This Xmas special episode is a rewind to a new edition of one of my favourite episodes with actor, comedian and

singer Michael Crawford.

It was an absolute privilege to talk to Michael and particularly poignant as Michael had helped me get through a

chronic illness that he had suffered himself some years before.

Michael has had an extraordinary career in TV, the theatre and film, working alongside Gene Kelly,

Barbara Streisand, Walter Matthau and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

He has been described as one of our most outstanding all-around performers.

Michael talks about his early career, how his role as Frank Spencer in 'Some Mothers' became a springboard for a

film career and the painstaking detail and training he went into to perform the role of the Phantom in

'Phantom of the Opera' - an extraordinary Broadway and international success.

In these difficult times, I hope Michael's stories and reflections will bring a smile to your face and a warm glow to

your heart.

Finally, the disaster that interrupted his later career and how he recovered to renew his career on the West End-stage.

Episode credits;

Editor and sound engineer: Tim White email: [email protected]

Music:

Broken Elegance -Unconditionally

Growing Up, Elementary, Dreamtoflying and Childhood by Scott Buckley  

Audioautix  River Meditation

"All I ever wanted was to be heard"

Even now as we approach the end of 2021 only 2% of venture capital investment goes to female founders.

My guest Lynsie Campbell, Pittsburgh tech czar, single mum, entrepreneur founder of 2 tech startups, and author of a new book, This Better Work - charts her journey through the hyper-masculine world of tech startups.

Lynsie's career started in entertainment, working on the Rosie O'Donnell show and in music publishing. Even working with the likes of David Bowie and 

But it is her startup journey that has left the most significant imprint on her life.

In this episode, Lynsie talks about the stress and pressure which contributed to her divorce and breakdown.

How she had to struggle to be accepted and acknowledged as a startup founder by the male-run VC investment community

And how she is working to redress the imbalance by supporting female founders and publishing her new book.

How Lynsie's experiences have led her to a mantra of "happiness over heartache"

Lynsie's story highlights the challenges female entrepreneurs face to be seen and heard in the tech business community and the work that is still needed to redress this balance.

You can find Lynsie Campbell here

Twitter

LinkedIn

Lynsie's book, This better work

You can share your experiences about this episode on the

Turning the Tables podcast community page on Facebook.

And on Instagram TurningtheTablespodcast

Episode Credits

Editor and sound engineer: Tim White email: [email protected]

Host: Simon Ratcliffe

Music:

Broken Elegance -Unconditionally

River Meditation - Audioautix

When I'm gone LiQWYD

Scott Buckley - Life is

AB5 Piano strings - Tim White

Ginchy - meaning cool, groovy, happenin', awesome, kick-ass, rockin' . 

My guest Viola Dwyer's mission is to bring a greater humanity to the perception of disability.

Viola was born with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, a rare genetic condition that she shared with one of her sisters from birth.

The condition has presented enormous challenges for Viola and her family yet Viola has confronted these challenges with strength, determination, insight and no little good humour.

One billion people around the world live with some form of disability, which is around 15% of the global population, making it the world's largest minority group.

Viola's story is one of tremendous courage and shines the light on how unequally disability is still treated in our society.

Not only has Viola had to deal with the challenges of her condition, but she has also had to overcome a number of further traumatic life experiences.

Including the recent loss of her sister and soul mate to the condition. 

The imprisonment and subsequent death of her physician father.

And the continued struggle to find meaningful work and fund 24/7 care.

Despite these challenges, Viola has found joy in her partnership with her husband, Dan, 

and the determination to take on the cause of disability awareness through their YouTube channel, The Ginchiest.

I am delighted to be able to share Viola's emotional, candid and raw journey with my listeners. 

The challenges she faces daily put our own struggles into perspective. And, of course, she is not alone. 

At a time when diversity and inclusion are a significant focus for global society, we need to do so much more to recognise, embrace and support people and their families affected by disability.  

I encourage you to seek out their Youtube Channel, the Ginchiest, subscribe and share this story far and wide.

