Enough, the Podcast
Enough, the Podcast, is a mash-up of deeply human conversations and expert advice on swapping perfectionism, people-pleasing and overachieving for a juicier, more easeful life. It’s moving. It’s light-hearted. It’s practical. And it’s for YOU, if you’re fed up with feeling burned out by hustling for your worth. Bi-weekly episodes on Thursdays.
info_outline
My Body Quit & My Identity Panicked, with Jo Rodriguez #94
07/17/2025
My Body Quit & My Identity Panicked, with Jo Rodriguez #94
You’re used to pushing hard – in fact, your identity is built on it. What happens when your body forces you to stop? Who are you then? That’s what happened to psychologist Jo Rodriguez, a behind-the-scenes TV expert, marathon runner, and mum who loved being called a machine. One day, what seemed like a simple illness forced her to slow down. She continued her relentless routine, and the mystery illness kept reappearing until the pain became unbearable, and Jo’s heart nearly doubled in size. After a diagnosis of pericarditis, she lay in hospital wondering if she’d ever feel worthy again. Could she find a new way of being without her super-achiever identity? In this raw, moving conversation, Jo shares what it was like to go through the stages of grief, the self-doubt, the false surrenders, and the small shift that finally started opening a new way of being. LINKS Jo Rodriguez on Mandy Lehto on
/episode/index/show/enoughthepodcast/id/37400425
info_outline
When Love is a Hustle: Healing the Fixer Identity, with Dr Natalie, #93
06/19/2025
When Love is a Hustle: Healing the Fixer Identity, with Dr Natalie, #93
When Love is a Hustle: Healing the Fixer Identity, with Dr Natalie Cawley #93 If you’ve ever over-functioned in a romantic relationship hoping to feel enough, this episode is for you. My guest is Dr Natalie Cawley, psychotherapist, counselling psychologist and author of Just About Coping: A real-life drama from the psychotherapist’s chair. Natalie shares openly about her own challenges with over-giving in her personal relationships, showing that we’re ALL prone to struggles – even therapists! We get into the *real* reason you keep over-giving, and how to finally stop it. Listen out for my own cringey/I-have-so-much-compassion-for-my-younger-self moment with an emotionally unavailable partner. This conversation feels like a warm, honest hug, with a gentle kick in the ash. Links: Natalie Cawley’s Natalie on Mandy on
/episode/index/show/enoughthepodcast/id/37006810
info_outline
Rewiring the Need to Please: Fawning, Relationships & Enoughness, with Nicole Vignola #92
05/08/2025
Rewiring the Need to Please: Fawning, Relationships & Enoughness, with Nicole Vignola #92
Ever said, “No worries, it’s fine,” when it absolutely wasn’t fine? Or maybe you’ve pushed down your needs and shape-shifted into whoever you thought you needed to be in a particular situation. That’s not kindness. That’s fawning—people-pleasing’s sneakier, brain-based cousin. In this episode, neuroscientist and author of Rewire, Nicole Vignola, joins me for a juicy, no-fluff convo about why we fawn, what’s going on in the brain when we do it, and how to unhook from this exhausting survival pattern. Nicole shares real talk from her own relationships, where she caught herself over-functioning, then said the magic word: “Enough.” Expect science, self-awareness, and some serious permission to want more. Nicole creates a practical de-fawning practice to help you shift out of appeasement and into enoughness. We kick things off with a little warm-up game I almost edited out… but didn’t. Come play enoughness ping pong with us and feel instantly more human. Tune in now. Because “fine” is officially cancelled. Links: . . .
/episode/index/show/enoughthepodcast/id/36473945
info_outline
Reinventing yourself? Finding Enoughness through the Poet’s Eye, with Donna Ashworth, #91
04/03/2025
Reinventing yourself? Finding Enoughness through the Poet’s Eye, with Donna Ashworth, #91
Reinvention often stirs up a storm—self-doubt, not-enoughness, the old habits of perfectionism and overworking. We think we have to earn our way out of stuckness. But what if the answer wasn’t in doing more—but in needing less? What if your enoughness was right there in plain sight, but you’ve been looking for it in the wrong places? This week, I’m joined by the glorious Donna Ashworth: poet, best-selling author, and queen of reinvention. She’s been a music industry exec, a magazine journalist, a business owner (of a children’s play centre) —and through each chapter, she’s rewritten what it means to feel enough. By using her poet’s eye, Donna has mastered the art of being easily pleased—finding beauty in the ordinary, and joy in the small. And in doing so, she’s removed the pressure to get reinvention “right.” If you’ve ever felt stuck, lost, or like it’s too late to start over… this conversation will feel like a deep exhale. Links
/episode/index/show/enoughthepodcast/id/35934715
info_outline
Achievement Won’t Carry You Through Tough Times, But This Might… Julia Baird #90
03/06/2025
Achievement Won’t Carry You Through Tough Times, But This Might… Julia Baird #90
