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DO Lectures podcast with Gav Thompson

DO Lectures podcast with Gav Thompson

By The DO Lectures

The DO Lectures is the long established ideas event run out of a cowshed in Cardigan Bay, Wales. This is now Season 4 of The DO Lectures podcast - 'Living Your Best Life' - in which Gav Thompson tries to better understand how to live your best life by talking to guests who have something to share on the subject - both through stories of success & failure. In previous seasons we've listened to some inspiring personal stories and discussed some of the hurdles and barriers our guests have had to overcome in order to go DO some truly amazing things. Please DO review, like & subscribe
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S2 EP13 Chris Lovett | Being Amazing Despite...Owning Nothing

DO Lectures podcast with Gav ThompsonMay 07, 2021

00:00
39:26
S4 EP5 Living your best life with Lou Featherstone

S4 EP5 Living your best life with Lou Featherstone

Living your best life. 

I want to talk to people who live amazing lives, in essence, living their best life. And importantly get them to talk about the hurdles that they have overcome to live their best life now - big and small, public or private, physical or mental, failures or small curve balls. I hope to inspire and encourage people through hearing stories from amazing people. We are particularly interested in helping people achieve better mental health through the inspiration and stories from our guests.

In episode 5 I talk to Lou Featherstone. Lou is an “accidental” social media influencer who has found her niche a little later in life than some of her influencer peers. She helps women, particularly middle-aged women, to live their best life through a unique combination of honesty, self-expression, clothing…and self-love.

Lou is a one-of-a-kind. She is full of energy and enthusiasm for life and love (both self and outer-directed). And she has one of the greatest wardrobes I have ever seen in my life (sorry, this is rather hard to demonstrate on a podcast). She continues to inspire and help thousands of women through her very special combination of wisdom, advice and an attitude to life that hinges a lot on not really giving a $hit. 

We talk about her life story (some of it was rather tricky) and how she came to be driving a bus called Susie around the US encouraging menopausal women to get on board and discover the power of masturbation.

Needless to say, the language and content of this episode does get a little fruity and listener discretion is advised.

However, if you want to learn about a woman who is loudly and proudly Living Her Best Life, then you need look no further than the simply fabulous Lou Featherstone.

You can see and hear more from Lou on her Insta @luinluland

Please do leave us a review, a like and please DO subscribe.

Thank you

Gav

www.thedolectures.com

Jul 20, 202301:07:19
S4 EP4 Living your best life with Emily Holden
Jul 06, 202346:59
S4 EP3 Living your best life with Helen McGinn
Jun 22, 202301:00:30
 S4 EP2 Living your best life with Patrick Hutchinson
Jun 08, 202344:46
S4 EP1 Living your best life with Sara Cox
May 25, 202351:52
DO Lectures Podcast Season 4 - "Living your best life" with Gav Thompson. COMING SOON

DO Lectures Podcast Season 4 - "Living your best life" with Gav Thompson. COMING SOON

Gav gives an outline of the exciting episodes in store for Season 4 of The DO Lectures Podcast - "Living your best life" starting on Friday 26th May with a lovely chat with one of the poster girls of living your best life, Radio 2 legend, Sara Cox.
May 19, 202302:32
S3 EP10 Dot Dot Dot with Ben Edmonds - Knife Maker Extraordinaire

S3 EP10 Dot Dot Dot with Ben Edmonds - Knife Maker Extraordinaire

In this final episode of Season 3, Gav Thompson talks to Ben Edmonds, the founder of Blok Knives.

Ben has an incredible and slightly bonkers story. Ben was a successful graphic designer who whilst experimenting with pipe smoking (not that kind of pipe), he stumbled across a YouTube video of a pipe smoker in Canada who was also a knife maker.

This started a journey of discovery of Ben teaching himself to make kitchen knives, building his own brand, and in very short order became one of the most in demand artisan knife craftsman in the UK, leading to waiting lists of over 2 years for his beautiful handmade knives, with Michelin starred chefs also queuing for what is now considered one of the best knives in the business.

We chat about the secret to his success, doing one thing well, and how The DO lectures changed his life.

A humble, yet very focused and successful man doing something he loves and being absolutely bloody amazing at it.

Please do have a listen, leave a review and subscribe.

Thank you. See you soon for Season 4 "Living Your Best Life".