You can share your experiences about this episode on the

Turning the Tables podcast community page on Facebook.

And on Instagram TurningtheTablespodcast

Episode Credits

Editor and sound engineer: Tim White email: [email protected]

Host: Simon Ratcliffe

Music:

Broken Elegance -Unconditionally

River Meditation - Audioautix

When I'm gone LiQWYD

Scott Buckley - Life is

AB5 Piano strings - Tim White

The final episode in the three-part mini-series on mental health features my guest, agency leader, entrepreneur, and now mental health campaigner Michelle Morgan.

"I just cried and thought - I can't go on, I cannot go on, I can't do one more thing."

As a business leader, what do you do when struggling with your mental health?

And how do you deal with the stigma that still exists in the workplace around mental health?

"I got this throwaway comment - it's a bit awkward when you talk about your mental health to the business Michelle "

Behind the success of many leaders, there is a story of vulnerability and self-doubt. Michelle's story is one of a committed, high-achieving agency founder who, behind the success, was carrying deep feelings of shame and anxiety.

Ultimately, this culminated in a dramatic physical and mental burnout, leading to her step away from the business that had been her baby for nearly 20 years.

The workplace conversations and stigma that resulted from her mental health crisis were to play a big part in Michelle's future career direction. 

Michelle is now an ambassador for the Mental Health First Aid organization, a mental health first aid instructor, and founder of Pjoys, a pyjama business born out of her mental health struggle. 

In this episode, we talk about;  

How a traumatic childhood where her father repeatedly left home contributed to feelings of abandonment and shame.

Despite her business success, how Michelle found it hard to put any boundaries around her work commitments.

The events that lead up to her burnout and diagnosis of clinical depression.

And finally, how her experiences are being put to positive use, promoting mental health in the workplace, in her new Pjoys pyjama business, and in writing a book to be published later in the year - titled "Own your Awkward.'

You can contact Michelle at Pjoys or through LinkedIn.

You can pre-order a copy of Michelle's book Own your awkward here

 

Once again, I would like to thank The Alliance of Independent Agencies, who are partnering with Turning The Tables on this mini-series.

The Alliance is an organisation that takes the mental health and wellbeing of people in agencies seriously. Their Wellbeing Action Group promotes the importance of creating safe environments and building people's resilience. 

https://allindependentagencies.org/

You can share your experiences about this episode on the

Turning the Tables podcast community page on Facebook.

And on Instagram TurningtheTablespodcast

Episode Credits

Editor and sound engineer: Tim White email: [email protected]

Host: Simon Ratcliffe

Music:

Broken Elegance -Unconditionally

River Meditation - Audioautix

When I'm gone LiQWYD

Scott Buckley - Life is

AB5 Piano strings - Tim White

Dr Liz Miller has been at the sharp end of the journey from mental health prejudice to enlightenment.

A one-off, Liz Miller was the first woman in neurosurgery in the UK, a physician, campaigner, and writer noted for her outspoken mental health views and someone who has lived with bipolar disorder for much of her life.

Liz was sectioned three times but has come through to manage her condition without medication, relying on nutrition and psychological strategies she has developed from her research.

There is no doubt Liz has a unique view of the world of mental health from both the suffers and neurology perspectives.

Featuring in Stephen Fry's groundbreaking documentary, The secret life of a manic depressive, Liz played a part in the shift in perceptions and attitudes towards people suffering from depression and mental health issues. 

In 2008 she was voted Mind Champion of the Year by public poll for her work in the Doctors Support Network, a support group for people in the medical profession with mental health challenges. Yes, mental disorders have no boundaries!

In our wide-ranging discussion, we talk about:

The neurology of depression

How despite being part of the medical profession how Liz suffered prejudice because of her Bipolar condition

Her experience working with Stephen Fry on the programme

The strategies and coping mechanisms she has developed and published, based on her mood mapping research.

And finally, Liz's advice to people living with mental health challenges.

I would like to thank The Alliance of Independent Agencies, who are partnering with Turning The Tables on this mini-series.

