Craig Oliver
@craigoliver100.bsky.social
Global head of Strategy and Reputation at FGS. Podcast: Desperately Seeking Wisdom.
Was David Cameron’s Director of Politics and Communications - and before that Editor, BBC News at 6 and 10.
Was David Cameron’s Director of Politics and Communications - and before that Editor, BBC News at 6 and 10.
A short video on why I’m writing about if Substack is worth all the effort. You can read the full piece, below:
open.substack.com/pub/craigoli...
open.substack.com/pub/craigoli...
November 16, 2025 at 7:53 AM
A short video on why I’m writing about if Substack is worth all the effort. You can read the full piece, below:
open.substack.com/pub/craigoli...
open.substack.com/pub/craigoli...
A short video on why Im writing about how many people find saying “No” so hard - and how we can do it better…
open.substack.com/pub/craigoli...
November 9, 2025 at 7:54 AM
A short video on why Im writing about how many people find saying “No” so hard - and how we can do it better…
open.substack.com/pub/craigoli...
A short video on why this week I’m writing about why we struggle to say no to temptation - and what we can do about it.
You can read the whole piece here:
open.substack.com/pub/craigoli...
You can read the whole piece here:
open.substack.com/pub/craigoli...
November 2, 2025 at 7:55 AM
A short video on why this week I’m writing about why we struggle to say no to temptation - and what we can do about it.
You can read the whole piece here:
open.substack.com/pub/craigoli...
You can read the whole piece here:
open.substack.com/pub/craigoli...
This short video explains why I’m writing about seeing the failure to deal with the Prince Andrew scandal up close - and why the lessons of that failure apply to many other situations.
you can read the full piece, here:
open.substack.com/pub/craigoli...
you can read the full piece, here:
open.substack.com/pub/craigoli...
October 26, 2025 at 7:59 AM
This short video explains why I’m writing about seeing the failure to deal with the Prince Andrew scandal up close - and why the lessons of that failure apply to many other situations.
you can read the full piece, here:
open.substack.com/pub/craigoli...
you can read the full piece, here:
open.substack.com/pub/craigoli...
A short video on why I’m writing about the wisdom behind Charlie Mackesy’s observation that “shouting at a flower won’t make it bloom”. You can read the whole piece below…
open.substack.com/pub/craigoli...
open.substack.com/pub/craigoli...
October 19, 2025 at 7:01 AM
A short video on why I’m writing about the wisdom behind Charlie Mackesy’s observation that “shouting at a flower won’t make it bloom”. You can read the whole piece below…
open.substack.com/pub/craigoli...
open.substack.com/pub/craigoli...
Helping people realise life and the world isn’t as bleak as they fear…
Stop Crying Your Heart Out
Many people feel bleak right now. Telling them it’s the best ever time to be alive doesn’t work. They need help shifting perspective. Here’s how…
open.substack.com
October 14, 2025 at 6:48 AM
Helping people realise life and the world isn’t as bleak as they fear…
How do you help people overcome the sense that they live in a bleak world? What does and doesn't work?
Stop Crying Your Heart Out
Many people feel bleak right now. Telling them it’s the best ever time to be alive doesn’t work. They need help shifting perspective. Here’s how…
open.substack.com
October 13, 2025 at 6:13 AM
How do you help people overcome the sense that they live in a bleak world? What does and doesn't work?
The world is a bleak place for so many - in this short video I explain why I’m writing about what might persuade them otherwise…
open.substack.com/pub/craigoli...
open.substack.com/pub/craigoli...
October 12, 2025 at 6:59 AM
The world is a bleak place for so many - in this short video I explain why I’m writing about what might persuade them otherwise…
open.substack.com/pub/craigoli...
open.substack.com/pub/craigoli...
Every fibre in our being tells us to protect ourselves, and yet therapists urge us to be vulnerable. I write about how you might deal with that paradox below...
