Back To The Present

Why do our brains cling to some emotions more than others? How do our neurons wire together, shaping our habits, choices, and emotional responses? In this episode, we dive into the science of positive and proactive psychology, exploring how our emotions serve as data, why anger arises when we feel blocked, and how stronger emotions enhance memories—for better or worse.We’ll discuss the power of emotional literacy, the impact of physiology on decision-making, and why simple habits like eating, sleeping, and moving are crucial for self-regulation. Plus, we’ll uncover how high performers transform emotions into energy and why shared purpose helps us thrive.Tune in for practical insights on rewiring your brain, protecting your energy, and finding balance in both negative and positive states—because it’s not about avoiding emotions, but learning how to navigate them effectively.Connect with SueInstagram | suelangleyofficialWebsite | www.learnwithsue.com.auConnect with MitchellInstagram | ⁠mitchellbastock⁠Email | mitchell.bastock@gmail.com

Welcome to a thought-provoking journey where confidence meets uncertainty. This podcast explores the art of showing up, embracing the moment, and releasing negativity. Through the lens of science and mindfulness, we challenge absolute truths taught by schools and parents, recognising that everything begins with a decision. Dive into the polarity of values, the beauty of imperfection, and the power of owning your experiences. Learn to take your work seriously—without taking yourself too seriously—and discover that outcomes and even emotions are choices. Join us as we embrace the unknown and navigate life, confidently uncertain yet mindfully intentional. Connect with Ellen Instagram | ellenjlanger Website | www.ellenlanger.me Connect with Mitchell Instagram | ⁠mitchellbastock⁠ Email | mitchell.bastock@gmail.com

Our thinking mind is one hell of a ride. As human beings who have an ever evolving consciousness, the human mind can either be our greatest alley or our own worst enemy. We all pretty much know this to be true and yet we still find ourselves falling down the trap door from time to time. How we think literally dictates our emotions & actions, and what we think predominately manifests from what we believe. For better or worse, this seems to be how we operate and as hard as a pill it is to swallow, what we believe is up to choice.  This beautiful mind of ours sometimes gets a bad wrap just doing its thing, and maybe rightly so sometimes, but without it we quite literally wouldn’t be able to experience and enjoy our lives the way we do.  All that being said, the healthiest way I’ve learned to have a relationship with our mind, is by questioning everything and not believing that my thoughts (feelings or emotions) define who I am. They are as much me as the clouds are to the sky.  They come & go, and it’s up to us not to attach ourselves to them.  Derek is what I would call a master observer and for this reason alone his ideas and perspectives are truly invaluable.  We both froth on this stuff and discussed, the crucial moment after your first thought, how people look for validation, how to make the best decision, executing ideas, motivating beliefs and the difference between failure & success. Connect with Derek  Website | sive.rs Connect with Mitchell Instagram | ⁠mitchellbastock⁠ Email | mitchell.bastock@gmail.com

Wholistic Health is an ongoing, ever evolving learning and practice of all things both physically and energetically. It’s about thriving, not just surviving. It requires effort in the form of time & energy, and I believe to truly thrive we must take all aspects of life into consideration. In a time like never before, where there are endless opportunities to live unhealthily, there is also an abundance of good information for people to live optimally. That doesn’t mean we don’t get sick, have pain, entertain negative thoughts or succumb to everyday stresses. What it does offer, is the knowledge to live authentically and consciously participate. Both invaluable assets in this game of life.  When these pieces of the puzzle begin coming together, our souls' desires seem to start sending us messages in the form of subtle energy.  There are always potential distractions too, so we must cultivate stillness within our recipe. Allison’s awareness and experience is extremely valuable when it comes to the connection between our physical and energetic bodies. A great ability to bring it all together in an informative manner and engage the audience. Another fascinating episode where we dive into the importance of the energetic body, navigating the current shift in consciousness, honesty & authenticity in relationships and desires vs wants.  Connect with Allison Instagram | allisonpelot_ Website | www.pureenergypdx.com YouTube | @AllisonPelot Connect with Mitchell Instagram | ⁠mitchellbastock⁠ Email | mitchell.bastock@gmail.com