What actually holds you together when life blindsides you? Maybe it’s a breakup. A diagnosis. Or the crushing weight of everything right now. If you’re wired for hustle, your first instinct might be to work through it—to push harder, achieve more, be exceptional. What if the answer wasn’t in doing more, but in seeing oneself as LESS? Wait, what? Julia Baird—broadcaster, journalist, and bestselling author—gets it. She loves being hyper-productive. But when her world cracked open, she didn’t seek solace in success. Instead, she discovered the power of her shrinking self and the practice of deliberately seeking awe. In this episode, we dive into the joys (and downsides) of hyper-productivity. We examine “the shrinking self”— and why it might be your secret weapon during tough times. We talk about the sustaining power of deep friendships, ocean swimming and dancing. You’ll also learn what Julia has recently said “ENOUGH!” to and felt better for it. You know those episodes where you take notes, read the transcript, and listen twice? This might be one of them. 0:00 Intro 3:40 Julia’s broken foot. The Guardian article on the need to be special 6:00 Julia shares that she loves being hyper-productive 10:10 Julia talks about her Calvinistic work ethic – the sense that we must contribute to the world 14:45 Julia could write during difficult times 15:30 The importance of feeling small 19:17 The shrinking self 20:44 The overview effect 23:20 If we’re too into achievement, we can experience the power of silence 25:46 Exploring what makes us strong. Julia discusses examples after her breakup 28:49 Things that “glow” in moments of darkness – like ocean swimming for Julia 30:30 Slow looking 34:54 The power of connection and female friendships 40:00 Maybe “ordinariness” is the wrong word 41:24 Julia’s powerful quote that Mandy reads out 44:50 Julia has learned a lot from people who are “broken” – she refers to Nick Cave’s music 47:28 What Julia is saying “Enough!” to, and feeling better for it 50:00 Julia’s word(s) of the year 51:10 OUTRO Links Julia Baird’s books: ; . Julia Baird’s Ted talk, . Julia on . Mandy on . Dacher Keltner’s book, . .
/episode/index/show/enoughthepodcast/id/35558645
info_outline
"I'm So Irritated and Reactive all the Time." COACHING CORNER #89
02/13/2025
"I'm So Irritated and Reactive all the Time." COACHING CORNER #89
You’re all out of give, and even the smallest request can spark an outsized reaction: DON’T YOU KNOW HOW BUSY I AM? Go away! Anger feels right under the skin, and the slightest provocation can unleash it – anything from loud chewing to an urgent email. You used to be fun. Things didn’t used to annoy you like this. You might be thinking, “What’s wrong with me?” So, you try to do more to finish your never-ending list. Then you’ll rest. But you find yourself ever more exhausted and reactive. Doing more is not the answer. This solo Coaching Corner episode will show you what is...We dive into your nervous system, your hormones, and having a cold, hard look at your true capacity. You’ll leave with some powerful coaching questions to help turn down the hair-trigger-ness of your annoyance. 0:00 Intro 3:10 Your nervous system as a first-day-on-the-job security guard 5:20 Am you just stressed, or is your nervous system dysregulated? 6:20 What is your reactivity trying to tell you? 6:50 Three tips you can try 7:36 Did you know this happens during perimenopause and menopause? *This explains a LOT. 9:05 Are you really honoring your capacity? 9:40 Do you do these things? 11:08 Three coaching questions to mull over 11:55 Outro Links:
/episode/index/show/enoughthepodcast/id/35255370
info_outline
Three Marriages, No Children. I Numbed Out with Work & Wine. Dr Melanie Sue Hicks #88
01/30/2025
Three Marriages, No Children. I Numbed Out with Work & Wine. Dr Melanie Sue Hicks #88
On the outside, Dr Mel Hicks (47) had it all. She's been a global philanthropist for two decades. She’s a published author, keynote speaker, and has travelled to 44 countries. But another failed marriage, and an emergency hysterectomy threw Mel into shame and self-doubt. She was alone again, and she’d never be a mother – and she blamed herself. As a high-achiever and a self-proclaimed “runner” from her problems, Mel dove into her charity work, and drank and partied so she wouldn’t have to face her feelings of not-enoughness. She finally had to confront the big emotions she’d been running from. Can she find a new way of relating to herself if she’s not a mom, and still feel enough? Let’s find out… 0:00 Intro 2:22. Why Mel’s inability to have children caused her to feel so much not-enoughness 4:03 When Mandy’s second marriage fell apart, and the not-enoughness she felt 4:59 Mel’s second divorce was a pivotal moment for her 9:49 The shame of not being part of the “motherhood club” 12:27 Mel’s fibroid diagnosis 13:35 Mel’s coping mechanisms (wine and work) 15:41 Liz Gilbert quote. Mel gets fed up of her own BS 17:31 “I forgive you” 20:04 The exhaustion of pushing down emotions 21:22 Mel allowed her shame stories to surface 24:58 Moving forward vs “running” 26:23 Shame resilience 28:09 How Mel picked shame apart 32:57/Outro What Mel has recently said “Enough!” to Links .
/episode/index/show/enoughthepodcast/id/35068465
info_outline
"You'll never be enough for your ego." Using the superior wisdom of the senses. Sonia Choquette #87
12/05/2024
"You'll never be enough for your ego." Using the superior wisdom of the senses. Sonia Choquette #87
Operating from fear and scarcity means you’re not reading life accurately. The same is true if you’re moving through life guided solely by intellect – head wisdom – ignoring the superior wisdom of the other senses. My guest is spiritual teacher and NYT best-selling author, Sonia Choquette, who shares some practices from her new book, Read Life Accurately. She helps us to tune into our energetic alerts, within ourselves, others, and the places we work and live in. More and more scientific research supports what intuitive practitioners have known all along – that being connected to our bodily sensations, listening to those “nudges” can help us perform better in high-pressure environments, manage stress, and make less impulsive decisions. Links Sonia Choquette’s . Sonia on Mandy on Jessica Maguire’s on the nervous system (including reference to London traders research). Dene Logan post on about over-giving as a desire to be rescued.
/episode/index/show/enoughthepodcast/id/34270955
info_outline
Feeling enough when you’ve had a challenging past. Baroness Lola Young #86
11/21/2024
Feeling enough when you’ve had a challenging past. Baroness Lola Young #86
Is your measure of success focused purely on your own achievements? Maybe you’re at a time in your life when you’re questioning legacy, purpose, and who you are beneath your job title. Maybe you’re thinking about what it means to contribute and to matter in society. Baroness Lola Young was one of the first black women members of the House of Lords. She’s been an actress, an academic, and a cross-bench peer. She’s also an active campaigner against modern slavery and unethical fashion. Her new book, Eight Weeks, an account of being raised in foster care and children’s homes between the ages of eight weeks and 18 years. In this conversation I talk to Lola about the influence of her challenging past on her identity and choice of career. We probe into what it means to matter – I’m curious if mattering might be an antidote to the hyper-individualization, loneliness and disconnection so many people are feeling. What could “mattering” look like in your own life? Could being of service (more intentionally) help you to feel enough? Let’s find out. 00:00 Intro 4:47 Who is Lola Young? 6:08 Lola’s thoughts on identity – being black, female and “in care.” 7:45 Jerry Colonna’s big question, “To whom do I belong?” 8:21 How Lola’s early experiences shaped her identify and feelings of enoughness. 14:46 Description of her book, Eight Weeks: Looking Back, Moving Forwards, Defying the Odds. 18:45 The connection between enoughness and the hyper-individualistic society we live in. What is “mattering?” 20:40 Mattering and enoughness. 23:14 Her peers growing up were tuned into the public need and public service. 24:43 Did Lola’s challenging upbringing influence her choice of career? 28:39 Does Lola feel enough in this season of her life? 31:31 Lola’s Brick of Wisdom 32:43 Outro 34:04 Sonia Choquette is my next guest. LINKS Lola Young’s book . Lola Young’s page. Dr Gordon Flett’s book on . Episode 85 on . .
/episode/index/show/enoughthepodcast/id/34034626
info_outline
The enoughness power tool you didn't know you needed: "Kindfulness" Dr David Hamilton #85
11/07/2024
The enoughness power tool you didn't know you needed: "Kindfulness" Dr David Hamilton #85
You may have heard about the health benefits of being kind. Not only can it lower blood pressure, and boost immunity. It can also positively alter your relationship with yourself, which piqued my interest for those of us who’ve spent decades driving ourselves relentlessly. Is kindfulness a solution to feelings of not-enoughness? Dr David Hamilton is a speaker, columnist, and author of twelve books, including his most recent, The Joy of Actually Giving a F*ck. He’s delivered kindness sessions for Google, Bank of England, the NHS, and many others. In this episode, David and I discuss “kind genes”, how mindfulness doesn’t help everyone to be kinder, and rethinking what success can feel like. David also gives us a kindness challenge, which I’ve been taking. Hear some of the things I’ve been trying. 0:00 Intro 3:04 Definition of “kindfulness” 4:00 Does mindfulness work for everyone? 6:26 What mindfulness actually does. 7:18 Does it make you more self-critical? 11:02 David’s “Inner Buddha” technique 15:50 The fear that self-compassion means we lose motivation 17:12 Productivity, creativity and neural networks 20:35 What success “feels” like as you’re pursuing it 28:45 The Physical benefits of kindness 33:21 Research on kindness and self-esteem 35:04 “Writing as a technology of healing,” (to use Jessica Waite’s phrase from the previous episode) 41:29 David’s 7 days of kindness challenge 44:18 List of what Mandy tried 47:17 One of David’s ideas 50:19 David’s Brick of Wisdom 51:12 Outro Links: (includes his new book). . .
