ExpansiveLove Dialogues

In this episode of Season 1 (12 Experiments in Love) of the ExpansiveLove Dialogues, Danette and Jez Fenton-Menzies share what unconditional love looks like inside a family that also runs a business together. Danette is the founder of Magical Learning and author of The Adaptable Leader. Jez is her son, a podcast producer and a key part of the Magical Learning team. Together with Danette’s husband Graham and the rest of the Fenton-Menzies tribe, they have built a learning organisation that has been going for more than 27 years.

Our conversation explores what drew Jez into the family business, how growing up watching Danette speak publicly meant he never learned to be afraid of it, and why family businesses carry a built-in “why” that other organisations have to work harder to find. Danette speaks powerfully about the difference between leading from love and leading from fear, and how fear causes people’s brains to shut down into survival mode while love keeps us open, collaborative and able to see opportunity.

Jez offers a beautifully original take on love through the lens of School of Rock, skateboarding, and the human willingness to risk pain in pursuit of something meaningful. He defines love as acceptance without preconceived notions, and Danette defines it as our opportunity to grow. Both remind us that when we make each other stronger rather than wrong, the ripple effects are enormous.

Danette can be found at https://magicallearning.com

__________________________

Expansive Love explores how we grow, lead, and relate through the lens of conscious love. Each episode offers a practical doorway into living with more connection, courage, and integrity.

Listen to the full podcast: https://expansive.love/

Learn more about Chris: https://christopher-miller.com/

In this episode of Season 1 (12 Experiments in Love) of the ExpansiveLove Dialogues, Katee Gray and Evie Wright share the story of a professional partnership that has grown into a deep and trusting friendship. Katee helps business owners, thought leaders and solopreneurs find their 'unicorn' practice manager, and Evie first came into her life as her own business manager, through a cover letter Katee still remembers by feeling rather than by words. Our conversation explores how trust is earned and protected, the playbook Katee created so Evie would never have to guess how she works, and the honest questions they ask each other so that friction never has the chance to become resentment. One of the concepts that resonates deeply is 'generous assumptions': when something goes sideways, starting with curiosity about what is happening for the other person rather than judgement. Katee also speaks with extraordinary openness about the loss of her longed-for baby in January, how grief intersects with running a business, and how Evie held space for her through it all. She closes by reading 'Six Days', her piece published in Blood and Bone, which captures the return to work after loss with rare honesty. I was floored by her vulnerability, and it was a privilege to witness how much these two care for each other, both personally and professionally. And Evie offers one of my favourite definitions of love yet: being free to be in the mess and the magic of life. Please note: this episode includes discussion of pregnancy loss and grief, and some strong language. Katee can be found at https://kateegray.com Chapters 0:00 Welcome 0:40 How Katee and Evie met 3:20 Knowing the other was special 5:00 Trust, and where it goes 6:50 The playbook: from professional to personal 10:40 Investing time in each other 12:40 Navigating loss together 19:50 Compassionate boundaries 22:00 Honest questions and non-judgement 24:40 Generous assumptions 27:20 Finding 'the one': matching on essence 33:10 "We schedule love" 34:30 Favourite love stories 35:50 Defining love 38:40 Increasing the love in your life 41:30 'Six Days', read by Katee 47:00 Closing Future episodes of this series will appear on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube, and can also be found at www.expansive.love. Information about the host can be found at www.christopher-miller.com.

In this episode of the ExpansiveLove Dialogues, host Christopher Miller has a conversation with two professional partnerships within his network – Natasha Payne his practice manager and Alana Swain, a business collaborator and friend building the project Couples in Business together. Their dialogue explores how to sustain a long-term professional partnership, why purpose and values matter, and how to leverage strengths-based partnerships. The three reflect deeply on the power of how unconditional love and support can be leveraged to enhance any important and meaningful relationship.

Christopher can be found at www.Christopher-Miller.com and Alana can be found at https://alanaswain.com. Building Together: A Programme for Couples in Business is a private and group coaching experience for couples who own a business together, or an entrepreneurial couple who own a portfolio of businesses, and are seeking fulfilment, connection and financial success on their own terms.

