Dream Chasers

In this episode:I'm get into the subject of gratitude. Now, before you roll your eyes because this is something we've all heard of before and we know we're supposed to do more of it (!), what I'm delving into here isn't just the bog standard “this is why gratitude is good for you and why you should do it” argument. There's actually a fascinating result of gratitude practices that isn't really talked about much, and I want to bring it alive because it can have a huge impact on the number of good things happening to and for you in your life. The basis for this is that gratitude makes us:…more OPEN to opportunities, …helps create MORE opportunities, and …makes us more likely to ACT on those opportunities.Intrigued? Great. Come join me on this short, but useful episode! - - -

In this episode:What an awesome guest I have for you in this episode. He is truly the go-to person on the subject of happiness at work. Come and listen as I talk to Matt Phelan, Co-founder and Co-CEO at ‘The Happiness Index'.A few years ago, Matt gave a TEDx talk where he presented 12 million data points in happiness, from 1 million people in over 100 countries. Safe to say - what this man doesn't know about happiness, particularly in a work context, is probably not worth knowing!In our conversation we dig into what The Happiness Index is all about, and we talk through what the latest learnings are around happiness and engagement and what really drives us in these areas.We also get into something called The Super Happiness Suit, and talk about whether happiness at work is different from happiness in our personal lives. Do we have separate drivers for those areas of our lives, or are there strong commonalities?Come join us!- - -

In this episode:I have invited my friend, Paul Spiers, back to talk about the subject of creativity.When it comes to figuring out the life and career changes that will make us feel the happiest, most fulfilled and most alive, we need to be creative. We need to be able to free our minds up to think beyond our current set up and experience, and really allow ourselves to imagine what could be possible. Sometimes that can be really hard to do, especially if you're someone who feels trapped by your current circumstances, or weighed down by reality, or potentially deem yourself an uncreative person. All of this kills inspiration and ideas, making it impossible to conjure up your best life, which means you can't then go after it. Paul is a thought leader when it comes to the subject of creativity (although he'll probably laugh at me using that description!) He's genuinely one of the smartest and most creative people I know and that I've ever worked with. Come join us as I pick his brains with questions like:How can we ignite our curiosity?How do we get into a creative zone? Are there environmental factors that make a difference? What do we do if we are not a naturally creative person? Then what?- - -

In this episode:I delve into the subject of REST. It's a really interesting topic to talk about because I'm not just talking about sleep here. Oh no!In fact, there are seven different types of rest that we all need to feel fully alive and completely ourselves. I want to get into this subject because so many people I work with, and know personally, are struggling with fatigue. Whether it's a general malaise, a persistent level of tiredness that just won't leave, or full-on burnout, it can make it really hard to figure out what happiness looks like, and what you want from a work and lifestyle point of view, if you're just feeling exhausted.So, in this episode, I'm going to get into the ins and outs of rest, covering the seven different types first introduced by Dr Saundra Dalton-Smith. I'm hoping this will help you to think about what you might potentially need more of, and the kind of actions you can take to top it up. Because then, once you are fully tapped into all the different types of rest, you'll be in the very best position to identify what makes you happy, so that you can go after it. You ready? Great, come and join me! - - -

In this episode:I speak to my wonderful former client and all-round excellent human being, Derek Britton.Derek and I originally worked together years ago when he was a marketeer at a B2B software firm that I was doing PR for, and then last year he became a coaching client after becoming a casualty of the ongoing tech industry layoffs. With three decades of in-house experience across the marketing and sales enablement mix, Derek's initial assumption was that he should seek a similar corporate role, but something was nagging at him about that idea. So, he hired me to help him think through what he really wanted.It is now 12 months later, and Derek has just completed his first year running his own B2B tech marketing consultancy. In this episode I invite Derek to share with you how he made the choice to work for himself; and how he recognised and overcame the fear associated with this journey into the unknown. If you listen, you'll also hear us walk through the top three strengths that he believes have been instrumental in helping him to get his new business off the ground with real success. Some great, real-life insights in this one – come join us!- - -

In this episode:I want to share a provocative philosophy with you. I've been really inspired by a book I listened to called ‘Die with Zero', by Bill Perkins. On the surface, it's all about aiming to die with zero pounds (or dollars) in the bank. Now I appreciate this sounds quite drastic, and possibly a bit mad, but the deep premise behind Perkins' philosophy is about aiming to consciously get the utmost out of the life that we have.He challenges us to really think about our death – something most of us do a great job of avoiding - and work backwards, considering how to get the most out of our money and our life, rather than putting things off for some far-flung time in the future, or our retirement. It blends eye-opening insights about time, money, and happiness from a psychological science and behavioural finance perspective, and it makes a timely, convincing, and contrarian case for living large.Intrigued? Honestly, this stuff is fascinating. Join me in this episode as I get into it with you!- - -

In this episode:I'm delving into the power of the subconscious mind, and how and why it can help you pinpoint the career or lifestyle changes that you truly want. The subconscious mind has a big role to play in helping any of us identify what will really make us happy, but it's often ignored or dismissed, or just not recognised as important. In this episode, I talk you through: · The difference between your conscious and subconscious mind, explaining some left-brain/right-brain science · Why your subconscious is way better at helping you come up with right-fit, feel-good career and lifestyle ideas · Three exercises that will help you access and use your own subconscious to tap into answers on what you really need and want, which I personally use and that consistently work for meReady to come join me? Great, let's get into it!- - -

In this episode:I introduce you to a brilliant friend and client, Cara Leach, who has bucked the trend and chosen to semi-retire early at 49. Cara has always been a career woman, setting an example to her two daughters who she raised for many years as a single mum. She's a sales and marketing whiz, and has worked in sectors as varied as tech, pharmaceuticals and sport. She was most recently brand ambassador and commercial manager for Marine Football Club.However, the reason we are talking in this episode is because she's just embarked on a massive, and pretty brave change.At just 49 years old, Cara has made the decision to semi-retire. She and her partner Phil are renting out their house in Merseyside for 12 months, and embarking on a huge travel adventure, which they are going to document, warts and all.In this episode you'll hear how us talk about Cara's bold decision to semi-retire; what the triggers were for that decision; the travel plans that she and Phil have and what she wants to get out of it; and how she wants to inspire people with her honest and humorous account of their experience. - - -

In this episode:With the help of my fabulous friend and podcast producer, Shelley Rostlund, we're delving into the subject of career and life change.Yes, it's a big subject, but we are honing in on how you can identify the kind of changes that will make you truly happy – be they role, career path or lifestyle related. Having coached hundreds of people through career and life change, I can say for sure that as soon as you know what the right changes are for YOU, you're in a better position to take action and do something about it.In my experience, what typically holds people back is the not knowing. It's that lack of clarity on what the right thing is, that leaves people feeling stuck and in a frustrating state of limbo, and fearful of making the wrong choices that might make things worse. If you're wondering what it looks like to work with someone on helping you navigate this big question of right-fit change, then this episode is for you. Together, Shelley and I walk through my framework, which specifically supports people to come to a clear answer on what is right for them. - - -

In this episode:I invite a former client and friend to come and share her career transition story with you. Amy and I first met in our old lives, when she was one of my PR clients. Years later, she became one of my coaching clients, when she was seeking a career change that would make her truly happy. Today, after 18 years as a communications and public relations professional in IT, Amy is a registered physiotherapist. As you can imagine – that is quite a big change!In this conversation we talk about what she was originally doing, and why she felt stuck, and she shares the three big life events that personally led to her review her career path and seek out a change.You'll also hear how she made the decision to become a physiotherapist and the training that it entailed, and we get into how she feels now that she's actually in her new career!Come join us.- - -

