You Are Not A Frog

We’re all seeking the perfect job or career path that will bring us happiness and fulfilment. But while we’re focused on achieving success, we can overlook the bigger stuff – and it’s possible that our current career trajectory might not take us there.That’s why we need to find and then follow our North Star. Finding it starts with prioritising four fundamental needs: feeling fully human, deep connections, meaning and purpose, and growth and learning. By aligning our goals with these needs, we can find true fulfilment.⭐️ Book Your FrogFest Ticket Now In this quick dip episode, Rachel outlines how we can understand what makes us feel alive, cultivate meaningful relationships and activities, and embrace continuous growth in all aspects of our lives.If we carry on putting achievement ahead of our own needs – especially if we’re doing so to please someone else – we may end up feeling empty and unsatisfied.But by tapping into those four fundamental needs, we’ll find ourselves on a path to a more fulfilling and bal

We all experience moments of feeling stuck. Sometimes we have the motivation, but something’s in our way. On other days the simplest things can feel like pushing a boulder up a hill. Now matter how competent we know we are, that feeling of inertia can wreak havoc on our self-confidence. If we’re going to get unstuck and move forwards, we first need to find out what’s blocking us.⭐️ Book Your FrogFest Ticket Now The solution is to take a conscious leadership approach. This means shifting our mindset and becoming more aware of our reactions and thought patterns. By recognising when we’re “below the line” and stuck in victim mode, we can consciously shift “above the line” and take control of our actions and reactions.This week, Rachel is joined by executive coach and conscious leadership expert, Nicola Rylett-Jones. Nicola offers practical steps you can take today to embody the role of a conscious leader – even if you don’t consider yourself as having a leadership position.Living below the line makes us feel fru

If you were in a life-or-death scenario and the only path out was over hot coals, would you take it? Of course. But when it comes to situations that are making us uncomfortable or even miserable, we seldom want to experience that discomfort to get to what we know will be better for us.⭐️ Book Your FrogFest Ticket Now In this quick dip episode, Rachel explores the importance of considering the long-term impact of our work, and offers a single question you can ask yourself right now, to discover what you really want to do with your one wild and precious life.If you’re on a burning platform or in a situation that could get worse, you can make a change – even if it's a small one. Any change can help you break free from the status quo.Listen to this episode toDiscover the importance of considering the long-term impact of your work on your well-being, mindset, character, and relationshipsLearn practical steps to recognise short-term discomfort, assess risks and benefits, seek external perspectives, and take action

If you’re in a job where you use your brain a lot, it can be easy to feel disconnected from your body and emotions. This in turn can lead to a lack of self-awareness and even difficulty in expressing yourself. That lack of awareness changes how we outwardly express ourselves, even in ways we’re not aware of.But by becoming consciously connected with our body, we can get a bit more control over our thoughts, feelings, and behaviours, and over how others see us.⭐️ Book Your FrogFest Ticket Now This week, Rachel is joined by coach and trainer Helen Leathers, who shows us how our posture, our movements, even the way we dress, can affect not only our mood, but how we’re perceived at work. She also shares a practical exercise that can help us cultivate stillness, so we appear more confident and open.It’s natural for those of us in cerebral jobs to see the body as just a vessel for the brain. But if we disconnect for too long, we can find it harder to tap into, understand, and express difficult feelings like stress

We all experience shame from time to time, but when it becomes toxic, we can end up in a shame spiral from which it's difficult to escape. When we’re called out on something about which we feel shameful, it can make us defensive. And so often, no-one can punish us as harshly as we punish ourselves.In this quick dip episode, Rachel shares her strategy to break free from shame spirals and cultivate a healthier mindset; by sharing our shame, taking some perspective, and seeking support from others. She unpacks her SHAME model that was inspired by a recent spiral, which is a simple five-step framework for working through the sensations of shame and finding a way to be kinder to ourselves.Shame doesn’t make us better people – it only makes us harder on ourselves and leads to us being defensive. So this episode offers a chance to break free of that spiral, remember that we’re human, and remind ourselves we’re doing our best.Listen to this episode toDiscover how shame can impact our internal mindset and contribute t

