How to build connection remotely and finding happiness working abroad. PLUS our podcast secret is finally out!

How to build connection remotely and finding happiness working abroad. PLUS our podcast secret is finally out!

I'm baaaacccck!

Yes, after a restful weekend in the Balkan sun, the newsletter is back! This week, I'll be bringing you the highlights from two incredible guest experts.

Lee Rubin is Founder and CEO of Confetti , the Top 10 fastest growing companies in the US according to Financial Times . The Top 200 female founder will be sharing how to build connection remotely, how not to panic in a pivot, and why it's more important that ever to inject a little bit of fun into the workplace!

I'll also be bringing you some top tips from psychologist and employability expert, Nathan Cornwell ?? , on how to find happiness working abroad, including what you can do TODAY to make that future dream come true.

But first...it's my favourite time of the week...



But Leanne, there is no news round up on the interview episodes...?

Well spotted regular listener! But that doesn't mean I don't have some highlights to share with you this week.

1. Snooping around Paris

First, Snoop Dogg won the olympics.

From dancing with horses to printing the face of every US athlete on this t-shirt, Snoop has kept the meme factories in business over the last couple of weeks. I LOVED it.

If you don't follow him on LinkedIn, this is your sign.

2. July? Completed it, mate.

Yes, that's right! Our bumper month bringing you two expert interviews EVERY week has come to an end.

A huge thank you to the incredible David Thompson , Louise Kershaw , Hilary Scarlett , Dr Hayley Lewis , ?? Paula Brockwell (CPsychol) - Culture Shaper , Cate Luzio , Alexis Zahner , ADRIAN LOMAS , Nathan Cornwell ?? and Lee Rubin .

Your knowledge, wisdom and charisma delighted our listeners, pushed our total number of downloads to over 1 million AND saw us reach number 2 in the Spotify Business Podcast Charts, hot on the heels of Steven Bartlett 's The Diary Of A CEO .

If you're looking for a summer podcast binge, this is your playlist! ??

3. Our podcast secret is finally out.

You definitely know we're married. You probably know we live abroad. But you might not know that Truth, Lies & Work Podcast is not our first podcast.

That's right. Our 'overnight success' is a lie! A lie I tell you! ??

Truth is, it's not much of a secret at all. Al and tell anyone who asks. We've even mentioned it once on the show before (very early on!). So, if you've been seriously inspired by your summer break to explore living and working abroad then we've got you.

After you've listened to Episode 119 with Nathan, search 'A Sideways Life' wherever you get your podcasts, including Spotify! ??



Episode 118: How to find happiness working abroad, with Nathan Cornwell

Listen here ?? (or wherever you get your podcasts!)

In 2009, Al Elliott and I went to Dijon to celebrate his Mum's birthday. As we arrived at our B&B, we saw the owner sitting down in his beautiful courtyard to eat his lunch and sip a glass of cool white wine. We looked at each other and thought, yeh. This is the life!

Hatching a plan that same weekend, we finally made our move abroad in 2013. Since then, we've lived in more than 50 countries around the world. We know our expats.

Nathan Cornwell takes 'knowing expats' to another level.

Introducing Nathan Cornwell

Nathan is an organisational psychologist specialising in talent management and expat support. He’s worked with global organizations like 普华永道 , Rolls-Royce , KPMG , and the United Nations , focusing on helping expatriates thrive in new environments.

Meet Nathan ??


Key Highlights:

  1. The Journey to Organisational Psychology: Nathan shared his journey into organisational psychology, which began with his travels in Australia. His experiences there sparked a deep interest in understanding how people adapt to new environments. This curiosity led him to specialise in helping expatriates navigate the complexities of living and working in foreign countries. His story is a powerful reminder of how personal experiences can shape professional passions.
  2. Challenges of Expat Life: Nathan discussed the significant challenges that expatriates face, particularly when it comes to adapting to new cultures and environments. He emphasised that culture shock, loneliness, and isolation are common issues that can affect mental health and job performance. Nathan highlighted the importance of building a strong social network, which can serve as a crucial support system for expats as they navigate their new surroundings.
  3. The Role of Organisations: Nathan emphasised the critical role that organizations play in supporting their expatriate employees. He shared research showing that organisational support is one of the most important factors in maintaining the well-being and performance of expatriates. This includes providing resources, fostering a sense of community, and offering access to mental health support. Nathan made it clear that when organizations invest in their expat employees, they see better outcomes in terms of employee satisfaction and retention.