In this episode:I delve into the fascinating subject of VALUES and their importance to a really happy personal and professional life. Values are the fundamental drivers that guide and motivate our attitudes and actions.We each have unique set of values, and they help us to determine what is important to us; they describe the personal qualities we aim to embody; they direct the sort of person we want to be; and the manner in which we treat ourselves, others and the world around us. So, they are pretty important!If you're interested in understanding more about your own values, either pinpointing what they are, or revisiting any previous work you might have done on them, then this episode is for you, so come join me.- - -

In this episode:I've asked one of my favourite people, my awesome friend, Paul Spiers, to share his entrepreneurial journey with us.Paul and I met about 10 years ago, when we worked together in our old lives, and I've always been massively inspired by his creativity, his thoughtful perspectives, and his tenacity.Paul is a serial entrepreneur. He's founded and experimented with different businesses over the years, including a marketing communications agency and a surf clothing brand. Today, he's a passionate advocate of principled leadership and powerful purpose, working as a global keynote speaker, a conference and panel moderator, and he's the founder and host of The New P&L® podcast, which is an internationally respected, top 5% business podcast series that covers the intersection of leadership, culture, people and purpose. Come join us as Paul shares the reality behind his entrepreneurial journey, how he ignites his creativity to come up with ideas and pivot when necessary, and why it's never too late to act on an idea that you've had for years. I'd love to know what you think after you've listened to this one.- - -

In this episode:I'm covering the subject of FUN!Because frankly, many of us are not getting enough of it in our daily lives.This episode has been inspired by the BBC TV series, Race Across the World. I'm obsessed with it and love the life insights gleaned from watching the experiences the contestants have while competing. On the celebrity version of the show, I was touched by the relationship between Jeff Brazier and his 19-year-old son, Freddy, and the lessons coming through from Freddy about how to build fun back into life. If you feel like you could do with an injection of excitement, play, joy, laughter and just a general zest for life, stay tuned as I'm going to share four simple ways to reboot and amp up your fun quota, as inadvertently taught by Freddy himself!Sound good? Excellent. Click and listen in now. - - -

In this episode:I tackle something that a lot of people really struggle with and that's IMPOSTER SYNDROME. If you suffer from: …persistent self-doubt and second-guessing yourself…feeling like a fraud (and afraid you'll be found out soon)…regularly questioning your intelligence or abilities…a perpetual fear that you aren't good enough…or your daily lived experience involving relentless worry, anxiety and overthinkingThen this episode is for you.Imposter Syndrome does nothing except get in the way of you fulfilling your true potential. It stops you going after your personal and professional dreams (and it feels bloody awful to boot!)Join me in this solo episode where I delve into: what imposter syndrome looks like (so you can judge if it's something you personally struggle with); why it isn't something that you were born with and therefore stuck with; where imposter syndrome actually comes from (with some brain science to explain it), and really importantly, why it is totally possible to remove it once and for all. Sound good? Excellent. Click and listen in now.- - -

In this episode:I am joined by my fabulous former client, Anna Perkins, who (and she won't mind me telling you) has started a new career journey in her early 50s.Anna has been a marketeer for 25+ years, and while there's a lot about this role she still really enjoys, she knew that if it's all she continued to do until the end of her working days, it would kill her soul (her words, not mine!)After some deep, introspective work to dig out her innate strengths, skills and passions, and identify what would deliver a true sense of meaning and purpose for her, Anna is now immersed in the world of mental health, and is training to become a counsellor. In this episode, I chat to Anna about how she came to choose this new career path; the steps she's taking towards it; how she's found being back in the classroom and what she has learnt about herself through that process, and importantly for a lot of people, how age is actually on her side.Come join us.- - -

In this episode:Have you ever experienced burnout?How did it look and feel like for you? Did you know that it can be experienced differently – person to person?I have invited my old work colleague and friend, Sarah Allison, to come and share her burnout and recovery story, which saw her redefine what her life and work looked like in major ways.Sarah has had a rich and varied career, working for global companies to charities and start-ups, mostly in the technology and environmental sectors. But, after experiencing serious health burn out, she has customised the way she lives and works, and has forged her own incredible path – one that sees her living half the year in the UK, and the other half in India, and mixing corporate consultancy work with holistic healing work through shiatsu and qigong.In this episode you will hear Sarah talk about what the burnout catalyst was for her, and what it taught her about what she needed and wanted. We chat about her portfolio career and how she manages it, and how she found the courage to follow her own path, despite the negative societal connotation that she's living like a “hippy”. Come join us. Sarah's story is fascinating.- - -

