The Culture Whisperer - a podcast for HR, Communications and Business Leaders everywhere!

Dawn Smedley
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The Culture Whisperer podcast brings to you uplifting conversations with inspirational business leaders exploring their stories, learning and experiences that they see have the biggest impact on organisational culture. Often it can be the smallest 'whispers' that make the biggest difference and there are 'culture whisperers' in every organisation at all levels. We'll be leaning into this and much more!

  1. May 8

    "The Treat People as You Want to Be Treated One" | with Paul Jones-Nolan, Group People Director, San Carlo Restaurant Group

    "The smallest things make the biggest difference. Welcome to The Culture Whisperer." Some culture whispers are simple. This one is the simplest and most powerful of all. In this episode, Dawn chats with Paul Jones-Nolan — Group People Director at the San Carlo Restaurant Group — a leader who started from the very bottom of hospitality and never forgot it. Paul shares what it means to build culture in the world of restaurants and hospitality, why art became an unexpected cultural catalyst at San Carlo, and how showing up with fairness, authenticity and genuine care for people — even in the hardest conversations — is what leadership is really all about. "Paul never forgets where he started — and that shows in how he treats everyone." 🎙️ Culture Whispers in this episode: Treat people how you want to be treated — it sounds simple, but it's everythingCulture in hospitality lives on the floor, in the kitchen and in every single interactionIf you can be fair, honest and human — even in difficult conversations — you can build something specialA brilliant listen for anyone passionate about people, culture, hospitality and creating workplaces where humans can truly thrive. Plus… Paul's favourite kitchen dancing song...the Steps Megamix. 🕺✨

    "The Treat People as You Want to Be Treated One" | with Paul Jones-Nolan, Group People Director, San Carlo Restaurant Group

  2. Feb 8

    "The Hope Is a Strategy One" | with Ian Pettigrew, Author & Leadership Coach

    "The smallest things make the biggest difference. Welcome to The Culture Whisperer." Hope isn't wishful thinking. It's a leadership strategy. In this episode, Dawn is reunited with her friend and long-time kindred spirit Ian Pettigrew — author of Hope Is a Strategy, positive psychology practitioner and leadership coach — for a conversation brimming with warmth, practical wisdom and, well, hope. Ian shares why realistic optimism is essential for effective leadership, how hope is both learnable and teachable, and what it looks like in practice when leaders build hope intentionally into how they show up every day. There are also stories from Hope for Justice, a framework you can use immediately, and the promise of a night out with glow sticks on the dance floor. 🎙️ Culture Whispers in this episode: Hope is contagious — and like all the best culture whispers, it spreadsHope is a game for two or more players — it's most powerful in communityWhether you believe you can or you can't, you're probably right. Choose hopeThis is a warm, honest and deeply human conversation about leadership, courage and building belief when things feel messy. Full of stories, practical frameworks and moments that will stay with you long after listening!

    "The Hope Is a Strategy One" | with Ian Pettigrew, Author & Leadership Coach

  3. Jan 25

    "The Leading Change One" | with Tom Kegode, Founder, SparkShift

    "The smallest things make the biggest difference. Welcome to The Culture Whisperer." What if transformation didn't have to feel like a tsunami? In this high-energy, joy-filled episode, Dawn is joined by Tom Kegode — former People and Places Transformation Lead at Lloyds Banking Group and founder of SparkShift — a self-described friendly disruptor who helps organisations turn big transformation into small, practical cultural moves that leaders can actually do. Tom talks about why the word 'transformation' might be doing more harm than good, how he built an army of 7,000 culture catalysts inside one of the UK's biggest banks, and why bringing more joy, play and human connection into work isn't soft — it's the future. Oh, and his Doberman Callie makes a guest appearance at the end. 🐾 🎙️ Culture Whispers in this episode: Find your grassroots catalysts — the people who are already up for it — and let them leadStart with the problem, not the solutionBring more fun into work. Seriously. The science backs it upA practical and hopeful conversation for anyone leading change right now full of culture whispers!

    "The Leading Change One" | with Tom Kegode, Founder, SparkShift

  4. 10/29/2025 ·  Bonus

    “The Stroke One” | with Ian Burdin

    “Sometimes culture whispering happens outside of work - in the hardest moments of someone’s life. This is one of those stories.” 💜 World Stroke Day is about awareness and hope 💜 In this Culture Whisperer podcast, I sat down with my old friend of 30 years, Ian Burdin. Last summer, Ian had a stroke that changed everything: from walking and cooking… to how he thinks about life, work and what truly matters. He truly has to re-build his life all over again and he is an absolute inspiration! 🦸‍♂️ This episode feels deeply personal right now: my husband’s mum recently had a stroke. We’re learning the rhythms of recovery, carers, and what “showing up” looks like for family. Ian’s story has given me language, courage and practical hope—and I’m sharing it in case someone you love needs that too. 🤗 What you’ll hear: ☑️ Spotting the signs when something “just feels off” ☑️The power of people really knowing you & who insist on getting help ☑️Learning to walk again, and why slowing down can change your life ☑️Post-traumatic growth: choosing your response when you can’t control events ☑️A simple act of love: check your blood pressure! If this helps even one person, it’s worth it. Please listen, share, and tag - we could be helping that one person that culture whispering is all about!

