MRA’s Courageously Candid Coaching Podcast with Matthew Radley

In this episode, Alison Hands, CEO of Lincolnshire Co-Op, takes us behind the boardroom doors to reveal the defining moments that shaped their approach to leadership at the highest level. From critical strategic decisions to navigating complex stakeholder dynamics, they share the moments of stretch, stillness, and courage that tested and transformed their leadership.

This conversation offers rare insights for board members, executi...

In this episode, Matthew Radley and Sophie Taylor sit down with Linda Sleath, experienced Chair and Non-Executive Director, for a frank conversation about what really drives people to join the boardroom. Together, they unpack the question every aspiring NED should face: Why do you really want the role? Is it about status - or a genuine desire to add value?

Linda and Matthew explore the realities behind the prestige: the accoun...

In this episode, hosts Matthew Radley and Hilary Farrington are joined by Gemma Board, Head of Talent, to explore the defining moments that transformed their mentoring from an unplanned, informal practice into a strategic capability with structure, confidence, and credibility. What began with a simple question - “How many people are mentoring here?” - evolved into a movement that reshaped their leadership development, i...

In this episode, Matthew Radley and Sophie Taylor are joined by Lisa Wheatcroft, Chief People Officer, to explore the hard truths behind cultural integration and why it so often fails. Drawing on her experience leading executive teams through mergers, acquisitions, and organisational change, Lisa shares the defining moments that revealed just how much leaders underestimate the people impact. From the misplaced belief that Day...

In this episode, host Matthew Radley is joined by Sarah Bailey, a leader in Talent & Development and a qualified coach, to explore how ADHD shows up in the working world, and what it means to truly support neurodiverse clients. Drawing on her lived experience and coaching practice, Sarah shares the moments that reshaped her understanding of attention, focus, and what it really takes to feel seen.

This conversation challenges th...

In this episode, host Matthew Radley is joined by James Brewer, Marketing Director, to explore what personal growth really looks like inside leadership. From identity shifts to emotional courage, James shares the moments that moved his coaching practice beyond performance and into transformation.

This conversation goes beneath the surface of leadership. James invites us to let go of the mask, reconnect with purpose, and lead with m...

In this episode, host Matthew Radley is joined by Andrew Watson, Growth Advisor and former CMO, to explore what happens when coaching and consulting meet. Drawing on years of board-level experience and a long-standing coaching relationship, Andrew shares the moments that challenged his thinking - and changed how he leads.

This conversation unpacks the tension between insight and implementation, between human capital and commercial ...

In this episode, host Matthew Radley is joined by Carolyn Youdell, Group Marketing Director, to explore what executive transition coaching really looks like across a 15-year career. From early leadership roles to senior board positions, Carolyn shares the moments that shaped her confidence, clarified her purpose, and helped her move on without losing herself.

This conversation goes deep into the emotional and psychological work beh...

In this episode, MRA's Matthew Radley is joined by Vanessa to explore what it really takes to build and sustain a credible internal coaching culture.

Drawing on her experience of introducing coaching across three organisations, Vanessa shares the lessons learned from four cohorts and almost 30 accredited internal coaches. She explains why qualifications alone are not enough, and why senior leadership buy-in, protected time, ongoing...

In this episode, host Matthew Radley is joined by Louise McLean, Global HR Director at Subsea7, to explore what it really takes to make reverse mentoring meaningful, safe and effective.

Louise shares how Subsea7 developed a global reverse mentoring programme designed to help senior leaders better understand the lived experiences of colleagues across different generations, cultures and underrepresented groups.

The conversation explo...

In this episode, host Matthew Radley is joined by Paula Adamson, Partner Engagement Manager at Specsavers, to explore why gaining a professional coaching qualification should be viewed as the beginning of a coach’s development - not the end.

Paula reflects on the growth of Specsavers’ coaching programme, which has supported more than 100 leaders through professional coaching qualifications. She shares why the programme ...

In this episode, host Matthew Radley is joined by Joel Sidney, General Manager for Benelux and the Nordics at Mattel EMEA, for an honest conversation about mental health, vulnerability and the responsibility leaders have to recognise when someone may be struggling.

Joel reflects on his own experiences of grief, mental health and leadership, including the fear he felt before sharing his personal story with his organisation. What fri...

In this episode, host Matthew Radley is joined by Shan Saba, Director at Brightwork, board member, founder, trustee and leadership coach, to explore the lack of diversity within the professional coaching industry and what needs to change.

Shan reflects on his own route into coaching through MRA’s first diversity and inclusion cohort. What began as an unfamiliar development opportunity became a life-changing experience that ga...

In this episode, host Matthew Radley is joined by Orla Stone, gut health dietitian and science lead at Deeply Foods, to explore the powerful connection between the gut, the brain and our ability to perform well at work.

Orla explains how the gut microbiome influences stress, anxiety, emotional regulation, memory and decision-making through the gut–brain axis. She shares why physical health is not simply about how the body loo...

In this episode, Matthew Radley is joined by Hilary Farrington and Sophie Taylor from MRA to explore one of the most important - and often underdeveloped - competencies in professional coaching: the ability to challenge.

Together, they examine why challenge can feel uncomfortable for both coaches and clients, and why that discomfort can cause coaches to lean too heavily into support. They discuss challenge as an act of care rather ...

In this episode, Matthew Radley is joined by Sophie Taylor and Lorna Miles from MRA to explore the shift from individual coaching into the very different discipline of team coaching.

Together, the team challenge the assumption that a qualified individual coach can simply apply the same skills to a team. They explore why team coaching requires a fundamental shift in mindset: moving away from coaching several individuals and instead ...