The Good Listening To Show: Stories of Distinction & Genius
Chris Grimes - Facilitator. Coach. Motivational Comedian
270 episodes
2 days ago
Send us a text What if your team’s friction isn’t about difficult people—but mismatched “food”? We sit down with Nigel Risner, the self-styled Chief Zookeeper, to unpack a disarmingly simple idea: people are different, not difficult. From that starting point, Nigel shows how to stop serving steak to dolphins, how to read the room fast, and how to change your language so action follows naturally. He’s direct, funny, and unfiltered—and he cares about results more than applause. Nigel walks us ...
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Send us a text What if your team’s friction isn’t about difficult people—but mismatched “food”? We sit down with Nigel Risner, the self-styled Chief Zookeeper, to unpack a disarmingly simple idea: people are different, not difficult. From that starting point, Nigel shows how to stop serving steak to dolphins, how to read the room fast, and how to change your language so action follows naturally. He’s direct, funny, and unfiltered—and he cares about results more than applause. Nigel walks us ...
Send us a text What if your team’s friction isn’t about difficult people—but mismatched “food”? We sit down with Nigel Risner, the self-styled Chief Zookeeper, to unpack a disarmingly simple idea: people are different, not difficult. From that starting point, Nigel shows how to stop serving steak to dolphins, how to read the room fast, and how to change your language so action follows naturally. He’s direct, funny, and unfiltered—and he cares about results more than applause. Nigel walks us ...
Send us a text The conversation opens with a tender contradiction: how do you keep the best of your childish self while learning to say goodbye to what no longer fits? Adam Buxton joins us to trace that thread from DIY TV to Decca, from late-night Channel 4 oddities to the calming crunch of Norfolk gravel under foot. We talk about his second memoir, I Love You Bye, the bomb-blast of losing parents, and the quieter grief of habits shed. He’s frank about the relief of leaving social media and t...
Send us a text A single sentence on a wall changed everything. Ben, the founder of Kempton Installation Services, walked into our Inner Circle meeting ready to blame the weather for a quiet order book—and walked out with a different story. We dig into how he stopped thinking like a small business owner, doubled down on what actually worked, and built a six-to-eight-week pipeline without praying for rain. We explore the surprising hero of his marketing: a trust-first “killer flyer” that beats...
Send us a text A single choice can shape a lifetime. When Nigel Hughes told a careers panel he’d choose ballet over the Marines, he set a compass for courage, creativity, and connection that still points true decades later. We invite you into Nigel’s “clearing”—a 1642 Suffolk cottage turned open house—where hedges host micro-moths, neighbours drop by for sugar-free Black Forest gâteaux, and leadership looks like tending land until it teaches you how to lead. The story travels far beyond the ...
Send us a text What if the moments that break you could become the blueprint for how you lead? That’s the heartbeat of our conversation with Gina Gardiner—leader, author, broadcaster, and unapologetic catalyst for change—who turned a devastating ski accident and years of chronic pain into a living masterclass on resilient, human leadership. We trace the arc from breaking gender barriers as a young deputy head, to running a high-performing school largely from a wheelchair, to building a globa...
Send us a text What if the next chapter of your creative life needed a stage you had to build yourself? We sit down with Steve Furst—comedian, actor, writer, and the man behind cabaret icon Lenny Beige—to share how an eviction notice on a beloved Hampstead room sparked Circle and Star, a new intimate theatre with a big heartbeat. From raising funds at speed to converting favours into an opening season, Steve reveals the practical playbook and the personal resolve it takes to bring a venue bac...
Send us a text Hungry buyers don’t need convincing; they need finding. That’s the heart of our conversation with strategist and storyteller Erica Mackay from the Marketing Detective Agency, where “Giraffes Don’t Eat Steak” isn’t just a catchy title—it’s a sharp reminder that not every audience is your audience. We swap spray-and-pray tactics for research-led clarity and show how to spot the lions who actually want what you sell. Erica takes us from her childhood in apartheid South Africa—whe...
Send us a text A quiet letter. A packed car on the way back from university. A house that suddenly feels bigger than your life. These moments whisper the same question: who are you now? Coach and founder Mary Van Eker joins us to share the story behind her new signature 'The Me I Forgot' Programme, a 4 week programme designed for women 45+ who want to rediscover their identity, purpose, and joy after decades of caregiving or career-first living. We dive into the real triggers that spark chang...
Send us a text A host hands over his own mic, steps into the straw-lit ring, and lets his story breathe. Chris Grimes invites us into “the clearing,” a warm, curated space where presence comes first and stories find their shape. From a Uganda childhood and the hum of a TV showing Laurel & Hardy to the ache of losing a sister and the discipline of actor-teacher training, Chris traces the real forces that shaped his craft, his humour, and his ethos of yes-and. We dig into the 5-4-3-2-1 fra...
