I'm Fine! - The Truth Behind the Smile

In this episode of I'm Fine, The Truth Behind the Smile, Jayne Ellis is joined by Daniel Barrett, People Programme Lead at Tesco Mobile and a family friend she has known since he was a child.Daniel talks openly about growing up with ADHD, diagnosed at ten, and what it was like navigating school, friendships and medication as a child who often felt he was labelled naughty rather than simply different. He shares the moment as a young adult when he chose to come off his medication, the resentment he felt about being different, and the chaos of writing his university dissertation almost entirely overnight.The conversation moves into the workplace, and how Daniel found, almost by accident, one of the safest environments he has ever worked in, one where he felt able to talk openly about his ADHD for the first time. He reflects on why it took him so long to feel comfortable sharing his diagnosis, the pressure to always appear at his best, and how vulnerability from leaders can give everyone else permission to be honest too.Daniel and Jayne discuss what psychological safety really looks like in practice, from the behaviours organisations should invest in over shiny new systems, to simple daily habits like asking colleagues how they are and genuinely listening to the answer. He also shares the advice he would give to parents of a newly diagnosed child, and the importance of finding the right supporting relationships, at school, at home and beyond.Now a new father, Daniel talks candidly about the exhaustion of masking, the duck on water feeling of appearing calm while working twice as hard underneath, and the small daily rituals, an hour of something mundane, gratitude journaling before bed, that help him recentre.An honest, warm conversation about neurodiversity, vulnerability and what real psychological safety at work looks like.Connect with Daniel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danny-barrett-2607/The app Daniel mentions, The Fabulous, a behavioural science-backed habit tracker and self care coaching tool he uses to build routines that help with exhaustion and low mood: https://www.thefabulous.co/EF training Ltd exists because nobody should have to pour from an empty cup, founded by Jayne Ellis who learnt the hard way so you don't have to.Subscribe, share and leave a review to help more caring professionals find us. To be a guest, or just to say hello, reach us at [email protected] more about Jayne Ellis and our Compassion Fatigue and Emotional Resilience training at http://eftraining.co.ukThis podcast is for education and support only and is not a substitute for professional mental health care. If you are struggling, please contact a qualified professional or your GP.Views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of EF training Ltd. Guest content is shared in the spirit of open, honest conversation.

In this episode of I'm Fine, The Truth Behind the Smile, Jayne Ellis is joined by Dr Jo Braid, a UK trained doctor now based in Australia, specialising in rehabilitation medicine and burnout recovery coaching, and host of her own long running podcast.Jo shares her journey from Nottingham Medical School to rehabilitation medicine in Australia, and the pull towards the biopsychosocial side of patient care. She talks candidly about setting up her own functional medicine clinic in a small regional town, and how the isolation and responsibility of solo practice eventually tipped her into burnout.Jayne and Jo explore what burnout actually looked like for her: working late once the children were in bed, a quietly observant husband who noticed the change first, and a perfectionist mindset that made stepping back feel impossible. Jo reflects honestly on quitting her clinic, and why she would not necessarily recommend that route to others now.The conversation turns to what really helped her recover: coaching, learning to name and track emotions, and a deep dive into mindset work that eventually became her own coaching and podcasting career. Jo is refreshingly clear that leaving a job or profession is not always the answer, and explains the workplace factors that matter far more than individual resilience alone.They also discuss Schwartz Rounds, a simple but powerful way for hospital staff of every kind to come together and share what it is really like to work under pressure, and why creating white space in a working day, protected time to think, breathe or simply pause, is one of the most valuable things any organisation can offer its people.Finally, Jo shares her four pillars for staying well: mindset, movement, sleep and support, and why she still sees a coach herself after all these years of helping others.A warm, practical conversation about burnout, recovery and building a working life that does not cost you your health.Connect with Jo: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjobraid/Find out more about Jo's work: https://drjobraid.comEF training exists because nobody should have to pour from an empty cup, founded by Jayne Ellis who learnt the hard way so you don't have to.Subscribe, share and leave a review to help more caring professionals find us. To be a guest, or just to say hello, reach us at [email protected] more about Jayne Ellis and our Compassion Fatigue and Emotional Resilience training at http://eftraining.co.ukThis podcast is for education and support only and is not a substitute for professional mental health care. If you are struggling, please contact a qualified professional or your GP.Views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of EF training Ltd. Guest content is shared in the spirit of open, honest conversation.

