Best Neil Witten Podcasts (2024)

1
Brad Carter - Raver and Michelin Starred Chef. Teach Yourself. 2:26:03

4M ago2:26:03

2:26:03

This conversation is with the chef, raver and compulsively creative Brad Carter. Brad’s not averse to learning from others but his energy levels peak, his boat is well and truly floated, when he has a vision for something different. From winning a pizza-making competition at school through his partying years to a surprise Michelin star, Brad seems …

1
Boff Whalley from Chumbawamba - Let it Be 2:04:17

7M ago2:04:17

2:04:17

Welcome to our conversation with the Musician and Artist Boff Whalley. Boff was formerly the lead-guitarist of British anarchist punk band Chumbawumba. Best known for their 1997 single "Tubthumping". Boff grew up in Burnley, in a Morman family. He embraced the art and punk scenes, experimented with different types of music, and with his anarchist m…

1
Derek Sivers - The usefulness of opposites 1:33:07

1+ y ago1:33:07

1:33:07

Derek Sivers is a man with his own mind. To describe him as a musician, circus clown, entrepreneur, programmer, author, speaker, philosopher and Dad might whet your appetite but it would only be a part of the story. Whatever Derek does, he rarely does it on auto-pilot. He has a knack for questioning things. His beliefs are less likely to be a story…

1
Steve Chapman (@stevexoh) - exploring the counter-intuitive 1:31:37

2y ago1:31:37

1:31:37

This is a conversation with Steve Chapman. Steve worked for Glaxo Smith Kline for 20 years, he started packing boxes and ended up in a senior management role - and then he became an artist. It sounds like a huge dose of doing something very different but it's not quite as dramatic as that. Steve has found a way to do what he wants to do and earn a …

1
A Sneak Peek of a Project Neil has been working on 11:16

2y ago11:16

11:16

Better Business On Purpose is a book that Neil has recently co-authored. It's a practical guide for leaders who want to grow profit and have a positive impact on the world. Included in the book: Examples of inspiring businesses that have embedded purpose in their DNA, and who are making it work. The '7 Ps' - a systematic approach to making your bus…

1
Pieter Levels - Thinking and doing for yourself 1:38:59

2+ y ago1:38:59

1:38:59

Hello and welcome to our conversation with Pieter Levels. Peter is the man behind NomadList.com, remoteOK.com, InflationChart.com, rebase.co and more. Pieter is hard to describe if you’re after an old-world description. He’s most certainly a business guy and a software developer guy but he works remotely, sometimes he charges for his creations, som…

1
Steph Smith - Life done differently for the risk adverse 1:27:51

2+ y ago1:27:51

1:27:51

Until she went to Sweden as part of a student exchange programme, Steph didn't really question the trajectory she was on. She was going with the flow. A spell in Sweden, a different culture with different people and in particular a different educational system woke Steph up to the idea that she had led a sheltered life and that different was at the…

1
Rosie Sherry - Reckless Mother 1:47:26

2+ y ago1:47:26

1:47:26

Hi All - in this episode we talk to Rosie Sherry. Rosie is a self-declared introvert and community builder extraordinaire. She is best known for the Ministry of Testing, Indie Hackers, Rosie.land and RecklessMother.com Rosie builds communities and has done so for more than 15 years. It includes the Sherry community of Rosie, Graham and their 5 kids…

1
Mills - Finding Myself 1:44:52

3+ y ago1:44:52

1:44:52

Mills founded ustwo with Sinx, his mate from school. Ustwo has become a digital product studio, a games company and an investment business. They have always worked with the biggest brands in the world. In part, Neil & I enjoyed this because Mills is from a world we understand pretty well. It’s a world that’s exploded in the last 25 years or so. A w…

1
Emile Bennett - Letting Go 1:48:30

3+ y ago1:48:30

1:48:30

Hi all - welcome to our conversation with Emile Bennett, Emile is a 37-year-old knife-maker and bladesmith but it’s taken him a while to feel comfortable with those descriptions. Previously his world was software, apps, websites and to begin with studio engineering. Originally from the UK, he now lives in Chamonix in the French Alps. Emile has spen…

1
Charles Wookey - Reinvent Yourself 1:36:00

3+ y ago1:36:00

1:36:00

Hi everyone. I hope you're doing okay given the circumstances. Welcome to our conversation with Charles Wookey. Charles is the CEO of A Blueprint for Better Business, a charity that helps organisations consider their social and environmental impact alongside their financial goals. This is how I know Charles. His organisation does some great work bu…

1
Junior Smart OBE - Leader - Part 2 1:51:44

4y ago1:51:44

1:51:44

Hello hello - welcome to Part 2 of our conversation with Junior Smart. If you haven't listened to Part 1 I suggest you do that first. Part One takes us to the point where Junior is just about to be sent to prison for what turned out to be a twelve-year sentence. This is Part 2 where Junior describes the shock of prison, the meanness and the compass…

1
Junior Smart - Getting comfortable with uncomfortable - Part 1 48:20

4y ago48:20

48:20

Junior Smart is a youth leader, an ex-offender, an academic and a couple of months ago he added father to this list. If you don't believe people can change, listen to this. This is a story about the power of belonging. A need we all have to belong to a group. A lesson in how we often attach importance to the wrong things and end up in the wrong gro…

1
Matt & Lucia Long - I'm actually an opera singer 1:22:38

4y ago1:22:38

1:22:38

Hi everyone. Hope you're all okay, coping, surviving, learning, growing - it's hard to know what to say these days - we're all experiencing the same thing and whilst the experience is so shared sometimes . . . the more I talk to people the more I understand, at times, how very differently we're all experiencing it. This conversation is a good examp…

1
Ben Ivey - When did you feel most loved? 1:36:24

4y ago1:36:24

1:36:24

Hi All - welcome to our conversation with Ben Ivey. Ben is a coach to Entrepreneurs but what makes Ben interesting is that he's interested in the Entrepreneur as a person, the whole person not just as a business person. He's as happy talking about love as he is margins. He wants you to live the best life you can, one where regrets are minimised and…

1
Tom Libelt - The Reluctant Adventurer 1:23:52

4y ago1:23:52

1:23:52

This episode is a conversation with Tom Libelt, salesman, musician and DJ, coffee shop owner, publisher and most recently digital nomad. Thank you to Tom for a thoroughly enjoyable conversation. As you've probably noticed, our title for Tom is 'The Reluctant Adventurer'. For Tom, adventure is a reaction to boredom, not the primary motivation. It se…

1
Ray & Neil | Change Uninvited Kick-Off 38:06

4y ago38:06

38:06

The benefits of being forced to do something we said we'd never do Responding to change The difference between hearing a story and experiencing it The need for human connection The importance of humour Finding ups within the downs Can you build real relationships via technology? How we can all experience the same event so very differently When fear…

1
Clare Farrell - Rebellion 2:03:10

4y ago2:03:10

2:03:10

She tried mainstream fashion but didn't fit in. Clare doesn't fit in - in so many ways! Clare's a rebel. She suggests that rebellion became a part of her when she moved schools and studied the same syllabus and sat the same exams two years on the trot. Clare, because she was bright got very bored and that bred rebellion. I'm sure that year shaped C…

1
Katey Wiseman | Why we all need a support team 23:37

4y ago23:37

23:37

We met up a few weeks later and Katey told me more. More about: The wasted years of her life and how she started to doubt people were good Noticing she was angry with herself and everyone around her The point at which she decided not to be angry How she became braver, how she started to change How the simple act of liking an instagram post became t…

1
Damian Keyes - F**k Plan B 2:00:07

4+ y ago2:00:07

2:00:07

We have a big old natter about: Growing up in Swansea The problem of doing what you want on your wedding day - when others want you to go with the flow (one week after this conversation Damian was getting married Vegas) Moving to New York The problem of describing what he does; Musician v Builder of Businesses The creativity of building businesses …

1
Dave Cornthwaite - Say Yes More 1:52:11

4+ y ago1:52:11

1:52:11

In this episode, we talk to Dave about: the importance of articulating a vision when you're working in a team the move from graphic designer to Adventurer the move from adventurer to community leader not wanting to wait for the bad thing to happen before making changes to his life being a fortunate kid having 18 different addresses by the time he w…

1
Kim Slade - Licking the Lid of Life 1:52:11

4+ y ago1:52:11

1:52:11

We talked to Kim about Studying the stoner's degree that is music technology Not feeling he could focus enough to become a professional singer-songwriter Swapping music tours for travelling Enjoying the creative process Going to the Happy Startup School Summercamp five years previously when first looking to leave employment On the travelling bug an…

1
Neil and Ray at the Cottage 33:15

5y ago33:15

33:15

We recorded this episode at Port Moor Cottage, a shack on stilts sitting on an island in Essex. It would be an understatement to say we've learned from our conversations with guests. They have been kind enough to share their stories of change and do so in some depth. In this wrap-up episode we talk about: The importance of a Support Team, positive …

1
Mike Dicks - Who's saying you can't do what you want to do? 1:56:21

5y ago1:56:21

1:56:21

In this conversation we explored: Why people often apologise for the work they do The stories we tell ourselves and how they can limit our development The inevitably of the ups and downs in our lives Why he eventually got expelled from college His first job selling computers at Dixons Meeting Sir Clive Sinclair His expected life trajectory of marry…

1
Pablo Woodward - What would you do if you only had one life? 1:37:14

5y ago1:37:14

1:37:14

This conversation in the Bunny Bus covered many moments in the life of Pablo Woodward. This includes the arrival of his 3 children and the Disco Bunny plus: Realising he didn't have a life he'd asked for or wanted His quest to understand himself Going from not believing in himself to doing what he does with passion Going into shock when one of his …

1
Rik Turner and Henrietta Jayden - What would you notice, if you slowed down? 1:39:45

5y ago1:39:45

1:39:45

We talked to Rik and Hen about the new life they've created and how. They talk to us about: The productivity benefits of slowing down The importance of taking ownership of how we spend our time The importance of understanding when working harder isn't working Financial security in the future v being energised and healthy now The importance of creat…

1
Liam McGough - From big trees to Big Brother and back again - Part 2 1:09:00

5y ago1:09:00

1:09:00

These show notes are a duplicate of those found in Part 1. Our conversation with Liam covered many topics. He talked openly about: Growing up thinking he was the dumb one Failing all his GCSE's Thinking he has undiagnosed dyslexia Finding confidence in his quick-wittedness and his climbing ability Deciding to study climbing trees because he was alr…

1
Liam McGough - From big trees to Big Brother and back again - Part 1 52:11

5y ago52:11

52:11

Our conversation with Liam covered many topics. He talked openly about: Growing up thinking he was the dumb one Failing all his GCSE's Thinking he has undiagnosed dyslexia Finding confidence in his quick-wittedness and his climbing ability Deciding to study climbing trees because he was already good at that Feeling part stupid, part genius His tale…

1
Alastair Humphreys - Fear is an adventure 1:18:14

5y ago1:18:14

1:18:14

We chatted to Alastair at the British Library. He talked to us about: His natural personality of nervousness, stress and hate of late Coaxing himself to become more curious, more spontaneous, more relaxed and more adventurous Differentiate between the things where you have control and those you don't i.e. don't get frustrated with the waves because…

1
Hamish McKenzie - How to recycle yourself out of the system 1:19:21

5+ y ago1:19:21

1:19:21

It would be fair to say Hamish is not a conventional man. Check out The Bizarre Houseboats of Britain to see what I mean. He thinks and acts differently and the effect is certainly different. In this conversation he tells us: - Why he got rid of the TV at 18 years old - Why he rescued a shapely old Portsmouth Ferry from the riverbed - How his float…

1
Laurence McCahill - Chipping away at the rock until the image reveals itself 1:42:39

5+ y ago1:42:39

1:42:39

Laurence and Carlos are designers of events and an online community that make entrepreneurs happy. In this conversation, Laurence talked to us about: Growing up in London pubs The family DNA of bringing people together The benefits of aligning what you think, say and do How he helps corporate hippies A life spent working out what he doesn't want to…

