Inside The Clearing: Chris Grimes on Story, Loss & Laughter and a reminder (inspired by the Helsinki Bus Garage allegory) to "Stay on the Fucking Bus!"

The Good Listening To Show: Stories of Distinction & Genius

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A host hands over his own mic, steps into the straw-lit ring, and lets his story breathe. Chris Grimes invites us into “the clearing,” a warm, curated space where presence comes first and stories find their shape. From a Uganda childhood and the hum of a TV showing Laurel & Hardy to the ache of losing a sister and the discipline of actor-teacher training, Chris traces the real forces that shaped his craft, his humour, and his ethos of yes-and.
We dig into the 5-4-3-2-1 framework he uses to spark honest conversation, and why comedy can be the first evidence of freedom. Expect Stan Laurel’s kindness, Michael Palin’s curiosity, and a dash of John Cleese; a tender nod to Federer’s focus on the next point; and a confession about a £2,000 wheelie bin in the name of creative risk. Chris shares the quotes he keeps in his pocket—be where your feet are; nothing is either good or bad, but thinking makes it so—and the one story he returns to when doubt creeps in: the Helsinki Bus Garage. Translation for creatives and leaders alike—stay on the bus long enough to reach the route only you can travel.
The heart of the conversation is Legacy Life Reflections, a human-led way to record personal histories before voices fade. Chris talks about capturing his father’s story in the halcyon years and why every family has a documentary inside it, not a footnote. It’s story craft with care: listening deeply, framing gently, and creating a keepsake that outlives the moment. Along the way, we talk tennis, ping-pong, presence, and the north star of a dream guest—Sir Michael Palin.
If you’re building a career in the arts, leading teams, or simply trying to honour the voices you love, there’s gold here: practical storytelling tools, resilience reframes, and a reminder to laugh when you can. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs the nudge, and leave a review to help more people find the clearing. Then tell us—what’s your story?

Tune in next week for more stories of 'Distinction & Genius' from The Good Listening To Show 'Clearing'. If you would like to be my Guest too then you can find out HOW via the different 'series strands' at 'The Good Listening To Show' website.

• Show Website: https://www.thegoodlisteningtoshow.com
• You can email me about the Show: [email protected]
• Twitter thatchrisgrimes
• LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-grimes-actor-broadcaster-facilitator-coach/
• FaceBook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/842056403204860

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Thanks for listening!

فصول

1. Handing Over The Mic (00:00:00)

2. Being A Guest On His Own Show (00:01:42)

3. Defining The Clearing (00:08:45)

4. 5-4-3-2-1 Story Framework (00:16:05)

5. Shaped By Uganda And Family (00:18:36)

6. Loss, Catharsis, And Dark Humour (00:26:43)

7. Training, Ensemble, And Craft (00:36:00)

8. Inspirations: Laurel To Python (00:44:08)

9. Tennis, Ping-Pong, And Presence (00:51:20)

10. Quirks, Bins, And Creative Risks (00:58:12)

11. Alchemy, Flow, And The Stage (01:04:45)

12. Quotes, Resilience, And Reframing (01:10:05)