Michelle describes herself as 'Pay gaps and pay transparency strategist'. This was a fascinating episode!

I love this woman! She describes herself as straight talking business mentor, with a smile- and a sprinkling of 'Toni fairy dust'. 

An associate professor at the University of Coventry, this leader was soooo interesting!

Sit back and enjoy. 

Training and Coaching Peoples Managers to become transformational and inclusive leaders, Ashanti was a fabulous guest!

What others say about him

I must stress that Alastair’s erudition is not delivered in a sombre academic fashion. Alastair has a wonderful sense of humour and his quick wittedness has often reduced an entire audience to fits of laughter

You have been warned !

Simply fabulous woman. I learnt and laughed (as usual) 

Dr Nira Chamberlain PhD HonDSc, has two mathematical doctorates and is listed by the Power List 2020 Top 100 Most Influential Black Person in the UK and Top 100 Most Influential BAME Leaders in the UK Tech by Inclusive Board.

In 2018, Nira was the Winner of the Big Math Off title - World's Most Interesting Mathematician.

We had a blast on this episode!

The CEO of The Chartered College of Teaching and a brilliant guest. 

Sharing some howlers on the couch with me!

Officially - Experienced education leader with an enormous passion for improving the life chances of young people. Dr Jeffery Quaye is currently the National Director of Education and Standards at Aspirations Academies Trust. He was formerly a regional Chief Executive Officer and Director of Standards and Effectiveness. 

On this episode- a funny guy with a great story 

Listen, learn and laugh with us. 

Sometimes someone special comes into your professional life, and they become a friend. 

Meet my very good, talented and wise friend as he shares nuggets of wisdom on the Courageous Couch 

Her twitter profile says

'I want to live in a world where normal doesn't exist and we value each, unique person.  Will you help me to achieve this?'

Vivienne is a giant of the education landscape, listen, learn and laugh with us 

This gives you a flavour of the interesting woman that Sharon is. 

"I work with people to identify what makes them thrive; to listen and understand what it is that they want from and for themselves. In the process of creating great leaders, we create great followers".

Wonderful!

Known as 'the speaker with the orange tie' Steve was fabulous.  A motivational encourager for young people in schools and colleges all over the world, you will love this one. 

You can 'hear' me learning and being coached on this episode. Lisa is that good!

Her LinkedIn bio says - 

Writer hired by people who want personality in their project | 

Doing for copy and content what Keith Floyd did for god-awful TV cookery shows in the 80s | 

Book editor & someday author | 

Mummy to a small Me 

She is also the editor of my book Courageous Leadership- so you can blame her. 

We laughed quite a bit on this one!

A wonderfully humorous conversation sharing the MMT of a great colleague, 

Emma is the author of Be More Toddler: A leadership education from our little learners, available on Amazon!

Let me quickly say this!

Courageous Couch episodes are a little longer and go a little deeper.

Former head teacher, researcher and now education consultant, Dr Jill Berry has a voice of integrity and depth in the education space and that voice is heard loud and clear on Twitter and on the Courageous Couch.

Relax and enjoy x 

Courageous Couch episodes are a little longer and go a little deeper.

Paulette Watson swims in the depths where she is often the only one. A woman skilled and brave in the field of technology, IT and is pioneering that other women and girls follow in her footsteps. 

The title of Global Technologist sits well on her shoulders. 

Relax, listen and enjoy. 

Courageous Couch episodes are a little longer and go a little deeper !

Kim Scott, author of Radical Candour & Just Work: Get Sh*t Done, Fast & Fair sat with me on the Courageous Couch and shared fascinating truths about her leadership journey. 

Pull up a chair and relax with us! 

Courageous Couch episodes are a little longer and go a little deeper. 

Sometimes you meet someone who is profound yet down to earth

Who is deeply knowledgeable but completely approachable. 

Professor Maggie Atkinson, shares part of her truth with us, and some of it is just jaw dropping.

Excuse the poor sound quality in some places, the zoom gremlins had a field day!

His is  - Director of System Leadership at Ambition Institute, author of "Leading Academy Trusts-why some fail but most don't" and former National Schools Commissioner

He also is a thoroughly nice bloke who had been to the land of numpty like the rest of us!

Jaz says - I grew up in extreme poverty, abuse and personal failures, so I thought I would never be loved, successful or happy. Thanks to five everyday heroes (all teachers) who refused to give up on me, I am now a renowned speaker and author with a loving husband and three wonderful children.

Diana says -This episode is full of snorts, laughter and giggling. The adventures of Jaz- it should be a film. You have got to listen to this!

Fascinating guest! Shirley is a wonderful expert in her field. You will be able to hear the light bulb go off in my head during this one!

Paul says - I bring 20 years’ experience of leading incredibly high performing teams in some of the most challenging environments imaginable. As an Army Lieutenant Colonel I commanded soldiers and elite units on five of the World’s seven continents and so know how to stay calm when the pressure is on. 

