Episode 71 begins with a shocking confession: Debra has accidentally become a criminal.After unknowingly leaving Waitrose with two unpaid peppers and a piece of ginger, she spends the weekend wrestling with her conscience and preparing to hand herself in at customer services. Will Waitrose show mercy? Tune in next week for the verdict.Meanwhile, Peter enjoys a rather more glamorous weekend, attending the Test Match at Lord's, rubbing shoulders with cricket legends, politicians, and even The Rest Is History co-host Tom Holland. Peter may have met a podcasting superstar, but thankfully he still found time for us.The conversation then turns to leadership, resilience and what to do when things aren't going your way, whether you're running a charity, leading a cricket team, or simply trying to navigate difficult times.Debra and Peter also dive into some of the big debates currently taking place in fundraising and communications. Do the images people dislike actually raise the most money? Should charities prioritise local identity or national consistency? And does presenting people with facts and evidence ever really change their minds?Along the way they discuss Childline, the National Lottery Community Fund's latest changes, the challenge of balancing local and national priorities, and why organisations sometimes spend far too much time worrying about critics who were never going to be convinced in the first place.Plus: why RNLI's communications strategy remains a masterclass in staying true to your values, regardless of who is shouting at you.Send your questions to jblazquez@dsc.org.uk or comment below for the next episode!YouTube Subscribe: YouTube.com/@DSCOnlineMore Debra Allcock TylerLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debra-allcock-tyler-8013214/More Peter WanlessLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sir-peter-wanless-b43aa372/Produced by: Directory of Social Change https://www.dsc.org.ukPodcast Producer: José Blazquez

Episode 70! Seventy episodes in, and somehow Debra and Peter still have plenty to talk about.This week, Peter's return to The West Wing sparks a fascinating conversation about leadership, integrity and the weight of public office. Is it simply one of the greatest TV dramas ever made, or does it remind us of a style of politics that feels increasingly rare?The conversation then turns to communications. From the Department for Education's Gemma Collins campaign to the challenge of promoting vocational education, Debra and Peter explore what makes a message land, who it's really aimed at, and why communications and policy need to work hand in hand.They also discuss the merger between The Felix Project and FareShare, using it as a springboard to explore charity brands, organisational identity and the balance between honouring the past and preparing for the future.Plus: why everyone seems to think they're a marketing expert, despite marketing and communications being professions that require actual qualifications and expertise. As Debra recalls from experience, few people can resist telling the comms team how to do their jobs. A timely reminder that José isn't just a pretty face, he also has a marketing degree.And finally, Bertie's unexpected rise through the ranks of Cameo stardom continues...If you've never watched The West Wing, this episode may convince you to give it a go.Send your questions to jblazquez@dsc.org.uk or comment below for the next episode!YouTube Subscribe: YouTube.com/@DSCOnlineMore Debra Allcock TylerLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debra-allcock-tyler-8013214/More Peter WanlessLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sir-peter-wanless-b43aa372/Produced by: Directory of Social Change https://www.dsc.org.ukPodcast Producer: José Blazquez

After a short break, Debra and Peter are back and straight into some big conversations.Peter shares his experience attending a Downing Street discussion about banning under-16s from social media, and outlines his four-point plan for tackling online harms. From safety by design to stronger regulation and the idea of a UK eSafety Commissioner, they explore what meaningful action could actually look like, and why the issue affects adults just as much as children.The conversation then takes a more personal turn as they reflect on confidence, kindness and the extraordinary impact of appreciation. From leadership teams publicly recognising each other, to thanking supermarket staff and complimenting strangers on train platforms, Debra and Peter discuss why making people feel valued matters more than we often realise.And finally, they dive into governance, trust and leadership boundaries, sparked by the Peter Murrell and Nicola Sturgeon story. How should organisations handle close personal relationships at the top? What happens when favouritism creeps into leadership teams? And why is fairness so important in organisational culture?Plus: Somerset cricket updates, Bertie’s unexpected social media fame, and a memorable story about Christmas drinks lists gone badly wrong.Send your questions to jblazquez@dsc.org.uk or comment below for the next episode!YouTube Subscribe: YouTube.com/@DSCOnlineMore Debra Allcock TylerLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debra-allcock-tyler-8013214/More Peter WanlessLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sir-peter-wanless-b43aa372/Produced by: Directory of Social Change https://www.dsc.org.ukPodcast Producer: José Blazquez

