Inspired Evolution with Amrit Sandhu 🙏🏻

Our guests for this week are Kaitlin and Cassidy Murray, humanitarians, activists, speakers, and founders of the non-profit organization “Kids Unite 4 Hope”.About Kaitlin and CassidyKaitlin and Cassidy are sisters and have been traveling with their family ever since they were kids. On their travels, they’ve developed an amazing bond which is the foundation for most of the work they are doing today. They have visited over 90 countries, exploring and learning by interacting with people from different cultures and listening to their stories.In 2015, they’ve founded a non-profit called “Kids Unite 4 Hope” as a way of reaching out and helping Syrian refugees. Through volunteering, advocacy, inspiration, and friendship they aim to transform the world and help to empower youth to harness their energy and passion to become dynamic global changemakers. Kaitlin and Cassidy have traveled and shared stories of their journey across the United States, Greece, Italy, Morocco, Egypt, England, Estonia, and Myanmar.Over the years they’ve created numerous campaigns such as Hope 4 Refugees, Global Girls Unite, and Heal Our Planet to name a few. Their headquarters are in Athens, Greece and they’re always looking for activists and volunteers to join their cause. If you’re interested in contributing, feel free to connect with them using the links below!Connect with Kaitlin and Cassidy:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kidsunite4hopeInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/kidsunite4hope/Twitter: https://twitter.com/kidsunite4hope Website: https://kidsunite4hope.org/In This Episode We Canvas:Everyone Can Contribute to Changing the WorldIt’s fascinating to see how Kaitlin’s and Cassidy’s proactive attitude is directly reflected in their organization’s vision and mission. Understanding that you actually can make a difference is an amazing foundation to have if you truly want and intend to do good.“Everyone can make a difference, no one is left out. Everyone can change the world in their own way wherever they are, through whatever cause they’re passionate about.” - Cassidy MurrayThe Advantages of Youth ActivismAs we go through the stories of their humanitarian work with refugees, they provide us with both insight and examples of why youth activism is so important. The relationship that we’re establishing with our teachers shapes the education process and we’re more likely to connect with our peers because we’re joined by the things we have in common.“We realized we ended up helping the kids more than the actual teachers that came in before us because we were so connected with the youth and because they had fun learning. And they had that emotion attached to that learning so it just stuck in their brains and they loved it!” - Cassidy MurrayEnabling Empowered EducationThe approach Kaitlin and Cassidy are using is based on empowerment. Through some amazing stories about encouraging other youths to express and go after their hopes and dreams, we learn first hand about its importance and educational value.“They told us their story. And so we got to, almost, help them process it and they got to tell us and share their emotions with us and although it was hard sometimes I think it was also helpful because from there they could say ‘That was my past and now I’m going to build this amazing future!’... We started enabling that a bit and that was amazing! I think that’s a big part of education - it’s the empowerment!” - Kaitlin MurrayAspiring Towards Life-Long LearningKaitlin and Cassidy have traveled to over 90 countries which is a heroic achievement in itself. But the true inspiration comes from the way they acquire and absorb knowledge through interacting with people coming from different backgrounds and cultures. Their self-made curriculum is truly something to consider in our efforts to establish a practice of life-long learning.“You don’t have to just have your standard education… You can learn your entire life and keep on learning from different people. Because there are all these opportunities to learn something more in your life.” - Cassidy MurrayProtecting Yourself from Emotional BurnoutHumanitarian work is inspiring and fulfilling but can get quite overwhelming at times. Both Kaitlin and Cassidy have experienced dips in energy after lengthy periods of volunteering and have drawn lessons from it in order to prevent emotional burnout. It’s all about filling our cup first and their story is an absolutely perfect example.“We went to that point where we had to step away. And so we had to take our time, just be with ourselves and we went through a lot… We weren’t giving our time taking that time to self-care and replenish our energy. So now we do that… I meditate all the time, just to clear that energy.” - Kaitlin MurrayBreaking Stereotypes In Your CommunityWorking with people from other cultures is going to make you more sensitive to the potential stereotypes related to a particular group of people or culture. But the wonderful stories

Our guest for this week is Amy O’Meara, life coach, educator, author, and CEO of “Life Meant International”.About AmyAround 7 years ago, Amy had gone through some significant changes in her life. A bad break up, followed by some of her closest friends moving away had left her feeling lost and alone. Having lost her support system, Amy went on to explore the ideas of self-growth and self-development. It was in November 2013 when she came upon a Ted Talk by Ian Usher where she first learned about the idea of “selling your life for a new one”.In the midst of trying to discover the life she was meant to live, her own personal brand was born. By founding Life Meant, Amy took on a mission to make a change in the world by empowering the lives of women and children across the globe. Six years after, Amy has traveled to 25 countries, taught and lived internationally, and become an internationally recognized educator, trainer, and speaker.She also published a self-help book called “Letters to a J.E.R.K.”. A collection of practical advice and personal experiences, Amy aims to empower women all over the world and how to let go of fear and self-doubt. It is a guide that will show you how to identify difficult emotions, process them, and transform yourself to live your Life Meant.Connect with Amy:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lifemeant/Twitter: https://twitter.com/lifemeant Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amy_lifemeant/Website: https://www.lifemeant.com/In This Episode We Canvas:Starting SomewhereAt the beginning of our conversation, Amy reveals details about how exactly her transformation went down. What caused it, the context, how she came up with the inspiration to change… But ultimately we get down to one of the key tips residing in her message. The encouragement to dive into action even if you don’t feel like you have everything figured out.“Even if you don’t know a lot... just start somewhere! You don’t have to know everything about diving deep into the core of who you are.” - Amy O’MearaFree Range EducationWe talked about some of the founding principles of the free-range education theory. Amy developed an inclination for this modern approach while she was teaching abroad. She fell in love with the idea because it allowed her to “dream big” and reconceptualize her role as an educator.“It really shifted who I was as an educator which dove me deep into the personal growth, coaching… That’s when I started becoming a coach and said, ‘Okay, how can I use coaching language with children?’ This is an amazing gift because I’m their guide and facilitator, I’m not their dictator! - Amy O’MearaUsing Coaching Language to Educate ChildrenAmy noticed in her teaching sessions with young children that they were actually bogged down by the same insecurities and challenges we would usually connect with the situations of adults. She recognized the notion of “I’m not enough” in children as young as nine! It was this discovery that eventually inspired her to add coaching language to her approach of educating children. All with a clear goal in mind - to encourage the development of emotional intelligence.“We’re developing their EQ and we need to really pay close attention to the word choice that we’re using. And that’s why I’ve developed that coaching language with the kids because when we are using coaching language we’re holding space for them to grow. Grow emotionally.” - Amy O’MearaThe Value of Being Able to Trust YourselfWe go all-in on the concept of trust and Amy’s philosophy is so empowering because she is guiding back to focus on the way we treat ourselves. The relationship we have with ourselves. By doing so, she reminds us that power is always within ourselves and subliminally encourages us to take action.“When we dive into trust and communication one of the things that we have to be very careful of is the lies we tell ourselves… Trust starts with you. Trust of yourself is the very first key. If you can’t trust yourself, how are you going to show up in a relationship and be trusting of other people?” - Amy O’MearaThe 4 Steps of Making a Relationship Agreement with YourselfAmy shares her teachings on making a relationship agreement with yourself. She was inspired by a scene from a very popular TV show and you’ll have to listen to the podcast to find out more because there’s no way we’ll be spoiling that one here!Anyway… Her idea is founded on 4 basic steps that each of us should define and understand prior to opening ourselves to a new relationship.“It starts with your non-negotiables.” - Amy O’MearaThe first step concerns things that we are not ready to step away from. These lie at the core of our values and represent our “line in the sand”.“The second part is self-love.” - Amy O’MearaOnce we’ve defined our non-negotiables, we can then move on to explore the relationship that we have with ourselves. What kind of self-talk are we using? Are we treating ourselves positively and if not, why? Are we taking active s

Our guest from this week is Jason Campbell, a growth hacker and one of the sales and marketing leaders at Mindvalley.About JasonJason loves to sell. He’s been perfecting his craft throughout his entire career and for the last 6 years, he’s been a huge part of the Mindvalley sales and marketing team. On his lengthy list of special skills, you can find things such as process mapping, business models, sales, public speaking, real estate investment analysis, internet marketing, CRM, email marketing, landing pages, and conversion hacking. Jason is also the host of ‘Impact at Work’, where he guides students to discover the most cutting-edge concepts in productivity, communication, leadership, personal excellence, and breaks them down into more into simple action steps that they can immediately apply.He is currently focused on defining and developing his personal brand so that he could spread his inspirational message aimed to help people overcome hesitation and embrace personal growth.Connect with Jason:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jascampbell17LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jascampbell17/?originalSubdomain=myInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/jascampbell17/Twitter: https://twitter.com/jascampbell17?lang=enIn This Episode We Canvas:How Does Mindvalley Plan to Reach Billions of People?Mindvalley aims to redefine the educational system in order to elevate humanity. Their marketing goals are ambitious, which is understandable as they are trying to change the world! Jason gives us an insight into the approach Mindvalley uses to increase the reach of their message and make relevant partnerships and business connections.“In the personal growth industry, there are two things that you want to look for. How impactful, structured, authentic amazing is what that person is delivering and second is how many people are they reaching? The fact is, we want to reach a billion lives so we look for people that already have audiences that are already attracted to the personal growth movement and we want to combine as much of this industry together so we can become one big platform that changes lives.” - Jason CampbellThe Role Purpose Plays in Personal DevelopmentWe explore the concept of purpose, highlighting its value and contribution to personal development. Jason proposes an elegant analogy to describe the true purpose of purpose.“The purpose kind of seems like setting your north star, right? But the point isn’t to get to that star, it’s to sail the sea.” - Jason CampbellIs Repetition of Themes Good for the Personal Growth Movement?Since joining Mindvalley, Jason has been constantly surrounded by thought leaders in the personal growth industry. Having done over 40 in-depth interviews with some of the most renowned experts from this field, he started picking up patterns in their narrative. He realized that certain themes are repeated and that there are certain similarities between seemingly different schools of thought. Still, he understands that this is not an anomaly but rather a necessity that works in favor of those trying to learn, grow, and evolve.“I think that repetition IS necessary… Everybody has a different way of trying to achieve the same thing and that’s OK because everybody resonates with a different thing... Once you’ve found something that resonated with you… do something about it. And then if you feel stuck, go back and listen to someone saying probably the same thing in a different way and maybe that’s what you need to hear.” - Jason CampbellSales as an Expression of LoveWe’ve mentioned before that Jason really, really loves to sell and in this conversation, you will hear just why that is. He’s spent a lot of time honing his craft by taking in concepts from the personal growth industry and refining his personal theory of sales. Jason offers a new way for us to interpret the selling process, one that is built around the potential for doing good.“When I say ‘selling from love’ I say, first off, let’s take away the charge of sales. I say sales is an energy exchange... You will offer something in exchange for money but there’s another piece of currency that goes into it which is the emotion, the vibration. And for those who love incorporating business and spirituality, this is where it becomes beautiful. ” - Jason CampbellThe Essential Components of Selling from LoveIn his inspired model of selling from love, Jason goes over 3 key principles which will help you reinvent yourself in how you approach selling your product or service. The first one is self-love.“You’ve got to be very strong about who you are, what you stand for, and then, when you do that, you’ll understand that you’ve aligned yourself with something to sell that you truly believe in.” - Jason CampbellThe second principle highlights the importance of perfecting your product.“I encourage people to adapt is ‘If the product doesn’t fit the needs, fix the product.’” - Jason CampbellFinally, he sums up the last principle in three simple wo

Our guest for this week is Daniel Marcos, a serial entrepreneur, blogger, CEO coach, and the co-founder and CEO of “Growth Institute”.About DanielDaniel’s vast experience in entrepreneurship has enabled him with precious insights about starting and growing a company. He recognized the role of the CEO as an essential but also a potentially limiting factor when scaling your company. That is why he is determined to help other entrepreneurs get to the next step in their business. Daniel's mission is to empower executives to become better leaders, all the while teaching them how to successfully scale their companies and maintain a high quality of life.In 2012, Daniel co-founded the “Growth Institute”, which is the leading online executive education company for C-level executives at fast-growing firms. They offer online training resources accommodated to mid-market companies with the goal of providing them the necessary structure and support to grow their business.Daniel is also an esteemed blogger in the entrepreneurship world. You can check out some of his top tips for becoming a successful entrepreneur by visiting his website!Connect with Daniel:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/daniel.marcosTwitter: https://twitter.com/CapitalEmprendeLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielmarcosWebsite: https://www.danielmarcos.co/In This Episode We Canvas:Work-Life Balance Challenges of EntrepreneursOne of the main reasons Daniel has made it his mission to help entrepreneurs is because he has experienced first hand all the potential hardships that come with owning a business. Personal lives and family time are always one of the first aspects of an entrepreneur’s life that suffer whenever a company is going through a challenging period.“It’s very often, when you’re scaling, your family life gets into trouble… You’re tired, you’re overworked and you bring all of that drama to your family.” - Daniel Marcos The ‘Freedom Paradox’ of Entrepreneurship Based on the insights from his coaching career, Daniel suggests that one of the main reasons why people prefer running their own business is because it gives them more freedom. Paradoxically enough, in real-life cases, Daniel argues that the process of building a company goes directly against that notion.“When you ask any entrepreneur why are they building a company… you always come to one word - freedom. Usually, when you build a company, the one thing that you lose the most is freedom.” - Daniel MarcosThe Benefits of Basing Your Business Strategy on DataIn this section of our conversation, Daniel provides arguments and explains why basing your company strategy on data is essential for the success of any business. We explore all the ways in which your company benefits from utilizing a data-driven approach.“Whenever you have data and you produce data in your company, you cannot hide from data. Data tells you the truth!” - Daniel Marcos How to Give Negative FeedbackThe role of every CEO requires the ability to provide their staff with information and instructions on what needs to be improved or done differently. Daniel shares his thoughts on what you should and shouldn’t do when providing others with negative feedback.“You attack the outcome or the situation, you don’t attack the person.” - Daniel MarcosThe Key Stages of Company GrowthAs we explore the topic of scaling up further, Daniel proposes a 4-stage model for analyzing and understanding the different growth periods of any company.“I call them the Startup, the Grow up, the Scale-up and then you Dominate your industry.” - Daniel MarcosThe Ideal Role Every CEO Should Strive TowardsThe role of the CEO changes over time and we go a little deeper into what that role should look like at the fourth and final stage of company development.“The role in the last stage… You become like a satellite around your organization and the day-to-day runs without you… You come as the strategic innovator, change catalyst, and chief of culture.” - Daniel MarcosThe Importance of Having the Right TeamAs we near the end of our conversation, Daniel takes us into the 4 most important decisions every CEO needs to make. The key element you need to establish before scaling your business is to assemble the right team of professionals that will help your business grow.“If you don’t have the right team, it’s impossible to scale your company. You can have all the money in the world, you can have the best strategy… If you don’t have the right team - nothing works!” - Daniel MarcosWhy Drops in Revenue are a Symptom, Not a SicknessIn terms of developing a business, Daniel considers “cash” to be a great source of data which indicates whether or not you’ve made the right decisions along the way. If you’ve made any mistakes in the previous steps, they will surely be reflected in your revenue and profits.“Cash is a symptom. Cash is not a sickness… Cash is not a problem. Cash is a reflection of your problems.” - Daniel MarcosDaniel’s Message of Inspired Evo

Our guest for this week is Skip Kelly, a traveling biohacker, digital business nomad, and adventure filmmaker.About SkipIf you feel like you’ve seen Skip before, then it might have been on our show! This is Skip’s second appearance on the Inspired Evolution Podcast. If you want to check out our previous conversation about living the life of your dreams and inspiring humanity, click here!Skip started his career as a professional consultant on the matters of biomechanics for US Olympic trainers and athletes. He coached them on topics such as exercise physiology, nutrition, and injury prevention.Over the years, he has used his talents in filmmaking and storytelling to help people promote their brands and discover their voice in their respective industries. He is also a member of the Mindvalley University and he frequently makes lovely videos about the events and gatherings. Skip’s videos are gorgeous depictions of what Mindvalley is all about. Check out one of his most recent videos from this years Mindvalley U in Croatia!In 2019, Skip started the ‘Prehab Dojo’, a company that aims to improve the quality of people's lives by being health-conscious and providing edu-tainment on the topics of health and longevity. They offer guided meditations and other educational content that will help you communicate with your body and feel great, both physically and emotionally.Connect with Skip:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/skip.kelly.56YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCItDJDFI0ImtSk9sOIGgQkAInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/skipkellyfilms/?hl=srLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/skip-kelly-b9b016a2/Website: https://www.prehabdojo.com/In This Episode We Canvas:Defining Success as FulfillmentSkip recalls all the times in his career when he was working with people who were considered successful by all sorts of standards. Even when he was working with US Olympic athletes and coaches who were at the very peak of their field, he realized there was little to no room for fulfillment in their definitions of success.“When are we going to start talking about success as fulfillment? It’s just not a thing. It’s very rare.” - Skip KellyWhat Does It Mean to Be a Fulfillionaire?Skip has discovered a term that sums up his current point of interest he wishes to invest his energy into. The term ‘fulfillionaire’ is an awesome way to describe what we should all strive towards becoming. It highlights both the importance of fulfillment for living a healthy life while also establishing a financial connotation.“I think the core part of ‘fulfillionaire’ and why I think that title is appropriate is it alludes to ‘millionaire, billionaire…’ and how important money is to a fulfilling life. It’s not so much about rolling in hundreds but it is about not having real problems. Real problems being: shelter, food, safety…” - Skip KellyShould We Seek Happiness or Fulfillment?We went on to explore the relationship between happiness and fulfillment and Skip shares his thoughts on the key distinctions between seeking happiness and fulfillment. He used to think of himself to be a great supporter of having happiness as the main goal in life. But he recently shifted towards fulfillment as he found it to be more valuable and he explains why.“Happiness comes from acceptance but growth comes from change. If you can just accept where you are, you’ll be happy… You can be happy in any circumstance. The question is ‘are you fulfilled by just being happy?’” - Skip KellyFinding Your Purpose In Your Existential StrugglesSkip shares with us a great mind experiment which has a purpose to provide us with insight into what’s truly important to us; what really moves us. By examining the existential struggles you’ve faced in your life, you can dig around to find the real jewels which are the things that move and inspire you most in life. The key to living a fulfilled life is to choose to spend your time engaging in activities that fulfill you.“It’s kind of like a ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’ success game.” - Skip KellyThe Value of Identifying with Characters in StoriesAnother strategy for discovering what we truly value in life is to pay attention to what makes us identify with characters in stories. Whether we’re consuming them through movies, books or video games, stories provide us with a context where characters get to depict behaviors, attitudes, and values. If they align with our own values, then we’re more likely to identify with those characters over others. Skip sees this as an opportunity to both recognize and remind ourselves of what we hold in high regard in life.“The more you can appreciate these characters in life the more you can start to realize what inspires you and who you want to show up as on a day to day basis.” - Skip KellyHow to Fight LonelinessSkip draws from his own experiences in dealing with loneliness. He recognizes that being simply surrounded by other people will not help you feel less lonely because the feeling isn’t simply caused

Our guest for this week is Abdulazez Dukhan, a digital artist, photographer, humanitarian, and creator of the ‘Through Refugee Eyes’ project.About AbdulazezAbdulazez grew up in Syria and was only 12 years old when the civil war started. Three years after, his family was forced to leave their home in search of safety and peace. He first traveled to Turkey. Abdulazez started learning about Photoshop and digital art through tutorials on YouTube, which is also how he started learning English. But as time went by, the situation and the conditions for the refugees were becoming more and more difficult. In January of 2016, he moved to a refugee camp in Greece. It is in Greece where he fully embraced the path of an artist. He received his first camera as a gift from one of the volunteers he collaborated with and he’s been involved with photography ever since.In April 2016, he started an independent photography project called “Through Refugee Eyes” with a goal of providing Syrian refugees with a voice. He noticed that the media was spinning stories in order to portray the people who are fleeing war as hopeless, dangerous and ignorant. He realized that he needed to act upon this injustice and start documenting what truly happened inside refugee camps.To this day, Abdulazez is hoping to spread the word about the true adversities people who are fleeing their war-torn homes are faced with every day. He is looking to share the message of respect, appreciation, and collaboration, hoping we can build a better future together, for everyone.Abdulazez recently shared his story at the Mindvalley University in Croatia, 2019. You can check out his full talk here!Connect with Abdulazez:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AbdulazezDukhanInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/abdulazez_dukhan/Website: https://azyeux.com/Abdulazez’s Story of Inspired EvolutionAbdulazez was only 12 when the protests in Syria started. These demonstrations grew out of the Arab Spring movement and they were sparked by an incident when several boys were arrested for writing the words “Freedom” on their school walls. These boys were around the same age as Abdulazez at the time.Their arrest was supposed to be a strong message made by the Syrian government. Even though the stance of the general public was clear and everyone could feel the injustice, no apology was made. The government stood by the decision and their lack of remorse fueled the will of the people to stand and speak up.“No human being is right all the time. Some of my ideas aren’t perfect, some of yours aren’t perfect. Nobody is perfect!” - Abdulazez DukhanAt the time, Abdulazez was still in primary school. But instead of worrying about homework, he had to think about whether or not he is going to get home from school safe and sound. We don’t often hear in the news about how the revolution looked in the early stages and Abdulazez recalls some of the memories from that period of his life. He remembers people shouting at those who were tasked with bringing down the demonstrations that “they are one and that there was no need for violence.”“You can see a lot of footage where people were walking on the streets with olive branches.” - Abdulazez DukhanThe domestic media started spinning stories in the news in order to portray the protests as acts of terror. As the situation became increasingly difficult, to a point when Abdulazez and his family had no choice but to seek safety away from their home.“Giving up on your country is a hard thing to do. You only give up as a last resort.” - Abdulazez DukhanThe first country he went to was Turkey and it was there where he started learning about digital art by watching tutorials on YouTube. He spontaneously started learning English in order to be able to explore new techniques.Later on, he migrated to Greece and the move came with a completely new set of adversities. While staying at a refugee camp along with thousands of people, he got a camera as a gift from one of the volunteers. He’s been a photographer ever since, acquiring knowledge about the art form in any way he can.“The knowledge I have today came from many photographers coming from all over the world.” - Abdulazez DukhanHe currently resides in Belgium, still doing anything he can to break the stigma about Syrian refugees promoted in the media and provide them with a voice.In This Episode We Canvas:Adapting to Extraordinary CircumstancesAbdulazez reflects on how adaptation was the number one tool that helped him handle adverse situations. He faced new challenges each day but he realized he had to take an active approach and try to make the most out of difficult conditions.“We had hope. I had lots of hope but I knew hope won’t change my situation. I had to move. I had to do something. - Abdulazez DukhanHelping Others In Adverse SituationsThrough adaptation, we can benefit others and not just ourselves. Abdulazez experienced this first hand. Even though his English wasn’t perfect, he did

