What happens when a headteacher leads not with policies, but with purpose? In this inspiring episode of the Able to Care podcast, behaviour specialist Andy Baker speaks with Fiona Booth, Headteacher at St Nicholas Church of England Primary Academy, a school recently featured by the BBC for its outstanding, relationship-driven approach to education.

With 12 years in leadership, Fiona shares how she rebuilt a “dark” school culture into one where every child—and adult—feels safe, seen and supported.

From tucking in shirts as a symbol of belonging to using data as a torch, not a hammer, Fiona’s message will resonate with caregivers, educators and parents navigating systems while trying to hold onto humanity.

This is an essential listen for anyone who believes behaviour is communication, and that education—and care—must start with connection.

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Fiona Booth – Targeting the Positive with Behaviours That Challenge by Andy Baker

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Love is not soft—it’s structured.

Real behaviour change comes from consistency and culture.

Every human being carries light.

00:00 – Introduction and Sponsor: Carers Card UK

01:40 – Meet Fiona Booth: Relationship-Centric Leadership

03:00 – What is a relationship-first school and why does it matter?

06:00 – Finding the untold stories behind behaviour

08:00 – How trauma-informed leadership reshapes whole school culture

11:00 – Building trust, not compliance, with staff and students

14:00 – Stories of real transformation: from despair to belonging

18:00 – The 'shine' philosophy and embracing every child’s light

22:00 – Rethinking data: Is it a hammer or a torch?

28:00 – Boundaries, belief and building expectations

34:00 – Being a lead learner: How Fiona models continual growth

39:00 – Music, movement and joy as staff wellbeing strategies

44:00 – What Ofsted and the DfE miss about real behaviour change

48:00 – Gratitude journals, emotional literacy and peer celebration

53:00 – Culture-shifting through connection, one moment at a time

56:00 – Final stories: Why this work really matters

01:05:00 – What drives Fiona on hard days

Discover how to build compassion-led culture in any school or care setting

Learn why vulnerability is a strength in leadership, not a weakness

Explore how boundaries + empathy create safety

Be inspired by real-life stories of hope, healing and transformation

Gain tools to help you connect before you correct in behaviour support

If you're a parent, teacher, caregiver—or anyone supporting people through challenges—this episode offers emotional insight and practical hope.

🎧 Listen to all episodes: www.able-training.co.uk/podcast

Have you ever said, “Be quiet,” or “Stop crying,” and meant well — but noticed it shut things down rather than opened them up?

Aimed at caregivers, educators, and parents, this thought-provoking episode shows how subtle shifts in language can transform your connection with the people you support — from young children to adults.

This isn’t about being “soft.” It’s about being smart with your words. Learn how to move from control to connection, from correction to collaboration.

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Andy’s book: Targeting the Positive with Behaviours That Challenge

Podcast hub: www.able-training.co.uk/podcast

The way we phrase things shapes behaviour and safety.

Small changes in words lead to big changes in connection.

Words don’t just describe reality — they create it.

00:00 – Introduction: Why the words we use matter

00:43 – Sponsor: Carers Card UK

01:50 – Connection vs control: The impact of phrases like “Stop crying”

02:14 – How language reflects mindset and changes how others see themselves

03:12 – Language as emotional regulation and safety cue

04:44 – Trauma-informed language: Validating vs dismissing distress

05:49 – Replacing correction with collaboration

06:36 – Building a growth mindset with words

07:53 – Avoiding minimisation: Why “it’s not that hard” can harm

08:28 – Reframing “mess” and “behaviour” in play and exploration

09:38 – The principle of positive phrasing: Say what you want to see

10:19 – The TARGET model: How to reflect and shift language patterns

11:14 – Final thought: Every word is a seed — plant safety, not fear

You’ll gain practical, everyday language swaps that calm instead of escalate

You’ll reflect on your own communication habits and how they shape behaviour

You’ll understand how trust and safety are built one phrase at a time

You’ll be better equipped to help children or adults feel seen, heard and respected

If you’re a parent, teacher, carer, or support worker, this episode will leave you thinking differently about what you say — and why it matters.

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In this episode of the Able to Care podcast, behaviour specialist Andy Baker is joined by Kathryn Lovewell, founder of Kind Mind Academy, award-winning speaker, and best-selling author of The Little Book of Self-Compassion, The Voices in My Head, and Every Teacher Matters.

Together, they explore how self-compassion isn’t soft—it’s essential. Drawing on Kathryn’s experience working across schools, prisons, foster care, and families, they unpack the power of mindful self-compassion in daily life, especially for those in support roles.

Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or carer feeling stretched thin, this conversation offers something rare: permission to be kind to yourself—and practical steps to start today.

We’re proudly supported by The Booster Way Community

Kathryn on LinkedIn: Kathryn Lovewell

Instagram: @theboosterway

Kathryn’s books:

The Voices in My Head

The Little Book of Self-Compassion

Every Teacher Matters

Andy’s book: able-training.co.uk/podcast

Self-compassion isn't self-indulgent—it's essential.

We pass on our inner dialogue.

Start small, stay consistent.

00:00 – Intro: The power of how we speak to ourselves

01:42 – Sponsor: Carers Card UK

02:00 – Meet Kathryn Lovewell and her journey into self-compassion

05:00 – Understanding the inner critic and “Crusher” vs “Booster”

10:30 – Why self-compassion is so hard but so necessary

15:20 – How changing our inner voice transforms relationships

20:00 – Recognising signs of emotional depletion and burnout

28:00 – A guided Self-Compassion Break exercise

35:00 – The Booster Way: Building emotional language in families

42:00 – Creating a culture of compassion in schools and homes

47:00 – Modeling healthy self-talk for children

52:00 – Practical ways to calm and regulate during tough moments

56:00 – Busting the myth: Self-care isn’t selfish

59:00 – Final message: No one needs to suffer alone

You’ll learn practical tools for calming the inner critic

You’ll hear powerful real-life stories from education and parenting

You’ll walk away with a new language to share compassion with your children and yourself

You’ll discover why modeling emotional wellbeing is the most effective teaching tool of all

This is an episode for anyone who’s ever said, “I just don’t have time for self-care.” You do—and Kathryn Lovewell shows you how to make it count.

The Able Hub: www.ablehub.uk 

Andy Baker’s Book: Targeting the Positive with Behaviours That Challenge

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In today’s solo episode, behaviour specialist and author Andy Baker shines a light on one of the most overlooked behavioural patterns in care and education: submissive behaviour.

When someone is compliant, quiet, or “no trouble at all,” we often assume they’re fine. But beneath the surface, they may be masking distress, emotionally shutting down, or building up stress that will eventually erupt elsewhere.

This episode is essential listening for teachers, parents, and caregivers who want to truly understand the people they support—not just by what they do, but what they hide.

Andy explores the cost of emotional suppression, the danger of unseen stress, and how to spot when “quiet” is actually a cry for help. If you support someone who’s “easy,” “shy,” or never says no—this episode could change everything.

We’re proudly supported by carerscarduk.co.uk/promocode/abletocare

Andy Baker’s Book – Targeting the Positive

www.able-training.co.uk/podcast

Quietness is not always calm—sometimes it’s a trauma response.

Submissive behaviour is costly—physically and emotionally.

Psychological safety allows people to show their true selves.

00:00 – Introduction: The myth of the “quiet, good one”

02:05 – Sponsor: Carers Card UK

03:00 – Why compliant behaviour often masks distress

05:00 – What is masking, and why does it drain emotional energy?

06:00 – The physiology of freeze and submit

07:00 – The Coke bottle analogy: When pressure builds up

08:00 – Why meltdowns happen at home, not school

10:00 – How quietness can be a trauma response

11:00 – How disassociation shows up in care and education settings

12:00 – Spotting the signs: the cost of never saying “no”

14:00 – Why we must reframe “no” as a healthy boundary

15:00 – Masking exhaustion and emotional burnout

16:00 – A story of hidden pain in a school toilet

17:00 – Practical signs to look out for

18:00 – Supporting safe expression and psychological safety

20:00 – What schools and services can do better

22:00 – Self-erasure vs. authentic self-expression

24:00 – The final message: Notice, name, and nurture the quiet ones

If you’ve ever worked with or raised someone who “never causes trouble,” this episode might completely shift your perspective.

You’ll learn:

Why submissive behaviour can be more dangerous than defiance

How stress builds when there’s no outlet for emotion

What to watch out for in “easy” children or quiet clients

How to build safe, trusting environments where true feelings can be expressed

This is a must-listen for teachers, parents, support workers, foster carers, and social care staff who want to offer truly person-centred care and connection—not just good behaviour on the surface.

🎧 Listen to all episodes: www.able-training.co.uk/podcast

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In this powerful and insightful episode, Andy Baker, behaviour specialist, author, and trainer, is joined by John Gray — the legendary author of Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus, one of the most influential relationship books of all time.

Together, they unpack how gender, stress, hormones, and communication interact in modern relationships — especially for people who care for others every day.