/episode/index/show/enoughthepodcast/id/33817506
info_outline
My husband died suddenly, and his secret life upended me. Jessica Waite #84
10/24/2024
My husband died suddenly, and his secret life upended me. Jessica Waite #84
Headphones recommended. I’m in conversation with Jessica Waite, best-selling author of The Widow’s Guide to Dead Bastards. Sean, Jessica’s husband of 17 years, died unexpectedly, and after his funeral, when some of his personal effects were returned, she started piecing together parts of his secret life. In this conversation we talk about how you put your life back together after a romantic relationship ends. What if it’s complicated by grief, shock, and infidelity? Jessica talks about the importance of feeling her feelings – including questioning her enoughness, and an act of revenge. We discuss the use of writing as a technology of healing. You’ll also hear how she’s navigating being thrust onto the world stage with her vulnerable story, and how she’s grounding herself. Compelling, thought-provoking, and insightful. Join us! 3:44 How Jessica’s life unravelled after her husband’s unexpected death. 8:35 How did she make sense of his pornography addiction – and how that was different to the breach of trust in her marriage when she uncovered her husband’s affair. 13:42 “Emotional Spanx” – Emotions will bulge out somewhere; they cannot be cordoned off. 16:00 What is wholeness? 18:03 How Jessica practiced levity and compassion. How writing helped her to see herself as a character. 23:36 Writing as a technology of healing. 27:00 Some odd, paranormal situations start happening in Jessica’s life. 35:44 When starting to share vulnerable stories, it’s important who you share with. 36:01 The risk of sharing is real. Jessica’s story hits the British tabloids. 40:10 What Jessica is learning about who she is in this season of her life. 42:40 Grief as a dissolution of identity that leads to a reforming. 44:30 Strictly Come Dancing ex-dancer Janette Manrara talks about the pressures of public scrutiny 47:46 Jessica’s take on the arm-chair critics. 51:22 Brick of Wisdom 52:29 OUTRO – with a closing comment by Jessica Links Jessica Waite’s website Jessica Waite’s book. Jessica Waite on Instagram. Mark Silverman’s episode (he discusses “Morning Pages”). Rosie Nixon’s episode (where she talks about life-changing lists). Full episode of Janette Manrara from Strictly Come Dancing.
/episode/index/show/enoughthepodcast/id/33581372
info_outline
"I keep getting interrupted at work." COACHING CORNER with Alina Addison #83
10/10/2024
"I keep getting interrupted at work." COACHING CORNER with Alina Addison #83
Welcome to the first ever Coaching Corner episode of Enough, the Podcast. These conversations are shorter and focus on a particular challenge. I hope you find them practical and immediately actionable. Coaching Corner episodes will be interspersed between the usual ones, just to spice things up. This week, the work dilemma is around being interrupted – what can you do when that happens? My guest is fellow coach, Alina Addison, author of The Audacity Spectrum: Leading with Care, Courage and Non-Conformity. We offer up some ideas you can try in those challenging conversations. 1:15 Alina’s key question if you’re being talked over 3:22 Using a gesture – if you’re feeling audacious 3:50 The acknowledging tool 5:40 Self-awareness isn’t enough – the other lenses to pay attention to 8:26 Check your story 8:34 Recap of the tools and ideas so far 10:52 Alina’s Assertiveness Formula 16:09 Kate’s boss speaks over her – what could she do? 19:00 Implementing the Assertiveness Formula 21:30 Internal calculations – what’s your tolerance level for interruption 28:17 OUTRO Links: Alina Addison’s book:
/episode/index/show/enoughthepodcast/id/33375727
info_outline
I perform for millions, but I still feel imposter syndrome (and it's okay). Janette Manrara #82
09/26/2024
I perform for millions, but I still feel imposter syndrome (and it's okay). Janette Manrara #82
Have you ever wondered if people in the public eye feel bouts of not-enoughness? And if so, how they handle it? Janette Manrara is a former pro dancer on Strictly Come Dancing, a television show watched by 12-18 million people each week. Janette now hosts the TV programme, It Takes Two, and recently published Tiny Dancer, Big World: How to find fulfilment from the inside out. In this conversation, Janette and I discuss her unusual entry into professional dance (her “wiggly career”), her moments of not-enoughness resulting from the rejections along the way, and how she finally learned to relate to moments of imposter syndrome and self-doubt (because – spoiler alert – they never go away). There’s a secret insight from Janette in the Outro, so listen to the very end. (3:18) Mandy’s experience of ballroom dancing. (6:18) Self-love has been a quest for Janette. (7:31) Janette shares her career moments of not feeling enough. (14:11) LA is the most ruthless place on earth for rejection. (18:57) Janette’s first year on Strictly (20:56) Her inner critic and not feeling good enough or liked on the show. (23:26) What Janette would say to her younger self. (24:42) Lenny Kravitz also has bouts of not-enoughness. (25:28) Defensive pessimism and a recap of Janette’s points. (27:28) Imposter syndrome – Janette had no “specialty” (32:15) Adam Grant’s Overblown Implications Effect, and ‘what are you listening for?’ (34:38) Wiggly careers/skill stacking. 38:52 Emma Reid Turrell: 3 reasons your imposter syndrome might get activated. (40:20) How Janette handles moments of imposter syndrome. (44:16) Gratitude (it works, even if it sounds “old hat”). (47:08) The biggest takeaway Janette readers experience from her book. (49:00) Enoughness is a practice. Recap of Janette’s practices. (50:36) Janette’s Brick of Wisdom. (51:25) Outro and secret bonus insight from Janette on what dance is like for her. LINKS . . . . . .
