The L&D Challenges Podcast

In this incredible episode, Alison Armstrong walks us through the importance of trauma-informed training and the essential skills of intervention when having conversations around challenging topic of suicide.

Alison is a best-selling author and training specialist with a wealth of experience in the areas of alcohol, drug and suicide prevention. She has developed training across these topics to various stakeholders, organisations, and businesses across the UK and internationally. An excellent trainer and public speaker - and a qualified celebrant - Alison has personally trained over 3,000 people in suicide intervention skills and believes that everyone should be trained to help reduce the stigma of suicide.

Alison talks Adam through the best practices for kind and compassionate trauma-informed training. Including:

1. How to intervene when someone is having thoughts of suicide
2. When NOT to use personal stories
3. Intentional language choices that reduce stigma

This is a must-listen for anyone interested in fostering a safe and welcoming learning environment no matter how challenging the subject.

Connect with Alison on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alison-armstrong-602850191/

If you are having thoughts of suicide, help is available right now if you need it. For support for yourself or someone else:

1. Samaritans – Call 116 123, Email [email protected]
2. Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) - Call 0800 58 58 58 (5pm to midnight every day)
3. National Suicide Prevention Helpline UK - Call 0800 689 5652 (6pm to midnight every day)
4. Papyrus - Call 0800 068 41 41, Text 07860 039967, Email [email protected]
5. Shout - Text "SHOUT" to 85258
6. NHS - Call 111, select option 2
7. Call your GP and ask for an emergency appointment

If you have seriously harmed yourself or you feel that you may be about to harm yourself, call 999 for an ambulance.

Looking for a content library to help your team develop their productivity, communication, leadership skills and more? Check out assembleyou.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

In this fantastic episode, Adam chats with Wali Rahman of the Forestry Commission.

Wali is the Diversity and Wellbeing Manager at the Forestry Commission, with over 18 years of experience in higher education, Local Government, and the Civil Service.

Wali has pioneered diversity initiatives, including Wiltshire’s first Prevent Officer role and diversity training for over 700 individuals across multiple sectors. He co-founded a community group that successfully campaigned against extremism, recently graduated from the Stepping Up Diversity Leadership programme, and, in 2023, was recognised as one of the Top 50 most influential Muslims in Europe.

In this episode, Wali and Adam discuss:

1. Data-driven diversity and inclusion
2. Maintaining a growth mindset in DEI
3. How to embed DEI and well-being practices across your organisation
4. Reciprocal mentoring

Wali provides excellent insights into the landscape of DEI today and provides practical tips into managing well-being and being an advocate for diversity in your organisation. If you’re looking to bolster inclusion in your own community, this is the episode for you.

Connect with Wali on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/walirahman/

Looking for a content library to help your team develop their productivity, communication, leadership skills and more? Check out assembleyou.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

In this bonus episode, Adam and Ruth explore three of the nine leadership lessons Ruth has drawn from interviewing many CEOs and Managing Directors across the UK: Develop a Clear Intention, Actively Manage Yourself, and Deepen Your Listening Skills. These are lessons which culminated in her book, Next Level Leadership (also an Amazon bestseller).

Adam and Ruth look at why these different leadership skills are so important, talk through some stories and lessons from Ruths extensive interviews with CEOs and business leaders, and then examine the lessons we can take from those lessons.

Note: This episode is taken from a recorded webinar. You can watch the full webinar here: https://www.assembleyou.com/post/next-level-leadership-with-adam-and-ruth

Connect with Ruth on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruthfarenga/ and purchase her book Next Level Leadership here: https://www.consciousleaders.org.uk/next-level-leadership-book

Looking for a content library to help your team develop their productivity, communication, leadership skills and more? Check out assembleyou.com and follow us on LinkedIn

This episode features Ket Patel, the founder of Change Agitators and a Change Management Institute Accredited Master Change Practitioner. With over 20 years of experience helping organisations as they scale, grow and modernise, Ket chats with Adam on how to support others through change and how to not be victim to organisational change.

Adam and Ket discuss how to build the capacity to handle these shifts and confront change head-on. They’ll explore tools to reframe the problem, creating the space needed to engage teams authentically and lean into the conflict of change. This is where the path to a nimble, adaptable organisation begins.

Note: This episode is taken from a recorded webinar. You can watch the full webinar here: [Insert link to AY website with webinar on it]

Connect with Ket on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ketpatel-changeagitator/

Looking for a content library to help your team develop their productivity, communication, leadership skills and more? Check out assembleyou.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

In this interview, Adam speaks with Ann O'Neill, Co-Founder and CEO of Adora.

Adora is a women's health platform that focuses on helping women understand the signs of menopause and providing resources to organisations that support women in this process.

Adam and Ann discuss:

1. What the menopause is and the symptoms that can be experienced.
2. Ann's own journey with her GP and what led to the creation of Adora.
3. What organisations, HR, L&D, and men can do to support women going through menopause,

Ann also gives some excellent tips throughout the podcast, such as creating a safe space to talk, giving flexible working hours when they're needed, and normalising the topic.

Connect with Ann on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annmoneill/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/adora-digital-health/

BS 30416 Report: https://www.bsigroup.com/en-GB/insights-and-media/insights/brochures/bs-30416-menstruation-menstrual-health-and-menopause-in-the-workplace/
Adora Website: https://www.adora.health/