⚠️ Warning ⚠️ This episode contains content that may be alarming to some listeners. We do talk about suicide which we know can be distressing.

In this powerful episode, I sit down with Jon Kennett, agency director, family man, and someone who’s lived through the highs of ambition and the lows of loss.

Jon opens up about how his definition of success has shifted over the years from chasing houses, cars, and financial milestones, to focusing on happiness, health, and the relationships that matter most.

We dive deep into themes of presence, fulfilment, balance, and relationships from practical business lessons around leadership and networking, to raw, emotional conversations about mental health and suicide. Jon shares the heartbreaking stories of close friends he’s lost, the ripple effects on everyone left behind, and why breaking the stigma around these conversations is so important.

This episode is both deeply human and practical with lessons on leadership, resilience, and the everyday sparks of meaning that keep us going.

• Redefining what success really means
• Why fulfilment is about the journey, not the destination
• Building genuine relationships over transactions
• Lessons from Jon’s father and a childhood immersed in music & performance
• Mental health, suicide, and the ripple effect of loss
• Leadership, trust, and putting the right people in the right seats
• Family, presence, and the everyday sparks of meaning

00:00 – Opening & introductions

03:20 – Redefining success: from cars and houses to health, happiness, and family

12:15 – The pursuit vs. the destination: presence and fulfilment

20:40 – Networking done right: building relationships, not selling

31:00 – Growing up in music, confidence through performance, and lessons from his father

42:30 – Validation, highs & lows of the music industry

54:10 – Mental health, suicide, and losing a close friend

1:06:00 – The ripple effect: multiple friends lost to suicide and how it changed Jon’s outlook

1:24:00 – What needs to change: stigma, emotional education, and starting young

1:38:00 – Leadership lessons: building trust and putting the right people in the right seats

1:46:00 – Advice to a younger self

1:47:00 – Staying present as a father and leader

1:55:00 – Closing reflections: what sparks meaning in everyday life

🎧 LISTEN TO MORE DIFFERENT HATS EPISODES:

👉 https://www.different-hats.co.uk/podcast

🔗 Connect with Jon Kennett

LinkedIn: Jon Kennett

💡 If this episode resonated with you, please like, share, and comment below. Your support helps us spread this important message and change the narrative around success and mental health.

SPONSORED BY:

Search Seven – www.searchseven.co.uk

Nostos Hove – www.nostos-hove.co.uk

Rivervale – www.rivervale.co.uk

Plus X – https://www.plusxinnovation.com/

PRODUCED BY:

H2 Productions – https://h2productions.co.uk/

*If you’ve been affected by any of the topics in today’s episode, please reach out to local support services or find resources via Samaritans (UK) or equivalent helplines in your country.

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