Does happiness and engagement at work lead to peace?

In this episode of Piece of Choice, Natasha Wallace is joined by Matt Phelan. Matt is a Co-Founder of the The Happiness Index. In his day-to-day role, he's responsible for the strategic direction of the business. He is also the founder of The Happiness and Humans Community, host of The Happiness and Humans Podcast and author of Freedom To Be Happy: The Business Case for Happiness & The Happiness Index: Why Today's Employee Emotions Equal Tomorrow's Business Success.

Natasha and Matt explore the intricate relationship between employee happiness and inner peace. They discuss the origins of The Happiness Index, the factors that contribute to happiness in the workplace, and the importance of psychological safety and relationships in fostering a positive work environment. The conversation also delves into the role of calm leadership, motivation, and the courage required to confront difficult truths in organisations.

Connect with Matt:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewphelan/

The Happiness Index: https://thehappinessindex.com/

Website: https://mattphelan.co.uk/

Connect with me:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natasha-wallace-cs/

Website: https://www.natashawallace.com/

In this episode, I sit down with Jacqui Lloyd, a senior global HR leader and passionate LGBTQ advocate. Jacqui opens up about her incredible career journey from facing challenges in education early on, to making her mark in both academia and the corporate world. She talks honestly about battling self-doubt, saying yes to opportunities that pushed her boundaries, and why diversity and inclusion matter so much in today’s workplaces.

Together, we explore the evolving world of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I)—what's working, what’s still missing, and the emotional toll it can take on people who don’t feel free to be themselves at work. Jacqui speaks candidly about the mental weight of hiding parts of your identity and the freedom that comes with self-acceptance and being seen for who you truly are.

It’s a heartfelt, inspiring conversation about authenticity, growth, and creating workplaces where everyone feels they belong.

Connect with Jacqui:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacquilloyd/

Connect with me:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natasha-wallace-cs/

Website: https://www.natashawallace.com/

Today, I’m joined by Dr. Sarah Hill. Sarah is the co-owner of Dialogix Ltd – a behavioural consultancy specialising in structural dynamics and dialogue-based interventions. She’s experienced in coaching everyone from powerful individuals such as CEOs and senior leaders, through to whole teams and organisations, with a view to helping them lead more impactful and effective conversations.

In this episode, Sarah discusses how putting in ‘the work’ to understand our childhood story can help us to become more aware of our behavioural patterns. We discuss her book “Where did you learn to behave like that?”, a coaching guide focused on helping us to reflect and make peace with how our childhood experiences can shape our adult selves.

Sarah and I both share how we came to terms with our own childhood stories and discuss why doing so has helped to illuminate our lives today, despite it being a challenging process.

Connect with Sarah:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-sarah-hill-9bb80457/

Website: https://dialogix.co.uk/

Books: Dare to… The Childhood Story Journal

Where Did You Learn to Behave Like That?

The Tao of Dialogue

Connect with me:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natasha-wallace-cs/

Website: https://www.natashawallace.com/

Today, I’m joined by Steve Hargreaves. Steve is an award-winning Executive Coach and Mentor, Author, of ‘The Compassionate Leader’s Playbook’, and the Founder and Director of The Compassionate Leadership Company - a coaching, culture, and leadership development company which specialises in helping organisations and their leaders to inspire, craft and sustain high performing, emotionally healthy, compassionate workplaces where everyone can thrive, achieve and stay well.

In this episode, Steve shares his journey into compassionate leadership. We explore the importance of empathy and compassion in leadership roles, the necessity of creating a culture where individuals feel safe to speak up, and the challenges leaders face in navigating difficult conversations.

Steve shares personal experiences that shaped his understanding of compassion and its impact on workplace dynamics, emphasising the need for leaders to engage in meaningful conversations to create a supportive environment. We discuss the importance of having difficult conversations with compassion, the necessity of clarity in leadership roles, and the role of self-compassion in sustaining effective leadership.

Connect with Steve:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-hargreaves-5b82b133/

Website: https://www.thecompassionateleadership.company/

Book: https://www.thecompassionateleadership.company/get-the-book

Connect with me:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natasha-wallace-cs/

Website: https://www.natashawallace.com/

Welcome to Peace is a Choice. A podcast where we explore the power of consciously cultivating inner peace and how it shapes the quality of our lives.

We all have the ability to become more aware of who we are and why we feel the way we do. And when we do, we unlock the potential to transform our reality.

In each episode, we'll sit down with guests to hear their personal stories; how they’ve faced challenges, what they’ve learned, and how they’ve found ways to experience and share more peace. We’ll also dive into the world of purposeful work, featuring those who are actively spreading peace and acceptance around the globe.

In this very first episode, the tables have turned: I’m joined by fellow female entrepreneur, Sophie Milliken. Sophie is the founder and CEO of Moja Group, a company that helps entrepreneurs and senior executives amplify their personal brands and become recognised leaders in their industries.

She’s a multi-award-winning businesswoman, a proud mum, and a dedicated advocate for the North East. Sophie supports Northern Power Women, co-founded City Ladies Networking, and serves as Chair of Smart Works Newcastle, a charity helping unemployed women with interview clothing and coaching.

In today’s episode, Sophie will be interviewing me to give you a behind-the-scenes look at what’s to come in the upcoming season of Peace is a Choice.

Connect with Sophie:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophie-milliken/

Connect with me:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natasha-wallace-cs/

Website: https://www.natashawallace.com/