Brainy Podcasts's podcast

We often think innovation begins with the biggest ideas. In reality, it usually begins with the best conversations. In this episode, Tracy and Soraya are joined by Martin Kearney, whose career has taken him from the music industry to building a successful IT business, before developing products that have improved safety within mental health settings. Together, they explore why genuine innovation i...

You can’t run a life, a team or a business on an empty brain. Many of us are doing more than ever, but thinking less clearly than we want to. More decisions. More messages. More pressure. More noise. More people needing something from us. On the surface, it can look like progress. We are busy. We are moving. We are keeping things going. But underneath, something can start to feel squeezed. Thinkin...

What do  Anti-Hero ,  Smells Like Teen Spirit  and  We’ll Meet Again  have in common? They reflect what the human brain needed at different moments in history. In this episode, Soraya and Tracy explore the neuroscience behind the 40-year cultural swing - a pendulum pattern where societies move between collective safety and individual expression, belonging and autonomy. Whe...

In this episode of Brainy, we’re joined by “Small Paul” Copeland - Executive Creative Director, filmmaker, former stand-up comedian, DJ, and lifelong creative thinker. Paul has spent over a decade working in China, led global creative teams, and won a 48-hour film competition, but what makes this conversation powerful isn’t the résumé. It’s the warning. In a world increasingly driven by AI, algori...

In this episode of Brainy Podcasts, we dive into  The New Rules of Work  with Jason Mannix, HR lead for the Brighton Pier Group and founder of Mannix Consultancy. Together, we explore what today’s workforce is telling us loud and clear: •  Inclusivity isn’t an initiative — it’s a daily behaviour. •  Identity shapes how people show up, connect, and feel safe. •  I...

In this powerful episode, Soraya and Tracy take a brutally honest look at modern work and leadership - what’s thriving, what’s breaking, and what we’re still pretending is working. From the neuroscience of burnout and decision fatigue to the role of trust, reflection, and psychological safety, they explore how to stop the burnout cycle before it starts. Soraya and Tracy discuss why brain capital i...

AI is racing ahead faster than the industrial revolution, but our brains haven’t had a software update in over 200,000 years. In this episode, Soraya and Tracy explore how artificial intelligence is already transforming the way we think, work, and lead, and what that means for the human brain. From reduced cognitive load and boosted productivity to the hidden risks of burnout and creativity loss,...

Could a shorter working week make us more productive, less stressed, and better at our jobs? In this episode, we’re joined by Dr Charlotte Rae - neuroscientist, lecturer, and Co-Lead of the Sussex Four-Day Week project - to unpack what the science really says about work, wellbeing, and performance. From national and public-sector trials to live research with UK businesses, Charlotte shares what ha...

This episode takes a wildly creative turn as we’re joined by Adam Hill - founder, executive creative director, and unapologetic disruptor. From purple Christmas trees to provocations about vibrators and artificial intelligence, Adam challenges us to reimagine creativity not as a job title, but as a way of seeing the world. We explore why true creativity starts at zero, why discomfort is essential...

In this episode, we welcome back the ever-curious Ross Stevenson, learning strategist, AI explorer, and all-around provocateur for progress. It’s been 16 months since we last spoke, and in AI terms, that might as well be a century. We pick up where we left off with a bold question: is the future still human? As organisations face shifting roles, rising redundancies, and a surge of AI-driven tools,...

In a world where AI is accelerating change, critical thinking is the ultimate competitive edge. If you’re just keeping up, you’re already falling behind, because as Category Pirates say, “If you are comparable, you are replaceable.” Yet, despite its power, critical thinking is often misunderstood or mistaken for simple decision-making. Why do we default to the easy and familiar? How can we sharpen...

Welcome to episode 14, where we’re diving into the world of creativity, confidence, and big dreams! We’re delighted to be joined by Joel Kern, the brilliant mind behind Make Believe Group , a fantastic children’s theatre school that’s all about using performance to build life skills. Joel’s on a mission to help young people grow in confidence and communication. He shares his incredible journey, fr...

Special Episode Exploring Standout Topics Through a Fresh Lens on Creativity and Innovation. Did you know that 70% of women in the workforce are navigating peri-menopause? It’s a stage of life that impacts millions, yet remains under-discussed and in danger of being highjacked for commercial and political reasons. In this episode of Brainy Podcasts, we take a fresh look at this crucial topic, the...

In each episode our mission is to pick the brains of leaders in their field to share their success on the importance of creativity, innovation and critical thinking, transforming imagination in to revenue. In this episode, Soraya and Tracy dive into exploring the importance of nurturing a healthy mindset. Through the lens of neuroscience and the crucial role our brain has in driving creativity, in...

#11 Our Genius As Human Beings The Human Self In this episode, we explore the concept of "The Human Self" and its pivotal role in fostering creativity and innovation. We discuss why self-development, self-awareness, and self-belief are essential for unlocking human potential and driving organisational success.  Joined by Miriam Boote, Managing Director at creative agency, Designate, we examin...

#10 Let Your Charisma Out Of The Bottle Confidence, Gravitas and the Social Brain Find out in this episode the importance of emotional safety for confidence. You'll learn how when the brain is not distracted by feeling safe, confidence can fly!, We also delve into the way we view the world and how shifting perspective, through a polished up lens , can bring more clarity and shift unsupporting cogn...

#9 Manner Before Matter What is Psycho-Social & Why Does it Matter? Part Two In this episode, we continue our conversation with Leanne Drew-McKain. This is not the soft, mushy stuff! It's the stuff that creates the environment for those tough conversations and decisions to be made. Our conversation aims to serve as powerful tools for personal growth and leadership development, helping individu...

#8 Leaders Have Brains Too, But Do They Have Psychological Safety? What is Psycho-Social & Why Does it Matter? Part One In this 2-parter, we explore the importance of environmental climates and their profound impact on creativity, innovation, ideation, and critical thinking. Discover how the spaces around us and the cultures we work within can influence our minds and drive groundbreaking ideas...

#7 The Human Advantage In our first episode in season two, we start by taking a deeper dive into where we rely on the uniqueness of our brains and not on tech. as we move further into the next industrial revolution 5.0 (2020 to present). We’re digging deeper and wider in our human exploration and knowledge of how to use the power of creating, innovating, ideating, remaining curious and asking the...

In our last episode of this series, we are going to explore what makes a conducive environment to create and innovate. We are joined by Carlene Jackson, Founder, and CEO at Cloud9, who brings leadership insights into how to foster an environment that allows for openness in company culture to achieve the best of human potential “If you want creative workers, give them enough time to play.” John Cle...

So at this point in the series, we’ve discussed what creativity is, who has it, creativity versus tech, and in our last episode how it shows up.   Today, we are looking at what blocks our creativity; like the impact of stress, lack of time, or our own limiting beliefs.   We hope to help mitigate the risks that stifle your creativity and understand the potential of your brain. This podcas...

When are humans at their best creatively? It’s all in the mind! We’ll explore what sparks the brain into creativity; key triggers and how this impacts the brain long term for things like solving problems and innovation, which is all from the creativity suite.   Helping you understand the potential of your brain and when to let those creative juices flow! This podcast series explores the wider...

How are AI and other technical advancements impacting human creativity? Wow, I’m not sure one podcast is enough for this topic. Technological advancements are moving so fast, that of-the-box thinking is already out of date! We are joined by Ross Stevenson in this episode, who has spent the last 15 years working closely with some of the biggest names in tech. today. We’ll be looking at how we’ve al...

In episode two, we are joined by Karl Elwood, a wine merchant, who also runs a business network group.   We'll be demystifying creativity and innovation and how it goes way beyond artists and authors.   “You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.” —Maya Angelou Maya Angelou was an American memoirist, poet, and civil rights activist. She published seven autobiograph...

Welcome to BRAINY PODCASTS the brainchild of Soraya Shaw & Tracy Filler. Soraya and Tracy are connected by their passion for understanding what makes people tick, or as Ruby Wax describes it what’s going on with our ‘mother ship’? So, what’s got them all hot under the collar enough to join the saturated podcast world? Well, quite simply the conversations they’ve been having with each other and...