A new podcast series, Nothing, Something Nothing, has launched from Nine Tree Studios, Bristol.
The series explores how people approach creativity, are inspired, and develop their creative practice.
It’s about the creative moments you didn’t know you missed. It’s about the space between ideas, and the highs and lows that shape creative work.
It’s sector-agnostic with some high-calibre guests from the worlds of music, food, art, business and design.
Season 1’s guests include Lee Kiernan (Guitarist, IDLES), Calum Franklin (Restaurateur, Harrods), and Alex Rodrigues (Producer/Director, Channel 4).
And – as a Bristol Creative Industries exclusive – the podcast will also be dropping an episode with Mike Bailey (Actor/Teacher), known for his role as Sid in Skins.
New episodes drop every Wednesday on your favourite platform; visit www.nsnpodcast.com to listen and subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube, as well as on social.
The podcast has launched from production company JonesMillbank and Nine Tree Studios, with recording currently taking place in Bristol.
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JonesMillbank are a full-service production company based at Nine Tree Studios, their 10,000sq ft film studio.
Producing branded content, TV ads and social content their clients include local, global and household brands such as Dyson, Freixenet, DHL, Oxfam, Pukka and Vax.
jonesmillbank.com
01173706372
[email protected]
Bristol is preparing to take its first steps towards a potential bid to become the UK City of Culture in 2029, a title that celebrates creativity, community, and the power of culture totransform lives.
On Tuesday 20 January councillors agreed to submit an expression of interest to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). This marks the beginning of a journey that could see Bristol shortlisted for one of the country’s most prestigious culturalhonours.
The UK City of Culture programme shines a national spotlight on the cultural life of cities, bringing opportunities for residents and visitors to experience creativity in new and exciting ways.
Previous winners have seen lasting benefits: increased local pride, stronger community connections, and a boost to the local economy through tourism and investment.
For Bristol, the ambition is clear: to use culture as a force for inclusion and opportunity.
Philip Walker, head of culture at Bristol City Council, said:
“Our city is renowned for its creativity – from street art and music to festivals and independent venues. While we take pride in our city’s offer not everyone has equal access to cultural experiences. Barriers such as cost, location, and representation mean some communities feel disconnected from Bristol’s cultural offer.
“A bid for UK City of Culture would aim to change that. The UK City of Culture programme is about more than events and festivals – it’s about creating lasting change. For Bristol, this means cementing culture as a means to tackle inequality, strengthen communities, and inspire future generations.
“It means celebrating what makes the city special while opening doors for those who feel excluded. A Bristol approach is one that is rooted in its grassroots cultural scene – the community-led projects, local artists, and neighbourhood initiatives that give our city its distinctive character. By building from the ground up, our bid would seek to ensure that everyone, regardless of background or postcode, can experience and benefit from Bristol’s vibrant cultural life.
“We want to empower a whole city bid that captures the spirit of the sector and the communities of Bristol. Should the committee give us the go ahead to start the bidding process we want to build a bid on the power our cultural offer has to bring people together, foster understanding, and strengthen the voices of our communities.”
LaToyah McAllister-Jones, founding partner and lead facilitator at Citizens for Culture, said:
“After more than a decade working in Bristol’s cultural sector, I’ve seen first-hand the extraordinary breadth of creativity this city offers. As a founding partner of Citizens for Culture, Bristol is already shaping its cultural future with its citizens. This bid is about Bristol’s role in the wider West of England ecosystem and how UK City of Culture can deliver lasting regional benefit.”
Bristol now join other cities in the race to become UK City of Culture 2029. The process involves several stages, starting with the expression of interest and leading to a shortlist of cities invited to develop full bids.
We are proud to have several cultural businesses and organisations as Bristol Creative Industries members. They include:
Design West | RWA (Royal West of England Academy) | Watershed | Bristol Beacon | Curzon Cinema & Arts | St George’s Bristol | Bristol Cathedral | We The Curious | Tobacco Factory Theatres | Aardman Animations | Wake The Tiger
Improve your communication skills in the workplace and beyond. If you’re ready to take your first steps in developing your speaking and presentation skills, this is the perfect place to start.
