What struck ewe most from this episode - and why?

This week our theme is 100% outdoors.  And if we'd been geographically closer we absolutely would have recorded it outdoors too!

Our guest in this episode is Sonya Dibbin, who calls herself The Nature Lady on LinkedIn and Nature Nerd in other areas :-)

Like Raising the Baa, Sonya is passionate about bringing people into nature, hence her beautifully named business Adore Your Outdoors.

From an extensive career in IT, you will hear how and why Sonya developed into a trainer of forest bathing, ecoNIDRA (yoga fans will get this immediately), workplace resilience and wellbeing.

With her growing tribe of certified forest bathing guides across the country, we are really excited to have Adore Your Outdoors as one of our Pick Your Own partners.

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Whilst hundreds of companies have brought their teams to a farm to herd sheep with us at Raising the Baa, we know that the field-based exercises are not for everyone.

So we've raised our own 'baa' and created Pick Your Own. A bespoke collection of sustainable and meaningful activities to bring teams together in the countryside - just perfect for everyone's wellbeing.

Thank ewe for tuning in :-)

Pick Your Own brochure - download here

Click here to book in an Exploratory Call with Caroline

Connect with the speakers via LinkedIn:
Sonya Dibbin - Founder of Adore Your Outdoors
Caroline Palmer - Top Dog and co-founder, Raising the Baa

What are your main team challenges and desires? Maybe we can help?
Book in a 15-minute Exploratory Call now and let's see.

What struck ewe most from this episode - and why?

Today's guest is the hugely talented Emma Kirkham who wears two hats - a career as a glass artist as well as a wonderfully empathic HeartHealer. 

As with Vanessa our last guest, Emma rather fell into artistry with glass by experimenting at college with some broken glass she found!  More of which Emma explains in our conversation.

Find out also exactly what happens in one of Emma's glass workshops which we're delighted to know can take place on the farm alongside our signature sheep-herding activity.

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Whilst hundreds of companies have brought their teams to a farm to herd sheep with us at Raising the Baa, we know that the field-based exercises are not for everyone.

So we've raised our own 'baa' and created Pick Your Own. A bespoke collection of sustainable and meaningful activities to bring teams together in the countryside - just perfect for everyone's wellbeing.

Thank ewe for tuning in :-)

Pick Your Own brochure - download here

Click here to book in an Exploratory Call with Caroline

Connect with the speakers via LinkedIn:
Emma Kirkham - founder of Emma Kirkham Glass
Caroline Palmer - Top Dog and co-founder, Raising the Baa

What are your main team challenges and desires? Maybe we can help?
Book in a 15-minute Exploratory Call now and let's see.

What struck ewe most from this episode - and why?

A business that was borne out of demand rather than the other way round.  

Just like Raising the Baa, today's guest Vanessa Hastings didn't set up her business and then approach potential clients. 

A company team asked Vanessa if she could run a craft-based team build session for them.

Hear the whole story of Crafty Team Building in this episode of Sheep Dip.

We also touch on service stations and cheese.... yes, really!

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Whilst hundreds of companies have brought their teams to a farm to herd sheep with us at Raising the Baa, we know that the field-based exercises are not for everyone.

So we've raised our own 'baa' and created Pick Your Own. A bespoke collection of sustainable and meaningful activities to bring teams together in the countryside - just perfect for everyone's wellbeing.

Thank ewe for tuning in :-)

Pick Your Own brochure - download here

Click here to book in an Exploratory Call with Caroline

Connect with the speakers via LinkedIn:
Vanessa Hastings - founder of Crafty Team Building
Caroline Palmer - Top Dog and co-founder, Raising the Baa

What are your main team challenges and desires? Maybe we can help?
Book in a 15-minute Exploratory Call now and let's see.

What struck ewe most from this episode - and why?

Former editor and art director of Country Living magazine Francine Lawrence is here to talk about her passion for rekindling people's natural, albeit buried, abilities to draw.

A super talented teacher of art, Francine is also a wonderful story-teller as is evident from our conversation in this episode of SheepDip.

We're delighted to include her company ArtSplash into the fold of our Pick Your Own collection of no-tech teambuilding activities.

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Whilst hundreds of companies have brought their teams to a farm to herd sheep with us at Raising the Baa, we know that the field-based exercises are not for everyone.

So we've raised our own 'baa' and created Pick Your Own. A bespoke collection of sustainable and meaningful activities to bring teams together in the countryside - just perfect for everyone's wellbeing.

