Two Inconvenient Women

What is national pride all about and where does it stem from? Following a recent surge in the flying of the Union flag and St George's flag in parts of England this episode dives deeply into the meaning of national pride, the complexities and emotions it stirs up and the painful histories involved in the creation of nation states. From exploring a brief potted history of countries and colonialism to diving into some of the inherent human behaviours that stem from a need to belong, this episode is a chance to explore some of the behaviours, controversies and complexities that accompany flags and how we can move through some of these current challenges with a deeper sense of connection.In this episode we mention the following:Beyond Civilisation - Daniel Quinn (PDF non-fiction)The Danger of a Single Story - Chimamanda Adiche (TedTalk)Tamar Nafar - Palestinian rapper and journalist (website)Notes on Nationalism, George Orwell (Essay)Politics JOE - Is the St George’s Cross Racist? (Video)Is England Flag Flying Campaign Patriotism or Provocation? (News report)Belonging, Owen Eastwood (Book)‘This is Our Flag… We are Proud British Muslims’ (News article)The Wheel of the Year, Fiona Cook (Book) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A new season is upon many of us at this time of year. Summer shifting into Autumn, the beginning of a new school year, a new work cycle. Maybe just returning to work after a rest. In all of the excitement of 'beginning again' there often comes also a slight pause within us all, asking us "Am I wanting to keep doing this? Is this allowing me to be all I want to be?"This week, Rachel shares a poem from John O'Donohue called 'For a New Beginning' inviting us to listen to that quiet voice deep within us. We look forward to being back together for Season 4 of Two Inconvenient Women next week.For a New Beginningby John O'DonohueIn out-of-the-way places of the heart,Where your thoughts never think to wander,This beginning has been quietly forming,Waiting until you were ready to emerge.For a long time it has watched your desire,Feeling the emptiness growing inside you,Noticing how you willed yourself on,Still unable to leave what you had outgrown.It watched you play with the seduction of safetyAnd the gray promises that sameness whispered,Heard the waves of turmoil rise and relent,Wondered would you always live like this.Then the delight, when your courage kindled,And out you stepped onto new ground,Your eyes young again with energy and dream,A path of plenitude opening before you.Though your destination is not yet clearYou can trust the promise of this opening;Unfurl yourself into the grace of beginningThat is at one with your life's desire.Awaken your spirit to adventure;Hold nothing back, learn to find ease in risk;Soon you will be home in a new rhythm,For your soul senses the world that awaits you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our August break continues here at ThoughtBox, so this week we're sharing a short collection of previous episodes where we dive into the nuance of environmental wellbeing and what it means to learn to care for our planet. Some of the highlights from our past three seasons are this mini-series are below:Season 1, Episode 4: Falling in love with the worldSeason 2, Episode 7 (Exploring the inconvenience of nature connection): Are we connecting with nature, or just using it?Season 3, Episode 4 (Exploring the inconvenience of trees): What can a tree teach us about relationships?Season 3, Episode 12 (Exploring the inconvenience of earth-care): Why is caring for the planet essential for all life to flourish?If you'd like to join us for any of the Triple WellBeing opportunities mentioned in the podcast, you can find more information at:Triple WellBeing Introduction workshop: a free, one-hour session (Wednesday 27th August 2025, 1pm-2pm BST)Triple WellBeing Practitioner Course: a one-day, online workshop (Friday 26th September 2025, 10am-3pm BST)Transforming Education Retreat: a three-day residential programme (Monday 6th - Wednesday 8th October) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our August break continues here at ThoughtBox, so this week we're sharing a short collection of previous episodes where we dive into the nuance of social wellbeing and what it means to learn to care fully for our communities, both local and global. Holly also shares a poem by Rosemary Wahtola Trommer called 'Belonging'.Some of the highlights from our past three seasons are this mini-series are below:Season 1, Episode 14 (Gathering): Why do we gather—and what are we losing when we don’t?Season 2, Episode 3 (Empathy): Is the modern world making us less human?Season 3, Episode 1 (EDI): How do we hold onto humanity when the law lets go?Season 3, Episode 11 (People-Care): What can happen when we look to find our shared humanity in others?If you'd like to join us for any of the Triple WellBeing opportunities mentioned in the podcast, you can find more information at:Triple WellBeing Introduction workshop: a free, one-hour session (Wednesday 27th August 2025, 1pm-2pm BST)Triple WellBeing Practitioner Course: a one-day, online workshop (Friday 26th September 2025, 10am-3pm BST)Transforming Education Retreat: a three-day residential programme (Monday 6th - Wednesday 8th October) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This August, we're taking a break here at ThoughtBox, so we're sharing a collection of previous episodes where we dive into the nuance of personal wellbeing and what it means to learn to care fully for ourselves. In this mini episode, Holly shares a poem on the theme of personal wellbeing, and introduces some of the highlights from our past three seasons, which make up this week's mini series:Season 1, Episode 2 (Rest): What if rest is the most radical thing we can do?Season 2, Episode 10 (Spirituality) Are we living in a spiritual vacuum?Season 2, Episode 12 (Resourcing): What does it mean to re-source ourselves?Season 3, Episode 10 (Self-care): What is self-care was actually a self-less act?If you'd like to join us for any of the Triple WellBeing opportunities mentioned in the podcast, you can find more information at:Triple WellBeing Introduction workshop: a free, one-hour session (Wednesday 27th August 2025, 1pm-2pm BST)Triple WellBeing Practitioner Course: a one-day, online workshop (Friday 26th September 2025, 10am-3pm BST)Transforming Education Retreat: a three-day residential programme (Monday 6th - Wednesday 8th October) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when we allow ourselves to fall back in love with the world? For many people it may feel obvious why we need to protect the earth and prevent run-away climate change and species extinction. Yet it may not be so clear as to how changing our relationship with the natural world is just as pressing – if not more so – than any environmental activism. When we take time to notice how incredible the natural world is, to understand and witness how the thriving of nature enables the thriving of ourselves, our appreciation of the importance of earth-care naturally grows. It’s hard to ‘stop and smell the roses’ in a culture that continues to celebrate ‘doing’ over ‘being’ and being in domination over nature, rather than being in relationship with nature. And yet when we start to see ourselves as part of