Ella Podcasts

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Why are so many women still expected to manage menopause quietly while performing at the highest level of their careers?

In this episode of Ella Podcasts, I’m joined by Dr Ronina Stevens, Clinical Psychologist at The Other Clinic; Latha Prasad, Corporate Change Consultant; and Kathleen Ngkaion, International School Administrator, to talk openly about menopause in the workplace, the impact it can have on confidence and performance, and why so many women still feel misunderstood, judged or unsupported. 

We explore the physical and emotional reality of perimenopause and menopause, from sleep disruption, brain fog and anxiety to heavy periods, fatigue and reduced confidence, and ask why these symptoms are still so often treated as a personal problem rather than a workplace issue. 
In This Episode

* Why menopause is still taboo in many workplaces
* How symptoms can affect concentration, confidence and job performance
* Why women may be wrongly perceived as less capable
* The impact of sleep deprivation, brain fog and anxiety
* Why some women leave senior roles during menopause
* Whether menopause policies are actually meaningful
* The role of ageism and sexism at work
* Why support and flexibility matter
* How employers can create more inclusive workplaces

Key Takeaways

* Menopause symptoms do not mean a woman has become less competent.
* Lack of awareness can lead to symptoms being mistaken for poor performance. EDACCE1 11am 22nd April 2026 - V3.txt
* Workplace policies need to offer practical support, not just acknowledgement.
* Flexibility, understanding and open conversations can make a significant difference.
* Women should not have to hide what they are going through to appear “professional”.
* Education and support can help women feel more empowered and less isolated.

Conclusion

Menopause is a normal stage of life, yet many women still feel pressure to go through it invisibly.

The question is not whether women can continue to perform at work. It is whether workplaces are willing to create the conditions that allow them to do so.

Guests:
Ella Sherman, Creative Writer, Lotusland Productions
Dr Ronina Stevens, Clinical Psychologist, The Other Clinic
Latha Prasad, Corporate Change Consultant
Kathleen Ngkaion, International School Administrator

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Did working from home give employees their lives back — or did it quietly damage collaboration, learning and workplace culture?

In this episode of Ella Podcasts, we explore one of the biggest workplace battles of the post-pandemic era: work from home versus return to office. Is the debate really about productivity — or is it about trust, control and how senior leaders believe work should look? 

Dr Ronina Stevens and I sat down with Andrew Goldstein and Jeff Paine to discuss whether hybrid working is here to stay, why some leaders are still pushing employees back into offices, and whether younger workers are missing vital opportunities to learn, build relationships and develop their careers.

In This Episode

* Is working from home more productive?
* Why some CEOs still want everyone back in the office
* Whether remote work is really a trust issue
* The hidden cost of commuting
* Why younger employees may benefit from office time
* How remote work affects mental health and isolation
* AI, remote working and the future of jobs
* Why hybrid working may offer the best of both worlds

Key Takeaways

* Where someone works matters less than whether clear goals and outcomes are being achieved.
* Remote work can improve flexibility and quality of life, but it can also reduce informal learning and connection.
* Long commutes can significantly affect energy, wellbeing and work-life balance.
* Office culture still has value — particularly for mentoring, relationships and collaboration.
* There is unlikely to be one working model that suits every role, industry or employee.

Conclusion

The working world has changed — and employees increasingly expect flexibility.

The question now isn’t simply office or home. It’s whether companies can create a working model built around results, trust and what people actually need to perform at their best.

Keywords: work from home, return to office, hybrid working, remote work, future of work, workplace productivity, employee wellbeing, office culture, work life balance, remote workers, workplace flexibility, Ella Podcasts

#EllaPodcasts #WorkFromHome #RemoteWork #HybridWorking #FutureOfWork #WorkplaceCulture #Leadership #EmployeeWellbeing #WorkLifeBalance #Productivity

Guests:
Dr Ronina Stevens, Clinical Psychologist, The Other Clinic
Victoria Toy, Lawyer
Jeff Paine, PS Engage Government Relations for Tech Industry

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What if waiting to feel confident is the very thing keeping you stuck?

In this episode of Ella Podcasts, we explore why body confidence often doesn’t come first — action does. Small, consistent choices can help rebuild self-belief, energy and a healthier relationship with your body after a period of feeling disconnected or neglecting yourself. Dr Jonathan and I sat down with Amanda Lim, Metabolic Health Coach, and CK Karkhanis, Celebrity Hair Stylist, to explore body confidence, healthy habits and the small changes that can help people feel better in themselves.

One of the key ideas in the conversation is simple: you don’t wait until you feel confident to start. You start, and confidence follows.

In This Episode

* Why action often comes before confidence
* The power of taking small, realistic steps
* How consistency helps rebuild self-belief
* Why sleep should be one of the first habits you fix
* The importance of working with your natural rhythm
* Why extreme routines aren’t always necessary

Key Takeaways

* Confidence is built through action, not waiting.
* Small habits are often more sustainable than dramatic changes.
* Better sleep can improve how you feel physically and mentally.
* Consistency matters more than perfection.
* You don’t need to overhaul your whole life to begin feeling better.

Conclusion

If you’ve been feeling disconnected from your body or frustrated with yourself, the answer may not be a huge transformation.

Sometimes it starts with one small decision, repeated consistently.

Keywords: body confidence, healthy habits, self-confidence, consistency, sleep, wellbeing, fitness motivation, body image, self-care, lifestyle change, Ella Podcasts

#EllaPodcasts #BodyConfidence #HealthyHabits #Wellbeing #SelfConfidence #Sleep #Lifestyle #FitnessMotivation #SelfCare

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What happens when someone you love dies - and life carries on, even though you feel completely changed?

In this deeply personal episode of Ella Podcasts, Dr Jonathan and I sat down with Dr Jane Tuomola and Sapna Makwana to talk openly about grief, bereavement and the overwhelming pain of losing someone you love.

Dr Jane shares the heartbreaking experience of losing her daughter Sofia on the day she was born, while Sapna reflects on losing her father at just 56. Together, we explore what grief really feels like, why everyone processes loss differently, and how support, therapy, community and meaning can help people learn to live alongside it. 

In This Episode

* Is losing someone we love the most painful experience in life?
* Why grief looks different for everyone
* Coping with the death of a child
* Losing a parent and facing anticipatory grief
* Why delayed grief is so common
* How couples and families grieve differently
* The role of therapy, support groups and community
* Finding meaning after loss
* How to honour someone’s memory while continuing to live

Key Takeaways

* There is no “right” way to grieve.
* Grief can bring sadness, anger, relief, guilt and even numbness.
* Support from people who simply stay present can make an enormous difference.
* Delayed grief is real and may emerge long after a loss.
* Healing does not mean forgetting — it means finding a way to carry the loss with you.
* Remembering and honouring someone can become part of moving forward.

Conclusion

Grief changes us.

We may never stop missing the people we love, but with time, support and self-compassion, the pain can become more manageable and life can slowly expand around the loss.

Keywords: grief, bereavement, losing a child, losing a parent, coping with death, grief counselling, mental health, delayed grief, bereavement support, healing after loss, death of a loved one, Ella Podcasts

#EllaPodcasts #Grief #Bereavement #MentalHealth #Loss #Healing #GriefSupport #Counselling #Psychology #CopingWithLoss

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Why do so many people reach senior positions without ever becoming effective leaders?

In this episode of Ella Podcasts, Dr Jonathan and I sat down with Dr John Isaac and Gary Brooks to explore what separates genuine leadership from simply having authority, a title or seniority.

We discuss why high performers are often promoted into roles they’re not suited for, whether leadership is something you’re born with or can learn, how toxic leaders damage organisations, and whether executive coaching can really turn a poor leader into a good one. 

BB697E2 3pm 23rd June 2026 - V2.txt

In This Episode

• Why great performers don’t always make great leaders
• The difference between leadership and management
• Whether leadership is innate or learned
• Why trust matters more than status
• The danger of narcissistic and toxic leadership
• How poor leaders damage teams and culture
• Whether executive coaching can genuinely change someone
• Why the best leaders often focus on developing others

Key Takeaways

• Leadership is about influence, trust and direction, not just position.
• Promoting someone for technical ability alone can backfire.
• Great leaders empower people rather than control everything.
• Being liked is not the same as being effective.
• Executive coaching can help, but only if the leader genuinely wants to change.
• Sometimes the strongest leaders are not the loudest people in the room.

Conclusion

Leadership isn’t about being the most senior person, the loudest voice or the biggest personality.

The real test is much simpler: do people trust you enough to follow you when it matters? 

BB697E2 3pm 23rd June 2026 - V2.txt

Keywords: leadership, bad leadership, executive coaching, toxic leadership, leadership skills, management, workplace culture, leadership development, narcissistic leaders, people management, business leadership, Ella Podcasts

#EllaPodcasts #Leadership #ExecutiveCoaching #Management #WorkplaceCulture #LeadershipDevelopment #Business #PeopleManagement #CareerDevelopment

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