I say - tell me about your visits to numpty land!!

He did. 

David is the CEO of Research Machines (RM), but this did not stop me ringing him directly when I was having a particularly trying day as head teacher and demanding that someone from RM 'get down here now' 

To his credit, David came himself the next week and so a friendship was born. Take a seat on the Courageous Couch with my mate Dave. 

Driven by the belief that all schools can, and must, transform the life chances of their students. Evelyn Forde was voted the TES Head Teacher of the Year 2021 and is a role model for leaders everywhere. 

She still made a few trips to numpty land!

Listen, learn and laugh. 

Fiona Forbes is renowned as a change agent, leader, writer, collaborator and educator. She has the proven capacity to build, develop and transform education organisations so they thrive through sustained excellence in standards and outcomes.

She is also has some howlers in her MMT episode. Pull up a chair, grab some Pringles and have a listen!

You know him as 'The Teacher Toolkit Fella'! I know him as a leaders willing to share his truth

Take a seat on the Courageous Couch and listen to Ross McGill share his visits to numpty land. 

Let's end this season with a BANG !

Michelle is a former International athlete who represented Great Britain at the 1996 Olympic Games, making history in 1994, by becoming the first  woman in the Commonwealth to triple jump over 14m.

A brilliant episode to end season 3. 

Ex- head, my ex- deputy and a thoroughly good egg! 24 years service in inner London Schools, she shares with us her visits to leadership numpty land. 

Monwara- not heard of her? 

The start of her bio- I have always identified with the underdog – people who are underestimated, sometimes completely written off. This has been my story growing up. I was one of the first in my family to go to university and one of the very first Asian females to become a youth worker in London

This episode was fascinating! 

Fabulous conversation with a witty professor. Join us as Rachel shares her visits to the land of leadership numpty! 

You know when you just click with someone? You are all gonna love this guy!  Funny, experienced leader, not afraid to share the clangers he has dropped along the way. 

A fellow secondary head teacher - Miriam describes herself as full of moral purpose and mission-focussed. 

She is a great laugh too!

Katharine is the head mistress of the one of most successful state school in the nation. She is also a leader not afraid to share her mishaps ! 

An accomplished executive head teacher, but he still has made visits to the land of numpty! Listen and enjoy. 

You know Drew...he is off the telly. He is an influential leadership authority with a unique multi sector viewpoint on creating innovative and sustainable change. He has over twenty years' experience working in elite level sport, education and business.  Lean in and listen to the insights my good friend shares. 

I am not going to say anything. 

Leaders in education stand on the shoulders of giants. Rosemary Campbell - Stephens is a giant and a living legend.

Sit down and listen, I am still reverberating from this episode. 

Jackson Ogunyemi better known as “Action Jackson” is a lover of cheesecake, running and inspiring people.
He founded a company dedicated to empowering UK Education called Fixupseminars.co.uk in 2001 whilst studying Mechanical Engineering at Middlesex University, where he developed a passion for public speaking.  This is one of the episodes that will make you laugh, think and reflect. Action Jackson gets deeeeep!

UCL academic  : Dr Karen Edge is currently a Reader in Educational Leadership at UCL Institute of Education and recently served as Pro-Vice Provost (International) at University College London, UK. Karen has conducted research in over 30 countries and has recently completed a 6-jurisdiction study of teacher motivation and retention.  She is also honest and a great leader to talk to... so dive into this very special episode!

You are going to laugh at this one - My mentee Bukky Yusuf shares her leadership mistakes and we laugh all through the episode. Join us. 

You may know Andy as the founder of Leadership Matters. Today you get an insight into the leadership mistakes he has made along the way. Sit back and enjoy!

An honest interview with Hannah Wilson, founder of Diverse Educators, on the ups & downs and bits in-between of her leadership journey. 

Insights based on the work of Juliet Erickson, this podcast will give you strategies to help you make the best of your leadership style.

The best bit? You get strategies to give to your colleagues, so they know how to deal with your leadership style!

The national treasure that is Mary Myatt, shares the times she got it wrong! Pull up a chair. 

Insights based on the work of Juliet Erickson, this podcast will give you strategies to help you make the best of your leadership style. 

The best bit? You get strategies to give to your colleagues, so they know how to deal with your leadership style!

Everyday hero Adrian Rollins shares mistakes, mishaps and triumphs from his leadership journey. A former county cricketer and brilliant school leader, sit back and enjoy this insight into everyday leadership.

I needed help, but I didn’t know it. I was in need of support, advice and friendship, but I kept myself in a solitary place because of emotional pain. 

I was carrying increasingly greater leadership weight, but I had no appreciation of the level of physical and emotional health that was needed to carry it successfully.

I will always feel fear, but I will limit the influence fear has on my thoughts, actions and speech. An honest exploration of the fear leaders feel which grips your tummy and your heart, making you afraid to open emails and go to that meeting. 

I know what that is like!