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Inspiring Leadership with Jonathan Bowman-Perks MBE
421. The 3 Battles of My Life - Keep Attacking with Brian Wood MC
Brian Wood MC, is a British Army veteran and recipient of the Military Cross for exemplary gallantry on active operations. His life story was told in a Sunday Times bestselling book and later adapted into a 90-minute BBC Two drama, bringing national recognition to his service and resilience.
Since leaving the military, Brian has become a leading mental health advocate and fundraiser for veteran charities. He has completed extreme endurance challenges, including 25 marathons in 25 days (2022) and 35 marathons in 35 days (2023), in honour of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice.
In January 2026, Channel 4 aired Arctic Adventure: Ultimate Survival, documenting his 514km expedition into the Arctic Circle to raise awareness for mental health and support SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity.
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423. 423. Unlocking optimum performance-Taking a break from alcohol with Andy Ramage
53:38||Season 1, Ep. 423Andy Ramage is a former professional footballer who, following a career-ending injury, went on to establish two successful financial brokerages.After taking a transformative break from alcohol, Andy experienced profound changes in his mind, body, career, and overall life. Now, a decade later, he is widely regarded as one of the world’s leading alcohol-free performance coaches.Andy is the best-selling author of The 28-Day Alcohol-Free Challenge and Let’s Do This! How to Use Motivational Psychology to Change Your Habits for Life. His influential TEDx talk, The Limitless Pill, has inspired countless individuals to unlock their full potential.A dynamic speaker, Andy has shared his insights on some of the world’s biggest stages and top podcasts, including The Rich Roll Podcast, Feel Better, Live More with Dr Rangan Chatterjee, The Slo Mo Podcast with Mo Gawdat, and The Virgin Radio Breakfast Show with Chris Evans.As the original founder of the OneYearNoBeer (OYNB) movement, Andy helped pioneer the alcohol-free revolution. After leaving OYNB in 2019, he created The Willpower-Free Method ™ to quit alcohol easily & rapidly. Collectively, these initiatives have helped hundreds of thousands—if not millions—of people improve their health, performance, and happiness by taking a break from alcohol.Andy is in an elite group of coaches trained to the master’s degree level in coaching psychology and positive psychology. He works with clients at every level, from everyday heroes to premiership footballers and C-suite executives.Andy also serves as a lead trainer at the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) Business School.Andy is also the founder of Coach Business School, which turns novices into world-class coaches through its coach accreditation courses and helps accredited coaches achieve their business goals through Andy’s unique Coach MBA. In addition to his coaching work, Andy is producing a groundbreaking documentary ‘Going Dry’ —set for release in summer 2026—that aims to be the alcohol-free equivalent of The Game Changers, shining a spotlight on the benefits of an alcohol-free lifestyle.
422. 422. Miles with Meaning #3: Ride to Inspire 2026 with Graham Harle, Louise Vardeman and Rob Vardeman
38:52||Season 1, Ep. 422This is the 3rd edition of the Ride to Inspire 2026 series of podcasts — meeting individuals who are joining the Inspiring Leadership Foundation on a powerful three-day cycling experience uniting purpose-driven businesses, leaders, and communities to create meaningful social impact through sport, teamwork, and shared ambition.More than just a ride, this unique event blends energising corporate fundraisers, leadership forums, and unforgettable experiences at iconic venues — from an exclusive dinner at Silverstone Museum to a VIP matchday at Liverpool Anfield stadium. It’s a unique platform where high-performance teams, inspiring speakers, and bold ideas come together to drive collaboration, connection, and real-world change.This week we are joined by Graham Harle, Group CEO of Gleeds, and Rob and Lou Vardeman, all of whom are inspirational leaders and joined us on Ride to Inspire 2025.From elite leadership conversations to inclusive participation opportunities — whether you’re tackling a fitness challenge, joining a team activation, or riding for a cause — this is an event designed to inspire action, unlock potential, and create lasting opportunities for underserved communities.Tune in to discover how Ride to Inspire is redefining leadership through purpose — and why 2026 is set to be its most impactful year yet.Donate to the Inspiring Leadership Foundation hereTo learn more about the ride, or so sign up, click hereTickets for the Charity Dinner at Silverstone Museum hereTickets for the VIP Matchday Experience at Liverpool Anfield hereUse code PARTNER25 at checkout for 25% off all events
420. 420. Miles with Meaning #2: Ride to Inspire 2026 with Justin Levene and Jack Prichard
30:27||Season 1, Ep. 420In this special episode, we spotlight Ride to Inspire 2026 — a powerful three-day cycling experience uniting purpose-driven businesses, leaders, and communities to create meaningful social impact through sport, teamwork, and shared ambition.More than just a ride, this unique event blends energising corporate fundraisers, leadership forums, and unforgettable experiences at iconic venues — from an exclusive dinner at Silverstone Museum to a VIP matchday at Liverpool Anfield stadium. It’s a unique platform where high-performance teams, inspiring speakers, and bold ideas come together to drive collaboration, connection, and real-world change.We’re joined by two remarkable riders from last year’s event, including Justin Levene — a world Brazilian Jiu Jitsu world champion, record-breaking endurance cyclist, and leading advocate for equality whose story of resilience and achievement is nothing short of extraordinary — and Jack Prichard, CEO and healthcare leader, representing the calibre of purpose-led individuals behind the ride.Alongside them, organisers Kirsten Warrender and Alex Garment share insight into the vision behind Ride to Inspire, the experiences that make it truly distinctive, and how businesses and teams can get involved.From elite leadership conversations to inclusive participation opportunities — whether you’re tackling a fitness challenge, joining a team activation, or riding for a cause — this is an event designed to inspire action, unlock potential, and create lasting opportunities for underserved communities.Tune in to discover how Ride to Inspire is redefining leadership through purpose — and why 2026 is set to be its most impactful year yet.Donate to the Inspiring Leadership Foundation hereTo learn more about the ride, or so sign up, click hereTickets for the Charity Dinner at Silverstone Museum hereTickets for the VIP Matchday Experience at Liverpool Anfield hereUse code PARTNER25 at checkout for 25% off all events
