TIE Unearthed

Hosted by Philippa White

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Episodes

119

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Jun 2026

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About the show

Welcome to the TIE Unearthed podcast. This is the show where we unearth new ways of looking at ever evolving life around the world. Seen from a number of different industries, cultures, and backgrounds. And there’s one thing that unites everyone I speak to. They all want to do their part to make the world better in their own unique ways. It’s a uniting passion. Whether they’re from the commercial world, third sector, or public sector. From the Global North or the Global South. If you’re looking for inspiration that will get you thinking in new ways, then come on this journey with me.

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June 12, 202643 min

Ep #117: The Resilience We've Been Getting Wrong, with Nick Whitnell

How many times this week did you nod along when something in you wanted to say no? That small surrender feels harmless, but Nick Whitnell would argue it's exactly where the cracks begin.In this episode of TIE Unearthed, I sit down with Nick. A leadership coach, facilitator, former corporate executive, and the founder of Daring Works and The Natural Network.After years in senior leadership roles, burnout brought Nick to a full stop. What followed wasn't a dramatic reinvention or a neatly packaged transformation story. It was instead something far more honest; a slower, messier journey back toward authenticity and self-compassion.But this conversation isn't really about burnout.It's about the quiet cost of swallowing who we are to fit the systems we're part of. Maybe it's the mortgage, the family expectations, the roles we play until we forget they were ever roles at all. And it's about what it takes to come home to yourself.We talk about resilience, and why Nick avoided the word for years as it became something weaponised. The version that says "look how much I can endure" while everything inside is shattering. He offers a different picture - a lotus flower. I love the imagery.Resilience as deep roots in a nourishing environment rather than gritted teeth in a toxic one. As the art of saying no. The fierce, as well as soft, compassion to stay in bed for four days, because that, not pushing through, is what keeps you standing in the long run. Nature does this, he reminds me. What looks rotten and composted down isn't weakness. It's the whole system regenerating.We explore the tension Gabor Maté describes between authenticity and attachment. Why we nod along in meetings rather than say the thing we actually believe. And how those small surrenders become the cracks that form in our souls.And we end on Buckminster Fuller's trim tabs. The idea that the smallest movement can turn a far larger system. Follow what's truly yours, he says, and you pollinate far more than you ever planned to. Like a bee that only set out to find food.If you've been questioning the pace of your life, reassessing what success actually means, or searching for a more grounded way to move through the world, this one's for you.👉 In the meantime, don't forget to share your thoughts on the episode, leave a review, and subscribe!If you'd like to stay updated on future episodes and other inspiring stories from TIE, join our newsletter [here]. If you would like to order my international bestselling book Return on Humanity: Leadership lessons from all corners of the earth, you can do that [here]. You can also reach out to Nick and join his Trim Tabs newsletter here: https://www.daring.works/blog/trimtabs-2-connecting-more-deeply-prf7d-dmcft-zx36g-dwrkn

May 29, 202638 min

Ep #116: The DEI Retreat and the Business Cost No One Is Talking About, with Joe Gerstandt

What happens when a profession designed to bring more humanity into organisations gets weaponised by a culture war?When language that was meant to create belonging becomes something both sides throw at each other?And when the corporate world quietly retreats from work it once pledged to champion, what are the real consequences for innovation, adaptability, and long-term survival?In this episode of TIE Unearthed, I sit down with Joe Gerstandt, a speaker, author, and advisor with over 25 years of experience leading and supporting organisational DEI efforts across nearly every industry imaginable. From Fortune 100 companies to government, healthcare, and nonprofits, Joe has spent his career helping leaders move beyond performative conversations and toward something far more grounded: cultures where people can actually think, challenge, contribute, and belong.But this conversation isn't a defence of a programme or a political argument.It's a clear-eyed look at what went wrong, what was never properly understood, and what's actually at stake.Joe talks candidly about the backlash against DEI in corporate America, why so many organisations quietly walked away, and how fear, legal uncertainty, and short-term thinking have distorted conversations that were always meant to be about people. He shares why DEI as a profession was chronically underfunded and under-supported long before the backlash, and why that changes how we should evaluate what's actually happened.We talk about what Kodak and Blockbuster have to do with inclusion. Why organisations that stop listening eventually stop adapting. And what it really costs to build cultures where truth can no longer be spoken safely across levels and across difference.Joe ends with Minneapolis. With a community that faced something hard, and responded in a way that quietly answers the question this whole conversation had been circling.You'll want to hear this.👉 Don't forget to share your thoughts, leave a review, and subscribe.If you'd like to stay updated on future episodes and other inspiring stories from TIE, join our newsletter here.If you would like to order my international bestselling book Return on Humanity: Leadership lessons from all corners of the earth, you can do that here.

