Wellbeing Provocateur Podcast

Lately, it feels like the world’s running low on hope ☹️

Between economic uncertainty, environmental anxiety, inequality, polarisation, erosion of trust, disconnection, and daily pressures, many of us have slipped into survival mode.

We’re just getting through the week instead of imagining what could be better and reimagining the future we want to live in.

I’m so excited to share this conversation with Dr Denise Quinlan, Director of the New Zealand Institute of Wellbeing & Resilience, as we explore how to cultivate hope personally, collectively, and in the workplace.

Denise’s research and lived wisdom remind us that hope isn’t naïve optimism.

It’s courage.

It’s agency.

It’s the ability to imagine a future worth moving toward.

Together we cha about :

🫶 What hope really is and why it’s different from optimism or positivity

🫶 The state of hope in today’s world

🫶 How to rebuild hope in ourselves and others when life feels hard

🫶 The role of leadership, connection, and collective action in restoring hope at work

🫶 Practical ways to rekindle imagination, purpose, and possibility

🫶 Guided live exercise — Bringing hope to the summer holidays

Whether you’re leading a team, navigating change or struggle, or simply trying to keep your spark alive — this conversation will help you reconnect to what matters most.

Connect with Denise

www.linkedin.com/in/drdenisequinlan/

https://linktr.ee/drdenisequinlan

www.instagram.com/drdenisequinlan/

In this reflective and candid one year check in, Philly sits down with her accountability buddy, leadership coach and podcaster Kerene Strochnetter, to unpack their joint experiment: an entire year of not eating after dinner (NEAD). What began spontaneously at a Paddy Gower event in Wellington turned into a daily check in ritual, deep self inquiry, and a surprisingly emotional journey.

Together, they explore why they started, what worked, what didn’t, the realities of emotional eating, and how habits shift over time. They share their personal data, stories of celebration and struggle, what they learned about themselves, and why neither of them hit 100 percent — and why that’s perfectly human.

This conversation is full of compassion, curiosity, behavioural insight, and laughter, offering listeners a relatable look into creating healthier habits without shame or perfectionism.

Topics We Cover

• How a casual dinner conversation turned into a year long experiment
• Why “not eating after dinner” is more complex than it sounds
• Habit versus hunger
• Tracking data, accountability, and the reality behind success rates
• Emotional eating, comfort, reward and self soothing
• How life stressors and social situations influence eating
• The power of environment on behaviour
• Riding out cravings and catching yourself in the moment
• What worked, what didn’t, and what they’ll change for “Version 2.0”
• Why perfection isn’t the goal — self kindness is

About our Guest: Kerene Strochnetter

Kerene is the founder of Mindful at Work, where she coaches leaders and teams to create healthier, more conscious workplace cultures. She’s also the host of the Little Addicts podcast (currently paused while she writes her book of the same name), a grandmother of five, a proud shoe addict, and a friend and fellow wellbeing junkie.

Key Takeaways

• A year long experiment isn’t about perfection — it’s about learning.
• Emotional eating often shows up in moments of overwhelm, reward, or habit.
• Accountability partners make behaviour change far more sustainable.
• Success rates naturally shift over time — discipline is easy at the start and harder in the messy middle.
• Tracking data brings powerful awareness (and sometimes humour).
• “Catching yourself” is a skill that gets stronger with practice.
• Self kindness, not restriction, leads to real change.

Tune in to hear the full conversation, the funny confessions, the honest moments, and the insights that emerged from 365 days of checking in, texting, trying, slipping, learning, and starting again.

Connect with Kerene

[email protected]

www.mindfulatwork.co.nz

www.linkedin.com/in/kerenestrochnetter/

www.instagram.com/kerene_strochnetter/

Connect with Philly

⁠www.wellbeingfirst.co.nz⁠

www.instagram.com/wellbeingfirst_nz

www.facebook.com/wellbeingfirstnz/

www.linkedin.com/in/phillippa-powell/

It takes a lot of time and love to produce these podcasts so in return I’d be so grateful if you could please share the love in return!

