The Phoenix Conversations

Long Haul Leader With Chris Ducker

In this episode of The Phoenix Conversations, I’m joined by Chris Ducker, keynote speaker, bestselling author and leadership advisor. For more than 15 years, Chris has worked with leaders and organisations navigating pressure, complexity and constant change, helping them sustain performance, make better decisions under pressure and lead with clarity over the long term. We talk about Chris’s entrepreneurial journey, his own experience of burnout, and the strategies behind his third book, The Long-Haul Leader. His message is clear: success that is not sustainable eventually becomes failure. This conversation is for anyone who looks successful on paper but feels depleted in reality, and knows it is time to rethink performance, leadership and life for the long haul. Highlights: (08:15) - How Chris’s move into entrepreneurship became his first real reinvention (12:56) - Why building a management team changed everything (16:46) - The driving lesson that became a business philosophy (22:16) - The four pillars of becoming a long-haul leader (26:32) - Chris opens up about burnout, depression and anxiety (34:17) - Why burnout recovery needs to include the body, not just the mind Websites: https://chrisducker.com [https://chrisducker.com] https://longhaulleader.com [https://longhaulleader.com] https://youpreneur.com [https://youpreneur.com] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisducker/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisducker/] Connect with Lucy: Website - https://bookmagic.ai TikTok - @lucymccarra  Instagram/Threads - @lucymccarraher  LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucymccarraher/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucymccarraher/] YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@lucymccarraherauthor [https://www.youtube.com/@lucymccarraherauthor] Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/LucyMcCarraher/

The Joy of Relationships with Susan Quilliam

In this episode, I’m talking to Susan Quilliam about a life shaped by courage, curiosity and a deep interest in people. We explore the threads that have run through her journey from childhood, writing, psychology and teaching, through to publishing, coaching and relationship work. What I love about this conversation is how thoughtful and wide-ranging it is. Susan shares the reinventions that took her from educational publishing into self-development and relationship coaching, the unexpected path that led to rewriting The Joy of Sex, and why her work now is centred on helping us better understand inner conflict and what it means to be human. Highlights: (02:53) - Susan reflects on the childhood beginnings of writing and curiosity (07:25) - Losing her parents and stepping into a completely new life in London (12:12) - Why starting her own publishing company changed everything (17:56) - How relationship writing and coaching became her true calling (22:27) - The surprising path that led her to rewrite The Joy of Sex (26:48) - How the pandemic sparked the idea behind The Torn Project TORN PROJECT LINKS Website: thetornproject.com [http://thetornproject.com/] The Torn Podcast: available on https://thetornproject.com/resources/podcast/ [https://thetornproject.com/resources/podcast/] or wherever you get your podcasts Instagram: @thetornproject Linked In: The Torn Project Connect with Lucy: Website - https://bookmagic.ai TikTok - @lucymccarra  Instagram/Threads - @lucymccarraher  LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucymccarraher/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucymccarraher/] YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@lucymccarraherauthor [https://www.youtube.com/@lucymccarraherauthor] Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/LucyMcCarraher/

Watch Me! With Elliot Kay

In this episode, I’m talking to Elliot Kay about what it means to keep rebuilding yourself when life never seems to hand you the neat, obvious path. We talk about feeling different as a child, wanting to belong, and the moments that pushed him to change direction and back himself properly. What I love about this conversation is how honest and human it is. Elliot shares the reinventions that took him from outsider to dancer, trainer, speaker, author and CEO, and why the messy middle is not a sign to quit, but a sign to keep going. Highlights: (03:14) - Elliot opens up about growing up feeling different and out of place (05:00) - The blunt conversation with a friend that changed everything (07:25) - Why he chose to rebuild his relationship with his father (09:43) - How Rudolf Nureyev inspired him to go all in on dance (15:25) - The moment speaking clicked and everything started to come together (32:59) - Elliot’s advice for surviving the messy middle and keeping going Connect with Elliott: https://thespeakersawards.com/ [https://thespeakersawards.com/] https://thespeakersummit.co [https://thespeakersummit.co] https://www.linkedin.com/in/elliot-kay/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/elliot-kay/] Connect with Lucy: Website - https://bookmagic.ai TikTok - @lucymccarra  Instagram/Threads - @lucymccarraher  LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucymccarraher/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucymccarraher/] YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@lucymccarraherauthor [https://www.youtube.com/@lucymccarraherauthor] Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/LucyMcCarraher/

