The Empathy Room

Karen Thatcher | Thatch Creative UK
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The Empathy Room is a podcast designed to create space to discuss the power of empathy in all areas of life.  Brought to you by Karen (Thatch Creative), a freelance creative and communications consultant based in Kent. "Hi, I'm Karen, the host and creator of The Empathy Room. Empathy is at the heart of WHO I am as a person, which means it’s a core value in my personal life AND in my business. I think that authentic storytelling is absolute gold: stories help us to understand each other better, and that’s the only way to really change and grow as humans; by asking the hard questions, actually listening to the answers, and then using that knowledge to do better. And that’s where this podcast comes in. I will be welcoming people from all walks of life, into my Empathy Room where I'll be asking them about how empathy plays out in their lives, and really get to the heart of their stories so that we can learn from each other's experiences along the way. Thanks for joining me, I hope you find some value here!" Sign up to my podcast mailing list to get all the news and bonus content: subscribepage.io/vRJ2wR Connect with me on social media: Instagram: @ThatchCreativeUK, Facebook: @ThatchCreativeUK, LinkedIn: Karen Thatch, X: @KarenThatch or get in touch: TheEmpathyRoom@thatchcreativeuk.com

  1. 2d ago ·  Bonus

    05.1 BONUS: The Job Interview Red Flag

    What happens when you disclose a chronic illness in a job interview… and the response tells you everything you need to know? In this bonus conversation, Amy shares one of her standout experiences of chronic illness in the workplace, a job interview that took a very unexpected turn. After explaining that her chronic conditions meant she was looking for a part-time role, Amy was asked more about how they affected her body. But instead of responding with understanding, the interviewers began joking about how her condition could be used to entertain the people she would be working with. We talk about the shock of the moment, the validation Amy later received when she told the recruitment agency what had happened, and why sometimes an awful interview can at least reveal exactly what kind of workplace you're dealing with. Because as Amy says, it was ultimately a dodged bullet. Better to discover the red flags in the interview than after you've accepted the job. 🎙️ The Empathy Room New main episodes every other Monday, with bonus conversations in between. ✉️ Get in touch: hello@thatchcreativeuk.com 💌 Join the mailing list: https://tinyurl.com/TheEmpathyRoom 📄 Read the transcript: https://tinyurl.com/05-1ChronicTranscript Find us: Karen: ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠Website ⁠⁠ Amy: ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠Website

    05.1 BONUS: The Job Interview Red Flag

  2. Oct 26

    05: Empathy, Business & Chronic Illness: You Don’t Have the Full Story

    What does empathy look like when someone’s reality isn’t something you can see? In this episode of The Empathy Room, I'm joined by my friend and fellow business owner Amy Walters to talk about chronic illness, invisible disability, and what it means to live and work in a body that doesn't always cooperate. We talk about the assumptions people make about what illness and disability are supposed to look like, the impact of not being believed, and why two people with the same diagnosis can need completely different things. We also explore chronic illness in the workplace and in business, reasonable adjustments, the things people can miss out on, and why sometimes the most empathetic thing we can do is simply ask someone what they need. Because we can never know everything that's going on in someone else's life. We don't have the full story. 🎙️ The Empathy Room New main episodes every other Monday, with bonus conversations in between. ✉️ Get in touch: hello@thatchcreativeuk.com 💌 Join the mailing list: https://tinyurl.com/TheEmpathyRoom 📄 Read the transcript: https://tinyurl.com/05ChronicTranscript Find us: Karen: ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠Website ⁠⁠  Amy: ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠Website

    05: Empathy, Business & Chronic Illness: You Don’t Have the Full Story

  3. Oct 22 ·  Bonus

    04.2 BONUS: It's About the People

    How do we speak up about injustice without losing sight of the people at the heart of it? In this bonus conversation, Doug and I continue our chat about empathy and the church, this time exploring what happens when faith meets politics, injustice and an increasingly divided world. We talk about why speaking up matters, the difference between addressing big issues and engaging with the individual person in front of us, and how easy it can be to add to the anger and division rather than helping to change it. Doug shares why he believes Christians are called to pursue peace while still standing alongside people who are powerless or don't have a voice. And we come back, once again, to empathy: being willing to understand how someone arrived at a perspective, even when we strongly disagree with it. Because underneath the politics, opinions and difficult conversations, it's about the people. 🎙️ The Empathy Room New main episodes every other Monday, with bonus conversations in between. ✉️ Get in touch: hello@thatchcreativeuk.com 💌 Join the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mailing list⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tinyurl.com/TheEmpathyRoom⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📄 Read the⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠transcript⁠:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tinyurl.com/04-2ChurchTranscript Find us: Karen: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website ⁠⁠⁠ Doug: ⁠Instagram ⁠| ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Website

