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You're working hard, doing excellent clinical work, and genuinely trying to make things better for your patients - so why does it feel like no one's listening? So many healthcare professionals hit a wall where their ideas get talked over, their proposals stall, and their careers plateau, even when their track record is strong. In this episode, Rachel is joined by Sam Pearce and Sally Powell, co-founders of Impactful Women, to talk about political intelligence - what it actually is, why it feels uncomfortable at first, and how building the right relationships strategically (and with integrity) is the real skill that gets things done in the NHS and beyond. Key Takeaways Your career is your responsibility - waiting for someone to notice you or advocate for you is the most common career trap there is.Influence is relational, not hierarchical. The person who has been in the department 15 years with no senior title can have more sway than the clinical director.Decisions get made before the meeting. Building relationships and having conversations in advance isn't manipulation - it's how things actually work, and others are already doing it. Resources Mentioned Diary of a CEO podcastImpactful Women websiteImpactful Women on LinkedInFree resource: 10% Braver Get more episodes and resources by joining FrogXtra Mentioned in this episode: Download Your Free Overwhelm SOS Guide Discover the simple, step-by-step process you need to calm your mind, take control of your tasks, and get yourself out of overwhelm. Download Your Free Overwhelm SOS Guide Discover the simple, step-by-step process you need to calm your mind, take control of your tasks, and get yourself out of overwhelm.

Every day in healthcare, a meeting ends, and a problem that was never formally handed to anyone lands on the person who cares most - you. If you've ever walked out of a room carrying something that somehow became yours without anyone asking, this Quick Dip Episode gives that experience a name, explains exactly why it keeps happening to people like you, and gives you the language to start pushing back on it. Listen to other episodes in the Over-Responsibility Trap series: Part 1: Why Responsibility Keeps Landing on YouPart 2: When ‘Can You Help?’ Doesn’t Feel Like a Question Learn more about The Shapes Academy here. Get more episodes and resources by joining FrogXtra Mentioned in this episode: Download Your Free Overwhelm SOS Guide Discover the simple, step-by-step process you need to calm your mind, take control of your tasks, and get yourself out of overwhelm.

How many times this week have you thought, "I just don't have a choice"? About your rota, your inbox, the extra patient squeezed in at the end of clinic? That thought feels true, and it can feel like a fact... But what if it’s actually a story, and that story is costing you your peace of mind? In this episode, Rachel sits down with Robbie Swale, coach, author of ‘The Power to Choose’, and creator of the 12 Minute Method, to dig into why reclaiming a sense of agency and choice matters so deeply for your wellbeing. Together, they explore how small shifts in language and perception can move you from feeling like life is happening to you to feeling like you are actually living it on purpose. Key Takeaways Switching "I have to" to "I choose to" is not just a mindset trick. It activates a different part of your nervous system and genuinely changes how you experience pressure.You almost certainly have more options than you can currently see. Curiosity, not certainty, is what opens them up.The 12 Minute Method proves that tiny, consistent actions compound. One lunchtime walk a week adds up to 50 walks over a year, and that matters.Feeling stuck is usually a sign you have not yet had the conversation, asked the question, or taken the step you already know you need to take. Get more episodes and resources by joining FrogXtra Resources Mentioned: 🐸 FrogFest Virtual 🐸 The Power to Choose: Finding Calm and Connection in a Complex World by Robbie Swale 🐸 The 12-Minute Method Books Mentioned in this episode: Download Your Free Overwhelm SOS Guide Discover the simple, step-by-step process you need to calm your mind, take control of your tasks, and get yourself out of overwhelm. ⭐️ Book Your FrogFest Ticket Now

Have you ever had someone ask for “a quick bit of help”… and somehow ended up owning the entire task? In caring professions, requests for help can feel less like requests and more like responsibilities landing on us. We’re trained to notice problems, fix things and support colleagues - which means it can feel incredibly uncomfortable to say no. In this Quick Dip episode, Rachel explores the moment when a simple request triggers our helping reflex, and why so many capable professionals end up carrying work that was never meant to be theirs. Learning to pause before automatically saying yes can help you support colleagues without becoming the automatic carrier of responsibility for everyone and everything. Key ideas discussed in this episode Why requests for help often feel like obligationsThe “helping reflex” in caring professionsHow small requests can quietly become your responsibilityThe difference between caring about something and carrying itWhy saying yes when you don’t have capacity can lead to resentmentHow awareness helps you respond to requests more intentionally Resources mentioned: The Shapes AcademyBrené Brown — “Clear is kind”Passing the Naughty Monkey Back with Dr Amit Sharma Mentioned in this episode: Download Your Free Overwhelm SOS Guide Discover the simple, step-by-step process you need to calm your mind, take control of your tasks, and get yourself out of overwhelm.