/episode/index/show/enoughthepodcast/id/33166897
info_outline
Why you're accomplished, overwhelmed & don't feel enough. Dr Emma Seppälä #81
09/12/2024
Why you're accomplished, overwhelmed & don't feel enough. Dr Emma Seppälä #81
In this conversation, Emma and I dig into what’s keeping us “bound”, overwhelmed, and feeling not-enough. We touch on the types of happiness (Emma’s been researching happiness for 20 years) and why a contemplative practice is the foundation of having a more life-affirming relationship with yourself. You’ll hear about how people get “committed to burnout,” and how to break out of what Emma calls the “Matrix” that’s keeping you stuck and exhausted. There’s also a cameo from Dr Anna Lembke, best-selling author of Dopamine Nation, and Stanford professor. Emma and I get into the programs that are running our behaviours and thoughts – including one scenario where a salesperson insulted me, and I opened my wallet, fully aware of what I was doing (and I did it anyway!). Emma, why do we do this? Emma’s practical, evidence-based suggestions give you a path back to freedom, energy and your power. Links
/episode/index/show/enoughthepodcast/id/32973682
info_outline
Feeling meh? How a "pre-mortem" can resurrect your good enoughness. Jodi Wellman #80
08/29/2024
Feeling meh? How a "pre-mortem" can resurrect your good enoughness. Jodi Wellman #80
How many Mondays do you have left? You’re about to find out. Coach and author, Jodi Wellman and I hang out with the Grim Reaper in today’s conversation. We start with a pre-mortem, a pulse check of where you are right now, while you’re still on this side of the lawn. What areas of your life are in the Dead Zone? What teeny tiny steps can you take right now to zhuzh up those parts that are ho-hum? You’ll rate yourself on Jodi’s Astonishingly Alive quadrant and discover if it’s more meaning or fun (or both) that will defibrillate your existence. Uplifting and thought-provoking. Links 3:11 Jodi and Mandy riff on why they think so much about death. 10:11 “Fine” is the most dangerous f-word. The three stooges of bore-out, and how our lives grow stale. 13:06 Only 16.6% of people Jodi polled would feel like they had lived fully if they died tonight. 16:48 Use the pre-mortem to diagnose the “dead zones.” 19:11 Jodi’s Astonishingly Alive framework 21:45 Are you Meaningfully Bored or Vitally Empty? 23:52 Jodi’s alive-alicious sentence stem to play with. 24:50 Start small – don’t go gangbusters! 32:13 Zizou & Roger Federer story. 35:08 The Astonishingly Alive Zone (do we have to live here? Sounds exhausting). 38:38 Sometimes we don’t take action on a dream because it’s safer to keep it pristine… 43:03 Calculate how many Mondays you have left & Brick of Wisdom
/episode/index/show/enoughthepodcast/id/32766257
info_outline
"I'm a good (but kinda boring) leader." Being brave enough to bring fun & creativity to work. Richard Medcalf & Antonia Kirkby #79
08/01/2024
"I'm a good (but kinda boring) leader." Being brave enough to bring fun & creativity to work. Richard Medcalf & Antonia Kirkby #79
As a high achiever, you’ve probably spent your career optimising for productivity, efficiency, and the bottom line. But there comes a time when that old winning formula no longer cuts it. Maybe you’ve been promoted, or you’re leading a bigger team. Maybe you’ve been told to bring more energy, charisma, and presence to your leadership so that others want to follow you. Research shows that bringing play, fun, and creativity to work can help to retain colleagues, and inspire more innovative ideas. Before you freeze and say, I’m the most un-fun person I know (shriek emoji), stay with me. I promise, there’s no juggling or stand-up comedy required. Today’s guests are going to teach you how (and WHY) to bring more energy and fun to your leadership. Richard Medcalf is an author and coach who heads CEO circles with fun and a lightness of touch. Consultant clinical neuropsychologist, Dr Antonia Kirkby explains our brains on play, and why you want to be optimising for connection in meetings. The episode is full of ideas you can try right away. Video of the .
/episode/index/show/enoughthepodcast/id/32376377
info_outline
Unresolved feelings of not-enoughness and emotional repression caused my chronic illness. Jen Mann. #78
07/11/2024
Unresolved feelings of not-enoughness and emotional repression caused my chronic illness. Jen Mann. #78
Today's guest is Jen Mann, ex-ballet dancer and co-author of the international best-seller, The Secret Language of the Body. In this conversation we discuss how Jen’s early life contributed to the perfectionism, people-pleasing and self-criticism that would ultimately end in chronic illness that traditional medicine was unable to solve. Frustrated and anxious, Jen started connecting the dots between the mind-body cross-over with the clients she was supporting after her ballet career ended. She pieced together insights on how to heal herself by increasing her vagal tone and somatic experiencing, alongside talk therapy and physio. She shares 3 key tips for longer-term healing, as well as 5 practical things you can do right away to decrease your perception of stress during days of back-to-back meetings. 3:52 My childhood was a perfect set up for anxiety 9:21 Jen becomes a professional ballet dancer 13:31 What came after Jen’s ballet career 14:50 Jen spots connections between her clients’ work stress and their physical pain 16:00 The symptoms she was seeing in her clients – and how her own chronic illness symptoms started 20:50 Unresolved feelings of not-enoughness and emotional repression cause illness 25:40 Jen’s body said “Enough!” 28:42 Window of Tolerance 35:17 Conventional medicine didn’t work for Jen, and what she discovered instead 39:57 Vagal tone 44:39 Three tips for longer-term change 51:15 Five strategies you can use at work to soothe your nervous system during hectic days 1:03 Jen’s Brick of Wisdom Links: Jen Mann and Karden Rabin’s Jen Mann on Mandy Lehto on with Tatiana Poliakova
/episode/index/show/enoughthepodcast/id/32086342
info_outline
"The more I shone, the worse I felt. It was safer to be anxious than angry." Jerry Colonna. #77
06/27/2024
"The more I shone, the worse I felt. It was safer to be anxious than angry." Jerry Colonna. #77
What are sub-routines? Author, coach, and “CEO Whisperer” Jerry Colonna adopts a term from computer programming, referring to the software that runs under an application, likening this to our belief systems laid down early in life. Jerry uses radical self-inquiry on me (unexpectedly) to probe my belief of “I must be constantly productive to be worthy” – a common sub-routine in high-achievers. Jerry invites us to consider the beliefs we’ve inherited from our ancestors in attempts to belong (as well as the subroutines those ancestors might’ve been running). How might these sub-routines be running under your leadership? We end with Jerry’s suggested practice and the core question to use in your own self-inquiry. The vibe of this episode? Deep, reflective, thought-provoking. *Explicit. Mentions suicide. 4:03 Mandy’s Sedona ancestry experience 9:54 What does ‘belonging’ mean? – “To whom do I belong as a white, cis-gender man?” 11:50 Radical self-inquiry 14:55 Who am I? How did I come to be? Why do I do things that I do? 15:24 Sub-routines 17:20 Jerry’s career in VC (and working himself to death) 20:25 Examples of sub-routines 24:30 How Jerry worked through his sub-routines 30:00 Jerry does radical self-inquiry on Mandy 35:07 Behaviours persist when they provide a benefit 47:09 Relevance of sub-routines to working life 47:45 Jerry’s suggestion of what you can try – his core question to sit with 52:55 Jerry’s Brick of Wisdom Links: . . . . .
