What if the experiences that shaped your deepest struggles could also become your greatest source of strength?

In this powerful conversation, Jayne is joined by Resilience Expert Alfred Ricci to explore how childhood trauma, adversity and high-pressure careers can become catalysts for growth, purpose and service.

Alfred shares his remarkable journey from an unstable childhood spent in shelters, group homes and foster care to an international career in corporate banking spanning more than 20 countries. Despite professional success, he found himself questioning whether achievement alone could bring fulfilment, leading him on a path towards helping others build resilience and wellbeing - ultimately finding his true purpose in helping others.

Together, they explore why some people are able to thrive despite adversity, the hidden emotional cost of high-pressure corporate cultures, and the importance of supporting those who dedicate their lives to helping others. Alfred shares how resilience, mindfulness and a willingness to challenge the status quo helped him move beyond survival and create a life centred on meaning and service.

This episode is a powerful reminder that while we cannot always change what has happened to us, we can change how we respond to it. 

If you've ever felt trapped by old beliefs, workplace pressures or past experiences, this conversation offers hope, practical wisdom and a fresh perspective on what it means to thrive.

Learn more about Alfred and his work here - https://www.alfredricci.com/ 

Connect with Alfred here - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alfredricci/

EF training exists because nobody should have to pour from an empty cup. Founded by Jayne Ellis who learnt the hard way so you don't have too.

If today's conversation resonated with you, please subscribe, share and leave a review - it helps more professionals who care find this community.

If you or someone you know would like to join the conversation and be a guest on our podcast, please get in touch. 

Connect with us at [email protected]

Visit us at http://eftraining.co.uk for more information about Jayne Ellis and learn about our Compassion Fatigue and Emotional Resilience Training for Organisations and Individuals.

Please note: This podcast is intended for education and supportive purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health support. If you are struggling, please reach out to a qualified professional or contact your GP. 

The views and options expressed by guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views, values or position of EF training Ltd. Guest content is shared in the spirit of open conversation, learning and intended as a safe space for honest dialogue. 

After arriving in the UK as a young student in 1975, Parvez Hemnani set out with a simple ambition: build a better life for himself and his family. What followed was a successful career spanning decades in sales and marketing, negotiating million-pound deals, leading teams and working under the relentless pressure of targets, forecasts and performance expectations.

In this episode, Parvez joins Jayne to reflect on the hidden cost of working in high-pressure corporate environments and the moment he realised that stress at work, combined with challenges at home, had become too much to carry alone.

Parvez shares the practical strategies that helped him find calm in the chaos, including early morning walks, meditation, gratitude and the importance of having trusted people he could turn to when life felt overwhelming. He speaks openly about why men often struggle to talk about stress, how attitudes towards mental health are changing in younger generations and why support networks matter more than ever.

The conversation also explores what organisations could do differently to support emotional wellbeing at work, from normalising conversations about mental health to creating simple opportunities for mindfulness and reflection during the working day.

Parvez also reveals the surprisingly simple prioritisation system that helped him manage pressure throughout his career and explains why gratitude remains one of the most powerful tools for building resilience.

This is an honest and thoughtful conversation about success, stress, self-awareness and the small daily habits that can make a profound difference when life feels anything but fine.

Connect with Parvez on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/parvez-hemnani-6785367/ 

EF training exists because nobody should have to pour from an empty cup. Founded by Jayne Ellis who learnt the hard way so you don't have too.

If today's conversation resonated with you, please subscribe, share and leave a review - it helps more professionals who care find this community.

If you or someone you know would like to join the conversation and be a guest on our podcast, please get in touch. 

Connect with us at [email protected]

Visit us at http://eftraining.co.uk for more information about Jayne Ellis and learn about our Compassion Fatigue and Emotional Resilience Training for Organisations and Individuals.

Please note: This podcast is intended for education and supportive purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health support. If you are struggling, please reach out to a qualified professional or contact your GP. 

The views and options expressed by guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views, values or position of EF training Ltd. Guest content is shared in the spirit of open conversation, learning and intended as a safe space for honest dialogue. 

In this insightful episode of The Truth Behind the Smile, Jayne Ellis sits down with A&E Matron Lucy Tebbit to explore the realities of a life spent caring for others.

With more than three decades on the NHS frontline, Lucy shares the lessons she’s learned about trusting your instincts, finding the courage to speak up and navigating the emotional impact of witnessing trauma, grief and loss from a young age.

