In Our Nature

Gone Bush is a legitimate phrase (and complete sentence) in Aotearoa New Zealand. The In Our Nature podcast will be back for another season in 2026. If you want the usual extra, winding context about this choice and what it means for my personal development as a working person under the narratives of productivity so cherished by the dominant culture, the impact on my membership of the web of life, and how this affects my philosophical understanding of the times of unravelling we live amongst.....then please do tune in. But "Gone Bush" mostly covers it.Me and my collaborators are still doing some bits and bobs through summer online and in Aotearoa NZ, but website resources, the podcast and newsletter are sleeping 🥱💤Feel free to contact as normal, but response times are reduced during certain periods. Events are here and we’ll continue to update them. To my fellow fuzzy creatures: take good care of yourself, each other and our astonishing Earth.

Today I'm joined by the wise, generous, and captivating Molly Brown: author, facilitator, and long-time practioner of The Work That Reconnects (among many other roles and passions)This one is for those among us feeling the weight of these times. For those who may be tired (so tired) but still yearning to serve this beautiful earth. It’s for those who need a different way to think about their role in our planetary moment of extraordinary uncertainty.It’s for the earthlings who care (and know their care can lead them into fatigue and overwhelm). Join us for a conversation that explores:What is the Work That Reconnects and why does it matter now more than ever?The evolution of the Spiral of the Work That Reconnects since it’s conception many years agoHow the way we practice the Work has needed to adapt to changing contexts and the way we understand oppression What does “Going Forth” mean now, in an age of rising fascism, visible collapse and endemic burnout? How is “activism” re-imagined for these times?And way, way more than my podcast notes limit allows My guest: MOLLY BROWNMolly Brown co-authored Coming Back to Life: The Updated Guide to the Work That Reconnects with Joanna Macy, and Coming Together in the Great Turning, with Aravinda Ananda and Kurt A. Kuhwald ( Pre-order here)Molly brings ecopsychology, the Work That Reconnects, and psychosynthesis to her work writing books and essays, teaching on-line courses, phone coaching, talks and workshops. Her six books include Growing Whole: Self-realization for the Great Turning and Lighting a Candle: Collected Reflections on a Spiritual Life. Molly edits Deep Times journal and co-directs the Spiral Journey Facilitator Development Program for the Work That Reconnects with Constance Washburn and Yulia Smagorinsky here SpiralJourneyWorkThatReconnects.org MollyYoungBrown.comWorkThatReconnects.orgComing Together in the Great Turning: Collective Liberation and Work That Reconnects, co-authored with Aravinda Ananda & Kurt Kuhwald, New Society Press, November 2025.  Pre-order here.Me: Siobhán:I’m on summer slow-down until 2026 but have a few lovely things happening: head here for details and registration. Get support or guidance from me hereEverything I do is by donation or gift. You can donate to support my work here if you want (thank you, amazing person)A reminder to industry and government: We don’t want an enormous coal mine in places of unique biodiversity (we don’t want a coal mine anywhere, actually) like the Denniston Plateau in Aotearoa. Get involved here if you agree. Thank you so much for being with me. You are the alluring proximity of the horizon 🌅

This is the final part of our short interlude exploring the archetypical language of astrology in the context of our time of extraordinary planetary upheaval. In part one, we explored astrology as a language of nature and why it's scorned and dismissed (giveway: because it would collapse the economy, no, really). That can be found here:  This Ancient Language of Nature Has Much to Say About Our Time of UnravellingIn part two we explore astrology as cyclical and ecological, seeing what is can show us about the Three Stories of Our Time as framed by the late, great Joanna Macy and the Work That Reconnects. That’s here: “Look,” said the Cosmos, “Everything Is Never Not Unfolding in a Dynamic Cycle of Life and Death”Today, we’re bringing it back to the practical. How do we have embodied experiences of all this (and why does it matter than we do?) Join for: Understanding the spiral of the Work That Reconnects and what it means to See with New and Ancient Eyes How to actually use astrology as a practice of perception and belonging How it can be explored in communal work, and on your own with examples for you to start withAn impassioned nod to the way many of us are prevented in exploring these ways of reconnection and embodiment by the structural thrust of capitalism, and how I "afford" to run around looking for Saturn in the land Mentioned or relevant:Part one of this astrological interlude: This Ancient Language of Nature Has Much to Say About Our Time of UnravellingPart two: Look,” said the Cosmos, “Everything Is Never Not Unfolding in a Dynamic Cycle of Life and Death”My article: The Solar Return of the Work That Reconnects Network Water Rising event: Astrology. Activism and the Work That Reconnects I have a few lovely things happening in Aotearoa, Australia or online coming up in the next few months…head here for details and registration. Get support or guidance from me hereEverything I do is by donation or gift. You can donate to support my work here if you want (thank you, amazing person)WHAT A STUPENDOUS amount of links, are you serious?Thank you so much for being with me today, you are the neon of lichen at high noon ☀️

This is part two of our short interlude exploring the archetypical language of astrology in the context of our time of extraordinary planetary upheaval. In part one, we explored astrology as a language of nature and why it's scorned and dismissed (giveway: because it would collapse the economy, no, really). That can be found here:  This Ancient Language of Nature Has Much to Say About Our Time of UnravellingToday we’re seeing what astrology can show us about the Three Stories of Our Time as framed by the late, great Joanna Macy and the Work That Reconnects. Join me for a quickie on:Why “Business as Usual” is the fundamental  denial of cycles…and why astrology doesn’t let us get away with thatHow astrology shows the Great Unravelling as natural, painful, and utterly unavoidableAnd what about the Great Turning already? How astrology and the Spiral of the Work That Reconnects both remind us (over and over and over again) that life is nourished and fed by a spiral of expansion, contratction, death and rebirthEr yay to all that?Mentioned or relevant:Part one of this astrological interlude: This Ancient Language of Nature Has Much to Say About Our Time of UnravellingPart three: Seeing with New & Ancient Eyes: Astrology & the Work That Reconnects Richard Tarnas, author of the mind-bogging Cosmos & PsycheWork That Reconnects Network Three Stories of our TimeJoanna Macy My article: The Solar Return of the Work That Reconnects Network Water Rising event: Astrology. Activism and the Work That Reconnects I have lovely things happening in Aotearoa, Australia or online coming up in the next few months…head here for details and registration. Get support or guidance from me hereEverything I do is by donation or gift. You can donate to support my work here if you want (thank you, amazing person)WHAT A STUPENDOUS amount of links, are you seriousThank you so much for being with me today, you are the dizzying beauty of moonrise 🌙

Who fancies a short side-quest away from the connection between our mental health and planetary heath today? Although we won’t be going far, because it’s all connected of course To help answer a suprisingly amount of questions I’ve received following an astrologically-themed presentation for the Work That Reconnects Network earlier this year, today we’ll be talking about the connection between astrology, deep ecology, and the Work That Reconnects and how they might help us in these times of extraordinary unravelling. All three are languages of relationship. All three are languages of nature. All three are enormously misunderstoodAll three get my dad rolling his eyes, muttering into his beard, and changing the subject**I’ve been drawing on archetypal and Hellenistic astrology in my work and personal practice for a while. Due to increased curiosity I know I’m not the only one who can see the immense power of being able to place ourselves in larger rhythms and cycles right now, and the insight that comes with seeing the world through new and ancient eyes.Join me as we have a quick spin through: Why astrology is a language of natureHow it connects with the Spiral of the Work That ReconnectsHow we can see Jupiter in a river, Saturn in a tree and Venus is right there in that blossomWhy astrology has been dismissed, mocked, and ridiculed (by whom and for what, one might ask?)How astrology re-enchants the world and why that makes it exceedingly dangerous to our economy (I use the word “mortally”)Mentioned or relevant:My article: The Solar Return of the Work That Reconnects Network Part two of the astrology interlude: “Look,” said the Cosmos, “Everything Is Never Not Unfolding in a Dynamic Cycle of Life and Death”Episode: Shedding the Stories That No Longer Make Sense (Even When It's Hard & Lonely)I have lovely things happening in Aotearoa, Australia or online coming up in the next few months…head here for details and registration. Get support or guidance from me hereEverything I do is by donation or gift. You can donate to support my work here if you want (thank you, amazing person)Thank you so much for being with me today. You are starlight tangled in the roots of an oak tree.✨🌳p.s. **JOKES! I'd never mention astrology to my dad. 

