Best Psychologicalflexibility Podcasts (2025)

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Ep 184: Wellbeing - have you tried doing...less? 7:41

6d ago7:41

7:41

In this episode, we wrap up our 'Thriving at Work' focus on wellbeing by asking a simple question: when it comes to improving your health and wellbeing, have you considered actually doing less? So much of the advice we get about our wellbeing implies the need to do more of something: new foods, new diets, new exercises, new methods and approaches. …

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Ep 183: Wellbeing is about moving towards what matters 9:31

24d ago9:31

9:31

In episode 181, I explained how getting clear on what matters - our values - can be a great place to start when we want to improve our wellbeing. This time round, I look at the benefits of putting these values into action and being more intentional about our actions. Instead of framing our attempts at change as 'pass' or 'fail', we can frame our op…

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Ep 182: Dealing with challenges at work using Psychological Flexibility 35:37

1M ago35:37

35:37

I recently spoke at the Health and Wellbeing at Work conference in Birmingham on supporting employees to overcome challenges and setbacks. On the back of lots of positive feedback, I decided to record an episode outlining the main points I shared with delegates on the day, to share with a wider audience. And hopefully improve on my delivery! In thi…

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Ep 181: Wellbeing - it starts with values 7:27

2M ago7:27

7:27

In this episode, we look at why it's so important to be clear on our values when making changes to improve our wellbeing. Values help us make authentic changes, help us persist when we don't feel like it, and give us an opportunity to take values-based action on a daily basis. Values remind us of the person we want to be, an incredibly useful touch…

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Ep 180: So you want to make a change? 17:40

2M ago17:40

17:40

Change is at the very heart of the work that I do with my clients. Changing behaviour, changing attitudes. Changing in response to changes in the environment. In this episode, I take a look at some of the different levels at which change can take place - from daily habits all the way through to identity. This enables us to get nice and specific abo…

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Ep 179: What have I seen you in? 52:54

3M ago52:54

52:54

And now for something completely different! Richard is joined by coach and actor, Lena Kaur for a discussion about coaching actors. We try to keep our definition of work and the workplace as broad as possible and in this episode, Richard and Lena explore the particular challenges faced by actors and how increasing their psychological flexibility ca…

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Ep 178: Wellbeing - Is 'new' always better? 38:44

3M ago38:44

38:44

In another of our 'Thriving at Work' episodes, Richard is joined by fellow workplace psychologist Jane Stewart. They look at some of the challenges with addressing workplace wellbeing and the common traps organisations can fall into. While it's so easy to get caught up with new wellbeing fads and fashions, these are often disruptive and fail to del…

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Ep 177: Avoiding burnout 37:11

4M ago37:11

37:11

In this episode in our 'Thriving at Work' series, Richard is joined by Hazel Anderson-Turner for a discussion all about burnout. Hazel describes what prompted her to write a book on the topic, as well as her significant experience coaching and training professionals on how to avoid burnout in the UK's National Health Service (NHS). Richard and Haze…

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Ep 176: Workplace wellbeing - the power of difficult questions 50:53

5M ago50:53

50:53

What does it mean to be evidence-based when it comes to wellbeing at work? How do we know what works when it comes to wellbeing interventions? And does doing 'something' always beat doing nothing? In this episode, Richard is joined by James Carrier for a chat about the benefits of being more evidence-based when it comes to wellbeing and the importa…

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Ep 175: Leadership, identity and thriving 35:31

5M ago35:31

35:31

We continue our 'Thriving at Work' series with a look at leadership and leaders. Richard is joined by Leadership Development expert and executive coach, Dr. Wayne Mullen. They have a look at what it means to be a leader, why it's beneficial to challenge leadership stereotypes and explore some of the many challenges contemporary organisational leade…

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Ep 174: Sleep, wellbeing and... thriving? 35:42

5M ago35:42

35:42

In this episode, another in the Thriving at Work series, we take a look at how sleep contibutes to our wellbeing and performance at work and ask: can you really thrive when you haven't had enough sleep? Full show notes for this episode can be found at https://www.worklifepsych.com/podcast/174 Thanks for listening!…

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Ep 173: Are you having any fun? 52:35

5M ago52:35

52:35

After a few 'heavy' episodes, it's time to turn to the lighter side of the workplace. Richard is joined by Dr. Mike Rucker for a discussion all about how to have more fun, inside and outside of work. Mike discusses his book about fun, the relationship between run, wellbeing and performance, the downsides of putting too much emphasis on 'future happ…

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Ep 172: Re-thinking self-care 29:12

