In today’s solo episode, behaviour specialist and author Andy Baker shines a light on one of the most overlooked behavioural patterns in care and education: submissive behaviour.

When someone is compliant, quiet, or “no trouble at all,” we often assume they’re fine. But beneath the surface, they may be masking distress, emotionally shutting down, or building up stress that will eventually erupt elsewhere.

This episode is essential listening for teachers, parents, and caregivers who want to truly understand the people they support—not just by what they do, but what they hide.

Andy explores the cost of emotional suppression, the danger of unseen stress, and how to spot when “quiet” is actually a cry for help. If you support someone who’s “easy,” “shy,” or never says no—this episode could change everything.

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1. Quietness is not always calm—sometimes it’s a trauma response. People may mask distress by appearing agreeable, passive, or withdrawn. It’s not comfort—it’s survival.

2. Submissive behaviour is costly—physically and emotionally. When emotions are repressed long-term, it can lead to chronic anxiety, burnout, and even trauma.

3. Psychological safety allows people to show their true selves. Whether at home, school, or in care, we must create environments where people feel safe to say “no” and express emotion without fear of judgment.

• 00:00 – Introduction: The myth of the “quiet, good one”

• 02:05 – Sponsor: Carers Card UK

• 03:00 – Why compliant behaviour often masks distress

• 05:00 – What is masking, and why does it drain emotional energy?

• 06:00 – The physiology of freeze and submit

• 07:00 – The Coke bottle analogy: When pressure builds up

• 08:00 – Why meltdowns happen at home, not school

• 10:00 – How quietness can be a trauma response

• 11:00 – How disassociation shows up in care and education settings

• 12:00 – Spotting the signs: the cost of never saying “no”

• 14:00 – Why we must reframe “no” as a healthy boundary

• 15:00 – Masking exhaustion and emotional burnout

• 16:00 – A story of hidden pain in a school toilet

• 17:00 – Practical signs to look out for

• 18:00 – Supporting safe expression and psychological safety

• 20:00 – What schools and services can do better

• 22:00 – Self-erasure vs. authentic self-expression

• 24:00 – The final message: Notice, name, and nurture the quiet ones

If you’ve ever worked with or raised someone who “never causes trouble,” this episode might completely shift your perspective.

You’ll learn:

• Why submissive behaviour can be more dangerous than defiance

• How stress builds when there’s no outlet for emotion

• What to watch out for in “easy” children or quiet clients

• How to build safe, trusting environments where true feelings can be expressed

This is a must-listen for teachers, parents, support workers, foster carers, and social care staff who want to offer truly person-centred care and connection—not just good behaviour on the surface.

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In this solo episode of the Able to Care podcast, Andy Baker—behaviour specialist, author, trainer, and speaker—explores a topic that’s becoming impossible to ignore: artificial intelligence in care and education.

With AI tools appearing in classrooms, care homes, and behaviour support planning, Andy asks: 🧠 Is AI a threat or an opportunity? 💡 Can it support person-centred practice—or risk removing the person altogether?

This thought-provoking episode explores how AI can:

• Free up carers, teachers, and support workers to focus on what really matters

• Improve inclusion by adapting communication and materials to individual needs

• Assist with planning, documentation, and accessibility — without replacing empathy or connection

Whether you're a parent using tech at home, a teacher considering AI tools, or a care professional balancing paperwork with people work—this episode is for you.

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In this powerful episode of the Able to Care podcast, Andy Baker speaks with Jennifer Roblin, anxiety specialist, therapist, and founder of Better Your Life. Together, they explore how anxiety impacts the lives of carers, teachers, and parents — not just as a condition, but as a learned, evolutionary response we can better understand, reframe, and manage.

Drawing from lived experience, neuroscience, and tools like NLP, nervous system resets, and heart coherence, Jennifer shares practical tips, relatable insights, and hope for those feeling overwhelmed or burnt out.