Please check out Ben's weekly knife sale at 1pm every Friday at www.blok-knives.co.uk

Oct 08, 202127:23
S3 EP9 Dot Dot Dot with Joshua Coombes - Hairdresser To The Homeless

S3 EP9 Dot Dot Dot with Joshua Coombes - Hairdresser To The Homeless

In 2015, Joshua Coombes was walking home from his hairdressing salon in London when he stopped to talk to a homeless man and ended up giving him a haircut on the street that would change Joshua's life.

Joshua has since gone on to take that very simple idea of giving a homeless person a little bit of free help and turned it into a movement #DoSomethingForNothing and has recently written a book about how this little act of selfless generosity can help change lives.

Gav & Joshua have a (rather sweary) chat about the simplicity and power of this idea, the complex issue of homelessness and how we are just a few poor choices from ending up on the receiving end of one of his haircuts.

This is a powerful story told by a passionate and charismatic maverick hairdresser and activist. 

Please do have a listen, leave a review and subscribe.

Thank you

Please buy and read Joshua's book "Do Something for Nothing" and join the movement

Sep 24, 202140:13
S3 EP8 Dot Dot Dot with Ling Ling Phung - The Power Of Love (To Overcome Probabilities)
Sep 10, 202140:26
S3 EP7 Dot Dot Dot with Andy Middleton - Founding Partner Of The DO Lectures

S3 EP7 Dot Dot Dot with Andy Middleton - Founding Partner Of The DO Lectures

Gav chats to Andy about his wide-ranging career that spans innovation, education, adventure, consulting, activism, sustainability, being a bin man and inventing a new sport. Andy is the founder and director of The TYF Group, an innovative and visionary social enterprise in St Davids, Pembrokeshire whose mission is to train revolutionaries by helping people fall so deeply in love with nature that it changes the way that they live.

Andy is a connector, a story teller, an idea generator, a problem solver and a pioneer in helping Wales become the world's test lab for sustainability.

Please have a listen and please do leave a review, rating and subscribe. Thank you.

Learn more about TYF at www.tyf.com


Aug 27, 202137:09
S3 EP6 Dot Dot Dot with Kris Hallenga - Founder of "CoppaFeel" cancer charity

S3 EP6 Dot Dot Dot with Kris Hallenga - Founder of "CoppaFeel" cancer charity

Kris has a chat with Gav that reveals an inspirational & moving story about one young woman's unbelievable bravery in a fight against cancer and the low awareness of breast cancer amongst young people.

Kris is a remarkable woman. She was diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer at aged 23. This diagnosis came as a real shock to her, as she had no idea that women of her age could get breast cancer. What came as a bigger shock was the realisation that she had been diagnosed late and if she had known what to look for herself then this very aggressive cancer could have been caught earlier.

So Kris started fighting the cancer and fighting the lack of knowledge that young people have about how to spot the early signs of breast cancer. She started a charity 'CoppaFeel' to educate and encourage men and women to know the signs of breast cancer and to check themselves regularly. "CoppaFeel' has grown into a huge national movement and has been extremely successful in its mission, undoubtedly saving thousands of lives. Kris has won a Pride of Britain award and a Woman of the Year award, though 12 years later, she is still fighting her own cancer. She had 57 brain tumours treated in 2018.

Please have a listen and please do leave a review, rating and subscribe. Thank you.

Learn more about Kris & CoppaFeel at https://coppafeel.org

Aug 13, 202141:22
S3 EP5 Dot Dot Dot with Anna Jones - The Queen of Greens

S3 EP5 Dot Dot Dot with Anna Jones - The Queen of Greens

The DO Lectures is an ideas sharing event started in 2007 and run out of an old cowshed in Cardigan Bay, Wales. In Season 3 of the DO podcasts, entitled 'Dot Dot Dot', Gav Thompson chats to old DO Lectures speakers about how their story has changed or grown and evolved since they gave their original DO Lecture.

In the fifth episode of 'Dot Dot Dot' Gav talks to Anna Jones. Anna's life changed when she applied for, and won, a place at Jamie Oliver's prestigious Fifteen Restaurant & Training Academy.

She went on to work very close with Jamie for 7 years, where she helped him with his cookbooks and his campaigns. Since then she has branched out on her own, and has 4 amazing award-winning cookery books to her name. She also has a food column in The Guardian. Her latest book, One - Pot, Pan, Planet makes a very strong case for why eating super-tasty veg based meals can not only help you make extremely delicious healthy meals, but also help save the planet.