Our guest for this week is Panache Desai, a spiritual thought leader, teacher of life mastery and personal development, vibrational catalyst, author and inspirational speaker.About PanachePanache grew up in East London in a very spiritual family. As he grew older, he distanced from this atmosphere of prayer and worship in order to explore new things. At one point in his life, he was an MC working his way through clubs all across London. But in his last year of University, a series of events urged him to go back to his roots and recall the principles he was thought as a child.He moved to New York in 2001 in an effort to open himself up to the world. On his travels, he met and learned from many prominent spiritual teachers and leaders. After a couple of years, in a moment of epiphany, Panache accepted love as his purpose and began a new life. A life of service, with a goal of spreading the message of love, purpose, and acceptance. Ever since, he has traveled the globe, meeting new people, evoking and sharing divine energy. On the list of his memorable appearances in the media is an interview with Oprah Winfrey on the Emmy-award winning show Super Soul Sunday.Panache works with people all over the world and shares his teachings, tools and real-world techniques to help them achieve inner peace, a sense of fulfillment and purpose, and create a clear vision of their most authentic self.In 2014, Panache released a book titled “Discovering Your Soul Signature” in an effort to invite people to change the energy that surrounds them and discover their life’s purpose. The underlying premise is that life provides us with boundless possibilities. Through the course of 33 days, by following the guidelines and going through each carefully crafted and positioned section at the right time, you will rediscover your purpose and live a life of authenticity. Panache is also organizing a huge conference this summer in Phoenix, Arizona called Global Gathering 2019! He has hand-picked and gathered 18 world-renowned speakers who will, over the course of 4 days, inspire and empower people to live the life of their dreams. Global Gathering will be held from 23rd to 26th of August, 2019. There is a Hot Global Gathering Sale going on at the moment and you can get your tickets for up to 30% off!Connect with Panache:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/panachedesaifanpage/Twitter: https://twitter.com/panachedesai?lang=enInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/panachedesai/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/panachedesaiWebsite: https://www.panachedesai.com/In This Episode We Canvas:Why Do We Believe We Are Not Enough?We start the conversation off by focusing on the ever-important question of “enoughness” which has been a popular theme on the Inspired Evolution Podcast. Panache offers his unique understanding by pointing out different societal limitations we experience throughout our lives and the effects they have on our mental well-being and view on life. Through social conditioning, we somehow form a belief that we are not enough.“The problem with that is you think, on some level, that there’s something wrong with you. Because we’re living our lives from the outside in instead of from the inside out.” - Panache DesaiThe Untold Story of Mainstream SuccessWe reflect briefly on the notion of “success” in terms of how the general public perceives it. Panache shares thoughts and insights from the lives of his friends and clients to highlight the fact that when we try to define “success” we usually tend to not use the appropriate or relevant metrics. We need to evaluate success in alignment with what is truly important for us in life. “The only definition of success that works for me is peace.” - Panache DesaiUnderstanding Limitations by Analyzing Original DesignWe slide into the next topic which acts as an introduction to the question of finding our purpose. Panache describes the setting of the traditional education system and demonstrates a witty technique to deduce why the majority of the people is not feeling comfortable and in flow within a limited school setting. The system was made with another purpose in mind.“As soon as you start to understand what the intention of the design is, you can begin to figure out what the inherent limitations are in that system.” - Panache DesaiDehumanizing Social DynamicsExploring the causes of broad unhappiness and dissatisfaction further drives our discussion forward. Panache shares his thoughts on why he thinks current social dynamics are responsible for the fact we feel dehumanized. He strengthens his arguments by recalling examples from the medical industry.“Our humanity is being systematically drummed out of us. It’s not OK to have an original thought, it’s not OK to feel, it’s not OK to express uniquely and if you do, you’ll be judged, you’ll be shamed and you’ll be very quickly put back into whatever box they can put you back inside of to be able to control and manipulate you.” - Panache De

Our guest for this week is Dr. Dain Heer, an energy transformation virtuoso, author, international speaker, and workshop facilitator, best known for his transformation process ‘The Energetic Synthesis of Being’ (ESB).About Dr. HeerDr. Heer started off his career as a professional chiropractor and he acquired his Doctorate in Chiropractic at the Southern California University of Health Sciences.In 2000, he co-created Access Consciousness, a simple set of tools, techniques, and philosophies with the purpose of teaching people how to create dynamic change in every area of their life. Ever since then, he has been encouraging people to unleash their true greatness by helping them let go of the judgments that are keeping them down.Dr. Heer is renowned for his energetic transformation method called ‘The Energetic Synthesis of Being’. Over the course of a 3-day period, he helps his clients utilize the power of choice in order to achieve the transformation of both body and mind. With his approach, Dr. Heer empowers people to choose a better life for themselves.Dr. Heer has authored nine books which are popular world-wide and his international best-seller called ‘Being You, Changing the World’ has been translated into Swedish, German, Spanish, Italian and Estonian. Written for the dreamers who dream, Dr. Heer aims to provide those who know something different is possible with the tools to attain it. It is a wonderful guide for generating infinite possibilities and a dynamic change, providing you with an alternative perspective on the concept of being.Connect with Dr. Heer:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrDainHeer Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dainheer/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/drdainheerWebsite: https://drdainheer.comIn This Episode We Canvas:Inability to Deal with JudgementJudgment is one of the core concepts we’ll explore throughout the conversation. Dr. Heer shares that the defense mechanisms we use as ways to handle judgment are warping the way we perceive the world around us and subsequently, the way we act. As much as it’s a way for us to protect ourselves, it can also make us miss out on the good stuff as well.“You put up a brick wall around you, and it keeps out everything.” - Dr. Dain HeerHow Are We Absorbing Other People’s Points of View?Dr. Heer suggests that we should all consider the origins of our values and our points of view. He goes on to describe how our worldviews are shaped from a very early age by absorbing the points of view of our parents. This dynamic continues to occur throughout our life in different forms but Dr. Heer makes a very deep revelation regarding as to why this phenomenon actually occurs.“The thing most people don’t realize is, most of the points of view that we’ve picked up from other people are actually energetic. It’s the energy that they live their lives from that we’ve picked up on because we’re so highly aware energetically.” - Dr. Dain HeerRethinking the Concept of Personal DevelopmentWe touch on both the popularity of personal development and the way it has been received in the public. Dr. Heer believes there is a common misconception related to our understandings of personal development. He argues that seeing it as a tool for overcoming problems is very limiting and that we stand to gain more if we acknowledge everything that the process of personal development truly has to offer.“Whether we call it ‘personal development’ or ‘consciousness’, or whatever term you want to put on it… It’s actually about exploring the possibilities beyond the box of this reality and having the ability to create them.” - Dr. Dain HeerThe Root Cause of Leading ‘Heavy’ LivesFeeling stressed, strained, pressured, burdened, anxious and depressed are all components that contribute to the sensation of living a heavy life. And Dr. Heer uses a simple experiment to demonstrate how self-talk plays an important role in all of this. Another interesting point he makes is that, even though we’ve incorporated these stories and ways of thinking into our everyday lives from the outside world, it’s still important to acknowledge that we’re the ones causing ourselves pain. We’re the ones causing the heavy.“Notice how many of us tell ourselves these stories continuously. We’re doing that shit to ourselves!... You’ve bought a lot of lies that keep running in your head, that you keep telling yourself and this is when we need to be willing to have a different perspective and use some of these tools to change this stuff.” - Dr. Dain HeerUnderstanding That We Are Infinite BeingsDr. Heer aims to answer the question of what do we mean when we say we’re infinite beings and how does that understanding actually help our personal development. “Somewhere, we know that we’re more than we’re letting ourselves be.” - Dr. Dain HeerReframing Points of View You Don’t Agree WithYet again, judgment is one of the key elements of our conversation and in this section, Dr. Heer explains why it is t

Our guest for this week is Dr. Srikumar Rao, a keynote speaker, author, executive coach and the creator of the renowned ‘Creativity and Personal Mastery’, a course designed to effect personal transformation. About Dr. RaoDr. Rao has obtained his Ph.D. in the field of Marketing from the Columbia Business School. Prior to that, he was an executive at Warner Communications and the head of the Marketing Research Department at Data Resources.Later, he went over to academia and in 1994 he created his famous course called ‘Creativity and Personal Mastery’ (CPM). Since, he has taught CPM at some of the world’s leading business schools such as Columbia, Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, London Business School, and Haas School of Management at the University of California at Berkeley. The course was created with a goal of empowering students to discover their unique purpose, creativity, and happiness, through teamwork and considerations of the philosophical perspective. In 2013, he founded The Rao Institute. Dr. Rao has coached thousands of executives on how to be better leaders by helping them discover a deeper meaning to their career and life. He has helped them achieve “quantum leaps in effectiveness”.He is also an author of several books on the subjects of personal mastery, purpose, and success. In 2010, he released a book titled “Happiness at Work: Be Resilient, Motivated, and Successful - No Matter What”. In it, Dr. Rao aims to teach you the vital wisdom essential for achieving a joyful life, successful per your own standards, by helping you become more resilient and develop a stronger inner core.Connect with Dr. Rao:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/srikumarsrao/Twitter: https://twitter.com/srikumarsraoFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/theraoinstituteYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/TheRaoInstituteWebsite: https://theraoinstitute.com/Dr. Rao’s Story of Inspired EvolutionDuring his student days, Dr. Rao was on the path of becoming a successful physicist. Yet, the twist occurred some years later when he decided to visit America and acquire a doctoral scholarship. In 1980, he got his Ph.D. from the Columbia Business School in the field of Marketing.But he was already very successful in the field since Dr. Rao had worked as an executive at Warner Communications several years prior. His big break came when he worked on an advertising strategy for a blockbuster movie which is to this day on the list of top 50 grossing movies of all time. The movie in question was the world-wide phenomenon, ‘The Exorcist’ released in 1973.His career was skyrocketing but he felt restrained and put down by corporate politics. He decided to shift towards academia and teaching. But some time after joining the University of New York, Dr. Rao started questioning his decision.“Basically, I stagnated. And there was a time when I woke up feeling very sorry for myself and I had this great corporate career and I threw it away.” - Dr. Srikumar RaoDr. Rao relied heavily on reading about spiritual subjects in order to find his inspiration but he was always confused by the fact that these teachings weren’t working for him in the real world. He knew these insights were valuable but he just needed to figure out a way of how to apply and make use of them.“One day I had my bright idea which was ‘Why don’t I take the teachings of the worlds, great masters, strip them of religious, cultural and other connotations, and adapt them into exercises acceptable to the diligent people in the post-industrial society.’ And the thought of doing that made me come alive!” - Dr. Srikumar RaoHis desire to create a course wasn’t driven by the needs of the market. He prepared the course because he felt he needed to do it for himself. After some adjustments and a couple of iterations, Dr. Rao created what we know today as ‘Creativity and Personal Mastery’ course.In This Conversation We Canvas:The Pursuit of HappinessDr. Rao postulates that our principal desire is to be happy in some shape or form. We go over the dynamics that create the underlying anxiety, depression and overall unhappiness in today’s society. Dr. Rao realizes that the model which we use to conceptualize happiness is broken and suggests a perception change.“We are unhappy because we’ve spent our entire life learning to be unhappy. And the way we learn to be unhappy is by buying into the “if-then” model and the model is broken.” - Dr. Srikumar RaoThe ‘Sense of Control’ ParadoxDr. Rao reflects on our need to control the world around us and points out the paradoxical nature of our attempts to attain it. He also describes how we can use this paradox to our advantage.“The more you accept that you don’t have control and you let go of your need to have control, paradoxically, that’s when you find that you have the greatest control.” - Dr. Srikumar RaoShould Mental Models be True or Useful?We use different models to understand the world around us. But rather than fo

Our guest for this week is Jessica Zweig, a serial entrepreneur, a personal branding expert and the Founder and CEO of ‘SimplyBe. Agency’.About Jessica ZweigJessica started her entrepreneurial career back in 2008 when she co-founded CheekyChicago.com, the very first lifestyle magazine dedicated to the women of Chicago. After 7 years and an audience of 100 000 readers locally, she decided to open up a new chapter in her life. She yearned to discover her authentic self and what it would truly take for her to live her truth.In 2014, she founded 'SimplyBe. Agency' and entered the business of transforming experts into thought leaders. Her company helps C-level clients and entrepreneurs by providing them with brand identity development and brand strategy, content creation, communications, and book writing services. On her impressive list of clients, you can find names of world-renowned companies such as Heineken, Red Bull, NIKE, Virgin Brands, BBMC Mortgage, Shift7 Digital, River North Design District and PROjECT Interiors.Connect with Jessica:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/simplyjessicazweig Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jessica_ZweigLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicazweig/Website: https://www.jessicazweig.comJessica's Story of Inspired EvolutionJessica’s educational background is a degree in acting from the University of Illinois. Five years later, she stumbled upon her entrepreneurship career when she co-founded Chicago’s first online digital magazine for women, aka “Cheeky Chicago”. She worked hard to help her magazine thrive in a time where the vast world of social media that we know and use today was just at its very beginning. During her 7 years at “Cheeky Chicago”, she gained valuable practical experience she now calls her “real-life MBA”.“Some people don’t believe in the “fake it ‘till you make it” philosophy, but I do. I really do because I did it. I’m a case study on what it can look like.” - Jessica ZweigAs time went by, “Cheeky Chicago” was steadily rising and reaching 100 000 readers and partnering up with hundreds of national brands. But she was feeling out of alignment for a long time. The relationship with her business partner had become very strenuous. She finally decided to leave the company and start a new life, one where she could just simply be. “I have this little tattoo on my wrist, says “Simply Be”, that I’ve gotten years before… as a reminder to always be OK with where I am because I am where I’m supposed to be.” - Jessica ZweigShe now spends her life helping experts architect their success through personal brand development, relying on her digital marketing expertise and guided by the principles of authenticity and living your truth!In This Episode We Canvas:Living Your TruthWe go over what it truly means to be authentic in life and in business and what are the essential ways of unlocking your magnificence through living in alignment with your truth.Searching for Support and Investing In YourselfJessica goes into detail about her personal hardships of living a life out of alignment and not feeling fulfilled. She highlights the role which her personal coach played at that difficult time. Through a supporting, trusting, professional relationship she managed to get through one of the toughest times in her career and life.“You are your most precious asset and life is hard and we can’t do it alone… Find somebody else that can put their trust in you or show you what that trust looks like.” - Jessica ZweigTaking the Leap of FaithWe go over Jessica’s personal experience of taking the leap and she points out that because of the fact she was on purpose, making the leap was the most positive thing she could have done. She reflects on how quickly things began to manifest due to the fact she was in line with her deepest desires, goals, and values.“The trust will come when you fully step out of your own comfort zone and see your own power.” - Jessica ZweigBecoming CourageousWe get real personal and Jessica shares her struggles in having a tense relationship with her father who had anger management issues. We talk about the essence of being brave, how courage affects different aspects of our life, and how we can develop it if we have the right approach.“How do you become courageous? I think that you just need to find something that you believe in so much that you are willing to sacrifice something.” - Jessica ZweigBuilding Your TribeJessica provides us with clear insight into how her methods actually operate and why the foundational premise of her business is living your truth. We talk about the intricacies of building an audience around your personal brand and how authenticity plays an important role in surrounding yourself with the people you need.“You cannot be for everyone, don’t even try… The more you do you, the more you’re going to attract your right tribe and that’s all you need.” - Jessica Zweig How to Brand YourselfWe’re also blessed with a mini-masterclass

Our guest for this week is Steven Kotler, a best-selling author, award-winning journalist, and entrepreneur.Steven is a leading expert on ultimate performance and the state of flow. He co-founded the Flow Genome Project in order to answer questions such as the relationship between flow and creativity, flow and business success, as well as to explore altered states of consciousness and their effect on human performance. Other organizations he has founded are Creating Equilibrium, a conference dedicated to solving critical environmental challenges, and Rancho de Chihuahua, a hospice care dog sanctuary in the mountains of Northern New Mexico he co-founded with his wife Joy.Steven is also a renowned, best-selling author with 2 Pulitzer Prize nominations to his work on “Stealing Fire” and “A Small, Furry Prayer”. His latest book called “Last Tango In Cyberspace” is a brilliantly well-researched novel which explores the future we may be living in just 5 years from now. The book is inspired by cutting edge technology which is still exclusively available in modern labs across the world. His predictions are based on years of researching the frontiers of neuroscience, psychology, psychopharmacology, and ecology, with a special appreciation for the progress of animal rights. Using this Sci-Fi setting, Steven dives into topics such as the evolution of empathy, the nature of consciousness, and our definition of “life.” Connect with Steven:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KotlerSteven/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxbLU30FsQmr-Ikxu6VrTAgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/kotler.steven/Twitter: https://twitter.com/steven_kotlerWebsite: https://www.stevenkotler.com/What Will Our World Look Like 5 Years From Now?Steven has always been fascinated by technological advancements and he’s heavily invested in studying the forefronts of cutting-edge tech. He recognizes that the future will not come one new tech at a time but as a combination of complementary discoveries which will completely reshape the world we live in. He wrote “Last Tango in Cyberspace” in order to try and visualize what that world might look like 5 years from now, based on his insights into the technology available in some of the best labs and research centers in the world.Even though most people view his book as futuristic, Steven firmly states that he was very conservative about what went into the book and steered away from making speculations and statements he wasn’t clear about. He also sees that the reason why making these types of predictions is extremely difficult is that rapid technological advancements have affected our ability to analyze and extrapolate about our progress:“We can’t look back 5 years and go: “Well, what was happening 5 years ago? I can use that to make a prediction.” Because it’s accelerating so quickly.” - Steven KotlerThe future tech works as a well-researched context in the “Last Tango In Cyberspace” but the book actually deals with questions related to humanity and one of the key messages emerging regards the notion of empathy. Throughout our conversation, you can see that Steven is very excited about connection and the interconnectedness of the world that we’re living in. He puts empathy at the core of our humane values but the idea he calls “empathy for all” concerns not only empathy towards and among humans but animals, plants, ecosystems… He sees that the only way we can move forward when facing some of the biggest challenges of today’s world is that we base our efforts on empathy.“We have the technology to meet these challenges… What we don’t have is the cooperation.” - Steven KotlerThe Future of AI“What’s getting a lot of attention lately is: “Holly crap an AI is going to wake up and kill us all!”... But that’s not the point… It doesn’t matter. Because we’re not going to be able to tell if it’s awake or not.” - Steven KotlerWe proceed to explore the current use of AI technology and what we can expect from advancements in that field in the near future. We go over some of the applications of AI in human therapy and psychological consultation. Steven goes on to describe the Ellie military project. Ellie is a virtual AI therapist that is designed to help detect PTSD symptoms in war veterans and Steven had a chance to test it out personally. Another platform that we’ve discussed is Xiaoice, a Microsoft bot based on emotional computing framework. These bots are a great example which demonstrates how quickly the AI is advancing, especially when interacting with humans directly. However, there’s another interesting observation to be made here and which is that AI has already started influencing how we make major decisions in life, the effects of which will drastically increase in the near future.“Some couple was going to break up and stayed together because of Xiaoice and I’ll bet they have a baby. Which is, to say, that the first AI-inspired baby is probably already in existence and that’s a little weird!

Our guest for this week is Jamie Wheal, an expert on peak performance, the co-founder and executive director of the Flow Genome Project and co-author of “Stealing Fire”.Jamie’s background is an amalgamation of expeditionary education, wilderness medicine, and surf rescue. He has over a decade of experience advising high-growth companies on strategy, execution, and leadership. His client list is a who’s who of top corporate executives including the owners of NFL, NBA, MLB, and Premier League teams, executives of Google, Goldman Sachs, Deloitte, Cisco. Jamie has also worked with the U.S. Naval War College and Special Operations Command and advised the athletes of Red Bull on the topic of peak performance.In 2015, he co-founded the Flow Genome Project and he is leading an international team of world’s renowned scientists, athletes and artists with a goal of mapping the genome of peak performance state also known as Flow. Their vision is rooted in “taking a rigorous, multidisciplinary and supremely practical approach to the science and research of peak-performance.” As self-described “flow hackers” the end goal of the Flow Genom Project is to use this research to help more people level up in their actual lives.Along with Steven Kotler, Jamie co-authored the global bestseller titled “Stealing Fire: Silicon Valley, Navy SEALs and Maverick Scientists are Revolutionizing the Way We Live”. In it, they explore the many ways how the world’s most successful people use altered states in order to unlock peak performance.Connect with Jamie:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-wheal-887212a/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamiewhealpage/Website: https://www.flowgenomeproject.com/Altered States vs NOSCsIn order to further clarify the topic of Jamie’s studies, we start off our conversation by making a clear distinction between altered states of conscious and NOSCs which stands for ‘Non-Ordinary States of Consciousness’. This is a much more appropriate and precise term originally coined by Dr. Stan Grof. These states are one of the topics in Jamie’s book ‘Stealing Fire’ and they can be meditative, contemplative, states brought on by smart technology, psychedelic, sexual, athletic, kinetic or artistic. “Basically all the positive non-ordinary states you can think of that seem to share an awful lot underneath the hood of the mechanism of action. What’s happening in our bodies and brains to get us there.” - Jamie WhealMonophasic vs Polyphasic CultureWe dive further and deeper into the exploration of these non-ordinary states and Jamie makes yet another key distinction which helps us understand this problematic from a historical perspective. On the point of recognizing and appreciating different states of consciousness, we differentiate between monophasic and polyphasic culture. Polyphasic culture accepts different channels of consciousness, while later, during the age of enlightenment in the 18th century, mainstream ideas shifted towards the monophasic culture, focusing exclusively on the basic sensory input, an approach that gave birth to the idea of the rational self-aware waking self. Jamie points out that this shift has left a significant mark on our society and he argues that there’s a good chance this idea of being closed off to different channels of consciousness is causing all sorts of contemporary “diseases of despair”, which include anxiety, depression, insomnia, etc. He sees the solution in determining and accepting a post-conventional polyphasic culture in order to utilize these non-ordinary states of consciousness in order to both maximize our peak performance and “bring our collective project forward”.Ways of Reaching Peak Performances “You take breathing, respiration, movement, music, sexuality and then skillful use of substances and you can combine them and stack them in ways that can provide really profound peak experiences.” - Jamie WhealJamie proceeds to explore each of these methods of evoking non-ordinary states of consciousness how it can help you achieve peak performance. From controlled breathing to patterns of skilfull movement to listening to compelling music to harnessing the neurochemistry of the conscious sexuality all in the service of accelerated human development. He proceeds to explore a vast amount of intriguing cases and studies regarding the potentials of sexuality in particular, one being the comparison between the resemblance in the ways MDMA and orgasm affect our brain chemistry and neurophysiology. The way he envisions the purpose of these practices is essentially a reset of the nervous system in order to preserve and improve mental and physical health.“Can we actually defrag on a regular basis so that we stay current so that we stay resilient and we can actually face life with as much as resourcefulness as possible?” - Jamie WhealGroup Flow (i.e. Communitas)We step away from the individual and focus more on the collective in this part of our conversation. Jamie elaborates on the

