Why Not? & What If?

Send us Fan Mail

Andy and Siobhan dive into the noisy debate about neurodiversity, ADHD and mental health labels. Andy shares a very personal story of receiving conflicting opinions about ADHD and how many “ADHD traits” can also look like burnout. Together they explore why one in five children are recorded with special educational needs, what EHCPs are trying to solve, and how rigid systems in schools and workplaces push people out instead of bringing them in.

They unpack emotional intelligence, gendered mental load, masking, dyslexia and visual processing quirks like SMIDSY, asking a simple question: are we labelling people, or really understanding them?

You will hear:

• ADHD versus burnout and why the responses can be the same
• Why labels help when used for understanding and harm when used for limits
• How education and workplaces could adapt for different brains
• A practical coaching lens for supporting people who process the world differently

We also put out a genuine ask. If you are an illustrator or publisher who can help bring “My Awesome Mind” to life, please get in touch.

Got thoughts or a story to share? Email us at lets [email protected]
.
Note: Personal experiences and opinions only. This is not medical advice.

Got a story or a view? Email [email protected]
— we might do a follow-up episode with your takes.

Send us Fan Mail

In this powerful episode, Andy and Siobhán sit down with Yasmin Wells ([email protected] / www.apricity.solutions) to explore the extraordinary story of her nine-year-old son, Alex, who wrote a book called My Awesome Mind.

Alex’s unique perspective on autism reframes the conversation from challenges and deficits to creativity, positivity, and possibility. Yasmin shares how his book came to life, what it reveals about the way he experiences the world, and the impact it’s already had on his classmates, teachers, and parents.

The discussion broadens into a wider exploration of parenting, neurodiversity in schools, the challenges teachers face, and the vital role of listening, love, and advocacy. 

Together, they ask the big questions: 

How do we nurture children’s natural spark? 

How do we stop outdated systems from shutting them down? 

And what would change if we all asked each other “How does your mind work?”

This is a raw, emotional, and hopeful conversation for parents, educators, leaders and anyone who cares about how we raise the next generation.

Got a story or a view? Email [email protected]
— we might do a follow-up episode with your takes.

Send us Fan Mail

What happens when everything you’ve built suddenly collapses?

In this powerful and deeply personal episode of Why Not? & What If?, Andy and Siobhán welcome their first guest – “Farmer John.”

John’s consultancy business was thriving until the 2020 lockdown wiped out every contract overnight. What followed was a spiral into depression, financial uncertainty, and a complete loss of identity. But out of despair came an unexpected lifeline: an alpaca farm visit that sparked a new dream.

From boardrooms to barns, John and his wife Natalie reinvented their lives, creating https://www.franklyfarmtours.co.uk/ – a thriving visitor farm in Shropshire that has already welcomed thousands of people seeking joy, connection, and escape.

This conversation isn’t just about alpacas. It’s about resilience, friendship, identity, and how crisis can push us to rediscover who we really are. It’s about the permission to change, the signs we ignore, and the courage to take action.

If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to walk away from the life you thought you wanted and step into the one you were meant for, this episode is for you.

Got a story or a view? Email [email protected]
— we might do a follow-up episode with your takes.

Send us Fan Mail

What if the thing that hurt you most is also the thing that pulled you into the work you do now?

In this episode of Why Not and What If?, Siobhán and Andy dive into why we choose the careers we do – especially in the helping professions – and what happens when we’re doing that work with our own unhealed wounds in the background.

Siobhán shares how she “accidentally-but-not-really” ended up in HR, after being blocked from studying psychology and pushed into politics instead. From airport childhoods, travel bugs and British Airways family stories, to becoming the kind of HR professional who doesn’t police people but helps them feel heard – she unpacks the sliding doors moments that shaped her path.

Andy talks about growing up as a middle child, never quite feeling seen, and how that’s threaded all the way through his work in policing, communications and marketing. From victim impact statements in the police to running a consultancy literally called Be Seen Media, he explores the deep need to give other people a voice – and what that costs when you’re already carrying your own stuff.

Together they get into:

• Why some people go into HR, policing or caring roles to serve, and others to control
• Rules vs guardrails – when “just following policy” actively harms people and outcomes
• The emotional toll on HR, nurses, police, porters and counsellors – and who looks after the helpers
• How much support organisations should offer vs where personal responsibility kicks in
• The role of self-awareness, supervision and good management in staying sane when your work hits your wounds

If you’ve ever wondered “Why do I keep ending up in these roles?” or felt wrung out by work you genuinely care about, this episode is a messy, honest look at motivation, trauma, purpose and boundaries – with plenty of stories, swearing and sideways tangents along the way.

Got a story or a view? Email [email protected]
— we might do a follow-up episode with your takes.

Send us Fan Mail

Working mums shouldn’t have to choose between nappies or networking – but it often feels like they do.

In this episode of Why Not and What If?, HR consultant and coach Siobhán Godden and marketing & communications consultant Andy Cracknell dig into what really happens to a woman’s career, confidence and identity after having a baby. Sparked by a listener question from Jasmine in Australia, they unpack the messy reality of going from maternity leave back into meetings, targets and “business as usual” – when absolutely nothing feels usual anymore.

They explore the motherhood penalty vs the fatherhood bonus, why mums are drowning in the mental load, and how guilt shows up differently for mothers and fathers. Siobhán shares HR-war-story insight from the workplace and her volunteering with Pregnant Then Screwed, while Andy reflects on paternity leave, being a hands-on dad, and the lingering pressure to be the “proper breadwinner”.

You’ll hear about:

• Motherhood guilt vs fatherhood guilt – and why neither side really wins
• The invisible mental load (World Book Day, haircuts, birthday presents… all of it)
• How maternity leave and childcare impact career progression, promotions and confidence
• What good employers do: flexible working, output-focused cultures, mentoring and inclusive job ads
• Why having a baby can trigger major career pivots and a search for purpose

If you’ve ever tried to answer emails while balancing a baby on your hip, cried in the car park after nursery drop-off, or wondered if your career will ever feel the same again, this one’s for you – and for every leader who wants to genuinely support working parents, not just tick a policy box.

Keywords: working mums, working mothers, motherhood and career, returning to work after baby, maternity leave, fatherhood bonus, motherhood penalty, mental load, flexible working, HR, gender equality at work, women in leadership, parental discrimination.

Got a story or a view? Email [email protected]
— we might do a follow-up episode with your takes.

Send us Fan Mail

What actually happens in a woman’s body when she tries to “step up” and be more assertive at work?

In this episode of Why Not and What If, Siobhán and Andy kick off a mini-series inspired by listener Jasmine in Melbourne – a social worker, supervisor and coach to women in the helping professions. They dive into what it reallycosts women to communicate assertively as leaders… and why it’s still so much more complicated than “just be confident.”

Siobhán unpacks how women often have to lean on stress hormones like cortisol to create the same impact that testosterone gives men more naturally – and what that means for burnout, health and the constant tightrope between “clear” and “too much”. She shares boardroom stories of being the only woman in the room, negotiating everyone else’s pay with ease but whispering about her own, and the subtle ways women are punished for speaking plainly.

Andy brings in lived examples from policing and corporate life:

• the “diddy” female officer who had to psych herself up to roar down a violent crowd,
• strategic women ignored on male-dominated boards,
• and Black women leaders silenced by the “angry Black woman” stereotype.

Together they dig into:

• The science and psychology behind assertive communication for women
• Why confident men are “strong”, but confident women are still called “bossy” or “bitchy”
• How internalised misogyny shows up in woman-to-woman dynamics at work
• The role of soft skills (empathy, listening, emotional intelligence) in an AI-driven world
• Why men must be part of challenging misogyny and changing the culture

This one is messy, honest and a bit rage-inducing – but also hopeful. If you’ve ever toned yourself down in a meeting, rehearsed an email ten times so you don’t sound “too harsh”, or wondered why asking for fair pay feels like climbing Everest, this conversation is for you.

Got a story or a view? Email [email protected]
— we might do a follow-up episode with your takes.

Send us Fan Mail

Why do we still expect families to share one surname – and why is it usually his?

In this episode of Why Not and What If?, HR consultant and coach Siobhán Godden and marketing & communications consultant Andy Cracknell dive into the tangled world of surnames, marriage and identity. From women taking (or not taking) their partner’s name, to double-barrelled surnames, passport checks at borders and awkward moments at the school gate, they explore what our naming traditions say about family, culture and power.

Along the way they wander into heritage, patriarchy, Irish and British naming history, families with multiple surnames under one roof, and whether it really matters anymore that everyone shares the same name – especially as marriage rates fall and family structures evolve.

You’ll hear:

• Why some partners keep their original surname for professional or personal identity
• The practical headaches of different surnames for parents and children (airports, schools, forms)
• How names connect to heritage, class, status and “old money”
• Stories of names changed for safety, social acceptance or political reasons
• Big questions about whether the “traditional” family name still makes sense today

If you’ve ever debated changing your name, double-barrelling, going back to your maiden name, or giving your kids something completely different, this episode is for you.

Hit follow/subscribe for more messy, magical and unapologetically honest conversations at the intersection of life, work, leadership and all the bits we’re not supposed to talk about.

Got a story or a view? Email [email protected]
— we might do a follow-up episode with your takes.

Send us Fan Mail

Founder-CEOs, SME owners and senior leaders who struggle to let go of the day-to-day, this one’s for you.

In this episode of Why Not and What If?, HR consultant and coach Siobhán Godden and marketing & communications consultant Andy Cracknell dive into the moment every founder has to face: when you’re no longer the right person to run the business you built. They explore why some leaders cling on and stall growth, while others have the self-awareness to step aside, stay in their lane and let specialists lead.

Drawing on real-life stories from scaling SMEs, profiling organisations and corporate boards, they unpack ego, narcissistic leadership, the loneliness of the top job, and how imposter syndrome shows up even in “godlike” executives. They also bust the myth of imposter syndrome as the modern-day “bicycle face”, and talk about why coaching and “critical friends” are essential if you want a healthy, sustainable business.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• When founders and CEOs should get out of the way and stop being the bottleneck
• Why self-awareness and emotional intelligence are non-negotiable leadership skills
• How imposter syndrome, ego and culture shape decision-making at the top
• The role of coaches and trusted advisors in keeping leaders in their lane

If you’re a founder or senior leader wondering whether you might be holding your organisation back, hit play — then follow the podcast for more unfiltered conversations at the messy, magical intersection of life, work and leadership.

Got a story or a view? Email [email protected]
— we might do a follow-up episode with your takes.