What happens when life disrupts our best-laid plans? When grief, transition, or uncertainty invite us to surrender instead of push forward? In this deep and inspiring conversation, Ruthie Zerai shares her journey of moving from corporate life to self-employment, navigating profound loss, and discovering the power of trust, play, and authenticity in both business and life.

We explore:

• The unexpected lessons of grief and how they opened new doors for Ruthie.
• Learning to trust life when control is an illusion.
• Breaking free from toxic productivity and embracing a more playful, expansive approach to work.
• Authenticity beyond the buzzword—what it really means to live and work in alignment.
• How stepping into our truth impacts not only our personal fulfillment but the way we serve and connect with others.

This is a conversation about what it means to evolve, listen deeply, and allow life to guide us in unexpected and meaningful ways. If you’ve ever felt the pull to let go of outdated narratives and lean into a more easeful, aligned way of working and living, this episode is for you.

Tune in to be inspired, grounded, and reminded that all is well—even when it doesn’t seem like it.

Show Notes:

• [01:40] Reconnecting and New Beginnings
• [04:29] Navigating Grief and Personal Transformation
• [07:43] The Power of Surrender and Trust
• [10:45] Challenging the Doer Mentality
• [13:35] Exploring Playfulness in Work and Life
• [25:43] Embracing Playfulness in Business
• [32:39] The Journey to Authenticity
• [42:43] The Importance of Self-Exploration

Show Links:

• Zanta Podcast - Spotify and Apple Music
• Connect with Ruthie on LinkedIn
• Follow Ruthie on Instagram

What happens when life delivers an unthinkable loss? In this deeply personal and moving conversation, Shawn Eagan shares his journey through grief after losing his son Kevin 11 years ago. He opens up about what helped him navigate the darkest moments, how he learned to lead his family through tragedy, and the unexpected ways music and movement became his lifelines.

Shawn reflects on the lessons he inherited from his father, the surprising messages that helped him stay grounded, and the raw, messy, nonlinear path of grief. He also shares what not to say to someone going through loss, the small but powerful ways to support a grieving friend, and how he found healing in playing music—eventually performing for family, friends, and special events.

This conversation is real, unfiltered, and full of hard-won wisdom about resilience, presence, and what truly matters. Plus, stay until the end for a special song performance by Shawn.

"What if the key to feeling more alive and inspired isn't about doing more—but experiencing life more deeply?"

In this solo episode, Barb explores how her tendency to analyze and interpret life can create an invisible barrier between her and a direct experience of life.

From the cold waters of Scotland to hiking adventures—uncover how shifting from observation to direct experience can revolutionize your relationship with life. A surprising lesson from a cold-water swimming lesson reveals a profound truth: we unconsciously distance ourselves from our own experience—and in doing so, we lose access to the richness of the moment.

During the episode, Barb explores the gift and value of

✅ Moving beyond the overthinking and constant analysis

✅ Transforming your relationship with uncertainty and discomfort

✅ Accessing deeper levels of inspiration, intuition, and creativity

✅ Navigating challenges with more grace and less resistance

✅ Reconnecting with the natural flow of life instead of fighting against it

If you've been feeling disconnected from your work, struggling with inspiration, or sensing there's a richer, more alive way to experience life, this episode will show you how to shift from managing life to fully meeting it.

Join Barb for a powerful exploration of what becomes possible when we stop controlling and allow life to carry us, just like water.

What happens when you’ve reached the summit of conventional success, but something still feels missing? In this transformative episode, CEO and change expert Jaime Taets challenges the notion that external achievements alone lead to fulfillment.

For high achievers who’ve mastered the external game, Jaime reveals why the next great adventure isn’t climbing higher—it’s going deeper. Through candid conversation, discover why purpose isn’t something to find but a way to live and why readiness for change is a decision, not a feeling.

Learn how to:

• Navigate life beyond traditional measures of success
• Release outdated identities that keep you stuck
• Transform the trap of comfort into an invitation for growth
• Embrace the aliveness that lives in the unknown
• Make purposeful choices when motivation alone isn’t enough

Whether you’re questioning ‘what’s next’ after achieving your goals, feeling called to redefine success, or sensing there’s something more for you, this episode offers a fresh perspective on creating a life of genuine purpose and fulfillment.



Join us for an honest exploration of what becomes possible when you’re willing to turn inward and embrace the adventure of authentic living—even when (and especially when) the path isn’t clear.

What happens when you’ve reached the summit of conventional success, but something still feels missing? In this transformative episode, CEO and change expert Jaime Taets challenges the notion that external achievements alone lead to fulfillment.

For high achievers who’ve mastered the external game, Jaime reveals why the next great adventure isn’t climbing higher—it’s going deeper. Through candid conversation, discover why purpose isn’t something to find but a way to live and why readiness for change is a decision, not a feeling.

Learn how to:

• Navigate life beyond traditional measures of success
• Release outdated identities that keep you stuck
• Transform the trap of comfort into an invitation for growth
• Embrace the aliveness that lives in the unknown
• Make purposeful choices when motivation alone isn’t enough

Whether you’re questioning ‘what’s next’ after achieving your goals, feeling called to redefine success, or sensing there’s something more for you, this episode offers a fresh perspective on creating a life of genuine purpose and fulfillment.



Join us for an honest exploration of what becomes possible when you’re willing to turn inward and embrace the adventure of authentic living—even when (and especially when) the path isn’t clear.

What if the biggest thing holding you back isn’t your strategy but the unconscious patterns running beneath the surface? In this powerful episode, founder & CEO of The Institute of Coaching Mastery, Alyssa Nobriga, reveals how breaking free from our conditioned mind can unlock unprecedented levels of growth and success.

Through vulnerable storytelling, Alyssa shares her personal journey of facing fear and internal resistance – and how this inner work directly led to quantum leaps in her business revenue. Discover why your relationship with self-worth may be the hidden key to your next breakthrough.

Learn how to:

• Wake up from the trance of your conditioned patterns
• Transform your relationship with fear and failure
• Access and trust your intuitive guidance
• Regulate your nervous system for better decision-making
• Build success from a foundation of innate wholeness

Whether you’re an entrepreneur hitting an inner ceiling, a professional navigating challenges, or someone ready to transform their relationship with success, this episode offers practical wisdom for turning internal shifts into external results.

Join us for a deep exploration of what becomes possible when you’re willing to face your internal experience and let your authentic self lead the way.

In this 2.0 evolution of the podcast and the inaugural episode of The Innerverse of Business & Life, Barb sets the stage for an exciting journey of exploration and transformation. After a pause from podcasting, Barb returns with a renewed vision and intent: to dive into the rich, multidimensional inner world that profoundly shapes how we live, work, and lead.



Barb shares her personal journey of change, shedding old paradigms and embracing a deeper connection to her true self. She reflects on how the most transformative shifts—whether in navigating life’s challenges, unlocking new levels of creativity, or transcending past limitations—begin within.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Why Barb created The Innerverse of Business & Life and her vision for the show.
• How accessing our essential nature opens new possibilities, insights, and adventures.
• She points you toward your inner landscape and the unchartered territories within, which have the potential to lead you toward a more aligned, alive, and authentic life.

Barb also introduces the themes that will shape the podcast: intimate conversations with thought leaders, change-makers, and everyday humans who share the profound inner shifts that have impacted their work and lives.

Today you get to hear a conversation with Usha Mayani, from the Beyond Limits Virtual Summit that took place last year. Usha attributes peace and love as the force behind business and shares how this force creates more authentic, deeper, connected experiences. Citing moments of joy and deep sorrow, she recounts the transformational journey of finding peace within and “coming alive” in business and life.

Usha Mayani is a visionary and entrepreneur with 30+ years of business experience in Panama's burgeoning capital, Panama City, and in the Colon Free Zone (CFZ), the largest duty-free zone in the Western Hemisphere. As the 2nd female president of the Free Zone Business Association (2016-2018), Usha Mayani led the effort to protect free trade between Panama and other countries at a time when trade partners like Colombia were blocking imports despite commercial treaties. Established in 1948, the CFZ continues to be a pillar of the country’s growing economy and a living, breathing monument to the contribution of immigrant families like the Mayani’s.

Today I speak to Jules Swales about the formless potential she accredits to the form of her business. Jules explains that though she didn’t have a specific vision for her business, the business began to naturally take shape when she simply “followed the nudges”. Jules shares what she’s learned about “settling in” to herself and accessing the real source of creativity.

Jules Swales has studied Method Writing with Jack Grapes for over 16 years and in 2017 she launched the original Jack Grapes’ Method Writing live online program. Her classes are four times a year, and each class runs for eight weeks. Her main focus is to invite students to experience and write from the Creative Genius that lives inside us all. Jules is also a Creativity Coach supporting clients writing and editing their books. She ran a writing/editing class for four years and has studied with the poet David Whyte in both the British Lake District, and on Whidbey Island where she studied Conversational Leadership with him for nine months. Jules has a BA in Human Behavior (emphasis on Interpersonal Dynamics) and a MA in Spiritual Psychology.

Today you get to hear a conversation with Peter Wilson, from the Beyond Limits Virtual Summit that took place last year. Peter describes his journey with self-improvement, from seeking tools and trainings to the realization that the tools needed are already within him. Peter shares how this insight has helped foster his leadership from a place of love and care.

Peter Wilson is Director of Business Improvement at GS1 UK, a trade association with over forty thousand retail and supply companies. He is a coach, facilitator and trainer, leading change initiatives and supporting others to thrive throughout.