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What will the world of work look like in ten years? How will artificial intelligence, changing customer expectations and new technologies reshape our lives? And what can we do today to prepare for a future that nobody can predict with certainty? In this episode of Undercurrent Stories, Bob Wells speaks with Andy Milligan, co-author of Future Shift, about the forces transforming business, work and society. The conversation  is much more than a conversation about corporate strategy. It explores the human skills we all need to navigate change, whether we're starting our careers, running a business, approaching retirement or looking for ways to contribute to our communities. Andy explains why curiosity, adaptability, empathy and critical thinking are becoming increasingly important in an AI-driven world. He also shares why businesses must look beyond profit alone, why smaller organisations can have an advantage over larger corporations, and how older and younger generations can learn from one another. The central message is an optimistic one: we may not be able to predict the future, but we can prepare for it — and we all have a part to play in shaping it. What We Discuss Preparing for an unpredictable future: Why understanding emerging trends matters more than trying to predict exactly what will happen.The changing world of business: How AI, technological innovation, climate change, demographic shifts and geopolitics are reshaping organisations.The importance of brands and customer experience: Why a brand must deliver on its promises, and how employee experience influences what customers actually receive.AI and the human advantage: Why technology should improve the customer experience rather than simply reduce costs, and why human empathy remains essential.The skills that matter most: Why curiosity, collaboration, adaptability, resilience and critical thinking may be just as important as formal qualifications.Rethinking careers: Why young people should develop transferable skills rather than assume they'll follow one career path for life.Purpose beyond profit: Why sustainability, employee wellbeing, good governance and positive community impact matter alongside financial performance.The rise of skills-based working: Why organisations may increasingly value what people can do over their job titles or place in a traditional hierarchy.The advantage of small businesses: How closer relationships with customers and the ability to adapt quickly can help smaller organisations compete.The contribution of older generations: Why experience, mentoring, volunteering and intergenerational conversations can help younger people navigate change.The power of conversation: Why informal discussions and even a walk with a colleague can generate ideas, strengthen relationships and solve problems.Key Takeaways 1. Stay curious and keep learning. Whatever your age or career stage, be willing to question assumptions, explore new ideas and develop new skills. 2. Develop your human skills. Empathy, collaboration, communication and critical thinking will remain valuable as technology takes over more routine tasks. 3. Be prepared to change direction. A qualification or first job doesn't have to define your entire career. The ability to learn, adapt and try something new is a strength. 4. Put people at the heart of technology. AI can make services faster and more convenient, but businesses must understand when customers need human support and understanding. 5. Recognise that business affects everyone. From local shops and tradespeople to global corporations, businesses shape our communities, livelihoods and everyday experiences. 6. Don't underestimate your ability to contribute. Retired people have valuable experience to share, while younger generations bring fresh perspectives. Both benefit when they listen to one another. 7. Be hopeful, but realistic. There are genuine challenges ahead, particularly for people facing uncertainty in employment. However, technology also creates opportunities for people to develop ideas, start businesses and find new ways to contribute. A Message for Younger and Older Generations One of the most thought-provoking themes in this conversation is the role we can all play in helping others navigate change. For younger people, Andy's advice is to remain curious, get involved, collaborate with others and develop the skills that enable you to adapt throughout your working life. For older and retired people, his message is equally important: don't withdraw from society or assume your contribution is over. Offer encouragement rather than criticism, share your experience, explore volunteering opportunities and stay connected with younger generations. The exchange of ideas and experience between generations can help everyone prepare for what comes next. About Andy Milligan Andy Milligan is a business strategist and co-founder of The Caffeine Partnership, where he works with business leaders to develop brand strategies and create experiences that bring those strategies to life. With decades of experience in branding, customer experience and business transformation, Andy is particularly interested in the relationship between what a business promises and what its customers and employees actually experience. He is the co-author of Future Shift: How Business and Brands Prepare for What Comes Next, which brings together major trends shaping the future with insights from 30 leaders across different sectors. About the Book: Future Shift Future Shift explores the forces changing the business landscape and what organisations can do to prepare. Drawing on conversations with leaders across sectors, the book considers technology, AI, changing demographics, climate change, geopolitics, evolving customer expectations and the future of work. Although written with business leaders in mind, its themes are relevant to anyone interested in how the world is changing and how we can respond. A Final Thought The future isn't something that simply happens to us. Through the skills we develop, the businesses we build, the communities we support and the conversations we have, we all help shape it. As Andy reminds us, business is fundamentally a human activity. And in a world increasingly influenced by technology, our ability to listen, understand, collaborate and adapt may be more important than ever. If you enjoyed this episode, share it with someone who is thinking about their future, navigating a career change or looking for ways to make a difference. Find out more about Andy Milligan, The Caffeine Partnership and Future Shift using the links provided with this episode. Question or comment? Send us a text message. www.undercurrentstories.com

