Best Simon Dowling Podcasts (2025)

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18. Why Creating Space Matters More Than Efficiency | Simon Dowling on Intentional Leadership 1:03:54

14d ago1:03:54

1:03:54

What if leadership isn't about having all the answers, but about creating the right space for people to thrive? And what if the outcomes from meetings weren’t just about being efficiency and effectiveness, but also about being engaging and expansive? Simon Dowling brings a fascinating blend of legal precision and improvisational creativity to his w…

1
20. Embracing Vulnerability, Navigating Rock Bottom, and Leading with Purpose | Sarah Manley 54:38

3h ago54:38

54:38

Have you ever found yourself caught in an endless cycle of meetings and tasks, wondering if your leadership is truly making a difference? What if the most powerful leadership tool isn't your strategic plan or your team's expertise, but your ability to recognise and act on the second chances life gives you? This episode explores how our personal cha…

1
19. How Leadership Teams Evolve 11:23

7d ago11:23

11:23

Have you ever wondered what it takes to shift an entire leadership team's mindset and approach in today's fast-changing environment? This week, I share a case study from a recent 12-month engagement with a senior leadership team. It’s a story about moving from technical perfection to purposeful experimentation, and from control to empowerment. You'…

1
17. Choosing Not Reacting, The Power of Slow Thinking, and Life Beyond the Zeitgeist | Derek Sivers 55:36

1M ago55:36

55:36

Are you trapped in a life you didn't consciously choose? Do you find yourself constantly reacting to demands rather than intentionally responding? Are you seeking a more deliberate way to live and lead that creates impact without burning you out? In this episode, Derek Sivers shares counterintuitive wisdom about breaking free from unconscious patte…

1
16. How to Take A Career Break and Return Stronger: An In-Depth Guide 1:22:54

1M ago1:22:54

1:22:54

Have you ever wanted to take a career break? Maybe you’ve taken one and want to get inspiration for the next one? Perhaps you’re curious about how you can make them a part of your organisation’s talent strategy? Career breaks done well can provide massive benefits for your professional and personal life. This conversation gives you both ideas for t…

1
15. The Value of Mentorship, Embracing Nuance, and Finding Your Red Thread | Hazel Maclaurin 59:25

2M ago59:25

59:25

Have you ever felt caught between competing identities in your professional life? Perhaps you've built a career on expertise and achievement in one domain, only to find yourself navigating an entirely new landscape that fundamentally changes how you're perceived. Today's conversation explores the importance of evolving your identity as your context…

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14. Natural Systems, Nervous Systems, and Navigating Change | Adam Cooper 1:00:14

2M ago1:00:14

1:00:14

Do you know that feeling when you're in a meeting or delivering a speech and you're caught up in thinking about what you want to say next? Then you completely miss the moment when something happens? And you're scrambling to catch up? This episode hones in on how we can stay more present to what's going on and then respond in the moment to what's ha…

1
13. Breaking Out of Boxes, Constructive Challenge, and the Gift of Heritage | CO2 Rob Pa'o 54:39

3M ago54:39

54:39

How willing are you to let your ideas be destroyed? That's a scary concept for many people because we can equate good ideas with being worthy. But what if your worth comes from being a learner and not perfect? In this messy and complex world where the old structures and systems of society and work are found wanting, we need to evolve and adopt new …

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12. Systems Thinking, The Power of Imagination, and Generational Wisdom | Dr. Richard Hodge 1:01:21

3M ago1:01:21

1:01:21

Are you trying to make lasting change happen, but you feel like you’re banging your head against a wall of short-term dramas and siloed thinking? This episode will help you to rise above the fray and hone in on how to be valuable, stay relevant, and play the longer game. Dr. Richard Hodge is one of Australasia’s preeminent thought-leaders in system…

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11. The Power of Purpose, Rethinking HR, and Making Work Better for Everyone | Gillian Brookes 1:01:26

4M ago1:01:26

1:01:26

Do you feel like work is taking over your life, leaving little room for fulfillment? Are you struggling to make your work align with your values or wondering how to create more balance and purpose in your career? In this episode, we explore how to bring more meaning into your work by aligning it with your values and learning how to lead with purpos…

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10. Embracing a Squiggly Career, Trusting Your Gut, and Leading with Vulnerability | Jodi Willocks 1:03:41

4M ago1:03:41

1:03:41

Have you ever felt uncertain about your career path or questioned whether your empathetic leadership style is a strength or a weakness? Or maybe you’ve wondered if it’s okay to embrace a non-linear, “squiggly” career while still finding success and fulfillment. In this episode, we dive deep into the power of following your gut, embracing a career t…

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9. End of Year Reflections: Embracing Discomfort, From Hero to Host Leadership, Creating Space for Reflection, and the Let Go | Digby Scott 20:18

5M ago20:18

20:18

In this final episode of Dig Deeper for 2024, I’m reflecting on the key themes I’ve explored in the podcast and my blogs throughout the year. I'll cover four themes: the importance of discomfort for growth the shift from a hero to a host mindset in leadership the necessity of creating space for reflection the power of letting go of control. Each th…

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8. How to Challenge and Change the Rules that Limit Us, Question Our Perspectives, and Think Outside the Box | Suzanne Rosa 1:01:21

5M ago1:01:21

1:01:21

Do you ever feel hamstrung by the rules you’re bound by? The have-to’s and should’s and the ‘don’t-do-that’s’ that govern your work practices and broader life? Do you ever wonder what things would be like if you could change the rules of the game? Rules are invented. They're made up. Which means they can be uninvented, or reinvented. Today’s conver…

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7. When Leaders Are Human: Navigating Complexity with Integrity | Sir Ashley Bloomfield 1:09:18

6M ago1:09:18

1:09:18

Leadership is a journey of constant tension – between expectation and authenticity, between comfort and courage, between being liked and being effective. What if you could transform those tensions into your greatest source of strength? Join me for an extraordinary conversation with Sir Ashley Bloomfield, a leader who navigated one of the most chall…

1
6. How to Create Space When You’re Under Pressure, Balancing Delivery and Discovery, and Staying True to Yourself 1:01:09

6M ago1:01:09

1:01:09

Do you ever feel the need to be the leader with all the answers? Do you feel the relentless pressure to bow to the barrage of deliverables that are in front of you every day? Do you wish you could just get some space? There’s got to be a better way, right? This episode is gold if you’re looking for a better way to sustain your own and your people’s…

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5. The Value of Taking Deliberate Career Breaks, Crafting a Well-Lived Life, and Defining Your Path | Katie Hair 53:40

6M ago53:40

53:40

Have you ever wished you could take a career break? If you’re finding yourself at a career crossroads, or you’re simply seeking more fulfillment and satisfaction from your work, this episode is for you. You’ll see what can be made possible when you get deliberate about creating spaces between the chapters of your career, and learn how to structure …

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4. The Power of Being Unhurried, What Happens When You Dial Up Curiosity, and What Leadership is Really About: Andrew Maffett 1:17:37

7M ago1:17:37

1:17:37

What happens when you slow down? If you feel like life is a relentless treadmill, this episode offers an alternative. You’ll get fresh perspectives about what can happen when you unhook from relentless busyness, and an invitation to explore what really matters when it comes to leading yourself and others. Andrew Maffett is a lifelong adventurer and…

1
3. Avoid the Mundane, Quieten your Cleverness, and Practice Hosting as a Potent Form of Leadership | D.K. 1:06:05

7M ago1:06:05

1:06:05

How effectively can you bring out the best in a group of people? We can often get trapped into thinking that it’s our role to be the ‘hero’ for a group, where it’s likely that you can be way more effective by being the ‘host’. This episode will help you get out of your own way so you can unlock the potential that exists in those you lead. Today I’m…

1
1. Why We Fear Feedback, Letting Go of Competition and How to Make Others Safely Uncomfortable | Callum McKirdy 1:02:37

8M ago1:02:37

1:02:37

What's your relationship like with discomfort? What about asking for feedback? Both of these things are essential to get our heads around if we're going to find our own way to lead and thrive in life. This entertaining, thought-provoking conversation with Callum McKirdy will help you to become more comfortable with being uncomfortable. You’ll learn…

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2. How to Embrace Disruption, Surrender Control, and Make Change Happen | Danni Ermilova Williams 52:18

8M ago52:18

52:18

Can we ever obtain a fully productive work life, or a fully productive organisation? What does that even mean? This rich conversation with impact coach and business consultant Danni Ermilova Williams will give you a fresh perspective on how to reshape work to create more meaningful, sustaining experiences. Danni and I explore what it means to live …

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Trailer: Welcome to Dig Deeper with Digby Scott 3:16

9M ago3:16

3:16

There's no one way to lead. Yet we need to find a way. Our way. That can be hard to get right. As we find our own way to lead it can be useful to listen to how others found theirs. I'm your host, Digby Scott, leadership coach and author of Change Makers. I'm on a mission to help people find their authentic way to lead so they can have more impact w…

1
17 | Is it okay to laugh at work? 22:00

1+ y ago22:00

22:00

What role does humour play in teams? Whether it’s laughter, play or simply seeing the lighter side of things, there’s plenty of research that points out the benefits of humour. But when can humour backfire, and how do you manage it? Send your questions (and favourite jokes!) to Simon at [email protected]…

1
16 | Conversational intelligence 35:08

1+ y ago35:08

35:08

In this episode, Simon takes a moment to reset his intentions around the podcast - and get back in the groove. We then dive into the idea of a team’s conversational intelligence. Because the way a group engages with each other and with important topics can make or break not just relationships, but value. Say hello to Simon at [email protected]…

1
15 | Tame the Meeting Beast! 27:02

1+ y ago27:02

27:02

Meetings. Some people seem to love them. Some people hate them. But not all meetings are made equal. And if there’s been one constant theme throughout 2023, it’s that teams aren’t doing meetings as well as they could. If the last episode was all about “Finishing Strong”, then this episode is about setting your team up for success by taming the meet…

1
14 | Finishing strong 16:56

1+ y ago16:56

16:56

Every team enters phases of finishing. Projects, tasks, quarters, years… How you finish matters. It not only leaves you with a sense of pride and achievement - it sets you up for a strong start to the next chapter. In this first episode for Season 2, recorded with only 7 weeks left in 2023, Simon reflects on the 3 things every team should be thinki…

1
13 | Boundaries 27:06

2y ago27:06

27:06

Teams can be noisy places. Distractions, meetings, corridor conversations - all of which can make it hard to get the important work done. So much so, it can sometimes be hard to get important work done. Contact Simon at [email protected] Simon Dowling

1
12 | What’s your team addicted to? 19:44

2y ago19:44

19:44

Your team’s culture - and performance - is shaped by the patterns of behaviour embedded within the team. These are habits, and often they’re a sign of what the team is truly “addicted” to - the things you value above all else. In this episode, Simon looks at some common team habits and underlying addictions - and what it takes to reshape those. (Bo…

1
11 | Please stop hiring for “cultural fit”! 21:03

2y ago21:03

21:03

You often hear leaders talk about the importance of hiring for 'cultural fit'. But is that always such a good idea?? What if the REAL strength in teams actually comes from DIFFERENCE? In which case, is there a better way to think of the different kinds of people you need in your team to achieve balance? In this episode, I look at the importance of …

1
10 | Get your team out of the weeds! 21:12

2y ago21:12

21:12

Why do so many teams get caught in conversations that are ‘easy’, but not important. So often, opportunities to tackle big picture questions are wasted as people get stuck “in the weeds”. In this episode, Simon explores why this happens, and how you can prevent it. If you enjoy this episode, please help get this podcast in front of more people like…

1
09 | “How often should we meet?” is the wrong question 27:54

2y ago27:54

27:54

“How often should our team meet?” I get asked this question a lot, and I think it’s for a couple of reasons. First up, most teams are struggling in some way to get meetings right. Second, meetings have such an impact on a team’s culture and its ability to get stuff done. In this episode of Teaming with Possibility, I examine what a “healthy diet” o…

1
08 | At the heart of every great team: co-creation 30:17

2y ago30:17

30:17

“What do you think underpins every great team?” That’s a question someone asked me recently and, after a moment of reflection, two things came to mind: connection and co-creation. In this episode, I explore what ‘co-creation’ really means, and why so many teams get it wrong. And why it’s such an important ingredient to success. I then share 4 ways …

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07 | When teamwork leaves no time for... my work! 27:13

2+ y ago27:13

27:13

There’s a clichéd and slightly irritating expression, “Teamwork makes the dream work.” But what about when teamwork become the stuff of nightmares? In this episode, Simon talks about the very real problem of over-collaboration, and how it’s killing people’s motivation, productivity and creativity - not to mention its effect on wellbeing. So what ca…

1
06 | It’s the vibe of the thing 24:30

2+ y ago24:30

24:30

Every great team is bound together by one thing: energy. Being part of a team will either energise you or deplete you of energy - which feeds straight into your work and your wellbeing. How energised is your team? How do they make each other feel? And what role do you play in that? In this episode, I share a few ideas for how you can positively inf…

1
05 | Conjuring up a shared vision 26:11

2+ y ago26:11

26:11

As your team sets sail into a new year, a new quarter, a new initiative, a new phase… it’s so important to align around a shared picture of success. This is more than just ‘strategy’ - it’s about aligning a team’s energy and sense of purpose. In this episode, Simon shares one of the most effective (and fun) ways your team can conjure up a shared vi…

1
04 | My 3 wishes for your team 28:40

2+ y ago28:40

28:40

In this episode, Simon reflects on some of the things he’s noticed in teams over the last year, and in the Christmas spirit makes 3 wishes for every team in 2023! A couple of comments from Simon about things he mentions in the episode: “Sparketype is a great way to start a rich conversation in your team about each other’s strengths. It’s a free onl…

1
03 | Making conflict your friend 28:44

2+ y ago28:44

28:44

To do great work, teams need to let their differences collide. Different ways of working, different experiences, difference opinions.... it's those differences that give teams depth and underpin their strength. But all those differences can quickly lead to tension and conflict too. In this episode, Simon explores what it means to embrace the differ…

1
02 | The courage to team 27:35

2+ y ago27:35

27:35

Working in teams can be a risky business - certainly at an interpersonal level. High performing teams are great at challenging one another, giving and seeking feedback, and debating important topics. All of which takes a certain level of courage. So how do you foster that kind of courage in your own team? In this episode, Simon explores 4 practical…

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01 | To team or not to team... 20:33

2+ y ago20:33

20:33

What do you get if you put a group of people together and call them a "team"? Unfortunately, the answer isn't necessarily "a team". Because the one thing every group needs is a clear and shared commitment to what teaming even means. In this very first "pre-season" episode, Simon explores the role of commitment in teams.…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Simon Dowling Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen