The Longest Day Podcast

🎙️Breaking the Mould: Innovation, Risk, and Resilience with Sophia Smith Galer In this compelling episode, award-winning journalist and digital innovator Sophia Smith Galer recounts the professional turning point that led her to leave the BBC for VICE, and eventually, into freelancing and founding her own tech venture. Sophia reflects on navigating institutional resistance, pioneering vertical vid...

In this powerful episode, adventurer and mindset coach Sophie Storm Roberts joins The Longest Day Podcast to share the story of her most grueling day on the Alpine Coast to Coast Challenge—cycling 240km across two countries and summiting the highest mountains in each. Sophie reflects on her transformation from startup executive to endurance athlete and author, and how fear, self-belief, and courag...

Exile, Return and the Work of Repair: Leah Brown’s Longest Day Episode Summary  In this special episode of The Longest Day Podcast , host Leah Brown FRSA takes the guest seat, interviewed by Dr Farrah Jarrell. Leah shares the story of being suddenly forced to leave the UK due to a Home Office error—an administrative decision that marooned her in Barbados for months and destabilised her early caree...

The Stories We Never Tell: Writing Black Leadership into Existence Dr Barbara Banda shares her marathon writing session during lockdown, where she spent from 3am through the night crafting the first chapter of her groundbreaking book "The Model Black." This deeply personal chapter forced her to confront experiences she'd never spoken about openly, exploring what it means to "co...

Turning Challenges into Strengths: Rabbi Rami's Journey from Dyslexia to Business Leadership Rabbi Rami Goldberg shares his inspiring journey of overcoming dyslexia to become a successful CEO and community leader. From struggling with reading in third grade to co-founding patent broker Optimal IP and working with Israel 365, Rami discusses how learning differences can become business advantag...

Protecting Dignity in Crisis: A Humanitarian's Moral Stand in Haiti Episode Summary Dr Lina AbiRafeh shares her harrowing experience from the 2010 Haiti earthquake response, where she led sexual violence prevention efforts. During one particularly challenging day, she made a split-second decision to protect a young rape survivor giving birth from exploitative journalists, ultimately prioritis...

Leading with Purpose and Compassion Episode Summary:  In this episode of The Longest Day Podcast , Leah sits down with Liam Black, a renowned social entrepreneur, mentor, and author. Liam shares his journey from humble beginnings to becoming a leader in social enterprises and offers powerful insights on leadership, purpose, and resilience. His candid stories about successes, failures, and the impo...

Episode Summary In this gripping episode of The Longest Day Podcast, Leah is joined by Mike Roe, a former police commander turned tech CEO. Mike recounts the story of his longest day, a day when he found himself at the center of a crisis that shook Bristol. His experience offers a profound exploration of leadership, resilience, and the ethical dilemmas faced in high-pressure roles. Key Points The...

Episode Summary In this compelling episode of The Longest Day Podcast, Leah is joined by the dynamic and insightful Bobby Seagull — a mathematician, educator, and broadcaster. Bobby shares the story of experiencing the shocking collapse of Lehman Brothers as a young trader, and finally confronting personal grief amidst professional responsibilities. Bobby offers profound reflections on resilience,...

In this candid episode of The Longest Day Podcast , Leah Brown FRSA speaks with Dina and Jeremy Green (co-founders of the UK Creative Festival and Careers Fair, and run the UK Creative Foundation) about the personal and professional sacrifices behind creating a platform that champions accessibility, inclusion, and opportunity in the creative industries.  They open up about the realities of running...

Finding Light Through Loss with Baroness Alison Suttie Episode Summary:  In this heartfelt episode, Leah speaks with Baroness Alison Suttie about a pivotal moment that shaped her life and career—the unexpected loss of her father while she was abroad. Alison reflects on balancing grief with a rising career in European politics, the importance of taking risks, and her enduring passion for public ser...

A Leap of Faith: Matthew Stafford’s Journey from Misdirection to Mastery Episode Summary:  In this episode of The Longest Day Podcast , Matthew Stafford shares his inspiring story of returning to university as a mature student at 27. Matthew discusses the pivotal moments and challenges leading up to his acceptance into Durham University to study Computer Science, the interview that made all the di...

