Episode 63! Peter is back from Panama and, thankfully, more or less back in the right time zone. Debra, meanwhile, shares her tried and tested approach to interrupted sleep: get up, stop worrying, and let a bit of K-drama do the heavy lifting.From there, the conversation moves swiftly from sleep habits to the very real reasons charity leaders can find themselves awake at 3am. Debra and Peter dig into the stress caused by late local authority funding decisions, short-term contracts, and the constant uncertainty that comes with trying to plan services when the money may or may not arrive at the very last minute.They also take a hard look at trust and foundation funding. Are some funders making life harder than it needs to be with slow processes, inflexible deadlines and systems that work better for themselves than for the charities applying? It is a frank discussion about burnout, redundancy risk and the human cost of poor funding practice.The conversation then turns to the covenant council and what it can realistically do for the sector. Debra and Peter reflect on representation, influence and why the covenant matters most when charities actually use it, rather than waiting for someone else to solve the problem for them.There is plenty of encouragement too. This episode is a reminder that persistence matters, that charities achieve more than they sometimes give themselves credit for, and that change really can happen when people keep pushing.Also featured: a guest appearance on Martin Drake’s podcast, Peter’s ongoing duckling watch, and Debra’s honest confession that she does not really listen to podcasts. Whether she reads these episode descriptions is, at this stage, entirely unconfirmed.Comment below or email us with your thoughts.YouTube Subscribe: YouTube.com/@DSCOnlineMore Debra Allcock Tyler LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debra-allcock-tyler-8013214/More Peter Wanless LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sir-peter-wanless-b43aa372/Produced by: Directory of Social Change https://www.dsc.org.uk Podcast Producer: José Blazquez

After two weeks away, Debra and Peter are back with plenty to catch up on.

First, an important update for listeners who have been following the saga of Arthur the Basset Hound. Good news: Arthur has finally been discharged from the vet, the collar is off, and he is now charging around the house like an overexcited puppy again.

Meanwhile in Peter's garden, the wildlife population is growing. What started as one pair of ducks, George and Mildred, has turned into two pairs wandering up and down the garden, plus an unexpectedly glamorous pheasant couple making regular appearances. Name suggestions for the second pair of ducks are very welcome.

Once the animal updates are complete, the conversation turns to the charity sector. Debra shares her thoughts after reading Doughnut Economics and raises a big question: why do charities measure success by growth and size rather than by the impact they actually make?

Debra and Peter explore whether income and expansion really tell us anything meaningful about success, or whether charities should focus much more clearly on the difference they make. They also discuss the government's emerging language around the "impact economy" and whether the term is actually helpful or simply confusing.

The discussion then turns to the challenges facing small charities, prompted by news about changes to the small charities team at NCVO. If small charities are so vital to the sector, why is it so difficult to fund the organisations that support them? And what happens when the collective voice of small charities disappears?

Finally, Peter reflects on the Channel 4 documentary Dirty Business and the wider debate about water companies, regulation and accountability. Who should be responsible for essential utilities and how should the public hold them to account?

Plenty of big questions this week, alongside ducks, pheasants and a very energetic basset hound.

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

More Peter Wanless LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sir-peter-wanless-b43aa372/

Produced by: Directory of Social Change https://www.dsc.org.uk

Podcast Producer: José Blazquez

All good things come in threes… apparently.In Episode 61, Debra and Peter explore a trio of big themes, with a few bonus threes thrown in for good measure.First up: AI and identity. After asking ChatGPT for a character assessment, Peter shares the surprisingly flattering results. But can we trust tools that are designed to please us? The conversation ranges from chatbots and child safety to horoscopes, tarot cards and the psychology of confirmation bias. When does self reflection become self deception?Then leadership. How fixed should your style be? Should leaders adapt to the people they lead, or stand firm in who they are? Debra and Peter unpack values versus personality, the danger of labelling colleagues as “difficult”, and why excellence and empathy still matter, especially when times feel uncertain.Which brings us to global politics and wellbeing. After a staff survey revealed just how much world events are affecting people’s mental health, they discuss whether working in civil society means accepting discomfort, how to reconnect with purpose, and why persistence still overcomes resistance. Is progress really going backwards, or just taking a complicated route?Along the way, we count at least three notable trios: three weeks of Debra being housebound with her poorly pup, three of Peter’s charity roles that would make anyone else lie down in a dark room, and at least three celebratory shots in Blackpool with his brother. There may have been more.We are taking a short break, but do not worry, we will be back in less than three weeks with more debate, reflection and probably another unexpected tangent.YouTube Subscribe: YouTube.com/@DSCOnlineMore Debra Allcock Tyler LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debra-allcock-tyler-8013214/More Peter Wanless LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sir-peter-wanless-b43aa372/Produced by: Directory of Social Change https://www.dsc.org.uk Podcast Producer: José Blazquez