Pods - Our Space

The challenge of remote culture

Most organisations have figured out how to make remote work functional. Video calls, shared docs, asynchronous messaging - the mechanics are mostly solved. What's harder is the culture: the trust that builds through small moments, the sense of belonging that comes from being truly seen by the people you work with, the resilience that holds a team together when things get hard.

These things don't happen automatically in remote environments. In an office environment they might have happened naturally - through shared lunches, walks in the summer, after work drinks. But in a world increasingly working online, they require intentional spaces - places where people can slow down, show up honestly, and connect in ways that go beyond the task at hand.

Pods are that space.

What Pods are

Pods are small, facilitated group sessions for remote teams - typically 4 to 8 people, meeting online for one hour every two weeks. They are not training. They are not a workshop. They're also not therapy. They are a consistent, protected space where people can decompress, connect, and be honest about how they are actually doing.

01

Psychologically safe

Pods are held to a high standard of confidentiality and care. People share at the level they choose - there is no pressure, no performance, no agenda beyond genuine connection.

02

Facilitated, not managed

I facilitate each session. Unlike peer check-ins or team meetings, the primary purpose of the person holding the space is to support connection.

03

Light-touch and sustainable

One hour, every two weeks. Low enough friction to fit into working life. High enough consistency to build something real over time.

Why this matters now

Remote and hybrid work is now the default for a significant portion of the workforce - and research has shown that remote workers report higher levels of loneliness (Gallup's State of the Global Workplace: 2024 Report) and their connection to their company's purpose reached a record low in 2023. Gallup's chief scientist put it plainly: the relationship between employee and employer is becoming increasingly 'gig-like' and less loyal - with possible implications on customer and employee retention, productivity, and quality of work.

At the same time, organisations are under pressure to attract and retain people who expect their work to feel meaningful and connected, not just productive.

~33%

Higher retention among Pod participants compared to non-participants in one organisation

85%

Of those promoted to manager roles over one year were Pod participants

100%

Of participants said Pods helped them do their job sustainably

Data from running 5 Pods within a hybrid social impact organisation.

What I offer

I work with hybrid and remote organisations to support them to strengthen their culture. I only ever work with a couple of organisations at a time - your team will never be a number to me.

A complete setup and ongoing facilitation service. I take care of everything - you focus on your people.

Initial scoping and team engagement
Set-up and launch support
Fortnightly facilitation of Pods (online)
Ongoing administration and scheduling
Responsive support for Pod participants
Quarterly insight summaries for leadership

Frequently asked questions

I have a one-off set up fee and then I charge for each Pod per quarter. The cost depends on the type and size of your organisation. Get in touch and let's have a chat - after that I can send you a quote.

As part of the initial scoping and team engagement, I'll join team meetings and present about the Pods in order to gauge interest. I'll run pilot pods, inviting people to come along and see how they find them - and then once people have decided to 'sign up' officially, I'll set up the Pods that will run for the quarter.

Participants opt in each quarter - meaning new participants can join a Pod at the start of the quarter. This works particularly well for new joiners to your organisation who can join a Pod shortly after they start.

If I notice someone seems to be having a really hard time, I may reach out to them directly and invite them to have a call with me if that would feel supportive. I'm a coach by training and find that sometimes these one-off calls can have a big impact. There's no extra fee for these calls.

Absolutely. I share nothing that is shared within a Pod outside that space. The only exception to this is if I feel that someone might be a danger to themselves or to another person.

As well as being a Pod Facilitator, I'm also a trauma-informed therapist and a coach with a specific focus on supporting people to connect with each other and themselves.

In the past I've worked in charities, target-focused organisations and start-ups - I know what's required for people to thrive in those environments and have designed Pods with this in mind.

It is hard to quantify the impact of Pods on my life and role, however I am extremely doubtful that I would be in the same place without them.

- Maya, Operations Lead

Working as a remote employee can often feel lonely. The pods offer a space where this experience can be reflected upon - which leads to me feeling less alone and more empowered.

- Stuart, Support Worker

As a support worker, the existence of Pods are one of the biggest differences I have experienced compared to working at other organisations. Pods are the one place where I can truly and authentically share how I feel. I don't think this role would be sustainable for me without them.

- Charlotte, Support Worker

I have been absolutely amazed by the positive impact Pods have had on both my professional and personal well-being. I can honestly say that the pods have played a crucial role in my ability to continue in this job for over a year.

- Aicha, Senior Caseworker

Pod creates a safe space for case workers to offload and unwind. It is a vital space that provides respite, camaraderie, reassurance and a place to be open and transparent about both challenges and successes. In my most challenging and unsettling times, pod always provided a constant calm space that I could use to reset and recharge.

- Alex, Operations Lead

Bring Pods to your organisation

If you are leading a remote or hybrid team and want to explore what Pods could look like for you, get in touch. I offer a free consultation call to understand your context and see whether this might be a good fit.