More Than a Lumpy Jumper

Most of us think change means ripping everything up and “reinventing” ourselves.But what if life is less about reinvention… and more about quiet reorganisation?In this final episode of our Wheel of Life season, Bobby and Bridge turn the conversation back on themselves. After ten episodes with brilliant guexperts (Bridge is still not convinced) on health, joy, money, spirituality, community, purpose, love and relationships, they sit with the question:-          What has actually shifted in our own lives?-          Which parts of the wheel really matter right now?-          And what happens when we stop chasing 10/10 in every segment? This isn’t a neat summary of the season. It’s two friends telling the truth about transition, ageing, vocation, burnout, blue-and-green places, asking for help (reluctantly), and the tiny practices that make everything else more possible. If you’ve ever filled in a Wheel of Life and thought, “Now what?”, this episode is your invitation to look again … more gently, more honestly, and with a lot more self-compassion. Bring a cuppa, bring your splat of a wheel, and maybe discover you’re less “out of balance” than you think. LinksBig Magic: | Elizabeth GilbertDark Side of the Light Chasers | Debbie FordThe Four Tendencies | Gretchen RubinAltered Traits | Daniel GolemanBlue Mind: Wallace J NicholsThe best of Rumi

Relationships shape us. The ones we’re born into, the ones we choose, and the one we keep trying to build with ourselves.In this episode of More Than a Lumpy Jumper, Bobby and Bridge are joined by Lizzie Beuzeval to explore the Family and Friends segment of the Wheel of Life and what it really means to be in relationship.This isn’t a conversation about perfect balance. It’s about the beautiful mess of family life, love, communication, exhaustion, laughter, and the art of saying sorry (or sometimes just making a cup of tea).From spreadsheets to ski slopes, burnout to belly laughs, Lizzie reminds us that being in relationship isn’t about holding it all together, it’s about staying connected, even when it allcomes apart.“There’s time for everything that matters, if we’re honest about what matters.”Linkshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/lizzie-beuzevalMeditations for Mortals | Oliver Burkeman | BooksI Know How She Does It | Laura Vanderkam | Books

Love.It’s the segment of the Wheel of Life that many of us avoid until last because it asks the most of us.In this episode, we’re joined by Jocelyn Penque Saunders: global citizen, wine lover, former serial dater… and now the self-declared (and fully earned) Cupid in Chief, founder of The Dating Classroom.But this conversation isn’t just about romance. It’s about the kind of love that begins long before a relationship: Love as self-knowledge. Love as connection. Love as leadership. Jocelyn brings sharp behavioural insight, gentle challenge, and a refreshingly practical take on how we show up for love, whether we’re dating, partnered, leading teams, or learning how to trust ourselves again. Together, we explore non-negotiables, readiness, patterns, openness, and the art of doing you in any relationship you’re part of. If you’ve ever questioned what you want, how you love, or who you are becoming… this one is for you.Listen now to Being Open — because love isn’t a finish line, it’s a practice.https://www.linkedin.com/in/jocelyn-penque-saundersDating BreakthroughAll About Love: Bell HooksHow to Not Die Alone: Logan UryAttached: Amir Levine & Rachel HellerTiny Beautiful Things: Cheryl Strayed

Bridge is flying solo this week because Bobby is off gallivanting in Costa Rica (not jealous at all!). She is joined by Silvia Risi from Co Create Humanity to talk about the world of work and how much it can impact when it goes wrong. Silvia is a life long humanitarian aid worker who couldn't completely step away from the sector and now works as a humanitarian mentor and coach and mental health peer supporter. She's also an avid traveller (and so joins Bridge in her jealousy at Bobby's grand adventure). Silvia shares her insights into the role that leaders should play in supporting teams working in complex and challenging work environments and how organisations must step up to create space for individuals to develop resilience. The episode has something for everyone even if they're not currently working in a war zone - the takeaways remain the same regardless of where you find yourself on the VUCA spectrum at workLinkscocreate humanity you tubecocreate humanityThe idealists' survival Kit - Alessandra PigniCompassion Fatigue - Juliette WattWHO report on Transforming Mental Health through Lived ExperienceHave a go at somatic shakingDr Peter LevineMental Health Support for UK Veterans - Op CourageVicarious TraumaPsychological Support for Aid Workers - Fiona DunkleyThe Body Keeps Score - Bessel Van der KolkIllnesses don't recover, people do -Pat DeeganThe legend that is Dolly PartonJessica Green

What if the place you’re in, the land, the air, the water, is shaping you more than you realise?In this episode of More Than a Lumpy Jumper, Bobby and Bridge wade (or dive!!) into the “environment” segment of the Wheel of Life with Elaine Moynihan and Katie McShane, cofounders of Wise Water. Together they explore what it means to truly be in a place, to reconnect with nature, ourselves, and eachother through the element that sustains us all: water.From polluted rivers to healing seas, from cold showers to gratitude rituals, this conversation flows between science, spirituality, and the messy human experience of belonging.So, pour yourself a glass of water, take a breath, and listen in. LinksWise Water Academy⁠⁠World Water Day⁠⁠Shin Rin Yoku aka Forest Bathing (no nudity necessary!)⁠⁠Wallace J Nichols Blue Mind⁠⁠The River Blackwater⁠⁠Wicklow Mountains⁠⁠Braiding Sweetgrass - Robin Kimmerer⁠⁠Isak Dinesenhttp://linkedin.com/in/elainemoynihanhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-mcshaneBlue Mind: The Surprising Science That Shows How Being Near, In, On,or Under Water Can Make You Happier, Healthier, More Connected, and Better atWhat You Do : Wallace J Nichols | BooksProtect.Blue - is an ocean-focused organisation built around two corepathways - an ocean agency and a blue campus.

Neena Sims from Third Space coaching joins us for a deep dive into self-development. Should we be striving for perfection (that perfect 10) or is balance more important? What does that even look like, is it the same for everyone - does it have to be a competition (I'm looking at you Bobby and Bridge)? We delve into chaos theory, some dodgy innuendos and some truly atrocious Danny Dyer impressions. Despite the antics of the dangerous duo, Neena maintains her composure throughout (well almost) and brings thoughtful insights into our "journeys" (I know Bobby hates that word) towards balance and self-discovery⁠Third Space - Janeena SimsDanny DyerChaos Making a New Science - James GleickChaos and fractals

Community isn’t something that just happens, it’s something we consciously create.In this episode, Bobby and Bridge explore the “Community and Giving” segment of the Wheel of Life with Fahmeda Naheed; activist, researcher, broadcaster, and founder of the Irish Pakistani Community of Cork.From fusion cooking to intercultural dialogue, poetry to radio, Fahmeeda brings wisdom, warmth, and courage to what it means to belong. Together we explore how community startswithin, in the courage to nurture ourselves, connect with others, and co-create spaces where everyone is seen, valued, and heard.“Change often starts with one person - but real transformation leaves no one behind.”Tune in for a conversation about belonging, creativity, and the ripple effects of giving.Fahmeda Naheed | LinkedInCORK CITY LIBRARIES BLOG: Cork in Verse | Ana Spehar interviews Fahmeda...Let’s Integrate – Cork City Community RadioRumi: 'There is an invisible strength within us | The Socratic MethodPalaces for the People: How Social Infrastructure Can Help Fight Inequality, Polarization, and the Decline of Civic Life | Eric Klinenberg | Amazon.com.

Episode 5 – Being WorthyWhat’s your money story and how does it shape your sense of worth, freedom, and belonging? In this conversation, Philip Gardner shares a rare dual lens: from senior commercial leadership in hospitality to sitting across the table from real people making real-life financial choices. We explore “enoughness,” the courage to ask for help, pricing your value, and why planning isn’t a spreadsheet, it’s a practice. Expect gentle provocation, practical nudges, and a fresh take on how money connects to community, contribution, and the way we show up for each other. If you’ve ever felt late to the game or shy about talking money, this one’s for you. Philip Gardner | LinkedInThe Psychology of Money | Morgan Housel | Amazon.co.uk

Joy isn’t frivolous. It’s fuel.In this episode, Suffolk-based artist and creativity enabler Sam Barnes joins us to explore joy as the heartbeat of a balanced life, how creativity quiets the noise, grounds the body, and reconnects us with what’s real.We talk about art as a form of mindfulness, the ways play and purpose intertwine, and how unlocking creativity often starts with something as simple as picking up a pen or painting withcoffee.Whether you think you’re “creative” or not, this episode will remind you how to lift the lid, just a little, on the joy waiting beneath the surface.“Joy isn’t something to postpone until the work is done. It’s fuel for the journey.”Samantha Barnes - Artfully Minded Artist 10 Ways That ‘Doing Art’ Helps Us — Samantha BarnesThe Science of Beauty: Neuroaesthetics in Art and Design – ArtRKLPaintings in Hospitals | art for health and wellbeing

Being Connected explores what it means to feel part of something bigger than ourselves, whether that’s faith,nature, community, or the quiet we make on purpose. Bobby and Bridge’s guest, Alison Riley (minister, mentor, mountain-lover), reflects on awe, grief, ritual, and why connection is a team sport as much as a solo practice. We talk aboutprayer (in many forms), the medicine of green and blue spaces, words that shape our days, and simple ways to return when we wobble.No dogma. Just curiosity, story, and practice. From the practices that keep us grounded to the impacts connection has on leading, relationship building, resilience, and creativity, this conversation offers practical ways to notice and nurture the threads that bind us.Sacred Instructions | Sherri Mitchell | BooksRadical Candor | Kim Scott | Books

“Take care of your body. It’s the only place youhave to live” – Jim RohnThis week we start the Wheel of Life with a foundation that could be suggested as underpinning the rest: your body. Our guest, James Llewellyn, co-founder of The Evolution Project, shares his personal story behind 3,000+ client transformations and why movement, nutrition, and mindset can turn the lights back on. We talk panic to purpose, self-sabotage, “good enough” days, stress, hormones, and why clean, consistent basics beat heroic bursts.If your Wheel feels wobbly, begin here. Small steps create momentum; energy, clarity, and the small shifts that change everything. About the Evolution Project and Co-Founder James LlewelynJames Llewellyn | LinkedIn The Power of Now | Eckhard Tolle | BooksThe Untethered Soul | Michael Singer | BooksThe Surrender Experiment | Michael Singer | BooksAtomic Habits | James Clear | BooksDark Side of the Light Chasers | Debbie Ford | Books

This season of More Than a Lumpy Jumper takes a journey around the Wheel of Life - a coaching tool that helps us notice the different parts of life that shape our sense of balance. In this opening episode, Bobby and Bridge reflect on their own Wheels: where they’re thriving, where they’re stretched thin, and what they hope to learn from the guests joining them in the weeks ahead. It’s an honest, practical starting point for a season of conversations that explore health, money, work, love, spirituality, and more.Join us as we sketch out the Wheel, ask what balance really looks like, and begin to notice where small shifts can make the biggest difference.Wheel of Life | Evaluate Your Life Balance in 12 Key Areas

Join Bobby and Bridge as they unpack workplace emotions with their usual no-holds-barred frankness.In this season-six finale, they question whether emotions belong in a locked box or if acknowledging them isessential to effective leadership. What happens when your emotional-self shows up at work, intentionally, vulnerably, fully human?Expect a candid, juicy conversation about emotional agility, leadership limits, and the fine line between expressing feeling and being overwhelmed. If you’re curious about how emotions can be a superpower rather than a liability in leadership, this episode is for you.Hit play and let the two Bs guide you through embracing what’s real … no filters, no pretending.Susan David: The gift and power of emotional courage | TED TalkNo Hard Feelings | Liz Fosslien & Mollie West Duffy | BooksEmotional Agility: Get Unstuck, Embrace Change and Thrive in Work and Life | Susan David | Books Inside Out | Pixar | Accepting all Emotions including Sadness is part of your Mental Health  Brene Brown | The Power of Vulnerability | TED TalkAtlas of the Heart | Brene Brown | Amazon

Urgent. Important. Overdue. All of it… NOW?!If your to-do list is longer than your arm and every task feels like a fire, this episode is for you.Bobby is joined by career and HR coach Faye Wallis, creator of the “Essential HR Planner”, for a conversation about how we untangle the noise and refocus with purpose. They dive into practical tools, productivity myths, people-pleasing traps, and the pressure to keep doing all the things. Spoiler: you don’t have to.This is your permission slip to stop glorifying busy and start leading with clarity instead. Fay Wallis | LinkedInEat That Frog! | Brian Tracy | BooksTranquillity By Tuesday | Laura Vanderkam | BooksHow to gain control of your free time | Laura Vanderkam | TED - YouTubeThe Four Tendencies | Gretchen Rubin | BooksThe Four Styles of Self-Motivation with Gretchen Rubin | YouTubeThe Four Tendencies Quiz | Gretchen Rubin