She is a fantastic guest with a very powerful message.

Please have a listen and please do leave a review, rating and subscribe. Thank you.

Learn more about Anna at www.annajones.co.uk

Jul 30, 202144:13
S3 EP4 Dot Dot Dot with Kasim Ali - Tea Evangelist

S3 EP4 Dot Dot Dot with Kasim Ali - Tea Evangelist

The DO Lectures is an ideas sharing event started in 2007 and run out of an old cowshed in Cardigan Bay, Wales. In Season 3 of the DO podcasts, entitled 'Dot Dot Dot', Gav Thompson chats to old DO Lectures speakers about how their story has changed or grown and evolved since they gave their original DO Lecture.

In the fourth episode of 'Dot Dot Dot' Gav talks to Kasim Ali. Kasim used to be a pharmacist. And then one day he decided to take over a recently closed community butcher's shop and turn it into a Teahouse. And within a year, this teahouse had won the award for being the best cafe in the UK.

Not long after, Kasim set up Waterloo Tea. They now have 5 teahouses in the UK and are wholesalers for some of the best tea in the world. Kasim chats to Gav about his philosophy, which is tea-centred and focuses on being tailored, individual and exceptional.

He has an amazing story about running a business being humble, clear and local.

Please have a listen and please do leave a review, rating and subscribe. Thank you.

Learn more about Waterloo Tea at www.waterlootea.com

Jul 16, 202130:11
S3 EP3 Dot Dot Dot with Claire Elsdon - How to save lives with motorcycles

S3 EP3 Dot Dot Dot with Claire Elsdon - How to save lives with motorcycles

The DO Lectures is an ideas sharing event started in 2007 and run out of an old cowshed in Cardigan Bay, Wales. In Season 3 of the DO podcasts, entitled 'Dot Dot Dot', Gav Thompson chats to old DO Lectures speakers about how their story has changed or grown and evolved since they gave their original DO Lecture.

In the third episode of 'Dot Dot Dot' Gav talks to Claire Elsdon. Claire was a stockbroker in London. And then one day she packed it all in, climbed on her motorbike and started riding from London to Cape Town. On her own. 

Along the way she had many adventures, but also saw first hand some of the problems, and opportunities, of motorbikes in Africa. She ended up setting up her own social enterprise in Tanzania, Pikilily, which trains women how to safely ride and maintain motorbikes, thus opening up a whole range of possibilities for the women and their communities.

Please have a listen and please do leave a review, rating and subscribe. Thank you.

Learn more about Pikilily at www.pikilily.com

Jul 01, 202140:06
S3 EP2 Dot Dot Dot with CJ Bowry - Founder of Sal's Shoes

S3 EP2 Dot Dot Dot with CJ Bowry - Founder of Sal's Shoes

The DO Lectures is an ideas sharing event started in 2007 and run out of an old cowshed in Cardigan Bay, Wales. In Season 3 of the DO podcasts, entitled 'Dot Dot Dot', Gav Thompson chats to old DO Lectures speakers about how their story has changed or grown and evolved since they gave their original DO Lecture.

In the second episode of 'Dot Dot Dot' Gav talks to CJ Bowry, the founder of the charity Sal's Shoes. CJ literally stumbled across the idea to find new feet to wear her son's old shoes that he had outgrown but not outworn.

Sal's Shoes now collects outgrown children's shoes and matches them up with children around the world who may not have access to their own pair of shoes - and in most countries, having no shoes means you aren't allowed to go to school. To date they have found new feet for over 2.5 million pairs of shoes in 49 countries around the world.

It is a really powerful story of how one mum has made a massive difference to the world.

Please have a listen and please do leave a review, rating and subscribe. Thank you.

Learn more about Sal's Shoes at www.salsshoes.com

Jun 18, 202128:43
S3 EP1 Dot Dot Dot with Tessa Clarke - Co-Founder of OLIO

S3 EP1 Dot Dot Dot with Tessa Clarke - Co-Founder of OLIO

The DO Lectures is an ideas sharing event started in 2007 and run out of an old cowshed in Cardigan Bay, Wales. In Season 3 of the DO podcasts, entitled 'Dot Dot Dot', Gav Thompson chats to old DO Lectures speakers about how their story has changed or grown and evolved since they gave their original DO Lecture.

