If you don't yet have a frame of reference for Design Response Queen Lori Haller, then here she comes! "The reason I named my company Designing Response is that's how I show up: I'm not here to just create a beautiful design and jooje the copy. I'm here hardcore to hop-on-top of whatever project it is and make sure I get a RESPONSE: Click a button, say "Yes!" and get out your wallet": BOOM!

Pretty design is easy. Design that makes someone stop, FEEL something, and take ACTION is a different craft entirely and that’s where Lori Haller lives. From just outside Washington, DC, Lori joins me in The Clearing to unpack what she calls “designing response”: showing up with copy, visuals and strategy that align so tightly the next step becomes obvious. We get into what congruence really looks like in direct mail, sales pages and campaigns, and why being the brave voice in the room can be the difference between a nice-looking piece and a profitable one.

Lori also opens up about how she finds creative flow and why nature is not a luxury but part of the job when you are paid to think. We talk about her serious happy place at the ocean, using music to match the heartbeat of a project, and the joy she gets from coaching writers and designers into stronger collaboration. If you have ever watched a team argue in circles, you will love her practical take on how to work together, speak up, and still keep it human.

We also go head-on into AI in marketing and design. Lori sees AI as a force multiplier when it frees talented people from endless “doing” and gives them back the time to dig deeper and find the explosive ideas. You’ll hear how she helps companies improve systems, adopt new tools and drive real profitability, plus the personal values underneath it all: making ripples that help someone else live better.

If you enjoy the conversation, subscribe, share the show with a friend who cares about direct response marketing and creative leadership, and leave a review so more listeners can find us. What part of Lori’s approach are you going to try first?

If you’re building a career in the arts, leading teams, or simply trying to honor the voices you love, there’s gold here: practical storytelling tools, resilience reframes, and a reminder to laugh when you can.

Subscribe, share with a friend who needs the nudge, and leave a review to help more people find the clearing. Then tell us—what’s your story?

Tune in next week for more stories of 'Distinction & Genius' from The Good Listening To Show 'Clearing'.

If you would like to be my Guest too then you can find out HOW via the different 'series strands' at 'The Good Listening To Show' website.

• Show Website: https://www.thegoodlisteningtoshow.com
• You can email me about the Show: chris@secondcurve.uk
• Twitter thatchrisgrimes
• LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-grimes-actor-broadcaster-facilitator-coach/
• FaceBook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/842056403204860

CONTACT CHRIS ABOUT THE SHOW:

To record your Life Story or GIFT an episode to someone that you love, with Chris as your host, then do get in touch.

WEBSITE:

https://www.thegoodlisteningtoshow.com

E MAIL: chris@legacylifereflections.com

WHATS APP: +44 7711 644 094

LINKEDIN:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-grimes-actor-broadcaster-facilitator-coach/

FACEBOOK:

https://www.facebook.com/chris.grimes.167

A host hands over his own mic, steps into the straw-lit ring, and lets his story breathe. Chris Grimes invites us into “The Clearing,” a warm, curated space where presence comes first and stories find their shape. From a Uganda childhood and the hum of a TV showing Laurel & Hardy to the ache of losing a sister and the discipline of actor-teacher training, Chris traces the real forces that shaped his craft, his humor, and his ethos of yes-and.

We dig into the 5-4-3-2-1 framework he uses to spark honest conversation, and why comedy can be the first evidence of freedom. Expect Stan Laurel’s kindness, Michael Palin’s curiosity, and a dash of John Cleese; a tender nod to Federer’s focus on the next point; and a confession about a £2,000 wheelie bin in the name of creative risk. Chris shares the quotes he keeps in his pocket—be where your feet are; nothing is either good or bad, but thinking makes it so—and the one story he returns to when doubt creeps in: the Helsinki Bus Garage. Translation for creatives and leaders alike—stay on the bus long enough to reach the route only you can travel.

The heart of the conversation is Legacy Life Reflections, a human-led way to record personal histories before voices fade. Chris talks about capturing his father’s story in the halcyon years and why every family has a documentary inside it, not a footnote. It’s story craft with care: listening deeply, framing gently, and creating a keepsake that outlives the moment. Along the way, we talk tennis, ping-pong, presence, and the north star of a dream guest—Sir Michael Palin.

If you’re building a career in the arts, leading teams, or simply trying to honor the voices you love, there’s gold here: practical storytelling tools, resilience reframes, and a reminder to laugh when you can. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs the nudge, and leave a review to help more people find the clearing. Then tell us—what’s your story?

Tune in next week for more stories of 'Distinction & Genius' from The Good Listening To Show 'Clearing'.

If you would like to be my Guest too then you can find out HOW via the different 'series strands' at 'The Good Listening To Show' website.

• Show Website: https://www.thegoodlisteningtoshow.com
• You can email me about the Show: chris@secondcurve.uk
• Twitter thatchrisgrimes
• LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-grimes-actor-broadcaster-facilitator-coach/
• FaceBook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/842056403204860

CONTACT CHRIS ABOUT THE SHOW:

To record either your own Life Story or you can GIFT an episode to someone that you love, with Chris as your host.

WEBSITE:

https://www.legacylifereflections.com

E MAIL: chris@legacylifereflections.com

WHATS APP: +44 7711 644 094

LINKEDIN:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-grimes-actor-broadcaster-facilitator-coach/

FACEBOOK:

https://www.facebook.com/chris.grimes.167

This is a special ‘Legacy Life Reflections’ episode in which Chris offers to record Life Stories for posterity. Either your own Story or the Life Story of someone that you love for posterity.

Against the backdrop of a terminal diagnosis, this is the brave and profound story of Linda Jacomb, which both she and her son asked me help tell. What she shares is so pragmatic, so resilient, so stoic and so wise that I invited her to ‘go public’ and share her Story with the world. Linda agreed and this is her story.

A Dorset walk to a walled garden. Light dancing on water. A motto whispered at crossroads: onwards and upwards. Linda Jacob invites us into a life built on fairness, quiet courage, and the everyday craft of choosing our response when events feel out of hand. We talk about here roots in Buckinghamshire, a grandmother named Florence who taught kindness without gossip, and the determined climb from leaving school early to earning skills through night classes and long bus rides. One formative moment—watching a senior leader belittle a colleague—sparked a promise to lead with dignity, a pledge she kept across decades in social work, supported housing, pubs, and company directorships.

The centre of gravity is service. Linda shares intimate, hard-won stories from homelessness support, including a young father who, after months of learning and resolve, won custody and a new home for his child. These are victories measured in confidence regained, routines restored, and doors opened. Her inspiration comes from ordinary people facing extraordinary pressure and from the disciplined habit of finding a usable positive in the negative. We explore how she practices emotional agency—separating content from reaction—and why “Just for today” remains a practical anchor for focus and wellbeing.

There’s tenderness, too: Halcyon days in the long spring of 1975 when her first child Brennan was born; music that holds memory—Simon and Garfunkel’s Bookends, the ache of Going Home; and a signature coffee cake taught by Nanny Taylor that became a small community legend. We linger at twilight, that moment when day blends into night, and consider legacy without fanfare: protect dignity, pass on what works, laugh when you can, make one good thing well and share it. Linda also speaks candidly about facing serious illness and her plan to turn hardship into guidance for fellow social workers, transforming pain into a map others can use.

Come for the stories; stay for the tools. If you value humane leadership, homelessness advocacy, emotional resilience, and the restorative pull of nature, you’ll find a generous guide here. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs steadiness today, and leave a review with your own motto for moving forwards—what keeps you going onwards and upwards?

CONTACT CHRIS ABOUT THE SHOW:

To record either your own Life Story or you can GIFT an episode to someone that you love, with Chris as your host.

WEBSITE:

https://www.legacylifereflections.com

E MAIL: chris@legacylifereflections.com

WHATS APP: +44 7711 644 094

LINKEDIN:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-grimes-actor-broadcaster-facilitator-coach/

FACEBOOK:

https://www.facebook.com/chris.grimes.167

A single choice can shape a lifetime. When Nigel Hughes told a careers panel he’d choose Ballet over the Marines, he set a compass for courage, creativity, and connection that still points true decades later.

We invite you into Nigel’s ‘Clearing’ —a 1642 Suffolk cottage turned open house—where hedges host micro-moths, neighbours drop by for sugar-free Black Forest Gâteaux, and Leadership looks like tending land until it teaches you how to lead.

The story travels far beyond the garden gate. In Papua New Guinea, Nigel and his partner used theatre—songs, stories, and dugout canoes—to help local communities see what was at stake as industrial logging closed in. Their work helped protect 2,000 square miles of primary rainforest and seeded a long-term push toward World Heritage status. He calls it global kinship, a respectful exchange that begins with listening rather than lecturing. Along the way, we meet mentors who challenged him to be “dangerous or dead,” and we hear how personal rituals—like watching evening primrose bloom at dusk—guided him through cancer and back into purpose.

Closer to home, Nigel’s philosophy shows in the details: a biodiverse, organic landscape that encouraged neighbouring farms to go chemical-free; a practice of meditation and deep listening; a belief that internal diversity—ballet in the morning, county rugby in the afternoon—creates stronger, more human leaders. He worries about phone addiction and the loss of face-to-face connection, yet remains relentlessly optimistic that attention, courage, and care can leave places and people better than we found them. If you’re ready to rethink leadership as leaving more life behind than you took, this conversation will meet you where your feet are and invite you to stand for something that lasts.

