In this episode of Leading BOLDLY, Matt and Jenny sit down with Brendan, a passionate educator, musician, and founder of Music Kids Academy, to explore the urgent and often overlooked crisis in modern education: the decline of creativity.

Brendan shares his deeply personal journey—how music became a refuge during a difficult adolescence and ultimately shaped his mission to reimagine how we teach, learn, and lead. Together, they unpack what Brendan calls the “creativity pandemic”: a systemic failure in education where imagination is sidelined, and the arts are treated as optional.

From the launch of an AI-powered music assistant to bold calls for arts advocacy, this conversation is a powerful reminder that creativity isn't a luxury—it's a necessity.

🎧 Tune in to hear:

• Why creativity is disappearing from schools—and why it matters

• Brendan’s personal story of finding healing and purpose through music

• The vision behind Ella Xee, an AI assistant sparking creativity in young musicians

• How Music Kids Academy is flipping the script on traditional music education

• The shocking stat that 43% of UK schools offer no music education

• Brendan’s favourite books, business tools, and songs that fuel his creativity

This episode is a bold call to rethink how we value creativity—not just in classrooms, but in culture, business, and leadership.

🔗 Resources & Mentions:

• Music Kids Academy – https://www.musickids.org.uk/

• Book: Boy by Roald Dahl

• Music: November Rain – Guns N’ Roses

• Framework: Profit First by Mike Michalowicz

• Ella Xee – Coming soon to Music Kids Academy

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ABOUT LEADING BOLDLY PODCAST:

Ready to take your business to the next level? Dive deep into the minds of successful SME leaders, founders, and entrepreneurs who have blazed trails and built thriving brands.

Join hosts Jenny Jarvis, a seasoned NLP practitioner and Certified Personal Performance and Relationship coach, and Matt Clutterham, a brand and transformation strategist with a knack for elevating businesses of all sizes.

Join Jenny on Linkedin Here:

/ jenny-jarvis-26892622

Join Matt on Linkedin Here:

In this episode of Leading BOLDLY, Matt and Jenny sit down with Tegan, a bold founder reshaping the dating landscape through thoughtful design, purpose, and safety-first innovation.

Tegan shares her journey from international studies in China and France to her work at PwC as a management consultant—and the personal experiences that inspired her to challenge the status quo of modern dating. Frustrated by the transactional nature and safety concerns of traditional dating apps, Tegan envisioned something better: Evntful—an app that prioritises real experiences, user safety, and meaningful connection.

🎧 Tune in to hear:

• Why traditional dating apps weren’t cutting it—and what Tegan did about it
• The bold decisions behind Evntful’s user-centred, experience-led design
• How built-in safety features and shared activities are redefining how we connect
• The realities and challenges of building a tech startup from scratch
• Why changing dating culture means rethinking how we show up—for ourselves and each other
• Tegan’s favourite frameworks, books, and music that keep her grounded and inspired

From startup lessons to social impact, this episode is a deep dive into the courage it takes to lead differently—and love differently.

🔗 Resources & Mentions:

• Evntful App – Expanding soon beyond London!
• The 5 Second Rule by Mel Robbins
• Ben Howard – Music that moves the mission
• Framework: Understanding non-negotiables and work styles for stronger teams

📍 Recorded: 27 February 2025

💡 Be BOLD. Stay Curious. Lead Differently.

Listen now and subscribe for more conversations with changemakers who are Leading BOLDLY.

_____________________________________________

ABOUT

LEADING BOLDLY PODCAST:

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take your business to the next level? Dive deep into the minds of successful

SME

leaders, founders, and entrepreneurs who have blazed trails and built

thriving

brands.

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hosts

Jenny Jarvis, a seasoned NLP practitioner and Certified Personal

Performance

and Relationship coach, and Matt Clutterham, a brand and

transformation

strategist with a knack for elevating businesses of all sizes.

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Jenny

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https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenny-jarvis-26892622/

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https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattclutterham/

In

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dynamic podcast, we unpack the stories, strategies, and mindset hacks that

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success in today's competitive landscape. Whether you're seeking

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tips, expert advice, or inspiration to push your boundaries, we've

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you covered. From business consultants to branding gurus, sales specialists

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Leading BOLDLY Podcast is your go-to resource for navigating the

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Breaking the Silence: The Male Suicide Crisis

In this episode of Leading Boldly, we sit down with Steve Whittle, a mental health advocate and founder of a charity dedicated to preventing male suicide. Drawing from his own experiences with depression, ADHD, and PTSD, Steve is on a mission to break the silence around men’s mental health and provide real, actionable solutions.

With men dying by suicide at three times the rate of women, Steve and Matt explore the reasons behind this crisis, the role of language in mental health conversations, and the steps we can take to create meaningful change.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✅ Why men struggle to seek help and how stigma plays a role

✅ The impact of language on mental health and suicide prevention

✅ How reframing mental health conversations helps men open up

✅ The emotional toll of suicide prevention work and the importance of self-care

✅ Practical strategies for organisations to support men’s mental well-being

Topics Covered:

1. The Male Suicide Crisis & Gender Differences

• Why men are three times more likely to die by suicide than women
• The key differences in how men and women approach mental health
• How societal expectations discourage men from seeking help

2. Reframing the Language & Approach

• Why phrases like "committed suicide" can be harmful
• How Steve’s charity reframes discussions to better connect with men
• The importance of focusing on life challenges rather than just mental illness

3. The Charity’s Mission & Partnerships

• Working with male-focused organizations to provide tailored solutions
• Training programs, resources, and practical tools for suicide prevention

4. Personal Impact & Self-Care

• The emotional challenges of suicide intervention work
• How Steve manages his own mental health while supporting others

5. Recommendations & Closing Thoughts

• Book: Be More Pirate – Sam Conniff Allende
• Song: Enjoy the Silence – Depeche Mode
• Framework: Working with Q Branch Consulting

Links & Resources

📌 Learn more about Steve’s charity: Website

📌 Support male mental health initiatives: Donate

Join the Conversation

💬 What did you think of this episode? Let us know!

👉 If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review. Your support helps us keep these conversations going!

_____________________________________________

ABOUT LEADING BOLDLY PODCAST:

Ready

to take your business to the next level? Dive deep into the minds of successful

SME leaders, founders, and entrepreneurs who have blazed trails and built

thriving brands.

Join

hosts Jenny Jarvis, a seasoned NLP practitioner and Certified Personal

Performance and Relationship coach, and Matt Clutterham, a brand and

transformation strategist with a knack for elevating businesses of all sizes.

Join

Jenny on Linkedin...