Exploring the creativity of the human spirit with just five simple questions. Those questions give us a window to explore the journey and life story of people that look like they have it sorted.
Episodes
Sunday Aug 20, 2023
Sunday Aug 20, 2023
The power of community building, our communities are the social glue that holds life together and is so underrated. Only when we cut off, do we notice the gap and then the loss.
The podcast explores why community is essential, what happens when a community is broken, and why it is fundamental to human existence. Community is about the groups of people we identify with and support.
The word community is a word that is used often in business and in politics but what does it mean? In the news, we often hear that that’s that phrase from the business community or the wider community.
Are you consciously community building?
We all make assumptions that we live in a community and yet the description of what that means is actually very loose. Could you put a name or word to yours?
However, take your community access away and see what happens. Covid was a catalyst that both created and destroyed our communities. While it was not possible to meet in person, people stepped up and helped each other with food or shopping. However, that separation from our usual groups took its toll on so many.
Change is Coming
On Friday I was invited to a private viewing of a film set in the Findhorn Foundation. It is a well-established spiritual and ecovillage community. Brexit, Covid and then an arson attack have made the holding organisation insolvent, and huge change is coming. The film explored how difficult the journey has been, and opened the conversation about what is to come. I am on the perimeter of these changes and I am sure I will get to witness the best and the most difficult aspect of community leadership and decision-making as this story unfolds.
But it has made me think about my community and how I need to be more consciously building a network around me.
In this programme, I invite you to look at your circles and groups and how can you make them stronger. As Stephen Covey said we need to make time to sharpen the saw.
Life Passion & Business Podcast is about finding answers to life’s big questions through weekly interviews with guest speakers. The Shortcast is my ongoing commitment to staying inquisitive and passionate about life with whatever is alive for me each week. Follow the links below to discover what else is on offer.
Discover Life, Passion & Business:
There is a lot to gain from listening to other people’s stories, however, the real work begins by taking action in your own life. Now you’re here, please explore our Events and Resources pages to discover how Life Passion & Business can support you.
Quick Links:-
- The Five Questions eBook
- Focus Coaching
- Male Midlife Challenges
- Support the Podcast with BuyMeACoffee.com
(or click on the cup for more info.)
Thursday Jul 06, 2023
Thursday Jul 06, 2023
Part 2 of my conversation with Osbert Lancaster.
He is an expert in leadership and sustainability and started in the industry even before the word sustainability appeared in the business dictionary.
In part 1, we explored his early life and his choices towards his current career.
Now it is time to explore how the world of sustainability has changed over the last 30 years, Net Zero and small business, His biggest failure and the big success.
Part 2 Time stamp
3:00 Not all heroes wear capes
5:00 Working together, leadership and bringing people with you.
8:00 Having difficult conversation and finding common ground.
11:00 The new podcast for sustainability
12:00 Small business and the impact of Net Zero
15:00 Sustainability Goals & Narratives
19:00 What does a good life look like, and cultural shift.
23:00 Lessons learned from failure.
28:00 Biggest success
34:00 The out come from divestment
35:00 The wrap up.
There is much to take away from this conversation; we all know what must be done. We need to get started and work together.
Further details about this podcast, along with my Guest’s website and social links, are all available at:
https://lifepassionandbusiness.com/osbert-lancaster-leadership-for-sustainability
Life Passion & Business is dedicated to exploring what it takes to be Extraordinary, to face challenges and rejoice in the opportunities they bring, and expand our vision into new ways of thinking and living.
There is a lot to gain from listening to other people’s stories. However the real work begins by taking action in your own life.
For full details of Events, Resources and Services visit:
www.lifepassionandbusiness.com
Support For Podcasters:
Running a podcast is fun, but it takes time and dedication. Whenever you enjoy a podcast please share your appreciation with comments, likes, shares and reviews. It helps other listeners find good content and supports the content creators and their guests.
Another way you can support the Life Passion & Business podcast is with small donations: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/lifeandpassion
Thursday Jul 06, 2023
Thursday Jul 06, 2023
Leadership and sustainability, when change is on the menu, it requires leaders who are ready to create the vision and make the difficult decisions required to get there.
