I believe everyone has a story to tell, through seeking true, authentic insights about the entrepreneurial journey, I provide a platform for our peers to share their stories and inspire those that listen.
Welcome! I’m Sam Thomas, the host of the "Different Hats Podcast." In a world where entrepreneurs often feel pressured to wear countless hats, I believe in the power of authentic storytelling to redefine what success truly means. My mission is to help the 'World to See Success Differently' so you can achieve happiness, purpose, and fulfilment, by sharing real stories from those who’ve navigated the entrepreneurial landscape.
Through engaging conversations with peers and industry leaders like Chris Anderson of TED, I aim to provide you with the insights and inspiration needed to build the business you desire. Unlike other platforms, "Different Hats" focuses on the human side of entrepreneurship, moving beyond the performative aspects to foster genuine connections and meaningful growth.
#117 Bipolar, Burnout & the Journey Back: A Conversation We All Need
Season 8 · Episode 117
Tuesday, June 17, 2025 • Duration 01:31:43
⚠️ Warning ⚠️ This episode contains content that may be alarming to some listeners. We do talk about suicide which we know can be distressing.
In this deeply moving episode of the Different Hats Podcast, I sit down with purpose-led mentor and scale-up strategist Simon Chuter for an unfiltered conversation about mental health, masculinity, and meaning.
Simon shares his journey through the extremes, what he describes as his personal Mariana Trench and Everest moments. From being diagnosed with bipolar disorder and surviving a suicide attempt, to mentoring startups and parenting with emotional presence, this is a conversation that doesn’t just inspire, it transforms.
This episode is a masterclass in emotional intelligence, the power of giving, and why redefining success is vital for our personal and collective wellbeing. Whether you're a founder, parent, educator, or simply a human navigating life's highs and lows, this one will stay with you.
🎧 Listen in for insights on:
The danger of emotional suppression in boys
Why autonomy, mastery & purpose matter more than money
Healing fractured relationships
Mentorship as a mental health lifeline
How cricket, cuddles, and conversations keep us grounded
💡 If this episode resonated with you, please like, share, and comment below. Your support helps us spread this important message and change the narrative around success and mental health.
How to Retain Employees and Save Money with Salary Sacrifice | 🎙️ Different Hats: Unplugged
Thursday, June 12, 2025 • Duration 55:17
In this special Unplugged edition of the Different Hats Podcast, I dive into one of the most urgent questions facing UK business owners in 2025:
How do you retain great people without breaking the bank?
Amid soaring employment costs and rising redundancies, smart business leaders are exploring creative solutions. One powerful tool? Salary sacrifice car schemes. But what are they really, and how can they help both your people and your bottom line?
Joined by three expert guests, Sarah May (HR strategist), Chris Barnard (finance guru), and Warren Keech (salary sacrifice specialist at RiverVale), this episode breaks down how salary sacrifice works, who it benefits, and how it can help build a purpose-driven culture that attracts and keeps top talent.
Packed with practical insights, real-world examples, and financial clarity, this conversation is a must-listen for business owners, HR leaders, and anyone navigating recruitment and retention in today’s challenging climate.
✅ Reduce payroll costs
✅ Support employee wellbeing
✅ Retain talent
✅ Promote sustainability
✅ Save money for your business
📌 KEY CHAPTERS
00:00 - Introduction
02:20 - Why Employees Feel Undervalued Today
04:00 - Wellbeing Beyond Wages: Gen Z Expectations
06:45 - Creating a Competitive Benefits Package
09:30 - The Hidden Cost of Losing a Team Member
11:00 - Culture, Trust & Retention
15:35 - What is Salary Sacrifice?
#116 "I Walked Away From a 7-Figure Business to Find True Success" | Joel Lawton
Season 8 · Episode 116
Monday, June 9, 2025 • Duration 01:50:37
In this deeply honest and vulnerable conversation, I sit down with Joel Lawton, entrepreneur, coach, and founder of In Your Corner, to explore what it really means to redefine success and live in full alignment with your true self.
