What is a Good Life?

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?

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.