The Sizzle Podcast

By Jo Taylor

Bringing an informal but informed psychological lens to topics you are blatantly interested in...
Brought to you by Dr Jo Taylor and Constellations Psychology.

@thesizzlepod on twitter

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S02E03 Dr Tim Cox [Hope]

The Sizzle PodcastJun 12, 2022

00:00

58:08

S02E03 Dr Tim Cox [Hope]

Welcome to S02E03! You can join my mailing list to stay in loop about Sizzle Episodes and to receive [semi regular] emails about using psychology in your life: https://www.drjotaylor.com/my-mailing-list

In this episode I am joined by Dr Tim Cox, Educational Psychologist and hopeful practitioner. We talk about lots of things, including:

- Tim's journey to becoming an Educational Psychologist
- How Tim's personal experiences helped him develop his understanding of the importance of hope
- The Agents of Hope podcast
- Different types of hope
- Building a discipline of hope
- Martial arts and love
- Tim's "Five Dimensions" framework of hope
- Tim's music career

Find Tim on Twitter: @TimCEducation

Jun 12, 202258:08

S02E02 Davie Donaldson [Gypsy, Roma & Traveller history, culture & oppression]

Welcome to S02E02! You can join my mailing list to stay in loop about Sizzle Episodes and to receive [semi regular] emails about using psychology in your life: https://www.drjotaylor.com/my-mailing-list

In this episode I am joined by Davie Donaldson, founder of Progress in Dialogue. During the episode we cover a range of topics, including:

- The history of the Roma
- Traveller culture in Scotland
- Wearing masks to navigate education
- Being a role model
- Stories being linked to place
- Traveller practices around inheritance
- Culture clash and oppression
- Things people can do to learn more about Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities.

Find out more about Davie here: @DavieDonaldson (twitter)
Find Progress in Dialogue here: https://progressindialogue.org.uk/

May 26, 202201:13:14

S02E01 Anne-Laure Le Cunff [Organisational Psychology & Neuroscience]

Welcome to S02E01! You can join my mailing list to stay in loop about Sizzle Episodes and to receive [semi regular] emails about using psychology in your life: https://www.drjotaylor.com/my-mailing-list

In this episode I am joined by Anne-Laure Le Cunff, founder of Ness Labs. During the episode we cover a range of topics, including:

- Psychological safety
- Metacognition as a way to work smarter
- Ikigai
- Different types of burnout
- PARI: a framework for personal growth
- Remembering people who have died

Find out more about Anne-Laure here: https://anne-laure.net/
Find Anne-Laure on Twitter: @anthilemoon
Find Ness Labs here: https://nesslabs.com/

See some of Anne-Laure's publications here:
- Mindframing: https://nesslabs.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/SSRN-id3443568.pdf
- Non Monogamy: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3232078

Incorporate mindul moments into your work with Teeny-Breaks: https://nesslabs.com/teeny-breaks

May 17, 202253:11

#021 Ivor Williams [Design & Death]

Welcome to episode 021! You can join my mailing list to stay in loop about Sizzle Episodes and to receive [semi regular] emails about using psychology in your life: https://www.drjotaylor.com/my-mailing-list

In this episode I am joined by Ivor Williams, a designer and Lead for End-of-Life Care at the Helix Centre, a part of the Institute of Global Health Innovation (Imperial). His work focuses on thinking about how we can live, die and grieve better. During the episode we cover a range of topics, including:

