Ideas on Stage Podcast

Most interviews sound the same. Safe questions. Predictable answers. Polite agreement. But every now and then, something different happens. A moment of silence. An unexpected question. A shift in energy that makes everyone lean in. In this episode, I sit down with Alfie Joey – former BBC presenter – to explore what actually makes an interview memorable. Alfie has interviewed prime ministers, celeb...

A founder builds something people trust. Customers love it. Employees believe in it. Investors are happy. Then, slowly, something changes. The targets shift. The incentives change. The message stays the same – but the behaviour doesn’t. And trust starts to fade. In this episode, I sit down with Eric Ries @theericriesshow – author of Incorruptible and The Lean Startup – and one of the most influent...

“At the end of your life, all you really have are the relationships you’ve built – and the stories you can tell.” That idea stayed with me after this conversation. In business, we often talk about strategies, funnels and growth. But behind every opportunity – every client, every collaboration, every breakthrough – there’s a relationship. In this episode, I sit down with Riley McGhee to explore how...

A few days after a presentation, most people will forget most of what you said. So what should they remember? In this episode, I sit down with Carmine Gallo @GalloCommunications – three-time Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Harvard instructor, and one of the world’s leading voices on communication. We explore why, despite AI and new platforms, the principles of persuasion haven’t changed in...

In this episode of the Ideas on Stage podcast we spoke with Nigel Taberner.  Nigel is a former police officer and hostage negotiator. He served for 30 years within the police service, rising to the rank of Detective Inspector in counter terrorism policing. He now shares the skills that he learned as a hostage negotiator with business leaders and organisations, teaching them how to communicate bett...

In this episode of the Ideas on Stage podcast we spoke with Lorraine K. Lee.  Lorraine K. Lee is a keynote speaker and the best-selling author of Unforgettable Presence. She also teaches popular courses at Stanford Continuing Studies and LinkedIn Learning. She is passionate about empowering leaders to elevate their presence, influence and impact. Her frameworks have been adopted by globally recogn...

In this episode of the Ideas on Stage podcast we spoke with Todd Kashdan. Todd Kashdan is among the world’s top experts on the psychology of well-being, psychological strengths, mental agility and social relationships. His research has been featured in Harvard Business Review, The New York Times, Fast Company, Forbes and the Hidden Brain podcast. Over 5 million readers enjoy his best-selling Subst...

In this episode of the Ideas on Stage podcast we spoke with Ravinol Chambers.  Ravinol is a filmmaker, storyteller and founder of Be Inspired Films, a B Corp creative agency helping purpose-driven organisations communicate with clarity and confidence. A former monk turned moviemaker, he’s spent more than a decade guiding leaders to show up on camera in a way that feels natural, human and compellin...

In this episode of the Ideas on Stage Podcast, we share a conversation with Ciaran O’Donnell – originally recorded as part of the Ideas on Stage Academy. We decided to repurpose it as a podcast episode so more people can learn from his inspiring communication journey and practical insights. Ciaran is a Virtual Finance Director. He launched Virtual FD in 2010 to help growing businesses access Finan...

In this episode of the Ideas on Stage podcast we spoke with Kay Korsh. For over 20 years, Style Strategist Kay Korsh has been behind the scenes – dressing celebrities, consulting for luxury brands, and helping professional speakers dress in a way that aligns with their message. And that leads to more bookings, higher fees, and a whole lot more confidence on stage.  In this episode we talked about...

In this episode of the Ideas on Stage podcast we spoke with Amanda Baker.  Amanda Baker is a story strategist and coach who knows the future belongs to those brave enough to share their stories. Creator of the 5 Stories method, she shows creators and founders how to make a difference in the world and stay true to themselves through the stories only they can tell.  In this episode we talked about h...

In this episode of the Ideas on Stage podcast we spoke with Graham Allcott. Graham Allcott is an author, speaker and entrepreneur. He is the author of multiple books, including the global bestseller How to Be a Productivity Ninja, How to Have the Energy, and How to Fix Meetings. His latest book, KIND: The Quiet Power of Kindness at Work, focuses on why organisations with kinder, more human-centred...

In this episode of the Ideas on Stage podcast we spoke with Mary Mackenzie.  Mary Mackenzie is an author, trained mediator, and CNVC Certified Trainer of Nonviolent Communication. She holds a master's degree in human relations from Northern Arizona University and is the CEO of the NVC Academy, the only online school for learning Nonviolent Communication. Mary teaches Nonviolent Communication t...

In this episode of the Ideas on Stage podcast we spoke with Beth Sherman.  In today’s fast-moving business world, attention is short, trust is fragile, and most presentations fall flat. Comedian and Emmy Award-winning comedy writer Beth Sherman teaches professionals how to use humour – not simply for laughs, but for connection, persuasion, and impact. In this episode we talked about using humour t...

In this episode of the Ideas on Stage podcast we spoke with Mark Denton.  Mark Denton is an award-winning keynote speaker and expert in leadership, teamwork and resilience. In 2024, he was named Booker’s Choice at the Speaker Awards, a recognition of his ability to deliver high-impact talks that event organisers love to book. In this episode, Mark shares what makes a speaker irresistible – not jus...

In this episode of the Ideas on Stage podcast we spoke with Patricia Ryan Madson.  Patricia Ryan Madson is a world authority on improvising in everyday life. She is the author of IMPROV WISDOM: Don’t Prepare, Just Show Up. Her book has been translated into nine languages.  Patricia is a professor Emerita from Stanford University where she taught since 1977. In their Drama Department she served as...

In this episode of the Ideas on Stage podcast we spoke with Terry Szuplat.  Terry Szuplat is a sought-after speaker and trainer and the author of the national bestseller Say It Well: Find Your Voice, Speak Your Mind, Inspire Any Audience in which he shares the public speaking lessons he learned as one of President Barack Obama's longest-serving White House speechwriters.  From 2009 to 2017, Te...

In this episode of the Ideas on Stage podcast we spoke with Dr. Jill Stoddard. Dr. Stoddard is passionate about sharing her expertise in psychology to help people flourish in their work and health. She is an international and TEDx speaker, award-winning former professor, three-time book author, licensed psychologist, coach, and co-host of the Psychologists Off the Clock podcast. Her books have bee...

In this episode of the Ideas on Stage podcast we spoke with Vanessa Bohns. Vanessa Bohns is a social psychologist and professor and chair of organizational behavior at Cornell University. She holds a PhD in Psychology from Columbia University and an AB from Brown University. She is author of the book You Have More Influence Than You Think (2021, Norton). Her writing has appeared in the New York Ti...

In this episode of the Ideas on Stage podcast we spoke with Pedram Parasmand. Pedram brings 24 years of learning design and facilitation experience in the public, private, charity and education sectors. He has designed and delivered programmes ranging from culture change initiatives in Governmental bodies; Exec team development in companies like Kimberly-Clarke and Netflix; soft-skills and creativ...

In this episode of the Ideas on Stage podcast we spoke with Susan Payton.  Susan is a story strategist, copywriter, messaging geek, coach, consultant and author of The Business of Stories.  Released in March 2022, Susan’s book quickly became a UK and US #1 bestseller on Amazon in several business categories, including Marketing and Sales – knocking Dragon’s Den & Diary of a CEO star Stephen Ba...

In this episode of the Ideas on Stage podcast we spoke with Julian Treasure.  Julian Treasure is a top-rated international speaker and award-winning author on the power of sound and the skills of speaking and listening for both individuals and organisations. Julian’s five TED talks have been viewed more than 150 million times; one of them is the sixth most-viewed of all time. He is founder of inte...

In this episode of the Ideas on Stage podcast we spoke with Carole Robin.   Carole Robin, Ph. D. taught the legendary Interpersonal Dynamics (affectionately known by students as “Touchy Feely”) course at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. She held a bunch of fancy titles and won a bunch of awards, including the Distinguished Teaching Award, before co-founding Leaders in Tech.   She is the c...

In this episode of the Ideas on Stage podcast we spoke with Dr. Vanessa Patrick.   Vanessa Patrick, PhD. is an award winning researcher and teacher at the Bauer College of Business at the University of Houston. She is a regular speaker at both academic and practitioner conferences and her research investigates strategies to achieve personal mastery and inspire everyday excellence in oneself and ot...

In this episode of the Ideas on Stage podcast we spoke with the legendary Guy Kawasaki.   Guy Kawasaki is the chief evangelist of Canva and the creator of Guy Kawasaki’s Remarkable People podcast. He is an executive fellow of the Haas School of Business (UC Berkeley), and adjunct professor of the University of New South Wales. He was the chief evangelist of Apple and a trustee of the Wikimedia Fou...