You are not who you think you are. In this episode, Andy takes a deep breath and heads straight into the philosophical deep end -mixing ants, airplane engines, and Tesco epiphanies in a bold attempt to answer the biggest question of all… who (or what) are we, really? Inspired by Rupert Spira, road rage, and a misbehaving mind, Andy explores the ide…

What if your biggest challenge isn’t change… it’s distraction? In this episode, Andy returns to his favourite recording studio (the car) to explore plot twists, personal upgrades, and what happens when your epiphany strikes in Tesco. You’ll meet a Greek hero with serious foresight, reflect on why happiness is too important to outsource, and learn a…

What if your harshest critic accidentally proved your point? In this episode, Andy reads out a brutally honest one-star review of The Art of Being Brilliant - and somehow manages to laugh through it. But the real star? A small purple alien called Gilbert, sent from Planet Glee where everyone is too happy (yes, there are consequences). Gilbert’s mis…

Is your goal big enough to wake you up at 3am? In this episode, Andy rethinks goal-setting - from over-engineered watch ads to underwhelming SMART targets - and introduces a better way to dream big: WHOOP goals. You’ll hear about deep-sea diving, exploded eyeballs, and a Japanese word that might just change how you set your next life mission? Tune …

When was the last time you eye-rolled at something good? In this episode, Andy takes on the madness of modern life - from mental health stats and exploding lightbulbs to what our ancestors might make of QR codes, vending machines, and 150 different brands of water. Amid the chaos of a world changing at warp speed, he shares a brilliantly simple min…

What if there’s nothing wrong with you… but everything wrong with your environment? This week, Andy Cope tackles big questions about mental health, modern living, and whether humans—like zoo animals—might be suffering from a case of "zoochosis." From a conversation with a GP to giraffes on Prozac, this episode explores the idea that maybe it’s not …

Is it fear... or something else? In this episode, Andy chats about a conversation with an old friend and explores a few ideas about how we think, feel, and maybe overthink? You’ll also get a glimpse into his brain mid-book-writing - complete with military metaphors, some very daft character names, and a few creative leaps that somehow tie it all to…

Would you grow younger if it meant growing apart? This week, Andy Cope spins a magical tale – part fable, part rom-com, and 100% brilliant allegory – inspired by poet laureate Simon Armitage and delivered with a custard cream-sized sprinkle of mischief. Meet Norman. He’s had a few pints, he’s tucked up in bed, and suddenly… a thumb-sized cherub app…

What if therapy told you to keep doing the wrong thing? This week, Andy Cope goes rogue. We’re talking Latin, coaching tips, powerful questions and a therapy style so cheeky it might just change your life. Meet provocative therapy - a bizarre (but genius) form of counselling created by Frank Farrelly, where the therapist takes your worst habits, ag…

You’ve got 30 seconds with yourself from 20 years in the future. What would they say? This week, Andy Cope takes things back to basics with a reminder of what positive psychology actually is - and why the Art of Brilliance exists in the first place. (Spoiler - it’s not just about bouncing around being happy all the time.) In a world obsessed with f…

Do you look like your job - or your dog? This week, Andy Cope takes us from a Sunday morning tip run to a room full of Botox, beauty, and bold ideas. Fresh off the back of speaking at a Aesthetics conference (read: 200 wrinkle-free, fabulous humans), Andy dives into what it’s like to be the only non-medical keynote speaker in a world of jawlines, l…

What do alligators, octopi and flamingos have to do with wellbeing? This week, Andy Cope takes us on a wild ride from World Book Day to the power of culture and collective nouns (yes, really). While dressed as a children’s author and not a PhD-level happiness expert, Andy finds himself in a school where something magical happens. Enter a superhero …

Are you a caged canary or ready to fly? This week, Andy is tackling one of life’s biggest questions - are you flapping around trying to climb the pecking order, or are you ready to break free and soar? In this passionate (and slightly ranty) episode, Andy unpacks why life can sometimes feel like one giant canary cage, where stress sticks around lik…

What does it take to break free from autopilot and truly thrive? This week Andy Cope is diving a bit deeper into the fascinating world of positive psychology and the mystical realm of the ‘two percenters’ - those rare people who are so full of life, they have more bounce than a toddler after a late-night sugar binge. Andy spills the secrets of his …

What does it take to stay strong in the face of life’s toughest challenges? This week, Andy welcomes his son and fellow Art of Brill Trainer, Ollie Cope, for a fun and insightful conversation about resilience. They kick things off by sharing the incredible story of Sir Adrian Paul Ghislain Carton de Wiart, a World War I soldier whose grit and deter…

Ever feel like everyone’s watching your every move? In this episode, Andy tackles the ‘Spotlight Effect’ - the surprising psychological tendency to overestimate how much attention others pay to us. Think of that time you had a coffee stain on your coat and worried everyone would notice. Chances are, nobody did - most people are too focused on their…

In this episode, Andy talks about anxiety and our relationship with it in today’s world. Recognising the complexities of modern life, he highlights the importance of appreciating the present while acknowledging the challenges created by overstimulation, fake news, excessive screen time, and the never-ending buffet of convenience and overindulgence.…

In this episode, Andy talks about courage, and how it’snot always what you think it is. From stepping outside your comfort zones and being brave and asking for help, to allowing yourself to be vulnerable and embracing a failure. It takes a lot of bravery to navigate the modern world, so this week, Andy talks through 10 truths about courage. So, if …

Join Andy for a fascinating dive into the “Cobra Effect,” a real-life cautionary tale of how a British Raj’s well-intentioned bounty on cobras dramatically backfired. This episode explores how our best efforts to fix or control situations - whether it’s curbing pesky snakes or managing our public image - can sometimes cause us more trouble than wha…

Welcome to series 8 of the Art of Being Brilliant podcast! In this episode, Andy discusses the importance of shining brightly in a world that can sometimes feel a bit dark. Never missing the chance to use a good metaphor, Andy talks about light bulbs to illustrate how people can either dim their glow or illuminate their surroundings. Ultimately, it…

Welcome to series 8 of the Art of Being Brilliant podcast! We're joined by the Doctor of Happiness, Andy Cope, who loves to chat about all things happiness, personal development and wellbeing. This episode, Andy talks about the importance of finding some fun in your life... whilst sharing a light-hearted take on traditional horoscopes.…

Do you ever wish that life was just a little bit simpler? In this week's episode, Carl joins us to talk about... Paddington Bear. Why? Because he's a true 2percenter - who manages to take his (rather unfair) share of challenges in his stride. He keeps things simple. So, this week's episode has a few tips (and a challenge) that will help you live a …

This week, Andy asks "what hasn’t happened, that you didn't want, that you haven't celebrated"... er... what? Maybe you went to the loo and there wasn't a crocodile in there? Maybe you drove to work and didn't get a flat tyre? Look, we get it, It's a ridiculous question, but like all things Art of Brill, there is a clever twist to this story... so …

Ever get the feeling that things just don't go to plan? Yeah, we've been there. In this episode, let Flis take you through how a day in the holiday consisting of pyjamas, schedule changes and a nasty accident made her not just think twice about making plans... but share a few tips on how to deal with life when it starts running in the opposite dire…

Today, we're joined by positive psychologist Nikki Ayles, who is talking about the power of kindness. Nikki explores how doing a random act of kindness to someone else, can actually boost our own happiness. When we do something kind, our brains release dopamine, making us feel great. Plus, the gratitude we receive amplifies this effect, enhancing o…

Welcome to episode 23. Today, Peter Anderton tackles the tricky issue of Mood Hoovers. Mood Hoovers are those negative people in your life who are stuck in a bit of a grumpy mood and who constantly drain your energy. Peter explains that while you can’t fix a Mood hoover, there are three powerful techniques to help you manage their impact on you and…

This week, we welcome back Dr. Andy Cope! Andy takes us on a wild ride with a quirky news story and a thought-provoking message. Did you hear about the man who joined a search party looking for himself? A bit ridiculous, isn't it? So on this week's episode, Andy has got a ridiculous challenge for you. It's super easy, especially if you're a Googleb…

Welcome to episode 21! This week, Ollie delves into how easy it is for actions to have unintended consequences. He starts with the Streisand effect, where Barbra Streisand’s efforts to hide her mansion actually made it more famous. Then, Ollie explores how social media, designed to connect us, might be increasing social anxiety and division instead…

Welcome back to the Art of Being Brilliant Podcast. This week, Mike Martin takes us on a journey, quite literally, as he compares life to a challenging hike in the Welsh hills. Mikey shares how the twists, turns, and steep climbs of the trail are a lot like our path to self-improvement. Just when you think you’ve reached the top, there’s always ano…

Welcome to episode 19. This week we have Fliss Vivian talking about laundry. You see, Fliss was looking at doing her laundry and noticed how there was a staggering quantity of socks that needed washing, every single week. And that was just the socks. What's this got to do with positivity or happiness we hear you ask? Well, Fliss started to realise …

Welcome to episode 18. Dr Andy is back this week to talk about flying frogs. Andy is reading one of the pages from the new edition of the Art of Being Brilliant book, the parable of Clarence and Felix. It's a very short story about Clarence, who is trying to get Felix (a frog) to learn to fly... give it a listen, we're certain you'll be able to rel…

Welcome to episode 17. This week we're welcoming Art of Brilliance trainer Paul Field to the podcast table. Paul is here to tell you all about his aftershave collection. He's got a few everyday go-to options, some gifted by family or friends, and a few bottles of the really swanky stuff that he saves for a special occasion. Why you should spend 5 m…

Welcome to episode 16. Dr Andy is back this week to talk about Sesame Street. Why? Because he recently found out that season 1 and 2 of this adorable children's TV show has a warning that they "are not suitable for children"... why? You'll have to listen to find out!

Welcome to episode 15. Hannah Knowles is this week's podcast host and, unfortunately, she's got some bad news. The bad news? Today, Hannah is pretty sure that something is going to go wrong for you. The good news though? Whilst you can't control what has gone wrong, you can choose how you react to it. She shares a few quick tips on how you can star…

Welcome to episode 14. We're back with Darrell Woodman, who is celebrating 13 happy years working with The Art of Brilliance. To celebrate, Daz is reflecting on what his life was like before he read the Art of Being Brilliant book (new edition is out now by the way!) and shares with you how a strategy called "Three Good Things" can help you get out…

Welcome to episode 13. We're back with Dr Andy Cope as talks about destination addiction - he shares a story about the time he did a gig in Halifax and had to share a table with some year fives...

Welcome to episode 12. Today we're joined by Izzie Miller, who is talking about how our brain works. Specifically, Izzie is interested in neurons - and how these little dots create connections inside your brain as you learn new things. The clever bit? The more you do something, the stronger these connections become and the easier that thing becomes…

Welcome to episode 11. Today we're joined by Hannah Knowles with a short chat about something really important... Anxiety. Anxiety is everywhere at the moment. You're probably feeling it yourself and if not, you'll definitely know someone who is. So in this episode, Hannah gives us 5 really simple and quick tools to help us deal with it.…

Welcome to episode 10. Today we're joined by Jonathan Peach, who wants to talk about the power of your beliefs. JP believes that you're incredible, and you're capable of anything - but there is one thing that can constantly get in your way... and that's you. Your beliefs are what will determine the sort of life you can have. Whether you believe you…

This week, we're back with Dr Andy Cope as he talks about the film Sixth Sense. In short - it made Andy ask the question "Are you living... or are you alive?" Have a listen to see what he means... Oh and spoiler alert, if you've not seen the film, you might want to give it a watch before listening to this super short podcast.…

This week we're joined again by Art of Brill trainer, Kev House. In this episode, Kev starts by telling a story about when he signed up for the New York marathon, despite being 4 stone overweight and having never exercised... Mind over matter? Have a listen to find out how he managed it.

This week, we're back with Dr Andy Cope as he talks about Ready Brek... Yeah that's the one, the cereal from the 80's. After watching a TV advert for Ready Brek, Andy realised that it was surprisingly relatable to modern life...

This week we're joined by Darrell Woodman, who's asking us if we need to try and slow down a little? Daz was inspired to slow down by two things - a book called "The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down" and being able to see a rather large quantity of bird poo outside his kitchen window... I guess you could say he couldn't see the birds for …

This week, we're back with Dr Andy Cope as he introduces the 10:5 principle to you. Andy starts with a bit of a realisation that life can be a bit like "free from" foods... and that it should be enjoyed, not endured. He also sets a bit of homework, challenging you to introduce the 10:5 principle into your life - it can feel a bit awkward (and you c…

Legendary keynote speaker Kev House is a clever bloke who’s an expert in ‘life’ as well as being the Art of Brilliance resilience expert. In this episode, Kev talks about the nagging voice in your head, the inner critic that we all have, and how to make it your friend instead of your enemy. It’s about intentional energy, consistency and awareness. …

Positive Psychology guru Hannah Knowles explains how marginal gains add up to a MASSIVE leap forward. She shares lessons from GB cycling that went from zeros to heroes. One percent improvements led to gold medals, Tour de France winners, world champs… all achieved by the aggregation of marginal gains. So much learning crammed into such a short podc…

In podcast #2 Art of Brilliance trainer and growth mindset guru Will Hussey shares 5 things that he learned from running every single day for 500 days on the bounce. Plot spoiler: the lessons are not really about running, they’re about life. Will talks about the difference between reasons and excuses. Oh, and before you start, our podcast is strict…

In this season’s gentle opener, Dr Andy Cope introduces you to his Guatemalan worry person. There’s a serious point lurking in the quirkiness. This podcast will guarantee you a good night’s sleep

In this special Art of Brilliance "HARD TALK" Christmas Special, Dr Andy Cope takes a no-nonsense approach with our super special guest, Santa Claus. They discuss various topics, starting with the overwhelming negativity in the news and Santa's defence of focusing on positive aspects of life. They touch on materialism and its impact on the planet, …

It’s the sixth episode of Season 6 of the Art of Brilliance Podcast! In this episode, Andy chats with one of our youngest Art of Brill trainers, Izzie Miller. Izzie has got bags of knowledge, after having what Andy describes as a “Quarter-life crisis”. Izzie learnt that the only way to TRULY feel good a lot of the time – was to be in control of her…