Deadlines and Detours — The Human Stories Behind Digital Business.

“Is This It?” Mid-Life, Burnout & the Truth About How Your Mind Really Works

When Matt launched Deadlines & Detours, he thought it was a podcast about digital transformation and tech. It turns out, it’s about people – especially the ones who quietly rewrite how you see the world.In this episode, Matt sits down with Piers Thurston, founder of Quality of Mind, who’s spent 25 years in personal and professional development – from big enterprise to scrappy startups.What makes Piers’ work different? He’s moved past mindset hacks, productivity tricks and “high performance routines” and gone upstream to something much more fundamental: how the mind actually works.They get into: * Why life can feel like a constant grind – even when, on paper, you’ve “made it” * What flow state really is (and why you don’t need rituals to get there) * Aperture – how your state of mind colours reality in real time * Why trying to constantly manage your mind is like trying to get dry while standing under a shower * How your default setting is already ease, and what changes when you stop trying to “fix” yourself * Why this matters for leaders in fast-changing, ambiguous worlds (tech, digital, transformation, etc.) If you’re in your mid-forties, successful on the outside but quietly asking “is this it?”, this one’s for you.This isn’t about becoming a Zen robot who never feels anything. It’s about seeing that there’s something deeper than your thoughts, feelings and stories – and how life, work and relationships shift when you start operating from there. Real conversations with the people who’ve shaped how Matt thinks, works and lives – from digital transformation and leadership to the inner game that sits underneath all of it. 🔗 Resources & links– Piers’ Quality of Mind resources: https://qualityofmind.biz/podcast-resources/– Deadlines & Detours podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/deadlines-and-detours-the-human-stories-behind/id1829937272– Connect with Matt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewbp/

Why Storytelling Beats Jargon in Digital Transformation – Will Edge

This week on Deadlines & Detours, Matthew sits down with Will Edge, Head of Product and Venture Building at E.ON, whose work spans decarbonisation, digital twins, and the future of urban energy. Will’s career runs from Capgemini and Fujitsu to leading E.ON’s innovation venture team, tackling three missions: decarbonise cities, add social value, and reduce fuel bills. He shares how storytelling, empathy, and creative problem-solving drive real transformation—from tracking hospital equipment with RFID tags to modelling entire cities for carbon reduction. In this episode: * How Digital Twins help cities like Coventry plan net-zero strategies * Why storytelling and design thinking are vital in consultancy * The power of authenticity and feedback in leadership * The role of AI in the workplace (and why students should be using it) * The future of EV charging, induction roadways, and energy innovation

CV Secrets, Contractor Truths & AI in Recruitment with Daniel Atkins (DATTalent)

Most people think a CV gets them a job — it doesn’t. It gets you 10 seconds of attention. In this episode of Deadlines & Detours, Matthew sits down with Daniel Atkins, founder of DATTalent, to talk about what recruiters really look for, how IR35 changed the game for contractors, and why relationships will always beat AI algorithms. Dan’s journey from car salesman to founder is full of honesty, practical advice, and a few truths every job seeker needs to hear. Whether you’re job hunting, hiring, or just curious about the world of recruitment, this one’s gold. We cover: – What recruiters actually look for in a CV (and what makes them bin it instantly) – How IR35 affects contractors and clients – Why relationships still beat algorithms – AI in recruitment and how to use it without losing the human touch – How to get noticed (and actually get called back) 🎙️ Hosted by Matthew Barrington-Packer 💼 Guest: Daniel Atkins, Founder of DATTalent 🔗 Connect with Dan: linkedin.com/in/daniel-atkins [https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-atkins/] 🌐 Visit DATTalent: https://www.dattalent.co.uk [https://www.dattalent.co.uk] #DeadlinesAndDetours #Recruitment #CVTips #Contracting #DigitalCareers #AIinRecruitment #DATTalent

From Commodore to Cloud: AI, PIMs & the Future of Digital Products | Morten Næss (Bluestone PIM)

Welcome back to Deadlines & Detours — the podcast where we explore the real, human stories behind digital transformation. This week, Matt sits down with Morten Næss, Chief Product & Innovation Officer at Bluestone PIM and Admissions Lead at the MACH Alliance — to talk about nerdy beginnings, smart tech, and the next evolution of AI and product information management. Together they dive into: * The wild journey from Commodore 64s to cloud-native architecture * How Bluestone PIM grew from Norway to powering global giants like H&M and Sainsbury’s * What “PIM” really means (and why it matters) * Why AI is more than hype — and how it’s reshaping everything from eCommerce to how we work * The difference between Machine Learning, LLMs, and Agents * How to actually prompt for prompting (yes, that’s a thing — and it’s genius) * What the future of work, code, and creativity looks like when we can just talk to our software Morten also shares his personal side — from music gear and photography to the advice he ignored that could’ve made him a Bitcoin millionaire. 🌐 Learn more: 🔗 Morten Næss on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/morten-naess] 🔗 Bluestone PIM [https://www.bluestonepim.com/] 🔗 MACH Alliance [https://machalliance.org/]

Apps, AI & Apple Obsessions | Andy Farmer (MyOxygen) on Building Beautiful Tech & Staying Curious | Deadlines & Detours

Welcome back to Deadlines & Detours, the podcast where we talk to the humans behind digital transformation — the thinkers, tinkerers, and tech obsessives shaping the products we all use. In this episode, Matt Barrington-Packer sits down with Andy Farmer, Co-Founder of MyOxygen — a Bristol-based digital product studio that’s been building apps since the dawn of the iPhone. Andy’s team has created mobile solutions for the NHS, Ministry of Defence, and the energy sector, helping organisations design, build, and scale products that genuinely make a difference. Together they dive into: * 🧩 The evolution of mobile apps — from PalmPilots to iPhones * ⚙️ Why “beautiful code” matters as much as beautiful design * 💡 How AI is the ultimate “yes person”… and why that’s risky * 🧘‍♂️ The spirituality of motorbikes and why detours matter * 🔐 How to innovate inside regulated industries (NHS, MOD, Energy) * ☕️ Why every project still needs people, process, and a good cup of coffee Andy shares the story behind MyOxygen’s early NHS projects, the SAM App that supported student mental health, and the hard-won lessons from decades of building software the right way — focusing on purpose, process, and human connection. This is one for designers, developers, founders, and digital leaders who believe tech should have heart. 🎧 Listen. Think. Detour.