My Emotional Work Life – Details, episodes & analysis

Have you ever been told to "leave your emotions at the door" at work? Jennifer McCanna has coached hundreds of leaders in workplaces around the world since 2011, and she's here with a revolutionary message: your emotions belong in the workplace.

Welcome to "My Emotional Work Life" – the podcast where you're encouraged to have emotions at work and about work. Jennifer brings her trademark down-to-earth strategies to help you navigate the ups and downs of professional life, transforming tricky workplace relationships into supportive ones.

Each episode combines practical advice with inspiring stories drawn from Jennifer's experience coaching everyone from multinational executives to charity leaders. Plus, as an Emotional Freedom Technique practitioner, as well as International Coaching Federation (ICF) coach, she'll provide special tapping videos for each episode to help you feel lighter and calmer right away.

Jennifer will be joined by expert guests sharing insights on real challenges like navigating toxic work environments, managing menopause at work, returning after maternity leave, and handling bereavement in professional settings.

But wait – does embracing emotions mean shouting at your boss because "it's okay to be angry"? Of course not. Jennifer asks: "How confusing and unrealistic is it that we've been told for so long that emotions don't belong at work? That we shouldn't even be having them, let alone expressing them?"

What would work feel like if you had practical strategies to surf your emotions rather than bottling them up? How much more could you enjoy your job if you felt confident navigating your own, and others, emotions, at work?

Find out when "My Emotional Work Life" launches on Sunday May 18th 2025. Follow the podcast so you don't miss an episode, and be sure to share it with that colleague who cornered you in the bathroom last week because they have the boss from hell – they need to hear this too.

Connect with Jennifer:

Download free resources from Jen at Resources and Insights | Jen McCanna 

Explore more about Jen and her coaching services here Effective, Trusted Leadership Coaching | Jen McCanna

Don’t forget to follow this podcast so you don’t miss an episode.

Produced by winteraudio.co.uk

Navigating professional relationships can be daunting and a tricky boss can make your work life especially challenging. This week your host, Jennifer McCanna, skillfully unravels the challenges and complexities of dealing with difficult managers. Join her as she explores the emotional exhaustion that often accompanies inconsistent leadership and offers strategies to help you feel calmer and more in control. Tune in to listen to powerful stories and expert coaching techniques. Discover how empathy, emotional freedom technique, and other protective strategies can help dial down the Sunday night dread and support you to build productive working relationships that just feel better and make work more enjoyable.

Here are the Highlights:

• Understanding stress triggers 
• How to gain insight into why your boss is so difficult?
• Protecting yourself during challenging interactions
• Tips for managing difficult colleagues, at whatever level

Dealing with a difficult boss? Watch our Emotional Freedom Technique Video for some practical help.

Jen says ‘for the difficult boss survival guide I’m encouraging you to find a safe space and get all your feelings voiced. You might choose to rant and swear and use your own words in this tap. I encourage you to use whatever language feels right for you. I’m focusing on some common emotions of anger, frustration and worry, but you go with whatever feels right for you.’

A note from Jennifer and McCanna Coaching Ltd: I invite you to tap along to the videos alongside these episodes whilst taking full responsibility for your health and wellbeing. EFT is a fantastic self help tool with ever growing credibility due to positive results from scientific studies. It is not a substitution for seeking professional advice. If you are concerned about your physical or mental health please consult a qualified medical professional. If you would prefer to explore EFT with a qualified practitioner, get in touch and I’ll share some options. 

Meet your host Jennifer McCanna:

Jennifer McCanna has been coaching leaders in organisations around the world since 2011. From the UN Refugee Agency to HSBC, government departments to national and local charities, she specialises in supporting clients to work through the often messy, emotional challenges of leadership so they feel calm, energised and able to have a real impact in the world. 

If you’ve experienced a challenging relationship, restructure or other difficult period in your working life, and as a result your self-belief has taken a hit, Jennifer’s blend of pure coaching, emotional freedom technique and Resilience Dynamic® approaches will help you process the emotional fallout, as well as equipping you with tools to stay energised and effective as a leader. 

When she’s not recording podcasts she’s busy working with leaders 1-1, or as part of their leadership team, and designing and delivering leadership development programmes for leaders at all levels.

