Lost in the relentless hustle of entrepreneurship? Sophie Bryan sits down with Joel Lawton, who dared to ask: what if the key to your business lies not in pushing harder, but in radically slowing down? Joel shares his personal evolution from the traditional grind to a nature-infused approach that helps entrepreneurs rediscover their purpose.This episode challenges the deep-rooted belief that constant action equals success. Explore:

• How Joel's journey led him to uncover the power of environment in shifting perspectives.
• Why "work-life balance" is a myth, and understanding your needs is the real game-changer.
• The uncomfortable truth: sometimes the most productive thing you can do is stop.
• The radical idea that prioritising your own sense of being, not just the demands of your business, is the path to true understanding and impact.

If the thought of taking a day off feels like an impossibility, this conversation is a vital wake-up call. It's time to rethink everything.

About Sophie Bryan
Sophie is a workplace culture disruptor, leadership coach, and the driving force behind Ordinarily Different. With decades of HR experience, she helps organisations create happier, healthier, and more purposeful work experiences. Sophie's work centers on creating an "employee engagement & customer engagement infinity loop," where genuine employee connection drives positive customer experiences, a concept explored in this episode.
Websites ordinarilydifferent.co.uk, sophiebryan.co.uk, TEDx Talk: https://montessorimindset.co.uk E: [email protected]
LinkedIn: Sophie Bryan (https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophiebryan/)
Facebook: @Sophiebryan.coach (https://www.facebook.com/Sophiebryan.coach)
Insta: @Sophiebryan.coach (https://www.instagram.com/sophiebryan.coach)

About Joel Lawton
Joel Lawton is a business consultant and coach who helps founders and leaders reconnect with their purpose and find a more sustainable way of working. Through his "In Your Corner" consultancy and immersive away days in nature, Joel guides entrepreneurs to prioritise their well-being, understand their core motivations, and challenge traditional, often unproductive, work patterns. His approach emphasises the power of environment, mindfulness, and somatic awareness to unlock clarity and drive meaningful action, encouraging a shift from being solely business-driven to being led by personal needs.
Website: inyourcorner.co E: [email protected]
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joel-lawton-3194aa9/

What if your workplace celebrated your whole self? Join Sophie Bryan and Chris Kenworthy, an improviser, certified embodiment coach, and facilitator who craves more play, open-heartedness, and messy human-ness in life, for an electrifying exploration of authenticity, play, and connection in the world of work. This episode goes beyond the corporate facade, delving into:

• Why "authentic relating" and improv are more than just games – they're tools for self-discovery.
• How to embrace "mistakes" and cultivate a culture of kindness and support.
• The transformative power of bringing your full humanity – body, heart, and mind – to the workplace.
• Chris's work in improv, authentic relating, and his innovative approaches to personal and professional growth.

Prepare for a conversation that challenges traditional notions of work and invites you to embrace your true self.

#Improviser #EmbodimentCoach #Facilitator #AuthenticRelating #Playfulness #HumanConnection #Vulnerability #Messiness #Perfectionism

Find out more about Sophie
Sophie is a workplace culture disruptor, leadership coach, and the driving force behind Ordinarily Different. With decades of HR experience, she helps organizations create happier, healthier, and more purposeful work experiences. Sophie's work centers on creating an "employee engagement & customer engagement infinity loop," where genuine employee connection drives positive customer experiences, a concept explored in this episode.

• W: ordinarilydifferent.co.uk, sophiebryan.co.uk,
• TEDx Talk: https://montessorimindset.co.uk
• E: [email protected] LinkedIn: Sophie Bryan
• (https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophiebryan/) Facebook: @Sophiebryan.coach
• (https://www.facebook.com/Sophiebryan.coach) Insta: @Sophiebryan.coach
• (https://www.instagram.com/sophiebryan.coach)

Find out more about Chris Kenworthy
Chris wants more play in life. More open-hearted, messy human-ness. And he’s SO tired of trying really hard on his own all the time. Life is way more fun, loving and meaningful together. Do you too crave gentle human connection, playfulness and authenticity? Chris explores all this at his improv, play and Authentic Relating workshops. He’s an improviser, certified embodiment coach, and facilitator in Leeds (Yorkshire UK), and a recovering perfectionist. 

