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
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.
24 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!
6 snips
Oct 23, 2025 • 6min
Squiggly Shortcut: How to Quieten Your Inner Critic
Dive into practical strategies for overcoming your inner critic! Discover the concept of 'confidence gremlins' that trigger self-doubt and fear. Learn how to reframe 'I can't' into actionable steps, turning pessimism into bursts of optimism by recognizing small successes. Embrace a flexible mindset to gradually improve your skills, moving from a four to a five. These quick tips are designed to boost resilience and help you take confident strides in your career.
29 snips
Oct 21, 2025 • 36min
Map Your Career: 5 Visual Tools to Find Clarity and Direction
Discover how mapping can revolutionize your career path! Explore five innovative maps to gain clarity and insight, from Energy Maps that track your daily highs and lows to Skills Maps that help identify areas for growth. Learn about the Give–Gain Map to visualize your relationships and the Possibilities Map to spark your career aspirations. Finally, tackle challenges with Problem Mapping, turning insights into actionable experiments. Unleash your creativity and navigate your squiggly career with confidence!
11 snips
Oct 16, 2025 • 5min
Squiggly Shortcut: 4 Questions to Help You Make a Difficult Career Decision
Making tough career choices? Discover four engaging questions to tackle uncertainty and clarify your path. Visualize your future to create distance from the stress of decision-making. Separate your feelings from facts to gain objective insights. Connect with others who’ve walked similar paths for valuable perspectives. Finally, define your personal motivations to build resilience and confidence. Tune in to turn confusion into clarity!
8 snips
Oct 14, 2025 • 30min
Are You Wasting Your Talent? (Why Moral Ambition Matters)
Explore the intriguing concept of moral ambition and its significance in utilizing your 80,000 working hours for meaningful work. Discover the belief–behaviour gap and learn how to translate intentions into actions. The hosts offer practical volunteering strategies that align personal skills with impactful contributions. Learn how to expand your influence beyond immediate circles and identify role models who inspire positive change. Reflect on how small, incremental shifts can lead to substantial impacts in your career and community.
6 snips
Oct 9, 2025 • 9min
Squiggly Shortcut: How to ask for a pay rise
Feeling anxious about asking for a pay rise? Dive into practical strategies to advocate for yourself! Discover why waiting rarely works and how to approach the conversation as a series of discussions. Learn to understand your company’s pay process and present three concrete ways your work delivers value. Kick things off by addressing the pay topic early, and don't forget to summarize agreements in writing. Prepare for a potential 'no' with alternative trade-offs, so you're always ready to make the most out of the conversation.
11 snips
Oct 7, 2025 • 24min
Why Bringing Your Authentic Self To Work Is Bad Advice
Is being your true self at work really ideal? The hosts dive into the concept of effective authenticity versus unfiltered honesty. They reveal how trust can be more crucial than just being genuine. Emotional intelligence and understanding team dynamics play key roles in professional success. Listeners discover actionable tips to reflect on personal values, adapt to team norms, and intentionally manage their authenticity. The discussion invites everyone to strike a balance between being authentic and meeting the needs of their workplace.
