The Good Intentions Podcast

Fiona Day is an incredible woman - she's an intuitive consultant and an energy healer - and she's also the only guest I've ever had on the show twice!

The last time I spoke to her was January 2020 - just before the world got turned on it's head - back then we talked a lot about energy and how we can tune into our own intuition and feelings.

This time we got together to talk about the menopause - a life change that Fiona has been recently navigating. She talked to me with such honesty and positivity about her journey and it was such a welcome, refreshing conversation. Fiona has a very open personality and when you throw in the fact that she's also an intuitive consultant and an energy healer, and you really get a completely different dimension to a conversation.

We talked about how culture and society affects the way we talk about the menopause,  the loss of self that many women feel and how we can navigate it and find ourselves.

Fiona is so passionate about helping other women live their best lives and this shines through in this epsiode.

I hope you enjoy our conversation as much as I did.

Follow me, and the Good Intentions podcast:

https://www.instagram.com/kellyharvarde/

Find the wonderful Fiona here:

https://www.fionaday.com

Immerse yourself in some of the books we discussed: 

Many Lives, Many Masters - Brian Weiss

https://www.amazon.com/Many-Lives-Masters-Prominent-Psychiatrist/dp/0671657860

Only Love is Real - Brian Weiss

https://www.amazon.com/Only-Love-Real-Soulmates-Reunited/dp/0446672653

The Celestine Prophecy - James Redfield

https://www.amazon.com/Celestine-Prophecy-James-Redfield/dp/153873026X

Anxiously Attached - Jessica Baum

https://www.amazon.ae/Anxiously-Attached-Becoming-More-Secure/dp/0593331060

Joanne Jewell is a therapist, educator and speaker. Born in the UK, she became an expat at just 12 years old when her family moved to South Africa for her father’s job.

 She says she spent most of her adolescent years trying to fit in or to avoid fitting in – not appreciating then the theory behind the need to belong and feel securely attached.

 Jo lived the life that was expected of her by her family and society until she was 30, but always knew there was something missing. That despite her constant efforts, the answer to happiness was not in the world around her, but instead in the world inside her – something that I think will sound familiar to so many of my listeners.

 Watching her three boys grow and fearing that she would not be the mum they deserved was a catalyst to starting her mindfulness journey, and this, combined with a family loss, gave way to a new phase of her life. Jo entered into therapy, started training as a counsellor and read everything she could find about healing ourselves from within.

 Jo says: “My greatest learning has been that through mindfulness I can change my blueprint; whatever I was taught and no longer want to use can be changed, and this is true for all of us.” This optimistic thinking gives me hope that we all can change, and is something that I explored in our conversation. 

 We also talked mindful parenting and it’s power when it comes to raising resilient, optimistic children, how it isn’t our job to make our children happy, and we also discussed the genocide in Palestine and how to talk about this with children.

Jo is so wise and brilliant and every time I talk to her I learn something and feel uplifted. I know you will too – please enjoy the conversation.

Follow me, and the Good Intentions podcast:

https://www.instagram.com/kellyharvarde/

https://www.instagram.com/goodintentionsuae/

Find Joanne Jewell here:

https://www.instagram.com/joannejewelltherapist

https://www.joannejewell.com/

Immerse yourself in some of the books we discussed: 

Why Love Matters - Sue Gerhardt

https://www.amazon.com/These-Girls-Hope-Muscle/dp/0446672106

How to Do The Work - Dr Nicole Lepera

https://www.amazon.ae/How-Do-Work-Sunday-Bestseller/dp/1409197743

Meet Jessie Gubbins, a dynamic force in the realm of fitness and coaching.

Her journey from a dedicated management consultant, traveling the world and working endless hours to her current role as a fitness advocate is nothing short of inspiring.

Jess treats everyone she coaches as an athlete because she believes if you have a body, you are an athlete. She wants us all to feel great about our bodies. Not only how it looks, but also what it can do. Whether it's carrying your groceries inside from the car in one trip, playing hide and seek with the kids, gardening without throwing out your back, or being able to stand up from the toilet unassisted when you're 95. The one thing that unites us as humans is that we have to live in our bodies. So why wouldn't we want to make that body as capable and as athletic as possible?

Jess's infectious warmth permeates everything she does, be it strolling with her sausage dogs (or wieners for my American audience) or sharing the highs and lows of life on social media. She's always been open about her struggles with mental health and sobriety, and I loved talking to her about how to tackle the days when things don't go as planned, and how to navigate the challenges that life throws us.

Her enthusiasm for life shines through in our conversation and you can feel her contagious energy. Whether you've encountered her in person or are tuning into this podcast, get ready for a discussion full of authenticity, optimism, and practical advice. I hope you enjoy it.

Follow me, and the Good Intentions podcast:

https://www.instagram.com/kellyharvarde/

https://www.instagram.com/goodintentionsuae/

Find Jessie here:

https://www.instagram.com/jessgubb

https://www.jessgubb.com/

Immerse yourself in some of the books we discussed: 

Madelaine Blais - In these Girls, Hope is a Muscle

https://www.amazon.com/These-Girls-Hope-Muscle/dp/0446672106

Yasmine Hammad, the visionary behind the Blossoming Kindness Initiative and a Certified Children’s Life Coach, is dedicated to empowering young minds through play-based coaching.

In a world inundated with toxic influences, social media pressures, and peer expectations, children often grapple with anxiety, stress, and a lack of motivation, leading to a decline in their overall well-being—physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Yasmine's unique approach equips children with essential life skills, enabling them to cultivate a resilient inner world. By focusing on their well-being, children can navigate external toxic influences with strength and grace.

In today’s conversation, we delved into fostering a positive mindset in children, addressing challenges like screen time, and creating an open environment for meaningful parent-child dialogue. We also tackled the difficult topic of the ongoing war in Palestine, exploring ways to discuss the unimaginable horror with children.

This emotional and heartfelt conversation provides valuable insights into nurturing our children's well-being amid today's complex challenges. I hope you find it both enlightening and inspiring.

 Follow me, and the Good Intentions podcast:

https://www.instagram.com/kellyharvarde/

https://www.instagram.com/goodintentionsuae/

Find Yasmine and Blossoming Kindness here:

https://www.instagram.com/blossomingkindness

Immerse yourself in some of the books we discussed: 

Yasmine  Hammad - Blossoming Kindness

https://uae.kinokuniya.com/bw/9789948356202

Wayne Dyer - What do You Really Want for Your Children

https://www.amazon.com/What-Really-Want-Your-Children/dp/0380730472

Sharon Blackie - If Women Rose Rooted

https://www.amazon.com/Women-Rose-Rooted-Authenticity-Belonging/dp/1910463663

Dean Henry became fascinated with health and fitness at an early age. He grew up in a household that was dominated by sports and was on the path to a promising athletic career before a knee injury quite literally got in his way. 

It was this sudden change of trajectory in his life - alongside a peanut allergy diagnosis for his daughter - that prompted him to delve deeper into the world of health and nutrition.  

 As a functional medicine coach, everything Dean does centres around the belief that wellness starts from within. He helps his clients to achieve balance through natural means, whether that’s lifestyle changes like functional fitness, supplements, or therapeutic nutrition.  

 I’m absolutely passionate about all things health and wellness and I’m always looking for ways to live life at a more optimal level - so it was truly fascinating to talk to Dean about biohacking, peptides, gut health, and hormones.

Dean is incredibly warm and hugely knowledgeable - I could have chatted to him all day about how we can live our lives operating at the highest mental and physical level.

Did you know that peptides were a Russian Military secret? Or that there’s 40 years of data to support their use and effectiveness? Dean kindly talked me through exactly what peptides are in layman’s terms and how they can target focus areas to ultimately slow down aging and improve health. 

We also talked about the monetization of health and medicine and whether a truly healthy life is only for the wealthy. Spoiler alert - it thankfully isn’t - it can be achieved by everyone.

Dean is open and honest about how to navigate the world - and that includes bad days and those days when the only solution is to eat a Magnum ice cream - truly a man after my own heart.

There’s heaps of excellent advice in this conversation and Dean’s passion for great health and immunity shine through.

Please enjoy our conversation.

Follow me, and the Good Intentions podcast:

https://www.instagram.com/kellyharvarde/

https://www.instagram.com/goodintentionsuae/

Find Dean and UAE Peptides here:

https://www.instagram.com/dean.e.henry/

https://www.instagram.com/uaepeptides/

Immerse yourself in some of the books we discussed: 

Jeff Alson - Slight Edge

https://www.amazon.ae/Slight-Edge-Jeff-Olson/dp/1626340463

Ben Greenfield - Boundless

https://www.amazon.ae/Boundless-Upgrade-Brain-Optimize-Aging/dp/1628603976

Nasreen Abdulla has a very unusual job title - she’s the Happiness Editor at Khaleej Times. 

I was fascinated to speak to someone whose whole job revolves around optimism - Nasreen is tasked with finding human interest stories that speak to our hearts, that uplift and inspire us. There’s a quiet revolution happening in news with a huge desire from readers to consume positive stories and it was so insightful to speak to someone on the front line of content creation. 

We talked about how it feels to have a job like this, how she tackles the difficult stories and times in her life, and how her support system gets her through the challenges that she inevitably encounters at work and in life.

Nasreen and I share a passion for storytelling and I found her love of her job and her commitment to helping others very uplifting. We talked about why it’s important to tell stories that matter and how a love of Brazilian Ju Jitzu gives Nasreen purpose and meaning.

If, like me, you are an eternal optimist who loves storytelling then this episode for you - I hope you enjoy it.

Follow me, and the Good Intentions podcast:

https://www.instagram.com/kellyharvarde/

https://www.instagram.com/goodintentionsuae/

Find Nasreen here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nasreenabdulla

https://www.instagram.com/nasreenabd

Immerse yourself in some of the books we discussed: 

Louisa May Alcott - Little Women

https://magrudy.com/book/little-women-9789775171165/

Antoine Saint-Expury - The Little Prince

https://magrudy.com/book/the-power-of-intention-change-the-way-you-look-at-things-and-the-things-you-look-at-will-change-9781781803776/

Richard Bach - Jonathan Livingstone Seagull

https://www.amazon.ae/Jonathan-Livingston-Seagull-Richard-Bach/dp/0006490344

Here on the Good Intentions podcast I love to explore the subject of purpose  - it’s one of the main reason why I started recording three years ago.

I’m constantly curious about how can we become more deeply connected to the world around us and how can we gain clarity on what our path should be in the world. 

In my latest episode I re-visit conversations with many of my incredible guests to explore how we can fulfil our purpose with meaning and discover our own authentic power leading to the highest and truest version of ourselves. 

I asked each guest what they felt their purpose was on earth and the responses are thoughtful, inspiring and so insightful. 

I recommend taking time to ask yourself the really big life questions like this one - answering it might change your life. 

Thank you to all the guests who have trusted me to tell their incredible stories to the world. In this episode you will find: 

• Hiba Balfaqih - Psychologist and Mind Hacker 
• Erika Doyle - Founder and MD of Drink Dry
• Sasha Bates - Psychotherapist and Best Selling Author
• Aaliya Raja - Public Speaking and Confidence Coach
• David Goulding - Sober Coach
• Cassie Mather Reid - Life Coach
• James Lafferty - Olympic Coach and CEO Fine Hygienic Holding
• Lisa Ray - Actress and Best Selling Author of Close to the Bone
• Professor Rose Anne Kenny - Professor, Physician and Best-Selling Author of Age Proof
• Ann Hiatt - Leadership Strategist & Consultant - Best Selling Author of Bet on Yourself
• Denis Murphy - Blame Recovery Coach and Best Selling Author of The Blame Game

The full interviews with these talented writers, speakers and thought leaders can all be found in the Good Intentions podcast along with other insightful conversations. 

Follow me, and the Good Intentions podcast:

https://www.instagram.com/kellyharvarde/

https://www.instagram.com/goodintentionsuae

The full interviews with these talented writers, speakers and thought leaders can all be found in the Good Intentions podcast along with other insightful conversations. 

Caroline Leon is an Australian born health and fitness advocate, fitness professional, and the co-founder of A Life of Education.

When Caroline broke her back four years ago, falling from an indoor climbing wall, she never thought she'd be able to walk again. Her life-threatening injuries included two shattered feet, a displaced and fragmented right pelvis that was disconnected from the left side of her body and a bust fracture to part of her spine.

Her injuries were so severe that she wanted to give up, but after being confined to a wheelchair for six months, as well as undergoing 14 surgeries and 23 blood transfusions, she slowly regained her ability to walk and came up with a plan to get not only her strength back, but also her confidence to mark the end of her recovery.

Caroline decided to set a new Guinness World Record to become the first person in the world to summit all of the highest points in the Middle East in the fastest possible time, a feat that had never been attempted by a woman alone. What a woman!

I've wanted to talk to Caroline for the longest time. Her energy and attitude to life is so inspiring and I'm totally fascinated by her mindset, what gets her out of bed in the morning and how she faced down huge and tragic life events and emerged not only intact, but absolutely thriving.

