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PODCAST

My Pocket Psych

Dr. Richard A. MacKinnon

My Pocket Psych is all about the psychology of the workplace. Each episode, we"ll examine the world of work and explore a topic through the lens of psychology. Wellbeing, productivity, careers, relationship management. We"ll aim to give listeners tips to help improve their experience of work - moving from surviving to thriving! My Pocket Psych is brought to you by WorkLifePsych Ltd and hosted by Dr. Richard MacKinnon, a Chartered Psychologist and coach.

science social sciences

All Episodes

55:10

Ep 228: Help! I feel like an imposter!

My Pocket Psych ·

2026/10/07

In this episode, Richard is joined by fellow psychologist Dr. Hayley Lewis for a chat about what we now call 'Imposter Phenomenon'. Essentially, Imposter Phenomenon (previously called 'imposter syndrome') is an experience when an employee feels they've achieved their success and position due to luck, rather than talent, and that any moment, it could all come crashing down. The combination of uncertainty and worry can lead to some very unhealthy ways of working, while also eroding job satisfaction

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16:37

Ep 227: An owner's manual for the mind

My Pocket Psych ·

2026/09/30

In this episode, we turn our attention to the topic of thoughts, thinking and how we interact with all the stuff our own mind creates for us. While the human mind is definitely a wonderful thing, some of the thoughts (including images, predictions, memories) it provides us can be unpleasant to experience. They can lead to worry, distraction, and unhappiness over time. And unlike all the fridges, cars and computers you've ever bought, we don't receive an owner's manual for the mind at birth. If

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24:33

Ep 226: What is success, anyway?

My Pocket Psych ·

2026/09/23

In this episode, I look at the downsides of striving for future success, when we're not completely sure what that actually looks like. In coaching sessions, I often hear clients worry that they're not successful, not successful enough or concerned about missing a future success target. All when they can't clearly explain to me or themselves what success looks like. This means we can often put in the hard work and make the sacrifices in pursuit of something that we mightn't even value or care about

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16:17

Ep 225: Values as tools for life

My Pocket Psych ·

2026/09/16

One of the best ways to understand something as conceptual as values is to use metaphors and imagery. In this episode, I explore the topic of values by seeing them as tools - tools for life. Whether it's navigating organisational change, cultivating new healthy habits, or managing a difficult relationship, values can be an extremely helpful way to clarify our intentions and guide our behaviour. But like all tools, we need to practice using them, avoid over-relying on one tool, and reflect on how our

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13:20

Ep 224: Values - it's what you do that matters

My Pocket Psych ·

2026/09/09

Our monthly focus over on WorkLifeSpark is values and how to bring them to life. So, in this episode, I take a look at the importance of living values, not just talking about them. I use my recent extended holiday as a simple illustration of how to bring values to life in simple ways, but also explore how this can be done in the workplace. Values-in-action isn't always fun, though - so I take some time to explain why some of the meaningful things we do are important for their outcome, not for how

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15:09

Ep 223: Take a break - before you need it!

My Pocket Psych ·

2026/08/26

This episode continues our recent run on sleep, intentional rest and breaks, this time viewed through the lens of sustainability. When working with coaching clients, I often ask them something along the lines of: Can you keep working the way you are right now without it costing you? That is the central question when it comes to working pace, intensity and sustainability. And it's sustainability, not just short-term output, that's the right lens for thinking about taking breaks. The bottom line is

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20:08

Ep 222: Rest is more than sleep

My Pocket Psych ·

2026/08/19

In this episode, I continue the focus on sleep, rest and breaks, moving beyond sleep itself to explore the many other forms rest can take. I explain why treating rest as something to be earned gets in the way of sustainable working. And actively hampers our performance and wellbeing. Why sleep is a biological imperative, but rest is a separate need requiring a conscious decision. How rest can take many forms - not just lying down! The episode closes with a practical three-step exercise for building

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43:49

Ep 221: Sleep and rest - they're not optional!

My Pocket Psych ·

2026/08/05

In this episode, Richard is joined again by Dr Fiona Jane Meechin to tackle a topic that underpins everything else in workplace wellbeing: sleep. They make the case that sleep isn't just one wellbeing habit among many. Rather, it's the foundation that determines whether everything else we do for our health and performance actually pays off. The conversation covers why consistently short sleep is linked to serious physical and mental health risks (including a measurable rise in early mortality), and

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20:50

Ep 220: Navigating change with compassion

My Pocket Psych ·

2026/07/29

In this episode, I look at how self-compassion can help us navigate organisational change - one of the most common, and often most difficult, experiences we face at work. I start with a quick recap of what self-compassion actually is (and isn't): mindful awareness of our difficulties, a sense of common humanity, and genuine self-kindness — not softness, not lowered standards, and definitely not "keep calm and carry on." I explore why change tends to feel threatening, even when it's handled well

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19:53

Ep 219: Comparison or compassion?

My Pocket Psych ·

2026/07/15

In this episode, I explore why we compare ourselves to others at work, and what to do when those comparisons leave us feeling worse rather than better. I unpack the evolutionary roots of social comparison, why comparing ourselves to people we don't know well (rather than those close to us) tends to be the most damaging, and how these comparisons can spiral into rumination, pull us out of the present moment, and quietly shape our self-concept over time. Drawing on my coaching work, I share four

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44:32

Ep 218: Self-compassion with Dr. Fiona Jane Meechan

My Pocket Psych ·

2026/07/08

In this episode, Richard is joined by an expert in self-compassion for a discussion about this all-important skillset. Richard and Fiona Jane Meechan discuss why self-compassion can be tough to develop, even when we can be compassionate to others. They look at some of the simple ways we can bring self-compassion to life in our everyday routines, exploring it through the lens of the six pillars of wellbeing. This includes social connection, sleep, movement and self-talk. They bust some myths and

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22:26

Ep 217: Self-care - it's not what you think

My Pocket Psych ·

2026/06/24

Last time, we looked at the benefits of doing less to support our self-care. In this episode, I tackle five of the most common misconceptions about self-care - which I've encountered from coaching and training clients over the years. From the idea that it's just pampering or an occasional treat, to the belief that it's time-consuming, selfish, or something that can be saved for a less busy season of life. I argue that self-care is best understood as anything done intentionally to improve your

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18:56

Ep 216: Self-care - the power of less

My Pocket Psych ·

2026/06/10

In this episode, we take a look at an aspect of self-care that's often overlooked: the impact of doing less, not more. Often, when we discuss a need for self-care, my clients' minds turn to new activities, new routines... new stuff. They can easily visualise a 'need' to somehow squeeze even more into their already hectic schedules. As a result, self-care can quickly feel like a chore, not a benefit. Which is the opposite of what we're trying to achieve! Instead, I challenge my clients to identify

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15:11

Ep 215: You are not your task list

My Pocket Psych ·

2026/06/03

In this episode, the final of three looking at how we use our productivity tools, I discuss the humble task list. It has the potential to bring clarity and a sense of accomplishment. At the same time, it can lead to overwhlem, confusion and a sense of failure. It's all in how we think about what the task list represents. It's one thing to equate it with a plan for the day. Quite another to equate it with our self-worth and productivity. We need to ensure we construct a task list intentionally and

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14:13

Ep 214: Does your calendar reflect what matters?

My Pocket Psych ·

2026/05/20

Following on from last episode's exploration of intentional use of productivity tools, this episode we take some time to look at calendars. When used intentionally and with care, a calendar can provide valuable structure and a plan for investing your limited time, attention and energy. However, the calendar is instead often a source of anxiety and overwhelm. Calendars are the tools we use to manage various commitments. In this episode, I make the distinction between the commitments we make to

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23:13

Ep 213: The right tool for the job

My Pocket Psych ·

2026/05/14

In this episode, we take a look at the role that productivity tools play in our ability to get stuff done at work. Don't worry - this isn't an episode reviewing all the latest apps! But rather, we look at the essential categories of tools needed for the typical knowledge worker. Somewhere to manage their tasks and projects, somewhere to gather information and knowledge, and somewhere to manage their commitments. And just like all tools, we need to learn how to use these properly, avoid switching to

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41:36

Ep 212: Connection and disconnection in remote teams

My Pocket Psych ·

2026/04/29

Richard is joined by Pilar Orti and Brie Caggiati , co-authors of 'Connection and Disconnection in Remote Teams', a book that grew out of a season of the 21st Century Work Life podcast. They discuss the misconceptions that exist about remote work (and co-located office work!) and the role that organisational leaders, managers and individual employees can play in improving connection - whatever their work set-up. They flag the importance of job design, intentional communication, and the latitude

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31:06

Ep 211: Reflecting, on a continuum

My Pocket Psych ·

2026/04/15

In this third episode exploring the benefits of reflection, I take a look at how reflection can exist on a continuum of time and complexity. From a few moments in between meetings through to taking the time to review the week, month or even year gone by! It needn't be an enormously time-consuming activity, or one that requires us to maintain a complex and all-consuming diary of thoughts, feelings and events. Don't forget, I'll be facilitating a masterclass on how to make reflection a habit on April

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17:20

Ep 210: Help! What do I do with this feedback?

My Pocket Psych ·

2026/04/08

In this second part of our focus on reflection and self-awareness, we take a look at the role of feedback. While it's not always comfortable to ask for - or receive! - feedback from our colleagues can make a valuable contribution to self-awareness and personal development. Others' perspectives can round out the view we hold about our own skills, behaviour and performance. In this episode, we look at how to request feedback from others, how to deal with the emotions we feel when we receive it, and

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23:28

Ep 209: Making time for reflection

My Pocket Psych ·

2026/04/01

In this episode, we take a look at a key element of personal development and growth: reflection. While so many of us feel we're too busy to engage in reflection, or worry that it's too time-consuming, this episode illustrates that we can start with tiny steps and grow from there. But it's not just thinking about our experiences. It's about sense-making and identifying ways that we can turn our insights into action. And don't forget about this month's masterclass on reflection, where you'll learn how

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232 results

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