Joy at work isn’t about forced fun or pretending everything is perfect. It’s about the small, real things that make work feel worth doing: meaningful tasks, supportive relationships, trust, autonomy, and space to breathe. In this episode of Heart and Graft, we explore why joy matters, how it links to engagement and retention, and how job crafting can help people shape work in ways that fit their strengths and energy better.

We also talk about the difference between genuine joy and forced fun, and how leaders can create the conditions where positive moments can happen naturally. If you care about wellbeing, engagement, or creating workplaces where people can be happy, this one is for you.

• Hear how joy at work shows up in everyday moments, not just big gestures.

• Explore why autonomy, meaning, and good relationships matter so much.

• Get practical ideas (job crafting) for making work feel more human and sustainable.

If you’d like extra reflections and bonus content, don’t forget to join The Monthly Graft newsletter.

In this episode of Heart and Graft, Nicky talks with Mia Shepherd about workplace conflict: how it builds, how to reduce the chances of unpleasant conflict, and what to do when feelings boil over.

• To understand why conflict at work is often about something deeper than the surface issue.

• To hear practical ways to address tension before it escalates.

• Explore how our background can led us to avoid conflict with colleagues

• To explore how managers and facilitators can create space for honesty, repair, and better relationships at work.

Together, Nicky and Mia explore how conflict can be managed in more civil and useful ways, including practical techniques such as creating space to talk, using timed speaking, and helping people focus on shared goals. They also look at how unspoken conflict can quietly damage relationships and performance, and why it matters to give people the chance to put things right.

If you enjoy honest, reflective conversations about how to make workplaces more human, this episode is for you. And if you’d like extra reflections and bonus content, don’t forget to join The Monthly Graft newsletter.

In this episode of Heart and Graft, we explore one of the most human, and often hardest, experiences to navigate at work: grief. Nicky is joined by Hannah O’Hare, Chief Executive of Forest Holme Hospice, to discuss how bereavement shows up in the workplace, why people often struggle to talk about it, and what compassionate support can really look like.

Together they explore the emotional, physical and practical impact of grief, the pressure managers feel to “get it right”, and the small but meaningful changes organisations can make to support grieving colleagues better.

Why listen:

• Learn what grief can look like at work, beyond sadness alone.

• Hear practical advice on what to say — and what not to panic about saying.

• Understand why some people want to talk, while others need quiet space and time.

• Find out how leaders can make it easier for people to talk about loss and bereavement.

• Discover low-cost, high-impact ways to make your workplace more bereavement friendly

• Hear honest reflections from someone working daily with grief, loss and end-of-life care.

Sign up to The Monthly Graft e-news community for additional content, including dealing with 'anticipatory grief' at work.

Connect with Hannah on LinkedIn

Forest Holme Hospice Charity on YouTube