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Showing 89 episodes from the public archive.
Season 5 starts with the guest who started it all. Caroline Webb is back, tackling a question every overloaded leader needs to answer: what should you stop doing yourself?
Toughing it out is not resilience. Chronic pressure without recovery drains people, and the ones praised for coping are often closest to the edge.
Conflict at work is not simply a choice between charging in and avoiding it.
Hope at work is not optimism. It is a goal worth reaching, more than one credible route forward and enough agency to move.
A good job is not the same for everyone.
The loudest predictions about AI count the jobs it might destroy. Russell Beck says that is the wrong unit of analysis.
Most companies can show you a plan. Far fewer can explain the choices underneath it.
Welcome to Better Moments! Small but mighty snippets from our best episodes.
Cathal and Annette close out the season together in London and test the four ideas that actually changed how they work.
The final listener questions episode of Better at Work, Season 4.
Roger Martin explains the four-word question he uses in boardrooms and why a mode-seeking machine cannot make a distinctive strategic choice for you.
The world's leading strategy thinker dismantles the planning document, the laundry list and the myth that leaders make choices while everyone else executes.
Agency, growth and connection explain more about a workplace than paint colour, hot desks or the number of days people come in.
Behavioural scientist Leidy Klotz explains how our surroundings feed or starve agency, growth and connection.
A practical conversation about competing priorities, both-and thinking and preparing for a competency-based interview.
Wendy K. Smith brings both-and thinking out of the business-school case study and into the decisions leaders are making today.
Annette's back with three takeaways from last week's Jennifer Moss episode that genuinely changed how we think about hope at work. Plus a listener question from Paul, an Australian who's been working in Dublin for 7-8 years and is now moving the family home to Melbourne while weighing a career change.
Jennifer Moss separates recovery habits from the organisational causes of burnout and explains what leaders can change.
What if the colleague who drives you up the wall is the one your organisation can't afford to lose?
For 14 years, David Imai was a Design Director at Tesla, helping shape every car the company put on the road. Before that, GM and Opel. Today he advises the startups building the future of transport and robotics, and he's obsessed with one question: why do the best ideas keep dying inside big organisations?
In this week's listener questions episode, Cathal and Annette revisit three powerful ideas from their conversation with Marcus Collins.
Why Culture Is the Most Powerful Force at Work (And How to Actually Change It) | Marcus Collins
Your team might be too big to do its best work.
Colin Fisher went from touring the world as a jazz trumpet player to becoming one of the leading researchers on group dynamics at UCL. His new book, The Collective Edge, reveals why the structure around your team matters more than the talent inside it.
She left her job for a direct competitor. Six months in, she wants out.
Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez got fired for trying to bring project management to a top consulting firm.
Q&A episode answering a tough leadership question from Emer, plus Annette's takeaways from Laura Gassner-Otting.
Laura Gassner-Otting (Wall Street Journal bestselling author) joins Cathal in the London studio to challenge everything we think we know about success.
Q&A episode with Annette's top takeaways from Russell Beck + critical advice for dealing with burnout at work.
You won't lose your job to AI in 2026. You'll lose it to someone who knows how to use AI better.
Our final episode of 2025! Cathal and Annette wrap up the year with takeaways from last week's Smart Conflict episode - plus Annette has a hilarious problem: she can't stop saying the word "problematic."
Louise van Haast and Alice Driscoll, co-authors of Smart Conflict: How to Have Hard Conversations at Work, join Cathal in-studio for a masterclass in navigating workplace conflict.
A listener on a graduate program asks: "I'm not learning what I expected. The role feels narrow. I want to be an entrepreneur. What should I do?"
Carlii Lyon helped me start this podcast 5 years ago. Today, she's sharing her journey from terrified first-timer to leading personal branding expert—and her new book "Courage to Be."
