A phone call, a private jet, and a destination so secret no one would say it out loud—then a palatial compound, an accidental insult to a billionaire, forced vodka shots, a stage sinking into a swimming pool, and Andrea Bocelli arriving by helicopter. That’s only one chapter in conductor Robert Emery’s wildly unconventional career, and somehow it’s not even the most meaningful part. We start by demystifying what a conductor really does. Robert frames the role like a film director: shaping pace, colour, tension, and emotion so a hundred musicians move as one story. From Beethoven to Star Wars, he shows how interpretation turns notes on a page into something you feel in your bones. Then we trace his audacious origin story—from playing Top of the Pops by ear at seven to phoning a major orchestra as a teenager and producing a week of concerts to fund his degree. The takeaway is equal parts craft and courage: talent matters, but so do relationships, logistics, and the will to ask for the gig. The tone shifts from comic to cathartic when Robert recounts conducting in Japan after Fukushima. As a tribute began, the entire audience stood and wept—sobs echoing through the hall. Holding the music steady while hundreds grieved clarified what he believes: music isn’t just entertainment; it is medicine for the nervous system and a language for collective emotion. That belief now fuels his orchestral meditation work, blending lush strings and gentle harmonies with carefully chosen frequencies to support calm, focus, and release. Whether you love classical music or think it isn’t “for you,” Robert’s mission is to make the door wider—sometimes with a tux, sometimes with a lightsaber. Listen for a rare mix of backstage chaos, practical career advice, and a fresh case for why orchestral music still matters. If the story moved you, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review—your support helps us bring more extraordinary guests to your queue. Official Website: <a href='https://robertemery.com/'>https://robertemery.com/</a> <a href='https://orchestralmeditations.com/'>https://orchestralmeditations.com/</a> The Emery Foundation <a href='https://teds-list.com/'>https://teds-list.com/</a> Robert’s Socials: <a href='https://www.instagram.com/robertemeryofficial/'>https://www.instagram.com/robertemeryofficial/</a> <a href='https://web.facebook.com/robertemeryofficial/?_rdc=1&amp;_rdr#'>https://web.facebook.com/robertemeryofficial/?_rdc=1&amp;_rdr#</a><a href='https://www.youtube.com/robertemeryofficial'>https://www.youtube.com/robertemeryofficial</a><a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertemeryofficial'>https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertemeryofficial</a> More Info: https://noordinarymonday.com/ <a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2517669/open_sms">Send us a text</a>If you enjoyed this episode, please give us a five-star rating and review, and tell a friend about the show. WANT TO BE A GUEST? You can submit your own career story through our website at noordinarymonday.com, email us at hello@noordinarymonday.com, or send a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/176029491486798797fb4df61

