SoWhoCaresAnyway

The Spaces In Between
In this episode, Ruth speaks with William Nicholson, co‑convener of A Better Way, about identity, connection, and the places in society where people don’t neatly fit into boxes. Will shares how growing up mixed Scottish and Chinese shaped his lifelong curiosity about the “spaces in between”; the middle ground where difference meets possibility.
Together, Ruth and Will explore how society has been built around silos, roles, and fixed boxes, and how many of us spend our lives trying to squeeze ourselves into shapes that don’t quite fit. They talk about the yearning for something more connected, more human, and more collaborative, and how A Better Way is helping people imagine and practice that shift.
Will introduces A Better Way’s eight principles and four behaviours, and shares the story of a powerful NHS England project where professionals told their own stories, not as job titles, but as people. It became a toolkit of humanity rather than instructions, and a reminder that sharing power builds power.
A reflective conversation about identity, belonging, connection, and the courage to rethink how we live and work together.
Key reflections
Growing up in the “space in between”
Why society loves boxes, and why they limit us
A Better Way’s eight principles and four behaviours
Power with vs power over
The storytelling project with NHS England and Co:Create
Why professionals need to tell their stories too
Reimagining society from the whole, not the silos
Resources
A Better Way Network  https://betterway.network
Principles + Behaviours  https://www.betterway.network/the-change-we-want-to-see
NHS Involvement Storytelling Project  https://www.betterway.network/involvement-nhs-storytelling-initiative1
Co:Create  https://cocreate.org.uk
NHS England Involvement & Engagement https://www.england.nhs.uk/participation
Do With Movement + Kings Fund + Do With Charter
 

In this solo reflection, Ruth explores what happens inside us when we listen to other people’s stories, especially the difficult ones. Before we learn anything, we feel something, and those emotions can quietly shape how we respond.
Ruth reflects on why stories don’t automatically create change, how defensiveness and overwhelm can block learning, and why psychological safety matters so much in practice. She shares two simple questions that help us stay open, reflective, and responsible when we hear something that challenges us.
A gentle episode about noticing our inner reactions, staying present with others, and understanding the bridge between emotion and learning.

In this episode I’m joined by Beryl Palmer | LinkedIn,x a social worker and senior leader whose own experience of burnout, illness and disconnection led her to re‑examine how she was living — and ultimately to retrain as a sophrologist.
This conversation follows on from Episode 23 with Dr Jane Stevens MD, MBA, PhD | LinkedIn, where we first touched on sophrology and the harmony we often forget in chaotic systems. You don’t need to have heard that episode, but if you did, you’ll recognise some of the threads we pick up again here. With Beryl, the focus shifts, from understanding sophrology to exploring what happens when it’s lived, practiced and applied in real‑world care settings, and what it can open up for people working in demanding roles.
Beryl talks openly about the years she spent “living on a diet of stress,” the moment she realised she’d lost her sense of self, and the slow, steady process of reconnecting mind, body and identity. She describes sophrology as both a simple toolkit and a deeply transformational practice — something that can help people reset in the middle of a working day, or guide them through profound personal change.
Together we explore:
what sophrology is and where it comes from
how Beryl’s own burnout became a turning point
the difference between “outside‑in” and “inside‑out” living
why clinicians, social workers and carers are so vulnerable to stress and compassion fatigue
how simple mind‑body practices can support emotional resilience
the importance of teaching mental‑health skills before crisis
how sophrology is being used in schools, retreats and health and social care teams
what happens when people begin to notice the early signals of stress rather than waiting for collapse
This is a gentle, grounded conversation about learning to live differently, with more awareness, more balance, and more connection to ourselves.
Resources
Sophrology in Social Work Education Exploring an innovative mind‑body method to support student wellbeing and resilience https://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/UDV9Y7RQXPPYV9XA76GC/full?target=10.1080/02615479.2026.2636685
NICE Guidelines: Mental Wellbeing at Work (2022) NICE recommends that employers offer yoga, mindfulness and meditation as evidence‑based support for staff wellbeing.Sophrology uniquely brings all three together in one structured method.https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng212
Out in the Field — Health & Social Care Retreats Retreats designed to support the wellbeing, reflection and restoration of people working in health and social care.https://outinthefield.org/
Free Online Sophrology Group Session Join a free session hosted by the Sophrology Academy.https://www.sophroacademy.co.uk/events/
Book: The Sophrology Method by Florence Parot A practical introduction to sophrology and its mind‑body techniques.https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sophrology-Method-mind-body-techniques-healthier/dp/1856753867/
Sophrology Vimeo Channel Short videos and guided practices from the Sophrology Academy.https://vimeo.com/user228831104
2‑Minute Animation: What is Sophrology? A simple visual explanation of the method.https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/1031474215
Beryl Palmer — Sophrologist Learn more about Beryl’s work, training and practice.http://www.berylpalmer.com/

In this episode I’m joined by nurse and researcher @sandradyer_05, whose lifelong commitment to justice, equity and care has shaped her work across primary care, palliative care and now her PhD at King’s.
We talk about the roots of that commitment — from the peace movement and community activism of the 1980s to the moments in practice when health inequalities became personal and deeply human.
Our conversation moves from local experience to global responsibility. Sandra speaks openly about why events in Gaza matter to nurses here in the UK, the ethical duty to protect people wherever they are, and the emotional and professional risks of speaking up.
We explore the destruction of healthcare infrastructure, the loss of colleagues, the barriers to aid and education, and the courage it takes to advocate for others — in small everyday acts as much as in public spaces.
This is a thoughtful and grounded conversation about what it means to name what we see, and what care asks of us in an interconnected world.
Resorces
Nurses4palestine2024
Médecins Sans Frontières
 

In this short solo reflection, I share a moment that reminded me how change really happens — not through training days or modules, but through being listened to and recognised.
I met with a woman who’d been trying for years to get the right support. She wasn’t lacking knowledge; she was lacking recognition. And when she said, “People improve when they feel listened to,” it stopped me in my tracks.
This episode explores how being seen helps people reconnect with their own strengths, and how small moments of attunement can bridge the gap between what we know and what we do. Sometimes we can’t fix everything — but being present can still make a difference.
If you’re interested in the micro‑moments that shape care, this reflection is for you.

Do With, Can Do: What Happens When Communities Lead — with Tim Mason
In this episode, I’m joined by Tim Mason, who leads Rotary Direct Membership. But this isn’t really a conversation just about Rotary, it’s about what happens when people come together to strengthen the places they live.
We explore how small gestures, shared action, and “doing with” rather than “doing to” can transform communities. Tim shares real examples of people creating change, from local peer groups to nature‑based projects to creative, cultural initiatives, and why Rotary’s evolving model is opening new doors for busy people who still want to make a difference.
A gentle, hopeful conversation about belonging, connection, and the power we all have to shape our communities.
 
To find out more about Rotary and potentially becoming a direct member visit; 
Direct Membership - Rotary in Great Britain and Ireland
Rotary Clubs | Rotary International

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

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.

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.

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