6M ago29:12

29:12

In this latest episode of our 'Thriving at Work' series, Richard takes a fresh look at the concept of self-care. While it may conjure up images of bubble baths and cups or tea, there's a lot more to it than that. Richard outlines some quality markers to bear in mind when selecting self-care activities and flags some common pitfalls to avoid. Full s…

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Ep 171 - Ostracism at work 39:54

7M ago39:54

39:54

In this episode, which is part of our Thriving at Work series, Richard is joined by two experts in ostracism at work, to discuss what it is, how it impacts employees and what we can do about it. Dr. Ian Tyndall and Dr. Daniel Waldeck discuss their research and why they got involved in this specific topic. Unlike the loneliness experience we discuss…

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Ep 170: Thriving with Psychological Flexibility 42:36

7M ago42:36

42:36

In this episode, Richard is joined once again by Ross McIntosh for a discussion about how increasing our psychological flexibility can improve our wellbeing. This episode is part of our 'Thriving at Work' series, which focuses on wellbeing at work and what individuals and organisations can do to improve it. Richard and Ross look at what we mean by …

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Ep 169: Chronic Health Conditions at Work 42:35

7M ago42:35

42:35

In this episode, part of our Thriving at Work initiative, Richard is joined by Dr. Rachael Skews for a discussion about employees with chronic health conditions. They look at what constitutes a chronic health condition, while employees may be reticent to speak up about their condition or ask for assistance, and the ways that organisations can unint…

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Ep 168: Menopause at work 39:18

8M ago39:18

39:18

In this episode of the podcast, the first in our new 'Thriving at Work series, Richard is joined by menopause researcher Kara Daly for a discussion about how menopause impacts women at work. It's a big topic, affecting so many people in the workforce, yet very often neglected. From myths and misconceptions, to the impact menopause has on women's id…

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Ep 167: Remembering to remember 47:53

8M ago47:53

47:53

In this episode, Richard is joined by Antonina Pereira, Professor of Neuropsychology and Neuroscience at the University of Chichester. They explore Antonina's research into prospective memory - our ability to remember to do things in future - and how it relates to our wellbeing, our productivity and effectiveness at work, and discuss some simple wa…

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Ep 166: Time for a break! 24:08

9M ago24:08

24:08

I'm recording this episode just before I turn on my 'out of office' and head to Spain for my annual review. In this solo episode, I outline my reasons for taking an annual retreat each year, why you don't need to leave the country to do this, but why regular reflection is a great idea. Find the show notes for this episode at https://www.worklifepsy…

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Ep 165: Psychological Flexibility - series finale, feedback and questions 48:06

9M ago48:06

48:06

In this final episode of our series on Psychological Flexibility, Richard and Ross reflect on what it was like to create the episodes, share listener feedback and answer some more of your questions. You can find all the resources for this series at https://www.worklifepsych.com/PsychologicalFlexibility and some more detailed show notes at https://w…

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Ep 164: A flexible self-concept 45:43

9M ago45:43

45:43

In this, the latest episode in our series on Psychological Flexibility, Richard is one again joined by fellow psychologist Ross McIntosh. They explore the importance of noticing the stories we tell ourselves about ourselves - which we collectively call our self-concept - and holding these stories lightly. Full shownotes for this episode can be foun…

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Ep 163: Culture cracks! 43:38

10M ago43:38

43:38

Richard is joined by fellow psychologist Sarah McLellan for a discussion about the role of organisational culture and the importance of shaping it intentionally. For full show notes for this episode, visit our website at worklifepsych.com/podcast/163 Thanks for listening!By Dr. Richard A. MacKinnon

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Ep 162: Coaching Psychology - Theory, Practice and Bots! 33:10

10M ago33:10

33:10

In this episode, Richard is joined by friend of the podcast Dr. Rachael Skews. They discuss a recent coaching psychology conference they both presented at, the nature of coaching research, the importance of evidence-based practice and ask the killer question: will your coach be replaced by a bot? Full show notes for this episode can be found on our…

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Ep 161: Acceptance 45:38

11M ago45:38

45:38

In this episode, Richard and Ross take a look at another important skill for increasing our psychological flexibility: acceptance. This doesn't mean a passive acceptance of the status quo, or simply pushing through difficulties with gritted teeth. It means authentically accepting the discomfort and other stuff we don't like in situations, while tak…

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Ep 160: Committed action 34:45

11M ago34:45

34:45

In this episode of 'My Pocket Psych', Richard and Ross turn to the next skill in our psychological flexibility toolkit: committed action. This is all about taking our values and putting them into action. Doing more of the stuff that matters, not because it's easy or fun, but because it's important. You can find all the resources we mention in this …

