Social Mastery Podcast

As a part of the Indo-Pacific International Maritime Exposition in Sydney, Andrew May hosted “Investing in Self: The Foundation of the Social Mastery Equation” session which was recorded as a podcast. Andrew interviewed Rear Admiral Wendy Malcolm, Commander Dean Thompson and Petty Officer Sam Tickle on the topic of Social Mastery, the Program designed originally for the Maritime Domain, which has now broadened to encompass One Defence including Navy, Army, Airforce, and APS. It is based on a model that the Navy adapted from Daniel Goldman's Emotional Intelligence, and includes Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Social Awareness and Relationship Management. During the interview, Andrew, Wendy, Dean and Sam discussed: The importance of mentorship and paying it forward The evolution of Social Mastery Leadership vs Followership Crystal Ball – what next for Social Mastery? Some of the key learnings from the day are: Not having to always be perfect, that it's okay to make mistakes and it is important to be kind to yourself and to others. The importance of putting your own oxygen mask on first in order to better serve others Having space throughout the day to Down Regulate – e.g. Wendy does mindful breathing in her car, which she refers to as her Tardis machine The importance of supporting each other, and that culture is not just “on the wall it has to be on the floor” Leadership is love

How would you put together a crack corporate team? Andrew gets an insight on how optimism and positivity expert Dr Suzy Green would build the best team to accomplish any task through the recognition and use of diversity in thinking and mindset. Dr Suzy Green is recognised as Australia's leading positive psychologist. She is the founder and CEO of the Positivity Institute, a positively deviant organisation dedicated to applying positive psych to life, work and school. Dr Suzy is an official ambassador for the Starlight Children's Foundation and maintains a strong media profile appearing on TV, radio and print.

In another Coaching Corner episode of the Social Mastery Podcast Andrew and Angela sit down with 2 participants from the Social Mastery program and run a joint coaching session to help solidify some of the lessons from the program as well as resolve any issues that may have come up since the conclusion of the program.Listen in as Andrew, Angela, Brenda and Joseph discuss their issues and find solutions.

Australian netball superstar Caitlin Bassett joins the podcast in this bite size episode to discuss the state of female professional sport and how it has evolved since before she started playing to now. Caitlin shares how happy (and maybe a little bit jealous) it makes her to see new players getting more pay than ever before. Andrew and Caitlin also touch on the higher rate of education for women athletes and how they were pushed much more than their male counterparts to study and consider their lives after sport.

Todays bite size comes from episode #15 where Kamal Sarma, a beacon of positivity and energy explains why he got into working in the mental health space and what it means for him to have a positive impact on people, particularly younger children and teenagers. Kamal also shares the story of how he helped his son overcome his own fears and mental health issues by imparting some stress and suffering on him to help build him up and gain self confidence and resilience.

Caitlin 'CBass' Bassett is former captain of Australia's national netball team, the Diamonds. Starting netball at the age of 11, she dominated the netball scene and scored 2,038 of 2,268 attempted shots at goal when playing for Australia, with an unbelievable 90% accuracy rate. Caitlin is always looking to learn when it comes to leading teams. In her words "I don't pretend to be perfect but instead focus on being genuine, and that is what I continually come back to when the pressure is on – being an open and real leader." Caitlin has a communications degree majoring in Broadcast & Journalism, s a Fox Sports commentator and passionate spokesperson on topics including career transition (based on her own experience and difficulty adjusting), leadership and women in sport. Caitlin recently started a role as Player Development Manager at Cricket NSW. She has a dog named Chino, a pet Bunny named Big Wee Wee, and a cat with no name. Caitlin is a self-proclaimed die-hard coffee fan.

Dr Suzy Green is recognised as Australia's leading positive psychologist. She is the founder and CEO of the Positivity Institute, a positively deviant organisation dedicated to applying positive psych to life, work and school. Dr Suzy is an official ambassador for the Starlight Children's Foundation and maintains a strong media profile appearing on TV, radio and print.In this episode Andrew and Dr Suzy explore the differences between optimism and pessimism, the benefits of being more optimistic, optimism and energy levels, the 2nd wave of positive psychology, how humans have an inbuilt negativity bias, training optimism (yes – it can be trained!), the pros and cons of CBT (Cognitive Behaviour Therapy) vs ACT (Acceptance & Commitment Therapy) and how optimism provides leaders with a competitive advantage.

Worldwide godfather of slow turned anti ageing expert Carl Honoré chats with Andrew on how he believes the world tries to shove older people into a certain stereotype and how he plans on fighting those stereotypes by simply doing whatever it is he feels like doing without making any apologies. Carl also touches on the idea of being ashamed of growing older and lying about your age, whereas he has taken the exact opposite approach and treats every year added to his age like a milestone or the next level in a video game.

In this episode, we revisit the podcast with the First Assistant Secretary Stacie Hall. During our interview with Stacie, one of the things that left a lasting impression was her serene demeanor. Although gauging someone's energy through a video call can be challenging, Stacie's calm composure emanated through the screen, is it nature or nurture that fuels her composure? Listen to discover the secrets behind Stacie's tranquil energy as she shares her journey, including a memorable job interview gone awry (though she still landed the job), and the practical sensory techniques she uses to maintain serenity amidst the chaos of life.

In the latest episode of the Social Mastery Podcast Commander Dean Thompson joins Andrew and Angela to discuss the origins of the Social Mastery Program: where it came from, its goals and the legacy Dean hopes it will leave. Dean also tells us about his personal story of growing up in the Navy and what that has taught him about being a follower as well as a leader, and how the Navy and the overall Defence Force has changed and evolved over the years while also keeping their traditions alive.

Kamal Sarma is the monk who didn't sell his Ferrari, that's because he never had one! Born in the East Indian state of Assam, Kamal came to Australia when he was four. He turned into a “rugby hungry, girl hungry, fiend”. Not happy with this iteration, Kamal's parents sent him back to India when he was 13 to live in an ashram and study to be a monk, for seven-long-years. Back in Australian at 19, Kamal studied an honours degree in Economics then joined McKinsey & Co. Following that he worked as Head of Strategy at St George Bank, then he held roles at AMP Capital Investors and Eli Lilly, before launching his own VC. Life for Kamal was going great, until he had his ‘empty heart experience' – the death of his first daughter. Kamal struggled with depression, couldn't get out of bed, and by his own admission he could easily have become an alcoholic. But his past life provided a set of skills that Kamal could lean into – he clutched onto something to believe in and found his calling, the prevention of youth suicide. Over the past 20 years Kamal has delivered significant results for people and companies around the world with his customised framework and teachings. On top of that, he is one of the warmest, most compassionate humans on the planet.

Stacie Hall joins the Social Mastery podcast and together with Andrew May and Angela Poon they discuss why Stacie left a rapidly rising but unsustainable career in accounting firms for a more fulfilling and manageable role in the APS, Stacie's lessons from working with her mum and the values she was imparted and what she got out of the first social mastery program. That's only a fraction of what's covered so listen in as they also talk about her life lessons from watching her cats, balancing work and home life and much much more in this episode of the Social Mastery podcast.

What is it that makes high performers tick? In this Bite size from episode #7 Rear Admiral Wendy Malcolm gets asked the High performance baker's dozen – a series of 13 questions that give you an insight into how Wendy ticks and the sort of things she does to perform at a high level. Starting at simple things like her favourite music and movies, before diving a bit deeper into daily routines and how she structures her week, Wendy gives some surprising answers that may shock you as to how chaotic parts of her life can be.

In another Coaching Corner episode of the Social Mastery Podcast Andrew sits down with 2 participants from the Social Mastery program and runs a joint coaching session to help solidify some of the lessons from the program as well as resolve any issues that may have come up since the conclusion of the program.Listen in as Andrew, Scott Lockey and Beth Seivers discuss their issues and find solutions.

Which leadership habits are good to focus on, and which habits and behaviours do you need to drop? In this Bite Size from episode #5, Padraig O'Sullivan, my former study buddy from the Coaching Psychology Masters at Sydney University, outlines an experiment he ran with some of Australia and Asia's most prominent business leaders in relation to the habits they had built to keep them at the top of their game, and the habits they decided (were often told to) delete. Padraig is a coach and consultant working with some of Australia's top companies and executives to push them into performing even better than they thought possible. He is also a podcaster with his incredibly popular weekly podcast “The Leadership Diet” always sitting in the tops of the podcasting charts.

Carl Honore is a world-renowned journalist, speaker and author and is globally recognised as the godfather of the slow movement. After speed-reading a bedtime story for his son involving a scaled-down version of Snow White and the 3 Dwarfs, he had an epiphany that he was rushing through everything in life without taking the time to savour what really matters. That is how the revolutionary, best-selling book 'In Praise of Slow' was born. Carl's most recent book 'Bolder' is about ageing, specifically how we can do it better and feel better about it. Carl is a true global citizen growing up in Canada and studying a degree in History and Italian, he worked with street children in Brazil, and now resides in London. In this episode Andrew and Carl talk about finding a rhythm and pace in life that works for you, slowing down just enough to appreciate the people and the world around you, challenging the notion of 'ageing' and continuing to do what you love, and tapping into the the process of creativity and how to write a book.

How much does your digital distraction cost? Dr Kristy shares some incredible stats on digital wellbeing and how the cost of being distracted by digital devices can not only take a toll on your brain power but also the economy as a whole. Dr Kristy also gives some tips to ensure that you are working to the best of your ability, with strategies on how to make your schedule more flexible while still remaining available to your team when needed.

In this episode of the Social Mastery Podcast Andrew sits down with 3 participants from the Social Mastery program and runs a joint coaching session to help solidify some of the lessons from the program as well as resolve any issues that may have come up since the conclusion of the program.Listen in as Andrew, Anthony Duncan, Rob Bryson and Hannah Demkin discuss their issues and find solutions.

Did you ever have a moment when you realise you love what you do? Wendy Malcolm joins the podcast with Andrew May and Angela Poon to talk all things navy, from how she joined as a teenager to explore the world through to how she found meaning and purpose in doing piles of paperwork. Wendy tells us how a long career in the navy has left her with many mentors and friends she can call on for life and work advice. Wendy also shares how she has seen the navy change over the years, particularly with more inclusive policies to allow everyone to follow their dreams.

Have you ever felt on the verge of burnout? In this Bite Size from episode #2 Andrew and Dr Tom explain their research into and discovery of the 5 factors that are guaranteed to innoculate you against burning out. The 5 factors include Purpose Alignment, Active Recovery, Restorative Sleep, Physiological Capacity and Social Connectedness Andrew and Dr Tom have been working together for 17 years under 5 different business iterations, with a mutual interest and desire to bridge the gap between the science of human performance and the reality of the human experience. They have discovered a fine dance between pushing the body's physical and psychological resources to stretch and not snap. You can download the Burnout Proof whitepaper by visiting andrewmay.com/burnoutproof

Have you ever been down to the last $20 in your bank account? Padraig O'Sullivan started out as a prospective priest in Ireland, moving to nursing in one of the UK's top heart health clinics and eventually moved to Australia where he found himself with a total of $24.45 in his bank account, Pod has definitely seen the ups and downs of life. Padraig is a coach and consultant working with some of Australia's top companies and executives to push them into performing even better than they thought possible. He is also a podcaster with his incredibly popular weekly podcast “The Leadership Diet” always sitting in the tops of the podcasting charts. In this podcast Andrew and Pod discuss the value of money as a barometer for success, why different styles of leadership are important for the goal of your business, the common habits of successful people and much more.

This is the first in a series of shorter podcasts called “bite size” where we take some of the key moments from previous podcasts and amplify them in a snack sized format. Today's bite size comes from episode #1 with Tony Dalton where Andrew asks him our “high Performance Bakers dozen” – 13 questions based around Tony's personal and professional life to give a quick insight into his personality and what makes him able to perform at a high level consistently. We chose this as the bite size as it was very hard to find much personal information about Tony when the team was doing the research for this podcast. There was plenty about his distinguished career achievements but we thought people would want to know more behind that enigmatic smile, what are some of the insights in his day to day life that helps him show up day after day as well as what is the one thing that he is most proud of in his life.

Are you a slave to your digital devices? Dr Kristy Goodwin joins Andrew and Angela Poon, StriveStronger Operations Director on the podcast to discuss all things digital wellbeing. Dr Kristy takes us through why we find it so hard to put our devices down and why we always feel the need to check them - no matter what we are doing! (Hint: Behavioural scientists have purposely designed devices and apps to hijack our attention. You won't beat them, so instead use habit-beating strategies to get control back of your attention)We discuss tips and strategies based on neuroscience to set boundaries with our technology and to still enable us to experience life to the fullest.Learn about Productive Work Arrangements (PWAs), Techno Tantrums, the Zero Cost of Inclusion, Social Intimate Distancing, Digital Guard Rails and Family digital Wellbeing Plans. Dr Kristy Goodwin is a former school teacher who now educates people around the world on the effects technology has on your brain and behaviour.Using cutting-edge research she seeks to improve her clients lives both at work and at home.

When was the last time you came close to burning out? In this podcast Andrew is joined by Dr Tom Buckley and the pair talk all things burnout, from Dr Tom's experience with burnout working in the healthcare industry to the 5 factors they emphatically state will prevent you from burning out if you build them into your life. The 5 factors include Purpose Alignment, Active Recovery, Restorative Sleep, Physiological Capacity and Social Connectedness Andrew and Dr Tom have been working together for 17 years under 5 different business iterations, with a mutual interest and desire to bridge the gap between the science of human performance and the reality of the human experience. They have discovered a fine dance between pushing the body's physical and psychological resources to stretch and not snap. You can download the Burnout Proof whitepaper by visiting andrewmay.com/burnoutproof In this episode Andrew and Dr Tom discuss: 4:40 What is burnout? 11:00 Burnout is more than just work 16:15 Andrew and Dr Tom's work with burnout 29:30 Has Dr Tom been burnt out? 44:45 The 5 factors to inoculate you against burnout

In the inaugural Maritime Domain Social Mastery Podcast, Andrew May interviews DEPSEC Tony Dalton on what it took to get to his current position as Deputy Secretary National Naval Shipbuilding and how his time as a pilot helps him cope with the different pressures put on him. Tony talks about how his experience in the Navy has helped him be a successful member of a team, both at work and home. He also shares what levers he pulls on to turn off work mode when he is with family and be present when it matters. These are just a few of the things Andrew and Tony discuss, so stay tuned and subscribe to get every episode of the Maritime Domain Social Mastery Podcast as they are released.