Standout Quotes:

Nathan on social support:

"A strong social network is one of the biggest predictors of success for expats. Whether it's family, friends, or colleagues, having these connections is crucial for navigating the challenges of living in a new country."

Managing mental health:

"The isolation that many expats experience can be a significant mental health challenge. It's easy to feel disconnected when you're far from home, dealing with cultural differences, and missing familiar support systems. Finding like-minded people who understand these challenges is essential for maintaining mental health and well-being."

The role of organisations

Organisations have a vital role in supporting their expats. Providing resources and fostering a sense of community can make a huge difference in their well-being and success. It's about more than just offering a relocation package."

Nathan also shared his signature 'FLARE' model for helping expats thrive, and how even the most well-intentioned of travellers can find themselves in a pickle (or jail!).


Nathan Cornwell: My Wild Night in Police Custody ??


We also chatted about the personality of expats and what Al and I have discovered about our own psychology having lived and worked abroad for more than a decade.

The Personality of Expats ??


Tagging in the expats I know who might have an opinion on this! ?? Danielle Wood , Sophie Wood , Natalie Turner Cates, M.Ed. - thoughts?


You can listen to the full episode wherever you get your podcasts or on YouTube ??



Episode 119: How to build connection in remote teams, with Confetti CEO, Lee Rubin

Listen here ?? (or wherever you get your podcasts!)

Executive bullish on office working usually have the same argument:

Office working is better for culture, connection and collaboration.

Is it..?

In Episode 119, we speak with Lee Rubin , co-founder and CEO of Confetti , about the role of virtual and hybrid events in building connection in remote teams. Lee discusses how her company adapted to the challenges of the pandemic and continues to offer impactful virtual experiences.

Introducing Lee Rubin

Lee Rubin is the Founder and CEO of Confetti, a platform that provides virtual and hybrid events to enhance company culture. Confetti has organized over 33,000 events for more than 1 million participants, including employees from major companies like Google, LinkedIn, and Netflix.

Meet Lee ??


Key Highlights:

  1. The Evolution of Confetti: Lee shared how Confetti pivoted from in-person to virtual events during the pandemic. This transition was not without its challenges, but it ultimately allowed the company to reach a broader audience and maintain its relevance in a rapidly changing world. Lee discussed the importance of being adaptable and the steps her team took to ensure that their virtual events were just as engaging and impactful as their in-person counterparts.
  2. The Importance of Quality: Lee emphasised that the success of any event lies in its quality. At Confetti, there’s a strict policy that only five-star events make it to their platform. This commitment to excellence ensures that every event is memorable and delivers real value to participants. Lee talked about the rigorous vetting process they use to select events and vendors, ensuring that every offering meets the highest standards.
  3. Building Company Culture Through Events: Lee discussed how virtual events can play a crucial role in building a stronger company culture, especially in a remote or hybrid work environment. She explained that these events are more than just opportunities for fun—they’re essential for fostering connections, improving team morale, and maintaining a sense of community. Lee highlighted how well-designed events can help employees bond, share experiences, and feel more connected to their colleagues, even when they’re miles apart.


Standout Quotes:

Lee on the magic of events:

"You can learn more about someone in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. That’s the magic of events—they allow people to connect on a deeper level"

On building connection:

"Team chemistry is key to success, and virtual events offer a way to build that even when teams are remote. When people come together in a relaxed, enjoyable setting, they communicate more openly, share more freely, and develop stronger connections, which translates to better collaboration and teamwork."

