The Dr Sam Collins Podcast
Dr Sam Collins 40 episodes Nov 9, 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
Do It Anyway: Even When You Don't Know the Right People
When I was starting Aspire, I had no network, very little money and absolutely no love of networking. In fact, I hated it. Then, hiding in the toilets at a networking event I didn't want to be at, I met Melissa. One conversation. One generous woman. One introduction that rippled outwards and the first Aspire event I'd struggled to find 20 women for ended up with 120 women signing up. In this epis
Do It Anyway: Even When People Tell You Not To
25 years ago, I started Aspire with no big business plan, very little money, an "office" consisting of an old table covered with a curtain and plenty of people telling me why it wouldn't work. I was too young. Focusing on women would limit me. People might call me a feminist. I was apparently too nice to be successful in business. I did it anyway. In this episode, I look back at 25 years of Aspire
Do You Have Busy Disease?
Being busy isn't necessarily a problem. Some of the most exhilarating times in our lives happen when we are busy doing something that matters deeply to us. But what happens when busy stops being temporary and becomes the way we live? When there is always another meeting, another email, another deadline, another person who needs something. When an empty space in the diary feels strange. When we bec
Women Warriors at Work: What Are You Willing To Stand For?
What if the frustration you feel sometimes is not a problem to solve, but a signal pointing towards something that really matters? In this episode, Dr Sam Collins explores the idea of the modern woman warrior. Not a woman looking for conflict but a woman who has decided what values she stands for and is willing to fight for them. Whether you work in a corporation, run your own business, teach
The Wars We Carry: Why Peace Begins Closer To Home Than You Think
What if keeping the peace is the very thing preventing you from being free? At work. At home. In your relationships. In your own mind. So many women spend their lives holding things together, smoothing things over and carrying burdens nobody else can see. We learn to keep the peace, avoid the conflict, swallow the words and put everyone else's needs before our own. But what if that isn't peace at
The Secret Women Activists Among Us
When we hear the word activist, many of us imagine somebody protesting in the street, campaigning publicly, or leading a movement for social change. But what if some of the most important activists of our time are women working inside corporations, professional services firms, universities, hospitals, charities, government departments, and public institutions? In this episode, Dr
Love As A Force For Change
What if love is not a soft emotion, but a courageous business practice? In a world marked by conflict, division, political polarisation, organisational politics and growing uncertainty, love can feel strangely absent from serious conversations about leadership, women and change. Yet some of the most influential business leaders, activists and social movements in history have been grounded not in f
For The Days You Want To Quit
There are days when simply getting through the day feels impossible. Days when you wake up exhausted before your feet have even touched the floor. Days when the demands of work, family, caring, relationships and the wider world feel overwhelming. Days when you wonder whether you have anything left to give. Days when you question whether your efforts, however well intentioned, are making any differ
Feminism For Women Who Don't Call Themselves Feminists
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
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.
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?
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
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
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
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
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?
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.
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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!
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
A conversation with Chief Legal Officer Caryl Longley about learning the 'rules of the game', set by men for men.
From Small Acorns
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
Sam talks with Awah Francisca Mbuli, a victim of human trafficking about her escape and starting again. Contains themes of sexual abuse.
Motherboards
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
Aletta Raju, Employment Law Specialist from South Africa and Sam on finding self love and acceptance after loss.
Climbing Mountains
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
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
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
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
Sam talks with Gill Whitty-Collins about how we can achieve gender equality through closing the respect gap.
Thinking Errors
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
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
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?
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
"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
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
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
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
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!
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
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
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
Sam talks with her friend Karen Sherman, President of Akilah about following your own vision, life during COVID and the power of women.
