Home Podcasts Let's Talk About........With Nicky Perfect
Let's Talk About........With Nicky Perfect

Let's Talk About........With Nicky Perfect

The Communication Coach 128 episodes Nov 6, 2026

Nicky Perfect BEM is a former Hostage and Crisis Negotiator who worked with people and families in extreme crisis and later became Course Director for the UK’s National Negotiation Course. She has trained negotiators and leaders around the world and studied psychology, relationships, human behaviour, personal development and coaching. In this podcast, she applies hostage and crisis negotiation principles to everyday communication. Episodes offer real stories, practical strategies and insights for listening well, navigating conflict calmly and building stronger relationships at home, at work and in leadership.

Episodes

If Menopause Changed How You Communicate Would You Notice
If Menopause Changed How You Communicate Would You Notice Nov 6, 2026 18:23 Menopause is talked about constantly, yet so many people still feel blindsided when it hits their real life. I’m sharing what didn’t get explained to me clearly enough: the kind of exhaustion that makes you wonder how you’ll get through the day, the joint pain you might mistake for something else, and the brain fog that can knock your confidence in minutes.I also unpack how these menopause and per
How To Calm Nerves And Communicate Clearly
How To Calm Nerves And Communicate Clearly Oct 30, 2026 36:05 Your body isn’t “betraying” you when your heart races before a presentation. It’s doing its oldest job: trying to keep you safe. We sit down with communication and vocal coach Helen von Dadelsen to unpack why brilliant, high-performing people can still freeze on stage, go quiet in meetings, or avoid speaking up even when they have an important message to share.We dig into the fight flight freeze r
Putting Your Partner First Changes Everything
Putting Your Partner First Changes Everything Oct 23, 2026 43:31 Most couples don’t break up because of one huge betrayal. They break up because they stop being friends, stop noticing each other, and let parenting, work, and exhaustion push the relationship to the bottom of the list. We sit down with Dr. Harry Benson to unpack what actually changed his own marriage, and why a surprisingly small mental switch can create outsized results over time.We get specific
From Diplomat To Leadership Coach
From Diplomat To Leadership Coach Oct 16, 2026 38:22 An earthquake hits, your team looks to you, and your nervous system screams, “Take control.” That moment reveals your leadership defaults fast. Former US diplomat Jen Brown joins us to share what 23 years in the Foreign Service taught her about crisis leadership, calm decision-making, and why the strongest leaders know when to step forward and when to step aside. We talk about the leadership trap
What If The Hard Part Of Step Parenting Is You
What If The Hard Part Of Step Parenting Is You Oct 9, 2026 20:14 Step parenting can feel like walking into a story halfway through and being expected to know your lines. I talk candidly about what surprised me most when I became a step parent in my 40s, why good intentions are not enough, and how quickly everyday moments can trigger big emotions in a blended family. If you have ever felt like an outsider in your own home, or like you are competing with a bond t
A Single Conversation Sparked A Trip That Changed How I Communicate
A Single Conversation Sparked A Trip That Changed How I Communicate Oct 2, 2026 19:45 A 14-hour bus ride, four hours along some very challenging roads and a village welcome filled with singing and dancing.It sounds like a travel story, but my trip to Tanzania became something much more.I came home thinking about communication, community, education and how much we can understand about another human being — even when we don't speak the same language.In this episode of Let's
Why Conflict Happens And How To Talk Through It
Why Conflict Happens And How To Talk Through It Sep 25, 2026 19:38 One small moment can light a fuse: a late sleep-in, a sharp comment, a meeting that goes sideways, a family gathering where you brace for tension. I’ve just come back from a life-shifting trip that left me feeling deeply grateful, and it also got me thinking about why we struggle so much with the conversations we know we need to have. The truth is that most conflict isn’t only about the topic, it’
Transparent Communication Builds Credibility Before You Need It
Transparent Communication Builds Credibility Before You Need It Sep 18, 2026 42:31 Trust is harder than ever to win, and easier than ever to lose. We sit down with Bradley Harris, a boutique strategic advisor with years in boardrooms and high-stakes environments, to break down what trust actually looks like in real communication, not theory. When media channels are fragmented and people are tired of excuses, we argue for a simple standard: tell the truth, be transparent, and tak
You Cannot Control Others But You Can Control Your Response
You Cannot Control Others But You Can Control Your Response Sep 11, 2026 23:25 The news can make your chest feel heavy in seconds. One brutal headline, one angry debate, one more “nothing I do will matter” thought and suddenly you’re stuck in helplessness. We wanted to sit with that feeling and ask a simple, uncomfortable question: do we actually have choice when the world feels out of control?We start with climate change because it’s a perfect mirror for modern overwhelm. S
What If The Problem Is The System Not The Child
What If The Problem Is The System Not The Child Sep 4, 2026 39:31 “You’re nice to us.” That’s what the kids said when Sally Michaels asked why they could learn in her setting but not in school, and it’s the line that frames everything we explore here. Sally runs Blue Squid, a non-school alternative provision supporting young people aged 9 to 16 who are struggling with school attendance, especially neurodivergent teenagers who feel crushed by rigid rules, sensory
Mum, Dad, We Need To Talk
Mum, Dad, We Need To Talk Aug 28, 2026 27:03 The moment you realise you need to say “Mum, Dad, we need to talk” can hit like a wave. Not because you don’t love them, but because the topics are loaded: driving safety, memory changes, money worries, and the painful question of whether they can still live independently. I’m sharing a solo, honest walk-through of how I’ve handled these conversations in my own family and what I’ve learned from wo
What Would A Good Handover Look Like
What Would A Good Handover Look Like Aug 21, 2026 34:35 Death admin is one of those tasks that feels “optional” right up until the day it becomes urgent. We sit down with Caro from Your Final Matters to talk about the reality facing the sandwich generation: juggling work, kids, and ageing parents while trying to avoid conversations about funerals, wills, powers of attorney, and what happens if someone loses capacity.Caro shares a practical, compassiona

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