The prevailing Western approach to mental health often treats anxiety, grief, sadness, despair and other challenges as individual problems to be fixed (by you!) and ignores the larger systems we exist within.But how's that going? Take a look around.What if our inner unravelling is a healthy, natural, appropriate response to a world that’s dangerously out of balance, and what does an animist worldview say about health and wellbeing?Join me for:Questioning the materialist, individualist, and linear mindset that shapes our current models of mental health… t this framework is often tangled up in the very systems causing social and ecological harm.Sharing how the conversation moves from "how do I feel better?" to "how do I stay rooted when everything is falling apart?"Understanding what an animate worldview might say about all of this, how it’s different, and why it matters. The role of myth in times of collapseOk so what now, then, smarty pants?Mentioned or relevant:Episode: Shedding the Stories That No Longer Make Sense (Even When It's Hard & Lonely)Episode: An Update For These Extraordinarily Precarious TimesEpisode: Are You Feeling Your Feelings … or THINKING Your Feelings? (And Why Your Answer Really Matters)Episode: What Happens When Our Spiritual Grounding & Our Meaning-Making Frameworks for Life Stop...Helping?Episode: We’ve Made up What Mental Illness Is (And Who Decides What’s Normal Anyway?)Recommendation: The Emerald Podcast and Josh’s work and coursesPlugging self: I have lovely things happening in Aotearoa, Australia or online coming up in the next few months…head here for details and registration. Get support or guidance from me hereEverything I do is by donation or gift. You can donate to support my work here if you want (thank you, amazing person) Gosh what a stupendous amount of links.Thank you so much for being with me today. You are the bank of cloud that frames the sky ☁️

In a horrifying-but-necessary act of intimacy, I am inviting you to join me on a journey of shedding in today’s episodeNature shows us that death is food. Decay is enrichment for what’s next. What is dying in you? What needs to be shed, to make space for life?Join me for:An update on my own journey since the last major one 18 months ago, and how it helps people waking up to the entangled systemic breakdown of systems and structures we see now(If you’re new to me and all this, you can catch that in the epiosde: An Update For These Extraordinarily Precarious Times)What I’ve learned from living between stories…the dominant cultural narrative of individualism and control, and the suppressed, ancient, interconnected wisdom that is undeniably calling me homeWhy I am shedding my old roles, narratives, and professional orientations and what this actually meansThe ongoing implications of realising that my work, and the mental health/coaching/self-help-industrial complex at large often (innocently) upholds the very systems that are driving destruction of the planet How the dominant story itself makes us feel like we don't belong in the new one, keeping us isolated, lonely, and stuckWhat a family-wide neurodivergence diagnosis journey, deep ecology, Celtic cosmologies, exploration of Te Ao Māori and a natal moon in my 8th whole sign house of Aquarius has to do with any of this Mentioned or relevant:ArticleThat Shitty But Necessary Part Where Everything Shatters and Nothing Makes SenseEpisodes:You Have a Radically Powerful (But Highly Misunderstood) Gift That Can Transform Your Experience of a World in ChaosThe Transformative, Luminous Power of Honouring Our Pain: with Kathleen Rude & The Work That ReconnectsAre You Feeling Your Feelings … or THINKING Your Feelings? (And Why Your Answer Really Matters)What Happens When Our Spiritual Grounding & Our Meaning-Making Frameworks for Life Stop...Helping?This episode has the f word in it but I needed it. I have lovely things happening in Aotearoa, Australia or online coming up in the next few months…head here for details and registration. Get support or guidance from me hereEverything I do is by donation or gift. You can donate to support my work here if you want (thank you, amazing person)Gosh what a stupendous amount of links.Thank you so much for being with me today. You are the comforting squawk of my favourite waterbird 🪿

Offered as a companion episode to the just-released "Shedding the Stories That No Longer Make Sense (Even When It's Hard & Lonely)" for those who may be newer listeners to the show and wanted to hear an earlier part of my long journeywell..."long" to our accelerated capitalist society that doesn't respect or care for depth, rooting, steeping or descending, obvs, but just fraction of a moment in the cycles of natureAt the point of this original recording in early 2024 I was emerging from a dark but necessary period of my own collapse and I was seeing the unmistakable cracks in my industry as an anxiety coach and mental health practitioner. Head to the shedding episode ("Shedding the Stories That No Longer Make Sense (Even When It's Hard & Lonely)" to understand what’s happened since then and how this helps others who are awakening to the illusions of their own worldview in our age or unraveling. It’s great fun. Relevant:The people I work with are using (and contributing to) this companion resource at the moment: An Earnestly Incomplete Non-Guide for the Disillusioned, the Lost and the Totally BewilderedCome check out the Work That Reconnects I have lovely things happening in Aotearoa, Australia or online coming up in the next few months…head here for details and registration. Get support or guidance from me hereEverything I do is by donation or gift. You can donate to support my work here if you want (thank you, amzing person)Gosh what a stupendous amount of links.Thank you so much for being with me today. You are the smell of cleansing rain ⛈️

My normal pod workflow is still interrupted by the demands of …well…being an earthling in these times trying to serve people outside of the normative economic rules while also staying rested and fed? As such, in today’s episode I’m drawing from one of the resources I use in my classes, and you can read a version on my website tooThis one is for the people waking up to the severity of our entangled systemic breakdown, who feel profound fear and dread for the world, but struggles to connect with others who don't seem to get it.Join me as I explore:Why your fear and dread is a completely rational and appropriate response to an extraordinary time of unravelling. The other feelings swirling with dread: grief, powerlessness, isolation, and doubt.The challenges of trying to share these feelings with someone who doesn't seem to care… and what might actually be going on for themCommon reactions you might encounter and what they might really mean.What you might actually need from these conversations that you may not realiseA non-exhaustive list of what might help when you're carrying this heavy load, from screaming into the wind to connecting with collapse-aware communities.Why your dread is a sign of your sensitivity, sanity, and fierce love for this astonishing world.You are not alone in this, my dear friend. Stay here with us.Mentioned or relevant:The phenomenon where the sane people feel like the mad ones: check out this podcast episode: Why You Might Be Feeling a Bit Crazy: The Maddening Paradoxes of our TimeCheck out this resource (compiled by other caring humans, not me) for help and support with these themes. Get support or guidance from me hereIf you wanna come along to a gathering of some kind where these topics are welcomed, head to this page for more info…I have workshops in Aotearoa or online coming up in the next few monthsOptional things to read: a couple of my diary pieces from my earliest days of collapse-awareness (which weren’t that long ago) if it helps you to see that feeling isolated is a real thingDear Diary: I Can No Longer Pretend That Practically Everything Is Not, Indeed, UnravellingDear Diary: How Do I Tell my Friends That I Want to Talk About Collapse Instead of Playing Badminton?Dear Diary: Couldn't Someone Have Bloody Told Me That the Collapse of Our Civilisation Was Inevitable?Everything I do is by donation or gift. You can donate to support my work here if you want (thank you, amazing person)Gosh what a stupendous amount of links.Thank you so much for being with me today. You are the frothy tip of the wide blue ocean 🌊

Today is a bit different. My original pod is delayed so I'm reading part of a resource I use in one of my classes, there's also an adapted version on my website.Join me as, during a walk with Bella the dog, we look at:The profound links between our mental well-being our planetary well-being, and our economyHow and why the implications of these connections are somewhat obscuredWhat happens when our frenetic, consumer mindset infiltrates everything (and how it affects our dogs!) The "beast" (non-dog, non-human) that operates completely incompatibly with the needs of life itself.Why rest, balance, and care are actually a threat to the beast’s survival.Two crucial places to start when faced with the overwhelming reality of it all (one for humans, one for dogs!)Mentioned or relevant:Get support or guidance from me hereIt's my half birthday, which is neither relevant or mentioned in the episode but I just remembered so ...yay!Finches, rabbits, poop, dandelionsOne swear word this time!The people I work with are using (and contributing to) this companion resource at the moment, you can join us: An Earnestly Incomplete Non-Guide for the Disillusioned, the Lost and the Totally BewilderedI have workshops in Aotearoa or online coming up in the next few months: if you’d like updates and invitations,  pop yourself on to my Friends ListI write on Substack too—come hang out there if you wanna.Everything I do is by donation or gift. You can donate to support my work here if you want (thank you, amazing person)Gosh what a stupendous amount of links.Thank you so much for being with me today. You are the astonishing twinkle of Venus. 

