episode Archives - Don't Stop Us Now

Become Boss of Your Brain – Professor Selena Bartlett

November 23, 2022November 23, 2022
by Claire

Our guest on the podcast this week is Professor Selena Bartlett, an Australian neuroscientist who’s life’s work is all about understanding how our brains work.

Selena has held senior roles with leading research institutes in the US and Australia and she’s currently leading pioneering research into addiction and obesity at the Queensland University of Technology.

What drew us to Selena’s story is not only her passion to understand how our brains work but also her mission to educate us non-neuroscientists about the things we can do to improve our brain’s health and even completely change our lives.

In this episode you’ll hear:

The very personal reason Selena switched her career path away from pharmacy towards neuroscience as a young woman
Selena’s fascinating explanation of what causes mental illnesses such as schizophrenia
How she overcame her sugar addiction when she realised the impact it has on the brain
Some radically simple things we can all do to improve our brain’s health; and
Why Selena thinks becoming ‘boss of your brain’ can completely change the direction of your life.

Enjoy this fascinating conversation with the passionate and pioneering Professor – Selena Bartlett.

Useful Links:

Selena’s website: https://www.profselenabartlett.com/

Selena’s podcast: Thriving Minds

Selena on LinkedIn

Interview

Sonika Manandhar – & Her Fintech Changing Lives in…

August 31, 2021August 31, 2021
by Claire

Our latest episode takes you on a journey all the way to Kathmandu in Nepal.

We speak with Sonika Manandhar, a Nepalese entrepreneur and former senior software developer for Microsoft, who’s now a fintech founder committed to improving the lives of women small business owners in Nepal.

Sonika is co-founder and CTO of Aeloi Technologies, an innovative social enterprise and fintech that uses digital tokens to facilitate affordable loans to Nepali small businesses that are working in a sustainable and climate-friendly fashion. Think things such as electric mini buses and sustainable agriculture.

She also happens to be one of Nepal’s highest flyers, almost literally, as she was selected to participate in International Space training at the Korean AeroSpace Research Institute.

Not only that. Sonika was named a National Geographic Explorer for 2020, a UN Young Champion of the Earth in 2019, and she attended Singularity University where exponential thinking is cultivated.

In this episode you’ll hear:

How Sonika is going about creating change when her customers have low literacy levels
Her advice for introverts
How her use of digital tokens is helping to build trust between financiers and female-run businesses; and
Her inspiring advice for women who want to start their own business.

So come on this journey with us and enjoy this episode with the purposeful and pioneering Sonika Manandhar.

Useful Links

Sonika on LinkedIn

Sonika on Instagram

Aeloi Technologies Website

Singularity University

Future Proof Me Mini Episode

Future Proof Me: 3 Founder Essentials

August 24, 2021August 24, 2021
by Claire

We’ve been thinking about the impact the global pandemic has had on peoples’ careers and one thing that’s been happening is many folk have been wondering whether it’s time for a career change and, in particular, whether they should start their own business.

So for today’s mini episode, we’ve chosen to share some brilliant advice for founders and potential founders from the successful British entrepreneur, Debbie Wosskow OBE.

Debbie is well known for building and selling her online home exchange business, Love Home Swap for £53 million.

Not only that, Debbie is now co-founder of another business called AllBright, an education and networking organisation designed to provide skills and connections to working women particularly in the UK but also internationally. We talked all about AllBright when we first spoke with Debbie on the show some years ago.

Having sold her own start-up and also being a start-up investor, Debbie knows first hand what it takes to build a business from scratch and, as you’ll hear, there are 3 key things she believes founders need.

Useful Links

Debbie’s full interview episode – Debbie Wosskow, OBE – What It Takes To Be A Successful Female Entrepreneur

AllBright Website

The AllBright Academy

TheAllBright on Twitter

Debbie on Linkedin

Debbie on Twitter

Book on Grit – by Angela Duckworth

Future Proof Me Mini Episode

Future Proof Me – What Great Ideas Need

June 30, 2021June 30, 2021
by Claire

This week’s Future Proof mini episode is all about what it takes to get a big idea signed off.

We’re excited to share very wise advice from senior Microsoft exec, Mitra Azizirad, who heads up their AI and Innovation division. Mitra speaks about what you should do when that fantastic idea or innovation you have gets knocked back. (Hands up who knows that feeling!)

Mitra is someone who’s had plenty of practise selling-in new ideas and approaches, and one of her top pieces of advice from our conversation was all about how you should react to being told “no” when you pitch an idea in a big corporate.

It’s important advice and we’re excited to revisit this with you here. Enjoy!

Useful Links

Mitra’s Full Interview with us – Mitra Azizirad – How Resilience and Persistence Can Make All The Difference

Mitra on LinkedIn – see her speeches here too! Well worth a watch!

Microsoft Innovation – Mitra’s team

Microsoft AI – also Mitra’s team

Mcirosoft’s AI Business School – Free Course

Future Proof Me Mini Episode

Future Proof Me – It’s Not Personal!

April 6, 2021
by Claire

This week’s mini episode is about keeping things in perspective and not taking things personally at work. We hear great advice from one of our wisest guests, Julia Paige, Uber’s global head of Social Impact.

How often have you been rattled by something someone has said to you at work, then spent hours ruminating and worrying about how you’re perceived by others?

We both have in our time, and the wasted hours of angst trying to second-guess the motivations of others or their perceptions of us, were truly a waste of time.

