Looking back over the past year, you might be struck by the sheer volume of stories about hybrid working, burnout, trust, AI and economic pressure. But when you step back and consider them together, a much clearer picture emerges. One that reveals the deeper forces shaping how people feel about work, and what leaders will need to pay attention to in 2026.

In this special solo episode of Sticky From The Inside, Andy Goram explores the underlying currents that sit beneath the headlines. Yes, we talk about return-to-office tensions, the rise in burnout, and AI’s quiet spread across workplaces. But these aren’t isolated issues. They’re connected, and they’re telling us something important about the state of work today.

Drawing on a year of cultural insights, research and real-world observations, Andy introduces five forces he believes will shape engagement, culture and leadership in the year ahead. From the growing urgency around work design, to the shift from engagement as feedback to engagement as shared power, to the rising importance of trust, human-fluent AI leadership, and belonging as a stabilising force.

If you’re leading people, shaping culture, or simply trying to make work a healthier, more human experience, this episode offers a grounded and connected view of what’s really happening and why leaders can’t afford to think about these forces in isolation.

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The key moments in this episode are:

0:01:13 – Looking back to understand the year ahead

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Get the full transcript of the episode here

In a world where AI can write, speak and even imagine on our behalf, what does it really mean to understand human stories?

In this episode, Andy Goram is joined by James Warren, founder and CEO of Share More Stories and the team behind SEEQ, a platform that helps organisations read, interpret and quantify the emotional depth inside customer and employee experiences.

James argues that stories aren’t just communication, they’re how we form relationships, build community and create meaning. They’re emotional code. And if leaders can learn to listen properly, stories reveal the truth people often can’t or won’t put in a survey.

Together, Andy and James explore how AI can help leaders understand thousands of stories at scale without replacing or sanitising the human heart behind them. They get into the nuance of emotional data, connection, belonging, trust and the danger of letting machines fabricate “ideal employees” through synthetic responses.

It’s a conversation about preserving humanity in an increasingly machine-shaped world and why the future belongs to leaders who combine technology with vulnerability, deep listening and genuine openness to the stories their people share.

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The key moments in this episode are:

0:01:26 – Stories in a machine-shaped world

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Get the full transcript of the episode here

When you’ve lived through Hollywood blockbusters and Silicon Valley start-ups, you collect a few lessons about focus, fear and meaning.

In this episode, Andy Goram talks with Steven Puri, founder of The Sukha Company, about the link between creativity, purpose and deep work. Steven’s career has spanned DreamWorks, Fox and tech ventures — but today his focus is on something subtler: helping people find ease and meaning in what they do.

This conversation isn’t about hacks or hustle. It’s about what really drives us — why we work, how fear holds us back, and how we can find the calm, creative flow that comes when purpose and focus align.

Warm, honest and deeply human, it’s an episode about living — and working — with Sukha.

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The key moments in this episode are:

0:01:17 – Purpose, Fear and Flow: An Unplanned Conversation

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Get the full transcript of the episode here

From a bamboo house in rural Indonesia to the boardrooms of Asia, Dona Amelia’s journey is nothing short of extraordinary. Now an international keynote speaker, Harvard-trained leadership specialist, and co-founder of EGN Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia, she brings a rare blend of performance, psychology, and purpose to the way she helps leaders grow.

In this episode, Dona joins Andy Goram to explore holistic purpose-driven leadership — a style that balances high performance with humanity. She shares how her early life shaped her belief in service, generosity, and resilience, and how those lessons now inform her work helping senior leaders stay authentic, grounded, and connected — even in high-pressure, high-stakes environments.

Dona also explains her own DONA Framework, which blends Purpose, Presence, People, and Performance, and the role of vulnerability in transforming leadership cultures from the inside out.

It’s an inspiring reminder that great leadership isn’t just about what you achieve — it’s about who you are while achieving it.

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The key moments in this episode are:

0:01:10 – From Bamboo House to Boardroom: Meet Dona Amelia

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Get the full transcript of the episode here

Change is rarely just a rational process — it’s an emotional journey.

In this episode of Sticky From The Inside, I’m joined by John Fisher, business psychologist, constructivist thinker, and creator of the Fisher Change Curve. His model goes beyond the Kubler-Ross grief curve to capture the messy, shifting emotions people actually experience during change, from anxiety and fear, to guilt, confusion, and eventual acceptance.

We explore why organisations so often mishandle change, the crucial difference between self-initiated and imposed change, and the role of emotional triggers like SCARF. John also shares practical ways leaders can support their teams and themselves through uncertainty, plus his three Sticky Notes of advice for navigating change with confidence and compassion.

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The key moments in this episode are:

0:01:10 – Why change is never just a process problem

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Get the full transcript of the episode here

Imagine walking into a locker room just moments after a crushing defeat. Players are angry, deflated, maybe even in tears — and then a sideline reporter steps up and asks the question nobody wants to hear.

That’s where Emmy Award-winning sports broadcaster and communications coach Jen Mueller thrives. With 25 years in Sports Journalism, covering high profile sports teams such as the Seattle Seahawks and Mariners, and as founder of Talk Sporty to Me, Jen has mastered the art of having tough conversations under pressure.

In this episode of Sticky From The Inside, Jen reveals what leaders can learn from the sports world about facing into tough conversations with clarity, honesty, and respect. From avoiding false praise to creating psychological safety, she shares practical tools to help managers and teams tackle difficult moments without damaging trust.

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The key moments in this episode are:

0:01:10 – Why tough conversations matter more than ever in leadership

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Get the full transcript of the episode here

Empathy is often described as a “soft skill” — something nice to have, but not essential for business. But what if we’ve been thinking about it all wrong?

In this episode of Sticky From The Inside, I’m joined by Dr. Melissa Robinson-Winemiller — TEDx speaker, executive coach, host of The Empathic Leader podcast, and author of The Empathic Leader: How EQ via Empathy Transforms Leadership for Better Profit, Productivity, and Innovation.

Melissa introduces the idea of practical empathy — empathy as a skill you can develop, measure, and apply every day. We explore why empathy starts at home with self-empathy, the leadership keystone. She explains how reflection and awareness drive better leadership decisions, and why empathy and judgment cannot exist in the same space. Along the way, Melissa shares personal stories, research insights, and practical steps leaders can use to build cultures that are more innovative, more productive, and more human.

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The key moments in this episode are:

0:01:10 – Why empathy matters more than ever in leadership

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Get the full transcript of the episode here

Strong business relationships don’t happen by accident — they’re built with intention, consistency, and genuine care. In this episode of Sticky From The Inside, I’m joined by Brad Englert, business advisor, former CIO at the University of Texas, and author of Spheres of Influence: How to Create and Nurture High-Quality Connections.

Brad shares the three keys to build strong business relationships that last. Drawing on decades of leadership experience and client work, he explains how these principles work in practice and why so many leaders unintentionally undermine their relationships by skipping them.

We explore real-world stories of trust, missteps, and turning points — from leading complex change to creating partnerships that stand the test of time. Whether you’re managing stakeholders, working with clients, or leading a team, Brad’s approach will help you build stronger, more mutually beneficial relationships that drive results.

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The key moments in this episode are:

0:01:10 – Welcome and why relationships matter now

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Get the full transcript of the episode here

In this episode of Sticky From The Inside, I speak with Dr. Jo Burrell, Chartered Psychologist, Co-Founder of Ultimate Resilience, and named on HR Magazine’s “HR Most Influential Thinker” list. Jo has just completed a survey of nearly 1,500 HR practitioners — and the findings are a wake-up call for organisations everywhere.

The results? High levels of stress, exhaustion, and burnout across HR teams. These are the very people responsible for safeguarding the physical and mental health of the workforce — yet many are running on empty themselves.

We explore why HR’s wellbeing is a business-critical issue, the case for HR Supervision, the stigma around showing emotion at work, and how leaders can build psychologically safe workplaces for all.

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The key moments in this episode are:

0:01:10 – HR Crisis Behind Workplace Wellbeing

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Get the full transcript of the episode here

What if the reason someone has struggled at work for years isn’t down to effort, ability, or attitude…

In this deeply honest and emotional conversation, I’m joined by Chris Hood from Neurobridge, who shares his personal experience of receiving an ADHD diagnosis in adulthood — and everything that came after.

We talk openly about the emotional fallout: the initial relief of finally having an explanation, and the overwhelming grief, shame and identity confusion that followed. Chris shares what it feels like to realise you’ve been masking your true self for years and how difficult (and beautiful) the journey back to yourself can be.

But this episode isn’t just about the individual experience. It’s also about what managers, leaders and organisations need to do differently to support neurodivergent colleagues, and why the typical “tick-box” approach to inclusion just doesn’t cut it.

Whether you're neurodivergent, a manager of people, or someone who simply wants to build a more human workplace, this conversation is full of insight, heart, and practical takeaways.

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The key moments in this episode are:

0:00:10 – What if ‘poor performance’ is actually undiagnosed neurodivergence?

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Get the full transcript of the episode here