Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning psychology podcast from the HubSpot Podcast Network. This week, we’re thrilled to bring you a raw, unfiltered conversation with Dr Sarah Hughes, CEO of Mind — one of the UK’s leading mental health organisations.

With over 35 years in mental health and social care, Sarah is a fearless advocate for change. In this episode, she shares why mental health services are still failing those with the most serious needs, why surface-level “wellness” programmes won’t fix broken workplace cultures, and how poverty, inequality, and racism drive mental health crises.

Whether you’re a leader, HR professional, or someone navigating their own mental health journey, this conversation is packed with insights that challenge, inspire, and push us to think beyond box-ticking initiatives.

💥 Key Takeaways

Mental health literacy has improved, but services for severe illness are lagging.

Culture and leadership matter more than free yoga or mindfulness apps.

Addressing poverty, racism, and inequality is essential to prevention.

Leaders sharing their own struggles can transform workplace stigma.

Young people need more than therapy — they need agency and action.

🔗 Links & Resources

🎧 Loved this episode?

🧡 Mental Health Support

💬 Stay Connected

🎧 Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning psychology podcast from the HubSpot Podcast Network, hosted by Chartered Occupational Psychologist Leanne Elliott and business owner Al Elliott.

🔥 Stories Covered This Week🔥

The Rise of Overemployment: Why Some Are Working 2 or 3 Jobs Leanne explores The Times' report on workers secretly juggling multiple full-time jobs. More: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-rise-of-polygamous-workers-and-efforts-to-catch-them-out

Klopp, Slot and a Masterclass in Succession Planning Leanne unpacks Liverpool’s near-perfect leadership handover and what it teaches businesses about humility, legacy, and culture. Watch Klopp’s farewell: https://youtube.com/shorts/g-H6wVK_eqE?si=_zeJNyHs1H30hsuH

Thanks to NBC Sports for the clip!

Spotify’s “We Hire Adults” Approach to Remote Work Al breaks down Spotify’s work-from-anywhere policy, why it’s defying the office-return trend, and how trust is paying off in retention and revenue. Read more: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/spotify-hr-chief-says-remote-100037895.html

🔥 Hot Take: Rebecca Taylor on Gossip at Work

Rebecca Taylor, co-founder of SkillCycle and host of HR Confessions, argues that gossip isn’t just inevitable—it’s essential. She explains why leaders should stop ignoring informal conversations and instead use them to strengthen culture, improve transparency, and drive change.

Find Rebecca here: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-taylor SkillCycle: https://skillcycle.com Podcast: HR Confessions

💬 Workplace Surgery: This Week’s Dilemmas

How Do I Run a Wellness Challenge People Actually Want to Join?

Is It Possible to Start Over After My Business Fails?

HR Is Making Me the Bad Guy Over Return-to-Office—What Should I Do?

🎧 Coming Up Thursday

We’re joined by Dr. Sarah Hughes, CEO of Mind, for a conversation on serious mental illness, prevention, and why real culture change—not perks—makes the difference.

🎯 Enjoyed this episode?

Follow, subscribe, and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts. Come join the conversation on LinkedIn—we love hearing from you.

🧠 General Support with Mental Health and Well-being

Mind UK: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/ Samaritans (UK): Call 116 123 or email [email protected]

👋 Connect with Al & Leanne Podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork/ Al: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott/ Leanne: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne/ Email: [email protected] Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat

🎧 Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning psychology podcast from the HubSpot Podcast Network, hosted by Chartered Occupational Psychologist Leanne Elliott and business owner Al Elliott.

This week, we’re joined by Nick Huber, entrepreneur, investor, founder of Sweaty Startup, and author of the brand-new Sweaty Startup book.

Nick built his empire on what most entrepreneurs overlook: boring businesses that print cash. With over 325 employees across multiple companies, Nick is shaking up how we think about leadership, scale, and simplicity.

If you’ve ever wondered how to grow a business without burning out, or if you should stop chasing the shiny stuff and focus on what actually works, this episode is for you.

💡 Key Takeaways from Nick Huber

🚀 Boring Businesses Win

📈 Focus on Scale, Not Ego

💥 How to Lead Without Losing Your Mind

📚 The Sweaty Startup Playbook

🎯 Why Hiring Right Changes Everything

🔗 Resources & Links

Nick Huber Online:

Social & Media:

Podcasts:

Book Links:

📢 Enjoyed this episode?

🧠 General Support with Mental Health and Well-being

👋 Connect with Al & Leanne

🎧 Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning psychology podcast from the HubSpot Podcast Network, hosted by Chartered Occupational Psychologist Leanne Elliott and business owner Al Elliott.

