My Duvet Flip by Jack Parsons

Jack Parsons
  • 3.0 (1)
  • Careers
  • Updated Weekly

'My Duvet Flip,' the careers show. Join Jack Parsons as he delves into an enthralling discussion with people and their careers, where we explore some of their most memorable instances of making mistakes and the valuable lessons they gained from them. 

  1. May 29

    Host of Countdown Rachel Riley: How I built my career in TV

    Episode Guest Rachel Riley is an English television presenter. She co-presents the Channel 4 daytime puzzle show Countdown and its comedy spin-off 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown. She is a mathematics graduate. Episode Timestamps: 00:00 The #1 Predictor of Success 00:25 Meet Rachel Riley 02:11 Rachel's First Job Paid £25 a Week 04:14 Why Rachel Has Never Been Able to Waste Money 05:01 From Oxford Maths to the Financial Crisis 06:39 How Rachel Accidentally Got the Countdown Job 08:23 Rachel Ate One Shreddy Before Her Interview 09:54 The Call That Changed Rachel's Life 11:44 How Rachel Spots Good People 13:26 How Rachel Stayed Grounded on TV 15:07 Why Rachel Believes Everyone Has Imposter Syndrome 16:37 The CBT Lesson That Changed Rachel's Life 18:16 What 250 Stages Taught Rachel About Confidence 19:51 Why Rachel Thinks Learning to Fail Matters 21:05 Rachel's Obsession With Puzzles & Numbers 22:12 Why Rachel Wants More Girls in STEM 23:08 Why Rachel Believes Numeracy Changes Lives 25:59 Encouragement Comes Before Confidence 27:01 Rachel's Growth Mindset Formula 28:43 Rachel on AI, Technology & Future Careers 29:06 The Film Rachel Thinks Every Young Girl Should Watch 31:06 The Teacher Who Believed in Rachel 32:43 Why Rachel Supports National Numeracy 34:50 Rachel's Best Money Advice 37:03 Why Schools Don't Teach Real-Life Money Skills 38:49 Rachel's Invisible Success Habit 39:38 Rachel's Take on "Fake It Till You Make It" 41:16 What Gets Rachel Out of Bed Every Morning 42:15 Final Thoughts Episode Partners 📊 Compare the Market Discover how you can make a difference at Compare the Market, the company behind one of the UK’s most popular comparison sites. From tech and data to marketing and operations, they’re on a mission to simplify decisions for millions. https://bit.ly/4i53Svj Disclaimer: The content provided on Duvet Flip is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. The views expressed by hosts, guests, brands or contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the show's producers, sponsors, or affiliates. The information shared is not a substitute for professional advice, including but not limited to career counseling, financial guidance, legal consultation, or mental health support. Listeners and viewers are responsible for their own decisions and actions based on the content provided, and Duvet Flip assumes no liability for any outcomes resulting from reliance on the information shared. By engaging with the show, you acknowledge and agree to this disclaimer. If you’re struggling with debt, trusted advice and free support can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/debt-advice If you’re struggling with mental health of any kind, you can find free support here: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/

    43 min

  2. May 21

    Alice Peacock, Problem Manager at Virgin Media O2: She Left Work For 17 Years. Then Got Her Dream Job

