Ever found yourself stuck chasing perfection and getting nowhere? You're not alone! In this candid and humorous episode, we open up about our own struggles with perfectionism, and how it nearly stopped this episode from happening!

We explore:

• Why perfectionism holds us back and how to spot the signs.
• Practical tips to break the perfection cycle: embracing 'good enough' and failing forward fast.
• Real-life examples from juggling mishaps in the circus to aviation analogies about landing planes (hint: it's okay if it's not perfect, as long as it's safe!).
• Personal stories: Michelle’s exciting news about her upcoming book launch, and Guy’s reflections on overcoming decades of perfection-driven procrastination.

Finally ditch the fear of judgment that's stopping your progress. Because let's face it, perfect is overrated!

Key takeaways:

• Aim for progress, not perfection.
• Break big goals into manageable steps.
• Remember, every attempt teaches valuable lessons—even if it's not perfect.

Listen in and discover how embracing imperfection might just be your greatest superpower.

Join Captain Michelle Huntington and Guy 'The Clown' Newman as they dive into the mind-blowing world of gut health and mental wellbeing.

After discovering "The Psychobiotic Revolution" by Scott Anderson with Dr John Cryan and Dr Ted Dinan, Guy can't contain his excitement about the fascinating connections between what we eat and how we feel.

Through hilarious personal stories about dairy disasters, gluten mishaps, and ice cream adventures, our hosts make the cutting-edge science of the gut-brain connection both entertaining and accessible. They explore how our trillions of gut bacteria influence everything from our moods to our memory, and why comfort eating might actually be our microbiota calling the shots.

Whether you're curious about the science behind your food cravings or wondering why chocolate makes you feel better, this episode of Captain and the Clown serves up serious science with a side of laughter.

The duo shares their own experiences with fasting, food intolerances, and the quest for mental clarity, while unpacking how this revolutionary research could change our approach to mental health.

Enjoy!

Guy and Michelle explore the concept of "soft leadership" - not about being soft, but about being more considerate and collaborative. They discuss how this approach, while sometimes seen as less efficient, often yields better results and stronger relationships.

Key Discussion Points:

- Indra Nooyi's (former PepsiCo CEO) journey from a blunt leadership style to a more collaborative approach

- The difference between leadership in structured environments (like aviation) vs everyday situations

- Why collaboration beats dictatorial management in modern leadership

- The power of self-assessment over traditional feedback

Notable Example:

Indra Nooyi's experience at PepsiCo, where she was advised to "be careful about throwing hand grenades" and instead adopt a more collaborative questioning approach.

Practical Leadership Techniques:

1. Building Trust Over Time

- Start collaborative to build trust

- Direct commands become more effective once trust is established

- Relationship building enables occasional directness when needed

2. Coaching vs Mentoring Approach:

- Coaching: Asking questions to help people find their own answers

- Mentoring: Sharing knowledge only after identifying knowledge gaps

- Using "Would it be worth considering..." instead of giving direct orders

3. Self-Assessment Model:

Key questions to ask:

- "How are you going with this?"

- "What's working well?"

- "Would you change anything?"

Real-World Applications:

- Parenting example: Breaking down overwhelming tasks (like cleaning a room) into manageable steps

- Workplace scenario: Building long-term trust enables occasional direct instructions

- Training context: Helping people develop self-awareness and assessment skills

Key Quote:

"Soft leadership isn't soft - it's collaborative and gives people agency."

Takeaway Message:

The episode emphasises that effective leadership isn't about being "soft" - it's about creating psychological safety, building trust, and empowering others to think for themselves. This approach might take more time initially but leads to better outcomes and stronger relationships.