How to Thrive

Our guest this week is wellbeing expert, bestselling author, keynote speaker and “doctor in happiness” - Andy Cope.

Andy really does have a PhD in happiness and after spending just an hour with him, our days already felt brighter.

That ripple effect is a big part of what Andy talks about, how just a few people with positive energy, giving just a few minutes of their time, can make a huge difference at work and at home.

We also discuss mindfulness, the Japanese phrase "ichi-go ichi-e" (for this time only), and noticing the positives.

It was also Andy who introduced us to the concept of the seven-second hug. If you’ve listened to the podcast before, you’ll almost certainly have heard us mention it!

More about Andy:

The Art of Brilliance https://www.artofbrilliance.co.uk/

The Art of Being Brilliant https://www.artofbrilliance.co.uk/product/the-art-of-being-brilliant-book-new-edition/

Spy Dog (children’s book) https://www.amazon.co.uk/Spy-Dog-Andrew-Cope/dp/0141318848

With thanks to our sponsors for this episode:

JHB & Partners: https://jhbandpartners.com/

Many of the in-house lawyers who listen will recognise Josh Blake as an expert in legal resourcing. Last year he established JHB & Partners and continues to support in-house legal teams to build, scale and optimise their legal functions.

With their extensive experience in resourcing and strategic insight, Josh and his team at JHB & Partners provide a real sense of calm and reassurance, which is exactly what you need whether you're hiring or looking for a role. You can find out lots more about Josh and his team at www.jhbandpartners.com. Get in touch and don't forget to mention the podcast when you do.

Summize: https://www.summize.com/

Summize is an AI-powered contract lifecycle management platform, designed to break the cycle of forgotten obligations, scattered intake, and contract chaos.

Meeting teams where they already work, embedding seamlessly into tools like Outlook, Teams, Slack, Salesforce, and HubSpot, Summize makes adoption simple. With self-serve contracting to reduce workload, seamless integrations to create structure, and powerful AI that supports and enhances legal expertise, Summize helps legal teams operate with confidence and clarity, freeing up that all-important capacity so that we humans can focus on the areas where we add unique value.

Get in touch with them at www.summize.com - and mention the How to Thrive podcast.

How to Thrive events:

Our events are a chance to come together with other Community Members to network and share learnings in a safe space. All of our events are focussed on HOW to thrive and deliver practical skills that you can incorporate into your work and home lives.

Your How to Thrive hosts:

Claire Sanders, former Corporate Lawyer, General Council and Co-Founder of .

Helen Silver-MacMahon, Human Factors Specialist, Veterinary Nurse and Co-Founder of Being Human Consulting.

Music Credit: Lo-Fi Hip Hop (Never Old Fashioned) by Alex Kizenkov

Podcast Production: Anthony Zahra
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"I hear what you say" - it's the biggest lie in the organisational world, according to this week's guest Kay Scorah, who prefers to be introduced as either "a ranty old witch" or "an inappropriate elder."

Kay is a communications expert, coach, and consultant who has had what she describes as "a very eventful 70 years" - from growing up with a suffragette grandmother, to finding herself in a kayak next to a Nobel Prize-winning scientist in Maine.

She joins Claire and Helen to share some truly fascinating concepts, including "excellent sheep” versus "freaky goats" (it’s all about how our experiences shape the way we think), and her work on learning from disease - where she asks organisations to consider what they can learn from how viruses adapt and survive.

Kay also talks about the importance of reverse mentoring, her "Turning the Tables" conference, and the power of listening and noticing.

Find out more about Kay: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kayscorah/

With thanks to our sponsors for this episode:

Springbird IP: https://www.springbirdip.com/

Springbird is a modern intellectual property firm supporting ambitious, fast growing businesses with trademark and design protection that's transparent, commercially focused and free from unnecessary complexity.

Working on a fixed fee and subscription basis, they ensure clients always know where they stand, no clock watching and no hidden surprises.

They act as an extension of your team, giving businesses the confidence and clarity to focus on creativity and innovation, giving them more time to work on the areas where they can add the greatest value.

You can find out more about their work at www.springbirdip.com

How to Thrive events:

Our events are a chance to come together with other Community Members to network and share learnings in a safe space. All of our events are focussed on HOW to thrive and deliver practical skills that you can incorporate into your work and home lives.

Your How to Thrive hosts:

Claire Sanders, former Corporate Lawyer, General Council and Co-Founder of .

Helen Silver-MacMahon, Human Factors Specialist, Veterinary Nurse and Co-Founder of Being Human Consulting.

Music Credit: Lo-Fi Hip Hop (Never Old Fashioned) by Alex Kizenkov

Podcast Production: Anthony Zahra
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to season three of the How to Thrive podcast!

After a break, we’re back - and we’re not wasting any time tackling the question that's probably on everyone's mind in January: how are you really feeling about the new year?

We discuss the pressure we put on ourselves in January, why nature's new year doesn't really start until spring, and how we’re reframing this month as a "warm-up phase" rather than an all-guns-blazing fresh start.

In this episode, we discuss human factors, why wellbeing is a wonderful ‘side-effect’ of having systems that work for people, and why reflection time should be mandatory across all professions.

It’s great to be back!

