Vidya by Pia & Bart

In this episode, we dive into the transformative power of breathwork with Tim van der Vliet (Bart’s brother), a global breathwork coach and creator of the TT5 technique. Tim shares his journey from high-stress stock trading to finding balance and purpose through breathwork, eventually becoming one of the world’s leading breathwork specialists. With his signature blend of science and simplicity, Tim explains how deliberate breathwork can reduce stress, improve focus, boost athletic performance, and even decrease inflammation. He emphasises the accessibility of breathwork, highlighting how just five minutes a day can create profound mental and physical well-being shifts.

We also explore the science behind breathwork, discussing its effects on the autonomic nervous system, cardiovascular health, and cellular energy production. Tim demonstrates his TT5 technique—a quick and powerful practice that blends intentional breathing with moments of stillness. Whether you’re seeking calm before a big meeting or looking to enhance your daily mindfulness routine, this episode offers practical insights and tools to harness the full potential of your breath. Visit Tim’s website at https://www.timvandervliet.com/ or try the Breathing Room App, which is available on the App Store and Google Play.

In this episode, we explore the emotional responses that arise from common, everyday triggers, focusing on how we become aware of and manage them. The conversation starts with a look at the stress of queuing at airport gates, where many of us experience heightened anxiety over small things, like whether there will be space for our luggage. Even when we know the anxiety is irrational, it persists. This leads us to reflect on how being conscious of these reactions allows us to manage them better over time, even if they remain part of our lives. We touch on various examples, from stress at the airport to dealing with unknown callers and the immediate negative reactions they evoke.

We delve deeper into the concept of triggers—both positive and negative—and how they influence our energy and interactions with the world around us. For example, the feeling of anger after hitting our head or the satisfaction of seeing a free taxi can have immediate emotional impacts. These triggers shape our behaviour and, by extension, the environment we share with others. By understanding what triggers us, we can start to regulate our reactions and potentially shift how we respond. The episode closes with the idea of keeping a “trigger journal” to better recognize the patterns in our emotional responses and become more mindful of how we bring our emotional state into our interactions.

In this podcast episode, we delve into the concept of mentorship, tracing its historical roots back to figures like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle and exploring its evolution into the modern corporate and personal development contexts. We discuss the distinctions and overlaps between mentorship and coaching, pondering how each plays a role in personal and professional growth. The conversation reflects on how mentorship has been a fundamental part of human development, facilitating the transfer of wisdom across generations. We consider the nature of mentorship as a relationship where more experienced individuals share their knowledge. This is similar to and different from coaching, which is often more structured and may not require the coach to have direct experience in the same fields as their clients.

Further, we explore our personal experiences with mentorship, both as mentors and mentees. We discuss how the mentorship dynamics can vary, emphasising that while mentors typically offer guidance drawn from their experience, the best mentor-mentee relationships are reciprocal, where both parties learn from each other. This reciprocity enriches the relationship, making it a profound learning experience for both. The dialogue also touches upon the informal mentorship roles we might play in our lives without necessarily labelling them as such, highlighting how these relationships shape personal and professional development in significant ways. The episode encourages listeners to reflect on their own relationships and consider whether they might benefit from seeking a mentor or becoming one, thus fostering a culture of continuous learning and wisdom-sharing.

In this podcast episode, we come back to one of our favourite topics: Learning. We discuss the importance of understanding and leveraging personal strengths in professional and personal development. By recounting our experiences from the past when learning wasn't a consciously integrated part of our lives to now, where it forms a crucial aspect of our daily activities, we emphasise the transformative power of learning. This reflection leads us to consider the various ways learning has shaped our careers, hobbies, and self-awareness, highlighting the shift from passive to active and intentional learning.

We discuss how learning is intertwined with our values and how it manifests in different aspects of our lives, such as professional development, personal interests like drawing and cooking, and even understanding complex concepts through formal education or self-driven inquiry. The conversation brings to light the notion that learning can be a highly motivating factor, enhancing mastery and personal growth. We share insights on how adopting a learning mindset can transform perceived failures into valuable lessons, promoting a positive outlook and resilience. Through these reflections, we encourage listeners to cultivate a learner's attitude, deliberately integrate learning into their life's fabric, and appreciate the continuous opportunities for growth and development.

In this podcast episode, we explore the concept of the "corporate athlete," comparing the performance and preparation strategies of professional athletes to those of corporate professionals. The discussion begins with reflections on the Olympic Games, noting how athletes meticulously prepare for major events, emphasizing the importance of recovery, rest, and focus. We highlight the concept of categorizing tasks into A, B, and C "races," with A races being the most critical events requiring peak performance, while B and C races serve as preparation or less critical tasks.

The conversation underscores the importance of planning, sustainability, and focus in corporate life, drawing parallels with how athletes manage their careers over the long term. We discuss the necessity of distinguishing between critical and less critical tasks, advocating for rest before major "races" and embracing a mindset that prioritizes recovery and resilience. The episode concludes by encouraging listeners to identify their "A races" in their professional lives and make deliberate changes to align their work habits with the practices of top athletes, ultimately aiming to achieve sustained high performance.

In this podcast episode, we delve into the profound influence that the people closest to us have on our personal growth and development. We explore the idea that "you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with," reflecting on how our relationships shape who we are. We discuss the dynamic nature of these relationships, noting that as the people around us change, so do we. This conversation is intertwined with personal anecdotes about family and the deliberate efforts to maintain strong sibling connections through annual trips and activities, emphasising the importance of intentional time spent together despite life’s inevitable changes.

Furthermore, we touch on reconnecting with old friends and the surprising depth and renewal these rekindled relationships can bring. This discussion branches into the strategies for maintaining these relationships, such as setting expectations and recognising the different roles various friends play in our lives. We highlight how these relationships mirror our personal development and discuss the potential shifts in dynamics as we evolve. The conversation invites listeners to consider who they spend their time with and how these choices affect their personal growth and happiness, encouraging a reflective approach to personal connections.

In this podcast episode, we explore the profound concept of rhythm in life as a more dynamic and integrated approach compared to the traditional notion of work-life balance. We recount a journey to Santiago de Compostela, where the experience of walking the pilgrimage illuminated thoughts about personal and environmental rhythms. We discuss how different rhythms, such as daily cycles and life stages, influence our actions and well-being. The conversation extends to how understanding these rhythms can lead to better integration of work and life, suggesting that life is not about balancing static elements but rather flowing with the natural rhythms that govern our existence.

Delving deeper, we reflect on how aligning with these natural rhythms—like those of sleep and wakefulness influenced by natural light—can enhance our health and productivity. The idea is extended metaphorically to organisations, comparing the life stages of a company to seasons, which highlights the importance of adapting to each phase for sustainability. We also touch upon personal experiences that underscore the importance of recognising and honouring our individual rhythms, such as being a morning person or understanding our optimal times for productivity and rest. Through these reflections, we encourage listeners to think of rhythm as a continuous movement and alignment with one’s intrinsic patterns, which offers a more fulfilling way to navigate life’s complexities.

In this episode, we discuss the common misconceptions about healthy eating, emphasising that what is considered healthy can vary greatly among individuals. Our conversation highlights that ultra-processed foods like vegan burgers and certain breakfast cereals are often mistakenly perceived as healthy. We also touch on the importance of understanding what constitutes ultra-processed foods and their potential health implications. We further discuss the significance of whole foods, using examples like eggs and yoghurt, and the evolving perceptions of their health benefits over time.

Then, we delve into broader aspects of nutrition, including the importance of timing of food intake, calorie intake, and diet variety. We advocate for a balanced approach to eating, suggesting an 80/20 rule where 80% of the diet consists of healthy, whole foods, and 20% allows for flexibility. We emphasise the importance of gut health, recommending a diet rich in fibre (prebiotics) and fermented foods (probiotics). The conversation also touches on the social and psychological aspects of eating, such as the benefits of sharing meals and being open to new dietary information.

In this podcast episode, we delve into the concept and importance of stillness in achieving clarity, productivity, and overall well-being. We share our personal experiences and the challenges of slowing down in a fast-paced world, highlighting that the discomfort felt during slower moments can actually lead to greater productivity and insight. Our discussion draws on insights from Ryan Holiday's book "Stillness is the Key," emphasising stillness as a universally recognised virtue across various philosophies and religions. We explore different methods to achieve stillness, such as meditation, yoga, and reducing distractions, and underscore their significance for mental and physical health.

Additionally, we discuss practical applications and benefits of stillness, including enhanced creativity, more profound gratitude, and improved personal connections. We share anecdotes and strategies for integrating stillness into daily life, such as engaging in slow activities, practising mindfulness, and setting intentional periods for reflection and decompression. We suggest that embracing stillness can be a powerful tool for personal growth and stress management, encouraging listeners to explore what stillness means for them and how it can be cultivated in their own lives for better health, happiness, and performance.

On our business development trip to Spain, we find ourselves going for a run in the morning and realise we have quite different approaches to running. One of us is more structured, more planned, and measures and analyses a lot more data. The other just runs. You guess which is which! During our conversation, we delve into the reasons behind our fitness routines. We exercise for various reasons: the feeling of well-being, the joy of physical movement, the impact on our health, and the mental benefits like clarity and problem-solving. We also value the social connections, mental well-being, and personal growth that come with exercise.

We emphasise the importance of incorporating various forms of exercise, including strength and resistance training, flexibility work, stability training and different intensities of cardio training, to maintain a balanced and holistic approach to our well-being. We also stress the importance of a varied exercise routine on our health and longevity, maximising the chances of staying disease-free when we grow older. Our central theme is finding motivation and purpose in our physical activities to maintain a consistent and fulfilling fitness routine.