What happens when you find out the story you've been told about your own life isn't true? In this episode, Bob Wells talks to award-winning novelist and poet Nathalie Abi-Ezzi about her new historical novel, All the Lives She Lived. It opens in Birmingham in 1917, where a young woman named Doris grows up believing she is alone in the world. Then she learns her parents and six siblings are alive and living just streets away. Her search for who she really is takes her from Birmingham to Baghdad and Beirut. Nathalie talks about: Growing up in Lebanon during the civil war and arriving in England at tenHow her flamboyant, difficult grandmother inspired the character of DorisResearching everyday life in places with few first-hand recordsWriting characters who aren't always likable, but who readers can understandWhy she doesn't plot her novels in advanceTeaching creative writing, and a simple five-minute exercise for anyone who wants to startThe conversation is spoiler-light, so it's safe for anyone who hasn't read the book yet. Links: All the Lives She Lived by Nathalie Abi-Ezzi   Nathalie's author website  Royal Literary Fund profile  Creative writing courses in Tonbridge and Sevenoaks, Kent Question or comment? Send us a text message. www.undercurrentstories.com

What if getting older isn’t really about having fewer things to look forward to, but about learning to appreciate what’s already here? In this episode, I sit down with Irish author, teacher, poet, and former musician Kevin McManus to talk about his novel The Light of the Evening and some of the bigger questions that come with getting older. How do we make sense of grief and loss? What happens when illness changes the way we look at life and how do we learn to appreciate the ordinary days that we might once have taken for granted? Kevin’s novel grew out of some deeply personal experiences, including his wife’s illness and the death of his father. But rather than being a story about despair, The Light of the Evening is ultimately a hopeful book about finding meaning in the everyday. We talk about why the small things such as a cup of tea, a conversation, a laugh, a good day, can become more meaningful as we get older, and why we might be better off paying attention to the life we’re actually living rather than constantly waiting for the next weekend, holiday, birthday, or big event. Kevin also shares the unusual path that brought him to writing. He started playing music and writing lyrics as a teenager, spent years playing in bands, moved into poetry, and eventually became a crime novelist before taking a much more personal direction with his latest book. Along the way, we discuss creativity, self-doubt, marriage, ageing, rural Ireland, and the importance of simply putting your work out into the world. In this episode, we discuss: Why the ordinary moments of life can become more valuable as we get olderWhat illness and loss can teach us about appreciating the presentThe meaning behind the title The Light of the EveningWhy getting older doesn't necessarily mean the end of hope, ambition, or possibilityHow grief can become a source of creativityKevin's journey from playing bass in bands to becoming a novelist and poetHis years writing crime fiction and why he eventually wanted to move in a different directionThe role of humour and companionship in a long marriageWhy we shouldn't overlook the small victories and good daysHow rural Ireland and writers like John McGahern and Seamus Heaney influenced Kevin's workWhy a "page of rubbish is better than a page of nothing"How to overcome self-doubt and actually get started on the work you've been thinking aboutWhy you eventually have to stop tinkering and let your work goThe danger of always waiting for the next thing instead of enjoying the day you're livingWhat it means to look back at the life you've lived and realise that perhaps you did more than you thoughtAt its heart, this is a conversation about making peace with the life you've got, finding beauty in ordinary days, and recognising that there is still light ahead, even when you're entering the later chapters of life. LInks: https://kevinmcmanusbooks.com/ Book: The Light at Evening Question or comment? Send us a text message. www.undercurrentstories.com

