If you’re a parent who’s ever caved and bought the toy you didn’t want to buy, or felt guilty for throwing away something that should be recyclable, you’re in very good company. The truth is, even when we try our best, the whole system makes “doing the right thing” (if we even know what that might be) incredibly difficult. Even when we try to make responsible choices, the system is stacked against us.

So in this week’s episode of Perspectives, we stop pretending the answers are simple. Instead, we talk honestly with three people who work with young people, communities, and ecosystems every single day. They’re not offering perfection. They’re offering possibility.

This is a conversation about shifting habits, building community, modelling the behaviours we hope our children will carry forward, and keeping hope alive, without ignoring the sober reality we’re in. It’s grounded, honest, and it gently nudges you to consider your own role in the bigger picture.

Because every conscious choice, every conversation, every shared moment of awareness matters. This episode certainly got us thinking. There are no easy answers, and that’s exactly why awareness is so important. With a bit more understanding, each of us is better equipped to take our own small, meaningful steps.

The guests:

🌍 Hugo Valdes-Vera — Founder of Think Ocean CIC🌊 Linus K. Owino — Founder & CEO, Mariners for Action, Kenya🌱 Mlibo Tyala — Environmental educator and founder of the ECO–Community Project, South Africa

Listen in and keep Informing Those Perspectives.

Respect feels like one of those timeless values, we all say it matters, we all believe people deserve it, and yet… many of us sense that something is shifting. In a world of fast communication, quick reactions, and increasing pressure, respect can feel harder to find and even harder to sustain.

In our latest episode of Perspectives from the Informed Perspective, we explore what’s really going on with respect today:What does it actually mean?What effect does it have on the brain and our performance when we are treated with respect?Why does it break down so easily?And how can we practice it, not as a slogan, but as a daily lived behaviour?

To help us dive deeper, we’re joined by three incredible guests:

* Julie Pham, who reveals how curiosity and a willingness to learn transform communication

* Paul Meshanko, who explains the brain science of respect, why it calms us, connects us, and supports our health and also talks about respect in the workplace

* Claudia Hackman, who shows how self-respect, boundaries, and cross-cultural etiquette can make everyday interactions kinder and more intentional

We explore:

* How respect is a behaviour, not just a belief

* Why self-respect and healthy boundaries are essential starting points

* How digital spaces and cultural differences create misunderstandings

* The power of small gestures, like eye contact, a smile, or thoughtful language

* Why leaders must model respect if they want it to thrive in their organisations

This episode invites you to slow down, reflect, and reconsider how we show up for one another, at home, at work, online, and in our communities.

Care is everywhere, in the quiet acts that hold families together, in the advocacy that challenges broken systems, and in the resilience of those who show up, again and again, for others.

In this week’s Perspectives Podcast, we explore the many layers of caregiving, personal, professional, and systemic. Our guests, Rachell Dumas, and Kristi Horner, bring deeply human stories of loss, advocacy, and renewal.

Rachell opens up about her journey through multiple pregnancy losses and the creation of a nonprofit supporting mothers. Her courage shows how storytelling can become a form of healing. She shares her dual experience as a nurse and patient, offering insight into healthcare trauma and the importance of self-advocacy and doula support.

Kristi, through Courage to Caregivers, reminds us that caregiving begins with self-care, that to sustain others, we must also sustain ourselves.

The conversation touches on maternal health, mental wellness, and the power of community in transforming care systems. Above all, it reminds us that care is not just what we do — it’s who we are.

Listen In to the full conversation.

In our latest Perspectives episode, we dive into how creative practices, from photography to fashion psychology to improvisation, help us understand, express, and experiment with who we are.

Meet the Guests:

* Adam Isfendiyar, photographer: Explores belonging across cultures and captures human connection through his lens.

* Jennifer Heinen, fashion psychologist: Shares how clothing influences mood, confidence, and self-expression.

* Piotr Baranski, actor and improviser: Uses improvisation to embrace multiple selves and explore authenticity.