Seeds are buried in the dark, then they require water, sunlight and nature to grow into the beautiful being they were meant to be. Sometimes our own human experience follows a similar process. The strong winds, droughts and flooding are all apart of the process, none of which can be anything other than what they are for the growth to naturally happen.  Our lives seem to be naturally effected by what’s going on around us, and that makes us human, though it’s the cells deep down inside us that help shape who we grow into. Daniel Brown (The Mullet Lord) has done his time amid the storms but now he is in full blossom. Other than a killer surfer, businessman, coffee brew master and devoted family man, Daniel is in inspiration for anyone who has forgotten who they were meant to be. One of the best conversations I’ve had the pleasure of conversing in. Thank us later. Much love.  Connect with Daniel Instagram | mullet_lord Business | Lords Coffee 

Sometimes it’s a feather, sometimes it’s a brick and sometimes it’s a truck. Once way or another this analogy plays out in different shapes throughout the years.  A lot of life is about limiting the trucks, dodging the bricks and getting used to the touch of a feature. It’s harder to hear a truck on a busy motorway and it’s not easy dodging a brick if you can’t see it coming, though the gentle touch of a feather is only possible when we’re still enough to feel its soft whisper against the skin.  Chris has felt the array of impacts from all these lessons and his outlook & action toward life is a testament to his courage to make a change for himself, his family and the community. We have a vast and richly layered conversation about all things breath work, our ability to change, being ready to receive, accountability muscles, why it’s so hard to do the simple things, and much more.  Connect with Chris  Instagram | chris_rapaport & everlastingolive Connect with Mitchell Instagram | ⁠mitchellbastock⁠ Email | mitchell.bastock@gmail.com

Mindfulness. Possibly the most meaningful and perhaps misunderstood word on the market. To me it’s a matter of being aware in each moment of the thing that we’re doing and/or thinking. Not wanting “it” to be any different to what it already is, just allowing it to be. For the longest time I wrongly assumed mindfulness was only available in meditation or alike, and that was cool too, though my life really started to flourish when I realised and began treating mindfulness as a way of being, a constant practice and remembering of the “thing” that was present for me in each moment. Life is so beautiful, we are beyond lucky to have this experience and mindfulness helps not take that for granted. It is a forever-practice, there’s no true destination, but Craig’s mastery makes our conversation so fun and engaging. His medical background and current role as Coordinator of Mindfulness at Monash University set the stage for a truly valuable discussion. Like me, he froths on this stuff and he loves a good metaphor (also like me), so as jam-packed as the episode is with profound knowledge, we also have a sweet time discussing things like his True Happiness course, mindfulness definitions & common misconceptions, mindfulness in action (dealing with anxiety and fear), the mind-body connection and the integration of mindfulness into daily life. Connect with Craig  Monash University | www.monash.edu/consciousness-contemplative-studies Connect with Mitchell Instagram | ⁠mitchellbastock⁠ Email | mitchell.bastock@gmail.com

What if you could remember everything? Would you really want to? I think there's a reason why we can't (excluding those with photographic memories).  Who’s to argue with the evolution of the human species and pretend they could've done better. Cognitive function is almost something we take for granted. You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone.  Our mind is our greatest ally. Speaking for myself, it only becomes a problem when we try to control it and get caught amongst the rampant noise.  For all the trouble we blame on it, life is literally not the same without it. Its function is an integral aspect of life and a building block of Maslow’s hierarchy for good reason.  Dr Kailas Roberts has devoted his life’s work to giving people the tools and hope of a better internal world. His expertise and enthusiasm make for such an informative and exciting conversation. We discussed, his support for cognitive decline, his book on dementia (and the purpose it serves), the complexity of memory & cognition, key lifestyle factors for brain health (and prevention) and much more related to these squishy little brains we ought to be forever grateful for.  Connect with Kailas Website | yourbraininmind Linkedin | Kailas Roberts Connect with Mitchell Instagram | ⁠mitchellbastock⁠ Email | mitchell.bastock@gmail.com

