What is a Good Life?

On the 95th episode of the What is a Good Life? podcast, I am delighted to introduce our guest, Madelaine Ley. Madelaine is a philosopher, spiritual ecologist, and contemplative artist. Her varied work includes lecturing at Delft University of Technology and Lassonde Engineering School in Canada on digital citizenship, responsible AI, intersectional approaches to tech, and robot-ethics; hosting Sacred Sessions, non-religious gatherings that blend philosophy, art, science, contemplative practice and collective reflection; writing and podcasting for Beauty in the Mire; and experimenting with contemplative art. She was named one of the “100 Brilliant Women in AI Ethics” by Lighthouse3 in 2022 and has been featured by the BBC, Leidsch Dagblad, Yes! Magazine, and Life Itself, as well as funded by The European Pavilion, Horizon 2020 and the Social Science Research Council of Canada.In this glorious conversation, Madelaine shares how she is deepening her awareness of her embodied experience of life. We discuss how the birth of her daughter revealed an inner bravery, while also exploring the importance of embracing grief, along with the profound grounding and lessons she received from her spiritual mentor in embodying agenda-free presence and resisting the urge to fix or give advice.This whole conversation is a wonderful invitation to pay attention to your felt experience of life and to recognise the wisdom our bodies can offer.Subscribe for weekly episodes, every Tuesday, and check out my YouTube channel (link below) for full interviews and clips.For further content and information check out the following:Madelaine's Website: https://www.madelaineley.com/Madelaine's Newsletter: https://madelaineley.substack.com/Contemplative Art: https://liquidbecomings.eu/28th-september-in-utrecht-liquid-becomings-x-sonnenborgh-museum/- 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/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 weekly free silent conversations, discuss experiences I create to stimulate greater trust, communication, and connection, amongst your leadership teams, or you simply want to get in touch.00:00 Introduction02:50 Intuition & living at the edges of our skin08:10 Breakthroughs from motherhood and meltdowns13:50 The significance of breakdowns and ruptures16:35 Listening to energies that visit our bodies22:08 The value of an awareness of death27:05 The importance of embracing grief32:20 Agenda free presence37:55 The influence of a spiritual mentor42:12 What is beyond measurement45:07 The experience of silence49:20 The feeling of bravery from childbirth56:50 What is a good life for Madelaine?

On the 94th episode of the What is a Good Life? podcast, I am delighted to introduce our guest, Jennifer Murphy. Jennifer is an Irish mythologist, anthropologist, creativity mentor, and the founder of The Celtic Creatives. A Dubliner born and bred, from the time she could talk, Jennifer's grandmother, Frances O'Sullivan, filled her ears with tales from Irish myth and folklore, fuelling a now 40-year fascination with the stories of her lineage. Jennifer's apprenticeship in following her soul’s breadcrumbs over the past twenty years has guided her work and formal studies in Medieval Irish and Celtic Studies, Sociocultural Anthropology, Creativity and Innovation, and Jungian Psychology and Art Therapy. She supports creatives from diverse fields to (re)connect with the mythopoetic imagination of Ireland, using ancient wisdom to inform modern creativity through myth, dreamwork, imagination, and the body. She is currently writing a book on what Irish mythology can teach us about our creativity.In this glorious conversation, Jennifer shares her journey of listening to her soul’s story—a path which has revealed her Dán (soul’s gift) and includes balancing the masculine and feminine, Sus and Imbas—the scientific and divine inspiration—exploring dreams, other worlds, and Irish mythology, and imbuing everything around us with life.This whole episode may offer you many new lines of inquiry, as well as ways of perceiving this world, which may be integral to experiencing your own good life.Subscribe for weekly episodes, every Tuesday, and check out my YouTube channel (link below) for full interviews and clips.For further content and information check out the following:Jen's Website: https://www.celticcreatives.com/Jen's Substack: https://celticcreatives.substack.com/Jen's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/celticembodiment/- 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/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 weekly free silent conversations, discuss experiences I create to stimulate greater trust, communication, and connection, amongst your leadership teams, or you simply want to get in touch.00:00 Introduction03:00 What is my Dán (Soul’s gift)?09:48 Taking up the path of the soul15:00 Wisdom: Sus and Imbas20:00 Balancing masculine and feminine energy23:30 Exploring the masculine & unconscious27:30 Mythology - exploring the story of the soul30:30 Exploring dreams & other worlds33:30 The land is alive with soul35:30 Other worlds & connecting with land39:10 Reconnecting to the divine45:40 The Irish psyche & mythology49:48 Connecting with the language and folklore55:30 What is a good life for Jen?

On the 93rd episode of the What is a Good Life? podcast, I am delighted to introduce our guest, Kemo Camara. Kemo is the visionary behind Omek, a community-centric platform whose mission is to amplify the talent, voices, and energy of biculturals of African descent. A social entrepreneur, community influencer, economist, and captivating speaker, Kemo's journey has spanned continents, with impactful engagements across Africa, the United States, and Europe. He has held extensive leadership roles and responsibilities in community organisations and co-founded multiple businesses and non-profit organisations in the United States and Europe. His passion lies in activating our collective human potential, bringing people from diverse backgrounds together to work towards a common goal.In this wonderful conversation, Kemo shares his journey of building community and realising purpose in his life. He discusses the insights around community that he gained from his upbringing and family in Guinea, the values of trust, dignity, and respect that were instilled in him, and the energy we drain from ourselves by constantly having our guards up.This entire conversation is a great example of the importance of reflection, understanding who we are, and paying attention to the feedback life provides in order to utilise all aspects of ourselves to realise greater purpose in our lives.Subscribe for weekly episodes, every Tuesday, and check out my YouTube channel (link below) for full interviews and clips.For further content and information check out the following:Omek's Website: myomek.comKemo's LinkedIn: LinkedIn- 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/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 weekly free silent conversations, discuss experiences I create to stimulate greater trust, communication, and connection, amongst your leadership teams, or you simply want to get in touch.00:00 Introduction02:50 What kind of impact do I want to make?06:20 What do people in my life say about me?10:30 What is fundamentally important14:50 Family, elders, and respect19:50 Giving trust and possibilities27:20 Building community in other countries35:00 Realising what matters most40:50 Paying attention to the life’s feedback44:50 Speaking to people as humans at work47:35 The journey to building new leaders & community54:05 Bringing all of who we are57:05 What is a good life for Kemo?

On the 92nd episode of the What is a Good Life? podcast, I am delighted to introduce our guest, Rachel Donald. Rachel is the creator of Planet: Critical, the podcast and newsletter for a world in crisis with 15,000+ subscribers from 160 countries. Planet: Critical connects the dots of science, art, language, politics, media, philosophy and power to reveal the big picture. Rachel speaks internationally on this ecosystem as an independent researcher and writer. Alongside Planet: Critical, her world exclusive investigations into climate corruption have been published in The Guardian, Al Jazeera, Mongabay, The Intercept, Byline Times and the New Republic.In this wonderful conversation, Rachel takes us on her journey of looking beyond the veil, as for her, the world never seemed the way people said it was. She shares her experiences of questioning what is real and true, letting go of certainty, becoming more aware of and focused on the relationships between everything, and the joy that comes from doing work you love that serves others. She also explores finding ways to engage with the world while staying true to your own nature.This entire conversation is filled with insights and realisations that deeply connect to experiencing a fulfilling life, while Rachel’s path may inspire you to think more critically and to reflect on what you are actively questioning and choosing in your own life.Subscribe for weekly episodes, every Tuesday, and check out my YouTube channel (link below) for full interviews and clips.For further content and information check out the following:Rachel's Website: www.planetcritical.comRachel's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-donald/- 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/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 weekly free silent conversations, discuss experiences I create to stimulate greater trust, communication, and connection, amongst your leadership teams, or you simply want to get in touch.00:00 Introduction02:52 Not holding onto answers or certainty08:02 The shift towards accepting uncertainty11:12 Getting out of our way to grow14:52 No decision is permanent17:52 Making big decisions with clarity24:12 Empowered to choose your own struggle28:22 Sensing something wasn’t true31:52 Seeing the world differently36:52 Engaging with the world while remaining who we are43:02 New ways of lifting the veil47:22 A network of responses50:32 Developing empathy for different perspectives56:22 What is a good life for Rachel?

On the 91st episode of the What is a Good Life? podcast, I am delighted to welcome our guest, Andrea Hiott. Andrea is a philosopher and the founder of Making Ways, a private educational consultancy that works with individuals, businesses, and organisations such as EMI to explore the guiding philosophies at the core of our lives and actions. She is also an author and educator, holding degrees in the philosophy of mind, neuroscience, and UNESCO World Heritage. Andrea has authored several books, including Thinking Small, and her work has appeared in renowned publications such as the The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Bloomberg, Huffington Post, National Geographic, and the San Francisco Chronicle. In addition, she hosts several podcasts, including Love & Philosophy and Desirable Unknown. In this captivating conversation, Andrea shares her journey with the question, "What is mind?" We discuss the importance of developing our ability to hold paradox, handle the intensity of our emotions, and navigate the challenges, joys, and fears that love can sometimes bring. We explore how our presence and attention can facilitate change within ourselves and others, and the profound impact of sharing meaningful moments together.This whole conversation is deeply insightful, offering much to learn from Andrea’s curiosity, wisdom, and reflections. Which may help you to embrace the experience of being human more fully.Subscribe for weekly episodes, every Tuesday, and check out my YouTube channel (link below) for full interviews and clips.For further content and information check out the following:Andrea's Website: https://www.andreahiott.net/ Andrea's Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@waymaking23/featured - 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/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 weekly free silent conversations, discuss experiences I create to stimulate greater trust, communication, and connection, amongst your leadership teams, or you simply want to get in touch.00:00 Introduction02:50 What is mind?07:16 What can we handle?11:41 Portals to be present15:11 More to this than we understand19:21 The joy and curiosity of deep feelings23:21 What is mind and what is mine? Holding paradox27:51 We are always in process32:21 Being present and the changes it allows33:41 Acknowledging our own possibility for change41:46 Time, mind, and memory46:31 The resonance of meaning through time50:41 The paradox of our separate and shared lives56:18 What is a good life for Andrea? 

Seb Randle, founder of The Helpful Space, is a consultant and coach focused on personal growth. In this insightful conversation, he shares his journey of self-discovery, including his experiences with family counseling and body image. Seb highlights the importance of self-acceptance, intentional living, and releasing self-judgment. He delves into the impact of social media on identity and the need for allyship and meaningful connections. With relatable anecdotes, he inspires listeners to navigate their own paths toward understanding their truth.

On the 89th episode of the What is a Good Life? podcast, I am delighted to introduce our guest, Manda Scott. Manda trained as a veterinary surgeon but is now an award-winning novelist and host of the Accidental Gods podcast. Best known for the internationally best-selling Boudica: Dreaming series, which The New York Times labelled “a masterpiece in historical fiction,” her latest novel departs from historical fiction in favour of a contemporary Thrutopian narrative, exploring the potential for a future we’d be proud to leave as our legacy. Any Human Power opens doorways we could all walk through, following routes to a paradigm shift we could make happen now.In this captivating conversation, Manda takes us on her journey of connecting to the living web of life. We explore what the web is asking of us, learning to learn through pain until we can learn through love, the joyful curiosity that arises from the heart-mind connection, dreaming awake, and the magic of co-creation that our relationships with each other can entail. She outlines the role of artists in envisioning a future that lays the foundations for a new way of being and path to follow.This entire conversation is brimming with hope, connection, curiosity, and considerable wisdom and insight from Manda. I hope it serves as a window into what is possible when we fully sense and connect with all that is around us—the living web of life.Subscribe for weekly episodes, every Tuesday, and check out my YouTube channel (link below) for full interviews and clips.For further content and information check out the following:Manda's website / books: https://mandascott.co.uk/Manda's podcast: https://accidentalgods.life/- For the 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/Contact me at mark@whatisagood.life if you'd like to explore your own lines of self-inquiry, take part in my weekly free silent conversations, discuss experiences I create to stimulate greater trust, communication, and connection, amongst your teams, or you simply want to get in touch.00:00 Introduction02:45 Podcast begins04:45 Connecting with the web of life07:55 Consciously encountering the web of life12:15 Communicating with time and space18:03 Learning through pain and love22:57 Accepting, understanding and healing26:28 The heart-mind connection31:45 The power of joyful curiosity37:15 Feeling the web of life42:03 Attributing more aliveness to AI and others45:32 Dreaming awake and the void55:37 Responding to messages from the web of life59:45 Inquiries into death1:03:45 A place outside of space and time and the role of artists1:09:16 A whole new way of being and path to take1:18:20 What is a good life for Manda?

Derek Sivers, an insightful author and former musician known for his engaging TED talks, shares transformative stories from his varied life. He explores how embracing diverse perspectives can reshape our understanding of challenges. Sivers discusses the journey from musician to entrepreneur, emphasizing the continuous pursuit of growth and self-actualization. He dives into the paradox of wealth and altruism, and the emotional journey of creative expression. This conversation inspires listeners to reflect on authenticity and the joy of exploring life with curiosity.

Dr. Niobe Way, a Professor of Developmental Psychology at NYU and founder of the Project for the Advancement of Our Common Humanity, dives deep into what shapes our humanity. She discusses the clash between cultural norms and our true nature, advocating for active listening and storytelling as tools for connection. Niobe shares her insights on the complexities of adolescent friendships and the importance of recognizing diverse narratives. She emphasizes how meaningful conversations can combat isolation and enhance emotional intelligence, particularly among boys today.

Nic Askew, a filmmaker renowned for his exploration of human connection, shares his journey into authenticity and belonging. He reveals how his 'Inner View' method uses stillness and the camera to highlight our innate sense of belonging. Nic discusses the exhaustion of seeking external validation and the transformative power of silence in fostering deeper relationships. He emphasizes that true worth comes from simply existing, inviting listeners to embrace their inherent value and connect meaningfully with others.