Episode 68! Debra and Peter are back with a slightly existential question: what exactly makes a podcast “proper”? Debra has been in a real studio, on a comfy sofa, being filmed properly, which of course raises absolutely no questions at all about the professionalism of this podcast.From there, they reflect on emotion, vulnerability and what it means to be seen, literally and figuratively, when you’re in a leadership role. There’s crying, self-image, human complexity, and a reminder that most people are simply trying their best.They also discuss the London Marathon and the huge sums raised for charity, while asking some thoughtful questions about participatory fundraising. Does it matter why people run, cycle, climb or sit in tubs of beans, as long as money is raised? And are big fundraising moments missing a chance to help the public better understand how charities really work?Finally, Debra and Peter return to Julia Unwin’s reflections on charities disagreeing respectfully. They explore protest, anti-semitism, contested causes, trans-inclusive charities, ideology, democracy and the difficult line between standing firmly for what you believe and staying open to those who think differently.All this, plus ducklings, jackdaws, Pantosaurus, cricket balls, abseiling and a very carefully managed ice bucket challenge.Send your questions to jblazquez@dsc.org.uk or comment below for the next episode!YouTube Subscribe: YouTube.com/@DSCOnlineMore Debra Allcock Tyler LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debra-allcock-tyler-8013214/More Peter Wanless LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sir-peter-wanless-b43aa372/Produced by: Directory of Social Change https://www.dsc.org.uk Podcast Producer: José Blazquez

Episode 67! Debra, Peter and their producer Justin (or should that be José 🤷‍♂️) are back after a couple of weeks away, after Debra briefly rebranded the show at the start, and there is plenty to catch up on.Peter shares the slightly surreal experience of watching his son Bertie become one of the faces of Channel 4’s Virgin Island, complete with bravery, honesty and, apparently, the need for good rizz.Then the conversation turns to philanthropy, privilege and big civil society gatherings, as Peter reflects on his time around the Skoll Conference and the Marmalade fringe events. Debra and Peter explore what these spaces can achieve, where their limits are, and why charity work often sits in that strange place between being proud of what people do and deeply ashamed that the work is needed at all.The main discussion dives into trustee recruitment, board diversity and who really gets invited into governance. Prompted by Dame Julia Unwin’s comments on how few trustees are recruited through open application, Debra and Peter unpack the habits, assumptions and practical challenges that shape charity boards. From tapping people on the shoulder to recruiting young trustees, refreshing boards without losing vital knowledge, and challenging assumptions about age, experience and expertise, this is a thoughtful conversation about what good governance really needs.Send your questions to jblazquez@dsc.org.uk or comment below for the next episode!YouTube Subscribe: YouTube.com/@DSCOnlineMore Debra Allcock TylerLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debra-allcock-tyler-8013214/More Peter WanlessLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sir-peter-wanless-b43aa372/Produced by: Directory of Social Change https://www.dsc.org.ukPodcast Producer: José Blazquez (aka Justin from now on)

Episode 66, and Debra is on one about four-day weeks. Quite right too, because this is one of those topics she could probably keep going on about all week (see what I did there?). This time, Debra and Peter get stuck into a big conversation about four-day working weeks, productivity, public sector stereotypes, and whether politicians are actually paying attention to the evidence. Debra makes the case with plenty of passion, Peter pushes back in all the right places, and between them they explore what really makes organisations work well: trust, flexibility, investment, and better leadership.They also talk about switching off, or not switching off, when you are in a senior role. Can leaders ever really go on holiday without thinking about work? What happens when your phone stops ruling your life? And if good leadership means building other leaders, what does that say about the people who think everything falls apart the second they step away?There is also the usual dash of cricket at the start, including Somerset being described as a model county club, which Peter is naturally very calm and understated about.No episode next week, because José is off to Poland for a swanky AI conference. Lucky sod. Apparently this podcast cannot function without him, which is both unfair and, sadly, completely true.And if you urgently need Peter during the break, do write to his cricket president email account, which appears to be the only inbox he actually checks. We do not, however, know what that email address is, so this may not be a flawless system.YouTube Subscribe: YouTube.com/@DSCOnlineMore Debra Allcock Tyler LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debra-allcock-tyler-8013214/More Peter Wanless LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sir-peter-wanless-b43aa372/Produced by: Directory of Social Change https://www.dsc.org.uk Podcast Producer: José Blazquez

