PiXL Pearls

We say we want more holiday. We plan for rest. Yet, when the chance comes, we fill the space with busyness – or feel guilty for stopping. Why do we struggle so much with something so simple?

In this …

In this energising episode of the PiXL Pearls Podcast, Rachel Johnson (PiXL CEO) explores what it means to reinvent. Delve into a true tale of transformation that will inspire you to make a change – …

Who really takes the heat when the pressure’s on?

In this thought-provoking episode, Rachel Johnson (PiXL CEO) explores the hidden world of “flak catchers”, the people who quietly absorb chaos, compl…

Dive into the surprising science behind compassion. The research is clear: kindness doesn't just feel good, it does good. It reduces anxiety, improves recovery, lowers stress, boosts mental health an…

In this reflective opening to Series 8, Rachel Johnson delves into the fascinating and emotional relationship we all have with time.

From the stillness of Miss Havisham’s clocks in Great Expectations…

In Series 8 of the PiXL Pearls Podcast, we dive into eight powerful human stories designed to inspire, motivate and challenge both the people of today and the leaders of tomorrow.

This series explore…

That giant chocolate Easter bunny – the initial thrill, the inevitable disappointment of its hollowness.

In this episode, PiXL CEO Rachel Johnson dissects the surprising parallels between this childh…

What does your writing reveal about you?

In this thought-provoking episode of PiXL Pearls, Rachel Johnson (PiXL CEO) explores the fascinating world of forensic linguistics—the science of analyzing la…

What do the words rizz, authentic, and hallucinate say about society in 2023? And how can we, as leaders and educators, navigate the tension between appearance and reality these words reveal?

In this…

Why do we value things we build ourselves more?

Harvard Business School calls it The IKEA Effect—and it’s a game-changer for educators and leaders.

In this episode of The PiXL Pearls Podcast, Rachel …

Join Rachel Johnson (CEO, PiXL) as she uncovers the hidden challenges of “giftedness” through Disney’s Encanto. In this episode, she explores how the pressure to be “strong” like characters like Luis…

In this festive yet timeless episode of the PiXL Pearls Podcast, Rachel Johnson (PiXL CEO) dives into the leadership lessons hidden within Charles Dickens' classic, A Christmas Carol.

Explore the tra…

Have we all been tricked into endless productivity?

In this thought-provoking episode, Rachel Johnson (PiXL CEO) takes on the myth that “doing more” equals “being more.” We’ve turned into human “doin…

Sabotage is a well-known strategy in times of war. We may not be battling within our schools, but what if the greatest saboteur against progress in your leadership was you?

The first episode of this …

The PiXL Pearls is back for a 7th series!

In this exciting eight-part series, we dive into the stories and lessons that will inspire today’s leaders and shape the leaders of tomorrow. From the artist…

It’s often acknowledged that starting is the hardest part, but by surrendering to feeling stuck at this step, perhaps many of us are doing a disservice to the innovative ideas waiting to emerge. 

In …

Inspired by Ernest Hemingway's bullfighting analogy “Querencia”, this episode delves into the ways that finding your safe space can empower you to face challenges head-on and the secret weapon to tra…

Structure is crucial to build a strong leadership foundation, but at times, inflexibility can be a cause of collapse.

In this episode, Rachel Johnson (PiXL CEO) unpacks LEGO’s dramatic rise, near-fal…

Effective collaboration is a capstone of effective leadership for all involved, yet it is a skill that many find hard to master – both within and outside the schooling environment.  In this episode o…

Sadness is often considered to be a dreary topic, but it's vital to our humanity, and especially so in roles as educators and school leaders. Defined as a natural response to emotional pain, sadness …