The Why Word

Each week, The Why Word gets under the skin of entrepreneurs, business leaders, creatives and people who make things happen to find out what makes them tick. Presented by Ian Hawkins.

Elsie Owusu OBE one of the UK's most prominent architects, headed the refurbishment of the Supreme Court in London, UK. 

In the final episode of the series, Elsie talks about having one foot in the establishment and one foot outside.The Why Word is a TBD Media Group Production

Each week, The Why Word gets under the skin of entrepreneurs, business leaders, creatives and people who make things happen to find out what makes them tick. Presented by Ian Hawkins.

Guy Pratt is a session bassist, lending his basslines to songs by Madonna, Michael Jackson and Pink Floyd. Recorded in Guy's kitchen, we hear about being on tour with the world's biggest bands and why basslines are so important to the music we hear every day. 

The Why Word is a TBD Media Group Production

Each week, The Why Word gets under the skin of entrepreneurs, business leaders, creatives and people who make things happen to find out what makes them tick. Presented by Ian Hawkins.

In this special extended edition of the podcast, we meet artist Alison Lapper. Alison became well known as the subject of a sculpture by Marc Quinn that was prominently displayed on Trafalgar Square's fourth plinth. We discuss growing up disabled, how attitudes change and making a life as an artist.  

Recorded at Alison's home, the conversation includes discussion of mental health, bereavement and prejudice.

The Why Word is a TBD Media Group Production

Each week, The Why Word gets under the skin of entrepreneurs, business leaders, creatives and people who make things happen to find out what makes them tick. Presented by Ian Hawkins.

Danielle Brown MBE was the first disabled athlete to represent England in an able-bodied event at the Commonwealth Games. She also has a collection of Paralympic golds to her name and is an in-demand public speaker, author and educator. 

Danielle's mission is 'To inspire and empower people to unlock their potential, overcome adversity and achieve more.' Danielle appears courtesy of DBA Speakers.

The Why Word is a TBD Media Group Production

Each week, The Why Word gets under the skin of entrepreneurs, business leaders, creatives and people who make things happen to find out what makes them tick. Presented by Ian Hawkins.

Greg Jackson is founder and CEO of Octopus Energy. Customers want energy to be cheap, and they also want to be part of the solution to climate change. We also talk about how business can make a bigger impact than politics.

Greg's lunch guest is a tech pioneer - and time management maestro.

The Why Word is a TBD Media Group Production

Each week, The Why Word gets under the skin of entrepreneurs, business leaders, creatives and people who make things happen to find out what makes them tick. Presented by Ian Hawkins.

Charles Hazlewood is an acclaimed conductor and founder of the Paraorchestra which performed at the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics. He joins us to talk about teamwork, leadership and the healing power of the universal language of music. 

Charles's lunch guest is a powerful force for good in the world.

The Why Word is a TBD Media Group Production

Each week, The Why Word gets under the skin of entrepreneurs, business leaders, creatives and people who make things happen to find out what makes them tick. Presented by Ian Hawkins.

Rob Law's Dragon's Den disaster turned out to be the best thing that could've happened. We talk about reality TV and the reason why resilience is a tough lesson Rob learned early. 

Rob's lunch guest is a product pioneer at one of the world's biggest companies.

The Why Word is a TBD Media Group Production

Each week, The Why Word gets under the skin of entrepreneurs, business leaders, creatives and people who make things happen to find out what makes them tick. Presented by Ian Hawkins.

Adam Pearson is a human rights campaigner and actor, appearing opposite Scarlett Johanssen in Under The Skin. We discuss the misconceptions that can stop disabled people from achieving their career goals - and why 'taking a risk' is really no risk at all. 

Adam's lunch companion is currently the world's most in-demand actor.

The Why Word is a TBD Media Group Production

Each week, The Why Word gets under the skin of entrepreneurs, business leaders, creatives and people who make things happen to find out what makes them tick. Presented by Ian Hawkins.

Simon Fanshawe is a comedian-turned-actvist. The first-ever winner of the prestigious Perrier Award, Simon became one of the founder members of gay rights organisation, Stonewall UK. We talked about the huge changes in attitudes that have evolved as a result of the campaigning, and look at the tactics that made them successful.

Simon's dream lunch companion is a bridge-building US President.

The Why Word is a TBD Media Group Production

Each week, The Why Word gets under the skin of entrepreneurs, business leaders, creatives and people who make things happen to find out what makes them tick. Presented by Ian Hawkins.

d Jervis is Change and Culture Lead at Serco. How do change and culture inform each other, and what can businesses do to go beyond 'diverse' to become truly 'inclusive'? Ed's lunch guest is a civil servant turned gay icon.

The Why Word is a TBD Media Group Production

Each week, The Why Word gets under the skin of entrepreneurs, business leaders, creatives and people who make things happen to find out what makes them tick. Presented by Ian Hawkins.

Margaret Heffernan is a TED speaker, author, CEO and award-winning radio playwright. She jois us to talk about the responsibility leaders have to see the big picture and not ignore the obvious. We also talk about how culture creates an environment in which good or bad practices can flourish. Margaret's lunch guest is an iconic fashion designer.

The Why Word is a TBD Media Group Production

Each week, The Why Word gets under the skin of entrepreneurs, business leaders, creatives and people who make things happen to find out what makes them tick. Presented by Ian Hawkins

Iasha Masoodhas a passion for digital platforms. In this episode we talk about how businesses have to get their digital and ethical platforms straight, and why Coronavirus has pushed the conversation on. We also discuss Iasha's record-breaking experience on The Apprentice.

