In this episode, Athene Parker is joined by broadcast journalist Jennifer Bartram for a powerful and honest conversation about resilience, confidence and navigating the impact of early personal loss, growing up onscreen and navigating online abuse.

With more than twenty years on screen at the BBC, Jen reflects on a career shaped by storytelling and public connection. She also speaks candidly about the emotional toll of being targeted online, the knock to confidence that followed, and the intentional determination it took to rebuild a sense of safety and self.

Together, Athene and Jen explore how we hold space for ourselves in challenging moments, how confidence can be reclaimed after adversity, and why clear communication remains such a vital tool in every setting, from the studio to everyday life. Jen also shares practical strategies for reducing digital overwhelm, grounding in real-life connection and supporting our own wellbeing in an always-on world.

The chat is woven around a trip down a musical memory lane. Sit back, relax and enjoy!

Track 1 – Bruce Springsteen - Dancing in the Dark

Track 2 – Smokey Robinson - Tears of A Clown

Track 3 – Radiohead - No Surprises

Track 4 – Katy Perry - Raw

Track 5 – Primal Scream - Moving On Up

The emPOWER Breakfast - Jennifer Bartram Spotify Playlist

Jen talked about a wonderful supportive Facebook community called Adults Bereaved As Children. A place where she has found empathy and support around her feelings of grief losing her father aged 16.

For people with teens interested to read how social media is affecting young people Jen recommended The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt.

Jen also offered practical ideas for creating healthier boundaries with technology, from grounding ourselves offline to removing the visual prompts that drive habitual scrolling.

Jen’s Digital Wellbeing Tip: Turning on Greyscale (iPhone):

Settings → Accessibility → Display & Text Size → Colour Filters → switch ON → select Greyscale

To add a quick shortcut:

Settings → Accessibility → Accessibility Shortcut → select Colour Filters

Triple-click the side button to toggle greyscale instantly.

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

In this episode, Athene Parker speaks with James Hayhurst, founder of the Positive Parenting Alliance and the driving force behind The Parents Promise.

James joined us for a deeply moving and insightful emPOWERMENt conversation that explored the power of compassion, courage and vulnerability in leadership and life. Drawing on his own personal journey, James shared how he transformed a profoundly difficult family experience into a movement that supports parents navigating separation with empathy and understanding.

Together, Athene and James discuss the importance of building compassionate workplace cultures, the role of employers in recognising major life events such as separation, and how these moments ripple through families and professional lives alike. They also reflected on their shared experiences as parent carers to non-speaking autistic children, opening up an honest dialogue around care, communication and the unseen challenges faced by many families.

The chat is woven around a trip down a musical memory lane. Sit back, relax and enjoy!

Track 1 – Queen - Radio Gaga

Track 2 – Stormy Clouds - The Verve

Track 3 – Heart and Soul - David Gray

Track 4 – Fever to the Form - Nick Mulvey

Track 5 – When I Close My Eyes - Benjamin Amaru

The emPOWER Breakfast - James Hayhurst Spotify Playlist

For those who’d like to explore the themes discussed in more depth, you can find resources and insights from the session in our accompanying PDF guide.

You can also learn more about The Parents Promise and how to introduce its principles in your workplace here:

www.theparentspromise.org.uk

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

For this episode, Athene Parker speaks to Rebecca Rowntree, Creative Consultant, AI Creative Technologist & Film Director and founder of the Get Sh*t Done community.

Rebecca’s Creative Directing career spans bold campaigns, beautifully crafted films and a passion for celebrating real stories that challenge the status quo. Through her work, she continues to open up space for creative voices to be heard and supported.

In this honest and energising conversation, Rebecca talks about the messy, brilliant and very human sides of doing the work: the pivots, the doubts and the hard-earned wins. She shares her insights on navigating leadership as a freelancer, building a life and career on your own terms, and finding strength in moments of uncertainty.

A reminder that being authentic is not something to fix, but a powerful place from which creativity, courage and growth can flourish.

The chat is woven around a trip down a musical memory lane. Sit back, relax and enjoy!

Track 1 – Assassin De La Police – Cut Killer (from La Haine)

Track 2 – Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien – Édith Piaf

Track 3 – Coconut Mall – Mario Kart Wii Soundtrack

Track 4 – Can’t Take My Eyes Off You – Frankie Valli

Track 5 – I Am the Greatest – Spinifex Gum x Marliya Choir

The emPOWER Breakfast - Rebecca Rowntree Spotify Playlist

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