The Discomfort Practice

In this episode, Betsy dives deep into the transformative power of small, everyday actions. Drawing on personal experiences, she talks about how individual action can actually drive collective impact. What's your role in creating change? From environmental stewardship to social justice, the episode explores the interconnectedness of personal responsibility and bigger collective change. Betsy shares her own experience of leading change, on a personal and on a bigger level.  The episode concludes with a powerful call to action, encouraging you to take a step toward 'being the change you wish to see in the world.' Betsy shares actionable tips for incorporating positive habits into daily life - because consistency is truly key. We hope you're left inspired to take action to co-create a better future. It IS possible. [00:00] - Betsy introduces 'be the change' and talks about her own experience [03:45] - She explores what 'change' means in our quickly-changing world [06:30] - She touches on real-life examples of changemakers [09:15] - Betsy offers some practical advice for creating change personally [13:30] - Final thoughts and a call to action If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to like, subscribe, and share it with others who might need a little inspiration! Help us spread the word by leaving a review, and use #BeTheChange #TheDiscomfortPractice on social media to share your journey. 

Welcome to Season 5 of The Discomfort Practice! In this first interview of the new season, Betsy Reed is joined by Thea May, a communication coach for ‘Edgewalkers and soul-led leaders.' Together, they explore the theme of ‘edginess' and dive deep into the discomfort of breaking away from outdated communication norms to create a world where we can all thrive.  Thea shares her journey, the power of embodying discomfort, and how to ‘scale ourselves to meet the messages that move through us.' This episode is packed with insights that will inspire you to embrace your own edges and communicate more authentically, but we're betting you'll feel like you were sitting at a kitchen table, just listening to friends. Key Moments: [00:01:05] - Betsy reflects on over three years of podcasting and introduces the theme of Season 5: Edginess. [00:01:54] - Introduction to Thea May, her work as a communication coach, and her unique approach to soul-led leadership. [00:06:06] - Thea shares a pivotal uncomfortable moment that shaped her journey as an Edgewalker. [00:13:49] - Thea discusses her name change from Dolly to Thea, representing a significant shift in her identity and work. [00:21:04] - Diving into the edges of communication, poetry, and identity as core elements of Thea's life and work. [00:30:06] - Thea introduces her three-part communication process: Tuning in, Hooking in, and Opening out. [00:32:15] - The power of confident introverts and the shift from power-over to power-with communication. [00:45:34] - The importance of scaling yourself to meet the size of your message. [00:51:03] - Betsy shares a personal story about receiving (the other) Betsy Reed's hate mail and what it taught her about resilience. [00:52:07] - Thea emphasises the importance of building confidence through low-risk discomfort practices. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to The Discomfort Practice on your favorite podcast platform, and don't forget to leave a 5-star rating and a written review. Your support helps us grow our community and reach more people who are ready to embrace the discomfort of growth. Follow us on Instagram @thebetsyreed for more behind-the-scenes content and updates. Let's get uncomfortable together…

She's baaaack. Well, I'm back. If you don't know me yet, I'm Betsy Reed, and I'm obsessed with the value of discomfort. The juicy, hot, cold, annoying, uncomfortable feeling of being outside of our comfort zones... and pushed to expand. Pushed to perhaps discover things about ourselves that are getting in our way. Or forced to innovate, to forge new pathways, to walk away from the things we thought were forever and create a new reality. Over the past four seasons, I've talked to some truly inspiring guests about the value of discomfort in shaping them and what they do in the world. And I've gotten a lot less uncomfortable doing solo episodes, where I just waffle on about myself and my life. (Apparently those are a lot of listeners' favourite episodes, so there you go - the subjective nature of discomfort!) Season 5 will be launching fully in early September 2024 so please subscribe, like and leave me 5 stars and written reviews wherever you listen to podcasts. I record this podcast out of love, rather than any fancy-pants ambitions to make money from it, so you sharing it really does help it reach new ears and I need your help. Settle yourself in, have a good listen, and let's get uncomfortable together. xx

In this final episode of Season 4 of The Discomfort Practice, Betsy looks back at some themes that arose over the course of the year+ it has spanned, before taking a brief hiatus to prep the launch of Season 5 in March 2024. What she found in looking back was some striking themes - the greatest of which was love. This has woven its way into many episodes, including: Episode #76 with Kim Polman, founder of Reboot the Future, whose ethos is based on the Golden Rule Episode #84 with Daze Aghaji, who talked about creating change from a place of love Episode #86 with Pilar Garrido, Minister for the Economy in Costa Rica during the Covid-19 pandemic Episode #110 with Dr. Terence Lester, a public policy advocate for people experiencing homelessness Betsy's own solos have focused a lot on love, with a couple of favourites linked below: Episode #82 On loving all parts of yourself Episode #98 A love letter to introverted moments Betsy would love to hear from you. Get in touch via any of the platforms listed below to let her know what you have found helpful, uplifting or positively challenging, as well as what you'd like to hear more about or hear an interview with in Season 5. Connect with Betsy: Betsy on Instagram Betsy on email Betsy on Linkedin Rate, Review, Learn and Share Thanks for tuning into The Discomfort Practice! If you enjoyed this episode, please drop us a five star and written review, follow and share how it has benefited you. Don't forget to tune into our other episodes and share your favorite ones on social media! Be sure to come back for Season 5, launching in March 2024.  

In this solo episode, Betsy journeys her way through a personal question at the moment: 'What am I meant to be a channel for on this earth? What is meant to come through me?' It's a very personal question, and there are no wrong answers. She talks about experimenting with being a channel for love, and how that has transformed her life in just a short span of a few months. As with most of Betsy's solo episodes, she leads listeners through practical steps to uncover their own answer to the question she's pondering. What 'special sauce' are you meant to bring to whatever is meant to flow through you? And what is that 'thing' you already probably channel into this collective existence? Settle yourself in and prepare to enjoy this brief, meaty episode. Connect with Betsy: Betsy on Instagram Betsy on Linkedin Betsy's website Rate, Review and Share. Thanks for tuning into The Discomfort Practice. Please subscribe, follow, like, and/or drop her a five star and written review. Share this episode with others and help spread the word and grow our audience. Don't forget to tune into Betsy's other episodes and share your favourite ones on social media.

In this episode, Betsy speaks to Dr. Terence Lester, an activist and scholar who focuses on bringing justice to those suffering from poverty and racism. The founder of LoveBeyondWalls.org and The Dignity Museum, he is also the author of three books: 'I See You: How Love Opens Our Eyes to Invisible People,' 'When We Stand: The Power of Seeking Justice Together' and 'All God's Children: How Confronting Buried History Can Build Racial Solidarity.' Three ideals drive Terence: (1) anyone can make a difference, (2) we don't live forever, (3), and it's worth dedicating one's life to ensuring no one feels invisible. This explains his life and work. Betsy and Terence chat about Terence's own life path, from highschool dropout who himself experienced homelessness and spent time in jail, to accomplished scholar, public policy PhD and an advocate for those experiencing homelessness who has received numerous awards for his work. They discuss the impact being un-seen and excluded from community has on a human soul experiencing homelessness and dive into the concept of dignity as something every human intrinsically deserves.  Settle yourself in to listen and prepare to be inspired (and possibly challenged) by this interview.  Connect with Dr. Terence Lester: Website: terencelester.org The Dignity Museum and Love Beyond Walls Twitter / X: twitter.com/imTerenceLester Instagram: @imterencelester / @lovebeyondwalls / @dignitymuseum Connect with Betsy: Betsy on Instagram Betsy on Linkedin Betsy's website Rate, Review and Share. Thanks for tuning into The Discomfort Practice. Please subscribe, follow, like, and/or drop her a five star and written review. Share this episode with others and help spread the word and grow our audience. Don't forget to tune into Betsy's other episodes and share your favourite ones on social media.

Looking back at your life, at some of the things that have been difficult or even traumatic, how have those things actually been part of your path to becoming who you needed to become? And how have some of the most difficult things you might have gone through actually been divinely chosen training to create the ‘architecture' of your life, or gain skills you needed to deliver your mission in the world?   Betsy thinks out loud while asking these questions and shares how she has come to appreciate how she now appreciates her own Fundamentalist Christian upbringing for the spiritual practices and discipline it provided. Because those are the practices that helped her to become who she now is. Give yourself space and a bit of time to dive inside and apply the questions Betsy asks to your own life and background, then feel free to get in touch! Let Betsy know how this episode lands for you, and what gems emerge as you ask the questions she poses. Settle yourself in, and let's get uncomfortable… Connect with Betsy: Betsy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebetsyreed/ Betsy on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thebetsyreed/ Betsy's Website: https://www.betsy-reed.com/   Rate, Review and Share. Thanks for tuning into The Discomfort Practice. Please subscribe, follow, like, and/or drop her a five star and written review. Share this episode with others and help spread the word and grow our audience. Don't forget to tune into Betsy's other episodes and share your favourite ones on social media.  

We're trying a new thing over here and have dug out a great episode from our archives. This is a revisit of Episode 55, which is a juicy, insightful interview with Paul William Davis, an intuitive personal advisor, an entrepreneur, a best-selling author, an award-winning business growth consultant, speaker with the best Irish accent you're likely to hear all day, lol. Betsy and Paul deep dive into how you go about figuring out what your personal purpose is and how important intuition - your 'knowings' - are (and you'll get an idea of why Betsy includes it in the coaching framework she has developed and uses with her own clients). Tune in for some beautiful insight into how you can 'tune into' your intuition and create the life you truly want because you've taken the time to listen to signs you might be being sent by the Universe. Rushing through life and missing them could be causing you immense frustration or struggle, but that doesn't need to be the case. So if you're struggling or know someone who is, or might even be encountering some mental health challenges, Betsy and Paul cover that. They talk about how not knowing your purpose in life can be the greatest trigger for depression (and how to address that). So whether you're listening to this toward the end of the year in 2023 or another time of year, take some time to consider your own purpose and how you might live it more deeply, more powerfully, and more easily and happily in the coming year or months. Connect with Paul William Davis: Paul's Website: www.paulwilliamdavis.com/ Paul on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pauldavisdublin/ Listen to his Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-executive-code-personal-mastery-insights-with/id1509268157?uo=4 Connect with Betsy Reed: Betsy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebetsyreed/ Betsy on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thebetsyreed/ Betsy's Website: https://www.betsy-reed.com/ Rate, Review and Share. Thanks for tuning into The Discomfort Practice. Please subscribe, follow, like, and/or drop her a five star and written review. Share this episode with others and help spread the word and grow our audience. Don't forget to tune into Betsy's other episodes and share your favourite ones on social media.