Joel shares his powerful personal journey: building a multi-million-pound business, navigating burnout, and ultimately making the courageous decision to walk away and rebuild life and work on his own terms. Together, we dive into the emotional narratives men carry, the importance of self-worth beyond doing and providing, and how true presence can be one of the most underrated measures of success.
This conversation also touches on fatherhood, mental health, the challenges of hustle culture, emotional intelligence, men's groups, workplace culture, the education system, and how we can better equip younger generations to process emotions.
Expect raw honesty, actionable insights, and an inspiring message for anyone questioning their own version of success.
KEY CHAPTERS
00:00 — The Illusion of Success
03:00 — Joel’s Definition of Success
06:30 — Presence & Busyness
11:50 — Hustle Culture Pressure
17:40 — What Is Enough?
21:20 — Joel’s Early Life & Upbringing
25:00 — Self-Worth & Identity
32:00 — Emotional Intelligence & Holding Space
39:00 — Safe Spaces for Men
43:40 — Supporting the Next Generation
53:40 — Rethinking Education & Life Skills
58:30 — The Power of Human Connection
1:10:00 — Business Burnout & Transition
#115 The Crisis Facing Young Men, And How We Fix It with Daniel Wilsher
Season 8 · Episode 115
Monday, June 2, 2025 • Duration 01:58:53
⚠️ Warning ⚠️ This episode contains content that may be alarming to some listeners. We do talk about suicide which we know can be distressing.
🎙️ Welcome to Series 8 of the Different Hats Podcast!
In this deeply powerful and emotional conversation, Daniel Wilsher shares his mission to change the narrative around young men, masculinity, mental health, and the broken education system. Daniel opens up about his personal journey of childhood trauma after losing his father to suicide, his own mental health struggles, and the path that led him to dedicate his life to helping young people unlock their true potential.
From vulnerability, role models, emotional intelligence, to redefining success for young men, this episode is packed with raw honesty, profound insights, and real solutions that can change lives.
Whether you're a parent, teacher, leader, or someone struggling with your own mental health, this conversation is for you. It's about hope, healing, human connection, and taking action.
🌍 About This Episode:
In a world that’s telling young men to be stronger, richer, more dominant, Daniel offers a different path. His work through LivedX is equipping schools, parents, and communities to have brave conversations that empower boys to define their own version of success, rooted in emotional intelligence, connection, service, and self-awareness.
This is a masterclass in empathy, leadership, and the simple yet powerful truth: *sometimes all a young person needs is one adult to believe in them.
Stories That Will Change How You See Success: Series 7 Round-Up
Season 7
Monday, May 19, 2025 • Duration 26:21
From CEOs and coaches to trauma survivors, storytellers, and change makers, Series 7 of the Different Hats Podcast was a powerful reminder that success isn’t always what it seems.
Across 15 episodes, our guests didn’t just share their highlights, they shared their hearts.
Series 7 also included the very special 100th milestone episode.
Together, we explored themes of:
💬 Emotional honesty & vulnerability
🧠 Mental health, masculinity & identity
👣 Healing from trauma & rewriting your story
🧍♂️ Presence, purpose & soulful leadership
❤️ Redefining success beyond money or titles
What we learned?
Success isn’t what you have. It’s how you feel. It’s showing up fully, healing out loud, and choosing presence over performance.
If you missed an episode, or just want to revisit some of the most inspiring voices we’ve hosted, now’s the time.
👉 Catch up on Series 7 here 👉 https://youtu.be/D83ByTEq8vc
Thank you to every guest for your courage. And to every listener for helping us shape a better story.
Together, we’re helping the world see success differently.
🔔 Subscribe, comment, and join the journey to redefine success through real, human stories.