And on the philosophy of Confetti:

"Our focus is on creating high-quality events that bring teams closer together. If it doesn’t hit the mark, it doesn’t stay on our platform. We’re committed to ensuring that every event we offer is not just fun, but also meaningful, leaving participants with a sense of connection and shared experience."


Lee also shared the lessons we can learn from sports teams, and how connection can build competitive advantage.

Team Chemistry: The Key to Competitive Advantage ??


Al and I also discussed the psychology of play and how it can help us build connection and resilience as adults.

The Psychology of Play ??


You can listen to the full episode wherever you get your podcasts or on YouTube ??



Let’s Chat!

We’d love to hear your thoughts on this week’s episodes:

  • Have you ever considered working abroad?
  • What was your favourite Olympic event/moment? #polevaulter
  • Have you participated in a virtual event that significantly impacted your team?

Drop your comments below and let’s get the conversation started!


Listen and Subscribe

Catch the full episodes here . Don’t forget to subscribe to our podcast for more great discussions.

Follow us on LinkedIn for updates and join our growing community of HR professionals and business leaders.


Follow us on Socials!

Did you know, we're also on Instagram , X and the TikTok ?

AND you can watch all of our podcast episodes on YouTube .


An Important Reminder

We always leave a list of mental health and support resources in the episode show notes.

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, here are some resources for support:


Until Next Time...

Stay tuned for a more relaxed, laid back August! We'll be bringing you our regular 'This Week in Work' Tuesday episodes, including:

The News Roundup: My favourite time of the week when we debrief on the articles that have caught our eye. Look out for Kamala Harris' belly laugh and our hopeless attempt at Gen Z slang #ManagementRizz

The Workplace Time Capsule: Our brand new summer segment diving back into the archives to bring you workplace trends from the 1960s, 70s and 80s. The Edinburgh chippy is a personal favourite of mine!

The World Famous Weekly Workplace Surgery: We answer your burning questions about work, leadership and culture. If you have a question, send it to [email protected]


Shhh! I'm recording a podcast!


The one when we didn't have any outtakes...


?? Danielle Wood

Co-founder@Belonging Base ?? | Inclusion & Belonging Consultant & Speaker (????? ?????) | Creator of ‘The Memorable Manager’ Coaching Programme ?? (leveraging #PsychologicalSafety to build inclusive workplace culture)

3 个月

I listened to Nathan Cornwell ??’s comments about the people that are running away from something and thought ‘well at least 50% of me was’.? At the age of 43 following some pretty heavy duty counselling when my husband came out as transgender I finally had an epiphany moment.?I needed to escape my surroundings and all the white noise from everyone around me who had an opinion on what I should do with my life.?The counsellor said ‘what did you want to do with your life when you were a teenager’.?I reflected and said I wanted 4 things out of life – to be loved, to live in the sunshine, to have a pool in the garden and own an electric blue Ford Escort convertible (if you grew up when I did you might understand that last one).?I had found love but it now took a confusing form and I needed time to think.?As an adult I had bought a more tasteful racing green MG convertible so I still needed to tick off the sunshine and the pool.?That’s when operation ‘Live the life you’ve imagined’ began. So part running away and part running towards my dream life. I’ve looked at the 5 traits and think I have Openness and Conscientiousness and Agreeableness in spades. ? To be continued in next comment....................

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Md Ridoy Mollah

I am Top Rated freelancer ? Apple Podcast Promotion ? YouTube Marketing ? Spotify Promotion ?Soundcloud Marketing? All Social Media Marketing.

3 个月

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Rita Ernst, Positivity Influencer

Igniting positivity @ work to improve performance, culture, & well-being; Amazon best-selling author

3 个月

I couldn't agree more. Snoop Dogg made the Olympic coverage more fun and relatable.

Nathan Cornwell ??

Organisational Psychologist | Creating Workplace Success for Expats and International Organisations ?? ?? Increase employee performance through talent management, leadership coaching & org. development ??

3 个月

Awesome! You are olympic winners too!

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