Episodit
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On the 129th episode of the What is a Good Life? podcast, I’m delighted to welcome our guest, Neale Donald Walsch. Neale has written 40 books on contemporary spirituality and its practical application in everyday life, including his new book GodTalk: Experiences of Humanity’s Connections with a Higher Power. Neale is the bestselling author of the Conversations with God series, of which seven of the nine books made the New York Times bestseller list. Book One remained on that list for 134 weeks. His titles have been translated into 37 languages and have been read by millions of people around the world.
In this conversation, Neale discusses his journey in exploring humanity’s relationship with God, emphasising that neither God nor love is transactional. He also shares the experiences that led to his first bestselling book and the life mission that emerged from those dialogues.
This conversation invites us to engage with life in a way that contrasts with many cultural norms—by embracing love, deep understanding, and meaningful connection with others.
For more of Neale's work, check out the following:
Website: http://www.nealedonaldwalsch.com/
Books: http://www.nealedonaldwalsch.com/Store/BooksContact me at [email protected] 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-course
00:00 How we are misunderstanding God04:20 A theologically revolutionary idea
10:10 God’s love demands nothing in return
13:40 Questioning religion but not a belief in God
22:15 Conversing with God
29:00 Not a case of right & wrong but what works & doesn’t
33:22 The importance of our imagination
41:10 God is speaking to us all the time
44:45 The bias against a possibility
48:30 Sharing conversations with God
53:10 Reflecting on the success of the first book
56:30 Discovering his life mission
1:03:10 What is a good life for Neale?
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On the 128th episode of the What is a Good Life? podcast, I’m delighted to welcome our guest, Shai Tubali, Ph.D. Shai is a philosopher, author, and teacher whose work bridges mysticism and academic philosophy. He explores how expanded states of consciousness can transform individual lives and influence our collective future.
Shai holds a doctorate in the philosophy of religion and his academic publications include The Transformative Philosophical Dialogue (Springer, 2023) and Cosmos and Camus: Science Fiction Film and the Absurd. As the author of numerous books on inner transformation, his writings have reached readers in 14 languages. He has also developed several original, meditation-based methods for psychological transformation, including the medically researched Expansion Method.
In this conversation, we explore profound questions about the nature of existence, the power of inquiry, and the tension between knowing and not knowing. Shai reflects on his journey of self-discovery, the absurdity of life, and the importance of embracing both reflective self-consciousness and the interconnectedness of all beings.
This episode emphasises the significance of living an examined life, where questions lead to deeper insights and a more profound understanding of what it means to be human.
For more of Shai's work, check out the following:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaitubali/
Website: https://shaitubali.com/
Books: https://shaitubali.com/books/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ShaiTubali/featuredContact me at [email protected] if you'd like to explore your own lines of self-inquiry through 1-on-1 coaching, take part in my 5-week What is a Good Life? group courses, discuss experiences I create to stimulate greater trust, communication, and connection, amongst your leadership teams, or you simply want to get in touch.
- 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 The energy and tension of the question
03:00 What is it to be human?
05:15 The aliveness of not knowing
09:20 Being a distant observer of life
16:30 Embracing life fully from nowhere
21:30 Exploring absurdity, meaning & transcendence
32:55 The beginning of a spiritual path
38:20 Longing for reality
43:55 The interplay of absurdity and transcendence
50:53 The existential suffering of personalised existence
55:45 The grand feeling of universality through science
59:00 Summary of the conversation
1:02:00 What is a good life for Shai?
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Puuttuva jakso?
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On the 127th episode of the What is a Good Life? podcast, I’m delighted to welcome our guest, Andrew B Brown. Former Commander, Chief Inspector (retd.) Andrew is an internationally renowned negotiator with specialist knowledge and experience in dealing with kidnap for ransom and hostage/crisis incidents, particularly in humanitarian environments; in designing conflict de-escalation skills for field operations and acting as an expert witness to judicial inquiries on the response to hostage taking.
A Fellow of the Chartered Management and Security Institutes, he has developed advanced negotiation and crisis leadership skills for major corporations, public bodies, and Olympic sports coaches. His doctoral studies and experience in Afghan & African kidnappings have led him to research, critique and advise INGOs on how to prepare, prevent and respond to the threat of international kidnap. As a Fulbright Alumnus, he continues to teach advanced negotiation tactics to many law enforcement agencies including NYPD, USMS and the FBI. Published in his field, he remains an Advisor to the Editorial Board of the Crisis Response Journal.
In this episode, we explore Andrew’s journey toward finding purpose through helping others. He shares pivotal moments that shaped his path, from working with NGOs in crisis zones like Afghanistan to exploring the power of authentic human connection. Andrew reflects on the importance of listening, vulnerability, and sharing our common humanity. He also discusses how spirituality supports his work and the vital role of grounding stress in high-pressure environments.
This conversation is a wonderful invitation to find balance and perspective throughout the various chapters of our lives and the full range of life.