#114 “Why Are So Many Men Still Suffering in Silence?” | Andrew Jenkins on Mental Health & Masculinity
Season 7 · Episode 114
Monday, May 12, 2025 • Duration 01:52:10
What does it truly mean to be a man today? And how do we raise boys to grow into emotionally intelligent, resilient men?
In this profoundly moving episode of the Different Hats Podcast, I sit down with Andrew Jenkins, mental health advocate, speaker, and breakout voice from BBC’s The Traitors—for a conversation that cuts to the core of masculinity, trauma, and the power of vulnerability.
Andrew shares his harrowing experience of surviving a car accident that changed his life forever, and how he stayed silent about the emotional aftermath for over two decades. Now, he’s using his voice to help others find theirs.
Together, we explore:
💬 The silent crisis facing young men. and why suicide rates are still rising
🏉 The role of sport and father figures in shaping emotional awareness
💔 Andrew’s emotional journey from silence to telling his son "I love you" for the first time at age 22
👂 Why men don’t need fixing, they just need someone to listen
📣 How schools, sports clubs, and parents can create emotionally safe spaces
This is more than a conversation. It’s a call to action, to change how we talk to our boys, how we show up for one another, and how we redefine what strength really means.
If you're a parent, coach, teacher, leader, or someone on your own healing journey, this episode might just change the way you see the world.
Key Chapters
00:00 – Introductions
04:10 – The Crisis in Men’s Mental Health: Where Do We Start?
08:25 – The Pressure of Modern Life and Climbing the Wrong Ladder
#113 Built a Business at 12, Paid Off His Parents’ Mortgage by 27: Tom George’s Story
Season 7 · Episode 113
Monday, May 5, 2025 • Duration 01:57:02
“Doing everything is hard. Doing nothing is hard. So choose your hard.” – Tom George
At just 12 years old, Tom George launched his first business with a stack of flyers and a borrowed lawnmower. By 27, he had paid off his parents’ mortgage.
In this raw, inspiring and deeply honest episode of the Different Hats Podcast, Tom shares his journey from a turbulent childhood, through early entrepreneurship, to becoming the director of multiple businesses, all driven by grit, purpose, and the desire to create a better life for those around him.
This is not just a story about money, it’s about mindset, resilience, leadership, legacy, and redefining success on your own terms. If you’ve ever felt stuck, doubted your path, or wondered if it’s too late (or too early) to start something, this conversation is for you.
🧠 You’ll learn:
How childhood adversity shaped his mindset
Why he values attitude over education when hiring
The truth behind hustle culture and burnout
The importance of emotional presence in leadership
What really drives long-term fulfilment and success
01:18 – “You can have 1,000 problems… until your health goes”
04:57 – How Tom defines success (and why it’s not about money)
07:49 – Self-awareness, presence, and growing into purpose
13:45 – What Tom looks for when hiring young people
#112 The Real Reason Men Feel Lost | Healing Masculinity and Finding True Success
Season 7 · Episode 112
Monday, April 28, 2025 • Duration 01:56:52
In this deeply honest and empowering episode with the brilliant Marina Lazaris, we dive into how modern men (and women) can reconnect with authentic love, real confidence, and emotional success, beyond the fake measures of status, wealth, or appearance.
This is a powerful conversation about redefining masculinity, rewriting success, and reconnecting with who we really are. Full of raw insights, practical tips, and hope for the next generation.
If you're a man feeling stuck, isolated, or unsure where to begin, this episode is for you.
If you're raising sons, working with men, or simply care about building a better future, this episode is for you.