    Alice Peacock is a Problem Manager at Virgin Media O2, responsible for investigating major network outages and putting permanent fixes in place for millions of customers across mobile, fibre, TV and business services. She started her career at 16 flipping burgers at McDonald's on Streatham High Street. After nearly two decades away from the workplace to raise her family, she returned through O2's Career Returners Programme — and hasn't looked back. Eight years in, her colleagues assume she's always been part of the furniture. Virgin Media O2 is one of the UK's largest and most recognisable connectivity brands, delivering mobile, broadband, TV and business services to millions of customers across the country. Chapters 00:00 Introduction & format explainer 01:57 Meet Alice 03:37 First job: McDonald's at 16 05:56 What young people should know about starting work 06:50 Alice's career break and the M&S chapter 07:52 How to get back into the job market 09:14 The O2 Career Returners Programme 10:17 Transferable skills from a career break 11:08 "Mum, I earn more than you" — the moment that changed everything 12:05 Imposter syndrome in tech 14:32 Why feedback matters 16:09 17 years away — and back like she never left 17:00 Getting paid to eat food and drink Prosecco 17:52 Why Alice chose Virgin Media O2 19:41 What a Problem Manager actually does day-to-day 21:08 When McDonald's is your client 23:18 Why customer trust is everything 23:45 Alice's Duvet Flip moment Episode Partners This episode is part of My Duvet Flip's Choose Customer series, produced in partnership with Virgin Media O2. Disclaimer: The content provided on Duvet Flip is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. The views expressed by hosts, guests, brands or contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the show's producers, sponsors, or affiliates. The information shared is not a substitute for professional advice, including but not limited to career counselling, financial guidance, legal consultation, or mental health support. Listeners and viewers are responsible for their own decisions and actions based on the content provided, and Duvet Flip assumes no liability for any outcomes resulting from reliance on the information shared. By engaging with the show, you acknowledge and agree to this disclaimer. If you're struggling with debt, trusted advice and free support can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/debt-advice If you're struggling with mental health of any kind, you can find free support here: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/

    25 min

  3. May 7

    Charlotte Low, COO at Colosseum Dental UK: I Never Went to University and I Run UK's Operations of Major Group

    About Charlotte Charlotte Low is the COO at Colosseum Dental UK, overseeing 80 dental practices across England and Wales. She started work at 15, skipped university, qualified as an accountant, and spent years across multiple industries before finding her home in dentistry. She now sits on the executive board and has led a culture transformation that cut staff turnover from 55% down dramatically by putting people first. About Colosseum Dental Colosseum Dental is Europe's largest dental group with over 630 practices across the continent and 80 in the UK. They offer career pathways from dental nursing apprenticeships through to clinical and operational leadership, and are passionate about making dentistry accessible for people from all backgrounds. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 02:30 Charlotte's first job at 15 and working across generations 08:00 Why she chose not to go to university 14:00 Her first office job and what it taught her about leadership 22:00 Finding her way into the dental industry 30:00 What the COO role actually involves day to day 38:00 How Colosseum Dental cut 55% staff turnover 46:00 Partnering with Great Place to Work 54:00 Apprenticeships and careers in dentistry 01:02:00 Advice for young people starting out Episode Partners: Compare the Market Discover how you can make a difference at Compare the Market, the company behind one of the UK's most popular comparison sites. From tech and data to marketing and operations, they're on a mission to simplify decisions for millions. https://bit.ly/4i53Svj Disclaimer: The content provided on Duvet Flip is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. The views expressed by hosts, guests, brands or contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the show's producers, sponsors, or affiliates. The information shared is not a substitute for professional advice, including but not limited to career counseling, financial guidance, legal consultation, or mental health support. Listeners and viewers are responsible for their own decisions and actions based on the content provided, and Duvet Flip assumes no liability for any outcomes resulting from reliance on the information shared. By engaging with the show, you acknowledge and agree to this disclaimer. If you're struggling with debt, trusted advice and free support can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/debt-advice If you're struggling with mental health of any kind, you can find free support here: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/

