About this episode:

What happens when you take young people from inner-city communities, many of whom have never left their local area, and introduce them to the challenge, freedom and possibility of skiing and snowboarding?

In this episode, Chris speaks with Dan Charlish, Founder and CEO of Snow Camp, the UK's only national youth snow sports charity. Since 2003, Snow Camp has supported more than 23,000 young people to build confidence, gain qualifications and access real career pathways.

During the pandemic, Dan also launched Stop.Breathe.Think, a national online mental health service offering free counselling to young people without the wait.

This is a conversation about widening horizons, creating opportunity, building charities that last, and using sport, relationships and mental health support to help young people move towards a more hopeful future.

More about Dan Charlish:

Dan Charlish is the Founder and CEO of Snow Camp, the UK's only national youth snow sports charity.

Since 2003, the charity has helped more than 23,000 young people from inner-city communities gain confidence, qualifications, and career opportunities through skiing and snowboarding.

In 2013 Dan received the Freedom of the City of London for services to youth work and in 2024 he was awarded the Pery Medal by the Ski Club of Great Britain.

Snow Camp has also been recognised multiple times as a top UK apprenticeship employer, reflecting Dan's commitment to creating real pathways for young peo-ple to thrive on and off the slopes.

During the Covid pandemic, Dan launched Stop.Breathe.Think, an online national mental health service provid-ing free counselling to young people without the wait. The service has delivered over 25,000 counselling ses-sions to young people to date.

Dan lives in Hove, UK with his wife Amanda and children, Chloe and Rory.

About This Episode:

To truly make a positive difference in the world, we need exceptional relationships. The real question is — how do we create connections that are meaningful, authentic, and built to last?

In this episode, I'm joined by internationally recognised relationship expert Andy Lopata to explore how professional relationships, when built with intention and integrity, can drive not only commercial success but also lasting, positive impact.

Because in today's world, if we want to achieve anything meaningful… relationships really matter.

Andy brings over 25 years of experience helping leaders and organisations unlock the true value of connection. From working with global brands like Google, PayPal and the BBC, to contributing to Harvard Business Re-view and Psychology Today, he has become one of the leading voices on networking, mentoring, and relation-ship-driven leadership.

In this conversation, we explore Andy's journey since he was last on the show — how his thinking has evolved, what it really takes to build a global reputation, and the realities of turning thought leadership into something commercially sustainable.

At the heart of the discussion is Andy's Relationship Matrix — a powerful and practical framework designed to help individuals and organisations map, measure, and strengthen the relationships that truly matter.

We also take an honest look at a challenge many face: how do you monetise relationships and ideas in a way that feels authentic, ethical, and aligned with doing good?

If you're building a business, leading a team, or simply want to create more meaningful connections in your life — this conversation will both inspire and challenge you.

Because ultimately, if we want to make a difference… relationships are where it all begins.

More about Andy Lopata:

Andy Lopata is an internationally recognised authority on professional relation-ships, with more than 25 years of experience helping organisations and individu-als unlock the commercial and cultural value of connection. An accomplished keynote speaker, author of six books, and co-host of The Connected Leadership Podcast, he is also a regular contributor to Psychology Today and has written for Harvard Business Review.

Andy has built a global reputation for his expertise in networking, mentoring, and relationship-driven leadership, and was shortlisted for the 2025 Thinkers50 Coaching and Mentoring Award. His work focuses on helping leaders and teams strengthen collaboration, build trust, and improve retention through more strategic and authentic professional relationships.

He is the creator of The Relationship Matrix, a practical framework designed to help organisations map, measure, and develop the relationships that drive long-term success. His clients have included leading organisations such as PayPal, Google, the BBC, and Saïd Business School, as well as government bodies worldwide.

A Fellow of both the Professional Speaking Association and the Learning and Performance Institute, Andy is also a member of the Association of Business Mentors, the Society of Authors, and the Meetings Industry Association. Known for combining research-based insight with engaging storytelling, he delivers practical, actionable strategies that make complex relationship dynamics accessible and immediately applicable.