Podcasts about sian simpson

Something new is beginning at Bountifull.For more than two years, I've been having conversations with people around the world exploring a simple question: how do we actually live a good life?More than 80 conversations later, I've learnt an enormous amount. Along the way, I've started to see themes and ideas emerging across conversations with people from completely different perspectives, backgrounds, countries, identities and professions.There's enough there that I've decided to turn some of what I've been learning into a book. I've begun writing it, and at the moment I'm thinking a lot about the conditions that make a bountiful life possible. What creates those conditions? What crowds them out? Why are so many of us encouraged to build lives that look good on paper, but don't necessarily feel particularly good to live in? And what might we do differently?For the next few months, I want to give myself more room to write and think. Bountifull Podcast episodes will move to being published fortnightly on Sunday's at 10am NZT. In between, you'll still be hearing from me, I'll be writing to you every week by email, sharing what I'm learning, the questions I'm exploring or wrestling with, and probably some of what happens as the book starts to take shape. If you don't already get those emails, please join below. Lots of people tell me that they like my emails! I'd also really love to get to know more of you a little better. After all, I think a bountiful life is something we build with other people, not on our own. If there's something you've heard in a Bountifull episode over the past couple of years that has stayed with you, something you learnt, something that made you realise something, changed your mind, or was simply really interesting, tell me.You can leave a comment on the episode below or send me a message, I've linked my contact form below. I read everything I get and I reply. I genuinely love hearing from you and the Bountifull Community around the world. Weekly emails: www.bountifullworld.com/subscribe/Contact Form: www.bountifullworld.com/contact-us/With joy always, Sian Simpson 

In this episode, I sit down with sociologist and demographer Paul Spoonley to explore how the population changes already underway could shape the life you're able to build in the decades ahead.We're living longer, having fewer children, becoming more culturally diverse and concentrating more of our populations in major cities. Paul explains why those shifts matter to you, from the future of retirement and healthcare to regional communities, migration and the number of people available to work.We also look at the choices underneath the statistics. Why are fewer people having children? How much is the cost and structure of modern life narrowing those choices? What makes you stay where you are or move elsewhere? And what happens when the systems built for one generation no longer fit the next?Paul argues that demography is destiny. Many of these changes can already be anticipated, which means the bigger question is what you choose to do with that knowledge.We talk about retirement, taxation, intergenerational fairness, the changing nature of work and what you might need to think about now as you prepare for a very different future.Episode Highlights

This week on Bountifull, I'm joined by Brittany McNabb for the first in a four-part series exploring health, wellbeing, food and fitness from a very different angle.Brittany is a personal trainer with a background spanning psychology, business, psychotherapy, nutrition, meditation and behaviour change. Her work starts from a simple idea: lasting change is about far more than calorie deficits, macros or what you do at the gym.Brittany describes much of the health and fitness industry as focusing on the tip of the iceberg: the habits, meal plans, macros and training programmes we can see. Her work goes underneath that, into our identity, beliefs, nervous system, conditioning and capacity for change. Because the goal isn't simply to achieve a result. It's to find an approach to health that you can actually sustain — one that builds your strength, energy and capacity for life rather than requiring you to make your life smaller to maintain it.But first, we go back to Brittany's own story. We talk about growing up as a Jehovah's Witness, severe bulimia and anorexia, shame, perfectionism, miscarriage, birth trauma, significant weight gain and the journey that eventually led her to lose 40 kilos, rethink her relationship with health and build a business helping thousands of women create lasting change.It's the story behind the work, and the foundation for everything we'll explore next.Episode HighlightsWhy lasting health change is about far more than calories, macros and exerciseHow shame, perfectionism and not feeling “good enough” can shape our behaviourWhy our relationship with food is often about comfort, belonging, control and more than nutritionHow to pursue health and body goals without making your life smaller in the processHow to separate what you genuinely want from what you've been conditioned to wantChapters 00:00 — Why lasting change goes deeper than food and fitness03:10 — Brittany's background in psychology, psychotherapy, nutrition and training07:12 — The iceberg beneath behaviour change12:14 — Growing up with shame, fear and external authority16:30 — Food, comfort, belonging and control18:16 — Not enoughness, perfectionism and eating disorders23:05 — Performing for others and losing yourself27:20 — Miscarriage, birth trauma and significant weight gain33:32 — Relearning health after restriction and shame36:20 — Losing 40 kilos without shrinking your life38:18 — Why more information isn't making us healthier40:03 — Female conditioning, beauty standards and self-control43:24 — Separating what you want from what you've been handed46:25 — What it means to live a Bountifull lifeGuest Bio Brittany McNabb is an Auckland-based personal trainer, psychology graduate and founder of Mind, Body, Britt. With a background spanning psychology, psychotherapy, nutrition, nervous system education and behaviour change, her work helps women understand what sits underneath their relationship with food, exercise and their bodies.Drawing on both her professional training and her own experience with severe eating disorders, significant weight gain and a 40-kilogram weight loss that she has maintained for more than five years, Brittany has developed an approach to health that goes far beyond meal plans and workouts. Through her RESET programme and wider work, she helps thousands of women create sustainable change while building greater strength, capacity and freedom in their lives.www.mindbodybritt.com/www.instagram.com/mindbody.britt/Bountifull Podcast Bountifull is a self-improvement, personal growth and wellbeing podcast exploring what helps us live richer, more meaningful lives. Hosted by Sian Simpson, each episode brings together ideas from psychology, science, health, relationships, work, culture and lived experience to better understand how we can live well. www.bountifullworld.com/

