What is a Good Life? #118 - Presence To The Moment & Humanity with Sue Heatherington

On the 118th episode of the What is a Good Life? podcast, I’m delighted to welcome Sue Heatherington. Sue is a contemplative writer, poet, and co-founder of Waterside Voices, which is based on the site of a former Victorian reservoir in South West Wales and works with people globally. Her non-linear journey has included rural development research, a decade as a pioneering NHS Chief Executive, board and leadership coaching, and consulting. Now, her role also includes being an alpaca shepherd and carer. Sue’s book Quiet Disruptors: Creating Change Without Shouting was published in 2021, and her podcast, Be More Poet, launched in 2024. Her practice of Pause. See differently. Re-story… is expressed in her short posts published daily since 2018.

In this deeply engaging conversation, we explore our roles in the ongoing creation of life — how we shape one another, and the importance of moving beyond labels to truly connect with our shared humanity. We also reflect on the influence of time and space in shaping these experiences.

This episode offers a delightful invitation to slow down, to notice, and to reconnect with the felt sense of simply being.

For more of Sue's work, check out the following:
Writing and podcast: SueHeatherington.com
Book and manifesto: QuietDisruptors.com
Work: WatersideVoices.com

Contact me at mark@whatisagood.life if you'd like to explore your own lines of self-inquiry through 1-on-1 coaching, take part in my 5-week Silent Conversation group courses, discuss experiences I create to stimulate greater trust, communication, and connection, amongst your leadership teams, or you simply want to get in touch.

- For the What is a Good Life? podcast's YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@whatisagoodlife/videos
- My newsletter: https://www.whatisagood.life/
- My LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mccartney-14b0161b4/
- Exploring this question for yourself: https://www.whatisagood.life/p/your-personal-interview
- The Silent Conversations: https://www.whatisagood.life/p/the-silent-conversations

00:00 What is my role in the ongoing creation?

07:20 We are not complete on our own

10:20 We are always shaping each other

16:00 We need to be more human

20:00 Moving beyond labels and change

24:26 Sensitivity and the need for time and space

30:45 Realising what matters

35:50 Slowing down and being immersed in nature

44:30 An informal practice of paying attention

48:10 The significance of poetry

57:30 What is a good life for Sue?