Our guest for this week is Benjamin J Harvey, a speaker, educator, coach and founder of Authentic Education.Benjamin has been studying psychology for the past 20 years. On his journey to explore the intricacies of the human psyche, he has learned from and collaborated with different people of diverse vocation. From psychologists to scientists, to seers, to shamans, Benjamin has used their insights to develop a special approach for bringing change into people’s lives and helping them discover their Shadow Values. He is helping people across the globe discover their authentic message and achieve financial abundance all the while inspiring them to live their love.On Benjamin’s impressive list of clients, you can find names of companies such as Adecco, Universal Events, Christopher Howard Training, Centrelink, IBM, Apple, St George, Qantas, and AGL. His specialties include personal and professional coaching, sales coaching, training and management, business development strategies, neurolinguistic programming, and human potential.He founded Authentic Education, an organization that offers business and development courses with a mission to create the largest group of world-class coaches, speakers, and online educators earning over 6 figures, by helping people live their love. Check out their website for a tone of free educational content from eBooks to motivational audio downloads!Connect with Benjamin:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authenticeducationLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminjharvey/?originalSubdomain=auTwitter: https://twitter.com/authenticbenWebsite: https://www.authentic.com.au/Personal Website: http://www.benjaminharvey.com/Benjamin’s Story of Inspired Evolution“Everybody’s got a story, a hard-luck journey. Mine is no better than anybody else’s… When I was a young kid I went through some pretty intensive sexual abuse and that really, sort of… screwed my mind up quite a bit.” - Benjamin J HarveyBenjamin is very open about his childhood traumas of being a victim of sexual abuse. These incidents have made a devastating mark on his psyche, one he has fought throughout his youth. By the age of 20, he was regularly visiting psychiatrists and psychologists, seeking help to try and recollect his fragmented mind. His struggles culminated with him being admitted into a psychiatric ward. The experience itself was traumatic but the stigma of mental illness is so strong that he cites feeling an enormous amount of shame and guilt at that time, related to being held in a mental institution and diagnosed as bipolar with a borderline personality disorder.“Everyone’s wanting to live their love and to do what they love, but they don’t realize that what they truly love in life… has been given value by the traumas and the experiences they’ve been through.” - Benjamin J HarveyFor the next 5 and a half years of his life, Benjamin was severely medicated and struggling all-round. The real push and a defining moment that inspired the change came through a tragic event. One of his best friends from school had committed suicide and the news shook Benjamin to his very core. In the aftermath, he decided that he needed to take control of his own life and to take matters into his own hands. He gradually got off his medication all the while educating himself on meditation and personal transformation. The results of his efforts were astounding, embodied in the fact that he has been medication-free since 2002.“When I finally got on track and started doing what I love it was the most remarkable thing. My brain was no longer sending me feedback. It no longer had to tell me that I’m not on purpose.” - Benjamin J HarveyBenjamin discovered his love in the form of educating and coaching. He now shares his story without being riddled with shame and guilt but rather uses it as a tool to inspire and motivate others. He remembers he felt like the horrible things that happened to him were unique and that he was the only person struggling. By sharing his story, Benjamin is also making sure people who are suffering get a very important message - that they’re not alone.The Complex Nature of Purpose“It’s important that people realize that purpose is many things. Your purpose can be your love of swimming while you also enjoy your 1-on-1 coaching, but you also love reading a book… those many things will come in a hierarchy and you’ll work out that hierarchy eventually.” - Benjamin J HarveyBenjamin has a very compelling version of how the process of finding our purpose actually works. He proposes the idea that our mind has a unique way of showing us what we’re born to do. Benjamin continues to infer that if we’re doing what we love our mind can relax. These activities that, as he puts it, “silence the mind”, are responding and in line with our values which means that by doing them we’re actually fulfilling our purpose. Through all of this, we can understand that he is offering a new take on the idea of “purpose” by making it synonymous

Our guest for this week is Dr. Rupert Sheldrake, a biologist, an international best-selling author, and the creator of the Morphic Resonance Hypothesis.Dr. Rupert Sheldrake got his doctorate at the University of Cambridge in the field of biochemistry but has also studied philosophy and history at Harvard as part of his Frank Knox Fellowship. From then on he went to work as a Principal Plant Physiologist and Consultant Physiologist in India, at the Botany Department of the University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur. He later engaged with extensive experimental research, studying unexplained subjects including telepathy and cases of peculiar animal behavior.He's credited with co-discovery of the mechanism of polar auxin transport but he’s probably the most well-known aspect of his work is the Morphic Resonance Hypothesis, which posits that “memory is inherent in nature” and we discuss it much further in the podcast. Some have labeled him “controversial” as he is speaking out about the many dogmas riddling the modern scientific approach and offers alternative views, which encompass many aspects of spiritual knowledge as well. You can find more on his thoughts about scientific dogmas in his book “The Science Delusion” also known by the title “Science Set Free” in the US.In 2017 he released the book titled “Science and Spiritual Practices” which is one of the main topics of our conversation. In it, he explores the recent scientific studies that have confirmed the connection between spiritual practices on one hand and happiness and well-being on the other.Connect with Dr. Sheldrake:Website: https://www.sheldrake.org/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/RupertSheldrakePhDFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/RupertSheldrakeThe Science Delusion“Well, basically the Science Delusion is the belief that science already understands the nature of reality, in principle, leaving only the details to be filled in.” - Dr. Rupert SheldrakeWe dive deep into our discussion starting off with his criticism of modern science and its approach. Dr. Sheldrake argues that scientific dogmas are so deeply integrated into our education which and are largely represented by the philosophy of mechanistic materialism, making it a default starting point for most graduates. The idea that nature and all of its subsequent products operate like a machine, made out of specific parts and compartments with a clear and distinct function. Dr. Sheldrake recognizes this as a metaphor that has seeped into and taken over the scientific narrative. He proposes a different metaphor which he believes is a more apt description of our world.“It’s actually much more appropriate to think of nature as an organism, as alive. The whole universe is like a developing organism. It starts small with the Big Bang, a bit like the hatching of the cosmic egg. It’s been growing and expanding ever since.” - Dr. Rupert SheldrakeAnother scientific dogma that he points towards is the notion that purposeless of nature which is one of the products of the “machine metaphor”. He finds this worldview particularly depressing because it leads people on the path of secluding themselves from different aspects of life which they label as pointless, like for instance spiritual practices which is something that we’ve discussed later on.Scientific Research of Spiritual Practices“Generally speaking feeling connected and linked to something greater than one’s self makes people happy.” - Dr. Rupert Sheldrake Just a small disclaimer here. If you haven’t realized so far, Dr. Sheldrake’s is an experienced scientist with an impressively broad educational background. This description would need to be verbatim in order to truly give it justice. I urge you to listen to the podcast in order to get the full impression of our conversation as it’s intended.In this section of our conversation, Dr. Sheldrake connects the notion of a higher consciousness present in all religions and elaborates the data which shows that religious and spiritual practices are connected with higher levels of happiness, health, and overall well-being. He cleverly acknowledges that the so-called “new atheists” have not been immune to the effectiveness of these practices which is why many of their more popular representatives are getting involved with yoga and meditation. He also acknowledges atheistic intepretations of spiritual practices and the physiological changes they cause. As a response, he questions whether these interpretations are a valid argument for suggesting that these experiences are nothing but changes in the chemical release of the brain. However, he is very optimistic that we’re in for an era of amazing discoveries in the field of spirituality.“I think that we’re actually on the threshold of a new phase in spiritual evolution because it’s possible to do these practices within religious traditions and also on the scientific front, who prefers that. So this is a completely new situation that we’re in.” - Dr. Rupert SheldrakeMorp

Our guest for this week is Tyler Tolman, a world-renowned speaker, facilitator, author, health revolutionist and founder of Heal Thy Self.Tyler has been exploring the rules of healthy lifestyles ever since his early teenage years when he used to help his father organize a retreat on his 200-acre farm for the first time. These retreats were being held for people who are in desperate need of learning how to take care of their body. His father’s philosophy resonated with the visitors and Tyler was able to witness these profound changes first hand. From then on, he went to study and discover some of the basic principles of health and wellbeing. Diving deep into the wisdom of Greek philosophers, famous scientists, and ancient Egyptians, Tyler yearned to attain a diverse educational background in an attempt to develop a holistic idea of what it means to live a healthy life.His realization is that living healthy is a simple idea, intuitive to most of us, yet modern culture has brought us up in a way that we’ve lost track of the truth. With years of experience in researching how to live a disease-free life, Tyler is determined to spread the ideas and the principles that have been taught for over thousands of years which will help you improve your physical, emotional and mental health.Tyler organizes events, retreats, offers online programs and has authored several ebooks, all of which you can check out by visiting his website! He has also developed his own brand of self-care tools, products, and resources called “Heal Thy Self”. With it, he offers a range of products that facilitate detox and improve your nourishment.Connect with Tyler:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TylerTolmanTT/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tylertolmantt/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/TylerTolmanTTWebsite: https://www.tylertolman.com/Tyler’s Story of Inspired EvolutionTyler reminisces about his childhood. He remembers how he never felt like he fit into the traditional mindset of Western society. He grew up dealing with feelings of being suppressed and unloved. But around the time he was 13, he got an opportunity to go and stay with his father at his 200-acre farm in Salem, Missouri. His father organized retreats for people who were dealing with disease and offered his philosophy as well as communal support for those looking to improve their health. It was then and there when everything changed for Tyler. He witnessed the effects of leading a healthy lifestyle and was shocked yet very intrigued.“I saw people from sick to totally… mindset of ‘I’m going to die’, to color back in their skin and feeling alive and ‘Holy shit! I believe I can heal myself.’ ” - Tyler TolmanHe went back to his old life in Washington after that but quickly realized that he was becoming more and more “sick” himself. He was smoking, eating junk food and slowly getting into drugs. He felt disassociated from the world but he now knew that there was a different life somewhere out there possible. Calling out to him and waiting for him. With suicidal thoughts roaming through his mind, Tyler realized he needed to make a choice.“I either go dedicate my life to this way of living and my father and helping people or… I don’t want to be here, basically.” - Tyler TolmanFrom then on he went deep into researching the basic principles of health and wellbeing, relying on scientific research and combining it with ancient philosophies and traditional wisdom. His path has led him to a place where he is today - a man looking to share information about attaining health through natural means and empowering his audience to heal themselves.The Simplicity of Living a Healthy Life“So many people are looking to… ‘Oh I need the magic thing… I need the pill, I need the herb, I need the sacred food from the freaking deep well of the Himalayas to be healthy’. It’s like - NO!” - Tyler Tolman Tyler keeps bringing us back to how simple living healthy actually is. However, he acknowledges that simplicity does not imply that the process will be easy. Our culture seems to have derailed and stunted our growth in the fields of physical, emotional, and mental health. We’re often scared into doing things that are clearly damaging our health while the excessive anxiety keeps pushing us towards self-destructive behavioral patterns. Tyler points out that his suggestions for a healthier life were cross-culturally present at all points of humanity’s history with the foundation being laid in walking and drinking clear water. We should be building on this notion by adding nutritious foods such as fruits and vegetables, rounding it all up with a healthy mindset.“Intuitively, we all know what’s good for us. Eat fruits and vegetables, go for a walk, drink water, don’t be a dickhead… the basic stuff… But because it’s simple we just overlook it.” - Tyler TolmanThe Intricacies of Detoxification and Fasting“The truth is we’re all detoxing all the time.” - Tyler TolmanAt one point in the conversation, Tyler pro

Our guest for this week is Sam Cawthorn, an international bestselling author, motivational speaker, a master professional speaker trainer and the founder CEO of Speakers Institute and Speakers Tribe.Sam grew up in the rural parts of Tasmania in a big family with 4 sisters and 6 brothers. Their cultural background is a charming mix of Indian and Scottish heritage. In 2006, Sam was involved in a near-fatal car accident. After being clinically dead for 3 minutes he was brought back but the consequences of the crash were dire. His arm was ripped off just above the elbow and his right leg was so shattered that the doctors predicted he will never walk again. Nevertheless, he fought back hard, defying the odds, modern medicine and embarked on a journey of helping others get through tough times and build their self-esteem. In 2009 he established the Cawthorn Foundation help disadvantaged youth in developing countries to enjoy basic human rights.Sam has shared his message in 36 countries and he’s influenced millions with his story of resilience, overcoming adversity and finding that “something more” within ourselves. He’s now looking to influence billions by training the next generation of expert public speakers. He founded Speakers Institute and Speakers Tribe hoping he’ll pass on his experiences to those who share a passion for uplifting the world.Among many recognitions and testimonials to his work is a Young Australian of the Year Award for 2009. He was also voted Edupreneur of the Year in 2015. Through keynote speaking, he has shared the stage with Bill Clinton, Michael Jordan, Richard Branson, and the Dalai Lama,Sam is also an international bestselling author. He has written many books his latest one being “Storyshowing: How to Stand Out from the Storytellers”, an instruction manual for making connections with people and it reveals a new approach to sharing stories. Rather than telling a story, Sam describes a way of getting your audience more emotionally engaged by using the method of storyshowing. It is a tool for leveling up your communication skills, teaching you how to leave a better and stronger impression on your audience.Connect with Sam:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/samcawthornofficial/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samcawthorn/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samcawthorn/?hl=srWebsite: https://www.samcawthorn.com/Sam’s Story of Inspired EvolutionIn his own words, even though Sam was born a “country farm kid”, he always felt there was something more to his story.“I was like any other normal kid… but I always knew that there was something deep within me that says that there is more.” - Sam CawthornThis knowledge that there’s more to life was like a craving at times. Still, Sam was not immune to wanting to fit in, which nudged him towards hanging out with the wrong crowd and eventually resulted in him getting expelled from school. He never went back to the traditional educational system but he worked his way up to an Australian Federal Government job. Things were looking up. But in October of 2006, Sam experienced a defining moment in his life.“My defining moment came in the form of a car accident.” - Sam CawthornSam was driving one night and he suddenly fell asleep at the wheel. He veered to the other side of the road and ended up crashing full speed into a semi-trailer truck. Sam was clinically dead for 3 minutes before thankfully being resuscitated. Having lived to tell the tale, the car accident has left its mark on him both physically and mentally.“The bottom line is that something had changed. Not only physically, but also emotionally and mentally and then spiritually.” - Sam CawthornHe lost his most dominant arm just above the elbow and his right leg was destroyed beyond repair, or so the medical staff thought at that point. Sam recalls his strenuous rehabilitation period but remembers no anxiety, depression or feeling of inconsolable despair. His thoughts went into a different direction and instead, he focused on what he could do that would be best for his children.“I wanted to make sure that I could be a great father to my kids… I wanted to make sure that I can make them proud. That they didn’t just grow up with a disabled father.” - Sam CawthornSam became a motivational speaker, a force that moves others that need moving and he uses his profound insight into dealing and overcoming adversity to inspire millions. One recognition after another, he keeps on spreading his influence and thinking up new ways to brighten up people’s lives and give them the courage to show their story.The Power of Proximity“There’s now undisputed evidence... that we are the average of our 5 closest friends. The company that we keep determines who we are. - Sam CawthornIf you’ve ever listened to one of Sam’s lectures, you’re probably familiar with the phrase “proximity is power”. The idea behind the phrase being, the people we are closely connected to and in who we are in contact regularly will have a pr

Our guest for this week is Preston Smiles, an author, motivational speaker, and a personal freedom coach.Preston grew up facing adversity in many aspects of his life. In school, he struggled with dyslexia and was labeled as someone who needed special needs education. But outside of school, he faced the real, life-threatening challenges. In his teens, he joined a gang that started off as a petty theft group, but later on, got into more dangerous dealings. He decided to pass on an offer to go for a “routine round of mischief” because he felt deep inside that something was not right. Later that night, his friends were shot and the tragedy shock Preston to his very core. He surrendered and realized that he needed to find a higher purpose in life, far away from the world of organized crime.Years have past and Preston is now an acclaimed motivational messenger, spreading the words of inspiration, empowerment and particularly, love. His goal is to “empower, inspire and ignite a multi-generational movement of radical growth through conscious, creative content, acts of love and living boldly.”In 2016, Preston published his book titled “Love Louder: 33 Ways to Amplify Your Life”, in which he teaches his positive philosophy aimed at getting more out of life in terms of love, purpose, and meaning. His book is a practical guide for people looking to live more exciting lives, increase productivity, achieve clarity and gain confidence.He is currently holding a 2 Day Mens Immersive Workshop called Unleash the BEAST focused on helping men unlock their purpose, conquer fear and step into their power through a range of exercises, challenges, and stretches. Unleash the BEAST starts on the 25th of May!Connect with Preston:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PrestonSmilesSpeaks/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLHChGfdXlqR-Wck74eRPgwInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/prestonsmiles/Twitter: https://twitter.com/prestonsmilesWebsite: https://prestonsmiles.com/Preston’s Story of Inspired EvolutionThings we’ve experienced in our youth will to some extent shape us into the type of people we become, into our future-selves. However, our approach to life will affect whether or not we learn from these experiences or keep on making the same mistakes over and over again. Listening to Preston’s story, you can actually connect the dots and witness his growth mindset at play. It might not be intuitive that a young man who was a member of a gang in his teens will grow up to become an amazing ray of motivation and inspiration, but it is exactly these experiences that Preston acknowledges as necessary steps in his development.“I was never in the “wrong” crowd… Those people who happen to be African-Amazing weren’t the wrong people, they were the right people to help me see with the eye behind the eye, the real truth… which is, love is all there is, was and ever will be.” - Preston SmilesGrowing up, Preston got a chance to experience two different cultures. One where certain unethical behaviors set people on the path of imprisonment, while in the other, people engaging in those same behaviors went on to live the lives of Ivy League graduates. This insight has allowed Preston to witness first hand how our world is shaped by social constructs through discourse, the language we use. He believes that these patterns in human behavior are caused by “historical and social programming” and that we need to become aware of these mechanisms so that we can see and focus on what’s truly important.“We build worlds with our language and I’m constantly asking myself what type of world am I building with the language I’m using? - Preston SmilesPutting an End to Suffering“You have a duty in your world, in your context, in your framework to shine your light as bright as possible because people are freaking suffering right now.” - Preston SmilesWe explore the details of a worrisome phenomenon called “deaths of despair”, first recognized in the United States but its indicators have been documented also in Great Britain, Australia, and other Western cultures well. It is identified as a pattern of suicides and opioid-related deaths in parts of the population which is plagued by despair due to a bleak economic and social situation. This is such a broad issue that affects big portions of our society and that is why Preston calls for us to act preventatively and act as protectors of our society’s mental health.“I think it’s just deeply important that we all just shine our light as bright as we possibly can. Because we never know who, at the coffee shop that you go to daily, at the cubicle next to you that you work with, who needs that extra smile, who needs that pat on the back, who needs that hug that you’ve been withholding, who needs that permission slip.” - Preston SmilesBlessings in Disguise“Even the worst stuff that we can name on this planet, has been some of the most beautiful, biggest blessings that people have experienced in themselves.” - Preston Smiles

Our guest for this week is Emeli Paulo, purpose coach, wellbeing activist and founder of Collective Potential.In the last 20 years, Emeli has been working hard on helping people unleash their full potential. She has developed unique internal processes in order to unmask the best version of herself and she will teach you how to apply them to your situation as well. Emeli founded Collective Potential and their main goal is preventative mental health. Her organization allows people to discover their agency and provides them with a supportive community.Her work has been supported by spiritual and business icons such as Oprah Winfrey, Sir Richard Branson, Russell Brand, and Dalai Lama! They have encouraged her and gave her the confidence to create Australia's first united wellbeing movement. Throughout her career, Emeli had the opportunity to work with around 300 000 clients, helping them discover their purpose in life. She was also involved in the organization of over 10 000 workshops, seminars and special events where she had an opportunity to address people directly and across the globe. On her long list of specialties, we can find skills such as professional speaking, presentation skills facilitation skills, team building, culture change and transformation, leadership development.Connect with Emeli:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/collectivepotentialLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emeli-paulo-491a3a13/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/collectivepotential/Website: http://www.collectivepotential.com.auEmeli’s Story of Inspired EvolutionThe event that inspired Emeli to become what she is today was so dramatic that it sounds like something taken from a plot of a Hollywood movie. She was unsuspectingly standing on the street corner when she saw a young woman throw herself in front of a moving car. Luckily, the driver somehow managed to hit the breaks just in time. As Emeli approached her to provide comfort and attempt to calm her down, she learned that the young woman in the street was actually a victim of domestic abuse. She has been driven to the end of her rope, with no one to turn too. Emeli empathized with this woman’s story and she provided her with support when the health and justice system would not. She gave her a place to stay and was there for her in her time of need.As years went by the woman was able to get her life on track and she is confident Emeli played a crucial role in her recovery. From this experience, Emeli discovered her calling and went into the business of purpose coaching with a strong focus on preventative mental health.Emeli is no stranger to adversity. She had lost both of her parents in her youth and sought comfort in the use of drugs. But recreational use slowly but surely masked the problem of addiction she was struggling with.“I had some major addictions in my life… It’s taken me years to pull myself out of the addictions that I’ve had around drug taking and alcoholism.” - Emeli PauloShe was in a bad place but someone saw potential and put their trust in her the way she will go on to do for many. Jim Stynes was a famous AFL footballer and he was the first and only non-Australian-born player to win the Brownlow Medal. After his career in sports, he made his way into philanthropy by co-founding The Reach Foundation which is a youth not-for-profit organization. It was also the place where Emeli developed her skills as an experiential facilitator trainer.Jim Stynes passed away after a struggle with cancer and his death hit Emeli hard along with the rest of the team. However, she knew it was up to her to continue his work and give support to those who need it most.“When he passed away, I knew that I had to continue his work and his legacy to young people.” - Emeli PauloIn her eventful career, she has worked with hundreds of thousands of people but she has also inspired a whole movement of those who are willing to make a difference and help others the same way she is and has been.“I’ve trained over 2000 facilitators in experiential and some people are innate in it and others say I can’t do what you’re doing but you can train into that space.” - Emeli PauloThe Value of Preventative Mental Health“We have an epidemic and I really believe that I can speak the truth to the powers at be after a recent experience that I’ve had because I just think that what you’re doing with Inspired Evolution is saving lives.” - Emeli PauloThis powerful testimonial that Emeli has made about Inspired Evolution is both humbling but also speaking to the point of the alignment in our goals. Collective potential deals in preventative mental health in many different ways and Emeli provides us with insight into the international work she has performed over the years. By helping people find their “why” and discover their true purpose while providing them with the tools and empowering them to strive towards it, Emeli has managed to create a wave of wellbeing both domestically and internationally. The posit

Our guest for this week is Tristan Bray, a regression therapist and founder of Attunement Therapy.Tristan has over 13 years of experience in working as a regression therapist. The skills he has in his repertoire are derived from many different fields, and aside from psychotherapy, he utilizes his knowledge of meditation, quantum healing, cell biology, epigenetics, kinesiology, psychopharmacology, sexual health, diet, detox, philosophy, metaphysics, Taoism, shamanism, entheogens, kung fu, and modern medical science to consult and provide assistance to his clients. His work is well-known by the brand name “An Opportunity to Heal”.His work is built on the notion that our capacity to heal is limitless. Tristan has been our guest on two separate occasions and in our past conversations here on Inspired Evolution, we’ve already covered some aspects of his approach and we have gone over an array of interesting topics for you to explore. You can check out the first episode here! And once you’ve done that, you can listen to the second one here!On his charming third time around at Inspired Evolution, we learn all about Attunement Therapy which is a “modern healing modality based on some of the most ancient biological principals relevant to human physical and emotional health.” It can be interpreted as Tristan’s response to poor emotional health and lack of wellness of the people living in the modern world. His approach is based around the significance that human touch and its inherent potential to evoke healing. Throughout the session in Attunement Therapy, the client is being held by the practitioner and softly guided by affirmations. The therapy itself is meant to transform the ingrained brain and behavioral patterning in order to help you overcome deep insecurities and take a stop fixating on past experiences which can only bring you harm.Connect with Tristan:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tristanb2Attunement Therapy: https://www.facebook.com/attunementtherapy/Email: [email protected]: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLhsAReEDJ-Hf8_NrGIT-fwWhat Is Attunement Therapy?“Attunement, the definition, is almost like a sharing of emotional spaces.” - Tristan BrayWe dive deep into the fundamentals and basic principles of Tristan’s Attunement Therapy and he goes on to explain the evolutional, psychological and neurophysiological background which supports and structures his approach. While discussing the role which subconsciousness plays in our development, Tristan reflects on the teachings of Dr. Bruce Lipton. From there, we go to direct analysis of how a child’s brain is developed through the activation of mirror neurons once again recognizing the value of the subconscious. The vast yet flexible intelligence children posses in the early stages of their life allow them to make connections with their parents.“Attunement is based on this connection with your parents. And the reason I call it Attunement Therapy is that it reevokes this experience for adults.” - Tristan BrayAttunement Therapy extrapolates from the needs of children and attempts to respond to those needs in a unique way later on in life. Each session is up to 3 hours long and the therapy is carried out through several stages. In the first one, the practitioner familiarizes themselves with the client and their current situation, trying to pinpoint their issues and unsatisfied needs. The second stage is all about making an introductory connection with the client which is done through hand holding and gazing into each other's eyes. This part of the session allows the practitioner to build an “energetic rapport” as Tristan puts it.“People suddenly have these things come up that are unresolved, once they’re being held.” - Tristan BrayTristan uses neurophysiological studies and theories to highlight the importance of non-sexual physical connection for development and the next stage of the session tries to utilize that power of touch. The clients are being held by the practitioner from 60 to 90 minutes which gently lulls them into a kind of hypnotic state making way for the next step in the process of Attunement Therapy, which includes positive affirmations. The practitioner whispers positive affirmations to the client which reinstate the ideas that they are accepted, cared for, worthy and loved. Since the client is already in a hypnotic-like state, the practitioner is speaking directly to their subconscious mind which is why this technique is so effective and powerful.Controlled Crying and Its Effect on Child DevelopmentControlled crying is one of the parenting techniques that can to this day be spotted in the repertoire of parents. The idea behind it is simple. The child is being left to cry themselves to sleep for as long as they need so that the next time they cry they’ll be able to calm themselves down. That is how the situation looks on the surface but Tristan explains the deeper neurophysiological consequences that controlled crying has on o

