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Before we dive into season two, Nicky takes a moment to reflect on what season one of Heart and Graft taught her, and what those lessons mean for the podcast going forward. From the assumptions we make about ourselves, other people and what's “normal” at work, to the surprising power of small acts of care, this is a look back at some of the ideas and stories that stayed with her. Nicky also explores why she's embracing simplicity, leaning further into the stories behind the research, and introducing a new reflective ending to future episodes. Plus, there's a little challenge for you: invest five minutes, once a week, with a pen, a notebook and a cuppa, and ask yourself: What has happened lately that you want to remember, and why? Look out for the first full episodes of season two, with more stories, more human stuff, and a little more breathing room between episodes.

In this episode of Heart and Graft, Nicky is sharing the ideas that shaped years of designing and delivering workplace learning. We often talk about training as if it’s the same thing as learning, but in reality, they’re not quite the same, and if we want learning to last, we need to create the right conditions for it to happen. Drawing on her own experience as a trainer, facilitator and learner, Nicky explores what helps adults engage, remember, and apply new ideas at work. From relevance and repetition to curiosity, safety and a little bit of fun, this episode is all about the practical ingredients that make learning more likely to stick. Why listen Hear why training and learning are not the same thing. Learn the practical conditions that help adults feel safe enough to engage. Discover why relevance, repetition and enjoyment matter so much in workplace learning. Get ideas you can use if you train, facilitate, coach, or support learning at work. Hear real stories from years of designing learning that people actually remembered and used. Sign up to The Monthly Graft e-news community for additional content, including dealing with 'anticipatory grief' at work.

In this episode of Heart and Graft, Nicky explores the psychology of affirmations through the lens of motivational interviewing (MI). Drawing on neuroscience, workplace experience, and personal stories, this episode unpacks the difference between saying “thank you”, giving praise, and offering meaningful affirmations that build self-efficacy, and intrinsic motivation. Along the way, Nicky explores: why some feedback disappears into a “black hole”; how well-intentioned managers might being creating 'praise addicts', and how to use affirmations at work. Why listen? Learn the difference between praise, feedback and affirmations Understand how motivation really works Discover practical ways to build self-efficacy in others Explore how affirmations contribute to psychological safety Hear real-world examples you can immediately apply in leadership and workplace conversations Sign up to The Monthly Graft e-news community for additional content, including dealing with 'anticipatory grief' at work.

Joy at work isn’t about forced fun or pretending everything is perfect. It’s about the small, real things that make work feel worth doing: meaningful tasks, supportive relationships, trust, autonomy, and space to breathe. In this episode of Heart and Graft, we explore why joy matters, how it links to engagement and retention, and how job crafting can help people shape work in ways that fit their strengths and energy better. We also talk about the difference between genuine joy and forced fun, and how leaders can create the conditions where positive moments can happen naturally. If you care about wellbeing, engagement, or creating workplaces where people can be happy, this one is for you. Hear how joy at work shows up in everyday moments, not just big gestures. Explore why autonomy, meaning, and good relationships matter so much. Get practical ideas (job crafting) for making work feel more human and sustainable. You can find Sam Palmer on LinkedIn, or visit her website Midlife Makeover to subscribe to her newsletters. And if you’d like extra reflections and bonus content, don’t forget to join The Monthly Graft newsletter.

For years, menopause at work was reduced to stereotypes, awkward jokes, and whispered conversations. But what if we’ve been missing the real story? In this episode of Heart and Graft, Nicky sits down with menopause coach and educator Sam Palmer to explore what menopause can actually look like in working life. Together, they unpack why so many women silently struggle at work and the small practical changes that can make a huge difference. This isn’t just a conversation for women experiencing menopause. It’s for managers, HR professionals, trainers, colleagues, partners, and anyone who wants to build more human workplaces. Why listen: Explore the organisational cost of avoiding talking about menopause Discover the neuroscience of the “menopause brain” Find a series of small, practical adjustments that genuinely help Learning how to move beyond token gestures and tick-box policies Find out the added strengths that menopause brings. Connect with Sam Palmer: Website: https://www.midlifemakeover.co.uk/middle-age-health-and-fitness Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sampalmermidlifemakeover/ Facebook / Community: https://www.facebook.com/samsmidlifemakeover LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/midlifemakeover/

In this episode of Heart and Graft, Nicky talks with Mia Shepherd about workplace conflict: how it builds, how to reduce the chances of unpleasant conflict, and what to do when feelings boil over. Why listen To understand why conflict at work is often about something deeper than the surface issue. To hear practical ways to address tension before it escalates. Explore how our background can led us to avoid conflict with colleagues To explore how managers and facilitators can create space for honesty, repair, and better relationships at work. Together, Nicky and Mia explore how conflict can be managed in more civil and useful ways, including practical techniques such as creating space to talk, using timed speaking, and helping people focus on shared goals. They also look at how unspoken conflict can quietly damage relationships and performance, and why it matters to give people the chance to put things right. If you enjoy honest, reflective conversations about how to make workplaces more human, this episode is for you. And if you’d like extra reflections and bonus content, don’t forget to join The Monthly Graft newsletter.   Learn more about Mia's work through her website.

In this episode of Heart and Graft, we explore one of the most human, and often hardest, experiences to navigate at work: grief. Nicky is joined by Hannah O’Hare, Chief Executive of Forest Holme Hospice, to discuss how bereavement shows up in the workplace, why people often struggle to talk about it, and what compassionate support can really look like. Together they explore the emotional, physical and practical impact of grief, the pressure managers feel to “get it right”, and the small but meaningful changes organisations can make to support grieving colleagues better.   Why listen: Learn what grief can look like at work, beyond sadness alone. Hear practical advice on what to say — and what not to panic about saying. Understand why some people want to talk, while others need quiet space and time. Find out how leaders can make it easier for people to talk about loss and bereavement. Discover low-cost, high-impact ways to make your workplace more bereavement friendly Hear honest reflections from someone working daily with grief, loss and end-of-life care. Sign up to The Monthly Graft e-news community for additional content, including dealing with 'anticipatory grief' at work. Connect with Hannah on LinkedIn Forest Holme Hospice Charity on YouTube

Uncover the nuances of workplace boundaries in Episode 20 of Heart and Graft, where Nicky, Mia, and Joel explore noticing when limits are crossed (for you or colleagues), why boundaries extend past work-life balance to policies, conversations, and power dynamics, and how they differ for leaders and team members. Gain clarity on this fuzzy topic through real stories and compassionate insights—ideal for HR, trainers, coaches, and anyone building human-focused workplaces. Why listen? Learn to recognize subtle boundary infringements, like discomfort in personal chats or clashing work styles, before resentment builds. See boundaries as more than "no" to tasks Understand leader-staff differences, like watching for team micro-expressions. Get practical ways to address clashes, redirect conversations, and foster team norms. Sign up to The Monthly Graft, the Heart and Graft newsletter for extra content and community updates.

Discover how Mark Crowter, MD of Galloway's Accountancy, builds thriving human cultures in a precision-driven profession. From jeans-wearing authenticity to embracing tough feedback, learn micro-moves that foster trust, growth, and retention amid rapid expansion. Why Listen Gain practical strategies for authentic leadership that prioritise people over processes, even in rule-bound industries.​ See how inviting challenge from teams leads to real policy changes.​ Understand scaling humanity through mergers by selecting "good folk" and embedding care in daily interactions. Want more Heart & Graft? Starting in April 2026, the all new, Monthly Graft. A newsletter with a round-up of our heart moments, graft tactics AND special bonus content exclusively available to subscribers. Interested? Sign up now.

Uncover the realities of unpaid carers juggling jobs and family care in this heartfelt Heart and Graft episode with advocate Charlie Beswick. Hear her journey raising son Harry, born with a rare condition, and her push for workplaces to see carers' resilience, empathy, and loyalty as assets—not burdens. Essential listening for HR leaders and anyone fostering human-focused teams.​ Why listen?​ Unlock carers' superpowers like pivoting, reading rooms, and crisis management that boost team morale. Understand how to be a great colleague to co-workers with caring responsibilities. The simple but valued things workplaces can do to help, and steps carers can take to get their needs met.   Learn more about Charlie's work via her website: Our Altered Life

