Flying Solo

People and culture specialist Claire Gray, author of the new book Thriving Teams: When Teams Unite, Align and Achieve, dives into what truly makes a business excel—whether you’re leading a handful of people, working with an evolving group of freelancers, or just starting to build your own crew. Claire shares insights from her extensive experience in leadership development, team dynamics, and her own entrepreneurial journey. We cover the essentials of building strong teams, the difference between simply performing and genuinely thriving, and why understanding your purpose and practicing quality conversations can make all the difference. You’ll also learn practical strategies for fostering psychological safety, empathy, and accountability, even when your team is made up of remote workers or freelancers. Key topics 1. The Essentials of Thriving Teams Key differences between dysfunctional, complacent, performing, and thriving teams Importance of purpose, meaningful work, and strong relationships Psychological safety as a foundation for honest conversations and innovation 2. Leadership Skills and Development Common leadership gaps, especially in small businesses and among new leaders The growing value of “soft” (human) skills like empathy and feedback The three facets of authentic leadership: empathy, assertiveness, adaptiveness 3. Creating Alignment and Accountability Defining clear roles, goals, and behavioral expectations as teams grow Importance of regular, quality conversations to build alignment Shared accountability and giving/receiving feedback within the team 4. Fostering Healthy Team Culture Encouraging healthy debate and curiosity for growth and innovation Building human connection and togetherness, even with remote or freelance teams Incorporating rituals and intentionality in meetings for engagement 5. Practical Steps and Resources Tips for discovering purpose and leveraging team strengths Addressing misalignment or tension through open communication and curiosity Resources like Claire Gray ’s book and practical tools for team development Time-stamped overview 00:00 From Psychology to HR Journey 03:06 Leadership Skills Gap Insights 06:45 "Defining Purpose at Four Levels" 13:07 "Psychological Safety and Team Alignment" 14:08 Fostering Open, Respectful Conversations 17:20 "Psychological Safety and Accountability" 20:46 Empathy, Authenticity, Adaptive Leadership 24:09 "Effective and Intentional Meetings" 30:08 "Fostering Quality Conversations" 31:19 "Thriving Team Insights with Claire" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Melinda McCormack unpacks the growing sense of isolation many of us feel—at work, in our communities, and even at home—thanks to our fast-paced, tech-heavy lives. In this episode, we explore the art and science of empathy, drawing from Melinda McCormack’s decades of experience helping leaders and teams navigate challenging emotional terrain. With insights from her new book, “Pulse: Empathy Is Your Edge,” you’ll discover a practical, five-step framework for building trust, breaking through resistance, and creating truly sustainable change. Key topics 1. The Challenge of Disconnection and the Need for Empathy Modern life’s disconnection fueled by technology and excessive screen time Emotional overwhelm and resistance to change as common experiences Empathy as a critical tool to rebuild genuine human connection 2. Melinda McCormack’s Personal Story and Empathy Mission Inspired by the experience of raising her son after losing her partner Focused on building emotional strength and resilience in herself and her son Transformation from adversity to an advocacy for empathy and emotional awareness 3. The Pulse Framework for Empathy Purpose: Anchoring in personal values and “why” Understanding: Building self-awareness of emotional patterns (“emotional DNA”) Learning and Shifting: Developing emotional skills, forming new habits, reframing thoughts Embracing Change: Combining emotional agility with rational decision-making 4. Bringing Empathy to Work and Leadership Emotional intelligence reframed as a business-critical skill, not just “soft” Importance of authentic, adaptable leadership in an age of rapid change and AI Creating psychological safety, inclusion, and trust in teams 5. Everyday Practices and Repairing Disconnection Techniques for self-check-ins and intentional emotional responses Approaches to overcoming resistance, self-limiting beliefs, and perfectionism Practical steps for mending relationships—apologizing, humility, and face-to-face connection Time-stamped overview 00:00 Empathy's Role in Strength and Growth 03:49 "From Struggle to Connection" 07:12 "Human-centered Leadership in AI Era" 12:46 Emotional Agility and Self-Trust 15:28 "Shifting Beliefs for Growth" 18:27 "Beliefs Drive Daily Self-Check" 21:55 Call Centre Frustration Experience 26:39 Reframing Change for Collaboration 28:30 "Humanity, Empathy, and Connection" 32:12 "Empathy: Your Edge" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From his humble beginnings in a working-class family to conquering the high-stakes trading floors of London, Andrew Baxter shares how those early struggles shaped his money mindset—and why he believes financial freedom is possible for anyone who’s willing to learn the process. Andrew breaks down the myths and realities of investing, the emotional roadblocks that often hold us back, and practical steps for building wealth—even during tough economic times. Whether you’re just starting out or ready to level up your finances, you’ll hear relatable stories, actionable advice, and an insider’s look at how everyday Australians can use knowledge, strategy, and a little courage to create a more secure future. Get ready to rethink your approach to money, overcome those common investing mistakes, and discover what it really takes to crack the wealth code. Key topics Absolutely! Here’s a condensed sequence of the episode’s major themes, each with a few supporting bullets: 1. Andrew's Background and Money Mindset Grew up in a working-class home with limited financial resources Influence of upbringing on his motivation to succeed and views about money Early career shift from small-town life to high-stakes London finance 2. Career Transitions and Search for Fulfilment Experience on the competitive London trading floor (the reality vs the “Billions” myth) Decision to leave London seeking more fulfillment and life balance Relocating to Australia, embracing new opportunities and challenges 3. Making Investing Accessible: Education & The Wealth Playbook Founding Australian Investment Education after teaching on the golf course Philosophy: Focus on process, consistency, and removing jargon The Wealth Playbook aims to demystify investing for everyday Australians 4. Advice for Business Owners and Professionals The necessity of having multiple income streams in uncertain economic times Overcoming ego and professional pride to pursue side hustles Adapting to AI and technological changes through upskilling 5. Common Financial Mistakes and Keys to Success Letting emotion and ego override disciplined decision-making Importance of building a process and learning before acting Taking action—avoiding both procrastination and recklessness Time-stamped overview 00:00 "City of London Finance Journey" 04:33 Success Without Fulfillment 07:02 "Dot-Com Era to Investment Journey" 10:25 "Investing Requires a Strong Why" 13:29 "Success Requires Strategy, Not Emotion" 18:26 Overcoming Ego in Professional Services 20:17 AI's Impact on Professional Careers 24:38 "Creating Tomorrow's Wealth Today" 28:37 "Boosting Business Cash Flow Strategies" 29:44 "Building Wealth Through Education" 34:57 "Learn Once, Grow Forever" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jordana Borensztajn is a comedian, keynote speaker, communication expert, and now, author of The Little Book of Influence. From being escorted off Facebook’s Silicon Valley campus  when she was dressed as a giant, like button to being booed on a cruise ship and even suffering an egg-related injury, Jordana has experienced her fair share of epic fails. But instead of shying away from these cringe-worthy moments, she’s turned them into comedy gold and powerful lessons on resilience, vulnerability, and authentic communication. Jordana shares how she mines her most embarrassing moments for laughter and learning, why leaning into vulnerability is so crucial for business owners, and how her “Presence Framework” can help anyone connect and influence more authentically. Plus, she opens up about the power of finding joy, the importance of listening to your body, and how her passion for magic and mentalism unlocked unexpected creativity during lockdown. Key topics 1. Turning Failure into Power and Comedy     Jordana Borensztajn uses personal and professional failures as material for growth and stand-up.     Signature story: the Facebook 'Like' costume incident and lessons in resilience and congruence. Encourages sharing failures to reduce the stigma and normalise vulnerability. 2. Embracing Vulnerability and Authenticity Importance of showing up honestly in business and communication. Self-reflection: questioning if current choices make you happy or serve your goals. Authenticity as essential for genuine connection and influence. 3. The Presence Framework for Influence PRESENCE acronym for transformative communication. The power of nonverbal signals, congruence, and embodying your whole self. Practical tools like the “glitter chest” technique for confident presence. 4. Managing Pressure and Prioritising Wellbeing Advice for business owners to let go of perfection and prioritize health. Value of self-care activities: rest, hydration, meditation, movement\ Giving yourself permission to pause and recharge to avoid burnout. 5. The Joy of New Experiences: Magic and Mentalism Jordana Borensztajn explores magic duringlockdown, finding awe and playfulness. Using magic to facilitate wonder and learn about how people approach life. Integrating magic and mentalism into her professional toolkit. Time-stamped overview 00:00 Turning Cringe Into Comedy 03:41 From Comedy to Connection 07:50 Accused of Being Outside Mark's house 11:47 Authenticity Through Vulnerability 16:26 "Stories Inspiring Growth & Joy" 18:29 Authenticity Over Perfection 20:57 Dancing Breaks Fear Loops 26:46 Easing Perfection Pressure for Entrepreneurs 28:59 Energy Management Through Mindfulness 31:58 Magic: Love, Hate, or Revealing 35:30 Podcast Recap and Reminder Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Paul Taylor is a former Royal Navy air crew officer turned neuroscientist, psychologist, and exercise physiologist, to break down the concept of ‘Death by Comfort’, Dr. Taylor’s new book, The Hardiness Effect, explores how embracing a little stress and discomfort can make us stronger, sharper, and healthier. Dr Taylor dives into the science behind resilience, the dangers of modern convenience, and practical strategies for building mental and physical toughness—like cold showers, purposeful challenges, and reframing stress as an opportunity for growth. Whether you’re a small business owner wrestling with burnout or simply feeling stuck in a rut, this conversation offers actionable advice and fresh perspective for building a life with more energy, meaning, and resilience. Key topics 1. The Hardiness Effect: Foundations and Background Dr Paul Taylor’s diverse expertise (military, neuroscience, psychology, exercise physiology). Modern comfort is disconnecting us from ancestral stressors needed for resilience.  Hardiness combines mind and body for optimal health. Dr Taylor’s motivation for writing and research comes from both lived experience and scientific evidence. 2. Stress, Adaptation, and Practical Resilience Exposure to intermittent stress (exercise, cold, psychological challenge) strengthens body and mind. Simple habits like cold showers and breath control can build resilience. Psychological orientation: viewing stressors as challenges boosts recovery and growth. Deliberate discomfort and self-reflection reinforce confidence and adaptability. 3. The Role of Lifestyle and Technology Sedentary lifestyles and processed diets are misaligned with our genetic needs. Tech habits and excessive screen time drain attention, mood, and engagement in life. Healthy routines—exercise, nutrition, sleep, hobbies (Ikigai)—empower resilience. Balance is crucial: active participation trumps passive consumption for well-being. 4. Burnout, Mental Health, and Applying Hardiness Entrepreneurs are especially susceptible to burnout due to chronic stress. Recovery means engaging in energising, restorative activities—not just relaxation. Major signs of bad stress include low energy, motivation, and social withdrawal. Building hardiness: set boundaries, cultivate gratitude, and embrace life’s challenges.  Timestamped overview 00:00 "Hardiness: Strength Through Discomfort" 03:48 "Modern Life Mismatches Our Genome" 06:50 "Stress Builds Cellular Resilience" 12:13 Stress Inoculation and Growth 15:38 "Building Resilience Through Challenges" 18:05 Embrace Adversity, Build Confidence 20:14 "Finding Purpose and Setting Boundaries" 23:52 Life Beyond Screen Time 26:29 Preventing Burnout Early 30:34 "1 in 400 Trillion Life"   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices