Resilience Unravelled

This week Russell is joined by Stephen Bell, a renowned conductor and Music Director, who has worked with choirs, bands and orchestras of all ages.

Stephen, who studied music and conducting at university, shares his early experiences with conducting and playing instruments including the bassoon and piano. He also recounts his time as a page turner for a pianist and string quartet, an experience he described as both stressful and rewarding.

He also discusses his journey as a conductor, from his initial involvement in the Light Opera Society to his current roles in various musical ensembles. Furthermore, he discusses his approach to leading and inspiring the musicians, likening it to herding dogs or cats!

Stephen believes in the importance of inspiring musicians to reach their full potential and achieving a collective vision. He talks about the need to find the right balance in the music and how it can be achieved by someone a little remote from the action.

They discuss the intricacies of conducting and the role of the conductor in shaping the music. Stephen shares his realisation of the importance of being open to new methods and adjusting biomechanics to improve performance. He also highlights the significance of understanding the musicians' needs to help them perform at their best. His approach emphasises the importance of humility, learning from mistakes, and focusing on the service of the music rather than personal accolades.

They explore the complexities of balancing the needs of composers, musicians, and audiences, as well as the importance of making classical music more accessible and engaging for wider audiences.

They also discuss the transformative power of music and its impact on mental health. Stephen shares his experience of working with a male choir, highlighting the cognitive benefits and the joy of learning something new. He also recounts his experience of witnessing a gospel choir's performance, noting the intense connection to faith and the transformative power of music.

You can find out more about us at resilienceunravelled.com and you can submit questions and thoughts to [email protected]

In this episode, Bronwyn Schweigerdt is a licensed psychotherapist, podcaster and anger expert,who discusses her personal experiences with depression, and her focus on addressing the root causes of mental and physical illnesses.

She also explores the importance of acknowledging and managing internal feelings, particularly anger, for personal growth and decision-making, and the challenges of parenting in managing children's emotions and behaviours.

Finally, she discusses strategies for managing anger in relationships and the role of therapists in managing their own emotions while helping others.

Main topics

• Anger as a common cause of depression
• Helping people express and manage their anger
• How only managing symptoms does not address the root causes of mental and physical illnesses
• The importance of acknowledging and addressing one's internal feelings, particularly anger and betrayal, for personal growth and decision-making
• Why suppressing or ignoring anger can lead to stagnation and cause mental health issues
• The concept of anger as a core emotion and its role in various mental health conditions
• The need to understand the process of repression or dissociation of anger to better manage related mental health issues
• Why validating children's anger is crucial for developing individuality and emotional regulation
• The challenges of parenting, particularly the difficulties in managing children's emotions and behaviours
• The need to differentiate between the expression of anger and the anger itself
• Personal strategies for managing anger and resentment in relationships and the importance of real-time expression of feelings.

Action items You can find out more about Bronwyn or sign up for her podcast at https://angryattherightthings.com/or at her Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/bronwyn.schweigerdt/

In this episode of Unravelled Stu Crum talks about how after an injury interrupted three-year career in the NFL and USFL, transitioned to a highly successful career in business. Stu realised early in his athletic career that his athletic abilities would not last forever and he needed to plan for life after sports. He focused on his studies and after graduation, he joined Texaco and quickly climbed the ranks due to his operational focus, leadership skills, and intentionality.

Stu attributes his success in leadership to the lessons he learned from sport and how he applied them to his business career. He also explores the importance of perspective in life and the role of intentionality in achieving success in various areas.

Main topics

• How Stu’s experience as a kicker taught him about perseverance, resilience, and leadership
• Why people who reach a professional level in sports or the performing arts may feel lost or without the same rush as before when they decide to stop
• Learning from failures and the significance of perspective in sports and life
• The importance of perspective in life and how it is developed over time
• Why losing perspective, particularly in today's social media-driven world, is dangerous and can lead to making bad decisions and a false sense of reality
• The evolution of the CEO role and the importance of being a generalist with a deep understanding of various functional areas
• Having a sense of purpose, making conscious choices, and being accountable for the consequences
• The concept of intentionality including purpose, priorities, distractions, harmony, self-reflection, responsibility, grit, and a smile

Action items

You can find out more about Stu at www.stucrum.com.  His book is "Aim for the Uprights: The Intentional Playbook for Success in Faith, Family, and Business," which offers a playbook for success based on his personal experiences.

Keywords

Resilience - Leadership - Inner Guidance System - Human Connection - Ontology

In this episode of Resilience Unravelled, Colleen Slaughter, a Transformational Facilitator and Executive Coach, with over twenty years’ experience working with leaders to unlock their true potential. Colleen brings a global and deeper perspective to leadership development, helping leaders understand their worth at a profound level and creating a ripple effect of purpose and service throughout their organisations and lives.

