What is a Good Life?

On the 125th episode of the What is a Good Life? podcast, I’m delighted to welcome our guest, Nikki Trott. Nikki is a renowned author, speaker, strategist, CEO adviser and podcaster dedicated to empowering business to thrive in harmony with humanity and the Earth. Her book, Sacred Business, is a manifesto for the transformation of ourselves woven with strategic action to create a new era of life-affirming business. As the host of the acclaimed Going Conscious podcast, she explores journeys of visionary entrepreneurs creating prosperity from purpose. Nikki has advised over 100 iconic brands and startup founders and is redesigning capital for regeneration as founding partner of Barefoot Ventures.In this conversation, Nikki explores her journey toward authenticity and purpose, discussing the profound impact of writing her book, and the interplay between personal and spiritual growth, and business transformation. She emphasises the importance of intuition, feminine energy, and the balance between surrender and action in both life and work.The conversation touches on the need for a shift from traditional, fear-driven practices to a more holistic, sacred approach to work, drawing on the lessons of Sacred Business.To find more of Nikki's work:Website: nikkitrott.com.Connect on Instagram @nikkitrott and LinkedIn /nikkitrott.Get your copy of Sacred Business from all good bookshops and as a audiobook.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 What is a Good Life? 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 one-on-one coaching: https://www.whatisagood.life/p/one-on-one-coaching- What is a Good Life? Course: https://www.whatisagood.life/p/the-what-is-a-good-life-course00:00 Coming into authenticity & purpose03:15 The serendipity when on our path06:15 Following the energy and authenticity10:30 The experience of serendipity 13:30 Moving into the feminine energy18:30 The profound impact of childbirth23:00 Proactive surrender28:00 Sacred business33:30 Moving from fear to love in business37:30 Treating people well and profits align40:45 Managing our energy and its cyclical nature43:35 Letting go of control46:40 Shifting from short term focus to evergreen53:00 What is a good life for Nikki?

On the 124th episode of the What is a Good Life? podcast, I’m delighted to welcome our guest, Glenn Behenna. Glenn is a recently retired Senior Lecturer at Carmarthen Business School and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David. He held a varied range of roles throughout his career, including steelworker, police officer, consultant, and facilitator, alongside more than 20 years of experience lecturing and managing university programmes. He was also an invited speaker at the House of Lords on topics related to education. Glenn’s path has been driven by a deep interest in people and how we communicate. In this conversation, Glenn shares his insights on the power of making a meaningful difference in the lives of others. We delve into the value of listening, paying attention, and fostering relationships within learning environments. Our discussion highlights how curiosity can drive personal growth and deepen our understanding of both ourselves and others.We also reflect on the need to create space for our feelings and intuition, as well as the necessity of preserving our humanity in an increasingly automated world.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 What is a Good Life? 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 one-on-one coaching: https://www.whatisagood.life/p/one-on-one-coaching- What is a Good Life? Course: https://www.whatisagood.life/p/the-what-is-a-good-life-course00:00 Making a difference to people’s lives05:00 Helping people build confidence  09:10 Encouraging people to know they are enough12:30 Being vulnerable and available to people15:30 The power of listening to open up others18:40 Attention and relationship in learning23:00 The unpredictable unfolding path of life26:30 Curiosity & becoming at ease with ourselves35:15 Leaving space for intuition & feeling40:22 Reflections on AI in education43:00 We are dehumanising ourselves49:13 Students wary of AI marking their work53:53 Conversation summary56:26 What is a good life for Glenn?

On the 123rd episode of the What is a Good Life? podcast, I’m delighted to welcome our guest, Jessica Böhme. Jessica is a professor and academic director of technology management at FHM Berlin, and she is the founder of the Institute for Practical ekoPhilosophy (IPeP). She writes a weekly newsletter "wild:philosophy," where she explores how to live life in a collapsing world. Her expertise lies in utilising philosophy as a meta-technology for individual, social, and ecological transformations.In this episode, we delve into the profound question of how to live this life—particularly in the context of sustainability and personal responsibility. We discuss the concept of 'messy disturbance' in navigating life's complexities, the paralysis that can come from heightened awareness, and reflect on the experiments Jessica undertook to align her actions with her values—including her remarkable "one dress" experiment, in which she wore the same dress every day for over a year.This conversation celebrates curiosity, the wisdom gained through lived experience, paying attention to life’s feedback and how philosophy can be practiced in everyday life, offering a grounding force amidst uncertainty.Ultimately, this episode points to a richness of life that can be experienced when we allow ourselves to be seen.For more of Jessica's work, check out the following:Website: https://www.jessicaboehme.com/ IPeP: https://www.institute-pep.com/Newsletter: https://jessicaboehme.substack.com/ Books: https://www.jessicaboehme.com/books/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 What is a Good Life? 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 one-on-one coaching: https://www.whatisagood.life/p/one-on-one-coaching- What is a Good Life? Course: https://www.whatisagood.life/p/the-what-is-a-good-life-course00:00 How do I live this life? What principles?04:10 Living in the messy disturbance of life07:10 We are more resilient than we think11:00 Engaging with the difficulty of our choices13:30 The importance of living our theories18:05 Wearing the same dress for a year23:00 People don’t notice as much as you think26:30 The connection with items through familiarity30:00 The relationship between scarcity and care32:05 The friction between long term and a world in flux37:05 Standing by and living in our choices 42:35 Integrating more than rejecting ways of life46:17 Seeing Philosophy as a daily practice49:00 Life’s feedback and responding to it51:30 Summary and what is a good life for Jessica?

