In this episode of The Longest Day podcast, host Leah Brown FRSA sits down with Alys Carlton, former mergers and acquisitions lawyer, executive coach, Non-Executive Director, and Chair of the Football Association of Wales to talk about a season marked out by grief and gratitude. Alys shares the extraordinary journey behind her "longest day" a 24-hour period that spanned a deeply personal loss and a pivotal career milestone. In this candid conversation, Alys opens up about navigating grief,...

In this episode of The Longest Day, host Leah Brown FRSA speaks with Lord Ed Vaizey, former MP for Wantage and Culture Minister, about his unique career path, his relationship with authority, and his views on mentorship and leadership. Ed shares entertaining stories from his past, including the challenges of being fired multiple times and how these experiences shaped his perspective on work and autonomy. Ed reflects on personal experiences, including the impact of his fathers death at a young...

In this episode, Leah Brown FRSA welcomes Sarah Lewis OBE OLY, a British Olympian, to share her incredible leadership journey through a career filled with huge highs and real lows. As one of the podcast's most dedicated listeners, Sarah reflects on her longest day experiences, from navigating complex international sporting events to her unexpected dismissal. She recounts significant moments, including a challenging visa issue during her first major competition, a fatal accident at an event,...

In this episode of "The Longest Day," host Leah Brown FRSA speaks with Jeanne Collins, founder of the House of JerMar, about her transformative journey from a corporate vice president in sales to becoming an entrepreneur in the world of interior design. Jeanne shares her story of being unexpectedly fired and how that pivotal moment led her to find the courage to reinvent herself and embrace her passions. She has built a lifestyle brand focused on wellness and personal growth and written an...

In this enlightening episode, kicking off Season Five, Leah Brown FRSA interviews Alison Cork MBE, who shares her transformative journey through her "longest day". Alison discusses the pivotal moment when she decided to take control of her health and how this decision reshaped her life. The conversation delves into the inner critic that many women face, the importance of self-acceptance, and how these experiences influenced her professional life and entrepreneurial endeavours.

Ray Mia recounts his longest day in 1979, living above his fathers junk store in Liverpool in a household that didnt celebrate Christmas. He outlines his experiences of growing up as an individual of color in a predominantly white society, highlighting the challenges of navigating cultural identity and belonging. Ray shares his experiences of feeling excluded and confused due to his cultural and religious differences growing up in Seaforth, Liverpool, winning an assisted place at a...

Laurie Barkman shares her experience of the longest day when her company was acquired by a global entity. She highlights the emotional and financial significance of the event and the loyalty of the employees. Laurie discusses the challenges and uncertainties that arise during the acquisition process, including the importance of due diligence and resolving any issues that arise. She also talks about her role as CEO and the impact of the acquisition on her succession plan. Laurie shares her...

Rick Torrison shares his longest day story, which involves his son's struggles with anger, identity, and self-worth. Rick discusses the importance of addressing limiting beliefs and how they shape our behaviors and outcomes. He emphasizes the need to change beliefs, not just behaviors, in order to create sustainable change. Rick also talks about the transformative power of unconditional love and how it has impacted his relationship with his son. Throughout the conversation, Rick highlights...

In this episode of "The Longest Day," Rosie Wilby recounts her most challenging day, which also marked a pivotal moment in her life and career. On January 3, 2011, Rosie was abruptly dumped by her partner of five years via email. The shock and pain initially left her devastated and unable to process the breakup for years. Over time, however, this experience became the catalyst for a new creative direction. Rosie eventually used this painful experience as the foundation for a trilogy of...

Ashley Cox, Executive Director of Business Affairs and General Counsel, formerly interim CEO of Aquatics GB, shares the story of his longest day, which was filled with challenges and personal loss. Despite facing a series of unfortunate circumstances, Ashley remained calm and focused on his role as a leader. He credits his ability to handle pressure to his background in sports and his experience as a lawyer. Ashley emphasizes the importance of creating a positive and supportive environment...

On this weeks episode, Leah talks to Emma Ballard, the Editor of Women and Golf the only womens specific golf platform in the UK. Emmas Longest Day happened during a golf leadership development programme at St Andrews, Scotland, the home of golf. The golf industry is notoriously male dominated, so it was a big deal during the leadership programme to become vulnerable and open up about the issues she had with her career and the passionate things she wanted to achieve within the industry. It...

In this episode, Leah talks to Suzanne Knight MBA. Suzannes longest day was when a member of her team died suddenly, and she and her team grieved together. It was a time when they became more open to each other about what they were feeling; they connected in a way they had never done before. The sharing of mutual grief was an experience that could not be replicated. To this day, they are the closest colleagues and friends. It was the most difficult emotional journey she has gone through even...

