Your Time With James Sweetman

This week, in Part 1 of my annual book review, I'm sharing some of the non-fiction books I've enjoyed reading this year. It's an eclectic mix, from personal development, spirituality and leadership books, to fascinating biographies, gripping true-life stories and laugh-out-loud humour. Featuring authors including Brené Brown, Stephen King, Bear Grylls, Patrick Radden Keefe and David Sedaris, there...

We often associate personal growth with doing more, trying harder and becoming better versions of ourselves. But what if genuine growth eventually asks something different of us? This week, I explore the 4 stages  of self-leadership, from feeling powerless, to taking responsibility, to living with greater intention and ultimately becoming more comfortable with who we already are.

A chance encounter with a distressed stranger on a street in Dublin got me thinking about the nature of compassion. In this week’s episode, I share what happened and explore how we can remain compassionate without being naïve, balance kindness with healthy boundaries and care for others without carrying their struggles. As I learned, compassion isn't about seeing the best in everyone, but remember...

The key to performing well at a job interview is preparation, but is it possible to over-prepare? For almost 25 years I’ve helped experienced professionals prepare for important interviews. In this episode, I explore how to move from trying to perform at an interview to being present, and why an interview isn’t an exam with correct answers. I look at the subtle but powerful shift from trying to pr...

What happens when people find themselves in leadership roles, but the culture they’ve worked in has never allowed them to develop as leaders? This week I look at how command and control environments can unintentionally create a leadership skills gap and why asking people to take more ownership and be more proactive is rarely as simple as it sounds. I look at how organisations can begin to close th...

Two weeks ago, I had the privilege of attending the 'Up Close with Oprah Winfrey' event in Dublin. Like many people, I've admired Oprah for many years and being in the room was a special experience. This week, I explore the ideas Oprah shared that resonated most deeply with me, including the importance of ‘owning your number’, trusting ourselves, shifting from asking ‘what am I earning?’ to ‘what...

Have you ever found yourself asking the question - where did the joy go? This week I look at why we can lose our connection with the things we love. How a passion can become a pressure, how a talent creates an expectation, and how something that once energised us, can now drain us.  I share my own experiences of falling out of love with my business and how I reconnected with that original spark. I...

To launch a new series of episodes, I’m joined by Carole Kelly, Rapid Transformational Therapy (RTT) practitioner and coach, for a conversation about change and the beliefs that shape how we live our lives. Carole shares her own journey from a highly stressful work environment to starting her own business. We chat about what that transition taught her and what it takes to step away from what’s no...

Have you ever felt like you’re behind? Behind where you thought you’d be, behind your peers, behind the version of yourself you imagined you would become. This week, I explore a pressure many of us carry, the pressure to ‘catch up,’ something that sits at the intersection of comparison, expectations and our relationship with time. I share a simple ritual to help us shift from ‘catch-up’ mode, whic...

When does self-improvement actually stop improving us? This week, I reflect on the shift that can happen when ‘living our best lives’ begins to feel like an obligation rather than an invitation. I explore how self-improvement begins with the assumption that something needs fixing and contrast it with self-understanding and self-acceptance.  I also introduce the idea of horizontal and vertical lear...

We live in a world obsessed with discipline, optimisation and productivity. But what's driving our effort? This week, I explore the difference between pushing and being pulled, and why the most sustainable discipline is actually rooted in devotion. I also look at the hidden role of shame and the pressure of all our ‘shoulds.’ If you've ever felt tired of striving, constantly chasing the next goal,...

We often use the phrases ‘I feel stuck’ and ‘I feel lost’ interchangeably, but as I explore this week, there are important differences between these two experiences. I look at how labels we place on situations can become identities and how we can intellectualise our emotions rather than feel them. I also share tips for getting ‘unstuck’ and for navigating those times in life when we feel lost. If...

This week’s episode is for those of us who are natural givers and doers but who can struggle with receiving. I explore why receiving is a skill, how self-worth and control influence our ability to receive, as well as the connection between endless giving and burnout. If you’re someone who brushes aside compliments and feels guilty when resting, you’ll find this week’s episode helpful. 