Felicity Reed, a psychotherapist and leadership expert specializing in trauma and health inequalities, brings her rich experience to the table. She discusses the importance of vulnerability and authenticity in personal journeys, emphasizing how embracing life's messiness fosters genuine connections. Felicity shares her own struggles with ADHD and the transformative power of therapy. The conversation highlights how deep emotional engagement can lead to healing and richer relationships, urging listeners to celebrate imperfection and openness in their lives.

On the 121st episode of the What is a Good Life? podcast, I’m delighted to welcome our guest, Dave Gribben. Dave is a performance coach who works with strategic decision-makers, ambitious leaders, and teams, helping them engage the best of their humanity to realise more of their potential and achieve goals that matter.Based in Dublin, he enjoys life as an empty nester with his wife, staying close to their three children and four grandchildren. Dave partners with organisations of all sizes across Europe, helping them build cultures they’re proud of and leadership teams that inspire. He also contributes to MBA programmes on High Performing Teams at UCD, DIT, and as Associate Faculty at the Irish Management Institute. Dave has held leadership roles in nonprofits tackling homelessness and poverty, serving as Director and Chairman of Stepping Stone and as a founder of Seachange.In this conversation, we discuss profound questions about life, self-discovery, and the delicate balancing of the ego and the soul. We also talk about self-acceptance and the ongoing journey of personal growth. This conversation highlights the significance of family, the joy of connection, and the idea that a good life is one where we enable others regain their dignity.For more of Dave's work, check out the following:Dave's website: https://enableconsulting.ie/Dave's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davegribben/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 What is a Good Life? 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 one-on-one coaching: https://www.whatisagood.life/p/one-on-one-coaching- What is a Good Life? Course: https://www.whatisagood.life/p/the-what-is-a-good-life-course00:00 What have I left behind of myself?06:30 Approaching our inquiry more playfully11:30 Getting bored of busyness16:20 Space for awareness without our phones19:00 Trying to balance the needs of our ego and soul24:20 Being attentive to life and our nature30:20 A journey to self-acceptance36:55 What brings a feeling of abundance43:10 The security of love and family48:35 The importance of each other57:34 What is a good life for Dave? 

On the 120th episode of the What is a Good Life? podcast, I’m delighted to welcome Mike James Ross. Mike has been a CHRO, author, consultant, investor, lawyer, manager of a peace negotiations project, and a whole host of other things. He is currently advising individuals, teams, and organisations with a focus on meaningful work. The book he co-authored, Intention, is a practical guide to unsticking yourself and infusing purpose, engagement, and fulfilment into your life.In this insightful conversation, Mike shares his explorations and research into finding meaning in work, the importance of connection with others, and the societal implications of disengagement in the workforce. He also emphasises the role of love and intention in living a fulfilling life.This conversation is a wonderful invitation to contemplate the idea of a good life and what is meaningful from the perspective of the collective, beyond simply our own individual perspectives.For more of Mike's work, check out the following:Mike’s website and book: https://www.mikejamesross.com/Mike’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikejamesross/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 one-on-one coaching: https://www.whatisagood.life/p/one-on-one-coaching- The Silent Conversations: https://www.whatisagood.life/p/the-silent-conversations00:00 Individual or collectively discerning a good life05:30 Camaraderie at work10:50 Is gratitude seated in guilt?16:14 An abundance within attention23:00 Meaning at work28:40 The cost of not doing meaningful work32:22 Why does the status quo persist?37:20 The significance of the other in meaning44:20 Personally finding meaning at work48:10 Finding meaning and busyness55:30 Reasons for optimism  1:01:00 Summary and what is a good life for Mike?

On the 119th episode of the What is a Good Life? podcast, I’m delighted to welcome Tom Asacker. Often described as a creative force, albeit a wayward one, Asacker has been an artist, CEO, corporate advisor, award-winning inventor, and professional magician. He’s a student of the human psyche and the author of several best-selling books on belief, human behaviour, and personal transformation. Since childhood, he’s been collecting and deciphering observations about all of the strange ways that people think about and behave in the world. For the past 25 years, he’s been endlessly improvising, searching for ways to communicate an art of living that confronts conditioning and embraces freedom. His latest attempt is his new book, Unwinding Want: Using Your Mind to Escape Your Thoughts.In this illuminating conversation, Tom shares the incoherence of his childhood experiences and how they led him to question the nature of beliefs and the human condition. We discuss the role of the thinking mind, the illusion of control, and the significance of feelings over societal conditioning in guiding actions, as well as the prioritisation of relationship over goals.Ultimately, this conversation is an invitation for our inner spirits to emerge and to live the lives we truly want.For more of Tom's work, check out the following:Tom's book and website: https://www.unwindingwant.com/Tom's Newsletter: https://unwindingwant.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 one-on-one coaching: https://www.whatisagood.life/p/one-on-one-coaching- The Silent Conversations: https://www.whatisagood.life/p/the-silent-conversations00:00 Why do people believe what they believe?03:41 Seeking stability or something to lean on06:15 The calming of the thinking mind09:35 Feeling what we want and responding to that13:50 Revealing of the illusion 17:55 Dancing with life24:30 Feeling alive and focus of attention 28:38 Allowing an expression of our feelings34:20 We do things for a feeling that doesn’t come37:50 The prioritising of relationship47:50 Wants from feelings versus conditioning52:20 The role of suffering and confusion in revealing58:39 Playing with our minds rather than controlling1:04:34 What is a good life for Tom?

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.comBook and manifesto: QuietDisruptors.comWork: WatersideVoices.comContact 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 is my role in the ongoing creation?07:20 We are not complete on our own10:20 We are always shaping each other16:00 We need to be more human20:00 Moving beyond labels and change24:26 Sensitivity and the need for time and space30:45 Realising what matters35:50 Slowing down and being immersed in nature44:30 An informal practice of paying attention48:10 The significance of poetry57:30 What is a good life for Sue?

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?