The Collective Wisdom Podcast with Cat Preston (Cat Preston)

Hey there, my wise friends and welcome to episode 45 of The Collective Wisdom Podcast. I'd like to wish anyone who's joining me from the US a very happy Thanksgiving weekend. It's really a great time of year to remind ourselves of all the people we're truly grateful to in our lives. And my guest today, Caroline Harvey has a really touching story about doing just that. We're also coming up to a year since I started this podcast. So it's my chance to say a huge thank you to all the amazing guests I've had on the show so far. So many of them are unsung heroes who are quietly getting on with making a difference to the lives of the people they serve. And I include Caroline amongst them, as in her capacity as a public speaking coach. She's helping people to really find their voice and then tap into creative ways of expressing it and bringing their true present to a stage or presentation. And if you listen very carefully, you may hear the word bark in the background as when we were recording there was a dog who must have been listening in and was putting in some practice finding his own voice. However, we didn't let it deter us from what was for me a fascinating and very informative conversation.

caroline@carolineharvey.me

www.carolineharvey.me

es.linkedin.com/in/caroharvey

ENOUGH. Unlock a life of abundance starting right where you are

Benjamin Zander Ted Talk

Song: 'Babylon' by Don Maclean

Wisdom: The biggest waste of time is comparing yourself to others

Hi there, my wise friends and welcome to another episode of Collective Wisdom, which this week I'm recording from Hong Kong, as I'm here to host a panel interview with some really inspirational female leaders for International Women's Day on March 8th. And I can't tell you how good it is to be back here after three years looking out over the harbour.

Joining me today I have one of the most inspirational female leaders I've ever met Dr. Zareen Ahmed. Zareen has had to find a way to carry on after losing her daughter Halimah in 2007.

This is a bittersweet story that some may find distressing, but I hope you'll agree that Zareen’s courage and compassion has helped to define light in the darkness, and ultimately to learn to live alongside her pain and grief and find healing.

Halimah means gentle, mild-mannered and generous and those are all qualities that come from her mother. We laughed and shed tears together in this most generous of conversations.

Dr Zareen Ahmed’s TED TALK : A Mother's Gift to Humanity, Period Justice

ww.periodpoverty.uk

www.giftwellness.co.uk   Use the code Cat30 to receive 30% off any products

Song:  Sunshine by Gabrielle

Sunshine Lyrics:

Made a wish, I can dream

I can be what I want to be

Not afraid to live my life

And fulfil my fantasies

I learnt a lot of tricks to help me live my life

You helped me find my paradise

When you came you were my

Sunshine through my window

That's what you are my shining star

Sunshine making me feel like

I'm on top of the world telling me I'll go far

Reaching out, for the highs you inspired me to try

I felt the magic inside and I felt that I could fly

I'm looking at the world in an optimistic light

You made me appreciate my life

'Cos when you came you were my

Sunshine through my window

That's what you are my shining star

Hey there my wise friends, and welcome to episode 44 of Collective Wisdom, which is all about leading with empathy. And as if by magic, there was one of the most beautiful examples of doing just that. This weekend,  I was watching one of my favourite TV shows 'Strictly Come Dancing'.  'Strictly' has evolved over the years into something that's more than just a dance competition. Behind all the spray tans and the fabulous costumes. It's really about showing people that if you put in the hard work and face your fears that you're always capable of far more than you often believe.

This week, all our hearts were completely won over by Rose Ayling-Ellis and her partner Giovanni Pernice. Rose is the first deaf contestant on the show and has had us all completely in awe with the way that she is nevertheless able to respond to the beat in the music that she can actually feel. So in their dance this week, there was a moment where they cut the music, and we all had just a tiny glimpse into roses world. Not only was the dance itself breathtaking, but it gave us all a chance to experience true empathy. There was no pity here for a woman who can't hear, but instead a whole new level of understanding of what it means to be deaf.

It was radical empathy that called my guest today to do the work that she's currently doing in Nepal. Michelle Welsch not only founded a social enterprise, The Learning House, which helps so many young people in Nepal get access to the education that allows them to really lean into their brightest fullest potential as humans, but she's done this without the backing of a team or resources to help her.

It's grit and tenacity, empathy, and a beautiful vision of what's possible if you keep going that have been the driving force behind her work. Michelle’s positivity and energy are infectious. And I'm just so thrilled she's here to join me to share her story.

Michelle Welsch, MSW

www.michellewelsch.com - about me

www.learninghousenepal.com - my education center in Nepal

Tweet me @redheadlefthand

Watch Giovanni and Rose on Strictly Come Dancing - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QejOzrlovTQ

Song ‘Lucky’ by Russ

Wisdom ‘Leap and the net will appear’

and ‘Find your tribe’

Hey there, my wise friends and welcome to episode 52 of Collective Wisdom with my new friend, Robbie Swale. This week I'm putting out a call to all the procrastinators who might be listening, I count myself as a gold medalist in this particular category, so this one is definitely self-serving. Robbie is someone who has overcome his own procrastination and turned that struggle into a series of very helpful books, which are published this year. The first of which: 'How to Start When You're Stuck' introduces his resistance beating 12-minute method, which, as you'll hear, Robbie has been successfully implementing in all sorts of creative ways in his own life. So, if you have a dream or a project or a book, or indeed any other creative spark inside you that you've been stalling on starting, then this one is definitely for you.

Robbie Swale: The Coach's Journey Podcast

Website: www.robbieswale.com

Buy How to Start When You're Stuck: https://geni.us/startwhenyourestuck

The 12-Minute Method Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/611939479993065

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robbieswale/

email: robbie@robbieswale.com

'It's time for you to die' by Robbie Swale

The War of Art by Steven Pressfield

64 Million Artists

Song 'The Journey of the Magi' by Frank Tuner

Wisdom: ‘The place where you feel the most resistance is probably the most important for your soul’s evolution’

Hey there, my wise friends and welcome to the podcast with my beautiful guest Siobhan Curham, who is not only an author of 39 books, but is also an amazing writing coach. This is probably one of my favourite conversations so far in the series, because what we're talking about is the creative process and how it feels to break through the resistance and fear that comes up when we first start something new. Siobhan is a great storyteller, but as you'll hear, that only comes from consistently showing up and putting in the practice, even when you don't feel like it or your first attempts don't quite work out the way you'd hoped.

She also shares a beautiful song that is all about life being made up of single precious moments, which is just so true. Yesterday, my husband came in in even though I was on a call, he asked if I could leave for two minutes. And we headed upstairs and out the window was the most beautiful evening sky all lit up with flaming pinks, and oranges. He's been away for most of the year. And in that moment, we stood with my daughter, just taking it all in. And I think that's what people mean when they say 'live in the moment.'

It's all about appreciating the really simple things. And when you slow down enough, you realise that there are just so many of these moments every single day. Siobhan is someone who's become really good at capturing them just by writing them down. I hope you enjoy hearing short stories just as much as I did.

Siobhan Curam's website. Information about Siobhan’s blog, her coaching, her books and more - https://siobhancurham.com/

Something More: A Spiritual Misfit's Search for Meaning by Siobhan Curham - https://www.waterstones.com/book/something-more/siobhan-curham/9780349420837

Dear Dylan - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dear-Dylan-Siobhan-Curham/dp/1405260378

The War of Art: Breakthrough the blocks and win your creative battles by Steven Pressfield - https://tinyurl.com/3n55xdrn

Song: Do You Realise by The Flaming Lips - https://open.spotify.com/track/2DFRFqWNahKtFD112H2iEZ?si=cb3226cf959a4be0

Wisdom “This to is for the best”

Welcome to Episode 15 of The Collective Wisdom Podcast. I have a wonderfully inspiring guest today, Mark Dombkins. He and his wife Anna are a remarkable couple, who not only adopted three children whilst they were living and working in Tanzania, but have gone on to create a non-profit organisation that continues to support local agencies in providing access to health care and education. Forever Projects truly is making a huge difference to so many families. It's a remarkable story. Mark talks about how he found the inspiration to turn lemons into lemonade from his own mum who although she sadly no longer with us, is still there in the background, gently encouraging him to keep going when times are challenging. We talked about there being often a long middle to some of these stories, the bit where you don't quite know how this is going to work out. And you just have to keep going. I hope that Mark's story will give you a shot of hope and optimism and just be a bit of a way to lift your spirits.

Forever Projects https://foreverprojects.org/

Deep Work by Cal Newport

How to Master your Monkey Mind by Don Macpherson

https://www.donmacpherson.co.uk/

Song  Hoppipolla by  Sigur Ros

Wisdom: Know your own limits

My guest today is another very personal one, as this episode airs just two days after Father's Day, I thought it was only fitting to get my own dad on the podcast, and share a bit of wisdom with you that I've had the privilege of being around all my life. I really lucked out when I chose my dad. He's a real gem of a man and a great storyteller. One of the things I love about him the most, is the way he's able to find a funny side to just about anything. As you'll hear, we somehow go from talking about design inspiration to a cautionary tale about what happens when you don't buy pants from Marks and Spencers. We also talk about how he narrowly missed out on becoming a great violinist. And I came to see that seeing the best in people is something that is really baked into my DNA. So Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there and here's mine to share a bit of wit and wisdom with you.

Wisdom:  Don’t stress the ‘could haves’ if it should have been, it would have.

Music: Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony No. 6

https://rebeccaharrisondesigns.co.uk

Welcome to the final episode of Season 2 of The Collective Wisdom Podcast. I want to send out a huge thank you to you for joining me, it's a real privilege to know that you're listening and I really do appreciate you all for taking the time to do so. One act of simple kindness I would love is if you could spare the time to either leave a review, wherever you listen to this podcast or if you have any suggestions for guests you love to hear from, please reach out. It's always such a pleasure to hear from you. I'm rounding off this season with a real gem Donna Easton has many achievements to her name, but it's her latest venture Life Shine, which runs wellness and creativity classes for kids that we're talking about today. Donna has an incredible sense of fun as you will hear. But her message is that we can all find a bit more joy and wonder in our lives by reconnecting with the child inside all of us. Even if that means stripping off and dancing around the living room in your pants. I hope you enjoy this conversation and Donna stories as much as I did. And that it might inspire you to do something just a little bit crazy this week to spark some joy in your own life. Thanks again for listening and I look forward to seeing you in season three.

Life Shine Wellness classes with a difference for kids 

https://www.instagram.com/mylifeshines/

Song: ‘Oh Mio Babbino Caro’ (Oh my dear Papa) from the Opera Gianni Schicchi by Giacomo Puccini 

Wisdom: Find the child within you  

Hey there, my wise friend and a warm welcome to Collective Wisdom. I received a lovely email from my friend Adana on a queasy yesterday. She shared a quote from the poet Mary Oliver that really resonated, “joy is not made to be a crumb”. And as a result I discovered the poem called, Don't Hesitate, which contains such a poignant message for a time when the world feels so broken.

If you suddenly and unexpectedly feel joy,

don't hesitate. Give in to it. There are plenty

of lives and whole towns destroyed or about

to be. We are not wise, and not very often

kind. And much can never be redeemed.

Still, life has some possibility left. Perhaps this

is its way of fighting back, that sometimes

something happens better than all the riches

or power in the world. It could be anything,

but very likely you notice it in the instant

when love begins. Anyway, that's often the

case. Anyway, whatever it is, don't be afraid

of its plenty. Joy is not made to be a crumb.

That brings me on to my guest this week, Evelyne Brink who is also a writer and a singer. And she now uses everything she's learned on her incredible journey through life, to help others access the performer inside of them and have a greater impact. Evelyne has an infectious energy that tells me she's very good at accessing joy. She shares a lot of wisdom, but her final message that we come from love, we go back to love, and we are love, and in fact that humans are the only species to generate love. Really seems to be on the cards for today. And what Mary Oliver was saying is that if we take a moment to notice it, that moment when love begins, is always a moment of pure joy. Certainly, my time spent with Evelyne sharing stories brought me a lot of joy, and I hope you'll find the same

Tedx Talk:   How to dare to be you when everyone is watching

Author:    It takes Guts. A story of love, hope and a missing bowel

Author:     The ARTrepreneur. Financial Success for ARTistic Souls

Song    ‘I won’t give up’ by Evelyne Brink

Wisdom: We come from love. We go back to love. We are love.

This week Sheila Glass, otherwise known as my mum, challenges the rules by giving 2 songs for the collection. She also tells her stories of kindness and wisdoms learnt. Sheila is an incredibly community spirited person, we talk about the challenge of changing the status quo, and not always accepting the way things are as the only option available. We also talk about how small gestures such as friendly phone calls or an offer of help with shopping can make a real difference in generating a sense of community and connection. Something that I think we're all craving right now.

The Podcasting Fellowship  -  Akimbo Workshops

https://akimbo.com/thepodcastingworkshop

Ramsbury Charity Shop:

https://ramsbury.org.uk/charity-shop

Music: 

• Bonnie Tyler - Total Eclipse of the Heart
• Beethoven’s 9th Symphony

Wisdom: Masterly Inactivity. Sometimes it pays to do nothing and wait and see if it all works out.

Produced by Between Tracks Media Productions – www.betweentracks.com

Hey there, my wise friends and welcome to Episode 33 of The Collective Wisdom Podcast. I have a wonderful, wise and kind guest to share with you today, Gene Early, who is an expert in NLP or neuro linguistic programming. In this episode, as well as sharing his wisdoms learnt and acts of kindnesses, Gene talks about gaining an understanding of our essential self and how this is the key to trusting our own intuition, and really getting in tune with our truest motivations. This episode is named after the song he chose, Love Has a Name, which is such a beautiful sentiment in itself. I do hope you enjoy spending time with my lovely friend Gene just as much as I did.

Song: Love Has a Name by Kim Walker Smith - https://open.spotify.com/track/2R73ci2mlkyLfpOwP87bSV?si=7db7fbe92fed41ba

Wisdom:  We all have a unique purpose and contribution to make. Our job is to find it and make that contribution.

Telling his stories to The Collective Wisdom Podcast this week is Nick Phillips. Nick’s stories and the wisdom they contain within them about communication being kinder than not saying anything. Even when, or maybe especially when, it is a profoundly difficult conversation is something that will stay with me for a very long time. We talked about identities we adopt and how difficult it is sometimes to change them once they're set. Nick was also kind enough to talk about the experience of losing his mum when he was 13, and the letter she wrote to him before she died.

Resources from the episode

Seth Godin’s altMBA  

Akimbo.com  

Words of wisdom: Communication is Kind

Song: American Pie: Don Mclean

The Collective Wisdom Podcast Playlist

Visit Cat’s website

Produced by Between Tracks Media Productions

Hey there, my wise friends and welcome to the last episode of Season 7 of Collective Wisdom.

I can't believe we've got this far. 

To close this season I'm leaving you with this joyous episode, which is with my dear friends, Elisa Van Arnam and Allison Blake, who together run 'SoulKu', an amazingly successful jewellery business.

They share the story of going from meeting each other and knowing they were going to do something together, to building this amazingly successful business. Along with some of the pitfalls, some of the things that they've learned along the way, but most of all, how they've poured love into their business, and it's that that's reflected in their success.

If you're either running a business yourself or dream of starting a new venture, I think you'll agree their advice is absolutely golden.

