Space to Think

What does it really take to lead a school and what keeps people going?Simon Botton is an executive headteacher in South Gloucestershire, leading two primary schools and serving as Head of Inclusion for a seventeen-school multi-academy trust. He has been a headteacher for nearly twenty years and is the author of Head Teachering: A Practical Guide with the Messy Bits Left In.Simon wrote the book because he was concerned about a profession telling its story badly, editing out the doubt and difficulty, and in doing so, making headship feel unattainable for those considering it. This conversation is the antidote to that: grounded, honest and quietly hopeful.Together we explore:Why Simon wrote Head Teachering and the question the book is trying to answer.The edited certainty of leadership culture online and why leaving the messy bits in matters.Moral purpose as the thing that sustains and what Simon means by measuring success in decades.Isolation in headship: what it looks like when leaders retreat and why connection is not optional.The wellbeing realities of twenty years in the role - compartmentalising, exercise and the difference between long hours and productive ones.Coaching new heads through overwhelm - arriving with no trust in the bank and learning to live with the chaos long enough to address it.Whakapapa: the Māori concept Simon draws on in his final chapter about legacy, responsibility and what we pass on.What would it mean to lead in a way that still matters fifty years from now?

In this episode I chat with Elly Chapple - TEDx speaker, author of Diagnosis: Human and founder of The Power of the Pause training. Her work draws on two decades of walking alongside her eldest daughter, Ella. Her book is not, she is careful to say, a book about disability; it is a book for every human. It is about presence, vulnerability and what we lose when we let the fast, overstimulated version of life set the pace.In this conversation Elly and I talk about:Why the work of education starts with the adults, not the children.Sympathy versus empathy and why empathy has to linger.The bin lid, the front brain and what gets in the way of being present.Edges: knowing where ours are and honouring other people's.Why difference doesn't threaten us, it reveals us.The small practices - breath, pause, safe relationships - that bring us back to ourselvesLinks to Elly's website, her book Diagnosis: Human and TEDx talk are below.Website - https://ellychapple.com/TEDx Talk - Diversity is the key to our survival: The Shoeness of a ShoeDiagnosis: Human

In this episode, I'm joined by Karen Gebbie-Smith, ASN Support and Development Officer with Aberdeen City Council, and Angela Johnston, Head Teacher at Daneston Primary School. Karen has built a series of professional learning book groups for senior leaders across the city and in this conversation, we focus on one of the early texts - Good Autism Practice for Teachers by Karen Watson. Angela has participated in the group and has found the text and the process so engaging and useful that she took the model back into her own school and watched it ripple outwards — into classrooms, into culture, into the way staff talk and communicate. Together we explore:How Karen came to use book groups as a professional learning tool and why a shared text has done something that ‘training’ alone often doesn't.The book itself: why it struck the balance between accessible and genuinely challenging both at a personal and collective level. The question at the heart of every session: what do you know now that you didn't know before?The shift from fixing children to examining environments and how language change drives culture change.What it takes to create a space where experienced leaders feel safe enough to say I don't know or I got that wrong.The ripple effect: from Karen's senior leader cohorts to Angela's whole-school book groups and the difference it made.Would you like to know better, to be able to do better?You can find Good Autism Practice for Teachers by Karen Watson wherever you buy your books. Or you can connect with Karen Watson via her website or her podcast.

I’m joined by Guy Claxton (Emeritus Professor of the Learning Sciences at the University of Winchester's Centre for Real-World Learning) and Emily Poel (a Berlin-based embodiment practitioner and trainer). Their new book, Bodies of Learning: How Embodiment Science Transforms Education, is now available.The book makes a serious, scientific case for putting mind and body back together - not as a wellbeing add-on, not as a few movement breaks in a long sit-down day, but as a different starting point for thinking about what learning is, and what schools are for.In this conversation, Guy, Emily and I talk about:Why the mind-body split, traceable from Plato to Descartes, still shapes what schools believe intelligence is.The 4Es of embodied cognition: enactive, embodied, embedded, extended.Why doing might be more primary than knowing.The "body-mind".Resilience as the willingness to stay intelligently engaged with something difficult.Epistemic safety in the classroom, and what it asks of teachers.Embodied leadership - not just as slowing down, but as nuance, discernment and options.The question they want every reader to sit with: what would an education at which everybody could win actually look like?Bodies of Learning is available from 26 May - https://www.bodiesoflearning.org/

