The Breathe Like A Badass Podcast

This week, I’m talking to Charlotte Faure Green, a registered nutritional therapist who specialises in anxiety, stress, life burnout and sleep disorders.

Her approach is science and research-lead. It’s science - but with a cuddle.

As a chronic illness and burnout survivor she has walked the path herself, and intimately understands the challenges of staying well in body and mind in our fast-paced world.

She advocates real-world sustainable changes, focusing on getting the right things into your diet rather than stripping away the things that you love.

We also talked about how none of us are perfect when it comes to food and health, and how Charlotte stays healthy while juggling life as a business owner, mum, partner, night owl, and busy human!

In this episode, we talked about:

• What to eat to ease anxiety and feel happier
• Why there is no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to eating and health, and how to find out what really works for you
• Why demonising any food group or type of food is never the right approach
• Why intermittent fasting might not be the best choice for people with anxiety
• How to totally reframe your view on food, exercise, healthy eating, and your relationship with your mind and body
• The emotional side of eating, and how to navigate it while staying healthy
• How to stop seeing exercise or fasting as “punishment” for eating food you love
• How to prioritise vitality and health instead of weight loss

And...the perfect breakfast routine and the best time to drink coffee (no, you do not have to give it up unless you want to!)
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This week, I’m talking to Sofia Latif, founder of Sofia Latif Oils, a “pro-aging”, award-winning vegan skincare and wellbeing company, which gives women the confidence to show off their skin and hair as these change with age.

Sofia’s approach to beauty helps women to build a kinder relationship with themselves, and uses 100% pure plant oils and nothing else that are selected for their nourishing, regenerating, and anti-inflammatory powers.

We also talked about the glorious TV trash that is Selling Sunset, our mutual love of houseplants and obsession with home decoration shows (obviously).

In this episode, we talked about:

• Sofia’s journey from having stress-related eczema on her face and suffering from a real drop in confidence, to transforming her skin and outlook using oils, and starting a business to help others do the same
• How to embrace your skin and hair no matter what stage of life you’re at, and how to be “pro-aging” - because frankly, the alternative to aging is a heck of a lot worse, let’s be real
• How to create your own, daily mindful skincare ritual using beautiful oils that smell and feel wonderful, and carve out your own de-stressing evening routine
• How taking care of your skin and hair can help improve your relationship with yourself
• How to look at yourself the way you would a friend - with kindness, and no judgement
• And the importance of finding the balance between taking care of your skin and hair and seeing it as a barometer for health - but not getting obsessed or negatively caught up in it
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This week, I’m talking to Becki Freeman, founder of Lagom Finance. She offers accountancy services for female led businesses who want control, clarity and peace of mind over their finances.

We also chatted about the glories of trashy Netflix show Selling Sunset, and why talking about money is best served with cheese and wine...

Oh, and FYI, “lagom” is a Swedish word which loosely translates as “just the right amount”. We talk about why this is such a great way to think about your finances later in the episode!

In this episode, we talked about:

• Becki’s journey from working as a full-time accountant - with all the stereotypical images that entails - to setting up Lagom Finance and working in a “female-led” way
• What a “female-led” accountancy firm looks like, and what that means for you as a founder and businesswoman
• Why understanding and planning your own finances is KEY to running a successful business, no matter what stage of business you’re at, whether you’re side hustling on your kitchen table or looking to scale up your global empire
• The most common blocks and mindset struggles female entrepreneurs often have around money, and practical steps on how to change that
• Why buying your head in the sand about your debt and taxes is NOT the best business strategy - and what to do instead
• What it means to “charge what you’re worth” and how to price your services and products in a way that works for you
• Busting myths on money identity and what it even means to be “bad” or “good” with money
• And the parallels between building a rock-solid business mindset routine and having a great relationship with money
  

This week, I’m talking to Becky Wong, a remote-working digital nomad, business manager, freelance writer, and the founder of digital nomad blog, Project Anywhere.

Becky started Project Anywhere to champion and support others who are on the road to remote work or running remote businesses.

She encourages you to choose your own “work adventure” and to show the multitude of colourful paths that you could go on – both in your work or in your personal life – that could end up taking you to absolutely anywhere (even in a post-Covid world)!

This conversation was wide-ranging, funny, and most importantly, in these difficult times, hopeful! May it inspire you to go on your very own career adventure, whether that involves planning a post-Covid trip or simply working from home however suits you!

In this episode, we talked about:

• Becky’s journey from long-time Londoner to digital nomad
• How to become a digital nomad and/or remote worker - even if you’re still in your 9-to-5 and have no idea where to start
• How digital nomadism and remote working is changing post-Covid, and why it can still work for everyone, regardless of job, circumstances, income, age or lifestyle
• How to overcome fear of failure when changing your life, and how to get comfortable with uncertainty
• What the best co-working communities are and how to find your people, wherever you go and whatever you do
• How to make work fit into your life, and not the other way around - and how to navigate the unexpected mindset blocks that come with that
• Becky’s own mindset habits that keep her sane and feeling at home no matter where she is

Plus, the joys of mountain views, rescue dogs, and vegan cooking!

This week, I’m talking to Tamsin Williamson, an accredited Transformational Life Coach and mum-of-two, who goes by the name The Parenthood Coach.

Tamsin is passionate about supporting unfulfilled Mums who are stuck in a professional rut and feel confused about who they are and what they want from life since becoming a parent.

Through 1:1 coaching she helps her clients find more direction, confidence, balance and fulfilment, and empowers them to create a life where career and parenthood work in harmony.

This conversation was warm, open and honest - and I hope that it will offer some real food for thought, whether you’re already a parent, about to become one, thinking about it, or maybe simply have friends who have kids, and want a little insight into their lives and how you might support them better through the struggles and triumphs that come from such a life-changing experience as having children.

In this episode, we talked about:

• Tamsin’s story from finding that her long-time marketing and events job sparked conflict with her new identity as a parent, and how she navigated that difficult realisation
• Why having kids doesn’t mean you have to lose your identity as a human or a woman, and how to combine all of those different parts
• How to deal with “mum guilt” and shame over not being perfect as a mother or a human - and why there’s no such thing as perfect anyway!
• The biggest parenthood myths that need to be busted, like, right now
• How to ask for help, and why it’s so important to find time for yourself - even if only for a few minutes a day

This conversation was warm, open and honest - and I hope that it will offer some real food for thought, whether you’re already a parent, about to become one, thinking about it, or maybe simply have friends who have kids, and want a little insight into their lives and how you might support them better through the struggles and triumphs that come from such a life-changing experience as having children.

This week, I’m talking to Justine Hwang, an advocate for self-care, a social impact calligrapher, and a multi passionate entrepreneur. 

As a burnout survivor with 20 years of experience in leadership development in the non-profit start up world, she is passionate about empowering compassionate doers to build a sustainable life with intention.

After burning out from a life of saying yes to everything, she revisited her childhood love of calligraphy and discovered its therapeutic nature in her recovery.

As the founder of It Just Flows, she now hosts creative workshops teaching calligraphy as a tool for mindfulness, where she holds space for people to connect with themselves, and the community.

In this episode, we talked about

• Her story as a daughter of immigrants, to high-achieving student, to burnout and depression survivor who was once too busy to plan her own birthday party...to how she became a social impact calligrapher
• The value and power of being a beginner, and why it’s so important to embrace being “bad” at something before you can be good at it
• How to overcome perfectionism and make your art part of your imperfect, creative and everyday identity and personality
• How to use comparison in a positive way as fuel for change - and how to stop it becoming toxic and negative
• How she rebuilt her life after her job fell apart, a major relationship ended, and a friend was admitted to hospital, all in the same year
• Why you do NOT need to turn your artistic hobby into a side-hustle if you don’t want to
• And how to use art, calligraphy and expressive writing to get back in touch with yourself, feel your emotions, and support yourself through life’s major transitions and difficult times
   

We also talked about the value of trashy TV, and why even coaches and so-called “experts” still struggle with the stuff they help other people to do (which is extremely relatable, let me tell you!).

This episode was incredibly inspiring - it made me want to go and get all my paints and fancy pens out and start throwing stuff down on paper to see what sticks - and it was such a joy to learn from Justine’s honesty, creativity, and insight.

This week, I’m talking to Glory-Anne Jones, a certified hypnotherapist who helps women through difficult patches in their life.

No matter the transformation they are going through - whether career issues, fear around pregnancy or self-worth crises - Glory-Anne helps women who feel lost, stressed, and alone to walk the path of personal transformation, and claim their true place in their own life.

This episode was honest, insightful and incredibly calming - Glory-Anne has a way of combining difficult mental concepts with practical tips, and is such a warm and open presence that I could not help but feel empowered and encouraged by her work and way with words.

We also began the conversation with a brilliant discussion about ice cream, sorbet, and the difference between UK and US “sherbet” - as Glory-Anne recorded this podcast outside on her deck in beautiful sunshine. Bliss!

In this episode, we talked about

• Dispelling the myths of hypnotherapy - what it is, what it isn’t, and how it can help you in your everyday life
• How to understand how the beliefs and experiences you had in childhood continue to affect you now - and how to overcome them with grace and forgiveness
• How to let go of what’s weighing you down, and move ahead with courage
• How to lead your life more with your heart, and not getting so stuck in your own head
• How to use your understanding of your own past and subconscious beliefs to move forward confidently into your future
• Why good breathing and the breath is so key to hypnotherapy - in the same way as meditation and mindfulness - and how to use it to best effect
• How to see hypnotherapy as something you can use in your daily life, and stop if from being something intimidating or inaccessible
• How hypnotherapy can be another powerful tool in your emotional toolbox to deal with real-world difficulties and upheaval - even in today’s challenging times
  Glory-Anne’s own habits as a teacher and female entrepreneur that keep her healthy and happy and sane

  And why being a freedom-seeking, female entrepreneur is such a rebellious act!

This week, I’m talking to Chelsea Galicia, a financial coach and author of the book S.A.V.E. Yourself: Develop the Financial Fitness to Spend in Alignment with your Values, not Ego.

Chelsea is really honest about how she doesn’t have an inspiring rags-to-riches story. In her own words, she wasn't just comfortable growing up, she had a front row view to the building of a mini empire.

She saw what it took to run profitable multi-million dollar businesses but on the flip side, she saw the darker sides of success, up close and personal.

Today, Chelsea teaches small and solo business owners how to operate profitable companies that honor and align with their values, not with their ego.

Chelsea tells the truth about money and happiness - what gets in the way, and what it takes to maximize both of them.

She's also a lawyer, but her proudest legal-career move was leaving the law firm that the empire was built upon, and doing her own thing.

Chelsea is warm, open, honest and genuinely helped bring clarity, compassion - and real practical advice! - to the topic of money and finances, which I find is so often cloaked in shame and secrecy.

In this episode, we talked about

• How she made the move from law firm to financial coach, with a little help from Oprah
• Why figuring out your relationship with money is SO crucial, both for your personal life, and your business
• How to spend mindfully with intuition, and what that really means
• How to combine the practical and economic side of money with the important spiritual and emotional side that most people miss
• How your early experiences shape your relationship with money now (and how to fix that)
• Why being “rich”, and just having "more", isn’t enough to give you financial success
• How to become financially fit with the help of meditation and mindfulness, and figure out what success really means to you
• Why being mindful about money doesn’t mean “the end of fun” and constantly worrying about it all the time
• How to spend in alignment with your values

This week, I’m talking to Natasha Tiwari, an award-winning psychologist, entrepreneur and mentor investor, who has trained with some of the greats, including the one and only Brené Brown, and Deepak Chopra.

She is also a licensed psychotherapist and yoga teacher, and she combines her command of strategy with her knowledge of neuroscience, the unconscious mind and ancient wisdom, to propel her own entrepreneurial successes, and the successes of those who she counsels and mentors.

She has been featured by major publications including BBC World, Glamour, GQ, Marie Claire, The Telegraph, The Guardian, The London Evening Standard, and has guest lectured at the University of Oxford and University College London.

This conversation was a real joy, and I am genuinely surprised at how much juicy, honest and important issues we covered in 90 minutes.

In this episode, we talked about

• Natasha’s story from super-ambitious student to burnout survivor, and learning how to combine her spirituality with high performance goals
• How to be unapologetically-ambitious and enjoy the finer side of life, without losing your spiritual side
• Why getting into a state of “flow” allows you to do difficult things in life more easily (and how to do that)
• How to discover - and allow yourself to come back to - who you really are, underneath the noise
• How our experiences - and those of our generations before us - shape who we are, and how to heal ourselves from generational and historical trauma
• How “slowing down” in life can actually allow you to really “speed up” and reach  your goals quicker
• Why you deserve nice things and good things - no matter what
• How to set yourself boundaries, even if you’re busier than you’ve ever been
• What active allyship looks like - for white women and WOC
• The whitewashing of wellness and appropriation, and how to avoid it

This week, I’m talking to Jessi Beyer, a speaker, mental health advocate, and bestselling author of How To Heal: A Practical Guide To Nine Natural Therapies You Can Use To Release Your Trauma.

Jessi is on a mission to help those around her feel valid, heard, and appreciated in their mental health struggles and design lives they love waking up to.

Jessi has been featured in dozens of media outlets, including Best Company, Thrive Global, and Elite Daily, and has spoken to thousands of people across the US at colleges and schools..

Outside of her professional life, she is a canine search and rescue handler and a proud pet mom.

In this episode, we talked about:

This week, I’m talking to Quinn Tempest.

Quinn is an entrepreneur, speaker, brand strategist and founder of the Create Your Purpose Collective, and the Create Your Purpose philosophy, which is an entire system designed to help entrepreneurs create true meaning and impact through their life and business.

In this episode, we began with a chat about the power and creativity of bright colours - which we both absolutely love - and our conversation just got bigger and better from there!

In this episode, we talked about:

This week, I’m talking to Jo Hooper, the founder of the Mad and Sad Club.

In her own words, Jo started grappling with her mental health in 2017, but before that had been developing a wildly unhealthy relationship with work for….ever.

Two breakdowns, three therapists, countless books, podcasts, pills and walks later, she spent two years trying to manage her mental health alongside a job as Head of Communications, and she was exhausted - and, as she says, had become a bit of an expert in being mad at work.

After 11 years in communications, she set up the Mad and Sad Club in 2019, and her mission is to help people manage their mental health at work so they can not just survive, but thrive.

In this episode, we talked about:

In the past two weeks, there has been only one topic on the agenda, and one important question on my mind: Racism - and how can we - as white people - listen, learn, and do better? 

In this episode, I explain why I chose not to take part in #BlackoutTuesday and why I have not been silent on what some may see as a difficult or divisive issue. Not because I'm trying to "show" how anti-racist I am. That's performative and unhelpful.

But because I truly believe in the power of meditation as a tool to offer insight into our lives and minds, even when it’s hard, or uncomfortable.

I truly believe that meditation has a serious role to play in helping us all to get quiet, to get still, to listen, to learn, and to sit with the discomfort that many of us (white people) are feeling this week, about our role and accidental complicity in what is still an inherently racist society.

This episode covers:

This week, I'm talking to Fiona Thomas, a freelance writer based in Birmingham.

Her first book is a mental health memoir called Depression in a Digital Age and her second is a guide to freelancing called Out of Office (available to pre-order now!).

In this episode, we dig deep on how to navigate the world of work when you have mental health issues - or even if you’re just a normal, living, breathing, emotional human! - and how and why so many women have finally decided that being their own boss is preferable to office politics and business burnout.

