Fearless Forward

"Death involves everyone," says Ivor Williams. “Design accordingly.” This line from my conversation with this week’s Fearless Forward guest sums up his life’s work. Many wisdom traditions and indigenous cultures treat awareness of mortality as a way into deeper consciousness. In the West, we tend to do the opposite: often pushing the subject away until it becomes urgent. But by that time it may be...

Imagine a nine-year old girl writing and directing her first play. Even at this young age, she has a natural inclination to lead. An extrovert, she’s also highly sensitive. And this trait, while often misunderstood by others, becomes a cornerstone of her self-awareness. Over time, her hypersensitivity becomes a guide to what feels right for her. The little girl grows into a remarkable woman whose...

Fear fascinates me. It’s ever-present, but rarely obvious. It’s behind every knee-jerk reaction to a stressful event. And, ultimately, it’s what makes us human. So I particularly enjoyed recording this week’s episode of the Fearless Forward podcast with author and productivity expert Grace Marshall. Our conversation centres on the hidden force she calls high functioning fear. We explore how fear o...

If the life you’ve built for yourself falls apart, no amount of discipline or achievement or ‘pushing on through’ can save it. You’re in a moment of truth. What’s needed is for you to face the fact that the only way out of this is in. In other words, resolution cannot be found by changing your external situation, but by turning your focus inward to explore your own self. Daily Telegraph Business L...

We’re all afraid of something. But what if we let our fear guide us to what really matters? When we take the time to understand the source of the fear, we can also tune into what it’s asking of us. A fear of loss might be telling us to appreciate our friends and loved-ones. A fear of loneliness in old age might be encouraging us to cultivate closer connections now. A fear of change might be pointi...

For this week’s Fearless Forward podcast guest, an early career setback became a gift. Having convinced herself she wasn’t good enough to teach, she lost faith in her own worth. It took the right conversations with the right people for her to see this wasn’t true. Today, Esther Taylor is the CEO of the Lady Macadam Breast Cancer Trust. Historically, Lady Macadam was a pioneer in providing mammogra...

For many of us, losing a large chunk of our memory sounds terrifying. But for renowned leadership coach and author Ian Day, it has proven to be a gift. Back in 2017, during a regular gym session, Ian suffered a sudden cardiac arrest. He was clinically dead for 20 minutes. And with a survival rate of just 10%, he was lucky to pull through. But the experience left him with a serious brain injury. He...

What if life were simply a series of different adventures we say “yes” to? Because often the most rewarding experiences are the ones we don’t plan. My guest on this week’s Fearless Forward podcast is an international marketing leader whose career is a masterclass in saying “yes” to the adventures life brings. Kathryn Giblin’s journey is shaped by a willingness to embrace life as it comes – even wh...

Sometimes, the greatest opportunities are born from the greatest uncertainty. In 1991, the collapse of the former Soviet Union gave rise to a dynamic market economy. One particular physicist and mathematician not only witnessed but actively shaped the transformation of Russia’s business landscape. That man was Mikhail Klarin. Moving from scholar to pioneer, he helped build the coaching profession...

Fear can be paralysing, or it can be a motivator. For burns survivor Marc Convey, it’s a motivator. On the Fearless Forward podcast this week Marc offers profound insight into the power of facing things as they are and acting from there. It’s a powerful story of extreme adversity, fear and courage. At just 14, Marc survived a horrific accident that left him with severe burns over 38% of his body a...

You are what you absorb, not just what you eat. In other words, however well you eat, if your gut isn’t functioning well your brain and body won’t get the nutrients they need. Nutritional therapist Sarah Bayliss’s expertise is rooted in personal experience. After years in a high-stress marketing job, she suffered from sleep issues, hormonal imbalances, and gut problems that eventually led her to b...

In this episode, we journey with Joss Thompson - a mechanical engineer, seasoned mountaineer, and expert snowboarder - through his expedition to climb Denali, North America’s highest peak. This is more than a tale of adventure; it’s a masterclass in preparation, resilience, and the nuanced art of pushing human limits. Joss shares his early mistakes with acclimatisation, his preparation alongside f...