We began with Adam, who has spent years exploring identity through photography. From documenting the Ainu people in Japan to reflecting on his own Cypriot, Jewish, and British heritage, Adam reminded us that photography is as much about empathy and connection as it is about the final image.

Jennifer then joined the conversation to unpack fashion psychology. She showed how the clothes we wear aren’t just about style, they shape how we feel, focus, and interact with the world. Her insights on “enclothed cognition” and her “Style Mind Shift” framework reveal how dressing intentionally can support confidence, identity, and emotional wellbeing.

Piotr brought a playful and thoughtful perspective on improvisation. Whether on stage or in everyday life, he highlighted how experimenting with different versions of ourselves isn’t just okay, it’s necessary. Improvisation teaches presence, adaptability, and reminds us that we can be “enough” just as we are.

✨ Key takeaways to carry with you:

* Identity evolves, it’s never just one fixed label.

* Self-expression is an act of courage at any age.

* Creativity, clothing, and improvisation are tools for exploring who you are.

* Safe spaces and self-awareness give you the freedom to experiment and grow.

* Emotional intelligence—being “better with feelings”—is a superpower for authenticity.

If you’ve ever wondered how to navigate identity, try on new ways of self-expression, or just feel a little freer in your day-to-day, then give this episode a listen.

What comes to mind when you think of “accessibility”? A ramp? A disabled parking spot? Maybe an elevator?

Now ask yourself is that enough?

In our latest Perspectives Podcast episode, “Disability” we talk real life. With guests Dave Walsh, Lori Renna Linton, Peter Torres Fremlin, and Wioleta Jóźwiak, we dive into real stories and experiences.

🔹 Key Topics Include:

* Why accessibility is more than just ramps and elevators

* How everyday oversights (like inadequate toilet facilities or service desks that are too high) still exclude people

* What real allyship looks like and how you can practice it today

* Why empathy requires imagination or lived experience — and how to build it

* The tension between good intent and impact when talking about disability

* How media can stop sensationalising and start listening

Guest Panel:

Peter Torres Fremlin , creator of Disability Debrief, a global newsletter exploring disability through lived experience and international perspectives.Wioleta Jóźwiak, Chief Accessibility Specialist for Poland’s National Centre for Culture, leading inclusive design in museums and public spaces.Dave Walsh, former soldier turned multiple-time World’s Strongest Disabled Man, now a speaker on resilience, disability awareness, and mental health.Lori Renna Linton , patient advocate for Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia (HSP), teacher, and creator of the empathy-building project Potato Pants.

Standout Moments:

* Dave shares how becoming disabled gave him permission to be vulnerable, something he never allowed himself before.

* Lori tells us all about “Potato Pants,” a race she created to build empathy through experience.

* Peter explains how global storytelling can shift the disability narrative.

* Wioleta reframes universal design as something that should be joyful, not clinical.

Why Listen?

Because 1 in 6 people globally live with a disability and most of our systems are still designed for the other five.Because your language, your design choices, your curiosity, and your allyship all matter.

This conversation will definitely give you lots to think about.

In this episode of Perspectives, we explore the vital role of cultural fluency in today’s diverse educational settings. We go beyond buzzwords to uncover what it really means to raise culturally fluent young people in a world that’s more interconnected, yet possibly more divided, than ever. We discuss how building thoughtful communities through understanding diverse perspectives can spark meaningful change in schools and beyond.

We also highlight the importance of social-emotional skills like resilience, adaptability, and constructive thinking, which support both academic success and mental health. Integrating these skills through social-emotional learning (SEL), character education, and learning from action helps students become well-rounded global citizens. Conversation, reflection, and curiosity are key tools in equipping young people to engage thoughtfully with the world around them.

Join us to hear insights and practical strategies from our expert guests:

🌍 Catharina Gress-Wright, OECD researcher and global educator with experience in Senegal, Denmark, the U.S., and the UK, shares insights on empathy, third-culture identity, and how storytelling fosters real connection in classrooms.

