On the 117th episode of the What is a Good Life? podcast, I’m delighted to welcome Jamie Bristow. Jamie is a writer and policy advisor known for his leadership within the emerging field of inner-led systems transformation. He has deepened the dialectic between ancient wisdom, modern science, politics and public policy through a string of influential reports and collaborations with intergovernmental organisations, government agencies and politicians around the world. He currently leads on public narrative and policy development for the Inner Development Goals, and from 2015 to 2023 played an instrumental role in the UK's All-Party Parliamentary Group on Mindfulness, acting as its clerk and serving as Director of the associated policy institute, The Mindfulness Initiative. Jamie is a Senior Fellow at Life Itself, Research Associate at the Climate Majority Project, Honorary Associate at Bangor University and a Fellow of Mind & Life. He has also taught on programmes connecting inner and outer transformation at the Universities of California and Oxford.In this enlightening conversation, we explore the question of what we are truly practising—merging mindful practices with our livelihood, the significance of our informal practice, and moving towards greater wholesomeness in our lives.It serves as a wonderful invitation to fully integrate our mindful inquiries with the way we live.For more of Jamie's work, check out the following:Website: jamiebristow.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-bristow-25020b9/Life Guild: https://lifeguild.earth/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-conversations00:00 What are we practicing?04:55 Realising we want to show up differently07:48 A cause for hope - it just feels good13:00 The merging of livelihood and inquiry19:20 The significance of formal and informal practice23:20 Showing up to life of intention28:00 Mindfulness in public policy31:00 Synchronicity and letting go34:35 The balance between agency and unfolding47:30 Bringing compassion to our reflections50:30 Bringing more wholesomeness to the collective59:00 What is a good life for Jamie?

On the 116th episode of the What is a Good Life? podcast, I’m delighted to welcome Sue McDonnell—an executive coach, psychotherapist, and lifelong student of leadership, transformation, and human systems. With decades of experience guiding senior leaders and teams, Sue helps people break free from old patterns and embrace new possibilities.Her approach is deeply systemic, recognising leadership as an interconnected dance rather than an isolated act. She has worked with executive teams at renowned companies, across several industries, facilitating interventions that honour both the seen and unseen forces shaping leadership.Drawing on a wealth of experience—over 8,000 coaching hours—and influences from a range of great teachers, Sue blends relational intelligence, emotional agility, and adaptive leadership. For her, true leadership isn’t about control—it’s about presence.Rooted in curiosity about the human experience, the wisdom of her Irish heritage, and a deep commitment to growth, Sue brings a unique perspective to leadership and change.In this wonderfully soulful conversation, we explore what it means to navigate uncertainty, stay open-hearted in difficult times, and a connection with something bigger than ourselves. We also explore eternal ties with ancestors, touching on the unseen threads that weave through our lives.This episode is an invitation to embrace the unknown with curiosity, wisdom, grace, and a deeper sense of connection.For more of Sue's work, check out the following:Website: https://www.suemcdonnell.com.au/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sue-mcdonnell-91b5983/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-conversations00:00 Our relationship with uncertainty04:00 Reconnecting with the land of your birth09:35 Overwhelming connections with the divine feminine13:10 Curiosity around our lineage and ancestors17:52 Feeling held and protected by ancestors24:00 Feeling the presence of the dead26:40 Allowing our hearts to open30:00 The conversation and connection is eternal34:00 An awareness of the range of this life38:45 The role of expectations in suffering45:31 We are always disappearing and growing48:40 Connecting with the divine54.40 What is a good life for Sue?

On the 115th episode of the What is a Good Life? podcast, I am delighted to introduce our guest, Ariane de Bonvoisin. Ariane is a global soul, having lived in a dozen countries on 4 continents. She is a mother to her son Everest, a wife to her beloved, Alfie, and a dog-mom to her golden retriever Waffle. She has worked in venture capital, the music industry, launched her own start up, was a management consultant a very long time ago and now loves coaching CEO’s, founders, athletes and being a confidante for their professional and personal journeys. She is also a published author of many books, including her bestseller, The First 30 Days: Your Guide to Making Any Change Easier, which has been translated in a dozen languages.She has been a keynote at many conferences including Oprah's, been invited to speak at places like Amazon, Google and the World Bank and also co-created a best-selling game called KidQuest with her son. She has been a world class swimmer and a ski instructor. She was also part of an award-winning documentary called The Highest Pass—a motorcycle journey through the highest roads in the Himalayas.In this captivating conversation, we explore how to fully integrate our spiritual lives, paying attention to our intuition, and ultimately embracing self-acceptance and the present moment.For more of Ariane's work, check out the following:Website: https://www.arianedebonvoisin.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arianed1/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-conversations00:00 How to live a spiritual life while fully being in this world?08:00 Being allergic to her life choices15:50 My intuition speaks loudest in the morning20:22 Jumping into the void and faith25:00 Exploring change and transition28:10 Asking for guidance 32:00 Conversations with the divine35:30 Accepting what is and retreat in the everyday40:10 Loving and accepting our minds43:19 The journey to self-love49:30 Acceptance of life and ourselves52:30 The universe is the third parent55:00 Recap and what is a good life for Ariane?

On the 114th episode of the What is a Good Life? podcast, I am delighted to introduce our guest, Andrew Alexander. Andrew is a husband, father, and grandfather, as well as a teacher, educator, and writer. Writing about intergenerational relationships in learning and the significance of education in a time of uncertainty.For nearly forty years he worked with students in independent, informal, progressive/alternative schools, including Brockwood Park School - founded by the educator and philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti.In this insightful conversation, we delve into the nuanced nature of freedom, exploring its relationship with responsibility and the importance of mutual respect. We discuss how societal narratives often distort the understanding of freedom, leading to an illusion of individualism that neglects the interconnectedness of human relationships.This conversation is an invitation to reconsider what we think about freedom, a theme deeply connected to our sense of a good life.For more of Andrew's work, check out the following:Newsletter: https://andrewalexander.substack.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-conversations00:00 Introduction01:30 How have we not learned?06:20 Questioning our ideas of freedom12:10 Limitations with individualised ideas of freedom18:20 Freedom and responsibility 23:20 A deeper sense of freedom30:45 Why is freedom important?36:31 Freedom and our interconnectivity 44:00 The trap of creating an image of ourselves48:30 The relationship between freedom and fear56:30 Attention, time, and freedom1:04:48 Recap and what is a good life for Andrew?

In this engaging discussion, Minna Salami, an author and social critic, dives into the transformative power of attentiveness, emphasizing how it shapes our understanding of a fulfilling life. She shares insights from her childhood and mystical experiences, advocating for a deeper engagement with existence. Minna also explores the intersection of spirituality and feminism, highlighting how personal growth emerges from confronting societal challenges. The conversation invites listeners to embrace their true selves and navigate the complexities of identity, empowerment, and integrity.

Anne-Laure Le Cunff, an award-winning neuroscientist and founder of Ness Labs, discusses her insights on curiosity and lifelong learning. She highlights the shift from linear paths to experimental journeys, emphasizing how embracing uncertainty can lead to personal growth. The conversation explores the importance of adventure for mental health and how societal pressures influence our relationship with time. Emphasizing joy in creativity, Anne-Laure encourages listeners to reconnect with their innate curiosity and redefine success through playful experiments.

Dr. Senem Donatan Mohan, a Dublin-based storyteller and author from Turkey, explores the interplay of life's rhythms and energies. She discusses how storytelling enriches both personal growth and cultural experiences while navigating the delicate balance between masculine and feminine energies. Reflecting on her journey, Senem highlights the chaotic versus calm aspects of life, the origins of love through ancient rituals, and the transformative power of creativity. Her insights advocate for embracing imagination to navigate life's complexities.

In this engaging discussion, Paul Davis, an award-winning business growth consultant and best-selling author, dives into the power of intuition. He shares his profound quest for personal meaning and the role of intentions in shaping our lives. Paul describes his journey as an empath and the emotional challenges of navigating authenticity in relationships. Discover how merging intuition with business insights can lead to greater fulfillment and success, urging listeners to reconnect with their intuitive gifts and explore their true purpose.

Fabrice Desmarescaux, a seasoned partner at McKinsey & Company, integrates Eastern spiritual traditions into Western management. He shares his transformative journey, discussing the shift from success to significance and the importance of personal meaning. Fabrice emphasizes the necessity of commitment in combating aimlessness, drawing on personal experiences to illustrate the emotional journey of loss and the quest for fulfillment. Listeners are invited to engage with their lived experiences and explore spirituality as a path to true happiness.

Ruth McCarthy, founder of Think It Through and Global Faculty at Time to Think, explores the transformative power of uninterrupted attention. She emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and emotional expression in personal growth. Through attentive listening, she believes we can navigate life's complexities and improve relationships. Ruth also discusses the significance of being present, challenging limiting assumptions, and the responsibility of being a 'good ancestor' in today’s world, fostering connections that lead to a fulfilling life.