The Resilience Unravelled Podcast
After nearly 400 episodes we have decided to move our podcast to its own website at resilienceunravelled.com…!! You’ll be able to access all current and past episodes there
We have been building resilience in organisations for a number of years but we know that so many more people could benefit from what we do. That's why we decided to collect stories from ‘real’ people about their lives, challenges and learning and turn them into podcasts. It has enabled us to share resilience thoughts and ideas from many specialists, provide a bigger picture of how building resilience can make a real difference and hopefully be helpful for people who may be facing similar challenges.
Head to Resilience Unravelled to find out more…!
Recent Podcasts
James Fleming and his wife Enas have built a £1.5million leadership/entrepreneur development business centered around Motivational Intelligence which they believe is the key differentiating factor between people who succeed and those who struggle or fail. Motivational Intelligence revolves around the ability to identify and manage negative thoughts and self-limiting beliefs to overcome barriers and accomplish goals and people who have high levels of Motivational Intelligence are generally more resilient, willing to embrace change and to learn, and adapt through adversity. In this podcast:
The importance of self-belief and motivational intelligence in achieving success
How overconfidence and under-competence are both necessary for success
The concept of motivational intelligence
Andrea Wilson Woods is a keynote speaker and a writer who loves to tell stories. She is also a patient advocate who founded the nonprofit Blue Faery: The Adrienne Wilson Liver Cancer Association in memory of her sister Adrienne who was diagnosed with liver cancer when she was 15. Andrea was Adrienne’s legal guardian and her best-selling and award-winning book, Better Off Bald: A Life in 147 Days, is a medical memoir about both raising and losing her sister. In this podcast:
The prevalence and prognosis of liver cancer which is often diagnosed in late stages due to the liver's lack of pain receptors.
How losing her sister led Andrea to found the Adrienne Wilson Liver Cancer Association, also known as Blue Faery.
The importance of assertiveness and advocacy in healthcare settings.
Ali Horriyat was born in Dubai and holds degrees in economics, political science, philosophy, business, international relations, conflict resolution, and religion. He founded the social activism non-profit Compassiviste in 2020 after selling his lucrative hedge fund and donating it towards mental health causes in 2016. He is the author of 13 books, including collections of essays and poetry, with themes ranging from racism and capitalism to spirituality, love, and compassion. In this podcast:
The moral conflict and inequality within society and the importance of compassion towards those in need
The concept of capacities which aims to bring communities together globally for the betterment of all
The importance of political involvement and lobbying to enact change, with a focus on creating a critical mass to effect change
Andy Brown is a leadership coach, speaker and author who provides coaching to leaders in people-based businesses which enables them to make better decisions and build more valuable businesses. Over the years, he has recognised that most leaders subsidise their companies at the expense of their own wellbeing - an ‘emotional overdraft’. This insight has enabled him to save numerous clients from burnout and stress and, at the same time, made their businesses more resilient. In this podcast:
The concept of 'emotional overdraft' and how it can be managed
The dangers of misusing the term 'burnout' and the need to refresh the meaning of terms like 'stress' and 'resilience'
The concept of an "invisible line" in business finances, referring to the hidden personal and emotional costs of pursuing profitability
Michael O’Brien is a qualified meditation teacher, executive coach, and endurance athlete. He loves helping people prevent a bad moment from turning into a bad day and accomplish hard things through mindfulness. He’s also a survivor of a horrific near-death cycling accident called his Last Bad Day and years in the corporate executive suite and in 2022 used the power of mindfulness to ride his bike across America. In this podcast:
Using breath work to manage stress and improve focus and decision-making
The importance of creating space between stimulus and response
Cultivating a more thoughtful and neutral approach to decision-making
Claudia Marseille was nearly four years old before it was discovered that she had severe hearing loss. Her parents mainstreamed her through the school system supported by a hearing aid and the belief that she’d advocate for herself. The result was the opposite. She hid her disability, desperately wanting to fit in, and struggling to hear, lipread, learn, and make friends. Isolated and lonely, she didn’t fit into the hearing world or into the deaf culture but now she tells her story of growing up and living with an invisible disability, emerging from silence to finding her voice, and from feeling isolated and ashamed to connected and empowered. In this podcast:
How Claudia’s parents instilled a belief in her that she could achieve anything professionally
Developing resilience through personal connections and technological advancements, such as digital hearing aids and closed captioning.
