Get Superpowered

Veronika Kryuchkova

Do you want to build deeper connections, tackle life’s challenges with creativity and ease, and embrace courageous living?
Get Superpowered is your guide. Hosted by Veronika Kryuchkova, this podcast uncovers the superpowers that transform ordinary lives into extraordinary ones.

Through inspiring interviews with everyday heroes, each episode breaks down a specific superpower, providing you with actionable strategies, and practical tools for your immediate application.
Get Superpowered is a call to rediscover what makes us human.

Hit follow, press play, and let’s get superpowered—together.

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22 episodes
monthly
Avg 43 min
English

Episodes 22

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S2 · E9
Thursday · 29 min
Your Value Isn't Doing More - It's Making Life Simpler for Others | The Skill of Simplification | Neil West, Apple Veteran and Author of It Just Works
Doing more feels like adding value. It isn't. Real value comes from what you make simpler for the people who rely on you. But making things simple is hard - someone has to absorb the complexity. In this episode of Get Superpowered, I sat down with Neil West to unpack simplification as a skill. Neil West spent sixteen years inside Apple as it became the world's most valuable company built on a single principle: simplicity. He ran Apple's services across Southern Europe and distilled what he saw into his book ‘It Just Works’. In this conversation, Neil walks you through what simplicity really is, how to actually deliver it in three steps, how to spot the friction you've stopped noticing, and why being concise is a sign of confidence, not a lack of content. You will learn three practical 'try-today' moves: 1. Simplify your communication. Cut your next message in half. An email, a deck, an update. Half the words. Half the slides. You don't need anyone's permission. 2. Ask ‘Why are we doing this?’ Put the question to your team. If the answers don’t match, the purpose isn't clear yet. Get it to one sentence everyone would say the same way. 3. Make one person's life simpler. Pick someone who relies on your work. Find the burden they've forgotten they're carrying. The workarounds. The eye-rolls. The ‘I've always done it this way.’ Take one off their plate this week. Value isn't doing more. It's in making life simpler for the people who rely on you. And that's a skill you can start building today. Want to learn more about Neil West's work? Book ‘It just works’ https://mybook.to/bC4E Neil’s website https://neilwest.com/ Keynotes & workshops https://neilwest.com/keynotes-%26-workshops
S2 · E8
September 3 · 30 min
It's Not Who You Know - It's Who Names You When You're Not in the Room | The Skill of Networking | Monique Kelley, Author of Redefining Networking
As AI screens and sorts us, the human act of a person vouching for you decides more of who gets the opportunity, not less. So how do you become the person others name - on purpose, not by accident? In this episode of Get Superpowered, I sat down with Monique Kelley to unpack networking as a skill. Monique Kelley is the author of Redefining Networking and a professor at Boston University. She built a communications consultancy for Fortune 50 companies with no advertising - solely through the network and referrals she has invested in over 20 years. In this conversation, Monique walks you through what she calls 'earning your keep' - how to get clear on the unique value you bring, how to find the people who actually benefit from it, and how to make that value visible, so the right people can name it even when you're not in the room. You will learn three practical 'try-today' moves: 1. Name the headache you take away. Finish that sentence for yourself: the thing I reliably solve for people is ____. Not what you are. The problem you make disappear. 2. Engage your warm network. Text one of your contacts today. Offer help or ask for an introduction to someone who'd benefit from what you do. 3. Share the story, not the announcement. Post one story this week - a problem you solved, not a win you're claiming. Frame it from your audience's side: what's in it for them. You don't become the person others name by asking for it. You become it by being useful when you want nothing back - until your value is something others can name in the rooms you're not in. Want to learn more about Monique Kelley 's work? Book ‘Redefining Networking: How to Lead with Your Unique Value’, https://www.redefiningnetworkingbook.com/ Follow Monique on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/moniquekelleygigliotti/
S2 · E7
July 23 · 27 min
Charisma Isn't a Trait - It's a Muscle | The Skill of Charisma | Olivia Fox Cabane, Author of The Charisma Myth
