In this episode, we meet Aaron Smith, Specialty General Manager for Theatres, Anaesthetics and Critical Care. Aaron came to the NHS just over two years ago from the RAF - with zero clinical background and everything to learn.

We explore the two sliding doors moments that shaped his path: being rejected by the police and marines but accepted by the Air Force, and losing his father a year before leaving the military. The care his dad received from Dr Dennis and the ward nurses showed Aaron the human side of the NHS - and inspired him to give back.

Aaron shares what surprised him most about working in healthcare (the iceberg of work patients never see), how military leadership has evolved from command and control to followship, why the best pilots aren't necessarily the best leaders (and what that means for medical leadership), and what it's like trying to bring structure to an organization where you can't pause to fix things - you're fixing the aeroplane while it's flying.

From chairing a local sports charity to traveling the country watching Middlesbrough, Aaron reminds us that rejection can lead you exactly where you need to be.

In this episode, we meet Sally Palmer, Nurse Consultant in Infection Prevention and Control. Most people never see what Sally does - and if she's doing it well, they never will. Because the best infection control is invisible.

Sally's work runs at 100 miles an hour. Checking overnight results. Investigating outbreaks. Building water safety protocols. Designing ventilation specs for new buildings. Working with charities on antimicrobial resistance that crosses from animals to humans through the food chain. No two days are the same. Get it right and nobody notices. Get it wrong and people die.

We explore what happens in labs (Sally recommends everyone visit at least once), why regional teams standardise policies so patients get the same care wherever they go,and what COVID taught us that IPC teams already knew.

From St John Ambulance as a child to wearing countless hats now, Sally reminds us that prevention has always been the mission.

As part of National Apprenticeship Week 2026, this special episode of Only Human After All explores how apprenticeships are transforming careers.

We meet three apprentices at very different stages of life and work.

Richie is about to qualify as a physiotherapist in his 30s after years of practical experience and self-doubt about whether he had the “right” grades.

Lacey thought her university plans had collapsed before discovering an apprenticeship she didn’t even know existed.

Vinzlee never believed she was “smart enough” and credits the people who believed in her first.

We also speak to Carolyn, our Apprenticeship Lead, about the power of growing our own workforce, widening access and recognising that intelligence is about far more than exam results.

This episode is about confidence, experiential learning, belonging and the impact of someone saying, “You can do this.”

If you think apprenticeships are only for school leavers, this conversation may change your mind.

In this episode of Only Human After All, we meet Amanda Barrett, a nurse by background who now leads major improvement projects across diagnostics.

Amanda talks about her personal journey from ward leadership into project management, and how her nursing identity continues to shape her work. She gives a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of the new Community Diagnostic Centre in Mansfield — now open and delivering faster, more accessible tests in a welcoming community setting. Amanda shares the complexities of designing a new healthcare facility from scratch, her passion for patient-centred improvement, and the emotional moments that stay with her from her clinical career.

The conversation also touches on her pride in seeing her daughter become a children's nurse, and the value of following your own path in healthcare. This is a thoughtful and inspiring episode about legacy, leadership, and never losing sight of the patient.

This episode was originally recorded in June 2025.

In this episode, we meet Jo Freeman, Assistant Chief Pharmacist at Sherwood Forest Hospitals for the past 12 years.

When the chief pharmacist post came up, people kept asking why she wasn’t applying. But a colleague warned her about the flattery trap - and Jo chose to stay where she adds the most value.

We explore the misunderstood world of hospital pharmacy, the weight of becoming a prescriber, and why being really good in your job is a complete answer. Jo shares how you can walk into pharmacy with no qualifications and build a career to master’s level, why her teenage dream of being a solicitor lives on in her governance investigations, and the freedom that comes from choosing purpose over promotion.

For anyone who’s ever felt the pressure to climb a ladder they’re not sure they want to be on.

Andrea finally sits in the guest chair — the second of our holiday specials where the hosts swap roles.

James and Vicky ask about the patient whose husband she sat with all night, learning to champion the underdog after her own work-related stress, why joy and mischief matter as much as care, and the sliding doors moment when a young PA changed the entire direction of her career.

A conversation about giving the same attention to teams that she once gave at the bedside, staying true to your morals and why being a really good right-hand woman might be the most valuable leadership role of all.

After dozens of interviews, co-host James Thomas finally takes his turn in the guest seat — the first of two holiday specials where the hosts swap roles.

Andrea and Amanda ask about Lego obsessions, losing a Welsh accent at medical school, that first patient who died, learning to delegate without red pen and why wandering through a career without a plan might be the best advice he's ever followed.

A conversation about shyness beaten out by medicine, creativity in different forms, inclusion work that matters and bringing your whole self to work — even when it's uncomfortable.

Next time: Andrea's turn in the hot seat.

Rachel Gibbons works on reception in histopathology at Sherwood Forest Hospitals. She greets people with a smile, types reports and prepares MDT slides – but her knowledge gained from years in the department has saved lives closer to home than she ever imagined.

In this episode, Rachel shares how her understanding of pathology helped spot cancer in three family members: her stepson's rare sarcoma, her own endometrial cancer, and a malignant melanoma on her husband's back. All three survived, thanks to early detection and NHS care.

Rachel also reflects on the vital role of admin staff in healthcare, why AI can't replace human intuition, and what it means to work behind the scenes in one of the hospital's most critical departments. A powerful reminder that every role matters – and that knowledge, kindness and paying attention can change everything.