<description>&lt;p&gt;A phone call, a private jet, and a destination so secret no one would say it out loud—then a palatial compound, an accidental insult to a billionaire, forced vodka shots, a stage sinking into a swimming pool, and Andrea Bocelli arriving by helicopter. That’s only one chapter in conductor Robert Emery’s wildly unconventional career, and somehow it’s not even the most meaningful part.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;We start by demystifying what a conductor really does. Robert frames the role like a film director: shaping pace, colour, tension, and emotion so a hundred musicians move as one story. From Beethoven to Star Wars, he shows how interpretation turns notes on a page into something you feel in your bones. Then we trace his audacious origin story—from playing Top of the Pops by ear at seven to phoning a major orchestra as a teenager and producing a week of concerts to fund his degree. The takeaway is equal parts craft and courage: talent matters, but so do relationships, logistics, and the will to ask for the gig.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;The tone shifts from comic to cathartic when Robert recounts conducting in Japan after Fukushima. As a tribute began, the entire audience stood and wept—sobs echoing through the hall. Holding the music steady while hundreds grieved clarified what he believes: music isn’t just entertainment; it is medicine for the nervous system and a language for collective emotion. That belief now fuels his orchestral meditation work, blending lush strings and gentle harmonies with carefully chosen frequencies to support calm, focus, and release. Whether you love classical music or think it isn’t “for you,” Robert’s mission is to make the door wider—sometimes with a tux, sometimes with a lightsaber.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Listen for a rare mix of backstage chaos, practical career advice, and a fresh case for why orchestral music still matters. If the story moved you, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review—your support helps us bring more extraordinary guests to your queue.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Official Website: &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href='https://robertemery.com/'&gt;https://robertemery.com/&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href='https://orchestralmeditations.com/'&gt;https://orchestralmeditations.com/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The Emery Foundation &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href='https://teds-list.com/'&gt;https://teds-list.com/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Robert’s Socials: &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href='https://www.instagram.com/robertemeryofficial/'&gt;https://www.instagram.com/robertemeryofficial/&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href='https://web.facebook.com/robertemeryofficial/?_rdc=1&amp;amp;_rdr#'&gt;https://web.facebook.com/robertemeryofficial/?_rdc=1&amp;amp;_rdr#&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href='https://www.youtube.com/robertemeryofficial'&gt;https://www.youtube.com/robertemeryofficial&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertemeryofficial'&gt;https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertemeryofficial&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;More Info: &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;https://noordinarymonday.com/&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2517669/open_sms"&gt;Send us a text&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;If you enjoyed this episode, please give us a five-star rating and review, and tell a friend about the show. &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;WANT TO BE A GUEST? You can submit your own career story through our website at noordinarymonday.com, email us at hello@noordinarymonday.com, or send a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/176029491486798797fb4df61 &lt;/p&gt;</description>

A phone call, a private jet, and a destination so secret no one would say it out loud—then a palatial compound, an accidental insult to a billionaire, forced vodka shots, a stage sinking into a swimming pool, and Andrea Bocelli arriving by helicopter. That’s only one chapter in conductor Robert Emery’s wildly unconventional career, and somehow it’s not even the most meaningful part.  We start by demystifying what a conductor really does. Robert frames the role like a film director: shaping pa...

Adventures of a Modern Maestro (Orchestra Conductor)

What happens when a Secret Service interrogator plays Two Truths and a Lie with us on mic? We invited special agent and polygraph examiner Brad Beeler to stress‑test our storytelling and, more importantly, to reveal how professionals separate sharp detail from slick delivery. Three claims hit the table—a shoot in Antarctica, a cheetah lick in Namibia, and a bumblebee suit on a neuroscience series—and the questions get precise fast. Brad walks us through his approach: pin the year, anchor the place, force a mental replay of movement, texture, and logistics, then loop back later to see if anything bends. You’ll hear how he listens for sensory anchors, how he treats confidence with suspicion, and why a crisp narrative can be either rock‑solid truth or a well‑worn cover story. Even with decades in interrogation and polygraph work, he’s candid about the ceiling of accuracy when there’s no external evidence. That honesty sets the tone for a playful but revealing experiment in credibility. We also explore a bigger idea: everyday culture trains us to accept small lies for the sake of harmony, making binary truth harder to spot in casual talk. The game becomes a live lesson in the limits of gut reads, the power of specific follow‑ups, and the value of humility when calling a bluff. If you care about interviewing, negotiation, journalism, or simply becoming a better listener, this bonus is a compact field guide to critical questioning and the psychology of belief. If you enjoyed this, follow the show, share it with a friend who loves lie‑spotting, and leave a quick review to help others find the podcast. Subscribe for more bonus sessions and behind‑the‑scenes stories from No Ordinary Monday. 🎧 Listen to Brad’s full episode here on the channel for the complete story behind his career and his wild No Ordinary Monday experience. https://www.noordinarymonday.com/ep018-brad-beeler-secret-service-agent https://bradleybeeler.com/ Check out Brad&apos;s book - &quot;Tell Me Everything&quot;: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1637748426/?bestFormat=true&amp;k=tell%20me%20everything%20brad%20beeler&amp;ref_=nb_sb_ss_w_scx-ent-bk-ww_k1_1_11_de&amp;crid=248VD6GPOI385&amp;sprefix=brad%20beeler<a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2517669/open_sms">Send us a text</a>If you enjoyed this episode, please give us a five-star rating and review, and tell a friend about the show. WANT TO BE A GUEST? You can submit your own career story through our website at noordinarymonday.com, email us at hello@noordinarymonday.com, or send a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/176029491486798797fb4df61

