Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Scwair One - Starting From Scratch

Scwair One presents Speaking of Success (SOS) episode 9 – with public speaking coach, and all-round polymath Alex Beeching, on why everybody is already a public speaker, and what to do instead of building a personal brand.

Alex Beeching wears a lot of hats. 

Speaker, Author, Artist, Coach...
He's about to do a TEDx. 
He was offered GCSEs at 12.
He got into RADA at 18.
...and turned it down.

And has recently been ranked #2 UK Public Speaking coach on Linkedin.

What struck me was how easily he does the thing I find hardest – and how much he might be holding back while doing it.

If you're not charmed by the time you finish listening, there's something amiss.

And if you struggle with speaking... this one has gold hidden in every second.

I'm Andy Greenhouse.
I'm a creative evolutionist.
I help people, brands and businesses evolve in an ever-changing landscape.

Find me writing daily on LinkedIn @ https://www.linkedin.com/in/andygreenhouse

My video agency @ swhype.com

And if you're looking for your tribe...
Maybe I'll see you at Scwair1.

Scwair One presents Speaking of Success (SÖS) – episode eight, solo. 
It's the podcast for people who are crap at speaking but want to be better.

In this episode : a first-timer's visit to Toastmasters in Brighton, the one thing I said before sitting down, and what I'm doing back there in two weeks.

I joined a Toastmasters meeting for the first time. As a guest.
The plan was: sit at the back, watch, learn, leave.
I lasted 30 minutes before being asked a question.

But I'm going back. This time, to speak properly.

Wish me luck.

I'm Andy Greenhouse.
I'm a creative evolutionist.
I help people, brands and businesses evolve in an ever-changing landscape.

Find me writing daily on LinkedIn @ https://www.linkedin.com/in/andygreenhouse

My video agency @ swhype.com

And if you're looking for your tribe...
Maybe I'll see you at Scwair1.

This episode of the Scwair One Podcast was recorded during another one of my 12-hour open Zoom calls, designed to create meaningful connections between people in my network.

I had the pleasure of chatting with the ultra-inspiring Arber Ismaili – a shining light on LinkedIn, known for spreading positivity and raising awareness about the challenges autistic people face on a daily basis. Arber shares profound insights and genuine messages of kindness and hope, while talking about some personal hurdles he comes across and ultimately, how he stays positive 

You'll discover:

• How Arber's positivity journey began
• The challenges of multitasking and sensory sensitivities faced by autistic individuals
• The importance of recognising and respecting neurodiversity
• Why kindness and authenticity are his guiding principles
• How LinkedIn became a platform for his positivity and impactful connections
• His advice on spreading joy and starting your own journey of online positivity

This conversation is a powerful reminder to be kinder, cherish each day, and create a positive legacy. Connect with Arber on LinkedIn to follow his inspiring work and learn more about autism awareness. 

Sit back and get ready to be uplifted!

I'm Andy Greenhouse.
I'm a creative evolutionist.
I help people, brands and businesses evolve in an ever-changing landscape.

Find me writing daily on LinkedIn @ https://www.linkedin.com/in/andygreenhouse

My video agency @ swhype.com

And if you're looking for your tribe...
Maybe I'll see you at Scwair1.

This episode of the Scwair One Podcast  was another one recorded during one of my 12 hour open• Zoom calls.

It features a conversation with awesome marketing & branding expert Mychael Owen. Mychael helps brands and businesses be more interesting.

He’s had an interesting entrepreneurial career:

From his early days as founder of an award-winning design & marketing agency leading to a plethora of advisory roles, to founding multiple businesses and brands, including the fashion label Always Wear Red, luxury holiday home The Old Post Office... he also enjoys exercising his writing legs with his brilliant blog 50 Odd – the diary of a man who stopped waiting.

He’s a lecturer, growth coach and writer.
He’s also none of the above.
And all of them.

And he’s currently writing a book.
Which I find really interesting.

This is a long one... because there is just so much gold inside.

You'll learn:

• The benefits of being interesting
• The difference between marketers and publishers
• Why if you're not seen or noticed – everything else is irrelevant
• Why downtime IS life
• How he discovered marketing and grew a business on the way
• How his gut told  him how to stand out
• What he's writing
• Why he wants to kill marketers
• Why he doesn't care about the Linkedin algorithm
• His take on personal brands
• Why stand up comedy would make him cry
• Why Mychael is like Eminem
• About taking pills and writing books
• The saddest story about a last bird
• His process for writing
• Why we should be aware of the echo chamber

You can find Mychael at:
mychael.co.Uk

I'm Andy Greenhouse.
I'm a creative evolutionist.
I help people, brands and businesses evolve in an ever-changing landscape.

