The Motivate Collective Podcast by Melanie Suzanne Wilson

What if everything you thought you knew about dopamine was wrong? In this episode of The Motivate Collective Podcast, Melanie Suzanne Wilson sits down with Dr Sankalp Garud — Oxford-based neuroscientist and PhD in Psychology and Neuroscience — to explore the brain science behind motivation, connection, creativity, and happiness. From why the journey genuinely rewards your brain more than the destination, to how your environment directly shapes your dopamine levels, to the very real risks of AI replacing human connection — this conversation will change the way you think about your own mind. Dr Sankalp also shares his deeply personal story: a misdiagnosis, the wrong psychiatric medication, and a night he thought he wouldn't survive — and how that experience became the fuel for his life's work. In this episode: The real role of dopamine — and why it's about wanting, not pleasure Why your environment is part of your neurochemistry The brain region responsible for reading social context How touch, vulnerability, and authenticity build deeper connections Why your best ideas come on walks and in the shower (it's neuroscience) Dunbar's Numbers and why losing friendships over time is completely normal AI in mental healthcare — co-pilot today, pilot tomorrow? Three science-backed lessons for motivation, connection, and self-awareness Dr Sankalp Garud is a neuroscientist and researcher at Oxford University whose work spans motivation, decision-making, social connection, and dopamine. He has studied happiness across cultures, practised meditation extensively, and brings both rigorous science and lived experience to everything he shares. 📍 Find The Motivate Collective: https://www.motivatecollective.com 📸 Instagram: [your handle] 💼 LinkedIn: [your handle] 🎙️ Subscribe so you never miss a conversation that matters. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 00:32 What is motivation? The science explained 01:23 Dopamine: wanting vs. liking 03:09 The journey is tracked in the brain 03:59 How to manufacture motivation 06:31 Dopamine and your environment 09:26 Are we a product of our surroundings? 11:37 Social connection as a survival need 12:35 Personal vs. professional relationships in the brain 13:54 The orbitofrontal cortex and social context 16:34 Social skills are learnable 19:34 Can we see trauma in the brain? 21:22 Neurofeedback and real-time dopamine signals 24:02 Movement and motivation 24:36 The default mode network and creativity 28:57 How context shapes friendship 32:41 Vulnerability, touch, and deeper connection 40:26 Dunbar's Numbers and relationship circles 45:13 AI, loneliness, and pseudo-relationships 51:45 AI in healthcare — how far will it go? 1:00:22 What inspired Sankalp's research 1:02:20 Misdiagnosis, medication, and a near-death experience 1:07:10 Three lessons for motivation, connection, and happiness

 summary In this engaging conversation, Dr Shanae Jefferies explores the sociological forces shaping society, the state of the US and global community, and the importance of authentic human connection in an increasingly digital world. She emphasises the need for honesty in leadership, community building, and focusing on individual tasks to foster peace and understanding.  keywords sociology, community, US politics, social media, AI, human connection, leadership, societal change, mental health, social cohesion  key  topics The role of sociology in understanding society Global influence of national policies and actions The importance of community and social support Impact of social media and AI on human interaction Leadership qualities needed for a peaceful future  guest  name Dr Shanae Jefferies Titles The Sociology of Society: How Global Processes Shape Us Building Community in a Digital Age: Insights from Dr Shanae Jefferies  sound bites "America is more divided than ever" "Human connection is irreplaceable" "We all have similar core needs" Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Sociology and Its Importance 03:00 Current State of the US and Global Perception 06:00 Community and Collective Needs 09:03 Political Climate and Group Conformity 12:00 The Role of AI in Politics and Society 14:44 Privacy Concerns in the Digital Age 17:35 Self-Perception and Societal Standards 20:52 Socialization and Gender Differences 23:30 Conclusion and Reflections on Identity 36:16 Body Image and Social Perception 38:36 The Importance of Community Connection 41:16 Navigating Online Communities 46:11 The Role of Technology in Human Interaction 51:18 The Need for Human Connection 55:49 The Impact of COVID-19 on Social Interaction 01:01:36 Cultural Change and Individualism     Transcript    Dr Shanae Jefferies - transcript     Melanie Suzanne Wilson (00:01) Shanae, welcome to the show.   Dr Shanae Jefferies (00:04) Thank you for having me.   Melanie Suzanne Wilson (00:06) This is such a joy, and you are such an expert. have so much to share. What do you want people to know first about what you do and what you teach everybody?   Dr Shanae Jefferies (00:20) Okay, so I do this thing called sociology of the week on my TikTok. And I really like the big part of this is that I love sociology, and I want sociological research to be respected in kind of the way that psychological research is. Because it's about how society is forming around us and how that impacts our person. So I feel like that we should say more about this and in more conversations that are just like, research is only science. Research is also studying society and its people. So yes.   Melanie Suzanne Wilson (00:57) It really is. So is the difference that psychology tends to focus on the individual, and does sociology look at the broader collective and what we're all doing as a trend?   Dr Shanae Jefferies (01:09) Kind of. It's in there. Sociology is looking at the processes of societies like the infrastructures and the institutions that are shaping us, like are shaping around us, but also in a global atmosphere, like what are we doing in one country that affects another country? As first-world or first-class or whatever countries, what are we doing that actually is degrading others in a non-like super tense way, but just like affecting other nations to keep them under our foot or in this stronghold. So I think like just seeing like what how the nations come into play, how the institutions within one nation. And of course, I'm from the US, so all of this feels like, my goodness, please help us. But like...   Melanie Suzanne Wilson (02:05) Okay, on that note, how are you feeling in the US right now? I saw some headlines in the news. What's your main feeling and impression of your nation and the world right now?   Dr Shanae Jefferies (02:20) Embarrassment. I think the rest of the world kind of knows that this is not the unified American foot that is being put forth now. I hope that they do. But right now, we kind of just have to sit and watch what happens because we're not in control. So embarrassed is the big one. I'm going to say embarrassed.   Melanie Suzanne Wilson (02:48) I feel so much compassion for that. I know that Americans can feel very patriotic, and the impression I get from the outside is that there's clearly division and has been for a long time. I think in some ways, other countries are having feelings like that as well. Over here in Australia, the thing that really sunk in deeply for me, did you hear about what happened in Bondi?   Dr Shanae Jefferies (02:54) Yeah.   Yeah.   I did not.   Melanie Suzanne Wilson (03:20) So basically, there was an attack on Jews in Bondi. Yeah.   Dr Shanae Jefferies (03:27) Where is Bondi? Melanie Suzanne Wilson: So, it's basically, it's a beach area in Sydney. So that made headlines everywhere. mean, you know, politicians in other countries were commenting on it. It was it was huge. And I think that Aussies aren't always feeling divided. Mean, I have talked with a few Americans on the show to get the impression that there's this intense division, especially when there's the 'conservative and opposite'. But I think that what I'm sensing over here, at least in my impression, is that there's something underlying going on and people are losing faith in politics and   Dr Shanae Jefferies (03:59) Yeah, yeah.   Melanie Suzanne Wilson (04:17) I have to be so careful in how I word this. I don't want to say people are losing faith in government; I think that people don't know who they can trust at the moment. Is that the sort of feeling you're getting?   Dr Shanae Jefferies (04:23) Yeah.   I think it's so much deeper than that. I'll speak as a Black woman, but knowing how the government and systemically we've been treated, we knew better than to have any faith or hope into the government system. So like after the election, we weren't surprised, we were disappointed, but we weren't surprised. So I think now it's coming to where other racial groups, ethnicities, other class groups are starting to feel some pressure about who they are and their freedom or their privileges in the US. And that's what's having people say, like, we're more divided than ever before. Or like, I didn't know it was this bad. We used to be a better America. And so as a Black person and as a Black woman, I don't think I know a better America. It feels like they're doing to other people what they've done to us. And still, not everybody is affected by this. So it's still like, who knows how much longer this could go on before people have had enough and are ready to do something.   Melanie Suzanne Wilson (05:39) I want to find a way to express a lot of love and care towards the people who are feeling like or experiencing that their needs aren't being met while also trying to be loving towards people who perhaps have been socially connected with some of these spaces that turned into something they don't expect and   Dr Shanae Jefferies (06:04) Mm-hmm.   Melanie Suzanne Wilson (06:07) The thing that's becoming a parallel on what you're saying is that more and more groups are wondering how their needs can be met in this era. I mean, over here, the special needs people are, that has been a flag that's getting waved these days. I'd say maybe a decade ago or, more recently, the rainbow flags were getting waved a bit more with an effort change. And what I'm saying, though, is that we've lived in a lot of change post-COVID, things like that. And do you think that everybody is wondering, okay, how can everybody have what they need? But also, I also need to ask this feeling of feeling like, I'll rephrase that, this feeling of our collective needs as a group were never met. I can see that as being manifest in perhaps the Indigenous communities over here and in other spaces. So what do you think is the next step for people who are having that experience and need to find a next way forward relating to everybody.   Dr Shanae Jefferies (07:36) I think that those people are finding community. And so that's something really special. Under the circumstances, we wish that they were better. But people are finding community, and they're finding support in that, in places where previously they might have used their own resources or used the government. So community is coming out of this.   Melanie Suzanne Wilson (08:00) That's really powerful. Do you think that historically, community was a way for everybody to cope decades or centuries ago? Do you think that's something we need to return to?   Dr Shanae Jefferies (08:16) Yeah, I think it looks different now, which is why people are like, no, let's not do it or they don't recognise it. So even like the threads community, like we're talking because I responded to a post you made on threads, you know? So we're finding community in social places, or sorry, we're finding community in, what is the word? Internet? Online.   Melanie Suzanne Wilson (08:39) Yeah, online.   Dr Shanae Jefferies (08:41) Thank you. We're finding community online within different groups, and we're finding some commonalities. We still, this is what I wanted to say to your previous question. I don't know how tense it is in other nations or other countries, but it did feel particularly like a stomp in the face going to work the day after election day that we had, like the day after the presidential election day, because you know for a fact that the people around you have voted against your best interests completely, you know? And then you go to work, and we're one big happy community, and we help each other and yay, yay, yay. And it's like, we can't ignore this, you know? So even finding community within the workplace is something like, okay, now we're siloed over here because we're not the majority. Like the majority, I live in Texas, so red flag waving state very conservative. And so you find your pocket of liberals, and you're just like, I'm so glad to have found you, you

 content  type Interview  primary  goal Educational  summary In this insightful interview, Kym shares her unique approach to peak performance, blending kinesiology, yoga, and emotional mastery to help wellness professionals and female golfers overcome mental roadblocks. She discusses her personal journey through grief, her focus on holistic wellness, and practical strategies for managing emotions, routines, and self-care.  keywords peak performance, kinesiology, yoga, emotional mastery, wellness, golf, self-care, resilience, gratitude, mental health  key  topics Kym's background in sports kinesiology and energy medicine The role of movement, yoga, and emotional mastery in performance Personal journey through grief and using golf as a structure for life Strategies for managing emotions, discomfort, and balance The importance of routines, gratitude, and play in well-being  guest  name Kym Coco  key  frameworks Hand Model of Wellness Energy Medicine Principles Mind-Body Connection Strategies  action  items Practice micro breaks and pauses during the day Start a gratitude journal and reflect nightly Try different styles of yoga to find what suits you best Use visualization and reprogramming techniques for emotional balance Titles Unlocking Peak Performance: The Power of Movement and Mindset How Yoga and Kinesiology Transform Wellness and Golf  sound bites "Beliefs can make us feel safe or unsafe." "Gratitude puts on the lens of appreciation." "We are more powerful than we think." Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Peak Performance Coaching 02:05 The Journey into Golf and Personal Transformation 04:59 Navigating Grief and Finding Purpose 08:48 Community Connection After Loss 10:10 Emotional Navigation in Coaching 13:59 Holistic Approach to Wellness 17:02 The Quest for Balance in Life 22:01 The Importance of Nature and Movement 22:44 Yoga: A Lifelong Practice and Teaching Journey 25:54 Layers of Yoga: Beyond Movement 29:34 Embracing Discomfort: Lessons from the Mat 35:42 Miracles and Transformation: A Personal Journey 38:50 Caregiving: The Gift of Presence 48:10 Energy Awareness: Adapting to Life's Cycles 53:30 Empowerment and Play: Keys to a Fulfilling Life  resources Kym's Book: Miracle on the Mountainside - https://www.amazon.com/Miracle-Mountainside-Kym-Coco/dp/XXXXXX Energy Medicine Resources - https://www.energymedicine.com Yoga Resources and Sequences - https://www.yogaresources.com  guest links Website - https://www.kymcoco.com Twitter - https://twitter.com/kymcoco LinkedIn - https://linkedin.com/in/kymcoco  

