Martina Tierney Podcast

In this episode of The Martina Tierney Podcast, Martina is joined by executive coach, speaker and author Caroline McKenna for an honest and inspiring conversation about self-leadership, confidence and sustainable growth.

Caroline shares the personal story behind her book, Lead Self First: 7 Inspired Steps to Unlock Next Level Growth, including the moment her young daughter told her, “You’d rather work than spend time with me.” It became a powerful wake-up call and led Caroline to examine the thoughts, habits and behaviours that were driving her to overwork.

Together, Martina and Caroline explore how our inner stories can either hold us back or help us move forward. They discuss imposter syndrome, working to your strengths, stepping outside your comfort zone and the importance of replacing limiting beliefs with thoughts that are both honest and empowering.

The conversation also looks at self-care, particularly for business leaders, healthcare professionals and anyone working in a caring role. Caroline explains why rest is not selfish, why overworking is not always a sign of commitment, and how looking after yourself allows you to show up better for your family, your team and the people you serve.

This episode is a thoughtful reminder that real growth begins within. It is not about constantly doing more. It is about leading yourself with greater awareness, protecting your energy and giving yourself permission to become the best version of who you already are.

What happens when postural care is treated as a full 24-hour responsibility - not just something we think about when someone is sitting?
In this special episode, recorded straight after our first 24-Hour Postural Care Conference, I sit down with sisters Anna Goldsmith and Sarah Clayton of Simple Stuff Works Associates Ltd.
Their parents, Liz and John Goldsmith, pioneered supported lying. Anna and Sarah have carried that legacy forward with honesty, passion and decades of lived experience - including their own family's journey through it.
We talk about why seating and lying can't be treated as separate conversations, why families need to be listened to (not just managed), and why postural care is never really about a chair, a positioning system or a piece of equipment.
It's about a person. Their comfort. Their dignity. Their health. Their life.
Posture is not a "nice to have." It's fundamental.
A conversation full of wisdom, emotion and practical insight - for clinicians, carers and families working toward truly joined-up care.

This 3-episode mini-series of the Martina Tierney Podcast was filmed during the 2026 Tierco Healthcare Postural Care Conference held at St James' Park, Newcastle-upon-Tyne in England. The series features three speakers from the day of quality clinical education which focused on the importance of maintaining body shape, posture and mobility.In this heartfelt episode, recorded live from the 24 Hour Posture Conference at St James’ Park, Martina Tierney speaks with Rachel Wright, founder of Born at the Right Time and host of The Skies We’re Under podcast.

Rachel shares the deeply personal story of her son Sam, his complex needs, and the journey of becoming both a parent carer and a professional voice for change. With honesty, wisdom and compassion, she explores the realities of caring for a child with profound disabilities, the importance of 24-hour postural care, and the emotional weight carried by families every day.

Together, Martina and Rachel discuss why communication matters so much in healthcare, how practitioners can work more collaboratively with parent carers, and why lived experience, evidence and empathy must come together to improve outcomes for families.

This conversation is a powerful reminder that behind every care plan is a person, a family, and a story that deserves to be heard.

This 3-episode mini-series of the Martina Tierney Podcast was filmed during the 2026 Tierco Healthcare Postural Care Conference held at St James' Park, Newcastle-upon-Tyne in England. The series features three speakers from the day of quality clinical education which focused on the importance of maintaining body shape, posture and mobility.

In this episode of the Postural Care Conference Mini-Series, Martina speaks with wheelchair rugby Paralympian and spinal cord injury advocate Michael Kerr about his remarkable journey following a life-changing spinal cord injury at the age of 17.

Michael shares his personal experience of rehabilitation after sustaining a C6 spinal cord injury, the role of physiotherapy and occupational therapy in regaining independence, and how wheelchair rugby transformed his life, leading to international success representing Great Britain at the Paralympic Games.

The conversation also explores the critical importance of postural care, healthcare seating, pressure injury prevention and management, moving and handling, and the correct use of specialist equipment. Michael candidly discusses his experience of developing severe pressure injuries, including how inappropriate wheelchair seating and poor pressure redistribution can have devastating consequences, requiring prolonged bed rest and significantly impacting physical and mental health.

This episode highlights why regular skin inspections, appropriate seating assessments, pressure care management, and person-centred equipment provision are essential for wheelchair users, clinicians, therapists, carers, and healthcare providers.

Topics covered include:
• Postural care and 24-hour positioning
• Pressure injury prevention and management
• Healthcare seating and wheelchair seating assessment
• Specialist seating equipment and pressure redistribution
• Moving and handling considerations
• Bathing, personal care and maintaining skin integrity
• Spinal cord injury rehabilitation
• Occupational therapy and physiotherapy
• Wheelchair rugby and adaptive sport
• Independent living and disability advocacy
• The psychological impact of pressure injuries

Whether you are an occupational therapist, physiotherapist, nurse, wheelchair service clinician, rehabilitation professional, case manager, caregiver, or wheelchair user, this powerful conversation provides valuable insights into the importance of getting postural care and equipment provision right.

#PosturalCare #PressureInjuryPrevention #PressureCare #HealthcareSeating #WheelchairSeating #MovingAndHandling #OccupationalTherapy #Physiotherapy #SpinalCordInjury #PressureUlcerPrevention #SeatingAssessment #Rehabilitation #DisabilityAwareness #AdaptiveSport #WheelchairRugby

What happens when a young woman from Brooklyn challenges expectations, pursues her dream of becoming an Occupational Therapist, and spends a lifetime transforming the lives of older adults?In this inspiring episode, Martina speaks with Susanne Giannitti, Occupational Therapist, educator, mentor, advocate and lifelong learner from Connecticut, USA. Susanne shares her remarkable OT journey, from working in some of New York’s toughest neighbourhoods to becoming a respected clinician, educator and champion for older adults.
Together, they explore:✨ The courage to pursue higher education when it was not expected of women in her generation✨ Why she fell in love with Occupational Therapy and never looked back✨ The lessons learned from decades of working with older adults in nursing homes, rehabilitation and home care✨ Memorable patient stories that demonstrate the life-changing impact of Occupational Therapy✨ The importance of mentoring the next generation of healthcare professionals✨ Susanne’s passion for falls prevention, healthy ageing and lifelong learning✨ Why retirement does not mean the end of making a differenceNow at 71 years old, Susanne continues to educate, mentor and advocate for older adults, proving that purpose, curiosity and service have no age limit.If you are an OT, healthcare professional, student, caregiver, or someone passionate about ageing well, this episode is filled with wisdom, encouragement and practical insights.#MartinaTierneyPodcast #OccupationalTherapy #ThePowerOfOT #HealthyAgeing #FallsPrevention #OlderAdults #Mentorship #HealthcareLeadership #OTLife #RetiredNotExpired #LifelongLearning #CompassionateCare #SeatingMatters***
I’d love to hear what you think of this episode, your feedback helps shape future episodes. And if you know a healthcare professional with a powerful story to share, I’d love to connect.
Drop me an email anytime at ⁠martina.tierney@seatingmatters.com⁠
Thanks so much for tuning in and supporting the show!
Martina