Psychologically Speaking with Leila Ainge

In this episode of Psychologically Speaking, Leila Ainge speaks with entrepreneur Femke Harris about the unexpected twists that shape our lives. From growing up as a third-culture kid in Hong Kong to managing operations on a NATO base in Afghanistan, Femke’s career path has been anything but predictable.

Together they explore the psychology of resilience, identity and adaptation when life doesn’t follow the plan we imagined. Femke shares how major life transitions – moving countries, career pivots, motherhood and COVID-era uncertainty – ultimately led her to create the Merry-go-round Club, a sustainable baby equipment rental service designed to suppo...

What if one of the most powerful mental health tools was already in your garden?

In this episode, I’m joined by horticultural therapist Kendall Marie Platt to explore the science behind soil, why getting your hands in the dirt can change your mood, and how gardening might help us regulate stress in ways modern life often forgets.

And in many ways, Kendall’s story captures the spirit of this season’s theme: expect the unexpected. From forensic science labs to flowers and soil, her journey is a reminder that sometimes the paths we never planne...

In this episode of Psychologically Speaking, Leila Ainge checks back in with coaches Emma Thomas and Lucy Green a few months after they set ambitious business goals. The conversation reveals how real progress unfolds.

Emma shares how a community project had to pause due to unforeseen circumstances and teases us with a new book project!. Lucy reflects on launching her programme Good Company, which sparked strong interest but fewer sales than expected, leading her to adapt the offer and rethink how clients take their first steps into corporate work.

Across the conversation, a common theme...

In this episode of Psychologically Speaking, Leila is joined by three Goal Sprint participants, Hannah Isted, Jen Vaughan and Darren Scotland, for an honest progress check-in just weeks into the year.

Together they explore:

• Why momentum matters more than motivation

• How perfectionismblocks progress (and how to move anyway)

• The psychology of getting out of your comfort zone from running faster to showing up online

• Why community support accelerates confidence and behaviour change

• How small actions create belief, not the other way around

• Letting go of “gatekeepers” a...

What actually happens to your confidence once you start pursuing a goal?

In this episode of Psychologically Speaking, psychologist Leila Ainge checks back in with three creatives who set goals on the podcast weeks earlier, Graphic Designer Bhavini, Animator Duncan and Documentary Maker Dany. Instead of tidy success stories, you’ll hear what goal pursuit looks like in real life, confidence rising and dipping, perfectionism showing up, comparison creeping in, and plans changing shape.

Through honest reflection and psychological insight, this episode explores why confidence doesn’t grow in a straight line, how visibility reduces fear...

Why do resolutions wobble just when we think they should be working?

This episode explores avoidance crafting, impatience, burnout, and how goals, habits, and mental distance shape real progress especially in January.

In this episode of Psychologically Speaking, Leila explores the intricacies of human behavior, particularly focusing on the themes of resolutions, goals, and habits. She discusses the common pitfalls of New Year's resolutions, the importance of understanding the difference between resolutions and goals, and how habits play a crucial role in achieving these goals. Leila also delves into the impact of social comparison on...

Why do goals that feel exciting at first suddenly become exhausting even when we care deeply about them?

In this episode of Psychologically Speaking, I explore why goals often become unsustainable not because of a lack of motivation or discipline, but because they’re designed for ideal conditions rather than real life.

Drawing on psychology, environmental thinking, and embodied cognition, we look at how our physical and emotional environments quietly shape what we’re able to sustain long before willpower ever comes into play.

You’ll be introduced to the concept of solastalgia, a term...

Bonus Episode

In this deeply honest and energising episode of Psychologically Speaking, Dany Johnston — data & AI consultant, documentary filmmaker, and PhD researcher — shares her most ambitious and vulnerable goal yet: to create and release a new documentary filmed during a once-in-a-lifetime expedition to the Arctic Circle.

Dany’s story is one of dual passions: 25 years in business transformation and data, and a lifelong pull toward storytelling, creativity, and human rights. Her PhD bridges those worlds, exploring how data harvesting and AI shape the human rights landscape — and how documentary can help everyday people join conversations that usually happen behind closed d...

In this episode of Psychologically Speaking, Emma returns to share her 2026 goal — and it’s one that will resonate with anyone whose business has grown faster than their systems.

Emma describes the year ahead as a “cupboard under the stairs” moment — the kind of messy-but-essential reorganisation that requires everything to come out before the clarity goes back in. We talk about the three strands of her work (Managing the Menopause, The Triple Shift coaching practice, and Holding Up the Sky) and the emotional labour of running a multi-offer business while supporting women in some of life’s most demandi...

