"No matter what you do in life, you're gonna get judged. You may as well just embrace exactly what you want to do at that moment in time. Open that door. Go through it. You'll be a bit scared. It'll be new, it'll be novel. You'll definitely learn a lot about yourself. You will be challenged, you will be supported."

What happens when you choose to walk away from what society expects of you and step through a door that feels equal parts terrifying and right? In this episode, I speak to Lee Chambers, psychologist, entrepreneur, author, and leading voice in the male allyship space for an honest conversation about courage, redefining leadership, and creating true inclusivity.

Lee shares the moment he left his successful tech business to become a stay-at-home dad, and what he has learned stepping into unfamiliar rooms and how listening to mothers, grandmothers, and his own discomfort, has inspired a career dedicated to justice and equity.

We talk about allyship and why now, more than ever, it's needed and is the foundation for the change we want in the world.

The Highlights:

04:36 Closing the door on the business and becoming a stay-at-home dad 06:19 What really happens when you're the only man at the toddler group 08:26 Navigating other people's judgment

15:16 Learning to walk again

21:28 Curiosity, justice, and entering the work of allyship

23:37 What women shared that changed his path

24:59 Why male allyship is not "rescuing" but partnership and humility

32:08 The power of introversion, and how Lee creates impactful content

38:05 Skills of allyship - stepping forward to the side and back

41:11 Misplaced "scarcity," and the unseen privilege of building equality

48:06 Why challenging conversations and self-exploration are essential.

Lee's navigating change list

Soundtrack: "Harvest for the World" by The Isley Brothers
Book: Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez

One piece of advice:
"When you walk through a door, you normally walk in from a place that has limits, barriers, walls. When you actually close the door behind you, there's always an expanse in front of you to go and explore. A closed door is a blank canvas. The root of the word authentic is 'author.' So when you walk through that door and it closes, pick up that pen, become the author. Don't let other people write your story. Start writing it for yourself."

More about Lee

Lee Chambers is the Founder and CEO of Male Allies UK. After a diverse career, from corporate finance to building and exiting a tech company, he is now focused on supporting organisations to engage men in inclusion and promote effective allyship. He speaks globally on allyship and intersectionality, having taken the stage at One Young World, ChangeNOW and the Bloomberg Global Equality Summit, and is the author of the bestselling book, Momentum: 13 Ways To Unlock Your Potential.

Find out more: https://leechambers.org/

Work with Eleanor

Buy the Book - Another Door Opens; 5 steps for navigating change. Described as 'Game changing' 'Brilliant' 'A must read' 'The best book on change'.

Eleanor supports individuals, teams and organisations through change. Whether it's coaching or large scale organisational change through communications and training.

Work with Eleanor 121 as your coach, when you are starting something new, to develop the idea, to create the idea, to get it launched.

Book in a Change Mastery for a team session - when your team is navigating change.

Book in a 90 minute workshop - to think through change at work.

Join the Another Door Opens 5 Step Programme - a course and community to guide you through the mess of change to find calm, joy and opportunity.

Instagram:instagram/anotherdooruk

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/eleanor-tweddell/

Website: www.another-door-opens.com

Produced by winteraudio.co.uk

"If you look for them, glimmers, these little micro moments of joy, are everywhere."

What if being lost isn't a problem to fix, but a path to joy and self-discovery? In this episode, I speak with Gavin Oattes author, speaker, creativity advocate, and former stand-up comedian for a conversation about closing doors, moving forward, and how letting go can be the bravest thing you do.

Gavin shares his journey from a whirlwind comedy career (with stories of sold-out shows, almost-making-it, and friendship tensions) to running a business, writing uplifting books, and learning how to navigate seismic life changes.

If you've ever faced a breakup (romantic, platonic, or creative), wondered what glimmers of joy might be hiding in the chaos, or just need reassurance that being "confidently lost" is a great place to start, this episode is essential listening.

The Highlights:

03:40 Gavin's closing door: Saying goodbye to stand-up comedy and creative partnerships
07:33 Friendship breakups and why endings aren't always "bad"
13:29 Knowing when to let go even if your heart's still in it
17:26 How to honour the magic rather than mourn what-might-have-been
19:12 Family change, shifting priorities, growing through life's phases
21:17 Getting "ghosted" and learning to move on
23:33 Gavin's new chapter: Writing as a way out of chaos
30:29 Glimmers—a practice for finding joy when you're lost
35:18 Reverse goal-setting & why the next "shiny thing" won't always make you happy
39:53 Writing for yourself (and letting go of the outcome)

What helped Gavin navigate change:

Soundtrack:
Dookie by Green Day

Book:
Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom

One piece of advice:
"You are not everyone else. We're each an experiment of one, and accepting that is truly door-opening."

