Episodes

The powerful question is like a mini adventure. You don't know where the question will take you, but you know it's going to be meaningful and it's going to be impactful. Join me in this episode as I share the 5 most powerful questions that have transformed my life and lives of my clients. Weekly newsletter | Ask Catherine | Work with me | LinkedIn | Instagram Big shout out to my podcast magician, Marc at iRonickMedia for making this real. Thanks for listening!

In every workplace, you'll inevitably come across a few jerks. These individuals are often tolerated for various reasons, but today's conversation takes an unexpected turn as we consider that it might not entirely be their fault. Our guest today is Dr. Katie Ervin, the founder of Catalyst Development in the United States. Dr. Ervin's research focuses on workplace motivation through the lens of the self-determination theory and explores the impact of an employee's perception of their organizati...

Grieving whilst still having to show up at work brings its own challenges. Today, I share a personal experience of navigating grief earlier this year, and what I learnt from that process. Learn why it's essential to feel your feelings, adjust your expectations of yourself, and seek the support you need. Whether you're a business owner, an employee, or a team leader, this conversation about grief will resonate with you. For more on this theme, see my interview with Bryony Wildblood - “Acknowle...

In this week’s episode, I discuss the often overlooked topic of work friendships with my special guest, Kat Vellos. Kat Vellos is a trusted expert on the power of cultivating meaningful friendships. She’s a speaker and author of the book, We Should Get Together: The Secret to Cultivating Better Friendships. She’s also the creator of the Better than Small Talk conversation cards and the Better Conversations Calendar. Kat’s writing is read in over 100 countries and she’s been interviewed by The N...

In this week’s episode, I dive deep into the importance of celebrating and acknowledging ourselves at work. We often overlook our own achievements and milestones, constantly pushing ourselves to the next goal without taking the time to appreciate our accomplishments. I share how I've done just that myself! So this week, let’s get into … 🎉 Why acknowledging achievements and milestones at work matters 💪 How we can overcome the mindset that hinders self-acknowledgment 💼 The connection of celebra...

This episode is the second part of an interview with Jamie Clements, Breath work coach and facilitator. We take 25,000 breaths a day without a second thought. And yet our breath is the key to regulating our nervous system, resulting in better decision-making, effective discernment, and improved communication. Your breath is the greatest leadership hack you probably didn’t know about. And that’s what my guest, Jamie Clements discussed with me on this week’s episode. Jamie Clements is a breath...

We take 25,000 breaths a day without a second thought. And yet our breath is the key to regulating our nervous system, resulting in better decision-making, effective discernment, and improved communication. Your breath is the greatest leadership hack you probably didn’t know about. And that’s what my guest, Jamie Clements discussed with me on this week’s episode. Jamie Clements is a breathwork coach and facilitator based in London, and the founder of The Breath Space. After discovering breath...

Are you ready for some game-changing tips on running transformational offsite events? 🎯💼 I've got an incredible speaker today, who's a pro at designing offsite sessions that leave a lasting impact. Pedram Parasmand has over 11 years’ experience working with executive teams to new entrants in the corporate, public, third and education sectors - nationally and internationally. His clients include Accenture, Barclays Bank, Ministry of Justice, Red Bull, The European Union Commission, and The Bri...

Burnout is not just a buzzword—it's a real and serious issue that affects many of us in the workplace. This is the second of a two part conversation where I invite Antoinette Daniel to share her personal experience with burnout. Continuing the conversation, we delve into the recovery process after burnout. Antoinette highlights the importance of taking breaks, both small and big, and shares her experience of going on a solo trip to a desert island as a form of self-care. She discusses the need...

This is the first of a two part conversation where Catherine invites Antoinette Daniel to share her personal experience with burnout. Antoinette discusses her early teaching career, the overwhelming responsibilities she faced, and the moment she realized she was burned out. She talks about the lack of support she received and how she resorted to alternative health practices to cope. Antoinette also shares her decision to leave her job and take a break by working in Africa. This episode conclud...

Ever wondered how to create a culture of happiness within your organization? Nic Marks, reveals his unique approach to fostering employee well-being leveraging the science of emotions. Nic is the founder and CEO of Friday Pulse, an organization focusing on changing the world of work. He has been featured in publications including the Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, Wired UK, and The Huffington Post. In our conversation, we talk about: 💬 The science of emotions (and why anger is good) 💬 Ho...

This week’s episode takes a practical turn as we tackle a listener's workplace dilemma. Procrastination. Even if you don’t identify yourself as a procrastinator (and this episode might change that), you probably know someone who is. We often overcoming procrastination as just a matter of discipline and hard work. But as you will see from this conversation, it can go so much deeper. We kick off with a useful coaching tool that can help when you get unstuck on this topic or anything else. We als...

In this episode, Sophia continues the conversation on fat stigma and workplace discrimination. She discusses the flawed focus on weight and BMI in workplaces and the negative impact it has on fat individuals. Sophia shares personal stories that highlight the challenges faced by fat employees and the need for systemic change in workplace environments. She emphasizes the importance of refraining from commenting on appearance or food choices and urge leaders in positions of power to incorporate we...

In this episode exploring anti-fatness, Sophia Apostol opens up about her personal journey of self-acceptance and how it led questioning prevalent fat-stigmatising practices in the workplace. She discusses her experience with body image and the influence of societal beauty standards, and shares her discovery of body positivity and the authors and activists who empowered her to challenge harmful beliefs. This episode discusses grown up topics and includes swearing so caution is advised. Sophia A...

This week’s episode takes a practical turn as we tackle a listener's workplace dilemma. Our listener wants advice on addressing the issue of a newly hired direct report who has offensive body odour. As this isn’t a coaching session, our approach is to ask a lot of questions as doorways into deeper understanding of what’s really going on. I know there will be nuggets in here for you like… 🔶 We discuss the difference between kindness and niceness 🔶 We provide practical tips for approaching the ...

Did you know unresolved childhood trauma can affect your work life? This episode delves into the impact of attachment wounds, coping mechanisms, and the importance of feeling safe and supported. My guest is Laura Reagan, LCSW-C is an integrative trauma therapist and owner of a group practice, the Baltimore Annapolis Center for Integrative Healing. She is also the host of Therapy Chat and Trauma Chat podcasts and the founder of the Trauma Therapist Network, a website for learning information ab...

Season 2 of this podcast has arrived. And this week’s episode is a sneak peek into what to expect in the coming months. The themes of Season 1 continue in this new season: ✨ How to grow and nurture great cultures ✨ Building workplaces that are inclusive and fair ✨ Tools and tips for leaders to grow into their full leadership potential. Listen into to hear why I’ll be talking about being fat, altered states, breathwork, and happiness. And some of the fabulous guests that will be popping up eac...

This episode is a re-release from earlier in the season whilst I take a break over summer. ADHD is an invisible disorder that is often misdiagnosed, undiagnosed or sometimes masked from boss’s and peers. This episode is in the top 3 of most downloaded episodes which suggests the latent hunger for a better understanding about this condition. Brooke Schnittman joins me on this episode to tell us about her journey to becoming an ADHD Coach. Brooke started out as a special education teacher workin...

This episode is a re-release from earlier in the season whilst I take a break over summer.* This has been the second downloaded episode of series 1. My guess is that there are a lot of people considering freelance as an option to have more freedom in their life, and to get away from problematic corporate cultures. With my guest, Caley Dimmock, we explore: The upsides and downsides of being a freelancer How worst case scenario can be your best friend how freelancing will require and update with...

This episode is a re-release from earlier in the season whilst I take a break over summer. This has been the most downloaded episode of series 1 which is not surprising and at the same time heart warming. This episode is packed with insights and tips that are just as relevant today as they were when we first aired it. Whether you're hearing it for the first time or revisiting it, there's plenty to take away. Let’s have the hard conversation about racism – again. With my guest, Michelle Tackie ...

This week, join me for a special behind-the-scenes look into the first season of this podcast. We have a unique twist as my friend and colleague, Aly King-Smith, takes over the microphone and interviews me about my personal experience with podcasting and putting myself out there. In this candid and no-holds-barred conversation, we delve into what inspired me to start this project and the journey of experimenting and taking risks. My hope is that by sharing both the successes and challenges, yo...

This week’s episode is answering a listener’s dilemma – “How to influence a peer who thinks they know best?” As this isn’t a coaching session, our approach is to ask a lot of questions as doorways into deeper understanding of what’s really going on. I know there will be nuggets in here for you like… 🔶 Checking in on how you feel before taking action 🔶 Understanding that what we can’t be with is great insight to work on 🔶 The value of reflection before taking action. My guest is fellow coach, ...

Questions about your money mindset are a great way of getting clear about the rich life you want. This week’s podcast is an interview with Ian Dempsey, IFA and funny Geordie. He has an unusual and refreshing approach to money which is apparent in his social content, and how he onboards his clients. In this episode, we really dig into our behaviours around money and talk: 💰 Money mindset 💳 Easy access to credit and its impact on society 💪 Empowerment to change one's financial future 🔎 Examin...

This episode is a candid exploration of how to make work enjoyable, the balance between certainty and uncertainty, and how corporate dynamics often shape individual work experiences. My guest is Matt Cheung, CEO of Clarasys, a consulting company that’s won so many awards for being a great place to work that we can’t list them all here. So he makes for the perfect guest to talk about creating meaningful, cool workplaces. He shares personal stories and insight into the question of what makes work...