The Alliance are an organisation that take the mental health and wellbeing of people in agencies seriously. Their Wellbeing Action Group promotes the importance of creating safe environments and building people's resilience. 

They even have an annual Festival of Happiness as well as promoting training for Mental First Aid Champions. If only every industry had this kind of support! 

https://allindependentagencies.org/

You can contact Dr Liz Miller via email: [email protected] 

Liz Miller book reference; Mood Mapping: Plot your way to emotional health and happiness

Share your experiences about this episode on the

Turning the Tables podcast community page on Facebook.

And on Instagram TurningtheTablespodcast

Episode Credits

Editor and sound engineer: Tim White email: [email protected]

Host: Simon Ratcliffe

Music:

Broken Elegance -Unconditionally

River Meditation - Audioautix

When I'm gone LiQWYD

Scott Buckley - Life is

AB5 Piano strings - Tim White

This is the first of a 3 part mini-series on mental health, with my guest Adam Rubins.

At the age of 12yrs Adam Rubins was set upon and beaten up in his local synagogue. 

How is it that a chance event in someone's childhood can set up a chain reaction that ultimately leads to a lifetime of battling depression?

Despite this childhood trauma, Adam Rubins has operated at a high level of performance and success in the high octane, high-stress world of entertainment and communications. 

Adam's career has spanned working as the marketing director of the Walt Disney Company and  CEO of a successful marketing agency Way to Blue.

Now committed to the cause of promoting mental health and wellbeing in the workplace, Adam's story is a brutally honest and revealing insight into the challenges faced by many people today in their working lives.

Adam talks about the particular pressures of expectation that contributed to his depression and burnout.

His advice to people who are struggling with mental health issues And his call on businesses to challenge the notion that shareholder value and employee wellbeing are at odds.

Having spent much of my career in advertising and suffered from depression, this is a subject dear to my heart.

This episode is supported by the Alliance of Independent Agencies, which are partnering with Turning The Tables on the mini-series.

The Alliance is an organization that takes the mental health and wellbeing of people in communications agencies seriously. Their Wellbeing Action Group promotes the importance of creating safe environments and building people's resilience. They even have an annual Festival of Happiness as well as promoting training for Mental First Aid Champions. How good is that!This is the kind of support and agenda that every industry and community needs.I would particularly like to thank Graham Kemp, Clive Mishon, and everyone at the Alliance for supporting this mini-series.

https://allindependentagencies.org/

You can contact Adam on LinkedIn

References Mickel Therapy

Share your experiences about this episode on the

Turning the Tables podcast community page on Facebook.

And on Instagram TurningtheTablespodcast

Episode Credits

Editor and sound engineer: Tim White email: [email protected]

Host: Simon Ratcliffe

Music:

Broken Elegance -Unconditionally

River Meditation - Audioautix

When I'm gone LiQWYD

Scott Buckley - Life is

AB5 Piano strings - Tim White

Ozlem Ozkan was born to Turkish parents but raised in the Netherlands.

She also has lived in Istanbul, Turkey and Aarhus, Denmark; and travelled across continents.

Ozlem's story is one of the struggles of identity torn between the traditional Turkish parenting approach and values and the more independent egalitarian culture of Dutch society.

As a teenager growing up, this created a heady cocktail of anxiety, self-doubt and self-analysis.

Despite this, now, as a woman, entrepreneur, author, podcaster, and coach Ozlem has navigated a course to a happier, more self-assured place.

Today Ozlem uses her experiences to do what she loves most, helping other people transform and find their true fulfilment.

Her recently published book the Student charts the emotional journey she travelled.

And in her Bridging podcast, Ozlem interviews people who bring stories of diversity, creative endeavour and personal growth.

Share your experiences about this episode on the

Turning the Tables podcast community page on Facebook.

And on Instagram TurningtheTablespodcast

Episode Credits

Editor and sound engineer: Tim White email: [email protected]

Host: Simon Ratcliffe

Music:

Broken Elegance -Unconditionally

River Meditation - Audioautix

When I'm gone LiQWYD

Scott Buckley - Life is

Journey Home by Day 7

A successful manager of a start-up yet feeling like an outsider. That was the backdrop to Alasdair Plambeck's healing journey and life transformation with Julie Roxane Krikorian. 