A Conversation with Andrew Wallis OBE on the Fight Against Modern Slavery Episode Summary:  In this episode of The Longest Day Podcast , Leah Brown FRSA sits down with Andrew Wallis OBE, the founder of Unseen, a charity dedicated to tackling modern slavery. Andrew shares the story behind his pioneering work in the fight against human trafficking, discussing the challenges, setbacks, and key turnin...

Overcoming Imposter Syndrome and Burnout Episode Summary: In this episode of The Longest Day Podcast, Leah Brown sits down with Kevin Bailey, the CEO of Dreamfuel, to discuss his journey from being a founder of a high-growth MarTech company to launching Dreamfuel, an organization dedicated to helping founders and CEOs optimize their mental performance. Kevin reflects on his personal struggles with...

Navigating Difficult Decisions with Sonya Sceats Episode Summary: In this deeply reflective episode, Sonya Sceats, CEO, Freedom from Torture, opens up about her experience on one of the most difficult days of her career. She shares the tough decision-making process that led to the closure of two of their treatment centers, the financial pressures that charities are facing in the UK, and the emotio...

Grief, Legacy, and Mentorship In this deeply personal episode of The Longest Day Podcast , former footballer and coach Iffy Onuora reflects on the most significant day of his life — the passing of his mother, a pivotal moment that continues to shape his views on life, parenting, and mentorship. From the struggles of growing up in a predominantly white neighborhood to navigating grief and finding p...

Navigating Leadership Under the Ice Episode Summary: In this episode of The Longest Day in Uncharted Way , we are joined by Mike Davis-Marks OBE, a former Royal Navy officer who spent 36 years navigating submarines, including commanding a nuclear submarine. Mike shares an incredible story from his early career, detailing a life-or-death moment when he had to challenge his commanding officer on a d...

Climate, Campaigns, and Coastal Communities: Polly Billington MP's Longest Day Episode Summary: In this episode of The Longest Day , Polly Billington MP shares insights from her career and experiences, including the unforgettable 24-hour negotiation at the Copenhagen climate change conference in 2009. She discusses the importance of perseverance, negotiation, and storytelling in the face of g...

Episode Title: Heart, Healing and The Longest Day Shownotes: In this deeply moving episode of The Longest Day Podcast , Leah Brown FRSA sits down with the brilliant composer, musician, and producer Nitin Sawhney CBE to discuss his life-altering experience of surviving a heart attack and how it inspired his latest orchestral composition, Heart Suite . From the trauma of the event to the catharsis o...

In this powerful and intimate episode of The Longest Day, Leah Brown sits down with Samanah Duran, an entrepreneur and founder of BeYourOwn, and most recently LinkSpaxe (connecting companies with the best professional freelancers and contractors who can drive their success forward).  Samanah opens up about a pivotal moment in her lifea day that changed everything. She reflects on the physical and...

In this deeply insightful episode of The Longest Day Podcast , Leah Brown FRSA is joined by Rocio Perez, a transformational coach, speaker, and creator of the MindShift Experience . Rocio shares her powerful story of awakening to a more fulfilled life after an unexpected diagnosis of a brain tumour at the age of 34. From struggles with unfulfilment to navigating a life-changing health crisis, Roci...

In this conversation, Leah Brown FRSA speaks with Scarlett V Clark about her personal journey, cultural challenges, and the drive that led her to create Smart Girl Tribe. Scarlett shares her experiences of moving from Italy to England, the social difficulties she faced, and how her mother's support helped her navigate through tough times. They discuss the importance of embracing diversity, th...

In this episode of The Longest Day podcast, host Leah Brown FRSA sits down with Alys Carlton, former mergers and acquisitions lawyer, executive coach, Non-Executive Director, and Chair of the Football Association of Wales to talk about a season marked out by grief and gratitude. Alys shares the extraordinary journey behind her "longest day" a 24-hour period that spanned a deeply personal...

In this episode of The Longest Day , host Leah Brown FRSA speaks with Lord Ed Vaizey, former MP for Wantage and Culture Minister, about his unique career path, his relationship with authority, and his views on mentorship and leadership. Ed shares entertaining stories from his past, including the challenges of being fired multiple times and how these experiences shaped his perspective on work and a...

In this episode, Leah Brown FRSA welcomes Sarah Lewis OBE OLY, a British Olympian, to share her incredible leadership journey through a career filled with huge highs and real lows. As one of the podcast's most dedicated listeners, Sarah reflects on her longest day experiences, from navigating complex international sporting events to her unexpected dismissal. She recounts significant moments,...