Live Into Your Brilliance

Maria Iliffe-Wood is an executive coach, author, and founder of a publishing company—but her real gift lies in helping others reconnect to the quiet wisdom that’s already within.In this episode, Maria shares what happens when we stop trying to steer life and instead begin to trust the intelligence that moves through us all. You’ll learn how to tell the difference between the noise of self-doubt and the voice of inner knowing, how to operate from calm instead of chaos, and why the feeling of “not knowing” can actually be your most powerful guide.This conversation is a beautiful exploration of grounded spirituality—where insight meets practicality, and the next right step often emerges the moment we stop forcing it.💡 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:How to recognize and trust your inner guide—even when it whispersWhy feeling calm leads to faster, more effective decisionsThe difference between being “above the line” and “below the line” in your state of mindWhy you don’t need to feel good to be guidedThe invisible coach within—and how to listen to itWhy wisdom often doesn’t arrive on command, but always shows up on timeA radical reframe: “I know not to trust my thinking unless it wishes me well.”“You don’t need to know it’s wisdom in the moment. You’ll see it in hindsight—and that’s enough.” – Maria Iliffe-Wood🌱 Try This:📍Next time you feel stuck, ask: What’s my state of mind right now?🧘‍♀️ Practice pausing before acting. See what emerges when you don’t rush.✍️ Journal Prompt: When in my life have I followed a quiet nudge—and where did it lead?🔗 Connect with Maria Iliffe-Wood:·        Website: http://www.iliffe-wood.co.uk·        LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariailiffewood·        Books: Coaching Presence, A Caged Mind, Daily Yarns, and This One Life https://www.amazon.co.uk/Coaching-Presence-Consciousness-Awareness-Interventions/dp/0749470577 Produced in partnership with: http://www.podlad.com

What if the story you've been telling yourself about who you are is the very thing holding you back?Jean-Ray Knighton, CEO of U-Turn Homeless Ministries in South Africa, explores the hidden architecture of identity—how it’s shaped, how it limits us, and how we can reclaim it as a tool for growth and freedom.Jean-Ray shares profound insights from working with people experiencing homelessness, revealing how shifting the way someone sees themselves—from victim or villain to hero—can change everything. But this isn’t just about others. It’s about all of us. Whether you're navigating leadership, healing from the past, or reimagining your future, this conversation will invite you to see yourself—and your potential—differently.If you’ve ever felt stuck inside a role, a label, or a narrative you didn’t choose, this episode is your wake-up call: you can choose again.💡 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:Why your sense of identity is the ceiling on your potentialHow narratives like “I’m not a suit person” quietly lock us into limitationWhy the most dangerous labels are the ones we give ourselvesHow to reframe your story through the Hero’s Journey modelWhy seeing others change unlocks your own possibilityHow to create environments that redefine what’s possibleThe power of “relapse is part of recovery” — and why falling down is part of risingWhy identity isn’t fixed—it’s a practice, a choice, and a tool for leadership“You are not just one thing. And when you know that, everything opens up.” – Jean-Ray Knighton🛠️ Try This:✍️ Journal Prompt: What’s a label you’ve been carrying that no longer fits?🧠 Reflection: Think of a moment where someone’s story helped you believe change was possible. What did it open for you?🌱 Leadership Practice: In your family, team, or business—what identity are you unconsciously reinforcing?🔗 Learn More & Support U-Turn:Website: http://www.homeless.org.zaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jean-ray-knighton-fitt-693a3958/Produced in partnership with: http://www.podlad.com

Alan Carson is the co-founder and former CEO of Cloudsmith—one of Northern Ireland’s most successful tech startups—but in this conversation, we don’t talk venture capital or product roadmaps.Instead, Alan opens up about the inner shifts that powered the outer success: quiet belief, listening to your soul’s nudges, and showing up long before the external proof ever arrives. This is the kind of manifestation most people don’t talk about—the kind rooted in resilience, mindset shifts, and gritty daily action.Alan shares the practices, setbacks, and surprising manifestations that shaped both his life and leadership—including the exact moment he began to believe in billion-dollar outcomes, and why the journey matters even more than the result.If you're navigating uncertainty, struggling with self-doubt, or feeling like you're not “ready,” this episode is a permission slip to start before you’re confident, trust before you’re sure, and act before you have all the answers.💡 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:Why manifestation is less about dreaming—and more about direction, belief, and patienceHow Alan “acted like a CEO” long before Cloudsmith ever scaledThe power of following your “soul tickles” and quiet instinctsHow to build self-trust through small, consistent actionsWhy the most successful people don’t know any more than you doA practical reframing of perfection: “Perfection is doing the thing—not the thing you’re doing.”How to create momentum even when you feel low, lost, or full of fearWhy trusting timing (not controlling it) is essential to inner peace“I used to shrink my comfort zone. Now, I look for the next small step that invites me forward—even if I’m afraid.” – Alan Carson🌱 Resources & Where to Connect:🎙️ Alan’s Podcast: DevEx Unpacked📺 YouTube Channel: Butler Toys🌐 Company: cloudsmith.com💬 Follow Alan: LinkedInProduced in partnership with http://www.podlad.com

