Why is it that we must be taken to the very edge of asituation to wake up and realise we need to make a change, before it’s too late?

In this episode, I open up about two life-changing wake-upcalls - one that nearly ended my marriage and another that resulted in a trip in an ambulance.

I share the lessons these moments taught me about perspective, resilience, and the importance of consciously choosing how to move forward – because let’s face, most of the time we walk around on autopilot.

Also, what if we could have the clarity of thought to makechanges before it’s too late? That was my intention with this podcast ep. I’ll guide you through a powerful coaching exercise to help you reflect on your own work-life and set a new course for tomorrow or the next 5 years. Today, I amyour coach ❤️.

Summary:

💡 How my partner’s health scare stopped us from separating.

💡The shock of a paramedic telling you they suspect you are having or have had a heart attack. Spoiler alert: the cause was laughter. I share what happened next and the learnings.

💡A step-by-step coaching exercise to help you assess your work-life and identify changes that you will feel motivated to make, without having to go to worst case scenario.

Here’s to your shining!

Estelle Read

Bestselling Author, Coach & Speaker

Timestamps:

Key Timestamps

0:00 – Welcome & Introduction

1:04 – The holiday incident: a wake-up call

2:33 – Two life-changing moments: marriage crisis &health scare

4:29 – Discovering a lump: facing the fear of cancer

6:44 – The power of perspective and rebuilding trust

9:15 – The second wake-up call: laughter, chest pain, and atrip to the hospital

12:27 – The ambulance ride and confronting denial

19:57 – Using NLP and self-hypnosis to manage anxiety

25:32 – The “Three Chairs” coaching exercise: assessing yourlife

47:00 – Reflecting on the past, present, and future

1:10:00 – Lessons on resilience, letting go, and embracingchange

1:12:00 – How to work with Estelle: coaching programs andnext steps

1:13:45 – Final thoughts, resources, and how to connect

Listen on your favourite podcast platform or watch onYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EstelleRead/podcasts

Connect with Estelle Read:
https://linktr.ee/EstelleAtBeee

Access Free Resources:

For free resources, book a discovery call or join TheResilient Leader Programme: SHINE, or The Optimised Leader Programme: NEXTLEVEL, visit https://estelleread.com/

Please Help Us Grow So We Can Continue:

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave areview or share it with someone who might benefit. Thanks for listening to theOptimising Your Brilliance Podcast!

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informationalpurposes only and should not be considered professional advice. Please consulta qualified professional for specific advice.

Philippa climbs mountains, swims in the wild and consistentlypushes her comfort zone both personally and professionally, even when her heart pumps a little faster!

She’s incredibly humble about her achievements, but herdrive to expand her comfort zone is infectious – so much so, that I’ve agreed to go wild swimming too!

Phillipa chairs the CIPD branch in Cumbria as a volunteer -and her volunteering doesn’t stop there, she’s a triathlon coach too! A genuine champion of others and by day she’s in HR Advice, Policy and Change Managementfor Cumberland Council.

If you’ve been putting off a “thing” in your personal orprofessional life, and you’re unsure how to start or feel apprehensive, this conversation with Phillipa will inspire you to act.

What You Will Learn & Summary:

💡 What technique Philippa uses to swap Netflix, for a run, in preparation for her half Iron Man.

💡 How she takes that initial brave step towards doing something, & pushes her comfort zone.

💡 Why embracing adventure & a growth mindset can transform your work, happiness, & sense of self.

Here’s to your shining!

Estelle Read

Bestselling Author, Coach &Speaker

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction to the podcast and Estelle Read

01:04 – Estelle’s first encounter with the CIPD CumbriaBranch and meeting Philippa

02:44 – Introducing Philippa Hardy: her roles, passions, andphilosophy

04:02 – Philippa’s origin story: family, education, andearly career

07:27 – The power of belonging and building connectionsafter relocation

10:30 – Women’s career journeys: challenges after childbirthand beyond

16:53 – Climbing, wild swimming, and pushing comfort zones

22:01 – Coaching, triathlons, and the value of community

27:00 – Growth mindset, authenticity, and learning fromsetbacks

32:00 – Final thoughts: being brave, embracing imperfection,and enjoying the ride

48:59 – Outro: How to connect with Estelle and resources

Listen on your favourite podcast platform or watch onYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EstelleRead/podcasts

Connect with Estelle Read:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/estelleatbeee/

Access Free Resources:

For free resources, book a discovery call or join TheResilient Leader Programme: SHINE, or The Optimised Leader Programme: NEXT LEVEL, visit https://estelleread.com/

Connect with Philippa Hardy:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/philippa-hardy-fcipd-fhea-47872071/

Please Help Us Grow So We Can Continue:

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave areview or share it with someone who might benefit. Thanks for listening to the Optimising Your Brilliance Podcast!

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informationalpurposes only and should not be considered professional advice. Please consult a qualified professional for specific advice.

Content warning: This episode discusses suicide andmental health challenges. If you’re affected, please reach out to a mental health professional or confidential helplines. UK: Samaritans 116 123; US: 988. If you’re in another region, please contact your local crisis line.

Have you ever come across someone who makes a profoundimpact on you, the very first time you meet them? This is Martin Williams, a recently retired partner and employment tribunal advocate from Mayo Wynne Baxter. He was also a member of Ampa, the UK’s leading legal and professional services group and one of the largest professional services B-Corporations in the world.

In this deeply moving episode, we talk about the realitiesof mental health, leadership, and the power of vulnerability. Martin bravely shares his personal journey, including the challenges he’s faced and the lessons he’s learned about being open, seeking help, and supporting others. Thisconversation is raw, honest, and full of insights for anyone seeking understanding, support, or inspiration on their mental health journey.

Summary:

💡 Explore mental health challenges faced in high-achieving careers.

💡 Find out why asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.

💡 Get inspired by Martin’s journey from silence to openness and the impact it had on his life.

Here’s to your health and wellbeing.

Estelle Read

Bestselling Author, Coach & Speaker

Timestamps:

0:00 – Welcome to the Optimising Your Brilliance Podcast

0:40 – Introduction: About Estelle Read

1:04 – Why this episode matters: Martin’s background and theimportance of talking about mental health

2:13 – The impact of not talking and Martin’s leadershipphilosophy

2:36 – The reality of suicidal thoughts as a leader

2:57 – Support resources and the importance of reaching out

3:14 – Introducing Martin Williams

3:33 – How Estelle and Martin connected; the power of aheartfelt LinkedIn post

3:53 – Martin’s origin story: family, childhood, and earlychallenges

6:45 – From music to law: Martin’s career journey

14:40 – The role of arts, advocacy, and confidence-building

19:55 – Coping with isolation, bullying, and buildingresilience

24:41 – The power of vulnerability: Martin’s viral LinkedInpost

27:00 – The healing impact of sharing and community support

33:45 – Journaling, self-reflection, and processing emotions

41:39 – Mentoring, overcoming labels, and advice to theyounger self

49:47 – Letting go of perfection and embracing openness

58:39 – The importance of non-judgmental listening andsupport

1:09:39 – What’s next for Martin: mentoring, poetry, andlegacy

1:11:52 – Final thoughts: authenticity, learning, andlooking after yourself

1:13:22 – Outro: Subscribe, share, and connect with Estelle

Listen on your favourite podcast platform or watch onYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EstelleRead/podcasts

Connect with Estelle Read:
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review or share it with someone who might benefit.

For free resources, book a discovery call or join TheResilient Leader Programme: SHINE, or The Optimised Leader Programme: NEXT LEVEL, visit ⁠www.EstelleRead.com⁠

Connect with Martin Williams:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-williams-900a5a13/

Get support from the Samaritans:

Call them anytime: 116 123

https://www.samaritans.org/

Thanks for listening to the Optimising Your BrilliancePodcast!

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informationalpurposes only and should not be considered professional advice. Please consult a qualified professional for specific advice.