In this episode of NUGGETS, we explore a fundamental cultural divide: do we raise children to express themselves first — or to earn their place first?

Using the famous “wax on, wax off” scene from The Karate Kid as a starting point, we unpack the deeper tension between Western and Eastern approaches to upbringing. The West often begins with feelings, voice, and choice. Much of Asia begins with responsibility, discipline, and contribution.

Neither is perfect. But when freedom comes before anchors, or discipline comes without autonomy, something gets lost.

We discuss what entitlement really means, why “you are enough” can create hidden pressure, and what happens when children grow up navigating two cultural maps.

And as always, we end with practical tools you can apply immediately — starting with one simple shift in the questions you ask yourself.

If you care about leadership, parenting, culture, or personal growth — this one matters.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tornadoes. War. Panic attacks. Royal power struggles. Anxiety everywhere.

But the real question isn’t “What’s happening in the world?”

It’s: What is constant exposure doing to your brain?

In this episode of NUGGETS, we explore how modern news activates an ancient survival system that was never designed for 24/7 global crisis updates. Fear narrows thinking. Nuance disappears. Blame rises. Perspective shrinks.

And it works — commercially.

But it comes at a psychological cost.

We break down why headlines hook you, why statistics don’t calm you, and why doomscrolling feels irresistible. Then we offer three practical resets: zoom in on what you can influence, limit exposure without denying reality, and act only where you have agency.

Because caring is healthy.

Living in constant threat mode is not.

If you’ve ever felt overstimulated, anxious, or exhausted by the news cycle — this one’s for you.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Norway is often described as the best country in the world. But what happens when that belief goes unexamined?

In this episode of NUGGETS, Pellegrino and Francois take an honest look at Norwegian culture through the lens of the good, the bad, and the ugly. They explore what Norway gets brilliantly right — trust, low friction, reliability — and where those same strengths quietly turn into weaknesses.

From conflict avoidance and moral certainty to the subtle pressure not to stand out, this is an outsider–insider conversation shaped by decades of living and working in Norway. It’s not judgement. It’s observation.

And it’s not really just about Norway.

It’s about what happens in any culture, organisation, or leadership team when pride replaces curiosity — and when good intentions create blind spots.

What you’ll take away: A sharper awareness of when confidence helps — and when it starts to hurt.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Forgiveness is often framed as something noble, generous, or morally superior. That framing doesn’t help much when you’re angry, hurt, or stuck replaying the same story in your head.

In this episode of NUGGETS, we look at forgiveness from a different angle — not as approval, reconciliation, or “being the bigger person,” but as self-preservation.

We unpack why forgiveness feels like losing, why anger often disguises disappointment, and how resentment quietly drains energy, focus, and peace. We also explore the difference between forgiving and reconciling — and why confusing the two keeps people stuck for years.

Along the way, we talk about ego, control, being right, and the hidden cost of replaying the same grievance on loop. As always, we end with three concrete things you can actually do — no therapy language, no theory — just practical ways to stop hurting yourself.

Why this matters:

Because sometimes the real question isn’t “Who was right?” — it’s “What is this costing me?”

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is the world a friendly place—or a hostile one?

That single assumption quietly runs your day: how you handle delays, conflict, uncertainty, and setbacks. In this episode of NUGGETS, Pellegrino and Francois unpack Albert Einstein’s idea that your core “lens” changes how you move through life—not by denying reality, but by choosing how you treat it.

They explore why optimism often looks idiotic from the outside, yet tends to create more options, more curiosity, and faster recovery when things go wrong.

Along the way: a surprisingly useful lesson from Mission Impossible, and the difference between realistic optimism and plain ignorance.

You’ll leave with three simple practices:

1) Notice your default story

2) Borrow the “I’ll figure it out” rule

3) Reframe one situation this week so it becomes workable—not terminal.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Imposter syndrome is that quiet (or sometimes loud) voice that asks: “Who do you think you are?” Even when you’re competent. Even when you’ve earned your place.

In this episode of NUGGETS, Pellegrino and Francois unpack where imposter syndrome comes from, why it shows up in high performers, leaders, parents, and creatives — and why it doesn’t mean you’re weak or fraudulent. Drawing on real experiences from the stage, leadership roles, and high-pressure moments, they explore the idea that imposter syndrome isn’t the problem. Too much of it is.

You’ll hear why doubt can actually function as quality control, how confidence and self-worth are not the same thing, and why evidence matters more than feelings.

The episode ends with three practical tools you can use immediately:

• How to challenge the voice with facts
• How to flip negative self-talk into realistic counter-statements
• Why action is often the fastest way to quiet doubt

If you’ve ever felt like you don’t belong — this one’s for you.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is a special live-audience episode of NUGGETS — and you can hear the room.

A question keeps coming up wherever we work with organisations: What skills will matter most in the years ahead — professionally and socially?

Instead of guessing, we went to the data. Using the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025, we found something many people still underestimate - 7 of the top 10 future skills are human skills.

Resilience. Curiosity. Self-awareness. Listening. Adaptability. Motivation.

We still call them “soft skills.” But they’re anything but soft. They’re hard to do — and critical to staying relevant as technology accelerates.

In this episode, recorded live, we unpack:

• Why a degree is now “a visa, not a passport”
• Why tools change faster than people — and what that means for careers
• How to work with intelligent machines instead of competing with them

And we finish with three practical takeaways you can use immediately:

1. Stay open, curious, and brave — and learn out loud
2. Pick one human skill you usually avoid and train it deliberately
3. Watch where work actually breaks — it’s rarely technical

Final nugget: The future of work isn’t just about what you know — it’s about how you learn, adapt, and stay useful alongside intelligent machines.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Most New Year’s resolutions don’t fail because of weak willpower. They fail because they’re aimed at the wrong things.

In this episode of NUGGETS, we flip the idea of New Year’s resolutions on its head. Instead of goals, targets, and self-optimisation, we explore what actually sticks: shared experiences, emotional moments, and memories that shape identity over time.

We talk about:

• Why experiences last longer than things (and achievements)
• How memories shape who you become — personally and as a parent
• Why emotional highs and lows matter
• The 20-year question: will this still matter decades from now?
• How to plan stories, not just outcomes, for the year ahead

If you’re tired of resolutions that fade fast, this episode offers a more human, more durable way to think about the year you’re entering.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Norwegians may be bad at small talk — but they’re exceptionally good at belonging.

In this Christmas Special of NUGGETS, Pellegrino and Francois explore why Christmas works so well in Norway, and what we can all learn from it — wherever we live.

They talk about:

·     Why rituals calm a busy, stressed world

·     How lowering expectations can create deeper joy

·     Why belonging beats perfection

·     The power of doing “the same procedure as last year”

·     And why Christmas doesn’t have to be big to be meaningful

This episode is about togetherness over performance, depth over breadth, and presence over polish — with reflections on tradition, loss, gratitude, and reaching out to those who find Christmas hard.

A calm, human conversation about what really matters at the end of the year.

🎄 Merry Christmas from NUGGETS.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When life slaps you in the face, do you bounce back – or spiral into worst-case scenarios?

In this NUGGETS episode, Pellegrino and Francois dive into resilience: what it really is, why some of us catastrophise over tiny things (like an empty fridge…), and how we can train our “bounce-back ability” on purpose.

Inspired by a certain blue fish who says “just keep swimming,” they explore:

• The difference between positivity and real resilience
• Why getting offended by everything can weaken your “resilience muscles”
• How tough times, shame and setbacks actually build backbone
• The danger of turning every problem into an apocalyptic disaster in your head

You’ll also get three super-practical tools you can use the next time your brain goes into meltdown mode:

1. The 90-second reset – a simple breathing trick to ride out emotional storms
2. “Name it to tame it” – how labelling your feeling calms your nervous system
3. The 3-question snapback – “What’s happening? What can I do? Will this matter in 10 days?”

If you’ve ever thought, “I’m overreacting, but I can’t stop,” this nugget is for you.

🎧 Hit play and start training your resilience – one small bounce-back at a time.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.