We talked about: 

• Fiona’s journey from being signed off with depression and burnout at work, to finding a new career online and making a living as a writer and course creator
• How adulthood is so often about “unlearning” everything we thought we were “supposed” to be doing
• How to be yourself at work - or, how to start a new career in freelancing, even if you feel as though you’re not good enough, not ready, or not qualified
• How to show up as yourself online, and how being honest helps others to live their purpose too
• Giving yourself permission to dream big
• The problem with “toxic positivity” and why we all need to learn to just “feel our feelings”
• Learning to know yourself, whether you’re introverted or extroverted or somewhere in between

And how to make your work work for you...and not the other way around!

Show Notes: References and links mentioned in this episode

• Fiona’s books: Depression in a Digital Age and Out of Office
• Quote from Anais Nin: “And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.”
• The book Mad Girl, by Bryony Gordon
• The book Ctrl; Alt; Delete, by Emma Gannon
• Trigger Publishing, Fiona’s publisher
• The book Quiet by Susan Cain

Find out more about Fiona:

• Website: Fionalikestoblog.com
• Instagram: @fionalikestoblog

Enjoying this podcast?

The best way to support us is to leave a good rating + review wherever you're listening, and share it on Instagram.

Take a screenshot of your listening, or share your favourite takeaway and DM and tag me at @breathelikeabadass . 

Sharing + reviewing helps even more like-minded people to discover the show - which is awesome, because this stuff always feels easier when you know others who get it too.

Can't wait to see you there!

Thanks for listening, Hannah x

NEW SOLO EPISODE YAY! Let me know what you think about these episodes! I have more interviews coming, but this is a new format.

This week, I'm talking all about why it's so important to NOT live by other people's rules - including some life lessons from the singer Adele, and the comedian and badass Hannah Gadsby.

Obviously, there are some rules that we have to follow or we’ll end up in jail. But I’m talking about the invisible rules. The rules and expectations and “shoulds” and “have to’s”.

Often we don’t even know where these rules come from, but we “know” - somehow, for whatever reason - that we absolutely must follow them.

And honestly? They can feel like their own kind of jail.

Here's why (and how!) we can (and should!) learn to ignore other people's unhelpful opinions, and how to blaze your own trail and do whatever the hell you truly want in life, instead.

It might just set you freeeee (even if you can't go out).

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New podcast sections! YAY

Our book of the week is The Comparison Cure by the brilliant Lucy Sheridan (@lucysheridan).

The post of the week is by Jo at @madandsadclub, all about why it's OK to make work easy, and why working yourself to burnout is not a good idea or a badge of honour!

The article of the week is from The Guardian, called "The lockdown paradox: why some people's anxiety is improving during the crisis". Read it here.

Enjoying this podcast?

The best way to support us is to leave a good rating + review wherever you're listening, and share it on Instagram.

Take a screenshot of your listening, or share your favourite takeaway and DM and tag me at @breathelikeabadass . 

Sharing + reviewing helps even more like-minded people to discover the show - which is awesome, because this stuff always feels easier when you know others who get it too.

Can't wait to see you there!

Thanks for listening, Hannah x

This week, I'm talking to Susie Weaver, founder of the successful lifestyle blog, So Happy In Town / S.H.I.T, and a passionate advocate for mental health.

Susie is now running her second #itsoktofeelshit campaign for youth mental health charity YoungMinds UK, following the huge success of the first one, and is selling S.H.I.T tee-shirts and bags with 100% of the profit going to YoungMinds.

Susie does amazing work with YoungMinds and The Black Dog Co to help both children and adults to realise that it’s OK to feel S.H.I.T. - and how and why talking about it isn’t weakness, but actually a sign of strength.

In our brilliant conversation, we also talked about:

- What happens next - after you’ve had the courage to talk about it
- Why comparing your feelings to others, or telling yourself “others have it worse so how dare I feel so crap?” is so damaging
- And how to deal with the ups, downs, and downright bizarre emotional rollercoaster of quarantine and lockdown life  

The podcast has been on a bit of a break recently, but we're back with a bang, baby! 

Content warning: Swearing, mental health issues, depression and anxiety in children, brief mention of suicide ideation.

Enjoying this podcast?

The best way to support us is to leave a good rating + review wherever you're listening, and share it on Instagram.

Take a screenshot of your listening, or share your favourite takeaway and DM and tag me at @breathelikeabadass . 

Sharing + reviewing helps even more like-minded people to discover the show - which is awesome, because this stuff always feels easier when you know others who get it too.

Can't wait to see you there!

Thanks for listening, Hannah x

In this second solo, experimental "Live" episode, I round up three of my favourite mindful tips to reclaim your ambition, give yourself permission to WANT what you want, and in doing so, finally start to GET what you really want in life. 

The 3 mindful ways:

• It's actually OKAY to want what you want in life (even if no-one else gets it, it doesn't seem "logical" or you think you don't deserve it)
• Learn to tune in with yourself to answer the questions: How do I feel, and what do I really need and want?
• Break your goals down into tiny, manageable habits, using meditation as your model.

Enjoying this podcast?

The best way to support us is to leave a good rating + review wherever you're listening, and share it on Instagram.

Take a screenshot of your listening, or share your favourite takeaway and DM and tag me at @breathelikeabadass . 

Sharing + reviewing helps even more like-minded people to discover the show - which is awesome, because this stuff always feels easier when you know others who get it too.

Can't wait to see you there!

Thanks for listening, Hannah x

In a new, experimental "Live" episode for 2020 (bear with me, I'm still figuring out the sound quality!) I tackle one of the biggest issues of this time of year, when everyone is making new resolutions and setting new massive goals: How to deal with New Year overwhelm.

Here are 4 of my best, mindfulness-based tips to help you make your dreams reality - and feel peaceful, not panicked as we go into 2020 (OMG, it sounds so futuristic!).

The 4 mindful tips:

• Break your goals down into tiny, daily actions - which bring you back to the here and now
• Choose "a word for 2020", that really makes you "feel into" your goal, so you can get out of overthinking
• Pick goals - or reframe your existing ones - that make you feel excited, not heavy
• The most crucial one: Remember that you are good enough, just as you are, and that the "success" or "failure" of your goals does not equal your self-worth as a human being!

Show Notes: References and links mentioned in this episode

• My meditation teacher, Lodro Rinzler: His Instagram account and post I mentioned is here!
• The saying: "You are complete, you're just not finished": from Liza Kindred at @liza_k and @effthismeditation (who was also my guest on Season 2, Episode 2)
• Book - The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse by Charlie Mackesy

Which of these points resonated most with you?

Remember to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss out, and if you enjoyed this episode, please Rate + Review the podcast wherever you listen, and share on Instagram, tagging me @breathelikeabadass.

It helps spread the word and helps others discover it - which is awesome, because this stuff always feels easier when you know others who get it too.

Thanks so much for listening!

In this short and sweet episode, I close out Season 2 with a round up of my all-time favourite bits from each episode this season.

Doing this podcast is one of my favourite things EVER, and I could not let Season 2 go without saying THANK YOU to each and every single one of my brilliant guests, and also to each and every single one of my listeners, who are truly the founding members of this little baby community. I love you all.

In this episode, I round up each of the 10 episodes of Season 2, and explore some of my favourite takeaways and learnings from my absolutely badass guests - some of whom I never imagined I would possibly be speaking to, back when they were just names on my "dream guests but never gonna happen" list.

May this serve as a sweet reminder of the Season, remind you of some moments of genius from my guests, or give you a real reason to go back and check out the episodes you didn't quite get around to!

Which of these points resonated most with you?

Remember to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss out, and if you enjoyed this episode, please Rate + Review the podcast wherever you listen, and share on Instagram, tagging me @breathelikeabadass.