/episode/index/show/enoughthepodcast/id/31880627
info_outline
High-Functioning Anxiety was masking my ADHD & dyslexia. People-pleasing was running my life. Dr Lalitaa Suglani #76
06/13/2024
High-Functioning Anxiety was masking my ADHD & dyslexia. People-pleasing was running my life. Dr Lalitaa Suglani #76
What is high-functioning anxiety? Dr Lalitaa Suglani takes us through everything you need to know – how HFA shows up day to day; where it comes from; and what you can do if you think you might have HFA. Dr Suglani is an award-winning psychologist and author of High-Functioning Anxiety: A 5-step guide to calming the inner panic and thriving (Hay House). We get into Dr Lalitaa’s own story of how HFA masked her dyslexia, ADHD, and how perfectionism and people-pleasing were running her life. She shares key actions you can start implementing right away if you recognize HFA in your own life. Poignant and practical. Join us! 1:43 What is HFA? 3:14 What would you be seeing day to day at work with something who has HFA? 4:28 Does HFA show up the same way for men and women? 6:38 Where HFA might come from. 8:06 Lalitaa’s own story. 15:48 Steps to kick off the “unlearning” part of the process. 19:51 Noticing when you’re catastrophising, and when dysregulation. Shadow work. 22:35 Conscious change. Learning to connect with the body. 26:13 How to sit in difficult emotions. 29:45 Coaching question 1 about people pleasing, being taken advantage of, and resentment. How to shift this. 32:22 Coaching question 2 about fear of confrontation and never learning to use one’s voice. 38:18 Coaching question 3 about having ridiculously high standards. Lowering those standards feels like “I can’t hack it.” Intention instead of anxiety. 39:46 Lalitaa’s brick of wisdom. Links:
/episode/index/show/enoughthepodcast/id/31701712
info_outline
Toxic productivity, self-abandonment & regenerative self-care. Tamu Thomas #75
05/30/2024
Toxic productivity, self-abandonment & regenerative self-care. Tamu Thomas #75
Where did you learn how to be a woman who worked too much? Who modelled it? And if you don’t identify as a woman, stay tuned. The women in your life are likely overwhelmed and constantly doing – this episode will help you to understand why. Tamu Thomas is a former social worker, and now a coach and author of Women Who Work Too Much. In this conversation Tamu and Mandy discuss toxic positivity and self-abandonment, and where these can come from (Tamu shares how she learned to overachieve in her Sierra Leonean family). You’ll also learn how to reclaim rest and regenerative selfcare, and how Grace Jones championed Tamu through hard times (Grace is available for pep talks, by the way). Mandy gives Tamu three real-life coaching scenarios to unpack. Insightful, powerful and radically practical. 2:06 How Tamu learned to work too much 6:37 Toxic Productivity 10:34 Self-abandonment – “It’s not your fault” 11:45 Being “nice” means it’s okay to feel bad, but not to look bad 12:46 How we learn to ignore our needs in favour of people pleasing 13:41 Tamu’s late diagnosed ADHD 15:28 Women and ambition; bossy leadership 17:46 The antidote to self-abandonment is safe community 19:23 Grace Jones gives Tamu pep talks 21:42 Post-traumatic growth and compassion 23:45 Regenerative selfcare – What is it? Why it matters 26:40 Boundaries 28:04 Regenerative selfcare in action 28:50 Good girl conditioning and stepping into bold womanhood 30:58 Regenerative selfcare is reading about political policies and voting 32:46 Coaching question 1: Corporate Armadillo. Woman in her 50s, has spent her corporate career armoured up. Wants to change 36:40 Coaching question 2: Woman of colour in her 40s who’s a people pleaser 40:35 Coaching question 3: I’m a midlife corporate lawyer and I’ve given myself to my job and my kids. I miss ME. 44:08 Tamu’s Brick of Wisdom 44:40 Outro LINKS: .