Some people are just born charismatic. That's what we tell ourselves. But charisma isn't a trait you're born with. It's a muscle and most of us have never deliberately trained it. In this episode of Get Superpowered, I sat down with Olivia Fox Cabane to unpack charisma as a skill. Olivia Fox Cabane is a Fortune 500 executive coach and author of The Charisma Myth who has lectured at Harvard, Stanford, MIT, and the United Nations. In this conversation, Olivia walks you through the three components that make up charisma - presence, power, and warmth - and how to build each one so it's there when you need it. You will learn three practical 'try-today' moves: 1. Stop trying to impress. Let them impress you. That single mindset shift is enough to get people to like you, trust you, and want to follow you. Before your next important conversation, make this your goal: find out what impresses you about the other person. 2. Project power through body language. We read power in body language. Roll your shoulders back. Plant your feet. Take up space. Then be still, no fussing with your hair and clothes. Move slowly. When you appear confident, people assume you have a reason to be. 3. Nurture self-compassion. Self-criticism reduces power, warmth, and presence. Next time your inner critic speaks, pause. Name what you're feeling and acknowledge that what you're experiencing is difficult. That’s self-compassion. Charisma begins in your mind. Whatever your mind believes,your body will manifest. This is where you start. Want to learn more about Olivia Fox Cabane's work? Book ‘The Charisma Myth’, https://www.amazon.co.uk/Charisma-Myth-Science-Personal-Magnetism/dp/1405990163 Explore Olivia’s website https://oliviafoxcabane.com/ The Charisma Myth exercises https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zO9JEDOKWh4&list=PLgtqPfV4eazd9Re_jwOuVqqfzKA62367U
S2 · E7
July 9 · 26 min
What You Think Is Listening - Isn't | The Skill of Listening | Richard Mullender, Former Hostage Negotiator
If someone asked you to teach them to listen - what would you actually say? Eye contact? Nodding? Repeating back what you heard? That's the answer most people give. And none of it is listening. In this episode of Get Superpowered, I sat down with Richard Mullender to unpack listening as a skill. Richard Mullender is a former hostage negotiator and lead trainer at Scotland Yard’s National Hostage Negotiation and Crisis Unit. He has distilled hundreds of high-stakes negotiations into elite-level listening techniques that work in any conversation, in any room, at any level. In this conversation, Richard walks you through how real listening - the identification, selection, and interpretation of keywords - turns information into intelligence, and how to use what you hear to understand, influence, and connect with anyone. You will learn three practical ‘try-today’ moves: 1. Set your outcome. Before any conversation that matters, decide: what am I trying to achieve? That outcome becomes your anchor. When your mind drifts - and it will - it's what brings you back. 2. Listen for the six data points: Facts. Emotions. Motivators. Values. Beliefs. Benefits. Most people stop at facts and emotions. The intelligence lives underneath - in why this person is talking to you today, what they stand for, their deeply held convictions, and where they see their win. 3. Sense-check with ‘I get the impression.’ Feedback what you heard as an impression, not a verdict. If you're right, trust deepens. If you're wrong, they correct you. Either way, you understand them better. Listening is not a talent you're born with. It is a craft - built in the constant pursuit of excellence. You just keep getting better. And this is where you start. Want to learn more about Richard Mullender's work? Check out The Listening Institute https://listeninginstitute.com/
S2 · E6
June 18 · 38 min
Hope is not a feeling. It's a practice | The Skill of Hope | Gidon Lev & Julie Gray, Authors of Let's Make Things Better
Hope is not something you feel. It is something you do. In this episode of Get Superpowered, I sat down with Gidon Lev and Julie Gray to unpack hope as a skill. Gidon Lev survived Theresienstadt concentration camp as achild, built a full life across nine decades, and is still facing forward at 91. Julie Gray is the writer who helped Gidon bring the message of hope to the world - in their book Let's Make Things Better. In this conversation, Gidon and Julie walk you through whathope actually is and what it isn't, how to maintain hope when circumstances argue against it, and how hope follows actions, even the smallest ones. You will learn three practical ‘try-today’ moves: 1. Take one action, however tiny. When hope is low, don't wait for it to return before acting. Take the 50-meter walk. Make the lemon cake. Action creates evidence. Evidence builds hope. That is the flywheel. 2. Give yourself credit for what you have already overcome. Look back at three challenges you have already navigated. For each one, ask: how did I do that? The proof you need to go forwards is already behind you. 3. Give yourself permission to imagine things going well. Notice how often you allow yourself to imagine things going wrong. Now deliberately choose the opposite. You cannot hope for what you cannot imagine. Hope is not a feeling. It is the smallest possible yes. And it is available to you right now. Want to learn more about Gidon Lev and Julie Gray's work? Book ‘Let's Make Things Better’,https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lets-Make-Things-Better-Gidon/dp/103504398X TikTok: @thetrueadventures Website: https://www.gidonlev.com/
S2 · E5
May 28 · 28 min
Your doubt? If you don't give it evidence - it can't feed | The Skill of Self-Conviction | Pearle Nwaezeigwe, Tech Policy Leader
