Episodes
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After watching the Channel 4 documentary Swiped: The School That Banned Smartphones and noticing the profound impact of using a dumbphone, I’m revisiting one of my most powerful conversations—my interview with Johann Hari, author of Stolen Focus: Why You Can’t Pay Attention.
Johann reveals the deeper reasons so many of us struggle with focus and attention, explaining why this isn’t a personal failing but the result of broader societal forces. From our relationship with digital devices to surveillance capitalism and the loss of childhood freedom, Johann’s insights are eye-opening and essential for anyone seeking to reclaim their focus.
I’ve also created a FREE online course to help you beat burnout and find flow, drawing on research and techniques that have profoundly impacted my own life. Available for a limited time - link below.
🔗 Free course on beating burnout and finding flow: https://www.simonmundie.com/beat-burnout-mini-course
📖 Featured guest: Johann Hari, author of Stolen Focus.
⚠️ This episode contains swearing and adult themes.
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The cost of constant distractions and how to get your focus back. In this episode, we explore the huge cognitive cost of constantly checking your phone and how it impacts your ability to focus and perform at your best. My guest is Johann Hari, author of Stolen Focus, who sheds light on the “switch cost effect” – the mental toll of constantly switching between tasks. Johann explains how multitasking lowers your IQ in the short term, even more so than smoking weed, and offers simple steps to rediscover the joy of focus.
One of these steps is pre-commitment, a strategy that involves binding your future self to stay on task. We also discuss how focus is the gateway to achieving flow, the state in which we feel and perform at our peak. In a world that’s increasingly demanding our attention, it’s more important than ever to find ways to reset, refocus, and get back into flow.
To help with this, I’ve created a free mini-course to help you beat burnout and improve your focus. In just a few minutes a day, I share proven techniques to help you reset and find that much-needed flow. This course is available for a limited time, and I would love for you to join me and let me know what you think.
JOIN HERE: https://www.simonmundie.com/free-burnout-mini-course
My book: https://www.simonmundie.com/book
Website: simonmundie.com
YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/YouTubeSimonMundie
Substack: https://simonmundie.substack.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simonmundie/
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Missing episodes?
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In this episode, we explore a thought-provoking question: Is self-improvement really the path to happiness, or is it a trap that keeps us chasing something we already have?
My guest is Joan Tollifson, an author, teacher, and lifelong explorer of the nature of being. Together, we discuss why the idea of “improving yourself” is inherently flawed, how meditation helps us access peace and creativity, and the value of simply taking some moment to 'be' in our lives.
We also touch on:
What actually is the “self” we’re trying to improve?
Recognising the aware presence that doesn't need improving
Meditation and its many different forms - and how we both 'do it'
The power of taking moments of stillness to just 'be'
The opportunity that being triggered presents us with
Finding peace and ease by dropping the stories we tell ourselves
My free mini-course on Beating Burnout and Finding Flow: https://www.simonmundie.com/beat-burnout-mini-course
Joan's website: https://www.joantollifson.com/
Joan's Substack: https://joantollifson.substack.com/
My book: https://www.simonmundie.com/book
Website: simonmundie.com
YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/YouTubeSimonMundie
Substack: https://simonmundie.substack.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simonmundie/
Joan's books include Bare-Bones Meditation: Waking Up from the Story of My Life (1996); Awake in the Heartland: The Ecstasy of What Is (2003); Painting the Sidewalk with Water: Talks and Dialogs about Nonduality (2010); Nothing to Grasp (2012); and Death: The End of Self-Improvement (2019).
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In this episode, we dive deep into the topic of imposter syndrome, a feeling many of us have faced at some point. While it’s often seen as something negative, what if imposter syndrome is just a normal part of the human experience?
I’m joined by Dr. Russ Harris, the author of The Happiness Trap and The Confidence Gap, as well as an expert in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Dr. Harris offers a refreshing perspective on imposter syndrome and shares research-backed strategies to help us navigate these feelings with more confidence and self-compassion.
