January has a lot of opinions about how we're meant to begin the year — and most of them are loud, fast, and not especially kind to our nervous systems. But nature tells a very different story.

In this episode:

• Why January culture and January nature are telling us completely different things
• The relationship between winter and your nervous system
• Simple daily practices for letting nature guide your beginning (nothing fancy required)
• A powerful shift from "what do I want to make happen?" to "what wants me this season?"
• Why you're not behind — you're wintering

If you're longing for permission to begin this year differently — gently, in relationship with the season you're actually in — this episode is for you.

Mentioned in this episode: The Life Compass Curriculum & Community — now open for enrollment with special bonuses including a Spring Nature Quest weekend and a one-to-one deep dive. Details at connectionmatters.co.uk

Thank You for Listening!

I am so grateful to you for tuning into this episode of Connection Matters Podcast. This is my passion and where I share my hope for a better world. If you enjoyed what you heard, please consider subscribing, rating, and reviewing the podcast on your preferred platform. Your support helps us reach more listeners and spread the message of connection, healing and growth!

Stay Connected:

• Join the Community: Be part of our growing community by signing up for my newsletter here. You'll receive updates on new episodes, resources, and exclusive offers!
• Read the Blog for all the actionable tips, journal prompts and a deeper read of my thoughts and perspectives on connected self-leadership.
• Follow Me: Stay inspired and connected on social media:  Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn , Pintrest
• Connect with Me: Have thoughts or questions about the episode? I'd love to hear from you! Reach out at [email protected]. I always respond.
• Find out more about working with me here. 

Upcoming Events:

• Don't miss out on upcoming workshops, courses, or events! Stay informed by visiting the website here for more details for details.

In this episode, we explore:

• What orientation actually means (and why it works when resolutions don't)
• The three questions that help you orient your year: What am I releasing? What am I protecting? What am I committing to?
• Why choosing support before you're burnt out changes everything

Read the full blog post with complete insights and practices:

Mentioned in this episode:

• Opening the Year Ceremony - January 11th (online nature ceremony)
• Life Compass Curriculum - begins January again for the next cycle in January

Thank You for Listening!

I am so grateful to you for tuning into this episode of Connection Matters Podcast. This is my passion and where I share my hope for a better world. If you enjoyed what you heard, please consider subscribing, rating, and reviewing the podcast on your preferred platform. Your support helps us reach more listeners and spread the message of connection, healing and growth!

Stay Connected:

• Join the Community: Be part of our growing community by signing up for my newsletter here. You'll receive updates on new episodes, resources, and exclusive offers!
• Read the Blog for all the actionable tips, journal prompts and a deeper read of my thoughts and perspectives on connected self-leadership.
• Follow Me: Stay inspired and connected on social media:  Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn , Pintrest
• Connect with Me: Have thoughts or questions about the episode? I'd love to hear from you! Reach out at [email protected]. I always respond.
• Find out more about working with me here. 

Upcoming Events:

• Don't miss out on upcoming workshops, courses, or events! Stay informed by visiting the website here for more details for details.

What if the crossing from one year to the next isn't meant to be rushed through with resolutions and champagne, but honoured as a sacred threshold where transformation actually happens?

In this special New Year's Eve episode, I'm inviting you into something different—a ceremonial journey to honour the Year of the Snake (2025) and welcome the Year of the Horse (2026). This isn't your typical podcast episode. This is a guided threshold experience for anyone who feels the weight of what this past year asked of them and is ready to step into the new year with intention, clarity, and authentic purpose.

We explore why liminal spaces are where real transformation happens, how to witness your year without judgement, and the power of release ceremonies to let go of what you're no longer meant to carry. I share insights about working with the snake's teaching of descent and shedding, and how the horse is now calling us to rise, reclaim our direction, and move with bold action towards what our spirits have been longing for.

Drawing from my decade of ceremonial training and work as an ecotherapist and life coach, this episode offers a complete threshold practice—from witnessing what was, to releasing what's done, to calling in what's ready to be born. Whether you're a heart-centred entrepreneur, nature connection practitioner, or simply someone seeking everyday spirituality and connected self-leadership, this ceremonial journey is for you.

Ready to go deeper? Read the full blog post for expanded insights, written practices, and a blessing for the crossing. Visit https://www.leonajohnson.life/resources for free downloads including the Purpose Foundations guide to support your journey into 2026.

Thank You for Listening!

I am so grateful to you for tuning into this episode of Connection Matters Podcast. This is my passion and where I share my hope for a better world. If you enjoyed what you heard, please consider subscribing, rating, and reviewing the podcast on your preferred platform. Your support helps us reach more listeners and spread the message of connection, healing and growth!

Stay Connected:

• Join the Community: Be part of our growing community by signing up for my newsletter here. You'll receive updates on new episodes, resources, and exclusive offers!
• Read the Blog for all the actionable tips, journal prompts and a deeper read of my thoughts and perspectives on connected self-leadership.
• Follow Me: Stay inspired and connected on social media:  Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn , Pintrest
• Connect with Me: Have thoughts or questions about the episode? I'd love to hear from you! Reach out at [email protected]. I always respond.
• Find out more about working with me here. 

Upcoming Events:

• Don't miss out on upcoming workshops, courses, or events! Stay informed by visiting the website here for more details for details.

Key Themes We Explore:

• The thread that's been there all along – What my children taught me about the essence that never changes, and how you can recognise yours (even when life has layered stories and trauma on top of it)
• Why growth doesn't always look like comfort – The question Mary Oliver asks that changes everything, and what it takes to rock the boat when life is ticking along just fine
• The surprising research about what actually predicts our happiness – And why we're not finding the support we need in the places we've been told to look
• What a client discovered on her personal fire quest – Sally's story of transformation and what became possible when she stopped doing it alone

Want the full depth? Head to the blog post where I share three tangible practices you can use at this threshold moment, the complete client story that will inspire you, and the research findings that explain why connection matters more than you think.

• Purpose Foundations training (£27) – mentioned in the episode
• One-to-one coaching (£97 introductory session) – details in the blog post

This threshold moment is asking something of you. The question is: are you ready to answer? Listen now, then dive into the blog for the full journey.

Thank You for Listening!

I am so grateful to you for tuning into this episode of Connection Matters Podcast. This is my passion and where I share my hope for a better world. If you enjoyed what you heard, please consider subscribing, rating, and reviewing the podcast on your preferred platform. Your support helps us reach more listeners and spread the message of connection, healing and growth!

Stay Connected:

• Join the Community: Be part of our growing community by signing up for my newsletter here. You'll receive updates on new episodes, resources, and exclusive offers!
• Read the Blog for all the actionable tips, journal prompts and a deeper read of my thoughts and perspectives on connected self-leadership.
• Follow Me: Stay inspired and connected on social media:  Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn , Pintrest
• Connect with Me: Have thoughts or questions about the episode? I'd love to hear from you! Reach out at [email protected]. I always respond.
• Find out more about working with me here. 

Upcoming Events:

• Don't miss out on upcoming workshops, courses, or events! Stay informed by visiting the website here for more details for details.

In this deeply personal episode, I take you on the journey of a fire quest—an ancient ceremonial practice where you sit with fire through the night in prayer and reflection. You'll discover what fire teaches us about unwavering commitment, letting go of what no longer serves, and the courage it takes to stop playing small and step fully into your calling.

In this episode, we explore:

• What a fire quest actually is and why fire is one of the most powerful teachers available to us
• Three profound lessons that emerged from my night beside the flames about commitment, transformation, and stepping into your calling
• The raw truth about what happens when you confront your excuses in the firelight
• How ancient ceremonial practices inform modern connected self-leadership
• Honouring the legacy of those who open paths for us

If you've been holding back, dimming your light, or waiting for permission to step into your purpose, this episode will challenge and inspire you. Whether you're standing at a threshold or simply curious about what ceremony and nature connection can offer, you'll leave with a clearer sense of what it means to stop playing small.

Want to go deeper? Read the full blog post for three actionable practices to work with fire's wisdom this week, plus the complete story of my fire quest experience.

After listening, head to my website to read the full blog post with three actionable practices you can use to work with fire's wisdom this week. You'll also find free resources including guided meditations, connection practices, and insights to support your journey of connected self-leadership and everyday spirituality.

Thank You for Listening!

I am so grateful to you for tuning into this episode of Connection Matters Podcast. This is my passion and where I share my hope for a better world. If you enjoyed what you heard, please consider subscribing, rating, and reviewing the podcast on your preferred platform. Your support helps us reach more listeners and spread the message of connection, healing and growth!

Stay Connected:

• Join the Community: Be part of our growing community by signing up for my newsletter here. You'll receive updates on new episodes, resources, and exclusive offers!
• Read the Blog for all the actionable tips, journal prompts and a deeper read of my thoughts and perspectives on connected self-leadership.
• Follow Me: Stay inspired and connected on social media:  Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn , Pintrest
• Connect with Me: Have thoughts or questions about the episode? I'd love to hear from you! Reach out at [email protected]. I always respond.
• Find out more about working with me here. 

Upcoming Events:

• Don't miss out on upcoming workshops, courses, or events! Stay informed by visiting the website here for more details for details.

Ever feel like you just can't be bothered? When even the things you love feel exhausting and the idea of change feels overwhelming? This episode reveals why that feeling isn't a character flaw, it's actually a sign that you're in the sacred space between who you've been and who you're becoming.

In this deeply honest conversation, we explore the patterns of transformation that show up for heart-centered entrepreneurs and anyone on a personal growth journey. You'll discover how to recognise when "I can't be bothered" is actually your intuition signaling that change is needed, and why autumn and winter amplify these feelings of resistance.

We dive into the compassionate practice of watching yourself avoid, without shame, and the powerful questions that create genuine shifts in perspective. Learn how to move from awareness into aligned action through connected self-leadership practices that honour your timing while preventing the kind of stuckness that leads to burnout.

This episode weaves together everyday spirituality, nature connection wisdom, and practical life coaching tools to help you navigate resistance with self-compassion. Whether you're avoiding a big decision, feeling disconnected from work you once loved, or sensing that something needs to change but can't quite name it—this conversation offers a framework for understanding what's happening and how to move through it.

Perfect for conscious entrepreneurs, spiritual seekers, and anyone who's ever felt stuck between knowing what needs to shift and actually making it happen.

Read the full blog post with additional insights and actionable practices at: www.leonajohnson.life/blog

Ready to get clear on your unique purpose and values? Download the Purpose Foundations guide and explore other free resources to support your transformation at: https://www.leonajohnson.life/resources

Thank You for Listening!

I am so grateful to you for tuning into this episode of Connection Matters Podcast. This is my passion and where I share my hope for a better world. If you enjoyed what you heard, please consider subscribing, rating, and reviewing the podcast on your preferred platform. Your support helps us reach more listeners and spread the message of connection, healing and growth!

Stay Connected:

• Join the Community: Be part of our growing community by signing up for my newsletter here. You'll receive updates on new episodes, resources, and exclusive offers!
• Read the Blog for all the actionable tips, journal prompts and a deeper read of my thoughts and perspectives on connected self-leadership.
• Follow Me: Stay inspired and connected on social media:  Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn , Pintrest
• Connect with Me: Have thoughts or questions about the episode? I'd love to hear from you! Reach out at [email protected]. I always respond.
• Find out more about working with me here. 

Upcoming Events:

• Don't miss out on upcoming workshops, courses, or events! Stay informed by visiting the website here for more details for details.

In this episode, we dive deep into the transformative power of grief work and ritual practices that reconnect us to our wild souls and the natural world. John shares his journey from investment banking to becoming a spiritual translator and grief ritualist, drawing on teachings from influential figures like Robert Bly, Michael Mead, Malodoma Some, and Martin Prechtel.

We explore why unexpressed grief manifests as exhaustion and addiction in our lives, and how traditional cultures understood that grief needs tending, witness, and community. You'll discover the practice of making offerings to the sun and other nature-based rituals that help us remember our reciprocal relationship with the Earth. We discuss the importance of rites of passage and meaningful initiation in a culture that lacks these essential markers of transition and belonging.

This conversation illuminates how men's work and emotional expression are reshaping masculinity, why storytelling and myth matter for cultural healing, and practical ways to integrate ceremonial practices into everyday life without falling into consumer spirituality. Whether you're navigating a transition, feeling disconnected from nature, or seeking deeper meaning in your daily life, this episode offers both wisdom and actionable practices for reconnecting with what matters most.

