Psychologically Speaking with Leila Ainge

In this short episode, I’m taking you with me, literally, on a run. 🏃‍♀️

I share some reflections on mindset, what it really takes to do hard things, and how I’ve been finding my way back to the joy of running after losing it for a while.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, slowed down, or unsure how to keep going, this one’s for you. Think of it as a moving conversation, part psychology, part personal update, and hopefully a gentle nudge for your own goals too.

Listen now and run, walk, or sit with me for under ten minutes.

Ever feel like the imposter experiences are stealing your joy? In this episode of Psychologically Speaking, Leila Ainge unpacks the link between imposter phenomenon (known as syndrome) and joy, and why feelings of being a fraud can leave us drained instead of delighted. Drawing on psychology research and coaching practice, she explores the role of self-promotion, comparison, and community support, and shares practical, psychology-backed strategies you can use to fuel momentum. This episode ends with a feminist call to action: let’s stop letting the imposter run the show and start reclaiming joy together

Takeaways

• Imposter experiences are contextual and can be influenced by our environment.
• The imposter cycle includes over-preparing, over-achieving, and feeling relief instead of joy.
• Self-promotion can be challenging for women due to societal expectations and fear of backlash.
• Peer comparison often leads to negative emotions like envy and irritation.
• Communities can transform peer relationships into supportive connections.
• Reframing comparison can turn threats into sources of inspiration.
• Joy should be viewed as a fuel for motivation, not a reward to be earned.
• Turning envy into curiosity can help mitigate negative feelings.
• Supporting other women's successes can create a safer environment for all.
• Recognizing and celebrating joy is essential for personal growth and empowerment.

Hello, in this episode you are getting a joyful mixed bag including the latest research on autistic joy, what we can take from two pictures in the National Portrait gallery.

Leila delves into the concept of joy, distinguishing it from happiness and exploring its complexities. She discusses various psychological theories of joy, including the broaden and build theory, flow theory, and self-determination theory, while also highlighting the limitations of these theories, particularly in relation to neurodivergent experiences. Ainge introduces a new perspective on autistic joy, emphasizing the importance of creating environments that allow autistic individuals to thrive. The episode also reflects on the emotional weight of joy, using art as a lens to explore how joy coexists with responsibilities and challenges. There are coaching prompts at the end of the episode. To access all of the podcast resources visit www.leilaainge.co.uk/joy

In this conversation, Leila and Lisa explore the themes of joy, personal spaces, and the impact of nature on wellbeing. They discuss the importance of creating environments that spark joy, the connection between nature and mental health, and the significance of community and connection in both personal and professional lives. Lisa shares her journey of transitioning from a corporate career to interior design and mentoring, emphasizing the value of slowing down to appreciate life's moments.

Lisa Honiball started her career in the corporate world, spending 10 years at Microsoft before a health scare prompted her to re-assess and re-train. She ran her own design practice – and has over 14 years’ experience working on residential and commercial projects.. Five years ago, she pivoted again - this time to support other designers through mentoring, coaching, and her online membership, Interior Design Insiders. Lisa’s mission is to help interior designers build businesses that support them financially, practically, and creatively - without the burnout. She encourages a shift toward a calmer, more sustainable way of doing business—rooted in clarity, collaboration, and joy.

http://www.interiordesigninsiders.com/

http://www.leilaainge.co.uk

In this opening episode of The Joy Experiments, Leila Ainge speaks with brand strategist Ange Friesen about the messy, beautiful process of chasing joy in the middle of change. From swapping city life in London for a countryside Airbnb (complete with cows and no coffee machine) to redefining work, routine, and identity, this conversation explores how joy doesn’t always look how we expect — and why that’s the point.

• Brand strategy is about the soul of who we are.
• Ideas want to come into the world and need to be nurtured.
• Lifestyle changes can lead to unexpected joy and creativity.
• Boredom can enhance creativity by allowing space for new ideas.
• Rituals and routines are essential for grounding and joy.
• The importance of a supportive environment for personal growth.
• Mindfulness is key in navigating life changes.
• Finding joy in small daily rituals can enhance overall happiness.
• Place and attachment significantly influence our identities.
• Embracing change can lead to personal and professional growth.

https://www.beautifuluseful.co/

https://www.leilaainge.co.uk

Welcome to Season 3 of Psychologically Speaking, hosted by psychologist and researcher Leila Ainge. This season, we explore joy not as a feeling to define, but as an experience that moves us, connects us, and shapes how we live and work. In this short teaser episode, Leila shares the story behind choosing joy as her word of the year, the psychology of positive emotions, and why joy matters more than ever in a world that often dismisses it as a distraction.

We’ll explore:

• The science behind joy, including Broaden-and-Build Theory
• How joy supports identity, motivation, and social connection

Real stories, guest interviews, and solo episodes that dig into joy’s role in creativity, leadership, and everyday life

If you're curious about the psychology of joy, identity, and the subtle ways we shape our lives this season is for you.

🎧 Listen now and subscribe to get weekly episodes on joy, work, creativity, and human behaviour.

In this Season 2 finale of Psychologically Speaking, Leila reflects on the space between intention and action the often messy, foggy middle that so many of us occupy quietly.

She shares listener insights, one reader’s poetic take on language and liminality, and introduces the psychology of emotional granularity (via Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett) to help us name and navigate our emotional states with more clarity.

Plus: practical tools for neurodivergent listeners, thoughts on joy as a breadcrumb—not a reward and a first look at Season 3: The Joy Experiments.

If you’ve felt in-between lately… this one’s for you.

In this episode, I share a small but eye-opening story that begins with a single word: lacuna. What started as a moment of academic frustration turned into a reflection on the way we, as adults, often skim rather than fully engage — with words, ideas, and even our own decisions.

I explore how our reading habits reflect something deeper: a psychological tendency to stay safe, to avoid uncertainty, and to hold ourselves back from fully stepping into new knowledge. Drawing on research around word retrieval, loss aversion, and socioemotional selectivity theory, I unpack what it means to sit in the space between knowing and doing – and why that space seems to grow as we get older.

From my experience hosting Psych at the Mic for the British Psychological Society, to reading hilarious bedtime stories with my nine-year-old, I reflect on how curiosity, language, and even self-doubt shape the way we learn, lead, and show up in the world.

This is an episode for anyone who’s ever felt overwhelmed by information, unsure whether they “know enough,” or stuck between intention and action. It’s also a quiet nudge to slow down, ask questions, and give ourselves permission to still be learners – even in the middle of our careers.

Whether you're skimming, overthinking, or saying yes to too much (guilty!), there's something in here for you.

www.leilaainge.co.uk

In this episode of Psychologically Speaking, Leila Ainge delves into the theme of tiredness, exploring its various forms and the impact it has on our lives. She discusses the emotional, social, creative, spiritual, physical, and mental aspects of tiredness, emphasizing the importance of understanding these different types to prevent burnout. Leila also highlights the significance of making intentional decisions and the role of rest in maintaining a fulfilling life. Through personal anecdotes and psychological insights, she encourages listeners to reflect on their own experiences with tiredness and to prioritize self-care and self-compassion.

takeaways

• Tiredness can stem from various sources, not just physical exhaustion.
• Emotional tiredness often arises from holding space for others and people-pleasing.
• Social tiredness can be exacerbated by overstimulation and group dynamics.
• Creative tiredness is common among those in creative roles or entrepreneurship.
• Spiritual tiredness relates to a loss of meaning or connection to purpose.
• Physical tiredness is often linked to disrupted sleep and illness.
• Mental tiredness can result from decision fatigue and overthinking.
• Rest is essential for maintaining energy and preventing burnout.
• Self-compassion can help us face our tiredness without the need to fix it immediately.
• Making intentional decisions can help manage the mental load we carry.

tiredness, human behavior, psychology, emotional exhaustion, mental fatigue, decision making, self-compassion, entrepreneurship, identity, rest

How our need for external validation fuels overwork

summary

In this episode of Psychologically Speaking, Leila explores the intricate relationship between human behavior and the use of lists. She delves into why we love lists, the psychological benefits they provide, and the potential pitfalls that can lead to overwhelm. The conversation also touches on the unique challenges faced by individuals with ADHD when managing lists, the importance of structuring lists effectively, and the distinction between lists that serve to prove oneself versus those that promote genuine progress. Listeners are encouraged to reflect on their own to-do lists and consider how they can align their tasks with their true goals and values.

takeaways

• Lists help us organize thoughts and create structure.
• Cognitive ease makes lists appealing for memory.
• Quick gratification from ticking off tasks is satisfying.
• Cultural conditioning influences our relationship with lists.
• Lists can simplify complexity and provide clarity.
• ADHD can complicate the effectiveness of lists.
• The serial position effect impacts memory of list items.
• To-do lists can become validation-seeking tools.
• Reflection on tasks can reveal true motivations.
• Balancing internal and external validation is crucial.