Exploring the creativity of the human spirit with just five simple questions. Those questions give us a window to explore the journey and life story of people that look like they have it sorted.
Episodes
Wednesday Nov 25, 2020
Wednesday Nov 25, 2020
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I first met Karen Darke ten years ago when I was a marketing advisor on a contract with a local enterprise company. The meeting was about her book, and I was told she would be in a wheelchair. I called and made an appointment to meet at her house.
When I arrived there was no answer. Having parked on the drive, I could see the garage door was open, so I walked down the drive to see if she was around. I heard a noise behind me and there was a chirpy “hello”. I turned to see a mud-splattered woman on a low hand bike.
“Been waiting long? I’ve been out on the hills” she said, as she parked the bike in the garage and lifted herself into a waiting wheelchair.
Since that first meeting, I have followed her journey to becoming an Olympic Silver Medallist in London and then on to the Gold in Rio. Our paths crossed again this year when she was a speaker at Reasons and Results.
Karen is a modern-day ‘Alchemist’: an adventurer, athlete, speaker and author, Karen’s purpose is about inspiring and impacting, about turning challenge into an opportunity, turning ‘mud’ into ‘gold’.
Her career started as a Geologist researching gold in the Bolivian Andes; however, a life-changing accident that left her paralysed led her away from being a ‘rock-doctor’ to winning Paralympic Gold in the sport of Paralympic hand-cycling in Rio 2016.
Like all journeys, it was not a straight line.
She has experienced some extreme lows on the roller-coaster of life and knows how trauma, stress and life events can lead to fear, pain and under-performance. Karen was always the adventurer; that was what caused the accident that put her on this path.
However, she does not let her disability define or stop her desire to push the boundary of what is possible. That desire has also created some highs, exploring and extending the limits of possibility physically, mentally and emotionally. She has skied across icecaps, kayaked at extreme latitudes of the planet, and hand-cycled over the world’s biggest mountains.
The Gold in Rio was the 79th medal for Britain, and 79 being the elemental number for gold led to Karen creating Quest 79: Find Your Inner Gold.
The project had Karen cycling 7 continents in 9 iconic rides, raising £79K for Spinal Injuries and encouraging people to step out of their comfort zones and discover passion, purpose or ability: their ‘inner gold’.
Karen views life as an adventure, and she embraces all its experiences as opportunities to learn and grow.
I hope you enjoy the conversation with Karen Darke
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You can connect with Karen through her website:-
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As we come to the end of November, my US friends are about to celebrate Thanksgiving and then they will join the rest of us in the frenzy of activity and utter frustration of trying to think of a suitable gift for Great Aunt Edna, who nobody ever sees except on this one auspicious day of the year. However this year it is unlikely that Great Aunt Edna will be allowed out of the closet! At least if she lives in the UK where we have guidelines on how many households can get together for Christmas.
I am sure it was not an easy decision for those in power, knowing full well that putting Christmas on hold or restricting who and how many can meet is going to be painful. It must also be hard knowing that whatever they do will cause a surge in COVID cases in January.
The truth is Christmas will be different this year, regardless of the COVID rules. Personally, my Christmas has evolved many times with the changes in relationships, children growing up and parents or relatives passing.
Each change has meant finding new meaning and inspiration for the festive season. Having just finished an event about Spirituality, my wife and I realized we have something that could enable you to create a unique Christmas filled with empowerment to face whatever 2021 brings.
Are you ready to create a new way of celebrating Christmas? Something that can be personal to you or shared with friends and family? Something sacred and special that adds meaning to your life throughout the year ahead?
This is the “Sacred Christmas” Adventure.
Christmas doesn’t have to be about frenzied shopping, over-eating and blobbing out in front of TV watching meaningless re-runs.
How would you feel about Christmas if it were an annual opportunity to give thanks for the highs and lows of the year just gone, and reveal the wisdom you need to prepare you for whatever the year ahead throws your way.
It all starts with the sharing of our family rituals, how we put meaning into the Christmas story and how you could create your own traditions to bring deeper meaning to this festive season.
Wednesday Oct 14, 2020
Wednesday Oct 14, 2020
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Today we are celebrating Nikki Love and her new book. “With a little touch of crazy: 63 Marathons in 63 days Adventure.”
Nikki was a guest on the podcast in March 2019. At the time we were celebrating the launch of her first book “Chasing Extraordinary” and today we celebrate the launch of the second book; With a little touch of crazy: 63 Marathons in 63 days Adventure
Back in 2019, Nikki was preparing another adventure to run across her native Australia. Alas, what with COVID that plan went on hold. However not to be daunted, she looked to run the distance on a treadmill in the garden, here in the UK.
With a Little Dash of Crazy:
The 63 Marathons in 63 Days Adventure
That adventure was going fine however after 42 days and 1040 miles on a treadmill, she snapped a tendon in her foot and the running was over for a while.
But she put the time to good use and the second book is out and released this week.
