The Longest Day Podcast (The WayFinders Group)

In this weeks episode, we speak with the Rt Hon David Lammy, Labour MP of Tottenham. He looks back to the beginning of the August 2011 Tottenham riots, triggered by the shooting of Mark Duggan and which led to nationwide riots, as his longest day. He supported the victims and the people of Tottenham a key experience in his advocacy for the families affected by the Grenfell tragedy. Find out how his roots in Tottenham, the support of a team willing to speak the hard truths to him, and his personal faith in God got him through the crisis.

This week, Leah Brown talks to Sir Stephen Timms, Labour Member of Parliament for East Ham. He tells the story of his longest day in May 2010 when he was stabbed three times by a member of the constituency he serves. Listen in on his views about forgiveness: how it can really only operate where there is personal communication. He has received three letters from his assailant via the police in which she apologises for what she did. But Stephen is willing to go through the process of meeting her before she leaves prison. That experience taught him how much he enjoyed his job. So it didnt take much courage to carry on doing what he loves doing!

Join us as we hear from Elizabeth Oldfield, coach, consultant, people facilitator, and host of The Sacred podcast, about how and why she and her family decided to live intentionally in community. In the face of the challenges of obtaining a suitable, communal home in London, they learnt to acknowledge that their relationships mattered more than bricks and mortar. Before the search for a home, the intentionality of entering a covenant relationship with each others families started with spending a lot of time together and having conversations about their childhoods, personalities and money. Now with more room at their table, its not too hard to guess which food Elizabeth would prepare on her longest day!

Ray Mia recounts his longest day in 1979, living above his fathers junk store in Liverpool in a household that didnt celebrate Christmas.

He outlines his experiences of growing up as an individual of color in a predominantly white society, highlighting the challenges of navigating cultural identity and belonging. Ray shares his experiences of feeling excluded and confused due to his cultural and religious differences growing up in Seaforth, Liverpool, winning an assisted place at a fee-paying school, his experience at Oxford University, and beyond. He discusses his experiences with identity and belonging, the importance of family, and how his upbringing has shaped his decision-making processes.

Through the conversation, Ray reflects on his career as a media executive, explores the complexities of creative decision-making and the role of disappointment in personal and professionalgrowth.

This episodes guest is Sophia Ukor, the founder and CEO of Violet Simon, a media company amplifying the voices of women from all walks of life through authentic storytelling. Sophia shares her own story of suffering as a victim of abuse and rape, her suicide attempts, undergoing therapy, meeting her husband from whom she experiences unconditional love and her journey to founding Violet Simon. She is on a mission to make women from various backgrounds feel seen and heard, particularly those who would normally not be seen so they become visible. Listen to the advice she gives to the budding entrepreneur about starting the work, being strategic and believing in what youre doing.

Barry Stickings MBE is our guest for this weeks episode. When Barry and his wife Kelly heard that their baby was born with bilateral anophthalmia, a rare condition of the absence of both eyes, they were totally unprepared. That was 15 June 1989, their longest day a day that did not seem promising but turned out to have a bright future. Learn about how the devastating news did not stop them from getting on with life, how their positivity and dedication meant they would adapt to their circumstances and give their baby the best they could give. Barry would go on to found BAAM, a charity which advocates for people with this condition and brings their families together.

Join Leah as she interviews Mike Gatting OBE, former English cricketer about his longest day. It took place when he sustained injuries that forced him to question whether he would be able to play again. He wanted to get back into the game as quickly as possible after the first injury, a broken nose. So when he broke his thumb after he had just returned to the game, he knew he had to rise to the challenge. Mike says, If you dont believe in yourselfothers wont believe in you. For him a good sports leader is honest, communicative, and a good listener. With these qualities, you can empower others to take responsibility and become accountable.

In episode 8 I interview Dr Hannah Barham-Brown a doctor, campaigner, speaker, media commentator, and social media stalwart. Its a raw, authentic and powerful episode.

Shes never spoken so publicly about her story before and I hope all the literary agents and hiring managers and conference organisers take note. I mean it.

