You Can Shine

This podcast interview features a respected Brisbane-based vocalist and actress with a voice that has captivated audiences for the past thirty years. She is a passionate performer, daughter, partner and mother with natural charisma, beauty and an honest, heart-felt delivery.  

This is Barbara Fordham ‘unplugged’ – raw, vulnerable and real.  

Barbara shares her story of how a choice between life over death was a significant defining moment that turned her life around from the depths of despair. Struggling with substance abuse and addiction, Barbara tells how realising her dream of performing, and leaning into the spiritual saved her life. She is now 24 years sober and the survivor of abuse. 

We talk of many life themes including abuse, addiction, joy, passion, motherhood resilience, service, bravery, self love and purpose. 

Learn from a woman who had to trust, lean into ‘pure love’, transformed her pain into passion and overcame surgery from an aggressive rare jaw tumour almost a decade ago, and continues to sing and live on strong with all her heart. 

Tune in, open your mind and heart, and be inspired. 

Resources: 

Make a donation to Barb’s charity of choice:  https://www.rbwhfoundation.com.au/donations/ 

Enjoy some serious fun music with R&B six piece band featuring Barbara Fordham - The Trespassers: https://bit.ly/35YLtMV

Poem - Diving Into the Wreck by Adrienne Rich: https://poets.org/poem/diving-wreck 

Take back control of your brain with Josie’s online course, featuring leading neuroscientist and expert in neuroplasticity and OCD, Dr Jeffrey M Schwartz: You Are Not Your Brain - https://josiethomson.com/you-are-not-your-brain/

My fascinating interview with Dr Anthony Metivier, a former heavy metal band member and best-selling author of 52 books centred on memory improvement, will move you and inspire you to new heights of possibility. 

We examine practical strategies to not only survive, but thrive in life after debilitating experiences of domestic conflict, addiction, death anxiety and family suicide attempts. We investigate what it took Anthony to say YES to life. 

In this podcast we discuss various success tips such as the ‘if this… then’ system, and the importance of accountability to create systems to support your success, including the 90 day rule. 

We talk of the moment that turned his life around, when he could no longer walk from years of self-abuse, and how Anthony was able to master his mindset, be radically honest, and transform his whole life.  

Learn from a memory expert and award-winning world champion referred to by Tony Buzan as a ‘Warrior of the Mind’ for his outstanding contributions to global mental literacy. Anthony now teaches and mentors people globally on his magnetic memory method. He advises: ‘be ALL IN to create the right dream.’ 

Tune in, open your mind and heart, and be inspired.  

Resources: 

The Victorious Mind: How To Master Memory, Meditation and Mental Well-Being

https://www.amazon.com.au/Victorious-Mind-Master-Meditation-Well-Being-ebook/dp/B085D8M7S5 

https://www.magneticmemorymethod.com/ 

You Tube: Anthony Metivier https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdIwC3d4CRjrrQdaqZaNBpA 

Wellness & Wisdom for the Workplace for preventative and proactive strategies for positive mental health and growing resilience capability with Josie Thomson https://bit.ly/2RqQ5Vn

Simple Meditation For Busy People ebook/meditations download https://bit.ly/2ZAO79k

Enliven-U book of inspirations and hope https://bit.ly/35BLnwr

You Are Not Your Brain online course, for changing bad habits, ending unhealthy thinking and taking control of your life, with Dr Jeffrey M Schwartz & Josie Thomson https://bit.ly/33uiKyn

The Wise Advocate book – the inner voice of strategic leadership  https://bit.ly/2ZD4aDQ

Purposeful Pause – free online 15mins mindfulness meditation practice each Monday at midday with Josie Thomson https://josiethomson.com/pp

This podcast interview features an effervescent, inspiring entrepreneur and business woman committed to bringing an end to premature death by burnout! Nicole Van Hattem, the youngest of 5 children from immigrant parents from Holland, learned from a young age that working hard and making a difference was what life is all about. She secured her first job at just 9yo.  

As a young woman, taking rest or prioritising self care was not modelled nor encouraged. Naturally, having a strong work ethic and defining her sense of self through her work became a pattern for living. 

