1AM talks

Andry McFarlane

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Management

⏰ Only 20 minutes to listen? 🎙️Discover what makes learning at work really work. Real workplace learning projects. 3️⃣From three perspectives - facilitator/coach, project lead & participant. 🙋‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️For HR managers and OD/L&D managers.

1d ago

Episode 12 - Can one coaching session make a difference to leaders?

Can one coaching session make a difference to leaders? What if just one coaching session could change how someone sees themselves as a leader—or even change the direction of their career? In this episode of 1AM Talks, we flip the script: Rachael Palmer, usually a co-host, steps into the interviewee’s seat to share her experience with a single coaching session—and how it helped her recognise her own leadership potential. She’s joined by Gerald Vanderpuye, CEO of Impact Brixton, who reveals how coaching gave him the clarity to make a life-changing decision: turning down a high-paying job to build Europe’s only Black-owned co-working space from the ground up. Rachael opens up about her coaching hesitations—"What if this is just 90 minutes I’ll never get back?"—and how her curiosity and openness led to a breakthrough. She also reflects on how her identity as a Woman of Colour, shaped her approach to risk and growth. Gerald, meanwhile, shares the raw, emotional moment when coaching helped him see through the noise and make a decision aligned with his values—even when it felt terrifying. Together, we discuss: The power of a single coaching session: How even a short coaching conversation can spark real change. Leading without realising it: Rachael’s journey from "I’m not a leader" to owning her role as leader and later General Manager. Courage in decision-making: Gerald’s story of choosing uncertainty over security, and why it paid off for him and his community. Creating a culture where people thrive: How Impact Brixton’s values-driven approach—trusting teams, embracing vulnerability, and focusing on strengths—turns a co-working space into a place people bring their families to. Build a workplace culture: Simple ways to create a great workplace coaching into your workplace. Encourage openness: Tips for helping employees (and yourself!) approach coaching with curiosity, not scepticism. Reflection Questions for Your Team: Who in your organisation might be a ‘hidden leader’ like Rachael was—someone contributing more than they realise? How could you use short, focused coaching sessions to support key decision-makers during transitions? What would it look like to create a workplace where people feel safe to take risks and grow? 🎧Find more episodes for free on Spotify Podbean and Apple podcasts Find Out More about your hosts: Connect with host Andry MacFarlane: https://linktr.ee/andryam Explore The Learning Moment’s L&D and OD services in the UK: https://thelearningmoment.org Guest Details: Gerald Vanderpuye – CEO, Impact Brixton Gerald turned down a six-figure salary to build Impact Brixton, a thriving co-working space rooted in community and freedom. Rachael Palmer – General Manager, Impact Brixton Rachael went from volunteer to General Manager—without ever planning to be a leader. Find out more about Impact Brixton: https://www.impactbrixton.com ⭐ If this episode inspired you, share it with your team, rate the podcast, or subscribe for more real stories about learning, leadership, and growth. Podcast production by: https://www.artifactfilms.co.uk #Coworkingleadership #entrepreneurs #1AMTalks #CoachingThatWorks #LeadershipDevelopment #HR #L&D #WorkplaceCulture #ImpactBrixton #OneSessionWonders
Season 2 Trailer

Trailer 12 - One Hour For Change

Can one coaching session make a difference to leaders? In this trailer for our upcoming 1AM Talks episode, Gerald Vanderpuye, CEO of Impact Brixton, shares his leadership mantra: "Your job is to look after the people, not the business. Help them go from 70% to 90% of themselves—that’s what coaching is for." But this full episode that drops this week, isn’t only about Gerald leading. Rachael Palmer Impact Brixton’s resident General Manager is back too and you’ll discover lots about her journey to leadership. Discover.. How one standalone coaching session can create lasting change (no long-term programme needed) for a leader like Rachael Palmer, General Manager of Impact Brixton. The art of spotting hidden leaders—those who step up naturally but don’t yet see their own potential. Why values-driven high-risk decisions (even the tough ones) lead to stronger, more lasting leadership. 🎧Full episode dropping soon. Listen for free on Spotify Podbean and Apple podcasts #1AMTalks #CoachingThatWorks #LeadershipDevelopment #HR #L&D #WorkplaceCulture #ImpactBrixton #OneSessionWonders #Coworkingleadership #entrepreneurs
Season 1 Trailer

