Assess how feeling career stuck is impacting you across ten areas of life - in 30 minutes. Then, decide what you want to do about it.
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Season 2 is officially a wrap—and in this episode, I’m giving you a fast-paced recap of what we covered, what stood out, and how to take action now.
Across 18 Joy at Work Experiments and conversations with brilliant guests, we explored everything from boundaries, burnout, and imposter syndrome to procrastination, identity, appraisals, and midlife dating. These weren’t just chats—they were practical insights designed to help you feel better about your workday and life.
If you’re just joining us, this episode is a great way to get caught up. If you’ve been listening all season, this is your chance to revisit your favourite moments—or finally try that experiment you skipped.
1️⃣ Pick one experiment that still lingers in your mind—and try it again.
2️⃣ Revisit your favourite interview and note one action you’ve taken (or want to take).
3️⃣ If you’re feeling a bit “off” in life or work, try my Derailed Life Satisfaction Assessment to get clearer on what’s working and what’s not.
Season 2 may be over, but the tools and insights are still here waiting to support you—wherever your work journey goes next.
As season two comes to a close, I'm heading underground, diving into research,
Speaker:seeking out brilliant new guests, and playing around with needle shifting ideas
Speaker:to bring you more 10 minute no fluff episodes that cut through the stress
Speaker:and boost the joy in your work life.
Speaker:But before I disappear, here's a fast and fiery recap of season two's
Speaker:standout moments packed with insights to revisit right when you need the most.
Speaker:Whether you missed a few episodes or are due for a re-listen, this roundup
Speaker:will help you find the ones that speak to your current situation at work.
Speaker:Let's dive in.
Speaker:Boundaries equals less stress with Louisa Clark.
Speaker:Louisa joined me twice in season two because her work on boundaries.
Speaker:Is that essential.
Speaker:In our first conversation, she linked everyday emotions like
Speaker:frustration, exhaustion, and pissed offness directly to leaky boundaries.
Speaker:Then in part two, Louisa walked through a clear, actionable and
Speaker:step-by-step process she uses for setting and communicating boundaries
Speaker:that creates space for true joy at work.
Speaker:Caught in a negative thought spiral with Caroline Kay.
Speaker:If you've ever been your own worst enemy.
Speaker:You've met self sabotage.
Speaker:Caroline unpacked what it looks like, why we fall into it, and shares her methods to
Speaker:build the mental strength to break free, and how that can then make big dreams
Speaker:happen much more quickly and easily.
Speaker:It's a powerful episode on flipping your mindset.
Speaker:Imposter syndrome isn't rare.
Speaker:It's rampant with Clare Josa.
Speaker:Clare, one of the UK's top experts on imposter syndrome, explains
Speaker:the subtle but critical difference between normal self-doubt and the soul
Speaker:sapping spiral of imposter syndrome.
Speaker:Spoiler, it could be what's holding you back from your next big leap.
Speaker:Your LinkedIn profile is letting you down with Jo Watson.
Speaker:Jo, a clever and hilarious copywriter dished the dirt on the top five mistakes
Speaker:she sees professionals make on LinkedIn.
Speaker:We laughed hard, but her advice is razor sharp.
Speaker:Your profile is your first impression and you've got 11 seconds to make it.
Speaker:Don't be boring on LinkedIn with Mel Booth.
Speaker:Mel showed us how to show up human on LinkedIn if your feed feels dull.
Speaker:This one's for you if you feel uncomfortable posting or are stuck
Speaker:in a dull loop of congratulating ex-colleagues on their new jobs
Speaker:and liking company updates.
Speaker:Her suggestions will help you engage with the humans on LinkedIn in ways
Speaker:that are non dull, non boring, and easy.
Speaker:Defining and redefining productivity with Louise Miller.
Speaker:Louise isn't your typical productivity guru.
Speaker:She's anti hack pro, intentional living.
Speaker:We talked about hitting pause, zooming out or up into the tree house and
Speaker:charting a work life route that leads somewhere you actually want to go.
Speaker:I love this episode so much.
Speaker:I'm now working with Lou to keep midlife unstuck growing while
Speaker:keeping me feeling un frazzled.
Speaker:Strong to grow old with Jon Field.
Speaker:If you are a midlife professional who spends a great deal of time staring at
Speaker:a computer screen, Jon's got your back.
Speaker:Literally.
Speaker:An amazing takeaway is that he explains the difference between
Speaker:exercise and training for longevity, and he gives really practical
Speaker:ideas how to stay mobile strong and thriving well into your later years.
Speaker:Even if you spend 60% of your day at the desk.
Speaker:Happiness and money, they're linked with Chris Bud.
Speaker:Chris author, podcast host, and financial wellbeing guru connects the dots
Speaker:between how we spend and how we feel.
Speaker:This episode dies into the happiness habits and the psychological traps
Speaker:that keep us stuck doing work that pays us, but doesn't feel joyful.
Speaker:There's so many aha moments in this one.
Speaker:Meetings don't have to suck with Dr. Carrie Goucher.
Speaker:Dr. Carrie.
Speaker:Totally gets the tribal weirdness of workplace meetings and offers
Speaker:tactical experiments to make them faster, better, and more productive.
Speaker:Whether you lead meetings or just sit in too many of them,
Speaker:this one's a game changer.
Speaker:Menopause at Work and how to talk about it with Sinead Sharkey-Steenson.
Speaker:Sinead joined me twice in this season to talk about menopause.