nature, and allow ourselves to feel genuine connection with the more than human world, everything changes.In this episode we talk about the inconvenience of earth-care and what it means to rewild ourselves, regenerate our thinking and reconnect with the whole of life.We reference the following:It's a wonderful world - David Attenborough (BBC video)Is it time to reassess our relationship with nature? Open University (video)Incredible Edible (movement /website)Birds of paradise mating dance (BBC video)Why is environmentalism failing - Morgan Phillips (TedX Talk)}Wilding - Isabella Tree (Book / film)Nature Connection activities - ThoughtBox (free resources)Earth in mind - David Orr (book) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Humans are a social species by design, with an inbuilt need to be with others, whilst qualities of care and kindness are innate in us all. Many of us are, however, living in a hyper-individualised world which encourages us to 'other' and separate from our communities, creating a culture of segregation and loneliness. In response, tides are turning across the world, as more and more people choose to look beyond the mainstream media stories and start instead to connect with our common humanity. We cannot be human alone - and it is our differences which make us so fascinating, and our diversity which allows our societies to flourish. And so what does it look like to live a life of care for others, and why is this in fact deeply good for us too?In this week's episode, we explore the inconvenience of 'people-care', and the importance of nurturing caring and healthy communities in our lives - both near and far. We explore our connection to the behaviours of chimpanzees and bonobos; think about how to hold a deep legacy of colonialism within many cultures and reflect on some of the ways that acts of care for others can generate a deep sense of growth, healing and connection with ourselves.In this conversation we reference the following:How to Citizen podcast - Barathunde Thursston (podcast)Who we are - or could be - in times of crisis - Rebecca Solnit (article)Jon Alexander - Citizens (book / movement)Bonobos & chimps - what our closet relatives tell us about being human (article)Watching the English - Kate Fox (book)Stories of Triple WellBeing - ThoughtBox (podcast)Dr Ezideen Shebab - Doctor / writer (linktree)Permaculture Principles (website)Brene Brown on empathy (video)The philosophy of ujamaa (article)Interpersonal Neurobiology - Dr Dan Siegel (website)Long for the Coast - Jamie Gould, musician (album) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Self-care gets a bad wrap. It's often at the very bottom of our agenda, seen sometimes as self-indulgent - selfish even. And yet being aware of ourselves, being present in our emotions and actions, being kind and caring to our own needs is far from selfish. When we tend to our selves - the analogy of the 'oxygen mask first' we are able to better support others, as we are more resourced and resilient to do so. The growing appreciation for us to look after our personal wellbeing is growing - and is now becoming a conscious part of educational spaces - and yet too often it sits as an add-on or 'bonus' element of how we live and learn together. So how can we learn to embed habits and practices of self-care into our daily rhythms in a culture fixated on more, more, more?In this week's episode, we dive into the depths of personal wellbeing and acts of self-care, exploring what it means to drink deeply from the 'well of our being' and how we can bring self-care to the top of the agenda.In this episode we reference the following:The Triple WellBeing Framework (PDF download)Why resourcing ourselves is key to a sustainable future - Rachel Musson (blogpost)Mental Health First Aid (training course)Interpersonal Neurobiology - Dr Dan Siegel (website)MHFA Mental Health Continuum (website)DfE's new RSHE Guidance (website)Stories of Triple WellBeing (podcast series) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For reasons known and written about by many, there's been a shift over time which has enabled 'learning' within educational contexts to be mainly focused on the head and often ignoring the heart or the hands. With a knowledge-saturated curriculum and a mainstream structure built around sitting down at desks and absorbing information, we're recognising the absence of a holistic focus for many of the learning contexts around the world. Which is ironic and unhealthy, for all of us as humans learn best when we are engaging all of our senses, all of our being as it were. Head, Heart and Hands is a handily alliterative phrase coined to refer to a more holistic style of learning, and a way to enable a pedagogy of connection to our whole self. So why don't we bring more of this into our lives and learning spaces? In this week's episode, Holly and Rachel dive into the nourishing feeling of head, heart, hands learning, exploring where opportunities for this sort of connection to life are already happening and how we can embed a more holistic approach to learning across our communities.We reference the following:Waldorf Education - Rupert Steiner (a philosophy and pedagogy)Montessori Education - Maria Montessori (a philosophy and pedagogy)Schumacher College (a learning institute and movement)Triple WellBeing Framework (a framework and pedagogy) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a world that glorifies busyness, rest can feel inconvenient—even rebellious. But what happens when we stop doing and simply allow ourselves to be? This episode explores rest as resistance against the belief that worth is tied to productivity. What happens when we slow down? Who benefits when we pause? And how might reclaiming rest help us build a healthier, more human way of living? This week's conversation is all about slowing down and redefining what it means to be a 'human being' rather than a 'human doing'.In this episode, we reference the following:PACTS (a new education initiative empowering UK students to engage in democracy)The Rebelliousness of Rest by Rachel Musson (blog article)Rest is Resistance: Free yourself from grind culture and reclaim your life by Tricia Hersey (book)Bayo Akomolafe (writer and speaker)Frederick by Leo Lionni (children's book)The Language of Emotions by Karla McLaren (book)The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck : A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life by Mark Manson (book) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Inconvenience of Joy“I will never apologise for embracing joy and beauty - even when the world is falling apart – for joy and beauty are the fuel for my activism”. These words by Karen Walrond are one of the inspirations for this week’s conversation on 'Joy', exploring how cultivating joy is both a way to resource ourselves and build the resilience needed to meet the challenges of our world. Joy is often seen as being the same thing as happiness, and yet these two emotions are profoundly different; one coming from external sources, one being cultivated from within. It is not a surprise that the practice of joy is embedded into all world religions as it can become a deeply spiritual practice – as well as a beautifully infectious state to find ourselves in.In this week's conversation we dive into the meaning of joy, how it shows up in our lives; how activists across history have cultivated joy in their lives and work and what happens when we learn to practice joy as part of our daily rhythms.In this episode we reference the following:Mission: Joy – Dalai Lama & Desmond Tutu (video)Habits for practising joy - ThoughtBox (PDF)Seeking Language Large Enough – David Whyte / On Being (podcast)Climate Courage Campaign – Climate Majority Project (website)Joy Over Fear – St Ebbe’s School (website)Schools of Dreams - Kimberley Oliff Cooper TEDx Talk (video)The Fun Habit - Mike Rucker (book)Glorious – MaMuse (Rachel’s current favourite joyful song) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The world is feeling a very broken place right now, with all that is erupting out of the Middle East, and with continued suffering across the world. When we do engage in conversations about what is happening, we often find ourselves sidetracked into the dance of moral outrage and the opportunity for a conversation is lost. And yet simple human connection sits at the heart of all that we're yearning for - each of us carrying the innate need to be seen, to be heard and to belong. So what happens when we offer to meet those needs in others, simply by noticing their shared humanity?This week's conversation is raw, personal, honest and deeply human. With no apology. For we don't need to hide our humanity to be professional. In fact, that is perhaps the reason why so many of our institutions have become so inhumane and it also holds an invitation for how we can each start to re-humanise the landscapes we are part of.In this episode we reference the following:Most shocking second a day video - Save the Children (video)Human: A Portrait of our World - Yann Arthus-Betrand (film & photography)Immigration & Refugees curriculum -ThoughtBox (learning resource)Meeting a broken world - Rachel Musson (blogpost) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We talk a lot about change but living through it is something else entirely. Change is the only constant, and yet change can feel deeply uncomfortable - fearful at times - and not necessarily something that many of us openly embrace. In a world constantly talking about the need for change, systems-change and changemakers, there is a deep energy of possibility in this invitation - and a deep necessity when we realise that the current context is making us unwell - and yet which is the direction of change to follow?In this week's episode we reflect on the messy, non-linear and often uncomfortable nature of personal and systemic change. Whether that's the changing nature of relationships or the constantly shifting and changing climate; changes in culture and society to systems change and changes in our brains and bodies, we dive deep into the different ways we can embrace the uncertainty of change and find a more easeful relationship with a world in constant shift.In this episode we reference the following:Common Cause Foundation (website/organisation)The Three Horizons model - Bill Sharpe (website)Bio-leadership Fellowship (website / movement)Stories of Triple WellBeing - Rachel Musson (ebook)There are Rivers in the Sky - Elif Shafak (book)Luna Living - Kirsty Gallagher (book)Sacred Geometry (7 circles)Schools of Dreams - Kimberley Oliff Cooper (TedX talk) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We've all probably experienced the feeling at some point in our lives where we're talking to someone and know that they are just pretending to listen. The feeling of disconnect that this creates within us may be subtle but it's felt. Listening is a gift - when we give our full attention, we are in presence and attentive to anything that may emerge. And yet, in many of our modern cultures, the art of listening is a dying act whilst silence is endangered species. Learning to listen to ourselves, to each other and to the wider world is a practice we can all inhabit and a hugely rich and deep way of forming seen and unseen connections with ourselves and the world.In this week's podcast, we talk about the inconvenience of listening, what it means to truly listen; why listening is so hard and what happens on a cellular level when we gift another person our full attention.In this conversation we reference the following:The Listening Project - ThoughtBox (downloadable resources)The Listening Book - Robin Ticic, Elise Kushner and Bruce Ecker (book)Listening Abyss (image and concept)Interpersonal Neurobiology - Dr Dan Siegel (website)Silence & the presence of everything - Gordon Hempton (On Being podcast)His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman (book series)The Name of the Wind - Patrick Rothfuss (book) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Holly is away this week, so we thought we'd re-share our very first episode of the Two Inconvenient Women podcast where we held a conversation about what it means to be "inconvenient", why talking about some of these inconveniences that get in the way of life flourishing is so important and how to 'be inconvenient' in a society that isn't set up for us to be healthy, resourced and connected. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you ask a child to draw a tree, most likely it will be a green circle plopped on top of a brown vertical oblong (with a lot more artistic flavour involved, obviously). Similarly, when most people think of trees, we tend to think of them from the trunk up. But the reality is that there’s as much tree ‘below ground’ as there is above. As well as supporting us to breathe, trees play a huge significance in our lives and in maintaining and supporting the health and wellbeing of ecosystems. Did you know that trees secretly talk to each other, supported by mycelium in the soil which forms an invisible mycorrhizal network in the soil. And that is only the beginning of research emerging into the secret lives of trees and all they have to teach us about supporting the health and wellbeing of our community. And yet our relationship with trees is one of great contradiction - seeing trees as a commodity as well as something to revere and protect. This week, we're exploring the inconvenience of trees, thinking about what we can learn from trees and how can we bring some of this invisible wisdom into our lives and communities. In this episode, we reference the following:The Overstory - Richard Powers (book)How trees secretly talk to each other - BBC (video)Suzanne Simard - ecologist (website)Entangled Life - Merlin Sheldrake (book)Sycamore Gap Tree (website)Temperate Rainforest restoration, Devon (campaign)Wilding - Isabella Tree (book / film)Rachel's tattoo (image)Holly's Tree pit (image)Transforming Leadership Course - ThoughtBox (online course) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it mean to lead when you don’t know where you’re going? Now, more than ever, the future feels very uncertain – foggy even, and the role of leadership needs to transform to meet the fog. Too often, traditional leadership roles are modelled around a hierarchy based on outcome and – to a large degree – certainty. So what happens when we return to the roots of the meaning of the word ‘leadership’ and look to nature for guidance on how to be resilient and resourced for the future? In this week's episode, we reflect on the invisible work, relational depth and regenerative rhythms of leadership that often go unrecognised in a world hooked on outcomes. We dive into what a nature-led leadership looks like, learning from the deep wisdom and experience of the wider natural world. We explore leadership as a journey of care rather than control, shaped not by hierarchy, but by trust, relationality and the courage to journey upstream towards a healthier future for people and planet.We reference the following during the conversation:Transforming Leadership Programme (course / website)The ThoughtBox Team (website page)Simon Sinek on leadership (video)Surrounded by Idiots, Thomas Erikson (book)Insights Colour Model (website) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In many parts of the world, people find themselves trapped in cycles of business. Our lives are full to the brim and we're finding ourselves endlessly busy - suffering from an epidemic of time poverty. We have more time-saving devices than ever, but what happens to all of that time we save? There is no giant clock in the universe, and yet so many of us shape our lives around time - a concept that is an agreement, not a law. How much is time a state of mind? And what happens when we start to think about different states of time, such as slow time, deep time and long time? In this week's conversation, we unravel our relationship with time: the rush to do more, the stories we tell about our place in time and what happens when we start to slow down; exploring how reclaiming time might just be the most radical act of all.In this podcast we reference the following:How to have the time of your life - Martin Boroson (Ted Talk)Deep Time Walk (app and immersive walk)Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi - Flow States (website)Falling in love with the world - Two Inconvenient Women (podcast)The Long Time Project - Ella Saltmarshe (website / podcast) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Equality, diversity and inclusion are often seen as political issues, but at their heart this is the essence of life and the vitality of how people can live well alongside one another. Right now, in many places, these values are being rapidly dismantled and reframed as threats rather than essentials. Which contradicts everything we know about healthy ecosystems which rely on diversity and inclusion as a foundation for healthy thriving.In this week's podcast we explore why EDI matters, what happens when fear drives policy and how we can protect the beauty and essential need for diversity and difference in a world that feels increasingly divided. During the conversation, we reference the following:The Danger of a Single Story - Chimamanda Adiche (Ted Talk video)Tidy Up Team - Brighton & Hove (volunteer network)Equality and Justice - ThoughtBox (free curriculum for 5-18 years)Triple WellBeing Stories - ThoughtBox (podcast series)Watch this Sp_ce - Equality projects (website)Beyond Civilisation - Daniel Quinn (ebook)The Beat of a Different Drum - Ffyona Campbell (Book)Pop Idol versus The Choir - Conference provocation (video) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Self-care is something of a taboo in a lot of people’s minds because we’ve been made to feel guilt or shame about the idea of taking time to look after ourselves - especially when there’s so many other people, beings and problems needing our attention. Yet resourcing ourselves, strengthening our resilience and focusing on wellbeing are not just ‘nice things to do’ - they are essential actions to support anything else we may wish to do now and in the future.When we fill up our own cup, we have capacity to fill up others.  But what does it mean to resource ourselves and how can we do this? In this week’s podcast we dive into the need and process of resourcing ourselves so that we can strengthen our own sense of resilience and wellbeing in order to support the wider world around us.In this episode we reference the following:Resourcing and sustainability - Rachel Musson (Blog) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ask any child their age and they'll happily tell you, but for adults it is a different story. In certain cultures, elders are a revered and respected part of the community, whilst in many others ageing has become something to fight against. Despite it being the most natural part of our evolution, growing older and being proud of our ageing has become something of a taboo - even something to be ashamed of. Some people also feel certain stigmas surrounding menopause, wrinkles and age - which contribute to a negative story surrounding growing old.In this week's podcast, we talk about the inconvenience of ageing, diving into what it means to be an 'elder', exploring our skewed relationship with menopause, with age and the ageing population, and how we can reclaim and celebrate the vitality and lifeforce within us which extends well beyond the physical body.In this episode, we reference the following:Born To Run - Christopher McDougall (book)Combining care homes and nurseries (article)Warning - Jenny Joseph (poem)Sam Crosby (speaker)The evolutionary reason for menopause - Dr Roy Casgranda (video) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The mention of the word spiritual tends to trigger emotional responses - for some it is welcome, for some fear or rejection, for some trepidation, for some dismissal. Seeing ourselves as connected to the web of life is natural and how we've evolved as humans, yet we are living in times of significant spiritual starvation. Whilst major religions, nature connection and other spiritual practices offer many people a deep sense of belonging in life, many folks are growing up without any spiritual connection to life, living without any sense of tethering to a story bigger than the human story, and perhaps feeling a deep sense of lostness as a result.In this week's podcast, we dive into a complex and wonderous conversation about the role of spiritual practice in our lives and cultural stories, exploring some of the blocks to spirituality as well as where we can begin to welcome simple, powerful ways to reconnect with the awe and wonder of lifeIn this conversation we refer to the following:Harry Potter and the Sacred Texts (Podcast series)The Medicine Wheel (Indigenous practice framework)Praying with Jane Eyre - Vanessa Zoltan (book)Taylor Swift and the Golden Rule - Sandy Glanfield (blog) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The word activism tends to bring up very specific connotations for people, yet has incredible depth, nuance and possibility – especially in our modern culture, where evermore people are recognising the need to speak up against some of the things we see happening around us. In this conversation we dive into the role of activism in our lives and work, and reflect on some of the different ways to be ‘energetically active’ to enable a healthier way of living together. We talk about the different forms of activism that we can engage in - from being a citizen, rebel, change-agent and reformer - to reflecting on the role of delicate activism and 'being the change' as powerful ways to transform our communities towards a healthier future.In this episode we reference the following:The Four Roles of Activism - Bill Moyer (website)Extinction Rebellion - global movement (website)The Overstory - Richard Powers (book)Silent Spring - Rachel Carson (book)Disruptive Protest Legislation - UK (website)Craftivist Collective - Sarah Corbett (website)Dancing Man on a hillside (video)Climate Criminals? Sophie Austen (short film)Perfect Arrangement - Topher Payne (play / website) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wellbeing is a 'trendy term' nowadays; something that organisations know they must support in their colleagues; something top of the agenda in our schools and something we all know matters in our own lives, yet something rarely given space, time or validity in our modern culture of productivity. In this week's podcast, we dive headfirst into the truly inconvenient inconvenience of wellbeing, looking at what it means for a 'being' to 'be well' in our modern world. We think about how wellbeing is both a culture and a way of life, exploring some of the blocks and opportunities to enabling wellbeing to flourish in our lives and learning communities. We dive into the complexities of how wellbeing is being co-opted and turned into a commodity, ironically sold back to us in neat packages of wellness whilst being slowly eroded from our daily lives. For when wellbeing is seen as an addon, all it can ever do is soothe the symptoms, rather than treat the causes of our 'unwell' state of being. But what needs to shift to start to allow our 'beings' to be more well in our modern world?In this episode, we reference the following:Gross National Happiness Index - Bhutan (website)The Wellbeing Economy Alliance (website)Future Generations Act - Wales (website / policy)Mental Health in schools report - England (PDF report)The Story of Triple WellBeing - Rachel Musson (e-book)Triple WellBeing Framework - ThoughtBox (webpage) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What is the difference between nature contact and nature connection? What does it mean to have a relationship with nature? And why - for some - is the notion that 'we are nature' so difficult to welcome?In the second part of this exploration on the inconvenience of nature connection, we dive deep into the nuances between moments when we're 'using' nature for our own needs compared to when we're simply relating to the natural world. We share stories of our own humble encounters with the wilder world and think about ways in which we can elicit spaces of awe and wonder in our own lives and communities to welcome a more conscious, awe-some and active relationship with the nature within us as well as the nature all around us.In this episode we reference the following:The dictionary definition of 'nature' - We are Nature campaign (website)Ego to Eco (image)Cosmic Eye - (3 minute video)Gathering Moss - Robin Wall-Kimmerer (book)Falling in love with the world - Stephan Harding episode (podcast)Awe & Wonder - ThoughtBox (free curriculum)Lost in an iris (Rachel's photograph) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In many modern cultures, we find ourselves spending ever more time indoors, sitting down and separated from nature - both the nature within us and the nature all around us. At the same time, we're drawn to want to spend time outdoors and in natural environments, and we have a deep sense of ease when connected to nature. So why is it so hard?In this week's episode, we explore the inconvenience of nature connection in a modern world and the many ways that our ways of living keep us in separation - sometimes isolation - from the natural world. We explore the impact of a sedentary, indoor lifestyle on our physical, emotional and spiritual health; explore how connecting to nature is infinitely good for our holistic wellbeing - as well as supporting the health of the natural world in return - and reflect on the many different ways to welcome more nature connection into our lives and learning spaces. In this episode we reference the following:Time in Nature report - Eden Project (website)National Trust nature connection report (website)Green Social Prescribing - NHS (website)Harmony - HRH Prince of Wales (Book)The Harmony Project (website & learning resources)Soil & Public Health - Soils Association (website)Guide to forest bathing - Forestry England (website) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's one thing to be brazenly hypocritical but it's another thing entirely when you're having to unwillingly be a hypocrite. And yet so often in our current context we find ourselves faced with impossible choices that mean we have to take actions that completely misalign with our positive intentions. Why? Because our cultural stories as they stand limit so many of the choices we make whilst life is never that simple, it is full of nuance.This week we explore the inconvenience of hypocrisy in a modern world and the deeply uncomfortable - sometimes existential - crises that can be faced when having to act in ways which are at odds with our values. We dive into the complexity of being an activist and working to change systems whilst also having to live within them as they stand; the importance of awareness and compassion and the myriad ways we can keep shifting, pivoting and transforming our lives to move towards healthier, more easeful ways of living together. In this episode we reference the following:Force of Nature - Confessions of a Climate Activist - Clover Hogan (podcast)The Hypocrite (film)Transforming Leadership Course (online course) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the final of this 'triplet' of podcasts, Holly and Rachel are this week talking about the inconvenience of systems thinking.From the very get-go at ThoughtBox, we've had systems thinking as one of the three pillars of our work to encourage a deeply relational experience of the world (Thinking, Feeling, Connecting) by connecting with others, connecting with the wider world, and feeling deeply connected with ourselves.Thinking in systems has started being given a lot of attention - you can take multiple courses in systems-thinking, whilst systems-change is all the range. But what is a system? What does it mean to transform systems? And what is systems thinking anyway?This week we unpick the inconvenience of systems thinking by going right back to the roots and appreciating how this is not a 'thing to learn about' but simply how life works. We are all of us part of infinite, interconnected systems and 'thinking in systems' simply means knowing and noticing the connections that we are a part of and influenced by. This is as simple and as profound as it gets.In this episode we reference the following:Donella Meadows - Thinking in systems (website / book)The Blind men and the elephant parable (video)Transforming Leadership Course (website page)Nostrils & systems - Chapter 1: The Story of Triple WellBeing - Rachel Musson (free ebook)Donut Economics - Kate Raworth (website, book, framework)How Wolves Change Rivers (video)Manfred Max-Neef - Human Needs Matrix (video)Gross National Happiness (alternative to GDP) - (website / approach)Peter Senge - introduction to systems thinking (video)'From Domination to Restoration' - Jon Conradi (article)adrienne maree brown and Toshi Reagon (Octavia's Parables podcast) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the second of this 'triplet' of podcasts, Holly and Rachel are this week talking about the inconvenience of empathy.Empathy is a muscle, something that we can strengthen the more we practice. Yet the spaces and places where empathy is developed, practised and actively encouraged in our dominant societies are dwindling, whilst at the same time it is a skill being championed as foundational for our changing world.From the very get-go at ThoughtBox, we've had empathy as one of the three pillars of our work to encourage a deeply felt experience of the world (Thinking, Feeling, Connecting) by feeling with others, feeling with the wider world, and feeling deeply within ourselves. All of our programmes to support the practice, and yet this is another skill that is subtly being removed from our education systems, whilst our dominant media and globalised culture is actively encouraging it out of us.This week we discuss questions such as: ‘What is the difference between empathy, sympathy and compassion? Where and how can we practise empathy? 'Do we all practise empathy in the same way? How can we be empathic with some of the people currently 'leading' our world?'In this episode we reference the following:Brené Brown on Empathy (RSA animation)Empathy as a core skill (article)Empathy Studios (website /organisation)The Future of Jobs Report (World Economic Forum)The Heart of Trauma - Bonnie Badenoch (Book)Wild Goose Coaching (organisation)The Guesthouse - Rumi (poem)Diary of a teacher: Week 49 Entropy and Empathy - Melody Bird (blog)Plus we reference research from some of the recent leading reports into a future-fit education:Future of Education (UNESCO)Times Education Commission (UK)Human Flourishing Report (PISA)Rebooting Education Report 2023 (UK)The Future of Education & Skills (OEDC)School Report – Pearson (UK) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week’s episode of Two Inconvenient Women, Holly and Rachel talk about the inconvenience of critical thinking – for many reasons, one being its growing absence in our schools, despite the fact that leading reports into future-fit education all concur that it is a foundational skill needed for our changing world.From the very get-go at ThoughtBox, we've had critical thinking as one of the three pillars of our work (Thinking, Feeling, Connecting) and designed all of our programmes to support the practice. One of the very first ThoughtBox slogans was 'Learning how (not what) to think'. Our very name as an organisation is a subtle invitation to be thinking 'outside of the box'. And yet it this is a skill that is both subtly and blatantly being removed from our education systems, whilst our dominant globalised culture is actively encouraging it out of us.This week we discuss questions such as ‘What does it mean to think critically? Why is stepping back to ask deeper, more challenging questions becoming a lost art? What is being lost when we lose our ability to think outside of the box?’In this episode we reference the following:UK Government's AI Plan - Guardian (news article)1984 - George Orwell (novel)Online safety bill report - BBC (news article)The Divided Brain - Ian McGilchrist (TED video)Transforming Leadership course (online training)Plus we reference research from some of the recent leading reports into a future-fit education:Future of Education (UNESCO)Times Education Commission (UK)Human Flourishing Report (PISA)Rebooting Education Report 2023 (UK)The Future of Education & Skills (OEDC)School Report – Pearson (UK) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In many cultures around the world, we are entering a new calendar year and with that often comes a sense of renewal, hope and possibility. But where does hope sit in a world that seems so overwhelmingly fraught with problems? What place do 'resolutions' or 'good intentions' have in our lives when facing so many obstacles? How can we reclaim hope from being seen as something ephemeral and return it to what it truly is - an active verb with its sleeves rolled up, ready to take action?In this conversation, Rachel and Holly talk about active hope and the process of actively creating a healthier, more hopeful future. We explore some of the ways that new habits can become life-long changes in our lives and help create healthier ways of living, as well as how we can re-think our relationship to hope, by seeing it as something we do, rather than something we have.In this episode we reference the following:Nick Cave - The Red Hand Files (website)Morgan Phillip's Learning Lunch - Our Shared World (webinar recording) David Whyte - Everything is waiting for you poem)  Kim's Stories of Triple WellBeing episode (podcast)Hope is the thing with feathers - Emily Dickinson (poem)Fixer Upper - Frozen (song)Triple WellBeing Card Deck (resource)Triple WellBeing Practitioners (training course) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As 2024 comes to a close, we thought we'd take a moment to reflect on what's unfolded this year and - more significantly - what's been unfolding through our organisation over the past 9 years to make us do what we do in the way that we do it.In this episode, Holly and Rachel explore ideas such as: What does success look like? What does it mean to run an organisation 'regeneratively'? How does our business strategy reflect our values? How is showing up as our authentic selves part of the impact of our organisation? What does it mean to practise what we preach?During the conversation, we reference the following:The Triple WellBeing Manifesto (website page)School for Social Entrepreneurs (website)Stories of Triple WellBeing (podcast)Frédéric Laloux - organisational Structures (model / website)The Story of Triple WellBeing (ebook) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Belonging is the innate human desire to be part of something larger than us, and within each of us sits a deeply primal need to gather together. But what does gathering look like in our modern world?In this week's episode, Holly and Rachel explore the many facets of gathering and where and how we are all seeking to find places to belong. We explore questions such as: How and why do we gather? What does gathering offer us on a conscious and unconscious level? What do we need to feel safe when we gather? What is gained and what is being lost when we gather online? How can we enable gathering spaces which allow everyone to feel welcome?During the episode we reference the following:Intraconnected, Dr Dan Siegel (article & website)The Art of Gathering, Priya Parker (book & website)Where and how we have gathered over time (video)All that we share (short advert)Spirals of belonging (ThoughtBox)Belong, Radha Agrawal (book)Inside out QuestionsTransforming Education Summit, ThoughtBoxTriple WellBeing® Fellowship, ThoughtBoxHolly’s Head - her part in the play! (picture) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the UK we're coming up to Christmas, and with that the cultural pressure to consume, buy gifts and accumulate lots of 'stuff'. In this episode we explore some of the narratives around our consumer culture, thinking about where this has come from and how we can actively disrupt our cultural stories to shift from 'consumer' to 'citizen'. We explore the meaning behind gift-giving, the impact of giving, receiving and witnessing acts of care and kindness, the scarcity versus abundance mindset and the many, many ways we can show people we care above and beyond just buying stuff.In this episode we referenced the following:Jon Alexander - Citizens (Book & website)Common Cause Foundation (non-profit organisation)ThoughtBox Care Calculator (free resource)ThoughtBox Food & Clothes curriculum (teaching resource)Rachel & Holly's homemade gifts! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week saw the conclusion of COP29 - the 29th annual UN Conference of Parties summit on climate change. The fact that we're now on our 29th conference and global emissions are still rising is perhaps an indication that this is not working. This year in particular saw a lot of people from inside the conference speaking out about its flaws.In this episode Holly and Rachel explore some of the inconvenient truths about the business as usual story of 'leaders saving the world', discussing the flaws of this current system of climate negotiations and reflect on why and how this current model of COP just doesn't work. We turn attention and discussions onto the role of 'citizening' as an active verb, and reflect on how more and more people are no longer waiting for 'them' to fix things, but are instead quietly and loudly just getting on with 'us' changing the world.In this episode we reference the following:The history of climate negotiations in 83 seconds (video)COP26 Tuvalu address (video)Open letter from inside COP 29 (letter)Climate Majority Project (citizens movement)Three stories of our time - Joanna Macy (website)Alok Sharma COP26 (video)Jon Alexander - Citizens (website /book)Rebecca Solnit research (article)The Hypocrite (short film)Transforming Leadership Course (online course)Re-Action Collective: Citizen Friday (movement)How to Citizen (Podcast) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What on earth are we eating? This is a topic we've wanted to explore deeply over time, recognising that there are many episodes that will unravel under the title of 'food'. In this episode we spend time thinking about our changing relationship with food and how our abilities to make healthy food choices are hampered by so many broken systems around us. From the lack of learning about growing or cooking in schools to the rise of GMO crops and the link between UPFs (ultra-processed foods) and health issues, we explore some of the complexities of our global food systems and reflect on where and how we have lost our relationship with food.In this episode we reference the following:Triple WellBeing Curriculum - Exploring FoodSeeds of Freedom (website & films)UK's unhealthy food habits (article)Ultra Processed People - Chris van Tullekan (book)Care Calculator (resource)Michael Pollen on cooking (RSA video)Clarkson's Farm (TV series)Chefs in Schools (Social enterprise)Inglorious fruits and veg (campaign)Tristram Stuart - The global food-waste scandal (Ted Talk)Gut - Guilia Enders (Ted Talk and Book)Rachel's favourite carrot (image)Quasimodo the Cucumber (image) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of the most inconvenient truths for many people in the world is that 'we are nature', and that we (like all natural beings) are heavily influenced by the rhythms of the natural world; whether that is the sun and moon, the light and the seasons, the climate or the foods we eat. So what happens when we actively ignore - or even fight against - these natural rhythms and the needs of our mammalian selves? What is the impact on our bodies, our minds, our health and our wellbeing?In this episode we explore some of life's rhythms that govern our lives and help us to navigate our way in the world, and think about why and how our dominant culture is actively ignoring these in our structures and systems, and what some of the ramifications of this somewhat imbalanced way of living may be. In this episode we reference the following:The Wheel of the Year (visual)Laurence Winram (land artist)Circadian Rhythms (short video explainer)Braiding Sweetgrass - Robin Wall Kimmerer (book)Ffyona Campbell - Author, traveller & foragerAnti-light pollution movement (French protest)In time of Daffodils - EE Cummings (poem) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We recorded this podcast on the morning of the US Presidential election results, with Donald Trump re-elected into office for another 4 years. Recognising the enormity of this moment in time, and the wide-rippling influences that US politics and policies have on so much of the world, this conversation felt important to have live and in-the-moment as the results were unfolding.Disclaimer: This is not a political analysis podcast as we are not deconstructing the resonance of the politics or the voting decisions being made. Instead, we wrangle with the complexities of this moment in human history. We explore the inconvenience of nuance in a world fixated on binaries; we discuss the role and resonance of leadership; we reflect on the influences on our cultural narratives and the capacity to keep holding onto active hope in the face of such adversities.In this episode we reference the following:Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - JK Rowling (book)The Fellowship of the Ring - JRR Tolkien (book)The Master and His Emissary - Dr Iain McGilchrist (book)The Divided Brain - Dr Iain McGilchrist (TedTalk)The Peace of Wild Things - Wendell Berry (poem)Yawanawá community elder's headdress - the harpy bird (image) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week in the UK it’s the school half term holiday and the ThoughtBox team are slowing down too, taking time for some reading, research and essential time in nature. We aren't recording a podcast this week, so we wanted to take this opportunity to share a gift with you instead. For those of you who haven’t had a chance to check out our other podcast series yet, here is the first episode of Stories of Triple WellBeing® where I’m joined by two other wonderfully inconvenient women - Tina Farr and Clare Whyles of St Ebbe’s School in Oxford, UK sharing how they're positively disrupting their school culture to put Triple WellBeing at the heart of learning.Rachel and I will return again next week for another episode...You can listen to the rest of the Stories of Triple WellBeing® podcast on:✳️ Spotify✳️ Acast✳️ Apple PodcastsAnd most other podcasting platforms.In the episode, we refer to:St Ebbe's Primary SchoolKen Robinson - Do Schools Kill Creativity?ThoughtBox - Transforming Education Leadership SummitDebra Kidd - Pedagogue in ResidenceMatthew Syed - Rebel IdeasOtto Scharmer - The Essentials of Theory UBrené Brown: Listening to shameThoughtBox - Triple WellBeing® FellowshipForest SchoolThe Harmony ProjectOPAL - Outdoor Play and Learning Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode we explore the role of stories in shaping the lives we are living. Each of us is born into a story. It forms our perspective on the world, shaped by the culture we're part of, the education we receive and the values and mindsets that we are taught. These stories help us to make sense of the world around us and our place within it and shape the world in which we live. In this episode, we explore the ever-growing appreciation that the dominant story of human progress is actually limiting our capacity to thrive and pushing us into a world of personal, social and ecological crisis. So what happens when we change the story? What other stories are out there, creating healthier futures for people and planet? How can we feed ourselves different stories? What happens when we live our lives by these stories instead? In this episode we reference the following:Three Stories of our Times - Joanna Macy (Website)Two Loops Theory - Berkana Institute (Framework)Do we live in a selfish world - Global Action Plan (Video)Common Cause Foundation (organisation)The Danger of a Single Story - Chimamanda Adiche (Ted Talk)Utopia for Realists (and how we can get there) - Rutger Bregman (book)The Story of Triple WellBeing - Rachel Musson (free ebook)Stories of Triple WellBeing (ThoughtBox podcast)Vinted & Depop (Second hand clothes apps)The Lord of the Rings - J R Tolkein (book)2040 - The Regenerators (documentary)Naughty from Matilda the Musical (song by Tim Minchin) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's inconvenient conversation we start to unravel some of the challenges, complexities and issues of the education system and why it needs to transform. Diving into the painful truth behind the impact of the education system on our world, and exploring the responses that we're seeing from teachers, pupils and wider societies, join Rachel and Holly as we hold this space with deep care and support for us all in this complex time and these spaces of change, and with celebration for all those out there working to create healthier ways of living and learning together. This won't be the last time we take a dive into the realities and complexities of our education system, so see this as a part one of a series of conversations.During this episode we reference the following:Schooling the World (1 hour documentary)Changing Education Paradigms - Ken Robinson (TED Talk)The Transforming Education Summit (a ThoughtBox programme)Global Action Plan - A three-thirds curriculum (article)The Story of Triple WellBeing (free ebook of research into the education system)Citizens - Jon Alexander (book) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s conversation explores the idea of ‘unlearning’ and what it means to widen our perspectives, change our minds, shift our behaviours and ‘update’ our knowledge about the world. Unlearning can be something of a provocative term for some people, and yet holds the invitation for us to shift some of the habits, behaviours and mindsets that are contributing to so many of the crises we face in order to enable a healthier future for people and planet.In this conversation we explore some of the different resonances of unlearning in our cultural contexts, think about what and why we need to unlearn, and talk about what it looks like as a process for healthy growth. During this episode we reference the following:The Blind Men and the ElephantThe Death of the Author - Roland BarthesThe Amritsar massacreThe Danger of a Single Story - Chimamanda AdicheControversy around teaching Of Mice & MenDoughnut Economics - Kate RaworthThinking in circles not straight lines - Blogpost (Rachel Musson)Can changing our perspective change everything - Blogpost (Rachel Musson)Neuroplasticity in action (2 minute video)The Work That Reconnects - Joanna MacyFrom domination to restoration - Article (Jon Conradi) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When we allow ourselves to fall in love with the world, everything changes. But sometimes we need someone to help us to fall in love in the first place...This special episode is a dedication to the life, work, wisdom and utter brilliance of Dr Stephan Harding, a globally renowned ecologist, teacher, elder and truly beautiful soul who recently passed away. His work has had a profound influence on both of us and a significant influence on the work we do at ThoughtBox. We therefore wanted to give this episode to Stephan in order to share our appreciation and to reflect a little on some of the magic he weaved during his lifetime; in particular the infectious way he inspired hundreds of thousands of people to fall in love with the world.Dr Stephan Harding | 8th July 1953 - 2nd September 2024In this episode we reference the following:Wild Podcast - Why settling Mars is a really dumb idea - Kelly Weinersmith Why You Want a Physicist to Speak at Your Funeral, Aaron FreemanCosmic Eye video The Deep Time Walk AppOutrage & Optimism Podcast with Dr Stephan HardingHow flowers talk to bees (David Attenborough)Wild Geese - Mary Oliver poem Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's conversation opens the box on the multiple crises we're facing in this moment in time. It's big, scary and overwhelming to face up to just some of the things happening around us - and yet not looking and not talking about them is also part of the problem.In this conversation we speak about some of the elephants in the room - from the climate and nature crisis to the genocide in Palestine to the growing global refugee crisis - and the different responses happening around the world. In particular we explore why it is we're not talking about these complex problems and dig into understanding the way our nervous systems are responding. We explore the importance of resourcing and resilience, of partnering our nervous systems and how to find the courage to face the mess we're in and do something about it.DISCLAIMER: This conversation is big, complex and honest. We share it with care for however we're each feeling in the world right now - and with deep consideration of and energy for the capacity that exists to change the stories we're a part of.In this episode we reference the following:The Polyvagal TheoryHow to imagine a better future, TED Talk, adrienne maree brown & Barantunde ThurstonRobin Wall KimmererDr Bonny Badenoch - The Heart of TraumaThe Truth and Reconciliation CommissionWise Goose Coaching Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's conversation is all about the power of rest to positively disrupt the status quo. Together, Rachel and Holly explore some of the following thoughts:What is rest? Who benefits when we rest? What happens when we stop ‘doing’? How can we be human beings, not just human doings?How is rest an act of resistance against the legacy of colonialism and a capitalist culture? Is rest a privilege?Join us as we wrangle with these and many other ideas over a cup of tea and conversation. During the podcast, we refer to the following:PACTS (a new education initiative empowering UK students to engage in democracy)The Rebelliousness of Rest by Rachel Musson (blog article)Rest is Resistance: Free yourself from grind culture and reclaim your life by Tricia Hersey (book)Bayo Akomolafe (writer and speaker)Frederick by Leo Lionni (children's book)The Language of Emotions by Karla McLaren (book)The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck : A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life by Mark Manson (book)If you'd like to continue the conversation with us, we run a free weekly(ish) group on Thursdays, 13.00-13.30 UK Time, where we explore key questions about co-creating a healthier world for people and planet. It's open to everyone and we'd love to see you there. Find out more at: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/cc/thoughtclub-3671229 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rachel and Holly launch the Two Inconvenient Women podcast with a conversation about what it means to be "inconvenient" in a society that isn't set up for us to be healthy, resourced and connected. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.