Want to become a more confident and compelling public speaker? Most of us at some point in our lives have to make a speech. Perhaps a wedding speech, a family celebration or you might be regularly making presentations at work. Whether you’re facing your first presentation or you’ve been speaking for years, this episode is packed with practical ideas to help you communicate with greater impact.  Paul Sloane, keynote speaker and author of 160 Top Tips for Public Speakers, joins us and talks about what separates an ordinary speech from a memorable one. Paul reveals how to: Build a talk around what your audience actually wantsStructure your speech so it has a clear beginning, middle and endUse stories, humour and pauses to keep people listeningRehearse without becoming dependent on a scriptUse the “virtual journey” technique to remember your talkAvoid common PowerPoint and presentation mistakesHandle nerves, mistakes and unexpected problems on stageKeep people engaged when speaking on ZoomGet useful feedback and continually improve your speakingThere’s also advice on one of the biggest secrets of becoming a better speaker: speak more, learn from every performance, and keep refining what works. If you want to feel more natural, confident and engaging when you stand up to speak, this episode is for you. Links: Paul's website:  https://www.destination-innovation.com/ Book: 160 Top Tips for Public Speakers: How to Create and Deliver a Terrific Talk Question or comment? Send us a text message. www.undercurrentstories.com

If you’re going to see Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, or you’ve already seen it, there’s a much bigger story behind the film. In this conversation I talk to Dr. Joel Christensen, Professor of Classics at the City University of New York Graduate Center, and author of the book ' Why Odysseus?Survivor, Scoundrel, (Anti) Hero.'  We talk about the ancient Odysseus,  the brilliant strategist, liar, trickster, survivor and deeply complicated hero at the centre of Homer’s Odyssey. Nolan’s film brings this ancient story to a modern audience, but Homer’s Odysseus is very different from a straightforward Hollywood hero. He is courageous and resourceful, but he is also manipulative, deceptive and capable of making disastrous choices. His greatest weapon isn't strength, it’s his ability to adapt, persuade and think his way out of impossible situations. Joel explains what the film can and can’t tell us about Homer’s original story, why the Odyssey is much more than an adventure about getting home, and why Odysseus remains such a compelling character more than 2,500 years later. In this episode Who was the real Odysseus? And why was he so different from heroes like Achilles?Why the ancient idea of a “hero” is very different from our modern understanding of one.The Odyssey as a story of survival, and the price that survival can carry.Odysseus, the Trojan Horse and his extraordinary gift for deception and adaptability.Whether Odysseus is responsible for the deaths of his men mand how Homer explores blame, responsibility and human agency.Why simply reaching Ithaca isn't enough: what does it actually mean to come home?The Odyssey's fascination with family, community and the damage heroic behaviour can leave behind.Why Odysseus can be seen as an ancient version of the modern antihero.What Walter White from Breaking Bad can tell us about Odysseus and our fascination with complicated characters.How Christopher Nolan's interpretation changes our understanding of Odysseus.Why Nolan's Odysseus appears more traumatised and guilt-ridden than Homer's.The fascinating difference between Homer's Odysseus and the hero modern audiences may want him to be.What polytropos, “the man of many ways," reveals about Odysseus.The meaning of nostos, the ancient idea of homecoming from which our word “nostalgia” ultimately derives.Why the Odyssey was originally a performed song rather than a modern-style book.How Joel's own experiences of fatherhood, loss and family changed the way he understood Homer's story.Beyond the film One of the most interesting questions in the conversation is whether we actually like Odysseus. Joel's answer is complicated. For him, Odysseus is less a hero to admire than a face in the mirror: a character who forces us to confront compromise, bad decisions, persistence and the things people do to survive.  The ancient poem isn't simply about monsters, gods and an extraordinary journey across the sea. It's about what happens to a person after war, what survival costs, whether returning home can make someone whole again, and how much of ourselves we are willing to compromise along the way. About Dr. Joel Christensen Dr. Joel Christensen is Professor of Classics at the City University of New York Graduate Center. He is a scholar of Homer and Greek epic and the author of Odysseus: Survivor, Scoundrel, and Antihero. If you haven't read The Odyssey, Joel recommends getting familiar with the main characters first, then exploring different versions of the story rather than assuming there is one single “correct” Odyssey. He also recommends Gareth Hinds' graphic novel adaptation as an accessible introduction to the story. This version deliberately doesn't give away Nolan's film plot, so it can work both as a companion for people who have seen it and as an introduction for people planning to see it. Links Book: ' Why Odysseus?Survivor, Scoundrel, (Anti) Hero.'   Question or comment? Send us a text message. www.undercurrentstories.com

Professor Edzard Ernst discusses 'The Leopard Lily Project ' and tells the disturbing story of a largely forgotten Nazi scheme to use a poisonous South American plant to carry out mass sterilisation. After taking power in 1933, the Nazis introduced compulsory sterilisation for people they deemed “unworthy” of reproduction, particularly those with hereditary illnesses. Seeking a less invasive method, an Austrian dermatologist proposed to Heinrich Himmler that the plant Leopard Lily (Dieffenbachia seguine), also known as dumb cane, could potentially be used to sterilise millions of people. Himmler took an interest in the idea, leading to further research into the plant and its potential use. We discuss this largely untold story through the wider history of Nazi ideology, the regime’s fascination with alternative and herbal medicine, Himmler’s interest in pseudoscience, and the doctors and scientists involved. If you are interested in the history of medicine, medical ethics, pseudoscience, or the Nazi regime, I can recommend Edzard's book, 'The Leopard Lily Project : A Story of Nazi Pseudoscience' which goes into more detail about this disturbing and previously little-known story. Links: Professor Edzard Ernst  Book: The Leopard Lily Project: A Story of Nazi Pseudoscience Undercurrent Stories Links: Web: https://www.undercurrentstories.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/undercurrentstories/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/undercurrent-stories-podcast/ Question or comment? Send us a text message. www.undercurrentstories.com

In this episode, I'm joined by Dr. Max McKeown, author of Super Adaptability, to understand the difference between adapting just to survive a hard situation and adapting in a way that actually moves your life forward. Max explains the three-part "loop" at the heart of his book,  a simple, repeatable process for noticing when you're stuck, understanding why, and taking deliberate action instead of falling back into old habits. Along the way, we cover: Why some people get trapped repeating the same problem for years, and how to spot it in your own lifeThe difference between "adapting to cope" and "adapting to win"Max's concept of metaplasticity — literally coaching your own brain like a personal therapistReal stories from the book, including a plane crash survivor, a father-son physics duo escaping the Nazis, and a man who single-handedly regrew a forestWhy the loop applies just as well to business, sports, activism, and science as it does to everyday personal strugglesWhat Max has learned from readers who found the book mid-crisis  and why he thinks the ideas outlast the authorWhether you're navigating a career pivot, a stubborn personal habit, or just feel like you keep ending up in the same frustrating place, this conversation offers a practical framework you can start using immediately. Guest: Dr. Max McKeown, author of Super Adaptability Find Max: LinkedIn, Instagram Question or comment? Send us a text message. www.undercurrentstories.com

“Only Girls Bleed:  The Human Cost of Post-Roe America" -  Dr. Elaine Lawless Overview Ethnographer and folklorist Dr. Elaine Lawless talks about her debut novel Only Girls Bleed, a gripping story inspired by real accounts of women navigating pregnancy, trauma, and the fractured abortion laws across the United States. Elaine explains why she turned to fiction after decades of academic work, how her field research shaped the book, and what she hopes readers, both men and women, take from it. Key Themes Post–Roe v. Wade America: Elaine breaks down how the 2022 Supreme Court decision reshaped abortion access and inspired the book’s central conflict.Real stories behind the narrative: The novel draws on years of conversations with women in shelters, churches, and rural communities.Writing trauma responsibly: Elaine discusses avoiding graphic detail and choosing to tell the story through the mother’s perspective.From scholarship to fiction: Elaine describes the freedom she found in writing a novel after years of academic publishing.Why men should read this book: The conversation explores misogyny, silence around menstruation, and the importance of involving boys and fathers in discussions about reproductive health. Content note: this episode touches on sensitive themes including a family facing a difficult reproductive decision, and a young person's experience of assault. About the Guest Dr. Elaine J. Lawless Ethnographer, folklorist, professor emerita, and novelist. Her work has focused on women’s lived experiences in religious communities and domestic violence shelters. Website: elainelawless.com About the Book Only Girls Bleed - A haunting story of a mother who will do anything to protect her daughter, including break the law, if she must. Question or comment? Send us a text message. www.undercurrentstories.com

