The Self-ish Me Podcast

Seeing a job and deciding not to apply, because you do not tick 100% of the criteria. That moment is not a lack of ambition. It is something far more ingrained, and it is exactly what this episode is about when it comes to women's careers.

I am joined by Liss Owen, CEO of Open Door Scotland, supporting young people experiencing homelessness, and a political candidate standing for Scottish Parliament. Liss made a significant leap from middle manager to CEO in less than a year, and she brings a refreshingly honest lens to women at work, neurodiversity, imposter syndrome, and what it takes to back yourself when the system was not designed with you in mind.

Together, we explore how masking and fawning show up in high-stakes moments like interviews and debates, and what it means to find a role that works for how your brain is wired. Drawing on my background as a Business Psychologist and coach, I weave in research on career confidence and the ways societal conditioning holds women back from going after the opportunities they are more than ready for.

This episode is personal development for women who are done talking themselves out of the roles they actually want. Women's careers do not have to be linear to be powerful.

Because your next role might be the one you almost talked yourself out of.

Connect with Kam
Insta (@self_is_me) • Instagram photos and videos

LinkedIn Kamila Turek | LinkedIn

Connect with Liss

Insta @libdemliss
Liss Owen | LinkedIn

We have all walked into an interview and known, somewhere deep down, that something was off. Maybe we were unprepared. Maybe we were unwell. Maybe we clicked on the wrong link and panicked. And maybe we told our manager something we probably should have held back a little longer.

In this episode, I'm doing something a little different. Inspired by one of my all-time favourite podcasts, How to Fail with Elizabeth Day, I'm sharing three of my most epic interview failures and what they genuinely taught me about women's careers, preparation, self-awareness, and integrity.

I'm Kamila, a Business Psychologist and coach, and I believe that career confidence for women is not built in the smooth moments. It's built in the messy ones.

From getting motion sick in a skyscraper lift on the way to an interview I was already late for, to sitting through a grilling I had no business being in because I was unwell and unprepared, to verbally accepting a job offer and telling my manager too soon, these are the real stories. Each one taught me something I could never have learned from a perfect performance.

This episode is for every woman navigating her career who has ever felt embarrassed, caught off guard, or like she has made an irreversible mistake. You have not. Sometimes the failure is the lesson.

Connect with Kam

Insta (@self_is_me) • Instagram photos and videos

LinkedIn Kamila Turek | LinkedIn
Upcoming Workshops Self-ish Me Events - 2 Upcoming Activities and Tickets | Eventbrite

You have felt it before, too confident or not confident enough, too warm or too direct. That tension has a name, and in this episode I am sharing six tactics used by top women in corporate boardrooms to help you navigate the double bind in interviews and at work.

I explore the double bind, one of the most well documented findings in gender psychology, and what it actually means for women at work. Drawing on decades of research and my own experience supporting women across different industries, I unpack why women's careers are so often shaped by this impossible balancing act between being liked and being respected. I also explore the impostor phenomenon, why we consistently undervalue our own achievements, and how self stereotyping quietly shapes the way we see ourselves.

Because you were never too much. You were just never given the full picture.

Connect with Kam

Insta (@self_is_me) • Instagram photos and videos

LinkedIn Kamila Turek | LinkedIn

You got the interview. Now what? Most women spend their preparation time looking through their own lens — rehearsing answers, managing nerves, hoping they come across well. But what if the most powerful thing you could do is learn to see the room through the hiring manager's eyes instead?

You got the interview. Now what? Most women spend their preparation time looking through their own lens, rehearsing answers, managing nerves, hoping they come across well. But what if the most powerful thing you could do is learn to see the room through the hiring manager's eyes instead?

Having worked in recruitment and as a hiring manager, I know what is really happening on the other side of that table. In this episode, I am sharing that insider knowledge, grounded in research and real experience on both sides of the hiring process, so you can walk in feeling genuinely ready.

We cover three of the biggest challenges in interview settings: first impressions, cultural fit, and the halo and horn effect. You will learn why your setup matters before you say a word, how to move from anxious to excited using a simple Harvard-backed technique, how to research a company so deeply that you sound like you are already part of the team. Because you are not lacking confidence. You are lacking information. And now you have it.

Connect with Kam

Insta (@self_is_me) • Instagram photos and videos

LinkedIn Kamila Turek | LinkedIn

Upcoming Workshops Self-ish Me Events - 2 Upcoming Activities and Tickets | Eventbrite

Your CV is not just a document. It is the version of you that walks into a room before you do, and in women's careers, it is often not telling the full story.

I have watched brilliant women delete the best lines about themselves, and I have done it too. In this episode, I draw on my background as a Business Psychologist, hiring manager, and recruiter to explore why so many of us quietly shrink ourselves on paper. If you are in your late thirties or forties and you are ready to claim your future career, or thinking about returning to work after a career break, I made this episode with you in mind.

