Together an Active Future Podcast: Recent Episodes
Ken Masser & Jamie Waugh
Jamie Waugh and Ken Masser sometimes wonder what the heck they’re doing and whether any of it make any sense. Along with some fantastic guests, TaAF Talks will share with you their learning and experiences, both good and bad from working on a Sport England Local Delivery Pilot. So, are you in a role or a team that is a bit stuck in tradition and old ways of working? Want to try something new and creative but don’t know how to start? Do you feel like things could be better, but you’re not sure whether you have the skills to make it happen? Then this show is for you.
Wouldn't it be amazing if the people around you recognised, understood and dare we say celebrated your natural strengths.
Imagine what your work would be like if you had the time and space to focus more on what you're naturally great at and the things that give you energy.
Using Clifton Strengths, TaAF are doing just that.
We are embedding strengths-based development into what we do and how we do it. We see this being pretty huge in terms of system and leadership mindsets and approaches and it's a journey we're pretty excited about.
Listen in as Jamie and Ken use some of their natural strengths to produce another banger of a podcast.
3:52 - What is Clifton Strengths
8:09 - Why is this approach a good idea for TaAF and others
12:30 - Our personal experience of Clifton Strengths
18:19 - TaAF team reflections so far
20:51 - Play along - the natural strengths of Trump and Murray?
25:41 - How we plan to use this to influence system change
31:08 - What you can do to start your own strengths based discovery
Another season in the bag folks. We tried something different and for the most part, we think it was pretty blumming good. We achieved what we wanted to, we shared our thinking, our learning and our approach and got across what TaAF is all about.
This episode gives us chance to reflect, pull out some highlights, look at some of our download stats and set up season 3 (pause to allow for gasps of excitement).
Ken's highlights were mostly about himself and Jamie's was in the discovery of a listener from across Europe...he's easily pleased as he thinks no-one listens to this!
Enjoy, subscribe and get ready for Season 3!
2:45 - What was different in season 2 and were they any good
9:30 - Season 2 highlights
11:55 - Our international listener base and download stats
16:34 - Season 3 announcement!
20:10 - Season 1 episodes to catch up on
In an unsurprising move, Ken has binned Jamie off for this one for someone much more intelligent, interesting and less mouthy.
Ali Donnelly is the former Prime Minister's Deputy Official Spokesperson and Head of News and is now a leading lady at Sport England as their Executive Director of Digital, Marketing and Communications.
She brings those years of experience and wisdom to share her thoughts on one of TaAF's biggest challenges...telling a story of the work we do in the shadows, the work that is felt more than seen.
Listen to Ali and Ken discuss the key questions you should ask yourself when creating a story as well as get some great advice on how you can ensure your messages stick.
And see if you can spot the subtle way Jamie managed to still get himself in on this one.
Here is the link to the Design Principles Ali suggests checking out.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/government-design-principles
Place based working is happening all the time; it's where local people and partners do what they do. But how can some of the 'larger' partner organisations actually change their mindsets and approaches to enable more of it to happen; as opposed to just using it as a buzzword in meetings.
Jamie and Ken cover a lot in this podcast, based on what TaAF have tested out and learnt from, that we believe could help partners start to make this a reality.
Find a 'base', find a 'place' and listen in as part of todays 'work'. We'll call that another step towards place-based working!
Links for resources of interest TaAF Design Principles - https://taaf.co.uk/resources/
Shared role expectations - https://taaf.co.uk/download/taafs-secondment-model/
National Lottery Community Fund - Putting good ingredients in the mix
The team 'system change' gets banded about a lot in the circles we move in; the words have become almost abstract. Yet, when you keep in mind that 'the system' is just people who make decisions, you see a path forward in being able to influence change.
In this episode, Ken and Jamie (being simple folk) talk about 'the system' in simple terms, share some thoughts on the reality of working with system partners and even share some ideas on taking some first steps...which include a coffee shop and a muffin!
In this episode of TaAF Talks, we'll be discussing...
- 2:52 - 'Systems' in TaAF Model For Change
- 4:52 - System partners and life events
- 16:34 - The reality of working with system partners
- 24:24 - Examples of TaAF work in this area
- 31:25 - Resources of interest
- 34:23 - Simple steps to start system change
Resources you may find useful...
- OECD Observatory of Public Sector Innovation - Working with Change Systems approaches to public sector challenges (pdf download)
In yet another riveting podcast, Ken and Jamie (who used to be appallingly behaved and who are now slightly better) talk behaviour as fundamental to the TaAF Model for Change and explore key questions such as, why do any of us make the decisions we do, what drives our behaviours, good or bad and how likely is it we can change.
Great questions to explore when you’re interested in making real change happen.
In this episode of TaAF Talks, we'll be discussing...
1.45 - How behaviours relate to the TaAF model for change
8.08 - What if we didn’t? Encouraging individuals and teams to think differently
12.35 - Sharing ingrained and learned behaviours
20.02 - How values can drive behaviours
28.36 - Things you can do to help you start making behaviour changes
Hmmm, what to do what to do? We know being a Local Delivery Pilot brings with it a responsibility of sharing what we're learning and helping others make a difference in their place. We also know we could do much more in Pennine Lancashire with people and partners who haven’t yet had the opportunity to benefit from TaAF.
Can we satisfy both genuine and understandable needs in a way that is balanced, fair and leads to something great?
This may be one our little brains can’t solve…or maybe, we have an epiphany live in the podcast! Only one way to find out.
This episode of TaAF Talks is split into two parts...
- Part one - Covering the various challenges around finding the balance between sharing the learning and focusing on delivering the projects across Pennine Lancashire - 1 minute
- Part two - Exploring the feasibility of various different solutions - 18 minutes
We’re back, with what sounds like a bit more of a grown up and dare we say professional topic. But don’t worry, we find chances to let our personalities interrupt that occasionally.
If models and theories for change turn you off a bit, have a listen because that’s how we felt. And it’s this that set us off on a path to developing our own model of change that feels real and natural to who we are and what we’ve experienced.
Hear the evolution from just trying some stuff out through to having a systems-based change model, that’s based on where we’ve been, what we’ve learnt is effective and how that connects to the legacy we want to leave behind.
And then hear how we turn 4 years of work into a 30 second soundbite!
In this episode of TaAF Talks, we'll be covering...
- Early thinking on theories of change and evolving a model - 3 minutes
- From testing approaches to creating legacy outcomes - 14 minutes 34 seconds
- Our three key themes of our model of change - 19 minutes 30 seconds
- Key takeaways - 25 minutes
Documents you might find useful...
- Editable 'TaAF Model for Change' slides
We’re back! It’s been a while, but we hope we haven’t lost any of the magic we pretended we had.
This one is about Creative Engagement. Haven’t we already done a podcast on this we hear you ask? In a word, yes. But last time we had a genuine expert and professor in this area on the show. This time, drum roll please, we’ve managed to get…erm, Jamie and Ken.
In all seriousness though, TaAF has over the past few years taken Creative Engagement to a whole new level for us. We now have experience, approaches, and advice that we’re sharing to help others develop their own skills in this area. TaAF is being recognised as a leader in this area, which is pretty awesome.
In this episode of TaAF Talks, we’ll be giving an introduction to Creative Engagement and delving into five key themes...
- Success factors (5 minutes 30 seconds)
- Look, sound and feel (7 minutes 40 seconds)
- Designing out the barriers (19 minutes)
- Commitment devices (27 minutes 40 seconds)
- Key points with some hints and tips (31 minutes)
To access some of our Creative Engagement resources, check out https://taaf.co.uk/resources/. Here you'll be able to download a one-page summary that brings it all together with some templates you can start to use, our Creative Engagement toolkit and our Look, Sound & Feel guide.
Podcasts you might also like...
- Talk Talks...Mind your language
Well dear listeners and viewers, we’ve come to the end.
“Nooooo” we hear you cry. Well you’ll have to listen to the show to hear if this really is the end or if we’ve convinced ourselves we’re actually ok at this podcast lark.
Hear our honest critique of season 1, the good and the bad as well as what we’ve learned. We also couldn’t miss the opportunity to point out each other’s most annoying podcast habits. Who needs enemies?
Find your passion and you’ll never be short of energy and ideas.
That’s the case for Dot McCarthy at Cronkshaw Fold Farm. Listen and watch as Dot takes us on a tour of her farm as well as her approach to life!
You’ve seen her on the BBC, on the news and in the papers. Now it’s the dizzy heights of the TaAF Talks podcast!!
https://twitter.com/DotMcCarthy
https://www.cronkshawfoldfarm.co.uk/
Creative football is more than getting people down to a pitch to kick a football about. It’s a way of giving people a chance to get out and connect with others, a way of helping people to be active and a great way to have a bit of a laugh.
Listen to part 1 of this 2 part podcast to hear how a small number of people, who have had and still do have struggles with mental health, recognised that there was something missing in how services supported people and that they may be the best placed people to change that.
A typical Creative Football session - https://youtu.be/p0MhGl2tLTY
Part 2 - https://www.buzzsprout.com/685169/episodes/4271690
In this 2 part podcast we talk to Paul, Paul and Wayne and hear all about Creative Football.
Through their own experiences of struggling with mental health, they recognised that there was something missing in how services supported people like them and that they could do something about it.