In this podcast Colleen discusses the importance of human connection and the concept of an inner guidance system as well as exploring the complex theme of leadership, emphasising the significance of personal growth, self-awareness, and the need for innovation.

Main topics

• The concept of an inner guidance system and how it can be disconnected
• Why leadership is about mindset and involves self-discovery and personal growth
• Personal growth and self-awareness in leadership
• Innovation in leadership
• Ontology and its importance in leadership  
• The significance of practice in developing neural pathways and building leadership skills  
• Resilience, experimentation, and adaptation in leadership
• Why we need to learn through experience and shift approaches when necessary
• The importance of accountability in personal choices

Action items

You can find out more about Colleen at www.boldermoves.com

Keywords

Resilience - Self-belief - Motivational Intelligence - Success - Leadership - Mindset

In this episode of Resilience Unravelled James Fleming shares his personal journey from his start as an electrician in Glasgow, to senior roles in the oil, gas and construction industries in Dubai and his eventual return to Scotland to establish his own leadership and motivational intelligence company, The Power Within Training and Development. Through the business, James is dedicated to empowering individuals to dream bigger, reach higher, attain more each day and shape today's businesses into tomorrow's industry leaders.

In this podcast James discusses how his previous experience with leadership training courses inspired him to create a different approach to training focusing on mindset and self-belief. He also shares how his experiences of being unhappy despite earning a high salary and living a luxurious lifestyle highlighted the need for contentment in one’s work.

Main topics

• The importance of hustle and marketing in growing a small business
• The importance of self-belief and motivational intelligence in achieving success
• How self-belief is the foundation of learning and born from life experiences
• How overconfidence and under-competence are both necessary for success
• The concept of motivational intelligence
• How James morning routine drives his productivity and self-development
• The concept of success and its by-products

Action items

You can find out more about James at thepowerwithintraining.com or through LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter or Instagram

Keywords

Resilience - Liver Cancer - Blue Faery - Parenting - Advocacy

In this episode of Resilience Unravelled Andrea Wilson Woods shares her experiences raising her younger sister Adrienne after their mother's life unravelled due to prescription drug addiction. Andrea took legal custody of Adrienne when she was 22 and raised her until Adrienne was diagnosed with liver cancer when she was 15.

Andrea shares her challenging childhood, including managing household tasks after her parents' divorce and how it shaped her into a strong and independent individual. She talks about her experiences living with an abusive alcoholic father and how her sister's presence helped her realise the need to protect her and eventually led to her leaving. Andrea emphasises the importance of having a 'north star' or a guiding force in life, which for her was her sister, and her desire to provide her sister with unconditional love and a better upbringing than she had received from her own parents.

Andrea discusses the challenges of parenting a sibling and emphasises the importance of providing structure, compassion, and unconditional love. She also discusses her family's medical history, particularly her sister's early diagnosis of liver cancer and the likely transmission of hepatitis B and C from their mother during childbirth. The conversation also touches on the importance of advocacy in healthcare, the need for patients to focus on recovery, and the importance of being respected over being liked, especially in leadership roles.

Main topics

• The prevalence and prognosis of liver cancer which is often diagnosed in late stages due to the liver's lack of pain receptors.
• Why liver cancer is highly preventable but often has a terminal prognosis because treatments like targeted therapies and immunotherapies are palliative rather than curative.
• The importance of having an annual metabolic panel test to monitor liver function and detect potential issues early.
• How losing her sister led Andrea to found the Adrienne Wilson Liver Cancer Association, also known as Blue Faery.
• The need for patients to focus on recovery and the importance of having an advocate in their lives.
• The importance of assertiveness and advocacy in healthcare settings.
• The importance of persistence and seeking a second opinion when necessary.
• The importance of being respected over being liked, especially in leadership roles.

Action items

Find out more about Blue Faery here.

Andrea has written two books "Better Off Bald" and "I'd Rather Be Dead Than Deaf" to raise funds for Blue Faery.

Keywords

Resilience - Poetry - Meditation - Mindfulness - Awakening - Flow States - Zen

In this episode of Resilience Unravelled Henry Shukman, a widely published poet, author, meditation teacher and Zen master of the Sanbo Zen lineage, shares his personal story. Henry grew up in Oxford, UK, where his parents were professors and his early love of poetry led to an interest in Chinese Zen poetry, and ultimately to him becoming a writer and poet.

Henry suffered from severe eczema from infancy into his 20’s, along with associated psychological problems, and meditation was a key element in a long journey of healing. He travelled extensively, eventually settling in New Mexico where he became fascinated by the indigenous culture's deep connection to the earth and where he was introduced to meditation and Zen, which in turn influenced his writing.