Thank ewe for tuning in :-)

Pick Your Own brochure - download here

Click here to book in an Exploratory Call with Caroline

Connect with the Caroline via LinkedIn

Follow ArtSplash on Instagram

What are your main team challenges and desires? Maybe we can help?
Book in a 15-minute Exploratory Call now and let's see.

What struck ewe most from this episode - and why?

Who doesn't love the fragrance of a peachy rose on a Summer's evening, the zest of a freshly squeezed orange, a newly opened packet of coffee beans, walking past a bakery and so many more?

Today's guest, Jane Helliwell must lead the most aromatic life of us all.  As the founder of The Scent Styling Company, Jane specialises in elevating workplace wellbeing and productivity with the power of scent.   

Imagine if you could reach for an energising or calming aroma at any point during your working day - how great would that be?  

Raising the Baa can bring the fragrance of fresh air.  Jane can help you craft your chosen aromas.  Take a listen and find out how...

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Whilst hundreds of companies have brought their teams to a farm to herd sheep with us at Raising the Baa, we know that the field-based exercises are not for everyone.

So we've raised our own 'baa' and created Pick Your Own. A bespoke collection of sustainable and meaningful activities to bring teams together in the countryside - just perfect for everyone's wellbeing.

Thank ewe for tuning in :-)

Pick Your Own brochure - download here

Click here to book in an Exploratory Call with Caroline

Connect with the speakers via LinkedIn:
Jane Helliwell - Founder/Designer, The Scent Styling Company
Caroline Palmer - Top Dog and co-founder, Raising the Baa

What are your main team challenges and desires? Maybe we can help?
Book in a 15-minute Exploratory Call now and let's see.

What struck ewe most from this episode - and why?

"Sewing Bee for companies. I help your teams break out of their shell and form threads of connection through our sewing & mending workshops".

Why re-word something that is already so baa-rilliantly and succinctly put in the LinkedIn headline of today's guest Kavitha Soundararajan?

A corporate IT background might not be the most obvious pathway to her creative business but our conversation reveals exactly why Kavitha is in the right place, right now.

And how a spot of mindful sewing could be just the tonic for teams, helping people to bond, really learn about each other in a non-confrontational way. All whilst doing something practical and sustainable.

Whilst hundreds of companies have brought their teams to a farm to herd sheep with us at Raising the Baa, we know that the field-based exercises are not for everyone.

So we've raised our own 'baa' and created Pick Your Own. A bespoke collection of sustainable and meaningful activities to bring teams together in the countryside - just perfect for everyone's wellbeing.

Thank ewe for tuning in :-)

Pick Your Own brochure - download here

Click here to book in an Exploratory Call with Caroline

Connect with the speakers via LinkedIn:
Kavitha Soundararajan - Founder, Isifiso
Caroline Palmer - Top Dog and co-founder, Raising the Baa

What are your main team challenges and desires? Maybe we can help?
Book in a 15-minute Exploratory Call now and let's see.

What struck ewe most from this episode - and why?

Re-use, recycle, re-purpose.... and create something you will use and be super proud of for years to come.

One of the outcomes of a workshop led by my guest Emma Semper Hopkins. 

We love Emma for her intelligent, down-to-earth, no messing Yorkshire lass approach.

And from visiting her premises we felt these vibes there too.

Hence our invitation to Emma to be included in our bespoke Pick Your Own collection.

Whilst hundreds of companies have brought their teams to a farm to herd sheep, we know that the field-based exercises are not for everyone.

So we've raised our own 'baa' and created Pick Your Own. A bespoke collection of sustainable and meaningful activities to bring teams together in the countryside - just perfect for everyone's wellbeing.

Thank ewe for tuning in :-)

Pick Your Own brochure - download here

Click here to book in an Exploratory Call with Caroline

Connect with the speakers via LinkedIn:
Emma Semper Hopkins - Director, Semper Hopkins Creative Workshops
Caroline Palmer - Top Dog and co-founder, Raising the Baa

What are your main team challenges and desires? Maybe we can help?
Book in a 15-minute Exploratory Call now and let's see.

What struck ewe most from this episode - and why?

Welcome back to SheepDip, the podcast from Raising the Baa.

Today our guest is Leila Moeeni who has a truly fascinating back story from immigrant to human rights lawyer to baker.  

We learn about her country of origin, the challenges she has faced (and continues to do so) and why she is so passionate about breaking bread with people.

Whilst hundreds of companies have brought their teams to a farm to herd sheep, we know that the exercises are not for everyone.