In this episode:In this episode I'm coming at you solo to talk about the notion of HAPPINESS.It's something we are all seeking, but it's a nebulous term, and for many, working out what it actually looks and feels like for us is really hard to pin down.Personally, I spent a lot of years in the dark, with no idea what happiness genuinely looked like for me, and now I have a lot of clients who come to me because they're in a similar position – feeling really disconnected from what makes them happy, either from a work or personal point of view, or both.In this episode I talk you through what causes this disconnect; the signs to look out for that will indicate that you're veering away from your own happiness path; and I share an idea for how to reconnect more deeply with your own intrinsic happiness drivers. I hope you enjoy it! - - -

In this episode:A slightly different episode for you this time! My fabulous friend and podcast strategist and producer, Shelley Röstlund, interviews me about what drove mine and my late husband's own huge career and life change. Back in 2012, together, we made the decision to throw everything up in the air and totally reinvent what our work and personal lives looked like. It saw us leave a central London lifestyle for a home in the Welsh mountains, and big careers we'd invested years in for new jobs in completely new fields. Several people thought we were mad and quite a few thought we were making a huge mistake, but 12 years later, I'm sharing the story, warts and all, about what happened, how we made the transition, and what it did for us. Shelley helps me unpick our story. I hope it gives you some inspiration if you've been feeling less than enthused about where life and work sits for you right now.- - -

In this episode:I talk to my long-time friend, Michael Taggart, who has had a really interesting career path with numerous twists and turns - some chosen by him, and some forced upon him by forces outside of his control.Through a mix of employment and self-employment, he's been a journalist on national newspapers, a comms guy for city councils, a PR for financial services companies, he's built and run his own content marketing agency, and he now co-owns and manages a gourmet tea business with his wife Helen, suppling tea to hotels, restaurants and cafés, and running an actual bricks and mortar shop in Brighton.In this episode you will hear us talk about the different career shifts that Michael has made during the course of his life, and why he had them. Plus: we delve into the fascinating philosophies that underpin his courage, resilience and attitude to risk as he continues to chase his dreams. This stuff is provocative and engaging in equal measure, so without further ado click, play and come listen.- - -

In this episode:Join me as I talk to a former client, Amy-Beth Mellor who I'm personally super inspired by. Amy-Beth spent 20 years working in the NHS as a Dietician in pretty senior roles, whilst battling a number of physical health issues that she'd had since childhood, as well as an inexplicable level of exhaustion that left her unable to function during her time off. Then, in 2020, she got a late-in-life diagnosis of Autism and ADHD, which finally shed some light on her long-held work struggle, and started her journey to understanding her own requirements for a right-fit career and lifestyle. In this episode you will hear us talk about Amy-Beth's very real and detailed experience in trying to operate in a role that wasn't right for her and the impact it had.We also talk through how she determined the criteria for her ideal career and the path she navigated to finding the kind of work she loves doing today – which she still can't believe she gets paid to do every day! (HINT: puppies are involved).- - -

In this episode:The amazing and highly inspirational Claire Frances joins me. Claire is a professional writer and soon-to-be published author, who also happens to be my fabulous cousin.Claire has come on to share her pretty incredible journey to having her first novel published. Despite her experience as a journalist and freelance feature writer for publications like BBC Countryfile Magazine and Devon Life, and as a host blogger for The Huffington Post, the road to securing a publishing deal has been anything but easy. But what I have wholeheartedly admired in Claire throughout the past few years is her unrelenting tenacity in continuing to work at it, despite monumental hurdles and setbacks, and her steadfast belief that the universe has her back, which has helped her trust her instincts and make massive decisions that others would have considered too risky. In this episode you'll hear us talk about Claire's very relatable experience of trying to make this dream of hers work. We unpick how and why she didn't give up, and hear about her challenging and tenacious journey to gaining her first book deal with One More Chapter, an imprint at Harper Collins, who publish “unputdownable fiction”. Come join us. You won't regret it!- - -