Listen to the entire conversation at The Motivate Collective Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or The Motivate Collective website.    Join as a member now to receive benefits and exclusive offers for upcoming events.  https://www.motivatecollective.com/join   -    content  type Interview  primary  goal Educational  summary Jesse Cruz shares his inspiring journey from military service to personal growth, faith, and impactful storytelling. Discover how faith, self-awareness, and strategic networking can transform your life and career.  keywords personal development, storytelling, faith, military, growth, leadership, motivation, self-awareness, coaching, success  key  topics Jesse Cruz's military experience and lessons learned The role of faith in personal transformation Strategies for effective storytelling and personal branding The importance of community, mentorship, and continuous learning  guest  name Jesse Cruz  key  frameworks Gift of Life Framework Storytelling for Impact  action  items Hire a coach to refine your storytelling skills Share your story from a place of healing Invest daily in personal growth and faith Titles From Military to Mastering Your Story: Jesse Cruz's Journey to Impact Unlocking Your Gift: Lessons from Jesse Cruz on Personal Growth  sound bites "Don't focus on what others have." "Focus on serving, not judging." "Find your people to grow and thrive." Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Jesse's Military Background 00:26 Dealing with the Challenges of Deployment 01:18 Deciding to Leave the Military for Family 01:28 Creating a New Life Through Faith and Environment 02:30 Reflections on a Year of Personal Loss and Growth 03:32 The Gift of Life and Finding Your Purpose 05:04 Transitioning to Youth Advocacy and Community Impact 05:41 Advice for Young People and Social Media Realities 06:54 Faith as a Catalyst for Change 08:20 Peace Amidst Challenges: The Power of Faith 10:05 How Faith Could Have Changed Jesse's Military Experience 11:49 Sharing Your Story for Healing and Impact 15:22 Balancing Vulnerability and Healing in Storytelling 16:57 The Importance of Inner Work and Healing 18:19 Starting Your Personal Brand with Social Media 19:57 Overcoming Fear and Serving Your Audience 21:48 Finding Your People and Growth in the Right Environment 25:01 Advice for New Military Members and Life After Service 26:18 Making a Career in Paid Speaking 27:00 Three Key Lessons for Personal and Professional Growth     ...   Special Opportunity for the Motivate Collective community 10% off your entire order at HumanCharger Support your energy, circadian rhythm, and confidence Code to be used at checkout: THEMOTIVATECOLLECTIVE As seen on The Motivate Collective Podcast Get your HumanCharger light therapy headset now.   https://humancharger.com/?dt_id=2858979   Transcript   Melanie Suzanne Wilson (00:01) Jessie, welcome to the show.   Jesse Cruz (00:03) Thank you for having me.   Melanie Suzanne Wilson (00:04) You have been quite a speaker, and you have quite an experience. I saw that you worked in the military. Do you want to share anything about that first?   Jesse Cruz (00:15) Yeah, so I joined the military in 2007, was there until 2011, and I was in the army, and I was deployed in Iraq for a year.   Melanie Suzanne Wilson (00:27) My goodness. Tell me anything about that.   Jesse Cruz (00:32) Yeah, I mean, it was one of the scariest things of my life. I had a child that was just born, and then within 72 hours, she wouldn't see me again for like a year. So she was born, and then I left. And that was really hard for me to deal with, is leaving so soon after she was born. And then being there for a year was tough, but I couldn't wait to come home and...   So I decided when I got back home that I would get out of the military so I could be involved and be around and be in her life because being away from her for that long was not fair to her, and that's not the kind of dad I wanted to be.   Melanie Suzanne Wilson (01:18) Absolutely, a whole year. So what did you do to change your life and to create freedom after a year away?   Jesse Cruz (01:29) Yeah, well, I mean, most importantly is I returned back home because I was stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, for a while. got back and came to New York State, where I'm from, and got involved in my faith and my church. Very important to me. Started hanging out with different people, different friends and started to surround myself with a different environment of people upon returning home so I could kind of leave behind like a wild life that I was living because I was not living maybe like a really good life at that time and I realized that I needed to do better for her and for me and so I really had to change the people I was spending time with.   Melanie Suzanne Wilson (02:14) Okay, so you were surrounding yourself with faith-based people and people who are responsible, and it sounds like it was a wild time. said, what was it about the, what happened? What can you share about the year away?   Jesse Cruz (02:30) I mean, that year away, I was, I just felt so lost. You know, I spent so much time away from the people I cared about the most to do something I didn't fully love or have the passion to do. And so I felt like a complete, like a failure, really, because I wasn't fulfilled. This wasn't my purpose. I didn't have meaning in it, you know? And so just being there.   I was blessed with the opportunity to have some great guys I was with. I became very close with and care deeply about until this day. We're still very close. But it was a big learning time about me, about who I am and what I want out of life and what I don't want out of life, because that's also extremely important as well.   Melanie Suzanne Wilson (03:23) I'm wondering what words of wisdom do you have for people who are starting or ending a journey with that sort of work?   Jesse Cruz (03:32) Yeah, I think it comes down to knowing how you're And until you've learned how you're uniquely gifted, you'll wander from thing to thing trying to find where you fit in this world. And so that's why it's so important to really learn about the great gift that you've been given. I like to use the metaphor of like, it's like the gift of life under a tree, everybody has a gift with their name on it, under that tree.   And some of us are too scared to go to the tree and open up the gift. Some of us are excited to open up the gift and can't wait to see what's inside. But then there's other of us who are so consumed and concerned with what everybody else got in their gifts that we get so distracted by the gift that they have, we don't get to appreciate our own. And so just what do you want to do with the gift you've been given, and don't focus on what other people have. Don't be concerned with their gift. Just be thankful that you have one and then open up that gift and then share it with as many people as humanly possible.   Melanie Suzanne Wilson (04:45) Right, find your thing and don't worry about what everybody else is doing.   Jesse Cruz (04:49) Absolutely.   Melanie Suzanne Wilson (04:51) Absolutely. So you got into speaking eventually, but after the military, did you do some sort of mainstream work or what did you end up doing?   Jesse Cruz (05:04) Yeah, so I was a youth advocate. So I was mentoring youth and families in the communities which I was from. And so I started to do that, and that was extremely rewarding. I was really making a difference. I am making an impact. I was helping kids who, you know, maybe had a lot of disadvantages in life and being there to support them along the journey. So that was a huge change of scenery for me that I'm thankful for, and being able to help the next generation in that way was a huge blessing.   Melanie Suzanne Wilson (05:38) What do the young people need to know now?   Jesse Cruz (05:41) They need to know that not everything that you see on social media is actually real. I just had this conversation with my daughter just yesterday, and I had to remind her, don't ever compare your chapter one to somebody else's chapter 20. It's easy to look at someone's highlight reel and look at all the followers that people have and all the great posts that people have, right? No one's in there really posting their losses. They're just not doing that. And so we gotta understand that, yeah, some people are going to win big, they're going to do well. They may seem further ahead than you, but you don't know what they had to go through to get to that. So my encouragement to the youth is stop comparing where you're starting to where somebody else finished. And just only comparison you need to make is the comparison with yourself. That's it.   Melanie Suzanne Wilson (06:30) think we all need to learn that.   Jesse Cruz (06:32) Yeah, most definitely.   Melanie Suzanne Wilson (06:33) Definitely. Especially anyone who's trying to build a career and then seeing the end result of someone else for sure. So, sorry, how did faith play, sorry, how did faith play a part in changing?   Jesse Cruz (06:54) Mm-hmm. Yeah well, I spent most of my life not having any and I realized that there has to be more like the emptiness that I'm feeling the depression that I'm experienced the anxiety that felt never-ending there had to be something else there had to be something greater and I had a lot of struggles a lot of addiction a lot of pain a lot of problems   And I realised that I was trying to fix it myself. And I thought that by my own willpower, I could literally just do all the fixing. But then I got to the point where I realis]ed that I can't live like this no more. And then I had a conversation with God, and I said, you know what? If you're real, I'm gonna give my life to you, and we'll see how this thing goes. And when I said that, it was like the first time I felt peace in my life. Now that doesn't mean I still don't have challenges and problems. But what I learned in that moment is that yo

Listen to the entire conversation at The Motivate Collective Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or The Motivate Collective website.    Join as a member now to receive benefits and exclusive offers for upcoming events.  https://www.motivatecollective.com/join       ...   Special Opportunity for the Motivate Collective community 10% off your entire order at HumanCharger Support your energy, circadian rhythm, and confidence Code to be used at checkout: THEMOTIVATECOLLECTIVE As seen on The Motivate Collective Podcast Get your HumanCharger light therapy headset now.   https://humancharger.com/?dt_id=2858979     Unlocking Energy and Overcoming Burnout with Lisa Gornall In this episode, Lisa Gornall, a gifted energy healer and intuitive guide, shares powerful insights into how emotional energy impacts our wellbeing, success, and relationships. Whether you're feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or burned out, Lisa reveals actionable strategies to clear energetic blocks and realign with your purpose.   Key Topics: How Lisa's intuitive abilities help prevent burnout by reading and reprogramming energy The difference between energy work and traditional card reading or therapy Recognising and releasing stored emotional stress that manifests physically The significance of divine timing and understanding the flow of life Practical boundaries for entrepreneurs and high achievers to preserve energy The impact of generational patterns and past life influences on current behaviors The importance of investing in yourself to truly value your growth Overcoming victim mentality and self-sabotage to step into personal power Balancing work, life, and emotional health to prevent burnout and foster fulfillment Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction: Lisa's intuitive work and how it helps prevent burnout 02:12 - Understanding energy reading versus traditional healing methods 04:00 - Lisa's experiences with spirits and energy awareness from childhood 07:09 - When to seek Lisa's help: signs you're feeling stuck and needing clarity 09:23 - Differentiating between perceived and real feelings of being stuck 10:55 - The role of dreams and purpose as personal roadmaps to fulfillment 12:21 - Past life influences guiding current fears and choices 14:14 - The importance of energy clearing in medical recovery and wellbeing 16:33 - How stored emotional stress impacts physical health and manifestation 18:13 - Clearing negativity and reconnecting with the divine light 19:33 - Divine timing and trusting life's natural flow 20:23 - Balancing predetermined fate with free will and personal choices 22:44 - The significance of energetic boundaries in relationships and business 25:12 - How to recognize and shift from victim mentality to empowerment 28:15 - Breaking generational patterns to heal family wounds 33:30 - The necessity of investing in truth and worth to avoid self-sabotage 38:33 - Practical steps for entrepreneurs: creating boundaries and managing energy 44:05 - How self-care, joy, and unplugging prevent burnout and boost productivity 49:14 - Returning to human connection and emotional awareness in busy lives 50:43 - Overcoming fear, limiting beliefs, and recognizing subconscious patterns 55:39 - The power of objective perspective: choosing your environment and company 58:12 - The impact of investing in paid support and community over free groups 60:12 - Essential tips for new business owners to safeguard energetic health 63:01 - Final thoughts: Letting go, trusting divine timing, and living intentionallyResources & Links:   This episode offers a clear start to recognise energetic blocks, harness divine timing, and create the boundaries necessary for a balanced, fulfilled life. Whether you're looking to improve personal wellbeing or elevate your business, Lisa's insights provide a powerful roadmap to overcoming obstacles from the inside out.       Transcript   Lisa Gornall (00:00) Sounds good.   Melanie Wilson (00:02) Lisa, you work with people to prevent burnout. How do you explain to everybody what exactly you do?   Lisa Gornall (00:12) So I'm a medium.   So I was born with the ability to become one with people's energy. So I can literally feel what you're holding in your body, why, sometimes, how long it's been there. And then I'm intuitively able to help you let that go. I can tell if it moves somewhere else in your body, if it's not really leaving. And then we reprogram it with positive energy. So that's one of the major things that I do with everybody that I work with.   Melanie Wilson (00:39) Okay, how did you get started with that?   Lisa Gornall (00:43) I was blessed in that I was born with that ability. I had no idea that what I did was different. I thought everybody could read energy the way that I do. had no, I mean, we all have intuitive abilities. I just didn't realize that I was like really intense with what I can do.   Melanie Wilson (00:47) Okay.   Okay, so how did you realise you can do this?   Lisa Gornall (01:06) So as I got older, and I started just talking to other types of healers, like Mayan shamans, I did Reiki, became a Reiki master. And as I put myself in those areas, I would realise, like, you know, like the Mayan shaman would be like, you have this here. And I'm like, yes, and I have this, and I have this, and this is from this life and from this experience. And his eyes just got really big. And I was like, okay, now everybody can do this. And like when I got the Reiki master training,   Like I could see the attunements, whether or not they would like take place or not. And the person that was performing them can't even see that.   Melanie Wilson (01:40) What...   What does that mean?   Lisa Gornall (01:45) So Reiki is like an ancient Japanese hands-on healing technique. And there's three different trainings that you go through to become a Reiki master. And what the master does is they stand in front of you and they do something three times, like in certain chakras and they say certain things to open up the chakras to give you the attunement. Well, I can see when the attunements weren't taking. I can see where there was a block and why there was a block, what needed to be let go so that way they could receive the attunement in that space.   So that's just a couple of examples. And then when I was like nine, we had a paranormal investigator come to our house because we had a spirit in the house. And as soon as she like was there, she was putting her into the white light, like I could see the spirit. And I was like, like all of these times that like, you know, I had seen the spirit in the house or in my room or like messing with the cat or whatever. But because nobody had ever said to me, Hey Lisa, this is a spirit. My mind didn't know to categorise it as a spirit, or this is what this is. And even when my uncle had died, and my grandma couldn't connect with him, I was like, Uncle David's right outside. He's on the porch. All you have to do is just see him there. My mom and my grandma didn't say, Lisa, you're seeing spirits. It was just kind of like, I just saw these things, and I said things, and nobody said, this is what you're doing.   Melanie Wilson (03:06) Okay, so you could just say things. I'm wondering, how do you deal with the sceptics?   Lisa Gornall (03:17) Well, the sceptics aren't my people. I'm not here to try and prove it to them. I've been doing this my whole entire life. I'm 49 years old. I'm not here to prove to anybody. You either get what I do and I can help you, or you don't get it, and that's totally okay. But I'm not gonna try to like get you to see or believe me. You know, and the funny thing is like I was actually very analytical. My grandpa was an education for NASA. My grandma was a nurse. Like.   You know, like I was taught to look at things very analytically, which is why I think it took me so long to realise that I had these abilities, because like I didn't, you know, understand how to process them, because, you know, there's not books when I was growing up that explained any of this to me.   Melanie Wilson (04:00) Okay, that's something. So you weren't growing up surrounded by alternative spiritual thoughts. You weren't growing up in an intensely religious space, I assume.   Lisa Gornall (04:14) Well, we were very Catholic. So we were very like we went to church, we did all the things that were required of us. And my mom was open, and my dad is very intuitive. But like, it wasn't like, you know, my mom would like take my sisters and I into the bedroom and like she would pull out like cards and she would, you know, you had to say if it was red or black, where the card was, why couldn't do that? There's no energy on that for me to read. Like, I don't read inanimate objects. If you lose something and you call me, like, I don't know where it's at. That's not my gift, right? That's not how I work. Like, I have to read the energy. So my sister's kind of burned out on like that kind of stuff at a young age, but there was, there wasn't a lot of alternative things happening besides my mom bringing in that paranormal investigator to clear the house. There wasn't a lot, you know, happening.   Melanie Wilson (05:08) Right, right. So there's a big difference between what you do and how people read cards. And there are trends for that now. There are Tarot, there are other cards. So this is totally different. With what you do, is it a bit more intuitive? Are you going with a feeling?   Lisa Gornall (05:16) Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.   Mm-hmm.   I just know. So I'm just becoming one with the energy, and I feel it in my body as if it's mine. So wherever people have their blocks, like I can feel it. I'm not going to go through your blocks with you on your podcast, and we're not going to do that for you. like, but I can, like that's like, that's what I do. And that's what I do in my calls because what happens is, is we store things in our body to deal with later. When's later? Right?   Melanie Wilson (05

