GrowthReady Podcast with Steve Mellor

This week, entrepreneur and leadership consultant Lucy Donald joins Steve for a conversation about self-trust, personal growth, and the courage to change. Drawing on her journey through sobriety, entrepreneurship, and self-discovery, Lucy explores what it means to recognize when an environment no longer serves you and why meaningful change begins when the discomfort of staying the same outweighs the fear of doing something different. 
Lucy challenges us to rethink our relationship with ourselves and the role it plays in how we show up in every area of life. She shares how building self-awareness, changing the way we speak to ourselves, and developing self-trust can help us recognize our own value and navigate uncertainty. From learning new skills to celebrating incremental progress, Lucy reminds us that we are not limited to the person we are today and that consistent effort can shape who we become. 
In this episode, you’ll hear about: 
Why meaningful change begins when staying the same becomes more uncomfortable than changing 
How self-awareness, self-talk, and self-trust work together to support personal growth 
Why your environment can either support your growth or keep you stuck 
How consistent effort and a growth mindset help you build confidence and develop new skills 
Why understanding your value makes it easier to set boundaries, negotiate, and say no 
How redefining success around quality, time, and personal priorities can change the way you work and live 
Whether you’re feeling stuck, questioning the direction of your career, or recognizing that the life you’ve built no longer reflects who you want to become, this conversation is an invitation to trust yourself, embrace uncertainty, and consider what might be possible if you gave yourself permission to grow. 
Listen now and ask yourself: Where in your life are you being called to change, and what would it take to trust yourself enough to take that next step? 
About the guest: 
Lucy Donald is a 43-year-old mum of two, entrepreneur and founder of two multi-million-dollar consultancy businesses. 
Her career began in the media industry, working with the BBC and ITV, before she moved into the mining sector, where she has spent the past 20 years partnering with some of the world’s largest mining companies to build their executive and leadership teams across the globe. 
Lucy is also an Executive Coach and NLP Practitioner, with a passion for leadership, human potential, mindset and personal transformation. She hosts a podcast within the mining industry and is known for combining her commercial experience with a genuine interest in people and what drives them. 
Away from business, Lucy is a keen jump roper and an ambassador for jump-rope and leisurewear brands. 
Lucy is also four years sober. What began as a deeply personal journey has become an important part of her story, leading to opportunities to speak publicly about sobriety, resilience, mindset and the process of changing your life from the inside out. 
She brings a unique mix of business, leadership, personal development, parenting, sobriety and wellbeing to every conversation. 
Connect with Lucy Donald: 
Website: https://dpaworldwide.com/  
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucydonald/  
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dpa_worldwide 
Send us Fan Mail
Support the show
Connect with Steve Mellor
Stay connected and keep growing with Steve:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-mellor-cc/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/coachstevemellor
Book Steve to speak at your next event → www.stevemellorspeaks.com
Support the GrowthReady Podcast by leaving a 5-star rating → Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/growthready-podcast/id1406082163
Connect with GrowthReady
Join the community and keep your growth journey going:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearegrowthready/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/growthreadypodcast/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/growthreadywithcoachstevemellor
Official Website - https://growthready.com/
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This podcast was produced on Riverside and released via ...