Shes the ideal EDI speaker.
Shes the real deal.
Shes that good.

We talk about her longest day where her brother, a heart transplant recipient, succumbed to sepsis. On the winding road of crisis and grief, how do you continue to be a decent partner, daughter, doctor, and activist? Hannah talks about navigating life as a neurodivergent person, the importance of taking time to process grief, as what it looks like to live with disability. We interrogate justice sensitivity in individuals with ADHD and the steps we can take to use our privilege to ensure equal outcomes for all.

Eight years ago, Jeremy Marshall was diagnosed with incurable cancer and given an 18-month prognosis. In our intimate discussion, he details the emotional upheaval following his diagnosis, emphasizing the profound role his faith played in not only guiding him through this crisis but also in leading him towards a renewed life purpose. This news culminated in helping to acquire Kingdom Bank, a Christian financial institution. Listen to Jeremy's inspiring narrative of resilience, the transformative power of faith, and the discovery of purpose amidst adversity, a story that highlights the impactful strides he has made despite his diagnosis.

Leah talks to Tara Austin, behavioural and brand strategist, and psychedelic medicines campaigner, in this weeks episode of The Longest Day. Taras redundancy was totally unexpected given that she and the Creative Director then were winning big, pitch businesses for the company. She contrasts that day with her shortest day when she was invited to 10 Downing Street to talk to Dominic Cumming. It led to her campaigning for access to psilocybin medicines what she believes is the next great social innovation on par with technological ones like the internet and mobile phones. Given the state of our NHS, the endemic problems of alcoholism and drug addiction, she gives compelling reasons for why there should be national, access rights to psilocybin. Her own experience using them showed her the worth of the present moment and that she should put her energies into the pursuit of joy and gratitude which leads to a better quality of life.

In this weeks episode, join Leah as she speaks with Lord Michael Hastings CBE, former Commissioner of the Commission of Racial Equality, chairman of SOAS and vice-president at UNICEF UK among other roles. Listen to how his story of his longest day weaves with the stories of those he serves, particularly prisoners and ex-offenders. At the young age of 16, Michael purposed to speak up for the poor and to bend the power of the prosperous to the potential of the poor when he saw the impact of poverty in Jamaica and how violence erupted in the streets. He takes his 3-step process of hearing, heeding and doing from off the pages of the Bible as he does a little bit each day to advance the freedom of others.

On this weeks episode, Leah talks to Dr Lynn Robson, Dean of Regents Park College, Safeguarding Lead, Director of the Visiting Student Programme and Tutorial Fellow in English Literature. Lynns longest day encompassed the COVID pandemic, from its announcement to its conclusion by the end of which she was exhausted and unable to carry on. All her roles during that time were relentless as there was no time off from bearing responsibilities. Although Lynn learned that she had more strength than she thought she had, she realised that there were limits to her strength and that she needed to recognise her own vulnerability. Her salvation came when she was able to say to somebody else, Im finding this hard, and I dont know what to do. Saying this is not a form of weakness but is vital for a leader to take the lead in expressing. As Lynn adds, if we discuss it and we support one another, its likely that we will find a solution. It's been a life-long lesson to value herself and see what others value in her. So, it comes as no surprise that Lynn wants her students as future leaders to learn how to value themselves, see who they are with all their talents and importance without waiting for somebody else to tell them their worth.

Klaus M Nielsen is a man who has navigated various roles across diverse continents and cultures. From left-wing activist, video game designer, and international EDM DJ to monk and mentor, Klaus exemplifies the power of spiritual exploration and personal growth. Facing burnout, Klaus found tranquility in being a monk, but it also led him to his longest day. Join us as we explore Klaus's extraordinary path and find inspiration for our own journeys.

This week we move into the political and interview Tim Dixon, Co-CEO of More in Common. He speaks of the profound impact of the death of his friend, Jo Cox (Labour MP for Batley and Spen) who was brutally murdered in 2016 in a politically motivated attack by a constituent. Tim is no stranger to crises but aptly describes his longest day as one where the professional and personal collide.

