The Deep C Dive
The Deep C Dive is a business podcast hosted by Lorna Leeson and Lottie Dahl from 7 Seas Culture Consultancy. It explores organisational culture, communication, change, and coaching through candid conversations. The show aims to offer a practical and accessible take on workplace culture rather than a standard corporate format. Listeners can connect with the consultancy via LinkedIn or its website.
Episodes
Episode 51: Trust is a commercial non-negotiable
Lorna and Lottie interview Mark Cloutier - global CEO and Chairman and all round wisest of sages. In this, part one of two, they ask Mark how he reconciles personal values of trust and treating people how you'd want to be treated with the hair raising ride that is leading global financial services firms through large scale change. What Mark doesn't know about growing, transforming, scaling and sel
Episode 50: The Edelman Trust Barometer and Why It Matters For Your Culture
The findings of the 2026 Edelman Trust Barometer should be a wake up call to all leaders. Here are some stark stats for you:70% of us are hesitant or unwilling to trust someone different from us.Only 32% believe the next generation will be better off. The gap between high and low income groups in terms of how much trust they have in institutions has nearly tripled in the last decade. Lorna and Lot
Episode 49: The Power of Storytelling with Sam Bleazard
Are you struggling to cut through the comms noise and drive employee engagement in your organisation? Perhaps storytelling is the secret weapon you didn't know you needed.In this episode, Lorna and Lottie talk to Sam Bleazard, Head of Employer Brand & Storytelling at Fortnum & Mason who knows a thing or two about finding the nugget of gold in the stories you need to be telling inside a
Episode 48: Leading Through Uncertainty (Without Losing the Plot)
Fresh from running a session with a group of people leaders inside an organisation that’s been acquired unexpectedly, Lorna and Lottie talk about uncertainty. Again - because it’s not going anywhere. Often when employees are asked how they are feeling during these periods, the answers are very human - from feeling distracted and uneasy to cautiously optimistic.Aimed at all people leading an organi
Episode 47: How to Reach Deskless Workers
We get it. Communicating within your organisation is tough enough sometimes even when all your staff and colleagues are desk-based. It gets even more difficult when some colleagues, or perhaps most, are not desk-based. Email? Too long; didn't read.Try the intranet? What's my password again?Carrier pigeon? Considering it...What you need is a clear communications plan and rationale that meet
Episode 46: Brandie Deignan Part 2
The second of two instalments of the Deep C Dive with the charismatic and insightful CEO of Pier Health, Brandie Deignan (catch episode 45 for the first if you missed it).Here, we ask Brandie the big questions about her leadership style and what that means for organisational culture. How do you deal with imposter syndrome/phenomenon? How do you make your difference your superpower? What's the
Episode 45: Brandie Deignan Part 1
We are honoured that Brandie Deignan took some time out from performing as CEO of Pier Health to talk to us on the Deep C Dive!In this first of two episodes, she shares her career path with us and highlights the crucial importance of role models and mentors in that story along with learnings that you can apply right now.
Episode 44 : Walk The Plank 2025
In this festive edition of the Deep C Dive, Lorna and Lottie (along with Woodreed founder Jo Moffat and Studio Manager Alex) share what workplace phenomena they'd like to see the back of in 2026.You may find it curious to advocate for ranting in a season famed for being of good cheer. However, research (probably) shows that in order to show up as our best and most-positive selves, getting your fru
Episode 43: Organisational Culture
What do we mean when we talk about culture in an organisational context? Should we also be talking about organisational climate? And why should we care about it?If you find yourself fatigued by the frequent headlines about 'toxic culture', this is the detox you need. Lottie and Lorna get to grips with this too-often-nebulous concept to help you make real, lasting, and positive change in yo
Episode 42: Joyce Idoniboye CPO of Oxfam
How do you create opportunity, for yourself and others, out of adversity and challenge? Joyce Idoniboye (CPO of Oxfam) knows a thing or two about this - and much else! We had the pleasure to spend an hour talking to her about her journey from foster care, to working night shifts in hotels to becoming a leader within one of the most recognisable and important charities in the world.
Episode 41: All Change
What are the principles and lessons you can draw on when going through a period of change in your organisation? Lorna and Lottie share their insights - not only gleaned from years of professional practice and study but also the very recent period of change they themselves have been through as Woodreed transforms into 7 Seas.References:Kim Scott 'Radical Candor': https://www.radicalcandor.com/Ruby
Episode 40: It’s the People, Stupid
Lorna and Lottie riff on the importance, power and potential of employee voice (one of Engage for Success's four enablers of engagement). Listen to learn why involving your people in solving your organisation's challenges is the answer. How we apply the principles of employee voice in the way we work, ways to make sure it lands, and why leaders often avoid it (even though they shouldn't!)
Referenc
Episode 39: Communication Chickens
Have Lorna and Lottie branched out into poultry farming? Not quite. Get your channel and content ducks in a row with fresh insights and ideas around how to meet your people where they are. If you're finding it difficult, or downright impossible, to land messages with your teams then this is the episode for you. You'll never want to send another email again.
Episode 37: Delivering Better Off-sites
Death by powerpoint, building structures out of spaghetti, and drenching employees in the Thames. These are just some of the things organisations try when attempting to get their teams inspired on the too-often-dreaded company away day.
Lorna and Lottie get under the hood of how to create amazing team days. Lottie applies lessons from the world of communications to give you 3 principles you can ap
Episode 36: 2024 Get in the Bin
As we enter the new year, Lorna and Lottie use the opportunity to cast an occasionally irreverent but always insightful eye back on the business-world phenomena of 2024 that they definitely don't want to see again in 2025.
What would you put on your Get in the Bin list?
Episode 35: The Art of Feedback pt.2
Following the last episode on giving and receiving feedback as an individual, Lottie returns to the fold as she and Lorna expound and expand on making feedback work more widely for your organisation. The traditional end-of-year survey is possibly down but certainly not out - its success entirely depends on your ability as an organisation to make giving, receiving and acting on feedback part of you
Episode 34: The Art of Feedback pt.1
It's the most wonderful time of the year - employee survey season of course! While good will to all is hopefully brewing in the air wherever you are, it is also true that a good deal of misunderstanding and, worse, hurt can fester whether you are either giving or receiving feedback where you work.
Lorna flies solo this week to open your eyes and ears to the real gift that feedback can be with a si
Episode 33: 60 Elephants, 6 Sharks, and a Rabbit
When the going gets tough what happens to your organisational values?
This week’s episode comes live from the Big Apple where Lorna and Lottie reflect on a week spent working with their clients’ US teams in the aftermath of the election. A time where our own values of Compassion, Courage and Creativity were needed more than ever. Find out how we did this, what happened as a result, and why your ow
Thought Paper: From C-Z, bridging the divide
Entire industries and businesses will rise and fall in the wake of Generation Z. Yet few industries or organisations seem to be ready for it. Are you?
Armed with their smartphones, memes, and an unwavering desire to challenge the norm, Gen Z are redefining the meaning of work. Fear not dear leaders, we are here to demystify – perhaps Gen Z are giving the boardroom the shot of courage they’ve alwa
Episode 32: From C to Z
Entire industries and businesses will rise and fall in the wake of Generation Z. Yet few industries or organisations seem to be ready for it. Are you?
Lorna and Lottie discuss this pressing issue with tonnes of practical advice and clarifying insights to empower you to harness this dynamic and much-misunderstood generation.
For more in-depth coverage, read the brand new thought paper at https://w
Episode 31: How to Escape the Pressure Cycle
Under pressure? (Queen or Vanilla Ice, pick your side). Yep, join the rest of the working world for whom busyness has become the proverbial badge of honour. Chasing it. Glorifying it. Celebrating it. Measuring success by it.
How do we start to climb off the hamster wheel of the seemingly endless pressure we put ourselves under at work and move into a place where we feel like we’ve got more contr
Episode 30: The Grenfell Report
Not ones to shy away from the hard topics, we talk today about the Grenfell Tower Inquiry and the report published at the start of the month. Of course, we have opinions. Get your (almost) weekly fix of deep insights, learnings for organisations, and raw emotions as we unflinchingly take on one of the biggest scandals of the century so far.
Episode 29: Has Lorna Gone Bananas?
Another solo flight for Lorna as Lottie takes a well earned break. Frankly this may be her last as Lorna manages to fill nearly fifteen minutes with her favourite allegory about Monkeys and Bananas and Organisational Culture. Good luck listeners!
Episode 28: Communicating During Unrest & Uncertainty
An additional weekly podcast to address the issues in the UK unfolding over the past week. Lorna and Lottie share research and guidance for leaders reflecting on how best to address the topic of the UK violence and unrest, and how to support their people.