Together, they discuss why so many healthcare professionals say “I’m fine” when they’re anything but, the importance of having safe people around you, and the hidden challenges nurses face every day. Lucy also reflects on the privilege of caring for patients at their most vulnerable, the importance of self-care, and why remembering who you are outside of work is essential for longevity in such a demanding profession.

This is an honest, moving and inspiring conversation about resilience, compassion, leadership and the power of saying, “I’m not okay.”

A must-listen for nurses, healthcare and social care workers, leaders and anyone who has ever hidden their struggles behind a smile.

Lucy shares: I am a passionate ED nurse, who values the team I work with, it is a privilege to support them and work alongside them. I am a wife, Mum of 2 and soon to be Grandparent. Out of work I love supporting my local football team, going to the gym and spending time with my family. 

Connect with Lucy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucy-tebbit-97a258256/  

EF training exists because nobody should have to pour from an empty cup. Founded by Jayne Ellis who learnt the hard way so you don't have too.

If today's conversation resonated with you, please subscribe, share and leave a review - it helps more professionals who care find this community.

If you or someone you know would like to join the conversation and be a guest on our podcast, please get in touch. 

Connect with us at [email protected]

Visit us at http://eftraining.co.uk for more information about Jayne Ellis and learn about our Compassion Fatigue and Emotional Resilience Training for Organisations and Individuals.

Please note: This podcast is intended for education and supportive purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health support. If you are struggling, please reach out to a qualified professional or contact your GP. 

The views and options expressed by guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views, values or position of EF training Ltd. Guest content is shared in the spirit of open conversation, learning and intended as a safe space for honest dialogue. 

Jayne Ellis on I’m Fine – The Truth Behind the Smile welcomes physiotherapist and researcher Libby Jarman for a powerful and honest conversation about career change, compassion, burnout, and the realities of caring for others.

Libby shares her fascinating journey from a successful career in music publishing to becoming a physiotherapist, driven by a desire to do work that felt meaningful and made a difference. Along the way, she reflects on working in research, supporting people living with multiple sclerosis, and the challenges and rewards of building her own business.

Together, Jayne and Libby explore the emotional impact of healthcare professions, the hidden toll of witnessing trauma, and why so many of us answer “I’m fine” when the truth is far more complicated. They discuss professional identity, the pressures of modern healthcare, the importance of genuine human connection, and how our personal experiences shape the way we care for others.

Libby also opens up about her own experience of burnout, the importance of creativity and music in maintaining wellbeing, and the powerful lesson that many of us learn too late: it’s okay to say no without explanation.

This episode is a thoughtful and relatable conversation for healthcare professionals, carers, teachers and anyone who has ever put everyone else’s needs before their own.

Find out more about Libby Jarman - www.ejhomephysio.com 

Connect - https://www.linkedin.com/in/libby-jarman-ba7098169/

EF training exists because nobody should have to pour from an empty cup. Founded by Jayne Ellis who learnt the hard way so you don't have too.

If today's conversation resonated with you, please subscribe, share and leave a review - it helps more professionals who care find this community.

If you or someone you know would like to join the conversation and be a guest on our podcast, please get in touch. 

Connect with us at [email protected]

Visit us at http://eftraining.co.uk for more information about Jayne Ellis and learn about our Compassion Fatigue and Emotional Resilience Training for Organisations and Individuals.

Please note: This podcast is intended for education and supportive purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health support. If you are struggling, please reach out to a qualified professional or contact your GP. 

The views and options expressed by guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views, values or position of EF training Ltd. Guest content is shared in the spirit of open conversation, learning and intended as a safe space for honest dialogue. 

In this powerful and deeply honest episode of I’m Fine: The Truth Behind the Smile with Jayne Ellis, Jayne sits down with serving police officer Leon Astley, whose 23-year career has taken him from the Royal Air Force to frontline policing, public order operations, mounted units and riot policing in London.

Leon opens up about the emotional realities behind the uniform - the trauma officers silently carry, the incidents that stay with them forever and how years of witnessing tragedy slowly took a toll on his mental health. From fatal car crashes and violent crime scenes to the devastating Reading terror attack, Leon shares how the pressure to “just get on with it” nearly broke him.

This episode explores the changing culture around mental health within policing, the importance of vulnerability and leadership and why speaking up is no longer seen as weakness. Leon also speaks candidly about therapy, anxiety, burnout and the life-changing impact of breathwork and support charities including the Curtis Palmer Program and The Breath Connection.

