About this episode:

How do we best cope with our current volatile, disruptive and extremely polarised world situation?

How can you adapt your approach when you meet others with a very different view to you?

On this Special Encore episode, we welcome Joe Weston who brings over 30 years of experience in conflict prevention, leadership, stress management, and communication.

We explore the principles outlined in his Amazon bestselling book, Fierce Civility: Transforming our Global Culture from Polarisation to Lasting Peace. Including what is fierce civility and how can it help us to bridge divides and foster personal and professional peace and collaboration.

As the founder and owner of Weston Network and the non-profit Fierce Civility Project, Joe has worked with a diverse array of clients, including NASA, the World Bank, Oxfam, Booz Allen Hamilton, PBS, The National Cancer Institute, The United Nations, and Mitsubishi Motors. His groundbreaking work and methodologies have made a significant impact on corporations, government agencies, and non-profits around the world.

Joe's expertise is further highlighted by his experience as an adjunct professor at Georgetown University's Department of Government, Program of Conflict Resolution, and his dedication to working with veterans and in-mates in the areas of integration, healing, and leadership.

Listen for an enlightening and thought-provoking discussion that will elevate your understanding of the power of fierce civility, and how you can use to increase your effectiveness whilst contributing to a more peaceful world.

More about Joe Weston:

Joe Weston's career spans 30+ years in the fields of conflict prevention, leadership, stress management, and communication; he is a highly sought after facilitator and coach for individuals, corporations, government agencies, and non-profits around the world.

As founder and owner of Weston Network and the non-profit, the Fierce Civility Project, his clients include NASA, World Bank, Oxfam, Booz Allen Hamilton, PBS, The National Cancer Institute, The United Nations, and Mitsubishi Motors.

His first book, Mastering Respectful Confrontation (2011), has been sold worldwide, and his second book, Fierce Civility: Transforming our Global Culture from Polarization to Lasting Peace, was released in early March of 2023 and is an Amazon bestseller in 14 categories. Joe served as an adjunct professor at Georgetown University's Department of Government, Program of Conflict Resolution. He has also worked with various Veterans' organisations in processes of integration and healing, as well as teaching mediation and leadership to inmates.

About this episode:

On this episode, Chris is joined by national bestselling author and former Fortune 500 executive Jeff Hancher, whose book "Firm Feedback in a Fragile World" offers a practical and compassionate approach to one of leadership's toughest challenges: giving honest feedback without damaging trust.

Jeff's own story is remarkable. Raised in poverty and starting his career as a fill-in truck driver, he rose through corporate leadership and eventually left to pursue his calling of helping leaders create cultures of clarity, courage and care.

In this conversation they explore why so many leaders avoid difficult conversations, how firm feedback differs from criticism, and how leaders can set expectations and hold people accountable in a way that builds engagement rather than fear. They also look at how courageous conversations create energy, momentum and genuine cultural change inside organisations.

If you want to elevate performance, strengthen relationships and lead with both courage and heart, this is an inspiring and highly practical episode you won't want to miss.

More about Jeff Hancher:

Jeff Hancher equips leaders to lead with truth, courage, and conviction—even in the most fragile environments. As an executive coach, keynote speaker, and podcast host, Jeff brings over 20 years of corporate leadership experience to the table.

Through his coaching, training, and speaking engagements, Jeff helps managers and executives master critical feedback, create results-driven teams, and develop strong leadership pipelines. His approach blends emotional intelligence with strategic execution—making him a sought-after voice in today's complex workplace culture.

About this episode:

How do you best navigate your career and the complex relationship between individuals and the workplace today?

Tessa White, known as the Job Doctor, exploded on social media in late 2020 with her expertise on careers and workplace dynamics, after 20 years leading human resources functions within the Fortune 50 to fast-growth start-ups.

With more than one million followers on social media, she was recognised on USA Today's list as one of the top speakers to watch in 2022.

Her first book, The Unspoken Truths for Career Success, and her podcast, The Job Doctor is In, are available on Spotify and Apple.

Tessa has also recently launched a free no-strings-attached mentoring platform called Career RX and is a valued member of The Elevation Collective.

