Life Beyond The Numbers

I Back Myself - Julie Smith

“There’s probably something about confidence that I back myself, that I can do more or I can strengthen this particular skill. I can learn to do a new thing.” Julie Smith
 
Julie Smith and I talk about the realities of confidence, humility and self-doubt and how these play out in both life and leadership. Julie describes confidence as “trust in yourself” and reminds us that nobody feels confident all the time, even if it looks that way from the outside. She highlights the hidden cost of overworking and exhaustion, potentially even burnout, to cover self-doubt and why recognising this “self-doubt tax” is so important. We also explore growth and learning, how leaders influence the mood and mindset of their teams, the difference it makes when someone says “I’d back us,” and how humility and confidence can co-exist in powerful ways. 
 
Julie Smith is an executive coach with 3 decades of experience in supporting leaders and leadership teams. She is the author of award-winning book Coach Yourself Confident, and is currently writing book number two, Contagious Confidence.
****Coach Yourself Confident won Business Self Development Book of the Year at the 2025 UK Business Book Awards. Congratulations Julie!
 
Connect with Julie
On LinkedIn
Through her website: Talent Sprout
 
Resources Mentioned
Coach Yourself Confident by Julie Smith
Business Book Awards 
 

Beyond the Words - Solo Episode

This is a special episode to mark the 5th anniversary and the launch of the audio book version of Leading Beyond the Numbers. 
 
In this episode I share:
5 reflections from 5 years of podcasting:
Hosting or facilitating
Holding space and listening
The most surprising thing...
The power of voice
Why this podcast still matters to me
A short interview by Rob Lawrence recorded in JMS Group Studios at the end of two days spent fully immersed in recording the audio version of Leading Beyond the Numbers: How accounting for Emotions Tips the Balance at Work 
 
Susan Ní Chríodáin is founder of Beyond the Numbers, a consulting, facilitation and coaching practice dedicated to transforming how we interact at work by placing humanity at the heart of leadership. Susan is an award-winning chartered accountant with a Big 4 background, but her career has been anything but traditional. With experience spanning continents and industries, she has combined her financial expertise with an understanding of human dynamics to help leaders and teams thrive. As the author of Leading Beyond the Numbers and host of the Life Beyond the Numbers podcast, Susan champions a fresh approach to leadership — one that embraces the power of emotions, trust and honest conversations to create workplaces where people and results thrive.
 
Connect with me: 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susannichriodain/
Substack: https://substack.com/@thewholeequation
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susan.ni.chriodain/
 
Resources Mentioned:
Leading Beyond the Numbers - Audio Book
Leading Beyond the Numbers - Print edition
Rob Lawrence 
JMS Group 
 

We Eat Stories - Mari Giuseppe

"We don't eat nutrients, we eat stories." Mari Giuseppe
 
Mari Giuseppe and I delve into the intricate relationship between food, culture and self-perception. Mari, a dietician with a unique approach, explains how food isn't just nutrition; it's deeply intertwined with the stories we tell ourselves. We discuss the pressures of cultural ideals, the impact of trauma on eating habits and the harmful effects of societal expectations. We laughed a lot in this conversation as Mari has such a beautifully open and honest approach and tells her truth with humour. We talked about shorts, cellulite, and the pressure to be “bikini ready” - but more than that, we reflected on how different life feels when you stop waiting for approval and come from a place of self-love and balance. This episode is full of insight, laughter and the kind of truth-telling that makes you feel lighter. And remember we are more than a number on a scale - we are human beings. 
 
Mari Giuseppe is a qualified dietitian from Brazil, specialising in eating behaviour and mindset. Her work focuses on realistic nutrition education, respecting individual needs and the emotions behind food choices. She believes it’s not just about what we eat, but why we eat, and that transforming our relationship with food takes more than a diet – it requires compassion, active listening, and strategy. She currently works as a Nutrition Assistant within the NHS in the UK, while completing the translation and validation of her degree. Her mission is to help people break the cycle of guilt and restriction, and rebuild a lighter, healthier, and more achievable relationship with food and their bodies.
 
Connect with Mari
Follow her contribution on Future Proof App 
On LinkedIn
On Instagram 
 
Resources Mentioned
Future Proof App
Episode 204 Future Proof with James Culmer Shields

A Very Different World - Laura Haycock

"When I first become aware that I was experiencing perimenopause, or at least put a name to what I had been experiencing for years without knowing what was going on, it was a very different world. That was just 10 to 15 years ago." Laura Haycock
 
Laura Haycock and I talk about her recently published book, M-Power, which addresses menopause as a critical issue that intersects with organisational culture and how we treat one another at work. Her book is rooted not just in lived experience, but in a deep understanding of culture, leadership and inclusion. Laura elaborates on the importance of understanding menopause beyond just a women's issue and highlights the systemic changes organisations can implement for a supportive environment. The discussion also touches upon the historical and societal factors that have shaped our understanding of menopause and how modern workplaces can adapt. We reflected on what it takes to lead in a changing context, where organisational effectiveness depends on recognising what people need to thrive. This is not just a conversation for women. It’s an invitation to rethink how organisations support humanity at work - by seeing what’s usually invisible.
 
Laura Haycock is a Chartered Psychologist and Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society. She graduated from Oxford University in Experimental Psychology and has a Masters in Applied Psychology from Cranfield University, College of Aeronautics. Laura offers over 30 years of consultancy experience across all aspects of talent management in the UK, Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe, and Middle East & Africa. She co-directed a start-up environmental consultancy for several years. This entrepreneurial background adds to her impact as an executive coach. Through her own business, Brew People, she helps good leaders become great leaders by putting inclusion at the heart of everything they do to: identify true talent; empower high performance; connect diverse teams; and develop everyone’s full potential. She has deep expertise in empowering women through their careers and uses systems-thinking to combine actions from a strategic, practical and individual level.Connect with Laura
On LinkedIn
Through her website, Brew People
 
Resources MentionedM-Power: A Menopause Action Plan for Organizations by Laura Haycock
Dr Louise Newson 
 

Availability is Not a Skill - David Lee, Dr Susanne Evans & Me

"I'm a great one for saying yes to things because I like saying yes to things .... and my husband always says, availability isn't a skill, Susanne. So, I have to remind myself of that sometimes." Dr Susanne Evans
 
Susanne, David and I speak about burnout. Not as a concept, but as something that we may well have to navigate in our work-lives. We talked about signs like exhaustion, disconnection, losing a sense of self. We spoke about what it was like not know what was wrong and how our bodies will take action to support us. 
For me, this was the first time I shared my own experience in this way. And I offered it because I know how isolating this can feel when you’re in it.
We also explore what you might do if something in this resonates with you - whether for yourself or someone you know.
 
Resources MentionedRushing Women's Syndrome by Dr. Libby Weaver
Nuts! by Herb Kelleher
An article on Parental Burnout in The Guardian
The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk
"The Swan" - a poem by Rainer Maria Rilke
The Art of Impossible by Stephen Kotler
The Power of Full Engagement by Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz
The Art of Possibility by Rosamund Stone Zander & Benjamin Zander
Conscious Creativity by Philippa Stanton
Wanderful by David Pearl
 
Dr Susanne Evans is an organisation change consultant, trainer, coach and researcher on a mission to change the way that transformations are managed in organisations. She founded Feldspar Consulting in 2007 to help her clients lead change in a more human, effective way. As well as writing and speaking about organisation change, Susanne hosts open storytelling workshops, supporting organisations and individuals in writing a compelling story for themselves. She is the author of ChangeStories and the host of the popular ChangeStories podcast.
 
David Lee is a coach, consultant, workshop facilitator, keynote speaker, and author, who loves creating a win/win/win relationship between people and the organizations they work for. He helps leaders and leadership teams learn how to become "people whisperers", and by doing so, increase their ability to make their organization THE choice for "A List Talent" and inspire the best in their people.
 
Connect with Susanne
On LinkedIn
Through her website: Feldspar Consulting
Listen to Change Stories podcast
 
Connect with David
On LinkedIn 
Through his website Human Nature at Work

Future Proof - James Culmer-Shields

“I want to create something which fit that space and would help those people... to future-proof themselves.” James Culmer-Shields
 
James Culmer-Shields and I recently sat down at my kitchen table and talked about something that touches all of us: how we stay well enough as we age to live the lives we want to live. James has spent decades in the world of fitness - from his time in the military training to personal coaching to founding The Athlete Centre. Now, he’s turning his attention to something broader: how we can all live longer, healthier lives in ways that feel realistic, not overwhelming.
“Let’s help the people who are sat at home… who are saying, ‘I know I need to do something. But what?’”
This episode isn’t about elite training or hacks. It’s about practical ways to feel stronger, more capable and more connected to our bodies as we age. We talk about:
James motivation to make longevity accessible to people who don’t have a science degree or listen to longevity experts.
What future-proofing your health might look like in your 40s, 50s, 60s and beyond
The importance of designing support for those who want to move more, but don’t know where to start
This isn’t a how-to guide. It’s a thoughtful chat about what health and longevity can mean for you - for now and for the longer-term. 
 
