Chief Change Officer

Part Two. We dive into an extraordinary journey of resilience with Athena Brownson. At the peak of her real estate career—feeling invincible and unstoppable—Athena’s life took an unexpected turn. Strange health issues appeared, and she was eventually diagnosed with Lyme disease, a condition that would change everything. For the past eight years, Athena has lived in chronic pain, relying on plasma transfusions four days each month just to keep going. Her life now revolves around battling this disease, something she never imagined facing. As she says, “If life didn’t give us adversity and challenges…” This story is too powerful for just one episode. Yesterday, in Part 1, Athena shared her experience with Lyme disease—a condition that remains poorly understood but has profoundly impacted her health. She talked about how she had caught it, what she had endured, and the fight to survive. In Part 2, airing today, Athena will reveal how she not only survived but found ways to thrive, rebuild her support system, and grow her career once again. Key Highlights of Our Interview: Retraining the Brain “Pain puts the brain in fight-or-flight mode, and it can get stuck there. So it’s on us to train our minds to tell our bodies we’re okay, to push through and find relief.” The Power of a Routine “For me, routines are huge. My toolkit includes morning and evening rituals – breathwork, meditation, journaling, writing affirmations. I remind myself every day: I am healthy. I am healing. My body can get through this.” The Art of Delegation “Delegation isn’t just about getting things off your plate; it’s about giving others a chance to shine. My illness showed me I can’t do everything, nor should I. Letting go allows others to thrive, and it’s empowering to see them do what they love.” Building My Tribe “Finding the right people was a decade-long journey, but now I have a team around me who would do anything for me. They’re not just coworkers; they’re my support system, my tribe. I know they’re here for me, health and all, and I wouldn’t be where I am without them.” The Power of Pen and Paper “Writing by hand does something special. Seeing the words you put down lets them sink in, letting you visualize and internalize them in a unique way.” Connect with us: Host: Vince Chan | Guest: Athena Brownson Chief Change Officer: Make Change Ambitiously. Experiential Human Intelligence for Growth Progressives Global Top 3% Podcast on Listen Notes World's #1 Career Podcast on Apple Top 1: US, CA, MX, IE, HU, AT, CH, FI, JP 2 Millions+ Downloads 50+ Countries --Chief Change Officer--Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.Open a World of Expansive Human Intelligencefor Transformation Gurus, Black Sheep,Unsung Visionaries & Bold Hearts.EdTech Leadership Awards 2025 Finalist.20 Million+ All-Time Downloads.80+ Countries Reached Daily.Global Top 1% Podcast.Top 5 US Business.Top 1 US Careers.>>>180,000+ are outgrowing. Act Today.<<<See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Part One. We dive into an extraordinary journey of resilience with Athena Brownson. At the peak of her real estate career—feeling invincible and unstoppable—Athena’s life took an unexpected turn. Strange health issues appeared, and she was eventually diagnosed with Lyme disease, a condition that would change everything. For the past eight years, Athena has lived in chronic pain, relying on plasma transfusions four days each month just to keep going. Her life now revolves around battling this disease, something she never imagined facing. As she says, “If life didn’t give us adversity and challenges…” This story is too powerful for just one episode. Today, in Part 1, Athena shares her experience with Lyme disease—a condition that remains poorly understood but has profoundly impacted her health. She’ll talk about how she caught it, what she’s endured, and the fight to survive. In Part 2, airing tomorrow, Athena will reveal how she not only survived but found ways to thrive, rebuild her support system, and grow her career once again. Key Highlights of Our Interview: The Hidden Threat of Lyme Disease “I had no idea what Lyme disease was before I was diagnosed with it. It’s the fastest growing epidemic in the United States, and it can turn life upside down.” From Athlete to Survivor “My life has made a complete 180 from being a professional athlete to just trying