Hello? Is that the government? … can we talk?Debra and Peter are back just as Easter arrives, and this week they take on a question that feels far too familiar: when government gathers the grown-ups in the room to tackle a national crisis, why is civil society still so often left outside the door?Starting with the latest response to oil price shocks, they explore why business is so often treated as a strategic partner while charities are seen as the people who arrive later to mop up the consequences. Drawing on lessons from COVID, local knowledge, fuel poverty, food insecurity and community resilience, they make the case that charities do not just respond to crisis. They help design better answers to it.Debra and Peter also get into the sector's own storytelling problem. Are charities still framed too often as worthy, gentle and grateful, rather than as essential contributors to the economy and society? And if government, business and civil society are all serving the same people, why are charities still fighting to be taken seriously as part of the solution?There is also a thoughtful discussion about the risks that come with funding and advocacy, prompted by debate in Scotland over whether government support makes charities less likely to criticise. It opens up a wider question about independence, influence and the vital role infrastructure bodies can play in speaking out when individual charities may feel too exposed to do so.And finally, in one of the most honest parts of the episode, Debra offers a message for charity leaders facing closure, burnout or impossible decisions: this is not a personal failure. Sometimes survival means stabilising, stopping, or recognising with pride what has already been achieved in a brutal environment.Sharp, frank, occasionally funny, and quietly determined as ever, this is a conversation about voice, value and not giving up.P.S. This is not a cricket podcast. Or is it?Send your questions to jblazquez@dsc.org.uk or comment below for the next episode!YouTube Subscribe: YouTube.com/@DSCOnlineMore Debra Allcock Tyler LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debra-allcock-tyler-8013214/More Peter Wanless LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sir-peter-wanless-b43aa372/Produced by: Directory of Social Change https://www.dsc.org.uk Podcast Producer: José Blazquez

Episode 64! A slightly later release than usual as José may or may not have fallen asleep at the publishing wheel, but we are here. This week, Debra and Peter cover everything from leadership philosophy to celebrity status, with a brief but memorable detour into Peter’s unfolding duck saga.They begin with conference season reflections, including Debra’s trip to ACEVO and a closing keynote in Wimbledon that ended, rather unexpectedly, with requests for selfies. A true celebrity moment, even if one audience member’s verdict of "very entertaining" sparked a wider conversation about feedback, intent and the stories we tell ourselves about what people mean.From there, they get stuck into a big question for the charity sector: can someone who has led a smaller charity successfully lead a much larger one? Using comments made by Chris Sherwood as a springboard, Debra and Peter unpack the assumptions boards make about scale, turnover, staff teams and what leadership experience really counts. They reflect on what smaller charities do brilliantly, from swift decision-making to sheer resourcefulness, and why the sector still has a habit of undervaluing that experience.The conversation then widens into a broader challenge: how do we stop thinking in terms of big charities versus small charities and focus instead on common cause? There is a thoughtful discussion about collaboration, competition, hope and the danger of talking ourselves into scarcity. If charities are meant to be purveyors of hope, what happens when the sector starts losing faith in itself?They also explore visible and invisible leadership, asking whether charity leaders can become so self-effacing that they disappear from debates where their voice is needed most. Debra reflects candidly on being seen as someone who "takes up space", while Peter argues that visibility is not about ego, but about impact. As ever, the conclusion is pleasingly untidy: good leadership depends on the moment, the mission and the people in front of you.Also featured: potatoes, onions, ducks in emotional disarray, and the start of the cricket season.Send your questions to jblazquez@dsc.org.uk or comment below for the next episode.YouTube Subscribe: YouTube.com/@DSCOnlineMore Debra Allcock Tyler LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debra-allcock-tyler-8013214/More Peter Wanless LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sir-peter-wanless-b43aa372/Produced by: Directory of Social Change https://www.dsc.org.uk Podcast Producer: José BlazquezQuestion for listeners: inspired by Debra’s leadership wisdom, what is the correct outfit for listening to this episode? Would you wear a bikini to a funeral or a suit to the beach, or something more podcast appropriate?