A note before you listen: this episode includes a frank and open conversation about burnout, depression and suicidal thoughts. Please look after yourself while listening, and come back to it another time if today is not the right day.In this episode of I'm Fine, The Truth Behind the Smile, Jayne Ellis is joined by Ngozi Weller, co-founder and director of Aurora, a leadership development and organisational effectiveness consultancy that helps workplaces work better for everyone in them.Ngozi tells her story with warmth, humour and honesty: an insecure teenager who longed to be a writer, the news bulletin that sparked a far bigger ambition, and the winding path into a sixteen-year corporate career.She speaks candidly about the serious illness that changed the course of her life, and about being pushed out of that career by burnout. Ngozi describes just how dark things became, and what her recovery truly involved: the people who stepped in, professional support, and the slow, patient work of healing.Out of that experience, Aurora was born. Ngozi and Jayne explore how she turned everything she lived through into work that helps others: healthier, more inclusive workplaces where people can thrive.The conversation turns to that small phrase, I'm fine, and why we reach for it. Ngozi calls it the Robin Williams effect, and reflects on self-protection, the moments the mask slips, and why so few people really want to hear the honest answer.Finally, Ngozi opens up about how she looks after herself now: the idea of responsible selfishness, firstborn daughter syndrome and people pleasing, the radical honesty she now practises, and the running crew and weekend painting that keep her from running on empty.A powerful, funny and profoundly human conversation about ambition, resilience and learning to put yourself back on the list.Connect with Ngozi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ngozi-weller-aurora/Find out more about Aurora: https://aurorawellnessgroup.co.uk/Listen to Ngozi's podcast, The Wellbeing Rebellion: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-wellbeing-rebellion/id1675517581EF training exists because nobody should have to pour from an empty cup, founded by Jayne Ellis who learnt the hard way so you don't have to.Subscribe, share and leave a review to help more caring professionals find us. To be a guest, or just to say hello, reach us at [email protected] more about Jayne Ellis and our Compassion Fatigue and Emotional Resilience training at http://eftraining.co.ukIf you are struggling, you are not alone. In the UK you can call Samaritans free, day or night, on 116 123, or speak to your GP. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, please call 999.This podcast is for education and support only and is not a substitute for professional mental health care.Views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of EF training Ltd. Guest content is shared in the spirit of open, honest conversation.

In this episode of I'm Fine, The Truth Behind the Smile, Jayne Ellis sits down with an old friend and former colleague, Claire Gardner, Managing Director of Dynamic Training and a former learning disability nurse.Claire shares the winding path that took her from nursing into education and then into running her own business. She talks about specialising in learning disability nursing, moving through paediatrics and health visiting, and grabbing every opportunity the NHS put in front of her, before eventually setting up the training company she still leads today.Jayne and Claire look back on the demanding BTEC programme they once taught together at university, and reflect on how much of that pressure came not from the subject itself but from the deep sense of responsibility they felt for their learners, and how that experience shaped the way Claire builds and supports teams now.Together they explore what it really takes to create an inclusive, supportive culture: why vision and values matter far more than words on a website, how honest scheduling and a personal approach to observations can protect people from overwhelm, and why no single adjustment ever meets everybody's needs.The conversation turns to the surprising number of transferable skills that come from a caring background: curiosity, the art of asking one more question, a non-judgemental way of meeting people, and the ability to coach, teach and lead by genuinely understanding others.Finally, Claire opens up about how she looks after herself. She shares her motto, keep moving forward, and what it has taught her about recognising when she cannot cope, giving herself time rather than simply pushing on, and the small daily rituals, dog walks in the Chilterns, time in nature and losing herself in a good book, that help her reset.A warm, honest conversation about people, purpose and looking after yourself while you spend your days looking after everyone else.Connect with Claire: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-gardner-393a231a/Find out more about Dynamic Training: https://www.dynamictraining.org.uk/EF training exists because nobody should have to pour from an empty cup, founded by Jayne Ellis who learnt the hard way so you don't have to.Subscribe, share and leave a review to help more caring professionals find us. To be a guest, or just to say hello, reach us at [email protected] more about Jayne Ellis and our Compassion Fatigue and Emotional Resilience training at http://eftraining.co.ukThis podcast is for education and support only and is not a substitute for professional mental health care. If you are struggling, please contact a qualified professional or your GP.Views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of EF training Ltd. Guest content is shared in the spirit of open, honest conversation.

In this episode of I'm Fine - The Truth Behind the Smile, Jayne Ellis is joined by Dr Tim Anstiss, a medical doctor, health coach, motivational interviewing trainer and advocate for more compassionate approaches to behaviour change and wellbeing.Tim explains why simply telling people what they should do rarely leads to lasting change, and how motivational interviewing creates a very different kind of conversation, one built on curiosity, empathy, autonomy and collaboration.They explore the 'expert trap', why clinicians burn out when they feel responsible for changing their patients, and how helping people feel heard benefits not only patients and clients but also healthcare professionals, managers and leaders.The conversation turns to why so many people say 'I'm fine' when they aren't. Tim discusses stigma, shame and vulnerability, the importance of asking twice, and listening without immediately trying to fix things so someone has the space to talk.Jayne and Tim also explore self-compassion, mindfulness, psychological flexibility and the critical voice in our heads. Tim shares his own experiences of depression, anxiety and burnout, and practical techniques for changing our relationship with difficult thoughts and emotions.The episode includes a simple but powerful exercise in cognitive defusion, learning to notice our thoughts rather than automatically believing them, along with Tim's reflections on unconditional self-acceptance and the difference between self-criticism and compassionate self-correction.Connect with Tim: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drtimanstiss/Dr Kristin Neff: https://self-compassion.org/Professor Paul Gilbert and the Compassionate Mind Foundation: https://www.compassionatemind.co.uk/Bill Miller, author of Listen Well: The Art of Empathetic Understanding: https://williamrmiller.net/training-speaking/British Medical Journal (BMJ): https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/12/2/e047626EF training exists because nobody should have to pour from an empty cup, founded by Jayne Ellis who learnt the hard way so you don't have to.Subscribe, share and leave a review to help more caring professionals find us. To be a guest, or just to say hello, reach us at [email protected] more about Jayne Ellis and our Compassion Fatigue and Emotional Resilience training at http://eftraining.co.ukContent note: this episode discusses depression, anxiety and burnout, which some listeners may find difficult.This podcast is for education and support only and is not a substitute for professional mental health care. If you are struggling, please contact a qualified professional or your GP.Views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of EF training Ltd. Guest content is shared in the spirit of open, honest conversation.