Find me writing daily on LinkedIn @ https://www.linkedin.com/in/andygreenhouse

My video agency @ swhype.com

And if you're looking for your tribe...
Maybe I'll see you at Scwair1.

Is AI a threat or a friend?
And how can it help your business?

Welcome to the Scwair One Podcast. I'm Andy Greenhouse and I'm on a mission to discover what it takes to start something from scratch. 

Recorded during one of my 12 hour open• Zoom calls, this is Part 2 of my conversation with AI enthusiast and analyst, Frank Mendoza.

In this episode Frank takes questions and we bring in others on the call who talk about their own positive (mostly) experiences of using AI in their work.

A bit about Frank:
As the Founder and Managing Partner of Catalytics, Frank boasts over 20 years of experience in strategy and data science, working with Fortune 500 enterprises to solve business challenges with advanced analytical solutions. 

Join us as we discuss the everyday experiences of AI, the potential impact on the creative industry, and how AI can complement your work.

From exploring ChatGPT and GPT-4 to discussing the power of prompts and AI-generated poetry, our conversatin covers a wide array of topics that showcase the potential of artificial intelligence. 

We delve into AI's role in the creative industry, discussing potential challenges and benefits, such as the use of AI for creative iteration and identifying patterns. We also touch on tools like Obsidian and Roam Research, which utilise knowledge graphs in fields like healthcare.

The conversation also covers AI's potential pitfalls, including creative copyright issues, bias, and the future manipulation of humans by AI. They explore the importance of understanding AI's capabilities and limitations and how it can be utilized in small businesses. Lastly, they discuss the AI wars in the context of SEO and Microsoft's investment in AI technology.

Get ready for a thought-provoking and informative discussion on the world of AI, its applications, and the potential future we face in this AI-driven world.

In this episode we cover:

• Help with pattern detection
• Knowledge Graphs
• Creative copyright issues
• Summarising with Chat GPT
• Reinforcement learning and kindness
• AI manipulating humans
• AI bias
• AI for small businesses
• The beginning of the AI wars and the demise of SEO

Show Notes : scwair1.com/podcast-exploring-AI-2023

I'm Andy Greenhouse.
I'm a creative evolutionist.
I help people, brands and businesses evolve in an ever-changing landscape.

Find me writing daily on LinkedIn @ https://www.linkedin.com/in/andygreenhouse

My video agency @ swhype.com

And if you're looking for your tribe...
Maybe I'll see you at Scwair1.

I've heard of Chat GPT, but how do I use it for my business? This episode will help you figure it out.

Welcome to the Scwair One Podcast. I'm Andy Greenhouse and I'm on a mission to discover what it takes to start something from scratch.

Recorded during one of my 12 hour open• Zoom calls, in this fascinating episode of The Scwair One Podcast, I talk to AI enthusiast and analyst, Frank Mendoza. 

As the Founder and Managing Partner of Catalytics, Frank boasts over 20 years of experience in strategy and data science, working with Fortune 500 enterprises to solve business challenges with advanced analytical solutions. 

Join me as we discuss the everyday experiences of AI, the potential impact on the creative industry, and how AI can complement your work.

From exploring ChatGPT and GPT-4 to discussing the power of prompts and AI-generated poetry, our conversatin covers a wide array of topics that showcase the potential of artificial intelligence. 

We delve into AI's role in the creative industry, discussing potential challenges and benefits, such as the use of AI for creative iteration and identifying patterns. We also touch on tools like Obsidian and Roam Research, which utilise knowledge graphs in fields like healthcare.

The conversation also covers AI's potential pitfalls, including creative copyright issues, bias, and the future manipulation of humans by AI. They explore the importance of understanding AI's capabilities and limitations and how it can be utilized in small businesses. Lastly, they discuss the AI wars in the context of SEO and Microsoft's investment in AI technology.

Get ready for a thought-provoking and informative discussion on the world of AI, its applications, and the potential future we face in this AI-driven world.

