The Phoenix Conversations

In this episode of The Phoenix Conversations, I’m talking to Patty Azzarello, author, speaker and business advisor, whose latest book Why is SHE Still Here? My Ungraceful Journey from the Playground to the Boardroom is out now.

Patty’s story is sharp, funny and incredibly honest, from childhood bullying and fear to becoming the youngest general manager at Hewlett-Packard at thirty-three.

We talk about reinvention, courage, mentors, awkward rooms full of men, and the quiet panic that can sit behind even the most impressive career.

Patty shares how she learned to get into the conversation, ask for help, trust her strengths and stop ruling herself out before anyone else had the chance. It’s funny, practical and a very welcome reminder that being scared does not mean you are not qualified.

Highlights:

(02:58) - Growing up safe at home, but scared of the world outside

(08:15) - The picnic moment that changed how Patty saw her future

(17:10) - Forcing her way into the conversations where careers are made

(20:06) - The painful lesson that great work alone is not always enough

(25:06) - Why scared does not mean disqualified

(37:32) - Patty’s powerful advice: never take yourself out of the game

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pattyazzarello

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pazzarello777/

Website: https://pattyazzarello.com/

Connect with Lucy:

Website - https://bookmagic.ai

TikTok - @lucymccarra 

Instagram/Threads - @lucymccarraher 

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucymccarraher/

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@lucymccarraherauthor

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/LucyMcCarraher/

In this episode of The Phoenix Conversations, I’m joined by Chris Ducker, keynote speaker, bestselling author and leadership advisor.

For more than 15 years, Chris has worked with leaders and organisations navigating pressure, complexity and constant change, helping them sustain performance, make better decisions under pressure and lead with clarity over the long term.

We talk about Chris’s entrepreneurial journey, his own experience of burnout, and the strategies behind his third book, The Long-Haul Leader. His message is clear: success that is not sustainable eventually becomes failure.

This conversation is for anyone who looks successful on paper but feels depleted in reality, and knows it is time to rethink performance, leadership and life for the long haul.

Highlights:

(08:15) - How Chris’s move into entrepreneurship became his first real reinvention

(12:56) - Why building a management team changed everything

(16:46) - The driving lesson that became a business philosophy

(22:16) - The four pillars of becoming a long-haul leader

(26:32) - Chris opens up about burnout, depression and anxiety

(34:17) - Why burnout recovery needs to include the body, not just the mind

Websites:

https://chrisducker.com

https://longhaulleader.com

https://youpreneur.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisducker/

Connect with Lucy:

Website - https://bookmagic.ai

TikTok - @lucymccarra 

Instagram/Threads - @lucymccarraher 

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucymccarraher/

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@lucymccarraherauthor

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/LucyMcCarraher/

In this episode, I’m talking to Susan Quilliam about a life shaped by courage, curiosity and a deep interest in people. We explore the threads that have run through her journey from childhood, writing, psychology and teaching, through to publishing, coaching and relationship work.

What I love about this conversation is how thoughtful and wide-ranging it is. Susan shares the reinventions that took her from educational publishing into self-development and relationship coaching, the unexpected path that led to rewriting The Joy of Sex, and why her work now is centred on helping us better understand inner conflict and what it means to be human.

Highlights:

(02:53) - Susan reflects on the childhood beginnings of writing and curiosity

(07:25) - Losing her parents and stepping into a completely new life in London

(12:12) - Why starting her own publishing company changed everything

(17:56) - How relationship writing and coaching became her true calling

(22:27) - The surprising path that led her to rewrite The Joy of Sex

(26:48) - How the pandemic sparked the idea behind The Torn Project

TORN PROJECT LINKS

Website: thetornproject.com

The Torn Podcast: available on https://thetornproject.com/resources/podcast/ or wherever you get your podcasts

Instagram: @thetornproject

Linked In: The Torn Project

Connect with Lucy:

Website - https://bookmagic.ai

TikTok - @lucymccarra 

Instagram/Threads - @lucymccarraher 

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucymccarraher/

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@lucymccarraherauthor

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/LucyMcCarraher/

In this episode, I’m talking to Elliot Kay about what it means to keep rebuilding yourself when life never seems to hand you the neat, obvious path. We talk about feeling different as a child, wanting to belong, and the moments that pushed him to change direction and back himself properly.

What I love about this conversation is how honest and human it is. Elliot shares the reinventions that took him from outsider to dancer, trainer, speaker, author and CEO, and why the messy middle is not a sign to quit, but a sign to keep going.