Alongside the heartbreak, Leon also reflects on the humour, camaraderie and humanity that exists within the police service - and why kindness, self-awareness and talking openly can save lives.

A moving, eye-opening conversation about trauma, resilience, healing and the truth behind the smile.

Charities & Organisations Mentioned:

• Curtis Palmer Program — Police and veteran mental health support charity. https://curtispalmerprogram.org/   
• The Breath Connection — Breathwork and wellbeing programmes supporting mental health and trauma recovery. https://www.thebreathconnection.org/ 

EF training exists because nobody should have to pour from an empty cup. Founded by Jayne Ellis who learnt the hard way so you don't have too.

If today's conversation resonated with you, please subscribe, share and leave a review - it helps more professionals who care find this community.

If you or someone you know would like to join the conversation and be a guest on our podcast, please get in touch. 

Connect with us at [email protected]

Visit us at http://eftraining.co.uk for more information about Jayne Ellis and learn about our Compassion Fatigue and Emotional Resilience Training for Organisations and Individuals.

Please note: This podcast is intended for education and supportive purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health support. If you are struggling, please reach out to a qualified professional or contact your GP. 

The views and options expressed by guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views, values or position of EF training Ltd. Guest content is shared in the spirit of open conversation, learning and intended as a safe space for honest dialogue. 

In this episode of I’m Fine: The Truth Behind the Smile, Jayne Ellis is joined by mental health professional and licensed counsellor Dr Teyhou Smyth for a powerful conversation about burnout, emotional exhaustion, boundaries and the pressure so many people feel to keep saying “I’m fine” when they’re anything but.

Dr Smyth opens up about her journey into mental health, explaining how she realised her earlier careers lacked the depth and human connection she was searching for. Now teaching at Pepperdine University in California while supervising new clinicians entering the profession, she speaks passionately about supporting the next generation of therapists - especially students navigating the isolation of online learning without the mentorship, community and support systems previous generations relied on.

Jayne and Dr Smyth also discuss the emotional toll of helping professions, the importance of boundaries and the reality of being constantly perceived as “the person who helps everyone else.” 

Together they explore modern overwhelm, trauma dumping, family dynamics, and the growing need for genuine emotional support in a world where everyone seems too busy to truly connect.

The episode also tackles why so many people default to saying “I’m fine,” even when they’re struggling. Dr Smyth highlights how men in particular are often conditioned to suppress emotion and avoid vulnerability - something she says can later manifest in addiction, burnout and mental health crises when feelings remain unspoken for too long.

The conversation takes an unexpected turn when Jayne introduces the phrase “responsible selfishness” - a term Dr Smyth says initially sounded contradictory, yet believes captures something deeply important about self-care, boundaries, and emotional survival in today’s world.

This honest and insightful episode shines a light on why protecting your own wellbeing is not selfish at all - it’s necessary.

About Dr Teyhou Smyth

Working at the intersection of mental health, creativity and performance, Dr. Teyhou Smyth specialises in relationships and attachment issues.

Using a unique blended approach of Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT) and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), with the emphasis on an attachment-based model, she helps clients to deepen emotional awareness and improve their relational dynamics with others.  

Originally from the United Kingdom, Dr. Smyth brings an international perspective. She earned her B.A. in Psychology from the University of Southern California, completed an M.A. in Sociology at Goldsmiths, University of London, earned a second Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy from the California School of Professional Psychology, and holds a Doctorate in Pedagogical Sciences.

Dr. Smyth helps clients rediscover balance, authenticity and joy so they can become the best version of themselves. Her philosophy is simple: when you feel grounded, connected and self-aware, you gain the clarity and insight that naturally enrich every aspect of your life.

Find out more: https://www.drteyhou.com/

Connect and Follow: https://www.instagram.com/drteyhou/ ( @drteyhou)

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61586663035346 

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-teyhou-smyth/

EF training exists because nobody should have to pour from an empty cup. Founded by Jayne Ellis who learnt the hard way so you don't have too.

If today's conversation resonated with you, please subscribe, share and leave a review - it helps more professionals who care find this community.

If you or someone you know would like to join the conversation and be a guest on our podcast, please get in touch. 

Connect with us at [email protected]

Visit us at http://eftraining.co.uk for more information about Jayne Ellis and learn about our Compassion Fatigue and Emotional Resilience Training for Organisations and Individuals.

Please note: This podcast is intended for education and supportive purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health support. If you are struggling, please reach out to a qualified professional or contact your GP. 

The views and options expressed by guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views, values or position of EF training Ltd. Guest content is shared in the spirit of open conversation, learning and intended as a safe space for honest dialogue. 

In this powerful episode of I’m Fine – The Truth Behind the Smile, Jayne sits down with Vicky Osbourn, who spent years navigating high-pressure corporate environments while regularly carrying the emotional and physical weight of stress. 

From adapting to demanding personalities and workplace expectations to the pressure of constantly appearing “fine,” this conversation explores the hidden emotional labour many professionals experience every day.

Everything changed after a life-altering health crisis - a stroke initially dismissed as high blood pressure - forcing a complete reassessment of stress, wellbeing, recovery and the culture of silence that still exists in many workplaces.

Together, they discuss the emotional impact of supporting others and why saying “I’m fine” is often anything but the truth. They dive deep into the reality of stress, burnout and invisible pressure in corporate life, as well as the journey of recovering both physically and psychologically after a stroke, including the profound impact serious illness has on families. 

The conversation highlights why workplace wellbeing must go beyond surface-level check-ins, emphasising the crucial importance of communication, boundaries and psychological safety. 

Finally, they share small, practical wellbeing practices that genuinely help during moments of overwhelm. 

This is an honest, moving, and deeply relatable conversation about resilience, identity, recovery and learning to listen when the body says enough.

Vicky Osbourn - Busy mum of two teenagers and a husband (who wants to be a teenager) that juggles full-time work whilst desperately clinging on the the vestiges of calmness and wholesomeness in an ever-changing world and life.

Connect with Vicky on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/vicky-osbourn-60472613  / Facebook - vickyhollyfield_osbourn / Instagram - vickyhollyfield_osbourn

EF training exists because nobody should have to pour from an empty cup. Founded by Jayne Ellis who learnt the hard way so you don't have too.

If today's conversation resonated with you, please subscribe, share and leave a review - it helps more professionals who care find this community.

If you or someone you know would like to join the conversation and be a guest on our podcast, please get in touch. 

Connect with us at [email protected]

Visit us at http://eftraining.co.uk for more information about Jayne Ellis and learn about our Compassion Fatigue and Emotional Resilience Training for Organisations and Individuals.

Please note: This podcast is intended for education and supportive purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health support. If you are struggling, please reach out to a qualified professional or contact your GP. 

The views and options expressed by guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views, values or position of EF training Ltd. Guest content is shared in the spirit of open conversation, learning and intended as a safe space for honest dialogue. 

Jayne invites Sara Lister, an Oncology Psychotherapist within the NHS, to share her remarkable journey from oncology nursing into psychotherapy, and to explore the emotional realities of working in cancer care. Drawing on decades of experience supporting both patients and healthcare professionals across many different organisations, Sarah offers powerful insight into what it means to care for others in deeply challenging environments—and why that care can leave a lasting emotional impact.

Together, they explore the often-unspoken emotional toll faced by healthcare professionals, especially in oncology, where grief, loss, and repeated exposure to distress can quietly build over time. Sara shares why the language around “compassion fatigue” and “resilience” can sometimes miss the bigger picture, focusing instead for greater honesty, systemic support, and a deeper understanding of the human impact of caregiving.

This episode also challenges common misconceptions around staff wellbeing, highlighting how meaningful support goes far beyond one-off resilience training or wellbeing initiatives. Sara discusses the importance of protected spaces, compassionate leadership, practical support, and creating workplace cultures where staff feel safe to acknowledge when things are hard.

At its heart, this conversation is about balance—how healthcare workers can hold space for sadness while also protecting hope, connection, and joy in their own lives. Insightful, thoughtful, and full of practical wisdom, this episode is essential listening for anyone working in healthcare, leadership or caregiving roles.

Sara Lister - Oncology Psychotherapist RN, BSc (Hons), PGDAE, MA, MSc, MBACP (Accred.) ACC (Accred.)

Connect with Sara here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sara-lister-1a761463/ 

https://www.instagram.com/saraelister/?__d=undefined

EF training exists because nobody should have to pour from an empty cup. Founded by Jayne Ellis who learnt the hard way so you don't have too.

If today's conversation resonated with you, please subscribe, share and leave a review - it helps more professionals who care find this community.

If you or someone you know would like to join the conversation and be a guest on our podcast, please get in touch. 

Connect with us at [email protected]

Visit us at http://eftraining.co.uk for more information about Jayne Ellis and learn about our Compassion Fatigue and Emotional Resilience Training for Organisations and Individuals.

Please note: This podcast is intended for education and supportive purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health support. If you are struggling, please reach out to a qualified professional or contact your GP. 

The views and options expressed by guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views, values or position of EF training Ltd. Guest content is shared in the spirit of open conversation, learning and intended as a safe space for honest dialogue. 

This week on the I’m Fine podcast, Jayne welcomes a very special guest and a valued member from within her own team - Kate Flint, Training Manager of the EF Training whose life before this role was spent serving as a police officer with Thames Valley Police.

Kate opens up about her journey into policing, from studying sports science and forensic interests to finding her true calling supporting victims of serious sexual violence and major crime. She shares the emotional realities of frontline policing, the pressures of performance culture, and the deep impact that working with trauma can have on those who dedicate their lives to helping others.

In this honest and moving conversation, Kate reflects on compassion, resilience, identity, and the hidden emotional toll carried by emergency service workers. It’s a powerful insight into the human side of policing — and the strength it takes to listen, support and keep showing up for people during the darkest moments of their lives.

Kate Flint 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-flint-47236834b/

EF training exists because nobody should have to pour from an empty cup. Founded by Jayne Ellis who learnt the hard way so you don't have too.

If today's conversation resonated with you, please subscribe, share and leave a review - it helps more professionals who care find this community.

If you or someone you know would like to join the conversation and be a guest on our podcast, please get in touch. 

Connect with us at [email protected]

Visit us at http://eftraining.co.uk for more information about Jayne Ellis and learn about our Compassion Fatigue and Emotional Resilience Training for Organisations and Individuals.

Please note: This podcast is intended for education and supportive purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health support. If you are struggling, please reach out to a qualified professional or contact your GP. 

The views and options expressed by guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views, values or position of EF training Ltd. Guest content is shared in the spirit of open conversation, learning and intended as a safe space for honest dialogue. 

In this powerful and deeply personal episode, Sally shares the heartbreaking yet inspiring story of her daughter Abby — a vibrant, joyful child whose battle with cancer led to the creation of Abby’s Heroes, a charity now transforming the lives of families facing childhood cancer.

From losing Abby in 2016 to building a vital support network embedded within University Hospital Southampton, Sally reflects on grief, resilience, and turning unimaginable pain into purpose. 

She reveals how Abby’s Heroes now provides family support workers, counselling, financial grants, sibling and grandparent support, and meaningful moments of connection for families navigating paediatric cancer.

This conversation also shines a crucial light on the emotional toll carried by nurses, palliative teams, and healthcare professionals working long shifts on the frontline of child loss. Sally speaks candidly about the urgent need for mental health support and better wellbeing systems for those caring for others through the darkest moments.

With remarkable honesty, Sally explores the masks people wear when answering “I’m fine,” the burden of grief, the loneliness of loss, and the strength it takes to protect others while surviving yourself. She also shares how “responsible selfishness” — from the gym to extraordinary cycling challenges like London to Paris — has become part of reclaiming her strength.

This episode is a moving exploration of love, loss, survival and service — and a reminder that even in the aftermath of devastation, purpose can rise, communities can heal and extraordinary legacies can be built.

Find out more about Abby's Heroes: 

https://abbysheroes.org/ 

Connect and Follow here:

https://www.instagram.com/abbysheroes/ 

https://www.facebook.com/AbbysHeroesCharity/ 

Connect with Sally here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sally-randall/

EF training exists because nobody should have to pour from an empty cup. Founded by Jayne Ellis who learnt the hard way so you don't have too.

If today's conversation resonated with you, please subscribe, share and leave a review - it helps more professionals who care find this community.

If you or someone you know would like to join the conversation and be a guest on our podcast, please get in touch. 

Connect with us at [email protected]

Visit us at http://eftraining.co.uk for more information about Jayne Ellis and learn about our Compassion Fatigue and Emotional Resilience Training for Organisations and Individuals.

Please note: This podcast is intended for education and supportive purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health support. If you are struggling, please reach out to a qualified professional or contact your GP. 

The views and options expressed by guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views, values or position of EF training Ltd. Guest content is shared in the spirit of open conversation, learning and intended as a safe space for honest dialogue.