What if your most powerful leadership tool wasn’t in your head, but in your rhythm?In this episode, Bobby is joined by wellness educator and inclusion specialist, Samantha Garstin (aka the Period Princess!) to explore what it means to lead in sync with the natural cycles of energy, focus, and capacity, whether those are hormonal, seasonal, emotional, or simply human. The conversation is vast, including talking about the effects of hustle culture, burnout, and the boldness of listening to your body. If you’ve ever found yourself running on empty and wondering what’s wrong with me, this conversation might just be your turning point. It really is a conversation for everyone.Samantha Garstin - WebsiteSamantha Garstin🩸Period Princess 👸 | LinkedInA Guide to Cyclical Living4 ways to practise cyclical living when you're overwhelmedWild Power | Alexandra Pope, Sjanie Hugo Wurlitzer | BooksSecond Spring | Kate Codrington | BooksMoon Time: Living in Flow with your Cycle | Lucy Pearce | BooksPeriod Repair Manual | Lara Briden ND | BooksHormone Repair Manual | Lara Briden ND | BooksJuly Full Moon: Spiritual Meaning for the Buck Moon | The Pagan Grimoire

From nappy changes to boardroom changes… what if parenting was the best leadership training you never knew you were in?This week on More Than a Lumpy Jumper, Bobby is joined by Charlie Lyons - coach, HR pro, and mum of two, to explore what happens when the worlds of parenting and leadershipcollide. They will be talking about burnout, overwhelm, micro-moments of sanity, and how learning to lead well often starts at home.If you’ve ever felt like you’re dropping balls in every part of life or wondering why the parenting manual and the leadership books both feel like a lie, this episode will meet you right where you are.Big-hearted, deeply honest, and full of permission to stop pretending we’ve got it all figured out.Charlie Lyons | LinkedInParenting Without a Map: A Sto…–Made Possible by Parenthood – Apple PodcastsMotherhood: Facing and Finding Yourself | Lisa Marchiano | BooksTime to Think: Listening to Ignite the Human Mind | Nancy Kline | Books

What if the most powerful thing a leader can say is: “I don’t know”?In this episode, Bobby and Bridge dive into the discomfort, courage, and wisdom of not having all the answers. From military mess-ups to organisational mayhem, we explore what happens when leaders drop the act, make space for others, and lead with honest uncertainty, not panic, not performance.Sometimes not knowing is the start of something braver.Dare to Lead | Brene Brown | BooksThe Power of Vulnerability | Brené Brown | TED TalkMargaret Heffernan: Dare to disagree | TED TalkCreativity, Inc | Ed Catmull | BooksA true leader can say I don't know - St Simon SinekThe power of I don't know

“No More Pencil Skirts and Other Leadership Metaphors”From soufflés to swans, corn beef to cognitive diversity, this episode is a deliciously metaphor-filled conversation with neurodiversity advocate Hayley Brackley. Bobby and Hayley explore why real leadership means shedding the need to be perfect, embracing messiness, and daring to dance (or not) in your comfiest metaphorical harem pants.A must-listen for anyone tired of the one-size-fits-all model of work and ready to design for the edges.Links Hayley Brackley | LinkedIn

What does it really take to feel safe enough to speak up at work?In this powerful episode of More Than a Lumpy Jumper, we dive into psychological safety - what it is, why it matters, and what happens when it’s missing. Joining Bobby are two brilliant guests: Ali Spooner and Naomi Withers, who bring honesty, humour, and real-life insight from lived experience, psychology, leadership, and loss.From people-pleasing to power dynamics, team trust to trauma triggers, this conversation doesn’t shy away from the messy stuff. If you've ever sat in a meeting biting your tongue, or wondered whether you’re the only one feeling unsafe, this one’s for you. Ali Spooner | LinkedInNaomi (Ordinary 🚫) Withers | LinkedInDavid Rock's SCARF Model: Social Threats in the World of Work - The World of Work ProjectThe Fearless Organization Summary - Amy Edmondson | 12min Blog

In this episode, Bobby and Bridge are pulling at the threads of what leadership really looks like. Not the glossy, top-floor kind, but the kind that happens in the messy middle. Being in the Weave explores how leadership shows up without titles, how power flows in every direction, and why being quietly influential might just be your superpower. Expect laughs, truths, and a bit of mayhem (including a lost spreadsheet and a quilt metaphor you didn’t know you needed). If you’re a middle-sitter, an edge-walker, or someone who just gets stuff done, this one’s for you.Give and Take | Adam Grant | BooksRebel Ideas | Matthew Syed | BooksYou Don't Need a Title to Be a Leader | Mark Sanborn | BooksSix Ways To Lead Even When You Aren't In A Leadership Position