James Culmer-Shields gained invaluable insight into the high-performance world, learning what it takes to optimise the body for peak results and performance after years of working alongside professional athletes and media stars. In 2003 he established The Athlete Centre, an innovative Strength and Conditioning facility in Oxford. Turning 40 - James realised that there's more to training than just achieving physical goals or maintaining an aesthetic. It became clear that the way we approach fitness needs to evolve, particularly as we age. Thus Future Proof was born
 
Connect with James
Sign up to the weekly newsletter at https://www.futureproofapp.com/ 
Download the FutureProof app
Check out The Athlete Centre
 
Resources Mentioned
Peter Attia - Drive

All Stories are Useful - Jay Perry

"So by that definition, all stories are useful. The question is: to what end?" Jay Perry
 
Jay Perry and I explored what happens when we begin to see story not as decoration or distraction, but as data - the language we use to survive, connect and create. Jay shared his definition that “a story is language put to use” and reminded us that “all stories are useful” - the real question being to what end? Together we examined how some stories serve connection, while others become what Jay calls “story infections” - narratives shaped by fear, judgement or diminishment. We talked about the stories that get “archived,” the ones that still run in the background long after we’ve outgrown them and what it means to interrupt or catch those stories before they shape our choices. Jay also introduced Storysphere, his community platform for engaging with stories consciously and creatively. 
 
Jay Perry, (aka Wonder Man), has spent the last 45+ years creating communities to explore how to make the most of our human experience. In addition to Storycatchers he has created The Actors’ Information Project, The Coaching Collective, The Listening Games, and Wonder-shops. He also participated in the creation of Coach University and the International Coaching Federation. Jay is a Master Coach (MCAC), personal champion and creative partner for performers, artists, entrepreneurs, and the neurodiverse community. He is known as one of the world’s leading mentors for new coaches seeking professional certification. He is currently on the teaching faculty of The ADD Coaching Academy and the Board of Directors for the Re-Entry Coaching Academy. As co-author of Take Charge of Your Talent: three Keys to Thriving in Your Career, Organization, and Life, Jay has led workshops for thousands of people around the world on diverse topics such as business planning, leader­ship, transformational change, personal mastery, coaching skills, communication, and career planning. Jay lives in Charlottesville, Virginia, with his wife, Susan.
 
Connect with Jay
Through his website www.jayperry.com
Storysphere Central https://www.storyspherecentral.com/
 
Resources Mentioned
The Big Ask, Illuminated, BBC Sounds
Benjamin Zander "How Fascinating"
Tim Gallwey: "capital P equals small p minus I, which stands for performance equals potential minus interference"
Story Thinking by Angus Fletcher
Take Charge of Your Talent by Don Maruska and Jay Perry
 

The Artist Inside Us - Alexander Inchbald

"There is a pilot light running in all of us, and to me that pilot light is the artist inside us." Alexander Inchbald
 
Alexander Inchbald and I have an in-depth conversation about creativity and the courage to listen to something larger than ourselves. Alexander equates our inner spark - our "light" - with the artist within, present in all of us, even when dimmed. We explore the roles of different types of artists, like creators, collaborators, cultivators, and choreographers and how these roles influence personal and professional lives. He shares stories of painting in blizzards, consulting with global leaders and learning to surrender control. We talk about what surrender really means? Spoiler ... it doesn't mean wave a white flag. Alexander emphasises the need for leaders to embrace change and come from a place of inner peace to make a meaningful impact. And we talk about what is playing out in the world stage and the importance of speaking truth to power.
 
Alexander Inchbald is a global authority on creativity and how we can use it to reinvent business in harmony with Mother Nature. He leads The #Masterpiece Agency, designing personal journeys for purposeful pioneers (and their teams) to elevate themselves to the next level by creating and communicating their Masterpiece. He has helped over 2,000 to discover their Purpose in life. Everything he does is based on his mystical experiences painting around the world in blizzards, gale force winds and tropical storms. These experiences and his research into psychology, physiology, metaphysics and epigenentics have helped him to realise we are not passive participants in a universe beyond our control, but active creators of our own playground. He is a bestselling author a few times over, has worked on all of the UN SDGs for some of the largest and most recognised companies. His paintings have been exhibited at Google and Tesla and he lives with his family above Lake Geneva.
 
Connect with Alexander
Through his website The #Masterpiece Agency
Branding Made Simple Masterclass
 
Resources Mentioned
Vernon Frost - esoteric teacher
Sir Ken Robinson (TED Talk) ‘Do schools kill creativity?’ 
Masterpiece: What would you do with all the time and money in the world by Alexander Inchbald
 

What My Heart Beats For - Compilation Episode

"At this particular moment, am I in alignment with, am I in resonance with my values, with what I stand for, with what my heart beats for?" Migena Gjerazi
 
In this special compilation episode, I revisit conversations from Episodes 100 to 200, to bring together moments from conversations to explore how choice isn’t always obvious, but it’s always there. Awareness opens the door. Articulation gives it form. And action, aligned action, carries it forward. You’ll hear different voices and perspectives, but the thread remains the same: we are more powerful than we realise when we give ourselves permission to see, to speak and to step. This episode is a celebration of that. Of the messy, hopeful and courageous work of being human and of choosing to continue moving towards what feels true for us. 
 
People featured in this episode:
Migena Gjerazi, Asking for Help, Episode 152
Paul Kervanis, Our Expectations, Episode 131
Rob Lawrence, Really Listening, Episode 172
Sam Allen, Reconnecting, Episode 120
Phil Dorman, What You Stand For, Episode 136
Achim Arnold, The Twin Trails, Episode 135
Carissa Bub, Hear the Silence Emerging, Episode 197
Alison Smith, A Metaphor for our Lives, Episode 178
Robyn Harris, The Answers are Inside, Episode 108
James Thirlwall, Transfixed, Episode 194

The Joy of Conversation - Episode 200 - A solo episode

I didn’t set out to reach 200 episodes—I set out to follow the joy. And in this episode, I reflect on how joy hasn’t come from numbers or milestones, but from the moments in between - from the magic of sitting down and having real, honest conversations.
Over the years, I’ve explored everything from emotional intelligence to leadership transitions, from burnout to belonging, from accounting for our emotions to creating more human workplaces. And at the heart of it all has been conversation - curious, meaningful conversation.
To mark this milestone, I took myself (and the title of the episode) on a walk through London. I stopped to notice what caught my eye, and three unexpected moments - a sculpture, a street sign, and a sticker - each reminded me in their own way of the joy, the depth and the permission that conversation can hold. This episode isn’t just a celebration of a number - it’s a pause, a breath and an invitation. To slow down. To notice. To listen. Because in a world that rushes, true conversation remains one of our most powerful tools for connection and change and continues to have the power to move us.
 
Susan Ní Chríodáin is the host of Life Beyond the Numbers and founder of Beyond the Numbers, a leadership consultancy rooted in human connection and meaningful change. She’s the author of Leading Beyond the Numbers—an Amazon bestseller and finalist in the 2025 UK Business Book Awards (Leadership category). A former finance director turned leadership guide, Susan brings bold questions, honest conversations and an emotionally intelligent lens to how we live and lead. Through engaging interviews and thoughtful reflection, the podcast explores what really matters at work - beyond the numbers- so we can thrive as whole human beings. Resources Mentioned:
This episode includes clips from 
Episode 109, Collective Joy, Pete Bearder
Episode 116, Challenges, Diego Adame
Episode 122, What Matters Most, Solo
Episode 132, Inner Development Goals, Katharina Moser
Episode 133, At Our Best, Solo
Episode 135, I Feel Like Me Again, Jo Hunter
Episode 145, Facilitate People, John Fairhurst
Episode 176, Trust, Kevin Chevis
Episode 187, Willing to Take Risks, Liz Jarman
Episode 190, Just a Couple of Centimeters of Care, Marc Haine
I also make reference to episode 197, Hear the Silence Emerging, Carissa Bub
"I Did it My Way" Frank Sinatra
David Whyte