Episode notes
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…
Podcast
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
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S3 · E6 · 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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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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.…
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