Listen to the entire conversation at The Motivate Collective Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or The Motivate Collective website.    Join as a member now to receive benefits and exclusive offers for upcoming events.  https://www.motivatecollective.com/join       ...   Special Opportunity for the Motivate Collective community 10% off your entire order at HumanCharger Support your energy, circadian rhythm, and confidence Code to be used at checkout: THEMOTIVATECOLLECTIVE As seen on The Motivate Collective Podcast Get your HumanCharger light therapy headset now.   https://humancharger.com/?dt_id=2858979    keywords meditation, spirituality, personal growth, mindfulness, self-discovery, work-life balance, gratitude, inner peace, spiritual awakening, holistic practices  takeaways Govinda balances his work as a data analyst with his passion for meditation and spirituality. Meditation can enhance learning and creativity, making it easier to pick up new skills. Finding peace in a chaotic world often requires looking inward rather than relying on external circumstances. Different meditation practices can cater to individual needs and preferences, making it accessible to everyone. Meditation can help release societal and familial conditioning, allowing for a more authentic self-expression. Integrating spirituality into everyday life is possible without abandoning professional responsibilities. Gratitude practices can enhance work satisfaction and personal fulfillment. Self-discovery is crucial for finding a fulfilling career path. Meditation can provide clarity and freedom from the pressures of societal expectations. Spiritual awakening often comes after a period of existential questioning or crisis.  summary In this conversation, Govinda shares his unique journey as a meditation teacher and data analyst, exploring the balance between spirituality and logic. He discusses the transformative power of meditation in enhancing creativity, learning, and personal growth. Govinda emphasizes the importance of finding peace within a chaotic world and the accessibility of meditation practices for everyone. He also addresses the societal pressures that can hinder self-discovery and the integration of spirituality into everyday life. The conversation concludes with practical advice for those seeking to navigate their spiritual paths while maintaining professional responsibilities. Titles Finding Balance: Govinda's Journey Through Meditation and Data The Intersection of Logic and Spirituality  sound bites "Meditation can enhance learning and creativity." "Gratitude practices enhance work satisfaction." "Find a practice you enjoy and do it daily." Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Govinda's Journey 05:42 The Impact of Meditation on Learning 11:35 Finding Peace Amidst Chaos 17:25 Govinda's Spiritual Journey 23:08 Balancing Spirituality and Everyday Life 35:02 The Search for Meaning Beyond Corporate Life 40:15 Spiritual Awakening and Identity Crisis 50:17 Practical Steps for Career Fulfilment       Transcript    Melanie Wilson (00:02) Hi, welcome to the show.   Govinda (00:06) Thank you.   Melanie Wilson (00:09) Now, for those who don't know, who exactly are you and what exactly do you do?   Govinda (00:15) Yeah, well, my name is Govinda, and I am a meditation teacher, and I do some I do some woo-woo stuff, you know, but I try to keep it less woo-woo for for those who, you for most people. But I do energy healing, and I also like to host tea ceremonies. I do also work as like a data analyst and programmer and work with health economists. So my brain can go in all the different directions and do whatever it needs to. But yeah, that's a little bit about what I do for my day-to-day.   Melanie Wilson (00:58) was wondering about that. was wondering what else you did aside from the woo woo. Now I have seen so many spiritual leaders from various different schools of thought, different traditions, who are also quite mathematical. So how does that work for you? Let's start with that flicking between the mathematical things, the data and the spiritual side. Is there anything that overlaps, or how does that all work out?   Govinda (01:34) Yeah, well, I think a whole spirituality actually connects both the sides of ourselves, that's more like woo woo and more intuitive and the one that's more logical. So I think for me, my life was very logical for a long time. And then some experiences broke me open in ways that I almost became illogical for a while.   And then I had to balance those two things out a little bit. So I guess in a way, I have to use more of my logical brain doing data analytics and programming, but sometimes I honestly like, I don't even have to think that much anymore. It's just intuition comes through, and I'm able to do stuff without having to really, really dig into focus like I used to.   Melanie Wilson (02:31) In the data work, are you using your intuition in that?   Govinda (02:34) Yeah, yeah, definitely. So I've spent months never having to think very hard because of you, just like follow the breadcrumbs of kind of what comes up in the work. But if I have to learn like a new language, I can change things. I've a new programming language.   Melanie Wilson (02:56) Yes. Any new language. I can relate to that. I pivoted slightly from yoga to Matt Pilates, and they have different words for the same things. And I bet with data, there'd be totally different languages, and it's a whole different thing that your brain has to do. A lot of people say that it's easier to learn a new language when you're younger. I don't know if that's true.   Govinda (03:23) for sure. Yeah. And what the weird thing is, the years of meditation I did, because I took three, four years off of working at all and meditated for three, four hours a day, plus some long retreats of more meditation. And when I came back to the role, I thought I wasn't going to know anything because a lot had changed. And all of a sudden stuff just popped up, you know?   And I was able to learn new languages a lot easier. It's the meditation that I learned kind of returns one back to this innocent childlike state, where the brain is much more fluid. And even, oh yeah, so I don't really know other languages too much. I'm American, know, like we didn't learn that many languages, and I grew up in a small town. So I just learned a few semesters of Spanish, and I never really was good at it. You know, I wasn't speaking to anyone. We're just kind of doing exercises on paper and for tests, and I was pretty bad at conversation. But then one time I met, let's see, it was like last year. I hadn't practised Spanish in seven to 10 years, and I met a Spanish person online, and we got together, and I just started speaking Spanish.   I was like, within an hour, we were conversing, and I was able to understand what they were saying. And it was, I very much think that deep meditation can help someone work back into that, that brain that is more childlike, and it's more fluid. And of course, learning languages is like that because most people struggle because they want to be a little bit perfectionist, but.   Melanie Wilson (05:01) Yeah.   Govinda (05:17) No child is a perfectionist about speaking. just want to be, they're very,   I mean, if it works, you know, then let's just say it that way until someone corrects them,   Melanie Wilson (05:28) Yes, there's so much in that. I wanted to start with the easy, simple question. You mentioned you grew up in a small town. Which part of America are you from?   Govinda (05:37) Yeah, I'm from Minnesota. I grew up in a town about an hour and a half west of Minneapolis.   Melanie Wilson (05:48) Okay, so small place. And were you always around there? Did you end up somewhere else?   Govinda (05:56) I did a lot of travelling. I went to college nearby. I wanted to get out, but it was a better deal to stay around. And then I did some travelling while I was in college and lived in different places. But afterwards, I did like a gap year type thing. I lived in Southern Africa and Swaziland at the time for a year. And then I came back to the state of Minnesota, hung out for a while, then eventually went to India for six months.   Melanie Wilson (06:34) Amazing. And we'll get to that. I wanted to know more about your journey that led you to meditation, but you mentioned that thing the brain does, where you just remember how to do something after a long time. And I'm curious, how exactly did you find that meditation helped you to tap into what you already knew? What were you doing? Were you? Was this after a long retreat or?   Are you doing a simple, short morning practice every day? What exactly happened for you to then feel confident and remember things that you knew?   Govinda (07:16) Yeah, well, part of the confidence comes from just being feeling safe no matter what, you know, feeling in whatever situation. So I'm just feeling comfortable. And I think   Yeah, so with meditation, it wouldn't necessarily be instant, but after all the practice I did, kind of it developed a very well, well grooved way back to this innocent place that I could return to at any moment. So, yes, yes, both long retreats that helped kind of teach me this groove and daily practice as well, because I just enjoy it so much that I still enjoy practising. And then, you know, even when a task or something comes up, you can kind of refocus in a way. And then it's almost emergent. It's almost like you don't have to go try to go through the files in the library of the head, something like that. It's not really like that. It's more like it kind of emerges and comes up as needed.   Melanie Wilson (08:36) It just comes to you kind of like how some musicians have talked about how a song just came to them out of the blue, or a writer says that a story just arrived to them. It's like that external creative genius that Liz Gilbert talks about in a way.   Govinda (08:48) Sure.   Yeah, maybe a l

Listen to the entire conversation at The Motivate Collective Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or The Motivate Collective website.   Join as a member now to receive benefits and exclusive offers for upcoming events. https://www.motivatecollective.com/join       ...   Special Opportunity for the Motivate Collective community 10% off your entire order at HumanCharger Support your energy, circadian rhythm, and confidence Code to be used at checkout: THEMOTIVATECOLLECTIVE As seen on The Motivate Collective Podcast Get your HumanCharger light therapy headset now.   https://humancharger.com/?dt_id=2858979     keywords   meditation, transcendental meditation, chakra healing, personal growth, creativity, mindfulness, self-discovery, overcoming obstacles, intuition, photography     Summary   In this conversation, Daria shares her transformative journey through meditation, particularly focusing on Transcendental Meditation and chakra healing. She discusses how these practices have helped her overcome personal obstacles, heal emotionally and physically, and connect with her creative self. Daria emphasises the importance of solitude and self-discovery, and how meditation can align various aspects of life. The discussion also touches on the connection between energy, intuition, and creativity, as well as her background in photography and how it intertwines with her spiritual journey.     Takeaways   Daria's journey into meditation was inspired by her personal struggles and desire for a fulfilling life. Transcendental Meditation has been a significant part of Daria's healing process, helping her find purpose and joy. Healing through meditation can lead to profound changes in mental and physical health. Chakra meditation has helped Daria balance her hormones and alleviate pain. Intuition plays a crucial role in decision-making and can be enhanced through meditation. Daria's background in photography has influenced her artistic expression and connection to meditation. Solitude can be a powerful teacher, allowing for self-discovery and personal growth. Meditation can help individuals align their lives and find clarity in their purpose. Creativity often flows more freely when one is in a meditative state. Listening to oneself is essential in determining the right path for personal growth.     Titles   Transforming Through Meditation: Daria's Journey The Healing Power of Transcendental Meditation     Sound bites   "I can literally heal myself." "I started enjoying my own company." "Everything in your life will align."     Chapters   00:00 NEWCHAPTER 04:32 Transcendental Meditation: A Personal Experience 06:15 Celebrity Influence and Creative Flow 11:58 Overcoming Obstacles Through Meditation 17:15 Healing Through Chakra Awareness 23:06 The Spiritual Connection of Chakras 25:11 Energy Flow and Intuition 30:05 Daria's Journey into Photography 31:39 The Healing Power of Solitude 34:14 Art, Meditation, and Self-Discovery     Transcript Melanie Wilson (00:00) I'm really wondering what inspired you to start talking on podcasts about meditation? Daria (00:09) Well, I guess the main thing that inspired me was my personal journey because You know when I look right now on people who are in survival mode, I guess I've been there once and I was always like wondering how it is to be like like to live life of your dream, but not just like a dream but actually to have this is a reality and it's cool to have dreams, but it's also cool to create that reality that looks like your dream. And funny enough, like now I'm more active on threads, and I ask people, what would you do if you wouldn't be on survival mode? And I was kind of, well, maybe even shocked by the answers because a lot of them said, I don't know, because I never been on the other side. Let's say like I have haven't ever been not in the survival mode. So I don't even know how it feels. And I guess that was in the past, partially for me as well. Like I couldn't understand how it feels until I started meditation, until I started this healing process. And then actually something opened up, and like I, yeah, I just discovered a new world where it's possible, you know, to experience joy, to heal parts of yourself that were all the time judgmental or hesitant. And well, yeah, I've been as a photographer for more than 16 years, and it was like a big part of my life. And then I always struggled because I was like, yeah, I had this imposter syndrome, and I was always thinking that someone has to find me because yeah, you know, if everyone says I'm talented, so why wouldn't they hire me like to do all this project? But I didn't realize that I always like was hiding and I was still like very judging myself and my skills. And I was afraid like to show up, to be visible, to talk about my art. And then again, with the meditation and with this healing process, I realised that it was simply about confidence. Like if you talk about your skills, your it's not being, it's not necessarily like being arrogant, yeah? It's necessarily like your ego talking about this. It's simply about being confident, and especially if you understand what's your purpose, then you are even more confident to talk about this. And what happened when I started this healing journey and meditation journey is that actually, it was a beautiful process. I wouldn't say that everything started to unfold straight away. It took some weeks, it took some months, but then, literally, my depression, it just went away. Like if before I couldn't even get up from bed, you know, and I had epressive thoughts and then suddenly I started to have like to feel the purpose in life to meaning in life and Yeah, I think like lots of things change it was like 360 like turn And then I just realized how powerful it was and Of course, I continued my journey, but I kind of realized that this is so beautiful that I should bring it to others Melanie Wilson (03:38) Yes. Daria (03:57) It was basically the message coming to me during the ceremony of Transcendental Meditation. Meditation is like a medicine, like medication, and that I should just bring it to others. And then after some time, I started also teaching, guiding, and now... Melanie Wilson (03:58) Thank you We Daria (04:24) I felt like I would like to talk about this more and bring it on the next level. Melanie Wilson (04:30) Did you say you follow transcendental meditation? Daria (04:32) Yeah, I started practising Transcendental Meditation. It was kind of quite an interesting journey to get there because I have heard about this from David Lynch so many times. I have read in the book, and then I was like just curious. So, where do I get this mantra? How do I get there? And then I moved at that time to Portugal and I saw again I was like on YouTube and saw this video where David Lynch explains how transcendental meditation works and I was like my god this is so beautiful I just need my mantra where do I get it and then finally I saw like a window popped up and it says like find your teachers I was like wow like there is like it's just like a sign for me so I contacted straight away and they said that actually in the town where I live there are teachers and I could choose because some would speak English others not and then I found my teachers and like I went probably on the second day I just like went straight away they had like introduction you know they told me everything how it works and then maybe it was like third or fourth day it was a ceremony and it was like a beautiful. For me, it was like a beautiful experience, this ceremony. And when I came to the ceremony, I felt like, okay, it's gonna be like a life-changing event for me, you I just felt it. Melanie Wilson (06:00) Thank you. That's amazing. And this got my attention because I heard that a bunch of celebrities also follow Transcendental Meditation. It has some high-profile advocates. Have you heard about that? Daria (06:31) Yes, yes, definitely. Well, actually, Ray Deleu is one of them, the businessman, right? And if I'm not mistaken, Cameron Dias and some other celebrities practice. I might be wrong if they practice exactly a transcendent meditation, but as far as I remember, these names. Yeah, I know that it's great and I know that they have they mentioned also that it was quite life-changing for them because it kind of opens up some creative flow. That's what I also noticed, like from the very beginning. Somehow, you sit in this meditation, and then ideas just like start flowing, you know, and, yeah, at that time, I was still in photography, so it started to show up in my photography, like these creative ideas, I started to have like these projects. But then, interesting enough, my meditation scripts started to come in the meditation, in the transcendental meditation, you know? Melanie Wilson (07:36) You found that you had more creative flow after meditating. Daria (07:51) Yeah, there were like different experiences. So sometimes I remember my childhood, very interesting moments that I would usually not even remember. But then suddenly it felt like I was back in that beautiful moment, maybe somewhere walking in the forest or something like that. And then, yeah. And then later, I started to experience these creative moments more and more. But yeah, you need to be quite consistent, you know, it needs to be like your routine because usually it's like meditating in the morning and afternoon. Sometimes when I can't fall asleep, maybe the day was very like exciting and all that. So I just like repeat silently this mantra and it also makes me to fall asleep like straight away Melanie Wilson (08:51) That's so good. You fall asleep that quickly. Daria (08:55) Yeah, it's amazing. Melanie Wilson (08:57) How long do you recite your mantra? How long do you keep that going during one meditation session? Daria (09:04) Well, usually they say you need to repeat it for 20 minutes, and sometimes, you know, I don't watch like I don't look at my

  Listen to the entire conversation at The Motivate Collective Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or The Motivate Collective website.   Join as a member now to receive benefits and exclusive offers for upcoming events.       Listen to the entire conversation at The Motivate Collective Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or The Motivate Collective website.   Join as a member now to receive benefits and exclusive offers for upcoming events. https://www.motivatecollective.com/join       ...   Special Opportunity for the Motivate Collective community 10% off your entire order at HumanCharger Support your energy, circadian rhythm, and confidence Code to be used at checkout: THEMOTIVATECOLLECTIVE As seen on The Motivate Collective Podcast Get your HumanCharger light therapy headset now.   https://humancharger.com/?dt_id=2858979   Show Notes:    keywords   CFO, business, music, self-care, planning, public speaking, Beethoven, finance, entrepreneurship, personal growth      summary   In this episode of the Motivate Collective podcast, Melanie Wilson interviews Anne Plummer, a fractional CFO with a rich background in music. Anne shares her journey from being a classical musician to navigating the world of finance, emphasising the importance of self-care and personal goals in business. She discusses the role of a fractional CFO in helping businesses look forward, the lessons learned from Beethoven's chaotic life, and the challenges of overcoming the tall poppy syndrome. The conversation highlights the significance of planning, the impact of self-doubt, and the necessity of having a support system in business.      takeaways   Anne Plummer's journey from music to finance showcases the importance of adaptability. Self-care is crucial for business success and personal happiness. Understanding financial metrics can empower business owners. Fear of success can hinder growth more than fear of failure. Planning is essential for navigating uncertainty in business. Public speaking can be a powerful tool for marketing services. Lessons from Beethoven illustrate the chaos of creativity and business. It's important to question decisions made out of fear. Having a support system can alleviate self-doubt. Embracing imperfection can lead to growth and learning.     Titles   From Music to Money: Anne Plummer's Inspiring Journey The CFO's Guide to Personal and Business Success      sound bites   "This is my very first podcast." "Sleep isn't a really important metric." "You need someone to help you through."     Chapters   00:00 Introduction to Anne's Journey 02:54 Transitioning from Music to Business 05:53 The Role of a Fractional CFO 08:17 Public Speaking and Overcoming Nerves 11:15 The Importance of Preparation 13:52 Breathing Techniques for Performance 16:33 Navigating Chaos: Lessons from Beethoven 19:30 Linking Music and Business 22:24 Understanding Financial Metrics 25:18 Cultural Attitudes Towards Business 28:37 The Tall Poppy Syndrome in Australia 33:29 Navigating the Pecking Order in Creative Fields 36:27 Overcoming Fear and Embracing Public Perception 40:07 The Dynamics of Community and Online Interactions 41:02 The Value of Self-Presentation in Different Professions 45:52 Understanding Debt: A Tool for Business Growth 47:54 The Importance of Planning in Business 51:46 Self-Doubt and the Journey of Entrepreneurship 57:30 Finding Reassurance in Vulnerability 01:04:12 Final Thoughts: Analysing Decisions and Embracing Growth   Transcript: Melanie Wilson (00:00) And welcome to the Motivate Collective podcast. It is so good to talk with you. How are you doing?   Anne Plummer (00:07) doing great. Thanks Melanie. Thanks so much for asking me on. This is my very first podcast.   Melanie Wilson (00:14) Is it really?   Anne Plummer (00:15) Yes.   Melanie Wilson (00:17) You have been doing other speaking, so we met in a speaking group and not the one I'm known for, a different one. So let's tell everybody what you do with speaking, with other work, what exactly you do.   Anne Plummer (00:31) Yeah, well, can I go back and just give a bit of background about where I'm from and what I do? It's all related to where I am today. So I started off, I grew up a little bit in the country in a one-room school or two-room school, actually and moved to the city when I was a young teenager and got involved in music and ended up quite quickly at the Conservatorium High School. And after that, I had a career in music, classical music. I was a freelance classical flute player, and I still play with the Penrith Symphony Orchestra, which I love very much. When I got to be, after a decade or so, a couple of decades, I, because of my rural background, I knew there was more things I wanted to explore with my life. So I did an MBA because I thought at that age I could, as they say, pivot and change career easier than starting off at the beginning and then working my way up in business. So I thought that'd be a nice thing to do.   It was really tough coming from a music background. Everyone else had actually there were quite a few doctors doing the course, which was interesting, but, you know, a lot of finance people, cetera, marketing people who were very comfortable in the business realm. And so I got through that and then worked in general management in music publishing.   And after a few years of that, I found it difficult because there's no particular one skill that you need for general management. So I decided to become an accountant. So I started off as a bookkeeper, then I became a CPA accountant. And then got broad experience, but with small companies, not with large multinational companies. And again, got restless. What do I want to do? So I became attracted to this becoming a fractional CFO. I had to Google it myself to see what a fractional CFO is not a well-known term, but a CFO is a Chief Financial Officer, and a fractional CFO means that I work for several different companies for a reduced amount of time. So spread across different clients. And a CFO really helps people in business look forward rather than backwards. So I help businesses, I try to get to the root of where they want to head. And I don't mean the business, I mean them personally, what their ultimate goal is, which, when it boils down to it, as happiness and peace basically, it might be covered and masked in a different... in different words, but basically that's what people want. And then do projections, and I help people sort of cut through the chaos of their lives. And it's really translating what the goals are into the language of business and what the business can do to move them forward to their ultimate goals. You know, a business can't do everything. It can't do all the heavy lifting.   And then we do meetings once a month. And what that does is that gives us space to just focus on those goals and make sure that every decision that's made moves them closer to their goals and not further away. And to rave on a bit more, I put the person first. So a lot of people talk about business people wanting to have great profits and all this amazing stuff, but neglecting themselves. I'm doing a talk in a few weeks at a convention, and the talk is going to be the metrics.   And one of the metrics is hours of sleep. It's not profit, it's not cash flow. Although we talk about that, and we talk about the effect on people of poor cash flow. You know, what's it doing to you? What are these business decisions doing to you personally? You might be making lots of money, and everything is fine, but you're just stressed out and...   I think sleep isn't a really important metric, but I've thought further about that, actually to take it further. It's not sleep because you might be worried about a whole bunch of things, and the business might be just one of those. So I've changed my slides for my presentation to look at how many hours are you worrying about your business every day? So that...   I think is something, you know, I don't expect you to quantify it exactly, but you know, that is probably cuts to the core of it much more effectively. And the reason I'm talking, speaking after performing in front of thousands of people over the decades, you'd think I'd be good at speaking, but actually, standing on stage and opening my mouth and words coming out, that's quite a different thing. So I've joined Toastmasters, and I've actually done okay with that. I only joined just over a year ago and won a little award already. That's for the best humorous, and so to promote my business, one of the things I'm not good at is marketing. So I've been advised speaking on stage is the way to go. That's the number one way to go for promoting my particular services, and I am so relieved, Melanie because that lets me off the hook from having to do Facebook ads and all this other stuff which just takes so much of my mental time, and I'm really bad at so I'm really happy to craft public speaking instead.   Melanie Wilson (07:49) I'll tell you what, that's why I love podcasts, because I never set out to just talk to a camera. It feels like I'm talking to myself. I had talked to groups for a long time, but I know that I need to do more of the social media. I know how it works now, but it's a whole extra thing. With a podcast, we're having a conversation, and then those little clips from the conversation will go onto social media. It's a great way to do the version of communicating that feels natural and still get something out of there.   Anne Plummer (08:23) Yeah, I think it's terrific. Yeah, that's great. I've been watching, doing my research on your podcasts, and they're really terrific.   Melanie Wilson (08:32) That is so sweet. You've had such a journey. We have so much to talk about. So.   Okay, we did meet in an association as well. One thing I'm curious about, because of course, I grew up in groups where people were starting from scratch with speaking kind of like what you're doing. And then I

Keywords healing, mindfulness, self-compassion, holistic modalities, emotional safety, military transition, anger management, creative expression, personal growth, therapy Summary In this conversation, Melanie Wilson and Victoria Duarte explore the multifaceted approach to healing through holistic modalities, emphasising the importance of self-compassion, emotional safety, and the individuality of healing practices. Victoria shares insights from her experience as a Semantic and Mindfulness Coach, discussing the significance of creating safe spaces for emotional exploration, the impact of family dynamics, and the role of anger in personal growth. The dialogue highlights the necessity of integrating creative expression and mindfulness into therapeutic practices, offering practical steps for listeners to cultivate self-compassion and navigate their healing journeys. Takeaways Holistic healing requires a blend of modalities tailored to individual needs. Self-compassion is essential for personal growth and healing. Creating safe spaces allows for honest emotional exploration. Family dynamics can significantly impact personal development. Anger can be a constructive force when channeled appropriately. Creative expression serves as a powerful tool for healing. Mindfulness practices should be adaptable to individual experiences. It's important to recognize and address stress in the body. Healing is a continuous journey that requires self-awareness. Everyone has the capacity to learn self-compassion and healing techniques.  Titles Healing Through Holistic Modalities The Importance of Self-Compassion in Healing  sound bites "There's no one way of doing anything." "Anger and sadness go together." "We are all storytellers." Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Healing Arts and Holistic Modalities 02:59 The Importance of Diverse Healing Approaches 05:40 Mindfulness vs. Action: Finding Balance 08:46 Creating Safe Spaces for Emotional Exploration 11:54 Understanding Trauma and Its Impact 14:47 The Role of Self-Compassion in Healing 17:30 Navigating Anger and Grief Through Creativity 20:34 Using Senses to Ground and Create Safety 23:25 The Power of Self-Talk and Inner Dialogue 26:45 Social Media and Its Effects on Mental Health 29:09 Transforming Anger into Creative Energy 32:51 Finding Stillness Through Movement 35:15 Practical Techniques for Stress Management 39:00 The Journey of Self-Discovery and Healing

See more about The Motivate Collective podcast, events, and memberships: http://motivatecollective.com   Keywords injustice, resilience, entrepreneurship, technology, personal growth, belief, optimal decisions, lifelong learning, transformation, hope Summary In this conversation, Dr C.S. Wilson shares his incredible journey from being wrongfully imprisoned for nearly 18 years to becoming a successful entrepreneur and minister. He discusses the importance of resilience, belief, and hope in overcoming adversity, as well as the role of technology in modern entrepreneurship. Dr Wilson emphasises the need for optimal decision-making and lifelong learning as essential components for personal growth and societal improvement. Takeaways Dr Wilson was wrongfully imprisoned for nearly 18 years. He emphasises the importance of resilience and belief in oneself. Technology has transformed the landscape of entrepreneurship. Optimal decision-making can lead to better outcomes for society. Lifelong learning is essential in today's fast-paced world. Hope is a crucial element in overcoming adversity. Dr Wilson's faith played a significant role in his journey. He believes in the power of personal transformation. The inevitability of change is like the butterfly effect. Everyone has a unique purpose that can be discovered through introspection. Titles From Injustice to Empowerment: Dr C.S. Wilson's Journey The Butterfly Effect: Transforming Adversity into Opportunity Sound bites "You don't judge a book by its cover." "Life is tough; it comes with it." "You have to learn new stuff." Chapters 00:00 From Darkness to Light: A Life Transformed 05:52 The Power of Hope and Resilience 12:01 Embracing Technology: A New Beginning 17:16 Finding Purpose: The Intersection of Faith and Action 22:20 The Importance of Quiet Reflection 28:00 Making Optimal Decisions for a Better World     Transcript Dr C S Wilson (00:00) Thank Melanie Wilson (00:01) Dr C S Wilson Not related, clearly. Dr C S Wilson (00:07) Yeah, I'm doing just fine. How about yourself, man? I'm so happy. I'm excited enthusiastic, I'm elated to be here with you on the podcast Melanie Wilson (00:09) How are you doing? Awesome. Look, you have had quite an experience, and one that a lot of people would not believe is even possible. So I'm really keen for you to share what happened in your life to let people know what goes on in the world. Dr C S Wilson (00:41) Sure, yeah. I'm right here in North Carolina. I was born in Virginia in the United States of America. And at 17 years old, I was at the scene of a crime where a guy's life was taken. So a guy was shot, single wound to the chest. And I didn't do it, didn't see the guy. I can't say I'm 100 % sure who done it. But I was 17 years old. I was going to be sentenced to 88 years with 58 suspended. That's an active sentence of 30 years plus life on parole. So I was sentenced to more time in prison than I would be on Earth. That I had been on Earth at the time, me. And yeah, it just kind of shaped my life. So was actually three weeks before my 18th birthday and approximately three weeks before my high school graduation. Melanie Wilson (01:32) This is astonishing. This is just shocking. I mean, realising you were a teenager, you were a kid, and you just happened to be in that space when it happened. Let's talk about that. Dr C S Wilson (01:36) Yeah Yeah. Yeah, so it's kind of like I have an honest we get a few schools and churches and stuff like that and that's kind of what I tell people you kind of got a light Know your environment know who you with know who you're around on Because at the end of the day humans are responsible for carrying out justice So the system sometimes works is just people are flawed and people are flawed all around the world so it's like you got people with important jobs and a lazy day on the job, you misinterpret information, or someone looks like someone else to you, and then a kid loses his life. So it's a sad story in that regard, but it didn't end there. So I would go on to be in prison, and then I did approximately 17 years, 11 months, three weeks and two days. I filed every petition for clemency, rid of mandamus, rid of actual innocence. Virginia Supreme Court, the United States of America Supreme Court, and I found no relief, but I actually had an affidavit saying I didn't do it, so was going to Ralph Northam in Virginia, who was the highest seat in the land at the time. He signed an executive order to release me from prison. So I was executively pardoned in light of an affidavit stating my innocence after doing almost 18 years. Melanie Wilson (03:20) nearly 18 years. So that's a lot of your adulthood that you spent in that place. Dr C S Wilson (03:23) Yeah. Man. Yeah, absolutely. So I'm only 41 now, so I've actually spent more time in prison as a man than I have as a man in society. Yeah, so it's like, you know, people get it wrong, and then I happen to be the face of one that, you know, when justice goes wrong. But I'm not bitter, you know, I travel a little bit and tell that it's kind of like beneath me to be. That's the power of human potential that you know what's inside you won't let what's around you stay the same so I just kind of I didn't think that something like that could happen to me so I just always kind of believe you know that I would be getting out that's that's why I'm doing a TED talk we're recording it later this year but it's on the butterfly effect so the title of it is does the caterpillar exist you know the inevitability of the butterfly because the caterpillar is just a stage in the life of the butterfly. If you believe things will change, know, you just focus on that and believe that it'll happen for you. And that's kind of what happened to me. So I had different lawyers to file petitions, and the petition for clemency that the governor actually signed. I actually filed that myself. In prisons here in Virginia, they got what's called law libraries. I went in there and filed it myself because it was inevitable, you know, you don't judge a book by its cover, and then you don't know how a story is going to end, so it looked like I was a caterpillar. It looked like nothing beautiful would come out of my life. That's a message for a lot of people that don't judge and don't close the book too soon. You keep going. You're building resilience. You're building what you need for the next season of your life. So, it's kind of that perspective that I had. That's what kept me sane in there in a place that prisons are built for a reason. So, like I was raised around these people, know, murderers and thieves and rapists. So, they should be in this place. And I just wasn't supposed to be, but the guards don't know you're not supposed to be. So, you get treated as them, you eat the same food as them. You get the same verbal treatment as them. So, you just gotta believe that your life is gonna turn out, and then decisions follow from that place. So if you refuse to let bitterness take root, you just continue to believe, then life changes for you. It's like how the world is designed. It works that way. Justice will prevail in some way or another. Yeah, you just gotta refuse to think anything otherwise. So it's like in that place, you need hope, and it's hope that continues to shape and bring your future closer so that the time there will be up, yeah. Melanie Wilson (06:20) The thing that stands out to me is that you were surrounded by people who perceived you in a particular way, and you didn't let it shape your perspective of yourself. You still knew who you were. How did you maintain that perspective? How did you keep that belief? Dr C S Wilson (06:44) Yeah, so I'm a licensed minister. I actually attribute it to God. It's like you got to believe in something that you can't see because in the natural I had done all I could do. The help of man was useless for me. So, in that place, I actually earned my doctorate. So, I earned my doctorate in theology. So, it was kind of like I kind of got it that I was going to need help outside of myself, that people didn't believe me. So in there, you're a number. You're not even a human. I was 10 39 28 1 and in maximum security prisons. had actually given that production was going in for the movie of my life. The years they couldn't take. because it's almost kind of like hard to believe, you you don't I remember I was we's in North Carolina. I was speaking. They brought some kids in. I like to tell my story in the third person for those who hadn't heard me before. Don't know the story. And I remember then I said, hey, that young man is me and a little kid in the back said, no, damn, he's lying. You know, it's hard to believe, because the smell of smoke isn't on me. I have the honour of having my own little tech company and just kind of work from home. Life is good now, so it's like the narrative has been turned. The inevitability of the butterfly is real. Melanie Wilson (08:02) That's amazing. You mentioned a tech company. Let's flick to that before flicking back to your story because there's so much to unpack here. How did you leap from being in prison to being a minister to having a tech company? Dr C S Wilson (08:08) Chill out. Yeah, so I was just kind of like, a couple nights ago, I was up reading the script of the movie that's going to be produced in my life. And when I was in 10th grade, I actually got the highest on my geometry SOL. And it's kind of like, I recognise shapes and patterns. So the world makes sense to me in that regard. I never did homework in school. I was just competent, you know, and I was a natural leader. So, going to prison was like, the purpose would be, you know, delayed, but purpose knows no postponement. So when I actually got out of prison, I learned business inside that place. And then when I got here, the numbers was like, wait, if you're do business, this is the future. The technology is moving here. So our first app is act

