What is a Good Life?

On the 55th episode of the What is a Good Life? podcast, I am delighted to introduce our guest, Lauri Poldre. Lauri is an advisor, mentor, and artist, helping people regain clarity and inner peace through sound, meditation, and nature immersion. In 2015, he quit his job to travel for 2 years and study meditation, sound healing, and mindfulness. Since then, he has performed at events and released recordings that have been streamed over 1 million times.In this episode, Lauri shares with us his journey from suffering to seeking to experiencing inner stillness—where we can be at peace with our own unfolding, and where the answers to our many questions naturally emerge without our interference.We explore the distinction between experiencing emotions and identifying with them, the considerable importance of asking questions—particularly ones we can’t presently answer—and the great benefits of resting in stillness and what can emerge from the silence.Whether it is an awareness of what is, an alignment with our true nature, letting go of obsessions with upgrading ourselves, a connection with nature and its abundance, or its impact on our creativity and how we live our lives—there is so much to take from this episode, especially for those of us toiling with our self-development and spiritual paths, suspecting we are fundamentally missing something. The stillness and silence that Lauri points to may offer considerable help.Subscribe for weekly episodes, every Tuesday, and check out my YouTube channel (link below) for clips and shorts.Contact me at mark@whatisagood.life to book a free consultation (30 minutes) for one-on-one coaching programs or to hear about corporate workshops I am offering around this question.Running Order:02:44 How to find inner stillness07:54 Action still emerges from stillness and silence11:22 From seeking to stillness15:04 Challenging habits to let go of20:34 Where true liberation exists25:24 The importance of asking questions31:44 Finding peace with what is and alignment from stillness39:30 Recognising or realising our own alignment43:29 Recognising abundance in stillness50:38 What is a good life for Lauri?For further content and information check out the following:- 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/- Lauri's Website: https://lauripoldre.com/- Larui's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauri.poldre/

On the 54th episode of the What is a Good Life? podcast, I am delighted to introduce our guest, Gab Ciminelli. Gab is the Founder of the Silent Leadership Institute in Japan, author of Nothing Changes the World: Excerpts and Insights on the Art of Nothing, and speaker on The Art of Nothing.In this illuminating discussion, we explore our capacity not to learn from our mistakes and how we get swept away by our conditioning - be it our upbringing, education, culture, etc.We share our experiences of re-sensitising ourselves to the human beings we naturally are, through silence, space, reflection, and nature, and the experiences of suffering that prompted a departure from the status quo.We delve into navigating our wider sense of disconnection and separation, transcending our ideas of identity and our fixation on measurement and labels, to an awareness of what is, and how we could step into the unknown.This whole conversation with Gab is a breath of fresh air. His open-heartedness and willingness to explore embody much of what he is pointing towards in this conversation. If you are in need of looking at your life and world with a fresh set of eyes, this conversation will give you multiple pointers as to how you can start.Subscribe for weekly episodes, every Tuesday, and check out my YouTube channel (link below) for clips and shorts.Contact me at mark@whatisagood.life to book a free consultation (30 minutes) for one-on-one coaching programs or to hear about corporate workshops I am offering around this question.Running Order:02:57 Why don’t we change or learn from our past?07:07 Are we aware of our conditioning?12:07 The role of space, nature, and silence17:05 Questioning identification, labels, and division21:07 The influence of measurement, assumptions and comparison26:27 The role of suffering, self-exploration and the liberation of failure34:22 Fear and the interconnectedness of our minds39:07 Hitting a wall and a realisation of Nothing43:07 Our fear of not knowing and curiosity50:32 Could we start afresh?1:02:52 What is a good life for Gab?For further content and information check out the following:- 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/- Gab's Website: https://art-of-nothing.com/- Gab's Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CBKPZV3H?ref_=pe_3052080_276849420- Gab's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrieleciminelli/

