The Good Listening To Show: Stories of Distinction & Genius

Chris Grimes - Facilitator. Coach. Motivational Comedian
  • 5.0 (2)
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Telling the Stories of Humanity, one story at a time with a unique and thoroughly enjoyable Storytelling structure, that's been likened to having a 'Day Spa' for your Brain in an Oasis of Kindness! With the founding premise of the Show being: "Everybody has an interesting story to tell, provided that you give them the courtesy of a damned good listening to!" If you tell your Story 'out loud' then you're much more likely to LIVE it out loud" and that's what this Show is for: To help you to tell your Story - 'get it out there' - and reach a large global audience as you do so. It's the Storytelling Show in which I invite movers & makers, shakers & mavericks, influencers - and also personal heroes - into a 'Clearing' (or 'serious happy place') of my Guest's choosing, as they all share with us their stories of 'Distinction & Genius'. Think "Desert Island Discs" but in a 'Clearing' and with Stories rather than Music. Cutting through the noise of other podcasts, this is the storytelling show with the squirrels & the tree, from "MojoCoach", Facilitator & Motivational Comedian Chris Grimes. With some lovely juicy Storytelling metaphors to  enjoy along the way: A Clearing, a Tree, a lovely juicy Storytelling exercise called '5-4-3-2-1', some Alchemy, some Gold, a couple of random Squirrels, a cheeky bit of Shakespeare, a Golden Baton and a Cake! So it's all to play for! So - let's cut through the noise together and get listening! Show website: https://www.thegoodlisteningtoshow.com See also www.legacylifereflections.com + www.instantwit.co.uk + www.chrisgrimes.uk Twitter/Instagram @thatchrisgrimes 

  1. Legacy Life Reflections: There's Still a Snap in the Old Celery! Wit, Legacy and a Happy Life in Words with Harry Mount, Editor of 'The Oldie' Magazine

    2D AGO

    Legacy Life Reflections: There's Still a Snap in the Old Celery! Wit, Legacy and a Happy Life in Words with Harry Mount, Editor of 'The Oldie' Magazine

    Send a text What if staying sharp has nothing to do with age and everything to do with curiosity? We sit down with Harry Mount, editor of The Oldie, for a brisk, generous tour through a life shaped by language, architecture, bicycles, and the courage to change course. Harry opens with the soul of the magazine—why it prizes wit over celebrity and celebrates people “with snap in their celery”—and takes us inside Oldie Of The Year, where legends and unsung heroes share a stage and a laugh. From there, we travel to his “clearing” on the Pembrokeshire cliffs and the four moments that defined his path: the quiet impact of a brother he never met, a childhood powered by worry and exams, a sharp pivot from barrister-in-waiting to gossip columnist, and finally the long, lively challenge of editing a 100-page print institution. Along the way, Barry Humphries’ razor wit, Giles Brandreth’s encomiums, and the thrill of clean copy land with warmth and precision. Harry’s passions animate every page: the “R factor” of great buildings, from Vanbrugh to Hawksmoor; the classics as living tools woven through two-thirds of English; and the deceptive ease of comic prose from Wodehouse, Waugh, Mitford, and Amis. He shares honest distractions—the tug of the internet, the tonic of Hampstead ponds—and a love of press trips where purpose beats the pressure to have fun. There’s a personal twist too: his distant cousin Tony Adams, whose openness about addiction helped shift the culture around recovery. Two lines frame the wisdom here. From Virgil: “One day it will help to remember even these things,” a balm for hard seasons and a nudge toward meaning. From Arthur Balfour via Bill Deedes: “Nothing matters very much, and very few things matter at all,” a reminder to edit life with a lighter touch. The dream? To be remembered for a great comic novel—and, failing that, for meeting interesting people, doing interesting things, and writing them up right. If you love good stories, beautiful buildings, late‑period Elvis, and the feeling of wind-in-your-face clarity on a bike, you’ll feel at home. Listen, share with a friend who needs a purposeful nudge, and leave a review so more curious minds can find us. Tune in next week for more stories of 'Distinction & Genius' from The Good Listening To Show 'Clearing'. If you would like to be my Guest too then you can find out HOW via the different 'series strands' at 'The Good Listening To Show' website. Show Website: https://www.thegoodlisteningtoshow.com You can email me about the Show: chris@secondcurve.uk Twitter thatchrisgrimes LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-grimes-actor-broadcaster-facilitator-coach/ FaceBook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/842056403204860 Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW wherever you get your Podcasts :) Thanks for listening!

