Julia Geber (bonus track)

This week, Camelia Graur, leadership coach and former diplomat, tells us:Why the best part of a coaching session belongs to neither person in the roomWhy the most important tool in her backpack fits on a scrap of coloured cardHow to make silence comfortable before anyone needs itWhy you become what you foldWhat she’d ask airport security to confiscate... and much more (including the rule David broke for the very first time)Find out more about Camelia at cameliagraurcoaching.com and on LinkedInWant more?Subscribe to our mailing list for advance notice of upcoming episodes, free goodies, special editions (and out-takes!) and much more.Check out previous episodes at thecoachsbackpack.comMore about CameliaCamelia Graur is a coach, facilitator and former diplomat with experience in international humanitarian work. After 13 years in diplomacy, working on European integration and international cooperation, and a period in the humanitarian sector, she turned her attention to what has always fascinated her: what helps people grow, and organisations thrive. Everything related to designing experiential and participative learning, facilitating growth, navigating change, focus, decision making, better communication, negotiations. She took on a mission to nurture emotional intelligence through coaching, training, mentoring, as a backbone for organisations performing better, leaders leading with purpose, people enjoying contributing through their work - even when things get difficult.For the past five years, she has been coaching leaders and professionals, particularly in the public sector and international organisations, to navigate complexity, communicate honestly, and act with greater clarity, agency and responsibility. Her work explores personal and professional needs, and the human side of leadership: how we navigate change and unpredictable situations, develop adaptive resilience, and make difficult decisions without losing sight of ourselves or others.Drawing on emotional intelligence and nonviolent communication, she works with the emotions, needs and values that shape how we lead and relate to one another. She is particularly interested in the idea of power with— how organisations can move beyond control and compliance to create conditions for shared responsibility, meaningful contribution and human dignity, while remaining attentive to results.She is a co-founder of NVC Moldova, bringing nonviolent communication into organisations and communities through a practice rooted in listening, honesty, empathy and responsibility.At the heart of her work is a question: how do we remain human and exercise responsibility in complexity, uncertainty and difference? Camelia believes that sometimes what we need most is not another answer, but a space where we can pause, listen and see things differently — making room for leadership contexts that take both results and human dignity seriously.Website: https://www.cameliagraurcoaching.com/Linked in: https://www.linkedin.com/in/camelia-graur-8591214Other links:Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life by Marshall B. Rosenberg: https://www.cnvc.org/aboutMarkings by Dag Hammarskjöld:Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl:

This week, Chris Clyburn, the Kitchen Coach, tells us:How a cookbook started a (perfectly legal) pyramid schemeWhy every new group gets to see a little sabotageWhy your scrambled eggs might still be fighting the warWhy mushrooms should probably skip the bathWhy he'd rather miss a meeting than break the ice... and much moreFind out more about Chris ideas at thekitchencoach.ukWant more?Subscribe to our mailing list for advance notice of upcoming episodes, free goodies, special editions (and out-takes!) and much more.Check out previous episodes at thecoachsbackpack.comMore about ChrisChris “The Kitchen Coach” is a passionate food educator with over ten years of experience using food and cooking to transform lives, build confidence, and strengthen communities. A regular food story contributor to BBC Radio, Chris combines professional culinary expertise with educational excellence and a genuine passion for making good food accessible to everyone.With extensive experience across formal education and grassroots community projects, Chris delivers engaging, practical, and inclusive cooking experiences that inspire people from all backgrounds to develop their skills, explore food, and discover the joy of cooking.His approach goes beyond the kitchen, using food as a powerful tool to improve wellbeing, encourage independence, bring people together, and create lasting positive change.

This week, Liam Burnell, sports psychologist at Mindflick, tells us:Why 10 out of 10 is the wrong targetWhether introverts or extroverts make better gold medallistsWhy the England cricket team kept a cat (sort of)How seven seconds could change the outcome of a gameWhy his travel companion depends entirely on you... and much more (including the pig that might be hiding in his backpack)Find out more about Liam at https://mindflick.co.uk/Want more?Subscribe to our mailing list for advance notice of upcoming episodes, free goodies, special editions (and out-takes!) and much more.Check out previous episodes at thecoachsbackpack.comMore about MindflickAt Mindflick, we combine our experience in high-performance sport with cutting-edge research, design thinking, and the latest technology to help you and your people to manage and succeed in an increasingly complex modern world. From healthcare to banking, and sport to education, our experience has taught us that psychological adaptability is crucial to success across contexts, helping us to develop meaningful relationships, effective leadership, and higher levels of collaboration - all of which ultimately lead to higher levels of performance and wellbeing across individuals, teams, and organisations.So we don't cheat the craft, my research hones in on this concept of psychological adaptability and what it can do for us in a whole host of different contexts. What is it? How might me benefit from it? How can we go about developing it? What can it do?By taking the answers to these questions, we then distil them down into frameworks and tools for you and your team to apply to your everyday. With the values of humility, curiosity, and tolerance at their heart, our simple tools and messages, combined with individual and team coaching, help you and your team to develop the characteristics needed to consistently perform and thrive in an increasingly messy world as you work towards both your individual and collective goals.Specialties: Sport, Psychology, Sport Psychology, Performance Psychology, Personal Development, Coaching, Public Speaking, Quantitative Research, Qualitative Research, Team Sport, Individual Sport, Business, Healthcare, Adaptability, Sports Coaching, Small Business, Mentoring, Report Writing, Critical Analysis, Retail, International Projects, Voluntary Work, Volunteering, Teamwork, Cultural Awareness, Counselling, Active Listening

This week, Nicky Perfect, former hostage and crisis negotiator turned trainer, tells us:Why your inner chimp is no excuse for bad behaviourHow to make the most of 90 seconds when tempers riseWhy Friday nights can turn into a competition nobody winsWhy she'd finally answer a question she kept dodgingWhether David needs a negotiator of his own... and much more (including what would turn her backpack blue)Find out more about Nicky at Nicky Perfect BEM - The Communication Coach and Nicky Perfect BEM-Author, Trainer, Speaker, | LinkedIn.Want more?Subscribe to our mailing list for advance notice of upcoming episodes, free goodies, special editions (and out-takes!) and much more.Check out previous episodes at thecoachsbackpack.comMore about NickyNicky Perfect B.E.M is a former Hostage and Crisis Negotiator with 31 years’ service in policing, including a decade on the elite New Scotland Yard Hostage and Crisis Negotiation Unit. She later became the UK Director of National Negotiator Training, responsible for developing negotiators nationwide.Awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) for meritorious service to the community during the COVID-19 pandemic, Nicky is now a sought-after keynote speaker, communication coach and media commentator. She is the author of the bestselling book Crisis: True Stories from My Life as a Hostage & Crisis Negotiator, where she shares powerful lessons from the front line of life-and-death negotiations.Nicky speaks on high-stakes communication, leadership under pressure, managing conflict, emotional intelligence, negotiation in parenting and family life, negotiating salaries and professional influence, and supporting women in high-powered roles. She translates crisis negotiation principles into practical tools that help individuals and organisations turn conflict into collaboration.She has appeared on Saturday Live and Woman's Hour on BBC Radio 4, Good Morning Britain, Australia’s Weekend Sunrise, the US radio programme Here & Now, as well as BBC Three Counties Radio and Crimewatch, and has been featured in Woman's Own, Good Housekeeping, and Chat.Her message is simple: communication is not a soft skill — it is a life-changing skill.

This week, Albert Bramante, talent agent and mindset coach for actors, tells us:Why the glamorous life of a talent agent is mostly a myth (95% of it, anyway)How a little make-believe paid off three times in a single weekWhy a three-letter word could change your careerWhy starving artists might want to change their menuHow to make the most of two minutes, and then let it go... and much more (including who would need a very large suitcase)Find out more about Albert Bramante at bramanteartists.comWant more?Subscribe to our mailing list for advance notice of upcoming episodes, free goodies, special editions (and out-takes!) and much more.Check out previous episodes at thecoachsbackpack.comMore about AlbertWith deep roots in the film festival circuit and casting, Albert’s transition to talent management in 2004 and subsequent evolution to agency ownership in 2008 has been driven by a passion for the craft and a commitment to excellence. The establishment of Bramante Artists in 2024 reflects a strategic refocusing, uniting Albert's legacy with a vision for the future.

This week, Harleen Grover, a menopause coach, tells us:What the most powerful thing in the world is that can raise or bury youHow to do the deceptively simple three-step pause practiceWhere wisdom lives and burnout endsWhich beautiful soul she would take with her... and much more.Find out more about Harleen at www.thespacehq.com and LinkedIn.Want more?Subscribe to our mailing list for advance notice of upcoming episodes, free goodies, special editions (and out-takes!) and much more.Check out previous episodes at thecoachsbackpack.comMore about HarleenHarleen is The Clarity Coach. She empowers leaders to find clarity in change and purpose in progress. As a an ICF Credentialed ACC coach specialising in menopause-in-the-workplace and leadership, Harleen brings extensive corporate experience from working with global giants like Barclays Capital (now Barclays Corporate and Investment Bank), WorldCom (now Verizon), and SAP amongst others. Harleen has led international Learning & Development initiatives and shaped future leaders as a university lecturer in Business Studies. Her unique combination of corporate expertise, academic insight, and creative communication skills honed through professional acting training in London and New York allows Harleen to connect deeply, inspire action, and deliver real, lasting change.Website: www.thespacehq.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harleen-grover/Email: [email protected]

This week, Dr Benita Mayhead, executive coach, coaching supervisor and facilitator of leadership development initiatives, tells us:How to improve your mood, recall and creativityThe one thing that could make the biggest difference to clientsWhy she is a fan of old school toolsWhat she would feel uncomfortable not having with herWhat duty of care meansWho she would take to bring calmnessWhy this episode could be renamed the coach's carrier bagHer one-for-one practiceHow she missed out on taking much more with her... and much more (including her shoe size!)Pre-order Benita's upcoming book now. Find out more about Benita on LinkedIn.Want more?Subscribe to our mailing list for advance notice of upcoming episodes, free goodies, special editions (and out-takes!) and much more.Check out previous episodes at thecoachsbackpack.comMore about BenitaDr Benita Mayhead is an experienced executive coach, coaching supervisor, and facilitator of leadership development initiatives. She holds a Doctorate in Coaching and Mentoring and lectures on ethics and duty of care in postgraduate programmes. She is a Global Master Practitioner coach with EMCC and a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (CIPD). With over 30 years’ experience and a background in learning and development, Benita has built a strong reputation through her expertise and impact. Alongside her private practice, Benita services as a Board Director for EMCC U.K. and is actively involved in helping shape and develop coaching, mentoring, and coaching supervision in today’s world. Her first book, 'Duty of Care in Coaching: A Comprehensive Approach to Navigating the Complexities of Contemporary Practice' will be released in September 2025. Pre-order now!

This week, Julia Geber, talks about Brilliance coaching and tells us:Which story about magic is both educational and entertainingThe creative approach that helps you get in touch with your truthWhy we should focus on our please and thank yousThe three pillars of brilliance coaching that make you grow beyond what you imaginedWhy Storyland is no longer on TV... and much more.Find out more about Julia at www.brilliancecoaching.co.Want more?Subscribe to our mailing list for advance notice of upcoming episodes, free goodies, special editions (and out-takes!) and much more.Check out previous episodes at thecoachsbackpack.comMore about JuliaJulia Geber is a certified coach and former finance professional who helps high-achieving women create career results that feel aligned, impactful, and sustainable — without the overwhelm.With a corporate background, she understands the pressure of always having to perform. Julia founded Brilliance Coaching to offer a smarter, more fulfilling path to success.Her coaching goes deeper than surface-level strategies—blending ICF-accredited methods with mindset science, Positive Intelligence®, and a systems-based approach that uncovers the deeper structures shaping behavior. This empowers clients to gain clarity, communicate with authenticity, and shift from overworking to operating from their natural strengths — creating lasting change that feels both strategic and soul-aligned.Julia supports professionals to break through performance ceilings, make confident decisions, and lead from within — so they can thrive, not just survive.www.brilliancecoaching.co

Julia and David had such a great time recording the podcast but some content had to be cut. This short aside discusses who Julia would like to show love and appreciation to.

This week, Daniel Susser talk about intelligent teams. He tells us:How he hopes to bring cognitive science to the team levelWhy our body is a group of "agents" vying for controlWhether teams are just evolved ParameciumWhy Plato could have written inside outAbout his brand new ideaWhy the Goldilocks scales will help get to the root of problemsWhy he'd take an annoying person with him... and much more (including when David proved he wasn't as stupid as he thought!)Find out more about Daniel's ideas at Substack.Want more?Subscribe to our mailing list for advance notice of upcoming episodes, free goodies, special editions (and out-takes!) and much more.Check out previous episodes at thecoachsbackpack.comMore about DanielDaniel is a Delivery Coach based in London. He writes and podcasts about Intelligent Teams, which brings together the sciences of mind and practical wisdom from his decade-long career helping teams move faster and deliver more value. To find out more, go to intelligentteams.substack.com, or find out about how Daniel can help your team or organisation at embodiedagility.co.uk.