On the 53rd episode of the What is a Good Life? podcast, I am delighted to introduce our guest, Yvonne Smyth. Yvonne calls herself a Conscious Parenting Adventure Guide, and she's on a mission to change the world by bringing intention to how we love our children. She's launching a course and community in February, This Is How We Change The World, that you can access through this instagram link.In this conversation, Yvonne takes us on her journey from her own frustrations with her experiences as a parent to exploring the unconscious and developing her own model for what’s important in her life: tending to herself, embodying love, and impacting the world through conscious parenting.We touch on many important themes, from exploring the unconscious and the beliefs and stories we tell ourselves based on the behaviour of a child, to interpreting all behaviour as communication, enabling children to fulfil their own blueprint, along with the significance of giving them our time, attention, and presence.While acknowledging our humanity and flaws, we explore the process of rupture and repair within our relationships, the significance of heartfelt apologies, and the importance of empathising with children while taking accountability for our actions.Culminating in a beautiful realisation that conscious parenting is more about growing ourselves up than our children. If you are presently struggling with parenting or other close relationships, this episode will touch on a substantial number of themes that may be ripe for you to explore. Yvonne’s insights and very relatable experiences will help guide you towards the potential of better parenting and relating generally with others in your life.Subscribe for weekly episodes, every Tuesday, and check out my YouTube channel (link below) for clips and shorts.Contact me at mark@whatisagood.life to book a free consultation (30 minutes) for one-on-one coaching programs or to hear about corporate workshops I am offering around this question.Running Order:03:30 How do I tend to myself, embody love, and change the world?07:45 The impact of your relationship style with your children13:15 Nurturing our children’s sense of self17:15 Presence and allowing their unfolding22:15 Empathising with your child27:05 Being invested but not overpowering32:00 Knowing our own values and surrendering43:05 Focussing on our own behaviour first47:15 The importance of tending to ourselves53:00 Handling ruptures and repairs in relationships01:01:28 What is a good life for Yvonne?For further content and information check out the following:- 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/- Yvonne's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisparentingadventure/- Yvonne's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yvonne-smyth-009645a/

On the 52nd episode of the What is a Good Life? podcast, I am thrilled to introduce our guest, Martin Ebeling. Martin is a philosopher and the co-director of The School of Life Berlin. He is also the co-founder of the Pura Vida Festival Retreat. You can also follow his journey toward and exploration of co-flourishing on The Co-flourishing Project, where he writes under his alias Ocean.In this deeply insightful conversation, we delve into Martin’s exploration of the meaning of life and his shifting from a lone wolf to his fascination with co-flourishing. He shares how his recent insights on co-flourishing unfolded after a personal retreat in nature and silence, shedding light on valuable lessons we can draw from those experiences.We explore what has resonated with him in his research on co-flourishing, encompassing the practices he observed at the Zen monastery, Plum Village. Here, monks consistently share both their wonder in existence and their experiences with difficult emotions. Additionally, we touch on the neuroscience that suggests it takes more than one human brain to create a human mind and we reflect on the interdependent nature of our being.I found this conversation to be highly illuminating. We discuss numerous themes that can guide you toward leading a more connected life—connecting with yourself, fostering meaningful relationships with others, and cultivating a deeper connection with the world around you.Subscribe for weekly episodes, every Tuesday, and check out my YouTube channel (link below) for clips and shorts.Contact me at mark@whatisagood.life to book a free consultation (30 minutes) for one-on-one coaching programs or to hear about corporate workshops I am offering around this question.Running Order:03:35 How can we co-flourish?07:34 We are part of an interdependent reality12:30 The lonely wolf and ego17:30 Finding clarity and courage in silence and nature22:30 Viewing other humans as expression of nature and life26:55 What does co-flourishing entail?31:30 The importance of listening and awareness37:45 The need to consistently share our emotions42:45 The neuroscience of co-flourishing49:30 Feeling an aliveness and trust56:10 What is a good life for Martin?For further content and information check out the following:- 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/- Martin's / Ocean's newsletter: https://coflourishing.substack.com/- Pura Vida Festival Retreat: https://www.puravida-festival.com/- Martin's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-ebeling-9322222/

On the 51st episode of the What is a Good Life? podcast, I am delighted to introduce Richard Merrick as our guest. Richard is a writer, who after decades of working inside the walls of convention, writes about the journey from working for others to finding our own path outside those walls, and supports small groups as they make theirs by walking with them.In this conversation, we explore the conditions that Richard incorporates into conversation groups to heighten connection, authenticity, an engagement with the unknown, and what is. We delve into the importance of letting go of being right, not having set objectives and agendas, disengaging to reengage, and turning up as who we are.We discuss the value of engaging with the unknown for building trust, our ability to make discoveries, for making real human connection, and for the melting of the old to form the new. We also explore the role the artisan plays in ushering in the new.For this project or otherwise, Richard is one of the wisest people I’ve talked to, typified by consistently reading 3 books a week for 50 years and his continued willingness to engage with not knowing in various aspects of life. There is so much to take from this episode regarding how you engage with other people, yourself, and life itself, and it may considerably alter your perspective on how you approach your various relationships, be it at work or in your personal life.Subscribe for weekly episodes, every Tuesday, and check out my YouTube channel (link below) for clips and shorts.Contact me at mark@whatisagood.life to book a free consultation (30 minutes) for one-on-one coaching programs or to hear about corporate workshops I am offering around this question.Running Order: 02:41 Sacred spaces for us to share our perspective and experiences in groups10:26 The formation of conversation groups in lockdown14:31 Being performative creates boundaries between us18:41 Conversations that leave you energised and play22:16 Taking time to disengage to reengage27:31 Fear of the unknown, rigidly following plans32:58 How did Richard begin to engage with the unknown?36:28 The freedom of being ourselves40:46 Empty spaces and the potential of creation and connection43:16 Not focussing on outcomes47:42 Artisans at the centre of epochal change and disruption52:14 The importance of accepting & acknowledging what is58:26 What is a good life for Richard?For further content and information check out the following:- 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/- Richard's website: https://www.richardmerrick.co.uk/- Richard's newsletter: https://www.newartisans.net/

On the 50th episode of the What is a Good Life? podcast, I am delighted to introduce Claire McQuillan as our guest. Claire is currently completing a master’s thesis in architecture, where she explores the dynamics of sex work in urban settings. Additionally, she shares her life insights and experiences through a newsletter I follow, alles claire.During our conversation, Claire reveals her recent realisation that she isn’t an architect despite a decade of studying and working in the field. We delve into the intricate process of letting go of roles or labels we self-identify with, exploring both what helps and hinders us in these experiences.Claire also shares her journey as a 30-year-old single mother to her teenage son, Sebastian. We discuss the joys and strains of parenting, finding meaning and purpose, and the societal pressures that generally accompany the role of a parent.Finally, we explore the significance of local neighbourhood community. Claire and I both reside in the same Berlin neighbourhood, and we reflect on the profound impact of a fully connected local community on our lives.Whether you find yourself grappling with letting go of self-identifications, navigating the complexities of parenting amidst societal pressures, or simply curious about fostering more local community in your life, this episode offers ample food for thought.Subscribe for weekly episodes, every Tuesday, and check out my YouTube channel (link below) for clips and shorts.Contact me at mark@whatisagood.life to book a free consultation (30 minutes) for one-on-one coaching programs or to hear about corporate workshops I am offering around this question.Running Order:03:25 What is my place in the world?05:45 The difficulty of stepping away from what we identify with09:30 The significance of our environment in the choices we make17:35 Being a mother, finding meaning, purpose, and priorities26:05 The importance of communication and curiosity in our children28:45 Reflections on experiences of being a teenage mum34:45 Giving ourselves grace in parenting in the face of societal pressures42:18 The importance of open communication and community45:00 Experiences of loneliness and building community52:07 The impact of a connected neighbourhood58:56 What is a good life for Claire?For further content and information check out the following:- 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/- Claire's newsletter: https://allesklaire.substack.com/

