the anxious CEO

About the anxious CEO

What if the anxiety you've been fighting is actually your greatest strength? the anxious CEO™ is hosted by Hayley Roffey, Co-CEO of Global Fund for Children. With over 20 years of experience building and leading organisations, Hayley has spent much of that time navigating the very thing so many of us are quietly carrying and rarely naming. Anxiety doesn't stay in one part of life. It shows up in the office and in the kitchen, in the moments before we speak up and the moments we stay silent instead. It touches the way we parent, the way we love, the way we show up for ourselves when no one's watching. This podcast is for anyone who has felt that particular weight. The overthinkers. The ones who feel everything deeply. The ones who have built extraordinary lives while quietly wondering if today is the day it all falls apart. We will talk about what anxiety actually feels like from the inside, in leadership and far beyond it, and why the thing you've spent years trying to manage might actually be the most useful thing in the room. Real conversations. No toxic positivity. No performance of calm. Your anxiety is your edge. Here is where we prove it.

Publisher

Hayley Roffey

Category

business · health & fitness

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

27 Jul 2026

Latest episode

5 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

11 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   5 Oct 2026

   season one finale

   The advice everyone gives about anxiety and leadership is missing the point. There is no right way to be anxious, and the eight conversations from The Anxious CEO season one prove it.Hayley Roffey closes the season with a powerful reflection on the biggest threads running through her interviews so far. What emerges is a radically different way to think about anxiety: not as something to fix, but as information, a signal, and often a sign that you care deeply about what you’re building. Across the season, Hayley pulls together six themes that keep resurfacing in leaders, founders, and high performers. You’ll hear why anxiety often shows up in the body before the mind catches up, how group anxiety can land on the visible person in the room, and why success may be better measured by calm than by busyness. She also unpacks the stories we tell ourselves after mistakes, the old beliefs that get triggered by criticism, and the role of trusted people in helping us carry what feels too heavy.You’ll discover: why “fixing” yourself with someone else’s tools can backfire how to tell what anxiety belongs to you and what belongs to the room the simple reframe that turns anxiety into fuel for meaningful action why breathing, movement, and stillness can change everything in the moment how to stop treating failure as proof you’re not enough This episode also revisits standout ideas from the season, including “anxiety means you care,” “let anxiety come along for the ride,” and the reminder that love may be the real antidote to anxiety. If you’ve ever wished you could care less, feel less, or hold it all more neatly together, this conversation offers something better: permission to be human, and to lead from that place. Essential listening if you’re a founder, leader, or high-achiever learning how to live with anxiety without letting it run the show. Season two is coming soon, but this finale is the perfect place to pause, reflect, and hear the season’s wisdom all in one place. the anxious CEO, season 2 will be back on Monday 2 November.

2. 

   28 Sept 2026

   the goal setting system that helped this founder scale through panic

   The advice to "just be confident" misses the point. Anxiety can be the engine behind better decisions, stronger teams, and a business that actually scales - if you know how to use it. In this episode, Emily Branford shares how she turned a lifelong tendency to worry into a competitive advantage while building a fast-growing gym business with her husband George. What makes this conversation so powerful is how honest Emily gets about the tension between who she is and what her business demands. She is a self-described introvert and homebody who thrives on quiet, one-to-one connection - yet she also leads a people-driven company where customer experience, hiring, delegation, and growth all depend on her stepping forward, not back. We get into what that really feels like when the buck stops with you. You'll discover: How Emily reframes anxiety as a signal, not a stop sign Why "no one is coming to save you" became a leadership mantra The exact goal-setting system she and George use: one-year, three-year, five-year, and 10-year plans How they make goals measurable enough to shape both the business and their personal lives Why promoting from within and handing over responsibility is necessary - even when it feels risky How stepping back, filtering criticism, and tuning out industry noise helped the business grow Emily also opens up about the emotional side of scaling a company through lockdown, the pressure of being responsible for a team, and the challenge of building something bigger than yourself without losing sight of the life you actually want. If you've ever felt torn between wanting control and wanting freedom, this episode will hit home. Perfect for founders, operators, and anyone trying to build something meaningful while managing self-doubt, family life, and the constant pull of "what if." Emily's perspective is a reminder that anxiety doesn't have to shrink your world - it can sharpen your focus, clarify your priorities, and keep you moving toward the life you want.

3. 

   21 Sept 2026

   anxiety is not the enemy

   Anxiety is not the enemy - it’s often the signal that you care, you’re stretching, and you’re about to do something that matters. Therapist and breathwork practitioner Rachel Kerr-Smith shares the practical tools that help her and her clients move through fear without waiting for it to disappear first. Host Hayley Roffey and Rachel unpack why so many of us try to fight anxiety, how that only makes it louder, and what actually works instead: breath work, grounding, slowing the exhale, and learning to stay in the moment long enough for the spike to pass. Rachel also shares the real-life moments anxiety still shows up for her - from walking into a gym to introduce herself, to standing on the Edge in New York while her body screamed “bad idea.” Those stories make the lesson unmistakable: courage is not the absence of anxiety, it’s moving with it. You’ll discover: Why anxiety is part of the human condition, not a sign that something is wrong with you How to use breath work and grounding to calm the body before trying to fix the thoughts The idea of habituation - why anxiety often spikes, then plateaus if you stay with it How to spot the core belief underneath the fear, especially around failure and not being good enough A simple two-question check-in for anxious days: “How am I feeling?” and “What do I need?” Why “fierce compassion” and future-self thinking can help you take the next right step Rachel also explains how anxiety has changed as her confidence and experience have grown, why leadership and anxiety are more connected than most people realise, and how to reframe those shaky moments as proof that something matters to you. Hayley brings her own honest reflections too, making this a deeply relatable conversation for anyone who looks calm on the outside but feels the opposite on the inside. If anxiety has been running the show lately, or you’re trying to lead, parent, build, or simply get through the day without shutting down, this episode gives you language, perspective, and a few powerful tools you can use immediately. Essential listening if you want to stop battling anxiety and start working with it.

4. 

   14 Sept 2026

   harnessing anxiety to perform at the highest level

   Most people try to eliminate anxiety. Tim Benjamin turned it into fuel - first on the track, then in business. The former Olympic & world champion finalist reveals how anxiety showed up for him as a 10-year-old sprinter, how he learned to harness it under pressure, and why the real breakthrough came only after burnout forced him to rebuild his identity. Tim shares the moment he realized performance and self-worth had become dangerously intertwined, why his second Olympic cycle ended in a complete crash, and what it took to come back stronger without letting sport or business consume him again. This conversation goes far beyond mindset talk - it gets into the practical mechanics of managing intense pressure when the stakes are real. You'll discover: Why anxiety can become an asset when you learn to channel it at the right moment The difference between short, explosive pressure in sport and the sustained anxiety of boardrooms, pitches, and entrepreneurship How Tim uses the “control the controllables” approach, plus cold showers, breathwork, exercise, and mental boxing-off to stay centered Why failure and rejection can feel deeply personal when your identity is tied to performance How the Trust Equation - reliability, credibility, and intimacy - shapes leadership and helps prevent anxiety from spreading through a team Hayley Roffey guides the conversation into the hidden cost of high performance: what happens when ambition, identity, and anxiety all get fused together. Tim’s honesty about overthinking, rejection sensitivity, burnout, and the work of separating “Tim the athlete” from “Tim the husband, entrepreneur, and friend” makes this especially powerful for founders, leaders, performers, and anyone who has ever felt their self-worth rise and fall with the outcome of a single meeting, race, or decision. If you lead people, compete for results, or struggle to switch off when you care deeply, this episode offers practical language and hard-won perspective you can use immediately. Essential listening if you want to perform at a high level without letting anxiety run the whole show.

5. 

   7 Sept 2026

   anxiety is a time tax on leadership

   Anxiety is not just a feeling - it can steal years, shape leadership, and still become a source of strength. In this episode of the anxious ceo, Oni Papa opens up about how overthinking has cost her time, energy, and peace of mind, while also sharpening her instincts as a young leader navigating climate advocacy, political organizing, and global spaces. Hayley Roffey leads a compassionate and honest conversation about the hidden cost of caring deeply. Oni shares what it was like to found a youth organization during the pandemic, battle imposter syndrome before major talks, and carry years of worry through roles as a community organizer, executive director, and international changemaker. Together, they explore the private thoughts behind public leadership: shame, self-doubt, the pressure to be right, and the relief that comes from being supported when the burden feels too heavy. In this episode, you’ll discover: - Why anxiety can feel like a “time suck” that follows you long after the moment has passed - How fear and support work together to shape decision-making - Why young leaders are often expected to carry the world before they feel ready - The difference between anxiety that paralyzes and anxiety that becomes a guide - How community, trusted people, and asking for help can turn overwhelm into direction Oni also shares a deeply moving story about navigating her grandfather’s death while continuing to carry professional responsibilities. It’s a powerful reminder that sometimes the feeling we resist can also help us survive. This conversation is for anyone who has wondered whether their worry means they’re weak, unqualified, or unprepared. If you lead, care, overthink, or quietly carry more than people realize, this episode will make you feel seen and perhaps more hopeful about what your anxiety is trying to tell you. Oni Papa is a youth climate advocate, organizer, and co-chair of the Youth Leadership Council at Global Fund for Children. Hayley Roffey is the host of the anxious ceo, exploring leadership, anxiety, and the realities of carrying responsibility while trying to make a difference. Perfect for anxious founders, emerging leaders, and anyone learning how to turn fear into forward motion.

