Leo Elstob, aka Leo Zero, is a true creative - a graphic designer, a radio presenter, a DJ and a remixer for the likes of Dua Lipa, Florence and the Machine, David Bowie and Lou Reed, among other things.

Whether you're a creative person, or want to become more creative, or you're simply curious about how creative people work, this episode is for you.

The conversation covers what creativity actually is, how to create the conditions to allow your natural creativity to emerge, and the importance of spirituality to our journey as human beings. 

Leo and I also talk at length about the music industry and how at one point in his career, Leo found himself at a fork in the road, where one path led to fame and celebrity, and he chose the other.

This was a fascinating conversation. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

Mark Ridderhof is a former professional basketball player and is now Head of Sales of a UK-based scale-up.

Mark is passionate about people and companies and helping to empower them to reach their goals. He is endlessly curious about why we do certain things and likes to challenge himself and others to see how we can improve. This is something he always looks to in his life whether it's privately, coaching his own team, or dealing with customers and partnerships. 

Mark and I talk about his life as a professional basketball player in The Netherlands, and the pressure of being the son of a Dutch basketball icon. We also talked about the transition from top level sport to 'normal' life was incredibly challenging, as it came at the same time as the birth of his daughter and the break up of his then relationship. Out of dark times came the insight into who he is and Mark credits that time as giving him the mental strength to be the leader he is today.

Patrick Onyido is a super-talented, self-taught baker. He's the owner of a bakery and cafe business in North London, Paddy Cakes, which has become a hub for the local community, and has a loyal following of customers as a result of the sensational quality of his products.

Patrick and I talk about the immigrant experience (Patrick moved to London from Nigeria when he was 10), the experience of growing up as a black man in England, the importance of mentors in his life, how food influenced his career, and how his experience of being on remand in prison made him into the man he is today. Patrick and I also discussed how most men don't talk about how they're feeling, which is contributing to a crisis in men's mental health - and how we're trying to encourage men to talk to each other.

ps reference to "On The Mat" - this was my first recorded show and this was the working title of the podcast at that time

Mia is a model, with collaborations including Vichy, L’Oreal Paris, Armani, Max Factor, and M&S. She is also a panel speaker, a content creator, and a writer. She’s done commercial voiceovers, and landed a role as Disney’s first black, silver haired, middle-aged mermaid in the live action film; The Little Mermaid. Her overarching mission is age inclusivity, and authentic representation of her generation.

Imagine becoming a model at 54 and, with low body confidence, being asked to take your clothes off for an underwear shoot? We explored how Mia has managed to overcome her insecurities to thrive and what it truly means to take a stand for a cause you believe in. We talked about purpose-driven work, the importance of role models, the joy of having adult children and how "despite what we’ve been taught, midlife truly can be amongst some of the best years of your life!"

Rich Scott is CEO of Genomics England, a UK government owned organisation that partners with the NHS to provide whole genome sequencing diagnostics, helping to find the causes of disease and the development of new treatments.

This was a fascinating conversation, taking in Rich's journey from medical school through to leading an organisation employing 500+ people, at the cutting edge of genetic research. We talked about the challenges - and joys - of leadership; how to create a team that's as driven as its leader; the necessity of having a growth mindset (and what that actually means!); and how to handle the pressure and responsibility of being at the top of an organisation.

Gabriel Van Rel began studying the various martial arts of Aikido, Judo and Tae Kwondo from the age of seven. At sixteen, he was invited to represent Team USA at the North American Cup, winning silver and bronze medals. In 1993, he was the youngest member of five-man team that won the US National Championships. In 2003, he was part of the bronze medal winning team at the World Shotokan Karate Championships and in 2005 he won gold and silver medals at the North American Cup. 

In 2009, Gabriel moved from New York to London and since 2014 has been teaching karate at his own, very popular, Dojo.

Gabriel and I talk about how to perform at your best in the face of fear, how to quieten the mind and see through your own self-story, the importance of an ancient discipline like karate for modern day living, his journey from novice teacher to 'Sensei', and the life lessons he's learned along the way. 

Lea Esterhuizen is co-founder and CEO of &Wider, a business headquartered in Amsterdam which works with businesses to evaluate human rights risks throughout their supply chains and facilities, tracking progress and identifying areas for improvement.

Prior to creating &Wider, Lea has worked in incredibly challenging arenas such as genocide, forced migration and state-sponsored violence and she talks beautifully how it's possible to find joy, wit, humour and beauty in the darkest of circumstances.

Our conversation also explores how leaders can be most effective, especially in the impact-driven space and the challenges of juggling the demands of motherhood with the demands of business and broader human rights.

Manny Patel is co-founder and CEO of Jiva.ai, a cutting-edge AI start-up which is democratising the development of AI. 

In this episode, Manny and I talk about the holy grail of AI - general intelligence -  and how he thinks AI is not the existential threat to humanity many believe it to be. 

We talk about the importance of spirituality in Manny's life and how bringing spirituality into his working life transformed his leadership. 

Manny describes how he was asked to step up from CTO of the business to being its CEO and the insecurities that held him back which he had to work hard to overcome (and is still working hard on!)

We also talk about failure and Manny is incredibly candid on this subject as it relates to his roles as a CEO, husband and Dad.