Season 2, Episode 12: Permission To Feel - Redefining Success and Shame in Work and Life with Holly McLoughlin

In this episode of Shameless Stories, our host Sarah Lloyd sits down with Holly McLoughlin, career coach, author, and co-founder of the Courageous Hearts Collective, to explore how shame shapes the way we work, live and define success. Together, they deep dive into the threads of shame that run through career paths, family expectations, and the labels we are given (or give ourselves). Holly shares her own journey from engineering to coaching, how she found the golden thread that sreclaiming our power. This conversation flows through: - Why labels like "career coach" or "engineer" carry both power and shame - Holly's personal story of leaving a "secure career and the shame that came with it" - How shame shows up in education, workplaces and family expectations - Permission to feel "difficult" emotions such as anger, grief, and even joy - Emotional literacy as the key to healthier workplaces and more meaningful lives - The collaborative process behind her book Permission Slips, Reclaiming Your Emotions - Why following joy, not labels, may be the truest career compass Holly offers exercises and reflections you can try right away, from identifying the "golden thread" that runs through your favourite projects, to naming emotions that often go unnoticed. She also shares how simply feeling our feelings can unlock transformation far quicker than we are led to believe. If you've ever felt boxed in by job titles, ashamed of leaving security behind, or silenced in your emotions, this episode is a powerful reminder that your story, and your feelings are valid.Connect with Holly & the Courageous Hearts Collective[courageous-hearts.com](https://courageous-hearts.com)Permission Slips: Reclaiming Your Emotions - available now at Amazon, WHSmith, and all major retailers.If this episode resonated, please share t, leave a review, and tag us with your reflections. Every story shared helps dissolve shame and creates space for more authentic conversations.