This week, we’re asking one big question:

Will your job even exist in five years, and if not, what should you be doing now?

This Week's News

Is Your Job Safe? The 21 Job Titles Predicted to Disappear by 2030

WTF Is Mindful Maneuvering?
Leanne introduces a new leadership concept: mindful maneuvering—the strategic, empathetic art of influence. Forget manipulation; this is about guiding, building trust, and moving teams forward.
Read more: https://www.worklife.news/talent/wtf-is-mindful-maneuvering/?utm_campaign=worklifedis&utm_source=worklifedaily&utm_medium=email&utm_content=42425&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Worklife%20Briefing%2004242025&utm_content=Worklife%20Briefing%2004242025+CID_afdeff85d5538c9d159a3cc926384495&utm_source=wldis&utm_term=READ%20MORE

What Actually Makes Employees Stay? (It’s Not Perks)
Recognition, not bonuses, is what really makes employees stay, according to a fresh Inc.com piece. Leanne explores why simple, specific, frequent praise can do more for engagement than any expensive perk.

Hot Take

Work futurist and empathy advocate Sophie Wade shares why workplaces need to stop blaming Gen Z for cultural clashes—and start adapting leadership styles to match a new world of work.

Gen Z expects flexibility and flat hierarchies, not because they're entitled, but because the world changed.

Information isn’t power anymore—relationships and trust are.

Human-centric leadership is no longer optional.

Speaking up shouldn’t be punished if you say you want independent thinkers.

Connect with Sophie:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/a-sophie-wade/
Courses: https://www.sophiewade.com/courses-overview/courses/
Podcast: https://www.sophiewade.com/podcasts/
Newsletter: https://www.sophiewade.com/work-in-progress/

Weekly Workplace Surgery

Can Business Owners Really Put Their Well-Being First?
One listener asks if it’s realistic to prioritise health and family while running a business without letting everything else fall apart.

Is 50% Staff Turnover in Two Years a Red Flag?
A business owner wants to know if their turnover rate is normal—or a sign of deeper problems.

What Am I Supposed to Do When My Employer Isn’t Helping Me Grow?
A frustrated employee shares how being left out of development opportunities has them questioning whether they should stay.

Next week:

We’re joined by Nick Huber—entrepreneur, investor, and founder of Sweaty Startup—who’s built a career on boring businesses that print cash. No hype, no buzzwords, just practical strategies for scaling.

Follow, subscribe, and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts. And come say hi on LinkedIn—we always love hearing your thoughts.

Mental Health Support

Mind UK: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/
Samaritans (UK): Call 116 123 or email [email protected]

👋 Connect with Al & Leanne

Podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork/
Al: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott/
Leanne: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne/
Email: [email protected]
Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat

🎧 Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning psychology podcast from the HubSpot Podcast Network, hosted by Chartered Occupational Psychologist Leanne Elliott and business owner Al Elliott.

This week, we’re joined by Amit Kalley, former deputy headteacher turned founder of For Working Parents. Amit’s mission is simple: make workplaces genuinely parent-friendly. But his journey here wasn’t. After the traumatic birth of his daughter during lockdown and a late ADHD diagnosis, Amit reached breaking point. What followed was a powerful pivot—one that’s now helping hundreds of parents and employers build cultures where family and work don’t have to fight.

👶 Support for Parents Isn’t a “Nice to Have”

Amit explains why parental support—especially for dads—is essential infrastructure, not a perk.

🧠 ADHD Isn’t a Superpower

He talks candidly about late diagnosis, stigma, and the unhelpful pressure to be ‘productive’ while masking neurodivergence.

🗣️ Storytelling Changes Culture

Amit shares how his lived experience is shifting the conversation inside businesses—by making space for honesty, not hype.

💼 No More Perfect Parent Myths

Whether it’s guilt, burnout or hustle culture, Amit breaks down the invisible load working parents carry—and how to change it.

📱 The Viral Emoji Table Is Real (and Slightly Terrifying)

His Periodic Table of Emojis is helping parents decode what their teens are really saying online—and it’s more useful than you think.

Website: https://forworkingparents.com/

Newsletter: https://forworkingparents.com/parent-up-newsletter/

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

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

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@forworkingparents

Emoji Decoder Guide: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/activity-7308760051261853696-5gmt?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAPpxk8B1ivB8GiszIgdppDkaIkcd6hBmOo

📢 Enjoyed this episode?

Follow or subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, leave a review, and share this with someone who needs to hear it—especially if they’re balancing parenthood, leadership and life.