Another title for this pod could be: "My clients are complaining that I don't fix them fast enough"Today we're poking around how our click-and-collect, same day delivery, frenetic consumer mindset has infiltrated everything, including how we do therapy, coaching, rest, and healing....and how this is all causing the the quiet but catastrophic extinction of one of our key human capacities....patience.Join me to explore:Why your impatience is getting worse (me too) How colonial-capitalist systems rewired us to hate slowness, uncertainty, and processWhat we lose when we lose patience  (hint: a lot, and it's important )The myth of instant transformation... and what change actually asks of usHow living systems (like you and me) actually metabolise change, and why it can’t be rushedWhat Nature says about all this (begrudgingly, of course...she's grumpy with me today)Mentioned or relevant:Get support or guidance from me hereHazelnuts!Nature likes The Rolling Stones ...of course. One swear word this time. The golden carpet of possibility which is a lawn covered in gingko leaves The people I work with are using (and contributing to) this companion resource at the moment: An Earnestly Incomplete Non-Guide for the Disillusioned, the Lost and the Totally BewilderedI have workshops in Aotearoa or online coming up in the next few months: if you’d like updates and invitations,  pop yourself on to my Friends ListI write on Substack too—come hang out there if you wanna.Everything I do is by donation or gift. You can donate to support my work here if you want (thank you, amazing person)I'm presenting at the Work That Reconnects Network 10 year anniversary celebrations very shortly. Details and registration here. Gosh what a stupendous amount of links.Thank you so much for being with me today. You are a long drink of gurgling spring water 💧

Today I'm joined by the  wise, kind and amazing Kathleen Rude — a long-time facilitator of The Work That Reconnects among many other roles and passions — to talk about the incredible alchemical magic of honouring our pain. Yes: pain. Feeling the painful feels. Beholding them. Honouring them. Come join us:Kathleen guides us through an exploration of what the Work That Reconnects actually is, and why frameworks like this really matter more than everWhy our grief, rage, anxiety and despair are not flaws to fix or manage (as we are told in orthodox self help and therapeutic modalities).... …but instead are powerful signals that we are fiercely alive and connectedHow communal witnessing and honouring of our pain actually helps (no, really, how does this squirmy thing possibly help?….we’re going to get to that in this episode! )How we might begin to practice this if we feel very uncomfortable when it comes to feeling our feelings, and isn’t this all a bit cringe?What western mental health gets so wrong about true wellbeing...which includes why feeling our feelings is so uncomfortable and why I used the word "cringe" just nowand not forgetting THE MAGICAL WAND from Season 1 of this show is back and we are wishing Kathleen a magical dinner..... which powerful figure would Kathleen invite, and what does she want to persuade them to do?My guest Kathleen Rude:Kathleen Rude fell in love with the natural world as a young child and found her voice for environmental activism at age 10. She has a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Ecology and a Master of Science in Natural Resources from the University of Michigan. Kathleen began her career as an environmental writer, a profession she embraced for 15 years.She was raised liberal Lutheran in a household steeped in Jungian psychology. Both traditions continue to inspire and guide her life and work. She was initiated by Blackfoot, Northern Ute and Lakota elders into indigenous spiritual practices and studied core shamanism with Betsy Bergstrom and Sandra Ingerman. She is a shamanic practitioner, teacher and ceremonial leader and a member of the Society for Shamanic Practice.She was mentored by Joanna Macy, internationally acclaimed eco-philosopher and root teacher of the Work That Reconnects. Kathleen is a senior facilitator of The Work, leading workshops in person and online and she serves as a Weaver in the Work That Reconnects Network. Find Katheleen at her website and FacebookMe, Siobhán:Get support or guidance from me hereCheck out the resource my clients are loving (and helping me develop)  An Earnestly Incomplete Non-Guide for the Disillusioned, the Lost and the Totally BewilderedIf you’d like updates and invitations, pop yourself on to my Friends ListI write on Substack too—come hang out there if you wanna.Everything I do is by donation or gift. You can donate to support my work here if you want (thank you, amazing person)Gosh what a stupendous amount of links.Thank you so much for being with me today. You are the whirl to my pool 🌀

Most of the people I work with think they know how to feel their feelings. They are feeling their feelings all the time, they tell me. But many of them are wrong. Are you wrong? I was totally wrong. Because many of us are not feeling our feelings. We are THINKING our feelings.And the distinction really, really matters, now more than ever, as our planet faces challenges of an unprecedented entangled scale. Join me to explore: How our modern culture (including therapy, coaching, and spirituality) teaches us to think our feelings Why it matters if we are thinking feelings and not feeling them and how to know if you are doing it How coaches like me perpetuate this disembodied, intellectualised relationship with our feelings (clue: it’s innocent! Promise! But still happening) How our western culture elevates thought over feeling: I’m calling it Thought Supremacy and how this invisibly runs through education, healthcare, modern forms of spirituality and so much else See how feelings are often treated as inconvenient or irrational and something to overcome rather than be with (and how that contributes to us not feeling them) And see why all of this matters for times like now, when this disconnection between mind and body mirrors disconnection from the earth and each otherMentioned or relevant:Get support or guidance from me hereI totally forgot to convene with my reluctant co-host, Nature, on this one. I wonder what her song would have been?Not a single swear world! In fact, I say HOLY MOLY when I definitely meant to say HOLY SH…..y’know, the other one. The people I work with are using this as a companion resource at the moment: An Earnestly Incomplete Non-Guide for the Disillusioned, the Lost and the Totally BewilderedIf you’d like updates and invitations,  pop yourself on to my Friends ListI write on Substack too—come hang out there if you wanna.Everything I do is by donation or gift. You can donate to support my work here if you want (thank you, amazing person)Gosh what a stupendous amount of links.Thank you so much for being with me today. You are the apple to my core 🍎

If you feel like you’re quietly losing your mind while the world carries on like everything’s normal, then I have good news: You are not only quite sane indeed but pretty amazing. Let’s be friends. In this episode, I roll out the picnic blanket of shared madness and invite you to sit on it with me while we explore the paradoxes and absurdities that make the nice people feel like they’re the crazy ones.We touch on:What I mean by "mad" and "crazy" The way paradoxes and contradictions dog our lives Oooh a dog!How this affects our brains and bodies (and leads to the mad feeling)A helpful framing from Joanna Macy and the Work That Reconnects What nature has to say about thisSome imperfect suggestions of how to be with all thisMentioned or relevant:Episode: We’ve Made up What Mental Illness Is (And Who Decides What’s Normal Anyway?)Just one swear but it’s needed: “headfckry”Nature’s a fan of Alanis MorisetteThe piece I mention is here How to Get Your Citizens to Think They Are The Problem (& Not You): A Cheat Sheet for Psychotic SystemsGet support or guidance from me hereThe people I work with are using this as a companion resource at the moment: An Earnestly Incomplete Non-Guide for the Disillusioned, the Lost and the Totally BewilderedIf you’d like updates and invitations,  pop yourself on to my Friends ListI write on Substack too—come hang out there if you wanna.Show me your chaotic art on BlueskyThe Work That Reconnects can be explored here The Common Earth Insights course is coming up soon, too: join me here (it's fully funded at no cost to you)Everything I do is by donation or gift. You can donate to support my work here if you want (thank you, amazing person)Gosh what a stupendous amount of links.Thank you so much for being with me today. You are the orange to my peel 🍊