This weeks guest is Dr Raghib Ali OBE MD FRCP, Chief Medical Officer of Our Future Health, UKs largest health research budget. It is recruiting a population that is representative of multi-ethnic UK to include those from deprived backgrounds. Discover what motivated Raghib during the COVID pandemic to contribute to what felt like a wartime effort, how his underprivileged familial background and philosophy of always finding room for improvement helped him get through his longest day.

Kimberly McIntosh, a Labour councillor of Faraday, Southwark, was working on an event on the Windrush scandal in Parliament when she experienced burnout. It was also just a few weeks before her debut non-fiction book, Black Girl, No Magic was coming out. Discover with Leah Brown, how Kimberlys reframing of her definition of success from being less extrinsic to one that is more intrinsic is helping her gain happiness. Kimberly feels her longest day will make her a better politician because its given her empathy a way to relate to people by connecting with them.

In this deeply insightful episode of The Longest Day Podcast, Leah Brown FRSA is joined by Rocio Perez, a transformational coach, speaker, and creator of the MindShift Experience. Rocio shares her powerful story of awakening to a more fulfilled life after an unexpected diagnosis of a brain tumour at the age of 34. From struggles with unfulfilment to navigating a life-changing health crisis, Rocio reflects on the tools and wisdom she gained through adversity and how it has shaped her mission to help others create their own versions of a happy, healthy, and fulfilling life.

Rocios journey emphasises the importance of curiosity, self-reflection, and the healing power of facing our pain head-on. She discusses the role of personal growth, emotional healing, and the profound insights that come from deep life challenges. In this episode, she shares not only her own story but offers actionable advice for anyone facing their own longest day and seeking transformation.

Connect with Rocio Perez:

• Website: www.themindshiftgame.com

• YouTube: MindShift TV Show

Leah talks to Alex Rieder on this weeks podcast. Alex is a retired, professional rugby player who played for Wasps. He works as an Account Manager for the IT company, Computer Centre. On Alexs longest day he sustained a shocking and severely dislocated knee injury during a game. Thanks to the other teams A&E specialist doctor, they were able to set his knee back in place on the pitch which saved his knee. Alex stoically quotes the film character, Rocky Balboa, its not how many times you get hit but how many times you get hit and keep moving! Alex was forced, however, to retire after multiple operations. Losing his rugby career at that stage was tough because he felt that it was short-lived as there was more to be achieved in the game. But he found that he had true resilience while overcoming the disappointment. With his support network of friends and family which make him laugh in challenging times, Alex exemplifies his own advice of growing from adversity, not letting it overwhelm you, focusing on the important things, and placing life into perspective.

In our first episode, we speak to Angelos Frangopoulos, CEO of GB News (Britain's first television news start-up for more than 30 years) about crisis, people and leadership.

Leah Brown host of The Longest Day Podcast interviews Leah Wilkinson, British Olympic hockey player, on not being selected to be on the 2012 GB Olympic team.

They discuss their formative years at Repton and what it looks like to navigate an uncharted path. In addition to supportive parents and colleagues, in her longest days Leah has herself to rely on. Her skills of how to bounce back, having resilience and grit, and being able to self-talk with positive reflections has meant she has kept going forwards to succeed.

Leah first fell in love with hockey when she was five. It is the love of the game that has enabled her to focus on why shes there, to be the best athlete, and to give her best performance. At 37 years old, she says fundamentally, Im still that five-year-old kid that picked up that hockey stick[with a] buzz when I get to the pitch. For her, its that passion that makes a person, forgive the pun, stick with the sport.

As Leah speaks to children and shows them her medals, she wants her legacy as a decorated Olympic and Commonwealth Games athlete to be to inspire the next generation to pick up a hockey stick. In her talks, she shares what she has learned so they can be inspired to do anything and follow their dreams!

