This episode’s a bit of a special one. Clarke Carlisle - yes, that’s Clarke Carlisle - joins me for an honest, wide-ranging chat that covers everything from race and mental health to faith, football, fatherhood, and the many layers of identity. It’s raw, reflective and, at times, surprisingly funny. Clarke’s openness is something else, and I can’t wait for you to hear the kind of conversation that doesn’t happen often enough.Highlights:(08:43) The Mixed Race Misnomer(21:11) Death by a Thousand Micro-aggressions(43:00) When you strip away the layers, who’s left?(56:31) Reframing identity and recovery(1:03:00) Colourism in the dressing roomTake the Aurora 360 Quiz: How Effective Is Your Company's Wellbeing Strategy? Click HereConnect with us here:Website: aurorawellnessgroup.co.ukLinkedIn: NgoziLinkedIn: ObehiAurora Company Profile 2024Book a Call here
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1:05:21
Driving Racial Equity at The Co-Op - Turning Data into Actionable Change
In this episode, I’m joined by the brilliant Zahoor Ahmad, who’s leading the charge at the Co-op when it comes to turning big talk about racial equity into real action. We’re getting into everything from unconscious bias to how data (yes, actual numbers) can help create fairer workplaces. Zahoor brings decades of experience, loads of honesty, and the kind of clarity that cuts through the fluff. This one’s essential listening if you’re serious about building truly inclusive cultures - not just performative posters in the hallway.Highlights:(2:10) Current Relevance of Racial Equity(5:20) Challenges and Misconceptions in EDI(11:34) Impact of Media and Public Perception(18:40) Structural Inequality and Data-Driven Change(37:43) Addressing Systemic Racism and Individual Experiences(46:07) The Role of Compassionate Leadership(49:31) Future Vision for EDI(55:37) Conclusion and Final ThoughtsZahoor Ahmad is Group Head of Social Mobility, Inclusion and Belonging for the Co-op group with over two decades of experience in equality, diversity and inclusion practice garnered across and range of industries, including the public, private and charitable sectors. He currently serves as a member of the Co-op Group’s Exec Board. As a graduate of psychology, he fosters a behavioural approach, and has been instrumental in pioneering approaches to tackling non-inclusive behaviours and structural inequalities. He has led D&I teams in the MoD, the finance sector, the emergency services and the charitable sector. He has worked in a wide range of multi-agency environments collaborating and leading programmes across education, health and early careers. He is a specialist inclusive coach and mentor, and frequent keynote speaker on topics ranging from socio-economic inequality to re-imagining inclusive leadership.Take the Aurora 360 Quiz: How Effective Is Your Company's Wellbeing Strategy? Click HereConnect with us here:Website: aurorawellnessgroup.co.ukLinkedIn: NgoziLinkedIn: ObehiAurora Company Profile 2024Book a Call here
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49:26
Bridging the Gap - Suzy Levy on Creating Truly Inclusive Workplaces
This episode is one I’ve been itching to share with you. I sat down with Suzy Levy, and we got straight into what it takes to build inclusive workplaces. Not box-ticking. Not surface-level diversity. Real inclusion that changes how people feel when they show up to work. Suzy’s got the kind of clarity and experience that makes you sit up straighter and think, “Right. That’s what we’ve been missing.” She’s also the author of Mind the Inclusion Gap, which, if you haven’t read, might just become your next highlight-all-the-pages kind of book. Highlights:(06:14) Inclusion is not about being nice(11:12) You’re not helping if you’re just doubling down on being nice(35:28) We all sit somewhere on the IST spectrum(47:14) You can’t event your way into equity(48:33) Inclusion is a skillset - not a personality traitFind out more about Suzy: Suzy Levy is a specialist in social change. She works with senior leaders across the public, private and third sectors to solve some of the most pressing social issues of our time. Suzy has three decades of experience leading change - everything from major technology upgrades to new product launches and organisational mergers. She brings a wealth of expertise, along with a combination of positivity and pragmatism, and is widely recognised for her strategic approach to inclusion and diversity.In addition to her client work as Managing Director at The Red Plate, Suzy holds a variety of board-level roles. She was a non-Executive Director in the UK government for 7 years (both at the Home Office and the Department for Education). Suzy currently sits on the Advisory Board at creative agency Improper, is the Chair of the Women's Sport Trust, and Chair of the Wimbledon Beach Volleyball Club.In 2023, Suzy published her first book, Mind the Inclusion Gap. It summarises decades of learning and is designed to help readers move beyond fleeting (and often divisive) interactions to become more confident, capable, and conscious when it comes to inclusion and diversity.Originally from the Pacific Northwest of the United States, Suzy now lives in London with her partner and two children. Social Media Details: XInstagram LinkedInTake the Aurora 360 Quiz: How Effective Is Your Company's Wellbeing Strategy? Click HereConnect with us here:Website: aurorawellnessgroup.co.ukLinkedIn: NgoziLinkedIn: ObehiAurora Company Profile...