Highlights:

(03:14) - Elliot opens up about growing up feeling different and out of place

(05:00) - The blunt conversation with a friend that changed everything

(07:25) - Why he chose to rebuild his relationship with his father

(09:43) - How Rudolf Nureyev inspired him to go all in on dance

(15:25) - The moment speaking clicked and everything started to come together

(32:59) - Elliot’s advice for surviving the messy middle and keeping going

Connect with Elliott:

https://thespeakersawards.com/

https://thespeakersummit.co

https://www.linkedin.com/in/elliot-kay/

Connect with Lucy:

Website - https://bookmagic.ai

TikTok - @lucymccarra 

Instagram/Threads - @lucymccarraher 

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucymccarraher/

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@lucymccarraherauthor

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/LucyMcCarraher/

In this episode, I’m talking to Margaret Brown about what it really takes to rebuild your life when it feels like everything has been stacked against you.

We talk about childhood wounds, self-worth, difficult relationships, and the moments that force you to decide who you want to become next. Margaret shares her journey with real honesty, and it is both moving and deeply inspiring.

We also talk about the work she does today as an award-winning executive leadership coach, organisational development specialist, and bestselling author of Culture Pays.

With more than 35 years of experience, Margaret now helps leaders build values-led cultures where people stay, thrive, and give their best. She also shares how her LeaderShift© model grew from everything she has lived through and learned along the way.

Highlights:

(02:30) - Margaret opens up about the childhood that shaped her confidence

(06:54) - How marrying the wrong person became a major turning point

(08:48) - The bold pitch that changed everything and started her business

(12:45) - The moment her father finally gave her the words she needed to hear

(18:17) - Losing security, finding new direction and writing Culture Pays

(27:23) - Margaret’s advice for anyone standing on the edge of change

Connect with Lucy:

Website - https://bookmagic.ai

TikTok - @lucymccarra 

Instagram/Threads - @lucymccarraher 

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucymccarraher/

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@lucymccarraherauthor

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/LucyMcCarraher/

In this episode, I’m joined by Stuart Grant, founder of Digital Authors Toolkit and one of the publishing industry’s leading website designers for authors.

Stuart is a specialist in GEO, SEO and author tools, has created over 400 author websites, and is the highest rated author web designer on Reedsy. We talk about his work helping authors get discovered online, grow their audience, and build websites that genuinely support their careers.

We also get into the life-changing diagnosis that reshaped everything. Shortly after the birth of his daughter in 2019, Stuart was diagnosed with an incurable brain tumour and went through brain surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and lockdown.

He shares how that experience sharpened his sense of purpose, changed the way he thought about work and time, and ultimately led him to build something more meaningful. It is honest, uplifting, and such a powerful reminder that reinvention is not always planned, but it can still lead somewhere extraordinary.

Highlights:

(03:16) - Stuart looks back on the childhood moment that shifted his path

(11:00) - The hearing test that led to a life-changing diagnosis

(17:12) - Why positivity became such an important part of survival

(18:25) - How illness and lockdown pushed Stuart towards building his own business

(22:08) - What makes author websites actually work

(31:13) - Stuart’s advice for anyone facing change they did not choose

Stu is more than happy to receive emails or enquires and you can find him at:

DigitalAuthorsToolkit.com or email [email protected]

https://www.linkedin.com/in/stuartgrantuk/

https://www.instagram.com/stuartgrantuk/

https://x.com/stuartgrantuk

https://x.com/digiauthorkit

https://www.instagram.com/digitalauthorstoolkit

Connect with Lucy:

Website - https://bookmagic.ai

TikTok - @lucymccarra 

Instagram/Threads - @lucymccarraher 

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucymccarraher/

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@lucymccarraherauthor

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/LucyMcCarraher/

In this episode, I’m joined by Becca Mascull for a brilliant conversation about reinvention, creativity and what it means to keep choosing a new path, even when it feels uncertain.

We talk about the long road from teaching to becoming a published novelist, the self-belief it takes to keep going, and why the thing quietly waiting in the background of your life might actually be the thing you are meant to follow.

We also get into confidence, pseudonyms, publishing, money, and the reality of building a creative career across different seasons of life.

Becca shares so much honesty about risk, resilience and trusting your instincts, and this one is such a hopeful reminder that reinvention does not have an expiry date.

Highlights:

(02:44) - Becca on being a reader, writer and natural storyteller from the start

(11:41) - The moment she knew teaching was no longer the right fit

(15:38) - When Plan B finally became Plan A

(17:15) - Why publication took years, and why she did not give up

(22:53) - How writing under different names became its own reinvention

(37:33) - Her advice for anyone standing on the edge of change

Connect with Becca at:

https://linktr.ee/beccamascull

Connect with Lucy:

Website - https://bookmagic.ai

TikTok - @lucymccarra 

Instagram/Threads - @lucymccarraher 

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucymccarraher/

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@lucymccarraherauthor

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/LucyMcCarraher/

In this episode, I’m joined by Baiju Solanki, psychologist, entrepreneur and leadership expert, for a rich conversation about reinvention, identity and what it means to stay human in an AI-driven world.

As the founder of EnSpirit Global and EnSpirit AI Technologies, and the author of Human First and other influential books, Baiju helps individuals and organisations build human-first cultures rooted in self-leadership, accountability and authentic impact.

We talk about the many versions of reinvention across his life, from family expectations and career pivots to divorce, health, authorship and purpose. It is an honest conversation about shame, confidence, leadership and the inner work that shapes how we show up in the world.

There is so much here about trusting yourself, taking ownership of your journey and leading with more intention, especially when life asks you to change.

Highlights:

(02:41) - What childhood taught Baiju about pressure and not feeling good enough

(04:19) - The book that sparked his first real reinvention

(10:23) - The New York moment that made him question everything

(21:00) - How divorce forced a deep identity shift

(28:05) - Why humanity matters even more in an AI-driven world

(32:24) - Baiju’s advice for anyone standing on the edge of change

Contact Baiju at:

https://baijusolanki.com/

https://www.instagram.com/baijusolanki/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/baijusolanki-performance-psychologist/

https://leadershipassessement.scoreapp.com/

Connect with Lucy:

Website - https://bookmagic.ai

TikTok - @lucymccarra 

Instagram/Threads - @lucymccarraher 

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucymccarraher/

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@lucymccarraherauthor

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/LucyMcCarraher/

In this episode, I’m doing something a little different and taking you behind the scenes of a very special day, receiving my MBE at Windsor Castle.

After sharing a little of the story online, so many people wanted to know what the day was actually like, from the build-up and the nerves to the ceremony itself, that I thought I’d sit down and tell the full story properly.

I talk about the campaign that led to the award, what it was like walking through Windsor Castle with my family, and the surreal, lovely moment of meeting Prince William.

It is personal, reflective and quietly celebratory, with a few funny details along the way too, including armed guards, cobbles, the gift shop and a lunch at The Ivy to round it all off.

Highlights:

(02:27) - Why I was nominated for the honour in the first place

(05:42) - The letter that changed everything

(11:56) - Waiting inside Windsor Castle for my moment

(16:24) - My conversation with Prince William

(20:09) - The gift shop moment was slightly out of hand

(21:33) - Why the whole day felt so special in the end

https://www.bookmagic.ai

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucymccarraher/

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/LucyMcCarraher/

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@lucymccarrahermbe

Substack – https://lucymccarrahermbe.substack.com

TikTok, Instagram & Threads - @lucymccarrahermbe

Connect with Lucy:

Website - https://bookmagic.ai

TikTok - @lucymccarra 

Instagram/Threads - @lucymccarraher 

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucymccarraher/

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@lucymccarraherauthor

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/LucyMcCarraher/

In this episode, I’m joined by Susan Payton, who discovered the power of storytelling after sharing what she thought was a very ordinary story with 1,500 business owners in 2015.

The response changed everything. That one moment reshaped her business and her life, and set her on the path to becoming the founder of The Business of Stories, an international bestselling author, podcast host, and trusted voice on how entrepreneurs can stand out by telling the right story.

We talk about reinvention, resilience, and how Susan rebuilt her path through personal change, business pivots, and a growing belief that stories are not fluff, they are one of the clearest ways to connect, build trust, and attract the right people.

It is honest, encouraging, and full of reminders that your next chapter does not have to look anything like the last one.

Highlights:

(02:23) - Susan reflects on the kind of child she was

(10:42) - The life shifts that shaped her reinvention

(19:48) - How The Business of Mums became The Business of Stories

(21:38) - The moment storytelling became the business

(24:10) - From nervous pitch to five paying clients

(33:13) - Why you can start a new story from today

Susan’s links:

Susan's book: https://thebusinessofstories.com/freebook/

Susan's podcast: https://thebusinessofstories.com/podcast/

thebusinessofstories.com

Connect with Lucy:

Website - https://bookmagic.ai

TikTok - @lucymccarra 

Instagram/Threads - @lucymccarraher 

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucymccarraher/

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@lucymccarraherauthor

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/LucyMcCarraher/