What if some of the things we struggle to understand about ourselves have roots we can't easily explain?In this episode of the Bountifull Podcast, I sit down with Shirley Johnson, a journalist, astrologer, tarot reader and past life regression therapist who has spent more than four decades exploring how we make sense of ourselves, our relationships and the patterns that shape our lives.Shirley began studying astrology in 1980 and has been facilitating past life regressions since 1991. Along the way, she has contributed to magazines and newspapers, appeared regularly on radio and television, and continued to explore her own creativity through painting and writing.We talk about reincarnation and what happens during a past life regression, as well as dreams, déjà vu, love at first sight, astrology, spirit guides and Shirley's own beliefs about what might happen after we die. We also explore why people are always searching for answers, the patterns we carry through life and the many different ways we try to understand who we are.At 81, Shirley is still learning, creating and following her curiosity. At the heart of this conversation is an invitation to keep doing the same: to remain open, continue discovering ourselves and take an active role in creating a bountiful life.Episode highlightsWhat past life regression is and how it worksReincarnation, past lives and the idea of soul groupsDreams, déjà vu and memories that feel strangely familiarLove at first sight, relationships and soul connectionsAstrology as a tool for self-awareness and understanding ourselvesWhy we repeat patterns and where our fears and phobias might come fromSpirit guides, angels and beliefs about what happens after deathCuriosity, self-discovery and continuing to learn throughout lifeGuest Bio Shirley Johnson is a New Zealand-born astrologer, past life regression therapist, journalist, tarot reader and artist whose career has spanned more than four decades. She began studying astrology in 1980 and trained as a past life regression therapist in 1991 and hypnotherapist in 1992.Earlier in her career, Shirley worked as a radio journalist in London and as assistant editor of Woman's Way magazine in Dublin. She later served as president of the Astrological Federation of Ireland, founded a healing centre in Dublin and co-founded the Irish Association of Regression Therapists.Over the years, Shirley has written long-running magazine columns, appeared on radio and television and worked with clients around the world. Born in New Zealand and long based in Ireland, she now divides her time between the two countries.About the Bountifull PodcastThe Bountifull Podcast explores what it means to live a bountiful life through conversations about personal growth, wellbeing, mental health, self-improvement, resilience, relationships, creativity and what makes life meaningful. Hosted by Sian Simpson, each episode brings together fascinating people from different backgrounds to share real stories, practical wisdom and ideas that help us better understand ourselves, each other and the world around us — and live with more joy, connection and purpose.www.bountifullworld.com/