Whether you’re supporting someone with anxiety or experiencing it yourself, this episode offers a refreshing, honest, and empowering perspective.

• You’ll understand the difference between stress and anxiety — and when to seek help

• You’ll learn powerful nervous system hacks you can use in the moment

• You’ll realise you're not broken — and how to reclaim your power step-by-step

• You’ll gain a fresh outlook on self-care that’s realistic, personal, and actionable

• You’ll hear a deeply relatable story that proves: anxiety doesn’t define you

1. Anxiety is a survival tool, not a personal flaw – understanding its evolutionary purpose changes how we respond to it.

2. Small changes create big shifts – journaling, breathing, and nervous system resets can retrain the brain over time.

3. Burnout isn’t weakness — it’s a signal – recognising early signs and reconnecting with nature and rest can prevent collapse.

• 00:01 – Introduction & Sponsor: Carers Card UK

• 00:42 – Meet Jennifer Roblin and her lived experience with anxiety

• 03:00 – Panic attacks at 11 and early childhood messages

• 06:00 – Shifting identity and finding confidence abroad

• 10:00 – Reframing anxiety: from stigma to superpower

• 13:00 – What anxiety actually is and how it works

• 17:00 – Signs you’re dealing with anxiety vs. everyday stress

• 21:00 – The link between procrastination, fear of failure, and tribal instincts

• 24:00 – Burnout in caregivers and professionals — how to spot it early

• 29:00 – Jennifer’s go-to anxiety tools: journaling, breathing, nervous system hacks

• 34:00 – Why “self-care” needs a rebrand and what it looks like in real life

• 41:00 – Signs of progress, even when you don’t notice it

• 46:00 – What Jennifer would say to her younger self

• 50:00 – The one thing you can do today to begin change

This episode is proudly sponsored by www.betteryourlife.co.uk

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• Free Journaling Prompts for Anxiety – available on Jennifer’s website

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In this solo episode of the Able to Care podcast, behaviour specialist, trainer, and author Andy Baker unpacks Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA)—or as many now prefer to call it, a Persistent Drive for Autonomy.

If you’ve ever supported someone—child or adult—who seemed to resist even the simplest of requests, this episode will help you understand what’s really going on beneath the surface.

Andy explores:

• What PDA is (and why language matters)

• Why traditional behaviour strategies often make things worse

• How to shift from confrontation to collaboration

• Practical, compassionate strategies for reducing anxiety and increasing cooperation

This episode is a must-listen for parents, carers, teachers, and support staff seeking a more empathetic and effective approach to neurodivergent behaviour.

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In this deeply personal and powerful conversation, Andy Baker speaks to Sabina Thorpe—a mum, carer, business leader, and woman who grew up silenced by a stammer and the weight of cultural expectations.

Sabina opens up about her childhood experiences of bullying, being told to stay quiet, and feeling utterly alone. But she also shares how she turned those struggles into strength—first by learning to speak for herself, and then by building a call centre, multiple businesses, and eventually co-founding DeskVal, an AI-powered property valuation platform now disrupting the industry.

This isn’t just a story of business—it’s a story of identity, resilience, and the power of being seen and heard.

Whether you're caring for others, raising children, teaching young minds, or trying to reclaim your own voice, this episode will stay with you.

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We teach more with our tone, facial expressions, and reactions than with any lesson plan. In this powerful solo episode, Andy Baker explores the concept of the hidden curriculum—the silent lessons we teach every day through our behaviour, body language, and boundaries.

Whether you're a parent, teacher, carer or support worker, you're constantly delivering messages—about safety, empathy, trust, and identity—without even realising it. So what are people really learning from you?

This episode will help you become more intentional about your presence and model the values you want to pass on.

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Andy Baker’s Book: Targeting the Positive with Behaviours That Challenge

1. Behaviour is curriculum. Every sigh, smile, or boundary teaches something. Children and adults alike copy what they see, not what they’re told.

