Alternative Lewes is starting a new venture..... Alternative Lewes Talks. Inspired by the well known TED talks, we have four passionate speakers, each talking for 15 minutes on the theme of 'Something Positive'.
In the relaxing environment of Zu Cafe, food and drink will be available while you go into the fascinating worlds of our speakers. Whether you are laughing or crying, we hope that you gain wisdom and insight into areas of life that are new to you, and help you create a positive outlook for the New Year in 2020. (Please book in advance with Zu Cafe if you would like food...they will be serving food between 7pm and 8pm - telephone 01273 474447)

Our speakers are ......

CHRIS LAMBERT will tell the story of a quite slapdash and really rather British attempt to cross the Greenland ice cap that he made during the Spring of 2016 with five other chancers from various countries, none of whom he had met until the day before he strapped his skis on and headed east together for a month across the second biggest ice sheet on the planet. Possessed with the kind of credentials normally associated with gentleman amateurs rather than polar explorers after a very long lunch one Sunday he determined that despite failing eyesight and questionable mental health dragging an eighty kilo sledge from one coast of Greenland to the other might, perversely, be a good way to sort his head out.

After gaining degrees in environmental science from the University of London Chris spent several years as a teacher prior to working for several London-based think tanks and focusing on the geopolitics of energy and climate trends. Director of the Westminster Energy Forum (WEF) since 2004, Chris’s role is to evaluate the UK’s energy and climate strategies, and the threats to their delivery within a global context. Chris is also retained as a political advisor to the global nuclear risk insurance pool, and leads their cyber resilience work. He lives in Sussex with his wife and two children, and really wishes he could retire…

ADRIENNE THOMAS will talk about her journey from having singing lessons to opening up a whole new world of sound, voice and its power to heal….touching in the mind/body connection, and the chemical changes in the brain when singing….the Chladni experiments with sound, and briefly talking about how sounding has almost cured her fibromyalgia!

Adrienne has been working with voice for over 35 years with both groups and individuals. During that time, she has developed a method of combining resonant sound with chakra energies , imagery and intuition, which is totally unique. She has worked in this way in clinical and educational settings, tutoring actors, singers and teachers and people who have never used their voices before, as well as offering individual sessions and group workshops in England, Spain, Portugal, Australia, Mexico and America. She continues to write and perform regularly, and has just finished writing a book about her voice work, which is now available from the shop page on her website as both hardback and e-book. She is also a member of the Natural Voice Practitioners' Network and Hove Stressbusters.

LAURENCE SHORTER is a leadership consultant, author, comedian and artist.
In his quest to understand the secrets of happiness, he has authored a bestselling book on positive thinking (The Optimist, 2009), written and performed his own one-man show at the Edinburgh Festival, and created the Lazy Guru, the world’s first cartoon guide to mindfulness and flow. Today Laurence coaches CEO’s, consultants and creatives, hosting immersive events that give people a direct experience of the intelligent, self-organizing principle at work in groups and teams.

Laurence will be talking about 'Embracing your inner pessimist'

FIONA ABBOTT set Soulfit in Lewes up with her husband Gyles just over 18-months ago. Having both experienced stressful careers, they knew first hand how important exercise is in managing our mental health. When they launched Soulfit their aim was to create a space where you feel better the minute you walk in through their doors. It's not a competitive, showy space. It's full of real people, who's lives can be deeply challenging.

During her talk, Fiona will share the positive impact exercise, movement & the importance of stepping outside of our crazy, busy lives for a few short bursts everyday can have on us. She would like to share some beautiful stories of individuals whose lives have improved massively from joining some of their yoga, dance & fitness sessions at Soulfit. From grief and trauma, through to physical & mental health challenges. It doesn't matter if it's a short walk round the block; signing up to a 'couch to 5k' or joining a high energy dance class - if you find something that makes you happy you'll stick at it.