Anna Howie joins Scott Hamilton as the first Musician of the Month on The Third Half. Blending folk, country, soul and blues, Anna’s Americana sound is rooted in honest, story-led songwriting. In the conversation, Anna talks about how everyday moments and overheard conversations spark her songs, and how writing helps her make sense of the world. She introduces Start Again, recorded at Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studios, a track that captures her instinct to find hope even in difficult stories. Anna’s music moves effortlessly from reflective and intimate to upbeat and rocky, all tied together by warm guitar lines and authentic storytelling. Her songs will feature throughout February as The Third Half’s Musician of the Month.

James Walker, Chief Admin Officer at DXC Technology, joins Scott Hamilton to discuss his unconventional career journey from music industry rigging and Disney storytelling to leading technology operations at major financial institutions and IT services firms. They explore the evolution of AI-powered coding, the importance of storytelling in business, the challenges of remote work culture and trust-building, mental health in the workplace, and balancing operational efficiency with sustainability. James shares insights on mentorship, the future of work, and why building authentic relationships remains crucial in an increasingly digital world. The conversation touches on everything from technical debt and productivity tools to Brussels sprout soup and re-releasing 40-year-old punk tracks on streaming platforms.Claude is AI and can make mistakes. Please double-check responses.

Ismail Amla joins Scott Hamilton on The Third Half for a thoughtful, deeply human conversation about leadership, learning from failure, curiosity, and building things that last in a world that won’t stand still.

From a BBC Micro bought by his dad, to boardrooms spanning Network Rail, UK Sport, academia, startups and global consulting, Ismail’s career has been anything but linear. He reflects on studying computer science “last century”, surviving the dot-com crash as a first-time CEO, and the leadership lessons that only show up when things fall apart.

The conversation moves through startups versus corporates, moving a family from Bolton to New York, and why failure might be the most expensive and valuable MBA you’ll ever earn. Ismail shares sharp insights on why technology is perhaps no longer the differentiator it was, and why storytelling, diversity and trust now matter more than scale.

There’s also a timely dive into AI, technical debt, sustainability and ESG not as buzzwords, but as real leadership responsibilities with real societal impact.

It’s thoughtful, candid, occasionally funny, and refreshingly honest — a conversation about privilege, responsibility, and building cultures where curiosity and experimentation aren’t side projects, they’re business as usual.

Phillippa Mole joins Scott Hamilton on The Third Half for an energising conversation about curiosity, reinvention and following what makes your heart sing. From studying sport and art at York to a masters in sports psychology at Loughborough, Phillippa's career has been refreshingly unconventional—sports psychologist, broadcaster, bobsleigh brakewoman for Great Britain, and now celebrated coach and artist.

She shares stories from her broadcasting days at BBC and GMTV, scaling the walls of Broadcasting House to pitch herself, mastering live TV under pressure, and presenting the 2002 Commonwealth Games. The conversation moves through her time hurtling down ice tracks at 80mph in the World Cup, her early work in sports psychology with elite athletes, into nearly 20 years of coaching leaders and teams through Fresh Air Coaching, and her evolution from fixing individuals to working systemically with entire organisations.

Now in a creative new chapter, Phillippa reflects on returning to painting, exhibiting her work and exploring the feelings and movements that have shaped her journey. She discusses the parallels between sport, broadcasting, coaching and art—and why creativity might be the truest test of character. It's warm, insightful and genuinely inspiring—a celebration of someone who's embraced every twist, trusted her instincts and found meaning in the beautiful unpredictability of life.

Bryan Redpath joins Scott Hamilton on The Third Half for a compelling conversation that spans rugby legends, business lessons and the honest realities of transitioning from elite sport to the working world. The former Scotland scrum-half and captain shares stories from his decade representing his country, playing under coaching greats like Jim Telfer, and navigating the shift from amateur to professional rugby in the 1990s.

From the borders of Scotland to coaching at Gloucester, Sale and Leeds, Bryan opens up about the brutal honesty of selection, the mental challenges of coaching versus playing, and why rugby IQ matters more than ever in an era obsessed with data and conditioning. He reflects on the importance of instinct, the art of reading the game, and how technology can both enhance and overcomplicate athlete development.

The conversation moves into business, where Bryan discusses his journey into foreign exchange trading, working with startups and young entrepreneurs, and the lessons sport taught him about teamwork, resilience and mental health. He talks candidly about the value of sharing vulnerabilities, supporting colleagues through tough times, and why dreams—big or small—deserve to be pursued with everything you've got.

It's insightful, authentic and inspiring—a masterclass in translating sporting excellence into meaningful work, genuine connection and lasting impact beyond the pitch.

My Girl The River joins Scott Hamilton on The Third Half for a warm, funny and deeply honest conversation about music, creativity, family and surviving the modern music landscape. Kris and Joe share the story of how they met, how their multi-genre sound refuses to fit into industry boxes, and why that has been both a blessing and a challenge.

From Nashville encounters to raising a musical daughter, from writing songs in 20-second bursts during nap times to navigating algorithms, aging formats and the realities of streaming, the duo give an unfiltered look at what it really means to make authentic music today. They talk candidly about songwriting, genre labels, the evolution of fans, and the brutal economics faced by independent artists.

The conversation also explores Joe’s history with “No More I Love You’s,” their evolving creative partnership, the emotional toll of staying in music, and why crowdfunding has become essential for artists who still want to make full albums that matter.

It’s thoughtful, humorous, relatable and inspiring — a celebration of artists who keep creating, keep evolving and keep finding meaning in the music they share with the world.

Grab a dram and settle in for the very first episode of A Wee Dram—our new monthly slot, where Scott and Steve dive into a wide-ranging chat that starts with the flu and somehow ends up at quantum physics, Scottish weather trauma, deep-fried Mars bars, football heartbreak, world-changing medical breakthroughs, and the mystery of why Scotland produces more genius per square mile than anywhere else.

Along the way they unpack AI-powered drug discovery, the chaos of UK startup funding, the joy (and agony) of being a Scottish sports fan, why whisky and tartan are everywhere from London to Tokyo, and even tackle the serious rise of online sextortion and NSPCC’s crucial role.

It’s equal parts thoughtful, chaotic, sentimental, and laugh-out-loud Scottish.

Pour yourself something nice — you’re in for a cracking episode.

Scott Hamilton with Phil Pavitt at The Third Half starts with light humour before shifting into a candid conversation about Phil’s career, leadership journey, and the reality of stepping away from full-time executive life. Phil reflects on building his reputation across government, technology, and global organisations — and what it truly feels like to leave behind decades of responsibility and reinvention.

He talks openly about the next chapter: launching a coaching school for CIOs and CISOs, supporting new leaders with the guidance he once needed, and shifting his energy into meaningful charity and community work.

A funny, thoughtful, and genuinely important conversation — from early career stories and tough decisions to purpose, leadership, and building a life beyond the job title.