to get through each day. It’s a nightmare I wouldn’t wish on anyone.” When Life Becomes a Series of Challenges “It’s hard not to get stuck in the mud when you’re dealing with something so challenging and constant… chronic pain, chronic fatigue, enough to make anyone want to stay in bed and not do anything.” Creating a Toolkit for Every Day “How do we pivot our mentality? How do we create our toolkit of things to get us through each day, even when we don’t want to? Sometimes it’s as simple as blasting favorite music or making a great cup of coffee.” Becoming Your Own Biggest Advocate “With Lyme, I’ve learned that you have to be your own biggest advocate. It’s about mental resilience, surrounding yourself with the right people, and finding those anchors to push forward.” Connect with us: Host: Vince Chan | Guest: Athena Brownson Chief Change Officer: Make Change Ambitiously. Experiential Human Intelligence for Growth Progressives Global Top 3% Podcast on Listen Notes World's #1 Career Podcast on Apple Top 1: US, CA, MX, IE, HU, AT, CH, FI, JP 2 Millions+ Downloads 50+ Countries --Chief Change Officer--Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.Open a World of Expansive Human Intelligencefor Transformation Gurus, Black Sheep,Unsung Visionaries & Bold Hearts.EdTech Leadership Awards 2025 Finalist.20 Million+ All-Time Downloads.80+ Countries Reached Daily.Global Top 1% Podcast.Top 5 US Business.Top 1 US Careers.>>>180,000+ are outgrowing. Act Today.<<<See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Part Three. Today’s episode has a unique twist: I’m interviewing a storytelling expert to share his own story. My guest, Chris Hare, is a strategic narrative advisor and coach for companies like Amazon and Microsoft, guiding leaders and executives with his approach, Atomic Storytelling. His method breaks down complex stories into their core, resonant elements. In this three-part series, we’ll journey through Chris’s experiences in three stages. On Wednesday, in Part 1, we explored his expertise in helping businesses craft compelling corporate stories and understand the connection between story and narrative. On Thursday, in Part 2, we looked at storytelling for personal transformation as Chris shared some of the best and worst stories he had heard or felt.  He also opened up about his own mental health challenges. Then, today, in Part 3, he’ll introduce tools we can use to develop our own stories and narratives. And here’s a personal confession—I told him one of his exercises might just make me cry! I’ll also be sharing my own experience with another exercise, highlighting both its challenges and insights. Key Highlights of Our Interview: The Power of a Reflective Movie Theater Exercise “I have people visualize that movie that plays is actually not the blockbuster. It’s actually your life playing and your career…What might you call that movie?” Beyond the Corporate 360: Finding Stories That Matter “This is not the 360 that many of us from corporate America are used to…the goal here is to go and talk to three to five people who know you, care about you, and want you to succeed.” Feedback as a Double-Edged Sword “People could give feedback that might reinforce the wrong narrative…we just have to be careful and think about them as inputs, not absolute truths.” The Weight of Opinions and Invisible Biases “We unknowingly put more weight on some people’s opinions than others…whether it’s because of the friendship, the level of friendship, or the position they have.” Rewriting Stories with Every Interaction “I’m never telling the same story twice. I’m rewriting the story as I’m telling you based on your face, your facial expressions, your body language, your tone of voice. There are all those factors that play into it that make it incredibly complex.” Connect with us: Host: Vince Chan | Guest: Chris Hare Chief Change Officer: Make Change Ambitiously. Experiential Human Intelligence for Growth Progressives Global Top 3% Podcast on Listen Notes World's #1 Career Podcast on Apple Top 1: US, CA, MX, IE, HU, AT, CH, FI, JP 2 Millions+ Downloads 50+ Countries --Chief Change Officer--Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.Open a World of Expansive Human Intelligencefor Transformation Gurus, Black Sheep,Unsung Visionaries & Bold Hearts.EdTech Leadership Awards 2025 Finalist.20 Million+ All-Time Downloads.80+ Countries Reached Daily.Global Top 1% Podcast.Top 5 US Business.Top 1 US Careers.