COURSE DETAILS
A 3 hour, live course delivered over 3 consecutive evenings across one week, with BRAVA CEO, Melissa Thom. This course will help you understand the theory and lay down the fundamentals skills and practical techniques you need in order to communicate more effectively, with increased confidence.
COURSE OVERVIEW
WHO IS IT FOR?
This small group class is for anyone who’d like to learn practical tips to help unlock the power of their voice, successfully influence an audience and communicate with confidence.
WHY BRAVA?
At BRAVA, all of our training is live and tailored to you. There are no pre-recorded modules and we work with people of all ages and experience levels from 20 yrs+, from a wide range of backgrounds.
Many people are surprised by how much there is to learn and how much they can grow, even in just three sessions.
—
£180 (inc. VAT)
Dates: 2, 3 & 4 February (Mon, Tues, Weds) 2026
Time: 6pm – 7pm
Online via Zoom
To book, visit:
https://www.brava.uk.com/masterclasses/foundation-in-public-speaking
BRAVA, the leading voice and audio training academy founded by award-winning voice actor, Melissa Thom, is delighted to announce that Dan Jones, former Head of Audiobook Production at Hachette UK, has joined the organisation as an audiobook coach and guest instructor.
With more than 20 years’ experience at a major UK publisher, Dan brings an exceptional depth of industry knowledge, technical expertise, and creative leadership to BRAVA’s coaching team. His background spans music engineering, audiobook production, studio design, and talent development, making him an invaluable addition to BRAVA’s roster of specialist coaches. BRAVA remains committed to ensuring that all its coaches have extensive experience in their field, and Dan embodies this standard.
Dan will work alongside BRAVA CEO and audiobook narrator, Melissa Thom, to deliver both personalised coaching and group masterclasses. Their first joint event, Audiobooks from a Publisher’s Perspective, will take place in Bristol on Friday, 20 March at their central partner studios, from 10am – 4pm. This in-person masterclass is designed for voice professionals seeking to deepen their understanding of the audiobook industry and elevate their technical and performance skills. Attendees will gain practical guidance on showreels, preparation, narration techniques, recording workflows, and securing work in a competitive and rapidly evolving sector.
Dan Jones said:
“I’ve spent my life immersed in audio, from experimenting with tape recorders as a kid, to building Hachette’s in-house audiobook studios, to overseeing the production of thousands of titles across every genre. I’m excited to share what I’ve learned with the BRAVA community and help voice professionals thrive in this industry I care so deeply about.”
Melissa Thom, CEO of BRAVA, added:
“Dan’s experience is unparalleled. His decades spent at the forefront of audio production, coupled with his passion for storytelling and technical mastery, make him an extraordinary asset to our students. We’re thrilled to welcome him to BRAVA.”
Dan’s career spans music engineering, audiobook production leadership, and more recently, consultancy work for audio and technology companies on strategies and training initiatives. His unique mix of technical expertise and narrative sensitivity positions him perfectly to support both emerging and established voice professionals through BRAVA’s specialised coaching programmes.
To find out more about BRAVA go to Advanced Audiobooks Masterclass or visit www.brava.uk.com
BRAVA (Bristol Academy of Voice Acting) is delighted to announce that it has received two Society of Voice Arts and Sciences (SOVAS) Award nominations.
Best Podcast Host
The nominations are for Outstanding Podcast – Best Producer/Host – for BRAVA Founder and CEO, Melissa Thom, for the High Notes podcast on the art and business of voice.
From Monoglian throat singing to vocal health, accents, gaming and more, High Notes uncovers the craft behind the business. Series 3 has just dropped and explores ‘Words at Work’, talking to some of the best minds about voice, speech and communication for business.
Best Audio Drama
BRAVA has also been nominated for Outstanding Audio Drama for Angels in Bristol, an original Film Noir script based in 1954 Bristol, written and directed by Elaine A. Clark, and produced by Melissa Thom.
