The Wobbly Middle

From Lab to Lifeline: When Brain and Heart Collide Born in the New Mexico deserts where running water was a luxury, Dr. Emily Connally was an unlikely contender for the ivory towers of Harvard and Oxford — but with grit, brilliance, and a touch of rebellion, she soared. Yet her greatest achievements may not be in the lab… When the pandemic struck, Emily applied the same expertise she used to map the brain’s complex pathways to chart a thriving grassroots network. Starting with a schoolgate foodbank, she built Cherwell Collective which is transforming how local networks tackle food waste and sustainability. From elite academia to community hero, listen to Emily’s warm, uplifting tale of courage, ingenuity, and the power of pivoting when it matters most. 🎧 Tune into her episode on The Wobbly Middle podcast. Apple: https://lnkd.in/d6p6fkwT Spotify: https://lnkd.in/d8AKYU8S Substack: https://lnkd.in/d4NP4wgv #FoodWaste #ClimateHeroes #TheWobblyMiddle #Sustainability #GrassrootsMovement #PodcastEpisode

How do you turn stigma into a shared strength? A need into a shared purpose? Dr. Emily Connally, founder of Cherwell Collective, CIC, discovered the answer when she applied her brilliant, analytic mind to feedback from those she was helping. Originally set up during the pandemic as a food bank distributing surplus food, Cherwell Collective began to evolve when Emily asked a simple question: What do you want? The response changed everything. Instead of framing their mission as giving food to those in need, they started speaking about reducing food waste—a shift that reframed recipients as climate heroes, saving surplus food and protecting the planet. This change in language had a profound impact:  🌟 Reduced stigma—More people felt comfortable accessing surplus food.  🌟 Shared purpose—The focus shifted to a collective effort to fight waste.  🌟 Lasting impact— A grassroots movement with £1m in funding was born, bringing people together around sustainability and community. Emily’s story is a testament to the power of words to change behaviour and build stronger connections. Want to hear how she made this extraordinary pivot—and how you might apply similar lessons in your own life or work? 🎧 Listen to her inspiring episode on The Wobbly Middle podcast - out tomorrow. Listen on Apple: https://lnkd.in/eQ7AHB_z Listen on Spotify: https://lnkd.in/edUVdfw4 For further insights, read https://lnkd.in/eDU2WSRA  Let’s rethink how we talk about challenges—and the incredible solutions that can emerge. What words have changed how you see a problem? Share your thoughts below!

🗺️ The Wobbly Middle is delighted to be listened to so widely. 🗺️ 50 countries is a huge milestone and shows just how universal The Wobbly Middle is. Crossing cultures, races, sexes and countries are the feelings of wondering what is next and seeking ways to move forward with confidence. Here is to the next 50! Particularly pleased with some of the further afield countries: #UnitedKingdom #SouthAfrica #UnitedStates #Australia #Netherlands #Canada #France #Ireland #UnitedArabEmirates #Germany #Switzerland #Spain #Jersey #Isreal #Portugal #Austria #Malaysia #Greece #Brazil #GuernseyandAlderney #AntiguaandBarbuda #Hungary #Italy #Uruguay #Botswana #Luxembourg #Denmark #Belgium #Indonesia #Croatia #Qatar #Cyprus #Keyna #HongKong #Turkey #NewZealand #Bangladesh #Burundi #Japan #Taiwan #SaintVincentandtheGrenadines #Mexico #Bolivia #Peru #Chad #ElSalvador #SaudiArabia #Malawi #Cambodia #Vietnam #Thailand #India #Singapore

Sophie was 37 when she was diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. Recovered but with a heavy dose of heartache, she had a choice to make: return to the career she had spent years building or follow her passion into the fires of the kitchen. With humour, grit, and inspiring zest, Sophie Archer reveals how her strength grew to fuel her culinary dreams - all the way to MasterChef: The Professionals. This is a story that will ignite your own ambitions and leave you hungry for possibility. Listen wherever you get your podcasts: Apple: https://lnkd.in/eSScYVuk Spotify: https://lnkd.in/erdjpm5z Substack: https://lnkd.in/e7WvPqRX The Wobble Middle, a podcast about women reinventing their careers. For additional insights, read The Wobbly Middle . You can also find us on LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook @thewobblymiddle Patsy Day Susannah de Jager

Sophie was 37 when she was diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. Recovered but with a heavy dose of heartache, she had a choice to make: return to the career she had spent years building or follow her passion into the fires of the kitchen. With humour, grit, and inspiring zest, Sophie Archer reveals how her strength grew to fuel her culinary dreams - all the way to MasterChef: The Professionals. This is a story that will ignite your own ambitions and leave you hungry for possibility. Listen wherever you get your podcasts: Apple: https://lnkd.in/eSScYVuk Spotify: https://lnkd.in/erdjpm5z Substack: https://lnkd.in/e7WvPqRX The Wobble Middle, a podcast about women reinventing their careers. For additional insights, read The Wobbly Middle . You can also find us on LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook @thewobblymiddle Patsy Day Susannah de Jager

Sophie Archer, lawyer to MasterChef: The Professionals speaks to The Wobbly Middle about how to choose a business partner. New episode out Wednesday, 20 November, wherever you got your podcasts. #Resilience #CareerPivot #WomenWhoInspire #TheWobblyMiddle #MasterChef #MyWobblyMiddle

Two days to go! Sophie Archer story is one of bold transformation—from law to the chef’s kitchen. A journey fuelled by passion, resilience, and grit. Tune in on Wednesday for her story on The Wobbly Middle podcast—and catch her on MasterChef: The Professionals on BBC One at 8pm. Mark your calendars! 

Women lives are a series of transitions and (as we are learning!) our careers with them. We shouldn't be afraid of these career changes, especially as the trailblazers ahead of us are showing that our 40s, 50s and beyond could be the most productive of our lives. Listen to Nina van Schaick on The Wobbly Middle: Apple: https://lnkd.in/eNesKidE Spotify: https://lnkd.in/eNesKidE Substack: https://lnkd.in/ewJUJ5Pf  #femtech #women supporting women #mywobblymiddle #midwife #careerpivot

Welcome to part 4 of The Wobbly Middle toolkit. It might be the HOW and not the WHAT… What if you love WHAT you do but not the Why, How or Who you are currently doing it with? …not everybody wants a full change.

📣 New Episode Out Now. From Delivery Room to Disruptor - What happens when the gloves come off? The Wobbly Middle had the huge pleasure of talking to the inspiring and very funny Nina van Schaick a Midwife turned FemTech Innovator and Founder of Peripear Ltd. In this episode Nina talks about: 🌤 Developing the confidence to stop trying to be 'everything'. 💪 The strength of a team with complimentary skills. 👀 The power of sitting in discomfort - "It's okay to not have all the answers, to sit in discomfort for a period of time and to dwell on what might be right in front of you." Listen to this episode now: https://lnkd.in/eN5KguUZ #MyWobblyMiddle #WomenInCareers #Midlife