We can live in a gap between knowing the direction we want to take and actually taking it for years. Because we keep feeding our doubts. Self-conviction is the skill that starves the doubt. In this episode of Get Superpowered, I sat down with Pearle Nwaezeigwe to unpack the skill of Self-Conviction. Pearle Nwaezeigwe is a tech policy leader who built a career at TikTok, Twitter, and Meta across four countries, without a map, without an invitation, and without waiting for permission. In this conversation, Pearle walks you through how Self-Conviction starts the moment you get clear on what you really want, how to hold Self-Conviction - even against the voice in your head and the people around you who aren't sure, and how Self-Conviction compounds with every win celebrated and every rejection treated as data. You will learn three practical ‘try-today’ moves: 1. Name what you want - precisely. You know the direction. Now name it precisely. Say it out loud. Write it down. You can't build conviction on something you haven't named. 2. Map it - and take the first step. Work backwards from where you want to be - these are the steps, these are the people, this is the first move. Then take it. 3. Celebrate the small wins - and treat rejection as data. Notice the little things that tell you you're on the right track. Celebrate them. Treat every rejection as a data point. Log them. This is how evidence builds. And this is how doubt starves. The gap between knowing what you want and going for it isn't about feeling ready or certain. It's about self-conviction - and it's a skill you can start building today. Want to learn more about Pearle Nwaezeigwe's work? Follow Pearle on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/pearlenwaezeigwe/ Join the community of the Corporate Socialite: https://www.instagram.com/thewaecollective/
S2 · E4
May 7 · 28 min
In Leadership, It's Not About What You Achieve | The Skill of Making Others Capable of More | Ben Bulpett, Global Marketing Leader
In leadership, it's not about what you achieve. It's about what the people around you go on to achieve. In this episode of Get Superpowered, I sat down with Ben Bulpett to unpack the skill of making the people around you capable of more. Ben Bulpett is a global marketing leader with over 30 years of building and leading high-performing teams across some of the world's most competitive industries. In this conversation, Ben walks you through how to see potential in someone before they can see it themselves, how to make them believe it, and how to create the conditions where people consistently exceed what they thought was possible. You will learn three practical ‘try-today’ moves: 1. Run the values exercise Ask each person you work closely with to name their six core values and rank them one to six. The answers are your diagnostic: what drives each person and what a meaningful stretch looks like for them specifically. 2. Name the potential you see in them – out loud The moment you name the potential you see in someone, you change what they believe about themselves. Most leaders carry that belief privately. Saying it out loud is the act that makes it real. 3. Give the stretch - and walk alongside it. Don't wait until someone feels ready. Give them the stretch opportunity now – and stay close. Role plays, honest feedback, space to fail safely. Confidence catches up with experience. Every time. The ceiling on your impact isn't what you can do. It's what you can unlock in everyone around you. Want to learn more about Ben Bulpett’s work? Follow Ben on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/benbulpett/
S2 · E3
April 9 · 26 min
You Ask Every Day - Yet So Much Insight Goes Untapped | The skill of Asking Well | Jeff Wetzler, learning expert and author of ASK
The people around us - our partners, teams, clients - are sitting on a gold mine of insights, feedback, and perspectives we too often leave untapped. Not because they won't share. Because we don't ask - or don't ask well. Asking well is a skill – and most of us have left it to chance. In this episode of Get Superpowered, I sat down with Jeff Wetzler to unpack exactly what it takes to build it. Jeff Wetzler spent 25 years unlocking human potential across corporations, schools, and NGOs - and kept seeing the same gap: people failing to learn vital things from those around them. ASK is the practical framework he built to close it. In this conversation Jeff walks you through the ASK approach- the mindset you bring into the conversation, how to create the safety that makes people want to share, how to design the questions you ask, how to listen, and what you do with what you hear. You will learn three practical ‘try-today’ moves: 1. Before your next conversation, locate yourself on the Arc of Curiosity. Notice where you are. Decide where you want to be. Move one click. 2. Replace one 'crummy' question this week. Find your version of ‘are we aligned?’ - the question that closes things down rather than opens them up - and redesign it. 3. In your next conversation paraphrase what you heard - then add 'Did I get that right?' The paraphrase shows you listened. The check shows you cared enough to get it right. The gold mine of insights, feedback, and perspectives is already there. Asking well is how you access it. Want to learn more about Jeff Wetzler’s work and the ASK approach? Book ‘Ask: Tap Into the Hidden Wisdom of People Around You’,https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ask-Hidden-Unexpected-Breakthroughs-Leadership/dp/0306832690 TED Talk: ‘How to Learn Something from Anyone’, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWRpkSYDjvQ The ASK Approach: https://www.askapproach.com/ Jeff's website: https://www.jeffwetzler.com/
S2 · E2
March 26 · 26 min
