Squiggly Careers

The Squiggly Career

Squiggly Careers is a weekly podcast that will help you take control of your career development. Hosted by the founders of Amazing If (https://www.amazingif.com/), Sarah Ellis and Helen Tupper, together they cover all things work: from how to manage stress and overcome your confidence gremlins to micro-aggressions and discovering your strengths. Each episode is full of ideas, actions, hints, and tips that you can put into practice straight away.

Every so often they take a break from talking to each other to interview other people who are leading the way in making work better. Past guests include entrepreneur and philanthropist Dame Stephanie Shirley, author of The Joy of Work Bruce Daisley, and neuroscience expert Amy Brann.

The Squiggly Careers podcast has been recommended by Harvard Business Review, Stylist, Marie Claire and Management Today.

For more ideas, tools and inspiration every week, you can also sign up to their newsletter Squiggly Careers in Action.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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600 episodes
Updated Thursday

Episodes600

Newest first

Sep 14, 2025 · 5 min
Welcome to the Squiggly Careers AI Skills Sprint 2025 🥇
AI is on everyone’s minds and we’re getting curious about how it can help to develop our squiggly career skills. Join us for a 5-day sprint from the 15th September where we’ll be exploring lots of AI tools to support our 5 squiggly career skills: Strengths, Values, Confidence, Networking, and Future Possibilities. Just 10 minutes a day for lots of ideas and insights on how AI can help you to accelerate your squiggly career. 🥇 Sign up for the sprint here: <a href="https://bit.ly/3UC
Sep 9, 2025 · 41 min
#496 4 Team Habits That Are Holding You Back (and What to Do Instead)
🥇 Sign up for the sprint here: <a href="https://bit.ly/41jasYO" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/41jasYO</a>This week, Helen and Sarah shine a light on the unhelpful habits that teams often slip into without even realising it. From meetings that drag on autopilot to one-to-ones that don’t deliver what you need, these routines can waste time, reduce energy, and stop people from working at their best. In this episode, they share the four most common team traps an
Sep 2, 2025 · 40 min
#495 The September Reset: Stop Old Habits, Start New Wins
🥇 Sign up for the sprint here: <a href="https://bit.ly/41jasYO" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/41jasYO</a> Are old habits holding you back from the progress you want to make? September often feels like a natural reset point—a chance to stop what’s no longer serving you and start building new wins. In this episode, Helen and Sarah share their own September “starts” and “stops” to inspire you to reflect, reset, and refocus. You’ll hear how small, intentional
Aug 26, 2025 · 18 min
#494 Be yourself more with skill
This is the fourth and final episode in the Squiggly Careers Quote Series, and today Sarah shares the quote that has shaped her approach to leadership: “Be yourself more with skill.” Inspired by the book and article Why Should Anyone Be Led by You?, this episode explores how true leadership comes from leaning into your strengths and embracing uncomfortable situations that spark growth. There’s no blueprint for being brilliant, and whether you're in a leadership role or not, you don’t need to
Aug 19, 2025 · 18 min
#493 Challenge your limits, don't limit your challenges
🥇 Sign up for the sprint here: https://bit.ly/41jasYO Are you letting other people set the boundaries for your career? This is the third episode in the Squiggly Careers quote series, and today Helen shares the quote that’s shaped her approach to career development: “Challenge your limits, don't limit your challenges.” In the episode, Helen and Sarah discuss how this mindset can help you push past external expectations, explore what’s truly possible, and embrace chall
Aug 12, 2025 · 16 min
#492 Never Live the Same Year Twice: How to Get Unstuck
🥇 Sign up for the sprint here: https://bit.ly/41jasYO Are you unintentionally repeating the same career year again and again? This is the second episode in the Squiggly Careers quote series, and today Sarah shares the quote that’s inspired her career mindset: “Never live the same year twice.” In the episode, Helen and Sarah talk about how this idea helped Sarah move beyond linear ladder-thinking and sparked a more intentional, experimental approach to career development. You’ll lea
Aug 5, 2025 · 16 min
#491 How to Run Your Own Race
🥇 Sign up for the Skills Sprint here: <a href="https://bit.ly/41jasYO" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/41jasYO</a> This episode is the first in a four part mini series where Helen and Sarah focus on quotes that have inspired their career. They discuss how each quote has helped them and share ideas for action so you can put the inspiration into action for your development. We’re starting with one of Helen’s favourites: 'run your own race'. It'
Jul 29, 2025 · 31 min
#490 Ask the Expert: How To Make Better Decisions with Andrew Likierman
Are you making big decisions without applying real judgement? In this Ask the Expert episode, Sarah speaks with Sir Andrew Likierman about what good judgement looks like at work—and how to improve it. They talk about the difference between decisions and judgement, the stages of the judgement process, how to get better at reading the (virtual room) and learn from poor choices. You’ll learn how to apply a practical framework to improve your own judgement, no matter your role. 🥇 Sign
Jul 22, 2025 · 36 min
#489 Four Work Complaints Everyone Has - And Realistic Ways to Take Back Control
In this episode, Helen and Sarah explore the common complaints we all have about work—and how to respond to them in ways that are realistic. From endless meetings, to never having time to think, they unpack why certain complaints come up so often and how to take small, doable steps forward. They share practical tactics like "co-working meetings," “to-think” lists, and a forgiving approach to navigating the inevitable frustrations of work life—so you can focus less on moaning and more on momen