In this second part episode, we explore how a diagnosis of a chronic illness, Hashimoto's disease and an Ayahuasca Meditation Retreat prompted questions for Alasdair about the direction and meaning of his life.

The challenges that the Millenial generation face means the traditional lifestyle models are increasingly less motivating or even achievable.

For Alasdair and Julie Roxane, the question become why? Why are we doing this? What is the meaning of our lives?

And how Julie Roxane and Alasdair are using their experiences to help others through their Far Out Life business and podcast.

You can find out more about Alasdair and Julie - Roxane at their website, The far-out life.

Their podcast, Far-Out - adventures in unconventional living can be found on most podcast channels.

Share your experiences about this episode on the

Turning the Tables podcast community page on Facebook.

And on Instagram TurningtheTablespodcast

Episode Credits

Editor and sound engineer: Tim White email: [email protected]

Host: Simon Ratcliffe

Music:

Broken Elegance -Unconditionally

River Meditation - Audioautix

When I'm gone LiQWYD

Scott Buckley - Life is

Journey Home by Day 7

My guests in this two-part episode are the' far out couple' Alasdair Plumbeck and Julie Roxane Krikorian. Two people who came together through a serendipitous rejection of the lives they had been living.

Alasdair and Julie Rozane are podcasters, entrepreneurs, guides & coaches. In 2016 we both walked away from lives that had made them tired and sick and stepped into the unknown in search of a better way to live.

Julie Roxane and Alasdair met by chance in a chai shop in Rajasthan, India, whilst on a self-discovery journey.It was this chance meeting that changed their lives and set them together on a shared healing path.

In this first part, we hear about the events that led up to their serendipitous meeting in India.

From Julie Rozane about the hidden depression, anxiety, and abuse that characterized her childhood.

The meditation retreat in India, that was the catalyst for a deeper understanding and realization of the impact of events in her childhood.

And finally, how the unravelling of her identity was the beginning of rebuilding her and Alasdair's life together.

You can find out more about Alasdair and Julie- Roxane on their website, The far-out life.

Their podcast, Far-Out - adventures in unconventional living can be found on most podcast channels.

Share your experiences about this episode on the

Turning the Tables podcast community page on Facebook.

And on Instagram TurningtheTablespodcast

Episode Credits

Editor and sound engineer: Tim White email: [email protected]

Host: Simon Ratcliffe

Music:

Broken Elegance -Unconditionally

River Meditation - Audioautix

When I'm gone LiQWYD

Scott Buckley - Life is

Journey Home by Day 7

My guest on episode 30 of Turning the tables storyteller extraordinaire Diane Wyzga. Diane has, as she says, bathed in the garbage of life's adversities, creating compost for the opportunity for a joy-filled, purposeful life.

Having been a US Navy Nurse, Lawyer, Professor, Public Speaker, Litigating consultant, problem solver, wife, and daughter, she has seen life through many glasses.

Diane and I met through Seth Godin's Podcast fellowship, from which Turning the Tables and Diane's brilliant podcast Stories from Women who walk were born.

We talk about the events that have shaped Diane's life The triple adversity of Diane losing her job, her husband, and her mother in the space of 9 monthsHow a 500-mile journey along the Camino de Santigo helped Diane find new direction and fulfillment.And how storytelling has been a companion to help Diane navigate through life.

Diane's podcast Stories of women who walk

You can reach out to Diane through LinkedIn 

And her blog can be found here

Share your experiences about this episode on the

Turning the Tables podcast community page on Facebook.

And on Instagram TurningtheTablespodcast

Episode Credits

Editor and sound engineer: Tim White email: [email protected]

Host: Simon Ratcliffe

Music:

Broken Elegance -Unconditionally

River Meditation - Audioautix

When I'm gone LiQWYD

Scott Buckley - Life is

Journey Home by Day 7