My free mini-course on Beating Burnout and Finding Flow: https://www.simonmundie.com/beat-burnout-mini-course
My book: https://www.simonmundie.com/book
Website: simonmundie.com
YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/YouTubeSimonMundie
Substack: https://simonmundie.substack.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simonmundie/
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Rejection is something we all experience, and for many the experience can be brutal. But even when we go to a social event, part of the reason we tend to stick to the people we know is to avoid the pain of feeling rejected, however slightly. So this is a universal issue. In this episode, I sit down with author, therapist and non-dual teacher Nic Higham to unpack one of the most challenging human experiences. Whether it’s the sting of a passing comment or the deeper wounds that stick with us, rejection has a way of leaving its mark on our sense of belonging.
Nic and I explore how these moments can shape the stories we tell ourselves – often ones of unworthiness – and why, instead of resisting rejection, we are better off embracing it. Nic introduces the concept of radical inclusivity, where rejection is welcomed as part of life’s natural ebb and flow. Using metaphors like the ocean, he shares how facing rejection with compassion can lead to a stronger sense of wholeness.
We also dive into the role of the inner child and how unmet needs can leave us chasing external validation rather than recognising the acceptance we already have within us. Nic offers practical tools, including strategies from Dialectical Behavioural Therapy and exposure therapy, to help navigate rejection without being overwhelmed.
My book Champion Thinking: How To Find Success Without Losing Yourself draws on some of my favourite interviews over the last six years. In it, I seek to challenge our ideas about 'success', and where peace, joy and fulfilment are truly to be found.
'This book captures the magic of being in flow . . . Highly recommend' RONNIE O'SULLIVAN
'Entertaining and enlightening' MATTHEW SYED
'This book will challenge your thinking on what success truly is and will give you tools to "succeed" in life in the truest sense of the world. This is definitely not just another book about sport and those who happen to be good at it' -- GOLDIE SAYERS
'The intention behind this book is beautiful, and I highly recommend it' RUPERT SPIRA
'The best guide we have to what it means to be human' AMOL RAJAN
Order here: https://www.simonmundie.com/book
Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Champion-Thinking-Success-Without-Yourself/dp/1526626497/
Website: simonmundie.com
YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/YouTubeSimonMundie
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simonmundie/
Substack Newsletter: https://simonmundie.substack.com/
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What does it truly means to be content in your own skin? It's tempting to put so-called "successful" people on a pedestal, but the reality is often much more complicated. Many high achievers are driven by inner turmoil. Adrian Chiles, broadcaster and former host of The One Show, shares insights from his conversations with high performers on BBC Radio 5 Live, many of whom have also appeared on this podcast - from Jonny Wilkinson to Ronnie O'Sullivan. We explore why chasing traditional success often falls short of delivering happiness and why the state of flow - the state of full immersion in the present - is a key to genuine satisfaction, as well as high performance.
My book Champion Thinking: How To Find Success Without Losing Yourself draws on some of my favourite interviews over the last six years. In it, I seek to challenge our ideas about 'success', and where peace, joy and fulfilment are truly to be found.
'This book captures the magic of being in flow . . . Highly recommend' RONNIE O'SULLIVAN
'Entertaining and enlightening' MATTHEW SYED
'This book will challenge your thinking on what success truly is and will give you tools to "succeed" in life in the truest sense of the world. This is definitely not just another book about sport and those who happen to be good at it' -- GOLDIE SAYERS
'The intention behind this book is beautiful, and I highly recommend it' RUPERT SPIRA
'The best guide we have to what it means to be human' AMOL RAJAN
Order here: https://www.simonmundie.com/book
Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Champion-Thinking-Success-Without-Yourself/dp/1526626497/
Website: simonmundie.com
YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/YouTubeSimonMundie
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simonmundie/
Substack Newsletter: https://simonmundie.substack.com/
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We are in the middle of a 'creativity crisis' - with so many people are distracted, unable to focus and lacking in connection. So what to do about it? Here to help me unpick how we can find more flow, creativity, connection, peace and ease - is Chris Smith, an award-winning author, broadcaster and stand-up comedian. For many years we sat alongside each other in the Newsbeat studio on BBC Radio 1. We discuss:
How to get into flow and tap into the 'intelligent unconscious'
The relationship between unplugging and creativity
Why we love losing ourself in what we are doing, and how modern life is killing that
Recognising that the future is never as bad as we fear it will be when it arrives as 'the present'
How to develop a different relationship with our thoughts
How to cultivate the space for true creativity to arrive
The value of having a sauna
I am creating a course about Banishing Burnout and Finding Flow - which I will be sharing more about that over coming weeks and months. Together we can create a new way of being - one that is less distracted and combative, and has more flow and peace.
