🎙️Breaking the Mould: Innovation, Risk, and Resilience with Sophia Smith Galer

In this compelling episode, award-winning journalist and digital innovator Sophia Smith Galer recounts the professional turning point that led her to leave the BBC for VICE, and eventually, into freelancing and founding her own tech venture. Sophia reflects on navigating institutional resistance, pioneering vertical video journalism, and building resilience in a traditional industry. Her story is one of bold risks, quiet determination, and unwavering belief in the power of innovation to reshape journalism for the digital age.

Key points

• Sophia’s “longest day” was making the decision to leave the BBC for a more creative, growth-driven role at VICE.
• She faced resistance at the BBC to her pioneering work in social video formats—despite demonstrable success. Ultimately she was validated by winning a British Journalism Award for Innovation of the Year for her TikTok reporting.
• After leaving VICE, Sophia went independent and created an AI-powered app called Sophiana (https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/sophiana-script-video-maker/id6742998989) to support journalists in producing vertical video content.
• She learned to trust her own data, instincts, and community of supporters while working under scrutiny and navigating systemic inequality.

Best quote: “Find the champions and the people near at the top of the hierarchy who can lift you up.”

Find Sophia on:

Website: https://sophiasmithgaler.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sophiasgaler
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sophiasmithgaler
X/Twitter: https://x.com/sophiasgaler
LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/sophiasmithgaler

Find Leah Brown FRSA here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leah-brown-frsa and @leahtalks_ on Instagram, TikTok, BlueSky and X.

If Sophia’s story chimed with you, why not subscribe to The Longest Day Podcast for more raw, real conversations with pioneers. And don’t forget to follow Sophia to stay updated on her forthcoming book on language, download new at Sophiana, and everything else in between!

Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share this episode by following The Longest Day Podcast here:

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In this powerful episode, adventurer and mindset coach Sophie Storm Roberts joins The Longest Day Podcast to share the story of her most grueling day on the Alpine Coast to Coast Challenge—cycling 240km across two countries and summiting the highest mountains in each. Sophie reflects on her transformation from startup executive to endurance athlete and author, and how fear, self-belief, and courage shaped her journey. Listeners will walk away inspired to take bold steps in their own lives—one pedal stroke, one mantra, one act of courage at a time.

Key Points:

• Sophie cycled through the 8 Alpine countries, summiting their highest peaks. Her longest day included 240km across Austria and Liechtenstein.
• Inspired by previous endurance challenges, Sophie left a tech startup role to pursue adventure full-time.
• She embarked alone to test and strengthen her own inner resources, building what she calls an “inner champion.”
• Sophie uses tools like mantras, playlists, snacks, and internal reframing to push through pain and fatigue.
• Inspired by nature, Sophie embraces adaptability and flow, likening her mindset to the resilience and persistence of water.
• Her upcoming book tackles how we can transform fear into fuel, encouraging everyday acts of courage over perfection.
• Sophie emphasises the importance of noticing joy and celebrating small wins along the way—not just focusing on big milestones.

“Instead of phoning a friend, phone your courage. Phone your determination. Phone your heart. Phone your drive.”

Resources:

• TEDx Talk by Sophie Storm Roberts
• “The Man in the Arena” quote by Theodore Roosevelt

You can find Sophie at:

Website: https://www.challengesophie.com

LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/sophiestormroberts

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/challengesophie/

X: https://x.com/ChallengeSophie

Find Leah Brown FRSA here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leah-brown-frsa-b71b0844/ and @leahtalks_ on Instagram, TikTok and X.

If Sophie’s story lit a spark in you, share this episode with someone who needs a reminder that courage is a muscle. Subscribe to The Longest Day Podcast for more raw, real conversations with everyday heroes. And don’t forget to follow Sophie to stay updated on her book release and future adventures!

Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share this episode by following The Longest Day Podcast here:

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• Website: www.thelongestdaypodcast.com
• All previous episodes: https://pod.link/1684217939

Exile, Return and the Work of Repair: Leah Brown’s Longest Day

Episode Summary
In this special episode of The Longest Day Podcast, host Leah Brown FRSA takes the guest seat, interviewed by Dr Farrah Jarrell. Leah shares the story of being suddenly forced to leave the UK due to a Home Office error—an administrative decision that marooned her in Barbados for months and destabilised her early career plans. What began as a single long day unfolded into a multi-year season of exile, legal battles, and soul-searching. Leah reflects on how that experience sharpened her purpose and shaped her leadership philosophy, ultimately inspiring her work at The WayFinders Group and the creation of a coalition for institutional accountability.

Interview overview:

• Forced into exile despite legal eligibility, Leah spent months stranded in Barbados, navigating repeated visa refusals, family breakdown, and personal grief.
• Discovered a legal mishandling of her case, which affirmed the importance of trusting her instincts and advocating for herself.
• Gained insight into systemic failure, institutional injustice, and the emotional cost of being failed by trusted structures — lessons she now channels into reform work.
• Founded The WayFinders Group, using mediation, law, philosophy, and behavioural science to support leaders and rebuild trust within fractured organisations.
• Now spearheading a national coalition and publishing a white paper, From Harm to Healing, to drive institutional accountability and embed restorative frameworks across public services.

Best Quote:
“Even in my longest day, I wasn’t without grace... I had everything I needed to step into the future I was desperate to create.”

Resources

• The WayFinders Group – www.thewayfindersgroup.com
• From Harm to Healing – White Paper launching 30 June 2025
• Dr Farrah Jarrell – GP, writer and broadcaster, author of the upcoming book Anima, and represented by Tracy Bohan at The Wylie Agency

Contact Information

Find Leah Brown FRSA here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leah-brown-frsa-b71b0844/

Leah is represented by Hannah Weatherill at Watson, Little

• Websites: www.thewayfindersgroup.com, https://www.leahtalks.com and www.thelongestdaypodcast.com
• Instagram: @leahtalks_
• TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@leahtalks_
• X: @leahtalks_
  
  

Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share this episode by following The Longest Day Podcast here:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thelongestdaypodcast/
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• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheLongestDayPodcast-z1x
• X: @longestdaypod
• TikTok: @thelongestdaypodcast
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelongestdaypodcast
• Website: www.thelongestdaypodcast.com
• All previous episodes: https://pod.link/1684217939