The Paradox of Vulnerability
Life teaches us to protect ourselves - but therapists urge us to learn to be vulnerable - risking pain. How do we get the balance right?
open.substack.com
October 11, 2025 at 7:23 AM
Every fibre in our being tells us to protect ourselves, and yet therapists urge us to be vulnerable. I write about how you might deal with that paradox below...
October 10, 2025 at 9:45 AM
A short video on why I’m writing about the paradox of vulnerability - and how overcoming it can change your life for the better.
You can read the who piece by clicking on the link below…
open.substack.com/pub/craigoli...
You can read the who piece by clicking on the link below…
open.substack.com/pub/craigoli...
October 5, 2025 at 6:52 AM
A short video on why I’m writing about the paradox of vulnerability - and how overcoming it can change your life for the better.
You can read the who piece by clicking on the link below…
open.substack.com/pub/craigoli...
You can read the who piece by clicking on the link below…
open.substack.com/pub/craigoli...
So much of the advice we get on how we should approach our working lives is bad. Here’s a short video explaining why.
You can read the full piece, here: open.substack.com/pub/craigoli...
You can read the full piece, here: open.substack.com/pub/craigoli...
September 28, 2025 at 7:01 AM
So much of the advice we get on how we should approach our working lives is bad. Here’s a short video explaining why.
You can read the full piece, here: open.substack.com/pub/craigoli...
You can read the full piece, here: open.substack.com/pub/craigoli...
A short video on why I’m writing about how toxic tribalism on social media is now is curdling into calls for violence after the murder of Charlie Kirk. You can read the full piece -including what’s to be done - below…
open.substack.com/pub/craigoli...
open.substack.com/pub/craigoli...
September 21, 2025 at 6:57 AM
A short video on why I’m writing about how toxic tribalism on social media is now is curdling into calls for violence after the murder of Charlie Kirk. You can read the full piece -including what’s to be done - below…
open.substack.com/pub/craigoli...
open.substack.com/pub/craigoli...
A short video on why “Don’t give up”
and “Keep going” are such common and powerful pieces of advice.
You can check out the full piece,
here:
open.substack.com/pub/craigoli...
and “Keep going” are such common and powerful pieces of advice.
You can check out the full piece,
here:
open.substack.com/pub/craigoli...
September 14, 2025 at 6:55 AM
A short video on why “Don’t give up”
and “Keep going” are such common and powerful pieces of advice.
You can check out the full piece,
here:
open.substack.com/pub/craigoli...
and “Keep going” are such common and powerful pieces of advice.
You can check out the full piece,
here:
open.substack.com/pub/craigoli...
When we are embarking on adulthood - so many of our ideas about living are misguided. Here’s a short video on why I’m writing about what I’d tell my younger self.
You can read the full piece below…
open.substack.com/pub/craigoli...
You can read the full piece below…
open.substack.com/pub/craigoli...
September 7, 2025 at 6:51 AM
When we are embarking on adulthood - so many of our ideas about living are misguided. Here’s a short video on why I’m writing about what I’d tell my younger self.
You can read the full piece below…
open.substack.com/pub/craigoli...
You can read the full piece below…
open.substack.com/pub/craigoli...
A short video on why I’m writing about how sometimes when you lose you really win, and sometimes when you win, you really lose - and how it should change the way you look at life.
You can check out the full piece, here:
open.substack.com/pub/craigoli...
You can check out the full piece, here:
open.substack.com/pub/craigoli...
August 31, 2025 at 6:56 AM
A short video on why I’m writing about how sometimes when you lose you really win, and sometimes when you win, you really lose - and how it should change the way you look at life.
You can check out the full piece, here:
open.substack.com/pub/craigoli...
You can check out the full piece, here:
open.substack.com/pub/craigoli...
A short video explaining why I’m writing about how so much “self help”
is really snake oil masquerading as wisdom.
You can read the whole piece, here:
open.substack.com/pub/craigoli...
is really snake oil masquerading as wisdom.
You can read the whole piece, here:
open.substack.com/pub/craigoli...
August 17, 2025 at 3:56 PM
A short video explaining why I’m writing about how so much “self help”
is really snake oil masquerading as wisdom.
