How do we lead with love, courage, and compassion at work?

In this episode of the Peace is a Choice podcast, Natasha Wallace is joined by Dr Fiona Beddoes-Jones, a leadership researcher and expert in compassion and authentic leadership.

Fiona shares how her leadership research unexpectedly became a study of love in the workplace and why the most effective leaders aren’t those who control or command, but those who lead with heart, courage, and emotional bravery.

Together, Natasha and Fiona explore what it really means to be an authentic leader through Fiona’s ABC framework: Authenticity, Bravery, and Compassion. They discuss why being true to yourself takes courage, why standing up for your beliefs is an act of leadership, and how compassion creates safer, more human workplaces.

Fiona also reflects on the deeper meaning of courage, from the Old French Coeur, meaning heart, and how real leadership is rooted in the willingness to care, to be vulnerable, and to love in environments that don’t always reward it.

Connect with Fiona:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drfionabeddoesjones/

Website: http://www.fionabeddoesjones.com/

Connect with me:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natasha-wallace-cs/

Website: https://www.natashawallace.com/

How do we turn pain into purpose and help young people find their voice?

In this episode of the Peace is a Choice podcast, Natasha Wallace is joined by Calvin Eden, co-founder of Loud Speaker and a youth empowerment speaker working with young people across the UK.

Calvin shares his journey growing up in North London and the loss of his best friend to a tragic murder at just 15 years old. Faced with this moment, he reflects on how grief and trauma could have taken him down a very different path and how choosing purpose shaped his life’s work.

Together, Natasha and Calvin explore the meaning of purpose, gratitude, and resilience, and why purpose beats money every time. They discuss confidence in the younger generation, the impact of social media, and why many young people struggle to find their voice in traditional education systems.

Calvin also shares why he co-founded Loud Speaker, how its high-energy workshops help young people build confidence and communication skills, and why creating spaces where young people feel seen and heard can be life changing.

Connect with Calvin:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/calvin-eden-433b9999/

Loud Speaker Website: loudspeaker.org.uk

Loud Speaker Instagram: @loudspeakerlive

Connect with me:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natasha-wallace-cs/

Website: https://www.natashawallace.com/

How can work support recovery, wellbeing, and being human?

This week, Natasha Wallace is joined by Charlotte Neal, Head of Community Connections at Reward Gateway. Charlotte shares her powerful journey from journalism into community and employee wellbeing, and how work played a pivotal role in her recovery and growth.

In this honest and moving conversation, Charlotte opens up about her experiences with mental health, including her bipolar disorder diagnosis, and living with fibromyalgia. She reflects on the impact of having a genuinely supportive employer and manager, and why workplace culture can be life-changing when wellbeing is taken seriously.

Natasha and Charlotte also explore what employee wellbeing really means in practice, the challenges of communicating its value to senior leaders, and the importance of authentic leadership and storytelling. From navigating burnout and invisible illness to the power of community and asking for help, Charlotte’s story is a reminder that health is part of being human at work and that no one should struggle alone.

Connect with Charlotte:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlotte-neal-01452083/

Connect with me:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natasha-wallace-cs/

Website: https://www.natashawallace.com/