Work is Weird Now

In this episode of Work is Weird Now , we sit down with Nicoletta Idili former humanitarian worker turned podcast host and transformative coach to explore what really happens when you press pause on your career. After eight years at Oxfam, Nicoletta realised the role no longer fit the life she wanted. Instead of jumping straight into the next job, she took a year-and-a-half career break : time to...

This episode welcomes Abigail Wilmore , HR leader, consultant, and founder of People Flow , a global community supporting HR professionals navigating today’s most complex people challenges. With more than 25 years of experience across luxury, fashion, and beauty, Abigail has helped shape human-centred cultures at brands including Gucci, Stella McCartney, and Tom Ford Fashion . We explore why HR is...

In this conversation, Paul Lambert discusses the concept of 'living organisations' and how they can liberate individuals rather than constrain them. He emphasises the importance of purpose, culture, and structure in fostering a thriving workplace. Paul argues that organisations should prioritize human-centric solutions and balance profitability with a strong sense of purpose. He also highlights th...

Leadership doesn’t always begin in a boardroom. For Antoinette Daniel , founder of Just Helpers , it began with a belief that everyone, no matter their job title, deserves dignity, fair pay, and justice. A former PE teacher turned anti-trafficking campaigner, Antoinette never planned to start a cleaning company. But when she picked up cleaning to make ends meet, she saw an industry rife with explo...

How do you build a personal brand that opens doors without feeling like you’re performing for likes? In this episode, we speak with Claudia Cardinali , Head of Strategy at Great Influence , the agency behind the personal brands of some of the UK’s most influential entrepreneurs. Claudia shares how to treat LinkedIn as a career asset instead of a content chore, why sustainable consistency beats vir...

We’ve been circling around AI for months — how to use it, how to feel about it, and how not to lose ourselves in the process. This week, we sat down with Jaroslav Dokoupil , Managing Director of RQ Genesis and Chief Learning Officer at OpenExO, who helps organisations navigate disruption with purpose. His take: treat AI like a relationship, not a tool. AI, in three metaphors: 🧞‍♂️ The Genie — AI...

Guest: Chris Budd — founder of Ovation Finance, author of The Eternal Business and The Financial Wellbeing Book , and founder of the Institute for Financial Wellbeing. If you’ve ever been told to “fix your money before you fix your life,” this episode flips that script. Chris Budd argues that true financial wellbeing isn’t about spreadsheets or savings goals—it’s about aligning your money with mea...

In this special wrap-up episode, Alice and Dan take you behind the scenes at the Finance Forum , where finance leaders, innovators, and curious minds came together to unpack the future of finance. From the buzzing exhibitor floor to thought-provoking panels, this year’s forum showcased how finance is evolving — and how weird (and wonderful) work is becoming along the way. Join us as we: Catch up w...

If you’re 45–65 and wondering whether work still wants you, this episode is your reset. Chartered psychologist Lucy Standing , co-founder of Brave Starts , joins us to unpack the realities and myths of age in the modern workplace. Lucy explains why the anxiety around being “too old” isn’t imagined: hiring systems are outdated, organisations rarely plan for an ageing workforce, and most careers sti...

Finance has long carried the stereotype of being the “team of no.” Donald Ewing flips that narrative, arguing that today’s finance leaders are connectors—translating risk, strategy, and numbers into business action. Key takeaways: From “no” to connector: Finance has a unique vantage point across silos—its superpower is connecting leaders and guiding decisions. Empathy in action: Donald’s ride-alon...

Can finance save the world? It sounds like a ridiculous question—until you hear Victoria Gillespie answer it. A seasoned finance leader working at the intersection of sustainability and investment, Victoria joins Work is Weird Now as part of our Finance Forum 2025 series. Ahead of her October session in London, Victoria unpacks why finance might be the only function that touches everything needed...

Is the future of finance human? Finance has long been misunderstood as number-crunching and compliance—but the truth is, it’s about people. In this episode of Work is Weird Now , multi award-winning finance and technology leader Becky Glover joins us to explore how automation is reshaping the profession and why the future of finance depends on storytelling, curiosity, and building high-performing...