Jul 15, 2025 · 34 min
#488 Coping with curveballs – what to do when your day doesn’t go to plan
Ever had your day derailed by a last-minute request? A sudden change of plan? Or that dreaded moment when you're put on the spot and don’t have the answer? In this episode, Helen and Sarah explore the curveballs that show up in our working week—and how we can respond to them with more confidence and control. From tech fails to surprise tasks, curveballs can throw us off track and test our confidence. Helen and Sarah share personal stories, reflect on their own curveball capability,
Jul 8, 2025 · 32 min
#487 Ask the Expert - The Power of Influence and the Messenger Effect with Steve Martin
How do you make sure your message gets heard—and acted on? In this Squiggly Careers Ask the Expert episode, Helen speaks with author and influence expert Steve Martin about the powerful role of the messenger in communication. Drawing on insights from his book Messengers, Steve explains how people respond differently depending on who delivers the message, and why understanding the difference between hard and soft messenger traits can transform your influence at work. Togeth
Jul 1, 2025 · 33 min
#486 Why you don't delegate (and what to do differently)
Are you always doing too much yourself? Do you struggle to let go, even when you know you should? In this episode of the Squiggly Careers Podcast, Helen and Sarah explore why so many of us don’t delegate—and what we can do differently to delegate with clarity, confidence, and collaboration. Learn how to avoid the 4 common delegation mistakes and how to give people space without leaving them stuck. 🥇 Sign up for the Skills Sprint here: <a href="https://bit.ly/41jasYO" rel="noopener
Jun 24, 2025 · 38 min
#485 Why Thinking Together Boosts Team Performance
In this episode, Helen and Sarah explore how to help teams think better—together. They share simple but powerful tools you can use to encourage reflection, collaboration, and better decision-making in your team. Discover a practical matrix to help you choose the right thinking tool for your team—whether you need to improve performance or inspire new ideas. From “worry lists” to “borrowed brilliance,” you’ll learn how to create space for smarter, more intentional team thinking. ⏱️ Ti
Jun 17, 2025 · 31 min
#484 How Role modelling leads to rewards for your career
We often talk about the value of having a role model - someone to learn from and be inspired by. But what about the impact of being a role model? In this week’s episode, Helen and Sarah explore how being a role model can support your development, raise your profile, and help you build stronger connections at work. When you're intentional about how you show up, you attract opportunities and create a community around your work. They explore practical ideas to help you decide your role
Jun 10, 2025 · 35 min
#483 Ask the Expert: How to have better conversations with Jefferson Fisher
Better conversations help you build stronger relationships, understand others more deeply, and make meaningful progress - together. In this episode, Sarah talks to Jefferson Fisher, lawyer, speaker, and best-selling author, about five common situations where conversations can get tricky. From dealing with someone very different to you, to getting interrupted, or feeling stuck in people-pleasing, Jefferson shares simple shifts that can help you handle these moments with more clarity
Jun 3, 2025 · 33 min
#482 How to Stay in Control During Change At Work
Change at work isn’t always something you choose — sometimes your role is restructured, your team shifts, or decisions are made around you. When that happens, it’s easy to feel stuck, like your career progression is out of your hands. In this episode, Helen and Sarah share some practical actions you can take to regain control, build your confidence, and keep moving forward, even when change feels uncomfortable. They explore how to make the best of where you are right now and take ac
May 27, 2025 · 37 min
#481 Four AI Prompts To Accelerate Your Squiggly Career
Self-reflection and career development can be supercharged with the right questions — and AI can help you ask them. In this episode, Helen and Sarah explore 4 practical AI prompts designed to help you accelerate your Squiggly Career. They focus on key areas including how to build better relationships at work, get unstuck when you’re feeling uncertain, cope with change more confidently, and understand what your LinkedIn profile might be saying about you (without you realising it!). Whether you
May 20, 2025 · 31 min
#480 The Art of Noticing: 9 Ways To Start Noticing At Work
We spend so much of our time at work on autopilot that we often miss what's right in front of us. In this episode, Helen and Sarah explore the art of noticing — how paying closer attention can unlock creativity, spark new ideas, and help you learn and lead in more meaningful ways. They share 9 simple and practical ways to start noticing more at work, from tuning into what’s left unsaid in meetings to spotting the tasks that never seem to get done. 00:00 Introduction01:20 What
May 13, 2025 · 31 min
#479 How To Manage Future Career Fear
In a recent survey, many of our listeners told us that their biggest career worries are around learning new skills and staying relevant. But what skills really matter most for your future career? It’s a big question — and one that can feel overwhelming when you’re juggling a busy job and facing constant pressure to keep up and reskill. In this episode, Helen and Sarah share practical and reassuring ways to take ownership of your skill development, so you can navigate your squiggly career with
May 6, 2025 · 32 min
#478 Five assertiveness watch outs (and what to do instead)
Assertiveness isn’t a tick-box skill or a one-size-fits-all tone. In this episode, Helen and Sarah unpack 5 common “assertiveness watch-outs” — sneaky habits that can undermine your message without you even realising it. Whether you tend to over-explain, over-apologize, or overdo your energy, you’ll walk away with practical tools to lead more effectively. 00:00 What is assertiveness? 05:05 What's your assertiveness watch out? 07:30 Mistake 1 - Too much talking 0