👇 Chapters and Timestamps 👇
00:00 - Introduction
01:06 - The power of love stories: Creating a lasting foundation
06:58 - Teaching men how to confidently approach women again
10:00 - Chivalry, respect, and bringing back genuine kindness
18:00 - How fear of rejection and shame are holding men back
27:00 - Building real self-worth without wealth or status
36:00 - Understanding emotions: anger, sadness, joy as gifts
44:00 - The inner critic vs. inner champion: Rewriting your story
53:00 - Why community and connection are the real success metrics
1:02:00 - The loneliness epidemic: Shocking statistics on single men
1:10:00 - Finding purpose, passion, and your authentic self
1:18:00 - Healing masculine and feminine wounds in relationships
1:30:00 - How slowing down actually speeds up your success
1:40:00 - Practical daily habits for building confidence and self-love
#111 "Success Isn’t What You Think It Is" – What 30 Years in Business Taught Me About Life
Season 7 · Episode 111
Monday, April 21, 2025 • Duration 01:51:12
What if everything you thought success looked like... wasn't the thing at all?
In this emotional, wise, and deeply human episode, I sit down with Norman Mayhew, entrepreneur, mentor, and founder of The Sussex Sign Company, for a conversation that is as raw as it is inspiring.
From growing up in poverty and dealing with childhood trauma, to building a million-pound business and learning how to define “enough,” Norman’s story is a moving reminder that the most valuable things in life often aren’t things at all.
💬 Norman opens up about:
Growing up with violence, shame, and the tally man at the door
His fight to break the cycle for his kids — and the cost that came with it
Why dignity in work matters more than what’s in the bank
The lessons learned from 30 years in business and 60+ years in life
The moment he realised that love is the only thing that really counts
This isn’t a business podcast. This is a conversation about being human.
👉 Whether you’re a founder, leader, parent, or someone just trying to hold it all together, this one will move you, shake you, and maybe even help you breathe a little deeper.
📍 Key Chapters:
00:00 – Introduction
04:34 – Redefining Success After 30 Years
16:19 – Childhood Trauma & the Drive to Break the Cycle
21:26 – The Regrets of Working Too Much
29:29 – The School System is Broken
34:35 – All They Wanted Was Time
43:03 – Dignity in Work: A Brother’s Story
55:38 – Building the Sussex Sign Company From Scratch
#110 The Trauma Doctor: How We Can Change Healthcare and Save Lives
Season 7 · Episode 110
Monday, April 14, 2025 • Duration 01:42:31
In this powerful and deeply personal episode of the Different Hats Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Susanna Petche, a GP, trauma specialist, and CPTSD survivor, for one of the most open, vulnerable, and important conversations I’ve ever had on the show.
Susanna shares her lived experience of sexual trauma, misdiagnosis, and the long road to healing. We talk honestly about what it means to be trauma-informed, in healthcare, education, workplaces, and in our day-to-day lives, and why reframing success starts with emotional safety.
🔍 In this episode, we explore:
The hidden epidemic of trauma and CPTSD
How trauma shows up in the body and mind
Why vulnerability is a strength, not a weakness
Emotional intelligence and the future of education
Letting go of old success stories and rewriting new ones
How healing can begin — even after decades of silence
🎧 Whether you’re a parent, a leader, an educator, or simply someone on your own healing journey, this episode is full of insight, honesty, and, most importantly—hope.
✨ "Healing is possible for everyone." – Dr. Susanna Petche
Key Chapters:
00:00 – Intro
03:52 – What Success Used to Mean (And Why It Changed)
06:26 – The Diagnosis That Changed Everything
11:33 – Why Vulnerability Feels So Hard (Especially in the UK)
15:19 – Is the Education System Emotionally Broken?
22:29 – Ambition After Trauma: Still Striving, But Differently
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💡 If this episode resonated with you, please like, share, and comment below. Your support helps us spread this important message and change the narrative around success and mental health.
💡 If this episode resonated with you, please like, share, and comment below. Your support helps us spread this important message and change the narrative around success and mental health.
Dr. Susanna Petche is a GP, innovator, CPTSD survivor, and samba reggae drummer with over 23 years of clinical experience. She specialises in psychological trauma and its impact on the mind, body, and spirit. Susanna is on a mission to raise awareness of psychological trauma and help create a more compassionate, trauma-informed world.
