Amelia and Jez are joined by Jeremy Sturt, one of the co-founders of Just Add Water (and their boss!) to explore the importance of play in the workplace. How does play drive innovation, build relationships, foster a more joyful work environment, and challenge conventional notions of productivity? Drawing on his extensive experience in theatre and consulting, Jeremy shares insights on why play is crucial for organisational growth, and individual happiness and fulfilment, and offers practical advice for anyone wanting to build more playfulness into their daily lives.

Amelia and Jez explore Resilience. How can we bounce back from what life throws at us? And how can we best prepare for what’s to come? They are joined by Oscar Chalupsky, legendary South African paddler and water sports athlete with a career spanning over three decades. Oscar is currently facing a battle with cancer, which he approaches with the same determination that shaped his sporting career. Oscar tells stories of successes, of which there are many, and failures, of which there are fewer, with vulnerability and humour, sharing his insights on how he remains positive and resilient to anything life throws in his direction.

Amelia and Jez explore purpose. How important is meaning in our lives? And what happens when we believe our efforts make a difference to others? They are joined by Melanie Greblo, who has dedicated her life to catalysing and leading social change. Mel is the Founder and CEO of Humans of Purpose, an impact venture to achieve safe social and economic participation for women who face barriers to employment, particularly survivors of domestic and family violence. Driven by her own lived experiences, Mel aims to make the world a better place for others.

Amelia and Jez explore rest. They are joined by Dr Saundra Dalton-Smith, physician, researcher, author, and leading voice in the conversation around rest, recovery, and overall well-being. What is the difference between sleep and rest? What are the different types of rest, and why do they matter? How does life prevent us from resting, and what can we do about it? Giving context and understanding to what we have all experienced, Dr Saundra shares habits we can all nurture to help us find the energy for whatever the day ahead may hold.

Amelia and Jez explore campaigning. They are joined by Tiernan Brady, former mayor, campaign manager, human rights advocate and activist who recounts his experiences on driving successful referendum campaigns. What makes campaigns successful? How can we connect with others to help them support the change we’re advocating? And what can we take from the world of campaigning when trying to change how our colleagues, friends, and even family think? Tiernan shares funny, heart-warming, and profound stories from his personal and professional life to answer these questions and more.

Amelia and Jez explore music. They are joined Jonathan Tang, PHD Student in Psychology of Music, and Clinical Music Therapist in medical, mental health and special education settings. Why do sounds arranged in certain ways create such beauty of form, harmony and expression of emotion? Beyond simple enjoyment, how can melody improve our mental well-being, physical rehabilitation, communication skills and thinking? JT guides Amelia and Jez through some exercises to help them understand the transformative power of music.

Amelia and Jez explore generations. What defines a generation (spoiler alert: it is so much more than the year you were born), and how are collective identities formed? And how can a willingness to understand generational differences help with relationships, work, social change, and personal growth? Author, consultant, and generational expert Hannah Ubl joins the conversation, shedding light on the variety of ways that generations are shaped, and some recurring themes in intergenerational misunderstandings. Records suggest the “youth of today” have not measured up, according to their elders, for at least 2,500 years…

Amelia and Jez explore positivity. How can we hope for a better tomorrow, and simultaneously confront the often harsh realities of today? They are joined by visual artist Clarke Reynolds, who is blind. Whether he is challenging us all to engage with art in new and diverse ways, or helping school children enjoy the story telling power of braille, and answering their brutally honest questions, Clarke’s positive and playful approach to both his work and life in general are an inspiration.

Amelia and Jez are back for a second season! They are joined by the fantastic Rachael Burford, England Rugby World Cup Winner, former Harlequins Rugby Captain, and powerful advocate for women and girls in all sports. Rachael shares heartwarming stories about her life, from struggling at school, and overcoming real challenges and obstacles, to finding her spiritual home in the rugby community. A fascinating conversation about passion, role models, determination, and being of service to others. Boring Things About Me returns, and Jez gets caught whilst the mic is on during the bloopers…

Amelia and Jez revisit moments from The Being Human Podcast Series 1.

Amelia and Jez explore the experiences we have with people different to ourselves. They are joined by the wonderful Ronni Abergel, founder of The Human Library, who is determined to help people better understand themselves and others around them by creating safe spaces for conversation and dialogue. Ronni beautifully shares his personal and professional journey in creating The Human Library, highlighting the true power of vulnerability and openness – an emotional, thought-provoking and inspiring conversation. Don’t miss listening to the bloopers at the end to hear Jez getting into a bit of bother about a car parking ticket…

Amelia and Jez explore artificial intelligence and set to work out whether robots are going to take over the world… Their guest is the brilliant mathematician, entrepreneur, investor and technologist, Jennifer Zhu Scott, who challenged Jez’s intellect like it has never been challenged before. She explained what artificial intelligence is, how it can help advance the world forward, and also debunked some common myths! In “Boring Things About Me” Jez shares his struggles with suduku and Amelia has been doing jigsaws with a twist… Stay to the end of the podcast to hear how the giggles got the best of Amelia during recording!