Trailer 1 - Psychological safety

Tight L&D budgets, big staff learning ambitions, constant OD pressure? 1AM Talks shares bite-sized, real stories about what actually works in learning and organisational development. Each 20-minute episode takes a 360° look at one real programme — through the eyes of the commissioner, the facilitator and the participant. Launching 5th November. 🎙Your host Andry McFarlane shares a taste of what’s to come in Episode 1, when Andry and co-host Rachael Palmer meet Amanda Cummins and Karen Nelson from South West London and St George’s Mental Health Trust, exploring how wellbeing and communication focused coaching and a workshop, were designed to help staff build confidence, speak up and thrive at work. Connect and meet us To find out more about Andry McFarlane and 1AM Talks: https://linktr.ee/andryam Learning and development work in the UK: https://thelearningmoment.org For global work connect with Andry McFarlane on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrymcfarlane #LearningAndDevelopment #ProgrammeDesign #HRLeadership #OrganisationalDevelopment #PsychologicalSafety #WorkplaceWellbeing We’d love to hear from you: 💭 What are your thoughts on designing learning that meets both individual and organisational needs?
Jul 1

Episode 11 - From crossroads to CEO

What does it take to act courageously and make successful high risks decisions? In this 1AM Talks episode, we speak with Gerald Vanderpuye and Rachael Palmer from Impact Brixton about leadership at a crossroads, and the role coaching played in helping a CEO at a high risk moment. Gerald reflects on the period before taking on a co-working space, when his future work felt unclear. The episode also explores what makes Impact Brixton distinctive now: a workplace shaped by connection, collaboration, minimal hierarchy and a powerful sense of belonging. Rachael brings the perspective of leading and managing day to day, in a trust-based, community-first environment. 💡Leadership, culture, risk and decisions at Impact Brixton 🎙 For HR, OD and L&D practitioners, this episode shows: how coaching can support CEOs and other leaders when they are at a crossroads - with high-risk evidence-based decisions how trust-based leadership culture grows in low-hierarchy workplaces how community and belonging shape organisational culture how coaching can strengthen aligned decision making, confidence and self-accountability in staff how leadership development support both emerging leaders and a wider workplace culture in SME’s ➡️ In the next episode, we hear more from Rachael Palmer about her own leadership journey and the impact just one coaching session had on her work and leadership. Connect and meet us To find out more about Andry McFarlane and 1AM Talks: https://linktr.ee/andryam Learning and development work in the UK: https://thelearningmoment.org For global work connect with Andry McFarlane on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrymcfarlane ⏱ Moments to look out for in the Full Episode 00:00 — Andry introduces 1AM Talks and sets the scene at Impact Brixton, Brixton, London 01:37 — Gerald reflects on why he first sought coaching — and the make-or-break moment that changed everything for his business 02:47 — “Filter the signal, not the noise” — Gerald on how coaching sharpened his decision-making as a leader 09:17 — Andry shares how Impact Brixton inspired her to offer a voluntary coaching programme to the staff team — and what made it unique 12:23 — Gerald on building a non-hierarchical culture and why coaching filled the accountability gap his team needed 17:30 — Rachael and Gerald on why Impact Brixton is more than a workspace — and what it means when members bring their families to show it off 💭 Reflective Questions — For HR & L&D Managers 1.When your organisation invests in coaching, how do you assess whether the coach is the right fit — not just on paper, but in terms of trust and culture alignment? 2.Gerald describes coaching as helping leaders “filter signal from noise” in high-pressure moments. How are you currently supporting your managers to make quality decisions when the stakes are high? 3.The coaching offered to the Impact Brixton team was a single 90-minute session with no follow-up or evaluation. What does this challenge you to think about in terms of how your organisation measures the value of coaching interventions? Guest details Gerald Vanderpuye— Guest Bio Gerald Vanderpuye is CEO of Impact Brixton. He also advises and implements AI systems for tech start-ups, incubators. He tells Brixton’s story through Brixton Culture Capital + Make Rum for fun @Brixton Alchemist. Rachael Palmer — Guest Bio Rachael Palmer is General Manager at Impact Brixton. She brings insight into day-to-day leadership in a community-first workplace where people are trusted to grow into responsibility. Impact Brixton: https://www.impactbrixton.com Podcast recording and production team: https://www.artifactfilms.co.uk/ #LeadershipAtCrossroads #LeadershipCulture #CoachingAtWork #OrganisationalDevelopment #LearningAndDevelopment #CommunityFirst #TrustBasedLeadership #ImpactBrixton #CoworkingCulture #1AMTalks #SME’s We’d appreciate your ideas: What kind of culture helps people step into leadership? How does your organisation build trust without relying on heavy hierarchy?
Season 2 Trailer