    04.2 BONUS: It's About the People

  4. Oct 19 ·  Bonus

    04.1 BONUS: When Church Doesn't Feel Safe

    What happens when the place that's supposed to feel safe is the place that has hurt you? 💛 A little note before you listen: This bonus conversation discusses church hurt and experiences of feeling unsafe within church. Please listen when if and when it feels right for you. In this bonus conversation, Doug and I continue our chat about empathy and the church, and explore what it might look like to rebuild a sense of safety after church hurt. We talk about how churches can create spaces where people feel welcomed, known and loved, why someone who's been hurt might need permission to simply be rather than immediately getting involved, and the importance of creating a culture where difficult conversations can happen safely. We also acknowledge that, for some people, walking back through the doors of a church might not be the next step at all, and explore what faith and connection might look like when church doesn't currently feel safe. Because healing can't be rushed, and sometimes empathy means recognising that someone else's next step might look different from yours. 🎙️ The Empathy Room New main episodes every other Monday, with bonus conversations in between. ✉️ Get in touch: hello@thatchcreativeuk.com 💌 Join the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mailing list⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tinyurl.com/TheEmpathyRoom⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📄 Read the⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠transcript⁠:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tinyurl.com/04-1ChurchTranscript⁠ Find us: Karen: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website ⁠⁠⁠ Doug: ⁠Instagram ⁠| ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Website

    04.1 BONUS: When Church Doesn't Feel Safe

  5. Oct 12

    04: Empathy & The Church: Choosing Compassion Over Condemnation

    What does empathy look like when faith, conviction and disagreement collide? 💛 A little note before you listen: This episode touches on some topics that can be sensitive and divisive, including sexuality, gender identity, divorce and different theological perspectives. You may not agree with every view expressed in this conversation, and that's okay. The aim isn't agreement, but to explore what it can look like to approach difficult conversations with empathy, curiosity and compassion. In this episode of The Empathy Room, I'm joined by pastor and church leader Doug Waller to talk about empathy in the church, and what it means to truly listen to people whose experiences, beliefs or choices might be different from our own. We talk about church hurt, difficult conversations, apology and accountability, and why listening to understand matters more than rushing to fix or defend. We also explore what happens when deeply held beliefs meet real people's lives, and whether it's possible to hold onto conviction while still choosing compassion, kindness and empathy. Because disagreement doesn't have to mean disconnection. And perhaps one of the most powerful things we can do is choose compassion over condemnation. 🎙️ The Empathy Room New main episodes every other Monday, with bonus conversations in between. ✉️ Get in touch: hello@thatchcreativeuk.com 💌 Join the ⁠⁠⁠⁠mailing list⁠⁠⁠⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tinyurl.com/TheEmpathyRoom⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📄 Read the⁠ ⁠⁠⁠transcript⁠:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://tinyurl.com/04ChurchTranscript Find us: Karen: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠Website ⁠⁠ Doug: Instagram | ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠Website⁠

    04: Empathy & The Church: Choosing Compassion Over Condemnation

  6. Oct 8 ·  Bonus

    03.2 BONUS: Making Space for Children to Grieve

    How do children experience grief, and how can we give them the space to process it in their own way? In this bonus conversation, Mel and I explore what grief can look like for children and young people. Mel shares from both her professional and personal experience, including how children can move surprisingly quickly between big emotions and everyday life. One minute you're having an incredibly difficult family conversation, and the next they're wondering what's for dinner. We talk about being gently honest, creating opportunities for children to open up without forcing them, and recognising that they might not always have the words to explain what they're feeling. We also explore the role of play, creativity and other forms of expression, and why it's important to notice what's happening outside the family home too. Because supporting a grieving child isn't about expecting them to process things like an adult. It's about making space for them to grieve in the way they need to. 🎙️ The Empathy Room New main episodes every other Monday, with bonus conversations in between. ✉️ Get in touch: hello@thatchcreativeuk.com 💌 Join the ⁠⁠⁠mailing list⁠⁠⁠: ⁠⁠⁠https://tinyurl.com/TheEmpathyRoom⁠⁠⁠ 📄 Read the⁠ ⁠⁠transcript⁠: ⁠⁠https://tinyurl.com/03-2GriefTranscript Find us: Karen: ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Website ⁠ Mel: ⁠LinkedIn⁠ | ⁠Website⁠

    03.2 BONUS: Making Space for Children to Grieve

  7. Oct 5 ·  Bonus

    03.1 BONUS: Staying Connected Through the Hard Stuff

    What happens to our relationships when one of us is going through something really hard? In this bonus conversation, Mel and I continue our chat about grief and explore the impact it can have on relationships. We talk about why communication matters, how easy it is to worry that we're becoming a burden, and what happens when the people we love try to protect us from their own struggles. We also explore friendship, reciprocity, and why being there for someone else can sometimes be an important part of holding onto who we are when life has changed. Because supporting someone through the hard stuff isn't always about knowing what to say. Sometimes it's about staying connected, being honest, and continuing to let each other in. 🎙️ The Empathy Room New main episodes every other Monday, with bonus conversations in between. ✉️ Get in touch: hello@thatchcreativeuk.com 💌 Join the ⁠⁠⁠mailing list⁠⁠⁠: ⁠⁠⁠https://tinyurl.com/TheEmpathyRoom⁠⁠⁠ 📄 Read the⁠ ⁠⁠transcript⁠: ⁠⁠https://tinyurl.com/03-1GriefTranscript Find us: Karen: ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Website ⁠ Mel: ⁠LinkedIn⁠ | ⁠Website

    03.1 BONUS: Staying Connected Through the Hard Stuff

  8. Sep 28

    03: Empathy & Grief: Being Alongside Someone in Their Pain

    What does it really mean to be alongside someone when they're grieving? 💛 A little note before you listen: This episode discusses grief, loss, serious illness and therapy. Please listen when it feels right for you. In this episode of The Empathy Room, I'm joined by clinical psychologist and senior lecturer Dr Melissa Harrison to talk about grief, loss, and the role empathy can play when someone is hurting. We explore why grief is about so much more than bereavement, from chronic illness and trauma to changing relationships, identities and futures we thought we'd have. We also talk about how grief can show up physically and emotionally, why listening can sometimes be more powerful than fixing, and what genuinely helpful support can look like. Mel also shares some of her own experience of grief, and we have an honest conversation about therapy, finding the right support, and why doing the work can sometimes feel harder before it starts to feel better. Because empathy isn't about having the perfect words. Sometimes it's simply about being alongside somebody in their moment of pain or struggle. Support & resources: Mind: www.mind.org.uk/ Samaritans: www.samaritans.org Counselling Directory: www.counselling-directory.org.uk/ 🎙️ The Empathy Room New main episodes every other Monday, with bonus conversations in between. ✉️ Get in touch: hello@thatchcreativeuk.com 💌 Join the ⁠⁠mailing list⁠⁠: ⁠⁠https://tinyurl.com/TheEmpathyRoom⁠⁠ 📄 Read the⁠ ⁠transcript⁠: https://tinyurl.com/03GriefTranscript Find us: Karen: ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠Website  Mel: LinkedIn | Website

    03: Empathy & Grief: Being Alongside Someone in Their Pain
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About

The Empathy Room is a podcast designed to create space to discuss the power of empathy in all areas of life.  Brought to you by Karen (Thatch Creative), a freelance creative and communications consultant based in Kent. "Hi, I'm Karen, the host and creator of The Empathy Room. Empathy is at the heart of WHO I am as a person, which means it’s a core value in my personal life AND in my business. I think that authentic storytelling is absolute gold: stories help us to understand each other better, and that’s the only way to really change and grow as humans; by asking the hard questions, actually listening to the answers, and then using that knowledge to do better. And that’s where this podcast comes in. I will be welcoming people from all walks of life, into my Empathy Room where I'll be asking them about how empathy plays out in their lives, and really get to the heart of their stories so that we can learn from each other's experiences along the way. Thanks for joining me, I hope you find some value here!" Sign up to my podcast mailing list to get all the news and bonus content: subscribepage.io/vRJ2wR Connect with me on social media: Instagram: @ThatchCreativeUK, Facebook: @ThatchCreativeUK, LinkedIn: Karen Thatch, X: @KarenThatch or get in touch: TheEmpathyRoom@thatchcreativeuk.com

Information

  • Creator
    Karen Thatcher | Thatch Creative UK
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    13
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Karen Thatcher | Thatch Creative UK
  • Show Website
    The Empathy Room