Skillcast is a podcast by the London Organisation of Skills Development (LOSD), hosted by Nurbanu. In this series, Nurbanu delves into the stories behind skills shared by expert guests.
Does Sustainable Construction Really Cost More? | Greg Fuller | LOSD Podcast | S7
In this episode of SkillCast by LOSD, Nurbanu Somani speaks with Greg Fuller, a Dubai-based consultant specialising in construction, cost management, project management and sustainability.Greg challenges the belief that green construction must be expensive. He explains how smarter design, better management and changes to everyday processes can reduce environmental impact without requiring major investment.Drawing on his experience with solar-passive homes, Greg discusses buildings that require little or no conventional heating and cooling. He also examines misleading green credentials, carbon credits, lifecycle costs and the importance of helping clients understand both the environmental and commercial benefits of change.The conversation then turns to Dubai’s sustainability ambitions, social sustainability and the role people play in protecting the environment.Greg also shares his other great passion: ballroom dancing. Having performed during the Sydney Olympics and taught dance aboard cruise ships, he explains how dancing taught him confidence, focus and freedom from other people’s judgement.TIMESTAMPS00:00 Welcome to SkillCast Season 700:48 Introducing Greg Fuller01:01 Construction and green consulting01:18 Dancing and sustainability01:35 Growing up around nature01:53 Studying sustainable design02:16 Creating solar-passive homes02:28 Sustainable design versus building rules02:39 Buildings without conventional heating or cooling02:50 The struggle to promote green construction03:00 Superficial sustainability credentials03:35 Immediate cost versus future value03:41 Starting his own consultancy03:44 Does sustainability have to cost more?03:52 The first steps towards sustainability03:59 Why education comes first04:16 Explaining the “why” and “how”04:46 Action versus corporate lip service05:12 Sustainability through management05:33 Saving time and reducing emissions06:05 Measuring carbon savings06:14 Moving beyond carbon credits06:48 Is Dubai a concrete jungle?07:21 The UAE beyond the skyscrapers07:55 Innovation in Dubai08:35 Dubai’s sustainability ambitions09:07 Turning targets into action09:31 Sustainable steel production10:24 People versus the planet10:33 People are part of the environment10:46 Social sustainability10:50 Buildings, productivity and wellbeing11:40 Greg’s dancing career11:54 Teaching on cruise ships12:12 Performing at the Sydney Olympics12:56 Why Greg challenges conventional thinking13:01 Are 99 people always right?13:56 What dancing taught him14:08 Ignoring other people’s judgement14:45 Confidence and personal presence15:07 Why children need the arts15:44 Improving focus through dance16:37 Encouraging individual expression17:14 Connecting with Greg17:46 Sustainable workplaces18:15 Does quality have to cost more?18:22 Researching sustainability costs18:39 Lifecycle value19:16 Building-integrated solar power19:37 Solar-generating materials20:02 From small steps to major change20:15 Closing reflectionsFor enquires email: admin@losd.co.uk
15 Sept 2026
Why do we sometimes over-explain, when a simple answer would be enough? | Cassidy A Chapman | Podcast LOSD | S7
Why do we sometimes over-explain ourselves when a simple answer would be enough?In this episode of SkillCast by LOSD, Nurbanu Somani speaks with Cassidy Amber Chapman, a life coach, transformational artist and speaker who has worked with clients across more than 35 countries.Cassidy explains that over-explaining can come from a desire to prove ourselves, feel seen or receive validation. When we realise that we have nothing to prove and focus instead on serving others, our communication becomes clearer and more meaningful.She also explores self-trust, self-belief and taking a leap of faith. Fear does not necessarily disappear—but trusting that you can recover after falling gives you the confidence to move forward.Cassidy discusses servant leadership, transformational artistry and creating safe, non-judgemental spaces for people to share difficult experiences. She also introduces a global song project that will unite artists to break the silence surrounding childhood abuse and empower survivors through music.TIMESTAMPS00:00 Welcome to SkillCast Season 700:48 Welcoming Cassidy back01:14 Life coaching and transformational art01:30 Is coaching oversaturated?01:39 What makes Cassidy different?02:08 Clients across more than 35 countries02:34 The importance of genuinely caring02:42 From personal development to entrepreneurship03:31 What clients gain from coaching03:41 Self-trust and self-belief03:53 Taking a leap