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The Dr Sam Collins Podcast

Dr Sam Collins 40 Episodes Sep 14, 2026

The Dr Sam Collins Podcast is part of the Choose Freedom movement, a global conversation for women who want more freedom rather than more confidence. Drawing on over twenty-five years of work with women in business, charities, education, law, finance and community leadership, Dr Sam Collins explores courage, purpose, contribution, leadership and reinvention. Through personal reflections, real-life stories and practical wisdom she challenges conventional thinking about success and change. The show examines the lives, careers and choices of women shaping the world around them, often without realising how significant their impact is.

Episodes

Feminism For Women Who Don't Call Themselves Feminists Sep 14, 2026 52:46 Most conversations about feminism focus on women's rights, women's advancement or women's wellbeing. All of those conversations matter. But what if we've been thinking too small? Women already influence trillions of dollars of capital, major technology platforms, supply chains, healthcare systems, education systems and employment practices. Why are we not treating women as one of the largest futu

The Great Pretence: Change It, Leave It or Create Something New Sep 7, 2026 36:50 In this episode, Dr Sam Collins explores what she calls The Great Pretence; the collective performance through which organisations, institutions and professions maintain the appearance of progress while often relying on systems that are no longer fit for purpose. Drawing on her work with senior women leaders, Sam examines why so many women spend years trying to fix themselves when the real challe

Maybe You're Not Burnt Out. Maybe You're Done. Sep 1, 2026 33:28 Why women cannot self care their way out of systems that are consuming them. The episode gives women permission to consider that their exhaustion may not be evidence of personal inadequacy. It may be more about a workplace, role, relationship or system that needs to change. It then moves beyond diagnosis and complaint to the greater possibility, what could women create if their intelligence, coura

What Would You Do If Money Wasn't An Issue? Aug 24, 2026 40:20 We often tell ourselves that money is the reason we can't make a change. The reason we stay in the job, postpone the dream, avoid the risk or delay the conversation. But what if money isn't the real issue? In this episode, I explore the beliefs, fears and assumptions that shape our relationship with money and the powerful influence they have on our choices, careers, wellbeing and sense of freedom.

The Ambition Gap We Never Talk About Aug 20, 2026 17:30 We often think of ambition as becoming a CEO, earning more money, collecting titles or climbing another rung on the ladder. But what if the real ambition gap is something else entirely? In this episode, I share a personal story about an unexpected conversation that challenged how I thought about my own potential. From growing up on a council estate in England to earning a doctorate, building

You Don't Need More Confidence Aug 9, 2026 18:54 Many of us spend years waiting to feel confident enough before we speak up, pursue a dream, apply for a promotion, launch a business or make a change in our lives or the world around us. But what if confidence isn't the answer? In this episode, I challenge one of the most common messages women receive and share why I believe confidence is largely a myth. Instead, I explore the power of courage, w

Freedom Isn't Given. It's Chosen: Lessons From My Year of Freedom Aug 2, 2026 23:19 What if freedom is not something you earn once everything is finally in place? In this episode, I share the lessons from my own year of freedom and what happened when I stopped waiting for the perfect time, the perfect plan and the perfect version of myself. We explore what freedom really means, why so many women are still holding back and how becoming more visible can transform not only our own l

The Urgency of Freedom: Why Self-Help Is Not Enough Jul 27, 2026 33:44 In this episode of The Dr Sam Collins Podcast, I explore the urgency of freedom. not the frantic, fear driven urgency that leaves us exhausted, overwhelmed and trying to cram even more into already full lives, but a deeper, more purposeful urgency that asks us to wake up to what our lives are really for. This is not an episode about productivity, conventional success or the usual self-help obsessi

Is There More Than This? Jul 20, 2026 26:29 Why so many women are longing for freedom, meaning and contribution Over the last few months, I've found myself reflecting on a question that I hear again and again from women all over the world and, if I'm honest, from myself too. Is there more than this? Not necessarily more money, more status or more success. More meaning. More freedom. More joy. More of a sense that the life we are living ref

Stop Setting Goals. Start Celebrating Milestones. Jul 15, 2026 24:48 Most goal setting starts with what's missing. What you haven't achieved. What you still need to fix. What isn't happening fast enough. No wonder so many of us feel overwhelmed, procrastinate or burn out. This week on The Dr Sam Collins Podcast, I'm sharing one of the most powerful yet simple coaching exercises I've encountered in years. A coaching client introduced me to it this week and I couldn'

You Already Know Why You're Not Stuck. You're Just Ignoring Yourself. Jul 8, 2026 12:15 What if you're not stuck? What if the reason you're feeling restless, frustrated or uncertain isn't because you lack clarity, confidence or capability? What if you already know what to do? In this episode of the newly relaunched Dr Sam Collins Podcast, Sam explores one of the most powerful lessons she has learned from more than 25 years of working with women leaders, entrepreneurs and change mak

Stop Waiting for Permission - The New Chapter of The Dr Sam Collins Podcast Jul 8, 2026 07:57 After a year away from the podcast, Dr. Sam Collins returns with a deeply personal new chapter — one she describes as part podcast, part "pod-course". In this opening, Sam reflects on her "Year of Freedom", twenty-five years of Aspire and the questions that have been calling her into a more honest, courageous and purposeful way of leading. This new series is for women, and for anyone ready to stop

The Heart & Soul of Leadership Mar 19, 2025 40:01 Zoe Holland MBE, Group Chief Commercial Officer, Fletchers Solicitors about gaining balance, finding your heart led passion and making the impossible possible.

Don't Boil the Ocean Mar 17, 2025 30:42 A conversation with Amy Lynch, Head of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Europe, at global tech company Thoughtworks about microactivism strategies for keeping going when things get hard and that it's never too late to make changes.

Take a Chance Feb 26, 2025 40:17 A conversation with changemaker Tracey Cramond, Chair of the award-winning Health Care Supply Association's Women's Network dedicated to addressing women's issues in the workplace and working to drive positive change.

Starting Again and Empowering Dreams Nov 18, 2024 37:26 A conversation with the inspirational Kamila Sidiqi, Afghan entrepreneur, government official, and the subject of the New York Times bestselling book, The Dressmaker of Khair Khana.

Men, Make the Tea! Jul 10, 2023 41:57 A conversation with Karen McDonagh Reynolds, transformation executive, board member, and award winning CIO. How do we get men united with equality?

Career Snakes and Ladders Jul 3, 2023 40:50 A conversation with Chief Legal Officer Caryl Longley about learning the 'rules of the game', set by men for men.

From Small Acorns Aug 28, 2022 44:22 Sam chats with Georgie Moseley, Founder of 'Help Harry Help Others' cancer charity about following your dreams whoever you are and making your vision a reality.

Kadama Jul 11, 2022 38:55 Sam talks with Awah Francisca Mbuli, a victim of human trafficking about her escape and starting again. Contains themes of sexual abuse.

Motherboards Jun 29, 2022 42:58 Eileen Brewer, from being the only female on the team in tech companies in Silicon Valley to volunteering to teach girls in Rwanda about computer hardware. On saying yes and walking through fear.

Choose Life Jun 21, 2022 42:12 Aletta Raju, Employment Law Specialist from South Africa and Sam on finding self love and acceptance after loss.

Climbing Mountains Apr 4, 2022 52:31 Sam chats with Mona Bafadhel, the new Chair of Respiratory Medicine, King's College London about her career, failing and being called "challenging."

Connecting to your Purpose Oct 10, 2021 42:42 Sam chats to Suzanne Steele, Vice President and Managing Director of Adobe Australia about the importance of purpose and having your own personal board of directors.

Life's Profit and Loss Account Sep 18, 2021 51:20 Sam chats with Malan Wu from Wood Mackenzie, Robyn Dittrich, from BHP and Damien Jacotine from S&P Global following the "Collective Courage" talk for Women in Mining and Resources Singapore.

Shooting Stars Jul 28, 2021 43:10 Changemaker, child advocate and recent college graduate Destiny Ayo Vaughan shares her incredible story of creating your own destiny no matter the circumstances. Content includes child abuse and child marriage.

Reluctant Feminist Jul 8, 2021 47:53 Sam talks with Gill Whitty-Collins about how we can achieve gender equality through closing the respect gap.

Thinking Errors Jun 6, 2021 44:43 Sam chats with Charlotte Sheridan about leaving her highly paid yet unfulfilling job and following her true passions. We discuss how to overcome our 'Thinking Errors' to overcome financial and health fears.

Mastering Your Psychology May 20, 2021 44:26 With no money, confidence or network and during a pandemic, Pip Hare, age 45 successfully took on on one of the toughest sporting events on the planet, racing a 60 ft yacht solo around the world in the Vendee Globe Race.

Brave Inspires Brave Mar 17, 2021 56:45 A conversation with Heather McWilliam, a former police officer who was expected to have a bright future. A story about speaking up, self-care and being a changemaker. Contents includes themes of PTSD and sexual abuse.

What Will I Do Next? Jan 21, 2021 48:23 Dr Zareen Roohi Ahmed shares her emotional journey of loss, starting her own social business, her James Bond dream and period poverty activism!

The Voice of Karen DeJarnette Dec 22, 2020 01:36:41 "I don't know what to say. I am here to support you and I won't abandon you. Let's remain friends" Karen open discusses being a transgender woman and her experience post speaking out at the recent Aspire Resolve Global UnConference.

I Am Unbreakable Nov 30, 2020 52:57 Sam meets the inspirational Sister Zeph from rural Pakistan who has dedicated her life to the education of girls. They talk about love, doing difficult things and crying every night. www.zephaniaheducation.org

Challenge It and Try Again Nov 13, 2020 01:23:01 Sam speaks with Ibtissam Al-Farah, originally from Ethiopia and Yemen about the beauty of reinventing your life, taking risks, the rewards and making good decisions.

Incredible Resilience Nov 5, 2020 40:11 Andree Simon, President and Chief Executive Officer of FINCA Impact Finance joins from Washington DC and shares her views on resilience, using our voice and speaking our truth.

Don't Babysit Your Ideas Oct 29, 2020 48:19 Drama, shame, depression, sweat, tears and the silver linings of following through on your dreams with Sarah Kitakule, Founder of www.kitakulefoundation.org in Uganda.

1,2,3, Hold Hands, In We Go! Oct 22, 2020 51:41 Sam chats with Brita Fernandez Schmidt, Executive Director of Women for Women International about turning 50, inequality, conspiracy theories and making leaps during crisis.

Spinning in the Sun Oct 15, 2020 52:47 Nasreen Sheikh, Founder of The Women's Empowerment Collective and One Million Masks talks to Sam from Nepal about her amazing journey to power, choice and survival.

Go Lilly in Your Pajamas, Just Chillin Oct 7, 2020 01:07:13 Ex offender, survivor of domestic abuse and victim turned perpetrator, Lilly Lewis joins Sam to discuss how we can be truly free, even in lockdown.

I'm Listening with Karen Sherman Sep 29, 2020 54:21 Sam talks with her friend Karen Sherman, President of Akilah about following your own vision, life during COVID and the power of women.

The Dr Sam Collins Podcast

Episodes

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