Paul is a mindfulness coach and founder of Dharmalicious - a community to practice self-

awareness . He has a wisdom and sacredness for life that makes for an enjoyable

conversation – particularly when we explore how he has learnt to manage his on perfect

flaws in the shape of anxiety. A natural fight or flight response which we so oftent prefer to

fight or flee from. He, instead, has learned to turn towards it not away from it - greeting

anxiety with a welcoming; “Hello Old Friend” and discovering what it has to offer him.

Bio:

Paul Dalton is a mindfulness teacher and Conscious Leadership Coach. He specialises in

blending ancient wisdom principles with modern leadership practices to help create cultures

in which people and teams thrive. He is also the founder of dharma⌁licious, a Buddhist-

inspired community that supports its members in living wiser, kinder, calmer, and happier

lives.

Links:

https://www.pauldalton.coach/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/pauldaltoncoaching/

https://www.instagram.com/pauldaltonmindfulness

https://youtube.com/@beginagainmindfulness?si=II0VoGZ5tRFTJuKh

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Vicki talks about going from being a girl who was not adventurous nor sporty to taking on

some of the toughest physical pursuits around the world from cycling across America to the

Great Ocean Row from Los Angeles to Hawaii – and how she reclaimed her sovereignty to

make her own life decisions rather than waiting for others to give her permission to lead her

own life.

Bio:

A leading well-being expert, TEDx keynote speaker, coach, mentor, and athlete, Vicki Anstey

is also an entrepreneur turned adventurer and world record holder. Vicki was among the first

women to reach the final stages of Channel 4’s SAS Who Dares Wins and, in 2021, secured

a world record for rowing the mid-Pacific unaided. In 2024, she achieved a second world

record, cycling 3,000 miles across America in The Race Across America. A UK Ambassador

for Inspiring Girls, she fundraises through her challenges. She speaks on resilience,

empowerment, and emotional endurance, advising teams on stress, mindset, and high-

performance teamwork.

Links:

www.vickianstey.co.uk

https://www.instagram.com/vickianstey/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/vickianstey/

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On holiday in Sri Lanka on Boxing Day and Michelle and her husband went down to breakfast before returning to sleep off the hangover. They had planned to go diving but were awoken by all kinds of noise. They found themselves amid the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami. She talks about how a group of survivors clubbed together to survive for one week, amidst all the devastation and chaos and how it has given her an insight into the magnificence of humanity and the value of community.

Bio:

Michelle is known as The People Reader. She is a veteran, a previous award-winning CEO, a tsunami survivor and now, a human behaviour and communication expert. She has created a suite of analysis tools that help people to uncover their magnificence and works with organisations to unleash their people potential. She is the National President of the Professional Speaking Association and is openly ADHD with Dyscalculia, synaesthesia, and misophonia as comorbid conditions.

Links:

linkedin.com/in/michellemillsporter

www.thepeoplereader.com

www.mmp.uk.com

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Deeply entrenched in the demands of SW London motherhood and work – Lise felt overweight and undervalued until she decided to no longer let it stop her. 

She took up triathlons, adventures and even welcomed a family of refugees into her home. She has since bought a refuge house for women and children and is a passionate advocate for women embracing their wealth. She bares her soul and her body on Instagram and asks: “why let shame stop you?” 

In this conversation we explore her recognition that her extra weight was a natural adaptive response and protective layer to a car accident when she was young. The pressure to lose it before she was ready was what embedded a lifetime of shame which she is now releasing through her Instagram activities. 

Bio:

Lise Thorne is a passionate advocate for body acceptance and self-love. After a car crash at seven led to weight gain and self-doubt, she struggled with body image through her teens and on. Now, she inspires other women to free themselves from limiting beliefs through projects like photographing women’s nude bodies annually to celebrate growth and change. Lise also founded The Welcome Home Project, providing housing for homeless refugee mothers and her latest project is launching The Money Conversation to empower women in investing and financial independence. A firm believer in movement for mental and physical well-being, Lise is on a mission to help women follow their dreams and become unstoppable rockstars.

Links: 

https://www.instagram.com/walking_this_way/

https://www.instagram.com/welcome_home_london/

https://www.instagram.com/the.moneyconversation/

www.dynamicfutures.co.uk

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