Catalyst for Change
Straight Forward Conversations
This episode takes us back to Ireland, where I reconnect with an old friend and reflect on the power of challenging the status quo. From being among the first girls in our school to push through barriers and choose woodwork over commerce, to making bold choices in work and life decades later, I explore how trusting your intuition and standing your ground can spark change—not just for yourself, but for others too. It’s a story of small acts of courage, leading by example, and the ripple effect our decisions can have on the world around us.
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Life Begets Death
Straight Forward Conversations
This episode explores the universal truth that life inevitably leads to death—a topic often avoided in close relationships, especially in Western culture. It contrasts various cultural attitudes toward death, ranging from honour and acceptance to fear and grief. The episode highlights how openness about death can lead to deeper communication, reduce fear, and foster peace, emphasizing the importance of discussing wishes and emotions with loved ones. Through personal reflections and cultural insights, it encourages embracing death as a natural part of life, promoting vulnerability, honesty,...
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Resistance is Futile
Straight Forward Conversations
AI is no longer just a buzzword—it's rapidly becoming part of our daily lives, from chatbots and self-driving cars to smart shopping experiences and workplace automation. In this episode, we dive into how artificial intelligence is transforming society, the mixed feelings it stirs up, and why open conversations about its impact, are more important than ever. Are you ready to embrace the change, or do you find yourself resisting? Join us as we explore the challenges, opportunities, and the vital role we all play in shaping our digital future. Let’s navigate this revolution together!
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Curiosity Killed the Cat
Straight Forward Conversations
Unlock the transformative power of curiosity in this episode, where we explore how being genuinely curious can deepen your connections, enhance communication, and build resilience. From personal stories and practical tips, to insights from leadership and psychology experts, discover why curiosity is more than just asking questions—it’s a vital skill for navigating relationships, overcoming challenges, and fostering growth. Whether you’re looking to strengthen your relationships, communicate more effectively, or bounce back from adversity, this episode reveals how curiosity can be your...
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Direct, Not Rude!
Straight Forward Conversations
In this episode, we dive into the challenges of having tough, honest conversations in today’s workplaces, schools, and social circles. Inspired by Paul Doherty’s reflections on the growing discomfort around direct feedback, we explore why open dialogue now feels like walking a tightrope—where raising concerns can risk strained relationships or even legal fallout. We discuss how shifting societal norms, reduced resilience, and the influence of social media have made people more hesitant to speak up, often confusing directness with rudeness and assertiveness with aggression. The episode...
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Conflict Resolution
Straight Forward Conversations
In this episode, I explore the often misunderstood topic of conflict and the vital role it plays in healthy communication. Drawing on personal experiences and thought-provoking quotes from Cheryl Richardson and Gandhi, the discussion delves into why avoiding conflict can lead to internal turmoil and how reframing our perspective can transform conflict from something to fear, into an opportunity for connection and resolution. You will be guided through practical strategies for navigating disagreements constructively—including framing conversations, setting boundaries, active listening, and...
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Speaking Up
Straight Forward Conversations
In this reflective and honest episode, we dive into the tricky terrain of speaking up—why it can be surprisingly hard, even when we know it’s the right thing to do. Sharing a recent personal experience, I unpack how fear, people-pleasing, and the desire to avoid conflict led to silence when assertiveness was needed most. Through reflection, I explore the primal roots of our fear of rejection, the importance of self-awareness, and how to overcome hesitation with practical, respectful communication strategies. This episode is a nudge to anyone who's ever second-guessed themselves—to...
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Non Verbal Communiation
Straight Forward Conversations
Does the body language match the words? What are the hands & eyes doing? Are you tuned in to what isn’t being said? Is this person comfortable around you, or are they stressed and not saying or sharing about it? Being aware of some non-verbal cues can help you in your everyday conversations with people and we identify & discuss some of the key ones in this episode.
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Dealing with Rude People
Straight Forward Conversations
I was taken back to my 21st podcast episode recently when I was listening to DOAC by Steven Bartlett interviewing Jefferson Fisher, a trial attorney now speaking coach who through his time in court, has observed people in their communication behaviours & patterns and shares a few useful tactics. In this episode I’m summarising what he shares on dealing with rude people as a follow up to my previous episode, which I recommend going back to listen to that first, & then compliment it with this episode for some really useful comebacks to call rudeness out. The link to my previous episode...
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Losing Strategies
Straight Forward Conversations
Do you ever feel like you’re fighting a losing battle with your partner? Or in your other close relationships? There might be a good reason for feeling that way and in this episode, we’ll explore 5x losing strategies for conflict resolution where you might recognise an unhelpful pattern. Identifying and being aware is always, always the first step in improving something. In this 15min episode, I summarise some insights from Terry Real’s book, ‘Fierce Intimacy’ that Tim Ferriss shared on his podcast – links below! Time Ferriss Episode # 798 Terry Real audiobook – Fierce Intimacy ...
info_outlineIt’s going to happen, we’re going to come across rude and/or aggressive people in our lives. It might be a Client, it might be a colleague, a friend or family member.
We might not feel like we can speak our mind, there are things at stake, be it company revenue, your job, a relationship……
It a challenge, no doubt, but there are things we can do, practice tangible things.
Let’s find out what they are!!