The world is constantly changing, but as someone now in his 60s, I have never seen this pace of change. Change is coming at us in almost every direction, and we must all step up to face it.
Leadership on all levels is the answer.
Part 1 of Leadership and Sustainability
Our guest on the show is an expert in leadership and sustainability. Osbert Lancaster has been in the industry even before the word sustainability appeared in the business dictionary.
Most of his early consultancy conversations involved a lot of explanations.
Our conversation explores his journey towards his chosen career. It begins with an unusual childhood, as much of his early life was spent travelling with his parents. They were social anthropologists living in various locations around the middle east. He was not aware at the time, but the experience gave him a window into a unique way of life.
Economic Development is a Sticking Plaster
When he was too old to travel, he did his time in a private boarding school as you do when your parents travel, and ultimately went on to university to study agriculture.
After twists and turns, he found himself in In economic development. It was while working in Poland in the 1980s that he realised economic development was about putting a sticking plaster on the failures of society and creating business opportunities out to other people’s misery.
That realisation led Osbert to explore the idea of sustainability and sustainable development and he has never looked back.
Time Stamps
21:00 Passion: How can we take action
22.30 success: feeling he was making a difference and what it takes to do that.
25:00 Thoughts on Sustainability, Politics and Leadership
28.46 Contribution: Leadership for sustainability podcast
31.45 Avoiding burn out
34:00 Meaning: Connection and belonging
41:00 Leadership and sustainability
I found time to make some time stamp notes let me know if they are useful.
The next part of my conversation will be available shortly make sure you’re following This podcast see notification when it arrives.
Part 1 of our conversation explores Osbert’s life and our normal questions.
Part 2 takes an in-depth look at leadership and how that fits in to the sustainability narrative.
Further details about this podcast, along with my Guest’s website and social links, are all available at:
https://lifepassionandbusiness.com/osbert-lancaster-leadership-and-sustainability
Life Passion & Business is dedicated to exploring what it takes to be Extraordinary, to face challenges and rejoice in the opportunities they bring, and expand our vision into new ways of thinking and living.
There is a lot to gain from listening to other people’s stories. However the real work begins by taking action in your own life.
For full details of Events, Resources and Services visit:
www.lifepassionandbusiness.com
Support For Podcasters:
Running a podcast is fun, but it takes time and dedication. Whenever you enjoy a podcast please share your appreciation with comments, likes, shares and reviews. It helps other listeners find good content and supports the content creators and their guests.
Another way you can support the Life Passion & Business podcast is with small donations: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/lifeandpassion
Thursday May 04, 2023
Thursday May 04, 2023
Howard Gunstock Carbon Kapture Launch
Carbon Kapture has launched. In our weekend show, I explored how we take that dream and make it a reality. It brought to mind a past guest Howard Gunstock who is doing just that.
Our show is a follow-on programme, a chance to catch up with this fantastic project.
It has been six years since Howard's life was turned upside down; you can find the story in his original podcast. The potted version was that in the space of months, all of Howard’s close relationships ended or changed, leaving him empty and believing his life had become meaningless. It was at that point that he heard Greta Thunberg speak at Davos.
It was a road to road to Damascus moment, and three years on we stand at the start of a project that can potentially change the world.
Carbon Kapture is a project that will support rural areas by providing sustainable work and growing seaweed to improve the local ecology. The seaweed, once removed, will be processed and the carbon safely sequestered.
This show explores the ups and downs of bringing something new into reality.
Check out the new project and maybe buy some rope at https://CarbonKapture.com
Further details about this podcast along with my Guest’s website and social links are all available at:
https://lifepassionandbusiness.com/howard-gunstock-carbon-kapture-the-launch/
Life Passion & Business is dedicated to exploring what it takes to be Extraordinary, to face challenges and rejoice in the opportunities they bring, and expand our vision into new ways of thinking and living.
There is a lot to gain from listening to other people’s stories, however the real work begins by taking action in your own life.