What does belonging actually mean in a classroom and what does it require of us?Zahara Chowdhury is a teacher with eighteen years of experience across secondary, further and higher education. She is the author of Creating Belonging in the Classroom (Bloomsbury) and hosts the podcast School Should Be. Zahara brings both professional knowledge and personal experience to this conversation. Writing about belonging as a South Asian Muslim woman who grew up normalising assimilation and a practitioner meant writing from a place of real vulnerability. What she offers is not a framework to implement but an invitation to look more honestly at what we create and for whom.Together we explore:Why Zahara wrote Creating Belonging in the Classroom.The belonging triangle: representation, connection and voice and what each of these looks like in practice.Why belonging is not one-size-fits-all and why understanding your community comes before anything else.What we consistently underestimate, including the power of a smile, a question and being seen without judgment.Fear, repair and what to do when belonging breaks down in a classroom.What Zahara wishes more people in education were saying to one another.Zahara leaves us with this: what would change if we started seeing teachers as people?Connect with Zahara through her blog or her podcast, School Should Be.

What does it mean to think well and what gets in the way?Kati Driver is a former civil servant and coach who works with people in public service, helping them think more clearly, more honestly and more deeply. Her practice is grounded in Nancy Kline's Thinking Environment, a framework built on the belief that the conditions we create around thinking matter as much as the thinking itself.In this conversation, we explore what that actually looks like, not as an ideal, but as something that can be woven into the texture of daily professional life, even in busy, relational, interrupted environments like schools.Together we explore:How Nancy Kline's Thinking Environment has shaped Katie's practice.Attention as a component of thinking - what it means to give it fully and why it's transformational even in two-minute pockets.Equality as a starting belief, the belief that everyone you work with can think well for themselves and what shifts when you hold that.Incisive questions - what they are, how they work and why they matter. The promise of not being interrupted and what becomes possible when people are given space to reach their fifteenth thought.Silence as alive, not empty and what we miss when we mistake quiet for absence.What changes in groups and teams when they change the way they think togetherKatie leaves us with the question: what would change for you if you knew everyone you work with could think well for themselves?

A short introduction to Conversations in Education — what this podcast is, what it values and why it exists.A podcast that takes seriously the human complexity of working in schools, early learning centres and learning spaces of all kinds.If you've followed Space to Think, you'll recognise the spirit. If you're new here, this is a good place to start.Depth over speed. Inquiry over answers. Honest conversation about education as it is lived, led and felt.

In this episode, I’m joined by Miranda West, publisher and founder of the Do Book Company and the person responsible for turning the world’s doers into authors.Miranda spent nearly three decades in publishing before a family move to Switzerland, a rabbit hole online and an email to a small festival in West Wales led her to start something entirely her own. Since 2013, the Do Book Company has built a collection of over 50 compact, practical guides - from sourdough to knife sharpening, improvisation to loss - stocked everywhere from independent bookshops to the Tate.Together we explore:How a cold email to the DO Lectures became a publishing partnershipThe alchemy of commissioning - why some incredible talks will never become Do Books and a guide to knife sharpening sold out by Christmas.Handing full creative control to designer James Victoria and why those white covers became iconic.Do Pause, the book that found its moment twice: first on publication, then again when the entire world came to a stop.Miranda’s take on AI, where she draws a firm line and why she thinks transparency is the only way through.The new series she’s exploring - practical guides for teenagers, written for them to buy themselves.Miranda also walks us through what’s coming next from the Do Book Company including Do Loss, Do Blue and Do Curate by DO Lectures co-founder Claire Hieatt and a beautifully witchy October release on ancient wisdom and folklore. You can explore the full collection at thedobook.co and find the DO Lectures at thedolectures.com.

Curiosity creates space. This final Wild Fragment draws on a simple but powerful invitation from Michael Bungay Stanier to Stay curious a little longer.As a closing reflection for the season, this episode gathers the threads of the previous fragments - understanding, listening, tending, slowing - and offers curiosity as a kinder stance in leadership and life. Not as indecision, but as openness.A question to consider: What might happen if you stayed curious a little longer?Listen to the original episode here.

What if time isn’t something to manage, but something to relate to? This episode revisits my conversation with Sarah Stewart and the suggestion that We can’t control time… but we can change our relationship with it.This reflection explores how our experience of time is shaped by attention, presence, and meaning and not just schedules and productivity. It invites you to notice the quality of your time and to consider what might shift if time were approached with curiosity rather than control.A question to consider: What is your relationship with time right now?Listen to the original episode here.

In this episode, I return a very popular conversation with Cara Redpath about wild, wood-fired saunas in the context of wellbeing and recovery as Cara shares that Sauna has become an essential tool to healing in her toolbox.I reflect on wellbeing and healing as a lived practice - a gathering of small, supportive tools over time. It explores warmth not just as temperature, but as safety, ritual and care, especially in the darker months of the year.A question to consider: What are the tools in your own healing toolbox — and which ones do you need more of in this phase or season of life?Listen to the original episode here.