This week on Bountifull, I'm doing something a little different. My guest is Claude, Anthropic's AI assistant.After more than 80 conversations exploring what it means to live a Bountifull life, I wanted to ask AI the same central question. Not because AI has lived experience, but because it has been trained on an enormous body of human knowledge, ideas, philosophy and conversation. What would it say makes a life feel rich, meaningful and full?We start there, with Claude's own answer, before moving into some of the bigger questions that have come up through the podcast. What does “enough” really mean? Why do so many of us know what matters but still struggle to live accordingly? Can someone living in poverty experience a Bountifull life? We also explore ideas from Eastern and Western philosophy, the role of community and belonging, self-worth, money, hustle culture, constant self-improvement, and why we are so drawn to productivity and external markers of success.Perhaps most importantly, we ask whether a good life needs to look extraordinary at all. The conversation takes us through relationships, curiosity, rest, nature, slowness, generosity, small rituals and defining what enough means for yourself.A slightly unusual conversation this week, but one that ultimately asks the same question Bountifull always does: what really makes a life feel full?Key highlights from this episodeWhat Claude thinks it means to live a Bountifull lifeWhy defining “enough” for yourself mattersThe gap between knowing what matters and actually living that wayWhether someone living in poverty can still experience a Bountifull lifeWhat different philosophical traditions can teach us about living wellThe role of community, belonging and meaningful relationshipsWhat Claude says about self-worth and why achievement may not be the answerWhether more money really does mean more happinessThe difference between meaningful hard work and hustle cultureWhy constant optimisation and self-improvement can become a trapSome of the most underrated ingredients of a good life, including slowness, rest, nature, boredom and small ritualsWhy a Bountifull life does not need to be extraordinaryAbout ClaudeClaude is an AI assistant created by Anthropic, an AI safety and research company. Anthropic describes Claude as a next-generation AI assistant designed to be helpful, honest and thoughtful.Claude can work across a wide range of conversational and analytical tasks, including writing, reasoning, research, analysis, coding and answering questions. Anthropic's research and training approach is focused on developing AI systems that are useful while behaving safely, ethically and transparently.About Bountifull PodcastBountifull is a podcast about what it means to live a full and meaningful life.Hosted by Sian Simpson, each episode explores the ideas, experiences and small choices that shape how we live, from wellbeing, relationships and community to work, creativity, resilience, curiosity and joy.Through conversations with fascinating people from all kinds of backgrounds, Bountifull asks a simple but expansive question: what does it mean to live a bountiful life?⁠bountifullworld.com/⁠

Jeff Williams is the former mayor of Arlington, Texas, a civil engineer, business leader and author of The Unity Blueprint. After leading one of the most diverse cities in America, he believes a richer life begins not with what we accumulate, but with what we contribute.In this episode, Jeff shares why generosity, service and helping others are central to a flourishing life. We explore how friendships are built by reaching out first, why kindness requires intention and what can happen when we become curious about people instead of relying on our assumptions.Jeff also offers a powerful reminder that unity does not mean agreeing on everything. It means creating enough trust and respect to remain connected through disagreement. That requires us to listen to understand, make room for people to be imperfect and resist writing someone off because they disappoint us once. Drawing on his time as mayor, Jeff explains how ordinary people can shape the places they live. A community becomes stronger when people feel valued, see where they can contribute and take pride in building something together. But that kind of belonging does not happen automatically. Someone has to extend the invitation, begin the conversation or offer the first act of kindness.We also talk about humility, character, celebrating our wins and the importance of having people in our lives who keep our egos in check. For Jeff, that person is often his wife, Karen, who reminds him that no matter how important his work becomes, he still needs to take out the rubbish.This is a conversation about choosing to participate in life: reaching out, helping others and contributing to the people and places around us. Because a bountiful life is not something that simply happens to us. It is something we help create.In this episode, we exploreWhy generosity and helping others are central to a bountiful lifeWhat being mayor taught Jeff about peopleWhy kindness requires intentionHow assumptions prevent us from connectingWhy unity does not require agreementListening to understand rather than respondMaking room for people to be imperfectWhy forgiveness matters when people fall shortHow to disagree without becoming hostileWhat makes a place worth belonging toHow ordinary people can strengthen their communitiesWhy trust requires action, not simply wordsThe importance of celebrating our winsHow character and humility keep leaders groundedWhy a bountiful life is something we help create through contributionGuest Bio W. Jeff Williams is a civil engineer, business leader, author and former three-term mayor of Arlington, Texas, serving from 2015 to 2021. He is President and CEO of Graham Associates, where his work spans infrastructure, transportation engineering, urban planning, public engagement and economic development.During his time as mayor, Jeff helped secure a new ballpark for the Texas Rangers, supported the development of the Texas Live! entertainment complex and led Arlington's successful bid for the National Medal of Honor Museum. He also launched a citywide kindness campaign and helped introduce an innovative rideshare-based public transport model.About BountifullBountifull is a podcast hosted by Sian Simpson exploring the stories, ideas and experiences that shape a rich, meaningful and interesting life.

We spend so much of our lives chasing happiness. But happiness naturally comes and goes, and it was never meant to be the only measure of a good life.In this episode, I sit down with philosopher Lorraine Besser to explore what happiness misses and why we also need meaning and psychological richness.Lorraine explains how novelty, complexity, curiosity and experiences that change our perspective can make life feel fuller, even when those experiences are difficult or uncomfortable.We also explore Lorraine's experience of reaching the milestones she had worked towards, only to realise how much of herself had been lost to achievement. She shares how she began reconnecting with adventure, spontaneity and the things that genuinely engaged her.This is a conversation about boredom, risk, resonance, regret and remembering who you are. Most importantly, it shows that a rich and interesting life does not require money, constant travel or dramatic reinvention. It can begin in ordinary moments by noticing more, asking better questions and paying attention to what sparks something within you.In this episode, we exploreWhat philosophers mean by “the good life”Why happiness is temporary and why that is not a problemThe pressure to feel happy all the timeHappiness, meaning and psychological richnessWhat novelty, complexity and challenge add to our livesWhy difficult experiences can still be valuableHow to make ordinary life more interestingBoredom as a signal that the mind wants to engageThe role of curiosity, risk and emotional discomfortHow achievement can crowd out other parts of ourselvesWhy resonance helps us recognise what is good for usThe importance of remembering who we areHow to create a richer family and everyday lifeWhy our greatest regrets often come from what we did not doChapters00:00 Why Happiness Isn't Enough02:14 Lorraine Besser and the Good Life07:41 What Is Psychological Richness?10:16 Happiness, Pleasure and Human Flourishing19:39 Why Happiness Naturally Fades28:41 The Missing Dimension of a Good Life35:06 How to Make Ordinary Life More Interesting44:06 Losing Yourself to Achievement50:10 Boredom, Curiosity and Resonance58:39 Regret, Risk and Living FullyGuest BioLorraine Besser is a philosopher, author and professor specialising in moral psychology, happiness and the philosophy of the good life. She is the Pardon Tillinghast Professor of Philosophy at Middlebury College in Vermont and the author of The Art of the Interesting: What We Miss in Our Pursuit of the Good Life and How to Cultivate It.lorrainebesser.com/A thought to leave you withYou do not need to feel happy all the time to be living well.A good life can be pleasurable and meaningful, but it can also be challenging, surprising, emotionally complicated and deeply interesting.We may not be able to control when happiness arrives, but we have far more control over whether we pay attention, follow our curiosity and allow life to change the way we see the world.About the Bountifull PodcastThe Bountifull Podcast explores the stories, ideas and experiences that shape a full and meaningful life.Each week, host Sian Simpson sits down with fascinating people from around the world to explore creativity, connection, curiosity, resilience and what it really means to live well.These are honest, thoughtful conversations designed to challenge the way you think, introduce you to new ideas and help you find more joy in everyday life.Follow the Bountifull Podcast and join us for a new conversation each week.bountifullworld.com/

What can a lifetime spent protecting some of the world's most extraordinary places teach us about how to live?In part two of my conversation with Lou Sanson, we travel from Antarctica to the highest levels of New Zealand's conservation system — and into the lessons Lou gathered through a life of ambition, responsibility and service.Lou describes Antarctica as New Zealand's landscape “on steroids”: a place so still you can hear your ears ringing and see for hundreds of kilometres. After first travelling there as a field assistant, he returned to lead Antarctica New Zealand, overseeing Scott Base, supporting scientific research and representing New Zealand within a treaty system involving countries with vastly different interests and ideologies.Antarctica taught him that influence does not always come from size, money or authority. It often begins with relationships: listening to people, earning their trust and finding enough common ground to move forward together. Some of Lou's most consequential work began not in formal meetings, but around his family dinner table.We then follow him into the role he had imagined since childhood: Director-General of the Department of Conservation. He inherited an exhausted organisation facing limited funding and an almost limitless task. Rather than imposing another restructure, Lou chose incremental change, stronger partnerships, visible leadership and a more hopeful story about what conservation could achieve.He shares the courage required to make unpopular decisions, the importance of standing behind your people and why playing the long game means staying committed even when progress is slow, opposition is fierce and the result may not arrive during your tenure.Yet after all the scale, ambition and responsibility, Lou's philosophy of a bountiful life is wonderfully immediate: find one “ten out of ten” moment every day. A sunset, a bike ride, a good meal or the call of a native bird at night.His life reminds us that fulfilment does not come from achievement alone. It comes from meaningful work, deep relationships, service to something beyond ourselves and retaining the ability to be delighted by the world directly in front of us.Chapters00:00 Antarctica, conservation and the lessons of a lifetime01:00 More than 50 trips to Antarctica05:18 Why Antarctica matters to all of us07:20 The power of relationships and the family dinner table15:07 From track cutter to Director-General17:42 Leading DOC through incremental change20:17 Storytelling, partnerships and making conservation matter27:30 Public opposition, visibility and social licence33:12 Courage, decisiveness and protecting your people38:54 Playing the long game48:10 Finding a ten-out-of-ten moment every dayGuest Bio Lou Sanson QSO, NZAM is one of New Zealand's most experienced conservation leaders. His career began as a track cutter in South Westland and went on to include senior leadership across Fiordland, Stewart Island and the subantarctic islands. He served as Chief Executive of Antarctica New Zealand from 2002 to 2013 and as Director-General of the Department of Conservation from 2013 to 2021. Today, he continues to contribute to conservation as a trustee of the New Zealand Nature Fund and WWF-New Zealand.About the Bountifull Podcast The Bountifull Podcast explores what it means to live a rich, meaningful and fulfilling life. Hosted by Sian Simpson, each episode brings together thoughtful conversations across psychology, science, relationships, health, work, creativity, culture and society — uncovering the stories, ideas and experiences that shape how we live.www.bountifullworld.com/

What happens when a childhood spent exploring wild places becomes the work of an entire life?In part one of this two-part conversation, I'm joined by Lou Sanson, one of New Zealand's most influential conservation leaders. Lou grew up on the West Coast of New Zealand, learning to cross rivers, climb mountains, cook over fires and navigate the backcountry. At 13, he encountered two forestry workers in a remote hut and decided he wanted a life spent working in nature. Over the next five decades, he would turn that early instinct into a life of extraordinary purpose and service.We follow Lou from his first job cutting tracks through South Westland to becoming responsible for Fiordland, Stewart Island and New Zealand's subantarctic islands. He shares the work behind Rakiura National Park, marine protection in Fiordland and one of the world's most ambitious predator-eradication projects, while reflecting on the experiences that shaped his understanding of leadership, safety, accountability and lasting change.At its heart, this is a conversation about what can happen when you recognise what makes you feel most alive and build your life around it. Nature became Lou's education, his source of courage, his place of renewal and the larger purpose against which he measured his decisions. His story offers a richer way to think about a bountiful life: one grounded in belonging, contribution and responsibility, and in leaving the places entrusted to us better than we found them.Key Episode HighlightsHow growing up on the West Coast of New Zealand shaped Lou's courage, independence and connection to natureThe backcountry encounter at 13 that gave him a direction for lifeWhy nature became Lou's education, purpose and place of renewalThe leadership lesson that taught him good intentions are not enough without strong systems and accountabilityHow Rakiura National Park, Fiordland's marine protection and Campbell Island were brought to lifeWhy meaningful change requires catching the wave of public feeling rather than pushing against itThe importance of building trust and working closely with Ngāi TahuThe Māori philosophy that people belong within nature rather than stand apart from itChapters00:00 Finding a ten-out-of-ten moment 02:56 A bountiful life shaped by the West Coast 08:22 The backcountry encounter that shaped his future 10:33 How New Zealand's conservation system works 14:20 Building a career from the ground up 15:21 The leadership lesson that changed everything 22:32 Rakiura, Fiordland and Campbell Island 26:23 How lasting change really happens 30:59 Learning that we belong to nature 35:53 Why New Zealand's native species matterGuest Bio Lou Sanson QSO, NZAM is one of New Zealand's most experienced conservation leaders. His career began as a track cutter in South Westland and went on to include senior leadership across Fiordland, Stewart Island and the subantarctic islands. He served as Chief Executive of Antarctica New Zealand from 2002 to 2013 and as Director-General of the Department of Conservation from 2013 to 2021. Today, he continues to contribute to conservation as a trustee of the New Zealand Nature Fund and WWF-New Zealand.About the Bountifull Podcast The Bountifull Podcast explores how to live a richer, healthier and more meaningful life through conversations about psychology, relationships, health, work, culture, science and society. Hosted by Sian Simpson, each episode shares powerful stories and practical ideas to help us live with more joy, purpose, curiosity and connection.www.bountifullworld.com/

Most of us are building lives we are not fully present for. We optimise, produce, tick things off and tell ourselves we will get to the good stuff once things calm down. But things rarely calm down. They speed up. And one day you look around and realise your kids have stopped coming to you, your relationships are running on autopilot, and the life you worked so hard to build is one you are barely in. That was the realisation Harvard Professor Dr Jeff Karp had during Covid. The skill that had helped him survive school, build a world-leading lab and found 13 companies had also made him very good at moving through life without stopping to notice it.What makes Jeff's response interesting is that he did not begin with a retreat, a reinvention or some huge life overhaul. He started interrupting patterns. Change the question you ask your kid at dinner and see what happens. Take a different route. Drink tea instead of coffee. Blow bubbles at strangers in traffic and watch people put their phones down and smile. His argument is that changing one small thing can make you aware of all the other things you have been doing without ever really choosing them.We also talk about anti-convenience, why Jeff sometimes washes dishes by hand, and why I can happily spend an hour making gluten-free ravioli from scratch. Not because doing things the long way is always better, but because efficiency is not always the point. Jeff has spent decades inventing technologies that save lives. Turns out one of the most important experiments he ever ran was learning how to be present in his own.Key episode highlightsWhy the skill that helped Jeff survive school later began costing him in adult lifeHow changing one small pattern can reveal the rest of your operating systemThe question: when did you decide to do the same things every day?Why bubbles in traffic became Jeff's favourite form of pattern interruptionHow anti-convenience can create presence without turning your life upside downWhy our brains default to familiar, low-energy behavioursWhat happens when you ask your children a better question than “how was your day?”How silliness can shift the energy of a room and give other people permission to join inChapters00:00 Bubbles, productivity and disconnection02:43 The skill that saved Jeff as a child06:18 When he realised his children had stopped coming to him07:22 How our attention gets hijacked13:57 Why exhaustion can become addictive17:42 The hidden cost of constant productivity21:11 Why the brain defaults to low-energy patterns25:24 The patterns running our lives28:33 How pattern interruption works35:22 Which patterns should we keep?42:46 Why a Harvard professor blows bubbles in traffic48:53 Anti-convenience and doing things the long way52:05 What a bountiful life means to Jeff57:13 The most important experiment he has run on himself Guest BioDr Jeff Karp is a biomedical engineer and professor of anaesthesia at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital. His laboratory develops bio-inspired medical technologies, including tissue adhesives, targeted therapies and medical devices. He has co-founded numerous biotechnology companies and is the author of LIT: Life Ignition Tools, which draws on the strategies he developed while growing up with ADHD and learning differences.https://www.jeffkarp.com/About Bountifull PodcastThe Bountifull Podcast explores what it means to live a bountiful life through honest conversations with fascinating people from around the world.Hosted by Sian Simpson, each episode brings together stories, ideas and experiences from science, psychology, relationships, creativity, culture, work and everyday life. From wellbeing and personal growth to resilience, connection, purpose and joy, Bountifull offers practical insight and fresh perspectives to help you build a richer, more meaningful life.New episodes weekly.https://www.bountifullworld.com/

In this episode, I'm joined by Holly Cardew, an Australian entrepreneur, founder and friend of mine, for a conversation about ambition, self-belief, work, independence and what it means to build a life that actually feels like your own.Holly has always had a very practical kind of confidence. She does not wait until she knows everything before she starts. At 12, she was packing sponges for $5 an hour. At 14, she was working at McDonald's and learning about systems, speed and efficiency. At 18, she moved to Paris, studied in French, and worked out how to get by as she went.That same approach has shaped her life as a founder. When she did not know how to build websites, she Googled it. When she could not afford big teams, she found contractors. When she felt like an outsider in San Francisco, as a non-technical founder without the usual Silicon Valley background, she kept going anyway.What I love about Holly is the way she thinks about life. She does not spend a lot of time worrying about whether the world is fair. Her view is that everyone is dealt a different hand of cards, and the real question is how you play yours.In this conversation, we talk about building companies, raising money, remote work, failure, confidence, asking questions when you do not know the answer, and the emotional stamina it takes to keep going when things are hard.But more than anything, this episode is about mindset. Holly is ambitious, but she is also clear-eyed about the sacrifices that come with ambition. For her, a bountiful life is about being true to what you want, finding the people and places that give you energy, and continuing to build, learn and grow in the direction that feels right to you.Episode HighlightsPlaying the hand you have been dealt, rather than getting stuck on whether life is fairLearning independence early through work, money and figuring things out for yourselfStarting before you feel ready, and learning what you need as you goBuilding confidence as an outsider, especially without the usual Silicon Valley backgroundThe value of asking questions, even when you do not know the technical answerWhy ambition often comes with sacrifice, and how to be honest about thatThe emotional side of building companies, and the pressure founders quietly carryRemote work, team culture and treating people as part of the company, no matter where they areFailure as something to learn from, rather than something that defines youDesigning a life around energy, curiosity, people and places that make you feel aliveChapters00:00 – Playing the hand you have been dealt02:06 – Growing up in Sydney and learning independence early06:17 – Early jobs, McDonald's and learning systems10:37 – Moving to Paris at 1812:20 – What a bountiful life means to Holly13:38 – Learning by doing and building from scratch18:43 – Building ambitious things and solving hard problems26:24 – Raising money and finding the right investors29:25 – The emotional side of building companies31:34 – Feeling like an outsider in Silicon Valley35:08 – Remote work, team culture and designing a life that works37:34 – Ambition, sacrifice and what “enough” looks likeGuest Bio Holly Cardew is an Australian e-commerce entrepreneur who has spent more than a decade building in online retail and technology. She splits her time between Sydney and San Francisco, and has been recognised by Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia for her work in retail and e-commerce.Bountifull Podcast The Bountifull Podcast explores what it means to live a bountiful life through conversations with interesting people from diverse backgrounds. Hosted by Sian Simpson, the podcast brings together voices from psychology, science, business, creativity, health, relationships, spirituality, food, nature and personal growth to explore how we can live with more joy, resilience, connection and meaning.https://www.bountifullworld.com/

“Find things that you're passionate about and go and work on those.”In this episode, Michael Fox shares the story behind Fable and the journey that brought him to the world of mushrooms, food innovation, and purpose-driven business. We talk about entrepreneurship, the lessons he's learnt across his three startups, failure, changing your mind as you learn, and how life experiences can quietly reshape what you care about and the work you want to do. We also talk about burnout, family, nature, gratitude, and what he values now.Episode highlightsMichael's upbringing across small mining towns in Australia and the entrepreneurial instinct that showed up earlyThe lessons he's learnt across three startups and how each business shaped the nextFailure, burnout, and what it takes to start againHow his father's cancer diagnosis changed the way he thought about food, health, and the wider food systemWhy changing your mind as you learn can be a strengthThe story behind Fable and why mushrooms became the foundation of the businessWhat makes shiitake mushrooms so interesting from a flavour, nutrition, and processing perspectiveThe difference between mushrooms and mycelium, and why that mattersMichael's thoughts on fibre, vitamin D, protein, and the health potential of mushroomsRaising money again and building with more discipline the second time aroundFamily life, nature, gratitude, and what matters most to him nowChapters00:01:56 Michael introduces Fable and explains the company's mushroom-based product00:02:49 Growing up in Australia and early entrepreneurial instincts00:05:17 What a bountiful life means to Michael00:05:40 Advice for his 25-year-old self00:06:10 Why passion for the product matters in business00:07:01 His three startups and lessons from building consumer businesses00:08:33 The original idea behind Shoes of Prey and what it taught him00:13:27 Burnout, stress, and perspective during difficult seasons00:15:43 How food, health, ethics, and the environment reshaped his thinking00:18:02 Changing your mind as you learn00:19:07 Why trying to convert people did not work, and what does00:24:29 Why mushrooms00:28:00 Shiitake stems, supply chains, and how Fable thinks about production00:31:45 Mycelium vs mushrooms00:36:13 Fibre, protein, calories, and vitamin D00:40:16 Mushroom foraging tours and the Zac Efron Netflix feature00:42:43 Fable's restaurant and meal kit partnerships00:44:11 Building a business that feels more aligned00:45:39 Product-market fit, raising less capital, and building differently00:48:05 Raising money and starting again after failure00:52:40 Moving from the Sunshine Coast to Brooklyn00:55:28 Nature, city life, and staying connected to what mattersGuest bioMichael Fox is the co-founder of Fable, a food company creating mushroom-based products designed to help people eat less meat. Before starting Fable, he built earlier consumer businesses including Shoes of Prey and Sneaking Duck. In this conversation, he shares what those experiences taught him about entrepreneurship, customers, product-market fit, and starting again. Michael grew up in Australia, studied at the University of Queensland, and now lives in Brooklyn, where he moved to help grow Fable in the US market.https://www.fablefood.co/linkedin.com/in/michaelfox1About the Bountifull PodcastThe Bountifull Podcast explores what it means to live a bountiful life through conversations on personal growth, happiness, emotional wellbeing, resilience, health, creativity, and meaningful work. Hosted by Sian Simpson, each episode features interesting people from diverse backgrounds sharing real stories, practical insights, and life lessons to help us live with more joy, purpose, and connection.https://bountifullworld.com/

Welcome to the Bountiful Podcast where we explore what it means to live a bountiful life. We're here to delve into the depths of joy and uncover more about ourselves along the way. Bountifull is my response to a world in need of more joy. Witnessing the struggles many face in finding happiness amidst economic pressures and societal shifts, I'm making it my mission to uplift and inspire through stories of resilience, creativity, and connection. Join me on a journey as we explore themes of joy and navigate life's twists and turns together with extraordinary guests from diverse backgrounds.  From leading economists to Academy Award winners, food innovators to renowned artists, our season is filled with delightful conversations that offer unique perspectives on what it means to live a bountiful life, along with practical advice from their domain.  Welcome to the Bountiful Podcast, I'm your host Sian Simpson.  Let's begin. 

In this episode, Sian Simpson from Kiwi Landing Pad shares her story of being a global citizen, working remotely, being an innovation and start-up ambassador for New Zealand and her passion for supporting young kiwis realising their full potential and opening their eyes to the world!

Sian Simpson is Director of Community and Content at Kiwi Landing Pad, an organisation that supports entrepreneurs and companies through the journey from an idea to building a global business.In this episode of Success Stories, Sian reconnects with Catherine Robson over Skype to chat about her pathway to becoming location independent, how she sells her array of experience (there's a lot) and how personal loss has formed her outlook on personal and professional development.

An inspiring chat with Sian Simpson from "Kiwi Landing Pad" - a support space in San Francisco to equip Kiwi’s transitioning to the U.S to develop their businesses, land on their feet, learn the local etiquette and achieve their business dreams abroad. Please connect and send feedback via Twitter @NZ_Business, Facebook.com/NZBusinessPodcast and the official website http://NZBusinessPodcast.com Visit Paul Spain: www.paulspain.com Host and Guest: Paul Spain, Sian Simpson Running time: 0:40:11

Do you ever yearn to travel around the globe but are trapped in one location by your job? Maybe you crave more flexibility that your current work conditions just don't have? Having flexibility and being location independent is possible, but it takes more than one person to achieve this. It takes a community. Today's guest, Sian Simpson, built her community both in the US and New Zealand with Kiwi Landing Pad. In this episode you will... Build community value by becoming a "community mentor" Uncover how to set a schedule when working in different geographic areas Acquire methods to say NO Understand the benefits of asking the community what they want to know Discover the best part of awards Learn the difference between "intellectualizing feeling" and "actually feeling" RESOURCES: She Did It Her Way Podcast She Did It Her Way Twitter She Did It Her Way Facebook Kiwi Landing Pad Kiwi Landing Pad Twitter Sian Simpson Instagram Sian Simpson Twitter Sian Simpson LinkedIn 500 Startups Mobilize (grouping tool) "Designing Your Life" by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans "The Millionaire Next Door" by Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko Insights “You have to do the unscaleable to scale.”-Sian Simpson “As people starting out in your career, or as people mid level, you’re always like ‘I have no right speaking to people,’ when really you do. You just have to be very specific in what your ask is and make sure that the person at the end of you ask can actually fulfill what you’re asking them to do.”-Sian Simpson “You don’t have to spend money on stuff to add value. You actually just figure out what your customers need and want and start pulling levers to actually give them added value.”-Sian Simpson “If you are going to do your job in 20 hours you need to measure that effectively.”-Sian Simpson “The point at which you start dropping the ball is the point at which you should start paying attention to some of the stuff you should let go of.”-Sian Simpson “The people who are millionaires tend to not look like millionaires.”-Sian Simpson “Community is the best thing you can do in life because at the end of the day everything comes down to people.”-Sian Simpson “I really like day dreaming. I think it’s really powerful to be able to stretch the mind.”-Sian Simpson “If you are going to learn about community, the best way to do that is looking at tribal culture and social hierarchies we just don’t have in the Western World.”-Sian Simpson “I would really encourage you to find one really exceptional mentor. It makes all the difference to anything you are doing in life.”-Sian Simpson