It's a Mindset

Have you ever wondered what really goes on behind the scenes of a school — and the challenges a school principal faces?

As a mother of four almost-adult children, I feel like I've spent a significant portion of my life navigating the school system. So, I was fascinated to sit down with former school principal, author and yoga teacher Susan Simon to hear her perspective from the other side of the school gates.

In this episode of It's a Mindset, Susan shares the realities of leading a school and the challenges principals face behind the scenes. We explore how much teaching has changed in recent years, particularly with the increasing demands of administration and curriculum, and the impact these changes can have on educators and school communities.

But Susan's story extends well beyond the school gates. We also explore her transition from school principal to yoga teacher and the shift in identity that can come when we leave a role that has defined us for so long. Susan also opens up about her breast cancer diagnosis and how it profoundly changed the way she values her life and the people in it.

This conversation made me reflect on how closely we can tie our identity to what we do — and the courage it can take to step into a new chapter when a role we've held for so long comes to an end.

Key Episode Takeaways:

The challenges school principals face behind the scenes and the complexity of leading a school community.

How teaching has changed, particularly with increasing administrative and curriculum demands.

Susan's transition from school principal to yoga teacher and the identity shift that can come when we leave a long-held role.

How a breast cancer diagnosis changed Susan's perspective and deepened her appreciation for life and the people she loves.

About the Guest

Susan Simon lives on five acres of natural bushland in Tanawha, in south-east Queensland. She and her husband Geoff head up a lively family of six adult children and an emerging gaggle of grandchildren. Simon loves spending time with family and friends, and her passions include writing, yoga, travel, art and music. Simon has been writing creatively all her life, in journals, poetry and short stories. The Secrets of St Jude’s is her first full length novel. She was inspired to write it through the encouragement of colleagues in a creative writers’ group.

Born in Suffolk, England, Simon went to school in Cambridge. She studied at the University of Nottingham and graduated with Joint Honours in English and Fine Art. After working in London, she moved to Australia. Simon took up the profession of teaching and eventually became a school principal of three independent schools, including being the founding principal of St Andrew’s Anglican College in Peregian. She graduated with her doctorate in 2008 which paved the way for a career in academia with a focus on teacher education and school leadership.

Show Resources:

Connect with Susan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sue-simon-4181b630/

Follow Susan on instagram: @susan.simon_author

Connect with Susan on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SueSimon11/

Follow Emma, the Podcast Host on Instagram: @emmalagerlow

Check Out Emma's Website: https://www.emmalagerlow.com/

If you LOVED the episode, make sure you share this on your Instagram Stories and tag us @emmalagerlow and @susan.simon_author.

Yours in Valuing the Life You Have, Emma. X.

Have you ever looked back and realised you're not the same person you were a few years ago?

When I hit record on Episode 1 of It's a Mindset, I had no idea where this podcast would lead. What started as a way to share conversations and build confidence before publishing my book has become one of the greatest gifts of my life.

Nearly 100 guests (and plenty of solo episodes), thousands of downloads, countless stories, and more lessons than I ever imagined. In this special 100th episode, I'm reflecting on the biggest insights I've gathered - not just from my incredible guests, but from the journey of showing up week after week for the past two years.

Looking back, I can see how much I've changed alongside the podcast. The conversations haven't just shaped the show - they've shaped me. Whether you've been here since Episode 1 or you've only recently discovered It's a Mindset, thank you for being part of this journey.

If you've ever listened to an episode, shared one with a friend, left a review or simply taken something valuable away from a conversation, this episode is for you.

Key Episode Takeaways:

The criticism we fear is rarely as powerful as the growth that comes from showing up anyway.

Every person has a story - and curiosity is one of the greatest teachers.

Success looks different for everyone, but living in alignment with your values matters more than external achievement.

Community, mentors and expanders can completely change the direction of your life.

Vulnerability creates connection far more than perfection ever will.

True wealth isn't just financial - it's purpose, wellbeing, relationships and freedom.

Midlife isn't about winding down; it's an opportunity to reinvent yourself.

Small, consistent actions create extraordinary outcomes over time.

Some conversations stay with you forever because they arrive exactly when you need them.

The biggest lesson of all? We never stop becoming.

I also mention some favourite episodes along the way, including conversations with Bernard Cates, Chelsea Pottenger, Kerryn Harvey, Donna McGeorge, Helen Baker, Caitlin Judd, Tamsin Simons, Gayle Smerdon, Penelope Barr and many more who have generously shared their wisdom on It's a Mindset.

Show Resources:

Follow Emma, the Podcast Host on Instagram - @emmalagerlow

Check Out Emma Website - https://www.emmalagerlow.com/

Learn More About Emma's Book, Worthy & Wealthy - https://www.amazon.com.au/Worthy-Wealthy-Discovering-Abundance-Fulfilment/dp/1998528022

If you enjoyed this milestone episode, I'd love you to share it to your Instagram Stories and tag me @emmalagerlow so I can personally thank you.

Thank you for being part of the first 100 episodes.

Here's to the next 100 episodes, Emma. X.

Have you ever found yourself lying awake at 3am, desperately wishing you could switch your brain off?

For so many of us, especially in midlife, getting a good night's sleep can feel elusive. Yet quality sleep is one of the most powerful foundations for feeling our best, performing at our best, and living a healthier, happier life.

In this episode of It's a Mindset, I'm joined by portfolio careerist, advisor and author Penelope Barr. Drawing on more than 25 years of executive experience, Penelope has made it her mission to help high performers create more aligned and sustainable ways of working and living.

Her new book, Win the Night to Win the Day: Sleep Well. Work Better. Live Best., explores why our best days are created the night before and shares practical strategies to help you sleep better.

As a menopausal woman, sleep can be elusive for me, so I was fascinated to hear what Penelope had to say on the subject, given she's written an entire book about it. This conversation challenged the idea that sleep is something we simply hope for and instead showed how we can intentionally create the conditions to sleep better, improve our performance and feel more energised each day.

If you've ever struggled to switch off at night, wake feeling exhausted, or wondered how better sleep could improve every area of your life, this episode is for you.

Key Episode Takeaways:

We are biological beings, and no matter how hard we try, we can't outsmart our need for quality sleep.

Winding down for optimal sleep isn't just about willpower - it's about creating intentional systems and habits that support better rest.

Success isn't about looking good to others; it's about creating a life that genuinely feels good to you.

Discover Penelope's 6:3:3 lifestyle framework and whether it could help you sleep better, perform at your best, and create more sustainable success.

About the Guest:

Penelope Barr is a Portfolio careerist, Advisor, Author and working parent. Penelope draws on more than 25 years of executive experience to help high performers and organisations design more aligned and sustainable ways of working and living. She’s the creator of the 6:3:3 concept, focused on the connection between rest, performance, and strategic, sustainable success. Penelope’s new, “Win the Night to Win the Day. Sleep Well. Work Better. Live Best.” It's a strategic guide for high performers created by research, interviews with global experts and years of experiments to help you design your personal best days to sleep well. Your best days are made at night.

Show Resources:

Connect with Penelope on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/penelopebarr/

Follow Penelope on Instagram - @ penelope_barr

Follow Emma, the Podcast Host on Instagram - @emmalagerlow

Check Out Emma's Book, Worthy & Wealthy - https://www.amazon.com.au/Worthy-Wealthy-Discovering-Abundance-Fulfilment/dp/1998528022

If you LOVED this episode, make sure you share it on your Instagram Stories and tag us @emmalagerlow and @ penelope_barr.

Yours in Winning the Night, To Win the Day, Emma. X.

Have you ever had one of those days where everything seems to go wrong?

The alarm doesn't go off.

Someone says something that rubs you the wrong way.

Work feels overwhelming.

Your confidence takes a hit.

And before you know it, one bad day starts feeling like a bad week, a bad month, or even a bad life.

In this episode of It's a Mindset, Emma sits down with Learning and Organisational Development specialist, speaker and author Dr Gayle Smerdon to explore why bad days happen, how we can recognise them early, and most importantly, what we can do to stop them spiralling.

Gayle is the author of The Bad Day Playbook and founder of the "Make Work Less Sh*t" philosophy. Drawing on decades of experience working with leaders, teams and organisations, she shares practical and compassionate strategies for navigating life's inevitable difficult moments.

Who hasn't had a bad day?

I know I've experienced a few recently, and this conversation really landed for me. One of the things I loved most about speaking with Gayle was her reminder that while bad days are inevitable, staying stuck in them isn't.

This episode is filled with practical wisdom, self-awareness and gentle reminders that we have more agency than we often realise when we're struggling.

Key Episode Takeaways:

How a bad day can slowly turn into a bad week, a bad month or even depression if left unchecked

The early warning signs that you're having a bad day

Why recognising what's happening is often the first step towards changing it

The powerful questions you can ask yourself when you're struggling

How to identify what is within your control and what isn't

The role of self-awareness in navigating difficult emotions

Why connection can be one of the most important tools during a bad day

How to know whether you need support, space or something else entirely

Why bad days are part of being human and don't define who you are

One of the most powerful messages from this conversation is that while we can't always control what happens to us, we can influence what happens next. Bad days may be inevitable. Staying stuck in them isn't.

About the Guest

Dr Gayle Smerdon is a Learning and Organisational Development specialist, speaker and author who helps people make work less exhausting and more meaningful.

For more than two decades, she has worked across universities, government and not-for-profits, helping leaders and teams navigate change, build capability and create healthy workplace cultures.

With a PhD in Sociology and a Graduate Diploma in Psychology, Gayle studies how organisations function (and malfunction), exploring the interplay between systems, culture and behaviour.

She is the author of The Bad Day Playbook and founder of the "Make Work Less Sh*t" philosophy - a practical, funny and deeply human approach to improving work without pretending everything is fine. Gayle believes bad days may be inevitable, but staying stuck in them isn't.

Show Resources:

Connect with Gayle on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gayle-smerdon/

Follow Gayle on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/gaylesmerdon/

Check Out Gayles Website: https://www.gaylesmerdon.com/

Follow Emma on Instagram: @emmalagerlow

Purchase Worthy & Wealthy: https://www.amazon.com.au/Worthy-Wealthy-Discovering-Abundance-Fulfilment/dp/1998528022

If you LOVED this episode, make sure you share it on your Instagram stories and tag us @emmalagerlow and @gaylesmerdon.

Remember: A bad day doesn't mean you have a bad life.

Go Gently, Emma. X.

Have you ever known exactly what you needed to do, but still found yourself stuck?

We live in a world overflowing with information. Books, podcasts, courses and advice are more accessible than ever before.

Yet many of us still struggle to bridge the gap between what we know and what we actually do.

In this episode of It's a Mindset, Emma sits down with leadership expert, keynote speaker and author Tamsin Simounds to explore why information alone doesn't create change - experience does.

Drawing on the principles from her book, The Experiment Mindset, Tamsin shares a brain-aligned approach to growth that challenges the way many of us think about personal development. Together, Emma and Tamsin unpack why high achievers often become trapped by their own success, why waiting until something feels comfortable is holding us back, and how embracing experimentation can create lasting transformation.

As someone who has recently launched The Next Chapter Collective, Emma deeply resonated with Tamsin's message. Building something new always involves uncertainty, vulnerability and a willingness to step into the unknown. In many ways, every next chapter is simply one big experiment - and perhaps that's exactly the point.

If you've been waiting to feel ready before making a change, this conversation may be exactly what you need to hear.

One of the most powerful reflections from this conversation is considering how much you've changed over the past ten years compared to how much you expect to change over the next ten. Most of us dramatically underestimate our capacity for growth.

This episode is a reminder that the life you want isn't created through more information alone. It's created through action, experimentation and a willingness to step into the unknown.

Key Episode Takeaways:

Why information alone doesn't create lasting change

The difference between progress and genuine growth

How successful people can unknowingly become trapped by their own identity

The three levers that drive behaviour and transformation

Why waiting for confidence before taking action rarely works

How adopting an experimental mindset can help you navigate uncertainty and change

Why the life you want may be much closer than you think

Why you don't have to stay the same person you've always been

About The Guest:

Tamsin Simounds is a leadership expert, keynote speaker, entrepreneur and author of The Experiment Mindset.

Her work focuses on helping people bridge the gap between what they know and what they actually do by creating experiences that generate meaningful behavioural change.

She is also the founder of JumpProof, a platform designed to help individuals and organisations embrace experimentation as a pathway to growth, resilience and transformation.

Show Resources:

Follow Tamsin on Instagram: @tamsinsimounds

Connect with Tamsin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamsinkate/

Check Out Tamsin's Website: https://www.tamsinsimounds.com/

Follow Emma on Instagram: @emmalagerlow

Learn More About The Next Chapter Collective - https://www.emmalagerlow.com/the-next-chapter-collective

If you LOVED this episode, make sure you share it on your Instagram stories and tag us @emmalagerlow and @tamsinsimounds

Here's to embracing the experiment, Emma. X.