Spatial Attraction
SPATIAL ATTRACTION is a podcast about the spaces we work in, and the forces that shape how we think, interact, and perform.
Hosted by Kursty Groves (author, speaker, and senior advisor on work, experience and human performance), the show explores why some environments energise people and make good work easier… while others leave us scattered, tense, or stuck. Each episode follows one clear theme - from focus and flow to trust, belonging, creativity, and momentum - and looks at what’s really driving behaviour beneath the surface.
You’ll hear expert interviews, real-world stories, and research-informed insights across five dimensions of space: physical, social, digital, cognitive (headspace), and temporal. Expect practical language, sharp observations, and simple shifts you can make - whether you’re leading a team, shaping experience, or redesigning the conditions for better work.
If you’re joining from The Office Chronicles, welcome - this is the next chapter.
Spatial Attraction
How Does Your Office Space Manifest Your Culture? With David McKay, Innocent Drinks
How Does Your Office Space Manifest Your Culture? With David McKay
How do spaces change the way we talk to each other? The way we feel about work? And the way we behave at work? David McKay from Innocent Drinks joins Kursty to discuss how their spaces manifest their company culture. They explore how spaces can bring people in, why they invested in a sustainable factory that’s filled with plants, how they experimented space configurations that work best for their teams, and why you’d want to be copyable.
David Mckay is the Head of Culture and Workspace at Innocent Drinks. Innocent Drinks is a B-Corp-certified company. They started the first carbon-neutral drinks factory.
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Timestamps
[00:29] Episode Overview: Who is David Mckay?
[03:59] How spaces express company culture
[09:56] What if any member of the public could visit your facilities?
[12:42] Why limiting choices at work is effective (and other lessons from Covid-19)
[20:53] Experimenting with different space configurations
[28:06] What’s the point of the office?
[35:06] The blender: the first carbon neutral drinks factory
3 Key Takeaways:
- It’s human nature to want to slip back to what’s comfortable. Within this context, it can be helpful to take away choices from people or limit choices.
- To make it evident that you are listening to your teams, you have to be flexible with making changes. This is especially the case when you’re experimenting with new things and introducing new ideas that are meant to be tested and evaluated together.
- You do not necessarily need a prescribed purpose for what offices are for. It can be that you allow each team member to develop their own perspective and purpose for the role the office plays in their lives.
Links
Connect with David McKay: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mckay-8579aa75
Innocent Drinks: https://www.innocentdrinks.co.uk/
B-Corp Certification: https://www.bcorporation.net/en-us/find-a-b-corp/company/innocent-drinks
Connect with Kursty Groves: LinkedIn | Twitter | Ask a question or pitch an idea: kursty@shapeworklife.com
Support the show
Spatial Attraction is written, produced, and hosted by Kursty Groves.
Original music and sound production by Lee Golledge.
For episodes and updates, visit https://kurstygroves.com/podcast/ - and follow Spatial Attraction on LinkedIn and Instagram.
To suggest a theme or guest, email jen@spatial-attraction-podcast.com.