JOHNS COACHING WEBSITE

JOHNS GRIEF CEREMONIES WEBSITE

📍 If this conversation stirr something in you about clarifying your own direction (what truly matters, where you're going, and what you're here to do) my Purpose Foundations mini-course £27, might be exactly what you need. In under 90 minutes, you'll reconnect with your values, envision the world you want to help create, and define your unique mission. It's a structured process to uncover your own answers, designed for the thoughtful, heart-led person who's at a crossroads and craving clarity. Investment: £27

Thank You for Listening!

I am so grateful to you for tuning into this episode of Connection Matters Podcast. This is my passion and where I share my hope for a better world. If you enjoyed what you heard, please consider subscribing, rating, and reviewing the podcast on your preferred platform. Your support helps us reach more listeners and spread the message of connection, healing and growth!

Stay Connected:

• Join the Community: Be part of our growing community by signing up for my newsletter here. You'll receive updates on new episodes, resources, and exclusive offers!
• Read the Blog for all the actionable tips, journal prompts and a deeper read of my thoughts and perspectives on connected self-leadership.
• Follow Me: Stay inspired and connected on social media:  Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn , Pintrest
• Connect with Me: Have thoughts or questions about the episode? I'd love to hear from you! Reach out at [email protected]. I always respond.
• Find out more about working with me here. 

Upcoming Events:

• Don't miss out on upcoming workshops, courses, or events! Stay informed by visiting the website here for more details for details.

This episode explores the importance of connected self-leadership during times of transformation and uncertainty. We dive into why feeling fear is essential rather than something to push down, how contraction shows up when we're afraid, and why focusing only inward disconnects us from the interconnected web of life. I'll guide you through practical exercises for clarifying your values, crafting a personal vision grounded in everyday spirituality, and discovering your unique mission. Drawing on concepts from Joanna Macy's Great Turning and systems theory, we explore how breakdown precedes breakthrough, and why your individual vision contributes to collective transformation. This is for heart-centered entrepreneurs, conscious leaders, and anyone seeking personal growth through nature connection and community. Whether you're experiencing eco-anxiety, economic uncertainty, or simply feeling called to step into your highest potential, this episode offers tools for life coaching yourself through fear and into inspired action.

Ready to get clear on your own vision and values? Head over to my blog page at https://www.leonajohnson.life/blogpodcast to download your values, vision and mission prompts OR purchae my complete Purpose Foundations Course for £27 so that you can get crystal clear on your priorities, your vision for the world and your personal mission.   Sign up for my mailing list to stay connected and receive tools for connected self-leadership and everyday spirituality delivered straight to your inbox.

Thank You for Listening!

I am so grateful to you for tuning into this episode of Connection Matters Podcast. This is my passion and where I share my hope for a better world. If you enjoyed what you heard, please consider subscribing, rating, and reviewing the podcast on your preferred platform. Your support helps us reach more listeners and spread the message of connection, healing and growth!

Stay Connected:

• Join the Community: Be part of our growing community by signing up for my newsletter here. You'll receive updates on new episodes, resources, and exclusive offers!
• Read the Blog for all the actionable tips, journal prompts and a deeper read of my thoughts and perspectives on connected self-leadership.
• Follow Me: Stay inspired and connected on social media:  Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn , Pintrest
• Connect with Me: Have thoughts or questions about the episode? I'd love to hear from you! Reach out at [email protected]. I always respond.
• Find out more about working with me here. 

Upcoming Events:

• Don't miss out on upcoming workshops, courses, or events! Stay informed by visiting the website here for more details for details.

Brief Overview:
In this episode of Connection Matters, Annette Knopp shares her transformative journey from restlessness and spiritual searching to embodied awakening and authentic connection. Together, we explore how to navigate inner wounds, avoid spiritual traps, and cultivate a life grounded in belonging, purpose, and meaning.

Key Themes & Topics:

• Recognising authentic spiritual guidance versus spiritual bypassing
• How early life experiences shape our seeking and patterns
• Staying with the dark nights of the soul as a path to growth
• The four pillars of true connection: belonging, purpose, transcendence, and narrative
• Integrating inner healing with spiritual practice to live fully human
• Relationships as mirrors for awakening and wholeness

Whether you’re exploring everyday spirituality, connected self-leadership, or simply seeking a more meaningful, embodied life, this conversation offers both wisdom and practical reflections for your own journey.

Call to Action:
If this episode resonates with you, head to my blog post for a deeper dive into Annette’s story, insights, and reflection prompts. You can also access a range of free resources to support your own journey toward alignment and connection here: https://pages.leonajohnson.life/true-north

Connect with Annette and pre-order her book here: https://www.annetteknopp.com/book

Thank You for Listening!

I am so grateful to you for tuning into this episode of Connection Matters Podcast. This is my passion and where I share my hope for a better world. If you enjoyed what you heard, please consider subscribing, rating, and reviewing the podcast on your preferred platform. Your support helps us reach more listeners and spread the message of connection, healing and growth!

Stay Connected:

• Join the Community: Be part of our growing community by signing up for my newsletter here. You'll receive updates on new episodes, resources, and exclusive offers!
• Read the Blog for all the actionable tips, journal prompts and a deeper read of my thoughts and perspectives on connected self-leadership.
• Follow Me: Stay inspired and connected on social media:  Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn , Pintrest
• Connect with Me: Have thoughts or questions about the episode? I'd love to hear from you! Reach out at [email protected]. I always respond.
• Find out more about working with me here. 

Upcoming Events:

• Don't miss out on upcoming workshops, courses, or events! Stay informed by visiting the website here for more details for details.

Hugh shares his personal journey from emotional numbness to wholeness, revealing how patriarchal conditioning restricts men's emotional capacity while perpetuating cycles of trauma. We discover the quiet revolution of men choosing love over competition, the importance of men's groups in creating profound brotherhood, and why foundational healing work often needs to happen in same-gender spaces first. This conversation challenges us to move beyond victim-perpetrator narratives and recognize our shared humanity in the journey toward personal growth, heart-centered leadership, and spiritual connection.

In This Episode, We Explore:

• The Hidden Cost of Patriarchal Conditioning - How the same system that oppresses women also conditions men out of happiness, restricts their emotions, and creates widespread emotional numbness
• Hugh's Personal Transformation - From being able to feel only anger to developing the full spectrum of emotions, and what that journey of healing looks like in practice
• The Quiet Revolution - Why there's a growing movement of men choosing love and service over competition and aggression, and how this impacts families and communities
• Why Men Need Men First - The importance of same-gender healing spaces and how men's groups create profound brotherhood that supports authentic masculinity
• Moving Beyond Simple Narratives - How to shift from victim-perpetrator dynamics to seeing the complex humanity in everyone's healing journey
• The Ripple Effect of Healing - How one person's inner work creates waves of transformation that touch everyone around them
• Practical Pathways - Resources and approaches for men seeking healing community, from initiation work to ongoing men's groups

Key Insights:

• Men are "really deeply longing to serve the world" but often operate from survival mode due to restrictive conditioning
• The revolution toward love and service is "much quieter" but "really strong" and felt in families and communities
• Men doing healing work among other men first helps them access "the beauty and strength and love of my masculine"
• "The world of love is here for all of us" and starts with learning to love ourselves

About Hugh Newton: Hugh has been facilitating men's healing work for 28 years through organisations like the Mankind Project and his own Sovereign's Journey program. He works with men in their 40s and beyond, helping them move from survival mode to authentic service and love.

Resources Mentioned:

• The Mankind Project
• Sovereign's Journey (Hugh's 10-month program for men 40+)
• Journeyman (initiation work for teenage boys)
• Hugh's one-on-one mentoring for men

Connect with Hugh: https://www.thesovereignsjourney.co.uk

Ready to explore more? Read the full blog post on my website and join me for a FREE Masterclass: "Designing a Life Aligned with Your True North"

Thank You for Listening!

I am so grateful to you for tuning into this episode of Connection Matters Podcast. This is my passion and where I share my hope for a better world. If you enjoyed what you heard, please consider subscribing, rating, and reviewing the podcast on your preferred platform. Your support helps us reach more listeners and spread the message of connection, healing and growth!

Stay Connected:

• Join the Community: Be part of our growing community by signing up for my newsletter here. You'll receive updates on new episodes, resources, and exclusive offers!
• Read the Blog for all the actionable tips, journal prompts and a deeper read of my thoughts and perspectives on connected self-leadership.
• Follow Me: Stay inspired and connected on social media:  Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn , Pintrest
• Connect with Me: Have thoughts or questions about the episode? I'd love to hear from you! Reach out at [email protected]. I always respond.
• Find out more about working with me here. 

Upcoming Events:

• Don't miss out on upcoming workshops, courses, or events! Stay informed by visiting the website here for more details for details.