Slo Mo: A Podcast with Mo Gawdat – Details, episodes & analysis

Dr. Sabrina Cohen-Hatton, one of the world's most senior female fire officers, left home at 15 and school at 16. Overcoming homelessness, she became a firefighter and earned a 1st Class Honors degree in Psychology, a Master's in International Fire Service Development, and a PhD in Behavioral Neuroscience.

00:00 Intro
2:20 Breaking Stereotypes
4:00 Sabrina's Childhood
13:00 Homelessness
30:00 Have We Forgotten Our Privilege?
35:25 How Sabrina Became a Firefighter
39:20 Dealing with Sexism
49:00 Don't Judge a Book by Its Cover
53:00 Dealing with Traumatic Work Incidents
55:00 Sabrina's Research into Decision Making
58:30 Being different is a Super Power

Order Dr Sabrina Cohen-Hatton's book here: https://rb.gy/mjxjgn

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YouTube: @mogawdatofficial
Instagram: @mo_gawdat
Facebook: @mo.gawdat.official
LinkedIn: /in/mogawdat
Tiktok: @mogawdat
X: @mgawdat
Website: mogawdat.com

Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Claudia Hammond is an award-winning broadcaster, author, and psychologist. She hosts BBC Radio 4's All in the Mind and Health Check podcast. Known for her books like The Art of Rest and Mind Over Money, Claudia explores well-being and psychology.

00:00 Intro
3:00 Why psychology?
13:50 Claudia's books
16:50 Kindness in today's world is possible
24:00 But why are some people unkind?
27:00 Kindness is a skill
30:00 Kindness is all around if you notice it
33:25 Can kind people be successful leaders?
38:45 Tell people the truth
40:00 Top tips to become kinder
42:05 Why are we unkind to ourselves?
46:10 Practical tips on achieving more rest
58:20 The psychology of money

You can order Claudia's book 'The Keys to Kindness' here:  https://rb.gy/xunf3y

Follow Mo:
Instagram: mo_gawdat
TikTok: MoGawdat
X: MGawdat

💬 Join the conversation and share your thoughts in the comments below!

Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

YouTube: @mogawdatofficial
Instagram: @mo_gawdat
Facebook: @mo.gawdat.official
LinkedIn: /in/mogawdat
Tiktok: @mogawdat
X: @mgawdat
Website: mogawdat.com

Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Bryony Gordon,  journalist, author, and mental health advocate, recently faced criticism for joining the Daily Mail as a columnist. Despite the backlash, she vows to use her platform to raise awareness about mental health issues.

0:00  Bryony has received criticism for moving to the Daily Mail
03:45 Mo introduces Bryony
05:40 Why was Bryony attacked on social media for joining the Mail?
14:00 Mo's experience of online criticism 
17:56 Bryony's critical voice in her head
27:20 Why Bryony writes about her mental health
31:00 Mo reveals his recent stressful time
34:00 Making mistakes
40:00 Solutions can be made with compassion
43:30 Mo on receiving criticism for 'not publicly supporting Gaza'
45:45 Shame doesn't work in making people feel better
50:00 Why rejecting people who think differently isn't helpful
53:00 The 'shadow' side of us
1:05:00 Seeing the beauty in everyday life
1:06:31 How does Bryony manage to write a column every week?
1:08:58 Taking accountability 
1:16:33 We think we're scared of our darkness, but we are really scared of our light

You can order Bryony's book 'Mad Woman' here: https://rb.gy/y192sc

YouTube: @mogawdatofficial
Instagram: @mo_gawdat
Facebook: @mo.gawdat.official
LinkedIn: /in/mogawdat
Tiktok: @mogawdat
X: @mgawdat
Website: mogawdat.com

Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

For the last episode in my tour of Holland, I'm back in one of my favorite spots in Amsterdam with my wonderful friend Jimmy Nelson and accompanied by Prince Constantijn. We three met in September 2021 in the Netherlands at Jimmy's exhibition, The Last Sentinels, which was absolutely breathtaking. I sat down with Jimmy and Constantijn to discuss the value in preserving heritage, the disappearing Dutch culture, the bliss of finding an adopted home, and Jimmy's newest projects. The video of this episode, linked below, is simply the better way to consume this conversation.

In his latest book, Between the Sea and the Sky, Jimmy Nelson presents portraits of twenty Dutch communities wearing regional traditional dress and the environment that shaped them. It is his most personal book ever. During the recent pandemic, which restricted travel across the world, Jimmy Nelson realized he didn't need to travel to the ends of the Earth to discover outstanding human beauty. This insight gave rise to a new project much closer to home, a stunning art book and ode to the Netherlands, his adopted fatherland.