In the sixth episode of the ExpansiveLove Dialogues I had the privilege of hosting Analyn & Brandon Miller, parents, grandparents, business builders and community contributors. Our rich conversation included maintaining love through decades of ups and downs, leveraging faith to remain connected, consistent rituals to keep love alive with a wide tribe and the power of planning life and love with intention. Analyn & Brandon are wonderful role models on so many levels, and are invested in causes and community near and dear to their hearts.

Analyn & Brandon are the authors of Play to Their Strengths, and Incredible Parent whose aim is to help children and their parents understand how brilliantly unique they are. They are also involved in changing people’s lives through https://34strong.com

Christopher Miller (Christopher-Miller.com) is the host of the ExpansiveLove Dialogues and the founder of ExpansiveLove (Expansive.Love).

In this episode of The Expanse of Love Dialogues, Christopher Miller interviewed sisters Christi Byerly (Awaken Coach Institute) and Kathryn Masso (Life Coach) about their lifelong sibling relationship. The sisters shared their early memories of a close bond formed in childhood, particularly during challenging family circumstances, and discussed how their relationship evolved through teenage hood and adulthood. They described how their connection transformed from a childhood trauma bond to a deeper, more authentic adult friendship, marked by mutual support and understanding. The sisters, who are both trained coaches, explored how their professional expertise influenced their personal relationship dynamics, particularly around setting boundaries and maintaining autonomy. They discussed the unique aspects of their sibling bond, including shared friendships and the ability to provide non-judgmental support to each other, especially during difficult life events. The conversation concluded with reflections on love's infinite nature and how they both consistently cultivate and receive love in their lives.

How would you describe ‘love at first sight’ in a platonic friendship? Carley Nicholson and Daria Williamson have been fast friends for over a decade, and their connection was powerful from the very beginning. They have navigated life as very close friends, celebrated wins and commiserated over difficult challenges. It is only recently that they have overtly expressed their love for each other, in friendship, and during this episode we explore how love shows up when it is said and unsaid, and why love is just as important in a friendship as in a romantic relationship.

Carley can be contacted at https://carleynicholson.co.nz and Daria can be contacted at https://dariawilliamson.com

Christopher Miller (Christopher-Miller.com) is the host of the ExpansiveLove Dialogues and additional episodes can be found at www.Expansive.Love.

In the third episode of this season (12 Experiments in Love) of the ExpansiveLove Dialogues, Gillian Brookes and Digby Scott offer their perspective of finding love a 2nd time around, leading a blended family, and making time for each other while thriving in busy professional lives. They have been invested in a Life by Design process for several years and have recently gone public which has garnered a significant amount of social media and press attention. They are actively supporting other couples in a similar process, and we discuss the benefits and challenges of planning life together in a way that honours everyone involved. One of the concepts that resonates deeply is ‘My dreams, your dreams, our dreams’ and the acknowledgement that each individual has agency AND our shared dreams are important to shape a thriving relationship.

Gillian can be found at https://gillianbrooks.com and Digby can be found at https://digbyscott.com/

Future episodes of this series will appear on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube, and can also be found at www.expansive.love. Information about the host can be found at www.christopher-miller.com.

When you create a deeply meaningful coaching or mentoring relationship, how much should you care about your clients? What should the boundaries be? And what is the power of love in the context of a professional relationship? Jane Otton and Veronica Mason share their perspectives on all of these questions, and are so open about their professional coaching engagement as well as their friendship. They explain some significant synchronicities in their lives, and how their support for each other has grown over time. For any coach/mentor struggling with how to maintain boundaries in their relationships with clients, this is a must listen!

Jane and Veronica are both based in Sydney and offer coaching services to a variety of clients.

The host of the ExpansiveLove Dialogues is Christopher Miller (Christopher-Miller.com) who is also the founder of https://Expansive.Love.

This is the opening episode of the ExpansiveLove Dialogues: Conversations to expand love and represents the very first experiment of Season 1: 12 Experiments in Love. Jas Malki and Beck Hopkins have amazing energy as coaches and facilitators who create exceptional impact on those they meet. They are also one of each other’s best friends and care about each other deeply. Our conversation explores why their connection is so strong, both because of their similarities and their differences, how their personal and profession lives intertwine, why they complement each other so well, especially in front of clients, and how they navigate disagreement through a ‘baby rumble’! The value of a safe, non-judgemental relationship cannot be overstated, and in Jas & Beck’s eyes, allows each of them to be the very best version of themselves.