247: A Day in the Life of Helen O’Grady: Coaching in Health, Social Care and Education
Release Date: 06/16/2025
248: What Supervision Really Means for Your Coaching Practice
The AC Podcast
Join us for the first episode of a new podcast series: Coaching Supervision Uncovered – an 11-part series exploring the fascinating world of coaching supervision and how it shapes exceptional coaches. Each episode delves into a distinctive aspect of supervision with leading practitioners, uncovering the nuanced ways supervision enhances coaching practices, supports wellbeing and drives professional development. Our host, Helen O’Grady, is joined by Marie Faire, a master executive coach and supervisor, to introduce the topic and talk about the essential role of coaching...
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247: A Day in the Life of Helen O’Grady: Coaching in Health, Social Care and Education
The AC Podcast
In this inspiring episode of our ‘Day in the Life of’ podcast series, host Maxine Bell sits down with Helen O’Grady, an experienced coach and supervisor who brings her background in paediatric nursing into her coaching work within the health, social care, and education sectors. Helen shares her powerful journey from healthcare to coaching, shedding light on the unique challenges and opportunities in supporting professionals working on the front lines. Maxine and Helen explore how coaching can transform leadership and client care in health and social care, the emotional toll of frontline...
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246: Leading from Within: The Case for Formal Leader Coaching
The AC Podcast
In the final episode of our ‘Coaching as a Leader’ podcast series, Jen Kidby is joined by Linda Beatty, Senior Manager of Culture and Engagement in Bank of Ireland, to explore the growing role of leader coaches in formal coaching programs within organizations. They delve into how structured coaching engagements—distinct from day-to-day mentoring or informal support—can elevate leadership development across an organization. Linda shares her personal journey, while highlighting the practical considerations leader coaches must navigate - from contracting and the challenges of...
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245: Words make Worlds: How Language Can Transform Leadership
The AC Podcast
In this episode, Jen Kidby is joined by leadership development coach Tony Worgan to explore how the language leaders use shapes the culture, dynamics, and performance of their teams. Tony shares insights from his coaching practice, highlighting the power of being intentional with words and the impact of “discounting” language—subtle phrases that can unintentionally diminish a person’s contributions or confidence. He encourages leaders to shift from reactive or rescuing behaviours toward more open, curious coaching conversations. By staying present rather than striving for perfection,...
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244: Leader Coaches: Letting Go of Expertise
The AC Podcast
In this episode, host Jen Kidby is joined by coaches and co-authors Katy McGregor and Ross Hunter to explore the benefits and challenges of letting go of expertise as a leader coach, highlighting how identity, values, and experience shape leadership styles. They unpack the tension leaders have between offering expert advice or stepping back to empower others, and discuss the importance of self-awareness, creating a collaborative environment, as well as the need for leaders to ask insightful questions rather than provide answers. Katy and Ross share personal stories and tools to...
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243: Coaching as a Leader: A New Vision for Leading with Impact
The AC Podcast
In the premiere episode of our Coaching as a Leader podcast series, host Simone Sweeney talks to coach, supervisor and author Jen Kidby, and AC Head of Corporate Membership and Accreditation, Victoria Leath, to discuss the important topic of leader as coach and the launch of the AC’s new book: Coaching as a Leader. Together, they share the inspiration behind the book and explore why coaching skills are now essential for leaders navigating today’s complex, people-centred workplaces. Designed to set the stage for the series, this conversation offers a compelling introduction to the evolving...
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242: A Day in the Life of Val Mullally: Reflective Supervisor and Author
The AC Podcast
In this episode of our Day in the Life series, we speak with coach, supervisor, TedX speaker, and author Val Mullally. Join us for a rich and thought-provoking conversation that explores reflective supervision, psychological safety, parenting coaching, self-care, and so much more. Discover Val’s inspiring journey from schoolteacher to coach, and how her passion for emotional intelligence and child development evolved into her work in coaching and supervision. Val unpacks her unique TRAKC© model, a simple yet profound framework designed to support psychological safety in coaching...
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241: Punching Through Grief: A Revolutionary Coaching Approach to Healing
The AC Podcast
In this episode, we explore how coaching has been integrated into RELEASE, a bereavement programme which uses exercise in the form of non-contact boxing and mindfulness to enable participants to express their emotions and focus on their own individual outcomes. Host Julie Flower is joined by Claire Henry MBE, a coach specialising in palliative and end-of-life care, who shares her involvement with RELEASE to support those dealing with grief. Claire explains how the programme works and what a typical session looks like. She emphasizes the importance of creating a safe, non-judgmental...
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240: Spark Inside: Transforming Lives in the Criminal Justice System
The AC Podcast
In this episode, our host Julie Flower discusses the transformative power of coaching within the criminal justice system with Jeffrey Wotherspoon, a coach from the charity Spark Inside, and Elliot, a participant in the Black Hero's Journey program. Jeffrey explains Spark Inside's mission and programs, including the Hero's Journey and Black Hero's Journey, which help young men in prisons challenge their beliefs, understand their identities and embrace their potential. Elliot shares his personal experience, emphasizing how coaching helped him gain self-awareness, and envision and create a...
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239: The Lived Experience Coaches Transforming Support Services for People with Learning Disabilities and Autism
The AC Podcast
In this special episode, our host Julie Flower, dives into an inspiring conversation with guests Lindsay Henderson and Shaun Armour from Your Voice Counts, a charity based in Northeast England. Discover how they are challenging perspectives with a groundbreaking scheme that trains people with learning disabilities and autism to coach the professionals responsible for their support. Shaun, one of the coaches and Lindsay, Head of Communities, share how co-production and lived experience aren’t just buzzwords – they are essential tools for transforming support systems, empowering individuals...
info_outlineIn this inspiring episode of our ‘Day in the Life of’ podcast series, host Maxine Bell sits down with Helen O’Grady, an experienced coach and supervisor who brings her background in paediatric nursing into her coaching work within the health, social care, and education sectors. Helen shares her powerful journey from healthcare to coaching, shedding light on the unique challenges and opportunities in supporting professionals working on the front lines. Maxine and Helen explore how coaching can transform leadership and client care in health and social care, the emotional toll of frontline work, and how coaching supports burnout prevention and emotional wellbeing. They also discuss the persistent funding challenges and why coaching should be prioritised in high-impact environments like the NHS, social work and education.
Helen also discusses the importance of supervision for coaches and the evolving conversation around professional regulation in the coaching field. She shares honest reflections on the mindset shifts required in helping professions—from "rescuing" to empowering clients—and why self-trust and community support are vital for sustainable coaching practices.
Full of insights and tips, Helen’s passion and care for coaching and supervision light up the conversation. If you are feeling uncertain about coaching in any way or seeking a new perspective and purpose in your practice, this podcast episode is for you!
· Discover the value and impact of coaching in the health, social care, and education sector
· Learn how to shift from a "rescue" mindset to one that supports agency and empowerment
· Understand the critical role of supervision in sustaining ethical, reflective, and resilient coaching
"From the moment I discovered coaching, I was like, wow, this is fantastic. I still get so much joy from all aspects of it; I feel very blessed to have found it."
Tune in next week as Helen hosts a new 11-part podcast series: Coaching Supervision Uncovered!
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