Book: https://www.simonmundie.com/book
YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/YouTubeSimonMundie
Website: simonmundie.com
Substack Newsletter: https://simonmundie.substack.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simonmundie/
**
For many years Chris was the voice of Newsbeat on BBC Radio 1. In 2017 he published Kid Normal which he co-wrote with his friend Greg James. It became the first in a series of children’s books. In early 2025 Chris is bringing back Enid Blyton‘s classic characters the Famous Five in a brand-new adventure.
https://chrissmithauthor.co.uk/
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Do you feel overwhelmed? If so, you're far from alone. Rates of burnout are soaring. We are more connected digitally, but less connected in a meaningful way. We jump from whatsapp groups, to emails, to rolling news - and round and round we go. And it's filling our ability to use our more valuable resource - our attention. If you can't focus, you can't be truly creative and you certainly can't find flow.
I am creating a course about Banishing Burnout and Finding Flow - which I will be sharing more about that over coming weeks and months. Together we can create a new way of being - one that is less distracted and combative, and has more flow and peace.
Book: https://www.simonmundie.com/book
YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/YouTubeSimonMundie
Website: simonmundie.com
Substack Newsletter: https://simonmundie.substack.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simonmundie/
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Living with Purpose and Contentment, the Danish Way. In this episode, I’m thrilled to welcome Meik Wiking, the Danish happiness researcher and best-selling author who introduced the world to "hygge"—the Danish art of creating cozy, contented spaces. We dive into Meik’s insights on the true keys to happiness, from fostering deep social connections to redefining success beyond wealth and status.
Meik shares thought-provoking ideas, like Denmark’s culture of collective well-being, and "job crafting"—the practice of making even ordinary tasks more enjoyable. We also discuss the value of autonomy and flexibility at work, the rise of the FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) movement, and the potential impact of universal basic income on our sense of happiness.
Don't forget - Denmark is consistently voted the happiest country in the world.
My links:
Book: https://www.simonmundie.com/book
YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/YouTubeSimonMundie
Website: simonmundie.com
Substack Newsletter: https://simonmundie.substack.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simonmundie/
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Headspace founder Andy Puddicombe on How to Make Meditation a Habit. There’s no doubt that meditation has profound benefits for both body and mind. Yet many people struggle to make it a habit—they worry they’re not doing it “right,” or they can’t quiet their thoughts long enough to feel the impact. But meditation is a powerful practice worth mastering, with research highlighting its potential to transform our well-being.
To make mindfulness meditation accessible to everyone, I’m joined today by Andy Puddicombe, founder of Headspace and former Buddhist monk. Andy breaks down the essentials of meditation, sharing simple, practical techniques to help anyone incorporate mindfulness into their daily lives.
My links:
Book: https://www.simonmundie.com/book
YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/YouTubeSimonMundie
Website: simonmundie.com
Substack Newsletter: https://simonmundie.substack.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simonmundie/
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Nobody ever has their sh*t together, it's a myth. Even so, life is a miracle. It can be so easy to overlook this fact - and miss the incredible fact of existence. But life is also full of pain and suffering. If we can make peace with how life really is - rather than how we think it should be - then perhaps we can start to relax and let go of the incessant striving and quest to 'become' sometime in the future. We can find peace in this moment, even in the midst of life's myriad of challenges.
My guest is Dr. Robert Saltzman, author of the excellent books The Ten Thousand Things and Depending on No Thing.