A conversation about creative confidence, goal setting, and how sharing your work builds self-worth. Designer Bhavini joins Leila to explore fear, visibility, and growth.

In this episode of Psychologically Speaking, Leila Ainge sits down with creative designer Bhavini (B81 Designs) to explore the psychology behind creative confidence, self-worth, and setting goals that stretch you.

Bhavini shares the now-iconic story of her childhood Peter Rabbit — the rainbow-drenched sculpture her mum repainted white — and how that moment shaped her creative identity decades later. It becomes a powerful metaphor for self-expression, suppression, and the courage to show the work...

In this episode of Psychologically Speaking, Leila talks with marketer, community-builder and marathon-in-training Hannah Isted, about her 2026 goals.

Together, they explore how ambitious stretch goals like scaling a marketing membership and finishing the London Marathon in a faster time, require the same core ingredients: consistency, accountability, community, and strategic planning.

This conversation blends the worlds of business growth, running, and mindset coaching, showing how transferable skills like contingency planning, habit building, and overcoming self-sabotage can fuel both entrepreneurial success and marathon training.

Hannah shares the motivation behind her bold business goals, the momentum...

In this episode of Psychologically Speaking: The Goal Experiments, Lucy shares her 2026 goal, not just for her business, but for the women who benefit when she succeeds.

We talk about what it means to set a goal that has social impact. Lucy’s ambition is grounded in something practical: helping more women secure meaningful contracts and build financially independent businesses.

This is a grounded, thoughtful conversation about the kind of goal that changes not just a business, but the people around it. If you’re setting your own 2026 intentions, Lucy’s clarity and ambition might be exa...

In this episode of Psychologically Speaking: The Goal Experiments, animator and filmmaker Duncan Catterall-Mason talks to Leila Ainge on what it really takes to build a sustainable freelance career in the creative industries. They talk about ambition and burnout when you’re raising a family and trying to carve out time to network.

Duncan shares his 16-year journey in animation and visual effects, why he’s shifting toward a premium service model, and what launching a new showreel by December will unlock for his growth in 2026. We dig into the psychology of social proof, the realities of clie...

Why do some goals stick while others fade?

In this episode, psychologist Leila Ainge explores the psychology behind effective goal-setting — blending insights from real conversations with three guests and research on motivation, social identity, and resilience.

You’ll hear how Rebecca, Jen, and Darren each navigate creative ambition, self-belief, and belonging, and how their stories reveal the deeper psychological forces shaping success.

Expect practical reflection points on:

Designer and illustrator Darren Scotland, founder of Ace of Place, joins psychologist Leila Ainge to talk about creative ambition, belonging, and the self-doubt that often comes with growth.

Darren’s 2026 goal is to grow his business from a solo studio into a collaborative creative brand — one that celebrates homes, buildings, and the stories that make them meaningful. Together, he and Leila unpack what it means to balance ambition with authenticity, to manage fear of failure, and to build systems strong enough to hold a bigger vision.

This conversation explores:

In this episode of Psychologically Speaking, psychologist and researcher Leila Ainge talks with Rebecca Slater, who’s setting a powerful goal for 2026: to write her first book.

Together they explore what it really takes to move from wanting to doing — overcoming procrastination, creating time, and building habits that last. Rebecca shares how shifting her mindset, using community support, and redefining success are helping her take the first steps toward authorship.

This episode looks closely at the psychology of writing goals, the myth of the “perfect time,” and how accountability and self-compassion can turn creative aspirations into act...

In this first conversation of The Goal Experiments, psychologist and researcher Leila Ainge speaks with yoga teacher Jen Vaughan about the tension between giving and receiving, authenticity and marketing, nurture and profit.

Together, they unpack what happens when care is your craft: how to claim space, ask for fair payment, and show up as your whole self without feeling like you’ve lost something in the process.

We follow Jen as she sets her first 2026 “goal-resolution”:

In this episode, psychologist and researcher Leila Ainge explores the quiet tension many women experience in business — the space between ambition and the pressure to be “good.” Drawing on findings from Good Girl Economics, her research collaboration with Nicky Denson-Elliott, Leila examines why conversations about profit, visibility, and ambition can feel uncomfortable for women, even in supportive entrepreneurial spaces.

Listeners will hear how gendered expectations and internalised narratives shape pricing decisions, confidence, and self-presentation — and why women often soften their ambition in order to belong. Leila highlights the gap between what women say they value and how they beh...

Welcome to my favourite field, yes.. you heard that right. In this episode I'm talking about the suprising benefits of noticing a tree, field or bit of nature near to you.

What’s the real difference between joy, fulfilment, and striving? In this episode, psychologist Leila Ainge explores the psychology behind our endless chase for more—and why true joy often hides in life’s quieter moments. Drawing on research into hedonic adaptation and flow, Leila unpacks how to tell the difference between healthy ambition and the anxiety of overstriving. You’ll learn how to savour success, sustain motivation, and find balance between progress and peace.

Plus—Leila shares exciting news about Season 4 of Psychologically Speaking and a live Joy Experiment you can join to put the science of joy int...

What does it really mean to be seen? In this episode of Psychologically Speaking, I sit down with Karen Staniland- Platt, a Manchester-based photographer and writer who’s passionate about capturing women as they truly are.

We talk about what happens when women step in front of the camera: the nerves, the joy, the shift in self-image that can follow. Our conversation ranges from the pressures of social media filters to the liberation of candid photography, and why authenticity is such a powerful antidote to perfection.

Karen also shares the story behind the Passion and Pu...

Leila and Hannah explore the themes of joy, productivity, and marketing strategies. They discuss the importance of celebrating small wins, the awkwardness of creating B-roll content, and the psychological aspects of anticipation and joy. Hannah shares her journey of developing a 10-minute marketing approach, emphasizing the power of timers and gamification in overcoming procrastination. The discussion also touches on the significance of nostalgia in marketing and the impact of seasonality on business strategies. Ultimately, the conversation highlights the importance of finding joy in both personal and professional endeavors.

Hannah Isted is the founder of HI Communications, supporting...

Wow, There's a big debate around being a generalist vs niching down, but this conversation with Katie proves that it takes specialist knowledge about specific industries and types of organisations to be a generalist in HR. I loved this chat so much.

Katie Elliott is a CIPD qualified HR consultant and the founder of HR Katie. She has spent more than a decade working in HR, starting in recruitment before moving into a generalist role where she gained experience in every aspect of people management, from onboarding and supporting managers with complex issues to leading projects for se...

In this short episode, I’m taking you with me, literally, on a run. 🏃‍♀️

I share some reflections on mindset, what it really takes to do hard things, and how I’ve been finding my way back to the joy of running after losing it for a while.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, slowed down, or unsure how to keep going, this one’s for you. Think of it as a moving conversation, part psychology, part personal update, and hopefully a gentle nudge for your own goals too.

Listen now and run, walk...

Ever feel like the imposter experiences are stealing your joy? In this episode of Psychologically Speaking, Leila Ainge unpacks the link between imposter phenomenon (known as syndrome) and joy, and why feelings of being a fraud can leave us drained instead of delighted. Drawing on psychology research and coaching practice, she explores the role of self-promotion, comparison, and community support, and shares practical, psychology-backed strategies you can use to fuel momentum. This episode ends with a feminist call to action: let’s stop letting the imposter run the show and start reclaiming joy together

Takeaways

Hello, in this episode you are getting a joyful mixed bag including the latest research on autistic joy, what we can take from two pictures in the National Portrait gallery.

Leila delves into the concept of joy, distinguishing it from happiness and exploring its complexities. She discusses various psychological theories of joy, including the broaden and build theory, flow theory, and self-determination theory, while also highlighting the limitations of these theories, particularly in relation to neurodivergent experiences. Ainge introduces a new perspective on autistic joy, emphasizing the importance of creating environments that allow autistic individuals to thrive...

In this conversation, Leila and Lisa explore the themes of joy, personal spaces, and the impact of nature on wellbeing. They discuss the importance of creating environments that spark joy, the connection between nature and mental health, and the significance of community and connection in both personal and professional lives. Lisa shares her journey of transitioning from a corporate career to interior design and mentoring, emphasizing the value of slowing down to appreciate life's moments.

Lisa Honiball started her career in the corporate world, spending 10 years at Microsoft before a health scare prompted her to re-assess and...

In this opening episode of The Joy Experiments, Leila Ainge speaks with brand strategist Ange Friesen about the messy, beautiful process of chasing joy in the middle of change. From swapping city life in London for a countryside Airbnb (complete with cows and no coffee machine) to redefining work, routine, and identity, this conversation explores how joy doesn’t always look how we expect — and why that’s the point.

Welcome to Season 3 of Psychologically Speaking, hosted by psychologist and researcher Leila Ainge. This season, we explore joy not as a feeling to define, but as an experience that moves us, connects us, and shapes how we live and work. In this short teaser episode, Leila shares the story behind choosing joy as her word of the year, the psychology of positive emotions, and why joy matters more than ever in a world that often dismisses it as a distraction.

We’ll explore:

In this Season 2 finale of Psychologically Speaking, Leila reflects on the space between intention and action the often messy, foggy middle that so many of us occupy quietly.

She shares listener insights, one reader’s poetic take on language and liminality, and introduces the psychology of emotional granularity (via Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett) to help us name and navigate our emotional states with more clarity.

Plus: practical tools for neurodivergent listeners, thoughts on joy as a breadcrumb—not a reward and a first look at Season 3: The Joy Experiments.

If you’ve felt in-bet...

In this episode, I share a small but eye-opening story that begins with a single word: lacuna. What started as a moment of academic frustration turned into a reflection on the way we, as adults, often skim rather than fully engage — with words, ideas, and even our own decisions.

I explore how our reading habits reflect something deeper: a psychological tendency to stay safe, to avoid uncertainty, and to hold ourselves back from fully stepping into new knowledge. Drawing on research around word retrieval, loss aversion, and socioemotional selectivity theory, I unpack what it means to sit in...

In this episode of Psychologically Speaking, Leila Ainge delves into the theme of tiredness, exploring its various forms and the impact it has on our lives. She discusses the emotional, social, creative, spiritual, physical, and mental aspects of tiredness, emphasizing the importance of understanding these different types to prevent burnout. Leila also highlights the significance of making intentional decisions and the role of rest in maintaining a fulfilling life. Through personal anecdotes and psychological insights, she encourages listeners to reflect on their own experiences with tiredness and to prioritize self-care and self-compassion.

takeaways

How our need for external validation fuels overwork

summary

In this episode of Psychologically Speaking, Leila explores the intricate relationship between human behavior and the use of lists. She delves into why we love lists, the psychological benefits they provide, and the potential pitfalls that can lead to overwhelm. The conversation also touches on the unique challenges faced by individuals with ADHD when managing lists, the importance of structuring lists effectively, and the distinction between lists that serve to prove oneself versus those that promote genuine progress. Listeners are encouraged to reflect on their own...

Episode Summary:

In this episode of Psychologically Speaking, I reflect on a milestone moment delivering a leadership workshop on imposter phenomenon and the realization that I had already arrived. Inspired by Ilona Maher’s bold stance on owning success, I explore what it means to trust your expertise and step confidently into the spaces you’ve worked hard to enter.

We also dive into Margaret Atwood’s poem The Moment, unpacking how metaphor shapes our understanding of confidence, leadership, and personal growth—essential insights for coaches, business leaders, and anyone navigating self-doubt.

Plus, a sneak...

In this conversation, Leila Ainge discusses the importance of mental flexibility and resilience, particularly in the context of running and personal growth. She emphasizes the need to navigate self-doubt and challenges without succumbing to societal pressures for transformation. Leila advocates for starting from one's current position and using existing skills as a foundation for growth, rather than striving for a complete overhaul of oneself.

takeaways

Transformation stories are everywhere—before-and-afters, glow-ups, success arcs. But what if real self-love isn’t about reinventing yourself—but about being present where you are, without pressure?

This episode unpacks how social media, self-help culture, and gendered resilience narratives push us toward self-optimization at the cost of self-acceptance. We explore the psychology of storytelling (McAdams, 2001), the feminist critique of the "bounce-backable woman" (Gill & Orgad, 2018), and why emotional smoothing shapes how we retell our past.

If you’re ready to stop waiting for the ‘perfect’ story and start sharing where you are, this one’s for you.

Con...

In this episode of Psychologically Speaking, host Leila Ainge sits down with Katie Cope, founder of Keppel Leopard Creative, to explore the intricate world of brand identity, storytelling, and the challenges faced by female entrepreneurs. Katie shares her journey from redundancy to building a branding agency that empowers women to embrace their authentic selves in business.

The conversation dives into the psychology behind branding, the pressures women face in professional spaces, and how societal norms influence personal and business identities. Katie also reflects on her multicultural background, her unexpected career path through animation and TV production, and...

In this episode of Psychologically Speaking, Leila Ainge delves into the themes of human behavior, accountability, and personal growth. She reflects on her experiences with goal setting and introduces a new pod feature, a book review, looking at Neurodiversity Coaching, emphasizing the importance of clean language interviewing in coaching practices. The episode encourages listeners to explore their past selves and consider how they can apply those insights to their current challenges.

In todays episode I’m chatting to Tessa and Bre who, discuss their research at the University of California Santa Cruz, on body doubling, how folk – especially those with ADHD, use it as a tool for productivity and social interaction. Our conversation looks at the benefits of body doubling, its community-driven nature, different types of body doubling and of course cyber, the role of technology in facilitating these interactions.

Leya Breanna Baltaxe-Admony is a technologist and researcher focused on advancing assistive and healthcare technologies. She has a multidisciplinary background in robotics engineering and human-centered design approaches. She rece...