Sarah and Dennis are joined by Sam Wones from The Adaptable Human Project to talk about stress, pressure, resilience, leadership, food, first money memories and why "just be more resilient" is not always helpful advice. Sam helps organisations and their people understand stress, manage pressure and perform better. Not in a vague wellbeing way, but in a practical and measurable way. With a background in performance psychology and over a decade as a Royal Marines Commando, Sam brings an unusual mix of lived experience, research and practical application to the subject of stress. Over lunch, we talk about what stress really is, how it shows up in people and teams, and why resilience is often misunderstood. Sam explains the difference between short-term pressure and the kind of chronic stress that builds quietly over time, affecting communication, performance, decision-making and relationships. We also discuss psychological safety, leadership, breathing, posture, screen time, and why the body can sometimes respond to everyday pressure as if something far more serious is happening. As always, food plays its part in the conversation with Dennis cooked a Japanese-inspired summer lunch. Sam also shares his first food memory, his first money memory, and the moment that led to a family conversation about pocket money. And, as always, our guest brings Dennis a financial planning question. Sam asks how parents can help children develop a healthy relationship with money, opening up a wider conversation about pocket money, saving, spending, inheritance, Junior ISAs, and why money should not become a taboo subject at home. This episode is about stress, but it is also about honesty. The pressure people carry. The assumptions we make. The conversations we avoid. And why the safest environments, whether at work, around a table or in financial planning, are often the ones where people feel able to say what is really going on. On the menu Japanese-inspired cold broth with somen noodles, poached chicken, cucumber, spring onion, mooli radish and shiitake mushrooms. Peanut-infused ice cream, made French-style with roasted peanuts. In this episode, we discuss What stress really is and why it matters at work The difference between short-term pressure and chronic stress Why "just be more resilient" can miss the point How stress shows up in communication, leadership and team culture Psychological safety and what businesses can learn from military environments Breathing, posture and practical ways to manage pressure Sam's first food memory and relationship with food Sam's first money memory and the start of pocket money How different money backgrounds can affect relationships How parents can help children build a healthier relationship with money Dennis's own reflections on being a spender Why honesty and safety matter in conversations about money Guest bio Sam Wones is co-founder of The Adaptable Human Project, which helps organisations and their people understand stress, manage pressure and perform better. Sam has a background in performance psychology and spent over a decade as a Royal Marines Commando. His work brings together psychology, physiology, leadership, team dynamics and practical tools to help people understand what is happening under pressure and how to respond more effectively. Links The Adaptable Human Project: https://theadaptablehumanproject.com/ Sam Wones on LinkedIn: Sam Wones Yellowtail Financial Planning: www.yellowtail.co.uk