Spare yourself the pain and check out this mini episode to help you realise if it’s work …it’s not personal!

Useful Links

Link to Julia’s full interview

Julia on LinkedIn

How To Episode

How To End this Crazy Year on a Positive…

December 1, 2020
by Claire

Brought to you by Microsoft’s The New Next

Welcome to our latest How To episode, the last one for 2020!

This week we’re exploring how to end this year on a positive note. It’s been such a crazy year! From Australia and California’s shocking bushfires to the global COVID pandemic, which has led to so much disruption to all our lives.

We like to think of the end of the calendar year as a great opportunity to be a circuit breaker. With so many people right now feeling exhausted, this is a great chance for us all to start the process of recharging our batteries and freshening our outlook over the Holiday season.

In this episode we share 4 great tips that you can choose from to help you reset, clear your head and generally position yourself in the best possible way to enjoy December and start 2021 feeling much more positive.

We explore everything from humour, to reflecting on your 2020 actions, to telling someone how much you appreciate them.

So if you want to end 2020 in the best possible way then this is the episode for you. Enjoy!

Interview

Debbie Millman – Brave Heart, Big Life

September 8, 2020
by Claire

We have such a treat for you this week with the truly multi-talented and globally respected Debbie Millman.

Debbie is a designer, author, educator, artist, brand expert and host of one of the world’s longest running and highly respected podcasts, Design Matters.

Named one of the most creative people in business by Fast Company and one of the most influential designers working today by Graphic Design USA, Debbie has also written six books, her artwork has been exhibited in numerous galleries, and she co-founded the world’s first Masters in Branding.

She’s also one of the most authentic and thoughtful people we’ve met.

From difficult and traumatic beginnings, Debbie has gone on to have a stellar career.

She was President of Sterling Brands for 20 years and grew the company from 15 people to 150 before selling the business. She’s created many many iconic household brands that you see in stores today, including for Haagen-Dazs, Burger King, 7Up, and Star Wars merchandise.

In this episode you’ll learn:

How the worst day of Debbie’s life ended up being probably the most important day of her life,
Why she feels branding is one of the most significant disciplines in our culture and lives today,
Her advice about developing self esteem; and
What’s she’s learnt from over 500 podcast interviews with some incredible guests.

Enjoy this episode with the insightful and inspiring Debbie Millman

Useful Links

https://www.debbiemillman.com/

Debbie’s TED talk – How Symbols and Brands Shape our Humanity

Society 6 Debbie Millman – various designs by Debbie that you can buy

How to Build Your Personal Brand – A Course with Debbie Millman

The Art of the Story – Creating Visual Narratives

Debbie’s reading list

Futurists Debbie mentions:

Faith Popcorn

William Gordon’s books

Photography credit: John Madere Photography

Future Proof Me Mini Episode

Future Proof Me – Solving Problems That Computers Can’t

August 4, 2020
by Claire

Gotta problem? Then listen up! Our first mini episode for August shares some tips to help you solve gnarly problems better.

Many Future of Work experts agree that complex problem solving skills will be in strong demand. These are the kinds of problems that computers and AI can’t solve because they are only as good as the (historical) data we program into them. Even the best algorithms can’t solve complex problems in the creative way a human brain can.

Listen now to hear about the lessons we and some of our guests have learnt about tackling problems and making the decisions that need to be made to move forward. Enjoy!

Future Proof Me Mini Episode

Future Proof Me – Lasting the Distance

July 21, 2020
by Claire

Do you get impacted by all the negativity in the News? Are you feeling pretty disheartened about COVID-19’s continued impact on our lives and routines?

If you’re nodding your head right now, then this week’s mini episode on ‘Lasting the Distance’ could be just what you need to shake off that cloudy feeling.

Here at Don’t Stop Us Now HQ, we both felt we needed a pick-me-up this week and so this episode is designed to help us all last the distance with whatever challenges we may be facing right now.

Hear Claire and Greta talk about how they’re feeling, stories of what they’re actions they’re taking to stay resilient, and hear three key tips to get through these tricky and uncertain times.

Remember we’re in the midst of a (COVID) marathon and not a sprint, so being sure to take time out to be kind to yourself and to build your resilience is so important. Don’t miss this episode to get some ideas to boost your mindset now.

Future Proof Me Mini Episode

Future Proof Me – How an Innovator Stays Creative

July 7, 2020
by Claire

Welcome to this week’s mini Future Proof Me episode all about how to stay creative in a busy world.

We loved the advice that serial Canadian entrepreneur and founder, Vicki Saunders shared with us when we spoke to her last year.

Vicki is CEO and Founder of SheEO. SheEO is an international network of women who support, finance and celebrate female innovators who run ventures solving important world problems.

As a serial entrepreneur and true original thinker, Vicki has learnt she needs to create space for ideas to flow. As you’ll hear in this episode, she’s very conscious of ensuring she has a routine and practices that give her that space and stimulus despite facing, as we all do, the demands of a hectic busy work life and all the usual stresses we all experience.

You’ll hear how Vicki carves out time in her schedule to consume a wide variety of different topics in order to fuel her creative thinking, and you’ll hear how she’s found meditating makes a big difference.

If you’re struggling to have fresh ideas or see old problems from new perspectives, then this mini episode is just what you need!

Links of interest

Our full interview with Vicki

SheEO website