Burnout rarely arrives all at once. This Wild Fragment revisits the conversation with Hazel Anderson-Turner and the reminder that there’s only so long you can keep pushing before your body or your mind says, ‘enough’.This episode reflects on burnout as a slow accumulation rather than a sudden collapse, exploring the word enough not as failure or weakness, but as a boundary and a signal. With reference to Thomas Curran’s work on perfectionism, we also name the wider systemic context, particularly in education, where wellbeing is too often framed as an individual responsibility.A question to consider: What might your “enough” be trying to tell you?Listen to the original episode here.

What if the real work doesn’t begin with fixing?In this first Wild Fragment, I return to a conversation with Professor Viviane Robinson and the idea that a problem isn’t something to be solved; it’s something to be understood.This short reflection explores the pressure to act quickly in leadership and education and the quieter, braver work of curiosity before action. This episode invites you to slow the rush to fix and consider what becomes possible when we seek understanding first.A question to consider: Where might you still be trying to fix… instead of understand?

In this episode, I speak with Hannah Buchan, The Live More Coach, who is currently 71 days into a 100-day uplevel of her life and business.We explore:Hannah’s core value of “feeling alive” and how it shapes everything from big decisions to the smallest daily tweaks.What sparked the 100-day challenge during a period of illness, and her realisation she had been playing it very safe.The role of ‘cringe’ and life-giving fear, and why the things that make us shrink back are often the very things that move us forward.The surprising truth that she never feels like taking action, and the tools she uses to move through resistance anyway.A wonderfully eclectic list of her uplevels so far: new photos and videos, updating her website, saying yes to a big speaking engagement, starting ceramics, planting garden beds, adopting kittens, cleaning her car, wearing clothes that make her feel good, networking, and defining her Live More Method.How small, incremental upgrades change the texture of everyday life far more than grand, sweeping overhauls.Why rest, sleep and recovery have become foundational to sustaining the challenge, especially at this stage of life.And the question of Day 101: What happens when the challenge ends? Go dark? Extend to a full year? Something in between?Where to Find Hannah:Instagram: @thelivemorecoachWebsite: https://www.hannahbuchancoaching.com/Podcast: The Live More Experiment 

In this episode, I’m joined by Cara Redpath, nutritional therapist, women’s health specialist and self-confessed sauna enthusiast.Today we’re stepping into the heat with Cara Redpath, a nutritional therapist whose love of sauna has become both a personal practice and a professional calling. Cara shares the evidence behind sauna’s powerful effects on our nervous system and cardiovascular health, and the quiet revolution of wild, wood-fired saunas popping up across Scotland.What began as curiosity has become essential, a grounding practice that restored her nervous system, reshaped her work and connects her with community and the elements.Together we explore:The difference between gym saunas and wild, wood-fired saunas and why it matters.The science of heat shock proteins and how sauna supports cardiovascular, mental and cellular health.The interplay of heat and cold, and why women’s bodies respond differently.The power of community and conversation inside the sauna — a rare space without phones or roles, where everyone is simply human.How sauna culture across Scotland is offering warmth, rest and connection in the darker months.Cara also shares why she sees sauna as part of a preventative wellbeing toolkit — not a luxury, but a non-negotiable for living well.If you’re curious to explore this growing culture yourself, I’ve linked a few of the Scottish saunas Cara mentions from Wild Bathing in Oban to West Coast Wellness and Wild Ember Bothy at Loch Tay, each a small pocket of warmth in the dark months.

In this episode, I revisit a conversation with Tracey Ezard, author of Ferocious Warmth.Tracey describes ferocious warmth as the dance between head and heart - the balance of high expectations and high support, courage and care. We talk about what happens when strengths turn to shadows, why psychological safety is the foundation of real learning and how to build cultures that hold both love and accountability.Along the way, we explore:The daily dance between empathy and challengeWhy emotional intelligence is so important How self-awareness keeps us from slipping into fear or over-involvementThe role of trust and vulnerability in creating genuine collaborationWhy wellbeing isn’t an add-on, but a leadership behaviourIt’s a conversation about doing the human work of leadership, about having the right conversations, not just the easy ones.Mentioned: Ferocious Warmth by Tracey Ezard Timothy Clark’s The 4 Stages of Psychological Safety

In this episode of Space to Think, I speak with Clare Coghill, chef and owner of Café Cuil on the Isle of Skye.Clare shares her journey from growing up in a family-run hotel, to building her own café in East London, to returning home to Skye just as the pandemic reshaped everything. She talks about:How Skye and the seasons shape her menus and her creativityThe influence of Gaelic language and culture in her workThe realities of hospitality - from resilience to communityThe process of creating her first cookbook, a collection of five years of seasonal dishesThis is a conversation about creativity, community, and the courage to keep going.Clare’s cookbook publishes on 4th November. Pre-order here: Cafe Cuil CookbookFollow Cafe Cuil on instagram for details on the upcoming book tour!