Aside from her incredible story of triumph over tragedy, Caroline and I discussed how to navigate life when it keeps throwing you curved ball and finding our purpose and meaning.  Spoiler alert, you don't have to climb a mountain to do this, thankfully!

We have everything inside of us that we need to succeed - we just need to believe it. It was a really wonderful conversation and I hope you enjoy it. 
Follow me, and the Good Intentions podcast:

https://www.instagram.com/kellyharvarde/

https://www.instagram.com/goodintentionsuae/

Find Caroline Leon here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/caroline-leon-3277a724/

https://www.instagram.com/caroline.d.leon/

Immerse yourself in some of the books we discussed: 

Ram Dass - Being Ram Dass

https://www.amazon.ae/Being-Ram-Dass/dp/1683646282

Wayne Dyer - The Power of Intention

https://magrudy.com/book/the-power-of-intention-change-the-way-you-look-at-things-and-the-things-you-look-at-will-change-9781781803776/

"What have I achieved?"  is a question we all ask ourselves as we progress through the valleys and hills of our lives. 

Whereas this was once a cliched mid life crisis question - it now seems to be coming up earlier and earlier. We can compare ourselves so much more readily to one another on social media, and so this comparison steals our joy and makes us question our progression. Are we doing enough? Progressing enough. Are WE enough?

So that’s the self analysis element - then throw in the fact that as a society, our perception of achievement can feel at odds with a spiritual life. We glorify financial and professional success above all other, we consciously and unconsciously judge and benchmark on the material and we idolize those who rise to the top of business.

And whilst I feel there’s place for progression and growth - of course there is - I’ve always felt uncomfortable with these societal frameworks of achievement. Is there a way to measure ourselves beyond the typical success factors?

Instead of chasing an unattainable dream of success, might we have had it all along?

In this episode of Good Intentions, I re-visit conversations with many of my incredible guests to explore the subject of achievement - to discover how they benchmark their lives and what they consider to be their greatest achievement.

Thank you to all the guests who have trusted me to tell their incredible stories to the world. In this episode you will find:

• Dr Saliha Afridi - Clinical Psychologist, Founder & Managing Director of The LightHouse Arabia
• Emilie Jacob - Founder of Stella and the Stars
• Jad Toubayly - CEO and Founder of Idealz
• Aakanksha Tangri - Founder of Re-Set
• Isobel Abulhoul - Founder of the Emirates Literature Festival
• Leila Rezaiguia - Executive Coach
• Gaj Ravichandra - International Career Path Strategist and Executive Coach
• Shereen Qutob - Clarity Coach and Mental Health and Corporate Wellness Advocate
• Karen Osman - Best Selling Author and Writing Coach
• Mimi Nicklin - Best Selling Author and Empathy Advocate

The full interviews with these talented writers, speakers and thought leaders can all be found in the Good Intentions podcast along with other insightful conversations.

Follow me, and the Good Intentions podcast:

https://www.instagram.com/kellyharvarde/

https://www.instagram.com/goodintentionsuae

Kate King is a top Leadership and Team Coach who has coached thousands of the world’s top CEO’s through her own coaching practice and as an Executive Coach at London Business School.

She creates meaningful and lasting change in her clients, their teams, and their businesses. 

Formerly a Londoner, Kate now lives in the Middle East, where she has quickly become the go-to coach for change-making leaders in this future-focussed region.

We covered so much in our conversation - how an empowering mindset is a game changer, about reaching our full potential and how to live a more meaningful life.

Kate has such fantastic insights on how leadership is changing and evolving to become more empathetic , more conscious and connected. Her term ‘Leadership Soul’ really resonated with me and the themes we love to explore in this podcast.

I’m also borderline obsessed with the fact that her ideal coaching client is none other than King Charles the third himself - incredible. Just a bit of intergenerational trauma to unpack there!

Kate is incredibly wise and warm and she was full of practical tips that we can all use in our daily personal and professional lives. I’m sure you’re going to love this conversation.

Follow me, and the Good Intentions podcast:

https://www.instagram.com/kellyharvarde/

https://www.instagram.com/goodintentionsuae/

Find Kate King here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-king-ttc/

Immerse yourself in some of the books we discussed: 

Gabor Mate - The Myth of Normal 

https://uae.kinokuniya.com/bw/9781785042720

Diana Chapman, Kaley Klemp, Jim Dethmer  - The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership

https://www.amazon.ae/15-Commitments-Conscious-Leadership-Sustainable/dp/0990976904