Secrets From a Coach - Debbie Green & Laura Thomson's Podcast

Send us Fan Mail In the second episode of our Friendships at Work series, we’re joined by Karl Allcoat, a senior leader in construction and architecture, to explore what it really takes to create belonging — especially for those who may not see themselves represented in the majority. Whether it’s being LGBTQ+, neurodivergent, or simply feeling like an outsider in a workplace culture, Karl shares h...

Send us Fan Mail Do you have a work BFF? In this first episode of our 4-part Friendships at Work series, we dig into the surprisingly powerful impact of having friends on the job — and why it’s about more than just sharing a coffee or a lunchtime laugh. Think about any big life event — a wedding, a milestone birthday — and chances are, a current or former colleague is on the guest list. Rather tha...

Send us Fan Mail In our special bonus episode, we reflect on the powerful conversations shared throughout our Taking Pride series—bringing together the key themes, insights, and practical takeaways from our four incredible guests. From understanding the evolving language of gender identity to the importance of authentic allyship, cultural sensitivity, and courageous leadership, we revisit the mome...

Send us Fan Mail In the fourth episode of our Taking Pride series where we hear from different community perspectives, we’re joined by the inspiring Bhavna Raithatha—also known as the Mindset Ninja—for a powerful conversation about Pride, resilience, and the layered experiences of cultural identity. Bhavna shares her personal journey of overcoming trauma, navigating bullying, and embracing her &ap...

Send us Fan Mail In the third episode of our Taking Pride series, we explore the vital role of allyship in creating safe, respectful spaces for LGBTQIA+ colleagues—especially those who may be vulnerable or marginalised. We’re joined by the courageous and articulate Sophie, who shares deeply personal stories of moments where a lack of allyship turned already challenging experiences into something f...

Send us Fan Mail In the second episode of our Taking Pride series, we explore the evolving language around gender identity and how greater understanding can lead to everyday moments of inclusion. We’re joined by the thoughtful and engaging Olly Cooper, who shares his lived experience of identifying as a Demi-Boy and what that means in practice—offering a personal perspective that brings clarity an...

Send us Fan Mail In the first episode of our special 5-part Secrets From a Coach series for Pride Month, we’re joined by the insightful Steph Constantinides to explore how inclusion can become part of everyday workplace experiences. Steph shares personal reflections on what it means to navigate work environments where even the simplest introductions can involve careful risk assessments about self-...

Send us Fan Mail In this energising episode, we shine a light on the darker corners of workplace culture—the ones that feel more like the Death Star than a thriving Rebel base. Whether it's low morale, reactive behaviours, silent tension, or full-blown conflict, these dynamics can quietly sabotage performance, collaboration, and wellbeing. We share practical ways to swap out Storm Trooper com...

Send us Fan Mail In our latest episode where we take the wisdom from Star Wars and apply to our world of work - and in this one we’re joining the Rebel Alliance to rethink how we approach performance appraisal systems. Joined by HR leader Kerri Fionda-Brookes, she inspires us to channel the Rebels: united with a shared purpose—despite different skills, styles, and backgrounds. We explore how perfo...

Send us Fan Mail As we continue our series taking lessons from the world of Star Wars this one is all about mindset and belief, and the impact self-belief has on our worklife and sense of self.  In this powerful episode, we’re joined by the inspirational Nigel Snowball as he shares his lived experience of navigating tough times at work. From setbacks to self-doubt, Nigel explores how to stay groun...

Send us Fan Mail In this second of our 5-part mini-series, where we celebrate Star Wars month by bringing lessons from that galaxy far, far away, we explore ideas for engaging teams to open their hearts and minds to new and emerging tech.  For as every avid Star Wars fan knows: rather than the 'extras' the Droids are the  constant in the storyline - and give the humans the consistency, b...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to our new 5-part mini-series, where we celebrate Star Wars month by bringing lessons from that galaxy far, far away into our everyday work lives. We’re not travelling too far to discover what the Jedi can teach us about thriving at work.  And this first episode is where we share powerful lessons in handling pressure. Whether you're leading a team, managing conflict,...

