Squiggly Careers
The Squiggly Career
Squiggly Careers is a weekly podcast that will help you take control of your career development. Hosted by the founders of Amazing If (https://www.amazingif.com/), Sarah Ellis and Helen Tupper, together they cover all things work: from how to manage stress and overcome your confidence gremlins to micro-aggressions and discovering your strengths. Each episode is full of ideas, actions, hints, and tips that you can put into practice straight away. Every so often they take a break from talking to each other to interview other people who are leading the way in making work better. Past guests include entrepreneur and philanthropist Dame Stephanie Shirley, author of The Joy of Work Bruce Daisley, and neuroscience expert Amy Brann. The Squiggly Careers podcast has been recommended by Harvard Business Review, Stylist, Marie Claire and Management Today.For more ideas, tools and inspiration every week, you can also sign up to their newsletter Squiggly Careers in Action. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books
12 snips
Nov 27, 2025 • 6min
Squiggly Shortcut: Discover Hidden Career Opportunities in 5 Minutes a Day
Discover how just five minutes a day can spark significant career growth. Learn to reflect on daily successes to combat self-doubt and build confidence. Explore the power of weekly reviews to pinpoint improvements. Foster a culture of learning by setting team goals. Uncover your strengths by seeking feedback from colleagues. Finally, embrace 'active rest' with creative breaks to enhance resilience and sustain your learning journey. Quick tips that can transform your career without heavy time commitments!
26 snips
Nov 25, 2025 • 39min
The Power of Mattering: How to Feel Valued and Valuable in Your Career
Explore the transformative concept of mattering at work, distinguishing it from mere belonging. Discover how feeling valued boosts motivation and wellbeing. Delve into striking statistics showing many employees feel invisible and how personal moments can shape our sense of significance. Learn three key ingredients that foster mattering: noticing, affirmation, and being needed. Plus, uncover practical actions to help colleagues feel appreciated without pressure. Small gestures can lead to big shifts in workplace dynamics!
11 snips
Nov 20, 2025 • 6min
Squiggly Shortcut: Why We Need To Ban The Word Busy
Exploring the pitfalls of the word 'busy,' the discussion highlights how vague language can cloud clarity and hinder progress. By choosing specific words like 'progress' or 'overloaded,' individuals can better coach themselves toward meaningful actions. Practical tips are shared to turn feelings of overwhelm into clear, actionable steps, including prioritization techniques and the power of intentional language. Emphasizing the importance of reflection, listeners are encouraged to transform their work weeks for the better.
16 snips
Nov 18, 2025 • 31min
7 Types of Rest to Recharge and Do Your Best at Work
Exploring the seven types of rest can transform your work life! Discover how physical, mental, sensory, and creative rest can rejuvenate you. The hosts share personal stories of rest gaps and creative fatigue. Learn how AI can generate a tailored rest profile, revealing surprising insights. Get practical tips for building small, sustainable rituals into your routine and encouraging team discussions on rest. It's all about identifying what you need to recharge and thrive!
7 snips
Nov 13, 2025 • 6min
Squiggly Shortcut: How To Be a Speed Learner in 5 Minutes
Discover how to accelerate your learning at work with five practical strategies. Learn the vital difference between speed and slow learning for busy professionals. Gain instant inspiration through curated content and quick feedback techniques. Use curious questions to tap into insights from colleagues and embrace everyday experiments as learning opportunities. Enhance your interactions with real-time reflection to improve communication skills. Stay curious and keep growing, even in a fast-paced environment!
17 snips
Nov 11, 2025 • 31min
The Marshmallow Test: How to Master Delayed Gratification for Career Success
Dive into the psychology of success with insights from the marshmallow experiment! Discover how making choices between instant gratification and long-term goals can shape your career. Learn the importance of batching emails to boost focus and why saying no can increase your impact. Explore the benefits of building relationships over simply applying for jobs. Uncover how to spot those crucial marshmallow moments in your decision-making process and shift towards more rewarding choices!
Nov 6, 2025 • 7min
Squiggly Shortcut: You Don’t Need a Perfect Plan to Change Careers — Here’s What to Do Instead
Navigating a career change doesn't require a flawless plan; it's all about taking that first step. Small experiments and low-pressure projects can ignite progress. Engaging in curious conversations opens up new opportunities and connections. Instead of fixating on job titles, focus on transferable talents that showcase your skills. Bridging roles can help you transition gradually while building confidence and maintaining stability. Real progress comes from action, not perfection.
34 snips
Nov 4, 2025 • 41min
Team Emotional Intelligence: The Secret to High-Performing Teams
Uncover the power of team emotional intelligence as Sarah and Helen share insights from groundbreaking research. Explore how emotional awareness can enhance motivation and trust among team members. Learn about a practical quiz developed using AI to assess team dynamics. The discussion dives into crucial categories of emotional intelligence, offering actionable rituals like 'challenge and build' for fostering feedback. Gain tips on building better stakeholder relationships and when to reassess your team's emotional intelligence for optimal performance.
5 snips
Oct 30, 2025 • 5min
Squiggly Shortcut: 3 Ways To Stand Out To Senior Stakeholders
Discover how to make a lasting impression on senior stakeholders. Learn to position yourself as a peer by engaging in meaningful conversations. Find out how following up effectively can add real value beyond just saying thanks. Explore the importance of connecting stakeholders with relevant networks to enhance collaboration. Elevate your career by building stronger relationships that matter!
11 snips
Oct 28, 2025 • 34min
The Psychology of Seats: How To Boost Your Impact & Influence At Work
Explore how your seat choice can shape your influence and confidence at work. Discover the impact of safe versus power seats in meetings and the dynamics of table shapes on collaboration. Learn practical tips for arranging seating in both physical and virtual environments to enhance presence and engage others. The conversation dives into how video call positioning can affect perceptions, encouraging you to experiment with seating to maximize your impact. Small changes in where you sit could lead to big shifts in your professional interactions!