of faith04:03 Dancing with fear04:11 Trusting yourself to recover04:33 Changing your view of failure05:05 Cassidy’s communication style05:10 Why people over-explain05:20 Trying to prove yourself05:25 Having nothing to prove05:43 Helping speakers become concise05:55 Seeking validation06:38 Cassidy’s coaching programmes06:46 Transformational artists06:51 Using art to create change07:02 Music and sound healing08:39 Servant leadership08:57 Leading beyond money and fame09:15 Creating value and purpose09:32 Co-creating transformation09:55 Leading your own life10:10 Leadership through love10:16 Learning to serve others10:35 Growing up around kindness10:59 How adversity develops empathy11:37 Living with chronic illness11:57 Coaches are human too12:35 Community and accountability12:58 Faith and service13:45 Helping people find their voice14:11 Creating a non-judgemental space14:33 Acceptance and accountability14:49 The shame people carry15:02 A global song project15:12 Breaking the silence around childhood abuse15:23 Empowering survivors through music16:05 Connecting with Cassidy16:33 Closing reflectionsThis episode contains discussion of childhood abuse. Listener discretion is advised.For Enquires Email: admin@losd.co.uk
14 Sept 2026
A Single Mother’s Journey Raising a Neurodivergent Child | Agnes Lai Ying Ng | LOSD Podcast | S7
In this episode of SkillCast by LOSD, Nurbanu Somani speaks with Agnes Lai Ying Ng, an Australia-based speaker, coach and finance professional who supports women through major life transitions.
After losing her husband five years ago, Agnes had to rebuild her life as a single mother raising two children, including a neurodivergent son.
Although her son received support from healthcare and therapy professionals, Agnes recognised that the mother’s emotional needs could easily be overlooked.
This inspired her to establish *She Matters 2*, a community initiative for mothers caring for children with autism, ADHD, neurodivergence and other disabilities.
Agnes discusses cultural stigma, the fear some families experience when disclosing a child’s additional needs and how personal experience taught her to replace judgement with compassion.
She also shares three important lessons for navigating change: rediscover who you are, understand your goals and refuse to give up when another storm arrives.
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Welcome to SkillCast Season 7
00:48 Introducing Agnes Lai Ying Ng
00:54 Clothing, colour and mood
01:40 How colour influences emotion
02:17 Dressing authentically
02:44 Agnes’s background
03:04 A career in finance
03:19 Losing her husband
03:29 Becoming a single mother
03:39 Raising two children through change
04:04 Supporting women facing major transitions
04:58 The first steps after life changes
05:20 Processing difficult emotions
05:27 Rediscovering your identity
05:53 Setting clear goals
06:00 What resilience really means
06:19 Avoiding comparison
06:28 Raising a neurodivergent child
06:38 Building resilience through adversity
07:07 Identity, goals and perseverance
07:21 Supporting her son
07:38 Accessing therapy in Australia
07:50 Who supports the mother?
07:58 Transitioning into secondary school
08:19 Creating “She Matters 2”
08:27 Supporting mothers and carers
08:40 Building a safe community
08:49 It is okay not to be okay
09:01 Support networks in Australia
09:21 Cultural attitudes towards additional needs
09:37 Fear surrounding disclosure
10:20 How openness creates understanding
10:29 Replacing judgement with compassion
11:03 Mothers sharing their experiences
11:52 Everyone has an unseen story
12:09 Choosing kindness
12:45 Welcoming international travellers
13:06 Coaching across generations
13:27 Cooking and community
14:05 Supporting young travellers
14:41 Forgiveness, fulfilment and finance
14:56 Financial confidence for women
15:06 Connecting with Agnes
15:13 Closing reflections
For Enquires Email: admin@losd.co.uk
Who has been a guest on SkillCast by LOSD
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Kristina Samra
Safwan Erooth
Theodoor Mannaert
Dr Demisha Burns
Dame Didi Wong
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
127,928
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Podcast Authority Score: 53 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
68
Social presence
0
YouTube
93
Engagement
0
Contact SkillCast by LOSD
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Questions about SkillCast by LOSD
Who hosts SkillCast by LOSD?
Nurbanu host the show. Published by London Organisation of Skills Development (LOSD).
How often do new episodes come out?
The show publishes weekly, based on its RSS feed.
Does SkillCast by LOSD take guests?
Yes. Guests have been identified in episode analyses.
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