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Your voice can do more than inform—it can restore connection, shift culture, and move systems when it’s rooted in the body. Today I sit down with voice coach and spoken word artist Thea May to explore how “speaking as energy” replaces performance with presence and turns every conversation into an act of care. If you’ve ever felt yourself listing credentials, freezing at “what do you do,” or leaving a meeting strangely depleted, this one offers a new path: align your gut, heart, and head and let aliveness lead.

We dig into the difference between inert and alive exchanges, how to spark curiosity by answering “what” with “why,” and why ethics must shape who and what we amplify. Thea shares her journey from theatre training and corporate coaching to soul-led speaking, and she draws a firm line against “looking like you care” when you don’t. Expect practical tools alongside real talk on worthiness, boundaries between coaching and therapy, and how sensitivity becomes a superpower when you stay congruent. 

PLUS! Thea guides us in a gut‑heart‑head alignment practice you can try on the spot, designed to help your body gift words to your mouth.

From campfire conversations to boardrooms and community halls, we explore how to hold charged topics—climate, war, justice—without shutting down. 

We introduce Rising Tide, Thea’s four‑week program for change makers ready to speak with integrity, and the Speaking Salons, a donation-based conversation club for people who give a damn. If you’ve been waiting to feel “ready,” here’s your invitation: your body already knows. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs this, and leave a review to help more voices speak truer.

Find Thea at: https://www.workingwithvoice.com/

Find All Thea's Upcoming Events here: https://lu.ma/workingwithvoice

From Betty: Being in business means being visible. Being ethical in business means not using dodgy tactics, of course, but also being authentic in how we present ourselves ~~

The trouble is… Many of us carry wounds around being seen, accepted, and celebrated as the individual we are.

Left untended, these wounds divide our will, i.e. we end up with conflicted desires:

Part of us wants to be visible to grow our businesses, but another part of us is absolutely dead set on staying well and truly within the shadows… Because that's where it's SAFE.

…whether that means literally hiding under the duvet (I've been there 🥸),

...mega procrastination & self sabotage

…or pretending to be someone we are not, so as not to stand out (I've also been there 🤫).

The push & pull can be utterly EXHAUSTING.

But the good news is, it's relatively quick & easy to fix, once you access the level of the subconscious mind, using a modality such as hypnosis.

Download my free 2 hour workshop, and I'll teach you how you can set yourself free from past hurts, and leap confidently in the direction of your dreams.

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What if your big dream isn’t a plan, but a message from your body—asking you to walk toward the life that will shape you into who you’re meant to be? That question sits at the heart of this conversation with Alex Baisley, creator of The Big Dream Program, who went from a decade of cold, soul-numbing commercial diving to designing a lifestyle-first business that blends family, travel, and deeply meaningful work.

We dig into the practical magic of authenticity and why it’s the strongest filter you’ll ever use. No more costumes, no more “chamber of commerce” personas. Alex shares how mentors like Tad Hargrave helped him build an ecosystem where work and life enrich each other instead of competing for hours. Think road-trip workshops with kids crafting in the back, swims between sessions, and a community that hosts, feeds, and becomes lifelong friends. Along the way, we tackle the staggering reality that 86% of workers are disengaged, what that costs us, and how to chart a way out with small, structural steps—even if you’re exhausted from a full-time job.

If you’ve collected degrees and modalities and still can’t pick a lane, Alex’s “specialist vs experience designer” lens is a release valve. You don’t have to choose. Name your place, define your people, and design experiences that weave your many passions into one cohesive, profitable offer. Time starts working for you when you stack functions: one trip, three outcomes—income, family, adventure. Terror becomes a compass, not a stop sign. And the real payoff isn’t just revenue; it’s becoming someone you actually like being.

If this resonates, tap play, then subscribe, share with a friend who needs it, and leave a quick review to help others find the show. Ready to design a life you love?

From Betty: Being in business means being visible. Being ethical in business means not using dodgy tactics, of course, but also being authentic in how we present ourselves ~~

The trouble is… Many of us carry wounds around being seen, accepted, and celebrated as the individual we are.

Left untended, these wounds divide our will, i.e. we end up with conflicted desires:

Part of us wants to be visible to grow our businesses, but another part of us is absolutely dead set on staying well and truly within the shadows… Because that's where it's SAFE.

…whether that means literally hiding under the duvet (I've been there 🥸),

...mega procrastination & self sabotage

…or pretending to be someone we are not, so as not to stand out (I've also been there 🤫).

The push & pull can be utterly EXHAUSTING.

But the good news is, it's relatively quick & easy to fix, once you access the level of the subconscious mind, using a modality such as hypnosis.

Download my free 2 hour workshop, and I'll teach you how you can set yourself free from past hurts, and leap confidently in the direction of your dreams.

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IG: Betty_Cottam...

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Marketing expert Laura Eastburn shares her revolutionary approach to authentic business communication with her powerful philosophy: "Speak Human, Win the Internet." Drawing from her grandfather's wisdom to "tell the truth and ask for help," Laura helps businesses break through generic marketing language to find their unique voice.

• Started her entrepreneurial journey at age 12 selling handmade hair bows
• Created an innovative approach called "finding your weird" to help businesses identify their unique selling points
• Analyzes business jargon through her "One Word" newsletter, categorizing terms as originating from military, industrial, or religious language
• Advocates for non-transactional list building instead of freebie-based opt-ins
• Developed "Pace and Prosper" to help smaller businesses with limited budgets access effective ad campaigns
• Values authentic connection over conventional marketing tactics like "pain point marketing"
• Believes speaking human online is revolutionary in a world of cookie-cutter business approaches
• Shows how authenticity isn't just more ethical – it's more effective at driving business results
• Encourages businesses to lead with their unique story rather than hiding behind professional facades

Lara's website: 

https://laraeastburn.com/

Sign up for Lara's One Word mailing list:

https://laraeastburn.com/oneword/

Pace & Prosper - MINIMALIST LIST-BUILDING ADS

FOR SMALLER BUDGETS IN 90 DAYS:

https://laraeastburn.com/pace-and-prosper/

From Betty: Being in business means being visible. Being ethical in business means not using dodgy tactics, of course, but also being authentic in how we present ourselves ~~

The trouble is… Many of us carry wounds around being seen, accepted, and celebrated as the individual we are.

Left untended, these wounds divide our will, i.e. we end up with conflicted desires:

Part of us wants to be visible to grow our businesses, but another part of us is absolutely dead set on staying well and truly within the shadows… Because that's where it's SAFE.

…whether that means literally hiding under the duvet (I've been there 🥸),

...mega procrastination & self sabotage

…or pretending to be someone we are not, so as not to stand out (I've also been there 🤫).

The push & pull can be utterly EXHAUSTING.

But the good news is, it's relatively quick & easy to fix, once you access the level of the subconscious mind, using a modality such as hypnosis.

Download my free 2 hour workshop, and I'll teach you how you can set yourself free from past hurts, and leap confidently in the direction of your dreams.

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IG: Betty_Cottam...

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Satish Kumar makes a compelling case for idealism in a world dominated by realists who have failed to solve our most pressing problems, sharing wisdom from his remarkable life journey from monk to peace activist.

• Traveling 8,000 miles on foot without money as a peace pilgrimage across 15 countries
• True peace requires work at three levels: personal peace, social peace, and ecological peace
• Living as a pilgrim means accepting the world as it is and participating to create transformation
• Diversity is nature's way - we must celebrate differences rather than seek uniformity
• Education should balance head (intellect), heart (courage), hands (creativity), and home (rootedness)
• Modern society has become too individualistic, forgetting that we exist in relationship
• Moving from "ego" to "eco" - from self-centeredness to recognizing our interconnectedness
• Acting from love rather than fear or anger sustains activism without burnout
• Offering service without expectation of results prevents disappointment
• The power of sharing tea as a way to listen and resolve conflicts through conversation

Join the Happy Startup School's summer camp in Sussex this September to meet Satish Kumar in person and experience his inspiring workshops. 

Check out Satish's magazine Resurgence & Ecologist for more of his writings on ecology, peace, and sustainable living.

From Betty: Being in business means being visible. Being ethical in business means not using dodgy tactics, of course, but also being authentic in how we present ourselves ~~

The trouble is… Many of us carry wounds around being seen, accepted, and celebrated as the individual we are.

Left untended, these wounds divide our will, i.e. we end up with conflicted desires:

Part of us wants to be visible to grow our businesses, but another part of us is absolutely dead set on staying well and truly within the shadows… Because that's where it's SAFE.

…whether that means literally hiding under the duvet (I've been there 🥸),

...mega procrastination & self sabotage

…or pretending to be someone we are not, so as not to stand out (I've also been there 🤫).

The push & pull can be utterly EXHAUSTING.

But the good news is, it's relatively quick & easy to fix, once you access the level of the subconscious mind, using a modality such as hypnosis.

Download my free 2 hour workshop, and I'll teach you how you can set yourself free from past hurts, and leap confidently in the direction of your dreams.

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IG: Betty_Cottam...

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Dr. Jo Watkins shares her transformative journey from traditional NHS doctor to digital entrepreneur who takes three months off annually to travel with her family while running a thriving online business. 

Jo also talks about working with Betty to uncover the root cause of her people pleasing, lack of self care, and her tendency towards workaholism, which, once she understood and had healed, enabled her to be more present with her family, take time out for herself, and achieve a greater work- life balance.

 Topics covered include:

• Traditional upbringing by medical parents led Jo into medicine despite initial desire to become a sports physio
• Creating a granola business taught valuable entrepreneurial lessons before transitioning to digital work
• Taking a year off to travel the world with four children under 10 changed their perspective on education and lifestyle
• Discovered the benefits of homeschooling when her quiet son thrived outside traditional education
• Menopause and possible ADHD diagnosis helped Jo understand patterns of overworking and fierce independence
• Childhood trauma from surviving an air disaster at age 11 shaped her independence and drive
• Now mentors other healthcare professionals looking to create more flexible careers alongside clinical work
• Cautions against jumping from medicine to entrepreneurship without addressing burnout first

Find Jo at JoWatkins.com with her free download "From Stethoscope to Startup" for healthcare professionals considering entrepreneurship.

From Betty: Being in business means being visible. Being ethical in business means not using dodgy tactics, of course, but also being authentic in how we present ourselves ~~

The trouble is… Many of us carry wounds around being seen, accepted, and celebrated as the individual we are.

Left untended, these wounds divide our will, i.e. we end up with conflicted desires:

Part of us wants to be visible to grow our businesses, but another part of us is absolutely dead set on staying well and truly within the shadows… Because that's where it's SAFE.

…whether that means literally hiding under the duvet (I've been there 🥸),

...mega procrastination & self sabotage

…or pretending to be someone we are not, so as not to stand out (I've also been there 🤫).

The push & pull can be utterly EXHAUSTING.

But the good news is, it's relatively quick & easy to fix, once you access the level of the subconscious mind, using a modality such as hypnosis.

Download my free 2 hour workshop, and I'll teach you how you can set yourself free from past hurts, and leap confidently in the direction of your dreams.

FB: Betty Cottam Bertels
IG: Betty_Cottam...

Send us a text

Carlos Saba, co-founder of the Happy Startup School, shares his fascinating journey from quantum physicist to soulful business coach, exploring how scientific understanding and spiritual awareness can complement each other in entrepreneurship.

• From PhD in atomic physics to helping entrepreneurs find clarity and purpose
• Distinguishing between trauma-based reactions and authentic inner knowing in decision making
• How quantum physics provides metaphors for interconnectedness while maintaining scientific integrity
• Research showing "lucky" people succeed through awareness and openness rather than inherent fortune
• The balance between focused intention and awareness of serendipitous opportunities
• Self-referencing: making choices based on your authentic needs rather than external expectations
• How disconnecting from routine at events like Summer Camp creates space for synchronicities
• The importance of ritual and marking transitions in modern life
• Competing commitments: balancing vision with day-to-day responsibilities

If you'd like to learn more about Carlos Saba and the Happy Startup School, visit thehappystartupschool.com or find "The Happy Entrepreneur" podcast on your favourite platform. 

Summer Camp takes place in September in Sussex 🏕  ...and this year (2025) Betty will be giving her signature "Heal your Past. Grow you Business. Change the World." workshop 

-- See you there?! 

From Betty: Being in business means being visible. Being ethical in business means not using dodgy tactics, of course, but also being authentic in how we present ourselves ~~

The trouble is… Many of us carry wounds around being seen, accepted, and celebrated as the individual we are.

Left untended, these wounds divide our will, i.e. we end up with conflicted desires:

Part of us wants to be visible to grow our businesses, but another part of us is absolutely dead set on staying well and truly within the shadows… Because that's where it's SAFE.

…whether that means literally hiding under the duvet (I've been there 🥸),

...mega procrastination & self sabotage

…or pretending to be someone we are not, so as not to stand out (I've also been there 🤫).

The push & pull can be utterly EXHAUSTING.

But the good news is, it's relatively quick & easy to fix, once you access the level of the subconscious mind, using a modality such as hypnosis.

Download my free 2 hour workshop, and I'll teach you how you can set yourself free from past hurts, and leap confidently in the direction of your dreams.

FB: Betty Cottam Bertels
IG: Betty_Cottam...

Send us a text

Dream deeply, rise up strong. A change is coming. These powerful words form the foundation of Manda Scott's revolutionary work, where ancient wisdom meets urgent contemporary need.

In this profound conversation, bestselling author and shamanic practitioner Manda Scott takes us on a journey from the world of pre-Roman Britain to our current precipice of ecological and social collapse – and most importantly, charts a believable path forward. The contrast she draws between "initiation culture" (the indigenous way of being that characterized most of human history) and "trauma culture" (our current disconnected paradigm) offers a framework for understanding not just how we lost our way, but how we might find it again.

Scott's journey from veterinary surgeon to acclaimed historical novelist to political visionary demonstrates the power of following one's calling, even when it seems impractical or impossible. Her Boudica series wasn't merely entertainment but a political statement – an attempt to show readers who we were before colonisation and who we could become again if we shed the trappings of what she calls "the predatory capitalist death cult."

Her latest novel, "Any Human Power," is her response to our current crisis – a "thrutopian" thriller that presents a path forward from our current reality to a future we'd be proud to leave behind. What makes her approach particularly powerful is that everything in her novel is based on solutions already being implemented somewhere in the world.

The conversation culminates in a powerful call to action, centred on healing ourselves, our communities, and our relationship with the living world. As Ursula Le Guin noted in the quote that inspired Scott's book title: "Any human power can be resisted and changed by human beings."

Manda's Website: https://mandascott.co.uk/

Manda's Shamanic Dreaming: https://dreamingawake.co.uk/

Manda's Accidental Gods Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/accidental-gods/id1492827360

From Betty: Being in business means being visible. Being ethical in business means not using dodgy tactics, of course, but also being authentic in how we present ourselves ~~

The trouble is… Many of us carry wounds around being seen, accepted, and celebrated as the individual we are.

Left untended, these wounds divide our will, i.e. we end up with conflicted desires:

Part of us wants to be visible to grow our businesses, but another part of us is absolutely dead set on staying well and truly within the shadows… Because that's where it's SAFE.

…whether that means literally hiding under the duvet (I've been there 🥸),

...mega procrastination & self sabotage

…or pretending to be someone we are not, so as not to stand out (I've also been there 🤫).

The push & pull can be utterly EXHAUSTING.

But the good news is, it's relatively quick & easy to fix, once you access the level of the subconscious mind, using a modality such as hypnosis.

Download my free 2 hour workshop, and I'll teach you how you can set yourself free from past hurts, and leap confidently in the direction of your dreams.

FB: Betty Cottam Bertels
IG: Betty_Cottam...

Send us a text

Tad Hargrave shares his profound insights on culture making – the practice of enriching our communities by honoring life transitions and creating meaningful ceremonies that acknowledge our significance to one another.

• Culture making addresses collective problems rather than seeking individual solutions
• The Orphan Wisdom School provided Tad with a taste of what culture could be – beauty, ceremony, and acknowledging what matters
• Most problems are not personal but collective in nature
• Creating ceremonies for farewells helps people know they mattered and had consequence
• Even failed attempts at culture making keep "the scent" of it alive for future generations
• Small acts like thoughtful toasts, intentional gift-giving, and slowing down important moments can create cultural richness
• The focus shifts from consumption to contribution – asking "what can I bring?" rather than "what can I get?"
• Traditional cultures contained deep stories behind everyday objects, creating meaning and connection
• Being willing to try cultural interventions, even imperfectly, gives others permission to do the same
• We don't need to wait until we need each other for survival to begin practicing village-mindedness

Sign up for Tad's Substack 'On Culture-Making' here: https://substack.com/@tadhargrave

And learn how to market your business beautifully à la Tad here: https://marketingforhippies.com/

From Betty: Being in business means being visible. Being ethical in business means not using dodgy tactics, of course, but also being authentic in how we present ourselves ~~

The trouble is… Many of us carry wounds around being seen, accepted, and celebrated as the individual we are.

Left untended, these wounds divide our will, i.e. we end up with conflicted desires:

Part of us wants to be visible to grow our businesses, but another part of us is absolutely dead set on staying well and truly within the shadows… Because that's where it's SAFE.

…whether that means literally hiding under the duvet (I've been there 🥸),

...mega procrastination & self sabotage

…or pretending to be someone we are not, so as not to stand out (I've also been there 🤫).

The push & pull can be utterly EXHAUSTING.

But the good news is, it's relatively quick & easy to fix, once you access the level of the subconscious mind, using a modality such as hypnosis.

Download my free 2 hour workshop, and I'll teach you how you can set yourself free from past hurts, and leap confidently in the direction of your dreams.

FB: Betty Cottam Bertels
IG: Betty_Cottam...

Send us a text

Do you crave simplicity & spaciousness as a busy business owner & parent? Me too! 

Today's guest, Gemma Gilbert, is a down-to-earth & successful business coach, ex-teacher, and mother. She's built a successful business that works for her, giving her the spaciousness & balance in her life that she longed for when she was working in the corporate world. I had so much fun hearing her story. 

Here's what we talked about: 

• Winter morning dog walks & why mittens are superior to gloves!
• Gemma’s niche: a flagship evergreen group coaching model 
• Gemma’s story, from teaching to corporate, and how becoming a mother changed her priorities
• Coaching skills and how they don’t help you grow a business
• Choosing a niche when you don’t feel you have any particular expertise
• How Gemma grew her business as a new mother, and then realised it wasn’t what she wanted
• Gemma on her current offerings Amplify & Weeks That Work
• Creating balance & focus, as a mum with a business
• Betty on reading novels again after being obsessed with personal growth
• Betty asks Gemma about her experience at Summercamp
• Gemma on Satish Kumar and simple living 
• Gemma on her experience of speaking at Tad Hargrave’s London workshop last year 
• Meeting people you have only previously met online
• Gemma on feeling less confident in group environments
• Knowing when to NOT offer your opinions 
• Gemma on picking ONE THING to grow your audience
• Half-arsed social media and when to run ads
• The golden era of Facebook & Facebook Groups & the algorithm changes 

Find out more about Gemma at : https://www.gemmagilbert.com/

Learn how to scale one evergreen group programme to 10K+ months without exhausting launches: download Gemma's free workshop series

From Betty: Being in business means being visible. Being ethical in business means not using dodgy tactics, of course, but also being authentic in how we present ourselves ~~

The trouble is… Many of us carry wounds around being seen, accepted, and celebrated as the individual we are.

Left untended, these wounds divide our will, i.e. we end up with conflicted desires:

Part of us wants to be visible to grow our businesses, but another part of us is absolutely dead set on staying well and truly within the shadows… Because that's where it's SAFE.

…whether that means literally hiding under the duvet (I've been there 🥸),

...mega procrastination & self sabotage

…or pretending to be someone we are not, so as not to stand out (I've also been there 🤫).

The push & pull can be utterly EXHAUSTING.

But the good news is, it's relatively quick & easy to fix, once you access the level of the subconscious mind, using a modality such as hypnosis.

Download my free 2 hour workshop, and I'll teach you how you can set yourself free from past hurts, and leap confidently in the direction of your dreams.

FB: Betty Cottam Bertels
IG: Betty_Cottam...

Send us a text

My friend & colleague, Debbie Lee, helps purpose-driven doers and dreamers design, build and grow businesses they adore. She is Business Mentor, Embodiment Coach, a Corporate Escapee and a "mum to two Duracell bunnies"

This conversation covers:

• Debbie on business as an eco-system
•  ‘Regenerative’ business’ vs ‘Extractive’ business
• Business as a vehicle to build community
• Collaboration for mutual growth
• My getting my needs met vs meeting the needs of the community
• Our obsession with productivity and how that lacks balance
• The importance of rest & replenishment in a world of optimisation
• Debbie’s own struggles with resting
• Cyclical ways of working; trusting the downtime
• Debbie’s previous position in the corporate world and the ‘always on’ mentality
• The shock of becoming an entrepreneur and creating your own schedule
• The analogy of the seasons
• The problem with the 6 steps to 6 figures way of thinking
• Success as an oak tree
• Somatic coaching: getting out of our heads & into our bodies
• Listening to & honouring your body-wisdom
• Accessing your intuition to grow your business your way
• What does it mean to embody the vision of your business
• Betty on the need to believe in ourselves as business owners
• The Pygmalion Effect
• Finding someone to fan the flames of your ‘inner spark’ of inspiration
• Debbie on the best ways to find out more about her and her work and book a gift session

https://www.debbielee.co.uk/

https://www.debbielee.co.uk/100-gift-sessions

From Betty: Being in business means being visible. Being ethical in business means not using dodgy tactics, of course, but also being authentic in how we present ourselves ~~

The trouble is… Many of us carry wounds around being seen, accepted, and celebrated as the individual we are.

Left untended, these wounds divide our will, i.e. we end up with conflicted desires:

Part of us wants to be visible to grow our businesses, but another part of us is absolutely dead set on staying well and truly within the shadows… Because that's where it's SAFE.

…whether that means literally hiding under the duvet (I've been there 🥸),

...mega procrastination & self sabotage

…or pretending to be someone we are not, so as not to stand out (I've also been there 🤫).

The push & pull can be utterly EXHAUSTING.

But the good news is, it's relatively quick & easy to fix, once you access the level of the subconscious mind, using a modality such as hypnosis.

Download my free 2 hour workshop, and I'll teach you how you can set yourself free from past hurts, and leap confidently in the direction of your dreams.

FB: Betty Cottam Bertels
IG: Betty_Cottam...