In this gentle yet powerful episode, I speak with Karen Jarvis, a certified coach and grief educator, about the personal and professional journey that led her to found Reset and Rise Coaching.Karen’s story marked by early anticipatory grief, the sudden loss of her husband and her choice to leave headship shines a light on what it means to keep living, even when life changes in ways we never asked for.A content note for listeners:This episode includes open and honest discussion of bereavement, including the death of a partner and parents. If you're grieving or feeling vulnerable, please take care of yourself as you listen, or return to the episode when the time feels right.Together, we explore:How grief is more than death - it's any change we didn’t wantThe myths and misunderstandings that surround griefThe idea of "finding meaning" in life after lossWhat it means to witness someone’s grief rather than fix itHow we can better support others through practical compassionWhy storytelling helps us process griefThe small, steady steps that can help us live alongside griefKaren brings honesty, warmth and wisdom to this often-avoided topic. Whether you’re navigating grief yourself or supporting someone who is, this conversation offers language, space and hope.Glimmers of Hope is Karen’s new 4-week email series created to gently support you in your grief, wherever you find yourself on the journey.Across four weeks, you’ll receive emails that invite you to create space for your grief, give voice to what you’re carrying, find anchors to steady you and begin to step forward with grief alongside you.This short series is designed with care, offering practical tools you can use right away, while also leaving space for them to grow and change with you over time. You can move through at your own pace, with a sense of companionship through Karen’s voice notes, reflections and gentle guidance.Learn more here. Karen shares more in her regular Substack publication, Letters For The Heart or connect with her on instagram.

In this refreshing and grounded conversation, I speak with Sarah Stewart, time and project management expert, about how purpose-driven people, especially those leading or building something, can shift from firefighting to an intentional more holistic relationship with time.Sarah supports founders, leaders and teams who are feeling stretched, overwhelmed or just plain tired of the relentless to-do list. She helps people move from "I’m too busy to think" into a space of clarity and calm.In this episode, we explore:How personal stories, pace, and pressure shape how we workThe myths of productivity and why doing more isn’t the goalHow to shift from reactive work to intentional planningWhat gets in the way of sustainable time practicesHow systems can help us develop a better relationship with timeSarah’s approach is both practical and compassionate. Whether you’re leading a team, running a business or simply trying to carve out space to breathe, this episode will meet you where you are.More about Sarah’s work: www.sarahstewart.co.ukConnect with Sarah on Instagram

In this beautifully grounding episode, I speak with Fiona Doubleday - artist, educator, Substack writer and advocate for intentional living. Fiona shares her journey from a university lecturer to life as an exhibiting and teaching artist on the Isle of Arran.We talk about:Her pivotal moment at the kettle that changed everything.Living seasonally and creating a personal relationship with time.The power of noticing and how it transforms creativity.Creative flow, nature tables and the myth of "I’m not creative”Rest, renewal and what it really means to step off the hamster wheelFiona’s gentle wisdom is a balm for our fast-paced world. Be ready to fall back in love with your own patch of earth.Connect with Fiona on Substack - https://fionadartisan.substack.com/

In this episode writer and coach Claire Fitzsimmons shares the joy and intention behind “explorer days” - short, local adventures designed to help us see the familiar with fresh eyes. Rooted in her childhood experiences of spontaneous weekend outings, Claire’s practice has evolved into a way of nurturing curiosity, supporting independent businesses, and connecting with the people and stories that make up a place.In our conversation, Claire shares how explorer days began and why they still hold such meaning for her, weaving in the role of curiosity as a personal wellbeing barometer. We explore the importance of supporting local communities and seeking out independent spaces, as well as the value of micro-adventures and making them your own. Claire reflects on how the seasons shape these experiences, from sun-filled summer outings to the cosy allure of winter explorations.  Along the way, she recalls memorable places, from the Poetry Pharmacy to the longest street of independents in the UK, offering inspiration for finding small moments of novelty, presence and connection, wherever you are.I’m off to plan my own micro-adventures now! Subscribe to Claire’s Substack More Good DaysConnect with Claire on Instagram

In this episode of The Human Behind the Work, I’m joined by Santiago Rincón-Gallardo, educator, systems thinker and author of Liberating Learning. His work centres on a simple yet radical belief: learning is a practice of freedom.We talk about:How succeeding in school can still wound our capacity to learnThe moment Santiago reawakened his own power to learn and why that changed everythingThe role of mentorship, community and collective practice in shaping his thinkingWhat it means to lead cultural change in educationHis new framework for leadership that integrates the heart, head, and handsAt the heart of this conversation is a powerful invitation - become the leader you’ve been waiting for. Stop waiting for permission. Start from where you are, with what you have.This conversation was originally recorded as part of the World Education Summit. You can now access four years of Summit content for free at www.weslegacy.com.

