The Action Factory Podcast

The Action Factory

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Welcome to The Action Factory Podcast. I’m Michael Dawson, drawing on my experience growing up in the care system, working across NHS, local authority, and mental health settings, and developing what became The Solutions Toolkit at The Action Factory. In this podcast, I share insights from my own journey on both sides of the care system. Together, we explore what really works when communicating with young people in your care. Skills from Solution Focused Brief Therapy, NLP and clinical hypnosis.

Recent Episodes

JAN 5, 2026
#140 P10 Free NLP Course -The Power and Potential of NLP in Youth Care.
Welcome to another Action Factory Podcast with me, Michael Dawson. Before we begin this episode, here's a quick reminder: Don't miss my 30-minute webinar 'The BIG 4 in Youth Work.' You'll also get two powerful tools and my popular 'Brief Therapy Toolkit' eBook—already a hit with nearly 40,000 youth workers. Click below to subscribe and watch!" WATCH THE FREE WEBINAR Now, let's get started... I'm Michael Dawson from 'The Action Factory,' and I'd like to welcome you to the final session of my free audio course, 'NLP in Residential Youth Work.' In today's episode, we'll be summarizing some of the key points from the past ten weeks. Our journey began with the question: Can NLP be effective in residential youth work? I believe the answer is a resounding yes! Over the last nine weeks, we have successfully simplified some of the most intricate NLP concepts into understandable components. While our goal wasn't to create NLP masters, I'm confident we've successfully adapted many of these strategies for use in residential youth work. A big thank you to everyone who has followed this journey, and please do share how you get on with these new strategies. Remember to subscribe to the Action Faction Podcast for more enlightening content. Your support and feedback are crucial in helping us reach and support more individuals in the field of youth work. NLP is just one aspect of my specialized training course, "The Solutions Toolkit." This innovative framework is tailored for residential youth workers like you. Don't forget to check out the free team version available on our website. As always I invite you to get this weeks. DIGITAL DOWNLOAD (No email required) Visit the website to join our community at www.theactionfactory.com , share ideas and strategies and access lots of free training.
15 MIN
DEC 29, 2025
#139 P9 Free NLP Course. Substance abuse the NLP Connection.
Welcome to another Action Factory Podcast with me, Michael Dawson. Before we begin this episode, here's a quick reminder: Don't miss my 30-minute webinar 'The BIG 4 in Youth Work.' You'll also get two powerful tools and my popular 'Brief Therapy Toolkit' eBook—already a hit with nearly 40,000 youth workers. Click below to subscribe and watch!" WATCH THE FREE WEBINAR Now, let's get started... I’m Michael Dawson from The Action Factory and once again I welcome you to another session on my free audio course. NLP in residential youth work. My aim with this series is to provide commutable sized lessons that can be listened to on the bus and practiced at work. This episode is filled with insights and tools essential for youth workers confronting a critical challenge in our field: substance abuse. As youth workers, we find ourselves being the support and guidance to those grappling with substance-related challenges. In our discussion today, we focus on the transformative power of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and its role in breaking the cycle of substance abuse. We'll explore how incorporating NLP strategies into your work can provide a unique and effective approach to addressing drug-related problems among youth. This episode not only offers practical NLP techniques but also shares personal experiences and insights into the various factors that may lead young individuals towards substance use. NLP is just one of the disciplines that feature in my specialised training course, "The Solutions Toolkit," It’s an innovative framework custom-built for residential youth workers like you. Remember to check out the free team version on the website. As always I invite you to get this weeks DIGITAL DOWNLOAD (No email required) Visit the website to join our community at www.theactionfactory.com , share ideas and strategies and access lots of free training.
19 MIN
DEC 22, 2025
#138 - P8 Free NLP Course. From Negative to Positive Peer Pressure in Youth Work.
Welcome to another Action Factory Podcast with me, Michael Dawson. Before we begin this episode, here's a quick reminder: Don't miss my 30-minute webinar 'The BIG 4 in Youth Work.' You'll also get two powerful tools and my popular 'Brief Therapy Toolkit' eBook—already a hit with nearly 40,000 youth workers. Click below to subscribe and watch!" WATCH THE FREE WEBINAR Now, let's get started... Welcome to our complimentary audio training, "NLP in Residential Youth Work," accessible through this podcast. Each episode is designed to be delivered in commutable chunks, offering practical insights that can be immediately applied in your professional setting. I’m Michael Dawson from the Action Factory, and in this episode, we delve into the intricate dynamics of peer pressure in residential youth settings and its impact on youth behavior. Drawing upon the profound insights from the book "Connected" by James Fowler and Nicholas Christakis, along with a pivotal study by Solomon Asch, we aim to offer a comprehensive understanding of this phenomenon. We’ll discuss strategies that can be seamlessly woven into the daily practices of residential youth establishments to cultivate a nurturing and supportive environment. In today's podcast: 1. A deeper insight into the mechanics of peer pressure in residential youth environments, and strategies to steer them towards beneficial outcomes. 2. An overview of the Solutions Toolkit and guidance on customizing NLP techniques for your specific work environment. 3. An exploration of positive reinforcement techniques, the importance of fostering positive identities, and the critical role of comprehensive staff training. 4. Innovative approaches to reframe the narrative around negative peer pressure, guiding it towards more constructive paths. This episode is designed to equip you with actionable knowledge and tools that can be directly applied to enhance your professional practice in residential youth work. Prepare to engage with the dynamic world of peer pressure and learn how to leverage it for positive transformation. NLP is just one of the disciplines that feature in my specialised training course, "The Solutions Toolkit." It’s an innovative framework custom-built for residential youth workers like you. Remember to check out the free team version on the website. As always I invite you to get this weeks Digital Download (No email required) Visit the website to join our community at www.theactionfactory.com , share ideas and strategies and access lots of free training.
22 MIN
DEC 15, 2025
#137 P7 Free NLP Audio Course - Anchoring and its uses in residential youth work.
Welcome to another Action Factory Podcast with me, Michael Dawson. Before we begin this episode, here's a quick reminder: Don't miss my 30-minute webinar 'The BIG 4 in Youth Work.' You'll also get two powerful tools and my popular 'Brief Therapy Toolkit' eBook—already a hit with nearly 40,000 youth workers. Click below to subscribe and watch!" WATCH THE FREE WEBINAR Now, let's get started... Ever wondered how a song, a scent, or even a festive conversation could act as an 'anchor' to evoke certain feelings? We're going to uncover the concept of 'anchoring' and demonstrate how it can be used to trigger uplifting responses and diminish negative ones. Welcome to another session in our free ten part training course, Neurolinguisitc programming in residential youth work. Every week I'll deliver what I call commutable chunks of information. I aim to offer amazing ideas that you can listen to on the bus and practice at work. I'm your host, Michael Dawson, welcome back to another exciting episode of our Action Factory podcast. Today, we'll be diving deep into the transformative power of Neurolinguistic Programming, or NLP, in the realm of youth work. Discussing: - The concept of 'anchoring' in NLP. - The use of anchoring in various fields, including stand-up comedy and sports. - How anchoring can be used in youth work. - Practical applications of anchoring in your interactions with young people. As the festive season is just around the corner, we'll also discuss how holiday conversations can serve as anchors for pleasant memories and experiences. Get ready to not only understand the theory of anchoring but also to learn its practical applications in your interactions with youth. So, whether you're a seasoned youth worker or just starting your journey in this field, I hope this episode promises to offer valuable insights and practical tools to enhance your skills. As always I invite you to get this weeks DIGITAL DOWNLOAD (No email required) Visit the website to join our community at www.theactionfactory.com , share ideas and strategies and access lots of free training.
15 MIN
DEC 8, 2025
#136 P6 Free NLP Course - The limits of limiting beliefs in young people.
Welcome to another Action Factory Podcast with me, Michael Dawson. Before we begin this episode, here's a quick reminder: Don't miss my 30-minute webinar 'The BIG 4 in Youth Work.' You'll also get two powerful tools and my popular 'Brief Therapy Toolkit' eBook—already a hit with nearly 40,000 youth workers. Click below to subscribe and watch!" WATCH THE FREE WEBINAR Now, let's get started... Welcome to another session in our free ten part training course, Neurolinguisitc programming in residential youth work. Every week I'll deliver what I call commutable chunks of information. I aim to offer amazing ideas that you can listen to on the bus and practice at work. I'm your host Michael Dawson, and today we delve deep into the powerful world of beliefs and how they shape our lives. This episode is specifically tailored for those of us who are in the front lines of residential youth work, dealing with young lives every day, and helping them navigate the often complex world of their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. In today's episode, we're exploring the profound impact of beliefs on our actions, especially in the context of residential youth work. I'll talk about two boys who, despite similar upbringings, developed different belief systems leading their lives to take drastically different turns. I'll also unravel how beliefs, right from core to surface level, can influence our readiness to take risks or explore new things. I want to know how we can adopt or adapt Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) techniques into residential youth work. I'll delve into the importance of relationships, the power of visualization, the impact of positive and negative reframing, and why being a trusted source is so crucial. In this episode, you'll learn: - How beliefs, from core to surface level, influence our actions and behaviors. - The role of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) in residential youth work. - The importance of relationships. - The power of visualization and reframing. - How to adapt NLP techniques to provide valuable support to young people in residential youth work. You won't want to miss this enlightening discussion on leveraging NLP to empower both young people and youth workers. As always I invite you to get this weeks NOTES (No email required) Visit the website to join our community at www.theactionfactory.com , share ideas and strategies and access lots of free training.
20 MIN