Connect with Jennifer:

Download free resources from Jen at Resources and Insights | Jen McCanna 

Explore more about Jen and her coaching services here Effective, Trusted Leadership Coaching | Jen McCanna

If you’d like to discuss working with Jen, you can book in a call with her here

Have you recently had a horrible work experience, like a restructure or redundancy or a work relationship that impacted your self-belief? Are you now struggling to navigate a rollercoaster of a job hunt? Join your host, Jennifer McCanna, as she sits down with Suzie Henriques, a career coach who specialises in supporting leaders to get seen by prospective new employers, whilst lifting their spirits and rebuilding their confidence. Suzie talks about how to transition from feeling defeated by a challenging work environment to landing a job you genuinely love. We cover the nuances of CV writing and interview tactics and share transformative stories (from both Jen and Suzie) of personal growth and self-discovery. Tune in and discover how one courageous step could lead you to a job that aligns with your true self.

Here are the Highlights:

• Charting your career in emotional terms to connect work and life
• How releasing your emotions leads to transformative decisions
• Updating your CV and exploring your goals
• Why aligning with your true values crucial for career choices
• Overcoming doubt and taking courageous action
• Embracing change and taking ownership of your desires

Watch our Emotional Freedom Technique Video for some practical help.

This tap is for you if you’ve ever had a difficult work experience that has stayed with you, whether you are in it right now or it was a long time ago. You might feel quite tired after this tap, or like having a little cry, if you’ve been carrying something for a long time and put it down, you can experience that as a bit of a physical release.

You may feel safest exploring this 1-1 with an EFT practitioner - if so get in touch. With your well-being in mind, I’ve kept this tap as light as I can but if you don’t feel ready to explore these feelings, then be guided by your instinct.

https://vimeo.com/1076067504?share=copy#t=0

A note from Jennifer and McCanna Coaching Ltd: I invite you to tap along to the videos alongside these episodes whilst taking full responsibility for your health and wellbeing. EFT is a fantastic self help tool with ever growing credibility due to positive results from scientific studies. It is not a substitution for seeking professional advice. If you are concerned about your physical or mental health please consult a qualified medical professional. If you would prefer to explore EFT with a qualified practitioner, get in touch and I’ll share some options. 

Meet your host Jennifer McCanna:

Jennifer McCanna has been coaching leaders in organisations around the world since 2011. From the UN Refugee Agency to HSBC, government departments to national and local charities, she specialises in supporting clients to work through the often messy, emotional challenges of leadership so they feel calm, energised and able to have a real impact in the world. 

If you’ve experienced a challenging relationship, restructure or other difficult period in your working life, and as a result your self-belief has taken a hit, Jennifer’s blend of pure coaching, emotional freedom technique and Resilience Dynamic® approaches will help you process the emotional fallout, as well as equipping you with tools to stay energised and effective as a leader. 

When she’s not recording podcasts she’s busy working with leaders 1-1, or as part of their leadership team, and designing and delivering leadership development programmes for leaders at all levels.

Connect with Jennifer:

Download free resources from Jen at Resources...

Have you been told to leave your emotions at the office door? What if embracing them could actually enhance your leadership and performance? Welcome to the first ever episode of My Emotional Work. Meet your host Jennifer McCanna, and join her as she gives an insight to what she’s learnt in 15 years of coaching human beings at work and as she dispels the myth that emotions have no place in the workplace. She’ll dig into the positive impact of understanding your feelings and how that understanding can transform your professional life, create supportive relationships, and help in decision-making. Through personal stories and practical strategies, explore how to navigate the emotional rollercoaster of work. This series is packed with insights for leaders and professionals who want to leverage the power of emotions for a more fulfilling work life. 

Here are the Highlights:

• Introduction
• What is My Emotional Work Life?
• Jen's story (including the time she cried at work)
• Series sneak peeks

An emotional freedom technique (EFT) sequence to support you 

Here is a short EFT (tapping) sequence to support you as you get in touch with, and where if feels ok to, process emotions relating to the episode’s subject matter. 

This short video is a quick intro to what EFT is, what it looks like and a starter tap to get you used to checking out where you might be holding tension in your body. A great one for just before bed!  

https://vimeo.com/1072593225?share=copy

A note from Jennifer and McCanna Coaching Ltd: I invite you to tap along to the videos alongside these episodes whilst taking full responsibility for your health and wellbeing. EFT is a fantastic self help tool with ever growing credibility due to positive results from scientific studies. It is not a substitution for seeking professional advice. If you are concerned about your physical or mental health please consult a qualified medical professional. If you would prefer to explore EFT with a qualified practitioner, get in touch and I’ll share some options. 

Meet your host Jennifer McCanna:

Jennifer McCanna has been coaching leaders in organisations around the world since 2011. From the UN Refugee Agency to HSBC, government departments to national and local charities, she specialises in supporting clients to work through the often messy, emotional challenges of leadership so they feel calm, energised and able to have a real impact in the world. 

If you’ve experienced a challenging relationship, restructure or other difficult period in your working life, and as a result your self-belief has taken a hit, Jennifer’s blend of pure coaching, emotional freedom technique and Resilience Dynamic® approaches will help you process the emotional fallout, as well as equipping you with tools to stay energised and effective as a leader. 

When she’s not recording podcasts she’s busy working with leaders 1-1, or as part of their leadership team, and designing and delivering leadership development programmes for leaders at all levels.

Connect with Jennifer:

Download free resources from Jen at Resources and Insights | Jen McCanna 

Explore more about Jen and her coaching services here Effective, Trusted Leadership Coaching | Jen...

What happens when you have a colleague who is experiencing bereavement and you don’t know what to say? We're taking a look at emotional support in the workplace with host Jennifer McCanna and her guest Toby Oliver, a seasoned therapist and grief counsellor. Discover Toby's unique approach to understanding and navigating loss, from personal bereavement experiences to reshaping grief literacy in professional environments. Packed with compassionate insights, stories of empathetic breakthroughs, and strategies for fostering supportive work cultures, this episode offers guidance for managers, colleagues, and anyone committed to treating human beings like human beings in the workplace (especially if you’re not feeling so confident about how to go about it!) 

Here are the Highlights:

• Introduction
• How society can make grief challenging
• Holding conversations about death
• Navigating grief, boundaries and support
• Understanding the varied emotions of grief
• How to embrace different emotional expressions
• Clear and supportive communication tips

I created this really gentle tap as a companion tap to my conversation with Toby is to help you check in with your feelings. I created it with the experience of grief in mind  but it is so light touch that I hope it will be helpful, whatever is going on for you right now

Watch our Emotional Freedom Technique video 

A note from Jennifer and McCanna Coaching Ltd: I invite you to tap along to the videos alongside these episodes whilst taking full responsibility for your health and wellbeing. EFT is a fantastic self help tool with ever growing credibility due to positive results from scientific studies. It is not a substitution for seeking professional advice. If you are concerned about your physical or mental health please consult a qualified medical professional. If you would prefer to explore EFT with a qualified practitioner, get in touch and I’ll share some options.

Meet your host Jennifer McCanna:

Jennifer McCanna has been coaching leaders in organisations around the world since 2011. From the UN Refugee Agency to HSBC, government departments to national and local charities, she specialises in supporting clients to work through the often messy, emotional challenges of leadership so they feel calm, energised and able to have a real impact in the world. 

If you’ve experienced a challenging relationship, restructure or other difficult period in your working life, and as a result your self-belief has taken a hit, Jennifer’s blend of pure coaching, emotional freedom technique and Resilience Dynamic® approaches will help you process the emotional fallout, as well as equipping you with tools to stay energised and effective as a leader. 

When she’s not recording podcasts she’s busy working with leaders 1-1, or as part of their leadership team, and designing and delivering leadership development programmes for leaders at all levels.

Connect with Jennifer:

Download free resources from Jen at Resources and Insights | Jen McCanna 

Explore more about Jen and her coaching services here Effective, Trusted Leadership Coaching | Jen McCanna

Follow her on LinkedIn here Jennifer McCanna PCC | LinkedIn

And on Instagram here

Is a difficult team member more than just a drain on your energy? What if they are actually a reflection of complex emotional dynamics at play? Join your host, Jennifer McCanna, as she explores the intricate world of workplace relationships. Tune in to hear about some of the lenses Jen uses in her coaching practice to decode the mysteries behind challenging colleagues, and learn how embracing diversity of approach can help create a thriving team environment. With practical insights and an eye-opening look at the unconscious biases we bring to the workplace, this episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking harmony at work. 

Here are the Highlights:

• Introduction
• Managing team confidence and resistance
• Understanding team dynamics and embracing diversity
• How the brain fills knowledge gaps with assumptions 
• What happens when a team member reacts badly to feedback

If you’re managing a difficult team member at the moment, try out this Emotional Freedom Technique for some support.

Jen says: ‘This is a tap for when you’ve a team member who has responded badly to some feedback. This is a situation I’ve supported many a coaching client through, and it’s not talked about so much, so that’s why i’ve created a tap for it here. Logically we know what’s going on here, but it doesn’t stop it feeling rubbish.’ 

A note from Jennifer and McCanna Coaching Ltd: I invite you to tap along to the videos alongside these episodes whilst taking full responsibility for your health and wellbeing. EFT is a fantastic self help tool with ever growing credibility due to positive results from scientific studies. It is not a substitution for seeking professional advice. If you are concerned about your physical or mental health please consult a qualified medical professional. If you would prefer to explore EFT with a qualified practitioner, get in touch and I’ll share some options.

Meet your host Jennifer McCanna:

Jennifer McCanna has been coaching leaders in organisations around the world since 2011. From the UN Refugee Agency to HSBC, government departments to national and local charities, she specialises in supporting clients to work through the often messy, emotional challenges of leadership so they feel calm, energised and able to have a real impact in the world. 

If you’ve experienced a challenging relationship, restructure or other difficult period in your working life, and as a result your self-belief has taken a hit, Jennifer’s blend of pure coaching, emotional freedom technique and Resilience Dynamic® approaches will help you process the emotional fallout, as well as equipping you with tools to stay energised and effective as a leader. 

When she’s not recording podcasts she’s busy working with leaders 1-1, or as part of their leadership team, and designing and delivering leadership development programmes for leaders at all levels. 

Connect with Jennifer:

Download free resources from Jen at Resources and Insights | Jen McCanna 

Explore more about Jen and her coaching services here Effective, Trusted Leadership Coaching | Jen McCanna

If you’d like to discuss working with Jen, you can book in a call with her here Contact Us | Jen McCanna

Follow her on LinkedIn here

Join your host, Jennifer McCanna, along with guest Emotional Freedom Technique whizz and menopause coach Louisa Hussey, as they explore the emotional complexities of menopause and its impact on work life. Whether you're experiencing it personally or supporting a colleague, this episode unravels the intricacies of menopause and its myriad of emotions. Gain practical strategies to foster understanding and compassion in your team, and learn why it's crucial for everyone in the workplace to be part of this conversation. This episode is essential listening for anyone committed to making the workplace a supportive and understanding space for all.

Here are the Highlights:

• Introduction
• Louisa’s personal menopause journey
• Menopause awareness for men in the office
• EFT as a tool for emotion processing
• Creating a supportive work environment (nothing to do with fans!)

This is a tap to support you in your peri-menopause or menopause experience. 

A note from Jen: ‘As we know, everyone has a different experience, and as such I’ve attempted to keep this as generic as I can, whilst referencing some key emotions, such as anxiousness, that come up for me and my clients.’

Emotional Freedom Technique (or tap) to support you.

A note from Jennifer and McCanna Coaching Ltd: I invite you to tap along to the videos alongside these episodes whilst taking full responsibility for your health and wellbeing. EFT is a fantastic self help tool with ever growing credibility due to positive results from scientific studies. It is not a substitution for seeking professional advice. If you are concerned about your physical or mental health please consult a qualified medical professional. If you would prefer to explore EFT with a qualified practitioner, get in touch and I’ll share some options.

Meet your host Jennifer McCanna:

Jennifer McCanna has been coaching leaders in organisations around the world since 2011. From the UN Refugee Agency to HSBC, government departments to national and local charities, she specialises in supporting clients to work through the often messy, emotional challenges of leadership so they feel calm, energised and able to have a real impact in the world. 

If you’ve experienced a challenging relationship, restructure or other difficult period in your working life, and as a result your self-belief has taken a hit, Jennifer’s blend of pure coaching, emotional freedom technique and Resilience Dynamic® approaches will help you process the emotional fallout, as well as equipping you with tools to stay energised and effective as a leader. 

When she’s not recording podcasts she’s busy working with leaders 1-1, or as part of their leadership team, and designing and delivering leadership development programmes for leaders at all levels.

Connect with Jennifer:

Download free resources from Jen at Resources and Insights | Jen McCanna 

Explore more about Jen and her coaching services here Effective, Trusted Leadership Coaching | Jen McCanna

Follow her on LinkedIn here Jennifer McCanna PCC | LinkedIn

And on Instagram here Jen McCanna ⚡️Leadership Coach ⚡️EFT (@jen_the_leadership_coach) • Instagram photos and videos

The world of work in 2025 can feel overwhelming. Heck - the world as a whole can feel overwhelming, and so much of it is way beyond our pay grade to control. So, what to do?  

Join your host, Jennifer McCanna, as she takes a look at how we might maintain our emotional equilibrium in spite of the pace and uncertainty of modern working life. Learn practical strategies to protect your energy, set crucial boundaries, and create a workspace that encourages breathing room for thought and creativity. From mastering the art of emotional acceptance to exploring the stress bucket concept, this episode offers to help you manage your energy and control your stressors. 

Jen mentions The Resilience Dynamic® in this episode, which is years of studies into human resilience, and a book by Jenny Campbell. You can read more here. 

If you’re feeling overwhelmed try out this Emotional Freedom Technique to help.

Jen says ‘When we feel overwhelmed it can be about all the things and nothing in particular, so this tap is to help us notice where we might be holding tension in our body and a bit of permission to delegate, to say no, and to find the space we need.’

A note from Jennifer and McCanna Coaching Ltd: I invite you to tap along to the videos alongside these episodes whilst taking full responsibility for your health and wellbeing. EFT is a fantastic self-help tool with ever-growing credibility due to positive results from scientific studies. It is not a substitution for seeking professional advice. If you are concerned about your physical or mental health, please consult a qualified medical professional. If you would prefer to explore EFT with a qualified practitioner, get in touch, and I’ll share some options.

Here are the Highlights:

• Introduction
• Navigating the pressures of work and leadership
• Techniques to help you enhance your emotional resilience
• Acknowledge the stress, and release the rest

Meet your host Jennifer McCanna:

Jennifer McCanna has been coaching leaders in organisations around the world since 2011. From the UN Refugee Agency to HSBC, government departments to national and local charities, she specialises in supporting clients to work through the often messy, emotional challenges of leadership so they feel calm, energised and able to have a real impact in the world. 

If you’ve experienced a challenging relationship, restructure or other difficult period in your working life, and as a result your self-belief has taken a hit, Jennifer’s blend of pure coaching, emotional freedom technique and Resilience Dynamic® approaches will help you process the emotional fallout, as well as equipping you with tools to stay energised and effective as a leader. 

When she’s not recording podcasts she’s busy working with leaders 1-1, or as part of their leadership team, and designing and delivering leadership development programmes for leaders at all levels.

Connect with Jennifer:

Download free resources from Jen at Resources and Insights | Jen McCanna 

Explore more about Jen and her coaching services here Effective, Trusted Leadership Coaching | Jen McCanna

If you’d like to discuss working with Jen, you can book in a call with her here Contact Us |...

Have you ever wondered how emotions impact your professional journey and workplace environment? Join your host Jennifer McCanna as she interviews Nick Basannavar, a social historian, author and leadership coach who specialises in supporting leaders to build inclusive teams. They explore the intricate intersection of emotions and professional life, from navigating the challenges of suppressing emotions to understanding cultural impacts on workplace dynamics. Nick shares his profound insights and stories taken from an interesting and diverse career. Make sure you listen to explore strategies to better understand and navigate your emotional life at work. 

Here are the Highlights:

• Introduction
• The personal journey to self-awareness
• Intellectualising your feelings doesn't lead to emotional healing
• How to embrace uncertainty within team dynamics
• Letting go of the answers and creating an open space
• A look at evolving workplace cultures in Japan
• How to start building inclusive, ethical work cultures
• Leadership in the social sector and supporting mental health

Want to support your own emotional wellbeing at work? Watch Jen’s Emotional Freedom Technique Tapping Video 

A note from Jen: This is the kind of tap I might do before even getting out of bed in the morning if I’m struggling to do so. It won’t solve everything, but it might create a moment of space to make some choices about how to address the day.

A note from Jennifer and McCanna Coaching Ltd: I invite you to tap along to the videos alongside these episodes whilst taking full responsibility for your health and wellbeing. EFT is a fantastic self-help tool with ever-growing credibility due to positive results from scientific studies. It is not a substitution for seeking professional advice. If you are concerned about your physical or mental health please consult a qualified medical professional. If you would prefer to explore EFT with a qualified practitioner, get in touch, and I’ll share some options.

Meet your host Jennifer McCanna:

Jennifer McCanna has been coaching leaders in organisations around the world since 2011. From the UN Refugee Agency to HSBC, government departments to national and local charities, she specialises in supporting clients to work through the often messy, emotional challenges of leadership so they feel calm, energised and able to have a real impact in the world. 

If you’ve experienced a challenging relationship, restructure or other difficult period in your working life, and as a result your self-belief has taken a hit, Jennifer’s blend of pure coaching, emotional freedom technique and Resilience Dynamic® approaches will help you process the emotional fallout, as well as equipping you with tools to stay energised and effective as a leader. 

When she’s not recording podcasts she’s busy working with leaders 1-1, or as part of their leadership team, and designing and delivering leadership development programmes for leaders at all levels.

Connect with Jennifer:

Download free resources from Jen at Resources and Insights | Jen McCanna 

Explore more about Jen and her coaching services here Effective, Trusted Leadership Coaching | Jen McCanna

Follow her on LinkedIn here Jennifer McCanna PCC | LinkedIn

And on Instagram here