When life (or germ season) blows up your beautifully crafted plans, how do you pivot without losing your sanity or your sense of self? In this solo episode of Heart and Graft, Nicky turns a last‑minute cancellation into an honest exploration of what it really feels like when Plan A falls apart – and how SCAMPER can help you find your way to Plan B, C or Z. From delayed trains and missing projector cables, to those 4 p.m. “rug-pull” moments that leave you frozen one minute and flooded with 47 half-formed ideas the next. Along the way, Nicky introduces SCAMPER – a simple, seven‑prompt creativity tool – and shows how it can support human workplace pivots, whether you’re a manager, HR, coach, or just someone whose week has imploded. Why listen: Get a practical, easy-to-steal SCAMPER framework you can use for any “oh no, now what?” moment at work. Learn the “freeze, flood, friend” pattern and why borrowing someone else’s calm brain can be a game-changer. Hear real-life pivot stories that make creativity feel human, messy and totally doable (no perfection required). Reflect on how identity and values shape which pivots feel tiny and which feel seismic.

Public sector veteran and coach Sarah Clein joins Nicky to unpack the "death by a thousand cuts" slide into burnout—fueled by workload surges, boundary bleed, and midlife squeezes like menopause and family stress. Drawing from her own cliff-edge exhaustion and book The Midlife Trenches, Sarah shares how to say "no," tune into somatic signals, and prioritise joy over endless rescuing.​ Why Listen? Gain actionable tips to reclaim personal vitality, support colleagues kindly, and foster human-centered workplaces.​ Hear real stories of jet-lagged denial, skipped medicals, and "Terminator" armor—plus antidotes like tiny "nos" and duck-feeding simplicity. Perfect for HR, L&D pros, coaches, and midlife leaders battling chronic stress; rediscover zest before it's "is this it?" Find out more about Sarah by visiting her website.

Have you ever snapped at a colleague like a grumpy teen—or noticed how your behavour changes when work pressures ramp up? In this Heart & Graft episode, Nicky cracks open two theories from Transactional Analysis (TA) with stories from her TA101 epiphany to her Dad's paint critique.   Why listen: Get to grips with the inner parent, adult and child in you. Make more conscious decisions about when and why to operate from different mindsets Demystify reactive behaviours to curb burnout and miscommunications Spot your dominant drivers under stress (we all have them!) and soften them for kinder self-reflection. Grab your 'special glasses'—because work's messy, but TA makes it human."

In this episode of Heart & Graft, Nicky is back in the virtual coffee shop with Mia Shepherd of Neupauer Training and Joel Fielder of Switchplane to talk about productivity without turning into a robot. They discuss why endless to-do lists and self-sabotage leave people feeling busy but unfulfilled, and how reframing productivity around value, boundaries and energy can change the way you work. From parenting and PhDs to software sprints and the “beanie hat of concentration”, this is a very human look at getting important work done without losing yourself.​ Why listen To rethink productivity from “How many tasks did I finish?” to “What progress did I make towards what really matters?”.​ To hear practical ideas like time boxing, 25‑minute sprints, planning, and visual “do not disturb” signals.​ To explore how impostor syndrome, perfectionism and emotional hijacks quietly derail your day – and what you can actually do about them.​ To learn how deadlines, accountability and tiny increments of progress can work with your personality instead of against it.​

In this episode of Heart and Graft, Nicky explores whether virtual and hybrid teams can ever feel as kind, connected and compassionate as working in the same room. Drawing on conversations with digital learning specialist and mindfulness teacher Alison Potter, and coach Sara Knight, the episode unpacks the benefits of online work, the three practical challenges, and the mindset shift that lets humanity “vibrate through” the screen.​ You will hear stories of online sessions that began as a “car crash” and evolved into confident, interactive spaces, research on teaching compassion virtually, and a powerful account of how being at home helped a client open up about burnout in ways they might never have done face to face. Nicky distils their insights into practical tips for anyone leading virtual teams or online sessions.​ Why listen To understand the real benefits and pitfalls of virtual working, beyond the usual productivity headlines.​ To hear evidence and lived experience on whether psychological safety and trust can genuinely flourish online.​ To learn concrete practices for making your virtual meetings and teams feel more human, compassionate and inclusive. As well as,​ ideas for handling Zoom fatigue, tech wobblies and emotional conversations when you are not in the same room.​ You can connect with Alison on LinkedIn and with Sara on LinkedIn or via her website.