/episode/index/show/enoughthepodcast/id/31513422
info_outline
I loved my glamorous job, but was diagnosed with Psychological Exhaustion. Rosie Nixon #74
05/09/2024
I loved my glamorous job, but was diagnosed with Psychological Exhaustion. Rosie Nixon #74
Episode 74: Overcoming Psychological Exhaustion, with Rosie Nixon You’re not completely burnt out, or incapacitated by work, but you know that something’s not quite right. Perhaps you’re more tired than usual, or you’re having other niggling signs, but you carry on. These things pass; they always do – until they don’t. That’s what happened to Rosie Nixon, author, coach, and former editor of Hello! magazine, whose career — however covetable and glamorous — was starting to feel too much. Rosie shares the pivotal moment when she knew something had to change. What followed was her getting signed off work and a diagnosis of Psychological Exhaustion (she takes us into that doctor’s appointment and shares what she learned). We get into Rosie's journey of separating her identity from Hello! magazine, and how she’s navigating her drive with a desire for a more spacious, values-driven life in her late 40s. Real, raw, and radically practical. Links: . on breaking the burnout cycle. we refer to (subscription required). . .
/episode/index/show/enoughthepodcast/id/31143113
info_outline
Women are often told to speak up & be more confident. What's really going on? Elaine Lin Hering #73
04/25/2024
Women are often told to speak up & be more confident. What's really going on? Elaine Lin Hering #73
Episode 73: Unlearning Silence with Dr. Elaine Lin Hering Have you ever received the feedback to “speak up” at work? Say more in meetings. Turn up the volume. It sounds so easy but speaking up isn’t always that straightforward – or welcomed. Today’s guest is Elaine Lin Hering, author of Unlearning Silence: How to speak your mind, unleash talent and lead with courage. She’s been a lecturer at Harvard Law School, and a Managing Partner at a global leadership development firm. Elaine’s clients have included Nike, Google and Pixar. We deep-dive into silence — how we silence ourselves, how we silence others, and how it’s baked into the system. You’ll learn that there’s often good reason to stay silent in some corporate situations — politics, power dynamics, challenging individuals. Un-silencing yourself can be especially challenging if you’re not from the dominant culture... This conversation feels like master-class--meets mentoring--meets real life coaching session. We discuss: A scenario where an executive feels publicly undermined by her boss, and his feedback (when she brings it up) is to increase her confidence and toughen up. A scenario where a senior executive has helped a new colleague and shared her client base, and now he’s getting all the visibility (she doesn’t feel she’s one to speak up and address it). A newly promoted Partner feels like the token woman on the senior leadership team…Have they only promoted me because I’m female? LINKS:
/episode/index/show/enoughthepodcast/id/30889083
info_outline
"I achieved my life goal, but it didn't cure my feelings of not-enoughness" Callum Wilson #72
04/11/2024
"I achieved my life goal, but it didn't cure my feelings of not-enoughness" Callum Wilson #72
If you’ve ever achieved a big goal, was it everything you’d hoped? Probably not. Callum Wilson dreamt of representing England’s national rugby team since he was a kid, but when it happened, it didn’t change his life the way he’d hoped. Sidebar: This is NOT an episode about rugby. It’s a powerful, tender conversation about how a tattooed, 113kg overachiever handled “arrival fallacy” – the concept that if we just achieve that big goal, THEN we’ll be happy. You’ll learn why diversifying your “goal portfolio” can create a positive shift, and how to handle the negative inner chatter when it insists you’re not enough. Links: . , with Dr Ben-Shahar
/episode/index/show/enoughthepodcast/id/30752048
info_outline
"I’m Bored-Out, Not Burned Out." Is it time to try something new? Kristi Turner & Shelley Paxton #71
03/21/2024
"I’m Bored-Out, Not Burned Out." Is it time to try something new? Kristi Turner & Shelley Paxton #71
You’ve heard of burnout, but ever heard of bore-out? Apparently, it’s a leading cause of why people leave their jobs. I’m not talking about things feeling a bit drab. I’m talking about the loss of meaning in your work, and the adverse effects this can have on your mental and physical wellbeing. As you become more senior, maybe your days are full of admin, politics, and none of the juicy stuff that used to light you up. In today’s episode you’ll meet Kristi Turner, a former tech CMO, whose work stress was mainly due to boredom. Kristi took a pause from work, had a “Soulbbatical” (more on this in the episode), and found a new-found vigour to re-enter the corporate in a way that felt more aligned with her values. You’ll also meet Shelley Paxton, former CMO of Harley Davidson and founder of the Soulbbatical, who gives you some techniques to tackle bore-out – no resignation letter required. Pacey and practical, you’ll leave this episode tooled up, and (hopefully) enlivened. Join us! Links: Kristi Turner’s . Shelley Paxton’s . . Brené Brown’s . : Why boredom at work is more dangerous than burnout. . Mandy Lehto on .