1. Send me a message – I’d love to know the one thing is you’re going to do differently after listening to this episode

2. Share this episode – you never know how this very episode could change someone’s life!

3. Rate the show and hit the follow button – so we can introduce more people to be part of this epic community!

Many of us are familiar with self-care and personal wellbeing, but how can we take it a step further to create real impact in the world?

On this episode I'm joined by Nicola King - sustainable advocate, systems thinker, and creator of In Good Nic - to explore the concept of welldoing.

Nicola shares her journey from growing up in Wānaka, completing a sustainability in business master’s, creating the Sustainable Ladies community, and recently being elected to the local council.

Together, Philly and Nicola dive into:

• What welldoing means and how it extends personal wellbeing outward

• How small conscious actions ripple out into meaningful change

• The importance of curiosity, consciousness, and empathy in sustainability and community action

• Habit stacking as a way to integrate wellbeing and sustainability into everyday life

• Real-life examples of social, environmental, and economic actions making a difference

• Practical tips for getting started, staying inspired, and making well doing accessible and enjoyable

  
  

If you’re ready to move beyond self-care and explore how your actions can create a positive impact for people, the planet, and society, this conversation is for you.

Listen, reflect, and start your journey of welldoing today.

Connect with Nicola King
Instagram
In Good Nic

Follow Philly Powell

Website

LinkedIn

Instagram

Facebook

When COVID hit, Joel Bouzaid lost five major contracts in a week. His speaking business — and identity as a provider — disappeared overnight.

Out of that crisis, he rebuilt from scratch, moving from “the Joel show” to co-leading a global business that now impacts 150 salon owners worldwide.

In this conversation, Joel and Philly dive into what it really takes to rebuild, reinvent, and design a life that feels like yours. From finding courage in uncertainty to breaking through self-imposed limits, this chat will challenge your excuses and spark your next bold move.

Because sometimes the biggest setbacks become the launchpad for something greater.

💬 In this episode

• Joel’s transformation from rock bottom to global impact

• How to abolish limits and move from survival to possibility

• The art of living life by design, not by default

• What passion really means — and what you’re willing to suffer for

• Challenging old beliefs about work, money, and success

• Why confidence is everything when it comes to change

💡 Key Quote“You never really know if a decision is right — you’ve got to do it to find out.” – Joel Bouzaid

🎧 Hosted by Philly Powell, founder of Wellbeing First and self-confessed wellbeing junkie.
Follow Joel on Instagram @joelbouzaid.

In a time where the pace and complexity of life can feelrelentless, many of us are looking for something deeper – a way to reconnect with ourselves, find peace and hope, and live meaningfully.

Perhaps you’ve wondered what if spirituality could help? 

What even is it? 

And how do you weave spirituality into everyday lifeand work?

Join me, Philly Powell, in a grounded and uplifting conversation with Paula Shaw from Soulful Guiding, a Spiritual Guide and Mentor who blends Tibetan Buddhist wisdom, astrology, and intuitive guidance to help people navigate life’s challenges (including my own).

This is an incredible opportunity to challenge any “woo woo”connotations of spirituality and find out how it’s not only helping me and many others immensely but how it could make a massive difference to not only your life but your workplace culture too.

Here’s what Paula and I will be chatting about…

✨ Spirituality 101 – Clear and simple definitions that cut through the fluff and demystify the hype.

✨ Lessons from a solo retreat – How Paula went from monastery retreats in India to a solo retreat in the Australian mountains, and the breakthroughs she brought back into everyday life.

✨Spirituality without blowing up your life – Why deep personal growth doesn’t have to mean quitting your job, leaving your partner, or moving overseas.

✨Knowing yourself in a tech-driven world – How self-awareness is the ultimate way to “AI-proof” your life and resist cultural conditioning.

✨Why AI might make us more human – The unexpected upside of lifeless tech and why it could drive us back toward authentic connection.

✨ Nature as a spiritual teacher – The awe, creativity, and clarity that come from time in the natural world.

✨Bringing ‘wairua’ into the workplace – How spiritual wellbeing strengthens every other pillar of health, and why most workplaces ignore it.

✨ Hope when the world feels heavy – Practical and soulful tools for staying grounded and optimistic through uncertainty.

✨ Breaking free from distraction & consumerism – How to questions societal norms and use spirituality to find a more meaningful path.