It helps spread the word and helps others discover it - which is awesome, because this stuff always feels easier when you know others who get it too.

Thanks so much for listening!

This week I’m talking to the very brilliant Salomé Gómez-Upegui, the founder of the online magazine and IRL community Mindful Feminism.

Salomé believes that no one should ever have to choose between liberation, happiness, and well-being, and through Mindful Feminism, she works to help women remember that.

In addition to her role at Mindful Feminism, Salomé serves as a Women’s Leadership consultant for distinguished organisations around the world, and she also happens to hold a Bachelors in Law from Universidad de Los Andes in Colombia, and a Masters in Law from Harvard Law School.

Yeah! There’s no denying that Salomé is one seriously intelligent badass, not to mention a hugely warm and patient presence and it was a total honour to have her on the show.

As usual, we covered a heck of a lot of ground, but we especially focused on:

• Her journey towards discovering meditation, and what it meant to ask the scary question - after years of high-powered law school - is this making me happy?
• Her journey towards discovering feminism - and how it gave her the courage to leave an abusive relationship
• How feminism and mindfulness interconnect as life saving tools
• Busting myths on feminists (e.g. “They’re all just angry bitches”. Spoiler - we’re not)
• Self-care as activism, and the power of working on our  own happiness as a way to stop harmful comparison with other people
• How to challenge people with different - or even offensive - views without always fighting (and ruining dinner parties!)
• Tackling guilt over “not doing enough”, and how to meditate even when you have no time
• And how to put self-love at the heart of your feminism, and make it relevant to significant, real life situations - such as leaving bad relationships, changing career, or getting married

At a time when politics is extremely divided, when women’s rights are being threatened around the world, and “feminism” still seems like a dirty word to some, it was absolutely fascinating and vital to have this conversation, and I am so honoured that Salomé was able to distill these often-complex and deeply personal issues down for us to consider.

It was also, to be quite honest, a total joy to chat to someone who feels just as passionately as I do about the genuine, global importance of both feminism and meditation.

Show Notes: References and links mentioned in this episode

• Instagram account I discovered Mindful Feminism through: @effthismeditation by Liza Kindred at @liza_k (who was also my guest on Season 2, Episode 2)
• Quote - “The truth will set you free - but first it will piss you off.” - Gloria Steinem 
• Quote - “We’re not human beings having a spiritual experience. We’re spiritual beings having a human experience.” - Wayne Dyer
• Quote - “A rising tide lifts all ships.” - John F. Kennedy
• Quote - "You can’t pour from an empty cup.” - Eleanor Brown
• Quote - "Feminism is about letting women do whatever the hell they wanna do with their lives." - Salomé Gómez-Upegui
• Book - We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
• Book - Wherever You Go, There You Are: Mindfulness meditation for everyday life, by Jon Kabat-Zinn

Find out more about Salomé and Mindful Feminism:

• Website: MindfulFeminism.com
• Instagram: @mindfulfeminism

Which of these points resonated most with you?

Remember to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss out, and if you enjoyed this episode, please Rate + Review the podcast wherever you listen, and share on Instagram, tagging me @breathelikeabadass.

It helps spread the word and helps others discover it - which is awesome, because this stuff always feels easier when you know others who get it too.

Thanks so much for listening!

This week I spoke to Dr. Aishah Muhammad, a medical doctor and qualified personal trainer based in the UK.

She coaches busy professional women on improving their lifestyle to help them attain their weight loss and health goals.

Aishah teaches her clients to say goodbye to restrictive diets and nightmarish hours on the treadmill as they eliminate stress, improve their mindset and develop better sleep habits that benefit not only them, but also their family and everyone around them.

In this conversation, we focused on sleep, and dug deep into why it's so crucial for our overall health, focus, and happiness - and why it so often gets forgotten in today’s busy, always-on, screen-filled society.

We talked about:

• Why sleep is just as - if not more - important than other healthy habits such as meditation, exercise, and eating good food
• How your anxiety, depression, irritability, lack of focus, and sugar and carb cravings could be linked to your sleep - and how to improve them
• How understanding the neuroscience of this stuff stops you beating yourself up for bad habits
• Negative stereotypes around sleep - such as the idea that all “successful” people wake up at 5am, or that night owls are just lazy, and early birds are boring
• How to get more sleep no matter your biology or schedule
• Why “catching up on sleep at the weekend” is a massive myth (and what to do about that)
• How sleep is connected to our hormones - and the best time to drink coffee
• And why napping and lie-ins could be the best thing you could do for your health (Win!)

This was such a brilliant, science-backed conversation that showed just how interlinked our daily habits are when it comes to improving our overall health, focus, mood and happiness.

There are so many parallels between the practice of meditation, and the routine of getting a great night’s sleep, and it was so encouraging to have this super-useful, insightful conversation on the thing that we all need, but so many of us just do not prioritise as much as we could.

There are practical tips too - and no, you don’t have to give up coffee (thank god)!

Show Notes: References and links mentioned in this episode

• Book: Why We Sleep: The New Science of Sleep and Dreams by Matthew Walker (MUST READ!)
• Blue light blocking glasses to block screens before bedtime
• Quote from Aishah: "Sleep helps us to be a better version of ourselves."

Find out more about Dr. Aishah Muhammad:

• Website: TheWayToWeightLoss.com
• Facebook: @thewaytoweightloss
• Instagram: @thewaytoweightloss

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This week, I have the great privilege of talking to Tim Desmond, a psychotherapist, mindfulness and self-compassion teacher, student of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, and author of the brilliantly-named book, How to Stay Human in a F*cked Up World (HarperOne, 2019).

As co-founder of the Morning Sun Mindfulness Center in New Hampshire, in the US, Tim specialises in helping people to use mindfulness in a way that allows us to face, feel, and contemplate what is painful in life (and the wider world), without letting ourselves be poisoned by it.

In today’s times of great political division, unrest, and climate emergency, and at a time when Western mindfulness often faces a lot of criticism for being an insular, privileged practice that has been co-opted as just another productivity tool that helps us "numb out", Tim’s work is absolutely vital.

It shows us how actually, meditation can heighten our compassion to the suffering, global issues, and political divisions around us - without becoming overcome with apathy, relativism, overwhelm or burnout.

We talked about: 

• Tim’s journey towards finding meditation, and following his mentor Thich Nhat Hanh from monastery to monastery
• The real meaning of self-compassion, and the idea that it IS possible to be happy in life
• How to use compassion not only for ourselves, but to help serve other people
• Why Western meditation so often seems to miss out this crucial element - and how to get it back
• How to be politically active, sensitive, and aware to suffering, without burning out
• Why it’s okay to use the F word when talking about spirituality
• And how to create a meditation practice that helps you forgive yourself, and really works for you

This was one of the most fascinating - and surprisingly practical - conversations I’ve ever had, and it was such an honour and relief (frankly) to hear Tim explain how meditation can help us even in the most troubled of times.

Show Notes: References and links mentioned in this episode

• Tim’s book: How To Stay Human In A F*cked Up World (HarperOne, 2019)
• Definition: Bodhicitta
• Thich Nhat Hanh’s books, including The Miracle of Mindfulness; The Sun, My Heart; Peace Is Every Step; Understanding Our Mind; Zen Keys, At Home In The World
• Quote from Tim: “It is possible to face up to what’s painful in life, without being poisoned by it.”

Find out more about Tim Desmond and How To Stay Human In A F*cked Up World:

• Website: TimDesmond.net
• Facebook: @timdesmondauthor
• Twitter: @timdesmond

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Thanks so much for listening!

Ruth Newton is the founder of The Anti-Hustle Project, a website and community dedicated to exploring what business and life look like without constant striving and hustle. 

She’s passionate about encouraging people to trust their capability to do things in their own way, at their own pace.

This episode is really dear to my heart, because it goes right back to the exact culture, pressure and societal expectations that have plagued me my whole life, and led me to quit my 9 to 5 job and start Breathe Like A Badass in the first place. 

