Figure out your escape from a prison island. Shop for raw rabbit meat in the local supermarket. Find job security by choosing the right pen to lend to your boss on a plane. Get travel advice from a sociopath! It’s all covered in the latest Sini-Mini, a “snack-sized” podcast, this time on keeping a travel journal.

Tips, hints, and how to make your travel experience last longer and feel more meaningful with pre-trip prompts, what to write about before breakfast, reasons why you’re collecting rubbish in the back of your book, as well as how to impress your friends later with your amazing memory. A mix of global anecdotes plus practical advice which hopefully gets you itching to write the next time you book a holiday.

Sini-Mini’s are a little deviation from The Lead Story podcast which I will work my way back to soon. Hope you get some inspiration from these in the meantime.

SFX from the amazing library at BBC Sounds.

"The Lead Story" episodes 1-5 + 4 Sini-Mini's are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts and other podcast platforms.

Episode 3 of the Sini-Mini “snack-sized” podcast is all about one journaling prompt: exploration. This can be used as a writing prompt, a meditation, or good practice to enhance your travel writing. We’ll go into the minute detail of a piece of fruit, I sing the praises of the plain digestive biscuit, and you should come out of this with the strong urge to go shopping somewhere you’ve never been before. Or simple curl up on your sofa and start scribbling.

"The Lead Story" episodes 1-5 + 4 Sini-Mini's are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts and other podcast platforms.

So you want to try journaling. But where to start? I use my decades of journaling practice to get you going, whether you’re writing with your first cup of tea in the morning or trying out Oprah’s favourite practice of a gratitude journal at the end of the day. I go into more detail about the many different types of journals, tapping into your emotional self (and how to get that onto the page) and how music might help you get that pen to paper.

Episodes 1 & 2 Intro to Journaling and Prompts for Journaling are available now. Enjoy!

"The Lead Story" episodes 1-5 + 4 Sini-Mini's are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts and other podcast platforms.

If you have journaling as one of your New Year’s Resolutions (or have had your interest piqued by the new app included in the latest iPhone update), this is the podcast for you! I’ve taken a little detour from The Lead Story to delve into a topic I know a little something about.

In this “Sini-Mini’” I cover what journaling actually is, some of the different types of journals you can write, the equipment needed (hint: not a lot), and how to get started. Journaling can be a way of getting creative, if you lean that way, but it is also a great self-care practice for anyone.

Episodes 1 & 2 Intro to Journaling and Prompts for Journaling are available now. Enjoy!

"The Lead Story" episodes 1-5 + 4 Sini-Mini's are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts and other podcast platforms.

Paul Downing, my dad, is back! With 40 years of experience working in hotels internationally, Paul once again brings us lots of colourful stories about how he’s successfully handled cultural differences around the globe. There’s ice cream served in the desert from Lawrence of Arabia’s train, a goat stew brings a team together, and a manager must agree to hold meetings again, 25 years after the revolution*.

What should companies be doing to prepare their managers to lead in new territories? What’s the key to assimilating into a culture (hint: we’ve talked about it before!) We also discuss how to build and maintain company culture and just what effect it has on recruitment and retaining of staff.

*Which revolution? You’re going to have to tune in to find out.

"The Lead Story" episodes 1-5 + 4 Sini-Mini's are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts and other podcast platforms.

I had so much fun talking about positivity with Tiffany Bradbury and had to find out a little more. This bonus segment gets a few more insights into how she keeps positivity in her life: with coffee, gratitude, 90’s grunge music and a whole lotta glitter.

"The Lead Story" episodes 1-5 + 4 Sini-Mini's are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts and other podcast platforms.

TRAILER: I'm exploring positivity in Episode 4 with one of the most positive people I know: Tiffany Bradbury. She was one of my very first managers and lead with a big smile and an even bigger heart. But that didn’t mean she was a pushover. So how has she brought that positivity and leadership to the fore every day, whether it be directing the evening news, teaching kids fire safety, or helping a community navigate a global pandemic?

"The Lead Story" episodes 1-5 + 4 Sini-Mini's are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts and other podcast platforms.

Who’s the most positive member of your leadership team? Ever think about the steel that’s supporting all that sunshine and smiles? We’re exploring *positive* leadership so it’s time to get down to the details and look at positivity. It’s a conscious way to approach the day, the attitude with which to tackle a challenge, the thing you can be known for. But how do you sustain the energy to always be the one bringing positivity into the workplace? How do you remain positive during challenging times? And are there times when perhaps a positive attitude is the last thing a person wants to face? If you’re bringing the glitter and unicorns to the table, are you being seen as soft or weak?

I explore all that and more with one of the most positive people I know: Tiffany Bradbury. She was one of my very first managers and lead with a big smile and an even bigger heart. But that didn’t mean she was a pushover. So how has she brought that positivity and leadership to the fore every day, whether it be directing the evening news, teaching kids fire safety, or helping a community navigate a global pandemic?

We discuss how important kindness is today not only in the workplace but in all aspects of our lives, how different people may want their kudos, why asking for help can show strength, and just how to fill that positivity bucket that everyone draws from. As always there are stories, laughter, and some really good advice.

"The Lead Story" episodes 1-5 + 4 Sini-Mini's are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts and other podcast platforms.