When we’re presented with a difficult problem, naturally we use logic and reasoning to solve it. But some problems – like stress and burnout – can’t be solved with logic alone.The left hemisphere is the area of the brain focused on tasks, logic, and problem-solving. But the right hemisphere deals with relationships, connections, and new perspectives. It’s also visual and metaphorical, so it can help us see problems in a different way. So our right brain can help us live more easily with problems that can’t be solved by the left.This week, executive coach Yda Bouvier explains how introducing visuals can activate our right brain and give us new perspectives and insights, which can help us understand complex issues, improve problem-solving, and enhance our connection with others.Over-relying on our left brain can leave us struggling with complex relationships, focusing too much on threats, and making it harder to adapt. But by incorporating more visuals and movement, we can tap into the power of our right brain

So you’ve got a problem, maybe a relationship issue at work or difficulties managing your workload. You’ve talked it with friends, but the solution won’t present itself. Often the problem isn't that we lack solutions, but rather that we haven't fully understood what the problem is in the first place.In this quick dip episode, Rachel shares her three-step model to help you identify and address the real problem you’re facing. It involves recognising we have choices, embracing our human needs and limitations, and thinking differently.If we keep doing what we've always done, we'll continue getting the same results. But changing our mindset can give us confidence and the ability to approach situations from a fresh perspective.Listen to this episode toDiscover how to identify and solve the underlying problems that are driving you mad and hindering your progressLearn why focusing on resilience alone might not address the real issues causing stress and underperformanceExplore a practical model that will help you make

Faced with a difficult situation, we often ask the question “should I stay or should I go?” It could be about work, a relationship, or something more personal. We all face this question at various times in our life, and it can be overwhelming to make a choice when we’re scared of the unknown.This week, we’re revisiting a discussion with Corrina Gordon-Barnes, about how to tackle the decision-making process. Instead of relying on traditional methods like pros and cons lists or seeking advice from others, Corrina suggests a different approach, which involves noticing the difference between facts and thoughts, and recognising when we have the power to leave rather than simply tough it out.When we keep ourselves trapped in the limbo of indecision, when we’re neither fully committed nor able to make a decisive choice, this can leave us frustrated and angry. Those frustrations can boil over into our home and work lives, or make an uncomfortable situation even worse.But by taking a moment to reflect on our curr

If you have a high-stakes job like medicine, shame can show up in unexpected and unwelcome places. Doctors have incredibly high societal expectations, with constant pressure to be invulnerable. It’s time to challenge these unrealistic expectations and foster an environment that supports doctors in their vulnerability.This week, we’re featuring one of our most popular and impactful episodes from 2023 to help you identify and combat shame. In this episode, Dr Sandy Miles discusses the impact of shame on doctors and how we can address it by changing the toxic stories we tell ourselves.We all make mistakes, but shame keeps us from being objective and fair, leading us feeling like we’re inherently bad or wrong. Finding ways to be kinder and more supportive to ourselves will help not only our wellbeing, but will brighten the lives of those closest to us.Listen to this episode toDiscover the powerful impact shame has on us, and how our wellbeing and professional identity can be affectedExplore the different ways we

The Christmas season can be a time of stress and disappointment, especially when our expectations don't match up with reality. We can find ourselves dealing with difficult family members, feeling overwhelmed with work and family obligations, or experiencing a general sense of dissatisfaction.But there’s plenty we can do to make the festive period more enjoyable and less overwhelming.This week, we’re revisiting a previous conversation on the podcast, with Corrina Gordon-Barnes. In her chat with Rachel, you’ll learn how to turn expected disappointments into a game of bingo, set realistic expectations, and exercise some self-compassion.By taking proactive steps, we can create a more positive and fulfilling Christmas experience.Listen to this episode toLearn strategies to cope with the expectations and negative experiences that come with the holiday seasonDiscover the concept of playing "Christmas Bingo" to approach disappointments with humour and acceptanceGain insights on how to navigate triggering situations a

If you're like most people, you'll have experienced moments when your confidence wavers, leaving you unsure of yourself and holding back from reaching your full potential. But what if there was a way to increase your confidence and make a greater impact in your personal and professional life?This week, Dr Claire Kaye joins Rachel to explore the power of confidence and how it influences our lives. They dive into the common challenges we face when it comes to confidence, whether it's feeling underconfident, lacking self-belief, or dealing with the negative self-talk that holds us back.But this episode isn't just about identifying the problem – it's about finding practical solutions. Claire and Rachel discuss strategies to boost your confidence in a genuine and authentic way, helping you navigate through life's uncertainties and excel in various areas. They emphasise the importance of knowing yourself, understanding your values, and embracing vulnerability as a pathway to personal growth and success.If you're ti

We can learn how to say no to other people, but often don’t say no to ourselves or to our inner critic who’s always telling us we can do more or be better. We become our own worst enemy when it comes to setting boundaries and prioritising our own needs. This is why we need self-compassion, and to overcome the toxic self-talk that often fuels our negative self-talk.In this quick dip, Rachel will help you name the critical voice and acknowledge its presence, explore the underlying triggers and needs that contribute to self-criticism, and treat yourself with kindness and understanding, just as you would a close friend.When we pay too much attention to our inner critic, we risk feeling more stressed, putting strain on our relationships, and overall negatively impacting our wellbeing. So it’s time to challenge that negative self-talk and replace it with compassionate. No only will it benefit you, but it’ll benefit those close to you, too.Listen to this episode toDiscover the impact of toxic self-talk and how it af

Do you find yourself trapped by the expectations and pressures of what you think you “should” be doing? Is there a voice in your head, berating you for not living up to their standards? If so, you might be experiencing the tyranny of the shoulds.You’re not alone in feeling overwhelmed or uncertain. But it turns out that hearing others' stories can help you realise that your struggles are common. Also, if you rely on others for feedback it’s important to know whom to ask and when, so you don’t end up with an over-eager cheerleader or someone who’ll burst your bubble before its time.In this episode, Charlotte Housden discusses her research on successfully navigating change and how we can escape that nagging, finger-wagging presence we all have from time to time.That voice of doubt and fear can trap us in a cycle of unhappiness and unfulfilment. It might mean we miss out on opportunities for growth, personal development, and finding true satisfaction in our lives and careers. But by remembering that you are not

If your job is demanding, jou've probably wondered at some point if you're burning out. The constant stress and pressure in health and social care especially can leave us feeling overwhelmed and exhausted. But ignoring the signs of burnout can have serious consequences, affecting not only our performance but our wellbeing and our relationships too.In this quick dip episode, Rachel introduces the Stress Curve and how it can help you recognise if you're nearing burnout. She explains the different stages of the curve and provide practical steps you can take to prevent burnout and perform at your best. It's about finding what works for you and making small changes that add up a big impact.Listen to this episode toRecognise the signs of burnout and its consequences, so you can prioritise your wellbeing and relationships.Learn from real-life experiences and to prevent burnout, tailored to the unique challenges faced by people in healthcare.Discover the stress curve model as a tool to assess your current position an

Managing your energy can be a challenge at the best of times. But if you’re a highly sensitive person, you might be more prone to burning out due to your unique traits and the demands of your work.Being highly sensitive doesn’t mean being touchy, but having a high degree of empathy and a particular way of processing sensory input. That means it might take longer to recover from a tricky situation like a conflict with a colleague, or witnessing something traumatic at work.The key to managing energy as a highly sensitive person is to understand and embrace your sensitivity, and put strategies in place to protect and replenish your energy.This week, Rachel talks with Dr Becki Taylor-Smith, an anaesthetist and coach who specialises in helping highly sensitive individuals discover their superpowers.Around 1 in 5 people has high sensitivity. With this higher degree of empathy often comes the need to help people, which is why there may be many more people in medicine who identify as highly sensitive.People who ident

Saying no and setting boundaries are core to avoiding burnout. But if saying no might put a patient at harm – or worse – what can you do?In this quick dip episode, Rachel explains the concept of core and flex boundaries along with core and flex consequences. Core boundaries are non-negotiables that we always enforce, rather than preferences we’d like to enforce but can be flexible around.Key to this approach is also recognising the short- and long-term consequences of saying no.By not setting boundaries or saying no when we need to, we risk damaging our relationships and neglecting our own needs. This can lead to regret, unfulfilled goals, and negative effects on other people who rely on us. But by setting rigid and flexible boundaries, we can get closer to a healthy work-life balance, and keep our priorities and commitments in tact.Listen to this episode toDiscover how to set boundaries and say no in challenging situations, ie when someone's life might be at stake.Understand the concept of core and flex boun

Interactions between team members can have a big impact on performance and outcomes. Disrespect and hostility can create a threatening environment and hinder collaboration and productivity. In a medical setting, it could literally be a life-or-death situation.The Civility Saves Lives movement aims to raise awareness about the importance of behaviour and promote a culture of civility. By showing respect and support towards each-other, teams can enhance their performance, deliver better outcomes, and provide a healthier and kinder path towards personal growth.In this episode, Dr Chris Turner, co-founder of the Civility Saves Lives movement, demonstrates how we can create an environment where civility is valued, information is freely shared, and everyone feels empowered to contribute. By taking the time to show respect – and to address disrespect without offering judgement – we can make a positive difference in the workplace and improve outcomes for teams and patients.Listen to this episode toUnderstand the impo

When someone else sets boundaries, do you feel able to do the same, or do you resent their ability to say no? Often, our anger towards others' boundaries comes from our own unmet needs and desires, and what presents itself as resentment is actually envy.Guilt, shame, and fear often prevent us from expressing our own needs, which just compounds those negative emotions. Without shifting our mindset, we can end up adopting a victim mindset and feeling even more trapped.In this quick dip episode, Rachel describes how we can identify our underlying needs, find ways to express them, and take small, practical steps towards getting what we want, even if it feels unattainable.Listen to this episode toLearn how to navigate boundaries and handle feelings of resentment when others say no to you.Understand the difference between anger and envy, and how envy can reveal what you truly want.Pick up strategies for identifying your own needs, expressing them to others, and finding ways to meet them.Episode highlights[00:02:12]

Productivity and time management are difficult at the best of times. But when your job directly affects people’s lives, it can be tricky to make time to get organised, so that we have control over our days, and our inbox isn’t overflowing.What we need is to manage our attention and make space for what matters. In this episode, Rachel is joined by productivity expert Graham Allcott. Graham shares ways we can prioritise and delegate tasks, make dedicated time for deep work, and get on top of our todo list rather than feel crushed by it.Cluttered inboxes and disorganised days can lead to more stress, which can impact your work as well as your coworkers’. So listen to this episode for actionable strategies that will help you start each day with more focus, and less overwhelm.Listen to this episode toImprove your productivity without striving for perfection.Manage your attention and prioritise tasks, especially in high-stress jobs.Learn how to implement a weekly review to stay organised and in control.Episode high

We’ve all had weeks where our schedules are packed tightly and there’s no time for ourselves, leaving us exhausted and overwhelmed. The problem is we often make commitments for our future selves without thinking about what might be on their plate in the future.In this quick dip episode, Rachel uncovers ways we can make space for the the big and important things in our lives, set rules and boundaries to prevent over-committing, and creating space to cope with challenging times ahead.Not everything that comes out of the blue is a bad thing. But when we over-book ourselves and neglect our own needs, we risk leaving ourselves unable to really enjoy the fun things that unexpectedly come our way, or cope with the tricky things.Try taking a moment to consider what your future self will thank you for. This will help you say no to those extra commitments, and practice more self-compassion.Listen to this episode toLearn how to stop over-scheduling so you can create space for yourself and avoid burnout.Understand the im