In this powerful return episode of The School Run with Jane – Little Voices, Big Stories, Jane is joined once again by Wendy Gardner, speaker, author and passionate advocate for helping women stop waiting for life to start and begin truly living it. If you listened to Wendy’s first appearance on the podcast in Episode 109, you’ll already know just how honest, wise and deeply human she is. This time, Wendy returns with even more to share, including the journey behind her newly launched book, Diary of a Misfit Penguin, and the life lessons that have shaped her over the last 18 months. Together, Jane and Wendy explore the masks we wear, the labels we adopt, and the cost of becoming the person the world expects us to be. Wendy speaks openly about her years in the corporate world, where she was known as “the machine”, and how that identity brought success on the outside while disconnecting her from herself on the inside. She also shares the deeply personal turning point that changed everything: walking alongside her daughter through severe anxiety and depression, and realising that while she could not fix everything for her child, she did need to begin learning how to love and understand herself. This is a conversation about courage, fear, healing, confidence, boundaries, gratitude, self-worth and the power of listening to your body. In this episode, Jane and Wendy talk about: ❤️ Wendy’s new book Diary of a Misfit Penguin ❤️ what has changed in Wendy’s life since her first appearance ❤️ the metaphor of being a “flamingo inside a penguin suit” ❤️ the pressure of performing success and losing yourself in the process ❤️ parenting through mental health struggles ❤️ why children need to see us becoming who we want them to be ❤️ what confidence really means ❤️ fear, visibility and putting your story into the world ❤️ community, support and asking for help ❤️ listening to your body and managing your mental health ❤️ why gratitude can shift your energy and perspective ❤️ the importance of boundaries and learning to say no ❤️ how healing happens through movement, music, singing, dance and stillness This episode is honest, hopeful and full of wisdom for anyone who has ever felt like they were performing their way through life, while quietly longing to feel more like themselves. About Wendy Gardner Wendy partners with women to get promoted, lead with heart, and be fully present at home and at work. After years in the corporate world, Wendy now works as a speaker, coach and author, helping women navigate identity shifts, confidence, visibility and meaningful change. She is also the author of Diary of a Misfit Penguin. Podcasts for us are all about learning and sharing, of course free to listen to. We have some small costs to cover so if you would like to buy us a virtual cup of tea /coffee when we are planning them out please click here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theschoolrun \ Get In Touch: Of course, you can always get in touch with us (publicly or privately) on our socials \@theschoolrun_official / \@mrsjanejames on Instagram, or search and follow Jane James on Facebook. We'd love to hear your story - please get in touch with us directly at jane@littlevoices.org.uk Links: For information on Jane’s company Little Voices head to http://www.littlevoices.org.uk @littlevoiceslimited You will often hear references to The Olive Jar to find out more follow @theolivejarcourse www.theolivejar.online Disclaimer: All views expressed in this podcast are of the participants themselves. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. We are just a mum and daughter, sharing their thoughts and chatting with guests that we really respect and sharing our personal stories and insights. Please seek professional advice if you need it. This episode is edited by Mike Roberts of Making Digital Real