This week, Professor Emerita of Sociology and author, Jeni Cross, joins Steve for a conversation about agency, awareness, and the stories we tell ourselves about our lives. Jeni challenges the idea that we’re simply products of our circumstances, reminding us that while the world around us shapes our options, we still have opportunities to choose differently and create new possibilities. 
Jeni challenges us to explore how the stories we tell ourselves influence everything from our reactions to everyday frustrations to the way we navigate life’s biggest challenges. She shares why learning to recognize our own agency, trusting our inner wisdom, and approaching uncertainty with curiosity can change how we experience the world. 
The conversation also implores us to recognize the role other people play in our growth. From choosing relationships where we feel genuinely seen to recognizing the value of intuition and social science, Jeni invites us to rethink what growth looks like and to consider whether greater awareness might be valuable in its own right, even when it can’t be measured. 
In this episode, you’ll hear about: 
How the stories we tell ourselves shape our sense of possibility 
Why we have more agency in everyday moments than we often realize 
How to listen to your inner wisdom instead of reacting from fear 
Why the right relationships can expand our awareness and help us grow 
What social science teaches us about creating meaningful behavior change 
Whether you’re feeling stuck, navigating a difficult decision, or simply looking to understand yourself better, this conversation is an invitation to get curious about the assumptions you’ve accepted and the possibilities you may have overlooked. 
Listen now and ask yourself: What is it that your intuition, or your inner knowing, is telling you that you can start listening to in order to evoke awareness? 
About the guest: 
Jeni Cross is Professor Emerita of Sociology and author of the forthcoming book Say What You Sense. She blends the science of change and social presence into designing for transformative change. Working from a felt sense of potential and appreciation for the unique essence present in each person, group and place, Jeni helps communities unlock new insight and will for tackling even the stickiest problems. Jeni believes that true regeneration isn't about doing less harm—it’s about actively healing our social and ecological fabrics, through collaborative connections that enhance what we know and can do together. 
Connect with Jeni Cross: 
Website: https://www.drjenicross.com/  
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeni-cross-25b93112/  
Substack: https://substack.com/@drjenicross  
TEDx Talk: https://youtu.be/l5d8GW6GdR0?si=9dUn7ixWYp62YQ8A  
 
Send us Fan Mail
Support the show
Connect with Steve Mellor
Stay connected and keep growing with Steve:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-mellor-cc/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/coachstevemellor
Book Steve to speak at your next event → www.stevemellorspeaks.com
Support the GrowthReady Podcast by leaving a 5-star rating → Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/growthready-podcast/id1406082163
Connect with GrowthReady
Join the community and keep your growth journey going:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearegrowthready/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/growthreadypodcast/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/growthreadywithcoachstevemellor
Official Website - https://growthready.com/
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This podcast was produced on Riverside and released via ...

In this week’s episode, Steve sits down with Jeff “Bones” Bonner, Harvard-trained performance strategist, former combat fighter pilot and squadron commander, current airline captain, and author of The Daily Debrief™, for a conversation about human performance, continuous improvement, and why experience alone isn’t enough to help us grow. 
Drawing on his experience in military aviation and other high-performance environments, Jeff shares a principle that has shaped his approach to growth. He explains how a simple, structured debrief can help us learn from both our successes and mistakes, build confidence, and prepare to perform better the next time around. 
The conversation also explores why we tend to reflect only when something goes wrong, how the fear of making mistakes can hold us back, and what high-performing teams understand about learning from failure. Jeff shares his five-minute Daily Debrief habit, explains why consistency matters more than getting it perfect, and details how leaders can create cultures where people are encouraged to learn without repeating the same mistakes. 
In this episode, you’ll hear about:  
Why experience alone doesn’t guarantee improvement 
How reflection and intentional adjustment build confidence and performance 
How high-performing teams create environments where people can fail, learn, and improve 
How a simple five-minute daily habit can support continuous growth 
Listen now and ask yourself: Where could you make a mistake today that helps you avoid repeating it tomorrow? 
About the guest: 
Jeff “Bones” Bonner is a keynote speaker on human performance and the author of The Daily Debrief™. A Harvard-trained performance strategist, former combat fighter pilot and squadron commander, and current airline captain, Jeff works with leaders and teams to build systems for continuous improvement. 
He is the creator of The Debrief Advantage™, a principle-centered system that turns everyday experience into measurable progress. His work is built on a simple idea: experience alone does not create improvement, reflection followed by adjustment does. 
His book, The Daily Debrief™, teaches the foundational habit behind the system, helping individuals build a daily practice of reflection and improvement. A revised edition is set to release soon. 
 