1
Bruce Daisley - How 'Cartoon Boy' finds the fast lane 1:00:09

5+ y ago1:00:09

1:00:09

We wished we'd had longer with Bruce. He's a brilliant demonstration of what you can achieve if you truly understand your strengths. He seems very able in many areas but what sets him apart is his ability to understand and therefore reach his audience. He seems to always find a way to stand out from the crowd and when he doesn't, he persists. Bruce…

1
Fiona Oakes - Searching for pain in pursuit of purpose 1:55:56

5+ y ago1:55:56

1:55:56

Fiona is the antidote to any 'get rich quick' or 'instagram' society. Her philosophy on life is simple; if there's a problem that needs fixing, fix it yourself. Don't talk about the problem, paper over the cracks, ask for help or look for shortcuts. Just get stuck in and learn from your experience. Expect problems and deal with them as they arise, …

1
Oliver Dall - Wrap Up Episode 8:09

5+ y ago8:09

8:09

Is this a useful format? Please tell us what you think over on twitter https://twitter.com/lifedonediffBy Neil Witten & Ray Richards

1
Oliver Dall - How your weirdness can be your most valuable asset 1:44:47

5+ y ago1:44:47

1:44:47

Oliver was our first ever guest. Neil happened to go into Oliver's store and was so enamoured with both the store and proprietor, he asked if we could meet. LifeDoneDifferent.ly was born. Oliver talked to us about: Selling plums outside his parents house How school really wasn't entertaining enough for him The benefits of having supportive, positiv…

1
Tom Hall - A life of risk and a heart attack at the ballet 1:42:47

5+ y ago1:42:47

1:42:47

We met Tom at his very nice house in London. It's really nice! He shared his experiences in business and in life. He shared how he's changed and how his motivations have changed. What I like most about Tom is his ability to focus but never lose sight of the bigger picture including a super-skill in bringing his wide circle of friends and colleagues…

1
Mark Williamson - Confessions of a recovering people pleaser 1:19:36

5+ y ago1:19:36

1:19:36

We've known Mark and Action for Happiness for many years but this conversation was different. Here we learned about Mark's sometimes painful journey into the world of social entrepreneurship. It was a real pleasure to talk about: Big questions such as "What really matters in life?" What happens when you climb the ladder of success only to find you'…

1
Monty Munford - Take it to the edge or don't take it at all 1:09:06

5+ y ago1:09:06

1:09:06

"Those who tell stories rule society" so said, Plato. Monty Munford collects and tells very good stories. He doesn’t run society yet, but we’ll have more fun when he does. Monty was on the way to the pub when the lure of a few unusual beers persuaded him to join us in Ray’s cellar for a conversation that helped explain: Why he runs fast towards the…

1
Alan Phillips - When work is life 1:21:54

6y ago1:21:54

1:21:54

Alan says "creativity is intelligence having fun”. He balances some very rigid and carefully designed routines with architectural anarchy. He joined us in The Walrus pub where he shared his thoughts on life including: Why everything will be fine On vision as an ability to visualise and create order when others can only see chaos Why he’s looking fo…

1
Gina Lyons - When you have nothing to lose, you have everything to gain 41:09

6y ago41:09

41:09

“I want one moment in time. When I'm more than I thought I could be”, so sang Gina Lyons and Whitney Houston every morning for two weeks as Gina’s dreamed of becoming Britain’s first reality TV appointed TV Producer. Gina met us in the Prince Albert pub to tell us what it’s like to be a rude working class girl with no fear and: How a night on the r…

1
Neil and Ray - Introducing a Life Done Different.ly 39:40

6y ago39:40

39:40

We recorded this episode in Ray's cellar having just recorded the ninth episode. We provide a bit of background which explains who we are, how we met and what we're interested in. Our plan is to have this sort of conversation every 10th episode or so. We cover the ideas that: successful lives are lived with a foot in each the known and the unknown …

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