📘 Dr. Charles Margerison, founder of Amazing People Schools and pioneer in character education, explores how conversation, role models, and curiosity equip students to thrive in diverse and changing environments.

This episode covers:

* Cultural fluency as a way of being, not just a curriculum unit

* SEL, character development, and the power of storytelling

* Practical ways to create inclusive, emotionally intelligent schools

* What gives us hope for the future of education

We’re not just talking diversity, we’re talking depth, belonging, and human connection.

Listen now and explore.

In this episode, we explore the critical conversation around body image and its deep impact on mental wellbeing. Guests Molly Forbes, founder of The Body Happy Organisation and Mel Ciavucco, an integrative counsellor specialising in eating disorders and body image, share insights on body diversity and the pressures that shape how we see ourselves.

We discuss the intricate ties between body image and mental health. We delve into the societal pressures that shape our perceptions from a young age and the critical role of education in promoting body diversity. Our conversation covers the impact of cultural ideals, the rise of weight loss drugs, and the importance of fostering a supportive environment for young people.

Whether you’re a parent, educator, or simply curious about body positivity, this episode offers valuable insights and practical advice for embracing a more inclusive and compassionate view of body image.

Tune in as we challenge narrow beauty standards and call for a more inclusive, compassionate approach to self-acceptance.

Our latest episode of the Perspectives Podcast dives deep into what it really means to support doctors in today’s healthcare systems.

We’re joined by four guests bringing powerful perspectives on physician well-being: Kim Downey, PT, cancer survivor and founder of Stand Up (for) Doctors!; Dr. Kieran Allen, an Australian psychiatry trainee advocating for compassionate, stigma-free mental health; Dr. Jonathon Block, urologist, healthcare leader, and founder of Pierhead Lighthouse; and Dr. Fey Mendes, UK GP, innovator, and founder of Beyond the Bleep, reimagining careers that don’t burn clinicians out.

They share with us their journeys through burnout, moral injury, training pressures, and system challenges. They don’t just highlight the struggles, but they also highlight the charge that needs to happen, from structural reform to cultural change.

As always, we posed a question from one of our tweens: What would you say to a young person who wants to become a doctor, but is already worried about burnout and responsibility?

This conversation really makes you remember that behind every statistic, there’s a human being. And if we don’t care for the carers, the system fails all of us.

In our latest episode, we dive into the pressing challenges facing education today and why it's time to rethink traditional boundaries. From outdated curricula to the need for deeper collaboration across sectors, we ask:

Have the lines between first, second, and third spaces (home, school and community) become blurred? And how can we come together to build a better future for our children?

Joining us are expert guests: Phil Hart, Head of School; Anand Krishnaswamy, Chief Education Officer; and James Clanfield, Education Marketer. They bring diverse perspectives on integrating technology, supporting emotional well-being, and fostering genuinely collaborative learning environments.

Tune in for a thought-provoking conversation that explores what education needs now, and what it could look like next. Explore the barriers to effective collaboration in education. Hear firsthand accounts of the struggles within the system and thought-provoking discussions on bridging educational spaces.

Tune in now and join the conversation.

The transition from education to employment is one of the toughest challenges young people face today. In our newest Perspectives Podcast episode, we unpack this complex issue with three experts who bring powerful insights and lived experience from around the globe, from the UK, Lebanon and the US.

Meet our guests:

* Mel Simmons, a dedicated UK educator and advocate for students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

* Donna Kargel, a neurodivergent career coach and educator, passionate about creating supportive and authentic career pathways.

* Aya Barakat, a lifelong learning consultant based in the Middle East, focusing on adaptability and growth in an ever-changing job market.

We discuss:

* The real skills and attitudes young people need to succeed beyond school walls

* Why emotional wellbeing and feedback matter just as much as grades

* How workplaces can become more inclusive and supportive for neurodivergent talent

* The critical role of educators, parents, and communities in preparing youth for the future

If you care about education that truly prepares young people for what’s next, this episode offers interesting perspectives and food for thought.