SoWhoCaresAnyway

SoWhoCaresAnyway E43 Subliminal Joy

In this episode, I’m joined by Sam Elliott-Olechnowicz, Senior Multi‑Professional Practice Educator and host of The International Care Collective. Sam brings a rare blend of compassion, cultural humility and deep commitment to the people who leave their homes, families and communities to join the NHS.
Together, we explore what it really means to start again in a new country, not just professionally, but emotionally and culturally.
We talk about:
why people choose to come to the UK
the emotional labour of leaving everything familiar
the quiet power of pastoral support and belonging
how MDT culture can feel radically different
the subtle challenges people face, and what helps
Sam also shares the idea of subliminal joy: the quiet fulfilment that comes from helping someone grow, settle or simply feel seen.
This is a conversation about courage, culture and the humanity behind our workforce. And it leaves you with one simple reminder... Take a listen
Resources
The International Care Collective https://linktr.ee/international_care_collective?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=59351f0f-162f-4264-b700-41daf3550d21

SoWhoCaresAnyway E42 Intelligent Kindness

A short reflection on Intelligent Kindness.In this solo episode, I share a small moment from a recent meeting that stayed with me, a moment that showed what Intelligent Kindness can look like in practice.A gentle story about presence, listening, and the micro‑moments that shape how we care for one another.If it resonates, please share it. Ripples matter.

SoWhoCaresAnyway E41 Rewiring, Rebuliding, Becoming

In this deeply honest and eye‑opening conversation, I’m joined by
Lucy Wilson, founder of The Matrescence Empowerment Programme, to explore the profound biological and identity transformation that happens when someone becomes a mother.
Matrescence isn’t a metaphor. It’s a real, measurable neurological and hormonal shift, one that reshapes how a person thinks, feels, relates and copes. And yet, most people have never heard the word.
This episode isn’t just for those who are pregnant or parenting. It’s for partners, families, leaders, colleagues and communities, because when we understand what this transition actually involves, we change the way we support the people going through it.
Lucy shares her own story of trauma, anxiety, loneliness, and the moment she realised that “nobody was coming to save me”, a turning point that began her healing.
Together we explore:
what matrescence actually is
why so many women feel lost, overwhelmed or unlike themselves
how the brain rewires during pregnancy and early parenthood
the impact on partners, families, workplaces and society
why naming this transition matters for mental health and retention
the cultural silence around matrescence — and why it needs to change
the importance of community, compassion and early support
This is a conversation about biology, identity, belonging, and the emotional labour that so often goes unseen. Whether you’re a parent, a partner, a leader or simply someone who cares about human wellbeing, this episode will stay with you.

So Who Cares Anyway E40 Human Nature

In this episode, I’m joined by James Farrell, chartered environmentalist, accredited coach, and founder of both the Natural Coaching Company and the Human Nature Partnership. James brings a rare blend of ecological insight, systems thinking, and deep care for human wellbeing.
🌱 Together, we explore what it really means to reconnect with nature, not just through access, but through relationship.James shares how nature connectedness shapes our mental health, our sense of purpose, our communities, and even our pro‑social and pro‑environmental behaviours.
🌍 We talk about:•  childhood memories and early threads of connection•  belonging, rootlessness, and finding place•  how ecosystems mirror human systems•  why nature is a missing piece in current policy conversations
🌿 James also lifts the lid on:•  green social prescribing•  biophilic design•  the government’s current review into mental health, ADHD and autism•  and why nature needs to be part of that conversation
This is a conversation about repair of ourselves, our systems, and our relationship with the natural world. And it begins with something simple: stepping outside and noticing

So Who Cares Anyway - E39 From Knowing, To Understanding, To Acting

In this solo episode, I share key learning from my NIHR Knowledge Mobilisation Fellowship, exploring how we develop the workforce to better meet the needs of autistic people and people with learning disabilities.
Drawing on four workshops with people with lived experience, families, carers, and staff across sectors, I explore three core insights:•  It’s not just what staff know, it’s what they need to feel and understand.•  Trust has been eroded, and rebuilding it requires intention and consistency.•  Inclusion must be active, relational, and genuinely shaped by people’s voices.I also share some of the “golden threads” that emerged, and why the real work begins when we move from knowing → understanding → acting
 
Resources and Links 
New fellows take the lead in turning health research into action
 
 
 

