The Plumm Pod

We say we want “nice” cultures, then wonder why people burn out.

Tiger de Souza, People leader at Samaritans, reveals how charities and mission-driven teams can balance purpose, limited resources, and real human support without losing clarity or standards.

What you’ll learn:

Why “nice” cultures exhaust people and why kind cultures perform

The 4 leadership principles Samaritans use (accountability, empowerment, inclusion, connection)

How to equip managers for monthly, meaningful performance conversations

Hybrid/volunteer culture at scale: 20,000 volunteers, new norms, real psychological safety

Where AI helps ops, but can’t replace human connection in crisis

If you lead people (in charities or beyond), this conversation will reset how you think about culture, performance, and wellbeing.

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What happens when you climb to the top of your career… but lose yourself along the way?

In this powerful conversation, Matt shares how he accidentally fell into HR, rose through global roles at UBS, and then faced the devastating reality of burnout that cost him his health, career, and identity.We uncover:How recruitment turned into a global HR careerThe hidden drivers behind burnout and why so many ignore the signsWhy HR professionals are at the highest risk of emotional exhaustionThe three “buckets of burnout” and how to protect yourself from themPractical tools to set boundaries and recover before it’s too lateThis is not just an HR story, it’s a human story. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, detached, or on the edge of burnout, this episode might just change the way you approach your work and your life.Chapters00:00 – Falling into HR by accident01:00 – Recruitment, sales pressure & global moves02:40 – UBS opportunity & career breakthrough04:30 – Burnout disguised as success06:20 – The toxic drive of “not good enough”08:00 – What burnout really feels like09:45 – Therapy, coaching & rebuilding identity11:30 – Discovering the power of coaching13:10 – Why HR faces higher burnout risks15:20 – The breaking point moment16:40 – Catching stress before it becomes burnout18:20 – Signs of exhaustion & irritability20:00 – Detachment, cynicism & losing purpose23:20 – The tension at the heart of HR25:10 – The three buckets of burnout explained28:40 – Purpose, values & dangerous overcommitment32:00 – Overwhelm vs. burnout – the difference34:10 – Weekly check-ins to stay vigilant35:40 – Boundaries, respect & saying no37:20 – Peak performance through rest39:20 – Advice to my younger self: “Look at the evidence”

What if the key to retention, engagement, and authentic leadership isn’t perks or pay but community?

In today’s episode, I sit down with David Hughes, Global Head of Talent at Costa Coffee, whose journey took him from competing for Great Britain in athletics to leading people, purpose, and community in one of the world’s most recognisable brands.

We explore:

How sport shaped his leadership philosophy and resilience.

Why community is the most overlooked driver of engagement and retention.

The rising influence of Gen Z and their demand for authenticity.

How brands can avoid “whitewashing” and build trust through meaningful action.

This is a masterclass in understanding why authenticity, purpose, and connection will decide the future of work.

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Chapters

00:00:29 – HR: Planned or by chance?

00:01:27 – From GB athlete to HR leader

00:02:19 – How sport shaped leadership

00:04:04 – Leaving athletics & finding purpose

00:05:51 – From recruitment to Boots & HR

00:07:03 – What community really means

00:09:55 – The data: community reduces turnover by 50%

00:11:23 – Why Gen Z changed everything

00:12:45 – Community, charity & the HR function

00:14:42 – Building local impact: the SEN school project

00:16:24 – Skills vs. qualifications: the future of work

00:18:38 – The four pillars of talent at Costa

00:20:11 – What EVP really means (and why most get it wrong)

00:23:09 – Authenticity vs. whitewashing in employer branding

00:24:59 – Gen Z: why they can’t be fooled

00:27:03 – The real cost of ignoring community

00:29:47 – A life-changing trip to Colombia

00:31:54 – How to convince senior stakeholders

00:33:02 – Advice to my younger self: mistakes & fourth gear

00:34:55 – Why slowing down creates better work

00:36:10 – Closing reflections on purpose and belonging

What if your financial health is the key to improving your work performance?

In this powerful episode of The Plum Pod, Georgia is joined by Andrew Mulder, People Director at Nudge, as they explore the often-overlooked connection between financial well-being and employee productivity. From the impact of financial stress on mental health to why businesses should prioritise financial education, Andrew reveals why this topic is essential for a thriving workforce.

Key Learnings:

Financial Well-being Defined: What it truly means and why it's crucial for employees at all income levels.

The Business Case for Financial Education: How it drives retention, reduces absenteeism, and boosts productivity.

Practical Advice for Employers: How to implement financial education programmes on a budget and with global scalability.

Don’t miss out on this insightful conversation ,subscribe to The Plum Pod for more episodes on HR and mental health!

Chapters

00:00:00 – The Surprising Link Between Money and Mental Health

00:03:15 – How Andrew Ended Up in HR by Chance

00:08:45 – Breaking Down Financial Well-being: What It Really Means

00:12:30 – Financial Education: The Missing Piece in Corporate Wellness

00:17:00 – The Problem with 'More Money' as a Solution

00:22:15 – Nudge’s Approach to Financial Well-being Education

00:26:40 – Making Financial Education Accessible Without the Jargon

00:30:10 – Building Leadership Buy-In: The Key to Implementation

00:34:05 – How to Start a Financial Well-being Programme on a Budget

00:38:30 – A Powerful Lesson for Your Future Self

In this episode, Alan, a seasoned HR leader, shares his insights on the emotional journey of navigating change in the workplace. He highlights the difference between change and transition, the importance of acceptance, and why transparency is essential in leadership. Alan also explores how self-awareness and personal growth can transform your leadership style.

If you're an HR professional or leader dealing with change, this episode offers practical advice and deep insights. Subscribe and share this episode with your network!

Chapters:

00:00:00 - Alan's Unexpected HR Journey

00:04:12 - Change vs. Transition: What's the Difference?

00:07:38 - The Power of Acceptance in Leadership

00:13:24 - The Middle: Finding Clarity in Uncertainty

00:16:58 - Trust, Transparency & the Leadership Dilemma

00:21:42 - Personal Growth Through Struggles

00:26:03 - Forgiveness: The Secret to Lasting Change

00:31:08 - The Role of Breath and Self-Care in Leadership

00:35:20 - Giving Yourself Permission to Be Human

HR isn’t protecting people. It’s protecting companies. But what if that’s the problem?

In this raw and eye-opening conversation, Georgia from Access HR sits down with Shane Mays, startup veteran and ER (employee relations) specialist for a brutally honest deep-dive into the real purpose of HR, why it’s broken, and how we can rebuild it from the inside out.

From his beginnings as a software engineer to leading people teams at fast-scaling startups, Shane brings a human-first perspective to the most misunderstood function in business today.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Why HR still feels like the company’s bodyguard and how to change it

The hidden cost of treating ER as a legal process

How to scale employee relations without burning out

The power of playbooks, trust, and co-creation in leadership

If you’ve ever felt stuck between doing what’s “compliant” and doing what’s right, this episode will shift your thinking, for good.

👉 Don’t forget to subscribe and share with someone who needs to hear this.

Chapters

00:00:00 – HR Is Not Here to Protect You

00:01:16 – Meet Shane: From Engineering to HR

00:03:04 – Why He Stayed in People Ops

00:04:36 – What Employee Relations Really Means

00:07:13 – Social Media, Fear & Legal Influence

00:09:17 – Why ER Needs a Human-First Lens

00:11:39 – A Manager’s Mistake: Process Before People

00:16:03 – Building a Legal Wall vs. Human Bridge

00:19:12 – Why Leaders Need a Compass, Not a Policy

00:22:18 – Make Playbooks Public. Remove the Ambush.

00:23:35 – How ER Changes as You Scale

00:25:06 – Teach People How to Eat

00:27:09 – Co-Create Your ER Strategy

00:28:59 – Flexing Your ER Muscle Without the Cases

00:30:34 – You Don’t Need a Pocket Lawyer

00:33:16 – You’ll Never Have All the Answers—And That’s Okay

00:34:26 – The One Thing Shane Would Tell His Younger Self

What does it really take to lead a successful HR team in today’s fast-changing world?

In this episode of The Plumm Pod, Georgia sits down with Lauren McDonagh, Head of People at Soho House, to reveal the realities of building high-performing HR teams.

From creating psychological safety to managing burnout and leading with authenticity, Lauren shares practical insights and personal lessons every HR professional needs to hear.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Why HR leaders must lead by example (and why most don’t)

How to create a culture of trust and psychological safety within your team

The power of diversity of thought in driving real innovation

Why personal development and getting uncomfortable are non-negotiable for growth

If you want to be a better leader or build a team that thrives, this conversation is a must-watch.

👉 Subscribe for more conversations on HR, leadership, and mental health.

Chapters

00:00:00 – Welcome to The Plumm Pod

00:02:26 – Was HR Always the Plan?

00:04:55 – The Reality of HR Careers

00:07:01 – How Hospitality Changed My Leadership Style

00:08:45 – Inside Soho House’s People Team

00:09:56 – Leading by Example as an HR Leader

00:11:32 – How We Invest in Our HR Team

00:14:37 – What I Look for When Hiring HR Talent

00:17:53 – Why Discomfort Is the Key to Growth

00:19:56 – Managing Change & Building Trust

00:21:27 – The Biggest Shift in My Leadership Style

00:23:06 – Creating Psychological Safety for Teams

00:24:53 – Balancing Business Goals & People Needs

00:28:30 – Protecting HR Teams from Burnout

00:32:44 – The Truth About Being ‘Busy’ vs ‘Productive’

00:36:18 – Managing Different Personalities Effectively

00:38:55 – The Untold Emotional Load of HR

00:41:14 – Advice to My Younger Self

Lauren Plumm Pod

Every failed strategy starts with one blind spot: the lack of curiosity.

In this thought-provoking episode, we explore the power of curiosity as the foundation of successful people strategy. This isn’t just about business, it’s about the decisions that define us as leaders.

Our guest Kenny Temowo shares a piercing insight: if you’re not asking why, you’re already behind. Through a candid conversation, we unravel why making hard choices in leadership starts with understanding what makes your organisation different and why most get it wrong.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Why curiosity is the non-negotiable starting point of all great strategy

How leaders should approach hard decisions through contextual insight

The overlooked “Z” that makes or breaks your business direction

Why saying no is more important than saying yes in strategy

If you’ve ever questioned your strategic decisions or want to lead with greater intention, this is the episode to start with.

Subscribe for more episodes that challenge the way you think.

🔔 Don’t forget to share this episode with someone who needs to hear it.

Chapters:

00:00:00 – The Hidden Power of Curiosity

Why every strategy starts with asking the right questions

00:01:02 – Strategy Is About Saying No

Understanding the difficult trade-offs behind every big decision

00:02:10 – What’s Your ‘Z’?

The one overlooked factor that defines your entire approach

00:03:20 – Getting Strategy Right Starts Here

How self-awareness and context build winning strategies

She didn’t fit the mould, so she became the blueprint.

Keeran Gunnoo is a powerhouse in personal and corporate employer branding, shaping narratives for some of the world’s most recognisable companies, including LinkedIn, Unilever and Flow. In this raw and empowering conversation, she shares how she built a career that broke every rule and why it worked.

From being headhunted by LinkedIn before people knew what LinkedIn was, to being complimented by Barack Obama on her Louboutins, Keeran’s story is as inspiring as it is unconventional.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Why squiggly careers aren’t chaotic, they’re strategic

How your reputation is your brand (especially when you're not in the room)

The uncomfortable truths about diversity, employer branding and internal comms

How to build a career and life that align with your values, not societal norms

✨ Subscribe to The Plumm Pod for more honest conversations about HR, wellbeing and careers that don’t follow the script.

⏱️ Chapters

00:00:00 – Intro: She Became the Blueprint

00:01:04 – HR was never the plan

00:02:10 – From cold calls to leadership: the Essex charisma advantage

00:03:27 – Getting headhunted by LinkedIn before it was big

00:04:58 – Meeting Obama & the power of great shoes

00:06:04 – Unilever hired her without an interview

00:07:19 – Becoming a Strategic Career Architect

00:08:31 – Reporting to Chanel’s future CEO

00:10:33 – The importance of working for brands you believe in

00:11:51 – Flow, reproductive health, and brand affinity

00:13:00 – What a squiggly career really means

00:14:44 – Breaking ceilings: race, gender & neurodiversity

00:17:20 – Ditching the fairytale career path

00:20:20 – Culture add, not culture fit

00:21:51 – Why Gen Z are changing career norms

00:23:01 – Internal bias, ATSs, and being mistaken for a man

00:24:58 – Writing job ads that actually speak to humans

00:26:17 – Helping companies overcome DEI friction

00:27:59 – The truth behind Glassdoor reviews

00:29:49 – Who owns comms: HR vs. Marketing

00:33:42 – Creating Unilever’s first editorial team

00:35:11 – Data, communication, and internal trust

00:37:47 – Taking Unilever from #24 to #7 on Glassdoor

00:39:07 – EVP: What’s in it for me?

00:40:35 – Stuck? Give yourself a performance review

00:41:39 – Self-belief and your personal brand

00:42:50 – Audit your energy—don’t stay where you can’t shine

00:43:59 – Final message: If they’re not advocating for you, go