• Podcast: ‘Beyond the Basement
• W: https://www.chriskenworthy.co.uk/
• Substack: https://chriskenworthy.substack.com/
• https://www.instagram.com/chriskenworthy/ Insta: @chriskenworthy

Is your workplace plagued by uncertainty and outdated structures? Join Sophie Bryan, founder of Ordinarily Different and a leading workplace culture specialist, alongside agile expert Eleanor Gibson, as they reveal how agile principles can bring clarity, collaboration, and purpose to your organization. What if your workplace was a playground for innovation?

Forget rigid blueprints; agile is about embracing evolution. Discover:

• Agile as the Antidote to Chaos: Learn how agile brings structure to uncertainty, not the other way around.
• Freedom: How agile empowers teams to self-organize and experiment, breaking free from rigid structures.
• Curiosity: The power of "why?" and continuous questioning to spark new ideas and drive innovation.
• Play: How "tinkering" and experimentation lead to unexpected solutions, as seen in Sophie's "10 and 10" example.
• Purpose & Value: How agile aligns teams with value and purpose, driving engagement and innovation.

Learn how to transform your workplace into a dynamic, responsive environment where teams thrive.

Find out more about Sophie
Sophie is a workplace culture disruptor, leadership coach, and the driving force behind Ordinarily Different. With decades of HR experience, she helps organisations create happier, healthier, and more purposeful work experiences. Sophie's unique approach blends agile principles with a focus on freedom, curiosity, and play, empowering teams to thrive in dynamic environments.

W: ordinarilydifferent.co.uk, sophiebryan.co.uk, TEDx Talk: https://montessorimindset.co.uk
E: [email protected]
LinkedIn: Sophie Bryan (https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophiebryan/)
Facebook: @Sophiebryan.coach (https://www.facebook.com/sophiebryan.coach)
Insta: @Sophiebryan.coach (https://www.instagram.com/sophiebryan.coach)

Find out more about Eleanor Gibson and Tilt
Tilt are a small team of expert charity agile coaches. They have guided 30+ non-profit leaders, teams and organisations to use agile principles to become more collaborative, innovative and adaptable. Through leadership coaching, courses, facilitated workshops and team coaching they build confident, inspired and empowered teams.Whether were organisation-wide agile transformation, building an innovative new product quickly, or building a collaborative and transparent team culture our goal is guide non-profits to embed the mindset, skills and tools to be more empowered, experimental and confident, with manageable workloads that deliver value.

Website: https://teamtilt.co.uk/
E: [email protected]

In this exciting first episode of season 3, Sophie has a heartfelt conversation with Fiona Ross, an esteemed coach who specialises in empowering men to find balance, wholeness, and integrity in their lives.

Sophie and Fiona delve into a thought-provoking discussion about the role of men in the midst of the rise of feminism. While feminism has brought about significant positive changes for women, it's important to acknowledge that men should not be excluded from the conversation.

This episode explores the necessity of embracing both masculine and feminine energies in the world, understanding that true harmony and progress can only be achieved when men and women blend their unique strengths and work together as allies.

Drawing inspiration from the concept of yin and yang, Sophie and Fiona explore the idea that achieving a sense of equity between genders is more significant than simply pursuing equality. They challenge the notion of a victim society and discuss the unfortunate reality that men often feel apprehensive about being alone with women, fearing false accusations and potential harm to their reputations. It's crucial to create an environment that fosters trust, understanding, and respect between both genders.

This episode sheds light on the struggles faced by men in our modern society. Fiona shares her observations from working with male clients, who often find themselves sacrificing their own well-being, attempting to shoulder all responsibilities, and ultimately burning out. Shocking statistics on male suicide highlight the urgency of addressing these issues and creating a supportive and peaceful world for men.

