Unicorns and Hand Grenades

In this episode we're joined by Kate Billing.  One of our favourite humans. Kate is a Speaker, Author, Thought Leader and Change Maker.  She is a Faculty Member of Thought Leaders Business School and Founder and Creative Director of Blacksmith.  

As someone who is passionate about putting the tricky business of being fully human right at the centre of how we live, lead and work you can be sure this conversation is going to take you on one soul filled, kick ass, no pretence rollicking ride.  The messy ride that is being human.

A melting pot of psychology, neuroscience, philosophy,  & sociology with a hefty dash of magic, vulnerability and humour is how we would describe it.

We talk about choosing to own who we are, what we believe and how we show up in the world.  

How prepared are we to be seen? Let alone being comfortable enough to fly our freak flags!

We also explore how our most transformative experiences, usually involve the breaking down or burning up of something.  

We cover so much ground as we sit around the campfire in this convo:  

• Not letting who you are get in the way of who you can become
• Kate's breaking & burning defining moments
• The importance of light & shadow in our own experience
• Understanding why we suffer
• Being better humans & leaders
• Endless curiosity & fascination with the ourselves & those around us
• Synchronicity & Intuition
• Magic
• Transition & aging
• Leadership being your ability to be visible in the world (not a title)
• Being explorers, & pathmakers (vs following old maps)
• Living our lives asleep at the wheel

And so much more.

We are so grateful for Kate's generosity of spirit & wisdom in this episode, we hope you walk away feeling just a little of what we did after sharing time with her.

You can find Kate on Insta: @katebilling and at www.blacksmith.co.nz.

Big love Jax & Kim xx

Oh and feel free to come follow along on Insta @unicornsandhandgrenades.life or www.unicornsandhandgrenades.com, let us know what you'd like more of and any feedback or ideas.

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In this Episode we dive into all things dating with professional Matchmaker Sasha Madarasz. 

It's a dating minefield out there peeps, from the brutal to the magnificent and everything in between.  Sasha helps us navigate through the dating maze by sharing wisdom and insights gained over her 19 years as a professional Matchmaker.   We also have a damn good laugh, as you would expect with any convo centred around dating.

She founded her dating agency Two's Company in 2003 having come from the fast paced world of TV & Film.

Jax also shares the vulnerability that going on her first date in 35 years exposed.

We cover so much in this convo:

• The art of dating
• Kiwi dating culture, or lack thereof
• Why we should date like the Europeans
• The importance of braving a second or third date, where you normally wouldn't
• Courage & vulnerability  
• Chemistry - the quick fix or the slow burn
• Expectations & assumptions
• Matchmaking differentiators
• Our self protection mechanisms 
• Self Sabotage
• Overcoming fear when it comes to 1st dates
• Kissing Cousins ;)

And so much more.

We hope you enjoy this episode as much as we enjoyed recording it with Sasha.

To learn more about Sasha & Two's Company you can visit www.twoscompany.co.nz or insta @twoscompanynz and f/book @twoscompany

Big love Jax & Kim 
 

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In this episode with Vitality Hub owner, Sonya Bower,  we discuss all things related to living a life full of vitality. 

Through her love of competitive sports & adventure racing she has developed a unique approach of training people how to move & heal.  Also how to move away from chronic stress & pain patterns so they can live a life in which they can thrive. 

This episode is about vitality & SO much more.  And lots of laughs along the way. 

If you've ever arm wrestled with body image, what makes us sexy, fitness, over training, no training, no time to train, balance, or flow, you'll love what we unravel in this episode.   She also shares with us her experience of paralysis connected to the  peak of competitive Adventure Racing.

It's an episode that has the power to really shift your thinking around lot's of things, we also discuss:

• The importance of rest in a hustle culture
• The inability to say no to things
• The power of the mind, the concept of pain and how we overcome it
• Nervous systems
• Stress systems & how to get around them
• From rip shit & bust to sustainable flow
• Dad bods/Mum bods, energy & what makes us sexy
• Healing ourselves
• Carrying emotional pain in our bodies
• The ethos of positive forward movement in life & training
• Ditch the scales
• Disassociation from personal trauma & body pain

Sonya has been a PT for over 30 years,  she holds a Bachelor's Degree in PE  from Otago and through her love of competitive sports & adventure racing she has developed a unique approach of training people how to move .  Also how to move away from chronic stress & pain patterns so you can live a life in which they can thrive. 

Her and her team that Vitality Lab are epic, you can check them out at www.vitalitylab.co.nz and on IG @vitalitylab

Big love Jax & Kim 

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What happens when your ole mates uncertainty & ambiguity come for a sleep over and forget to go home?!  Which has pretty much been the state of the world for the last 2 years for most people on the planet.

And are they friends with benefits?  Or friends without?

It's been over 3 months since we've recorded and there's been a lot of changes for us both in that time.  Which also means a lot of unlearning, re-learning, taking leaps, trusting, and continuing to adjust how we move through the world. 

But that's pretty much the game of life we've all signed up to play.

So we dive into all of that and much more in an open and honest conversation about what we've been noticing, navigating, celebrating and letting go.  You'll also find hanging around the convo campfire:

• Were things every really that certain before the world collectively went topsy turvy?
• We can have it all, but do we want it all?
• When you think you're aligned, and slip out of alignment
• How to notice when you let the things that were your not negotiables start to creep
• That the minute you think you have this life thing nailed be prepared to learn you don't
• How to ground yourself in the swirl of life
• What happens when you leap, then get real comfy in your new norm.... yup you guessed it time to buckle up and leap again
• Parenting, relationships 
• Clinging to comfort when it's doing you a disservice

Plus so much more, we even have aha moments in the actual episode, gotta love it when that happens.

Oh and we also give you a little taste of the amazing guests we've got lined up! It's so freakin good to be back! 

Thanks for all of your support and being patient through our recording hiatus.  It'll all make sense when you listen on in.

If you'd like to let us know what's important to you to hear more of, or have anyone you'd love for us to bring on the show.... message us on IG @unicornsandhandgrenades.life 

You can also find us on www.unicornsandhandgrenades.com

Big love
Jax & Kim 

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This episode is dedicated to anyone that's ever felt like a square peg in a round hole, or like they're sitting on the sidelines watching everyone else 'do life' easily.  If that's you, it was us too, so we've gotcha in this episode!

We're joined by coach and all round epic Human, Shiobhan Friel.  It's a playful, deep and energised convo centred around the nature of being Human, inner peace and other cool sh#t. We walked away from it feeling lit up & light as, and our hope is you will too. 

We explore why we're often dragged around by our thoughts, like a bull being pulled along by its nose ring.  Or a ragdoll having the baby jesus shook out of it.  Why do we take them so damn seriously, is there another way?  Well, we reckon there is.  

Life's too short to live from the sidelines, immersed in our thinking, dripping in anxiety & believing every story or Thoughtstorm that passes through our lens of perception.   And with the state of the world currently it's never been a better time to challenge how we look at life.  Because it's damn tough out there.  For many! 

We invite you in this episode to play a little game of 'what if' with us.  To put down your beliefs about what you thought you knew about thinking and how we're designed to work.   You can pick them up again after, they'll still be waiting for you.  We promise.  It takes a bit more than one convo to see the emperor's clothes for what they are.  But one convos a good place to start.

We hope you enjoy this yarn as much as we did!  You can find Siobhan on Instagram @shiobhanfriel or by visiting her at www.siobhanfriel.com where her website will have you smiling from the inside out.

Big love Jax & Kim

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In this episode we dive into all things Wellbeing with Philly Powell from the Wellbeing Junkie & the Wellbeing Tick.   

As creator of Aotearoa's first wellbeing  workplace accreditation programme, the wellbeing tick, Philly is passionate about seeing the day where toxic workplace culture is eradicated and Aotearoa's mental health statistics are improved as a result of healthy workplaces where people are empowered to thrive.