May 15, 202640 min

Ep:#115 AI, Story & What Makes Us Human with Brad Rossacci

What happens when technology becomes more powerful than ever, but we then forget to fully and intentionally live our lives? In this episode of TIE Unearthed, I connect with Brad Rossacci - a Creative Director, storyteller, and self-described “rebellious optimist” who believes curiosity and creativity are the fuel for human flourishing.Brad has spent years at the forefront of innovation at Accenture, and he’s now Executive Creative Director and Head of Story - shaping how some of the world’s biggest brands think, create, and connect.But this conversation goes far beyond branding and AI.We talk about the stories we tell ourselves, and how those stories end up shaping the way we create our lives. We explore the power of intentional living, the importance of the pause between stimulus and response, and what human agency means in the age of AI. We also explore authenticity and just how valuable it is in this ever-evolving world we are living in today. One of my favourite moments was Brad’s insight that:“High agency organisations use AI to augment human judgment. Low agency organisations use AI to offload thinking.”Fascinating insight. Perhaps that’s the real tension sitting underneath this entire conversation?As technology accelerates, what happens? Do we become more passive, or perhaps more intentional?More disconnected, or maybe more human?This is a conversation about story, self-awareness, technology, creativity, and what it means to consciously shape the life you want to live.So, if you’ve been thinking about the power of living more intentionally, how to build the life you want to live, and how to approach AI - and the future - from a place of agency and abundance rather than fear and scarcity, then this one’s for you.👉 In the meantime, don’t forget to share your thoughts on the episode, leave a review, and subscribe!If you'd like to stay updated on future episodes and other inspiring stories from TIE, join our newsletter ⁠⁠[⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠]. If you would like to order my international bestselling book Return on Humanity: Leadership lessons from all corners of the earth, you can do that ⁠⁠⁠[⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠].

April 30, 202640 min

Ep:#114 Joe Hamrahi: A CFO’s Take on Return on Humanity

What does resilience really look like when life doesn’t go to plan?When the future you mapped out disappears….When the people you love are facing something you can’t fix….When success, as you once defined it, no longer feels like enough….In this episode of TIE Unearthed, I sit down with Joe Hamrahi, a seasoned CFO and trusted advisor who has spent over three decades helping businesses grow, scale, and make smarter decisions.But what makes Joe different is this:He doesn’t just understand numbers.He understands what really drives them.After nearly 20 years as CFO and COO of M Booth - scaling the business from $9M to over $90M - Joe now works closely with founders through FinStrat CFO, helping them navigate complexity with clarity, grounded in both performance and humanity. Because for Joe, Return on Humanity isn’t a concept. It’s something he’s lived.After navigating his wife’s stage 4 cancer diagnosis, the breakdown of his marriage, and stepping away from a corporate world that no longer aligned with his values, he was forced to rethink everything.What actually matters?How do you keep going when life changes the rules?And what does resilience really mean, when it’s not about pushing through?This is a conversation about perspective.About how we respond when control disappears.And about redefining success - not by what we accumulate, but by how we live, lead, and show up for others.If you’re navigating uncertainty, questioning your path, or simply trying to keep going in a world that feels unpredictable….This one’s for you.👉 In the mean time, don’t forget to share your thoughts on the episode, leave a review, and subscribe!If you'd like to stay updated on future episodes and other inspiring stories from TIE, join our newsletter ⁠⁠[⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠]. If you would like to order my international bestselling book Return on Humanity: Leadership lessons from all corners of the earth, you can do that ⁠⁠⁠[⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠].

