On the 150th episode of What is a Good Life?, I welcome Claire Goodey. Claire is an artist, writer, and humanistic psychotherapist. After a decade in private practice—alongside a new autism diagnosis, perimenopause, and a shifting social landscape—she’s returning to her creative roots to cultivate a slower, more analogue way of living. From this liminal space, Claire blends therapeutic insight with artistic expression, offering presence, vulnerability, and play to others feeling the squeeze of modern life.In this conversation, Claire and I explore what it means to stay part of a world that often feels overwhelming, especially while navigating major life transitions. We discuss the gap between knowing something intellectually and living it, the challenge of discerning fear from genuine bodily wisdom, and the importance of presence, rest, and connection. Claire shares her evolving relationship with retreat—what she calls “getting into the slipper”—and how love, openness, and honest self-attunement can shape a more humane way of being.For more of Claire's work:Website: https://www.clairegoodey.com/Contact me at mark@whatisagood.life if you'd like to explore your own good life through 1-on-1 coaching, group online courses, or to discuss team coaching to stimulate greater trust, communication, and connection, amongst your leadership teams.- The podcast's YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@whatisagoodlife/videos- My newsletter: https://www.whatisagood.life/- My LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mccartney-14b0161b4/00:00 Being a part of the world05:01 Pendulum of growth06:45 Late autism diagnosis11:51 Base needs12:15 Embodiment vs thinking17:51 Trust the process19:30 Fear driving so much of the culture26:22 Sound sensitivity outside35:33 “Into the slipper”39:10 Intentional resting52:28 What is good life?
On the 149th episode of What is a Good Life?, I welcome Adam Mastroianni. Adam is an experimental psychologist and author of the popular science newsletter Experimental History. His work has been featured in Nature, The New York Times, and Jimmy Kimmel Live. He has escaped from over 170 escape rooms.In this conversation, Adam discusses the nature of questions and curiosity as driving forces in life. He explores the concept of being possessed by ideas, the role of suffering in personal growth, and the shift from academia to independent thought. This episode highlights the impact that finding your unique role—and contributing meaningfully to the world from that place—can have on your life.For more of Adam's work:Newsletter: https://www.experimental-history.com/Website: https://www.adammastroianni.com/Contact me at mark@whatisagood.life if you'd like to explore your own good life through 1-on-1 coaching, group online courses, or to discuss team coaching to stimulate greater trust, communication, and connection, amongst your leadership teams.- The podcast's YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@whatisagoodlife/videos- My newsletter: https://www.whatisagood.life/- My LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mccartney-14b0161b4/00:00 – Possessed By Big Questions04:06 – Enjoying The Friction07:48 – Why Toilets Took Millennia13:13 – First Day Being Curious18:16 – Internet Praise Vs Real Life23:51 – Freedom Without A Boss28:07 – Choosing Productive Fear31:07 – Leaving A “Good” Career36:52 – What’s Worth Suffering For45:46 – The Cost Of Pretending48:00 – The Ideas Graveyard52:15 – What Is A Good Life?
On the 148th episode of What is a Good Life?, I welcome Leigh Marz, a collaboration and leadership coach for major universities, corporations, and federal agencies. She has led training programs to promote an experimental mindset among teams at NASA and a decade-long cross-sector collaboration to reduce toxic chemicals in products, in partnership with Green Science Policy Institute, Harvard University, IKEA, Google, and Kaiser Permanente. Leigh coauthored Golden: The Power of Silence in a World of Noise and cofounded Astrea Strategies, helping leaders bridge contemplation and action. In this conversation we explore silence as a living presence—how inquiry, pauses, and shared quiet unlock better thinking, connection, and wellbeing. We cover mapping noise (auditory, informational, internal), flow states, and why slowing down in groups (even at work) sparks novel solutions. This episode invites listeners to rediscover silence as a living teacher — one that reveals what truly matters when we’re quiet enough to hear it.For more of Leigh's work:Link to the book: Golden: The Power of Silence in a World of NoiseAstrea Strategies: https://astreastrategies.com/Her website: https://leighmarz.com/Contact me at mark@whatisagood.life if you'd like to explore your own lines of self-inquiry through 1-on-1 coaching, my 5-week group courses, or to discuss team coaching to stimulate greater trust, communication, and connection, amongst your leadership teams.- For the What is a Good Life? podcast's YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@whatisagoodlife/videos- My newsletter: https://www.whatisagood.life/- My LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mccartney-14b0161b4/00:03 – Intro & why start with questions04:03 – Origins of the silence inquiry & HBR article09:00 – “What’s the deepest silence you’ve known?” 12:41 – Freedom moment: “Silence teems with life” 16:41 – Quiet together: practices beyond meditation24:44 – Mapping noise: auditory, informational, internal29:33 – Antidote: signals you need silence & “positive distractions”35:00 – Designing retreats for novel thinking 38:21 – “Slow down, there isn’t much time.”46:13 – Silence & the nervous system52:00 - How the inquiry into silence has shaped Leigh58:12 – Leigh’s response to “What is a good life?”