Simplicity, Emotion, Visuals: The Modern Speaker's Toolkit    Summary In this conversation, Dr Dan Young discusses his role as a force multiplier, emphasising the importance of authenticity and personal branding in public speaking. He explores the evolution of speaking styles, the decline of PowerPoint presentations, and the significance of emotional connectivity with audiences. Dr. Young shares insights on finding common ground, the journey of transformation, and the value of humility in effective speaking. He concludes with key takeaways for aspiring speakers, highlighting the need for authenticity, simplicity, and effective visuals.   See More:  The Motivate Collective Podcast & Events:   https://www.motivatecollective.com   Special Opportunity for the Motivate Collective community 10% off your entire order at HumanCharger Support your energy, circadian rhythm, and confidence Code to be used at checkout: THEMOTIVATECOLLECTIVE As seen on The Motivate Collective Podcast Get your HumanCharger light therapy headset now. Click here   Join as a member: https://www.motivatecollective.com/join   Get the newsletter: https://www.motivatecollective.com/subscribe    Keywords public speaking, personal branding, authenticity, emotional connection, TEDx, audience engagement, transformation, visuals, storytelling, speaker tips Takeaways Dr Dan Young describes himself as a force multiplier. He emphasises the importance of building a personal brand. The shift to public presence was driven by financial necessity and personal growth. Authenticity is crucial for effective speaking. Speaking styles have evolved from formal to more authentic and relatable. The death of PowerPoint is a trend in modern speaking. Using visuals effectively can enhance a presentation. Emotional connectivity is key to influencing an audience. Finding common ground with the audience enhances relatability. Transformation is simple but not easy; it requires effort and time. Reassurance is important in a fast-paced world where instant results are expected. The journey of growth is essential for lasting change. Experience and failure stories are valuable for speakers. Humility leads to authenticity in speaking. Overcoming insecurities is a common challenge for aspiring speakers. Titles Amplifying Talent: The Role of a Force Multiplier Building Your Brand: The Shift to Public Presence Sound bites "I'm a force multiplier." "Humanity and society evolves." "Humility equals authenticity." Chapters 00:00 Amplifying Talent: The Role of a Force Multiplier 02:54 Building a Personal Brand: The Shift to Public Presence 05:32 Self-Care and Authenticity in Speaking 06:36 Evolving Trends in Public Speaking 09:15 The Shift from Information to Emotion 12:16 The Death of PowerPoint: Engaging Audiences 15:06 Creating Memorable Presentations: The Power of Visuals 18:18 The Three Pillars of Influential Speaking 21:02 Crafting Impactful Stories for Your Audience 22:52 The Essence of Transformation 27:04 Finding Common Ground in Storytelling 31:49 The Journey Over the Destination 37:04 Authenticity and Humility in Speaking 41:49 Crafting a Unique Personal Brand  

Keywords public speaking, spirituality, self-care, burnout, community, AI, change management, personal development, hope, resilience Summary In this engaging conversation, Melanie Suzanne Wilson and James Jeffley explore a wide range of topics, from the importance of spirituality and self-care to the challenges of burnout and the impact of AI on our lives. They discuss the need for community and connection in an increasingly isolated world, the journey into public speaking, and the significance of adapting to change in both personal and professional contexts. Jeffley shares valuable insights on building confidence and navigating the complexities of modern life, emphasizing the importance of self-awareness and resilience. Takeaways James Jeffley is known as Reverend Up, promoting positivity. Hope is essential in difficult times, akin to a 'Star Wars' narrative. Everyone has the potential to be a hero in everyday situations. Social media can complicate our sense of privacy and self-worth. Spirituality is a personal journey, not confined to dogma. Public speaking can start from a young age and evolve into a career. Corporate training needs to address systemic issues, not just individual performance. Burnout is a serious issue that requires proactive self-care. The 'hamster wheel' mentality leads to neglect of personal health. The cost of living crisis affects mental and physical well-being. Self-sufficiency and community gardening can enhance resilience. Healthy living requires intentionality in a busy world. Community is vital for emotional support and connection. Adapting to change is crucial in the workplace, especially with AI. AI is transforming job landscapes, requiring new skills and adaptability. Human storytelling and connection remain irreplaceable by AI. Titles Elevating Lives with Reverend Up Finding Hope in a Chaotic World Sound bites "We can all be heroes." "We are living in some weird times." "Pick a thing and get good at it." Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Reverend Up and His Mission 02:54 Finding Hope in Troubling Times 05:45 The Power of Choiceless Moments 08:43 The Role of Heroes in Everyday Life 11:38 Spirituality and Agnosticism 14:47 The Journey into Public Speaking 17:27 Corporate Training and Professional Development 20:15 The Challenges of Organizational Change 23:15 Burnout and the Hamster Wheel of Life 25:56 The Impact of Financial Stress on Well-being 32:13 The Need for Self-Sufficiency 34:02 The Impact of Modern Convenience on Health 36:36 The Grind Mentality and Its Consequences 38:20 Generational Support and Community 41:27 Finding Community in the Workplace 43:45 Navigating Change in Organizations 46:53 Adapting to Technological Change 52:46 Building Confidence in a Changing World       Transcript   Melanie Suzanne Wilson (00:01) James, thank you for being on the show. James Jeffley (00:04) Melanie, thank you for having me. I'm excited to be here, and I hope I say something useful. Melanie Suzanne Wilson (00:10) You will, you will. You seem to come from the public speaking world like I do. How do you explain to people what you do? James Jeffley (00:20) Sometimes I start by asking how much detail do you want? Melanie Suzanne Wilson (00:24) Well, let's see, we have an hour, or maybe a little bit more. James Jeffley (00:27) Okay, do you want the TLDR? Do you want the short answer? The short answer is I try to make the world a better place, and I do that through a lot of different ways. I'm known in spiritual circles as Reverend Up, and my catchphrase is up yours, which is not an insult. It's an invitation to raise every part of your life up to a higher level of peace, joy, happiness, and results. So, I try to help people up their lives through a lot of different ways, hopefully through speeches or sermons or through coaching work that I do or training work that I do or books that I write or music that I play. So I'm here to try and bring things up. Melanie Suzanne Wilson (01:13) That's amazing. I didn't know that you are known as Reverend Arp. That's a great phrase. James Jeffley (01:18) Another hat, thank you. Melanie Suzanne Wilson (01:25) I think that everybody needs to have faith in something or some form of hope in these weird times we are living in. Have you sensed that as well? James Jeffley (01:38) Yeah, I've sometimes thought of, are you a Star Wars fan? Melanie Suzanne Wilson (01:44) Yes. James Jeffley (01:45) Sometimes feel like we're living in the revenge of the Sith, right? Or one of the Sith focus movies where it's like the Empire is like coming and there's all the evil and terrible things. But there's also hope too, right? If we only focus on one part of the equation, then it's easy to get down. And there are a lot of people who are down and disenchanted, and I'm not quite sure how things are in your home country, but over here in the States, whoo, there's a lot going on. Melanie Suzanne Wilson (02:20) Did you hear about what happened at Bondi Beach? James Jeffley (02:25) Did, and that was tragic, and I am so sorry. My heart goes out to people worldwide but also Australians that were directly or indirectly affected by that. It seems like we've exported some of our violence down under. So that was a shame. Go ahead. Melanie Suzanne Wilson (02:47) It was... Yeah, well, I was going to say that that was even more of a shock and surprise because we have more gun laws than America has. James Jeffley (03:00) Right. Right. Absolutely. And what was heartening to see was what the people who jumped in to try to apprehend or arrest the shooters, right, to prevent more damage, death and destruction. So it's good to know there are still some heroes out there who trying to just step in. That's not an act of, well, should I do this or not? It's like that was what Osho once called a choiceless moment. Right. Osho was a great spiritual teacher. And one of the things he said that really struck me was that he said, " Choice only exists in a confused mind. I could do this, or I could do that. If I'm vacillating between two or more choices, I'm confused. But if I have a choiceless moment in that moment, I'm absolutely clear here's the right thing to do, and I'd do it. So for that person, here's the right thing to do: jump in and try to stop this guy, choicelessness. Melanie Suzanne Wilson (04:10) Do you think that sometimes we have a clearer moment of knowing this is what we have to do? James Jeffley (04:17) I think most of us do, and we stop and think about it for a moment, there was probably a time in your life, Melanie, where you were absolutely clear in a moment and maybe you hadn't mapped out a plan for it, or you didn't debate it, or there was no spreadsheet involved. You just knew in that moment, I need to go here or I need to stop that, right? Have you had a time like that where you just have perfect clarity? Melanie Suzanne Wilson (04:40) Yes. I did have a time like that. Actually, I can't say a lot about this to just be careful, but there were moments weeks ago when I just knew go and be somewhere else and reconnect with people who are somewhere else. And I felt so grateful that some people caught up with me for the first time in years. James Jeffley (04:55) Yeah, yeah. Hmm. Melanie Suzanne Wilson (05:14) So it was like this gut instinct, and maybe it comes from something beyond ourselves that's telling us this is where you need to be. James Jeffley (05:24) Yeah, yeah, there's a knowingness. I don't know if science has figured this out, probably not, but I think we all have this, this knowingness, this felt sense, this gut that's like, I need to go over here and do this thing or reconnect with these people or walk away from this situation. And we don't know what it means that our rational mind can't make sense of it in the moment. We just have this compulsion. I need to be over here, and you go over there. And later, you might get some hindsight that says, I'm so glad I did that because had I stayed, right, I might have been in that horrible mess, or I might have missed this wonderful opportunity, right? Melanie Suzanne Wilson (06:09) Yes, and do you think that other people can have their own small versions of the hero at Bondi Beach? Perhaps we have a chance to rescue the people around us, even if it's not in a life-or-death situation. James Jeffley (06:27) Yeah, absolutely. think we all have that capability, and I think many of us, all of us, have different levels of access, right? Some of us, know, I'm the hero, and we're looking for opportunities to jump in and save or help, and others are like, no, you know, if it directly affects me, then I'll jump in and there are some who are like, no, I'm not trying to get involved in anything, keep that away. I want a quiet life. But yeah, I think we all can be heroes, and it's probably a lizard brain function that fight or flight, you know. Are you a parent? Okay. So, if somebody were trying to, you know, harm your kids, there's no thought about that, right? You're jumping in and do whatever you can to protect your kids, your family, right? So, we don't need a Melanie Suzanne Wilson (07:11) Yes. James Jeffley (07:26) Your decision tree on it. Well, if this then that, and if not, should I? It's like, no, you jump in, and you take care of your family. So, but for some people, if it isn't a life or death situation, then the mind takes over, and we start to parse out, well, what's the risk to me and can I help it but not be involved too much and like what's the minimal amount of help I could give? Melanie Suzanne Wilson (07:37) Yes. James Jeffley (07:55) That's still helpful, but doesn't obligate me. I don't have to fill out reports or be on the news or, you know, can I just help anonymously, and sometimes the situation doesn't let you. Melanie Suzanne Wilson (08:08) Interesting. I normally find a way to quietly get involved in something, but I wonder if there's any anonymity in this day and age. I mean, that's a whole thing in itself,