That is, until a day that changed her life forever. The sudden death of a work colleague from a stress related condition coinciding with her own burnout in her corporate career, marked a turning point in Nicole's life and set her on a course that would change thousands of people's lives. Yet it wasn't until after her fourth experience with burnout, that Nicole finally learned to make the time and have the courage and determination to end the cycle of burnout in her own life and live with conscious intention - not by default, and her mantra is: #It’s all about you! 

 

This episode examines the definition of burn out, who is at risk, how to recognise the signs, and importantly, strategies to avoid it and overcome it. We explore burnout in the context of physical, emotional, psychological creative, financial and spiritual. 

 We talk about how to manage the effects of burnout and prevention strategies to go from struggle and striving to living and thriving, including the critical need for self care and redefining ‘success’. 

 Learn from a woman who commits her life to assisting others to avoid burnout and recover fast.  

Tune in, open your mind and heart, and be inspired.  

Resources: 

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolevanhattem/ 

Website: https://www.hotandhealthyglobal.com/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicolevanhattem2 

Wellness & Wisdom for the Workplace for preventative and proactive strategies for positive mental health and growing resilience capability with Josie Thomson https://bit.ly/2RqQ5Vn

Simple Meditation For Busy People ebook/meditations download https://bit.ly/2ZAO79k

Enliven-U book of inspirations and hope https://bit.ly/35BLnwr

You Are Not Your Brain online course, for changing bad habits, ending unhealthy thinking and taking control of your life, with Dr Jeffrey M Schwartz & Josie Thomson https://bit.ly/33uiKyn

The Wise Advocate book – the inner voice of strategic leadership  https://bit.ly/2ZD4aDQ

Purposeful Pause – free online 15mins mindfulness meditation practice each Monday at midday with Josie Thomson https://josiethomson.com/pp

This podcast interview features a Wiradjuri/Wolgalu First Nations man, with a 15 year career in professional National Rugby League playing for South Sydney Rabbitohs, Penrith Panthers and Canterbury Bulldogs before switching to professional Boxing in 2009. He is a best selling author, struggles with suicidal ideation and bi-polar disorder, attempted suicide in 2012 to eventually fight through his pain to realise his purpose. Meet Joe Williams.  

This episode examines how Joe managed to turn his whole life around. He shares the practical strategies he continues to use to combat the constant downward spiralling effects of self-defeating thoughts, and the defining moment with an Elder to cure his ‘spiritual illness’ that set him on his path to pursue his life’s purpose. 

We talk of many themes including the flow on effects of childhood trauma, paranoia, the importance of choice, having a growth mindset, and the need to take personal responsibility for your own happiness, and to master what Joe calls our ‘inner stigma.’ 

Joe offers advice for carers of those with mental illness, lots of ways to deal with suicidal thoughts, and the need to ‘step into the pocket’ in seeking a more understanding relationship with these thoughts and fears.  

Tune in, open your mind and heart, and be inspired.  

RESOURCES 

Website: https://www.joewilliams.com.au/speaking 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joewilliams__tew/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheEnemyWithinJoeWilliams

BOOK: Defying The Enemy Within https://bit.ly/2ZCpWY1

Wellness & Wisdom for the Workplace for preventative and proactive strategies for positive mental health and growing resilience capability with Josie Thomson https://bit.ly/2RqQ5Vn

You Are Not Your Brain online course, for changing bad habits, ending unhealthy thinking and taking control of your life, with Dr Jeffrey M Schwartz & Josie Thomson https://bit.ly/33uiKyn

Simple Meditation For Busy People ebook/meditations download https://bit.ly/2ZAO79k

Enliven-U book of inspirations and hope https://bit.ly/35BLnwr

The Wise Advocate book – the inner voice of strategic leadership  https://bit.ly/2ZD4aDQ

Purposeful Pause – free online 15mins mindfulness meditation practice each Monday at midday with Josie Thomson https://josiethomson.com/pp

Here’s a podcast interview that offers hope to all. Featuring my good friend, mentor, spiritual teacher, psychic and meditation instructor Swami Shivananda, affectionately known as Shivaji.

In this episode we examine how to rise above your circumstances – especially when in his case ‘my sense of self was lower than a snake’s belly’ - raised by a 15yo mother, bikie father, constant bullying throughout schooling years, and drug addiction to numb himself, whilst nurturing huge sensitivity and insecurity about his sense of self and sexuality.