Join us for this Special Encore episode as we explore her forthcoming book, The 5 Stages of Career Growth, and uncover the insights you need to recognise where you are in your career journey, how to progress to the next stage, and how to build lasting success and fulfilment along the way.

More about Tessa White:

At a time when individuals are struggling with their job satisfaction, an unlikely ally was found in a former Fortune 50 executive turned employee advocate. Tessa White, known as the Job Doctor, launched a practice to help individuals better navigate the workplace, and help companies better unlock the potential of their people, just as the pandemic hit.

Tessa exploded on social media with her expertise on careers and how to navigate the complicated relationship between individuals and the workplace in late 2020, after 20 years leading human resources functions within the Fortune 50 to fast growth start-ups. Her insights struck a chord, garnering more than one million followers on social media and she is consistently ranked in the top 1% of similar creators on her LIVE career sessions on TikTok.

Her unique perspective on the modern workplace earned her a place on USA Today's list as one of the top speakers to watch in 2022.

Her book, The Unspoken Truths for Career Success, and her podcast, The Job Doctor is In, is available on Spotify and Apple. When she isn't working with companies or individuals about the modern workplace, she can be found on the river, where she flyfishes.

About this episode:

In a world living through what many now call a "polycrisis" – overlapping conflicts, climate shocks and social division – what does truly graceful leadership look like?

In this powerful conversation, Chris Cooper is joined by Dr Will Parks, a deeply experienced humanitarian leader whose career has taken him from UNICEF roles in the Pacific Islands, Nepal, Iraq, Iran, Bhutan and Cambodia to his latest work as an author, coach and mentor.

Inspired at 16 by UNICEF's legendary Executive Director Jim Grant, Will went on to spend almost 20 years leading programmes for children in some of the world's most fragile contexts – often on the front line of natural disasters and human-made crises. Along the way he has witnessed both the worst and the very best of humanity: families fleeing ISIS in Iraq, deep trauma along the Cambodia–Thailand border, but also extraordinary kindness, courage and recovery.

Drawing on his new book, "Graceful Leadership – Inspiring hope, creativity and resilience in times of peace and crisis" (The Right Book Press, 2025), Will and Chris explore how we can respond to today's crisis-ridden, often "disgraceful" models of leadership with something profoundly different: heart-centred, compassionate, and quietly courageous. They discuss how to stay grounded when you've seen too much, the importance of kindness and service as real sources of power, and why giving back through mentoring and coaching the next generation is central to Will's "rewirement" rather than retirement.

Whether you lead in business, charity, government or are a young person considering a career in international development, this episode will offer practical wisdom, hope and perspective on how each of us can help "take the poly out of the polycrisis" and amplify good in our own sphere of influence.

More about Dr Will Parks:

Dr Will Parks is a passionate humanitarian who has held senior leadership positions with UNICEF in the Pacific Islands, Nepal, Iraq, Iran, Bhutan and Cambodia. In each country, Will has led UNICEF's development programs for children as well as responses to natural disasters and human-made crises. Before UNICEF, he worked with the Australian and UK Aid Agencies, the Secretariat of the Pacific Community, and the World Health Organization, honing his skills in diverse cultural and professional settings.

A scholar and thought leader, Will has authored multiple books and articles, presenting his insights at numerous international conferences and workshops. His latest book is Graceful Leadership – _Inspiring hope, creativity and resilience in times of peace and crisis _(The Right Book Press, 2025). Will is also accredited with the International Coaching Federation.

About this episode:

How can entrepreneurship be used not only to build livelihoods, but also to lift communities and create a happier, more connected world?

In this inspiring episode, host Chris Cooper talks with Michael Glauser, entrepreneur, author, and Executive Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship at Utah State University.

Michael has built and sold successful companies, cycled 4,000 miles across America to meet extraordinary small-town entrepreneurs, and now leads the SEED poverty alleviation program, which helps thousands of people across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean to start small enterprises and double their household income.

Together, Chris and Michael explore the powerful intersection of entrepreneurship, purpose, and human happiness. They discuss how creating meaningful work can combat despair and anxiety, why social entrepreneurship may hold the key to sustainable development, and what six universal principles—drawn from science and timeless wisdom—can help individuals and organisations thrive together.