So we've raised our own 'baa' and created Pick Your Own. A bespoke collection of sustainable and meaningful activities to bring teams together in the countryside - just perfect for everyone's wellbeing.

Thank ewe for tuning in :-)

Pick Your Own brochure - download here

Click here to book in an Exploratory Call with Caroline

Connect with the speakers via LinkedIn:
Leila Moeeni - Helping Organisations Move EDI&B From Policy to Practice 
Caroline Palmer - Top Dog and co-founder, Raising the Baa

What are your main team challenges and desires? Maybe we can help?
Book in a 15-minute Exploratory Call now and let's see.

What struck ewe most from this episode - and why?

In her own words Emma Hossack is "a recovering perfectionist" having burnt out not once but twice, after each of her children were born whilst juggling a high octane pharmaceutical sales career.

Today she and her partners at GLOW and WeTalkWellbeing help organisations and most importantly their people to be their most authentic, happy and resilient selves.

Not in a fluffy way however. 

As their website proclaims: "We take the stuffiness and usual jargon out of training - and instead offer a profound, fun, challenging and engaging way to glow."

Emma is a strong believer in data and feels this is often the missing element in businesses managing the wellbeing of their people.   

Aspects covered in our discussion include:
- training should be 'for' not 'done to' co-workers
- boundaries are key for purpose and happiness
- fruit in the office and gym memberships are not a panacea
- the motivational shift from money to purpose, especially GenZers

As per other episodes in this series, Emma declares that one size does not fit all.  Not just within one organisation but across different industry sectors and business types too.

And two fundamentals to finish on:
- thinking is not the same as knowing - data must be used to design a company's wellbeing programme
- leaders need to ask themselves "how am I modelling wellbeing and resilience?" as it all starts with them.

Our thanks to Emma for another fascinating and thought-provoking insight into the world of Workplace Wellness, punctuated as always with comparisons to the world of sheep, shepherds and their dogs.

Enjoy - and thank ewe for listening 😊🎧

FREE resources:

Explore the WRAW (Workplace Resilience And Wellbeing) Index
Articles authored by Emma on her Glow At Work website

Sheep, Shepherd or Dog - which one are ewe? Take our personality quiz and find out.

Connect with the speakers via LinkedIn:
Emma Hossack - Senior Associate Coach, WeTalkWellbeing and Founder of Glow At Work
Caroline Palmer - Top Dog and co-founder, Raising the Baa
Chris Farnsworth - Head Shepherd and co-founder, Raising the Baa & author of 'Sheep Shepherd Dog - Building a Magnificent Team Around You'

What are your main team challenges and desires? Maybe we can help?
Book in a 15-minute Exploratory Call now and let's see.

What struck ewe most from this episode - and why?

Lizzie Benton describes herself as a 'progressive culture coach'. 

Her business Liberty Mind helps its clients to adopt an alternative way of working that unleashes people to create their best work.

In this episode Lizzie shares her thoughts on the world of wellbeing in the workplace - or not 'wellbeing' perhaps.

For example:
- it's NOT a separate entity, a label which can come across as patronising or condescending
- it's NOT always something for which the HR department should have total responsibility
- it's NOT about covering every single eventuality (clue: it is about mutual trust)
- it's NOT a 'should do' exercise, it's key to future recruitment and talent retention

Lizzie also shares truly helpful insights for those, possibly larger, organisations where traditional blueprints may be harder to discard and start afresh.

And as is our habit, here's the books by Elizabeth Gilbert that Lizzie mentioned: Eat Pray Love and Big Magic - Creative Living Beyond Fear.

Questions?  Ping them our way! Simply message us through any of our social channels or email [email protected] and we'll ensure it is answered in a future episode or privately by one of our guest experts, whichever is most suitable.

Enjoy - and thank ewe for listening 😊🎧

FREE resources:

A wealth of in-depth blogs on all aspects of company culture
Lizzie's own podcast: Workplace Liberation - Make It Thrive

Sheep, Shepherd or Dog - which one are ewe? Take our personality quiz and find out.

Connect with the speakers via LinkedIn:
Lizzie Benton - Founder at Liberty Mind UK and Semco Style Pathfinder
Caroline Palmer - Top Dog and co-founder, Raising the Baa
Chris Farnsworth - Head Shepherd and co-founder, Raising the Baa & author of 'Sheep Shepherd Dog - Building a Magnificent Team Around You'

What are your main team challenges and desires? Maybe we can help?
Book in a 15-minute Exploratory Call now and let's see.