With reference to https://www.edelman.com/trust/2024/trust-barometer
Episode 27: Chess, Not Checkers
Lottie is back! And she's been thinking a lot about management. Why it's such a reductive term, why we can all be leaders and what the key behaviours and actions of great people who lead people might be.
It's a gallop through such a big topic looking at personal experiences of leading and being led, stag do's and being a shit manager. With Lottie's run down of things to consider when getting thing
Episode 26: Lorna Flies Solo
Join Lorna for a shorter than usual episode trialling a new format in between our fortnightly Monday morning joint adventures.
This episode Lorna reflects on the topic of Courage in Leadership and Organisations. Why it's needed, how to cultivate it and in doing so manages to share a long list of the brave/stupid life decisions she has taken along the way.
With reference to this HBR article on Cou
Episode 25: Is Gareth the new Taylor?
How can Lottie top Lorna's obsession with La Swift? By going big on her obsession with Gareth Southgate, despite confessing to knowing sweet FA about football (see what we did there?).
After 10 days of a new UK government, culminating in sporting sorrow for one of the nations and probably jubilation for the other three, Lorna and Lottie reflect on how to lead through change - especially when you a
Episode 24: Shrinking Giants
With homage to John Amaechi OBE, join Lottie and someone called Nigel as they explore why seeking therapy as a leader is just the right thing to do. Expect to hear their personal reflections on therapy, male mental health, hayfever and (obviously) Taylor Swift.
Episode 23: The Pursuit of Happiness
Join Lottie, Lorna and special guest Matt Phelan from The Happiness Index as we explore how we define Happiness at work, why it matters, how come so many leaders are inadvertently bad at it and what you can do.
Also witness Matt's shameless bid for Lorna's spare Taylor Swift tickets.
The Happiness Index helps organisations understand employee engagement and happiness drivers to power their people
Episode 22: You Have (Too Much) Mail
Join Lottie and Lorna as they explore their different attitudes to the form of communication that everyone loves to hate, ponder on why we behave so badly when at the wheel of Outlook, 'fess up to their worst ever email crimes and see how Lottie's Dutch is getting on.
Episode 21: We Are (Not) Family
Join Lorna and Lottie to discuss whether referring to your business as a family is a good thing or not, what happens when leaders and employees inadvertently fall into unhelpful patterns of behaviour and why Lottie has had a Sister Sledge ear worm all weekend. Live-ish from the Greek islands. Well, for one of us.
Episode 20: But What Can I Do?
Join Lottie and Lorna as they waltz through a fundamental of getting Culture right in 30 (ish) minutes: how do you nail your organisational values?
Expect a couple of expletives, an errant magpie, the key rules for making sure values live and breathe through everything you do and why leaders need to be all in on the endeavour.
Episode 19: The Great Mismatch
Join Lottie, Lorna and a SECOND special guest, Culture and Comms genius Jo Coxhill, as they get rather cross about the state of flexible working in organisations. Where is the trust? Where is the love? Where is Lorna's last Easter Egg? Answers to these important questions and more in 32 minutes of start the week madness...
Episode 18: Filling the Void
Why did a Royal communication void send the the nation (world?) batshit crazy?
What can leaders during change take from this collective madness?
How has Lorna managed to bring Donald Rumsfeld into all this? Did Lorna and Lottie just have their first on-air tiff? Answers to all these questions and many more.
Episode 17: Yes, And Then We Got Creative
Join Lorna and Lottie fresh from Lorna's improvisation workshop. Reflecting on how a cynical man from the Netherlands became a genius comic artist, why creativity needs certain conditions to thrive at work and the small things everyone can do to help it on it's way. (Pretending to be a dog poo and calling colleagues from the bath not mandatory).
Episode 16: Mind The Gap
Do you have a say-do gap when it comes to culture? What did the CEO of Ford mean when he said their values are 'non negotiable?' What does Lorna mean when she warns against toxic dumps in the cultural water? How many times can Lottie and Lorna say 'Mind the gap' in 30 seconds? Discover this and more in 28 minutes on Values, Behaviours and why Culture is an ecosystem.
Episode 15: Power Moves
Join Lottie and Lorna as they explore the Red Bull scandal through the lens of power. Why ignoring power dynamics is risky business. How Gen Z are making power moves. And why Lorna and Lottie should probably never enter a pub quiz.
Episode 14: From Chamonix With Love
After a week's hiatus, Lottie is back from her skiing adventure with new skills and fresh insight into the sometimes misunderstood world of Coaching. Join Lorna and Lottie as they dissect why tough love on the slopes is exactly the kind of coaching you need.
Episode 13: The Sex (ual Harassment) Education One
Oof. This one was uncomfortable. Lottie and Lorna gather their courage to talk about why we are STILL talking about sexual harassment in the workplace, why it's so hard to talk about, and why if you want to prevent it, you can do worse than listen to Rudy Giuliani. Yes, really. Who knew?
Episode 12: The Trust Issue
Do Lottie and Lorna trust one another? Do your employees trust you? Do you trust them?
Ruminating on the state of global trust, why CEOs are in a uniquely privileged and precarious position, and where in the world is Lottie. Also, what did she say to Lorna?
Episode 11: Are You A Traitor?
Join Lottie and Lorna as Lorna introduces Lottie to the guilty pleasure that is The Traitors TV show and they dissect how it is a perfect portrayal of the Toxic Cultures leaders can create if they don't spot the pitfalls. Featuring lots of fan-girling of Claudia Winkleman and love for an owl amongst the deeper reflection on how leaders can inadvertently create traitors in their midst.
Episode 10: Interview with a Former Sub Postmaster
Last in the three episodes examining the Horizon scandal. With Jo Moffatt, MD and Founder of Woodreed and Richard - Lottie's Dad and former Sub Postmaster offering their reflections on the scandal and Richard's view from 16 years inside the Post Office.
Episode 9: The Stories That Move Us
Part 2 of our focus on the Post Office Horizon scandal. This week looking at why storytelling was the key to bringing this scandal to a nation's attention and galvanising people to action.
Why do stories move us in ways facts and figures do not? What's the story of Charlotte's childhood Saturday evenings? Does Lorna have the most useless Gladiator name ever?
Episode 8: Am I The Problem?
Listen as Lorna and Lottie reflect on the Post Office Horizon scandal that has captured the nation's attention. The first of three episodes looking at this through the lens of Culture and Leadership.
What was Paula Vennell's role as CEO in this catastrophe? Was she the problem? How do other CEOs avoid the same trap? How has Lorna managed to shoehorn a Taylor Swift lyric into all this? Is Lottie r
Episode 7: Get In The 2023 Bin
Join Lottie and Lorna as they start the week talking about all the things they will be consigning to the bin at the end of 2023. Including, it would seem, Lorna's new jumper. Feedback, as we say, is a gift.
Episode 6: Two Buses and a Why Trifle
Join Lorna and Lottie as they chat to their first ever guest; Lee Elliston, COO of Aspen Claims about his journey leading a global team through transformation, why the 'Why' matters and what the heck Lorna's trifle has got to do with that. Also, why are gilets such a hit with men in the City?
Episode 5 - The Vulnerability Hangover
Start the week with Lorna and Lottie as they nurse their vulnerability hangovers, reflect on professionalism, bringing your whole self to work and why, when Lottie experienced a difficult personal challenge, she shared it with her clients.
Episode 4: Virtual meetings and Victoria Wood
Virtual meetings: Friend or Foe?
Start the week with Lorna and Lottie as they talk leadership, culture, communications and coaching. This week the conversation canters through 80's British TV shows, via an impromptu song, before focusing on the pro's and con's of virtual meetings and how to make them more engaging.
Episode 3: Compassionate Leadership, Pink Jumpers and Stoke
Start the week with Lorna and Lottie as they delve into why Compassion in Leadership matters, what it looks like and how leaders can create compassionate cultures. Plus the limits of Lottie's geographical knowledge, and why she has so many pink jumpers.
Episode 2: Group Think, Diversity and Gail Porter
Join Lottie and Lorna as they reflect on Lottie's part in the Gail Porter Houses of Parliament controversy, Group Think as a consequence of lack of diversity and Lorna's very short tenure as a Brownie.
Episode 1: Start The Week With Lorna & Lottie
Not another blinkin' podcast about work. Listen in as Lottie Dahl from Woodreed and Lorna Leeson from Little Tent start their week with a catch up covering Culture, Change, Leadership and Communications, always with caffeine, usually still in pyjamas.