Listen as we discuss:

• Jimmy's adopted Dutchhood and the root of his love for the Netherlands.
• His loving process of photographing 20 traditional Dutch villages.
• Why the Dutch don't brag about being Dutch and dealing with their colonial past.
• Between the Sea and Sky
• Why does Jimmy carry a cumbersome old camera with limited film?
• Delayed gratification and the beauty of the process.
• Some features of Dutch culture with the "Definitive Dutch Man", Prince Constantijn.
• Is the metaverse the next step of modernization?
• Slow down and be interested in people, and life will give its fruits.
• Visit Jimmy's exhibition on October 14. More details at jimmynelson.com/exhibitions

YouTube: @mogawdatofficial  (link to this episode: youtu.be/_FBN49O4I38)
Instagram: @mo_gawdat
Facebook: @mo.gawdat.official
Twitter: @mgawdat
LinkedIn: /in/mogawdat
Website: mogawdat.com

Connect with Jimmy Nelson on Facebook @jimmy.nelson.official, on Instagram @jimmy.nelson.official , on Twitter @jimmy_p_nelson, and jimmynelson.com

Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

YouTube: @mogawdatofficial
Instagram: @mo_gawdat
Facebook: @mo.gawdat.official
LinkedIn: /in/mogawdat
Tiktok: @mogawdat
X: @mgawdat
Website: mogawdat.com

Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

In this episode, I speak to the legendary Karin Bloemen at her home in Broek in Waterland, The Netherlands. My dear friend Sonja Dippel, who runs One Billion Happy out of The Netherlands, arranged this meeting, and right away I knew I was in the presence of someone possessing extraordinary wisdom. Sonja, in her message to me, defined Karin in one word:  "Karin is color." After our conversation, I realized just how true that is, and just how many colors there really are, from the darkest to the brightest, that have come together to form a true human being.

Karin is a force of overcoming incredible adversity and finding a path to your personal peace. She is an actress, a singer, an Instagram sensation, and the author of two books. In all arts, and particularly the art of living, I have rarely encountered someone who can do it as well as she has.

Unfortunately, this week's episode discusses repeated incidents of sexual abuse that she and women around her have suffered. The goal of that aspect of this discussion is to inform and discuss how we can put an end to this heinously ugly side of humanity once and for all and support all victims, past and present. Remember, you are not alone, and help is out there and very willing to engage with you.

Listen as we discuss:

• Why fame isn't a big deal after all.
• What's the secret to a happy marriage? (Karin is married 30 years to her best friend.)
• How Karin raised the son of her sister, who died in a fire with two of her children.
• The extraordinary challenge of being a mother as a sexual assault victim.
• Karin's top parenting tip? Let teenagers be teenagers, but have zero tolerance for lying.
• The story of Karin's sexual abuse at the hands of her stepfather.
• How can we stop sexual abuse and support the victims?
• What is the dynamic that leads men to sexually assault a child?
• Understanding intimacy versus perversion.
• Living for moments, not targets, and taking on the ego.
• When are you actually being you?
• Incorporating fire, water, air, and earth into performance.
• Karin's top tip for happiness: cherish what is and stay out of the waiting room.

YouTube: @mogawdatofficial  (link to this episode: youtu.be/KdVNYZhktYM)
Instagram: @mo_gawdat
Facebook: @mo.gawdat.official
Twitter: @mgawdat
LinkedIn: /in/mogawdat
Website: mogawdat.com

Connect with Karin Bloemen on Instagram @karin_bloemen, Facebook @BloemenKarin, and Twitter @bloemenkarin

Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

YouTube: @mogawdatofficial
Instagram: @mo_gawdat
Facebook: @mo.gawdat.official
LinkedIn: /in/mogawdat
Tiktok: @mogawdat
X: @mgawdat
Website: mogawdat.com

Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

I am once again in Amsterdam on this endless quest for wisdom to talk to you about a little history and little future with one of my great friends, Carlo van Lienden. Before we begin, consider watching this podcast on YouTube instead (or as well). It heavily complements the experience with additional photos and footage. Link is below.

When I wrote Solve for Happy, my agent told me to write an evergreen,  not a big hit that quickly burns away. That has been achieved successfully by all accounts, with the book selling more copies each year than the year prior. There were two major media appearances that kicked things off. The first was my Channel 4 interview in the UK, which went viral. The second was my appearance on RTL Late Night in the Netherlands. Behind the camera of the latter was Carlo, who discovered me and brought me to the public eye in a country that has embraced me and the One Billion Happy mission without parallel.

Possessing a phenomenal work ethic and having worked in media through many pivots, Carlo can best be described in one phrase: a spotter of the truth.

Listen as we discuss:

• How Carlo played a major role in jumpstarting our mission.
• Carlo's former life as a cyclist for the National Team and a resulting eating disorder.
• How he became a cameraman instead, and why it was a very fair trade.
• The real reason why I think I became Chief Business Officer at Google X.
• Stoicism, and revisiting my talk with Donald Robertson (Slo Mo episodes 67 & 68)
• How a sports psychiatrist changed his life.
• The sheer bliss of altitude training in the Sierra Nevada and the effects on the ego.
• Stress + Rest = Growth
• "Embrace the suck."
• Why Slo Mo hasn't been very slow lately.
• The impending merge of the virtual and real worlds.
• How do we know what's real and what's fake anymore?
• Can we even handle the truth anymore?
• Whatever comes our way, we need to find our place at the top of the mountain.

YouTube: @mogawdatofficial  (link to this episode: youtu.be/vcx3lOrzajM)
Instagram: @mo_gawdat
Facebook: @mo.gawdat.official
Twitter: @mgawdat
LinkedIn: /in/mogawdat
Website: mogawdat.com

Connect with Carlo van Lienden on Instagram @carlo_van_lienden

Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

YouTube: @mogawdatofficial
Instagram: @mo_gawdat
Facebook: @mo.gawdat.official
LinkedIn: /in/mogawdat
Tiktok: @mogawdat
X: @mgawdat
Website: mogawdat.com

Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Sometimes, while traveling around the Netherlands, you end up seated in front of a prince and princess of the Dutch Royal House. And sometimes, you realize, they couldn't be any more different than what you'd expect from a royal. In fact,  they are two of the kindest, humblest, and most authentic people I've met yet.

Prince Constantijn & Princess Laurentien were kind enough to host me in The Hague at their Number Five foundation, where we recorded (and filmed) this episode. I felt a deep admiration for their efforts breaking through the restrictions of royal life to show a truly human face. When I published Scary Smart last October, I met with the Prince (thanks to the efforts of our tireless head of the One Billion Happy foundation, Sonja Dippel) to talk about AI. After our chat, he left, got into a very normal car, and drove himself to his next destination. I thought to myself, "This is a prince?". After later meeting Princess Laurentien, and learning of her own tireless efforts to make the world a better place by empowering women, expanding literacy, caring for the environment, among other pursuits, I became a fanboy of these two.

Ego is the cause of human suffering. Being a royal was exactly the test the Buddha faced in combatting his own ego. Here, we have two more examples of people in power recognizing the true nature of royalty and flipping the script for good.

When humanity shines more than royalty.

Listen as we discuss:

• How I met the Prince and Princess.
• The genius of a wet grass carpet, and how they work for their son.
• Establishing boundaries when it comes to social media.
• Princess Laurentien's evolution to feeling like a kid again.
• The strange request of asking to be treated normally.
• How this prince and princess fell in love.
• Dealing with scandal in the Netherlands and the greater role of government.
• It is crucial to look for wisdom from people that aren't at the top.
• Defensiveness is one of the top red flags for development.
• The exponential value of admitting ignorance.
• What is listening?
• Enabling the development of tech for good.
• Princess Laurentien's top tip for happiness?  Alignment with your values and imagining.
• Prince Constantijn's top tip for happiness? Analyzing the self and finding patience.

YouTube: @mogawdatofficial (full episodes on video here)
Instagram: @mo_gawdat
Facebook: @mo.gawdat.official
Twitter: @mgawdat
LinkedIn: /in/mogawdat
Website: mogawdat.com

Learn more at numberfive.community

Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

YouTube: @mogawdatofficial
Instagram: @mo_gawdat
Facebook: @mo.gawdat.official
LinkedIn: /in/mogawdat
Tiktok: @mogawdat
X: @mgawdat
Website: mogawdat.com

Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

It is episodes like this that make me feel like the luckiest man in the world.

In this week's conversation, I speak with Astrid Holleeder, the brave woman who risked her own life and freedom to put her brother, the most notorious criminal gangster in the modern history of the Netherlands, behind bars. Astrid is now unable to appear in public and lives in oscillation between freedom and fear, but with no regrets. You won't see her face if you decide to watch the video on YouTube (highly recommended), but her voice says it all.

Joining me along with Astrid is her daughter Miljuschka, an iconic Dutch model, actress, and TV chef in the Netherlands who rose to fame advocating for living free and emotionally, mentally, and phyiscally healthy. Miljuschka is a beloved figure with millions of fans and a beacon of strength herself.

Speaking to these two women together, mother and daughter, makes it clear that courage can run in the family. You will see that most of this conversation is with Astrid as Miljuschka humbly gives her mother the rare chance to express herself publicly. We focus less on the unbelievable story that led to her bestselling book, Judas, and more on the storm of emotions and experiences that led her to a sense of peace despite an incredibly difficult childhood and adulthood.

This episode contains explicit language and themes. We felt it appropriate to leave this episode unaltered.

Listen as we discuss:

• How Astrid got the strength to completely upend her life for the sake of what's right.
• The horror of living in fear of her criminal brother and his threats and murders.
• The worst ultimatum: blind loyalty or death to your loved ones.
• Astrid living in survival mode and going to therapy to learn right from wrong.
• The moment she learned that not all father's are abusive and finally stood up to her's.
• Why Astrid never followed through on her plan to kill her own brother.
• How the internet and discovering psychology has rewired her brain to a place of peace.
• The one beautiful gift her brother gave her when he took away her freedom.
• What does Miljuschka wish for her mother?
• Astrid's last moments with her mother showed her more than a lifetime together.
• A discussion on death and its purpose.
• What does the universe have planned from this seemingly horrible story?

Other episodes referenced in this conversation:
Edith Eger: bit.ly/3pUojle
Pin Van Lommel: bit.ly/3pO9HUJ

YouTube: @mogawdatofficial (full episodes on video here)
Instagram: @mo_gawdat
Facebook: @mo.gawdat.official
Twitter: @mgawdat
LinkedIn: /in/mogawdat
Website: mogawdat.com

Connect with Miljuschka on Instagram @miljuschka and her website,

YouTube: @mogawdatofficial
Instagram: @mo_gawdat
Facebook: @mo.gawdat.official
LinkedIn: /in/mogawdat
Tiktok: @mogawdat
X: @mgawdat
Website: mogawdat.com

Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Just in time for back to school, I speak with my friend Nadim Saad on educating children and parents in ways that will truly transform the world.

Nadim is a best-selling author, speaker and coach, and entrepreneur. He founded The Happy Confident Company to help children thrive by offering them the insights and tools they need to face life’s challenges and become the best version of themselves. Nadim spent the last decade working with renowned therapists and teachers, drawing from the latest research in child psychology and neuroscience to develop wellbeing products and programs that have impacted the lives of hundreds of thousands of families.

This is a marvelous overview of becoming masters of perhaps the most influential domain of our lives: parenting and educating children. It is so chock full of nuggets of wisdom that you’ll notice more notes below than normal.

Listen as we discuss:

• How Nadim became the best straight male dancer I’ve ever seen.
• It begins and ends with connecting to your emotions.
• When you shout at kids, they physically cannot listen to your orders.
• Teaching kids to deal with sadness and disappointment is just as important as learning to be happy.
• Disagreements between partners on how to parent are normally about how to discipline.
• Three keys: Meta-cognition, emotional intelligence and mindfulness.
• Be the parent you wish you had, first to your inner child.
• Parenting is just leadership but for children.
• A throwback to my chat with Zoe Blaskey in episodes 148/149.
• The 10 powers we need to teach kids.
• The Happy Confident Movement
• Why the school history program is so harmful. 
• Aya says: The power distribution is the remarkable part. There’s no big boss.
• Nadim’s daughters Father’s Day card that made him cry.
• Nadim’s top tips to raise happy children: sense of agency, allowing feelings, and feeling like a team.

YouTube: @mogawdatofficial (full episodes on video here)
Instagram: @mo_gawdat
Facebook: @mo.gawdat.official
Twitter: @mgawdat
LinkedIn: /in/mogawdat
Website: mogawdat.com

Connect with Nadim Saad at his website happyconfident.com

Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

YouTube: @mogawdatofficial
Instagram: @mo_gawdat
Facebook: @mo.gawdat.official
LinkedIn: /in/mogawdat
Tiktok: @mogawdat
X: @mgawdat
Website: mogawdat.com

Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

This week, I speak with Rose Hood, co-founder of perhaps the most Instagrammed cafe in London, Farm Girl. I sat down with her at Farm Girl for a chat as light and pleasant as the brilliant coffee they serve. As a mother and entrepreneur who is in business with her husband, Rose is a success story on all fronts. The secret? A loving and loyal support system.

Listen as we discuss:

• How I ended up recording Slo Mo at Farm Girl.
• Why Rose moved from Melbourne to London.
• The story of Farm Girl, her phenomenal cafe and business.
• Surviving lockdown as a business.
• London as an amazing city for women entrepreneurs.
• How Rose learned to make a great coffee.
• What constitutes a healthy diet?
• The challenges of doing business with your husband.
• Evolving a business through failure.
• My pipe dream of running a strictly pie and coffee shop (or being a farmer).
• Rose's top tip for happiness? A loving, loyal support network.

YouTube: @mogawdatofficial (full episodes on video here)
Instagram: @mo_gawdat
Facebook: @mo.gawdat.official
Twitter: @mgawdat
LinkedIn: /in/mogawdat
Website: mogawdat.com

Connect with Rose Hood and Farm Girl on Instagram @farmgirlcafe and their website, thefarmgirl.co.uk

Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

YouTube: @mogawdatofficial
Instagram: @mo_gawdat
Facebook: @mo.gawdat.official
LinkedIn: /in/mogawdat
Tiktok: @mogawdat
X: @mgawdat
Website: mogawdat.com

Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy