Life Happens*

You know the situation – you have a key meeting with someone, maybe it was a date or a job interview, and afterwards you keep replaying it over and over in your head. Overthinking it! Why? You can’t change anything now! Yes, maybe you can learn from it, but that’s not going to give you any sort of closure over this situation. Or you are imagining a future scenario and playing different possibiliti...

You know the feeling, there’s something you’ve got to do, probably really want to do, but yet you still put it off. Suddenly, there are 14 other tasks that somehow seem more important right now. Why do we do it? And can we find ways to stop doing it and be more productive? In this episode of ‘Life Happens*’, Michelle and Nick don’t hang about, diving straight in to a full and frank discussion on w...

What’s the hardest word to say in the English language? And it’s not ‘antidisestablishmentarianism’ or one of those other tongue twisters we Brits learnt in school. It’s ‘no’. So why is it so hard to say no? In the latest episode of ‘Life Happens*’, Michelle and Nick take a deep dive into that strange conundrum of the difficulty in saying ‘no’. If you have ever agreed to something you really didn’...

Do we act differently with different people? And if so, why? Do we want to impress some people more than others? Is it all about being seen in the best possible light? Or do we simply say it doesn’t matter...at least, until it does? Listen now to the latest episode of Life Happens* where Michelle and Nick debate how we react to what various people in our lives apparently think of us. And there’s a...

This episode is for you if you can speak more than one language or if you are in the process of learning a new language. Listen now as Michelle and Nick debate whether speaking another language makes you feel like another person, as well as the many other aspects of being able to confidently express yourself in more than one language. Michelle, a native Czech speaker, presents this podcast in Engl...

Which do you think is smarter – the ability to read a book or to be able to read the room? Listen now to the latest episode of Life happens* where Michelle and Nick discuss different types of intelligences and how to recognise them. Join the conversation as they look into what is social intelligence and emotional intelligence. They compare these skills with the knowledge you learn at school. And d...

Have you ever followed advice… and ended up feeling worse? In this episode of Life Happens* (but you can too!), Michelle and Nick explore the surprising risks behind something we all do: giving and receiving advice. Why do we feel so compelled to offer advice—are we really helping, or just trying to feel useful? And why can the same advice be life-changing for one person… but harmful for another?...

Why can the end of a friendship hurt just as much — or even more — than a breakup? In this episode of Life Happens*, Michelle and Nick continue their deep dive into friendship by exploring what happens when friendships change, fade, or come to an end. Why is friendship heartbreak so rarely talked about? Why can making new friends as an adult feel so difficult? And what happens when you realise you...

“A good friend will always stab you in the front.” But what actually makes a good friend? Hopefully, someone who won’t stab you at all! In this episode of Life Happens* (*but you can too!), Michelle and Nick explore the reality of friendship—one of the most important, and often most misunderstood, relationships in our lives. Why do we assume friendships should be easy, when they can be some of the...

Ever said “it’s fine” when it really wasn’t? When someone cancels plans. When a throwaway comment ruins your day. When something does matter… but you pretend it doesn’t. In this episode of Life Happens* (but you can too!), Michelle and Nick explore the psychology of micro-rejections — the small moments we downplay that can have a surprisingly big emotional impact. Why do we minimise what we feel?...

“Young people today… think they invented sex.” A line Nick remembers hearing when he was one of the “young people.” So… are the generations really that different—or just repeating the same arguments? In this episode of Life Happens*, Michelle and Nick take on generational stereotypes, exploring why different age groups often clash, compete, or even fear each other. Are these differences real—or ex...

Do you ever feel exhausted by things that shouldn’t matter? In this week’s episode of Life Happens*, Michelle and Nick talk about the problems that feel too small to complain about… but too big to ignore. The tiny frustrations. The constant pressure. The quiet build-up. Michelle calls it “death by a thousand paper cuts.” There’s actually a name for it — microstress. It’s what happens when we ignor...

Why did no one warn me that life is such a scam? If you’ve ever thought that… this episode is for you. In the latest Life Happens, Michelle and Nick dive into the things no one tells you about adulthood — from the shock of real responsibility to the strange feeling that you never quite become a “proper” adult. They explore leaving home and what that really feels like, freedom vs responsibility, th...