Swami Shivananda shares his story to show us that no matter what happens in life, we all have strength and light inside of us. He reminds us to wake up with gratitude every day We talk of many life themes including abuse, abandonment, resilience, leadership, fearlessness, drive, integrity and purpose.

Devoted now to the science of self-realisation, learn from a man who quips ‘love, compassion and Catholics can be okay.’ Swami Shivananda shines his light so brightly to light up the path for many others around the globe to reconnect with and discover the most powerful balancing tool for living life in a wholesome, balanced and authentically happy way.

Tune in, open your mind and heart, and be inspired.

Resources:

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/swami.shivananda.12

Website for Brisbane Shakti Meditation and Yoga Centre: http://shaktimeditation.org/

Book a psychic reading with Michael Wing (Shivananda) online or in person in Brisbane: Call 0422209937

The Wise Advocate book: https://bit.ly/3fOZUao

Join Josie for free online Purposeful Pause mindfulness meditation practice for 15mins each Monday at midday here: https://josiethomson.com/pp/

To join the mailing list regarding online weekly meditation, open eyed transmission, and satsang, email: [email protected]

The Covid-19 pandemic is exposing all of us to significant traumatic distress and placing us at risk for a host of stress and trauma related health consequences - even the risk of contracting the Covid-19 disease itself. By proactively addressing these risks with resilience boosting strategies we can all do our best to take care of ourselves, our families, our co-workers or employees and each other at this time. This is not just a health crisis; it’s become an economic and mental health crisis as well.

This is another timely discussion with my dear friend, leading expert in neuroplasticity, OCD and mindfulness, and co-author of The Wise Advocate – The Inner Voice of Strategic Leadership, Dr Jeffrey M Schwartz.

In this episode we examine effective and practical ways to direct our attention in ways that help us cope and manage stress – not think about stress, and build resilience along the way.

Dr Schwartz leads us through a simple and important breath awareness exercise which supports us to connect with our inner ‘Wise Advocate’ that helps us understand what’s happening, and calm our feelings and anxieties to enable us to make a plan going forward.

Importantly, we explore effective and efficient ways to keep our executive brain ‘online’ to think clearly even through anxious times like these. He outlines his acclaimed 4 Steps process to manage stress and anxiety, re-centre ourselves for greater calm, perspective and resilience. This helps us balance and understand our priorities and make good decisions, and preserve our wellbeing and positive mental health. We discuss what resilience is, and practical ways to build resilience capability.

Learn from a leading expert in the fields of neuroscience, mindfulness and psychiatry, and author of over 100 scientific publications. Dr Schwartz has been featured globally on prominent TV shows, including Oprah, 20/20, Today Show and Larry King. He was even a consultant to Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio on The Aviator (and appears with them on the bonus DVD extras of that film).

Tune in, open your mind and heart, and be resourced and empowered.

Resources:

The Wise Advocate book and kindle – https://amzn.to/2UDrsWM

Mindful Breathing Exercises [Jeffrey Schwartz] – https://bit.ly/3bpsKeG

You Are Not Your Brain book and kindle – https://amzn.to/3bsHXLU

Transform bad habits and unhealthy thinking with the You Are Not Your Brain online course - https://bit.ly/3348Jti

Simple Meditation For Busy People audiobook and 4 x 4mins meditation tracks downloadable - https://bit.ly/30TfJXi 

The Neuroscience of Resilience DVD  - https://bit.ly/3f3vxvu

When it comes to changing habits in a crisis, in this podcast interview we discuss how stress interferes with our capacity to think clearly and our ability to not react. Under these circumstances, the path of least resistance is to simply deploy habits – without conscious thought or awareness. However, not all these habits are helpful.

Even though the urge to react with a habitual response will arise, we explore our ability to have CHOICE – we have free will and FREE WON’T ie. the capacity for wise discernment.

We talk about the essential factors of self awareness and self management to then have cognitive and emotional control to ultimately respond wisely.

We explore ways of effectively assisting children to learn self control – to develop cognitive and emotional control, particularly around the use of technology and the need to set and enforce health boundaries. We also discuss the use of ‘Red/Yellow/Green’ traffic lights to entrain better self control: STOP, calm yourself down and think before you act!  Use love and logic to help develop cognitive control.