<description>&lt;p&gt;What happens when a Secret Service interrogator plays Two Truths and a Lie with us on mic? We invited special agent and polygraph examiner Brad Beeler to stress‑test our storytelling and, more importantly, to reveal how professionals separate sharp detail from slick delivery. Three claims hit the table—a shoot in Antarctica, a cheetah lick in Namibia, and a bumblebee suit on a neuroscience series—and the questions get precise fast.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Brad walks us through his approach: pin the year, anchor the place, force a mental replay of movement, texture, and logistics, then loop back later to see if anything bends. You’ll hear how he listens for sensory anchors, how he treats confidence with suspicion, and why a crisp narrative can be either rock‑solid truth or a well‑worn cover story. Even with decades in interrogation and polygraph work, he’s candid about the ceiling of accuracy when there’s no external evidence. That honesty sets the tone for a playful but revealing experiment in credibility.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;We also explore a bigger idea: everyday culture trains us to accept small lies for the sake of harmony, making binary truth harder to spot in casual talk. The game becomes a live lesson in the limits of gut reads, the power of specific follow‑ups, and the value of humility when calling a bluff. If you care about interviewing, negotiation, journalism, or simply becoming a better listener, this bonus is a compact field guide to critical questioning and the psychology of belief.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;If you enjoyed this, follow the show, share it with a friend who loves lie‑spotting, and leave a quick review to help others find the podcast. Subscribe for more bonus sessions and behind‑the‑scenes stories from No Ordinary Monday.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;🎧 Listen to Brad’s full episode here on the channel for the complete story behind his career and his wild No Ordinary Monday experience.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;https://www.noordinarymonday.com/ep018-brad-beeler-secret-service-agent&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;https://bradleybeeler.com/&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Check out Brad&amp;apos;s book - &amp;quot;Tell Me Everything&amp;quot;:&lt;br/&gt;https://www.amazon.com/dp/1637748426/?bestFormat=true&amp;amp;k=tell%20me%20everything%20brad%20beeler&amp;amp;ref_=nb_sb_ss_w_scx-ent-bk-ww_k1_1_11_de&amp;amp;crid=248VD6GPOI385&amp;amp;sprefix=brad%20beeler&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2517669/open_sms"&gt;Send us a text&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;If you enjoyed this episode, please give us a five-star rating and review, and tell a friend about the show. &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;WANT TO BE A GUEST? You can submit your own career story through our website at noordinarymonday.com, email us at hello@noordinarymonday.com, or send a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/176029491486798797fb4df61 &lt;/p&gt;</description>

What happens when a Secret Service interrogator plays Two Truths and a Lie with us on mic? We invited special agent and polygraph examiner Brad Beeler to stress‑test our storytelling and, more importantly, to reveal how professionals separate sharp detail from slick delivery. Three claims hit the table—a shoot in Antarctica, a cheetah lick in Namibia, and a bumblebee suit on a neuroscience series—and the questions get precise fast.  Brad walks us through his approach: pin the year, anchor the...