In this episode, I’m joined by Guy Claxton, renowned cognitive scientist, author of over 30 books and a lifelong student of thinking, learning, and creativity. We explore:What it means to live intelligently (beyond IQ tests)The pivotal relationships that shaped Guy’s 50-year careerHis creative process, including the importance of not thinkingWhy fleeting ideas matter, and how to catch themThe power of silence and slowing down in classroomsA sneak peek into his next book We finish with a beautiful reflection on the value of thinking well and the humility in knowing we might be wrong.Connect with Guy Claxton:You can learn more about Guy’s work via his website, his published books and academic writing, including Hare Brain, Tortoise Mind and The Learning Power Approach.

In this episode of The Human Behind the Work, I’m joined by Professor Jo Boaler, a pioneering voice in mathematics education, equity and mindset.We explore:The deep inequities in how maths is taught and how that shapes young people’s identitiesJo’s creative process for translating research into accessible resourcesHer new idea of “Math-ish” and why asking for ish answers can unlock maths for more learnersHow she handles criticism and pushback What keeps her going when the work gets hardAt the heart of it all is Jo’s belief that all students can learn to high levels and that mathematics can be an open, creative and empowering experience.Mentioned in this episode:Math-ish the book and websiteYouCubed (Jo’s platform and teaching resources)This conversation was originally recorded as part of the World Education Summit. You can now access four years of Summit content free at www.weslegacy.com.

In this first episode of The Human Behind the Work mini-series, I’m joined by someone whose books have sat on my shelves and in my hands, many times over: Michael Bungay Stanier. You may know him as the author of The Coaching Habit, The Advice Trap and How to Work with (Almost) Anyone. This conversation is about more than his books.We explore:The dance between complexity and simplicityWhy he writes short books—and how he hopes people read themHis evolving “worthy goals” (including selling 10 million books!)How feedback and editing shape his processAnd the one question he asks himself every day: What do I want?This is a thoughtful, generous and quietly powerful conversation about doing the work that matters and being human in process.Mentioned in this episode:The Coaching HabitThe Advice TrapHow to Work with (Almost) AnyoneDo Something That Matters Journal Two Pages with MBS podcast - episode with Austin KleonThis conversation was originally recorded as part of the World Education Summit 2024.  You can now access 4 years of Summit content free at www.weslegacy.com 

This week, I’m sharing a conversation from the archives of the Changing Conversations podcast. Simon Breakspear was always a popular guest, and his episodes consistently topped our most-listened-to list. In this conversation Simon introduces the Pruning Principle, a powerful leadership approach that tackles the chronic issues of overwork and inefficiency.While Simon’s work is rooted in the context of schools and learning, his insights go beyond education. The Pruning Principle offers valuable lessons for anyone looking to streamline their efforts, whether in life, business or leadership. It’s about thoughtfully cutting back to create space for deeper impact and sustainable growth.If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by competing initiatives or endless to-do lists, this episode is for you. Join me as we explore how to clear the clutter and focus on what truly matters.💡 Resources & Links:Order Simon’s book The Pruning Principle Connect with Simon via his website

Burnout is more than just exhaustion - it’s a deep depletion that can leave us feeling disconnected from our work, our purpose, and even ourselves. In this episode, I’m joined by Hazel Anderson-Turner, coach and author of Coaching Through Burnout. Hazel brings both personal experience and professional insight to this conversation, considering how psychological flexibility, rather than just ‘pushing through’, can help us recover and prevent burnout in the first place. We also talk about the realities of working in high-pressure environments, the impact of values and self-criticism, and the small, practical steps that can make a real difference.💡 Resources & Links:Find Hazel’s book Coaching Through Burnout Connect with Hazel via her website, Instagram or LinkedIn🎧 If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, share, and leave a review!

