A Thought I Kept

In this episode, I’m joined by Isabelle Fielding for a conversation about our emotions — the ones we try to manage, the ones we push down, and the ones that keep resurfacing when something important is at stake. We talk about what it’s like to live in a world that often asks us to be happier, calmer, more confident, while quietly struggling with anxiety, self-doubt, overwhelm, or a sense that we’r...

This is a great episode to start the year with as well as a new season of the podcast. I sit down with wellbeing writer Rebecca Frank to explore how curiosity might offer a way of beginning when we might not be quite ready. Rebecca and I talk about what curiosity looks like when life is full, messy, and changing. We explore how it can soften judgement, widen our view of other people, and help us s...

What does it really mean to feel held – not just by others, but by ourselves, our bodies, and the rhythms of everyday life? In this episode of A Thought I Kept , I’m joined by Lauren Barber for a conversation about anxiety, aliveness, self-trust, and the quiet practices that help us come back to ourselves when life feels loud or overwhelming. Together, we explore what it means to hold space – for...

When your mind won’t settle, your thoughts won’t line up, or you feel like you can’t hear yourself think, what do you do? In this episode, Claire is joined by Katie Driver, founder of The Thinking Alliance, to explore how we can reclaim clarity in a world that demands constant noise, answers, and action. This conversation explores how to think for yourself, how to listen deeply, how feelings shape...

What if your energy is more than just a feeling? What if it’s your currency? In this conversation, host Claire Fitzsimmons speaks with Georgina Jones about the invisible threads that connect us: joy, grief, presence, and the power of what happens when we stop trying to fix and start feeling. They explore how energy shapes how we show up, how we hold space for others, and how movement, music and hu...

What if self-care wasn’t about adding more to your to-do list but about rethinking what care even means? In this episode, Claire Fitzsimmons speaks with Chartered psychologist, coach and author Suzy Reading about the often invisible emotional labor of women, the cultural messaging that teaches us to ignore our needs, and the radical act of allowing ourselves to be cared for. Suzy, author of the ne...

What if your nervous system was quietly shaping everything — from your relationships to your resilience — and no one ever taught you how to understand it? In this episode of A Thought I Kept , Claire Fitzsimmons speaks with Beth Derry , resilience coach and founder of Lovely Messy Humans , about the deep and often overlooked influence our nervous systems have on how we cope, connect, and show up i...

What if your creative energy didn’t need an algorithm — just some more self-trust and a room full of the right people? In this episode of A Thought I Kept , Claire Fitzsimmons speaks with PR strategist, founder of The Inspiration Space, and self-described “idea-laying machine” Liana Fricker , about navigating creativity, burnout, and how we reconnect with ourselves — and each other — beyond the on...

In this special episode of 'A Thought I Kept,' host Claire Fitzsimons is joined by Amanda Sheeren, her close friend and co-founder of ' If Lost Start Here ', a wellbeing company aimed at helping people navigate modern life's complexities with creativity, curiosity and humour.  This episode centers on Amanda’s thought that even in the dark times there is light. They discuss...

In this episode of 'A Thought I Kept,' host Claire Fitzsimmons engages in a heartfelt conversation with Katharina Geissler-Evans, founder and editor-in-chief of heiter. The discussion explores how to find resilience during exhaustion and overwhelm, and how to create intentional and joyful connections in our increasingly online lives. Katarina shares how the philosophy 'if there&apos...

Why do our hearts race at the sound of an email? Why does one glance at our phones send us into full-blown panic? In this episode, we're joined by massage therapist and author Carrie Ekins, who helps us understand what’s really going on in our bodies when everything feels like a threat. Carrie shares how the nervous system can get stuck in survival mode and why modern life triggers ancient fe...

In this week’s episode of A Thought I Kept , storyteller and creative leader Andrea Rathborne shares a memory so vivid, it feels like a short film stitched into the fabric of her life. This experience taught Andrea to appreciate the everyday small but meaningful moments, which she likens to a series of dashes and dots, forming a personal Morse code of memories.  Host Claire Fitzsimmons talks with...

