Change Unfiltered: The Freedom to Work Differently

Ep44 I’ll Try It for a Year

In this episode, Angela speaks with Mairead McCarthy, about stepping away from a corporate career without knowing exactly what would come next. What began as a decision to “try something for a year” gradually evolved into an award winning wellbeing business working with organisations across Ireland. Together they explore what happens when a role no longer fits, how small decisions can lead to bigger change, and why building something sustainable often starts with taking a step rather than making a leap. Key Themes * Why leaving corporate is often a “push” rather than a “pull”. * The impact of leadership and management changes on career decisions. * The idea of “trying it for a year” instead of committing long-term. * Turning a side interest into a business over time. * The difference between wellbeing as a cost vs an investment. * The reality of running a business and doing everything at the start. * Creating boundaries and building something that actually fits your life. About Mairead McCarthy Mairead McCarthy is the founder of WellPlace Workplace Wellbeing Services. After more than 16 years working in corporate roles across training, project and programme management, she stepped away to explore a long-standing interest in yoga and wellbeing. What started as a small step into self-employment has grown into a business supporting organisations with a broader approach to workplace wellbeing, working with a network of specialists to deliver flexible, tailored programmes. Connect with Mairead Website: https://wellplace.ie [https://wellplace.ie] LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mairead-mccarthy [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mairead-mccarthy/] Instagram: instagram.com/wellplaceireland [https://www.instagram.com/wellplaceireland]   Connect and show support LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/angelajscottuk/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelajscottuk/] Instagram: instagram.com/iam_angelajoy [https://www.instagram.com/iam_angelajoy]  Email: angela@joynergi.com [angela@joynergi.com]   Buy me a coffee: buymeacoffee.com/angelajoyscott  [https://buymeacoffee.com/angelajoyscott]

Ep43 All or Nothing versus Enough

This is a short solo episode recorded after two very different events this week, one in person and one online, where the same underlying pattern kept showing up in different ways. I wanted to capture it while it was still fresh. I explore the tension between “all or nothing” and “enough” and how the standards we hold can shape whether we move forward or get stuck.   I talk about why this happens, what’s usually sitting underneath it, and how it shows up across work, business and life more broadly. And I introduce a different way of thinking about it. If you’ve ever felt the pressure to do everything properly, to have it all figured out before you start, or to wait until you can do something “right”, this will likely resonate.   I’ve chosen not to run ads or sponsors on this podcast. If you’d like to support Change Unfiltered, there’s a Buy Me a Coffee link below. You can make a one-off contribution or set up a small monthly amount. There’s absolutely no expectation but every little helps cover production costs and keeps the podcast independent.   Connect and show support:   LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/angelajscottuk/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelajscottuk/]   Instagram: instagram.com/iam_angelajoy [https://www.instagram.com/iam_angelajoy]    Email: angela@joynergi.com [angela@joynergi.com]     Buy me a coffee: buymeacoffee.com/angelajoyscott  [https://buymeacoffee.com/angelajoyscott]

Ep 42 When Leadership Looks Right But Isn’t

Leadership often looks clear and confident from the outside. But inside complex organisations, the reality can feel very different. In this episode, Angela speaks with organisational psychologist and leadership practitioner Leah Stockley about the gap between what leadership looks like on paper and how it actually feels in practice. Drawing on more than three decades inside large organisations, Leah shares what happens when culture shifts, values get overridden and even senior leaders realise they have far less control than people assume. Together they explore why the system often wins, how identity gets tangled up in leadership roles, and what it takes to create meaningful momentum without burning people out.   Key Themes * The hidden constraints senior leaders face inside organisations * Why leadership culture can shift faster than people realise * The illusion of control in complex corporate systems * What happens when a role you believed in stops aligning with your values * Why small, intentional actions often drive the most meaningful change   About Leah Stockley Leah Stockley is an organisational psychologist, leadership practitioner and founder of Let’s Flow. With more than 30 years of experience across global banks, consultancies, FinTech and start-ups, she has led large teams across both business and technology. After completing an MSc in Organisational Psychology mid-career, Leah now focuses on helping leaders create meaningful momentum through small, intentional actions that improve both business outcomes and the human experience of work.   Connect with Leah LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/leahstockley [https://www.linkedin.com/in/leahstockley/] Website: letsflow.sg/ [https://www.letsflow.sg/]   Support the Podcast If you enjoy Change Unfiltered, the best way to support the show is to: * Follow or subscribe on your podcast platform * Share the episode with someone who might find it useful You can also support the podcast directly at: buymeacoffee.com/AngelaJoyScott [https://buymeacoffee.com/angelajoyscott]   LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/angelajscottuk/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelajscottuk/]   Instagram: instagram.com/iam_angelajoy [https://www.instagram.com/iam_angelajoy]

Ep 41 Open to Work But Not Open to That

A couple of years ago, Thomas Voigt found himself in a place many high-performing professionals quietly fear. Redundant, again. But this time, instead of rushing back into the safety of corporate life, he asked a harder question.   If you only had ten working years left, would you keep doing this?   Thomas began his career in media research in Germany, moved into global customer success roles in London and built a reputation in CS leadership. Yet underneath the titles and salary was a recurring tension. The sense that something wasn’t fully aligned.   In this conversation, he speaks with Angela about why going “back” sometimes feels like failure, the public moment he declared himself open to work and then realised it wasn’t the path he wanted and the daily reality of building something of his own.   They explore money, identity, status and the honesty required to dismantle old belief systems. Thomas shares how he reframed success, what he misses from corporate life and why bravery often looks and feels different than we imagine.   If you’re wondering whether it’s too late to rethink your direction, or whether starting again is reckless, this episode will help you sit in the grey zone rather than rushing straight to an answer.   Connect with Thomas:   LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/thomas-voigt/ [http://linkedin.com/in/thomas-voigt/]   Website: thecsconsulting.net/ [http://thecsconsulting.net/]   Newsletter: thecsconsulting.net/newsletter [http://thecsconsulting.net/newsletter] Connect and show support:   LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/angelajscottuk/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelajscottuk/]   Instagram: instagram.com/iam_angelajoy [https://www.instagram.com/iam_angelajoy]    Email: angela@joynergi.com [angela@joynergi.com]   Buy me a coffee: buymeacoffee.com/angelajoyscott [https://buymeacoffee.com/angelajoyscott]

Ep40 When There’s Something Worth Saying

This is a short solo episode to mark the start of 2026 and to reset how Change Unfiltered will work going forward.   There are no new seasons and no fixed cadence, just conversations with people I meet along the way, and occasional solo reflections, recorded when there’s something worth saying.   I’ve chosen not to run ads or sponsors on this podcast. If you’d like to support Change Unfiltered, there’s a Buy Me a Coffee link below. You can make a one-off contribution or set up a small monthly amount. There’s absolutely no expectation but every little helps cover production costs and keeps the podcast independent.   Connect and show support:   LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/angelajscottuk/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelajscottuk/]   Instagram: instagram.com/iam_angelajoy [https://www.instagram.com/iam_angelajoy]    Email: angela@joynergi.com [angela@joynergi.com]     Buy me a coffee: buymeacoffee.com/angelajoyscott  [https://buymeacoffee.com/angelajoyscott]