>>>180,000+ are outgrowing. Act Today.<<<See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Part Two. Today’s episode has a unique twist: I’m interviewing a storytelling expert to share his own story. My guest, Chris Hare, is a strategic narrative advisor and coach for companies like Amazon and Microsoft, guiding leaders and executives with his approach, Atomic Storytelling. His method breaks down complex stories into their core, resonant elements. In this three-part series, we’ll journey through Chris’s experiences in three stages. Yesterday, in Part 1, we explored his expertise in helping businesses craft compelling corporate stories and understand the connection between story and narrative. Today, in Part 2, we’ll look at storytelling for personal transformation as Chris shares some of the best and worst stories he’s heard and opens up about his own mental health challenges. Then, in Part 3, he’ll introduce tools we can use to develop our own stories and narratives. And here’s a personal confession—I told him one of his exercises might just make me cry! I’ll also be sharing my own experience with another exercise, highlighting both its challenges and insights. Key Highlights of Our Interview: Rewriting Your Inner Cassette Tape “I find it helpful and more visceral to think about our personal narratives as a cassette tape—a tape that’s playing in our head that we’re constantly writing, rewriting, and adjusting.” Building One Authentic Narrative Across Multiple Worlds “A serial CEO I worked with wanted one narrative that connected his private equity, board roles, and yoga community. The result was an authentic narrative rooted in his true self that could be lensed across different audiences.” Proximity Blinds Us to Our Own Stories "We’re so close to our own narrative and stories that we don’t see the broader picture… if you’re building with Lego, you might not see that there’s a gigantic pile of Lego behind you." Changing the Inputs to Shift the Narrative and Change the Outcome “If you continue to put in the same inputs, things likely won’t change… One of the positive inputs I changed was I got into fly fishing, and that was part of changing those inputs to shift not only the narrative but the outcomes.” The Power of Raw Storytelling "Our stories are not always the really clean, really curated story that makes us look good, but that raw story that has the power to shift the future." Connect with us: Host: Vince Chan | Guest: Chris Hare Chief Change Officer: Make Change Ambitiously. Experiential Human Intelligence for Growth Progressives Global Top 3% Podcast on Listen Notes World's #1 Career Podcast on Apple Top 1: US, CA, MX, IE, HU, AT, CH, FI, JP 2 Millions+ Downloads 50+ Countries --Chief Change Officer--Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.Open a World of Expansive Human Intelligencefor Transformation Gurus, Black Sheep,Unsung Visionaries & Bold Hearts.EdTech Leadership Awards 2025 Finalist.20 Million+ All-Time Downloads.80+ Countries Reached Daily.Global Top 1% Podcast.Top 5 US Business.Top 1 US Careers.>>>180,000+ are outgrowing. Act Today.<<<See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Part One. Today’s episode has a unique twist: I’m interviewing a storytelling expert to share his own story. My guest, Chris Hare, is a strategic narrative advisor and coach for companies like Amazon and Microsoft, guiding leaders and executives with his approach, Atomic Storytelling. His method breaks down complex stories into their core, resonant elements. In this three-part series, we’ll journey through Chris’s experiences in three stages. Today, in Part 1, we’ll explore his expertise in helping businesses craft compelling corporate stories and understand the connection between story and narrative. Tomorrow, in Part 2, we’ll look at storytelling for personal transformation as Chris shares some of the best and worst stories he’s heard and opens up about his own challenges. Then, in Part 3, he’ll introduce tools we can use to develop our own stories and narratives. And here’s a personal confession—I told him one of his exercises might just make me cry! I’ll also be sharing my own experience with another exercise, highlighting both its challenges and insights. Key Highlights of Our Interview: Stories Fuel the Narrative “In my mind, stories are time-bound: this happened, it started here, it ended there. But the narrative is ongoing—it’s an architecture shaping the direction of an individual or company.” Storytelling’s Overplayed? Think Again “For years, I wouldn’t even call myself a storyteller because it was so overplayed. Everyone is using frameworks like the hero’s journey as if they’re paint-by-numbers. But storytelling is far more complex.” The Narrative Flywheel: Stories That Drive Strategy “The stories are the fuel that flows into the flywheel. We synthesize them, find patterns, and decide where to play and how to win. Then, with experimentation and learning, we create more stories—and the flywheel keeps spinning." Human-Centered Design in Action: Logitech’s Transformation “Bracken Darrell took Logitech’s failing narrative and reframed it with a vision: human-centered design across every part of the company. This vision wasn’t pushed from the top but inspired teams, driving Logitech’s turnaround—from 30-day financial reporting to just two.” Connect with us: Host: Vince Chan | Guest: Chris Hare Chief Change Officer: Make Change Ambitiously. Experiential Human Intelligence for Growth Progressives Global Top 3% Podcast on Listen Notes World's #1 Career Podcast on Apple Top 1: US, CA, MX, IE, HU, AT, CH, FI, JP 2 Millions+ Downloads 50+ Countries --Chief Change Officer--Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.Open a World of Expansive Human Intelligencefor Transformation Gurus, Black Sheep,Unsung Visionaries & Bold Hearts.EdTech Leadership Awards 2025 Finalist.20 Million+ All-Time Downloads.80+ Countries Reached Daily.Global Top 1% Podcast.Top 5 US Business.Top 1 US Careers.>>>180,000+ are outgrowing. Act Today.<<<See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Part Two. Who couldn’t use a bit more happiness? In this two-part series, we dive into the journey of Rahshea Cardiff, VP of Partnerships at Happy Companies—a venture dedicated to building happier, healthier workplaces. With over 20 years of experience in people management across big names like Best Buy, Starbucks, and Microsoft, Rahshea is passionate about creating meaningful employee experiences. But her story goes beyond the corporate world; she’s faced deep personal challenges, including the loss of her mother, a divorce, and raising her first child, all while navigating major career transitions. In Part One, Rahshea shared the resilience behind her journey and what led her to join Happy Companies. Today, tune in for Part Two, where Rahshea delves into her role at Happy Companies, her mission to integrate technology with genuine human care, and her vision for transforming the modern workplace. We’ll explore how she’s using her life experiences to shape a fresh approach to employee wellbeing and workplace happiness. Key Highlights of Our Interview: Unbecoming to Become: Shedding What Isn’t You "Maybe it’s not about becoming anything. Maybe it’s about unbecoming everything that isn’t who you really are." The Power of Staying True to Yourself “I was told I needed to change who I was… to fit into somebody’s picture of what they thought I should be. Instead, I learned to step into who I am and be proud of it.” Unlocking a Team’s Full Potential through Behavioral Insights “With Happy, leaders get a snapshot of every team member—how they’re wired, their strengths, their energy drivers, and what drains them.” Putting a Personalized Coach at Every Leader’s Fingertips “Happy’s platform essentially puts a one-on-one coach at the fingertips of every leader and employee, including self-coaching to improve communication and motivation.” Human Stories and Tech-Driven Scalability: A Perfect Balance “Technology is terrific for us at Happy; it provides the behavioral insight, but it’s that human coach who can tell the story, make it personal, and take it to the next level of impact.” Connect with us: Host: Vince Chan | Guest: Rahshea Cardiff Chief Change Officer: Make Change Ambitiously. Experiential Human Intelligence for Growth Progressives Global Top 3% Podcast on Listen Notes World's #1 Career Podcast on Apple Top 1: US, CA, MX, IE, HU, AT, CH, FI, JP 2 Millions+ Downloads 50+ Countries --Chief Change Officer--Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.Open a World of Expansive Human Intelligencefor Transformation Gurus, Black Sheep,Unsung Visionaries & Bold Hearts.EdTech Leadership Awards 2025 Finalist.20 Million+ All-Time Downloads.80+ Countries Reached Daily.Global Top 1% Podcast.Top 5 US Business.Top 1 US Careers.>>>180,000+ are outgrowing. Act Today.<<<See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Part One. Who couldn’t use a bit more happiness? In this two-part series, we dive into the journey of Rahshea Cardiff, VP of Partnerships at Happy Companies—a venture dedicated to building happier, healthier workplaces. With over 20 years of experience in people management across big names like Best Buy, Starbucks, and Microsoft, Rahshea is passionate about creating meaningful employee experiences. But her story goes beyond the corporate world; she’s faced deep personal challenges, including the loss of her mother, a divorce, and raising her first child, all while navigating major career transitions. In today’s episode, Rahshea shares the resilience behind her journey and what led her to join Happy Companies. We’ll explore how she’s using her life experiences to shape a fresh approach to employee wellbeing and workplace happiness. Then, tune in for part two on Tuesday, where Rahshea delves into her role at Happy Companies, her mission to integrate technology with genuine human care, and her vision for transforming the modern workplace. Key Highlights of Our Interview: Conditioned Ambition: The Corporate Ladder Wasn’t the Life I Wanted “As we’re growing up, we go to school, we get good grades, we go to college, we get married, buy a house. Climb the corporate ladder—it’s what we’re taught, what we see. But in 2016, everything shifted—I realized I was chasing something that no longer felt right." Loss and Legacy: Realizing We’re Not Promised Tomorrow “Losing my mother and going through a divorce within a year taught me that we all fall into this trap of thinking there’s always tomorrow. I began asking myself, ‘If today were my last day, would I be at peace with how I spent it?’ Too many times, the answer was no. I knew it was time to recalibrate.” Choosing Purpose Over Position “I walked away from corporate stability and took a leap into entrepreneurship. And now, working with Happy, I’m able to stay close to my family and focus on meaningful work that aligns with my values.” The Gift of Presence: Living in the Moment “When we are able to shift our mindset and perspective to live in the present, it really is such a gift.” Connect with us: Host: Vince Chan | Guest: Rahshea Cardiff Chief Change Officer: Make Change Ambitiously. Experiential Human Intelligence for Growth Progressives Global Top 3% Podcast on Listen Notes World's #1 Career Podcast on Apple Top 1: US, CA, MX, IE, HU, AT, CH, FI, JP 2 Millions+ Downloads 50+ Countries --Chief Change Officer--Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.Open a World of Expansive Human Intelligencefor Transformation Gurus, Black Sheep,Unsung Visionaries & Bold Hearts.EdTech Leadership Awards 2025 Finalist.20 Million+ All-Time Downloads.80+ Countries Reached Daily.Global Top 1% Podcast.Top 5 US Business.Top 1 US Careers.>>>180,000+ are outgrowing. Act Today.<<<See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Part Two. Thinking about leaving Corporate America? Or maybe you’ve already taken the leap and are still navigating the journey? This episode is tailor-made for you. Today’s guest, Alison Stewart, made a bold move from a decade-long career in finance and insurance into the fast-paced world of startups. A switch she made in the midst of the pandemic. Even more inspiring? She landed this opportunity through networking on LinkedIn. While many of us turn to LinkedIn for job searches, skepticism around job postings is common. This is actually part two of a two-part series. Yesterday, we’re diving into the personal changes Alison has experienced: her motivations, the steps she took, and her LinkedIn story of connecting with her current co-founder. Today, we’ll talk about her new venture, Overalls, which is making waves in the employee benefits space. They’re building a network of “life concierges,” including stay-at-home parents, the underemployed, and retirees, and linking them with employers to help reduce the day-to-day stress on employees. Will this model make employees feel more loyal? More willing to return to the office? We don’t know yet, but it’s definitely an idea worth exploring. Key Highlights of Our Interview: Building a Village for Every Stage of Life “Overalls is essentially your village… supporting you through life’s messier, more complex situations, like helping an elderly parent or finding summer camps for kids.” A Rare Benefit That Earns Employee Appreciation “This is one of the first times HR is getting thanked by employees for a benefit… they’re amazed at how thankful employees are for the support.” Confidence in Uncharted Territory “The biggest challenge was… do I have the skill set to do these things? Am I qualified to make some of these decisions?