HoCoSo CONVERSATION is a podcast channel, encouraging the discussion with thought leaders from around the world, for the hospitality industry and beyond.
Together we are better. Brought on by the rapid changes in our industry and the world, the blurring of boundaries, it is more important than ever before that we collaborate to find solutions, together.
This channel is hosted by Jay Humphries, founder and host of HoCoSo, and focuses on wellbeing, leadership, personal transformation, community, connection and more.
Listen in and Subscribe! #hocosoconversation
Recent Episodes
The Improvement Series – S1/Ep5: “Becoming Unstuck and how to Unlock your true Potential”, with Simon Jeffries
On our fifth episode of The HoCoSo Improvement Series, hosted by Jon Hazan, our guest is Simon Jeffries, former UK Special Forces leader, founder of The Natural Edge. Together with Jon, they talk about becoming your ideal self, why a systemic approach is vital to achieve a successful mindset change and how to overcome the challenges of achieving meaningful change. .
The Improvement Series – S1/Ep4: “Building and Maintaining Confidence”, with Pasha Munro
On our fourth episode of The HoCoSo Improvement Series, hosted by Jon Hazan, our guest is Pasha Munro, former UK Special Forces turned project manager and entrepreneur. Pasha reveals his difficult childhood, explaining how his upbringing shaped his self-confidence and determination, allowing to have the career of his dreams.
The Improvement Series – S1/Ep3: “Mental Wealth and How to create Support Networks”, with Mike Pagan
On our third episode of The HoCoSo Improvement Series, hosted by Jon Hazan, our guest Mike Pagan explains what he refers to as ‘positive mental wealth’ through building a handpicked support network of friends, professionals and confidantes.
The Improvement Series – S1/Ep2: “What does Focus look like”, with Ruaridh McConnochie
Welcome to The HoCoSo Improvement Series, hosted by Jon Hazan. These conversations are often humorous, always enlightening and hopefully entertaining.
On our second episode of this series, our guest Ruaridh [Rory] McConnochie explains how determination and focus have paved the way to his success.
The Improvement Series – S1/Ep1: “Midlife Transitions”, with Jay (Jonathan) Humphries
Welcome to The HoCoSo Improvement Series, hosted by Jon Hazan. These conversations are often humorous, always enlightening and hopefully entertaining.
On our first episode of this series, our guest is no other than Jay (Jonathan) Humphries. Delve into “midlife transitions” and the process by which we recognize a need for change and act upon it. Tune in and discover yourself!
“Appreciating Every Step of Your Life Journey” with Peter Meyer
Delve into Peter’s past and discover how he has been able to turn his dreams into reality: This is a conversation that will remind you about the experiences in your life and how they have shaped you, and it will make you value every little step in your life journey.
“Why living well is good for our health” – with Celine Vadam
Celine and Jonathan explore why and how living well is good for our health by looking at our relationships, our communication, our psychological safety and our authenticity. How does this all come together and allow to create the environments we thrive in? Celine is a living proof of how powerful and how empowering living a sustainable life can be.
Listen to the full episode
Part 2: “Innovation and Creativity – The search for a higher life quality” – with Olga Donica
In part 2, Jonathan and Olga discuss the latest thinking around innovation and the leading edge holistic health supplements brought out recently by Clinique La Prairie, designed to improve our quality of life, and based on a whole research of genetics and epigenetics and the environmental impact on our genes.
Listen to the full episode
Part 1: “Innovation and Creativity – The search for a higher life quality” – with Olga Donica
In this episode, Olga and Jonathan, your host, explore the role of innovation and Olga’s passion and curiosity towards innovation and longevity. In innovation, we only need the three C’s: Curiosity, Creativity and Creation.
Listen to the full episode
“Regulating Ourselves: Tools to find better Balance and Resilience” – with Delmus ‘Coach’ Pinkston
‘Coach’ Pinkston assesses the link between our heart, mind and body: Can we influence our subconscious? Can we be in a better place to make a positive impact on the people around us? Together with Jonathan, your host, they explore tools to have more resilience to cope with life’s challenges.
Part 3: “Habit building and Forming for the New Year” – with Mark Hardie
The importance of habit building: the HOW, the WHY, the WHEN. Habit building is crucial if we want to BE and DO better. In part 3 of this conversation, we discuss the combination of routines and habits and the pre and post habit.
Part 2: “Habit building and Forming for the New Year” – with Mark Hardie
The importance of habit building: the HOW, the WHY, the WHEN. Habit building is crucial if we want to BE and DO better. In part 2 of this conversation, we focus on the progress and mindset as well as the resistance towards new habits.
A case study: How does agile operations inspire and create “purpose” for employees in the hospitality industry – with Jochen Renz
This discussion is a case study on how it is possible to thing, lead, manage and respond in a post-covid world with constant uncertainty. How can we better engage our employees in operational effectiveness and deliver a higher quality customer experience?
