Shows
The Standing Apart Podcast#19 - Machine-Led, Human-Assisted: The Dawn of Digital Labour Pt 2Join Nigel Ridpath for the second half of a gripping conversation with Vala Afshar and Henry King, authors of Autonomous, as they trace the line between human and machine, and reveal how AI-first strategies can heal the blockages choking modern businesses.
Through vivid metaphors - cars without steering wheels, living organisms and clogged arteries - and hard-won examples from companies deploying hundreds of agents, the trio argue that survival won’t come from small efficiency gains but from bold reimagining. Listeners will hear practical onboarding realities, the moral of identifying waste and why autonomy, connection and mastery wi...
2025-11-1726 minThe Standing Apart Podcast#18 - Machine-Led, Human-Assisted: The Dawn of Digital Labour Pt 1Join Nigel Ridpath as he sits down with Salesforce evangelist, Vala Afshar, and his colleague, Henry King, to tell a story of transformation: how two thinkers traced a path from centuries-old silos to a future where AI is not just a tool but a colleague. Through vivid examples and personal histories - from refugee beginnings and engineering cubicles to CIOs and innovation labs - they reveal why the next wave of technology demands we rethink how organisations share resources, measure success and design relationships.
In this episode you’ll hear the urgent case for ‘‘Autonomous’’ strategies: the rise of ge...
2025-11-0330 min
The Standing Apart Podcast#17 - Flip the Odds: How to Hack Probability and Achieve Bigger GoalsStep into a conversation that treats ambition like a puzzle you can actually solve. In this episode Nigel Ridpath sits down with Kyle Austin Young, a strategist who teaches you to diagram the path to success, spot the single step that could ruin everything and then quietly rewrite the odds in your favour.
Through vivid examples - from marathon training to start-up breakouts and Edison’s relentless tinkering - Kyle turns maths into a practical playbook. You’ll hear concrete tactics for reducing failure points, the power of multiple attempts and why a pre-mortem can be the smar...
2025-09-2941 min
The Standing Apart Podcast#16 - Inside MJBizCon: How Cannabis Became Big BusinessStep into the bustling corridors of MJBizCon with Nigel Ridpath as he unpacks the cannabis industry from seed to sale through a revealing conversation with Emile Lewis and Harrison Radie - a world where federal bans collide with state-by-state markets, entrepreneurs innovate around impossible rules and every regulation hides an opportunity.
Follow the drama: bankers shut out, crippling taxes, marketers forced to outwit AI moderators, and a rising international model that treats the plant as medicine - all balanced by creative workarounds like off-site consumption spaces and a growing push for sensible regulation.
If you'd...
2025-09-1532 min
The Standing Apart Podcast#15 - Using Health Apps to Improve Outcomes in the NHS, with Grace GimsonNigel returns from a hiatus and dives into conversation with Grace Gimson, CEO of Holly Health, tracing the startup’s journey from low-code experiments to machine-learning personalisation, deployed in NHS settings. Through candid stories of pivots, funding challenges and clinical partnerships, Grace reveals how technology and behavioural science create scalable habit-change ... change that could reshape population health.
Interwoven with Nigel’s trademark one-minute rant on soulless AI content and a heartfelt update about his time-travel-themed management book, the episode crescendos with an inspiring superhero moment: 10-year-old Bodhana Sivanandan’s historic chess triumph.
Listen for practical lessons...
2025-09-0134 min
The Standing Apart Podcast#14 - Why Most People Get the Wrong Idea About MotivationIn this episode of Standing Apart, host Nigel Ridpath delves into the essential theme of motivation. Discover why traditional motivation tactics often miss the mark and explore groundbreaking insights from Dan Pink's research on what truly drives human performance. As we unravel the complexities of intrinsic versus extrinsic motivation, you'll gain access to practical strategies designed to harness the full potential of your teams.
We also spotlight the inspiring story of Anya Hindmarch, a sustainability hero uniting competing supermarkets in a plastic waste reduction initiative. Her innovative approach exemplifies how collaboration can lead to significant environmental impact.
2025-05-2621 min
The Standing Apart Podcast#13 - Unlocking the Secrets of Premium PositioningJoin host Nigel Ridpath in a captivating exploration of premium positioning, where daring pioneers challenge the status quo to create extraordinary value. This episode of Standing Apart delves into the stories of remarkable businesses and individuals who defy conventional norms, demonstrating that standing apart is more than just a strategy—it's a movement.
From the intriguing journey of Daylesford Organic Farm's agricultural theater to Timpson's evolution as the trusted high street expert, and Brompton Bikes' embrace of urban mobility with style, discover how these enterprises command admiration and premium prices through consistency, confidence, and commitment.
Ve...
2025-05-1218 min
The Standing Apart Podcast#12 - The Inbound Evolution: How Gen.AI is Transforming MarketingIn this episode of Standing Apart, join host Nigel Ridpath as we dive into the transformative journey of inbound marketing in the era of Gen.AI. Explore how traditional marketing has shifted from outbound strategies based on interruption to a more consumer-centric, inbound approach.
We unveil the story of a mid-sized UK e-commerce business navigating the saturated market of sustainable living. Discover how consistency and patience turn this company's marketing efforts into a powerful engine of growth and deepen your understanding of why standing apart in marketing is more essential than ever.
The episode also...
2025-04-2817 minThe Standing Apart Podcast#11 - How to maximise your relationship with existing clientsStanding Apart, hosted by Nigel Ridpath, focuses on the theme of differentiation - both personally and in a business sense.
Episode 11 focuses on maximising the relationship with existing clients. I chat with Tamara Phelan about best practice.
I also reveal who is Superhero of the Week, which, this week, is from the world of TV comedy, and I get to have my 1-Minute Rant.
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2025-04-1427 min
The Standing Apart Podcast#10 - How to create a great business within the energy sector - pt2Standing Apart, hosted by Nigel Ridpath, focuses on the theme of differentiation - both personally and in a business sense.
Episode 10 is part 2 of an interview with Hugh Taylor from Roadnight Taylor. We discuss the energy sector that is the business focus, but also the purposefulness with which Hugh leads the organisation.
You can find the Roadnight Taylor flywheel here.
Here is Hugh's reading list:
Good to Great - Jim Collins
Influence- Robert Cialdini
Bounce- Matt Syed
Radical Candor- Kim Scott
Hyperfocus- Chris Bailey
Humanocracy- Gary Hemel
Think Again- Adam Grant
No Ru...
2025-03-3133 min
The Standing Apart Podcast#9 - How to create a great business within the energy sector - pt1Standing Apart, hosted by Nigel Ridpath, focuses on the theme of differentiation - both personally and in a business sense.
Episode 9 is part 1 of an interview with Hugh Taylor from Roadnight Taylor. We discuss the energy sector that is the business focus, but also the purposefulness with which Hugh leads the organisation.
Here is Hugh's reading list:
Good to Great - Jim Collins
Influence- Robert Cialdini
Bounce- Matt Syed
Radical Candor- Kim Scott
Hyperfocus- Chris Bailey
Humanocracy- Gary Hemel
Think Again- Adam Grant
No Rules Rules- Reed Hastings & Erin Meyer
The Win Without Pitch Ma...
2025-03-1741 min
The Standing Apart Podcast#8 - How to come up with a new business model - a personal storyStanding Apart, hosted by Nigel Ridpath, focuses on the theme of differentiation - both personally and in a business sense.
Episode 8 focuses on a personal story from Nigel, about how he and the team at Cloud9 Insight were pioneers in the world of selling SaaS solutions - in their case Microsoft CRM Online.
This is Cloud9:
Here Is David collecting his award in the House of Commons, from the Secretary of State:
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2025-03-0319 minThe Standing Apart Podcast#7 - What is a Circular Economy?Standing Apart, hosted by Nigel Ridpath, focuses on the theme of differentiation - both personally and in a business sense.
Episode 7 focuses on the circular economy. We take a look at what's happening in this space, inspired by this article by Pallab Ghosh.
I also reveal who is Superhero of the Week, which, this week, has a personal flavour, and I get to have my 1-Minute Rant, which gets slightly political.
** Please like, rate and subscribe! It really helps us reach a bigger audience. **
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2025-02-1716 minThe Standing Apart Podcast#6 - How can people in the education sector do things differently?Standing Apart, hosted by Nigel Ridpath, focuses on the theme of differentiation - both personally and in a business sense.
Episode 6 focuses on the education sector. We take a look at what's happening in schools in the most deprived areas, inspired by this article by Elaine Dunkley and producer, Kate McGough. I interview Nicki Hambleton, former Head of Art at UWCSEA in Singapore, about how one of the top schools in the world innovates.
I also reveal who is Superhero of the Week.
Nicki's podcast on Visual Thinking can be found here.
2025-02-0327 minThe Standing Apart Podcast#5 - What are the advantages of being a market disruptor?Standing Apart, hosted by Nigel Ridpath, focuses on the theme of differentiation - both personally and in a business sense.
Episode 5 is all about market disruptors. We take a look at examples, including WeBuyAnyCar, Habito and Marshmallow. We explore the characteristics of disruptive leaders. And finally, we provide some tips on how you can make your business more disruptive.
It also includes a rant about the debate around AI.
** Please like, rate and subscribe! It really helps us reach a bigger audience. **
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2025-01-2025 minThe Standing Apart Podcast#4 - What's the latest in the legaltech world?Standing Apart, hosted by Nigel Ridpath, focuses on the theme of differentiation - both personally and in a business sense.
Episode 4 includes an interview with Kim Simmonds, CEO and Founder of Cloud Contracts 365. Kim is shaking up the legal sector with her new SAAS product that handles day-to-day contract creation and contract review.
It also includes a rant about New Year resolutions.
** Please like, rate and subscribe! It really helps us reach a bigger audience. **
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2025-01-0635 minThe Standing Apart Podcast#3 - Stories of musicians who do things differentlyStanding Apart, hosted by Nigel Ridpath, focuses on the theme of differentiation - both personally and in a business sense.
Episode 3 is a music industry special, with stories about MTV, the sale of artists' back catalogues, Gorillaz and SZA. It also includes a rant about dynamic ticket pricing.
** Please like, rate and subscribe! It really helps us reach a bigger audience. **
2024-12-2320 minThe Standing Apart Podcast#2 - A deep dive into retailers that do things differentlyStanding Apart is a new podcast, hosted by Nigel Ridpath. The show focuses on the theme of differentiation - both personally and in a business sense.
Episode 2 is a retail special, with stories about Shein, Christmas markets, Canada Goose, Black Friday and Mary Portas It also includes a rant about Christmas gifts for men.
2024-12-0919 minThe Standing Apart Podcast#1 - Welcome to a brand new podcast about people & businesses that do things differentlyStanding Apart is a new podcast, hosted by Nigel Ridpath. The show focuses on the theme of differentiation - both personally and in a business sense.
Episode 1 is an introduction to the show and features a discussion about Jaguar's new branding, some of the key areas to look at when differentiating your business and a rant about terrible copywriting.
2024-11-2530 min
Seer 365 SessionsSeer 365 Sessions #5 - Partner to Partner best practice with ardenfortIn this episode of the Seer 365 Sessions, we are delighted to be joined by Nigel Ridpath from ardenfort to discuss how he works with partners to leverage each other's strengths, and share best practices - something that I know many Microsoft partners are looking to do more of.We mentioned the IAMCP during the podcast, if anyone is interested in learning more please have a look at their website to see how you can connect with other partners looking to partner Find out more about our GYDE365 platform Follow us on LinkedIn View this and our...
2022-11-0324 min