If you’ve been affected by anything in this episode or are currently struggling with your mental health, the following resources may help:

Mind: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/

Samaritans (UK): Call 116 123 or email [email protected]

Podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork/

Al: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott/

Leanne: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne

Email: [email protected]

Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat

Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning psychology podcast from the HubSpot Podcast Network, hosted by Chartered Occupational Psychologist Leanne Elliott and business owner Al Elliott.

What is 'Alonement Space'

Leanne breaks down why post-pandemic offices are embracing “alonement spaces”—areas where people can work privately, with focus and peace.

Cambridge Dictionary blog: https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2025/03/17/new-words-17-march-2025/

Are You Lucky? Why Bezos Might Ask You That

Al unpacks Jeff Bezos’s favourite interview question—“Are you a lucky person?”—and explores the psychology behind optimism, self-awareness, and perceived control.

Inc.com: https://www.inc.com/jessica-stillman/jeff-bezos-favorite-job-interview-question-is-weird-psychology-says-its-also-brilliant/91171188

What Great Teams Actually Do Differently

Leanne revisits a huge study of nearly 1 million workers that found one powerful truth: leadership makes or breaks team performance. Great cultures aren’t built on perks or policies—but by how people are led every day.

Occupational Health Science research summary: https://medium.com/@truthlieswork/why-great-teams-protect-people-from-bad-work-52127efd73ac

Workplace culture expert Cass Briscoe, founder of Soft Work Society, challenges the culture of overwork. She argues that chronic busyness is often fear-based—driven by insecurity and control rather than productivity. Cass shares how to create micro-boundaries, make space for deep thinking, and reject the hustle-as-identity mindset.

Cass Briscoe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cassbriscoe/

“Six Interviews, Then a Pay Cut?”

After six rounds of interviews, a new graduate is offered the job—at £5k less than advertised. When questioned, the recruiter gets defensive. Is this standard practice, or a flashing red flag?

“I Hate Working—Is That Bad?”

One listener doesn’t hate their job—they hate the whole idea of working. Is that burnout talking, or is it time to rethink what work should be?

“Can Managers Still Have Mates?”

A team lead is torn: half their mates are on their team… and they're all going to game night. Can leaders still be social, or is this a boundary they shouldn’t cross?

We’re talking to Nick Huber, aka The Sweaty Startup guy—entrepreneur, investor, and newly minted majority stakeholder in Somewhere.com. With 325+ employees, no fluff, and a bold philosophy on hiring and leadership, Nick brings the straight-talking energy you need to hear.

Follow, subscribe, and leave a review on your podcast platform of choice. And connect with us on LinkedIn—we love hearing your thoughts.

If you’ve been affected by any of the themes in this episode, or are currently struggling with your mental health, the following resources may be helpful:

Mind: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/

Samaritans (UK): Call 116 123 or email [email protected]

Podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork/

Al: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott/

Leanne: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne

Email: [email protected]

Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat

🎧 Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning psychology podcast from the HubSpot Podcast Network, hosted by Chartered Occupational Psychologist Leanne Elliott and business owner Al Elliott.

This week, we’re joined by James Hawkins, co-founder and co-CEO of PostHog—a dev tools company turning $10M+ ARR without any managers, meetings, or micromanagement. James’s approach? Treat your company like a bunch of tiny startups.

👀 If you’ve ever wondered what work would feel like without middle managers, weekly check-ins, and change committees… this is your episode.

⚙️ Small Teams > Big Bureaucracy

James explains how structuring PostHog into autonomous 2–6 person teams has helped them ship faster, stay scrappy, and avoid the productivity drag of large orgs.

🔁 Engineers Lead, Managers Step Aside

Forget micromanagement. At PostHog, engineers decide what gets built—and team leads don’t even get paid more.

💥 Just Ship It

Forget pre-meetings and permission-seeking. PostHog favours “build it and test it” over endless validation and speculation.

🔍 Radical Transparency

From salaries to sabbatical policies, PostHog runs almost everything in public. Their internal company handbook? It’s online for the world to read.

🚀 Chaos is a Feature, Not a Bug

James shows how a dose of “organised chaos” can unlock innovation, ownership, and next-level productivity—if you hire the right people.

PostHog website

https://posthog.com/

James on X (Twitter)

https://x.com/james406

PostHog’s Newsletter

https://newsletter.posthog.com/

Follow or subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, leave a review, and share this episode with a fellow founder, engineer or curious manager who wants to do work differently. And come say hi on LinkedIn—we’d love to hear your thoughts.

If you’ve been affected by anything in this episode or are currently struggling with your mental health, the following resources may help:

Mind: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/

Samaritans (UK): Call 116 123 or email [email protected]

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork/

Al: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott/

Leanne: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne

Email: [email protected]

Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat

Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning psychology podcast from the HubSpot Podcast Network, hosted by Chartered Occupational Psychologist Leanne Elliott and business owner Al Elliott.

This week, we’re asking one big question: Is British work culture quietly killing innovation, clarity and leadership?

Buzzword Bingo Is Funny—Until It Isn’t

Christine Armstrong sparked a LinkedIn firestorm with her corporate jargon bingo card—featuring favourites like “sweat the asset” and “brain dump.” We explore why overusing buzzwords damages leadership credibility and trust.

Read more: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7310699571657998336/

Is British Work Culture Holding Us Back?

Tom Scourfield’s viral post questions whether UK businesses are too risk-averse and obsessed with tone over truth. We unpack the five reasons he thinks the UK is falling behind—and whether he’s right.

Read more: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/tom-scourfield_just-had-coffee-with-a-founder-from-the-us-activity-7313166492093530112-0UjX

What Really Motivates People in a Crisis?

During Greece’s financial crisis, researchers found that non-financial motivators—recognition, trust and empowerment—kept teams going. So why do we still default to bonuses and job titles?

Read more: https://medium.com/@truthlieswork/what-really-motivates-employees-in-an-economic-crisis-cc4eb2559f6b

HR coach and founder of The HR Big Meet, Emma Djemil, joins us to call out the emotional toll of working in HR. From navigating toxic dynamics to being the organisation’s emotional sponge—Emma explains why HR needs its own support system now more than ever.

The HR Big Meet: https://thehrbigmeet.com

Emma on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-djemil

“Why do people quit instead of speaking up?”

One listener watched their most talented colleague walk away from the company without ever raising concerns.

“Gen Z text speak is confusing my Gen X boss. Should I stop using it?”

From “y” to “bet ✌️”, we unpack how language creates friction between generations—and how to find middle ground without compromising personality.

“Our startup has 30 employees and zero HR policies—am I right to panic?”

Leanne breaks down the actual risks and helps this founder figure out what they need to formalise (and what can wait).

We’re joined by James Hawkins, co-founder of PostHog, who believes the future of work lies in small, autonomous teams with no hierarchy, no managers, and flat pay. But can that model scale without chaos? Find out Thursday.

Follow, subscribe, and leave a review on your podcast platform of choice. And connect with us on LinkedIn—we love hearing your thoughts.

If you have been affected by any of the themes in this episode, or are currently struggling with your mental health, the following resources may be useful.

Mind website: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/

If you are feeling in distress or despair, including feelings of suicide, please do consider calling the Samaritans for free on 116 123 (UK) or email [email protected] (Rest of World)

Join the Conversation on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork/

Connect with Al on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott/

Connect with Leanne on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne

Email: [email protected]

Book a Call with Al & Leanne: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat

Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning psychology podcast from the HubSpot Podcast Network.

This week, we’re joined by John Tarnoff, executive career coach, TEDx speaker, and author of Boomer Reinvention, to explore how professionals over 50 can turn career challenges into powerful second acts. Whether you're being ghosted by employers or wondering if it's “too late” to pivot, John is here to tell you it’s absolutely not.

🧠 Being Over 50 Is Not a Liability—It's an Advantage

Experience, resilience, and perspective are your superpowers. The key is learning how to position them.

👋 Stop Chasing Job Ads—Start Building Relationships

Most jobs aren't advertised. John breaks down how to tap into the hidden job market through strategic networking.

🧰 Ditch the Resume Obsession

Your resume won’t get you hired. Your story will. John shares how to craft a narrative that attracts opportunities.

🎯 Use the 3 Elements Career Builder Framework

John’s proven method helps late-career professionals align purpose, skill, and opportunity into a thriving new path.

💥 Get Clear on Your Value and Claim It

From ageism to “overqualified” labels, John teaches how to turn perceived weaknesses into standout assets.

John Tarnoff Website

https://johntarnoff.com/

Free Worksheet: 4 Ikigai Questions

https://johntarnoff.com/4questions/

LinkedIn

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

Book: Boomer Reinvention

https://johntarnoff.com/book/

TEDx Talk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWhM3sEHGTA

🎧 If this episode struck a chord, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone rethinking their next chapter. Join the conversation on LinkedIn too! Back Tuesday with another This Week in Work.

If you have been affected by any of the themes in this episode, or are currently struggling with your mental health, the following resources may be useful.

Mind website: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/

If you are feeling in distress or despair, including feelings of suicide, please do consider calling the Samaritans for free on 116 123 (UK) or email [email protected] (Rest of World)

Join the Conversation on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork/

Connect with Al on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott/

Connect with Leanne on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne

Email: [email protected]

Book a Call with Al & Leanne: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat