This week marks the end of the second season, so James Lawther and Jimmy Barber have an extravaganza for you - well, it should at least be mildly entertaining! They share some of the highs and lows from the series, things that they've learned and a few of their vast catalogue of outtakes.

They'll be back for season 3 in September, so if you have any special requests on topics, questions or guests you'd like to hear from, then please get in touch with us. In the interim, they'll share some excerpts from their most popular episodes that you may have missed, so keep an eye out on LinkedIn, YouTube or TikTok for those.

Thank you to everyone who has supported us through Season 2.

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In this episode, James Lawther and Jimmy Barber delve into the topic of innovation, dispelling common misconceptions and emphasising its true value in enhancing performance and enjoyment at work.

They share personal experiences and discuss both successful and failed innovations, highlighting the importance of involving all employees in the innovation process. They then also discuss the necessary cultural and procedural changes required to create a genuinely innovative environment. Tune in for practical tips on generating ideas, testing them, and scaling successful innovations.

Don't just leave it to the 'Innovation Team', everyone has a role to play!

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Nearly a quarter of us are impacted by grief every year - so why aren't we talking about it more at work?

In this episode, hosts James Lawther and Jimmy Baber explore the crucial topic of grief in the workplace with special guest Lou Hynes, 'The Grief Guru'. Lou shares her personal story, in which, through devastating personal loss, she has found her calling - helping us become a more grief-literate society. The discussion covers how grief affects employees, the importance of organisational support, and practical ways managers and colleagues can offer real help.

Lou emphasises the need for companies to support their employees, or risk attrition (51% of people who feel they're not supported through a period of grief leave within a year) and provides actionable insights for making workplaces more compassionate and supportive environments.

Whether you're someone dealing with grief, a manager or an HR director, this episode offers valuable perspectives and advice.

To find out more about Lou and how she can help you Lou Hynes Coaching

On a lighter note, James shares details of his favourite pastime.

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In this episode, hosts James Lawther and Jimmy Barber discuss the impact of AI on contact centres and back-office jobs.

This follows a question from Rob, a member of the audience, who asked about the potential for AI to reduce contact centre jobs by a claimed 80-90% in the next year or two. The hosts share insights from a former guest, Alex Alexander's AI team, and James interviews Google's Gemini to discover if the AI themselves believe they will put us all out of a job.

This is all balanced with a bit of real-world experience of tech transformations.

Check out the episode and see what they conclude - Are the robots taking over the world? You might be surprised by the answer.

XOOTS – Your digital transformation co-pilot

Callcenters in the Age of AI

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In this episode, hosts James Lawther and Jimmy Barber discuss the importance of networking with special guest Andy Warren - the best-connected person we know! They talk about the nuances of networking, what makes it effective, and how to overcome common barriers. Andy shares invaluable insights, including key strategies such as the significance of personal branding, overcoming the fear of rejection, and the 80/20 rule in listening versus speaking.

Whether you're just starting or looking to refine your networking skills, this episode offers practical advice to enhance your professional and social connections.

They also face the challenges of playing Eamonn Andrews (look him up if you're under 40!) at a friend's milestone birthday, and that teenagers think they can drive to the moon and back in a Fiat 500.

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In this episode, James Lawther and Jimmy Barber discuss “Flow”, a mental state where we achieve peak performance whilst our actions feel effortless. They discuss how Hungarian-American psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi discovered this phenomenon, and they also explore the benefits of being in the “Flow” state and its effect on happiness.

The discussion leads to practical tips on achieving and maintaining flow state - setting clear goals, challenging yourself, eliminating distractions, and creating the best environment. Finally, the hosts share personal experiences and recommend resources for further understanding. You can tune in to learn how to boost your performance and enjoyment at work.

They also carry on their British obsession with the weather and share some research secrets!

Ali Abdaal - YouTube

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In this episode, hosts James Lawther and Jimmy Barber study unintended consequences and how they affect you personally and in business.

Their discussion ranges from Donald Trump’s tariffs to the introduction of Cane Toads in Australia and the invention of the microwave oven. They also share the unintended consequences that have impacted them personally (both positively and negatively).

Most importantly, the hosts also explore why these things happen and how to avoid them from derailing your work.

As a bonus, you can learn about the perils of gardening and the joy of realising that you have stopped sitting exams!

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In this episode, host James Lawther and Jimmy Barber discuss some common 'corporate myths' that hinder performance at work.

They explain that while targets will drive performance, it necessarily result in the performance you want, the fallacy that senior management has all the answers, and the misconception that long hours equal productivity. They also highlight the value of small, tactical improvements over big strategic projects, the benefits of treating suppliers as partners, and how introverts can make exceptional leaders. The episode wraps up with a reflection on social media perceptions versus reality, emphasising the need to focus on genuine rather than perceived performance. If you have any 'corporate myths' that you'd like debunking then please get in touch!

And we also learn what James has in common with Pedro Pascal, and it's not highbrow French films!

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