The Good Listening To Show

Is "right place, right time" ever really luck? Chris Dillon, aka "The WhatsApp Wizard", WhatsApp Automation expert and author of 'The World Doesn't Give A Sh*t About Your Business', joins me in The Clearing to unpack why it's the customer experience, not the lead, that decides whether people buy from you. Chris's Founder Story starts with selling doughnuts in the school toilets and runs through ne...

Ever wondered what drives someone to row 3,000 miles across the Atlantic or swim an ice-kilometer in the Arctic and Antarctica? Meet Husband & Wife Dream Team Adam Baker and Charlie Fleury, the legendary 'Emergensea Duo', whose extraordinary feats in the name of charity are as daring as they are inspiring. This episode is a captivating exploration of their motivations, their meticulous prepara...

What happens when Southern hospitality meets New York Assertiveness? You get Jennifer Logue, the force behind Phenomenal Speaking, who's transforming how Leaders communicate through a powerful blend of Emotional Intelligence and Radical Candor. Jennifer's journey began in the South, where family values and entrepreneurial spirit shaped her foundation. Her grandfather – a trial attorney she affecti...

Ever wondered what makes some entrepreneurs thrive while others struggle despite financial success? Tony Robinson OBE, known as "The Happipreneur," reveals the surprising secrets behind his revolutionary approach to Small Business success in this captivating conversation. From a cozy bench overlooking the sea in "sunny Scarbados" (his affectionate name for Scarborough), Tony shares how his persona...

"Everyone Needs a Professor in their Life!". And there's a rich seam of GOLD in this episode! Discover the art and the story-behind-the-story of 'Liquid Thinking', with the wonderfully wise and insightful Damian Hughes, Co-Presenter (alongside Sports Broadcaster Jake Humphrey) of "The High Performance Podcast". I recently saw Damian & Jake speak at the Entrepreneurs Circle "Entrepreneurs Conve...

Ben Akers never expected to become a Mental Health advocate. But when his childhood best friend Steve died by suicide 10 ago, everything changed. Confronted with the staggering reality that suicide is the biggest killer of men, Akers channeled his grief and advertising background into creating 'Talk Club' – a revolutionary approach to men's mental fitness that's now saving lives across the UK and...

The extraordinary story of Darren Edwards, a remarkable Adaptive Adventurer whose life took an unexpected turn. A climbing accident in North Wales left him paralyzed from the chest down, but Darren's story is far from one of defeat. Instead, he embraces a life full of resilience and ambition, challenging the limitations often associated with disability. With the backdrop of the Shropshire Hills fu...

Join me and Caroline Redman-Lusher MBE, ('The Rock Choir Queen & Goddess!') the visionary behind the much-loved UK national choral singing phenomenon, the Rock Choir. Caroline joins us for a truly inspiring discussion on the reshaping of community music with heart, sparkle and harmony.  With over 30,000 members across 400 locations, Rock Choir isn't just about singing; it's a movement of trans...

What if your company's success hinges on a culture you've yet to fully understand? Join us on "The Good Listening to Show" as we unravel the secrets behind maximizing commitment across manager, employee, and customer cultures with none other than the enigmatic CEO of Slap Company, Stan Slap. Known for his New York Times bestselling books "Bury My Heart in Conference Room B," & "Under The Hood"...

What if you could create safer, more respectful environments for actors during intimate scenes? Join us as we sit down with the extraordinary Ita O'Brien, a trailblazer in intimacy coordination for film, TV, and theatre. Hear Ita speak about the critical need for clear communication and consent, and how her work has transformed the industry, earning accolades like Michaela Coel's heartfelt acknowl...

Welcome to a particularly poignant episode of "The Good Listening To Show” with my father, Colin Grimes, who died in August 2024. My father was the 1st very willing Guinea Pig for my very special ‘Legacy: Life Reflections’ series strand of the Show, which records Life Stories for Posterity, “Lest we forget…Before it’s too late…” There is dedicated website for Legacy Life Reflections here: www.lega...

Join me for a captivating conversation with the legendary John Altman, a true giant in the world of music. From crafting the unforgettable tunes of Monty Python to sharing stages with icons like Jimi Hendrix and Bob Marley, John's career is a testament to the power of serendipity and talent. We explore his unexpected journey, filled with fascinating stories and memorable encounters, including his...

Every TV Sitcom yo've ever loved has been touched by this man's genius!  What does it take to shepherding some of the most beloved British comedy shows from idea to cultural phenomenon? Jon Plowman OBE—the executive producer behind The Office, Absolutely Fabulous, Vicar of Dibley, Inside No. 9, and countless other comedy classics—offers a rare glimpse into the creative chaos that birthed these ico...

A life can look ordinary from the outside, right up until you hear the moments that quietly changed everything. I’m joined by Sue Garrett, a retired nurse, mother, grandmother, baker, music lover, and devoted wife, for a Legacy Life Reflections conversation that moves between laughter and real, lived tenderness. We start where Sue feels most clear headed: her garden near Leeds Castle, a personal “...

The conversation opens with a tender contradiction: how do you keep the best of your childish self while learning to say goodbye to what no longer fits? Adam Buxton joins us to trace that thread from DIY TV to Decca, from late-night Channel 4 oddities to the calming crunch of Norfolk gravel under foot. We talk about his second memoir, I Love You Bye, the bomb-blast of losing parents, and the quiet...

Laughter can be a compass. Sitting with DeCastro—one of the world’s best-loved clowns—we step into Why Not Land, a clearing where play is protected, truth has room to breathe, and imagination outruns fear. From South London to Rio’s shoreline, she maps an art form often trivialised, arguing with warmth and precision that clowning is education, rebellion, and radical compassion all at once. We jour...

What if we could build a world where human connection trumps credentials? Where seeing the gold in others becomes a superpower? In this illuminating conversation, collaboration catalyst Gill Tiney reveals the transformative journey that shaped her mission to connect good people globally. Growing up in the multicultural East End of London in the 1960s gave Gill a unique perspective. As one of only...

In this special Legacy Life Reflections episode, Chris Grimes welcomes John Morrison — with his family gathered in the room to bear witness! From the terrace of Henbury Golf Club, his "clearing" of 38 years, John traces a full and generous life: a strict, loving mother who called her children "the jewels in her crown of life"; a working life that ran from PE teacher to trusted financial adviser ac...

Ever wondered what makes performers tick? Neil Bett – actor, facilitator, coach, and one-sixth of an acapella sextet – takes us on a fascinating journey through the moments that shaped his creative path. Recorded in our brand new Future Leap Studios in Bristol, this conversation between old friends crackles with authenticity. Neil and host Chris Grimes trained together at Bristol Old Vic Theatre S...

A special "Legacy: Life Reflections" Episode with ex-Ad Man/Mad-Man and all round thoroughly decent human being, my very good friend Reg Starkey! A wonderfully rich conversation with reflections a-plenty on a colourful and creative life, both long-lived and wise! Born in Barking during the Blitz, a benign benefactor put him through private schools in Salisbury and Malvern.  Further education invol...

When Andy Gotts was 18, a stranger in Norfolk asked him why he didn't look happy. That single question and the Photography Teacher it quietly led him to, set in motion a 36 year path from a college darkroom in King's Lynn to Hollywood's most idiosyncratic black-and-white portraits. In this Stories of Distinction & Genius episode, Chris Grimes welcomes Andy "One Shot" Gotts into The Clearing to...

Only a tiny proportion of Professional Speakers are able to land the best stages again-and-again-and-again - and it is not always the celebrities. I’m joined by Maria Franzoni, Speakers' Advocate, Speaker Coach and former Speaker Bureau Owner, to dig into what actually drives paid Speaking engagements, repeat bookings, and higher Keynote Speaker fees. If you’ve ever wondered why brilliant talks st...

He helped raise £225 million, worked punishing weeks, and then walked away from it all. Jon Kaye joins me in The Clearing to unpack the moment he stopped chasing the obvious definition of success and started rebuilding a life around creativity, community, and better questions. We talk through Jon’s founder story in private equity: the risk of resigning with a pregnant wife, a new house, and no sal...

You can hear a whole philosophy of change hidden inside one simple move: Put the bike where you can see it. That is the kind of practical, human behavior design we get into with Mike Coulter, a lifelong Creative who’s worked across advertising, helped shape projects at the DO Lectures, and now teaches tools for building 'Tiny Habits' that actually stick. We start with the stories that made Mike: G...

Delighted to welcome Patrick Vasey, Laurel & Hardy life-long Super-Fan & Presenter of The Laurel & Hardy Podcast, for a special 'Legacy: Life Reflections' episode, in which we preserve the legacy & share our mutual love and admiration for all things Stan & Ollie. Stan Laurel is my all time comic hero. I first encountered Stan on a Black & White TV set that hummed into actio...