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From the moment you meet Julia Duthie, you're struck by her natural optimism and what she calls her "champion hustler" spirit. Behind her success as a bestselling Author, Podcast Host, and Trusted Advisor lies an extraordinary journey that began on "Dogbone Street" - a road nicknamed for its distinctive shape with two roundabouts resembling a dog bone.

Growing up in challenging circumstances, Julia essentially raised herself, developing remarkable resourcefulness at a young age. "What do you do when you're 7 with a broken toe and no parents around? How do you handle nits when there's no one to help?" These experiences, chronicled in her memoir "The House on Dogbone Street," taught her to connect with people, find creative solutions, and maintain an unshakeable positive outlook.

Music became Julia's escape. Like many children of the 70s and 80s, she'd record the Top 40 charts, carefully editing out advertisements. Her passion evolved into a ten-year musical career, beginning when a kind music shop owner named Guy allowed her to borrow a bass guitar. Julia progressed through bands including The Innocent Bystanders and The Colour Red before being signed as a solo artist.

Physical challenges have also shaped Julia's path. After suffering two prolapsed discs in her 20's, doctors told her she'd never play sports again. Working with her physiotherapist Dean, she's defied those limitations and now enjoys pickleball and kayaking, with tennis remaining her ultimate goal. This physical journey mirrors her broader life philosophy of refusing to be defined by limitations.

Perhaps most remarkable is Julia's journey toward authentic self-expression. At age 50, through therapy, she embraced her true identity. Despite having a wonderful relationship with her ex-husband (who remains important in her life), Julia had always known at a fundamental level that she was gay. Finding the courage to live authentically led to her current relationship and deep personal fulfillment.

Julia's guiding philosophy comes from Carl Jung: "I am not what happened to me. I am what I choose to become." Her advice? "Seek out people that you energetically chime with and that make you feel good. There's 8 billion of us to play with."

Discover Julia's podcast "People Are Everything" wherever you get your podcasts, where she explores the 5 people who made her guests who they are today - a perfect reflection of her belief in the transformative power of human connection.

Tune in next week for more stories of 'Distinction & Genius' from The Good Listening To Show 'Clearing'. If you would like to be my Guest too then you can find out HOW via the different 'series strands' at 'The Good Listening To Show' website.

• Show Website: https://www.thegoodlisteningtoshow.com
• You can email me about the Show: chris@secondcurve.uk
• Twitter thatchrisgrimes
• LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-grimes-actor-broadcaster-facilitator-coach/
• FaceBook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/842056403204860

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What happens when a corporate executive decides to break free from conformity at age 41 and build something meaningful? Pete Starr's journey from Manchester Council Estate to founding the Chilli Group reveals how purpose can transform both career and impact.

Growing up in a conservative household where his father wore a shirt and tie on beach holidays, Pete learned early to observe rather than disrupt. This quiet attentiveness would later become his entrepreneurial superpower, though he wouldn't recognize it for decades. After years at companies like Tesco, Coca-Cola, and the National Lottery, Pete took the leap into self-employment when a friend reframed the concept of risk: "If you have one employer and they drop you, you're left with zero. If you're freelance with multiple clients and one drops, you still have several."

The Pandemic brought both crisis and opportunity. As cancellations flooded in during March 2020, Pete faced uncertainty but emerged stronger, with a renewed commitment to environmental impact. Inspired by his children's concerns about plastic pollution and the collective power of small actions, he launched Wavy – dedicated to developing people skills within green organizations to accelerate positive environmental impact.

Pete's approach centers on emotional intelligence and presence. "You can have brilliant training design and an average trainer and you'll have an average training experience. You can have average training design and a brilliant trainer and you're more likely to have a brilliant training experience." This philosophy drives his work across both Chilli Group and Wavy, where he helps environmental organizations balance purpose with the profitability needed to sustain their mission.

For those considering their own entrepreneurial path, Pete offers refreshingly honest advice: "Just do it sooner" and remember that everyone's polished online presence is merely a shop window – "Every shop has got a back storeroom that's an absolute tip." His legacy isn't about business accolades but passing positive values through generations, creating ripples of impact that continue long after we're gone.

Discover how small changes and emotional intelligence can drive massive environmental impact. Connect with Pete and explore training opportunities at gochilli.co.uk and wayvie.co.uk.

Tune in next week for more stories of 'Distinction & Genius' from The Good Listening To Show 'Clearing'. If you would like to be my Guest too then you can find out HOW via the different 'series strands' at 'The Good Listening To Show' website.

• Show Website: https://www.thegoodlisteningtoshow.com
• You can email me about the Show: chris@secondcurve.uk
• Twitter thatchrisgrimes
• LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-grimes-actor-broadcaster-facilitator-coach/
• FaceBook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/842056403204860

Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW wherever you get your Podcasts :)

Thanks for listening!

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Martin Parr opens a window into his extraordinary five-decade career documenting the eccentricities of British life and leisure, revealing the philosophy that has made him one of the world's most celebrated documentary photographers.

Taking us behind his lens, Parr shares how finding himself "in the right place at the right time" led to his breakthrough project "The Last Resort" in New Brighton during the 1980s – a collection so enduring it's now in its seventh edition. With refreshing candor, he confesses that most of his photographs are "rubbish" and considers himself fortunate to capture ten good images annually, highlighting the relentless pursuit of quality that defines true mastery.

Parr's unique ability to create photographs that provoke "ambiguous emotional reactions" – where viewers "are unsure whether to laugh or cry" – reveals the subtle power of his documentary approach. While acknowledging criticism of his work, his substantial following (700,000+ Instagram followers) and exhibitions in prestigious institutions worldwide, including the Tate, Pompidou Centre, and Museum of Modern Art, confirm his profound impact on contemporary photography.

Beyond his personal achievements, Parr's commitment to preserving photographic heritage shines through his foundation, which houses not only his extensive archive but also collections from other British documentary photographers, alongside approximately 5,000 photography books. This cultural repository, combined with his mentorship of emerging talent, ensures his influence will extend far beyond his own remarkable body of work.

What truly emerges from this conversation is Parr's infectious enthusiasm for finding magical moments in mundane settings. "I'm happiest in a cliché," he admits, revealing how church village fetes and seaside holidays become portals to understanding British identity through his discerning eye. His legacy? "The folio of photos I've built up – an archive of my time in Britain over the last 50 years." A cultural treasure capturing our shared history one extraordinary ordinary moment at a time.

Tune in next week for more stories of 'Distinction & Genius' from The Good Listening To Show 'Clearing'. If you would like to be my Guest too then you can find out HOW via the different 'series strands' at 'The Good Listening To Show' website.

• Show Website: https://www.thegoodlisteningtoshow.com
• You can email me about the Show: chris@secondcurve.uk
• Twitter thatchrisgrimes
• LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-grimes-actor-broadcaster-facilitator-coach/
• FaceBook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/842056403204860

Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW wherever you get your Podcasts :)

Thanks for listening!