I suspect many people will agree that you need a little touch of crazy to run these distances. It takes a special mindset that is for sure. Check out the original podcast and judge for yourself. Better still buy the book.
Nikki Love & A Little Dash of Crazy
Nikki is an amazing woman who is spreading the word about exercise. Taking the message into schools all over the country. She is leading the charge to helping people understand the benefit of getting active and just get moving. The key to her success is not too run fast.
We were speaking on zoom, so I could see how windswept she looked. Before our conversation she was out running with a local school and then out on the hills with a women’s group in the sleet and rain. There is no stopping her.
It was a great conversation, about her drive and why she does what she does. We also explored her latest project which is running across Australia that will be 4000 Km in 63 days. We talk about sponsorship and how that project is structured.
I hope you enjoy the conversation with Nikki love
If you would like to connect with Nikki you can find her on Facebook on at her website Nikkilove.co.uk
As with all projects that are driven by passion and enthusiasm, this event grew out an internal inquiry…
Why do my Podcast Guests Skirt Around The Spirituality Conversation?
…which gets bigger and wider. There is a sense of wonder and synchronicity that comes from the connections and conversations we have.
Spirit-duality is a bit like a Spiritual Christmas Hamper full of delicious goodies. When you dive in, you discover a lot of things you’ve never tried before. Some you’ll love, some you won’t, but unless you try them, you will never know.
The event is in two sections: 5 days of Inspiring Conversations (that is the diving into the Christmas Hamper bit) and 2 days filled with empowering activities or coaching sessions (the bit where you get to taste all the goodies!)
Take a look at our Event Page HERE
Thursday Jul 09, 2020
Thursday Jul 09, 2020
Alex Joesph Workaholic to Behaviour Change
Could a doughnut-obsession make you thin? Depends..
Alex Joeseph is a former DJ and burned-out finance executive with an appreciation of doughnuts. She kept the doughnut bit but dumped the rest by turning her passion into a profession.
She is a woman with the capacity to commit and focus on a goal, as a high powered business executive with an ability to make stuff happen.
It was all about getting the deal done and if that meant 16 hour days and or finishing that last email while busting for a pee. That is what Alex did.
I have heard it said that man is the only animal that will trade his health to make wealth and then use his wealth to regain his health.
The long hours in banking and constant stress took their toll, and Alex reached the place of burn out. She hit bottom being a workaholic was destroying her body, her health and her relationships.
It was these feelings of helplessness that became the driving force behind her need to change.
Throughout her journey of stress and work addiction and poor health, it was her need to find a workable diet that started the journey. That interest led her to become a qualified nutritionist.
But it was more than just food, we all know what we should eat but often make poor choices. Alex went on to explore the thinking behind food choice and has become a self-confessed neuroscience geek.
Gone is the high power business executive, Alex Jospeh did the terrifying, yet exciting midlife career change.
It is her mission is to help people by showing them how to shift the weight plus see the return to health and sanity. More importantly, its about staying that way for good.
“It is all about making life simple, which is why the words behaviour change, lifestyle change and habits are key to my process.”
Her superpower is the ‘how’ and ‘why and teaching people that real success is in our mind.
I hope you enjoy the conversation with Alex Joseph.
Saturday Mar 23, 2019
Saturday Mar 23, 2019
Nikki love in 2017 she completed 63 marathons in 63 days. Since then she has run in the desert and run around Ireland. While the 63 in 63, is not an official Guinness record she is still the only women in the world to have done it.
What makes anyone want to do these distances, it has to be a drive and passion that is for sure
My relationship was never good. Twenty years ago before it was fashionable I had a cousin who used to run a lot. I thought it odd, as my resistance was forged in the terrible memories of cross-country running at school. Awful conditions always cold and wet and some of the nastiness that went with the education of the time. Thankfully that has changed.
When I came back to it to exercise in my 50s, I found that I couldn't run it hurt. It was only by going to a physio that I discovered that I had forgotten how to walk properly. I had to learn how to use my knees and ankles again. Fast forward a couple of years I was running 3K on running machines at the gym.
It was my brother who suggested we go out for a run one day when I was visiting, and I absolutely loved it, From there It was a quick jump from 3 k to nearly 10k, and I completed my first proper 10K race last September 2018.
I enjoy it, and I can understand that passion and drive that people experience. but the idea of taking on these mega distances for me is something else.
Nikki is an amazing woman who is spreading the word about exercise. Taking the message into schools and all over the country. She is leading the charge to help people understand the benefit of getting active and just moving. The key to her success is not to run fast
We were on zoom, so I could see how windswept she was, as before our conversation she as out running with a local school the out on the hills with a women's group in the sleet and rain.
It was a great conversation it's about her Drive why she does what she does. We also explored her latest project which is about running across Australia 4000Km in 63 days. We talk about sponsorship and how that project is structured.
Nicky this is an amazing woman I hope you enjoy the conversation with Nikki love
https://www.facebook.com/nikkijlove
https://www.instagram.com/nikkiloveruns/