

In The Business of Healthy Masculinity
Garry Turner
I want to offer you a space I didn’t know was missing—until I found it.
A space to tell the truth. To exhale. To admit that even with all the outward success—salary, stock, leadership title—something still feels off.
You likely work within chemicals, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, or the global supply chain, however this message may resonate with you regardless of the sector.
You lead teams. You’ve driven transformation—digital, operational, commercial. And yet, the human side is undernourished, voluntarily left aside, including yours.
You wonder:
- Why does high performance often feel so lonely?
- Why can’t our executive team be honest about what doesn't work, as much as what does?
- Why do orgs invest so much in technology and not in human development?
- Why does culture remain unhealthy even after all the investments?
- Why is there no room for honest challenge at the top?
- Why do M&A deals outpace real growth?
- Why does sustainability feel more like spin than strategy?
- Why is it so hard to invest in your own development?
You’re not broken. You’re waking up.
That curiosity you’re feeling—it’s not a problem. It’s a signal. That your ambition is shifting. That impact now means more than output. That leading with integrity is starting to matter more than holding a position. That being soft isn’t a weakness. Not knowing is a strength.
I’ve been there. On the outside, everything looked great. But inside, I was depleted. It wasn’t until I hit a wall that I realized what I needed wasn’t more achievement, but more truth, more growth, more connection.
That’s why I created this space. A space to think, feel, unlearn, and grow. Together.
If you’re ready to step beyond the performance mask, and into something more honest—more human—email me at garry.turner@radicality.co.uk. Let’s talk.
We need all of you. Not just the title. Not just the output. You.
– Garry Turner
Chemicals Industry | Founder of Radicality inbusinessofhealthymasculinity.substack.com
A space to tell the truth. To exhale. To admit that even with all the outward success—salary, stock, leadership title—something still feels off.
You likely work within chemicals, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, or the global supply chain, however this message may resonate with you regardless of the sector.
You lead teams. You’ve driven transformation—digital, operational, commercial. And yet, the human side is undernourished, voluntarily left aside, including yours.
You wonder:
- Why does high performance often feel so lonely?
- Why can’t our executive team be honest about what doesn't work, as much as what does?
- Why do orgs invest so much in technology and not in human development?
- Why does culture remain unhealthy even after all the investments?
- Why is there no room for honest challenge at the top?
- Why do M&A deals outpace real growth?
- Why does sustainability feel more like spin than strategy?
- Why is it so hard to invest in your own development?
You’re not broken. You’re waking up.
That curiosity you’re feeling—it’s not a problem. It’s a signal. That your ambition is shifting. That impact now means more than output. That leading with integrity is starting to matter more than holding a position. That being soft isn’t a weakness. Not knowing is a strength.
I’ve been there. On the outside, everything looked great. But inside, I was depleted. It wasn’t until I hit a wall that I realized what I needed wasn’t more achievement, but more truth, more growth, more connection.
That’s why I created this space. A space to think, feel, unlearn, and grow. Together.
If you’re ready to step beyond the performance mask, and into something more honest—more human—email me at garry.turner@radicality.co.uk. Let’s talk.
We need all of you. Not just the title. Not just the output. You.
