Your Time With James Sweetman

Episode 204 Behind the Pendulum Summit: Frankie Sheahan on Leadership and Focus

06 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In this special episode, I sit down with Frankie Sheahan, co-founder and CEO of Pendulum Summit, for a wide-ranging and refreshingly honest conversati...

Episode 203 Book Review 2025

19 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week’s episode, the last in the current series, is one of my favourites, my annual book review. I speak about 10 books that have inspired, ente...

Episode 202 Lessons for Leaders with Gerry Duffy

12 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this week’s episode, I’m joined once again by international keynote speaker and high performance coach Gerry Duffy (www.gerryduffyacademy.com) ...

Episode 201 The hidden cost of visibility

05 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We all run the gamut between waiting to be found and waiting to be found out. On one hand we long to be seen and appreciated, on the other, we fear cr...

Episode 200 Celebrating 200 episodes: Turning the microphone around

29 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

To celebrate 200 episodes of my podcast, I’m handing the microphone over! My friend and fellow podcaster Sharon Fitzmaurice interviews me in an open...

Episode 199 'The things I no longer chase' - A meditative journey

22 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week’s episode is a reflective piece titled - “The things I no longer chase.” It’s a meditative journey that includes a meeting with my f...

Episode 198 In conversation with Samantha Kelly

15 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week, I’m joined by social media expert and entrepreneur Samantha Kelly. We chat about everything from practical social media strategies to the...

Episode 197 Return on Attention

08 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We’re all familiar with the idea of return on investment, but in today’s 'always on' world, I believe the real metric is return on attention. This...

Episode 196 Productivity Anxiety

01 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Do you feel guilty when you’re not being busy? Do you struggle to relax because your head starts listing all the things you should be doing? Do you ...

Episode 195 Trusting your intuition - recognising when life is guiding you

24 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever felt nudged in a certain direction, or sensed something before it happened? This week I’m exploring the gentle power of intuition and ...

Episode 194 'I just thought I wouldn’t have to still be trying so hard.' - A reflection

17 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

'I just thought I wouldn’t have to still be trying so hard.' This weary confession from a friend was the inspiration for this week’s episode. It’...

Episode 193 In conversation with Michael Dunlop

10 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week I was fortunate to sit down with Michael Dunlop (www.powerofchoice.ie) It’s a heartfelt and uplifting conversation where Michael shares a ...

Episode 192 Building momentum after a break

03 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this first episode of a brand new series, I explore the reality of ‘getting back to normal,’ after a holiday, or a break from work. It’s a ti...

Episode 191 A new chapter - sharing wisdom, creating community

19 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this special edition of my podcast, I’m sharing something personal and professionally significant. After years of hesitation, I’ve launched a n...

Episode 190 Soulful living & self-worth with wellness coach Sharon Fitzmaurice

21 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week, I’m joined by Holistic Wellness Coach and author Sharon Fitzmaurice. Our heartfelt conversation is a fitting way to close this series of ...

Episode 189 Why are we meeting?

14 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We’ve all left meetings wondering -‘What was the point of that?’ This week, I share 10 practical strategies for making meetings efficient, engag...

Episode 188 Change, fear and the power of feeling safe

07 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Change isn’t just a strategic challenge, it’s an emotional one. This week I’m exploring why so many change initiatives fail before they even beg...

Episode 187 Resilience - from 'why me' to 'let me'

30 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week I’m exploring the topic of resilience, not as an heroic soundtrack moment, but as a soft, steady strength, a whisper that helps us move fr...

Episode 186 How to deal with a difficult co-worker - whilst keeping your cool!

23 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We’ve all encountered people who drain our energy, test our patience, or trigger us in ways we can’t always explain. This week, I’m sharing tool...

Episode 185 I met my younger self for coffee

16 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week’s episode was inspired by a beautiful poem ‘I met my younger self for coffee at 10.15’ by Jennae Cecelia. I imagine sitting down with ...

Episode 184 Is it confidence you're lacking - or permission?

09 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We often think we need confidence before we can act, to speak up, to take a risk, to try something new. But what if it’s not confidence we’re lack...

Episode 183 Know thyself - cultivating self-awareness

02 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week, I’m unpacking self-awareness not just as a concept, but as a practice. I explore how self-awareness is the foundation of emotional intell...

Episode 182 The power of doing nothing

26 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What if the key to greater clarity, creativity, and leadership isn’t doing more, but doing less? In our fast-paced world, we glorify the grind, chas...

Episode 181 Will we ever break free from power-based leadership?

19 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We’re all familiar with power-based leadership, where authority comes from titles and roles. But what about authentic leadership that is grounded in...

Episode 180 The Courage Project: A Conversation with Carol Mannion

12 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What does it mean to be courageous? This week, I’m joined by Carol Mannion, co-founder of The Courage Project. We discuss how to walk with fear rath...

Episode 179 Prioritising Health: A Conversation with Nichola Flood, The Queen of Health

05 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

I’m kicking off this 6th series of my podcast with a first. I’m welcoming back one of my first ever guests, Nichola Flood, also known as The Queen...

Episode 178 A New Year tonic

01 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

I've always loved the idea of starting afresh and January is a great time to refocus on what’s important. In this special New Year episode, I share ...

Episode 177 Closing out the year

04 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this week’s episode, the last in the current series, I share 20 powerful questions that have the themes of gratitude and completion running throu...

Episode 176 Book Review 2024

27 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Back by popular demand, this week’s episode is my annual book review where I get to indulge in my love of reading and wax lyrical about the books th...

Episode 175 How I manage my mental health

20 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week I'm sharing the habits and rituals I practice that help me to manage my well-being and mental health. There is no doubt the world is going t...

Episode 174 Lost and Found

13 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week, I’m offering some suggestions to help you during those times when you feel lost or stuck. They’re my go-to insights and strategies, wha...

Episode 173 Managing nerves before a big presentation

06 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week I’m looking head on at the challenge that is front and centre for most people tasked with delivering a presentation and that is managing t...

Episode 172 Patience - the forgotten virtue

30 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Today more than ever, patience is a forgotten virtue. When so much is accessible by the touch of a button, instant gratification has replaced the slow...

Episode 171 The moments of truth that shape your leadership brand

23 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week, I’m exploring the synergy between two related business topics – personal or leadership branding and moments of truth. If you think abou...

Episode 170 The midlife chrysalis

16 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The word most associated with midlife is crisis, but this week I suggest a new word – chrysalis. I delve into the challenges and opportunities of mi...

Episode 169 Burnout or bored-out?

09 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We’ve all heard about burnout, but what about bored-out? Bored-out gets far less attention than it’s workaholic cousin and because some of the sym...

Episode 168 Am I successful yet?

02 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Many people struggle to enjoy their accomplishments or to find lasting satisfaction in their successes. If you’re dragging yourself along, with so-c...

Episode 167 Curing the disease to please

25 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Are you a people pleaser? It’s nice to be nice and we will do kind and thoughtful things for many reasons, but that’s not the same as people pleas...

Episode 166 Reframing pain - in conversation with Paul Rock

18 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In the first of a new series of episodes, I’m delighted to be joined by Paul Rock. Paul is a musculoskeletal physical therapist who specialises in p...

Episode 165 Harnessing the power of not knowing

05 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week, in the last in the current series, I’m posing the question - what if your effectiveness as a leader expands from not knowing? I look at ...

Episode 164 Are you in the home stretch of your career?

29 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

At what point do we accept that we are no longer climbing a career ladder, but on the final rung? When does the finishing line of our working lives fi...

Episode 163 The shackles of perfectionism

22 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

I’m James and I’m a recovering perfectionist. That’s the declaration I’m making upfront this week. Perfectionism can be a point of pride, but ...

Episode 162 My cancer journey

15 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week I’m stepping outside my comfort zone, because I’m speaking about a personal topic – my journey with cancer. Thankfully, earlier this m...

Episode 161 The neuroscience of well-being - in conversation with James Parnell

08 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week I’m joined by James Parnell to chat about the neuroscience of well-being. Amongst his many qualifications, James is a mental fitness coach...

Episode 160 Am I addicted to self-improvement?

01 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week I’m pondering the question – am I addicted to self-improvement? It might sound like an odd question for someone who has worked full time...

Episode 159 How to present confidently to senior managers

24 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

As someone who has worked as a professional motivational speaker for 20 years, and who has delivered countless presentation skills workshops, this wee...

Episode 158 The 6 different types of courage - how many do you recognise?

17 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What role does courage play in your life? There are six different types of courage and this week, I’ll take you through each one, so you can see how...

Episode 157 Self-Confidence & Worthiness - the key to enhancing both

10 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Most of us operate a belief that goes something like -one day when I achieve enough, earn enough, am successful enough, slim enough, spiritual enough,...

Episode 156 The life draining power of habits

03 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week I’m exploring the topic of habits and how even well-intentioned habits can be the hidden cause of boredom in our lives. Just as organisati...

Episode 155 When life gives you lemons!

27 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We all know the adage - when life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. That’s the theory, but in reality, sometimes life just punches you in the gut...

Episode 154 In conversation with Jack Kavanagh

20 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

I’m starting this new series of episodes with an inspirational guest, Jack Kavanagh. In 2012, Jack suffered a life changing spinal cord injury leavi...

Episode 153 Overcoming Overthinking

17 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In the final episode of this series, I’m exploring a topic that I’ve been working on personally and that’s overthinking. In particular, I share ...

Episode 152 Reflections on 20 years in business

10 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week I’m marking a milestone. Twenty years ago this month, I jumped from the corporate career ladder and set up my own coaching and training bu...

Episode 151 Intention, Attention, No Tension

03 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

I’m kicking off the New Year with a special episode titled ‘Intention, Attention, No Tension.’ If you’re like me and don’t buy into all the ...

Episode 150 The best gift of all - A Christmas Reflection

20 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Emotions are amplified at Christmas and for many people it’s a stressful and challenging time. So this week, I’ve created a moment of calm, a refl...

Episode 149 Book Review 2023

13 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, I’m speaking about my favourite books of 2023, so this is an episode for the books lovers. I’ve narrowed down everything I’ve read ov...

Episode 148 Oh wow! The importance of awe

06 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week’s I’m focusing on a topic that is gaining more traction when it comes to general well-being and that’s awe. It’s a tiny word, but a ...

Episode 147 My journey through burnout

29 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, the tables have been turned as Nichola Flood, aka the Queen of Health, interviews me about my experiences of burnout. This conversation was...

Episode 146 How do I know if it’s time to change jobs?

22 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

How do I know it’s time to change jobs? It’s a question most of us have asked ourselves at some point. This week I’ll take you through the diffe...

Episode 145 Five minutes for me

15 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

There are 1440 minutes in the day, and this week I’m ensuring that we take just 5 minutes for ourselves. This is a new type of episode for me, as it...

Episode 144 The 5 disciplines of the ruthlessly efficient!

08 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A conversation with a man with 100K unanswered emails and a woman who realised she couldn’t be in two places at once, were the joint inspiration for...

Episode 143 What am I shedding?

01 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This is the time of year when trees shed their leaves. It prompted me to think, what can I shed? In this week’s episode, I suggest 5 areas where we ...

Episode 142 Why my sabbatical wasn’t enough

25 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, in the first in a new series, I speak about how taking an extended sabbatical wasn’t enough. Yes, I need physical rest, but burnout is no...

Episode 141 An alternative approach to the New Year

04 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

If, like me, you don’t buy into the ‘New Year, New You’ hype, then this is the episode for you. I believe that we are all perfectly ourselves wh...

Episode 140 Reflection questions to close the year

20 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this special episode, I share my thoughts on what makes Christmas meaningful as well as some self-care tips for this time of year. At the heart of ...

Episode 139 In conversation with Gerry Duffy

23 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week, I’m delighted to be joined by international speaker and author Gerry Duffy. In the past 12 years Gerry has delivered over 2,000 presentat...

Episode 138 Words to Inspire - celebrating the launch of my new book

16 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week, I’m celebrating the launch of my new book Words to Inspire. As it says on the back over – ‘this book serves as a calming reminder of ...

Episode 137 Leveraging your personal brand

09 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Personal branding is how we market ourselves to others. It’s not about being someone other than who you are, it’s a mechanism by which you can lev...

Episode 136 10 ways to feel more confident

02 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

If we are honest, most of us would like to feel more self-confident in at least some situations. It might be at an interview, delivering a presentatio...

Episode 135 The many faces of modern leadership

26 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week I’m revisiting the broad topic of leadership focussing in particular on the qualities and mindset a modern leader must possess to be effec...

Episode 134 Do you have a book in you?

19 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Most people say they have a book in them, or that they’d love to write a book. With my sixth book Word to Inspire out soon, this week I’m sharing ...

Episode 133 Nothing to fear but fear itself

12 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

“Nothing to fear but fear itself.” Those famous words spoken by President Roosevelt are the inspiration for this week’s episode. Watching the ne...

Episode 132 In conversation with Susan Maxwell

05 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week I’m joined by Susan Maxwell. Susan is a great example of someone who is managing a portfolio career, combining her interests in different ...

Episode 131 ’Making a Difference’ interviewed by Michael Daly

28 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The tables are turned this week as I'm sharing an interview recently broadcast on Phoenix FM. I sat down with host Michael Daly on his weekly radio pr...

Episode 130 - ’Dare to be a Revolutionary Leader’ with Charley Swords

21 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week I’m joined by Charley Swords, leadership consultant, trainer and mentor to discuss her book ‘Dare to be a Revolutionary Leader.’ Charl...

Episode 129 The Big Why

14 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week I’m asking some ‘Big Why’ questions. So often we are focused on what we do and how we do it and the ‘why’ is easily forgotten. In ...

Episode 128 What I learned from taking a sabbatical

07 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

I’m kicking off this new series with my reflections on having taken a ‘practical sabbatical’ over the last few months. I speak about how imposte...

Episode 127 Why I’m pressing pause

27 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week I’m sharing how after a few weeks of contemplation, I’m pressing pause on several aspects of my business including my weekly podcast. I’...

Episode 126 What are you investing in?

13 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What are you investing in? We don’t just invest money, we invest our time and energy too. This week I look at 6 different aspects of life including ...

Episode 125 Celebrating the 200th edition of my community ezine Next Steps

06 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week on my podcast I’m taking a moment to acknowledge and celebrate the 200th edition of my monthly community ezine Next Steps. Over the last ...

Episode 124 Listening

29 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

For those of us blessed with good hearing listening is a primary sense, it’s how we interpret the audible environment. There are times when we can b...

Episode 123 Self-care is not just pampering

22 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Self-care is more than pampering or shopping, everything that is marketed under the banner of ‘I deserve it.’ In this week’s episode, I’ll be ...

Episode 122 In conversation with Bernie Rogers

15 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week I’m joined by Bernie Rogers an experienced, coach, trainer, and facilitator. Bernie ran the NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) courses I a...

Episode 121 Fear of Returning to the Office (FORTO)

08 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We’ve all heard the adage about not wishing you spent more time in the office as you lie on your deathbed. With offices reopening this autumn, the s...

Episode 120 ‘How I start my day’

18 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Over the years I’ve developed a morning routine that sets me up for the day ahead. In this week’s episode, (the last for two weeks as I take a sum...

Episode 119 A Summer Recharge

11 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The theme this week aligns with one of my key intentions with my podcast, which is to present you with an opportunity to pause, reflect and connect wi...

Episode 118 Signs that you are doing ok

04 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Most of us are fully paid up members of the tough on ourselves club, so this week I’m suggesting that you are probably doing better than you give yo...

Episode 117 Interview Skills – Essential Preparation

28 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Did you know that on average we will attend 42 interviews over the course of our careers? This week I’m delving into a topic that is a core part of ...

Episode 116 In conversation with Roly Miller of Jobcare

21 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week I’m joined by Roly Miller who is eLearning & Digital Media Manager with Jobcare. Established in 1994 Jobcare is a charity that provides t...

Episode 115 My conversation with Des Canning

14 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week I’m delighted to be joined by Des Canning, a counselor, and psychotherapist. I was a client of Des’s earlier this year and I’m a huge ...

Episode 114 The Disciplines of High Performance

07 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Inspired by all the great sport on TV, and with the Olympics just around the corner, this week I’m exploring the topic of high performance. What doe...

Episode 113 Are you a corporate mystic?

30 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Are you a corporate mystic? That’s the question I’m posing this week. The word mystic might conjure up a guru living in a cave, or even Yoda from ...

Episode 112 My conversation with Georgina Durcan

23 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

I’m joined this week by Georgina Durcan an Intuitive Therapist who is affectionately known as the ‘Soul Whisperer.’ In her work, Georgina points...

Episode 111 Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

16 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Imposter syndrome, that sense of not being good enough, feeling like a fraud, and having the fear of being found out, is the topic I’m delving into ...

Episode 110 My conversation with Eileen Hopkins

09 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week I’m delighted to be joined by Eileen Hopkins an experienced Psychotherapist, Life, Career & Public Speaking Coach and Certified Trainer. H...

Episode 109 Reflect, reminisce, refuel

02 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

As well as sharing what I hope is thought-provoking, maybe even inspiring content and conversations, a key intention with my podcast is to give you an...

Episode 108 Redefining Work Life Balance

26 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week I’m exploring what work life balance means today. No longer do we have the physical environment as a distinguishing factor as technology m...

Episode 107 The test of a good people manager

19 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Effective people managers know that they only achieve with and through their teams. They don’t view staff as tenants of roles, they view their teams...

Episode 106 Boosting Self-Confidence

12 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week I’m exploring a topic that surfaces again and again with clients I work with and that’s self-confidence. It might be that you are seekin...

Episode 105 Do you need a rest?

05 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Are you tired? Are you tired of being tired? We’ve all been through so much, especially in the last year. Keeping the show on the road, juggling wor...