You can find Paula at www.soulfulguiding.com and www.instagram.com/soulfulguiding/ 🌟

In this episode of the Wellbeing Provocateur Podcast, I had the privilege of speaking with Anne Rayner – Founder of Productivity Bargain and champion for sustainable work practices.

Anne draws on her experience leading businesses across Southeast Asia and working with organisations worldwide to show why shorter working weeks aren’t just good for wellbeing—they’re great for performance.

We explored:

⏳ Why the hidden belief that more hours = more value is holding us back

🔄 How shifting from hours to outcomes can transform work culture

💼 What the four productivity pillars look like in action: reducing busy work, simplifying systems, enhancing team effectiveness, and prioritising wellbeing

🚀 Real case studies proving that shorter weeks drive retention, attraction, and ambitious growth—even in industries like professional services

This kōrero challenges outdated assumptions and offers practical steps to create workplaces where people and businesses thrive.

💥 One-liner to remember:

“Time is the most powerful bargain you can offer.”

🎤 Philly’s mantra meets Anne’s approach:

“Wellbeing First, Work Second” meets “Deliver 100% outcomes in 80% of the time.”

🔗 Connect with Anne:

Follow her insights on LinkedIn or visit www.productivitybargain.com to explore her programs for shifting to a shorter, smarter work week.

In this episode of the Wellbeing Provocateur Series, we're joined by the brilliantly bold Bridget Jelley—Mental Health Specialist and Occupational Psychologist at Rolls Royce UK and Founder of Glia Workplace Psychologists in Aotearoa.

Bridget brings two decades of lived and professional experience across multiple countries and cultures, now supporting the psychological wellbeing of 45,000 employees across global operations. From her deeply personal “why” to her bold workplace advocacy, this kōrero is honest, confronting—and laced with wit.

Together, we unpack the truth behind workplace mental health and challenge the systems keeping us stuck in outdated norms.

We explore:

🧠 The Psychological Health & Safety Gap

🌍 The Global Stress Equation

🔧 Real Strategies That Actually Work

🏔️ The Power of Place & Perspective

Expect courageous conversations on:

• Burnout myths (and how to actually burn out faster 😅)

• Why high achievers are most at risk

• The under-discussed risk factor of fairness

• Why laughing is sometimes the best mental health intervention

• What workplaces get wrong about fun, feedback, and failure

This episode is for:

Wellbeing specialists, HR and H&S professionals, people leaders, and anyone ready to push past the tick-box approach to create more human, inclusive, and mentally healthy workplaces.

💥 One-liner to remember:

“Don’t wait for a crisis to care.”

🎤 Philly’s mantra meets Bridget’s wisdom:

“Wellbeing First, Work Second” meets “Life’s far too important to take seriously.”

🔗 Connect with Bridget:

Follow her insights and irreverent guides on LinkedIn or visit Glia Workplace Psychologists to explore their organisational services in Aotearoa.

What does it really take to lead a fast-growing company — and stay well while doing it?

In this raw and refreshingly honest conversation, Philly sits down with Stanley Henry, CEO of The Attention Seeker, to explore the emotional weight of leadership and how to survive (and thrive) in the spotlight of modern business.

From building a brand to carrying a team of 40+, Stanley opens up about the pressures, boundaries, mistakes, and mindset shifts that have defined his journey. No sugarcoating — just real talk about what it means to model wellbeing while scaling a business.

We dive into:

🧠 The mental load of leading a company — and how Stan handles the pressure of payroll and people

🧱 Building boundaries & protecting identity in personal branding

📱 Managing public life, social media criticism, and algorithm overwhelm

🧍‍♂️ Why modelling wellbeing as a CEO is messy, but necessary

😌 Rest as a non-negotiable — and why Stan created “Decompression Week”

🎮 Gaming, running, Xbox breaks, and redefining what balance really looks like

🧬 Why your social media feed reflects your mental state — and how to take control of your algorithm

Whether you're a founder, aspiring leader, or simply trying to do meaningful work without losing yourself in the process — this episode is for you.