In this episode, I sit down with Kiki, the founder of the Heiter community and magazine. Heiter might be a new word to some, but Kiki explains its meaning and why it resonates so deeply. More than just a translation, heiter embodies a way of living—styling our lives in a way that feels good, light, and joyful.Kiki shares the story of how Heiter came to life, the risks she’s taken, and the challenges and rewards of building both a community and a print magazine that uplifts and inspires. Our conversation has a gentle sense of nostalgia as we explore the essence of Heiter, the far-reaching connections it has fostered, and the beauty of a thoughtfully curated publication.Producing a print magazine is no easy task, and we discuss how to stay motivated through the harder parts of the process. Kiki’s honest reflections offer both inspiration and reassurance—reminding us that sometimes, taking just one small step forward is the bravest thing we can do.Now based in Edinburgh, Heiter has found a new home in a city that has already welcomed it with open arms. And as Kiki’s dreams for the future continue to grow, so too does the spirit of Heiter.I hope this conversation inspires you and brings a little heiterkeit to your day.Connect with Heiter on instragram for some daily heiter and behind the scenes insights. Find out more about the Heiter Community, workshops or treat yourself to a copy of edition 2, Homecoming.

In this episode, I’m joined by Belinda Kirk, adventurer, author, and founder of AdventureMind. We explore the profound impact adventure can have on mental health and well-being, from building resilience and confidence to fostering creativity and connection. Belinda shares her journey - from growing up with the freedom to roam, to discovering the life-changing power of the Duke of Edinburgh Award, to leading expeditions around the world.We discuss: Why adventure doesn’t need to be extreme or expensive - it can start with small, local challenges. How engaging in adventures builds boldness and confidence, especially for women and girls. The importance of play and adventure in education, and how outdoor experiences can support and inspire children and young people. The parallels between fear and excitement, and how adventure can help us redefine what we’re capable of. Why the modern world makes adventure more necessary than ever for our mental and physical well-being.Belinda’s passion for empowering people through adventure shines throughout this conversation. Whether you're a seasoned explorer or a beginner seeking inspiration to step outside your comfort zone, this episode offers practical insights and motivation.Read Adventure Revolution or connect with Belinda on Instagram @exlporeblinda or find out more about AdventureMind.

In today’s episode, I chat with Hannah Rosenberg, the talented writer behind @hannahrowrites. Known for her poetic and deeply relatable writing, Hannah shares her journey into creativity, what it means to her, and how she overcomes challenges along the way.We explore themes like: Finding inspiration: What sparks creativity and how her process has evolved over time. The personal touch: How her life experiences shape her art and help her connect with her audience. Navigating challenges: From self-doubt to imposter feelings, Hannah opens up about her strategies for staying grounded and moving forward. Dreaming: A tiny glimpse into her plans for the future.It’s an open, honest, and beautifully human conversation about the joys and challenges of living a creative life and will, I’m sure leave you feeling inspired. Where to find Hannah:Instagram: @hannahrowritesSubstack: https://substack.com/@hannahrowrites 

In this episode, I’m joined by Liz, a dedicated herbalist. We explore the rich intersections between herbalism, mindfulness, and the natural world. Liz shares her personal journey from landscape architecture to herbalism, which has its roots in a specific life experience and her childhood.This episode is filled with insights into the role of tradition, intuition, and self-care in modern herbalism.  Liz also shares some practical tips on incorporating herbalism into daily life and how simple practices like foraging or making remedies can be transformative.If you’ve ever been curious about reconnecting with nature, finding balance, or exploring the healing power of plants, this conversation will inspire and empower you.To support you in learning and exploring Liz has collaborated with the equally talented Kate to create ‘A Year in Herbs’, an interactive journal which introduces you to one herb a month through a collection of recipes, remedies & reflections. 12 months, 12 plants.Engage with Liz and Kate over on Instagram @the_honeybee_sanctuary and @katemillbank 

In this episode of Space to Think, we dig into the experience of Imposter Phenomenon—that unsettling feeling that somehow, we don’t truly belong in our successes or roles. Many of us, maybe even all of us, have felt this at some point. We worry we’ll be “found out” or think, "Why me?" when things go well. It’s a topic I encounter frequently with clients, and I’ve felt it myself, too.I’m joined by Hayley, who shares her insights into understanding and managing imposter feelings. We explore: What imposter phenomenon really is: It’s not just self-doubt but a deeply rooted belief that can make achievements feel unearned. Recognising the signs: Learn to spot the subtle ways imposter feelings can show up, especially during times of change or new responsibilities. Tools for navigating imposter moments: Hayley shares practical ways to reframe our thinking and build resilience when these feelings arise.Whether you’re stepping into a new role, working towards a big goal, or just curious about imposter experiences, this episode will give you the tools to recognise and gently manage these feelings.You can connect with Hayley on Instagram or LinkedIn

In this episode of Space to Think, I sit down with Harvard professor and world-renowned thought leader Amy Edmondson. With her extensive research into psychological safety and high-performing teams, Amy has shaped the way we understand collaboration and leadership in complex environments. Her latest book, The Right Kind of Wrong, takes a fresh look at failure - not as something to fear, but as a vital component of success.We explore the relationship between Psychological Safety, Teaming and the Right Kind of Wrong.  Amy’s work is a must-listen for anyone wanting to lead or work in a way that encourages learning, innovation, and resilience in the face of uncertainty. Tune in now to hear how to build psychological safety and team more effectively while transforming failure into a tool for success.Connect with Amy on LinkedIn or visit her website amycedmondson

In this episode of Space to Think, I sit down with designer and TV presenter Anna Campbell-Jones. You may know Anna as one of the judges on Scotland’s Home of the Year, but in our conversation, she reveals much more about her creative journey and life philosophy.We explore creativity, creating a brand, perfectionism and working with life’s ebb and flow. Anna shares personal stories and reflections, offering a reminder that sometimes, you just have to "make it look intentional" and not worry too much about what others think. It’s an insightful and relatable conversation for anyone navigating the complexities of creativity, work, and life.Listen now to hear Anna’s inspiring take on creativity, embracing imperfection, and finding trust in yourself.Connect with Anna on Instagram or check out her micro brand, Anna Campbell-Jones

Dr Lucy Kelly is Associate Professer in Education at Bristol University and author of Reimagining the Diary: Reflective practice as a positive tool for educator wellbeing.  Lucy is currently engaged in the process of writing her second book on the topic of Perfectionism. In this episode we unpack some of the definitions and research around perfectionism, how we might recognise it in ourselves and how we might work with it rather than having it work against us. Lucy openly shares about her relationship with perfectionism in life and writing. You can connect with Lucy here on X, explore Reimagining the Diary: Reflective practice as a positive tool for educator wellbeing or connect with the diary toolkit here. 

Join me in conversation with Anna Considine, the founder of Studio Gently, brand photography for kind and creative kin.  Boundaries are one of those things we often find it hard to clearly articulate what they are but we know when they’ve been pushed or trampled over. We can enforce them or stick to them when we aren’t clear what they are.  Anna shares the story of why boundaries in work (and life) are so important to her.  We consider how we might get really clear on what our boundaries are and how we then communicate and share them with others. Anna not only can talk about boundaries with clarity and honesty but she also embodies them and by sharing her experiences as she does in this conversation I know she’s helping a lot of others too.  We finish by touching on what Anna refers to as the symbiotic relationship between creativity and boundaries. You can explore Anna’s website for more information on how you can work with her or connect with her on Instagram to follow her brilliant photography.  Anna also enjoys LinkedIn so if you are over there, do connect and say hello.

Oliver Burkeman is well known for his best-selling book 4000 Weeks, a book that I have shared with many and I know (because they have been excited to tell me) it has shifted their thinking, changed their relationship with time or their inbox or given them a new perspective on decisions they’ve been pondering or indeed agonising over.  4000 Weeks encourages us to embrace our limits and let go of perfectionism. In this episode Oliver and I touch on 4000 Weeks (it’s impossible not to) alongside his upcoming book Meditations for Mortals (out on 12 September and available for pre-order). Meditations for Mortals is designed as a ‘retreat for the mind’, 28 short chapters that Oliver encourages you to read daily, finding and practising the inner shifts in new or different ways. Sign up for Oliver’s twice monthly The Imperfectionist newsletter hereConnect with Oliver on X

An episode from the archives.  This conversation with Oliver Burkeman was originally recorded for my Changing Conversations podcast. Oliver Burkeman is well known for his best-selling book 4000 Weeks which encourages us to embrace our limits and let go of perfectionism. Up next is our conversation about his new book Meditations for Mortals which you can enjoy immediately after, or before, this episode!  Meditations for Mortals (out on 12 September and available for pre-order). Sign up for Oliver’s twice monthly The Imperfectionist newsletter hereConnect with Oliver on X

In this episode, I reconnect with friend and colleague Peter Dewitt.  Peter is the Founder and CEO of the Instructional Leadership Collective. Over the last 10 or so years Peter has written extensively on leadership and improvement in schools and facilities professional learning around the world. This conversation was an opportunity to reflect on where we are now and what’s changing or shifting in leadership and professional learning. We cover a variety of topics from happiness and Ikigai to partnerships, writing, leadership, facilitation and AI, the variety of which I think reflects life and leadership at this time. Find out more about Peter’s Instructional Leadership Collective - https://instructionalleadershipcollective.com/ Leading with Intention - How School Leaders Can Unlock Deeper Collaboration and Drive Results