You asked, we answered. In this special listener Q&A episode, co-host Annette turns the tables and asks Cathal the questions we usually ask our guests.This is the story behind Better at Work: why it started, what we're building, and where we're going next.💡 KEY INSIGHTS:"People invest so much time in personal trainers to help them look better. We're…
Taking a career break doesn't mean your career is over. In this episode, Julianne Miles—chartered psychologist, MBE recipient, and author of Return Journey—shares her proven 5-stage framework for returning to work after time away.
A listener wrote in with a big question: “Where do I even begin with a career change?”In this episode, Cathal and Annette share practical advice on how to identify your unique talents, reconnect with your passions, and take small, meaningful steps toward work that matters.They also reflect on the lessons from Dr Zach Mercurio (Why Mattering Matters) —…
Only 30% of people feel like someone at work cares for them as a person. The lowest it's ever been.Zach Mercurio refers to this as a mattering deficit. And you can't solve it with perks, programs, or engagement initiatives. You can only solve it through daily interactions where people feel genuinely cared for.In this conversation, Zach breaks down the…
Annette and Cathal sit down to debrief last week's episode with Tasha Eurich—and it got real.
Tasha Eurich spent 5 years studying resilience - interviewing hundreds of people, reviewing 1,300+ scientific articles, and analysing the 52 most cited resilience studies.
Welcome to our first-ever Listener Questions episode on Better@Work!
Today we welcome Helen Tupper, CEO of Amazing If and co-author of the No.1 Sunday Times Business Bestseller The Squiggly Career: Ditch the Ladder, Discover Opportunity, Design Your Career. Helen has built her career across leadership roles at Microsoft, Virgin, and BP, and today helps millions of people rethink what career success really means through…
In episode 45, we welcome Daisy Auger-Domínguez , a trailblazing executive dedicated to building vibrant and supportive cultures. Her new book “Burnt Out to Lit Up: How to Reignite the Joy of Leading People” offer practical strategies for overcoming burnout. With decades of experience driving transformation at Google and Disney, Daisy…
In episode 44, we welcome workplace culture expert Colin D. Ellis, an award-winning keynote speaker and the best-selling author of Culture Fix: How to Create a Great Place to Work and Detox your Culture: Deliver results, retain staff, and strengthen your organisation's reputation .
In episode 43, we welcome Sinead D'Arcy, an early talent & employer brand marketer who partners with organisations on their early talent strategy across the full 360 employee experience from attraction to selection, onboarding, ongoing development, retention & off-boarding. Sinéad does extensive work with people managers to help them understand…
In episode 42, we welcome behavioral scientist Mike Daniels, co-founder of the Behavioural Architects - a global insight, research and strategic consultancy organisation.
In episode 41, we welcome behavioral scientist, psychologist, and futurist Aaron McEwan. Aaron discusses how the pandemic has fundamentally reshaped our relationship with work, marking a pivotal moment that underscores the importance of empathy and human-centered leadership within organisations.
In episode 40, we welcome back Amy Gallo, co-host of HBR's Women at Work podcast and the brilliant author of ‘ Getting Along: How to Work with Anyone (Even Difficult People) ' to discuss conflict, communication and navigating challenging workplace dynamics.
In episode 39, we welcome Joanne Lipman, author of “Next: The Power of Reinvention in Life and Work”.
In episode 38, we welcome Dermot Crowley, one of Australia's leading productivity thought leaders. With over 25 years of experience, Dermot shares insights from his extensive background in productivity training and discusses the key theories behind his book Smart Work.
In episode 37, we welcome Pia Lauritzen, philosopher, tech entrepreneur and writer on the power of questions and why it's key to embracing curiosity and engaging in deeper, more meaningful conversations.
In episode 36, we welcome Molly Tschang, Founder of Abella Consulting and Say It Skillfully Inc. Molly teaches people at all levels to communicate skillfully and authentically to be seen, heard and understood on their most important and challenging topics.
In episode 35, we welcome Graham Allcott, an entrepreneur, author, speaker and podcaster whose latest book KIND: The quiet power of kindness at work is out now.
