Being Human

#336 The Gratitude Tiger - with Joel Zuckerman

▶️ Connect with Richard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardatherton-firsthuman/
 
In this highly energising episode, I sit down with Joel Zuckerman, author of the new book Gratitude Tiger and a passionate advocate for the power of gratitude.
 
I’ve been a some-time gratitude journaller for a while and I’ve known about the power of gratitude for a long time.
 
Joel has taken this to another level, having written over 280 gratitude letters in a process that started as a one-off and has become the defining theme of his professional life. 
 
Joel reveals how building a gratitude writing habit doesn’t need you to have great skill, but can be as simple as a few heartfelt sentences. He introduces the philosophy behind his acronym "TIGER" (Tapping Into Gratitude Engenders Rewards) and offers actionable advice for cultivating meaningful connections both personally and professionally.
 
We talk:
The transformative power of simple acts of gratitude
The "Seven paragraphs, seven sentences, seven words" philosophy explained
Practical tips for expressing gratitude in the workplace
Joel's journey from golf writing to gratitude advocacy
The emotional impact of handwritten notes and letters
Links:Joel’s Website
 
Enjoy!

#335 Power: Why Some People Have It and Others Don't - with Jeffrey Pfeffer

▶️ Connect with Richard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardatherton-firsthuman/
 
This week’s episode is perhaps one of the most uncomfortable I’ve yet recorded. A conversation with Jeffrey Pfeffer, the renowned author of "Power: Why Some People Have It and Others Don't" and “Leadership BS: Fixing Workplaces and Careers One Truth at a Time”,  and professor at Stanford Graduate School of Business, we dive deep into the principles of power, influence, and career acceleration. 
Jeffrey offers his view on the raw truth about what it takes to stand out, thrive, and succeed in a world shaped by competition and perception. From strategies to gain influence to the controversial role of self-promotion, this conversation is packed with insights that challenge conventional wisdom about leadership and integrity.
Learn why keeping your head down might be holding you back, how deliberate practice can transform your career, and why following Jeffrey’s proven methods have made many of his students wildly successful. 
As Jeffrey takes a torch to leadership development orthodoxy, we cover:
How many leadership authors espoused values don’t match the reality of their behaviour
To change the world, we must first have power
Leadership training fails—because it ignores power and influence dynamics.
Authenticity at work? Not so much if you want to be a leader, says Pfeffer.
Pfeffer’s 7 rules of power—practical, provocative, uncomfortably effective.
Links:
Jeffrey’s WebsiteJeffrey’s Books
 
Whether you're a budding leader or seasoned professional, this episode will inspire and empower you to take charge of your path. Don't miss out on this transformative discussion—subscribe for more thought-provoking conversations about what it means to be human.

#334 Discovering the Nature of Longevity - with Douglas Mulhall

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This week, I sit down with Douglas Mulhall, author of the bestselling book Discovering the Nature of Longevity: Restoring the Heart and Body by Targeting Hidden Stress. Douglas has spent over 30 years creating products that are not only good for people but also the environment, with significant contributions in collaboration with European governments.
We take a deep look at elastin, a major area of interest for Douglas. It’s a vital protein key to your body’s resilience.
Elastin is in more than 30 organs. It’s in your arteries. It’s essential for everything in your body to expand and contract. 
We talk:
Elastin defined
The tragedy that spurred his quest
The story of calcification
How to reverse the hardening of our bodies
Hope for a heart disease breakthrough
Links:Discovering the Nature of Longevity - The BookDouglas’ Website
 
If you’re curious about unlocking your body’s potential, this episode is an absolute must-watch! Don't miss out—subscribe for more thought-provoking conversations about what it means to be human.

#333 The Last 8% - with Bill Benjamin

▶️ Connect with Richard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardatherton-firsthuman/
 
This week, I sit down with Bill Benjamin, co-owner of The Last 8%, to explore the concept of tackling life’s most challenging moments—the “last 8%.” According to Bill, we excel in 92% of situations, but it’s the difficult, high-stakes moments—when tension, conflict, or pressure arise—that define us.
Bill shares how leaving a successful career in software to pursue his passion for emotional intelligence transformed his life. He dives into practical strategies for managing emotions, navigating tough conversations, and building thriving teams.
Whether you’re seeking personal growth or leading others, this episode offers powerful tools for managing challenges and making an impact.
We talk:
How to prep for difficult conversations
What empathy really means
How to deal with triggers in the moment
Dialling up and dialling down assertion
How to build a care *and* courage culture
Links:The Institute for Health and Human Potential
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#332 Leadership Wisdom from a 16th Generation Samurai - with Sensei Zen Takai & Edward Olver

▶️ Connect with Richard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardatherton-firsthuman/
 
This week, we are thrilled to feature two remarkable guests: Sensei Zen Takai and Edward Olver.
Sensei Zen Takai, is a 16th-generation samurai warrior. After a brief stint as a punk rocker, he chose to return to his roots. With no descendants of his own and to ensure it lives on, he's on a mission to share his family's samurai tradition with the world.  He teaches mastery of the familiar samurai arts with creative expressions like calligraphy, poetry, and dance. Dedicated to self-mastery and spiritual alignment, Sensei encourages others to live harmoniously and connect deeply with their life's purpose.
A former military man and banker, Edward Olver experienced a profound awakening after realising that external success—the Hollywood actress girlfriend and the Knightsbridge corner office—did not fulfill him. Through personal upheaval, he rediscovered his dharma and embraced growth aligned with life's natural rhythms. Now based at Broughton Hall - a UK hub for cutting edge research into consciousness - Edward focuses on regenerative practices, living in harmony with nature, and integrating timeless wisdom to foster holistic well-being.
Their combined perspectives will offer insight into purposeful living.
We talk:
Training Samurai as a boy
Samurai and the five elements
How poetry can make you a better warrior
Three-pointed thinking
Beyond competition
Links:Sensei Zen Takai at Broughton Sanctuary
 