I share three rules built for career growth for women: how to brag boldly about your real achievements, how to own the career gaps and plot twists that shaped you, and how letting go of shame around those gaps is often the first and most important step. I also get into AI in recruitment, and unpack how societal conditioning shapes the language we use to describe our own work, often to our disadvantage. Women's careers deserve to be seen in full, and so do you.

Because letting go of shame starts with telling the truth about how good you actually are.

Connect with Kam

Insta (@self_is_me) • Instagram photos and videos

LinkedIn Kamila Turek | LinkedIn

For parents navigating work between school runs Five Hour Club - Five Hour Club

There is a version of dating in your 30s that feels like running a recruitment campaign, carefully crafted, highly strategic, and somehow still not attracting the right person. Navigating relationships with real intention starts long before the first swipe, and this episode is here to change how you think about all of it.

I sat down with Joyce, a leadership and dating coach with a background in psychology and author of Diamond Steps to Success, to explore what intentional dating actually looks like in practice. Drawing on her own journey through her 20s and 30s before meeting her husband, Joyce brings the kind of warm, grounded wisdom that coaching for women does at its very best. We talk about building a dating profile that genuinely reflects your values, how to ask the big questions without it feeling like an interview, and why creating space for a future partner is as much a mindset shift as it is a wardrobe clear-out.

You will come away with real tools for navigating relationships differently, a clearer sense of the energy you are putting out and why, and permission to let your softness and your ambition exist in the same room. This is one of those inspiring women conversations that stays with you, because personal development for women includes love, and you deserve both.

Your person is out there. Let us make sure they can find you.

This episode is full of warmth, honesty, and genuinely practical wisdom for anyone who wants more intentional relationships.

Because knowing what you want is not too much to ask for.

Episode Highlights

00:00 — Meet Kam and her guest Joyce, a leadership, life and dating coach and author of Diamond Steps to Success

04:34 — Why your dating profile is more like a vibe than a CV, and the small tweaks that attract the right people

07:12 — How being clear on your values signals to the right person that you are serious about building something real

19:14 — What your profile pictures are really saying about you and the visual cues that signal warmth and long term potential

30:31 — The beautiful practice of creating physical and mental space for a future partner before they arrive

36:33 — Why showing vulnerability is not weakness, it is an invitation for the right person to show up for you

41:43 — Getting clear on your values as the real foundation of lasting relationships, beyond the checklist

Connect with Kam

Insta (@self_is_me) • Instagram photos and videos

LinkedIn Kamila Turek | LinkedIn

Connect with Joyce

Insta @jfcoaching2025 Instagram
LinkedIn Joyce Fasanya | LinkedIn
DIAMOND STEPS TO SUCCESS: REACH YOUR GOALS IN 7 STEPS eBook : Oyedele, Joyce: Amazon.co.uk: Books

You are in a meeting, someone is talking, and you are trying so hard to follow. But nothing is landing. The words are there and somehow they are not reaching you at all. If that sounds familiar, this episode on brain fog in women is for you.

I have been there. The panicked meeting where words would not come. The GP appointments. The quiet fear that I was losing my sharpness for good.

In this episode I am sharing what I discovered, blending research, coaching and my own story, about why brain fog in women goes so much deeper than just tiredness.

Together we explore the psychological and physiological roots of brain fog: how estrogen and progesterone directly shape your memory, focus and clarity across the menstrual cycle, how chronic stress and unprocessed emotion push your nervous system into survival mode, and why hormonal changes from your cycle to perimenopause can shift your cognition within days. This is not about pushing through. It is about finally having the full picture your body was never given.

Because you were never losing your mind. You were just never told how it actually works.

Highlights

02:10 Self-Reflection: Checking in on Your Mental Clarity

05:10 The Role of Stress and Emotional Overload in Brain Fog

06:20 Understanding Brain Fog: Slowing of Thought and Processing

07:11 Psychological and Physiological Perspectives on Brain Fog

08:17 Emotional Numbing, Burnout, and Brain Fog

10:02 Hormonal Causes of Brain Fog: Estrogen and Progesterone

14:19 Duration of Brain Fog and Its Underlying Causes

15:08 Practical Strategies for Managing Brain Fog

17:30 Embracing Human Fluctuations and Self-Compassion

18:14 Closing Remarks and Self-Care Reminder

Connect with Kam
Instagram @coachingwithkam

Kamila Turek | LinkedIn

Resources
Burnout Book | Dr Claire Plumbly
Book - Better Period Food Solution

Have you ever felt misunderstood by your own body? You're not alone. In this enlightening episode of The Self-ish Me Podcast, host Kamila Turek, a seasoned business psychologist, courageously opens up about her personal journey with menstrual health and the pervasive societal stigma that often surrounds it. Kamila shares her experiences of grappling with intense period pain, which not only shaped her perception of her body but also led her down a path of shame and confusion. This episode serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of open conversations about women's health—a topic that has been historically neglected in medical research.

Kamila introduces the revolutionary idea of viewing menstrual cycles not merely as a biological process but as a vital rhythm that influences energy levels, productivity, and overall well-being. By breaking down the four distinct phases of the menstrual cycle—menstruation, follicular, ovulation, and luteal—she draws insightful parallels to the seasons, highlighting how each phase impacts our physical and emotional states. This profound exploration is a call for women's empowerment and an invitation to embark on a self-discovery journey that embraces the unique intricacies of our bodies.

Throughout the episode, Kamila encourages listeners to embrace their cycles and prioritize self-care, advocating for a shift in perspective that recognizes the power and resilience inherent in every woman. By aligning work and personal life with these natural rhythms, women can experience significant career growth and emotional well-being. This episode is packed with inspiring women conversations that not only validate your experiences but also empower you to reclaim your personal power.

As the episode draws to a close, Kamila issues a heartfelt call to action for women everywhere: track your cycles and harness this newfound awareness to support your journey of intimacy and sexuality. Join us in this transformative discussion that invites you to explore your identity and embrace the powerful connection between your menstrual health and your overall life experience. Tune in to The Self-ish Me Podcast and take the first step towards a more empowered, self-aware you!

Highlights:

00:36 The Systemic Neglect of Women's Health in Medicine

06:12 The Male Hormonal Cycle vs Women's Cycles

07:03 The Four Seasons Model of the Menstrual Cycle

12:22 Tracking Your Cycle and Recognizing Your Patterns

12:48 The Power of Knowing Your Low Days and Self-Doubt

13:50 Performance Improvements When Working with Your Cycle

16:14 Integrating Cycle Tracking into Work and Life

Connect with Kam
Instagram @coachingwithkam

Kamila Turek | LinkedIn

Links to Resources:

The Hustle Cure — Sophie Cliff
Book - Better Period Food Solution
Book - Vagina a Re-education

Are Female Friendships the Most Powerful Relationship in Your Life?

Today’s episode is a celebration — and a heartfelt reflection — on the power of female friendships. If you’ve ever been carried through heartbreak by a friend, celebrated a win in a group chat, this conversation is for you.

In honour of International Women’s Day, we explore why female friendships are so powerful — how they shape our wellbeing, influence our careers, support our mental health, and even impact our longevity. As we grow, friendships evolve. Proximity shifts. Life chapters change. And making friends as an adult can feel harder than we expected. But even as the shape of friendship changes, its power remains.

I also share personal reflections, along with simple ways to build new friendships and deepen the friendships you already have — through vulnerability, intentionality, and showing up.

Inspired by Friendaholic by Elizabeth Day and The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins, this episode is an invitation to honour sisterhood — and to remember that women supporting women isn’t small.

It’s powerful.

Highlights

00:00 Celebrating Women's Day and the Importance of Female Friendships

03:04 The Power of Female Friendships

05:16 The Science Behind Friendships and Well-Being

08:45 Friendship as a Protective Factor for Health

11:26 Navigating Adult Friendships and Loneliness

14:24 Building and Maintaining Friendships

18:19 Vulnerability and Intentionality in Friendships

Connect with Kam Instagram @coachingwithkam

• Kamila Turek | LinkedIn

Links to Articles:

https://womensbrainhealth.org/think-tank/think-twice/ucla-study-on-friendship-among-women

https://kappadelta.org/blog-post/what-female-friendships-really-do-for-you/

Systematic review (38 studies, PERMA framework) — Frontiers in Psychology (2023)Female Friendships: Why Women Supporting Women Matters

In this episode, I slow things down and ask a question we rarely give ourselves space to answer: what’s your relationship with yourself, really? I explore how self-trust can slowly fade under the pressure to fit in, be liked, and be “good girls.” I share my own experience of growing up in Poland, learning early on to edit my thoughts, words, and instincts, and how that pattern followed me into adulthood and into moving to the UK—where I hoped for freedom but instead found myself questioning myself all over again.

We dive into women and people pleasing, and how being taught to accommodate, nurture, and put others first quietly pulls us away from self-love, intuition, and setting boundaries as a woman. I weave personal reflection with psychological research to unpack why so many of us feel lost as adults—not because something is wrong with us, but because we’ve been shaped to survive rather than trust ourselves.

I introduce the BRAVING framework by Brené Brown as a gentle way of rebuilding trust in yourself, learning to set boundaries without guilt, and stepping out of people pleasing. This conversation is honest, grounding, and an invitation to stop performing who you think you should be and start listening to who you actually are. The takeaway is simple: self-trust isn’t built in big moments—it grows in the small, quiet choices where you choose yourself.

Highlights:

• 00:06 The Journey to Self-Discovery
• 06:41 Impact of Gender Stereotypes
• 16:17 The Braving Model: Rebuilding Self-Trust

  Connect with Kam
  Instagram @coachingwithkam

  Kamila Turek | LinkedIn

  
  Links to Articles:
  https://www.artsci.utoronto.ca/news/people-pleasing-linked-gender-differences-problem-solving-study
  Braving the Wilderness - Brené Brown