Visit SoulKu’s website to see their amazing collection

SoulKu on Instagram

SoulKu’s app – Apple Store

SoulKu’s app – Play Store (Android)

Wisdom: Say 'Yes' to your dream. Don't give up

Song: You and Me by Dave Matthews

Hey there, my wise friends and welcome to the podcast and a very happy new year to you, I hope you're having a great start to 2022 and that your Christmas plans weren't too disrupted by the dreaded COVID. We're kicking off this year with an amazing guest, Michael Bungay Stainer, who is well renowned in the coaching world, having written his brilliant book, The Coaching Habit, which really leads into how you can bring coaching into all aspects of your life, whether you are a parent, manager or a teacher. And how it really does inspire creative thinking, and self-sufficiency. I reached out to him as he's just launching his latest book, which is called How To Begin, it feels like really perfect timing. As for many of us, the beginning of a new year is a time to reflect back on last year, and perhaps set some goals for the year ahead. Michael's take on it is to invite you to set a goal that is at the same time thrilling, important and daunting. And his book is a practical tool that will help you to outline your goal in the first place. And then really dig into why it matters, which will in turn help you to stay motivated. There's an old Buddhist saying that the best time to start anything was probably 20 years ago. And the second best time is probably today. So, if you have an idea for something that you want to launch or get off the ground, then this book is definitely one you should consider reading. As Michael says himself, progress equals happiness. And often we find meaning and happiness with small wins every day. That's how we make real progress. Sometimes it can be the smallest little thing that makes the biggest difference. So, this is a book that's really about figuring out what to focus on, and then helping you to take those small steps to find the wins that get you across the threshold towards your goal. So, with that, I'll hand you over to Michael and just say how much I am so grateful to him for joining me to share his wisdom

Michael Bungay Stainer's Website

Wisdom:  Have the curiosity and the courage to find the answer to the burning question inside you

Fire Bullets and then fire cannonballs

Songs:   Rubicon by Bob Dylan

Deeper Water by Paul Kelly

Hey there, my wise friends and welcome to episode 56 of Collective Wisdom, which this week is all about meditation and mindfulness. Whether you've never tried meditation before, or you've been practising this ancient art form for many, many years, I think you'll find what my guest Will Williams has to say about the subject. Will founded Beeja meditation in London over 10 years ago, and has since gone on to build a whole community of people, myself included, who have experienced firsthand the benefits of taking some time out during the day to reset. It's such a simple technique, and yet the overall impact is huge. I'm actually recording this intro from the wonderful city of Reykjavik in Iceland, as I'm here on a weekend break, organised by my lovely friend Kathy. It's been an amazing trip. So far, Iceland is such a fascinating landscape full of volcanoes, glaciers and geothermal pools. But it's the people of Iceland who have been so welcoming and hospitable, that have made our visit all the more special. I highly recommend it if you get the chance to visit and do drop me a note if you'd like any restaurant recommendations, the food has been amazing. And as ever, I've been reminded of the power of sharing stories to connect us all. As I've met some wonderful new friends on this trip. If you're new to Collective Wisdom, thanks so much for joining us, for what I'm sure you'll find is a really inspiring conversation. And one that if it does prompt you to give meditation ago might even change your life for the better

Beeja Meditation Website

Use the Code GLOBAL15 for 15% off your first Beeja Mediation course.

Choose Love campaign raising money to support Ukrainian refugees

Song: ‘’Across the Universe’ by The Beatles

Wisdom: Use the tools you have to embrace the elegant simplicity of the universe. 

Welcome to this week’s episode of The Collective Wisdom Podcast. Last week was world Autism Awareness Week so it's doubly fitting that I have an amazingly courageous guest to share her wisdom with you today. Amy Richards had a late diagnosis of autism at the age of 37, after suffering for many years with bouts of what she now knows to be autistic burnout. She has now taken her challenge and turned it into an absolute superpower. Through her own podcast, Square Peg, she has a global audience helping to change the narrative around what it means to be an autistic person. Hearing Amy's story is so vitally important, as she talks about her own journey to understanding her needs, rather than asking how she can best fit into a neurotypical world. Instead, she asks how she can shape her world to best fit around her and some of the challenges autism presents. One of the main reasons for starting this podcast was because I'm such a passionate advocate of lifelong learning, and I've learned so much through my conversation with Amy and I hope that you do to.

The Square Peg Podcast

https://squarepeg.community/podcast/

Soylent Green: 1970s Sci Fi film starring  Charlton Heston and Leigh Taylor-Young  

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0070723/

Music: Peer Gynt Suite No.1 Opus 4

Wisdom: ‘You do you. Honour who you really are’

Welcome to The Collective Wisdom Podcast, my guest this week is the incredibly wise and wonderful Jessica Huey MBE no less. Jess is a great friend and fellow coach. She is the author of Purpose: Find Your Truth and Embrace Your Calling. Jess is all about the power of words; remembering to say thank you to acknowledge people to help them feel seen. Her coaching takes the form of the Transformational Visibility Academy, which I joined last year and met incredible women. She has this warmth, this inner knowing, she talks a lot about trusting your own intuition and her own process of discovering who she's really here to be and how she can help. So with that, listen to Jess tell us her acts of kindness, wisdoms learnt and music choice for the playlist.

Jessica Huie’s website   www.jessicahuie

On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessica_huie_/

Jessica’s Book: ‘Purpose:  Find your truth and Embrace your calling.’ - https://www.jessicahuie.com/book/

Song: ‘What A Wonderful World’ by Louis Armstrong

Wisdom: ‘You are held. Remember how to ask for help when you need it.’

Hello and welcome back to the final episode of Collective Wisdom for 2023.

We really are in the presence of a superstar as my guest, Dr. Zareen Roohi Ahmed joins us once again today. Earlier this year Zareen shared her deeply moving story and profound insights.It was an episode that touched many hearts and resonated deeply.

As founder of Gift Wellness and now author of her new book, The Gift, that tells the story that inspired her to start it. Zareen is a beacon of resilience and purpose. Her journey marked by the tragic loss of her daughter Halima tells of how she used love to fuel a powerful mission to bring healing and support to community through her social enterprise.

Her story is not just one of overcoming immense personal grief, but also of channeling that experience into a force for societal good. Today Zareen returns to delve deeper into the themes of her new book, and to share how her continued work is inspiring others to pursue their dreams, even in the face of adversity.

Her story is a testament to the human spirit's capacity for transformation, and the impact one person's vision can have on the world. It's the season of gifting and giving and this is certainly a gift I'd love to share with you all during this festive season.

Gift Wellness

The Gift: One Women's journey from tragedy to building a global business for good

Period Angels App

The collective Wisdom Podcast Playlist

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0sStAKEgmkWVrraFroK7zp?si=_V6HQM07RjC1lcQEcgZ9xA

Production by Chris Hall-Franzkowiak

https://www.betweentracks.com/

Hey there, my wise friends and welcome to another episode of Collective Wisdom, which this week is with my friend and fellow iPEC coach Marjolein Gerritsen. As you'll hear, we talk a lot about identity taking off masks and transformational change, which is a field that Marjolein has been working on in many different contexts, both in her corporate career and now as an executive coach, helping the next generation of leaders to define success on their terms.

And here's my gift to you this week. A conversation about reconnecting with your sense of fun, adventure and play.

Marjolein Gerritsen's Website

Marjolein Gerritson on LinkedIn

50 ways to be generous

Song  ‘As’ by Stevie Wonder

Wisdom: Each one of us has so many more sides to us than appear at first glance. Go and explore them.

The Collective Wisdom Podcast

Hey there, my wise friends and welcome to another episode of Collective Wisdom, which this week is with my friend Rumi Tsuchihashi, who is all about capturing the tiniest moments in life. Rumi has written a book called; 'I Want to Remember This.  Recognising the tiny moments that make up a life.'

This weekend, here in the UK, was a perfect example of one of those moments. It's been one of those blue-sky October weekends with cold crisp mornings and more sunshine than we dare to hope for. The sort of days that really give meaning to the word autumnal.

I got up really early and went to Richmond Park in London, and saw deer rutting and parakeets flying in their hundreds overhead. It really was a very special moment that I hope to remember for a very long time.

So, with that, I'll pass you over to Rumi to tell us a bit more about the book and how it came about, and why it's so important to her to capture those moments that really matter.

Rumi Tsuchihashi’s website

‘I want to remember this…..’ by Rumi Tsuchihashi

Garden Meditation Card Deck

The Tiny Book Course

Cultivating Creativity by Professor Ian Robertson

Song ‘Another Day’ by The Wings

‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough’ by Marvin Gaye

Wisdom  Courage is taking a step in the direction of what you know to be right when it would be easier not to.

Hey there, my wise friends and welcome to episode 57 of Collective Wisdom, which I'm recording on a beautiful spring day. It's been glorious all week. It's the sort of day that makes you think that sunshine is here to stay for at least the next four months. But whilst that may not turn out to be completely the case, it is so good just to feel the warmth of it on your face. And the other best thing about this time of year is seeing the first baby lambs bouncing about in the fields. I'm pretty sure that's why they have Mother's Day at this time of year, some sort of inspiration from those Mummy Sheep. So, a big shout out to Sheila and Sue the two mums in my life, and to my sisters who are all pretty cool mums themselves. This week is all about attention as my guest, Claudia Brose, has spent the last few years delving into the idea that where our attention goes, energy flows. So, we should all be paying careful attention to who and what we choose to gift with our attention. This is such an important conversation given the advent of social media and all the distraction it provides, distracting us perhaps sometimes from the stuff that is actually way more important. In the end, she talks at the end of our conversation about the power of being out in nature, and paying real attention to what we can hear listening to the birds singing and the wind in the trees. And I think that's where she gets her sense of groundedness. It's a powerful reminder of how getting back into nature can help us reconnect with ourselves. So I hope that the sun is shining where you are. And you can take a moment to appreciate all those signs of new growth around us at the moment. Enjoy the conversation.

www.claudiabrose.com

Claudia Brose’s writing on Medium:  https://claudiabrose-attention.medium.com/

The Photo Acamdemy:     https://if-academy.net/sommerakademie/

Contact:  claudia@claudiabrose.com

Cat's Fundraiser for CHOOSE LOVE to support refugees from Ukraine

ENOUGH: Unlock a life of abundance starting right where you are

Music: Canon in D by Johann Pachelbel

Wisdom: Trust yourself. It will all work out in the end.

Any Other https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/cat-preston3Notes:

Hey there, my wise friends. And thank you for joining us for another episode of Collective Wisdom, which this week is all about financial health and well-being. Which given we're in the middle of a cost of living crisis, and we're all seeing the price of commodities go up and inflation is on the rise, feels like an important conversation to have.

My guest Anna Orenstein-Cardona is a financial coach and educator with a background in financial trading, who is really passionate about helping women, in particular, to get really wise about their financial health.

Money problems are one of the biggest causes of stress and had a real impact on our mental health. So, her work is more important now than ever. We talk about the self-empowerment that comes when you start to take ownership of your finances, and some of the simple ways you can start from where you are and make small but positive changes that over time will have a big impact.

As you'll hear, she really is a wealth of knowledge, and this episode is pure gold.

LINKS:

Website: https://wearyourmoneycrown.com/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/wearyourmoneycrown/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/WearYourMoneyCrown/

LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaorensteincardona/

The Tree of Hope by Anna Orenstein Cardoba

Recommended Financial Literacy podcasts:

The Get Paid Podcast

Suze Orman Women and Podcast

So Money Podcast with Farnoosh Tourabi  

Song: 'I am light' by India Arie

Wisdom: Bless and Release

Welcome to this episode of The Collective Wisdom Podcast. I have a fabulous guest to share with you this week. Madeleine Wright is currently in her third year at Durham University where she's studying English. And we talked about the work that she's doing, alongside the team with the Durham University charity fashion show, which last year raised an incredible £170,000 in aid of their charitable partners. Maddy has been part of the team working alongside local artists in the northeast and I'm pleased to say that despite all the obvious setbacks with the lockdown and not being able to do things in person, they're hosting a virtual art exhibition in July. We also talked about one of my favourite subjects, home, and what it means and how it isn't always necessarily a place. Listen out for her piece of wisdom, which is pure gold.

Durham University Charity Fashion Show - https://www.ducfs.co.uk/

DUCFS Virtual Art Exhibition featuring local artists from the North East - July  2021

https://www.pineappleblack.co.uk/index.php/pbvarts/

Caitlin Moran’s  posthumous letter to her daughter

https://www.goodfuneralguide.co.uk/2014/01/caitlin-moran-offers-posthumous-advice-daughter/

Paint my spirit gold  - Mumford Sons.

Song: ‘I will wait’ by Mumford and Sons

Wisdom: ‘Just resolve to shine’

Hey there, my wise friends and welcome to the final episode of season six, which, if you'll excuse the pun is a real gem of an episode as I have with me, my lovely friend and master goldsmith, Jeanette Walker. It struck me last summer that of all the fabulous guests I've had on the show, none of them have been from the jewellery world that I inhabited for over 10 years. So, I reached out to Jeanette with a view to asking her if she'd come on the show and talk about her work. But at the time, she was in a bit of a struggle with her health, and with the weight of all the responsibilities of running her business. She kind of lost touch with that creative drive that had always fueled her. And it was clearly not a good time to go on a podcast. But instead, we set aside some time for some coaching sessions. And I'm happy to say that taking the time to reflect on her energy, and what was feeling heavy, and then revisiting all the things that had always been a source of inspiration for Jeanette, release something. There was a complete shift, and what came out was a reconnection, with all the things that mattered to her. I think that's where you'll find motivation and a whole new sense of possibility, and the momentum to take you to somewhere new. As you'll hear from this conversation, the more you open up to your own creative drive, the more energised and the better you'll feel. And you'll also get a real sense of just what a gem of a person Jeanette is herself, and why it's so fitting that she's a jewellery designer.

Jeanette Walker Master Goldsmith

Jeanette Walker Jewellery on Instagram @jwalkjewellery

Wisdom: Surrender to your creativity

Songs:

‘Water’ by Johnny Flynn

‘Woodstock’ by Joni Mitchell

The Collective Wisdom Podcast Playlist

Hi there, my wise friends. And welcome back to a brand new season of Collective Wisdom. I took a bit of a break over Christmas and the new year to rest up and recharge my batteries. And I have to say I really missed you all, both the messages in my inbox from people around the world and the conversations I get to have with inspiring humans making a real difference in their communities and beyond. So, I'm really excited to be getting back into the latest round, which as International Women's Day is just around the corner on March 8th, I thought I'd dedicate the whole of season nine to some truly inspirational women.

So, this season, we're delving into the important issue of equity and equality, and why it's crucial to have equal representation and opportunities for all women in all aspects of society. We'll hear from women who have overcome adversity and shattered barriers in their fields and learn about the challenges they faced along the way will hopefully let their stories inspire us to continue fighting for a more equal and just future for all women.

We're kicking off with a talented designer and creative brain behind the brand Umutoni Jewellery. Umutoni shares the story of her brand and its mission to empower artisans from Kibera, the largest slum in Kenya, through the creation and global sale of their unique and beautiful jewellery. By working with these artisans and providing them with a platform to showcase their talents Umutoni not only helps to elevate their craft, but also helps to break down barriers and challenge stereotypes about life in the slums. It's a story of creativity, entrepreneurship and social impact that's making a real difference in the world.

Umutoni Jewellery

Song: ‘I’m going to be ready by Yolanda Adams’

Wisdom: Don’t be afraid to ask for the help you need.

Hey there, my wise friends, and welcome to the final episode of season eight of Collective Wisdom, and the final episode of 2022. Wow, that feels like quite something.

This week's guest, Rebecca Hopkins is someone I'm so excited to have a conversation with, as together with her sister, Claire, she has been busy building successful skincare brand for the last 17 years. This really is one of those kitchen table to household names, success stories that we all love to hear. And although it's never all plain sailing, for Rebecca, it's always been about finding balance in life, and making sure you're taking care of yourself, as well as building a community to support others.

As you'll hear, she's an expert on how to keep your skin in balance and looking and feeling at its best. But also, in finding those things that keep you grounded, which for her includes spending time in nature, and even doing some wild swimming.

Your life is ultimately made up of single days. And if you make sure that at least some part of them is spent doing something that feels good, then you're way more likely to be able to look back over your year and feel that sense of ease and balance that Rebecca and Claire have been promoting in the work they do all along. So I really hope you enjoy this conversation.

Balance Me Website

@balancemeskincare on Instagram

Song  ‘One Day Like This’ by Elbow

These lyrics are poetry and deserve to be here too:

Lyrics

Drinking in the morning sun

Blinking in the morning sun

Shaking off a heavy one

Heavy like a loaded gun

What made me behave that way?