Send us Fan Mail In this final of our 4-part focus on inspirational leadership, we take a look at the difference between confidence and egotism when you are a leader. As Lau is working overseas for the week, Debs is joined by our colleague and team dynamics expert Lindsey Thompson who shares real life examples.  She takes us through 4 real world examples of ego ruining the vibe: The Micromanager i...

Send us Fan Mail In this third episode of our 4-part focus on Inspirational Leadership we explore what it means to lead people well through change. Lau takes the helm on this episode and takes us through leading change rather than just managing change and how to communicate well to keep a calm and focused environment. She shares practical tips for holding steady along the rollercoaster ups and dow...

Send us Fan Mail In this second episode of our 4-part focus on Inspirational Leadership we focus on making the move into your first leadership role. It’s exciting… and if we were to be honest, a little daunting too - so lets not forget that leaders are humans too.  In this episode, we break down five essential tips to help you step into leadership with confidence and clarity. From shifting your mi...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to our new 4-part mini-series all about Inspirational Leadership. It can be so easy to judge leaders in an organisation as its easy to forget that leaders are humans too. As anyone who has recently moved into leadership, its not for the faint-hearted as we head towards 2030 - but this is the reason to lean in, not shy away from - taking the leadership reins.  In this first...

Send us Fan Mail In this final in our 4-part series where we review 4 of the recent books that have made an impact on us, we explore Steven Hargreave's brilliant 'The Compassionate Leader's Playbook' from 2021. His book demonstrates how leading with compassion is great for business, culture, and the bottom line, and how when we lead with compassion everyone benefits. We love th...

Send us Fan Mail In this third in our 4-part series where we review 4 of the recent books that have made an impact on us, we explore David Eagleman's inspirational 'Livewired' book from 2021. From new ways of looking at why we dream, to how we can maintain our problem-solving and decision-making skills, this brings a fresh and empowering way to view intelligence and what it means to...

Send us Fan Mail In this second in our 4-part series the books that have made an impact on us, we explore The Trauma Informed Coach written by Joanna Harper.  What happens when someone shares their trauma with you at work? Do you freeze, try to fix it, or change the subject? We unpack the delicate art of navigating difficult conversations with compassion and boundaries. Trauma doesn't always...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to the first in our new 4-part series where we review 4 of the recent books that have made an impact on us. Ideal for those who find it tricky to get the time to read but want the benefits of learning in an easy-listen way with tangible takeaways weaved in. Mo Gawdat's Scary Smart book is as much a call to action as it is a good read for those interested in all thing...

Send us Fan Mail In the final of our 4-part 'time to think' mini-series, we shine a light on one of the darker aspects of working relationships: coercive control. Whether this is an unhealthy manager/team member dynamic or between colleagues we explore what it means, what to watch out for and how to break the cycle.  Many face the silent struggle of feeling manipulated or undervalued by...

Send us Fan Mail In the third of our 4-part 'time to think' mini-series, we focus on the importance of not just prioritising yourself, but to hold it as a core value to ensure a healthy balance in how you interact with people and the world at large. If you stand for nothing, you'll fall for anything (Katy Perry, song ROAR) so it boosts our confidence, purpose and energy.   We focus...

Send us Fan Mail Handling tricky people continues to be a hot topic, particularly if you are working in a hybrid setting where misunderstandings can arise due to judgements and perceptions.  So this week we dip into the brilliant bestseller 'Surrounded By Idiots' written Thomas Erikson in 2014. It offers a simple method for assessing the personalities of people we communicate with - in a...

Send us Fan Mail In the second of our 4-part 'time to think' mini-series, we focus on the element that has a huge  impact on our performance wellbeing at work: the relationship with our boss.  According to Gallup, managers (more than any other factor) influence team engagement and performance. 70% of the variance in team engagement is determined solely by the manager (Gallup, 2021) but n...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to our latest 4-part mini-series where we invite you to 'take time' to think about 4 important topics that underpin a thriving work-life in the 2020s. In this episode we explore the essential need for us to prioritise our mind health - for our own personal wellness as well as collectively as part of a thriving workplace culture. (PLEASE NOTE: This episode has ref...