Welcome to season two of The Longest Day! To kick things off we interview Nick Grono, the co-founder and leader of Freedom Fund, a global fund that aims to end worldwide, modern slavery. He is a leader who prioritises the humanity of people at the centre of the crisis. His longest day was witnessing the September 11th terrorist attacks whilst in New York working for the Australian government. Join Leah as she speaks to Nick, and hear about his desire to make the greatest impact on the vulnerable by working at the level of their communities.

In this episode of "The Longest Day," Rosie Wilby recounts her most challenging day, which also marked a pivotal moment in her life and career. On January 3, 2011, Rosie was abruptly dumped by her partner of five years via email. The shock and pain initially left her devastated and unable to process the breakup for years. Over time, however, this experience became the catalyst for a new creative direction.

Rosie eventually used this painful experience as the foundation for a trilogy of comedy shows focused on the psychology of love. This journey led her to create the podcast "The Breakup Monologues," write two books on relationships, and speak at various festivals about human connections and breakups. In the immediate aftermath, Rosie experienced a whirlwind of emotions and sought the support of friends. Remarkably, she performed a gig that evening, using her raw emotions to create a memorable and genuine comedy performance.

Rosie explores themes of communication, human connection, and the complex nature of grief in breakups. She reflects on how humour can serve as a defence mechanism and a way to process pain. She also discusses the societal implications of comedy, particularly for someone who doesn't fit the "default" comedian mold, and the challenge of balancing humour with self-compassion.

Using personal experiences in her art, Rosie acknowledges both the healing aspects and the potential for self-harm in revisiting painful memories. Despite the difficulties, she views breakups as opportunities for personal growth and transformation, allowing individuals to reinvent themselves and open up to new possibilities. Rosie's story is a testament to resilience and the power of creativity in overcoming personal challenges, finding joy and strength in unexpected places.

You can download Rosie's book, The Breakup Monologues: The Unexpected Joy of Heartbreak on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/1472982282/

On this weeks episode, have a listen to the conversation between Leah and David McQueen on his longest day and how he learnt how even if there are things beyond his control, he can manage the ones that are within it. It was a day when he and his wife, as ethnic minorities, experienced a lack of care in the maternity hospital. Calmly, he told the doctors of the need of his wife who was suffering immensely from the pain to have a C-section. Once the professionals decided to give Davids wife a C-section and the baby was born, he realised the power of life and the importance of cherishing it. He understood that life sometimes throws you curved balls but its how we respond that makes us who we are.

Through that day, David wants to be present around the wellbeing of his children. It gave him opportunities for conversations with other fathers on the question of how they could challenge the notions around being black fathers.
His experience of nurturing his daughters made him see, as a leadership coach, that his clients are individuals with emotions and a lot on their minds. He finds out about how they present based on their answers to how they are with their friends and family.
From his parenting and coaching, David has learnt to have a sense of distance, to have the courage to ask questions that challenge, and to help them navigate their way through difficulties. Ultimately, he comes from a place of love, nurture, and care.

Our guest is Richard Hooper CBE, the founding deputy chair of the UK Communications Regulator, OfCom. Under the Labour and Conservative governments, he chaired reviews on the Royal Mail and copyright licensing. He is the author of Making Meetings Work. Richard speaks about his Longest Day chairing a board in disarray in one day. His 3-step approach of asking what is the issue?, what skills are needed around this board-table?, and what is the solution? have served him well. With truth and trust restored, a board can run like a rhythmic rowing team where everyone on board, forgive the pun, has ample opportunity to say what they think and get on with achieving success.

This week on The Longest Day, Leah interviews Gabriella Somerville FRSA, a trailblazer in aviation and a sage and experienced leader, who frames crisis as danger or opportunity. Gabriella speaks of survival, overcoming fear, and resilience.

Its Mental Health Awareness Week and we couldnt think of someone who speaks to the challenges of being a new mum than Jenny Scott. She speaks of what it feels like to be lost and lonely, sad, unhappy and struggling, and not feeling like youre living your best life. She explores the relief she gained in asking for help and using her professional abilities to transform not just her own experiences of feeling overwhelmed but to inspire a generation of other young mums. She speaks about the impact of being diagnosed with ADHD and her passion for connecting people.