In this first episode of 'Dot Dot Dot' Gav talks to Tessa Clarke, the co-founder of the UK's largest sharing app OLIO. Tessa and her partner Saasha Celestial-One have taken it upon themselves to try and help eradicate food waste by promoting neighbourly sharing via their app OLIO.

Food waste is a HUGE problem facing all of us and is having a very negative effect on the planet. For example. over 1/3 of all food produced globally goes to waste. An area larger than China is used to grow food every year that is never eaten. Over 25% of the world's fresh water supply is used to grown food that is never eaten.

Tessa is on a mission to change all this and you can help.

Please have a listen and please do leave a review, rating and subscribe. Thank you.

Learn more about OLIO at https://olioex.com

Jun 04, 202131:09
S2 EP13 Chris Lovett | Being Amazing Despite...Owning Nothing

S2 EP13 Chris Lovett | Being Amazing Despite...Owning Nothing

The DO Lectures is an ideas sharing event run out of an old cowshed in Cardigan Bay, Wales. In this series of DO podcasts, Gav Thompson chats to people about how they have achieved their amazing levels of success, as well as uncovering some of the despites that they have had to overcome to get there.

In Episode 13 of Being Amazing Despite...Gav chats to Chris Lovett. Chris is a minimalist. He had a busy life, full of stuff and stress. And then one day he started getting rid of his stuff and noticed his stress levels decreasing and his happiness levels increasing in proportion to his lack of clutter and possessions. These days he has pretty much got rid of all his stuff and lives a much happier nomadic life owning very few possessions.

Given Gav is a fully signed up 'maximalist', they have an interesting debate on Gav's need to own and collect unnecessary possessions and why he fills his life with clutter. 

Chris has a new book out on this fascinating subject "Discovery of Less".

Please do leave a review, rating and subscribe. Thank you.

May 07, 202139:26
S2 EP12 Roz Savage MBE | Being Amazing Despite...Being On Your Own For 520 Days

S2 EP12 Roz Savage MBE | Being Amazing Despite...Being On Your Own For 520 Days

The DO Lectures is an ideas sharing event run out of an old cowshed in Cardigan Bay, Wales. In this series of DO podcasts, Gav Thompson chats to people about how they have achieved their amazing levels of success, as well as uncovering some of the despites that they have had to overcome to get there.

In Episode 12 of Being Amazing Despite... Gav chats to Roz Savage. Roz is the only woman to have ever rowed single-handedly "around the world". On her own she has rowed 15,000 miles across the Atlantic, the Pacific and the Indian Oceans, earning herself 4 Guinness World Records in the process. She is now an accomplished speaker, writer and environmental campaigner and is an ambassador for the new SEEDS financial ecosystem.

This story is about how Roz actually became to be one of the most accomplished ocean rowers in the world. She claims to have only ever been quite good at sport and she says she is by no means a natural rower. Roz's story is one of amazing accomplishment, courage and resilience and how she found happiness and meaning being alone on the oceans. As the world comes out of lockdown, Roz has an interesting perspective on being alone and on solitude.

Please do leave a review, rating and subscribe. Thank you.

www.rozsavage.com

www.joinseeds.com

Apr 16, 202156:30
S2 EP11 Dan Brown | Being Amazing Despite...Going Off The Rails With Gangsters

S2 EP11 Dan Brown | Being Amazing Despite...Going Off The Rails With Gangsters

The DO Lectures is an ideas sharing event run out of an old cowshed in Cardigan Bay, Wales. In this series of DO podcasts, Gav Thompson chats to people about how they have achieved their amazing levels of success, as well as uncovering some of the despites that they have had to overcome to get there.

Dan Brown is the founder of The Positive Transformation Initiative. He has set himself the (not insignificant) challenge of positively influencing 1 billion peoples' lives. Dan believes that DOING GOOD IS GOOD BUSINESS.

However Dan's life started off very differently. Dan and Gav have a searingly honest chat about Dan's upbringing and early life. Dan was surrounded by drugs, alcohol and gangsters. His life nearly came off the rails on a number of occasions. Gritty, brave and truly inspirational. (Warning - Men cried during the making of this podcast)

Please have a listen, enjoy, subscribe and review.

Thank you

Mar 26, 202144:44
S2 EP10 Tom & Matt - Founders Of tickr | Being Amazing Despite...Taking On The Investment Industry

S2 EP10 Tom & Matt - Founders Of tickr | Being Amazing Despite...Taking On The Investment Industry

The DO Lectures is an ideas sharing event run out of an old cowshed in Cardigan Bay, Wales. In this series of DO podcasts, Gav Thompson chats to people about how they have achieved their amazing levels of success, as well as uncovering some of the despites that they have had to overcome to get there. 

In this episode, Gav chats to Tom McGillycuddy & Matt Latham, the founders of tickr. tickr is an impact investing app that allows novice investors to easily invest in businesses that are going to change the world for good, particularly those which will have a positive impact on social and environmental change. Gav talks to Tom and Matt about how they were both outsiders who broke into the world of investing and how they quickly realised that together they believed there was a better way to both help anyone become an investor and using those investments to make the world a better place. Despite both of them only being in their twenties, they quit their jobs in the established investment world and set about building a new way to invest.

Please do have a listen, leave a review, rating and subscribe. Thank you.

More info at www.tickr.co.uk

Mar 12, 202132:09
S2 EP9 Penny Mallory | Being Amazing Despite...Mediocrity

S2 EP9 Penny Mallory | Being Amazing Despite...Mediocrity

The DO Lectures is an ideas sharing event run out of an old cowshed in Cardigan Bay, Wales. In this series of DO podcasts, Gav Thompson chats to people about how they have achieved their amazing levels of success, as well as uncovering some of the despites that they have had to overcome to get there.
In this episode, Gav chats to Penny Mallory, the first woman to ever compete in the World Rally Championship, despite claiming she was only a mediocre driver. As a child she saw alcoholism and mental illness destroy her family. Fleeing home at 14, homeless and fending for herself on London streets, her life couldn’t have been more dangerous or bleak, yet somehow she turned things around, became a champion rally driver and went on to have a very successful career as a TV presenter, stunt driver, author and speaker.
Penny is a qualified Coach, a licensed and accredited Mental Toughness Coach and Trainer, and Master Practitioner in CBT. She now helps people and companies with Mental Toughness.
Please do have a listen, leave a review, rating and subscribe. Thank you.
Feb 26, 202142:27
S2 EP8 Chris Moon MBE | Being Amazing Despite...Getting Kidnapped...Then Having Your Arm And Leg Blown Off

S2 EP8 Chris Moon MBE | Being Amazing Despite...Getting Kidnapped...Then Having Your Arm And Leg Blown Off

The DO Lectures is an ideas sharing event run out of an old cowshed in Cardigan Bay, Wales. In this series of DO podcasts, Gav Thompson chats to people about how they have achieved their amazing levels of success, as well as uncovering some of the despites that they have had to overcome to get there.

In this episode, Chris Moon MBE talks to Gav about his unbelievable life story. After leaving the army, David worked for the Halo Trust clearing land mines. In 1993 whilst working in Cambodia, he was kidnapped by the Khmer Rouge (one of the most brutal terror groups in history), but somehow he managed to survive. Two years later, whilst clearing mines in Mozambique, he trod on a mine, blew himself up and ended up losing his right leg and arm. Amazingly, less than a year after this terrible accident, Chris ran the London marathon with a prosthetic leg and arm, and less than a year after that he became an Ultra-marathon runner and completed the notorious 156 mile Marathon Des Sables in the Sahara Desert, in doing so he became the first amputee ultra-runner.

Chris sums up the spirit of "Being Amazing Despite...". He has an amazing story and incredible resilience. I found chatting to him truly inspirational.

Please do have a listen, leave a review, rating and subscribe. Thank you.

Feb 12, 202148:19
S2 EP7 David Hieatt | Being Amazing Despite...

S2 EP7 David Hieatt | Being Amazing Despite...

The DO Lectures is an ideas sharing event run out of an old cowshed in Cardigan Bay, Wales. In this series of DO podcasts, Gav Thompson chats to people about how they have achieved their amazing levels of success, as well as uncovering some of the despites that they have had to overcome to get there.

In this episode, the co-founder of The DO Lectures, David Hieatt, chats to Gav about his road to becoming amazing (David's, not Gav's). David started his career in advertising, whilst being somewhat distracted by his obsession with sports brands. This obsession turned into his own skateboarding and biking brand, Howies. David and his wife, Clare, built Howies into a very successful and uber cool brand that they eventually sold. David talks about his regret at selling Howies at the wrong time to the wrong people and how that "despite" actually fed and led to the phenomenal growth and success of both The DO Lectures and his and Clare's brilliant Made in Wales jeans company, Hiut Denim Co.

Dave is the reason that this podcast exists and the reason that I am hosting it. He has an unbelievable amount of creativity, wisdom and warmth, which I hope the listeners get the chance to tune into here.

Please do leave a review, rating and subscribe. Thank you.

Jan 29, 202146:38
S2 EP6 Philippa White | Being Amazing Despite...Covid crushing your enterprise

S2 EP6 Philippa White | Being Amazing Despite...Covid crushing your enterprise

The DO Lectures is an ideas sharing event run out of an old cowshed in Cardigan Bay, Wales. In this series of DO podcasts, Gav Thompson chats to people about how they have achieved their amazing levels of success, as well as uncovering some of the despites that they have had to overcome to get there.

In Episode 6 of Being Amazing Despite..., Gav chats to Philippa White. In 2004 Philippa left a career "flogging shit" in advertising in London to set up a social enterprise, The International Exchange (TIE), in Brazil. A leadership program where business leaders from the developed world can help tackle some of the bigger problems in the developing world

The story of TIE is a major amazing achievement that Philippa is rightfully proud. TIE was doing very well and growing nicely. And then Covid struck, and the idea of business people travelling across the world to help developing charities on the ground became impossible. Facing the potential end of her life's work with TIE, Philippa managed to swiftly pivot the organisation and rebirth TIE as something new and brave (and potentially bigger).

Please do leave a review, rating and subscribe. Thank you.

Learn more about TIE at www.theinternationalexchange.co.uk

Jan 15, 202144:14
S2 EP5 Caspar Craven | Being Amazing Despite...Yourself

S2 EP5 Caspar Craven | Being Amazing Despite...Yourself

The DO Lectures is an ideas sharing event run out of an old cowshed in Cardigan Bay, Wales. In this series of DO podcasts, Gav Thompson chats to people about how they have achieved their amazing levels of success, as well as uncovering some of the despites that they have had to overcome to get there.

In Episode 5 of Being Amazing Despite..., Gav chats to Caspar Craven. Caspar was running an unsuccessful business and was close to divorce when he had the genius idea to pack it all in and sail around the world for 2 years in a small yacht with his wife, who hated sailing and suffered from seasickness, and his 3 little children, aged 9, 7 and 2.

This in itself is a very interesting, if slightly bonkers, story. But the amazingness of Caspar's story is actually how he managed to achieve such a monumental adventure and his learnings along the way, including overcoming himself and his habit of stuffing things up.

Please do leave a review, rating and subscribe. Thank you.

Jan 01, 202156:58
S2 EP4 James Shone | Being Amazing Despite...Losing Your Eyesight

S2 EP4 James Shone | Being Amazing Despite...Losing Your Eyesight

The DO Lectures is an ideas sharing event run out of an old cowshed in Cardigan Bay, Wales. In this series of DO podcasts, Gav Thompson chats to people about how they have achieved their amazing levels of success, as well as uncovering some of the despites that they have had to overcome to get there.

In Episode 4 of Being Amazing Despite..., Gav chats to James Shone. James was a successful teacher who in 2012 had just landed his dream job as a headmaster. Then, during a routine medical examination, doctors discovered James had a huge brain tumour. After 27 hours of surgery, James' brain tumour had gone, but so had his eyesight. He woke up after the operation to discover he was blind. Shortly after this, he also lost his job

This story is about how James went from rock bottom to doing amazing things through setting up a charity, 'I can and I am', to inspire children and teenagers to a life of confidence and potential, despite being blind and unemployed.

Please do leave a review, rating and subscribe. Thank you.

https://www.icanandiam.com.

Dec 18, 202049:38
S2 EP3 Sue Perkins | Being Amazing Despite

S2 EP3 Sue Perkins | Being Amazing Despite

The DO Lectures is an ideas sharing event run out of an old cowshed in Cardigan Bay, Wales. In this series of DO podcasts, Gav Thompson chats to people about how they have achieved their amazing levels of success, as well as uncovering some of the despites that they have had to overcome to get there.

Sue Perkins is one the the UK's best loved comedians, performers and TV presenters.

She chats to Gav about her time as President of the Cambridge Footlights, about starting out in the industry with her best friend Mel Giedroyc and the road that led to her becoming the queen of the baked goods light entertainment juggernaut, Bake Off. They talk about her very honest and refreshingly human approach to travel shows and debate when one becomes a National Treasure.

They also have a very revealing conversation about some of Sue's despites, such as her brain tumour and anxiety, as well as compare Dad dying stories.

Please have a listen, enjoy, subscribe and review.

Dec 04, 202001:09:19
S2 EP2 Eleanor Tweddell | Being Amazing Despite...Losing Your Job
Nov 20, 202001:08:48
S2 EP1 Adam Buxton | Being Amazing Despite

S2 EP1 Adam Buxton | Being Amazing Despite

In this first episode of Season 2 of "Being Amazing Despite...", Gav chats to comedian and award-winning podcasting maestro, Adam Buxton.

Adam Buxton is a comedy legend. Starting in the Adam & Joe show in the 90’s. Movie roles in Hot Fuzz, Stardust & Son of Rambow followed along with his own radio shows on XFM and 6 Music. More recently, he has hosted BUG, the very funny show on stage & Sky Atlantic that analyses music videos and their hysterical online commentary. Most pertinently, for the last 5 years has been hosting the Adam Buxton Podcast which has won many, many podcast awards and is generally considered to be about as good as podcasts get.

Gav & Adam compare notes on their childhood obsession with snogging, how Adam first discovered David Bowie, the art of the brilliant podcast, Adam's alternative career prospects, and how he recently came very close to offending Robbie Williams.  

Please listen, enjoy, review and subscribe.

Show produced by George McDonagh. 

Music by James Morton.

Nov 06, 202036:10
DO Podcast with Gav Thompson | Season 2 coming soon

DO Podcast with Gav Thompson | Season 2 coming soon

Here is a little trailer to announce Season 2 of The DO Lectures Podcast with Gav Thompson. Season 2 is entitled Being Amazing Despite...

In this second season, Gav will talk to guests about their own amazing lives and careers, but paying particular attention to the things that they have had to overcome to achieve their amazingness - big and small, public or private, physical or mental, failures or small curve balls. Season 2 kicks off with episodes featuring 

- Adam Buxton, comedian and podcast legend

- Eleanor Tweddell, author of "Why losing your job could be the best thing that ever happened to you"

- Sue Perkins, baking commentator, traveller and national treasure

with many more to follow. Released every alternate Friday, starting on Friday 6th November 2020.

Please listen, enjoy, review and subscribe. 

Oct 30, 202004:50
S1 EP7 Richard Mullender | Hostage Negotiation

S1 EP7 Richard Mullender | Hostage Negotiation

In the final episode of Series 1, Gav Thompson talks to Richard Mullender, Hostage Negotiator, about his job and about listening. Hard.

Episode Seven - Hostage Negotiation

Richard was the lead trainer at the UK police training school for Hostage Negotiations. He knows how to listen. He knows how to negotiate. He has helped negotiate international hostage situations and he has helped negotiate people out of suicide situations.  

In summary, he knows how to negotiate and he knows how to listen.

Have a listen to this. Richard has a fascinating story to tell and he helps teach Gav how to listen.

Please listen, enjoy, subscribe & review

Oct 23, 202042:26
S1 EP6 Hector + Polly Boswell | Childhood Anxiety

S1 EP6 Hector + Polly Boswell | Childhood Anxiety

In Episode 6, Gav Thompson talks to Hector Boswell, 14, who was clinically diagnosed with anxiety when he was 10 years old.

Episode Six - Childhood Anxiety

Hector always knew he was different from most of his friends. He got nervous and anxious about stuff that didn't seem to bother other kids of his age. When, aged 10,  he finally told his mum, Polly, "Make these feelings go away", the family knew it was time to act.

Hector has learnt to live with his anxiety and, remarkably, now talks very openly and publicly about how this condition feels as a child.

Both Hector & Polly chat to Gav with real honesty and insight into how they learnt to live with the diagnosis, how it effects the family and how Hector has thrived in the 4 years since.

Please listen, enjoy, subscribe & review

Oct 16, 202030:48
S1 EP5 Manley Hopkinson | Compassionate Leadership

S1 EP5 Manley Hopkinson | Compassionate Leadership

In this fifth episode, Gav Thompson chats to ocean adventurer, Arctic racer & compassionate leadership expert Manley Hopkinson.