    55 min
  2. Founder Story: How to Arrive Fresh - not Frazzled - and Ready to Deliver! Better Business Travel with Ingrid Sanderson from Principal Travel

    FEB 4

    Founder Story: How to Arrive Fresh - not Frazzled - and Ready to Deliver! Better Business Travel with Ingrid Sanderson from Principal Travel

    Send us a text Calling all High Performing Business Travellers! What if travel didn’t drain your energy but amplified your performance? That question sits at the heart of our conversation with Founder Ingrid Sanderson of Principal Travel, a boutique, independent firm built to help professionals arrive fresh, not frazzled. We dig into how her team blends concierge-level care with smart digital tools to protect a traveller’s most precious assets: time, money, and wellbeing. Ingrid shares the origin story behind a 27-year journey through ash clouds, strikes, airport outages, Brexit, and a once-in-a-century pandemic. The constant theme is trust. From rapid responses to proactive fixes, her team creates calm where there could be panic, so clients stay focused on keynotes, boardrooms, and big moments. We talk about why independence from airlines and hotel chains matters, how invoicing adapts to a client’s finance stack, and why a hybrid model—human expertise plus online booking—is the sweet spot for global time zones and fast decisions. We also explore culture and leadership: a long-tenured, highly trained team; the role of mentors and “Nigel’s 90 minutes” to protect strategy time; and the personal influences that shape a female-led business. You’ll meet Casey the Briefcase, plus avatars Bella Businesswoman and Max Mileage, who bring travel tips to life through playful storytelling. And you’ll hear blunt, useful advice for anyone still DIY-ing complex itineraries: know your worth and delegate outside your genius. The hidden costs of fatigue, rework, and missteps are real; a dedicated travel partner prevents them. If you travel multiple times a year and care about performance, this is your playbook for stress-free, high-impact trips. Subscribe, share with a colleague who spends too many hours on airline sites, and leave a review to tell us your biggest travel pain—what should we solve next? Tune in next week for more stories of 'Distinction & Genius' from The Good Listening To Show 'Clearing'. If you would like to be my Guest too then you can find out HOW via the different 'series strands' at 'The Good Listening To Show' website. Show Website: https://www.thegoodlisteningtoshow.com You can email me about the Show: chris@secondcurve.uk Twitter thatchrisgrimes LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-grimes-actor-broadcaster-facilitator-coach/ FaceBook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/842056403204860 Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW wherever you get your Podcasts :) Thanks for listening!

    47 min
  3. Founder Story: What if your Greatest Pain was Polishing you all Along? From Rough to Polished to Flawless with Diana Esther Berschader, Spiritual Coach & Best Selling Author of "The Diamond Within"

    JAN 20

    Founder Story: What if your Greatest Pain was Polishing you all Along? From Rough to Polished to Flawless with Diana Esther Berschader, Spiritual Coach & Best Selling Author of "The Diamond Within"

