Podcast · Learning

On Your Marks

Are you putting off booking your first accountancy exam, or struggling to get back into studying after a failure? Wherever you’re at in your journey to qualification, On Your Marks explores techniques to help you tackle the process head on. In this series from ACCA, we’re sitting down with experts

New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 26 min
Latest: 2 Jun 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

2 Jun 2026 · 33 min

Learning How To Learn

Sometimes it can feel like no matter how many times you go over study materials, it just feels impossible to really get to grips with it. Turns out, there are tips and tricks to learning that can help us all - from memorising a formula to feeling comfortable with a complicated policy. This week we speak to New York Times best-selling author Professor Barbara Oakley. We cover what is actually happening in our brains when we learn something, and how we can use that knowledge to adapt our revision strategies to better retain complex information. Plus, how learning a language and learning how to…

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Earlier episodes 20 most recent

S3 · E5 · 26 May 2026 · 26 min
Beating Technology Addiction
Managing our screen time can be really tough for many of us. With laptops on our desks, phones in our pockets, and TVs on at the end of the day, it’s easy to see how our relationship with the internet and technology can get really complicated, especially when we need to use those same devices to work or study. This week we sit down with Professor Phil Reed from Swansea University. He’s a psychologist who has spent years trying to understand the ways in which technology and the internet affects the way we think, feel, and behave. We dig into what it actually means to be addicted…
S3 · E4 · 19 May 2026 · 27 min
Exercise For Your Brain
When we’re stressed out or feeling tired, it can be really hard to prioritise one of the activities we always hear about being good for us – exercise! But it turns out, exercising it not only good for our bodies, but for our brains too. This week we speak to neuroscientist Professor Sandrine Thuret from Kings College London. She’s an expert in all the ways exercise can boost our brains – from growing new neurons to improving our mental health. We dig into how exercise can both enhance your learning and memory skills and help protect your brain from dementia, and why…
S3 · E3 · 12 May 2026 · 28 min
Boosting Productivity
Whether it’s revising for exams, juggling work deadlines, or trying to stay on top of an endless to-do list, we all know how difficult it can be to stay productive without burning out. So how can we work with our brains instead of against them? This week we speak to neuroscientist and bestselling author Dean Burnett about the science of productivity. We explore the surprising benefits of stress, the truth about multitasking, and why 4am routines aren’t for everyone. We also discuss how our brains respond to pressure, why maths and numbers can sometimes feel intimidating, and…
S3 · E2 · 5 May 2026 · 26 min
Building Healthy Habits
Whether it’s sticking to a healthy meal plan, squeezing in some studying before work, or keeping up a gym routine, we all know that some habits are easier to pick up than others. So how can we leverage that to achieve our learning goals? This week we speak to self-development expert Scott Young. He’s a Wall Street Journal bestselling author and he’s obsessed with finding new and better ways for us to learn and think better. We dig into tips and tricks for making habits stick, as well as why being stressed can make that so much harder, and how we can all use…
S3 · E1 · 28 Apr 2026 · 30 min
Cracking Communication
Welcome back to On Your Marks! Whether it’s giving a presentation at work or handling a difficult conversation with your boss, we all know that having solid communication skills can help us make progress in our careers. But what techniques can we all learn to help us get our voices heard effectively? This week, we sit down Simon Hall. He’s a former-BBC TV News Correspondent with 20 years’ experience who now leads an award winning course, Compelling Communication Skills, at the University of Cambridge. We dig into the foundations of good communication, the amazing ways…
S3 · 24 Apr 2026 · 1 min
On Your Marks: Season 3 is coming...
We are delighted to announce that On Your Marks is back for Season 3! From tackling tech addiction to promoting productivity, we’re back with more tips and tricks to help us all feel our best while dealing with life's challenges. And to kick us off we’re starting with something a lot of us struggle with: cracking compelling communication. Wherever you’re at in your journey towards qualification, On Your Marks is here to help you tackle the process head on. This is On Your Marks. Because you’ll never know until you try. Hit follow now so you never miss an episode, and…