- The place of design within medicine and death
- Dying and the medical profession
- Archetypes, power and dying
- The move from the priest to the medical profession
- The transition between the specialist to the lay person, supporting people in dying
- The way the pandemic has devolved responsibility for mediating death
- The need for someone to say "I've seen this before" with death
- The balance between distributing the role and keeping the experience needed, for helping people die.
- Designers as neutral participants, between the church and the doctor
- Doulas supporting with death (as well as birth)
- The gendered experience of birth and death
- People want different things when it comes to their death
- Death as a permanent end to an attachment
- At what point does the process of death start to focus on the living?
- "who is a good death for?"
- Drawing the distinction between avoidable deaths and deaths
- How can we decide when a death is "a failure?"
- Collective Grief: what can we do collectively?
- Planetary palliative care: do we need to accept things are ending in a civilisational level?
- Can suffering transform?
- Viewing Maslow's hierarchy of needs from the perspective of 'becoming part of a collective whole' and understanding your place in time
- How can we use our smartphones to grieve better?
- Cove App - a musical emotional journey
- "They had the best growth, the best health, the best pensions and now they want the best death. And our generation is responding by creating start ups" - Baby Boomers and the demand for 'death-tech'
- How the context of can shape whether it's perceived as 'a failure'

Find out more about Ivor:
http://ivorwilliams.info/about

Contact Ivor:
@ivorinfo (Twitter)

Sep 03, 202001:50:15

#020 Jeffrey Boakye [Teaching, Writing, Race and Music]

Welcome to episode 020! You can join my mailing list to stay in loop about Sizzle Episodes and to receive [semi regular] emails about using psychology in your life: https://www.drjotaylor.com/my-mailing-list

In this episode I am joined by Jeffrey Boakye, teacher and author. Below are some quotes from our conversation which capture the flavours involved:

"I like completing projects, that is what teaching is, my long term project, it's not over until I retire"
"Essentially what you are building is how kind you are to other people and how much you care about community"
"I wrote most of Hold Tight with a baby in my arms..."
"I don't put activities in a hierarchy, if something is exciting and it feels vital, you make the time, the trick is to realize what is vital"
"The importance of thinking about key values in relation to finding your calling"
"Work is good. Work in itself is the reward"
"I could not have written Black Listed any earlier. I had to do a lot of learning... It was really a research project"
"DJ'ing is deep in me. I seek approval that's one of my insecurities and a DJ seeks approval"
"I write like I DJ. I get people on the floor, get them energised and then I hit them with cuts they might not have heard before... It's how I teach as well."
"I wanted to talk about black British history, in grime, before it got lost or moved on"
"Stormzy tackled Glastonbury mainstage like a GCSE... And he got an A*"
"If they don't understand your mission, then they are probably afraid of it"

Some other topics we covered:
- Viewing Wiley and Stormzy through the lens of masculinity and race
- The dynamic of studying "cool blackness"
- Jeffrey's experience of being a Black male author.
- The process of moving from a big city to a rural lifestyle
- Reflections on Kano's evolution as an artist.

Find Jeffrey on Twitter at: @jeffreykboakye
His website is: https://www.jeffreyboakye.com/
Buy Hold Tight: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hold-Tight-Masculinity-Millennials-Meaning/dp/1910312258
Buy Black Listed: Black British Culture Explored: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Black-Listed-Jeffrey-Boakye/dp/0349700559

Aug 13, 202001:28:05

#019 Jane Garza [Organisational Change & Psychological Safety]

Welcome to episode 019! You can join my mailing list to stay in loop about Sizzle Episodes and to receive [semi regular] emails about using psychology in your life: https://www.drjotaylor.com/my-mailing-list

In this episode I am joined by Jane Garza. Jane is the Managing Director of NOBL LA a company working with organisational culture and systems.

Jane has spent almost a decade working in HR where she focused her time on reinventing, rebranding, and reimagining what HR does and is. She now coaches and advises world-famous organisations like Calvin Klein, Google Deepmind, and Reddit (!)

We talked about many amazing things, including:
- psychological safety
- team performance
- supporting changes in teams and organisations
- the family as a metaphor for teams

Find Jane at @hijanegarza
Find NOBL at www.nobl.io and @workNOBL on twitter

Find me at @jgetaylor on twitter

Jun 02, 202053:28

#017 Cassie Robinson [Narratives, the personal, societal and revolutionary]

Welcome to episode 017 of The Sizzle.

