Episode Four - Chance Conversations

‘I feel almost parental towards it. I've seen it as a tiny little trickle, and I've seen it beautifully pure, the water, as if you could take a drink out of it. There are elements of the walk that take you away from the river. There's either diversions or just naturally areas that we can't walk past, and I miss it. It doesn't feel like our walk. It doesn't feel like our journey when we're not next to the Thames.I'm almost tracking and tracing its journey, and I have 3 children, so I've seen their journey as they're reaching their mid to late teens, and it almost feels the same for the river and me’ – Ellie Lloyd-JonesIn-person connections and chance conversations life at the heart of this episode. After a fleeting exchange at the Coaching Outdoors LIVE @ Henley Business School in June 2024 Jonathan and Ellie embarked on a journey along the banks of the River Thames. The journey from Source to Sea with career coaching conversations along the way has been captured in their book; ‘Outdoor Coaching – A Practical Guide for Coaches and Supervisors to Working with Clients, Teams and Groups Using Blue-Green Psychology’. Set against the backdrop of seasonal change through spring into summer then autumn with blossom, blackberries and Virginia Creeper the River Thames remains a constant companion where deep bonds are formed. Our conversation weaves through an urgent need for land stewardship, the future of outdoor coaching and emergence of a new community based on shared values. AboutEllie Lloyd-Jones is the founder of Elevate Netwalking and is passionate about helping people reconnect with themselves and others through nature. After experiencing the pressures of corporate life and the resulting burnout, she found solace and clarity in the outdoors. This experience inspired Ellie to create spaces where others can step away from their busy routines, reduce stress, and gain fresh perspectives. Combining her experience in leadership and coaching with the proven benefits of nature, Ellie leads team coaching sessions and Elevate Netwalking events in Cheshire and has ambassadors in Cambridge and North Wales where the events are designed to foster meaningful connections and personal reflection. Website: https://www.elevatewithellie.co.ukLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellie-lloyd-jones-wild-coaching/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elevatewithellie/Jonathan Passmore is an internationally respected psychologist and one of the top 10 professional coaches in the world. He is also Senior VP at Coaching Hub, and part-time Professor of Coaching and Behavioural Change at Henley Business School and Professor Catedrático at the University of Evora, Portugal. Prior to joining Henley, he founded the UK’s first Coaching Psychology post-graduate masters degree programme in 2008 at the University of East London where he was programme director for five years. Jonathan has wide experience in consulting, having worked for both bespoke leadership development consultancy firms, and global companies including PricewaterhouseCoopers and IBM Business Consulting. Also, a prolific writer, Jonathan has authored more than 100 scientific papers and over 30 books.Website: https://www.jonathanpassmore.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-passmore-08427b57/To find out more:www.rootedrisingpodcast.com