Story of Distinction & Genius: Laughter as a Compass & 'How to be a Stupid' with One of the World's Best Loved Clowns, Angela De Castro - know simply as De Castro - Founder of "The Why Not Institute"

Story of Distinction & Genius: Laughter as a Compass & 'How to be a Stupid' with One of the World's Best Loved Clowns, Angela De Castro - know simply as De Castro - Founder of "The Why Not Institute"

Laughter can be a compass. Sitting with DeCastro—one of the world’s best-loved clowns—we step into Why Not Land, a clearing where play is protected, truth has room to breathe, and imagination outruns fear. From South London to Rio’s shoreline, she maps an art form often trivialised, arguing with warmth and precision that clowning is education, rebellion, and radical compassion all at once. We journey through the founding of the Why Not Institute, born after Slava’s Snowshow and sustained by a fierce belief that clowns are truth tellers, entertainers and subversives. The pandemic cost the Institute its physical home, but not its purpose: keep the archive alive, keep the training accessible, keep the doors open to every line of clowning—circus, theatre, street, musical, spiritual, and rebel. Along the way, DeCastro dismantles the lazy insult that calls selfish power “clowning.” Real clowns risk themselves to say what others cannot, with tenderness and wit. Her practice is anchored by “How to Be a Stupid,” a title that hides a serious proposition: the work is not technique first; it’s a state. Intensive training helps students unlearn perfectionism and step into a creative intelligence where failure is feedback and play is disciplined. We talk honour, friendship, and compassion; we talk samba beats that change your heartbeat; we talk Giulietta Masina, Wings of Desire, and painters whose generosity outlives them. There are trees with winter scarves, red motorbikes humming low through London, and bus rides where a stranger’s new phone becomes blue because a clown’s kindness tipped the scales. What remains is a living legacy. Students write years later from rehearsal rooms and boardrooms, now “stupid in charge” of their own brave choices. DeCastro wants the Institute’s next home to be near a tube and open to all, so the archive—props, films, books—can breathe and be shared. Until then, the state of clown keeps migrating: into hearts, spirits and minds that choose curiosity over cleverness and play over posturing. If this conversation moved you, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs permission to take fun seriously. And if you can help the Why Not Institute find a new home, reach out—let’s make the land of Why Not easier to find. Tune in next week for more stories of 'Distinction & Genius' from The Good Listening To Show 'Clearing'. If you would like to be my Guest too then you can find out HOW via the different 'series strands' at 'The Good Listening To Show' website. * Show Website: https://www.thegoodlisteningtoshow.com [https://www.thegoodlisteningtoshow.com/] * You can email me about the Show: chris@secondcurve.uk * Twitter thatchrisgrimes [https://twitter.com/thatchrisgrimes] * LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-grimes-actor-broadcaster-facilitator-coach/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-grimes-actor-broadcaster-facilitator-coach/] * FaceBook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/842056403204860 [https://www.facebook.com/groups/842056403204860] To record your Life Story or GIFT an episode to someone that you love, with Chris as your host, then do get in touch about how ‘Legacy Life Reflections’ can help: LEGACY LIFE REFLECTIONS WEBSITE: https://www.legacylifereflections.com [https://www.legacylifereflections.com/] E MAIL: chris@legacylifereflections.com [chris@legacylifereflections.com] WHATS APP: +44 7711 644 094 LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-grimes-actor-broadcaster-facilitator-coach/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-grimes-actor-broadcaster-facilitator-coach/] FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/chris.grimes.167 [https://www.facebook.com/chris.grimes.167]

Founder Story: 'Collaboration Catalyst' Gill Tiney from Collaboration Global, on the Alchemy of Bringing Good People Together for Positive Impact & Change for Good

What if we could build a world where human connection trumps credentials? Where seeing the gold in others becomes a superpower? In this illuminating conversation, collaboration catalyst Gill Tiney reveals the transformative journey that shaped her mission to connect good people globally. Growing up in the multicultural East End of London in the 1960s gave Gill a unique perspective. As one of only two white children in her school, difference became something to celebrate rather than fear. "Different to me meant good. Different to me meant adventure," she shares, describing how this foundation shaped her entire worldview. This early experience crystallized into Collaboration Global's core value: "human beings first" – a refreshingly straightforward approach cutting through labels to focus on authentic connection. The impact of Gill's work extends far beyond business networking. While members certainly experience economic benefits, she shares profound stories of lives transformed: addiction recovery, family reconciliation, and even suicide prevention. Perhaps most striking is her ability to see "gold threads" between people – recognizing complementary strengths and opportunities individuals themselves often overlook, like the surveyor and office supplies company who sat beside each other for months without realizing their perfect business alignment. Gill's vision emerges as something extraordinary – an "online country" experimenting with collaborative approaches to global challenges. She draws inspiration from movements like Black Lives Matter and Extinction Rebellion, valuing collective impact over individual recognition. Her guiding philosophy comes from anthropologist Margaret Mead: "Never doubt that a small group of committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." For those feeling overwhelmed by global problems, Gill offers simple yet profound wisdom: connect with good people, celebrate small wins, and trust that your authentic self is exactly what the world needs. Experience this collaborative energy yourself by visiting https://www.collaborationglobal.org and discovering how your unique talents might interweave with others to create something truly transformative. Tune in next week for more stories of 'Distinction & Genius' from The Good Listening To Show 'Clearing'. If you would like to be my Guest too then you can find out HOW via the different 'series strands' at 'The Good Listening To Show' website. * Show Website: https://www.thegoodlisteningtoshow.com [https://www.thegoodlisteningtoshow.com/] * You can email me about the Show: chris@secondcurve.uk * Twitter thatchrisgrimes [https://twitter.com/thatchrisgrimes] * LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-grimes-actor-broadcaster-facilitator-coach/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-grimes-actor-broadcaster-facilitator-coach/] * FaceBook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/842056403204860 [https://www.facebook.com/groups/842056403204860] To record your Life Story or GIFT an episode to someone that you love, with Chris as your host, then do get in touch about how ‘Legacy Life Reflections’ can help: LEGACY LIFE REFLECTIONS WEBSITE: https://www.legacylifereflections.com [https://www.legacylifereflections.com/] E MAIL: chris@legacylifereflections.com WHATS APP: +44 7711 644 094 LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-grimes-actor-broadcaster-facilitator-coach/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-grimes-actor-broadcaster-facilitator-coach/] FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/chris.grimes.167 [https://www.facebook.com/chris.grimes.167]

John Morrison | Legacy Life Reflections — On the Golf Course of Life! Family, Golf, and the Art of Asking (& did we mention Golf?!)

In this special Legacy Life Reflections episode, Chris Grimes welcomes John Morrison — with his family gathered in the room to bear witness! From the terrace of Henbury Golf Club, his "clearing" of 38 years, John traces a full and generous life: a strict, loving mother who called her children "the jewels in her crown of life"; a working life that ran from PE teacher to trusted financial adviser across 42 years; and the firm he built and has since passed to his sons, Dave and Andrew. He pays a moving tribute to his brother Bobby, who lived with Down's syndrome and, in John's words, was "a totally fulfilled human being." He celebrates a lifetime of music — from Elton John and George Michael to a deep love of Lindisfarne — and reflects, with real emotion, on a family that sticks together in the face of loss. Warm, funny and deeply human. In this episode: - 38 years at Henbury Golf Club, captaincy in 2015, and life as a category-one golfer - His mother, the matriarch who steered him into teaching — and "the jewels in her crown of life" - A 42-year working life: seven and a half years as a PE teacher, then 35 in financial advice - Teaching in Watford, a few doors from a young George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley - An honorary degree, decades on, from the University of Gloucestershire (the old St Paul's College) - A heartfelt tribute to his brother Bobby - A life in music: Elton John, George Michael, 10cc and Lindisfarne - Love and loss in the family, and the daughters-in-law who "make their own luck" - The sales lesson that became a life motto: "Until you ask the question, the answer is always no" - How he'd most like to be remembered — the poem "Afterglow" Tune in next week for more stories of 'Distinction & Genius' from The Good Listening To Show 'Clearing'. If you would like to be my Guest too then you can find out HOW via the different 'series strands' at 'The Good Listening To Show' website. Tune in next week for more stories of 'Distinction & Genius' from The Good Listening To Show 'Clearing'. If you would like to be my Guest too then you can find out HOW via the different 'series strands' at 'The Good Listening To Show' website. * Show Website: https://www.thegoodlisteningtoshow.com [https://www.thegoodlisteningtoshow.com/] * You can email me about the Show: chris@secondcurve.uk * Twitter thatchrisgrimes [https://twitter.com/thatchrisgrimes] * LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-grimes-actor-broadcaster-facilitator-coach/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-grimes-actor-broadcaster-facilitator-coach/] * FaceBook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/842056403204860 [https://www.facebook.com/groups/842056403204860] To record your Life Story or GIFT an episode to someone that you love, with Chris as your host, then do get in touch about how ‘Legacy Life Reflections’ can help: LEGACY LIFE REFLECTIONS WEBSITE: https://www.legacylifereflections.com [https://www.legacylifereflections.com/] E MAIL: chris@legacylifereflections.com WHATS APP: +44 7711 644 094 LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-grimes-actor-broadcaster-facilitator-coach/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-grimes-actor-broadcaster-facilitator-coach/] FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/chris.grimes.167 [https://www.facebook.com/chris.grimes.167]

Best of Bristol: 'To Be or Not to Be' with Actor, Facilitator, Singer & Coach Neil Bett on the 'Art of Being Present', with Pastries, Birds of Prey & Being One Sixth of an a Capella Sextet!

Ever wondered what makes performers tick? Neil Bett – actor, facilitator, coach, and one-sixth of an acapella sextet – takes us on a fascinating journey through the moments that shaped his creative path. Recorded in our brand new Future Leap Studios in Bristol, this conversation between old friends crackles with authenticity. Neil and host Chris Grimes trained together at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, giving them a shared language around performance and presence that elevates their exchange beyond mere reminiscence. The heart of the episode centers on Neil's transformative moment at age 12 when, during a school improvisation, he portrayed a punk rocker stuck in a lift. The uproarious laughter that followed revealed something profound – the power to affect others through performance. This revelation would shape his entire career and approach to creative expression. Neil's candor is refreshing as he shares wisdom gleaned from mentors like acting teacher Rudy Shelly, who bluntly told the cold-ridden student: "I don't give a shit how you feel, and neither does the audience." This lesson in professionalism remains a cornerstone of Neil's philosophy. Equally valuable was a colleague's advice to pursue opportunities that provide an "emotional kick" rather than just career advancement – a phrase that has guided Neil's decisions ever since. Beyond performance insights, we discover delightful surprises: Neil's obsession with marmalade-making (continuing his mother's tradition), his fascination with birds of prey, and how the smell of pastries never fails to stop him in his tracks. His reflections on Shakespeare's "to thine own self be true" reveal a man who has found authenticity through both creative expression and family life. The episode concludes with Neil's acapella rendition of Frank Sinatra's "That's Life" – a perfect musical embodiment of the conversation's themes. Whether you're a performer yourself or simply curious about the creative mind, you'll find something to inspire you in Neil's journey. CONTACT NEIL BETT WEBSITE: https://www.frankpartners.co.uk [https://www.frankpartners.co.uk/] LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/frank-partners-uk/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/frank-partners-uk/] FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/neilbett [https://www.facebook.com/neilbett] INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/frank_partners_llp/ [https://www.instagram.com/frank_partners_llp/] Tune in next week for more stories of 'Distinction & Genius' from The Good Listening To Show 'Clearing'. If you would like to be my Guest too then you can find out HOW via the different 'series strands' at 'The Good Listening To Show' website. * Show Website: https://www.thegoodlisteningtoshow.com [https://www.thegoodlisteningtoshow.com/] * You can email me about the Show: chris@secondcurve.uk * Twitter thatchrisgrimes [https://twitter.com/thatchrisgrimes] * LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-grimes-actor-broadcaster-facilitator-coach/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-grimes-actor-broadcaster-facilitator-coach/] * FaceBook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/842056403204860 [https://www.facebook.com/groups/842056403204860] To record your Life Story or GIFT an episode to someone that you love, with Chris as your host, then do get in touch about how ‘Legacy Life Reflections’ can help: LEGACY LIFE REFLECTIONS WEBSITE: https://www.legacylifereflections.com [https://www.legacylifereflections.com/] E MAIL: chris@legacylifereflections.com WHATS APP: +44 7711 644 094 LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-grimes-actor-broadcaster-facilitator-coach/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-grimes-actor-broadcaster-facilitator-coach/] FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/chris.grimes.167 [https://www.facebook.com/chris.grimes.167]

Legacy Life Reflections: Reg Starkey shares the ‘5-4-3-2-1’ of his Life Story for Posterity. Ancient Copywriter, “Young when the Dead Sea was only Poorly!”

A special "Legacy: Life Reflections" Episode with ex-Ad Man/Mad-Man and all round thoroughly decent human being, my very good friend Reg Starkey! A wonderfully rich conversation with reflections a-plenty on a colourful and creative life, both long-lived and wise! Born in Barking during the Blitz, a benign benefactor put him through private schools in Salisbury and Malvern.  Further education involved French in Paris, Law in London and Advertising in Watford, followed by career as a Copywriter and Creative Director.  He has written a slim volume of poetry entitled ‘The Weekend Artist’ followed by ‘The Old Covent Garden Market’, ‘Samples of One’ and ‘The New Millennium Tales’.  Reg is prolifically creative and energetic currently working on a number of creative projects as part of his legacy: On his memoirs, called ‘Second Thoughts’, a new collection of poetry called ‘A year In Villanelle by way of Limerick and Haiku’ and a guide to dealing with addiction entitled ‘The Battleship and the Lighthouse.’  And as Reg says: “We are all products of our background. The challenge is not to be victims of our history.” Tune in next week for more stories of 'Distinction & Genius' from The Good Listening To Show 'Clearing'. If you would like to be my Guest too then you can find out HOW via the different 'series strands' at 'The Good Listening To Show' website. * Show Website: https://www.thegoodlisteningtoshow.com [https://www.thegoodlisteningtoshow.com/] * You can email me about the Show: chris@secondcurve.uk * Twitter thatchrisgrimes [https://twitter.com/thatchrisgrimes] * LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-grimes-actor-broadcaster-facilitator-coach/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-grimes-actor-broadcaster-facilitator-coach/] * FaceBook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/842056403204860 [https://www.facebook.com/groups/842056403204860] To record your Life Story or GIFT an episode to someone that you love, with Chris as your host, then do get in touch about how ‘Legacy Life Reflections’ can help: LEGACY LIFE REFLECTIONS WEBSITE: https://www.legacylifereflections.com [https://www.legacylifereflections.com/] E MAIL: chris@legacylifereflections.com WHATS APP: +44 7711 644 094 LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-grimes-actor-broadcaster-facilitator-coach/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-grimes-actor-broadcaster-facilitator-coach/] FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/chris.grimes.167 [https://www.facebook.com/chris.grimes.167]