Send us a text What if your copy worked because you thought better, not because you wrote harder? That’s the challenge David L. Deutsch lays down as we dive into the craft of response-driven writing—from Ogilvy roots to billion-dollar wins—and the mental models that make persuasion stick in the real world. We go beyond formulas and catchy lines to ask sharper questions: who is your reader, what does their day feel like, and what would actually move them now? David shares how he turns “b...
Send us a text What if the shortest path to better work is learning to be where your feet are? That’s the spark behind our conversation with Matt Zeigler—producer turned financial adviser, community builder, and host of the very excellent "Just Press Record" Podcast —who shows how presence, listening, and thoughtful connections can turn chance into momentum. We trace Matt’s arc from teenage gigs and studio life to a mid‑career pivot into finance, where he discovered the same skill set applie...
Send us a text Laughter can be a compass. Sitting with DeCastro—one of the world’s best-loved clowns—we step into Why Not Land, a clearing where play is protected, truth has room to breathe, and imagination outruns fear. From South London to Rio’s shoreline, she maps an art form often trivialised, arguing with warmth and precision that clowning is education, rebellion, and radical compassion all at once. We journey through the founding of the Why Not Institute, born after Slava’s Snowshow an...
Send us a text What if the call that changes everything arrives decades late? Pete Townsend—actor, collector of lost causes, and lifelong Bristolian—shares a story stitched with grit, humour, and heart. From a childhood spent trying to meet a father’s unreachable ideals to a mid-rehearsal phone call revealing a twin sister he never knew, Pete’s journey explores identity, reunion, and the quiet power of being useful to others. We wander through Bristol’s creative life: Carol singing that beco...
Send us a text Settle in for a masterclass in comedy, connection, and creative perseverance as Welsh comedy legend Rob Brydon takes us on an intimate journey through his remarkable career. This isn't just another celebrity interview—it's a warm, revealing conversation that feels like eavesdropping on two old friends catching up over tea. From his childhood in Port Talbot watching comedy greats like Ryan Davis to becoming a national treasure himself, Rob shares the pivotal moments that shaped...
Send us a text What happens when you finally stop trying to fit in and start embracing your true self? Patrick Bevan's transformation from corporate misfit to change alchemist reveals the power of authenticity in both life and business. Patrick's journey begins with childhood struggles of not belonging – growing up in Hull as the kid who didn't fit in. The narrative takes a fascinating turn with a seemingly random walk through Battersea Park with a stranger who would become one of the world'...
Send us a text When Josh Wheeler founded Be Broadcast PR 3 years ago, he was determined to create something different—a PR agency focused not just on securing media coverage, but on telling meaningful stories that unite rather than divide. His journey from a tiny village in the West Midlands to becoming a broadcast PR specialist offers fascinating insights into what truly matters in communication. (Josh joined Chris Grimes in the Show to 'experience the format from within' to explore the poss...
Send us a text Ever wondered what makes some entrepreneurs thrive while others struggle despite financial success? Tony Robinson OBE, known as "The Happipreneur," reveals the surprising secrets behind his revolutionary approach to Small Business success in this captivating conversation. From a cozy bench overlooking the sea in "sunny Scarbados" (his affectionate name for Scarborough), Tony shares how his personal journey—including overcoming polio as a child and walking away from corporate s...
Send us a text Remember when Technology felt like it was meant to make our lives easier? For many Small Business owners today, AI and Automation have become sources of anxiety rather than solutions. Enter Mike Garde, who's on a personal mission to change that narrative. Mike isn't your typical Tech Consultant. With 30 years of Software Engineering experience, he could easily overwhelm you with jargon – but that's precisely what he refuses to do. "I want to democratize AI and automation for s...
Send us a text What happens when Southern hospitality meets New York Assertiveness? You get Jennifer Logue, the force behind Phenomenal Speaking, who's transforming how Leaders communicate through a powerful blend of Emotional Intelligence and Radical Candor. Jennifer's journey began in the South, where family values and entrepreneurial spirit shaped her foundation. Her grandfather – a trial attorney she affectionately calls "Papa" – showed her what true Leadership looks like by fighting for...
Send us a text What does it take to rebuild your life when everything is suddenly taken away? Neil Stringer, known as 'The Copy Doctor', takes us on a profound journey from his days as a brass musician in the Salvation Army to becoming a digital nomad copywriter in Vietnam – and then facing the devastating moment when he went completely blind. "It was the 16th of May 2020. I remember at the time it was 4:45 in the afternoon. That's when I went blind. As in blackness, as in blind," Neil recou...
The Good Listening To Show: Stories of Distinction & Genius
Send us a text What if your team’s friction isn’t about difficult people—but mismatched “food”? We sit down with Nigel Risner, the self-styled Chief Zookeeper, to unpack a disarmingly simple idea: people are different, not difficult. From that starting point, Nigel shows how to stop serving steak to dolphins, how to read the room fast, and how to change your language so action follows naturally. He’s direct, funny, and unfiltered—and he cares about results more than applause. Nigel walks us ...