… In this environment, it’s all core because again, if you’re not doing it, it’s not getting done.” Keep Your Goals in Sight: Write Them Down “We can get distracted… By writing it down, being honest with ourselves, talking to others, that’ll help us hold ourselves accountable to what it is that we’re looking for.” The Power of Focus and Manifesting the Right Move “I wasn’t reaching out to a million people… I was focused, determined to put the time and energy in. My excitement led me to take a risk, and it worked.” Connect with us: Host: Vince Chan | Guest: Alison Stewart ______________________ Chief Change Officer: Make Change Ambitiously. Experiential Human Intelligence for Growth Progressives Global Top 3% Podcast on Listen Notes World's #1 Career Podcast on Apple Top 1: US, CA, MX, IE, HU, AT, CH, FI, JP 2 Millions+ Downloads 50+ Countries --Chief Change Officer--Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.Open a World of Expansive Human Intelligencefor Transformation Gurus, Black Sheep,Unsung Visionaries & Bold Hearts.EdTech Leadership Awards 2025 Finalist.20 Million+ All-Time Downloads.80+ Countries Reached Daily.Global Top 1% Podcast.Top 5 US Business.Top 1 US Careers.>>>180,000+ are outgrowing. Act Today.<<<See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Part One. Thinking about leaving Corporate America? Or maybe you’ve already taken the leap and are still navigating the journey? This episode is tailor-made for you. Today’s guest, Alison Stewart, made a bold move from a decade-long career in finance and insurance into the fast-paced world of startups. A switch she made in the midst of the pandemic. Even more inspiring? She landed this opportunity through networking on LinkedIn. While many of us turn to LinkedIn for job searches, skepticism around job postings is common. This is actually part one of a two-part series. Today, we’re diving into the personal changes Alison has experienced: her motivations, the steps she took, and her LinkedIn story of connecting with her current co-founder. Tomorrow, we’ll talk about her new venture, Overalls, which is making waves in the employee benefits space. They’re building a network of “life concierges,” including stay-at-home parents, the underemployed, and retirees, and linking them with employers to help reduce the day-to-day stress on employees. Will this model make employees feel more loyal? More willing to return to the office? We don’t know yet, but it’s definitely an idea worth exploring. Key Highlights of Our Interview: "What Am I Doing?” – Hitting Pause on the Corporate Grind “During the pandemic, time started blending together. I had to stop and ask, what am I doing? Am I happy?” Those months at home made me realize how I’d been running on autopilot, stuck in a cycle of new leadership teams and constant resets. With every change, it felt like we were taking ten steps back just to make one forward." “The Safety Net of a Strong Company” – Navigating Stability vs. Fulfillment “You can get caught up in…having a strong company, great group of colleagues…new opportunities coming at you. But it might not be what truly motivates you.” “Controlling for Risk Factors” – Making Thoughtful Career Moves “I was trying to control for those risk factors, or at least account for them…what was I comfortable with? How would it impact my family?” “Overalls Caught My Eye” – The Power of an Unexpected Spark “I was sitting at work…reading about the launch of Overalls, and I got really excited. People almost stopped me, saying, ‘Allison, nothing gives you as much excitement as this opportunity." “Taking Skills Beyond Insurance” – Exploring New Industries on LinkedIn “I was interested in exploring something outside the insurance industry…how does my experience, how do my skills translate, and how do I communicate them effectively?” Connect with us: Host: Vince Chan | Guests: Alison Stewart ______________________ Chief Change Officer: Make Change Ambitiously. Experiential Human Intelligence for Growth Progressives Global Top 3% Podcast on Listen Notes World's #1 Career Podcast on Apple Top 1: US, CA, MX, IE, HU, AT, CH, FI, JP 2 Millions+ Downloads 50+ Countries --Chief Change Officer--Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.Open a World of Expansive Human Intelligencefor Transformation Gurus, Black Sheep,Unsung Visionaries & Bold Hearts.EdTech Leadership Awards 2025 Finalist.20 Million+ All-Time Downloads.80+ Countries Reached Daily.Global Top 1% Podcast.Top 5 US Business.Top 1 US Careers.>>>180,000+ are outgrowing. Act Today.<<<See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We’re joined by Paul Austin, founder and CEO of Third Wave, who champions the responsible use of psychedelics for personal and leadership development. While psychedelics remain illegal in many places and continue to be the subject of ongoing legal and medical debate, Paul is educating the world on their potential benefits and the transformative role they could play in enhancing mental clarity, creativity, and growth. As the host, I offer this forum as a space for diverse voices to share their thoughts and insights on ideas that can help humanity move in a positive direction. My goal is not to pass judgment but to present different perspectives, asking questions that allow listeners to form their own opinions from the conversation. BBC: What psychedelics legalisation and decriminalisation looks like around the world. Paul shares how microdosing, when done carefully, has the potential to benefit a wide range of people—not just those with mental health challenges. We discuss the common misunderstandings about psychedelics, key legal and medical concerns, and, most importantly, safety considerations and responsible practices to approach this evolving tool for personal growth. Listen in to explore how psychedelics, when used thoughtfully, might serve as a powerful catalyst for transformation. Key Highlights of Our Interview: The Real Risks of Psychedelics: Safety First “While psychedelics promise transformation, the biggest risk isn’t just physiological—it’s legal. These substances are still illegal in most places, so getting caught can have serious consequences. Beyond that, psychedelics can create instability if not handled with the right support and a safe environment.” Mindset Matters: Intention in Psychedelic Use “The real benefits of psychedelics start with intention. Using them to learn, grow, or heal can unlock deep insights, but if it’s just to escape reality, the impact is far less meaningful. For anyone interested, working with a professional—be it a coach, therapist, or shaman—is essential. Preparation and a safe setting are crucial for a transformative experience.” The Five Elements for a Safe and Meaningful Psychedelic Journey “There are five essential elements: assessment, preparation, facilitation, integration, and microdosing. From asking the right questions to committing fully to the experience, each step helps build a safe and transformative path. Start low, go slow, and choose to step into this journey for yourself—not for anyone else.” Microdosing as a Catalyst, Not a Crutch “Microdosing isn’t about masking problems; it’s about creating neuroplasticity for real change. With commitment—two to three times a week for 30 days—you can catalyze significant shifts in mood, decision-making, and self-awareness. But this journey, like any transformation, relies on intention and responsibility. Microdosing is a tool, but you hold the reins to lasting growth.” Connect with us: Host: Vince Chan | Guests: Paul Austin ______________________ Chief Change Officer: Make Change Ambitiously. Experiential Human Intelligence for Growth Progressives Global Top 3% Podcast on Listen Notes World's #1 Career Podcast on Apple Top 1: US, CA, MX, IE, HU, AT, CH, FI, JP 2 Millions+ Downloads 50+ Countries   --Chief Change Officer--Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.Open a World of Expansive Human Intelligencefor Transformation Gurus, Black Sheep,Unsung Visionaries & Bold Hearts.EdTech Leadership Awards 2025 Finalist.20 Million+ All-Time Downloads.80+ Countries Reached Daily.Global Top 1% Podcast.Top 5 US Business.Top 1 US Careers.>>>180,000+ are outgrowing. Act Today.<<<See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.