In this episode we cover:

• How we use AI in our every day lives
• Chat GPT and how to use it
• What a Hype Cycle crash is
• AI learning types
• AI-generated poetry
• The power of prompts
• The impact on the creative industries
• Humanity and AI
• Gaming detection systems
• AI for creative iteration

Show Notes : scwair1.com/podcast-exploring-AI-2023

I'm Andy Greenhouse.
I'm a creative evolutionist.
I help people, brands and businesses evolve in an ever-changing landscape.

Find me writing daily on LinkedIn @ https://www.linkedin.com/in/andygreenhouse

My video agency @ swhype.com

And if you're looking for your tribe...
Maybe I'll see you at Scwair1.

Ever thought you think differently to other people?
As if your perspective of the world isn't quite what others see?

Yep. Me too.

In this special live-recorded episode, I chat with ADHD coach Astrid McGuire about what to do if you recognise characteristics of ADHD in yourself but have never been diagnosed.

Our conversation kicked off  the second of my open• sessions – a series of 12-hour Zoom conversations where people can drop-in to talk and meet others who are like... or differently-minded.

We also opened up the 'floor' to questions from others on the call.

In our chat, Astrid talks about her background, how she dealt with her own diagnosis, how things have changed since the early days and how ADHD is sometimes misunderstood.

Show Notes : scwair1.com/podcast-adult-ADHD

In this episode you'll learn:

• Why you shouldn't rush into diagnosis.
• That nothing is black and white.
• Why you should take advice with a pinch of salt.
• The importance of sleep.
• How social media can be both useful and a problem.
• How time-blocking helps your everyday.
• Why 'intensity' of ADHD is a key.
• Where to find help and advice.

I'm Andy Greenhouse.
I'm a creative evolutionist.
I help people, brands and businesses evolve in an ever-changing landscape.

Find me writing daily on LinkedIn @ https://www.linkedin.com/in/andygreenhouse

My video agency @ swhype.com

And if you're looking for your tribe...
Maybe I'll see you at Scwair1.

'Most people don't meditate because they sit there with their thoughts and they hate it'
 
Michael Townsend Williams is an international coach, speaker, entrepreneur and author of Do Breathe: Calm your mind. Find focus. Get stuff done, which has sold over 25000 copies worldwide. 

He also co-created BreatheSync, the world’s first bio-feedback breathing app for iPhone, which has been downloaded in over 100 countries and he's recently co-founded the 'welldoing' company Do Breathe.
Michael is also an advisor to the children's education charity Inside Out.

You can find Michael on LinkedIn, or at dobreathe.com.

I wanted to chat to Michael ever since I read his book Do Breathe.
It turns out I wouldn't be disappointed.

He talks openly about his career, his experience and focusing on the right things to move yourself forward.

The conversation is split into two parts, for easy 'digestibility'.
There's so much great stuff in here, that you'll want to listen to both episodes.

The first episode 'How To Breathe' is available on the Scwair One Podcast.

In this episode you'll  learn about:

• A deep dive into finding focus
• Trusting your Intuition
• How he makes breathwork engaging and immersive
• Real success vs financial success
• The great recalibration and over stimulation
• How we could all do with a support team around us
• Mentorship
• Coaching styles
• Productivity
• The myth of work-life balance
• Motivation and being creatively blocked

I'm Andy Greenhouse.
I'm a creative evolutionist.
I help people, brands and businesses evolve in an ever-changing landscape.

Find me writing daily on LinkedIn @ https://www.linkedin.com/in/andygreenhouse

My video agency @ swhype.com

And if you're looking for your tribe...
Maybe I'll see you at Scwair1.

'The thing with the breath is it's a Swiss Army Knife'
 
Michael Townsend Williams is an international coach, speaker, entrepreneur and author of Do Breathe: Calm your mind. Find focus. Get stuff done, which has sold over 25000 copies worldwide. 

He also co-created BreatheSync, the world’s first bio-feedback breathing app for iPhone, which has been downloaded in over 100 countries and he's recently co-founded the 'welldoing' company Do Breathe.
Michael is also an advisor to the children's education charity Inside Out.

I wanted to chat to Michael ever since I read his book Do Breathe.
It turns out I wouldn't be disappointed.

He talks openly about his career, his experience and focusing on the right things to move yourself forward.

This conversation is split into two parts, for easy 'digestibility'.
There's so much great stuff in here, that you'll want to listen to both episodes - the second will be published very soon.

In the meantime, you can find Michael on LinkedIn, or at dobreathe.com.

I'm Andy Greenhouse.
I'm a creative evolutionist.
I help people, brands and businesses evolve in an ever-changing landscape.