2. Emotional safety is taught through presence. Calm body language, empathy, and clear boundaries teach regulation, identity, and self-worth.

3. Reflecting on our own hidden lessons is essential. Understanding what we unintentionally learned—and may still be teaching—helps break cycles and shape better futures.

• 00:00 – What is the hidden curriculum?

• 00:27 – Sponsor: Carers Card UK

• 01:47 – We teach with more than our words

• 02:36 – How stress, tone & facial expressions model behaviour

• 04:50 – Mirror neurons, empathy, and emotional contagion

• 06:30 – Auditing your tone and actions

• 07:54 – Subtle shaming: schools, police, and healthcare narratives

• 09:02 – Stigma, ageism, and unconscious bias

• 09:16 – Naming the learning out loud

• 09:38 – “Do you want a hug, help, or to be heard?”

• 10:30 – Aligning boundaries with compassion

• 11:07 – Emotional literacy and modelling empathy

• 11:59 – What hidden curriculum are we passing on as a team?

• 12:46 – Final thoughts: What are YOU teaching without knowing?

This episode is essential listening for anyone who works with or supports others—especially parents, teachers, carers, and leaders.

You’ll walk away with:

• A deeper awareness of the emotional messages you send daily

• Practical tools to model calm, empathy, and safety

• Insight into how to reflect and adjust the unspoken lessons you teach

Whether you’re raising children or leading teams, the hidden curriculum you deliver shapes lives.

In this must-listen guide for families, carers, and professionals, Able to Care host Andy Baker is joined by Meghan Earle, Able Training’s passionate and experienced lead dementia trainer.

Together, they unpack some of the most important—but often misunderstood—questions about dementia:

• What actually is dementia?

• What are the early signs (beyond memory loss)?

• How do we communicate and engage meaningfully as dementia progresses?

• What systems and mindsets need to change to truly support people living with dementia?

With stories from training rooms and care homes across the UK, Meghan shares expert insights and real-life tips to empower carers with confidence, clarity, and compassion.

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1. “It’s not just memory loss.” Dementia affects different parts of the brain—vision, language, personality, perception—and every person’s journey is unique.

2. “Distress is not a symptom—it’s a signal.” Aggression, withdrawal, and agitation often stem from unmet needs or environmental overwhelm—not the dementia itself.

3. “Connection matters more than correction.” Responding with empathy, not facts, is key. Join people in their world, honour their emotions, and meet them where they are.

• 00:00 – Welcome & Sponsor: Carers Card UK

• 01:10 – Meet Meghan Earle: Lead dementia trainer & lived experience

• 02:00 – What is dementia (really)?

• 03:30 – Why “just dementia” is never enough: the importance of diagnosis

• 05:00 – The problem with Google, misinformation & medical labels

• 06:45 – Understanding how dementia affects different parts of the brain

• 08:00 – Early signs of dementia beyond memory loss

• 10:00 – The emotional experience of diagnosis & stigma

• 12:45 – You are not alone: support systems that help

• 15:00 – Why meaningful engagement matters & what it looks like

• 20:00 – Behaviour, communication & the power of asking “why?”

• 25:00 – Mistakes carers make (and how to fix them)

• 30:00 – The “I want to go home” moment—what to say instead

• 36:00 – Escalation, distress & why prevention beats reaction

• 42:00 – Why care home environments need rethinking

• 47:00 – Dementia training: what makes it work?

• 52:00 – Don’t give up—there’s always something else to try

• 55:00 – Final thoughts: empathy, intention & learning together

This episode is essential for anyone supporting a loved one—or working with people—living with dementia. You’ll leave with a clearer understanding, greater confidence, and real-world strategies for:

✅ Communicating calmly and meaningfully ✅ Spotting distress and responding with care ✅ Accessing support before crisis hits ✅ Shifting from correction to connection

Whether you’re a carer, support worker, nurse, or family member—this is your practical and emotional guide to dementia care done right.

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