Being Human

#300 Bridging Science and Compassion - with Wendy D'Andrea

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This week's guest is Wendy D'Andrea, a professor of psychology at The New School in New York, where she specializes in trauma and psychobiology. She also works with Bessel van der Kolk (The Body Keeps the Score) at The Trauma Research Foundation as its Chief Science Officer.Wendy's career began early, working with sexual assault survivors. She has gone on to become a researcher of extraordinary breath, having studied widely across the psychobiological effects of trauma to a panoply of trauma treatments at the individual and community levels.
We discuss:
Her challenging childhood as a carer
Working with assault survivors
Trauma-informed sports
Psychedelics and integration
The psychobiology of trauma
Links:The Trauma Research FoundationThe New School Trauma and Affective Psychophysiology Lab
 

#299 Exploring the Healing Power of the Wild - with Greg Wrenn

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This week's guest is Greg Wrenn, an associate English professor at James Madison University, blending climate science with literary studies.His book, "Mothership: A Memoir of Wonder and Crisis" explores healing from complex PTSD through connecting with nature, psychedelic plants, and the beauty of endangered coral reefs.Greg's approach is deeply intertwined with his appreciation for the natural world, which he looks to as a source of recovery and understanding. His work reflects a journey of personal healing, advocating for ecological compassion and mental wellness through a unique fusion of his academic focus and individual experiences.
We discuss:
Awakening to an abusive childhood
The trap of therapy
First Ayahuasca ceremony
Integration of the psychedelic experience
New freedom
Links:Mothership - The BookDreamglade Center

#298 Aberrant Capitalism - with Hunter Hastings

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This week's guest is Hunter Hastings, an eclectic professional whose career encompasses roles as an economist, venture capitalist, education reformer and co-author of 'Aberrant Capitalism'.Born in a working-class family in the industrial northeast of England, his career trajectory has seen him engaging in global branding and consulting and contributing significantly to the realm of business education.Hunter is fascinating as a man who, while working in venture capitalism, clearly sees the ills of financial capitalism and is passionate about transforming the way future business leaders prioritize service for the betterment of society.
We discuss:
In defence of the consumer
The rot of Financial Capitalism
A new vision for business education
Entrepreneurship as process, not personalities
What leaders and managers can change right now
Links:Hunter's WebsiteHunter's LinkedIn PageAberrant Capitalism - The BookThe Value CreatorsBialla Venture Partners

#297 The Happy Life System - with Lauren Magers

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This week's guest is Lauren Magers, who has to be the highest-energy woman I've ever met. She's been told she could be the 'female Tony Robbins', and I can understand why.
She went from winning a top soccer college scholarship to a national sales leader in outdoor advertising sales. Her drive was such that she refused to leave the office without making 100 cold calls a day! 
At 27, she found herself as co-leader of an Inc. 5000 company and a mother of four. She discovered that in order to create the happy family life she lacked as a child, she would need a system. Thus, the Happy Life System was born.
The Happy Life System is not just a game; it's a transformative tool. It introduces gamification into daily life skills for children, empowering them to understand and leverage the 'why' behind their actions. By fostering adaptability and promoting conscious awareness, the system turns routine activities into exciting opportunities for personal growth. 
We discuss:
Being forced to eat soap as a child
Discernment in preserving energy
Reframing our view of children
Gamifying Family Happiness
Loving from a distance
Links:The Happy Life SystemGet 20% Off Lauren's Crack the Parenting Code Course

#296 From Flipper to Founder - with Rick Jordan

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This week's guest is Rick Jordan, a man with a veritable panoply of hats.
Entrepreneur, pastor, podcaster, keynote speaker, IT and cybersecurity CEO, and author of the book 'Situational Ethics', Rick gives his all in every area of his life.
An early family tragedy set him on a path of high achievement, faith and giving back. 
We discuss:
Losing his father at 16
Making $30k over Christmas in commission at 17
Relaxing the ego for impact
The real lesson from Noah's Ark
The right relationship with money
Links:Rick's WebsiteSituational Ethics - The Book

#295 The Felt Sense Polyvagal Model - with Jan Winhall

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This week's guest is Jan Winhall, a seasoned trauma and addiction psychotherapist and author of the book 'Treating Trauma and Addiction with the Felt Sense Polyvagal Model'.Jan had a remarkable start to her career. In her early twenties, she found herself leading group sessions for incest survivors. Over time, she learned the power of the Felt Sense and then how to integrate this with the Polyvagal Model. 
We discuss:
Beyond Fight-Flight: The Polyvagal Theory
The importance of the Felt Sense in healing
The nonsense of the DSM diagnoses
The issue with 12-step programmes
You can cure your addiction
Links:Jan's WebsiteTreating Trauma and Addiction with the Felt Sense Polyvagal Model - The Book

#294 An Autobiography of Trauma - with Peter Levine

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I am delighted to welcome Peter Levine back on the show. Peter is a world-renowned trauma recovery expert and the creator of the Somatic Experiencing method.
While discussing his latest book, An Autobiography Of Trauma, Peter bravely delves into the painful childhood experiences and the early steps that led him to develop his somatic approach.
We discuss:
Taking our dreams seriously
The role of psychedelics
Confrontations with the academic establishment
His life's mission
Links:Peter's WebsiteAn Autobiography of Trauma - The Book

#293 The Power of Becoming Trauma-Informed - with Lou Lebentz

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This week, I speak with Lou Lebentz, trauma specialist, mental health campaigner, author, speaker, and therapist.
With over 25 years of working in the mental health arena and a deeply personal understanding of the impact of trauma, Lou has developed The Voyage Academy, a theoretical model used for helping others navigate their healing journeys. Her approach is trauma-informed, emphasizing the importance of compassion, understanding, and resilience. Her work is a testament to the transformative power of recovery and the possibility of finding hope and healing.
We discuss:
From the rag trade to The Priory
Recovering from psychosis 
Integrating and befriending the body
Alignment and community support
The journey from trauma to resilience
Links:Lou's WebsiteThe Voyage AcademyLou's Books

#292 Transforming Pain into Power - with Michael OBrien

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This week, I speak with Michael OBrien, a speaker, author, business coach, and the creator of the Pause, Breathe, Reflect movement.
Whilst enjoying his life leading marketing for a $700m brand, in July 2011, whilst out riding his bike, Michael was slammed through the windshield of a speeding Ford Explorer. The devastating impact broke bones and damaged nerves throughout his body.
Experiencing depression as the enormity of his injuries bore down on him, Michael learned the power of gratitude and mindfulness.
Having now left corporate life, Michael is on a mission to share the strategies that have worked for him with the world.
We discuss:
The simple gratitude practice that resulted in his Last Bad Day
The breathing technique that started his mindfulness journey 
How he used his Pause, Breath, Reflect approach to powerfully navigate corporate life 
Links:Michael's WebsiteThe Pause Breathe Reflect appShift: Creating Better Tomorrows - The Book

#291 Drop the F-Bomb in Your Business - with Pete Kusiak

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This week, I speak with Pete Kusiak, a proponent of The Fun First Strategy, author of Drop The F-Bomb In Your Business, and advocate for ringing fun and youthful concepts into learning and workplaces
Pete's approach proposes that the cornerstone of a genuinely successful office environment is what most current CEOs view as unimportant or distracting: fun. He argues that incorporating fun into day-to-day operations can have profound benefits not only for businesses’ productivity but also for the mental health of employees.
We discuss:
Prioritizing laughter and youthfulness
Introducing fun for better engagement
Incorporating playfulness in problem-solving
Boosting productivity through a positive culture
Links:Pete's WebsiteDrop the F-Bomb in Your Business - The Book