Using words I never say

I can only think it must be love

Oh, anyway, it's looking like a beautiful day

Someone tell me how I feel

In silly wrong, but vivid right

Oh, kiss me like a final meal

Yeah, kiss me like we die tonight

'Cause holy cow, I love your eyes

And only now I see the light

Yeah, lying with you half awake

Oh, anyway, it's looking like a beautiful day

When my face is chamois creased

If you think I wink, I did

Laugh politely at repeats

Yeah, kiss me when my lips are thin

'Cause holy cow, I love your eyes

And only now I see the light

Yeah, lying with you half awake

Stumbling over what to say

Well, anyway, it's looking like a beautiful day

So, throw those curtains wide

One Day Like This a year would see me right

Throw those curtains wide

One Day Like This a year would see me right for life

Wisdom:  ‘Saying ‘No’ is actually saying ‘Yes’ to yourself

Welcome to this episode of The Collective Wisdom Podcast with my lovely friend, Luke Harris, who is not only an amazing coach on the Story Skills Workshop, but he's also just written his first book, How to Sell Without Selling Your Soul. Luke has a rock solid career in sales and business development in the US. And it's also a pastor in his local community in Chicago. We dig into the process of writing and also what it means to him to live a purpose driven life. Part of that life's purpose includes Luke's experience working with the inmates in Angola prison down in Louisiana, his stories of what he encountered there are just so full of the compassion and humanity that set Luke apart. We also talk about Bryan Stevenson, the lawyer and author of the book Just Mercy who has dedicated his life to pursuing justice for the underserved and wrong wrongfully accused. Stevenson concludes that hearing their stories, he's come to the realisation that you are more than the worst thing you have ever done, which is so resonant of Luke's own wisdom, we all have dignity beyond what we can imagine. This was such a powerful conversation that really touched me so deeply with a message that I hope will resonate for you, too.

Selling Without Selling Your Soul by Luke Harris - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Selling-Without-Your-Soul-Transformation-ebook/dp/B08QZ8QKN8

Akimbo Workshop: Writing in Community - https://www.akimbo.com/writingincommunity

The Creatives Workshop - https://akimbo.com/thecreativesworkshop

Just Mercy - Bryan Stevenson - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Just-Mercy-story-justice-redemption/dp/1925228312

Song: Statesboro Blues - Allman Brothers Band

Wisdom: “We all have dignity beyond what we can imagine”

This week Anne Roche shares her stories, a very topical song selection and wisdom she has learnt along the way. As a life coach Anne Roche partners with her clients to bring out the best in them. She cuts through the bullshit and helps them get out of their own way and reach their goals. There's a sense of fun she brings to everything that she does, and it's so magnetic. In today's episode, we talk about the challenge of getting out of your own way and explore the concept of paradox. What it is to hold two seemingly opposite things as both true. We also talk about the power of effective listening and truly as a master at it. If you listen carefully, you'll notice in the interview how much she acknowledges what I've said to her and validates it, and how much as a result she elicits from me as an interviewer about what I really think. That's one of her superpowers and she does it instinctively to open up true dialogue and find meaningful connection.

Anne Roche Coaching

Studs Terkel  Finding the extraordinary out of the ordinary

Brené Brown with Barack Obama - Unlocking Us Podcast

Song:  Lockdown - Anderson.Paak

Wisdom: Walk through your shit not around it. As soon as you take that first step you are dealing with it.

Produced by Between Track Media Productions

Hey there, my wise friends and welcome to season five of The Collective Wisdom Podcast. We're kicking off this new season with a little bit of a difference because rather than having one or two guests this week, I have 16. Yep, I like a good challenge. Why the party? Well, because over the summer, I was lucky enough to be involved in a collaborative book project with a group of friends who are all members of an online community I'm part of called The Right Company, which was founded back in 2018 by Bernadette Jiwa and Mark Dyck to support freelancers, solopreneurs, and business owners. A few of us have been working together on that project. And this week, we're celebrating the launch of our book into the world. It's called 'Enough: Unlock a life of abundance starting right where you are'

In the book, we share our own perspectives on how we've set about doing work that feels aligned with our values, and gives us that sense of fulfilment, whilst also leaving us with enough time and energy to focus on perhaps the other things in life that matter to us. We've shared our compelling stories where we distil all the advice and wisdom we've learned along the way. We share insights from failures, celebrate creativity with poetry, and ask some powerfully reflective questions that we've often asked ourselves.

It's our hope that reading our stories will inspire you to reflect on your own answer to the question of 'what is enough?' and explore your own unique gifts and creative talents to focus your attention on what it is you really want to achieve in life. Perhaps finding the encouragement to taking steps towards building or rebuilding a life that is rich in every sense of the word.

In short, we hope it's a call to action for how to use that propelling question of 'What is enough?' as a compass for living life on your terms.

Show Notes Quote (Timestamp):

ENOUGH: Unlock a life of abundance starting right where you are

Song: Up and Up by COLDPLAY

Contributors:

Jeremy Deedes - Words not deeds

Kim LeClair - East Willow

Sue Heatherington - Quiet Disruptors

Jackie Davis on LinkedIn

Joel Hughes - Glass Mountains Website Design

Caroline Harvey - Public Speaking Coach

Ian Berry - Wise Leaders

Darcy Lee - Heartfelt

Pete Michaels - Rock and Roll Copy

Claudia Brose - Living and Working with Attention

Ulla Raaf - Logosynergie

Tricia Van Vliet - The Wellness CPA PLLC

Jacquie Landeman

Con Christerson

Mark Dyck.com

Bernadette Jiwa: The Story of Telling

Edited by Siobhan Curham

Hey there, my wise friends and welcome to another episode of Collective Wisdom, which this week is all about the importance of creativity for our health and well-being.

As human beings, we have an innate capacity for creativity. And it's an essential part of what makes us human. engaging in creative activities has been shown to have a range of benefits for our mental, emotional, and physical health. In fact, creativity has even been linked to reduce stress, increased happiness, improved cognitive function, and a stronger immune system.

One person who really understands the power of creativity is Jo Hunter, who is CEO of a social enterprise called 64 Million Artists that aims to foster creativity in everyone in the UK. Jo has long believed that being creative is the opposite of producing something brilliant or being perfect, in fact, is often perfectionism that stifles our creativity and makes us give up instead.

For Jo creativity means to transcend traditional ideas, rules, and patterns, and make new ones and that's something she believes we should be encouraging everyone to do. And just after we recorded this episode, I was sent a message about a painting class hosted by the artist Caroline Chappell. And in the class we simply got to play at mixing colours to create harmony and discord. And she talked about all the best things happening in the margins when we allowed ourselves to be free enough to make mistakes. It was a lot of fun. And I have Jo to thank for the inspiration.

Links:

64 Million Artists Website

64 Million Artists on LinkedIn

Do Schools Kill Creativity? TED talk by Sir Ken Robinson

Music :

‘You light up my life’ by Leanne Rimes

 ‘It’s all about you’ by McFly

Wisdom ‘Find something you can be grateful for every single day’

Hi there, my wise friends and welcome to The Collective Wisdom Podcast. I've got an incredible guest for you today, Liv Conlon is someone who I'm just so excited to share her story. Her energy and zest for life is just contagious.

Not only did she found and run a business with a turnover of more than a million pounds by the age of 19, which not surprisingly, won her the Young Entrepreneur of the Year award two years ago. But she's also just written a book, 'Too Big for your Boots', which is in part personal memoir, but also the 'How to' for anyone who's interested in starting out in business, and building a portfolio career based on personal brand, with no money, and no contacts in the industry.

Liv is someone who just seems to have grasped the idea that it's time that is our greatest asset in life. And that it's really, really important to choose how you spend your time wisely, as there are no refunds. We talk about innovation, personal brands, and not taking the conventional path, which actually means being yourself, and how the process of figuring out exactly what that is, can be part of the journey. I'll hand you over to Liv Conlon who has set herself her own goal of reaching a million young people with the support and encouragement they need to be the change they seek to make in the world.

Liv Conlon on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/oliviaconlon/?hl=en

Liv's New Book: Too Big For Your Boots - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Too-Big-Your-Boots-Entrepreneur/dp/1781335168

Liv Conlon's 100 Home Makeover Charity Initiative - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MobyDMINmY

Too Big For Your Boots Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/too-big-for-your-boots-with-liv-conlon/id1483832277

Song: Ring of Fire by Johnny Cash

Wisdom: “Raise your own standards and commit to live by them”

If you are experiencing any of the issues Liv discussed around bullying find someone to reach out to. You can start here:

Anti-Bullying Alliance - https://www.anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk/

Free calls to The Samaritans - https://www.samaritans.org/

Hey there, my wise friends and a warm welcome to episode 49 of Collective Wisdom, which today is all about having babies. There's something just so magical about meeting and holding a new baby for the first time that never gets old. I first met Christina when we were both on the same coach training course. And I loved her story about being in a meditation and having a vision of herself sitting with a woman holding space for her and really listening. What she took from that is that she wanted to become a coach. So, she trusted her intuition and signed up for the course and just afterwards discovered she was pregnant with her third child, which was a welcome surprise, but left her wondering if that was the right time to carry on training. Something inside her told her to just keep going and trust the process, which for me, always means trust yourself. And sure enough, thanks to the pregnancy, she's found herself discovering real meaning and purpose as a coach and is now helping other women experience a positive  and empowering pregnancy and birth and a mindful transition to motherhood through her work as a doula and a coach for pregnant women and new mothers. And as you'll hear, she really is sharing her own lived experience, and using that to inform her work. It was a fascinating conversation about leaning into your intuition as a mother, and one which I think you'll really enjoy.

The Intuitive Mama Coaching with Christina Lewis

Intuitive Mama Coach on Instagram

Turtle Doves - Recycled cashmere accessories

The Tourist on BCC iplayer

Song: ‘Wake Up Everybody’ by Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes

Wisdom: Trust your intuition. You know more than you think you do.

Hey there my wise friends, it's so good to be back with you for a brand new season of Collective Wisdom after the long summer break. It's certainly been a tumultuous few weeks here in the UK with not only a new prime minister. But then the sad news of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the impact of which has been felt across the nation and reverberated around the world.

It's also been a time to reflect on the legacy that 70 years of dedicated and devoted service to a job leaves behind as Kirsty Young reporting for The BBC said so movingly, after the funeral, “She made history. She was history, and she will never be forgotten.”

Which brings me on to today's guest, my lovely friend, the author, and now novelist, Bernadette Jiwa, who is here today to talk to us about her new novel, The Making of Her, which as you'll hear is a story that's steeped with her own history, and really feels like it comes straight from the heart.

Bernadette was kind enough to agree to interview me back in 2020 for Episode One season one of the podcast, and it's almost unthinkable just how much the world has changed since then, it was a real pleasure to catch up with her and to learn more about the new novel, which although the characters are fictitious, is dedicated to the illegitimate children born in Ireland who so often grew up without ever knowing their real family so that they too are not forgotten. I'm sure you're going to enjoy this conversation just as much as I did. And I promise you the novel does not disappoint you.

The Making of Her by Bernadette Jiwa

The Story of Telling - Bernadette Jiwa

Song: Unchained Melody by The Righteous Brothers

Wisdom ‘Write the Truth’

Hello there, my wise friends and welcome to The Collective Wisdom Podcast. This week's guest has so many great achievements to his name, but the thing that drew my attention to his work is his mission to help everyday people become everyday innovators. Josh Linkner has just released his latest book, Big Little Breakthroughs, how small everyday innovations drive oversized results. Josh has poured all of his own creative skills into it to drive home his message that creativity is an inherent skill that all human beings have, but we have a tendency to grow out of it not into it. You'll also hear about the giant act of simple kindness that brought this interview about and his belief that if you pour out love and abundance into the world, it comes back to you in so many strange ways. He also shares wisdom that we can all act on every day.

Big Little Breakthroughs: How small everyday innovations drive oversized results

by Josh Linkner

https://joshlinkner.com/big-little-breakthroughs/

Song: Giant Steps by  John Coltrane

Wisdom: Always be in a state of reinvention.

Hey there, my wise friends and welcome to another episode of Collective Wisdom. Today's episode is one that's very close to my heart and one that I'm extremely grateful to be sharing, as it brings with it a sense of hope and optimism that we may not all be feeling at the moment, given that there's so much bad news around us in the shape of war and scarcity.

What do you do in the face of a problem that seems so huge that it's impossible to solve?

That's a question my guest Scott Neeson came face to face with when he visited Cambodia almost 20 years ago and found children living and working on a huge landfill site, in conditions that most of us can't really conceive of. The answer seems to be that although he couldn't solve the entire problem, he could at least help one family get access to the medical help they so desperately needed. And then with a little financial support, get the children into school.

When he saw how simple it had been to make a difference to one family, he began to question how many more people he could help. That was the very humble beginnings of Cambodian Children's Fund back in 2004. Since then, through Scott's commitment to one family at a time, CCF has gone on to become a nonprofit that now empowers a whole community of people to support and help one another. And as you'll hear, it now has an impact on hundreds, probably 1000s of lives every single day, as Scott says himself. It's amazing what you can achieve when you commit to helping just one person at a time.

Cambodian Children’s Fund Website

Scott on Instagram

The CCF Story Video 

Song:  ‘No Woman No Cry’ by Bob Marley and the Wailers

Wisdom: What’s the secret to happiness? Find what you love and let it kill you.

Thanks to Donna Ashworth for use of the poem ‘Family’ 

If you have a feeling that there’s something missing in your life, that you’d like to make a difference, then take a chance and give a child the gift of an education.

Hey there, my wise friends and welcome to Episode 38 of The Collective Wisdom Podcast. My guest this week, Marco Houwen, who as well as being a fellow iPEC coach, is also a founder, CEO and investor. And his latest business creation is a business called Zentrapreneur and the eternal art of being, which has as he describes a simple aim to equip entrepreneurs with the insight practices and personal awareness that reveal what's just beyond one's own external conditioning. Marco believes this is the only personal leadership experience that helps leaders to align who they truly are, with what they do. And in doing so leading the way to an enlightened entrepreneurial era. That leaves the digital Dark Ages forged in Silicon Valley behind. His vision is for a world where the operating system for authentic value creation and personal leadership is fully aligned with the progress of the human race. I sat down with Marco to talk about some of the challenges along the way, how he's crafted this vision, how he's come to these conclusions, and to hear just a little bit more about his story.

Find Marco Houwen online:

https://www.zentrapreneur.com

https://www.linkedin.com/company/zentrapreneurship/

‘Just Beyond Yourself’ by David Whyte - https://onbeing.org/poetry/just-beyond-yourself/

Song You can’t rush your healing by Trevor Hall - https://open.spotify.com/track/7kdJcH97qbvW7ubH6ukOTf?si=58957b7cf3e7407f

Wisdom: Don’t underestimate what you can achieve in 10 years

ENOUGH: Unlock a life of abundance starting right where you are - https://enoughthebook.co/

A collaborative book project by members of The Right Company.

Hey there, my wise friends and welcome to this episode of The Collective Wisdom Podcast. This season is dedicated to inspirational women from around the world as we're celebrating International Women's Day on March 8th, and this week, it's the turn of Mikki Gaffen-Stone. Mikki is a parenting coach, educator, and expert in the science of behaviour change.

Today we'll be exploring her unique insights into the world of modern parenting. Mikki’s approach to parenting is based on her own experience as a mother of two children, who she says taught her more than any class or book ever could. She is now on a mission to help parents raise their children with empathy, respect and compassion.