Leah Brown host of The Longest Day Podcast interviews Leah Wilkinson, British Olympic hockey player, on not being selected to be on the 2012 GB Olympic team. They discuss their formative years at Repton and what it looks like to navigate an uncharted path. In addition to supportive parents and colleagues, in her longest days Leah has herself to rely on. Her skills of how to bounce back, having resilience and grit, and being able to self-talk with positive reflections has meant she has kept...

On this weeks episode, have a listen to the conversation between Leah and David McQueen on his longest day and how he learnt how even if there are things beyond his control, he can manage the ones that are within it. It was a day when he and his wife, as ethnic minorities, experienced a lack of care in the maternity hospital. Calmly, he told the doctors of the need of his wife who was suffering immensely from the pain to have a C-section. Once the professionals decided to give Davids wife a...

On this weeks episode, Leah talks to Dr Lynn Robson, Dean of Regents Park College, Safeguarding Lead, Director of the Visiting Student Programme and Tutorial Fellow in English Literature. Lynns longest day encompassed the COVID pandemic, from its announcement to its conclusion by the end of which she was exhausted and unable to carry on. All her roles during that time were relentless as there was no time off from bearing responsibilities. Although Lynn learned that she had more strength than...

Welcome to our fourth Seasons first episode! Listen to Leahs conversation with Caroline Sabourin who enjoys a 30-year career in organising Motorsports events globally while running a Sports Car Championship of 60 international teams. Carolines longest day was in 2000 when during the Australian Grand Prix, at the final race, one of the cars went sideways and was thrown in the air by another car, causing significant damage to other cars that had to crash into the wall. At Race Control, she and...

This week, Anne-Marie Imafidon is Leahs guest on The Longest Day. She is a keynote speaker, presenter, and co-founder of Stemettes, the enterprise inspiring the next generation of women into STEM roles. As a leader, Anne-Marie is all things to all people: she will never ask someone to do something she wouldnt or couldnt do herself. One of the advantages of this approach is that trust, authenticity, and inspiration empower her colleagues to step up in their roles. Another is that it gives...

In this weeks podcast, Leah welcomes Professor Lucy Easthope, the UKs leading authority on recovering from disaster. During the COVID pandemic she advised the Prime Ministers Office, governmental departments, and charities. She is author of When the Dust Settles: Stories of Love, Loss, and Hope from an Expert in Disaster. Her longest day was waiting for the invasion of Iraq while she was based at the mortuary. It was March 2003 and something old died in her but something new was born. There...

Professor Fiona Ross CBEs longest day was the day when an accounts misconduct by a senior member of staff transpired. Because she believed that a persons exit from an organisation is important, she safeguarded the persons dignity, confidentiality, and boundaries even if it meant that some thought she was to blame. Fiona took it well with equanimity as a leader. Since she was seen as somebody who saw things through, relationships were strengthened. As a leader, she values having people around...

This weeks episodes guest is Zoiey Smale, senior inclusion, diversity, sport consultant and internationally acclaimed activist. Sport was Zoieys first love. She believes in what it can bring to the world. But her dilemma as a young woman in medical school at University of Oxford was whether to drop out and work in sport as a coach or carry on living a lie and not become her authentic self. The turning point was when she experienced at the training hospital the loss of a very sick patient...

Leah talks to Alex Rieder on this weeks podcast. Alex is a retired, professional rugby player who played for Wasps. He works as an Account Manager for the IT company, Computer Centre. On Alexs longest day he sustained a shocking and severely dislocated knee injury during a game. Thanks to the other teams A&E specialist doctor, they were able to set his knee back in place on the pitch which saved his knee. Alex stoically quotes the film character, Rocky Balboa, its not how many times you...

Leah speaks to Dr Charlie Easmon MBBS MRCP MSc Public Health DTM&H DOccMed DFPH CTH FRSPH, an experienced doctor, entrepreneur and professional speaker, about his longest day while running a private business specialising in health screening and travel vaccinations for corporate and government clients. He talks about the importance of mentorship, the temptation to grow too fast and the challenges of delegation and getting culture right within the organisation. Charlie refers to being the...

Join Leah as she interviews Mike Gatting OBE, former English cricketer about his longest day. It took place when he sustained injuries that forced him to question whether he would be able to play again. He wanted to get back into the game as quickly as possible after the first injury, a broken nose. So when he broke his thumb after he had just returned to the game, he knew he had to rise to the challenge. Mike says, If you dont believe in yourselfothers wont believe in you. For him a good...

Leah talks to Tara Austin, behavioural and brand strategist, and psychedelic medicines campaigner, in this weeks episode of The Longest Day. Taras redundancy was totally unexpected given that she and the Creative Director then were winning big, pitch businesses for the company. She contrasts that day with her shortest day when she was invited to 10 Downing Street to talk to Dominic Cumming. It led to her campaigning for access to psilocybin medicines what she believes is the next great...