419. 419. Every Contact Leaves a Trace - Police & Hostage Negotiation with John Sutherland
57:33||Season 1, Ep. 419John Sutherland is a married father of three, who lives with his wife and family in South London. He joined the Metropolitan Police Service in 1992 - serving as an officer for more than 25 years, until his early retirement on medical grounds in 2018. Having started out as a uniformed PC, responding to emergencies on the streets of inner London, he rose through the ranks to become a highly respected senior officer. His last operational posting was as the Borough Commander for Southwark. He is an experienced Hostage and Crisis Negotiator, having been a member of both the national and international cadres. Since leaving the Met, John has become an established author. His first book,'Blue: A Memoir’, was an instant Sunday Times bestseller and his second, ‘Crossing the Line’ was a BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week. His first novel, ‘The Siege’ - which introduced readers to the worlds of police negotiators Alex Lewis and Pip Williams - was published by Orion Fiction in June 2022 and shortlisted for the Specsavers Debut Crime Novel of the Year. Two sequels have since been published to significant critical acclaim: The Fallen in June 2023 and The Castle in April 2025. John is a sought-after public speaker - addressing subjects including leadership, communication and mental health - and a media commentator on matters relating to policing and society. He has appeared regularly on national radio and television and has written for a variety of national newspapers. You can find him on his website: www.johnsutherlandauthor.co.uk, on Instagram as john_sutherland_author, and on X as @policecommander
418. 418. Real Leadership Conversations with Nigel Morris QED Investors
59:57||Season 1, Ep. 418Nigel Morris is a renowned British businessman and pioneering fintech investor, best known as the co-founder and managing partner of QED Investors, a leading venture capital firm focused on financial technology. He is also widely recognised for co-founding Capital One in 1994, where as President and Chief Operating Officer he helped revolutionise consumer lending through the innovative use of data and analytics. Under his leadership at QED Investors, Nigel has backed some of the world’s most successful fintech companies, including Credit Karma, Nubank, Klarna and Remitly, helping to shape the modern global financial services landscape. Educated at London Business School with an MBA, he combines rigorous analytical thinking with a deep understanding of customer behaviour and business culture. On this episode of Inspiring Leadership, Nigel reflects on the lessons from building Capital One, his transition into venture capital, and what it takes to identify and scale category‑defining businesses. He also shares his philosophy on leadership, integrity and decision‑making in high‑growth environments, offering rich insights for CEOs, founders and senior leaders navigating rapid change.
417. 417. Are You a self-destructive Leader? Find out with Dr Joshua Coleman
57:42||Season 1, Ep. 417Dr. Coleman is a psychologist in private practice in the San Francisco Bay Area and a Senior Fellow with the Council on Contemporary Families, a non-partisan organization of leading sociologists, historians, psychologists and demographers dedicated to providing the press and public with the latest research and best practice findings about American families. He is a frequent contributor to The Atlantic and The Washington Post’s "Ask a Therapist" column and has also written for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Scientific American, NBC THINK, The Behavioral Scientist, Maria Shriver Sunday Paper, CNN, MarketWatch, the San Francisco Chronicle, and more. He has given talks to the faculties at Harvard, the Weill Cornell Department of Psychiatry, UC Irvine, Ohio State and other academic institutions. A frequent guest on the Today Show, NPR, New York University Doctor’s Radio, he has also been featured on Oprah, Sesame Street, 20/20, Good Morning America, PBS, as well as podcasts for The Atlantic, The Economist, CNN with Audie Cornish and Yasha Mounk’s The Good Fight. He is the author of numerous articles and chapters and has written four books: The Rules of Estrangement (Random House); The Marriage Makeover: Finding Happiness in Imperfect Harmony (St. Martin's Press); The Lazy Husband: How to Get Men to Do More Parenting and Housework (St. Martin's Press); When Parents Hurt: Compassionate Strategies When You and Your Grown Child Don't Get Along (HarperCollins) He is the co-editor, along with historian Stephanie Coontz of seven online volumes of Unconventional Wisdom: News You Can Use, a compendium of noteworthy research on the contemporary family, gender, sexuality, poverty, and work-family issues. His books have been translated into Chinese, Korean, Russian, Polish, and Croatian. Dr. Coleman is the father of three adult children, has a teenage grandson and lives with his wife in the San Francisco Bay Area. He also writes music for television which has appeared on Keeping Up With the Kardashians, Lethal Weapon, Chicago Fire, Chicago PD, Pretty Little Liars, Longmire, Shameless, RuPaul's Drag Race, and many other shows.