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46:28
The Science of Happiness at Work - Smarter Ways to Lead, Perform and Thrive
We made it to 100 episodes! Honestly, when we kicked off The Wellbeing Rebellion, we thought we might squeeze out 50 at best. But here we are, still going, still growing, and still asking the big questions. In this episode, we're talking about happiness - not the fluffy kind that gets dismissed in corporate circles, but the kind that actually makes a difference at work. The kind that supports performance, retention, and real engagement. It’s a reminder that happy people don’t just feel better, they do better - and that should matter to every leader.Highlights: (0:52) Celebrating 100 episodes and the power of small beginnings(10:41) Why “happiness” at work isn’t just fluff - it’s a foundation for performance(21:11) The real reason micromanagement happens - and what to do about it(30:21) Three things you can do today to boost happiness at workTake the Aurora 360 Quiz: How Effective Is Your Company's Wellbeing Strategy? Click HereConnect with us here:Website: aurorawellnessgroup.co.ukLinkedIn: NgoziLinkedIn: ObehiAurora Company Profile 2024Book a Call here
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31:01
The Games We Play with Guest Scott Tibbitts
Welcome back, rebels! Today’s episode is all about the power of play - and we’re not talking about office politics. Instead, we’re exploring how play can transform workplace culture, foster real connections, and create environments where people want to show up. Our guest, Scott Tibbitts, has built a legendary people-first culture in the most unexpected of places - space technology!From launching a company with just $7.20 in hardware store parts to achieving a 99% employee retention rate, Scott knows a thing or two about making work work. Highlights:(4:07) Scott's Career Journey(35:52) The Role of Play in Business Success(38:09) Specific Games and Activities(39:20) Challenges and Adaptations in a Modern Workplace(43:04) The Role of Leadership in Creating a Playful CultureFind out more:From the Garage to Mars: Memoir of a Space Entrepreneur: https://amzn.eu/d/d1ZaLku or https://www.scotttibbitts.com/bookScott’s StoriesTake the Aurora 360 Quiz: How Effective Is Your Company's Wellbeing Strategy? Click HereConnect with us here:Website: aurorawellnessgroup.co.ukLinkedIn: NgoziLinkedIn: ObehiAurora Company Profile 2024Book a Call here
Welcome to The Wellbeing Rebellion, an award-winning podcast! We are Ngozi Weller, a corporate wellbeing and productivity consultant, and Obehi Alofoje, a psychologist and behavioural change specialist.
We are the founders of Aurora, a corporate culture consultancy that specialises in creating psychologically safe workplaces that enable employees to thrive, and for us, wellbeing is personal.
The problem with employee wellbeing support, in most workplaces, is that it puts the responsibility on the person struggling to seek help. And when you are unwell, that is just too big a burden to bear.
It's not enough to say that your door is always open.
We need to get better at supporting our employees, and that is precisely what this podcast is about.
The rebellion is here, and it is long overdue. So this podcast is specifically for the HR or business leader who wants to make a difference to their employees. And the bottom line is we want to create psychologically safe workplaces where employees are empowered to bring their whole selves to work. We want to create a culture that is inclusive, supportive, and encourages everyone from the shop floor to the boardroom to play their part.
On the wellbeing rebellion podcast, we'll give you weekly up-to-date insights, strategies and tips that cover leadership capability, executive burnout, mental health, equity, diversity and inclusion and employee challenges such as retention, productivity and emotional resilience. Sometimes, it'll be just us. Other times we'll interview industry leaders and experts.
Don't hesitate - listen and follow wherever you get your podcasts, because The Wellbeing Rebellion starts now!
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