Leah speaks to Dr Charlie Easmon MBBS MRCP MSc Public Health DTM&H DOccMed DFPH CTH FRSPH, an experienced doctor, entrepreneur and professional speaker, about his longest day while running a private business specialising in health screening and travel vaccinations for corporate and government clients. He talks about the importance of mentorship, the temptation to grow too fast and the challenges of delegation and getting culture right within the organisation. Charlie refers to being the only black kid at boarding school as well as how racism persisting in the NHS propelled him in his studies for a masters in public health, a diploma in tropical medicine, and to become a member of the Royal College of Physicians.

Charlie speaks in schools on everything from mental health to the history of prejudice to pornography. In the episode, he highlights the prevalence of imposter syndrome, its origin and potential causes, and challenges young people to find senior folk longer in the tooth to support them in the difficult areas and advise them on how to deal with the many obstacles they will face.

This weeks episodes guest is Zoiey Smale, senior inclusion, diversity, sport consultant and internationally acclaimed activist. Sport was Zoieys first love. She believes in what it can bring to the world. But her dilemma as a young woman in medical school at University of Oxford was whether to drop out and work in sport as a coach or carry on living a lie and not become her authentic self. The turning point was when she experienced at the training hospital the loss of a very sick patient under her and her teams care. She tremblingly told her mother on the phone that she could not carry on becoming the doctor their family dreamed of and that she was going to work in sport instead. Coaching, for Zoiey, means getting the best from others and helping them become their best selves. She learnt this from coaching herself, channelling her inner fire, and stepping out of her comfort zone. This is critical at a time when there is an unacceptably low representation of Black women working in sports leadership making important decisions. Zoieys mindset is if I cant see it, I want to be it"!

We talk to Andy Haldane on this weeks episode. Andy is the Chief Executive of the Royal Society of Arts. He was formerly Chief Economist at the Bank of England where he experienced his longest day. The unravelling of the 2008 global financial crisis required important decisions to be made about the big number to prop up national banks. Listen to how Andy handled the pressure of a potential misstep that would have been felt across the UK and what prepared him for the worst possible outcome.

This week, Anne-Marie Imafidon is Leahs guest on The Longest Day. She is a keynote speaker, presenter, and co-founder of Stemettes, the enterprise inspiring the next generation of women into STEM roles.

As a leader, Anne-Marie is all things to all people: she will never ask someone to do something she wouldnt or couldnt do herself. One of the advantages of this approach is that trust, authenticity, and inspiration empower her colleagues to step up in their roles. Another is that it gives her, as a leader, gravitas because of the value she brings to the different spaces shes in.

Anne-Marie consciously does not have yes people around her, finding that her closest allies are her most critical ones. The reason for this is that she knows shes human and not perfect. So having critical friends and reading the negative comments as well as the positive ones give her perspective.

She reflects on how everyone has a sphere of influence. But she asks questions about what that means, what power looks like, the nature of the system and how it works, and what are the levers needed to bring change. As a leader she builds, measures, and learns. As a role model, she exercises her agency in the room and leaves things better than she found them.

In this episode, Leah talks to Suzanne Knight MBA. Suzannes longest day was when a member of her team died suddenly, and she and her team grieved together. It was a time when they became more open to each other about what they were feeling; they connected in a way they had never done before. The sharing of mutual grief was an experience that could not be replicated. To this day, they are the closest colleagues and friends. It was the most difficult emotional journey she has gone through even at a time when there were ordinary life matters to deal with. She felt this especially in the smallest, most human things like packing up her colleagues desk and her personal items, then seeing her handwritten notes, a half-eaten box of chocolates.

Suzanne had always worked in spaces where problems and issues were not personal and so they didnt get to her. But her longest day had the weight of finality, one you couldnt return to. Suzanne learnt about perspective and about what matters, especially the role of family and friends. She has become more focused on checking on with people in her life, including herself by being explicit with the questions, like are you ok?, and what can I do to help?. Shes more intentional about making honest requests to be useful to others. For her work is work. It isnt life. Her number one activities are her priorities, her values, her integrity, and the way she engages with others.

Co-CEO of bottled water company, Belu, and University of Westminster Chancellor among many other roles, Natalie Campbell MBE decided to run in the mayoral race in the upcoming elections. For her, politics is a waiting game for everyone: were all waiting for positive change. Its high time that the people who we elect should be those who know what it is to struggle and who look like the people they serve. For impactful change, she believes, we must lean in. She pushes herself into and through the uncomfortable zones to see how far she can go and realise the stuff shes made of. Its no surprise that shes made to serve. Natalie insists we must lean in for impactful change and now is the time!

Join us for an insightful conversation with Samuel Kasumu, award-winning social entrepreneur and CEO of Inclusive Boards, who navigated the complexities of Downing Street before surprisingly resigning from his role as the most senior black advisor in the UK government. Samuel discusses his journey, including his time in Downing Street where he learned the importance of boldness and confidence, his abrupt departure from Boris Johnson's cabinet, and his coping strategies during this challenging period. As he publishes his first book, The Power of the Outsider, he reveals his ambitions and commitment to inclusion, and his aspiration to represent the underrepresented.

This weeks podcast guest is Asst Commissioner Robert Beckley MStJ QPM, a senior British police officer, seconded to the Home Office. He speaks of a promotion which landed him in charge of the Potters Bar rail crash, the learnings from the Hillsborough investigation, the import of empathy when interacting with people of all walks of life, and outlines the path to becoming a resilient leader.

After eight to ten years of working as a Creative Director in advertising, Clemmie Telford was making a lot of sacrifices, especially time with her young family. She was driven by the desire to change the discouraging statistics that only 3% of creative directors were female. But one night, at a dinner with her female friends where personal salaries were being discussed, it became shockingly clear to Clemmie that she was being paid 70% less than what she should have been paid for her role. That was her longest day. Find out how she re-established her self-value and the real power behind being paid what you are truly worth with our host, Leah Brown!

Anna Woods is founder and CEO of Positive Retail and a leadership coach. Faced with a career crisis a decade ago, Anna emerged stronger and more committed to fostering a positive work culture. Her longest day involved standing up for herself in a toxic organisation. Emerging with new skills and a commitment to better leadership, Anna shares valuable insights, the necessity of a people-centric work ethos and challenges of entrepreneurship.

Tomiwa Owolade, a freelance writer, critic, and author discusses his longest day which not only shaped his beliefs and politics but also paved his path as a writer. We discuss his recently released book, 'This Is Not America: Why Black Lives in Britain Matter', that Diane Abbott MP column, and the nuances required for conversations about race in the United Kingdom.

Chris Paouros is an extraordinary leader and this is an extraordinary interview. Prefaced with a content warning, we discuss what it looks like to go on when the world has fallen out from beneath your feet. This episode delves into behaviours society needs its leaders to adopt. We also talk about community and belonging in the context of Chris activism to achieve equality in sports.

In this episode, we speak to Ben Hilton, CEO of the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust. We discuss his longest day navigating significant headcount reductions. He advocates for honesty and transparency, and explains that financial sustainability is at the core of a successful organisation, and carves out time for personal reflection. The episode explores the merits of collective decision-making, the benefits of a blame-free and psychologically safe culture, and the import of sharing burdens with the wider teams to maintain trust. We also talk about Bens ideal board member - someone who ultimately stands shoulder to shoulder with you in a crisis.

Laurie Barkman shares her experience of the longest day when her company was acquired by a global entity. She highlights the emotional and financial significance of the event and the loyalty of the employees. Laurie discusses the challenges and uncertainties that arise during the acquisition process, including the importance of due diligence and resolving any issues that arise. She also talks about her role as CEO and the impact of the acquisition on her succession plan. Laurie shares her journey from being a CEO to becoming a business transition sherpa, helping entrepreneurs plan and navigate successful exits.Laurie's links:
Website: https://thebusinesstransitionsherpa.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauriebarkman/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheBusinessTransitionSherpa

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In this weeks episode, Lieutenant General Arundell David Leakey CMG, CVO, CBE describes the most chaotic of crises he has ever been in as his longest day. It took place during his time as Black Rod, a role with ceremonial duties such as the State Opening of Parliament and the supervision of security emergency responses. Despite one miscreant causing injury and damage and the risk of more like him in Parliament, concerted communications with a common message for everyone were missing. Find out about how David managed the consequences, what the experience meant for him, and what kind of relationships mattered.

