The Culture Colonel

• The Future of Defence Starts Here - with Kaylee Mcisaac, Richard Hamer & Rear Admiral (Ret’d) Jon Pentreath

  Apprenticeships aren’t just about training... they’re about opportunity, potential and transformation. At just 23 years old, Kaylee Mcisaac has already faced more than most - and achieved more than many. A Plant Maintenance Electrical Engineering Apprentice at BAE Systems and winner of nine awards (including BAE Systems Apprentice of the Year), Kaylee’s story is one of resilience, responsibility, and remarkable drive. In this bonus episode of The Culture Colonel, Lindsay MacDuff sits down with Kaylee, alongside Rear Admiral (Ret’d) Jon Pentreath and BAE Systems’ Director of Education and Skills, Richard Hamer, for an honest and inspiring conversation about the power of investing in people. Together, they explore what it really takes to build a more inclusive, future-ready defence and security sector, from the ground up. This episode delves into the evolving needs of defence in a digital age, the role of partnerships between industry and government, and the unseen, human infrastructure behind national resilience. But at its heart, this is Kaylee’s story: a story of leadership, loss, mentorship, and ambition. A story that proves when talent meets opportunity, anything is possible. This isn’t just a story about apprenticeships. It’s about equity, leadership - and why the future depends on both.🎙️ Heading to DSEI (9–12 September)? Come and meet The Culture Colonel on stand S15-220, where he’ll be joining the team from BFBS Creative. Let’s talk about how we can help you tell your story brilliantly.To explore opportunities in defence and security, including upcoming events, visit DSEI – Defence and Security Equipment International: www.dsei.co.uk To learn about careers, apprenticeships, and graduate roles at BAE Systems, visit: www.baesystems.com/en/careers/careers-in-the-uk To discover how Movement to Work supports young people into employment, visit: www.movementtowork.com Of course, we'd love to hear your thoughts on this bonus episode. What did you think of Kaylee's story?You can email Lindsay and the team at [email protected] As promised, we’ll be back soon with Series 3 of The Culture Colonel!Be sure to follow or subscribe wherever you're listening so you're the first to know when new conversations are heading your way. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• Changing the Tide - with Fran Crowsley-Allen & Kim Wyche

  The Naval Servicewomen’s Network is more than a support group - it’s a catalyst for culture change. In this episode, Lindsay MacDuff, The Culture Colonel, speaks with Lieutenant Commander Fran Crowsley-Allen and Warrant Officer Kim Wyche, co-chairs of the Naval Servicewomen’s Network (NSN). Together, they offer a powerful and personal account of the work being done to shift the lived experience of women across the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, and Royal Fleet Auxiliary. They discuss the origins of the NSN, now more than a decade old, and its evolution from grassroots advocacy to an officially endorsed mechanism influencing defence policy and leadership behaviours. Through candid reflections on allyship, imposter syndrome, and the weight of responsibility, Fran and Kim shine a light on the human side of organisational change. This is a conversation about visibility, equity, and the long game of changing culture. It’s also about the power of showing up, especially when you’re not sure you belong - and using that uncertainty as fuel to lead. Voluntary, rigorous, and deeply personal, the work of the NSN is helping to build a Naval Service that works for everyone.If you are a servicewoman or ex-servicewoman, you can request to join the Facebook group for the Naval Servicewomen's Network: https://www.facebook.com/groups/NavalServicewomen/And you can support Kim and her husband Neil, aka 'Ship Happens', as they race from Edinburgh to Dartmouth using only public transport and their own two feet in September 2025! https://fundraising.rnrmc.org.uk/fundraisers/ShipHappensYou can listen to the Tim Grimley episode mentioned, here. And listen to Zena Everett's episode, here. We'd also love to hear your thoughts on this final episode of the series - and Series 2 as a whole. You can email Lindsay and the team at [email protected] good news! We’ll be back soon with Series 3 of The Culture Colonel! In the meantime, there might be a bonus episode landing in your feed - so keep your eyes peeled. Hit follow or subscribe wherever you're listening so you never miss a conversation.Follow Lindsay:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lindsay-macduffInstagram: @lindsaymacduffBFBS Creative is an award-winning, non-profit creative agency. We specialise in helping the Armed Forces, Defence and government tell their story.Want to learn more? Visit creative.bfbs.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• Changing the Culture, Changing Defence - with Sarah Atherton

  ⚠️ Content Note: This episode contains discussions of sexual harassment, sexual assault, and military sexual trauma from the start. Please listen with care. Support resources are available on our website at bfbs.com/audience support.Real change needs courage - and a refusal to stay silent.In this powerful finale to Series 2, Lindsay MacDuff, the Culture Colonel, sits down with Sarah Atherton, former MP, Defence Minister, veteran, social worker, and author of the ground-breaking Atherton Report on Women in the Armed Forces.Sarah shares her remarkable journey; from leaving school at 16 to joining the Army, becoming a nurse, then a social worker, before entering politics. She speaks candidly about the inquiry that shook Defence to its core, revealing the realities faced by women in uniform, from everyday inequalities to military sexual trauma.This is a conversation about leadership, culture, and speaking truth to power. Sarah reflects on her core belief that you “don’t have to be laddish to be lethal,” her call for accountability at every level, and why listening without judgement remains Defence’s greatest untapped resource.She also discusses her hopes for the future, the role of an Armed Forces Commissioner, and why - despite progress - real culture change remains unfinished work.What did you take away from this episode? Email us at [email protected] can also follow Sarah on Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/saraheatherton/Follow LindsayLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lindsay-macduffInstagram: @lindsaymacduffBFBS Creative is an award-winning, non-profit creative agency. We specialise in helping the Armed Forces, Defence and government tell their story.Want to learn more? Visit https://creative.bfbs.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• Badly Behaved People, Brilliant Leadership - with Zena Everett

  Your team doesn’t need a superhero. It needs someone who listens.In this refreshingly honest and insightful episode, Lindsay MacDuff, the Culture Colonel, is joined by organisational psychologist and bestselling author Zena Everett, whose book 'Badly Behaved People: How to Deal with Idiots at Work' is equal parts hilarious and scathing -because sometimes the idiot in the workplace… is us.Together, they explore what really drives dysfunction in teams, from silence and assumption - to poor leadership and power hoarding. Zena shares powerful reflections on how psychological safety gets eroded, why imposter syndrome is more common than we think, and how to step back and get curious before reacting.This is not your typical chat about workplace culture. It’s a call to slow down, reflect, and take responsibility for how we show up. Whether you’re leading a team or just trying to survive one, this episode is a smart, bold reminder that culture isn’t a vibe... it’s a choice.What did you take away from this episode?Email us at [email protected] Follow LindsayLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lindsay-macduffInstagram: @lindsaymacduffBFBS Creative is an award-winning, non-profit creative agency. We specialise in helping the Armed Forces, Defence and government tell their story. Want to learn more? Visit https://creative.bfbs.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• Still Fighting: Racism, Service & Speaking Out - with Kerry Ann Knight & Richard Stokes

  Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of racism and trauma from the start. Please listen with care. Support resources are available on our website at bfbs.com/audience support.Racism doesn’t disappear with time - it disappears with action.In this deeply important and courageous episode, Lindsay MacDuff, the Culture Colonel, speaks with Richard Stokes, the British Army’s first Black Guardsman, and Kerry Ann Knight, who joined the Army 25 years later. Together, they share their experiences of overt racism, systemic exclusion, and the long-lasting emotional and professional impact of serving in a culture that didn’t always see or support them.Richard and Kerry Ann reflect on the isolation of being 'the first' or 'the only', and the culture of silence that allowed discriminatory behaviours to go unchallenged. They speak honestly about the toll this has taken on their mental health and careers, and what it means to keep showing up in the face of institutional barriers.But this conversation is also about resilience, truth, and the potential for real change. They share what gives them hope - genuine leadership, external support, and the power of speaking up, not just for themselves, but for those who follow.What did you take away from this episode? Email us at [email protected] LindsayLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lindsay-macduffInstagram: @lindsaymacduffBFBS Creative is an award-winning, non-profit creative agency. We specialise in helping the Armed Forces, Defence and government tell their story. Want to learn more? Visit https://creative.bfbs.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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