Speaker:Once from the perspective of those going through it and once from
Speaker:the lens of those supporting them, she's running men only sessions that
Speaker:demystify this often taboo topic.
Speaker:It's eye-opening, inclusive and practical.
Speaker:Understanding grief and what not to say with Dipti Tait.
Speaker:Grief isn't just about death.
Speaker:It can stem from big life shifts like childbirth, job loss, or marriage.
Speaker:Dipti offers compassionate advice on supporting others through grief, including
Speaker:five things you should never say.
Speaker:Yep.
Speaker:My eyebrows were very expressive on this episode.
Speaker:What's wrong with wearing black with Emma Shoe.
Speaker:Color Psychology at work doesn't get enough attention.
Speaker:Emma explains how the color in our wardrobes and on our Zoom
Speaker:backgrounds affect how we feel and how others perceive us.
Speaker:Her answer about black tops made me snort, laugh on air.
Speaker:Apologies in advance.
Speaker:End of life Conversations at Work with Liz Orgill.
Speaker:Liz, a marketeer and trainee end of life doula shares what she's learning about
Speaker:the emotional work of supporting loved ones through decline or death, and how to
Speaker:navigate those end of life conversations that are so important while still
Speaker:trying to keep the work wheels turning.
Speaker:Divorcing with dignity and keeping your career intact with Danielle Barbereau.
Speaker:Danielle, the first UK divorce coach, reframes separation
Speaker:with kindness and clarity.
Speaker:We talked about how to navigate emotional and legal hurdles without drama.
Speaker:How to avoid 1990 style.
Speaker:I'll see you in court.
Speaker:Divorce processes that can destroy families and how to choose a
Speaker:lawyer who values peace over war.
Speaker:Appraisals don't have to be awful with Dr. Amanda Wooley if
Speaker:you loathe annual appraisals.
Speaker:Welcome to the club.
Speaker:Amanda shares three transformational and surprisingly simple questions
Speaker:that can turn the whole process into something meaningful, motivating,
Speaker:and dare I say it enjoyable.
Speaker:How to be a good enough working parent with Sarah Mundy.
Speaker:Being a decent parent, partner, and professional at the
Speaker:same time is no small feat.
Speaker:Sarah, a brilliant child psychologist, gives grounded guilt-free advice
Speaker:for surviving and thriving in the chaos of working parenthood.
Speaker:One surprising suggestion made me breathe more easily and be
Speaker:a little gentler with myself.
Speaker:The comparison trap with Rob Stubbs.
Speaker:Rob Unpacks how comparison sneaks into our work and life to sap our joy.
Speaker:He offers a smarter way to respond using comparison as a tool for personal insight
Speaker:instead of dragging us into self-sabotage.
Speaker:Men's mental health out in the open with Paddy Silke.
Speaker:Paddy's openness about his own mental health struggles and the local group
Speaker:he started Men walking and talking.
Speaker:Left a big impression on me.
Speaker:Vulnerable, real, and so, so needed.
Speaker:Stress is at epidemic levels.
Speaker:Here's what to do with Bernadette Dancy.
Speaker:Bernadette Stress consultant reminded us that we're living in
Speaker:a time of global stress overload.
Speaker:She explains the cost of just cracking on and very clearly explains what
Speaker:to do instead to protect your mental health and your physical wellbeing
Speaker:so that you can bring a little joy home at the end of the workday.
Speaker:Midlife dating disasters and what to do instead with Kirsten Rao.
Speaker:Kirsten knows a thing or three about nightmare dates.
Speaker:She generously shared a few of them with me, and then she told me how
Speaker:she created a different method to date that transformed her results.
Speaker:Her method resulted in her discovering her husband, whom she always seems
Speaker:to be absolutely delighted with.
Speaker:So that's a review of all of the season two guest interviews.
Speaker:But for those of you who want to be a little more active in designing your
Speaker:joy at work, I encourage you to listen to the weekly experiment episodes.
Speaker:There are 18 experiments from season two that I've designed specifically for
Speaker:professionals who want to step in and more actively up the ante in their joy at work.
Speaker:These experiments come from so many different angles, including deep work,
Speaker:joyful habits, identity shifts, finding 30 extra minutes a day, pride, mistakes,
Speaker:prioritizing yourself, procrastination, thinking time, listening skills, ideal
Speaker:tuesdays, envy, wiping out irritations, breaking free of the cold job application
Speaker:cycle, getting comfortable with saying no, discovering your kryptonite.
Speaker:Conversations about work with family and friends, appreciation, and one
Speaker:of my favorites, busy bragging.
Speaker:So that's a wrap on season two.
Speaker:If any of these conversations spark curiosity or tug at something you are
Speaker:facing right now, go back and hit play.
Speaker:I promise it'll be 10 minutes well spent.
Speaker:To help us reach more people like you.
Speaker:I'd really appreciate it if you'd consider giving the Joy At Work Podcast,
Speaker:a five star review, and if you've got any topics you'd love us to cover, just
Speaker:email me at lucia@midlifeunstuck.com.
Speaker:Until next season, keep seeking your joy at work.
Speaker:If you enjoyed this, you might also enjoy my life satisfaction assessment.
Speaker:It's a 30 minute program where I guide you through a deep dive into 10 areas
Speaker:of your life to assess what's bringing you joy and what's bringing you die.
Speaker:I call it derailed.
Speaker:It's a fabulous place to begin at joy at work redesign.