You know that inner voice that tells you you’re lazy, unlovable, unproductive, failing in life, worthless and ugly? Many of us listen to that inner voice, taking it very personally and thinking there's a lot of truth behind the yelling. But this episode reveals that the voice is actually just a goblin..a particularly shouty little creature who thrives in individualist cultures obsessed with growth, productivity, accomplishment and personal responsibility.Join me to...meet the goblin and understand how they were born understand the goblin's ideological lineagelearn why lovely, principled, wonderful people (like you, I bet) tend to get yelled at the most by goblinshear Nature’s perspective on invasive goblins (and how she rebalances predators in an ecosystem)If at any point you hear a voice saying the episode is stupid... that's the goblin. Mentioned or relevant:Episode: Why We Need The Anxious, Overwhelmed, Sensitive Overthinkers. Right Now. Exactly As You Are. Please ComeAn open letter from Nature to overthinkers, the anxious, the sensitive, and the overwhelmed is here More swears than normal, sorry, mostly the word s***bagNature’s a fan of Pink Floyd Get support or guidance from me hereIf you’d like updates and invitations, hop on to my Friends List. I write on Substack too—come hang out there if you wanna.The Common Earth Insights course is coming up soon, too: join me here (it's fully funded at no cost to you)Gosh what a lot of linksThank you for listening. You are the pine to my needle 🌲

Nice to see you, but this is a non-episode so don’t get too comfy. I'm calling on your input around a theme that’s come up in our recent episodes: what happens when your usual ways of grounding yourself, like your spiritual, philosophical, religious, or therapeutic frameworks and orientations, suddenly feel completely insufficient, particularly in the context of collapse, breakdown and unravelling of systems, structures and species?I’m inviting you to:Share your thoughts, experiences, or questions on this theme for a possible third episode in this seriesAnd / or join a small, closed, interactive conversation with me on this topic if it calls to you. That’s wrapped up in the first few minutes but I linger for 15 more to gently open it up with some light prodding: What happens when your usual meaning-making tools stop working...and why that’s not your fault (you don't need to just "see more" or "deepen your grounding") Why so many modern spiritual and therapeutic frameworks struggle to hold the weight of collapseThe Western decontextualisation of ancient wisdom traditions...and how that leaves us unprepared for realityWhy thought-centred approaches to well-being (like non-duality, self-help, and coaching) feel out of place amongst actual, material breakdown of ecosystems, economies, and societiesWhy “suffering is just a thought” or “an illusion” baffles us when rivers are poisoned and species are vanishingIf you’ve ever felt more lost after trying to lean on spiritual teachings when confronting the magnitude of collapse, or you feel confused and bewildered and disillusioned by the beliefs that once gave you clarity and comfort, you might get something here. Don't be alone. I'm your ally in this one. Mentioned / next steps: Part one of conversation in this area : It's In Our Nature to Unravel & Collapse (& Why Seeing This Can Actually Help Anxiety)Part two: The Profound Gifts That Only Collapse & Breaking Down Can RevealSubmit a story, question, or comment for a possible part three episode, and/or register your interest for a small, closed circle conversation here. Email me here.If you’d like updates and invitations, hop on to my Friends List. I write on Substack too—come hang out there if you wanna.Gosh what a lot of linksThank you for listening. You are the the brilliance of an unfurling petal 🌺

Join me for part two of our conversation on collapse, unravelling and breakdown. It’s way better than it sounds, promise. This one has gifts and treasures! But, it also has some hard stuff, so listen only if you feel up to it.  Included in the episode...A reminder that collapse and breakdown aren't failures, but actually a fundamental part of nature’s cycles — whether we’re talking about ecological, social, financial collapse, or your own inner mental breakdown (been there)The massive blind spots in self-help, coaching, and therapy when it comes to collapseThe incredible gifts that await when we courageously face material truths that are obscured from us in everyday life by dominant narratives and interestsThe ways our ancestors were way better prepared for this than we are (and what we can learn from them)The hidden capacities you already have for resilience, adaptation, and finding meaning amidst the incredulous unraveling that we see around us. There are so many podcasts and so little units of our human energy. This isn’t for everyone. You might need something else, or total silence.But, at your discretion, listen if…You’re tired, overwhelmed, and literally sick of life feeling like a race you didn’t sign up for. You don’t even like races. You wanna lie down. You need a reminder that you’re not a failure at life for not keeping up Ana ‘managing’: you’re actually responding appropriately to an spectacularly unbalanced and life denying system (so…yay?)You think you need discipline and willpower when really, you need rest, nourishment, community, and a world that maybe isn’t on fire?You’re grappling with big, difficult emotions about the state of your inner and/or outer world and you find me somewhat of a kindred spirit (I totally am, hi friend 👋🏼)Mentioned:Part one of this conversation: It's In Our Nature to Unravel & Collapse (& Why Seeing This Can Actually Help Anxiety)Where I talk about context a ton: "All Of This" (gestures around wildly) "Is Not in Our Nature"Where I talk about us mirroring earth responses: What a Weird Coincidence That Both Our Mental Health and the Earth’s Systems Are More Fragile Than Ever (It’s Like We Are Intimately Connected or Something)The one where I talk about The Work That Reconnects: You Have a Radically Powerful (But Highly Misunderstood) Gift That Can Transform Your Experience of a World in ChaosThe episode also invites your questions and views about your experiences of the insufficiency or lack of support from your spiritual, therapeutic and philosophical paradigms, tools and communities. Contact me here for that. If you’d like updates and invitations, hop on to my Friends List. I write on Substack too—come hang out there if you wanna.Gosh what a lot of linksThanks for listening. You're the the glistening dew drop on a baby fern 💧</

Today we’re talking about the most fundamental of cosmic laws. One that governs everything from stars, to soil, to the thoughts in your mind. A cosmic law that we humans have spent centuries pretending doesn’t exist. A cosmic law that, when honoured and accepted, can strengthen our mental wellbeing as well as the wellbeing of our planet, our communities, our democracies and our relationships. It's the cosmic law of...life and death. Join me as we explore:The fundamental natural cycle of rise and fall, expansion and contraction, growth and decay which applies to everything... including youWhy no system in nature grows forever (including civilisations) and why this is a crucial thing The disconnect between the comforting story of infinite progress and the reality of collapse as a natural part of lifeHow this understanding transforms our relationship with anxiety, burnout, and overwhelmWhy recognising this cycle might just change your life Mentioned in this episode:Zucchini’s everywhere!Lots of different words for “collapse”My early, bewildered, angst-filled journals on this topic here, here and here.Reluctant co-host Nature is verrrry cheeky today Curious and want other resources? See here and here (not curated by me)The episode also invites your questions, views and comments around your experiences of the insufficiency or lack of support from your spiritual, therapeutic and philosophical paradigms, tools and communities Contact me here for that. If you’d like updates and invitations, hop on to my Friends List. I write on Substack too—come hang out there if you wanna.Gosh what a lot of linksThank you for listening. You are the pollinator of dreams 🐝

If you relate to being anxious, sensitive, easily overwhelmed or always overthinking every darn thing....this is my call to you.Today we're exploring how these profoundly pathologised traits are, actually, exactly what the world needs right now. Join me as we tinker with: How overthinking and anxiety are misunderstood, undervalued, and categorised as “problems” to be fixed (including by me in past times, which is totally cringe)The connection between anxiety, sensitivity, overwhelm and overthinking with being caring, thoughtful, kind and not an asshOle (and why this is relevant)Why and how  society dismisses different ways of being and thinking—and how this ties into systems built on speed, extraction, and dominance.A total overhaul of what "overthinking" means —and why it's exactly what the world needs right now.The connection between our mental health and the world around us (er, mentioned every episode)Mentioned in this episode:The open letter from Nature to overthinkers, the anxious, the sensitive, and the overwhelmed is here The systemic commentary centred around CAKE is here Nature’s a fan of Radiohead. Thought soIf you want updates on today's topic and are interested in an upcoming playshop which will revolutionise** how you view these parts of yourself, pop your name and email down here. **Revolutionise  might sound a bit much... but I mean it If you’d like updates and invitations, hop on to my Friends List. I write on Substack too—come hang out there if you wanna.Gosh what a lot of linksThank you for listening. You are the moonlight peeking over a ridgeline 🌙

