In this episode of The Smoosh, we laugh, reflect, and occasionally misstep as we explore the subject of sensitivity. What begins as Melis’s mischievous humour (aka “unexpected item in bagging area”) unfolds into a deeper exploration of what it actually means to be sensitive: attuned, open, impacted, receptive, and embodied. Ben shares the story behind his TED Talk application on “softening up, not hardening up,” and the lived reality of being a sensitive man in a world that still mistakes sensitivity for fragility.

Together we unpack the difference between being easily injured and being highly attuned, dive into the protective walls people build, and explore how sensitivity becomes both a superpower and a source of overwhelm. We talk therapy, somatics, leadership, cancel culture, creative adjustments, impasse, alchemy, and the courage it takes to stay open in a world that encourages guarding. Let’s Smoosh!

Notes:

Ben mentions a book called The 5 Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni.

He also refers to an excellent TED talk by Celeste Headlee called 10 Ways to Have a Better Conversation.

Credits:

Music: Goodnight - Lo Fi Cozy Chill Music by FASSounds from Pixabay

Podcast recorded at: Image Online in Abbotsford, Melbourne

What happens to creativity when AI is in the room with us? In this episode, we explore the evolving dance between human imagination and artificial intelligence, and what might be gained or lost in the process. We talk about speed versus slowness, the value of the messy, time-rich creative journey, and how AI can act as a collaborator without replacing our uniquely human ways of making meaning. From workshop design and writing processes to stand-up comedy and cozy romance novels (yes, really), we unpack the tension between efficiency and embodiment, output and ownership, machine speed and the slower rhythms of the body. This isn’t a doom-and-gloom AI debate; it’s a curious, grounded conversation about how we might create with AI while staying connected to ourselves, each other, and the creative pulse that makes us human.

Notes:

Ben mentions the world’s first synthetic actor. Her name is Tilly Norwood. Read more about her here.

Credits:

Music: Goodnight - Lo Fi Cozy Chill Music by FASSounds from Pixabay

Podcast recorded at: Image Online in Abbotsford, Melbourne

In this episode, we dive into world-building. From cosy fantasy lands with dragon lore to the everyday worlds we shape in real life. We explore how detail creates credibility, why shared story gives us belonging, and how algorithms can quietly script our “outer guidance” unless we practise discernment. We contrast speed with slowness (hello, tortoise and hare), touch on Indigenous lore and ritual as anchors for meaning, and share practices like sit-spots and non-thinking to reconnect with place, body, and each other.

Along the way, Ben tells a tender story from therapy about shifting from doing to being; Melis unpacks curiosity and capacity as antidotes to ‘othering’; together we imagine contemporary ‘salons’ where communities talk, feel, and co-create kinder narratives. If you’ve been craving less noise and more nuance, this conversation offers a gentle blueprint for building worlds that are balanced, plural, and deeply human.

Notes:

Melis mentions a book called The Value of Everything by Mariana Mazzucato.

Melis also mentions an ancient spiritual text called the Tao Te Ching.

Credits:

Music: Goodnight - Lo Fi Cozy Chill Music by FASSounds from Pixabay

Podcast recorded at: Image Online in Abbotsford, Melbourne

In this episode of The Smoosh Podcast, we get honest about anger; why we hide it, how it shows up, and what it’s trying to protect. Melis shares how socialisation (especially for women) can mute anger and make it hard to access or express. Ben explores the flip side; anger that arrives fast, sets boundaries, and then dissipates. Together we unpack anger as a wise and mobilising energy when it’s safely held: a gateway to clarity, values, and choice. We touch on somatic psychotherapy, eco-therapy, the “quiet work” of waking up, and how anger can be transmuted into momentum for personal and systemic change. You’ll hear stories from retreat work where voice and power return, plus a practical take-away: notice what makes you instantly angry because there usually lies a value underneath. Curious to map your values? We mention the Values Bridge tool in the show notes. Unsure, messy, real. Come smoosh with us.

Notes:

Melis mentions a book called The Value of Everything by Mariana Mazzucato.

Melis also mentions a values self-assessment you can take called The Values Bridge.

Credits:

Music: Goodnight - Lo Fi Cozy Chill Music by FASSounds from Pixabay

Podcast recorded at: Image Online in Abbotsford, Melbourne

In this episode of The Smoosh Podcast, we dive into the theme of connection; what it means, how it feels, and why it matters now more than ever. From the simple act of sitting quietly in nature to creating moments of deep presence in a corporate workshop, we explore how connection grounds us in what is real, restores a sense of belonging, and offers a pathway beyond extractive ways of living and leading. Along the way, we touch on eco-psychology (aka eco-therapy), Indigenous wisdom, and the nervous system’s innate capacity to settle when we slow down. Whether it’s asking permission before occupying a place in nature, or seeing someone’s passion unexpectedly come alive in a training room, connection reminds us that we are more than isolated individuals. We are part of something larger, relational, and alive.

