Different Hats Podcast Podcast Por Sam Thomas arte de portada

Different Hats Podcast

Different Hats Podcast

De: Sam Thomas
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I believe everyone has a story to tell, through seeking true, authentic insights about the entrepreneurial journey, I provide a platform for our peers to share their stories and inspire those that listen.


Welcome! I’m Sam Thomas, the host of the "Different Hats Podcast." In a world where entrepreneurs often feel pressured to wear countless hats, I believe in the power of authentic storytelling to redefine what success truly means. My mission is to help the 'World to See Success Differently' so you can achieve happiness, purpose, and fulfilment, by sharing real stories from those who’ve navigated the entrepreneurial landscape.


Through engaging conversations with peers and industry leaders like Chris Anderson of TED, I aim to provide you with the insights and inspiration needed to build the business you desire. Unlike other platforms, "Different Hats" focuses on the human side of entrepreneurship, moving beyond the performative aspects to foster genuine connections and meaningful growth.


Happy Listening 🎧

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sam Thomas 2021 Ciencias Sociales Economía Filosofía Gestión y Liderazgo Higiene y Vida Saludable Liderazgo Psicología Psicología y Salud Mental
Episodios
  • #137 Understanding How You’re Wired Changes Everything | Neil Witten

    #137 Understanding How You’re Wired Changes Everything | Neil Witten
    Jan 27 2026

    In this deep, thoughtful conversation, I am joined by entrepreneur, technologist and systems-thinker Neil Witten to explore what success really means, and why so many of us feel disconnected from the lives we’re building.


    Neil has spent years questioning the systems we’re told to follow in education, work, entrepreneurship and culture, and asking a more human question instead:


    “What am I uniquely designed to do?”


    Together, Neil and I explore:

    • Why success has become overly defined by money, status and productivity
    • The hidden cost of ignoring curiosity, play and soft skills
    • Why many people wait for crisis before changing their lives
    • The role parents, schools and culture play in shaping identity
    • Why self-awareness may be the most important skill of the future


    This is not a conversation about hacks or shortcuts.

    It’s about listening to your gut, working on yourself, and choosing alignment over approval.

    If you’ve ever felt like you’re climbing the wrong ladder…

    If you’ve questioned the systems you’ve inherited…


    Or if you’re quietly asking “Is this really it?” .. this episode is for you.



    ⏱️ CHAPTERS


    00:00 – Introduction

    03:30 – Why we struggle to talk honestly (especially men)

    10:45 – How culture hijacked our definition of success

    18:40 – Purpose, play & being wired for something

    30:15 – Education, neurodiversity & one-size-fits-all systems

    42:10 – Soft skills, hiring & the future of work

    55:30 – Childhood, curiosity & learning outside the system

    1:10:45 – Entrepreneurship, risk & waiting for permission

    1:28:20 – Parenting, autonomy & enabling potential

    1:45:10 – Creating your own catalysts for change

    2:02:30 – Letting go, evolution & redefining your role

    2:18:40 – Final reflections: living true to yourself


    🎧 LISTEN TO MORE DIFFERENT HATS EPISODES:


    👉 https://www.different-hats.co.uk/podcast


    🔗 Connect with Neil Witten


    Website: https://www.pigsinflight.co.uk/

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neilwitten/


    💡 If this episode resonated with you, please like, share, and comment below.

    Your support helps us change the narrative around success and mental health.


    SPONSORED BY


    Rivervale – https://www.rivervale.co.uk

    Brown Bear Studios – https://www.brownbearstudio.co.uk

    Carpenter Box – https://www.carpenterbox.com


    🎙️ PRODUCED BY:


    H2 Productions – https://h2productions.co.uk

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
    Más Menos
    2 h y 31 m
  • #136 The Voice in My Head Nearly Killed Me | A Conversation About Self-Worth

    #136 The Voice in My Head Nearly Killed Me | A Conversation About Self-Worth
    Jan 20 2026

    What happens when you’ve done everything “right”… but still feel worthless, lost, and exhausted by your own mind?


    In this deeply honest and moving episode of the Different Hats Podcast, Sam sits down with Matt Cheney, creative producer, storyteller, and someone who has quietly fought one of the hardest battles of all: the one inside his own head.


    Matt opens up about late ADHD diagnosis, imposter syndrome, self-worth, burnout, grief, suicide attempts, and the masks many men wear just to survive. He shares how losing his father, his relationship, his career structure, his identity, and his sense of belonging brought him to rock bottom, and how a single moment, a run, and one unexpected email helped him choose to keep going.


    This is not a story about “fixing yourself.”

    It’s about learning how to live with yourself.


    If you’ve ever:

    • Felt like you weren’t enough

    • Lived with a relentless inner critic

    • Been successful on the outside but empty inside

    • Struggled to accept love, compliments, or rest

    • Wondered if it’s possible to keep going


    This conversation will stay with you.