Listen to hear how they have developed Creative Football into something special, providing people who are struggling with their mental health a space to get out, be with people, be active and have some fun.
Link to the Project Bridge video we discuss in part 2 - https://youtu.be/C4PHOEZ_1uE
Part 1: https://www.buzzsprout.com/685169/episodes/4271471
Hundreds and hundreds of people in Rossendale took part in a virtual mile recently, showing how you can make things happen, even in a COVID affected life.
Listen in as Jamie, Ken and Nathan Bibby share some top tips and ideas on how to get something ‘up and running’ and how a virtual community can bring it to life.
For more info on Rossendale Virtual Mile - Facebook page
Link to the school video we tried (and failed) to play in the podcast - HPS Promo
GP's are the heart of healthcare and provide a vital service in communities.
But is the role of a GP evolving with the times? Should GP's be responsible for looking after your wellbeing as well as your illness?
Emma, a GP from Rossendale, shares her expert thought and opinions on this subject in a fun and engaging chat with Ken and Jamie.
Listen out for her Twitter handle and nickname, both belters!
Language is a complicated thing right? Well it can certainly sound like that when you attend meetings and events within the public sector.
But does it need to be? Do we need to think harder before uttering the latest buzz phrases (e.g. social prescribing)? Should we and can we take on the responsibility of making sure we can be understood by everyone, including ourselves?
Let's 'open the kimono' together and find out!
Getting older is a given, growing up is optional.
Now is a great time to spend time playing and having fun with your kids. In this small but perfectly formed bitesize show, Jamie and Ken, with six children between them (mostly Ken's to be honest) share some of their ideas to keep the kids enteratined and active at home.
In this crazy time of COVID-19, TaAF Talks to two team members about the realities for them; Ken B has asthma and coronavirus symptoms and Andrea is 32 weeks pregnant.
Hear their honest and sometimes emotional reflections of life right now, what they've had to change to make home life work for them and what advice they have for others who may be worried.
And in an unbelievably related note, where can you go these days to watch a good trapeze act?!
The TaAF team is made up secondments from vastly skilled and experienced people…and we have Jamie in the team too!
But what’s the reality of having a team based on a secondment model? Does its value outweigh the pain of trying to manage a team from different organisations who are hardly ever in the same place? Have a listen and find out.
Lee Jewitt played in the Challenge Cup Final at Wembley in 2014. The logical next step? Appearing on the TaAF Talks podcast with Jamie and Ken.
Listen to how his career in rugby tested his mental as much as his physical strength and how he’s using his experience and skills to help children develop their own inner strength.
And to top it all off, he’s not bad looking either!!
Tina Pilkington is everyone’s favourite scouser and is a Sport England Local Delivery Pilot manager; but in a novel approach for a funding body, Tina has been embedded within the TaAF team. Is she here to check up on TaAF, keep Jamie in order (with a literal clip around the ear!), influence what TaAF does? Or have the tables been turned and now Tina is influencing Sport England with what she’s learning in TaAF? Only one way to find out…hit that play button!
Well, here it is folks, the big one, where TaAF Talks got their hands on the Chief Executive of Sport England.
Hear Tim Hollingsworth, along with his new best friends Ken and Jamie, talk about shifting organisational cultures, the values and skills we need in leaders to drive change and how a Masters degree in drama qualifies a person to lead Sport England!
Jamie and Ken are part of TaAF, which is learning how to help people to be more active. But what about them? Are they smashing it or are they struggling? Are they practising what they preach? Listen to their honest reflections on the good, the bad and what they’re learning about themselves. Also, have a listen to see whether Ken manages to sound less breathy?
Partnerships, partnerships, partnerships. Seems like the right approach, but definitely takes a lot more time and effort than just cracking on with things yourself. Listen to Mark (Relationship Manager at Active Lancashire), Ken and Jamie debate the value and the challenge of a partnership approach.
Also, whilst we’re at it, we may as well also sort out Marks career and the future of the population of Rossendale!
How do you describe good mental health? Listen to Performance Psychologist Tim Pattenden explain his views on how people aren't really talking about mental health, about why adversity is a good thing and hear some practical steps on taking control of your own well-being. Oh yeah, and don't miss the bombshell he drops in the quick fire questions!
In this first ever TaAF Talks, meet Jamie and Ken, hear the uncertainty in their voices as they explain why they are doing a podcast and learn all about Together an Active Future. Also find out how a 6 foot 3, gob on legs deals with a spider!
Wondering how to make your next event shine? Then listen to the world's only Professor of Design and Creative Exchange Leon Cruickshank having a chat with Jamie and Ken about the art of designing great interactions. Listen as he shares his hints and top tips with us and also how it all started with a bidet!!