
Squiggly Careers
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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Latest episodes

Mar 11, 2025 • 34min
#466 How to focus on outcomes to reduce overwhelm
Feeling overwhelmed is something most of us have experienced. Too many meetings, tasks, and requests—paired with too little time, clarity, and control—can make work feel unmanageable.In this episode, Helen and Sarah share three practical actions to help you regain focus and reduce overwhelm.They explore how shifting your mindset from tasks to outcomes can bring clarity, help you prioritise what truly matters, and create a greater sense of control in your work.For questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email helenandsarah@squigglycareers.com More ways to learn about Squiggly Careers:1. Download our free careers tools https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/ 2. Sign-up for our Squiggly Careers Skills Sprint https://bit.ly/skillssprint20243. Sign up for PodMail, a weekly summary of the latest squiggly career tools: https://bit.ly/sc-podmail4. Read our books ‘The Squiggly Career’ and ‘You Coach You’ www.amazingif.com/books/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 7, 2025 • 35min
#465 Career Continuers: how to relook at retirement and develop career longevity
This is the fifth and final episode of the Squiggly Career Stage Series – 5 days of podcast episodes and practical tools to help you succeed in your career. We’ve focused on 5 stages where we know people need some extra squiggly support and in today’s episode we’re looking at Squiggly Career Continuers, to help people relook at retirement and develop career longevity. Sarah and Helen share their insights on continuing your career into later life and talk to two people to learn from their expertise; Avivah Wittenberg-Cox a thought leader specialising in gender and generational balance and Andrew Aitken, Economist at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. You can download the free Career Stage Guide to support this episode here https://www.amazingif.com/listen/career-continuers For questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email helenandsarah@squigglycareers.com More ways to learn about Squiggly Careers:1. Download our free careers tools https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/ 2. Sign-up for our Squiggly Careers Skills Sprint https://bit.ly/skillssprint20243. Sign up for PodMail, a weekly summary of the latest squiggly career tools: https://bit.ly/sc-podmail4. Read our books ‘The Squiggly Career’ and ‘You Coach You’ www.amazingif.com/books/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 6, 2025 • 30min
#464 Career Changers: how to pivot and create new possibilities
This is the fourth episode of the Squiggly Career Stage Series – 5 days of podcast episodes and practical tools to help you succeed in your career.We’ve focused on 5 stages where we know people need some extra squiggly support and in today’s episode we’re looking at Squiggly Career Changers, to help people pivot and create new possibilities.Sarah and Helen share their insights on career change and interview three people to learn from their experience; Jenny Blake, author of Pivot and Oli Kelly and John Rothera who share their story of career change.You can download the free Career Stage Guide to support this episode at https://www.amazingif.com/listen/career-changersFor questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email helenandsarah@squigglycareers.comMore ways to learn about Squiggly Careers:1. Download our free careers tools https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/2. Sign-up for our Squiggly Careers Skills Sprint https://bit.ly/skillssprint20243. Sign up for PodMail, a weekly summary of the latest squiggly career tools: https://bit.ly/sc-podmail4. Read our books ‘The Squiggly Career’ and ‘You Coach You’ www.amazingif.com/books/More ways to learn about Squiggly Careers: Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 5, 2025 • 33min
#463 Career Setbacks: how to stay resilient which things go wrong
Amy Schoenthal, author of "The Setback Cycle," and Ken Okoroafor share their insights on resilience in the face of career challenges. They discuss a four-phase setback model, emphasizing the need to reflect and embrace experiences. Amy provides strategies to combat self-doubt, while Ken recounts personal setbacks and the importance of community support. Together, they highlight how empathy and openness can navigate tough times, reassuring listeners that obstacles are a common part of professional growth.

Mar 4, 2025 • 31min
#462 Career Returners: how to build confidence after a break
This is the second episode of the Squiggly Career Stage Series – 5 podcast episodes and practical tools to help you succeed in your career. We’ve focused on 5 stages where we know people need some extra squiggly support and in today’s episode Helen and Sarah are looking at Squiggly Career Returners, to help people build career confidence after a break. Sarah and Helen share their insights on returning and interview two people to learn from their experience; Julianne Miles MBE, Co-Founder and CEO of Career Returners and Mila Fadeeva, who returned to her career in Strategy & Operational Excellence after a 10 year career break.You can download the free Career Stage Guide to support this episode at https://www.amazingif.com/listen/career-returnersFor questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email helenandsarah@squigglycareers.comMore ways to learn about Squiggly Careers:1. Download our free careers tools https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/ 2. Sign-up for our Squiggly Careers Skills Sprint https://bit.ly/skillssprint20243. Sign up for PodMail, a weekly summary of the latest squiggly career tools: https://bit.ly/sc-podmail4. Read our books ‘The Squiggly Career’ and ‘You Coach You’ www.amazingif.com/books/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 3, 2025 • 41min
#461 Career Starters: how to learn and grown in your first job
Yemurai Rabvukwa, a senior cybersecurity associate and tech career strategist, is joined by Sarah Gregory, a senior delivery project manager at Upreach, who champions students from disadvantaged backgrounds. They delve into the intense pressures today’s graduates face while entering the job market, underlining the importance of a growth mindset. They share insights on overcoming early career challenges, the value of transferable skills, and the critical role of mentorship and networking in achieving success. This conversation is vital for anyone starting their professional journey.

8 snips
Feb 25, 2025 • 38min
#460 How to Master Small Talk (Even if You're an Introvert)
Small talk may be a necessary evil, but it can be mastered! Discover why small talk is crucial for connection and how to make it less awkward. The hosts share tips on starting conversations and the importance of genuine listening. They dive into personal styles, navigating transitions from casual chatter to deeper discussions, and ending conversations positively. With anecdotes and practical strategies, they help demystify small talk and boost your confidence in social interactions.

Feb 18, 2025 • 30min
#459 3 Types Of Awareness To Accelerate Your Career Growth
Explore the vital role of awareness in shaping your career trajectory. Discover the nuances of self-awareness, situational awareness, and relational awareness. Engage in practical exercises to reflect on your work experiences and identify strengths. Learn strategies to navigate overwhelming moments and enhance communication skills. Foster better teamwork through understanding your impact on colleagues, utilizing mapping exercises for relational insights. Transform awareness into action for professional growth!

10 snips
Feb 11, 2025 • 31min
#458 How To Deal With Any Challenge At Work (Career Scenario Planning)
This discussion focuses on using scenario planning to boost career resilience. It highlights how to spot risks and opportunities through a practical matrix. The hosts reveal strategies for navigating uncertainties by considering various outcomes. They share insights on leveraging AI tools like ChatGPT to enhance career planning. A case study illustrates how to apply these methods to real-life situations, emphasizing the importance of proactive actions and building a robust professional network for career crafting.

31 snips
Feb 4, 2025 • 29min
#457 3 Ways To Give And Get Constructive Feedback
Feedback can propel career growth, but it often feels daunting. This talk dives into three 'stop and start' practices to make feedback more effective. Discover how a learning-first mindset can transform feedback from a chore into a valuable tool for development. The importance of recognizing strengths alongside weaknesses is highlighted. Plus, learn creative strategies to combat self-doubt through positive affirmations. Own your feedback journey and turn communication into a regular, constructive practice.
Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts
Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.