Why Not? & What If? is a podcast about life, work, well-being – and the beautiful chaos in between.
Hosted by Andy Cracknell, a creative whirlwind and disruptor of dull thinking, and Siobhán Godden, the HR consultant and coach who listens through the noise to what really matters. Think of Siobhán as the calm to Andy’s creative storm.
Each episode dives into the messy, magical intersection of life, work, leadership and all the bits we’re not supposed to talk about – from gender equality, working parenthood and career “wounds”, to neurodiversity, burnout, leadership energy and HR headaches.
Expect candid conversations, uncomfortable truths, inappropriate laughter and the occasional alpaca – plus practical ideas you can actually use.
If you’re a leader, HR / People professional, working parent, neurodivergent human (or simply someone wondering “is it just me?”) – Why Not? & What If? is your space to think out loud, challenge the usual way of doing things and imagine what else might be possible.
Send us a text Tis our Christmas Eve special — and we’re diving into the stuff HR teams never forget… even when they try. Siobhán shares anonymised “HR nightmares at Christmas” stories that range from jaw-dropping (a motorboating incident with a very questionable defence) to the painfully familiar (people passed out in toilets, tears in the loo, and the post-party investigations nobody wants). We also get into the messy reality of workplace hookups, the risks around power dynamics and...
15 Dec 2025
Christmas Special 2: HR’s Christmas Party Dilemma: Boundaries, Booze & Being Blamed
Send us a text HR gets labelled “the police” at Christmas parties… and somehow also “the fun sponges”. In this episode, Andy and Siobhán talk about the reality of attending work socials when you’re the person everyone assumes will step in, calm things down, and clean up the aftermath — even though HR aren’t there to break up fights, and definitely shouldn’t be expected to put themselves in harm’s way. We get into the awkward moments (“Careful what you say… HR’s here”), the pressur...
15 Dec 2025
Christmas Special 1: Christmas Party Survival Guide: 10 Tips to Keep Your Job (and Your Dignity)
Send us a text It’s the first of our three-part Christmas mini-series — and we’re starting with the one everyone thinks they already knows: how to survive the work Christmas party. Andy and Siobhán share a “top 10 (plus a few)” set of common-sense rules for employees (and partners) that keeps the night fun… without it turning into a disciplinary, a PR disaster, or a proper horror story. We cover why a Christmas party still counts as a work event, the risks that come with booze (including the ...
12 Dec 2025
S2E6 - Beyond Hunted: Burnout, Gut Health & the Mind–Body Reset with Paul Cashmore (Part 2)
Send us a text In Part 2 of our conversation with Channel 4’s Hunted hunter Paul Cashmore, we step away from the TV screens and go deep into the work that really lights him up – mental and physical health, NLP and full-body nervous system reset. If Part 1 was about fame, ego and being “the guy off the telly”, this episode is where it all gets practical. Paul opens up about burnout, chronic stress and the moment his body literally forced him to stop. He shares how meditation, martial arts, Bud...
5 Dec 2025
S2E5 – Paul Cashmore from Channel 4’s Hunted: Fame, Ego and the Man Behind the Hunter (Part 1)
Send us a text We got caught – properly. In this episode of Why Not? & What If?, Siobhán Godden and Andy Cracknell sit down with someone most of us know as “that bloke off the telly” – Paul Cashmore, one of the original Hunters from Channel 4’s hit series Hunted and Celebrity Hunted. But this isn’t just fan chat. It’s the story of what happens behind the persona – and what being in the public eye really does to how we see ourselves and each other. From a 15-year-old kid who just wanted to...
28 Nov 2025
S2E4 - HR Is Dead (Kind Of): Wrestling, Stand-Up Comedy & Blowing Up Bullsh*t Training with Toby Kheng
Send us a text HR is supposed to care about people. So why does so much of it feel like policy updates, tick-box training and vibes of “please sign to say you’ve read this”? In this episode of Why Not and What If, Siobhán Godden and Andy Cracknell sit down with HR disruptor, stand-up comic and former chef-turned-wrestler Toby Kheng (Founder of Freeformers) to ask a very simple question: If HR vanished tomorrow... would anyone actually notice? Together they dive into a very spicy mix of: Why t...
20 Nov 2025
S2E3 - Lonely at the Top: C-Suite Leadership Energy, Psychological Safety & Coaching That Actually Helps
Send us a text C-suite roles are supposed to be the pinnacle of a career… so why do so many senior leaders feel exhausted, isolated and secretly wondering if they’re “doing leadership wrong”? In this episode of Why Not and What If, Siobhán Godden and Andy Cracknell sit down with change maker consultant Simon Phillips to unpack leadership energy – and why understanding your natural impact style can be the difference between burnout and genuinely loving your work. Together they explore: Why you...
14 Nov 2025
ADHD, Microtraumas & Neuro-Inclusion at Work – with Chris Hood from Neurobridge
Send us a text In this episode of Why Not and What If, hosts Siobhan Godden and Andy Cracknell sit down with Chris Hood, Head of Coaching and Community at Neurobridge, for a refreshingly honest conversation about neurodiversity — what it really means, why it matters, and how understanding it can reshape how we see ourselves and others. Chris opens up about his own ADHD diagnosis, sharing how it shaped his mental health, self-esteem, and identity. Together, they explore the misconceptions, mic...
7 Nov 2025
Flags, Echo Chambers & World Peace (Kind Of)
Send us a text Season 2 kicks off with a bang. Andy and Siobhán dive headfirst into a conversation that starts with echo chambers on social media and spirals (in true Why Not & What If fashion) into flags, racism, homelessness, ADHD, Covid resets, world peace, and why assumptions make an ass out of you and me. From Andy’s raw story of being homeless in the French Alps to the uncomfortable reality of St George’s flags and what they’ve come to represent, this episode asks: how do we disagre...
12 Sept 2025
Catcalls, Kilts & “LinkedIn Isn’t Tinder”: Walking a Mile in Her Shoes
Send us a text In this messy-but-necessary conversation, Siobhán and Andy dig into the everyday reality women face from catcalling and “optics” to objectification at work and what men can actually do about it. We talk intent vs impact, how social media blurs the lines between professional and personal, and why “LinkedIn isn’t Tinder.” Plus: the “kilt test,” power dressing as armour, and how to start noticing what you’ve been conditioned to miss. If this episode is your pill from The Mat...
4 Sept 2025
Out of Control? Neurodiversity, overdiagnosis and workplaces that must change!
Send us a text Andy and Siobhan dive into the noisy debate about neurodiversity, ADHD and mental health labels. Andy shares a very personal story of receiving conflicting opinions about ADHD and how many “ADHD traits” can also look like burnout. Together they explore why one in five children are recorded with special educational needs, what EHCPs are trying to solve, and how rigid systems in schools and workplaces push people out instead of bringing them in. They unpack emotional intelligence...
28 Aug 2025
My Awesome Mind: Rethinking Neurodiversity, Parenting, and Education
Send us a text In this powerful episode, Andy and Siobhán sit down with Yasmin Wells (yasmin@apricity.solutions / www.apricity.solutions) to explore the extraordinary story of her nine-year-old son, Alex, who wrote a book called My Awesome Mind. Alex’s unique perspective on autism reframes the conversation from challenges and deficits to creativity, positivity, and possibility. Yasmin shares how his book came to life, what it reveals about the way he experiences the world, and the impact it’s...
22 Aug 2025
From Rock Bottom to Alpaca Dreams: Reinventing Life, Work and Identity
Send us a text What happens when everything you’ve built suddenly collapses? In this powerful and deeply personal episode of Why Not? & What If?, Andy and Siobhán welcome their first guest – “Farmer John.” John’s consultancy business was thriving until the 2020 lockdown wiped out every contract overnight. What followed was a spiral into depression, financial uncertainty, and a complete loss of identity. But out of despair came an unexpected lifeline: an alpaca farm visit that sparked a ne...
15 Aug 2025
Morals vs Rules: Working With Your 'Wounds' and Doing What’s Right.
Send us a text Career paths shaped by wounds, values, moral tension, and resilience. Got a story or a view? Email letstalk@whynotwhatif.com — we might do a follow-up episode with your takes.
6 Aug 2025
From Nappies to Networking: The Guilt, Grit and Growth of Working Mums
Send us a text Working mums navigating guilt, ambition, identity shifts, growth, resilience. Got a story or a view? Email letstalk@whynotwhatif.com — we might do a follow-up episode with your takes.
1 Aug 2025
The Hidden Cost of Being Heard: Women, Work, and the Weight of Assertiveness
Send us a text Examining costs of women’s assertiveness: voice, perception, boundaries, belonging. Got a story or a view? Email letstalk@whynotwhatif.com — we might do a follow-up episode with your takes.
18 Jul 2025
The one about names!!
Send us a text Unpacking surnames, identity choices, legacy dilemmas and why it matters. Got a story or a view? Email letstalk@whynotwhatif.com — we might do a follow-up episode with your takes.
18 Jul 2025
The Art of Delegation in Business - Founder Syndrome & Letting Go
Send us a text Leaders manage imposter feelings by letting go and trusting others. Got a story or a view? Email letstalk@whynotwhatif.com — we might do a follow-up episode with your takes.
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