Keywords HR, psychotherapy, feminism, cultural bias, trauma, disabilities, multiculturalism, kindness, social justice, mental health Summary Menaka Iyengar Cooke shares her transformative journey from HR to psychotherapy, emphasizing the importance of kindness, cultural understanding, and the impact of feminism. She discusses the challenges faced by multicultural communities in Australia, the significance of addressing trauma, and the need for inclusive practices in bureaucratic systems. Menaka highlights the interconnectedness of humanity and the importance of self-awareness in overcoming biases. Takeaways Menaka's journey from HR to psychotherapy was influenced by her values of justice and fairness. Feminism has evolved through various waves, impacting policies and societal norms. Cultural biases exist in bureaucratic systems, often unconsciously affecting marginalized communities. Building bridges and understanding between cultures is essential for a harmonious society. Trauma can stem from various life experiences, and understanding it is crucial for healing. Kindness is a powerful tool, but it must be balanced with personal boundaries. Everyone has the potential for goodness; we just need to look for it. Education and guidance can help individuals navigate complex systems and overcome challenges. Storytelling can foster connection and understanding among diverse communities. Self-awareness is key to recognizing and addressing personal biases. Sound bites "I did good things." "We are all human." "We can guide them." Chapters 00:00 Journey from HR to Psychotherapy 09:03 The Impact of Feminism 16:21 Cultural Bias in Bureaucratic Systems 19:05 Building Bridges in Multicultural Australia 24:12 Philosophy and Spirituality 25:42 Understanding Trauma and Disabilities 30:06 Unfinished Business in Therapy 33:26 Fostering Inclusion in Communities 36:34 Experiencing Cultures Directly 39:18 The Power of Storytelling 42:40 Three Universal Lessons for Humanity   Transcript   Here are the words.   Melanie Suzanne Wilson (00:01) I saw online that you have done very diverse work going from HR to psychotherapy and then helping crisis support. How did you, what made you decide to switch from focusing on HR to helping people in other ways?   Menaka Iyengar Cooke (00:22) Okay?   Is aligned, if not aligned, but related to my life story. Okay, so are you okay if I give you a thumbnail sketch of what happened and how? I came to Australia about 53, almost 53 years ago and I...   Melanie Suzanne Wilson (00:39) Yes, yes.   Menaka Iyengar Cooke (00:50) I had a lot of domestic violence happen, which made me leave my home with my four-year-old daughter. And in those days, there weren't any refuges or no one helped you. And there was really no help. So with the help of friends and my own brain power, I managed to get a home with a woman and went into an admin job, even though my first degree had been in political science and sociology. But in those days, this was just at the end of the white Australia policy. No one was willing to a punt on you. You had to prove yourself. So I did this admin work and while I was doing admin work, I thought, this is boring. I did it very well. So I started studying at night. And one of the key motivators, two key motivators were the influence of my grandfather in India who had been an HR manager for a group of companies. And the really beneficial things he did for the workers over there, including crèches, educating the people, teaching them different sorts of, if not arts and crafts, giving them out of, you know, work hours, sort of social opportunities.   And I worked in a company where the personnel manager or HR manager was one of the worst people I could ever think of who terrorized union workers and kept the women down. So I thought this doesn't align. So, and I'm talking about 50 odd years ago. So that's why I went back to uni at night and I needed special permission from the lecturers at the uni whether I'd be able to fit in, which I did. And that's what started my journey. I know you're looking at me with big eyes, but, and I was the only woman in a class of 21 white men who then, I think, ripped me and carried on at me. I was also learning feminism at that time. So I was reading Betty Friedan and Germaine Greer and Simone de Beauvoir and using their words to fight back with these men until one of the lectures pointed out that they were actually ribbing me and they would be good, you know, compadres. But that started my journey. What is real HR? What should people be doing? What is the true role? And this started in 1982 or something or the other, and I finished about 1985. But my role was for organisational development and change. Then the MD of the organisation, a lovely, sorry to say, white man, gave me an opportunity. He said, " We're having an organisation development review, the first of its kind in Australia. We belonged to Rio Tinto Zinc at that time. Do you want to go on the team? And I said, yes. I almost fell on his feet. I hey, let me go. And that was the start of my journey.   I'm now going back to what I first started with. It's to do with my values of justice, okay? And equality and kindness and fairness. And I had a lot of that inbuilt into me by my parents and grandparents who really believed in fairness and social justice, even though themselves were fairly well-to-do people. And that created my journey. So when I got into HR and then after organization development, I went into real HR roles like recruitment and training and you know, workers comp and safety. I began to understand how we needed to put that into the policies and processes. And I'm talking about the late 80s, early 90s, you know, that was still, I'm the managing director and I'm quoting you words from a managing director. I'm the managing director and I can do what I like.   No, the law now says the Racial Discrimination Act in 1975 and then the Sex Discrimination Act in the early 80s. This is what the law says. So we really have to follow it. That then I began with the help of, and I worked out, I'm also a gluey creature.   Which of the managers were champions of change? So, getting them on board, we began to change policies and procedures and how to get this happening. Now, I'm going to say to you, Melanie, it was not easy peasy. It was a real uphill battle, but we actually won awards from the Business Review Weekly at that time for employing people with disabilities. This is the early nineties at the prime minister's award for, you know,   Employing people with disabilities when there wasn't, you know, we could have just carried on like other companies by involving people in our strategy and decision-making. So that gave me a lot of hope. But I go back to my values of fairness and decency. I began to get people from the organisation into my office who started talking to me, and it was almost like counselling sessions. And then I thought, one day, one of the managers teased me, ⁓ this is your surgery. You should, you know, go to your next client. And that made me start thinking. That's how, while I was an HR manager, I began to study psychotherapy and counselling. So that's the long story of the link between HR and therapy and counselling, because they are based on my personal values of compassion, kindness, justice, fairness, and it became actually a great help because I continued till 2010 when I retired and I was HR director for a multinational at that time. But I brought those same values into each organisation. I'm very, at least I can look back on my life and say, I did good things. I wasn't just your HR manager who sat and cycled on the spot on a particular, you know, just keep peddling, get people to fill in forms and do this and do that, but actually do something to enhance the way women and men are treated in this organisation. Be fair, be just, give them a proper process on how to handle a grievance. Or if we are breaking rules, let's do something to mend these rules. Okay? There's no point waiting, I am going to do what I like. Because what's the point? We are dealing with human lives. And so that brought me to start pulling in various bits of what I call psychotherapy and counselling, even when we were letting people go. We had to do it. But do it with kindness. Get people in to support them. Get people in to help them put new CVs together, send them to places where they might get a new job. And so that was the big link, the road to psychotherapy and counselling. And when I retired, I finished a master's in psychotherapy and counselling, actually taught for a while business studies, psychology and counselling. And now I have discovered my niche in life because I am a South Asian woman that   There is a lot of need for mental health support in the South Asian community. So that's the brief story of the last 50 years of my life.   Melanie Suzanne Wilson (09:16) That's amazing. And you've done so much. There are so many questions emerging from this. Firstly, you mentioned feminism, and everybody has an opinion on feminism. So you have seen a long history in Australia, more than I have. I'm wondering where would we be without feminism?   Menaka Iyengar Cooke (09:23) Okay, go for it.   I think it's a wonderful opportunity, and I have belonged to the Women's Electoral Lobby, where they were the first ones to bring it to the attention of Bob Whitlam and the government at that time. And over the years, Women's Electoral Lobby and others like them have plugged away so that feminist principles are now almost becoming part of the way we look at policies and strategies going forward. And there has been a big shift, and I'm going to say that to you. Feminism has had not many faces, but tranches, people, it's, if you want to call it, not escalating, but moving forward. So we've had the first, second, third, fourth waves of feminism. And now we are into the fifth wave, which I feel is enormously important. A

Keywords heart attack, stroke, recovery, podcasting, personal growth, marketing, resilience, health challenges, storytelling, life lessons Summary In this conversation, the guest shares their profound journey of overcoming a heart attack and stroke at a young age, detailing the challenges faced during recovery and the impact on their career in marketing. They discuss the importance of storytelling, the role of support systems, and the lessons learned from adversity. The conversation emphasizes resilience, personal growth, and the desire to help others through shared experiences. Takeaways The journey of recovery can redefine one's purpose. Health challenges can significantly impact career trajectories. Support systems play a crucial role in recovery. Sharing personal stories can inspire and help others. Resilience is built through overcoming adversity. It's never too late to pursue new passions. Life doesn't follow a linear path; timelines can vary. Embracing change can lead to personal growth. Finding humor in difficult situations can aid recovery. The importance of evolving and adapting throughout life. Titles From Heart Attack to Healing: A Journey of Resilience Rebuilding Life After a Stroke: Lessons Learned Sound bites "This is my first time as a guest." "I was on the verge of collapsing." "I could have been dead." Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Journey 02:54 The Heart Attack and Stroke Experience 05:41 The Impact of Health on Career 08:36 The Road to Recovery 11:42 Life After Surgery: Challenges and Triumphs 14:49 Navigating the New Normal 17:29 The Role of Support Systems 20:24 Lessons Learned from Adversity 23:28 The Importance of Sharing Stories 26:22 Looking Forward: Future Aspirations

See more about this episode and The Motivate Collective Podcast: http://motivatecollective.com Summary In this episode of the Motivate Collective podcast, Jon from Belleauwood Coaching shares his insights on executive coaching, leadership, and personal growth. He discusses the impact of social media on people's expectations and satisfaction, his journey from military service to coaching, and the importance of mentorship. Jon emphasizes the need for authenticity in leadership, the redefinition of work-life balance, and the significance of setting priorities and a clear vision for the future. He also highlights the role of trust in leadership and the necessity of elevating others to foster a positive environment. Takeaways People are less satisfied and less happy due to unrealistic expectations. The best leaders care more about their people than their ego. Work-life balance is a myth; it's about counterbalance. Growth should align with personal values and goals. Authenticity is crucial for effective leadership. Trust is foundational in all relationships, including professional ones. Setting clear priorities and non-negotiables is essential for success. Vision setting should be emotionally connected to personal milestones. Leadership comes with a cost; it's not always easy. Elevating others is the key to personal and professional growth. Titles Unlocking Leadership Potential: Insights from Jon Belleauwood Navigating the Challenges of Modern Leadership Sound bites "Trust is in every relationship." "Authenticity is key in leadership." "Elevate others to elevate yourself." Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Executive Coaching 02:43 The Impact of Social Media on Mindset 05:41 Leadership vs. Management: The Importance of Caring 08:47 Navigating Growth and Personal Development 11:31 Redefining Work-Life Balance 14:30 The Addiction to Work and Finding Joy 17:28 Setting Goals and Visualizing the Future 26:29 The Pursuit of Happiness 29:28 Authenticity in Life and Work 32:27 Navigating Corporate Structures 38:24 The Balance of Freedom and Structure 42:08 Trust and Leadership 50:57 Key Lessons in Leadership

The Motivate Collective Podcast — Show Notes Episode: Robbie Mattei — From Italy to Australia: Fitness, Better Leadership, and Using AI to Level Up Host: Melanie Suzanne Wilson Guest: Robbie Mattei (fitness trainer + business owner) Episode summary In this first in-person recording of The Motivate Collective Podcast, Melanie Suzanne Wilson sits down with fitness trainer and entrepreneur Robbie Mattei. Robbie shares the story of arriving in Australia from Italy on a one-way ticket, the mentor who changed his life, and why his mission now is to create opportunities for others through employment and ethical leadership. The conversation also explores the reality of "tall poppy syndrome," how to find people who push you forward, and why AI is becoming a must-have skill for anyone who wants to stay competitive or build a business. Along the way, Robbie breaks down practical health fundamentals — from accountability and sleep routines to nutrition basics and reading labels — plus simple ways to stay consistent even while travelling. In this episode, you'll hear about Robbie's leap from Italy to Australia (and why he calls it a "rebirth") The employer who sponsored him — and inspired his leadership values Why Robbie wanted to become the boss, he wished he had Workplace trauma and how it shaped his commitment to treat people better Why AI won't replace you… But people who use AI might The shift from "typing prompts" to speaking outcomes (and where AI is heading) Creating a "master prompt" so AI understands your goals and context Fitness fundamentals: accountability, training, nutrition, and sleep Understanding body types (ectomorph / mesomorph / endomorph) and what that means Simple habits that move the needle: moving more, cutting refined sugar, and reading labels How AI can help you assess supermarket meals and ingredients in real time Supporting employee wellbeing: body scans, nutrition check-ins, and role modelling Staying healthy while travelling: choices, routines, and using what's available Starting a business with minimal cost — and why trying beats waiting Why tough coaching (and tough love) can create real growth Navigating "tall poppy syndrome" and choosing better circles Key takeaways 1) Your environment can change your life. Robbie's story is a reminder that one bold decision — and one supportive mentor — can shift everything. 2) Be the leader you needed. Robbie's business goal isn't just success; it's creating stability, opportunity, and growth for others. 3) AI is a lever — not a threat. If you learn the basics, you'll be harder to replace and better equipped to create new opportunities. 4) Health is fundamentals + consistency. Sleep, movement, nutrition, and accountability matter more than complex plans. 5) Find your people. Get closer to those who are "more for you" — and distance yourself from those who drain or diminish you. Quote-worthy moments (for socials) "My biggest motivation is to employ people and give them the opportunity to thrive." "You can't be replaced by AI if you know how to use it." "Set your alarm not when you need to wake up — but when you need to go to sleep." "Separate yourself from the people who want more from you, and get closer to the people who are more for you." "Work 5 to 9 — build your future outside the 9 to 5." Resources mentioned / themes AI tools for productivity, automation, and content creation Creating a "master prompt" for better AI results Nutrition basics: refined sugar reduction, label reading, macro awareness Habit-building: accountability, trainers/coaches, sleep routines Leadership: tough love, role modelling, employee wellbeing Business growth mindset and coaching culture (incl. Dan Martell reference) Connect with Robbie Robbie invites listeners to connect via Instagram: @RobbieMattei (as stated in the transcript). He also mentions he's open to team members, collaborators, and potential partners as he grows. Connect with Melanie / The Motivate Collective Want to share your story or be a guest on the podcast? Reach out to The Motivate Collective.

This episode is personal opinion and not financial advice. Please see the show notes for more information about Sarah Harding, Melanie Suzanne Wilson, and The Motivate Collective.     https://www.motivatecollective.com   Keywords financial advising, small business, government policies, taxation, housing market, investment strategies, economic independence, cultural shifts, global comparisons, financial literacy Summary In this episode of the Motivate Collective podcast, Sarah Harding shares her extensive background in financial services, discussing the challenges faced by financial advisors, particularly in light of the Royal Commission and the impact of government policies on small businesses. The conversation delves into the complexities of taxation, the housing market, and the need for a cultural shift towards economic independence. Sarah emphasises the importance of financial literacy and critical thinking in navigating the evolving economic landscape, urging listeners to be proactive in their financial education and decision-making. Takeaways Sarah Harding has a strong background in financial services and advising. The Royal Commission significantly impacted the reputation of financial advisors. Government policies are increasingly challenging for small businesses. Trust is a crucial factor in the financial services industry. Taxation policies are affecting wealth creation for many Australians. The housing market is becoming less accessible for first-time buyers. Cultural shifts are necessary to promote economic independence. Global comparisons can provide insights into better economic models. Investing in knowledge and skills is essential for financial success. Critical thinking is vital when evaluating financial advice. Titles Navigating Financial Challenges in Australia The Impact of Government on Small Business Sound bites "The Royal Commission was really crap." "We need to have a cultural shift." "You have to think critically about advice." Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Sarah Harding's Background 02:34 Challenges in Financial Advising 08:50 Impact of Government Policies on Small Business 11:30 The Role of Trust in Financial Services 14:20 Taxation and Its Effects on Wealth Creation 19:41 The Housing Market and Investment Strategies 24:56 The Future of Small Business in Australia 29:37 Cultural Shifts and Economic Independence 34:56 Global Comparisons and Economic Models 54:06 Navigating Financial Independence in a Changing World       Transcript   Melanie Suzanne Wilson (00:00) Sarah Harding, welcome to the Motivate Collective podcast. This is so exciting. We have known each other a long time and reconnected recently. How should we explain what you do and what your background is for those who don't know?   Sarah Harding (00:13)  Well, yeah, I guess where do I start with my background? Like anyone who, I guess, is mid-career, I could talk about many different things that I've done in my life and my background. I guess for me, where I'm at, so my background is very much in financial services. I went to university in Brisbane, of all places, and did an undergrad in business, majoring in finance, because I really wanted to work for a bank.   And so got into a bank and then realised I wanted to be a financial advisor. Back then, this was when there was a lot of pressure on financial advisors to upskill and do further training. And so I ended up doing a Masters of Applied Finance as well. So I did all these other qualifications that I needed to do basically to provide advice and, yeah, spent six years as a financial advisor working with clients. I ended up having my running my own business, which was very interesting. So I worked with a diverse, I guess, set of clients everywhere from like younger professionals, you know, trying to get started, trying to buy their first house, all the way up through to, I guess, you know, wealthy families who are looking for, you know, investment strategies for their portfolios and yeah, we're obviously at a later stage in life. So, I got quite a bit of experience in that space. But, you know, I guess the space a few years ago went through a lot of challenges. You know, we went through the Royal Commission for Financial Advisors, which, if anyone was working in the industry at the time, was really crap you know. You turn on the media, or you go to the media, and you know, be all over the media that every single financial advisor is really dodgy and really bad. And, you know, everyone's ripping everyone off. And it was just a really hard time because obviously, you know, people focus on and read the media a lot. you know, people were then a lot, you know, if you hadn't seen an advisor before, people are a lot more hesitant to, you know, to come on board and to seek advice. So that was really challenging, and it definitely made me restructure my business. I ended up changing licences as well through that time, but started with a new so financial advising is a very heavily compliance and regulated industry. So, licensing is basically somebody who holds the financial services license that as an advisor, you need to basically be authorised under. So I went from, at the time, the largest licensee in Australia to an independent licensee that was a lot more boutique and a lot more focused on the investment space. So they're actually called the Investment Collective. So I really enjoyed, I guess, the investment side of, you know, helping clients with their portfolios and was just very active and interested in that space.   But then COVID hits. I literally, I was looking at purchasing a business or a book of clients from a retiring advisor just before COVID. And through that period, that transaction basically fell over. So I spent six months doing due diligence. I got advice on, you know, meeting with banks, borrowing money, like you name it. I was basically down to like negotiating that final stage. COVID hit, and the person I was acquiring the book of clients from decided to sell it to an accounting practice. So it was a really tough time for me during that period. And so I was like, no, I'll keep going. I'll stick this out. It was really challenging through COVID because I don't know what your situation was, but I was in sharing office space with an accountant here in Mossman. And so I was continuing to go from working in the office back to working from home. And I think I did that numerous times, as everyone did, to kind of like tackle or deal with the lockdowns that we were facing. But it wasn't until, I guess, the end of COVID that it became apparent that the licensing fee was just about to go up. And so it was it was still very tricky, you know, trying to get clients on board, as you can imagine, you know, gone through the Royal Commission. So trust is a lot lower in the space and just gone through…   Melanie Suzanne Wilson (04:57)   Is it what someone would own in a year? What sort of is this big, big numbers? What's the fee like?   Sarah Harding (05:03) I was just I was a single plan of practice. So if you're in a larger licensee, where obviously the cost of the stuff is shared, and you've got resources, then I don't think those people impacted as much. But for someone who is a sole practitioner, the licensee fee, like if you think about running a business, right, you need to charge a client and for the money you charge the client, you not only have to pay for the running of your business, but you have to pay, you know, quite a substantial fee to somebody else to be able to use their license to just be able to provide the advice. So yeah, that basically, like it makes it very challenging to then obviously create a profit in a business if you've got like, it's becoming harder to get clients on board. You need obviously the right types of clients because otherwise it won't be profitable for yourself.   Melanie Suzanne Wilson (05:57) So basically, it got to the point where it was very expensive for you to even have the business existing. And that cost was being passed on to the prices for your clients.   Sarah Harding (06:09) Woo.   Yeah, and as you can imagine, like, I also went through the Royal Commission, which went through a period where, like, I started my business by acquiring, you know, an existing client base; the majority of that was sold after, I guess, after the Royal Commission. And so I was starting with the new licensee basically from scratch. So, you know, trying to generate new business, get clients on board service, you know, existing clients, it was quite tough. And so as you can imagine, like as soon as the costs of things within your business start to go up, you definitely start to question whether, you know, this is something that is going to be sustainable longer term. And as you can imagine, like through this period of time as well, we're kind of coming out of a, at a federal level, we're coming out of you know, liberal government, and we're very much kind of entering that next phase of like a Labour government.   And as we know, especially at the moment, Labour governments just definitely are not, I guess, supportive of small business. And so I guess as well, that kind of prompted me to rethink, you know, is it really the right time to be, you know, in a startup that's, you know, where the costs are going up, it's getting harder and harder to generate new business because of, you know, bad people that did bad things many years ago and should now be the time that I rethink what I'm doing in my career. That very much prompted me to rethink, yeah, what am I doing? What's next for me? Like for anyone who has started a business, sometimes you put so much effort and energy into it, you don't have a backup plan. So for me, that was very much like, What am I gonna do?   Melanie Suzanne Wilson (07:48) You wondered what you were going to do? And for those who are listening from another country, we need to remind everybody, Sarah, you are in Australia, whe

See more about The Motivate Collective Podcast:  http://motivatecollective.com   Show Notes  This podcast episode is a personal experience and not medical advice.     Keywords neurodivergent, spectrum, communication, speaking, inclusion Summary In this conversation, Dr. Matt and Melanie Suzanne Wilson discuss the significance of curiosity in communication and the importance of understanding the emotional states of others. They explore how being curious rather than judgmental can lead to better interactions and empathy, especially when people are overwhelmed and overworked. Takeaways Be curious, not furious. Most people are doing as well as they can. Overwhelm can lead to misunderstandings. Curiosity opens up communication channels. Empathy is crucial in interactions. Understanding others' situations fosters connection. Judgment can close off emotional responses. Traffic and life events can affect behavior. Curiosity leads to better relationships. Emotional intelligence is key in communication. Titles Curiosity Over Judgment: A Path to Better Communication Empathy in Overwhelming Times Sound bites "be curious, not furious." "you'd be like, Matt's not taking this seriously." "I wonder what's going on." Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Accents     Transcript    Melanie Suzanne Wilson (00:01) Dr. Matt, welcome to the Motivate Collective podcast. Thank you for being on the show.   Dr. Matt (00:07) I am thrilled to be here. am. I'd be thrilled to be here even if you didn't have a spectacular accent, but you do. So it's even better.   Melanie Suzanne Wilson (00:16) Awesome. I can tell you that having talked with Americans and also being a speaker, there's quite a D and a T, but the R's, you Americans are getting me to say R a bit more, sort of R.   Dr Matt (00:30) And one of these days I'll figure out how to say no like you guys do, with like there's an extra like half a vowel in there.   Melanie Suzanne Wilson (00:37) I don't know. Like that?   Dr Matt (00:40) It's like N-O-O-E-R somehow, no. I lived in Coogee for six months, and I never figured out that part of it, but I'm a bit of an accent sponge, so I can't help myself.   Melanie Suzanne Wilson (00:59) I'll ask about that in a moment, actually, because you work with neurodivergent things, and I'm curious. People say that neurodivergent people have an accent of their own. Do you think so?   Dr Matt (01:16) It's it's definitely like there's like a particular cadence to how neurodiversion people talk, like we tend to be a little bit more like staccato, like I say this and then this and then this because my brain is uploading the words I'm wanting to say very quickly. Actually, know, know who Barack Obama is a great example of that like Barack Obama because he's like my fellow Americans. It's important.   Melanie Suzanne Wilson (01:40) Really?   Dr Matt (01:46) That in these difficult times, it's like, there's this sort of like, you can like feel his brain buffering to rather than someone who's like, I know everything I'm going to say and I'm going to say it because we're always sort of building the plane as we fly it. So as one of the reasons, I mean, you know, we're, we're both speakers, right? Like people will ask me, like, how do you know, how'd you know what you're saying? It was like, you think I knew what I was going to say? I'm just so plugged in. I'm like, let's do it.   Melanie Suzanne Wilson (02:08) My goodness.   I have found my people. Okay, let's talk about that. I had no idea we were going to talk about speaking, but you talked about the accent, and it all flowed from there because I just say anything, and most people, I'm not judging this. I'm encouraging people to find their courage, but a lot of people will need to plan out what they are going to talk about when they are speaking to any group, and are you saying that there's something a bit neurodivergent about just talking and going for it and saying whatever words flow?   Dr Matt (02:52) The keyword there is the word flow. Flow is a psychological state that we reach where the challenge level and our skill level meet. Right? So when people feel underwhelmed, their skill levels will be higher than the challenge. And when they feel overwhelmed, their challenge level is much higher than the skill. But if both of those things are aligned, then that's where we get flow state. So you could ask me to go give a talk on like   micro financial organisations and Micronesia, and I would fight my way through it. It wouldn't because that's a high challenge, low scale thing for me. But when I talk about neurodivergence, it's high challenge and high scale because, like, so time goes away and the idea that, like, you can be a good speaker and be neurotypical, because it's about transmitting information, and the information exchange can be done very well by anybody.   But I think to be a good speaker as a performer, that's where we get into letting your different brain fly. Right. And, you know, I've given almost a thousand talks all over the world and I can tell you hand to heart, like, I don't think I've ever given the same exact talk twice, even though I've got probably a dozen talks that people ask me to give over and over and over and over and over because the stories always change in the room always changes and you've got to be able to think on your feet and be in the moment. And that's why when I work with neurodivergent people that build social skills, it's not teaching them exactly what to say because people are inconsistent, right? They're not always gonna respond the way you think they're going to. It's teaching them how to listen, how to respond, how to be nimble. And the best speakers, right, Melanie, they're nimble. They can roll with the punches, they can think on their feet.   And the more we help model that for our clients and families and friends and coworkers, then we're making everybody a more adaptable, flexible group of humans.   Melanie Suzanne Wilson (04:57) Yes, definitely. The interesting thing about going with the flow when you present is that you are, I think that we are skipping a lot of the internal dialogue and just going for it, which is ironic because often when we are a bit extra quirky, we can be very anxious in the rest of life. But I'm wondering maybe it's   Dr Matt (05:20) What?   me? No, come on. What?   Melanie Suzanne Wilson (05:25) Maybe not you! Okay, you're totally fine, never anxious.   Dr. Matt (05:27) I'm the only   one. Yes, I'm the only one who doesn't get nervous.   Melanie Suzanne Wilson (05:32) ever in life. Look, this is, then we have the guru in not being nervous or anxious ever. That's good.   Dr Matt (05:40) My gosh, yes. I mean, I always tell people, like, if I stop being anxious about giving talks, I'm going to stop doing them because anxious means I care. Right. I was anxious not only because I was running late, but I was like, I'm always anxious to be on a podcast because like I value you and what you do, and I want to show up as the best version of me. You know, and there's still that imposter syndrome piece of like.   Melanie Suzanne Wilson (05:54) Really?   Dr Matt (06:03) It shouldn't be me, there's like so many better people. But here I am and here you are and we're doing a pretty darn good job, I think.   Melanie Suzanne Wilson (06:10) We are, and that is insight for me because I am amazed by the guests I have been getting. I mean, you are such an expert and the others on this show. And every time I think, Why is this person talking to me? Which is so odd because I grew up surrounded by people who had titles applied to what they did just because they did what they loved. But then I don't.   So I think that the imposter syndrome can happen to all of us. And it's really nice to just, I think maybe what we do, maybe it's a neurodiverse thing, maybe it's just being different, but we simply do things anyway.   Dr Matt (06:59) You know, and I think it's really, it's like, as much as we'd love to do it, over prepared, overcompensated, over rested, like most of the time you've got to do it under prepared, under compensated, under rested. Like, but the thing is, is like, there is no perfect talk. Like, there's no perfect podcast. Like, there's no perfect therapy session.   Like you just, it's like really, it's like you show up, you do the best you can, you train, learn from the stuff that didn't go well. And then you try and do a little bit better next time. And like, I actually was just talking about this at the conference I'm at right now. I have a, I have a recording of the very first webinar I ever did back in 2017. And I'm telling you, it's awful. It's the equivalent of someone reading like the poetry you wrote in middle school out loud. It's really bad.   But like, cringy and terrible and hard to watch as it is, I can also see in there the glimmers of the speaker I am becoming and have become and will continue to be. Right? Like, there's good stuff in there. But the thing is, it's like you have to start. Like so many gifted kids I work with are neurodivergent kids. They're like, how do I know someone's going to be my friend? I want to know they're going to be my friend before I talk to them, so I don't risk being embarrassed or hurt. I'm like, yeah, man, wouldn't that be great if life worked that way? It doesn't.   You know?   Melanie Suzanne Wilson (08:37) Do find that about being a speaker as well that some people will have whatever opinions about what you are saying or how you are saying it, and you'll change some lives, and some people will be distracted by life, whatever, but you're just doing what you do, and the result is whatever it is meant to be.   Dr Matt (09:00) You know, and, and I think a big part of that is, is giving yourself permission to grade yourself on a scale. Right. I was on a podcast back in March, back in March. And I just, I, I woke up with a nasty cold. I like, I was trying not to throw up, like, and I'm on this podcast,

Keywords workplace environment, communication, mental health, psychological safety, feedback, leadership, job satisfaction, employee voice, work culture, evaluation Summary In this powerful episode, Dr Jeff Radford reveals why forgiveness, compassion, and valuing people are the most underestimated leadership tools of our time. He and Melanie Suzanne Wilson dive into culture change, psychological safety, and the spiritual purpose behind great leadership. A must-listen for anyone ready to lead with heart, humility, and hope. Takeaways The worst thing is to be passionate but unsatisfied at work. Feedback and communication are essential in the workplace. Evaluate if your work environment supports your voice. A toxic environment can harm mental health. Psychological safety is crucial for achieving results. Leadership plays a key role in workplace satisfaction. Employees should feel empowered to speak up. Job satisfaction is linked to the work culture. Assessing your environment is vital for personal growth. Your ability to perform is affected by your surroundings. Titles Navigating Workplace Dynamics The Role of Communication in Job Satisfaction Sound bites "I want feedback. I want to know what's going on." "Is that the right area to be in?" "It will lead to your own demise in regard to your mental health." Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Merciful Leadership 00:44 The Role of Purpose and Spirituality in Leadership       Transcript      Melanie Suzanne Wilson (00:01) Dr Jeff Radford, welcome to the podcast.   Dr Jeff Radford (00:05) Thank you. Thank you so much for the opportunity.   Melanie Suzanne Wilson (00:08) Any time. You were telling me a moment ago about merciful leadership. Would you like to tell everybody about that and what exactly you do?   Dr Jeff Radford (00:18) I would love to tell everybody about Merciful Leadership. So back in 2007, I was trying to figure out how that I would finish my doctoral project and in the doctor's degree. And the thought came to me about as I worked through that program and studied about different theories of leadership, but also evaluated leaders that I have worked for. In addition, the type of leader that I was, and this term Merciful Leadership came into my mind.   And really, I'll tell you, the secret sauce to anything is about forgiveness in the workplace. And when you read about other leadership theories, you don't hear a lot about forgiveness when you're interacting with other team members or employees or those that you serve. But the whole component of forgiveness is really valuing the team members that we serve. And so I appreciate the opportunity to talk a little bit about Merciful Leadership, how it was developed.   But really, what I have often said is that we're not just in the 'business' business, we're in the people business. And without people and without serving people and without people working with us, leaders would not be successful. So we have to value people within the workplace.   Melanie Suzanne Wilson (01:34) How do you balance forgiving people and achieving results?   Dr Jeff Radford (01:41) Sure. Well, by valuing people, which is forgiveness, and if you go to my book, Mercy Leader, we talk about that a lot because there's different components of merciful leadership. When I talk about forgiveness, forgiveness doesn't take away accountability or expressing the results, but most people like structure. They long for some type of structure. So that's the results piece of it. I give my expectations. I set where those expectations are.   But if I don't value people and bring them along with me to help meet those expectations, or maybe I disregard them as a person and what they need, the resources they need, they'll never fulfil those. And so to achieve results, you have to value people. You have to put yourself in their shoes. What do they need? If they're failing, is it because of something as a leader I'm not providing or the organisation is not providing? And when we're actually collaborating together and allowing a workplace to actually flourish because I've got creators on the other end here giving me ideas who are expressing how maybe even my own decisions are impacting the workplace through a positive light or even through a negative light. I welcome that feedback because we're collaborating together. They're the ones most of the time doing the hard work. And so I need to listen to that and show them that they are important in that process. Whether as you're used to, we had the old factory style of leadership, to where in my book I talk about the gentleman would look down through the window and look at all the people working below and have a thumb-down approach. Well, that's not what we work in these days. We work in environments where people want to be part of the process. They want to feel part of the movement. They want to achieve the results, but we just have to give them all the tools and the feedback to help them with that. Whether it's positive or even constructive criticism, it's our job as leaders to give them.   Melanie Suzanne Wilson (03:31) Definitely. When you talk about people having what they need, does that go beyond information and perhaps resources in the organisation to find some sort of flexibility in a way that still reaches goals?   Dr Jeff Radford (03:47) Yeah, that's a phenomenal question, by the way. It reminds me of my studies several years ago, where a gentleman by the name of George Barna came to speak to us at the university. And he talked about the generational differences that we have. I think in the older generations, probably that factory-style approach, you could get by with it in some aspects. But we don't just serve that older generation anymore. We have a multi-generational workforce.   And when we think about that, we have to individualise our leadership to each level. And what George Barna talked about, he said, the younger generations are more like a mosaic painting. And I'll be honest with you, if I go to an art exhibit and I see colours splashed on a canvas, I can't really interpret that. I just see colours splashed on a canvas. But what he talked about is if you look at the art, there's always different interpretations about that art. And reading that, when we had this multi-generational workforce, this mosaic generational workforce, we really have to look at how we can serve each individual level. And so, bringing that back into the leadership context, we really have to go through that process and actually figure out how we can individually connect with each level of generations that we are working with. And from that, we've got to figure out what's important to them as well.   It's not just about what they're going to do for the organisation anymore. It's really about they're coming in to see what the organisation is going to do for them. So it takes a little extra effort, a little extra time, but the results and the value that it brings in the workforce really will take results to a whole other level.   Melanie Suzanne Wilson (05:28) What I was going to ask about results because I can relate to how people need, people need different things based on their diversity. I can relate to that so much, but there will be business leaders or even any organisational leaders asking, Yes, but what is the ROI on doing this?   Dr Jeff Radford (05:50) Well, there's a lot of ROI. I mean, I think, you know, if you focus on the culture, people will want to stay in the organisation. So think about what we pay for when we hire a brand new team member employee to our organisation. We go through all the pre-employment things that cost the organisation money. We go through all the onboarding. It could take 90 days. It could take even longer than that, depending upon the type of role in the organisation. And then when we fail during that experience and that position turns over, we acquire that expense again and go back through the same old routine of trying to hire somebody else. We've got to learn that we, again, are in the people business. And it's really important that we create the best experiences for our team members through feedback, but also through their experience. And so what does that mean? Sometimes it's the small things. In one of the organisations I used to be CEO for, it was having their name on a name plaque when they came in for their first day of orientation.   It was asking the questions prior to orientation. What's your favourite candy? And people like, well, that's just too fluffy. It's actually personalised. And when they came into the orientation, they would have their favourite candy laying with their name plaque where they're supposed to be. And it was a wow factor when they first came in. It was having an employee advocacy program to where leadership members followed them, maybe not even their own supervisor, but somebody from the team would follow them in at least that first 90 days.   Make sure at a weekly check-in that they were following up to see how their experience was not just throwing them out to the wolves and Expecting them to learn because that's not valuing their experience That's just throwing them out there and then ultimately they will choose to leave or fail So when I think about the return on investment that first category of employee retention is Huge for any organization and it's important to any organization as well because when I spend time with hospitals or whoever I may serve we are always looking at the retention strategies for team members. And so we know that there is a huge cost associated with that. And there's less cost when you retain those employees. So that makes sense. We want to make sure that they're staying with us, but it's all going to be about the culture that we have, the positive culture that they are hopefully thriving in for our hospitals. So that's an ROI. The other thing that I would add to the ROI as well is that when team members are allowed to be

Disclaimer: this podcast episode is not medical advice.     See more about The Motivate Collective Podcast and get updates about the next events: https://www.motivatecollective.com     Show Notes Keywords intuition, decision making, personal development, intuitive skills, overcoming blocks, practical applications Summary This conversation explores the concept of intuition, emphasising that everyone possesses intuitive abilities, akin to a sport where some excel while others can improve. It discusses how to develop these skills, the role of intuition in decision-making, and how to overcome blocks that hinder intuitive processes. Practical applications of intuition in everyday life are also highlighted, showcasing its importance in personal and professional contexts. Takeaways Every single person is intuitive. Intuition can be likened to a sport. Some people excel at intuition, while others can improve. Developing intuitive skills is possible for everyone. Intuition plays a crucial role in decision-making. Overcoming blocks is essential for intuitive growth. Practical applications of intuition are found in daily life. Trusting your gut feelings is important. Everyone can enhance their intuitive abilities. Intuition is a skill that can be cultivated. Titles Unlocking Your Intuitive Potential The Power of Intuition in Decision Making Sound bites "Trusting your gut is important." "We all have it." "Every single person is intuitive." Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Holistic Psychiatry 00:23 The Need for Medical Intuition Training   Transcript Melanie Suzanne Wilson (00:00) Elizabeth, Samantha, welcome to the Motivate Collective podcast. How are you doing? Elizabeth Ssemanda (00:06) I'm doing well and doing well. It's wonderful to be here. Melanie Suzanne Wilson (00:10) I'm so glad for those out there who don't know what you do. What can you share about what you do for work and your background? Elizabeth Ssemanda (00:24) Well, I am I'm a holistic psychiatrist. I'm also a medical intuitive. I am really passionate about empowerment. I feel like there is so much potential for humanity, and I have a podcast as well called stepping into soul power that I do. Yeah, so I'm busy. Melanie Suzanne Wilson (00:53) You are, you are doing a bit of everything. So you are a psychiatrist as well. What does that, this feels like an obvious question asking what does that involve? But let's bust some myths around that. What's the reality of being a psychiatrist? Elizabeth Ssemanda (00:57) Yeah. Yes. You know, so I am so technically a medical doctor. went to medical school, did the rotations. I did a residency in psychiatry. So, med school is four years residency in psychiatry is four years. And I, then you get licensed in a state, right now I'm licensed in Texas and California. And, so I can, I can practice medicine. So right now the where psychiatry is right now, it's a lot of medication management. But I'm also really passionate about other healing modalities and therapy. I love it. I think therapy can be really, really helpful. So I do do that in my practice. But I like to think a little bit outside the box. And so when people come to see me, I think that there are many ways that you can get better. And so I'm interested in getting to a good understanding of what the root cause is, which is a little bit different than what most psychiatrists right now do. Right now, feel like in the field, it's primarily symptom management. But I feel like we, collectively in the field, have kind of gone astray from what people truly want. People want us to help them solve their problems and to be just a collaborative force in that. So, I am in my practice, I'm interested in figuring out why people are there, looking outside the box, thinking outside the box and really empowerment for patients. Cause I feel like there are not enough psychiatrists, there are not enough therapists. And so whatever we can do to help people help themselves. Great. Melanie Suzanne Wilson (03:14) Absolutely. Do you think that people have become dependent on therapists, and as much as it can be useful, there are moments in between when we can't get to someone for help, when we need to know what we can do for ourselves. Elizabeth Ssemanda (03:32) You know, I don't know if people are dependent on therapists. Maybe there are some. I feel like therapists are so busy. Like, yeah, yeah. I feel like we've got an access issue. ⁓ I do think that a lot of the work that happens is in between sessions. Is you living? Melanie Suzanne Wilson (03:42) There isn't the availability. Elizabeth Ssemanda (04:01) your everyday life. That's where you get to apply a lot of the skills, if you're learning skills in sessions. So in many ways, that's where the real, I mean, it is helpful to be with someone and to have that interaction where you feel heard and where you learn things about yourself and how you view the world. think that is helpful, but there's a lot of learning that happens in life. Like life is a school. Melanie Suzanne Wilson (04:40) Okay. What should we be learning? What can we be doing in our everyday lives to sort ourselves out, basically? Elizabeth Ssemanda (04:52) My gosh, this is my favourite. This is a great question. What should we be learning? I think that there are really important things. Number one, I would say, is being able to feel your emotions and manage your emotions. I think that a lot of, sometimes we get into problems when we don't do that. And there are unhealthy ways that we as a society do to avoid emotions. And you see it all the time, like so people will either drink a little bit more than they should or smoke a little bit more than they should or eat emotionally to avoid feelings. So being able to regulate your emotions, feel your emotions, and then let go. Let go can be letting go of like tough things like guilt, shame, grief, can be hard, hard. So that's one thing. The other thing that I think is incredibly important is being able to master your energy. And I say this because I think it's such an important part. I'm a holistic psychiatrist, but I'm a medical intuitive. so I have some background in Reiki and energy healing. And so I think that some of the issues that I see when people start to have problems is when their energies are like all over, they don't know how to deal with it. And so being very clear about you know, what are the things that energise you, what drains you, having healthy boundaries, I think that's incredibly important. And then the other thing I would say that's really important is being able to be clear about who you are. And I say this because I think a lot of people, like when we're growing up for the first, let me, six, seven years, we're like sponges. We're just soaking up all the things that our parents say, that people in our community say, that the TV says. We're soaking it up. And some of those things that we soak up aren't really true to who we intrinsically are. So part of the maturation process that we've got to go through is kind of starting to know ourselves and then let go of the things that aren't us and that aren't serving us. So think those are tough to do, but really, I feel like are really incredibly important. Melanie Suzanne Wilson (08:14) Yes. Letting go of the things that are not us, that is especially crucial in this economy because a lot of us grew up with a traditional view of what a career should look like, of what an identity should be. And now we are all needing to have a bit more attention on ourselves in any form. And we are needing to differentiate ourselves. Elizabeth Ssemanda (08:30) Wow. Melanie Suzanne Wilson (08:42) I think it's a very interesting time in history and that mindset shift really flows into letting go of some of those feelings of maybe shame, maybe nervousness of some sort, but also letting go of the beliefs that we grew up with. What sort of limiting beliefs have you seen in people and in yourself? Elizabeth Ssemanda (09:08) Beliefs. This is a big topic. I am a bit of a perfectionist. I've grown, and part of that, I will say in my background, that I grew up in a very Catholic, and I'm not knocking Catholic, Catholic, the establishment, but I grew up in a very strict, Catholic household, there were lots of rules. In order to like, and my dad, you know, my parents had lots of kids, lots of kids. So you were just, pardon me? Melanie Suzanne Wilson (09:53) Lots. Lots? What, how many kids did they have? Elizabeth Ssemanda (09:59) So we're a blended family. My mom, for my mom, my mom's got four kids, but my dad has nine kids. He also adopted, I know. Why are you looking at me? Your face was like, girl. Let me just say this. Melanie Suzanne Wilson (10:17) Sorry! I'm a maid! Wow, okay so. Elizabeth Ssemanda (10:28) So I have a Ugandan background. I was born in the US, but I have a Ugandan background. in Africa, way that kids are looked as like having a child is like being wealthy, right? So there's that mindset, like children bring you wealth. they're just not a... Melanie Suzanne Wilson (10:39) Right. That's interesting. So children were seen as part of abundance. Elizabeth Ssemanda (10:50) yeah, yeah, yeah, and when you don't have kids, is, it's, Melanie Suzanne Wilson (10:57) like you're missing out. Elizabeth Ssemanda (10:59) Yeah, yeah, it's tough. And I feel for the women in Ugandan society, when they don't have kids, it is that there's a lot of heartache that goes into that. Melanie Suzanne Wilson (11:12) We'll explore that for sure because that's a whole topic in itself for every country to think about. But so your mum had a few kids, and your dad had more kids. Elizabeth Ssemanda (11:24) Yes, yes, yeah. That culture is just; there are lots of rules. There are just so many rules. And so I think there was just some programming where I was just taught, like you gotta perform, you have to do well in school, like all of that stuff. And I did, but like, when you grow up in a space lik