On the 147th episode of What is a Good Life?, I’m delighted to welcome Karimu Samuels. Karimu is a movement expert whose journey from exhaustion to ease led him to discover the power of moving through life with flow. With years of studying body functionality and coaching athletes worldwide, he teaches holistic movement that unites body, mind, and emotion — guiding others toward balance and the joy of movement. He embodies the belief that through movement, we can master not only our bodies but also ourselves.In this conversation, Karimu invites us to explore what happens when we stop striving and start listening — to our bodies, our intuition, and the quieter signals of life. From learning to move through the world with less control and more awareness, to discovering movement as a mirror for self-understanding, he shares how trust, honesty, and softness became the foundation of his work and his peace.This episode invites you to slow down, listen deeply, and tune into what your body is trying to tell you.For more of Karimu's work:https://www.instagram.com/karimu_samuels/www.karimusamuels.comcontact@karimusamuels.comContact me at mark@whatisagood.life if you'd like to explore your own lines of self-inquiry through 1-on-1 coaching, my 5-week group courses, or to discuss team coaching to stimulate greater trust, communication, and connection, amongst your leadership teams.- For the What is a Good Life? podcast's YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@whatisagoodlife/videos- My newsletter: https://www.whatisagood.life/- My LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mccartney-14b0161b4/00:00–03:09 — “Who am I?” as the guiding question03:09–04:48 — Movement as universal; finding your gift04:48–07:40 — From ego goals to service; discovering movement07:50–12:36 — “Arriving / home” = inner peace12:36–15:17 — Trust → authenticity; speak your own reality16:10–18:40 — Radical honesty18:40–24:48 — Listening to the body: asthma & throat story24:48–28:03 — Practice and mastering mindset28:03–32:41 — Shaped by experience; learning to show up32:41–38:59 — Movement is a mirror; five components38:59–42:58 — Broken wrist; adapting without compensating42:58–47:33 — Softening: control vs. letting go47:33–52:05 — Love as a tool; co-creating safe space52:05–56:36 — “What is a good life?” Three pillars
On the 146th episode of What is a Good Life?, I’m delighted to welcome Steven D’Souza. Steven is an award winning author, executive educator, trusted advisor, leadership coach and keynote speaker. He is a Senior Partner in the Leadership & Professional Development Practice at Korn Ferry, a leading global Organisational Consulting firm. His expertise crosses the fields of psychology, organisational development, diversity, group dynamics, contemplation and social capital. He has spoken globally to organisations such as PwC, TikTok, Financial Times and the United Nations. His work has been featured in Harvard Business Review, The Independent and The Sunday Times.In this conversation, Steven reflects on his early pursuit of the priesthood and his lifelong inquiry into meaning, service, and aliveness. Drawing on themes from his latest book, Shadows at Work, he shares how meeting the shadow with curiosity and compassion brings wholeness, and how embracing uncertainty, silence, and kindness can lead to a more grounded, vital way of living.This conversation invites you to see the shadow not as something to fix, but as a hidden source of energy, wisdom, and aliveness.For more of Steven's work:Shadows at Work: Harness Your Dark Side and Unlock Your Leadership PotentialNot Knowing: The Art of Turning Uncertainty into OpportunityNot Doing: The Art of Effortless ActionNot Being: The Art of Self TransformationWebsite: https://stevendsouza.com/Contact me at mark@whatisagood.life if you'd like to explore your own lines of self-inquiry through 1-on-1 coaching, my 5-week group courses, or to discuss team coaching to stimulate greater trust, communication, and connection, amongst your leadership teams.- For the What is a Good Life? podcast's YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@whatisagoodlife/videos- My newsletter: https://www.whatisagood.life/- My LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mccartney-14b0161b4/00:00 — Steven’s lifelong question + year pursuing priesthood04:24 — Leaving the path & formative books (Kopp, de Mello)07:27 — Stories as truth; practice over tips10:12 — Aliveness; “I grow in my spirituality by growing in my humanity”13:01 — Bringing the vertical into the horizontal (everyday life)13:28 — Why Shadows at Work; prisons, corporate paradox, “dark mode”19:36 — “Know my shadow and my light”: beyond Jung; four lenses23:08 — Defining shadow; biology, culture, spirit lenses in practice31:02 — Personal shadow work37:04 — Paradoxical theory of change; acceptance over improvement40:43 — Negative capability (Keats)46:53 — Via negativa & subtraction; “bring silence with you”52:29 — The edge of the unknown; reactions & catastrophic thinking58:56 — What is a good life? “A kind life.”
On the 145th episode of What is a Good Life?, I’m delighted to welcome Marc Cinanni. Marc is a writer, musician, and co-founder of Muntanya Màgica, a secluded forest retreat space near Barcelona devoted to personal and spiritual renewal. After time spent in an ashram and a transformative period living on a remote Pacific island, Marc now helps others rewild their inner and outer lives through nature, meditation, and presence—inviting a return to stillness and a deep respect for the mystery of life.In this conversation, we explore courage as the practice of listening to yourself, rewilding a modern life and his move to a remote island, practical spirituality, and how trusting life reshapes friendship, work, and home.This episode is an invitation to truly notice and trust this life.For more of Marc's work:Retreat website: www.muntanyamagica.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marccinanni/Contact me at mark@whatisagood.life if you'd like to explore your own lines of self-inquiry through 1-on-1 coaching, my 5-week group courses, or to discuss team coaching to stimulate greater trust, communication, and connection, amongst your leadership teams.- For the What is a Good Life? podcast's YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@whatisagoodlife/videos- My newsletter: https://www.whatisagood.life/- My LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mccartney-14b0161b4/00:00 How do I live this life as me?02:30 Sharing our gift with the world05:00 A series of experience to self-knowing08:45 The pillars of empathy & creativity12:15 A call to nature17:45 Attuning to nature’s demands and our being21:00 Adjusting to life in nature29:44 Noticing the cycles of life35:00 Continued communication in relationships38:20 The shifting of friendships41:00 Knowing you can trust your life46:00 The beauty of every moment50:30 Setting up a retreat52:30 Summary and what is a good life for Marc?
On the 144th episode of What is a Good Life?, I’m delighted to welcome George Thompson. George is a filmmaker, teacher, and founder of Balance is Possible!, a movement dedicated to inspiring balance for both people and planet. With over 25 million people impacted by his work and support from changemakers like Louie Schwartzberg, Tara Brach, and Stephen Fry, George weaves together ancient Daoist wisdom and modern science into practical, playful tools for navigating modern life.In this conversation, we explore what it truly means to live in balance — within ourselves, with others, and with the natural world. George shares insights from his time training under Master Gu in the Wudang Mountains of China, and reflects on how balance extends beyond personal wellbeing into a collective responsibility for the planet.This is a gentle and profound invitation to slow down, be present, and rediscover harmony amidst the complexities of life.For more of George's work:website: https://www.balanceispossible.com/His latest film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KArWcMldPMContact me at mark@whatisagood.life if you'd like to explore your own lines of self-inquiry through 1-on-1 coaching, my 5-week group courses, or to discuss team coaching to stimulate greater trust, communication, and connection, amongst your leadership teams.- For the What is a Good Life? podcast's YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@whatisagoodlife/videos- My newsletter: https://www.whatisagood.life/- My LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mccartney-14b0161b4/00:00 What is balance?03:00 The economy and nature05:00 A radical transformation of understanding08:30 The unexpected path to Tai Chi11:20 The embrace of the unknown17:00 Letting go of yourself20:00 No longer separating life from practice 23:50 The wisdom of the mind28:15 Trusting the flow of life31:00 The forming of a mission34:00 The interdependence of healing38:00 Giving yourself grace of seasons41:00 Creating more space to meet life44:25 Loving the challenging feelings of life49:50 The movement towards balance52:45 Summary of the conversation and what is a good life for George?
On the 143rd episode of What is a Good Life?, I’m delighted to welcome Kimbra. Kimbra is a New Zealand-born songwriter, musician, producer, and adventurous performer. Her 2011 debut, Vows, was certified platinum in Australia and New Zealand. The following year, “Somebody That I Used to Know,” her duet with Gotye, topped Billboard’s Hot 100, became the best-selling song of the year in the U.S., and earned her two Grammy Awards. Since then, she has toured with artists including Beck, David Byrne, and Jacob Collier, and has released four more albums: The Golden Echo, Primal Heart, A Reckoning, and Idols & Vices (Vol. 1). She hosts the podcast Playing With Fire and shares essays, poetry and watercolours on her Substack newsletter.In this conversation, Kimbra reflects on her ongoing journey to find balance and rest within her life and career as a musician. She speaks about the importance of silence in shaping her artistic expression, the power of surrendering to spirit, and the grounding influence of nature.This episode is an invitation to embrace the fullness of life — its joy, its suffering, and the many paradoxes in between.For more of Kimbra's work:Substack: https://kimbra.substack.com/Website: https://www.kimbramusic.com/Contact me at mark@whatisagood.life if you'd like to explore your own lines of self-inquiry through 1-on-1 coaching, my 5-week group courses, or to discuss team coaching to stimulate greater trust, communication, and connection, amongst your leadership teams.- For the What is a Good Life? podcast's YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@whatisagoodlife/videos- My newsletter: https://www.whatisagood.life/- My LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mccartney-14b0161b4/00:00 How to find balance?03:00 The experience of burnout06:30 A silent concert09:50 HoneyBones and nothing to lose12:30 The generosity and connection of silence 16:00 Life, art, and work are not separate19:30 Receiving a message from spirit23:30 Being empowered by spirit29:00 A mystical experience and calling33:42 We all have a cross38:50 Making a difference in the world42:30 The power and role of nature45:00 Rest, letting go, and liberation51:15 Summary and what is a good life for Kimbra?
On the 142nd episode of What is a Good Life?, I’m delighted to welcome Jim Palmer, Founder of the Center for Non-Religious Spirituality. A critically acclaimed author, former megachurch pastor, adjunct professor, and chaplain with the American Humanist Association, Jim is also a trained counsellor in religious trauma and spiritual abuse.In this conversation, he reflects on his journey through a crisis of faith, his experiences as a megachurch pastor, and his challenges of navigating religious culture. We explore theological deconstruction, rewilding spirituality, and the importance of embracing diverse perspectives. This episode invites you to consider a faith in life itself as a way to deepen our connection with existence.For more of Jim's work:Substack: https://substack.com/@jimpalmerauthorLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimpalmerauthor/Contact me at mark@whatisagood.life if you'd like to explore your own lines of self-inquiry through 1-on-1 coaching, my 5-week group courses, or to discuss team coaching to stimulate greater trust, communication, and connection, amongst your leadership teams.- For the What is a Good Life? podcast's YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@whatisagoodlife/videos- My newsletter: https://www.whatisagood.life/- My LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mccartney-14b0161b4/00:00 Introduction and Setup01:51 Exploring the Good Life02:50 The More Than Human World06:22 Personal Evolution and Crisis of Faith12:22 Experiences as a Mega Church Pastor17:35 The Challenges of Mega Church Culture21:22 Theological Deconstruction and Reconstruction26:38 Confronting Suffering and Injustice33:03 Cognitive Dissonance in Religion39:13 Processing Religious Trauma42:55 Rewilding Spirituality50:04 God as a Verb54:20 The Good Life as a Process of Inquiry58:06 Faith in Life and Interconnectivity
On the 141st episode of What is a Good Life?, I’m delighted to welcome Professor Megan Reitz. Megan is an Associate Fellow at Saïd Business School, Oxford University, and Professor of Leadership and Dialogue at Hult International Business School. She is a leading thinker on leadership and dialogue, featured in the Thinkers50 ranking of global business thinkers, and the author of Dialogue in Organizations, Mind Time, and, most recently, Speak Out, Listen Up. Her work explores how we create the conditions for transformative dialogue at work, and her latest research examines how we can foster spaciousness — the capacity to innovate, reflect, and build relationships in workplaces addicted to busyness.In this conversation, we explore the impact of space, silence, attention, and an outward focus on our relationships and our experience of life.This episode serves as an invitation to pause, question the busyness we’ve become entangled in, and reconsider the status quo of how we relate.For more of Megan's work:Website: https://www.meganreitz.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meganreitz/Contact me at mark@whatisagood.life if you'd like to explore your own lines of self-inquiry through 1-on-1 coaching, my 5-week group courses, or to discuss team coaching to stimulate greater trust, communication, and connection, amongst your leadership teams.- For the What is a Good Life? podcast's YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@whatisagoodlife/videos- My newsletter: https://www.whatisagood.life/- My LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mccartney-14b0161b4/00:00 How do I encounter the world?04:00 Flow amongst people07:00 How our gestures affect others11:45 The labels, assumptions, and roles that create distance17:13 The energy drain of societal expectations23:00 Allowing, inquiry, and meta awareness26:20 Creating the space we require33:45 How do we see the world?37:00 Navigating pauses and big questions44:00 How strange it has become to pause47:30 Our focus moving from ourselves53:30 Experiencing periods without an agenda57:00 Summary and what is a good life for Megan?
On the 140th episode of What is a Good Life?, I’m delighted to welcome Robert Poynton. Rob is the author of Do Conversation, Do Pause, and Do Improvise. He divides his time between an off-grid home in rural Spain and Oxford, where he is an Associate Fellow at the Saïd Business School and convenor of the Oxford Praxis Forum at Green Templeton College. Rob is a designer, host, and facilitator of learning experiences; an amateur practical philosopher; a keeper of hens; and the founder of Yellow Learning.In this conversation, Rob shares his sense of living with more aliveness. We explore following the energy rather than the “shoulds”, noticing visceral signals of “deathly” work, practising curiosity and softness in everyday tasks, infinite games versus fixed goals, and how trusting life’s unfolding leads to a life of joy.This episode is an invitation to soften, to follow what feels alive, and to let life reveal itself through experience and energy rather than theory.For more of Rob's work:Website: https://robertpoynton.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-poynton-169402/ Contact me at mark@whatisagood.life if you'd like to explore your own lines of self-inquiry through 1-on-1 coaching, my 5-week group courses, or to discuss team coaching to stimulate greater trust, communication, and connection, amongst your leadership teams.- For the What is a Good Life? podcast's YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@whatisagoodlife/videos- My newsletter: https://www.whatisagood.life/- My LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mccartney-14b0161b4/00:00 How can we make life more joyful?04:20 Paying attention to that sinking feeling06:40 Making decisions others found unusual10:50 Following the breadcrumbs and energy18:11 Noticing when we contract and soften24:30 Noticing, allowing, and becoming32:00 Life wants to happen39:15 Collaboration more present than competition42:30 The allure of drama and conflict48:20 Holding two conflicting ideas at once51:15 The surprises that bring us alive57:50 Summary and is a good life for Rob?
On the 139th episode of What is a Good Life?, I’m delighted to welcome Simon Höher—a public designer, researcher, and strategist based in Berlin. Simon works at the intersection of systems, futures, and justice, partnering with public institutions, startups, and cultural organisations to rethink how we design, govern, and live together. He is Systems Change Lead at Dark Matter Labs and currently supports the European Commission’s Net Zero Cities Mission.In this conversation, we explore big questions about life, governance, and personal evolution: the nature of change, how today’s decisions shape future generations, and the role of resilience and trust in navigating uncertainty. We also look at ways to move beyond the problem–solution dichotomy.This episode is an invitation to consider what more patience, deliberation, and intention might bring to your life.For more of Simon's work:Website: https://simonhoeher.com/Substack: http://simonhoeher.substack.comContact me at mark@whatisagood.life if you'd like to explore your own lines of self-inquiry through 1-on-1 coaching, my 5-week group courses, or to discuss team coaching to stimulate greater trust, communication, and connection, amongst your leadership teams.- For the What is a Good Life? podcast's YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@whatisagoodlife/videos- My newsletter: https://www.whatisagood.life/- My LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mccartney-14b0161b4/00:00 How do we create deliberate transitions?04:30 What to do about the state of the world?08:00 Evolution and transitions12:00 Shifting from private to public interest14:30 How do we gauge impact?19:40 Questioning are we part of the problem23:50 The impact of trust & hope on resilience32:45 Trusting yourself through change37:00 We are incredibly adaptive creatures 39:30 The significance of openness42:30 The problem-solution dichotomy50:00 Minimal intervention54:00 Summary and what is a good life for Simon?
On the 138th episode of What is a Good Life?, I’m delighted to welcome Edie "EdieArt" Pijpers. Edie is a self-taught painter, musician, and writer whose work flows across the porous borders between music, colour, story, dream, and video. Raised in the Netherlands, Edie travelled through Paris, Sydney, and Los Angeles before planting roots in the Hudson Valley. Over the years, she has released five albums, held art shows in Nashville and New York, painted murals, published mindful children’s books, created intimate video pieces, and collaborated on the oracle deck Healing the Inner Child via Hay House.In this conversation, we explore the essence of creativity and the balance between doing and being. We explore the importance of giving space and time to ideas, as well as attuning to the muse that lives as presence in ordinary moments.Ultimately, she highlights the significance of relationality, living attentively, and embracing the flow of existence.For more of Edie's work:Website: https://www.edieart.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EdieArt77Contact me at mark@whatisagood.life if you'd like to explore your own lines of self-inquiry through 1-on-1 coaching, my 5-week group courses, or to discuss team coaching to stimulate greater trust, communication, and connection, amongst your leadership teams.- For the What is a Good Life? podcast's YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@whatisagoodlife/videos- My newsletter: https://www.whatisagood.life/- My LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mccartney-14b0161b4/00:00 What is trying to emerge?04:45 Authority and uncertainty10:00 Exploring how things are13:00 Balancing masculine and feminine energies17:30 The call into nature25:00 Giving life more space31:05 The seriousness and lightness of life36:15 Parenting, relating, and space42:00 Letting go of control45:00 Meaningful and meaningless48:00 Answering a call to creativity51:30 The significance of place54:30 Summary and what is a good life for Edie?
On the 137th episode of What is a Good Life?, I’m delighted to welcome Diane Button. Diane is a founding partner of the Bay Area End-of-Life Doula Alliance in Northern California, and the best-selling author of Dear Death: Finding Meaning in Life, Peace in Death, and Joy in an Ordinary Day and The Doula Tool Kit: The Complete Practical Guide for End-of-Life Doulas & Caregivers (co-authored with Angela Shook and Gabby Jimenez). She holds a master’s degree in Counselling Psychology, works as a practicing end-of-life doula, and serves as a lead instructor in the University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine’s End-of-Life Doula Certificate Program. Her latest book is the inspiring What Matters Most.In our conversation, Diane shares the profound insights she has gained through her work, emphasising the power of presence, the value of embracing all emotions, and the joy found in life’s simplest moments.Together, we explore how the beauty of ordinary days and the wisdom of those facing death can illuminate what it truly means to live well and meet life’s final chapter with grace.For Diane's latest book, What Matters Most:To buy your copy: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/768705/what-matters-most-by-diane-button/About the book: https://www.dianebutton.com/what-matters-mostWebsite: https://www.dianebutton.comContact me at mark@whatisagood.life if you'd like to explore your own lines of self-inquiry through 1-on-1 coaching, my 5-week group courses, or to discuss experiences I create to stimulate greater trust, communication, and connection, amongst your leadership teams.- For the What is a Good Life? podcast's YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@whatisagoodlife/videos- My newsletter: https://www.whatisagood.life/- My LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mccartney-14b0161b4/00:00 Reflections on the book02:10 The depth of the role of an End of Life Doula04:45 Experiencing everything08:44 The cultivation of presence14:00 Pausing and slowing down17:00 An awareness of joy21:20 An expression of gratitude25:30 The process of writing the book31:55 Not waiting to celebrate life36:30 Distilling what matter most40:30 The simple moments43:30 Legacy work with the dying48:00 Regrets over the little things52:30 Self-love, acceptance, and authenticity1:00:00 Comfort with grief and conflicting emotions1:08:00 The importance of our small acts
On the 136th episode of the What is a Good Life? podcast, I’m delighted to welcome our guest, Aadita Chaudhury. Aadita is a researcher, writer and arts practitioner inhabiting the intersection of the arts, science, ecology, and spirituality. Her work is shaped by ethnographic approaches, poetic inquiry, embodied methodologies, sonic practices, photography, and encounters with mythology, folklore and ritual, guided by ethics of slow, non-extractive decolonial research. She is interested in perspectives from the Global South in relation to technoscientific imaginaries, decolonial, feminist and working-class social movements. Aadita has conducted research in the US, Canada, the UK, Italy, India and Mexico. Her academic and public work has appeared in International Relations, Conservation Letters and Al Jazeera.In this conversation, Aadita explores the themes of rootedness, belonging, and identity amidst a rapidly changing world. She reflects on her journey through liminal spaces, the impact of cultural expectations, and the quest for enough-ness. The discussion delves into the implications of human exceptionalism, the importance of direct communication, and the value of community connections. Ultimately, Aadita considers a good life as one that embraces honesty, embodiment, and the emergent flux of reality.For more of Aadita's work: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aadita/Website: https://www.aaditachaudhury.com/Contact me at mark@whatisagood.life if you'd like to explore your own lines of self-inquiry through 1-on-1 coaching, my 5-week group courses, or to discuss experiences I create to stimulate greater trust, communication, and connection, amongst your leadership teams.- For the What is a Good Life? podcast's YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@whatisagoodlife/videos- My newsletter: https://www.whatisagood.life/- My LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mccartney-14b0161b4/00:00 Navigating Liminal Spaces04:00 A Practice of Presence06:00 Rootedness, identity, and preference09:55 Cultural expectations 14:30 The expectation of proving our worth16:30 Exploring human exceptionalism20:00 Conditional enough-ness26:00 Concepts from human exceptionalism 30:00 Fear of death and immortality 34:00 Moving from abstract to embodied42:30 Attentiveness to our community53:00 The repression of forced politeness59:15 An appreciation for directness1:06:00 Summary and what is a good life for Aadita?
On the 135th episode of the What is a Good Life? podcast, I’m delighted to welcome our guest, Stephen Jenkinson. Stephen is a cultural worker, teacher, author, and ceremonialist. He is the creator and principal instructor of the Orphan Wisdom School, founded in 2010. He has master’s degrees from Harvard University (theology) and the University of Toronto (social work). He’s the author of Come of Age, the award-winning Die Wise, Money and the Soul’s Desires, and Reckoning (with Kimberly Ann Johnson). His latest book, Matrimony: Ritual, Culture and the Heart’s Work, invites readers to contemplate the significance of matrimony, ceremony, and cultural articulation—and how to redeem them for future generations.In this rich conversation, Stephen explores profound questions about life, love, and the nature of existence. The discussion delves into the essence of ceremonies, particularly in matrimony, emphasising the need for meaningful endings and the responsibilities we hold towards future generations. The discussion weaves fate, ancestry, humility, and the call to “proceed as if you’re needed” into a meditation on how we might live fully inhabited lives.For Stephen's latest book, Matrimony:To buy your copy: https://orphanwisdom.com/store/matrimony/About the book: https://orphanwisdom.com/books/matrimony/For more of Stephen's work: Website: https://orphanwisdom.com/Contact me at mark@whatisagood.life if you'd like to explore your own lines of self-inquiry through 1-on-1 coaching, my 5-week group courses, or to discuss experiences I create to stimulate greater trust, communication, and connection, amongst your leadership teams.- For the What is a Good Life? podcast's YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@whatisagoodlife/videos- My newsletter: https://www.whatisagood.life/- My LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mccartney-14b0161b4/00:01 – Introduction01:37 – The Condition of Pondering06:28 – Roots of Pondering10:16 – The Dream Another World Has of You19:36 – Needed vs Important21:46 – Matrimony and the Presence of the Absence26:00 – Longing and Belonging 31:00 – Modern wedding and the privatisation of love35:47 – The Art of the Ending41:40 – Pompe and the Necessity of Closure43:47 – Ritual as a Gift to the Village45:45 – The White Heat of Possibility51:25 – The Active Witness53:43 – What Is a Good Life for Stephen?
On the 134th episode of the What is a Good Life? podcast, I’m delighted to welcome our guest, Mike Moss. Mike is a BACP registered Counsellor and Supervisor. He has worked in voluntary and statutory organisations for over 40 years and is currently employed as a counsellor in a school. His approach is Person-Centred with an interest in the Transpersonal. He has written widely about the power of the therapeutic relationship and presented his work at workshops and national and international conferences. He has a small private practice offering counselling, supervision and training.In this conversation, we explore profound themes of life, connection, and the beauty of the ordinary. We discuss the significance of the breath before the last breath, the power of a smile, and the importance of being present. Mike shares his journey of self-discovery, emphasising the potential within each individual and the interconnectedness of life. The dialogue highlights the struggle we all face and the beauty found in acknowledging our experiences. For more of Mike's work, check out the following:Email: mike.moss@outlook.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-moss/Contact me at mark@whatisagood.life if you'd like to explore your own lines of self-inquiry through 1-on-1 coaching, my 5-week group courses, or to discuss experiences I create to stimulate greater trust, communication, and connection, amongst your leadership teams.- For the What is a Good Life? podcast's YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@whatisagoodlife/videos- My newsletter: https://www.whatisagood.life/- My LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mccartney-14b0161b4/- Exploring Presence Event in Berlin, September 17th - https://buytickets.at/johnniemoore/179456601:05 Breath before my last breath05:05 The power of a smile15:00 The simple beauty and connection18:25 Acknowledging the struggle of life23:35 The flow is continually present29:20 The temporary nature of our worries33:30 The power of my presence36:00 Allowing space for feeling anxiety40:00 From Ass-hole to A Soul45:45 Potential: stored up energy51:20 The vast range of life and perspective56:31 What is a good life for Mike?
On the 133rd episode of the What is a Good Life? podcast, I’m delighted to welcome our guest, Dr. Richard Claydon. Richard is a leadership strategist and creator of the Praxis Q framework, which integrates self-awareness, systemic thinking, and role fluency. Known for his work at the intersection of complexity, culture, and adaptive performance, he helps leaders navigate ambiguity, build resilient systems, and lead with integrity in rapidly changing environments. His work draws from behavioural science, organisational theory, and real-world practice to challenge conventional leadership narratives and build capability for the long game. A former academic with a Ph.D. in Organisational Studies, Richard now partners with executive teams, coaches, and educators to equip leaders for a world on the brink.In this conversation, Richard discusses the complexities of leadership, emphasising the need for a more human, honest, and reflective approach. He explores how traditional leadership models often lead to burnout and disconnection, advocating for a focus on dialogue, trust, and interdependence within systems. Richard also addresses the evolution of trust in modern society, emphasising the need for transparency and adaptability in complex systems. Ultimately, he defines a good life as one where individuals can navigate their systems effectively and make meaningful contributions to their environments.For more of Richard's work, check out the following:EQ Lab Website: https://www.eqlab.co/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drrichardclaydon/Contact me at mark@whatisagood.life if you'd like to explore your own lines of self-inquiry through 1-on-1 coaching, my 5-week group courses, or to discuss experiences I create to stimulate greater trust, communication, and connection, amongst your leadership teams.- For the What is a Good Life? podcast's YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@whatisagoodlife/videos- My newsletter: https://www.whatisagood.life/- My LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mccartney-14b0161b4/- Exploring one-on-one coaching: https://www.whatisagood.life/p/one-on-one-coaching- What is a Good Life? Course: https://www.whatisagood.life/p/the-what-is-a-good-life-course00:00 How did leadership end up like this?03:40 The significance of honesty to ourselves06:40 Drifting from ourselves10:30 Leading to burnout14:00 Dialogues to help to navigate complexity18:00 Interwoven learning21:00 Changing how he sees learning27:28 An opportunity to improvise31:00 Reducing ourselves to something fixed36:00 Thoughts on authenticity41:00 The ripple of realising interdependence 51:10 The evolution of trust58:40 What is a good life for Richard?
On the 132nd episode of the What is a Good Life? podcast, I’m delighted to welcome our guest, Kate Arms. Kate helps people and organisations create effective systems in which people thrive. She is known for her expertise in building and maintaining organisational systems that support innovation and creativity, and the psycho-social challenges faced by gifted, highly-sensitive, twice-exceptional, and creative individuals. Her career has taken her through law, technology, publishing, non-profits, and the arts. Recently, she has been heavily involved in developing leadership and coach training programs grounded in human dignity and agency. As part of this work, she co-founded the Neurodiversity Coaching Academy. She is the author of L.I.F.T.: A Coach Approach to Parenting, the Extreme Resilience Workbook, and several short stories featuring horror tropes and second chances.In this conversation, Kate shares her lifelong inquiry into the complexities of being human and how to thrive amidst life's challenges. She reflects on the interplay of grief and love, and the importance of mindfulness and presence. She emphasises the need for systemic change to foster a more thriving world and the significance of becoming an elder who stewards wisdom for future generations.This conversation is an invitation to actively and wisely participate in your own experience of becoming.For more of Kate's work, check out the following:Website: https://katearms.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katearmscoach/Contact me at mark@whatisagood.life if you'd like to explore your own lines of self-inquiry through 1-on-1 coaching, my 5-week group courses, or to discuss experiences I create to stimulate greater trust, communication, and connection, amongst your leadership teams.- For the What is a Good Life? podcast's YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@whatisagoodlife/videos- My newsletter: https://www.whatisagood.life/- My LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mccartney-14b0161b4/- Exploring one-on-one coaching: https://www.whatisagood.life/p/one-on-one-coaching- What is a Good Life? Course: https://www.whatisagood.life/p/the-what-is-a-good-life-course00:00 How do we thrive the most?06:15 Living the question and earning a living11:10 Life without a plan but agency15:30 Living from moment to moment19:30 The cycle of growth 23:25 The grief and beauty of life26:30 Engaging with joy29:00 Living with awareness 34:00 The contextual and the detaills38:20 The presence of the Dalai Lama 40:50 There is only one thing to do45:00 The feeling of the right decision48:30 What could lead to our collective thriving54:48 What is a good life for Kate?
On the 131st episode of the What is a Good Life? podcast, I’m delighted to welcome our guest, Dave Bingham. Dave is the founder and managing director of True Circles Training Ltd – though he often calls himself ‘an assistant to alchemy’. He’s a Trainer, Mentor, and Facilitator in the Way of Council, recognised by the Topa Institute of California and the European Council Network. Since 2009, he has facilitated Council groups in settings ranging from men’s circles and prisons to reconciliation programmes and open public groups. Formerly in the tech sector, he led major UK and international projects and contributed to global best practice. He later studied Psychotherapy and Eco-psychotherapy, before completing a multi-year apprenticeship to become one of a small number of Recognised Council Trainers outside the USA. Dave sees Council as an embodied wisdom tradition that fosters human wholeness, connection, and community – medicine for our times.In this conversation, we delve into themes of purpose, alignment, and the transformative practice of the Way of Council. We explore the importance of listening from the heart and authenticity in communication. Dave shares his experiences of the profound impact of creating spaces for emotional expression. This discussion invites us to reflect on depths of relating that I sense most people rarely engage with.For more of Dave's work, check out the following:Website: https://www.truecircles.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-bingham-7b0a95180/Contact me at mark@whatisagood.life if you'd like to explore your own lines of self-inquiry through 1-on-1 coaching, my 5-week group courses, or to discuss experiences I create to stimulate greater trust, communication, and connection, amongst your leadership teams.- For the What is a Good Life? podcast's YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@whatisagoodlife/videos- My newsletter: https://www.whatisagood.life/- My LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mccartney-14b0161b4/- Exploring one-on-one coaching: https://www.whatisagood.life/p/one-on-one-coaching- What is a Good Life? Course: https://www.whatisagood.life/p/the-what-is-a-good-life-course00:00 How am I aligned with my purpose?05:35 Resisting the tendency to problem solve10:00 The capacity of the heart’s understanding 14:00 A moment that changed my course17:50 A yearning for authenticity 20:50 An introduction to Way of Council24:40 The foundation of Way of Council27:25 The four intentions32:25 A different form of relating35:30 Taking a leap of faith45:00 The capacity of humans to relate at depth51:45 The significance of simply witnessing54:00 Remembering who you are57:40 Growing to align with purpose1:00:57 What is a good life for Dave?