For full details of Events, Resources and Services visit:
www.lifepassionandbusiness.com
Wednesday Dec 08, 2021
Wednesday Dec 08, 2021
Today's conversation with Casey Grey is Part 3 of my ‘Sustainable Future Initiatives’ series. The topic is Buildings; our homes and businesses, the places we spend most of our waking hours. Which is exactly why they are so important in our efforts to reduce our reliance on carbon fuels.
We all want to live and work in comfortable spaces that are warm in winter and cool in the summer. That means heating, cooling and insulation, and just better buildings. So when I received a message from Casey Grey to say that he builds passive houses, I was excited to hook up and have a conversation.
Like any father, Casey wants to be a great role model for his children. So when it comes to sustainability, that means consciously working towards solutions in his construction business.
I hope you will join me for an interesting insight into the huge potential that could literally be on our doorsteps.
My full introduction for this podcast along with my Guest’s website and social links are all available at:
http://www.lifepassionandbusiness.com/sustainable-future-initiative-casey-grey
Life Passion & Business is dedicated to exploring what it takes to be Extraordinary, to face challenges and rejoice in the opportunities they bring, and expand our vision into new ways of thinking and living.
There is a lot to gain from listening to other people’s stories, however the real work begins by taking action in your own life.
For full details of Events, Resources and Services visit:
www.lifepassionandbusiness.com
Support For Podcasters:
Running a podcast is fun, but it takes time and dedication. Whenever you enjoy a podcast please share your appreciation with comments, likes, shares and reviews. It helps other listeners find good content and supports the content creators and their guests.
Another way you can support the Life Passion & Business podcast is with small donations: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/lifeandpassion
Wednesday Nov 17, 2021
Wednesday Nov 17, 2021
This conversation with David Farquhar is Part 2 of my ‘Sustainable Future Initiatives’ series. David is truly a serial entrepreneur who came out of retirement to head up ‘Intelligent Growth Solutions’ (IGS).
It started with a phone call in 2017… “David, would you like to see my dad’s R&D Project, it is a vertical farm.” After some initial reluctance, he went to visit the project.
“It totally blew my mind, it sits at the nexus of food and environment. Its feed the world and will do it sustainably.”
To give you a bit of background about why I wanted David on the show. The population of the world is growing and is expected to hit 8 to 9 billion by 2050. What with climate change and other factors reducing our capacity. Food production will be the next challenge going forward.
Over the next 50 years, the world will need 30% more food, using less water and less land. Vertical farming is about growing food indoors under controlled conditions and it promises to deliver real food and real change for people in the most difficult places of the world.
My full introduction for this podcast along with my Guest’s website and social links are all available at:
http://www.lifepassionandbusiness.com/sustainable-future-initiatives-david-farquhar
Life Passion & Business is dedicated to exploring what it takes to be Extraordinary, to face challenges and rejoice in the opportunities they bring, and expand our vision into new ways of thinking and living.
There is a lot to gain from listening to other people’s stories, however the real work begins by taking action in your own life.
For full details of Events, Resources and Services visit:
www.lifepassionandbusiness.com
Support For Podcasters:
Running a podcast is fun, but it takes time and dedication. Whenever you enjoy a podcast please share your appreciation with comments, likes, shares and reviews. It helps other listeners find good content and supports the content creators and their guests.
Another way you can support the Life Passion & Business podcast is with small donations: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/lifeandpassion
Wednesday Nov 10, 2021
Wednesday Nov 10, 2021
‘Sustainable Future Initiatives‘ is a series of podcast interviews with people who are responding to Climate Change by actively taking steps towards a more sustainable future.
Three years ago Howard Gunstock was an HR professional working in people development. It was the start of the worst year of his life. In the space months, all of Howard’s close relationships ended or changed leaving him bereft and believing his life had become meaningless.
Our conversation explores Howard’s ‘Road to Damascus’, the background to his project ‘Carbon Kapture’ and his personal shift in consciousness that made it all possible.
My full introduction for this podcast along with Howard’s website and social links are all available at:
http://www.lifepassionandbusiness.com/sustainable-future-initiatives-carbon-kapture
Life Passion & Business is dedicated to exploring what it takes to be Extraordinary, to face challenges and rejoice in the opportunities they bring, and expand our vision into new ways of thinking and living.
There is a lot to gain from listening to other people’s stories, however the real work begins by taking action in your own life.
For full details of Events, Resources and Services visit:
www.lifepassionandbusiness.com
Support For Podcasters:
Running a podcast is fun, but it takes time and dedication. Whenever you enjoy a podcast please share your appreciation with comments, likes, shares and reviews. It helps other listeners find good content and supports the content creators and their guests.
Another way you can support the Life Passion & Business podcast is with small donations: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/lifeandpassion
Sunday Oct 31, 2021
Sunday Oct 31, 2021
What matters to you? I’m not just talking about the big things, although they are relevant. But what about the little things that we take for granted every day. Like our health for instance.
This week I have had a cold. I rarely get them these days, but I guess face masks and social distancing hasn’t given the immune system much of a boost. It is passing through quickly enough but, I notice that colds always hit me emotionally, tinkering with my mindset, so the head trash gets loud.
So whilst stuck in my cold inspired funk, I have been trying to decide what my core story is. What is the narrative that’s playing out and what’s most important to me at the moment. This led to considering what really matters and what doesn’t. So this week I am sharing my reflections with you and invite you to explore the things that matter most in your life.
Life Passion & Business Podcast is about finding answers to life’s big questions through weekly interview with guest speakers. The Shortcast is my ongoing commitment to staying inquisitive and passionate about life with whatever is alive for me each week. Follow the links below to discover what else is on offer.
The Five Questions eBook: https://lifepassionandbusiness.com/the-five-questions
Focus Coaching: https://lifepassionandbusiness.com/focus-coaching/
Support The Podcast:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/lifeandpassion
Midlife Survey: https://lifepassionandbusiness.com/midlife-challenge/
Sunday Apr 18, 2021
Sunday Apr 18, 2021
Today’s shortcast is about looking back to look forward. It came about through conversations with my podcast guests. One in particular who took off and travelled about 40 years in a few moments. I realised there was a back story that I wanted to explore, so I asked ‘What did you want to do when you grew up?’ Or ‘What is it you wanted to be when you got big?’
Looking Back As Information For the Present
It is this re-phrasing that conjures a bit of magic I see it land on my guests in our Zoom conversations.
What did you want to be when you got big? You might find it interesting to consider how it has affected or influenced the life you now lead.
Some of the interests I have carried with me from my youth are acting and sustainability. This would account for the excitement that landed in my waking moments this morning.
Looking Back From The Future
As I mention at the beginning of today’s shortcast, we have a new event! Like previous ones, it landed out of the blue, as morning inspiration. It comes out of something I have been struggling with for a while which is…
Where are the positive narratives, stories, films and role models for the future we desire?
The trend is to focus on dystopia, the things we want to avoid, but those stories end at the beginning. I want to take it further and explore how we can hold a vision of the future as a living affirmation in our current thinking.
So back to this morning’s inspiration…
As Scotland is hosting the next International Climate Change Conference in November, the idea of creating an event about Sustainable Living has been ruminating for a while. However, this morning it took root with an idea to set it in the future.
The plan is to present the event as though we are already living in the future we desire. As though we are reflecting back on how we got there. In the same way that affirmations work by saying ‘I Am’ rather than ‘I Will or I Want’, I will be asking my speakers to rise to the challenge of presenting their ideas as though they have already achieved the outcome they desire.
Be Part Of The Bigger Picture
The intention behind this Event is to create a new narrative where everyone, (speakers and participants), is invited to step into a more creative exploration of what we already know is possible. What is required, is the vision and the courage to step beyond our current limiting beliefs. It will be interesting to see what comes of this.
Check out the details on our EVENTS page. When you register your interest there is an opportunity to share your vision and what you would like to see included from our speakers.
I look forward to sharing this exploration with you.
www.LifePassionAndBusiness.com Quick Links: