Appiah Counselling Podcast

Why do we all face the doors in a lift? And why does it feel strange when somebody doesn't? A brief observation about the unspoken rules we follow in public, the behaviour we take for granted and how our idea of normal can change depending on where we are.

Ever checked your bank statement and found a subscription you barely remember signing up for? From streaming services and gym memberships to software and free trials, recurring payments have become part of everyday life. This episode looks at why small monthly charges are easy to accept, how subscriptions can outlast the reasons we started them, and the difference between choosing to pay and simply continuing to pay.

Convenience makes everyday life easier, but does making something quicker always make the experience better? A brief reflection on the things we gain, and occasionally miss, when we remove effort from everyday activities.

Waiting is something we all experience, but it doesn't always feel the same. From watching a delivery tracker to waiting for important news or looking forward to a holiday, this episode explores why some minutes seem to last forever while others disappear, and how anticipation, uncertainty and expectations shape the experience. A conversation about the time we spend waiting and the life that continues around it.

We remember plenty of first experiences, but what about the last time we did something familiar? A short reflection on everyday experiences that quietly become memories.

ome of our everyday behaviours become so familiar that we barely notice ourselves doing them. In this episode, I explore how habits develop, why we repeat certain behaviours even when we don't particularly enjoy them, and the small rewards that can keep us returning to familiar routines. From checking our phones to avoiding uncomfortable conversations, a reflection on the things we do automatically and what might be happening beneath them.

We all carry different titles. Parent, partner, friend, colleague. How much do those titles tell people about what it's actually like to be around us? In this episode, I explore the difference between how we see ourselves and how other people experience us, why honesty can sometimes feel risky, and what our reactions might be teaching the people closest to us. A conversation about identity, reputation, listening and the things we don't always notice about ourselves.

Some of the things I once feared have eventually become things I genuinely enjoy. So for this episode, I wanted to talk about fear a little differently — through some of my own experiences rather than treating fear as something that simply needs to be overcome. Then I answer seven questions that have been sent to me, covering therapy, whether I analyse people outside of work, switching off after listening to people all day, how being a therapist affects friends and family, travelling alone, changing my mind as I've got older, and what I actually want the Appiah Counselling Podcast to become. A slightly more personal conversation than usual, with a few moments that didn't quite go according to plan.

Some of the things I once feared most have eventually become some of the things I love most. This episode is a little different. I’m recording from Shanghai, reflecting on my first trip to China in 2013 and how that experience changed the way I saw travel, fear and my own independence. I talk about what brought me to China in the first place, deliberately putting myself in situations that challenged some of my fears, and how travelling eventually became something I genuinely love. More than a decade later, I’m back in Shanghai, walking along the Bund and looking at the same city from a very different point in my life. This isn’t really an episode about China. It’s about what can happen when something that once frightened you begins to expand your world.

Some relationships end with a conversation. Others simply fade away. This episode explores why unfinished endings can stay with us for years, why closure doesn't always come from another person, and how we gradually move forward even when the answers never arrive.

Some compliments stay with us. Others make us feel unexpectedly uncomfortable. This episode explores why receiving praise can sometimes feel more difficult than giving it, how the stories we carry about ourselves influence the way we hear appreciation, and why learning to receive kindness may be just as important as offering it.

Life rarely changes all at once. More often, we notice it while making tea, driving to work or walking into a familiar room. This episode explores how everyday routines quietly reveal the changes we've been living through, and why ordinary moments often tell us more about our lives than the dramatic ones ever could.

Being needed can feel deeply rewarding, but over time it can also become part of how we measure our own worth. This episode explores the quiet difference between being valued for what we do and being valued for who we are, and why healthy relationships allow care to move in both directions.

Many of us grow up without realising we've quietly taken on a role within our family. Years later, those same patterns can reappear in ways we don't expect. This episode explores how family roles develop, why they can stay with us for decades, and what happens when we begin to outgrow them.

Some emotions arrive exactly when we expect them. Others appear weeks, months or even years later, often during the most ordinary moments. This episode explores why feelings don't always follow the same timeline as the events that create them, and how giving ourselves space can sometimes reveal what we've been carrying all along.

Being dependable is often seen as a strength, but what happens when reliability quietly becomes part of our identity? This episode explores the hidden expectations that can come with always being the person others rely on, why receiving support can sometimes feel harder than giving it, and how healthy relationships allow care to move in both directions.

Many of the disappointments we experience don't begin with broken promises. They begin with expectations that were never spoken aloud. This episode explores the invisible rules we carry into relationships, why people can care deeply yet still misunderstand one another, and how understanding often begins with conversations we never realised we needed to have.

Some conversations stay with us long after they've ended—not because of the words that were spoken, but because of everything that wasn't. This episode explores how we interpret pauses, delayed replies and unfinished conversations, and why curiosity can sometimes reveal more than certainty ever could.

Silence doesn't always mean the same thing. Sometimes it's peaceful. Sometimes it's protective. Sometimes it quietly creates distance between people who care about one another. This episode explores the different meanings silence can hold, why we often fill it with our own stories, and how one gentle question can sometimes change the direction of a relationship.

Courage isn't always found in life's biggest moments. More often, it appears in ordinary decisions that quietly ask something of us. This episode explores the everyday acts of courage that often go unnoticed, from starting difficult conversations to taking small steps into the unknown, and why those moments can shape our lives far more than we realise.

A delayed reply. A missed greeting. A conversation that ends sooner than expected. This episode explores how our minds fill in missing information, the assumptions we quietly make, and how curiosity can sometimes reveal a very different story.

What does it feel like to be remembered? From someone recalling your name to following up on a conversation months later, the smallest acts of remembering can have a lasting impact. In this episode, Samuel Appiah reflects on why these everyday moments matter, how they shape our relationships, and why making someone feel remembered may be one of the quietest forms of kindness.

Few people enjoy disappointing others, especially those they care about. This episode explores the quiet pressure of trying to meet different expectations, the reality that some choices leave no perfect outcome, and why caring about people doesn't always mean keeping everyone happy. Through everyday situations and thoughtful reflection, Samuel Appiah considers what it means to make difficult choices with kindness.

What does it really mean to feel understood? In this episode, Samuel Appiah explores why understanding is different from agreement, how curiosity changes conversations, and why some people leave us feeling heard without offering a single piece of advice. Through everyday examples and quiet reflection, this conversation invites us to think differently about the way we listen and the way we connect with others.

Why do some conversations leave us feeling lighter, even when nothing has been solved? In this episode, Samuel Appiah explores the quiet qualities that help people feel safe enough to speak openly. From patience and curiosity to the power of simply being heard, this conversation reflects on why the most meaningful connections are often built through ordinary moments rather than extraordinary words.

Why do we stop noticing the people, routines and moments that quietly shape our lives? In this episode, Samuel Appiah explores how familiarity changes our attention, what we gain by noticing the ordinary again, and why some of life’s greatest gifts become almost invisible through repetition.

Life rarely gives us every answer when we want it. This episode explores what it means to live with uncertainty, why waiting can feel so difficult, and how some of life’s most meaningful moments begin long before we understand where they’re leading.

It’s easy to look at other people’s lives and wonder whether we’ve fallen behind. This conversation explores why comparison can feel so convincing, how different lives unfold in different ways, and why timing is rarely as straightforward as it appears from the outside.

Change doesn’t always arrive with obvious milestones. More often, it appears through ordinary moments that gradually shape the way we think, relate and understand ourselves. This conversation reflects on the quiet ways people continue to grow, often without noticing until they look back.

Some experiences are surprisingly difficult to put into words. Whether it’s gratitude, regret, love, or hurt, there are moments when language feels just out of reach. This conversation explores why that happens, why it matters, and how being understood isn’t always about finding the perfect sentence.

Some conversations stay exactly as we remember them. Others seem to change as we do. This episode explores how time, experience and perspective can gently reshape the meaning of conversations we’ve had, often revealing something we couldn’t see when they first happened.

First impressions are a natural part of being human, but they rarely tell the whole story. This conversation explores why our perceptions are shaped by our own experiences, how curiosity can soften certainty, and why looking again can sometimes change far more than we expect.

Over time, familiar ways of seeing ourselves can begin to feel like unquestionable truths. In this conversation, we explore how those perspectives are formed, why they often go unnoticed, and how curiosity can sometimes open the door to seeing ourselves a little differently.

Looking back can change the way we understand ourselves. Experiences that once seemed ordinary, confusing or difficult can take on new meaning with time. In this conversation, we reflect on how our perspective evolves, why memories don’t always stay the same, and how looking back isn’t about changing the past but seeing it with a little more understanding.

For the first time, I wanted to step away from the usual conversation and share a little about the path that led me here. Long before I became a counsellor, I found myself asking questions about people. Growing up, witnessing conflict, being bullied, changing schools and later working with children, teaching overseas and training as a counsellor all added another piece to that journey. In this episode, I talk about where that curiosity began, how it developed through years of study and practice, and why I continue to have these conversations today. Thank you for listening, for your support, and for being part of this journey with me.

Some moments seem ordinary while they’re happening, yet they remain with us for years. This episode reflects on the quiet experiences, conversations and connections that continue to shape us long after they’ve passed, and why meaning is often found in the smallest moments rather than the biggest events.

Some of the biggest efforts in life happen quietly. Looking after people, holding relationships together, staying strong, or simply getting through the day can take more energy than anyone else ever sees. This conversation reflects on what it feels like when your effort goes unnoticed and why being recognised isn’t always the only way our actions hold meaning.

Relationships don’t always fall apart through one dramatic moment. Sometimes they simply become quieter, busier or more distant without anyone intending them to. This conversation reflects on how connection can gradually return through ordinary moments that remind us we’re still important to one another. It isn’t about fixing relationships. It’s about noticing what helps them feel alive again.

There are times when saying nothing feels easier than trying to explain how we feel. This conversation explores those quieter moments when we begin keeping things to ourselves, and the effect that silence can have on our relationships over time. Rather than offering quick answers, it invites you to reflect on what your own silence might be protecting… or perhaps what it might be costing.

Feeling close to someone isn’t always about spending more time together. Often it’s found in small, everyday moments that quietly build trust, understanding and connection. This conversation explores some of the subtle things that can strengthen or weaken closeness, inviting you to reflect on the relationships that matter most in your own life.

Honesty isn’t always about telling the truth. Sometimes it’s about finding the courage to admit what we’re feeling, even if we don’t yet have the words for it. This conversation gently explores the moments that make honesty feel difficult and the conditions that can make it feel a little more possible. Rather than searching for perfect answers, perhaps this episode simply creates a little space for reflection.

Some conversations stay with us because we never quite found the words we were looking for. This episode explores why expressing what’s important can feel so difficult, and why honesty often begins long before we find the perfect sentence. Rather than focusing on what to say, this conversation reflects on what it means to let ourselves be heard.

Most difficult conversations begin long before anyone says a word. They start in our minds through imagined responses, rehearsed sentences and the hope that waiting a little longer might somehow make things easier. In this episode, we explore a few ideas that can help these conversations feel less daunting and perhaps a little more honest. Rather than offering a script to follow, this conversation invites you to reflect on the discussions you’ve been avoiding and what might help you approach them differently.

Feeling understood is something many of us long for, yet it doesn’t always happen, even in our closest relationships. In this episode, we explore the small habits that help people feel heard, respected and genuinely understood. You might recognise some of these in your own conversations, and perhaps discover one or two that are worth trying this week.

Some relationships leave us feeling comfortable enough to be ourselves, while others leave us second-guessing every word. This episode explores several qualities that can help relationships feel emotionally safe, including consistency, curiosity, listening and trust. Rather than offering rules, it invites you to reflect on the relationships in your own life and the moments that help genuine connection grow.

Over the last few episodes, we’ve explored anxiety, overthinking, automatic thoughts and the way our minds interpret everyday experiences. This conversation brings those ideas together by exploring what psychological wellbeing might actually look like. Rather than aiming for a mind that’s always calm or always certain, perhaps the goal is something much more realistic. Join me as we reflect on curiosity, flexibility and what it means to develop a healthier relationship with our own thoughts.

Can we really change the way we think, or are our thought patterns fixed for life? In this episode, counsellor Samuel Appiah explores confirmation bias, neuroplasticity and the way familiar thinking patterns develop over time. Discover why lasting change doesn’t begin with positive thinking but with curiosity and small shifts in perspective.

Every day, thousands of thoughts pass through our minds, but do they all deserve our attention? In this episode, counsellor Samuel Appiah explores the difference between intrusive thoughts, helpful thoughts and meaningful thoughts. Discover how where you place your attention can shape your emotions, your decisions and the way you experience everyday life.

Can you trust every thought you have? Our minds constantly interpret the world around us, but not every thought reflects reality. In this episode, counsellor Samuel Appiah explores automatic thoughts, assumptions and the way our thinking shapes our emotions. Discover how learning to question your thoughts with curiosity rather than fear can improve emotional wellbeing and decision-making.

Can you actually stop overthinking, or is it something we simply have to live with? In this episode, counsellor Samuel Appiah explores what overthinking is really trying to achieve, the difference between reflection and rumination, and how curiosity can sometimes be more helpful than trying to force thoughts away.