/episode/index/show/enoughthepodcast/id/30444868
info_outline
Brave enough to try Authentic Leadership? Erin Hatzikostas #70
02/29/2024
Brave enough to try Authentic Leadership? Erin Hatzikostas #70
Do you have BLS? (Beige Leadership Syndrome). I just made that up, but it’s a thing. If you work in corporate, you know the meetings that are soda-cracker dry. The BS buzzwords. The slow death by Power Point. The lack of relatable, inspiring leaders at the top. What gives? Enter Erin Hatzikostas, ex-CEO turned author, TEDx speaker, podcaster and coach-sultant. We talk about how to start practicing authentic leadership, and before you roll your eyes, or think you know what that means, strap in for the ride. This is authenticity as you’ve never experienced it. You’ll leave with some radically practical ways to experiment with authentic leadership, and a new, life-changing tool: the 50% rule. I think I can safely say, this episode will rid the corporate world of BLS. Join us. You career will thank you. Links: Erin Hatzikostas’s . Please watch her cool 2min video! Erin on . Mandy on . Me on (episode 233).
/episode/index/show/enoughthepodcast/id/30155243
info_outline
Striving got you HERE, but now it'll hold you back. Dr Jeff Spencer #69
02/08/2024
Striving got you HERE, but now it'll hold you back. Dr Jeff Spencer #69
Dr Jeff Spencer is the man behind more than forty Olympic gold medals, and stellar performances by Tiger Woods, Lance Armstrong, and many other elite performers who are household names. In today’s conversation, you’ll get a sneak peek at some of the techniques Jeff uses with them. Hint, hint – it’s NOT more striving or hyper-focus. You’ll learn to do “Chameleon Eyes”, a process that opens more opportunities and more of your untapped potential. You’ll also learn to shift gears from striving into receivership, and how “resonant recognition” can be a new navigation system in your life. This is especially important as you leave your 30s, the decade of “conquest and acquisition.” Wise, experienced, and just the right amount of intense, Jeff will challenge how you go about success. Links: . . . . David Brooks’ book, .
/episode/index/show/enoughthepodcast/id/29855723
info_outline
Stanford Neuroscientist Dissects the Inner Critic. Dr. Irene Salter #68
01/25/2024
Stanford Neuroscientist Dissects the Inner Critic. Dr. Irene Salter #68
Want to learn the real deal on your inner critic from a Stanford-trained neuroscientist? You’re in luck. Today’s guest is Dr Irene Salter, whose inner critic (named Draco) was taking too much airtime in Irene’s life. You’ll hear Irene’s hypothesis on where the inner critic comes from. Then she takes us through a real-life scenario of how she turned the volume down on Draco. You’ll learn about popcorn brain – and my favourite part of the episode, how to connect with your subconscious brain to find out what the heck is going on with that inner voice and the extreme behaviours it demands of you. Lab coats at the ready. Links:
/episode/index/show/enoughthepodcast/id/29642698
info_outline
Languishing at work? Maybe you’re high net growth. Jenny Blake #67
11/30/2023
Languishing at work? Maybe you’re high net growth. Jenny Blake #67
When work isn’t working, it’s easy to question yourself, “Why can’t I hack it? What’s wrong with me?” Maybe you’re feeling stagnant, exhausted, or even burnt out. Is it a capacity issue or are you high net growth? (stay tuned for what that means). I’m in conversation with award-winning author and podcaster, Jenny Blake. During her career at Google, she looked at her management and thought, “I don’t want that job.” If you’re languishing, and can’t see a way forward, what do you do? Jenny offers a refreshing perspective on our obsession with promotions, and what she calls “the sea of shiny shoulds.” You’ll learn about project-based purpose, how you can “turn into a goo” after leaving a company that has brand halo, and why an energy audit can be a big reveal. Join us. Links: , Adam Grant (subscription required)
/episode/index/show/enoughthepodcast/id/28859088
info_outline
Acts of Kindness (and how they help you feel enough) #66
11/22/2023
Acts of Kindness (and how they help you feel enough) #66
If you love an act of kindness, this episode is gonna feel like lowering yourself into a hot mug of chocolate, with itty bitty marshmallows. Acts of kindness have proven health effects, but I’ve also noticed something else. They are a splendid antidote to feeling self-critical, not enough, and being too zoomed in on your own inner world. This episode originally aired in 2021, and I loved it so much, I wanted to give it a second life. I asked a bunch of guests back to the pod to share a collection of acts of kindness – either given or received – and the impact it had on them. Warm fuzzies guaranteed. Links: .
/episode/index/show/enoughthepodcast/id/28766488
info_outline
"I quit my big job and now I feel like a loser." Shannon Sedlacek #65
10/26/2023
"I quit my big job and now I feel like a loser." Shannon Sedlacek #65
Former litigator (and firefighter) Shannon Sedlacek is back by popular demand. She featured in episode 53, one of the most downloaded episodes of the year. She’s back to share what happened to her identity when she was forced to leave her impressive job. She shares how her sense of self shifted so dramatically, that at one point, she didn’t even want to be alive. She also shares the two things that helped her transcend those difficult times. You’ll hear a cameo from a previous guest. You’ll also hear what I learned from a man in burgundy robes that messed with my thinking. If you’re highly identified with your job, but know deep down that you have a tough choice ahead, this episode is for YOU. Links: Shannon Sedlacek’s . Gelong Thubten’s . Jessica Maguire’s . Nicole LePera’s . Mandy Lehto on .
/episode/index/show/enoughthepodcast/id/28424126