Elaine wrote the script exclusively for BRAVA’s in-person Characters Masterclass, held in Bristol every summer. This annual event provides participants with the opportunity to be cast in and record a range of productions, from audiobooks, to audio dramas, video games and more.
Melissa Thom, Founder & CEO of BRAVA said:
“I could not be prouder of everyone at BRAVA involved in these nominations. It’s a real testimony to the talent of our voice clients. Here’s to storytelling, community, and the power of voice; to putting Bristol and the South West firmly on the global voice map; and, most importantly, to creating art for pleasure!”.
BRAVA’s High Notes podcast is hosted and produced by Melissa Thom, audio and video engineer Euan McAleece, and audio and video editor, David Macgregor.
The Angels in Bristol cast: Carla O’Shaughnessy, Tiffany Xin, Marilla Lamour, Tina Duffin, Gwen Henderson, Tyler Woodburn, Guy Pass, Daniel Watson, Amy Smith, Rebecca Kozlen, Tabitha Owens and Melissa Thom. The Producer was Melissa Thom and Assistant Producer, Tabitha Owens.
To work with BRAVA on voice, speech and communication in the workplace and beyond, drop us a line at [email protected] or visit our website at www.brava.uk.com
Fiasco is excited to announce that Nathan Crosby has joined the team as its new Creative Director. Nathan brings over 14 years’ experience working as a designer and creative director, with past clients that include Lego, Coke, IHG, OVO, Heidi, and Bath Rugby.
Nathan’s commercial experience, creativity and leadership skills make him a fantastic addition to Fiasco as it continues to expand its breadth of work to take on bigger, bolder, more diverse projects.
“Nathan’s perspective brings fresh thinking to the agency and helps raise the bar for our strategic and creative output. His experience working across an impressive roster of big-name brands along with his sharp strategic lens make this an exciting time to join as we continue our trajectory of growth” – Ben Steers, Co-founder and Executive Creative Director.
“I’m thrilled to join the team at Fiasco. Their new brand promise, to move businesses
forward with feeling, puts emotional resonance squarely at the heart of the work they do – as both a platform for creativity, and a true value driver for the businesses they work with. I’m excited to help shape what this means for the agency’s output with a team already setting the bar for creativity and craft so high.” – Nathan Crosby, Creative Director
Fiasco’s recent rebrand – a collaborative effort shaped by the team – sharpens its proposition and expresses with greater clarity what makes it different, and why that matters. This includes the repositioning of its client services team, along with strategic new hires across different areas of the business. With its focus on growth and ambitions to penetrate a larger international market, including the USA, it’s a pivotal time for the business and an exciting time to reposition what Fiasco stands for.
Emotion-led, feeling-first design sits at the heart of everything it does – and is based on the fact feel-good isn’t just a vibe, it’s a value driver. Work this year has expanded to include high profile clients in the technology and AI sector, such as $1 billion dollar valued business planning platform Pigment, and it recently won an award for its rebrand for Britt. Its approach translates into stronger relationships, greater retention, and more sustainable growth.
About:
Fiasco is a brand and digital agency that combines strategic thinking with creative craft to drive businesses forward. By pairing strategic clarity with creative conviction, Fiasco turns complexity into connection, building brands that move both hearts and minds. You can read more about Fiasco and Nathan, over on their site here.
Bristol’s legendary Slapstick Festival celebrates its 22nd year with an all-star lineup.
Inaugural ‘GOLDEN BAZ’ Award in honour of Barry Cryer to be presented to Armando Iannucci, reuniting stars of In The Loop and The Thick of It
World Premiere of Bob Cryer’s short film, Joke
Wednesday 4 – Sunday 8th February 2026
Fans of comedy and silent film will have plenty to choose from at the 2026 Slapstick Festival. The beloved festival, now in its 22nd year, has become a key event in Bristol’s cultural calendar, with its eclectic lineup of new, classic and silent comedies, as well as stars of stage, screen and the music world gathering to celebrate cinematic magic and merriment.