    45 min

  4. Mar 31

    Prashant Narula, Managing Director at Ciklum UK: How to Build a Powerful Network

    Episode Guest: Prashant Narula is Managing Director of Ciklum UK, where he helps organisations use technology and AI to build better products and experiences. He is passionate about leadership, resilience and helping people grow through honest, values-led careers. Episode Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 0:19 Why success is about what you give, not what you get 1:00 The true traits of a great leader 1:55 Meeting Prashant Narula 2:14 Prashant’s first job on the factory floor 3:09 The importance of a great manager early in your career 4:31 How honesty landed Prashant his first role in tech 5:28 Why honesty, resilience and reliability matter most 7:21 Why resilience is more important than ever today 8:41 Build a multi-skilled support network 10:08 How to network by giving value first 11:24 From beginner to leadership roles in hypergrowth companies 12:30 Leading teams through tough times 13:04 The leadership principles that actually work 14:48 Enabling teams vs micromanaging 15:02 Can everyone become a leader? 16:21 Career advice that changed everything 17:02 Make your work visible to leadership 18:52 When careers feel messy and chaotic 19:42 Why chaos early in your career is a good thing 20:22 Lessons in resilience from Ukrainian teams 22:51 The importance of understanding different cultures 24:05 Why learning never stops 25:02 The power of 30 minutes of daily learning 27:30 Why you shouldn’t compare your career to others 27:39 Inside Ciklum and what they do 31:01 The risks and opportunities of AI 32:09 Why now is the best time to join Ciklum 33:29 The invisible habits behind success 34:22 Stop worrying about what others think 36:23 Final thoughts 36:47 Prashant’s duvet flip Episode Partners: 📊 Compare the Market Discover how you can make a difference at Compare the Market, the company behind one of the UK’s most popular comparison sites. From tech and data to marketing and operations, they’re on a mission to simplify decisions for millions. https://bit.ly/4i53Svj Disclaimer: The content provided on Duvet Flip is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. The views expressed by hosts, guests, brands or contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the show's producers, sponsors, or affiliates. The information shared is not a substitute for professional advice, including but not limited to career counseling, financial guidance, legal consultation, or mental health support. Listeners and viewers are responsible for their own decisions and actions based on the content provided, and Duvet Flip assumes no liability for any outcomes resulting from reliance on the information shared. By engaging with the show, you acknowledge and agree to this disclaimer. If you’re struggling with debt, trusted advice and free support can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/debt-advice If you’re struggling with mental health of any kind, you can find free support here: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/

    37 min

  5. Mar 26

    Alan Vallance, CEO at ICAEW: Career Advice From the Boss of the Accountancy World

    Episode Guest: Alan Vallance is Chief Executive of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), a role he took up in April 2024. He is an ICAEW Chartered Accountant and an experienced leader of major professional bodies, having previously led the Chartered Insurance Institute, the Royal Institute of British Architects and held senior roles at the Law Society. Episode Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 0:23 Meet Alan Vallance, CEO of ICAEW 1:03 The Power of Networking in Your Career 1:18 Why Networking Is Non-Negotiable 1:22 What Gets Alan Out of Bed (His Duvet Flip) 1:56 First Jobs and Early Career Lessons 3:08 The Importance of Teamwork Early On 3:46 Passion, Cars and Career Direction 5:07 Rejection vs Redirection 6:28 Why Getting a Job Is a Full-Time Job 7:02 Why Personalised Applications Matter 8:00 How to Be Authentic in Interviews 9:25 Biggest Job Application Mistakes 10:36 The Reality of Today’s Job Market 11:41 60,000 Applicants for 2,000 Jobs 12:25 Why You Shouldn’t Apply for Too Many Jobs 13:12 Lessons from EY and Becoming an Accountant 14:46 Accountancy vs AI: Is It Future Proof? 16:24 How AI Is Changing the Profession 18:21 Why Accountancy Is Still a Great Career 20:10 Moving to Australia and Global Opportunities 22:49 Leadership, Crisis and the Weather Bureau 24:23 The Power of Your Network 26:29 How to Grow Your Career the Right Way 27:54 What ICAEW Does and Why It Matters 30:22 Building Careers and Changing Lives 32:18 Alan’s Duvet Flip Episode Partners: 📊 Compare the Market Discover how you can make a difference at Compare the Market, the company behind one of the UK’s most popular comparison sites. From tech and data to marketing and operations, they’re on a mission to simplify decisions for millions. https://bit.ly/4i53Svj Disclaimer: The content provided on Duvet Flip is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. The views expressed by hosts, guests, brands or contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the show's producers, sponsors, or affiliates. The information shared is not a substitute for professional advice, including but not limited to career counseling, financial guidance, legal consultation, or mental health support. Listeners and viewers are responsible for their own decisions and actions based on the content provided, and Duvet Flip assumes no liability for any outcomes resulting from reliance on the information shared. By engaging with the show, you acknowledge and agree to this disclaimer. If you’re struggling with debt, trusted advice and free support can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/debt-advice If you’re struggling with mental health of any kind, you can find free support here: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/

    34 min

  6. Mar 24

    Andrew Hawkins, Technology Director at Compare the Market: How to Launch Your Career in Tech in 2026

    Episode Guest Andrew Hawkins is Technology Director at Compare the Market, where he focuses on building world-class engineering capability and helping teams embrace AI-led transformation. He is known for his thoughtful, people-first approach to leadership, with a strong emphasis on curiosity, impact and continuous learning. Episode Timestamps: 0:00 Introduction 0:22 Andrew’s first job and early career lessons 2:14 Taking risks and stepping into the unknown 3:40 The failure that changed Andrew’s career 4:39 Failure is framing: a powerful mindset shift 5:34 Using failure to build resilience and confidence 6:06 Curiosity, open-mindedness and career growth 7:22 How to become more curious in your career 8:17 Dropping fear and leaning into new opportunities 9:20 Why AI feels like the early internet 10:04 How to think about AI in business and problem-solving 11:02 Why AI won’t replace engineers 12:27 Andrew’s non-linear career journey 13:09 Do what makes you happy and plays to your strengths 14:11 Why traditional career advice is broken 15:03 Transferable skills from unexpected jobs 15:37 Why having fun at work matters 16:31 Handling periods when you don’t enjoy your job 17:14 Self-awareness and taking responsibility for change 18:10 When to adapt vs when to move on 19:05 How Andrew joined Compare the Market 20:07 The role of AI in business transformation 21:04 Why company values matter when choosing a job 22:46 Top interview tips to stand out 24:07 Building rapport and being yourself in interviews 26:15 The best question to ask in a tech interview 27:34 How companies should approach AI transformation 29:20 Becoming a world-class engineering organisation 30:19 Why now is the most exciting time in tech 31:38 Lessons from the early internet boom 32:32 Will AI replace human conversations? 32:50 What keeps Andrew motivated at Compare the Market 34:11 Why technology is all about people 34:44 The best career advice Andrew follows 36:12 Andrew’s duvet flip: making an impact every day 37:05 Final thoughts and reflections Episode Partners 📊 Compare the Market Discover how you can make a difference at Compare the Market, the company behind one of the UK’s most popular comparison sites. From tech and data to marketing and operations, they’re on a mission to simplify decisions for millions. https://bit.ly/4i53Svj Disclaimer: The content provided on Duvet Flip is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. The views expressed by hosts, guests, brands or contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the show's producers, sponsors, or affiliates. The information shared is not a substitute for professional advice, including but not limited to career counseling, financial guidance, legal consultation, or mental health support. Listeners and viewers are responsible for their own decisions and actions based on the content provided, and Duvet Flip assumes no liability for any outcomes resulting from reliance on the information shared. By engaging with the show, you acknowledge and agree to this disclaimer. If you’re struggling with debt, trusted advice and free support can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/debt-advice If you’re struggling with mental health of any kind, you can find free support here: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/

    37 min

  7. Mar 4

    Sharon Doherty, Chief People & Places Officer at Lloyds Banking Group: Leading One of the UK’s Biggest Banks

    Episode Guest:Sharon Dockerty is the Chief People and Places Officer at Lloyds Banking Group, leading people strategy, workplace experience, and culture across a workforce of around 80,000 colleagues. She’s built her career across major organisations including Heathrow and Vodafone, with a leadership style grounded in resilience, straight talking, and backing young people to thrive.Episode Chapters:0:00 Introduction1:18 What Gets You Out of Bed in the Morning2:07 Sharon’s First Job Selling Flowers at 103:24 Sharon’s Journey from Humble Beginnings3:49 The Four Chapters of Sharon’s Career5:05 Why Career Paths Are Rarely Planned6:39 Learning to Work Hard and Create Opportunity7:48 Advice for People in Career Chapter One8:13 How to Know if You’re Working with the Right People9:07 Choosing Positive People in Your Life11:41 What Sharon Would Do Differently Early in Her Career13:12 Building Heathrow Terminal 513:52 What It Means When Leaders Take a Risk on You15:10 Changing Safety Culture in Construction17:38 Lessons from Lifelong Learning19:31 Leading Through Crisis at Heathrow21:29 The Leadership Lesson That Changed Everything22:38 Handling Pressure and Protecting Your Team24:21 Are Young People Less Resilient Today26:12 Inside the Role of Chief People and Places Officer27:30 Leading 80,000 People at Lloyds Banking Group28:32 How Leaders Know if Culture Is Working29:37 From Leaving Home Young to Banking Leadership31:02 Why Apprenticeships Matter32:36 Apprenticeship Opportunities at Lloyds33:58 Why Tech and Data Are the Future34:27 Why Lloyds Banking Group Matters to the UK36:31 Helping Britain Prosper37:20 Advice for Young People About Money37:45 The Power of Saving Early41:51 Sharon’s Duvet FlipEpisode Partners:📊 Compare the MarketDiscover how you can make a difference at Compare the Market, the company behind one of the UK’s most popular comparison sites. From tech and data to marketing and operations, they’re on a mission to simplify decisions for millions.https://bit.ly/4i53SvjDisclaimer:The content provided on Duvet Flip is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. The views expressed by hosts, guests, brands or contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the show's producers, sponsors, or affiliates. The information shared is not a substitute for professional advice, including but not limited to career counseling, financial guidance, legal consultation, or mental health support.Listeners and viewers are responsible for their own decisions and actions based on the content provided, and Duvet Flip assumes no liability for any outcomes resulting from reliance on the information shared. By engaging with the show, you acknowledge and agree to this disclaimer.If you’re struggling with debt, trusted advice and free support can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/debt-adviceIf you’re struggling with mental health of any kind, you can find free support here: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/

    43 min

  8. Mar 3

    Lloyd Mann, Global Executive Chef at Sodexo: How to Become a World Class Chef!

    Episode Guest: Meet Lloyd Mann, VP of Culinary and Global Executive Chef at Sodexo, sharing his career journey and what get's him to flip the duvet in the morning, here on My Duvet Flip! Episode Partners: 📊 Compare the Market Discover how you can make a difference at Compare the Market, the company behind one of the UK’s most popular comparison sites. From tech and data to marketing and operations, they’re on a mission to simplify decisions for millions. https://bit.ly/4i53Svj Disclaimer: The content provided on Duvet Flip is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. The views expressed by hosts, guests, brands or contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the show's producers, sponsors, or affiliates. The information shared is not a substitute for professional advice, including but not limited to career counseling, financial guidance, legal consultation, or mental health support. Listeners and viewers are responsible for their own decisions and actions based on the content provided, and Duvet Flip assumes no liability for any outcomes resulting from reliance on the information shared. By engaging with the show, you acknowledge and agree to this disclaimer. If you’re struggling with debt, trusted advice and free support can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/debt-advice If you’re struggling with mental health of any kind, you can find free support here: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/

    36 min
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About

'My Duvet Flip,' the careers show. Join Jack Parsons as he delves into an enthralling discussion with people and their careers, where we explore some of their most memorable instances of making mistakes and the valuable lessons they gained from them. 

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