178: The Good Listening To Show with Chris Grimes - Episode 178178: The Good Listening To Show with Chris Grimes - Episode 178
UK Health Radio Podcast
Creative director Mike Coulter talks with Chris Grimes about tiny habits, behaviour change and saying yes to internal experiences, using stories about bikes, work and family. The conversation mixes humour and practical ideas that may resonate with anyone reshaping their relationship with alcohol or building healthier routines.
38:46•18 Jul 2026
Tiny Habits, Big Shifts: Mike Coulter on Bikes, Behaviour and Saying Yes
Episode Overview
- Small, visible prompts – like putting a bike where you can see it – can gently steer you toward healthier actions instead of old habits.
- Behaviour changes work best when they’re a good match for your motivation, abilities and circumstances, rather than someone else’s idea of what you "should" do.
- Supportive partners and colleagues can provide crucial encouragement, from smart business moves to a single line of praise that changes a career.
- Treating your body like a "second career" and caring for it daily can support both mental health and long-term wellbeing.
- Saying yes to internal experiences, instead of fighting anxiety or discomfort, can reduce struggle and help difficult feelings pass more quickly.
“"Say yes to all internal experience because if it's an internal experience it's arrived already... if you say yes to it, it makes it a little more like Teflon."”
Mike recounts the evening he eyed up an ice-cold lager, glanced out at his old bike in the shed, and chose differently: he put the beer back, got on the bike, then turned that into a "tiny habit": "after you've finished work, get your bike out of the shed and put it somewhere where you can see it." That bit of environmental design becomes a simple model for anyone trying to swap booze or other numbing habits for something that actually helps.
What can we learn from those who have battled addiction to unhelpful habits and thinking patterns? This conversation on the Good Listening To Show zooms right in on tiny changes, honest reflections and why saying "yes" to your inner life can be a game changer. Creative director and behaviour-change coach Mike Coulter chats with host Chris Grimes about the small, almost cheeky tweaks that can shift a life. One of the stand-out stories?
You'll also hear how his wife’s fearless career pivots and clever business moves sparked his own courage to change course, and how a creative director’s handwritten line, "I wish I'd written this," fuelled years of better work. For those interested in recovery, the way Mike talks about behaviour matching – choosing changes that fit your abilities, motivation and context – feels especially relevant.
He gently skewers bad advice like "just go line dancing" when you’ve got a bad knee and zero desire. There’s plenty for anyone living with anxiety or low mood too. Mike explains why he tries to "say yes" to internal experiences rather than fight them, turning them from velcro into Teflon. Along the way, expect side trips into manifestos, Russian lessons forced on school kids, and why Christmas cake can carry a lifetime of love.
If you’re thinking about changing your relationship with alcohol or building healthier routines, what tiny habit could you put "where you can see it" today?
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