About Gavin Oattes:

Gavin Oattes owns Tree of Knowledge, one of the UK's most exciting people development organisations. Working with some of the largest organisations in the world, Gavin is now regarded as one the most talented and sought after speakers, regularly delivering keynote speeches at conferences and exhibitions around the world. An award winning comedian and best-selling author, his inspiration all comes from where he began his career….Primary School Teaching.

https://www.gavinoattes.com/

Work with Eleanor:

Buy the Book - Another Door Opens;5 steps for navigating change. Described as 'Game changing' 'Brilliant' 'A must read' 'The best book on change'.

Eleanor supports individuals, teams and organisations through change. Whether it's coaching or large scale organisational change through communications and training.

Work with Eleanor 121 as your coach, when you are starting something new, to develop the idea, to create the idea, to get it launched.

Book in a Change Mastery for a team session - when your team is navigating change.

Book in a 90 minute workshop - to think through change at work.

Join the Another Door Opens 5 Step Programme - a course and community to guide you through the mess of change to find calm, joy and opportunity.

Instagram:instagram/anotherdooruk

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/eleanor-tweddell/

Website: www.another-door-opens.com

Produced by winteraudio.co.uk

"Start to not tolerate things, and the bigger things will become easier."

What if the hardest (and most transformative) endings in our lives are the ones we choose ourselves?

In this episode, I chat with Elizabeth Aldana, Breakup Artist, coach, and advocate for navigating change on your own terms.

Elizabeth shares her story of moving across the world from LA to Singapore in a whirlwind week, not because she had to, but because a part of her just wouldn't tolerate staying still any longer. It was the first major "breakup" she initiated not just from a partner, but from her old patterns, relationships, and ways of seeing herself.

This conversation explores what it takes to recognise the little (and big) things you're tolerating in life, how to build the muscle of choosing change, and why breakups aren't just about romance, they're about leaving behind people, places, and patterns that no longer fit.

So, if you're teetering on the edge of a decision, feel stuck in old habits, and ready to open a new door, this conversation is for you.

The Highlights:

03:38 Closing the door yourself: Elizabeth's story of moving to Singapore
07:30 The very real (messy) inner conversations behind big choices
10:09 How stepping away reveals who you can become
16:17 Fear vs. Love: The two energies that drive all big decisions
21:27 Why leaving a job with nothing lined up can be the most self-loving decision
26:27 Why small changes prime you for bigger ones
36:32 Why you don't have to fit yourself into anyone else's box
45:08 Projection, people-pleasing, and knowing when it's time to initiate your own ending
51:28 The story and belief you hold in change determines which door opens next

What helped Elizabeth navigate change:

Soundtrack:
Rose Quartz by Toro y Moi

Book:
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. Pirsig

One piece of advice:
"Be aware of what you believe about the situation and the story you're creating. It will impact which door opens next."

About Elizabeth Aldana:

Elizabeth is a breakup coach and founder of the Breakup Artist. In her work, she helps people reframe their ends as beginnings, and realise that breakups are not confined to romantic connections. Whether it's a relationship, career, identity, or pattern, breaking up with the old creates space for the new.

After navigating her own pivotal career and identity shifts, Elizabeth set out to destigmatise the word "breakup." Now, she helps clients move through the grief, guilt, and paralysis of big life changes… Into something more honest and aligned.

Today, we're going to talk with Elizabeth about why a breakup isn't just an end, and why the most important goodbye you'll ever say is to the relationship that kept you small.

https://breakupartist.coach/

Work with Eleanor:

Buy the Book - Another Door Opens out now. 5 steps for navigating change. Described as 'Game changing' 'Brilliant' 'A must read' 'The best book on change'.

Eleanor supports individuals, teams and organisations through change. Whether it's coaching or large scale organisational change through communications and training.

Work with Eleanor 121 as your coach, when you are starting something new, to develop the idea, to create the idea, to get it launched.

Book in a Change Mastery for a team session - when your team is navigating change.

Book in a 90 minute workshop - to think through change at work.

Join the Another Door Opens 5 Step Programme - a course and community to guide you through the mess of change to find calm, joy and opportunity.

Instagram:instagram/anotherdooruk

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/eleanor-tweddell/

Website: www.another-door-opens.com

Produced by winteraudio.co.uk