Sisu Lab

Right now, outrage seems as rampant as complacency, and both are lost opportunities from the vantage point of of life force. Being a "constructive badass" is a path to growth, change, and leadership amidst high pressure situations. The more we develop the skill of constructive dissent and engage in the art of insubordination—how to speak up with courage and clarity—we create degrees of freedom for courage in the everyday.For this Sisu Lab episode, I had the joy of interviewing Professor Todd Kashdan, one of the world’s most cited psychologists and a curious thought leader on courage, character, and all things psychological flexibility. This conversation rocked such a unique flow of exploring life, ideas, and the co-creative space possible between curious humans anywhere that it felt like a real highlight. The experience itself, to me, speaks of how can help each other rise to our best just by being genuinely excited about each other (like kids!) and viewing moments of interaction as opportunities to unearth something valuable together.Todd and I jammed about:How to dissent effectively without breaking connectionWhy good people may struggle to be brave when it matters mostThe difference between being a principled rebel vs. a reactive troublemakerWhy true change-makers often face delayed rewards—and how sisu can help us stay the courseBalancing activism with mental health, and what keeps us going through long fights for changeThe gift of witnessing each other fail—and grow and heal togetherWhat it means to be an “upstander” (with a nod to educator Jackson Katz)How everyday acts of courage and kindness shape the bigger environment we call our lifeTodd’s insights come from decades of research—and deep skin in the game. He’s the author of several brilliant books, including Curious, The Upside of Your Dark Side, and most relevantly: The Art of Insubordination.🎧 If you’ve ever struggled to find your voice in the face of injustice—or wondered how to process with combining courage and compassion (or to navigate the difference between power vs. force)—this is for you.If this has value to you, please share with everyone you know. And let me know who you'd like me to interview!Thanks again, Todd. This was exquisite! Shownotes:Todd's website and books: www.toddkashdan.com.Rainer Maria Rilke: Letters to a Young Poet.Jackson Katz TEDx with over 2 million views.Support the showSisu is a reserve of inner strength but it's also a way for us to know ourselves and impact the world in a positive way. Cultivating these reserves of inner strength starts with self-care and continues through self-inquiry. its power then extends to the world through our inspired acts of deep courage and compassion.Thanks for tuning in! You can find out more about sisu, find links to research, and check out Gentle Power: A Revolution in How We Think, Lead, and Succeed Using the Finnish Art of Sisu at www.sisulab.com. Sisu is great, love is greatness.

I’m joined for a conversation by Monique Borst, an entrepreneur, advisor and performance coach with 15 years in senior leadership positions. Monique has said, "Our businesses and personal lives are a mirror reflection of where we are on our own self-development journey, and can only be as successful as we are aware and in control of our thoughts and emotions."Together, we’ll unpack what it means to lead with strength and empathy, to balance resilience with grace, and to embrace vulnerability as a force for healing.When we do this work that can take a bit of sisu not just in the traditional way of doing something physically tough ... but the courage it takes to steal the gold from the night of subconscious to find the treasures we discover in our quiet, inner places can illuminate the everyday moments of business, leadership, and community.For this episode you can reflect if you like:💡 What does gentle power mean to you?💡 How can we, as leaders and as humans, step forward with balance, authenticity, and wholeness?The episode is dedicated to the memory of dear late friend Stéphane LeBlanc, a Canadian pioneer of conscious leadership. You can find our guest Monique Borst on LinkedIn, where she shares her thoughtful content and her website at MoniqueBorst.com,Support the showSisu is a reserve of inner strength but it's also a way for us to know ourselves and impact the world in a positive way. Cultivating these reserves of inner strength starts with self-care and continues through self-inquiry. its power then extends to the world through our inspired acts of deep courage and compassion.Thanks for tuning in! You can find out more about sisu, find links to research, and check out Gentle Power: A Revolution in How We Think, Lead, and Succeed Using the Finnish Art of Sisu at www.sisulab.com. Sisu is great, love is greatness.