The conversation delves into the concept of mansplaining, examining instances where women unintentionally emasculate men whilst also tackling the idea of toxic masculinity and the importance of holding space for men's vulnerability. Society has conditioned men to suppress their emotions, leading to a fear of judgment and ridicule for displaying any form of sensitivity or fear. It's time to redefine masculinity and create an inclusive culture that allows men to embrace their emotions fully.

Additionally, this episode explores the significance of male camaraderie and the impact of the closure of traditional gathering places, such as pubs, on men's mental well-being. Men need spaces where they can connect with other men, build friendships, and share their experiences without judgment. The demands placed on men and the lack of emphasis on self-care have resulted in many neglecting their own needs, leading to burnout and dissatisfaction.

Join us on this eye-opening journey as we shed light on the importance of embracing men's unique qualities, supporting their well-being, and creating a world where both men and women can thrive together. It's time to break free from societal expectations and foster an environment that encourages authenticity, vulnerability, and collaboration.


Mentions:
Brene Brown – Dare to Lead: https://www.waterstones.com/book/dare-to-lead/brene-brown/9781785042140
The Power of the Masculine Archetypes Profile Quiz: https://fiona-ross.co.uk/freebies/masculine-archetypes-profile/

How to find out more about Sophie:
LinkedIn: Sophie Bryan (https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophiebryan/)
Facebook: @Sophiebryan.coach (https://www.facebook.com/sophiebryan.coach)
Insta: @Sophiebryan.coach (https://www.instagram.com/sophiebryan.coach)

E: [email protected]
W: ordinarilydifferent.co.uk, sophiebryan.co.uk,
TEDx Talk: https://montessorimindset.co.uk

How to find out more about Fiona:
LinkdIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fionarosscoach/
Website: https://fiona-ross.co.uk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BecauseMenMatter

Sometimes Sophie & our guests get super passionate about their topic and therefore, some “passionate” language might crop up! You might want to wear headphones or make sure young ears aren’t around, and if this is not your cuppa tea, this might not be the podcast for you.

What does International Women's Day really mean to a 12-year-old in 2024?

Join Sophie, workplace culture disruptor and sex coach, as she sits down with her daughter, Mila, for a raw and honest conversation about freedom, equality, and the future of womanhood.

From Gen Z perspectives on millennials to candid discussions about sexuality and the need for educational reform, this isn't your typical IWD episode. Prepare for a powerful intergenerational dialogue that will challenge your assumptions and ignite hope for a more equitable world.

Mila's voice, brimming with passion and conviction, will leave you inspired and ready to amplify the voices of the next generation.

In this special mini-episode, (the Sophie Solo I like to call them), I dive into some personal stories of mine all around loneliness.

This is a topic that I find people rarely talk about from a career perspective, but more from a personal perspective, but this was something that came about when I was thinking back on my own career path.

Having been in a corporate leadership role from a young age, I wanted to share my experiences in this, and also now years later as I run my own business, the loneliness still resides.

HR can also really keep you in a silo, due to the nature of the job and knowing highly sensitive information, makes for a very lonely experience. Where does HR go, when they are the leaning pillar for the company?

As a business owner now, I try to surround myself with vibrant people who can help me learn, grow and have a good time too. But as an entrepreneur, you need to actively seek out this as you don’t have colleagues you can fall back on.

If you are feeling this, know you are not alone and things do get better. Harness the power of your loneliness, lean on those around you and find your tribe!

Give me a shout on social, lets connect:
LinkedIn: Sophie Bryan (https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophiebryan/)
Facebook: @Sophiebryan.coach (https://www.facebook.com/sophiebryan.coach)
Insta: @Sophiebryan.coach (https://www.instagram.com/sophiebryan.coach)

E: [email protected]
W: ordinarilydifferent.co.uk, sophiebryan.co.uk,
TEDx Talk: https://montessorimindset.co.uk

Sophie and Libby delve into the topics of feminism and International Women's Day. They explore the different ways in which women are perceived in the workplace and the wider world.

