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. Hope Is a Strategy: Leading with Realistic Optimism (with Ian Pettigrew)

    FEB 8

    Hope Is a Strategy: Leading with Realistic Optimism (with Ian Pettigrew)

    In this episode of The Culture Whisperer, Dawn Smedley is joined by leadership coach, positive psychology practitioner and author Ian Pettigrew to explore a powerful idea: hope isn’t wishful thinking – it’s a leadership strategy. Drawing on Ian’s new book Hope Is a Strategy, they unpack why hope matters more than ever in today’s uncertain, fast-changing world – and what it really looks like in practice. Together, they discuss: Why realistic optimism (not toxic positivity) builds trust How leaders can inspire hope without sugar-coating reality The small, human “culture whispers” that make hope contagious Why hope is learnable, teachable – and deeply practical How leaders can spot and amplify the “glimmers of hope” in their teams This 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.

    52 min
  2. Leading Change in a High-Tech, Low-Trust World with Tom Kegode

    JAN 25

    Leading Change in a High-Tech, Low-Trust World with Tom Kegode

    In this episode of The Culture Whisperer, Dawn Smedley 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 change. Together, they explore why “transformation” might be the wrong word for the world we’re in, and why leaders need to think more about evolution than end points. They talk about the power of small signals, grassroots change and the role of storytelling in a high-tech, low-trust world. From hybrid working and ways of working, to leadership visibility, catalysts for change and creating cultures that feel human as well as high-performing, this conversation is about how organisations can keep evolving without losing trust, clarity or connection. A practical and hopeful conversation for anyone leading change right now full of culture whispers!

    46 min

  3. 10/29/2025 · BONUS

    The Stroke One with Ian Burdin

    💜 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!

    29 min
  4. The Belief One with Sonia Moore, co-founder of the Situational Coach

    06/30/2025

    The Belief One with Sonia Moore, co-founder of the Situational Coach

    🎉 New Episode Alert: The Culture Whisperer Podcast – Episode 11 with Sonia Moore 🎉 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 🌟 The 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! 🤣 ✨ What’s inside? ✨ Belief in people = SUPER POWER. Sonia’s dad taught her to always believe in herself, and throughout her career she’s continued to help others unlock that same confidence! 💪 Leadership (and life!) is ALL about seeing the person, not just their title. When we do this, magic happens and people begin to realise their own potential! ❤️ If you want to lead like a pro, communication and training are your secret weapons. 🔥 Equality in the workplace isn’t just a nice to have—it doesn't matter if you're a CEO or a cleaner, we are never 'just' anything! 🌍 When people feel appreciated, they shine brighter than ever! 🌟 👉 Want to know more about creating better conversations and stronger cultures? There are so many culture whispers in this one!!

    56 min
  5. The Confidence One with Advita Patel, founder of CommsRebel

    05/27/2025

    The Confidence One with Advita Patel, founder of CommsRebel

    Episode 10 of the Culture Whisperer Podcast is out now and this is a powerhouse of a conversation with Advita Patel, owner and founder of CommsRebel, co-founder of A Leader Like Me, co-author of 'Building a Culture of Inclusivity' and currently the first South Asian woman to be President of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations ❤️ Here are 5 Culture Whispers you'll hear from Advita in our conversation and a snippet on hope below: 💥 1. Inclusion isn’t optional — it’s personal. “Say the words out loud: diversity, equity, inclusion.” Advita challenges all of us to keep showing up and doing the right thing. If your organisation pulls back from EDI — will you? 🌱 2. Hope is a leadership habit!Hope isn’t fluffy — it’s fundamental. In a world full of fear and fatigue, leaders have a duty to bring optimism, courage and clarity. “What’s the alternative to hope?” she asks. Silence? Compliance? Fear? 🧠 3. Build your personal board of directors.Mentors aren’t a nice-to-have — they’re a career lifeline. Advita’s board includes truth-tellers, nurturers, finance advisers and straight-talkers. Who’s guiding you when self-doubt kicks in? 💥 4. Confidence is a daily practice, not a personality trait.Forget the big leap — it’s the micro-actions that matter. Her new book 'De-coding Confidence' reveals the 7 habits of confident leaders, from energy to boldness and vulnerability. ☕ 5. “You can’t be everyone’s cup of tea… or you’ll be a mug.”If you know Advita, this is one of her most famous quotes! Sometimes speaking up is uncomfortable but when things feel wrong they probably are and we have to speak up! 💬 If you work in HR, EDI or Internal Comms or you're on a leadership journey yourself — this episode is a must. 💬 Advita’s honesty, warmth, and rebellious spirit will leave you thinking (and probably shouting “YES!” at your headphones). I got goosebumps so many times in our conversation 🫶 🎙️ Share far and wide to get these positive culture whispers out into the world!🎙️

