Work and Wellness

Ange Davies
  • 4.9 (23)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to Work and Wellness, the podcast for anyone who wants to feel great and perform at their best, without burning out. I’m Ange Davies, a wellbeing speaker and ex-corporate leader, here to help you create a life that feels as good as it looks. Each week, I’m joined by guests who bring real stories and practical insights on what it means to thrive both at work and beyond. Ready to live well and succeed on your own terms? Hit follow and let’s get into it!

  1. 1 DAY AGO

    EP 73: How Your Personal Presentation Impacts Your Income (And Why It Matters More Than You Think)

    This one might ruffle a few feathers but it's a conversation worth having. Does the way you present yourself actually impact how much you earn? The research says yes. And while I want to be really clear that I don't agree with the system — appearance should never determine opportunity or income — ignoring that the system exists doesn't make it disappear. In this episode I get into the science behind what's known as the beauty premium, what the research actually shows about grooming and earnings, and why for women specifically this conversation goes beyond the individual. Because when more money sits in the hands of women, more gets reinvested into families, communities and broader wellbeing. This episode is practical, honest and not about full glam every day. It's about using what's available to us intentionally so we can show up with more confidence, be taken more seriously and ultimately earn more. Key Topics The research behind the beauty premium and what it actually means for women's earningsWhy perception of competence and credibility is shaped by how we present ourselvesThe internal wellbeing shift that happens when we feel put togetherA simple three word style framework to build a consistent, polished look without overcomplicating itPractical wardrobe tips and affordable brands that won't break the bankKeywordspersonal presentation, confidence, women and money, career, earnings, self image, style, workplace, financial wellbeing, leadership

    15 min

  2. 27 APR

    EP 72: Self-Awareness Isn’t Enough- How to Turn Insight into Action and Change Your Behaviour

    Self-awareness is everywhere right now in leadership conversations, personal development, therapy, coaching. And for good reason. But what if all that reflection is actually keeping you stuck? In this episode, I get into the gap that nobody talks about enough — the space between knowing your patterns and actually changing them. Because most of the people I work with are already pretty self-aware. They can tell you exactly what they do under pressure, where they overthink, and what they default to when things get hard. But their behaviour? Often not much different. Self-awareness is the starting point, not the finish line. The real work is what happens in the moment — when you're stressed, tired and overwhelmed and your brain is pulling hard towards the familiar. This episode is practical, neuroscience-backed, and ends with four concrete steps you can start today to turn what you know into how you actually show up. Key Topics Why self-awareness alone isn't enough — and what we're getting wrong about behaviour changeThe neuroscience of why we default to old patterns under pressureThe difference between a knowledge gap and a behaviour gapHow to use if-then statements to pre-decide your response before pressure hitsFour practical steps to start changing one behaviour todayKeywordsself-awareness, behaviour change, leadership, neuroscience, high performance, habits, neuroplasticity, personal growth, mindset, emotional intelligence

    16 min

  3. 20 APR

    EP 71: Successful on Paper, Unfulfilled in Reality: Why High Performers Feel Stuck at Work with Elaine Atkinson

    Have you ever looked at your career on paper and thought — this should feel better than it does? In this episode, I sit down with career and leadership coach Elaine Atkinson, founder of In Wonder Coaching, to talk about one of the most unspoken experiences in the workplace. The high performer who is hitting every target, trusted by their peers, and successful by every external measure but quietly feeling disconnected, unfulfilled, and unsure how they got here. Elaine brings over 20 years of senior leadership experience and a deeply honest perspective, including her own experience of living this from the inside. We talk about what it costs people when their work becomes their identity, why changing jobs rarely solves the real problem, and how to start building what Elaine calls the cake — that internal sense of self that doesn't crumble when the external validation disappears. This one is for anyone who has ever pushed harder when they should have paused, or said yes when every part of them wanted to say no. Key Topics The invisible challenges high performers carry that nobody else can seeWhat happens when work becomes your identity and what it costs you over time.Why changing jobs doesn't fix the problem when you're the common denominator.The difference between a career ladder and a career map and why the map wins.How to build internal confidence that doesn't depend on titles, promotions or praise.Practical first steps if something feels off but you're not sure what to do nextConnect with Elanie at https://inwondercoaching.co.uk/ Keywords: career, high performance, burnout, identity, leadership, career clarity, psychological safety, self-awareness, fulfilment, career change

    45 min

  4. 13 APR

    EP 70: How Slowing Down Improves Performance, Leadership & Clarity (Lessons From My Island Break)

    What happens when you finally give yourself enough space to stop? In this episode, I share my reflections from 10 days in Hawaii — not as a travel diary, but as an honest look at what slowing down really surfaces when you're someone who is wired to keep moving. Because for a lot of high performers, stillness doesn't feel restful at first. It feels uncomfortable, guilty, and unproductive. But time and time again, every time I create space, something opens up. New ideas, new opportunities, more clarity on who I am and how I want to show up. This episode is about what that actually looks like in practice — and why space, boredom, and even doing nothing might be some of the most productive things we can do. Key Topics Why slowing down feels so uncomfortable for high performers — and why that discomfort is worth pushing throughHow creating space leads to new opportunities and clearer thinkingThe surprisingly powerful impact of walking on energy, mood and mental claritySetting boundaries with technology to protect your attention and focusWhy boredom is not laziness — and how it unlocks creativity and problem solvingKeywordsrest, recovery, high performance, burnout, creativity, leadership, intentional living, walking, technology boundaries, mental clarity

    20 min

  5. 6 APR

    EP69: Brain Fog at Work - Why You're More Distracted Than Ever and What to Do About It

    Have you noticed your brain doesn't seem to work as it used to? In this episode, I get into why so many of us are walking into rooms and forgetting why we're there, sitting down to write something and going completely blank, or getting to the end of the day feeling busy but with nothing to show for it. Because it's not just you, and it's not a personal failing. We explore what's actually happening in your brain when you're constantly interrupted, why so much of what we experience as forgetting isn't a memory problem at all, and what the science says about multitasking, flow states, and the very real well-being cost of a fragmented attention span. This episode is practical, science-backed, and ends with six things you can actually do to get your focus back — without overhauling your life. Key Topics Why your brain wasn't built for the modern work environment — and what that's costing youThe 23-minute recovery tax every interruption is charging youWhy most forgetting is an encoding problem, not a memory problemWhat multitasking is actually doing to your IQ and your working memorySix practical strategies to reclaim your focus and reduce brain fogKeywordsFocus, cognitive load, brain fog, multitasking, deep work, attention, memory, burnout, productivity, flow state

    28 min

  6. 30 MAR

    EP 68: Building Trust at Work - Why It Takes Months to Earn and Minutes to Lose

    What does it really mean to trust the people you work with and what happens when you don't? In this episode, I take a deep dive into the science and psychology of trust at work. Not trust as a value on a wall, but the real, day-to-day lived experience of it and why it matters far more than most organisations realise. We explore what's actually happening in your brain and body in high-trust versus low-trust environments, why trust is so slow to build and so fast to break, and the invisible behaviours that quietly erode it without anyone noticing. Because low trust isn't just a performance problem — it's a wellbeing problem too. Whether you lead a team or you're part of one, this episode will give you a clearer picture of what trust actually looks like in practice, and some concrete ways to start building more of it. Key Topics Why trust is physiological, not just cultural and what the science actually saysThe hidden well-being cost of low-trust environments (including its link to burnout)The invisible behaviours that break trust without people realisingWhat psychological safety really is and how it connects to trustPractical ways leaders and team members can build trust day to day Keywords: trust at work, psychological safety, team culture, burnout, leadership, high performance, workplace wellbeing, cortisol, vulnerability, accountability

    23 min

  7. 23 MAR

    EP 67: AI at Work - The Good, The Risk and What It’s Doing to Our Wellbeing

    Summary What is AI actually doing to our work and our wellbeing and are we asking the right questions about it? In this episode, I take an honest look at the good, the risk, and the real human impact of AI at work. Because the conversation is rarely as simple as "AI will save us" or "AI will take everything" — and I think we deserve something more nuanced than either of those takes. We explore how AI, when used intentionally, can genuinely reduce cognitive load and create space for more meaningful work. But we also get real about the risks — the roles being displaced, the identity and mental health consequences when work is disrupted, and why the growing trend of AI therapy apps deserves a lot more scrutiny than it's getting. This episode is about learning to hold both truths at once and walking away with a practical framework for deciding when AI adds to your life, and when it's quietly taking something away. Key Topics The good, the risk and the real wellbeing impact of AI at workHow AI can reduce cognitive overload and create space for more meaningful workThe collective impact of AI on jobs, identity and mental healthWhy AI therapy apps are a trend worth approaching with serious cautionThree questions to help you decide when AI helps and when it harms

    21 min

  8. 16 MAR

    EP 66: Why Relationships Are the Real Currency of Business and Leadership

    Summary What if the biggest opportunities in your career or business didn’t come from strategy, productivity hacks, or even skill — but from the people you know and the conversations you have? In this episode, I explore the underestimated power of connection and why relationships remain one of the most important drivers of progress in business and leadership. After attending a recent conference, I was reminded that some of the most valuable insights don’t come from sitting behind a laptop — they come from conversations with people who challenge your thinking, ask better questions, and expand how you see what’s possible. We talk about why success rarely happens in isolation, how networks quietly shape the opportunities that come your way, and why proximity to interesting, thoughtful people can elevate your thinking in ways strategy alone never will. This is a reflection on authentic connection — not transactional networking — and why building real relationships is one of the most powerful forms of leverage you can create in your career. Key Topics Why connection is often the real driver of opportunity in business and leadershipHow relationships reduce friction and help ideas move forward fasterThe difference between transactional networking and authentic connectionWhy being physically present in rooms with interesting people still mattersHow proximity to ambitious thinkers can expand what you believe is possibleWhy conversations often open more doors than applications or CVsThe lesson learned from moving organisations and suddenly losing an established networkWhy AI can’t replace the power of human perspective and challengeHow the right question from the right person can completely shift your thinkingSimple ways to intentionally put yourself in rooms where opportunity can happenMore often than not, the biggest shifts begin with a conversation — and sometimes the right person in the right room can change what’s next for you.

    15 min
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Trailer

4.9
out of 5
23 Ratings

About

Welcome to Work and Wellness, the podcast for anyone who wants to feel great and perform at their best, without burning out. I’m Ange Davies, a wellbeing speaker and ex-corporate leader, here to help you create a life that feels as good as it looks. Each week, I’m joined by guests who bring real stories and practical insights on what it means to thrive both at work and beyond. Ready to live well and succeed on your own terms? Hit follow and let’s get into it!

Information

  • Creator
    Ange Davies
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    74
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Ange Davies
  • Show Website
    Work and Wellness

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