I am so excited to have Mikki here today to share her wisdom and some of her best stories with us. We talk about how to have better conversations with your children, especially the teenagers, and the magic that happens when you're able to walk away from blame. I wish there were more people like Mikki in positions of authority and leadership, the world would definitely be a much better place for it.

website: www.gaffenstone.com

facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michaela.stone.942

Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikki-gaffen-stone-15660a84/

Music    ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’  by Queen

              ‘Fat Bottomed Girls’ by Queen

Wisdom: ‘It’s not about you’

In this episode of The Collective Wisdom Podcast my incredible guest is Jude Galea. Jude is a medical consultant currently working on the front line in some of London’s busiest hospitals. She's also an absolute powerhouse of a woman with a wisdom far exceeding her years, who's recently been asking herself the question, What if? What if we explored some of those alternative healing modalities, often based on ancient wisdom, and discovered how they could be used in parallel with modern medicine to give us a more holistic approach to our health and well-being. Based on these experiences and more Jude shares her music choice, acts of kindness and wisdoms learnt.

This episode is dedicated to all those working in our hospitals with so much gratitude and such great admiration.

Dr. Body Mind Soul Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/dr-body-mind-soul/id1538122929

Dr. Body Mind Soul on Instagram @drbodymindsoul

Wisdom: Wherever you are, you’re right where you need to be. Focus. Trust. Patience and Surrender.

Music: ‘Midnight In A Perfect World’ DJ Shadow

The Collective Wisdom Podcast Playlist - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0sStAKEgmkWVrraFroK7zp

Produced by Between Tracks Media Production – www.betweentracks.com  

Well hello there dear listeners and a warm, warm welcome back to a brand new season of Collective Wisdom. I'm thrilled to be with you once again, sharing the inspiring stories of changemakers entrepreneurs, writers, and creatives from around the world.

In this season, we'll continue our exploration of the incredible impact of storytelling, creativity, and the pursuit of our unique gifts and talents. We'll hear from individuals who like me believe in the power of connection, and how sharing our stories can lead to positive change in the world.

This episode is particularly close to my heart, because we have a very special guest joining us a remarkable individual who has a unique perspective to share, Anastasia. She was originally from Kyiv in Ukraine, and now a grateful guest here in the UK. I have nothing but admiration for the way she has shown up and faced the huge challenge of arriving here 18 months ago, with such resilience and positivity. It's by no means been an easy journey.

Anastasia has very kindly agreed to share a bit more of her story with us today. And it's my hope that on hearing it, you'll gain a deeper understanding of the power of simple acts of kindness and how they can transform lives for both the giver and the receiver.

https://sanctuaryfoundation.org.uk

https://ukrainianrefugeehelp.co.uk/

‘Brother Louie’ by Modern Talking

Wisdom: Learn how to accept what you cannot change

Hey there, my wise friends and a warm, warm welcome to episode 50 of Collective Wisdom, which is a bit of a pinch me moment as I really didn't even contemplate getting as far as 50 episodes when I first started this podcast a year ago, and to celebrate the 50th episode, I have a really incredible guest to share with you. Dr. Sam Collins is an amazing coach and entrepreneur, and you'll hear all about the work she does with her groundbreaking organisation Aspire for Equality. Her superpower is being an inspirational and empowering leader who works consistently and relentlessly as an advocate for the underrepresented voices of women across the globe. We talk about following your intuition, how to stay motivated, when times are tough, and how to give yourself the best chance of overcoming the challenges that life inevitably throws at us all at some point. If you're currently facing a challenge yourself, I do hope that her wise advice will help you to keep putting one foot in front of the other and get you through it. And I'd encourage you to read her book Radio Heaven, as it may just spark something inside you or help you feel just that little bit less alone. Sam shares so much wisdom in terms of what she's learned from her lived experience of finding courage in the face of adversity, and building strong connections and relationships. I'd say the gold nugget I take away from Sam is always be challenging the status quo. I've heard it said that status quo can be the greatest challenge to progress. I love Sam’s determination and the way that she embodies that wisdom in the way she lives and works. I really think there's a lesson there for us all.

Aspire for Equality

Stripped Back Pocast: Dr Sam Collins interviews Lily Lewis

‘Radio Heaven: One Woman’s Journey to Heaven’ by Dr. Sam Collins

Song: “Rescue” by Laura Dingle

Wisdom: Never stop challenging the  status quo

Telling her stories to The Collective Wisdom Podcast is Nadine Kelly. Nadine is a fully trained medic, who 10 years ago gave up being occupied with death and disease as a pathologist and started using her incredible talents as a health and wellness coach, focusing instead on a holistic approach to our health and prevention of disease. Nadine and I talked about the many, many celebrations and milestones that have been missed this year, including graduations and the usual rites of passage that give us the chance to acknowledge our young people and their achievements. But we also talked about her own challenge when it came to leaving behind her identity as a pathologist in a white coat and follow a path perhaps closer to her heart.

Resources

Dr. Nadine Kelly - Yogi MD

Music Beach Vibes by Nadine Kelly

 https://youtu.be/UbQWXYNJ0gk

Song: Why Should I Cry For You - Sting

Wisdom : Nothing Lasts. Live Everyday That Way

The Collective Wisdom Podcast Playlist

Visit Cat’s website

Produced By Between Tracks Media Productions

Hey there, my wise friends and thank you so much for joining me on Collective Wisdom, which this week is a bit of a personal one, as I have my brother-in-law, Antony Brum joining me. As well as being a structural engineer, he is also a creative writer, and has two novels to his name so far. I was really thrilled for him when recently he was selected to have one of his short stories read out on the radio, Love Loss and a Library is such a great story that shows just what a difference a little bit of empathy and kindness can make in the lives of others. So, it was a no brainer that I invited Anthony to tell me all about it. And we also included a recording of the story for you to listen to after the interview, as you'll hear, with three children and a full-on engineering role, it's not always easy to carve out the time to do these projects. But it brings him such joy that it always makes it worth it. He also talks very touchingly about his parents, and in particular his mum Gabe who is now 90 and having some health struggles. I really hope that when she hears this, it will lift her spirits and be a source of pride for a job well done on raising her own children. And as ever, having shared stories, I now know where Ant gets his own generosity of spirit and willingness to see the best in people. Enjoy

Anthony Brum on LinkedIn

Imbrium City: The RIse of the New Defenders

A Millionaire, An Artist, A Seduction by Remi Mariano

Guest post: Sci-Fi warns us we are all doomed, but let’s enjoy the ride by Anthony Brum - SFFWorld

www.sffworld.com

The Serpent and the Squid

www.cafelitmagazine.uk

Hey there, my wise friends and welcome to another episode of Collective Wisdom and thank you so much for being here. October the 10th was World Mental Health Day and October is fast becoming a month where we focus our attention on mental health issues.

Last month, I met today's guest Dr. Kerstyn Comley at a networking event and I was really interested in the work she's currently doing with her co-founder, psychologist Dr. Susie Godson. Together they have designed and created an app called Tellmi.

It is a safe, anonymous app where you can talk about absolutely anything from anxiety to autism, dating to depression, or self-harm to self-esteem. Sharing your experiences with an awesome community helps you to feel better. Our moderators check everything to keep you safe. And our in-house counsellors are always on hand if you need extra help, given the huge increase in the numbers of young people who are experiencing or will experience mental health issues.

I invited Kerstyn to come along and talk a bit more about the app and how it came into being and how it's now fast proving to be a hugely helpful resource.

Tellmi Website

Tellmi App on Apple Store

Tellmi App on Google Play

Wisdom: ‘Givers Get Lucky’ The person giving help also gets the benefit of feeling better.

Song: ‘I’m So Excited’ by The Pointer Sisters

Welcome to the final episode of this first series of The Collective Wisdom Podcast. So, I'll be ending where I began this series with Bernadette Jiwa. She is an amazing friend and mentor, and she was the person whose lovely soft Irish accent you heard interviewing me right there in episode one. We talked about her music choice of U2 and her stories of kindness and wisdom she has learnt around not limiting yourself to other people's expectations and beliefs around what you can achieve. She now has at least 10 best sellers on the Amazon list. So, it just goes to show that if you've got that conviction and motivation, if you can find it in yourself to just take that first step it's amazing where it will lead. Thank you so much for being part of series one, I look forward to seeing you back here in series two.

You can find out more about Bernadette Jiwa and her amazing books on marketing at The Story of Telling - https://thestoryoftelling.com/

My personal favourite of her many books is:

Story Driven: You don't have to compete when you know who you are - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Story-Driven-dont-need-compete-ebook/dp/B07B4NBDSG

And her latest is: What great story tellers know - https://www.amazon.co.uk/What-Great-Storytellers-Know-Influential-ebook/dp/B08PCLR5R8  

The Story Skills Workshop - Learn how to tell better stories

https://akimbo.com/thestoryskillsworkshop

Seth Godin: Purple Cow - https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=seth+godin

Song: U2 ‘Ordinary Love’  U2 Singing Ordinary Love on The Jimmy Fallon Show - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fum3g86zUPc

Wisdom ‘You don’t need more time. You just need to decide.’

AND ‘Don’t be limited by the dreams other people have for you’

Welcome to Episode 23 of The Collective Wisdom Podcast. I have a really special guest for you this week, Jackie Davis, she is a female version of Morgan Freeman, as she's a natural storyteller. Jackie just exudes wisdom, she's just somebody who has taken life and really put some thought into it. What I think I loved the most was how we ended up talking about how you define success. She explains that she was told from a very early age she was voted in in high school as being the most likely to succeed. And yet somehow, instead of propelling her that became a little bit of a burden until she was able to sit down and really have a chat with herself and say, what does success mean for you? And I think this is a question that is so empowering, if you can get really in touch with your own definition of success. And then part of that succeeding is, once you have that vision, once you have that goal, knowing that what you're doing is moving you towards it. So not suspending that feeling of being successful until you arrive at this notional point. But to say, I'm succeeding, because I'm moving towards my definition of success. And I think that is such a valuable piece of advice. And I'm so grateful to Jackie for sharing it. The other thing that really touched me about what she was saying was, she truly believes that anything is possible in life, and sometimes she just forgets that. But when she reminds herself, that's when she steps into her true potential, and I couldn't agree more. So with that, I'll leave you to listen to her stories.

Jackie Davis on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackierdavis/

Mindset by Dr. Carol Dweck - https://tinyurl.com/82xyb6ha

IKIGAI - The Japanese secret to living a long and happy life - https://tinyurl.com/2pz4atad

Song: ‘To be young gifted and black’ by Nina Simone

Wisdom: Nelson Mandela “It always seems impossible until it’s done”

Akimbo The Story Skills Workshop - https://akimbo.com/thestoryskillsworkshop

Hey there, my wise friends and welcome to Episode 32 of The Collective Wisdom Podcast, which is boldly titled Take The Time You Need. And that seems so fitting at the moment because taking the time to do stuff that matters has been a big part of August for me, and it always pays off. My guest this week is a very talented Canadian singer songwriter Michael Averill, whose song Thank you, you may have heard if you listen to the last episode of season three. I don't know that many Canadians but what I can say is that of the Canadians I do know 100% are really stellar people. And Michael doesn't disappoint. We talk about his creative songwriting process, and how it's taken him all over the world, including a trek to Nepal and a 3000 kilometre hike across Canada. As he shares some really intriguing insights about some of the magic that happens when you start to tune into those intuitive hits that so often, we ignore. Michael is someone who has taken the time to really reflect on what life is all about doing things you can because you want to and connecting with others along the way.

Songwriting workshops and Podcast https://www.writesongsyoulove.com

@writesongsyoulove on Instagram

Artist page and music production work https://www.michaelaverillproductions.com

@michaelaverillproductions on Instagram

‘Anything You Want’ by Derek Sivers - https://sive.rs/a

Fully Human by Steve Bidulph - https://www.waterstones.com/book/fully-human/steve-biddulph/9781509884759

Song: All we ever need by Michael Averill - https://open.spotify.com/track/1UB97nuidMIASNH47JPWO6?si=49620865c4474185

Wisdom: ‘Take the time and make the most of it’

And  ‘Always let someone know when they have something in their teeth’

Hey there, my wise friends and dear listeners and welcome back to another episode of Collective Wisdom, where today we're diving into the fascinating world of human design. Have you ever wondered what makes you uniquely you? How your individual traits and tendencies can shape your life's journey?

Well, if you have, and I know I have, today you're in for a treat, because we have a remarkable guest who's here to shed light on just those questions. Michaela Gaffen Stone is a seasoned expert in the realm of human design, a system that offers profound insights into our authentic selves, our potential and our purpose. She is here to guide us through this intriguing approach to self-discovery and personal transformation. Throughout our conversation. Michaela will unravel the mysteries of human design, sharing how it can illuminate your unique gifts, talents, and the path that aligns with your true self.

So, whether you're new to this concept, or already well versed, her wisdom will undoubtedly inspire you to explore the depths of your own design.

Episode Number: 92 How to use Human Design to discover your unique gifts and talents 

Guest: Michaela Gaffen Stone 

Show Notes

Michaela Gaffen Stone’s Website 

www.gaffenstone.com

An Introduction to Human Design

Wisdom: Imagine what the world could be if we could remove blame from our vocabulary

Song  ‘Song of Women’ by The Hu, Halestorm and Lzzy Hale

The Collective Wisdom Podcast with Cat Preston, certified Life coach. The podcast that explores how to be a wiser version of yourself.   This is a podcast that helps you to tap into your own inner wisdom and find the answers within you for how to live your best life.

Hey there, my wise friends and welcome to Episode 37 of The Collective Wisdom Podcast, which is all about hope in the face of challenge. My guest today is Rien Macdonald and, it's true to say he's been facing a few challenges of his own lately, having lost his job and living in Melbourne where lockdown continues and the obvious challenges that presents. In fact, we wanted to make this episode precisely because we recognise just how many people are facing really tough times at the moment. We also talk about mentors, and it is a great chance to reflect on what one of my favourite mentors, Robin Kramer once said to me, which is, “no one got to be where they are today alone.” So this is a chance to thank the mentors in my life, and I know Rien has also been really grateful for the support he's received in helping him to get started with his new business. It's also true that as my lovely friend Melissa Camilleri says, “we rise by lifting others.” So having the opportunity to help someone always has a positive impact. I hope that Rien’`s positive energy and his amazing stories help make your day a bit brighter.

The Hope Initiative - https://thehopeinitiative.simplecast.com/

The Hope Initiative Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/hopeinitiativepod/

RUKKUS - https://www.rukkus.com.au/

Trust the Process - Cat's Episode on The Hope Initiative - https://thehopeinitiative.simplecast.com/episodes/42-trust-the-process

The long and the short of it podcast - https://thelongandtheshortpodcast.com/

Wisdom: We are all imposters. Have some self compassion and jump into the arena

Songs

‘Days Like This’ by Van Morrison - https://open.spotify.com/track/3xINh6YqkLfucEtjoa4x7D?si=d2ea8f0273d84ef0

‘Spanish Sahara’ by FOALS - https://open.spotify.com/track/3xINh6YqkLfucEtjoa4x7D?si=d2ea8f0273d84ef0

Hey there, my wise friends and welcome to this episode of The Collective Wisdom Podcast. This September marks the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers. And for my guest today, September the 11th 2001 was a day that changed his life forever. At 8:46am a plane crashed into World Trade Centre one between floors 93 and 99. Mandell's mother Brenda worked on the 97th floor. Mandell tells the story of the huge hole that was left in his life and the lives of his family that day. It's the heartbreaking story of a 13-year-old boy calling the same number over and over hoping she would pick up the phone at the other end. Telling of the weeks of searching and trying to stay hopeful before finally having to arrange a funeral without a casket. Mandell's story is about the strength of character he's found over the years through faith, forgiveness, and his love for others. Brenda named her youngest son Mandell after the Great Nelson Mandela, and Raheem which means compassion. And she saw in him those great characteristics of strength and kindness, way before he saw it in himself. I'm truly honoured to have been trusted with this story that pays tribute to the wonderful mother, wife, sister and daughter Brenda was and how the seeds of love that were planted in the 13 years she and Mandell did have together were ultimately a gift that he's still cherishes to this day.

Mandell is a beacon of light in a troubled world. If you want to hear more from him you will find him hanging out on Instagram here: 

Mandell Conway on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mandellconway/?hl=en

Hey there, my wise friends and welcome to another episode of Collective Wisdom. My guest today is all about smart wellness, and she suggests you can cancel your gym membership, with great ideas for what you can do instead to live a long and healthy life by making some small adjustments to your everyday routine.

Neuroscientist Dr. Julia Jones is passionate about transforming public health. Following a year of experimenting on herself and tracking the results during the pandemic, Julia launched a new approach to health called Smart Wellness, in which she aims to challenge some of the myths that 50 years of diet and exercise plans have promoted.

Julia has spent over 30 years studying the neuroscience psychology and physiology behind optimum wellness, and then teaching people how to apply that science using simple tricks and techniques now known as bio hacks to optimise our ancient inbuilt biological systems.

Her enthusiasm for the work she's doing says it all really and I didn't want to break the flow. So we just go straight to the heart of what she does and why it's so important. I hope you enjoy the conversation.

Dr Julia Jones aka Dr Rock Online

Neuron Wellness

Dr Julia Jones in The Times

Tickets for Dr. Julia Jones Live at The Campden Club  6pm Thursday 27th October 2022

Song One Way or Another by Blondie

Wisdom: Stay Curious

Hey there, my wise friends and thank you so much for joining me here on Collective Wisdom this week as we're nearing the end of Pride Month, a time for celebrating difference and diversity. I have with me Shaun Dellenty, for what is a very personal and powerful conversation. James Clear, the author of Atomic Habits is often asked what's the most important habit to establish? And his answer is always the same. It's who we spend time with. Studies show we become like the people we are with the most. The energy of the people around you affects you. When someone is beaming enthusiasm, kindness, and creativity it's quite literally medicine for your body and soul. Perhaps you've even had a conversation or shared a story with someone that has completely changed your life. For me, Shaun Dellenty is one of those people, twice named on the independent on Sundays pink list of the 100 most influential LGBT plus people in the UK. Also in 2020 he was listed as one of the top 100 Global Diversity figures in public life on the Guardian’s global diversity list, alongside names such as Barack Obama, Jacinda Ardern and Kamala Harris.

As well as being a voice, a role model and an advocate for the LGBT plus community. Sean is also the author and facilitator of inclusion for the programme he wrote in response to the need he saw for better training for educational professionals, whilst he was the head teacher of primary school in southern UK. It's a programme he has gone on to deliver extensively throughout the UK. I really can't thank him enough for the tireless work he's doing to change attitudes and to make life more bearable for those in the LGBTQ+ community who so often encountered prejudice and discrimination for simply being who they are.

Website     www.shaundellenty.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaundellenty

Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/shaundellentycelebratingdifference/

Official You Tube   https://www.youtube.com/user/darebear68

Instagram        https://www.instagram.com/ShaunDellenty_official_

Song:  ‘Why?’ by Bronski Beat

            I Feel Love by Donna Summer

Wisdom: I believe now is the time for humanity to hard reset our factory settings to ‘kindness’.  So please be kind to yourself, to others and to our ailing world.

Celebrating Difference: A whole school approach to LGBT+ Inclusion

SOUL MUSIC: Smalltown Boy by Bronski Beat

IT’S A SIN - Russel T Davies’ autobiographical drama about the AIDS epidemic in the UK in the ‘80s

LGBT+ Helpline

Samaritans Helpline

In this episode of The Collective Wisdom Podcast I talk to Peter Shepherd, a lovely coach friend of mine, who has so much great advice to share on just that subject and how to find things that spark joy for you. He recommends going for daily swim, but given I live in landlocked Gloucestershire and not 100 metres from the beach and Melbourne, I've had to skip that idea in favour of a walk with a dog. Pete has been helping people create the change they seek to make, he's coached hundreds of business leaders, entrepreneurs, artists, and change-makers as they go out into the world and make a difference. Listen as he gives us his wisdoms learnt, stories of kindness and song for our collection.

The Long and the Short of It Podcast with Peter Shepherd and Jen Waldman - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-long-and-the-short-of-it/id1437094490?mt=2

The Human Periscope: Helping you see things you can't so that you can change your corner of the world - https://humanperiscope.com/

TEDx Peter Shepherd: What if  'Imposter Syndrome' is a good thing? - https://www.ted.com/talks/peter_shepherd_what_if_imposter_syndrome_is_a_good_thing

Bruce Springsteen  Born to Run on Audible - shorturl.at/dgoKS

Song: Bruce Springsteen: Born to Run (Acoustic Version)

The Collective Wisdom Podcast Playlist on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0sStAKEgmkWVrraFroK7zp

Wisdom: ‘You’ll never regret a swim’

Produced by Between Tracks Media productions – www.betweentracks.com

Hey there, my wise friends and welcome to another episode of Collective Wisdom as we continue to celebrate International Women's Day on March 8th, with the whole of season nine, and a wonderful woman from Korea. Semi Lee, as you'll hear, is full of compassion.

She talks all about her family and what they mean to her, including her beloved grandmother, who sadly passed away earlier this year, but whose legacy is definitely living on through Semi and the way she's showing up for other people.

At one point Semi says that what drives her is her belief that every child has potential with the right love and care. And she's out to show us just how true that is by sharing her message of hope and optimism.

Thanks so much for being here. And if there's someone in your life who's inspired you recently, do remember to tell them that.

Compassion International

Sponsor a Child - Compassion International

Cambodia children’s Fund

Homepage | Cambodian Children's Fund (cambodianchildrensfund.org)

Save the Children (I attached two links – I support through Korean entity but it has international version of it)

https://www.sc.or.kr/

Humanitarian Aid Organization for Children | Save the Children

Good neighbours (I attached two links – I support through Korean entity but it has international version of it)

https://www.goodneighbors.kr/

GoodNeighbors International

https://apps.apple.com/hk/app/sharethemeal-charity-donate/id977130010?l=en

Music ‘Perfect’ by Ed Sheeran

Hey there, my wise friends. Thanks so much for being here for Episode 28 of the podcast, which I'm so happy to say is with my lovely friend, artist and designer, Rebecca Harrison. I love this conversation so much as it's all about the courage it takes to give up a steady job and make the leap into the unknown, which is what Rebecca did at the beginning of 2020.

And sure enough, the first thing that she had to do was trust that it was all going to work out when the pandemic arrived. But for Rebecca, moving away from all the 'shoulds' and expectations of others, has been a path to finding true freedom. We also talked about her creative process and how she finds her motivation and inspiration, which I personally find fascinating. I hope you enjoy listening to her just as much as I did.

Rebecca Harrison’s fantastic website: https://rebeccaharrisondesigns.co.uk/

Rebecca on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rebecca_harrison_designs/?hl=en

Song: Cyndi Lauper ‘Girls just want to have fun.’

Wisdom: ‘Slow down and take a break’

Hey there, my wise friends and welcome to Episode 40 of The Collective Wisdom Podcast.

I have an amazing guest to bring Season 4 to a close. Daniel Bauer is a teacher, coach and mentor. it's fair to say, to millions of people. He runs a really successful podcast called Better Leaders Better Schools, which although it's aimed at educators and school leaders, is actually relevant for anyone who wants to seek some professional development.

He asks better questions, he has conversations with really inspired people, and his love of learning comes through all the time. Danny believes that the number one thing that makes a difference to students is the quality of the teaching and the quality of leadership in schools. And as a school leader himself, he could never quite understand why schools were set to compete against one another, when actually if they collaborated and supported and encouraged one another, school leaders learn to get better together.

So he set up a series of masterminds and has just written his latest book, which is called 'Mastermind Unlocking Talent Within Every School Leader' And it's all about the wisdom and experience that he's learned in the process of setting up these masterminds. How that encouragement and support has really built up a network of school leaders who are becoming better leaders every day. He lives and breathes his own philosophy, which is that everybody wins when a leader gets better.

Daniel Bauer is an unorthodox Ruckus Maker who has mentored thousands of school leaders through his Better Leaders Better Schools blog, books, podcasts, and powerful coaching experiences.

Mastermind: Unlocking Talent Within Every School Leader is a book that reimagines what professional development for school administrators looks like in order to meet the needs of all school leaders who currently feel isolated and overwhelmed.

BLBS Website: https://betterleadersbetterschools.com

Mastermind Book: Unlock the talent of school leaders

 https://us.corwin.com/en-us/nam/mastermind/book275490#description

Book discount code: Use "RUCKUS" for 20% off the cover price + free shipping!

Book website with bonuses: https://www.betterleadersbetterschools.com/mastermindbook/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielevanbauer/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/alienearbud

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alienearbud/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/danevanbauer?ref=bookmarks

Medium: https://alienearbud.medium.com/

BLBS on Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/better-leaders-better-schools-podcast-daniel-bauer/id1036167679?mt=2

Sir Ken Robinson 'Do schools kill creativity?'  TED TALK 

Song: Waskara by Oliver Mtukudzi

 https://open.spotify.com/track/3fDzjCoOuYUgCyTjY768Iz?si=08b4d26f6fb1414b

Wisdom: You’ll never go wrong treating people right

Enough: Unlock a life of abundance starting right where you are  

A collaborative book project by members of The Right Company 

Hey there, my gorgeous friends and welcome to another episode of Collective Wisdom.

This is the last episode of season nine, and you've maybe heard of the old saying, do what you love, and you'll never work a day in your life. In many ways this is true. If you're passionate about what you do, and you're putting your focus and energy into it, you won't feel like you're working.

In today's episode, we're joined by a very special guest, Jude Galea, who shares what she's learned by doing just that. Jude is a medical doctor who worked on the busy A&E wards throughout the pandemic but has been making the transition to being more of a holistic health coach and healer. Her unique journey and experience give her a profound understanding of the human body and mind which she uses to help her clients achieve optimal health and wellness.

In this episode, we'll dive deep into Jude’s journey, the importance of holistic health, and how we can all achieve a more balanced and fulfilling life. It's a fascinating story and I think one we can all learn from

Jude Galea's Website Dr. Body Mind Soul

Dr Body Mind Soul Podcast

Eastern Body Western Mind by Judith Anodea

Dr Gabor Maté - The Myth of Normal

Music: ‘It’s a beautiful day’ by The Kiffness

Wisdom: Do what you love

If there is an important woman in your life who has been an inspiration to you, perhaps now is a good time to remind them of just how much they matter. And if there is someone who has a story you’d love to help shine a light on then do drop me a note to collectivewisdompod@gmail.com

Hey there, my wise friends. There's definitely a sense of celebration and optimism in the air this week. There's a new moon. Some of you are celebrating Diwali and the victory of light over darkness. It's that same sense of positivity and optimism that drew me to my guest today. Damon Bowen-Ashwin, who is still in the middle of his story. Having been diagnosed with a brain tumour two years ago, he's just finished a gruelling 30-Day round of radiotherapy and is now embarking on a course of chemotherapy. But his courage, resilience and determination to get through this challenge is just so compelling. I went into this conversation knowing that I was going to hear from a remarkable man who is full of compassion, humility, and empathy. Those are all the qualities that I'd seen in Damon when we met whilst training together last year, but what I found was way beyond that. He shared how, although this has without doubt, been one of the most frightening times of his life, what has also come out of it is a beautiful love story, which just made my heart sing.

A story about meeting Wim Hof, who has been a powerful mentor and source of inspiration, and who actually got in touch with Damon because he also was so touched by his story. And ultimately, it's a story about the power of self-belief, and an understanding that we always have more choices than we think we have when life takes an unexpected or unwanted turn.

I love talking to Damon. There were moments when I had tears in my eyes and moments when we just laughed. I hope that his relentless faith and optimism in the face of huge adversity bring the same sense of joy to you. So here's Damon to tell you his story.

Adapt and Flow Mindset and Positivity Coaching - https://www.adaptandflow.co.uk/

damon@adaptandflow.co.uk

Adapt and Flow You Tube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUFEKX6-emp8LXI45maYg3A

Damon Bowen Ashwin on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/damon-bowen-ashwin-cpc-eli-mp-97423811/

Adapt and Flow on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/adapt_and_flow_dba/

Adapt and Flow on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/1781845782000011

Wim Hof - The Iceman - https://www.wimhofmethod.com/

Song:  'The Way It Is' by Bruce Hornsby - https://open.spotify.com/track/6V50MyHPGhEmwYu0Wdyf0t?si=a3542914f65f48e7

Wisdom: We can do ANYTHING if we put our minds to it

Welcome to The Collective Wisdom Podcast my guest today is from all the way over in Canada. Mark Dyck is a great friend and colleague over at the Akimbo workshops. Mark shares his stories on how his passion for making bread took him from learning through master bakers, building his own brick oven, to eventually opening his own bakery. He also has some great insight to share around fear and how a lot of that is really in your own head. And taking those steps towards what it is you fear can often help it just dissolve, and you get out of your own way.

Mark Dyck Newsletter - http://markdyck.co/

Rise Up Podcast with Mark Dyck - https://riseuppod.com/

The Right Company Forum for small business owners and creatives - https://therightcompany.co/

The Story Skills Workshop at AKIMBO

Use this link to sign up for US$205 - That’s an amazing 50% discount: https://akimbo.com/str/join/forwardlink_ey4evg/CatPreston/rfr8p8dw

The Art of Possibility by Rosamund Stone and Benjamin Zander - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Art-Possibility-Transforming-Professional-Personal/dp/0875847706

Song: ‘Sweet Thing’ by Van Morrison 

Wisdom:  ‘It’s all invented. You get to choose what matters to you and how you feel about it’

Hi there, my wise and beautiful friends. It's great to be back with you after the Easter break. And thanks so much for joining me for episode 57 of Collective Wisdom, which is all about men and masculine roles. It's a subject we really can't afford to ignore, given that the highest cause of death in men under 50, in the western world is suicide. And in a world where there are some pretty toxic masculine role models asserting their power in ways that are so catastrophic for society in general, it's really something that's been front of mind for me lately. So I turned to my friend Fiona Ross has been noticing all of this too for a long while now. And that's what called her to become a coach for men, creating a safe space for them to redefine the rigid masculine roles that can destroy lives and wreak havoc on relationships. Fiona also shares some information about a very special event she's hosting at the end of April with a coach Steve Hardison, who you may never have heard of, but who is legendary in the field of professional development. But who one client, Iyanla Vanzant, very famously said, “If I had one gift that I could give to every human being on the planet, it would be to have a coaching experience with Steve Hardison.” Wow, that's some testimonial. So, I will leave Fiona to explain the details of the event, which is happening at the end of April in London. Your opportunity, perhaps ,to meet someone absolutely amazing. But for me, I'm going to settle for my conversation with Fiona, who is also pretty amazing and which I thoroughly enjoyed, and I think you will too.

Fiona Ross

THE ULTIMATE COACH EXPERIENCE WITH STEVE HARDISON IN LONDON

www.fiona-ross.co.uk

Song: ‘All that I am’ by Rob Thomas

Song: ‘Start me up’ by The Rolling Stones

Wisdom: ‘Be a giant in everything you do. Don’t live small’

Welcome to Episode 30 of The Collective Wisdom Podcast. 

A time to reflect and show gratitude to those 29 incredible humans who have been so generous and trusted me with their beautiful stories. 

As with any creative project, it takes being vulnerable and  facing up to your own fears and understanding that you are never not going to feel that fear but the only thing that will help you get through it is to take some action and make a start. 

The recognition however, should really go to those wonderful guests who have shown the real courage here and told their stories often as if there are only two of us in the room when the reality is that there are lots of people whose hearts have been touched or spirits lifted by those stories.

How do I know?

Well because people have told me and reached out with their generous feedback and encouraging support. 

