This week's card pull gave us a question we weren't quite expecting:

Which are the failures that you cherish the most?

Because failure doesn't normally feel particularly valuable when you're standing in the middle of it.

When something goes wrong, we want answers.

Why did this happen?

What did I do wrong?

What am I supposed to learn from this?

But sometimes there isn't an answer yet.

In this episode of Tickety Boo, we talk about failure, fear, personal growth and the strange way that some of the most difficult chapters of our lives only begin to make sense when we look backwards.

We explore why we're so frightened of getting things wrong, how worrying about what other people might think can keep us stuck in situations we've already outgrown, and how fear can quietly steal opportunities, experiences and joy from our lives.

We also look back at some of our own failures.

Things that didn't work.

Plans that fell apart.

Decisions we'd probably make differently now.

And yet, somehow, those experiences led each of us to places in our lives that we never planned to be.

Places we're actually quite happy to have ended up.

Perhaps that's one of the frustrating things about wisdom.

You rarely get it when you need it.

It tends to turn up later.

Sometimes years later.

And suddenly you can look back at something you once desperately wished hadn't happened and recognise what grew from it.

So maybe failure isn't always the opposite of success.

Sometimes it's simply the bit of the story where you don't know where you're going yet.

And perhaps the better question isn't:

"Why is this happening to me?"

Maybe it's:

"I wonder what I'll understand about this one day?"

🎧 Listen to the full episode of Tickety Boo now.

📲 Instagram: @pieceofminduk 📲 Facebook: Piece of Mind UK 🌍 Podcast: www.piece-of-mind.co.uk/podcast 🎥 YouTube: @pieceofmindtherapy

What do you already know… but haven't quite been willing to admit to yourself yet?

Most of us are so busy managing our lives that we rarely stop and have a proper conversation with the person actually living it.

In this episode of Tickety Boo, we talk about self honesty, the conversations we avoid having with ourselves, and that uncomfortable gap between what we say we want and what we're actually willing to do to get it.

Maybe you keep saying you want to change something, but nothing changes.

Maybe you're waiting for the right time.

Maybe you already know something isn't working, but facing it would mean making a decision you'd rather not make.

Or perhaps you've become so busy getting through life that you've never really stopped to ask yourself what you actually want from it.

We explore why it's so easy to avoid difficult truths, how we can convince ourselves that things will eventually sort themselves out, and why feeling stuck isn't always about not knowing what to do.

Sometimes we know.

We just don't particularly like the answer.

This isn't about beating yourself up or suddenly changing your entire life.

It's about becoming curious about the gap between your intentions and your actions.

If you say you want more peace, what are you doing that creates it?

If you want something to change, what are you actually prepared to change?

If something matters to you, does the way you're currently living reflect that?

And perhaps the biggest question of all:

If you were completely honest with yourself, what conversation do you already know you need to have?

This is an honest, thought-provoking conversation about self awareness, personal growth, life choices and why sometimes the person we need to stop avoiding is ourselves.

🎧 Listen to the full episode of Tickety Boo now.

📲 Instagram: @pieceofminduk 📲 Facebook: Piece of Mind UK 🌍 Podcast: www.piece-of-mind.co.uk/podcast 🎥 YouTube: @pieceofmindtherapy

Some moments happen and disappear.

Others quietly become part of us.

In this episode of Tickety Boo, we talk about the experiences that continue to shape the way we live, think and behave — sometimes without us even realising they're still there.

A moment passes. Life moves on. But something about it stays with us.

It can change the promises we make to ourselves, the responsibility we feel for other people, the things we're frightened of losing, the way we approach relationships or even the pressure we put on ourselves to live a certain way.

And after a while, we can forget where some of those behaviours even came from.

We just think:

"That's who I am."

But is it?

We explore how experiences from our past can quietly influence the choices we're making today, why some moments leave a much bigger imprint than others, and what can happen when we become curious about the story behind our behaviour.

Why do I do this?

When did that become important to me?

What am I trying to protect?

And is something that happened years ago still influencing how I'm living my life today?

This isn't about endlessly digging through the past.

It's about recognising that sometimes understanding where something came from helps us decide whether we still need to live by it.

Because the moment may have passed.

But that doesn't necessarily mean it stopped shaping us.

Listen to the full episode now, and for more Tickety Boo:

📲 Instagram: @pieceofminduk 📲 Facebook: Piece of Mind UK 🌍 Visit us at: www.piece-of-mind.co.uk/podcast 🎥 YouTube: @pieceofmindtherapy

Something seems to happen as you get older.

You start caring a little less.

Not about the important stuff. If anything, you care more about that.

You just stop caring quite so much about the stuff that never really mattered in the first place.

In this episode of Tickety Boo, we're talking about all those things we once swore we'd NEVER do… right up until the day we did them.

Andy makes the brave public admission that he now loves wearing Crocs. Although, for the record, if they ever appear with socks, he's given everyone permission to start researching suitable care homes.

Ann and Iona talk about wearing less make-up and becoming more comfortable simply showing up as themselves.

But underneath the laughs is something quite liberating.

Why did we spend so much of our lives worrying about fitting in?

What will people think? Am I wearing the right thing? Do I look okay? Will people judge me? Is this what someone my age is supposed to do?

And perhaps getting older gives us something we didn't have when we were younger: the confidence to realise that most people aren't thinking about us nearly as much as we imagined anyway.

We talk about letting go of other people's expectations, becoming more comfortable in your own skin and choosing what actually makes YOU happy rather than what makes you look like you've got life figured out.

Because maybe getting older isn't about giving up.

Maybe it's about finally working out what's worth giving a damn about.

And apparently, for Andy, that's comfort.

Even if it comes in the form of a pair of Crocs.

Listen to the full episode now, and for more Tickety Boo:

📲 Instagram: @pieceofminduk 📲 Facebook: Piece of Mind UK 🌍 Visit us at: www.piece-of-mind.co.uk/podcast 🎥 YouTube: @pieceofmindtherapy

At what point do you actually feel like a proper adult?

Because we're still waiting.

In this episode of Tickety Boo, we talk about the strange reality of getting older, taking on responsibilities and somehow expecting that one day we'll wake up feeling like we've finally got this whole adult thing figured out.

Spoiler: apparently that day doesn't come.

We talk about why fun seems to become less important as we get older. Why everything starts revolving around work, bills, responsibilities and what needs done next.

And we ask what happened to the kid who used to do things simply because they were fun?

Is that part of us still there?

What does it need from us now?

And when did we decide that being responsible meant we had to become so bloody serious?

There are plenty of laughs in this one, but underneath it is something worth thinking about.

Life isn't just something to manage.

You don't get extra points for reaching the end exhausted with everything ticked off your to-do list.

Maybe growing up isn't about getting rid of the child in you.

Maybe it's about becoming the adult who finally lets them enjoy themselves.

Life is for living.

And maybe we all need reminding of that occasionally.

Listen to Tickety Boo on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube.

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Podcast: https://www.piece-of-mind.co.uk/podcast

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Imagine driving your car with the dashboard warning light glowing.

You know something isn't right. You hope it'll sort itself out. So you keep going.

For a while, nothing happens.

Until one day... it does.

In this episode of Tickety Boo, we explore why so many of us live our lives exactly the same way—ignoring the warning signs that our mind and body have been trying to show us for weeks, months, or even years.

Andy shares his own experience of pushing himself so hard that it eventually led to a stay in hospital, and how easy it is to convince yourself that you'll slow down "after this week" or "once things settle down."

Ann and Iona open up about what overwhelm feels like for them, how it shows up in everyday life, and the subtle signs they now recognise before things begin to spiral.

Together, we talk about:

• Why we ignore our own warning signs
• How stress quietly builds long before we notice it
• What overwhelm actually feels like
• The danger of believing you're "fine" because you're still functioning
• Why slowing down isn't giving up—it's often the smartest thing you can do

The truth is, most people don't suddenly burn out.

They ignore hundreds of little warning lights before they finally stop.

Maybe the question isn't:

"How much more can I take?"

Maybe it's:

"What has my dashboard been trying to tell me all along?"

If you've been telling yourself, "I'll rest when things calm down," this conversation might be the reminder you didn't know you needed.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & YouTube

🔗 Stay connected with Tickety Boo / Piece of Mind:

📲 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/pieceofminduk

📲 Facebook https://www.facebook.com/PieceOfMindUK

🌍 Podcast hub https://www.piece-of-mind.co.uk/podcast

🎥 Watch full episodes on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@pieceofmindtherapy

This week's card pull asked a simple question:

"How do you best handle criticism?"

It's something we all face, whether it's at work, in our relationships, on social media, or even from the people closest to us.

But why does some criticism help us grow, while other comments stay with us for years?

In this episode of Tickety Boo, we explore our own experiences of being criticised, why it can feel so personal, and how learning to separate feedback from self-worth can completely change the way we respond.

We talk about:

• Why criticism can trigger such a strong emotional reaction
• The difference between constructive feedback and someone else's opinion
• Why we often remember one negative comment more than a hundred positive ones
• How confidence changes the way we receive criticism
• And why not every opinion deserves a seat at your table

The truth is, you can't stop people judging you.

But you can change the power their words have over you.

Whether you're someone who takes everything to heart or you've learned to let things go, this conversation is an honest look at what criticism teaches us—not just about other people, but about ourselves.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & YouTube

🔗 Stay connected with Tickety Boo / Piece of Mind:

📲 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/pieceofminduk

📲 Facebook https://www.facebook.com/PieceOfMindUK

🌍 Podcast hub https://www.piece-of-mind.co.uk/podcast

🎥 Watch full episodes on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@pieceofmindtherapy

"I'll start on Monday."

"Things will calm down next month."

"Once the kids are older..."

"I'll do it when the time is right."

We've all said them.

The question is… what if the biggest lie we tell isn't to other people, but to ourselves?

In this episode of Tickety Boo, we explore the stories we create that keep us stuck. Not because we're lazy or incapable, but because it's often easier to hope that life will change than to make the choices that create change.

We talk about:

• Why we keep putting important things off
• The comforting lies we tell ourselves about "one day"
• Why hope without action rarely changes anything
• The importance of taking responsibility for the direction of our lives
• And why being honest with yourself can be uncomfortable—but also incredibly freeing

Sometimes we don't need more motivation.

We need more clarity.

Clarity about what matters. Clarity about what we're avoiding. And clarity about what we're actually prepared to do.

Because until we're honest with ourselves, it's very easy to believe that change is just around the corner… while quietly repeating the same patterns year after year.

If you've ever caught yourself waiting for the "right time" to start living differently, this conversation might be exactly what you need to hear.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & YouTube

🔗 Stay connected with Tickety Boo / Piece of Mind:

📲 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/pieceofminduk

📲 Facebook https://www.facebook.com/PieceOfMindUK

🌍 Podcast hub https://www.piece-of-mind.co.uk/podcast

🎥 Watch full episodes on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@pieceofmindtherapy

Welcome to the first State of the Nation—a new regular feature on Tickety Boo, where the hosts ask each other one meaningful question and discover what those answers might reveal about our own lives.

This isn't an interview.

It's a conversation.

In this first episode, Andy, Iona, and Phil Upton each take a turn in the hot seat.

Phil reflects on his decision to step away from breakfast radio after decades as one of its familiar voices. He talks about recognising the impact the job was having on his health and wellbeing, and why sometimes success means having the courage to walk away.

Iona opens up about carrying more loss in the past year than many people experience in a lifetime. She shares what it's like to keep showing up for other people while quietly carrying grief of your own, and how loss changes the way you see the world.

Then the spotlight turns to Andy with one deceptively simple question:

"If you woke up tomorrow and nobody needed anything from you… who would you be?"

It's a question about identity, purpose, and how easily we can become defined by what we do for everyone else.

Together, these conversations explore:

• Knowing when it's time to make a life-changing decision
• Living with grief while life carries on around you
• The pressure of always being the one others rely on
• Who we are beyond our careers, responsibilities, and roles
• Why asking better questions can change the way we see ourselves

There aren't any easy answers in this episode.

Just three honest conversations that might encourage you to ask yourself some questions you've been avoiding.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & YouTube

🔗 Stay connected with Tickety Boo / Piece of Mind:

📲 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/pieceofminduk

📲 Facebook https://www.facebook.com/PieceOfMindUK

🌍 Podcast hub https://www.piece-of-mind.co.uk/podcast

🎥 Watch full episodes on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@pieceofmindtherapy

Life is complicated.

But how much of that is life… and how much of it is us?

In this episode of Tickety Boo, we explore why we often make life far harder than it needs to be.

We say yes when we want to say no. We put everyone else first. We ignore our own boundaries. Then we wonder why we feel overwhelmed, frustrated, and disconnected.

We talk about:

• Why people-pleasing quietly steals your peace
• The power of pausing before you automatically say "yes"
• How your values can become a compass for better decisions
• Why boundaries aren't about pushing people away—they're about protecting what matters most
• And one simple question that can change the way you make decisions:

"Will this take me closer to the life I want... or further away from it?"

Whether you value peace, family, adventure, learning, connection, or freedom, your daily choices either move you towards those things or away from them.

Sometimes the answer isn't to do more.

It's to stop, reflect, and ask yourself if you're living according to your values—or someone else's expectations.

If you've been feeling pulled in a hundred different directions, this episode will help you simplify what really matters.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & YouTube

🔗 Stay connected with Tickety Boo / Piece of Mind:

📲 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/pieceofminduk

📲 Facebook https://www.facebook.com/PieceOfMindUK

🌍 Podcast hub https://www.piece-of-mind.co.uk/podcast

🎥 Watch full episodes on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@pieceofmindtherapy