(BONUS) Two Truths and a Lie… With a Secret Service Agent

What does it really take to open a locked human safe? Not pressure. Not tricks. Presence. Retired US Secret Service special agent Brad Beeler joins me to unpack the art and science of getting to the truth when everything rides on a single expression or a mistimed pause. From presidential protection to high-stakes interviews, Brad shows how tactical empathy, careful prep, and an unwavering poker face can turn silence into clarity. We start with the foundations: reading people without judgment, building a confessional environment, and crafting first impressions that calm the nervous system. Brad shares how a deaf best friend taught him to rely on eye contact, congruent body language, and vocal tone—and why letting someone “bathe in their own dopamine” builds trust faster than any script. He then takes us inside the “King of Counterfeit” case, revealing how a meticulous forger exploited human shortcuts and how aligning with ego, curiosity, and respect led to confession, twice. Not every interview is winnable, and Brad is candid about the difference between situational offenders and the rare truly predatory mind. He explains the coping rituals that keep the job from following you home and the moments he values most: when a careful conversation vindicates an innocent person. We also cover career advice, the whole-person hiring approach, and a grounded look at polygraph—imperfect yet useful when paired with honesty and solid process. If you’re a leader, parent, teacher, or anyone who negotiates under pressure, you’ll leave with practical tools: ask better follow-ups, avoid stealing the spotlight, prepare like it matters, and speak to the why beneath the what. Subscribe, share with a friend who loves real-world psychology, and leave a review—what insight will you try first? Links:https://bradleybeeler.com/https://www.secretservice.gov/ Socials: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradbeeler1865/https://www.instagram.com/bradbeeler1865/<a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2517669/open_sms">Send us a text</a>If you enjoyed this episode, please give us a five-star rating and review, and tell a friend about the show. WANT TO BE A GUEST? You can submit your own career story through our website at noordinarymonday.com, email us at hello@noordinarymonday.com, or send a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/176029491486798797fb4df61

<description>&lt;p&gt;What does it really take to open a locked human safe? Not pressure. Not tricks. Presence. Retired US Secret Service special agent Brad Beeler joins me to unpack the art and science of getting to the truth when everything rides on a single expression or a mistimed pause. From presidential protection to high-stakes interviews, Brad shows how tactical empathy, careful prep, and an unwavering poker face can turn silence into clarity.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;We start with the foundations: reading people without judgment, building a confessional environment, and crafting first impressions that calm the nervous system. Brad shares how a deaf best friend taught him to rely on eye contact, congruent body language, and vocal tone—and why letting someone “bathe in their own dopamine” builds trust faster than any script. He then takes us inside the “King of Counterfeit” case, revealing how a meticulous forger exploited human shortcuts and how aligning with ego, curiosity, and respect led to confession, twice.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Not every interview is winnable, and Brad is candid about the difference between situational offenders and the rare truly predatory mind. He explains the coping rituals that keep the job from following you home and the moments he values most: when a careful conversation vindicates an innocent person. We also cover career advice, the whole-person hiring approach, and a grounded look at polygraph—imperfect yet useful when paired with honesty and solid process.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;If you’re a leader, parent, teacher, or anyone who negotiates under pressure, you’ll leave with practical tools: ask better follow-ups, avoid stealing the spotlight, prepare like it matters, and speak to the why beneath the what. Subscribe, share with a friend who loves real-world psychology, and leave a review—what insight will you try first?&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Links:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;https://bradleybeeler.com/&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;https://www.secretservice.gov/&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Socials:&lt;br/&gt;https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradbeeler1865/&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;https://www.instagram.com/bradbeeler1865/&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2517669/open_sms"&gt;Send us a text&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;If you enjoyed this episode, please give us a five-star rating and review, and tell a friend about the show. &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;WANT TO BE A GUEST? You can submit your own career story through our website at noordinarymonday.com, email us at hello@noordinarymonday.com, or send a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/176029491486798797fb4df61 &lt;/p&gt;</description>

What does it really take to open a locked human safe? Not pressure. Not tricks. Presence. Retired US Secret Service special agent Brad Beeler joins me to unpack the art and science of getting to the truth when everything rides on a single expression or a mistimed pause. From presidential protection to high-stakes interviews, Brad shows how tactical empathy, careful prep, and an unwavering poker face can turn silence into clarity.  We start with the foundations: reading people without judgment...