Seasoned former banker Richard Boath talks to us about his longest day preventing a UK government bailout at Barclays Bank in 2008. He explains how he navigated immense pressure and engaged the stakeholders around him, noting that a crisis brings out the best or worst in people. But Richard also talks of accusations levelled against him by the Serious Fraud Office and his subsequent acquittal at the Old Bailey as one of the Barclays Four. As he recounts his darkest times, he reminds us that who you are and where you come from matters. His accounts of confronting injustice and thoughtful reflections on crisis leadership pose great questions for leaders facing the unthinkable.

On this weeks episode, Leah talks to Emma Ballard, the Editor of Women and Golf the only womens specific golf platform in the UK. Emmas Longest Day happened during a golf leadership development programme at St Andrews, Scotland, the home of golf. The golf industry is notoriously male dominated, so it was a big deal during the leadership programme to become vulnerable and open up about the issues she had with her career and the passionate things she wanted to achieve within the industry. It turned out to be the opportunity that made her look inside of herself and come away with a conviction to make a change within the industry. Through her Longest Day, Emma understood her own value and acknowledged that she knew what she was talking about on the issues around women and girls golf. She began to see her potential to have an impact and make a change in the industry. Emma is now in her fourth year at Women and Golf, shaping the narrative around women and girls golf across the UK. That time also widened her vista, extending her networks, and giving her the opportunity for coaching and mentoring. Emma would like womens golf to be better recognised as a whole as the womens game isnt valued as much as the mens. She just wants more women playing golf.

Ashley Cox, Executive Director of Business Affairs and General Counsel, formerly interim CEO of Aquatics GB, shares the story of his longest day, which was filled with challenges and personal loss. Despite facing a series of unfortunate circumstances, Ashley remained calm and focused on his role as a leader. He credits his ability to handle pressure to his background in sports and his experience as a lawyer. Ashley emphasizes the importance of creating a positive and supportive environment within an organization and the role of mentorship in personal and professional development. He also discusses the need to process grief and the value of having people around who can provide honest feedback.

Welcome to our fourth Seasons first episode!

Listen to Leahs conversation with Caroline Sabourin who enjoys a 30-year career in organising Motorsports events globally while running a Sports Car Championship of 60 international teams. Carolines longest day was in 2000 when during the Australian Grand Prix, at the final race, one of the cars went sideways and was thrown in the air by another car, causing significant damage to other cars that had to crash into the wall. At Race Control, she and Tim Bamford, the Australian Grand Prix Chief Executive, took the hardest decision of her career which was to cancel the race. Against this in the background was that she and her colleagues had to underwrite the cost of the loss of TV rights if anything went wrong with the race. It was a huge undertaking but because it was so special they went ahead with it. Motorsport is life for Caroline. She counts it as a blessing to have been raised in the sport even if it is one where something goes wrong, generally it goes stupendously wrong. But she was brought up to remain calm in the middle of a problem and deal with it. Shes a believer that anything is achievable and its corollary that the only limitation is the belief in yourself. On all the billboards in the race, the saying advertised was Make every second count a saying she lives by.

