Straight up talk with Sharon & Peter

sharon & peter
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Self-Improvement

We are both proud Brits and Canadians – this is a no-nonsense weekly podcast about behaviour, people, life, leadership, managing and all sorts of stuff, from a corporate and non-corporate perspective.  We don’t always agree...

  1. From Dunville’s Canal Roots To London Courtrooms

    6d ago

    From Dunville’s Canal Roots To London Courtrooms

    Send us Fan Mail We dig into the surprising history behind everyday places, from a canal-linked Ontario town name to a Manchester neighbourhood shaped by railways and pop culture. We also trace how a South London court case left a lasting mark on British legal history and public memory.  • why local geography makes history feel real  • Dunville, Ontario and John Henry Dunn’s link to canals and trade  • feeder canals and the labour that built them by hand  • Chorlton-c*m-Hardy’s Anglo-Saxon roots and its Victorian railway boom  • the Bee Gees connection and how cultural history lives on ordinary streets  • Norbury, Derek Bentley and the controversy behind “let him have it”  • how public pressure helped shift attitudes to capital punishment in the UK  Go to beabetteryou.ca/podcast and send us a message -  tell us where you live and we'll have a look to see what's interesting or unknown! Have a question, a comment, or want to find out more? go to https://www.beabetteryou.ca/ Podcast thoughtfully produced by https://www.isleofsound.ca/

    15 min
  2. Why we don't always agree - and it's a good thing

    Jun 23

    Why we don't always agree - and it's a good thing

    Send us Fan Mail Raised voices can look like a relationship problem, but we explain how disagreement can be a way to stress test ideas and arrive at the same conclusion. We share everyday stories, a bit of neuroscience, and the research insight that matters most: how you repair after conflict.  • why people mistake disagreement for arguing  • using everyday choices like the air fryer to reveal risk, stability, and spending habits  • the tree removal story and the difference between reacting and assessing  • why we rarely clash on values like freedom, autonomy, and equivalency  • how the amygdala can turn conflict into a threat response  • task conflict versus relationship conflict and what protects trust  • Gottman’s idea that repairing quickly matters more than avoiding conflict  If you want any more information or let us know what you'd like to talk about, go to the website beabetteryou.ca/podcast and send us a message. Have a question, a comment, or want to find out more? go to https://www.beabetteryou.ca/ Podcast thoughtfully produced by https://www.isleofsound.ca/

    16 min
  3. Direct Communication Without The Damage

    Jun 16

    Direct Communication Without The Damage

    Send us Fan Mail We explore why directness reads as helpful honesty to some people and as rudeness or threat to others, using real stories where blunt feedback changes the whole room. We unpack the brain science and cultural norms behind those reactions, then land on a practical rule we try to live by: say what you mean without being mean.  • why clarity can feel kind to direct communicators but harsh to others  • a dinner table moment that shows how feedback lands in real time  • how social rejection triggers the amygdala and fight flight freeze  • why intent and impact get confused in workplace communication  • cultural differences between North America, the UK, the Netherlands, Germany and Israel  • protecting boundaries at work without escalating conflict  • our brutally honest takeaways and what we would say differently now  If you want any more information about anything we've done podcasts on, or you want to share with us ideas, go to the website beabetteryou.ca. There's a tab, podcast, from there send us a message  Have a question, a comment, or want to find out more? go to https://www.beabetteryou.ca/ Podcast thoughtfully produced by https://www.isleofsound.ca/

    15 min
  4. Is common sense really all that common?

    Jun 9

    Is common sense really all that common?

    Send us Fan Mail We dig into whether common sense is truly universal or just experience we forget we learned, using stories from removals work, horse yards, martial arts, and everyday life. We challenge the idea that intelligence equals good judgement, and we leave with a blunt reminder that “obvious” depends on context, culture, and consequences.  • defining common sense as practical judgement built from everyday experience  • separating intelligence and education from real-world decision-making  • workplace examples where bright people miss basic safety and sequencing  • horse safety and why “obvious” depends on exposure and coaching  • military range habits and driving rules as learned behaviour  • consequences and incentives shown through the weekly racoon-rubbish mess  • a tragic balcony failure that shows cost-cutting can kill  • how common sense changes over time with evidence and social norms  • the real context behind the McDonald’s hot coffee case  • culture and communication shaping what gets labelled “common sense”  • takeaways for leadership, parenting, relationships, and managing expectations  If you want any more information or give us an idea about what you want to talk about. Yes, go to the website beabetteryou.ca. There is a tab 'podcast'. Send us an email there.  Have a question, a comment, or want to find out more? go to https://www.beabetteryou.ca/ Podcast thoughtfully produced by https://www.isleofsound.ca/

