Art Of Brilliance Podcast

What if Christmas itself needed rescuing… from Santa?!In this special end-of-season episode, Andy welcomes his traditional guest: Santa. Except this year, something’s... off.Santa sounds robotic, obsessed with efficiency, and surprisingly keen on replacing elves with 3D printers. Before long, AI Santa is talking KPIs, surveillance elves, and children asking for tactical flamethrowers. Christmas is on the brink - optimised, automated, and completely soulless.Just when things get properly Black Mirror, the real Santa bursts in, boots stomping, jingles flying, to shut down his malfunctioning metallic twin. What follows is classic Santa wisdom... that happiness is getting drowned out by noise, presence matters more than presents, and joy doesn’t need upgrading. AI might be clever... but only humans know how it feels to be truly connected.The episode wraps with both Santa's giving their verdict on what we need most this year - and spoiler... only one of them gets the answer right.A funny, warm, surprisingly mo

What if “feeling fine” isn’t the finish line… but the warning light?In this episode, Andy records from Windsor (with a much cheaper parking rate this time) to unpack one of the biggest myths about happiness... that it’s just positive thinking with a smiley sticker on top.What follows is a fast, funny reality check on modern life - the low-level Monday-morning glumness, the commotion, the sense that your get-up-and-go quietly got up and left. Andy lays out the classic wellbeing scale (from -10 to +10) and explains why most of us are wobbling around the “mildly happy...ish” zone while the modern world keeps nudging us downward.He also dusts off the story of a sceptical delegate who once told him a PhD was “just a long essay on positive thinking,” which gives Andy the perfect excuse to explain what a PhD actually is, why positive thinking isn’t enough, and why psychology has spent 150 years trying to fix brokenness instead of studying brilliance.And that’s where he lands the big idea... traditional psychology is

Ever wondered why some things only make sense after someone points them out?That’s the energy of this episode - Andy sitting in a Wembley car park, paying £60 an hour for parking and using the pressure of financial ruin to deliver a whistle-stop tour of the most obvious idea psychology somehow missed for 150 years.From world-famous double acts like fish & chips and Laurel & Hardy, he lands on one glorious truth... suitcases and wheels existed for millennia before anyone thought to combine them. And that, he argues, is exactly what happened to the science of wellbeing. Psychology studied everything that goes wrong with humans... and barely touched the humans who were actually thriving.What follows is a funny, nerdy, surprisingly gripping story about grumbly bonobos, forehead real estate, early brain evolution, ice-pick lobotomies (grim), and how a American psychologist accidentally blew the doors off his own profession by saying, “Hang on - why don’t we study what’s right with people?”Andy loops it

What if the algorithm wasn’t raising our boys?In this episode, Dr Andy Cope and his son Ollie join forces with Paul McGee to talk about their new book for teenage lads, Ladult: Navigating Safely from Boy to Man. From toxic masculinity to the chaos of the “manosphere,” they dig into what it actually means to be a good man now - without going all beige, boring, or preachy.You’ll hear about digital natives vs digital immigrants, why screens are brilliant and a nightmare, and how today’s boys are drowning in advice that’s either unhelpful, unrealistic, or just plain unhinged. Andy and Ollie explain how they’ve tried to cut through the noise with something gritty, honest, properly researched - and brave enough to tackle the stuff most books dodge (yes, including the M-word and the internet’s darker corners).Tune in if you’re a parent, a teacher, a teenage boy... or just someone who thinks the next generation of men deserve better than TikTok wisdom and toxic role models.

What if your most memorable moments weren’t the smooth ones... but the messy ones?In this episode, Andy looks back on 20 years of keynotes and training and shares his “Top 10” conference memories - from gold mines in Johannesburg to WI meetings where the payment came in Victoria sponge.You’ll hear about blizzards in Birmingham, social workers who made him cry, and why even the hardest rooms can turn into the best ones when you stop faking it and start caring.Tune in for standing ovations, awkward silences, and the thread that ties it all together… whatever the size of the audience, the only thing that really matters is showing up with heart.

What if convenience was quietly making us weaker?In this episode, Andy riffs on everything from gluten-free pints to e-bikes in Italy, using Deliveroo, and YouTube piano lessons to make a bigger point… modern life has become a masterclass in ease.We’re the first generation in history to die not from scarcity but from excess - too much food, too much scrolling, too much comfort. And in outsourcing every struggle, we’ve stopped flexing the very muscles that build resilience, focus, and grit.Tune in for motorway meal deals, family singalongs, and a thought-provoking nudge... maybe a little inconvenience is exactly what we need to stay strong, present, and fully alive.

What if time isn’t just slipping by... but being stolen?In this episode, Andy takes aim at the clock - and the way we let busyness, screens, and endless scrolling siphon off our 4,000 weeks of life. With humour and a few sharp jabs at TikTok culture, he explores how our attention has become the real currency of the modern world.From motorway meal deals to midnight doomscrolls, you’ll hear why “killing time” is really just letting it kill you - and how reclaiming even small chunks back can shift everything.Tune in for time maths, digital distractions, and a challenge that might just reset the way you spend your most precious resource… today.

What if the comfiest seat in the house... could actually change your mindset?In this episode, Andy tells the story of a very expensive chair that, thanks to a little family mischief, became “Percy the Positive Chair.” What started as a silly game with his kids turned into something bigger... a lesson in energy, anchoring, and the contagious power of positivity.From skeptical ten-year-olds to postmen, neighbours, and even the famously gloomy Rob from last week, Percy had a 100% success rate in turning moods around. The secret? Not the chair itself - but the people, the energy, and the belief you bring into the room.Tune in for Boxing Day experiments, zombie-walks through Morrisons, and a reminder that sometimes the daftest ideas - like a “positive chair” - might not be as daft as they sound...

What if one small win was all it took to change the game?This week, Andy dusts off a story he hasn’t told in 15 years - an afternoon in the garden with eight-year-olds, a cricket bat, and one girl who swore she was rubbish before she’d even tried. What happened next is part comedy, part psychology experiment, and part life lesson.It all ties back to the Matthew Effect: the idea that small advantages snowball into big ones, while early setbacks can quietly cement themselves into lifelong confidence gaps.Tune in for missed balls, neighbourly apologies, and a reminder that whether you’re eight or 58, momentum starts with tiny wins - and they’re often the spark for something much bigger.

What if the cage we’re trapped in… was built by us?This week, Andy wrestles with a heavy word - buckling. From social workers under impossible pressures to a snake shedding its skin, he explores what happens when life feels way too much and how we might just be strangers to ourselves.It’s an emotional journey this one. Going through human zoos, Stockholm syndrome, and the little bargains we make with fast food, scrolling, and comfort - even when we know they’re stealing our freedom.Hear Andy’s thoughts on broken systems, Greek philosophy, and a challenge to stop settling for hedonic quick hits. The aim? We can start leaning into the deeper, more meaningful stuff that makes us truly alive.

What if the most complicated machine on earth came with no manual?In this episode, Andy takes a detour through a one-star review, a shiny new toaster, and the chaos of becoming a dad - only to land on a much bigger question… who actually taught you how to think?It’s a wild ride from hospital wards to hot bread, but the point is simple. Whilst our education is crammed full of maths, French, and media studies, nobody ever sits us down and explains thinking itself. Most of what’s in your head? Hand-me-downs from parents, teachers, and generations past.Tune in for toast, tiny toes, and a mental software upgrade that might just rewire how you see yourself - and the world around you.

What if your brain could send you a desperate late-night email?This episode is short, sharp, and straight from the grey matter itself - literally. Andy reads a cheeky, slightly gross, and surprisingly heartfelt letter from “your brain” to “your body,” pleading for a better night’s sleep.You’ll learn why slow-wave snoozing is basically brain housekeeping, why screen time is the arch-nemesis of cranial cleanliness, and how skipping rest leaves you clogged up with… well, “brain poop.”It’s a playful reminder that beauty sleep isn’t just a saying - it’s a nightly detox for your mind, mood, and health. Switch off, sleep in, and let your head do the washing up.

What if rocking the boat was the most responsible thing you could do?This week, Andy wades into the murky waters of leadership clichés - everything from “change starts at the top” to “a leader’s job is to inspire their team” - and gives them a good shake. Spoiler alert… not all boats need steadying… some need sinking.Along the way, you’ll meet mood hoovers (who might secretly be your best problem-solvers), psychedelic sheep, and a surprising case for why you should stop trying to inspire everyone else and focus on staying inspired yourself.It’s leadership advice without the jargon, a little rebellion without the chaos, and a gentle nudge that change doesn’t have to wait for permission - it can start with you, today.

What if your culture document was actually useful... and slightly Moses-themed?In this episode, Andy shares the (cardboard) stone tablet that keeps the Art of Brill team pointing in the right direction: ten commandments, one Sharpie each, and zero tolerance for terrible PowerPoints.You’ll hear why “Don’t chase the money” makes sense, why social media isn’t optional (even if you hate it), and how a well-timed hobnob reference can still teach you something about leadership.Tune in for commandments, common sense, and a behind-the-scenes peek at the not-so-secret sauce behind 20 years of brilliant training.

What if the most powerful leadership tool… was actually just caring?In this episode, Andy goes all in on relational energy, Mr. Nobody, and a Gallup survey that boils leadership down to one beautifully simple idea: someone at work seems to care about me as a person.You’ll hear about ADHD envy, toe-curling book signings, a tragic Mr. Men story, and how the workforce from hell might just be a side effect of confusing “satisfaction” with “engagement.”Tune in for spreadsheets, superpowers, and one crucial question that could change your culture by Monday morning.

What if some of your most ‘motivational’ mantras... are total rubbish?In this episode, Andy dusts off some lockdown-era thinking and takes a flamethrower to four of the biggest clichés in personal development: YOLO, fitting in, SMART goals, and “if at first you don’t succeed...”You’ll hear why trying is overrated, why mediocrity is sneaky, and why standing out (for the right reasons) beats blending in every time.Tune in for dancing un-danced, Lego never built, and a gentle nudge to live like your 4,000 weeks actually matter - starting now.

What if the secret to life was hiding in a toy box?In this episode, Andy reads a chapter from Brill Kid - The Big Number Two. One of his children's books that might just contain some of the best life advice you’ve never heard.It’s playful, daft, and surprisingly profound. Because it turns out Lego isn’t just Danish, dangerous underfoot, and oddly emotional - it’s a metaphor for how to live well, rebuild after setbacks, and keep playing, even when the instructions don’t make sense.Tune in for rogue bricks, joyful nonsense, and a reminder that whether you’re 8 or 58, life’s a game best played with curiosity, creativity... and maybe a bucket of spare pieces.

What if you’re so busy managing the symptoms... when you should be fixing the roof?In this episode, Andy shares a few famous last words (spoiler: Elvis died doing exactly what he said he was going to do), before rolling into a parable that didn’t make the book - but might just make your brain go “Oof.”It’s the tale of Miss Cleverclogs, Ralph, and a leaking maths classroom. A ridiculous story, yes. But also... not. Because it’s a metaphor for how we handle mental health - more buckets, more apps, more busyness. Still dripping.Tune in for irony, weather warnings, and a reminder that the bravest thing you can do sometimes is climb up and fix the actual flipping roof.

What if the best leader in the world wore a hard hat and hung out with a cement mixer called Dizzy?In this episode, Andy ditches the usual leadership clichés and goes all in on the unexpected hero of the working world... Bob the Builder.You’ll hear why happiness isn’t something you choose (but positivity is), how leadership isn’t about Mandela quotes or motivational posters, and why the attitude you carry is your most powerful tool - whether you’re laying bricks or leading teams.Tune in for awkward conference icebreakers, a rant about grinogogs, and seven words that could quietly change your leadership forever... Can we fix it? Yes, we can.

What if the toughest guy in the room taught you the softest lesson?In this episode, Andy shares a story he hasn’t dared tell in years - about a nightclub bouncer with a cobweb tattoo, a grudge seven years deep, and one phone call that changed everything.It’s about forgiveness, hand grenades (metaphorically), and why carrying a grudge is like getting punched in the face... by yourself.Tune in for a quiet gut-punch of humanity, a room full of tearful bouncers, and a reminder that moving on isn’t weakness - it’s wisdom.