With grateful thanks to all my incredible, kind, smart, generous guests. This podcast wouldn’t be possible without you. Thank-you 

Michael Averill’s podcast: Write songs you love 

Thank You Song by Michael Averill 

Hey there, my wise friends and welcome to episode 46 of Collective Wisdom, which I'm very happy to say I'm recording from sunny Singapore. And it's been such a treat to reconnect with friends, many of whom I haven't seen for almost two years now. Health and well-being are definitely front of mind again this week, as news emerged of the new Omnicon variant of COVID-19 virus. It's still very unclear at this point, just what an impact it will have. But a reminder to us all that when our health is threatened, everything else becomes secondary. This is something that my guest today, Ian Barry, has had to deal with for most of his adult life, as he was diagnosed with melanoma when he was in his early 20s. He was told by his surgeon at the time that his capacity to survive the threat that it posed, would largely be affected by his attitude. And that adopting an attitude of gratitude would go a long way to help as he is now in his late 60s, I think we can safely say it's had the desired effect so far. Sometimes it just pays to be playful, give compliments to yourself and to others, and to find something to be grateful for even when the chips are down. For me today, I'm simply grateful to have met Ian and had the pleasure of his company for this episode. And if after listening to him, I’m sure you will feel the same way.

Ian Berry’s  website is https://www.ianberry.biz/

Ian Berry on  LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/ianberry1/

My relatively new service is https://www.ianberry.biz/we-need-to-talk where I have two vacancies for the 10AM AEDT session and one for the 8.30 AM UK time session

Enough. Unlock a life of abundance starting right where you are

Song: ‘Up Where Belong’  Joe Cocker and Jennifer Wares

Wisdom: Never forget when you look in the mirror that you are seeing a unique one-of-a-kind human being.

Welcome to The Collective Wisdom Podcast, to celebrate International Women’s week my guest this week is Simona Barbieri who is a truly international woman and the founder of Hubdot, which connects women from all over the world through the power of storytelling. Simona founded Hubdot eight years ago when she had taken a career break from her banking job, but still wanted to stay connected with like-minded women. And today, Hubdot has become a true launchpad for thinkers, entrepreneurs and storytellers from a diverse range of backgrounds, all of whom believe in the power of community. We talked about the work that they're doing to build bridges, empower and inspire others to follow their dreams and Simona shared her own challenges along the way with staying true to her values. She's a really powerful storyteller herself, and it was such a pleasure to chat with someone who leads straight from the heart.

Hub Dot - a launch pad for thinkers, entrepreneurs and storytellers

https://hubdot.com/

Song: Amazing Grace

Wisdom: It’s not about me. Ask yourself: Who am I here to serve?

The Story Skills Workshop at AKIMBO

Use this link to sign up for US$205 - That’s an amazing 50% discount: https://akimbo.com/str/join/forwardlink_ey4evg/CatPreston/rfr8p8dw

Hey there, my wise friends. And welcome back to Season 4 of The Collective Wisdom Podcast. I find September is always a great time to get new projects underway, or push just that little bit harder as we start to see the end of the year on the horizon. So we're kicking off this season with the wonderful Enrika Greathouse, who is a fellow coach and all-round superstar. I was recently on a call with her and she shared a tip about finding balance in the work she's doing, by asking herself if it's ticking four boxes of care, creativity, connection and contribution. And if what you're doing is hitting those boxes, then you're probably on the right path. Enrika is an absolute angel, her warmth, her empathy, her absolute all-round love for humanity just shines through in everything she says and does. But as you'll hear, it wasn't always that way. And she calls out the people who saw her and supported her and remained steadfast that she has light and something to offer, even when she didn't see it for herself.

@enrikacreates

Enrika Greathous on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/enrika/

Small Gorilla Marketing on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/heysmallgorilla/

Small Gorilla Creative Studio

https://smallgorilla.net/

'Love Does' by Bob Goff

Song: “My Life” by Mary J Blige

Wisdom ‘Be the light’

Hey there, my wise friends, and welcome to another episode of Collective Wisdom, which this week, I thought I'd try doing something a little different. As we're closing out the end of 2022. And coming towards the end of season eight, I thought I would do a session on wrapping up.

And as I'm not a huge fan of New Year's resolutions, which are always a sense of a source of defeat for me, I kind of maybe set out to try and do dry January and get as far as the 28th. But I never get that sense of inspiration. Because I'm always reminded that a year is actually a very long time. And no matter what goals we set, I find that actually, all sorts of magic and amazing things often come about mainly in the gaps between what we plan to make happen, or at least that's how it often feels in my own life.

So a better way for me to operate is often to reflect on here that's just come by and look at the things that have gone well, that unexpected things that have happened, and the things that have really been a source of fun and joy, and that I value and that I want to take forward into the year ahead.

So if you care to join me, I'll be asking some insightful questions. And this might even be a good time to dust off a journal and write out some of your own answers. Because that's really what for me, collective wisdom is all about, it's about finding out a bit more about who you are deep down so that you can bring out all of your own unique gifts and talents out into the world where they belong.

The Keys to Kindness: How to be kinder to yourself, to others and to the world by Claudia Hammond

Live Better Feel More With Dr Rangan Chatterjee and Dr David Hamiliton

Questions to reflect on over the year gone by:

WHAT BROUGHT YOU JOY?

WHERE DID KINDNESS COME INTO IT?

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO TAKE FORWARD?

HOW CAN YOU MULTIPLY THE EFFECT

Song: ‘Count on me’ by Bruno Mars

Wisdom: If you can be anything in this world, be kind.

Hey there, my wise friends and welcome back to Collective Wisdom, the podcast that delves into the stories of remarkable individuals who use their unique gifts to make a meaningful impact on the world.

Today's episode is a celebration of creativity and the transformative power of art. I'm joined this week by Sue Preston, an artist who creates abstract art that resonates with the depths of human emotion.

In this episode, we explore why creativity is a lifeline for so many. It's not just about making art, it's about expressing our deepest thoughts and emotions, and connecting with others on a profoundly human level. Creativity can be a source of solace, a means of communication, and even a pathway to healing.

So, I have a question for you. When was the last time you felt truly connected to your creative self? Our brains are wired not just to be doing things, but to be actively engaged in finding creative solutions. And perhaps one of the secrets to living a long and fulfilling life is when we find ways of tapping into that creative potential every single day.

Song: I’m Not Calling - Hollie Col

The collective Wisdom Podcast Playlist

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0sStAKEgmkWVrraFroK7zp?si=_V6HQM07RjC1lcQEcgZ9xA

Pearl of Wisdom: Chop Wood. Carry Water 

Music: ‘You’re gonna make me lonesome when you’re gone’ Bob Dylan

Production by Chris Hall-Franzkowiak

https://www.betweentracks.com/

Hey there, my wise friends and welcome back to another episode of Collective Wisdom. This week I had planned to feature a fantastic guest. But sometimes, even the best-laid plans go awry. Now, the old me would see this as a disaster, a failure even. But today, I see an opportunity here, a chance to turn a challenge into a win.

Today's episode is not a story of failure but one of resilience, adaptation, and hope. Instead of interviewing a guest, we are going to explore how perceived setbacks can be transformative opportunities.

If you've been following Collective Wisdom, you know how much I believe in the power of Acts of Simple Kindness, or ASKs. Today, let's perform an ASK towards ourselves by reframing a setback as a setup for a comeback.

Forever Projects Website

Wisdom: Inside every regret, there’s a simple lesson teaching us how to do things differently in future

Music: Beethoven’s 6th Symphony. “The Pastoral Symphony

Hey there, my wise friends and welcome to episode 59 of Collective Wisdom. I've got a really great guest for you today, if you're at all interested in hosting your own podcast, as I'm joined by my producer, Chris. We talk about all the things you'll need to do to get your podcast off the ground, including my number one tip, which is to find a good producer. Not only to ensure the sound quality is as good as it can be, but also if like me, you need an accountability partner to just keep you on track. Chris is such a lovely guy, and as you'll hear, he really knows his stuff. We talk about everything from equipment to use, to some of the best ways to monetize your podcast. And Chris has very generously shared a recording setup guide, which you can download from the link in the show notes. I know that although he spends a lot of time on the production side, being on the interview side of the mic is a new experience for Chris, but I think you'll agree when you hear it. He's a complete natural

Between Tracks Media Productions Website

Chris's Recording Set Up Guide for Podcasters

Shure microphones

Rode Microphones

Song: ‘How to disappear completely’ by Radiohead

Wisdom: Consistently take baby steps towards your goals. Consistency is the key to success.

Hey there, my wise friends and welcome to episode 43 of Collective Wisdom, which today is all about the art of writing and what it can do for you. I'm in a very happy position that after years and years of filling up many, many, many, many notebooks with ideas and thoughts and reams of randomness. It did turn into a bit of a book project. I know you're probably thinking, God is she still going on about that, but the truth is that having spoken to and listened to a lot of writers, both here on the podcast and at literature festivals, and anywhere else I can find those conversations. I realised that the outcome really is not the point. It's what writing can do for you to help you find clarity about your identity, the conflicts that you find within you. Does anyone else have that experience of holding two seemingly conflicting ideas in your head at once?

Well, my guest today has a lot to say on that subject. And she has so much to share about how the practice of creating writing can really help you to understand yourself a bit better. As well as being a very gifted teacher, Adanna is also a coach. So that means that she has a superpower for really prompting you to not only find your own creative expression, but then to use it perhaps to help you guide through a transition or a challenge or, or simply moving towards doing more of what really lights you up, both in life and at work for anyone interested in the art of writing. This episode is a real gift and I'm so grateful to Adanna. So here she is to tell us a bit more about her story.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/invictawriters/?hl=en

LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/adanna-onuekwusi-ma-pgce-307282175

Website: https://www.invictawriters.com/

Song ‘Strength, Courage and Wisdom’ by Indie Arie

Wisdom: ‘The art of simplicity simply means making peace with your complexity’

Hey there, my wise friends and welcome to Episode 39 of The Collective Wisdom Podcast. This week we're celebrating two very important national days. The first was yesterday, Monday the 18th of October, which is International Menopause Day. And I just like to say a huge thanks once again to Dr. Rebecca Lewis, who so kindly joined me back in Episode 35 and shared her immense wisdom about how to get informed and how to get access to the help you need to have a healthy menopause, including the balance app that was launched by the Newsome clinic, which really gives women the chance to track their symptoms and get the help they need. And this week also marks national Apple Day, Thursday the 21st of October is a very important day for celebrating orchards across the UK and to raise awareness of the environmental impact just to remind people of the importance of orchard fields, and nature to humanity in general. So to celebrate that I have two superstar guests with me this week, Vanessa Rigg, and Keyna Doran, who have together worked tirelessly to save and protect the over 100 year old World's End orchard in Chipping Camden. So find out all about the two of them, their story about orchards and why they matter so much.

Friends of Wolds End Orchard Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/SaveWoldsEnd/

Campden Edge Youth Arts Charity - https://www.facebook.com/SaveWoldsEnd/  

Song My Best Friend's Girl by The Cars - https://open.spotify.com/track/1SRkKyJ2JjMZgyDWC30zKv?si=2cd8adfbbf2d49b2

Music Credo Mass in C Minor by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - https://open.spotify.com/track/0hneOtkiKbXm4oreUfWzaI?si=43ec56b767894b84

Wisdom: Get informed and be prepared before you go into battle.

Welcome to season two of The Collective Wisdom Podcast. I've got an amazing guest for you this week. Libby Rose is an amazingly talented, beautiful singer songwriter. She's just released a single late last year called Bittersweet Reality, which just blew my mind. Libby shares stories about her song writing process, and how difficult it is to get feedback and know whether something's ready to be shipped. And then she just opened up and shared some beautiful stories about her own wisdom that she's picked up along the way from some tough experiences. It's a real reminder that wisdom doesn't just come with age, and we really can learn something from everyone. Libby tells such a heart-warming story about her act of simple kindness; around the supportive community she is now part of and the struggles for all of those people where Performing Arts is their life. With stages, theatres and normal performance arenas all closed, earning a living has been severely affected, as well as being able to think about what's next, or what you're planning for the next performance and the next big gig with that buzz of adrenaline that all these artists crave.

Guest:  Libby Rose

Libby Rose on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/libbyrose.uk/

Bittersweet Reality

Song: ‘Praying’ by Kesha

Wisdom: Listen to the people who really love you.

The Story Skills Workshop at AKIMBO

Use this link to sign up for US$205 - That’s an amazing 50% discount: https://akimbo.com/str/join/forwardlink_ey4evg/CatPreston/rfr8p8dw

Offer until March 23rd 2021

Welcome to episode nine of The Collective Wisdom Podcast. Sharing his stories of kindness, music choices and wisdom on this episode is someone very personal to me. Sim and I have been married for a very long time. So, I feel like I know him almost better than I know anyone. And yet, funnily enough, when you sit down to share stories, you always seem to learn something new. What I did know already is that Sim isn't someone who finds asking for help easy, he's much more comfortable in the role of giving help to others. But as he describes in his story about kindness, it's really humbling and truly appreciated when other people see your need and reach out to you. This episode couldn't have come at a better time to thank all those friends in Singapore who've been so generous to Sim and therefore by extension to us as a family, with all their kindness.

FWD Insurance   https://www.fwd.com/

OLO Restaurant Helsinki  https://olo-ravintola.fi/en/

Keith Floyd Recipes:   https://www.keithfloydrecipes.com/

Song:   ‘Gypsy’ by Suzanne Vega

            ‘Seven’ by Taylor Swift

Wisdom: If you’re given a choice between the easy option or the harder path, choose the harder path into the unknown.

Produced by Between Tracks Media Productions – www.betweentracks.com

Hey there, my wise friends and thanks so much for joining me for what promises to be a really enriching and heartwarming conversation with Erica Danielle today. Who, as well as being a coach is also a spiritual teacher, and an all round gem of a person. Do you ever look down a kaleidoscope and see all those shapes and colours, shift and form ever changing patterns and formations. I have one on my desk and I spend way too long staring down if I'm not careful. But it occurred to me today that the reason I love this podcast so much is that each person I add to the collection brings a new perspective and adds to the rich diversity that goes to make up the whole. As I was listening to Erica, I was reminded of a word I learned a couple of years back, Sonder, which is used to describe that feeling we have when we realise that everybody, even strangers passing by, are leading a life as rich and as complex as our own. We all experience the world in completely unique ways. But we sometimes assume that everyone else feels just the same way we do. And as I was listening to Erica’s story, I found myself wondering if I would have had an ounce of her strength and courage in the same circumstances. But what's really clear is that she's found a path to move beyond being a victim to a place of complete freedom. It's a truly remarkable story and I'm really so grateful to Erica for sharing it with me.

Website:      ericadanielle.com

                        innerfemininetechnique.com

Instagram:   www.instagram.com/ericadanielleovershares/

LinkedIn:      www.linkedin.com/in/ericadanielleovershares

Song: Cranes in the Sky by Solange

Wisdom: ‘There is only you. You get to love yourself free’

Hey there, my wise friends and welcome to episode 47 of Collective Wisdom, which marks the anniversary of the launch back in December 2020. I can still remember the feelings of apprehension as I put the very first episode out there. And it feels so good now to be able to look back and reflect on just how consistently showing up and practising can make something so much better. I already knew at the time, the power of stories to connect us on an emotional level. But what I've discovered is that there's a huge difference between knowing something to be true, and actually experiencing it. So this is a perfect opportunity to thank each and every one of my guests for showing up so graciously and trusting me with their stories. It's been a truly humbling experience to spend time with them. And I've been reminded time and time again, just how much we can learn from others if we take the time to sit down and listen. It's also a chance to thank you for joining me. And for all the really kind messages of support and encouragement I've received over the past year. They really have fueled me and knowing that other people are enjoying listening to it as much as I'm enjoying recording each episode is a real bonus for me. And I don't think this week's guest will be an exception. Fiona Mattesini is a journalist and accomplished writer. And she and I share a passion for all things podcasting. She's also been really good at following her intuition over the years, and as a result has a really interesting and exciting career path. That's given her a chance to truly explore her creativity, one adventure at a time. But what I think Fiona helps highlight more than anything is a universal truth, that essentially life is all about the relationships that you experience along the way. And we dig into how important that is, and how kindness and empathy play a part in building those relationships and making them so much stronger.