Main topics

• The meditative quality of poetry and how it can bring one back to the present moment
• Using poetry in meditation to create a serene atmosphere.
• The differences between various forms of meditation
• The concept of awakening
• The connection between meditation and mindfulness
• The transformative power of poetry and its potential to enrich one's life
• The concept of original sin and its influence on Western culture
• The idea of karma and its physical consequences
• The concepts of mindfulness, support, and absorption
• The concept of flow states and how they can be achieved through complete absorption in a task, leading to enhanced performance and increased happiness.
• How flow is not limited to specific professions or activities and can be accessed through simple practices like meditation
• The relationship between meditation and religion and the practical and philosophical significance of meditation

Action items

Henry's book is called "Original Love: The 4 Ends on the Path of Awakening," and it has an accompanying meditation app, "The Way."

Keywords

Resilience - Philanthropy – Creating change – Compassion - Leadership

In this episode of Resilience Unravelled, businessman turned charity founder Ali Horriyat, talks about the limitations of traditional philanthropy and the importance of compassion and community-driven solutions.

Ali is the founder of social activism non-profit Compassiviste, and he shares his personal journey from the profit driven world of finance to the realisation of the emptiness of his pursuit of wealth and power. He describes how he had a breakdown and decided to take a break from work to travel to Ecuador, where he experienced a different way of life that inspired him to shift his focus towards making a meaningful impact on the world.

Main topics

• The limitations and challenges of philanthropy and the inability of individuals to create significant global change
• The moral conflict and inequality within society and the importance of compassion towards those in need
• The concept of Compassiviste
• The importance of a unified system where the whole ecosystem works together
• The need for artists to connect with their audience and use their platform for a greater cause
• The concept of capacities which aims to bring communities together globally for the betterment of all
• The importance of political involvement and lobbying to enact change, with a focus on creating a critical mass to effect change
• The need for leadership in movements to effectively address issues
• The concept of leadership and its role in society
• Should a leader command ans control or guide and facilitate?
• The role of money in society and its potential to divide people due to differing beliefs and values
• The possibility of a future system where people trade based on their compassionate needs
• Community-driven solutions to address societal issues

Action items

You can find out more about Ali and Compassiviste at https://compassiviste.com/

Keywords

Resilience - Emotional Overdraft - Burnout - Emotional Reserves - Wellbeing - Invisible Costs

In this episode if Resilience Unravelled, Andy Brown, an award- winning adviser and coach for people-based businesses, talks about the concept of 'emotional overdraft'. He highlights its implications for burnout, the need to maintain healthy emotional reserves and the importance of acknowledging invisible personal and emotional costs in business finances, He also explores the idea of building a personal board of experts for support, the significance of prioritising well-being in highly stressed jobs, and the potential of writing a book to share experiences and insights.

Main topics

• The concept of 'emotional overdraft' and how it can be managed
• The dangers of misusing the term 'burnout' and the need to refresh the meaning of terms like 'stress' and 'resilience'
• Acknowledging and maintaining healthy emotional reserves for personal and professional success
• The concept of an "invisible line" in business finances, referring to the hidden personal and emotional costs of pursuing profitability
• Maintaining a healthy "emotional bank" balance to avoid excessive strain
• Building a personal board of experts to help overcome challenges.
• Discipline as a better approach to building habits and achieving goals
• The role of motivation in funding work
• Why leadership development needs more focus

Action items    

• Andy’s book is available at https://www.amazon.com/Emotional-Overdraft-balancing-business-wellbeing/dp/1788605136/
• You can complete the free Emotional Overdraft Self-Assessment at https://emotionaloverdraft.com/self-assesment/or connect with him at  https://www.linkedin.com/in/andybrownprofile/ 
• Follow Emotional Overdraft on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/andybrownauthor/or get all the latest Emotional Overdraft articles at https://emotionaloverdraft.com/

Keywords

Resilience - Mindfulness - Breathing - Breath work - Wellbeing

In this episode of Resilience Unravelled Michael O’Brien, a qualified meditation teacher, executive coach and endurance athlete, talks about how to stop a bad moment becoming a bad day and accomplishing hard things through mindfulness. Michael shares his career journey in healthcare pharmaceuticals and his personal experience with a near-death cycling accident.

Michael discusses how his perspective on life changed after the accident, which occurred when a driver crossed over into his lane, causing a head-on collision. He shares his bleak prognosis from doctors and how he struggled with anger and uncertainty about his future roles as a father, husband, and employee. He also highlights how a mentor helped him adopt a more positive perspective by emphasising the importance of self-labeling, practicing gratitude, and mindfulness. This shift in perspective helped him overcome his challenges and gradually move forward in his recovery journey, which included both progress and setbacks.

Main topics

• The concept of mindfulness and its benefits
• Using breath work to manage stress and improve focus and decision-making
• The importance of creating space between stimulus and response
• Cultivating a more thoughtful and neutral approach to decision-making
• The importance of connecting with one's breath for overall health and well-being
• Different patterns of breathing
• Using shorter mindfulness practices to promote mindful living and improving overall health and wellbeing

Action items

You can find out more about Michael at https://www.michaelobrienshift.com/pause-breathe-reflect/