When Alex Swallow sees people doing great work, he experiences an almost evangelical urge to help bring others into connection with that work. His ability to do just that, and to boldly spread the reach of ideas, initiatives and projects worth championing, led him to become The Influence Expert – a coach and thought leader who helps individuals, companies and institutions to grow and deepen their impact on the world. Alex is also one of the new hosts of The Coach’s Journey Podcast, and this episode is a chance to hear about the journey he has been on, from being the first in his family to go to university, to becoming the chief executive of a national charity, and to writing his first book, How To Become an Influencer. The conversation between Alex and Robbie explores influence, authenticity, and the philosophies and principles that shape our view of the world and the work we do in it. Alex shares insights into how he has used social media to great effect in his career, and how he has carefully aligned himself with communities of people who are fuelling the next steps of his career as a coach, influencer and writer.  In this episode, Alex and Robbie also talk about: The ‘golden threads’ in our experiences that lead us into the future How humans get trapped by simple stories, and how that can limit our view of the world The importance of agency, and how we can give it back to our clients Why, how and when you might be a better coach than even the most experienced practitioners in the industry Feedback, and how communities can enrich our practice Alex also speaks about the new book he is collaborating on, which is tantalisingly focused on a particular method for getting clients.