In this episode:I'm joined by the awesome Mark Franklin, a consultant, trainer and speaker, with two decades experience supporting solo and small business owners to overcome their Four Fears®, Mark's proprietary framework for tackling what holds us back the most in our professional and personal lives.This episode is for you if you are a self-employed business owner or are dreaming of running your own business.Mark's mission is to help you see and believe that you ARE good enough, you are ready, you do have time, and that failure can sometimes be the greatest gift you give to your story.In our conversation we talk about the work Mark does, how and why he took the plunge himself and moved from a corporate career in publishing into self-employment, his biggest learnings in doing so, and the surprise plot twist that was part of his journey.Come join us!- - -

In this episode:Ever felt like you are tired and burnt out, despite earning a decent income and having the outward markers of a good life…and then weirdly wracked with guilt because you ‘should' be much more grateful than you feel?That was Susan Hyatt in the early 2000s. She got to a point in her life where she was ticking all the right ‘success' boxes that we've been conditioned to believe are the formula to winning at life. But, on the inside, she was tired, sad and had begun to believe that finding the kind of work and life that actually felt fun and worthwhile had completely passed her by.She reached a breaking point and whilst in search of help, a book literally fell on her head at her local Barnes and Noble store. One that coaxed her to do some exercises to draw out what actually made her happy. That sparked the beginning of her journey and completely spun her off on a magical trajectory to where she is today. Loving life, serving the people that value her, and inspiring significant change in others too.Susan's story will have many things in it that you might recognise in your own life and your own internal narrative.Join us. You won't regret it.- - -

In this episode:I'm coming at you in all my vulnerability. This show is all about pursuing happiness, but my personal experience over the last two months has really challenged me to the core on this. My beloved husband, Jeremy, the love of my life, was diagnosed almost out of the blue with terminal cancer on the 7th of Feb 2024, and 11 days later, I lost him. As you might imagine it's been an insanely difficult and very emotional time but my anchor has actually been Jeremy himself, believe it or not.I have decided to record this episode and share this deeply emotional time with you because the way that Jeremy lived his life and what he modelled for me throughout our 20 amazing years together is the ultimate example of knowing yourself, of not compromising in ways that are harmful to yourself, and pursuing heartfelt happiness above all else.By sharing this very personal story of my husband and how he lived his life, I hope it provides some inspiration to go after and live whatever kind of life you want and wholeheartedly deserve. - - -

In this episode:If you ever needed a confirmation that making bold moves by listening to your instincts and being true to your own values is priceless – then do listen to this episode with Dan Gamble.Dan's insights and views really shine a light on how important our values are to our sense of wellbeing and happiness, and our mindset.You'll hear how through learning to use emotional intelligence to navigate an incredibly challenging adolescence gave him the skills to be the proficient comms professional he is today.Dan walks us through some of the bold decisions he has made over his life so far, based on his gut instinct of what would and wouldn't work for him. He uses his core values as his decision compass to great effect and you will hear how much so throughout our discussion. Join us!- - -

In this episode:Does change scare you? Have you been held back by fear of not being good enough, or maybe you are just not comfortable with the unknown. This may be stopping you trying anything new in terms of altering your profession.Well, you'll be pleased to know – you are not unique… nor are you alone.Join me as I chat to my client Sian Aherne, and we walk through how she has found ways to hack her mind into trying new things by playing “let's pretend” (like she did when she was a child). It's a lovely conversation where Sian shares how even today she does feel discomfort, but having a way to navigate what she does with those feelings has made all the difference. Through perseverance, she is now qualified in her new field and is running her practise alongside her PR and Comms freelancing.If you do listen – you can also learn about my concept of little acts of proactive discomfort (a sneaky way of tricking yourself into trying new things and having mini adventures in being brave).- - -

In this episode:Meet Mike Mullins, from Liverpool, who has spent over 30 years working in the education sector, most recently supporting parents and carers of children with special educational needs or disabilities around their legal entitlements. In May 2023, he embarked on a career change to pursue what he is most passionate about and is now working as a Mobility Coach.If you're not familiar with that term, Mike's work is all about helping people optimize their body to meet its fullest potential. The aim is to age healthily, promote wellness, and change people's mindset around physical limitations. Come join us as we talk about Mike's career change from education to self-employment in the wellbeing space.- - -

In this episode:Have you come to believe that work and life are the same for everyone or at least in the western world, AND that you just have to “do your best”, “battle through it”, and make compromises, which often means that you end up chasing goals and expectations that society, culture and others lay out for you, when it's not what you truly need or want?That was me. In this episode I share my own personal story on how my body gave me very clear signals that I was not living true to myself. Even to the point where my digestive system shut down completely.I also share how I've now learnt to listen to my body and what it says, and how this helps me make daily decisions about what food I eat, the work I do, the movement I fit into my day, and the people I spend my time with.My body's physically breakdown was the trigger that set me on the path to my own career and life change, and its messages are the reason my coaching business is called Live True. Come join me.- - -

In this episode:Have you ever dreamt of writing a book and becoming a published author?Many have, but get derailed by a lack of professional writing experience, confusion over where to start, the deflation of rejections, and the belief that it's simply not possible.It's easy to succumb to the perceived barriers and limitations that our minds and “accepted wisdom” throw up in response to this goal, so in this episode, I invite Elijah Lawal to share how he went from defining his goal to become a published author, to making that dream a reality.You'll hear insights from Elijah on how he approached his writing; his tips on the practical process of pitching and finding an agent; how he dealt with rejections; and his lessons learned on the journey to getting published.- - -

In this episode:Many dream of making a fulfilling career change, but get stuck in a cycle of fear around making the wrong choice, throwing away years of existing experience, and the big one – taking a big pay cut or not making enough money.It's easy to get stuck in analysis paralysis, circling around wanting to make a change, but feeling like it's just not possible, so in this episode, I invite Eleanor Willock to share her experience as she transitions from PR and communications into her second career as a celebrant, creating wedding ceremonies, vow renewals and naming days for people.You'll hear how Eleanor chose her new career path and what gave her the confidence to select it; the skills she's using to make her transition; and how she's approaching the move practically from a financial point of view. - - -

In this episode:Have you ever dreamt of making a wildly different career change but told yourself it's not “realistic” or possible?Our minds place all sorts of limits on what we can and can't do, and what's permissible, so in this episode I invite Samantha Day to share her story and insights on how she made the seemingly impossible shift from tax accounting to stand-up comedy.In her inimitable style, you'll hear about how Samantha made the decision to leave her 30-year career for something new and incomparable; the thought-provoking psychological approaches she uses to deal with fear and doubt; and the practical steps she took to get started and build her profile. - - -

In this episode:Before you jump into my upcoming interviews and hear from many of my clients and friends who have navigated the thrilling, scary and exciting concept of career and life transition…I thought you may like to know a bit about me, your host.Why do I care about this subject so much? Why am I driven to support people who feel that either something is missing or they just want more out of their work and their life? Well, in this short intro episode, I answer that very question by sharing my own career transition journey which saw me leap from a high-paced, London-based corporate role, working for more than 20 years in the field of PR and Communications, and radically transition to my ideal life - living and working from a remote mountainside in Wales.Yes, I'm going to ‘port' you back 15 years and give you a little insight into my own life at that time and how I figured out that my work and lifestyle was making me very ill. There's a good ending I promise and it brings me to this uplifting work today where I get to share these amazing, real-life career and life transition stories with you.- - -