Find me writing daily on LinkedIn @ https://www.linkedin.com/in/andygreenhouse

My video agency @ swhype.com

And if you're looking for your tribe...
Maybe I'll see you at Scwair1.

In this episode, actor/director Geoff Searle shares his wisdom with host Andy Greenhouse on how to get over your inhibitions when recording your own voice for a podcast.

This short episode is full of practical tips from an honest perspective and will help you with your own vocal uncertainties.

I'm Andy Greenhouse.
I'm a creative evolutionist.
I help people, brands and businesses evolve in an ever-changing landscape.

Find me writing daily on LinkedIn @ https://www.linkedin.com/in/andygreenhouse

My video agency @ swhype.com

And if you're looking for your tribe...
Maybe I'll see you at Scwair1.

When my business partner left the company, I realised you can’t make decisions alone. Those ideas need to bounce off other brains, returning to yours either validated or in need of further opinion.

If you reach out beyond your immediate connections you can find like-minded people ready to listen and give you feedback. Surrounding yourself with mutual or co-mentors who understand your mindset can be game-changing.

They read the same books, understand your mindset and more importantly than anything, share their knowledge and experience in a relevant and supportive way.

If you run a small business from home or you’re growing a company from scratch, advice and support from people who understand is invaluable. Sharing ideas with those people in order to validate them or grab some essential feedback is key to motivating you to move forward.

You both become your accountability partners – invisibly driving each other on to the next small step.

It’s because of the importance of mentoring that I set up The Mentor Exchange – so people can connect with other like-minded people and get to know them, talk about their thoughts and ideas, share advice and support, in a space which is secure and inclusive.

I'm Andy Greenhouse.
I'm a creative evolutionist.
I help people, brands and businesses evolve in an ever-changing landscape.

Find me writing daily on LinkedIn @ https://www.linkedin.com/in/andygreenhouse

My video agency @ swhype.com

And if you're looking for your tribe...
Maybe I'll see you at Scwair1.

Scwair One is an initiative starting from scratch – helping new entrepreneurs find their own path through the ever-more saturated landscape of starting a new business, enterprise or charity.

Have you ever wanted to start some something – a new career or business, but didn’t know how or where to start?

You’re not alone.

The Scwair One podcast will help you get motivated, find focus, meet mentors and grow your idea into reality.

The best thing about it – it’s real. It’s authentic… and it’s not for everyone.

Each episode will evolve into the next. As your host, creative director Andy Greenhouse, I'll be sharing my experiences of building a business and talking to inspiring people who’ve changed their careers, started movements, companies, charities and projects.

I'm Andy Greenhouse.
I'm a creative evolutionist.
I help people, brands and businesses evolve in an ever-changing landscape.

Find me writing daily on LinkedIn @ https://www.linkedin.com/in/andygreenhouse

My video agency @ swhype.com

And if you're looking for your tribe...
Maybe I'll see you at Scwair1.

Scwair One presents Speaking of Success (SÖS) – episode seven, solo. A spoken word night in Brighton, a deliberate seat choice, and what going out on your own can feels like when it's something you avoid like the plague.

I don't really go out much these days. Haven't for a while.

We moved down to Brighton from London. Most of my friends stayed there. I stopped drinking on New Year's Eve 2019. Covid did the rest. So when I committed to 30 days of public speaking, I probably should've thought harder about how exactly I was going to pull that off.

Last week I went to a spoken word night at Brighton's Corn Exchange. 
On my own.

Before booking, I noticed there were plenty of seats in the back row. 
And a single seat in the row in front. I picked that one. On purpose.

That decision set off a small chain of things I didn't expect. One of them ended in a multi-storey car park at 11pm, writing something I'd never have written if I'd sat anywhere else.

I'm Andy Greenhouse.
I'm a creative evolutionist.
I help people, brands and businesses evolve in an ever-changing landscape.

Find me writing daily on LinkedIn @ https://www.linkedin.com/in/andygreenhouse

My video agency @ swhype.com

And if you're looking for your tribe...
Maybe I'll see you at Scwair1.

Before I hit publish on Apple Podcasts I realised something. Starting this podcast would be an opportunity to embrace the difficult conversations which people are having in 2020.

As the podcast starts its journey to an unknown destination, there are huge, game-changing protests currently happening across the globe.

Conversations can change peoples' perceptions and opinions and audio is the simplest, most accessible way to have those conversations. 

