Peace is a Choice

<p>How do we lead with love, courage, and compassion at work?</p><p>In this episode of the Peace is a Choice podcast, Natasha Wallace is joined by Dr Fiona Beddoes-Jones, a leadership researcher and expert in compassion and authentic leadership. </p><p>Fiona shares how her leadership research unexpectedly became a study of love in the workplace and why the most effective leaders aren’t those who control or command, but those who lead with heart, courage, and emotional bravery.</p><p>Together, Natasha and Fiona explore what it really means to be an authentic leader through Fiona’s ABC framework: Authenticity, Bravery, and Compassion. They discuss why being true to yourself takes courage, why standing up for your beliefs is an act of leadership, and how compassion creates safer, more human workplaces.</p><p>Fiona also reflects on the deeper meaning of courage, from the Old French Coeur, meaning heart, and how real leadership is rooted in the willingness to care, to be vulnerable, and to love in environments that don’t always reward it. </p><p> </p><p><strong>Connect with Fiona: </strong></p><p>LinkedIn: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/drfionabeddoesjones/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/drfionabeddoesjones/</a> </p><p>Website: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://www.fionabeddoesjones.com/">http://www.fionabeddoesjones.com/</a> </p><p></p><p><strong>Connect with me: </strong></p><p>LinkedIn: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/natasha-wallace-cs/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/natasha-wallace-cs/</a> </p><p>Website: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.natashawallace.com/">https://www.natashawallace.com/</a> </p>

<p>How do we turn pain into purpose and help young people find their voice?</p><p>In this episode of the Peace is a Choice podcast, Natasha Wallace is joined by Calvin Eden, co-founder of Loud Speaker and a youth empowerment speaker working with young people across the UK.</p><p>Calvin shares his journey growing up in North London and the loss of his best friend to a tragic murder at just 15 years old. Faced with this moment, he reflects on how grief and trauma could have taken him down a very different path and how choosing purpose shaped his life’s work.</p><p>Together, Natasha and Calvin explore the meaning of purpose, gratitude, and resilience, and why purpose beats money every time. They discuss confidence in the younger generation, the impact of social media, and why many young people struggle to find their voice in traditional education systems.</p><p>Calvin also shares why he co-founded Loud Speaker, how its high-energy workshops help young people build confidence and communication skills, and why creating spaces where young people feel seen and heard can be life changing.</p><p></p><p><strong>Connect with Calvin:</strong></p><p>LinkedIn: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/calvin-eden-433b9999/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/calvin-eden-433b9999/</a></p><p>Loud Speaker Website: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://loudspeaker.org.uk">loudspeaker.org.uk</a></p><p>Loud Speaker Instagram: <a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="Hyperlink SCXW261452557 BCX0" href="https://www.instagram.com/loudspeakerlive/">@loudspeakerlive</a></p><p></p><p><strong>Connect with me:</strong></p><p>LinkedIn: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/natasha-wallace-cs/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/natasha-wallace-cs/</a></p><p>Website: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.natashawallace.com/">https://www.natashawallace.com/</a></p>

<p>How can work support recovery, wellbeing, and being human?</p><p>This week, Natasha Wallace is joined by Charlotte Neal, Head of Community Connections at Reward Gateway. Charlotte shares her powerful journey from journalism into community and employee wellbeing, and how work played a pivotal role in her recovery and growth.</p><p>In this honest and moving conversation, Charlotte opens up about her experiences with mental health, including her bipolar disorder diagnosis, and living with fibromyalgia. She reflects on the impact of having a genuinely supportive employer and manager, and why workplace culture can be life-changing when wellbeing is taken seriously.</p><p>Natasha and Charlotte also explore what employee wellbeing really means in practice, the challenges of communicating its value to senior leaders, and the importance of authentic leadership and storytelling. From navigating burnout and invisible illness to the power of community and asking for help, Charlotte’s story is a reminder that health is part of being human at work and that no one should struggle alone.</p><p></p><p>Connect with Charlotte:</p><p>LinkedIn: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlotte-neal-01452083/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlotte-neal-01452083/</a></p><p></p><p>Connect with me:</p><p>LinkedIn: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/natasha-wallace-cs/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/natasha-wallace-cs/</a></p><p>Website: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.natashawallace.com/">https://www.natashawallace.com/</a></p>

<p>What does it take to lead with purpose and create real social change?</p><p>In this episode of the Peace is a Choice podcast, Natasha Wallace is joined by Alison Dunn, CEO of the Society Matters Group at Citizens Advice Gateshead.</p><p>Alison shares her inspiring journey from training in law to dedicating her career to social justice, driven by a deep sense of inequality and a desire to make systems fairer for everyone.</p><p>Together, they explore the power of mindset, the importance of community involvement, and why many of the inequities people face are rooted in structures, not individual shortcomings.</p><p>The conversation also delves into the impact of media narratives, the role of education and critical thinking in navigating societal issues, and how leaders can build healthier workplace cultures that support mental well-being.</p><p>Alison discusses the evolution of her own leadership style, the need for self-awareness, and why women must stand together to challenge systemic inequality. She also offers a preview of her upcoming book, Friend or Foe?, which uncovers the dynamics of female relationships and the vital role of women as allies.</p><p></p><p><strong>Connect with Alison</strong></p><p>LinkedIn: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/alisondunncag/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/alisondunncag/</a> </p><p>Society Matters Group: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://societymattersgroup.com/">https://societymattersgroup.com/</a></p><p></p><p><strong>Connect with Natasha</strong></p><p>LinkedIn: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/natasha-wallace-cs/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/natasha-wallace-cs/</a></p><p>Website: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.natashawallace.com/">https://www.natashawallace.com/</a></p>

<p>In this episode of Peace is a Choice, Natasha is joined by a very special guest, her 11-year-old daughter, Evie Wallace.</p><p>Evie brings her own unique perspective on what it means to be at peace with yourself and others. Together, they talk about confidence, kindness and the courage it takes to be different in a world that often encourages us to fit in.</p><p>Through their conversation, Evie shares her thoughts on how to focus on the positives, find friends who accept you for who you are, and why being kind is always the right choice.</p><p>She reminds us that peace starts with self-acceptance and that being true to who you are can make life feel lighter and happier.</p><p>The episode explores themes of authenticity, belonging and the beauty of individuality, showing that sometimes the greatest wisdom comes from seeing the world through a child’s eyes.</p><p></p><p><strong>Connect with me:</strong></p><p>LinkedIn: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/natasha-wallace-cs/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/natasha-wallace-cs/</a> </p><p>Website: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.natashawallace.com/">https://www.natashawallace.com/</a></p>