Connect with Jeff Bonner: 
Website: https://debriefadvantage.com/  
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffbonesbonner/  
Send us Fan Mail
Support the show
Connect with Steve Mellor
Stay connected and keep growing with Steve:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-mellor-cc/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/coachstevemellor
Book Steve to speak at your next event → www.stevemellorspeaks.com
Support the GrowthReady Podcast by leaving a 5-star rating → Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/growthready-podcast/id1406082163
Connect with GrowthReady
Join the community and keep your growth journey going:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearegrowthready/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/growthreadypodcast/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/growthreadywithcoachstevemellor
Official Website - https://growthready.com/
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This podcast was produced on Riverside and released via ...

This week, Steve sits down with Niluka Kavanagh, Executive Advisor, international speaker, and Founder of The Modern CEO and ImagineThat, for a conversation about curiosity, uncertainty, meaningful growth, and why staying busy isn’t the same as making an impact. 
After leaving the corporate world in 2022, Niluka booked a one-way flight to Valencia and began a journey that would take her to more than 14 countries and lead her to launch multiple businesses. Rather than defining success solely by the outcome, she made herself a different promise: if she grew through the experience, it would be worthwhile. 
The conversation explores the difference between action and impact, and why growth requires more than simply doing more. Kavanagh shares her take on the three types of growth and explains why putting ourselves in rooms where we aren’t the most experienced person can be one of the most powerful ways to develop. Steve and Niluka also explore the challenge of remaining ambitious without constantly moving the goalposts, and why leaders need to intentionally create space to think, reflect, and refine their craft. 
In this episode, you’ll hear about:  
Why stepping into the unknown can be one of the greatest catalysts for growth 
The difference between taking action and creating meaningful impact 
Niluka’s 3 categories for growth 
Why being in rooms where you aren’t the expert can accelerate your growth 
How creating space to think can make you a more effective leader 

Listen now and ask yourself: How can you measure impact?How can you measure your own impact within your world? 

About the guest: 
Niluka Kavanagh, MA (Oxon) is an Executive Advisor, international speaker, and Founder of The Modern CEO and ImagineThat. 
Niluka is Microsoft Top 10 Speaker (2025), listed as an official speaker for IWD (International Women's Day) and a member of the UN Innovation Network. 
An ex-Big 4 consultant, Niluka has built her career at the intersection of strategy, leadership, communication, and culture, advising executives and founders on how to lead effectively in an increasingly complex world of work. 
Through The Modern CEO, Niluka works with senior leaders and leadership teams on the human side of the future of work - from modern leadership behaviors and psychological safety, to communication, engagement, and building high-performing, multigenerational teams. 
Her work helps organizations move beyond outdated leadership models and towards cultures that enable clarity, trust, and sustainable performance in the modern workplace.  
Alongside this, Niluka is the founder of ImagineThat, a global community supporting new entrepreneurs. Through ImagineThat, she has built a network of ex-corporate founders - entrepreneurs who have left successful companies to start their own ventures, with a particular focus on visibility, sales and marketing.  
A graduate of the University of Oxford, Niluka was selected as an Alumni Ambassador for Somerville College and featured in the University of Oxford’s Entrepreneurial Spotlight. 
She began her career at KPMG LLP, where she progressed through market development, innovation, and customer strategy roles, later serving as Head of Communications for KPMG SheCan and founding the firm’s Behavioral Science Unit before leaving at managerial level. 
She has since co-founded a tech start-up featured in the Scottish Sun and other outlets and a public speaking business with clients including Siemens, Deloitte, and the University of Chicago. 
Niluka is also the host of Breaking Boundaries with Niluka on YouTube, and her insights have been published by organizations including The World Financial Review and the University of Cambridge. 