That's why I wanted to record a quick prologue for the Scwair One podcast separate from the intro episode, to acknowledge the ongoing struggles and to lend my support where I can.

I'm Andy Greenhouse.
I'm a creative evolutionist.
I help people, brands and businesses evolve in an ever-changing landscape.

Find me writing daily on LinkedIn @ https://www.linkedin.com/in/andygreenhouse

My video agency @ swhype.com

And if you're looking for your tribe...
Maybe I'll see you at Scwair1.

Scwair One presents Speaking of Success (SÖS) – episode six with inclusion consultant and facilitator Helen Bazuaye, on discernment in a noisy world, why nerves never really leave, and why joy might be the most radical act available to us right now.

Helen Bazuaye has spent her career in rooms full of strong personalities – editing magazines, facilitating boardrooms, training corporate teams, and building a programme for care-experienced young people from the ground up. And yet, when it comes to standing on a stage and speaking for herself, she's deliberately held back.

In this conversation, Helen talks honestly about what it really means to use your voice, the difference between speaking at people and speaking with them, and why joy – not anger – might be the most radical act available to us right now.

We cover: the unexpected through-line from magazine editor to inclusion consultant, why being nervous never goes away (and why that's fine), the difference between performing and connecting, and what the We Are Here project means to her, and to the young people it reaches.

A rich, warm, and quietly urgent conversation.

I'm Andy Greenhouse. And I'm a creative evolutionist. I help people, brands and businesses evolve in an ever-changing landscape.

Find me writing daily on LinkedIn @ https://www.linkedin.com/in/andygreenhouse My video agency @ swhype.com And if you're looking for your tribe... maybe I'll see you at Scwair1 – https://scwair1.com

I'm Andy Greenhouse.
I'm a creative evolutionist.
I help people, brands and businesses evolve in an ever-changing landscape.

Find me writing daily on LinkedIn @ https://www.linkedin.com/in/andygreenhouse

My video agency @ swhype.com

And if you're looking for your tribe...
Maybe I'll see you at Scwair1.

Scwair One presents Speaking of Success (SÖS) – episode five with executive coach Mark Carolan, on the power of the pause, public speaking nerves, and why getting out of your own way is the whole game.

My guest for episode five once stood on a bridge in Prague with a sign that said 'Conversation for Sale.' And people paid.

I've spent most of my life trying to get out of conversations. Mark Carolan sold them to strangers, by the topic, from a piece of cardboard.

Mark spent over twenty years in the corporate world. He was good at it. He knew it wasn't right. His epiphany: if he never changed, that would be his future — all the way to retirement. That scared him as much as changing did. So he changed.

He's now a personal, leadership and executive coach and does a lot of work in public speaking and corporate wellbeing. He's the person companies bring in when their people have to stand up and say something that matters. He's spent 20-odd years helping people get out of their own way.

.

I'm Andy Greenhouse. And I'm a creative evolutionist. I help people, brands and businesses evolve in an ever-changing landscape.

Find me writing daily on LinkedIn @ https://www.linkedin.com/in/andygreenhouse My video agency @ swhype.com And if you're looking for your tribe… maybe I'll see you at Scwair1 — https://scwair1.com

I'm Andy Greenhouse.
I'm a creative evolutionist.
I help people, brands and businesses evolve in an ever-changing landscape.

Find me writing daily on LinkedIn @ https://www.linkedin.com/in/andygreenhouse

My video agency @ swhype.com

And if you're looking for your tribe...
Maybe I'll see you at Scwair1.

Scwair One presents Speaking of Success (SÖS) – episode four, solo. 
The sharpest public speaking advice I've had on this whole project, and the last person I expected it from.

So far I've spent this whole thing talking to people about how to speak. 
Coaches. Broadcasters. People who do it for a living.

And some of the best advice so far came from a conversation I wasn't even really treating as one.

I asked casually... if she had any tips. She gave me three. 
One of them I'd been getting wrong my entire life and had genuinely never noticed.

She spoke purposefully. Deadpan. 
Like it was nothing. I just sat there nodding like a student.

One thing though.
I'm proud.

She's sixteen. She's my daughter.

And there's a lot more wisdom to come.

.

I'm Andy Greenhouse. And I'm a creative evolutionist. I help people, brands and businesses evolve in an ever-changing landscape.

Find me writing daily on LinkedIn @ https://www.linkedin.com/in/andygreenhouse My video agency @ swhype.com And if you're looking for your tribe… maybe I'll see you at Scwair1 — https://scwair1.com

IN THIS EPISODE:

• Why sharp, sudden hand gestures can give the wrong impression.
• The problem with rising inflections – when the technique becomes too visible, the audience stops listening to what you're saying and starts watching how you're saying it.
• Why public speaking is harder than acting – a distinction that makes a lot of sense once you hear it explained properly.

I'm Andy Greenhouse.
I'm a creative evolutionist.
I help people, brands and businesses evolve in an ever-changing landscape.

Find me writing daily on LinkedIn @ https://www.linkedin.com/in/andygreenhouse

My video agency @ swhype.com

And if you're looking for your tribe...
Maybe I'll see you at Scwair1.

Scwair One presents Speaking of Success (SÖS) — episode three, solo. 
A week of forced conversations, one question asked in public, and what an hour with YMCA volunteers at Victoria Station taught me about the habit of speaking.

The week before, I'd bottled it. 
I was at a talk, had a question ready, and didn't ask it.

So this week I went back – to a media trade show at Olympia – with one specific goal. Ask a question. Out loud. In a room full of people.

I did. Last one up. To Alexis, the principal product manager for colour at Adobe Premiere. Felt slightly negative the second it left my mouth. He was gracious about it. And afterwards I cornered him just as he was leaving – which felt awkward and slightly selfish – and asked him how he'd got so comfortable on stage. His answer was less complicated than I expected.

Then I bumped into Adam, a motion designer I used to know. Got him on camera. Then went on a mission to talk to as many strangers as possible – surreptitiously sloping up to people on stands and asking them about their thing.

Then, on the way back to Victoria, I said 'I'll be back' to a YMCA fundraiser I was walking past. And ended up in a conversation that lasted an hour.

I would never have had that conversation if I hadn't made a decision earlier that day.

That's the thing about making a habit of it. It gets easier. And you feel better than you expect.

I'm Andy Greenhouse. And I'm a creative evolutionist. I help people, brands and businesses evolve in an ever-changing landscape.

Find me writing daily on LinkedIn @ https://www.linkedin.com/in/andygreenhouse My video agency @ swhype.com And if you're looking for your tribe… maybe I'll see you at Scwair1 — https://scwair1.com

IN THIS EPISODE:

• The week before: having a question ready and not asking it – and deciding that wasn't happening again
• Asking a question at an Adobe talk at a media trade show in Kensington, what it felt like to finally do it, and why it came out slightly more negative than intended
• What Alexis, Adobe's principal product manager for colour on Premiere, said about getting comfortable with public speaking – and why the answer is simpler than most people think
• Getting motion designer Adam on camera talking about his own first public speaking experience at the same show
• What it actually feels like to make yourself talk to strangers on exhibition stands when you'd normally slope past
• The YMCA conversation at Victoria Station that lasted an hour – and why it only happened because of a conscious decision made earlier that day
• Why making a habit of putting yourself in situations is the thing, and how quickly it starts to feel less terrifying and more like something you actually want to do

I'm Andy Greenhouse.
I'm a creative evolutionist.
I help people, brands and businesses evolve in an ever-changing landscape.

Find me writing daily on LinkedIn @ https://www.linkedin.com/in/andygreenhouse

My video agency @ swhype.com

And if you're looking for your tribe...
Maybe I'll see you at Scwair1.

Scwair One presents Speaking of Success (SÖS) – episode two with voice artist and former BBC broadcaster Sara Starling, on finding your voice, public speaking nerves, and why voice notes are a communication tool most people are ignoring.

My guest for episode two has spent almost 40 years doing the thing I've spent my whole life avoiding. 

Sara Starling is a voice artist, broadcaster, and storyteller. She started with a drama degree, spent nearly 20 years at the BBC as a studio manager, announcer and newsreader – including the World Service... then left to build her own voice studio from scratch. She's been doing that for 20 years too.

She also, it turns out, was quite shy.

In this conversation we talk about the one mindset shift that makes speaking to a room feel manageable, why a bad experience reading aloud in class can follow you for decades, how voice notes are quietly one of the most powerful communication tools most people are ignoring, and what it actually looks like to stay calm on air when everything around you is falling apart.

The line that stayed with me: "It starts as a pencil mark. Then it gets inked in. Then it's a marker pen. And then you just believe it."

That's about the story we tell ourselves when we stumble. Worth hearing the rest.