CONTACT NIGEL:

WEBSITE:

https://www.outstanding.global

INSTAGRAM:

https://www.instagram.com/outstanding.global/

LINKEDIN:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nigel-hughes-outstanding-global/

FACEBOOK:

https://www.facebook.com/outstandingglobal/

What if the moments that break you could become the blueprint for how you lead? That’s the heartbeat of our conversation with Gina Gardiner—leader, author, broadcaster, and unapologetic catalyst for change—who turned a devastating ski accident and years of chronic pain into a living masterclass on resilient, human leadership.

We trace the arc from breaking gender barriers as a young deputy head, to running a high-performing school largely from a wheelchair, to building a global platform that champions empowerment and psychological safety. Gina shares the operating system she designed under pressure: define excellence together, make praise habitual, and treat people as the treasure of your organisation. The approach is crisp, compassionate, and deeply practical—built from assembly halls and classrooms, refined in boardrooms, and now delivered across airwaves and social channels via Genuinely You.

This conversation goes beyond tactics. We dig into the cost of over-responsibility, the discipline of protecting health, and the courage to confront injustice—whether that’s unfair systems at work or the quiet disregard for the “little people” who keep everything moving. Gina also opens up about her partnership with Olympian Fatima Whitbread, working to improve outcomes for young people in and leaving care, proving that leadership at its best builds communities, not just KPIs.

If you’re hungry for a people-first, performance-strong model that you can use tomorrow—clear standards, kinder feedback, braver conversations—this one will land. Leadership is how you show up, moment by moment. Subscribe, share with a leader who matters to you, and leave a review to tell us the one habit you’ll change after listening.

Tune in next week for more stories of 'Distinction & Genius' from The Good Listening To Show 'Clearing'. If you would like to be my Guest too then you can find out HOW via the different 'series strands' at 'The Good Listening To Show' website.

• Show Website: https://www.thegoodlisteningtoshow.com
• You can email me about the Show: chris@secondcurve.uk
• Twitter thatchrisgrimes
• LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-grimes-actor-broadcaster-facilitator-coach/
• FaceBook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/842056403204860

CONTACT GINA GARDINER:

https://genuinely-you.co/index

X: https://x.com/Genuinely_You

INSTAGRAM:

https://www.instagram.com/georgina.gardiner/

LINKEDIN:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ginagardinerassociates/

PODCAST:

https://genuinely-you.co/podcast/show

FACEBOOK:

https://www.facebook.com/genuinelyyouprograms/

What if staying sharp has nothing to do with age and everything to do with curiosity? We sit down with Harry Mount, Editor of The Oldie Magazine, for a brisk, generous tour through a life shaped by language, architecture, bicycles, and the courage to change course. Harry opens with the soul of the magazine—why it prizes wit over celebrity and celebrates people “with snap in their celery”—and takes us inside Oldie Of The Year, where legends and unsung heroes share a stage and a laugh.

From there, we travel to his “clearing” on the Pembrokeshire cliffs and the four moments that defined his path: the quiet impact of a brother he never met, a childhood powered by worry and exams, a sharp pivot from barrister-in-waiting to gossip columnist, and finally the long, lively challenge of editing a 100-page print institution. Along the way, Barry Humphries’ razor wit, Giles Brandreth’s encomiums, and the thrill of clean copy land with warmth and precision.

Harry’s passions animate every page: the “R factor” of great buildings, from Vanbrugh to Hawksmoor; the classics as living tools woven through two-thirds of English; and the deceptive ease of comic prose from Wodehouse, Waugh, Mitford, and Amis. He shares honest distractions—the tug of the internet, the tonic of Hampstead ponds—and a love of press trips where purpose beats the pressure to have fun. There’s a personal twist too: his distant cousin Tony Adams, whose openness about addiction helped shift the culture around recovery.

Two lines frame the wisdom here. From Virgil: “One day it will help to remember even these things,” a balm for hard seasons and a nudge toward meaning. From Arthur Balfour via Bill Deedes: “Nothing matters very much, and very few things matter at all,” a reminder to edit life with a lighter touch. The dream? To be remembered for a great comic novel—and, failing that, for meeting interesting people, doing interesting things, and writing them up right.

If you love good stories, beautiful buildings, late‑period Elvis, and the feeling of wind-in-your-face clarity on a bike, you’ll feel at home. Listen, share with a friend who needs a purposeful nudge, and leave a review so more curious minds can find us.

WEBSITE:

https://www.theoldie.co.uk

INSTAGRAM:

https://www.instagram.com/theoldiemagazine/

X:

https://x.com/oldiemagazine

FACEBOOK:

https://www.facebook.com/OldieMagazine/

Legacy Life Reflections: The Unstoppable Force of Nature Christine Marsh, trailblazing at 84 as THE Global Influencer on 'Living Life to the Full’, into your 90's and Beyond!