Fiona Mattesini’s website

You can find Fiona on Instagram: @Fionamattesini

Emilie Wapnick: TedX Why some of us don't have one true calling

Song: ‘Sail On’ by Fergus O’Farrell for Interference

Wisdom: Write the book you want to read

CRISIS at CHRISTMAS - Making a difference to someone who doesn’t have a home this Christmas

Hey there, my wise friends and thanks so much for joining me for another episode of Collective Wisdom. April 2nd was World Autism Awareness Day. And this week I'm sharing the story of Charlotte Crawford, who is also known as the autistic artist.

Charlotte is a real inspiration to me, as her story is one of courage, creativity and determination. As you'll hear, she found school particularly difficult and spent most of the time feeling isolated and anxious. Eventually, her mental health issues became so severe that she was hospitalized.

Autism is now known to present very differently in autistic women and girls. And Charlotte is fortunate that she eventually received a correct diagnosis. As so many women and girls go under the radar and as a result don't get access to the support they need to help them navigate the challenges of being autistic.

In a world that doesn't quite fit for Charlotte. It was only when she was able to show up as her true self and embrace her differences, that she was able to find some real happiness and success. I'm so grateful to Charlotte for trusting me with her story, as I know that it will help others who are perhaps struggling with the same issues to feel less invisible and alone. And as she says, it's her hope that they don't feel they have to suffer in silence.

Charlotte Crawford’s Website: The Autistic Artist

The Square Peg Community Podcast with Amy Richards

Christine McGinness: Unmasking my autism on BBC iPlayer

Chris Packham: Inside our autistic minds on BBC iPlayer

Music: ‘Clair de Lune’ by Claude Debussy

Wisdom : ‘The top of one mountain is the bottom of another’ Life is made up of peaks and troughs

Hello my wise friends and welcome to Season 3 of The Collective Wisdom Podcast. We're kicking off today with a guest who is just so wise. Alysha Yates is the director of programmes for the charity, You Make It. Alysha’s story of losing her mother when she was only 22 really touched my heart. And I make no apology for the fact that when that happens, my eyes just leak she shares so wisely the idea of how you almost, through grief, lose a sense of yourself. Her journey to come back to herself by finding things that really do bring meaning into her life and light her up. She taught me about the concept of the Sankofa bird, which is a mythical bird from West African culture. The bird has a has an egg on its back. And it teaches us to go back to our roots in order to move forward so that we can achieve our full potential and bring our experience and the wisdom we've learned through those experiences with us. I am so grateful to Alysha for the way she opened up so generously, in a very intentional way to help other people who are maybe suffering in the same way at the moment, going through grief, experiencing that same sense of pain and loss. So with that, I'll hand you over to Alysha and her beautiful stories.

You Make It : Charity supporting young women in SE London to find meaningful work. - https://you-make-it.org/

Find your purpose : Jessica Huie - https://www.amazon.com/Purpose-Find-Truth-Embrace-Calling/dp/1788170563

Wisdom: ‘Sankofa: Go back and fetch it. Taking the wisdom from your past to build your future’

Song: ‘Find your way back’  by Beyonce

Hey there, my wise friends and welcome to another episode of Collective Wisdom, which this week is with my friend the television and film producer, Kirsty Stark. As you're about to hear, Kirsty has a whole string of award-winning productions to her name, including Stateless, which deals with the plight of millions of refugees around the world who find themselves incarcerated in detention centres. And First Day, the tender and heartfelt drama, which charts the journey of Hannah, a transgender girl as she begins at a brand-new high school. In her new identity as her authentic self, Kirsty's work bridges the gap between fictional stories and real life, often featuring first time actors in roles that reflect their actual experience, which allows them to find their voice and advocate for their community.

Ultimately, these are all dramas that get to the heart of what it means to be human. They're all about treating people with the kindness and dignity that you would want to be treated with yourself. And as is so often the way dramas like these can become a pathway to positive change. First Day is now being used in schools in Australia as a way to start conversations and address prejudices before they become deeply ingrained at the heart. It's all about inclusion and belonging. And if you can't be your authentic self in the first place, then it's almost impossible to feel as if you belong. It was a real privilege to get to talk to Kirsty about why she does what she does.

Kirsty Start -

https://kirstystark.com/

First Day

The BBC own the current rights to show this is the UK but it’s not currently being aired so the only way to see it in the UK is via direct purchase.

Season 1 purchase link - https://actf.com.au/catalogue/id/608/first-day-series-1-digital-download

Season 2 purchase link - https://actf.com.au/catalogue/id/640/first-day-series-2-digital-download

https://tiktok.com/@firstdayseries

Stateless

https://www.netflix.com/au/title/81206211

https://www.tiktok.com/@firstdayseries/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwFS69nA-1w

Wisdom: Ask yourself : “Where can I add value

Song : First Day of my Life by Bright Eyes

Video of First Day of my Life by Bright Eyes

Hey there, my wise friends and welcome to Episode 35 of The Collective Wisdom Podcast. With me this week is my great friend Lon Wong, who's just written his first book Dear Stellar. In this episode we talk about the process of writing and dig into how to create the space you need to make these creative projects come to life. Also, how to turn off those distractions and really focus on what matters, because essentially the book is all about how much his family mean to him. In his book he also explores what it means to really be human, and perhaps live a little bit more in the moment. Something that is often a challenge to many but with Lon’s words of wisdom can be slightly less so. Lon also gives his selection of music for The Collective Wisdom playlist.

Lon Wong’s social media links:

HeyLon.ca

twitter.com/lon

instagram.com/lon247

DearStellar.com  New Book: Letters on the art of being human

worldvision.ca   change lives with us

Song ‘This woman’s work’ by Kate Bush - https://open.spotify.com/track/1Q0sruYhnsq6lmhWgeRFh5?si=35ff263a4d4b461f

Wisdom: Ask yourself ‘How can I be more human?’

Hey there, my wise friends and welcome to season six of The Collective Wisdom Podcast. We're kicking off in mid-February, which is a time of year many of us associate with Valentine's and love. This is very fitting because my guest today, Kim LeClair, is a phenomenal web designer. And the secret to the success of her websites is that she helps to show her clients the true potential she sees in them, something they often don't see in themselves. We talk about Kim's work, which is her unique expression of herself in the world, and how she helps other people to express their unique vision and the contribution they want to make into the world. It's all about building a work life that blends into our life-life. We also dig into her daily poetry writing practice, which I think is at the heart of her creative drive. And she shares a really beautiful story about how as a kid, she inscribed a book with her name and the word poet and now she has more than 700 poems to her name. So, it just goes to show that those seeds are sown inside us from a very early age. Kim is definitely someone who's lent into learning by doing and showing up consistently. She's shown up over 10 years, and it's doing that that has made her a master of her craft. It was such a fun conversation.

Work: East Willow Website Design Studio

Play: Kim LeClair's personal Website

The Calm Business Review

Enough: Unlock a life of abundance starting right where you are

'Me and Bobby McGee’ - Janis Joplin

'Orinoco Flow' by Enya

Wisdom: What does success look like to you?

Hey there, my wise friends and welcome back to another episode of Collective Wisdom. Today we are privileged to have with us an extraordinary guest, Clare Louise, who is author of 'And Always Annaliese'.

Before we begin a quick but essential note, the subject matter of today's episode deals with the loss of a child and some listeners may find the content emotionally very difficult. So please do exercise some self-care in deciding whether to proceed with this episode. And you might also want to listen with headphones.

Today's conversation is unlike any we've had before.

It delves deep into the corners of human experience that are often left in the shadows, pain, loss, but also crucially, the resilience of the human spirit. Clare Louise has courageously penned down her journey, a heartbreaking yet transformative experience. Following the loss of her seven-year-old daughter Annaliese, her book serves not just as a tribute to her daughter's life, but also as a guiding light for those grappling with incomprehensible loss, or perhaps supporting someone who is. It's an episode that takes courage to speak, to listen, and most of all to try and understand the indescribable so without further ado, I'll hand you over to Clare Louise

And Always Annaliese Website and Book

The Compassionate Friends

Child Bereavement UK

The Lullaby Trust

Grief Cast by Cariad Lloyd

Grief Works App by Julia Samuel

Music: Oom-Pah-Pah from the Original Soundtrack of Oliver!

Wisdom: Losing a child is one of the most difficult things you’ll ever face. Know that you are never alone and find the tribe you need to help you through it.

Hey there, my wise friends and a warm, warm welcome to episode 53 of Collective Wisdom. This episode comes to you a few days after the Russian attack on Ukraine, something we all hoped against hope could be avoided, as we're now seeing the tragedy of the innocent victims who are bearing the cost of this senseless and futile war.

I was so moved by the stories of Chef Jose Andres, whose organisation World Central Kitchen has mobilised to start providing warm food to those people who have now started pouring across the border, in freezing temperatures in fear of their lives. It's a reminder to us all that when a situation feels hopeless, and beyond our individual control, that change happens one person, one gesture at a time, and we can all make a contribution in any way we can to help those who need it most at the moment. There is a link below to more information about World Central Kitchen and the work they're doing.

Which brings me on to my guest today, my friend Tricia Van Vliet, for whom the courage to speak openly about something deeply personal, will I'm sure make a huge difference to others. Tricia found herself, back in 2017, in a perfect storm of overwhelm, burnout and depression that led her to attempt to take her own life. An act which she describes as her greatest failure, and one she continues to reflect on to this day. It's a tough conversation for sure for her to revisit that dark time in her life and I'm so grateful to Tricia for the way she was able to be so open and honest about her experience, which can't have been easy. But what I take away from this most rare of opportunities, is Tricia’s message to share how you feel with the people around you. I'll always be grateful to Tricia for what ultimately is a story of faith, hope and optimism and the power of finding patient courage, with yourself and the people around you.

Tricia A. Van Vliet, CPA

The Wellness CPA PLLC | Founding Member

tricia@wellness.cpa

You can read more about Tricia’s story in her Chapter of ‘Enough’ which is called ‘Patient Courage’

ENOUGH: Unlock a life of abundance starting right where you are

The Samaritans

World Central Kitchen - José Andrès

Song; 'This Is Me' by Keala Settle

Wisdom: First, believe that YOU MATTER. Then, do the WORK THAT MATTERS.

Hello there, my wise friends and welcome to Episode 26 of the podcast. This week's guest is my gorgeous friend and fellow story skills coach, Victoria hefty. As you'll hear, she's all about pivoting and moving in a new direction. Those moments in your life where you just know something's got to change. Victoria's latest podcast is all about how to embrace those moments, in your career especially, and make the leap Victoria is a real doer. I'm more of a, 'I'll have a think about it and maybe do it later kind of person' - So I find her energy is just so infectious. It's a full moon this week. And as if by magic, my lovely friend Aliza, who taught me to appreciate the moon in all her glory appeared back in my life. When we first met, there was a huge strawberry moon in the sky, not something I'd ever heard of but now I'm alert to all the magic and possibility that can happen when it appears. The ushering in of a new moon has long been celebrated as a great time for setting new intentions and getting ready to move into action. So perhaps that's why this is a perfect time to introduce you to Victoria.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoriahefty/

Victoria@postmbapivot.com

Song: ‘Show Yourself’ from the Disney Musical FROZEN

Wisdom: You’re not going to find your place in this world until you know who you really are.

Hey there, my wise friends and a warm welcome to Collective Wisdom, where we really do celebrate the power of listening to promote and encourage expansive thinking in those around us, which is what makes today's guest Ulla Raaf such a great fit. Ulla is an author and designer, coach and consultant who designed tools that help people master communication and how to have crucial conversations in a world fraught with conflict. As you'll hear, as I was reading out Ulla’s own mission statement, I found that it brought me to tears, often a sign that I'm hearing something that is a resounding truth for me, it was tempting to edit out the emotion and present the polished final version. But I decided in the end to do something very rare for me and ship the honest, messy version, where I can't quite hold it together. Something I think we're all too conditioned to do when we feel emotion is to pull ourselves together and move on. And as you'll hear, that's not quite what I did. So now I'll hand you over to Ulla, I'm just so grateful to her for bringing all of this to light and for sharing it with us here today.

Ulla Raaf's website

Ulla Raaf on LinkedIn

Sam Maher - New York Subway Hand Pan Performance

Song: Sam Maher - New York

Wisdom: Find a pursuit that brings you happiness. Never stop learning something new.

This week Bhavini Vyas shares her stories, nuggets of wisdom and song choices with The Collective Wisdom Podcast. Bhavini is an amazing singer songwriter who lives and breathes radical empathy. She's taken this concept of helping people and build it into her life and her work. She is the embodiment of how purpose in life isn't something you do, it's a state of being. Listen as Bhavini shares a short meditation at the beginning of the interview, noticing your breathing is such a simple but powerful tool that you can carry around with you wherever you happen to be. I wanted to share with you her approach. It's one that she uses and teaches others to use to find common a storm and connect with herself. I hope you'll agree it's a beautiful way to start the day.

Resources

Breathe smart

Bhavini’s Album ‘New Moon’

https://open.spotify.com/artist/5PtGcKwoE2ykxB4QF78MCs?si=XAMb-5pwTlCAw5vrujToFg

Bhavinivyas.com

@bhavinivyasldn

Song(s):

The Fat Backband “I’ve searched day in day for a love that was mine only mine’

Stormsy: Blinded by your Grace

Nugget of Wisdom: Every Day is a beautiful new opportunity to be happy, experience this world and make a difference. Just breathe.

Satsung

Produced by Between Tracks Media Productions

Hey there, my wise friends and a warm welcome to another episode of Collective Wisdom. I don't know about you, but when I listen to the news at the moment, it can feel as if we're in a perpetual state of crisis. And the problems in the world are slightly out of proportion with the solutions. But I'm also aware, probably thanks to the pandemic that out of any crisis can emerge new and incredible opportunities, particularly if traditional approaches and paradigms are questioned and challenged.

It's true, it can be really hard, finding the gift in some of the dark times or the challenging moments we have to live through. But they can often make us stronger or even go on to become a source of gratitude.

And that is certainly true of my guest today. Jo Brownlow has had to live through some really challenging health issues, not just herself, but also watching her son really suffer, which is never easy. As you'll hear though, Jo has not only been able to overcome the crisis, but it has emerged as someone who has embraced a whole new approach to life and gone on to train as a functional medicine practitioner herself. So, if you or someone in your family is going through a particularly tough time at the moment, I do hope that hearing Jo's story will bring you some comfort in knowing that there will be light at the end of that long dark tunnel.

Jo Brownlow's Website  

Jo Brownlow on Instagram

Feel Better Live More Podcast with Dr. Rangan Chatterjee

School of Applied Functional Medicine

Annie Grace - The Naked Mind How to have a healthier relationship with alcohol

Music:  Pachabel’s Canon in D

Wisdom: Turn your challenges into an opportunity

For this first episode of The Collective Wisdom Podcast, Bernadette Jiwa interviews host Cat Preston, who tells some of her own stories and wisdoms learnt along the way.

Story Driven: You don’t need to compete if you know who you are - By Bernadette Jiwa

Song: I’m Not Calling - Hollie Col

The Collective Wisdom Podcast Playlist

Pearl of Wisdom: Trust yourself. You’ve got this.

The finale of The High Low Podcast with Pandora Sykes and Dolly Alderton

Visit Cat’s website

Produced by Between Tracks Media Productions

Hey there, my wise friends and welcome to episode 62 of collective wisdom. And I'm feeling like there's a lot of magic in the air today. I'm recording this episode on the first of June, which is the Eve the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, which, whether you're a royalist or not, I think you have to congratulate the queen on an incredible 70 years of service.

