In this special extended episode, we explore the complex decision of whether or not to have children through intimate conversations with parents, step-parents, and those who have chosen to be child-free. Our guests share their personal journeys, fears, joys, and wisdom around one of life's biggest choices.

Key Topics Discussed:

●      The shift from seeing parenthood as a default path to a conscious choice

●      How different people come to their decision about having children

●      Addressing fears and societal pressures around both choices

●      Finding purpose and meaning with or without children

●      Making intentional choices rather than following expectations

Featuring conversations with:

●      Caitlin Grieves (New mother) @caitlingraces on instragram

●      Megan Vasko (Founder of No Kidding, Child Free in Edinburgh, a thriving community of over 1,000 child-free women fostering connection and friendship) https://www.facebook.com/groups/5384799758244453/

●      Peter Clark (Father of two) @clarke.pete on Instagram 

●      Dr. Elizabeth Cripps (Senior lecturer in Political Theory at the University of Edinburgh and author of "Parenting on Earth: A Philosopher's Guide to Doing Right by Your Kids and Everyone Else") https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-cripps-7789061a6/

●      Camila Das Gupta (Child-free by choice) @camidas on instragram

●      Litzi Essler (Producer) https://www.linkedin.com/in/litziessler/

●      Jan and Mike Thompson (Parents with grown children)

Caitlin’s 4 Ps to Consider When Exploring Whether To Have Kids:

1. Practicalities - Discuss concrete aspects like finances, parental policies at work, and lifestyle considerations.
2. Personal values (around parenting) - Exploring views on discipline, family involvement, and how parenting styles would mesh together.
3. Priorities (for life) - Examining what's important in life overall (like travel, relationships, career) and how children would fit or wouldn't fit into that picture.
4. Prophesising - Walking through what life might look like in 5, 10, 15 years, both with and without children, considering each path's positives and potential challenges.

Links mentioned in the episode:

●      No Kidding, Child Free in Edinburgh facebook page

●      Dr. Elizabeth Cripps' book "Parenting on Earth"

●      Gabor Maté’s Instagram page

Connect With Our Host, Alice Thompson, through her Instagram, LinkedIn or check out her coaching services and resources on her website

Connect With Our Producer, Litzi Essler, through LinkedIn

Connect With Our Artist, Duncan Peace of Peace Signs, through his Instagram

Sarah’s back! In this insightful episode, we delve deeper into the complex dynamics of relationships through the lens of the Enneagram with Sarah. This conversation unpacks how our unconscious fears shape relationship patterns, attachment styles, and reactions, offering a fresh perspective on cultivating understanding and compassion in partnerships. We explore how knowing our type and those of our partners can help us navigate differences with more empathy and openness.

Key Topics Discussed:

●      Using the Enneagram to understand relationship dynamics and personal triggers

●      Exploring attachment styles and how they manifest in relationships

●      Differentiating between personal needs and relational expectations

●      Cultivating self-awareness to break unconscious patterns

●      Practical ways to foster empathy, communication, and connection

Sarah Cumings is a relationship counsellor with specialised training from Relationship Scotland. Combining counselling and coaching approaches, she helps facilitate meaningful change by developing a deep and compassionate understanding of human nature. Sarah has extensive experience working with the Enneagram, using this profound tool to help people understand the forces that shape their behaviours and worldviews. Her work focuses on helping clients recognise their patterns and motivations, leading to greater self-compassion and improved relationships. With her gentle yet direct approach, Sarah guides individuals toward deeper self-awareness and more authentic connections with others.

Connect With Our Guest: Sarah is far too cool for social media, but you can check out her website here

Connect With Our Host, Alice Thompson, through her Instagram, LinkedIn or check out her coaching services and resources on her website

Connect With Our Producer, Litzi Essler, through LinkedIn

Connect With Our Artist, Duncan Peace of Peace Signs, through his Instagram

In this illuminating conversation with breathwork teacher John Paul, we explore the transformative power of conscious connected breathing. From the neuroscience behind breathwork to its spiritual dimensions, John Paul shares how this practice can help us integrate difficult experiences, connect more deeply with ourselves and nature, and find sovereignty in our healing journey. This episode offers both practical insights into breathwork and deeper wisdom about what it means to be fully present in our human experience.

Key Topics Discussed:

●      Understanding conscious connected breathing

●      The relationship between breath and nervous system regulation

●      Integration as a path to healing

●      Connection to self, others, and nature through breath

●      Different approaches to breathwork and their effects

●      The spiritual dimensions of breathing

●      Empowerment through breath awareness

John Paul is a breathwork teacher based in Scotland who specialises in conscious connected breathing. Combining his deep understanding of spiritual practices with practical experience in trauma-informed work, he guides people toward greater connection with themselves and their environment. His approach emphasises personal autonomy and empowerment, helping people discover their own innate wisdom through the breath. From group sessions to intensive training, John Paul makes breathwork accessible to all who seek this transformative practice.

Connect With Our Guest on socials: John Paul is far too cool for social media, but you can check out his website here(we recommend signing up to his newsletter!)

Andrew Huberman’s breathing insights into the “physiological sigh” to reduce stress. Another short clip on the effects of breathing on your physiology from Andrew Huberman here.

Connect With Our Host, Alice Thompson, through her Instagram, LinkedIn or check out her coaching services and resources on her website

Connect With Our Host, Alice Thompson, through her Instagram, LinkedIn or check out her coaching services and resources on her website

Connect With Our Producer, Litzi Essler, through LinkedIn

Connect With Our Artist, Duncan Peace of Peace Signs, through his Instagram

In this profound conversation with Danielle MacLeod, we explore her groundbreaking "victim, warrior, queen" framework and what it means to live with true personal sovereignty. Through discussing her book "Remarkable Leadership" and her new venture Wise Rebels, Danielle shares deep insights about choosing freedom, embracing mystery, and living with integrity in a complex world. This episode offers a fresh perspective on personal power and how we can show up more authentically in both business and life.

Key Topics Discussed:

●      Understanding the victim, warrior, and queen archetypes

●      Moving beyond controlling outcomes to true empowerment

●      The relationship between freedom and responsibility

●      Living with integrity even when it's challenging

●      How to recognise when we're creating our own limitations

●      The power of metaphor and natural wisdom

●      Finding balance between structure and flow

Danielle MacLeod is an author, coach, and founder of Wise Rebels, a movement dedicated to awakening conscious leadership and deep wisdom. After years of corporate leadership experience, she now guides others to discover more authentic and impactful ways of showing up in the world. Through her book "Remarkable Leadership" and her coaching work, Danielle helps people move beyond traditional success metrics to find true purpose and sovereignty. Her approach combines practical business acumen with deep spiritual wisdom, creating a unique bridge between professional excellence and personal truth.

Get the book Remarkable Leadership here, or Remarkably Easy here

Connect With Our Guest on socials: Danielle’s Instragam or Danielle’s LinkedIn (You’ll hear more from Danielle on LinkedIn than you will on Instagram!)

Connect With Our Host, Alice Thompson, through her Instagram, LinkedIn or check out her coaching services and resources on her website

Connect With Our Producer, Litzi Essler, through LinkedIn

Connect With Our Artist, Duncan Peace of Peace Signs, through his Instagram

In this vulnerable and insightful episode, we dive deep into the rarely discussed topic of friendship breakups with author Katherine Sledd. Through exploring her book "How to Be a Bad Friend," we unpack the shame, pain, and complexity surrounding friendship endings, while examining why society lacks frameworks for handling these significant life transitions. This conversation offers healing perspectives on friendship loss and illuminates how honoring both ourselves and our former friends can lead to personal growth.

Key Topics Discussed:

●      Understanding "good friend" expectations and societal pressure

●      Navigating friendship breakups and healing

●      The myth of unconditional friendship

●      Breaking the cycle of toxic labels and shame

●      Creating healthy boundaries in friendships

●      Moving forward after friendship loss

Katherine Sleadd is the author of How to Be a Bad Friend: The Hidden Life of Failed Relationships a book about the complexity of friendships and the heartache of friend breakups. Katherine holds a Master’s degree in counselling psychology with a concentration in trauma and abuse and is a licensed therapist in Colorado. She works with people healing from relational harm and aids them in rebuilding their connection to themselves and authentic community. Katherine lives with her partner and children near Boulder.

Get the book How to Be a Bad Friend.

Connect With Our Guest on socials: Kat’s Instagram

Connect With Our Host, Alice Thompson, through her Instagram, LinkedIn or check out her coaching services and resources on her website

Connect With Our Producer, Litzi Essler, through LinkedIn

Connect With Our Artist, Duncan Peace of Peace Signs, through his Instagram

In this enlightening episode, we explore the Enneagram with expert & Enneagram Therapist Sarah Cumings, diving deep into the nine personality types and their core motivations. Sarah explains how the Enneagram differs from other personality systems by focusing on unconscious drivers rather than behaviours, offering insights into how we can better understand ourselves and others. This conversation provides a compassionate framework for self-discovery while emphasising that finding your type is just the beginning of a deeper journey.

Key Topics Discussed:

●      Understanding the basics of the Enneagram and its nine types

●      The difference between having a type vs being a type

●      How early life experiences shape our patterns

●      The role of self-acceptance in psychological & spiritual growth

●      Mistyping and common misconceptions

●      Integration vs defence mechanisms

●      Finding compassion for different personalities

Sarah Cumings is a relationship counsellor with specialised training from Relationship Scotland. Combining counselling and coaching approaches, she helps facilitate meaningful change by developing a deep and compassionate understanding of human nature. Sarah has extensive experience working with the Enneagram, using this profound tool to help people understand the forces that shape their behaviours and worldviews. Her work focuses on helping clients recognise their patterns and motivations, leading to greater self-compassion and improved relationships. With her gentle yet direct approach, Sarah guides individuals toward deeper self-awareness and more authentic connections with others.

Check out an image of the Enneagram here

Connect With Our Host, Alice Thompson, through her Instagram, LinkedIn or check out her coaching services and resources on her website

Connect With Our Producer, Litzi Essler, through LinkedIn

Connect With Our Artist, Duncan Peace of Peace Signs, through his Instagram

In this intimate conversation with host Alice Thompson, we explore her journey from co-founding Social Bite to becoming a purpose coach. Through candid discussion about mental health, burnout, and personal transformation, Alice shares how her experiences shaped her understanding of purpose, well-being, and authentic leadership. She explains the neuroscience behind finding purpose and why aligning our internal experience with external impact is crucial for sustainable success.

Key Topics Discussed:

●      The neurobiology of purpose and how it affects motivation

●      Moving from external success to internal fulfilment

●      Understanding authentic leadership and wellbeing

●      Making personal growth and development accessible

●      Balancing social impact with self-care

●      Coaching for your sense of conviction

●      Navigating individual impact vs systemic responsibility

Alice Thompson is a purpose coach and former social entrepreneur who helps professionals align their work with deeper meaning and authentic values. After co-founding Scotland's leading social enterprise Social Bite - which brought figures like George Clooney and Leonardo DiCaprio to Scotland while creating groundbreaking initiatives for the homeless community - Alice experienced burnout that led to profound personal transformation. Now combining cognitive behavioral coaching, neurobiology insights, and the Enneagram, she guides others to discover their purpose while maintaining wellbeing. With three honorary degrees and expertise in purpose-driven leadership, Alice offers both individual coaching and team workshops, helping clients create meaningful impact without sacrificing their authentic selves.

Connect With Our Host, Alice Thompson, through her Instagram, LinkedIn or check out her coaching services and resources on her website

Connect With Our Producer, Litzi Essler, through LinkedIn

Connect With Our Artist, Duncan Peace of Peace Signs, through his Instagram