We present the construct of the Wise Advocate voice, which is always available to you, even when you’re not paying attention to it. The act of seeking your Wise Advocate is itself a form of mental activity with hugely beneficial effects for you as a leader (and as a person) and for the systems that matter to you, to consciously assess and discern your inner narratives, and choose adaptive behaviours to pursue your long term plans and goals.

We discuss the importance of mindfulness as a mental action that has significanr effects on how the brain works: it brings the prefronal cortex (the executive brain) online, and allows for greater inhibitory control, working memory and cognitive flexibility.

Learn from a leading expert in the fields of neuroscience, mindfulness and psychiatry, and author of over 100 scientific publications. Dr Schwartz has been featured globally on prominent TV shows, including Oprah, 20/20, Today Show and Larry King. He was even a consultant to Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio on The Aviator (and appears with them on the bonus DVD extras of that film).

Tune in, open your mind and heart, and be resourced and empowered.

Resources:

The Wise Advocate book and kindle – https://amzn.to/2UDrsWM

Mindful Breathing Exercises [Jeffrey Schwartz] – https://bit.ly/3bpsKeG

You Are Not Your Brain book and kindle – https://amzn.to/3bsHXLU

FREE Audio book about Dr Jeffrey M Schwartz – https://amzn.to/2UvCpta

End bad habits and transform unhealthy thinking with the You Are Not Your Brain online course with Dr Jeffrey Schwartz & Josie Thomson - https://josiethomson.com/product/you-are-not-your-brain/

Simple Meditation For Busy People audiobook and downloadable meditations -

https://josiethomson.com/product/simple-meditation-for-busy-people-digital-download/

The Neuroscience of Resilience DVD  - https://josiethomson.com/product/neuroscience-resilience/

In this episode I speak with a young, fun loving, savvy entrepreneur and wellness advocate who’s passionate about helping vulnerable women and kids through various charities – Liv Marriott.

This episode explores how easily our sense of self can be derailed by controlling, manipulative, toxic relationships, and what it takes to regain strength, inner resolve, courage and resilience to make the tough but right decisions to put yourself first.

We talk about disappointment, sadness, loyalty, grief, expectations and frustration, and coming to terms with life when even supposed ‘friends’ turn their back on you.

Learn from a young woman who has risen from the depths of despair, rebuilt her life – piece by piece - to be in alignment with her truest values, and now encourages and supports others to live strong, independent and healthy lives on their own terms.

Tune in, open your mind and heart, and be inspired.

Keep in touch with Liv

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/living.with.liv/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EOwithLiv/

How can we be more mindful as parents and less intense as professionals - to respond wisely and purposefully as we go through these times?

This is a timely discussion with my dear friend, leading expert in neuroplasticity, OCD and mindfulness, and co-author of The Wise Advocate – The Inner Voice of Strategic Leadership, Dr Jeffrey M Schwartz.

In this episode we examine effective and practical ways to maintain perspective, clarity of mind and emotional regulation with the pressure of competing priorities.

We talk about the importance of long-term goals and values, setting boundaries and upholding limits. We cover the topics of discipline, depression and anxiety in our children, as well as the influence of technology on developing brains.

Importantly, we explore effective and efficient ways for you to re-centre yourself for greater calm, perspective and resilience, including connecting with your Wise Advocate – the voice of your inner loving guide – that helps us balance and understand our priorities and make good decisions.

Learn from a leading expert in the fields of neuroscience, mindfulness and psychiatry, and author of over 100 scientific publications. Dr Schwartz has been featured globally on prominent TV shows, including Oprah, 20/20, Today Show and Larry King. He was even a consultant to Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio on The Aviator (and appears with them on the bonus DVD extras of that film).

Tune in, open your mind and heart, and be resourced and empowered.

How do you handle extreme stress, trauma or toxic masculinity in the workplace? How do you lead effectively in a crisis?

In this podcast interview I speak with Daimien Patterson, a man on a mission, or three, with a proven track record for leading teams through most adverse extremes – including war. Drawing from his vast experience as a senior ranking officer within the military, and his entrepreneurial drive, Daimien shares his experiences, grit, and tactical insight about business leadership.

Tune in, open your mind and heart, and be inspired.