Change Makers // Leadership, good business, ideas and innovation

Have You Heard? is where the Pod Bible team meet the people behind the podcasts you may not have heard of yet. While the Oh. My. Pod. section in the magazine gives a quick shout out to shows of that ilk, Have You Heard? aims to go deeper in an effort to spread awareness for shows that deserve more exposure! We recently heard from Michael Hayman, host of the interview series Change Makers, powered by Seven Hills.

Who are you and what’s your podcast about?

I’m Michael Hayman, I’m an entrepreneur, author, broadcaster and the host of Change Makers. It’s a tapestry of tales about the human experience, speaking to the contrarians and the positivists in challenging times – think of it as a Canterbury Tales for the lockdown era. At its heart are the many different experiences that shape lives. On the podcast I interview activists, writers, politicians and business leaders about the ideas and influences that have shaped their lives, the insights they would share as a result and thoughts on “what’s next” for the world.

What was the first podcast you ever listened to?

I started my podcast journey through BBC shows like You’re Dead To Me – a brilliant way to learn more about historical characters.

Why did you decide to start podcasting in the first place?

Prior to lockdown, I hosted Change Makers as an annual event to bring together many people that seek to deliver on the promise of business as a force for good. I was encouraged by one of our early guests, big data pioneer David Richards, that we needed to turn this into a podcast. It was very much his encouragement that got me thinking about it. With the pandemic, this is the time where countercultural thinking is going to lead the way and give us the breadcrumb trails to what the future might look like. Change Makers has always been a big idea because it was all about the human experience, and how to try and flip life from a glass half empty to a glass half full.

Which podcasts do you take inspiration from?

I listen widely to take inspiration stylistically, on how podcasters interview. I have a background in TV interviewing, but with TV it’s as much about what you see, and the impact that that has on you, whereas podcasts are all about what we hear. So, for interview style, I like to try and employ a mix of the curiosity of Louis Theroux’s podcast, Grounded, the incisiveness of Eye of the Storm with Emma Barnett, and the high energy of The Graham Norton Podcast. If you’re open minded, you can get inspiration from all around you.

Who’s your dream guest for the podcast?

Fran Lebowitz and Martin Scorsese – absolute legends.

What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learnt so far as a podcaster?

How to listen. And I say that because in a podcast interview, you’ve really got to listen to what’s being said, to actually get the best out of the show. And it’s interesting because it’s a medium where sight is not required. Everything is about what you hear, so your senses are heightened. I think that the beauty of the medium is that you can really focus on the guest. All of our guests on Change Makers have got such incredible stories, and when you listen carefully you can think differently and in so doing, help to reveal an inner truth.

Which episode would you say is the perfect introduction to your podcasts?

That’s a difficult question, it really depends on what you’re into. Our most popular episode is with Yanis Varoufakis, the former Greek finance minister, where we unpick his world view and outlook on current affairs. But again, we have episodes for everyone from actor and screenwriter Mark Gatiss, B-corp business founder Amy Williams, the entrepreneur and publisher Sharmadean Reid, and Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus. A great introduction would also be our episode with Ashoka Young Changemaker Ara Kusuma – a young Indonesian girl who has been leading her own social enterprises since the age of 10! This episode really captures what Change Makers is all about, telling the stories of people doing incredible things – names you’ll know, and those you won’t have heard of before.

Where can the Pod Bible readers find out more about you?

Change Makers is available on all major podcast streaming platforms including Apple, Spotify and Audioboom. Our website has more information on the guests and the Change Makers brand. You can also find us on Twitter and Instagram.

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