The following interview is with distinguished neurosurgeon Dr. James Doty and it's a listen that is likely to make you feel a bit stronger and make you think more deeply about leadership, your daily habits, and the gift of life. I have been following Dr. Doty's work for about a decade and was deeply honored for this chance to learn from the master himself. He is a compassion researcher, NY Times bestselling author, and philanthropist. Dr. Doty is also a clinical professor of neurosurgery and Founder & Director of the Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education (CCARE) at Stanford University School of Medicine.He recently published a new book called Mind Magic: The Neuroscience of Manifestation and How It Changes Everything. We had a thrilling and heartwarming conversation - a warm recommendation to add this seminal book to your near-future reading list!You can find Mind Magic here: Mind Magic on Amazon (leave a review if you read the book and find it inspiring - this is always invaluable to authors <3) and learn more about Dr. Doty's work on his website: James R. Doty MD.Finally, here is another fantastic interview with Dr. Doty by John R. Miles.Support the showSisu is a reserve of inner strength but it's also a way for us to know ourselves and impact the world in a positive way. Cultivating these reserves of inner strength starts with self-care and continues through self-inquiry. its power then extends to the world through our inspired acts of deep courage and compassion.Thanks for tuning in! You can find out more about sisu, find links to research, and check out Gentle Power: A Revolution in How We Think, Lead, and Succeed Using the Finnish Art of Sisu at www.sisulab.com. Sisu is great, love is greatness.

This episode is about the paradox of putting healing and performance in the same sentence. Join me for an inspiring conversation with Dr. Phil Maffetone, a visionary in endurance sports for over four decades, an author, musician, and coach. Known for his MAF Method, which emphasizes aerobic training and fat-burning, Phil’s approach has helped athletes achieve world class level of performance. However this method applies to every-body out there to create more sovereignty, health and happiness.In today’s episode, we delve into Phil’s groundbreaking philosophies and practical tips for enhancing fitness, well-being, and body awareness. Whether you're a seasoned athlete or a beginner, discover MAF to ultimately to become your own coach, make sustainable decisions, and cultivate resilience and self-leadership. Plus, we explore topics like nutrition, intuition, meditation, and making lifelong healthy choices. Tune in for a conversation around ideas that have deeply impacted my own journey over the past decade!Philip's homepages: The MAF Methodhttps://philmaffetone.com/The Music of Philip Maffetonehttps://maffetonemusic.com/The Maffetone Method Running Group on FB that I mention (9.7K members and it's a very active and friendly group) https://www.facebook.com/groups/1452390158396719MAF Profile: Mission to heal: https://philmaffetone.com/maf-profile-mission-heal/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3dj0exmFNSb61qyTw8UnkPeCk1cskOg-_zGshXKLYo9mq5yJo_TPtAOuU_aem_ZmFrZWR1bW15MTZieXRlcwPhil Maffetone speaks about the details of MAF, nutrition, running, recoveryhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TPrenWWK9U"We are in this for fun and to bed happy" another great interview with Phil (Floris Gierman) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyE2J5pcWcAPhils's Red and Yellow book of endurance and fitness that were mentioned in the show can be found here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Philip-Maffetone/author/B001K88UYE?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=trueEnjoy the exploration!!Support the showSisu is a reserve of inner strength but it's also a way for us to know ourselves and impact the world in a positive way. Cultivating these reserves of inner strength starts with self-care and continues through self-inquiry. its power then extends to the world through our inspired acts of deep courage and compassion.Thanks for tuning in! You can find out more about sisu, find links to research, and check out Gentle Power: A Revolution in How We Think, Lead, and Succeed Using the Finnish Art of Sisu at www.sisulab.com. Sisu is great, love is greatness.

Welcome to a new season of the Sisu Lab podcast! In this episode, I got heart to heart with emotional intelligence and wellbeing expert, Dr. Emma Seppälä. We dove into the mortal mortar life, took a dip the river of life force and finally, circled into the gentle powers we all possess within to elevate our humans condition: We talked about sovereignty.Big word.It will change and challenge your world.Sovereignty is also the primary topic (and name) of Emma's book that comes out next week. Pre-order Emma's new book by April 18th and join her (and me as her discussion host!) for an online fireside chat as a pre-order gift. Find the books'a beautiful landing page at www.iamsov.comSupport the showSisu is a reserve of inner strength but it's also a way for us to know ourselves and impact the world in a positive way. Cultivating these reserves of inner strength starts with self-care and continues through self-inquiry. its power then extends to the world through our inspired acts of deep courage and compassion.Thanks for tuning in! You can find out more about sisu, find links to research, and check out Gentle Power: A Revolution in How We Think, Lead, and Succeed Using the Finnish Art of Sisu at www.sisulab.com. Sisu is great, love is greatness.

Explore the concept of systems intelligence and its transformative effects on leadership and personal growth. Discover how sisu plays a crucial role in navigating pressures and responsibilities. Dive into the practicality of thinking about thinking and its function in mastering intelligent behavior within dynamic systems. Uncover insights on cultivating sisu, the balance of discipline and gentleness, and the importance of self-reflection. Learn how mental models shape our actions and why gentle power is essential in today's world.

Explore the depths of human endurance and the hidden life forces that drive us. Emilia delves into the concept of second wind and how crises can unveil unexpected reservoirs of energy. She shares insights from Roger Bannister on discovering new power while running, and reads Tagore's poignant reflections on courage. The conversation weaves through ancient philosophies on breath and movement, and the global lexicon of life energy, from chi to prana. Finally, discover the crucial link between breathwork and unleashing cognitive resources.

Delve into the concept of sisu, a Finnish term representing inner strength to face challenges. Explore the difference between constructive and mindless sisu, where the latter can lead to burnout and strained relationships. Discover the importance of gentle leadership and staying aware under pressure. Learn how to track your own sisu through reflective exercises and the impact it has on your wellbeing and teams. Uncover the balance needed to cultivate healthy sisu while avoiding harmful extremes. Embrace curiosity to better understand your own motivations.

Welcome to a new episode in which we muse on how to deal with life's headwinds - and how to do it with less damage and more grace. Take aways from ultra running that apply to everyday life (thanks, fellow adventurer & runner Annastiina Hintsa) and a note on deep-seated humility, as well as making our awareness and body our allies in the process.For this episode, finally after years of procrastination (not as bad as the Ironman which took 16 years to conquer) I learned to do sound editing and created a start tune. Please listen and give feedback on anything - sound levels, user friendliness, and so on, as this is a  "home-baked" passion project. Tune selected out of numerous is licensed from lovely Dutch composer Evert Zeevalkink, aka, The North (on Spotify), and is called Stand my Ground.Until next time... may we both sisu and smiles galore <3Show notes:Resources on sisu at sisulab. Direct link to podcasts and research: https://www.sisulab.com/blogHarvard Health: Basic intro to understanding stress response: https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/understanding-the-stress-responseEmbodied awareness – checking-in with your own body for signs of stress and trauma: https://marieskelton.com/embodied-awareness-checking-in-with-your-own-body-for-signs-of-stress-and-trauma/The Embodied Theory of Stress: A Constructionist Perspective on the Experience of Stress: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1037/gpr0000164Support the showSisu is a reserve of inner strength but it's also a way for us to know ourselves and impact the world in a positive way. Cultivating these reserves of inner strength starts with self-care and continues through self-inquiry. its power then extends to the world through our inspired acts of deep courage and compassion.Thanks for tuning in! You can find out more about sisu, find links to research, and check out Gentle Power: A Revolution in How We Think, Lead, and Succeed Using the Finnish Art of Sisu at www.sisulab.com. Sisu is great, love is greatness.

Dear sisu pilgrim, I hope you are well and held by all the courage ands compassion that makes up your unique you. This episode is a slowing down to feel into...grief; a recognition of that something gentle and sometimes heavy within us, buried deep into the cellular wombs of our experiences and too often bypassed by constant doing and going. I share some of my favourite poems and introduce the concept of "edge emotions" by Drs. Kaisu Mälkki and Larry Green.For those in the woods right now: love is the medicine and sisu is your companion. Keep on going.“…let happy memories sustain you if your strength fails you, they are always there, and their current does not run backwards, even across foggy country it floats toward the future.” Selected Letters of Rainer Maria RilkeNotes:C. S. Lewis: A Grief Observedhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Grief_ObservedJoseph Campbell and the Power of Myth | Ep. 1: 'The Hero’s Adventure' (a highest recommendation for the entire interview series)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pE8ciMkayVMJean-Luc Marion: Being Given - Toward a Phenomenology of Givennesshttps://www.sup.org/books/title/?id=907The Impact of Grief on Humans at Work with George Kohlrieser on Human Leaders Podcast with Alexis and Sallyhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VTojuSV5eg... and one of my personal go-to videos that in times of sadness and depression has allowed me to gently shift my perspective toward an orientation of light. Thus, open to the miracle of life in the moment:The Most Astounding Fact by Neil deGrasse Tysonhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9D05ej8u-gUWith sisu and love, E. E.Support the showSisu is a reserve of inner strength but it's also a way for us to know ourselves and impact the world in a positive way. Cultivating these reserves of inner strength starts with self-care and continues through self-inquiry. its power then extends to the world through our inspired acts of deep courage and compassion.Thanks for tuning in! You can find out more about sisu, find links to research, and check out Gentle Power: A Revolution in How We Think, Lead, and Succeed Using the Finnish Art of Sisu at www.sisulab.com. Sisu is great, love is greatness.