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Ep 159: Clarity of values 49:07

12M ago49:07

49:07

In this video, we continue our series focused on the skills that boost our Psychological Flexibility. This time round, Richard and Ross discuss the benefits of being clear on what really matter to us in life - our values. We look at what values are (and importantly, what they're not!), ways that we use values in our coaching practices with clients,…

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Ep 158: Cognitive Defusion 58:40

1y ago58:40

58:40

This is the third part in our series exploring Psychological Flexibility. Richard and Ross look at the skill called 'Cognititve Defusion', where we learn to see our thoughts in a different light. You can find show notes and all the resources we mention at our dedicated online resource page: worklifepsych.com/psychologicalflexibility Thanks for list…

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Ep 157: Present moment awareness 35:43

1y ago35:43

35:43

In this second part of our series on how to develop your psychological flexibility, we look at the importance of being in the present moment, and minimising 'mental time-travel'. Richard and Ross look at some of the unhelpful ways our attention and focus are pulled from the here and now, along with some simple ways you can start to develop your cap…

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Ep 156: Psychological Inflexibility 35:27

1y ago35:27

35:27

This is the first of a new series of the podcast where we focus on the skills that develop our psychological flexibility. Richard is joined by fellow psychologist Ross McIntosh, the host of the excellent People Soup podcast. In this episode, they discuss what psychological flexibility is, what it feels like to experience psychological inflexibility…

1
Ep 155: Pitfalls to avoid when it comes to values 37:17

1y ago37:17

37:17

In this episode, Richard is joined by fellow coaching psychologist Lucie Ilbury for a look at the common pitfalls to avoid when it comes to our values. Shownotes for this episode can be found at https://www.worklifepsych.com/podcast/155 Thanks for listening!By Dr. Richard A. MacKinnon

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Ep 154: Navigating deadlines 28:28

1y ago28:28

28:28

In this episode, we take a look at deadlines and how to handle them effectively. Whether it's a deadline we've been given, or one we've decided upon ourselves, they can either be a motivating target or a mark in the calendar that fills us with dread. So we look at some of the ways we can make our deadlines actually work for us. Full show notes can …

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Ep 153: Why can't I stick to my habits? 20:56

1y ago20:56

20:56

In our last episode. Richard and Rachael explored some of the reasons goals and goal-setting can work against us and make behaviour change even more difficult. This time round, Richard outlines some of the common reasons we can find it hard to stick to new habits. Full show notes for this episode can be found at https://www.worklifepsych.com/podcas…

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Ep 152 - The dark side of goals 50:50

1+ y ago50:50

50:50

In this episode, Richard is joined by Dr. Rachael Skews for a conversation about goals, goal-setting and the downside of focusing too much on goals. You can find the full show notes for this episode by visiting our website: https://www.worklifepsych.com/podcast/152 Thanks for listening!By Dr. Richard A. MacKinnon

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Are you considering coaching for 2024? 1:18

1+ y ago1:18

1:18

A quick reminder of our upcoming webinar all about coaching. On Jan 25th, I'll be facilitating a free session to demystify coaching, explain what's involved and how it can contribute positively to your goal attainment, wellbeing, productivity and career clarity. To find out more and reserve your free place, simply visit https://www.worklifepsych.co…

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Ep 151: Authentic leadership with Ross McIntosh 1:04:23

1+ y ago1:04:23

1:04:23

In this episode, Richard is joined by fellow podcaster and expert in ACT, Ross McIntosh, for a discussion about leadership at work. Ross is the host of the excellent 'People Soup' podcast, and regularly trains professionals int he ACT skills that support psychological flexibility. Richard and Ross walk through a model of Authentic Leadership, explo…

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Ep 150: Learning from the year gone by 53:25

1+ y ago53:25

53:25

We hit the 150 episode mark and take a look back at what we've learned along the way. We also look at the benefits of reviewing your year before making plans for the new year ahead. Full show notes for this episode are available at worklifepsych.com/podcast/150 Thanks for listening!By Dr. Richard A. MacKinnon

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Ep 149: Mistakes to avoid when introducing coaching 28:26

1+ y ago28:26

28:26

In this episode, Richard and Pilar discuss some of the most common mistakes to avoid when introducing coaching to your organisation. Full show notes for this episode can be found at worklifepsych.com/podcast/149 Thanks for listening!By Dr. Richard A. MacKinnon

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Ep 148: "Do you practice what you preach?" 30:49

1+ y ago30:49

30:49

In this episode, we look at the concept of 'use of self' and authenticity in coaching. How would you answer the question: do you practice what you preach? You can find full show notes for this episode at https://www.worklifepsych.com/podcast/148.By Dr. Richard A. MacKinnon

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Ep 147: How does coaching differ from therapy? 27:17

1+ y ago27:17

27:17

We take a look at another common coaching question: how does coaching differ from therapy? It's not as clear a line between the two as you might imagine. Full show notes for this episode can be found at worklifepsych.com/podcast/147By Dr. Richard A. MacKinnon

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Announcement: Free coaching webinar 1:31

1+ y ago1:31

1:31

Richard here, to remind you of an upcoming free event that may interest you. If you’re considering coaching for yourself, or thinking about introducing it to your organisation this year, then our Considering Coaching webinar might be just what you need. On October 26th at 10am UK time, I’ll be facilitating a webinar all about coaching and the benef…

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Ep 146: What should I do in between coaching sessions? 32:36

1+ y ago32:36

32:36

In this episode, Richard and Pilar answer one of the most common questions when it comes to coaching: what to do in between the coaching sessions. Show notes for this episode can be found at worklifepsych.com/podcast/146 Thanks for listening!By Dr. Richard A. MacKinnon

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Ep 145: What is a coaching psychologist? 15:53

1+ y ago15:53

15:53

In this episode, Richard explores what a coaching psycholoigist is and some of the differences between this and other specialisms within the profession. Full shownotes for this episode can be found at https://www.worklifepsych.com/podcast/145 Thanks for listening!By Dr. Richard A. MacKinnon

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Ep 144: Can you take a personal retreat? 31:22

1+ y ago31:22

31:22

In this episode, Pilar interviews Richard about his recent personal retreat in Spain and they discuss how to get the most from a retreat - even if it's in a local park or coffee shop. You can find full show notes for this episode at worklifepsych.com/podcast/144 Thanks for listening!By Dr. Richard A. MacKinnon

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Ep 143: Calendars - the map is not the territory 18:08

1+ y ago18:08

18:08

In this episode, Richard explores how to get the most from your calendar. A valuable tool when it comes to planning and productivity, but if mis-used, a source of overwhelm and stress. You can find full show notes for this episode at worklifepsych.com/podcast/143By Dr. Richard A. MacKinnon

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Ep 142: Beating your procrastination habit 21:55

1+ y ago21:55

21:55

Following on from our last episode, where we took a fresh look at the roots of procrastination, this time we look at some simple ways you can replace your procrastination with proactivity. Show notes for this episode can be found at https://www.worklifepsych.com/podcast/142 Thanks for listening!By Dr. Richard A. MacKinnon

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Ep 141: The stories you tell yourself when you procrastinate 24:18

1+ y ago24:18

24:18

Richard explores some of the stories we tell ourselves when we decide to procrastinate. The unhelpful, irrational stories that help us avoid some form of discomfort. In the next episode, we'll look at some simple things you can do to beat the procrastination habit. Full show notes for this episode are available at WorkLifePsych.com/podcast/141 Than…

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Ep 140: Journalling and self-awareness with Dr. Amy Redmond 35:39

2y ago35:39

35:39

In this episode, we continue our focus on self-awareness and look at the power of journalling. Richard is joined by fellow psychologist Dr. Amy Redmond, author of ‘The Aha Journal’. Full show notes are available at WorkLifePsych.com/podcast/140 Thanks for listening!By Dr. Richard A. MacKinnon

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Ep 139: How to build your self-awareness 36:06

2y ago36:06

36:06

This time round, Richard and Pilar discuss some of the simplest approaches to learning more about what makes us who we are, and how we can adjust our responses to the world around us. You can find show notes for this episode at https://www.worklifepsych.com/podcast/139 Thanks for listening!By Dr. Richard A. MacKinnon

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Ep 138: Self-awareness: what is it, and why is it so difficult? 36:03

2y ago36:03

36:03

In this episode, Richard and Pilar take a look at the concept of self-awareness. What do we mean when we use this phrase? Why is it so important for our experience of the workplace? And why can it be so difficult to develop? Show notes for this episode can be found at https://www.worklifepsych.com/podcast/138 Thanks for listening!…

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Ep 137: Having 'difficult' conversations 36:37

2y ago36:37

36:37

In this episode, Richard and Pilar take look at what makes some conversations at work 'difficult', and what we can do to overcome this. Full show notes for this episode are available at https://www.worklifepsych.com/podcast/137 Thanks for listening!By Dr. Richard A. MacKinnon

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Psychologicalflexibility Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen