In this episode, Sam Bell speaks with Jacqui Simpson about backing yourself as a commercial generalist, human-centred leadership, and believing you can “work stuff out” in complex environments.

Jacqui brings over thirty years of senior business, people and culture experience, and more recently as a business co-owner. 

Jacqui shares stories from major transformation work across Australia and internationally, and reflects on how clarity is often created through prioritisation, discernment, and staying close to the people who will live with the outcome. Together, they explore successful transformation across corporates and SMEs, technology-enabled progress, and what becomes possible when leaders combine instinct with disciplined execution.

This episode explores:

• Confidence from being a generalist who can “work stuff out”
• Cross-cultural teams, belonging, and what great collaboration can feel like
• Change anchored in human context that works
• Commercial leadership grounded in lived experience
• The role of intuition, discernment, and “knowing where something comes from” in leadership decisions
• Staying focused on what matters when you are stretched thin
• Ultra-distance paddle-boarding, dark training and steady commitment
• Parenting as a mirror and learning through relationship

Guest Links:

• Jacqui Simpson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacqui-g-simpson2023/

Chapters:

01:30 Courageous women skiers and taking on scary challenges to learn fast
07:20 Stoicism, beyond a perfect facade, and achieving balance for performance
10:27 Strategy, tactics, and focusing on the valuable  “big rocks”  for the business
19:00 The opportunity for People and Culture people and being a straight shooter
22:01 The human differentiator, AI agents and asking instinctual questions
37:43 Standup paddle-boarding, competitions and sharks
44:34 Being constantly courageous, constantly pushing yourself out of your comfort zone
51:54 Surprising ourselves with achieving physically and setting yourself up for the day
53:18 Parenting teens and the delight on the other side of it

Explore further:

Book a Lab: https://naturalgenius.com.au
Learn more about Sam: https://samanthabell.com.au
Subscribe to hear future episodes.

Credits:

Hosted by Samantha (Sam) Bell in Violet Town and Auckland, 4 February, 2026
Produced at the Peregian Beach and Sunshine Motorway offices, 4 - 24 February, 2026
Natural Genius Podcast https://naturalgenius.com.au

In this episode, Sam Bell speaks with David Stancel about teaching complex ideas clearly, building practical tools with AI, and designing infrastructure that supports individuals gaining freedom and sovereignty over their lives.

David is an educator, entrepreneur, advisor and founder of Polystate.io.  He's spent the last 12 years in crypto, initially researching and then building infrastructure for financial freedom. He first had a failed crypto startup, then successful Fumbi, the market leader for Czech and Slovak Republic crypto investing then CorkProtocol, backed by a16z. Drawing on his work in crypto education, network states, and remote-first systems, in this conversation, David reflects on teaching, his entrepreneurial experiences, and why grounded thinking matters at the edge of technology.

This conversation is about digital literacy, autonomy, and building thoughtfully with emerging tools.

This episode explores
• A simple explanation of Bitcoin, blockchain, and why it matters
• Teaching as translation and credibility
• AI tools for building faster, learning faster, and shipping more often
• Polystate.io and infrastructure for digital nomads
• Building tools for digital nomads, for autonomy and mobility

Guest links
• David: https://davidstancel.com/
• Learn about crypto and network states with David: https://davidstancel.com/slides
• David's news https://davidstancel.substack.com
• David’s latest company: https://polystate.io/
• Coin Story, David's book: https://coinstory.tech/
• Cursor: https://cursor.com
• VS Code: https://vscode.dev/
• Replit: https://replit.com/
• Loveable: https://loveable.dev/
• Network School: https://ns.com

Chapters
3:06 Teaching crypto clearly
7:40 Beginner-friendly definition of blockchain and Bitcoin
13:44 Building community and belonging through inspired events
18:40 Ninety million digital nomads, autonomy and building Polystate.io
22:00 Solo time: writing a book on Madeira Island, deep work and getting things done
25:07 The future skill: getting fluent with AI tools and AI use cases
27:40 App-building stack: IDEs, Claude Cowork, VS Code, Cursor, Replit, and Loveable

Explore further
Book a Lab: https://naturalgenius.com.au
Learn more about Sam: https://samanthabell.com.au
Subscribe to hear future episodes.

Credits
Hosted by Samantha (Sam) Bell in Melbourne and Network School, January 22, 2026
Produced at the Travancore, Violet Town, Peregian and Sunshine Motorway offices, 26 January - 22 February, 2026
Natural Genius Podcast https://naturalgenius.com.au

In this episode, Sam Bell speaks with Jen Goss about food as care, teaching cooking through doing, and creating systems that help people look after themselves and each other.

Drawing on Jen’s experience across hospitality, catering, and building the charity Cegin y Bobl (The People’s Kitchen), this conversation explores practical capability, community resilience, and the quiet leadership of feeding people well. Jen reflects on education, curriculum reform, and how cooking restores confidence, agency, and belonging.

This is a conversation about nourishment, systems thinking in education, and the everyday practices that strengthen communities.

This episode explores

• Food as a practice of attention, care, and belonging
• Teaching practical skills that restore confidence
• Cooking as agency and companionship
• Rethinking education curriculum and real-world capability
• Building community kitchens and systems that support everyday life
• The dishes and places that carry memory and meaning

Guest links
• Jen Goss: https://www.ourtwoacres.co.uk
• Cegin y Bobl: https://ceginybobl.co.uk
• The Do Lectures (watch a talk, apply to attend): https://thedolectures.com/events/do-wales/
• Welsh blankets, Sian and fforest: https://www.instagram.com/coldatnight/
• The delicious cheese store, Ultracomida: https://www.ultracomida.co.uk/page/venues/aberystwyth  

Jen’s books

• Do Preserve https://thedobook.co/products/do-preserve-make-your-own-jams-chutneys-pickles-cordials
• Do Smoke https://thedobook.co/products/do-smoke-a-modern-guide-to-cooking-and-curing

Chapters
03:00 Creating food for many, simple curation and beauty
09:30 The simple omelet and how food gathers people
14:10 Community kitchens and collaborating to cook for the masses
19:30 Teaching cooking to children and teachers, transforming communities 
34:00 Delegation, favourite dishes and wild, wintry West Wales

Explore further
Book a Lab: https://naturalgenius.com.au
Learn more about Sam: https://samanthabell.com.au
Subscribe to hear future episodes.

Credits
Hosted by Samantha (Sam) Bell in Melbourne and Wales, 22 January, 2026
Produced at the Travencore, Violet Town, Langwarrin and Peregian offices, 26 January - 20 February, 2026
Natural Genius Podcast https://naturalgenius.com.au

In this episode, Sam Bell speaks with Iris Ray Nunn about deep listening, attunement to nature, and remembering what we already know.

Iris's background spans social entrepreneurship, clinical aromatherapy and body-work, activism, growing businesses and more recently regularly guiding at Uluru, one of the sacred sites at the centre of Australia. 

This is a welcoming and spacious conversation about sensing, slowing down, and reconnecting with the intelligence within. Iris guides us through deep listening practices, nature-based awareness, and presence.

This episode explores
• Deep listening as a way of knowing
• Nature as an intelligent collaborator, when we tune in
• Sensory awareness and embodied perception in nature
• Intuition and the unique, inner signal
• Creating space for emerging insight 

Guest links
• Iris Ray Nunn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/irisraynunn/
• Deep Listening to Nature: https://www.deeplisteningtonature.com/contact
• Deep Listening to Nature Retreats (individual / group / team): https://www.instagram.com/reels/DVZpNsDkrZz/
• Latest updates via Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deeplisteningtonature and Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deeplistening2nature
• 10,000 AMEND https://www.facebook.com/AncientMotherEarthNewDreaming
• Words from Iris: “Learn rare, simple deep listening skills that awaken an embodied knowing of our belonging in Nature. Skills which can be easily shared with family and friends to bring greater peace and comfort in our world.
If you would like to know more about how you can help young Anangu mothers in their self employment efforts at Uluru, please get in touch."
All welcome to send a request or private message to https://www.facebook.com/iris.r.nunn 

Chapters
02:10 Iris’ childhood in the Gap, Brisbane, by the Enoggera Creek
07:20 The influence of water and nature
13:00 Uluru, ngangkari, healers and wisdom of elders
17:18 The origin of the Aṉangu and animal and plant family
21:30 The present moment, Aṉangu learning and sacred site insights
37:00 Finding the wild spirit through book writing
46:00 Having courage to go beyond the comfort zone and dropping fear

Explore further
Book a Lab: https://naturalgenius.com.au
Learn more about Sam: https://samanthabell.com.au
Subscribe to hear future episodes.

Credits
Hosted by Samantha (Sam) Bell in Peregian Beach and Crabbes Creek, 16 February, 2026
Produced at the Peregian Beach office, 17-18 February, 2026
Natural Genius Podcast https://naturalgenius.com.au

In this episode, Sam Bell speaks with Nick Jaffe about focus, responsibility, and designing a life that is both enjoyable and exacting.

Drawing on Nick’s experiences as a freelance photographer, filmmaker, sailor, overlander, craftsman, writer, builder, entrepreneur, surfer, and dad, this conversation explores hyper-focus, tolerance for discomfort, and how life changes with responsibility for others.

This is an honest conversation about agency, endurance, and choosing how to live well. 

This episode explores

• Hyper-focus and decisive execution
• Designing life for freedom and readiness
• Responsibility as a clarifier
• Risk, endurance, and tolerance for discomfort
• Activism, privacy, and moral seriousness
• Building work and products that last

Guest links

• Nick Jaffe: https://www.nickjaffe.com.au
• Instagram https://www.instagram.com/nick_jaffe
• YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@NickJaffe
• Kohutt™ - Nick's Australian-made goods label https://kohutt.com.au
• Kohutt Instagram https://www.instagram.com/kohutt.workshop
• "The Years of Thunder" by Nick Jaffe https://www.nickjaffe.com.au/book

Chapters
02:20 Hyper-focus, full commitment, and getting things done
06:20 The best life experience: children
08:04 Designing an interesting life
15:34 Flow, Federation Square, privacy, and partnerships
19:10 Privacy, apps, and AI agents
23:00 Wild surfing, remote Tasmania, and secret lagoon barrels
34:00 Readiness, opportunity, fool-hardiness, and being lucky
38:04 Circumnavigation, big ambitions, and containerised efficiency
42:00 Establishing Kohutt™ and building heirloom, outdoor gear

Explore further

Book a Lab: https://naturalgenius.com.au
Learn more about Sam: https://samanthabell.com.au
Subscribe to hear future episodes.

Credits

Hosted by Samantha (Sam) Bell in Melbourne, 25 January, 2026
Produced at the Travancore, Violet Town, Tullamarine and Peregian offices, 1 - 15 February, 2026
Natural Genius Podcast https://naturalgenius.com.au

In this episode, Sam Bell speaks with Iris Ray Nunn about deep listening, attunement to nature, and remembering what we already know.

Iris's background spans social entrepreneurship, clinical aromatherapy and body-work, activism, growing businesses and more recently regularly guiding at Uluru, one of the sacred sites at the centre of Australia. 

This is a bold, welcoming and spacious conversation about sensing, slowing down, and reconnecting with the intelligence that exists within. She guides us through deep listening practices, nature-based awareness, and relational presence.

This episode explores
• Deep listening as a way of knowing
• Nature as an intelligent collaborator, when we tune in
• Sensory awareness and embodied perception in nature
• Intuition and the unique, inner signal
• Creating space for emerging insight 

Guest links
• Iris Ray Nunn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/irisraynunn/
• Deep Listening to Nature: https://www.deeplisteningtonature.com/contact
• Latest updates via Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deeplisteningtonature and Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deeplistening2nature
• Words from Iris:
“I am all the beauty in Nature, 
and all of the beauty in Nature is is me.”
Profound and simple skills are shared on your deep listening experience so that the understanding of our belonging in Nature becomes an embodied, awake knowing. 
If you would like to know more about how you can help young Anangu mothers in their self employment efforts at Uluru, please get in touch."

Chapters:
02:15 Outrunning the voice of criticism
07:20 Uluru, Uncle Bob Randall, finding kin
17:00 Deep Listening to Nature and nature nurturing
41:00 Sharing as a constant, usual principle
46:00 Planning business in conjunction with nature
54:23 Oneness, support and heaven on earth

Explore further
Book a Lab: https://naturalgenius.com.au
Learn more about Sam: https://samanthabell.com.au
Subscribe to hear future episodes.

Credits
Hosted by Samantha (Sam) Bell in Melbourne and Crabbes Creek, 8 January, 2026
Produced at the Travancore, Violet Town, Terang, Warrnambool and North Melbourne offices, 9 January - 10 February, 2026
Natural Genius Podcast https://naturalgenius.com.au

In this episode, Sam Bell speaks with Peter Spence about accessing natural genius through joy, presence, and expansive ways of thinking.

Pete reflects on decades of work across elite sport, coaching, arts, and leadership, drawing insights from cricket, ballet, and Cirque du Soleil. Together, they explore how inner focus, openness, and joy support sustained performance, meaningful collaboration, and more fulfilling ways of living and working.

This episode explores

• Joy and satisfaction as foundations for performance
• How high performers access “no thought” states
• Self-organisation, spontaneity, & non-linear thinking
• Coaching as listening, facilitation, & restraint
• Moving beyond mechanical toward quantum perspectives
• Self-organisation as a core human capacity

Guest links:

• Peter Spence: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-spence-6021016/

• Shawn Green: The Way of Baseball (stillness and “no thought”) 

• Dr Amy Saltzman: mindfulness in sport, medicine, and education

• Graham Winter: hleadership, sport psychology, and Olympic work https://www.grahamwinterpsychology.com

• Debbie Muir: coaching, leadership, and Great Traits
 https://medium.com/@debbiemuir/about

• Meg Wheatley: Soul-grounded Leadership and systems thinking https://margaretwheatley.com/

• Kalvinder Shields: economics, leadership, and meditation
 https://meditationaustralia.org.au/about-us/ma-council-and-patrons/

• Dr Elise Bialylew – Mindful in May https://www.mindfulinmay.org/

• Chris Laszlo https://www.sustainablevaluepartners.com

Books:

• The Way of Baseball: Finding Stillness at 95 mph by Shawn Green & Gordon McAlpine https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Way-of-Baseball/Shawn-Green/9781439191200

• A Still Quiet Place for Athletes by Dr Amy Saltzman https://stillquietplace.com/product/a-still-quiet-place-for-athletes-mindfulness-skills-for-achieving-peak-performance-and-finding-flow-in-sports-and-life/ 

• Quantum Leadership: New Consciousness in Business by Tsao & Laszlo https://www.sup.org/books/business/quantum-leadership

• Works by Danah Zohar on quantum thinking

Chapters:
02:17 High performance across arts, sport, business
07:15 Cricket in Australia alongside ballet and rugby
11:22 Innovation in elite sport, openness, and fulfilling lives
20:00 AI, directorship, mindful technology, and Graham Winter
27:00 Joy as a foundation for satisfaction and achievement
35:00 AIS, VIS, and Cirque du Soleil performance models
48:20 Mindfulness and recognising individual talent

Explore further:
Book a Lab: https://naturalgenius.com.au
Learn more about Sam: https://samanthabell.com.au
Subscribe to hear future episodes.

Credits:
Hosted by Samantha (Sam) Bell in Melbourne, 16 January, 2026
Produced at the Travancore and Violet Town offices, 26 January - 6 February, 2026
Natural Genius Podcast https://naturalgenius.com.au

In this episode, Sam Bell speaks with Olena Severyn about building a grounded, mobile life through community, presence, and thoughtful communication.

Olena shares how choosing the right environments, cultivating presence, and how writing genuinely human emails support meaningful work, wellbeing, and connection. Drawing on her experience as a digital nomad, email strategist, and wellness practitioner, this conversation explores how calm, clarity, and simplicity create work that people want to engage with.

This is a practical and reflective conversation about community, attention, and designing rhythms that support both performance and optimism.

This episode explores:
• Community as a compass for travel, work, and decision-making
• Presence and self-awareness in a mobile, nomadic life
• The freediving mindset: calm, grounded, and steady under pressure
• Writing emails people actually want to read
• Simple communication that builds trust and connection
• Work rhythms that support focus, wellbeing, and optimism

Guest links:

• Olena Severyn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/olena-severyn/
• Network School: https://www.ns.com
• Recommended book: The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle https://eckharttolle.com/the-power-of-now/

Chapters:
01:02 Olena’s background, destination travel, and community-first living
11:40 Freediving, presence, and calm under pressure
19:00 Staying connected through simple communication
21:40 Writing emails people actually read
30:05 Belonging and contribution
35:00 Building successful communities at Network School
38:00 Productivity, structure, and balance as a digital nomad
41:00 Listening to your body: nutrition and self-trust
43:22 Inner work, optimism, and imagining positive futures

Explore further:
Discover your Natural Genius one-on-one with Sam: https://naturalgenius.com.au
Learn more about Sam: https://samanthabell.com.au
Subscribe to hear future episodes.

Credits:
Hosted by Samantha (Sam) Bell in Melbourne and Bali, 18 January, 2026
Produced at the Travancore and Violet Town offices, 26 January - 5 February, 2026
Natural Genius Podcast https://naturalgenius.com.au

In this episode, Sam Bell speaks with long-time friend and leadership practitioner Rosalinda Batson about emotional intelligence as a lived practice, intuition, and committing fully to meaningful work without keeping a plan B.

Drawing on decades of experience in leadership development, organisational dynamics, and emotional intelligence, Ros reflects on courage, integrity, motherhood, friendship, and long-term contribution. This is a conversation about leading with awareness, backing big decisions, and building a life with boundaries that hold.

This episode explores

• Emotional intelligence as a daily leadership practice
• Intuition, sensing, and decision-making
• Fear, love, and commitment without an escape hatch
• Leadership, motherhood, feminism and sustainable boundaries
• Long-term contribution, volunteering, and integrity
• Deep friendship and what it creates

Guest links

• Rosalinda Batson: https://au.linkedin.com/in/rosbatson
• Neural Networks: https://neuralnetworks.com.au
• Emotional Intelligence for Leaders, Coaches and Changemakers: Free version: https://www.neuralnetworks.com.au/free-ebook and full book: https://www.amazon.com.au/Leaders-Coaches-Changemakers-Emotional-Intelligence/dp/B0FF538YSW/ 

Chapters

00:14 Introduction to Rosalinda
02:42 Knowing what you stand for as a leader
06:29 Intuition, sensing, and decision-making
11:00 Commitment without a plan B
19:36 Writing, feminism, and self-actualisation
27:25 Courage, contribution, and volunteering at scale
33:40 Getting a lot done together and cultivating curiosity
40:00 Emotional Intelligence for Leaders, Coaches and Changemakers
45:00 Friendship, parenting, and shared adventures

Explore further

Signal Check-In: https://naturalgenius.com.au
Learn more about Sam: https://samanthabell.com.au
Subscribe to hear future episodes.

Credits

Hosted by Samantha (Sam) Bell in Melbourne, 23 January, 2026
Produced at the Violet Town, Terang and Warrnambool offices, 26 January - 1 February, 2026
Natural Genius Podcast https://naturalgenius.com.au

In this episode, Sam Bell speaks with educator and collaborator Hamish Curry about curiosity as a way of moving through life and work, designing conditions for serendipity, and education that builds agency.

Drawing on Hamish’s work across Cool.org, the State Library of Victoria, and the DO Lectures Australia, this is a conversation about playfulness, designing experiences, and creating environments where people deeply learn and can’t quite explain why they’re feeling a certain way.

This episode explores:
• A “go have adventures” operating principle
• Curated serendipity and the conditions that invite meaningful collisions
• Curiosity as a driver of learning
• Designing memorable experiences using people, place, and program
• Building community through education and shared experiences
• Hope, optimism, and practical frameworks that support action
• The success of the DO lectures Australia

Guest links:

• Hamish Curry - General Manager, Cool.org. Educator, enabler, collaborator, schemer. https://www.linkedin.com/in/hamishcurry

• Eddie Harran https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwardharran 

• Cool.org’s Hope and Act Frameworks & AI Literacy for Teachers Course

• Enjoy a DO lectures Australia talk: https://thedolectures.com/everything/?eventType=DO%20Australia 

• the DO lectures Australia venue & (hosts) Tess & Graham Payne - payneshut.com

• Apply for the DO lectures https://thedolectures.com/events/do-wales/ 

• Pete Spence, Sports & Performance Consultant and creator of Creative Performance Exchange (CPX) https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-spence-6021016/

Books:
• Orbiting the Giant Hairball – Gordon MacKenzie

Music:
• To Let a Good Thing Die – Bruno Major
https://open.spotify.com/track/2nMeu6UenVvwUktBCpLMK9

Chapters:
02:30 Playfulness in work, curiosity, learning through experience and sagacity
06:10 Designing successful experiences
09:30 Curated serendipity
12:00 People, place, program: designing deeply memorable experiences
18:40 Creating community and memorable learning experiences
39:47 Hope and Optimism, the Hope + Act framework and working with Harvard researchers 

Explore further:
Book a Lab: https://naturalgenius.com.au
Learn more about Sam: https://samanthabell.com.au
Subscribe to hear future episodes.

Credits:
Hosted by Samantha (Sam) Bell in Melbourne, 16 January, 2026
Natural Genius Podcast https://naturalgenius.com.au