Sophie shares her personal journey as a young leader at the age of 25 and the challenges she faced in leadership roles not only as a woman but as a young leader. They discuss how certain leadership styles can lack authenticity and limit your potential to add value and emphasize the importance of being able to shine as yourself rather than simply fulfilling a role description.

Sophie and Libby also touch on the issue of pinkwashing and how it tends to occur on International Women's Day. They also debate the leadership styles of agentic and communal leadership – directive and authoritative – and how to find the balance between them. They stress the importance of looking at how people lead rather than letting their gender define their leadership style.

Moreover, they address the misconception of gender and how women and men are perceived differently, and highlight the problems within feminism. They explain that it's not about the gender you present as, but rather about the expectations attached to that gender that can prevent you from delivering your full potential. Lastly, Sophie debates with Libby about the case for men and how it's important to talk about men's issues and problems equally as women.

Mentions and references: Burnt by the Spotlight paper: https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2021-19394-001

How to find out more about Sophie:
LinkedIn: Sophie Bryan (https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophiebryan/)
Facebook: @Sophiebryan.coach (https://www.facebook.com/sophiebryan.coach)
Insta: @Sophiebryan.coach (https://www.instagram.com/sophiebryan.coach)
E: [email protected]
W: ordinarilydifferent.co.uk, sophiebryan.co.uk, TEDx Talk: https://montessorimindset.co.uk

How to find out more about Libby:
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/libbyvincent/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/theceospad
Website: https://www.libbyvincent.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theceospad/

In this episode, Sophie sits down with Lindsey Agness, one of the leading experts in neuro-linguistic programming (NLP), and the author of the book 'Change your life with NLP'.

Sophie and Lindsey dive deeper into the principles of NLP and how it can be used to help individuals overcome various challenges in their lives. They discuss how NLP works by understanding how the brain processes information, and how this can be used to change behaviours and thought patterns.

Lindsey shares her insights and experience from many years of working with clients using NLP, and how it can help people overcome phobias, fears, and other limiting beliefs. She also talks about how NLP can be used to improve communication, build rapport, and achieve greater success in personal and professional relationships.

Sophie shares her own personal experience with NLP and how it has helped her to overcome certain challenges and improve her life. She discusses her current journey of becoming an NLP master, and the various techniques and strategies she has learned along the way.

The conversation then turns to a comparison of NLP with CBT therapy, and the differences in the time it takes for each to show results. Lindsey and Sophie explore the benefits of each approach and how they can be used in conjunction with each other to achieve optimal results.

Finally, they discuss the many applications of NLP in the workplace, and how it can be used to improve leadership, communication, and team dynamics. Lindsey shares some examples of how NLP has been successfully used in various organizations to enhance performance and productivity.

Overall, this episode offers a fascinating glimpse into the world of NLP, and the many ways it can be used to help individuals and organizations achieve their goals and improve their lives.

How to find out more about Sophie:
LinkedIn: Sophie Bryan (https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophiebryan/)
Facebook: @Sophiebryan.coach (https://www.facebook.com/sophiebryan.coach)
Insta: @Sophiebryan.coach (https://www.instagram.com/sophiebryan.coach)
E: [email protected]
W: ordinarilydifferent.co.uk, sophiebryan.co.uk, TEDx Talk: https://montessorimindset.co.uk

How to find out more about Lindsey:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsey-agness-3562871/
Change your life with NLPL: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00A8N8IO4/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0
Browse Lindsey’s other books:https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lindsey-Agness/e/B001JRYZAY%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share

In this episode, Sophie sits down with former police hostage negotiator Scott Walker to talk about the art of negotiation. Scott has a new book coming out called "The Order of Chaos," which Sophie describes as a user's manual and ethos for negotiating and communicating effectively in daily business and personal life. Drawing on his real-life experiences in hostage negotiation, Scott provides many tools and strategies for negotiation, which he discusses further in the podcast.

