Send us a text Tis our Christmas Eve special — and we’re diving into the stuff HR teams never forget… even when they try. Siobhán shares anonymised “HR nightmares at Christmas” stories that range from jaw-dropping (a motorboating incident with a very questionable defence) to the painfully familiar (people passed out in toilets, tears in the loo, and the post-party investigations nobody wants). We also get into the messy reality of workplace hookups, the risks around power dynamics and...

Send us a text HR gets labelled “the police” at Christmas parties… and somehow also “the fun sponges”. In this episode, Andy and Siobhán talk about the reality of attending work socials when you’re the person everyone assumes will step in, calm things down, and clean up the aftermath — even though HR aren’t there to break up fights, and definitely shouldn’t be expected to put themselves in harm’s way. We get into the awkward moments (“Careful what you say… HR’s here”), the pressur...

Send us a text It’s the first of our three-part Christmas mini-series — and we’re starting with the one everyone thinks they already knows: how to survive the work Christmas party. Andy and Siobhán share a “top 10 (plus a few)” set of common-sense rules for employees (and partners) that keeps the night fun… without it turning into a disciplinary, a PR disaster, or a proper horror story. We cover why a Christmas party still counts as a work event, the risks that come with booze (including the ...

Send us a text In Part 2 of our conversation with Channel 4’s Hunted hunter Paul Cashmore, we step away from the TV screens and go deep into the work that really lights him up – mental and physical health, NLP and full-body nervous system reset. If Part 1 was about fame, ego and being “the guy off the telly”, this episode is where it all gets practical. Paul opens up about burnout, chronic stress and the moment his body literally forced him to stop. He shares how meditation, martial arts, Bud...

Send us a text We got caught – properly. In this episode of Why Not? & What If?, Siobhán Godden and Andy Cracknell sit down with someone most of us know as “that bloke off the telly” – Paul Cashmore, one of the original Hunters from Channel 4’s hit series Hunted and Celebrity Hunted. But this isn’t just fan chat. It’s the story of what happens behind the persona – and what being in the public eye really does to how we see ourselves and each other. From a 15-year-old kid who just wanted to...

Send us a text HR is supposed to care about people. So why does so much of it feel like policy updates, tick-box training and vibes of “please sign to say you’ve read this”? In this episode of Why Not and What If, Siobhán Godden and Andy Cracknell sit down with HR disruptor, stand-up comic and former chef-turned-wrestler Toby Kheng (Founder of Freeformers) to ask a very simple question: If HR vanished tomorrow... would anyone actually notice? Together they dive into a very spicy mix of: Why t...

Send us a text C-suite roles are supposed to be the pinnacle of a career… so why do so many senior leaders feel exhausted, isolated and secretly wondering if they’re “doing leadership wrong”? In this episode of Why Not and What If, Siobhán Godden and Andy Cracknell sit down with change maker consultant Simon Phillips to unpack leadership energy – and why understanding your natural impact style can be the difference between burnout and genuinely loving your work. Together they explore: Why you...

Send us a text In this episode of Why Not and What If, hosts Siobhan Godden and Andy Cracknell sit down with Chris Hood, Head of Coaching and Community at Neurobridge, for a refreshingly honest conversation about neurodiversity — what it really means, why it matters, and how understanding it can reshape how we see ourselves and others. Chris opens up about his own ADHD diagnosis, sharing how it shaped his mental health, self-esteem, and identity. Together, they explore the misconceptions, mic...

Send us a text Season 2 kicks off with a bang. Andy and Siobhán dive headfirst into a conversation that starts with echo chambers on social media and spirals (in true Why Not & What If fashion) into flags, racism, homelessness, ADHD, Covid resets, world peace, and why assumptions make an ass out of you and me. From Andy’s raw story of being homeless in the French Alps to the uncomfortable reality of St George’s flags and what they’ve come to represent, this episode asks: how do we disagre...

Send us a text In this messy-but-necessary conversation, Siobhán and Andy dig into the everyday reality women face from catcalling and “optics” to objectification at work and what men can actually do about it. We talk intent vs impact, how social media blurs the lines between professional and personal, and why “LinkedIn isn’t Tinder.” Plus: the “kilt test,” power dressing as armour, and how to start noticing what you’ve been conditioned to miss. If this episode is your pill from The Mat...

Send us a text Andy and Siobhan dive into the noisy debate about neurodiversity, ADHD and mental health labels. Andy shares a very personal story of receiving conflicting opinions about ADHD and how many “ADHD traits” can also look like burnout. Together they explore why one in five children are recorded with special educational needs, what EHCPs are trying to solve, and how rigid systems in schools and workplaces push people out instead of bringing them in. They unpack emotional intelligence...

Send us a text In this powerful episode, Andy and Siobhán sit down with Yasmin Wells (yasmin@apricity.solutions / www.apricity.solutions) to explore the extraordinary story of her nine-year-old son, Alex, who wrote a book called My Awesome Mind. Alex’s unique perspective on autism reframes the conversation from challenges and deficits to creativity, positivity, and possibility. Yasmin shares how his book came to life, what it reveals about the way he experiences the world, and the impact it’s...

Send us a text What happens when everything you’ve built suddenly collapses? In this powerful and deeply personal episode of Why Not? & What If?, Andy and Siobhán welcome their first guest – “Farmer John.” John’s consultancy business was thriving until the 2020 lockdown wiped out every contract overnight. What followed was a spiral into depression, financial uncertainty, and a complete loss of identity. But out of despair came an unexpected lifeline: an alpaca farm visit that sparked a ne...

Send us a text What if the thing that hurt you most is also the thing that pulled you into the work you do now? In this episode of Why Not and What If?, Siobhán and Andy dive into why we choose the careers we do – especially in the helping professions – and what happens when we’re doing that work with our own unhealed wounds in the background. Siobhán shares how she “accidentally-but-not-really” ended up in HR, after being blocked from studying psychology and pushed into politics instead. Fro...

Send us a text Working mums shouldn’t have to choose between nappies or networking – but it often feels like they do. In this episode of Why Not and What If?, HR consultant and coach Siobhán Godden and marketing & communications consultant Andy Cracknell dig into what really happens to a woman’s career, confidence and identity after having a baby. Sparked by a listener question from Jasmine in Australia, they unpack the messy reality of going from maternity leave back into meetings, targe...

Send us a text What actually happens in a woman’s body when she tries to “step up” and be more assertive at work? In this episode of Why Not and What If, Siobhán and Andy kick off a mini-series inspired by listener Jasmine in Melbourne – a social worker, supervisor and coach to women in the helping professions. They dive into what it reallycosts women to communicate assertively as leaders… and why it’s still so much more complicated than “just be confident.” Siobhán unpacks how women often ha...

Send us a text Why do we still expect families to share one surname – and why is it usually his? In this episode of Why Not and What If?, HR consultant and coach Siobhán Godden and marketing & communications consultant Andy Cracknell dive into the tangled world of surnames, marriage and identity. From women taking (or not taking) their partner’s name, to double-barrelled surnames, passport checks at borders and awkward moments at the school gate, they explore what our naming traditions sa...

Send us a text Founder-CEOs, SME owners and senior leaders who struggle to let go of the day-to-day, this one’s for you. In this episode of Why Not and What If?, HR consultant and coach Siobhán Godden and marketing & communications consultant Andy Cracknell dive into the moment every founder has to face: when you’re no longer the right person to run the business you built. They explore why some leaders cling on and stall growth, while others have the self-awareness to step aside, stay in ...