What happens when an independent music promoter takes on one of the biggest companies in the live entertainment industry? Tommy Dorfman, CEO of Juice Entertainment,  discusses his extraordinary journey through the US music and nightlife scene, from throwing house parties as a teenager to running major EDM, (Electronic Dance Music), events and working with some of the biggest names in entertainment. Tommy shares his account of building a successful promotion business, securing a 10-year deal connected to the Meadowlands State Fair, and what happened when he says Live Nation became involved and his planned EDM festival was ultimately cancelled. The conversation then turns to Tommy's long-running legal battle with Live Nation, the challenges faced by independent promoters, the rising cost of concert tickets, dynamic pricing, and what greater regulatory scrutiny could mean for artists, venues and fans on both sides of the Atlantic. Tommy's allegations and characterisations of Live Nation are contested and should not be taken as established facts. The episode explores his personal experience and perspective alongside the wider debate about competition and concentration in the live music industry. In this episode Tommy's childhood introduction to live music through concerts by artists including Prince, Michael Jackson, Madonna and Bruce SpringsteenHow throwing house parties as a teenager led him into the club and events businessRunning large-scale events and the importance of professional securityTommy's rise as an EDM and nightlife promoter across New York, New Jersey, Miami and the US East CoastHis plans for a major EDM festival at the MeadowlandsTommy's account of his dealings with Live Nation and the cancellation of the festivalThe impact he says the dispute had on his career and personal lifeHow he went from successful promoter to working door-to-door sales while funding his legal fightHis long-running lawsuit against Live NationThe experiences of other independent promoters he says he has encounteredLive Nation, Ticketmaster and concerns about market concentrationDynamic ticket pricing and the rising cost of live musicThe pressure on grassroots venues, clubs and pubsWhy independent promoters matter to the development of new artistsRegulatory scrutiny in the UK and USWhat a potential restructuring of the live entertainment industry could mean for fans, artists and promotersTommy's hopes for the future of live musicAbout Tommy Dorfman Tommy Dorfman is the CEO of Juice Entertainment and has spent decades working in the US nightlife, club and live entertainment industries. In the episode, he discusses his career as a promoter, his involvement in EDM and his long-running legal dispute with Live Nation. Listen and follow If you enjoyed the episode, subscribe to the podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and leave a rating or review. It helps other listeners discover the show. Note: This episode contains discussion of alleged misconduct, competition concerns and ongoing or historical legal disputes. Statements concerning alleged conduct are presented as the guest's account and are not presented as findings of fact unless expressly stated otherwise. Undercurrent Stories contacted Live Nation for comment but to date have not received a response. Question or comment? Send us a text message. www.undercurrentstories.com

What can the Tree of Life tell us about where we came from and how life became so diverse? Professor Max Telford, author of the book 'The Tree of Life: Solving Science's Greatest Puzzle' takes us on a journey through four billion years of evolution, from the earliest life on Earth to humans, worms and the extraordinary coelacanth. Max explains how scientists reconstruct the Tree of Life using fossils, anatomy, embryology and DNA and why evolution doesn't always mean becoming more complex. We explore convergent evolution, extinction, genetic evidence, the origins of animals, human evolution, and the surprising ways evolution can simplify organisms. We also discover why most of the fundamental groups of animals are worms, how DNA has transformed our understanding of life's history, and whether AI could help scientists finally untangle some of the Tree of Life's biggest mysteries. A thought-provoking conversation about where life came from, how it changed, and just how much of its extraordinary story remains to be discovered. Links:  Book - The Tree of Life: Solving Science's Greatest Puzzle Professor Max Telford  Question or comment? Send us a text message. www.undercurrentstories.com