Nothing is in insurmountable, if you’re open to finding a way through. One way through is to find refuge in what you love. Love helps you stay grounded in the present, and keeps hope alive. It can also give you the strength to navigate even the most traumatic circumstances, as it did for Liia Dmytrenko , one of the millions of victims of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and of the ensuing war, now in...

True leadership requires the moral courage to act on your principles, even when it costs you everything you've worked for. The fear of making decisions that might harm others is far more significant than any physical danger we might face ourselves. Oliver Lee is a former Royal Marines officer whose extraordinary career took him from Cambridge to the frontlines of Iraq and Afghanistan. Decorated th...

We need to share the messy, emotional reality of our own experiences with young people, not just the polished outcomes. When we sanitise our stories and skip over the struggle, uncertainty and fear we felt whilst figuring things out, we leave young people feeling isolated in their own difficulties and rob them of the most valuable lesson: that not having it all worked out is completely normal and...

Fear doesn't have to be eliminated or conquered. Instead, we can befriend it, stay curious about its messages, and move forward with purpose alongside it, rather than waiting for it to disappear before taking action. Liz Hall is a journalist, coach, mindfulness teacher, and editor of Coaching at Work magazine for the past 20 years. She is a recognised thought leader in psychological safety, race e...

Embracing our wholeness – including our fears, grief, and uncertainty – while staying connected to what brings us alive can lead us to unexpected renewal and purpose, even in the darkest moments. Bruce Cryer is a multifaceted professional with a career spanning creativity, science, leadership, and wellness. He’s the former CEO of HeartMath, a research-based organisation focused on stress managemen...

The behaviours and strategies that bring us success may not be the same ones that lead to fulfilment. Pausing to listen to our fears, rather than constantly outrunning them through action, can reveal what truly matters and guide us towards more meaningful leadership and life choices. Peter Whealy is a learning and development professional with nearly 30 years of experience working in various learn...

Slowing down and trusting your intuition can help you navigate life's challenges with greater clarity. When we step away from our screens and reconnect with nature, we gain perspective, access our deeper wisdom, and find the courage to pursue meaningful work despite fear. Jack Hubbard is a creative entrepreneur and co-founder of three successful businesses: PropellerNet, CoverageBook, and Answer t...

In times of overwhelming challenge and uncertainty, the ability to silence the noise, listen deeply, and connect with something larger than ourselves – whether through faith, values, or inner wisdom – is what carries us through and reveals the path forward, transforming our struggles into purpose and our pain into the power to help others. Ronel Hentschel’s work has been deeply influenced by her p...

Humans are wired to fear uncertainty and the unknown, and we often avoid potential opportunities because they seem too risky or uncomfortable. We cling to familiar patterns even when they no longer serve us, worried about what might happen if we let go. This week’s guest, Stephen Burt, suggests embracing uncertainty as a path to growth and creativity. By saying "yes, and" to our fears – acknowledg...

Rigid hierarchies can stifle innovation and create environments where employees wait for permission rather than taking initiative. In these cultures, people are afraid to contribute ideas, fearing rejection or overstepping boundaries. Kate Davies demonstrates how transformative leadership comes through relationships, not titles. By breaking down hierarchical barriers and creating genuine connectio...

In today's corporate world, fear-driven leadership has created environments where bullying and vaguely psychopathic behaviours are normalised. Leaders often believe success requires ruthlessness, breeding cultures where employees feel unsafe to be themselves. John Blakey offers a transformative alternative: trust-based leadership. His approach demonstrates that leaders who prioritise trustworthine...

The fashion industry is facing a critical environmental crisis with fast fashion and disposable clothing contributing significantly to global waste. The continued production and disposal of fashion items at current rates will accelerate climate change, deplete natural resources, and harm communities in manufacturing regions. Livelihoods will be threatened as resources become scarcer, affecting the...

Women are often socialised to believe that confidence will make them unlikeable or threatening. Lauren Currie OBE, founder of Upfront, shares her experience of receiving messages from childhood that "the world prefers me when I am quiet and small". This pressure leads many women to hide their accomplishments and dim their light. But confidence is not something we're born with, but something we can...