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 Oct 16, 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

From Diplomat To Leadership Coach
From Diplomat To Leadership Coach Oct 16, 2026 2302 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 1214 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 1185 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 1178 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 2551 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 1405 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 2371 “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 1623 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 2075 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
From Anticipatory Grief To Sudden Loss And Healing Tools
From Anticipatory Grief To Sudden Loss And Healing Tools Aug 14, 2026 2392 One phone call can split your life into a before and after and grief rarely stops at just one loss. I’m joined by Lisa Archer from Holistic Life Coaching, who shares her deeply personal story of receiving a brain cancer diagnosis for her dad while living thousands of miles away in the UK, then facing the jolt of sudden loss soon after. We talk candidly about the difference between anticipatory gri
Under The Mask It Is Absolute Chaos
Under The Mask It Is Absolute Chaos Aug 7, 2026 2102 You can spend decades thinking you are disorganised, too intense, too sensitive, or simply “not trying hard enough” and still look like you have it together. Then one ADHD assessment lands, and suddenly your whole timeline rearranges itself. I’m Nicky, and I’m joined by therapist Rachel Young for a candid, sometimes emotional conversation about being assessed for combined ADHD in midlife, and what
What If Listening Is The Real Leash
What If Listening Is The Real Leash Jul 31, 2026 2103 Your dog is not ignoring you, they are choosing what feels most meaningful in the moment. That one idea reshapes everything, from recall training to the way we speak to the people we love. We sit down with Sam (Sameaysam.com), a relationship-first dog professional who can walk dozens of dogs off leash, and we dig into what actually makes that possible when the forest is full of better distractions

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