    51 min
  6. The Better Conversations One with Pete Colby from Pragmatism

    05/21/2025

    The Better Conversations One with Pete Colby from Pragmatism

    🎙️ Episode 9 of The Culture Whisperer is out now! 🎙️ This week, I’m joined by the brilliant Pete Colby from Pragmatism (UK) Ltd — and we’re talking about the lost art of conversation at work! 🫖 Pete is hugely passionate about this with his background in HR, Operations Leadership and mediation. He challenges us to get to know the people we work with better and invest more time & energy upskilling leaders at all levels to have better, bolder conversations at work. We talk about: 👂Active Listening — a skill we could all sharpen! 🤝 Trust and intent — themes that keep coming up across the whole podcast series! 🧠 The importance of psychological safety 🛠️ Upskilling managers to have better conversations Whether you’re dodging tricky convos or keen to bring more heart into your leadership, there's lots of 'pragmatic' takeaways in here for the taking... 🎧 Pop the kettle on and have a listen! Enjoy! 🎧

    45 min
  7. The Caring Deeply One with Kate Herod, Hospital Director at Priory Hospital Cheadle Royal

    05/08/2025

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

    Ever wondered what inspiring leadership looks like in the world of mental health services? In this episode, I sit down with the incredible Kate Herod, Hospital Director at Priory Hospital Cheadle Royal. Kate was a recommendation from Rebekah Cresswell her CEO which I absolutely LOVE! Kate brings wisdom, warmth, and a whole lot of heart as she shares her journey and experiences with us - from personal values to purpose-driven leadership! ✨ What’s inside: ✨ ❤️ Stories of resilience and hope from patients ❤️ The power of small acts in transforming hospital culture ❤️ Why curiosity, data, and psychological safety matter in leadership ❤️ And how aligning who you are with where you work can change everything! This 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! 🎧

    59 min
  8. The Appreciation One with Vikki Gledhill, Senior Director, Total Rewards at Cox Automotive

    03/07/2025

    The Appreciation One with Vikki Gledhill, Senior Director, Total Rewards at Cox Automotive

    Episode 7 of the Culture Whisperer podcast is a special one for Employee Appreciation Day and International Women’s week with Vikki Gledhill, Senior Director, Total Rewards at Cox Automotive sharing her huge experiences buildingrecognition strategies at Manchester Airport Group and Cox Automotive. There are so many ideas in here around how to do this, whereto start and how to build a recognition strategy with appreciation at it’s heart! What you can expect! 🫶 Vikki’s experience building a brand around a Total Rewards Strategy to hang everything off and how this helps build familiarity and trust 🫶 The key ingredients needed to build a truly inclusive recognition strategy 🫶 The difference between appreciation and recognition and why this matters 🫶 Why it’s so important to be timely, specific and genuine when giving recognition 🫶 The role of inspiring women in our lives and how we should all be uplifting each other! 🫶 And of course Vikki’s fave song to get her dancing around the kitchen! Enjoy, now go forth and appreciate!

    1h 7m
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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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