She is also a qualified Nutritionist, Corporate Wellbeing Expert, Real Food Enthusiast,  Yogi, Runner, Snowboarder, Competitive Crossfitter and all round epic human.  She's passionate about living large through holistic health & well being, real foods, endorphin releasing exercise & soulful socialising.  

So as you can imagine this is an episode jam packed with some powerful stories, wisdom, reflections & tips that are highly likely to challenge your thinking around wellbeing & what thriving means to you.  

Some of the things you'll find hiding inside: 

• Lockdown learnings
• Covid Silver Linings
• Meditation
• The power of gratitude & reflection
• Finding our purpose in life & integrating it into what we do
• Singledom
• The power of silence & sitting with yourself in discomfort
• Post traumatic growth
• Prioritising our wellbeing
• The most common barrier to wellbeing for people
• Midlife musings
• The connection between what we put in our bodies & our mental health
• Slowing down & balance: the Yin & Yang of our lifestyles & our physicality
• Burnout & how we can be in it without realising it
• Holistic Wellbeing;  a state of mental spiritual, physical & financial wellbeing

Plus so much more!  

You can find Philly at www.thewellbeingjunkie.co.nz or follow her on instagram @thewellbeingjunkie @wellbeingtick

Wishing you and yours an amazing Christmas and an epic New Year.  Catch you on the flipside.

Big love
Jax & Kim 

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This week’s guest, Stephen Brunton, deep dives into a powerful and vulnerable conversation with us that we know will shine a little light & share a little hope for those who listen in. We start off exploring what it’s like to leave your “job/job” to follow your passion and fall into alignment. 

As an actor and a voice over artist this is something Stephen’s recently done.  We explore all the different triggers and opportunities that come hand in hand with braving the unknown when you make that call. 

He also generously shares his, and his partner Brigitte’s, real & raw journey through their experience of miscarriage. 

In NZ miscarriage affects approximately 1 in every 4 women and their partners. Yet it’s not something we openly talk about often.  And it’s something that can leave many who experience it feeling alone.  A heartfelt thanks goes out to Stephen & Brigitte for sharing their experience and engaging in a conversation many shy away from. If this triggers anything for you please head to www.findahelpline.com for emotional support or www.miscarriagesuppot.org.nz 

There is so  much rich wisdom in this conversation around… 

•  Navigating through the difficult journey of miscarriage
• The volatile world of acting
• Minimizing the amount of “soul killing” work we do
• Divorcing yourself from the concept that doing the thing you love has to be the thing that earns you money
• Walking the tight rope of uncertainty  
• Separating from our pre-determined ideas of success
• The “happiness equation” & how we define it  
• Happiness & balance
• Vanity metrics vs soul metrics
• Building a solid foundation through holistic discipline 
• Getting back to basics & taking care of our well being
• Pink Bats & the Pink Bat Man

 And much more!

Thanks for all your support and staying connected.  You can find us on www.unicornsandhandgrenades.com or on @unicornsandhandgrenades.life (facebook or Insta).  We love the two way convos so keep em coming.

 Big love
Jax & Kim 

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This week we're joined by Aimee Kovacevic, author of: Cracked Open - A Teacher's Battle with Perfection .  Aimee is a Self Love & Mindset Coach, Teacher, Author, Gym Owner & Mama.  

In this episode we explore all things burnout, perfectionism & compassion fatigue.  Things that led Aimee to crack open and notice she'd forgotten who she was, what was important to her, and what kind of human and teacher she wanted to be. 

It's such a beautiful open and raw conversation where Aimee shares with us the challenges she faced in overcoming perfectionism, suffering compassion fatigue,  and what it was like to start setting boundaries after putting everyone ahead of herself for so long. 

We also talked about:

• Her journey back to herself & awakening
• The dark night of the soul
• The links between education & burnout
• Finding your calling only to find it doesn't fill you up the way you thought it would
• Caregivers & Compassion Fatigue
• Self-awareness & accountability 
• What makes us happy in our work
• Pushing down the grief of miscarriage & pretending it wasn't there
• Being told you are too much, & that you should care less
• Setting boundaries
• Growth
• Transformation

And so much more...

Aimee's book is due for release on the 24th November and if you would like to learn more about her and where you can get her book you can follow her on instagram @the_teachers_lounge_nz

We hope you enjoy this episode as much as we did and thanks for continuing to support us by tuning in.  Let's keep the conversation going, and tell us who and what you would love to hear.  You can find us on instagram and facebook @unicornsandhandgrenades.life or www.unicornsandhandgrenades.com

Big love Kim & Jax xx

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This conversation with Gaia is full of mind blowing wisdom and insight, from this world & beyond.  We dive deep into all things spiritual, soulful, universal, past lives, life lessons & growth related.  It's a conversation that supports finding and speaking our own truth, so we can do what we were put on this earth to do.

Why am I here? What's this all for?  There's got to be something more than this?  Why  do we have to repeat lessons & cycles for our souls learning?  Who am I? No, really, WHO AM I? What happens if the plans you made for your life differ from the plans the Universe has in store for you?

We hope after listening you'll feel one step closer to answering some of these hard hitting questions for yourself.  Or at least having the courage to ask them of yourself if you haven't already.  Because what if who you think who you are, isn't necessarily WHO you are? Especially if your egos the one ruling the roost!

Gaia is an internationally known Healer, Medium,  Astrologist,  Soul Progression Therapist & Reiki Master.  She also holds a Masters in Management Studies and  is qualified, by NYC's Omega Institute,  in Past Life Progression Therapy.   

She founded Soul 33 at the age of 33 after experiencing her own awakening, an incredible unfolding and story, that she shares with us in this episode:

We also talk about: 

• Chasing silence and alone time to support the work of healing
• What we manifest when our mind, heart and soul aren't aligned
• Past Lives; giving us insights into why we are how we are
• Our Souls blueprint;  how the lives we've lived before and now  are carried in our cells & souls
• Listening to our bodies
• Living purely from our Ego 
• Our conditioning, and how it can lead us to seek validation from our work & others views of us
• Christ Consciousness
• Witches/Healers
• Victim hood vs Growth -  things happening "to" us, vs 'for' us 
• The innate wisdom that comes from our past life experiences and how it informs our current lives
• Why do we self-sabotage & self criticize
• Navigating life from your heart & soul

Plus so much more.

Enjoy and as always keep the feedback coming.  We appreciate you!

You can learn more about Gaia by following her on Insta @soulthirtythree or  at www.soul33.com 

Big love
Jax & Kim x

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We got to dive off the deep end into this hopelessly hopeful conversation with Nick Ditchburn,  Co-founder of Damn Thieves.

This conversation was a gift to be a part of.  We discussed all things mental health,  creating community through conversations, re-building male archetypes & societal expectations, finding meaning in what you do & stepping back into your passion & creativity after a hiatus. 

Nick shared with us what inspired himself, and Damn Thieves co-founder Tony, to put their bodies on the line to fundraise for Mental Health organisations Gumboot Friday & I am Hope.  

And as much as we dove deep into important topics we had a damn good laugh along the way, and reminded ourselves of the importance of remembering to infuse a sense of play into life!

We also yarned about:

• How children change your view on the world and how you move through it
• Losing a friend to suicide & the profound effect it can hav on you
• Anxiety & finding a way through
• What we will tolerate & what we won't
• Discerning your own truth 
• Healing
• Altruism
• Starting a not for profit
• Serendipity & "luck", how they show up when you start stepping into your purpose
• We're all agents of change
• How the hardest things we do can sometimes end up being the easiest

And we finished up on three important life rules:  remaining hopelessly hopeful, being kind & not being rude to waiters!

Big love Jax & Kim

Trigger alert: suicide is discussed in a part of this episode, if it raises anything for you or you need emotional support please txt 1737 in NZ for Lifeline, or visit www.findahelpline.com to find a contact number for emotional support for the country you live in. 

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