I'm Andy Greenhouse.
I'm a creative evolutionist.
I help people, brands and businesses evolve in an ever-changing landscape.

Find me writing daily on LinkedIn @ https://www.linkedin.com/in/andygreenhouse

My video agency @ swhype.com

And if you're looking for your tribe...
Maybe I'll see you at Scwair1.

Scwair One presents Speaking of Success (SÖS) — a podcast about public speaking and finding your voice, by someone who's spent his whole life avoiding it. Episode one, solo: why I started this.

I've had a lifelong aversion to speaking.

It started when I was a kid. 
Friends took the piss out of me for stuttering. 
People finished my sentences. 

I went through periods where I couldn't listen back to my own voice – it was so monotone, so flat. 

I put people to sleep. I still do. 
My wife nodded off last week as I talked about work.

And yet I've spent 20 years helping other people communicate.
Behind the camera. Behind the brand. Very comfortable back there.

This podcast exists because I finally got uncomfortable.

Speaking of Success / SÖS – is for people who are crap at speaking but want to be better. Not a masterclass. Not a performance coach telling you to stand up straight. Just honest conversations about what it actually takes to find your voice – from people who've done it, and one person who's still figuring it out.

That person is me.

Episode one I'm flying solo.
Or at least... crawling to the start line on my own.
Where this started, why now, and what I'm hoping this becomes.

The guests start from episode two.

If you feel like me about speaking... let's talk.
We just might get along.

I'm Andy Greenhouse.
I'm a creative evolutionist.
I help people, brands and businesses evolve in an ever-changing landscape.

Find me writing daily on LinkedIn @ https://www.linkedin.com/in/andygreenhouse

My video agency @ swhype.com

And if you're looking for your tribe...
Maybe I'll see you at Scwair1.

What if your personal brand wasn't something carefully crafted but rather something that emerges naturally when you consistently show up as yourself?

That's exactly what happened to Thomas Woodhams, who built a quarter-million following on TikTok before finding his home on LinkedIn, where he now creates content about recruitment, career advice, and neurodiversity.

In this illuminating conversation, Thomas shares his journey of accidental brand-building through authenticity. From creating sketch videos with tea towels on his head to illustrate workplace scenarios for neurodivergent individuals, to sharing his own ADHD diagnosis journey, Thomas demonstrates how being genuinely yourself resonates more deeply than polished corporate personas.

Joining the discussion is Inga Sleinere, a 'vision alchemist' who helps solopreneurs translate their essence into visual identities that feel authentic. Inga approaches personal branding from a more strategic angle while still centering authenticity at the core. 

"Personal branding is almost a by-product of showing up consistently," she explains, emphasising that trying to look too 'professional' can actually work against you.

Both guests offer practical wisdom for anyone building their presence online. They advise keeping visuals simple rather than trying to 'jazz it up', which often creates visual noise. They discuss how commenting thoughtfully on others' content can be more powerful than your own posts, and why understanding your purpose – whether building community or generating leads, should guide your content strategy.

Perhaps the most valuable takeaway is that personal branding serves both altruistic and practical goals. Thomas shares that he creates content not just to help others but as a form of 'safeguarding' for his future – building relationships and establishing expertise that could help him navigate career changes.

Whether you're just starting out on social media or looking to refine your existing presence, this episode offers a refreshing perspective – focus less on crafting a perfect personal brand and more on consistently sharing your unique perspective and knowledge. The personal brand will emerge naturally as a consequence of your authenticity.

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TL;DR

In this episode you'll learn...

• How Thomas built a quarter-million TikTok following before focusing on LinkedIn where he now creates content about recruitment and ADHD.
• How personal branding emerges as a byproduct of consistently showing up as yourself rather than something intentionally constructed.
• Why simple visuals outperform complex designs.
• How human connection through humour and relatability creates stronger engagement than corporate jargon or buzzwords.
• Small shifts in commenting style and engagement with others can significantly impact how you're perceived online.
• Why video content is increasingly important, even if you're camera-shy.

Check out the show notes @ scwair1.com
And connect me, Thomas and Inga on LinkedIn if like me, you like meeting new people.

I'm Andy Greenhouse.
I'm a creative evolutionist.
I help people, brands and businesses evolve in an ever-changing landscape.

Find me writing daily on LinkedIn @ https://www.linkedin.com/in/andygreenhouse

My video agency @ swhype.com

And if you're looking for your tribe...
Maybe I'll see you at Scwair1.