The cast of The Thick of It and In The Loop will reunite in honour of writer-director Amando Iannucci, who will be the first recipient of the Golden Baz Writers Award during a special event where he will look back at his remarkable career as a writer, director and broadcaster – exploring his inspirations and creative process. Created to honour the enduring comic legacy of Barry Cryer, the Golden Baz celebrates comedy writers whose work reflects his values: wit, warmth, originality and a deep commitment to the craft of making people laugh.
Continuing the tribute to Barry Cryer, Slapstick also features the World Premiere of Joke, directed by his son Bob Cryer. Bringing 10 of his gags to life as a sketch film, Joke includes Dame Judi Dench, Sir Stephen Fry, Alison Steadman, Harry Hill, Rebecca Front, Les Dennis and Miles Jupp (amongst others!) in the cast.
Satire is a theme of this year’s festival, which also features a rare live discussion with Alexei Sayle revisiting his groundbreaking 1980s television series Alexei Sayle’s Stuff. In conversation with Robin Ince, Alexei will reflect on the chaotic creativity behind a show that redefined British TV comedy with its fearless mix of surreal sketches, biting satire and political edge. Nearly forty years since it first exploded onto BBC2, Stuff remains as bold, subversive and brilliantly funny as ever.
‘In curating this programme, my aim has been to remind us why comedy, and laughter, matter. At a time when public discourse can feel increasingly brittle and polarised, satire allows us to explore difficult questions without retreating into anger or fear. Laughter disarms. It connects us. It opens a space for empathy and self-reflection where accusation and defensiveness might otherwise reign.
~ Chris Daniels, Festival Director
Celebrating 20 years of his creation on the small screen, Lee Mack will be explaining how Not Going Out evolved from stand-up beginnings to a multi-award-winning series loved by millions. In this exclusive anniversary event, Lee will look back at two decades of Not Going Out: from its pilot episode to record-breaking longevity as the BBC’s longest-running sitcom. Expect a lively on-stage conversation packed with quips, warmth and Lee’s trademark quickfire humour, interwoven with classic clips, outtakes and behind-the-scenes stories.
Slapstick nurtures the audiences of tomorrow and this year families will love Andy Day’s Cracking Brass Comedy Show, with timeless classics from Laurel & Hardy and Bristol’s own Wallace & Gromit accompanied by the 30 piece City of Bristol Brass Band for a cracking afternoon of fun. Lovers of musicals will appreciate Sing! – the animated tale of theatre koala Buster Moon, who stages the world’s greatest singing competition to save his beloved playhouse. Sing! celebrates courage, creativity and the joy of performance with a few delightful nods to silent-era legend Buster Keaton, who inspired Buster Moon’s name and the film’s spectacular fish-tank sequence.
Acknowledging the contribution of women to early cinema is a strand of films including The Flapper – the first use of this word in a film title. The Roaring Twenties were a new age for women, who bobbed their hair, shortened their skirts, danced, drank and smoked and discovered a world of previously forbidden freedoms. Long before Clara Bow or Louise Brooks made the flapper a global icon, screen star Olive Thomas defined the look, attitude and energy of the modern young woman on screen in this story of a small town girl moving to an elite finishing school.
Famous faces include Lee Mack, Alexei Sayle, Armando Iannucci, Chris Addison, Robin Ince, Lucy Porter, Shazia Mirza, Rick Wakeman; with more events and surprise guests still to be announced, there’s something for everyone at this year’s Slapstick Festival, a comedy cornucopia. See you in the front row.
🚫 “It’s great to be here.”
🚫 “Hello, I am [insert name, job title]. Today I’m going to talk about…”
🚫 “Thank you for having me”
Avoid these predictable presentation intros. These just set up your talk as nothing new.
If you want your talk to be memorable you need to hook your audience from the very beginning and give them a compelling reason to pay attention.
The graphic below from Sequoia Capital illustrates a typical attention span over 60mins and the potential to lose 90% of your audience within the first five mins…but how to remedy?