We tend to think of genius as something you’re born with. A rare quality possessed by people with extraordinary memories, mathematical abilities, or problem-solving skills. But what if many of the abilities we associate with genius can actually be trained? In this episode, I'm joined by Nelson Dellis, a six-time USA Memory Champion, Guinness World Record holder, and author of Everyday Genius, about the practical skills we can all develop to make better use of our minds. Nelson explains how he went from having what he describes as a fairly ordinary memory to becoming one of the world's top memory athletes. He shares the techniques he uses to memorise enormous amounts of information, including numbers, names and lists, and explains why the ability to remember information still matters in an age when we can ask our phones or AI to retrieve almost anything for us. We also get into mental maths, problem-solving, curiosity, intuition and the fascinating question of whether our minds may be capable of more than we currently understand. Show Highlights How Nelson became interested in memory after watching his grandmother struggle with Alzheimer'sWhat it actually takes to become a competitive memory athleteWhy Nelson believes memory is a skill that can be trained rather than a fixed abilityThe SEE, LINK, GO framework for remembering almost anythingHow to build and use a memory palaceHow to remember people's names — and why most of us forget them in the first placeWhy making information vivid, unusual and even ridiculous helps it stickHow to remember lists, speeches, numbers and everyday tasksWhy reviewing and practising memory techniques eventually makes them feel almost automaticHow to develop better number sense and perform calculations in your headWhy mental arithmetic is worth practising when we have calculators in our pocketsHow curiosity can play a role in developing intelligenceWhether technology and AI are making us mentally weaker or simply changing the way we thinkNelson's thoughts on intuition, dreams and remote viewingWhy exercising your brain can be approached much like exercising your bodyThe Big Idea One of the most interesting ideas in this conversation is that genius may be less about having an extraordinary brain and more about learning how to use an ordinary brain extraordinarily well. Nelson's own story is a good example. He didn't grow up believing he had a remarkable memory. He discovered techniques that worked, practised them, and gradually transformed his abilities. The lesson is encouraging: there may be considerably more room for improvement in our mental abilities than we assume. Try This Memory Technique Nelson's SEE, LINK, GO system provides a simple starting point. SEE: Turn the information you want to remember into a vivid mental image. LINK: Connect that image to something else you already know or to a specific location. GO: Retrieve the information by mentally returning to that image or location. The stranger, more vivid, emotional or humorous you can make the mental image, the better. Try it the next time someone gives you a short list of things to remember. Instead of repeating the list over and over, turn each item into an exaggerated mental picture and link the pictures together. You may be surprised by how much easier they are to recall. Resources Mentioned Everyday Genius by Nelson DellisNelson Dellis's work on memory and mental performanceMemory palacesMemory competitionsMental mathematics and number senseIntuition, dreams and remote viewingConnect With Nelson Dellis https://www.nelsondellis.com/ Find out more about Nelson, his memory techniques and his work through his website and social channels. And if you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it with someone who would enjoy learning how to get more out of their own mind. Final Thought You don't have to be born a genius. You can train your memory. You can improve your focus. You can become better at solving problems. You can develop your curiosity. The question isn't simply “How smart am I?” It's “What could I become better at if I actually trained it?” Question or comment? Send us a text message. www.undercurrentstories.com

Prof. Jamie Woodward (University of Manchester) on how microplastics get from your washing machine to local rivers  and how his research on Manchester's waterways ended up shaping UK water policy. We cover the sewage scandal, water company spin, and what actually needs to change. In this episode: What actually counts as a "microplastic" (and why the name is misleading)How microplastics get from your washing machine to the riverThe science of sampling and identifying plastics in riverbedsWhy Jamie's research on Manchester's rivers ended up shaping UK policyThe sewage scandal: water companies, regulators, and public angerWhat one country is getting right  and what needs to change hereSimple things you can do to help protect your local riverGuest: Professor Jamie Woodward, physical geographer and geomorphologist, University of Manchester. Author, and twice named on the ENDS Power List of the UK's most influential environmental academics. 🔗 Catch Jamie's previous episode on the history of the Earth — Spotify link  Question or comment? Send us a text message. www.undercurrentstories.com

Have you ever felt like there is a dormant, creative part of you just waiting to get out? Something you buried years, or even decades ago because life got in the way? Careers, family commitments, the daily grind, all very important but it’s so easy to push our real passions to the back burner while we go about our everyday life. Sometimes, though, life makes the big decisions for us. My guest today spent decades in a demanding corporate career that had nothing to do with making music. He carried melodies spinning around in his head for over twenty years, but reality meant those dreams had to wait. Then, in his middle age, redundancy hit. Instead of seeing it purely as an ending, it ignited something that had been lying dormant inside him. It gave him the permission and the time, to step into his studio, pick up his instruments, and finally give those melodies a voice. Today, he writes, plays every instrument, records, and produces entirely on his own terms. We’re going to be talking about creativity, reinvention, and what it actually takes to unlock that latent spark inside yourself. So I want to ask you today: What is that creative thing inside of you that’s waiting to get out? Bio: Ben Phillips is a jazz rock studio musician who, following a 20-year career in Customer Experience Management for global companies, made the transition to a full-time career in music following redundancy in 2025. This opened the opportunity to explore his true passion for music recording and production. He has released 1 full album and 1 EP to date, with more releases to follow this year and next. He works and lives in Milton Keynes, England with his wife and 5 sons. Ben's links:  https://linktr.ee/benphillips.music Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benphillips.music Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/benmjphillipsmusic Question or comment? Send us a text message. www.undercurrentstories.com