To stay in the loop about episodes, things I am thinking about and resources for applying psychology to life, sign up to my mailing list here:

https://www.drjotaylor.com/my-mailing-list

In this episode, among other things, Cassie and I discuss:
- Tools for exploring narratives and using them therapeutically
- Rituals for sharing experiences and narratives
- Living systems evolving alongside technological systems
- The intelligence of intuition (embodied wisdom)
- Intuition as a muscle
- Narratives as a way to solve problems
- The narrative initiative (stars, constellations and galaxies)
- Statement of Position Maps (Michael White) and using this on a community level.
- Stories and "squaring" interpretations
- Telling your own stories as an act of activism
- The need for language around grief and loss
- Creating a Farewell Fund for organisations which are no longer fit for purpose.

Find out more about Cassie:
@cassierobinson (twitter)
https://www.cassierobinson.work/

Contact me:
@jgetaylor (twitter)
www.drjotaylor.com

Resources and further reading:
More information about Narrative Therapy:
https://narrativeinitiative.org/about-us/
Learn about the Tree of Life:
https://dulwichcentre.com.au/the-tree-of-life/
Michael White's Maps of Narrative Practice:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Narrative-Practice-Norton-Professional-Hardcover/dp/0393705161

Apr 26, 202001:12:47

#016 Greg Wootton [Muay Thai, Masculinity & Mental Health]

In episode 016 I talk with Greg Wootton, a 2x world champion Muay Thai fighter, personal trainer and coach. We cover topics including:

- The transition from world champion to "more than just a world champion"
- The wonders and dangers of driving to be the best
- Using physical training to develop wellbeing
- Combat sports as a way to explore identity
- Meditation as a way to develop awareness
- The ripple effect of training someone [on society]
- Humility and being beaten
- Masculinity and homophobia in school
- Weight cutting
- Unhelpful habits created through driving to be the best fighter possible
- Warrior mindset Vs Compassionate mindset
- Adapting from a drive and threat mindset.
- Soothing as a fighter
- The elements of fight preparation: Physical, Technical, Strategic (and psychological)
- The importance of a growth mindset

Contact details:

If you'd like to find Greg he is on Insta (greg_wootton)

If you would like to contact me, I am on Twitter @jgetaylor or @thesizzlepod

Or you can join my mailing list to be notified of new episodes and other bits and bobs:
https://www.drjotaylor.com/my-mailing-list

Nov 22, 201901:06:07

#015 Sue Roffey [Relationships in Education & Inclusive Schools]

On episode #015 we talk about wonderful things, including:

- Sue's amazing writing grotto
- How students recognise that teachers care about them?
- The importance of laughter
- Types of belonging (inclusive and exclusive)
- Sue's ASPIRE pedagogy (agency, safety, positivity, inclusion, respect, equality)
- Greta Thunberg

Further Reading
- Visible Learning (John Hattie )
- Pathways to Belonging (Kelly Allen & Chris Boyle)
- 'Ordinary magic' needs ordinary magicians: The power and practice of positive relationships for building youth resilience and wellbeing (Sue Roffey)

Contact Sue:
www.sueroffey.com
@sueroffey (Twitter)

Contact me:
@jgetaylor (twitter)

Sign up to my mailing list:
https://www.drjotaylor.com/my-mailing-list

Sep 26, 201901:03:45

#014 Karen Treisman [Psychology, Creativity & Trauma Influenced Practice]

Karen is a Clinical Psychologist and expert in trauma informed practice. She delivers training, creates resources and writes books. We talked about:

- Her journey into psychology
- The books she has written about working with trauma
- How social justice is linked to psychological work
- Her creative process: how she writes and creates resources

Find her at
@dr_treisman
http://www.safehandsthinkingminds.co.uk

Contact me on:
@jgetaylor (twitter)

Jun 13, 201946:35

#013 Naveed Parvez [Designing health care based on empathy]

Episode 013 is with Naveed Parvez, co-founder and CEO of Andiamo, a company which builds orthotics using 3D scanning and printing technology.

We talk about:
- How "CEO" is a nebulous title
- The story of Andiamo and how it has almost made Naveed become religious.
- Designing services powered by empathy
- How healthcare could be better
- Decision making and emotions
- Mental health in medicine
- Caring for family members
- Driving meaningful social change
- The importance of revaluing and delivering services
- How close we are to a dystopian reality?

If you want to find out more about Andiamo:
https://andiamo.io
@AndiamoHQ (Twitter)

Suggested reading from Naveed
Doughnut Economics (Kate Raworth)
ANYTHING by Ben Goldacre

If you want to contact me:
@jgetaylor (Twitter)

May 12, 201901:09:27

#012 Iesha Small [The Unexpected Leader]

On episode #012 of The Sizzle I talk to Iesha, who is an edu-researcher, former teacher and senior leader. She recently published a book called The Unexpected Leader (link below). We discuss the book and much much more, including: - Unexpected Leadership - Types of Leadership - What Game of Thrones can teach us about leadership - Hip Hop as a tool for sociological examination - Facilitating mental health with photography and walking - Family - Saying what is important, not what is easy - Being "an artist" - Research and story telling Contact Iesha: @ieshasmall (twitter) www.ieshasmall.com Find The Unexpected Leader book here Contact me: @jgetaylor (twitter) Follow The Sizzle at @thesizzlepod (twitter)

Apr 08, 201901:01:38

#011 Dr Reuben Binns [Data Privacy, Ethical Algorithms and Big Tech]

Episode #011 of The Sizzle I talk to Dr Reuben Binns. Conversation topics include:

- Data privacy
- The ethics of artificial intelligence
- How algorithms can be biased
- The social issue of statistics
- Using statistical models to understand intelligence
- Ways we can stay safe online

Find Reuben here:
@RDBinns (twitter)
https://www.reubenbinns.com/

Contact me:
@jgetaylor (twitter)
@thesizzlepod (twitter)

Please subscribe and share

Mar 23, 201901:04:03

#010 Katharine Birbalsingh [Being Headmistress of Michaela, Education & Politics]

On episode 10 I am joined by Katharine Birbalsingh, Headmistress of Michaela Community School. We talk about"

- Free Schools
- Setting out to be different
- Causing controversy through being different
- Teaching from the front of the class Vs facilitating learning
- Teaching content Vs teaching skills
- How structures can facilitate feeling safe
- Actively teaching kindness and gratitude
- Working hard, being kind
- The first moment Katharine realised she wanted to work in education
- Giving a speech at the Conservative Party conference
- The moment Katharine realised she was not Left wing anymore
- Starting Michaela
- Being 'a natural' at PR
- The bravery required to think differently
- Ms Snuffleupagus and Sesame St
- Punishment as a sign of love

Recommended reading from Katharine:
Battle Hymn of the Tiger Teachers: The Michaela Way (Birbalsingh)
The Writing Revolution (Hochman & Wexler)
Teach Like a Champion (Lemov)
Thomas Sowell

Contact Katharine on @miss_snuffy
Contact me on @jgetaylor

Mar 05, 201901:00:28

#009 Will de Groot [Masculinity]

- What makes a good hug
- "The Tap" and men ending physical intimacy
- The lack of reference points for intimacy as a man
- Intimacy through combat
- The balance between "your truth" and "the truth"
- Navigating information
- How subjectivity can be a barrier to progress
- The merit of trying to find wisdom when you are surrounded by difference
- The Gillette Ad
- Jordan Peterson
- The way "what it means to be a man" has changed over time
- The 'gentleman' and the French Revolution
- The balance between biological and cultural influences on masculinity
- Trump as an opportunity to consider masculinity
- Using Feminism and a framework for thinking about masculinity

Suggested materials from Will:
- Go The Way Your Blood Beats (Michael Amherst)
- Mixed-Race Superman (Will Harris)
- Mixed Race Faces Insta account

Contact:
Find Will: @willdegroot (Twitter)
Find MEND: @MENDworld (Twitter)
Find me: @jgetaylor (Twitter)

Feb 14, 201901:12:03

#008 Carlos Moreno [Boxing, Philosophy & Business]

- The "martial art mentality"
- Meditation as a means to staying focussed
- Cycles of productivity
- Grit and inspiration
- Daily routines
- Tracking daily effort and perseverance
- Balancing your passion and perseverance levels
- The merits of meditation as part of productivity
- The importance of prioritisation as part of perseverance
- The difference between "a means" and "an end" in working towards our passion
- The different types of the role model within boxing (e.g. technical, moral)
- Boxing training
- Building a business
- The importance of staying connected to your roots
- How "the will to win" needs to be applied intentionally
- The importance of prioritising your projects
- The psychological processes in boxing training
- How terminology can frame understanding
- How boxing can be viewed as a system, like science
- Coaching phrases which contain knowledge and technique
- Using boxing as an analogy (boxing to understand life and using life to understand boxing)
- The strategy of boxing
- Physical, Technical, Strategic AND Psychological elements to boxing training
- How can boxing gyms prepare fighters psychologically for a fight?
- The importance of thinking across intellectual silos
- Understanding there may be multiple "right answers" to an issue.
- Being "an observer" of your participation in life (and boxing)
- How Tennessee's writing can provide a framework for training boxing

Find Carlos: @mrcarlosmoreno (Insta)
Check out Moreno Boxing: @morenoboxing (Insta)

Find me: @jgetaylor (Twitter)
Email me: hello@drjotaylor.com

Feb 02, 201901:11:20

#007 Fiona [The NHS, medicine and being a Dr]

- How people get into medicine (and often don't know what they've for themselves into!)
- The difficulty of getting good work experience in caring professions
- The tension around quitting and "falling out of love" with a career
- How immature people's brains are when they make career decisions
- What training to be a medical doctor looks like
- The transition from lecture based learning to experiential learning (hospital placements)
- Progressing from observing to working "with life and death"
- The complexity of people and illness
- Doctor / Patient power dynamics
- Are we using the best processes to teach people to become Doctors?
- Does the training for medicine work in opposition to the practice it requires?
- How GPs are like a multi petal flower
- Shift patterns, circadian rhythms and sleep
- Researching how to make ourselves healthier
- Complimentary medicine
- The difficulty of filtering evidence for validity and efficacy
- Personalised medicine
- The difficulty of explaining the rationale behind treatment options
- The importance of supporting the mental health of medical professionals
- Health as opposed to physical and mental health
- Peer supervision as a way of unsticking
- Collective intelligence
- The Hippocratic oath
- "Is there a doctor on the plane?" and the morality of helping.

Contact me on:
hello@drjotaylor.con
@jgetaylor (Twitter)

Please subscribe and share #TheSizzle to keep us growing :)

Jan 16, 201901:34:01

#006 Carys Afoko [Feminism]

Episode #006 is with Carys Afoko and we talk about the following:

- Reading habits and "syntopic" reading
- Making friends as an adult
- The similarities between Cardi-B and Angela Duckworth
- Why the word "Feminism" is important
- What Feminism is (for Carys)
- How people engage with the idea of feminism
- How feminism can advantage everyone
- The tension between balancing theory and practical change
- The importance of making movements communal
- The opportunity of bringing "academia" and "personal experience" closer together
- Identity and "sticky labels" (big up Yusef and Yusuf).
- How Feminism can help create an inclusive and supportive society.
- Connecting with the "heart" and "head" space
- How fear and power might influence inequality
- The feminist lessons from Pretty Woman

Recommended by Carys:
- Level Up by Sway (song)
- Level Up by Ciara (song)
- The Power by Naomi Alderman (book)

Find Carys at:
@carysafoko

Find out more about WeLevelUp at:
www.welevelup.org
@level_up (insta)
@welevelup (twitter)

Talk to me at:
@jgetaylor (twitter)
drjotaylor.com

Subscribe and share :)