Amelia and Jez explore the universal experience of story. They are joined by the brilliant Lisa Cron, author of Wired for Story, Story or Die, and Story Genius, to explore the magical power that a captivating story holds. They unpack why we have such a strong desire for story, how our brains neurologically process story, and some practical tips for improving your next story. Jez’s Boring Things About Me reaches an all-time mundane involving travel adapters, and Amelia is back to her travel efficiencies around London!

Amelia and Jez explore failure. In a world that strives for perfection, how can we embrace the inevitability of falling short and the opportunity it brings? They are joined by Erik Kessels, designer, artist, author, and curator, who actively seeks ideas and energy from things not going to plan. Erik’s personal stories reveal a refreshingly positive take on unexpected outcomes, built on a willingness to remain curious, withhold judgement and avoid certainty. How do you photograph a black dog? What happens when you switch sat nav off? As if on cue, Jez’s horse story fails miserably.

Amelia and Jez explore the universal experience of work. Why do some workplaces feel engaging and fun, and others stressful? With author, podcaster and technology executive Bruce Daisley, they explore what makes great company cultures, who is responsible for creating them, and how identity and meaning can shape our experience of work. And as always, Amelia and Jez share their Boring Things About Me!

Amelia and Jez explore humour; what having a sense of humour is, why laughing is so contagious and why it’s SO good for us! Their guest is Neil Mullarkey, actor, author, writer, comedian and co-founder of the Comedy Store Players, who you might recognise from his performances in ‘Whose Line Is It Anyway’ and two ‘Austin Powers’ movies. Neil shares his wisdom on what humour is, why it’s important and how we can make the most of laughter and levity to bring joy to both our personal and professional lives. Neil even manages to get Amelia and Jez involved with an improv game!

Amelia and Jez explore habits; how routine patterns of behaviour, thoughts and feelings, can help and hinder us when we seek to change. Their guest is Dr Alice Penn, an expert in the art and science of personal transformation, who moved from medicine into corporate finance, before starting her own business. Alice reveals how key events in her life led her to understand and challenge her self-limiting beliefs, and awakened a desire to help others create new helpful behaviours. And “Boring things about me” gets a new musical intro from Ben!

Amelia and Jez explore creativity; how our ideas, imagination and experiences can create something new, bringing people together and powering progress. They are joined by Ben Goddard, musical director, composer and stage actor, who brings his piano into the studio to accompany the conversation. Ben shares some fabulous personal stories and helps to bust a few myths; that creativity only relates to the arts, that it can’t be developed, and that only some people possess it (it turns out we can all be creative, even Jez).

Jez and Amelia explore fear and the role it plays in our lives. They are joined by Vicki Anstey, one of the first women on the TV show SAS Who Dares Wins, and world record holder for rowing unaided across the Pacific. Vicki lifts the lid on her own experiences growing up, and how changing her relationship with fear has been the catalyst for both amazing adventures and unparalleled advances in self-awareness. Jez manages to hit new lows in “Boring things about me”, and Amelia makes him jump! (in the bloopers at the end of the episode).

Amelia and Jez explore what it means to belong. They are joined by performance coach Owen Eastwood, who works with Gareth Southgate’s England Football Team, as well as the South Africa National Cricket Team, the NATO Command Group, the Royal Ballet School, and more. Owen’s deeply personal insights and experience of growing up in New Zealand with both Māori and British heritage, reveal how the need to belong is directly linked to both our health and ability to perform. Don’t worry “boring things about me” and podcast bloopers also feature! 

In the second episode of The Being Human Podcast, Amelia and Jez explore ways in which buildings affect how we feel. They discuss their own personal experiences, and are joined by Julian Lipscombe, an award-winning architect, to learn more about his passion for placemaking, humane architecture, and low carbon design. And of course share “Boring things about me!” along with some podcast bloopers! 

In this the first episode of The Being Human Podcast Amelia and Jez are exploring the importance of connection and the company of others. They share personal insights and stories, and are joined by Clare Box, founder and director of The Real Junk Food Project, to discuss the amazing work she does combining her passion for food and her desire to help others.

The Real Junk Food Project Twickenham – https://www.trjfptwickenham.com/

Compassionate Frome Project – https://healthconnectionsmendip.org/our-model/

The Being Human Podcast from just add water. Amelia Vegting and Jez Francis explore some experiences common to us all, and how they affect us. With the help of some special guests, they hope to learn a bit more about themselves and each other.
 

What does it mean to be human in this world we find ourselves living in? Amelia Vegting and Jez Francis explore some experiences common to us all, and how they affect us. With the help of some special guests, they hope to learn a bit more about themselves and each other.

We are just add water, a global creative consultancy. We love people, what happens between, and how that impacts individuals’ happiness and productivity, and how organisations perform. Whether we’re helping our clients to build brilliant leaders for today and tomorrow, enriching cultures, or connecting and inspiring whole teams, we lean heavily on our background in both business and the creative arts.

Email our hosts Amelia Vegting and Jez Francis to say hello. They would love to hear from you!

Email: amelia@sojustaddwater.com and jfrancis@sojustaddwater.com