In this special wrap-up episode, Anna and Stuart look back on ten sticky questions, ten brilliant guests, and the community that has powered Season 1 of Aunty Treacle.
Together, they revisit why Aunty Treacle began, as an “agony aunt for the safety professional” and anyone feeling stuck at work, and what they’ve learned from the conversations that followed. From imposter feelings and people leadership to overwhelm, paperwork, and resistance to change, this episode pulls out the golden threads that have run through the season.
This time there’s no guest in the Treacle Seat, just the hosts sharing honest reflections, favourite moments, and the phrases that might just become tattoos (looking at you, “Go where you’re celebrated, not tolerated”).
Key Topics Covered- Why Aunty Treacle exists
The original idea: an agony aunt for safety and work, crowdsourcing wisdom so people don’t feel alone with sticky problems. - The power of community
How listener questions and shared advice have fuelled the series – and given Anna and Stuart the energy to keep going through very busy years. - Owning the room (Episode 1 – Zoe Hayes)
Introversion as a superpower, preparation, positioning yourself in the room, and building allies in the “back channel.” - Living with your inner critic (Episode 2 – David Filshie)
Imposter feelings, naming your inner voice (“Brenda”), and seeing confidence as the outcome of action, not a prerequisite. - Credit without arrogance (Episode 3 – Ruth Denyer)
Talking about your work with humility, using “we” not “I,” and why real visibility comes from doing the work with people, not above them. - Setting up for success (Episode 4 – Gareth Evans)
“Assume good intent,” connect before you direct, listen first, and shift from doing to thinking and orchestrating. - Is safety still for me? (Episode 5 – Steph Camm)
Knowing your worth, realising sometimes it’s the environment not the profession, and treating job moves a bit more like dating. - The Sticky Middle of leadership (Episode 6 – Oli Sanandres)
Moving from peer to leader, letting go of being the hero, redefining success through others, and making time to think as part of the job. - Overwhelm & capacity (Episode 8 – Helen Davitt)
Normalising overwhelm without accepting it as “forever,” having honest conversations about capacity, and remembering “you can’t fix a secret.” - “I feel like a filing cabinet” (Episode 9 – Helen Rawlinson)
Challenging paperwork that doesn’t keep people safe, starting small with micro-experiments, and designing safety around real work, not just systems. - Change, resistance & self-worth (Episode 10 – Crystal Danbury)
Conscious vs unconscious change, changing your approach not your purpose, intentional language and metrics, and the big one:
“Go where you’re celebrated, not where you’re tolerated.” - Personal growth behind the mic
How hosting has stretched both Anna and Stuart, in holding space, listening, and trusting themselves – and why they’re proud simply to have finished a thing.
Resources & References- Themes & tools revisited from across the season:
- Confidence as action, not personality
- “Connect before you direct” & assume good intent
- Balcony vs dance floor perspectives on work
- Micro-experiments and “start small, prove it works”
- Language shifts: from accidents & compliance to harm, care & impact
- “Go where you’re celebrated, not tolerated”
- Guests from Season 1:
- Zoe Hayes – being heard as an introvert
- David Filshie – imposter syndrome & self-belief
- Ruth Denyer – visibility with humility
- Gareth Evans – stepping...