You can read the whole piece, here:
open.substack.com/pub/craigoli...
is really snake oil masquerading as wisdom.
You can read the whole piece, here:
open.substack.com/pub/craigoli...
So much of what passes for self help and wisdom is really bullshit. I write about it and how we should react, below…
open.substack.com/pub/craigoli...
open.substack.com/pub/craigoli...
Manifest Bullshit - Wisdom As Snake Oil.
There's a lot of bad advice out there masquerading as wisdom - often asking us to question science or the way things operate. How do you make sure you don't get misled?
open.substack.com
August 17, 2025 at 7:03 AM
So much of what passes for self help and wisdom is really bullshit. I write about it and how we should react, below…
open.substack.com/pub/craigoli...
open.substack.com/pub/craigoli...
A short video on why I’m writing about the extraordinary story of my grandfather, the hero I never met. You can read the whole piece, below.
open.substack.com/pub/craigoli...
August 10, 2025 at 7:34 AM
A short video on why I’m writing about the extraordinary story of my grandfather, the hero I never met. You can read the whole piece, below.
open.substack.com/pub/craigoli...
Experts say we need a routine to help set us up for the day- but what should it be, and how do you stick to it?
A short video, and you can read the whole piece, below:
open.substack.com/pub/craigoli...
A short video, and you can read the whole piece, below:
open.substack.com/pub/craigoli...
August 3, 2025 at 6:55 AM
Experts say we need a routine to help set us up for the day- but what should it be, and how do you stick to it?
A short video, and you can read the whole piece, below:
open.substack.com/pub/craigoli...
A short video, and you can read the whole piece, below:
open.substack.com/pub/craigoli...
We live in a world of filter bubbles and confirmation bias. Bacon reminds us to expand our knowledge and challenge our thinking.
Do check out my latest Substack on how school can be brutal and why it's time to start teaching emotional and psychological resilience at school: craigoliver.substack.com
Do check out my latest Substack on how school can be brutal and why it's time to start teaching emotional and psychological resilience at school: craigoliver.substack.com
August 1, 2025 at 5:47 AM
We live in a world of filter bubbles and confirmation bias. Bacon reminds us to expand our knowledge and challenge our thinking.
Do check out my latest Substack on how school can be brutal and why it's time to start teaching emotional and psychological resilience at school: craigoliver.substack.com
Do check out my latest Substack on how school can be brutal and why it's time to start teaching emotional and psychological resilience at school: craigoliver.substack.com
Such a witty way of pointing out that most of the things we worry about never happen. Do check out my latest Substack, on how school can be a theatre of cruelty - and what we should do about it.
craigoliver.substack.com
craigoliver.substack.com
July 29, 2025 at 8:55 AM
Such a witty way of pointing out that most of the things we worry about never happen. Do check out my latest Substack, on how school can be a theatre of cruelty - and what we should do about it.
craigoliver.substack.com
craigoliver.substack.com
Teaching Children the Wrong Lessons
open.substack.com/pub/craigoli...
open.substack.com/pub/craigoli...
Teaching Children the Wrong Lessons
The failure to teach emotional resilience cost many in my generation dear. It's costing this one in a different way.
open.substack.com
July 29, 2025 at 8:53 AM
Teaching Children the Wrong Lessons
open.substack.com/pub/craigoli...
open.substack.com/pub/craigoli...
The failure of schools to teach emotional and psychological resilience has cost many people dear - a short video. And you can read my whole Substack on it, below…
open.substack.com/pub/craigoli...
July 27, 2025 at 7:07 AM
The failure of schools to teach emotional and psychological resilience has cost many people dear - a short video. And you can read my whole Substack on it, below…
open.substack.com/pub/craigoli...
The failure of schools to teach emotional and psychological resilience has cost many people dear - a short video. And you can read my whole Substack on it, below…
open.substack.com/pub/craigoli...
July 27, 2025 at 6:57 AM
The failure of schools to teach emotional and psychological resilience has cost many people dear - a short video. And you can read my whole Substack on it, below…
open.substack.com/pub/craigoli...