In this wrap-up episode, the hosts reflect on the key themes and insights from Season 3, discussing pivotal episodes that explored allyship, curiosity, creativity, caregiving, belonging, and the ethics of AI in the workplace. Alice and Dan emphasise the importance of genuine connections and conversations in fostering a positive work environment and highlight the evolving nature of work culture. Ke...

82% of new managers step into leadership roles without any formal training. And yet, research shows your line manager has more influence on your mental health than your doctor, therapist—or even your partner. In this episode of Work is Weird Now , we sit down with Naomi Regan —certified leadership coach, people & culture strategist, and co-founder of CAPE People Development —to explore one of...

More than half of workers are already using AI in their jobs — but often in secret. So, is this “cheating”… or just how we work now? In this episode, Work is Weird Now sits down with Dr. Tanya Kant (University of Sussex) and Greg Bortzkiewicz (Magenta Associates) to explore the ethics, emotions, and realities of AI in the workplace, drawing on their research report CheatGPT . We dive into: Why peo...

Leadership still tends to reward charisma, hierarchy, and those who “look good on paper.” But what if that’s not where real change comes from? In this episode, Neil McLean CEO of the Social Enterprise Academy and Head of Partnerships at the Dragonfly Trust shares what he’s learned from two decades supporting leaders who are often overlooked: teachers, young people, and grassroots entrepreneurs. We...

We’ve been told for years that you’re either creative or technical. But what if the most valuable people — and the most transformative work — sit right in the middle? In this episode, we speak with Alex Szukalski , a senior leader in construction and author of What’s a Creative Doing in Construction? , about how creativity shows up in the most unexpected places — and why today’s technical fields n...

What does it really mean to belong at work? In this episode, Tamu Thomas explores the role of belonging in shaping healthy, high-performing workplaces. She explains how true belonging isn’t about fitting in—it’s about feeling seen, heard, and supported without having to conform. Tamu shares the risks of ignoring belonging, including burnout and disengagement, and explains how a disconnect between...

Who Cares for the Caregivers at Work? with Charlie Beswick – carer, campaigner, and founder of Our Altered Life 1 in 7 UK employees is a carer — many without even realising it. Some are looking after children with disabilities. Others are supporting partners with long COVID. Some are sandwiched between aging parents and teenage kids, juggling care on both sides. Some are doing all of the above. In...

This week, we welcome back Simon Lamb - founder of Purposeful Change and expert in the human side of organisational transformation to tackle a question that’s more relevant than ever: When is work… therapy? As the boundaries between coaching, therapy, leadership development, and personal growth blur, many leaders find themselves navigating conversations that go far beyond KPIs. Together, we explor...

Is Curiosity Today’s Work Superpower? What happens when you hit your career peak before 30? Or when the strategies that once worked in your job suddenly fall flat? What if you’re the one always asking questions and getting side-eyed for it? In our latest Work Is Weird Now episode, we sit down with Emma Davies and Ruta Sudmantaite, co-hosts of the acclaimed Blame It On Marketing podcast. With 12 se...

In this episode, Alice Phillips and Dan Emery sit down with technologist and leadership thinker Sunil Malhotra to explore the unlikely but essential intersection of yoga and artificial intelligence . The conversation dives into how ancient wisdom can help individuals and organizations navigate the rapidly evolving, often overwhelming world of work shaped by AI. Sunil shares why work has always bee...

Pride Month can feel like a corporate checkbox. But this week on Work is Weird Now , we’re cutting through the noise to ask a bigger question: 👉 How do we make allyship at work real —not just performative—for Pride and beyond? Our guest is Tony Marroney , an operations director, proud gay man, and heels-wearing executive who’s spent over 25 years helping workplaces become more inclusive, sometime...

In this reflective episode, the Alice and Dan look back on the most powerful conversations of Season Two. From neurodiversity and inclusion to the realities of fatherhood and the underrepresentation of women in AI, this episode explores the complex dynamics shaping today’s workplace. The discussion also highlights the importance of mindset shifts and cognitive flexibility in a world of constant ch...

In this special edition, we turn our attention to the evolving relationship between education and the workforce . Hosts Alice Phillips and Dan Emery meet Deputy Head Teacher Sarah Thomas to unpack what it really means to prepare young people for the future of work in today’s rapidly shifting landscape. From the pressures faced by teachers and the lingering effects of the pandemic to the rising nee...