And Now What

In this first episode of a new podcast format, I come back after a long pause and speak from a more immediate, unpolished place.

I reflect on the past year and on a single, meaningful conversation with a friend that reminded me why deep, intentional conversations matter so much to me. From there, I share a simple ritual I adapted from Germanic traditions, exploring what it means to let go, to trust transition, and to begin again.

I touch on the symbolic shift from the Year of the Snake to the Year of the Horse, and on the duality of life — how seemingly opposing truths can (and must) exist side by side. Altogether, this episode offers an idea of how future episodes may unfold: a spacious place where my mind can play, wander, and make meaning out loud.

This episode is less about answers and more about orientation — a quiet reset, and an invitation into what’s coming.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction and new beginnings

01:19 A reflective conversation

04:33 Rituals and letting go

07:44 Astrological insights for 2026

13:47 Embracing strengths and weaknesses

19:00 Conclusion and what’s ahead

In this episode, I welcome my dear friend Hanna Froehlich, force of energy and love, explorer of the mystery of live and consciousness - particularly through the heart. Her work is anchored in her ongoing exploration of yogic philosophy, mysticism, sacred sexuality, psycho-spiritual and somatic practice and plant medicine. But not only that. She has also built a career working for two different governments, from being a ministerial advisor through to being a senior public servant. I am thrilled to let you in on one of our profound conversations. We delve into topics ranging from personal growth, relationships, the connection between conscious relating and leadership, communicating gracefully, courageously and empathically, and the balance between masculine and feminine energies in both personal and professional lives. Hanna shares her journey of integrating these polarities, explaining how embracing both her corporate and mystic sides has enriched her life and work. We explore the significance of embodying emotional intelligence and regulation, and authentic relating in leadership, emphasising the importance of being with each other through Truth and authenticity. This episode is a deep dive into fostering awareness, acceptance, and authentic leadership. Come, and join us in this conversation - no show notes will be able to do it justice.

Timestamps

00:28 Our Connection

05:12 Hanna shares her take on Masculine and Feminine Energies

13:47 Integrating Masculine and Feminine in Leadership

28:23 Creating Safety and Emotional Regulation

45:50 The Power of Authentic Relating

46:46 Shaking Off Emotions

49:29 Communicating Feelings and Building Trust - And One Sentence That Changed My Life

59:19 The Role of Leaders in Creating Safe Spaces

01:02:19 The Future of Conscious Leadership

01:08:45 Acceptance and Self-Exploration

01:14:37 Final Reflections and Personal Insights

Connect with us:

Over to you:

How you can help:

In this episode, I sat down with my friend Nick Fransen for an insightful conversation about the intricacies of leadership and the power of self-discovery. From the story of our friendship that started on a beach to Nick’s reflections on society's perception of leadership, this episode is packed with wisdom, vulnerability, and inspiration.

Nick shares how his journey with Burn Bright and the National Leadership Camp reshaped his understanding of values, relationships, and the impact of authenticity. He opens up about overcoming personal challenges and how gratitude and presence helped him stay grounded, emphasising the importance of self-awareness and resilience.

And for those curious about the intersection of leadership and numbers, Nick’s work as an economist offers a fascinating take on integrating data with humanity to create meaningful societal impact.

Whether you’re leading a team, building relationships, or simply looking to grow, this episode explores the intersection of leadership and personal values:

Key Takeaways:

This episode offers a blend of practical tools and deep reflection for anyone who wants to lead with intention, empathy, and authenticity.

Connect with us:

Over to you:

How you can help:

“Please note that this podcast episode description was written using the help of AI in order to save me time while informing you about the content of the episode so that you can decide if it is worth your listen. But don’t worry, the conversation itself remains entirely authentic.”

In this enlightening episode of our Conscious Leadership podcast, we sit down with Gary Williamson, the Director of Workplace Relations at Services Australia. With a wealth of experience in public service, HR, and workplace relations, Gary shares invaluable insights on what it truly means to be a conscious leader in today's dynamic work environment.

Gary takes us on a journey through his career, from his early days as a public servant to his current role as a director, revealing the lessons he's learned about effective leadership. He emphasises the critical importance of building and maintaining relationships, managing up, and fostering trust within teams. Gary also candidly discusses his personal growth, including his experience of transitioning from a "non-good manager" to a good leader, offering us a relatable and inspiring narrative of professional development.

Throughout the conversation, we explore key aspects of conscious leadership, including:

• The essential qualities needed to be a conscious leader in today's workplace

Gary's humble approach and intellectual depth shine through as he shares senior-level advice that's applicable to leaders at all stages of their careers. His passion for social justice, fairness, and personal growth adds a unique perspective to the discussion, making this episode a must-listen for anyone aspiring to lead with consciousness and purpose.

Join us for an episode that promises to challenge your perceptions of leadership and inspire you to drive positive cultural change in your own sphere of influence.

Please note that this podcast episode description was written using the help of AI in order to save me time while informing you about the content of the episode so that you can decide if it is worth your listen. But don’t worry, the conversation itself remains entirely authentic.

Connect with us:

• Gary does not use social media

Over to you:

• What are some incremental steps you are walking away with?

How you can help:

• Share the episode if you care about creating more conscious leaders in the world for kinder communities (from workplaces to families)

Today, I am very excited to launch the first conversation on this podcast and it could not be with anyone more exciting. I welcome Thomas Emerson, founder of the Praksis movement studio and the Independents for Canberra political party. He is a great inspiration for me and his community and our conversation is a wealth of advice and insight. Tom shares invaluable lessons learned from his journey of self-awareness, leadership and building healthy communities. He provides practical advice on taking first steps into self-awareness for leaders, the two things you need to master in order to follow through on your vision and gut feelings, and the number one thing that leaders need to consider – but most often don’t know about. We also talk about the myth of balance between work/rest, feminine/masculine, action/reflection, focus/expansion, why as a leader you don’t need to have all the answers, the importance of taking small steps and incrementalism, and about our opinions about woo-woo ;)

Connect with us:

• Thomas Emerson on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emersonifc/

Over to you:

• What are some incremental steps you are walking away with?

How you can help:

• Share the episode if you care about creating more conscious leaders in the world for kinder communities (from workplaces to families)

Welcome to the first episode of And Now What. Let me introduce myself and the vision of this podcast.

Want to be empowered with your money? For our final episode we are joined by the amazing Ola Majekodunmi who tells us about her business, All Things Money. 

Ola started All Things Money after Coronavirus scuppered her post-uni plans. What started as a project helping friends to learn how to invest has turned into a business helping loaddsss of people manage their finances. Ola tells us how she set up All Things Money and gives us some top money advice. We're finishing with a great episode so make sure to check it out!

Want to know how you can pursue a job that aligns with your values? Interested to learn more about jobs that help tackle climate change? Well look no further!

In this episode, we talk with Cathy Mears-Martin who is an environmental campaigner and author of a new series of children’s books, the Eco Protection Squad. 

After travelling in Asia in 2016, Cathy became more aware of single use waste and began to research the problems and solutions linked to it. She co-led a company green team and started an account called sustainable ideas to share advice and guidance.

She is a Keep Britain Tidy Ambassador and an Environmenstrual Ambassador for the Women’s Environmental Network.

Cathy quit her job as a Programme Director in an advertising company in December 2019 to focus completely on her passion for a cleaner planet. She became a part-time contract recycling advisor for Keep Britain Tidy, and began creating the Eco Protection Squad, a team of super kids helping to save Terra, Mother Earth, from Bill McGreedy and his band of Eco Squashers.

If you're interested on skincare and what it takes to run a skincare business, Natasha Dauncey shares first hand experience of what it takes!

In this episode, we track Natasha's eclectic career, share some great career tips and discuss everything you could want to know about skincare. Make sure to check out Natasha's company at apothaka.com!

Natasha Dauncey, is founder of Apothaka®, a multi award-winning UK-based indie skincare brand. Before launching the brand in 2016 (at the age of 40), she had tried her hand at a variety of jobs across different industries before settling on a long career in healthcare/pharmaceutical market research, which gave her a deep understanding of health / illness, wellbeing and clinical research. Coupled with training in cosmetic formulation and a level 4 CIBTAC in advanced skin science, Natasha offers a much more rounded and realistic perspective on skincare and skin health. Natasha is passionate about creating unique and thoughtful formulations which support a healthy skin barrier, through a "less is more" approach to skincare. Whilst so much of the beauty industry is focussed on an unrealistic goal around "perfect" or "flawless" skin, Apothaka® is here to reset the goal to healthy, happy skin (and healthy ageing while we're at it!) for everyone!

Ever wanted to know what it takes to do a PhD? In this episode, we go international talking with Daniel Stumpf in Germany. Daniel talks to us about his almost 10 year academic career and the lessons he's learnt along the way. A lot the advice he shares is super applicable across the board so I'd definitely recommend a listen!

Daniel studied technical Biology at the Technical University in Darmstadt/Germany from 2012 until 2017 and started a PhD afterwards in a big Science Research Institute in Göttingen/Germany. During his time in academia, he got involved in several science-based projects and experienced both sides of the coin of becoming a scientist: from meeting interesting and passionate people from all over the world over realizing that grades (only) kind of matter to developing resilience skills to manage one‘s own (high) expectations.