Stuart Ward grew up on a council estate in Exeter, England, obsessed with pirate radio, chart positions, and — oddly — record labels. That obsession, plus a teenage belief that Sweden had cracked the code on a fairer society, eventually carried him across the North Sea, first as a chartered accountant, then as one of Swedish television and radio's most recognisable voices for decades. Stuart hosted Night Flight Scandinavia and Top Gear Nordic (a name he lifted straight from John Peel's old BBC show, nothing to do with cars), interviewed everyone from Paul McCartney to Barry Humphries to Pelé, ran the Polar Music Prize — often called the Nobel Prize of music — and, in between all of it, tried and failed to build a political career in the UK Labour Party before finding his footing instead in Swedish politics. He also spent over a decade at the Swedish Embassy in Bangkok and lived in Thailand for eighteen years. In this episode, Stuart and host Bob Wells talk about chasing a dream with zero self-confidence, what changes when you go from radio to television, the etiquette of never looking starstruck, and why curiosity — not talent — might be the real secret behind a rich life. In This Episode You'll Learn How a working-class boy from Exeter who could name every record label on the UK charts ended up in the Swedish music businessWhy Stuart moved to Sweden as a chartered accountant in 1973 — and why he stayedThe real story behind the name "Top Gear Nordic" (hint: it's a John Peel tribute, not a car show)What it was like trading a UK parliamentary candidacy for a life with the man he loved, at a time when that wasn't something you talked about openlyThe unglamorous technical side of early live TV versus the freewheeling looseness of radioWhy one veteran cameraman told Stuart he had a rare gift for getting people to open up on cameraStuart's interviews with Paul McCartney (who ended up interviewing him), Barry Humphries/Dame Edna, John Cleese, Pelé, and Björn BorgThe Swedish concept of Jantelagen — a kind of built-in social suspicion of standing out — and how it echoes attitudes Stuart encountered growing up in EnglandHow Stuart came to run the Polar Music Prize, founded by ABBA's co-creator Stig Anderson to bridge classical music's snobbery and popular music's lack of respectWhy the King of Sweden presents the Polar Music Prize the same way he presents the Nobel Prizes — and the historical reason the Nobel Peace Prize alone is awarded in Oslo, not StockholmThe office politics and "dinosaurs" Stuart contended with while running a prestigious international prizeLife after presenting: over a decade working at the Swedish Embassy in Bangkok, eighteen years living in Thailand, and returning to Sweden to restart his political career with the Social DemocratsWhy door-to-door canvassing at 77 has led to some surprising language moments — including conversations in fluent Thai that stopped Swedish neighbours in their tracksStuart's take on what actually produces a zest for life: curiosity, self-belief, and refusing to assume the world only exists in whatever room you happen to be standing in Resources; The Polar Music Prize Royal Swedish Academy of MusicYouTube: Stuart Ward Top Gear Question or comment? Send us a text message. www.undercurrentstories.com

It's the early 1940s. The world's biggest movie stars could have sat the war out in comfort — instead, they walked off film sets, traded tuxedos and evening gowns for uniforms, and went to fight. This conversation features British Army veteran, Olympic discus thrower, and author Bill Tancred to explore the extraordinary true stories behind the actors who lived the wars they later portrayed on screen. From Jimmy Stewart flying 20 combat missions over Nazi Germany, to Audrey Hepburn's secret work for the Dutch Resistance, to a beloved comedy actor who turned out to be a master forger helping prisoners escape a German POW camp — this conversation uncovers the real history hiding behind some of cinema's most iconic war films. In this episode: Bill's journey from Olympic athlete to military historian and authorJimmy Stewart's secret military rank and his return visits to his old airbase in NorfolkPeter Butterworth's double life as a Great Escape forger, hidden behind his comic rolesAudrey Hepburn and Carole Lombard's contributions to the war effortWhy some stars never spoke about what they went through — and the toll it tookThe actors who played the very battles they once fought inBill's advice on which story to start with if you only read oneAbout the guest: Bill Tancred is a former British Army officer, two-time Olympian (1968 Mexico City, 1972 Munich), Commonwealth Games medallist, and author of British and USA Film Stars Who Served Their Countries in World War II. 🔗 Bill's book: [link] 🔗 Previous episode with Bill: [link] Question or comment? Send us a text message. www.undercurrentstories.com