Today’s guest is Danny Diliberto, whose life changed the moment he listened to a quiet nudge and offered a bowl of soup to an angry homeless man. That simple act birthed Ladles of Love, a movement that now feeds thousands in South Africa—but this episode isn’t just about service.It’s about the deep inner transformation that made that service possible. Danny shares how surrendering to the unknown, being radically honest with yourself, and acting from your soul—even in fear—can create a life of profound peace and purpose.This is an invitation to let go of needing to know, to tune in to the wisdom already inside you, and to take one small, courageous step in its direction.💡 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:Why the words “I know nothing” can free you from fear, judgment, and egoHow to access inner peace in the middle of chaosWhat it looks like to follow intuitive guidance without knowing the full planHow Danny listens for “godly conversations” and lets his soul leadWhy discomfort is not a sign to stop—but a sign you’re getting closerThe moment that transformed Danny’s life—and how to notice your ownHow ego resists the soul—and why acting anyway is the key to transformation“You can bullshit the ego, but you can never bullshit the soul.” – Danny Diliberto✨ For Listeners On the Soul PathThis episode is for anyone who’s:Feeling stuck in what’s “safe” but unsatisfyingCraving more meaning and spiritual connectionNavigating uncertainty and needing a deeper kind of guidanceCurious about letting go of control and living from truthLooking to serve—but unsure where to begin🌱 Resources & Support🌍 Support Danny’s work or volunteer: ladlesoflove.org.za🧠 Book Mentioned: The Five Levels of Attachment by Don Miguel Ruiz Jr.🧘‍♂️ Try This: Next time fear arises, ask: “Is this my soul or my ego speaking?”✍️ Journal Prompt: What would I do if I trusted myself completely—just for today?This Podcast is produced in partnership with http://www.podlad.com

What if the most powerful act you could take today was to simply be kind—with your words, your presence, and your willingness to sit with pain?In this profound and moving episode, Jen Rowe shares the heartbreaking loss of her son, Ky, to suicide—and how she is now channelling her grief into a movement that’s saving lives through the power of kind words, courageous conversations, and the healing act of simply showing up.Jen reminds us that it’s not the pain that causes the most damage—it’s the silence. And when we learn to hold space instead of fixing, when we can ask “How did that make you feel?” instead of offering solutions, we can help the next generation (and ourselves) navigate life in a healthier, more connected way.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:Why kindness isn't soft—it’s radical, healing, and essential.How to support someone who is grieving—even when you don’t know what to say.The danger of surface-level “how are yous” and how to ask better questions.How creating safe, judgment-free spaces for young people can change lives.The link between bullying, silence, and mental health—and what we can do about it.Why sitting with someone’s pain is often more powerful than trying to fix it.The story behind KY-ND, a kindness-led movement born from personal tragedy.“We have pains, have tragedies through our life, we have experiences that knock us. And it's not easy to talk about it because we try to make it better without actually sitting in it" – Jen RoweResources & Next Steps:🌐 Learn more about KY-ND: www.ky-nd.co.za👕 Support the movement: Purchase apparel to spark conversations and fund support for youth mental health.🤲 Practice This: Next time someone is struggling, resist the urge to fix. Ask instead: “How did that make you feel?” Then just listen.📚 Recommended Reading: Permission to Feel by Marc BrackettThis episode is a gift to anyone who wants to lead with heart, connect more deeply with others, and create a world where no one feels alone in their pain. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, friend, or simply someone who cares—Jen’s story will open your eyes and soften your heart.Produced in partnership with http://www.podlad.com

