Episode 49: Are You Sitting Comfortably? Let Me Begin.

Story, Rehearsal and Authentic Communication with James Healy

In this episode of reThink, Nicki Hambleton is joined by communication specialist James Healy for a thoughtful conversation about story, presence, and what it really means to rehearse.

James shares his journey from classical drama training to working with leaders, law firms and organisations around the world, helping them communicate with confidence, clarity and impact.

Along the way, the episode explores a common challenge many people face: feeling well-prepared, yet still nervous, flat or disconnected when it comes time to speak.

Together, they unpack why preparation alone often fails and why rehearsal, storytelling and embodied presence make such a difference.

James introduces his SOAR storytelling framework, showing how:

• situation sets context
• obstacles create engagement
• action builds momentum
• and results make ideas memorable

The episode also talks about:

• why stories engage us more than data
• authenticity and vulnerability in the age of AI
• how quieter voices can still command attention
• and how imperfection often builds stronger connection than polish

This episode is an invitation to slow down, speak ideas out loud, and rethink how stories, including your own, are told.

🎧 Whether you’re leading, presenting, teaching or simply trying to be heard, this conversation offers a more human way to communicate.

The Shift

James Healy LinkedIn

The Squiggly career: Helen Tupper

Forbes: From Classroom to Career

Olivier Mythodrama

We all need a rethink once in a while, so why not start today?

From Visuals to Voice: A Year of Rethinking Out Loud

As the year comes to a close, this episode of Rethink: The Podcast is a moment to pause and reflect.

Rather than introducing a new visual tool or hosting a guest conversation, Nicki steps back to join the dots between the ideas, conversations and moments that have shaped the podcast over the past year.

From revisiting her 2014 Learning2 talk on the power of visuals, to noticing recurring themes across conversations with educators, leaders, creatives and facilitators, Nicki reflects on how visualising thinking has helped people make sense of complexity, reduce cognitive overload and communicate ideas more clearly.

This episode explores the shift from thinking visually to thinking out loud and how hosting the podcast has become a quiet practice in finding confidence, clarity and voice.

Nicki also reflects on her earlier podcast, The Confessions of an Introvert, and shares why she feels drawn to revisiting those quieter, story-led conversations.

If you’re someone who thinks deeply, sketches ideas, or feels overwhelmed when thoughts stay stuck in your head, this end-of-year reflection offers a gentle reminder: making thinking visible doesn’t require perfection, just space, curiosity and the courage to say the next honest thing out loud.

Learning2 Asia 2014: The Power of Visuals by Nicki Hambleton

We all need a rethink once in a while, so why not start today?

Rethinking Journalling: Calm, Creativity, and the Power of Visual Reflection

In this episode of reThink, Nicki Hambleton is joined by educator, coach, and podcast host Kim Cofino for a reflective conversation about journalling, not as a writing habit, but as a visual, calming practice.

Kim shares how journalling supported her through a demanding year, helping her slow down, process experiences and remember everyday moments more clearly. Rather than focusing on written entries, the conversation explores how simple visuals, doodles, colour, and small observations can make journalling feel more accessible and sustainable.

The episode explores:

• How journalling can support calm and emotional processing
• Why visual cues help memory and recall
• Letting go of perfection and consistency
• Journalling as a personal, flexible practice rather than a performance

This episode offers a gentler way into journalling, particularly for those who have struggled to maintain traditional written journals.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimcofino/

https://www.instagram.com/superkimbocreates/?hl=en

https://www.1101.com/store/techo/en/all_about/

We all need a rethink once in a while, so why not start today?