So Who Cares Anyway - E38 Our experiences are never wasted

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr Tony Jones, retired GP, educator, clinical leader, and someone whose career has been shaped by a deep belief that our experiences are never wasted.Tony spent four decades in general practice, GP education, and system leadership. His roles included Programme Director, GP Tutor, and West Kent Training Hub Lead, as well as work with West Kent CCG and the Health Care Partnership before retiring in 2025. Alongside his professional life, Tony is married with three adult children and one grandchild, a trustee for three charities, a gardener, gym‑goer, and open‑mic enthusiast. He is also a committed Christian and is now training in lay leadership.In our conversation, Tony reflects on the early moments that shaped him, the anxiety and self‑doubt he carried into training, and how those experiences became the foundation for the support he later offered to hundreds of GPs through CLIC Clinical Leadership programme.We explore emotional intelligence, reflective practice, imposter syndrome, risk culture, and the quiet power of asking why we do what we do. Tony shares stories of trainees who found their confidence, stepped into leadership, or stayed in the profession because someone believed in them.This is a conversation about care, calling, and the courage to understand yourself so you can better support others. It’s about kindness, leadership, and the small decisions that shape who we become, in medicine and beyond.

SoWhoCaresAnyway E37 Everyone’s Something - Is Something

What happens when life reshapes you, not by choice, but by necessity?
In this deeply human conversation, I’m joined by Tom Jepson: full‑time carer, fuller‑time parent, and an ICF‑accredited life coach. Tom shares the story of raising his son Noah, navigating an ultra‑rare genetic condition, and rebuilding his identity around care, purpose and possibility.
Tom speaks openly about the realities of caring, the routines, the exhaustion, the humour, the grief, the joy, and how those experiences transformed his professional life. Today, Tom helps adults re‑identify with who they are and what they need from life, work and the world.We explore:• What caring looks like when no one’s watching• How identity shifts in unexpected ways• The emotional undercurrent that shapes every decision
Tom often talks about boundaries, owning your space, and making the most of the time you have without too much compromise. You can usually find him writing his daily email newsletter, connecting on LinkedIn, or drinking a large black Americano in a local coffee shop.This episode is a gentle reminder that the work carers do, seen and unseen, matters profoundly, and that small glimmers of joy can still be found even in the hardest seasons.
Show resources
Toms Website: https://tomjepsoncoaching.com
Email: hello@tomjepsoncoaching.com
Newsletter: https://newsletter.tomjepsoncreative.com
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/tomjepsoncoaching
SubStack: https://substack.com/@tomexistsonline
Footprints CIC: https://www.facebook.com/footprintscec.newsandinformation
BPAN: https://www.nbiadisorders.org/about-nbia/bpan

So Who Cares Anyway E36 The Power of Art at Work; Caring for those who care

In this episode, I’m joined by Senior Art Psychotherapist Claire O'Donoghue and CAMHS Registrar Safia Zaffarullah to explore a remarkable project bringing art therapy to resident doctors.
We talk about emotional labour, burnout, and why supporting the people who care for others is essential. Claire explains the power of art therapy, not as something “creative on the side,” but as a deeply regulating, reflective, embodied practice. Safia shares how their co‑created workshop helped doctors relax, reconnect, and rediscover their own emotional landscape.
We also explore why, even when you’ve got a million things to do, taking time to pause isn’t a luxury but a necessity, how creativity can offer a way back to yourself, and why our brains need to relax too.
With statistically significant improvements in wellbeing and overwhelmingly positive feedback, this project offers a hopeful, innovative approach to supporting staff working on the cold face of care.
Show resources
 BBC News – Art therapy could half burnout risk, study of London medics shows - BBC News
BJPsych Open – Art Therapy Experiential Workshops During Work Hours to Promote Doctors’ Wellbeing – A Quantitative Analysis | BJPsych Open | Cambridge Core
The British Association of Art Therapists - The British Association of Art Therapists | BAAT

So Who Cares Anyway; E35 One Year On: Stories, Hope, and Welcome to 2026

In this special New Year’s Day episode, I’m marking one year since the very first So Who Cares Anyway went live. It’s been a year of conversations, learning, and deep reflection, and today I’m sharing some of what I’ve learnt, what has stayed with me, and what I’m carrying into 2026.
From personal stories that spark passion, to the power of listening with curiosity, to the shift from doing for people to doing with people; this episode brings together the threads that have run through so many of our guests’ experiences. I talk about empathy, co‑production, asset‑based community development, and the wisdom already present in our communities.
And as we step into 2026, I offer a message of hope: that even in challenging times, connection, curiosity, and community can help us create something better together.

SoWhoCaresAnyway E34 Challenging the stereo type of aging

What does it mean to age with grace, dignity, and equity?
In this episode, I’m joined by, Dr. Laila Khalfan Surani lecturer, researcher, Rotarian, and founder of EMAGE, a new community interest company supporting ethnic minority older adults. Layla shares her journey from Pakistan to the UK, her passion for serving underserved communities, and why aging should be reframed as contribution rather than decline.
We explore the challenges of loneliness, isolation, and discrimination, and hear how workshops and intergenerational programs can empower older adults to rediscover identity, joy, and meaning.
Podcast resources
Ethnic Minority Ageing with Grace and Equity