At Make a Difference Media, we believe organisational success, workplace culture and employee health and wellbeing are inseparable. Our goal is to ensure employers of all types and sizes have the insight and inspiration they need to make a real impact. As part of this – and recognising that our audience likes to access content in different ways – in September this year, our Editor, Suzy Bashford, launched the Make a Difference Leaders’ Podcast.
Each episode features practical, relatable conversations with leaders who share how they’ve tackled real-life challenges related to workplace culture, employee health and wellbeing.
If you haven’t tuned in yet, these podcasts are well worth making time for. Suzy has a real talent for helping guests relax, open up, and explore honestly what works – and what doesn’t.
Here are the seven episodes that resonated most strongly with our audience in 2025.
1) Budgets are tight, how do I choose the best health intervention with the biggest impact on employees?
The top spot goes to Suzy’s conversation with Dr Lia Ali, Digital Health Innovation Strategist, exploring how to choose wellbeing solutions that add real value.
Ali was chosen as an interviewee because of her immense knowledge of being able to pinpoint what actually works – and what WILL work – based on the evidence. She’s faced this question numerous times, and talks us through how she tackled it.
2) Leaders spill their biggest Culture, Health & Wellbeing problems
Next up is me! I loved having this conversation with Suzy.
As Co-founder and Global Head of Content of Make A Difference, I get to hear leaders from all different sectors and industries open up about their biggest challenges. In this podcast episode I share the struggles that I hear most from leaders and what I think the industry can do to make the most impact going forward – including the D word…
3) How do I get people with INFLUENCE behind the Health and Wellbeing agenda?
Third on the list of most-listened-to podcasts is Dr Sabrina Robinson, Chartered Psychologist and Wellbeing Lead at Essex County Council.
In this episode Sabrina talks us through what to do if you need more influential people, especially those not working in Wellbeing or those who aren’t personally invested to drive the workplace culture, employee health and wellbeing agenda.
4) Why are young employees such SNOWFLAKES?!
Fourth on the list is Alex Smith, Global Lead for Lifestyle, Leisure, and Wellbeing at Unidays.
Alex shares his unique and at-the-coalface insight into the mindset of young people today. He delves into the importance of self-awareness and understanding the different life experiences that shape team members’ perspectives. And highlights practical strategies for fostering a supportive and inclusive environment.
5) My multigenerational team isn’t gelling!
Picking up the challenges of the multigenerational workforce is Patrick Dunne OBE.
We know the theory: difference leads to innovation and, ultimately, profitability. But, in practice, working in multigenerational teams can be really challenging and lead to a lot of tension. Patrick Dunne OBE has seen this situation numerous times in his vast experience of business and boards – he’s also just co-written a book called ‘Five generations at work; how we win together for good’.
This conversation covers everything from a maximising mindset, empathic leadership, dealing with conflict, ‘microwaved’ relationships and even dad dancing. It’s peppered with practical tips and real-life solutions he’s seen work.
6) How do we balance profits and caring for people, when the proverbial poop hits the FAN?!
Next on the list are Suzy’s two guests from the legal industry – a sector known for its well-paid but high-pressure work environments – where many thrive, but the risk of burnout is also high.
One is Sam Jardine, Partner at Fieldfisher LLP and LawCare Chamption, and the other is Elizabeth Rimmer, CEO of LawCare, which promotes and supports good mental health in the legal industry across the UK and has just launched its latest report, Life in Law 2025.
This is a fascinating wide ranging conversation, with loads of practical ideas and tips, as well as a bit of philosophy, AI predictions and even poetry.
7) A BIG drop in employee engagement in Health & Wellbeing?
Wrapping up our top seven most-listened-to podcasts of 2025 is Suzy’s conversation with Stella Gavinho, Group Head of Wellbeing at Entain.
Stella was chosen as one of the launch interviewees for her honesty and warmth, as well as the energy and resilience she applies to problem solving. In this episode she talks us through dealing with a significant drop in employee engagement in employee health and wellbeing, with lots of practical and strategic insight.
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You can find all the episodes of Suzy’s Leaders’ Podcast here:
