Live Into Your Brilliance

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

What if the only thing standing between you and the life you want… is your willingness to step into the arena?Gordon McAlpine has built and sold two businesses, mentored some of the brightest rising stars, written a best-selling book, and even given away his fortune on UK’s Secret Millionaire. But here’s what really makes him stand out—his ability to strip away the noise and get to the truth about what creates success.🎧 In this episode, we dive into:The one thing that separates those who scale their dreams from those who stallWhy most people misunderstand passion (and how it’s not what you think)How obsession can kill what you love—and what to do insteadThe power of grit and why success isn’t about avoiding hard thingsA simple question that can change everything when you're feeling stuckThis isn’t about motivational fluff. It’s about real, lived experience from someone who’s been in the trenches and come out the other side. If you’ve ever felt like you should know what you’re passionate about, or if you’re hesitating to take the next step—this one’s for you.Final thought: Inspiration is perishable. Just. F*ing. Do it.** 📖 Check out Gordon’s book, Scale Up Millionaire 📲 Connect with Gordon on LinkedInThis podcast is produced in partnership with podlad.com

We love deep conversations. But there’s a difference between talking about transformation and actually living it.In this episode, we tackle the sneaky ways we can use spiritual wisdom as a shield instead of a gateway:What spiritual bypassing really is—and how to know when we’re doing itThe difference between seeing the truth and actually living from itWhy intellectualizing awareness can keep us from the depth and realness of lifeHow we can shift from avoiding discomfort to embracing what’s truly on offerWe don’t need better words to describe the experience. We need to be in it. Let’s get out of our heads and into life.Oh, and we may have coined a new phrase: Spiritual Spooging. We’ll let you decide if it makes the t-shirt.Produced in partnership with www.podlad.com

Ever felt like you’re carrying the weight of everything—your career, your relationships, your success—because it matters so much? But here’s the kicker: what if it doesn’t?Now, before you think this is some apathetic "nothing matters" take—this is the opposite. When we realize things don’t matter the way we think they do, we don’t check out. We wake up. We get free. We start playing at a whole new level.In this episode, we explore:Why the pressure to make things matter creates stress, not successThe paradox: when we stop making things significant, we unlock the ability to truly play and perform at our highest levelAnd if it doesn’t matter… what actually does?If you’ve ever felt weighed down by what you should do, be, or achieve—this one’s for you.Produced in partnership with www.podlad.com

Most of us avoid thinking about death. Not because it isn’t coming, but because it scares us. We don’t know how we’ll handle it. We don’t want to imagine life without the people we love. But what if the stories we tell ourselves about death are far from the reality?In today’s episode, we’re joined by Sue Carl—author of Life, Death, and Snowflakes: No Two Are Alike. After witnessing her father’s passing, Sue was struck by how profoundly different the experience was from what she had imagined. Instead of fear, she found presence. Instead of despair, she found love. And instead of an ending, she found something she never expected—peace.We explore:The paradox of death—how it can be heartbreaking and deeply meaningful at the same time.The strength we find in moments we never thought we could face.The power of recording our experience—not just for ourselves, but for those who follow.What happens when we let go of the fear of death and truly embrace what’s on offer.This isn’t a conversation about loss. It’s a conversation about love, presence, and what it means to truly be there in life’s most defining moments.Life, Death & Snowflakes: No Two Are AlikeLife, Death & Snowflakes: No Two Are Alike (Cover Page)produced in partnership with http://www.podlad.com

You know that feeling—standing at a crossroads, torn between holding back and diving in? Whether it’s hesitating to have the hard conversation at work, reaching for the snack when you’re stressed, or chasing the next job, the next deal, the next achievement—there’s a pattern at play.Fear keeps you stuck. Temptation keeps you chasing. One holds you back, the other pulls you in—but both come from the same illusion. The belief that something out there will finally give you what you’re looking for.In this episode, Bilos and I dig into:Why fear and temptation are two sides of the same coin.Why temptation often disguises itself as wisdom.The sneaky ways we defend the very beliefs that keep us from what we truly wantWhat it really takes to break free and create meaningful changeThe patterns we live in aren’t random. They’re built from the stories we tell ourselves—stories we don’t even realize we’re fighting to protect. But when we see them for what they are, everything shifts.Referenced in this episode:Nonviolent Communication by Marshall Rosenberg – A deep dive into how our language and thought patterns shape our reality, and how shifting them opens the door to real change.Produced in partnership with www.podlad.com

We think we need the right circumstances to enjoy life. The perfect plan, the ideal setting, everything just so. But what if that’s an illusion?In this episode, Bilos returns from a trip to Japan that could have easily been a disaster—budget accommodations, unexpected surprises, and plenty of reasons to complain. Instead, it turned into one of the best experiences of his life. Why? Because of how he and his friends chose to experience it.We dive into:✅ How your attitude—not your environment—shapes your experience.✅ Why resisting reality creates suffering, and surrender creates freedom.✅ The hidden brilliance in life’s so-called imperfections.✅ A simple practice to shift from frustration to playfulness in any situation.This episode is a masterclass in the art of fully living. If you’ve ever found yourself waiting for the “right” moment to enjoy life, this one’s for you.produced in partnership with http://www.podlad.com

After four ceremonies, a Bufo toad experience, and a profound journey through fear, love, and surrender, Al has returned—transformed, but not in the way he expected. In this final installment of the Ayahuasca Trilogy, he and Bilos unpack the last days in the Amazon, the lessons that stayed, and the ones that are still unfolding.In This Episode:The Darkest Night – How Tuesday’s ceremony turned into a deep lesson in discomfort, testing Al’s ability to stay with fear rather than run from it.The Path That Was Always There – Seeing that the way forward isn’t about looking for answers—it’s about accepting what’s already clear.The Bufo Toad Experience – A completely different kind of journey—ego death, overwhelming emotion, and the moment Al realized he was still here, even without his body.A Gift from the Amazon – The unexpected gifting ceremony and how it mirrored the deeper realization about connection and love.Returning Home – What’s changed, what hasn’t, and how the real journey starts after the ceremonies end.Final Thought:Life will find you exactly where you are—you don’t need to go looking for it.