Straight up talk with Sharon & Peter

sharon & peter
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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...

Episodes

  1. Do Degrees Still Matter?

    1D AGO

    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
  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. How Passions Begin

    MAY 4

    How Passions Begin

    Send us Fan Mail We trace where our sports passions really come from, from schoolyard belonging to family rituals, and how those early moments stick for life. Along the way we swap stories about football, the NFL, horse riding, and the odd ways identity gets built when we are kids.  • Jesse’s listener question from the Grand River CrossFit community  • How Pete gets into the NFL through 1980s San Francisco and becomes a Buffalo Bills fan after moving to Ontario  • How a new school and a need for friends leads Pete to Crystal Palace  • The Crystal Palace socks story and how belonging shapes loyalty  • Sharon’s childhood pull towards horses and the Willie the donkey runaway moment  • Losing the horse connection as a teen then rediscovering riding in Canada through western riding  • How Sharon moves from trail riding to teaching to barrel racing then reining  • Pete’s love of horses through racing culture and betting, shaped by family  • Why UK football loyalty stays local for life and why North American teams relocate  • Our brutally honest takeaway about childhood passions and keeping it simple  If you have an idea you’d like to share, go to the website beabetteryou.ca and '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/

    14 min
  5. The Candy Jar Boss And Other Manager Myths

    APR 28

    The Candy Jar Boss And Other Manager Myths

    Send us Fan Mail We unpack what makes a good manager today and why the old command and control mindset no longer works in a complex workplace. We share stories from early management mistakes, removals business realities, and the leadership habits that build trust while still driving results. • a modern definition of good management: clarity, trust, emotional intelligence, adaptability • learning to manage people rather than assuming it comes naturally • how empathy without boundaries can slide into poor performance • falling into management as a business owner and learning on the job • handling temporary staff and why that approach would change today • why consistency matters more than being “nice” • what HR does now and how it supports people and the business • why management is not the only path to success • the risk of wanting to be liked instead of having tough conversations • new manager insecurity and the value of asking for support • treating people fairly rather than treating everyone the same If you want any more information or to let us know what you'd like us to talk about, go to the website beabetteru.ca 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

  6. APR 21

    Stop Assuming, Start Communicating

    Send us Fan Mail We swap brutally honest stories where one small assumption turns a simple message into wasted time, lost money, and awkward apologies. We dig into how language, accent, and “shortcut thinking” derail clarity, then share better ways to check understanding without shaming anyone. • defining communication as exchange through speech, writing, signals, and behaviour • UK English versus Canadian English versus American English and why “same language” still misfires • Sharon’s green ink story and how missing specificity creates avoidable errors • Peter’s wrong garage clearance and the real cost of guessing • the HP client brief that went off the rails after blagging through confusion • accent and pronunciation issues like Fatty versus Faddy and speaking too fast • idioms and slang like “barking” and “blimey” needing context • replacing “does that make sense?” with better questions and play-back checks If you want any more info or to let us know what you'd like us to talk about, go to the website beabetteru.ca and there'll be a link called 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/

    19 min

  7. APR 9

    How Personal Values Shape Your Choices

    Send us Fan Mail The fastest way to understand yourself is to pay attention to what sets you off. That flash of anger on a train, the disgust when someone is rude to wait staff, the moment you realise you cannot connect with a person no matter how hard you try, none of it is random. It is values at work, quietly calling the shots. We dig into personal values as the invisible rules that guide how we think, act, and decide, especially when no one is watching. Sharon breaks down how most of us inherit values without choosing them, then spend years living on autopilot. Pete brings it to life with everyday examples of “respect” being crossed: feet on seats, loud calls in public, littering, and the small acts of being a good citizen that reveal what someone really cares about. Sharon shares her own set of values, including equivalency, autonomy, and honesty, and explains why a value only counts if you can show how it appears in your behaviour. You will also hear a practical way to tell the difference between a true value and a wish, plus how values shape friendships, boundaries, leadership, and decision-making at work. If you have ever wondered why you overreact to certain situations, why some people drain you instantly, or why your standards feel non-negotiable, this conversation gives you language for it. Subscribe, share this with a friend who loves a straight answer, and leave us a review. What is the one value you refuse to compromise on? 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/

    19 min

  8. APR 2

    Behaviour: Ghosting, in corporate life and personal

    Send us Fan Mail We talk this week about Ghosting - the practice of abruptly ending all communication and avoiding contact with someone—typically in dating, friendships, or the workplace—without warning or explanation. It feels awful when it happens to you because you never know whay. Is it ever OK to ghost? You be the judge. 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/

    14 min
  • 8 Episodes

About

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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