Trailer 11 - From crossroads to CEO

💡What does it take to go with courage and make values based decisions when the risks are high? In this trailer, we give you a hint of what’s coming in our full episode, as host Andry McFarlane sits down with Gerald Vanderpuye, CEO of Impact Brixton — a vibrant coworking space in South London — and General Manager Rachael Palmer, to explore the real impact of coaching at a crucial moment of his life. We get a glimpse of Gerald at a crossroads where he was choosing whether to become a CEO -entrepreneur leading a co-working space or or an employee. He gives us a taste of how coaching helped him filter ‘clarity from noise’ — and why he now turns to it every time the pressure rises. We also get a preview of how Gerald brought that experience full circle, commissioning a coaching programme for his own team at Impact Brixton, and what it unlocked in terms of confidence, leadership awareness and accountability. Plus — a sneak peek at what makes Impact Brixton so hard to describe in words - but impossible to resist , as Gerald and Rachael try to put into words the community magic of a place where members bring their parents, and Rachael’s kids think they can ‘just drop by’. 💡In the Full Episode You’ll Hear: Why successful leaders lean into support rather than away from it How coaching improves successful high stakes CEO decision-making The secret behind building an empowered team culture with a flat team structure The coaching programme that supported the Impact Brixton team leaders,managers and staff 🎙 Thanks for Listening Thank you for tuning into this trailer for 1AM Talks. If this has sparked your curiosity, the full episode is available now. Share it with a colleague, leave us a review, or continue the conversation on socials. Every episode is a real learning journey and we’re glad you’re part of it. Recorded live at Impact Brixton by the production team at Artifact Films:: https://www.artifactfilms.co.uk/
Jun 3

Episode 10 - Quality & Student Inclusion

💡How is the quality of student services impacted by coaching? 💡In this episode of 1AM Talks, Kieren Macintosh (Vice Principal, Lewisham College) and Rebecca Henry Litteck (Head of Learning & OD, City St George’s) share their powerful stories of how coaching and mentoring break down silos, build trust, and drive inclusion—ultimately enhancing quality and student experiences. And we discuss the end of the ‘superhero’ leader. 🎧 You’ll hear: ✔️ Kieren’s transformation: From feeling "stuck" in his role to using coaching to prioritise impact, build a track record of success, and elevate his team’s performance—directly benefiting student support and outcomes. ✔️ Rebecca’s vision: How peer mentoring and coaching are replacing the "hero leader" model with collaborative, inclusive leadership—creating cultures where every voice is heard and valued. ✔️Coaching communities of practice in action—not the formal groups, but the informal spaces where managers and teams use coaching skills to drive change. ✔️ Real impact on students: How coaching skills spill into classrooms and student services, fostering engagement, confidence, and belonging—critical for quality education and retention. ✔️ Inclusion in action: Practical ways to weave EDI (Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) into coaching and mentoring, ensuring all staff and students thrive. ✔️ Budget-friendly strategies: How to design impactful programmes—even with limited resources—using cross-organisational partnerships, action learning sets, and team coaching. 💡 Key takeaways for L&D, OD, and education leaders: 🔹 Coaching is a tool to changer conversations, empower all staff and improve student experiences. 🔹 How coaching supported one manager’s journey to enhance students experiences , including enhancing safeguarding services. 🔹 Inclusion starts with conversation—use coaching to build more equitable cultures. 🔹 Collaboration > silos—how peer coaching and cross-institutional partnerships strengthen the entire education sector. 🔗 Listen now to explore how coaching can transform leadership, enhance quality, and create inclusive environments where staff and students alike can thrive. #CoachingInEducation #FurtherEducation #HigherEducation #StudentSuccess #InclusiveLeadership #QualityInEducation #PeerMentoring #L&D #OD #1AMTalks ➡️ In the next episode, we continue the conversation with more practical reflections on coaching, leadership and learning cultures. Find out more To find out more about your hosts, Andry and Rachael: Our learning and development work in the UK https://thelearningmoment.org About us and global work too: https://linktr.ee/andryam Connect with Andry Anastasis McFarlane and global work on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/andry-anastasis-mcfarlane-00617313 Follow the podcast on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/pod1amtalks 🎧Only 20 mins to listen? 💫 Follow , share and listen to 1AM talks episodes for free on Spotify Podbean and Apple podcasts Guest details Rebecca Henry Litteck — Guest Bio Rebecca Henry Litteck was previously Head of Learning and Organisational Development at St George’s, University of London, with over 14 years’ experience leading learning, leadership and organisational development initiatives across Further Education, Higher Education and the public sector. Following the 2024 merger with City, University of London, she is now Head of Learning and OD for SHMS within the expanded City St George’s OD team, supporting the organisation through a significant period of change and integration. As an OD practitioner, she specialises in leadership and team development, organisational change, employee engagement, and the development of coaching and mentoring programmes. She is also a qualified coach, an EQ-i 2.0 practitioner, and a strong advocate for coaching and mentoring as powerful approaches to personal, professional and organisational growth. Kieren McIntosh — Guest Bio Kieren McIntosh is Vice Principal for Curriculum and Quality at Lewisham College, part of NCG. He has worked in the Further Education sector for 18 years, with experience spanning curriculum leadership, quality improvement, and supporting teams to deliver consistent and effective practice. At Lewisham College, Kieren leads on Curriculum and Quality, overseeing curriculum strategy, quality assurance and performance improvement across programme areas. His work focuses on supporting strong teaching, learning and assessment, helping teams work consistently, and improving learner experience and outcomes. Before joining NCG, Kieren was Group Curriculum Director for Supported Learning at New City College, where he oversaw provision for around 900 High Needs students across multiple campuses. He also led Hospitality and Catering, including training restaurants, and contributed to the wider leadership journey towards Ofsted Outstanding. #Quality #ManagerAsCoach #PeerCoaching #ActionLearning #TeamCoaching #GroupSupervision #LeadershipDevelopment #FurtherEducation #HigherEducation #studentinclusion #inclusion #Student services #OFSTED #LeadershipDevelopment #CoachingAndMentoring #PeerCoaching #ActionLearning #TeamCoaching #GroupSupervision #LearningAndDevelopment #OrganisationalDevelopment #FurtherEducation #HigherEducation #EDIB #1AMtalks We’d appreciate your ideas: How is your organisation widening its use of coaching, peer learning or action learning to support staff and students? What shifts are you seeing in leadership and development across FE or HE?
Season 2 Trailer

Trailer 10 - Quality & Student Inclusion

💡How does coaching impact on the quality of student services? Can L&D truly change the experience for leaders, teams, and students in Further and Higher Education? 💡What is the End of the ‘hero leader’? How are FE and HE beginning to shift, in small but important ways, towards peer mentoring, peer coaching and action learning and could they move from ‘superhero leaders’ to more co-owned leadership? 🎉 New Episode coming this week 🎙️In the full episode you’ll hear: ✔️ Kieren’s transformation: From feeling "stuck" in his role to using coaching to prioritise impact, build a track record of success, and elevate his team’s performance—directly benefiting student support and outcomes. ✔️ Rebecca’s vision: How peer mentoring and coaching are replacing the "hero leader" model with collaborative, inclusive leadership—creating cultures where every voice is heard and valued. ✔️Coaching communities of practice in action—not the formal groups, but the informal everyday spaces where managers and teams use coaching skills to drive change. ✔️ Real impact on students: How coaching skills spill into classrooms and student services, fostering engagement, confidence, and belonging—critical for quality education and retention. ✔️ Inclusion in action: Practical ways to weave EDI (Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) into coaching and mentoring, ensuring all staff and students thrive. ✔️ Budget-friendly strategies: How to design impactful programmes—even with limited resources—using cross-organisational partnerships, action learning sets, and team coaching. 💡 Key takeaways for L&D, OD, and education leaders: 🔹 Coaching isn’t just for leaders—it’s a tool to empower staff and improve student experiences. 🔹 How coaching supported one manager’s journey to enhance students experiences , including enhancing safeguarding services. 🔹 Inclusion starts with conversation—use coaching to build more equitable cultures. 🔹 Collaboration > silos—how peer coaching and cross-institutional partnerships strengthen the entire education sector. levant now in education sectors Guests Kieren McIntosh — Vice Principal for Curriculum and Quality, Lewisham College Kieren begins his reflection on his nine-month Managers as Coach journey and what it meant for his leadership and practice. Rebecca Henry Litteck — Head of Learning and OD for SHMS, City St George’s Rebecca shares her perspective on the growing role of peer mentoring, peer coaching and action learning in organisational development. Hosts To find out more about your hosts, Andry and Rachael: https://linktr.ee/andryam To find out more about the team’s workshops, coaching, and consultancy work with UK organisations for your staff: https://thelearningmoment.org Connect with Andry Anastasis McFarlane and global work on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/andry-anastasis-mcfarlane-00617313 🎧Only 2 mins to listen? 💫 Follow , share and listen to 1AM to other 1AM talks trailers for free on Spotify Podbean and Apple podcasts #Quality #qualityeducation #HigherEducation #studentinclusion #inclusion #FurtherEducation #Student services #OFSTED PeerMentoring #PeerCoaching #ActionLearning #TeamCoaching #GroupSupervision #LeadershipDevelopment #LearningAndDevelopment #FurtherEducation #HigherEducation #EDIB #1AMtalks
May 6

