Peace is a Choice – Details, episodes & analysis

Today, I’m joined by Steve Hargreaves. Steve is an award-winning Executive Coach and Mentor, Author, of ‘The Compassionate Leader’s Playbook’, and the Founder and Director of The Compassionate Leadership Company - a coaching, culture, and leadership development company which specialises in helping organisations and their leaders to inspire, craft and sustain high performing, emotionally healthy, compassionate workplaces where everyone can thrive, achieve and stay well.

In this episode, Steve shares his journey into compassionate leadership. We explore the importance of empathy and compassion in leadership roles, the necessity of creating a culture where individuals feel safe to speak up, and the challenges leaders face in navigating difficult conversations.

Steve shares personal experiences that shaped his understanding of compassion and its impact on workplace dynamics, emphasising the need for leaders to engage in meaningful conversations to create a supportive environment. We discuss the importance of having difficult conversations with compassion, the necessity of clarity in leadership roles, and the role of self-compassion in sustaining effective leadership.

Connect with Steve:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-hargreaves-5b82b133/

Website: https://www.thecompassionateleadership.company/

Book: https://www.thecompassionateleadership.company/get-the-book

Connect with me:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natasha-wallace-cs/

Website: https://www.natashawallace.com/

Welcome to Peace is a Choice. A podcast where we explore the power of consciously cultivating inner peace and how it shapes the quality of our lives.

We all have the ability to become more aware of who we are and why we feel the way we do. And when we do, we unlock the potential to transform our reality.

In each episode, we'll sit down with guests to hear their personal stories; how they’ve faced challenges, what they’ve learned, and how they’ve found ways to experience and share more peace. We’ll also dive into the world of purposeful work, featuring those who are actively spreading peace and acceptance around the globe.

In this very first episode, the tables have turned: I’m joined by fellow female entrepreneur, Sophie Milliken. Sophie is the founder and CEO of Moja Group, a company that helps entrepreneurs and senior executives amplify their personal brands and become recognised leaders in their industries.

She’s a multi-award-winning businesswoman, a proud mum, and a dedicated advocate for the North East. Sophie supports Northern Power Women, co-founded City Ladies Networking, and serves as Chair of Smart Works Newcastle, a charity helping unemployed women with interview clothing and coaching.

In today’s episode, Sophie will be interviewing me to give you a behind-the-scenes look at what’s to come in the upcoming season of Peace is a Choice.

Connect with Sophie:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophie-milliken/

Connect with me:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natasha-wallace-cs/

Website: https://www.natashawallace.com/

Welcome to Peace is a Choice. A podcast where we explore the power of consciously cultivating inner peace and how it shapes the quality of our lives.

I’m Natasha Wallace, a conscious leadership expert, executive coach, speaker, and author. I’m on a mission to help 100 million people to thrive through a conscious and peaceful approach to leadership and living.

We all have the ability to become more aware of who we are and why we feel the way we do. And when we do, we unlock the potential to transform our reality.

It’s not always easy—it takes practice, self-awareness, courage, and sometimes a fresh perspective. But making the choice to seek peace opens the door to a more fulfilling and harmonious life – and the potential to make a bigger difference in the world.

In each episode, we'll sit down with guests to hear their personal stories—how they’ve faced challenges, what they’ve learned, and how they’ve found ways to experience and share more peace. We’ll also dive into the world of purposeful work, featuring those who are actively spreading peace and acceptance around the globe.

Our conversations are relaxed and insightful, offering practical takeaways to help guide you toward greater calm, a better quality of life, and the positive impact you can make in the world.

Today, I’m joined by Dr. Sarah Hill. Sarah is the co-owner of Dialogix Ltd – a behavioural consultancy specialising in structural dynamics and dialogue-based interventions. She’s experienced in coaching everyone from powerful individuals such as CEOs and senior leaders, through to whole teams and organisations, with a view to helping them lead more impactful and effective conversations.

In this episode, Sarah discusses how putting in ‘the work’ to understand our childhood story can help us to become more aware of our behavioural patterns. We discuss her book “Where did you learn to behave like that?”, a coaching guide focused on helping us to reflect and make peace with how our childhood experiences can shape our adult selves.

Sarah and I both share how we came to terms with our own childhood stories and discuss why doing so has helped to illuminate our lives today, despite it being a challenging process.

Connect with Sarah:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-sarah-hill-9bb80457/

Website: https://dialogix.co.uk/

Books: Dare to… The Childhood Story Journal

Where Did You Learn to Behave Like That?

The Tao of Dialogue

Connect with me:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natasha-wallace-cs/

Website: https://www.natashawallace.com/

How do we turn pain into purpose and help young people find their voice?

In this episode of the Peace is a Choice podcast, Natasha Wallace is joined by Calvin Eden, co-founder of Loud Speaker and a youth empowerment speaker working with young people across the UK.

Calvin shares his journey growing up in North London and the loss of his best friend to a tragic murder at just 15 years old. Faced with this moment, he reflects on how grief and trauma could have taken him down a very different path and how choosing purpose shaped his life’s work.

Together, Natasha and Calvin explore the meaning of purpose, gratitude, and resilience, and why purpose beats money every time. They discuss confidence in the younger generation, the impact of social media, and why many young people struggle to find their voice in traditional education systems.

Calvin also shares why he co-founded Loud Speaker, how its high-energy workshops help young people build confidence and communication skills, and why creating spaces where young people feel seen and heard can be life changing.

Connect with Calvin:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/calvin-eden-433b9999/

Loud Speaker Website: loudspeaker.org.uk

Loud Speaker Instagram: @loudspeakerlive

Connect with me:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natasha-wallace-cs/

Website: https://www.natashawallace.com/

How can work support recovery, wellbeing, and being human?

This week, Natasha Wallace is joined by Charlotte Neal, Head of Community Connections at Reward Gateway. Charlotte shares her powerful journey from journalism into community and employee wellbeing, and how work played a pivotal role in her recovery and growth.

In this honest and moving conversation, Charlotte opens up about her experiences with mental health, including her bipolar disorder diagnosis, and living with fibromyalgia. She reflects on the impact of having a genuinely supportive employer and manager, and why workplace culture can be life-changing when wellbeing is taken seriously.

Natasha and Charlotte also explore what employee wellbeing really means in practice, the challenges of communicating its value to senior leaders, and the importance of authentic leadership and storytelling. From navigating burnout and invisible illness to the power of community and asking for help, Charlotte’s story is a reminder that health is part of being human at work and that no one should struggle alone.

Connect with Charlotte:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlotte-neal-01452083/

Connect with me:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natasha-wallace-cs/

Website: https://www.natashawallace.com/

In this episode, I sit down with Jacqui Lloyd, a senior global HR leader and passionate LGBTQ advocate. Jacqui opens up about her incredible career journey from facing challenges in education early on, to making her mark in both academia and the corporate world. She talks honestly about battling self-doubt, saying yes to opportunities that pushed her boundaries, and why diversity and inclusion matter so much in today’s workplaces.

Together, we explore the evolving world of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I)—what's working, what’s still missing, and the emotional toll it can take on people who don’t feel free to be themselves at work. Jacqui speaks candidly about the mental weight of hiding parts of your identity and the freedom that comes with self-acceptance and being seen for who you truly are.

It’s a heartfelt, inspiring conversation about authenticity, growth, and creating workplaces where everyone feels they belong.

Connect with Jacqui:

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

Website: http://www.theempowermentacademy.co.uk/

Connect with me:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natasha-wallace-cs/

Website: https://www.natashawallace.com/

What does it take to lead with purpose and create real social change?

In this episode of the Peace is a Choice podcast, Natasha Wallace is joined by Alison Dunn, CEO of the Society Matters Group at Citizens Advice Gateshead.

Alison shares her inspiring journey from training in law to dedicating her career to social justice, driven by a deep sense of inequality and a desire to make systems fairer for everyone.

Together, they explore the power of mindset, the importance of community involvement, and why many of the inequities people face are rooted in structures, not individual shortcomings.

The conversation also delves into the impact of media narratives, the role of education and critical thinking in navigating societal issues, and how leaders can build healthier workplace cultures that support mental well-being.

Alison discusses the evolution of her own leadership style, the need for self-awareness, and why women must stand together to challenge systemic inequality. She also offers a preview of her upcoming book, Friend or Foe?, which uncovers the dynamics of female relationships and the vital role of women as allies.

Connect with Alison

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

Society Matters Group: https://societymattersgroup.com/

Connect with Natasha

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natasha-wallace-cs/

Website: https://www.natashawallace.com/

In this episode of Peace is a Choice, Natasha is joined by a very special guest, her 11-year-old daughter, Evie Wallace.

Evie brings her own unique perspective on what it means to be at peace with yourself and others. Together, they talk about confidence, kindness and the courage it takes to be different in a world that often encourages us to fit in.

Through their conversation, Evie shares her thoughts on how to focus on the positives, find friends who accept you for who you are, and why being kind is always the right choice.

She reminds us that peace starts with self-acceptance and that being true to who you are can make life feel lighter and happier.

The episode explores themes of authenticity, belonging and the beauty of individuality, showing that sometimes the greatest wisdom comes from seeing the world through a child’s eyes.

Connect with me:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natasha-wallace-cs/

Website: https://www.natashawallace.com/

What does it take to turn pain into purpose?

In this episode of the Peace is a Choice podcast, Natasha Wallace is joined by Claire Libby, a certified health coach and founder of the I Am Me app. Claire opens up about her powerful journey from a traumatic childhood shaped by her mother’s struggle with alcohol to creating a space that helps others heal and thrive.

Together, they discuss the lasting effects of early life experiences, the importance of preventative care, lifestyle medicine, and the impact on mental health.

Claire also offers practical advice for parents and leaders on wellbeing for themselves and those they care for, showing how self-awareness can be a catalyst for transformation.

Learn more or download the I Am Me App:

https://www.iammeapp.com/

https://www.instagram.com/iammeglobal/

Connect with Claire: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-libby/

Connect with Natasha: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natasha-wallace-cs/