The founder of the National Association of Sessional GPs on whether the grass is always greener, and the changes you can make in your career without feeling like a frog forced to jump out of the pan. Get more episodes and resources by joining FrogXtra Mentioned in this episode: ⭐️ Book Your FrogFest Ticket Now Download Your Free Overwhelm SOS Guide Discover the simple, step-by-step process you need to calm your mind, take control of your tasks, and get yourself out of overwhelm.

Have you ever looked at a task on your plate and wondered when it became your responsibility? Nobody asked you to do it. Nobody assigned it to you. But somehow it landed on you, and now you're carrying it. In this Quick Dip, Rachel explores the responsibility trap - the pattern where capable and conscientious professionals automatically pick up unclaimed problems. Over time, these responsibilities accumulate, increasing your workload, emotional labour, and ultimately contributing to burnout. This episode explores why responsible people are particularly vulnerable to this trap and how being more deliberate about what you choose to carry can protect both your energy and your professional identity. Resources mentioned Dr Sarah Coope’s LinkedIn article on the “silence gap”FrogFest Virtual: The Doubt Busters - a half-day online symposium for doctors and senior healthcare professionals happening on 3 June 2026. Get more episodes and resources by joining FrogXtra Mentioned in this episode: Download Your Free Overwhelm SOS Guide Discover the simple, step-by-step process you need to calm your mind, take control of your tasks, and get yourself out of overwhelm.

Mindset shifts to help you explore difficult feelings and find solutions without falling into rescuer mode or getting overwhelmed. Get more episodes and resources by joining FrogXtra Mentioned in this episode: ⭐️ Book Your FrogFest Ticket Now Download Your Free Overwhelm SOS Guide Discover the simple, step-by-step process you need to calm your mind, take control of your tasks, and get yourself out of overwhelm.

There’s more on your plate than you realise, and most likely you’re trying to cram 25 hours of work into a 24 hour day, not counting sleep and time away from work. Here’s some practical advice to help you see what’s on your plate, and what you need to sacrifice. Get more episodes and resources by joining FrogXtra Download the Overwhelm SOS Toolkit Download the Thrive Week Planner Mentioned in this episode: Download Your Free Overwhelm SOS Guide Discover the simple, step-by-step process you need to calm your mind, take control of your tasks, and get yourself out of overwhelm.

What happens when we need to raise a serious concern that could affect patient safety? And what happens if someone raises a concern to you? Get more episodes and resources by joining FrogXtra Mentioned in this episode: Download Your Free Overwhelm SOS Guide Discover the simple, step-by-step process you need to calm your mind, take control of your tasks, and get yourself out of overwhelm. ⭐️ Book Your FrogFest Ticket Now

What does it mean for a doctor to be “good”? Can you be “good” and still take care of yourself? And how can we rescue ourselves from the trap of thinking that asking for support is somehow a moral failing? Get more episodes and resources by joining FrogXtra Mentioned in this episode: Download Your Free Overwhelm SOS Guide Discover the simple, step-by-step process you need to calm your mind, take control of your tasks, and get yourself out of overwhelm.

Practical questions from a clinical psychologist to help you assess whether you’re in a harmful work environment, or one that doesn’t align with your values or strengths. Get more episodes and resources by joining FrogXtra Get more links and show notes via our website Mentioned in this episode: ⭐️ Book Your FrogFest Ticket Now Download Your Free Overwhelm SOS Guide Discover the simple, step-by-step process you need to calm your mind, take control of your tasks, and get yourself out of overwhelm.

And what BBC’s The Traitors can teach us about trust, group-think, and truth. Get more episodes and resources by joining FrogXtra Find more links and show notes via our website Mentioned in this episode: Download Your Free Overwhelm SOS Guide Discover the simple, step-by-step process you need to calm your mind, take control of your tasks, and get yourself out of overwhelm.

Practical techniques to help you respond when someone makes demands on your time, from an expert in mediation and team coaching. Get more episodes and resources by joining FrogXtra Mentioned in this episode: Download Your Free Overwhelm SOS Guide Discover the simple, step-by-step process you need to calm your mind, take control of your tasks, and get yourself out of overwhelm. ⭐️ Book Your FrogFest Ticket Now

How to reframe impossible choices into doable decisions, using a tried-and-tested framework and a simple power mantra. Get more episodes and resources by joining FrogXtra Get more links and show notes via our website Mentioned in this episode: Download Your Free Overwhelm SOS Guide Discover the simple, step-by-step process you need to calm your mind, take control of your tasks, and get yourself out of overwhelm.

How to recognise and avoid “chronic niceness”, regulate your nervous system, and confront people in a way that deepens – and doesn’t damage – relationships. Get more episodes and resources by joining FrogXtra Mentioned in this episode: Download Your Free Overwhelm SOS Guide Discover the simple, step-by-step process you need to calm your mind, take control of your tasks, and get yourself out of overwhelm. ⭐️ Book Your FrogFest Ticket Now