The Tom's Talks Podcast is a place where we speak to a vast array of people from different walks of life and find out what makes them them. We will speak about their unique journey and delve into the highs and the lows which ultimately define them.

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Stephen Lock - founder of the Hero Program and executive leadership coach. In this honest, emotional and deeply practical conversation we cover topics from confidence, purpose, grief and rebuilding your life from the inside out.

Stephen opens up about losing his partner of 20 years, navigating dark periods where even getting out of bed felt impossible and how those experiences reshaped the way he understands success, happiness and self-belief.

This episode goes far beyond surface-level motivation. It tackles the arrival fallacy (“I’ll be happy when…”), the difference between confidence and ego, why most people chase goals that don’t actually make them happy, and how small daily actions can pull you out of your lowest moments.

If you’re feeling stuck, burnt out, questioning your direction, or struggling with your mental health - this is a conversation you need to hear.

In this episode, we talk about:

- How to build confidence when you’re in a dark place
- Why confidence is an outcome, not a starting point
- The difference between ego and real self-belief
- Finding purpose through ikigai (doing what you love, what you’re good at, and what the world needs)
- Overcoming grief, adversity, and identity loss
- Why success doesn’t automatically lead to happiness
- Practical steps to improve your life one percent at a time
- Stephen also shares real client stories from the Hero Program - from people realising they already have the life they want, to others discovering world-class ambition for the first time.

This episode is about showing up, taking the next small step, and learning to be happy now - not someday in the future.

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