Heart & Graft

Heart & Graft (Episode 16) - From Frazzled to Fabulous: Beating Midlife Burnout

Public sector veteran and coach Sarah Clein joins Nicky to unpack the "death by a thousand cuts" slide into burnout—fueled by workload surges, boundary bleed, and midlife squeezes like menopause and family stress. Drawing from her own cliff-edge exhaustion and book The Midlife Trenches, Sarah shares how to say "no," tune into somatic signals, and prioritise joy over endless rescuing.​

Why Listen?

• Gain actionable tips to reclaim personal vitality, support colleagues kindly, and foster human-centered workplaces.​

• Hear real stories of jet-lagged denial, skipped medicals, and "Terminator" armor—plus antidotes like tiny "nos" and duck-feeding simplicity.

• Perfect for HR, L&D pros, coaches, and midlife leaders battling chronic stress; rediscover zest before it's "is this it?"

Find out more about Sarah by visiting her website.

Heart and Graft (Episode 15) - Taming Your Drivers and Dancing with Your Parent, Adult and Child

Have you ever snapped at a colleague like a grumpy teen—or noticed how your behavour changes when work pressures ramp up? In this Heart & Graft episode, Nicky cracks open two theories from Transactional Analysis (TA) with stories from her TA101 epiphany to her Dad's paint critique.

 

Why listen:

• Get to grips with the inner parent, adult and child in you.
• Make more conscious decisions about when and why to operate from different mindsets
• Demystify reactive behaviours to curb burnout and miscommunications
• Spot your dominant drivers under stress (we all have them!) and soften them for kinder self-reflection.

Grab your 'special glasses'—because work's messy, but TA makes it human."

Heart & Graft (Episode 14) - Perfectionism, Procrastination, and Productivity Potholes

In this episode of Heart & Graft, Nicky is back in the virtual coffee shop with Mia Shepherd of Neupauer Training and Joel Fielder of Switchplane to talk about productivity without turning into a robot. They discuss why endless to-do lists and self-sabotage leave people feeling busy but unfulfilled, and how reframing productivity around value, boundaries and energy can change the way you work. From parenting and PhDs to software sprints and the “beanie hat of concentration”, this is a very human look at getting important work done without losing yourself.​

Why listen

• To rethink productivity from “How many tasks did I finish?” to “What progress did I make towards what really matters?”.​

• To hear practical ideas like time boxing, 25‑minute sprints, planning, and visual “do not disturb” signals.​

• To explore how impostor syndrome, perfectionism and emotional hijacks quietly derail your day – and what you can actually do about them.​

• To learn how deadlines, accountability and tiny increments of progress can work with your personality instead of against it.​

Heart & Graft (episode 13) - Reading the Room When There is No Room: Can Online Working Still Be Human

In this episode of Heart and Graft, Nicky explores whether virtual and hybrid teams can ever feel as kind, connected and compassionate as working in the same room. Drawing on conversations with digital learning specialist and mindfulness teacher Alison Potter, and coach Sara Knight, the episode unpacks the benefits of online work, the three practical challenges, and the mindset shift that lets humanity “vibrate through” the screen.​

You will hear stories of online sessions that began as a “car crash” and evolved into confident, interactive spaces, research on teaching compassion virtually, and a powerful account of how being at home helped a client open up about burnout in ways they might never have done face to face. Nicky distils their insights into practical tips for anyone leading virtual teams or online sessions.​

Why listen

• To understand the real benefits and pitfalls of virtual working, beyond the usual productivity headlines.​

• To hear evidence and lived experience on whether psychological safety and trust can genuinely flourish online.​

• To learn concrete practices for making your virtual meetings and teams feel more human, compassionate and inclusive. As well as,​ ideas for handling Zoom fatigue, tech wobblies and emotional conversations when you are not in the same room.​

You can connect with Alison on LinkedIn and with Sara on LinkedIn or via her website. 

Heart & Graft (Episode 12) - Fraud Squad: When Good People Doubt Their Great Work

Imposter feelings are not a personal flaw, they are often the price of caring deeply and learning. In this episode of Heart and Graft, Nicky explores why so many thoughtful, conscientious professionals secretly feel like frauds and what leaders and teams can do to turn down the volume on that inner critic. We explore the origins of Imposter Phenomenon, and how some organisations are helping to combat it. 

 

Why listen:

• To normalize imposter feelings.​

• To collect playful but powerful practices (like “failure cakes”) you can adapt for your own workplace.​

• To learn a simple mindset tool you can use yourself or when coaching others to challenge harsh self-talk.​

Heart & Graft (Episode 11) - Fast Lanes and Friendly Detours - Communication Styles on the Road to Work

Ready to hit the fast lane to better workplace communication? In this solo episode, Nicky takes you on a playful journey across the Social Styles landscape. Through a vivid road-trip story, discover why understanding—and flexing—your style is the key to thriving teams and smoother days at work. Whether you’re a Driver, Amiable, Analytical, or Expressive (or just confused), tune in for insights, and tips on crossing the communication finish line together.

Why Listen?

• Learn a memorable framework for understanding the different preferences we have when we communicate.

• Pick up practical strategies to adapt your style, build rapport, and cut down on workplace friction.

• Relatable analogies make theory stick.

• Be inspired by a fun "flex your style" challenge you can try this week.

Heart & Graft (episode 10) - Kindness Catalysts: Brewing Bonds and Building Bikes.

This special bonus episode for World Kindness Day explores the transformative power of kindness at work with Georgina Klovig Skelton, Director of Kindness at o3e, a Brighton-based team-building company. From creative corporate events centred on charity—the bike builds, care packs, and adapted sports gear—to everyday gestures like making tea and checking in on colleagues, Georgina’s stories illuminate how kindness fosters real connection and positive organisational change. The conversation weaves practical tips, heartfelt anecdotes, and reflections on culture, recognition, and resilience.

Why Listen?

• Gain ideas for embedding kindness into team culture, from workplace rituals to charity-driven events.​

• Hear real-life examples showing how small acts of care and recognition spark greater trust, cooperation, and resilience at work.​

• Leave inspired by easy, actionable ways to “just do it,” embracing kindness daily for bigger impacts.

Heart & Graft (Episode 9) - No one can be a little bit pregnant

This episode of Heart & Graft delves deep into neurodivergence in the workplace, featuring a candid conversation with autism consultant Laura Crowley, who shares her personal journey and over 25 years of professional experience. Together, we unpack some of the myths around autism, discuss practical low-cost adjustments for neurodivergent colleagues, and highlight the importance of universal design and neuro-affirmative practices in organizational culture.​

Why Listen?

• Discover the lived experience behind late autism identification and “auti birthday” celebrations.​

• Learn how teams and managers can foster acceptance for neurodivergent staff.​

• Get actionable tips on simple accommodations—flexible hours, headphones, and clear communication—that benefit everyone.​

• Explore how perimenopause links with neurodivergent traits and why more women are seeking autism and ADHD assessments later in life.​