In this weeks podcast, Leah welcomes Professor Lucy Easthope, the UKs leading authority on recovering from disaster. During the COVID pandemic she advised the Prime Ministers Office, governmental departments, and charities. She is author of When the Dust Settles: Stories of Love, Loss, and Hope from an Expert in Disaster. Her longest day was waiting for the invasion of Iraq while she was based at the mortuary. It was March 2003 and something old died in her but something new was born. There was a plan for the deceased soldiers, those bringing them back, the bringing of the coffins, a plan for their bereaved families, and the viewing of their loved ones. Her longest day resulted in making use of the plan that was needed from the outset. For Lucy, there is great power in working on the principle that we are the help others need. On her paternal side, given their strong Methodist faith, she grew up with believing that everyone was her neighbour. Many of the female matriarchs in her family were teachers and they always provided help. It is, therefore, unsurprising that at the age of 10, Lucy realised that emergency planning was going to be her speciality. Her advice to young people is to get a good sense of you early on. We need to come alongside the young and help them express what they are not and what they are. After all, who we are in our souls is vital.

In our third episode Leah talks to George Osei-Oppong Jr, the co-owner and CEO of Host Help, a cloud-based web hosting, SEO, research, and software and data services company. Although George finds the term entrepreneur inadequate, he really is one at his core. Find out about what happened to George after navigating through his longest day, how his ability to question authority served him favourably, and which restaurant he would go to in hard times.

Welcome to our first Episode of Season 3! To start things off, Leah talks to Naomi Smith, the Chief Executive of Best for Britain. How would you feel if you experienced a crisis in which the very people you were trying to help turn against you? Naomi and her team endured attacks from a few, prominent, left-wing Guardian commentators. As a result, they went through a process of grief, anger, and sadness. But looking back, she believes a more empathetic approach matching their logical analysis would have been more persuasive. Listen to the nuances of how Naomis longest day has prepared her for facing a future of increasing polarisation in Britain.

Tobi Oredein, the driving force of Black Ballad, candidly shares her entrepreneurial experiences. She speaks of the tough choices involved when an employee isn't up to scratch, about managing the business while on maternity leave during a pandemic, and emphasises the crucial role mentors and a thorough understanding of company culture play in successful decision-making. By tuning in, you'll gain insights on how to navigate challenging personnel decisions, manage a successful team, and maintain a satisfying work-life balance.

The first black, female elected Mayor of Liverpool from 2021-2023, Joanne Anderson, is our guest for this episode. Listen in on how she managed the catastrophic withdrawal of the offer of a big energy provider; the bad press and the general fear caused were lessons for her. She is fearless in her criticism of those who would take credit away from those it is due. With the support of the citys Director of Culture and his team, she led Liverpools successful hosting of Eurovision 2023.

Professor Fiona Ross CBEs longest day was the day when an accounts misconduct by a senior member of staff transpired. Because she believed that a persons exit from an organisation is important, she safeguarded the persons dignity, confidentiality, and boundaries even if it meant that some thought she was to blame. Fiona took it well with equanimity as a leader. Since she was seen as somebody who saw things through, relationships were strengthened. As a leader, she values having people around her who are ready to challenge her. If she could have her time again, she would like to bring in more nurses around the policy making table.

Sir Vince Cable MP, former leader of the Liberal Democrat party, is our guest for our final episode of Season 2! Join Leah as she talks with Vince about his longest day as an MP, how the mood changed from gloom to optimism and how he emerged stronger. Learn about what characteristic qualities are needed to lead well, and how having your family and friends around you, at the end of the day, are more important than anything else, than even patience, persistence and determination.

Leroy Logan MBE PhD FRSA, a highly distinguished former police officer, discusses his longest day being confronted by a misconduct allegation. Discussing the trials of being a black authority figure standing firm against potential power abuses, Leroy discusses the motto 'innocent until proven guilty' alongside his fight for justice, what perseverance looks like in a witch-hunt, and the crucial role of public opinion in a crisis. His strength and commitment to public service, coupled with themes of faith, discipline, and youth advocacy, make for a compelling listen.

Rick Torrison shares his longest day story, which involves his son's struggles with anger, identity, and self-worth. Rick discusses the importance of addressing limiting beliefs and how they shape our behaviors and outcomes. He emphasizes the need to change beliefs, not just behaviors, in order to create sustainable change. Rick also talks about the transformative power of unconditional love and how it has impacted his relationship with his son. Throughout the conversation, Rick highlights the role of faith and spirituality in his journey.