    16 min
  5. Emotional Intelligence 101

    Jun 2

    Emotional Intelligence 101

    Send us Fan Mail We talk about emotional intelligence as the real-world skill of being smart with feelings and staying effective when we get triggered. We share how the brain and body react under stress, why “calm down” backfires, and the simple pauses that help us respond without regret.  • defining emotional intelligence as skill with our feelings and other people’s feelings  • noticing triggers early through body signals like a twitch or gut punch  • understanding the amygdala response and why modern life sets it off so often  • why telling someone to “calm down” escalates conflict  • using empathy and reflection to lower the emotional temperature  • taking responsibility for our reactions rather than blaming others  • how assessments and training shaped Sharon’s workshops and book  • what high emotional intelligence looks like in behaviour and leadership  • practical tools that create space before we respond, including “That’s interesting. Tell me more” and a deep breath  • why emotional intelligence can be a career differentiator, including higher earnings for leaders with strong EI  If you want any more information or have an idea for a podcast, go to the website beabetteryou.ca backslash podcast and send us an email.  Have a question, a comment, or want to find out more? go to https://www.beabetteryou.ca/ Podcast thoughtfully produced by https://www.isleofsound.ca/

    16 min
  6. Do Degrees Still Matter?

    May 26

    Do Degrees Still Matter?

    Send us Fan Mail We challenge the idea that a degree automatically equals intelligence, credibility, or job readiness, especially as AI reshapes what work looks like. We weigh up when qualifications protect people and when skills, judgement, and emotional intelligence matter far more. • the producer’s question on whether degrees are always necessary  • how degrees became a shortcut filter in hiring and why that can embed bias  • our own career paths without degrees and what actually helped us progress  • roles where a degree is non-negotiable because mistakes can harm people  • why musicians, riders, and coaches show the gap between study and skill  • proof of capability through portfolio, experience, relationships, and results  • what degrees can signal and what they fail to measure  • why work ethic, adaptability, and communication matter more as AI grows  • when a degree gets you through the door and why it matters less over time  • the core question of qualifications versus real capability Have a question, a comment, or want to find out more? go to https://www.beabetteryou.ca/ Podcast thoughtfully produced by https://www.isleofsound.ca/

    16 min
  7. Some decisions feel huge while others reveal their impact later

    May 19

    Some decisions feel huge while others reveal their impact later

    Send us Fan Mail We talk about the decisions that change your life and why some moments feel like a clear line between before and after. We connect real turning points to neuroscience, gut instinct, and personal accountability so you can make cleaner choices under pressure. • why some decisions feel huge while others only reveal their impact later • how the amygdala drives fight flight freeze and locks in emotional memories • Sharon’s immigration interview in Lisbon and the shock of waiting on a yes or no • moving countries for love and the career ripple effects that follow • job hunting realities and the moment you discover what you truly want • gut instinct in business pricing and why ignoring it can cost you • saying no to work that is under-valued and protecting your standards • fast decision makers versus vacillators and what that looks like in teams • why humans hate randomness and create stories to feel in control • the blunt takeaway: own your choices and stop outsourcing responsibility If you want to suggest some content for a podcast, you can go to the website beabetteryou.ca. There's a link called podcast on there. Click on it, send us your ideas. Have a question, a comment, or want to find out more? go to https://www.beabetteryou.ca/ Podcast thoughtfully produced by https://www.isleofsound.ca/

    15 min
  8. Everything Has A Beginning Middle And End

    May 12

    Everything Has A Beginning Middle And End

    Send us Fan Mail We use a simple phrase to make sense of change: everything has a beginning, a middle, and an end. We share how dopamine, identity, sunk cost, and the 80/20 rule shape the choices we make when it’s time to move on.  • the idea that every situation moves through three stages  • why beginnings feel exciting and hopeful through novelty and dopamine  • why endings can threaten identity and trigger sunk cost thinking  • Peter’s removals business story and staying longer than he should  • Sharon’s move back to the UK and the moment the ending became clear  • overlap between endings and new beginnings in real working life  • using Pareto’s law 80/20 as a practical “stay or go” check  • the ranch and football examples of the ratio slowly flipping  • spotting the middle sooner through pulse checks and honest reflection  • presenteeism at work and how assumptions and expectations erode engagement  If you want any more information or let us know what you’d like us to talk about, go to the website, Beabetteryou.ca, and the tab 'podcast'. Have a question, a comment, or want to find out more? go to https://www.beabetteryou.ca/ Podcast thoughtfully produced by https://www.isleofsound.ca/

    16 min
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We are both proud Brits and Canadians – this is a no-nonsense weekly podcast about behaviour, people, life, leadership, managing and all sorts of stuff, from a corporate and non-corporate perspective.  We don’t always agree...

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