“With World Suicide Prevention Day now ended, this episode explores how coaching, storytelling, and culture change can transform the way we approach mental health, inclusion, and inequality.

My guest, Layo Obembe, is an award-winning Change and Organisation Development Specialist and executive coach, known for leading the CLEAR Pathways programme at the UK Parliament — a pioneering initiative that has achieved remarkable impact for underrepresented talent.

Together, we talk about:

How coaching and storytelling can shift whole systems, not just individuals

• The links between inequality, workplace culture, and mental health
• Why creating safe, inclusive spaces is vital for preventing isolation and despair
• The lessons Layo has learned from driving culture change at scale
• What small steps we can each take to build communities of hope and resilience

It’s a conversation that’s both inspiring and practical, showing how change begins with people — and how leadership, inclusion, and courage can save lives.”

If you’re struggling with your mental health or having thoughts of suicide, please know you are not alone. Support is available:

• Samaritans (UK): Call 116 123 free, 24/7 – samaritans.org
  
  
• Shout (UK): Text SHOUT to 85258 for free 24/7 crisis support – giveusashout.org
  
  
• Mind: Advice and support for anyone experiencing a mental health problem – mind.org.uk
  
  
• Papyrus HOPELINE247: Support for under-35s experiencing thoughts of suicide – Call 0800 068 4141 – papyrus-uk.org
  
  
• Befrienders Worldwide: Find crisis helplines globally – findahelpline.com

Have a story to tell or insights to share? We want to hear from you! If you're passionate about your business and eager to have your voice heard on our podcast, reach out to us. Send your business details to infoblogthebuilder@gmail.com with the subject heading Podcast, and let's connect on Facebook / Linkedin . Your experiences and expertise could be just what our listeners need! Join us and make your mark today.

What does real culture change look like when it’s driven by people, not just policies?

In this episode of The Human Side of Culture Change, I sit down with Gary Jones — an award-winning change leader who has been working in Parliament since 2012 and co-created the CLEAR Pathways programme.

Gary’s story is one of resilience: growing up in Bradford in a large Caribbean family, leaving school without GCSEs, discovering his neurodiversity later in life, and turning challenges into strengths that led him to complete an MBA and lead nationally recognised cultural change initiatives.

Together, we explore how CLEAR Pathways achieved a 75% progression rate for underrepresented talent, why it has won multiple awards, and what lessons leaders can take to embed inclusion in their own workplaces.

This conversation is about resilience, innovation, and hope — and why inclusion benefits not just individuals, but society as a whole.

Have a story to tell or insights to share? We want to hear from you! If you're passionate about your business and eager to have your voice heard on our podcast, reach out to us. Send your business details to infoblogthebuilder@gmail.com with the subject heading Podcast, and let's connect on Facebook / Linkedin . Your experiences and expertise could be just what our listeners need! Join us and make your mark today.

What does reliability really mean in today’s business world — and why is it more valuable than ever in 2025?

In this solo episode, I reflect on a frustrating experience — being let down, again, by a guest. But instead of scrapping the episode, I’m using it as a chance to speak directly to you, the listener, about something deeper: the power of reliability, the role of intention, and how our reputation is built in the moments no one’s watching.

We explore:

• Why showing up and following through is now a competitive edge
• The quiet difference between manipulation and genuine intention
• How responsibility and trust still matter in a world of shortcuts
• What kind of reputation you’re building — even when you’re not in the room

Whether you’re a business owner, freelancer, creative, or leader—this is a reminder that success built on integrity lasts longer than any quick win.

Have a story to tell or insights to share? We want to hear from you! If you're passionate about your business and eager to have your voice heard on our podcast, reach out to us. Send your business details to infoblogthebuilder@gmail.com with the subject heading Podcast, and let's connect on Facebook / Linkedin . Your experiences and expertise could be just what our listeners need! Join us and make your mark today.