My links:
Book: https://www.simonmundie.com/book
YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/YouTubeSimonMundie
Website: simonmundie.com
Substack Newsletter: https://simonmundie.substack.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simonmundie/
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Professor Paul Dolan on Bringing More Pleasure and Purpose into Everyday Living. This bitesize episode challenges the stories we tell ourselves about happiness—stories that often equate fulfillment with high status, massive social media followings, or endless wealth. But as Professor Paul Dolan reveals, these ideas are often misguided. Real happiness isn’t about chasing society’s markers of success; it’s about tuning into what genuinely brings us joy: spending time with friends, building meaningful connections, practicing kindness, playing sport, or simply enjoying music. It’s time to rethink what truly makes us happy and embrace the power of simple, purposeful moments.
My links:
Book: https://www.simonmundie.com/book
YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/YouTubeSimonMundie
Website: simonmundie.com
Substack Newsletter: https://simonmundie.substack.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simonmundie/
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How Diet, Diversity, and Lifestyle Shape Your Microbiome and Well-Being. In this episode, I sit down with Tim Spector to dive into the fascinating world of the gut microbiome and its powerful role in our overall health. Tim breaks down how our diets directly shape our gut health, emphasising the benefits of a diverse, plant-rich diet and aiming for 30 different plants a week. We explore why ultra-processed foods can harm the microbiome, while foods like kefir and sauerkraut can give it a healthy boost. Tim also shares insights on how lifestyle factors—like stress and eating speed—impact gut health and discusses the potential benefits of time-restricted eating to support the microbiome and reduce inflammation. We discuss:
Overview of the gut microbiome and its importance for health
Tim's personal health scare that led him to focus on gut health research
Insights from the twins study on the role of gut microbes in disease and ageing
The significant impact of gut health on mental and physical health
The detrimental effects of ultra-processed foods and misleading health claims
The complex relationship between sugar, artificial sweeteners, stress, and gut health
The benefits of incorporating fermented foods into the diet and how
The importance of eating a diverse range of plant-based foods for gut health
The advantages of time-restricted eating and slowing down during meals
My links:
Book: https://www.simonmundie.com/book
YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/YouTubeSimonMundie
Website: simonmundie.com
Substack Newsletter: https://simonmundie.substack.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simonmundie/
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Letting Go of the Future: Finding Peace in the Present Moment.
In this episode, Jonny Wilkinson talks about the endless chase for future goals and why waiting for the next big thing can be a dangerous trap. Jonny shares his thoughts on breaking free from the pressure to ‘arrive’ sometime in the future, and focuses on finding calm in the present, and seeing past the illusion that we’ll one day finally have it all sorted.
Full episode with Jonny: https://pod.fo/e/16ff5e
links:
Book: https://www.simonmundie.com/book
YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/YouTubeSimonMundie
Website: simonmundie.com
Substack Newsletter: https://simonmundie.substack.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simonmundie/
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In this episode, I reflect on the evolution of my podcast from Don't Tell Me the Score to A New Way of Being. This change reflects the shift from simply performance and success to exploring our innate wellbeing, acceptance, and the common struggle with feeling not good enough. I talk about why it’s so important to recognise that we are inherently "enough," beyond our thoughts, beliefs, and achievements.
Over the next weeks and months on my Substack newsletter I am going to be sharing my own experiences and evolution, including with psychedelics and psychotherapy, and would be very grateful if you would join me.
Please do consider subscribing and supporting my Substack newsletter here: https://simonmundie.substack.com/
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Finding balance in a chaotic world. In this episode I sit down with psychologist and author Emma Seppälä to discuss how we can return to our natural state of well-being. Emma shares strategies for breaking free from the overwhelming demands of modern life and the constant and often demoralising chatter of the ego.
Key Topics:
Understanding the impact of information overload on mental health
The power of self-compassion over self-criticism
How practices like stillness and meditation enhance creativity and well-being
Redefining success and fulfilment beyond conventional achievements
Hiow inauthenticity is perceived as a threat
The power of intuition - if it worked for Einstein it can work for you
Emma’s experiences with Sky Breath Meditation and its transformative effects
The need for embodied practices in psychology to nurture emotional health
Resources:
Sovereign by Emma Seppälä : https://www.emmaseppala.com/books
Sky Breath Meditation : https://sky-breath.org/
Follow Emma Seppälä on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehappinesstrack/?hl=en
Subscribe & Review:
Please support this podcast by leaving and review - it can make a big difference
My links:
Book: https://www.simonmundie.com/book
YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/YouTubeSimonMundie
Website: simonmundie.com
Substack Newsletter: https://simonmundie.substack.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simonmundie/
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We live in a 'push, push, push' culture that glorifies productivity, and many of us have become experts at ignoring the signals our bodies send us. Why do we keep pushing even when our bodies tell us to slow down? So many of us are living “in our heads” and are out of touch with the signals of our body and nervous system. So this episode is about heeding the signals, and the benefits that can some from when we do slow down and stop.
Please support this podcast by leaving and review - it can make a big difference
My links:
Book: https://www.simonmundie.com/book
YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/YouTubeSimonMundie
Website: simonmundie.com
Substack Newsletter: https://simonmundie.substack.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simonmundie/
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Why success alone doesn’t bring happiness but truly embracing the now can be transformative. This is a fascinating conversation with one of my favourite tennis players of the last few decades – Dominic Thiem, who is retiring this week in Vienna.
Dominic explains what it’s like to reach the pinnacle of success, and then realise… it didn’t bring the fulfilment it promised. After winning the US Open in 2020, he found himself grappling with a sense of emptiness, which prompted a period of deep introspection and growth.
We talk about the myth of perpetual positivity, dealing with the critical voice in the head and the importance of finding flow—not just in sport but in life. Dominic also shares his insights into mindfulness, meditation, and why smartphones and social media may have hobbled elite athletes born in the 1990s.
We also discuss:
Challenges of competing against the "Big Three" of Federer, Nadal and Djokovic
Importance of stress management as an elite athlete
Thiem's journey of finding flow states and the joy of playing, beyond just chasing results
The profound impact of winning the 2020 US Open and the subsequent period of readjustment
Being impacted by Eckhart Tolle's 'The Power of Now'
Discovering the power of mindfulness, meditation and a philosophical perspective on life
Concerns about the influence of technology and social media on the next generation of athletes
Insights on finding meaning, balance and fulfillment beyond external success
Please support this podcast by leaving and review - it can make a big difference
My links:
Book: https://www.simonmundie.com/book
YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/YouTubeSimonMundie
Website: simonmundie.com
Substack Newsletter: https://simonmundie.substack.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simonmundie/
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Exploring how stoicism’s practical wisdom can help you respond to anything life throws your way. In this bitesize episode, I sit down with Ryan Holiday to explore the essence of Stoic philosophy and how it can help us cope with life’s challenges. We discuss how Stoics viewed obstacles as opportunities and the importance of accepting what we can't control.
My links:
Book: https://www.simonmundie.com/book
YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/YouTubeSimonMundie
Website: simonmundie.com
Substack Newsletter: https://simonmundie.substack.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simonmundie/
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Exploring the dangers of forced positivity and the importance of embracing all emotions for genuine connection and well-being. In this episode, ex rugby league pro Stevie Ward explore the downsides of forced positivity and why closing off to the full spectrum of feelings is a bad idea - and saps us of strength and authenticity.
It's about acknowledging and embracing feelings like sadness and fear, rather than suppressing them. We discuss how inauthenticity can be perceived as a threat and why identifying with our roles contributes to inauthenticity. We even touch on what we can learn from pre-egoic toddlers - who truly embody genuine inauthenticity, which people can't help but be drawn towards.
My links:
Book: https://www.simonmundie.com/book
YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/YouTubeSimonMundie
Website: simonmundie.com
Substack Newsletter: https://simonmundie.substack.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simonmundie/
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