The Secret Service Playbook (U.S. Secret Service Agent)

Headlights in the distance. Two elderly evacuees in the cab. A van bogged down a kilometre from the Russian border. That single night becomes the turning point for Tenby Powell, a former soldier and business leader who now runs one of the few foreign‑flagged humanitarian teams still operating on Ukraine’s front line. We sit down with Tenby to unpack what aid work looks like when drones own the sky and mines haunt the verges. He explains how KiwiKare moved from broad donations to precision medical impact: Road of Life ambulance transfers, targeted hospital resupply sourced locally, and Heat for Health, a clever programme that turns old water cylinders into stoves and boilers so families can cook and keep warm when power and water are cut. Along the way, he shares candid lessons from the field: why pull logistics beats push shipments, how to plan routes that respect shifting minefields, and when to abort missions because a sector is too hot. The hardest dilemma sits at the centre of the story: in a war where humanitarian markings attract strikes, how much of every donated dollar should fund electronic warfare equipment, hardened glass, and underbody plates instead of antibiotics, dressings, and fuel. Tenby talks through the numbers, the ethics, and the brutal arithmetic of survival after losing ambulances to drone attacks. He also highlights the partnerships that make the difference—Ukrainian NGOs, hospital directors, and head nurses who set priorities with precision and hold teams to account. If you care about effective altruism when it counts, modern warfare’s impact on civilians, or what it truly takes to evacuate patients under fire, you’ll find hard truths and real hope here. Subscribe, leave a five‑star review, and share this episode with someone who wants their support to matter.  Visit KiwiKareUkraine.co.nz to learn more about Tenby&apos;s work and help fuel the next lifesaving mission. Donate Here:<a href='https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/kiwi-kare-ukraine-kiwi-aid-and-refugee-evacuation'>https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/kiwi-kare-ukraine-kiwi-aid-and-refugee-evacuation</a> Socials<a href='https://www.instagram.com/tenbypowellnz/'>https://www.instagram.com/tenbypowellnz/</a><a href='https://www.youtube.com/@kiwik.a.r.eukraine1488'>https://www.youtube.com/@kiwik.a.r.eukraine1488</a><a href='https://web.facebook.com/TenbyPowellKiwiK.A.R.E/?_rdc=1&amp;_rdr#'>https://web.facebook.com/TenbyPowellKiwiK.A.R.E/?_rdc=1&amp;_rdr#</a> Reach out to us at - hello@noordinarymonday.com<a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2517669/open_sms">Send us a text</a>If you enjoyed this episode, please give us a five-star rating and review, and tell a friend about the show. WANT TO BE A GUEST? You can submit your own career story through our website at noordinarymonday.com, email us at hello@noordinarymonday.com, or send a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/176029491486798797fb4df61

