Shows / Squiggly Careers
Squiggly Careers
Squiggly Careers is a weekly podcast that will help you take control of your career development. Hosted by the founders of Squiggly Careers. (https://www.squigglycareers.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…
Episodes
Squiggly CareersThe Difference Between Working Hard and Getting Better | Big Think
What does it actually take to go from good to great at work — and is "mastery" even the right word for it? In this episode, Helen and Sarah borrow brilliance…
Squiggly CareersSquiggly Shortcut: Listen Like You Mean It (5 Ways to Improve)
90% of us think we're good listeners — but we retain about 20% of what we hear. In this Squiggly Shortcut, Sarah shares five practical ways to close that…
Squiggly CareersHow to read with a learning mindset
What if the way you read could transform how much you actually learn, remember and use? In this episode, Helen and Sarah borrow brilliance from Ryan Holiday's…
Squiggly CareersSquiggly Shortcut: 3 Ways to Feel Less Stuck When Work Feels Uncertain
Does work feel a bit knotty right now? In this Squiggly Shortcut, Helen shares three practical ways to find your footing when everything around you feels…
Squiggly CareersKaizen: The Japanese Method That Turns 1% Improvements into Career Growth
In this episode, Helen and Sarah explore how to 'Kaizen your squiggly career', borrowing brilliance from the Japanese philosophy of continuous improvement…
Squiggly CareersSquiggly Shortcut: Small Ways to Make Play Part of Your Team Day
In this Squiggly Shortcut, Sarah shares how to bring small, low-pressure moments of play into team days, without falling into the trap of forced fun. She…
Squiggly CareersHow to Stop Cynicism from Stalling Your Career Growth
In this episode, Helen and Sarah borrow brilliance from a talk by Lord Michael Hastings at the London Interdisciplinary School about leading responsibly in an…
Squiggly CareersSquiggly Shortcut: How to Boost Your Motivation in a Knotty Career Moment
In this Squiggly Shortcut, Helen shares three simple ways to boost your motivation when you’re stuck in a “knotty moment” at work. Whether it’s unexpected…
Squiggly CareersThe 4 Attachment Styles and How They Show Up at Work
In this episode, Helen and Sarah borrow brilliance from the psychology of attachment styles and explore what this concept can teach us about working…
Squiggly CareersSquiggly Shortcut: How to ask for feedback in a way that puts learning first
Asking for feedback can feel uncomfortable. What if you hear something you don’t agree with? What if it confirms your worst fears? And how do you ask without…
Squiggly CareersA Practical Guide to Prototyping at Work
This week’s episode comes to you from a very snowy New York, where Sarah and Helen are launching the US edition of Learn Like a Lobster - in the middle of the…
Squiggly CareersSquiggly Shortcut: Give to Gain - The Career Strategy Nobody Talks About
If networking feels awkward or transactional, this Squiggly Shortcut offers a simpler starting point: give to gain. Helen explores why focusing on what you can…
Squiggly CareersHow to Change Behaviour at Work
In this episode, Helen and Sarah borrow brilliance from a powerful Harvard Business Review article by James Elfer, Siri Chilazi, and Edward Chang on the…
Squiggly CareersSquiggly Shortcut: How to Influence People Who Disagree With You
If influence sometimes feels uncomfortable or awkward, this is a fresh take that reframes it as collaboration rather than persuasion. In this Squiggly…
Squiggly Careers3 LinkedIn Top Voices to Follow for a Smarter, More Future-Proof Career
How do you make your LinkedIn feed work harder for your career instead of just scrolling past the same ideas on repeat? In this episode, Helen and Sarah are…
Squiggly CareersSquiggly Shortcut: 3 Self-Awareness Habits That Increase Your Career Growth
In this Squiggly Shortcut, Helen shares why self-awareness is one of the most important skills for your career and how to build it in small, practical ways…
Squiggly CareersDeck of Brilliance: 3 Ways to Think Differently When You’re Stuck at Work
Do you ever find yourself going round in circles with the same problem or struggling to come up with fresh ideas at work? In this episode, Helen and Sarah are…
Squiggly CareersSquiggly Shortcut: An Introverts Guide to Networking
In this Squiggly Shortcut, Sarah shares practical, low-pressure ways to network when you’re more introverted than extroverted. Rather than forcing yourself…
Squiggly CareersSquiggly Careers Live: How You Can Keep Learning at Work (Even When It Feels Hard)
In this special live episode of Squiggly Careers, Helen and Sarah take to the stage to explore one of the trickiest parts of career growth - learning through…
Squiggly CareersCEO Shell-Shedding Moments: Learning How to Let Go & Lead Differently with TEDs Logan McClure Davda