6. 

   31 Aug 2026

   what I've learned from 5 episodes of the anxious ceo podcast

   In this reflective episode of the anxious CEO, Hayley looks back on the first five conversations of season 1 and pulls together the biggest lessons about anxiety, leadership, and what it really means to feel calm under pressure. From the body’s role in anxiety, to the idea that some of what we carry belongs to the room, to the importance of trust, honesty, and redefining success, this episode brings the threads together in a thoughtful and deeply human way. Instead of offering a five-step fix, Hayley invites listeners to stop fighting anxiety, start listening to it, and rethink how they relate to it in work, relationships, and everyday life.

7. 

   24 Aug 2026

   anxiety is rarely yours alone - the truth leaders need...with a little side of tenderstem broccoli

   What if the anxiety you think is yours is actually coming from the room, the team, or the system around you? Ceylon, Deputy Chief Executive and scholar of system psychodynamics, reveals why leaders often absorb the emotional weight of everyone else - and how that invisible pressure shapes decisions, relationships, and burnout. From projection and transference to valency, unconscious attacks, and negative capability, this conversation turns anxiety from a private struggle into a powerful lens on leadership. Ceylon shares how her own competitiveness, tenderness, and tendency to cry at work became clues, not flaws, and why the real skill is learning when those instincts serve the group and when they’re serving your own unresolved needs. You’ll discover: Why leaders become the “vessel” for a team’s projections How childhood roles like helper, saviour, or competitor reappear under pressure Why tenderness can be a leadership superpower The difference between suppressing emotion and managing it responsibly How negative capability helps leaders sit with uncertainty instead of rushing to fix it Hayley and Ceylon also get personal about burnout, coaching, family triggers, and the hidden cost of always being “on.” Essential listening if you’re a leader, manager, or high-responsibility professional who feels like you’re carrying more than your fair share. This episode will change the way you think about anxiety, strength, and what it really means to lead well.

8. 

   17 Aug 2026

   anxiety is your edge - if you stop dismissing it

   Anxiety can make you a sharper leader, but only if you know how to use it without letting it use you. Seyi Akiwowo reveals what it really takes to lead under scrutiny, set boundaries that actually hold, and stop mistaking burnout for success. Hayley Roffey sits down with the former CEO of Glitch, author of How to Stay Safe Online, and one of the most influential voices in online harm and care as infrastructure. What unfolds is a candid, practical conversation about the hidden cost of being visible, the pressure on women and Black leaders to over-function, and the moment Seyi knew she had to leave the organization she built. You’ll discover: Why anxiety often shows up as overworking, overexplaining, and always being “on” How to tell the difference between your gut, your inner critic, and looping anxious thoughts The exact trust test Seyi uses to identify who can really hold you when life gets hard Why public leaders are especially vulnerable to scrutiny, projection, and para-social pressure How to build a healthier relationship with failure, conflict, and visibility online Seyi also shares the personal frameworks that helped her survive some of her hardest seasons, including the Hoffman process, family systems work, and the habit changes that finally forced her to reimagine success. From the danger of checking email first thing in the morning to the power of love, compassion, and consensual relationships, this episode offers a grounded reframe for anyone carrying too much, for too long. If you’re a founder, CEO, creator, or simply someone whose nervous system is tired of living in reaction mode, this conversation will feel like relief. It’s honest, expansive, and full of the kind of insight that changes how you lead, work, and protect your peace.

9. 

   10 Aug 2026

   how three minutes a day can rewire an anxious nervous system

   Anxiety is not a leadership flaw - it is often your nervous system predicting threat, and the real problem is what happens when you never come back down. In this episode, Rob Rea reveals how high performers can stop fighting anxiety, use it as data, and lead with more clarity, creativity, and control. Hayley opens the conversation with the question every anxious leader needs answered: what is the truest thing you know about anxiety? Rob reframes it from the start, explaining anxiety as physiology rather than psychology, a prediction process in the body that can become chronic when stress never gets a chance to resolve. If you have ever felt wired before a boardroom meeting, drained after a big presentation, or unable to switch off long after the pressure passes, this episode will feel uncomfortably familiar. You’ll discover: Why stress is not always the enemy, and how good stress becomes dangerous only when recovery disappears The difference between stress and distress, and how to spot when you are moving from healthy challenge into disregulation Why “email apnea,” shallow breathing, jaw tension, and restless sleep are all clues your nervous system is under load How to use tiny daily protocols like two minutes of stillness, five conscious breaths, or a no-phone bedroom rule to create safety in the body Why the goal is not permanent calm, but the ability to move fluidly between alertness and rest Rob also breaks down the bottom-up and top-down pathways that shape anxiety, showing why your gut, breath, and body often know the truth before your mind does. He explains how leaders can build mental fitness, reduce suffering by changing the story they tell themselves, and learn to trust intuition without letting fear run the show. This conversation also goes deep on regret, burnout, and the mental loops that keep people carrying pain long after the event has passed. Hayley and Rob explore why the suffering is so often in the resistance, not the original wound, and how awareness can interrupt the spiral before it becomes identity. Rob Rea works with leaders across industries to help them regulate their nervous system, perform without burnout, and build practices that fit into real life, not an idealized wellness fantasy. He shares how he uses breath work, stillness, and curiosity in high-pressure moments, including a 700-person talk where he had to manage anxiety in real time. Essential listening if you are a leader, founder, performer, or anyone who has ever thought, “I’m too anxious to do this job.” This episode will show you that the goal is not to eliminate anxiety - it is to understand it, work with it, and use it to become more effective, resilient, and self-aware.

10. 

    7 Aug 2026

    what teeth grinding revealed about anxiety, leadership & control

    Britta shares the counterintuitive truth that can transform anxiety from something to hide into a leadership advantage. If anxiety shows up as teeth grinding, spiraling thoughts, boardroom panic, or that awful feeling you need to keep it together, this conversation will feel uncomfortably familiar and incredibly useful. Brita reveals why the real shift is not getting rid of anxiety, but changing your relationship to it. Hayley and Brita dig into the moments that made anxiety impossible to ignore, from a dentist spotting severe tooth grinding during a high-stakes CEO period to a moving night before a London flat move after divorce, grief, and overwhelm. Brita explains what happened when she finally said out loud, "I'm really anxious," and how that simple act, plus breath, feet on the floor, and practical next steps, helped her stop catastrophizing and reconnect with reality. You'll discover: Why anxiety is, in Brita's words, "how you relate to it" The body-based clues many high achievers miss, including jaw clenching, hyperventilating, and racing thoughts A simple grounding sequence for moments when you feel out of control How purpose can be stronger than fear in high-pressure leadership Why mission-driven work can amplify anxiety, and why self-care becomes a leadership skill, not a luxury Brita also shares why women are conditioned to make everyone else comfortable, how that trains us to hide anxiety, and why leadership culture often rewards people for suppressing fear instead of learning from it. She opens up about writing Fears to Fierce, the pressure of being seen as a "fearless" leader, and why the ability to feel deeply may be one of the most underrated strengths in modern leadership.If you've ever wondered whether your anxiety is holding you back, this episode offers a different possibility: it may be showing you where you care most, where your power lives, and where your next level of leadership begins. Essential listening for leaders, founders, parents, and anyone tired of treating anxiety like a flaw.

11. 

    27 Jul 2026

    welcome to the anxious ceo podcast - episode 1

    Ever wake up feeling like your heart's racing for no reason? Well, this podcast might just be what you've been looking for. Drop a 🔥 if you’ve felt this before... because you’re not alone. In this first ever episode of the anxious ceo podcast, I share about my personal relationship with anxiety, about how I got here speaking to you on a podcast and how anxiety might just be your greatest leadership asset. What if we stopped seeing anxiety as a weakness and started working with it? The constant obsessing over details might not be the flaw you've always hidden from others. It could be insight in disguise. The same mind that worries about the small stuff is also the one noticing what others miss. After you've listened, I'd love to hear from you - how do you harness your anxiety? Please share with someone who needs to hear this. Welcome, to the anxious ceo podcast - you are so welcome. #LeadershipEdge #MindsetMatters #AnxietyAsStrength #Neurodivergence #SelfLeadership

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