Toward Solutions Podcast

In this warm, curious and quietly profound episode, we head off into the unknown with Dr Stephan Natynczuk, a self-employed academic, accredited counsellor, and Solution Focused practitioner who takes useful conversations outdoors. Stephan has spent decades co-adventuring for change with young people in forests, rivers, caves and on mountainsides.

Stephan started out as a scientist, studying social odours in mammals, before following his curiosity into experiential education, the care sector, and eventually training with BRIEF. What ties it all together is a simple mission he names without grandeur: to generate contributors to a better world. 

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Toward Solutions 2.0 is a second series running alongside our usual monthly show - same passion for Solution Focus, different format. Shorter conversations, a little less structured, and a lot more wide-ranging. We catch up with past guests to follow the ripples, and we bring in new voices too; coaches, therapists, leaders, educators, and practitioners applying Solution Focus across all kinds of different contexts.

Think of it as the conversations that happen after the main event. The ones over coffee, at the edge of a conference, or on a random Tuesday when someone has something worth saying.

In this warm, rich and deeply practical episode, we sit down with Vicky Essebag — therapist, educator, coach, and founder of Relation Spaces — to explore what happens when Solution Focus moves into the heart of school communities. 

Vicky has spent decades working across the school system — as a teacher, counsellor, and administrator — and what she's seen is remarkable. Fewer suspensions. More engaged students. Teachers who stay past the bell. Parents who show up. Administrators who stop butting heads and start co-creating. 

In this conversation we explore: 

In this practical and engaging episode, we connect with Annette Gray to explore what it really takes to create meaningful change in people, teams, and systems.

Annette is a leadership development consultant and leadership coach. 

In our conversation Annette reflects on how her thinking has evolved — from seeing Solution Focus as something that sits alongside coaching, to recognising it as the coaching approach. A way of working that centres on asking more and telling less.

Drawing on her experience across global organisations, leadership programs, and high-pressure environments, Annette shares how Solution Foc...

In this thought provoking, confronting and practical episode, we are privileged to speak with Victoria Spatchenko — intercultural coach, trainer, and author — about the power of small shifts, daily practices, and what it means to live a Solution Focused life.

Drawing on years of work with educators, businesses and public service, Victoria shares how the Solution Focused approach shapes her conversations, her mindset, and her way of being. From coaching and facilitation to national mental health programs, she reflects on how the language of strength, progress, and potential can quietly transform how we work and connect with...

In this playful and precise episode of the Towards Solutions podcast, we sit down with Paul Z. Jackson — author, improviser, and co-creator of The Solutions Focus — to explore what it means to build on what’s working and invite change through conversation.

From his roots in journalism and theatre to decades of coaching and consulting, Paul brings a rare blend of performance, clarity, and practical insight. Together, we dive into:

In this vibrant and energising episode of Toward Solutions, we sit down with Ayse Adil — co-founder of Family Based Solutions — to explore what it means to stay truly client-led.

Ayse shares her journey from early scepticism (“I thought Solution Focus was wishy-washy!”) to becoming a passionate and creative advocates. Drawing on her experience with families, young people, survivors, and those who have used violence, she shows how Solution Focus can flex to meet the moment — even in silence.

Together, we explore how a light touch, a strong intuition, and deep respect can unlock new possibilities, even in co...

"It’s not about being an expert. It’s about being interested.”

In this energising episode of the Towards Solutions podcast, we sit down with Dutch Solution Focused practitioner and organisational consultant Paut Struik, whose wisdom, warmth, and practicality make this a must-listen.

Here’s what we explore:

In this beautifully expansive conversation, we sit down with Dr. Haesun Moon — communication scientist, author of Coaching A to Z, and creator of the Dialogic Orientation Quadrant — to explore what it means to dwell in meaningful conversations.

Together, we unpack the art of listening for good reasons, explore hypertext as a metaphor — where each word becomes a doorway to new possibilities — and reflect on how conversations can either shrink or grow our sense of hope, purpose, and possibility. Along the way, Haesun shares powerful stories from her teaching, writing, and personal reflecti...

In this episode, we sit down with Chris Iveson — co-founder of BRIEF and one of the leading voices in Solution Focused Brief Therapy.

Chris shares decades of wisdom in a way that only he can: clear, humble, and deeply insightful.

Whether you’re a therapist, leader, coach, educator or simply curious about how small conversations can unlock big changes — this one is well worth your time.

We explore how not knowing can become a strength, how simplicity helps people discover their own next steps, and how Solution Focused conversations shield us from burnout by dra...

In this special episode of the Towards Solutions podcast, Dion Sing and I had the absolute privilege of sitting down with the wonderful Jenny Clarke from SFWork (The Centre for Solutions Focus at Work).

Jenny shares unforgettable stories, sparkling insights, and reflections from decades of bringing Solution Focus into workplaces — from glass factories to finance firms. ✨

We dive into:

🔹 Why it’s more important to know what you want than to understand the problem

🔹 How collective hopes can transform team dynamics

🔹 The ‘aha’ moments when people truly get So...

“Common Sense Codified: Andrew Gibson on Keeping Solution Focus Simple”

In this energising episode of the Towards Solutions podcast, Dion and Jason chat with Andrew Gibson—author, coach, and SF practitioner—about the power of simplicity in solution focused practice. Andrew unpacks why codified common sense and social capital are at the heart of meaningful change, and how SF is making a real difference in organisations like the NHS. From wild boar analogies to challenging overcomplicated models, Andrew invites us to reframe problems, shift our questions, and rediscover clarity in the chaos. If you’re craving pr...

Welcome to the Toward Solutions Podcast! Hosted by Jason Pascoe and Dion Sing, this podcast explores the transformative power of Solution Focused practices across leadership, coaching, and organisational change.

In our first episode, we sit down for a very enjoyable conversation with Anton Stellamans, a highly respected Solution Focus practitioner with over 26 years of experience. Anton shares profound insights on:

🔹 The Pragmatics of Hope and Respect – how embracing curiosity and a “not knowing” stance leads to powerful, ethical conversations.

🔹 The Power of Listening – why the way we listen changes the way people think, feel, and act...