We talked about: 

• The online “hustle culture” and how it can - and does - lead to burnout
• Saying no to “presenteeism” in the workplace, and seeing “busy as a badge of honour”
• What being “anti-hustle” really means, and how to work less while still being ambitious
• Rejecting the idea that “the more you work, the more you get”
• Privilege in online business, and being super-honest about how we make our money
• Getting to know yourself and being unapologetic about what’s really important to you
• Bucking society’s expectations of how our whole lives should look
• And what it truly means to design and build a life you want - the good, bad, and the ugly!

This is a super-chilled, honest, and unapologetic conversation, and I love how Ruth is totally open to discussing money, expectations, privilege, and what it really means to do what YOU want in life. 

If you’ve ever struggled with the constraints of the 9 to 5, wondered why society is obsessed with “working to live”, and not the other way round - and ever pushed against other people’s expectations of how you “should” live and work - then this episode is for you.

Show Notes: References and links mentioned in this episode

• The blogpost I wrote on The Anti-Hustle Project - A Mindful Approach to Anti-Hustle Living
• The Myers-Briggs / 16 Personalities test
• Sara Tasker at @me_and_orla on Instagram, and her book, Hashtag Authentic

Find out more about Ruth Newton and The Anti-Hustle Project:

• Website: antihustle.co.uk
• Instagram: @theantihustleproject

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It helps spread the word and helps others discover it - which is awesome, because this stuff always feels easier when you know others who get it too.

Thanks so much for listening!

This week I’m speaking to Meredith Whitely, a mindful eating guide & meditation teacher who uses chocolate as her main teaching tool (I KNOW. Dream. Job.)

Meredith helps people eat and live in a more mindful way through her meditation sessions and homemade chocolate products. She weaves chocolate - especially hot chocolate! - through her work to bring mindfulness to life in a delicious way. 

As a long-term sufferer of stress-aggravated Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Meredith also focuses on sharing simple tools for managing physical and mental stress more effectively.

Chocolate and mindfulness are two of my all-time favourite things, so I was super-excited to speak to Meredith - but as with so many of these episodes, we also went so much deeper than that!

We covered: 

• How Meredith uses chocolate to demonstrate the benefits of meditation and mindfulness - especially for people who have struggled with more traditional methods
• How taste is just one of the senses you can use to create your own toolbox of mental health aids
• The power of the mind-body connection, and how to slow down BEFORE getting sick or burnt out
• How chocolate tasting helps overcome emotional eating, gives us permission to ENJOY food, and helps dismantle our damaging obsession with “good” and “bad” eating
• The benefits of “mono-tasking” and working with our hands
• Why meditation isn’t a “magic pill” for happiness, and why it’s worth doing despite this
• How understanding good chocolate can make us more compassionate to ourselves and others
• And, how to truly taste chocolate to get the absolute most out of it - as much for your mental health as for its utter deliciousness!

(Plus - listen out for a cheeky special appearance from Meredith’s little puppy, and a quick discussion on the cathartic power of swearing!)

This was such a joyful conversation - full of the love of food, self-compassion, and the simple pleasure of sitting down with a truly great hot chocolate.

If you love chocolate as much as I do - and EVEN if you’re more of a chips and dip kinda person - I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did. Maybe even grab a hot chocolate as you listen?

Show Notes: References and links mentioned in this episode

• Valrhona chocolate
• Green & Black's chocolate
• Montezuma's chocolate
• Willie's Cacao chocolate

Find out more about Meredith Whitely:

• Website: foodatheart.co.uk
• Instagram: @meredith_foodatheart

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Thanks so much for listening!

This week I’m speaking to Johanna Rossi, a British female artist and mother of two living in Monaco, who creates art that supports women through the self-doubt that many of us suffer from.

Johanna’s artwork is created to be the “proverbial lighthouse in your home during an internal ‘storm’”. It aims to accompany and support you on your own journey, reminding you of how far you have come, where you want to go, and that you are exactly where you need to be.

Overall, Johanna’s hope is that her art will support and encourage you through your insecurities, so that you find the courage to overcome your negative inner thoughts, find clarity in your actions, and have peace of mind with the choices you eventually make. 

It was such a joy to speak with Johanna, because she is as honest as she is vulnerable, and creative as she is purposeful - and we covered a heck of a lot of awesome ground!

We talked:

• How art has always been Johanna’s “life raft” that has kept her afloat through times of struggle, illness, mental distress and challenging life transitions
• Johanna’s own super-varied career history, and why it’s OK (recommended, even!) to change your mind, pivot, re-think, and move jobs and projects throughout your life
• Navigating the challenge and joy of having an entrepreneurial brain, and always having new ideas
• How to trust the “whisper” in your head and follow your purpose as authentically as possible
• The parallels between meditation and art, and why stillness is the secret to happier, more sustainable work
• The constant tension between making art and making money
• And how to follow your creative purpose without stifling pressure

I absolutely loved how open and real Johanna was in this conversation, and how willing she is to delve deep into her past and current struggles to explore how connected her art is to her sense of self-worth, purpose, and future plans.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone who is remotely creative - whether that’s in business, using paint, or with something else entirely - and anyone who has ever doubted their own worth, or wondered if they were on the “right path” in life (and how you would even KNOW that, in the first place).

This is for you.

Show Notes: References and links mentioned in this episode

• The book Big Magic : Creative Living Beyond Fear, by Elizabeth Gilbert
• The Hurry Slowly podcast

Find out more about Johanna Rossi:

• Website: johannarossiart.com
• Instagram: @johannarossiart

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It helps spread the word and helps others discover it - which is awesome, because this stuff always feels easier when you know others who get it too.

Thanks so much for listening!

This week my conversation is with Adreanna Limbach, a head teacher at MNDFL meditation studios in NYC, and author of the #1 New Book Release - Tea and Cake With Demons : A Buddhist Guide to Feeling Worthy.

Adreanna's work has been featured by The New York Times, Refinery29, Women's Health, and Yoga Journal. 

She wants you to know that you are whole, complete, and basically good — just as you are!

We talked:

• Her very relatable journey from having public panic attacks in New York City, to becoming a meditation teacher
• The true, cheese-eating, sobbing-on-the-floor realities of writing a book when struggling with writer's block and self-doubt
• Why so many of us never, ever, ever, feel good enough, and how meditation can help
• How to feel fine as you are while ALSO maintaining your drive and ambition to achieve more
• How to show up online without losing your self-worth, comparing yourself, and feeling like crap
• And the CRUCIAL second stage of meditation... that most people sadly miss

It was a genuine joy to have Adreanna on the show.

She is truly one of the warmest, loveliest and real people I've ever had the pleasure of speaking with, and the compassion and honesty with which she addresses some really central questions is just wonderful (not to mention, incredibly useful and practical!) to behold.

As someone who has struggled with self-worth - as I say in the podcast, my whole damn life - having the chance to share this conversation with you is a total dream come true.

I hope it lifts you up and makes you feel as worthy of taking space in the world, as much as it did me. 

Show Notes: References and links mentioned in this episode

• Adreanna's incredible book, Tea and Cake With Demons : A Buddhist Guide to Feeling Worthy (US edition / UK edition)
• MNDFL meditation studios in New York, run by Adreanna's husband and fellow meditation teacher, Lodro Rinzler
• Brené Brown on talking about shame
• Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
• Pu'eh Chinese tea

Find out more about Adreanna Limbach:

• Website: adreannalimbach.com
• Instagram: @adreannalimbach

Which of these points resonated most with you?

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It helps spread the word and helps others discover it - which is awesome, because this stuff always feels easier when you know others who get it too.

Thanks so much for listening!

This week I’m talking to Kim Palmer, the founder and CEO of Clementine - an app and community that helps women to feel more confident so they can do more of the stuff they want to do.

Kim was recently voted one of the Top 100 women in health and fem tech, and the Clementine app was voted "one of the seven apps every woman should own" by national newspaper The Guardian. 

We talked:

• How to overcome perfectionism, people-pleasing and burnout
• How to stop attaching your self-worth and identity to your work
• Hynotherapy - what it is, why you should try it, and the differences between it and mindfulness or meditation
• The challenges of starting your own business and reframing what female entrepreneurship looks like
• Learning to like your body, and the difference between body positivity and simple acceptance
• And how learning to "be" in your own skin is really about learning to "do" what you truly want in life

Kim is truly one of the most honest and down-to-earth women I've ever spoken to, and this conversation is as uplifting as it is practical.

Talking to Kim was like sitting down with your wisest, most open-hearted, encouraging, intelligent, "get sh*t done" friend - and I can't wait for you to listen.

Show Notes: References and links mentioned in this episode

• Download the Clementine app
• Writer Elizabeth Gilbert on processing emotions and breakthroughs in public: Marie Forleo - Elizabeth Gilbert on The City of Girls and Her Biggest Creative Challenge Yet - MarieTV (YouTube)
• Body positivity Instagram accounts, notably @bodyposipanda and @scarrednotscared
• The controversial article on the Nike "fat mannequin" - Obese mannequins are selling women a dangerous lie, by Tanya Gold - The Telegraph
• A good summary on the furore and backlash over the Telegraph piece: A Telegraph Article Called Nike’s Plus-Size Mannequins ‘a Lie’—Women Are Calling B.S. by Macaela Mackenzie - Glamour

Find out more about Kim Palmer & Clementine:

• Website: Clementineapp.co.uk
• Instagram: @clementineappuk

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It helps spread the word and helps others discover it - which is awesome, because this stuff always feels easier when you know others who get it too.

Thanks so much for listening!

This week I’m talking to Liza Kindred, the creator of the EFF This! Meditation community (for those who embrace both the sacred and the profane), the founder of tech consulting company Mindful Technology, global keynote speaker, and author of the upcoming book EFF This! 108 Tips, Tricks, and Ideas for When You're Stressed Out, Anxious or Overwhelmed (Rock Point, Oct 2019). 

We talked:

• Why it's not your fault that you're addicted to your phone
• How to take gentle steps towards using tech in a way that doesn't hide what your body needs
• Being super-intentional with social media, phone use, and swearing (yep, swearing!)
• Realising that you're not "broken", and you don't need "fixing"
• And how to deal when you realise that meditation isn't always about feeling calm, zen and hopeful - sometimes it's the opposite (and why it's still worth doing, even then)

Liza is a true, badass powerhouse and has so much to say on how to incorporate mindful principles with actual, real - sometimes tough, sometimes hilarious, always sacred - life, and it was a complete honour and a serious load of fun to chat to her and share it with you.

Show Notes: References and links mentioned in this episode

• Liza's book: EFF This! 108 Tips, Tricks, and Ideas for When You're Stressed Out, Anxious or Overwhelmed (Rock Point, out Oct 2019, available to pre-order now
• The Twitter @tinycarebot
• Some examples of Chrome/browser apps to limit time online
• Some examples of phone apps to limit time online
• Secret Cinema (UK)
• Brené Brown's Netflix special, The Call to Courage
• Valerie Saranjeet Kaur Oula - director of vibrational energy at The Well
• Book: The Buddha Walks Into The Bar by Lodro Rinzler, founder of MINDFL meditation studios in NYC
• Book: Altered Traits: Science Reveals How Meditation Changes Your Mind, Brain, and Body, by Daniel Goleman and Richard J. Davidson
• Quote by Louise Hay: "You've been criticising yourself your whole life and it hasn't worked. Try approving of yourself and see what happens."

Find out more about Liza Kindred:

• Websites: EffThisMeditation.com and MindfulTechnology.com
• Mindful Technology on Instagram: @mindfultechnology
• EFF! This Meditation community on Instagram: @EFFthismeditation

Which of these points resonated most with you?

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It helps spread the word and helps others discover it - which is awesome, because this stuff always feels easier when you know others who get it too.

Thanks so much for listening!

This week I’m talking to Jamie Varon, the brilliant writer, designer and creative consultant who is passionate about creating a life that feels really good, and finding small and big moments of joy in life - which, if you can’t tell, is pretty much everything I believe in!

I’ve followed Jamie’s work online for years, and it was the most ridiculous honour and fun to chat to her about everything from:

• How to overcome overwhelm and not feeling good enough
• How to be real online without burning out
• The power of getting truly curious about who we are and what we really need from life
• How to be happy with the life you have while still going after achievement and financial success
• And how Jamie’s daily rituals help her anxiety and enable her to make decisions that feel peaceful and powerful.

Ultimately, Jamie says that “it doesn't matter how your life looks, it’s how it feels”, and if that isn’t a mantra for our times, I don’t know what is.

This was such a fantastic, energising way to kick of Season 2, and I am so happy that I’m finally getting to share it with you.

Show Notes: References and links mentioned in this episode

• Seth Godin, marketing blog
• Brene Brown's Netflix special, The Call To Courage

Find out more about Jamie Varon:

• Website: JamieVaron.com
• Print shop: Shop.JamieVaron.com
• Design company: Shatterboxx.com
• Friday Letters: Friday-letters.com
• Instagram (and Twitter): @jamievaron

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It helps spread the word and helps others discover it - which is awesome, because this stuff always feels easier when you know others who get it too.

Thanks so much for listening!

This week it’s my second ever solo episode - yep, just me, myself and I. It’s the final episode in Season 1 of this podcast (omg, how did that happen?!), and I’m lining up some freaking AWESOME guests for Season 2 as we speak (SO excited).

BUT, in this here episode, I answer one of the biggest questions people ask me about meditation: How can I use it to feel energised and focused, and channel my ambition into getting sh*t done in a happier way - rather than chase some mythical idea of “calm” and “zen” that I’ll never achieve anyway?

So many women I talk to don’t really want to feel super-calm all the time.

Yes, they want to de-stress and relax, but only so they can think clearly and achieve their goals healthily and quickly, without burnout.

Almost NO-ONE I talk to wants to learn meditation so they can drift off into some weird, floaty, super-calm dreamworld.

They want to learn it and use it to feel energised, happy, confident and motivated in their own skin.

That’s why in this episode, I explore:

• The exact ways to use the principles of mindfulness meditation to feel inspired and focused, rather than letting life pass you by
• Why sometimes the best thing to “get sh*t done” is to do LESS, and give yourself a break - and how to actually do that
• Why getting a quick and easy meditation habit in place can help you achieve pretty much ANYTHING you want to do in life
• And how you can prove to yourself that you CAN and WILL achieve even your biggest, scariest, most incredible goals - without overwhelm or burning out

I also explore why the mind-body connection is so important, why I’m not too bothered that this podcast came out like 3 days late (oops haha) and why I have a major IG crush on the amazing writer and designer Jamie Varon...who is, (omg), one of my upcoming guests for next season! I have zero chill.

Show Notes: References and links mentioned in this episode

• Real Talk Radio podcast with Nicole Antoinette
• Jamie Varon on Instagram @JamieVaron
• Quote: “We don’t meditate to get better at meditation. We meditate to get better at life.” - Sharon Salzberg
• Article: The Running Blog: What does running do to your brain? By Ben Martynoga
• Article: University of Arizona study on running as “moving meditation” 
• Book: Mindset: Changing The Way You think To Fulfil Your Potential by Carol S. Dweck
• Book: Eat, Drink, Run: How I Got Fit Without Going Too Mad, by Bryony Gordon

Which of these points resonated most with you?

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It helps spread the word and helps others discover it - which is awesome, because this stuff always feels easier when you know others who get it too.

Thanks so much for listening!

This week’s episode is with Meg Kissack, a multi-passionate activist-turned-designer, artist, coach and podcaster, whose mission is “to inspire creative women to live a wholehearted life and follow the beat of their drum”. (Love it!)

Meg is one of my favourite people that I’ve ever discovered online, and I’ve since had the huge pleasure of meeting her in person.

She is a true force of nature whose positivity, creativity, and down-to-earth, zero-bullshit approach cannot fail to leave you motivated, reassured, and feeling brilliant about yourself.

In this episode, we covered Meg’s journey from someone who had to literally Google “How to relax”, to becoming a courageous and self-compassionate solopreneur.

We talked:

• How to get sh*t done without burning out
• How to reframe uncertainty as exciting, and use it to fuel your creativity and goals
• How to avoid “dreamshitters”, and stay true to yourself despite niggling doubts
• How to admit adulthood is hard, and to be gentle with yourself throughout
• Why everyone - no exceptions - has a story that is worth telling and celebrating
• What it truly means to be yourself, regardless of external validation
• How to lean in to being a beginner and trying new things
• And how “everything changes when you believe you matter”

We also explored how to have a better relationship with social media and your phone, and what we can learn about life, love and happiness from dogs!

Show Notes: References and links mentioned in this episode

• Quote: “Courage does not always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, 'I will try again tomorrow.” Mary Anne Radmacher
• Quote:”I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it.” - Vincent Van Gogh
• Meg’s Instagram #AYearOfCuriosity project
   

Find out more about Meg Kissack and That Hummingbird Life:

• Websites: ThatHummingbirdLife.com
• Podcast: The Couragemakers Podcast
• Instagram and Twitter: @thathummingbirdlife

Which of these points resonated most with you?

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It helps spread the word and helps others discover it - which is awesome, because this stuff always feels easier when you know others who get it too.

Thanks so much for listening!

This week I’m chatting to Arabella London, a former gymnast-turned-life coach and social entrepreneur, who specialises in embodiment and listening skills.

She also happens to be a super-intelligent, sensitive and straight-talking wonder woman.

I met Arabella working on the same online business course together, and we soon realised that our work covered a lot of similar and complementary ground.

This podcast contains so many amazing insights and practical tips, and will help you see yourself, your mind, your body, and how you fit into the world, in an entirely new and positive way.

We covered:

• How to feel more at ease in your own skin
• How to practically unite mindfulness with real-life movement
• Why it’s so key to identify and accept your emotions and understand yourself better
• Practical ways to deal with disagreements and conflict
• How to listen to yourself and others better, and cultivate healthier and happier relationships
• And how to translate the skills of mindfulness meditation into your everyday, real-world life, no matter who you are

We also had a fascinating discussion on embodiment “types”, and how to find out whether you are more water, earth, fire or air (you know how much I LOVE a good personality profile!).

There are also some brilliant tips on finding your “why”, dealing with impostor syndrome, bringing emotions into your workplace, and seeing the world in a more playful light.

We also explored the value in learning to kickbox, oh, and why running away to join the circus might just be exactly what you need…

This podcast contains some razor-sharp insight from Arabella, and I hope you’ll find her expertise on the mind-body connection - and everything in between - just as compelling as I do.

Show Notes: References and links mentioned in this episode

• The Febi Assessment
• Wendy Palmer at Leadership Embodiment
• Leadership Embodiment - How The Way We Sit And Stand Can Change The Way We Think And Speak by Wendy Palmer
• The 4 Elements - The Embodiment Podcast by Mark Walsh
• @lizandmollie on Instagram
• Start With Why:  How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone To Take Action by Simon Sinek

Find out more about Arabella London:

• Websites: Listening.school and Arabella.london
• Instagram and Twitter: @rblldn

Which of these points resonated most with you?

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It helps spread the word and helps others discover it - which is awesome, because this stuff always feels easier when you know others who get it too.

Thanks so much for listening!

This week I’m talking to Heather Thomas of The Mindful Kitchen.

Heather is a food entrepreneur whose work revolves around practicing nature-relatedness, a concept - as we explain in the podcast - that goes way beyond mindful eating, to teach us how interconnected we truly are with the natural world.

Drawing on the key mindfulness principles of ritual, habit, noticing the world around us, self-compassion and more, Heather helps us to connect to nature with all of our senses, so we can act more responsibly and sustainably to transform our Earth.

Her philosophy - developed from a lifetime of appreciating nature and food, as well as climate change training with Al Gore (yes, THAT Al Gore) - goes beyond simple “eco-friendliness” to actually changing our entire approach to nature, the planet, and our place within it.

If you’ve ever wondered how exactly mindfulness can help us in the real world, and go beyond the confines of your own crazy mind to actually feel connected to something greater and more compassionate, then this is for you.

We also talk:

• How to increase our empathy and become less self-destructive
• How to embrace sensuality in food
• How we can use mindfulness to change our lives, rather than simply “cope” with them
• And how to tune in with our senses to truly appreciate the world around us.

This was a totally fascinating conversation, and I found it so refreshing how Heather was able to mix complicated concepts with down-to-earth realism, and the spirituality of the seasons, with hard-hitting neuroscience.

If nothing else, it was brilliant to hear why we should love trees as much as we love ourselves (yep, go with me here!), a beautiful story of the sensual magic of Florida oranges, and what exactly the Big Bang has to do with whipped cream and Champagne bubbles...

If that doesn’t get you interested, I don’t know what will. Cheers to that!

I hope you enjoy this eye-opening, perspective-changing, practical and hopeful conversation as much as I did.

Show Notes: References and links mentioned in this episode

• Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, by Noah Harari
• Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow, by Noah Harari
• Climate Reality Training by Al Gore
• "Come quickly, I am tasting the stars!" - Quote about Champagne, popularly attributed to the Benedictine monk Dom Pérignon (of the Champagne brand of the same name)

Find out more about Heather and The Mindful Kitchen:

• Website: themindfulkitchen.org
• Instagram: @naturewitheverybite

Which of these points resonated most with you?

Remember to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss out, and if you enjoyed this episode, please Rate + Review the podcast wherever you listen, and share on Instagram, tagging me @breathelikeabadass.

It helps spread the word and helps others discover it - which is awesome, because this stuff always feels easier when you know others who get it too.

Thanks so much for listening!

This week I’m speaking to Lindsey O’Connor, a writer, motivational speaker and actress - who blends self-love and positivity with a good dose of realism and humour.

Lindsey is one of my favourite people that I have ever met online. She’s real, she’s fun, she’s open, she’s honest.

In this podcast, we covered a heck of a lot of awesome topics that are dear to my heart, including:

• How getting more playful and humorous in life can be a real antidote to dark days
• What “self love” actually means
• Calling BS on the idea that we should define ourselves by our achievements...and where that leaves us instead?!
• How to deal with depression, debt, and the huge fear we often feel about making big changes in our lives
• How to stop judging and finally forgive yourself
• What it means to “follow your dreams”, especially when they don’t look like you thought they would/should
• Why travel can be freeing but ALSO give you much-needed structure (weirdly!)
• How to use writing to process your emotions
• And why it’s so important to find a way to make “self care” and “self love” work for YOU, rather than getting bogged down in useless cliches and crap that doesn’t actually help you

You can tell by my voice in this podcast how much I love chatting to Lindsey, and honestly, that’s my aim for this whole podcast project - to make episodes that feel like you’re listening in to a great conversation with a friend.

Lindsey’s approach to life is so freeing - her openness to discussing difficult times and emotions gives everyone else permission to be themselves and feel their emotions completely too.

I truly hope that if you’ve ever wondered what “self love” really means for you, have ever struggled with feeling like you deserve to take up space or felt you “shouldn’t” be experiencing the emotions that you do, this podcast will be like a ray of sunshine into that dark space.

Show Notes: References and links mentioned in this episode

• “Do not learn how to react. Learn how to respond.” Quote, sometimes attributed to the Buddha (often used in mindfulness circles)
  Jon Kabat-Zinn, creator of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), often seen as the “founder” of Western mindfulness meditation
  Download Lindsey’s free “Feel Good Guide” here!

Find out more about Lindsey O'Connor:

• Website/Blog: Officiallylindsey.com
• Instagram: @lindsey_oconnor_

Which of these points resonated most with you?

Remember to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss out, and if you enjoyed this episode, please Rate + Review the podcast wherever you listen, and share on Instagram, tagging me @breathelikeabadass.

It helps spread the word and helps others discover it - which is awesome, because this stuff always feels easier when you know others who get it too.

Thanks so much for listening!

This week I spoke to Dovile and Tauras Sinkus, the brilliant husband-and-wife team behind the habit-tracking website, 21 Day Hero.

 I first met these guys when I was travelling in Bali late last year, and I was instantly drawn to their positivity, entrepreneurial flair, and their totally-down to earth, realistic approach to making and keeping healthy habits...with as little work as possible (yay!).

I know that one of the biggest problems people have with meditation is actually sticking to it, and finding time in their busy, full lives to actually sit down and take the time to just breathe.

Luckily, there are people out there like these two who are ready to give you the tools you need to set goals, and actually stick to them - all with just a few taps on your usual smartphone.

In this episode, we talk how to make great habits and stick to them - whether you’re trying to get more sleep, do a bit more exercise, and yes, get more mindful as you go. We explored why accountability and tracking are the secrets to great habits, why relying on willpower doesn’t last, what to do when you fall off the wagon, and how to keep your habit up even when depression and anxiety hits, and you don’t feel like doing anything.

We also explain why technology can actually help you get more focused, rather than simply distracted, and why your perfect morning routine might start with a cold shower (although the jury is still out on that one for me).

Talking to Dovile and Tauras is like talking to your best, most motivational yet understanding friends, who will help you get your morning routine done, but will also be there for a cheeky brunch afterwards.

If you’ve ever struggled with making good habits or keeping them consistent, you’re gonna get everything you need from this episode!

Show Notes: References and links mentioned in this episode

• The Calm meditation app
• The Insight Timer meditation app
• The Headspace meditation app
• The 10% Happier meditation app
• Gretchen Rubin’s The Four Tendencies quiz
• How My Failed Startup Made Me The Healthiest Version of Myself by Tauras Sinkus at Medium.com
• Andy Puddicombe on technology: 10 Amazing Meditation Lessons I Learned From Meeting ‘The Headspace Guy’

Find out more about 21 Day Hero and Dovile & Tauras Sinkus:

• Website: 21DayHero.com
• Instagram: @21DayHero and @Dowille
• Podcast: The 21 Day Hero Show

Which of these points resonated most with you?

Remember to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss out, and if you enjoyed this episode, please Rate + Review the podcast wherever you listen, and share on Instagram, tagging me @breathelikeabadass.

It helps spread the word and helps others discover it - which is awesome, because this stuff always feels easier when you know others who get it too.

Thanks so much for listening!

This week I’m chatting to Janice Chaka, the founder of The Career Introvert, where she coaches introverted women to excel in their career and business.

She is also the host and organiser of The Get Your Podcast Started Summit, helping entrepreneurs set up systems to create, run and grow their podcasts; and is also the host of The Traveling Introvert podcast, where she talks about business, being an introvert, and travelling.

Because Janice also happens to be a location-independent, world-travelling entrepreneur.

We covered a heck of a lot of ground in this podcast, including how Janice uses meditation in her own life to quell anxiety and insomnia, and how she encourages her clients to use it to get more focused, brave, and overcome the constant treadmill of “overthinking”.

I recorded this when I was travelling in Bali, and - as Janice herself is also a frequent world traveller - we inevitably spoke a lot about how to use mindful travel to get to know yourself better, and how to speak up clearly and confidently for what you need and want in your own life.

Ultimately, we discussed how mindfulness can help you to take a step back from your busy brain, free yourself from the “cult of being busy” and feeling like you’re never enough, how to “respond not react” to stressful situations, and, how to prioritise taking time out for yourself, so you can set yourself big goals, and build a life that is entirely your own - whether you’re an extrovert, introvert, or (like me), somewhere in between.

This podcast was a heck of a lot of fun to record, so I hope that if you’ve ever struggled to switch your brain off, believed you had to be extroverted to live the life you really want, or ever wondered if a life of travel and entrepreneurship could be for you, that you will find some tips and tricks in here.

Show Notes: References and links mentioned in this episode

• 7 in 7: Digital Nomad Conference
• Recorded at The Dojo Bali, Canggu, Bali, Indonesia
• The Headspace meditation app
• The Calm meditation app

Find out more about Janice Chaka, and the Career/Travelling Introvert:

• Website: The Career Introvert
• Podcast: The Traveling Introvert
• Social media: The Career Introvert on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook

Which of these points resonated most with you?

Remember to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss out, and if you enjoyed this episode, please Rate + Review the podcast wherever you listen, and share on Instagram, tagging me @breathelikeabadass.

It helps spread the word and helps others discover it - which is awesome, because this stuff always feels easier when you know others who get it too.

Thanks so much for listening!

This week I’m talking to Sandra Dawes, a certified life coach, speaker, author, podcaster, and creator of Embrace Your Destiny, a framework that helps women take clear, positive steps towards the career and life they deserve.

In this podcast, we went deep, quickly, as Sandra discusses her own journey towards discovering the power of mindfulness meditation after her beloved dad died suddenly.

In an honest, practical and ultimately uplifting conversation, we talk about how meditation can offer a way out of grief that is more than just one-dimensional “positive thinking”; how to find direction and achievements in your career, sharpening your intuition, the secret to building a how to create a consistent and personal meditation practice that works for you, in both bad AND good times; and how to build real self-compassion for when you need it most.

I really loved talking to Sandra, and I was pleasantly surprised by how real and honest she was in sharing her story from depressed and grief-stricken, to the thriving and successful entrepreneur and coach that she is today.

This podcast contains real gems on how to find light in some of life’s darkest times, and I really hope that whatever you’re going through right now, there will something here to help you get through it.

Show Notes: References and links mentioned in this episode

• The Secret (2006 film)
• Esther and Abraham Hicks
• Wayne Dyer
• Deepak Chopra
• Louise Hay

Find out more about Sandra Dawes and Embrace Your Destiny:

• Website: EmbraceYourDestiny.ca
• Podcast: Embrace Your Destiny
• Book: Embrace Your Destiny: 12 Steps To Living The Life You Deserve
• Social media: Embrace Your Destiny on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook

Which of these points resonated most with you?

Remember to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss out, and if you enjoyed this episode, please Rate + Review the podcast wherever you listen, and share on Instagram, tagging me @breathelikeabadass.

It helps spread the word and helps others discover it - which is awesome, because this stuff always feels easier when you know others who get it too.

Thanks so much for listening!

In this episode - the first ever on The Breathe Like A Badass Podcast - I wanted to introduce myself to those who don't know me, and give a little more insight into my journey, and why I am just so damn passionate about meditation.

The short answer is - meditation saved my life.

Key points:

• Meditation helped me get relief from anxiety
• Meditation helped me feel confident and love my body
• Meditation helped me to get fitter and healthier
• Meditation helps you get better relationships, better conversations, better sex - and improves your communication with pretty much everyone
• Meditation gives you direction and clarity

Which of these points resonated most with you?

Remember to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss out, and if you enjoyed this episode, please Rate + Review the podcast wherever you listen, and share on Instagram, tagging me @breathelikeabadass.

It helps spread the word and helps others discover it - which is awesome, because this stuff always feels easier when you know others who get it too.

Thanks so much for listening!