In episode 34, we have something a little bit different for you. We speak to Rebecca Moulynox, the General Manager of Great Place To Work Australia and New Zealand, and Con Mouzouris, CEO of Mantel Group.
In episode 33, we welcome Jay Van Bavel, a professor of psychology and neural science at New York University and author of the acclaimed book, " The Power of Us: Harnessing Our Shared Identities to Improve Performance, Increase Cooperation, and Promote Social Harmony ”."
In episode 32, we chat with Dr. Marc Sniukas about making better strategies for all levels - from leadership to management, to challenges in our everyday lives!
In episode 31, we chat with Nick Bloom, a renowned Stanford economist and leading expert on remote work. Nick’s research has delved into the trends and preferences of employees for over twenty years. He’s full of insights and tips on the value of hybrid working and how to make the commute to the office count. Whether your workplace is remote, in-person…
In episode 30, we chat with Carol Kauffman about being the best version of yourself in the toughest moments at work and in life. Whether you’re making a split-second decision when your business is hit sideways or finding the ways to stay calm when someone shouts you down in a meeting, how can you be at your best in the most crucial moments?
In episode 29, we chat with Tessa West about finding work that works for you, and applying relationship therapy tools to our careers.
Welcome back to ‘part-two’ of our mini-series ‘How to be Better at Work’ where we delve into the essentials of improving ourselves and our relationships.
In the final episode of our mini-series, we're wrapping up with key takeaways and actionable strategies for better workplace practices.
In episode 26, we go deep on what makes a better day at work based on what we have learnt so far across two seasons of inspiring interviews with incredible people, plus our own lived experiences across global workplaces.
In episode 25, we chat with Dr. Jim Harter about how developing the right habits in organisations can lead to increased productivity and better work environments. We go deep on what the latest research from Gallup is revealing about engaging and retaining employees.
In episode 24, we chat with Jonathan Black about soft skills being the employability skills, how the hiring process is not all about qualifications and achievements, and how hiring for attitude is so important.
In episode 23, we chat with Margaret Heffernan about the critical human skills that we need to confront the unexpected in today’s world.
In episode 22, we chat with Mamie Kanfer Stewart about creating effective and engaging meetings. Have you felt that you were wasting your time in a meeting, stuck in back-to-back meetings all day, and not getting to your work? Our listeners have told us this is a problem in many of their organisations and one that has worsened in recent years.
In episode 21, we chat with Professor Ian Robertson about the science and neuroscience behind confidence. If you have confidence, it can empower you to reach heights you never thought possible. But if you don't, it can have a devastating effect on your future. Confidence lies at the core of what makes things happen.
In episode 20, we chat with Kate Goodger about the approaches to unlock our best performance ever.
In episode 19, we chat with Joe Hirsch about feedback. Most of us dread giving feedback and we're not that effective when we do. International lecturer and best-selling author Joe explains why our present method for feedback is flawed and he has made a career investigating how we can transform feedback from something we fear, to something that brings us joy.
In episode 18, we chat with Ayse Birsel about designing a life you love. Ayse (pronounced Eye-Shay) Birsel is one of the world’s leading industrial designers. She has designed hundreds of products, from toilet seats to office systems to potato peelers to concept cars. However, her current work has shifted beyond that. Now, Ayse is focused on what it…
In episode 17, we chat with Maryanne O’Brien about the importance of conscious communication in the workplace. Our work lives revolve around effective communication. It is essential for cultivating trust and team collaboration, as well as strengthening our motivation and well-being at work. And with teams experiencing more anxiety, stress, and burnout…
In episode 16 , we speak with Joe Folkman about leadership and trust.
In episode 15, we speak with Amy Gallo about the most effective methods to deal with conflict and difficult people at work.