For more of Andrew's work, check out the following:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-b-brown-00148024/
Website: https://www.the-right-path.com/Contact me at [email protected] if you'd like to explore your own lines of self-inquiry through 1-on-1 coaching, take part in my 5-week What is a Good Life? group courses, discuss experiences I create to stimulate greater trust, communication, and connection, amongst your leadership teams, or you simply want to get in touch.
- 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 Finding Purpose in Helping Others
04:45 Prioritising listening and humanity
09:11 Navigating Health Issues
12:05 Transitioning from Policing to Humanitarian Work
14:50 Negotiation and Crisis Management
18:00 A Defining Moment in life and purpose
22:15 The power of heartache or pain in connecting
27:45 Finding balance with work and family
31:50 Moving between negotiations and ordinary life
33:43 The level of responsibility for others
36:30 The range of this life & prioritising humanity
40:50 Grounding processes for stress
45:15 A pivotal moment for realising his calling
50:00 Continuing to help and guide others
53:10 The importance of vulnerability
59:53 The power of listening and presence
1:07:14 What is a good life for Andy?
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On the 126th episode of the What is a Good Life? podcast, I’m delighted to welcome our guest, Geneen Marie Haugen, PhD. Geneen grew up a little wild, with a run amok imagination, and has lived at the wild edge for most of her life. Once upon a time, she was a whitewater river guide and a tipi dweller who loved knowing that only thin canvas separated her from the the world. In her wild wanderings, she’s been amazed to have had dozens or maybe hundreds of close encounters with creatures such as moose, elk, grizzlies, wolves, black bears, cougars, bison, and more. For her, the sulpher-scented hot springs of Yellowstone smell like home. A content creator and guide to the intertwined mysteries of nature and psyche with the Animas Valley Institute, she has been on the faculty of the Esalen Institute and Schumacher College. Her writing has appeared in Spiritual Ecology: The Cry of the Earth; Thomas Berry: Dreamer of the Earth; Parabola; Kosmos Journal; Ecopsychology; The Artist’s Field Guide to Yellowstone, and many others. She believes in the world-shifting potential of the human imagination allied with the planetary psyche.
In this glorious conversation, we explore the nature of reality and the role of imagination in shaping it. We discuss the current suppression of imagination, the vast possibilities that remain, and how imagination has profoundly influenced Geneen’s life. She shares captivating stories of connection with the world around us and moments of shimmering aliveness.
This conversation is a powerful invitation back to our imaginations—to a world rich with possibility, connection, and aliveness.
To find more of Geneen Marie Haugen's work:
Wild Pilgrimage Essay: https://starborne.substack.com/p/wild-pilgrimageAnimas Valley Institute Guide: https://www.animas.org/guides/22/geneen-marie-haugen-ph-d/
Kosmos Journal: https://www.kosmosjournal.org/kj_article/reemergence-of-animate-world-experiences/
Perceptual Portal: https://greatturning.net/perceptual-portal-by-geneen-marie-haugen/
Wild Imagination: https://www.dailygood.org/story/2359/wild-imagination-geneen-marie-haugen/
Participatory Consciousness: https://participatorystudies.wordpress.com/2011/04/16/thomas-berry-and-the-evocation-of-participatory-consciousness/Contact me at [email protected] if you'd like to explore your own lines of self-inquiry through 1-on-1 coaching, take part in my 5-week What is a Good Life? group courses, discuss ways to stimulate greater trust, communication, and connection, amongst your leadership teams, or you simply want to get in touch.
- 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 What is the nature of reality?
05:45 Our childhood connection to imagination
09:50 A sense of shimmering aliveness
15:00 Awareness of intelligent presence in others
19:45 Why are we here?
25:45 The disturbance and suppressing of our imagination
30:00 Disconnection with our imagination
35:45 Imagination shaping a life
39:55 Imagination as a way of knowing the world
44:00 A magical experience of nature speaking
50:00 Being in states where our imaginations are activated
56:55 The source of our ideas and possibility
1:01:45 Summary and what is a good life for Geneen?
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On the 125th episode of the What is a Good Life? podcast, I’m delighted to welcome our guest, Nikki Trott. Nikki is a renowned author, speaker, strategist, CEO adviser and podcaster dedicated to empowering business to thrive in harmony with humanity and the Earth. Her book, Sacred Business, is a manifesto for the transformation of ourselves woven with strategic action to create a new era of life-affirming business. As the host of the acclaimed Going Conscious podcast, she explores journeys of visionary entrepreneurs creating prosperity from purpose. Nikki has advised over 100 iconic brands and startup founders and is redesigning capital for regeneration as founding partner of Barefoot Ventures.
In this conversation, Nikki explores her journey toward authenticity and purpose, discussing the profound impact of writing her book, and the interplay between personal and spiritual growth, and business transformation. She emphasises the importance of intuition, feminine energy, and the balance between surrender and action in both life and work.
The conversation touches on the need for a shift from traditional, fear-driven practices to a more holistic, sacred approach to work, drawing on the lessons of Sacred Business.
To find more of Nikki's work:
Website: nikkitrott.com.Connect on Instagram @nikkitrott and LinkedIn /nikkitrott.
Get your copy of Sacred Business from all good bookshops and as a audiobook.
Contact me at [email protected] if you'd like to explore your own lines of self-inquiry through 1-on-1 coaching, take part in my 5-week What is a Good Life? group courses, discuss experiences I create to stimulate greater trust, communication, and connection, amongst your leadership teams, or you simply want to get in touch.
- 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 Coming into authenticity & purpose
03:15 The serendipity when on our path
06:15 Following the energy and authenticity
10:30 The experience of serendipity
13:30 Moving into the feminine energy
18:30 The profound impact of childbirth
23:00 Proactive surrender
28:00 Sacred business
33:30 Moving from fear to love in business
37:30 Treating people well and profits align
40:45 Managing our energy and its cyclical nature
43:35 Letting go of control
46:40 Shifting from short term focus to evergreen
53:00 What is a good life for Nikki?
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On the 124th episode of the What is a Good Life? podcast, I’m delighted to welcome our guest, Glenn Behenna. Glenn is a recently retired Senior Lecturer at Carmarthen Business School and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David. He held a varied range of roles throughout his career, including steelworker, police officer, consultant, and facilitator, alongside more than 20 years of experience lecturing and managing university programmes. He was also an invited speaker at the House of Lords on topics related to education. Glenn’s path has been driven by a deep interest in people and how we communicate.
In this conversation, Glenn shares his insights on the power of making a meaningful difference in the lives of others. We delve into the value of listening, paying attention, and fostering relationships within learning environments. Our discussion highlights how curiosity can drive personal growth and deepen our understanding of both ourselves and others.
We also reflect on the need to create space for our feelings and intuition, as well as the necessity of preserving our humanity in an increasingly automated world.
Contact me at [email protected] if you'd like to explore your own lines of self-inquiry through 1-on-1 coaching, take part in my 5-week What is a Good Life? group courses, discuss experiences I create to stimulate greater trust, communication, and connection, amongst your leadership teams, or you simply want to get in touch.
- 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 Making a difference to people’s lives
05:00 Helping people build confidence
09:10 Encouraging people to know they are enough
12:30 Being vulnerable and available to people
15:30 The power of listening to open up others
18:40 Attention and relationship in learning
23:00 The unpredictable unfolding path of life
26:30 Curiosity & becoming at ease with ourselves
35:15 Leaving space for intuition & feeling
40:22 Reflections on AI in education
43:00 We are dehumanising ourselves
49:13 Students wary of AI marking their work
53:53 Conversation summary
56:26 What is a good life for Glenn?
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On the 123rd episode of the What is a Good Life? podcast, I’m delighted to welcome our guest, Jessica Böhme. Jessica is a professor and academic director of technology management at FHM Berlin, and she is the founder of the Institute for Practical ekoPhilosophy (IPeP). She writes a weekly newsletter "wild:philosophy," where she explores how to live life in a collapsing world. Her expertise lies in utilising philosophy as a meta-technology for individual, social, and ecological transformations.
In this episode, we delve into the profound question of how to live this life—particularly in the context of sustainability and personal responsibility. We discuss the concept of 'messy disturbance' in navigating life's complexities, the paralysis that can come from heightened awareness, and reflect on the experiments Jessica undertook to align her actions with her values—including her remarkable "one dress" experiment, in which she wore the same dress every day for over a year.
This conversation celebrates curiosity, the wisdom gained through lived experience, paying attention to life’s feedback and how philosophy can be practiced in everyday life, offering a grounding force amidst uncertainty.
Ultimately, this episode points to a richness of life that can be experienced when we allow ourselves to be seen.
For more of Jessica's work, check out the following:
Website: https://www.jessicaboehme.com/
IPeP: https://www.institute-pep.com/
Newsletter: https://jessicaboehme.substack.com/
Books: https://www.jessicaboehme.com/books/Contact me at [email protected] if you'd like to explore your own lines of self-inquiry through 1-on-1 coaching, take part in my 5-week What is a Good Life? group courses, discuss experiences I create to stimulate greater trust, communication, and connection, amongst your leadership teams, or you simply want to get in touch.
- 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 I live this life? What principles?
04:10 Living in the messy disturbance of life
07:10 We are more resilient than we think
11:00 Engaging with the difficulty of our choices
13:30 The importance of living our theories
18:05 Wearing the same dress for a year
23:00 People don’t notice as much as you think
26:30 The connection with items through familiarity
30:00 The relationship between scarcity and care
32:05 The friction between long term and a world in flux
37:05 Standing by and living in our choices
42:35 Integrating more than rejecting ways of life
46:17 Seeing Philosophy as a daily practice
49:00 Life’s feedback and responding to it
51:30 Summary and what is a good life for Jessica?
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On the 122nd episode of the What is a Good Life? podcast, I’m delighted to welcome our guest, Felicity Reed. Felicity is a Psychotherapist and expert in leadership, who, alongside a private practice and consultancy, has worked as a clinical lead across the NHS, local authorities and the voluntary sector, working at the sharpest edges of trauma and health inequalities, supporting people facing life’s toughest circumstances to turn their pain into power.
She first came into therapy because of her own difficulties and ADHD, and uses this lived experience of messiness to bring humour, joy and humanity to the trickiest places of the human soul. She is the founder of Mic Drops: tiny pops of tools, techniques and training that highlight health inequalities, and demonstrate tiny but powerful actions each of us can take to improve social justice. She also shares tiny and powerful daily tips on Instagram to de-mystify therapy and make mental wellbeing easier.
In this wonderful conversation, we explore the themes of connection, soul, vulnerability, and embracing and sharing our messiness. We explore what type of relating is possible on the other side of this openness.
Ultimately, this episode points to a richness of life that can be experienced when we allow ourselves to be seen.
For more of Felicity's work, check out the following:
Felicity's website: https://www.felicityreed.co.uk/Felicity's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/felicitypsychotherapy/
Contact me at [email protected] if you'd like to explore your own lines of self-inquiry through 1-on-1 coaching, take part in my 5-week What is a Good Life? group courses, discuss experiences I create to stimulate greater trust, communication, and connection, amongst your leadership teams, or you simply want to get in touch.
- 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 I be true to myself?
03:30 How we can lose ourselves
07:00 The shame we feel when not ourselves
10:00 When our stories and reality don’t align
15:00 The response to withholding our truth
21:00 Soothing ourselves
24:30 When two humans meet in presence
29:30 We simply need each other
34:15 The gift of our sharing our humanity
38:20 Moving from opinions to soulful connection
43:25 Words that we feel
47:00 Love and creating space for our being
52:00 Summary and what is a good life for Felicity?
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On the 121st episode of the What is a Good Life? podcast, I’m delighted to welcome our guest, Dave Gribben. Dave is a performance coach who works with strategic decision-makers, ambitious leaders, and teams, helping them engage the best of their humanity to realise more of their potential and achieve goals that matter.
Based in Dublin, he enjoys life as an empty nester with his wife, staying close to their three children and four grandchildren. Dave partners with organisations of all sizes across Europe, helping them build cultures they’re proud of and leadership teams that inspire. He also contributes to MBA programmes on High Performing Teams at UCD, DIT, and as Associate Faculty at the Irish Management Institute. Dave has held leadership roles in nonprofits tackling homelessness and poverty, serving as Director and Chairman of Stepping Stone and as a founder of Seachange.
In this conversation, we discuss profound questions about life, self-discovery, and the delicate balancing of the ego and the soul. We also talk about self-acceptance and the ongoing journey of personal growth. This conversation highlights the significance of family, the joy of connection, and the idea that a good life is one where we enable others regain their dignity.For more of Dave's work, check out the following:
Dave's website: https://enableconsulting.ie/Dave's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davegribben/
Contact me at [email protected] if you'd like to explore your own lines of self-inquiry through 1-on-1 coaching, take part in my 5-week What is a Good Life? group courses, discuss experiences I create to stimulate greater trust, communication, and connection, amongst your leadership teams, or you simply want to get in touch.
- 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 What have I left behind of myself?
06:30 Approaching our inquiry more playfully
11:30 Getting bored of busyness
16:20 Space for awareness without our phones
19:00 Trying to balance the needs of our ego and soul
24:20 Being attentive to life and our nature
30:20 A journey to self-acceptance
36:55 What brings a feeling of abundance
43:10 The security of love and family
48:35 The importance of each other
57:34 What is a good life for Dave?
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On the 120th episode of the What is a Good Life? podcast, I’m delighted to welcome Mike James Ross. Mike has been a CHRO, author, consultant, investor, lawyer, manager of a peace negotiations project, and a whole host of other things. He is currently advising individuals, teams, and organisations with a focus on meaningful work. The book he co-authored, Intention, is a practical guide to unsticking yourself and infusing purpose, engagement, and fulfilment into your life.
In this insightful conversation, Mike shares his explorations and research into finding meaning in work, the importance of connection with others, and the societal implications of disengagement in the workforce. He also emphasises the role of love and intention in living a fulfilling life.
This conversation is a wonderful invitation to contemplate the idea of a good life and what is meaningful from the perspective of the collective, beyond simply our own individual perspectives.
For more of Mike's work, check out the following:
Mike’s website and book: https://www.mikejamesross.com/Mike’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikejamesross/
Contact me at [email protected] if you'd like to explore your own lines of self-inquiry through 1-on-1 coaching, take part in my 5-week Silent Conversation group courses, discuss experiences I create to stimulate greater trust, communication, and connection, amongst your leadership teams, or you simply want to get in touch.
- 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
- The Silent Conversations: https://www.whatisagood.life/p/the-silent-conversations00:00 Individual or collectively discerning a good life
05:30 Camaraderie at work
10:50 Is gratitude seated in guilt?
16:14 An abundance within attention
23:00 Meaning at work
28:40 The cost of not doing meaningful work
32:22 Why does the status quo persist?
37:20 The significance of the other in meaning
44:20 Personally finding meaning at work
48:10 Finding meaning and busyness
55:30 Reasons for optimism
1:01:00 Summary and what is a good life for Mike?
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On the 119th episode of the What is a Good Life? podcast, I’m delighted to welcome Tom Asacker. Often described as a creative force, albeit a wayward one, Asacker has been an artist, CEO, corporate advisor, award-winning inventor, and professional magician. He’s a student of the human psyche and the author of several best-selling books on belief, human behaviour, and personal transformation. Since childhood, he’s been collecting and deciphering observations about all of the strange ways that people think about and behave in the world. For the past 25 years, he’s been endlessly improvising, searching for ways to communicate an art of living that confronts conditioning and embraces freedom. His latest attempt is his new book, Unwinding Want: Using Your Mind to Escape Your Thoughts.
In this illuminating conversation, Tom shares the incoherence of his childhood experiences and how they led him to question the nature of beliefs and the human condition. We discuss the role of the thinking mind, the illusion of control, and the significance of feelings over societal conditioning in guiding actions, as well as the prioritisation of relationship over goals.Ultimately, this conversation is an invitation for our inner spirits to emerge and to live the lives we truly want.
For more of Tom's work, check out the following:
Tom's book and website: https://www.unwindingwant.com/
Tom's Newsletter: https://unwindingwant.substack.com/
Contact me at [email protected] if you'd like to explore your own lines of self-inquiry through 1-on-1 coaching, take part in my 5-week Silent Conversation group courses, discuss experiences I create to stimulate greater trust, communication, and connection, amongst your leadership teams, or you simply want to get in touch.- 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
- The Silent Conversations: https://www.whatisagood.life/p/the-silent-conversations
00:00 Why do people believe what they believe?03:41 Seeking stability or something to lean on
06:15 The calming of the thinking mind
09:35 Feeling what we want and responding to that
13:50 Revealing of the illusion
17:55 Dancing with life
24:30 Feeling alive and focus of attention
28:38 Allowing an expression of our feelings
34:20 We do things for a feeling that doesn’t come
37:50 The prioritising of relationship
47:50 Wants from feelings versus conditioning
52:20 The role of suffering and confusion in revealing
58:39 Playing with our minds rather than controlling
1:04:34 What is a good life for Tom?
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On the 118th episode of the What is a Good Life? podcast, I’m delighted to welcome Sue Heatherington. Sue is a contemplative writer, poet, and co-founder of Waterside Voices, which is based on the site of a former Victorian reservoir in South West Wales and works with people globally. Her non-linear journey has included rural development research, a decade as a pioneering NHS Chief Executive, board and leadership coaching, and consulting. Now, her role also includes being an alpaca shepherd and carer. Sue’s book Quiet Disruptors: Creating Change Without Shouting was published in 2021, and her podcast, Be More Poet, launched in 2024. Her practice of Pause. See differently. Re-story… is expressed in her short posts published daily since 2018.
In this deeply engaging conversation, we explore our roles in the ongoing creation of life — how we shape one another, and the importance of moving beyond labels to truly connect with our shared humanity. We also reflect on the influence of time and space in shaping these experiences.
This episode offers a delightful invitation to slow down, to notice, and to reconnect with the felt sense of simply being.
For more of Sue's work, check out the following:
Writing and podcast: SueHeatherington.com
Book and manifesto: QuietDisruptors.com
Work: WatersideVoices.com
Contact me at [email protected] if you'd like to explore your own lines of self-inquiry through 1-on-1 coaching, take part in my 5-week Silent Conversation group courses, discuss experiences I create to stimulate greater trust, communication, and connection, amongst your leadership teams, or you simply want to get in touch.- 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 this question for yourself: https://www.whatisagood.life/p/your-personal-interview
- The Silent Conversations: https://www.whatisagood.life/p/the-silent-conversations
00:00 What is my role in the ongoing creation?07:20 We are not complete on our own
10:20 We are always shaping each other
16:00 We need to be more human
20:00 Moving beyond labels and change
24:26 Sensitivity and the need for time and space
30:45 Realising what matters
35:50 Slowing down and being immersed in nature
44:30 An informal practice of paying attention
48:10 The significance of poetry
57:30 What is a good life for Sue?
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On the 117th episode of the What is a Good Life? podcast, I’m delighted to welcome Jamie Bristow. Jamie is a writer and policy advisor known for his leadership within the emerging field of inner-led systems transformation. He has deepened the dialectic between ancient wisdom, modern science, politics and public policy through a string of influential reports and collaborations with intergovernmental organisations, government agencies and politicians around the world. He currently leads on public narrative and policy development for the Inner Development Goals, and from 2015 to 2023 played an instrumental role in the UK's All-Party Parliamentary Group on Mindfulness, acting as its clerk and serving as Director of the associated policy institute, The Mindfulness Initiative. Jamie is a Senior Fellow at Life Itself, Research Associate at the Climate Majority Project, Honorary Associate at Bangor University and a Fellow of Mind & Life. He has also taught on programmes connecting inner and outer transformation at the Universities of California and Oxford.
In this enlightening conversation, we explore the question of what we are truly practising—merging mindful practices with our livelihood, the significance of our informal practice, and moving towards greater wholesomeness in our lives.
It serves as a wonderful invitation to fully integrate our mindful inquiries with the way we live.
For more of Jamie's work, check out the following:
Website: jamiebristow.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-bristow-25020b9/Life Guild: https://lifeguild.earth/
Contact me at [email protected] if you'd like to explore your own lines of self-inquiry through 1-on-1 coaching, take part in my 5-week Silent Conversation group courses, discuss experiences I create to stimulate greater trust, communication, and connection, amongst your leadership teams, or you simply want to get in touch.- 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 this question for yourself: https://www.whatisagood.life/p/your-personal-interview
- The Silent Conversations: https://www.whatisagood.life/p/the-silent-conversations00:00 What are we practicing?
04:55 Realising we want to show up differently
07:48 A cause for hope - it just feels good
13:00 The merging of livelihood and inquiry
19:20 The significance of formal and informal practice
23:20 Showing up to life of intention
28:00 Mindfulness in public policy
31:00 Synchronicity and letting go
34:35 The balance between agency and unfolding
47:30 Bringing compassion to our reflections
50:30 Bringing more wholesomeness to the collective
59:00 What is a good life for Jamie?
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On the 116th episode of the What is a Good Life? podcast, I’m delighted to welcome Sue McDonnell—an executive coach, psychotherapist, and lifelong student of leadership, transformation, and human systems. With decades of experience guiding senior leaders and teams, Sue helps people break free from old patterns and embrace new possibilities.
Her approach is deeply systemic, recognising leadership as an interconnected dance rather than an isolated act. She has worked with executive teams at renowned companies, across several industries, facilitating interventions that honour both the seen and unseen forces shaping leadership.
Drawing on a wealth of experience—over 8,000 coaching hours—and influences from a range of great teachers, Sue blends relational intelligence, emotional agility, and adaptive leadership. For her, true leadership isn’t about control—it’s about presence.
Rooted in curiosity about the human experience, the wisdom of her Irish heritage, and a deep commitment to growth, Sue brings a unique perspective to leadership and change.
In this wonderfully soulful conversation, we explore what it means to navigate uncertainty, stay open-hearted in difficult times, and a connection with something bigger than ourselves. We also explore eternal ties with ancestors, touching on the unseen threads that weave through our lives.
This episode is an invitation to embrace the unknown with curiosity, wisdom, grace, and a deeper sense of connection.For more of Sue's work, check out the following:
Website: https://www.suemcdonnell.com.au/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sue-mcdonnell-91b5983/
Contact me at [email protected] if you'd like to explore your own lines of self-inquiry through 1-on-1 coaching, take part in my 5-week Silent Conversation group courses, discuss experiences I create to stimulate greater trust, communication, and connection, amongst your leadership teams, or you simply want to get in touch.- 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 this question for yourself: https://www.whatisagood.life/p/your-personal-interview
- The Silent Conversations: https://www.whatisagood.life/p/the-silent-conversations
00:00 Our relationship with uncertainty04:00 Reconnecting with the land of your birth
09:35 Overwhelming connections with the divine feminine
13:10 Curiosity around our lineage and ancestors
17:52 Feeling held and protected by ancestors
24:00 Feeling the presence of the dead
26:40 Allowing our hearts to open
30:00 The conversation and connection is eternal
34:00 An awareness of the range of this life
38:45 The role of expectations in suffering
45:31 We are always disappearing and growing
48:40 Connecting with the divine
54.40 What is a good life for Sue?
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On the 115th episode of the What is a Good Life? podcast, I am delighted to introduce our guest, Ariane de Bonvoisin. Ariane is a global soul, having lived in a dozen countries on 4 continents. She is a mother to her son Everest, a wife to her beloved, Alfie, and a dog-mom to her golden retriever Waffle. She has worked in venture capital, the music industry, launched her own start up, was a management consultant a very long time ago and now loves coaching CEO’s, founders, athletes and being a confidante for their professional and personal journeys. She is also a published author of many books, including her bestseller, The First 30 Days: Your Guide to Making Any Change Easier, which has been translated in a dozen languages.
She has been a keynote at many conferences including Oprah's, been invited to speak at places like Amazon, Google and the World Bank and also co-created a best-selling game called KidQuest with her son. She has been a world class swimmer and a ski instructor. She was also part of an award-winning documentary called The Highest Pass—a motorcycle journey through the highest roads in the Himalayas.
In this captivating conversation, we explore how to fully integrate our spiritual lives, paying attention to our intuition, and ultimately embracing self-acceptance and the present moment.
For more of Ariane's work, check out the following:
Website: https://www.arianedebonvoisin.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arianed1/
Contact me at [email protected] if you'd like to explore your own lines of self-inquiry through 1-on-1 coaching, take part in my 5-week Silent Conversation group courses, discuss experiences I create to stimulate greater trust, communication, and connection, amongst your leadership teams, or you simply want to get in touch.- 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 this question for yourself: https://www.whatisagood.life/p/your-personal-interview
- The Silent Conversations: https://www.whatisagood.life/p/the-silent-conversations00:00 How to live a spiritual life while fully being in this world?
08:00 Being allergic to her life choices
15:50 My intuition speaks loudest in the morning
20:22 Jumping into the void and faith
25:00 Exploring change and transition
28:10 Asking for guidance
32:00 Conversations with the divine
35:30 Accepting what is and retreat in the everyday
40:10 Loving and accepting our minds
43:19 The journey to self-love
49:30 Acceptance of life and ourselves
52:30 The universe is the third parent
55:00 Recap and what is a good life for Ariane?
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On the 114th episode of the What is a Good Life? podcast, I am delighted to introduce our guest, Andrew Alexander. Andrew is a husband, father, and grandfather, as well as a teacher, educator, and writer. Writing about intergenerational relationships in learning and the significance of education in a time of uncertainty.
For nearly forty years he worked with students in independent, informal, progressive/alternative schools, including Brockwood Park School - founded by the educator and philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti.
In this insightful conversation, we delve into the nuanced nature of freedom, exploring its relationship with responsibility and the importance of mutual respect. We discuss how societal narratives often distort the understanding of freedom, leading to an illusion of individualism that neglects the interconnectedness of human relationships.
This conversation is an invitation to reconsider what we think about freedom, a theme deeply connected to our sense of a good life.
For more of Andrew's work, check out the following:
Newsletter: https://andrewalexander.substack.com/
Contact me at [email protected] if you'd like to explore your own lines of self-inquiry through 1-on-1 coaching, take part in my 5-week Silent Conversation group courses, discuss experiences I create to stimulate greater trust, communication, and connection, amongst your leadership teams, or you simply want to get in touch.- 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 this question for yourself: https://www.whatisagood.life/p/your-personal-interview
- The Silent Conversations: https://www.whatisagood.life/p/the-silent-conversations00:00 Introduction
01:30 How have we not learned?
06:20 Questioning our ideas of freedom
12:10 Limitations with individualised ideas of freedom
18:20 Freedom and responsibility
23:20 A deeper sense of freedom
30:45 Why is freedom important?
36:31 Freedom and our interconnectivity
44:00 The trap of creating an image of ourselves
48:30 The relationship between freedom and fear
56:30 Attention, time, and freedom
1:04:48 Recap and what is a good life for Andrew?
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On the 113th episode of the What is a Good Life? podcast, I am delighted to introduce our guest, Minna Salami. Minna is an author and social critic, and currently senior fellow and research chair at The New Institute. She is the author of Sensuous Knowledge and Can Feminism Be African?, and her work appears in the Guardian, Project Syndicate, Al Jazeera, and other outlets.
In this incredibly captivating conversation, Minna shares her sense of living an extraordinary life, emphasising the importance of attentiveness and curiosity. We explore childhood and mystical experiences and their impact on her understanding of life.
This conversation is an invitation to notice, to really pay attention to life, and to live your own full expression of life.
For more of Minna's work, check out the following:
Newsletter: https://msafropolitan.com/
The New Institute: https://thenew.institute/en/people/minna-salami
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/minnasalami_/?hl=en
Contact me at [email protected] if you'd like to explore your own lines of self-inquiry through 1-on-1 coaching, take part in my 5-week Silent Conversation group courses, discuss experiences I create to stimulate greater trust, communication, and connection, amongst your leadership teams, or you simply want to get in touch.- 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 this question for yourself: https://www.whatisagood.life/p/your-personal-interview
- The Silent Conversations: https://www.whatisagood.life/p/the-silent-conversations
00:00 Introduction01:25 Living An Extraordinary Life
04:21 Attentiveness and Curiosity
07:32 Childhood Reflections and Early Experiences
10:22 The Nature of Mystical Experiences
13:21 Appreciating Life's Continuity
19:15 Reflections on near-death experiences
26:00 A Groundedness of Being
29:10 The Range of Human Experience
32:10 The Intersection of Spiritual and Political Journeys
37:43 Navigating Obstacles: The Tension of Growth
41:10 Embracing Paradox: Grace and Anger
48:55 Spirituality and Feminism: A Symbiotic Relationship
58:10 What is a Good Life for Minna?
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On the 112th episode of the What is a Good Life? podcast, I am delighted to introduce our guest, Anne-Laure Le Cunff, PhD. Anne-Laure is an award-winning neuroscientist and entrepreneur. She is the founder of Ness Labs, where her weekly newsletter is read by more than 100,000 curious minds. Her research at King’s College London focuses on the psychology and neuroscience of lifelong learning, curiosity, and adaptability. Her book, Tiny Experiments, is a transformative guide for living a more experimental life, turning uncertainty into curiosity, and carving a path of self-discovery. Her work has been featured in Rolling Stone, Forbes, Financial Times, WIRED, and more.
In this wonderful conversation, we explore the themes of curiosity, connection, and the journey from a linear to an experimental approach to life. Anne-Laure shares her personal experiences of feeling lost yet free and of embracing uncertainty and designing playful experiments in various aspects of life.
This conversation is an invitation to experiment more with our lives.
For more of Anne-Laure's work, check out the following:
Tiny Experiments: https://nesslabs.com/book
Anne-Laure’s Newsletter: https://nesslabs.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neuranne/
Contact me at [email protected] if you'd like to explore your own lines of self-inquiry through 1-on-1 coaching, take part in my 5-week Silent Conversation group courses, discuss experiences I create to stimulate greater trust, communication, and connection, amongst your leadership teams, or you simply want to get in touch.- 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/
- The Silent Conversations: https://www.whatisagood.life/p/the-silent-conversations00:00 Introduction
01:17 Embracing Curiosity and Connection
03:11 The Journey from Linear to Experimental Living
06:06 Finding Joy in Uncertainty
10:20 Designing Playgrounds for Experimentation
12:30 The Structure of Freedom in Experimentation
15:09 Redefining Success: Cycles of Learning
18:31 The Intimacy of Curiosity and Growth
21:08 Quality of Life Through Adventure and Experimentation
29:19 The Importance of Play and Time
30:28 Understanding Time: Chronos vs. Kairos
36:56 Curiosity and Age: The Impact of Time Perception
40:17 The Industrial Society's Effect on Curiosity
42:53 Finding Joy in the Process
46:18 The Emotional Journey of Completing a Book
48:27 Reconnecting with Curiosity
51:34 The Surprising Connection Between Curiosity and Emotions
52:52 What is a good life for Anne-Laure?
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On the 111th episode of the What is a Good Life? podcast, I am delighted to introduce our guest, Dr. Senem Donatan Mohan. Senem is a storyteller, story practitioner, and author based in Dublin, who is originally from Turkey. She holds a PhD degree in natural sciences and blends creative arts with science. Through her concepts Stories Cure and Aliveness Within she focuses on cultural and individual vitality. Over the past two decades, Senem has touched the lives of thousands of children and adults through her performances and books.
In this wonderful conversation, we explore the undercurrents and rhythms of life, balancing masculine and feminine energies, the visible and invisible, the guiding capacities of our inner child, moments of being lost in time, and the transformative powers of storytelling.
The whole conversation embodies this rhythm and noticing.For further content and information check out the following:
- Senem's website: senemdonatanmohan.com
- Senem's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/senem-donatan-mohan/Contact me at [email protected] if you'd like to explore your own lines of self-inquiry through 1-on-1 coaching, take part in my 5-week Silent Conversation group courses, discuss experiences I create to stimulate greater trust, communication, and connection, amongst your leadership teams, or you simply want to get in touch.
- 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/
- The Silent Conversations: https://www.whatisagood.life/p/the-silent-conversations00:00 Introduction
01:11 Exploring the Undercurrents of Life
04:02 The Story Behind Valentine's Day07:24 Sensing Rituals and Traditions
10:10 The Magic of Daily Life
13:09 Creativity and Personal Journey
16:09 Finding Vitality in Everyday Moments
27:10 Embracing Timelessness and Creativity
29:23 The Dance of Science and Art
32:49 Navigating the Duality of Speed and Depth
37:31 Connecting with the Inner Child
39:48 The Transformative Power of Storytelling
46:01 Communicating with Ancestral Spirits
53:29 What is a Good Life for Senem?
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On the 110th episode of the What is a Good Life? podcast, I am delighted to introduce our guest, Paul Davis. Paul is an award-winning business growth consultant and speaker, a three-time best-selling author, an intuitive business mentor, and a recognised thought leader. He combines his innate intuitive gifts and years of business growth experience to help guide clients to greater results.
In this conversation, Paul shares his lifelong quest to understand what keeps him wanting to live life and how he has navigated through various philosophies and methodologies to find his purpose. We explore his realisation of his intuitive abilities, the significance of our intentions, discovering our soul contracts, and the importance of being your genius you.
Paul has a fascinating story and this whole episode is a wonderful invitation to rekindle the power of our intuition.
For further content and information check out the following:
- Paul's website: https://davisbusinessconsultants.com/
- Paul's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pauldavisdublin/Contact me at [email protected] if you'd like to explore your own lines of self-inquiry through 1-on-1 coaching, take part in my 5-week Silent Conversation group courses, discuss experiences I create to stimulate greater trust, communication, and connection, amongst your leadership teams, or you simply want to get in touch.
- 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/
- The Silent Conversations: https://www.whatisagood.life/p/the-silent-conversations00:00 Introduction
01:37 Exploring the Question of Life's Purpose10:41 The Journey of Self-Discovery and Intuition
19:47 Understanding Intuition and Its Impact
31:39 Connecting with the Super Conscious
32:08 The Concept of Super-Consciousness
33:04 Personal Journey to God
37:07 Experiencing Unconditional Love
39:03 Partnership with the Divine
42:13 Understanding Time and Destiny
45:48 Exploring Soul Contracts
52:59 Transitioning from Accountant to Intuitive Consultant
57:20 What is a Good Life for Paul?
- Näytä enemmän
