Curiosity, Courage, and an Unconventional Career

This Is Why Small Things Blow Up

Most of the stress people carry isn’t coming from what actually happened. It’s coming from what they made it mean. In this episode, I break down why small moments, like a short email, a blunt message, a tone you can’t quite read, can take over your whole day. You see, it’s rarely the situation itself that’s the problem. It’s the story that gets built around it. We’ve all experienced it: a situation that could have been contained, which then becomes something bigger than it should. And that’s because we start making assumptions, we lose the ability to communicate clearly, and we allow our emotions to take the lead. In this episode, I share a practical framework to change that. A way of stepping out of the emotional spiral so you can look at the situation differently. Because when you only see one version of events, you react. When you widen the lens, you respond differently. If you often find yourself replaying conversations, overthinking messages, or dwelling on things longer than they need to, this episode will give you a way to break that cycle. Now, grab a cuppa, relax and press play. Apply for your FREE Ignite Your Life Coaching Call – 30 minutes on Zoom, apply now⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://wp.me/PaEzld-25X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://wp.me/PaEzld-25X]  Link to get your free Personal Life Assessment download⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/LAPDFLA22⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bit.ly/LAPDFLA22] If you enjoyed this podcast then please like, share and subscribe.  If you want to find out more about how I can help you then check out my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.mummyonabreak.co.uk/] and connect with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linkedin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-newman/] and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@mariaanewman].

Loneliness Is the Cost of Being ‘Strong’ All the Time

If you keep holding it together… eventually, something will break. In this episode, I’m talking to Anneli Johansson about what happens when you spend your life being the strong one — and the loneliness that comes with it. Anneli shares how a moment from her childhood shaped the way she showed up in the world. Always capable. Always smiling. Always the one others could rely on. On the outside, everything looked fine. On the inside, she was exhausted, disconnected, and slowly losing herself. We talk about how burnout really happens — not all at once, more like a slow build over time. The pressure. The silence. The belief that you have to handle everything on your own. And then, the moment that changed everything. A simple hug that broke through the mask and forced her to face what she’d been avoiding for years. We get into what it actually takes to rebuild from that point. Asking for help. Letting go of who you thought you had to be. Learning how to be, not just do. If you’ve ever felt like you have to keep going, even when everything in you is saying stop, this one will hit home. Because being strong all the time comes at a cost. Now, grab a cuppa, relax and press play. About Anneli Anneli Johansson is a midlife reinvention coach, bestselling author, and speaker who helps professionals reconnect with themselves and create lives that feel as good as they look. Her work is grounded in one core belief: real change begins when we pause long enough to listen to the truth we’ve been avoiding. Shaped by her own journey of reinvention and resilience, Anneli brings a coaching approach that is direct, honest, and focused on practical transformation. She supports individuals who are ready to reset their direction, reconnect with their values, and move forward with clarity and intention. Blending positive energy with grounded insight, she creates a space where growth feels both safe and challenging. At the heart of all what she does is a simple mission, which is to make the world a little brighter, one small step / person at a time. To find out more, go to: Linktree: https://linktr.ee/creatingsmilesbyanneli [https://linktr.ee/creatingsmilesbyanneli] If you enjoyed this podcast then please like, share and subscribe. Link to get your free Personal Life Assessment download ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/LAPDFLA22 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠If you want to find out more about how I can help you then check out my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and connect with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linkedin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

You Always Have a Choice… Even When It Costs You Everything

If you keep ignoring what doesn’t feel right… eventually, you won’t be able to ignore it anymore. In this episode, I’m talking to Cassie Watts about what happens when the life you’ve always known stops feeling like your own — and the courage it takes to walk away. Cassie was born into a high-demand religion. It shaped everything: her beliefs, her choices, her community, and her identity. On the outside, life looked good. She was surrounded by people, supported, and doing all the “right” things. Until something didn’t sit right anymore. We talk about the build-up of doubt, the moment she realised she couldn’t continue, and what it really takes to leave — not just a belief system, but a whole way of living. Including the impact on family, identity, and starting again from scratch. This is a conversation about people-pleasing, alignment, and learning to trust yourself, even when it changes everything. If you’ve ever felt disconnected, stuck in a life that looks fine on the outside, or unsure what to do next… this episode will show you that you always have a choice. Now, grab a cuppa, relax and press play. About Cassie Cassie Watts is a Self-Leadership Coach who helps leaders and parents create cultures of belonging at home and at work — places where no one has to lose themselves in order to succeed or be loved. Her work focuses on the inner patterns that shape how we lead, parent, and relate to others. Many of the people Cassie works with are capable, thoughtful professionals who hold a lot of responsibility, yet feel the pressure to keep proving, performing, or holding everything together. Focusing on body and mind practises, Cassie helps people recognise the unconscious habits of over-responsibility, perfectionism, and self-criticism that drive burnout and disconnection. From there, they learn to lead themselves with more awareness, honesty, and compassion. Known for her warm, grounded style and refreshingly human conversations, Cassie helps people become more emotionally available parents, partners, and leaders — creating environments where belonging, trust, and genuine connection can thrive. To find out more, go to: Instagram: ⁠www.instagram.com/iamcassiewatts [⁠www.instagram.com/iamcassiewatts] Website: www.linkedin.com/in/iamcassiewatts/ [www.linkedin.com/in/iamcassiewatts/] If you enjoyed this podcast then please like, share and subscribe. Link to get your free Personal Life Assessment download ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/LAPDFLA22 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠If you want to find out more about how I can help you then check out my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and connect with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linkedin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

