I first came across Adele Bates when I was judging the Storytelling category at the Speaker Awards—and her talk really stood out and grabbed my attention.

It was powerful, authentic, challenging and captivating.

She didn’t just tell the story. She performed it. Her talk built drama and connected emotionally to the audience, leading you to see a new perspective.

Based on that performance and the fact that she went on to win the award for best storyteller, I knew I had to get her on the show.

Not only did I want her to unpack the craft behind that talk, but I also wanted to dig into the powerful work she’s doing at the intersection of education, leadership, and human behaviour.

Adele has over 20 years’ experience working in some of the most challenging educational environments—mainstream, special, and alternative provision. Her journey has taken her from classrooms where she’s had juice poured over her head and skateboards hurled at her… to research trips across the globe… to keynote stages and international recognition.

She is the author of “Miss, I Don’t Give A Sh*t: Engaging with Challenging Behaviour in Schools. And today she and her team also work with organisations and leaders to tackle challenging dynamics in the workplace.

Whether you’re a speaker, leader, educator or changemaker, Adele’s stories and insights will challenge your thinking, stir your empathy, and give you practical tools for connection and communication.

What You’ll Discover:

• What triggered Adele to set off on a quest to discover a different way of approaching dealing with challenging behaviour.
• The key values that guide Adele’s work with both students and corporate leaders.
• How to hold high expectations and compassion without burning out.
• The real disconnect between behaviour policies and lived experience in schools.
• The surprise career Adele had before she became a teacher and how she made the transition from educator to paid keynote speaker.
• The big mistake she made with a speaking client that she would never make again.
• Why it doesn’t matter if you are introverted or extroverted to be successful as a speaker.
• How she developed the award-winning storytelling section of her talk.
• The single piece of feedback that transformed her speaking presence.
  
  

All things Adele:

Website: adelebateseducation.co.uk

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adele-bates-03b566208/

Books & Resources*:

Wild Power by Alexandra Pope and Sjanie Hugo Wurlitzer

Speaking Resources:

Grab Your From Blank Page to Stage Guide and Nail the Topic for a Client Winning Talk

Want to get better at finding and sharing your stories then check out our FREE Five Day Snackable Story Challenge

Thanks for listening!

To share your thoughts:

• Share this show on X, Facebook or LinkedIn.

To help the show out:

• Leave an honest review at https://www.ratethispodcast.com/tsc Your ratings and reviews really help get the word out and I read each one.

• Subscribe on iTunes.

*(please note if you use my link I get a small commission, but this does not affect your payment)

Nicola S. Morgan is a dynamic speaker, trainer, and author who helps individuals and organisations transform chaos into calm, and emotional strain into sustainable strength. With a background in education and behavioural change, she specialises in resilience, emotional wellbeing, and effective behaviour strategies—skills she’s delivered to thousands of professionals across schools, public services, and corporate teams.

Nicola’s powerful storytelling and practical frameworks have earned her accolades, including Best TEDx Talk 2024 at the Speaker Awards, where her talk resonated deeply with audiences navigating stress and uncertainty.

She’s not just a speaker—she’s walked the talk. From overcoming a fear of deep water to completing a swim across the English Channel, Nicola’s own journey fuels her message about courage, mindset, and unfinished business.

Whether she’s helping a school leader navigate conflict or guiding a speaker to handle stage pressure with grace, Nicola equips people with the tools to stay calm, connected, and effective—even under stress.

What You’ll Discover:

• What drove Nicola to swim the English Channel… despite a fear of deep water
• How “unfinished business” can become a secret weapon for confidence and growth
• The behind-the-scenes story of her award-winning TEDx talk—and whether that captain’s comment haunted or inspired her
• The surprising moment she realised she had a message the world needed to hear
• The resilience skill that works just as well in a school staffroom as it does in a high-stakes boardroom
• Why the strongest speakers aren’t the toughest—but the most flexible
• The personal ‘Nicola-ism’ she uses before taking the stage to stay grounded and in control
• The biggest mindset shift she had to make moving from teacher and writer to keynote speaker
• A simple behaviour shift that can instantly boost your speaker presence
• The #1 lie your brain tells you when you’re under pressure—and how to shut it down fast

Enjoy!

If you'd like to watch the video of the episode, you can do that here:

All things Nicola:

Email: hello@nicolasmorgan.com

Website: https://nicolasmorgan.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicola-s-morgan-479b9032/

Books & Resources*:

The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins

Speaking Resources:

Grab Your From Blank Page to Stage Guide and Nail the Topic for a Client Winning Talk

Want to get better at finding and sharing your stories then check out our FREE Five Day Snackable Story Challenge

Thanks for listening!

To share your thoughts:

• Share this show on X, Facebook or LinkedIn.

To help the show out:

• Leave an honest review at https://www.ratethispodcast.com/tsc Your ratings and reviews really help get the word out and I read each one.
• Subscribe on iTunes.

*(please note if you use my link I get a small commission, but this does not affect your payment)

“Just breathe” is one of the most common pieces of advice given to speakers and performers who feel anxious about stepping onto the stage (be that online or in person) — but what if the way you’re breathing is actually making things worse?

Breathing might seem like an automatic function, but the truth is, most of us are doing it wrong… and it’s costing us calm, clarity, and confidence.

My guest, Manny Rodriguez, learned this the hard way.

After enlisting in the Army at 28, Manny suffered a back injury that led to years of heavy-duty prescription drugs, a near-death experience, and an 18-year journey to reclaim his health and peace of mind.

His key turning point? Breathing.

Manny’s recovery introduced him to tactical breathing — a practice originally used by special forces to stay calm under pressure — and he’s now teaching it to first responders, senior citizens, corporate leaders, and speakers who want to master their nervous system and show up with power and presence.

In this episode, Manny shares his extraordinary story, why breathwork is the real foundation of public speaking, and the practical tools he uses to help people go from panicked to present.

If you've ever felt like nerves are running the show when you speak — or you just want to feel more in control of your mind and body — this conversation is a must-listen.

What You’ll Discover:

• Why healing his nervous system was the real key to Manny finding his voice
• How trauma affects your breath — and why that matters for speakers
• What ‘tactical breathing’ is and how it helps you stay calm in chaos
• The surprising reason ‘box breathing’ might actually backfire, rather than help you and what you can do about it
• Manny’s AIRSPEND model to create a breathing foundation that supports speaking, performance, and calm
• How simply breathing through your nose can change your sleep, focus, and energy
• The link between posture, breath, and vocal power
• How reconnecting with your body improves your presence on stage
• The difference between reacting and responding — and how breathwork shifts the balance

Enjoy!

If you'd like to watch the video of the episode, you can do that here:

All things Manny:

Email: baselinebreathing@gmail.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/manny-rodz-tactical-calm/

Books & Resources*:

Hidden Messages in Water by Masaru Emoto

Speaking Resources:

Grab Your From Blank Page to Stage Guide and Nail the Topic for a Client Winning Talk

Want to get better at finding and sharing your stories then check out our FREE Five Day Snackable Story Challenge

Thanks for listening!

To share your thoughts:

• Share this show on X, Facebook or LinkedIn.

To help the show out:

• Leave an honest review at https://www.ratethispodcast.com/tsc Your ratings and reviews really help get the word out and I read each one.

• Subscribe on iTunes.

*(please note if you use my link I get a small commission, but this does not affect your payment)