    ⏱️ Episode Chapters


    00:00 – Introduction

    01:21 – “You Alright Mate?” check-in

    02:54 – Shiny objects vs investing in yourself

    07:35 – Redefining success beyond money

    12:30 – Loving your work… but hating yourself

    16:13 – Creativity, kids & permission to try

    22:14 – Childhood, belonging & emotional safety

    28:51 – Rugby, leadership & fear of failure

    32:58 – ADHD, masking & self-worth

    40:20 – Parents, caregiving & inherited patterns

    49:05 – Imposter syndrome & burnout

    56:00 – Relationships, vulnerability & being seen

    1:06:51 – Injury, grief & losing everything

    1:18:42 – Suicide attempts & the pain beneath them

    1:19:34 – The email that changed everything

    1:28:56 – “You are the sky, everything else is weather”

    1:35:50 – Learning to live with the inner critic

    1:46:29 – Giving without needing anything back

    1:53:29 – Silence, endurance & the meaning of “keep going”

    2:08:20 – Advice for anyone feeling lost

    2:12:27 – A life well lived


    💬 Key Themes Explored


    • ADHD & late diagnosis

    • Imposter syndrome

    • Masculinity & emotional literacy

    • Suicide, grief & recovery

    • Self-worth vs external success

    • Receiving love & compliments

    • Identity beyond achievement

    • Why “keeping going” matters


    🎧 LISTEN TO MORE DIFFERENT HATS EPISODES:


    👉 https://www.different-hats.co.uk/podcast


    🔗 Connect with Matt Cheney


    https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattcheney1/


    💡 If this episode resonated with you, please like, share, and comment. Your support helps us change the narrative around success and mental health.


    SPONSORED BY


    Rivervale – https://www.rivervale.co.uk

    Brown Bear Studios – https://www.brownbearstudio.co.uk

    Carpenter Box – https://www.carpenterbox.com


    🎙️ PRODUCED BY:


    H2 Productions – https://h2productions.co.uk

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
    Más Menos
    2 h y 19 m
  • #135 What Terminal Cancer Taught Me About Life, Love and Legacy

    #135 What Terminal Cancer Taught Me About Life, Love and Legacy
    Jan 13 2026
    What happens when life forces you to face the one thing most of us avoid thinking about?In this deeply honest and moving episode, I sit down with Gavin O’Donoghue, who shares his journey living with stage 4 metastatic melanoma, the reality of a terminal diagnosis, and the mindset shifts that have helped him keep showing up with hope, humour and heart.This is a powerful conversation about presence, fatherhood, friendship, legacy, and what success really means when the “big stuff” is stripped away.If you or someone you love is navigating illness, grief, anxiety, or simply feeling overwhelmed by life, this episode is a reminder that connection, love, and meaning are the real measures of a life well lived.Chapters00:00:02 Introduction00:00:47 Gavin’s honest answer: “Life is pretty tough right now”00:08:12 Hope as a lifeline in dark moments00:08:47 The power of presence + “the greatest Christmas ever”00:09:58 Was Gavin always present, or did cancer change that?00:10:36 Work, busyness, and the struggle to switch off00:13:50 Society’s pressure, productivity, and the “success” trap00:15:03 Gavin’s old definition of success vs. what it became00:24:26 Leadership lessons: helping others win00:26:34 Giving, reciprocity, and building a “personal board of directors”00:36:07 Teaching kids success before crisis forces the lesson00:37:56 What really matters at the end of life00:44:35 Curiosity, learning, and taking control where you can00:45:13 Mindset tools: breathwork, gratitude, and community support00:54:38 Why vulnerability is strength (and isolation makes it harder)00:57:04 “That’s what makes you rich” — relationships as real wealth00:59:17 Men, friendship, banter, and why community matters01:01:02 Creating legacy: recording stories for his boys01:05:49 The balance between hope and realism01:07:33 Why we avoid talking about death (and what we miss)01:09:52 Gavin’s diagnosis story: from stage 2 to stage 401:25:16 How Gavin keeps going after setbacks01:25:39 Purpose, therapy, goals, and finding reasons to keep moving01:35:32 The Open qualifier: “my biggest f*** you to cancer”01:39:13 The example he’s setting for his children01:42:22 The “A-grade letter” exercise + “Go brave”01:55:19 Paying it forward: Wolo, awareness, and impact01:57:57 Biggest life lessons: love, honesty, vulnerability, meaning02:13:14 Closing words + “Go brave”🧠 Key themes in this episodeLiving with terminal cancer and staying human in itHope vs. realism: holding both at the same timePresence, gratitude, and the small moments that become everythingFriendship, banter, love, and why men need communityLegacy: creating memories for your children while you still canRedefining success beyond money, status and achievementGavin’s life tools: curiosity, journaling, breathwork, therapy, humour👤 About Gavin O’DonoghueGavin is an executive search consultant with 20 years’ experience in financial markets. Since 2019 he has been living with melanoma, and following a stage 4 diagnosis, he has endured multiple treatments while continuing to show up for his family, his friends, and his purpose with honesty, humour and heart.💬 Quote to sit with“Success now is hugging my boys… being present… love… connection… the simple stuff.”✅ If this episode resonated…Please like, subscribe, and share it with someone who needs a bit of hope today.And if you’re going through something right now send the text. Ask the question.Those three words can matter more than we realise.🎧 LISTEN TO MORE DIFFERENT HATS EPISODES:👉 https://www.different-hats.co.uk/podcast🔗 Connect with Gavin O’DonoghueInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/odonoghue.gavin/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gavin-o-donoghue-12ba5312/💡 If this episode resonated with you, please like, share, and comment below. Your support helps us spread this important message and change the narrative around success and mental health.SPONSORED BY:RivervaleBrown Bear StudiosCarpenter BoxPRODUCED BY: H2 Productions: https://h2productions.co.uk/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
    Más Menos
    2 h y 14 m
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