– Garry Turner
Chemicals Industry | Founder of Radicality inbusinessofhealthymasculinity.substack.com
Episodes
Mentioned books

Nov 17, 2025 • 46min
The creative and business impact of emotional health with Dawna Jones
Hi there,Did you see/hear last week’s episode with the previous CEO of WD-40 Garry Ridge?! The piercing clarity as to how much human potential and money we are leaving on the table is stark.That links so well to this week’s amazing guest, Dawna Jones.For over 25 years, Dawna has helped people become great facilitative leaders. A coach and mentor, she asks the annoying questions that helps people, teams and companies grow. Dawna blends science and insights to help people makes sense of what they are experiencing and solve big problems that affect their lives and the world.Her superpower is to spot old patterns holding people and organizations back hidden in deeper dynamics, reading the hidden feelings and reasons behind how a group acts. From there, new ways to think and make better choices emerge. She helps people restore and revive from adversity stronger and healthier, so they can handle tough challenges.Dawna is known for giving people clear ideas that show them what to do next. She rides horses, has fallen off many times and learned how to get back on, to become a better person by facing challenges in her own life.You can learn more about and contact Dawna via a variety of mediums as follows:Contact via LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawnahjones/ or website.Current podcast: https://shows.acast.com/insight-to-action-inspirational-insights-podcastYouTube Channels:Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@DawnaJones_PodcastPersonal/professional: https://www.youtube.com/@WisdomWays-InsightsDon’t forget to check out Anna DeNardin’s amazing work, the creative genius behind this platforms artwork, graphics, and branding.Cultivating clearer ideas“The capacity to hold multiple worldviews, paradigms, whatever you want to call them, in your mind at the same time without any one of them needing to be right. And I think that’s where we start to see openings for real shifts to take place.” - Dawna JonesWhat are you thinking, feeling, or what are your thoughts?This insight alone exposes how reductive and compartmentalised every aspect of our lives are.* The narrow job spec.* The enforced ‘them and us.’* The ‘best practice.’All such innocent results of our conditioning over time.Indeed, if we zoom out for a moment we can see how every systems, every structure is designed to reduce us into particles, rather than allow us to show up in our fullness and wholeness. This isn’t fluffy, this is about personal and systemic transformation.Breaking binary“That whole business of ‘either/or,’ you’re either with me or against me. It’s so useless in an environment of complexity. It’s and. There’s this AND there’s that. Everything is connected.” - Dawna JonesWhat is possible if we strive to embrace YES/AND rather than either/or?How many more people and teams get included when we do, and what could the personal, community, and business impact as a result? I am not sure about you, but I remember being brought up on a system of education that rewarded getting the right answer, not on debating or exploration. There was only one right answer in the end.In fact this very topic came up in an amazing discussion between Zack Polanski and Natasha Devon on Bold Politics as they explored education. Find this below if interested:It is time, I would assert, to build the muscle of breaking the binary in our worldviews and within our organisations.What are you thinking, feeling, and what are your thoughts?Moving from emotional immaturity to maturityDawna speaks straight to my heart in this below clip.I operated from a place of emotional immaturity when I was younger. After being bullied aged 13/14, I did not know how to ask for help. I suppressed feelings for over 20 years as they were horrible and I didn’t know any other way to deal with that discomfort.What snapped me out of that was seeing and FEELING myself worthy of investing, when I could, in coaches and other development activities. However that wasn’t enough. Doing it in community was the exponential factor and check out my conversation on episode #3 with Stepheni Mendez as we dive deep into community.Where in your life today may you be avoiding feeling? What could be possible for you on the other side of that feeling?How may developing your emotional maturity help you be a better, more impactful leader of self and others?Engaging in the dance of masculine and feminine energiesOne of my biggest learnings over the past years has been observing how much more embodied we can become when we consciously dial up and down our blend of masculine and feminine energies, rather than feeling trapped in a hand ‘dealt to us.’To what extent are you consciously navigating these two together?Garry Ridge shared in last weeks episode that leaders need to ‘wake up’ to the importance of being assertive AND tender-hearted. Being a driven leader that builds effectively, with caring about your people.Again, yes/and, over the either/or.I hope that you enjoy this conversation as much as I did and a reminder that you can learn more about and contact Dawna via a variety of mediums as follows:Contact via LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawnahjones/ or website.Current podcast: https://shows.acast.com/insight-to-action-inspirational-insights-podcastIn your cornerFinally, a short note to advise that I am here if you are looking for a 1-1 Thinking Partner that can be in your corner by voice note, virtually, and in-person, I have found 5 x 60 minutes calls + unlimited voice note communication to work the best.If you are ready to embrace the journey towards healthier masculinity, drop me a line at garry.turner@radicality.co.uk. Here is what Rachel Bishop had to say about us working together:Next week, episode #7 will feature my fellow chemicals industry peer, Christophe Le Ret.With much love and best regards.PS - If you have got value from this update, please do share it on your platforms with those that you feel would benefit.Garry Turnergarry.turner@radicality.co.ukRadicality.co.uk+44 7928 979358 Get full access to In The Business of Healthy Masculinity at inbusinessofhealthymasculinity.substack.com/subscribe

Nov 10, 2025 • 24min
'Waking up' to the business value of healthy masculinity with Garry Ridge
Hi there,I really hope that you have enjoyed one or more of the first four episodes of this In The Business of Healthy Masculinity platform with Colin, Helen, Stepheni, and/or Josh?If you have listened in, please do hot reply and let us know what you are taking away, and what you may challenge. I personally have certainly learned a lot from these conversations and I have been reminded of our innate capacity for creativity and doing good in the world, and how we can DO and BE that goodness without shying away from the worlds pain and atrocities. It’s always YES/AND, not either/or.As we get going today, my gratitude, as always, to Anna deNardin who creates all of the artwork, graphics, and shapes language to help these conversations offer the most value to you.One embodied executive leader and human being that I value so much is ex-WD40 CEO Garry Ridge, and I am grateful that he has joined me on episode #5 of the In The Business of Healthy Masculinity podcast/videocast.A bit about Garry if you do not know him, and a reminder if you do:Garry Ridge is the Chairman Emeritus of WD-40 Company, where he served as CEO for 25 years and was ranked No. 4 on Inc. Magazine’s World’s Top 10 CEOs. He holds a Master’s in Executive Leadership from the University of San Diego and an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from National University.Known globally as The Culture Coach, Garry helps leaders create workplaces where people feel safe, valued, and inspired. Through his firm, The Learning Moment, he works with executives to build cultures of trust, collaboration, and purpose. He also serves on the boards of The Gorilla Glue Company and Eastridge Workforce Solutions.A bestselling author and sought-after speaker, Garry co-authored Helping People Win at Work with Ken Blanchard and wrote the USA Today bestseller Any Dumb-Ass Can Do It. Affectionately known as The Dean of Dumbassery, he champions “learning moments,” turning mistakes into opportunities for growth.How often have you heard a CEO (ex-CEO) be so vulnerable, humble, and honest?Not so often in my experience of life! And certainly not one of a multi-thousand employee, multi-billion dollar turnover company.You can follow Garry’s work and reach him as follows:Website - https://thelearningmoment.net/LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/garryridge/As the latest hype-bubble, AI, continues to take hold, I was really inspired to hear Garry’s simple algorithm for organisational culture.A simple yet effective ‘human algorithm’ for healthy impactAccording to Garry ‘Success = Will of the People X Strategy’What are you thinking, feeling, and what are your thoughts?I like to bring this similar message to life through the chronically bad global engagement stats from Gallup which show:Honestly, it makes me even more mad then when I see multinational companies, especially, laying of thousands of staff because they are not meeting an artificial number that the financial markets are looking for. Even if they are making millions or even billions in profits.Combine this unhealthy mindset with chronically low engagement and you have the OPPOSITE of what Garry and his team co-created at WD-40.Designing cultures of genuinely high-performance isn’t easy!Unlocking human potential through organisational culture is a challenge. I know first-hand as I have led a team change over 3 years that resulted in an extra Euro 6m in sales and over Euro 1.5m in gross margin by targeting a wide range of cultural interventions.At a much larger scale, Garry shares below that “if this (intentionally developing culture) was soft and easy, everybody would be doing it.”Belonging, trust, autonomy, recognition, and an active focus on reducing fear are just some of the intentional cultural focus areas that Garry advocates for.Here alone is where I witness big disconnects in too many, especially, corporate spaces today in 2025.Because you cannot tie solid metrics to any of the above cultural traits, too often they are ignored, or at best, performed.To what extent does the culture of your workplace or other groups truly foster this degree of cultural intentionality?Embodying BOTH healthy masculine and feminine traits/energyOne of the other things that makes Garry stand out as such a powerful leader, for me,is the way he models a healthy balance between his masculine and feminine traits/behaviour. This is what it means to be embodied as a human, for me at least, and as a leader and he models this so well as he explains the name of his latest book:One of the things that always makes me smile about Garry is the way he has worked with his teams to deliver brilliant outcomes, whilst never losing his humanity.This doesn’t mean that he doesn’t make tough decisions, and it doesn’t mean not being assertive, both healthily masculine traits when modelled with inclusivity and humanity.What are you thinking, feeling, and what are your thoughts?Healthy masculinity as an antidote to fear?If you saw/listened to last week's episode with Josh Allan Dykstra, he speaks to this topic directly as well in that less than 10% of executives are in flow-state. Is it just busyness, or could fear be a factor?In this above clip Garry shares some fantastic insights as to how he has learned from leading business and leadership academics and taken bits from all of them to fuse his own healthy, unique leadership style.I really appreciate how much Garry knows himself; he is willing to listen, to learn, and then has the courage, and willingness to run experiments and embed any learning, even as a CEO.What have you learned recently? How did that impact you?Wrapping up this episodeI really hope that you dive into the full 23-minutes of this conversation and we would love to learn what you take away, what sparks your curiosity, and what you may challenge.In The Business of Healthy Masculinity is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.A reminder that you can follow/subscribe to the conversation at any of the following:* Apple podcasts* Spotify * Substack * YouTubeWould you value someone at your side, and in your corner?I am here if you are looking for a 1-1 Thinking Partner that can be in your corner by voice note, virtually, and in-person, I have found 5 x 60 minutes calls + unlimited voice note communication to work the best.If you are ready to embrace the journey towards healthier masculinity, drop me a line at garry.turner@radicality.co.uk. Here is what Paul McCarthy had to say about us working together:Next week, episode #6 will feature emotional health expert, speaker, and facilitator Dawna Jones.In The Business of Healthy Masculinity is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.With much love and best regardsGarry Turnergarry.turner@radicality.co.ukRadicality.co.uk+44 7928 979358 Get full access to In The Business of Healthy Masculinity at inbusinessofhealthymasculinity.substack.com/subscribe

Nov 2, 2025 • 41min
Unleashing human energy and potential through healthier masculinity with Josh Allan Dykstra
Hi there,What have you learnt this week? Hit reply and let me know. :)One of the things I have learned, and have been reminded of, is the importance of us humans having the space to get into flow state, more often. That space of uninterrupted creativity and imagination. My goodness we and the planet need this from us right now.That leads me into introducing you to my next guest (see full episode above) on the In The Business of Healthy Masculinity platform, Josh Allan Dykstra:Josh Allan Dykstra is the futurist who makes tomorrow feel exciting. A keynote speaker, former tech CEO, and serial entrepreneur, he’s spent 2 decades building 5 companies and working with iconic brands like Microsoft, Amazon, CHANEL, and Genentech, with his clients employing 1M+ people. Josh pioneers the field of Future Design™, helping leaders transform from tomorrow’s passengers into its architects. He’s a TEDx speaker, author, and the trusted advisor leaders turn to when they need to build a future everyone can love.You can find out more about Josh at his website joshallan.com and you can check out his LinkedIn profile HERE.In The Business of Healthy Masculinity is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.A reminder that you can follow/subscribe to these conversations at any of the following:* Apple podcasts* Spotify* Substack* YouTubeI first met Josh in-person at the WorldBlu Freedom at Work summit in February 2024, in Miami, USA, where he (far right hand side in below pic), me, and Kali (second from right) went on some major deep dives around work, systems, colonisation, and loads more! Back then, Josh was super interesting, and super clear, about the blockages of human energy that pervade our workplaces.Fast forward to this conversation, in the following clip, Josh powerfully highlights the wasted human potential, and the knock-on effect of low flow state leadership and cultures in our organisations:How often do YOU get into flow state, and how does Josh’s message above resonate with YOU, and within the leadership in your team or organisation?I keep coming back to this terrifying statistic below from the Gallup Global State of the Workplace report whenever we talk about human wastes of potential:It gets me curious. Do leaders honestly care about how engaged and productive people are? Are they disposal widgets on a balance sheet? Something else? What are you thinking, feeling, and what are your thoughts?So what can YOU and we do to get into flow-state more often, regardless of the workplace culture that we operate within?Josh also invites us to reflect upon why executive and senior leadership seems to accept a ‘human stack’ running at 10-20% efficiency all the while they are spending millions or even billions on a technology stack that is expected to work at optimum rates. What unhealthy masculine traits may be causing this blockage around humans? What are you thinking, feeling, and what are your thoughts?Looking positively forward, I absolutely LOVED when Josh shared his perspective of what he feels the original AI was all about:One other thing I would like to invite you to consider is leaning into imagining beyond death i.e learning not to be afraid of the natural end of life aka death.I appreciate that it is totally counter-cultural!Personally, it took me having testicular cancer in 2020 to truly let go of fear, and Josh and I explore in the below clip the importance of allowing death within an organisational context too:What are you thinking, feeling, and what are your thoughts in this moment? Hit reply and let me know.One thing, I feel, that can keep us in fear is the belief that everything is on us. That unhealthy masculine trait of needing to have all the answers and that asking for help is a sign of weakness. Categorically not true, but that is our conditioning.What can also fuel this is the sense of separateness. Below Josh shares that separateness is an illusion, and that we are moving towards better understanding of the entanglements that we are ALL part of:I really hope that you took away loads of value from our conversation, I certainly did!A reminder that you can reach Josh at the following:Website - https://joshallan.comLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshallanFinally, Josh really helped affirm below that this platform really is needed, as there is a severe lack of content and dialogue around the topic of healthy masculinity, especially within workplaces.This reinforces Dr Jackson Katz message in his book Every Man, a key genesis for this platform in the first place.If you would value someone at your side for this journey of reclaiming your healthy masculinity and inner freedom, I can be in your corner by voice note, virtually, and in-person, having found 5 x 60 minutes calls + unlimited voice note communication to work the best.If you are ready to embrace the journey towards healthier masculinity, drop me a line at garry.turner@radicality.co.uk. Here is what Katie Marlow had to say about our time working together:Next week, episode #5 will feature the previous WD-40 CEO and awesome human Garry Ridge.In The Business of Healthy Masculinity is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.With much love and best regardsGarry Turnergarry.turner@radicality.co.ukRadicality.co.uk+44 7928 979358 Get full access to In The Business of Healthy Masculinity at inbusinessofhealthymasculinity.substack.com/subscribe

Oct 27, 2025 • 51min
Community as an antidote to unhealthy masculinity with Stepheni Mendez
Hi there,How are you, and what does community mean to you? Hit reply and let me know.As always, I am immensely grateful to Anna DeNardin who creates bespoke artwork and graphics every week to help bring this In The Business of Healthy Masculinity conversation to life. Please do reach out to her if you would like brand, art, or graphics support.Today, I cannot wait to introduce you to a newer person in my world, Stepheni Mendez. Stepheni is the co-founder of Soul and Strategy Collective, a nonprofit supporting women in building anti-extractive, decolonial businesses. As a leadership advisor and coach, she partners with founders, executives, and emerging leaders in tech and creative industries to create high-impact, human-centered organizations. Stepheni is recognized for blending evidence-based organizational design and leadership psychology with intuitive, soul-aligned frameworks and ancestral wisdom—helping clients move beyond burnout and toward liberatory, sustainable leadership. Her work centers on challenging traditional business models, cultivating cultures of trust, emotional intelligence, and co-creation, and guiding leaders to embody healthy power that balances masculine and feminine energies. Based in the US and working globally, Stepheni is committed to reshaping the future of leadership from the inside out.You can contact Stepheni at the following:Website: soulstrategycollective.comEmail: me@stephenim.comYou can listen/watch our impactful conversation above (in substack) and on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.As a prior UX designer in the US tech space, Stepheni has a super interesting origin story which you will hear more about, however upfront, I wanted to share some of the key insights that I took away from this beautiful conversation:* An effective and impactful community is not comfortable and homogeneous, it is diverse and at times uncomfortable.* For us men, especially men that look like me, we have rarely, if ever, had to face the wrath of systemic injustice, or systemic oppression. An in invitation to get curious around that.* Modelling compassion over resentment is key to re-imagining and co-creating something better and healthier * Fight the system, not each other. This has something that has been coming up more and more for me.To what extent do any of the above insights spark your curiosity? In this below clip, Stepheni speaks to point #4 above really powerfully:For many of us men, we have been conditioned, as I was, to place our ‘worth’ on things outside of us. Our job, the money we earn, the stories we can tell about how successful we are.Yet inside, as was the case for me, we can feel empty, hollow, or even my own term, ‘spiritually bankrupt.’Despite having everything the system conditions us to have, we can at times feel soulless and dead inside. I know I have felt this.Does this resonate in any way with you in this moment?It is these feelings, as discussed with Helen Amery last week, that can be very problematic if not cleared/dealt with.In the below clip, Stepheni also speaks to this ‘outside-in’ chase:What is your experience and perception of being in community?One of the things I really loved about this conversation was Stepheni’s consistent reminder that diverse, celebration of difference is such a powerful agent of connection and change within communities. At a time when, too often, I see the in-groups rewarding one another with job progression or other preferential treatment, these groups are not growing.They are not evolving their experience of life and that is where healthier masculinity comes in for me.I am also super inspired by Stepheni’s mission to support founders and business leaders with anti-extractive and decolonial business models.This platform, honestly, is a partial Trojan horse with a similar mission.I not only imagine, but I know, that the more we have healthier masculinity role modelled in the world, the more capacity and expansiveness there is to look at our more challenging pasts and presents, with the aim of making better, healthier, more just decisions going forward.We really hope that you get value from this exploration. Do let us know what you take away, what you may add, and indeed any challenges you may bring. This is a co-created journey and we hope that you will be part of it and share this episode with your network.A reminder that you can contact Stepheni at the following:Website: soulstrategycollective.comEmail: me@stephenim.comI am here if you are looking for a 1-1 Thinking Partner that can be in your corner by voice note, virtually, and in-person, I have found 5 x 60 minutes calls + unlimited voice note communication to work the best. If you are ready to embrace the journey towards healthier masculinity, drop me a line at garry.turner@radicality.co.uk. Here is what Sudeep Sharma of IMCD India had to say about us working together on a wellbeing workshop:May I ask, if you get some value from this conversation or the insights shared within, please kindly give this substack a share within your networks so we can reach more people, and consider giving myself and Stepheni a follow on LinkedIn - thank you.Next week, episode #4 will feature keynote speaker and flow-state advocate Josh Allan Dykstra. In The Business of Healthy Masculinity is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Why not check out my new website, designed and updated by the amazing Anna De NardinWith much love and best regardsGarry Turnergarry.turner@radicality.co.ukRadicality.co.uk+44 7928 979358 Get full access to In The Business of Healthy Masculinity at inbusinessofhealthymasculinity.substack.com/subscribe

Oct 20, 2025 • 40min
Helping men uncover their uniqueness and brilliance, with Helen Amery
Get full access to In The Business of Healthy Masculinity at inbusinessofhealthymasculinity.substack.com/subscribe

Oct 13, 2025 • 47min
The liberation and power of generative listening
Hi there,May I ask, if you get some value from this conversation or the insights shared within, please kindly give this substack a share within your networks so we can reach more people, and consider giving myself and Colin a follow on LinkedIn - thank you.We have finally arrived at the start of this new podcast/videocast platform, In The Business of Healthy Masculinity. My public thanks to the incredible artist and brand expert Anna de Nardin for her support designing all of the branding and imagery that makes up this platform, and for her creative genius with the brand positioning also. Every week, Anna will be turning our collective insights into powerful graphics and imagery.I cannot recommend Anna’s work enough to anyone else that may be looking for such creative support.* Reminder as to why ‘In The Business of Healthy Masculinity’A reminder that this platform is being built to serve a need that I see within business spaces (and beyond) for more honesty, more connection, more courage, and more vulnerability, knowing and having evidence as to the human and performance benefits that results. All of this whilst valuing men’s drive, desire to build, and to provide.This platform also wants to speak to those women and other genders who take on unhealthy masculine traits to survive or to ‘progress’ within systems as we currently understand them.For those of you that are reading/watching/listening via my substack, thank you for being here. You can find our full exploration in the video above.If you are listening on Apple podcasts, Spotify, or some other podcast player, thank you.If you are watching/listening via my YouTube channel, thank you.Whilst Colin and I have had a conversation here, we always welcome your feedback, your challenges, and your perspectives. Please do hit reply or comment on your favourite platform so we can keep the conversation going, and ensure we are building community towards healthier masculinity.* In The Business of Healthy Masculinity with Colin D Smith - Episode #1I am very excited to introduce you to my first guest. A wonderful human being by the name of Colin D Smith, affectionately known as ‘The Listener.You can find out more about Colin and his work at the following:Website - https://dexteritysolutions.co.uk/the-listenerLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/colindsmith1Email - colin.smith@dexteritysolutions.co.ukHere is a bit more about Colin:Colin is ‘The Listener’, a listening skills specialist with a passion for changing the way the world listens. His listening presence enables individuals to feel heard, to think more clearly, and through learning how to listen more effectively, to transform their business and personal relationships.Colin has an innate ability to deeply listen, hold space and develop trust with people. He works privately with individuals, enabling them to express their feelings more easily, address their personal concerns, and to articulate their creative ideas.He works with business teams, facilitating the development of listening and thinking skills to improve business relationships, be more creative and collaborative, and to increase the level of psychological safety and trust.Below you will find a (beautiful I must say) clip to whet your appetite for the full 45 minute conversation:In The Business of Healthy Masculinity is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.For me, this conversation with Colin, combined with my community and political activism, reinforces so clearly that we ‘need to be in the arena’ of listening and dialogue, much more often. Especially when it is uncomfortable, or challenges our own beliefs/perspectives.This clip below really speaks to this:Some of the other insights that I found super helpful, and I hope you will find value in the same include:The recent Gallup global state of workplace report yet again shows how much human potential is wasted every single day. If we, especially men, are listening more, with curiosity and with a genuine desire to co-create better, we can get so much more out of, and with people, OVERNIGHT!Following was a powerful moment for me personally in this conversation.To what extent would you agree or challenge this statement below?Shall we connect?If you would value having someone who has over 25 years international business experience coupled with over a decade of learning and cultural development and design experience at your side as a Thinking Partner, strategist, and systems thinker, let’s connect?I work with, especially men, on a 1-1 basis, and welcome connecting with you at garry.turner@radicality.co.uk or + 44 7928 979358.Until the next episode next Monday 20th October with the awesome Helen Amery, have a safe and growth-fuelled week ahead.Garry Get full access to In The Business of Healthy Masculinity at inbusinessofhealthymasculinity.substack.com/subscribe

Sep 11, 2025 • 18min
Disaster capitalism, disembodiment, and unhealthy masculinity
I woke up this morning to the tragic news that 9,000 jobs will be cut at pharma giant Novo Nordisk, over 10% of their global workplace.I could not ignore reviewing and analysing this decision in a video/podcast a) because I work in the global pharma supply chain, including supplying raw materials to Novo and b) because I know that money is not an issue in pharma, so it is a helpful case study to look at beyond ‘hitting the numbers.’ when such wide-ranging decisions are made.I have some empathy for the new, incoming CEO. These are tough decisions, however I can’t help feel that the change of guard is in part aimed to help cover the job cuts.Interestingly, he and I are ‘connected’ on LinkedIn, but he never replied to my invitation to briefly connect as the humans that we are.I think about the amazing leadership of Garry Ridge, ex CEO of WD-40 when he told the markets how he would lead, and they could decide whether to invest or not.Or Bob Chapman at Barry Wehmiller who consulted his teams to try and find a way to avoid redundancies.There are other ways to so-called lead, and what the Novo Nordisk is doing is not leadership for me, it is grounded in dehumanisation and profit over people.I also think about Kimberly Davies’ work in Brave Leadership. there is little brave about culling equally valuable human beings without dialogue.Whilst I am sad for those people, their families, and their communities, I am also super grateful that I can share examples of where leadership IS humane, is caring, and is brave.The financial markets are a law unto themselves, and as we see the same companies that fund war, funding technology, and funding pharma, we know the root cause of the global harms and mindsets start there, but we can only do what we can, and my ‘what can’’ today to offer some inside industry reflections and provocations.It is just my view, and I welcome yours.Go well.PS - If you are listening to this and your organisation could value from some radically different thinking and leadership, drop me a line. I represent 15 amazing people and organisations that can help you think through make this type of decision very differently.Radicality.co.ukgarry.turner@radicality.co.uk Get full access to In The Business of Healthy Masculinity at inbusinessofhealthymasculinity.substack.com/subscribe

Aug 15, 2025 • 7min
Being On The Edge.
Being On The Edge.I have always felt called towards the coast.Partly the expanse of view, partly the sound of the sea, and more recently, I realise it also represents being on the edge.Far away from the in-groups.Far away from career development.Far away from care.Working within a Euro 5bn turnover corporation that works in the centre of the most extractive aspects of our global supply chains (yet goes into so much of so-called modern life), speaking up about injustices known and understood in and outside of that organisation, whilst inviting leaders to join the dot between daily business operations and global injustices is taking me to the edge, and often these days.And I am okay with that. It has taken many years to reclaim my voice, understand the interconnections of life, and reclaim my self-worth from these systems, even as I continue to be paid by the same.I will be sharing a timeline soon of my multiple attempts to engage leaders (without any success so far after over 36 months) which highlights just how difficult it is for people to speak up within organisations even if the values on the wall and the so-called safe channels are promoted, especially within multinationals.We must speak up about injustices near and far away, it is the right thing to do. And we should speak up. We can only do what we can do, but what each of us can do matters. Every drop makes an ocean and all that. 🌊 I miss the flat we had on this stunning UK coastline above, but it was a salvation for me during COVID-19 and my testicular cancer journey in 2020.Why am I sharing this?Life's messy.It's volatile.It isn't fair.It is ridiculously non-linear and counter to pretty much ever bit of our conditioning and education.Yes The Matrix was a documentary, not a movie (nod to my good friend Cornell Thomas for this insight).Yet we all have this one fleeting shot at life which disappears very quickly.So I ask you, where do you go to stop, to breathe, to reflect, to be honest with yourself and others?If you don't have such spaces, drop me a line at garry.turner@radicality.co.uk and let's so if we can co-create one for you, your team, or a wider community.Also do check out the ecosystem of Impact Partners that I would be pleased to introduce you to.Wishing one and all as safe and enjoyable weekend as possible. Get full access to In The Business of Healthy Masculinity at inbusinessofhealthymasculinity.substack.com/subscribe

Aug 8, 2025 • 59sec
Death in Service benefit - Who ultimately pays?
Hi there,I am trying something different - 60 second or so short videos of insight in the hope this serves you, and helps feed our collective curiosity, which are also repurposed onto the podcast too.This reflection was filmed/taken at Southbourne beach on the south of the UK, hence you can hear the gorgeous sea lapping the sand.If this message piques your interest and you'd like to connect, my details are below.Radicality.co.ukgarry.turner@radicality.co.uk. Get full access to In The Business of Healthy Masculinity at inbusinessofhealthymasculinity.substack.com/subscribe

Mar 3, 2025 • 6min
Technology is agnostic - How will we use it, and how does it use us?
Hi you,I hope that you are doing and being as well as possible at this time?A kind request - would you please share this update/blog on your socials channels, especially LinkedIn, if you have it? In recent months I have deleted my Instagram and Twitter apps/accounts as a route to reducing the distractions in my life, and it looks like LinkedIn is trying to do the same to/for me!What is your relationship with technology / social media like today in March 2025?LinkedIn one is a tad more painful as I have a lot of relevant industry connections on there, but even so, ce la vie. Am I being invited to imagine a new relationship with tech and social media?My good friend Jo Hompstead, founder of the amazing ConnectUp, and I have had many discussions around ‘tech as a tool,’ or even as part of an artists toolbox.It is in moments like this I am reminded that technology is neither good, nor bad, it is agnostic. It is what we, and importantly, how power holders use it that dictates the outcome.WorldBlu - lead with FreedomI don’t think I have told you yet, but alongside my sales role within the chemical industry, I have joined Traci Fenton, the visionary behind the freedom at work approach, to help out with relationship and business development.I have dived deep into the Lead with freedom approach over the past 7 years, having gone through 47 of the 100 learning journeys that make up the Freedom-centered Leadership (FCL) programme, and have to say it is powerful, growth-fuelled, and totally ripe for our times as we navigate change as business as usual.If you are curious about this, there is a free webinar that you can sign up to HERE (it is a replay) to find out more about. It’s max 20 minutes and an amazing deep-dive into the impact that leading and designing with freedom in mind can have on profits, and on people.Back in the wild!On Weds 19th March 2025 I will be attending the WorkHuman LIVE event in central London which is being offered for free. Sign up at THIS LINK.Let me know if you plan to attend WorkHuman LIVE - it would be great to meet you :)This is exciting on two levels:* I have not been to many in-person gatherings like this since COVID* I will finally get to listen first-hand, and meet, a personal inspiration of mine, Harvard Prof Amy Edmonson (I was grateful that Amy joined me many moons ago on the Value through Vulnerability podcast when her book The Fearless Organization came out)One other ‘in the wild’ update is that I will be hosting the first WorldBlu Lead with freedom breakfast series on weds 26th March 2025 in central London, so if you are a CEO, CXO, or other senior leader of a company with minimum 10 employees, we would love to have you come along.Attendance is capped at max 16 people and will be facilitated under the Chatham House rule to ensure any and all masks can be removed for that precious two hours.Wishing you a safe and enjoyable start to this new week.If you have any thoughts, feelings, or reflections on this update, please hit reply and let me know - always keen to hear from you.PS - This video was recorded in my step-sons bedroom as he works his butt off at uni!About meHi, I’m Garry.I am a VP of Business Development for three companies spanning differing evolutionary states: start-up, scale-up, and a multinational corporation, the integration of which adds value to them all at the intersections of international sales, leadership, culture, and organisational design.www.WorldBlu.comgarry@worldblu.comwww.thepathfindercompany.comgarry@thepathfindercompany.comI am also founder, curator, and business developer at Radicality.co.uk, an ecosystem of transformative service providers.www.Radicality.co.ukgarry.turner@radicality.co.ukMeaningful, trustworthy, human relationships are the foundation of everything, especially as technical advancement continues to accelerate. Get full access to In The Business of Healthy Masculinity at inbusinessofhealthymasculinity.substack.com/subscribe


