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
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- 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-course

00:00 How am I aligned with my purpose?

05:35 Resisting the tendency to problem solve

10:00 The capacity of the heart’s understanding 

14:00 A moment that changed my course

17:50 A yearning for authenticity 

20:50 An introduction to Way of Council

24:40 The foundation of Way of Council

27:25 The four intentions

32:25 A different form of relating

35:30 Taking a leap of faith

45:00 The capacity of humans to relate at depth

51:45 The significance of simply witnessing

54:00 Remembering who you are

57:40 Growing to align with purpose

1:00:57 What is a good life for Dave?