How Margaret Brown Rebuilt Her Life More Than Once

In this episode, I’m talking to Margaret Brown about what it really takes to rebuild your life when it feels like everything has been stacked against you. We talk about childhood wounds, self-worth, difficult relationships, and the moments that force you to decide who you want to become next. Margaret shares her journey with real honesty, and it is both moving and deeply inspiring. We also talk about the work she does today as an award-winning executive leadership coach, organisational development specialist, and bestselling author of Culture Pays. With more than 35 years of experience, Margaret now helps leaders build values-led cultures where people stay, thrive, and give their best. She also shares how her LeaderShift© model grew from everything she has lived through and learned along the way. Highlights: (02:30) - Margaret opens up about the childhood that shaped her confidence (06:54) - How marrying the wrong person became a major turning point (08:48) - The bold pitch that changed everything and started her business (12:45) - The moment her father finally gave her the words she needed to hear (18:17) - Losing security, finding new direction and writing Culture Pays (27:23) - Margaret’s advice for anyone standing on the edge of change Connect with Lucy: Website - https://bookmagic.ai TikTok - @lucymccarra  Instagram/Threads - @lucymccarraher  LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucymccarraher/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucymccarraher/] YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@lucymccarraherauthor [https://www.youtube.com/@lucymccarraherauthor] Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/LucyMcCarraher/

Happy Go Lucky with Stuart Grant

In this episode, I’m joined by Stuart Grant, founder of Digital Authors Toolkit and one of the publishing industry’s leading website designers for authors. Stuart is a specialist in GEO, SEO and author tools, has created over 400 author websites, and is the highest rated author web designer on Reedsy. We talk about his work helping authors get discovered online, grow their audience, and build websites that genuinely support their careers. We also get into the life-changing diagnosis that reshaped everything. Shortly after the birth of his daughter in 2019, Stuart was diagnosed with an incurable brain tumour and went through brain surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and lockdown. He shares how that experience sharpened his sense of purpose, changed the way he thought about work and time, and ultimately led him to build something more meaningful. It is honest, uplifting, and such a powerful reminder that reinvention is not always planned, but it can still lead somewhere extraordinary. Highlights: (03:16) - Stuart looks back on the childhood moment that shifted his path (11:00) - The hearing test that led to a life-changing diagnosis (17:12) - Why positivity became such an important part of survival (18:25) - How illness and lockdown pushed Stuart towards building his own business (22:08) - What makes author websites actually work (31:13) - Stuart’s advice for anyone facing change they did not choose Stu is more than happy to receive emails or enquires and you can find him at: DigitalAuthorsToolkit.com [https://digitalauthorstoolkit.com/] or email info@digitalauthorstoolkit.com [info@digitalauthorstoolkit.com] https://www.linkedin.com/in/stuartgrantuk/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/stuartgrantuk/] https://www.instagram.com/stuartgrantuk/ [https://www.instagram.com/stuartgrantuk/] https://x.com/stuartgrantuk [https://x.com/stuartgrantuk] https://x.com/digiauthorkit [https://x.com/digiauthorkit] https://www.instagram.com/digitalauthorstoolkit [https://www.instagram.com/digitalauthorstoolkit] Connect with Lucy: Website - https://bookmagic.ai TikTok - @lucymccarra  Instagram/Threads - @lucymccarraher  LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucymccarraher/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucymccarraher/] YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@lucymccarraherauthor [https://www.youtube.com/@lucymccarraherauthor] Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/LucyMcCarraher/