Sitting With

Last night I found myself thinking:“What the f*ck am I doing?”We’re launching a small shop today—cakes, fudge, jewellery—run by my daughters.But in the middle of burnt fudge, a messy kitchen, and a late night… I started questioning everything.Do I really have time for this?Am I just creating more work for myself?Is this actually going to teach them anything?And then something shifted.This episode is a real-time reflection on:parenting and pressurecreating meaningful time with your kidsteaching responsibility and the value of moneyand why the things that feel hardest often matter mostThere’s no polished ending—just the reality of trying to get it right.We launch at 3:30pm today… so we’ll see how it goes.

This week, I’ve decided to try something different with my daughters.Not pocket money. Not rewards.A shop.“Bubs & Bug” is something they’ll run themselves — baking, making, selling — and learning what money, effort, and responsibility actually mean along the way.Because the truth is:Kids today don’t go without much… and that comes with a cost.In this episode, I talk about:Why I’ve struggled to get the balance right with money and parentingThe reality of co-parenting, generosity from family, and modern expectationsThe lessons I want my girls to learn about effort, value, and resilienceAnd why business, for me, has always been about freedom and flexibilityThis isn’t about making money.It’s about understanding it.And maybe… planting a seed for something bigger.Let’s see how it goes.

The last few days have been some of the heaviest I’ve experienced.What started as a short trip to Austria quickly turned into a race home after getting a call that changed everything. Within 24 hours, Becky lost her mum… and I lost my nan.In this episode, I talk through what happened, how quickly life can shift, and what really matters when everything else falls away.No big lessons. No overthinking.Just a real reflection on family, being present, and showing up when it counts.

9 months ago, I launched Renew Education.I had a plan.I thought I’d mapped it out properly.I expected steady growth, a clear model, and some level of control.That’s not what happened.We opened in September… and by November, we had no pupils.Payroll was going out. Nothing was coming in.And the pressure started to build.In this episode, I talk through:What I thought would happen vs what actually didThe reality of getting onto local authority frameworksThe emotional weight of running a business with no revenueHow we went from zero to reaching capacityWhy relationships and action mattered more than the original planAnd the biggest lesson:The plan didn’t grow the business.The decisions we made after it started did.If you’re building something—or thinking about it—this is the reality of those early months.

My house is a mess.Toys everywhere.Half-eaten breakfast left out.Rooms that look like chaos.And if I’m honest… it used to frustrate me more than it should.In this episode, I talk about something I recently heard — “the golden blink” — and how it completely shifted my perspective on parenting, time, and what really matters.With only seeing my daughters 50% of the week, I’ve started to realise just how quickly this phase of life passes… and how easy it is to miss it while being distracted, busy, or caught up in things that don’t really matter.I also reflect on:The balance between being present and building a businessWhy we sometimes get frustrated with the wrong thingsThe importance of not just loving our children, but also building resilienceAnd the question every parent should ask themselves: “What would my kids say about me?”This one is raw, honest, and a reminder to appreciate the mess — because one day, it won’t be there anymore.🎧 ChaptersThe Mess at HomeCo-Parenting & Time PressureSmall Frustrations That BuildA Moment That Makes You PauseThe “Golden Blink” ConceptIzzy & LeilaThe Question That Hit MeBusiness vs Being PresentWhere Parents Get It WrongAre We Making Life Too Easy?Final Thoughts: Embrace the Mess

One of the scariest things I’ve realised as a parent is this…Our kids will believe the things they tell themselves — even when those beliefs aren’t their own.In this episode, I reflect on a moment with my daughter that stopped me in my tracks:“I can’t play football… I’m a girl.”From there, this episode explores how beliefs are formed, how they quietly shape behaviour, and why the words we hear — and repeat — matter more than we think.I also share my own experiences with limiting beliefs in business, sport, and life… and how those internal stories can hold us back just as much as they can push us forward.We also touch on:Why children repeat what they hear (and how it becomes their truth)The balance between building confidence and challenging your childThe importance of praising effort over outcomeHow belief and hope can dramatically change performance (including a powerful experiment you won’t forget)Why the language used at home matters more than we realiseIf you’re a parent — or someone trying to push past your own limits — this one will make you think.Because the words we repeat daily… don’t just stay as thoughts.They become reality.