    Send us a text Pressure doesn’t just test us; it can transform us. My guest, Diana Esther Berschader, introduces us to her "Diamond Within" Spiritual Philosophy: A living source of inner guidance that many of us forget under layers of fear, fatigue, and old stories. Her path runs from a Soviet childhood where a ballerina’s dream was dismissed, through years of illness and an eventual cancer diagnosis, to a profound reconnection with the quiet voice that first said: Do not be scared. We explore what it means to treat consciousness as practical—how you think, feel, and act today—not an abstract ideal. Diana draws a clean line between religion and a personal spiritual connection anchored in the heart. She frames midlife as a powerful crossing for women, a time to shift from pushing to flowing, from seeking external permission to trusting inner light. The conversation moves from philosophy to practice: a simple daily heart ritual, the subtle signals the body sends, and how small moments of presence can restore clarity, courage, and ease. Diana shares the tools she built to make the path real: An online programme designed to peel back the layers that hide our inner brilliance, and two books—one a roadmap from rough to flawless, the other a collection of spiritual poems that cut through noise with feeling. We talk about community, mentorship across generations, and a belief that personal transformation scales to cultural change. When one diamond shines, the crown brightens. Ready to meet your own guiding light? Listen now, visit thediamondwithin.co.uk to book a free Diamond Clarity Session, and if this conversation resonates, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs a spark today. Tune in next week for more stories of 'Distinction & Genius' from The Good Listening To Show 'Clearing'. If you would like to be my Guest too then you can find out HOW via the different 'series strands' at 'The Good Listening To Show' website. Show Website: https://www.thegoodlisteningtoshow.com You can email me about the Show: chris@secondcurve.uk Twitter thatchrisgrimes LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-grimes-actor-broadcaster-facilitator-coach/ FaceBook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/842056403204860 Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW wherever you get your Podcasts :) Thanks for listening!

    47 min
  4. Founder Story: Lost your Spark or Hiding your Inner Genius? Rachel Shelmerdine from 'Alchemy Inside', on How to Transform your Inner Potential into Real World Impact & Gold

    JAN 17

    Founder Story: Lost your Spark or Hiding your Inner Genius? Rachel Shelmerdine from 'Alchemy Inside', on How to Transform your Inner Potential into Real World Impact & Gold

    Send us a text What if your best leadership tools were already inside you—waiting for the right spark? Expert Coach & Advisor to Founders & Leaders, Rachel Shelmerdine, joins us for a 'Founder Story' that blends rebel grit, design-world savvy, and the gentle audacity to be yourself. Once one of the first specialist coaches in the UK design sector, Rachel stepped back to homeschool her son in Italy and is now stepping forward again, bringing a richer lens on creativity, courage, and clarity. We talk about how “Alchemy Inside” turns survival mode into agency. Rachel unpacks the Coaching philosophy that helped major firms like Landor and Gensler, then dives into the work behind the scenes: shaping identity through story, protecting flow for deep work, and leading with humour and heart.  Her mental clearing—the Lido di Venezia—becomes a metaphor for stress slipping away so that better choices can appear. Along the way: Laurel and Hardy, the power of good design that marries beauty with function, and the surprising tale of reading castles and trees on beermats in a Belgian pub. If you’ve ever felt pressure to perform someone else’s script, this conversation offers a reset. You’ll hear practical ways to reclaim your narrative, sleep on tough calls, and use language to make strategy sing. Rachel’s take on coaching isn’t a formula; it’s a catalyst—reflecting your strengths back to you until you can see them clearly enough to act. Leaders facing anxiety, phobias, or a crowded market will find grounded tactics for momentum without the burnout theatre. Ready to rediscover your own gold and be known for the right reasons? Listen now, share with a friend who needs a nudge, and leave a review to help more creative leaders find their clearing. Subscribe for more founder stories, creative leadership insights, and warm, human conversations that move work—and lives—forward. Tune in next week for more stories of 'Distinction & Genius' from The Good Listening To Show 'Clearing'. If you would like to be my Guest too then you can find out HOW via the different 'series strands' at 'The Good Listening To Show' website. Show Website: https://www.thegoodlisteningtoshow.com You can email me about the Show: chris@secondcurve.uk Twitter thatchrisgrimes LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-grimes-actor-broadcaster-facilitator-coach/ FaceBook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/842056403204860 Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW wherever you get your Podcasts :) Thanks for listening!

    1h 10m
  5. Founder Story: Backs, Posture & Sitting Better. Bums on Seats with Alex Prince, Osteopath & Inventor of the Z Chair! He's the Bloke Who Helps You Sit Better!