From understanding emotional needs and managing burnout to learning how men and women can better support one another, this episode offers life-changing insights for caregivers, teachers, and parents who want healthier relationships, stronger self-care, and deeper human connection.

John shares tools from his upcoming book Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus – For Women Only: Be Happy With or Without a Man, exploring how finding balance, appreciation, and authenticity can transform both romantic and caregiving relationships.

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📕 Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus: For Women Only – Be Happy With or Without a Man (New Release)

🎥 John Gray on YouTube

📱 Facebook: Mars.Venus.John.Gray

📸 Instagram: @johngraymarsvenus_official

🧘 Transcendental Meditation Foundation

📗 Andy’s book: Targeting the Positive with Behaviours That Challenge

Men and women process stress differently — and that’s okay.

Caregivers often give too much — without receiving enough.

Self-care isn’t selfish — it’s hormonal balance.

00:00 – Sponsor: Carers Card UK

00:46 – Meet Dr. John Gray – author of Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus

02:00 – Why his work still resonates decades later

03:30 – Understanding gender differences in communication

05:00 – How hormones influence emotions and stress responses

09:00 – The importance of polarity and attraction in relationships

12:00 – Caregivers, codependency, and burnout

15:00 – How women can balance giving and receiving energy

20:00 – The power of asking for help effectively

25:00 – Self-care for caregivers: “You time,” “We time,” and “Me time”

31:00 – Meditation and journaling for emotional regulation

38:00 – Why men need challenge and women need connection

45:00 – How to truly listen — and when not to offer solutions

53:00 – The secret to being happy with or without a partner

58:00 – Finding purpose, spirituality, and meaning in service

01:00:00 – Dr. Gray’s parting message: “When you’re unhappy, you’re often looking in the wrong direction.”

If you’re a parent, teacher, or carer, you’ve probably found yourself exhausted from giving to everyone else.

Understand why relationships feel harder when you’re under stress

Reframe communication through empathy, hormones, and mindset

Recognise when you’re giving too much — and how to restore balance

Apply timeless Mars & Venus principles to modern caregiving and family life

Dr. Gray’s advice bridges psychology, biology, and compassion, offering a roadmap to healthier connection — with others, and with yourself.

🌐 Website: www.marsvenus.com

🎥 YouTube: John Gray – Mars Venus

📸 Instagram: @johngraymarsvenus_official

👍 Facebook: Mars.Venus.John.Gray

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In this solo episode of the Able to Care podcast, Andy Baker—behaviour specialist, author, trainer, and speaker—explores a topic that’s becoming impossible to ignore: artificial intelligence in care and education.

With AI tools appearing in classrooms, care homes, and behaviour support planning, Andy asks:

This thought-provoking episode explores how AI can:

Free up carers, teachers, and support workers to focus on what really matters

Improve inclusion by adapting communication and materials to individual needs

Assist with planning, documentation, and accessibility — without replacing empathy or connection

Whether you're a parent using tech at home, a teacher considering AI tools, or a care professional balancing paperwork with people work—this episode is for you.

Proud to support unpaid and paid carers across the UK.

🎁 All for less than the price of a box of chocolates a year.

www.able-training.co.uk/podcast

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In this powerful episode of the Able to Care podcast, Andy Baker speaks with Jennifer Roblin, anxiety specialist, therapist, and founder of Better Your Life. Together, they explore how anxiety impacts the lives of carers, teachers, and parents — not just as a condition, but as a learned, evolutionary response we can better understand, reframe, and manage.

Drawing from lived experience, neuroscience, and tools like NLP, nervous system resets, and heart coherence, Jennifer shares practical tips, relatable insights, and hope for those feeling overwhelmed or burnt out.

Whether you’re supporting someone with anxiety or experiencing it yourself, this episode offers a refreshing, honest, and empowering perspective.

You’ll understand the difference between stress and anxiety — and when to seek help

You’ll learn powerful nervous system hacks you can use in the moment

You’ll realise you're not broken — and how to reclaim your power step-by-step

You’ll gain a fresh outlook on self-care that’s realistic, personal, and actionable

You’ll hear a deeply relatable story that proves: anxiety doesn’t define you

Anxiety is a survival tool, not a personal flaw – understanding its evolutionary purpose changes how we respond to it.

Small changes create big shifts – journaling, breathing, and nervous system resets can retrain the brain over time.

Burnout isn’t weakness — it’s a signal – recognising early signs and reconnecting with nature and rest can prevent collapse.

00:01 – Introduction & Sponsor: Carers Card UK

00:42 – Meet Jennifer Roblin and her lived experience with anxiety

03:00 – Panic attacks at 11 and early childhood messages

06:00 – Shifting identity and finding confidence abroad

10:00 – Reframing anxiety: from stigma to superpower

13:00 – What anxiety actually is and how it works

17:00 – Signs you’re dealing with anxiety vs. everyday stress

21:00 – The link between procrastination, fear of failure, and tribal instincts

24:00 – Burnout in caregivers and professionals — how to spot it early

29:00 – Jennifer’s go-to anxiety tools: journaling, breathing, nervous system hacks

34:00 – Why “self-care” needs a rebrand and what it looks like in real life

41:00 – Signs of progress, even when you don’t notice it

46:00 – What Jennifer would say to her younger self

50:00 – The one thing you can do today to begin change

This episode is proudly sponsored by www.betteryourlife.co.uk

Instagram: @bylanxietymgmt

LinkedIn: Jennifer Roblin

Free Journaling Prompts for Anxiety – available on Jennifer’s website

Nervous System Reset Programme: £299 (10% off for Able to Care listeners)

🎧 Podcast Home: able-training.co.uk/podcast

🔗 LinkedIn: Able Training

📸 Instagram: @abletraining

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In this solo episode of the Able to Care podcast, behaviour specialist, trainer, and author Andy Baker unpacks Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA)—or as many now prefer to call it, a Persistent Drive for Autonomy.

If you’ve ever supported someone—child or adult—who seemed to resist even the simplest of requests, this episode will help you understand what’s really going on beneath the surface.

Andy explores:

What PDA is (and why language matters)

Why traditional behaviour strategies often make things worse

How to shift from confrontation to collaboration

Practical, compassionate strategies for reducing anxiety and increasing cooperation

This episode is a must-listen for parents, carers, teachers, and support staff seeking a more empathetic and effective approach to neurodivergent behaviour.

Instagram – @abletraininguk

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In this deeply personal and powerful conversation, Andy Baker speaks to Sabina Thorpe—a mum, carer, business leader, and woman who grew up silenced by a stammer and the weight of cultural expectations.

Sabina opens up about her childhood experiences of bullying, being told to stay quiet, and feeling utterly alone. But she also shares how she turned those struggles into strength—first by learning to speak for herself, and then by building a call centre, multiple businesses, and eventually co-founding DeskVal, an AI-powered property valuation platform now disrupting the industry.

This isn’t just a story of business—it’s a story of identity, resilience, and the power of being seen and heard.

Whether you're caring for others, raising children, teaching young minds, or trying to reclaim your own voice, this episode will stay with you.

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🌐 Sabina Thorpe on LinkedIn

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🎥 Interview: Sabina’s Journey to DeskVal

📰 Roma Finance launches DeskVal

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We teach more with our tone, facial expressions, and reactions than with any lesson plan. In this powerful solo episode, Andy Baker explores the concept of the hidden curriculum—the silent lessons we teach every day through our behaviour, body language, and boundaries.

Whether you're a parent, teacher, carer or support worker, you're constantly delivering messages—about safety, empathy, trust, and identity—without even realising it. So what are people really learning from you?

This episode will help you become more intentional about your presence and model the values you want to pass on.

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Andy Baker’s Book: Targeting the Positive with Behaviours That Challenge

Behaviour is curriculum.

Emotional safety is taught through presence.

Reflecting on our own hidden lessons is essential.

00:00 – What is the hidden curriculum?

00:27 – Sponsor: Carers Card UK

01:47 – We teach with more than our words

02:36 – How stress, tone & facial expressions model behaviour

04:50 – Mirror neurons, empathy, and emotional contagion

06:30 – Auditing your tone and actions

07:54 – Subtle shaming: schools, police, and healthcare narratives

09:02 – Stigma, ageism, and unconscious bias

09:16 – Naming the learning out loud

09:38 – “Do you want a hug, help, or to be heard?”

10:30 – Aligning boundaries with compassion

11:07 – Emotional literacy and modelling empathy

11:59 – What hidden curriculum are we passing on as a team?

12:46 – Final thoughts: What are YOU teaching without knowing?

This episode is essential listening for anyone who works with or supports others—especially parents, teachers, carers, and leaders.

You’ll walk away with:

A deeper awareness of the emotional messages you send daily

Practical tools to model calm, empathy, and safety

Insight into how to reflect and adjust the unspoken lessons you teach

Whether you’re raising children or leading teams, the hidden curriculum you deliver shapes lives.