This is the fifth and final episode in our Shell-Shedding Moments series, a series where CEOs and leaders share the vulnerable moments, the challenges…
Squiggly CareersCEO Shell-Shedding Moments: Purpose, Perspective and Learning from Mistakes with Nick Bent
This is the fourth episode in our Shell-Shedding Moments series, a series where CEOs and leaders share the vulnerable moments, the challenges, mistakes, and…
Squiggly CareersCEO Shell-Shedding Moments: Kill or Continue? Making Hard Decisions with Fight Story's Georgie Holt
This is the third episode in our Shell-Shedding Moments series, a series where CEOs and leaders share the vulnerable moments, the challenges, mistakes, and…
Squiggly CareersCEO Shell-Shedding Moments: How to Fix Friction at Work Fast with Helen Tupper
In this special CEO Shell-Shedding Moments episode, Sarah interviews Helen, about the uncomfortable moments that help us grow. From difficult interviews to…
Squiggly CareersCEO Shell-Shedding Moments: Opening Up about Mental Health at Work with Zaid Al-Qassab
Welcome to Shell-Shedding Moments, a series where CEOs share the vulnerable moments, the challenges, mistakes, and personal revelations that most people never…
Squiggly CareersHow to ask for help at work (without feeling awkward)
In this Squiggly Shortcut episode, Helen shares a practical, step-by-step framework for asking for help at work in a way that feels confident, clear, and…
Squiggly Careers5 formulas for a high impact introduction
How do you introduce yourself in a way that turns a polite “nice to meet you” into a genuine “tell me more”? In this episode, Helen and Sarah are Borrowing…
Squiggly CareersSkills Sprint: How to Lead Your Own Learning by Sharing It
In this fifth and final episode of the Learn Like a Lobster skill sprint, Helen and Sarah introduce "Helpful How-Tos" - a simple, fun way to share knowledge…
Squiggly CareersSkills Sprint: How to Lead Your Own Learning with Adaptability
When it comes to learning at work, it’s easy to wait for permission - from managers, organisations, or “the right moment.” In this episode, Helen and Sarah…
Squiggly CareersSkills Sprint: How to Learn in Hard Moments (Without Spiralling)
This is Day 3 of the Learn Like a Lobster skill sprint, and today Helen and Sarah share a simple way of reflecting on hard moments at work so you can learn…
Squiggly CareersSkills Sprint: How to Learn From Feedback (Even When It’s Uncomfortable)
This is Day 2 of the Learn Like a Lobster skill sprint, and today Helen and Sarah focus on one of the hardest - and most important - career skills: how to give…
Squiggly CareersSkills Sprint: How to Learn as You Go (Without Finding More Time)
Today, Helen and Sarah are kicking off the Learn Like A Lobster skill sprint with Day 1: Learn As You Go. In this episode, Helen and Sarah explore how you can…
Squiggly CareersSquiggly Shortcut: 5 Questions That Will Transform Your Career Conversations
January is always a good moment to pause, think about the big picture and zoom out when we're thinking about the future and direction of our career. In today's…
Squiggly CareersSpaciousness – How to manage your attention, not your time
🦞 Join our Learn Like a Lobster Sprint: https://bit.ly/4oZzJ3F In this episode, Helen and Sarah explore the idea of spaciousness at work — a powerful…
Squiggly CareersSign up the Squiggly Careers 'Learn Like A Lobster' Sprint 2026 🦞
🦞 Join our Learn Like a Lobster Sprint: https://bit.ly/4oZzJ3F Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices…
Squiggly CareersHow To Reset Your Team To Achieve More Together
🦞 Join our Learn Like a Lobster Sprint: https://bit.ly/4oZzJ3F I In this episode, Helen and Sarah explore how to reset your team so you can achieve more…
Squiggly CareersPart 2: 6 Squiggly Careers Trends in 2026 – Redundancy, Accountability & Why Learning Matters More Than Promotions
🦞 Join our Learn Like a Lobster Sprint: https://bit.ly/4oZzJ3F In this episode, Helen and Sarah share part two of their career trends and themes for 2026…
Squiggly CareersPart 1: 6 Squiggly Career Trends in 2026 - AI Agents, Disconnection & Employee Influencers
🦞 Join our Learn Like a Lobster Sprint: https://bit.ly/4oZzJ3F In this episode, Helen and Sarah kick off a two-part series exploring six Squiggly Career trends…
Squiggly CareersEnd of Year Review: What Our Highs & Lows Taught Us In 2025
🦞 Join our Learn Like a Lobster Sprint: https://bit.ly/4oZzJ3F In this episode, Helen and Sarah do something they’ve made a tradition at Squiggly Careers: a…
Squiggly CareersSquiggly Shortcut: How to Feel More in Control of Your Career (Even in Uncertain Times)
🦞 Join our Learn Like a Lobster Sprint: https://bit.ly/4oZzJ3F Sometimes your career can feel unclear, uncertain, or hard to navigate — especially in a…
Squiggly CareersHow to Reduce Work Stress and Anxiety With Simple Breathing Techniques
🦞 Join our Learn Like a Lobster Sprint: https://bit.ly/4oZzJ3F Sometimes work (and life) can feel full-on — especially at this time of year when deadlines…
Squiggly CareersSquiggly Shortcut: How To Move From Complexity To Clarity
🦞 Join our Learn Like a Lobster Sprint: https://bit.ly/4oZzJ3F Sometimes work can feel messy, complicated, or simply “a lot”. Whether you’re drowning in tasks…
Squiggly Careers3 Hard Work Conversations & How To Handle Each One with Confidence
🦞 Join our Learn Like a Lobster Sprint: https://bit.ly/4oZzJ3F This week, Helen and Sarah revisit insights from three podcast guests—Amy Gallo, Celeste…
Squiggly CareersSquiggly Shortcut: Discover Hidden Career Opportunities in 5 Minutes a Day
🦞 Join our Learn Like a Lobster Sprint: https://bit.ly/4oZzJ3F In this Squiggly Career Shortcut, Helen shares five simple, everyday ideas that can have a big…
Squiggly CareersThe Power of Mattering: How to Feel Valued and Valuable in Your Career
🦞 Join our Learn Like a Lobster Sprint: https://bit.ly/4oZzJ3F This week on the Squiggly Careers podcast, Helen and Sarah borrow brilliance from Dr. Zach…
Squiggly CareersSquiggly Shortcut: Why We Need To Ban The Word Busy
🦞 Join our Learn Like a Lobster Sprint: https://bit.ly/4oZzJ3F When people describe their week at work in one word, pretty much 90% of people use the word…
Squiggly Careers7 Types of Rest to Recharge and Do Your Best at Work
🦞 Join our Learn Like a Lobster Sprint: https://bit.ly/4oZzJ3F This week, Helen and Sarah borrow brilliance from Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith, who writes about the…
Squiggly CareersSquiggly Shortcut: How To Be a Speed Learner in 5 Minutes
🦞 Join our Learn Like a Lobster Sprint: https://bit.ly/4oZzJ3F In this Squiggly Shortcut, Helen shares five practical ideas to help you become a speed learner…
Squiggly CareersThe Marshmallow Test: How to Master Delayed Gratification for Career Success
🦞 Join our Learn Like a Lobster Sprint: https://bit.ly/4oZzJ3F This week on the Squiggly Careers podcast, Helen and Sarah borrow brilliance from a sweet source…
Squiggly CareersSquiggly Shortcut: You Don’t Need a Perfect Plan to Change Careers — Here’s What to Do Instead
Most of us will change career up to 5 times in our squiggly careers. In this shortcut, Sarah shares why career change isn’t about having the perfect plan —…
Squiggly CareersTeam Emotional Intelligence: The Secret to High-Performing Teams
This week on the Squiggly Careers podcast, Sarah and Helen borrow brilliance from Vanessa Urch Druskat’s research on team emotional intelligence, first…
Squiggly CareersSquiggly Shortcut: 3 Ways To Stand Out To Senior Stakeholders
✨ Welcome to Squiggly Shortcuts— a series from the Squiggly Careers podcast, bringing you quick career tips in just 5 minutes, every Thursday. In this…
Squiggly CareersThe Psychology of Seats: How To Boost Your Impact & Influence At Work
This week on the Squiggly Careers podcast, Helen and Sarah borrow brilliance from an unexpected source — the psychology of seats. Inspired by a conversation…
Squiggly CareersSquiggly Shortcut: How to Quieten Your Inner Critic
✨ Welcome to Squiggly Shortcuts — a series from the Squiggly Careers podcast, bringing you quick career tips in just 5 minutes, every Thursday. In this…
Squiggly CareersMap Your Career: 5 Visual Tools to Find Clarity and Direction
This week on the Squiggly Careers podcast, Sarah and Helen borrow brilliance from an unexpected source — maps. Inspired by Jürgen Appelo’s Substack post “I…
Squiggly CareersSquiggly Shortcut: 4 Questions to Help You Make a Difficult Career Decision
✨ Welcome to Squiggly Shortcuts — a series from the Squiggly Careers podcast, bringing you quick career tips in just 5 minutes, every Thursday. In this…
Squiggly CareersAre You Wasting Your Talent? (Why Moral Ambition Matters)
What does it mean to live — and work — with moral ambition? In this episode of the Squiggly Careers podcast, Sarah introduces ideas from Rutger Bregman’s book…
Squiggly CareersSquiggly Shortcut: How to ask for a pay rise
✨ Welcome to Squiggly Shortcuts — a series from the Squiggly Careers podcast, bringing you quick career tips in just 5 minutes, every Thursday. In this…
Squiggly CareersWhy Bringing Your Authentic Self To Work Is Bad Advice
Is “just be yourself at work” really the best advice? In this 500th episode of the Squiggly Careers podcast, Helen and Sarah explore the tricky topic of…
Squiggly CareersHow to Stop Being a People Pleaser Without Guilt (3 Easy Tips)
✨ Welcome to Squiggly Shortcuts — a brand new series from the Squiggly Careers podcast, bringing you quick career tips in just 5 minutes, every Thursday. In…
Squiggly CareersLearn Smarter: The Feynman Technique, Don’t Know Notebook & Problem Testing
What can a Nobel Prize-winning physicist teach us about navigating squiggly careers? In this new Borrowed Brilliance format, Helen introduces the…