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About
Two candid Northerners met in 2002. Life unfolded.
Two decades later, we reunited—drawn by a truth: in chaos, wisdom speaks loudest.
We created Syntropise where leadership and philosophy meet under pressure.
Who We Are
Dr John Stoszkowski
John swapped the ivory tower for an allotment and somehow made both fertile ground for growth.
With a Ph.D. and 30+ published papers, he spent years in academia asking big questions about how people learn and grow before realising that real change doesn’t happen in lecture theatres or committee rooms.
Now, he works with leaders to cut through the noise and face complexity with clarity, courage, and philosophy that works.
When he’s not cultivating minds, he’s cultivating berries, writing, painting, or spinning beats as a DJ, proving that philosophers can drop both wisdom and bass lines.
John lives in Costa del Cumbria with his wife Hollie and Dudley, their miniature Dachshund who is very much in charge.
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Dr David Priestley
David lives in Norfolk, where the neighbours still say hello and the postman knows when you’ve ordered too many Amazon parcels.
A qualified psychologist with decades of experience, he blends deep psychological insight with a very human, very practical touch.
He’s worked with athletes, global businesses, and senior leadership teams who need clarity and resilience that actually lasts. His craft is helping people show up with self-awareness, steadiness, and real impact.
At home, David is usually cooking curries, brewing the perfect coffee, or being beaten at board games by his kids.
He shares life with his wife Elisabeth, their two children, and Digby the dog, a loyal companion still trying (and mostly failing) to master mindfulness.
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How We Work

Where This Begins

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How We Stand

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What It's Like

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An honest conversation about where you're at and whether this is right for you.
No pitch. Just clarity on fit.
FAQs
Why philosophy? Isn't that outdated in a world of AI and apps?
Old ideas are the best—they've outlasted every fad. AI churns out information and knowledge, but philosophy builds the wisdom to sort the signal from the noise and turn entropy's mess into syntropy's flow. If you're chasing the next app, good luck. If you want judgement, clarity, and impact that lasts, this is it.
Do I need philosophy experience?
No. You just need an open mind and curiosity. We keep it jargon-free, grounded, and practical. We understand the standard perception of philosophy can be of stuffy academic lecture theatres and dry textbooks, but we guarantee you'll have a laugh and leave every session buzzing with practical ideas.
Time needed outside sessions?
Minimal. No homework. Just apply it in your real world. Our work frees up space in your life; it doesn't pile on more.
What do I get out of it?
A proper compass to steer through noise, change, and complexity. Sharper judgement. True discernment. Coherent alignment between your values and your vision. Energy. Joy. Patience. Self-control. A sense of wonder. A renewed lust for life and a sense you're no longer running on fumes. Relationships and peer groups that will last a lifetime, not more isolation. Most importantly, wisdom that sticks when the shit hits the fan. If you’re really desperate for one, we could probably knock up a certificate from somewhere.
This is pricier than other leadership stuff I've tried?
Yep, it might be. If you want more of the same for less cash, this isn't for you. You'll find plenty of standard leadership stuff elsewhere for less. We don’t do transactional theatre; we’re about quality over quantity, real outcomes, and building relationships that last decades. We also save you time. A serious leader would spend thousands of hours reading to grasp just the basics of what we cover in The Loop—hours they haven't got. That's massive value. Wasting time on the wrong stuff costs even more.
Will I work with John or David?
Either. Both. It depends on you, your context, and your unique needs. Whichever, whoever, whenever, you get depth.
Why so few women philosophers in The Loop?
It's the ideas that count, not the gender of the thinker. If that's your first thought, you might be stuck at stage green in spiral dynamics—we'll cover that too.
Is this like therapy?
No. This is space for thinking, growth, and education—not fixing acute mental health issues. It's for curious folk ready to dig into big ideas, not those in crisis.
What if I'm sceptical about 'syntropy'?
Fair play—scepticism's a start. But syntropy's not woo-woo; it's deliberate alignment countering chaos, boosting vitality where entropy drains you. We've built it from decades in sport, business, and education—proper and tested. Come with doubts; we'll wrestle 'em. If it resonates, great. If not, no hard feelings: we're not for everyone.
How's this different from regular exec or life coaching?
Standard coaching? Surface fixes, quotes from TED talks, feel-good airport books and podcasts. We dig way deeper. This is applied philosophy for high-stakes leaders and performers tired of the usual BS. No optics or affirmations here—just ageless ideas from incredible thinkers, turning isolation and fog into coherence and guts. Clients tell us they leave with a compass that holds, not another notebook of to-dos.
Can I do this remotely, or do you travel?
Remote's spot on—most work's online, flexible for your setup. We travel for in-person if it fits (mainly the UK, but we'll chat about further afield). No messing with fancy venues; it's about the depth, not the postcode. Sessions leave you buzzing, wherever you are.
What's the catch?
No catch—just hard graft. This isn't passive; you'll question assumptions, face limits, and build proper syntropy. It will literally ruin outdated versions of your life and leadership. If you're up for it, the payoff's massive: steadier leading and energy that renews. If you want easy wins, we're not for you. But for those whose decisions count, this changes everything.
What does Syntropise even mean?
Think of it like this. 'Syntropy' is the noun (the state or tendency toward order, integration, and coherence). 'Syntropic' is the adjective (describing something that embodies syntropy). 'Syntropise' is the verb (to make something syntropic; to bring it into greater order, coherence, or alignment). To syntropise is to move from disorder, fragmentation, and reactivity toward coherence, integration, and purposeful action. It’s to align thinking, relationships, and systems with what matters most, creating energy, clarity, and meaningful impact.
What does your logo stand for?
A few things. Not least the letter S and the two founders. It’s also the river Heraclitus talks about that you can’t step in twice. It's the necessary tension and unity of opposites that thinkers like Heraclitus and William Blake speak of, as well as the yin-yang of Taoism. There’s some upward movement through levels akin to the work of Clare Graves and forward-moving syntropic flow. There’s also a hint of an infinity loop too, as well as the process philosophy of Alfred North Whitehead, and the balanced brain hemispheres of Iain McGilchrist. Don’t worry, we can and will share everything with you.
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