  5. 06/30/2025

    "The Follow Your Intuition One" | with Sonia Moore, co-founder of the Situational Coach

    "The smallest things make the biggest difference. Welcome to The Culture Whisperer." What happens when you stop ignoring that quiet voice inside you and start listening to it? In this episode, Dawn sits down with Sonia Moore — a brilliant leader whose warmth, wisdom and willingness to share her lived experiences make for one of the most real conversations on the podcast so far. Sonia has held so many amazing HR Director roles in her career across diverse industries: Tunstall Healthcare, Muller, Adient, Johnson Controls and Poundland to name just a few and is now co-founder of The Situational Coach 🌟 Sonia talks about diversity and inclusion from the heart — not from a policy document. She shares her own experiences of bias, the importance of vulnerability in leadership, and why truly listening (to others and to yourself) is the thing that changes everything. Her closing culture whisper is one of the most beautiful in the whole series. 🎙️ Culture Whispers in this episode: Stop differentiating people — truly treating people with fairness and equity is where real inclusion beginsListen to the voice in the room that's not being heard — it's probably saying something importantFollow your intuition. Everything happens for a reason — even when it doesn't feel that way in the momentThe snippet just touches on one v emotional part of the podcast and this was us just getting started! There are so many more leadership pearls of wisdom and personal reflections and more than anything Sonia's real love and zest for life 😍 Sonia - thank you for making me laugh and making me cry and being my first guest to talk about 'horse poo' 💩 on the podcast! 🤣

    "The Follow Your Intuition One" | with Sonia Moore, co-founder of the Situational Coach

  6. 05/27/2025

    "The Inclusion Is Personal One" | with Advita Patel, Founder CommsRebel & President, CIPR

    "The smallest things make the biggest difference. Welcome to The Culture Whisperer." "You can't be everyone's cup of tea — otherwise you'd be a mug." In this powerhouse of a conversation, Dawn sits down with Advita Patel — founder of CommsRebel, co-founder of A Leader Like Me, and the first South Asian woman to be President of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations. Advita talks about why inclusion isn't optional — it's personal. She challenges all of us to keep saying the words, to keep showing up, and to speak up when we see unfairness — even when it's uncomfortable. She also shares why hope is a leadership habit, and why in a world full of fear and fatigue, the most important thing leaders can do is bring courage and clarity. Important, challenging and full of fire. 🎙️ Culture Whispers in this episode: Inclusion is about fairness — and it requires all of us to keep speaking upHope isn't fluffy — it's a leadership habit and a daily act of courageYou may not be everyone's cup of tea. That's okay. Do the right thing anywayWhat a conversation, what an inspiration Advita is!

    "The Inclusion Is Personal One" | with Advita Patel, Founder CommsRebel & President, CIPR

  7. 05/21/2025

    "The Lost Art of Conversation One" | with Pete Colby, Founder, Pragmatism

    "The smallest things make the biggest difference. Welcome to The Culture Whisperer." We're losing the art of conversation at work — and it's costing us more than we realise. In this episode, Dawn is joined by Pete Colby, workplace mediator and founder of Pragmatism, for a conversation about what really happens when we stop talking to each other — and what it takes to start again. Pete shares why most workplace conflict starts not with a big falling out but with two people who only ever connected at task level, how intent is everything in a difficult conversation, and why getting to know people as people — not just colleagues — is the single most powerful culture whisper of all. Honest, practical and quietly profound. 🎙️ Culture Whispers in this episode: Most conflict at work could have been resolved much earlier — if someone had just had a conversationTrust is the biggest word in the dictionary — and it starts with good intentGet to know people beyond the task. You'll be amazed what you find out — and what it changesAn important conversation with culture whispering at its heart!

    "The Lost Art of Conversation One" | with Pete Colby, Founder, Pragmatism

  8. 05/08/2025

    "The Caring Deeply One" | with Kate Herod, Hospital Director, Priory Hospital Cheadle Royal

    "The smallest things make the biggest difference. Welcome to The Culture Whisperer." What does inspiring leadership look like in the world of mental health services? In this episode, Dawn sits down with Kate Herod, Hospital Director at Priory Hospital Cheadle Royal — a leader who was recommended by her own CEO, Rebekah Cresswell, as someone whose quiet, purposeful leadership deserved to be celebrated. Kate shares stories of resilience and hope, the power of small acts in transforming hospital culture, and why curiosity, data and psychological safety matter more than you might think when you're leading a team doing some of the most important work in the world. She also shares why aligning who you are with where you work can change everything. Warm, wise and genuinely inspiring. 🎙️ Culture Whispers in this episode: The smallest acts of recognition — remembering what someone is going through — can mean everythingPsychological safety isn't a 'nice to have' in healthcare — it's life-changingWhen your values and your workplace are aligned, you can do extraordinary thingsThis is a must-listen for anyone passionate about people, culture, and creating spaces where others can truly thrive! I found the whole conversation truly inspiring, I hope you do too! 🎧 Tune in, be inspired, and keep those intentional, positive culture whispers whispering! 🎧

    "The Caring Deeply One" | with Kate Herod, Hospital Director, Priory Hospital Cheadle Royal
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The Culture Whisperer podcast brings to you uplifting conversations with inspirational business leaders exploring their stories, learning and experiences that they see have the biggest impact on organisational culture. Often it can be the smallest 'whispers' that make the biggest difference and there are 'culture whisperers' in every organisation at all levels. We'll be leaning into this and much more!

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