In this episode, I chat with Maggie Farrar about presence in leadership. Maggie has worked in Education for many years as a teacher and as a leader, and found that her personal mindfulness practice was a cornerstone of her leadership practice.  Having trained as a mindfulness practitioner, her work with leaders focuses on supporting others to cultivate mindfulness in life and work. We explore how mindfulness practice and wellbeing, in general, have become more acceptable to talk about and how well they integrate into leadership practice and development. Maggie has a wonderful way of honouring the tradition in which her work sits and sharing it in a way that engages and supports busy, tired and often overwhelmed leaders. In 2022, Maggie published her book Leading With Presence, It’s An Inside Job. Her experience of leadership programmes was that they tended to focus on the outer world of leadership, leaving the inner world of leaders neglected and unexplored. She hopes that her book helps to re-dress the imbalance and supports leaders in cultivating awareness and practical ways of developing mindfulness and presence. Find out more about Maggie’s work - https://www.empoweringleadership.co.uk/ Connect with Maggie on X - https://x.com/FarrarMaggie Leading With Presence, It’s An Inside Job

In this episode I reconnect with Jennifer Abrams to chat about how we stretch our learning edges, the context for Jennifer's work is education and schools but the ideas and the insights she shares about how we as human beings learn and grow apply equally in any workplace and or work-based relationships and interactions. Jennifer has identified 5 facets to help us translate what it means to stretch and grow into practice: knowing your identities, suspending certainty, taking responsibility, engaging in reciprocity and building resiliency.   Each one and the connections between them invite us to reflect, question and learn about how we are showing up at work and how we can be better and add value. Connect with Jennifer on twitter and Instagram or visit her website Or listen to our previous conversation about having ‘hard conversations’ over on Changing Conversations 

In this episode, I chat with Sarah Roberston, designer, writer and mentor. I loved having the opportunity to unpick some of the elements that I know are important to her work and life. Sarah believes that we are all creative, we might bring that out in different ways but it’s within us all. We need to support and nurture that creativity and that may look different in different seasons of our work and life. This episode is for everyone, we’re all creative, we all need creative rest, we can all enhance our environment to support our creativity and in life we all need those creative reserves to support us, to find hope and to lead a full life. There are many ways to connect with Sarah:  Sarah’s website - These Are The Days Brand Seasons Substack and podcast Instagram Sarah has very kindly shared a special article on creativity and improvisation.

In today’s episode, I chat with Ian Sanders, Ian describes himself as a storyteller, energiser and author. His latest book is 365 Ways to Have A Good Day. This was a spontaneous conversation, we took the opportunity of a space in both our diaries about 24 hours after I asked Ian if he would be up for a chat. I love that about podcasting.  This is a very human conversation all about curiosity and storytelling and in many ways, the relationship between the two. If you’re like me, and thinking ‘I’m not sure I’ve really got a story’, you do, we all do, maybe we’ll help you uncover your story, your way. Find out more about Ian and his work on his website iansanders.comOr connect with him on Instagram or LinkedIn.

My guest today is journalist and founder of the Alnwick Story Festival as well as running The Heart Leap Substack, a self-development and writing community. I was curious to learn more about Suzy's experience of leaping, it's not a word of action I use often! Suzy reflects that for her, the leap is between the head and the heart. Such a small physical distance between head and heart, and yet, often this is where the struggle is. She shares some wonderful stories about how leaping has served her in different ways over the years.  We touch on those negative voices we all experience, the role of and relationship with feedback in our lives and work and we pick up my first guest, Robert’s ideas of improvisation. Suzy sees improvisation as an invitation. An invitation to step into the river of life, and for her, the worst thing she could do would be to not accept invitations. This is how she does everything, this is how she does life.  And so, I invite you to join us, and step into the river of our conversation. You can subscribe to Suzy's substack here.

In this first episode I am joined by Robert Poynton, amongst other things (which he’ll tell you more about) he is the author of three Do/Books on the topics of improvisation, pausing and conversation. Now.. I’m not going to lie…recording a conversation with someone who has written about these topics was a little daunting, we allowed the conversation to flow and meander through elements of pausing, improvisation and conversation.  It was a quick hour and there’s more we could have explored and I’m sure we will pick up some of those threads in the future. This is one of those conversations you’ll want to return to and listen again. I’d love to hear what connects with you most.

Welcome to Space to Think, a podcast where I create space to think through conversations with guests exploring their knowledge, insights and stories. Each conversation holds the potential for ideas to grow wild.Episode 1 with Robert Poynton (of Do/Pause fame) will land on 2nd May.