With thanks to our sponsors for this episode:

JHB & Partners: https://jhbandpartners.com/

Many of the in-house lawyers who listen will recognise Josh Blake as an expert in legal resourcing. Last year he established JHB & Partners and continues to support in-house legal teams to build, scale and optimise their legal functions.

With their extensive experience in resourcing and strategic insight, Josh and his team at JHB & Partners provide a real sense of calm and reassurance, which is exactly what you need whether you're hiring or looking for a role. You can find out lots more about Josh and his team at www.jhbandpartners.com. Get in touch and don't forget to mention the podcast when you do.

Summize: https://www.summize.com/

Summize is an AI-powered contract lifecycle management platform, designed to break the cycle of forgotten obligations, scattered intake, and contract chaos.

Meeting teams where they already work, embedding seamlessly into tools like Outlook, Teams, Slack, Salesforce, and HubSpot, Summize makes adoption simple. With self-serve contracting to reduce workload, seamless integrations to create structure, and powerful AI that supports and enhances legal expertise, Summize helps legal teams operate with confidence and clarity, freeing up that all-important capacity so that we humans can focus on the areas where we add unique value.

Get in touch with them at www.summize.com - and mention the How to Thrive podcast.

How to Thrive events:

Our events are a chance to come together with other Community Members to network and share learnings in a safe space. All of our events are focussed on HOW to thrive and deliver practical skills that you can incorporate into your work and home lives.

Your How to Thrive hosts:

Claire Sanders, former Corporate Lawyer, General Council and Co-Founder of .

Helen Silver-MacMahon, Human Factors Specialist, Veterinary Nurse and Co-Founder of Being Human Consulting.

Music Credit: Lo-Fi Hip Hop (Never Old Fashioned) by Alex Kizenkov

Podcast Production: Anthony Zahra
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Season two of the How to Thrive podcast is drawing to a close, so what better time to look back at some of the most memorable and impactful guests we've had on the podcast.

In this episode, Claire and Helen reflect on some of the interviews they've done since September 2024 - pulling out the key learnings.

Claire also reveals that she has made big progress on something she first mentioned she intended to do a few months back.

The How to Thrive podcast is taking a short break for the summer but will be back with more amazing guests and conversations in September.

With thanks to our sponsors Flank, an AI colleague for your in-house legal team. Flank is designed to work like a high performing team member for your legal department. Flank agents are able to instantly handle commercial team requests, eliminate bottlenecks and ensure your legal team operates at the speed your business demands. Flank agents are always on, always accurate and always ready.

If you'd like to discover more about how Flank can redefine your legal operations, then take a look at getflank.ai. If you get in touch with them, please do mention How to Thrive, so that they know that it came from one of our wonderful listeners.

How to Thrive events:
Our events are a chance to come together with other Community Members to network and share learnings in a safe space. All of our events are focussed on HOW to thrive and deliver practical skills that you can incorporate into your work and home lives.
​Visit our website to find out more.

Your How to Thrive hosts:
Claire Sanders, former Corporate Lawyer, General Council and Co-Founder of Being Human Consulting.
Helen Silver-MacMahon, Human Factors Specialist, Veterinary Nurse and Co-Founder of Being Human Consulting.

Music Credit: Lo-Fi Hip Hop (Never Old Fashioned) by Alex Kizenkov

Podcast Production: Anthony Zahra
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the How to Thrive podcast, Claire and Helen are joined by somatic and leadership performance coach (and trainee body psychotherapist) Shaun Brooking to explore the deep connection between our bodies, our emotions and our ability to lead well - in life and at work.

Shaun shares his own experience of burnout, how growing up in a “harder, faster, stronger” culture shaped his body’s response to stress, and what it means to build real resilience by creating safety and resource within ourselves.

He talks about how trauma lives in the body, why rest isn't always restful, and how to retrain our nervous systems for strength, connection and capacity - not just performance.

Shaun also explains how simulation and "somatic reps" can help leaders prepare for challenging moments, why slowing down doesn't mean stepping back, and why thriving starts with listening to what your body is really trying to say.

More about Shaun:
Shaun Brooking Coaching
Be Fully Human

With thanks to our sponsors Flank, an AI colleague for your in-house legal team. Flank is designed to work like a high performing team member for your legal department. Flank agents are able to instantly handle commercial team requests, eliminate bottlenecks and ensure your legal team operates at the speed your business demands. Flank agents are always on, always accurate and always ready.

If you'd like to discover more about how Flank can redefine your legal operations, then take a look at getflank.ai. If you get in touch with them, please do mention How to Thrive, so that they know that it came from one of our wonderful listeners.

How to Thrive events:
Our events are a chance to come together with other Community Members to network and share learnings in a safe space. All of our events are focussed on HOW to thrive and deliver practical skills that you can incorporate into your work and home lives.
​Visit our website to find out more.

Your How to Thrive hosts:
Claire Sanders, former Corporate Lawyer, General Council and Co-Founder of Being Human Consulting.
Helen Silver-MacMahon, Human Factors Specialist, Veterinary Nurse and Co-Founder of Being Human Consulting.

Music Credit: Lo-Fi Hip Hop (Never Old Fashioned) by Alex Kizenkov

Podcast Production: Anthony Zahra
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.