Podcasts about recognising

In this soulful conversation on Mirror Talk: Soulful Conversations, Yogi Aaron invites us to rethink everything we thought we knew about yoga, stretching, pain, and purpose.This episode is not only about the body. It is also about purpose. Yogi Aaron reminds us that yoga is a spiritual practice that helps us become still, shift our inner momentum, and recognise the doors of purpose opening in our lives.If you are dealing with chronic pain, seeking a stronger body, or longing to live with more clarity and courage, this conversation offers practical wisdom and soulful encouragement. Source material provided in the uploaded episode notes.  In This Episode, We Explore:• Why yoga is not simply about stretching• How overstretching can weaken muscles and affect stability• The role of muscle activation in reducing pain• How neuromuscular connection supports joint health• Practical ways to activate muscles through slow, controlled movement• The spiritual foundation of yoga and breathwork• How stillness helps us access intrinsic wisdom• Why purpose often becomes clear when we listen within• Yogi Aaron's book, podcast, teachings, and pain-free resourcesThe goal is not to become more flexible at any cost. The deeper invitation is to become more connected, stable, strong, present, and aligned with the purpose already alive within you.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction: Living limitless and fearless with Yogi Aaron00:17 Yogi Aaron's background and journey from Canada to New York and Costa Rica01:00 Beginning yoga at age 1801:35 From physical practice to spiritual practice02:29 How yoga guided Yogi Aaron toward purpose03:19 Blue Osa yoga retreat in Costa Rica03:48 A health scare and deeper understanding of muscle function04:54 Why muscles need more than stretching05:42 The spiritual side of yoga and the power of breathing06:01 How energetic momentum influences wellbeing07:28 The risk of overstretching and weakening muscles08:23 Proprioception, muscle contraction, and stability09:20 Intrinsic wisdom and purpose in yoga10:21 Accessing limitless potential through stillness11:36 The misconception that yoga is about flexibility12:14 Why proper muscle activation matters13:39 How overstretching may weaken the neuromuscular connection14:11 Why muscles need activation, not excessive stretching15:57 The importance of the neuromuscular connection16:54 Slow, controlled movement for muscle engagement17:22 Isometric exercises and activation benefits18:47 Muscle contraction, joint stability, and pain reduction20:14 Joint stability and inflammation22:15 Applied Yoga Anatomy and Muscle Activation23:44 Feeling anatomy in the body26:35 Stabilising the body to prevent pain28:31 Common injuries caused by poor muscular support30:23 Overstressed tendons and sports injuries31:04 How to learn proper movement and yoga32:09 Finding life purpose through inner wisdom34:15 Recognising opportunities through intuition37:33 Shifting momentum and walking through purpose doors38:00 Listening to inner guidance39:02 How yoga awakens wisdom and purpose40:01 How to connect with Yogi Aaron41:39 Final reflections on non-stretching yoga and purposeResources:Website: https://yogiaaron.comBook: Stop StretchingFree Resource: Seven Days to Becoming Pain Free SeriesYouTube: Yogi Aaron's YouTube ChannelWatch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Gch_xpqVjyI Try Aletheia today: https://aletheia.mirrortalkpodcast.com Ask what is on your heart. Mirror Talk will reflect back what may help you see more clearly. Try it here: https://mirrortalkpodcast.com/ask-mirror-talk/Could you support us by becoming a Patreon? Please consider subscribing to one or more of our offerings at http://patreon.com/MirrorTalk 

Singer-songwriter and actor Will Young speaks with disarming honesty about surviving decades of trauma, hypervigilance, and the long shadow of shame. Following a breakdown during Cabaret, Will opens up about spending over ten years in a state of severe dissociation, describing it as living behind frosted glass, unable to recognize faces or feel joy.He also shares his profound path to healing through Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, learning to befriend the frozen parts of his past rather than fight them. It's a powerful and reassuring look at how the core self can endure even the deepest pain, and how a simple daily act of kindness from a neighbor ultimately helped save his life.This episode covers the following themes: Trauma, Shame, Dissociation, Therapy, and Healing.Need Support?Samaritans: Call 116 123 or visit samaritans.orgNarcotics Anonymous: na.orgAlcoholics Anonymous: alcoholics-anonymous.org.ukMental Health Mates: mentalhealthmates.co.ukShout: https: giveusashout.orgIAPT: https://www.england.nhs.uk/mental-health/adults/nhs-talking-therapies/Better Help

What does it really mean to bring a horse “back into work”? In this episode of the Mark Langley Horsemanship Podcast, Mark explains why returning a horse to riding is often far more about emotional readiness than physical fitness. Using real member questions, he discusses off-the-track thoroughbreds, horses recovering from ulcers and lameness, and the common mistakes people make when restarting horses after time off. Mark shares practical guidance on: Recognising emotional shutdown, anxiety and fixation Why softness and adjustability matter before riding Long reining and groundwork exercises to safely prepare horses How stress, herd life, nutrition and training can contribute to ulcers The importance of clarity and consistency between groundwork and ridden work Helping horses process new environments with confidence This episode is full of practical exercises and deeper insights into horse psychology, helping owners create calmer, softer and more confident horses without force or pressure. Whether your horse has been out of work for weeks, months or years, this conversation offers a thoughtful roadmap for rebuilding trust and understanding. Ready to go deeper? Join Mark Langley Online for practical lessons, personalised insights and a supportive learning community.

Lindsey Jayne is an independent product adviser and coach, and former chief product officer at the Financial Times. She began her career at the Government Digital Service, where she stumbled into product management by chasing someone down a corridor holding a MacBook that actually worked. What followed was 15 years moving through startups, scaleups, and ultimately one of Britain's most storied media institutions.Chapters00:00 — Introduction01:08 — Lindsey's origin story: from a broken government laptop to product management02:48 — Why product managers burn out: accountability without authority05:34 — Influencing stakeholders using discovery skills07:19 — What leaders can do to clear the way for their product teams08:44 — Stakeholder mapping: the influence and interest framework09:41 — Recognising burnout signals in your team at scale11:16 — Balancing passion and sustainability: when enthusiasm becomes a pattern14:16 — When to transition from individual contributor to product leader16:24 — Product reviews and cross-team knowledge sharing18:42 — How to communicate effectively with senior stakeholders20:40 — Career-defining advice: you don't have to die on every hill21:43 — Half your job is landing the product, not just building it22:25 — The most common mistake junior product managers make24:05 — How to tell your story after a difficult or toxic company exitOur HostsLily Smith enjoys working as a consultant product manager with early-stage and growing startups and as a mentor to other product managers. She's currently Chief Product Officer at BBC Maestro, and has spent 13 years in the tech industry working with startups in the SaaS and mobile space. She's worked on a diverse range of products – leading the product teams through discovery, prototyping, testing and delivery. Lily also founded ProductTank Bristol and runs ProductCamp in Bristol and Bath.Randy Silver is a Leadership & Product Coach and Consultant. He gets teams unstuck, helping you to supercharge your results. Randy's held interim CPO and Leadership roles at scale-ups and SMEs, advised start-ups, and been Head of Product at HSBC and Sainsbury's. He participated in Silicon Valley Product Group's Coaching the Coaches forum, and speaks frequently at conferences and events. You can join one of communities he runs for CPOs (CPO Circles), Product Managers (Product In the {A}ether) and Product Coaches. He's the author of What Do We Do Now? A Product Manager's Guide to Strategy in the Time of COVID-19. A recovering music journalist and editor, Randy also launched Amazon's music stores in the US & UK.

This week on And Now For Something Completely Machinima, Phil Rice, Tracy Harwood and Damien Valentine dive into Michael Is Very Vintage's hilarious Garry's Mod space comedy An Astounding Tale from Outer Space. What begins as a simple spaceship emergency quickly spirals into absurdity when an incompetent captain decides that cloning himself is a better solution than actually fixing the problem.The team explores the film's brilliant use of slapstick comedy, satirical storytelling, inventive sound design, and surprisingly sophisticated filmmaking craft. From Alien and Red Dwarf influences to hidden Easter eggs, classic action-movie tropes, and the unique creative possibilities of Garry's Mod, this episode celebrates one of the most entertaining machinima films of the year.Along the way, the discussion turns to Michael's growing signature style, the role of game-engine accidents in comedy, the future of machinima creators working in platforms like Garry's Mod, iClone and Unreal Engine, and whether works like this have a place beyond YouTube in archives, festivals, and cultural collections.This week's pick is a love letter to inventive machinima, creative chaos, and the enduring power of comedic timing. 01:16 – Damien introduces the film and explains why he picked it04:05 – Tracy's reaction: why this is her favourite film of the month05:00 – Cloning, delegation, bureaucracy and the film's satirical core06:30 – Garry's Mod humour, slapstick physics and six personalities from one character07:45 – Alien, Red Dwarf, Futurama and classic sci-fi influences09:26 – The ending, anti-climax as comedy, and why it works10:00 – Outstanding sound design, voice acting and comic timing12:32 – Phil's review: comparing the film to Ridiculous Ties and other animated comedy machinima13:12 – Why Michael Is Very Vintage is developing a distinctive creative voice14:20 – Hidden Easter eggs, visual gags and blink-and-you-miss-them details15:15 – The film's unique soundscape: cartoon logic, meme culture and deliberate absurdity18:30 – Recognising an auteur style in machinima filmmaking19:14 – Deep dive into the film's references, props, set dressing and visual jokes23:30 – What the Easter eggs reveal about the creator's influences and generation27:55 – Michael's rapid output and growing body of work29:24 – Behind-the-scenes videos and custom set construction in Hammer Editor29:50 – Cinematography highlights and impressive in-engine camera work30:52 – A broader question: what future exists for talented Gary's Mod filmmakers?32:20 – Can skills developed in Gary's Mod transfer to animation, virtual production and film?37:15 – Damien on iClone, animation principles and platform-specific comedy38:35 – Does Gary's Mod itself become part of the joke?39:24 – Happy accidents, bugs and creative inspiration in machinima production44:00 – From software glitches to award-winning films45:04 – Physics engines, experimentation and unexpected outcomes46:44 – Final thoughts and audience feedback invitation47:11 – Closing remarksIf you've ever wondered what would happen if the least competent person on a spaceship cloned themselves five times to avoid doing their job, this episode is for you.Credits -Speakers: Phil Rice, Damien Valentine, Tracy HarwoodProducer/Editor: Phil RiceMusic: Phil Rice & SunoAI

In this episode #217 of the Self-Care Goddess Podcast UpliftHER Leadership Series, we begin with a grounding heart-coherence practice to gently settle the body and mind before moving into a deeply honest and inspiring conversation on leadership, resilience, and reinvention.I am joined by award-winning media professional, producer, and storytelling consultant Julia Suppa, founder and president of Suppa Media.Julia shares her powerful journey through:✅ Growing up with strong female role models✅ A 15-year career in broadcast media and the sudden loss of professional identity✅ Navigating grief, uncertainty, and self-doubt after a major career disruption✅ Choosing entrepreneurship, vulnerability, and community over fear✅ Pivoting her business during COVID when live events disappeared overnight✅ Recognising burnout signs before the body and mind completely shut downThis conversation is a reminder that leadership is not linear, success is not static, and reinvention is possible at any age especially when curiosity, creativity, and connection remain alive.You'll hear reflections on:✅ Storytelling as a leadership tool✅ The role of curiosity in personal and professional growth✅ Why grief and rest are part of resilience✅ The loneliness of entrepreneurship and how community heals it✅ Burnout red flags every high performer should recogniseWhether you're a leader, entrepreneur, creative, or someone standing at a crossroads, this episode offers grounding wisdom, lived experience, and gentle encouragement to trust your own evolution.#ConsciousLeadership #WomenInLeadership #PersonalGrowthJourney #MindfulSuccess===▸ Toronto Events – Do you live in the GTA? Join us for a transformative in-person Self-Care Breathwork Experience in Toronto with LIVE Music & Sound Bath. ⁠RSVP⁠ ▸ ⁠Ebook – YOU GOT THIS⁠ – A powerful read to stop overthinking, self-sabotaging & staying stuck.▸ ⁠Healthy Breathing Course⁠ – Learn functional breathing to address stress, anxiety & burnout.▸ ⁠Virtual Full Moon Breathwork⁠ – Harness the power of the moon every month online.▸ ⁠Breathwork Barista Espresso Shots – Join our 30-mins functional breathing sessions. ▸ ⁠Breathwork Barista Inner Circle⁠ – Join a soul-aligned community for conscious growth.▸ Free Resources:– ⁠Mental Health Shopping List⁠ – ⁠9 Vital Breathing Techniques⁠ – ⁠Workplace Wellness Calendar⁠  Follow & Connect:Instagram | ⁠Rita Savoia⁠ | ⁠Breathwork Barista⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠ X⁠ TikTokYouTubeDisclaimer: Content on this podcast is for educational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider for personal health concerns.

How to Talk About Suicide - Rose Rowkins on Prevention, Stigma & Saving LivesSuicide remains one of the biggest public health challenges we face, yet many of us still feel uncomfortable talking about it.In this powerful and essential episode of The Talking Tradesman Podcast, I sit down with Rose Rowkins, a psychotherapist, speaker, and suicide prevention specialist who has dedicated her career to helping people develop the confidence and skills needed to support those in crisis. Through her work delivering suicide prevention training and founding Start The Conversation, Rose has helped countless individuals and organisations understand how open, honest conversations can save lives. Find Rose here -https://www.instagram.com/start_the_conv?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==Together, we tackle one of society's most difficult subjects.How do we recognise when someone is struggling? What do we say if we're worried about a friend, colleague, family member, or workmate? Why are so many people still afraid to talk openly about suicide? And what role do all of us have in preventing it?Rose shares practical advice, real-world experience, and simple but powerful tools that can help anyone start these conversations with confidence. We explore the myths surrounding suicide, the warning signs that are often missed, and why asking direct questions could be the first step towards getting someone the support they need.We also discuss the unique challenges facing the construction industry, where stigma, isolation, and a culture of “getting on with it” can often stop people from speaking up when they're struggling.This isn't a conversation about having all the answers.It's about understanding that you don't need to be a therapist to make a difference. Sometimes the most important thing you can do is start the conversation.In this episode:* How to talk to someone you're worried about* Suicide prevention myths and misconceptions* Recognising warning signs and risk factors* Why people often struggle in silence* Mental health and suicide in construction* Building confidence to have difficult conversations* Reducing stigma around suicide and mental health* Practical tools that could help save a lifeIf you've ever worried about someone but didn't know what to say, this episode is for you.The conversation could feel uncomfortable.Not having it could cost far more.Chapters00:00 Understanding Suicide and Its Impact04:19 The Journey into Suicide Prevention08:47 The Role of Friends in Suicide Prevention10:36 Reaching In: A New Approach to Support15:03 The Importance of Starting Conversations15:34 First Aid for Mental Health20:49 The Reality of Suicidal Thoughts24:52 The Need for Honest Conversations31:51 Creating Safe Spaces in Communities35:34 The Ripple Effect of Suicide38:22 Support Systems for Survivors of Suicide41:42 Introduction and Setting the Stage43:20 Trusting Your Gut: Starting Conversations About Mental Health46:36 Tools for Talking About Suicide48:43 Navigating the Conversation: Where and When to Talk51:09 The Importance of Active Listening53:22 Understanding the Impact of Fixing vs. Listening55:56 Recognizing Signs of Distress Beyond Words59:25 The Role of Community in Mental Health01:01:48 Learning from the Past: Recognizing Signs of Distress01:03:40 The Need for Proactive Engagement01:14:38 Creating a Livable Life: Beyond Conversations01:18:38 Building Community Connections01:22:13 Honoring Those Lost: Speak Their Name Initiative

From the 2000 archives: listen to how we recognise ourselves by Gina Sartore, Ian Woolf interviews Robert Robinson about the replacement reactor at Lucas Heights, Mad Cow disease by Adam Mark, News of coral, children's view of scientists, and Iridium, by Ben Cole. Presented by Deanna Coleman. Produced by Gina Sartore and panelled by Ian Woolf Support Diffusion by making a contribution Support Diffusion by buying venus flytrap shirts

Send us Fan MailWe share seven practical levers to keep great property management people from leaving, rooted in what actually drives loyalty, wellbeing and performance. We focus on building a workplace people choose, using clear leadership, fair pay and support that reduces burnout.• Slowing down recruitment to protect values and culture • Offering real flexibility through remote boundaries and flexible hours • Building an inclusive culture through shared activities and recognition • Investing in professional development and clear growth paths • Leading with trust, transparency, and practical support in conflict-heavy work • Recognising achievements in personalised, meaningful ways •Paying to market and reviewing salaries regularly • Managing workload, portfolio size, admin help, and tech to prevent firefighting This podcast is kindly sponsored by LongreachSupport the show

Why do coaching clients so often hit a wall with "I don't know", and how can you as a coach deal with it skillfully - without panicking or falling into quick-fix patterns? In this episode of The Coaching Hub Podcast, I explore what's really happening when clients get stuck and offer practical strategies to turn these moments into breakthroughs.I break down the variety of reasons clients get stuck: nervous system activation, not feeling safe, not ready to share, a simple need for space, or even neurodiversity factors like alexithymia, which make describing emotions difficult.You'll learn why piling on more questions rarely helps, and how offering space, naming patterns, and getting curious (rather than attached to an outcome) can help clients access their own insights. If you want to empower your clients (and yourself) to move forward from uncertainty, this episode will help you reframe those moments and support change more effectively.What's inside:Why "I don't know" from clients shouldn't be seen as a red flag but as a starting point for deeper explorationGiving clients space and allowing silence can lead to meaningful self-reflection and breakthroughs “I don't know" may signal discomfort rather than a lack of desire to engageCoaches should remain curious, notice patterns, and view "I don't know" as valuable data, not a problem to fixSelf-awareness is crucial; coaches' reactions to uncertainty can impact the coaching relationship and client safetyEmbracing and exploring "I don't know" can foster growth, new insights, and a better understanding of client needs.Key Topics Covered:00:00 Intro and what to do when your clients say "I don't know"00:29 Common tendency to over-question when clients seem stuck01:02 Interpreting "I don't know" as a sign of deeper client needs or emotions01:52 The power of allowing space and silence after "I don't know"03:00 Viewing "I don't know" as valuable data or insight03:40 The importance of curiosity over repetition in questioning04:02 Working with clients who struggle to identify or articulate emotions (alexithymia)05:28 Recognising overwhelm, freeze states, and nervous system activation in clients06:36 Revising the belief that coaches must always have answers, and discussing knowledge gaps07:39 The coach's self-awareness and regulation when confronted with client uncertaintyAbout Ruth Kudzi:Ruth is the founder of Optimus Coaching Academy and a well-respected and successful coach, speaker and author who has worked across sectors including leadership, career and more recently business and mindset. She has over 10,000 coaching hours and has completed hundreds of hours of training and coaching supervision. Ruth is an MCC-level coach with the ICF and is our course director and CEO. Prior to becoming a coach, Ruth was a senior leader in education. Find out more here: https://ruthkudzi.com/ Book:How to Feel Better: 4 Steps to Self-Coach Your Way to a Happier More Authentic You eBook : Kudzi, Ruth: Amazon.co.uk: Books Connect with Ruth: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RuthKudzi Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Ruthkudzi2/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ruthkudzi/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruthkudzi/ Podcast: https://podfollow.com/the-coaching-hub-podcast About Optimus Coach Academy:Optimus offers best in class coaching training for individuals and corporates. If you want to know more about what we offer: https://optimuscoachacademy.com/coach-training We also offer business support as standard at Optimus, find out more here: https://www.optimuscoachacademy.com/ Connect with Optimus Coach Academy: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Optimuscoachacademy Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/optimuscoachacademy/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/optimuscoachacademy Produced by Winter Audio.

This episode features Frances Fogel, a marketing expert dedicated to ethical coaching. Despite a technical glitch, Claire Pedrick and Frances have time to explore how coaches can build sustainable businesses that honour their boundaries and values.   Frances' community is https://betterbolderbraver.com/ If you're in Claire's community, we will be sharing with you a long term discount for BBB https://www.patreon.com/c/clairepedrick    Learning: The importance of seeing ourselves as a guide, not the hero How ethical marketing is about asking good questions and knowing when stories are about the thinker, not the coach. Building a sustainable coaching business involves clear boundaries, focusing on quality over quantity, and intentional time-off. Recognising the stages of awareness and tailoring marketing efforts accordingly. The value of understanding personal needs, limits, and boundaries for long-term success. Practical tools include Frances' “starting with the numbers” guide for business planning and the five P's of positioning (persona, personality, product, price, purpose). Contact: Contact Frances through Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/in/francesfogel/  Contact Claire by emailing info@3dcoaching.com  or join our coaching community where you can talk with other listeners. Further Information: Subscribe or follow The Coaching Inn on your podcast platform or our YouTube Channel to hear or see new episodes as they drop. Find out more about 3D Coaching and get new ideas and offers in our weekly email. Keywords: coaching, business builder, ethical marketing, storytelling, sustainability, boundaries, client awareness, personal growth, integrity, slow growth, authentic business, marketing strategies, coaching success, personal needs, business planning, positioning, client attraction, sustainable coaching, marketing confidence, coaching practice   We love having a variety of guests join us! Please remember that inviting someone to participate does not mean we necessarily endorse their views or opinions. We believe in open conversation and sharing different perspectives.

Your ego isn't the enemy, but if you're not actively controlling it, it is running your team, your home, and your most important relationships. Jamie Cochran, COO of Echelon Front, has spent 13 years helping leaders fix the root cause most of them never look for.The Women's Leadership Assembly live event runs January 5–7, 2027 in Palm Springs. A free monthly webinar series runs year-round. More details here: https://events.echelonfront.com/product/assembly-004/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=22652941380&utm_content=&utm_term=&utm_source=google&utm_medium=paid&utm_campaign=22652941380&utm_content=&utm_term=&gadid=&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22662710098&gclid=CjwKCAjwxITRBhBYEiwA6mZm7VZs1jY-jUq1ugoigo8XEDkYsRsSEpOs2eblax5TQOW-9LT_K-hVhBoC1RkQAvD_BwEThank you to our sponsors:Timeline - Get 20% off your Mitopure order at https://bit.ly/4dW6BGN BodyHealth - Use the code LYON20 to get 20% off your first order https://bit.ly/4uR4NWB Upgrade your kitchen with Our Place today. Visit https://bit.ly/4dSD4Pz and use code DRLYON for 10% off sitewide.Explore More from Dr. Gabrielle LyonPremium Podcast Subscription: Ad-free episodes, key takeaway summaries, exclusive Q&A, and behind-the-scenes content https://foreverstrong.supercast.comWeekly newsletter: Recipes, podcast updates, and practical weekly insights https://drgabriellelyon.com/sign-up/Apply to become a patient: Personalized care with Dr. Lyon's clinical team https://drgabriellelyon.com/new-patient-inquiry/Find Jamie Cochran at: Website: https://echelonfront.com/YouTube: https://youtube.com/@echelonfront?si=2x5aCudkXTvicfJOInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamielynncochran/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamie.cochran.7/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-lynn-cochran-5ab79013Connect with Dr. Gabrielle Lyon:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drgabriellelyon/TikTok: @drgabriellelyonX (Twitter): https://x.com/drgabriellelyonFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/doctorgabriellelyonChapters 00:00 ​Intro of Show01:33 The Spartan Warrior Selection02:25 Why Female Leadership Is Misunderstood06:35 Are Leadership Tools Evolving or Constant?07:12 What Is Extreme Ownership?11:44 Owning It All vs. Doing It All12:34 Female Leadership: Strength vs. Confidence vs. Aggression17:57 Imposter Syndrome: Healthy or Dangerous?23:37 Leadership Skills: Natural or Trainable?31:00 Detachment from Emotion: On Making Better Decisions32:32 Healthy Competition Against Women36:20 Jamie's Thyroid Cancer Diagnosis and Practicing Detachment48:12 Avoidant Leaders and Default Aggressive Bias for Action51:96 Top 3 Mistakes Leaders Make52:43 The Leadership Capital Framework57:54 The PIOS Framework: Problem, Impact, Ownership, Solution1:00:10 When to End a Professional Relationship1:04:29 The Women's Leadership Assembly: Origin Story1:07:05 Impact of Social Media on the Confidence of Young Girls1:13:35 Compounding Habits that Improve Leadership over Time1:14:55 Discipline as a Parenting Tool1:22:07 Recognising when your Leadership Capacity is Failing1:24:51 Women's Assembly in January 2027: Palm SpringsIf you found this episode valuable, share it with someone who would benefit from it.Disclaimers: This episode includes paid sponsorships. The Dr. Gabrielle Lyon Podcast and YouTube are for general information purposes only and do not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing, or other professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice, and no doctor/patient relationship is formed. The use of information on this podcast, YouTube, or materials linked from this podcast or YouTube is at the user's own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their health care professional for any such conditions.