The social and cultural changes brought about by legislation and the positive changes in attitudes towards people with hearing loss in modern society.
Paul Gencarella Jr. is the founder of Mindset Mastery and an expert speaker, coach and self-image advisor. Paul has experienced first-hand how hardships and challenging circumstances in life can take their toll but how mastering your mind is the key. He now shows how shifting your mindset to focus on positive outcomes enables professionals to achieve remarkable personal growth and businesses/corporations to better themselves. In this podcast:
Determining your goals and how to achieve them
Changing your life by changing your thinking
Controlling thoughts, feeling and actions
Naomi Riley a brain injury survivor turned influential motivational speaker, has catalysed change in mental health and education reform. Her personal triumph over adversity underpins her advocacy for inclusive education for those with mental health issues and cognitive challenges. As she champions neurodiversity and mental well-being, Naomi is inspiring a broad spectrum of individuals educators to policymakers - to redefine success and support every individual's potential to thrive in all aspects of life. In this podcast:
The importance of emotional intelligence and how it can help us navigate through life
The necessity of letting go of individuals who are toxic or bring us down
Dealing with difficult relationships at work, particularly when faced with toxic behaviour
Rikimah Glymph is a traveller, writer, published author, health/wellness coach and advocate for social justice. Rikimah focuses on individual wellness, business infrastructure development, and mentoring, and has a passion for improving the lives of those around her. Rikimah knows all too well the everyday challenges all people face in a rapidly changing world and her extensive travels give her a unique, global perspective on how to impact and enhance the lives and businesses of her clients. In this podcast:
The unique challenges of blending family businesses with non-profits
The differences and similarities between leadership in the non-profit and profit sectors
Why self-care and wellness, including social, emotional, and environmental factors, are crucial for leaders to thrive.
Richard Perkins Hsung was born in China in 1966 and was one of the first teens to leave China legally after Mao’s Cultural Revolution. He earned a Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Chicago and became a professor at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and the University of Wisconsin-Madison and has spent ten years editing and completing Spring Flower by his mother, a three-volume memoir chronicling her life as an adopted child of American medical missionaries, survivor of China's brutal communist regime, ophthalmologist, immigrant, and mother. In this podcast:
How Richard has reconnected with his heritage and learnt more about his family's history
The resilience of Chinese culture
The importance of human connections within social contexts
Steffi Seefeld is a global speaker and facilitator, who helps leaders rediscover the spark in their relationships. As a recognised thought leader in her field, she combines the essence of conscious relationships with transformative leadership techniques to provide a unique perspective on growth. Combining neuroscience-backed methods with mindful relating practices makes her heart-centred approach both smart and effective. In this podcast:
Transmuting neurochemistry and creating mindful, choiceful practice
Why building teams requires measuring relationships in the real world and establishing boundaries
The importance of hiring well and finding partners with clarity and understanding of each other's boundaries and trajectories
J.R. Martinez embodies resilience and triumph. Born in Louisiana to a multicultural background, Martinez's journey took him from Iraq's battlefields to ABC's "Dancing with the Stars," After surviving severe burns in Iraq, he turned tragedy into purpose, sharing his story globally. Recognised with awards for his advocacy, he expanded into acting, and writing his memoir. Now, he is a sought-after motivational speaker and continues to spread his message of resilience and optimism, inspiring audiences both on and off stage. In this podcast:
Why resilience needs to be conditioned and exercised.
Losing your sense of identity
How we can all have a ‘rebirth day’ when roles evolve and change
Smita Joshi is an award-winning author, avid yogi and yoga teacher, and High Performance and Transformation coach. She’s also the author of the Karma and Diamonds trilogy which was inspired by real events from her own life. Prior to writing the trilogy Smita worked internationally with technology giants as well as start-ups, winning multi-million dollar contracts and was also one of the first to bring India’s Information Technology services into the heart of British and European companies. In this podcast:
The continuity of consciousness.
Why being conscious of thoughts and actions helps us to take responsibility and make the best of ourselves and our circumstances.
Why finding one's innate nature requires self-reflection and breaking down old thinking patterns.
Patricia Bathory combines her roles as a seasoned psychotherapist and the founder of a thriving import/export business to offer unique insights into the challenges faced by entrepreneurs and leaders. She believes that relationships are the bedrock of success and over the past eight years, has dedicated herself to understanding how our connections influence our achievements in both business and life. In this podcast:
The significance of personal growth and self-improvement in building better relationships
The importance of cultural awareness and the ability to adapt to different situations
Bringing together different perspectives, experiences, and cultures to lead to a better understanding of ourselves and others
Jessica Osborn is Vice President of Customer Success at GoCardless where she orchestrates a team committed to revolutionising customer experiences worldwide. With a deep understanding of personal development and growth, she advocates for the symbiotic relationship between customer success and sustainable business growth and offers a fresh perspective on personal growth as the lynchpin of compassionate leadership. She is an advocate for human-centric leadership and is dedicated to nurturing high-performance teams while fostering individual growth. In this podcast:
The importance of perspective and how to achieve it
Using dissociation as a proactive tool, rather than a traumatic response
The importance of kindness and respect in leadership and team building
Chad E. Foster is a trailblazer, defying limitations with resilience and innovation. Despite going blind at 21, he's a rainmaker, billion-dollar generator, and tech innovator. Graduating as the first blind executive from Harvard Business School’s leadership program, Chad created CRM software for the visually impaired, doing what tech titans said couldn’t be done. Thriving in a Fortune 500 company, he directed financial strategies that produced billions in revenue and best-in-class margins. Today, Chad breaks down the anatomy of resilience, empowering others to emerge from setbacks stronger, sleeker, and more resolute to succeed. In this podcast:
Chad's Journey of relearning and adaptation after losing his vision
How differences, including disabilities, can provide unique perspectives and skills, and should be viewed as gifts rather than obstacles
The importance of taking advantage of perceived disadvantages and how every perceived disadvantage offers an advantage if used in the right context
Gloria Londono was kidnapped at 25 in Medellin, Colombia. Carving out a way to stay alive, she made choices during her ordeal which led to her developing Stockholm Syndrome and changing the course of her life. Once freed, Gloria’s turmoil continued, as she developed post-traumatic stress disorder and found herself in toxic, narcissistic relationships. Now though Gloria is a certified and spiritual coach, podcaster, and writer who brings her wealth of experience of overcoming personal challenges to help others heal and transform. In this podcast:
The traumatic experience of being kidnapped and held in captivity
The challenges that need to be faced faced following release
The resilience needed to move to the US, overcome language barriers and find employment.
Max Schneider’s story is one of profound transformation. After a decade working in consulting, he experienced burnout first-hand so took a leap of faith and embarked on a journey to Costa Rica where he was inspired to create the same type of experience for other high- achieving professionals. Max knows what it’s like to work in high-pressure environments and the impact that intentional time away can have on calming the nervous system and his approach is grounded in the belief that investing in the well-being of individuals ultimately leads to greater organisational success. In this podcast:
The rising issue of burnout in many cultures and the potential solutions
The cultural pressure in organisations that often fuel burnout
Shifting organisational responsibility towards caring for top talent
Nina Sossamon-Pogue stands as a beacon of strength and resilience in a world filled with uncertainty. From her days as a USA Gymnastics team member to her Emmy award-winning career in journalism, Nina's journey is one of grace and tenacity and she now shares her inspiring story and practical strategies to empower others to thrive in the face of adversity and emerge stronger than ever. In this podcast:
Why we resist change but need to embrace it for personal and professional growth.
Reinvention and its significance in our lives
Managing mental health and social media in the face of bullying and negative comments
Evan Marks is a seasoned mental performance coach with over 25 years of Wall Street wisdom. Evan’s journey is a story of resilience, strategic thinking, and an unyielding pursuit of excellence. From tackling unpredictable markets to coaching a diverse clientele, including NASCAR pit crews, athletes, executives, and Wall Street pros, Evan lives by the belief that “pressure is a privilege” and brings cutting-edge techniques rooted in modern psychoanalysis and neuroscience to guide clients in high- pressure industries toward peak performance. In this podcast:
How the human brain's perception of time and its ability to slow down and speed up can be useful in high-pressure situations.
Intentionality in decision-making and how it allows individuals to create beneficial behaviours despite their feelings.
Neuroplasticity and its relevance to personal development.
Marsha Jacobson is an author, teacher, and writing coach from New York who has overcame a challenging childhood, abusive relationship, and personal struggles to build a successful career and a fulfilling life. The ups and downs of her life spans seven countries and two marriages, and touches on neglect, eating disorders, domestic violence, single parenthood, and the devastating impact trauma can have on others. In this podcast:
The importance of embracing change and transitions as part of personal growth.
Reframing challenges as learning opportunities.
"Narrative building" as a strategy for reframing challenges.
Fabrice Desmarescaux was born and raised in France but has spent most of his working life in Asia, where he has been a business executive for over 30 years. For the first 15 years of his career, Fabrice worked in management consulting, working with boards, CEOs, and the C-Suite to design strategies and implement transformations. A McKinsey partner and executive coach, over the last 15 years, he has pursued his passion for helping clients reach their full potential by blending ancient wisdom with science for effective leadership. In this podcast:
The importance of collective consciousness, diverse talent, and a shared goal in high-performing teams.
The importance of retreats as a tool for leaders to disconnect from the busyness of daily life, gain a different perspective, and reconnect with themselves.
The concept of a "schizophrenic organisation".
Aaron Marcum has founded and scaled several multi-million dollar businesses. In 2015, he had reached financial success but was burned out and struggling to find sustainable happiness. From that point on, he decided to make drastic changes that have propelled his success, including finishing a Master of Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania and studying under Dr. Martin Seligman, the father of positive psychology. In this podcast:
Using the science of positive psychology to help entrepreneurs achieve the 'good life',
The commonalities and differences in the entrepreneurial journey
The motivations and challenges of entrepreneurs
Denise Schonwald, a registered nurse with over three decades of experience, seamlessly transitioned from critical care nursing to a distinguished career in mental health counselling. Witnessing families cope with the emotional toll of illness during her time in the healthcare field fuelled her passion for holistic healing and she advocates for a harmonious integration of mind and body. In this podcast:
The role of perception in shaping our experiences
Grief as a transformative force in life
How suffering can contribute to the development of resilience.
Deevo Tindall is an entrepreneur, holistic branding strategist, and content creator. After a thriving corporate career spanning over 15 years, Deevo embarked on a journey to rewrite the rules of branding through his own entrepreneurial venture. His holistic approach to branding is backed by an emphasis on self-awareness, authenticity, critical thinking and continuous learning as well as a desire to constantly question the established norms and processes in the corporate world and the roles of creativity and conformity in organisations and society. In this podcast:
The 'superpower' approach in business
The importance of authenticity in business narratives and the dangers of businesses telling inauthentic stories.
The concept of "shadow work," and redefining one's identity.
Dr. Christy Gibson, is a respected physician, international speaker, and trauma clinician who combines cutting-edge brain biology theories, such as the polyvagal theory and epigenetics, with holistic approaches to offer personalized solutions. She is the author of The Modern Trauma Toolkit which empowers readers to understand how their bodies respond to stress and equips them with the tools to reshape their reflexes for post-traumatic growth. In this podcast:
Deep brain reorienting therapy for trauma processing.
The importance of social innovation, design change, and policy work in trauma healing and resilience building.
Creating curriculum and onboarding processes for standardising psychological safety in the work environment
Jarie Bolander has written a raw, heartfelt tribute to his wife Jane and her handling of her illness to help men and the people who love them through the experience of loss and grief. A frank chronicle of how an intimate relationship can change and grow—even when the people involved feel there is nothing left to give - Ride or Die offers a detailed exploration of the male experience of grief, in the hopes that others suffering through it will not feel so alone. In this podcast:
Using resilience to get through challenging circumstances.
Learning to be comfortable with the unknown
Leaning into the discomfort and making decisions to move forward.
Dr Marie-Helene Pelletier is a bilingual practicing psychologist with over 20 years of experience in clinical psychology and advisory workplace psychology. Throughout her career in business management and psychology Marie-Helene has spearheaded a national dialogue on the crucial issues of leadership resilience and workplace health and can draw on her extensive background in corporate, insurance, governance and public sectors, national and international perspectives and expertise on mental health and resilience as a key pillar of overall health. In this podcast:
The need for customised approaches for resilience
Balancing individual resilience with organisational policies
Strategic approaches for optimising work performance and mental health.
Dr Eric Recker has worn a lot of hats. As a husband, father, dentist, elite success coach, pilot, speaker, author, mountain climber, and recovering triathlete, he has pushed his life to the limit and discovered that what he was searching for wasn’t at the top of the mountain. Today, in addition to running a thriving dental practice, Eric is committed to helping people learn to #WINtheNOW and discover the life they were meant to live. In this podcast:
Learning to live in the present moment to combat a false sense of urgency.
The importance of conscious reflection and finding wins in daily moments.
Setting aside time for planning and long-term goals, emphasising the value of time blocking.
Dr. Carla Fowler is an MD PhD and elite executive coach. Carla’s unique approach combines the latest research from performance science with timeless best practices to help top performers level up and achieve their goals. Over the past 10 years, she has distilled the key principles of performance into understandable concepts and a method that helps leaders incorporate these ideas into their day-to-day performance, helping them go faster and improve their results. In this podcast:
Building transferable capabilities.
Practicing purposeful thinking
The "brutal focus" approach to problem-solving by eliminating distractions and excess initiatives.
Stephen Rowley, Ph.D., is a psychotherapist and has also worked as a college professor at three universities, teaching educational administration and organisational theory. He is also adopted and feels that the fundamental core experience of separation from a mother or primary caregiver leaves a deep psychic wound and, no matter how well they fare later in life, the powerful effects of this developmental trauma can last a lifetime. In this podcast:
The core experiences adoptees share
How separation can lead to developmental trauma
The importance of embracing the unknown and the idea that life is not just a single story but a collection of different themes
Ben Kirk is a highly sought-after productivity and high-performance expert, known for his direct approach to helping individuals and businesses achieve their goals. His mantra, "Do Better. Be Better. Win the Day," encapsulates his philosophy of self-discipline, consistency, and accountability. Ben's methods are designed to help you implement incremental changes that will exponentially grow your business. In this podcast:
The significance of resilience and learning from mistakes in the context of accountability.
The importance of continuous improvement and goal achievement and how it promotes learning and progress, even in the face of setbacks.
The importance of creating habits and routines, understanding triggers, and increasing clarity.
Dr. Bob Uslander, MD is co-founder and medical director of Empowered Endings and has practiced medicine for 35 years. As an Emergency Physician for 25 years, Bob witnessed the gaps in the healthcare system first-hand and, as a result, dedicated himself to palliative and hospice care to support patients and families through major health and life challenge - especially near the end of life. In this podcast:
Why discomfort about end-of-life care, often leads to a reluctance to discuss it.
The challenges faced when there are disagreements between patients and their families.
The need for open conversations about death to reduce the stigma associated with it.
Dr. Jacqueline Heller is a physician with board certification in psychiatry and neurology and is a psychoanalyst. Her professional experience as a practicing clinician has allowed her extensive insight into the vast range of human experiences and in her book Yesterday Never Sleeps, she draws upon decades of clinical experience to weave together a powerful narrative that contains neuroscience, memoir of her life as a child of holocaust survivors, and patient histories involving a range of psychological ills and trauma. In this podcast:
The benefits of writing for memory consolidation and creating a cogent narrative.
How writing helps in self-reflection, identifying emotions, and developing connections to past experiences.
How reflective writing helps in understanding automatic mental constructs and patterns.
Antonio Garrido has a philosophy centered around the idea that wisdom comes from evaluated experience, not simply time served. Through intentional self-reflection, regular self-analysis, and increased self-awareness, he believes leaders can identify blindspots and unlock their full potential and future-proof themselves, their people, and their business. With over twenty-five years in senior leadership positions, Antonio has a wealth of experience that he blends with proven techniques to help elite leaders identify blind spots and reach their full potential. In this podcast:
The importance of journaling and how to start it.
How journaling helps with self-awareness, resilience, emotional intelligence, etc.
Journaling to help in setting goals and affirmations, beliefs, and commitments.
John R. Miles is a leading authority on intentional behaviour change, personal growth, and mattering. He is a keynote speaker, author, top-rated show host, and the founder and CEO of Passion Struck®. Recognised as one of the top thinkers in personal mastery and a Premier 100 Leader, his influence extends far and wide, he has over two decades of corporate and military leadership experience, and is a trusted advisor sought after by some of the world’s most prominent companies and visionary entrepreneurs. In this podcast:
Being intentional and setting life goals.
Adaptability in a changing world.
Intentionality in making deliberate choices and taking deliberate actions.
Jeffrey Hayzlett is a global business celebrity, speaker, best-selling author, and Chairman and CEO of C-Suite Network, home of the world’s most trusted network of C-Suite leaders. As a leading business expert, Hayzlett is a turnaround architect of the highest order, a maverick marketer and c-suite executive who delivers scalable campaigns, embraces traditional modes of customer engagement, and possesses a remarkable cachet of mentorship, corporate governance, and brand building. In this podcast:
The importance of capturing customer behaviour and input.
Finding opportunities in a crisis
Learning from past change
Don Cummins is a transformational coach and speaker. In 2011, while homeless, addicted, alone, and carrying the weight of having served over twenty years in prison for bank robberies, Don reached a level of suffering that he previously had not known. During this time, Don had a spiritual awakening that was the beginning of a miraculous life transformation. In the 13 years that followed, Don became a husband and father, a corporate software/IT director, a homeowner, a farmer and rancher, traveller and explorer, mountain biker and a giver of time and attention to others in need. In this podcast:
Why hitting rock bottom can be the turning point in making positive change.
Why you need support, insight, and self-awareness to make progress.
The challenges of re-entering society and finding a job after prison
Bill Carson is a visionary leader in mental health, wellbeing, and resilience, known for his work as an author, speaker, facilitator, and coach. He is dedicated to helping individuals and communities overcome mental health challenges and is highly sought-after in the field of mental health, resilience, and mindfulness. He has also volunteered over 650 hours as a Lifeline Volunteer Telephone Crisis Supporter and in this podcast he discusses the fulfilment he receives from helping others. In this podcast:
Cognitive repair and the importance of positive thinking.
How safe conversations can still be robust and professional.
The importance of creating a safe and healthy culture for conversations
Rachael Jayne Groover is the Founder and CEO of The Awakened School, a program that helps world-changers create their vision through cutting-edge educational experiences. In her teens Rachael Jayne was interested in psychology, spirituality, and human potential but at university changed direction and become a singer. She overcame stage-fright and fear of rejection to become an award-winning vocalist and songwriter before moving to the US to become a highly successful speaker, teacher, and author. In this podcast:
The process of enlightenment.
Being open to the moment
The benefits of receptivity
Dr Russell Thackeray answers some resilience-based questions that have been put to him recently by listeners. This is the first podcast Dr Thackeray has done in this format and today he covers a range of subjects including toxic resilience and how it relates to leadership, how toxic resilience can lead to burnout, different styles of leadership and the relationship between adaptability and resilience. In this podcast:
What toxic resilience is and its connection to toxic leadership.
The importance of adapting leadership style to fit individual needs and situations
The difference between resilience and adaptability and why adaptability is a subset of resilience.
Brian Smith, PhD, is founder and senior managing partner of IA Business Advisors, a management consulting firm that has worked with more than 19,000 CEOs, entrepreneurs, managers, and employees worldwide. Together with his daughter, Mary Griffin, they author the “I” in Team series, which shares how to become our best selves with everyone we influence. In this podcast:
Approaching leadership development in small and medium-sized organisations
Understanding and harnessing our influence in a positive way
Why accountability is important for setting expectations and promoting positive learning.