Today we’re exploring the thought patterns that keep us stuck in cycles of overwhelm, guilt, and inaction, and that block change, prevent peace and clarity, and deny us the spaciousness we desperately need in our lives. But these thoughts aren’t yours — they are influenced by broader societal stories and cultural conditioning and we’re going upstream to catch them in the act. So to speak. This episode is a follow-up to What Happens When the Space We Need for Our Mental Wellbeing Is Being Sold off to the Highest Bidder? If you haven’t listened to that one yet, I highly recommend it for added context.Join me to explore:The three persistent thoughts blocking space for peace and clarity in your lifeHow these thoughts are shaped by invisible societal stories about worth, scarcity, value, and the role of the individualHow and why rest, clarity, and spaciousness feel like indulgences Why “I’ll have space when…” is a lie (that we always tell ourselves, including me)The arrival fallacy and its roots in extractive systemsWhat Nature has to say about all this Mentioned in this episode:The F word, at least a couple of times, but it’s essential. Kind of. You'll seeNature is a fan of Queens of the Stone Age - coolOther work talking about the transmission of thoughts and stories —how our individual thoughts and experiences and inner narratives are influenced by larger ideologies and societal values is here, here, here and hereRecent episodes connecting our self worth to productivity and busyness: are Is It in Our Nature To Be Restless, Unsettled and Anxious? and Why You Never, Ever Feel Good Enough (Even Though You Are Somewhat Amazing)To comment, share a story, idea, thought or grumble for the next part of this conversation on Space, email me (let me know if you don’t want your name included anywhere)If you want, pop yourself on to my Friends List for updates and invitations.I write on Substack now — come interact there if you like.Everything I do is by donation or gift. You can donate to support my work here if you want (thank you, amazing person).Thank you so much for being with me today. You are so fly 🪰

This episode is a re-release from season one that traces a familiar experience: feeling anxious and restless even when there’s ‘nothing to worry about’. Like when one is hiking in the beautiful mountains with a month off work (me).Originally aired when the podcast was called Inner Peace and Other Cool Shit, this episode is an important reminder of the upstream influences on our feelings and experiences. I’m exploring responses to this in upcoming episodes, so this is for the benefit of new listeners (hi, friends) and anyone else needing a refresher. If you've heard it already and you totally know where that anxious, restless, unsettled feeling comes from — you are free to go! Go outside. Watch a bird wash themselves in a puddle. It's the best. Original show notes for this ep. are below.Mentioned in this one: A belated move to Substack; join me here. I mention a piece I am working on about rarely experiencing anxiety and restlessness anymore, and how that’s changed. If you want that when it’s finished get your sweet butt on my Friends’ List here. Please note it is NOT a pollyanna how-to for getting rid of anxiety. It's gritty. Questions, comments, or ideas, feel free to get in touch with me hereOriginal show notes:It's the first episode back after the summer break and I can't wait to talk about horrid feelings with you. Join me for an exploration on the birth and evolution of anxious, restless, unsettled feelings, and how understanding this helps ease their ickiness so we can return to peace. This episode will  meander through: A long intro vividly describing my anxious thought storm while on holiday A reminder of the relationship between thoughts and feelings and the outside worldWhen it's relevant to look at the content of thought itself, and how understanding this transforms our relationship to itAn expedition back through history to the origin of our horrid thoughts This will include mentions of anxiety, productivity, overwhelm, being busy, hustle culture, rest and moreHow understanding the creation and evolution of thoughts helps us see them as less personal, giving us more opportunity for freedom and ease Metaphors and comparisons include the climate and soil, soup and croutons and a couple of bad jokes Anxious Alice asks how this historical and evolutionary exploration of thought content reconciles with the orthodox orientation of 'looking upstream to the source of thought'.  Isn't she a wise little squirrel? 

We’re poking our sticky fingers into the feelings of worthlessness and inadequacy that so many of us carry. Why do we think we’re not enough? Where do these thoughts come from? Why are they so persistent and stick around, no matter how 'good' we get? And, why did I write I was a worthless piece of sh!t in my journal for many a year?!Join me as we examine the tangled web of personal thought, cultural narratives, and societal systems that feed these feelings of utter worthlessness––and let’s see what it takes to recognise our intrinsic worth and imperfect awesomeness as beings on this astonishing planet (while there's still a few puffs of breathable oxygen available, at least) MentionedA lovely metaphor about The Book Of WorthlessnessThe commodification of our humanity and it’s connection with our mental health herePoop, a lot, for good reasonNature likes Pearl Jam - cool.The post about reciprocity in nature, which began life with ‘dick’ in the titleThe Banana taped to a wall Contact me by email here or join my Friends List here for monthly-ish updates and invitationsEverything I do is by donation or gift. You can donate to support my work here if you can and want to (thank you, amazing person). Thanks for being with me today. You rock 🌏

If you feel like your mind, car, house, desk, local supermarket and —everywhere, actually, come to think of it— is chaotic, cluttered, full and busy… …you aren’t imagining it. This one’s for you. Today we’re talking about the crucial need for space in our lives —both internally and externally — and how this is rapidly being sold off, occupied and taken over. Join me as we explore:How the erasure of space—mentally, physically, and environmentally— makes us feel like crapWhat the psycho-spiritual guidance to connect with ‘inner space’ might be missing in the context of today’s worldThe parallels between natural ecosystems and human wellbeing and why space is vital for both....yes, vital, and not a 'nice to have' when the kids leave homeWhy the fetish for productivity in our society makes you feel anxious and worthless ...and means finding true space nearly impossibleHow structural forces obstruct our ability to connect with the space within and find peace (aka: it's not your fault, friend)An invitation to contribute to part two of this conversation — how might we realistically and practically reclaim and honour space in our lives and communities? MentionedLast episode here Birds, bees, flies, a cow's headThe F word, onceEpisodes about productivity here, here, here and here. To comment, share a story, idea, thought or grumble for the second part of this conversation on Space, email me (let me know if you don’t want your name included in the episode)The Playshop on this topic has a couple of spaces, but will be expanded if needed. Email me if you’re interested. Everything I do is by donation or gift. You can donate to support my work here if you want (thank you, amazing person).Thanks for being with me today. You rock 🌏

You know how we humans can fall apart or lose our sh*t when under too much pressure, stress, or neglect? Ever noticed that that’s what’s happening to our planet, too? The effects of biodiversity loss and climate breakdown are being felt in many places and we humans are breaking down, collapsing, and having meltdowns too. Coincidence? Of course not.Today we’re looking at the striking parallels between our personal mental health and the planet’s wellbeing. Join me to explore: The natural connections that bind us to our world ……and why it matters that we wake up to our intimate connection to the planet How the Earth’s limits, boundaries and responses can be seen in our own mental and emotional behaviours and tipping pointsThe forces that undermine both planetary and mental flourishingHow we might even BEGIN to start to turn toward a world where life and health are prioritised over profit, power, accumulation and greedWhat does Nature have to say about all this and what melancholy song will she pick?Mentioned: Be my friend and get updates from meQuestion, comment, complaint, idea? You can contact me here. Thanks for being with me today. You rock. 

Ok, you want to know what your radically powerful (but highly misunderstood) gift that can transform your experience of a world in chaos is without listening to the whole epiosde? It's GRATITUDE. ...And if that feels like a disappointing, damp, dribbly answer....then this episode is especially for you. Today we’re revealing gratitude as the profound, fierce, and life-affirming force that connects us to the world around us and NOT the superficial, commodified version many of us in the West grew up with.True gratitude is an enlivening power that counters the emotional fallout of these bewildering times of environmental, mental and social degradation. We’ll cover: How true gratitude has been stripped of its deeper meaning in consumerist culture and sold back to us as a shallow practice The implications of this watered-down version of gratitude—how it became just another performative task, often leaving us feeling more inadequate and sh*t How the pressure to be grateful for the trappings of modern life has masked the deeper sources of life and well-being ...leaving us more disconnected from nature and each other How practicing gratitude is an act of resistance in a world that pushes us toward disconnection, apathy, and scarcityHow real gratitude connects us to each other and the larger web of life...and why this matters especially nowParadigm-changing people who help us see the power of true gratitude such as Robin Wall Kimmerer and  Joanna Macy's Work That Reconnects  The role of gratitude in mental health and our experiences with anxiety Mentioned: Joanna Macy and the Work That Reconnects Robin Wall Kimmerer and her book, Braiding Sweetgrass Be my friend and get updates from meQuestion, comment, complaint, idea? You can contact me here. Thanks for being with me today. You rock. 