My guest this week is the fabulous Scott Perry. He's a coach, who, through his brand Creative on Purpose helps his clients who are in the main in the fab at 50 Club, to craft the best third act of their life as he puts it, and really live their legacy rather than leaving it after they're gone. We talk about the passage of time and that affect that knowing that we're all mortal has on our creative drive. Scott has some fascinating ideas to share about how to spark your own creativity and get intentional about that phase in your life when you've already been over there and done some of this and a little bit of that. And now you really can lean into becoming more of you, comfortable in the knowledge that all the lessons you've learned and the trips around the block are going to come in very handy going forward. I knew I'd love this conversation, and I'm pretty sure you will too.

Creative on Purpose with Scott Perry

'Onward: Where certainty ends possibility begins' by Scott Perry

'Endeavour: Cultivate excellence while making a difference'  by Scott Perry'

Bittersweet: How sorrow and longing make us whole' by Susan Cain

Song ‘So What’ by Miles Davis

Blue Skies - Django Reinhardt

Albinoni: Adagio in G Minor

Wisdom: ‘Think of yourself as dead. Now take your life and live it properly’

Albinoni: Adagio in G Minor

Hello, my friends and welcome to episode two of what's shaping up to be a season of collective wisdom about finding courage in the face of adversity. And my guest this week is no stranger to that idea. Phyllida Swift is now the chief exec of Face Equality International, a role she stepped into after the untimely death of her predecessor and founder of the organisation Dr. James Partridge, James very sadly died in August last year and Phyllida has asked that this episode pay tribute to the incredible man that he was and to his life changing work as the pioneer behind the facial equality movement. James founded the charity Changing Faces after he suffered severe burns to his face as a teenager and went on to set up Face Equality International back in 2018, to unite organisations fighting for facial equality globally as he understood the power of the collective to really have an impact. He worked tirelessly right up until his death, helping people with facial differences to deal with the daily challenges they encounter, and to change the attitudes and prejudices of the world towards them. Our sincere condolences go to his wife, Carrie, his children and grandchildren and the many, many people who like Phyllida were so sorry to have to say goodbye to such a caring and compassionate friend. This week is facial equality week, and there couldn't be a more fitting time to honour James and the legacy that was his life's work.

Face Equality International - https://faceequalityinternational.org/

@FaceEqualityInt

Phyllida Swift TEDx Talk "I'll give you something to stare at" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qydFBmtOUEk

'Say Hello' by Carly Findlay -https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1460755030/ref=x_gr_w_bb_sout?ie=UTF8&tag=x_gr_w_bb_sout_uk-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738

Song:  ‘You Oughta  Know’ by Alanis Morisette - https://open.spotify.com/track/3jS7bB0oXVOwGFZn3aE5NV?si=5caa2d8b34c244f4

Wisdom: “The less you can compare yourself to others the better.”

Hey there, my wise friends and welcome to another episode of Collective Wisdom. This podcast, as you know is all about celebrating our differences and the fact that it's diversity that makes humanity so or inspiring. So, it was such a thrill to be invited to Hong Kong to host a panel for International Women's Day recently, that was all about equity and inclusion.

What happens when we listen to each other's stories is remarkable and always fosters connection. And that's just what my guest today, Imogen Short, specialises in, she invited a lot of women in the workplace to share their stories. And the outcome is Pivot, a wonderful comedy web series that draws on those experiences, and aims to highlight some of the madness in the world we're living in.

It's really about bringing the power of storytelling to leadership and surrounding yourself with people who share your values but bring a different perspective. I just loved hearing Imogen stories about the creative journey she's been on recently. And I hope you do too.

PIVOT webseries

 Pivot social channels:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Its-time-to-PIVOT-105042171999221
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pivot_web_series/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pivot-web-series/

Three Wise Sheep Productions

Imogen Short on LinkedIn

Song ‘Marjorie’ by Taylor Swift

Wisdom ‘Everything you want in life is on the other side of fear and discipline

‘You suffer more in imagination than reality’ Marcus Aurelius

‘Favourite Mug’ by Hana Preston (16)

I want to have a favourite mug.

I want to live such a mundane, perfect life that I can wake up in the morning and be excited to pull my favourite mug clean from the dishwasher.

I want to have a favourite mug and a favourite brand of tea and a favourite skimmed-ness of milk which I can add to every mug of English breakfast.

It thrills me. Such an existence. Godless and undone and cupping the mug of tea to my chest.

I will come downstairs in my dressing gown and there will be traces of the sunrise still gracing my kitchen, and I think I might start crying because it will feel like atonement, even then.

I will have an Aga. A nice kettle. A bread bin with a wooden lid and a toaster with different settings.

I say all of this to a friend and she has to suppress an emotion which I think might have been pity.

She only says, is there nothing else? and it takes me back to the altar because no, of course there isn't.

It's just this. Me and my favourite mug and no god in sight.

Me and my kettle and the steam cooling on the windowpanes.

Tea on a hot day even though it might overheat me because my mug is shining on the drying rack.

It'll have a chip in it. It must. It will have at least one flaw and it will decidedly not be pretty or pleasing to the eye.

It will be a bizarre colour and will wear an awful slogan and might have a dog on it. Or a sheep. And no god.

It will not be perfect because it was not created at His will.

It will be stupid. People will avoid it when looking in the mug cabinet.

Its colours will run and its paint will peel and it will not be perfect because it is not His.

I say something like I want to have a favourite mug and what I mean is I want to live a life untouched by God.

Nothing ever means one thing. I am cracked and peeling and avoided in selections,

and I am not His. And He will understand this, I hope.

I will get up in the morning and find my mug and He will not once cross my mind.

My life will be so barren of religion - the plague - that I will have a favourite bloody mug. That will be all. Mundanity. And my tea.

Hey there, my wise friends and welcome to Episode 34 of The Collective Wisdom Podcast. I've got a really special guest for you today. And this one's quite personal because Dr. Rebecca Lewis is actually someone who has helped me to navigate through the menopause. She has very kindly agreed to come and share the wealth of knowledge and wisdom that she has about the menopause, and managing the huge array of symptoms that can be part of it. I count myself as being very lucky that a few years ago, when I was talking to my friend Cat, I was just describing this kind of flatness and apathy and lack of get up and go, that I just thought that was part of life. And she said, have we had the menopause conversation yet? It was so far off my radar. And then she sent me a link to Liz Earle's Podcast, where Liz was interviewing Dr. Louise Newson, who was a GP at the time working in a clinic in Birmingham and specialising in the menopause. In the interview, she described the range of not only physical, but also mental symptoms that can be experienced by women as their oestrogen levels decrease. And it was the first time that I'd even considered that the way I was feeling might be hormonal rather than just the way life is. By bringing this conversation into the open, Louise and Rebecca and the team have ensured that as many women as possible will get the help that they need. And I wanted to share this with you because even if you might not be affected directly, there's probably someone in your life whether it's your mum or a partner or a friend, who may well be finding themselves suffering in a similar way. And if any of this resonates, I'm hoping that just as Cat was such a great friend to me, I can be that friend for you.

Dr. Rebecca Lewis - Newson Health - https://www.newsonhealth.co.uk/about/team/dr-rebecca-lewis

The Balance App - Help for a healthy menopause - https://balance-app.com/

The Menopause Doctor website - https://www.menopausedoctor.co.uk/

Louise Newson The Menopause Doctor on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/menopause_doctor/?hl=en

Channel 4 Documentary - Davina Macall: Sex, Myths and the Menopause - https://www.channel4.com/programmes/davina-mccall-sex-myths-and-the-menopause

Song:  'Crow' by Bear's Den

Wisdom: Don’t suffer in silence with your menopausal symptoms. There is help out there.

Hey there my wise friends and a warm welcome to Season Seven of Collective Wisdom. With me this week I have my friend Stacy Richards, who as well as having a 20-year career in sales now has a coaching practice where she leans into her passion for helping young professionals develop the real skills that they'll need to build a happy and fulfilling career. Skills like empathy, resilience, active listening, and building and maintaining relationships that are so key to engagement and success in the workplace. We're entering a world of work that in many ways has undergone complete transformation. Over the past few years, many organisations are blindly trying to work out how to be profitable but at the same time diverse, inclusive and equitable. So, this episode is for anyone who is currently about to graduate or perhaps their parents who are supporting children as they go out into the world of work. I know that certainly includes me and I'm so grateful to Stacey for joining me to share her wisdom. I could definitely have stayed and chatted for a lot longer.

Oyster Reef Coaching

The Conscious Way Forward

Linchpin by Seth Godin

Song: ‘Summer Highland Falls’ by Billy Joel.

Wisdom: In 50 years no-one will know the difference.

Hey there, my wise friends and a warm warm welcome to episode 54 of Collective Wisdom, which comes to you on March 8th, which is International Women's Day. And this week is all about giving. I'm here with my wonderful friend Mandell Conway. Anyone who's a regular listener to the show may remember his incredible story. Back in episode 36, of losing his beautiful mother Brenda, who was tragically killed in the Twin Tower attacks when Mandell was only 13 years old. Mandell has somehow been able to embrace that huge loss and keep the spirit of his mum alive with his generous approach to life. To me, it would be so understandable if Mandell had never been able to move on from the sense of pain and loss that he suffered, and perhaps even a deep and bitter resentment of the people who were responsible. And yet what he's done is move into a state of deep appreciation and gratitude for the time that he did have with his wonderful mom. As you'll hear, Mandell is now leaning into what it means to 10 X that appreciation with his new initiative, 'Giving is like......' Showing us how when you give, you get the real gift. So, it's a real pleasure to dedicate this episode to an International Woman, Brenda Conway, and the light that she continues to put out into the world through her son. And the other amazing International Woman I want to give a special mention to on this very important day is my own mum, Sheila Glass, who celebrated her 76th Birthday yesterday. Sheila has been supporting her local community in more ways than you could ever count as a pharmacist, a school governor, a parish councillor and by running a charity shop in her village of Ramsbury that has raised more than £100,000 over the past ten years just by recycling and redistributing other people's cast offs. Two equally amazing women to pay tribute to today. 

Mandell Conway’s Giving is Like on Instagram

Giving is Like…. website

Collective Wisdom's Giving Page for Choose Love helping support refugees in Ukraine and beyond

Eddie Jaku  -  The Happiest Man on Earth - sharing his wisdom

Eddie Jaku - The Happiest Man on Earth

Song BB and CC Wynams  ‘Tomorrow’

Wisdom ‘It’s never too late to start and you are never too far behind’

Hey there, my wise friends. Thanks so much for joining me for episode 55 of Collective Wisdom. With us this week is my friend Sue Heatherington, who, together with her husband Steve run The Waterside from a small valley in Wales. I have Steve to thank for teaching me so much about the craft of podcasting in the Akimbo podcasting workshop that he coaches. Sue's life, meanwhile, took on a new direction, when during an enforced period of quiet reflection while she was recovering from breast cancer, she coined the phrase “quiet disrupter.” It describes her own philosophy and approach to life. And what followed was a manifesto, which acts as a call to action for those wanting to find their voice and make a contribution. But without shouting, just quietly getting on with creatively finding solutions to some of the big problems the world is facing at the moment. That manifesto has since gone on to spurn a book of the same name, which encourages you to become the change you want to see. Quietly.

Sue Heatherington on LinkedIn

Quiet Disruptor's website

ENOUGH: Unlock a life of abundance starting right where you are

Choose Love campaign for Ukaranian Refugees

Song ‘Beautiful Things’ by Gungor

Wisdom: Become. Life isn’t a destination but a constant evolution.

Hey there, my wise friends and welcome to another episode of Collective Wisdom, where we explore the insights and perspectives from our lived experiences.

In this episode, we're joined by a messaging coach and speaker Joanna Ingram. As a messaging coach Jo has helped countless entrepreneurs, coaches and thought leaders to refine their messaging and communication skills, allowing them to better connect with their audience and grow their businesses with a unique approach that blends psychology, marketing and storytelling.

Jo has gained a reputation for helping her clients to create powerful messages from a place of genuine authenticity that will resonate with the right audience for them and drive meaningful results with more ease and less effort. Authenticity comes from the same ancient Greek root, as the word author and authority. And as you'll hear, Jo discovered for herself, we can't really be an authority in our own life. Without first knowing ourselves.

Being authentic means claiming our own power to tell the story of our lives, which in her own case, involves finding the courage to carry on after she very nearly didn't make it through the birth of her first child. I hope you'll agree that hearing her story, you can't help but gravitate towards her infectious, life affirming energy.

Joanna Ingram’s Website

Joanna Ingram on Instagram

‘Closer to Fine’ by The Indigo Girls

Wisdom:  Trust the universe has your back.

Hey there, my wise friends and welcome to another episode of Collective Wisdom. We are family, that's something today's guest has helped me see right from the get-go. Like me, Robin Kramer is one of four girls. And so perhaps the way we have both grown up has shaped our outlook on the importance of connection and valuing relationships above all else in life. But what Robin has also taught me is that one of the ways we build those relationships is by going the extra mile and asking ourselves in any context, how we can show up and be of service.

There's a real shift in energy when you move from internal focus on yourself to thinking outwardly to the people you're connecting with and leaning into empathy. It's a mindset you'll find at the heart of any successful business or project, the small gestures that make all the difference. A little bit of gratitude goes a long, long way. And it's one of the reasons she's such a joy to be around.

Robin Kramer at Redboot Consulting

Robin Kramer on LinkedIn

Flourish and Thrive Academy: Helping Jewellery Creatives to Thrive

Song: ‘We are family’ by Sister Sledge

Wisdom: ‘ You don’t know what you don’t know. We can learn something from everyone’

Soul Music Podcast: We Are Family

Rumi Tsuchihashi’s Garden Meditation Card Deck

Hello there, my wise friends and welcome to another episode of Collective Wisdom, where we delve into the journeys of remarkable individuals who are making an impact through their creativity and passion. And today is no different. 

I'm joined by a really gifted and talented artist and graphic designer, Lauren Philliban, who, as you'll hear, has written and illustrated a beautiful new children's book due out next year. It's a book that explores the role that kindness and friendship play in solving some of the biggest challenges we face today, such as immigration and protection of the environment. And judging from the feedback she's received so far from her very critical focus group it's going to be a firm favourite amongst the five to seven year olds it's written for.

Lauren's here to share more about her path to success, and some of the intricacies of the publishing industry, in short, the art of bringing a story to life. 

Lauren Philliban’s Website 

Lauren Philliban on Instagram 

Maxey Images - Nicky Maxey Countryside Photographer

Wisdom:  ‘Embrace the power of saying ‘Yes’ to your own potential’ 

Music ‘Carry You’ by Novo Amor

The collective Wisdom Podcast Playlist 

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0sStAKEgmkWVrraFroK7zp?si=_V6HQM07RjC1lcQEcgZ9xA

Production by Chris Hall-Franzkowiak

Welcome to Episode 29 of The Collective Wisdom Podcast.  This week features a topic that affects us all in some way or another: money.

Joining me is Dennis Harhalakis, a certified money coach, who has so much wisdom to share about the psychology of money, and how understanding our own attitudes and beliefs towards it, is the key to lasting financial independence and success, either on a personal level, or if we're running a business.

It is a subject that's at the centre of our lives, and yet we're never really taught much about it. Instead, we pick up, often unhelpful, beliefs that can lead to anxiety, shame or regret that actually become the money blocks in our life.

As Dennis so wisely says at the end, money doesn't come with instructions, but it does come with a whole set of emotions. I found this conversation fascinating and it definitely caused me to stop and reflect on my own attitudes to money, and how intentional or even conscious they are. Understanding this stuff can really change your mindset around money, and with it your financial reality.

If this conversation has caused you to learn more about money coaching and how it can help you can head over to Dennis's website at;

Cambridge Money Coaching

where you can take the money quiz or book in a free consultation call to discuss any challenges you are facing and whether Dennis can help. 

contact@cambridgemoneycoaching.uk

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dennis-harhalakis/

Music ‘Wish you were here’ by Pink Floyd

The Collective Wisdom Podcast Playlist

Wisdom:  Money doesn’t come with instructions only emotions.

“You don’t have to believe everything you think”