Listen to the full episode
A case study: How does agile operations inspire and create “purpose” for employees in the hospitality industry – with Jochen Renz
Part 1: This discussion is a case study on how it is possible to thing, lead, manage and respond in a post-covid world with constant uncertainty. How can we better engage our employees in operational effectiveness and deliver a higher quality customer experience?
Listen to the full episode
“OPEN DOOR INITIATIVE – Helping Ukrainian Refugees Find Accommodation Solutions” – Part of the Hospitality Resilience Series
A webinar, held on April 1st 2022, brought together representatives from the accommodation sector leading several humanitarian initiatives, to talk about their projects, discuss the challenges they face, and to identify how others can help and contribute. Open Door was hosted by the hosts of the Hospitality Resilience Series.
Listen to the full episode
“Coping with Uncertainty: How to feel safe and secure and find inner-balance” – Part 2 – with Claudia Roth
In part 2 of this discussion, Jonathan and Claudia explore the feeling of connectedness, how letting go of the reliance and image of our construct (our identity) we create for ourselves leads to more peace and harmony.
Listen to the full episode
“Coping with Uncertainty: How to feel safe and secure and find inner-balance” – Part 1 – with Claudia Roth
In part 1 of this conversation, Jonathan your host, and Claudia explore how we can create a sense of safety and security within ourselves in a world full of chaos and unpredictability. We also discuss the importance of awareness and how inner-balance makes room for new thought patterns and opportunities.
Listen to the full episode
“Leading Dynamically: The four principles of Leadership – PART 2” – with Patrick Ghielmetti
Patrick and Jonathan explore the four principles of leadership. In part 2, we focus on Responsibility and being responsible. There are four levels of responsibility and each determines our path and style of leadership.
“Leading Dynamically – The four principles of Leadership PART 1” – with Patrick Ghielmetti
Patrick and Jonathan explore the four principles of leadership. In part 1, we focus on Commitment and what it means to commit and be committed, as a leader and as a person, and how that affects us and our wellbeing.
Part 1: “Habit building and Forming for the New Year” – with Mark Hardie
The importance of habit building: the HOW, the WHY, the WHEN. Habit building is crucial if we want to BE and DO better. Discover the power of habits and learn about preparing, repeating, transforming and the 90 days psychology of forming.
Our Community of experts have gathered around the table to discuss the latest findings on Resilience and explore the many ways we can thrive as we go forward. Join this astounding lineup of speakers for a conversation about positivity and growth.
PART 1: Markus takes us on the journey of transformation to become a leader of change. With Jonathan, they explore what it means to be agile, have an agile mindset and thinking and do agile, for teams, companies and individuals.
“Leading Wellbeing: From nice-to-have to must-have” – with Pekka Pohjakallio
Pekka Pohjakallio joins us on the Hospitality Resilience Series to discuss the world of Hybrid Work, what companies are doing to improve employee well-being, how it impacts performance and why leaders need to take care of themselves.
“Stoicism: The Makings of a Modern Leader” – with Mark Hardie
Mark Hardie takes us on his journey of discovery of stoicism and reveals how useful its application can be for leaders and in decision-making, when facing a challenging and difficult situation(s).
“How to transition from a static to a dynamic leadership style” – with Patrick Ghielmetti
In this session of the Hospitality Resilience Series, Patrick Ghielmetti and our co-hosts explore what sets a static leadership style apart from a dynamic leadership style and what techniques and tactics are employed in both styles on a personal level and with our surroundings, social and corporate.
“What we can learn from Elite Sport in developing Psychological Resilience” – with Chris Bodman
In this session of the Hospitality Resilience Series, Chris Bodman reveals how and why elite sport athletes develop inner resilience and are better prepared to perform at an optimum level. Discover how you can apply that in to build your surrounding and develop your own psychological resilience.
“Utilising Mindfulness Practices to Improve our State of Mind” – with Yves Givel
In this interactive session of the Hospitality Resilience Series, Yves Givel demonstrates the utility of mindfulness practices and how integrating these into our daily lives helps to keep our emotions in check, and become more aware and focused on the task at hand.
“Embracing Uncertainty and Recalibrating” – with Bruce Harkness
In this session of the Hospitality Resilience Series, Bruce Harkness explores with our co-hosts, the roles resilience and self-awareness play in helping us to embrace chaos and handle change.
Jonathan speaks to Zen Monk Marcel Reding about how we can build inner resilience effectively. They explore meditation, inner -balance, responsibility, goal-setting, connection and how we can become better versions of ourselves.
In this session of the Hospitality Resilience Series, we tackle The Future of Sleep with Yadid who introduces us to the importance of sleep and its effects on our health and performance in the short and long term.
Claudia takes us through what we mean by an intentional life, the total shift from the need of recognition from the outside and really assessing the important things from within. Discover self-love, the true meaning and benefits of meditation and good habits.
Simone talks about what it takes to be a leader in today’s world: Your mindset is key to unlocking positive momentum, in our daily lives for us but also for our teams, and communities, allowing us to seek the right kind of opportunities and goal-set the right way.
“Community-building: the journey it takes us on and its importance” – with Monika Kanokova
Community Building is essential for hospitality concepts of the future. Listen to how Monika explains what it means, what it is and how we do it. During this exceptional year, communities were the one thing that kept many sectors, and individuals, active and determined to find solutions and aim for a better tomorrow.
Listen to the full episode
“Food and the Mind: How to hone your gut instinct through nutrition” – with Rhaya Jordan
Big advocate for not limiting yourself and enjoying food, both “good” and “bad”, Rhaya’s key message is to understand your gut and enjoy your nutritional journey! Be individualistic in your diet and refrain from restraining. Find out what nutrition and lifestyle suits you and only you throughout this second episode of the Hospitality Resilience Series.
Listen to the full episode
“Mental health, wellbeing and creativity” – with Mariana Palmeiro
There is art in maintaining mental health and wellbeing. It is a necessity that is unfortunately overlooked in the journey of prevention from illnesses and diseases. Mariana stresses on their importance and unveils how biohacking and the new technologies can advance and flourish in the hospitality sector, as well as enhance the guest journey, experience and reach a wide community.
Listen to the full episode
“Building personal resilience and inner immunity” – with Sean Worker
This one of a kind session with special guest Sean Worker marks the launch of the Hospitality Resilience Series. Sean here shares the results of his extensive research for his soon-to-be published book THE ADAPTERS examining the importance of adaptability and leadership best practice in the hospitality industry.
Listen to the full episode
“The Intra-Entrepreneurship Journey” – with John Wagner
John takes us on his journey in entrepreneurship and shares his learnings through his various experiences in both intrapreneurship and entreprenurship up until creating and running Cycas Hospitality, listed as one of the Best Companies to Work For.
Listen to the full episode
“Wholistic Leadership” – with Chris Mumford
In this episode, Chris discusses the importance of inner immunity and resilience within hospitality leaders and why it is crucial that mental wellbeing and self-awareness are applied in personal as well as professional settings.
Listen to the full episode
“The role of mentors: mentoring and being mentored” – with Jonathan Langston
In this episode, Jonathan talks about his journey as a mentor. He explains the impact a mentor can have on one’s career and which traits differentiate good mentors.
Listen to the full episode
“Leadership through crisis” – Part 3 – with Alphy Johnson
In the third and final episode, Alphy discusses, perhaps the most shocking crisis yet, the time his compound in Riyadh was attacked by Al-Qaida. Alphy not only reveals details on how he managed his team and guests but his family too.
Listen to the full episode
“Leadership through crisis” – Part 2 – with Alphy Johnson
In this episode, Alphy takes us to Jakarta in the midst of a financial crisis. He remained collected throughout the experience with his calm and focused approach.
Listen to the full episode
“Leadership through crisis” – Part 1 – with Alphy Johnson
In this episode, Alphy talks about his time during the San Francisco earthquakes and the Los Angeles riots. They are two events that are marked in history as major crisis that had significant impact on the community, the city, and the tourism sector in a way that it took time for these markets to recover and for the people to recover.
Listen to the full episode
HoCoSo INSIGHTS
Wise words: hospitality career insights from Jonathan Humphries
This article and video was written and recorded for The INSIDER, the magazine of GLION Institute of Higher Education, in June 2023. Glion [...]
Join our tribe: can the hotel become a gateway to wellbeing and personal transformation?
This article was written for and first published in The INSIDER, the magazine of GLION Institute of Higher Education, in May 2023. In [...]
Hotel Firms Must Prioritize Environmental, Social and Governance impact in 2023
This article by Katharine Le Quesne was first published on Costar.com on January 25th 2023. ESG Requirements and Best Practices Are a Collaborative [...]
“It’s not imagination, it’s likeMagic”
Following its triumph at the European Customer Experience Awards 2022 (ECXA), likeMagic continues to break records by taking home two massive gold awards at [...]
Be safe, be supportive, be inclusive: how hospitality leaders can secure the talent they need
This article was written for and first published in The INSIDER, the magazine of GLION Institute of Higher Education, in November 2022. Jonathan Humphries, [...]
Chris Mumford inducted into the International Society of Hospitality Consultants
This press release first appeared on Linkedin for Cervus Leadership Consulting on November 17th 2022. Chris Mumford, [ Head of Leadership Services at [...]
Hospitality initiatives help Ukrainian families fleeing war, but more assistance’s urgently needed
Millions of Ukrainians, mainly women and children, have fled their country following the Russian invasion on February 24, with countries such as Poland and [...]
Cold-Water Swimming: A Story on Breaking Habits
This article written by Jonathan Humphries was written for and first published in JustBreatheMag, a Magazine by HEALING HOTELS OF THE WORLD, on April [...]