Manley has led a remarkable life and he has some amazing stories to tell.

He started off his career in the British Navy, then moved to the Royal Hong Kong Police, before becoming an adventurer. Firstly, he skippered a yacht in the 9 month, 32,000 mile BT Global Challenge round the world yacht race. 

And next Manley won the inaugural race across the Arctic to get to the magnetic North Pole. His record has never been broken. He hopes soon to be the first person to get to both magnetic poles, as his next planned adventure is to the magnetic South Pole.

All that experience makes him very qualified to talk about his current work and area of expertise, which is leadership. In particular, compassionate leadership. 

Please listen, enjoy, review and subscribe.

Show produced by George McDonagh.

Music by James Morton.

Oct 09, 202052:60
S1 EP4 Carrie Longton | Trailblazer

S1 EP4 Carrie Longton | Trailblazer

In this fourth episode, Gav Thompson chats to the trailblazing female technology entrepreneur Carrie Longton

Carrie Longton became one of the first British female tech entrepreneurs when she founded Mumsnet in 2000. Mumsent went on to become the single largest British online community, with over 128 million page views a month and 15 million monthly users. In 2010 Carrie was awarded Red Magazine's Red Hot Woman Of The Year, and in 2013 she was listed 7th on the BBC's Power List of the 100 most powerful women in the UK.

She chats to Gav about how she made it in the tech world, despite being a complete luddite and lifts the lid on how Mumsnet played a key role in the 2010 general election.

Please listen, enjoy, review and subscribe.

Show produced by George McDonagh.

Music by James Morton.

Oct 02, 202040:25
S1 EP3 Helen Calcraft | Bouncing Back

S1 EP3 Helen Calcraft | Bouncing Back

In this third episode, Gav Thompson chats to the amazing female advertising entrepreneur Helen Calcraft.

Helen Calcraft is one of Britain’s most successful advertising entrepreneurs.

She has been the founder of two of Britain's leading advertising agencies, MCBD & Lucky Generals, both of which she set up, grew and then sold. In the often male-dominated world of advertising, Helen is a true female powerhouse.

However, her personal crusade is perhaps even more astounding than her professional one. She has battled with cancer twice, dealt with an unbelievably difficult and traumatic pregnancy, and has brought up two fantastic daughters as a single working mum.

In this episode, Helen talks with real honesty and candour about resilience and how she has managed to bounce back from everything life has thrown to her.

We think it is a pretty inspirational story.

Please listen, enjoy, review and subscribe.

Show produced by George McDonagh.

Music by James Morton.

Sep 18, 202048:04
S1 EP2 Johnnie Boden | Uncommon Conviction

S1 EP2 Johnnie Boden | Uncommon Conviction

The DO Lectures have a new podcast series entitled "DO Podcast with Gav Thompson".

The first season is all about The Person behind The Story and The Story behind the Person and this is the second episode, entitled "Uncommon Conviction" with Johnnie Boden.

Johnnie Boden is one of Britain’s most successful entrepreneurs. He has built his fashion brand, Boden, to be one of the largest privately-owned clothing businesses in the UK. Boden is currently the 3rd biggest selling British fashion brand in the US.

Johnnie talks with real honesty and authenticity to Gav about his uncommon conviction and how, as an untrained designer, he managed to believe in himself and his vision and build up his empire from very raw beginnings in 1991 selling menswear to his friends to becoming the huge womenswear and childrenswear empire that it is today. Johnnie talks about becoming the next Gok Wan and his uncanny similarities to his old schoolmate, Boris Johnson.

Please listen, enjoy, review and subscribe.

Show produced by George McDonagh.

Music by James Morton.

Sep 04, 202041:43
S1 EP1 Tom Goodwin | Self-Belief

S1 EP1 Tom Goodwin | Self-Belief

Tom Goodwin is currently something of a marketing guru within the US, with over 750,000 followers on social media. He has recently pivoted from talking about the future of marketing to having some very outspoken views on COVID and the way the media reports on it. This has created a little bit of a stir, not least because some of his views are seen by a few as controversial (or contrarian...), which culminated in him getting very publicly fired a few weeks ago from a high-profile job in New York. This conversation explores the route of Tom's self-belief and tries to probe a little deeper into both what happened and why Tom feels this way.

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In conversation with Gav Thompson.

Show produced by George McDonagh.

Music by James Morton.

Aug 21, 202053:09