I Didn’t Stop… Until My Body Did And That Saved Me

If you keep giving… eventually, your body will make you stop. In this episode, I’m talking to Karen Bashford about what happens when life pushes you to your limits — and how a nervous breakdown became the turning point she needed. Karen grew up feeling unloved, experienced challenging relationships, and spent years giving everything to everyone else. She tried books, courses, and self-development, but nothing worked — until her body forced her to pause. We talk about the lessons she learned in those moments of collapse: listening to yourself, setting boundaries, and finding the love she’d been searching for all her life. If you’ve ever felt drained, unseen, or unsure how to put yourself first, this episode shows that sometimes hitting the lowest point is exactly where your rise begins. Now, grab a cuppa, relax and press play. About Karen Karen Bashford is a coach, mentor, speaker, podcast host, author, and founder of the KB Method and The Sloth or Beaver Coaching Tools®. She brings a deeply human approach to conversations about connection, resilience, and navigating life’s more difficult moments. Drawing on lived experience and years of working alongside others, Karen shares practical insights with honesty, warmth, and humour. Her work invites people to pause, reflect, and deepen their understanding of themselves. She encourages exploring how childhood experiences continue to shape patterns, reactions, and decisions in adulthood, often influencing confidence, boundaries, and relationships without conscious awareness. Through Sloth or Beaver Tools, her mentoring, writing, speaking, and podcast, Karen creates safe spaces for courageous conversations that challenge self-limiting beliefs and inspire personal responsibility. With compassion and clarity, she supports individuals in reconnecting with their inner strength, making empowered choices, and leading their lives with greater intention and self-trust. To find out more, go to: LinkedIn: ⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/pennyhopkinson/]https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-bashford-empower-you/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-bashford-empower-you/] Website: https://karenbashford.com [https://karenbashford.com/] The Sloth or Beaver Coaching Toolkit®: https://slothorbeaver.com [https://slothorbeaver.com/] The Empowered Women Life Leaders Podcast: The Empowered Women Life Leaders Podcast | Podcast on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/32gWxTdAW6kqSnX3yBiVjX] If you enjoyed this podcast then please like, share and subscribe.  Link to get your free Personal Life Assessment download ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/LAPDFLA22⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bit.ly/LAPDFLA22] If you want to find out more about how I can help you then check out my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.mummyonabreak.co.uk/] and connect with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linkedin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-newman/] and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@mariaanewman].

Curiosity, Courage, and an Unconventional Career

If one door closes… it doesn’t mean your story is over. Sometimes it’s the very thing that puts you on the path you were meant to follow. In this episode, I’m talking to Penny Hopkinson about what happens when life doesn’t go to plan and why that doesn’t have to be the end of the story. Early in her career Penny was fired. More than once. She also didn’t have the qualifications people often say you need to succeed. Many people would have taken that as a sign to stop. Penny didn’t. Instead, she followed her curiosity, developed her craft, and built a career in journalism that took her across the Middle East, reporting on the development of countries that would go on to become global powerhouses. In this conversation we talk about resilience, building trust, and why your life experience can matter just as much as the letters after your name. If you’ve ever felt like you’ve hit a brick wall, or questioned whether you should keep going, this episode is a powerful reminder that sometimes the rubble is exactly where you rebuild from. Now, grab a cuppa, relax and press play. About Penny Penny Hopkinson is an operational governance specialist with nearly 40 years’ experience helping growing organisations protect intellectual property and scale with clarity. She is an Amazon No 1 bestselling author of Manual Magic: Create the Operations Manual Your Franchisees Need to Succeed, endorsed by the British Franchise Association, and a contributing author to Amazon No 1 bestseller, The AI Edge: How to Thrive Within Civilization’s Next Big Disruption (2026), alongside 34 global experts examining the future of artificial intelligence. As founder of Manual Magic AI®, a governance-first SaaS platform built on her three-step methodology, Penny focuses on one critical issue in the AI era: how organisations prevent operational chaos as technology accelerates speed. Her work bridges governance, intellectual property protection, and scalable operational design. To find out more go to: LinkedIn: www.LinkedIn.com/in/pennyhopkinson [https://www.linkedin.com/in/pennyhopkinson/] Linktree: www.linktr.ee/pennyhopkinson⁠ [https://linktr.ee/pennyhopkinson] If you enjoyed this podcast then please like, share and subscribe.  Link to get your free Personal Life Assessment download ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/LAPDFLA22⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bit.ly/LAPDFLA22] If you want to find out more about how I can help you then check out my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.mummyonabreak.co.uk/] and connect with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linkedin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-newman/] and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@mariaanewman].