Shows / My Pocket Psych
My Pocket Psych
My Pocket Psych is all about the psychology of the workplace. Each episode, we'll examine the world of work and explore a topic through the lens of psychology. Wellbeing, productivity, careers, relationship management. We'll aim to give listeners tips to help improve their experience of work - moving from surviving to thriving! My Pocket Psych is brought to you by WorkLifePsych Ltd and hosted by Dr. Richard MacKinnon, a Chartered Psychologist and coach.
Episodes
- My Pocket Psych
Ep 233: When self-reliance becomes self-limiting
You've thought about working with a coach, then quietly put the idea away. Chances are one sentence came between you and taking helpful action: "I should be…
- My Pocket Psych
Ep 232: What your coach really wishes you knew about coaching
In this episode of 'My Pocket Psych', I share ten things I wish more of my clients knew about coaching. They come up often in coaching conversations and in the…
- My Pocket Psych
Ep 231: What if your coach feels like an imposter too?
The imposter phenomenon is common across professions, and coaches are no exception. In the final part of this short series, I turn the lens on myself and my…
- My Pocket Psych
Ep 230: Nine years of this!
This episode is a short one, to mark the ninth anniversary of My Pocket Psych. Nine years ago I pressed record on the very first episode, despite all my nerves…
- My Pocket Psych
Ep 229: There are no prizes in coaching
Following on from last episode, where we explored the imposter phenomenon and its impact, this time we look at how it can show up in coaching. Even when it's…
- My Pocket Psych
Ep 228: Help! I feel like an imposter!
In this episode, Richard is joined by fellow psychologist Dr. Hayley Lewis for a chat about what we now call 'Imposter Phenomenon'. Essentially, Imposter…
- My Pocket Psych
Ep 227: An owner's manual for the mind
In this episode, we turn our attention to the topic of thoughts, thinking and how we interact with all the stuff our own mind creates for us. While the human…
- My Pocket Psych
Ep 226: What is success, anyway?
In this episode, I look at the downsides of striving for future success, when we're not completely sure what that actually looks like. In coaching sessions, I…
- My Pocket Psych
Ep 225: Values as tools for life
One of the best ways to understand something as conceptual as values is to use metaphors and imagery. In this episode, I explore the topic of values by seeing…
- My Pocket Psych
Ep 224: Values - it's what you do that matters
Our monthly focus over on WorkLifeSpark is values and how to bring them to life. So, in this episode, I take a look at the importance of living values, not…
- My Pocket Psych
Ep 223: Take a break - before you need it!
This episode continues our recent run on sleep, intentional rest and breaks, this time viewed through the lens of sustainability. When working with coaching…
- My Pocket Psych
Ep 222: Rest is more than sleep
In this episode, I continue the focus on sleep, rest and breaks, moving beyond sleep itself to explore the many other forms rest can take. I explain why…
- My Pocket Psych
Ep 221: Sleep and rest - they're not optional!
In this episode, Richard is joined again by Dr Fiona Jane Meechin to tackle a topic that underpins everything else in workplace wellbeing: sleep. They make the…
- My Pocket Psych
Ep 220: Navigating change with compassion
In this episode, I look at how self-compassion can help us navigate organisational change - one of the most common, and often most difficult, experiences we…
- My Pocket Psych
Ep 219: Comparison or compassion?
In this episode, I explore why we compare ourselves to others at work, and what to do when those comparisons leave us feeling worse rather than better. I…
- My Pocket Psych
Ep 218: Self-compassion with Dr. Fiona Jane Meechan
In this episode, Richard is joined by an expert in self-compassion for a discussion about this all-important skillset. Richard and Fiona Jane Meechan discuss…
- My Pocket Psych
Ep 217: Self-care - it's not what you think
Last time, we looked at the benefits of doing less to support our self-care. In this episode, I tackle five of the most common misconceptions about self-care -…
- My Pocket Psych
Ep 216: Self-care - the power of less
In this episode, we take a look at an aspect of self-care that's often overlooked: the impact of doing less, not more. Often, when we discuss a need for…
- My Pocket Psych
Ep 215: You are not your task list
In this episode, the final of three looking at how we use our productivity tools, I discuss the humble task list. It has the potential to bring clarity and a…
- My Pocket Psych
Ep 214: Does your calendar reflect what matters?
Following on from last episode's exploration of intentional use of productivity tools, this episode we take some time to look at calendars. When used…
- My Pocket Psych
Ep 213: The right tool for the job
In this episode, we take a look at the role that productivity tools play in our ability to get stuff done at work. Don't worry - this isn't an episode…
- My Pocket Psych
Ep 212: Connection and disconnection in remote teams
Richard is joined by Pilar Orti and Brie Caggiati , co-authors of 'Connection and Disconnection in Remote Teams', a book that grew out of a season of the 21st…
- My Pocket Psych
Ep 211: Reflecting, on a continuum
In this third episode exploring the benefits of reflection, I take a look at how reflection can exist on a continuum of time and complexity. From a few moments…
- My Pocket Psych
Ep 210: Help! What do I do with this feedback?
In this second part of our focus on reflection and self-awareness, we take a look at the role of feedback. While it's not always comfortable to ask for - or…
- My Pocket Psych
Ep 209: Making time for reflection
In this episode, we take a look at a key element of personal development and growth: reflection. While so many of us feel we're too busy to engage in…
- My Pocket Psych
Ep 208: From procrastination to proactivity
In this, the final episode in our mini-series on procrastination, Richard is joined by fellow psychologist Dr. Joe Gray for a conversation about workplace…
- My Pocket Psych
Ep 207: Tackling your procrastination habit
Last time, we explored procrastination, its origins and how it impacts our wellbeing, productivity and relationships. In this second part of our three-part…
- My Pocket Psych
Ep 206: Your secret procrastination habit
In this first episode of a three-part series, we take a look at the origins of procrastination, how it can show up, and the impact it can have on our…
- My Pocket Psych
Ep 205: It's not just 'bouncing back'!
Building on our last episode, when we looked at how organisations can misinterpret resilience at work, this time we look at how individuals can expand their…
- My Pocket Psych
Ep 204: Resilience - it's not the answer to everything!
The topic of the month over on WorkLifeSpark, our online personal development community, is resilience. So for the next couple of episodes, we're going to take…
- My Pocket Psych
Ep 203: It's never too late for a fresh start
In this episode, I take a few minutes to remind us all that we can make a fresh start on any day of the year. There's nothing particularly magical about…
- My Pocket Psych
Ep 202: Culture isn't a Pinterest board!
Welcome back for the first of our episodes for 2026 🎉 In this episode, Richard is once again joined by business psychologist Kara Daley. This time, it's for a…
- My Pocket Psych
Ep 201: Wrapping up for a fresh start
Hello and welcome to the final episode of My Pocket Psych for 2025. In this brief episode, I take a look ahead to the benefits of side-stepping unhelpful…
- My Pocket Psych
Ep 200: I'm still here!
In this special celebratory 200th episode, we turn the tables: Richard is in the hot seat and interviewed by friend of the show, Ross McIntosh. Ross asks…
- My Pocket Psych
Ep 199: Coping for leaders
Richard is once again joined by fellow psychologist Ross McIntosh to discuss the importance of coping with difficulties and setbacks - especially when it comes…
- My Pocket Psych
Ep 198: Self-care for leaders (and everyone else!)
In this episode, Richard is joined by colleague and fellow psychologist Ross McIntosh for a discussion about the importance of self-care for leaders. Given the…
- My Pocket Psych
Ep 197: The Intercultural Aspects of Leadership
In this episode, Richard is joined by Dr. Austin Tay, a chartered psychologist with significant experience of working across cultures in the fields of…
- My Pocket Psych
Ep 196: The role of coaching in leadership development
This episode focuses on the important role that good quality coaching can play as part of structured leadership development. As part of a leadership programme…
- My Pocket Psych
Ep 195: How to maintain a focus on your development
Following on from the last episode, where I discussed how to get the most from your experience on a development programme, this time I ask: once the programme…
- My Pocket Psych
Ep 194: How to get the most from your leadership development programme
And we're back! After a break to enjoy my summer holiday in Japan, My Pocket Psych is back with a focus on how to get the most from your involvement in a…
- My Pocket Psych
Ep 193: Taking my own medicine
After quite a few weeks focusing on self-care and coping - as topics for leaders - I realised I was at risk of neglecting my own self-care and planned holiday…
- My Pocket Psych
Ep 192: Threats to leaders' wellbeing
In this episode, I take a look at some of the ways leaders' wellbeing is challenged. Stressors from the role of leadership, the culture of the organisation and…
- My Pocket Psych
Ep 191: When leadership development goes wrong
In this episode, as part of our Sustainable Leadership series, Richard explores some of the many ways that leadership development activities can fail to…
- My Pocket Psych
Ep 190: Burnout - recognition and recovery
This is the second part of Richard's two-part interview with Dr. Richard Duggins, all about his work in treating burnout. You can find the first part of this…
- My Pocket Psych
Ep 189: Burnout - signs and symptoms with Dr. Richard Duggins
In this episode of our 'Sustainable Leadership' series, we explore the antithesis of sustainable work: professional burnout. Richard is joined by Dr. Richard…
- My Pocket Psych
Ep 188: Why leaders need to be emotionally literate
This episode of the podcast is based on a webinar we recently ran on the topic of emotional literacy. In this session, Dr. Richard MacKinnon and Ross McIntosh…
- My Pocket Psych
Ep 187: Leadership and mental health
Welcome to another episode of My Pocket Psych, which is part of our ongoing 'Sustainable Leadership' series. In this episode, Richard is joined by clinical and…
- My Pocket Psych
Ep 186: Why leaders need to be psychologically flexible.
Continuing our theme of the importance of Sustainable Leadership, this episode is a little bit different. Earlier this month, I facilitated a webinar with my…
- My Pocket Psych
Ep 185: What is 'Sustainable Leadership'?
This episode is the first in a new series where we'll unpack all aspects of leadership, leadership development and the wellbeing and performance of leaders. In…
- My Pocket Psych
Ep 184: Wellbeing - have you tried doing...less?
In this episode, we wrap up our 'Thriving at Work' focus on wellbeing by asking a simple question: when it comes to improving your health and wellbeing, have…
- My Pocket Psych
Ep 183: Wellbeing is about moving towards what matters
In episode 181, I explained how getting clear on what matters - our values - can be a great place to start when we want to improve our wellbeing. This time…
- My Pocket Psych
Ep 182: Dealing with challenges at work using Psychological Flexibility
I recently spoke at the Health and Wellbeing at Work conference in Birmingham on supporting employees to overcome challenges and setbacks. On the back of lots…
- My Pocket Psych
Ep 181: Wellbeing - it starts with values
In this episode, we look at why it's so important to be clear on our values when making changes to improve our wellbeing. Values help us make authentic…
- My Pocket Psych
Ep 180: So you want to make a change?
Change is at the very heart of the work that I do with my clients. Changing behaviour, changing attitudes. Changing in response to changes in the environment…
- My Pocket Psych
Ep 179: What have I seen you in?
And now for something completely different! Richard is joined by coach and actor, Lena Kaur for a discussion about coaching actors. We try to keep our…
- My Pocket Psych
Ep 178: Wellbeing - Is 'new' always better?
In another of our 'Thriving at Work' episodes, Richard is joined by fellow workplace psychologist Jane Stewart. They look at some of the challenges with…
- My Pocket Psych
Ep 177: Avoiding burnout
In this episode in our 'Thriving at Work' series, Richard is joined by Hazel Anderson-Turner for a discussion all about burnout. Hazel describes what prompted…
- My Pocket Psych
Ep 176: Workplace wellbeing - the power of difficult questions
What does it mean to be evidence-based when it comes to wellbeing at work? How do we know what works when it comes to wellbeing interventions? And does doing…
- My Pocket Psych
Ep 175: Leadership, identity and thriving
We continue our 'Thriving at Work' series with a look at leadership and leaders. Richard is joined by Leadership Development expert and executive coach, Dr…
- My Pocket Psych
Ep 174: Sleep, wellbeing and... thriving?
In this episode, another in the Thriving at Work series, we take a look at how sleep contibutes to our wellbeing and performance at work and ask: can you…