Leadership comes first. When a chair walks into a staff away day, the power in the room shifts. Debra and Peter explore how to be present without taking over. Set expectations clearly, invite staff to shape the work, listen with intent, and keep your own opinions light so the team can do its best work.Then, what you wear and why. Clothes send signals whether we like it or not. From suits and ties to hoodies and T-shirts, they unpack how context shapes choices, how to show respect without losing authenticity, and why women still get judged more harshly. Zelensky at the White House comes up as a useful example of principle meeting pragmatism.Finally, volunteers on the street. Where is the line between helpful community action and risky vigilante patrols? The Bournemouth case prompts a look at safeguarding, accountability and why collaboration with the police beats going it alone.Plus: three cats testing a new cat flap, a Brussels away day with the Five Rights Foundation team, bins and fly tipping, and a nod to Amanda Jade Wellington at the Oval.Tell us how you handle leadership presence at away days, what dress signals work in your context, and where you stand on street patrols. Add your thoughts in the comments.YouTube Subscribe: YouTube.com/@DSCOnlineMore Debra Allcock TylerLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debra-allcock-tyler-8013214/More Peter WanlessLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sir-peter-wanless-b43aa372/Produced by: Directory of Social Change https://www.dsc.org.ukPodcast Producer: José Blazquez

Episode 38 finds Peter settling into life in Somerset after a house move that involved three cats, upside-down beds, and a crash course in rural fruit-picking. But between the rhubarb and the plums, there’s been time for big conversations.Debra’s recent viral LinkedIn post on why leaders should never criticise their predecessors kicks off a deep dive into leadership transitions, respecting the past while building for the future, and the value of framing change positively. The pair share personal experiences, from NSPCC history exercises to 15-year-old work experience gone awry, all showing how fresh eyes and old habits collide.The discussion widens to the hard truths about volunteering: its true costs, why it’s not a free resource, and the tension between financial necessity and community values – illustrated by the Samaritans’ controversial branch closures. And finally, they dissect the Charity Commission’s report on Sentebale, exploring how governance can collapse without clear behaviour codes and conflict resolution rules.Plus, Somerset County Cricket Club turns 150, there’s cider talk, and Debra offers Peter culinary suggestions for his glut of pears.YouTube Subscribe: https://YouTube.com/@DSCOnline

More Debra Allcock Tyler: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debra-allcock-tyler-8013214/

More Peter Wanless: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sir-peter-wanless-b43aa372/Produced by: Directory of Social Change: https://www.dsc.org.uk

Podcast Producer: José Blazquez

Debra and Peter are back, with plums, pears and punchy opinions.Peter shares what it’s like to chair a global board for the first time (hint: annual accounts are involved), while Debra unveils a secret weapon for apple harvesting. But most of this week’s chat tackles the big stuff:Child online safety: With Ofcom’s new Online Safety powers kicking in, Peter reflects on years of advocacy for stronger digital protections. They take on free speech sceptics, tech company excuses, and why we wouldn’t let kids near unsafe toys. So why accept it online?Board governance: From trustee-only sessions to strategic away days, Peter’s debut meeting at Five Rights Foundation prompts an honest exchange about what boards really need to work well.Doom loops vs determination: Debra explains why she compared the Lionesses’ Euro run to charity sector resilience, and why grim media headlines don’t reflect the full story.All that, plus why apple mush is the enemy and how a heavy-duty grabber changed Debra’s life.Send your questions to jblazquez@dsc.org.uk or comment below for the next episode!YouTube Subscribe: https://YouTube.com/@DSCOnlineMore Debra Allcock TylerLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debra-allcock-tyler-8013214/More Peter WanlessLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sir-peter-wanless-b43aa372/Links and resourcesDebra’s Lionesses piece (DSC blog): https://www.dsc.org.uk/content/what-charities-can-learn-from-the-england-womens-football-team/Five Rights Foundation: child-rights resources – https://5rightsfoundation.com/resources/Ofcom’s Online Safety Act consultation – https://www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safety/illegal-and-harmful-content/protecting-children-from-harms-online/Produced by: Directory of Social Change https://www.dsc.org.ukPodcast Producer: José Blazquez