🔊 "Being a wellbeing provocateur means being brave enough to put your own oxygen mask on first — and talking about it" – Stanley Henry

💬 Let us know what resonates

🔔 Subscribe, rate & share if you believe in doing business without burning out
🎙️ Follow Stanley on LinkedIn or @theattentionseeker
🌐 Learn more at wellbeingtick.co.nz

It takes a lot of time and love to produce these podcasts so in return I’d be so grateful if you could please share the love in return!

1.       Send me a message – I’d love to know the one thing is you’re going to do differently after listening to this episode

2.      Share this episode – you never know how this very episode could change someone’s life!

3.      Rate the show and hit the follow button – so we can introduce more people to be part of this epic community!

In this episode I dive into the intersection of AI, wellbeing, and entrepreneurship with special guest Hannah Hardy Jones, co-founder of Contented AI. Hannah made the bold shift from HR to tech, driven by her own mental health journey and a passion for creating solutions that make every conversation count.

We explore:
💛 Hannah’s personal wellbeing journey—from HR to AI
💛 How AI can enhance personal and professional wellbeing
💛 The challenges of work-life balance in startup culture
💛 The future of work, wellbeing, and sustainable business practices

Hannah shares how AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity can lighten workloads, free up time, and even support mental health—from creating custom children’s activities to transcribing medical appointments. She also challenges the traditional "hustle culture," advocating for genuine connections over relentless self-promotion.

A key takeaway? Wellbeing isn’t just about individual efforts—it’s about organisational culture.

As Hannah puts it:
"You can give staff all the ideas and solutions, but if the internal culture is broken, that's just like some grains of sand on a fire."

Join us for an insightful discussion on leveraging AI without burning out—and learn how technology can help you thrive in both work and life.

Connect with Hannah

LinkedIn

www.contentedai.com

Connect with Philly

⁠www.wellbeingtick.co.nz⁠

⁠Wellbeing Tick Instagram⁠

⁠LinkedIn⁠

⁠The Wellbeing Junkie Instagram⁠

It takes a lot of time and love to produce these podcasts so in return I’d be so grateful if you could please share the love in return!

1.      Send me a message – I’d love to know the one thing is you’re going to do differently after listening to this episode

2.     Share this episode – you never know how this very episode could change someone’s life!

3.     Rate the show and hit the follow button – so we can introduce more people to be part of this epic community!

Join me as I discuss workplace transformation, burnout, and resilience with Katie Desai from Tipping Point Collab.

Katie shares her journey from a 16-year corporate career to self-employment, highlighting research on workplace wellbeing and reimagining work systems that help people thrive.

1. Katie’s Career Journey

• From corporate strategy roles in the UK & NZ to founding Tipping Point Collab

• Struggles with work-life balance as a parent led to health challenges

• Transitioned to self-employment to align work with wellbeing.

2. Workplace Transformation & Research Insights

• Early career experiences shape long-term workplace expectations

• Core job needs: learning, relationships, and leadership

• Technology’s dual role: enhancing productivity but also blurring work-life boundaries

• Setting boundaries is crucial for sustainable careers.

3. Alternative Work Models & The Future of Work

• Portfolio careers and fractional work as flexible career alternatives

• Organisations benefit from specialized skills without full-time hires

• Moving toward human-centred, outcomes-based work environments.

4. Work-Life Integration Challenges

• Mismatch between school and work schedules

• Declining "village" support systems add to parenting challenges.

• Need for flexible, family-friendly work policies.

Key Takeaways:

• Work structures must evolve beyond outdated models

• Career decisions should align with personal values and wellbeing

• Leadership must rebuild trust and foster modern workplace cultures

• Wellbeing practices, including boundary-setting, are essential for long-term success.

Connect with Katie

Katie Desai 

Tipping Point Collab

Connect with Philly

⁠www.wellbeingtick.co.nz⁠

⁠Wellbeing Tick Instagram⁠

⁠LinkedIn⁠

⁠The Wellbeing Junkie Instagram⁠

It takes a lot of time and love to produce these podcasts so in return I’d be so grateful if you could please share the love in return!

1. Send me a message – I’d love to know the one thing is you’re going to do differently after listening to this episode

2. Share this episode – you never know how this very episode could change someone’s life!

3. Rate the show and hit the follow button – so we can introduce more people to be part of this epic community!