What if you let go of the fear of failure completely? What if you trusted your inner knowing so profoundly that any decision became the right one?In this conversation, Kristy Halvorsen offers a question that can change everything: 👉 “What would you do if you knew it couldn’t go wrong?”This simple but profound question invites you to explore a life where your desires lead—not your doubts. It’s a doorway into radical trust, aligned decision-making, and a whole new way of living live according to your soul’s true desire.In many ways, this is the Law of Assumption in motion: when you move from the belief that everything is unfolding perfectly, life has a funny way of rising to meet you. Kristy shares how following these “tickles of the soul” led her to live as a global nomad, write a book, and build a life and business rooted in deep, joyful alignment.What You'll Learn in This Episode:·        How to use soul tickles to guide your biggest (and smallest) decisions·        Why most limitations are imagined, and how to let them go·        What it means to “unlearn” the rules and live more freely·        How trusting yourself deeply can lead to a business—and life—you didn’t even dare dream·        Why the mindset of “it can’t go wrong” opens doors faster than over-planning ever will·        A fresh, joyful way to approach business growth that doesn’t require burnout or hustle“If I knew I couldn’t get it wrong, I’d follow the knowing. Every time.” – Kristy HalvorsenResources:Explore Kristy’s World: https://www.kristyhalvorsen.comHer Upcoming Book: Perfect Unfolding – coming September 27Try This: Next time you hesitate, ask: “What would I do if I knew I couldn’t get it wrong?” Then take one small step in that direction.If you feel the call to live and work in a way that feels lighter, freer, and more thoroughly you, this episode will help you trust that voice—and start following it.Produced in partnership with http://www.podlad.com

We say we want success, love, peace…Then spend our days fighting for why we can’t have them.Maybe it’s not the world.Maybe it’s the story we’re too scared to stop telling.Inside this episode:The trap of linking happiness to outcomesThe illusion of needing more to be contentWhy it’s safer (but costlier) to keep our dreams as “nice ideas”The difference between creating from joy vs. chasing for fulfillmentYou don’t need anything to be happy. But you can still go for everything.

We all face tough moments—fear, doubt, uncertainty. The question is: do you have it, or does it have you?In this episode, Bilos shares the story of how a simple goal—completing the Cape Town Cycle Tour—became a powerful lesson in choice, trust, and taking action. What started as Vanessa’s personal challenge after cancer treatment turned into something much bigger, showing the power of letting go and moving forward.🔥 How to tell if you’re in control—or if fear is running the show. 🔥 The key difference between reacting and choosing. 🔥 Why action—any action—is where things start to shift. 🔥 The real cost of waiting for certainty before you move. 🔥 How to let go of expectations and see what happens.This episode isn’t about cycling—it’s about life. It’s about stepping into the unknown, making a move, and seeing how the universe meets you there.If you’ve ever held back because you weren’t sure how things would turn out, this one's for you.Learn more about the Cycle tour and let us know if you would like to join the Bilos & Vanessa Peloton next year: https://www.capetowncycletour.comProduced in partnership by Podlad.com

This is one of the most powerful conversations we’ve ever had on Live Into Your Brilliance.Jules Swales shares her raw, unfiltered story—from childhood abuse and trauma to reclaiming her voice and living life on her own terms. What unfolds is an episode about fierce living, deep honesty, and the quiet courage of letting go.We cover:Choosing not to be a victimWhy choosing happiness isn't the same as being happy with your choiceWhat fierce living looks like in practiceHow to meet every part of ourselves with compassionThis is not to be missed.Unmute Yourself – Be A Brave Writer - Sign Up for Jules’ NewsletterJules' Method Writing Classes

We’ve all been there. Someone—our child, a colleague, a friend—shows up in a way that feels totally unacceptable. Frustrating. Disrespectful. Maybe even infuriating. So, what do we do? React? Correct? Walk away?In today’s episode, we unpack a simple but powerful truth: The real challenge isn’t in their behavior—it’s in how we see it.Alan shares a raw, personal story about a moment of conflict with his son, Finn, and the unexpected lesson hidden within it. Bilos brings in powerful examples from leadership, parenting, and even the wild (yes, zebras make an appearance!).Together, they explore:🔥 How to stay calm and clear when someone’s behavior frustrates you. 🔥 Why ‘unacceptable behavior’ is often an illusion—and how to see what’s really going on. 🔥 The simple shift that helps you respond wisely instead of reacting emotionally. 🔥 How to take decisive action in difficult situations without regret.This episode isn’t about tolerating bad behavior. It’s about seeing what’s really going on beneath the surface—both in others and in ourselves.If you’ve ever struggled with how to respond when someone isn’t showing up the way you’d like, this episode is for you.Produced in partnership with http://www.podlad.com