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#331 Doing ‘The Work’ - with Byron Katie

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Our guest this week is renowned author and speaker Byron Katie. Her work, referred to as 'The Work', is a simple yet profound method of self-inquiry aimed at identifying and questioning negative thoughts that cause suffering.
At its core are four questions: Is it true? Can you absolutely know it’s true? How do you react when you believe that thought? Who would you be without it? 
By moving these thoughts from the mind to paper and reflecting deeply, individuals can access greater clarity, love, and wisdom - and freedom from ego. 
Katie emphasizes integrity and fearlessness in this process, offering her tools freely to empower individuals to transform depression, fear, and limiting beliefs into peace.
 
We talk:
A night on the floor that changed Katie's life
The fallacy of a positive mindset
Attending to the projector not the projected
Seeing all as beauty
Knowing that pain is an illusion
Links:Katie’s Website
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#330 Love in the Workplace (It's Not What You Think) - with Marcel Schwantes

▶️ Connect with Richard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardatherton-firsthuman/
 
This week we see Marcel Schwantes return to the show. 
Marcel is an author, leadership coach, and advocate for humane workplace practices. His journey into leadership began during his time working in a toxic hospital environment, where relentless stress landed him in the emergency room—an experience that profoundly shaped his views on leadership and well-being.
He now challenges traditional, warlike business narratives, advocating for radical love and humanity in leadership. 
His work inspires leaders to foster compassionate, thriving businesses by shifting focus from competition to collaboration and introspection.
We talk:
Agape love
“Eufear”: the good fear
Retiring "target customers"‘
Working for love
The 5 principles of Love In Action
Links:Humane Leadership: Lead with Radical Love, Be a Kick-Ass Boss - The BookMarcel’s WebsiteMarcel’s LinkedIn ProfileMarcel’s Substack
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#329 BioGeometry Explained: Harmonizing Energy, Life, and Environment - with Dr. Ibrahim Karim

▶️ Join a free leadership masterclass: https://www.firsthuman.com/masterclass/▶️ Connect with Richard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardatherton-firsthuman/
 
My guest this week is Dr.Ibrahim Karim, renowned for pioneering BioGeometry, a science that harmonizes energy in living systems and environments. 
Educated as an architect, Dr. Karim initially followed in his father's footsteps. His talents were recognized by the Egyptian government who asked him to manage the plan for the whole Red Sea area and South Sinai, contributing to a huge rise in tourism.
Dr. Karim later began to synthesize modern concepts of physics and harmonics with the insights he gained from his interest in ancient Egyptian knowledge, Radiesthesia, and Pythagorean theories. Culminating in his founding of BioGeometry, he started to integrate his knowledge with architectural principles to create designs that enhance the energetic quality of spaces.
His work in BioGeometry has profoundly impacted urban planning, environmental design, and holistic health, offering innovative solutions for energy balance and well-being.
We talk:
The hidden life force driving everything
Turning a Tesla into a healing cocoon
Using shapes to boost milk production
Why reincarnation is a flawed concept
Who really built the pyramids
Links:Dr. Karim’s WebsiteBooks by Dr. KarimThe BioGeometry YouTube Channel
 
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#328 Unlocking Inner Focus: Wisdom from Walter Russell and Beyond - with Matt Presti

▶️ Join a free leadership masterclass: https://www.firsthuman.com/masterclass/▶️ Connect with Richard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardatherton-firsthuman/
 
My guest this week is Matt Presti, a multidisciplinary artist, philosopher, and filmmaker.
He has dedicated his life to preserving and promoting the legacy of Walter Russell, a visionary polymath of the early 20th century.
Such was Russell’s genius that Nikola Tesla once told him to lock his cosmology in a sepulcher for a thousand years because mankind was not ready for it.
Matt is now bringing Russell’s extraordinary insights on cosmology and the human experience to a modern audience.
Through his efforts, Matt seeks to inspire humanity to embrace deeper introspection, creativity, and the transformative potential of a life connected to universal truth.
We talk:
Russell’s philosophy applied to management at IBM
Two-way thinking: inwards and out there
Thinking, knowing and action
Trauma release and spirituality
Owning our own genius
Links:Matt’s WebsiteThe University of Science and Philosophy -  save 20% off book and booklet purchases using the code MARCH20
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#327 The Future of Human Growth: Understanding Consciousness - with Peter Merry

▶️ Join a free leadership masterclass: https://www.firsthuman.com/masterclass/▶️ Connect with Richard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardatherton-firsthuman/
 
My guest this week is Peter Merry, multifaceted thinker and social entrepreneur with a background in languages and theater.
Influenced by radical ideas on sanity and society, Peter's journey blends philosophy, social entrepreneurship, and education. 
Peter’s extraordinary life path has taken him from avant-garde theatre in Paris, to delivering education in Ghana, to helping an IBM business unit achieve triple-digit business growth.
He's now working on cutting-edge technology with the potential to help humankind make its next leap in consciousness.
Meet the man on the frontier!
We talk:
How flatworms don't just grow back their heads
The nature of time
Working energetically with businesses
Can we reintegrate the feminine?
The ultimate magic lamp
Links:Peter’s Website
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