We’re back and boy are we feeling REFRESHED. It could be the 5 weeks off, it could be that crisp New Year feeling or it could be our brand new look, music and Substack (!). Whatever combination it is, we’re thrilled to be back bringing you more unfiltered, honest conversations about society, culture and early adulthood. 

It’s no secret we love a to do list, but this year we’re looking at our “To NOT Do List”. The behaviours we want to change, the little things we want to stop doing and what we’re making more space for (or as the Wicked-fans say, “holding space” for). 

Did someone say Substack?

Click here to subscribe to our ✨brand new✨ Substack (we’ve got a free and a paid version so everyone can join!). Come for newsletters, rec wraps, more thoughts on the big topics, bonus podcast content and an insight into our (somewhat chaotic) conversations. 

Recommendations 

Every Summer After by Carley Fortune

Why is the internet blaming ChatGPT for the fires in LA? On The Cut 

We missed last week’s episode which just tells you how chaotic this last month has been with Black Friday, wedding planning, travelling to Christmas Markets and Christmas prep. BUT we are back with our end of year wrap up and how we’re feeling about goals and intentions for going into 2025. If you’re not feeling sure about your goals or how you feel about going into the New Year, you’re not alone!

You can join our FREE quarterly newsletter here – https://growth-in-progress-podcast.ck.page/a9c9d06b12

If you’re enjoying the podcast and want to support us then the best way to do so is hit follow on your podcast player and let your friends know. We always want to hear from you so get in touch through the details below:

[email protected] / @growthinprogresspod

Recommendations 

Shogun on Disney Plus

Glad We Had This Chat podcast with Caroline Hirons – episode with Emily English

Also mentioned

Black Doves on Netflix

Our Little Secret (Lindsay Lohan’s new Christmas movie on Netflix)

Starbucks Peppermint Mocha with soy milk (Charlotte’s favourite festive Starbucks order)

Helli’s top Christmas market tip – go to Christmas Markets during the week (Mon-Thurs) and not on Fri-Sun unless you love crowds!

Charlotte has no hot water, Helli has injured her neck, it’s been a week of annoyances, made more stressful as we approach the busy end of the year. If the end of the year is starting to feel hectic and like you’re in a hamster wheel, you’re not alone! It’s easy to feel busy and stressed at this time of year but how do we maintain motivation and momentum? How do we get unstuck from the hamster wheel and find perspective and purpose?

You can join our FREE quarterly newsletter here – https://growth-in-progress-podcast.ck.page/a9c9d06b12

If you’re enjoying the podcast and want to support us then the best way to do so is hit follow on your podcast player and let your friends know. We always want to hear from you so get in touch through the details below:

[email protected] / @growthinprogresspod

Recommendations 

Peer Suite Newsletter by Becky Van Djik

Boybands Forever documentary on BBC iPlayer

Also mentioned

The Amazon to do list notepad *affiliate link

Anyone else feeling Christmassy early this year? We’re chatting birthday parties, netball, rubbish Christmas movies and how we’re feeling in the run up to December as well as two new recommendations this week.

We’ve all heard of overthinking and know what it is and the self-doubt and feelings of comparison that come with it, but what about the wider impact on your overall happiness and enjoyment of the moment? Does overthinking how you appear to others take away your authenticity? In a world where authenticity and relatability have become marketable – how to do you show up authentically in a way that feels true to you?

You can join our FREE quarterly newsletter here – https://growth-in-progress-podcast.ck.page/a9c9d06b12

If you’re enjoying the podcast and want to support us then the best way to do so is hit follow on your podcast player and let your friends know. We always want to hear from you so get in touch through the details below:

[email protected] / @growthinprogresspod

Recommendations 

The Missing Family by Tim Weaver

The Business of Fashion Podcast – How Dupe Culture is Challenging Traditional Luxury

Also mentioned

Hot Frost

It’s the Paris debrief! We’re catching up after just getting back from Charlotte’s hen do in Paris – Moulin Rouge, friendship bracelets, Eiffel Tower, Dior Gallery, tune in for all the fun, girly weekend vibes! Of course we’re also back with two new recommendations and a conversation about having difficult converstions – how do we have them? what’s the right way to have them? When are they useful and when are they just not worth it?

You can join our FREE quarterly newsletter here – https://growth-in-progress-podcast.ck.page/a9c9d06b12

If you’re enjoying the podcast and want to support us then the best way to do so is hit follow on your podcast player and let your friends know. We always want to hear from you so get in touch through the details below:

[email protected] / @growthinprogresspod

Recommendations 

The Trials of Marjorie Crowe by C.S. Robertson

Indyx – Outfit Planning App

Also mentioned

Moulin Rouge, Paris

Ali Goodbun – Moulin Rouge Dancer on TikTok

The Undiscovered Deaths of Grace McGill

Whering Outfit Planning app

What’s the difference between being selfish and simply focusing on yourself and your own goals? And why does prioritising yourself often get branded as being selfish, or at least feel like you’re being selfish? Well that’s what we’re trying to get to the bottom of in this weeks episode. We’ve also got two brand new recommendations and some very out-of-character updates. Did someone say heavy metal concerts and Hyrox?

You can join our FREE quarterly newsletter here – https://growth-in-progress-podcast.ck.page/a9c9d06b12

If you’re enjoying the podcast and want to support us then the best way to do so is hit follow on your podcast player and let your friends know. We always want to hear from you so get in touch through the details below:

[email protected] / @growthinprogresspod

Recommendations 

David Baddiel “Jews Don’t Count”

The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell

The irony of this week’s topic isn’t wasted on anyone, trust us. Between Helli spending just 4 days of October in the country and Charlotte being knee-deep in everything wedding (yes, she knows this is at risk of becoming her entire personality), we have not been slowing down. After a couple of recommendations and catching up on life lately, we’re discussing why sometimes slowing down is the best way to actually achieve your goals faster and in a more efficient way.

You can join our FREE quarterly newsletter here – https://growth-in-progress-podcast.ck.page/a9c9d06b12

If you’re enjoying the podcast and want to support us then the best way to do so is hit follow on your podcast player and let your friends know. We always want to hear from you so get in touch through the details below:

[email protected] / @growthinprogresspod

Recommendations 

Free Soul Hydrate (click here to save 15% on your order – ad, affiliate link*)

What A Way To Go by Bella Mackie

Also mentioned:

Rail Journeys From Above on Channel 4 (truly the best mindless watching)

*ad/affiliate link: By using this link we will make a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Helli is back from Scotland and Charlotte has officially given notice! We have a chat about True Crime and whether the genre as a form of entertainment has crossed a line into excessive depictions of abuse and violence to serve a fascination with the perverse, rather than as a deterrent for behaviour like this.

This week we’re chatting about the topic of urgency culture, we are so used to having everything we need at our fingertips from Amazon Prime delivery to Uber Eats and multiple streaming services to choose from – has this given us unrealistic expectations of ourselves and others? We’ve normalised expecting instant results so how does this impact our mental health and skills like patience and resilience. We’ve grown up glamourising productivity, girlbossing, multitasking, click to tidy videos and Sunday resets that happen in 20 seconds – the reality is that this takes hours. Urgency Culture has become normal culture but it creates a perceived pressure that is unsustainable, unrealistic and can ultimately lead to burnout.

You can support us on Patreon and get access to exclusive content (including monthly bonus episodes!) here – https://www.www.patreon.com/GrowthInProgress

You can join our FREE quarterly newsletter here – https://growth-in-progress-podcast.ck.page/a9c9d06b12

If you’re enjoying the podcast and want to support us then the best way to do so is hit follow on your podcast player and let your friends know. We always want to hear from you so get in touch through the details below:

[email protected] / @growthinprogresspod

Recommendations 

The 1440 Daily Digest newsletter

High Performance Podcast with Richard Osman

Also mentioned:

The Menendez Brothers documentary

The Rest is Entertainment

Rivals on Disney+

Anyone else still totally obsessed with Adam Brody? We’re guilty as charged! This week we’re getting into why actually, *everybody* wants “Nobody Wants This”, the book everyone needs to read this autumn and why we all need to lean into trusting our gut feelings a bit more. Why are we so bad at trusting our guts? Is it because we’re women and we’re told it’s silly? Is it because we’re always looking for solid evidence before we make a decision? We’re not sure, but what we do know is over the past few years we’ve found ourselves saying “I should have just trusted my gut” more and more, and we can’t be the only ones.

You can support us on Patreon and get access to exclusive content (including monthly bonus episodes!) here – https://www.www.patreon.com/GrowthInProgress

You can join our FREE quarterly newsletter here – https://growth-in-progress-podcast.ck.page/a9c9d06b12

If you’re enjoying the podcast and want to support us then the best way to do so is hit follow on your podcast player and let your friends know. We always want to hear from you so get in touch through the details below:

[email protected] / @growthinprogresspod

Recommendations 

Nobody Wants This on Netflix

The Grand Tour Zimbabwe on Amazon Prime

We Solve Murders by Richard Osman

We’re very much a work-in-progress when it comes to stopping people pleasing, but that’s why we want to talk about it. People pleasing can manifest itself in so many ways from always saying “yes” to constantly apologising to compromising our boundaries or offering to do something or taking the fall for something to keep the peace. Is it because we as women were rewarded for people pleasing tendencies early in our career? But it’s not sustainable, it creates resentment and how do you even know if it’s worth it? How do we break the habit of people pleasing?

You can support us on Patreon and get access to exclusive content (including monthly bonus episodes!) here – https://www.www.patreon.com/GrowthInProgress

You can join our FREE quarterly newsletter here – https://growth-in-progress-podcast.ck.page/a9c9d06b12

If you’re enjoying the podcast and want to support us then the best way to do so is hit follow on your podcast player and let your friends know. We always want to hear from you so get in touch through the details below:

[email protected] / @growthinprogresspod

Recommendations 

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare on Amazon Prime

Al Fayed: Predator at Harrods on BBC iPlayer

Mountain Queen: The Summits of Lhakpa Sherpa