In this bonus episode, to end the first season of our Beyond a Book podcast, Lisa and Becks discuss some of the recurring themes from the six books we’ve read.  

They discuss perfectionism, growth and fixed mindset, space and time, bringing your whole self to work and self-compassion.  

Join us to eavesdrop on what has made an impact on them, and the reflections that have come from reading and talking books.  

Find out their favourite book and quotes of the series and what they have lined up to read over the summer.  

Our six podcast books 

How women rise by Sally Helgesen and Marshall Goldsmith 

Lost Connections by Johann Hari 

Work like a woman by Mary Portas 

The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown 

Power Hour by Adrienne Herbert 

Becoming by Michelle Obama 

Other books mentioned in the episode 

Mindset by Carol Dweck – and also her TED talk The Power of Yet

Stolen Focus by Johann Hari 

The Imposter Cure by Jessamy Hibbard 

You coach you by Helen Tupper and Sarah Ellis 

What Eden did next by Shelia O’Flanagan 

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In this podcast we discuss Lisa and Becks’ book club favourite ‘Becoming’ by Michelle Obama.  

Join us as we walk through Michelle’s memoir of her childhood ‘Becoming Me’, relationship with Barak Obama in ‘Becoming Us’ and as she enters and leaves the world as First Lady in ‘Becoming More’.  

The book has over 800,000 ratings on goodreads, and 4.5 out 5 stars, it’s won multiple literary awards and it was the highest-selling book published in the United States in 2018, setting the record 15 days after its publication, with over two million copies sold.  

This book is a beautiful inspirational journey and a book club dream. Lisa and Becks fell in love with Michelle Obama as they read this, and we hope you will too. 

Conversation - Rebecca Guest and Lisa McWilliam  

Editor - Janet Green  

About The Book  

Michelle Obama invites us into her world, sharing the experiences that have shaped her -- from her childhood on the South Side of Chicago to her years as an executive balancing the demands of motherhood and work, and through her time spent at the world's most famous address.  

Warm, beautiful and inspirational, Becoming is a deeply personal reckoning of Michelle Obama’s journey. 

Recommendations 

Becoming by Michelle Obama | Crown Publishing (becomingmichelleobama.com) 

Watch Becoming | Netflix Official Site 

'Oprah Winfrey Presents: Becoming Michelle Obama' 

The Squiggly Career: by Helen Tupper and Sarah Ellis   

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Power Hour:  How to Focus on Your Goals and Create a Life You Love by Adrienne Herbert 

“If it’s important to you, then you will make time, even if that means getting up 30 minutes earlier.” 

Adrienne is passionate about taking the first hour of the day to pursue your goals and passions, whether that’s for fitness, wellness, being creative, writing a book or starting a business. She encourages us to stop thinking about making time and start thinking about reclaiming time.  

She talks about how to use mindset, habits and sleep to enable your power hour and start the day positively every day.  

Becks and Lisa discuss how they found the concept of the power hour, its' challenges and the things that get in the way. They reflect on their own experience of reclaiming time, and what that looks like for them at the moment.  

Please join us and eavesdrop on the conversation between Lisa and Becks.  

Conversation - Lisa McWilliam and Rebecca Guest 

Editor - Janet Green 

Show notes 

‘Dolce far niente’ – the sweetness of doing nothing. Becks was worried how she said this, think she did ok really! 

Adrienne Herbert’s website - https://adrienne-london.com/ 

Power Hour Podcast with James Clear https://play.acast.com/s/powerhour/jamesclear 

Tiny Habits: The small changes that change everything by BJ Fogg 

Atomic Habits: An Easy and Proven Way to Build Good Habits and Break Bad Ones by James Clear 

Feel Better in 5 – your daily plan to feel great for life by Dr Rangan Chatterjee.  

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“The Gifts of Imperfection” by Brené Brown 

“Let go of who you think you’re supposed to be and embrace who you really are” 

“Your guide to a wholehearted life” 

In this episode, Lisa and Becks share their experience of reading the 10th anniversary edition of “The Gifts of Imperfection”. This book was written in 2010 and is the first of five NY Times bestsellers for research professor Brené Brown, following on from what she calls a ‘spiritual awakening’. 

Lisa and Becks first explore the concept of ‘Wholehearted Living’ – a way of engaging with the world from a place of worthiness - followed by the three ‘gifts of imperfection’ - courage, compassion and connection. They consider the ‘things that get in the way’, before sharing the ten guideposts and discussing what stood out to them personally. 

Please join us and eavesdrop into the conversation with Lisa and Becks, as they explore The Gifts of Imperfection. 

About The Book: 

Brené Brown is a leading expert on shame, authenticity and belonging. In this book she shares what she learned from her research. Through the use of ten guideposts, we’re encouraged to cultivate the courage, compassion and connection to live a wholehearted life. 

Conversation - Rebecca Guest and Lisa McWilliam  

Editor - Janet Green  

Show Notes 

Brené Brown – The Gifts Hub – Wholehearted Inventory: Wholehearted Inventory - Brené Brown (brenebrown.com) 

Brené Brown – The Gifts Hub - Summer Sister Series on The Gifts of Imperfection - Brené Brown (brenebrown.com) – from the Unlocking Us podcast 

The Call to Courage (Netflix) Watch Brené Brown: The Call to Courage | Netflix Official Site 

Dr Kristen Neff – Self-Compassion exercises - Self-Compassion Exercises by Dr. Kristin Neff 

Thomas Cooley quote to ponder: “I am not who you think I am, I am not who I think I am, I am who I think you think I am” 

Mary Portas – Work Like a Woman 

Recommendations 

Feel Better Live more podcast ep #163: “How to silence your inner critic and why you should” with Dr Kristen Neff How to Silence Your Inner Critic (and Why You Should) with Dr Kristin Neff - Dr Rangan Chatterjee (drchatterjee.com) 

Johann Hari - “Stolen Focus” 

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Work Like a Woman: A manifesto for change by Mary Portas 

‘Work is central to all our lives but only half of us are making the most of it – and we’re losing out because of that.’  

Mary Portas calls for changes to our ways of working to create a better future for us all. This book is written as a memoir-cum-self-help manual in which Mary Portas aims to show how businesses might become less “alpha”.  

Lisa and Becks look at what it means to work like a woman and how work is personal. They talk through the manifesto, exploring the characteristics, statistics and stories that Mary Portas shares as she proposes changes to the way we all work. It’s a great listen about the whole self, interweaved with our work persona and how we can bring about change. 

About the book 

Work Like a Woman was released in 2018 and is still hugely relevant. The book is a pledge for everyone to change the way we work. It’s honest, insightful and entertaining, setting a bold inspiring vision for the future world of work  

Conversation - Rebecca Guest and Lisa McWilliam  

Editor - Janet Green  

Show Notes 

Work Like a Woman: A manifesto for change by Mary Portas 

Work Like a Woman: A Manifesto For Change by Mary Portas (goodreads.com) 

BBC Radio 4 - Woman's Hour, Mary Portas - Work Like a Woman 

BBC Radio 4 - Desert Island Discs, Mary Portas 

http://www.howwomenrise.com/  

Recommendations 

How to Own the Room: Women and the Art of Brilliant Speaking by Viv Groskop  

Work Like A Woman - exclusive extract The Kindness Economy 

Episode 3: Mary Portas How To Own The Room  Mary Portas and Viv Groskop podcast 

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“Lost Connections: why you’re depressed and how to find hope” by Johann Hari 

CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains conversations about depression and the use and prescription of anti-depressants. All views expressed are our own reflections on reading this book. 

For this special episode of the Beyond a Book podcast released during Mental Health Awareness Week 2022, we’re grateful to have the opportunity to connect over our experiences while reading the Johann Hari book “Lost Connections”. 

We anticipated that this would be a difficult conversation and one that we felt vulnerable facing into. It felt important that we explore the content of this book and our own relationships with depression and lost connections. 

Together, Lisa and Becks chat about how they feel about the book and the areas of disconnection that are explored within it.  Their discussion highlights some of the discomfort they felt when reading the book as well as reflecting just how difficult it can be to talk about mental health. They also share the ideas for reconnection that resonated with them most. 

 Our hope is that this conversation helps others to talk about mental health and encourages you to build and maintain those crucial connections that we all need – just as we have through today’s Beyond a Book. 

Conversation - Rebecca Guest and Lisa McWilliam 

Editor - Janet Green 

About The Book 

“Lost Connections: why you’re depressed and how to find hope” by Johann Hari 

Johann Hari highlights the flaws in the treatment of depression through sharing his own personal experiences and his investigation into how it's treated globally.  

This is a controversial read and challenges the medicalised model of depression. The book suggests nine areas we may be disconnected from in our own lives and how we may be able to find reconnection – as a different kind of anti-depressant. 

"If you're depressed or anxious, you're not weak and you're not crazy -- you're a human being with 

unmet needs," 

Recommendations 

https://johannhari.com/ 

Is Everything You Know About Depression Wrong? With Johann Hari - Dr Rangan Chatterjee (drchatterjee.com) 

Or the bitesize version: 

BITESIZE | Why We All Need to Feel Connected | Johann Hari - Dr Rangan Chatterjee (drchatterjee.com) 

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“How Women Rise” by Sally Helgesen and Marshall Goldsmith 

In this episode, Lisa and Becks talk about their first book club read: “How Women Rise - Break the 12 Habits Holding You Back From Your Next Raise, Promotion, or Job” by Sally Helgesen and Marshall Goldsmith 

The conversation takes a dive into their feelings about the title and how the books is framed as being specifically for women. While exploring the structure of the book Lisa & Becks share their own reflections on what it means to rise, to be stuck and how to move from a fixed to a growth mindset before plunging into the 12 habits themselves. 

If you are thinking of reading the book or have read it and want to be in good company, please join us and eavesdrop into the book club conversation between Lisa and Becks. 

About The Book 

Leadership expert Sally Helgesen and Leadership coach Marshall Goldsmith identify in this 

book the 12 habits that may be sabotaging women’s future successes in their career. It builds 

on Marshall’s classic best seller What Got You Here Won’t Get You There, and specifically looks 

at habits they have identified as holding women back. 

Conversation - Rebecca Guest and Lisa McWilliam 

Editor - Janet Green 

Show Notes 

• What Got You Here, Won’t Get You There - Marshall Goldsmith 
• Link to Lisa’s vlogs: How Women Rise - YouTube 
• http://www.howwomenrise.com/ 

Recommendations 

• The Squiggly Career by Helen Tupper and Sarah Ellis 
• The Confidence Code by Katty Kay and Claire Shipman 
• Stolen Focus by Johann Hari 

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Join Lisa and Becks in the very first episode of Beyond a Book. 

The friends chat about their love of books and their reading habits, discussing a wide range of books and sharing recommendations along the way. 

If you fancy eavesdropping on a conversation about books, then this may just be the podcast for you. 

Blast from the past: 

• Biff and Chip (and the new TV series on CBeebies) 
• The Enormous Turnip - The Ladybird Collection 
• Roald Dahl The Collection 

Book Recommends: 

• Without Ever Reaching the Summit: A Journey by Paolo Cognetti 
• The Power of TED Paperback by David Emerald 
• Revolutionary Road and The Easter Parade by Richard Yates 
• Harry Potter Collection by JK Rowling 

You may also like to visit:  

Goodreads | Meet your next favorite book 

Conversation - Rebecca Guest and Lisa McWilliam 

Editor - Janet Green 

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