<description>&lt;p&gt;Headlights in the distance. Two elderly evacuees in the cab. A van bogged down a kilometre from the Russian border. That single night becomes the turning point for Tenby Powell, a former soldier and business leader who now runs one of the few foreign‑flagged humanitarian teams still operating on Ukraine’s front line.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;We sit down with Tenby to unpack what aid work looks like when drones own the sky and mines haunt the verges. He explains how KiwiKare moved from broad donations to precision medical impact: Road of Life ambulance transfers, targeted hospital resupply sourced locally, and Heat for Health, a clever programme that turns old water cylinders into stoves and boilers so families can cook and keep warm when power and water are cut. Along the way, he shares candid lessons from the field: why pull logistics beats push shipments, how to plan routes that respect shifting minefields, and when to abort missions because a sector is too hot.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;The hardest dilemma sits at the centre of the story: in a war where humanitarian markings attract strikes, how much of every donated dollar should fund electronic warfare equipment, hardened glass, and underbody plates instead of antibiotics, dressings, and fuel. Tenby talks through the numbers, the ethics, and the brutal arithmetic of survival after losing ambulances to drone attacks. He also highlights the partnerships that make the difference—Ukrainian NGOs, hospital directors, and head nurses who set priorities with precision and hold teams to account.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;If you care about effective altruism when it counts, modern warfare’s impact on civilians, or what it truly takes to evacuate patients under fire, you’ll find hard truths and real hope here. Subscribe, leave a five‑star review, and share this episode with someone who wants their support to matter. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Visit KiwiKareUkraine.co.nz to learn more about Tenby&amp;apos;s work and help fuel the next lifesaving mission.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Donate Here:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href='https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/kiwi-kare-ukraine-kiwi-aid-and-refugee-evacuation'&gt;https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/kiwi-kare-ukraine-kiwi-aid-and-refugee-evacuation&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Socials&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href='https://www.instagram.com/tenbypowellnz/'&gt;https://www.instagram.com/tenbypowellnz/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href='https://www.youtube.com/@kiwik.a.r.eukraine1488'&gt;https://www.youtube.com/@kiwik.a.r.eukraine1488&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href='https://web.facebook.com/TenbyPowellKiwiK.A.R.E/?_rdc=1&amp;amp;_rdr#'&gt;https://web.facebook.com/TenbyPowellKiwiK.A.R.E/?_rdc=1&amp;amp;_rdr#&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Reach out to us at - hello@noordinarymonday.com&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2517669/open_sms"&gt;Send us a text&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;If you enjoyed this episode, please give us a five-star rating and review, and tell a friend about the show. &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;WANT TO BE A GUEST? You can submit your own career story through our website at noordinarymonday.com, email us at hello@noordinarymonday.com, or send a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/176029491486798797fb4df61 &lt;/p&gt;</description>

Headlights in the distance. Two elderly evacuees in the cab. A van bogged down a kilometre from the Russian border. That single night becomes the turning point for Tenby Powell, a former soldier and business leader who now runs one of the few foreign‑flagged humanitarian teams still operating on Ukraine’s front line.  We sit down with Tenby to unpack what aid work looks like when drones own the sky and mines haunt the verges. He explains how KiwiKare moved from broad donations to precision me...

The Road of Life, and Death (Humanitarian)

A tiny part failed, a race unravelled, and a dominant team learned a lesson that reshaped its season. We sit down with engineer and technical leader Ruaraidh McDonald-Walker to trace the arc from childhood curiosity to Mercedes’ hybrid breakthrough, then step into the heat of the 2014 Canadian Grand Prix where creeping temperatures and unseen constraints forced brutal clarity. What failed wasn’t the obvious component; it was an overlooked piece in the electronics. The fix demanded humility, predictive tools, and a culture strong enough to ignore blame and choose action. We unpack how Ruaraidh pivoted early to electrification, why nobody knew what a racing-grade electric motor should look like, and how Mercedes fused chassis and power unit thinking to create a single, coherent system. Ruaraidh takes us trackside to describe the reality behind the garage screens, the cadence of remote factory operations running on Australia time, and the difference between dyno confidence and race-day chaos. The Canada story becomes a leadership case study: avoid decision stasis, derate early when the data hints at a slow-burn failure, and keep an open mind when physics contradicts assumptions. From there, we zoom out to thermodynamics, energy efficiency, and why electrification isn’t fashion but physics. For future engineers, Ruaraidh shares practical advice: build things, question sources, volunteer at circuits, and treat creativity as a core engineering skill. Music, Lego, and pinball machines become tools for recovery in a high-pressure world; recovery, in turn, sustains performance. Along the way, you’ll hear how a blame-free culture enabled bold ideas like unconventional turbo layouts and how predictive models turned panic into process after Montreal. If you enjoyed the story, follow or subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next. Share the episode with a friend, and leave a quick five-star review to help more listeners find the show. Your support helps us bring you more candid conversations with people who build at the limit. Ruaraidh’s Socials: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruaraidh-mcdonald-walker-1608a64/ https://www.instagram.com/f1ruaraidh/?hl=en Formula Student Website - https://www.imeche.org/events/formula-student Formula One 2014 Canadian Grand Prix Highlightsx - https://youtu.be/839YKsTnMns?si=IlB3pLBFWuUzvKZW Dollar Academy Pipe Band  - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uc1gVYzFKB0<a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2517669/open_sms">Send us a text</a>If you enjoyed this episode, please give us a five-star rating and review, and tell a friend about the show. WANT TO BE A GUEST? You can submit your own career story through our website at noordinarymonday.com, email us at hello@noordinarymonday.com, or send a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/176029491486798797fb4df61

<description>&lt;p&gt;A tiny part failed, a race unravelled, and a dominant team learned a lesson that reshaped its season. We sit down with engineer and technical leader Ruaraidh McDonald-Walker to trace the arc from childhood curiosity to Mercedes’ hybrid breakthrough, then step into the heat of the 2014 Canadian Grand Prix where creeping temperatures and unseen constraints forced brutal clarity. What failed wasn’t the obvious component; it was an overlooked piece in the electronics. The fix demanded humility, predictive tools, and a culture strong enough to ignore blame and choose action.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;We unpack how Ruaraidh pivoted early to electrification, why nobody knew what a racing-grade electric motor should look like, and how Mercedes fused chassis and power unit thinking to create a single, coherent system. Ruaraidh takes us trackside to describe the reality behind the garage screens, the cadence of remote factory operations running on Australia time, and the difference between dyno confidence and race-day chaos. The Canada story becomes a leadership case study: avoid decision stasis, derate early when the data hints at a slow-burn failure, and keep an open mind when physics contradicts assumptions. From there, we zoom out to thermodynamics, energy efficiency, and why electrification isn’t fashion but physics.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;For future engineers, Ruaraidh shares practical advice: build things, question sources, volunteer at circuits, and treat creativity as a core engineering skill. Music, Lego, and pinball machines become tools for recovery in a high-pressure world; recovery, in turn, sustains performance. Along the way, you’ll hear how a blame-free culture enabled bold ideas like unconventional turbo layouts and how predictive models turned panic into process after Montreal.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;If you enjoyed the story, follow or subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next. Share the episode with a friend, and leave a quick five-star review to help more listeners find the show. Your support helps us bring you more candid conversations with people who build at the limit.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Ruaraidh’s Socials:&lt;br/&gt;https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruaraidh-mcdonald-walker-1608a64/&lt;br/&gt;https://www.instagram.com/f1ruaraidh/?hl=en&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Formula Student Website - https://www.imeche.org/events/formula-student&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Formula One 2014 Canadian Grand Prix Highlightsx - https://youtu.be/839YKsTnMns?si=IlB3pLBFWuUzvKZW&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Dollar Academy Pipe Band  - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uc1gVYzFKB0&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2517669/open_sms"&gt;Send us a text&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;If you enjoyed this episode, please give us a five-star rating and review, and tell a friend about the show. &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;WANT TO BE A GUEST? You can submit your own career story through our website at noordinarymonday.com, email us at hello@noordinarymonday.com, or send a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/176029491486798797fb4df61 &lt;/p&gt;</description>

A tiny part failed, a race unravelled, and a dominant team learned a lesson that reshaped its season. We sit down with engineer and technical leader Ruaraidh McDonald-Walker to trace the arc from childhood curiosity to Mercedes’ hybrid breakthrough, then step into the heat of the 2014 Canadian Grand Prix where creeping temperatures and unseen constraints forced brutal clarity. What failed wasn’t the obvious component; it was an overlooked piece in the electronics. The fix demanded humility, p...

Braking Point (F1 Engineer)

The No Ordinary Monday podcast brings you the most incredible tales from people's working lives. Each week, we meet someone whose work is anything but ordinary - they may be clearing landmines, blowing up movie sets, or exploring uncharted caves.&nbsp;We dive into the how, the why, and a life-defining moment they’ve experienced on the job. Whether it’s spine-tingling, hilarious, or just plain jaw-dropping, their stories will challenge what you thought a “career” could be—and maybe even change the way you think about your own.

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