Iasha's lunch guest is one of the world's most recognised entrepreneurs.

The Why Word is a TBD Media Group Production

Each week, The Why Word gets under the skin of entrepreneurs, business leaders, creatives and people who make things happen to find out what makes them tick. Presented by Ian Hawkins.

John Doran believes that educating children is more about giving them resilience and emotional intelligence than coaching them to pass tests. His TEDx talk - on Positive Education for the 21st Century - is a rallying cry for more to be done to support what he calls ‘the second most important job in the world after being a parent’ and his Ways for Wellbeing program is currently being used in over 140 schools. 

We also find out that John would like to meet for lunch with an entrepreneur famous for being a less-than-brilliant student.

Each week, The Why Word gets under the skin of entrepreneurs, business leaders, creatives and people who make things happen to find out what makes them tick. Presented by Ian Hawkins.

Pamela Pecs Cytron is founder and CEO at Pendo Systems. The company brings innovative technology solutions to transforming financial institutions. With the advances in AI and machine learning, Pendo has itself gone through massive change, as has Pamela.

Pam's lunch guest is an influential yet humble giant of the insurance industry.

Each week, The Why Word gets under the skin of entrepreneurs, business leaders, creatives and people who make things happen to find out what makes them tick. Presented by Ian Hawkins.

Ravi Rao is a neuroscientist-turned-management consultant. Now fusing the two sides of his personality, he looks at how businesses can become emotionally healthier places to work, and reap the benefits of a happier, motivated and more productive workforce. Ravi is author of Emotional Business: inspiring human connectedess to grow earnings and the economy. 

Ravi's lunch guest is a global figure remembered as a symbol of reconcilliation.

Each week, The Why Word gets under the skin of entrepreneurs, business leaders, creatives and people who make things happen to find out what makes them tick. Presented by Ian Hawkins.

Robert Taylor is one of Britain’s most celebrated portrait photographers. His work has been exhibited in the National Portrait Gallery, and he regularly takes commissions from high profile organisations. We plot his career from the RAF and training as a barrister, before he picked up a camera. We explore balancing art with the need to make a living.

Robert's lunch guest is someone who has the resources to influence and support the arts.

The Why Word is a TBD Media Group Production

Each week, The Why Word gets under the skin of entrepreneurs, business leaders, creatives and people who make things happen to find out what makes them tick. Presented by Ian Hawkins.

Andrew Roach founded a talent agency that quickly attracted some of Britain’s most high profile disabled talent. His stable of acts includes presenter and actor Adam Pearson and comedian Lee Ridley - also known as Lost Voice Guy, the winner of Britain’s Got Talent. In this week’s show we find out how diversity is good for business, and whether entertainment is leading the way or catching up. 

Andrew’s business lunch guest is a rhinestone-studded singer-songwriter.

The Why Word is a TBD Media Group Production

Each week, The Why Word gets under the skin of entrepreneurs, business leaders, creatives and people who make things happen to find out what makes them tick. Presented by Ian Hawkins.

Ashley Storrie is a Glaswegian comedian, who started out creating content online until she followed her mother onto the stage and began performing live gigs. 

In this episode we talk about building audience loyalty by saying the unsayable, differences between the online world and real life and how the comedy industry is responding to lockdown. 

We also find out that Ashley’s business lunch guest would be a YouTube phenomenon.

The Why Word is a TBD Media Group Production

Each week, The Why Word gets under the skin of entrepreneurs, business leaders, creatives and people who make things happen to find out what makes them tick. Presented by Ian Hawkins.

BJ Cunningham is a serial entrepreneur and consultant to many high profile businesses. In the show we talk bout then power of telling the truth, bucking trends and sketch out a provocative marketing campaign. We also talk about how attitude is more important than anything else when it comes to weathering storms.

BJ’s business lunch goes was described by the UN as working ‘all his life for the development of harmony and cooperation between peoples without distinction’.

A TBD Media Group Production

Samantha Johnson has overseen major transformation projects, and after some 30 years in healthcare has moved into banking. We talk about the importance of process, and how to re-cast change as continuous improvement to achieve enthusiasm and buy-in from  colleagues. We also touch on how vulnerability has grown in importance as a trait we expect to see in our leaders.

Samantha’s business lunch guest is a historical figure with a reputation for facing down adversity.

Presented by Ian Hawkins

A TBD Media production

Daniel Lassman is founder of The Weekly Quiz Company. Trivia nights are big business pulling in customers to pubs that are struggling to remain open. The biggest pub quiz company in the UK, Weekly Quiz hosts hundreds of quiz nights in pubs, bars, social clubs and private venues every week. With the Coronavirus lockdown affecting his business, we hear inspiring and motivating lessons from a Daniel about how to radically pivot your business when the rug is pulled out.

Daniel’s business lunch guest turns out to be a high profile British businessman who you might assume he’d already had lunch with - but apparently not.

Presented by Ian Hawkins  
The Why Word is a TBD Media Group production

Ambitious businesses are using digital media as never before to strengthen relationships with their stakeholders. Paolo Zanini, founder and CEO at TBD Media Group discusses growing a global brand, levelling up to the responsibility of building a business in your own image and how being a father has changed his attitude to risk.

We also find out that his ideal business lunch guest would be someone who is leaving their mark on humanity.

Presented by Ian Hawkins
The Why Word is a TBD Media Group production