Does your job define who you are? And should it? In this episode of Life Happens*, Michelle and Nick explore one of the biggest modern dilemmas: are we expecting too much from our work? Should your career provide purpose and identity—or simply fund the life you really want to live? They unpack the pressure of finding a “dream job,” the reality of being judged by what you do for a living, and wheth...

Are endless options actually making life harder—or just more confusing? In this episode of Life Happens*, Michelle and Nick explore what it means to live in a world full of choices—especially in dating and careers. Do dating apps expand our possibilities, or quietly make commitment harder? And what happened to the kind of chance encounters that turn into lifelong love stories? Michelle reflects on...

Would you rather have one guaranteed good option or five uncertain great ones ? In this episode of Life Happens* (* but you can too! ), hosts Michelle R Williams and Nick Hirst explore the psychology of choice and decision-making. From choosing schools and careers to navigating everyday life decisions, they discuss whether modern life offers too many choices — and whether that freedom actually mak...

You know your chronological age — just count the candles on your last birthday cake. But is that how old you actually feel ? In this episode of Life Happens*, hosts Michelle R Williams and Nick Hirst explore the fascinating psychology of subjective age — the age we perceive ourselves to be. Originally, the concept of mental age was used to measure intellectual development. But researchers are incr...

Do we remember our lives as they really happened — or do we quietly edit the past to make it more coherent, meaningful… or even dramatic? In this episode of Life Happens* (*but you can too!), hosts Michelle R Williams and Nick Hirst explore the psychology of memory and how it shapes our identity. Michelle reflects on 21 years of memories, while Nick has decades to draw from — yet it’s Nick who cla...

Are some emotions really “bad” — or are we just uncomfortable with them? Jealousy. Regret. Neediness. Boredom. Grief. Why are these feelings socially labelled as negative? And what happens when we suppress them instead of understanding them? In this episode of Life Happens, hosts Michelle R Williams and Nick Hirst explore emotional intelligence, vulnerability, and whether we’re too quick to judge...

Are your coping mechanisms actually part of your personality—and what would you be like without them? Listen now to the latest episode of ‘Life Happens*’, where hosts Michelle R Williams and Nick Hirst explore the psychology behind the habits and behaviours we rely on to navigate stress, relationships, and everyday life. Why do we develop coping mechanisms? Where do they come from? And are they he...

“What animal would you choose to be?” It sounds like a fun icebreaker—but it’s increasingly being asked in real job interviews. Why do employers ask it? Is there a right answer? And what can our animal choices reveal about personality, behaviour, and self-awareness? In this episode of Life Happens* ( but you can too! ), inter-generational hosts Michelle R Williams and Nick Hirst explore the psycho...

How do different cultures show emotion—and what can reality TV reveal about emotional expression? In this episode of Life Happens* , Michelle and Nick explore how UK and US versions of the same reality TV show display strikingly different emotional responses. They unpack the cultural idea of “keeping a stiff upper lip,” its surprising American origins, and whether we’re becoming more emotionally l...

What are the biggest cultural differences between the USA, the UK, and Europe? In this episode of Life Happens* , Michelle and Nick share real-life observations from living and working abroad. Michelle is fresh from six months living and working in Chicago and Nick has made multiple work-based trips across the US. Here they compare American, British, and European culture — from friendliness and wo...

Have you ever thought about moving abroad or starting a new life in another country? Uprooting yourself — and possibly your family — in the hope of a better lifestyle is a big decision, but one many people consider at the start of a new year. In this episode of Life Happens* , we explore what it’s really like to relocate overseas. Is the grass truly greener when you move to another country, or do...

Are you trapped in a stereotypical path through life? Do you feel stuck and want to make a change? Ever wonder if it’s possible to go your own way? New year...new beginnings, and this week the ‘Life Happens*’ team discuss breaking out of a life you may feel stuck in. Michelle, the young half of the team, is just starting out on her journey and contemplates the choices ahead and how to make them. N...