What are our desires really trying to teach us? In this reflective episode I look at the deeper emotional needs hidden beneath our goals, ambitions and dreams. In other words, why do we want what we want? I share my thoughts about striving and self-worth, and why the life lesson hidden inside your desire may be every bit as valuable as the desire itself.

This week I explore the hidden cost of convenience and how it masks what economists call opportunity cost neglect, the unseen trade-offs when it comes to how we spend our time, energy and attention. From self-service checkouts to AI tools, tasks once outsourced now land in our ‘to do’ lists, stealthily sapping our mental bandwidth. I reflect on why a little inconvenience isn’t always a bad thing a...

After a break from recording, I’m delighted to return with a simpler and more reflective format of my podcast. In this new episode, I explore the concept of psychological permission, those moments in life when we already know what feels true for us, but struggle to give ourselves permission to act. At a time when we are bombarded by information, it’s important to recognise that wisdom is not alway...

In this special episode, I sit down with Frankie Sheahan, co-founder and CEO of Pendulum Summit, for a wide-ranging and refreshingly honest conversation. As well as chatting about this year’s Pendulum Summit, taking place on Friday 23rd January at the Convention Centre Dublin, Frankie shares insights into the thinking behind the event, the evolution of Pendulum over the years and what makes this y...

This week’s episode, the last in the current series, is one of my favourites, my annual book review. I speak about 10 books that have inspired, entertained and stretched me over the past 12 months, five non-fiction books and five novels. From books about creativity, awareness and purpose, to stories that explore connection, courage, and the human condition each one reminded me why reading is high...

In this week’s episode, I’m joined once again by international keynote speaker and high performance coach Gerry Duffy ( www.gerryduffyacademy.com ) We chat about his latest book Lessons for Leaders, a collection of 28 practical and thought-provoking insights designed to help leaders reflect, grow and inspire. Our conversation explores what leaders are hungry for today and how common sense is not a...

We all run the gamut between waiting to be found and waiting to be found out. On one hand we long to be seen and appreciated, on the other, we fear criticism and rejection. In this week’s episode, I explore the hidden cost of visibility, how it takes courage to show up, speak up and share our work with the world, but it’s the courage to rest and refill the well that keeps us whole. If you’ve ever...

To celebrate 200 episodes of my podcast, I’m handing the microphone over! My friend and fellow podcaster Sharon Fitzmaurice interviews me in an open, heartfelt and often humorous conversation about life, purpose and my the journey so far. I share stories I’ve never spoken about before, from childhood challenges to coming out, from leaving the corporate world to finding my true calling. It’s the mo...

This week’s episode is a reflective piece titled - “The things I no longer chase.” It’s a meditative journey that includes a meeting with my future self. It's also an opportunity to pause and consider what we can finally set down. If you’re in a season of reassessing what really matters, join me for this week’s reflection. It’s a reminder that sometimes the things we let go of allow peace to catch...

This week, I’m joined by social media expert and entrepreneur Samantha Kelly. We chat about everything from practical social media strategies to the deeper power of connection and authenticity. With her trademark warmth and generosity, Samantha shares insights on courage, community and creativity, reminding us that, as she says, ‘If you can’t find what you’re looking for, create it yourself.’

We’re all familiar with the idea of return on investment, but in today’s 'always on' world, I believe the real metric is return on attention. This week, I explore why multitasking is a myth and why busyness has become a hollow badge of honour. I  share practical ways to reclaim focus, from creating white space for quality thinking, to practising the discipline of exclusion. When you manage your at...

Do you feel guilty when you’re not being busy? Do you struggle to relax because your head starts listing all the things you should be doing? Do you fear that if you stopped, you’d fall behind? This is productivity anxiety and it’s the theme for this week. I explore where it comes from and why so many of us believe we have to earn the right to rest. I’ll share how productivity anxiety has shown up...