Why are humans innately afraid of the unknown? Sure, there’s some biological reasons that kept us alive thousands of years ago, and maybe the same biology just hasn’t caught up with our current environment.  But, what if there was a little more to it than that? What if “the cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek” (Joseph Campbell).  What if our imagination was our only limitation and all possibilities existed? Can sound a little out there or extreme to some, though I personally entertain the idea that everything is possible. Kaedrich’s experience, knowledge and wisdom speaks for itself. His embodiment of all-things-possible is humbling, grounded and sensational. We had a far out conversation about far out topics and I loved every minute of it. Some things on the table included, overcoming social stigma, the subtlety of paranormal experiences, spiritual limitations & expectations, the importance of shadow work, energetic attachments & clearing, and much more. Connect with Kaedrich Instagram | kaedrich_olsen Website | kaedrich.com YouTube | kaedrich Connect with Mitchell Instagram | ⁠mitchellbastock⁠ Email | mitchell.bastock@gmail.com

Life is short. Not many other combinations of words hold as much depth, wisdom and inspiration. We get 1 shot at this opportunity in this body we luckily inhabit. A huge part of that life is about our character and how we treat others. As social beings once closely surrounded by our friends and family in a tribal environment, so much of that commune has been lost and it now takes an active effort to maintain closeness & connection. In a world full of distraction and things out of our control, practices like stoicism have never been so important (except for maybe the era in which the Roman empire ruled). Brigid’s experience as a lawyer and journalist offer a unique training ground for all things stoicism, and so her knowledge and implementation of such practices makes for such an interesting discussion on the shortness of life.  We touched on the core principles of stoicism, Ataraxia (state of calmness), how to apply stoicism in daily life, the timeless wisdom of stoic thinkers and the importance of stoicism in the present day.   Connect with Brigid  X | Brigid Delaney Website | theguardian.com/profile/brigiddelaney Connect with Mitchell Instagram | ⁠mitchellbastock⁠ Email | mitchell.bastock@gmail.com

Philosophy is a way of life. I also believe that even those who don’t see themselves as philosopher’s are still living a philosophical life.  We all seem to be figuring it out as we go. Some in a little more formal manner than others, though it feels like we all have that part of ourselves somewhere inside. Matt is a philosopher in the true sense of the word, as teacher & student and an avid practitioner of stoicism, his blend of knowledge and wisdom is profound & exciting. Stoicism may be thousands of years old, but it’s principles and values have never been more relevant in an age full of potential distractions.  We cover the foundations of stoicism and still get to the juicy parts, some of which include navigating overthinking & anxiety, applying stoicism in the workplace, the art of constructive dialogue and a few fun religious & political tangents.  May sure you have your listening ears on for this one. Connect with Matthew Medium Blog | Heroes In The Seaweed LinkedIn | Matthew Sharpe Connect with Mitchell Instagram | mitchellbastock Email | mitchell.bastock@gmail.com

Science and spirit are both such beautiful things. Unfortunately it often feels like there’s a gap between the two, though I truly believe when real science and a better understanding of spirit are thread together, us humans create the best internal and external environments for prosperous and harmonious living.  We live among a time where there is sooo much information, and that can mean a lot of it is rubbish, BUT there’s also not been a time in recorded history where sooooo much valuable information is available at our fingertips and for our delicately shaped ears. Lynne has been at the forefront of brain science for over a decade and her knowledge & passion for such topics is influential & compelling.  As an experienced story teller, she is able to rhythmically explain complex & interesting subjects all while adding her unique and fun loving flare. We discussed the mind vs the brain, remarkable memory cases, the power & limitations of science, multiple personality disorders and a plethora of other important stories Connect with Lynne  Instagram | lmalcolm1 Website (to buy book) | All In The Mind

The biggest battle we have going on is within ourselves. I’m confident most of us have heard this before, though I wonder how many of us have begun to take small daily steps toward a more peaceful way of being.  I believe we’re often hearing a part of ourselves that knows what we should/want to be doing and yet we can limit ourselves with inaction. Jane reminded me that “action opens doors”. We can listen to the voices in our heads and/or those of others, but at the end of the day, action is the only way we can be the true version of ourselves, the version we know we are deep down, the version we are meant to be. We had a great life-conversation and spoke about Jane’s teaching career, overcoming challenges while finding purpose, the power of perspective & mindset, un-learning & self-love, tapping into innate creative abilities and energy healing.  Connect with Jane Instagram | jane__holman Website | www.janeholman.com.au

How many of us are really listening to the subtle messages we receive from our internal or external world? I sure know I’m guilty of ignorance & avoidance.  The thing is that what we resist, persists (Carl Jung), and this persistence often returns in different shapes and sizes throughout life until we’re ready to embrace it and do something.  Anja is someone who has developed a deep level of embracement and is an admirable example of someone willing to surrender and have a deep conversation with life.  Super fun, loving and rich conversation with Anja, touching on the power or prayer, allowing emotions & embracing the human experience and the mystical thread in spirituality. Connect with Anja Instagram | anjasteensig Website | www.anjasteensig.com

Understanding why we do the things we do ultimately starts with understanding who we are. Both tasks can take a lifetime (or more) and it’s not always an easy endeavour as an adult or child, though it’s vital to live a joyful and fulfilling life.  Lyn Jenkins is a clinical child psychologist and children’s author who is all too familiar with these questions and through her work she guides our little people into being who they really are. Early intervention, supportive parenting, emotional regulation and parent-child connection are but some of the fascinating topics covered this week. Parent or not, you’ll love this one. Connect with Lyn  Instagram | lifematterspsychologists Website | bossbrainkids.com.au / lifematters.com.au 

The process of self discovery and improvement is a long one. It never really ends. It’s also not a path for everyone. It’s my opinion that those of us courageous enough to step into the unknown and retain a beginners mindset, are those worth listening to. Andrew certainly has both of these characteristics and much more. His knowledge and passion in psychotherapy, plant medicine, reiki, counselling and energy work offer a humble & grounded approach to living his life and serving that of others. Plenty of little gems in this episode for you beautiful people. Connect with Andrew Instagram | andrew.templeofthesoul Website | www.templeofthesoul.org

I don’t know about you, but being a human is pretty cool. All of us almost always take it for granted. It’s so easy getting caught in what’s going on in our our lives that we forget about the bigger picture. Marc paints this picture. We are at a bit of a crossroad it seems on this planet right now. I don’t believe anyone really knows which way things will go, though I’m 101% confident us humans need to change the way we do things if we want our descendants to enjoy this amazing planet the way we can. The work Marc and his colleagues are doing provides the tools and stimuli for those of us courageous enough to fight for everlasting love. Connect with Marc  Instagram | marcgafni Website | www.marcgafni.com

We all have a North Star. A guiding light. For some of us it is a little clearer than others and for some it’s harder to see. Regardless, I believe it helps shine us in the right direction in times of forgetfulness.  Kindness is that North Star for Susie Cameron. It is infectious & inspirational to myself and many others. In a world where all possibilities are endless, there can never be too much kindness, for both ourselves and all others.  Susie and I spoke about acceptance, embracing change, resistance & its meaning, the universal ray healing modality, honouring all parts of ourselves, finding joy through connection and gratitude for life’s gifts & opportunities.  Connect with Susie  Instagram | petalsnpassiongracencompassion Website | www.wayshowersassociation.org

Anyone lucky enough to be a parent knows damn well it’s the hardest and most rewarding thing on the planet. And if you’re a mother the ride is multiplied in many different directions.  We weren’t taught how to do parenting at school, we mimic what we can from our own parents and make up the rest. Fortunately these days, we all have access to the wide world web and so people like Chelsea are able to share their knowledge to those of us in need and interested. We spoke about sibling fights & conflict resolution, highly sensitive children & emotion regulation, decision fatigue & mental load in parenting, the perinatal period & postpartum experiences and screen time guidelines & their effects on development. Connect with Chelsea  Instagram | mamapsychologists Website | www.mamapsychologists.ca

We all seem to have a natural tendency for the path of least resistance, and at the same time most of us realise resistance is required for growth, both physically and mentally. It is our relationship to this resistance that I find beyond interesting and a huge difference between those doing what they love to do and those who are not. Lachy is apart of the former. His experience in the health, fitness and business industry is highly regarded, and yet his desire to do more and keep growing & learning never seems to fade. Amongst all order and chaos Lachy, still knows how to have fun and stay even under the pressure. Connect with Lachy Instagram | lachyrowston Linkedin | Lachlan Rowston