December 19, 202536 min

Ep:#113 Empowering a Generation Through Story with Cyril Awere

What if the most powerful leadership tool we have right now… is a story?Not a framework.Not a strategy.But a story that shifts belief, in ourselves and in others.In TIE Unearthed, episode 113, I’m joined by Cyril Awere - a people-first transformation leader and the creator of the Believe Africa podcast, now reaching 24,000 subscribers, largely across the African continent.Born in London. Raised in Ghana. Working globally. Cyril sits at the intersection of growth mindset, agility, culture, and humanity.In this conversation, we explore how people often know far more than they think they do - but haven’t yet been given permission to believe it.Why short, accessible stories can create more movement than even the most sophisticated leadership models. How adaptability starts with mindset, not method. And why changing a narrative can quietly unlock potential - in individuals, organisations, and entire generations.Because today’s leadership challenge isn’t a lack of data or tools.It’s a lack of belief, psychological safety, and space to think differently.So whether you’re heading out for a run, walking the dog, or settling in with your favourite drink - press play, get comfortable, and let’s get stuck in.👉 In the mean time, don’t forget to share your thoughts on the episode, leave a review, and subscribe!If you'd like to stay updated on future episodes and other inspiring stories from TIE, join our newsletter ⁠⁠[⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠]. If you would like to order my international bestselling book Return on Humanity: Leadership lessons from all corners of the earth, you can do that ⁠⁠⁠[⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠]. If you’d like to follow the Believe Africa podcast, you can find it and Cyril’s book [here].

December 5, 202541 min

Ep:#112 Clarity in the Chaos with Nicola Pye

What if purpose isn’t something you find, but instead something that you build?Recorded earlier this year, before life threw me a curveball, this episode ended up waiting a little longer than planned.But returning to it now, its message feels even more relevant.This episode is all about purpose. Real, steady-you-when-the-ground-moves purpose.The kind leaders are craving.The kind businesses can’t afford to ignore.My guest is the brilliant Nicola Pye - Leadership Coach, People Person, former EY Global Talent Director, and someone who has spoken to more than 40 purposeful leaders across continents and sectors to decode what purpose looks like in practice.Together, we explore:💫 What truly gives you energy (and what quietly drains it)💫 Why purpose isn’t a lightning bolt, but a series of intentional steps💫 What happens when leadership teams aren’t aligned💫 How stepping out of your comfort zone can reveal what actually lifts you💫 And why purpose and commerciality are two sides of the same coinIt’s grounded. It’s practical. And it’s full of insights that stay with you long after you’re done listening.If you’re navigating change, leading through uncertainty, or wondering whether you’re building your life and leadership intentionally, this one is for you.So throw on those running shoes, or grab that favourite beverage, and let's get stuck in!👉 In the mean time, don’t forget to share your thoughts on the episode, leave a review, and subscribe!If this conversation sparks something for you and you want to dive deeper into the research behind it, you can download all three of Nicola’s Purpose Papers – The Power of Purpose, The DNA of a Purposeful Leader, and The Dark Side of Purpose – here: ⁠www.nicolapye.com/purpose-papers⁠. They’re short, practical and full of the kind of grounded insight leaders say they wish they’d had years ago.If you'd like to stay updated on future episodes and other inspiring stories from TIE, join our newsletter ⁠⁠[⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠]. If you would like to order my international bestselling book Return on Humanity: Leadership lessons from all corners of the earth, you can do that ⁠⁠⁠[⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠].

November 21, 202543 min

Ep #111: Philippa on What the Heck Just Happened

In this special episode of TIE Unearthed, the tables turn once again.This time, my friend Helen Wada - fellow author, fellow cancer thriver, fellow podcaster, and passionate advocate for humanity in business - steps in to interview me.After an unexpected pause these last few months, life took me on a journey I never planned for. One that forced a full stop, asked me to trust my intuition, and revealed more beauty, gratitude, and clarity than I ever thought possible in the middle of a cancer chapter.Together, Helen and I explore what really happens when life throws everything up in the air - and how we choose to meet it. We talk about the power of manifestation and the art of responding when the universe has other ideas. We reflect on what emerges in the space created when everything stops, what it teaches us, and how it reshapes what we value.We dive into the lessons that surprised us both:✨ how gratitude can exist even when life feels hard✨ how joy and beauty can still find you in the thick of it✨how connection, community and letting others in becomes its own kind of strength✨ how challenge, if we allow it, can transform us from the inside outIt’s a conversation about seeing ourselves, each other, and what truly matters more clearly. And it's about finding purpose in the moments we never thought we’d have to navigate.I hope this episode gives you something meaningful to reflect on in your own life. A massive thank you to Helen for joining me and for asking such thoughtful questions. Helen's book HUMAN-WISE: How to lead from within and sell with confidence will be available globally both in store and online from March 2026.Don’t forget to share your thoughts on the episode, leave a review, and subscribe!If you'd like to stay updated on future episodes and other inspiring stories from TIE, join our newsletter ⁠⁠[⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠]. If you would like to order my international bestselling book Return on Humanity: Leadership lessons from all corners of the earth, you can do that ⁠⁠⁠[⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠].

June 14, 202545 min

Ep:#110 Redefining Success from Burnout to Human Flourishing with Narath Carlile

What if the richest life wasn’t about accumulation, but contribution?What if success wasn’t about climbing higher, but going deeper - into purpose, into service, into meaning?And what if the greatest performance boost available to us today wasn’t technological, but human?Welcome to Episode 110 of TIE Unearthed.This week I sit down with Dr. Narath Carlile, a Harvard-trained physician, clinical informatician and systems thinker whose work is redefining how we live, work, and care.Born in South Africa, shaped by Canada, and working at the cutting edge of healthcare innovation, Narath’s story is one of constant evolution. After years inside medical systems that rewarded output over empathy, he asked a radical question: What if we designed systems to support human flourishing, not just survival?What followed was MakeTimeFlow Labs, a high-performance AI-supported platform that integrates neuroscience, emotional intelligence, and purpose-driven productivity to help people reclaim time, energy, and joy.In this conversation, we explore:• Why so many high performers are burnt out, and how we fix the system, not just the symptoms• What philosophy and emotional intelligence have to do with high-scale, high-touch healthcare• How systems rooted in truth, justice, and fairness can transform the future of global wellbeing• And how leaders can shift from performance at all costs, to performance with integrity, balance, and careWe also unpack the true cost of misaligned values in professional life.Why a poverty mindset in systems (even wealthy ones) leads to emotional and ethical burnout.And how we can raise children, and build businesses, that measure worth through meaning, not just metrics.This is a rich, wide-ranging episode that pulls together everything from universal healthcare and burnout to parenting, purpose, and what it really means to live a fulfilled life.If you’ve ever felt like the metrics of modern success don’t quite match your inner compass, this one’s for you.I’m off on holiday at the end of next week. But we’ll be back again in August for more TIE Unearthed. Until then! 👉 In the mean time, don’t forget to share your thoughts on the episode, leave a review, and subscribe!If you'd like to stay updated on future episodes and other inspiring stories from TIE, join our newsletter ⁠⁠[⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠]. If you would like to order my international bestselling book Return on Humanity: Leadership lessons from all corners of the earth, you can do that ⁠⁠⁠[⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠]. To learn more about MakeTimeFlow Labs, their tools development arm, and get 6 weeks of pro click here: ⁠https://my.maketimeflow.com/philippaTo learn more about their Cognitive High Performance Solutions, their training and coaching arm, click here: https://www.cognitivehighperformance.com

May 30, 202545 min

Ep#:109 Reimaging humanity in the age of intelligent machines with Caroline Chubb Calderon

What if we’ve been asking the wrong questions about AI?What if it’s not just about what AI can do, but instead who we become in relationship with it?What if the real challenge isn’t technological, but moral, ecological, and civilisational?Welcome to Episode 109 of TIE Unearthed.This week I’m joined by Caroline Chubb Calderon, futurist, humanist, and one of the Top 100 Brilliant Women in AI Ethics. She’s the founder of Hello Humanity, a bold futures practice reimagining the role of AI in a flourishing world.Caroline doesn’t just talk about AI ethics. She challenges us to shift our entire worldview; from extraction to regeneration, from automation to imagination, from machine alignment to Life alignment.In this conversation, we explore:🧭 Why regenerative economics, not efficiency at all costs, may be our only sustainable path forward🌱 What it means to align AI with the principles of life, and the danger if we don’t💡 The power of moral imagination and why it’s the leadership skill of our time🧬 How awe, curiosity, and deep human intelligence are our greatest assets in the age of intelligent machines🌍 Why we must dream differently, and how a small, committed group really can tip the systemWe also talk about AGI, ASI, digital relationships, and why the real question isn’t what these technologies can do for us, but instead who we are becoming as we live alongside them.As Caroline reminds us: if we don’t design AI intentionally in service to Life… it will be unintentionally designed against it.This one’s not just for the technologists. It’s for anyone who cares about the future of humanity, and the role we each have to play in shaping it.So grab that favourite beverage, or put on those running shoes, and here is Caroline. 👉 Don’t forget to share your thoughts on the episode, leave a review, and subscribe!If you'd like to stay updated on future episodes and other inspiring stories from TIE, join our newsletter ⁠⁠[⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠]. If you would like to order my international bestselling book Return on Humanity: Leadership lessons from all corners of the earth, you can do that ⁠⁠⁠[⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠]. (For a limited time only, the Kindle is only 99p/99c!)🔗 Learn more about Caroline’s work at: https://www.hellohumanity.com

May 16, 202543 min

Ep:#108 Bottling Up Trouble with Tabbin Almond

What if the person at your next boardroom meeting, client lunch, or team offsite is secretly battling an addiction - yet looking like they have it all together?What if that person is you?And what if the culture you work in not only enables the behaviour, but rewards it?Welcome to Episode 108 of TIE Unearthed.This one is raw, honest, and a truth that few people publicly talk about.I’m joined by Tabbin Almond; coach, speaker, author, podcast host - and a former advertising exec who lived a double life. On the outside, polished, driven, and successful. On the inside, quietly struggling with alcohol addiction.In this candid and powerful conversation, Tabbin opens up about:✨ How casual drinking evolved into a dangerous habit✨ The shame and silence that kept her stuck✨ Her first attempt at change - through hypnotherapy - and why it eventually wasn’t enough✨ The turning point - and support resource - that finally helped her break freeWe hear about the science behind addiction, the myths we’ve absorbed about alcohol (and just assumed as truths), and the role of childhood trauma.And we also dig into the uncomfortable realities about alcohol culture in the workplace; especially in high-performing industries like advertising, law, media and finance. What are the hidden costs? Who’s being excluded? And what does this mean for inclusion, performance, and wellbeing?But this isn’t a story of defeat. It’s a story of freedom.Tabbin didn’t just find her way out, she now helps others do the same. Her tools, insights and compassion light a new path forward for anyone ready to question their relationship with alcohol, or support someone they love who might be struggling.Whether you drink or don’t, whether you lead teams or simply work within one, this episode will leave you thinking differently.So grab that favourite beverage, or put on those running shoes, and here is Tabbin. 👉 Don’t forget to share your thoughts on the episode, leave a review, and subscribe!If you'd like to stay updated on future episodes and other inspiring stories from TIE, join our newsletter ⁠⁠[⁠here⁠⁠⁠]. If you would like to order my international bestselling book Return on Humanity: Leadership lessons from all corners of the earth, you can do that ⁠⁠⁠[here⁠⁠⁠]. To access further resources, tools, and Tabbin’s book check out: bottlinguptrouble.comLearn more about how to get help if you're struggling with alcohol or know someone that is at: thisnakedmind.com