Here are three ways (and a bonus fourth😁) to help to set up your talk as unmissable:
🎬 Set the scene like a movie.
“Our industry is facing seismic challenges. That’s what I would have said – until six months ago we discovered something that changed everything. Here’s what happened..”
📊 Drop an eyebrow-raising stat.
“If women started and scaled new businesses at the same rate as men, we could create £250 billion in additional value to the UK’s economy, according to a recent review. Here’s what needs to happen…”
🔍 Use a prop or an attention-grabbing slide.
One influential presenter wordlessly put up an image of an elephant to kick off a talk where they went on to talk about tackling ‘the elephant in the room’ of their industry, while another promised a visual to capture the current state of the economy…and put up a completely black slide.
Remember: with audio only, retention of content three days later is around 10%, but with an image that increases to an incredible 65%
⭐ Or you can call us. We can to help you to be memorable in all your business interactions.
As part of ADLIB’s ‘True Diversity’ series, they had a chat with Andreyana Ivanova, Head of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Wellbeing at KeolisAmey Docklands. With over 16 years of cross-sector experience her work focuses on building inclusive, resilient and high-performing cultures through insight-led strategy, organisational capability building and inclusive design.
Andreyana believes that thriving employees are the driving force behind sustainable business growth. She helps organisations reimagine and shape more human-centred, equitable employee journeys, cultivating workplaces where people feel they belong, are valued, and empowered.
ADLIB: Let’s start with the need for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) – what’s your take, why is it so important?
Andreyana: In my work, I approach DEI as a strategic lever for unlocking productivity, innovation and long-term growth. I often describe DEI as the engine of high performance and belonging as the fuel that powers it. When people feel safe, valued and empowered, they bring their full potential to work, perform at their best, and stay engaged and motivated. Organisations that embrace DEI not only attract and retain top talent, but also accelerate innovation and remain resilient through change. In other words, DEI is the infrastructure behind high-performing, human-centred and future-ready workplaces.
DEI goes beyond representation. It is about redesigning the systems, structures and everyday practices that shape how people experience work. When embedded in work design, leadership competencies and decision making, DEI helps organisations cultivate inclusive cultures, resilient workforces and human-centred workplaces where everyone feels they belong and can thrive. This people-first approach not only supports colleagues through key life moments, but also strengthens customer confidence and loyalty, ultimately accelerating organisational growth and social impact.
In an increasingly complex and polarised competitive landscape, DEI matters even more. Rising backlash in some regions makes it harder to sustain momentum, yet DEI remains the anchor that keeps organisations grounded in purpose and aligned with their values.
ADLIB: What are the risks of not prioritising DEI and what are the tangible benefits of building an inclusive workforce?
Andreyana: The link between DEI, organisational culture, resilience and performance is now widely recognised and backed by both research and practice. In the absence of inclusive cultures and equitable employee experiences, the consequences for organisations and their people can be significant: employees feel disengaged, isolated or struggle in silence, often resulting in presenteeism, attrition, or low discretionary effort. These outcomes not only impact individual wellbeing and performance, but also steadily erode organisational culture and long-term success.
According to Deloitte (2023), poor mental health costs UK employers £51 billion annually, with presenteeism alone accounting for £24 billion. The latest Workplace Wellbeing Deficit report (2025) adds further depth: people from lower socio-economic and marginalised backgrounds are disproportionately affected by mental health challenges at work. Rather than taking time off, many employees feel compelled to continue working while unwell, often to avoid stigma or falling behind (a pattern known as ‘leavism’). This hidden toll of exclusion leads to burnout, low psychological safety and a culture of survival. Over time, it deepens structural inequalities and stifles potential.
On the other hand, embedding DEI into the fabric of everyday work and employee experiences fosters wellbeing, engagement and belonging, and in doing so, boosts retention, performance and collective resilience. When people feel they belong, they are more engaged and connected, more likely to stay with their employer, and empowered to contribute meaningfully to the organisation’s shared success.
From a business perspective, embracing DEI provides a competitive advantage. Teams that reflect a diversity of lived experiences are more creative, adaptable and better equipped to solve complex problems. As research continuously shows, diverse organisations consistently outperform their peers. According to McKinsey’s 2023 report, companies in the top quartile for gender or ethnic diversity on executive teams are 39% more likely to financially outperform less diverse peers (McKinsey, 2023). Other studies on board-level diversity, such as those by Bloomberg Intelligence, point to similar trends across regions (Bloomberg Intelligence, 2023).
Cloverpop’s research shows a direct link between inclusive decision making and stronger business performance:
Taken together, these findings reaffirm that DEI is not only a moral imperative but a business one, delivering measurable results and long-term impact. Organisations that embed DEI as a core enabler of their strategy and ESG commitments are better positioned for sustainable growth. They connect more authentically with employees, customers and stakeholders, building cultures of trust and accountability. In doing so, they strengthen both their employer and customer brand, and establish themselves as credible, responsible leaders within their industries and communities.
The message for leaders and organisations is clear: if you don’t embrace DEI as a strategic advantage, your competitors will. In fact, the most forward thinking ones already have!
ADLIB: How can organisations make DEI more impactful and sustainable across the employee experience?
Andreyana: While there is strong evidence that more engaged employees drive stronger business outcomes, too few feel truly connected to their organisations in a human sense. Accenture’s research (2022) shows that only one in six employees feel a deep connection to their work, culture and colleagues, described as ‘omni-connected’, which has a significant impact on retention, productivity and revenue growth. This highlights the gap between stated commitment and lived experience.
The best place to start is by listening and learning, using both data and employee voice to identify barriers, inequities and opportunities to create fairer outcomes for everyone. Ask the deep questions: Do colleagues feel safe to speak up? Whose voices carry weight? Are policies designed for the diverse realities of employees’ lives? Alongside feedback loops, organisations need robust data and insights to identify pain points in the talent journey, inform their strategies and priorities, measure the impact of their efforts and hold themselves accountable.
The next step is to act. That means integrating DEI into every stage of the talent journey from attraction to offboarding, and embedding equity into systems, processes, leadership behaviours and daily practices that shape organisational culture and how people experience work. Crucially, DEI and Wellbeing go hand in hand: colleagues are more likely to thrive and contribute fully when they feel supported through key life stages and challenges. As part of this, digital platforms and AI-enabled tools must be reviewed through an inclusion lens to ensure they deliver fair outcomes rather than perpetuating bias.
Fundamentally, embedding DEI into the employee experience is about creating equitable workplaces where people feel safe to speak up, supported to grow, and empowered to contribute fully. Achieving this requires leaders, managers and colleagues to take an active role in DEI, modelling inclusive behaviours that strengthen organisational culture. To sustain progress, DEI must also be embedded into leadership responsibilities, performance metrics and promotion criteria, ensuring accountability is consistent, measurable, and aligned with the organisation’s purpose and values. When DEI is woven into every stage of the employee experience, it transforms daily interactions into a culture of belonging where people and organisations can truly thrive.
ADLIB: What skills, mindsets or shifts do DEI and People leaders need to navigate the future of work?
Andreyana: The future of work calls for a different kind of leadership: one that is collaborative, human and grounded in integrity. DEI and People leaders are not only delivering programmes; they are working to reshape systems and cultures that were often not designed with everyone in mind. That requires clarity of purpose, resilience and the ability to navigate complexity. In today’s world of increased scrutiny and polarisation, balancing commercial focus with humility is more important than ever.
We cannot ignore the dynamic global landscape. The backlash in some regions, particularly the US, has created a more complex environment, one where the value of DEI is being questioned or misunderstood. But this also presents an opportunity to reflect, realign and strengthen the case for meaningful, systemic change that drives innovation, customer trust and long-term growth.
The most sustainable change happens when DEI is built into the way an organisation leads, makes decisions and grows. Leadership is central as we need leaders at every level who model empathy, accountability and allyship, and who foster trust and psychological safety.
For me, three shifts feel especially important:
The best leaders I have worked with lead with curiosity, courage and vulnerability. They listen, reflect, ask the hard questions, collaborate and bring others with them, not through blame but through shared ownership. They adopt inclusive leadership and allyship in their everyday behaviours, using their voice and influence to make space for others, challenge inequity and act even when it feels uncomfortable. At the same time, they use data and storytelling to demonstrate impact, making the business case for DEI visible and credible across the organisation.
Ultimately, inclusive leaders recognise that DEI is a continuous journey, not a destination. Especially in times of uncertainty it requires intentional, collective effort, guided by clarity and consistency, and the courage to lead with vulnerability, integrity and compassion. As Maya Angelou reminds us: ‘Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.’
If you are a part of an initiative, brand or company that proactively champions diversity and would like to be featured as part of the “True Diversity” series please get in touch with Tony.
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This blog previously appeared on the ADLIB Blog.
About ‘True Diversity’ by ADLIB:
Our series, True Diversity, is dedicated to featuring the people, organisations, and initiatives that truly understand why Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (EDI) matter.
We spotlight who they are, what they do, and why their work is important. Through their stories, we explore how they’re driving meaningful change and how businesses and potential employers can get involved in building a more inclusive future.
View ADLIB’s EDI Directory.
Season 3 of High Notes, the podcast about the business and art of voice, will drop from Monday 27th October for eight weeks. It will see host Melissa Thom talking to leading figures across business, culture, and communication.
Guests include world-leading speechwriter Simon Lancaster, voice coach Dr. Rockford Sansom, writer and historian Jane Duffus, BAFTA’s Colin Burgess, PR legend Lynne Franks, and broadcaster Janey Lee Grace.
Together, they explore how voice shapes influence, leadership, and true connection at work: how to stay composed under pressure, engage an audience and speak with authority.
The full line up of episodes and release dates are as follows:
27/10/2025 – Simon Lancaster: speechwriter to business and political leaders, on the Language of Leadership and the hidden patterns that make communication persuasive.
03/11/2025 – Jane Duffus: writer and historian, on Women, Wit & the Power of Speech and how women’s voices have shaped and continue to shape public life.
10/11/2025 – Colin Burgess: BAFTA’s Executive Director of Operations, on the Resilient Voice, building legacy, and nurturing new creative voices in film, games and television.
17/11/2025 – Tricia Duffy: leadership coach, on Creative Confidence and finding your voice in times of change and uncertainty.
24/11/2025 – Dr. Rockford Sansom: voice coach to executives worldwide, on Influence & Impact, and how leaders can speak with presence in the boardroom.
01/12/2025 – Janey Lee Grace: BBC broadcasting legend and coach, on Executive Presence, clarity, sobriety and having the courage to speak up.
08/12/2025 – Lynne Franks: author, entrepreneur, communications strategist and fashion pioneer on Leading with Wisdom, and using voice as a force for visibility, purpose, and change.
15/12/2025 – Margaret Heffernan: business thinker, writer and voted one of the “Top 100 Media Executives” by The Hollywood Reporter on Voice, Creativity and Embracing Uncertainty, and why leadership today demands adaptability.
High Notes’ host, Melissa Thom is a speech and communication coach and acclaimed voice actor with decades of experience voicing projects including Grand Theft Auto V for Rockstar Games, Elder Scrolls for Zenimax, LL COOL J, Google, Amazon, Nike and many more.
Melissa is also the Founder and CEO of BRAVA, and has trained thousands of people in communication and voice from the UK and beyond – from rappers and reverends to ad creatives and countesses.
Melissa Thom said: “This season of High Notes is focused on how professionals can use their voice for impactful communication in the workplace and beyond. Our guests bring a wealth of experience from different sectors and creative disciplines – we hope our listeners will both be entertained and come away with actionable tips to supercharge communication confidence.”
High Notes season 3 can be found at brava.uk.com/podcast and all major podcast platforms, from October 27th, 2025.
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