Amber is the founder and facilitator of Alchemy Rites, the iSoma practitioner training course and host of Deep Currents podcast. In this episode she reflects on the origins of this deep and transformational work, its evolution and its future. We chat about the importance of rites of passage for personal growth and healing amidst modern relational challenges.

Amber's work highlights the power of emotional healing through relationship, connection and community and the need for this in an increasingly fractured world. We explore the tension of being of service to something greater while navigating personal needs, how we might connect more deeply to self, nature and others in daily life and the importance of contact - referencing the work of Duey Freeman. 

This was recorded and released at the end of the calendar year and at the end of the Alchemy Rites program and so the theme of endings and new beginnings runs throughout our conversation. Amber shares some devotional practices to support you through these changing times which I know will be really helpful.

To connect with Amber you can find more info at www.amberhawken.com and sign up to her newsletter there. 

It's been a while, almost a year! Just wanted to check-in, say hi, and thank you. Thank you for listening. I've got a couple of updates to share in this episode but really I just wanted to dust off the cobwebs.

I mentioned the rituals resource library I collated, you can access that here.

I also asked for some feedback, if you've got a minute you can contact me via email at [email protected] or message me on Instagram @mikey.ellis

I’ve been following Shy’s work for years now. I think the work he’s doing to bring greater self awareness to teaching, learning and education is essential, it’s so important.

Shy has plenty of experience in the education sector having been a high school teacher of psychology, science and maths and is now a sought after education consultant and researcher working as an Assistant Professor of Learning Sciences (Design & Pedagogy) in the Faculty of Education, University of Canberra.

He has two Bachelors degrees, two Masters degrees and a PhD so he knows a thing or two about learning. His PhD thesis was on, 'Sustainable school improvement: enhancing school middle leaders in epistemic cognition for teaching about self regulated learning'.

As you'll notice from this conversation, not only is Shy's knowledge of how we learn extensive, but he has a unique ability to make complex topics as approachable and relatable as he is. 

In this conversation we discuss:

• What exactly is 'self regulated learning'?
• How might we cultivate this - both in school students and as adults?
• What are the strategies for developing greater self regulation?
• Why does this matter?
• What's the relationships between self regulation, self awareness, social and emotional awareness? 
• What role can parents play in developing greater self regulated learners?
• How do we do this as adults?

To learn more about Shy's work, visit his website here.

Follow him on social media here on Instagram, here on Twitter.

Watch his 2023 TED Talk, 'What we fail to learn in schools'.

Listen to his podcast, 'Educate to Self-Regulate' here. 

In this episode I speak with Dr Arne Rubinstein - author of 'The Making of Men' and CEO of the Rites of Passage Institute. We begin with the current state of masculinity in Australia and Arne's honest and cautionary assessment of it.

We discuss the desperate need for healthy masculinity and the role rites of passage experiences play in this. Arne has over 30 years of experience doing this work which is arguably more important and necessary now that it has ever been.

Arne shares insights on what we can do to support boys and men in cultivating more healthy expressions of masculinity, the role of parents and schools and what we can do as as individuals to create a culture that supports young people in identifying their gifts and sharing them in service of the community.

For more information on the Rites of Passage Institute - visit the website here.

You'll find a number of courses and workshops including father and daughter camps, mother and son camps, a camp for all young warriors, rites of passage facilitator training, resources and training for schools and online courses.

You can find Arne's book, 'The Making of Men' here.

Follow on social media here:
Instagram
Facebook
TikTok

When I met Tarang earlier this year and listened to him speak as a panellist at an event, I knew there was so much more I wanted to hear from him.  We got the chance to find some time amongst Tarang's busy schedule to chat and I'm glad we did.

We discussed some difficult issues, important issues. Issues such as gender based family and domestic violence, mental health, masculinities and the desperate need for positive role models for boys and young men.

Tarang's invitation for us all to be advocates for these issues is a compelling and inspiring call to action. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did.  

You can find out more about Tarang and his work and how to contact him below.

Website

Tarang's Instagram

Not One More Niki Instagram

LinkedIn

Email: [email protected]

Hi,

I need to have conversations like this, albeit with you via a podcast. It helps. I hope it helps you, too.

I mentioned some quotes from John O'Donohue in this episode, you can listen to the full conversation here with Krista Tipppet, it's pure magic - The Inner Landscape of Beauty. 

And you can find out more about Tara Brach and RAIN here. 

With love,

Mikey

Hi,

What a time hey. I don't know about you but I feel like it's time to do things differently, very differently. This next 'season' of A Satisfied Mind podcast will both exploring how we might do this and documenting my experience.

In this episode I share an update and an invitation to join me.

I also mention some words I wrote back in 2020 about going 'back to work'.

And there's this interview with Daniel Schmachtenberger which will blow your mind in the realest way.

Like, subscribe, do the things you do when you love a podcast.

Much gratitude and love,

Mikey

And join us in the next Men's Circle if you read this and are not to late to register - we begin October 17th. 

Pete is an accomplished photographer who has travelled the world shooting and working with people like the Obamas and Simon Sinek. He's now travelling less, creating more and has gathered a thriving community of soulful entrepreneurs bringing authenticity to their art. 

Through his bespoke programs and intuitive gift for identifying and coaxing out the essence of people he works with, he's teaching others how to create content that matters and having a helluva lot of fun doing it. 

In this conversation we talk about this work and his creative process. We talk about magnets and mosquitos, creating before you consume and what authenticity actually means.

This conversation is full of truth bombs, soulful insights and plenty of tools and tips to help you to make more meaningful content, no matter what context.

For more information on all Pete's offerings check out his website here

To join The Playground click here

The Create Content That Matters program

Show notes seem a bit pointless after what might the the longest podcast title! Here's the downlow on this episode.

I finished walking the Camino de Santiago and experienced the come down, the anticlimax was real. I then had a few friends reach out and the conversations that ensued were extremely impactful. I wrote an article about what happens after the hero's journey and was sitting here wondering how to tie it all together.

This podcast is my attempt to do that, I hope it translates.

I also share my intention to create a space for men to more of this – sharing in community.  Details are at the end of the episode and a link to register your interest is below.

After the Hero's Journey Blog Post

Register for the May intake of Integrate - A Five Week Self-Leadership Course for Men. 

Today I walked up to the highest point on the Camino de Santiago. There's a cross there atop a mound of stones that pilgrims have left behind.

These are both literal and figurative symbols of that which they've been carrying and no longer want to carry.

On the other side of this peak I stepped off the trail and sat on some grass to record this episode in the sunshine whilst thinking about letting go and why it's so hard.

I reference David Whyte's poem, Faces at Braga. You can read it here.