Connect with Niluka Kavanagh: 
Website: https://linktr.ee/niluka_kavanagh  
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nilukakavanagh/  
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imaginethatclub/  
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@breakingboundarieswithniluka  
Send us Fan Mail
Support the show
Connect with Steve Mellor
Stay connected and keep growing with Steve:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-mellor-cc/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/coachstevemellor
Book Steve to speak at your next event → www.stevemellorspeaks.com
Support the GrowthReady Podcast by leaving a 5-star rating → Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/growthready-podcast/id1406082163
Connect with GrowthReady
Join the community and keep your growth journey going:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearegrowthready/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/growthreadypodcast/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/growthreadywithcoachstevemellor
Official Website - https://growthready.com/
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This podcast was produced on Riverside and released via ...

Ever wonder what it takes to earn the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award before you’re 50? In this episode, Steve sits down with Jake Rademacher, for a story-filled conversation about courage, commitment, authenticity, service, and what it means to make the hard choices that move us toward a life that feels like our own. 
Jake traces his journey from walking away from a promising path in business to pursuing acting and filmmaking, eventually risking everything to tell the story of his brothers serving in Iraq. What began with a borrowed camera and an idea no one wanted to fund ultimately took Jake into a war zone, where he learned firsthand that courage isn’t necessarily something we have before taking a leap- it can be something we build by continually choosing the next difficult step. 
The conversation also explores how Jake’s understanding of courage has evolved. Today, it is less about putting himself in dangerous situations and more about having the vulnerability to ask difficult questions, hold space for someone else’s story, and follow a conversation wherever it needs to go. Through his work and in partnership with the Gary Sinise Foundation to support families impacted by war, Jake has learned how authenticity, curiosity, and connection can create opportunities for people to confront experiences they may have carried silently for years. 
In this episode, you’ll hear about:  
Why some of Jake’s greatest periods of growth began with failure or loss 
How an award-winning film began with a leap of faith, a borrowed camera, and total commitment 
Why courage is something we can build one difficult decision at a time 
How vulnerability, curiosity, and difficult questions can create deeper human connection 
Why being honest about where you’re stuck can help you move toward a more authentic life 
Listen now and ask yourself: Your time is limited- what do you want to do with it? 
About the guest: 
Jake Rademacher is the Founder and President of Metanoia Films and Perseverance Productions. Between 2005 and 2007, Jake risked everything, including his life, to tell the story of his brothers serving in Iraq, filming the award-winning feature documentary Brothers at War. 
The film was released in theaters across America, premiered on Showtime, and was later released around the world. Jake then created the Brothers at War Resiliency Workshops, which have been conducted for more than 60,000 Service Members and their Families. With Gary Sinise returning as Executive Producer, Jake directed and produced the award-winning Brothers After War and currently leads a team conducting 45 events annually. 
Jake has also written, directed, and produced numerous commercials and short films. He is a recipient of the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award, the Distinguished Education Award from the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Soaring Eagle Award from the National Veterans Day Foundation, and the Distinguished Service Award from The Caucus of Producers, Writers, and Directors. He is an honorary Colonel in the Oklahoma National Guard, a Canon Chasing the Light Filmmaker, a member of the Directors Guild of America, and a SAG-AFTRA member. 
As a performer, he has appeared in numerous theatrical productions and films and narrated hundreds of documentary series and commercials. He graduated cum laude with a degree in English from the University of Notre Dame and studied playwriting and drama at Trinity College Dublin. He lives in Los Angeles, where he is a dedicated father to his two children, Josie and Noel. 
Connect with Jake Rademacher: 
Website: https://brothersafterwar.com/  
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jake-rademacher-2bb5403/  
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brothersafterwar/  
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brothersafterwar  
Send us Fan Mail
Support the show
Connect with Steve Mellor
Stay connected and keep growing with Steve:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-mellor-cc/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/coachstevemellor
Book Steve to speak at your next event → www.stevemellorspeaks.com
Support the GrowthReady Podcast by leaving a 5-star rating → Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/growthready-podcast/id1406082163
Connect with GrowthReady
Join the community and keep your growth journey going:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearegrowthready/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/growthreadypodcast/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/growthreadywithcoachstevemellor
Official Website - https://growthready.com/
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This podcast was produced on Riverside and released via ...