    JAN 13

    Founder Story: Backs, Posture & Sitting Better. Bums on Seats with Alex Prince, Osteopath & Inventor of the Z Chair! He's the Bloke Who Helps You Sit Better!

    Send us a text Alex Prince is a Bristol based Osteopath and Inventor of the Z Chair by Sit Straight, an ergonomic chair to promote better posture and better spinal health. I'm sitting on mine now! You can get YOURS at https://www.sitstraight.co.uk or simply Google the Z Chair! Alex and I have engaged in a perfect bit of reciprocity: We've exchanged a Show for a Z Chair!  Alex gets to tell you his Story and I'll be sitting very upright as he tells it! Get you hands and your bottom on a Z Chair!  And Alex will tell you why and how! Your chair might be coaching your spine into pain. We sit down with osteopath and Z Chair inventor Alex Prince to unpack why most seats flatten the spine’s natural S curve, switch off your core, and quietly load your discs through the workday. Alex shares the story of turning years in clinic—treating the same avoidable injuries—into a simple, affordable design that makes good posture the default: a sloped seat that drops the knees below the hips, cues a gentle pelvic tilt, and helps you sit tall without trying. We trace Alex’s path from rugby pitches and a near-miss with medicine to osteopathy’s more holistic lens. Mentors who shaped his practice, the clarity he finds in long runs and open landscapes, and a family thread that frames resilience all feed into a clear mission: prevention over firefighting. You’ll learn why “active sitting” matters, how microbreaks every 20 minutes protect tissues and sharpen focus, and the counterintuitive truth that backrests can become crutches. Alex’s favourite reminder—give the body a crutch and it will lean on it—lands with practical steps you can use today. Expect grounded, useful ergonomics: raise the hips above the knees, keep screens at eye level, plant your feet, and let posture breathe. We also explore how a sloped seat can improve presence on video calls by naturally bringing you forward, and why graded movement beats total rest when pain flares. Whether you’re dealing with back pain, managing a team, or just trying to stay sharp at your desk, this conversation offers simple changes with outsized impact. Sit better, move more, and let your environment work for you. Enjoyed the conversation? Follow for more founder stories and practical wellbeing insights, share with a friend who slouches, and leave a quick review—your feedback helps others find the show. Tune in next week for more stories of 'Distinction & Genius' from The Good Listening To Show 'Clearing'. If you would like to be my Guest too then you can find out HOW via the different 'series strands' at 'The Good Listening To Show' website. Show Website: https://www.thegoodlisteningtoshow.com You can email me about the Show: chris@secondcurve.uk Twitter thatchrisgrimes LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-grimes-actor-broadcaster-facilitator-coach/ FaceBook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/842056403204860 Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW wherever you get your Podcasts :) Thanks for listening!

    1 hr
  6. Leadership Reflections: Working for Cause Not Applause with World Renowned Keynote Speaker & 'Chief Zoo Keeper', Nigel Risner. Introducing his 211°vs 212° Theory of Presence & Excellence & Navigating the Animal Kingdom of Leadership

    12/30/2025

    Leadership Reflections: Working for Cause Not Applause with World Renowned Keynote Speaker & 'Chief Zoo Keeper', Nigel Risner. Introducing his 211°vs 212° Theory of Presence & Excellence & Navigating the Animal Kingdom of Leadership

    Send us a text What if your team’s friction isn’t about difficult people—but mismatched “food”? We sit down with Nigel Risner, the self-styled Chief Zookeeper, to unpack a disarmingly simple idea: people are different, not difficult. From that starting point, Nigel shows how to stop serving steak to dolphins, how to read the room fast, and how to change your language so action follows naturally. He’s direct, funny, and unfiltered—and he cares about results more than applause. Nigel walks us through the moment his model clicked, staring at labelled buckets in a zoo and realising communication is about feeding styles, not forcing messages. We talk about being responsible to the audience, not for the audience; why the best meetings prize presence over note-taking; and how small changes in pace and detail produce big jumps in buy-in. His 211 vs 212 framework nails peak performance: most days are very good, but a few tip into “boiling” when energy and clarity align. You can’t fake those days—but you can study and repeat what makes them possible. There’s heart and grit here, too. Nigel shares the story of a brain aneurysm after a relentless travel schedule, how COVID forced a reset, and why “be where your feet are” became more than a line—it became a way to live. We riff on tennis and the inner game—play the point you’re in, serve well, and reduce interference—and translate that into everyday leadership and customer service. He also gives us four punchy values to carry forward: drink from the fountains of knowledge, swear to make today your best, steal time to help others, and, when you lie down, be grateful for dreams. If you lead teams, speak to customers, or simply want more 212 days, this conversation is a toolkit: practical, human, and immediately usable. Listen, share with a colleague who needs clearer conversations, and subscribe for more stories that sharpen your leadership. Then tell us: which animal are you feeding first this week? Tune in next week for more stories of 'Distinction & Genius' from The Good Listening To Show 'Clearing'. If you would like to be my Guest too then you can find out HOW via the different 'series strands' at 'The Good Listening To Show' website. Show Website: https://www.thegoodlisteningtoshow.com You can email me about the Show: chris@secondcurve.uk Twitter thatchrisgrimes LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-grimes-actor-broadcaster-facilitator-coach/ FaceBook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/842056403204860 Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW wherever you get your Podcasts :) Thanks for listening!

    58 min
  7. Adam Buxton: The Pioneer of British Podcasting & King of the Jingle! On Grief, Creativity, the Calm of Audio - and introducing 'Click Bait Wally'!

    12/23/2025

    Adam Buxton: The Pioneer of British Podcasting & King of the Jingle! On Grief, Creativity, the Calm of Audio - and introducing 'Click Bait Wally'!

    Send us a text The conversation opens with a tender contradiction: how do you keep the best of your childish self while learning to say goodbye to what no longer fits? Adam Buxton joins us to trace that thread from DIY TV to Decca, from late-night Channel 4 oddities to the calming crunch of Norfolk gravel under foot. We talk about his second memoir, I Love You Bye, the bomb-blast of losing parents, and the quieter grief of habits shed. He’s frank about the relief of leaving social media and the lingering “voice” it left behind, and he gives that voice a name you’ll remember: Clickbait Wally. We get into why he fiercely protects audio-only conversations. Cameras change how people speak; microphones invite candour and curiosity. That belief shaped The Adam Buxton Podcast intros, the walks with Rosie, and a style of interview that feels like meeting someone at a party and gently falling in love with their mind. We map the influences—Mark Maron, Monty Python, Channel 4’s late-night culture buffet—and share why good documentaries (Turn Every Page, Thank You Very Much) can rewire the way you see power, craft, and comedy. Then the craft reveals its joy. Adam lights up about jingles and the small alchemy of turning ads into songs, where silliness meets precision. Those sketches evolved into Buckle Up on Decca and a live show that lets him fire samples, sing about unabsorbent tea towels, and savour the old dream of being in a band. There’s practical wisdom too: patience is genius; a soft answer turneth away wrath; join a band even if it’s terrible; keep going. Legacy, for him, isn’t a monument. It’s a folder of favourite work, an honest archive his children can open when they need a reminder that curiosity and kindness still count. If you enjoy smart, human conversations about creativity, loss, and the calm hidden in ordinary moments, press play and come walk with us. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs a gentler listen, and leave a review to help more people find the show. Tune in next week for more stories of 'Distinction & Genius' from The Good Listening To Show 'Clearing'. If you would like to be my Guest too then you can find out HOW via the different 'series strands' at 'The Good Listening To Show' website. Show Website: https://www.thegoodlisteningtoshow.com You can email me about the Show: chris@secondcurve.uk Twitter thatchrisgrimes LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-grimes-actor-broadcaster-facilitator-coach/ FaceBook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/842056403204860 Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW wherever you get your Podcasts :) Thanks for listening!

    1h 29m
  8. Founder Story: Raising The Roof On Small Business Growth with Entrepreneur Ben Foulkes. How to Build Trust, Demand and Think BIG (& Stop Thinking Small!)

    12/16/2025

    Founder Story: Raising The Roof On Small Business Growth with Entrepreneur Ben Foulkes. How to Build Trust, Demand and Think BIG (& Stop Thinking Small!)

    Send us a text A single sentence on a wall changed everything. Ben, the founder of Kempton Installation Services, walked into our Inner Circle meeting ready to blame the weather for a quiet order book—and walked out with a different story. We dig into how he stopped thinking like a small business owner, doubled down on what actually worked, and built a six-to-eight-week pipeline without praying for rain. We explore the surprising hero of his marketing: a trust-first “killer flyer” that beats flashy tactics. In a market plagued by scepticism, Ben’s piece leads with clarity—top customer questions answered, the real team on show, recent reviews, and a short founder story. After iterating, it scaled from 10,000 to 80,000 drops and outperformed every other channel. That decision to choose substance over sizzle didn’t just fill the diary; it filtered for serious buyers and sped up sales. Alongside that, we unpack the harder decision to hire—bringing in operations and sales to protect momentum—when fear might have said “cut.” The human threads matter just as much. Ben’s childhood built a voice that can stand alone; his dad’s perspective supplies grit when things wobble; his partner’s decisiveness balances his instinct to ponder; his daughter reframes success as kindness and joy. Those experiences shape the leader behind the rota, the quote on the wall, and the way the phone is answered. Expect practical, repeatable lessons for any service business: identify channels that consistently deliver, tell the truth better than your competitors, and create capacity before you hit the ceiling. Success, as Ben puts it, sits on the other side of fear—and ownership is the bridge. If this resonates, follow and share with a founder who needs the nudge. And if you got value from the show, leave a quick review—it helps more builders, makers, and doers find the mindset and methods to grow. Tune in next week for more stories of 'Distinction & Genius' from The Good Listening To Show 'Clearing'. If you would like to be my Guest too then you can find out HOW via the different 'series strands' at 'The Good Listening To Show' website. Show Website: https://www.thegoodlisteningtoshow.com You can email me about the Show: chris@secondcurve.uk Twitter thatchrisgrimes LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-grimes-actor-broadcaster-facilitator-coach/ FaceBook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/842056403204860 Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW wherever you get your Podcasts :) Thanks for listening!

    46 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Telling the Stories of Humanity, one story at a time with a unique and thoroughly enjoyable Storytelling structure, that's been likened to having a 'Day Spa' for your Brain in an Oasis of Kindness! With the founding premise of the Show being: "Everybody has an interesting story to tell, provided that you give them the courtesy of a damned good listening to!" If you tell your Story 'out loud' then you're much more likely to LIVE it out loud" and that's what this Show is for: To help you to tell your Story - 'get it out there' - and reach a large global audience as you do so. It's the Storytelling Show in which I invite movers & makers, shakers & mavericks, influencers - and also personal heroes - into a 'Clearing' (or 'serious happy place') of my Guest's choosing, as they all share with us their stories of 'Distinction & Genius'. Think "Desert Island Discs" but in a 'Clearing' and with Stories rather than Music. Cutting through the noise of other podcasts, this is the storytelling show with the squirrels & the tree, from "MojoCoach", Facilitator & Motivational Comedian Chris Grimes. With some lovely juicy Storytelling metaphors to  enjoy along the way: A Clearing, a Tree, a lovely juicy Storytelling exercise called '5-4-3-2-1', some Alchemy, some Gold, a couple of random Squirrels, a cheeky bit of Shakespeare, a Golden Baton and a Cake! So it's all to play for! So - let's cut through the noise together and get listening! Show website: https://www.thegoodlisteningtoshow.com See also www.legacylifereflections.com + www.instantwit.co.uk + www.chrisgrimes.uk Twitter/Instagram @thatchrisgrimes 

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