Michael also shares insights from his latest book, One People, One Planet: Six Universal Truths for Being Happy Together, and from his award-winning SEED initiative, which trains university students to teach entrepreneurship in communities worldwide.

This conversation reveals how entrepreneurship can be a catalyst for happiness, dignity, and community upliftment, the keys to building organizations with heart and purpose, and what ancient wisdom and modern science agree on about living and working happily together. It also includes real stories of transformation from around the world through the SEED program.

If you believe that business can be both profitable and profoundly good, this conversation will inspire you to think bigger about how your work can make a lasting difference.

More about Michael Glauser:

Michael Glauser is an entrepreneur, author, business consultant, and university professor. He has built successful companies in the retail, wholesale, and educational industries and has worked with hundreds of businesses—from startups to multinational enterprises—in leadership development, communication, team building, and organizational strategy.

Today, Mike serves as Executive Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship in the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business at Utah State University. He's also the Director of the SEED poverty alleviation program, helping thousands of people around the world to improve their standard of living and benefit their communities through entrepreneurship.

Mike has published three books on entrepreneurship: Glorious Accidents, The Business of Heart and Main Street Entrepreneur, which chronicles his 4,000 mile bicycle ride across America to interview 100 remarkable entrepreneurs who have successfully merged livelihood and lifestyle in places they want to live.

His latest book, One People One Planet: Six Universal Truths for Being Happy Together, presents six proven principles to help us increase our happiness, improve our relationships, and create greater civility in organizations and communities.

You can learn more at: One People One Planet and https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelglauser/

About this episode:

Deep beneath the frozen frontier of Antarctica, a massive glacier the size of the UK is sliding toward the sea. Thwaites — known as the "Doomsday Glacier" — could raise global sea levels by more than two feet and trigger the collapse of the entire West Antarctic Ice Sheet, reshaping coastlines and economies worldwide.

In this eye-opening conversation, Dr. Ted Scambos, Senior Research Scientist at the University of Colorado, joins Chris Cooper to reveal what satellite data and 24 Antarctic expeditions have taught him about climate tipping points, resilience, and human ingenuity. Together they explore how science, technology, and leadership intersect — and why the same qualities that help scientists survive in Antarctica are exactly what businesses need to navigate a warming, uncertain world.

From the race to decarbonise and the promise of clean energy to the rise of AI and data-driven climate solutions, this episode asks: What can leaders, innovators, and organisations for good learn from the planet's most extreme experiment? How can business step up where politics falters to create hope, not heat?

Because what happens in Antarctica affects every boardroom, every market, and every coastline — and the time for good leadership is now.

More about Dr Ted Scambos:

Dr. Ted Scambos is a Senior Research Scientist at the Earth Science and Observation Center, a part of CIRES at the University of Colorado in Boulder. He has specialised in using satellite data of the polar ice caps to map these regions in new ways, and study the effects of climate change in Antarctica.

Among his research interests are climate change impacts on the polar regions, Antarctic history, geochemistry and planetary science. He has studied the collapse of ice shelf areas and glacier acceleration in the Antarctic Peninsula, ice streams of the Ross Ice Shelf, and wind-snow interactions on the East Antarctic Plateau. A recent study used satellite thermal data to identify the coldest locations in Antarctica, and the processes that set the minimum winter temperatures. A major focus of his work now is developing instrumentation to monitor Antarctic climate and ocean circulation in areas of major change.

He holds a Masters degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and a Ph.D. in geology from the University of Colorado at Boulder (1991). Dr. Scambos served as Lead Scientist at the National Snow and Ice Data Center for 14 years, and has mentored 6 Ph.D. and M.S. students. He has been on twenty-four expeditions to Antarctica, and has been a lecturer on two National Geographic cruises to the continent.

He is the author or co-author of more than 150 scientific articles, with funding from NASA, NSF, and USGS. He lives with his wife Kari in Lafayette, Colorado, and has two adult sons, Alex and Ben.

About this episode:

What if ambition didn't have to mean striving, burnout, or compromise? What if it could be a joyful, purpose-driven expression of who you truly are? In this inspiring conversation, Rha Goddess — entrepreneurial soul coach, author, and founder of Move The Crowd — joins Chris Cooper to explore how to align purpose, prosperity, and impact through her concept and new book Intentional Ambition. Also to discuss how she is galvanizing a movement of 3 million entrepreneurs reimagining work as a vehicle for creative expression, financial freedom, and societal transformation.

For over three decades, Rha has helped changemakers, cultural visionaries, and social entrepreneurs stay true, get paid, and do good — redefining success at the intersection of values and vitality. In this interview we discuss how to find joy, freedom, and fulfilment in your work while contributing meaningfully to the world around you.

If you're ready to lead, create, and live with greater intention, this conversation will help you reclaim ambition as a force for good.

More about Rha Goddess:

Rha Goddess is the entrepreneurial soul coach behind hundreds of breakthrough changemakers, cultural visionaries, and social entrepreneurs. From New York Times bestsellers to multimillion-dollar social enterprises, her pioneering methodology has empowered a new generation of conscious entrepreneurs to stay true, get paid, and do good.

A cultural innovator, social impact strategist, and creative change agent for over 30 years, Rha has harnessed the power of creativity, culture, and community to advance issues of racial justice, equality, mental health, and women's empowerment—impacting millions of lives worldwide.

In 2011, she founded Move The Crowd, an entrepreneurial training company helping creative and cultural leaders thrive at the intersection of values, profitability, and social impact. As CEO, she is galvanizing a movement of 3 million entrepreneurs reimagining work as a vehicle for creative expression, financial freedom, and societal transformation.

In 2020, Rha co-founded nFormation with Deepa Purushothaman—a first-of-its-kind community by and for women of color that reimagines traditional power structures to change not just who gets a seat at the table, but how the table is formed.

A sought-after speaker and acclaimed performance artist, Rha's work has been featured in Time, Essence, Forbes, Fast Company, and Variety. Her book, The Calling (St. Martin's Press), offers a step-by-step blueprint for discovering purpose and making your most profitable contribution.

About This Episode:

In this special encore interview, we meet Dr. Rachel Morris, a seasoned former GP and speaker who intimately understands the pressures of feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, and teetering on the brink of burnout.

With a deep belief that it is possible to thrive both in work and life, Rachel advocates for the idea that happiness and a fulfilling career should not be mutually exclusive.

As the host of the widely acclaimed podcast You Are Not A Frog, Rachel has been a guiding voice for many professionals struggling to maintain balance in their lives.

In addition to her podcast, she created the Shapes Toolkit Programme, which helps doctors and other healthcare staff in high stress, high stakes jobs beat burnout and work happier. Her courses are lauded for helping healthcare workers navigate the challenges of their roles while preserving their well-being.

She has served as the Director of Leadership Courses for Red Whale (GP Update Ltd), where she co-authored and delivered their flagship course, Lead. Manage. Thrive! aimed at empowering GPs and primary care professionals across the UK. Rachel also spent 15 years as Assistant Director for GP Studies at the University of Cambridge's School of Clinical Medicine and set up and led the 'Doctor as Professional' Curriculum.

In this conversation, we discuss how to stay mentally healthy at work, fostering happiness in professional settings, and navigating conflict without unnecessary drama.

Listen to discover how to help manage your stress and the stress of others and thrive in your work and life.

More about guest Dr Rachel Morris:

Dr Rachel Morris is a GP who knows what it is like to feel overwhelmed, exhausted and on the edge of burnout. She believes that it should be possible to thrive both in work and life and that you shouldn't have to choose between working and being happy.

Rachel hosts the popular podcast You Are Not A Frog and is also Director of Leadership Courses for Red Whale (GP Update Ltd), a national Primary Care training organisation. She co-authored and delivers their flagship Leadership course, Lead. Manage. Thrive! for GPs, and those working in primary care and travels around the country delivering these courses to diverse groups of Primary Care Professionals

She has a wide experience in education having worked for 13 years as Assistant Director for GP Studies at the School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge. She then developed and led their new Professionalism Course until 2017. Having left to concentrate on post-graduate leadership development, she continues at Cambridge University as a Tutor for the PG Certificate in Medical Education.

She regularly speaks at conferences on topics such as 'How to be happy at work', 'Staying mentally healthy at work' and 'How to conflict without the drama' and runs workshops and training days around the Shapes Toolkit.