You Are Not A Frog

You're working hard, doing excellent clinical work, and genuinely trying to make things better for your patients - so why does it feel like no one's listening? So many healthcare professionals hit a wall where their ideas get talked over, their proposals stall, and their careers plateau, even when their track record is strong.In this episode, Rachel is joined by Sam Pearce and Sally Powell, co-founders of Impactful Women, to talk about political intelligence - what it actually is, why it feels uncomfortable at first, and how building the right relationships strategically (and with integrity) is the real skill that gets things done in the NHS and beyond.Key TakeawaysYour career is your responsibility - waiting for someone to notice you or advocate for you is the most common career trap there is.Influence is relational, not hierarchical. The person who has been in the department 15 years with no senior title can have more sway than the clinical director.Decisions get made before the meeting. Building relationsh

Every day in healthcare, a meeting ends, and a problem that was never formally handed to anyone lands on the person who cares most - you.If you've ever walked out of a room carrying something that somehow became yours without anyone asking, this Quick Dip Episode gives that experience a name, explains exactly why it keeps happening to people like you, and gives you the language to start pushing back on it.Listen to other episodes in the Over-Responsibility Trap series:Part 1: Why Responsibility Keeps Landing on YouPart 2: When ‘Can You Help?’ Doesn’t Feel Like a QuestionLearn more about The Shapes Academy here.Get more episodes and resources by joining FrogXtraMentioned in this episode:[FREE Webinar] How to Lead Without RescuingJoin Dr Rachel Morris and Dr Sarah Coope for a free 60-minute live webinar on Tuesday 21st April, 2026 at 19:30-20:30 BST OR Thursday 23rd April, 2026 at 13:00-14:00 BST[FREE Webinar] How to Lead Without Rescuing

How many times this week have you thought, "I just don't have a choice"? About your rota, your inbox, the extra patient squeezed in at the end of clinic? That thought feels true, and it can feel like a fact... But what if it’s actually a story, and that story is costing you your peace of mind?In this episode, Rachel sits down with Robbie Swale, coach, author of ‘The Power to Choose’, and creator of the 12 Minute Method, to dig into why reclaiming a sense of agency and choice matters so deeply for your wellbeing. Together, they explore how small shifts in language and perception can move you from feeling like life is happening to you to feeling like you are actually living it on purpose.Key TakeawaysSwitching "I have to" to "I choose to" is not just a mindset trick. It activates a different part of your nervous system and genuinely changes how you experience pressure.You almost certainly have more options than you can currently see. Curiosity, not certainty, is what opens them up.The 12 Minute Method proves th

Have you ever had someone ask for “a quick bit of help”… and somehow ended up owning the entire task?In caring professions, requests for help can feel less like requests and more like responsibilities landing on us. We’re trained to notice problems, fix things and support colleagues - which means it can feel incredibly uncomfortable to say no.In this Quick Dip episode, Rachel explores the moment when a simple request triggers our helping reflex, and why so many capable professionals end up carrying work that was never meant to be theirs.Learning to pause before automatically saying yes can help you support colleagues without becoming the automatic carrier of responsibility for everyone and everything.Key ideas discussed in this episodeWhy requests for help often feel like obligationsThe “helping reflex” in caring professionsHow small requests can quietly become your responsibilityThe difference between caring about something and carrying itWhy saying yes when you don’t have capacity can lead to resentmentHow

The founder of the National Association of Sessional GPs on whether the grass is always greener, and the changes you can make in your career without feeling like a frog forced to jump out of the pan.Get more episodes and resources by joining FrogXtraMentioned in this episode:Download Your Free Overwhelm SOS Guide Discover the simple, step-by-step process you need to calm your mind, take control of your tasks, and get yourself out of overwhelm.

Have you ever looked at a task on your plate and wondered when it became your responsibility?Nobody asked you to do it. Nobody assigned it to you. But somehow it landed on you, and now you're carrying it.In this Quick Dip, Rachel explores the responsibility trap - the pattern where capable and conscientious professionals automatically pick up unclaimed problems. Over time, these responsibilities accumulate, increasing your workload, emotional labour, and ultimately contributing to burnout.This episode explores why responsible people are particularly vulnerable to this trap and how being more deliberate about what you choose to carry can protect both your energy and your professional identity.Resources mentionedDr Sarah Coope’s LinkedIn article on the “silence gap”FrogFest Virtual: The Doubt Busters - a half-day online symposium for doctors and senior healthcare professionals happening on 3 June 2026.Get more episodes and resources by joining FrogXtraMentioned in this episode:FrogXtra Gold Join the Frog podcas

Mindset shifts to help you explore difficult feelings and find solutions without falling into rescuer mode or getting overwhelmed.Get more episodes and resources by joining FrogXtraMentioned in this episode:Email  admin@shapestoolkit.com to discuss our live training offerings.FrogFest Virtual – The Doubt Busters A half-day online symposium for doctors and senior healthcare professionals.

There’s more on your plate than you realise, and most likely you’re trying to cram 25 hours of work into a 24 hour day, not counting sleep and time away from work. Here’s some practical advice to help you see what’s on your plate, and what you need to sacrifice.Get more episodes and resources by joining FrogXtraDownload the Overwhelm SOS ToolkitDownload the Thrive Week PlannerMentioned in this episode:FrogFest Virtual – The Doubt Busters A half-day online symposium for doctors and senior healthcare professionals.

What happens when we need to raise a serious concern that could affect patient safety? And what happens if someone raises a concern to you?Get more episodes and resources by joining FrogXtraMentioned in this episode:Download Your Free Overwhelm SOS Guide Discover the simple, step-by-step process you need to calm your mind, take control of your tasks, and get yourself out of overwhelm.

What does it mean for a doctor to be “good”? Can you be “good” and still take care of yourself? And how can we rescue ourselves from the trap of thinking that asking for support is somehow a moral failing?Get more episodes and resources by joining FrogXtraMentioned in this episode:How to Ditch the Superhero and Be More Superhuman A 90-minute advanced masterclass to help you protect yourtime and energy, even with an overwhelming workload.

Practical questions from a clinical psychologist to help you assess whether you’re in a harmful work environment, or one that doesn’t align with your values or strengths.Get more episodes and resources by joining FrogXtraGet more links and show notes via our websiteMentioned in this episode:How to Ditch the Superhero and Be More Superhuman A 90-minute advanced masterclass to help you protect yourtime and energy, even with an overwhelming workload.

And what BBC’s The Traitors can teach us about trust, group-think, and truth.Get more episodes and resources by joining FrogXtraFind more links and show notes via our website

Practical techniques to help you respond when someone makes demands on your time, from an expert in mediation and team coaching.Get more episodes and resources by joining FrogXtraMentioned in this episode:Permission to Thrive 2026 Feel like yourself again, with our community of like-minded doctors.Say it So You’re Heard A crib sheet for clear and calm communication in high-stress moments.

How to reframe impossible choices into doable decisions, using a tried-and-tested framework and a simple power mantra.Get more episodes and resources by joining FrogXtraGet more links and show notes via our website

How to recognise and avoid “chronic niceness”, regulate your nervous system, and confront people in a way that deepens – and doesn’t damage – relationships.Get more episodes and resources by joining FrogXtraMentioned in this episode:Permission Week The 5-day mini-series of mindset shifts for doctors who want to find themselves again.Say it So You’re Heard A crib sheet for clear and calm communication in high-stress moments.

Stress doesn’t always come from work, or from things we traditionally think of ass stressful. As 2026 begins, here are three questinos you can ask yourself to see what it’s time to stop doing.Get more episodes and resources by joining FrogXtraMentioned in this episode:Permission Week The 5-day mini-series of mindset shifts for doctors who want to find themselves again.

When shame becomes toxic, we can end up in a spiral that’s difficult to escape. This quick dip offers a chance to break free of that spiral, remember that we’re human, and remind ourselves we’re doing our best.Get more episodes and resources by joining FrogXtraMentioned in this episode:Get Your Life Back The mindset shift every healthcare professional needs

When it comes to work, what we seek can often shift in mid-life, from recognition and status towards meaningful contribution and purpose. What do you do if you’r at that crossroads in your career?Get more episodes and resources by joining FrogXtraMentioned in this episode:Get Your Life Back The mindset shift every healthcare professional needsGet Your Life Back The mindset shift every healthcare professional needs

Women are conditioned to be the emotional shock absorbers for men, and to carry the emotional load of a relationship or a family, on top of their duties at work.As Tamu Thomas explains, this isn’t about apportioning blame or guilt, but recognising what’s needed to create systems that allow both parties in a relationship to thrive.Get more episodes and resources by joining FrogXtraDownload the THRIVE Week PlannerFind more links and resources via our show notesMentioned in this episode:Get Your Life Back The mindset shift every healthcare professional needsSay it So You’re Heard A crib sheet for clear and calm communication in high-stress moments.

Burnout is not your fault, and it’s not inevitable. The choices you make will shape how you survive in a toxic system, and they don’t involve victim-blaming.Get more episodes and resources by joining FrogXtraMentioned in this episode:Permission to Pause A free 60-minute sanctuary for doctors – a quiet hour in the middle of winter where your role can fall away and you can reappear.