EPISODE NOTES:

Meet Christine Marsh, a force of nature who at 84 became a model and is now trailblazing on a path to becoming THE Global Influencer on "Living Life to the Full" into your 90’s and beyond! Wrapped in sunflower yellow and radiating unstoppable energy, Christine shares her extraordinary journey from being born in India during wartime, to International Business Change Facilitator, Speaker, and Author.

Christine's story is one of perpetual reinvention and refusal to accept limitations. Born to a military father who had "ordered a son," she grew up being called "Bill"—yet rather than breaking her spirit, this fueled her determination. Unable to read conventionally until a teacher recognized she saw patterns rather than letters, Christine developed unique problem-solving abilities that would later define her career. At 50, when corporate life deemed her past her "sell-by date," she pivoted. At 81, following her husband's death, she faced a blank canvas and chose to "mature disgracefully" rather than retire quietly.

Throughout our conversation, Christine shares wisdom that feels both timeless and urgently relevant: "Change is inevitable. Stress is manageable. Misery is optional." She illuminates her approach to facilitation with the metaphor of an orange negotiation exercise, showing how collaboration trumps competition. With the eye of a detective, she spots patterns others miss, embodying Leonardo da Vinci's principle that "simplicity is the ultimate sophistication."

What emerges is a masterclass in resilience and reinvention. Christine's philosophy—"Nobody can make you feel inferior without your consent"—has carried her through decades of breaking barriers. Her book "Flashpoint Transformation: Life's Choices" poses a question we all face: "Are you ready to jump or waiting to be pushed?" As she puts it with characteristic directness: "You only have the moment. You can't change the past, you can't determine the future. Please savour every single moment."

Ready to rethink what's possible at any age? Christine's story might just be the spark that ignites your own transformation. Visit www.thechristinemarsh.com to connect with this remarkable woman who doesn't know the meaning of "can't."

WEBSITE: https://thechristinemarsh.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thechristinemarsh/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheChristineMarsh

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thechristinemarsh/

Story of Distinction: Actor & Atlantic Rowing Super Hero Cal MacAninch, on the profound lessons-learned by rowing 3,000 miles for the Talisker Whisky Challenge

EPISODE NOTES:

Proud and delighted to welcome BACK for a second row past - with the vastness of the Atlantic Ocean for his 'Clearing', Scottish Actor Cal MacAninch, here to describe his Epic Quest and the profound lessons-learned from having just rowed 3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean in a Crew of 5, as part of "Atlantic Body & Soul" for the Talisker Whisker Atlantic Challenge.

A story of Distinction & Genius indeed: Massive waves, sleep deprivation, pain, flying fish and hallucinations akimbo to name but some of what was experienced during an epic quest of 39 days and gargantuan proportions.

Cal MacAninch is a wonderful & versatile Scottish Actor and now an Atlantic Rowing Superhero & Legend to boot (or to boat - see what I'm doing there?!)

More about Cal:

Whatever Cal MacAninch has achieved as an actor - and the body of his work is impressive - he now has a rare achievement indeed to add, as a rower. Cal has just rowed the Atlantic! And this is no mean achievement - for almost 40 days, Cal and the other 4 crew members set about this extraordinary journey in consecutive 2 hour shifts, 24/7. The effects of daily sleep deprivation and almost endless, constantly painful physical exercise are virtually unimaginable.

Fortunately for us, Cal MacAninch has an actor’s memory and a wonderful way with with words. This podcast focuses relentlessly on his one truly epic and almost certainly life-changing experience.

Cal tells us about the constant need for calories and hydration, up to 6000 every day and endless refreshment. Yet the impact still left everyone in a state that Cal describes as ‘breakdown’ and in his case, the witness of numerous totally lifelike hallucinations.

The whole journey was undertaken to raise money for two chosen charities whose primary purpose is to improve mental health care for young people - but the crew’s own mental health was severely tested in the process! Cal is now debriefing his personal experience to a leading neurological scientist in Scotland.

He acknowledges that it was was an ordeal but one that changed him - for the better! It left him he believes, with a better perspective: a more tolerant attitude, a kinder man, a better listener.

Hear it all here for yourself. It is a truly extraordinary story - and it’s all true! Harrowing though it is at times, Cal MacAninch tells it calmly and quietly but with a refreshing brand of candour and his own uniquely authentic Scottish sincerity.

IMDB:

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0531229/

WEBSITE:

https://www.curtisbrown.co.uk/client/cal-macaninch/cv

INSTAGRAM:

https://www.instagram.com/calmacaninch/