Explore every episode of the podcast Pearls of Wisdom

Beyond Your Conditioning: Discovering Your Freedom

How much of who you think you are is actually who you have learned to be?

We tend to believe that we see the world as it is, that our opinions are our own, and that our reactions simply reflect who we are. But so much of how we experience in life is shaped by conditioning we haven't yet recognised!

In this episode of Pearls of Wisdom, Julia explores how our family, culture, social background, religion, education and life experiences shape the way we see ourselves, other people and the world.

From childhood, we absorb beliefs about love, success, belonging, failure and what it means to be a good person. We develop ways of behaving that help us feel safe, accepted and valued. Over time, these learned patterns can become so familiar that we mistake them for our identity.

We may find ourselves repeating the same relationship patterns, striving to prove our worth, avoiding rejection, defending our opinions or limiting what we believe is possible, without realising why.

Julia asks us to question the stories we tell ourselves.
‘I'm not good enough, I’m not creative, I have to be strong, I can't trust anyone, that’s just how I am’.

But, these stories describe what we've learned, rather than define who we are…
Through awareness, self-compassion and conscious choice, we can begin to recognise our conditioning without judging ourselves for it.
We can honour our past without allowing it to dictate our future.

Perhaps the moment we recognise a pattern is the moment a new possibility opens up.
And we can ask:
Am I choosing my life, or repeating my past?
Who would I be without my old stories?

What If We Never Stopped Playing?

“This is the adults' playground.”
Those were the words Julia overheard in Battersea Park while training with her husband Anadi in the outdoor gym and they inspired this podcast!

What happens when we grow up and forget how to play?

As children, play is encouraged. We explore because we're curious. We climb, run, invent, experiment, fall over and try again. We don't necessarily stop to ask whether we're good at something or what the activity will achieve for us.

Then somewhere along the way, play can become performance.

We develop ideas about who we are and what we're good at. We compare ourselves. We worry about getting things right. We become focused on achievement, productivity and external rewards.

In this episode of Pearls of Wisdom, Julia explores play as a definition she looked up!
A voluntary, intrinsically motivated activity driven by pleasure and curiosity rather than reward or utility’

Drawing on her own experience of running, training and playing in the outdoor gym, she explores the possibility that we can still strive for excellence without making our worth dependent upon the outcome.

We can train seriously without taking ourselves too seriously.
We can have goals without losing the joy of the journey.
We can be willing to be beginners, to experiment, to fail, to laugh and simply discover what happens.

Play is also a form of presence, a way of being completely here, engaged with the body and the moment, without constantly asking where it is going to lead.

Julia looks from the perspective of life itself is a playground, without everything we do needing to have a purpose!

Perhaps the child who loved to play never actually left! Maybe they've simply been waiting for us to remember!

What If You’re Already Living Your Dream?

In this episode of Pearls of Wisdom, Julia explores the human tendency to keep postponing our lives -waiting for the next achievement, the next relationship, the next destination, the next version of ourselves, but then ask the question ‘What if we are already living our dreams’…

This isn't about giving up ambition or big goals. Quite the opposite. Julia explores the idea of “run and become”  pursuing our goals in the outer world while simultaneously making the inner journey.

Drawing on her life as a runner, the philosophy of staying in the step, and one of her favourite poems  Ithaka, she explores what happens when we stop making the destination responsible for our happiness.

Because perhaps the race isn't really about the finish line, the richness is in the miles.

The failures, the setbacks, the unexpected turns, the relationships, the discoveries, the moments of joy, all of these become part of the journey of becoming.

So we can still dream. We can still stretch. We can still run towards extraordinary things.

But what if we don't have to leave this moment in order to get there?

What if we can go inwards as we go outwards?

And we fully realise 

This is it, not “this is all there is” but this is life.

This moment. This breath. This relationship. This work. This body. This journey.

We can spend so much of our lives preparing to live that we forget that life was happening while we were getting ready.

And then when we finally arrive at our Ithaka, we discover that the destination was never really the point.

The journey was the gift.

Love Over Fear

“There is no fear in love: but perfect love casteth out fear.”

In this episode of Pearls of Wisdom, Julia explores 

Are we living from love or from fear?

Fear is woven into so much of human experience. Fear of rejection. Fear of failure. Fear of abandonment. Fear of not being enough. Fear of losing our place, our relationships, our security or our identity.

And yet much of this fear isn't about immediate physical danger. It can arise when our sense of belonging, identity or worth feels threatened.

Julia explores the spiritual idea that our deepest nature is love, and the possibility that the journey of inner work is, in part, a journey of clearing the fear, conditioning and reactivity that obscure that love.

Drawing on the chakra system and the root chakra's association with survival, as well as psychological understandings of fear, safety, connection and self-compassion, she explores what happens when we begin to recognise fear beneath anger, jealousy, resentment, control, perfectionism and people-pleasing.

What are we actually afraid of?

What old wound has been touched?

And what happens when, instead of fighting the fear, we meet it with compassion?

Julia also explores why relationships can hurt us and why they can also become places of healing. Ultimately, however, she brings the journey back to our relationship with ourselves: learning not to abandon or reject ourselves when we are frightened, imperfect or struggling.

Through presence, self-compassion, awareness and the practice of clearing reactivity, we can begin to choose differently - acceptance instead of judgement, openness instead of defence, courage instead of avoidance, and love instead of fear.

There is always a space between us and another person.

And into that space we bring our thoughts, our words, our emotions, our energy, our assumptions, our reactions - and our presence.

In this episode of Pearls of Wisdom, Julia explores what happens when we stop focusing primarily on what other people are putting into the space between us, and instead become fully responsible for what we are bringing.

Other people may bring anger, judgement, fear or difficult behaviour into the space. We cannot control that. But we can become deeply aware of our own contribution.

What am I bringing to my partner?
To my family?
To my colleagues?
To my friends?
To the stranger in the street?
To the person serving me in a restaurant?

The space still exists - even with people we don't know.

Julia explores communication, listening, reactivity and the powerful pause between stimulus and response. She considers how the response someone has to our communication can help us understand what they actually received, even when it wasn't what we intended.

This isn't about taking responsibility for another person's behaviour, or abandoning boundaries. It's about taking responsibility for our side of the space.

Drawing on the wisdom of “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” and “Love others as yourself,” Julia explores what it means to bring love into the space,  including learning to breathe love into ourselves when we are triggered and reactive.

Stay in the Step - Let the Next Step Take Care of Itself

In this episode of Pearls of Wisdom, Julia explores the power of being completely present, drawing on her experience of barefoot running, her run across Spain, and the simple mantra paso a paso - step by step.

Inspired by Caballo Blanco's philosophy of “easy, light, smooth, fast,” Julia explores how a principle from running can become a way of living. When we stop constantly reaching into the future or looking back into the past, we become available to what is actually happening now.

This is not about giving up our dreams or destinations. We can have goals, climb mountains and create the lives we want, but perhaps we don't need to carry the whole journey at once. We only ever have this step.

Julia explores presence as a kind of meditation on the move, the stillness of wu wei, the importance of inner work, and the freedom that comes when we stop trying to control what comes next.

She also shares a piece of wisdom inherited from her mother:

“Darling, have fun. Life is for having fun.”

Because being present doesn't mean life will never be difficult. It means we are here for all of it - the joy, the challenge, the uncertainty and the fun.

The next step doesn't need to be figured out,  it simply needs to be taken.

Stay in the step. Let the next step take care of itself.

In this episode of Pearls of Wisdom, I explore the power of consistency and that what we repeatedly practise, we become!

We often hear "practice makes perfect", but in truth practice also makes permanent!

Whatever we repeatedly do becomes more familiar.

And this isn't only true of learning a language, playing an instrument, training for a sport or developing a new skill, we are also practising our thoughts, our words, our reactions and our beliefs every day.

Our thoughts influence our words. Our words influence our actions. Our actions become habits—and our habits shape our lives.

So what are we practising?
Are we repeatedly practising worry, comparison, self-criticism and reactivity? Or are we practising presence, awareness, kindness, courage and curiosity?

Whether we're learning a new skill, changing a habit, developing our relationships or becoming more conscious of our inner world, transformation rarely happens through one big effort.

It happens through returning.
Again and again.
Because consistency isn't about never stopping.
It's about always returning!

We are constantly told that good relationships depend on communication.

But the problem is that most of us have never really been taught how to communicate!

In this episode of Pearls of Wisdom, I explore why two people can be talking constantly and still feel completely unheard, misunderstood or disconnected.

We all have different ways of processing and communicating our experience. 

Some of us naturally communicate through facts, concepts and concise information, while others communicate through emotion, story, context and relationship.

Neither is right. Neither is wrong.

The difficulty arises when we assume that our way of communicating is the right way, and become frustrated, dismissive or defensive when someone communicates differently.

I explore the importance of the inner work that comes before communication - becoming aware of our attachment to our own opinions, learning to pause when we react, and becoming genuinely curious about another person's map of reality.

Drawing on my work with individuals and relationships, I also explore the idea of the "connected knower" and "separate knower", and how expanding our ability to move between heart and mind can help us communicate more effectively.

I also explore intentional dialogue: listening to understand rather than preparing our response, reflecting back what we've heard, validating another person's experience without necessarily agreeing with it, and becoming willing to step into their world.

Because communication isn't ultimately about getting somebody to see things our way.

Communication is about meeting.

And when two people stop trying to be right and become genuinely interested in understanding one another, communication becomes connection.

In this episode of Pearls of Wisdom, I explore the ideas we can practise in our relationships:

It's not personal.

When someone cancels plans, is late, doesn’t answer our message, is rude in traffic, gives us criticism, or doesn’t listen when we want to be heard.

 We can immediately turn another person's behaviour into a story about ourselves

"They don't care about me."
"I'm not important."
"They don't respect me."
"I'm not good enough."

But another person's behaviour is much more about their own conditioning, circumstances, emotions and patterns than it is about us

This doesn't mean ignoring behaviour, avoiding difficult conversations or refusing to listen to what people want to share. 

Sometimes there is something valuable for us to learn. We can listen, take responsibility for what is ours, communicate what we need and make different choices, without turning someone else's behaviour into a judgement about our worth.

I also explore how being triggered can touch old wounds from childhood: the feeling of not being seen, heard, valued or important. When that happens, the event can become evidence for an old story.

It is important to ‘press pause’ and become curious:
What has this touched in me?
What story am I telling myself?
Is there something here for me to learn?
Do I need to communicate something?
Or am I simply making someone else's behaviour mean something about me?

Not taking things personally doesn't mean becoming uncaring.
It means becoming free.
Free to listen.
Free to communicate.
Free to set boundaries.

And ultimately, free from allowing other people's behaviour to control our inner world.

Why does life sometimes feel so exhausting?
There will always be challenges, disappointment, loss, uncertainty and things we cannot control. 

But some of the difficulty we experience isn't actually coming from life itself, but from the way we are meeting what is happening!

In this episode of Pearls of Wisdom, I explore the difference between the inevitable difficulties of being human and the psychological struggle we can add to them.

We can become caught in expectations of how life should be, how other people should behave, what we should have achieved, and who we should be.
We compare, resist, judge, blame and fight against what is, and in doing so, create more suffering for ourselves.

Acceptance doesn't mean giving up or tolerating what isn't right for us.
It means starting from what is actually here, rather than fighting with reality.

From that place, we have much more freedom to choose.

We can change something.
We can ask for a different behaviour.
We can set a boundary.
We can leave.
Or sometimes, we can simply accept that this is how things are.

But when we stop adding our psychological drama to what is happening, life can become much lighter.

As Shakespeare wrote:

"There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so."

Perhaps life doesn't need to be quite as hard as we sometimes make it.

In this episode of Pearls of Wisdom, I explore our desire for other people to change!

We often find ourselves thinking that if our partner, parent, child, friend, colleague or boss would just behave differently, we could finally feel happier, calmer or more at ease!

But we disempower ourselves when our wellbeing becomes dependent on somebody else changing.

I explore the difference between judgement and observation, and how our judgements are so often shaped by our own conditioning, beliefs, history and unresolved reactions. 

When we become still enough to observe rather than immediately judge, we create space for greater wisdom and clarity.

I also ask

What if they never change?

Acceptance doesn't mean having no boundaries. It doesn't mean tolerating behaviour that isn't right for us. We can ask for behaviour changes, create boundaries, change the nature of a relationship or leave altogether.

But we can do these things from presence rather than reactivity.

When we stop trying to change another person and begin investigating our own patterns, something shifts. We change our position in the relationship, and the relationship itself must then respond to that change.

Ultimately, we cannot control another person's journey.

But we can become conscious of our own.

And freedom begins when we realise:

My peace does not require your transformation.

In this episode of Pearls of Wisdom, I explore how an extraordinary life isn't created through extraordinary events, it is created through the way we meet each ordinary moment.

Often we wait for the next achievement, the next holiday, the next relationship, or the next achievement before allowing ourselves to feel fully celebratory.

But this moment is the one that matters the most!

Every interaction, every thought, every conversation, and every challenge offers us an opportunity to practise awareness, kindness, and responsibility.

In this episode, I explore:

• Why every moment is an opportunity to deepen awareness
• Taking responsibility for the energy we bring into the world
• Recognising reactivity as an invitation to return to presence
• Asking for change with kindness rather than blame
• The importance of consistent daily practice—not perfection
• Becoming aware of our thoughts, words, and actions
• Creating relationships that are grounded in compassion, respect, and presence

An extraordinary life isn't built one big decision at a time.

It's created through thousands of ordinary moments lived consciously.

Because every moment is another opportunity to choose love over fear, awareness over reaction, and presence over habit.

In this episode of I explore creativity as the very nature of being alive.

So many people tell themselves, "I'm just not a creative person." But every day we create.

We create conversations, relationships, meals, businesses, gardens, communities, and moments of kindness. We create through the way we parent, the way we work, the way we train for a race, and the way we choose to show up in the world.

At our essence, we are consciousness expressing itself through form. Each of us is a unique expression of life's limitless potential.

In this episode, I explore:

• Why creativity belongs to everyone
• Moving beyond the idea that creativity is only artistic
• Listening for what wants to be expressed through you
• The difference between creating for an outcome and creating as a meditation
• Why commitment allows creativity to deepen us
• Enjoying the journey rather than becoming attached to the result
• How expressing what is within us becomes a communion with life itself

The greatest gift of creativity isn't what we produce, it’s who we become through the act of creating.

In this episode of Pearls of Wisdom, I reflect on the theme of attachment and the freedom that comes from learning to let go.

Inspired by drawing the Miser card from the Osho Zen Tarot, I explore how holding on is not only about money or possessions. We can cling just as tightly to our beliefs, opinions, identities, relationships, achievements, memories, expectations, and even our ideas of who we think we should be.

So much of our suffering comes not from having these things, but from believing we cannot be without them.

In this episode, I explore:

• What attachment really is and how it quietly shapes our lives
• Why holding on can limit our freedom
• The difference between enjoying life and becoming attached to it
• Letting go of identities formed through conditioning and expectation
• Why some attachments protect us until we are ready to release them
• Returning to awareness, presence, and inner peace

In this episode of Pearls of Wisdom, I explore one of the greatest gifts that we can offer ourselves and one another - the freedom to be exactly who we are!

So much of our suffering comes from comparison, from believing we should be different, or from expecting others to think, behave, or experience life in the same way that we do.

But what our differences are not obstacles to connection!
They are the very thing that makes connection possible?

In this episode, I explore:

• Why celebrating our uniqueness creates deeper relationships
• How comparison disconnects us from ourselves
• The importance of developing a healthy inner narrative of self-acceptance
• Why waiting for validation from others keeps us searching outside ourselves
• Using personality systems as tools for self-understanding rather than labels or limitations
• The wonderful paradox of knowing yourself deeply while becoming less attached to your identity
• Discovering the awareness beneath the personality

When we stop trying to become someone else, we naturally begin to appreciate both ourselves and the uniqueness of those around us.

Because true connection is not created through sameness.

It is created by honouring our differences while recognising the awareness that unites us all.

In this episode of ‘Pearls of Wisdom’, I explore projection!

We often believe we are seeing people and situations exactly as they are. 

But I explore the idea that we are actually seeing them through the filter of our own beliefs, experiences, emotions, and conditioning

Projection is a natural part of being human. 

We project not only our fears and unresolved pain, but also our hopes, ideals, and expectations, but we sometimes  we see the worst in people and sometimes we see only the best. 

In both cases, our own inner world is shaping what we perceive!

This episode explores:

• What projection really is and why we all do it
• How unprocessed pain can be projected onto others
• Why positive projections can be just as misleading as negative ones
• The relationship between projection, reactivity, and awareness
• Using inquiry to question the stories we believe
• How presence and stillness help us see more clearly

Drawing on practical wisdom, personal reflection, and the work of Byron Katie, I explore how questioning our projections can become a profound path to freedom!

The clearer we become within ourselves, the more clearly we begin to see the world around us.

In this episode of Pearls of Wisdom, I share a personal experience and it inspired me to remind of the importance of celebrating one another while we are still here.

Last year, I trained as a celebrant after several clients suggested they would like me to conduct their weddings. Around the same time, one of my oldest clients, then aged ninety, said, "Oh, you can do my funeral!”

This year, that conversation came full circle when I found myself conducting her funeral and celebrating her remarkable life.

Why do we so often wait until someone has died to tell them how much they mattered?

In this episode, I explore:

• The importance of appreciating people while they are alive
• How appreciation creates connection and strengthens relationships
• The practice of appreciative inquiry in relationships, teams, and organisations
• Why what we focus on tends to grow
• The connection between appreciating others and appreciating ourselves
• How celebration can become a way of living rather than an occasional event

Through personal stories and reflections, I explore how appreciation transforms both the giver and the receiver.

The greatest gift we can offer another person is to let them know they matter while they are still here to hear it.

In this episode of Pearls of Wisdom, I explore how to remain present when life feels overwhelmingly busy.

Most of us experience periods where there seems to be too much to do, too many responsibilities, and too many demands on our time and energy. During these times, it is easy to become caught up in stress, anxiety, and overwhelm.

But what if stress is not caused by the situation itself, but by our response to it!

Drawing on both practical tools and inner awareness practices, I explore how we can navigate busy periods with greater ease, clarity, and presence.

In this episode, I reflect on:

• Why stress is often our response rather than the situation itself
• The importance of taking the next step rather than trying to solve everything at once
• How the breath can anchor us in the present moment
• The role of mantras and simple awareness practices
• The power of healthy boundaries and learning to say "no"
• Exploring the deeper patterns that make saying "yes" feel necessary
• Moving from overwhelm to conscious choice

Life may not always slow down, but we can learn to meet it differently.

Because peace is not found when everything is completed.

Peace is found in this moment.

In this episode of Pearls of Wisdom, I explore an ancient idea that has fascinated spiritual seekers for centuries:

As within, so without.

What if the world around us is not simply happening to us, but reflecting something back to us?

Most of us naturally look outward when challenges arise. We focus on situations, circumstances, and other people as the source of our happiness or unhappiness, but what if there is another way of looking at life?

Drawing inspiration from the Hermetic Principle of Correspondence, I explore the possibility that our outer experience mirrors aspects of our inner world - not as a reason for blame or self-judgement, but as an opportunity for greater awareness and personal empowerment.

In this episode, I reflect on:

• The principle of "As within, so without"
• Why reactivity can be a doorway to self-understanding
• How our beliefs, emotions, and patterns shape our experience of life
• The difference between reacting to life and consciously creating it
• Why inner stillness is the foundation of transformation
• How changing our inner world can change our experience of the outer world

Whether or not we take this principle literally, approaching life as though it is reflecting something back to us can be a powerful path of self-discovery, because when we change what is happening within, something magical begins to happen without!

In this episode I explore the transformative power of listening.

In a world filled with noise, opinions, distractions, and constant communication, truly listening has become a rare and precious skill, but it is through listening that genuine connection is created.

When we listen deeply, we set aside our assumptions, judgements, opinions, and the internal dialogue that often prevents us from fully meeting another person. 

In that space, something profound happens, we move beyond simply hearing words and begin to experience presence, understanding, and connection.

This episode explores:

• Why true listening creates deeper relationships
• How our internal narrative prevents us from hearing others
• Listening as a form of meditation
• The connection between presence and understanding
• Listening not only to people, but to life itself
• The practice of intentional dialogue and reflective listening
• How stillness and awareness help us become better listeners

Through personal reflection and practical insight, I explore how listening can become a path to greater peace, connection, and self-awareness.

Because when we truly listen, we are simply present.

And presence is one of the greatest gifts we can offer another human being.

In this episode of 'Pearls of Wisdom', we explore the four survival archetypes that unconsciously shape our behaviours, relationships, choices, and sense of self.

These archetypes often operate beneath the surface, influencing how we protect ourselves, where we give our power away, and the patterns that keep us stuck. But when brought into awareness, they can become profound gateways for healing, empowerment, and transformation.

We look into:

• The Wounded Child, and the journey back to the Magical Innocent 
• The Victim, transforming helplessness into responsibility and personal power
• The Prostitute, uncovering where we sell ourselves out and reclaiming self-worth 
• The Saboteur, shifting destructive patterns into conscious creativity

This episode invites self-inquiry and inner work. 

Where are these archetypes showing up in your life? 

What subconscious patterns are asking to be seen, healed, and transformed?

By bringing light to the shadow, we begin turning our greatest inner obstacles into our strongest allies.

The book I couldn't remember is 'Homecoming' by John Bradshaw.

In this episode of Pearls of Wisdom, I explore beliefs - where they come from, how they shape our experience of life, and how becoming aware of them can transform the way we live.

From early childhood, we absorb ideas about who we are, what life should look like, what is possible, and how we are expected to behave. 

Over time, these thoughts become beliefs, and these beliefs shape our reality.

Often, we identify so strongly with these inherited patterns that we believe they are simply “who we are.”

This episode explores:

• How thoughts become beliefs and beliefs shape our lives
• The influence of family, culture, and early experiences
• Why many people live on unconscious “autopilot”
• How questioning beliefs can feel both freeing and unsettling
• The role of visualisation and conscious thought
• The shift from victimhood to empowerment
• Reconnecting with awareness and conscious creation

Through reflection and personal insight, I explore how we can begin to recognise the patterns running beneath our lives and consciously choose what we wish to create moving forward.

Because when we become aware of our beliefs, we are no longer bound to repeat the past.

We become free to create consciously.

In this episode of Pearls of Wisdom, I explore reactivity, what it is, where it comes from, and how learning to work with it can transform our lives and relationships.

So much of what we call ‘stress,’ conflict, or emotional pain begins with unconscious reactions. A comment, situation, or interaction triggers an energetic shift within us, and we often believe that something outside of us has ‘made’ us feel a certain way.

But, our reactions are not caused by something external, but are revealing something unresolved from the past

This episode explores:
How childhood conditioning shapes our reactions
Why relationship acts as a mirror
The connection between reactivity and old emotional wounds
The space between stimulus and response
How breath and awareness can help us clear emotional reactions
Why healing reactivity transforms both ourselves and our relationships

Through personal reflection and practical insight, I explore how every reaction can become an opportunity for awareness and healing.

Because when we stop immediately acting out of our reactions and begin to witness them instead, something shifts, we create space.we heal the past, and we begin to respond from consciousness rather than conditioning.

In this episode, I explore the deeper meaning of discipline, and how it can become a supportive, empowering force rather than something rigid or restrictive.

Discipline is often understood as consistency, structure, and the ability to push through difficulty in order to achieve goals, and while these aspects have value, they are only part of the story.

This episode explores the idea that true self-discipline begins within.

It is not simply about what we do, but about how we relate to our thoughts, emotions, and inner patterns.

I explore:

• The conventional understanding of discipline and its role in daily life
• Why external discipline alone is often unsustainable
• The importance of self-awareness and knowing how we function
• The role of breath, attention, and observation in developing inner discipline
• How our thoughts and emotions shape our experience of life
• Why discipline is less about force and more about awareness

When we begin to observe our inner world, our thoughts, emotions, and behaviours - something shifts.

We move from reacting unconsciously, to responding consciously.

And from that place, discipline becomes something very different.

It becomes something that naturally arises from clarity, presence, and self-understanding.

In this episode explore what stress really is, and how we can begin to relate to it in a different way.

Stress is often seen as something caused by external circumstances: work, relationships, pressure, or difficult situations. But in reality, stress is not the situation itself, but our response to it.

At a physical level, stress is a natural response of the body, designed to protect us. The nervous system moves into a state of activation, preparing us for action. But in modern life, many of us remain in this state far more than necessary.

This episode explores the difference between external challenges and our internal response - the role of the nervous system in stres - why stress has become normalised in modern life - how disconnection from presence leads to tension and overwhelm - the impact of conditioning, pressure, and expectation, and he importance of reconnecting with the body and the present moment

Through investigation and practical insight, I explore how it is possible to live without stress! Not by removing challenges, but by changing how we meet them.

When we return to presence, listen to the body, and let go of constant mental pressure, something shifts.

We begin to experience life with greater ease, clarity, and connection.

In this episode, I explore our relationship with thought, and what it means to become the master of our minds rather than being led by them.

There is often a belief that meditation is about stopping thought altogether, but it is more importantto recognise that we are not our thoughts.

The mind has incredible creative potential. It allows us to imagine, create, plan, and solve problems, but when left unobserved, it can also become repetitive, reactive, and overwhelming, looping through past experiences and worrying about imagined futures.

Through meditation and awareness, we begin to access a deeper space within ourselves - a place of presence where we can witness thought as it arises, without becoming identified with it.

This episode explores:

The difference between thinking and awareness - why thought is not the enemy - how the mind can become a “runaway train” without awareness - the impact of thought on our experience and environment - the role of conditioning and learned patterns -the importance of being mindful of what we consume mentally - how meditation creates space, clarity, and inner ease

When we begin to observe our thoughts rather than follow them, something shifts.

The mind becomes quieter, life becomes clearer and we rediscover a sense of peace that was always there.

In this episode I explore the deeper nature of relationship and the patterns that can quietly erode connection over time.

We are always in relationship, all the time - with others, with ourselves, and with life itself, and the quality of our relationships is deeply connected to the relationship we have within ourselves.

Relationship can act as a mirror, reflecting back aspects of ourselves we may not otherwise see, and in intimate relationships, this reflection becomes even clearer,  sometimes revealing patterns, expectations, and unconscious behaviours that can create tension and disconnection.

In this episode, I share one of the most practical and transformative insights in relationship work - the four behaviours identified by John Gottman that can damage connection if left unexamined.

These are - Criticism Defensiveness Contempt and Stonewalling

Through reflection and real-life insight, I explore how these patterns show up, why they arise, and how awareness of them can begin to transform the way we relate.

Because ultimately, the most powerful shift we can make in any relationship is not trying to change the other person,  but becoming aware of what we bring into the space between us.

In this, I explore what it really means to find balance in our lives.

We often think of balance as something external - how we divide our time between work, family, rest, and the things we enjoy, and while this has its place, many people still feel stressed, overwhelmed, or disconnected, even when their lives appear balanced on the surface.

So what is missing?

This episode looks at the deeper truth that real balance is not created through time management, but through inner balance.

Through reflection and personal experience, I explore:

• Why external balance doesn’t always lead to inner ease
• How stress often arises from disconnection from the present moment
• The impact of pressure, comparison, and expectation
• The importance of being fully present in whatever we are doing
• How life’s challenges can become a practice of returning to awareness
• Why communication and honesty support inner balance

Even in full, busy lives, with work, relationships, responsibilities, and peronal goals it is possible to remain connected to ourselves.

Balance is not about doing less or perfectly organising our time.

It is about how we are within the life we are already living.

In this episode I explore what it means to move forward in life without losing ourselves.

Modern life is often full, with our work, relationships, family, responsibilities, not to mention our goals! 

It’s easy to become caught up in everything that needs to be done and slowly drift away from a deeper connection to ourselves.

And yet, alongside everything we do, there is always an awareness present,  quietly witnessing our thoughts, actions, and experiences.

This podcast explores that being still and conscious, is not to step away from life, but to remain connected to that awareness within it.

This episode is a reflection on:

• Staying connected to presence in everyday life
• The difference between awareness and reactivity
• How stress often arises from fear and lack of presence
• The impact of comparison and external expectations
• Returning to self-acceptance, compassion, and inner ease
• Living from presence rather than conditioning

Often, it is in the most challenging moments that we come to know ourselves more deeply. And it is also in these moments that we are most likely to lose ourselves in stress, fear, or exhaustion.

By always returning to awareness, again and again, we begin to move through life in a different way.

We can still have goals.
Still move forward.
Still engage fully with the world.

But without losing ourselves in the process.

In this episode, I explore the creative nature of each moment and the space that exists between what happens to us and how we respond.

So much of our lives is shaped through conversation – not only with others, but within ourselves.

Each interaction is like a thread, weaving the tapestry of our experience, aqqqqqnd yet, often we find ourselves repeating the same patterns, the same words, and the same reactions.

In any given moment, there are countless possibilities available to us. Different ways we could speak, act, or respond. Each one subtly shaping the direction of our lives.

So why do we tend to stay in familiar loops?

Often it is because we are not fully present. We act from conditioning, from learned patterns, from the past replaying itself in the present moment.
But there is a space.

A space between stimulus and response.

And in that space lies the potential for something new.

This episode is a reflection on:
• The creative nature of every moment
• How unconscious patterns shape our lives
• The idea of “3000 possibilities” in each moment
• The gap between stimulus and response
• How awareness allows us to pause and choose differently

When we begin to notice our habitual reactions and gently create space before responding, we open the door to change.

Because when we react, we re-enact the past.
But when we pause, we create the future.

In this episode, I explore what it really means to trust, and why the search for trust outside ourselves can never fully resolve the deeper longing within.

We often look for trust in other people: in partners, teachers, therapists, friends, or those we see as authorities. 

We hope that if someone is reliable enough, consistent enough, or “trustworthy” enough, we will finally feel safe.

But even when we choose someone as an authority, it is still our choice. And at the deepest level, everything comes back to us, to our perception, our expectations, and the meaning we give to our experiences.

Perhaps the question is not whether we can trust others, but whether we can trust ourselves.

Human beings are shaped by their conditioning, their experiences, their beliefs, and their patterns. 

When we begin to see this clearly, something shifts within. and Instead of expecting others to behave in certain ways, we begin to recognise that we can trust people to act according to their nature - whether that is predictable or unpredictable!.

From there, trust takes on a different quality.

It becomes less about controlling outcomes and more about trusting our capacity to meet whatever arises.Trust as an inner state rooted in awareness and presence.

Through personal reflection, including experiences of loss, disappointment, and growth, this episode leads us inward, toward a deeper kind of trust, one that is not dependent on certainty, predictability, or other people behaving in particular ways.

In this episode of Bodhisattva Conversations, I explore a powerful and sometimes uncomfortable idea that there is no-one to blame!

Blame looks outward and backward, focusing on who or what caused our current situation, whereas responsibility always looks inward and forward. 

It asks how we meet our lives now.

Blaming others, whether our parents, partners, colleagues, or past circumstances, can feel justified. 

And of course, our experiences have shaped us... Our childhood, relationships, and life events all influence who we become.

But when we continue to blame, we subtly give our power away. As long as someone else is responsible for how we feel or how our life unfolds, our freedom depends on them changing.

Excuses can also be surprisingly subtle. They often sound like quiet identity statements:

“It’s just how I am.”
“I would, but I’m not ready.”
“When things settle down.”
“They always do this to me.”

These narratives can keep us tied to our wounds and patterns. Ironically, excuses can sometimes feel safer than freedom.

Taking full responsibility does not mean blaming ourselves. It means recognising that we are no longer unconscious or unaware. We have the capacity to observe our reactions, our patterns, and our choices.

One of the key practices is learning to stay with discomfort instead of immediately projecting blame outward. In those moments, we can begin to see what our reactions are protecting and where we are still holding onto old identities.

When we stop blaming, we reclaim the power to live differently.

In this episode of Bodhisattva Conversations, I explore the subtle but powerful difference between being in joy and enjoying something.

Enjoyment is often connected to outer experiences - a beautiful day, a delicious meal, a moment of success, time with people we love. These moments are wonderful, but they are naturally temporary.

Joy, however, is something different.

Joy is not dependent on circumstances. It is a deeper inner state of ease that arises when we are no longer in conflict with ourselves or the present moment.

Much of the inner work we do is a process of recognising where we have become identified with our reactions,  where we believe that something outside of us has made us feel a certain way. Yet often what the outer world actually does is reveal where there is unrest within us.

When we become aware of this, something shifts. Instead of chasing experiences that temporarily help us feel better, we begin to cultivate stillness and awareness within ourselves.

From that place, we can experience joy even when we are not necessarily enjoying what is happening in the moment.

A rainy day, a difficult conversation, a challenging life situation - these may not be enjoyable, but they do not have to take us out of inner ease.

This episode is a reflection on how to stop searching for joy outside ourselves, and instead recognise the stillness within that has always been there.

In this episode of Bodhisattva Conversations, I explore the nature of relationship, and what occurs in “the space between” us and the other.

There is always a space between two people. 

An invisible field made up of tone, attention, intention, nervous system energy, and unspoken emotion, and whether we are relating to a partner, a friend, a colleague, a child, or a stranger, we are always contributing something to that space.

We are the common denominator in all of our relationships.

This episode seeks to shift the focus from asking whether others are “the one,” “a good friend,” or “meeting our needs,” toward a more empowering question:

What am I placing into the space between us?

Am I bringing reactivity or reflection?
Defensiveness or curiosity?
Ease or tension?
Blame or ownership?

Relationship is a mirror.
Intimacy is a magnifying glass.

The closer someone is to us, the more clearly we see ourselves! We can observe our patterns, our wounds, our capacity to love.

Recorded on the eve of my 12th wedding anniversary, this episode is also a reflection on shared intention to relate consciously in long-term partnership, and the appreciation that arises when two people both care about what they are contributing to the relational field.

This is not about perfection. It is about awareness and about taking responsibility for our side of what we put into the space.

An exploration of how we create harmony or conflict, safety or unease, healing or hurt - moment by moment - in the space between.

In this episode of The Practice of Being, I’m joined by writer and spiritual mentor Sashi Radley, for a conversation that weaves together creativity, presence, love, loss, and the mystery of life itself.

Sashi shares how writing is not simply a craft for her, but a profound space of being. It is a place where the mind stills, time expands, and something deeper moves through her. 

We explore her latest novel, Secret and Re Birth, Book 2 in The Ancient Power series. The book is a captivating time-slip adventure spanning present-day Britain and ancient Britannia, where supernatural powers, betrayal, and retribution shape destiny. The novel stands alone while continuing the journey that began in Secret and Ritual.

Beyond fiction, Sashi is also the author of the much-loved non-fiction book Unleash Your Inner Psychic, and she works as a soul and face reader, spiritual development mentor. 

Sashi is also a 'Mindful Artist' - and through art, writing, and spiritual practice, she describes how creating becomes a doorway into stillness, a way of letting the day dissolve onto the canvas or page.

Our conversation moves through themes of love, life, and death, and how we can remain present in the midst of joy and triumph as well as sadness and loss.

 At its heart, this episode is an exploration of how creativity and spiritual awareness can anchor us in being, even as life continues to unfold in all its complexity.

In this solo episode of Bodhisattva Conversations, I explore the practice of being with uncertainty,  and the truth that the only thing we are ever certain of is that nothing is certain!

As human beings, we go to great lengths to construct safety. We build structures around money, work, relationships, identity, and even our spiritual beliefs. We tell ourselves that if we arrange life carefully enough, we will be protected from change.

But everything changes.

This episode is not about abandoning stability or rejecting the practical foundations of life, shelter, food, work, security.  They support our human survival! 

Instead, this podcast questions where stability becomes identity, and where safety becomes attachment.

What if uncertainty is not something to conquer, but something to live with?

What if the fleeting nature of life is what makes it precious?

When we truly accept that people will not stay forever, that circumstances will shift, that outcomes are not guaranteed, something relaxes. 

We begin to appreciate more. We say thank you more often. We listen more closely. We treasure the ordinary moments that are, in truth, extraordinary.

The deepest safety may not be found in controlling life, but in learning to remain present within it.

Most of our suffering is not caused by life itself, but by the restless mind reacting to life.

In this episode, I explore what it truly means to still the mind not by suppressing it, but by gently training it so that we are the master of our mind!

There is a saying that it makes a wonderful servant and a terrible master!

We look at:

• Why the mind becomes addictive, doubtful, critical or negative
• The subtle ways we seek relief from discomfort
• How inner restlessness fuels reactivity
• The difference between forcing silence and allowing stillness
• And why freedom is not found in perfection, but in non-entanglement

Drawing on contemplative wisdom and lived experience, this episode reminds us to 'press pause', and to discover the clarity that emerges when the mind no longer needs to escape.

Stillness is not emptiness.
It is fullness.

Not Getting Stuck in Pain | Healing Trauma & Living More Fully

Pain is an inevitable part of being human, but suffering arises when pain isn’t met, processed, or allowed to move.

In this episode of Bodhisattva Conversations, I explore how trauma and unprocessed pain can keep us stuck in survival patterns, and how healing becomes possible through awareness, presence, and compassionate self-listening.

Rather than bypassing pain or rushing “healing,” this conversation gently examines:

• The many forms trauma can take - past and present
• How unhealed pain shows up as patterns in our lives
• The way the body holds what the mind cannot
• The non-linear stages of healing and integration
• What truly supports transformation and inner freedom

This episode investigates how to move from survival into living - from contraction into choice, and to remember that healing does not mean erasing the past, but no longer being ruled by it.

This reflection is for anyone on a path of self-healing, inner work, and presence.

In this episode of The Practice of Being, I reflect on death, not as something to fear, but as one of life’s greatest teachers.

From early childhood moments to spiritual traditions, lived experience, and sitting with people at the end of their lives, this episode explores how learning to die allows us to live more fully, consciously, and lovingly.

We look at why the fear of death arises, how identification with the body and mind creates suffering, and how practices such as presence, meditation, and self-inquiry help us remember who we truly are.

When we begin to clear attachment to the created self - our stories, identities, and conditioning -  something profound is revealed: what we truly are was never born and can never die.

This is an invitation to meet death gently, to soften into life, and to live from a deeper knowing that there is no ending,  only a change of experience.

In this episode, I explore what it really means to raise our vibration, not through forcing positivity, but through awareness, clearing, and presence.

We are energetic beings, and our thoughts, emotions, and lived experiences all shape our vibration. 

Many of the feelings that lower our energy, arise from early experiences and repeated psychological loops that play out again and again in our lives.

In this episode, I share how becoming aware of these patterns, and learning to pause, breathe, and meet what we’re feeling, allows energy to move and our vibration to naturally rise.

We explore:

• What vibration is and how we sense it in ourselves and others
• The link between thoughts, feelings, and childhood conditioning
• Clearing emotional loops rather than bypassing them
• Everyday practices that support a higher vibration
• Nervous system regulation and the role of the body
• Identity, responsibility, and remembering our true nature

Raising our vibration is not about becoming someone else, it’s about coming back to who we truly are.

In this episode of The Practice of Being, I explore the practice of non-resistance -what it is, what it isn’t, and how it can transform the way we meet life.

Non-resistance does not mean passivity or giving up. It doesn’t mean we stop stretching, growing, or acting. Instead, it simply suggests that we meet life as it is, without forcing, imposing, or resisting our experience.

Drawing on lived experience, Taoist wisdom such as wu wei, and simple embodied metaphors, this episode explores how resistance can be part of our flow, how acceptance creates real transformation, and how stillness can exist even within action.

I look at:

• What non-resistance really means
• How embracing resistance can lead to growth
• Presence, breath, and releasing tension in the body
• Letting life move through us rather than pushing against it
• Identity, conditioning, and remembering who we truly are
• Why acceptance and love sit at the heart of everything

I explore and embrace our human experience and suggest that we remember that even in challenge or sorrow, there is a deeper place within us that knows all is well.

In this episode of The Practice of Being, 

I explore reflecting on the year that has passed and how we can step into the year ahead from a place of presence rather than striving.

Together, we look back on 2025 from a place of self awareness, reflecting on our relationships, work, dreams, and inner life. 

This is not about judgement or regret, but about taking responsibility with kindness: acknowledging where we showed up well, where we may have acted differently, and what the year has revealed about what truly matters to us.

I also explore the goals and aspirations we held, those we achieved, and those we abandoned, asking whether they were truly aligned with our hearts, or driven by expectation, fear, or comparison. 

We reflect on the role of inner work in shaping our outer lives, and how clearing old patterns, reactivity, and conditioning creates space for something new to emerge.

Looking ahead to 2026, this episode suggests you to dream as big as your heart desires, while remembering that what we cultivate within is always reflected outward. 

When we begin from being, action flows with greater ease, clarity, and a sense of magic.

This episode asks us to pause, reflect, and step forward from inner alignment.

In this episode, I’m joined by Anadi Taylor for a reflective conversation about the tendency to 'try too hard' and the often unseen cost of living in constant effort.

We explore what “trying too hard” really means, why so many people fall into this pattern, and how the short-term rewards of approval, achievement, and control can quietly lead to exhaustion, burnout, and disconnection from ourselves.

Together, we look at how early conditioning, parental expectations, and social and peer pressures shape this drive to over-effort, often without our conscious awareness. 

We also explore what becomes possible when we introduce greater stillness within our actions - not through withdrawal or passivity, but through clarity, presence, and a genuine willingness to let go of patterns that no longer serve.

This conversation is an invitation to question where effort has become habit, and how meaningful change begins with the true desire to live differently.

This conversation with Anadi Taylor forms part of my ongoing series, 'The Practise of Being', a collection of reflections and conversations exploring how we live, act, and relate when we soften habitual striving and return to presence, clarity, and inner ease.

In this solo episode, I explore unconditional love as a living, breathing practice, one that asks us to recognise the divinity within ourselves and in everyone we meet. 

Unconditional love is not a destination, but a journey of gently clearing the layers that obscure our true nature: identification with thoughts, emotions, opinions, judgements, control, and the need for others or life to be different.

Through conscious presence and compassion, we begin to meet life exactly as it is, without expectation.

Reactivity becomes a guide rather than a problem, pointing us toward the places within that are asking for more love, breath, and understanding. 

As we learn to soften resistance and respond with awareness, love naturally deepens and expands.

This episode also explores an important truth: unconditional love does not mean tolerating harmful behaviour. 

Sometimes, the most loving act is to set clear boundaries or to step away from a person or situation. We are all a work in progress, and this practice is ongoing, a moment-to-moment invitation to breathe, let go, and return to love.

In this episode, Julia explores one of the most liberating truths we often forget: you are allowed to choose the life you want!

She looks at why so many of us wait for permission, from society, from family expectations, from old conditioning, or from outdated versions of ourselves. 

She talks about how unconscious “shoulds” shape our choices, how inherited scripts limit our expression, and how fear of failure and success, keeps us playing small.

Julia prompts you to recognise the beliefs that no longer fit, release obligations that drain you, and reconnect with what you genuinely desire!

 She speaks about the beauty of beginning again, the courage required to be authentic, and the freedom that comes when we give ourselves permission to evolve, pivot, and live life as an experiment rather than a performance.

This episode is an empowering reminder that you are allowed to stop, to start, to change your mind, and to become fully yourself.

In this fun and energising conversation, I speak with the remarkable Cecilia Bawler a woman who manages to wear many hats with grace, humour and wholeheartedness!

 Cecilia is a teacher, actor, playwright, runner, mother, wife, and most recently a trainee celebrant preparing to officiate her friend’s wedding next year.

She’s also someone deeply committed to her own wellbeing. Cecilia shares how she navigates a life full of creative and professional commitments, keeping herself grounded through positive mindset, structured self-care, reflection, healthy lifestyle choices, and the courage to continually recalibrate what she needs.

We talk about her journey into acting and writing,  including recently writing and directing her latest play, and the powerful shift she’s experienced after one year alcohol-free as well as maintaining a vegan lifestyle, both of which have supported her physical, emotional and mental clarity.

Cecilia also emphasises  that wellbeing isn’t one-size-fits-all, it's about finding the lifestyle that best supports your energy, balance, and inner alignment.

This episode brings warmth, wisdom, creative fire and practical insight into how to live intentionally while navigating a full, beautiful, and very busy life.

In this latest Bodhisattva conversation, I speak with world-class aerialist and coach, Karin Odermatt, whose career has taken her onto some of the most iconic stages in the world, from Cirque du Soleil to Chaméléon in Berlin, Tigerpalast in Frankfurt, and Wallman’s Salonger in Copenhagen, one of Scandinavia’s largest and most prestigious dinner shows.

Karin also shares another powerful side of her journey, the inner story behind the performances. 

She speaks candidly about the immense challenges she faced as a young teenager carving her own path in the world, the courage it took to keep going, and the resilience that became the foundation for both her artistry and her life.

Now living in Spain, Karin is an exceptional coach and mentor. She has created a transformational online training programme where students receive weekly expert guidance to help them grow stronger, more confident, and more capable of achieving their aerial and strength-based goals. Her approach combines technical mastery with emotional intelligence, and a deep belief that we can all transcend our limitations.

This is a conversation about artistry, discipline, inner strength, and the powerful journey of becoming.

You can follow Karin on instagram @karinodermattcoach

And on YouTube here

In this inspiring episode, I speak with Sophie François, Fundamentals and Martial Arts Coach at The Commando Temple in Deptford.

Sophie’s journey into movement began at school, where she took up sports simply to avoid subjects she didn’t enjoy…!

 But what started as an escape soon became a passion. 

Over the years she fell in love with Muay Thai, earned grading in kickboxing, and developed deep physical strength and confidence - qualities she now shares wholeheartedly with the people she coaches.

Before stepping into coaching, Sophie had a thriving career in fashion, designing window displays on Oxford Street. It was fast-paced, creative, and high-pressure, and eventually, the stress and burnout became too much. She made the courageous decision to walk away.

In this conversation, Sophie openly shares how she rebuilt her life through movement, martial arts, and deep self-connection. She speaks passionately about:

• The power of martial arts to build confidence and resilience
• Learning to listen to your body and wellbeing
• Burnout, recovery, and redefining success
• Why you can leave something that no longer serves you, even when it feels impossible
• How strength training and coaching have transformed her life

This is a powerful reminder that it’s never too late to choose a different path, one that honours who you truly are.

In this episode, I speak with Thomas Bradley, founder of Clann AI, a groundbreaking platform that uses advanced computer vision technology to analyse player positioning and team dynamics, offering powerful insights into game flow, strategy and performance. 

Clann is not only transforming access to elite-level analysis in sport, but is also creating community, connection and shared knowledge across all levels of the game.

Alongside his work in sport-tech innovation, Thomas is also deeply engaged in exploring the nature of reality itself. 

With a background in physics, he has put forward a new hypothesis suggesting that at its most fundamental level, reality is composed of self-replicating units of information, called femes. 

If this is true, it implies that the laws of physics are not fixed or eternal, but alive, evolving and shaped by history.

Together we explore:

• The evolution of technology and AI in human development
• How sport can be a profound site of community, meaning and shared story
• What it means to co-create with AI rather than fear it
• How our personal and collective worlds are always in motion, always unfolding

This conversation is an expansive dialogue about sport, science, consciousness and the ongoing evolution of humanity. 

In this inspiring conversation, Julia speaks with David Chimbaza, founder and manager of DTC.MEDIAUK, the world’s only global football social media marketing agency. 

A graduate in International Football Business, David has followed his passion for the game since he was just 11 years old.

Alongside his entrepreneurial work, David is the host of "The Business of Football" podcast, where he connects with leaders and innovators across the football world. In this episode, he shares his journey, his heart-led approach to business, and how staying true to his purpose continues to shape his success both on and off the pitch.

It’s a conversation about passion, vision, and building something extraordinary from the heart. 

For more information about David click here