What happens when everything you believe about yourself and your purpose suddenly collapses? When the institutions and systems you trusted betray your core values? Dr. Rebecca Nicholson, who works at the intersection of conflict healing and resilience, guides us through the challenging terrain of moral injury—a profound identity crisis that affects people from all walks of life.

The conversation opens a window into understanding conflict at its deepest levels. Dr. Nicholson explains how moral injury differs from ordinary struggles, comprising three critical elements: a legitimate authority you believed in, feelings of guilt and shame, and an existential crisis where you no longer understand your place in the world. This often manifests when people realize years of effort and sacrifice within a system were ultimately meaningless, leading to what she describes as "anhedonia"—the breakdown of the brain's reward system where nothing feels worthwhile anymore.

We explore the devastating consequences: broken relationships, substance abuse, and suicide risk. Yet through Dr. Nicholson's expertise, we also discover paths toward healing that conventional approaches often miss. Her work in unconventional healing addresses the whole person—emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually—offering hope where traditional methods have failed. Particularly fascinating is her identification of three characteristics that help people recover: flexibility in identity, motivation driven by service to others rather than personal gain, and the ability to redefine success beyond conventional measures.

Whether you're facing your own crisis of meaning, supporting someone through difficult transitions, or simply curious about the deeper dimensions of human resilience, this episode offers profound insights into how we survive and ultimately thrive when our foundations are shaken to the core.

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What does it really take to raise emotionally resilient boys in today's digital world? This question sits at the heart of my conversation with Nicky, life coach and mother of two teenage sons navigating the complex landscape of modern masculinity.

The conversation delves deep into how boys learn respect for women directly through their relationships with their mothers. Through a powerful story about enforcing PlayStation boundaries, Nicky illustrates how maintaining calm, loving firmness rather than reactive anger creates both respect and deeper connection. "I cannot let you disrespect me in that way," she told her son during a challenging moment – not as a power play, but as an act of love that teaches boundaries while honoring emotions.

We explore the courage required to have uncomfortable conversations about sexuality, consent, and pornography – topics many parents avoid due to their own discomfort. Nicky suggests that when parents are willing to acknowledge their own awkwardness while still addressing these subjects factually, it creates safety for boys to ask questions without shame. This approach stands in stark contrast to the "because I said so" parenting many of us experienced growing up.

Listen to this episode if you're raising boys, work with young people, or simply want to understand how emotional intelligence can transform our approach to difficult conversations both at home and in the workplace. Then connect with Nikki on LinkedIn, Instagram, or through her Working Mums podcast to continue learning about emotional resilience.

Follow Nicky on Instagram or reach out via her website! 

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The Synergy Syndicate isn't another mastermind where you get lectured at. It's a sanctuary for high performers who are ready to go deeper. To ask the hard questions. To be challenged with compassion.

If you're ready to stop collecting advice and start creating real transformation, join our waitlist. The link is in the show notes.

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What does it take to guide a boy into healthy manhood? In this profound conversation, Adam Gornow returns to explore the challenges facing teenage boys and the crucial role fathers play in their development.

Adam begins by highlighting perhaps the most overlooked yet powerful tool in parenting: genuine attention. "One of the best things we can do for our sons is just pay attention," he explains, describing how truly listening creates space for authentic connection in a world demanding constant speed and immediate responses. This simple practice—slowing down, pausing before answering, being fully present—lays the foundation for meaningful relationship.

We dive deep into how modern society has abandoned the "village concept" critical to raising well-rounded children. Historically, boys weren't raised solely by parents but by a community of adults providing diverse examples of healthy masculinity. Without this structure, parents face unrealistic expectations while boys lack clear guidance on the transition to manhood.

The conversation explores the hero's journey as a universal pattern for healthy masculine development across cultures. Traditional rites of passage separated boys from the known world, guided them through challenges, and returned them to society as recognized men. Modern substitutes like military training provide partial initiation but fail to develop the complete masculine archetype, leaving many men trapped in what Adam calls "the Peter Pan effect"—emotionally immature and avoiding responsibility.

Adam offers practical insights for fathers wanting to create meaningful challenges for their sons—pushing them to the edge of comfort zones while maintaining safety. He emphasizes this cannot be done by individual parents alone but requires collective effort.

Whether you're raising sons, working with young men, or simply interested in the psychology of healthy masculinity, this conversation offers powerful guidance for nurturing the next generation of integrated, responsible men. 

Connect with Adam on LinkedIn or through his organisation Save A Warrior 

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The Synergy Syndicate isn't another mastermind where you get lectured at. It's a sanctuary for high performers who are ready to go deeper. To ask the hard questions. To be challenged with compassion.

If you're ready to stop collecting advice and start creating real transformation, join our waitlist. The link is in the show notes.

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What happens when elite sport collides with military service? Jordan Dawes knows this terrain intimately. 

As both a professional basketball player and Royal Marine, he navigates two demanding worlds that surprisingly share deep commonalities—challenging our assumptions about performance, identity, and resilience.

Jordan's basketball journey began quite literally from birth, with family photos showing him being breastfed courtside during his mother's games. His father, a coach who met his mother through the sport, ensured basketball was woven into the fabric of their family life. But Jordan's path wasn't smooth. 

"In both environments, you're expected to perform regardless of what's happening outside," Jordan explains, drawing fascinating connections between sport and military service. "You might not like someone in your troop or on your team, but when it matters, you have to get past that." 

This perspective gives Jordan unique insight into high-performance cultures, though he notes one crucial difference: "In basketball, we're primed to perform under perfect conditions; in the corps, you're primed to perform under the worst conditions imaginable."

Perhaps most compelling is Jordan's advocacy for diversity within the Royal Marines, drawing from his experiences as a mixed-race serviceman navigating different cultural expectations. "It's about bringing your whole self to work," he explains, making both moral and performance-based arguments for inclusive organisations.

Want to discover how elite performers maintain balance, overcome setbacks, and find fulfillment while constantly pushing boundaries? Jordan's journey offers rare insights from someone who lives in two demanding worlds simultaneously. 

Listen now, then connect with Jordan on 

Instagram or his performance coaching business Phyz Factory.

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The Synergy Syndicate isn't another mastermind where you get lectured at. It's a sanctuary for high performers who are ready to go deeper. To ask the hard questions. To be challenged with compassion.

If you're ready to stop collecting advice and start creating real transformation, join our waitlist. The link is in the show notes.

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What happens when a leader steps away from strategy and embraces their heart? Twenty years ago, Jeanette Meier made a radical decision – to stop living for others, start loving herself, and rebuild her life on a foundation of emotional truth. This choice transformed not just her personal relationships, but revolutionized her approach to professional leadership.

"I was 100% giver," Jeanette reflects, describing how she once lived entirely for others to the point where "I didn't even know what I liked to eat." Her wake-up moment led her from New York to Barcelona and eventually to developing a leadership philosophy centered on human connection rather than control.

The distinction Jeanette makes between loving yourself and valuing yourself offers profound insight. While she committed to self-love early in her journey, truly valuing herself took much longer – a realization that came through painful lessons about trusting her own judgment. This awareness shapes her approach to leadership, where she focuses on recognizing each person's unique gifts and creating space for them to flourish.

Perhaps most illuminating is her concept of the three entities essential for any relationship: yourself, the other person, and what you create together. This framework applies equally to personal connections and professional collaborations, challenging us to show up authentically while honoring the creative space between us.

For those interested in heart-centered leadership, Jeanette emphasizes practice and patience. Learning to distinguish between the chatter of thoughts and the deeper knowing of the heart takes time – but transforms every interaction. As she beautifully puts it, this approach "plants seeds in people that continue growing long after you're gone."

Ready to explore how leading from the heart might transform your relationships and work? 

Connect with Jeanette at jeanettemeier.com or through LinkedIn to continue this powerful conversation.

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The Synergy Syndicate isn't another mastermind where you get lectured at. It's a sanctuary for high performers who are ready to go deeper. To ask the hard questions. To be challenged with compassion.

If you're ready to stop collecting advice and start creating real transformation, join our waitlist. The link is in the show notes.

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"The noise is relentless." When a client shared this profound observation during a recent coaching session, it struck a deep chord. Not just reminiscent of a Rage Against the Machine track, but as a perfect encapsulation of modern life's constant mental bombardment.

From professional pressures to family responsibilities, from societal expectations to our own inner critics—the cacophony never truly stops. Yet the breakthrough isn't about silencing this noise completely (an impossible task), but rather developing practical strategies to turn down its volume and create mental space within the chaos.

This episode explores three powerful pillars for managing life's relentless noise. 

Whether you're facing decision fatigue, workplace challenges, relationship struggles, or simply the exhaustion of modern life, these practical approaches offer a roadmap to greater peace without requiring complete silence. I leave you with reflection questions to immediately apply these concepts: 

What's creating the loudest noise in your life right now? What small step could you take back from it today? Where might you pause before reacting? Join our community of resilient leaders finding their way through the noise toward greater clarity, purpose, and peace.

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The Synergy Syndicate isn't another mastermind where you get lectured at. It's a sanctuary for high performers who are ready to go deeper. To ask the hard questions. To be challenged with compassion.

If you're ready to stop collecting advice and start creating real transformation, join our waitlist. The link is in the show notes.

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Greg Barden's journey defies conventional career paths in ways that might make most of us rethink our own trajectories. From his early days in the UK Special Forces to an unexpected pivot into professional rugby with Bristol Bears and ultimately captaining England's Rugby Sevens team, Greg's life has been defined by adaptation and purpose.

What truly sets his story apart is how these seemingly disparate experiences converged into a powerful mission. During military deployments in Afghanistan and Iraq, Greg discovered something profound in his interactions with locals—commerce created connection. Whether buying fresh bread from a baker in Lashkar Gah or coffee from Baghdad's bazaars, he witnessed how simple transactions dismantled walls between people from vastly different worlds.

Now, as founder of Xplore Local—an app connecting people with genuine independent businesses—Greg has taken his mission mobile. Traveling across the UK in a converted VW Transporter with his wife and six-month-old daughter, he's experiencing firsthand the communities he aims to champion while building a technological platform that helps others do the same.

Greg's perspective cuts through conventional narratives about "supporting small businesses." Instead, he frames the choice to engage with local commerce as profoundly self-interested: "Loneliness is one of the fastest growing diseases in the Western world," he notes, suggesting our digital isolation and commercial habits directly contribute to this epidemic of disconnection.

Whether you're building a business, seeking more meaningful community connections, or simply wondering how your daily choices impact the world around you, this conversation offers refreshing perspective on how commerce can become common ground for human connection. Download Explore Local today and discover what happens when you experience your community like a local again. 

Connect with Greg on LinkedIn

Xplore website 

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The Synergy Syndicate isn't another mastermind where you get lectured at. It's a sanctuary for high performers who are ready to go deeper. To ask the hard questions. To be challenged with compassion.

If you're ready to stop collecting advice and start creating real transformation, join our waitlist. The link is in the show notes.

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Fear has a unique way of announcing its presence in our bodies. For me, it's the cold sweat under my arms that appears despite the warm spring air of Barcelona. As I made my way to a radio station where I'd been invited to speak in Catalan—my third language—about my personal journey and professional work, that familiar cold sweat reminded me I was stepping far beyond my comfort zone.

What makes this experience worth sharing isn't the interview itself, but the practices that helped me move through the fear and show up.  I'd spent time sitting with my discomfort, acknowledging the protective voices in my head without letting them dictate my actions.

Perhaps the most powerful practice was consciously choosing what this opportunity meant to me. Instead of framing it as a potential public embarrassment, I decided it represented a chance to prove to my younger self that remarkable achievements are still possible, even on unfamiliar stages. 

The next time you feel that familiar clamp of fear in your gut, remember it might be pointing you toward your greatest growth opportunity. 

Need support applying these tools to your own challenges? Let's have a conversation.

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The Synergy Syndicate isn't another mastermind where you get lectured at. It's a sanctuary for high performers who are ready to go deeper. To ask the hard questions. To be challenged with compassion.

If you're ready to stop collecting advice and start creating real transformation, join our waitlist. The link is in the show notes.

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What happens when everything you’ve worked for is ripped away in an instant? 

Just weeks before beginning his military career, Matt Addison-Black was diagnosed with aggressive cancer. It had already spread to his stomach, lungs, and bowels. He was 22.

This conversation goes way beyond survival. Matt takes us inside the mental, emotional, and spiritual trenches of facing cancer at an age where most people are just getting started. We talk about identity loss, the quiet pain of watching friends drift away, and the surprising places where real resilience lives far from the battlefield.

He opens up about the bureaucracy he fought to stay in the military, the systems that helped him cope, and the moment he realised being strong doesn’t mean being silent. His ABCD method Ambitious, Brave, Curious, Determined became his anchor. But it was love, fatherhood, and purpose that pulled him through.

This one’s about what matters when everything is stripped away.

Connect with Matt on LinkedIn

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The Synergy Syndicate isn't another mastermind where you get lectured at. It's a sanctuary for high performers who are ready to go deeper. To ask the hard questions. To be challenged with compassion.

If you're ready to stop collecting advice and start creating real transformation, join our waitlist. The link is in the show notes.

Support the show

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Click here for my monthly newsletter, mix of insights, reflections and questions. To share with other driven people like you, for your own insights and application.

Have you ever felt completely stuck on a project despite your expertise?

In this episode, I explore a powerful mental framework that emerged from my conversation with an accomplished writer struggling with a new project. 

Despite his impressive track record in one area, venturing into unfamiliar creative territory triggered intense self-doubt and unconscious self-sabotage. This writer's experience reveals a common human struggle: our brains can resist accepting our competence in unfamiliar domains, regardless of our success elsewhere.

When overwhelm strikes, we're typically too zoomed in – our perspective so narrow we trip over details and lose sight of direction. Alternatively, when we feel lost and directionless, zooming out connects us with purpose and meaning. The real skill isn't permanently remaining in either perspective, but developing the flexibility to shift between them based on what you need in the moment.

When you feel stuck, ask yourself: Am I too zoomed in or out? Do I need to reconnect with my "why" or identify the smallest next step I can take? 

This simple practice can transform stagnation into clarity and forward momentum.

Help us improve! I'd love to get your feedback...

The Synergy Syndicate isn't another mastermind where you get lectured at. It's a sanctuary for high performers who are ready to go deeper. To ask the hard questions. To be challenged with compassion.

If you're ready to stop collecting advice and start creating real transformation, join our waitlist. The link is in the show notes.

Support the show

Sign up here to join the waitlist for the Synergy Syndicate.

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Click here for my monthly newsletter, mix of insights, reflections and questions. To share with other driven people like you, for your own insights and application.