This week’s episode is a real one.My 12-year-old wants Snapchat.Her mum has said yes… I’ve said no.So now she has it half the week — and it’s created tension.In this episode, I talk through:why I’ve taken a firm stance on social media at this agewhat I actually think I’m protecting as a parentthe challenge of co-parenting with different boundariesand why saying no is often the harder — but better — choiceHaving downloaded Snapchat myself this week, it only reinforced my view.This isn’t really about one app.It’s about standards, boundaries, and what we’re teaching our children long term.Easy choices, hard life. Hard choices, easy life.If you’re a parent navigating similar decisions, this might resonate.🎧 What We Cover in This EpisodeA real co-parenting situation around social media and SnapchatWhy I’ve taken a firm stance on my 12-year-old not having itWhat I’m actually trying to protect as a parentWhat I saw after going on Snapchat myselfWhy “everyone else has it” isn’t a good enough reasonThe long-term impact of saying yes too earlyThe challenge of saying no (and not being liked for it)Parenting vs being your child’s friendTeaching earning vs expecting at homeNavigating different boundaries in co-parentingThe standard I’m trying to set for my daughters long term

This episode is a reflection on standards and where they come from.After watching a recent series featuring Gordon Ramsay, I found myself thinking about how high-performing leaders set the tone for the teams around them. From restaurant kitchens to schools, sport and business, culture is shaped by the expectations set at the top.I also reflect on leadership in my own businesses, the importance of knowing where you add the most value, and why industries like hospitality can be one of the best training grounds for young people.

This week I reflect on the emotional rhythm of parenting — the connection, the separation, and the moments that really matter. From a peaceful weekend with my daughters to the unexpected emotional shift of the Monday school drop-off, and why the small, silly moments are often the ones children remember most.

This episode was inspired by listening to The Diary of a CEO, where Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO of Uber, said: “You have to learn how to work hard.”But can work ethic actually be taught?In this episode, I explore what “working hard” really means — from football pitches and school classrooms to business setbacks, losing my best friend, and navigating fatherhood.I reflect on whether resilience is something we can intentionally build in our children, why I’m making my daughter debate social media instead of simply saying no, and the tension between hard work and balance.Can you work hard without sacrificing presence?Are we raising capable children — or comfortable ones?And ultimately, what are we modelling every day?A personal reflection on effort, parenting, resilience, and building a life rich in experiences — not just achievements.

In this episode, I reflect on a moment that happened at a charity event this weekend.Someone made a beeline for me — not to say hello — but to mock me about my social media and post a photo of me and Becky into a WhatsApp group called “Kirk Watch.”It caught me off guard more than I expected.This episode isn’t about drama. It’s about what happens when you put yourself out there.Why does criticism sometimes sting — especially when it comes from people you thought were in your corner?Is adult bullying just insecurity dressed up as humour?And is friction simply part of growth?I talk about visibility, projection, choosing your circle carefully, and why you shouldn’t take criticism from people you’d never go to for advice.If you’re building something, posting online, or stepping into something new — this one’s for you.Still learning. Still building.

Episode Description – Resilience Is Useless Without EnergyIn this episode, I reflect on resilience — and whether tough moments in life actually rewire us.I talk about the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), the part of the brain linked to handling discomfort and pushing through hard things, and how experiences like losing my best friend, going through divorce, and starting new ventures may have strengthened that circuit.But there’s another side to resilience.If we’re building tolerance for stress… why do energy levels still dip?This episode explores hard moments, chasing challenge, systems, sleep, early morning training, and why protecting your energy might matter more than signing up for the next difficult thing.Because maybe resilience is pointless if you don’t have the energy to enjoy what you’re building.Still thinking it through.

Leadership doesn’t have to be loud.In this episode, I reflect on the idea of quiet leadership — inspired by a recent conversation between Simon Sinek and Emma Grede — and how real leadership is less about being in charge and more about taking care of the people in your charge.I share my own journey from being a shy, self-doubting child to captaining football teams, leading in education, and now building a business on my own. From imposter syndrome and fear of speaking up, to learning how trust, empathy, and leading by example can bring out the best in others.We explore why:People want to feel seen, trusted, and understoodLeadership isn’t about shouting or dominanceQuiet leaders often create the strongest culturesCare, consistency, and example matter more than authorityI also touch on leadership lessons learned through sport, teaching, and business — and why the leaders who inspire us most don’t always have the loudest voices.A reflective episode for anyone leading a team, a business, a classroom — or simply trying to lead better in everyday life.

What do children really want from us as parents?In this episode of Sitting With, I reflect on a family skiing trip and the realisation that hit me when I watched the memories back weeks later.It wasn’t the mountains, the destination, or the experience itself that mattered most — it was presence.I talk honestly about parenting, phone use, and why children value feeling seen, heard, and listened to more than toys, treats, or expensive experiences. I also touch on insights often highlighted by the Harvard Study of Adult Development and UNICEF, which consistently point to connection and relationships as the foundation of long-term happiness and wellbeing.A reminder to myself — and maybe to you too — that it’s not the place children remember, it’s how they felt.

A few reflections from the week.Spoken in one take, without a script — just things worth sitting with.