Squiggly Careers
The Squiggly Career
Squiggly Careers is a weekly podcast that will help you take control of your career development. Hosted by the founders of Amazing If (https://www.amazingif.com/), Sarah Ellis and Helen Tupper, together they cover all things work: from how to manage stress and overcome your confidence gremlins to micro-aggressions and discovering your strengths. Each episode is full of ideas, actions, hints, and tips that you can put into practice straight away. Every so often they take a break from talking to each other to interview other people who are leading the way in making work better. Past guests include entrepreneur and philanthropist Dame Stephanie Shirley, author of The Joy of Work Bruce Daisley, and neuroscience expert Amy Brann. The Squiggly Careers podcast has been recommended by Harvard Business Review, Stylist, Marie Claire and Management Today.For more ideas, tools and inspiration every week, you can also sign up to their newsletter Squiggly Careers in Action. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Apr 1, 2026 • 4min
Squiggly Shortcut: 3 Ways to Feel Less Stuck When Work Feels Uncertain
Practical tactics for feeling steadier when work is uncertain. Three approaches to focus on what you know, turn uncertainty into a learning plan, and use mental time travel to decide next steps. Short, actionable strategies to regain control during restructures, role shifts, or economic noise.
11 snips
Mar 31, 2026 • 40min
Kaizen: The Japanese Method That Turns 1% Improvements into Career Growth
They explain kaizen and why tiny, consistent improvements beat dramatic career overhauls. They explore gemba — observing real work — and how data reveals where time is wasted. They unpack muda and spotting busy work versus real progress. They cover hansai, the habit of reflection, and PDCA as a way to run small experiments that lead to lasting change.
8 snips
Mar 26, 2026 • 8min
Squiggly Shortcut: Small Ways to Make Play Part of Your Team Day
Practical tips for adding short, optional play moments into team days without forcing fun. Ideas include music-based icebreakers, quick drawing exercises to surface memories and strengths, hands-on creative challenges like spaghetti towers, and safe improv to boost energy. Evidence for the impact of five-minute daily play on wellbeing is also highlighted.
Mar 24, 2026 • 37min
How to Stop Cynicism from Stalling Your Career Growth
They explore how cynical thoughts like “the system is rigged” quietly stall career momentum. Short habits and five-minute favors are offered as tiny, practical countermeasures. The conversation highlights learning from different thinkers and avoiding echo chambers. Generosity at work and simple grounding practices are suggested to replace disengagement with curiosity and action.
Mar 19, 2026 • 5min
Squiggly Shortcut: How to Boost Your Motivation in a Knotty Career Moment
Short, practical tactics for snapping out of a draining work funk. Quick dopamine hacks like music or a brisk walk. Small, tangible tasks to regain momentum and control. Simple ways to get perspective by reaching out to someone you trust.
5 snips
Mar 17, 2026 • 39min
The 4 Attachment Styles and How They Show Up at Work
They explore how four attachment styles—secure, anxious, avoidant-dismissive, and fearful-avoidant—show up in workplace relationships. They talk about spotting your own style and how it affects teamwork and feedback. Practical tactics for adapting to different styles and building trust are highlighted. AI and simple tools for identifying styles are mentioned.
6 snips
Mar 12, 2026 • 4min
Squiggly Shortcut: How to ask for feedback in a way that puts learning first
Practical hacks for asking for feedback that feel easy, not awkward. Swap the word feedback for advice to get future-focused suggestions. Use “when” questions to reveal your strengths with concrete examples. Tie blind spots to a career goal so responses are useful and actionable.
Mar 10, 2026 • 43min
A Practical Guide to Prototyping at Work
Snowy New York scenes set the stage for a deep dive into prototyping at work. They unpack a four-part framework for turning ideas into tangible, testable prototypes. Practical tips cover who to involve, making multiple mock-ups, real-user testing, and handling tough feedback. They also explore ownership, decision points and when to invest in prototyping for high-value projects.
Mar 5, 2026 • 6min
Squiggly Shortcut: Give to Gain - The Career Strategy Nobody Talks About
A quick guide to relationship-building through generosity and reciprocity. Research-backed ideas on why giving makes connections less awkward. Three simple, practical ways to offer value using your praised strengths, personal experiences, or specific skills. Actionable tips for making helpful offers that feel genuine rather than transactional.
18 snips
Mar 3, 2026 • 33min
How to Change Behaviour at Work
They unpack a four-step model for changing workplace behaviour using clear targets, timely nudges, simple tests, and measurable outcomes. Real team scenarios include cutting meeting interruptions and pushing important work over easy tasks. Practical intervention ideas such as pre-meeting reminders, time-blocking, and quick experiments crop up throughout.