Episode 9 - Coaching Communities

Educational Coaching How does Manager as Coach L&D and support staff leading Student Services? And how do you go from MAC to a community of coaches? 🎉New Episode In this episode of 1AM Talks, Andry McFarlane is joined by Rebecca Henry-Litteck and Kieren McIntosh for a conversation about how Managers as Coach, peer coaching, and coaching communities of practice help managers in Higher Education and Further Education support staff, reduce silos and support managers who work in student services too. Together they explore how these practise based coaching approaches can be embedded into day-to-day management practice, enhancing quality, strengthening relationships, building trust, confidence and support across organisations. Rebecca reflects on how MAC programmes embedded practise, gave experiences of being coached, being observed coaching all impacted positively and were meaningful for staff. We explore how the MAC programmes alongside consultation created ongoing coaching peer support, stronger internal networks and a growing coaching culture in FE and HE. Kieren briefly shares the participant perspective, including the value of peer coaching and learning alongside colleagues on a journey to support students in FE. Across the episode, the discussion points to the wider ripple effect of Managers as Coach, the growth of peer coaching and coaching communities. It highlights how helping managers, strengthens organisations, and ultimately benefits students through better leadership. For HR, OD and L&D practitioners, this 20 minute episode shows: how Manager as Coach can help managers and leaders more effectively in day-to-day roles how peer coaching can build trust, confidence and stronger working relationships across teams how coaching communities of practice can strengthen organisational cultures and internal networks how these coaching learning approaches can support managers in Higher Education and Further Education how leadership development can create ripple effects that reach staff, organisations and student services We begin to look at one manager’s learning journey with coaching and their peers - more in Episode 10! ➡️ In the next episode, we continue exploring the impact and practical insights from the MAC learning and development programme with Kieren and Rebecca. Only 20 mins to listen? 💫 Follow , share and listen to 1AM talks episodes for free on Spotify Podbean and Apple podcasts Find out more To find out more about your hosts, Andry, Miranda, and Rachael: https://linktr.ee/andryam Learning and development work in the UK https://thelearningmoment.org Connect with Andry Anastasis McFarlane on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/andry-anastasis-mcfarlane-00617313 Follow the podcast on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/pod1amtalks ⭐ If you found this episode useful, consider sharing it with colleagues, rating the podcast and subscribing to help others discover these conversations on learning, leadership and organisational development. Guest details Rebecca Henry-Litteck and Kieren McIntosh Rebecca Henry-Litteck — Guest Bio Rebecca Henry-Litteck has nearly 15 years’ experience leading learning, leadership and organisational development initiatives across Higher Education and Further Education. Previously Head of Learning and Organisational Development at St George’s, University of London, she is now Head of Learning and ODI for the School of Health and Medical Sciences at City St George’s. Kieren McIntosh — Guest Bio Kieren McIntosh is Vice Principal at Lewisham College, part of NCG. Kieren McIntosh is Vice Principal at Lewisham College, part of NCG. He has worked in the Further Education sector for 18 years also previously at New City College before returning to Lewisham College. His role focuses on ensuring that teaching, learning, and assessment are well supported, that teams have the clarity and tools needed to deliver consistently, and that learners experience a well‑structured and supportive environment. We’d appreciate your ideas: How is your organisation using Managers as Coach, peer coaching or coaching communities to support leaders, staff and students? #qualityeducation #HigherEducation #studentinclusion #inclusion #FurtherEducation #LeadershipDevelopment #ManagersAsCoach #PeerCoaching #CoachingCommunities #CommunitiesOfPractice #LearningAndDevelopment #OrganisationalDevelopment #HigherEducation #FurtherEducation #1AMTalks

⏰ Only 20 minutes to listen? 🎙️Discover what makes learning at work really work. Real workplace learning projects. 3️⃣From three perspectives - facilitator/coach, project lead & participant. 🙋‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️For HR managers and OD/L&D managers.

Creator

Andry McFarlane
Years Active

2025 - 2026
Episodes

24
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
Show Website

1AM talks