S2 · E6 · 26 Nov 2024 · 32 min
Leaning into Leadership
This week, we're looking at leadership. What does it truly mean to be a good leader? Maybe you're actively seeking leadership roles, or perhaps it's something you’ve never considered before. Leadership, after all, isn't just about holding a title—it’s about how we influence and inspire others in our day-to-day actions. So this week, we sit down with ACCA's own Chief Executive Helen Brand. We dig into her career journey, the benefits of finding a good mentor, and how we can all look for opportunities to lead in our working lives. This is On Your Marks. Because you’ll never know until you try.…
S2 · E5 · 19 Nov 2024 · 32 min
Connecting careers
Choosing your career path can feel like a huge decision and lead to a lot of anxious thoughts. What if you don't enjoy the work as much as you hoped, or you find the culture at your new job doesn't suit you? Is it okay to switch industries, or will that mean you don't progress? There can be so many choices and expectations that it can be easy to feel pressured. This week on On Your Marks, we sit down with career coach Helen Tupper. She's the author of 'Squiggly Careers' and founder and CEO of Amazing If, an organisation that helps everyone feel more satisfied with their working lives. We dig…
S2 · E4 · 12 Nov 2024 · 21 min
Navigating parenthood
We all know that studying for ACCA exams can be a real challenge, and when you add caregiving responsibilities like parenting into the mix it can feel like a never-ending juggling act. From caring for little ones to managing household responsibilities, it can be a struggle to balance family life with big career goals. So this week on On Your Marks, we sit down with Finance Business Manager Debbie Oluyemi. She has first-hand experience of facing studying for her ACCA qualification and becoming a new parent for the first time. We dig into some of the key challenges she dealt with and what…
S2 · E3 · 5 Nov 2024 · 32 min
Solving Sleep
Tossing and turning, racing thoughts of revision and exams... most of us know what it feels like to struggle with our sleep when we're preparing for a big challenge. And it can be tempting to sacrifice sleep when we're under time pressure, even though we know it's good for us. It's a real catch 22. This week, we sit down with Professor Russell Foster from the University of Oxford. He's been studying sleep for decades, so together we dig into what's happening in our brains when we sleep, why it's so important for our health and wellbeing, and how we can prioritise our sleep to help us cope…
S2 · E2 · 29 Oct 2024 · 30 min
Brain-nurturing Nutrition
Whether it's feeling sluggish after a heavy meal or dealing with a sudden dip in energy during a busy workday, we all know that food can influence how we feel. But, it turns out that what we eat can have a significant impact on our mental wellbeing, and the latest research shows that our gut has an important role to play. This week, we sit down with nutritionist Dr Emily Prpa to explore the science of the gut-brain axis and the microbiome. We uncover the 5 pillars of gut health, and discuss strategies for adding gut-friendly ingredients to our meals - even during times of stress. This is On…
S2 · E1 · 22 Oct 2024 · 24 min
Unpacking Anxiety
This week, we’re looking at anxiety. Whether its last-minute jitters before an exam or a sense of panic when thinking about revision, we all know what it's like to feel anxious. But, what actually is anxiety? Is there any purpose to experiencing it, and how can we manage our fears so they don't get in the way of achieving our goals? This week, we sit down with therapist and author Joshua Fletcher, also known online as Anxiety Josh. We dig into what's happening in the brain when we're feeling anxious, and techniques and strategies we can all use to help us feel more grounded when it's all…
S2 · 15 Oct 2024 · 2 min
On Your Marks: Season 2 is coming...
Do you ever feel overwhelmed by anxiety, struggle with your sleep, or question if you've been making the right career decisions? In Season 2 of On Your Marks we'll be digging into more techniques to help us all feel our best while dealing with life's challenges - whether that's preparing for exams, planning our next job move, or coping with a big life change like becoming a parent. From managing your nutrition on a busy schedule to spotting leadership opportunities at work, we'll explore tips and tricks for putting our best foot forward, or simply getting through a tough day. Wherever you’re…
S1 · E6 · 9 Apr 2024 · 20 min
Making the most of ACCA resources
This week, we’re all about finding what works for you. We all know that one of the awesome things about the ACCA qualification is its flexibility. From how many exams you sit at a time to whether you do self-study, or learn with a provider, there are so many routes of entry that it’s rare for two people’s journeys to look exactly the same. So this week, we sit down with Paul Kirkwood - ACCA UK’s Regional Head of Education and Learning. He takes us through the wide variety of options available to support you on your journey, as well as give some inside tips on what ACCA’s data shows makes a…
S1 · E5 · 2 Apr 2024 · 28 min
Beating procrastination
This week, we’re kicking procrastination. We’ve all been there. You’re settled down to do some revision, or write an important email, then the first thought creeps in… “What if I just checked my phone? Or… cleaned the kitchen? Or watched just half an episode of that new show…” And before you know it, 3 hours have gone by, you’re tired, and it’s too late to get started. Procrastinating on tasks, even ones we care about, is a normal, if painful, part of life for most of us. So this week, we sit down with Dr Julia Ravey. She’s a neuroscientist, author, and self-confessed procrastinator. She’s…
S1 · E4 · 26 Mar 2024 · 25 min
Nourishing relationships
This week, we’re talking relationships. When we’re pushing towards a goal, or just generally having a tough time, many of us will instinctively turn to our friends, family, colleagues, or even pets for support. But… why? What is it about our relationships that can help pick us up when we’re feeling down? And why is nurturing those connections key to both our physical and mental health, and achieving our goals? This week, we sit down with Dr Anna Machin. She’s an evolutionary anthropologist who’s spent her career studying the science of close human relationships. From the neurochemicals…
S1 · E3 · 19 Mar 2024 · 20 min
Building resilience
This week, we’re all about becoming more resilient. Pushing on towards our goals is great, but, as we all know, life can have a way of messing with even the best laid plans. Whether it’s failing an exam you worked hard for, having to drop out of athletic training due to an injury, or just generally feeling down on your luck, we’ve all experienced loss or failure in some form or another. So this week, we sit down with entrepreneur Josh Wintersgill to dig into the topic of resilience. From tips for facing up to failure to an honest look at coping when we’re feeling low, we’re chatting…
S1 · E2 · 12 Mar 2024 · 21 min
Setting great goals
This week, we’re talking goal setting. Whether it’s picturing your first job as a qualified accountant or standing on the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, it can feel really exciting to imagine a new future for ourselves. But, as many of us know, that excitement can quickly turn to fear when faced with the reality of the work needed to get there. So this week, we sit down with cognitive behavioural therapist Sarah D Rees to understand why some of us struggle with setting, and achieving, our goals. From breaking down big plans to calming your inner critic, and rewarding yourself along the…
S1 · E1 · 5 Mar 2024 · 20 min
Preparing to start
This week, we’re starting at the very beginning. You’ve decided you have a goal – maybe you want to become an accountant, or pass your driving test, or run a marathon. Congrats! So, why can it be so hard to start something new, even if we want to? What is it about fresh challenges that can either light us up or make us shy away? And what might help us take the first step? This week, we sit down with five-board accredited life coach Michelle Elman. Known as the Queen of Boundaries, Michelle is an author, broadcaster, and public speaker, and all-round expert in helping people face their demons…
S1 · 27 Feb 2024 · 2 min
On Your Marks Trailer
Are you putting off booking your first accountancy exam, or struggling to get back into studying after a failure? Wherever you’re at in your journey to qualification, On Your Marks explores techniques to help you tackle the process head on. In this series from ACCA, we’re sitting down with experts to understand what can hold us back when we set out to achieve our goals – whether that’s preparing for exam season or training for a marathon. From the importance of hanging out with your mates to the neuroscience of procrastination, we explore how to get yourself going when the going gets tough -…

About On Your Marks

On Your Marks is a English learning podcast from ACCA. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: ACCA
Language: English
Category: Learning
New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 26 min
Latest episode: 2 Jun 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1733478812

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