How to Have a Bloody Good Conversation
How to Have a Bloody Good Conversation
Podcast Description
Have we forgotten how to talk to each other? We communicate non-stop online, but the more we type the less we talk, and then we get out of the habit of having a bloody good conversation.Yet conversations build important connections. They can double a company’s turnover, forge lasting relationships, land that dream job, so how can we make sure every conversation ends well for everyone? Join two conversationalists, journalist and broadcaster Mai Davies and communications consultant Sarah Wright, as they explore the ins and outs of having a bloody good conversation. It might just change your life!
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast explores themes around the art of conversation, focusing on barriers to effective communication, leadership communication, and the role of vulnerability and active listening in fostering connections. Specific episodes address topics such as improving conversational skills in professional environments, addressing generational differences in communication styles, and navigating difficult interactions during the holiday season.
Have we forgotten how to talk to each other?
We communicate non-stop online, but the more we type, the less we talk, and then we get out of the habit of having a bloody good conversation.
Yet conversations build important connections. They can double a company’s turnover, forge lasting relationships, land that dream job, so how can we make sure every conversation ends well for everyone?
Join two conversationalists, journalist and broadcaster Mai Davies and communications consultant Sarah Wright, as they explore the ins and outs of having a bloody good conversation.
It might just change your life!
What if storytelling could help you navigate the hardest conversations of your life?
In this episode, we’re joined by Chris Adriaanse, author of To The Heart of Difficult Conversations – a beautifully poignant anthology co-created with Berwick Literary Festival, Create Berwick, and students at Berwick Academy in Northumberland.
Inspired by an ancient border-side plaque commemorating uneasy meetings between English and Scottish monarchs, this remarkable collection blends local history, folklore, and raw teenage insight on what it means to tackle tough talks.
From chemistry lab to storytelling stage, Chris has discovered something profound about human nature: the conversations we avoid don’t disappear, they fester. In this episode, Chris shares his remarkable journey and the wisdom gleaned from working with 13 to 14-year-olds who wrote with startling honesty about the difficult conversations in their lives.
What You’ll Learn:
- The Drop of Honey: How avoided conversations escalate into life-changing consequences
- The Beast in the Bean Garden: What we lose when we avoid difficult people and conversations
- Spells vs Stories: Breaking free from the endless narratives keeping you stuck
- Positive Language: Why saying what you want (not what you don’t want) changes everything
- Emotional Regulation: Walking slowly into difficult conversations instead of reacting
This episode is for you if you’ve been putting off a difficult conversation for weeks, months, or even years, and you’re tired of avoiding certain people or topics because they feel too hard to address. Whether you want to stop tiptoeing around issues and start addressing them head-on, or you’re curious about why some conversations feel so scary even when they shouldn’t, this episode offers practical tools for staying calm and regulated during tense discussions. If you’re ready to break free from the stories that keep you stuck in old patterns and believe that better conversations can transform your relationships and your life, this episode will give you a completely fresh perspective on the conversations you’ve been avoiding.
Guest Bio: Chris Adriaanse transitioned from chemistry PhD to professional storyteller, combining scientific thinking with ancient wisdom. His collaborative book project with Berwick Literary Festival captures authentic teenage voices navigating difficult conversations.
Links:
- Book: “To the Heart of Difficult Conversations” available to buy from Chris’s website, www.chrisadriaanse.co.uk
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