Today we are poking at the slimy, damaging myth of Homo Economicus—the cold, self-interested, rational creature that modern economics says we all are. This story has shaped our minds, relationships, structures, behaviours and planets (well, at least one so far: Earth, the best one) and has led to utter catastrophe, inside and out.If: you’re tired of being told that selfishness is ’just human nature’ andyou suspect it’s not your fault that you feel anxious, worthless, sh*tty and tired, and(crucially) you enjoy your podcast episodes with a faint backdrop of Aotearoa/ New Zealand bird song ….then this episode is for you.🦜🦅🐦‍⬛🐦Join me to explore: Quick recap of last episode and how it connects to this oneThe damaging myth of Homo Economicus -  how, when and why it started (and who it serves)How this fictional story ended up shaping……um…everything, including you.Why do stories matter anyway?If we humans aren’t self-interested, calculating, rational, logical beings...well, what are we like?How this story specifically affects our mental and planetary health todayWhat does Nature have to say about all this, and what 90's song reminds her of Homo Economicus?Question, comment, complaint, idea? You can contact me here. Thanks for being with me today. You rock. 

This episode discusses lying in the foetal position in a dark room and the desire to drink gin during the day while hiding under a duvet. Can you relate? ‘Normal’ life has become rather peculiar, what with all of the ecosystem-destroying and mental-health-shredding shenanigans that seem to prop up the economy. Join me as we explore:The stark contrast between "normal" and "natural"The many ways modern life has veered away from natural rhythms and balanceThe implications of our unnatural norms and how they shape our mental health and the planetWhat happens when we are out of sync with our inherent natureThe role of the individual (that’s you) and the role of everyone else when it comes to our disconnection and dissatisfactionMentioned:We’ve Made up What Mental Illness Is (And Who Decides What’s Normal Anyway?)"All Of This" (gestures around wildly) "Is Not in Our Nature"Feedback, questions, comments are welcome via email Get news, updates and nice things once a month or so, by joining my Friends List  Thanks for being with me. 

Looking for fascinating insights into the intersection of human behaviour and our planetary predicament? Curious about the connection between our stories and our systems? This one’s for you.My guest is Sarah Patterson: President of Common Earth, delightful human, and a catalyst for my own ecological awakening.Join us as we talk about:- The dual power of our incredible human gift of imagination—its ability to create and innovate, but also its potential to trap us in false or harmful narratives.- The importance of systems thinking in understanding, well… everything.- How our personal and collective stories shape our inner and outer worlds.- What this all has to do with our climate challenges and our own experiences of being human at this time.- How meaningful change really happens, no, reallyThis episode invites you to rethink your relationship with the world and your relationship with your own thinking. That sounds hard, but they go together beautifully.About Common Earth:  Common Earth offers education to help build a holistic understanding of the various forces involved in our current climate challenges. They have a series of unique and comprehensive learning programmes coming up, designed to deepen understanding of climate and socio-economic issues from a broad perspective. These courses are funded by Common Earth.  Next intake is early September, so check them out soon if you are interested:  https://commonearth.com/courses/Question, comment, idea for the show? Email [email protected] for joining us today you wonderful little bean.

Welcome to the first episode of In Our Nature, where we explore the invisible forces, currents and stories shaping our inner and outer worlds.In the episode today: - An intro to the pod, the questions we will ask and how it (and me) wants to serve you- Reflection on the shift from the Inner Peace & Other Cool Shit podcast and the natural evolution of the podcast’s themes.- Asking why are we so busy, anxious, and overwhelmed in a world full of time-saving technology?- The importance of context in shaping our experiences and understanding the world. How context influences our thoughts, beliefs, and the questions we ask.- Preview of upcoming themes: the role of thought in shaping our world, the invisible currents at play, and how to reconnect with what is truly in our nature.- Introducing the idea of the cosmological context pie - ....and I am joined by a very special guest who has some constructive feedback. If you would like to see yourself and the world a little more clearly, please join me for this new season. Feedback, questions, comments are welcome via [email protected]. Get news, updates and nice things by joining my Friends List: Siobhanfriel.com/subscribe. Thanks for being with me. 

Absolutely everything is interconnected in astonishing dynamic ways that we are only beginning to understand. The In Our Nature explores these connections, along with the unseen but profoundly influential currents, systems, cycles, patterns, stories, and constructs that shape both our inner lives and the world around us.Join me as we look beyond our personal experience and our individual thoughts and feelings,  to the place where environmental, societal, historical, ecological and mythological contexts meet and mingle with our mental health and planetary moment.The In Our Nature pod wants to shed light on the hidden connections and deeper patterns that are shaping this extraordinary time we are in, helping us see more clearly as we make our way forth. I hope you'll join me. 

Today's episode is asking you to check in with yourself to see if the podcasts, courses, books and so on are helping with your enjoyment of life and your journey of less anxiety and more peace.And if not? I’m offering you a sneaky exit. Join me to explore:Why you might want to leave behind the “helpful consumption” of solutions to anxiety and other feelings How real insights and epiphanies often come from lived experiences rather than theoretical understandingSigns you might be ready to just take what you have and get out there, including an overemphasis on understanding concepts before taking action, attempting to reconcile different ideas and paradigms and feeling the need to have an insight before making changes in lifeRealising you have a “magic car” and what that means for the ride of lifeOk, the above sounded like an icky cliche but I shall leave it in…And Anxious Alice says a wise thing Thanks for listening. You rock.

Today I am joined by Certified Change Coach, meditation teacher, loving mother and delightful human Rebecca Gardner.Becca guides people in transforming their relationship with their minds and came to the work she now does through her own journey of anxiety, overthinking and worry which many listeners may resonate with.Join us to explore:The role of thought in creating our fear of the future How an understanding of our minds might help when it comes to navigating longer term, enormous issues such as economic and climate breakdownThe inner compass and voice of wisdom that each of us hasRecognising, trusting and cultivating the wisdom of our children in particularThe nature of overwhelm …and much more, including musing on what a turtle might say is the secret to life. Find Becca at her website (https://www.themissingpeacecotswolds.com/) or Instagram @missingpeacecotswolds or on Insight Timer where she is a mentor and teacher: Got a question for an upcoming guest or a question, comment or idea about anything else? Email Siobhán at [email protected]. 

Today we're poking at the power of teeny, innocent-seeming words in creating enormous, perilous towers of thought stories. Join me to meander through:My research project on inner peace and how it led to a little tangent on the power of wordsHow seeing the creation of Big Collective Thought releases you from taking your personal, individual thought too seriouslyExploring how casual historical labels can shape our modern thinkingNoticing how the recency bias in historical narratives has implications on societal values and norms in the present day (including around productivity, anxiety and progress)Links between this and our individual experiences of inadequacy, stress, worry and overwhelm.The freedom that comes with recognising how thought patterns are shaped beyond your control - and how seeing your innocence in this can unclip you from your own inadequacies Several questionable analogies 'Nothingburger' is used on the show for the first timeAnxious Alice is in a sulk Mentioned:Episosde: We’ve Made up What Mental Illness Is (And Who Decides What’s Normal Anyway?)Episosde: Expanding the Conversation to Meet These Extraordinarily Precarious TimesEpisosde: How That Anxious, Restless, Unsettled Feeling Is Originally Created (Clue: It’s Nothing to Do with You)Email me with  questions, comments,  ideas or if you need support. Pop your name on my Friends List here for a monthly email with updates, news and suchlike.Thanks for listening. You're my favourite. 

In today's episode we are exploring how our concepts of mental health and illness are not fixed truths but socially constructed ideas. What’s normal and what’s not is made up via thought and is always changing. Those with a diagnosis that doesn’t feel quite right might especially like this episode, along with those who always feel a bit out of place or like they don’t fit in with ‘normal people’ (like me)Join me to meander through:My bent-double moment of laughing in the bathroom that inspired the episodeHow everything in society has “Rules” which are completely made up with our thoughts (but still have real-world implications) Who decides what’s ‘normal’ and what’s a disorder anyway, and why this mattersHow this relates specifically to anxiety disorders, panic disorders, eating disorders and moreWhy recognising the constructed nature of our diagnoses is pretty cool for personal and collective freedom.A few funnies from the pastAnd Anxious Alice has an insight around this in the realm of parenting Mentioned:If Books Could Kill - The RulesThe Rules book  Email me with  questions, commens or ideasPop your name on my Friends List here for a monthly email with updates, news and suchlike.Thanks for listening. You rock.

You know how we say that peace and wellbeing are our true nature? Well, have you ever wondered why we are living in times of perilous uncertainty, unprecedented inequality, lack of trust, and political, social and ecological breakdown, not to mention sustained war and conflict?Me too. This episode explains some upcoming modifications to the podcast and in the way I work, and I'll be sharing the education, lessons and insights that impelled the changes, mostly inspired by the above question. Join me to explore:- The quest which began as an innocent desire to get more of my to-do list done- How it morphed into a journey which would span the globe (kinda) and touch ecology, politics, history, anthropology, education, mythology, biology and more (and a fair bit of ornithology - birds are cool)- An illumination of the astonishing role of thought, from creating systems of oppression and destruction down to our the puddle of worry we feel before a work meeting- Why understanding the power of thought at a collective level is particularly useful and needed in these times. - How things are changing in the way I work and share as a result of my lessons and insights- And is Anxious Alice being made redundant?! Mentioned:I mentioned in the episode that I am coincidentally moving website and domain host providers and experiencing some downtime as result. If you want to respond to the episode or pop your name on my Friends List for updates as invited in the show, you can do that here in this google form for the time being. Thanks for being with me.

Tired? Yep. Seems many of us are struggling with tiredness as the speed of society gathers pace each year. This episode is about 34 minutes. Take a nap and we'll wake you at the end. There's nothing new here. You know it all already. You just don't like it (and me too).We'll explore: The increase in tiredness and exhaustion in modern society - is this a thing?My experience with tiredness (clue: I did not "coach" myself out of it or transcend tiredness through realisation or insight)What place does an understanding about the nature of thought have in a conversation about tiredness?Why resting is not as simple as it once was, and why we look beyond naps and sleep to our thoughts, instead, for relief and solutionsThe interconnectedness of all things and why this matters when we are tired (well - it always matters)Why understanding the interconnected relationship between mind, body, environment and society is crucialAnxious Alice gets fresh MentionedThe article I mention on The 18 Types of Rest We NeedThe previous episode discussing the role of society and institutionalised thought in influencing our own experiences: Episode 63: How That Anxious, Restless, Unsettled Feeling Is Originally Created (Clue: It’s Nothing to Do with You)AlsoPop on to my Friends List here if you want to hear from me every month-ish.

It's the first episode back after the summer break and I can't wait to talk about horrid feelings with you. Join me for an exploration on the birth and evolution of anxious, restless, unsettled feelings, and how understanding this helps ease their ickiness so we can return to peace.This episode will  meander through: A long intro vividly describing my anxious thought storm while on holiday A reminder of the relationship between thoughts and feelings and the outside worldWhen it's relevant to look at the content of thought itself, and how understanding this transforms our relationship to itAn expedition back through history to the origin of our horrid thoughts This will include mentions of anxiety, productivity, overwhelm, being busy, hustle culture, rest and moreHow understanding the creation and evolution of thoughts helps us see them as less personal, giving us more opportunity for freedom and ease Metaphors and comparisons include the climate and soil, soup and croutons and a couple of bad jokes Anxious Alice asks how this historical and evolutionary exploration of thought content reconciles with the orthodox orientation of 'looking upstream to the source of thought'.  Isn't she a wise little squirrel?  Pop on to my Friends List here for monthly-ish news, invites, updates and free things Question, comment, thought, idea, anything else? Contact me here. 

Join me to explore how we can answer our questions, solve our problems and get clarity and guidance from within.We often want to seek guidance and counsel from others when we're unsure of the way forward, but getting a feel for our own inner guide, and learning to trust it, can be transformative.Luckily, we humans are perfectly equipped with the features that guide us to clarity... although very few of us know or trust this.This episode will explore:Where do solutions and answers come from?What's your role in finding clarity (and what is most certainly NOT your role)?How there is no 'right way' to solve our problems and answer our questions ...but we'll explore some steps anyway as a jumping-off pointA bonus step for those that need a little extra rigour when it comes to understanding the nature of thoughtLots of metaphors including blueprints, ingredients and axe-man ice sculptures Anxious Alice has a cool insight Mentioned in the show:I'm on summer break! Back in 2024.Episode: Freedom From Anxiety Begins With This Unsexy Little WordEpisode: “We are Never Stuck... Life is Always Flowing" with Stephen LaddPop on to my Friends List here for monthly-ish news, invites, updates and free things (resuming in NZ autumn after the summer break mentioned in the show)Question, comment, thought, idea, anything else? Contact me here.

What an honour to have Sarah Armitage and Michelle McCartan as my special guests on the Inner Peace & Other Cool Shit podcast.Both Sarah and Michelle are masterful coaches and facilitators with their own practices working with leaders and organisations. In 2023 they came together to create Pure Potential, a unique offering designed to explore the limitless potential of humans through a shared developmental experience.Sarah and Michelle have a special synergy and I love knowing there are people like these two in the world.Please join us to explore:  The principles behind the work Sarah and Michelle do with leaders and organisations, and why their approach is particularly impactfulThe implications of these principles when it comes to realising our own experience of peace, ease and flow How to manage the ubiquity of labels and concepts in life Recognising the innate intelligence we all shareThe power of 'obviousness' when it comes to being guided in lifeHow some of these ideas might help communities, and why that even mattersWhere one might start exploring these ideas...and so, so much moreSarah and Michelle also make me laugh with delight  - and splutter with shocked speechlessness - with their clear and simple wisdom, and eloquent descriptions and reflections. They also offer an insightful and thoughtful response to a listener's question about a debilitating workplace culture. More about my guests:Michelle McCartan is a Leadership and Peak Performance Coach and Consultant who combines her expertise in organisational strategy, human potential and coaching to guide organisations, teams, communities and individuals to access their full potential and thrive.Sarah Armitage is an experienced coach and facilitator of cultural change who combines qualifications and experience in strategic Human Resources, psychology, organisational development, and system leadership. With over 20 years of coaching and facilitation experience and a clear grounding in how the mind works, she’s committed to helping people and teams wake up to their full potential and enjoy what they do.Over to you:Got a question you want answered by an upcoming guest? Pop me an email here.Comment, question, idea or anything else for me? Get in touch!For new things from me, updates about events, free stuff and other cool shit, be my friend here and get an email every month-ish.Thanks for hanging out with us today. You rock

I loved having Lisa Esile as my special guest on the Inner Peace & Other Cool Shit podcast. As well as being a writer and author, Lisa specialises in helping people navigate challenges, understand what their mind is really up to, and tap into their inner strengths and insights. Lisa is also the founder of the Do Nothing meditation school. She is also bloody delightful and I loved hanging out with her. This conversation lingered with me long after we said goodbye.Please join us to explore:  A heartfelt discussion on the incessant chatter of the mind and its desire to control, narrate and manage every darn thing Lisa’s "Year of Silence" experiment and the challenge of quieting the mindHow our pursuit of peace is impacted by the societal emphasis on constant productivityHow our inner calm is a lot closer than we think and how we need to do a lot less to uncover itHow intuition is an overlooked yet powerful force in a productivity-driven society that reveres intellectual analysisHow and why to tune in to your own inner voice Lisa also offers beautiful responses to questions about managing energy levels when one has a family, chronic illness and business, and how the themes that this episode (and show) are based on can even help with the global challenges we all face now. Mentioned in the showFor more Lisa, head to her website, read her book Whose Mind Is It Anyway? Get Out of Your Head and Into Your Life or pop over to the Do-Nothing Meditation School (which you can try for free)Got a question you want answered by an upcoming guest? Pop me an email here. Comment, question, idea or anything else for me? Get in touch!For new things from me, updates about events, free stuff and other cool shit, be my friend here and get an email every month-ish. Thanks for hanging out with us today. You rock 

Have you ever been musing on the inside-out nature of the human experience and thought..."Feelings come from thoughts, so you say? OK. Maybe. But my thoughts come from the problems in my life anyway. So how does all this stuff about understanding the human experience help me?"If so, me too! And many others. This episode is for you. We'll cover:YAY! My feelings aren't created by my job/partner/lack of worth - they are created by thoughts! But wait - my thoughts are created by those things - huh?Why it looks like thoughts are created by the outside world The habits and patterns that lock us into thatHow to see through the illusion of thought to experience less anxiety and more peaceThe 100% reliable help and guidance you have along the way (your feelings)Lots of metaphors including tea bags and tapsAnxious Alice has something to say Mentioned in the show:Episode 14: Thought: How to Use This Mind-Boggling SuperpowerEpisode 16: Catastrophising Is The Brain’s Love LanguagePop on to my Friends List here for monthly-ish news, invites, updates and free thingsQuestion, comment, thought, idea, anything else? Contact me here.Bye for now ✌🏼

I'm plucking a popular early episode out of the archives, dusting it off and serving it with a side of my fresh-this-morning opinion. Everything is always changing: out there in the world and inside you. Our thoughts, feelings, moods, perspectives, ideas, emotions, opinions and everything else are constantly on the move.For those that haven't heard this one, join me-from-ages-ago to explore:Why it SEEMS like we are stuck in life, and how it's actually impossible to actually BE stuckHow seeing the constantly changing nature of ....every darn thing ever!....helps us relate to anxiety, panic and overwhelm in a completely new wayHow to explore this more in your own life to find a new freedom  Anxious Alice makes up a new term (bucket-gazing)Also:What's your relationship style with your brain? Take the quiz and find out.Got a question, comment, idea or suggestion? Email me Wanna to hear from me every month/ish with new things? Pop your name onto my Friends List hereBack again soon with a new episode ✌🏼

Today we are taking a look at the cool clues and hidden hints in everyday life that point to our human design...and why we ignore them or miss them to live in suffering instead!Join me to explore:The incredible powers that we humans have available to us to heal from anxiety, stress and worry and live in more peace and calmThe everyday, hidden-in-plain-sight, ordinary clues surrounding us that can help us recognise and build trust in these powers Why we ignore the clues, or miss them, or not realise their significance How exploring this in your own life can help ease anxiety and worry, and help you reconnect with your innate peace and clarityWhat Anxious Alice has to say - she's super grumpy todayQuestion, comment, thought, idea, anything else? Contact me here.If you want the latest news, invites, free stuff and other bits and bobs all about the human experience, hop on to my Friends List here.Thanks for listening👂🏽

How wonderful to have Erika Bugbee as my special guest on the Inner Peace & Other Cool Shit podcast. Erika specialises in working with teens, young adults, and parents through her global coaching practice. She also trains and mentors practitioners, as well as speaking and presenting at international conferences about finding more resilience and peace of mind, and navigating stress and uncertainty. I loved hanging out with Erika; this conversation really illuminates the amazing way we humans find our way back from frenzied overthinking and anxiety. Please join us to explore:  The fresh way Erika works with young people and familiesHow seeing the 'wise person' beneath all the noise can change everything (and how to do it)The incredible design all humans have 'pre-installed', and how understanding this and recognising it in ourselves and each other is transformationalHow to truly deal with a problem by seeing it in a new wayInnocent 'parenting projections', overcompensating, and what to try insteadThe importance of recognising when you're in a reactive state and what the signs are (clue: everything feels impossible)How coming to peace with issues first allows for fresh resolutions and solutionsTo learn more about Erika visit: https://www.erikabugbee.com/  She has a small group program launching in October 2023: 'Well Being for Teens and Young Adults' launching in October 2023. Visit: https://www.ailacoats.com/3monthteenprogram for more. Got a question you want answered by an upcoming guest? Pop me an email here.For new things from me, updates about events, free stuff and other cool shit, be my friend here and get an email every month-ish. Thanks for hanging out with us today!

Please join me for the second part of our exploration into myths and misconceptions around having less anxiety and more peace. We'll cover:An example of my human brain being a silly billy recently A quick recap of common myths from  Anxiety Freedom: Big Fat Myths Debunked (Part 1)The myths and misconceptions you sent in (thanks to those who contributed)What these all have in common Why seeing this is helpful, especially for those that experience a lot of anxiety and overwhelmWhat Anxious Alice has to sayIf you love a blanket-rustling-infused audio experience, a hasty edit due to travel commitments, and a generous side-rant about the overuse of the word 'journey' - then you will especially love this episode (er, sorry).Mentioned in the show: The amazing Psychology Has It Backwards podcastPod episode: You’re The Best Person To Call Bullsh*t On All That Anxiety AdvicePod episode: Anxiety Freedom: Big Fat Myths Debunked (Part 1) If you want the latest news, invites, free stuff and other bits and bobs all about the human experience, hop on to my Friends List hereQuestion, comment, thought, idea, anything else? Contact me here.

I'm plucking a popular early episode out of the vault, dusting it off and serving it like an aged cheese. For those that haven't heard this one, join me-from-ages-ago to explore:The normal ways a brain behaves Why a brain being a brain is not a problem to be solved How understanding this can transform our relationship to anxiety, worrying and overthinkingWhat does Anxious Alice think about a brain being a brain? Is she even listening?Also, we possibly set a record for the number of times the word 'dog' is said in one podcast episodeWhat's your relationship style with your brain? Take the quiz at siobhanfriel.com/quizIf you experience a ton of negative thinking,  catastrophising, ruminating and unwanted comparison and judgement, then congratulations! You have a healthy human brain. YayBack again soon with a new episode. 

We humans love to match our feelings with a thing out there in the outside world, don't we? And no wonder - all of society is set up to reinforce that other people, events, things and situations cause our feelings. But what if that's not true? And what if seeing more around that can make us feel lighter and more at ease in life?Join me to explore- Why it looks like the outside causes our feelings on the inside- Why this might be the wrong way round entirely- The benefits and implications for not needing a reason for our feelings - How to playfully explore this for yourselfMentioned in the show:  Pod episode: Befriending Uncertainty A Little Bit Pod episode:  Anxiety Freedom: Big Fat Myths Debunked (Part 1)If you want the latest news, invites, free stuff and other cool shit all about the human experience, hop on to my Friends List hereQuestion, comment, thought, idea, anything else? Contact me here.

Hello dear friends. Come and join me for a few minutes as I explain why the publishing of the podcast has been interrupted (mostly blaming my cat and taking zero responsibility myself) Then I squeeze in a quick teaching moment about thoughts, before backing away again and letting you know the next episode will be out next week. Ok, that's it. I guess you don't need to listen after all. Mentioned: If you want, pop your name down for updates, events and news here or get in touch at [email protected] See you soon!

What an utter privilege and joy to have Dr William F. Pettit, Jr, MD ("Can I call you Bill?") as my special guest on the podcast. Dr Bill Pettit is a much-loved practitioner, mentor, teacher and guide in the space of the Three Principles, and a retired Adjunct Clinical Professor of Psychiatry. He has worked with many people from many countries over many decades (4!) helping them to realise their innate wellbeing and to live with ease and joy. Please join us to explore:  Bill's experience of depression before coming across the teachings which would transform his life, and the lives of his psychiatry patients and everyone he would work withThe one cause and one cure of mental unrestHow gaining a deeper understanding of the system of life and our  human experience can lead to transformation,The incredible effects of recognising the gifts of our power of thought and divine nature ...and so many other topics, laughs, stories and a question from a listenerBill's website is here and a search of his name in your favourite search engine will bring up many interviews and videos.Got a question you want answered by an upcoming guest? Pop me an email here.Want updates about events, free stuff and other cool shit? Be my friend here and get an email every 3-weeks-ish-kinda-sometimesThanks for hanging out with us today!

Us humans seem to think that a journey to less anxiety and more peace will look a certain way. But that’s utter rubbish. We think there’s a path to follow, and that path will have a certain timeline and certain steps and will feel a certain way. Poppycock! Come with me as we explore the common myths we encounter when we look in the direction of anxiety freedom. We’ll see why these myths even exist (clue: it’s our human brains!) and poke at them a bit to shake out the truth. We’ll do a second part in a few episodes' time, giving you the chance to submit your own. Pop me an email at [email protected] if you suspect you’ve been innocently believing a myth about anxiety freedom and inner peace. Mentioned in the show: The fabulous Wyn MorganThe amazing Amanda Jones Pod episode: Should We Try to Manage, Control or Change Our Thoughts?Pod episode: Where Do Those Crappy Thoughts Come From Anyway?If you want the latest news, invites, free stuff and other cool shit all about the human experience, hop on to my Friends List hereQuestion, comment, thought, idea, anything else? Contact me here.