In episode 14 of Better@Work, we chat with two leading experts on the future of work, Lawrence Goldstone and Caitlin Guilfoyle. Many of the solutions for the future of work are vague when they’re not tied to an example e.g. ‘Upskilling’, ‘True self’, ‘Purpose’: Plus, these concepts are all journeys (maybe even journeys that don’t have measurable…
In episode 13 of Better@Work, we chat with one of the world’s leading thinkers and researcher on self-awareness, Dr. Tasha Eurich . Tasha shares her insights around why self-awareness is crucial when it comes to understanding ourselves and the people around us, how you go about developing it, what are the biggest misconceptions about it, and what can you…
In episode 12 of Better@Work, we chat with Chester Elton , Leadership Expert and Author. Chester shares his perspective on the #1 issue in workplaces across the globe, anxiety. Anxiety in the workplace has always been present, however, rates of anxiety, have increased significantly since 2020 and more people are quitting for mental health reasons.…
In our latest episode of Better@Work, we chat with William Cowan, author, and career strategist. We discuss the mistakes people make when attempting to take the next steps in their career. We dive into the simple ways to articulate your strengths and learn how you can really secure your dream role.
Check out the trailer to learn more about Better@Work, including a preview of the world-leading behavioural psychologists, neuroscientists and performance gurus who join us on each episode to give us their practical tips for a better day at work. Plus, insights on the topics we will be covering in season two.
In episode ten of this Better@Work episode, we chat with Erica Keswin about the power workplace rituals have to connect us to purpose and take teams to new levels of performance. I am a huge fan of Erica as I strongly believe in workplace rituals and have seen how positively they can impact culture.
In episode nine of this Better@Work episode, we chat with the amazing Margaret Moore aka “Coach Meg,” who is the founder and CEO of Wellcoaches, an evidenced-based wellness coaching school, that has trained over 14,000 coaches in 50 countries over the past 20 years.
In episode eight of this Better@Work episode we explore with Melody Wilding how some of us sense and feel more than our colleagues at work and this can actually be a superpower instead of a liability.
In episode 7 of this Better@Work episode, we have an engaging chat on better leadership with the super smart and warm Amy Jen Su. We work through the five essential principles for bringing out your best-self every day. Amy understands busy leaders and entrepreneurs want to improve, however they don’t want to be overwhelmed at the prospect of doing more…
In episode six of this Better@Work episode, we have an informative chat on burnout with our first Canadian guest, Jennifer Moss. Since early 2020, many of us have been operating in crisis mode; responding to the expanding demands of work, working from home while juggling family priorities all under the mental fog of chronic stress. Burnout is real and it…
In episode five of this Better@Work episode, we have a fun and super insightful chat about emotions at work with Mollie West Duffy. Molly and her co-collaborator Liz Fosslien are two of my favourite people to follow for their nuggets of wisdoms and illustrations. Mollie believes most of us shy away from sharing what we're feeling with colleagues and…
In episode four of this Better@Work episode, we welcome the inspiring Floyd Woodrow. I love Floyd’s story and his amazing Compass for Life framework. A few years ago, I was looking for some inspiration to help me find my Super North Star and came across Floyd Woodrow DCM MBE. Floyd is Managing Director and founder of Chrysalis Worldwide, a world-leading…
In episode three of this Better@Work episode, we’re excited to welcome the amazing Tessa West for a high energy, fun and insightful chat. I came across Tessa in the last year through her amazing book, Jerks at Work: Toxic Coworkers and What to do About Them. Social psychologist Tessa has spent years leveraging science to help people solve interpersonal…
In episode 2 of Better at Work, the secrets of better workplace cultures - simple everyday practices to improve how we all work together, which will lead to greater team and individual happiness and performance.
In episode one of this Better@Work series opener, we’re excited to welcome the amazing Caroline Webb as our first guest for a fun and insightful chat. I am a huge fan of Caroline, and I’ve loved and leveraged her teachings for many years. Caroline is an executive coach, author, speaker and senior advisor to McKinsey, who specializes in showing us how to…
In this Better@Work introduction episode, learn about the show, the host Cathal Quinlan and what inspired Cathal to create a podcast to help people be better at work. Cathal will also share his background, the guest line-up for series one and you will learn about the 'Lets Take This Offline' segment, where Cathal will be joined by Annette Sloan, his…