This episode is all about practical, research-backed tips to enhance communication and emotional connection in relationships. Hosted by Kylie, this episode revisits her most listened-to podcast on communication, expanding on key principles for secure interactions. In this ep Kylie covers: Debunking the "mind reader myth" and the importance of clear communication Differentiating between facts and feelings to prevent misunderstandings The significance of regulation and self-awareness in conflict resolution Managing unmet needs and how to respond when they are ignored The value of post-conflict debriefs and continuous learning Maintaining appreciation and affirmation over time Recognising triggers Follow Kylie on Instagram here Listen to the 10 Golden Rules Of Communication Episode here See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Send us Fan MailEpisode 108 of 'The Open Forum' where Religious or Non-Religious are invited to join the discussion. Guests will be invited on a first come first serve basis. Please note we can only have a maximum of 10 panelists (including efdawah panelists) at any one time.Link to join the panel: TEARS OF GAZA Donation Link: https://givebrite.com/gazacrisis© 2026 EFDawah All Rights ReservedDonate to Ijaz's medical expenses: https://buymeacoffee.com/ijazthetriniWebsite : https://efdawah.com/https://www.patreon.com/EFDawahhttps://gofund.me/7cb27d17https://www.paypal.me/EFDawahhttps://www.facebook.com/efdawah/Timestamps:00:00 - Intro01:05 - EF Dawah Panel join: Format of the Stream02:50 - Evaluation of the Modern Dawah Scene 05:21 - Advice about giving Dawah08:55 - Reminder to Muslims about Intention12:45 - Dealing with Islamophobes vs Non-Muslims 19:13 - Message to Muslims about Dawah 22:55 - Nonoah (Theist) joins: shares his beliefs24:12 - Obstacles to fully accepting Islam27:38 - Exploring the Unreliability of the Bible38:08 - Examining the beliefs of Nonoah46:40 - Inconsistencies in Nonoah's beliefs52:33 - Uplift (Ex-Muslim) joins: shares his views54:16 - Advice for dealing with faith struggles59:10 - Recognising the Signs of Allah ﷻ 1:02:26 - Understanding the Prophet's character1:05:48 - Importance of Gratitude in Islam1:08:32 - The Prophet's character: free will or destiny 1:16:02 - Free Will vs Predestination in Islam1:18:47 - Kaum (Muslim) joins1:20:46 - Responding to Christian Apologetics 1:22:36 - Refuting claims about the end of times 1:27:16 - Issues with the claims of Islamophobes1:29:12 - Exposing the Hypocrisy of Christians1:34:04 - Age of Marriage in the Abrahamic religions1:39:38 - Problems with the Far Right movements1:46:24 - Uncovering the Corruption in the UK1:49:47 - Insights into the Unreliability of the Bible2:00:10 - Analysing the Bible's errors & corruption2:07:08 - Inconsistencies in Christian theology2:08:52 - Message to Christians2:15:38 - Praying after taking ADHD medication 2:22:36 - Roy (Christian) joins2:23:01 - Arguments for the Bible's reliability 2:26:03 - Debunking Roy's arguments for the Bible 2:35:40 - Debate on the authenticity of the Bible2:54:27 - Who was Jesus pbuh sent for?3:03:11 - 1000 H (Christian) joins3:04:26 - Claim about the Qur'an's preservation3:06:35 - Establishing the Qur'an's preservation3:10:52 - Mechanism of the Qur'an's preservation3:14:56 - Dawah to 1000 H: The Message of Islam3:22:17 - Refutation of the claim of Jesus' divinity3:25:15 - Message to the Viewers3:31:27 - Closing Remarks & Wrapping UpSupport the show

Marble's head sommelier, Wikus Human and Investec's Roy van Eck, discuss what to consider when graduating from casual wine purchaser to wine collector. Together with host Palesa Mapheelle, they explain how to identifying age-worthy vintages, and the risks and rewards of investing in wine to make a financial return. They also share their personal journeys into wine, what mistakes they they've made along the way, and why South African wines may still represent an undervalued opportunity. KEY MOMENTS: 00:00: Introduction to Wine in Focus 00:38 Recognising the storms in Western Cape Winelands 00:58: Introduction to guests 01:56: The start of the wine journey for Wikus and Roy 04:02: Collecting wine for investment or consumption 05:00: How do you know that a wine is worth aging? 06:08: How sommeliers keep personal tastes at bay 07:03: Never buy one bottle at a time: Lessons on purchasing 08:00: The risks associated with investing in wine 09:51: Liv-Ex Fine Wine 1000 Index: Wine returns on the sharp decline 11:11: The reason behind falling wine prices 13:17: “En primeur” explained: buying wine still in the barrel 15:29: Wine regions and wine varietals worth noting 17:22: 2014 and 2023 deemed poor vintages but not across the board 17:44: SA offers quality and affordability 19:22: A sommelier's observations on changing wine behaviour 20:50 When to drink a wine and when to hold onto it? 21:57: The future of SA's wine market 23:49: One wine moment that Wikus and Roy will never forget 26:46: Outro Wine in Focus series page · Investec Focus Radio SA

Dave Martin has spent more than two decades in product leadership, with a string of C-suite roles, a couple of exits and a book, The Product Momentum Gap, to his name. He is also dyslexic and ADHD, and has built a career while masking the effort it takes to "think normal". In this episode he makes the case that the advice handed to neurotypical leaders often fails the roughly half of tech workers who are neurodivergent, and lays out a practical playbook for landing your message, leading the room and progressing without pretending to be someone else. Chapters00:00) Welcome, and Dave's background in product(02:03) "I've been masking it": faking thinking normal(02:37) The meeting where your idea is ignored, then credited to someone else(03:28) AI as a "spell check for influence"(04:07) The myth that growth requires pretending to be neurotypical(05:15) Why standard leadership advice fails neurodivergent leaders(06:45) Executive presence, signal presence and signal drift(07:57) Is this universal, or specific to neurodivergence?(09:48) From "dumb kid" to writing C++ at ten(11:27) When a word processor flipped his Fs to As(13:24) The trap: leading with detail(15:42) The boardroom moment that gets you labelled "not strategic"(17:05) Designing for re-tell: what the room repeats when you leave(18:19) Three mistakes that kill your influence(19:36) The CALM framework(21:32) Authority and the signal prep exercise(22:14) Three questions: outcome, one-line recommendation, re-tell(24:44) "Minutes not months": seeding the line that gets repeated(26:56) Learning: vulnerability and psychological safety(28:27) Momentum, well-being and burnout(31:21) Why burnout is a leadership fault(32:01) Mia's story: the head of product who wanted to be CPO(34:20) Recognising the trigger and practising signal prep(37:06) When stakeholders started calling her strategic(38:31) The opposite trap: abandoning detail entirely(39:22) Why some leaders step back into IC roles(41:16) Free training and AI as your spell checker for influence(42:26) Closing thoughtsKey takeaways— Authenticity is not the goal; deliberate communication is. Dave's central provocation is that "be your authentic self" assumes everyone in the room thinks the way you do. For a leader who sees patterns instantly and works in deep, hyperfocused bursts, behaving authentically can mean failing to explain the obvious and struggling to empathise with those who need the journey, not just the destination.— The symptoms are universal, the tax is not. Everybody's message gets lost in meetings. What separates neurodivergent leaders is the cognitive cost of noticing that drift and correcting it. As Randy and Dave agree, the tools discussed here help everyone, but the impact is far larger for those paying the higher tax.— Leading with detail is the career trap. The very trait that makes someone an exceptional individual contributor, the ability to go deep and surface every edge case, can sink them in the boardroom. — Answer a strategic question with edge cases and you are labelled "not executive" with alarming speed, and undoing that label takes months of work.— CALM is the alternative. Clarity, authority, learning and momentum, delivered calmly. Authority comes from being clear on the outcome and the ask, asking for support and guidance rather than permission, and not feeling obliged to justify every edge case.— Signal prep is the practical tool. Three questions: what do I need from this room; what is my one-line recommendation; and what will they repeat when I am not in the room. A bonus question for higher-stakes meetings asks what the room feels now and how you want them to feel when you leave.— Design for re-tell. Dave's example of a leader who reduced a lengthy objective to "minutes not months for our customers", and repeated it, is the clearest illustration. That phrase, not someone else's reframe, is what got repeated in the room afterwards.— Well-being underpins momentum. Dave nearly named the framework around well-being. Without a sustainable pace, leaders cannot lead, and the unprocessed meeting that keeps you awake at 3am is a momentum problem. He frames widespread tech burnout as a leadership failure, because leaders set the expectation.— AI is a spell checker for influence. Just as a word processor turned Dave's Fs into As without changing his brain, AI tooling can help neurodivergent leaders translate their thinking into the right language for the room, supporting the communication without doing the thinking or the judgement for them.Our HostsLily Smith enjoys working as a consultant product manager with early-stage and growing startups and as a mentor to other product managers. She's currently Chief Product Officer at BBC Maestro, and has spent 13 years in the tech industry working with startups in the SaaS and mobile space. She's worked on a diverse range of products – leading the product teams through discovery, prototyping, testing and delivery. Lily also founded ProductTank Bristol and runs ProductCamp in Bristol and Bath.Randy Silver is a Leadership & Product Coach and Consultant. He gets teams unstuck, helping you to supercharge your results. Randy's held interim CPO and Leadership roles at scale-ups and SMEs, advised start-ups, and been Head of Product at HSBC and Sainsbury's. He participated in Silicon Valley Product Group's Coaching the Coaches forum, and speaks frequently at conferences and events. You can join one of communities he runs for CPOs (CPO Circles), Product Managers (Product In the {A}ether) and Product Coaches. He's the author of What Do We Do Now? A Product Manager's Guide to Strategy in the Time of COVID-19. A recovering music journalist and editor, Randy also launched Amazon's music stores in the US & UK.

Key Topics Covered: 1. Defining True Wealth Wealth is about creating predictable income and financial security. The goal is freedom, experiences, and a low-stress lifestyle. 2. From Corporate Career to Property Entrepreneur Transitioning from employment to financial independence through property. Recognising when a traditional career path no longer aligns with personal goals. 3. The Impact of Rich Dad Poor Dad How financial education can change perspectives on wealth building. The importance of developing an investor mindset. 4. Learning Through Failure Early mistakes in serviced accommodation created valuable lessons. Setbacks can become turning points for future success. 5. The Demand-Led Investment Approach Find the demand before choosing the property. Reverse-engineering investments around proven market needs. 6. Understanding Serviced Accommodation The opportunities and risks of short-term rental strategies. Why demand is critical for long-term profitability. 7. Building Multiple Income Streams Combining trading, investment, and coaching businesses. Creating diversified sources of recurring income. 8. Wealth, Family, and Lifestyle Using wealth as a tool to create time, experiences, and flexibility. Balancing financial success with family, health, and personal fulfilment. Actionable Takeaways Focus on building assets that generate predictable, recurring income rather than chasing quick wins. Identify genuine market demand before investing in a property or launching a new venture. Treat mistakes as learning opportunities and use them to improve future decision-making. Invest in your financial education to develop a stronger wealth-building mindset. Build multiple income streams to reduce risk and increase financial resilience. Align your wealth-building activities with your personal values, family goals, and desired lifestyle. Review your current investments and ask whether they are driven by demand or by assumptions. Prioritise long-term consistency over short-term excitement when creating wealth. Resources & Next Steps WealthBuilders Membership: Free access to guides, webinars, and community Download our FREE Pensions and Inheritance Tax Guide Devenir Plus - Become more in every area of your life Connect with Us: Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and all major platforms. Next Steps On Your WealthBuilding Journey:   Join the WealthBuilders Facebook Community Schedule a 1:1 call with one of our team Become a member of WealthBuilders If you have been enjoying listening to WealthTalk - Please Leave Us A Review!

I share three common recovery traps and how we can find our way out of them without blame. Today's episode focuses on pacing, nervous system safety, and emotional processing so your body can stabilise and move forwards. • Pushing too hard on a better day and triggering the boom and bust cycle • Banking energy for healing by spending some, enjoying some, and saving some • Stepping off the symptom-fixing merry-go-round and reducing pressure • Creating safety through kindness, gentleness, and small consistent cues • Recognising the emotional load of long COVID, ME/CFS, and health challenges • Finding a safe place to feel emotions without judgement So do let me know how you get on, if these resonate with you, and if you've noticed any other common recovery traps that you might be getting waylaid by. Links to relevant practises (free tracks)Finding Emotional Safety: https://insig.ht/A7bEwwAXF3bMeeting your body kindly: https://insig.ht/Jlnf2P0w32b STOP: From overwhelm to ease: https://insig.ht/1UCyrM2w32bMessage me! (I can't reply to these messages) Support the show~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~The Long Covid Podcast is self-produced & self funded. If you enjoy what you hear and are able to, please Buy me a coffee or purchase a mug to help cover costsTranscripts available on individual episodes herewww.LongCovidPodcast.comFacebook Instagram  Twitter Facebook Creativity GroupSubscribe to mailing listI love to hear from you, via socials or LongCovidPodcast@gmail.com**Disclaimer - you should not rely on any medical information contained in this Podcast and related materials in making medical, health-related or other decisions. Please consult a doctor or other health professional**

We challenge the way we talk about the Holy Spirit by reframing fire as God's confirmation rather than our performance or a Sunday-only moment. We leave with a clear responsibility to tend the flame through surrender, purity, and steady daily obedience. • The Holy Spirit brings the fire while we bring the sacrifice • The meaning of all flame as being consumed by God's presence • Leviticus 9 and why fire signals approval and confirmation • Recognising that not everything burning has God's approval • Asking what interference crowds out the flame • Trimming the wick as a picture of removing buildup and neglect • Choosing consistency over intensity through daily maintenance • Refusing to chase the effects of fire without responsibility • Pentecost as a mobile altar and an internalised temple life • Purity as wholeheartedness and removing competitors for his affection 

NT Guidelines for Small Group Meetings       Talk 1 An Overview of 1 Corinthians 12-13 Welcome to our new series. I'm calling it New Testament Guidelines for Small Group Meetings. We'll be looking at what the New Testament has to say about what we should expect and how we should behave in our meetings. This includes what we do on Sunday mornings and in our home groups.   Our thoughts will centre on what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 14:26 where he makes the following recommendation: What then shall we say brothers and sisters? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church.   The churches in the New Testament would often have gathered in homes and that was almost certainly the case in Corinth. So, Paul's instructions are particularly relevant to smaller churches or home groups.   Small group meetings can take many different forms. Some meetings can be a real blessing and a source of edification to all, but sadly this is not always the case. The apostle Paul had to tell the Corinthians that their meetings were not for the better, but for the worse (1 Corinthians 11:17) because of their inconsiderate behaviour towards one another.   And that was when they were celebrating the Lord's Supper! Some were getting drunk while others were going hungry! And this selfish behaviour was not limited to food and drink. Some of them were 'hogging it' when it came to how they expressed themselves in worship – and that, as we will see, was perhaps their major problem.   Paul's teaching in the rest of chapter 11 and in those that follow was an attempt to put things right and to show what Christian gatherings should be like. And that will be the basis for our consideration of how we may make our small group meetings as beneficial as possible. We'll begin in this talk by giving a brief overview of Paul's teaching in chapters 12 and 13. This will help us to understand our key verse in the wider context.   As many of you will know, I have already written a short book on this subject entitled, When you come together – God's plans for when his people meet (WYCT). This contains much more than I have time to include in these notes, so please see me if you'd like a copy.   Before the meeting it would be really helpful if you read 1 Corinthians, chapters 12-14. And if you have a copy you might like to read WYCT chapters 1-3 if you have time.   So, as I was saying, our key verse is 1 Corinthians 14:26 and we need to begin by looking at the context in which it's set.     Setting the context – an overview of 1 Corinthians 12 to 14 There were plenty of problems with the church in Corinth. Chapters 1-10 make it clear that there were divisions, they were immature, they tolerated immorality, they were taking each other to court, and some of them lacked a basic understanding of the basic truths of the Christian faith. And on top of all that, their behaviour when they met together was at times appalling! They were thoughtless and inconsiderate.   No wonder Paul said that their meetings did more harm than good. We need to remember this as we look at what he says in chapters 12-14. The main problem he is addressing throughout is their thoughtless behaviour and attitude towards each other. It's clear from chapter 12 that some of them thought that they were superior to the others because of the spiritual gifts they possessed. And this was particularly true of speaking in tongues which was being used excessively in their meetings. So in chapter 12 he begins by giving some basic teaching on spiritual gifts.   Teaching on spiritual gifts (12:1-11) I'm hoping you've read these verses before coming to the meeting. What's clear is that the supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit were a regular part of their meetings, but the Corinthians were exercising them in ignorance. Paul had to teach them that:   1.     The supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit must be distinguished from demonic manifestations by the acknowledgment that Jesus is Lord (vv1-3) 2.     Though the gifts are different they are all given by the same Spirit (vv4-10) 3.     They are given as the Holy Spirit determines (v11)   What can we learn from this? 1.     If you acknowledge Jesus as you Lord and Saviour, you need not fear that you will receive a demonic gift. Our heavenly Father doesn't give 'snakes' to his children (Luke 11:11-13). 2.     In Spiritualism, where counterfeit gifts are given by demons, different gifts are given by different spirits. 3.     Though they're different, all the gifts are important because it's the Holy Spirit who gives all of them. 4.     As the Holy Spirit is the giver, He decides who gets what.   NOTE: Paul will say much more about spiritual gifts in the next two chapters.   Every member of the body is needed (12:12-30) In this passage we learn that:   1.     The church is one body which has many different members (v14) 2.     Every member of the body is important and needed because God has put it there (vv14-27) 3.     There should be no division in the body, but all the members should have equal concern for each part of it (v25) These are all important principles to bear in mind in our group meetings. There isn't time to go into them now, but we'll pick up on some of them when we come to chapter 14.   1 Corinthians 13 We're Nothing without Love Paul's teaching on love in this chapter is valuable in every situation, but in its context Paul is still talking about what should go on in our meetings. Chapter 14 is a practical application of what he's teaching about love here in 13.   Let's divide the chapter into three sections:   1.     It's all meaningless without love (1-3) 2.     The nature of love (4-7) 3.     Recognising our limitations (8-12)   It's all meaningless without love (1-3)   If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.   What can we learn from these verses? 1.     Nothing is more important than love. Whatever gifts we may have and whatever we may do, if our motive is not love, it counts for nothing. Without love I am nothing (2) and I gain nothing (3). 2.     This principle applies to every function of the body of Christ, not just to the things mentioned in these verses, which are just illustrations of it. 3.     What he's taught about the body in chapter 12 will only be possible when we love one another. So the things he refers to in verses 1-3 are just illustrations of the great principle of the paramount importance of love.   But why does he choose these particular illustrations to make his point? Because these were the particular problems facing the church in Corinth at the time. It's evident from chapter 14 that there were problems in Corinth with their use of gifts like speaking in tongues and prophecy which are the two gifts he mentions first here.   So as we later consider Paul's encouragement in 14:26 for all to participate by bringing a contribution to our meetings, we need to remember that whatever we may bring must be brought in love.       The nature of love (4-8)   4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.   These verses have a far wider application than our understanding of chapter 14. But in the context, chapter 13 is set right in the middle of Paul's teaching in chapters 12 and 14. Notice the development of thought in these chapters:   12: The importance of the role of every Christian within the church as the body of Christ 13: The importance of LOVE 14: Specific direction on how this should work in our meetings.   Maybe we could summarise verses 4-7 as putting other people first. As we will see when we come to look at chapter 14 in more detail, this is the underlying principle of all he says which is surely the main way in which we express our love for them. Prophecy, for example, is to be desired more than tongues because it edifies others, not just ourselves (14:1-5).   Think about how we can apply putting other people first to what we say and do in our meetings.   Recognising our limitations (8-12) 8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12 Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. What can we learn from this? 1.     Although there will ultimately be no need for supernatural gifts, love will remain for ever. It never fails (8). It remains (13).   2.     Wonderful though gifts like tongues and prophecy are, their operation is not infallible. We know in part and we prophesy in part. What Paul is encouraging in 14:26 must be understood in this light. God's gifts are perfect, but we are not. We do not yet see face to face. The gifts come from God, but they come through us, and we are fallible.   This must affect our understanding of all that Paul says in chapter 14, not just verse 26. As we eagerly desire spiritual gifts we are to try to excel in our use of them (12). This clearly implies that it's possible to exercise them without excelling in them.   That's why words of prophecy need to be weighed carefully (29) and why Paul found it necessary to give instruction as to how the gifts should be used. Had the operation of the gifts been infallible, such instruction would have been unnecessary.   But that's something we will consider in more detail later in the series.   Next time we'll start on Chapter 14 and will be looking at The Right Use of Speaking in Tongues.   So, that's it from me for today. Thanks for listening.   Now, some questions for discussion. Group leaders, over to you.   Questions for discussion   1.     How important are the supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit in the context of our small group? Do we make room for them? Have we all received the baptism in the Spirit?   2.     What practical application does Paul's teaching that every part of the body is needed and to be valued equally make to what happens in our group and in church?   3.     How might Paul's teaching on love (especially 13:4-7) affect our attitude as individuals in our group meetings and in church? Hint: Key phrases could be: Love is patient…Love is kind… it is not rude…Love does not boast…It is not proud… It does not envy …Love is not self-seeking… Love rejoices with the truth… It always protects.  

» Produced by Hack You Media: pioneering a new category of content at the intersection of health performance, entrepreneurship & cognitive optimisation.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hackyoumedia/Website: https://hackyou.media/A generation of men are checking out, living at home, avoiding dating, gaming and scrolling instead of building lives. Connor Beaton breaks down the cultural narrative that's convinced boys they're faulty from birth, how fatherlessness and job market discrimination created the perfect storm, and why suppressing emotions doesn't make you stronger, it makes you fragile. Mike opens up about losing his mum at 11 and how that shaped every relationship since, never processing the grief properly, just getting on with it. Connor explains how unprocessed pain doesn't stay quiet, it sabotages your relationships, your business, your health until you deal with it. The conversation covers why male guides matter more than therapists for men with father wounds, how emotional consistency beats sexual polarity in relationships, and why confronting hardship is how you actually mature instead of staying stunted.00:00 Introduction01:55 Addressing struggles faced by young men today06:32 Cultural perception of masculinity affecting men11:53 Gaming and other distractions are hindering ambition20:58 Effects of losing a parent on emotional development26:26 Processing grief and emotional expression30:51 Importance of processing pain for mental health38:10 Recognising when professional help is needed44:30 Gender of therapist influencing therapeutic outcomes50:11 Navigating vulnerability in relationships with women56:13 Pushing gender roles and their societal impacts1:09:52 Influence of social media on relationship dynamics1:25:14 Feminism's impact on modern gender relations1:30:08 Misleading influencer messages on masculinity1:35:21 Redefining what it means to be an alpha male» Escape the 9-5 & build your dream life - https://www.digitalplaybook.net/» Transform your physique - https://www.thrstapp.com/» My clothing brand, THRST - https://thrstofficial.com» Discover Bioniq Lab peptide products- https://bioniqlab.com/mike1010% off with code MIKE10» Join our newsletter for actionable insights from every episode: https://thrst-letter.beehiiv.com/» Join Whoop and get your first month for free - join.whoop.com/FirstThingsThrst» Follow ConnorInstsagram: https://www.instagram.com/mantalks/?hl=enWebsite: https://connorbeaton.com/

In this episode of Mirror Talk: Soulful Conversations, Doug Peterson joins us for a practical and honest conversation about money, personal finance, financial intimacy, debt, cash flow, and peace of mind.Doug is an entrepreneur of 37 years and an executive coach of 17 years. Through his work with business owners and professionals, he noticed a repeated pattern: many successful people were building businesses and careers while remaining unaware of their true personal spending. That discovery led him to develop a process to help people get their priorities straight and master their personal cash flow.  Together, we explore why money skills are no longer optional. They are survival skills. Doug shares how to understand what you earn, spend and owe, how to prepare for infrequent expenses, how to manage debt wisely, and how couples can build financial intimacy without shame, tension or secrecy.This episode is for anyone who wants to stop avoiding money conversations and start creating financial peace with clarity, honesty and intention.In This Episode, We DiscussWhy personal finance is connected to impact, peace and legacyHow to understand your real spending, including irregular expensesThe difference between budgeting and creating a spending planWhy tools like YNAB can help with real-time cash flow managementHow to prepare for holidays, repairs, maintenance and unexpected costsPractical ways to manage credit cards and high-interest debtHow to build an emergency fund that brings peace of mindWhy financial intimacy matters in relationshipsHow couples can reduce money tension and get on the same pageHow to align money decisions with your values and future goalsTimestamps00:00 Introduction to the episode and guest background01:00 Doug's motivation for coaching others on finances02:10 Why mastering personal finances matters for impact and legacy02:57 Recognising patterns of out-of-control spending03:56 Accounting for infrequent expenses04:54 Using tools like YNAB for cash flow management05:54 Setting money aside for irregular expenses06:54 Budgeting vs spending plans07:38 The electronic envelope system09:07 Responsible credit card use10:33 Behaviour change and financial awareness11:12 How often to review your financial plan12:38 Recommended apps and tools14:19 Intentional spending and cutting waste15:12 How money disappears without awareness16:05 Building an emergency fund17:08 Managing debt and restructuring for savings20:30 Creating a lifestyle within your means23:16 Financial transparency in relationships26:20 Why money skills are survival skills29:00 Managing multiple expenses and life events33:24 The value of regular financial meetings37:03 Improving credit scores and using credit responsibly42:15 The link between happiness and financial peace45:02 Aligning money and values47:14 How to connect with Doug PetersonResourcesWebsite: https://getprioritiesstraight.com/Schedule with Doug: http://schedulewithdoug.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GetPrioritiesStraightLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/getprioritiesstraight/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/getprioritiesstraight/Tool mentioned: You Need A Budget (YNAB)Listen NowListen to this episode of Mirror Talk: Soulful Conversations and learn how to bring clarity, peace and intention into your relationship with money.Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/UBQI0nXqF-Y Ask what is on your heart. Mirror Talk will reflect back what may help you see more clearly. Try it here: https://mirrortalkpodcast.com/ask-mirror-talk/Stay connected: https://lnkfi.re/mirrortalkCould you support us by becoming a Patreon? Please consider subscribing to one or more of our offerings at http://patreon.com/MirrorTalk All proceeds will help enhance the quality of our work and outreach, enabling us to serve you better.

What happens when you've spent decades being the most reliable person in the room — and you finally stop to ask: reliable for whom?   In this warm, wide-ranging episode of Leaderspace, host Cathleen O'Sullivan is joined by Linda Misegadis — senior government strategist at UKG, global DEI ambassador, certified payroll professional, and host of the Her Resources Podcast. Linda built her career the way many high-achievers do: nose down, hard work, always available, always solving. She led one of the most complex technology change projects in Denver's public sector history and then walked into the VP of Sales of the company whose software she'd just implemented and told him, clearly and directly, that she didn't think they understood the public sector space at all. He offered her a job.   Linda and Cathleen explore what it costs to tie your identity to being the one everyone counts on, how introversion becomes a leadership superpower once you stop letting others use it as a label that limits you, and why the most important question in any career transition isn't what's next — it's who am I actually? They talk about the trap of availability culture, what burnout really looks like when you've built your reward system around being indispensable, and the slow, nonlinear work of separating your professional identity from your sense of self.   They also go deep on what it means to lead through complexity without consensus paralysis, how COVID quietly pushed Linda from observer to connector, and the particular challenge women still face in corporate life in 2026 — not just in being heard, but in being seen for the right things. This is a conversation about the courage it takes to stop performing reliability and start building something that actually belongs to you.   If you've ever been the go-to person, the Swiss Army knife, the one who always raises their hand — this one is for you. Cathleen's question for this episode: what is it costing you to keep staying quiet about something you've already noticed?   Episode Timeline:   00:00:00 Welcome and Introduction 00:02:38 Introducing Linda Misegadis 00:07:04 Heritage, Roots, and Identity 00:11:09 What Has Shaped Your Identity? 00:15:10 The Trap of Being the Reliable One 00:19:09 Who Is Linda Now? 00:21:39 AI, Layoffs, and the Human Side of Work 00:31:36 How COVID Made Linda a Connector 00:34:17 Introversion as a Leadership Strength 00:40:29 Leading Without a Title 00:44:00 The Audacious Move That Changed Everything 00:48:00 The Risk of Always Being the Problem Solver 00:53:46 The Reward Behind Constant Availability 01:00:52 How the Reward Has Shifted 01:04:14 Approaching Complex Problems 01:11:24 Women's Voices in Corporate Life — Still Not There Yet 01:13:36 One Piece of Advice for Women Entering Leadership Key Takeaways:   The Reliable One Is a Role, Not an Identity: Building your sense of self around being available to everyone is a reward system, not a foundation. Recognising what that role is costing you — in energy, in clarity, in career direction — is the first step to changing it. Introversion Is a Skill Gap, Not a Personality Sentence: Linda didn't network because she'd never been taught how, not because she was incapable. Once she separated the label from the limitation, she built a podcast, a community, and a career chapter on her own terms. Observation Is Underrated Leadership Data: Stepping back and watching — really watching — builds pattern recognition that others miss. The quietest person in the room often sees the most. Someone Has to Make the Call: Consensus has its place, but leadership means being willing to own a decision, not manage a committee. The people around you are counting on someone to choose. The New Reward Has to Be Real: When you stop being the one who solves everything, the satisfaction has to come from somewhere else. For Linda, it became the pride of watching her team step up. The reward needs to be replaced — not just removed. About Linda Misegadis:   Linda Misegadis is a Senior Government Strategist at UKG and Global Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Ambassador, based in Colorado. She is a Certified Payroll Professional (CPP), Certified Public Manager (CPM), IPMA-CP, and Prosci Certified Change Manager who has spent her career helping organisations navigate complexity — and bring people with them through it. She previously served as Director of Citywide Payroll Operations and Administration for the City and County of Denver, where she led a workforce management deployment across 13,000 employees. Her defining career pivot came when she walked into the VP of Sales of the company whose software she had just implemented, told him plainly that she didn't think they understood the public sector space, and left with a job offer. She is also the co-host of the Her Resources Podcast. Connect with Linda Misegadis: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindamisegadis  Website (Podcast): https://www.herresourcespodcast.com/  Podcast: https://linktr.ee/hrpodcast        Connect with Cathleen O'Sullivan:  Business: https://cathleenosullivan.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathleen-osullivan/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/legendary_leaders_cathleenos/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LegendaryLeaderswithCathleenOS     FOLLOW LEGENDARY LEADERS ON APPLE, SPOTIFY OR WHEREVER YOU LISTEN TO YOUR PODCASTS.  

In Episode 50, Radim sits down with Mat Voyce — type animator whose kinetic, character-driven lettering has earned him a devoted following and a client list most freelancers would dream about. What starts as a conversation about craft quickly becomes something more personal: how a self-described jack-of-all-trades with middle-of-the-pack grades found his calling through animated type, and how the pressure of building something real collided with the weight of anxiety that nobody could see from the outside.Mat traces his journey from childhood TV binges and PlayStation nights to architecture illustrations sold as wall art, to the type pieces he built in the evenings while still holding down a day job — quietly constructing the career he wanted, frame by frame. He talks about the boss who saw it coming and gave him the conversation he needed to leave, the freelance runway he built before making the leap, and the daily discipline of stepping up his personal work each year so clients keep finding him.But the episode's most powerful shift comes when the conversation turns to anxiety — and Mat's decision to go public about it. What he got back wasn't what he expected: an outpouring from designers and creatives who'd been quietly carrying the same thing. His honesty didn't just help him. It opened a dialogue that changed how he understood himself, his community, and what it means to show up fully in creative work.Takeaways:Being a jack of all trades isn't a weakness — it's a toolkit in progress. Every skill you collect compounds into something no single-track path could build.The evening sofa session matters. Doing your own work after a full day's work is how you invent the future version of your career.Building freelance backing before you quit creates both security and clarity. When it lines up, the leap isn't reckless — it's ready.Knowing what jobs to say no to is as important as being good at the jobs you say yes to. Staying in your lane protects your quality and your passion.Personal projects are the engine of growth. Each year Mat steps his own work up — new formats, new layers, new challenges — and clients follow.Sharing your struggles in public can unlock the real information that therapy and Google can't give you. Community is the most underrated resource a creative has.Anxiety is gradual, cumulative, and often invisible from the outside. Recognising it early — especially with a supportive partner — is what makes it manageable.Medication isn't failure. For Mat, it was the first thing that actually worked — and the honesty about it helped more people than any type animation ever had. Daring Creativity. Podcast with Radim Malinicdaringcreativity.com |  desk@daringcreativity.comBooks by Radim Malinic Paperback and Kindle > https://amzn.to/4biTwFcFree audiobook (with Audible trial) > https://geni.us/free-audiobookBook bundles  https://novemberuniverse.co.ukLux Coffee Co. https://luxcoffee.co.uk/  (Use: PODCAST for 15% off)November Universe https://novemberuniverse.co.uk (Use: PODCAST for 10% off)

Ever wondered what actually happens behind closed doors at a wine competition? How do judges decide what makes a wine exceptional and what separates a gold medal from the rest? In this episode of Wine in Focus, Palesa Mapheelle is joined by local wine doyenne, Michael Fridjhon and Wine Master and international judge, Heidi Makinen. Together, they explain the rigorous judging process of the Investec Trophy Wine Show, what they look for in a winning wine, how to navigate judges' disagreements and the importance of wine competitions to the local wine industry. KEY MOMENTS: 00:00: Intro 00:38: Recognising the devastating storms suffered by the Western Cape winelands 01:47: Why are competitions necessary? 03:23: Comparing Investec Trophy Wine Show to other international competitions 04:26: Shaping consumer perceptions 05:43: The mechanics of judging 09:09: Judge's chemistry 10:07: Explaining a flight of wines 10:34: Finding consensus between judges 13:47: Ensuring judge neutrality 15:14: The importance of blind tasting 18:00: What makes a winning wine? 20:20: SA wine industry transformation over 25 years: from bulk to beautiful 23:13: The Investec Trophy wine show “guarantee” 24:33: When wine turns from interest into a passion and a career 27:00: Outro Investec Trophy Wine Show · Investec Focus Radio SA

5 Years After Stroke: Recovering Her Voice, Her Memory, and Her Will to Walk Again On 29 April 2021, Cecy Galvan was doing what she had always done, working a client event, surrounded by people, moving at full speed. A celebrity publicist with a client list that included the Wayans Brothers, Cecy had built a career on being present, persuasive, and always on. Then she collapsed in a bathroom in Boston. She was 47. A bartender called 911. Doctors found a tear in her aorta. She woke up three days later with a scar and what appeared, initially, to be a second chance. But four months later, she was back in the hospital for aortic repair and heart valve replacement surgery. On 15 September 2021, as she came out of anaesthetic, she had two strokes, one affecting her speech and motor function, one involving her cerebellum. In the hours it takes to close a chest, Cecy’s life changed completely. Five years later, sitting down to tell her story, she said something that stopped the conversation: “I just told my friends the other day that my brain is finally back.” When the Warning Signs Are Easy to Miss The week before her collapse, Cecy had been dizzy. Vertigo for two days, the kind that made her afraid to drive. It was during the COVID period, and going to a doctor felt like an unnecessary risk. So she pushed through, got on a plane, and made it to the event in Boston. This is not a story about a woman who was careless. It is a story about how stroke symptoms, particularly in the lead-up to a cardiac event, can present as something mundane and easy to dismiss. Vertigo. Fatigue. A feeling of being slightly off. For Cecy, those were the only signals before everything changed. Recognising early warning signs of stroke remains one of the most critical conversations in stroke prevention. If symptoms persist, even mildly, seeking medical review is always the right call. What 5 Years After Stroke Really Looks Like Cecy’s recovery has been shaped by two distinct strokes, both occurring simultaneously during surgery. The effects are layered and ongoing. Her right vocal cord is paralysed. She walks with a forearm walker indoors but has not yet been able to take it outside. Her core is still rebuilding, and her cerebellum, responsible for balance and coordination, remains affected. Her vision changed: she now needs glasses for reading, something she never needed before. For the first three years after her strokes, she barely remembers anything. She kept a journal and relied on her sister’s videos to piece together what had happened. Her sister and brother-in-law became her primary carers. They modified their home, building a ramp, converting a shower for wheelchair access and showed up every day with a consistency that Cecy describes as the quiet foundation of her survival. Her parents, both in their late eighties, also cared for her until they passed her father at 90, her mother at 89, in the years following her strokes. The grief of losing them, layered on top of the grief of losing her former life, has been one of the heaviest parts of the journey. “My whole life changed overnight.” – Cecy Galvan And yet she keeps going. She does speech therapy exercises daily, recording herself and playing them back. She uses both hands, intentionally brushing teeth with her non-affected hand, rinsing with her affected one. She gets massages weekly. She reads and re-reads books her memory hasn’t yet retained. She is, in her own words, constantly doing the work. The Myth of the Recovery Plateau Two of Cecy’s doctors told her she would not walk again. One sent her an email last year to confirm it. A third told her she would improve within six months. None of them has been entirely right. None of them has been entirely wrong. But the idea that recovery has a fixed deadline, that the brain stops responding to rehabilitation after a set number of days, is a narrative that does genuine harm to stroke survivors. Cecy’s experience over five years is evidence against it. Her lung capacity has measurably improved. Her speech, which was largely absent for years because she was afraid no one would understand her, has progressed to the point where she is now giving interviews. Her memory, the one she describes as the most disorienting loss, has started to return not all at once, but in a way she can feel and name. Neuroplasticity does not operate on a clinical deadline. The brain continues to find new pathways when given the right conditions: repetition, intention, rest, and time. Bill’s book  Bill’s book The Unexpected Way That A Stroke Became The Best Thing That Happened explores this in depth, drawing on both the research and the lived experience of survivors who were told they had reached their ceiling and then kept going anyway. What Newly Diagnosed Survivors Need to Hear Cecy’s advice to someone at the beginning of their recovery is grounded in her own experience of those first disorienting months: the early period matters enormously. The first three to six months are when the brain is most responsive to rehabilitation, and the work done in that window has an outsized impact on long-term outcomes. But that is not where recovery ends. What carries a survivor through the years that follow is not speed, it is consistency. It is doing the small things every day. Using the affected hand even when it spills water. Recording your voice even when you hate how it sounds. Crying a little, then trying again. Cecy’s five-year goal is simple and unambiguous: she is going to walk again. She does not know exactly how. She does not need to. The direction is clear. Keep Going Recovery after a stroke is rarely a straight line, and no survivor should navigate it alone. If this episode resonated with you,  If this episode helped you, consider supporting the show at patreon.com/recoveryafterstroke. Every contribution keeps this content free and accessible for survivors who need it. Because if Cecy Galvan’s story tells us anything, it is this: five years is not the end of recovery. It might be where it finally begins. This blog is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Please consult your doctor before making any changes to your health or recovery plan. The post The Brain Came Back – Cecy Galvan on Five Years After Stroke appeared first on Recovery After Stroke.

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Born Scrappy I sit down with Michael Lion, Former Owner of Philipp & Lion and Former Consultant & Chairman at Sims Metal Management, for a masterclass in what really happens when it all goes wrong and what you can learn from it.Michael's career is one of the industry's most extraordinary stories. He entered the business at 17, built Philipp & Lion into one of the world's largest non-ferrous scrap traders, pioneered copper trade routes into China in the late 1970s, and operated at a scale most traders only read about.Then in April 1991, it all came crashing down. What followed was years of rebuilding and the lessons he brought into an 18-year career at Sims Metal Management, where the controls he put in place got every penny back through the global financial crisis.This isn't theory. These are lessons bought at enormous personal cost, shared with the kind of honesty that only comes from someone with nothing left to prove.In this episode, we talk about:

If you've ever felt like you're ticking all the right boxes but living the wrong life, this episode is your permission slip to stop being “the good girl” and start being who you really are.In this mash‑up episode, you'll hear from:Meg – life coach, on shedding good girl conditioning and surviving the falloutZoe – mindset coach, on the pressure to “find your purpose”Lucy Spraggan – musician & author, on delusional confidence, manifestation, and radical authenticityYou'll be guided from people‑pleasing and burnout to purpose without pressure, community support, and owning your raw, unapologetic self.What You'll Learn (Your Personal Journey)By the end of this episode, you'll move through these stages:Recognising the Good Girl Identity Isn't Really YouAllowing Yourself to Outgrow the Life You BuiltFinding Purpose Without Crushing Yourself With PressureRewiring Your Mindset So You Stop Beating Yourself UpFinding Your People So You Don't Have to Do It AloneOwning Delusional Confidence & Backing Your Big DreamsLiving as Your Most Authentic Self (Even When It's Messy)If this episode resonates with you come join us at the Dare club community Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this powerful episode of Diary of a Kidney Warrior Podcast, Dee Moore speaks with Lynsey, living kidney donor and sister to Carla, whose story listeners heard in the previous episode.   This conversation explores the other side of kidney transplantation: the perspective of the person who makes the life-changing decision to donate.   Lynsey shares the emotional reality of watching her sister become seriously unwell, the moment she realised something was wrong, and the journey towards becoming a living donor. Together, Dee and Lynsey discuss family, fear, love, guilt, hope, and the extraordinary bond between sisters.   This deeply moving episode shines a light on living kidney donation, the impact of kidney disease on families, and the incredible gift of life that living donors provide.   Topics discussed include: • Recognising that something was seriously wrong • Watching a loved one face kidney failure • The emotional impact of living donation • Family dynamics during chronic illness • Testing and preparing to become a donor • Recovery after kidney donation • Life after transplant • The importance of raising awareness about living kidney donation   If you or someone you love is navigating kidney disease, dialysis, transplant, or considering living donation, this episode offers insight, honesty, and hope.   Follow Diary of a Kidney Warrior:  

(Long Music) Recognising Emotional Manipulation Breaking Free From Control & Manipulation Jason Newland 11th May 2026 by Jason Newland

(Overnight Music) Recognising Emotional Manipulation Breaking Free From Control & Manipulation Jason Newland 11th May 2026 by Jason Newland

(Long Voice Only) Recognising Emotional Manipulation Breaking Free From Control & Manipulation Jason Newland 11th May 2026 by Jason Newland

(Short Music) Recognising Emotional Manipulation Breaking Free From Control & Manipulation Jason Newland 11th May 2026 by Jason Newland

(Short Voice Only) Recognising Emotional Manipulation Breaking Free From Control & Manipulation Jason Newland 11th May 2026 by Jason Newland

(Overnight Voice Only) Recognising Emotional Manipulation Breaking Free From Control & Manipulation Jason Newland 11th May 2026 by Jason Newland

In this episode, Gav and Em dive into the realities of teaching English as a foreign language. Exploring their strengths and weaknesses as teachers, how to handle distracted students, and the feelings of starting again with brand-new learners. They also discuss praise in the classroom, and give a well-deserved shout-out to a loyal listener and follower. Whether you're teaching, learning, or just curious about TEFL life, there's plenty here to reflect on and laugh about. ☕ Support the pod: https://ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpodTimestamps00:00 – Intro & episode overview01:28 – Strengths and weaknesses as TEFL teachers09:04 – Exploring teaching weaknesses (and honesty time)20:21 – How to deal with distracted students24:27 – Starting from scratch with new students27:23 – Recognising student progress & using praise32:10 – Listener shout-out & teaching reflections33:11 – Outro & support the pod

As mothers, we often push through exhaustion, ignoring the whispers of our bodies until they scream for help. It's time we acknowledge that burnout doesn't define us; it's a signal to pause and prioritise our wellbeing.   In this episode of the Wellbeing 4 Mothers show, Dr Dunni explores  we'll explore the signs of burnout, the phases it goes through, and most importantly, how to address it for better well-being.Key Takeaways- Our body speaks to us as burnout builds up - Recognising the signs early can prevent more severe consequences.- Seeking support and prioritising self-care are critical steps in recovery.- Simplify your decision making process Book Recommendation Burnout – Emily & Amelia NagoskiJoin the Bookclubhttps://www.drdunni.clubCONNECT ON SOCIAL MEDIA ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ig- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/drdunni.lifecoach/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9C1oJwHyISEuqiX8USaYKg⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CH- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.clubhouse.com/@drdunni-druwa⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠FB- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/druwaacademy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/drdunni⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://patreon.com/wellbeing4mothers⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ HOST BIOYour host, Dr Dunni, is the award-winning mum empowerment coach, Family doctor, International speaker, Best-selling author of the book ‘Every Mum is a Super Mum' and a mum herself who is passionate about health and wellbeing. She is proficient in applying natural, scientific, and medical well-being concepts to explain practical ways and strategies in simple terms that promote the overall well-being of body, mind, soul, and spirit, and prevent ill health. This is made available by the provision of online courses, books, coaching and regular events where well-being strategies and tactics are shared to enhance holistic well-being. Learn more at https://www.drdunni.com

If people don't know you exist, how can they ever choose to work with you? This episode felt like a necessary conversation. One that many coaches avoid, delay, or quietly struggle with. We explored why personal brand matters for coaches, and more importantly, what it really means beyond the noise of marketing jargon. Because for many, the idea of "personal branding" feels uncomfortable. It can feel like self-promotion, like performance, or like stepping into a space that doesn't quite fit with the values of coaching. And yet, the reality is simple. If people don't know you exist, they cannot work with you. What we reflected on in this episode is that personal brand is not something you create. It is something you reveal. It is how people experience you. It is what you stand for. It is the consistency between what you say and how you show up. When someone chooses a coach, they are not only choosing a skillset. They are choosing a person. They are asking: Do I feel safe with this person? Do our values align? Do I trust how they think and how they work? And personal brand is the bridge that helps answer those questions. We shared openly how, in the early days, we didn't think about personal brand at all. We believed that being a coach was enough. That our work would speak for itself. But over time, we learned something critical. Clarity creates trust. Consistency builds credibility. Visibility creates opportunity. And personal brand sits at the centre of all three. What became clear as we talked was that authenticity is the foundation of everything. We never sat down and decided what our brand would be. We didn't curate a persona or engineer an identity. What you hear on this podcast is who we are in real life. The depth, the curiosity, the challenge, the care. It runs through everything we do. That consistency allows people to understand what it feels like to work with us before they ever step into a room. And that is where personal brand becomes powerful. We also spoke about the discomfort that comes with visibility. There is a moment every coach faces where sharing your voice feels exposing. Where putting your thoughts out into the world feels permanent. Where fear shows up. And yet, growth sits on the other side of that. Personal branding is not about feeling comfortable. It is about being willing to be seen anyway. Over time, it becomes easier. Your voice becomes clearer. Your confidence builds. And what once felt like exposure starts to feel like expression. Another important shift we explored is this: You already have a personal brand. Whether you are intentional about it or not, people are forming perceptions based on how they experience you. The choice is whether you actively shape that experience or leave it to chance. And when you begin to take ownership of it, something changes. You start to see what makes you distinct. You recognise the patterns in how people describe you. You begin to build something that feels aligned, not forced. For us, investing in our brand marked a turning point. It was not only about how others saw us. It was about how we saw ourselves. It moved us from hoping things would work, to deciding that we believed in what we were building. And that shift created momentum. This episode is a reminder that personal brand is not about becoming someone else. It is about standing more fully in who you already are.   Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction to personal branding in coaching 00:43 – What personal brand really means 02:09 – How people experience you as a coach 04:35 – Clarity, consistency, and credibility 06:01 – Authenticity and real-life alignment 08:19 – Why you cannot fake your brand 09:38 – Consistency builds trust over time 12:28 – Visibility and the fear of being seen 15:14 – Recognising what makes you unique 17:37 – Brand evolution and growth over time 20:05 – You already have a brand 21:58 – Investing in your brand and business growth 24:49 – Evolving your brand as you grow 27:43 – Why visibility is essential for success   Key Lessons Learned: Personal brand is about authenticity, not performance Visibility is essential for attracting coaching clients Consistency builds trust and strengthens credibility You already have a personal brand, whether intentional or not Discomfort around visibility is part of growth Your brand should reflect your values, beliefs, and coaching style Testimonials can reveal powerful insights about your brand Investing in your brand can transform your confidence and business growth   Keywords: Personal brand for coaches, Why personal branding matters in coaching, Coaching business growth, Coach visibility and marketing, Authentic personal branding, Coaching identity and brand, How to attract coaching clients, Coaching marketing strategies, Building trust as a coach, Coaching business development,   Links & Resources: IG Company website: https://www.igcompany.com  Coaching course quiz: https://www.mycoachingcourse.com

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Do you find that some of your most meaningful and important endeavours are accidental? Tuula and I unexpectedly made two short horror films earlier this week. And it got me thinking again about differences between experimental and conceptual approaches to life. In this episode of The Gentle Rebel Podcast, we explore how, for many of us, the accidental discoveries and detours are not always unhelpful distractions or procrastination, but a vital part of what brings meaning to our lives. We will begin thinking about how to accept and embrace these natural elements of ourselves so we can work with them and they can work for us. https://youtu.be/Ro2tqJ1zNRw Experimental vs. Conceptual I’ve talked about this distinction in more depth elsewhere, based on the research of Galenson and Weinberg. But in short, conceptual types identify a specific goal and lay an efficient path towards it. Experimental types, on the other hand, find success along the way, in side quests, detours, and spontaneous urges that spark creative connection. Accidental Side Quests and Skills For those of us who lean more in the experimental direction, successes are often experienced as a feeling when a side-quest trail, which might look to outside observers like a distraction, sparks a creative connection. Not because we’ve discovered some grand purpose or the thing we were meant to do with our life, but because it brings a sense of integrity to the moment we’re in. We might then dwell in that place for a while, deepening our skills and exploring further ideas, or it might be a short-lived pit stop. But the key is that these side quests give us new insights, dots to connect with previous knowledge and experience, and tools that we carry with us. I recognised this in how quickly I can turn a funny little urge or idea into a finished video that captures the essence of the energy sloshing around. I am not a video editor by trade, but I’ve become highly competent and quick, picking up necessary resources along the way. Stumbling Into Meaningful Endeavours It’s interesting to consider whether, for experimental types, learning and development may often arise more from an existing context than from choosing something outside it. A conceptual type might see a surfer and be inspired to learn to surf. An experimental type might find themselves learning to surf because the opportunity was presented somehow. You’ll recognise this if you say, “I just sort of ended up there” or “I stumbled into it. I fell down a rabbit hole and couldn’t let go of what I found.” This was my story with podcasting. I started my first podcast in 2010, quite by accident. I stumbled on a podcast plugin for my blog and started playing around. It emerged out of curiosity and without a grand launch. Preparing For Unexpected Detours I want to emphasise that the experimental approach isn’t simply about drifting from one thing to another after getting bored. We can spend years on the same thing. Rather, it’s about how we relate to those things we find and, most important, to the possibilities and potentials within the fields we play on. For experimental people, it can be difficult to organise life in anticipation of the accidental detours and side quests we can be sure are coming, because by definition we don’t know what they will look like. That’s part of the deal. It’s why traditional goal setting and personal development tools can feel like a bad fit for us. They start with the end in mind. Knowing where you want to go so you don’t end up elsewhere. But squeezing ourselves into conceptual models is soul-destroying. A Place for Your Experimental Curiosities If this resonates with you, you might be interested in The Return To Serenity Island. It is a guided experience I created for experimental people who want a sense of direction without rigid goal setting. Part course and part choose your own adventure on a treasure island, it is designed to honour the intuitive, curious, accidental orientation that brings us energy and meaning. You can find out more about our coming picnic sessions at serenityisland.me. Four Things I Learned from Two Horror Films View this post on Instagram A post shared by Andy Mort | The Gentle Rebel (@gentlerebelhaven) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Andy Mort | The Gentle Rebel (@gentlerebelhaven) 1. Recognising the Spontaneous Urge We were in the kitchen. I scared Tuula by just appearing when her back was turned. It made me think of those scenes with fridge doors in horror movies, when the door obscures what could be lurking behind it. I suddenly had the urge to make a video. Just because. It would be funny. Then another idea landed. A sequel. A haunted sauna spoon. I love that spontaneous urge. Sometimes an internal story emerges to talk you out of it. “You’re wasting time. You’re being childish.” But I have very fond memories from saying yes to the spontaneous urge, especially when it brings others along. 2. Recognising What is Driving Me When I published those short films on Instagram, it was nice to see people hit the Like button. Not because I needed validation, but because it was nice to see people “get it”. They could understand and feel the energy that created it. 3. Recognising the Rebellious Urge I’ve had YouTube comments saying, “Comb your hair” and “clean up your background.” I take a strange pleasure in knowing that something I don’t care about highlights an irrational reaction in someone else. I don’t live a neatly curated life. It’s a complete hodgepodge. There’s a recklessness in that which feels freeing. 4. Recognising When Enough is Enough Knowing when to quit and move to another trail is part of the experimental experience. We had more ideas for horror movies, but after the second one, it felt like a third would be forcing it. The moment was done. In a good way. We honoured it and let it go. The artefacts it provided will remain. As will the memory.

What if the source of your best writing isn't something you control — but something you learn to collaborate with? How can ancient ideas about the muse, the daimon, and creative genius transform the way you approach your work? And what might happen if you stopped fighting the silence and let it become your greatest creative ally? With Matt Cardin, author of Writing at the Wellspring. In the intro, thoughts on bookstores and Toppings; 20 ways authors can signal humanity and build reader trust [Wish I'd Known Then]; Learning from Silence – Pico Iyer; ProWritingAid spring sale; Bones of the Deep – J.F. Penn. Today's show is sponsored by Draft2Digital, self-publishing with support, where you can get free formatting, free distribution to multiple stores, and a host of other benefits. Just go to www.draft2digital.com to get started. This show is also supported by my Patrons. Join my Community at Patreon.com/thecreativepenn Matt Cardin is the multi-award-nominated author of eight books at the convergence of horror, religion, and creativity. His latest book is Writing at the Wellspring: Tapping the Source of Your Inner Genius, which is fantastic. I actually blurbed it as follows: “A guide for writers who welcome the dark and hunger for meaning. . . . If the page is a threshold, this book will show you how to cross.” You can listen above or on your favorite podcast app or read the notes and links below. Here are the highlights and the full transcript is below. Show Notes How Matt balances a full-time academic career with his creative writing life The ancient concept of the genius, the muse, and the daimon, and why creativity is about collaboration with something beyond yourself Why the silences that come into our creative lives, including writer's block and inertia, might actually be gifts rather than obstacles The stages of the creative process Living into the dark, and embracing uncertainty How Substack and blogging can organically grow into books You can find Matt at MattCardin.com or www.livingdark.net. Transcript of the interview with Matt Cardin Joanna: Matt Cardin is the multi-award-nominated author of eight books at the convergence of horror, religion, and creativity. His latest book is Writing at the Wellspring: Tapping the Source of Your Inner Genius, which is fantastic. I actually blurbed it as follows: “A guide for writers who welcome the dark and hunger for meaning. . . . If the page is a threshold, this book will show you how to cross.” It is a great book. So welcome to the show, Matt. Matt: Well, thank you, Jo. It's really a pleasure to be here, especially since, as you and I were briefly acknowledging before we started recording, we have overlapping interests to a great degree. So it's really great to make official contact with you. Joanna: Indeed. So, first up, before we get into the book itself— Tell us a bit more about you and how you got into writing. Matt: Well, I'm one of those people whose story is probably typical in some ways, in that I really wanted to do it from the time I was a child. My father was a great writer, although he was an attorney. He wasn't a professional writer. Something about books and reading when I was a child really seriously enchanted me. I was very frustrated when I was so young—and I vividly remember this—that I couldn't read, because I loved the books that were read to me. I craved being able to read them for myself. So as soon as I gained that ability in school, it was off to the races, so to speak, and for some reason, a desire to tell stories myself came along with that. Being a “writer” was one of the earliest life desires, job or career desires, that I expressed. I was one of those young people really into fantasy, horror, and science fiction. So I was reading a lot of it and trying to emulate it and write a lot of it. There was a cinematic component—I was a movie fanatic as well. I won a local Authors' Guild short story writing contest when I was a senior in high school and began trying to write stories seriously in college. Then my interest in horror and religion became dominant over time, and that's what I ended up writing about. Joanna: Has your interest turned into paid work? That's the other thing, because there's an interest and then there's making writing more of your income and your business. Matt: Right. Well, actually, although I have made and do make money from my writing, it has always, always, always remained on the side. My main career, as far as my moneymaking life, first started off in video and media production, which is formally what I got my undergraduate college degree in. Then I switched into education. I taught high school for some years, and then now for the past, good Lord, 18 years, I have been in higher education. First as English faculty who also taught some religion courses, and then now for the past several years in the administration. I'm Vice President of Academic Affairs at a college. My writing has been something that I pursued as an avocation. As far as earning money from it, that didn't happen even with my first publication, which happened on the internet in 1998, I believe, with a horror story titled “Teeth.” It was just free—I didn't get paid. That led to paid publication of that story three or four years later, when it appeared as my very first print publication in a Lovecraftian horror anthology from Del Rey titled The Children of Cthulhu. It appeared as the final story, and that was the first time I had received a paycheck. It was a professional per-word rate. Since then I've had several books published and more stories and essays and that kind of thing. I've had income sometimes from writing and sometimes I haven't. My first book came out of that story. I attended the World Horror Convention in 2001, actually before that Lovecraftian anthology was published, but it had been placed. At the World Horror Convention, which was in Seattle that year, I met one of the two editors of that book, and that led to me having my first short story collection, Divinations of the Deep, which was not for much money, but it attracted a lot of good attention and some good reviews. So it's been like that all along. I mean, I've made a couple of runs at saying I would love to just be an author, as it were, but that doesn't seem to be in the cards for me. And honestly, I'm glad it's not. I have made the most money from some academic editing projects that I've done. I created and edited a two-volume encyclopedia of the history of horror literature, for instance, for a big academic publisher. Those are work-for-hire projects that I get paid for. Making money on my own creative vision and my own creative work has been intermittent. It really has proven over time that not having my primary creative, spiritual, and philosophical drive hooked to what I earn my bread by has been a blessing. I don't want to take this thing I love and make it be how I have to grind to earn my money. I want to keep it in a protected space. That has been spontaneously what's happened with my writing career. Joanna: Yes. I think as you say, there are a lot of benefits of that, especially where you are writing at this convergence of horror, religion, and creativity. Your writing is very deep. I would say it's on the edge of academic. I don't want to say it's completely academic, because a lot of people will find that difficult. But I think Writing at the Wellspring goes very deep while still being open to non-academic readers. As you say, I think if you had wanted to make a living with your books, you would've had to have gone in at a lighter level, perhaps. Do you think that makes sense? Matt: Yes, I know what you mean. I want to specify, I know that neither you nor I are saying anything about this as any kind of criticism or condescension to anyone who does make their living as a writer. I mean, I believe you do. Joanna: Yes, exactly. Matt: And that's fine. There really are people who have had significant commercial success from books or other things they've written that don't appear to be making huge concessions to being commercial. You can make a living as a writer, I think, and really follow your muse and not feel like you have to pander or cater or cheapen it. Then there are people who have perfectly happily decided to commercialise their work and tune it in whatever way is currently popular. That's fine. Every writer, every creative person should do what is right for him or her, in my opinion. In my particular case, I think what you said is right. I do think that I might have needed to change some things, to back off, to word them differently. Whenever I've tried to exert deliberate control like that, it just turns out that it's not something that my creative spirit wants to do. I don't really feel like I'm in contact with the work anymore. I'm fine with that. I don't think I'm doing a sweet lemons type thing. It really is the way it just needs to be. If it ever proves that me doing it strictly the way I want to do it, going however deep I want regardless of trying to appeal to a paying readership—if it turns out that at some point aligns with boatloads of money coming in, that's fine. That's perfectly fine. I'd be open to that. Joanna: Yes. Matt: I would be open to that. Joanna: You mentioned muse there, and with Writing at the Wellspring, the subtitle is “Tapping the Source of Your Inner Genius.” So I think this is a good place to talk about it. As you mentioned, you are leaning into your muse and your inner genius, and you use other terms—daemon or daimon. I think sometimes people find the word “genius” particularly very difficult because it has the connotation of brilliance in some form. So how can people think about this? How can we lean into this [genius] side of ourselves? Matt: Honestly, one thing that I would suggest people do is I would refer them to the TED Talk that Elizabeth Gilbert gave some years ago—was it 2009, 2010, 2011? It's one of the more popular TED Talks. Elizabeth Gilbert spoke about. I think it's sometimes given the title “Your Elusive Creative Genius” or something like that. Her whole talk is about the way in her own creative life, and as she recommends to others, it has been very important for her to seize on the older model that we're talking about. The most clear articulation of it is that it used to be the case—and we're talking about in ancient Western history, back to the Romans and even earlier to the Greeks—that genius was not something that you identified a person as being. It was something that a person had. And I would also say importantly, maybe had them too. In ancient Roman culture surrounding art and poetry and that kind of thing, the genius was the spirit that might, say, live in an artist's studio and would provide the same service to that artist as the Greek muses provided to someone who was writing epic poetry or history or something like that. That understanding of it has continued in various ways down through history. But there was a fateful transition as Western culture went through what we commonly call the Enlightenment and the Renaissance as well. This was where the term “genius,” while it didn't lose all those connotations of being an inspiring spirit—something that a person both has and maybe has hold of them—did become internalised to the point where we speak of people as being geniuses., which is exactly what you're talking about. I agree, some people listening to this probably have some reservations about this. They don't want to call themselves a genius because we tend to mean that's a super brilliant person, some kind of prodigy who is possessed of amazing artistic, creative, or intellectual skills. Again, that is the result of a cultural, philosophical, psychological, historical transition that occurred several centuries ago. And you still see the older meaning of it being attached sometimes. You think of people who we call geniuses being touched by something. Well, the older version—where you think of the genius, which in the way I use it in this book and also in my first book on creativity, A Course in Demonic Creativity—the genius is equivalent to the muse, which is equivalent to that other figure that you mentioned, the daemon or the daimon. It refers to a separate—what seems for all the world to be a separate—centre of intelligence or entity or influence. The thing that gives you both your creative drive and also your ideas, and serves as the source of what comes to you naturally to write. It's more than just ideas. When you talk about the ancient Greek daimon, there was a whole well-developed tradition of that in ancient Greek philosophy and religion. A daimon was, in one famous sense, a spirit that you were born with, that the gods had given you. It was like your double, your higher self. It was the thing that represented your character, your interests, the blueprint and the outline that your life was supposed to follow. There are great books written about that. There's a book by the psychologist James Hillman titled The Soul's Code. A lot of people have read it. It lays out the daimon theory and gives it application to modern instances. The idea is that everybody has a genius or has a muse or has a daimon. For writers, my recommendation is to say, whether you believe it or not, whether you take it as a metaphor—which is fine—or whether you want to get somewhat mystical and delve into the idea that maybe there's really a spirit or something, it doesn't matter. Productively, with practical, measurable results, you can learn to relate to your creative impulse as if you are collaborating internally with someone else. It's the centre of why you're interested in writing what you want to write, why you want to write the way you want to write, and even the types of things that unfold in the course of your career—both your creative career and the rest of your life, in the mould of the ancient daimon. I have found that to be a vein of great power and meaning in my own life. I do it exactly the way I'm describing. I don't actually believe it, but I don't disbelieve it. I find that in experience, it really doesn't matter. It works and it may as well be true. Joanna: I mean, obviously the book has a whole load of ways we can tap into that, but I did like that you talk about stillness and silence, because I feel like that is actually increasingly difficult as authors. Obviously it's noisy online and we're meant to be doing things like social media or interacting with people online. And then the world is just noisy. The news is noisy. There's lots of things. How can we use this idea of stillness and silence? Also, any other ways we can practically tap into this side? Matt: Sure. One thing that wanted to say itself in this book was some things I had been thinking and feeling about silence for a long time. As you say, it can be difficult these days to find what feels like the silence that we need to even get our work done. We're talking about the muse or the genius. How can we even hear it when it seems like the clamour of all the pulls that we have on our outward attention has become truly a cacophony? We have opted for this in many ways through our engagement with social media or other things, but in other ways seems like it's been thrust upon us. What I want to point out, that has been of extreme importance to me, is that many silences come into our lives as creatives that we resist. It's not just that we can't find the silence and the space that we feel like we need so as not to drown out our creativity. It's that we have unwanted silences come in, like writer's block. Or even if it doesn't feel like a block, just inertia. Just stasis. I don't know about you, but I have many, many times found myself grappling with what, for all the world, feels like a totally natural, organic sense of wanting to slip into complete inertia, just total stillness. And that feels like it has been in conflict with my creative drive. It's like I have this residual desire and also a sense of duty that I really should be writing. Maybe I have an idea in mind and I'm just not working on it. Or maybe I'm in the middle of a project and I feel like I'm abandoning it. Or maybe nothing's coming up, but I feel like it should be. I'm pushing myself, but there's a division in me where I also just want to leave it alone. Whether that means actually just sitting there silently at my writing table or in meditation, or maybe just going about regular daily life and forgetting about trying to fulfil this creative calling. I really think there's a vein of gold to be tapped in the silences that come to all of us. Because as I said, that can be in the middle of daily activity. We have this kind of franticness, some of us, about our creativity. We get wrapped up in it. We feel bound to it. The thing that so much of the time we want to think is a gift—we're proud of it, we cherish it, we like our writing—also becomes a burden. This fantasy of just chucking it all, of just saying, “I would love to be free of it. It's like something that's weighing me down. I'm sorry that I roped myself into it. I would love to just sink into complete silence.” This sort of meditative thing, or just muteness—hey, that is valid to hear. That's valid to heed when it comes up. I mean, sometimes we have gotten ourselves into situations where we have external responsibilities and deadlines, and it's important to try and honour those and not be a bad person on the level of just fulfilling practical obligations. It's also important to recognise you've got silence offering itself to you in all kinds of ways. The more important silence is paradoxically the one that we so often resist if we're creative people and feel like we have to be making. The more important silence is not whether or not your outward conditions seem like they're a clamour and they're chaotic and they're distracting and they're full of pressure. It's that inner silence. So I recommend paying attention to when it comes up. And for practical ways—they are endless. Take advantage of early mornings. A lot of people have found great value in getting up earlier than they are used to and making a practice of that, and either just meditating or free writing. Maybe using, for example, Julia Cameron's famous practice of morning pages, which has been valuable to me sometimes. Or doing things like—as I've said about the muse and the genius and the daimon—personify your unconscious mind and maybe write down a dialogue between yourself and your creative spirit, whether about your current project or just about your life and your creativity as a whole. There are various tricks to get in touch with this unconscious part of you, and I really am convinced out of practical personal experience that it's not necessary to have outer silence and outer spaciousness when you can find it within yourself. You can find it through some of these exercises for getting in alignment with what your creativity wants to do. You can get in touch with it if you're paying attention to what you might not recognise as a gift—offering it to yourself. If things go quiet and you think, “Oh no, I should be doing something”—why not let that be a place where things can germinate? Why not let that be the silence that you might not be able to find on the outside? Joanna: Yes, and I'm feeling guilty here because of course we are producing a podcast episode for people to listen to. I find personally that one of the places I can find silence is when I walk. It's not obviously silent outside, but I am definitely guilty of always listening to podcasts, often at very fast speed as well. Sometimes when I go for a walk, I just deliberately do not listen to anything—don't listen to an audiobook, don't listen to a podcast—and a lot comes up there. I have my phone with me, and when I get back from those walks and jot down things that come up in my mind, I will have so many notes of things that have come up in my brain during the walk. It's really difficult, isn't it? Because I know you also love input. You do a lot of research. As I said, your books have a lot of research in them, and so we both like doing the research. But also I definitely find that has to be balanced with the time for letting it come out again in some form, with that mental silence. You also talk about being uncomfortable, and I feel like sometimes that silence can be uncomfortable as well. Matt: Yes, it can be. There's no telling what might come up when you are faced with silence. Again, it's one of those things—even the outer kind that we think we crave. Sometimes it's a bit frightening when it comes up, which is why we try to fill it with things, like this podcast episode for example. There's a threshold that you can notice you cross sometimes, where what was a natural desire to connect with something that you heard about and found interesting becomes a bit frantic. Where now, really, what might be good is if you shut off—didn't go for the next podcast episode or didn't go for the next click to the website—if you just shut the browser and just sat there and did something else. You're kind of, with a little desperateness, trying to fill the void. What you described about needing to get quiet and let things happen—yes. I love reading and research, but the classic stages of the creative process—first codified, I think, by Graham Wallas, if I remember correctly—they still work. It's really good sometimes to have a model and understand how it works. You have what's sometimes called the preparation stage. All the input, all the research, all the brainstorming, all that kind of thing. Then the incubation stage can be vastly important. That can get frightening, both because the silence seems somehow threatening, like something about you is going to be exposed. Or maybe that you're going to lose the thread of whatever it was and it's never going to come out. But really, if you just stop and let your muse, let your genius do its thing, let your unconscious do its thing, it will suggest itself again. It will come up on its own. Ideas will come back. You'll realise, “Oh, I didn't know what I was going to do with that character. I didn't know how these ideas were going to come together. I didn't even know what this idea for a story, a book, or an essay was going to be.” It comes back up, and with you working with it, it shows what it wanted to be all along. This whole thing about doing the preparation and then allowing it to incubate and germinate and then sprout when it wants to, that still works. Part of the reason that we're scared of the silence, I'm convinced, is because each of us operates in our psychological selves as a closed system. It's like we each comprise our own cosmos, so to speak. I know you know that I have worked in horror literature, the literature of cosmic fear. In cosmic horror, as laid out by the likes of Lovecraft and others, the basic effect has been analysed as constituting a disturbance of the universe. That's the horror of cosmic horror—the world is transformed into this nightmarish thing in a cosmic horror story, where there's a haunting, threatening presence that's out of the ordinary and it's somehow bound up with the narrator's interior world. Life reveals itself as supernaturally or ontologically something nightmarish—there are awful forces that are about to erupt all the time. And whether anybody's into cosmic horror or not, I think it's pretty accurate to say that we each constitute our own world, our own cosmos. A lot of the noise that we make—the mental noise and the complications we introduce into our own lives—is, usually unconsciously, trying to stave off confrontation with the otherness that is outside the barrier of our personal sense of self. The weird thing is that that otherness is actually in us, and in fact, we can approach it in the figure of the daemon or the daimon or the muse. So creativity is fraught. You're dealing with something that you might want to think, “Oh, this is great, it's going to be the source of my ideas, it's going to fulfil my creativity.” Well, yes, but it is frightening to think about the fact of something about yourself being beyond yourself and perhaps being out of your conscious control and somehow guiding your destiny. A lot of people have trouble getting along with their own unconscious, which is another way to put it. There's a horror, a fear, a dread effect that comes when we feel like we are out of control. We all face that ultimately—when it comes to our death, for example. There are some spiritual traditions that talk about dying before you die, that being basically the way to enlightenment in those traditions. Recognising and coming to terms with the fact that this thing that is you, that you call yourself, is transitory. It is only there by being enclosed within and swamped from without by this thing that is not you, which is a sort of void to which you'll return. In the book, I deal with some of that, and I talk about it from a non-dual spiritual viewpoint, because ultimately for me, these creative questions have become inseparable from spiritual questions. Joanna: Yes. And obviously people know about my book Writing the Shadow, which is how we really connected around this Jungian idea of the shadow and the darkness. I agree with you—there's some really interesting things at the juxtaposition of all of these topics, which we could talk about for a long time. I do want to ask you around your idea of “living into the dark.” Because I feel like you do take things beyond just the writing into this idea of living into it. So maybe talk a bit about that. And obviously synchronicity, which is a Jungian psychology concept. Matt: Living into the dark is the thing that forms the overarching ethos or perspective for me of all this. I got the term from “writing into the dark,” which actually comes from the American science fiction and fantasy author Dean Wesley Smith. He wrote a book titled Writing Into the Dark, subtitled “Writing Without an Outline.” It's a great book. I recommend it to anyone. It is about forsaking and foregoing the felt need to outline writing in advance and trusting your creative mind to be able to make up a story in real time. That draws on the deep nature of storytelling to come out right. Therefore you write into the dark, as if you're walking down a road where you have a lantern and you can only see one step ahead. You haven't mapped out the territory. It was a great metaphor. I had already been thinking in that direction about life and about creativity for some time when I first came across that book. I devoured it and recognised it described how I had already been writing anyway, which is one reason it was so powerful for me. Then it edged out into a broader understanding for me that I had also been coming up with, that I just ended up calling “living into the dark.” None of us knows where anything is going, that much is obvious. But living into the dark goes farther than that, to embrace this understanding. I think of this in connection with what so many people, either personally or because of jobs they have where they're required to think like this. I think of this in terms of the famous five-year plan that so many of us want to draw up. There's nothing wrong with a five-year plan or a ten-year plan or a one-year plan. You can come up with that for practical purposes and try and chart where you're going, but we too often forget that that's just a fantasy exercise. We are not actually thinking into the future, nor are we ever actually thinking into the past. Remembering the past, predicting or projecting the future—both are events that are happening right now, in this moment, which is always now. It's no less now than it was when you and I first started this conversation. Past and future are projections—mental projections right now. And everything is unfolding in the present in real time, which effectively means what's going to come next is coming out of—well, we don't know where it's coming out of. Darkness. Living into the dark is living with full-on contact with, and awareness of, and embrace of this fact that we don't know what's coming up. That encompasses all of life and all of creativity. That same darkness, if it's helpful for you to take on this emotional tenor—which it is for me—can relate to the darkness in cosmic horror fiction, or to some of the rich traditions of darkness, like in Daoism with the yin contrasted with yang. Yin is the dark, moon, feminine aspect of things—the receptive source of the universe. This idea of living into the dark, of just accepting that we're all on this journey on a path where we can only see one step ahead, even if that far, has been meaningful to me. It's been meaningful to my creativity, and I recommend it to anybody to whom it appeals. It takes a lot of pressure off. I think that's a guiding meta-theme for me—trying to take the pressure off us from trying to control things that can't be controlled, and more stepping into that flow of understanding: what's going to come to me is going to come to me, and my posture toward it, whether I align with it or not, is what's going to determine my experience of it. You mentioned synchronicity. It's interesting. It's verifiable. I know a lot of people have verified it for themselves. Maybe some people listening to this have too. It's verifiable that when you really get in tune with this present-moment thing and get in tune with your creativity—and you can tell when you're aligned and not, when you feel blocked or when you feel resistance or not—when these things align on their own sometimes, strange coincidences do happen. Jung talked about synchronicity as an acausal connecting principle. That was probably due to the fact that the psyche is not separate from the fabric of the world that gives rise to it, so that we might have subjective things—impressions, fantasies, dreams—that we rather uncannily see mirrored in objective events. Like the famous thing that clarified and coalesced that for him: a psychotherapy session with a patient who was describing a dream she'd been having about a scarab beetle. Then he heard a tapping at the window of his office and he went there and opened it, and there was a European beetle—a kind of scarab beetle, much like the Egyptian scarab—that was there. He held it up and said to the woman, “Is this your beetle? Here is your beetle.” It just blew her mind. It opened new levels of the therapy that she was receiving. Those kinds of things happen. I've had them happen. Joanna: Me too. Matt: If you're a long-time writer or reader, you're familiar with the library genie—the library daemon, we sometimes refer to it as—the book that, just at the moment you think of it and realise, “Oh yes…” You're doing your study, and it doesn't have to be a library, it could be on the web or whatever. You finally realise what it is that you need, what you've been looking for, and in some cases it literally falls off the shelf onto someone's head. What do you make of those when they happen? At the very least, it rattles your cage. You might enter a state of suspended judgement about whether we really are living in a kind of magical cosmos full of real correspondences. It's a bit like the daimon or the muse: is it a metaphor? Is it just an interpretation, or is it something real? Probably the best place is one of profoundly, actively embraced agnosticism, and just take it for what it is. Joanna: Yes, and leaning more into your intuition. I think you definitely demonstrate that in the book as well, really exploring a lot of very interesting topics. Now, we are almost out of time, but you do have a Substack, The Living Dark, where you publish essays, and you've also got all kinds of really interesting books. I want people to go have a look at some of the other stuff you've written, especially if you enjoy horror and religion and all of that kind of thing. So just to ask, how do you decide when something is an essay on The Living Dark, and how do you decide when you are going to put it in a book or in some other way? I feel like a lot of authors are thinking about Substack but don't necessarily know what to put on it. I think I first connected with you on your Substack, where I was like, “Oh, this guy's writing interesting, weird stuff.” How do you use Substack as opposed to writing for your books? Matt: Sure. Let me answer by first talking about what happened previously with that first book on creativity that I mentioned, A Course in Demonic Creativity. I had all kinds of thoughts and ideas coming up, seeded over many years of practice and reading about the daimon and the daemon and the genius and the muse. In 2009 I founded a blog—it was just a WordPress blog—and I titled it Daemon Muse. I attended to it for two to three years. A lot of people ended up reading it. I really did not have any plans, not even any back-burner plans, of taking the material that I published in posts there about this way of creativity and making it a book. I did realise about a year and a half in that essentially I had a book I had already written in those posts. So it took some work, and I spent six months making it all into a coherent book. By the way, that book was only ever published as a PDF, which is still free on my website, MattCardin.com—although plans for the first-ever print edition of it are in motion right now. That was published in 2011. When I went to Substack and started my newsletter there in 2022—and by the way, it wasn't originally called The Living Dark; my first title was “Living Into the Dark,” and then I changed it about a year, year and a half in—I kind of am doing the same thing. It's been a while since I took anything and thought, “I'm writing a book with it.” I write what comes to me to write. You know how Substack Notes is Substack's own version of social media, kind of like Twitter used to be or like X kind of is now. It happens all the time that I write things that just stay in contact with people as a Substack Note—some short thing. And then I realise I wanted to say more about that. Or you have what happened just this morning. Three or four hours before you and I were talking, I started writing a Substack Note and it got so long I realised I had something that could be a post to The Living Dark. So I switched over and finished it that way. The book Writing at the Wellspring came together after I had written things for a couple of years at The Living Dark and realised that I could trace a path through about a third of the posts that I had ever published there, and had the makings of a book. So that, plus other material from earlier in my life—there are things from my private journals from years ago in Writing at the Wellspring—plus some new material, ended up turning into that book. So I'm not thinking about the difference, is what I'm saying. I find writing at my Living Dark newsletter to be a needful and enjoyable creative outlet, partly because I have some 3,800 readers now and it feels good to be in contact with them and to have that audience and to know that there's that eye on what I'm writing. That's partly because I just have the freedom to work it out to my satisfaction and publish it there. I'm already halfway forming another book that will be of a different focus, to come from things that I have published there. So for me, there's an organic relationship between Substack writing, or any kind of blogging, and the writing of books. If people haven't thought about that, they might want to consider it. If you have one already or if you're thinking of starting a blog on Substack or anywhere else, maybe you have things that can guide you to a book that already exists and you just haven't realised it. Joanna: So where can people find you and your books and everything you do online? Matt: Well, The Living Dark that we're talking about is at www.livingdark.net—and it does require the three Ws at the beginning to get there. Then my author website is MattCardin.com, and you can go to the books page there to get a link to all the books I've published and read about them. Joanna: Great. Well, thanks so much for your time, Matt. That was fantastic. Matt: Thank you, Jo. I really appreciate the invitation.The post Writing At The Wellspring: Tapping The Source Of Your Inner Genius With Matt Cardin first appeared on The Creative Penn.