In this episode of A Thought I Kept , host Claire Fitzsimmons invites Anya Pearse, a coach, mentor, and creative thinker, to discuss a thought that's stayed with her: 'Am I feeling my thinking?'  The conversation explores the origins of this thought, inspired by the works of Byron Katie and Michael Neil, and explores themes of self-awareness, self-compassion, and acceptance. Anya sh...

In this conversation, Claire Fitzsimmons and Emma Simpson explore the profound question of 'What's the worst that can happen?' as a guiding principle in life. Emma shares her journey of transforming fear into adventure, resilience through grief, and the balance between safety and freedom in parenting. They discuss the importance of emotional energy in nurturing friendships and the c...

In this episode of Thought I Kept , host Claire Fitzsimmons welcomes journalist and author Rosamund Dean, creator of the brilliant Substack Well, Well, Well . They discuss the complexities and contradictions of wellness including Rosamund's mindful approach to drinking and her experience with breast cancer.  This conversation explores how to make health choices fun and sustainable, the impact...

In this episode of A Thought I Kept host Claire Fitzsimmons talks to Eleanor Tweddell, a writer, speaker, and change consultant. Eleanor discusses what it was like to write and publish her new book, Another Door Opens: Five Steps for Navigating Change in Life and Work.   The discussion ranges from the importance of pausing, the reassuring nature of messiness, and holding space for magic during tra...

We talk about love, family, friendship and even boundaries — but we rarely talk about this : the relationship we have with ourselves. In this episode, Claire Fitzsimmons is joined by therapist Sarah Rees to explore the quiet power of self-compassion and why it’s the most overlooked relationship of all. Sarah shares how her work evolved from cognitive behavioural therapy and nursing to compassion-f...

In this episode of 'A Thought I Kept,' host Claire Fitzsimmons welcomes Emma Lightfoot, a pet grief expert and animal behaviorist, who shares an impactful epiphany from a wise friend. Emma discusses her tendency to immerse herself in learning and preparation to avoid the discomfort of starting and the fear of failure. She reveals her 2025 pledge to stop spending on self-help books and co...

In this episode of A Thought I Kept, host Claire Fitzsimmons interviews Lindsay Kaldor about the impactful teachings from a yoga class fifteen years ago that taught her the importance of seasonality and rest.  Lindsay shares her journey from living a nonstop 'summer existence' in her twenties, to embracing the cyclical nature of life inspired by the wisdom that 'flowers don't b...

In this episode of A Thought I Kept, Sarah Philp discusses the profound impact of Nancy Klein's quote, 'The quality of everything human beings do depends on the quality of the thinking that we do first.'  She reflects on the relationship between thinking and action, the importance of creating thinking spaces, and how these concepts have shaped her work as an educational psychologist...

In this episode of 'A Thought I Kept,' host Claire Fitzsimmons talks with her friend  Irena Meštrović Štajduhar about redefining the concept of strengths.  Irena, based in Croatia, is a life observer who shares insights on how traditional metrics of success often lead to burnout and disconnection. They delve into Marcus Buckingham's idea that true strengths are activities that bring...

In this episode of 'A Thought I Kept' hosted by Claire Fitzsimmons, brand designer and creative mentor Sarah Robertson discusses the lasting impact of a saying from her Scottish grandmother. Sarah shares how this phrase has been an anchor throughout various personal and professional challenges, offering comfort and encouragement. She reflects on the insights gained from creating and laun...

In this episode of A Thought I Kept , host Claire Fitzsimmons talks with Emily Charlotte Powell about the one idea that has guided her creative journey. Emily shares her realisation that prioritizing joy and personal fulfillment in her creative pursuits over external validation and algorithm-driven demands is everything. They discuss the importance of staying true to one's own interests, the...

A Thought I Kept is a short-form wellbeing podcast about the single ideas that shape how we live — the ones that stay with us, long after we’ve forgotten the rest. Hosted by Claire Fitzsimmons, each episode features a different guest sharing the one idea they’ve carried with them through life. A line from a book, a sentence said at the right moment, a realisation they couldn’t un-hear. These are t...