The Weekend University

Jennifer Garvey Berger is a leadership coach, developmental psychologist, and the author of several books, including: Unlocking Leadership Mindtraps, Changing on the Job, and Unleash Your Complexity Genius.

In 2023, she was shortlisted as one of the top 8 coaches in the world by Thinkers 50.

In this conversation, we explore:

— Daniel Gilbert’s idea that human beings are works in progress that mistakenly think they’re finished - and the implications this has for growth and development

— The 4 minds: self sovereign, socialized, self authoring, and self transforming - and how to know which stage you are at

— What it means to become a ‘complexity genius’

— The importance of continuously upgrading our mental models all throughout life - and how best to do this.

And more.

You can explore Jennifer’s work and books at https://www.cultivatingleadership.com.

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Jennifer Garvey Berger believes that leadership is one of the most vital renewable resources in the world. At a time when organisations are often forging the path rather than following the path of others, leadership is about creating the conditions for people to be their most creative, connected, intelligent selves. She is a founding partner and CEO of Cultivating Leadership, a consultancy that serves executives and executive teams in the private, non-profit, and government sectors around the world. Her clients include Google, Microsoft, Novartis, Wikipedia, and Oxfam International. Jennifer designs and teaches leadership programs, coaches senior teams, and supports new ways of thinking about strategy and people with clients facing these dramatic shifts in complexity, volatility, and change in their workplaces and markets. She blends deep theoretical knowledge with a driving quest for practical ways to make leaders’ lives better.

Jennifer also supports leaders one-on-one as a leadership coach. She supports clients to find their current growing edge and then make choices about how they want to grow, and she teaches coaches around the world transformational and developmental coaching approaches in her Growth Edge Coaching certification series. Jennifer speaks at leadership and coaching conferences, and she offers occasional courses for coaches at universities all over the world like Harvard University, the University of Sydney, and Oxford Brookes University.

Jennifer holds a doctorate in adult development from Harvard University, where she studied under and worked with acclaimed developmental psychologist Robert Kegan. She was an Associate Professor at George Mason University before she left the academy on a mission to connect powerful research and the people doing real work in the world. Jennifer is an American by birth, a Kiwi by choice, and finds herself living now in London, far from her beach house on the Tasman Sea. Wherever she might call home, she loves laughing with her two nearly-grown children, rolling on the floor with her dog, and writing about leading, coaching, and living.

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Interview Link:

— Jennifer’s website - https://www.cultivatingleadership.com

This episode features a conversation between Dr. Mark Vernon and Professor Peter Hawkins. This discussion is part of a series that Peter will be doing with some of the major thinkers and writers of our time, focusing on the necessary evolution of human consciousness, for humans to be future-fit to live on this planet in a way that makes a net-positive contribution to the wider ecology. The series is being done jointly with: The Weekend University and the Renewal Foundation.

Dr. Vernon is a writer and psychotherapist whose work explores figures including William Blake, Dante, and Owen Barfield, making their insights accessible to contemporary readers seeking deeper understanding of consciousness and meaning. His recent book “Awake” examines how poetic imagination can reconnect us with dimensions of reality that modern culture has obscured.

Peter is Emeritus Professor of Leadership at Henley Business School, founder of the Academy of Executive Coaching, and a leading authority on systemic leadership, coaching, and organizational transformation. His work integrates insights from psychology, systems thinking, ecology, and philosophy to help leaders navigate an increasingly complex world. His most recent book was: Beauty in Leadership and Coaching, which was published by Routeledge in 2025.

In this conversation, they explore:

— Why imagination is not just private fantasy, but a way of engaging with a deeper reality

— How Owen Barfield's study of language reveals the evolution of human awareness across centuries

— The distinction between original participation, separation, and final participation in the development of consciousness

— Why addiction can be understood as a spiritual crisis rooted in misunderstanding what truly satisfies

— How transforming human desire may help address the ecological and social challenges of our time

— The difference between becoming "someone" and becoming "no one" in the spiritual journey

And more.

You can learn more about Mark's work and writings at markvernon.com and Peter's work at renewalassociates.co.uk.

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Interview links:

— Prof. Hawkins’ website - https://renewalassociates.co.uk

— Dr Vernon’s website: https://www.markvernon.com/

— Dr Vernon’s book: https://amzn.to/4vD4Mp3

Rich Litvin is a master coach with over 20 years experience, an entrepreneur, and the bestselling author of the Prosperous Coach - a book he co-wrote with Steve Chandler in 2013.

In this conversation, we explore:

— Why creating value should be your focus rather than "making a name for yourself"

— The power of "scaling intimacy" rather than scaling your business

— Why Rich coaches for insight rather than remedial problem-solving

— The counterintuitive approach of raising your prices during economic downturns

And more.

You can learn more about Rich's work at https://richlitvin.com.

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Rich Litvin is a globally renowned leadership and high-performance coach, author, and founder of 4PC — an elite community for the top 4% of coaches and leaders worldwide. He helps exceptional individuals achieve exponential growth in impact, income, and influence through deep, transformative coaching. Co-author of The Prosperous Coach, Rich has built a global network of over 60,000 coaches and leaders dedicated to mastering the art of powerful client creation. You can check his work at https://richlitvin.com.

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Interview Link:

— Rich’s website: https://richlitvin.com

Rachel is a somatically integrative psychotherapist, dually licensed in counseling and therapeutic massage and bodywork. She is a Certified Advanced Practitioner in Sensorimotor Psychotherapy and has extensive experience working with eating disorders.

You’ll learn:

— The difference between protection and safety and why this matters when treating eating disorders

— Rachel’s view of eating disorders as the body speaking directly to us about our experience of belonging

— The embodied recovery model, the relational cycle, and how these can be applied in treatment

— Major things to avoid when working with eating disorders

And more.

You can learn more about Rachel’s work at https://embodiedrecovery.org.

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Rachel Lewis-Marlow (she/her) is the Director of The Embodied Recovery Institute which provides training to interdisciplinary eating disorders treatment teams in trauma-informed, attachment-based, and somatically integrative approaches to eating disorders recovery. Rachel is a somatically integrative psychotherapist, dually licensed in counseling and therapeutic massage and bodywork. She is a Certified Advanced Practitioner in Sensorimotor Psychotherapy and has advanced training and 25+ years of experience in diverse somatic therapies including Craniosacral Therapy, Energetic Osteopathy, Oncology massage, and Aromatherapy.

Rachel began her work with eating disorders in Residential, PHP, and IOP treatment programs. There, she developed the Embodying Recovery group therapy protocol which forms the basis for the EMBODIED RECOVERY for EATING DISORDERS (ERED) treatment model. She provided program development, training, and supervision for the implementation of the ERED model to enhance the effectiveness of current best practices, such as DBT, Interpersonal Process, ACT groups. She also developed the Body Wisdom group protocol, an alternative to the traditional body-image group, which focuses on enhancing the mind-body relationship through mindful experience of and through the body.

She has extensive experience as a teacher and presenter, focusing on accessing the body’s unique capacity to give voice to the subconscious and to lay the foundation for healing and maintaining psychological and physical health. In her private practice in Chapel Hill, NC, Rachel specializes in working with people exploring recovery from trauma, eating disorders, and dissociative disorders.

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Interview Link:

— Rachel's website - https://embodiedrecovery.org

Dr. Keita Demming is a coach, complexity theorist, and author of "Strategy to Action: Running Your Business Without Running You." Based in Toronto, he works with entrepreneurs and leaders to help them navigate complex challenges through powerful conversations and strategic thinking.

In this conversation, we explore:

— Why conversation is the action that precedes all meaningful change

— How to move through hard conversations faster

— The four types of problems we encounter (simple, complicated, complex, and chaotic) and why we need different approaches for each

— Dr. Demming's four strategic moves for building the future you want

— Why simple rules outperform complex structures in dynamic situations

And more.

You can learn more about Dr. Demming's work and books at https://www.keitademming.com.

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Keita Demming, PhD is an award-winning educator and coach with a mission to transform businesses into idea-driven, people-centered organizations. He helps leaders face difficult conversations, align strategy with action, and build systems and processes that both boost performance and preserve peace of mind. You can learn more at https://www.keitademming.com

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Interview Links:

— Dr. Demming’s website: https://www.keitademming.com

— Dr. Demming’s book: https://amzn.to/4pjjMWf

In this episode, I'm joined by Dr. Martha Beck, a Harvard-trained sociologist, and bestselling author who is widely regarded as the world’s leading life coach.

Martha has written six New York Times bestsellers and is currently working on her new book, "The Pyramid and the Pool," which explores the collapse of hierarchical social structures and what might replace them.

In this conversation, we explore:

— Why Martha gave up everything in her twenties to create space for a more authentic life

— The surprising relationship between “stuckness” and transformation

— Martha's vision of a society that functions like a pool rather than a pyramid

— How her experience raising a child with Down syndrome transformed her views on intellect and happiness

— The relationship between integrity, intuition, and evolving consciousness

And more.

You can learn more about Martha's work, books, and coaching programs at https://marthabeck.com.

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Dr. Martha Beck, PhD, is a bestselling author, coach, and speaker. She has spent a lifetime offering powerful, practical, and entertaining teachings that help people improve every aspect of their lives. Martha holds three Harvard degrees in social science, and Oprah Winfrey has called her “one of the smartest women I know.”

Martha’s published works include several self-help books and memoirs, including New York Times and international bestsellers Finding Your Own North Star, The Joy Diet, and Expecting Adam. She has also published over 150 magazine articles, including almost two decades of monthly columns for O, The Oprah Magazine.

Martha is a passionate and engaging speaker, known for her characteristic blending of science, spirituality, and humor. As “the best-known life coach in America” (NPR, USA Today), she has spoken to audiences around the world on stage and on The Oprah Show, Good Morning America, and many other television programs.

International nature-based retreats are also a big part of Martha’s work. Seminar participants travel from all over the world to attend her annual retreats in South Africa and Costa Rica. The rest of the time she lives in the Pennsylvania woods with her family and other assorted creatures. Her passions include nature, pajamas, and YouTube videos of unlikely animal companions.

Martha’s recent book, The Way of Integrity: Finding the Path to Your True Self, was Oprah’s Book Club selection. Her latest non-fiction book, Beyond Anxiety: Curiosity, Creativity, and Finding Your Life’s Purpose, was an instant New York Times Best Seller.

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Interview Links:

— Dr. Beck’s website: https://marthabeck.com

— Dr. Beck’s book: https://amzn.to/44KbdMc

This episode features a conversation between Dr. Rupert Sheldrake and Professor Peter Hawkins. This discussion is part of a series that Peter will be doing with some of the major thinkers and writers of our time, focusing on the necessary evolution of human consciousness, for humans to be future-fit to live on this planet in a way that makes a net-positive contribution to the wider ecology. The series is being done jointly with: The Weekend University and the Renewal Foundation.

Rupert is a biologist and author of more than 100 scientific papers and 15 books. Trained at Cambridge and Harvard, he is best known for his work on morphic resonance, as well as his explorations of consciousness, memory, and the nature of scientific inquiry.His most recent book is Ways to Go Beyond and Why They Work, which explores how practices such as meditation, gratitude, pilgrimage, and connecting with nature can transform our lives.

Peter is Emeritus Professor of Leadership at Henley Business School, founder of the Academy of Executive Coaching, and a leading authority on systemic leadership, coaching, and organizational transformation. His work integrates insights from psychology, systems thinking, ecology, and philosophy to help leaders navigate an increasingly complex world. His most recent book was: Beauty in Leadership and Coaching, which was published by Routeledge in 2025.

In this conversation, they explore:

— How morphic fields shape biological form and behavior through collective memory rather than genetic programming alone

— Why Professor Sheldrake believes the laws of nature are more like evolving habits than eternal constants

— The scientific evidence for telepathy, the sense of being stared at, and other phenomena beyond current materialist frameworks

— How spiritual practices across traditions—from pilgrimage to gratitude—demonstrably improve health and wellbeing

— Why the loss of ritual and connection to place has contributed to rising mental health challenges in Western societies

— The relationship between consciousness, light, and vision that suggests our minds extend beyond our brains

And more.

You can learn more about Rupert’s work at sheldrake.org and Peter’s at https://renewalassociates.co.uk/.

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Interview Links:

— Prof. Peter Hawkins’ website - https://renewalassociates.co.uk

— Rupert’s website: http://sheldrake.org/

— Rupert’s books: https://amzn.to/2Gbvijy

Charlie Hoehn is a marketing strategist, bestselling author, and expert on book publishing who has worked with some of the world's most successful authors, including Tim Ferriss, Codie Sanchez, and Ramit Sethi. After overcoming debilitating anxiety through the power of play, Charlie wrote "Play It Away: A Workaholic's Cure for Anxiety," which became a viral sensation and helped countless people reclaim their mental health.

In this conversation, they explore:

— How burnout led Charlie to rethink work through play

— Why exercise works better when it feels like play, not effort

— The common mistake authors make when identifying their ideal reader

— How to involve readers as co-creators before a book is launched

— The idea that a book should be able to sell itself after the first 10,000 copies

And more.

You can learn more about Charlie's work at author.inc.

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Charlie Hoehn helps authors, creators, and entrepreneurs scale their impact through high-performance author marketing and business strategy. With which he teaches how to build, launch, and sell books—often helping non-fiction writers reach bestseller status. You can learn more at charliehoehn.com

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Interview Links:

— Charlie’s website: https://www.charliehoehn.com and https://www.author.inc

In this interview, Niall speaks with Jacob Ward, former editor-in-chief of Popular Science and technology correspondent for Al Jazeera and NBC News. Jacob is the author of “The Loop”, and creator of the “Hacking Your Mind”.

In this conversation, they explore:

— How AI may shape our decisions in the same way tools like Google Maps changed how we navigate

— How behavioural science is used to make digital products more addictive

— The parallels between tech design and older systems of exploitation

— Why legal accountability for behavioural harm may help limit manipulation at scale

— The human skills needed to protect complex thinking in an AI-driven world

And more.

You can learn more about Jacob's work at https://www.jacobward.com.

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Jacob Ward is an American science and technology journalist, television correspondent, and author. He is best known as the former editor-in-chief of Popular Science, a technology correspondent for NBC News, and for his book examining artificial intelligence and human behavior.

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Interview Links:

— Jacob’s website: https://www.jacobward.com

In this episode, Niall speaks with Dr. Joel Vos, a researcher and psychotherapist who specialises in meaning in life, existential psychology, and the roots of polarisation and extremism.

Dr. Vos has conducted research at universities across Europe and has worked directly with individuals involved in political movements and radical groups. His work brings together academic research and real-world experience, offering a clear perspective on why people radicalise and how societies can respond.

In this conversation, they explore:

— Why polarisation and extremism are rooted in threats to meaning in life

— The four ways people respond when they cannot live the life they want

— Why many government approaches to extremism fall short, and what may work better

— The idea of existential compassion, and why it may help reduce conflict

— Practical ways to engage with people whose views you strongly oppose

And more.

You can learn more about Dr. Vos’s work at https://joelvos.com.

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Dr Joel Vos PhD MSc MA CPsychol AFBPsS FHEA is a psychologist and philosopher, a Chartered Psychologist and Associate Fellow with the British Psychological Society. He lectures and conducts research at the Metanoia Institute in London. He is the director of IMEC International Meaning Events and Community. He has trained as an existential-humanistic, cognitive-behaviour, group and contextual family psychotherapist. He has given therapy to thousands of clients in different mental health care settings, including his private practice. He has developed psychological treatments which has been validated in clinical trials, and which are now used worldwide.

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Interview Links:

— Dr. Vos’ websites: https://joelvos.com

— Dr. Vos’ books: https://joelvos.com/books