416. 416. Hatty Jackson - Tech Entrepreneur Connecting the Armed Forces Community
51:16||Season 1, Ep. 416Hatty Jackson is the founder of Troopr, a first-of-its-kind platform that helps the UK’s Armed Forces community easily discover the support, services and opportunities available to them from Forces-friendly organisations. A proud military child, Hatty grew up with a deep understanding of service life and has worked closely with her father, founder of ex-military recruitment business Salutemyjob. His leadership has been a major inspiration in her own journey. With Troopr, Hatty set out to solve a clear problem: the fragmented and time-consuming experience of finding support as a veteran, serving member, reservist or military family. Instead of scattered websites and word-of-mouth, Troopr brings everything into one trusted place — from jobs and housing to wellbeing, money and community support — all clearly linked to verified Forces-friendly organisations. But Troopr isn’t just about listings. It’s about recognition. Hatty believes organisations that step up for the Armed Forces community should be seen, celebrated and supported. Troopr helps those employers and service providers showcase their opportunities and connect meaningfully with the people they want to help. Hatty’s leadership blends commercial focus with real purpose. She’s building more than a platform — she’s building a movement that champions access, inclusion and respect for the Armed Forces community. Under her guidance, Troopr is rapidly growing and forming strategic partnerships with major organisations like NHS Scotland. Her vision is simple: to make it easy for the Armed Forces community to access everything they’re entitled to — and to give Forces-friendly organisations the tools to support them well. Link to Troopr - troopr.co.uk Troopr is one place for the Armed Forces community to go to discover all the support, services, opportunities and more offered to them from Forces-friendly organisations.
415. 415. Miles with Meaning: Leadership, Trauma and the Ride to Inspire- Adam Fox Edwards & Jacqui Wilkinson
37:52||Season 1, Ep. 415Donate to the Inspiring Leadership Foundation here: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/ride-to-inspire-2026?utm_medium=CA&utm_source=CLJoin the ride and/or events and find out more here: https://inspiringleadership.foundation/ride-to-inspire/Use code PARTNER25 at checkout for 25% off for tickets to the Women Breaking Barriers and Champions Within events.After the incredible success of Ride to Inspire 2025, where together we raised £30,999 for charity, we’re doing it again this year — and making it twice as big. This event is more than just a ride. It’s about raising vital funds, building awareness, and creating lasting connections to power the mission of the Inspiring Leadership Foundation — a charity that envisions a world where those from the most underserved communities can dream big and realise their full potential.Ride to Inspire 2026 brings together purpose-driven businesses, leaders, and communities to celebrate inspiring leadership while tackling critical social challenges through sport, teamwork, and shared purpose.Three-day cycling event with energising fundraisers designed for corporates and teams.Leadership events featuring world-class speakers at iconic venues: Silverstone and Anfield Stadium.Purpose-driven engagement: businesses and leaders mobilised to create real impact.Diverse participation opportunities: from fitness challenges and fun rides to training sessions and team activations.Unique leader and team activations driving high engagement, collaboration, and performance.Amplified social impact: generating lasting opportunities for disadvantaged and underserved communities.This years ride is sponsored and supported by: Dove – Unilever UK, B&M, Gleeds, Oxford Property Group, Freeze Tag Inc and Polyco HealthlineAbout the Inspiring Leadership Foundation The Inspiring Leadership Foundation supports disadvantaged people in the UK and internationally. Founded in 2015 by Leigh Bowman-Perks, a survivor of domestic violence and adversity, the charity was created to address gaps in support for vulnerable individuals, including limitations in government resources and a lack of long-term, holistic services. Leigh, now a successful business leader, international speaker, coach, philanthropist, and author, attributes her success to mentors and supportive businesses, and she is committed to giving back.Our mission is to connect those from underserved communities with a global network of inspiring leaders to deliver world-class development through mentorship, resources, and life-changing career opportunities.