Notes:

Melis mentions an Ecotherapy course she is doing with Nature Calling.

Melis also mentions the work of Joanna Macy. She wrote a beautiful book called Active Hope. It is based on systems, deep ecology, and how to respond creatively and compassionately despite the mess we are in.

Ben mentions a 10-day silent retreat called Vipassana.

Credits:

Music: Goodnight - Lo Fi Cozy Chill Music by FASSounds from Pixabay

Podcast recorded at: Image Online in Abbotsford, Melbourne

In this joy-filled 10th episode of The Smoosh Podcast, we explore the power of not taking ourselves too seriously. From Jeff Bezos rocket-shaped pepper shakers to bedtime comedy routines, we reflect on the role of humour, irreverence, and play in balancing the weight of life and work. With stories from workshops, therapy, and everyday relationships, this episode invites us to embrace our silly sides. Because as we wish to remind you, just because the work is important, doesn’t mean it has to be serious.

Notes:

We mention a course we made about surfacing and rewriting beliefs. It’s a great course. And…

Here’s a link to the bloopers reel from our video recordings.

Credits:

Music: Goodnight - Lo Fi Cozy Chill Music by FASSounds from Pixabay

Podcast recorded at: Image Online in Abbotsford, Melbourne

In this episode of The Smoosh Podcast, Melis and Ben reflect on the unseen ripple effects we each create through our presence and actions. Prompted by Ben’s recent attendance at a memorial service, we explore the power of everyday interactions, the balance between doing and being, and how our nervous systems and intentions shape the field around us. Touching on Gestalt, Hakomi, Buddhism, Taoism, and embodied wisdom, this is a tender, thoughtful conversation about legacy, interconnectedness, and what it means to live consciously in a world of increasing complexity.

Notes:

We mention several books that are rippling through our psyches.

The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins. Melis listened to this a little while ago. Ben’s turn!

Irreducible by Federico Faggin on consciousness quantum physics and spiritual awakening. You had me at qualia.

Active Hope by Joanna Macy. The subtitle of the book sums it up nicely: How to Face the Mess We're in without Going Crazy.

Credits:

Music: Goodnight - Lo Fi Cozy Chill Music by FASSounds from Pixabay

Podcast recorded at: Image Online in Abbotsford, Melbourne

In this episode of The Smoosh Podcast, Melis and Ben dive into the many faces of creativity, from the accidental to the deliberate, the playful to the profound. We explore how creativity shows up in everyday life, leadership, and complex problem solving, all while championing the idea that we’re all creative (Yes, even you. Especially you ;-). With stories of paperclips, failed recipes, and the muse at 4am, this episode is both a warm permission slip and a call to play.

Notes:

We mention several potent books about the creative act which we highly recommend.

The Creative Act by Rick Ruben

Big Magic by Elizabeth GilbertOn Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King

Ben also mentions a surprise at the end of the podcast. This is a short film he made many moons ago called MILK, a silly silent comedy. It was a pure creative act, just for fun. Enjoy!

Credits:

Music: Goodnight - Lo Fi Cozy Chill Music by FASSounds from Pixabay

Podcast recorded at: Image Online in Abbotsford, Melbourne

In this episode of The Smoosh Podcast, Melis and Ben explore the heart, not as a mechanical pump, but as a finely tuned instrument of perception and connection. Our conversation flows through themes of consciousness, emotion, and embodiment, asking whether the heart might hold deeper wisdom than current scientific models allow. Along the way, we touch on spirals in nature, the impact of the industrial revolution on modern thinking, and how AI can mimic emotion, but not inhabit it. At its core, this episode is a meditation on feeling, being, and what it means to be human in times of complexity and change.

Notes:

The inspiration for this episode came from an article Melis and Ben read called The Heart Beyond Mechanics: Force, Flow and the Physics of Reverence by Sabahat Fida

Melis mentions a book called ‘The Hidden Spring: A Journey to the Source of Consciousness’ by Mark Solms

We also mention The HeartMath Institute where you can learn more about heart rate variability and heart coherence.

Credits:

Music: Goodnight - Lo Fi Cozy Chill Music by FASSounds from Pixabay

Podcast recorded at: Image Online in Abbotsford, Melbourne

This episode is the smooshiest Smoosh so far in the series. Melis and Ben pull and weave many threads including 1,001 crochet squares, the power of letting go, the benefits of therapeutic touch, the intimacy of cozy romance novels and the healing potential of the human voice. Ommmmm….!

Notes:

You can subscribe to the ‘this human’ newsletter here. It comes out every other Friday to this podcast. Melis shared a great book recommendation: Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry. Narrated by Julia Whelan.

Credits:

Music: Goodnight - Lo Fi Cozy Chill Music by FASSounds from Pixabay

Podcast recorded at: Image Online in Abbotsford, Melbourne