The conversation kicks off with a discussion on mindset and how having the right mindset sets the tone for negotiation. Scott emphasizes the importance of clear, objective, and rational thinking in all communication. Managing your state of mind is crucial to articulating yourself appropriately in any given situation.

Building trust is also a key element of successful negotiation, and understanding the needs of the person you're negotiating with is essential. Sophie and Scott go on to define sympathy, empathy, and compassion. Scott breaks down empathy into emotional and cognitive empathy and explains how the two lead towards compassion. He argues that being sympathetic is not effective in negotiation.

Lastly, they delve into the impact of teams within an organization, particularly the need for a red team. A red team helps identify potential dangers and "what ifs." For a red team to be effective, an organization must fully commit to hearing what they have to say and taking appropriate action in response.

Overall, this episode provides valuable insights into negotiation and communication, drawn from Scott's wealth of experience as a hostage negotiator. So, whether you're negotiating in business or in your personal life, this podcast is a must-listen.

How to find out more about Sophie:LinkedIn:
Sophie Bryan (https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophiebryan/)
Facebook: @Sophiebryan.coach (https://www.facebook.com/sophiebryan.coach)
Insta: @Sophiebryan.coach (https://www.instagram.com/sophiebryan.coach)

E: [email protected]
W: ordinarilydifferent.co.uk, sophiebryan.co.uk
TEDx Talk: https://montessorimindset.co.uk

How to find out more about Scott Walker:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottaw/
Pre-order Scott’s Book: https://www.scottwalkerbooks.co.uk/

Sometimes Sophie & our guests get super passionate about their topic and therefore, some “passionate” language might crop up! You might want to wear headphones or make sure young ears aren’t around, and if this is not your cuppa tea, this might not be the podcast for you.

In this podcast, Sophie moves away from the cultures of workplaces and discusses businesses from a customer or clients’ point of view with George Beverly of Insightful UX. George’s business helps organisations understand their clients’ customers / clients and the different cultures within their customer base to help organisations deliver their services or products effectively.

The episode looks at how consumers of products are extremely diverse and George – who in his podcast, The Audience Detective, discusses Ginger Nuts biscuits as an example; Ginger Nut biscuits have a client base of builders, nurses, and pregnant women. A kaleidoscope of different people with different reasons for purchasing the product but organisations must find a commonality among all these diverse individuals.

This episode also touches upon stories and particularly the ‘Stories which we tell ourselves’ - a phrase coined by Brene Brown. Sophie and George discuss how stories are so influential in our lives, businesses and elaborate on how we convince ourselves with these stories whilst rarely look for the facts behind them and running without first hypothesis.

Books / Mentions
People:Clayton Tristianson: https://claytonchristensen.com/
Brene Brown: https://brenebrown.com/
Books:
Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Carderman: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Thinking-Fast-Slow-Daniel-Kahneman/dp/0141033576
The Science of Storytelling: Why Stories Make Us Human, and How To Tell Them Better by Will Storr: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Science-Storytelling-Will-Storr/dp/0008276935
Gallop Survey: https://www.gallup.com/analytics/318875/global-research.aspx

How to find out more about Sophie:
LinkedIn: Sophie Bryan (https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophiebryan/)
Facebook: @Sophiebryan.coach (https://www.facebook.com/sophiebryan.coach)
Insta: @Sophiebryan.coach (https://www.instagram.com/sophiebryan.coach)

E: [email protected]
W: ordinarilydifferent.co.uk, sophiebryan.co.uk
TEDx Talk: https://montessorimindset.co.uk

How to find out more about George Beverly:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgebeverley/
Insightful UX: https://insightfulux.co.uk/
Linktree:https://linktr.ee/georgebeverley

Sometimes Sophie & our guests get super passionate about their topic and therefore, some “passionate” language might crop up! You might want to wear headphones or make sure young ears aren’t around, and if this is not your cuppa tea, this might not be the podcast for you.