You Prepared Your Slides - Not Your Body | Performing Under Pressure as a Skill | Dr. Dan Dworkis, Emergency Physician
Under pressure, most of us become someone we didn't choose. Because our bodies are running a script we didn't write. In this episode of Get Superpowered, I'm joined by Dr. DanDworkis to unpack how to rewrite it. Dr. Dan Dworkis is an emergency physician and founder of TheEmergency Mind Project. He distilled thousands of highest-stakes moments in the Emergency Room into a practical system that works in any field, under any pressure. In this conversation, Dan walks you through the full system -how to prepare your body and mind before pressure hits, how to perform at your peak in the thick of it, and how to come back from it not just recovered - but sharper than before. You will learn three practical ‘try-today’ moves: 1. Prepare your body, not just your slides. Before your next high-stakes moment, raise your heart rate - then deliver your opening lines. So when pressure arrives, your body already knows what to do. 2. When pressure spikes, ask one question: am I in danger? If the answer is no - and most of the time it isn't - say it out loud and slow down. That loop is the difference between surviving the moment and owning it. 3. After every difficult moment, ask: how am I going to use this? Not what went wrong. What you're going to do with it. This is how you get better at performing under pressure - one experience at a time. Performing at your peak under pressure is a skill. This is where you start. Want to learn more about Dr. Dan Dworkis's work? Dr. Dan Dworkis’s book ‘The Emergency Mind: Wiring YourBrain for Performance Under Pressure’ https://www.amazon.co.uk/Emergency-Mind-Wiring-Performance-Pressure/dp/B094GY88RK ‘The Emergency Mind’ podcast https://www.emergencymind.com/podcast ‘The Emergency Mind project’ https://www.emergencymind.com/
S2 · E1
March 12 · 29 min
Rest Before, Not After: The Discipline Most Leaders Never Build | Aslak de Silva, Martial Arts World Champion
Elite athletes rest before the push. Most leaders rest after the crash. That difference reveals a kind of discipline most leaders never build. In this episode of Get Superpowered, I sat down with Aslak de Silva to unpack that discipline. Aslak de Silva is a world-champion martial artist turned CEO coach. He forged his ‘Black Belt in Leadership’ framework in world championships - and now teaches it in global boardrooms. His reframe of discipline is simple and powerful. Discipline is not just the ability to push harder. It is the skill of knowing when to protect your energy, when to act, when to recover, and when to stop arguing with the voice in your head that says you can't. What he teaches leaders is the thing elite athletes have always known, and most high performers never learn at all. You will learn three practical ‘try-today’ moves: 1. Use rest as preparation, not just recovery. Block time before your hardest moment this week - not after it. 2. Learn to spot your cognitive low point. Move every high-stakes moment away from it. Your worst calls are predictable - which means they're preventable. 3. When self-doubt arrives - stop debating it. Instead, find the next smallest action and take it. Press play and walk away with a different relationship to energy, timing, and action. Not more discipline - smarter discipline. Want to learn more about Aslak de Silva’s work? Explore Aslak de Silva’s ‘The Black Belt in Leadership’ book https://theblackbeltinleadership.com/ Immerse yourself into ‘The Black Belt in Leadership’ Podcasthttps://open.spotify.com/show/4DdTrO61qc40TsGDBvaWTX Subscribe to ‘The Black Belt in Leadership’ Newsletter https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7383394817810018304/ Get inspired and provoked by Aslak’s thought leadership https://www.linkedin.com/in/aslakdesilva/
S1 · E16
Dec 11, 2025 · 35 min
Authenticity with intention with Alina Verbenchuk, author of How Platforms Work
What does it really mean to be authentic in a world that’snoisy and low on trust? In this episode of Get Superpowered, I sit down with Alina Verbenchuk, entrepreneur, co-founder of Korda, and former Google & YouTube leader. Together, we explore authenticity as a creator superpowerand leadership responsibility in a world crowded with noise and shaped by platforms - yet hungry for what is genuinely human. Through stories from the creator economy and leaders likeYouTube’s late CEO Susan Wojcicki, Alina shows how authenticity builds trust - but also demands boundaries, empathy, and contextual awareness. We dive into her concept of being ‘open vs naked’ and thesimple filters every creator and leader can use before they share: Is it true? Is it kind? Does it bring value? Could it harm? Whether you’re building a community, leading a team, orfinding your own voice online, this conversation reminds us that authenticity is not exposure - it’s alignment with intention. Key takeaways: Authenticity takes intention. It might sound effortless - just ‘be yourself’ - but the most authentic creators and leaders are highly intentional about how, when, and what they share. Authenticity is crafted, not casual. Authenticity builds trust - but only when you use boundaries. We assume ‘more sharing = more authentic,’ but the opposite is often true. Authenticity deepens when you know what not to share. Boundaries make your truth land more clearly. Authenticity is personal - yet it’s never just about you. It starts with inner alignment, but its real measure is external: how it affects your team, audience, and community. Authenticity is self-generated but other-perceived. Authenticity attracts - but it also repels (and should). Authenticity is a filter that helps the right people find you. Your authenticity is constant - but how you express it should evolve. Your core (beliefs, values, sense of self) stays the same. But how you express it should be adapted to the audience, platform, role. Expressing yourself identically in every context isn’t authenticity - it’s a disregard for impact and context. Press play and unlock new ways to lead, create, and connect more authentically. Want to learn more? Find out more about Alina Verbenchuk’s new book 'How platforms work ' https://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Platforms-Work-Understanding-Mechanics/dp/1069828645/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0
S1 · E15
Nov 25, 2025 · 1 hr 11 min
Framework Thinking | part 2: unlocking high-impact negotiations with Aditya Sehgal, founder of Fast Frameworks
In this episode, we welcome back Aditya Sehgal, who has taken years of real-world, high stakes negotiating experience and turned it into five accessible frameworks that you can apply to any business or personal situation – and navigate the toughest challenges and unlock decisive action with confidence and clarity. In this conversation, we uncover the deeper psychology that makes negotiation work - self-control, long-term thinking, and unwavering commitment to building trust and relationship. We break down why ‘win-win’ is the smartest long-term strategy: it establishes a mutually beneficial, trustworthy relationship that compounds over time. We explore how lowering self-interest builds trust, and why silence, questions and the emotional aftertaste shape outcomes far more than any script. Ready to negotiate with confidence? Press play and unlock the principles, psychology and moves that will step change how you approach negotiation. Key Takeaways: 1. Play the long game - win-win is the smartest strategy. Negotiation isn’t a showdown; it’s the start of a relationship. When both sides win over time, trust compounds, future negotiations get easier, and the relationship becomes an asset not a battle. 2. Self-interest down, trust up. Lowering perceived self-interest is one of the fastest ways to build trust. Show you’re not just optimising for yourself, and the other side becomes more open, honest, and collaborative. 3. Control yourself, not the other side. The way to stay calm and influence the outcome is to be fully comfortable with the worst-case scenario in advance. When you know what you’ll do if things fall apart, emotion loses its grip and clarity takes over. 4. Tactics work only when psychology does. Let the other side go first. Use silence. Ask open questions. Flinch. Play the reluctant seller. But remember: these tactics only create impact when they’re grounded in trust, empathy and long-term thinking - not manipulation. 5. End on goodwill - it’s what people remember. People don’t remember every detail of the deal; they remember the emotional aftertaste. Close on happiness: add surprise, signal goodwill, show they matter, and give something of extra value that costs you little but means a lotto them. Want to learn more? Find out more about Aditya Sehgal’s Fast Frameworks project https://www.adityasehgal.com/ Deep dive into the high-impact negotiation frameworks: Part 1 Negotiation principles https://www.adityasehgal.com/p/high-impact-negotiation-frameworks Part 2 Early-stage tactics https://www.adityasehgal.com/p/high-impact-negotiation-frameworks-160 Part 3 Middle-stage tactics https://www.adityasehgal.com/p/high-impact-negotiation-frameworks-37a Part 4 End-stage tactics https://www.adityasehgal.com/p/high-impact-negotiation-frameworks-b40 Part 5 Pressure and unethical tactics https://www.adityasehgal.com/p/high-impact-negotiation-frameworks-7fe Get inspired by Aditya Sehgal’s posts on Substack https://substack.com/@adisehgal
S1 · E14
Nov 4, 2025 · 1 hr 5 min
Framework Thinking | part 1: the fast track to trust and promotion - with Aditya Sehgal, founder of Fast Frameworks
What if the doors that feel impossible to open in yourcareer or life weren’t locked at all - you just needed the right keys? Along his journey from fresh graduate to President of a multi-billion-dollar company, Aditya Sehgal developed and discovered frameworks that helped him lead, grow, and navigate complex challenges. He calls them magic keys because they unlock insight, spark action, and help succeed in career, business, and personal life. In recent years, Adi has been sharing those frameworks through Fast Frameworks project - helping leaders unlock their own potential and new opportunities. In this thought-provoking episode of Get Superpowered, we dive into two of Adi’s most transformative frameworks: The Trust Framework - a simple yet profound equation that reveals how trust is built and strengthened across relationships, cultures, and teams. The Promotion Flywheel Framework - a system for career growth that reframes promotion from waiting your turn to creating your own momentum by helping others rise with you. Along this conversation, Adi reminds us that everyone is special in a unique way - and that the real power lies in turning our life experiences into our own frameworks we can refine and reuse. He encourages us to stay endlessly curious: explore our craft, test new ideas, and keep learning from what works. And above all, to focus on helping others because when we reduce self-interest and lead with service, trust and success multiply. In the final moments of our conversation, Adi invites us to rethink success - it’s not about climbing faster, but about choosing the right ladder and building momentum through clarity, curiosity, and helping others rise. Key Takeaways: Frameworks are the ‘magic keys’ to unlock insight, spark action and help you succeed in career, business, and personal life. You already have your own frameworks - they’re your edge. Recognise them. Refine them. Reuse them. Stay endlessly curious. Ideas are everywhere - keep collecting and testing them. Curiosity is how new frameworks are born. Trust = (Credibility + Reliability + Intimacy) ÷ Self-Interest. Trust multiplies when self-interest shrinks. Promotion is a flywheel, not a queue. Help others rise, and you rise too. Climb the right ladder. Direction matters more than speed. Pause, reflect, and ask: Will I like the view when I get to the top of this ladder? Ready to discover your own magic keys? Hit play and start unlocking insights and action with the framework thinking. Want to learn more? Find out more about Aditya Sehgal’s Fast Frameworks project https://www.adityasehgal.com/ Deep dive into the Trust Framework https://www.adityasehgal.com/p/the-trust-framework Explore the Promotion Flywheel Framework https://www.adityasehgal.com/p/the-promotion-flywheel-framework Get inspired by Aditya Sehgal’s posts on Substack https://substack.com/@adisehgal
S1 · E13
Sep 4, 2025 · 50 min
How Play Unlocks Creativity, Courage & Connection — with Jonathan Pitts
What if play wasn’t just for kids but a lifelong superpower that fuels creativity, courage, and connection? In this inspiring episode of Get Superpowered, I’m joined by Jonathan Pitts, an award-winning improv artist, producer, author, and teacher from the Second City in Chicago who has devoted his life to helping people re-discover creativity, courage, and connection through play. From the legendary Second City stage to coaching teams and leaders around the world, Jonathan has made it his life’s work to help people say yes to possibility. Together we explore why play is far more than entertainment - it is, in Jonathan’s words, a divine right of being human. We unpack the history of improv, where social pioneers like Viola Spolin built games rooted in the belief that every time you play, you are transformed in some capacity. We dive into the iconic principle of ‘Yes, And’ and how the simple act of building on each other’s ideas creates chemistry, trust, and connection. And we talk about the deeper ingredients of play: openness, engagement, and listening. Jonathan reminds us that play is not frivolous. It’s what keeps us learning, experimenting, and feeling alive. It teaches us to embrace ambiguity, to fail joyfully, and to co-create possibilities bigger than what we could imagine alone. Key Takeaways: Play is open engagement - it’s how we connect, learn, and create together. ‘Yes, And’ is more than an improv comedy tool. It’s a mindset that builds trust, chemistry, and momentum. Failing joyfully reframes mistakes as fuel for growth, notreasons for shame. Openness, listening, and comfort with ambiguity are muscles we can strengthen through play. You don’t need permission to play—just start. Even a small playful act can shift your energy and unlock new possibilities. Ready to rediscover your own spark of play? Hit play on thisconversation—and say yes to possibility.
S1 · E12
Jul 3, 2025 · 52 min
Supercharging Teams with Pam Hamilton, teamwork and collaboration expert
In today’s fast-moving world — where companies can be disrupted, products copied, and consumers constantly raising their expectations — what’s your real competitive edge? Your team. But not just any team. A supercharged team. And here’s the twist: teamwork is harder to achieve today. We are too busy, our minds are too distracted, and we don'thave the attention that is needed to solve complex problems. This is why in this energising episode of ‘Get Superpowered’I’m joined by Pam Hamilton - teamwork and collaboration expert, founder of the Global Capabilities Agency ‘Paraffin’, and author of Supercharged Teams – to talk about teamwork. Pam has spent 25+ years helping global businesses, localteams, and communities work better together—and now she’s here to show us how to supercharge our own. We explore what makes a team supercharged in today’s world of overload, distraction, and disconnection; how collaboration done right becomes your secret weapon for innovation, speed, and sustainable success; and why every person, regardless of role or title, holds the power to ignite ashift. Ready to turn your team into real competitive advantage? Hit play and learn how to supercharge your team — starting now. Key Takeaways: Teamwork is harder now—but also more vital. Collaboration overload, shallow meetings, and context-switching kill performance. The cure? Intention, clarity, and better design. Don’t default to busy — default to impact. Supercharged teams prioritise, protect deep work, and move with precision. Rules of engagement = your operating system. Supercharged team defines how it works together. From feedback loops to conflict resolution, clarity here drives speed, trust, and results. Collective intelligence beats individual brilliance. When teams are diverse, connected, and structured for collaboration—they become smarter than the sum of their parts. Everyone has the power to improve teamwork. You don’t need permission or a title. Asking ‘Is there a better way?’ is how shift starts—inside your team, and within yourself. Want to learn more? Find out more about Pam’s work on Supercharged Teams https://www.superchargedteams.com/ Get inspired and provoked by Pam’s thought leadership https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamihami/ Explore how team at Paraffin brings fresh, creative energy to innovation, insights and capability challenges https://paraffin.ltd/
S1 · E11
Jun 12, 2025 · 51 min
Building trust with Yana Belova, a global community builder
Trust is the emotional fabric for every meaningful connection — at home, at work, and in communities. It fuels creativity,accelerates collaboration, and encourages risk taking. And yet, for something so essential, we spend surprisingly little time thinking about it, let alone intentionally building it. In this episode, we’re unpacking what it really takes to build, sustain, and repair trust—from the inside out. My guest is Yana Belova — a community vertical lead at Canva, TEDx speaker, coach, and the founder of Why Not Month — a movement that inspires people to take bold, intentional action. Yana is someone who doesn’t just understand trust—she architects it. From global teams to grassroots movements, Yana brings 15+ years of real-world wisdom and experience to this conversation about how trust is built, sustained and repaired — not by accident, but by design. Ready to build deeper trust—with yourself, your team, and your community? Press play and learn how! Key takeaways: Trust is energy — when it exists, it frees up emotional energy for creation and innovation. Trust doesn’t begin with others—it begins with yourself. Self-trust can be intentionally built through small, safe experiments and curated environments. True trust is discerning. Without critical thinking, trustbecomes brittle—vulnerable to manipulation, burnout, and betrayal. Trust grows through micro-actions — from the signals you send, to the words you choose, to the way you respond in conflict—every action can reinforce (or erode) trust. Be intentional. Be consistent. The fastest way to build trust is to show up as authentic self, demonstrate empathy and signal safety. Want to learn more? Learn more about Yana’s work on LinkedIn Get inspired and provoked by Yana’s TED Talk Yana’s top go-to resources on building communities and trust: ‘Belong’ by Rada Agrawal ‘Trust Factor’ podcast by Rob Greenlee ‘The Culture Code: The Secrets of Highly Successful Groups’ by Daniel Coyle ‘Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. WholeHearts.’ by Brené Brown ‘Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in aSometimes Lonely World’ by Vivek H. Murthy
S1 · E10
May 29, 2025 · 59 min
Unlocking Imagination with Lucy Gray, Author and Systems thinker
What if imagination wasn’t a childhood fantasy, but the key to unlocking your most powerful, creative self? In this episode of Get Superpowered, we dive into the expansive world of Imagination with writer and systems thinker Lucy Gray. From writing 80+ speeches on dreams and impossibility to authoring a collection of 45 children's stories and a debut novel ‘Eternal Gravity’ that blends love and physics, Lucy has made imagination her life’s superpower. We explore how imagination is not just the birthplace for creativity—it’s a daily practice, a muscle, and a life skill. Lucy reveals how to intentionally shape your environment, routine, and rituals to nurture this inner superpower—because the more you invest in it, the more it gives back. We unpack why imagination thrives on peace, why believing your idea deserves to exist helps you persevere, and how revisiting your childhood loves can guide you toward what you really want. Hit play and start unlocking your imagination to solve complex problems, forecast what’s next and make bold moves. Key Takeaways: Imagination is the capacity to form new images, ideas & scenarios inside of our minds. Imagination doesn’t thrive in chaos. To unlock its potential, create a state of peace: emotionally, mentally, environmentally. Wanting it is the starting line . Real momentum begins with honest ambition. When you go back to your childhood, you’ll find what you truly want. Belief creates accountability. If you believe your idea deserves to exist, you’ll feel responsible for bringing it to life—and persevere, even when it gets hard. Environment is an imagination accelerator. Rituals, routines, and surroundings matter. Intentionally designing your space can turn your imagination from passive daydream to generative power. Treat imagination as a muscle, not a muse. You don’t wait for inspiration. You train. Daily. Write a sentence. Reimagine an everyday object. Journal one page. All imagination counts – and it stacks. Effort in = ideas out. Want to learn more? Learn more about Lucy’s latest work http://www.eternalgravity.com/
S1 · E9
May 15, 2025 · 1 hr 3 min
Becoming Unstressable with David Meikle, Strategic Advisor, Author, and Creator of the Meikle Matrix
What if stress wasn’t just something to manage—but something you could completely reframe? In this episode of Get Superpowered, I’m joined by David Meikle — a prominent thinker, strategic advisor to global brands, and creator of the Meikle Matrix, a powerful framework for redefining our relationship with stress. With decades of experience navigating pressure at the highest levels of the advertising industry, David has cracked a code that could change how you live and lead. We unpack the real root of stress—responsibility without control—and explore how to rebalance the power dynamic in your life, work, and relationships. This episode is not about coping strategies. It’s about clarity, ownership, and navigating your way back to the flow zone—where your energy, creativity, and performance thrive. Whether you’re a leader, team member, or change-maker —ifyou’ve ever felt stressed, overwhelmed or stuck, this conversation is your blueprint to Becoming Unstressable. Let’s dive in NOW. Key Takeaways: Stress = Responsibility Without Control A clinical definition with transformative power. Understand this, and you're halfway to Becoming Unstressable. There’s a Map: The Meikle Matrix Four zones — Flow, Stress, Toil, Non-Stick. Know where you are to know how to move. Don’t Treat the Symptom. Rewire the System. Coping mechanisms aren’t the solution. Redesign responsibility and control instead. Ask Better Questions ‘What conditions can I create so you can do your best work?’ empowers performance, builds trust, and drives outcomes. Take the Balcony View When pressure spikes, don’t react—pause. Breathe. Observe. Then choose your next move with intention. Flow Is Where the Diamonds Are Made Align high control with high responsibility. That’s where your best work—and life—happens. Want to learn more? Find out more about the Meikle Matrix and David's ‘Tuning Up’ work https://www.tuningup.co.uk/ Try the Tuning Up relationship diagnostic: https://www.tuningup.co.uk/diagnostic-tool/ Explore David’s projects and work https://www.htbag.co.uk/ Get inspired and provoked by David’s thought leadership https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-meikle-6194405/
S1 · E8
Apr 10, 2025 · 52 min
6th Gear thinking with Deborah Perry, the master of high-performance mental state
Welcome back to the ‘Get Superpowered’! Today’s episode is one I’ve been so excited to share becauseit completely flips the script on how we think… about thinking. Meet Deborah Perry. With over 25 years of experience ininnovation, creative thinking facilitation, — and as an artist, poet, and author—Debbie helps people ignite the kind of powerful, high-quality thinking that sparksreal breakthroughs. Debbie has cracked the code on what she calls 6th Gear Thinking — a state of mental flow where true creativity, innovation and deep problem-solving collide. In a world hijacked by distractions, to-do lists, and AI shortcuts, Debbie’s work is an invitation to reclaim the art of extraordinary thinking and imagination. In our conversation, we unpack what 6th Gear Thinking reallyis, why it matters more than ever in this age of rapid change—and how you can actually train yourself to access it on demand. We explore how to create the conditions for mental flow, what gets in the way, and how to outsmart the barriers with powerful strategies like FADE and DISC. So, if you’re ready to think beyond the obvious, break through the noise, and generate bold, breakthrough ideas with energy and ease—this one’s for you. Let’s unlock the superpower of 6th Gear Thinking. Let’s divein NOW.
S1 · E7
Mar 27, 2025 · 53 min
Breaking Down Complex with Charlie Rossetti, a private equity investor and strategic advisor
In this episode of Get Superpowered, we dive into the art—and superpower—of Breaking Down Complex with Charlie Rossetti, a private equity investor and strategic advisor. Where others see noise and chaos, Charlie sees patterns andpurpose. From private equity boardrooms to board games, he breaks down complexity to its essential pieces—revealing the levers that matter and using them to unlock high-impact decisions and outcomes. In our conversation, Charlie shares his hard-earned playbook for making the complex simple and the overwhelming doable. We explore why simplifying complexity is a critical skill in today’s hyper-specialised world and how anyone can learn it—with the right mindset and tools. Charlie draws powerful parallels between finance, gamestrategy, and life—showing that the ability to simplify isn’t about dumbing down, it’s about smartly structuring. At the heart of it all lies effective communication: not as a performance, but as a practice of being understood. Because clarity isn't just a nice-to-have—it's what moves people, decisions, and ideas forward. Ready to unlock the superpower of Breaking down Complex? Hit play and get started! Key Takeaways: · Complex is personal. It’s not about the thing—it’s about how difficult it feels to understand for the person approaching it. Complex lives in perception, not in the number of parts. · Break it down with intention. Begin by setting a clear objective. Then, strip away what doesn’t matter, zoom in onwhat does, and simplify step by step. · Action builds confidence. The hardest part is often getting started. Action beats overwhelm. Knowledge builds confidence, and small wins create momentum. · Be aware of false precision - more detail can blur, not sharpen. If it doesn’t move the needle and get you closer to your objective, let it go. · Communicate to be understood. Effective communication isn’t about sounding smart—it’s about making sure your message lands. Clearly.

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