Our guest for this week is Kate Cheung, a Kundalini yoga practitioner and teacher.For over 20 years, Kate has been practicing yoga. But when she discovered Kundalini yoga, she found new levels of stillness and a fresh way of connecting with the soul. She has been sharing her knowledge and teachings about Kundalini Yoga and meditation across the US, Europe, and Africa. Kate currently operates under a brand name Courage and Bliss.Kate has a background in corporate managerial roles with most of her work based around innovations in terms of project management. That all happened before she left the hectic city lifestyle to embark on a continuous transformational journey. Among her many career accomplishments, she considers her ability to build and lead high-performing and diverse teams where they feel valued and have had a sense of achievement and fun as something she is most proud of.She offers tailored private classes, group workshops and Skype sessions from Melbourne where she takes pleasure in the transformation her students experience.Connect with Kate:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kate.cheung01Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-cheung-0787a14/Email: [email protected] Page: https://www.facebook.com/courageandblisscollectif/Kate’s Story of Inspired Evolution“I was always doing yoga and I loved it.” - Kate CheungKate was involved with yoga long before she ever went into teaching and even before she discovered Kundalini Yoga in the first place. She shares about her experiences of living a hectic city life but recognizes that she was always drawn to activities such as hiking and cycling around nature with friends where she could either connect with others or connect with herself. She discovered Kundalini Yoga and decided to give it a chance.“What I did not expect was that sense of stillness.” - Kate CheungFrom then on, Kate attended a teacher training course in New Mexico where she could focus on exploring the practice further and dive deep into the subject of Kundalini Yoga. Becoming a teacher was not really the focal point and she discovered her love for teaching much later in her practices. She also recognizes the journey of the individual as the most important aspect of the process and emphasizes that the teacher is only there to lend a helping hand and gently guide the student.“I’m just a facilitator, it’s about your experience.” - Kate CheungKundalini Yoga“Kundalini Yoga has been around for thousands of years… Kundalini Yoga means Yoga of Awareness.” - Kate CheungKundalini Yoga is a type of Yoga which focuses on “the awakening of Kundalini energy through a regular practice of mantra, tantra, yantra, yoga or meditation.” Its main goal is to raise awareness of the body and prepare it for the rising of the Kundalini energy.In the podcast, Kate explains the basics of Kundalini Yoga as well as the essential goals of the practice which primarily have to do with achieving a connection with the self, with the soul. She contrasts it to the more intensely physical Yoga which is commonly practiced in the West while describing it is a transformative experience.“I love the stillness. I love the meditative aspect.” - Kate CheungWe’re all aware of the fact that we need to relax and live in the present but the question of how we can achieve this is usually outside of our grasp. Kate recognizes Kundalini Yoga as simply one of the methods of reconnecting with our subconscious. She also vividly recalls and retells her first experience with Kundalini Yoga where she first took part in the meditation and deep relaxation aspect.“In my first class, I sensed that stillness and it was really beautiful.” - Kate CheungThe accent is on the stillness. The accent is on achieving oneness because it is from that integration where the energy can be unleashed.Transforming from the Darkness to the Light“There’s darkness… but there’s light too.” - Kate CheungThrough an open and honest analysis of her own subjective, self-reflective journey, Kate describes the relationship between the good and the bad which is present in all of us. The first step is knowing your weaknesses as well as your strength in order to be able to create both representative and a holistic image of the self.The philosophy of Kundalini Yoga is based on the notion that we can change our thoughts, our feelings, our connections, and our patterns. Essentially, we have the power to “bring ourselves to ecstasy as we’re transformed from darkness to light.”Kate’s Message of Inspired EvolutionYou will inevitably sense the authenticity of Kate’s humbleness while we are discussing very deep, philosophical topics. She is very honest and kind in sharing the insights from her very own experience of connecting with the self and her transformational journey.The conversation has a very soothing and friendly tone, as we discuss intimate topics of trying to understand ourselves better while making a deeper, more meaningful connection. Kate was led to the dis

Our guest for this week is Stephen Jenkinson, a culture activist, teacher, author, ceremonialist and founder of the Orphan Wisdom School.Stephen’s educational background includes masters degrees in Theology and Social Work. He is renowned for his work regarding grief and dying all over North America. Years of working with people who are either dying or experiencing the loss of a loved one have given him profound insight into how we perceive, interpret and deal with death. Throughout his career, he was performing roles such as programme director in a major Canadian hospital and assistant professor in a prominent Canadian medical school. He has also worked as a consultant to palliative care and hospice organizations and educator and advocate in the helping professions.Stephen founded Orphan Wisdom School back in 2010, a teaching house and a learning house for the skills of deep living and making human culture. The name “orphan” describes people whose culture has been built upon mass migration, but as Stephen puts it “not knowing where you are from is not the same thing as being from nowhere”. The philosophy of Orphan Wisdom School is rooted in “knowing history, being claimed by ancestry and working for a time we may not see”.He was also the subject of the feature-length documentary film titled “Griefwalker” released in 2008. In the film, you get to experience and witness not only Stephen’s work and teachings of palliative care but his thoughts on culture, community, and the need for elders. He has produced a 10 part series called “The Haiku Sessions” which are created based on his live recorded teachings.Stephen has authored two books. In 2015, he published “Die Wise: A Manifesto for Sanity and Soul” which works as a guide for dying well by learning the right skills through the process of living well. His latest book is called “Come of Age: The Case for Elderhood in a Time of Trouble”. It was released in 2018 and in it, Stephen makes the case for birthing “a new generation of elders, one poised and willing to be true stewards of the planet and its species”.For the next several weeks, Stephen will be touring Australia and New Zealand with his latest book. You can expect events such as author reading and reportage, all day talks and festival appearances. Check out the dates of his tour here!Connect with Stephen:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/orphanwisdom/Website: https://orphanwisdom.com/Stephen’s Journey of Inspired Evolution“Anyone who speaks with authority about one’s own life has been reading the wrong mail.” - Stephen JenkinsonStephen plays an active role in something that he likes to call “the death trade”. To give a better explanation of what he means by that, he takes us back to a moment in his life when it all began. He was approached with an offer and the idea behind it was that Stephen would organize a support group for men who were having trouble coping with losing important people in their lives.“I would take the little job which was to do a six-week group for these guys and I didn’t have any idea what I was going to do.” - Stephen JenkinsonEven though he wasn’t a “corporate guy”, he decided not to pass on an opportunity to help others in their time of need. But he was faced with a new conundrum. It became pretty clear to him that men aren’t that open to participating in emotional support groups that were exclusively for men. Most people would either give up in a situation like this, or try to change the conditions of their role, but Stephen actually saw potential in this particular challenge. He knew that even though he would have to face some drawbacks and that people would be reluctant to join his group, he also knew that all of these men were sharing the same situation and had several characteristics that would allow them to bond.“That’s the group it’s going to be. A men’s group for men who don’t want to be in a group for men.” - Stephen JenkinsonStephen managed to persuade and form a group that had around 7 or 8 members in the beginning. After a few sessions, it became apparent to Stephen that the main topic they should devote their time to in their discussions is anger. Because even though anger is a perfectly natural response, it has been completely rejected by Western society. He noticed that the members of his group were very reliant on their anger but were also very ashamed for feeling and responding in such a way to the situation they’re in.“They were so good at anger, basically, to cover something that they had very little practice at and that was the art and the skillfulness of being sad.” - Stephen JenkinsonThe shift in the topic actually resulted in the group being dubbed as “Sad School” but the value of these meetings is reflected in the fact that the six-week group ended up lasting around 18 months. It was there that Stephen had found his calling and discovered a new sense of purpose.What Does It Mean to Be an Elder?The variety and scale of topics discussed in this podcast surp

Our guest for this week is Psyman OChen, a nomadic traveler and adventurer who has traveled 47 000 km in 3 years, mostly by hitchhiking.Back in 2013, Psyman embarked on a journey seemingly without a cause nor an endpoint. His experience started as a response to the anxiety he felt when he realized he had to make an important decision about how he wanted to live his life. He was aware that he only had one go at this wild game and the road seemed to call out to him, presenting a perfect solution. Even though his anxieties and fears were only substituted with new ones coming from questions like “Where am I going to sleep tonight?” or “What am I going to eat tomorrow?”, he pressed on.Psyman became accustomed to the conditions as he found that connecting with people in new settings allowed him to release all the tension he would normally feel in these unusual circumstances. Throughout his 3 year journey, he’s traveled across Asia, Africa, and Australia, playing his guitar, making art installations, meeting new friends and earning nicknames along the way such as Hamlet, Moses, Noah, Jesus, Guitar Jesus, Robinson Crusoe, Chuck Norris, Funny Man and many more. He traveled more than 47 000 km encountering all kinds of situations, some of which you can read about on his blog called The Nomadic Diaries. He is currently working on a book as well as preparing a documentary.Connect with Psyman:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/simon.o.chenYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7G20d67A_Htj2plbDABB7A vWebsite: https://thenomadicdiaries.wordpress.com/Psyman’s Story of Inspired Evolution“I went on a walkabout 5 years ago.” - Psyman OChenBefore his epic journey across three continents that would change the course of his life, Psyman was working in hospitality. His experience in this field is not one he remembers fondly as he was pushed by his employer to the point of having to quit and try his luck elsewhere. As things usually go in life, periods of difficulty are also opportunities to reflect and search within ourselves for what’s really important to us in life. And through self-reflection, Psyman realized that his aspirations were never aimed at achieving financial wealth. After a period of intense pondering, the answer simply came to him and he knew what he had to do.“I need to hit the road. I need to travel, I need to see the world. I need to step outside of society and observe it.” - Psyman OChenHe sought to spread the message of helping the environment but needed to figure out a way to travel the world without money. Using the principles of barter economy and hitchhiking he managed to cross a staggering 47 000 km, starting with Melbourne and finishing his journey in Israel.The Benefits of Crossing Borders on the Road“When you fly, it’s quite a shock when you go to a new land because all airports are built the same. It’s just a shopping center with busses with wings.” - Psyman OChenPsyman highlights the difference between entering a new country by land and by plain, via an airport. He describes the phenomenon of cultural shock you feel when you experience a social setting that is vastly different from what you’re used to by simply going through the exit doors at the airport. He argues that a much better way to travel is to change the process of your surroundings was done gradually. Your mind will have the time to adjust to subtle differences and you wouldn’t feel like your brain is bombarded with all this new information that you have to process like listening to a new language you don’t understand yet for example.“Whereas you travel by land, you gradually enter cultures because every culture is quite similar from the one you left to the one you’re entering.” - Psyman OChenShowing Hospitality Towards Foreigners“People will go out of their way to help out a foreigner to show to them: ‘Hey, we’re not like we’re portrayed in the news.’, but then why don’t they do that to their neighbor?” - Psyman OChenOn his travels, Psyman has visited numerous countries across three continents and has discovered friends and was blessed with hospitality everywhere he went. He was very touched by the fact that people were so giving and kind to a man they’ve only just met, but a question always came to his mind as a reaction to this unexpected kindness. Why are people reluctant to treat their neighbors the same way? It is a pattern that he spotted in most countries, even though it might sound counter-intuitive at first. He also talks about how this gregarious experiences across the world changed his perception and his behavior in mundane situations when he came home to Australia.Psyman’s Message of Inspired EvolutionAside from being a great conversation about the amazing experiences of traveling across three continents and exploring different cultures, this podcast also presents valuable insight for all those who are bothered and looking for a way of overcoming difficult times, personal crises and dealing with anxiety. Surely, one who h

Our guest for this week is David O’Brien, fitness manager, and co-founder of 5th Element Wellness.David approaches the question of achieving fitness and health with a goal of combining knowledge and perfecting his own personal theory. He prefers to take into account various standpoints seemingly opposite or different and figure out a way how to connect them into a system that utilizes the benefits of each method. But building on this holistic approach further, he understands the fact that not every solution fits perfectly with every person. He recognizes individual differences in terms of health and fitness based on unique needs and requirements.He co-founded 5th Element Wellness with the idea of providing a holistic approach to health and fitness. His company is a world-class health club, which provides all the knowledge and tools to achieve great results and optimal wellness. This is David’s second time on our show! In our previous episode, we talked all about the 5 elements of wellness. We also discussed David O’Brien’s habits, hacks, philosophies, and tools that have formed the threads of his success, happiness, health, and wealth. Check out the full episode here!Connect with David:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/david.obrien.106902LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-o-brien-38350176/Website: https://www.5ew.com.au/Building Strength“Strength is like the seed. So you want to plant the seed… watch it grow, and let all the other fundamental things build around it.” - David O’BrienOut of the 5 elements of wellness, David places building strength to the very core of any approach involved with improving your well-being. He goes into details of why we need to focus on developing muscle fiber and how it affects other aspects of our performance and health. David also reflects on the connection between strength and movement, explaining in much detail how we can apply an exercise plan based on complex movements in order to get the most out of our workouts.Detoxification and Gut Health“Detoxification starts in the gut and it finishes in the gut.” - David O’BrienDavid debunks the classical understanding that focuses all of the responsibility of the detoxification process on the liver. He introduces to us the importance of gut lining and the role it plays as part of our immune system. He uses a lovely waterfall analogy to explain the process of digestion and all of the elements that play their part in determining our level of gut health. It’s quite intuitive that nutrition has an enormous impact on our gut health. But David reflects also on stress management and how that can also be of great importance in this segment of achieving wellness. At this point in the podcast, you get to witness what the holistic approach to health is all about. We move the narrative to the psychological and explore the connection between emotions and the subsequent effect they have on the gut lining. Listen to the full podcast to find out which 4 key emotions play a role in protecting your immune system!Is Stress Necessarily Bad?“What I need to listen and to understand as well… I mean I’ve gone through this period myself, is where we sort of demonize stress.” - David O’BrienThere’s a tendency in our society, whether we’re talking about our work or private life, that we need to avoid stress at all cost. David defines this as the “demonization of stress”, arguing that, in fact, stress plays a very important role in our development. Using the analogy of a seesaw, he explains how our organism goes through these periodical changes in terms of needs, and he suggests that at times we’re going to have to be eating more, and at other times we should be eating less. As usual, David goes into meticulous details to provide scientific arguments and explanations for his claims, and we talk a lot about hormone production, physiological effects of fasting, and the connection between resilience and stress. Bottom line is that stress can have a positive influence on our health and our development, but it needs to come in specific shapes and forms. The scientific term for this type of stress is eustress.“It’s all about repair and recover so that, when we face that stress response again… your stress resilience is better.” - David O’BrienBlue Zone Analysis: In Pursuit of Longevity“Last year we actually did our first retreat to a Blue Zone area and we actually went to Sardinia where they have some of the highest longevity statistics in the world.” - David O’BrienBlue Zones are parts of the world where the average life expectancy is much higher than in other areas. Dan Buettner has identified five blue zones which are: Okinawa (Japan)Sardinia (Italy)Nicoya (Costa Rica)Icaria (Greece) Areas populated by the Seventh-day Adventists in Loma Linda, CaliforniaDavid intends to study these areas in order to discover patterns and try to incorporate them in his personal, ever-expanding theory of health and fitness. In this section of the podcast, he goes on to

Our guest for this week is Steve Cotter, a renowned personal trainer, and founder of the International Kettlebell and Fitness Federation.Steve has been a part of the fitness industry for over 30 years. He perfected his knowledge and skills about strengthening and physical conditioning of the human body through the practice of many different disciplines including martial arts, qigong, mobility, flexibility, and Kettlebell training. He founded the International Kettlebell and Fitness Federation with a goal of promoting Kettlebell training on a global scale, but also to provide the support for people interested in developing the skills necessary for accelerating a fitness-oriented business. Steve is determined to teach and share his unique story with a goal of promoting health, happiness, and longevity through fitness.Aside from being a certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, Steve has made his mark as an athlete in several fields. One of his impressive recognitions is a bronze medal at 1996 World Kuoshu Games in Taiwan and he has held the title of the US Full Contact Champion twice. He also captained the first ever USA Team to compete in World Championships of Girevoy Sport. As a personal trainer, he is well-known for working with elite athletes, professional football teams, Navy SEALs, and members of the U.S. Marine Corps.Steve is one of the most renowned Kettlebell promoters in the world. He wrote a book called “Kettlebell Training”, a guide for using the Kettlebell for improving your strength, stamina, coordination, and overall fitness. It offers 95 exercises accompanied by step-by-step instructions on how to perform them correctly and getting the most out of each exercise. In 2011, he released a DVD-series titled Extreme Kettlebell Workout which demonstrates over 100 techniques and 10 workouts, covering topics such as muscle building, core development, and cardio.Connect with Steve:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stevecotter.ikff.1Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevecotterikff/?hl=enTwitter: https://twitter.com/SteveCotterIKFF?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5EauthorWebsite: http://ikff.netSteve’s Story of Inspired Evolution“I’m an artist, I’m a movement artist. By trade, my foundation is in the martial arts and essentially, the study of the martial, which is the warfare is so that we don’t have to fight.” - Steve CotterSteve was brought up in the physical culture and got involved with martial arts at the young age of 12. He then taught martial art professionally in his youth, but in his late twenties realized that it was time to look for a different career path and a new challenge. Through everyday training, he has built up a strong foundation for a shift towards the fitness side of things. He went on to get a Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology from the San Diego State University and moved in the direction of personal training.Around the early 2000s, Steve became one of the early adopters of Kettlebell training, which opened up an entirely new world for him. The practice of using Kettlebells was several hundred years old at the time but Steve saw an opportunity to promote it all over the world, not just in the US.“What I’ve evolved to understand is that everything is mental.” - Steve CotterThroughout his career, Steve has continuously developed a closer understanding of the mental side of fitness and how it related to overall health. Although recognizing the essential part the body plays in exercise, he became vastly more interested in the role of the mind. He describes the body as the “vehicle” that we need to take care of but also points out that having a fit body doesn’t necessarily guarantee a healthy life.“What I observed is that in many cases, a person can be fit but not be healthy. They can show certain external parameters of fitness but internally they may be miserable because of certain lifestyle habits or largely because of beliefs.” - Steve CotterSteve went on to develop the concept of health-happiness, recognizing it as our highest potential with an end goal of becoming more present and mindful.The Power of Breathing and Controlling the Breath“Most fundamental of all - everybody breathes. So the first technique and the last technique is breathing.” - Steve CotterSteve provides us with his own interpretation of the mind-body-and-spirit trinity, molding it into something that could be closer to our experience which is mind, body, and breath. He goes on to explain how the body is something we recognize as very tactile, the mind is understood through the concept of consciousness but he introduces breath as the connection between the two. By harmonizing the breath with the movement we are given with an opportunity for integrating the body and the mind.“The breath is the connection between the mind and the body.” - Steve CotterThe Role Vitality Plays in Liberating Consciousness“Within the vital is the ‘I’… and it’s ‘IT’ and it’s ‘ALL’.” - Steve CotterWe’ve discussed the

Our guest for this week is Zenith Virago, an educator, facilitator, consultant, speaker, author, marriage celebrant, and Deathwalker.Zenith has been working as a Deathwalker for the past 25 years, meaning that she has provided emotional support as well as legal and practical assistance to the families in her community who have either suffered or were about to suffer a tragic loss. She uses a somatic approach to consult the members of her community and educate them on the subject of death and dying. She believes that all of us have the capacity to comprehend and deal with death and her work is built around that notion of reconnecting with those secluded parts of our soul. Zenith has also co-founded the Natural Death Care Centre, an incorporated association and a registered Charity, founded around the belief of living well, dying well and experiencing loss well.Zenith has co-authored a book titled “The Intimacy of Death and Dying”, a book full of practical strategies and heartfelt advice on dealing in situations concerning death. From understanding personal grief to providing support for others in their time of need to approaches in educating children about the concept of death.In 2015, a documentary was made about Zenith titled “Zen & the Art of Dying”. It follows her story and reveals insight into her dealings as a Deathwalker of the town Byron Bay, Australia. The movie provides a great opportunity for reexamining the way we live, love and die while encouraging us to take a more active role in all three.Connect with Zenith:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zenith.viragoLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zenith-virago-22b62a96/?locale=de_DEWebsite: https://www.zenithvirago.com/Zenith’s Story of Inspired Evolution“Death is a natural and sacred part of our lives.” - Zenith ViragoZenith has a professional background of working in law, more precisely as a paralegal. She lives in Byron Bay, which is a coastal town in the southeastern Australian state of New South Wales. It is there where she became a marriage and death celebrant and she has performed the services and the role of a Deathwalker for the past 25 years. A Deathwalker is a person who provides assistance and support to those who are dealing with death either through the passing of a loved one or who are expecting to die themselves.“I come and I offer them whatever I can in experience.” - Zenith ViragoAs a community, with Zenith’s help, the people of Byron Bay have managed to create their own culture around the process of dying. They are well acquainted with the legalities and their rights which makes them empowered when it comes to dealing with death. Each year they organize a festival called “The Day of the Dead” in celebration of life, death, love and with a goal of providing comfort and closure to those who have lost an important person in their lives.“My currency is kindness. So I’m trading in kindness every day, all day and the rewards, internally and externally, and in ways that I never even know, in a ripple out effect are boundless.” - Zenith ViragoZenith describes how and why she became a death celebrant. She had lost a dear friend and her death was very unexpected. She proceeds to explain the whole process including the preparation of the body to be buried, all the way through the actual burial ceremony. Zenith points out that all of the steps you go through in terms of preparing the body of a loved one to be laid to rest has a sort of a therapeutic effect on everyone involved.“We reclaimed that death process with her and it really changed the way we experienced her loss. So we were sad and we were shocked but we felt empowered because we’ve given her the sort of ceremony that she would’ve wanted and that we needed.” - Zenith ViragoThe Death Equation“Each death has an equation… It depends on who that person is and how they die... who you are, and your relationship to them, and your experience of death so far.” - Zenith ViragoDeath of a loved one leaves a mark. It affects our lives from that moment on. What that person or creature meant to us will be the first part of the equation that will determine the outcome of that effect. How they died is another. It’s not the same if we lose someone in an instant, unexpectedly, or due to a long illness, when we got a chance to live with the expectation of losing them. Finally, our understanding and relationship the death will mold everything together. How we perceive death, what we think happens, will shape the way we receive the information that someone has died and how long will it take for us to accept it. It is exactly this last part of the equation that we can directly work with in a way that allows us to adapt and better deal with the loss we’ve experienced.Zenith’s Message of Inspired EvolutionDeath is a taboo subject for most of us because it bears a lot of uncertainty, it’s connected to the concept of loss and it inevitably evokes anxiety and fear. Zenith’s story shows that there is an a

Our guest for this week is Pana Barbounis, a chocolatier, entrepreneur, and founder of Pana Organic.Pana has always been extremely passionate about food. He’s acquired over 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry. But, in 2011, with a base in Melbourne, Australia, he started his very own brand of raw, vegan, organic, Fairtrade and certified as kosher and halal chocolate called Pana Chocolate. Today his chocolate is being sold worldwide and they’re also offering other organic products like dairy-free ice-cream. Pana Chocolate is cooperating with some of the worlds biggest brands such as Virgin Airlines and their chocolate is also available in large venues such as the Etihad sports stadium in Melbourne.Pana Organic is a highly environmentally aware company and is also involved with a lot of tree planting charities. To this day, Pana’s organization has planted over 60 000 trees, raising the bar each year.Pana has also published a book of recipes called “Pana Chocolate, the Recipes” which is a collection of 70 recipes for vegans and healthy-aware sweet tooths. It teaches you how to make some of the most amazing desserts, from cakes and dishes for kid’s parties to traditional raw chocolate recipes that will take your breath away. It also features the story of the Pana Chocolate company and how they managed to reach a global following making a product that avoids all preservatives, dairy, gluten, soy, refined sugar yet still tastes incredible!Connect with Pana:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pana.barbounisWebsite: https://pana-organic.com/Pana’s Story of Inspired Evolution“Even though I’ve been successful, essentially, in some people’s eyes, from a financial [point of view], I felt unfulfilled in a lot of ways and I always felt like I was just doing things for the sake of it.” - Pana BarbounisPana Chocolate wasn’t built in a day. Even though he was always fascinated by food and he was working with it for quite some time, Pana realized that he was to some extent not living the life he was supposed to. His story is another proof that success is what we make of it, and that each person has their own definition they need to live their life by. It is only then when we truly get a chance to shine.So, Pana took a couple of years of sabbatical, and in that time the world kept leaving little signs along the road for him which teased what’s yet to come. He was introduced to raw chocolate by a friend and having seen the movie Chocolat, he was already in the mood for getting involved with making one of the most popular treats. He visited the UK and trained for some time in Belgium with some traditional chocolate makers, but upon returning to Melbourne, locked himself in a room for 6 months and experimented with different recipes on a daily basis.His very first batch of chocolate had a lot of similar qualities of the Pana Chocolates you can buy in different stores and venues across the world today. It was handmade, raw, hand wrapped with hidden messages of love inside it. But thankfully, he no longer has to distribute them himself on a Vespa!“I wanted that experience, I wanted those touchpoints from the moment you touch the cardboard.” - Pana BarbounisSearching for a Deeper Meaning in Your Work“Money isn’t everything. It can bring some happiness but it doesn’t make happiness.” - Pana BarbounisPana wasn’t always motivated by his intrinsic values. He had to go through a phase of trying to make your ends meet striving for financial security like most of us. At some points in his career, it felt like he was too focused on the wrong things. He mentions that if you’re placing too much attention on competition and what everybody else thinks, it’s pretty easy to get into an unhealthy mindset and neglect the things that are most important to you.Around the same time he discovered his true passion, he started developing a new kind of relationship with money. His company values reflect these same ideas, where the most important thing is creating a quality product which comes from a place of love, while also being environmentally conscious. It’s all about being able to make mistakes and learn from them and nurture good relationships in a team.“As long as things don’t become too corporate-y, I’m still here to help.” - Pana BarbounisPana’s Message of Inspired EvolutionPana’s professional journey is also a very spiritual one and demonstrates what we as humans are able to achieve when our work comes from a place of love. He took the time to figure out what he wanted to do in life and from that soul-searching adventure came a brand new one. To this day, Pana is continuously reinventing himself while being guided by the same core values that led to him creating his life’s work. His words of inspiration for us dive deep into the fundamentals of the creative process:“Stay true to yourself… Believe in yourself and believe in your own intuition of what you’re creating.” - Pana BarbounisSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/ins

Our guest for this week is Dr. Espen Hjalmby, a wellness educator, business strategist, speaker, ‘conscious business’ consultant and an official Australia’s Ninja Warrior.Dr. Espen comes from Norway, but he has moved to Australia in order to pursue his academic career. Over the years he’s acquired degrees in degrees in DipPhysEd for Teaching, HIVE, BApp Sci and MClinChiro RMIT. In 2009, he became a fully qualified Doctor of Chiropractic. His journey then led to him on the path of co-founding Bonfire Health Group, which is now the largest hot yoga and well-being studios in Australasia and is helping over 5000 people each week. Having worked with over 10 000 patients, he decided to retire from clinical practice in 2015. From then on his career focused on speaking, researching and teaching the science, art, and philosophy of wellness, longevity, detox, weight loss, muscle and fitness, personal power and personal development, mindset, spirituality as well as the powerful principles of business and wealth mastery. He is using his personal as well as academic experience to help people who wish to take their business and finance to a whole new level. Dr. Espen’s website is offering a range of programs and products for improving your business and health, as well as personal, group and VIP coaching sessions.In 2006 he suffered from very serious injuries which he managed to come back from through what can only be demonstrated the sheer power of human will. After a long and demanding period of rehabilitation, he was able to bring his body from the brink of doom to a state of such physical wellness. All of his endeavors reached new heights with him becoming an official Australian Ninja Warrior. You can watch his incredible run here!Connect with Dr. Espen:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drespenhjalmby/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-espen-hjalmby-356aab37/ Website: https://www.drespen.com Dr. Espen’s Story of Inspired EvolutionEspen’s heartbreaking origin story begins far in the snowy parts of Norway and starts to take an unpredictable turn somewhere around the age of 8. One night, Espen woke up to found his brother passed away in his bed. Two years later, he welcomed a sister into the family, yet she was also preparing for a difficult journey of her own as she was born with a disability. In years to come, he and his family have been dealing with an incredible amount of adversity.“When we experience hardship, it’s very easy to blame, it’s very easy to not see how it’s happening for us as a part of our spiritual contract, as I believe.” - Dr. Espen HjalmbyIt’s hard to imagine how in the whole scenario, knowing what we know now, that his struggles weren't even close to dimming down. In his youth, he’s used alcohol and drugs as a way of coping and in 2006 he found himself as a student in Melbourne, Australia. One day, on his way to work, he lost control of his bike as he slid into some gravel on the side of the road. He was thrown into the air and he ended up fracturing his both legs and breaking his pelvis.Espen was taken to a hospital where he had metal pins and rods placed into his body in a doctor’s attempt to put him back together. Sadly, he caught a multiresistant bacterial infection as a result of poor sanitation conditions of the hospital at the time. He was put on a range of very strong antibiotics which caused his healthy gut bacteria levels to go down rapidly, and he ended up losing 15kg in just 3 months.“When you are in the deepest pit of the pain of your life, in that essence your purpose is revealed.” - Dr. Espen Hjalmby Haunted by a threat of losing his right leg due to infection, Espen realized that his salvation was up to him and no one else. He ripped out the IV from his arm and from then on embarked on a personal healing journey. He drew strength from his 12 years of experience as a wellness trainer and nutritionist. Relying heavily on organic nutrition and superfoods, meditation, essential nutrient supplementation, detox, prayer, mindset, and my daily exercise regime, all while falling in and out of consciousness. After an excruciating 3-week period, Espen managed to beat the infection all on his own, true dedication and will, and the techniques he used became a foundation for his some of many programs he is offering to the world today.‘Unlearning’: Rejecting the Conditioned and Limiting Beliefs“It’s not so much what we have to learn it’s what we have to unlearn.” - Dr. Espen HjalmbyA huge part of Dr. Espen’s personal journey is being able to ‘unlearn’ what you’ve previously been conditioned to believe it is so. The whole portion of knowing when to take another path was crucial for his rehabilitation process. If he weren’t able to take destiny into his own two hands, who knows what would have happened with his infection, his body, and his life in the end. He points out that 95% of what we have already said to ourselves today, we’re likely to repeat the next day. The essence of transformatio

Our guest for this week is Bianca de Reus, an animal communicator, soul coach, spiritual activist, speaker, author, shambala and reiki master.Bianca helps and teaches animal lovers how to make deep, meaningful connections with animals by tuning into animal language. In 2012, she created the ‘Connecting Soul Beings Institute’ in order to teach people how to bring themselves onto the same frequency with animals, and create a deep, intuitive understanding of each other. The main goal of her teachings is contributing to a world where both animals and humans experience love, harmony, and joy together.Bianca is also an author and she released a book in 2018 titled “Hello? Can You Hear Me?”. It’s an amazing explorative journey of animal language, connection, relationships, and spiritual abilities. The book provides insight into her own personal journey of tapping into the energetic world and connecting with animals on an entirely different level. It teaches the approach and the techniques while inspiring you to take action and establish a deep connection with their animal companions.She is based in Sydney, Australia and runs her business with a vegan, ethical philosophy. She lives with her wife, son and two very cute and cuddly dogs. ​Connect with Bianca:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BiancadeReusInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/bianca.dereus/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/biancadereusWebsite: http://www.connectingsoulbeings.com/Bianca’s Story of Inspired EvolutionBianca’s professional background is in corporate finance, but in 2011 she experienced a life-changing moment when she encountered a snake during a bush walk. While on a lunch break with a friend, a voice popped into her head saying: “Hello! Can you hear me?”, a moment that will inspire a book of the same name 7 years later. A conversation went on in her mind, where the snake let her know of her presence, but didn’t want to show itself because it would scare her friend. The snake went on to say: “You need to go out into the world, and do your job.”Bianca was flabbergasted by the whole experience but when she asked her friend if she was afraid of snakes, her petrified reaction was confirmation enough and what had happened will determine the course of her professional and personal journey. From that moment, she went on to explore her gift and learn more about communicating and making a deeper connection with animals.“I think the easiest way to explain it is to compare it with tuning into a radio station.” - Bianca de ReusShe learned how to tune into their frequencies and how to open herself up, but more importantly, how to close herself off and not get overwhelmed by messages since animals are all around us at all times.Bianca is looking to pass on her gift and teach animal lovers and service providers how to connect with their animals on a much deeper, more fulfilling level.Connecting with Yourself Before Connecting with OthersIn her teachings, Bianca starts the journey by providing the tools for getting in touch with yourself before being able to open your true self for others. She achieves that through meditation and through shifting the focus from our understanding of ourselves as human beings to realizing ourselves as soul beings. The process manifests and results in calmness and feelings of unconditional love. Bianca goes on to explain that this state is the precondition for being able to connect with animals and understand their language.“People can receive the information in different ways… How you learn best is also most likely, how you most likely will receive the information that the animal is telling you, or sharing with you.” - Bianca de ReusBianca combines this heightened sense of vibration with reiki, which enables her to experience and explore the relationship with animals further.Dealing with Scepticism“It’s all good. It’s all OK. Everybody has different levels of experience and beliefs and values, and I’m not here to judge that. All I can do is share what I know, keep serving in the way that I do and those people will come along.” - Bianca de ReusBianca has encountered a certain amount of skepticism when encountering people on her mission to serve and educate. Her approach in those situations doesn’t stray from her message of love and understanding towards building a world of connectedness and mutual joy. She believes it is all a matter of witnessing and being exposed to a specific moment which will open up a world of deeper functioning and allow those who hold a skeptic view to experience something new and different. She describes an interaction during one of her sessions with a person who seemed closed off to the insights and knowledge she was offering. Nevertheless, by guiding him through a particular exercise, she was able to broaden his perspective, open him to a new world of possibilities and the interaction even resulted in him buying her book!“People come on their journey when they are ready. People will come to the

Our guest for this week is Adam Roa, an internationally touring spoken word artist, motivational speaker, personal development coach, and conscious filmmaker.Adam’s educational background is a Magna Cum Laude marketing degree from Arizona State University. In 2015, he started a coaching business in the face of adversity. Having no steady income, he left the place he’d been calling home for 7 years and decided to travel the world because his intuition told him to do so. Along came amazing experiences including a 10-day silent meditation retreat in India, building clean-water wells in Tanzania and volunteering at a refugee camp in Greece. Even though he was traveling all over the world, he managed to build a successful business based on transmitting frequency to others who need support in taking a leap of faith and empowering them to become the infinite creators they are.In 2016, while traveling in Bali, he had an idea about creating a podcast. He is currently hosting ‘The Deep Dive Podcast’ with a goal of providing an authentic glimpse into the minds of today’s thought leaders and game changers. Adam is hoping to provide his listeners with an understanding that success and happiness are not about what you think, but how you think.In 2018, he started producing his own YouTube show titled ‘The Art of Choosing Love’. It revolves around his explorational journey he embarked on with his friends (who are also helping him produce the show), after him and his girlfriend, Azrya Cohen, decided to consciously uncouple after 10 years of a loving relationship. He is on a quest to experience the world, create conscious content and achieve his dreams while living life to the fullest and having fun.Connect with Adam:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adam.roa.1Twitter: https://twitter.com/adam_roaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/adam.roa/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoyY9JIaE0Uf08RfjGG0KowWebsite: https://www.adamroa.com/Adam’s Journey of Inspired Evolution“I went through what I refer to as a ‘hollowing-out period’.” - Adam RoaSometime around 5 years ago, it all seemed like it was falling apart for Adam. He was undergoing a complete financial restructuring and trying to start his own business, but as if that weren’t stressful enough, he was involved in a major car accident which left him needing hip surgery with a side of intense migraines. The point where it all cracked was one week after the accident when he saw that his parked rental car had been totaled in a hit and run.In the face of newfound adversity, Adam had to accept that he didn’t have things figured out as much as he’d previously thought. He proceeded to resolve his grueling situation through a series of steps including seeking help and taking action.One of the actions he took was experimenting with Ayahuasca, an entheogenic brew used in traditional spiritual medicine in ceremonies among the indigenous peoples of the Amazon. The visual experience he had during the ritual became his awakening moment. It is a point at which everything shifted, which led him to accept and explore different areas of knowledge he previously found funny or didn’t take seriously. He became a believer because he had an experience which serves him as proof of a higher power and the interconnectedness of our universe.“I have this classically conditioned evidence that my spiritual beliefs are actually effective at creating the life I want to lead.” - Adam RoaScience and Spirituality“The reasons why people are drawn to my message is because I like to play in both realms and understand how it works because I think they’re the same thing.” - Adam RoaLiving through his very own awakening moment has opened up an entirely new world of wisdom and knowledge for Adam. But that doesn’t mean he has left his past beliefs behind, but rather that he discovered something that enriches them and is complementary to what he has known before.“We’re experiencing reality and science and spirituality and the esoteric, they’re actually just languages explaining reality. They’re just explaining it differently.” - Adam RoaHe is diving deep into new topics each day, with his intuition leading the way. By connecting the scientific with the spiritual, he is taking the best out of both worlds and in result gaining a broader perspective with a rich system of interconnected constructs. It has allowed him to take things into his own hands and empowered him to become a creator of his own reality.“At the end of the day, the reality we create is going to be based on what we believe to be true.” - Adam RoaNeed for a New Approach to Education: Living Your Dream“Now you’re seeing this rise of entrepreneurial endeavors and startups and crypto and all these technologies that are supporting entrepreneurs and what we haven’t seen is a massive shift in the way that we’re educating.” - Adam RoaAdam explores the concept of societal conditioning, to the point where our creative nature is being pushed back through educ

Our guest for this week is Adrian Anteros, a flower shaman, perfumer, biodynamic gardener, botanic geometrician, and creator of Pureheart Alchemy.Perfumery runs through Adrian’s veins, even though he created his own business a decade before he realized that was the case. His grandmother was born on the small island of Mo'orea, also known as the “isle of flowers and perfume”. Adrian believes that he inherited all of his gifts, talents and an intimate connection to scent directly from her. Today he is using these gifts to create fragrances which allow the optimum expansive experience: to love who you are.Adrian has traveled the world in hope of perfecting the sacred art of working with plants, but also with an agenda to awaken consciousness. For over 25 years he has cooperated and learned from shamans, elders, modern teachers all over the world including places like Peru, Africa, and Indigenous Australia. Along with his partner Izabella, he founded Pureheart Alchemy, a brand of alchemical creations (including mysts, essences, and rituals oils) with the aim of healing through beauty, raising frequency and creating awareness. They are offering educational and experiential events which create community and explore human consciousness through the healing power of plants. Pureheart Alchemy is only a part of the Pureheart Foundation, a community based non-government organization, which aims to create awareness and healing through humanity's sacred relationship with plants, reveal the benefits of biodynamic gardening and to encourage awareness through Sacred Ritual - supporting greater health, well-being, and consciousness. Connect with Adrian:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pureheart.mysts  Website: https://www.pureheartalchemy.com/ Adrian’s Story of Inspired EvolutionAdrian believes his refined gift of scent was passed down from his Tahitian grandmother. But that innate potential for his sensitivity of smell has developed in the context of his parent's retail business, which exposed him to an abundance of different fragrances and allowed him to experience a plethora of different tastes in a remarkable, multi-cultural setting. From a very young age, he developed a way of understanding the many different ways of how people use scent to communicate with each other.“We used to get a lot of cultures… women with so many different perfumes… there was a lot of traffic, so many different scents that come from all around the globe… and I’m profiling.” - Adrian AnterosHe didn’t take his gifts for granted and he decided to travel the world and learn as much as he can about the sacred relationship between the plants and humans from wise shamans and elders of indigenous regions.“I’d been working with different mediums and natural naturopathy-styled medicines, herbalism as well, that was on site, on farms... things like that which really give you a hands-on, emotional feel of what these plants have to offer.” - Adrian AnterosAnother reason why Adrian turned to plants was that he suffered from severe allergies to any pharmaceutical medicine he’d ever encountered. It’s one of the reasons why he created his own garden, with herbs and plants taking care of him as much as he’s taking care of them, providing him with an alternative to western medicine.“It was almost like a must at first but obviously I incarnated with a certain… configuration that I was… steered towards by it.” - Adrian AnterosCreating a Perfect Individual Perfume“My forte is… creating what I call a DNA-signature perfume.” - Adrian AnterosAnteros recognizes his strongest suit is being able to produce a scent which can match a specific individual and fit them perfectly. In his own words, he is “working with the genetic code”  with a goal of establishing “a very personal, activating, individual perfume”. He is trying to connect with the deepest, most rudimentary aspects of a person and then figure out a way to awaken it by creating just the right fragrance for them. By doing so, he is looking to create a setting for people to fall in love with themselves all over again.“On a more realistic level, it’s alchemy… and all the gnostic, mystic texts talk about stuff like this.” - Adrian AnterosBioresonance“We’re all fluctuating at a different frequency all the time, but there is an optimal level.” - Adrian AnterosBioresonance is a non-invasive therapy method during which a person is connected to a Bicom machine which tracks the energy wavelengths coming from the body and then counteracts bad frequencies. The goal is restoring the body to a natural balance and Adrian believes it can help bring us to levels of higher functioning and the higher-self. He often combines his fragrances and essential oils with this therapy method and in order to further facilitate the process.“Everything you feel, everything you sense is yours.” - Adrian AnterosAdrian’s Message of Inspired EvolutionA conversation with Adrian is a wonderfully mystic ride through both the conscious and su

Connecting Talent to Opportunity with Daniel Tonkin | Inspired Evolution | Amrit SandhuOur guest for this week is Daniel Tonkin, recruitment innovator, author, sales ninja, and current Director of Operations and Strategy Manager of Wow Recruitment Australia.According to Daniel, the journey started way back in August 2008. That is when he got himself involved in the business of sales, marketing, and recruitment. In the past decade, he’s been working hard with a goal of perfecting his skills, having major success along the way. He attributes that success to a key ability he has developed - connecting talent to opportunity. In 2017, along with his partners, he set up a boutique recruitment agency specializing in sales, marketing, and corporate support called Wow Recruitment Australia. He plans to continue down the entrepreneurial route, with the hope of one day being able to share the skills and knowledge he’s acquired over the years, and embark on a new journey in the waters of coaching, consulting and mentorship.Daniel has recently released his first book titled “Shit Happens! Then Rainbows” aiming to “slay procrastination forever”. He offers a fresh outlook and hard insight into the process of achieving your dreams and finding your personal rainbow. Connect with Daniel:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-tonkin-353895144/?originalSubdomain=au Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shithappensthenrainbows/ Website: https://www.shithappensthenrainbows.com.au/Daniel’s Story of Inspired Evolution“When you only see the clouds for a long period of time, sometimes you think the sun is never going to come out.” - Daniel TonkinIn the midst of the global economic crises, a young old Daniel decided to pursue his entrepreneurial dreams no matter what. Armed with the enthusiasm of a 23-year old, he decided to embark on a journey that has been going strong for the last 10 years. Even though it might seem to you that his decision was rushed or not thought out properly, Daniel reveals that this naivety actually worked in his favor to some extent.“Sometimes when you do too much research, you scare yourself out of trying.” - Daniel TonkinHe points out his ability to take action as the crucial element of his success. Working every day and ticking off boxes one by one has allowed him to build momentum and create a progression that has led him to become the person he is today.There have been a lot of ups and downs though. Daniel was not immune to the common missteps we tend to make in our lives, like focusing heavily on the past or our future, neglecting to live life in the moment. He used an interesting, unusually named method he learned from one of his mentors called “brain-dump”.“I just started, literally, before I go to sleep… I just used to dump every single bit of shit of thoughts, positive and negative, onto a piece of paper.” - Daniel TonkinBy writing down his thoughts, Daniel had a better overview and has created a much clearer context for understanding them. He was learning how to analyze the things that bothered him and deal with them in a very direct, rational manner. He was basically able to, in a way, convince himself why exactly he should not worry about these things, especially right before he’s supposed to go to sleep.Action Lists: Hacking Productivity and Creativity“When you’ve got a great idea, as soon as you write it down, it turns into a goal.” - Daniel TonkinThere is something soothing in putting the pen to the paper. There is an old proverb, coming from the regions of Eastern Europe, that roughly translates to “a smart person writes things down, only a fool tries to remember”. Psychological studies suggest that writing things down or taking notes is a huge benefit for our memory because an idea is being coded in more than one way.Daniel has taken full advantage of the simple, yet not so obvious technique of writing down his thoughts, goals, and even dreams. All of this has another component to it, which is trying to create an upbeat attitude and calling for different manifestations to arise. By keeping his thoughts in order, while looking to give them a positive twist, Daniel is looking to use the laws of attraction to his favor in both professional and personal life. It’s important to note that he accentuates taking action above everything else, noticing that without it, everything else you’re doing would be more or less pointless, or at least ineffective.“I guess, all I really did was, take the concept of the law of attraction and how it actually worked and then added a layer of how I can take action on these different aspects.” - Daniel TonkinRoad to Mentorship“I want to be able to be the person that makes a difference for people at the early stages of their journey or later stages of their journey, like I’ve had people do for me.” - Daniel TonkinDaniel still has a lot more that he would like to accomplish before taking the next step in his career life. Still, the end game to his professional pa

Our guest for this week is Liza Joyan, a relationship marketing strategist and the founder of Design a Life.Liza was born in Afghanistan and her family immigrated to Australia when she was a child. Her educational background is in Economics and Business Law and her career path led her to Canada where she spent years working in the field of Risk and Compliance, in both private and the public sector. She was also a part of a global network here she helped businesses experience from 20% to 400% growth using certain philosophies of relationship building, gratitude, reciprocity, and online tools. Liza was also involved with establishing teams in her network marketing business across 6 countries.She has moved back to Australia after 12 years and recently started her own personal brand called Design a Life, which will eventually lead to a book and other educational material in the field of personal transformation. Namely, Liza’s personal journey of self-discovery and appreciation has helped her realize that she needed to focus on three things in life: freedom, contribution, and fun. By following these key principles she has managed to take that leap of faith and will focus on helping others discover their own path and design a life for themselves, and not be dictated by what designer labels tell them.Connect with Liza:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizajoyan/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/liza.joyan Liza’s Story of Inspired EvolutionFreedom, Contribution, Fun… That is what Liza wrote on her notepad on a seemingly regular workday in a multi-million dollar company at the 31st floor of the tallest building in downtown Toronto. As it turns out, it was the day she decided to leave her corporate job and pursue her dreams.Liza grew up along with 7 siblings in her family. She was born in Afghanistan but raised in Australia. Her parents immigrated when she was a child and her father instilled the idea of making the most out of every opportunity, early on. That attitude allowed to go very far in life, both professionally and physically. She moved to Canada in pursuit of great work opportunities and stayed there for 12 years.On the day Liza decided to change her life, back in that corporate Toronto office, she felt anxious and frightened about what the future would hold for her.“Suddenly, the walls of my office ended up feeling more of like a prison cell. And I don’t mean to be ungrateful for that, it’s just that it felt like that at that time. I felt trapped that I would have to come to an office every single day for the rest of my life.” - Liza JoyanSitting there, contemplating about her life Liza noticed the empty notepad in front of her, and without thinking wrote down the words that to this day guide her in her everyday life. Once she looked at the notepad again, the three things she put down were interestingly the ones she felt were missing from her life. Because of that profound moment of self-realization, Liza chose to leave the corporate world behind, focus on designing a life for herself, and serve her community by helping others take that leap of faith and realigning with their values.The Future of Business: Room for the Soul“I truly believe that corporations that are being created that are so large, I immediately felt the lack of soul.” - Liza JoyanLiza discusses the impersonal nature of working at a large corporation, something she has experienced first-hand quite well. She predicts that this will become the point upon which the next era in the business world will be formed. The Millennials are a workforce very unique bringing along a whole array of different beliefs and needs. The corporate owners, however, need to learn how to respond to those needs in order to remain competitive. If they ignore this demand coming from the average worker, they might be in the problematic situation of not being able to attract and retain what should be a company’s most valuable resource - the people working for it.“But I truly have a sense and an intuition that the future of business is going to have to be something that is on a smaller scale.” - Liza JoyanWhether or not will corporations be able to adapt is a point open for discussion. Liza believes that the future of work is going to be realized through smaller organizations and more direct interactions between businesses and clients, or in B2B relations. The rise of AI, as Liza ever so perceptively puts it, and the fact that it will make a number of job openings obsolete will play a key role in the way things will begin to unfold.Connection, Celebration and Appreciation “Life is about connection, celebration, and appreciation. If you can do those three things daily… what that does it doesn’t just build others, it builds you.” Liza JoyanThis is just one example of how, in the podcast, you can see Liza’s desire to motivate and inspire rise to the surface. By urging us to incorporate these three concepts into our daily routine she is basically giving us a recipe for

Our guest for this week is Layla El Khadri, a transformational coach, author, artist, inspirational speaker, and dance therapist with the goal of inspiring humanity to wake up and rise.Born and raised in Spain, Layla grew up in a family which supported personal development and spirituality. Having been told from an early age that she had immense potential, she had great success in her initial education in the fields of acting, music, and media film. But dealing with the pressure to succeed on one end, and the fear of being stuck in a 9 to 5 job on the other, Layla left her old life to find the new one in a totally fresh and exciting setting. She was determined to realize her full human potential, but in a way that made sense to her.Now with over a decade of studying personal development, Layla is helping others reach their potential through one-on-one sessions, coaching programs, and retreats and events being held in some of the worlds most beautiful places. She uses an amalgamation of different ancient traditions and cutting edge therapies, all wonderfully merged into her very own technique with which she enables people to discover their gift. She has studied meditation, tantra, yoga, somatic dance, NLP, the biology of empowerment and she has a passion for Taoistic philosophy and traditional Chinese medicine.Layla will be the part of this year’s Bali Spirit Festival which is going to be held from 24th-31th of March, 2019. She will be teaching 4 workshops on the subjects of personal development, transformational dance, art as medicine and life coaching. You can get your tickets here, and use the discount code LAYLA to get $75 off!She has written and directed an amazing short film that was released back in September 2018. The film is called ‘RISE of The Feminine’ and it is a truly inspirational work of art, which calls for a planetary revolution and inspires a movement of human awakening.Connect with Layla:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laylaelkhadri.ie/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laylaelkhadri/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9szbPTk1mAtdoulDtLDdFgLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/layla-el-khadri/Website: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClugMhMbrRgLayla’s Story of Inspired EvolutionLayla was born in Spain and she grew up as part of a loving and caring family. Early on she was told she had “immense potential” and even though she managed to draw confidence from the phrase throughout her life, she found herself pressured to succeed and the unruly series of side-effects followed.“All the gifts and all these qualities that I was given became a burden because they were being seen through the lens of expectation.” - Layla El KhadriThere she was, studying film, music, dance, being involved with amazing projects and all the while still showing great potential, but behind the general hope for creativity, she noticed that the main focus of her work was achieving certain goals, rather than what she actually yearned for - self-expression. At 21 she finished her studies and on paper, her life looked perfect and on track but Layla was emotionally drained and burnt out from living a life of consistent setting and achieving milestones.“I was empty, disconnected, lost, dealing with rampant anorexia that was at times pretty bad… and flirting with depression in a way that could’ve gone down in a really bad direction.” - Layla El KhadriFollowing her mother’s advice, Layla joined a peace community in Portugal and she decided to take a 10-day vow of silence, with a goal of shedding the wishes and voices of others while trying to find her own inner voice.“I understood that in order for me to be able to live the life that I was wanting, I really needed to listen to myself.” - Layla El KhadriWhat was supposed to be a 6-month soul-searching period turned into 8 years of a different life, one that is away from the industry of the west. On this path, she was rid of all the anxieties, the pressures, and the expectations, while reaching an epiphany in regards to the importance of the uniqueness of the individual human experience.“Each one of us is a unique creature and each one of us brings something unique to the world. And if I don’t take the responsibility to bring my uniqueness to the world, the world misses my uniqueness and nobody else ever, ever again will be able to bring what I bring.” - Layla El KhadriOn her journey, she explored Taoistic philosophy, studied tantra and somatic therapy, and practiced meditation and yoga. She is currently focused on using her experience, skills, and wisdom to empower others to discover the gift within themselves and realize their full potential.Discovering the Inner Wisdom: Awakening the Creator“Everything that each one of us is seeking for in this life is already within. And it’s not a matter of going to acquire new information as much as learning how to activate the inner wisdom.” - Layla El KhadriHer coaching experiences have provided Layla with great insight into th

Our guest for this week is Jason Partington, entrepreneur, meditation promoter and coach, and founder of Meditation for Men, a brand of meditation courses which has a goal of fighting depression and promoting mental health among men.Jason has had a very diverse career, with experience in both executive positions which include team management and business development, as well as in consultancy work, advising, educating and mentoring professionals in order to help them achieve business success. His career started in health and sports management and later on shifted into sales. He has attained leadership roles in several progressive Australian and international companies and more recently, as an owner of Residential Projects Australia, a respected and fast growing Property Investment Company. He has worked all over the world in places like French Polynesia, Indonesia, Maldives, Mexico, United Kingdom, Dubai, and India.About 20 years ago, Jason was dealing with a difficult situation involving alcohol abuse and other self-destructive behaviors. In a state of depression, a friend recommended he should try meditation and Jason never looked back. From that point on, meditation has put Jason on the path of love, peace, and happiness.Having witnessed an event which had suicide and depression rates in Australian men as the main topic, Jason felt inspired to contribute to the cause and share his experiences of meditation with the world. He founded ‘Meditation for Men’ which offers meditation courses in every major capital city across Australia. The 4-week courses are centered around learning the skill of meditation but they also provide an opportunity for men to discuss many challenges and barriers that they face every day.Spreading the word about meditation and the benefits it can bring to our mental health has become Jason’s mission in life. He has developed a 6-week training program called ‘Evolve’ which is designed to help you reconnect with your authentic self.Connect with Jason:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jason.partington.98 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jpbizcoach/Website: http://jasonpartington.com/Jason’s Story of Inspired EvolutionAt the age of 28, Jason was working a job which allowed him to travel the world. Yet he felt lost, unable to find and connect with his true self. Throughout this period he developed bad habits that included alcohol abuse among other things. The deep unhappiness he felt pushed him towards the verge of an existential crisis and put him in a situation of having to ask himself very difficult questions, while desperately fighting an ongoing battle with depression.“I guess you could say I hit rock bottom. Like I really bottomed out.” - Jason PartingtonAt his lowest and among all the darkness, a friendly hand pulled him upward, guiding him on the path of meditation. Beata Alfoldi, who we’ve had the pleasure of interviewing on our podcast, has given him a pamflet about a meditation course. From that moment on, slowly but surely, Jason found his way back to a place of happiness, love, and peace, eager to share the gift and break the mystical barrier that surrounds the concept of meditation.“I literally changed as a person in 6 weeks. In 6 weeks I was going on one path and all of a sudden decided I’m going on that path over there. And that started the journey, that started everything. It changed my entire life.” - Jason PartingtonBy practicing meditation, Jason learned to bring silence to his life, which in return allowed him to uncover his true nature. From a place of being ruined by a dominant and often self-destructive Ego to a new era of life where he learned to let go and start a dialogue with his true self.“It’s this separating of the Ego from this actual, true identity. The more I meditate, the more naturally that true identity just permeates and becomes the person that controls it.” - Jason PartingtonThe Relationship Between Mindfulness and MeditationMindfulness is one of the most valuable skills we can develop as it is directly connected to having a mentally healthier, fuller and spiritually richer life. The pursuit of mindfulness is often misunderstood as something that needs to be chased. But it’s interesting to consider that bringing yourself to be mindful is not the only way to increase your capacity for mindfulness and as Jason profoundly puts it, it can be quite intense and exhausting. He believes that mindfulness and meditation are connected and that one should encourage and enable the other. By practicing meditation on a regular basis, we’re actually developing mindfulness as sort of a side-effect, without all the intensity and the pressure that comes with planned and organized training.“When you meditate and you do your meditation twice a day, mindfulness comes as a natural course and part of your doing your meditation.” - Jason PartingtonDemystification of Meditation“I’ve always wanted to deliver a meditation-styled teaching that was not so religious-bas

Our guest for this week is Erfan Daliri, a social change animator, a writer, educator, youth worker, a spoken word artist, and the founding director of Newkind.Along with an educational background in Communication for Social Change, throughout his career, Erfan has acquired 15 years of experience in the fields of community development, including youth engagement, migrant settlement, mental health research, indigenous community work, human rights, and environmental advocacy. He has worked as a consultant and advisor to a great number of organizations and his impressive list of clients includes Amnesty International, Beyond Blue, Malaruch Aboriginal Corporation, Risdon Prison and the Townsville Intercultural Centre.In 2016, he founded Newkind, an annual conference which gathers people from different fields who are ready to step up, find their purpose, and make a positive impact on the world. By using a series of discussion panels, workshops, and lectures from renowned experts, entrepreneurs, and social justice advocates, the Newkind festival is made to inspire and empower people to join the movement and awake the change makers within. The latest Newkind Festival will be held in Tasmania, from the 19th until the 24th of February, 2019.Erfan’s goal is to provide individuals and organizations with the necessary skills and knowledge and empower them to become agents of change in their communities. At its core, his mission and message is one of social change and challenging the status quo.Free Gift for the Inspired Evolution Tribe:Get 20% Off Your Ticket to the Newkind Festival!Click on the link below and use the promo code: Inspired Evolutionhttps://events.humanitix.com.au/newkind-2019/ticketsConnect with Erfan:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erfan-daliri-25192134/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mr.erfan.daliri/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ErfanDaliriErfan’s Story of Inspired Evolution“From a very young age, community development and youth engagement and indigenous community work was a part of my life.” - Erfan DaliriErfan was born in India, and both of his parents are from Iran. When he was little, they applied and received the refugee recognition from the UN and eventually moved to Australia. It’s pretty safe to say that the good Erfan is doing today has roots in the work of his parents. He learned to be an agent of change from a very young age, watching his parents actualize themselves in the fields of education and helping refugees settle into Australia. Continuously being exposed to different types of challenges, taught him to accept them as opportunities for personal growth and focus on the things being born in the process of overcoming them.“When you become aware of injustices and when you become aware of things that aren’t working... an initial response will be anger.” - Erfan DaliriErfan recalls his earlier days of activism and shares that they were accompanied by frustration and anger. He believes that being angry is a natural response to being faced with injustice and also that it’s a part of the process. The prototype of an angry activist has its purpose in revealing and pointing towards a problem, but the true value lies in shifting over to the next step - becoming solutions-focused.“What is the solution I’m proposing? How can I actually alleviate this issue?” - Erfan DaliriThe answers to these questions are meant to guide us through on our journey of becoming a true agent of change and empower us to provide solutions for the problems we’re faced with as a whole.Taking Action as the Starting Point“I’m very much action focused. I do pray daily and I do meditate daily but it’s about that action. That is the third part of that amazing trilogy.” - Erfan DaliriOne of the key principles Erfan’s been adhering to throughout his life, is being action-oriented. He postulates that taking action is necessary in order to evoke any sort of change whatsoever. Even though praying and meditating play an important role in his daily life, he recognizes that they are only components of the solution, not making any actual and relevant impact if they are not followed by appropriate action. He further elaborates that taking action is connected to praying and meditation through faith. It’s important to maintain the belief and the positive attitude throughout your action-taking in order to truly move in the direction of where you want and need to go.“You have to act as if your prayers have been answered. You have to act as if there is no doubt in your mind.” - Erfan DaliriWe further explore the bigger picture and how becoming more action-oriented can help our society and not just ourselves. Erfan recognizes that even though many people are aware and empathize with the problems our world is faced with a very small portion of them is actually willing to engage and fight the good fight.“If you see something that needs to get done, make it your responsibility and address that issue.” - Erfan DaliriHe sees one o

Our guests for this week are Jen Ziegner and Jamin Heppell, the co-founders of Mountains and Marathons, and they develop transformative leadership programs that center around completing a marathon or climbing a mountain in some of the world’s most stunning locations.Jen is a certified Strategic Intervention coach, and she received her credentials from the official training school of Tony Robbins. Her educational background is a Master’s degree in Strategy and Innovation from AUT University. Jen has worked with over 100 purpose-driven businesses in Europe, New Zealand and Australia and has led an impact investing initiative that supported mission-driven entrepreneurs towards their first capital raise.Jamin’s professional career was mostly spent in the field of helping people develop health and resilience. He was the director of three leading organizations and has worked with over 15 000 people from diverse communities all over Australia and North America.In 2016, they co-founded Mountains and Marathons in order to help people who are motivated, curious and want to take their career to the next level while making a positive impact on society. They offer transformative leadership programs centered around preparation and completion of challenging physical feats that involve some of the world’s most beautiful places. For 6 months, they provide their clients with physical training, mindset coaching, and community support. The main goal of the programs is to help people develop courage, clarity, and confidence which they will later use to take the next big step in their life and career. So far, they’ve been to San Francisco, conquered the Great Wall of China and climbed Mont Blanc, with mesmerizing projects involving Everest and Melbourne on the way.Both Jen and Jamin have taken the path of inspired evolution, dealing with challenges and adversity head-on, coming out the other end transformed and determined to help others do the same.Connect with Jen:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferziegner/?locale=en_USFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennifer.ziegner.1Website: http://mountainsandmarathons.world/Connect with Jamin:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamin-heppell/?originalSubdomain=auFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamin.heppellWebsite: http://mountainsandmarathons.world/Jen’s and Jamin’s Story of Inspired EvolutionJamin was running three independent companies and they were all focused on social change and community development. He found himself in a situation of constantly giving, day in, day out, spending little to no time to replenish his energy and take care of himself.“To use the analogy of your cup being full before you can then give to others, I was just continuing to take from the reserve tank more and more.” - Jamin HeppellEven though with intentions in mind, by not taking care of his own personal mental health, Jamin ended up in a dark place, feeling burnt out and depressed. Through introspection and reflection, he was able to come up with a very insightful observation. He realized that his own choices were the cause of his problems, but rather than dwelling on this thought and beating himself up about it, he understood that his choices have the power to take him out of this place and give him the opportunity to transform.“There were two questions… “If I were to live my most values aligned life, how would my life be different?” And then the follow-up question to that was: “If I could do anything in the world right now, what would I be doing?” - Jamin HeppellIt just so happens that the answer to his question was “running marathons and climbing mountains all around the world.”Jen and Jamin met a little after Jamin had the idea for Mountains and Marathons. Her first impression was that it wasn’t something she’d be interested in.“I grew up as a super unfit child, I’ve never done any sports and earlier in my life I’ve made up this whole identity of “I’m a person who can’t do much, physically”, and never ran more than a 5k.” - Jen Ziegner But when she realized that the narrative of not being an athletic type was her own creation, she also felt that she could do something about it. Similarly to Jamin, she used the realization of her own contributions to the problem in order to fuel and empower herself to overcome it. The whole story coincided with her feeling unchallenged in her professional life. To a sense, you could say that Jen and Jamin were their own first clients.The Imposter Syndrome“Where this got created from is such a place of a deep inquiry.” - Jamin HeppellThe imposter syndrome is defined as “a psychological pattern in which an individual doubts their accomplishments and has a persistent internalized fear of being exposed as a “fraud". Even though the evidence of a person’s competence is clear to everyone else, they remain convinced that they don’t deserve what they’ve achieved. Jamin lists constant confrontation of the imposter syndrome as one of his deepest personal adversiti

Our guest for this week is Carol Benson, a licensed speech and language pathologist, writer, author, business consultant and the co-founder of It Doesn’t Feel Like Work.Carol’s educational background is a masters degree in Communication Disorders and Sciences in Speech-Language Pathology from Wayne State University. Even though she gained valuable experience from working in this field, she found it emotionally draining and exhausting. Her position ended and she went on to pursue the career of a business consultant, helping and educating entrepreneurs, startups, and professionals on the topics such as team engagement, social/emotional IQ, communication, mindfulness, co-creation and the latest technologies of consciousness engineering.Carol is also a Mindvalley Master Certified Trainer (MCT) and a facilitator of the San Francisco Mindvalley group. In 2013, she co-authored a book with her business and life partner Paul Benson, titled “5 Steps to Thrive: Reveal Any Crisis as Opportunity”, which focuses on maintaining balance, happiness, and strength in the face of unexpected challenges. In the book, she draws from her own experiences regarding adversities she faced as a direct result of the 2008-09 economic crisis. Through five basic principles, she aims to give readers the tools necessary to rewire their emotional reaction to any challenging situation, recognize and act on the exciting opportunities that each "setback" presents.Using all these unique tools, experiences and trainings, Carol has been showing individual clients and teams how to build sustainable doses of happiness and well-being into work culture and beyond. Connect with Carol:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolbenson/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carol.buckfirebenson Email: [email protected] Carol’s Journey of Inspired Evolution“I am a creative. I always have been.” - Carol BensonEven though she was a creative her entire life, she was pushed by her parents into the direction of hard sciences under the idea that it would provide her with job security. She got her masters in Speech-Language Pathology and was forced to start working in the clinical field. Even though these experiences, including helping people with autism, ADHD, and ADD, have trained her to become a social and emotional IQ specialist, she was quickly left feeling burnt out, emotionally drained and deeply unsatisfied with her professional situation. Her position ended, nudging her into an area of crisis but her story shows us that in every crisis we can find an opportunity.“I knew it was true that I was serving kids in the work that I was doing and I was making a difference for them and their parents... I wanted to make a bigger difference. I want to reach more people.” - Carol BensonThe Disengagement of Today’s Employees and How to Deal with It“Fifty percent of all employees are actively looking for their next job, and disengagement is costing corporations and even small business owners a lot!” - Carol BensonThere is a pattern emerging in today’s business and it’s reflected in its dynamicity and proneness to change. People are overwhelmingly becoming aware of their needs and motivations, as the business world progresses. Having a job that is giving you financial security alone is no longer enough while changing company’s and even fields of work are becoming more and more common for the average professional. This is, in fact, costing business owners a lot of money and part of Carol’s work today has been focusing her expertise on helping companies become aware of this problem, reframe it, and finally, develop a strategy for its resolution.  “It’s all about growth. It’s all about personal skills and growth and so many people are under-utilized.” - Carol BensonAside from consulting executives and business owners, she also helps individuals who are stuck in a job that they do not find fullfiling, or who have taken a step away from their true values in terms of work. By working with both sides, Carol is sending a message that there is a solution to overcoming the apparent conflict between the unsatisfied workers and the employer who is afraid of losing them.“You have to look at what’s broken. What’s not working anymore? How have people been overlooked and how can we include people in the mix so that they’re valued?” - Carol BensonRecognizing people’s needs and responding to them in such a way that they’re feeling valued is the future of any company culture yearning to withstand the test of time. In order to sustain a team of people who are able to contribute to the goals and the vision of the company, the culture needs to respect and nurture the values and ambitions of individual workers. The bottom line is that if you’re not willing to establish a connection with your employees and resonate with their values, you will, without of doubt, end up losing them. What is often overlooked, and what is also an additional benefit of this approach, is that by allowin

Our guest for this week is Mykel Dixon, a musician, author, creative entrepreneur and a renowned public speaker.Michael is the #1 choice for a keynote speaker on artistry, creativity, innovation, leadership culture, and experience. He describes himself as a jazz musician by trade, gypsy by nature, fierce nonconformist, and a prolific anti-perfectionist. His work revolves around helping people and organizations thrive by rediscovering their creative confidence, reimagining their creative potential and reinventing their organization for relevance in what he calls a 21st Century Renaissance. His lectures provide answers to questions like how to foster creativity in teams through improvisation, inclusion, and agility, how to harness high-performance creative leadership, and how to activate, articulate and amplify your authentic, differentiated edge.In 2016, Mykel published his book titled “Just do 5omething: A handbook for turning dreamers into makers”. It highlights the utter necessity of creativity and emphasizes that creative recovery is the single most important thing you can do for yourself. Best-selling author Dr. Jason Fox has said about the book that it is “an affront to the banal predictability of convention” and that “it’ll have you make something that is utterly original, beautiful, and true to you.” In late 2018, Mykel released his second book titled “Enterprise Artistry – A brave new paradigm for a bold new world”. There are also three e-books available for download on his website!On his rich and admirable list of clients, you can find corporate giants like Google, Youtube, World Vision, Intuit, Lululemon, Johnson & Johnson, Atlassian, Parmalat, Bayer, CPA, Tabcorp, Pause Fest, BUPA, and Tennis Australia. He was named ‘Australia’s Breakthrough Speaker of The Year’, for 2018.Connect with Mykel:Website: https://mykeldixon.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mykeldixon/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mykeldixon/YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCz7ES3EZhWJEwDVcAAhGJMw Mykel’s Story of Inspired Evolution“There was always a lot of depth. There was always a lot of this spiritual element to my life and my work.” - Mykel DixonIn his early 20s, Mykel was lead by a dream of becoming a rockstar. Late night practice sessions, daily busking just to get by, hoping one day someone would recognize his talent and give him the opportunity he thought he deserved. As his 30s came by, he was faced with a difficult situation of not having any savings and no equity to his name. He sold his vintage keyboard collection and embarked on what turned out to be a spiritual journey which started in India. Later, he explored Nepal and his journey culminated with him accidentally buying a beach bar in Cambodia 10 meters from the water!He spent his time meditating, practicing yoga and writing a lot of music. But he still felt like he wasn’t done with his old life and that he had a lot to offer to the place he came from.“I came back with, literally, just a clear intent and no clarity whatsoever of the how.” - Mykel DixonWorking gigs and cash-in-hand jobs where a way to get by, reminding him closely of the things he had previously purposefully left behind. He quickly got an opportunity in the form of managing the culture of a startup hub coworking space. Being surrounded by ambitious entrepreneurs sparked an idea. In his mind, a vision was forming, and his pure intent slowly gained shape and transformed into something that will make him the person that he is today. His speaking engagements came very organically and by working closely with a mentor he perfected his craft of inspiring business folk to incorporate, utilize and harness the power of creativity.“Through a lot of risk, a lot of vulnerability, and a lot of humiliation, somehow I arrived to where I am now.” - Mykel DixonA Spark of CuriosityMykel credits curiosity as fuel for creativity. Whether you’re producing form an artistic or entrepreneurial standpoint, immersing yourself with your work and interests will allow you to create on an entirely different level. It also comes with a great dose of humility, as this partnership you’re making with your interest transcends you and your basic desires and needs, and provides a context for making greatness. Greatness in the form of finding novel ways of adding value. He shares with us his insights on how to achieve and reveal this curiosity within ourselves.“Just sit... and look at something... and get bored... and then notice that you’re getting bored.” - Mykel DixonBecoming aware of the fact that we’re disengaging from our surroundings is the first step to becoming more curious, as it allows us to do something about it. Behind boredom lies great power and potential, because the other side of the coin is finding something that moves the very core of your being.The Relationship Between Art and Science“If what is being experienced is expressed through a lens of emotion and intuition we call that art. If that

Our guest for this week is Sam Maher, an instrumentalist and drummer better known for his unique playing style on the handpan.Sam is a very experienced drummer, having worked with bands and artist such as Methyl Ethel, Katy Steele (Little Birdy), Rabbit Island, Grace Woodroofe, Nicholas Allbrook (POND, Tame Impala) and countless other groups based in Perth. But only 6 months after discovering the handpan, Sam decided to travel to the Americas. Over the course of 15 months, he has explored regions from Mexico City all the way south to the Patagonian region of Argentina, surviving mostly from the money he made busking on the streets. Sam has now performed his boundless music in over 22 countries and counting.In 2015, he unexpectedly reached new levels of fame when he was approached to make a video by the YouTube channel BUSKRS. They recorded and produced a video of Sam improvising a session on his handpan in New York and the video went viral quickly after being uploaded. To this day it has racked up over 2.8 million views with overwhelmingly positive reviews, and you can check it out here!Sam has also spoken at a TEDMED conference about the transcendent power of music. Along with a touching performance, he discussed his personal experience with the handpan, how much has the music changed and affected him, and he also explored the communicative nature of music.Connect with Sam:Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoTHsMyy2SHIXt2w42RrOFQFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/sammahermusic/Twitter: https://twitter.com/sammahermusic?lang=enSam’s Story of Inspired EvolutionPrior to being propelled by a spontaneous YouTube video going viral, Sam’s journey has been one accompanied by struggles, from both a personal and a professional standpoint.“I was really burning the candle at both ends because I was playing in about five bands, I was working full time and I was just really burnt out.” - Sam MaherWith a full-time job on one end and an exhausting nightlife of endless gigs on the other, Sam found himself at a position of feeling emotionally drained. Around that same time, he discovered the handpan, and straight away he felt a connection with the instrument. In his own words, playing the handpan has opened up new worlds for him and for his audience as well.“I sat down on the side of the street and just started playing, and all of a sudden people would sort of gather around, and I had an older Aboriginal woman sitting down next to me weeping. It just opened up so many worlds for me, in that instant.” - Sam MaherHe realized that he was ready and that he needed to experience different cultures, learn through traveling and better understand himself. He sold everything and embarked on a journey over the Americas, with a plan to make a living through busking. Purposefully seeking to get in contact with the locals in order to connect with the way they’re living their everyday lives has led him on a path of personal growth.“To consider myself successful, I feel like I constantly need to be exposed to new worlds and new cultures.” - Sam MaherThe Benefits of Pushing Yourself Out of Your Comfort ZoneLeaving his home for 15 months was not an easy decision. Sam was aware that he would miss certain important moments in the lives of his friends and family. But he knew that in order to truly achieve relevant progress and development he needed to take a big step outside of his comfort zone.“It’s good to be uncomfortable. It’s a good trait for a human to be ok being uncomfortable at times.” - Sam MaherBeing able to sustain yourself in the moments of discomfort is a useful skill in life, and Sam wittingly makes note of this. It is good to have a playful relationship with being uncomfortable and there is a very good reason when we should push ourselves beyond the comfort zone even in moments when life seems easy. Because at times we’re going to run into adversities that are beyond our control. It is at those times precisely when our lifelong training of dealing with discomfort comes in handy.Searching for a New Sound“I want to be known as a great handpan musician, but would rather be known for a handpan musician that pushed the boundaries, rather than just sat on the street busking.” - Sam MaherIn terms of finding his sound, Sam is seeking to explore different genres and change the way people make music with the handpan. He has experimented with adding electronic music in an attempt to creatively challenge himself. Reestablishing the rules of how an instrument is played may not an easy task, but nevertheless, he is determined to continue on this path as the challenge makes it all the more rewarding.“I’m always looking for the push or pull, or the question and the answer.” - Sam MaherFinding a Purpose in Things That Bring Us Joy“There’s been no more important time to find something for yourself that works.” - Sam MaherSam recognizes the importance of living a life true to your purpose and depicts it as one of the foundations to a good

Our guest for this week is Carlos Rodrigues aka Kabeção, a Portuguese multi-instrumentalist, composer, street busker and sound healer who creates his own unique approach to music and sound.Originally studying to become a surgeon, Carlos discovered another, more fulfilling way of bringing joy and happiness to people. As he got more and more involved with music, he began to discover, explore and experiment with many different musical instruments. From a young age, he was familiar with percussion and rhythm, and then as the years went by he started to add other types of instruments, from strings to woodwinds, and his focus comes from the simple exploration of sound.Under the pseudonym Kabeção, the origin and the meaning of which he explains in our podcast, he embarked on a journey of a professional musician. He is self-taught and has combined influences from different parts of the world, Africa, India, Brazil, Turkey, Spain, France, Australia. He has developed unique playing techniques on each of his instruments, including drums, darbuka, udu, tabla, djembe, frame drum, cajon, berimbau, bansuri, sansula, Tibetan bowls, gongs, didgeridoo, guitar, and handpan.In 2015, he was a finalist on Portugal’s “Got Talent” and you can see one of his breathtaking live performances here!He has produced several albums throughout his career. His latest one titled “Touching Souls” was released in September 2017 after being completely crowd-funded by music lovers and players from all around the world. About the album, Carlos has stated that it exceeded expectations and goals during its conception and the album holds true to its name.Connect with Kabeção:Website: https://www.kabecao.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kabecao.handpan/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kabecaohandpan/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Kabexon/featuredSoundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/kabzhandpanKabeção’s Story of Inspired EvolutionAt a very early age, Carlos realized a deep desire to help others. He decided to study medicine, as he found that becoming a surgeon would be a very effective way of satisfying that desire and save lives in the process. While struggling with a few exams which proved to be challenging, he discovered a much more meaningful, engaging and fulfilling relationship with music. He decided to quit school and started teaching himself to play. As years went by and as he started sharing his music with the world, he came to the conclusion that there was an alternative way of bringing people joy.“I started playing on the streets. Two years, every day, playing on the streets and exploring the sounds, exploring my emotions with the sounds analyzing how this reflects on people, how people receive this... And somehow I started to understand that music is such a powerful tool to heal people. To connect, to open hearts.” - KabeçãoAs he further explored this emotional aspect of music and playing music, he focused more and more on this healing aspect of it, all the while trying to hit the right vibrations with his creations which will resonate with the listeners.Emotional Aspect of MusicOne of the main and recurring themes of our conversation is emotions and the different ways that they are included in the process of creating, producing and receiving music. Discovering the handpan was of tremendous significance for Kabeção. Not only did it evoke interest, invite him to experiment and ultimately find his sound, but he saw a great opportunity to reflect, grow and connect with the self.“I felt really curious and since I’ve started playing I immediately felt connected with my soul… That was the first step for me to understand who I am. Who I am with other people, who I am with myself.” - KabeçãoConnecting with the idea of healing through music, Kabeção explores different ways in which this can be achieved and which key factors play a role. The attitude and the style of the person playing will influence the message and color the sounds being played, shaping the message further and enrich the melodies with emotion. He recalls a moment during one of his classes when he was brought to tears by a playing session from a girl that was still having difficulties with developing certain techniques. Her emotional connectedness to the music was very powerful and it overshadowed the objective lack of experience.“Sound is vibration and depending on who is making the things vibrate and how you’re vibrating, that reflects on the sound.” - KabeçãoThere are many different ways to evoke change and healing in a person with music. The intent behind music can be love, but it can also be an array of different emotions. Kabeção reflects on the ways tense and distorted sounds can cause people to have parts of them deconstruct, but more importantly to invite them to come together properly the second time around.The listener also plays a key role in terms of effectiveness of music as a transformational and healing tool. There needs to be a certain amount of r

This week, we’re joined by Colleen Gallagher, a coach, consultant, author, and an evolutionary transformation specialist.Colleen is a childhood cancer survivor. She was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and told that she’d have difficulties bearing children and that she’d have to be on medication for the rest of her life. Aside from the pain and adversity coming from dealing with a horrible disease, Colleen also had to deal with peer rejection and being made fun of by her classmates. After several surgeries, she’s managed to pull through, but these experiences have stayed with her and played an important part in her becoming the person she is today.Her love for travel has pulled her through life, but even though she had worked for hugely successful companies and making really good money, like many of her coworkers, she still felt unhappy. She founded Colleen Gallagher International so she could empower leaders to become evolutionary leaders to flow with the evolution of humanity through lifestyle careers. All of her travels, studying and leadership retreats have allowed Colleen to gain a greater understanding of human potential, purpose, and how the online world is impacting human development.Colleen has created many systems and programs that will help you empower yourself and achieve a connection to what lies in your heart. One of them is a 12-week program called Live the Impossible, which takes you out of the information-overloaded world we live in, and provides you with a crystal clear view on what it is you actually want.Colleen has also condensed her experiences and findings into a book titled Live Your Truth. The book is based around a 5-step proven system that is meant to help you see that any dream can come true if you are living your truth, figure out how to become part of moving the world forward, find the courage to intoxicate the world with your truth and start living a life with no regrets.In our conversation, we canvas Colleen’s story of Inspired Evolution, the importance of connectivity and making the impossible possible!Connect with Colleen:Website: https://www.colleengallagher.co Twitter: https://twitter.com/col_gallagher1 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheColleenGallagher/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colleen_gallagher_/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colleen-gallagher-81691661/ Colleen’s Story of Inspired EvolutionGrowing up in Detroit, Michigan, Colleen was having what most people would call a pretty normal childhood. That is until one day, during a basketball session, she collapsed onto the court not being able to catch her breath. She was rushed to the ER and was subsequently diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Surgeries, medication and a difficult situation at school had Colleen switching from a normal childhood, into a world of having to fight a deadly disease and struggling with adversity on a daily basis. Her appearance changed as a result of her treatment and her peers were unable to show compassion at the time, some even acting in a very cruel manner.“People were calling me ugly… I was dating an African-American at the time and people would say like “Oh, did he choke you out?”, and they would say really mean things about racism.” - Colleen GallagherWhile undergoing treatment for her cancer, she witnessed an argument between two parents of another girl that was with her at the hospital, which affected her world-views immensely. “Her dad screamed at her mom, saying: “The only reason we’re in this position to not pay for her treatment, is because you are a stay-at-home mom”. And what imprinted in me at that time was two things… One, that you needed money to have love and two, that you needed money to not die.” - Colleen GallagherIn years to come, Colleen developed a money-hungry, corporate attitude. She got a degree in Marketing at Michigan State University and throughout her studies, she gained valuable experience by taking paid internships. After graduation, she started working as a sales engineer for a 23 billion-dollar company. Colleen loved traveling her entire life, and not being able to do so made her switch jobs, and she quickly got hired by a $400 million company and moved to New Zealand. She was able to travel and experience new things, got promotions, she was making good money, but she still wasn’t feeling happy. In January 2018, she decided to take a leap of fate, and since then she became an evolutionary transformational coach, she started her own consulting company, developed numerous programs and had her book published.Making a Commitment to Yourself“Find that thing where you’re more committed to it than you are committed to the fear, or the illusion of fear that exists.” - Colleen GallagherColleen shares with us her stories of committing to herself, in terms of leaving behind a life of partying and recreational use of drugs and channeling her energy into the activities that really mattered and were meaningful to her. Doing yoga and meditation for 4 hours a

This week, we’re joined by Mason Taylor, a thought leader, professional speaker, tonic herbalist, and writer who inspires and teaches people to once again become enchanted with their body, life, and health.Use promo code INSPIREDEVO at checkout for a 10% discount at SuperFeast.For the last 7 years, Mason has been teaching about the benefits of medicinal mushrooms and Taoist tonic herbs. He founded his own brand of powdered extracts of tonic herbs and medicinal mushrooms called SuperFeast. Carefully sourced from wild regions of China and Inner Mongolia, SuperFeast products are comprised of purest, highest quality, all-natural ingredients. You can check out their blog to find educational articles about health and nutrition and explore awesome recipes of shakes, brownies, elixirs and so much more!Mason also hosts two podcasts. The SuperFeast Podcast started back in September 2018, and it dives into and dissects topics such as tonic herbalism, brain optimization, and Jing energy. On his other podcast, The Mason Taylor Show, he interviewed thought leaders, visionaries and change-makers in many areas of life to share with you their latest Insights, distinctions and actionable advice relevant to the journey of health. There are over 40 episodes of inspiring educational content on diverse subjects with interesting guests for you to check out.Having spent over 15,000 hours studying the field of health and transformation, he employs education, vulnerable conversation, and deep connection to help people discover who they really are and what they are here to do in the world. His clients stop living in an illusion about the environment and the world they live in. They discover not only how to resolve health problems, but they get the clarity and confidence to explore their aspirations.Connect with Mason:Website: https://www.superfeast.com.au/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maseface86Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/masonjtaylor/Mason’s Story of Inspired EvolutionMason shares with us his journey from getting interested with and studying herbalism in his last year of studies, to having his own brand of medicinal mushrooms and tonic herb products. Back in 2011, he started SuperFeast with the intent of spreading the word about the importance and benefits of adding plants and medicinal mushrooms to your regular diet. Back then, these ideas were much less popular, hitting the highest point only in the last couple of years. The cultivation of these sacred plants coming from eastern cultures ideally follows the philosophy of Di Tao. While it’s difficult to translate, it basically means “sourced from its spiritual homeland”, with practical benefits of Di Tao being related to the effectiveness of the herbs and also improved appearance and taste. It is a subject people are not particularly aware of and it concerns proper ways of sourcing and harvesting plants and mushrooms.“It’s important to ensure that it doesn't hit fad vibes because overarching is a philosophy of integrating therapeutics, botanicals that have been harvested in particular ways, connected to the elements, connected to nature.” - Mason TaylorHe further explores potential issues with the subject of medicinal mushrooms becoming a fad and the unfortunate side-effects of opportunists getting involved with the business.“It’s the opportunists that come in late… and they don’t understand this mature perception of what it takes to leave the earth and the environment better than you found it and make sure you’re actually circulating where you’re getting your crop from.” - Mason TaylorThe Benefits of Medicinal Mushrooms and HerbsMason goes into details of just how and why are these medicinal mushrooms and tonic herbs a great way to boost your overall health. Using a very holistic approach, he is very down to earth and rational regarding the benefits, fully being aware that health is not about adding one or two things to your diet and experiencing magic-like improvements. Having said that, he is also extremely focused on the empirical evidence coming from western influences, all the while respecting the ancient traditions and anecdotal evidence that has been in the eastern culture for centuries. The knowledge acquired in both anecdotal and experimental form unequivocally points to the effectiveness of medicinal mushrooms.“These things aren’t cures, they’re not silver bullets but they are herbs that definitely help the immune system, especially medicinal mushrooms, to unite itself and get more sophisticated and that’s been proven empirically.” - Mason TaylorLooking at the whole picture, medicinal mushrooms can help you develop sovereign immunity and Mason sees one of the reasons in the connectedness we have with them in terms of evolution, to the point where we’re in some sort of symbiotic relationship with them.“We’ve co-evolved with mushrooms, 100%, and so they are a part of us” - Mason TaylorAttaining Sovereignty and the Slipperiness of Wisdom Diving into the dynami

Embodied Enlightenment with Cari MerriamOur guest for this week is Cari Merriam, an expert health and lifestyle fitness guide with a mission to increase global happiness.Cari has been fighting adversity her entire life. Throughout her childhood, she was heavily medicated due to depression and anxiety issues. Her struggles with mental illness led her to a life of drug addiction and self-abuse.She found a way out in Core Power Yoga. After an emotional breakthrough experience, Cari resumed to challenge herself physically and spiritually and joined the 200-hour Yoga Alliance teacher training. Since then, Cari has gone on to teach over 2000 classes, lead BootCamps, Cleanses, and support Teacher Training nationally for Core Power Yoga. She has certifications in vinyasa, yin, sculpt, meditation, and breathwork (pranayama yoga). Cari founded a lifestyle brand called Strength and Surrender meant to empower, motivate and teach you how to rebuild the love you have for yourself and strengthen your mind, body, and soul. In 2016, she moved to Bali and ever since, she’s been working on awakening others into their highest self-potential. You can check out her channel on YouTube and see what her intelligent workouts based on yogic philosophy and practice are all about.She has her own podcast called Embodied Enlightenment where each week she discusses a wide array of diverse and interesting topics with her guests. Her intention is to shift your energetic experience of your everyday life, push you to think differently about your internal and external world, and to activate the greatness within you through conscious obtainable action.   Cari is on a mission to awaken self-love in others and she is focusing on teaching others how to live a life of freedom, passion, and purpose.Connect with Cari:Website: http://www.carimerriam.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CariMerriamHealerYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/carimerriamInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamcarimerriam/?hl=enCari’s Story of Inspired EvolutionHaving been riddled with anxiety and depression in her youth and with no alternative to heavy medication, Cari’s origin story is one of struggle and adversity. In later years she suffered from drug addiction to the point in which her life was seriously endangered.“I was almost on my deathbed, and in New York City because I was doing so much cocaine.” - Cari MerriamOne night, she decided to leave the bubble that drove her to the same paths of self-destruction and the universe responded with an unexpected encounter. She met a friend, her soul-sister, which opened her eyes to a new way. She planted an idea in Cari’s brain about Core Power Yoga, believing it could be an answer to the question she had been looking for. “I remember I went into Core Power and just balled my eyes out the first class. I completely lost it. It was the first time I felt like someone held space and saw me.” - Cari MerriamThe transformation she felt every time she practiced Yoga kept her coming back to the point where she decided to sign up for a program and become a teacher herself. In a peculiar situation where she was working as a bartender at a strip club by day, and going to teacher training at night, Cari looked for and found the strength within. “Every time things happen, I had a choice to be a victim or to be a victor for myself. And I always chose self.” - Cari MerriamHer next encounter with her soul-sister led her to explore the power of breathwork, opening a whole new dimension of experience, proving the remarkableness of the universal alignment behind their connection. Using techniques she has learned in the last decade, Cari founded her own lifestyle brand and is looking to inspire and teach self-love in others and bring marriage and wholeness within themselves.Marriage of the Self, Marriage of the Soul“We are all walking around with fragmentations of ourself and how we are brought up is in societies is to not look at those aspects… and we carry them around like a wounded bag behind us.” - Cari MerriamWe need to overcome the distortions within ourselves which are brought on by society. These fragmentations are seeking unity and we need to attain energetic wholeness in order to truly realize our purpose in life. Cari points out the difference between the physical and the energetic self. We charge our energetic bodies through the process of breathing, and through breathwork, we can achieve marriage of the self.“When you’re truly whole you can be in pure alignment with the river of life.” - Cari MerriamLimiting Nature of a Conditional Society“We all have trauma. All of us. Because we live in a conditional society.” - Cari MerriamIt’s easier for us as children to be aligned with the world around us as we’re not yet influenced by language. Trauma occurs when our natural development gets affected by the rules of society. From a young age, we’re being conditioned by society through our parents and the school system with the goal

Be Joyfully Diligent with Alex T. SteffenOur guest for this week is Alex T. Steffen, a business consultant, best-selling author, and an award-winning presenter.Alex started his career as a digital marketing specialist, but over the course of the last decade, he has specialized in the fields of innovation management and the future of work. By providing consultancy services he facilitates the organizational development and innovation efforts of enterprises. In the process, he aims to equip employees and leaders with the required competencies and skills, while breaking down complex innovation problems into solvable tasks using agile methods such as design thinking, user journeys, gamification, masterminds, and custom learning journeys. His client list includes names of renowned companies like SAP, Red Bull, Mercedes Benz, and Webasto.He co-founded Growth Masters, an invite-only adventure mastermind which combines crowdsource coaching and accountability systems to help entrepreneurs advance and take their businesses to the next step. They provide their attendees (tribe members) with strategic business advice on active and passive income vehicles like brand building, preparing online courses, launching an Amazon FBA business, consulting, presenting, podcasting and more. Growth Masters is also a community which aims to connect bestselling authors, prominent startup founders, world-class speakers, athletes and other people who are prominent in their fields.Connect with Alex:Website: http://alextsteffen.com/en/Twitter: https://twitter.com/alextsteffen?lang=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Alex-T-Steffen/514164496LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alextsteffen/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alextsteffen/Alex’s Story of Inspired EvolutionWhen he was only three years old, Alex suffered from an illness, which he luckily managed to successfully overcome. However, he reckons that this experience maybe affected him to become the joyful, energetic person he is today. His parents assured him that his perseverance played an important role in making a full recovery.“My mom always said I fought the illness myself, rather than the medicine.” - Alex T. SteffenHis adolescence and young adulthood were enriched with a curiosity that led him to explore and travel to different parts of the world. These travels were not short excursions to new places, but more like journeys outside of his comfort zone, and Alex looked to spend time in new environments so that he could transform and advance.“I made it a point to go to places that are so different that people often don’t dare to go.” - Alex T. SteffenAlex explored places and sought to get in touch with people who had a completely different view of the world, either from being shut off or as a result of war and similar traumatic experiences. Places like Bosnia, Ruanda, Colombia… He points out the narrow viewpoints of the western world and that through these deep and meaningful interactions with people whose experiences are vastly different from our own, we can get a fuller, more accurate picture of the world that we see around us.Joyfulness, Diligence, OptimismThroughout our conversation, Alex remembers and honors his grandfather with having a great impact on his joyful attitude towards life. A war veteran, living major portions of his life in extreme adversity and challenging times, he always had a comforting message for Alex and his brothers, one that stuck with them and guided them through their difficult moments in life.“He thought us that wealth and abundance come from diligence, but also that a well-lived life is built on joy and you can’t live without it.” - Alex T. SteffenAlex discusses quite openly about the reasons behind his optimism and shows it is based on common sense. His stance on the whole question of the glass being half-full has a firm foundation in practicality. If all else fails, the optimistic mindset will act as a fertile setting, which will, in the end, give us an opportunity to build greater things in the future.“Some people criticize optimists for being optimistic and they say “You have to be realistic.” which is supposedly the opposite of it. I say no. I’m creating my own reality. Even if its just the fundamental part of “If I expect something, my body will react differently, it will calm me down.” and just by that, I have more capacity to be creative, to be more productive, to be calm and connecting.” - Alex T. SteffenGrowth Masters - How to Make an Amazing MastermindCreating masterminds came naturally for Alex. He felt comfortable in social situations where he got the chance to exchange opinions and discuss values with people who had a different viewpoint. He realized that exactly these types of exchanges were not only a great opportunity for connecting with others, but for personal growth as well.Alex noticed that three things were necessary in order to create a great mastermind. First and foremost, the environment in which the mastermind

Our guest for this week is Niraj Naik (aka the Renegade Pharmacist), a qualified pharmacist, professional musician, holistic health expert, and entrepreneur.Years of working as a community pharmacist have given Niraj an opportunity to witness first hand the many difficulties people endure when dealing with illness. One of the key observations he made was that many of his customers kept coming back week in and week out, getting their medication as prescribed, with little to no improvements and being overwhelmed with side-effects. This led him to explore alternative ways for reaching optimal health and resulted in him developing his own method and a lifestyle plan, designed to help his patients.In 2010, Niraj was diagnosed with stress-related ulcerative colitis, which kept him housebound for 10 months. He was told by doctors that there was no cure for his illness and that he would need to take medication for the rest of his life to control it. The side-effects of his prescription drugs were becoming too much, leaving him often hopeless and even suicidal at times.He decided to step away from conventional medicine and study people who have managed to heal themselves in alternative ways. Combining techniques and knowledge from different disciplines like yoga, NLP, self-hypnosis, all the while incorporating dietary recommendations from Paleo and SCD to his daily routine, Niraj finally managed to overcome his illness, without medication.Niraj has also been exploring sound and music therapy in terms of reducing stress and promoting self-healing. Niraj has composed music for healing centers, spas, and therapists worldwide, and his work was included in the programs and videos of renowned experts such as Marisa Peer and Wim Hof.His latest project called SOMA Awakening is a group breathwork multisensory meditation experience that can awaken dormant parts of your brain, improve circulation, promote healing, transmute sexual life force energy and help to manifest your intentions taking your meditation practice to the next level. Soma Breath is being taught at wellness centers in Niraj’s second home of the island of Koh Phangan, Thailand. He has launched a successful teacher training that is proving to be very popular, with his first students already creating and facilitating their own paid workshops, and even showcasing their new skills at festivals.After overcoming a debilitating and house-confining illness cultivating the power of the mind, Niraj is aiming to teach and spread the knowledge he has acquired over the years and help people improve, transform and optimize their physical and mental health.Connect with Niraj:Website: https://therenegadepharmacist.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/truthprescribed/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGVW4kzxMm3iYFAZYBl_UqQTwitter: https://twitter.com/renegadepharm?lang=enNiraj’s Story of Inspired Evolution“I was just dead. I lost my soul.” - Niraj NaikDealing with a debilitating condition, along with suffering from side-effects of the prescribed medication has left Niraj in a state of emotional numbness and despair. The ulcerative colitis just pilled on to an already depressing situation of struggling to get his own ideas of how to improve people’s health across. At his lowest, in what can only be described as a moment of fate, Niraj met with a spiritual yoga teacher. Their encounter shifted his downward spiraling life story and gave him the much-needed energy and inspiration to find a way to help himself when no one else could.Using essential techniques of pranayama, yoga, and Ayurveda, Niraj managed to regain his spiritual balance and ultimately heal himself, leaving medication and conventional medicine behind. He has managed to improve his health, but the whole experience left him more curious than ever. He decided to explore and try to answer the question of just how did he manage to help himself when all hope seemed lost.“I was like, “I need to find out why does this work? What is it about it?” I wanted to go deep.” - Niraj NaikExploring the Mechanism and Refining His ArtAvoiding the dogmatic, Niraj dived deep into discovering the mechanics behind his healing process, and once he found answers he was looking for, he continued to explore and develop his own technique to help others achieve optimal health in a more efficient manner. The first step was involving himself with exploring and creating meditational music because he believed it plays a key role in restoring balance and harmony. His works are now validated by the likes of Marisa Peer, which uses his trypnaural melodies in her training videos.Evoking the Brain Change Without Stress“Every artist, I believe, must suffer a little bit in order to really make valuable art.” - Niraj NaikNiraj has observed suffering to be the common thread as the thing that connects artists from different fields. He believes that the stress and adversity they’ve experienced in their life is the factor which allowed them to think

In this week’s episode, we‘re joined by Nicole Gibson, a multi-award winning social entrepreneur, published author, but most of all, an unstoppable messenger of love and human potential.When she was 18 years old, she started a not-for-profit company called The Rogue & Rouge Foundation dedicated to battling the mental health stigma through a community-based approach, reaching out to children and parents through schools and community groups. The inspiration for starting her own charitable organization came from her own struggles of dealing with anorexia nervosa throughout her teenage years. She was afraid to return to a society which was not able to understand her struggles, so she made a commitment to passionately rebel against Australia’s negative stereotypes.Over the years, Nicole has received many different awards and honors for her contributions to society, the most prominent one being the Pride of Australia Inspiration Medal in 2014. She was also listed as one of Australia’s top 100 most influential women when she was only 21 years old!Nicole has published her first book titled “Love Out Loud”. It is a personal account of her own journey finding her way back to love, and a guide for others that should help them do the same. Aside from that, Nicole also created a unique Love Out Loud online program which is designed to help you shift your mindset and learn to Love Louder with just 15 minutes a day.Throughout her career, Nicole has spoken to and facilitated workshops and presentations for over 250 000 Australians. Using her own background of 10 years in theatre training, she developed a facilitation method in order to spiritually educate and raise awareness about mental illness.Nicole invites us to transform ourselves, realize our potential and understand our responsibility to give back to the world.Connect with Nicole:Website: https://www.nicolegibson.com.au/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicgibson_/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicolegibson.unifierLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-gibson-unifier/Nicole’s Story of Inspired Evolution“At a young age I had to ask myself quite heavy questions, “Am I prepared to devote the rest of my life”, or even more intense, “Am I prepared to die for, essentially, my Ego.”, which is what was driving my eating disorder.” - Nicole GibsonIn her teenage years, Nicole has struggled with an eating disorder known as anorexia nervosa. She openly describes intricate details and thought processes of dealing with mental illness and points out the “feeling of having to be a particular way to meet other people’s expectations” as the main culprit and driving force behind the disorder. Aside from experiencing great emotional pain, Nicole was suffering from immense physical pain as well.“When you’re dealing with mental illness - it’s very self-oriented.” - Nicole GibsonOne of the key turning points for Nicole came from releasing herself from being the focal point of her overwhelming thoughts and self-analysis. Turning her attention outwards to the world, she “started listening”, and what she received from that listening is a realization that “life is about giving and service.” She understood that there is a greater side to her story, and set upon her path of transformation, even though the path itself was not yet well-defined.“I think we always know how to make it happen, but we’re not always prepared to listen.” - Nicole GibsonHonesty as an Essential Agency for Change“It’s one thing to think positive and know that you can live the life of your dreams, it’s another thing to really face your shit and look at where you’re not being honest.” - Nicole GibsonNicole highlights honesty as one of the key conditions needed for transformation. Being able to be alone with yourself, taking in what comes up and learning how to deal with it is the fundamental step in the process of self-improvement. Once you are able to “sit with your s***”, you will establish spiritual tranquility, meaning you will no longer be a slave to your deep insecurities or negativity but will have more energy to think of practical ways how to and actually overcome them.“Until you’re really honest about where you’re at, you can’t change, you can’t transform.” - Nicole GibsonOr to put it in another way, as a line directly pulled from her book, “We can’t heal what we don’t reveal.” It is necessary to know what the problem is if you’re trying to eradicate or transcend it. She acknowledges meditation as one of the most useful settings for being honest with yourself and expresses piercing insight into why most people find meditation an unpleasant activity at first.“The reason you hate meditation is because every time you try to meditate, the first thing that comes up is your guilt, your shame, and your insecurities, but that’s coming up so that you can be aware of that. And via that awareness, you can actually work through it.” - Nicole GibsonValidation vs. Acknowledgement - Barrier vs. Blessing?“I knew th

This week, we’re joined by Dr. Neeta Bhushan, a social entrepreneur, best-selling author, international speaker, leadership coach and the advocate of emotional health.Neeta is a former cosmetic dentist. Facing adversity and tragedy throughout her teenage years pushed her into a position of having to fight for herself and her family. After major successes in her education and early career, Neeta quickly found herself in the position of owning a million-dollar practice. However, after years of giving everything she had to create the perfect life, she became emotionally drained and burnt out, stuck in a job she didn’t find fulfilling and in an abusive, poisonous relationship.Neeta sold her practice and went on a journey to find herself. She has traveled the world, visiting 45 countries across 15 years, all the while getting immersed in the field of behavioral psychology. Her intent was to better understand her own personal journey of fighting off adversity and gain insight into the mechanisms which helped her establish herself as a strong, resilient human being. On her journey, she met her partner and soulmate Ajit Nawalkha, who has also appeared as a guest on our show.She had consolidated her collective life experiences and knowledge into a book titled “Emotional GRIT”. In this book, Neeta explores different causes of frustration and burnout, potential solutions for these problems, as well as the notion of emotional resilience and instructions on how to obtain and strengthen it. From burnout to inner peace, from emotional numbness to mindfulness, Neeta’s story of serving love is an inspiration to us all.Connect with Neeta:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drneetabhushan/Website: https://www.neetabhushan.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/NeetaBhushanInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/neetabhushan/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/neetabhushan1111Neeta’s Story of Rising Through Tragedy and AdversityNeeta was raised in a loving and nurturing family, but sadly, she had grown up in dealing with losing them. When she was 16 she lost her mother. At 17 she lost her brother, and at 19 her father passed away, leaving her with immense tragedy and the responsibility of raising and providing for a younger brother. She quickly transitioned from the role of a child to the role of a parent, investing all her energy into her education and career development.Getting a doctorate and building a million-dollar practice was easy, in her own words, but there was more to the life that from the outside looked picture perfect. On the inside, Neeta was struggling. Putting up a strong face for her brother and the rest of her family was a mere mask for hiding the emotional numbness she felt, as a result of being in a toxic relationship and working at a job she didn’t find fulfilling.“From the outside, everything looked picture-perfect, but from the inside, I was spiritually dead, emotionally dead, and just burnt out.” - Dr. Neeta BhushanShe ended up selling her practice, leaving her abusive husband and embarked on a self-searching journey. Traveling all over the world she had discovered a new purpose. Neeta started exploring the world of human behavior and used her very own experiences with adversity to develop a system for transformation and strengthening your resilience. After taking care of herself, she found new fulfillment in helping others and serving love.“In order to serve others, you need to serve yourself first.” - Dr. Neeta BhushanWhat is GRIT?“Grit is really the tenacity to stick with something, even when it is challenging, even when it is tough.” - Dr. Neeta BhushanNeeta’s teachings are based on the concepts of awareness, compassion, empathy, and happiness. She is aiming to help others build their emotional intelligence and strengthen their own resilience muscle for dealing with adversity, tragedy, and loss.She uses GRIT as an acronym which represents the transformation process and contains 4 major stages:Growth - understanding the importance of your own awareness and your ability to self-reflectRevelation - making peace with your past mistakes, and accept the fears & past stories that have held you back to cultivate self-beliefInnovation - making the commitment to embrace change and challenge your thinking from a different perspective and be open to opportunitiesTransformation -  taking the right steps and full action to design the new leadership of your life.It is through these 4 stages that we achieve self-improvement. They do not happen overnight, and they are not a one-time occurrence. It is a pattern of self-acceptance and empowerment which continuously repeats itself on our way to self-actualization and becoming more fulfilled.“It’s cyclical. You never stop growing, you never stop within the cycle, you never stop within the seasons of life.” - Dr. Neeta BhushanBut before you’re able to get involved with the process of transformation, there is a single condition you need to satisfy and that is to be open

This week we’re joined by Rhea Lalla, an entrepreneur, certified trainer, parenting coach, speaker, author, and an emotional intelligence specialist. She is the founder of Build Great Minds, she offers private coaching, online courses and leads live seminars on building highly developed emotional, intellectual and creative skills sets in kids, so they achieve success in all areas of lifePrior to starting her own business, Rhea has been a part of the corporate world gaining valuable experience in coaching and training, all the while working with executives and senior management. She has worked all over the world in places like North America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and the Caribbean.Back in 2012, she started Build Great Minds which offers parents private coaching, online courses and leads live seminars on building highly developed emotional, intellectual and creative skills sets in kids, so they achieve success in all areas of life. Rhea is helping parents conceptualize unwelcome patterns in their behavior and teaches new ones, useful to both the parent and the child.Whether she’s building apartments out of shipping containers in the Caribbean or helping parents develop a healthier, more nurturing and more fulfilling relationships with their children, Rhea is constantly searching for a way to improve herself, determined to see the world in the most beautiful, positive way possible.Connect with Rhea:Website: http://buildgreatminds.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhea-lalla-a521b83a/Twitter: https://twitter.com/rhea_lallaRhea’s Origin Story: What Experiences Have Led Her to Become an EQ Specialist“I’ve always been in the world of emotional intelligence.” - Rhea LallaRhea’s upbringing was unconventional. From a very young age, she was guided to express her creativity freely, in terms of perspective taking and self-awareness. There is a strong connection between Rhea’s ability to sense, feel and respond to people’s emotions and need, and the simple game of trying to guess what are other people in the park thinking. Learning and growing through these games, in a safe, loving and nurturing environment, allowed her to pick up emotional cues and patterns in behavior, essential aspects of emotional intelligence.But these guessing games also allowed her to understand and develop a crucial technique she will later come to use and apply in everyday life situations. The ability to produce different explanations for why a certain scenario played out, informs you about the complexities of life. There could be many reasons why a person did what they did or said what they said, and it is important not to get attached to the idea there is a one, single way of interpreting the situation. Allow yourself to witness a whole spectrum of possibilities, and choose to accept the one which will give you the most optimistic and positive version of life.“You start accumulating a variety of reasons as to why somebody is behaving, or responding or communicating in a particular way. And what you learn is not to get attached to any “one” way of thinking.” - Rhea LallaThe Importance of Naming Emotions in Early Childhood Experiences“So much of how we see the world, how we respond to the world, how we feel about ourselves, is intrinsically determined in those first 5 to 10 years.”We discuss how much the formative years of our development affect what type of person we’re going to become. All of what we’re experiencing as children is seeping into our subconscious, conditioning the way we see, feel and interact with the world around us.Not being able to name a specific emotion is a real problem for children. The frustration it brings forces them to shun and disassociate from certain emotions, which can eventually be wiped out from their emotional landscape. It is the parent’s role to recognize specific emotions that the child is experiencing, and to propose a name for what they’re feeling.“It’s so important, at a very young age, to help children understand their emotional space and give them language.” - Rhea LallaAre Emotions Being Neglected in Today’s Society?“I think that emotions have been ignored far too long, and this is our opportunity to do a deep dive into the places we may have been afraid to.” - Rhea LallaIt looks like doing anything to get away from feelings has become a standard in dealing with them. Distracting ourselves and not allowing to feel our own emotions is a huge part of the problem people are experiencing in their everyday lives. Rhea invites us to feel our feelings. Emotions are in our physiology, and we need to allow ourselves to experience them with the entirety of our being. They have been designed to help you on your life’s journey, and if we’re so focused on dismissing them, we will be losing a valuable source of information about the world, and distort the way in which we interpret life.“A human being is a human feeling.” - Rhea LallaThe Parenting Journey and How to Re-parent Yourself“Parents will

This week we’re joined by Martyn Sibley, a serial entrepreneur, author and the co-founder and CEO of Disability Horizons, an online disability lifestyle magazine that aims to give people with disabilities a voice.Martyn is suffering from a condition called Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), a genetic condition that makes the muscles weaker and causes problems with movement. Experiencing both societal exclusion and a feeling of inferiority because of it hasn’t stopped him in any shape or form from achieving his life goals and dreams. From gaining a Masters degree in Economics and Marketing to working for a huge NGO, to becoming a successful entrepreneur, he has shown that with a right attitude and approach we can all become captains of our own destiny.Martyn started his career working for Scope, a disability equality charity. After several years, he felt that he is not reaching his full potential, so he decided to pursue and explore the entrepreneurial lifestyle. From his passion for helping others by sharing his experiences, an idea for an online magazine was born. He co-founded Disability Horizons back in 2011 and has been providing people with disabilities with valuable insights on the topics of technology, relationships, sports, employment, and travel ever since. In 2015 Martyn had co-founded Accomable, an online portal for accessible tourism which was subsequently acquired by Airbnb.He is also a published author, having released a book titled “Everything is Possible”, in 2016. After successfully funding the project through Kickstarter, Martyn shared his experiences from his travels around the world, hoping to provide others with energy and motivation on their path to self-actualization.Martyn also hosts his own podcast called “The Martyn Sibley Show” where he interviews influential and successful people, covering all aspects of life from politics to sport, from business to arts.It doesn’t really matter if he’s traveling across the far ends of the globe, blogging about his ideas and experiences, or even flying a plane, Martyn is on a path of inspiring others, regardless of whether they’re struggling with disability or not.Connect with Martyn:Twitter: https://twitter.com/martynsibleyTumblr: http://martynsibley.tumblr.com/Website: http://martynsibley.com/Becoming an Entrepreneur in the Face of Adversity“I’ve always been a dreamer and wanted the world to be a better place.” - Martyn SibleyDrawing inspiration from the great entrepreneurial minds of our days, naming Richard Branson as an example, Martyn has always felt deep inside him the desire to run his own business one day. With Disability Horizons, he has made his dreams into reality, providing people with disabilities with an abundance of interesting stories and articles, but more importantly, building a sense of community around his brand.While working at Scope, he gained relevant experience which would help him become a successful business owner he is today. But to be truly happy and achieve his full potential, he had to leave the sense of security coming from a steady 9 to 5 job, and dive deep into the oceans of entrepreneurial lifestyle where uncertainty and new challenges are an everyday theme.“I had this dread about getting up every morning and going to the same office. Sitting in the traffic in London, and stuck at my desk and being in all these meetings that didn’t feel kind of purposeful.“ - Martyn SibleyGetting into Blogging and Starting His Own Business“When I was a teenager, if someone was like 10, 20 years older, and was doing a load of cool stuff, it wouldn’t have mattered if I did exactly the same things, just to know it was possible would have been really, really powerful.” - Martyn SibleyAfter leaving Scope, Martyn started blogging about his experiences in order to give other people with disabilities an insight into what can be achieved in spite of adversity. The idea of being a living proof of what can be achieved with a right attitude was what kept him going. Over time he got more and more exposure in the media, all the while reaching a bigger audience with his message and building a solid foundation for his very own startup. At the moment, Disability Horizons has an amazing 50 000 readers per month, an audience predominantly consisting of people with disabilities and their families.“I’ve got this... like a calling, it felt... to share my personal story, and make them feel that the world is actually open and accessible. And even if it’s not open and accessible in a physical way all the time, there are still so many opportunities to go and grab.” - Martyn SibleyWorking on his magazine and interacting with his audience, Martyn acquired useful insight which led him to co-found Accomable, an accessible travel startup that helped people with disabilities find and book adapted holiday accommodation worldwide online. With their initial elevator pitch being “Airbnb for disabled people”, it is incredible to see things coming full circle with Airbn

This week on Inspired Evolution, we’re joined by Kristina Mand-Lakhiani, a serial entrepreneur, international speaker, and artist. She is also the co-founder and head of the Russian Language sector at Mindvalley, a global educational organization offering top training for peak human performance.Kristina has been a part of the personal growth and transformation industry for the past 15 years. She has held numerous lectures on many different themes including self-improvement and relationship crafting, some even available on YouTube. In one particularly popular video, Kristina educates on how to build a customer relationship in 100 days.Her personal life is as rich and plentiful, if not more, as her professional life. Whether it’s singing her two children to sleep, playing the harp or immersing herself into classical literature, Kristina is set on taking in every moment and invites us to do the same. Her honesty and authenticity are breathtaking, in a truly educational conversation on dealing with emotions and the search for the true meaning of happiness.Connect with Kristina:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kristinamandTwitter: https://twitter.com/kristinamandlakInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristinamand/?hl=enThe Many Upsets of Perfectionism “Perfectionism is a curse. Because we hold such a high bar for ourselves and we do things for perfectionism sake.” - Kristina Mand-LakhianiKristina goes over her days of attending school and draws from personal experience in order to prove that perfectionism will, in fact, do you more harm than good. The idea of achieving perfection is a cumbersome notion to bear when considering your goals and values. It pushes us into the realm of unrealistic expectations, all the while having to endure the unnatural levels of stress it is inevitably causing. For Kristina, perfectionism is the thing which prevents us from being truly happy.What Does It Mean to Be Happy?“First of all, I think we don’t know what happiness is… It’s a very subjective thing.” - Kristina Mand-LakhianiHappiness can mean one thing for us, but it can also mean something completely different to someone else. It is a subjective concept, as Kristina puts it, one even scientists seek to avoid in their research. There is still plenty we can do in terms of utilizing the idea of happiness and trying to understand it better so that we could make it an essential part of our lives. For starters, we could make a clear distinction between happiness and other similar, but significantly different terms.“We should not confuse happiness, joy and fun, which seem like very similar things.” - Kristina Mand-LakhianiIn the context of life, fun and joy are usually restricted to short burst and periods of time, while happiness is more of a long-term thing. Happiness is a marathon, and the ways in which we try to attain it, need to correspond well with its long-lasting nature.Long-term Strategies Which Will Help Us Find HappinessKristina offers 6 long-term strategies that will help you on your path to finding happiness in your everyday life. These techniques include:GratitudeConsciousness (the ability to be present)The quality of our relationshipsForgivenessSelf-loveThe ability to deal with negative emotions“You express gratitude and for a while, you remind yourself: “Yeah, there are things that are good in my life, not everything is bad.” But you don’t feel the ecstasy from it.” - Kristina Mand-LakhianiGratitude is a great example of why these techniques have an effect when considered long-term. Having and expressing gratitude is not a quick fix. It will not give you an immediate sense of calm, joy or any other brief emotional state you’re striving for. But when applied continuously, throughout our lives, gratitude will give us a more holistic perspective, it will make us see the bigger picture and ultimately will lead to us feeling happy.“Time is an illusion! And a lot of negative emotions live either in the future or the past… Happiness is the thing that is in the now!” - Kristina Mand-LakhianiKristina compares consciousness to a pulse-check. She emphasizes the take-a-step-back effect it has on us when we are dealing with difficult and negative emotional states. Another benefit of knowing how to be in the present is that it will allow us to avoid all of the negativity that appears from either our past (like regret or not being able to let go) or from our future (like anxiety that arises from uncertainty).Many studies have shown in the past that happiness correlates with the quality of our relationships with others. Family, friends, coworkers… Having a solid and strong connection with people that enrich our lives is a very important aspect of happiness, which is quite rational when you consider the other side of the coin. If we do not have good relationships with people we interact with on a daily basis, and especially with the people we are closest to emotionally, our days would be filled with stress, angst, and sadness. H