On the 49th episode of the What is a Good Life? podcast, I am delighted to introduce Dean Boland as our guest. Dean is a Co-Founder and CEO of PolkaStays, a property developer, investor, and serviced accommodation consultant.In this episode, Dean shares his experience of the toll that several of his corporate jobs were having on his well-being before stepping into something new. We discuss what kept him in the same loop of doing something he knew wasn’t good for him.We explore our desire to do what’s “normal” and the role societal expectations play in our lives. Additionally, we delve into the importance of self-reflection and therapy in creating more headspace, as well as spending more time on things that bring us more fulfillment. We both reflect on narratives we have sold ourselves, the pain that can be perpetuated when we don’t explore it ourselves, and the role of hope and the people around us in creating welcome change.I assume Dean’s experience in the corporate world will resonate with many, and while this isn’t a prescription for anyone else’s life, his journey of creating more time for reflection and inquiry, as well as the consequent changes in his life, will give you plenty to contemplate.Subscribe for weekly episodes, every Tuesday, and check out my YouTube channel (link below) for clips and shorts.Contact me at mark@whatisagood.life to book a free consultation (30 minutes) for one-on-one coaching programs or to hear about corporate workshops I am offering for more authentic communication and connection.Running Order:02:35 Why do we keep doing things that don’t make us happy?07:05 What kept Dean stuck in a loop of work he didn’t like?11:20 The importance of continuously checking in with ourselves16:35 Creating the space to reflect22:16 Finding a sense of fulfilment28:20 The feeling of emptiness or a weight on our souls33:35 Opening up to therapy37:35 Realising what you are repressing and holding42:35 Perpetuating pain / importance of self-work47:35 Seeing the impact of personal change53:45 Summary of the conversation56:00 What is a good life for Dean?For further content and information check out the following:- 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/- Dean's website: https://www.polkastays.net/- Dean's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dean-boland-polkastays/

On the 48th episode of the What is a Good Life? podcast, I am delighted to introduce Dr. Brennan Jacoby as our guest. Brennan is a Philosopher and the Founder of Philosophy At Work, a collective of philosophers and business psychologists teaching professionals the skills they need to think their best.In this episode, we explore making space for meaning in our lives without forcing it. We delve into various tensions, from wanting to make the most of life to vegging out, accepting ourselves without lowering our standards, and balancing the time spent building a career with the need to invest in personal relationships.Additionally, we discuss the limitations of various philosophies when taken to their fullest interpretation, the importance of realising the subjective nature of our experiences, and the necessity of reflection to understand what we are projecting onto life. Throughout the conversation, we emphasise the profound significance of caring, noticing, and orienting towards a better life.For some reason, I found this conversation very cathartic. Brennan possesses a wonderful capacity to engage in a genuine conversation and an exploration while referencing philosophical concepts and sharing grounded, relatable personal examples. If you are anything like me, this episode will make you feel more comfortable with being human and navigating the tensions and experiences inherent in the pursuit of your own good life.Subscribe for weekly episodes, every Tuesday, and check out my YouTube channel (link below) for clips and shorts.Contact me at mark@whatisagood.life to book a free consultation (30 minutes) for one-on-one coaching programs or to hear about corporate workshops I am offering around this question.Running Order: 02:22 How should I live?05:39 Making sense of our distractions09:13 Making space for meaning15:06 You can’t force meaning19:16 A good life is everything in it23:56 Letting go of fixed states and answers28:16 There may not be a “right” answer but it can be “better”32:04 Living with care and noticing39:36 Being OK with everything46:00 Navigating our imperfection52:01 Acceptance without lowering the bar57:46 What is a good life for Brennan?For further content and information check out the following:- 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/- Brennan's website: https://philosophyatwork.co.uk/- Brennan's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-brennan-jacoby-51807790/

On the 47th episode of the What is a Good Life? podcast, I'm delighted to introduce Monika Jiang as our guest. Monika, a writer, curator, and community builder, currently focuses on exploring loneliness as a uniquely shared experience with the potential to bring us closer together.Throughout this episode, we examine how we've isolated ourselves from one another, the depth of relationships and intimacy we presently experience, the dynamics of unhealthy dialogue and political division, and the impact of our hyper-stimulated lives influenced by technology and work. Additionally, we share our personal experiences with loneliness.We delve into the nuances of loneliness, whether it's related to feeling a lack of community or connection, being alone in our perspectives on the world, or experiencing solitude in our inner worlds.The episode also explores the significance of community and how we can continuously foster and cultivate connection.If you are like so many who are experiencing a greater sense of loneliness, this episode explores numerous perspectives on a theme that is only growing more synonymous with modern life. While we also share many insights, anecdotes, and experiences for building both more connection and community in your life. Subscribe for weekly episodes, every Tuesday, and check out my YouTube channel (link below) for clips and shorts.Contact me at mark@whatisagood.life to book a free consultation (30 minutes) for one-on-one coaching programs or to hear about corporate workshops I am offering around this question.Running Order:02:25 How do we move from I to we?05:15 We are contributing to our own loneliness08:55 The quality and depth of relationships14:00 The absurdity of general dialogue18:25 The division and loneliness of our politics24:15 The paradox of our interconnectedness and loneliness31:20 What we are missing 35:30 The impact of building local community40:55 Sometimes it’s just saying hello47:05 Starting the conversation around loneliness50:00 Experiences, expressions and nuances of loneliness57:45 What is a good life for Monika?For further content and information check out the following:- 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/- Monika's website: https://www.monikajiang.org/- Monika's Newsletter: https://sharingloneliness.substack.com/

On the 46th episode of the What is a Good Life? podcast, I'm delighted to introduce Dave Zaboski as our guest. Dave is a classically trained painter, was an animator at Disney, Sony, and Warner Bros., has showcased his fine art at galleries internationally, and has painted for the Dalai Lama. While his work includes timeless films like “Beauty and the Beast,” “The Lion King,” “Aladdin,” he has also illustrated several acclaimed children’s books.In this episode, Dave tells us why attention is our most valuable commodity and discusses the connection between love, attention, creativity, and interdependence. We also explore the role of acknowledging and processing grief and its importance in creating something new, and moving on from anger.Dave also delves into the immense power of our storytelling and touches on the collective shifts we can accomplish through our stories. He also points to the universal laws of creativity and what we can extrapolate from them regarding life.If your life is lacking some spark, if you are feeling frustrated or even angry about not expressing your potential, this episode will give you plenty to contemplate. Dave is a force of loving nature, and I suspect that after listening to him for an hour, you’ll love and appreciate life a little more, while feeling inspired for action.Subscribe for weekly episodes, every Tuesday, and check out my YouTube channel (link below) for clips and shorts.Contact me at mark@whatisagood.life to book a free consultation (30 minutes) for one-on-one coaching programs or to hear about corporate workshops I am offering around this question.Running Order:02:30 Love & Attention07:52 On a path to mastery - creativity, interdependence, love11:42 The importance of processing grief19:03 Transmuting anger to grief to gratitude23:15 Human potential 29:20 What drives me for interviewing all these people 34:51 Exploring the mysteries of the emergent39:40 A collective shift from the stories we well46:53 Considerable change has already occurred in the world49:55 The role of creativity in living our fullest lives56:20 What is a good life for Dave?For further content and information check out the following: - 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/- Dave's website: https://www.laetro.com- Dave's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davezaboski/