The Third Half

Scott Hamilton

People · Planet · Progress — candid conversations where technology, business, and culture collide.

  1. Jul 22

    Blueprint Episode 25: From Football Banter to Big Ideas: A Conversation with Sir Anthony Seldon

    Historian. Educationalist. Former Master of Wellington College. Biographer of Prime Ministers. Sir Anthony Seldon joins Scott Hamilton on The Third Half for a wide-ranging conversation on what's actually broken in Britain today, and what might fix it. From the state of the nation and the churn of recent governments, to why he believes Britain's education system was built for a century that no longer exists, Anthony makes the case for three unspoken conversations the country needs to have: education, community, and purpose. He unpacks the Ubuntu philosophy behind Action for Happiness (which he co-founded 15 years ago), why he believes the loneliest people are often the richest and most powerful, and why the arts, not just STEM, are essential to a functioning society and our mental health. Along the way: AI in education, the case for national service, why he'd cast himself as King Lear, and a rapid-fire round covering Brie vs. Stilton, Shakespeare vs. Burns, and the one historical figure he's hoping doesn't show up to dinner. In this episode: Why Britain feels stuck, and where the optimism has to come from The three conversations Britain isn't having: education, community, purpose Ubuntu, Action for Happiness, and the difference between pleasure and happiness AI, national service, and what genuinely excites him about young people today Why the arts matter more than ever, and the cost of losing them Rapid fire: Beatles or Stones, tea or coffee, Churchill or Attlee, Lear, and more About The Third Half The Third Half is a podcast and Substack exploring People · Planet · Progress, conversations with entrepreneurs, leaders, and thinkers shaping the world around us. Hosted by Scott Hamilton. 🔗 Read more at thethirdhalf.uk 🎧 Subscribe for new episodes every week #TheThirdHalf #AnthonySeldon #Leadership #Education #Wellbeing #Podcast

  2. Jul 15

    TTH Blueprint Episode 24: Leading when the path isn't clear | Tina Wilson

    She wanted to fly fighter jets. Her eyesight said no. So she went and joined the organisation that builds them instead. Scott Hamilton sits down with Tina Wilson, Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel for BAE Systems International Business, working across Europe, North America, the Middle East and Asia Pacific for a conversation about being shaped by challenge, leading through ambiguity, and the courage it takes to make decisions that affect people's lives, not just budgets. Tina's path wasn't planned: rejected from RAF cadets over her eyesight, a stint as a trainee army officer, then a career in international finance and oil & gas before a chance job ad, featuring a Tornado fighter jet — led her to BAE Systems. In this episode, Tina opens up about being held back a year at school and how it shaped a lifelong drive to never fail again; setting up business operations in a war zone in Ukraine; the real weight of deciding who gets evacuated during the Middle East tensions; why she defines herself as "a business leader who happens to be a lawyer"; trusting gut instinct as a data point, not a feeling; and why she took up guitar lessons alongside three-year-olds to remind herself what it feels like to be a beginner again. 🎧 Listen to the full conversation and subscribe for more at thethirdhalf.uk The Third Half — People · Planet · Progress. Conversations with the people who continue to challenge, create, and inspire. #TheThirdHalf #Blueprint #TinaWilson #BAESystems #Leadership #WomenInLeadership #Podcast

  3. Jul 9

    He Plants Fruit Trees for Free And Almost Got Arrested Doing It | Matt Knight, Freely Fruity

    matt full episodeMatt Knight got called an eco-terrorist on social media. His crime: planting trees.Matt is co-founder of Freely Fruity, a Berkshire charity that started with three mates, a pub, and one of them saying "there needs to be more fruit trees" for the hundredth time. They nearly became the "Banksy of the tree world," sneaking out at night to plant trees — until they found out that's technically a crime too.In this conversation, Matt opens up about:How Freely Fruity went from a pub idea to a fully-fledged charity with zero staff overheadsBuilding community orchards and feeding food banks across Reading and WokinghamLaunching Fruit Trees for Schools in 40 schools across Manchester and LiverpoolThe new community tree nursery specialising in fruit treesA first-look announcement: an app that converts footsteps into tree plantingWhy bespoke corporate ESG partnerships beat generic offset schemesThe plan to make Freely Fruity sustainable without relying on grantsThis isn't just a charity story. It's about community, stubbornness, and what happens when people just get on with making their own corner of the world better.🌱 Get involved with Freely Fruity:Instagram: instagram.com/freelyfruityukFacebook: facebook.com/freelyfruityukLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/freely-fruityTikTok: @freelyfruity🌍 More from The Third Half: www.thethirdhalf.uk#FreelyFruity #TreePlanting #Sustainability #ESG #TheThirdHalf #CommunityOrchard #MattKnight #Blueprint #Charity

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People · Planet · Progress — candid conversations where technology, business, and culture collide.