This solo was recorded in November 2023, off the back of a 5-day spiritual retreat with teacher Sabrina Lynn in Ibiza, in which 22 wild souls went deep into their shadows. And healed themselves, their ancestral line and things they didn't even know they were healing for the collective. Shadow work is a term that many know and some of you might not. They are the part of us we haven't yet owned. The things we're ashamed of, don't want to deal with, won't look at, don't want to acknowledge are part of us. We stuff them in the basements of our souls, convinced that dealing with those things will kill us. But what they actually need is love - to be escorted into the light of consciousness and integrated, so we can decide what role they should (or shouldn't) play in our lives. Because if you look around you in the world out there at conflict, at the painful things we do to each other as humans, you can bet at the root of all of it is unhealed personal and collective shadows. Betsy talks about her own path into shadow work, of healing her inner child so she can step more fully into herself as a mature adult. So settle yourselves in and prepare to get uncomfortable. See if any part of this episode speaks to you. And if it does, feel free to reach out. DM Betsy on Instagram or contact her through her website. She always loves to hear from you.   Connect with Betsy: Betsy on Instagram Betsy on Linkedin Betsy's website Check out Betsy's teacher Sabrina Lynn talking about shadow work on her podcast, Rewilding with Sabrina Lynn here. Rate, Review and Share. Thanks for tuning into The Discomfort Practice. Please subscribe, follow, like, and/or drop her a five star and written review. Share this episode with others and help spread the word and grow our audience. Don't forget to tune into Betsy's other episodes and share your favourite ones on social media.

In this episode Betsy is joined by Carlos 'Charlie' Zimbrón, Co-Founder and CEO of Fuckup Nights, as well as The Failure Institute. Betsy and Charlie say the word 'fuck' a lot cuz... clue's in the name, really. So if you enjoy 'swear words' as occasional punctuation and appreciate a free-flowing, un-edited conversation, you're gonna LOVE this one. Fuckup Nights has become a global movement driven by community of people who share professional failure stories on a monthly basis in 200+ cities in 62+ countries. It's a link I often share with the execs who take the online course I lead for the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL). Because, as Charlie talks about in this episode, failure, resilience, innovation and creativity are all inextricably linked - and necessary.  Few things are more uncomfortable than failure, but feeling safe enough to share and celebrate fucking up as part of the process of innovation (and of being human) is an important aspect of creating a better world. Charlie shares the story of how a good old carne asada with mezcal among a diverse group of friends in Mexico City, mixed with a desire to be able to 'see behind the curtain' and hear the REAL story behind the speeches we've all heard at confererences, led to the birth of Fuckup Nights. Settle yourself in, grab a mezcal, check out the link to Fuckup Nights and prepare to enjoy this episode. Connect with Charlie and Fuckup NIghts: Fuckup Nights on Instagram Fuckup Nights on YouTube Fuckup NIghts Website Carlos Zimbrón on Instagram Connect with Betsy: Betsy on Instagram Betsy on Linkedin Rate, Review and Share. Thanks for tuning into The Discomfort Practice. Be sure to subscribe, follow, like, and/or drop Betsy a five star and written review. Share this episode with others and help spread the word and grow our audience. And please do tune into Betsy's other episodes and share your favourite ones on social media. 

In this episode, Betsy talks about a subject that is near and dear to her heart (and her life): living magically. She talks about her own experience of having created a life that is full of synchronicity, support, ease, alignment and, well, MAGIC. As is her way, she encourages others to 'let things be magical' and talks about how she has learned to stop getting in the way of letting life and the good things that are meant for each of us flow. She also talks about the importance of trusting the timing of things you might want to happen - or to manifest. Listen to Betsy's insights on the ways she has found greater flow in her life, by creating practices and consistency over the years so that she can trust her intuition, know what she truly wants and trust that what is meant to come to her will and what is not meant for her will leave. So get yourself a cup of tea or take a walk, press play and hear all about Betsy's 'Mariah Carey Approach to Manifesting,' and why the phrase 'HOW is not my problem' is part of unlocking the greatest gifts life has sent to her lately.  Connect with Betsy: Betsy on Instagram Betsy on Linkedin Rate, Review and Share. Thanks for tuning into The Discomfort Practice. Please subscribe, follow, like, and/or drop me a five star and written review. Share this episode with others and help spread the word and grow our audience. Don't forget to tune into Betsy's other episodes and share your favourite ones on social media.

In this solo episode Betsy revisits a topic she loves to talk about: how her changed relationship with ease - and having greater ease with being at ease - has positively impacted her work, her productivity and her understanding of the world. She shares why she's become evangelical about helping others to create more ease in their lives, stepping away from the conditioning that 'the grind is the thing' and examining their own relationship with NOT choosing ease.  Maybe you can relate to this: Is hardship, struggle, feeling like you've worked really hard perhaps an 'existential kink' for you? Do you feel you don't deserve magic, or abundance, or pleasure in your life unless you've worked for it? Betsy walks you through how to create a 'Week of Ease' for yourself, as an experiment and as a way to step back and observe your relationship with ease. She shares how scheduling naps and weekly date nights by herself has helped her to recalibrate her natural un-ease with ease, and helped her to build it into her life as a habit. So settle yourself in, get comfortable to get uncomfortable, and step on The Discomfort Practice train with Betsy. We promise this one's a good one... Connect with Betsy: Betsy on Instagram Betsy on Twitter Betsy on Linkedin Rate, Review, Learn and Share Thanks for tuning into The Discomfort Practice. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, follow, like, and/or drop me a five star and written review. Share this episode with others and help spread the word and grow the audience. Don't forget to tune into our other episodes and share your favourite ones on social media.

In this episode of the Discomfort Practice, I talk to the mighty Oyinkansola ‘Oyin' Adebayo, the Founder and CEO of Niyo Enterprises, which is an ecosystem of brands that exists to economically empower Black women to be builders of high-impact ecosystems. Oyin's personal purpose is to empower Black women globally to upskill, transform their careers and create a world-class black female ecosystem of entrepreneurs. Niyo Bootcamps has trained over 500 black women to be upskilled in various tech roles through the “Black CodHer” Bootcamp & Black Disruptor bootcamps, several of whom have gone on to create their own tech businesses or work for big-name companies. Oyin arrived in the UK at the age of 12 from Lagos, Nigeria and struggled to fit into a culture in which she was suddenly an immigrant. That, combined with her awareness of the poverty she saw in her native Nigeria, led her to start focusing on social-impact work even while still in school.  Fast-forward to now and she's still working to make life better for young women, their families and wider communities. We talk about why and how the world doesn't work for the majority of people, how focusing on race and racial justice must be more than just philanthropy and how leaders need to be having more uncomfortable conversations in order to truly make the world work. It's a zesty conversation with some great soundbites for your brain to grab onto and chew over as you go about your day. Please do enjoy it! As mentioned in this episode - Nik Govier's episode on The Discomfort Practice Connect with Oyin: Niyo Enterprises Oyin's LinkedIn Oyin on Twitter Oyin on Instagram Niyo on Instagram  Connect with Betsy: Betsy on Instagram Betsy on Twitter Betsy on Linkedin Rate, Review, Learn and Share Thanks for tuning into The Discomfort Practice. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, follow, like, and/or drop me a five star and written review. Share this episode with others and help spread the word and grow the audience. Don't forget to tune into our other episodes and share your favourite ones on social media.  

This one is a bit of a chuckle, friends. I recorded it in August 2023, on the day I was marking seven years of living in Spain. I reflect on seven year cycles and who I've become over the past seven years. Who I've rediscovered I am, as I've let go of conditioning that kept me from being my truest, most powerful version of myself. In that seven years, the UK left the European Union in the most ill-conceived divorce in a while. I got married and left my marriage, in one of the best-conceived ideas in a while. As I wade into the discomfort of getting more personal on this podcast, this one felt like it hit a sweet spot. I danced on the edge of my own discomfort, as I shared from the heart, no filter, about myself. But it also felt freeing. So may you find some 'moments' for yourself as you listen. Some messages that resonate in your soul. Some moments that make you smirk or laugh out loud. Some truth about yourself as I share my truths about myself and who I'm re-becoming in this time of rapid change and change in consciousness. Some will step up to a higher consciousness and some will not. But if you're here listening to this, you're with me. We're stepping up... Listen, subscribe, rate and share. More heartfelt requests on that below. Connect with me: Betsy on Instagram Betsy on Linkedin Rate, Review, Learn, and Share Thanks for tuning into The Discomfort Practice! If you enjoyed this episode, please drop me a five-star and written review, follow, and share. Get in touch! And don't forget to tune into our other episodes and share your favorite ones on social media.

In this episode of The Discomfort Practice, I speak to Isidra Mencos, who was born and raised in Barcelona, Spain, about her journey through life as a young woman who grew up under Franco, a repressive dictator, and came of age as Spain was massively changing after his death. We talk about what happens when a young woman who grew up in a place where kissing in public was illegal finds herself suddenly free to explore whatever she wants. Speaking to Isidra was something of a bridge between my US past and my Spanish present. There are definite parallels in our backgrounds. Isidra moved to the US in 1992 to complete a PhD at UC Berkeley in California. Following that, she established herself as a teacher at Berkeley, a writer and editor, and a corporate executive. In 2016 she quit her plush corporate job to finally focus on her lifelong dream of being a creative writer. She has been widely published in literary journals and general interest magazines, but what drew me to Isidra was the recent publication of her memoir, Promenade of Desire, which narrates the journey of the shy María Isidra as she experiments and evolves.  We talk about the beauty of desire and the freedom that exploration - sexual and otherwise - can give all of us to become who we truly are and to love our full selves. Our conversation took us to some uncomfortable yet juicy and important topics. So come get uncomfortable with us… and find pleasure in the episode if you can! Connect with Traver: Isidra's Website Buy and read Isidra's book, Promenade of Desire  Isidra on Instagram Connect with Betsy: Betsy on Instagram Betsy on Twitter Betsy on Linkedin Rate, Review, Learn, and Share Thanks for tuning into The Discomfort Practice! If you enjoyed this episode, please drop us a five-star and written review, follow, and share how it has benefited you. Don't forget to tune into our other episodes and share your favorite ones on social media. And buy Isidra's book, Promenade of Desire :-)

This is episode 100 of The Discomfort Practice! I reflect back on how focusing on discomfort as a path to wisdom and finding my own superpowers has reshaped my perspective since launching the podcast in October 2020. Join me for a guided exercise in which you have the opportunity to reflect on what uncomfortable circumstances you've experienced over the past few years and gain a perspective of gratitude for them. As a 'birthday gift' for episode 100, I ask you to please subscribe, like, leave me a 5-star and written review and SHARE an episode with someone to help me reach new ears. Thank you for listening and I look forward to having you join me for the next 100 episodes. Get in touch: Betsy on Instagram Betsy's website Betsy on Linkedin

In this episode of the Discomfort Practice, I'm talking with Charles D. McCarrick, entrepreneur, inventor, lead visionary (or ‘Chief Comedian') and lead scientist of Micro-Ant. With more than 10 patents to his name, he pioneers and supplies unique equipment to the communications industry. Charles' most defining characteristic is enthusiasm—for new ideas, for the people who work with him, and for continuous improvement. By cultivating people's confidence and creativity, Charles has forged a top-notch team that delivers new technologies into the hands of customers and value to investors.  In this episode, we'll talk about his own life lessons and how they have transformed him, as he talks about his book “Lessons My Brothers Taught Me” that was published in 2022. It's built on the idea that you are your own business - your own brand. One review describes it as ‘the funniest business book I've ever read,' which in my estimation is high praise indeed.  We dig in deep to the process Charles has developed called the 4S Transform - Saleability + Sensibility + Sustainability + Scalability = Success. The crux of Charles approach is that the quality of one's character plays a dominant role in the success of any transaction, personal or professional. Settle yourself in for this inspiring episode. Enjoy! Key Points Discussed: Making the difficult decision of having to let go of an employee (and also friend) in business. How it was a life-defining moment in his life and changed Charles' perspective in business. (4:00) How the impact that character has in your success in life and business. (8:00) Defining your motivation for going into business and how that affects your success. (10:20) How Charles became an inventor: with 10 patents under his belt. (19:30) Charles believes the key to his success is the ability to do mathematics in 3-dimensional images. (20:10) The 4S Transform process that is essential to success: saleability, sensibility, sustainability and scalability. (25:30) Understanding what motivates you is critical, built from your character, that drives you in business. (39:38) Connect with Charles: Charles' Website Charles on Twitter Charles on Linkedin “Lessons My Brothers Taught me” on Goodreads “Lessons My Brothers Taught me” on Bookshop “Lessons My Brothers Taught me” on Amazon Tim Collings Episode (Tim introduced me to Charles) Connect with Betsy: Betsy on Instagram Betsy on Twitter Betsy on Linkedin Rate, Review, Learn and Share Thanks for tuning into The Discomfort Practice. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, follow, like, and/or drop us a five star and written review. Share this episode with others and help spread the word and grow our audience. Don't forget to tune into our other episodes and share your favourite ones on social media!  

This solo definitely builds on past solos about transitions and life processes because, surprise surprise, I'm still in a big life transition. This is a love letter to other secret introverts and to quiet moments. It's to those of you out there who crave quiet and alone time and to just be left alone for a while - regularly or from time to time. Right now I need and crave a lot of solitude, a lot of quiet time, because I'm going through a big internal process and building the architecture of my life for the coming years. It's about running a business, but it's also about becoming. Being who I need to be to deliver what I feel is my mission in the world. I'm currently spending a lot of time letting things flow, letting things drop into place and letting things ‘occur' to me. And to do that I've created a quiet little bubble of beauty and solitude and I am loving it. Because it allows me to hear my intuition. To guide myself. To not get tangled in the noise of ‘shoulds' or ‘shouldn'ts' or simply the thoughts of others.  I encourage you to challenge any narratives you have around allowing yourself to take time to be quiet, to be introverted, introspective. Because this is what a lot of us need right now and it's what the world needs us to choose to do. It's in that space that you can connect with who you ARE and what your instincts tell you. It's also space that we all need to change our narratives and thinking that really won't serve us as we move into a new stage of human history, and a new stage of your individual life. Please do reach out to me if this episode resonates and you'd like to reflect on your own ‘knowings' and thoughts around some of the things I talk about and your life right now. I'm here to support you and I would love to connect. Enjoy and big love to all of you listening. If you'd like to learn more about Human Design, as mentioned in the episode: Find out what type you are and download your chart at My Human Design Read about what Human Design is in this Goop article. Connect with Betsy: Betsy on Instagram Betsy on Linkedin Betsy's website Rate, Review, Learn and Share Don't forget to like, subscribe and leave a 5-star and written review on this podcast, wherever you listen to podcasts. It helps me to reach new listeners and, hopefully, to reach someone on exactly the right day with exactly what they needed to hear. Let me know what you think of this episode and others!  

In this episode of the Discomfort Practice, I'm excited to bring back a past guest: cultural consultant, performance producer and content creator Matisse Dupont. Matisse has spent the last decade facilitating interactive lectures and workshops on gender, sexuality, culture and identity. I enjoyed witnessing their evolution on social media - from being a TikTok-er famous for educating others about gender to showcasing their talents as a multi-disciplinary artist to founder of volunteer-run LGBTQIA+ community theatre company, The Queer Theatre Project. Matisse and I explore their life changes and public persona.  In this episode, we focus on that and explore how Matisse has realigned and reconfigured who they are publicly to reflect where they are personally. They've recently navigated burnout as a content creator and dealt with a concussion, which stopped them using technology at the height of their TikTok fame. Matisse shares how time away from what they had become known for opened up space to re-assess and enjoy other aspects of themselves and their talents. We talk about how creating a mindfully artistic practice can open up space to explore - and how you don't ever have to stick to just one thing for the rest of your life.  Matisse is an inspirational example of how you can completely change your life, realign with your purpose and not get caught up, staying in the constraints of what people already know you for (or your comfort zone). Settle yourself in for this refreshing and motivating episode. Enjoy!  Key Points Discussed: Shaking up the Discomfort Practice, having Matisse introduce themselves. (1:30) The discomfort of changing trajectory: from having a successful career and being known as an expert in a field to then starting something completely new. (3:30)   How dealing with a severe health issue affected Matisse as a successful content creator and gender educator. But how this time out, gave Matisse perspective. (5:50) How the social media algorithm was dictating the way to unauthenticity and interacting on social media in a combative way, as well as leading to burnout. (13:00) How Matisse's love of art came out of this period of discomfort in their life. (18:20) Meditative quality to painting as a creative outlet. (22:00) The transformative practice of not feeling stuck to one job or creative outlet, and being able to constantly evolve and transition. (31:00) Matisse's leaving message: “Change takes time, but not as much time as you think it'll take.” (40:00)   Connect with Matisse: Matisse Website Matisse on Instagram Matisse on TikTok Matisse on Youtube Connect with Betsy: Betsy on Instagram Betsy on Twitter Betsy on Linkedin Rate, Review, Learn and Share Thanks for tuning into The Discomfort Practice. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, follow, like, and/or drop us a five star and written review. Share this episode with others and help spread the word and grow our audience. Don't forget to tune into our other episodes and share your favourite ones on social media!  

In this episode of the Discomfort Practice, I talk with Michael Youngblood, co-founder and CEO of Unsettled, an award-winning travel community for those who embrace the unknown and value meaningful human connection. He has worked in more than 60 countries, collaborated with the White House on entrepreneurship and global development, advised Fortune 100 companies on remote work, and has taught courses on entrepreneurship and globalisation on behalf of the U.S. State Department. Previously, he was the Managing Editor of Innovations journal, a publication about entrepreneurial solutions to global challenges that is jointly hosted by MIT, Harvard, and George Mason University. Michael is a member of the inaugural TED Residency, a member of Sandbox, and an avid sailor, mountain biker, and global explorer.  Michael and I discuss Unsettled's manifesto as a process and a guiding philosophy for how to live, through embracing the uncomfortable and the unknown. MIchael shares his own thoughts on navigating anxiety and depression in work and life, and the importance of taking time for self-reflection. We explore some ‘beautiful questions,' and hopefully help those listening to discover something themselves with those questions (or discover their own questions to help them explore and find their way of being, living and doing in this rapidly changing world). Many of us know that we can't do things the way they've always been done, so this is a timely conversation. Just know that you're not alone. Enjoy! Key Points Discussed: The uncomfortable childhood experience of holding hands with his adoptive black sister and being the target of hate speech, showed Michael early on the levels of prejudice and inequalities existing in the world. And how that led to him studying social sciences, as the pathway he saw to change social structures. (5:40) Michael views all questions as beautiful, as they open you up to possibilities, whilst seeking new answers. (13:00) What is your dream underachiever job? (17:20) Getting clear on what is important to Michael, with time and space for self-reflection. Opening yourself up to new opportunities, that reflect your desired lifestyle and pace of work/life balance. (27:20) Unsettled manifesto: being more than a travel company. It's a process and philosophy for living: embracing the unknown and the uncomfortable. (32:30) How Michael has dealt with and found tools to overcome anxiety. (42:40) 70% of people quit a job within 18 months of an Unsettled travel experience. (47:40) How to create your own reality. (57:30) Michael's affirmation that he comes back to at the end of every day: “Despite everything, today was a great day.” He has choice and agency to see today as a great day, despite what might have happened in it. (1:00:00) Connect with Michael: Unsettled Manifesto Michael's TED Talk “Discovering Your True North” Michael's Blog on “Becoming CEO Of Unsettled” Michael on Linkedin   Connect with Betsy: Betsy on Instagram Betsy on Twitter Betsy on Linkedin   What is a Beautiful Question?   Rate, Review, Learn and Share Thanks for tuning into The Discomfort Practice. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, follow, like, and/or drop us a five star and written review. Share this episode with others and help spread the word and grow our audience. Don't forget to tune into our other episodes and share your favourite ones on social media!  

A few months back, when I was sitting in a mushroom ceremony, I got the message loud and clear ‘It's safe now to be powerful.' And it was a message that I knew was for me, but also one that I had been given to share with others. And, so, in this episode, I talk about what the world needs from you. How it needs you to be able to un-block those parts of you that you've censored, shut down, inherited shame around because your ancestors shut that part of their power down to be safe.  I ask a few questions in this short, unscripted, completely spontaneously-recorded episode. I know this is meant for someone, so if you've found this episode and something has really 'landed,' I'd love to hear from you. Some of the questions I ask in this episode: What of your own power are you denying or rejecting? What parts of you are you afraid to bring to the world? What parts of you are you keeping out of the limelight, out of your work, out of your consciousness because they're so dangerous you're scared to bring them to the world? What would the impact be if you allowed yourself to bring yourself fully to the world, in all of your power? What would change? If you ever find yourself thinking ‘I wish I could…' ‘I CAN'T do that…' it's pointing you toward something that you probably need to bring to the world. That's part of being fully powerful in the world. 'It's safe now to be powerful.' This message is important as we go through this particularly wild time in human history. Because what the world needs from you, what a lot of us need from you, is for you to be fully powerful. . Listen to this episode, chew it over, enjoy, and let Betsy know how you found it. Please pass it around like a good book. Like it, leave The Discomfort Practice 5 stars and a written review wherever you listen. As always, thank you for your time. Stay uncomfortable...

In this episode of the Discomfort Practice, I talk with Nik Govier, the Founder & CEO of Blurred - a fast growing global management, sustainability and communications consultancy based in London. She is a regular feature in PR Week's Top 10 Power List and was named PR Communicator of the Year in 2021. But the last five years have been a whirlwind of personal challenges and change, from leaving her previous business with nothing after building it for 12 years to facing a cancer scare during the pandemic.Nik is proudly neurodiverse (dyslexic and ADHD) and, having decided to be very public about having had six miscarriages, she is an outspoken advocate for a ‘charter for female health' in the PR sector, which is predominantly female.   How did Nik not only survive, but thrive, with a new business and sense of mission? In this episode, we'll talk about how she has navigated a loss of identity, the importance of no agenda meetings with people you don't know and the profound power of a coach - for you and your team - among many juicy topics we dive into. Nik most certainly chooses guts over fear. She shares how she went from being the mindfulness class sceptic to its greatest advocate and what strengths she finds in neurodiversity (and why she hires neurodiverse people). Nik really leads the way by showcasing the benefits of having a diverse team force and creating policies and approaches which not only support, but protect her team's health. She's created a business that can hold the future, because it has the perspectives needed to create diverse solutions to tricky problems. So get comfy and tune in. Enjoy! Key Points Discussed: How the discomfort of Nik's childhood with undiagnosed Dyslexic and ADHD and having school reports unfairly categorizing her as lazy and careless has led her to spending her entire professional career proving people wrong. (6:20) Neuro-diversity is a superpower for Nik, but she recognises that is the case, because she comes from a middle class supportive background. (8:10) The motivation behind having a diverse workforce, and what that looks like. (11:30) How having a workforce that is diverse is fundamentally about bringing different skill sets, ways of thinking and perspectives that enrich the workplace and the team working there. (19:20) Dealing with complex issues with systems that support her diverse team-force. Supports her team with a grief policy (including issues such as miscarriage, menopause, transition, fertility, etc). Providing coaching, support, financial support, time-off and flexible working. (22:05) Blurred is built on a foundation of principals surrounding diversity and supporting your workforce, which lead them to instantly receiving a high rating from B Corp (certification is a designation that a business is meeting high standards of verified performance, accountability and transparency regarding inclusivity, policies, etc). (29:50) Nik's own discomfort practice: meeting strangers, which has led her to the House of Lords to meeting fashion photographer Rankin. (42:30)  How a mindfulness body scan is the only form of meditation that works for Nik, for an ADHD or easily distracted brain. (45:10) Lasting message: even if you are neurodiverse, introverted, dyslexic or from a disadvantaged background: you have everything you need. Find a place and space that can accept you, and if you can't, build one. (53:30) Connect with Nik: Article on how Nik made it Blurred Website Nik on Instagram Nik on Twitter Nik on Linkedin Connect with Betsy: Betsy on Instagram Betsy on Twitter Betsy on Linkedin Rate, Review, Learn and Share Thanks for tuning into The Discomfort Practice. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, follow, like, and/or drop us a five star and written review. Share this episode with others and help spread the word and grow our audience. Don't forget to tune into our other episodes and share your favourite ones on social media!

In this solo episode, I reflect on the chaos, the confusion and the landing back in Spain after 3.5 happy months in Mexico. I wonder 'Did I do the right thing in coming back here?' muse aloud about 'Why am I here?' and navigate through my own process of feeling like I've landed in chaos... and I'm not sure why. I share a reading from the School of Metaphysics, where each Module I study as I go through training to become a certified Metaphysical Therapist, is completely aligned with whatever is going on in my life.  Every time we expand, every time we unblock a part of our lives that needed to be unblocked, every time we get closer to fully remembering who we are and how powerful we are... we will experience discomfort. Chaos is what shows us what we really want to stop doing or who we want to stop dragging with us.  I talk about how 'taking my hands off the wheel' is something I'm trying out - because my ability to steer my life is limited by my own imagination and experience. So for some Betsy Musing Out Loud, as well as some hopefully helpful thoughts on how to navigate the unknown and appreciate chaos, give it a listen. And reach out if it's landed for you. Email me at Betsy@betsy-reed.com / IG me @thebetsyreed and spread the word. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, follow, like, and/or drop me a five star and written review. Share this episode with others and help me grow the reach of this podcast. Don't forget to tune into our other episodes and share your favourite ones on social media!

In this episode of the Discomfort Practice, I talk with entrepreneur, author and someone I'm rather a big fan of, Margaret Heffernan. We chat about Margaret's sixth book Uncharted, which lays out an inspiring picture of what can lie on the other side of uncertainty - which is a discomfort we as humans naturally avoid. We also dive into her own practice of surrendering to experiencing discomfort, by which she has not only learned new things, but grown as a person. Margaret's TED talks have been seen by over 15 million people. You read that right! 15 million people. She's also written six books (so far). Her third book Wilful Blindness is one that I picked up last year and found more incredibly relevant now, during a pandemic, than ever - even though it was published in 2014. It was a finalist for the Financial Times Goldman Sachs Best book award and the Financial Times named it as one of its “Best business books of the decade”. Margaret has done a lot of things and done them all well. She worked in BBC Radio for five years where she wrote, directed, produced and commissioned dozens of documentaries and dramas. But just to add to her cool points, she then also produced music videos with Virgin Records. She was once described by the Financial Times as the most formidable lobbying organization in England, which is high praise indeed. She bought and sold leading Internet businesses as a chief executive and was named one of the Internet's top 100 by Silicon Alley reporter in 1999. She's won many, many awards.  Margaret really is a leading thinker and her now-or-never attitude is so inspiring, so tune in and enjoy! Key Points Discussed: Taking the experience from discomfort to euphoria: being encouraged by her father as a teenager to ask for forgiveness rather than permission (6:00) That experience has helped support her in her speaking engagements now: she speaks freely. Saying what others are thinking, but are too afraid to say (8:00)  How writing a BBC play, opened up Margaret to looking at where abusive attitudes to nature come from (16:18) How important it is to do something, however small. Margaret became part of her local Parish Council and hosted events to help people reduce their energy consumption, carbon footprint and enhance biodiversity (23:38)  How positivity is contagious: you can be the catalyst for change (26:30) Surrendering to the practice of experiencing discomfort in many different parts of her life, has helped Margaret not only learn new things, but grow as a person in so many different ways (33:02)   How ethical decisions being made by economists are a disaster waiting to happen (42:58) How reframing the way you view uncertainty in your mind, can actually open you up to new exciting possibilities (49:54) How the early death of Margaret's first husband when she was 30 gave her a really visceral experience that it's always now or never time. That is how she lives her life (56:46) Connect with Margaret: Margaret's Website Margaret on Twitter Connect with Betsy: Betsy on Instagram Betsy on Twitter Betsy on Linkedin Rate, Review, Learn and Share Thanks for tuning into The Discomfort Practice. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, follow, like, and/or drop us a five star and written review. Share this episode with others and help spread the word and grow our audience. Don't forget to tune into our other episodes and share your favourite ones on social media!  

I sat down to intentionally record this episode without any notes and with minimal preparation, because I felt strongly this was a message that needed to come through me. It's one I needed to articulate and it's something someone out there needs to hear. The message is this: turn off the external noise so you can hear yourself and tap into your own wisdom. I've been given wise counsel and channeled messages from intuitives three times in the past month to 'cut out the external influences for a while in order to gain clarity and confidence in your inner knowing, to set loose your creativity to do what you need to do in the world.' And one of those intuitives (@lisaintuitiveguide on Instagram), without knowing anything about me, told me what it is I am meant to do in the world. And it is EXACTLY what I do in the world, though you might not know it from the official wording of my website. So I've done a cull - of emails I'm subscribed to, of social media accounts I follow - and am still circling what this 'diet' from external influences is meant to look like. But in having to un-subscribe / unfollow those external influences that flow to me every day, I began to realise a) how many there are and b) how much I want to rely on them for confidence in my own intuition. My own 'knowings.' So this episode is me planting a flag at the beginning of a process of creating quiet - of turning off all of the radio noise - so I can hear my own voice. My own intuition. My own knowings. And if that lands for you, I invite you to do the same. Reach out and let me know if you're going to do the same. I'd love to hear your process and share mine. Feel free to connect and to share this episode with others.

In this episode of the Discomfort Practice, I talk with Dan Schnur. We chat about the discomfort of his career trajectory: going from being one of the top Republican political strategists and campaign officials in the US to leaving and not affiliating with any political party. (In a bi-partisan political system where you've been a big player, that's a big move.) Dan gives an elegant master class in how to leave your comfort zone, forge your own path and stay true to yourself when everything shifts… and shifts again. Because that's just life. Dan's resume is impressive. He previously worked on four Presidential and three Gubernatorial campaigns, as one of California's leading political strategists. He served as the national director of Communications for the 2000 Presidential Campaign of US Senator John McCain, and was the chief media spokesman for California Governor Pete Wilson. He's been an advisor to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. He's the founder of the leading University of Southern California (USC) LA Times state-wide political pol and currently teaches courses in politics, communications and leadership at UC Berkeley.The list could go on… Join us for Dan's remarkable, humble and thoroughly enjoyable style and story about the process of going through discomfort to create your own freedom on the other side. Enjoy! Key Points Discussed: As a college undergraduate, Dan was not particularly academically motivated and he was asked to leave. Even though it was uncomfortable moment, Dan was able to see this as an opportunity to move to Washington to pursue his interest in Politics (6:30) One of Dan's favourite quotes: “If you don't take risks, nothing good will happen.” And how taking risks has played out in his life (11:20) The risk Dan took from having a successful career the Republican Party to leaving to become an Independent Politician (16:10)  The generation that leads society out of a crisis, is one that is exceptional (Gen Z)  (31:50) The News by definition is going to look for conflict and controversy. It's easy to sucked into that narrative, as all the acts of kindness aren't reported on (42:20) How interacting with others with different views is uncomfortable, but is needed in order to grow and learn (52:20) How helping others energises Dan: when you do something that puts someone else in a better mood, it boosts your mood too (57:40) Dan quote: “For every decision I ask myself: What's the best thing that can happen? What's the worst thing that can happen? The overwhelming majority of the time, the worst thing that can happen, isn't that bad. So it's worth a try.” (1:04:18)  Connect with Dan: Dan on Twitter Connect with Betsy: Betsy on Instagram Betsy on Twitter Betsy on Linkedin Rate, Review, Learn and Share Thanks for tuning into The Discomfort Practice. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, follow, like, and/or drop us a five star and written review. Share this episode with others and help spread the word and grow our audience. Don't forget to tune into our other episodes and share your favourite ones on social media!   --  

In this episode of the Discomfort Practice, I talk with my former client, friend and general badass Selina Donald. Selina has done so much already in her life, so prepare yourself to be inspired to think differently. She has worked on large-scale events, such as the Olympic and Para-Olympic opening and closing ceremonies and Vivian Westwood's climate revolution. She worked on England's 2018 World Cup bid for the Rio Olympics and has been part of the senior management team for ITV events. She co-founded the sustainable events agency The Bulb, which helps companies produce sustainable, creative and meaningful events.  She also often passionately speaks on issues of women's empowerment, female entrepreneurship and gender equality.  We chat about the current unsustainable practices of the creative and events industry, and how Selina has been proving through her own work that it's possible to be creative, exciting and environmentally responsible. We will get into what sustainable brands can do when their events don't reflect their company values (because, spoiler alert, they often don't). We also dive into how Selina structures her day to allow the time and space to make conscious, sustainable choices in her own life and business.  This is a super fun episode full of laughs, so tune in for Selina's inspiring story and so much more. Enjoy! Key Points Discussed: How Selina being a vegetarian as a child triggered her to how sustainability could be applied to her career (3:40)  The discomfort but also movement that has come in the events industry, because of the Pandemic, which has ended up working to Selina's advantage (10:40)  How the discomfort of the failure of her first business Bulb 101, made her take a step back and come back with knowledge from the failures and resurrected into a sustainability consultancy for event organisers (12:55) Being burnt out and moving back in with parents at age 35, with no savings and no pension (17:00) How learning to put a value on her time made Selina charge for her worth and say no to things that don't reflect that. Protecting both her energy and her time (21:15) The power of saying No (24:50) The environmental and sustainability issues that the Event industry faces (29:40) Making the Olympics opening and closing ceremonies the most sustainable events possible. As well as bringing sustainability to the forefront (36:35) Working on Lush's naked packaging and other brands/artists on recycled materials (38:05) How Selina's hatred for her legal career took her through another story of failure to an exciting career (48:25)  How composting at events is not actually a viable sustainable option (54:10) Connect with Selina: Selina on The Bulb website Selina on Twitter Connect with Betsy: Betsy on Instagram Betsy on Twitter Betsy on Linkedin Rate, Review, Learn and Share Thanks for tuning into The Discomfort Practice. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, follow, like, and/or drop us a five star and written review. Share this episode with others and help spread the word and grow our audience. Don't forget to tune into our other episodes and share your favourite ones on social media! --

How can you create habits that support you through times of stress, that help you to create milestones in your day and life, to function optimally? In this solo episode I share ways in which I have created more rituals over the past year and talk listeners through the science-based approach I teach clients to set habits. My intention in recording this solo is to help others consider how they might better support themselves by taking a moment to become more conscious of what habits they'd like to set and to take tangible steps to ensure they happen.  Intention often needs action to bring it to life, so I hope this little solo helps listeners to do just that!Enjoy listening and share with me what habits or rituals you decide it's time to create for yourself. It might just be starting your day with a thought about what you're grateful for, or doing squats while you brush your teeth or setting reminders in your daily calendar to pause and breathe (all of which are things I have done or am currently doing). Reach out and let me know, and if you want support, just ask! You can find me on Instagram @thebetsyreed or email me at hello@betsy-reed.com Don't forget to like, subscribe and leave a 5-star and written review on this podcast, wherever you listen to podcasts. It helps me to reach new listeners and, hopefully, to reach someone on exactly the right day with exactly what they needed to hear. Let me know what you think of this episode and others!

In this episode of the Discomfort Practice, I talk with innovator and designer (among many other things) Leyla Acaroglu. We chat about how small incremental changes are not enough any more to save society from climate change impact, but instead need to change systems and approaches to regenerate our planet, in order to survive. We discuss how important design is in creating that change and take listeners on a journey with us, so you don't have to be left wondering what you need to know. Leyla loves problems, because she understands that they are just challenges in disguise!  Leyla's insight breaks through some deeply-entrenched environmental folklore around things like recycling and discusses the true impact of the products and materials we use every day. As a designer and consultant, that's just how Leyla sees the world.  So plug yourself into this episode and enjoy hearing Betsy talk to an award-winning designer, sustainability provocateur, social scientist and entrepreneur who creates tool and businesses that design a sustainable and regenerative future. Leyla is a mainstage TED speaker, a LinkedIn Changemaker and a United Nations Environmental Programme Champion of the Earth.And she's also the founder of the UNSchool of Disruptive Design.  This is a juicy episode that challenged Betsy's thinking, so tune in for Leyla's positive story and so much more. Enjoy!

In this episode of the Discomfort Practice, I talk with political scientist and economist Pilar Garrido. We chat about her experience leading a sustainable economic development policy in Costa Rica for a green and inclusive economy, as well as designing innovative financial instruments for critical public investment projects. We will also get into what adaptation for climate change is. Pilar leads with a human touch, transforming our ideas of what a leader should be. Pilar has been a key figure, using her government minister role to steer Costa Rica's ambition to be one of the five countries piloting the Sustainable Development Goals. SDG's were launched by the United Nations in 2015. Their aim is to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030: all people enjoy peace and prosperity.  So, buckle yourself in for this episode and be inspired by a politician who governs with both heart and strength. She has served as Chief of Staff, Deputy Minister, Minister of Planning and Policy, Technical Secretary of the Sustainable Development Goals in Costa Rica and as Costa Rica's co-ordinator of the Economic cabinet. A woman of many talents!  This is an inspiring episode, so tune in for Pilar's positive story and so much more. Enjoy! Key Points Discussed: The discomfort Pilar experienced whilst becoming a politician and minister at a young age, especially during the Pandemic, as she describes as being like on the front line (5:20) Choosing to work from a place of love (08:20)  Making difficult choices and creating policies to protect people during the Pandemic (12:20) Pilar's journey from political scientist to advisor to politician (14:50) Costa Rica's initiatives to put humanity and sustainability first, before economics (23:40) How to have a big impact in politics: where your job is not forever (27:00) Part of Pilar's legacy: diversifying an economy that has previously heavily relied just on tourism, so that it is healthy and robust (31:00) The IDG framework (that Costa Rica are one of the first countries to pilot), which aims towards eradicating hunger, poverty, sustainability and ensuring human rights. The IDG's (Inner Development Goals) consists of five dimensions: Being (relationship to self); Thinking (using your brain); Relating (and caring about others in the world); Collaborating (social skills and society) and Acting (driving change) (36:40)  How everyone can do something small, that will collectively make a big impact (46:00)  Pilar's optimism for the future (51:10)  Connect with Betsy: Betsy on Instagram Betsy on Twitter Betsy on Linkedin Rate, Review, Learn and Share Thanks for tuning into The Discomfort Practice. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, follow, like, and/or drop us a five star and written review. Share this episode with others and help spread the word and grow our audience. Don't forget to tune into our other episodes and share your favourite ones on social media!

If you've listened to some of my recent solos and interviews, you'll have picked up that I'm on the cusp of entering a new stage of life. I've packed up my life in Barcelona, put my things in storage, finished up my academic year as a Professor and am headed to Mexico on a one-way ticket in just a few days. The preparation for leaving one stage of life and stepping into the next has gotten me thinking a lot lately about transitions and nature and my place in the whole rhythm of things. And, during the deep discomfort and anxiety that has come up as I've been in the deep discomfort of not knowing what comes next, of a big transition, I haven't been the nicest or happiest or most serene version of myself. It's been interesting to observe and it's gotten me thinking about a snake shedding its skin. As a Wyoming Kid, I have always been taught that, during seasons when you know rattlesnakes are shedding their skin (which they do regularly), do whatever you can to avoid them because they're scared and blind and MEAN. They can't see very well, so they're more likely to strike. But then I started learning more about the process of a snake shedding its skin - and WHY it sheds its skin regularly - and it all started to feel like a very relevant personal metaphor for big moments of transition.   So settle yourself in and consider how this metaphor might be relevant for you, and be sure to listen to the end, when I share one of my favourite poems of all time, Desiderata by Max Ehrman.    Don't forget to like, subscribe and leave a 5-star and written review on this podcast, wherever you listen to podcasts. It helps me to reach new listeners and, hopefully, to reach someone on exactly the right day with exactly what they needed to hear. Let me know what you think of this episode and others!

In this episode, I chat with a young leader who got me excited and optimistic about the future. Daze Aghaji is a climate justice, regeneration & well-being activist with a fascinating story and a skill at delivering it. You are in for a real treat with this interview, as. Daze shares how growing up with an awareness of climate change has shaped her and Generation Z. We talk about how climate change is not the issue, but, rather, toxic systems are - and climate change is just a by-product of them. She shares her own story, as someone who is disrupting, innovating and inspiring change, leading by example and showing the impact young people can have in demanding serious action on climate change. Daze is a multi-faceted talent and climate activist from London who focuses on regenerative culture intersectionality; radical social justice and youth political engagement in her work. She herself lives with intersectionality as a black woman, a daughter of immigrants from Nigeria and as a professional who grew up in poverty.  In 2019, (before the pandemic took off), she was the youngest candidate to stand in the European parliamentary election. Daze's advocacy for racial systemic change has led her to work with many leading charities, NGOs and grassroots changemakers around the world. She has strong ties with the climate movement, Extinction Rebellion, and she's currently a creative director at Earthrise Studios, which is an environmentally focused media company, as well as a consultant for a variety of NGOs. She's also an artist in residence at Vitalogy, and a monthly contributor to Sky TV's climate show. She gave a TEDx talk in 2021 that I loved was about how we're going to solve climate change. Stay tuned for her inspiring story and so much more.

In this episode, I chat with the Founder & CEO of IONATE, inventor Matthew Williams. He is a systems architect by nature, mechatronic engineer by education, design leader and facilitator by passion. Having spent his career in the front seat of global systems-engineering companies, Matthew is equipped with a unique insight on how to build the most efficient electrical systems. Sustainability and where we get our energy from is increasingly important to our survival and thriving on this planet, because we can't continue to run on the type of resources that we've used for power in the past.  Matthew is originally from Australia. And early on, he recognized the technological disconnect between power grids and energy transition, basically getting away from fossil fuels. So his mission for the past 10 years has been to tackle this challenge. Matthew and his team at IONATE are building the technology backbone of a productive, decentralized and decarbonized power system of the future. Matthew is on his way to be the OG of the new way we create and run the power grid. As well as sharing uncomfortable moments in his business and personal life, Matthew shares an empowering outlook on how he deals with public speaking, failures and setbacks. Stay tuned for his inspiring story and so much more.  Key Points Discussed: The discomfort in Matthew's childhood from being an introvert and choosing a customer service role to confront his struggle has helped him in later life with public speaking (5:17) How Matthew uses his understanding of the amygdala (the brain almond): and that the physiological response to fear, anxiety and excitement is the same to help with his public speaking (8:16) Overcoming business failures and how that's helped him shape the success of his new business Ionate (11:13) The technology Matthew and his team have invented to create a functional way to deal with the worldwide issue of utilizing renewable energy and overcoming the issues of connecting it to the grid (18:24)  How the technology is also about bringing down energy bill costs (24:47) How an early life lesson from his father about dealing with setbacks in a less emotional, more rational approach has been an inspiration for him (27:37) How a combination of a good engineering brain, a planned approach and also passion for creating change helps him overcome nervousness or fear that he encounters (42:32) Connect with Matthew: Matthew on Linkedin Ionate Website Connect with Betsy: Betsy on Instagram Betsy on Twitter Betsy on Linkedin Rate, Review, Learn and Share Thanks for tuning into The Discomfort Practice! If you enjoyed this episode, please drop us a five star and written review, follow and share how it has benefited you. Don't forget to tune into our other episodes and share your favorite ones on social media!

In this solo episode I 'think out loud' about what has been coming up for me during a time of stress and anxiety, as I transition from one stage of life to the unknown of the next. Prompted by a recent podcast episode by Shaman Durek on 'witnessing all parts of ourselves,' I ask myself and you, the listener, questions like: What do you default to when you're anxious? What parts of your shadow side does stress bring up to be recognised and healed? How can you treat the parts of yourself you DON'T love the way you would a small child who's just learning a skill, instead of punishing that part? I then tell you what I intend to do instead to interrupt my narrative, my perfectionist tendencies and my meanness to myself when my current stress brings up things I want to stuff down or punish. I take you through a process I teach (and will be practicing more), based on the science of building habits (because we all function the same way on this) to mindfully recognise, interrupt, practice (think or act differently) and reset our shadowy narratives and habits. So settle yourself in and listen to me process out loud. I hope this is helpful for you too, as you hear my very real, very current process. It's uncomfortable for me to go through, and to share publicly, but that's my own Discomfort Practice and I welcome you to share yours with me on social media or by contacting me at Betsy@betsy-reed.com! Don't forget to like, subscribe and leave a 5-star and written review on this podcast, wherever you listen to podcasts. It helps me to reach new listeners and, hopefully, to reach someone on exactly the right day with exactly what they needed to hear. Let me know what you think of this episode and others!

In this episode, I chat with Leadership Coach and Founder of Inspire My Day – Tiffany Cheng. Tiffany shares what she learned from growing up in China and the disappointment she felt from her parents; who left her with her grandparents because she was not a boy. We talk about the work/life culture difference she has found living in Belgium, and the discomfort of juggling her corporate goal led career path and family life and how that ultimately didn't work. Tiffany shares how leaving corporate life very recently has already brought her into a place of living a more abundant and empowered life, even as she's still establishing herself (and getting used to the different pace and tasks) as an entrepreneur.  Tiffany helps senior leaders overcome influencing decisions and communications to drive change at work; so they can achieve their business goals, realize their career purpose, grow personally and accomplish what they set out to achieve. She shares a compelling backstory on what led her to leave corporate life in order to pursue her passion and launch her business Inspire My Day. Stay tuned for her inspiring story and so much more. Key Points Discussed: The discomfort in Tiffany's childhood, which helped shape who she is. (4:27) Living in China and finding role models in powerful American women (14:08) Experiencing the difference in work ethics between China and Europe, whilst working at Volvo (20:09) Landing Tiffany's dream job that she had envisaged 16 years prior, and the discomfort that it brought: taking her away from her family (25:06) Leaving comfort of corporate life to launch her dream business (29:33) The struggles of being an entrepreneur (44:11) What Tiffany's business Inspire My Day is all about (46:41) Why making 10 year plans in business is important (1:09:36) Connect with Tiffany: Tiffany's Website Tiffany on Linkedin Connect with Betsy: Betsy on Instagram Betsy on Twitter Betsy on Linkedin Rate, Review, Learn and Share Thanks for tuning into The Discomfort Practice! If you enjoyed this episode, please drop us a five star and written review, follow and share how it has benefited you. Don't forget to tune into our other episodes and share your favorite ones on social media!

In this episode, I am super excited to welcome back, Traver Boehm. This is his second time in this podcast - and that is because he is awesome (which you will discover when you listen). Traver founded the UNcivilized men's movement, and is inspiring millions of men around the world to shift their experience of masculinity by combining the primal masculine with the divine masculine, combining strength and consciousness.  He's the author of the books, Today I Rise, and ManUNcivilized. UNcivilized is about harnessing the inherent primal power and leadership of men and coupling it with the deeply conscious divine masculine. Traver is a specimen of ‘classic masculinity,' as a former CrossFit gym owner and an MMA fighter, but he's also a licensed acupuncturist who does yoga and meditates. So I'd say he's a balanced man. Our conversation is largely unscripted and it took us to uncomfortable yet beautiful and timely topics. Traver talks about the need for people, especially men, to find connection and shares insights on how men can find healing and support, which is not something society says they usually get to have access to. We talk about one of his focus topics - what “The Nice Guy” looks like and why “Killing the Nice Guy” is important.  Curious? Good. Join us in this exciting, uncomfortable, and high-value conversation. I hope it ignites a fire within to step into your true self and let it ripple out to be part of the healing this world needs. Send it to men you know and keep the conversation going. Key Points Discussed: Traver's recent experience in Costa Rica and other incidents that made him realize how fragile life can be and that people need help, especially with mental health (02:52) Killing the nice guy (11:16) The need for men to reach for connection under challenging times (14:30) Taking out the things that stop you from being magical and powerful (16:39) What to do to help people, especially men, who are still on track to break themselves (21:42) People need time and a chance to repair the trauma brought by the recent pandemic (27:55) Why do people not feel like they don't have permission to change the things that are quite self-destructive(30:28) How can men be with the discomfort to want to change, process it, and where they go from there (33:03) How men can find that safe support (38:46) Getting back to what's real (43:21) The Nice Guy (45:35) The covert contracts (51:21) Why kill the Nice Guy (55:52) Traver's discomfort running buddies (1:03:35) Imagine how it would feel to have people around to support you on a shitty day (1:08:20) Connection is even more valuable right now (1:10:37) Believe (1:13:01) Resources Mentioned: Man UNcivilized Today I Rise by Traver Boehm Man UNcivilized by Traver Boehm The UNcivilized Podcast with Traver Boehm Connect with Traver: Traver's website Traver on Instagram Traver on YouTube Connect with Betsy: Betsy on Instagram Betsy on Twitter Betsy on Linkedin Rate, Review, Learn, and Share Thanks for tuning into The Discomfort Practice! If you enjoyed this episode, please drop us a five-star and written review, follow, and share how it has benefited you. Don't forget to tune into our other episodes and share your favorite ones on social media!

In this solo episode, I warmly welcome you to Season 4 of the Discomfort Practice podcast. As always, in this new season, you will find conversations with creatives, activists, leaders, scientists and a host of others about conscious discomfort, the role it's played in their lives and the value of discomfort in us moving forward as a society. But what's going to be a new ‘take' on discomfort – and something I'm really excited about this season – is that it is likely to be a little more raw and unscripted. It will include interviews with those I consider the pioneers of discomfort and solo episodes which dive into the stories of my own heroes of discomfort, as well as more about my own personal journey and thoughts. As always, I'll aim to model that embracing discomfort and choosing not to be ‘good' can instead free you to bring something great to the world. As someone who deeply values and pursues consciousness and healing, I want to bring that to you, and to the world. So settle yourselves in and let's get uncomfortable this season. I hope it's a pleasure… Key Points Discussed: How the Discomfort Practice was born out the discomfort of Covid lockdown. (0:12) Season Four's focus on the OGs of discomfort: the pioneers. Interviews with Betsy's modern-day heroes; as well as delving into the stories of past heroes. (3:24) Betsy delves into her past and her own discomfort journey. (3:38) Society tells us we need to be good, but what about if we reject the idea of being good, in order to fulfill our greatness. (8:15) This season will be a little more raw, unfiltered and unscripted. (9:21) Connect with Betsy: Betsy on Instagram Betsy on Twitter Betsy on Linkedin Rate, Review, Learn and Share Thanks for tuning into The Discomfort Practice! If you enjoyed this episode, please drop us a five star and written review, follow and share how it has benefited you. Don't forget to tune into our other episodes and share your favorite ones on social media!

As with all of my solo episodes of The Discomfort Practice, in thise one I share what's on my mind just now, and it's the most personal I've gotten yet. In fact, I even get a bit weepy.I talk about walking into The Void - the shapeless, undefined unknown in which all things are unclear. It's a bit anxiety-inducing at times, but it's also the place where evolution and transformation take place. I don't know when my time in this current iteration of The Void is going to be end, but I am certain that I will flow out of it when I or whatever is being shaped for me is ready.  So click ‘play,' settle in for a few breaths with me and take a brief moment out of your day to listen, to feel, to let this land with you. And if you yourself are in The Void, know that you're not alone. We are going through a collective awakening, so there are many of us there. And it's going to end well… Connect with Betsy: Betsy on Instagram Betsy on Twitter Betsy on Linkedin Rate, Review, Learn, and Share Thanks for tuning into The Discomfort Practice! If you enjoyed this episode, please drop me a five-star and written review, follow, and let me and others know what you got out of it. Don't forget to tune into my other episodes and share your favorite ones on social media!

In this episode of The Discomfort Practice, I sit are with someone who has truly ‘walked his talk' - and is still walking it in a very impactful way. Paul Dunnis a four times TEDx speaker and was one of the first 10 People in Hewlett Packard Australia. After starting at HP - one of Australia's first computer companies - he founded the Results Corporation, where he's worked with more than23,000 businesses. He's been honoured as a Social Innovation Fellow in his current home of Singapore, featured in Forbes magazine with Sir Richard Branson as a ‘disrupter in business' and written several books, including one called The Firm Of The Future, which is widely regarded as one of the most important of its type ever written.  His unique business development programs are nowused by an estimated 226,000 companies in the world. Paul is not one to let the grass grow under his feet, so he'sspending his “retirement years” enabling other leaders, business owners, and enterprises to define their purpose. Paul now serves as the Chairman of the consultancy firm, B1G1, enabling businesses to connect and give back in new ways, and creating over 289 million giving impacts globally.  We talk about the role of leaders and employees infacilitating transformational change, creating positive impact on the world and helping to put purpose at the heart of the companies that they lead and work for. Paul also explained what a “Giving Impact” is and how it works, so listen in for that. This is a jam-packed episode, full of beautiful ideas about how people like us can transform the world and the world of business, so tune in now and enjoy.  Key Points Discussed: Paul's shaping moments with Jim Rohn where he made a transition from his job leading to what he's doing now (05:44) Connection, meaning, and purpose (17:09) Purpose higher than ourselves leads us to thrive (23:11) It's how we show up (27:25) Learning takes place at the edge of chaos (31:12) What is a Giving Impact (32:23) The storyteller is the most powerful person in the world (40:46) More about giving impacts and the people involved (45:29) Democratizing the whole giving process (49:08) Filtering the people you work with (51:27) Being an “actionist” (55:59) Having a more emphatic, intuitive, and creative leadership (1:02:18) Rewilding yourself (1:05:25) What excited Paul about the future (1:07:46) What makes your future become more powerful than your past (1:10:10) Resources Mentioned: Paul Dunn in B1G1 B1G1: Business For Good The Firm Of The Future by Paul Dunn Teeming by Tamsin Wooley-Barker  Nicola Sturgeon Connect with Paul: Paul on LinkedIn Connect with Betsy: Betsy on Instagram Betsy on Twitter Betsy on Linkedin Rate, Review, Learn, and Share Thanks for tuning into The Discomfort Practice! If you enjoyed this episode, please drop us a five-star and written review, follow, and share how it has benefited you. Don't forget to tune into our other episodes and share your favorite ones on social media!

In this episode, my guest is someone whose work I have followed for a while and am always impressed by. She's also part of a ‘power couple' I admire deeply. Kim Polman is an international public speaker, a polymath, and a citizen of the world. She's an American by birth, has lived all over the world and has lived in London (where she's now based) for many years. She's been an environmentalist for decades, has taught music and is vice chair of a charity dedicated to literacy for blind and visually impaired children in East Africa. But, most importantly for the focus of our interview here, Kim is an avid advocate of the Golden Rule, ‘treating others and the planet as you would wish to be treated.' In 2016, she and Stephen Vasconcellos-Sharpe invited 25 of the world's most respected leaders and thinkers, like Archbishop Desmond Tutu and former Vice President Al Gore, to talk about Golden-Rule roadmaps for business and government. In our conversation, we focus on what the Golden Rule means for leaders - and in real life for everyday people. Kim talks about the ripple effect of ‘doing to others what you would want done to you' in the world of work and in the world. We touch on the value of connection and interconnectedness and how that flavours any action we take. Kim unpacks the discomfort of change through the metaphor of a caterpillar turning into a butterfly. It's messy and a little bit gross… but the end is worth it.So, join us as we reflect together on what happens when the Golden Rule guides a leader or a business, and how it is exactly what we all need to shift our thinking, our behavior and the world around us. Because we are all connected and any individual can make a difference.  Key Points Discussed: How everyday life news brought discomfort to Kim that inspired her in her journey (05:10) The simplicity of the golden rule that cuts through the world's complexity (08:20) The hunger among leaders to embrace the golden rule (12:44) How the golden rule emerge as Kim's guiding principle (15:24) The personal becoming public (16:56) Work communication guiding rule: Kindness first (20:01) The appreciation that we are all connected and giving empathy and compassion (22:03) A Marshal Plan for the environment (23:51) The need for balance (25:17) The necessary discomfort of knitting together and activating the imaginal cells (27:48) What are you feeling hearing this principle (31:00) It's the storm before the calm, and you are not alone in this greater desire for connection, walk on (34:22) How to apply the golden rule today (35:58) The awareness that the old way of doing things just isn't working anymore and coming with a new way of thinking (41:32) The importance of being rather than merely doing (47:39) Surviving the lockdowns and learning lessons from the experience (53:07) Resources Mentioned: Reboot The Future Reboot The Future Facebook Page Connect with Kim: Kim on Reboot The Future Kim on Twitter Connect with Betsy: Betsy on Instagram Betsy on Twitter Betsy on Linkedin Rate, Review, Learn, and Share Thanks for tuning into The Discomfort Practice! If you enjoyed this episode, please drop us a five-star and written review, follow, and share how it has benefited you. Don't forget to tune into our other episodes and share your favorite ones on social media!

I've been on a roll with solo episodes, after admitting they are part of my discomfort practice. And then I met the summer 2022 heatwave in Europe. Barcelona summers are usually brutal, but this one has been particularly rough. But it's also been quite clarifying. Having very little energy creates utility: what do I actually want to put my energy into? Extreme weather, discomfort, pressure - all of these can be forces to help each of us clarify what really matters and let go of the things that we're tired of putting subconscious effort or energy into. For me, that's meant realising some of the grudges or bitterness I've been holding onto and asking myself 'Do I really have energy for this?' The answer has been a resounding no, so I talk about the rituals I build into my calendar regularly to give myself space to let go of whatever comes up to be let go of so I can imagine and step into the most magical, joyful version of my life possible. So, join me and, as you listen, see what comes up for you that you're ready to stop tripping over to make space for the truly great life you can lead. Connect with Betsy: Betsy on Instagram Betsy on Twitter Betsy on Linkedin Rate, Review, Learn, and Share Thanks for tuning into The Discomfort Practice. If you enjoyed this episode, please drop me a five-star and written review, follow, and share what you've loved about it. Don't forget to tune into my other episodes and share your favourite ones on social media!

Back due to popular demand, here's a bonus meditation for you. I lead you through a meditation on the question ‘What do I need to give myself?' Whether you're tired and stressed or feeling fine it's a great question to ask yourself regularly. Because as the great RuPaul says (I love drag queens, so here you go): ‘Honey if you can't love yourself how the hell you gonna love someone else?' EXACTLY. So, join me in this special meditation episode to find out - and then give yourself - what you need. Key Points Discussed: Getting into a meditation position - standing, sitting, lying down, etc. (00:41) Getting present with what's going on with your body and mind (01:32) Thinking about what you need to give yourself (03:18) Thinking about what is getting in the way (04:18) Giving yourself what you need (05:43) Connect with Betsy: Betsy on Instagram Betsy on Twitter Betsy on Linkedin Rate, Review, Learn, and Share Thanks for tuning into The Discomfort Practice! If you enjoyed this episode, please drop us a five-star and written review, follow, and share how it has benefited you. Don't forget to tune into our other episodes and share your favorite ones on social media!

In this solo episode, I ask ‘What do you want to suck at?' Because if you want to be good at something, you need to suck at it first. So perhaps ask yourself ‘What have I always wanted to try or to be good at?' I share my thoughts on trying new things - or not! - because you're afraid you're going to suck at it. Oliver Berkman, a great writer, talks about sucking at things. The experience of sucking in itself expands you and takes you to a place of discovery. Yes, it is uncomfortable, but that's where the fun stuff happens. So, come join me, listen in, and do the personal activity I lead you through toward the end of the episode. Get out of your comfort zone with me and see what expands within you or around you when you decide to go forth and suck at something. Key Points Discussed: Learning only takes place in discomfort (00:33) What have you always wanted to try or be good at? (02:04) Sucking at something and becoming good at or just trying it out (03:27) The value of trying something out and not caring whether you suck at it or not (05:13) The wonder of discovering the potential in the things that you are going to try out (07:40) It's not that scary sometimes (08:54) A personal activity for you to do (09:28) Connect with Betsy: Betsy on Instagram Betsy on Twitter Betsy on Linkedin Rate, Review, Learn, and Share Thanks for tuning into The Discomfort Practice! If you enjoyed this episode, please drop us a five-star and written review, follow, and share how it has benefited you. Don't forget to tune into our other episodes and share your favorite ones on social media!

In this episode of The Discomfort Practice, I am joined by a rock star in his industry, Matt Peacock. Matt is currently a partner at a London-based strategic and creative advisory firm called Blurred, where he provides specialist counsel to clients on Environment, Social and Governance (ESG), risk, sustainability, social purpose, and corporate transparency.  Together, Matt and I discuss important and relevant topics about how to  lead and support others to step away from things that are not working and actually create positive change in your organization  and more broadlyin society. Matt sheds light on some mindsets that hold us back and talks about strategies to break free and step into action to make things happen. And Matt gets shit done, I can tell you that. We talked about how important it is now for business communicators and governments to focus on doing things differently, as well as  communicate well with each other onthe tricky issues and trends they have to grapple with. We also talk about our responsibility as individuals and communicators in the age of digital and social media ito fact check information and responsibly communicate and connect to others.   In every episode of season three of The Discomfort Practice Podcast, we're focusing on the discomfort of change. So, give this episode a listen and let me know what your steps might be for creating the world you want to live in.    Key Points Discussed: Matt's uncomfortable moments when working with organizations that knew they need to change but don't  (04:12) When Matt was a reporter with BBC and faced with ‘absolute evil,' facing the frustration of listeners who don't want to listen (06:32) ‘don't-look-up' syndrome (09:09) Unpleasant truths are disruptive (10:03) The inexorable momentum syndrome - a false narrative (14:00) How to help people step away from things that are not working (16:14) What leaders need to be uncomfortable about that they're not (25:36) Businesses making more difference to the world faster than then politicians could (33:26) How to exercise the key trait that leaders or everybody must demonstrate over the coming months and beyond (41:47) The cult of disempowerment (45:56) Making the change happen (52:33) How to be wise consumers of information (56:55) Stepping into the skin of those who are opposed to you (1:06:08) The Net Zero transition (1:08:17) Discomfort is a life force (1:13:19) Resources Mentioned: Don't Look Up Matt Peacock Joins Blurred as Partner Connect with Matt: Matt on LinkedIn Connect with Betsy: Betsy on Instagram Betsy on Twitter Betsy on Linkedin Rate, Review, Learn, and Share Thanks for tuning into The Discomfort Practice! If you enjoyed this episode, please drop us a five-star and written review, follow, and share how it has benefited you. Don't forget to tune into our other episodes and share your favorite ones on social media!

In this episode, I'm speaking with someone I've known for many years - the fabulous Shannon Houde. Shannon is the founder of Walk Of Life Coaching, and for more than two decades, she's mentored and trained over 1000 change leaders, and used over 3000 hours with them to maximize their personal brands to advance impactful careers. She's had her own impact on the world by helping others find theirs and does it very well and she shares some insight if you're wondering how you or someone you know can map out how to ensure your career is more purposeful and impactful. Shannon chose Impact Coaching to combine her diverse experience as a hiring manager, a business coach, and a CSR consultant for brands like Adobe, Deloitte, BlackRock, and WWF. As an ICF-ACC certified coach. She's also a ‘Meta Coach,' trained by and involved in teaching Daniel Goleman's Emotional Intelligence Certification Program, and she also works with the Game Changer Index. She recently published her first book: Good Work, How To Build A Career That Makes A Difference In The World. And the title says it all! She shares wisdom with those who might be thinking, “I really do want to have more impact on my career, but I'm not sure how.” That's what Shannon lives to do. So, click the play button now, and discover more nuggets of wisdom to help you up-level your impact on this world.   Key Points Discussed: Shannon's uncomfortable experiences that shaped her to want to serve others and make a difference (04:20) What is an impact coach (07:21) The Oprah of Impact (09:01) The type of impact people need to have and what's getting in the (11:53) The imposter syndrome (16:32) How does bringing emotional intelligence into the coaching look like (19:33) What is a Game Changer index (22:03) The kind of impact we need to see these days (25:08) Finding your impact (31:58) Careers and roles that help people make more impact (32:31) Having a greater impact on what you do (37:55) Writing a book to help more people bring impact (41:42) Having a vision board and the result it brings (44:48) What's exciting about the future (54:52) “Change is never painful, only the resistance to change is painful.” (56:55) You got this! (57:39) Resources Mentioned: Good Work, How To Build A Career That Makes A Difference In The World by Shannon Houde The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho Why Woo-woo Works by Dr. David Hamilton Connect with Shannon: Shannon's website Shannon on Facebook Shannon on Twitter Shannon on LinkedIn Shannon on Medium Connect with Betsy: Betsy on Instagram Betsy on Twitter Betsy on Linkedin Rate, Review, Learn, and Share Thanks for tuning into The Discomfort Practice! If you enjoyed this episode, please drop us a five-star and written review, follow, and share what you enjoyed about this episode. Don't forget to tune into our other episodes and share your favorite ones on social media. We live in a world of algorithms and you really do help us reach new listeners!

In this episode, I'm excited to speak to David Richman. David is an entrepreneur, author, public speaker, endurance athlete, and philanthropist who brings the lessons learned in his life to enrich and inspire others. He pushed out of his comfort zone as a sedentary, overweight smoker stuck in an abusive and unhealthy marriage to seek true satisfaction in his life. That meant quitting an addiction to focusing on what others wanted out of him, and go full-throttle for what he wanted for himself.  What happened as a result is inspiring. In his first book, Winning In The Middle Of The Pack, David focused on how to get more out of ourselves than we ever imagined. More recently, he wrote Cycle Of Lives, an Amazon bestseller, in which he shares the stories of people overcoming cancer. He first started to form the idea for the book in 2007, when his sister was in the last few weeks of her battle with brain cancer. So, he set out on a nearly 5000 miles solo bike ride across the United States, in which in just six weeks, he visited most of the participants for the book, which chronicles 15 people's unique emotional journeys with cancer as caregivers, patients, loved ones, doctors, etc. He went through the various traumas in their lives as they told him their stories, and how that affected their experience of life and of cancer. He also explores in the book issues that are truly human, and often uncomfortable to talk about like suicide, abandonment, loss, survivor guilt, abuse, fertility issues, and the way people deal with trauma. 100% of the book's net proceeds have gone to cancer-related charities picked directly by those whose stories are in the book. It's a beautiful ethos from start to finish, and it goes without saying that it's inspirational, insightful, and evocative.  So, come join me in this wonderful conversation about life, loss, and the profound meaning to be found in transformational, uncomfortable journeys.    Key Points Discussed: David's very first endurance event that has affected him emotionally, physically, mentally, psychologically, in his most waking and aware moments, and also subconsciously (05:58) Doing things you don't know the answer to (11:25) Getting enough experience in that realm of uncomfortableness to learn with absolute certainty when it's okay to quit (12:14) David's current discomfort practice - the Ironman (17:41) Lessons David learned on his 5000-mile bike ride from California to Florida, and then to New York for his book Cycle Of Lives (26:16) A story about Joshua through his medical journey (31:46) Why David has 15 stories in his book (25:59) How the stories affected David personally (39:06) Are you afraid of living? (42:40) Experiences bring deeper and more profound meaning to trite quotes (47:32) Taking the discomfort experience and making it beautiful for others to learn from (51:47) Forming connections with people when we or they are going through difficult times to make the journey better (54:03) What gives you hope for the future (58:18) Take that step to reach out and connect with that person you know who is going through a really difficult time (1:00:00) Resources Mentioned: Cycle Of Lives, by David Richman Winning In The Middle Of The Pack, by David Richman Connect with David: David Richman's website David on Twitter David on LinkedIn David on Facebook David on Instagram Connect with Betsy: Betsy on Instagram Betsy on Twitter Betsy on Linkedin Rate, Review, Learn, and Share Thanks for tuning into The Discomfort Practice! If you enjoyed this episode, please drop us a five-star and written review, follow, and share how it has benefited you. Don't forget to tune into our other episodes and share your favorite ones on social media!  

In this solo episode of The Discomfort Practice, I share what's been on my mind lately, and I hope it lands with you as the listener. I talk about trust. Life really becomes difficult when we can't trust - it messes with our nervous systems, our relationships, our ability to concentrate, our outlook on the world. It's not hard to see a massive lack of trust right now in the world, after some massive collective core-shakers like pandemic, war and the ongoing erosion of confidence in leaders and governments. When we let fear overtake us, we stop trusting to protect ourselves. But we can't live there. That is why it is important that we start to re-build trust in smart ways. We can start with a focus on building trust in ourselves. Which isn't necessarily easy. So in this episode I take you through a ‘mindful micro'practice' to guide you to a place where you trust yourself. Because that is the place where you can be creative, open, compassionate, and brave. It's where you can find the answers to your questions, because you really do have all the answers inside yourself. And once you can trust yourself, the world is far less scary. It gives you a safe place to stand to connect to others, to find your purpose, to live out loud. And that's what the world needs from us all. Key Points Discussed: We are connected and we create collective energy (01:14) Trust and its decline (01:53) Distrust is now society's default emotion (04:14) Building an ability to trust ourselves (07:10) A micro practice to help you get to a place where you trust yourself (10:13) Building trust and stepping away from fear starts with yourself (14:00) Resources Mentioned: 2022 Elderman Trust Barometer Connect with Betsy: Betsy on Instagram Betsy on Twitter Betsy on Linkedin Rate, Review, Learn, and Share Thanks for tuning into The Discomfort Practice! If you enjoyed this episode, please drop us a five-star and written review, follow, and share how it has benefited you. Don't forget to tune into our other episodes and share your favorite ones on social media!  

In this episode, it is my honour to introduce to you the (amazing people and) filmmakers, Anne Macksoud and John Ankele of Old Dog Documentaries. I first came across them through their film with Joanna Macy: ‘Climate Crisis As A Spiritual Path.' It has reached international audiences with its powerful message on climate change and reconnection and personally moved me. John Ankele started his career as a producer of radio and TV programming in the 1960s, using mass media to empower faith communities advocating for civil rights, protesting the Vietnam War or struggling against apartheid in South Africa. He's also an ordained Presbyterian minister and a student of Zen and Shambala Buddhist traditions who has been involved for many years in interfaith dialogue around contemplative practice and social justice. Anne Macksoud spent 17 years as a teacher of English literature, photography, and music, first bringing documentaries into her own classroom on a regular basis before transitioning into filmmaking herself. She believes that film is a powerful means to an end to open minds and hearts and, as a result, has been working with John since 1985. Together, Anne and John produce documentary films focused on the subtleties of human experience and the complexities of our collective challenges. In this episode, we talk about Anne's and John's formative life experiences and how that brought them together and eventually led them to interview Joanna Macy.We weave in quotes and references to Joanna Macy's life's work as an educator and activist, so we consider her our third guest on this episode. Together, we talk about the value of discomfort and we can all face our current collective discomfort over issues like climate change and pandemic with hopeful hearts. So, enjoy this chance to get to know Anne and John, the work they passionately give to the world, and get familiar with Joanna Macy. I hope that it gives you a deeper awareness of your connection to us, to others and to everything.    Key Points Discussed: A quote by Joanna Macy - Environmental Activist, author, and scholar of Buddhism, General Systems Theory, and Deep Ecology (00:32) Moments in Anne's life that shaped her passion for social justice (07:49) When John lost his mother, father, and then his brother, all during his time in East Africa and realized that nothing lasts and set him on a spiritual path with a mission to the world (10:21) What led Anne and John to interview Joanna Macy(13:48) Overcoming the narrative of disconnection (21:58) How the Joanna Macy interview video eventually reach international audiences (22:56) Anne and John's intention for the Joanna Macy interview and what they want to bring to the world - Leading people to productive discomfort and hope in action (25:51) How knowing and/or meeting people who are doing the work of the moment benefits and empowers us (35:41) The importance of supporting each other in expressing sorrow (39:06) We owe it to the young people, to not allow ourselves to breakdown, fall apart, and not get back up and show up (46:28) What gives us hope? (49:10) Resources Mentioned: Joanna Macy: Climate Crisis As A Spiritual Path Joanna Macy Connect with Anne M. and John A. on the Old Dog Documentaries: Old Dog Documentaries Old Dog Documentaries on LinkedIn Old Dog Documentaries on Vimeo Old Dog Documentaries on Facebook Old Dog Documentaries on Pinterest Connect with Betsy: Betsy on Instagram Betsy on Twitter Betsy on Linkedin Rate, Review, Learn and Share Thanks for tuning into The Discomfort Practice! If you enjoyed this episode, please drop us a five-star and written review, follow, and share how it has benefited you. Don't forget to tune into our other episodes and share your favorite ones on social media!

In this Discomfort Running Buddies episode, I am joined by an awesome person and friend, Blaire Caplan. Blaire is a certified Life Designer and Mindset Coach. She is a healing presence that serves as a guide on people's personal journeys and helps people manifest their most authentic selves by unlocking answers and unleashing power from within through co-creation and life design. Also, she set up the Lonewolf District, which is dedicated to creating safe spaces in external environments and internally within oneself, and to help people grow, heal, and evolve.  Blaire and I discussed brilliant insights on going through a tough time, what you can do when you are in it, and what you can do to come out of it stronger, better, and even either finding or strengthening your purpose in life. We also talked about understanding that things are not happening TO you but FOR you. We definitely had a free-flowing wisdom-packed conversation that will surely nourish your soul for growth so click play now and join us in this exciting run!   Key Points Discussed: Showing up despite of… and keep doing it (02:31) Blaire lost her brother due to police negligence and how this shaped her into who she is now and what she does (04:51) What a session with Blaire looks like (09:09) Bringing humanity back to humanity through hope (10:15) Life designing with people (13:15) Being brave and kind (15:56) Blaire's witness in times of discomfort (18:00) You can witness yourself - Observing your life outside of yourself (19:36) There is no such thing as failure (23:15) Why me? What this?... Why not? (25:04) The power to give everything around us a purpose and find our purpose (31:32) Love is allowing ourselves to be truthful to ourselves and speak the truth out when it is needed (37:30) Having hope and a good company in times of discomfort (40:10) You are loved and you are allowed to be wherever you need to be because you need to grow (42:32) Resources Mentioned: The Untethered Soul, by Michael A. Singer The Lonewolf District Connect with Blaire Caplan: Blaire's Website Blaire on LinkedIn Blaire on Instagram The Lonewolf District Community on Facebook Blaire on Pinterest Connect with Betsy: Betsy on Instagram Betsy on Twitter Betsy on Linkedin Rate, Review, Learn, and Share Thanks for tuning into The Discomfort Practice! If you enjoyed this episode, please drop us a five-star and written review, follow, and share how it has benefited you. Don't forget to tune into our other episodes and share your favorite ones on social media!  

In this episode of The Discomfort Practice, I speak to Jennifer Moss, a journalist, author, speaker, and strategist driving the conversation towards healthier workplace cultures. She's the award-winning author of Unlocking Happiness At Work and a frequent writer for Harvard Business Review and SHRM. She's also a member of the United Nations Global Happiness Council and contributes to the annual Global Happiness Policy Report.  Jennifer recently published a new book, The Burnout Epidemic: The Rise Of Chronic Stress, And How We Can Fix It, which has been described as 'an important and timely book.' (But that goes without saying.) It helps leaders and individuals prevent burnout and create healthier, happier, and more productive workplaces. Jennifer and I talk about how working cultures and institutions contribute to burnout and what strategies can help prevent it. If the Covid19 pandemic has shown us anything, it's that self-care is important. In Season 3 of The Discomfort Practice, I'm focusing particularly on the discomfort of change and rediscovering or creating new ways of being in this world and shaping society. So this conversation with Jennifer is important, interesting and, hopefully, exciting. Join us as we get insightful on how employees and leaders can transform cultures and workplaces into places where people can actually be truly human, where they can flourish, and where they don't end up burned-out.  Key Points Discussed: When Jennifer's husband was paralyzed and how this circumstance has led them to actually start the career of identifying how psychological fitness, emotional, intelligent well-being plays a role in life satisfaction, and also satisfaction at work. (05:23) What is toxic positivity (09:00) What causes burnout and what people can do to prevent and address it (11:38) How working cultures and institutions have contributed to the burnout and how they can do better (14:19) How the pandemic ramped up burnout (22:02) Our way out from this burnout - A burnout prevention strategy (25:33) Having cautious optimism in facing these changes and discomforts (30:47) Some elements in the future world of work and what it is going to look like (35:41) Measuring the ROI in preventing burnout in the workplace (41:07) The role of leadership in enforcing being human at work (46:06) The United Nations Global Happiness Council and what they do (51:15) What's next for Jennifer Moss - Looking into the human experience of work post-pandemic (57:13) “Burnout is not your fault.” (59:20) Resources Mentioned: The Burnout Epidemic: The Rise Of Chronic Stress, And How We Can Fix It by Jennifer Moss The United Nations Global Happiness Council Connect with Jennifer Moss: Jennifer's Website Jennifer on LinkedIn Jennifer on Twitter Jennifer on Facebook Jennifer on Instagram Connect with Betsy: Betsy on Instagram Betsy on Twitter Betsy on Linkedin Rate, Review, Learn, and Share Thanks for tuning into The Discomfort Practice! If you enjoyed this episode, please drop us a five-star and written review, follow, and share how it has benefited you. Don't forget to tune into our other episodes and share your favorite ones on social media!

In this episode of The Discomfort Practice I get the chance to sit and talk to someone I've admired for a long time. Aja Barber is a well-known and respected stylist, author and activist who focuses on telling the truth about the human and environmental devastation caused by the fast fashion industry. We talk about the stark facts of fast fashion: - 80% of garment workers in the world, the majority of whom are not paid a living wage. Unionization is crushed and they are vulnerable to sexual and physical abuse, simply to produce the tee shirt we casually pick up in a shop and buy with delight because it's ‘cheap.' - 10% of greenhouse gas emissions (which contribute to the rapid acceleration of climate change and the irrevocable loss of natural resources) is caused by the fashion industry. - We live in an age where paying workers a fair wage has become a marketing tool – something brands celebrate about themselves – because it's so uncommon they feel justified in using that as positioning. When it's actually basically admitting that exploitation is so embedded in our systems of production and consumption – of fashion and everything else – that it's actually worth noting when someone pays the workers at the end of their supply chain anything but wages that keep them in poverty. - Many brands produce 50 fashion lines a year – that's nearly one a week – and marketing and the culture around us has programmed us to buy buy buy, simply to feed their business model. So that dress you buy to wear once is making billionaires richer while keeping the poor poor. Aja and I talk about many of the great points in her recent book, Consumed: the need for collective change, colonialism, climate change and consumerism. Aja urges listeners to think about the human behind the label and choose not to buy any new clothes for one week – or even longer. To break a habit of consumption that is literally consuming our planet and propagating human misery. So pull up a chair, settle in and let's get uncomfortable together! Follow me on Instagram @thebetsyreed Find Aja Barber @ajabarber Order Aja's Book via her website or anywhere you like to order books: https://www.ajabarber.com