What happens when a high performer comes back — after parental leave, sick leave, or a career break — and quietly wonders: Can I still do it?

In this episode of The Coaching Clubhouse, Adrian Last is joined by Jessica Chivers, one of the UK’s first Chartered Coaching Psychologists, executive coach, and founder of The Talent Keeper Specialists, for a warm, honest conversation about what it really takes to return to work and thrive.

Jessica shares the behind-the-scenes reality of earning chartership while juggling major family pressures, the key insight that resilience “ebbs and flows”, and why self-compassion isn’t optional when life gets heavy. From there, the conversation moves into comeback coaching and the brilliance of how it supports people returning to work after a period of leave, including shortening the distance between a career-changing moment and being fully back in the game.

You’ll also hear Jessica’s practical guidance for line managers, a powerful case for meaningful shared parental leave, and why childcare should be treated as essential infrastructure. And Jessica closes with a brilliant coaching question that instantly shifts perspective.

If you’re returning to work, supporting someone who is, or leading a team through change — this one’s for you.

Links:

www.talentkeepers.co.uk

Podcast: "Comeback Coach"

Instagram: @comebackcommuk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to a Coaching Clubhouse Extra Shot — a shorter, off-air moment from my conversation with Angela Cox, recorded right after we wrapped the main episode.

In this candid excerpt, Angela and host Adrian Last, swap Joe Wicks stories — how The Body Coach helped each of us kick-start big personal change… and the unexpected ripple effect it had on Angela’s life and business. Angela shares a brilliant moment from a recent conference where Joe recognised her voice in front of a packed audience — a reminder that real success often comes down to one thing: genuine human connection.

A short listen with a big takeaway: sometimes the smallest encouragement (even a voice note) can change everything.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this powerful and refreshingly honest episode, Adrian Last welcomes Angela Cox — Cambridge-qualified Master Coach, founder of Paseda360, and creator of the groundbreaking “Stop Being Stuck” method.

Angela shares her remarkable journey from corporate boardrooms to leading a movement in human-centric coaching. She opens up about the personal transformation that inspired her to leave a high-flying job, take off the mask, and build a life and business rooted in authenticity.

Together, Adrian and Angela explore what she calls the Pretending Pandemic — the masks we all wear to fit in and feel safe — and how we can start to unlearn them. They discuss why traditional coaching models like GROW have “had their day,” why true change means working with both the wiring and the plumbing of our emotional selves, and why bravery might just be the most important step of all.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, not quite yourself, or like success hasn’t made you happy — this conversation is your permission slip to take the mask off.

Listen for:

• The real story behind Stop Being Stuck
• What the “pretender masks” are — and how to spot your own
• How self-awareness transforms performance
• Why bravery, not perfection, creates change

Links:

Angela's LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelacoxpaseda360/

Paseda360 on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/school/paseda360/

Podcast: The Leader Unmasked

Adrian's website: www.adrianlast.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.