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This week's Mojo Monday episode is a poignant reminder that life is short, and the way we spend our time is crucial. Carly shares a heartwarming story about a lunch date with their dad, who's 88 years young, and the wisdom he imparted to their 20-year-old daughter. This conversation sparks a reflection on how we often get caught up in the daily grind and forget to cherish the present moment.

As we navigate our busy lives, it's easy to lose sight of what truly matters. Carly invites us to take a step back and consider how we're spending our time. This episode encourages us to take a closer look at our values and how they align with our daily habits.

Carly also shares a powerful exercise that helps us reflect on our time usage and identify areas for improvement. 

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Are you stuck in a cycle of overthinking and information overload, unsure how to move forward? In this episode, I chat with Tamsin Simmons as she shares her journey from healthcare management to becoming a leadership coach and author, emphasising the power of the experiment mindset to create meaningful change. Discover how testing small, process-focused experiments can lead you toward your true goals and improve both personal and organisational performance.

Key Takeaways

• The concept of the experiment mindset and its application across areas of life
• Imposter syndrome: transforming it into a growth opportunity rather than a barrier
• The importance of focusing on processes over outcomes in behaviour change
• The three levers of behavior change: environment, psychology, and physiology
• Practical strategies for designing and running personal experiments
• The pitfalls of information overload and the “procrastination tools” of consuming content without applying it
• How organisational incentives and environment influence behaviour, both positively and negatively
• The role of curiosity and a growth mindset in sustaining motivation and joy
• The universality of the experiment mindset beyond workplace leadership, including health and personal development

Timestamps:
04:44 - Imposter syndrome: from challenge to growth tool
06:56 - How perceptions of imposter syndrome evolve with experience
09:02 - Why the experiment mindset encourages resilience and growth
11:03 - The motivation behind writing The Experiment Mindset
13:09 - Changes in leadership and organisational behaviour over the last decade
14:43 - The failures of piecemeal workplace wellness strategies
16:15 - Moving from knowledge to action: tackling the knowing-doing gap
18:42 - Why high-quality information can become a barrier when misused
20:11 - The importance of treating yourself as your own experiment
22:40 - Real-world example: personal experimentation with diet and health
26:11 - Understanding individual responses to health interventions
28:37 - Limiting biases in personal experiments and avoiding confirmation bias
30:36 - The three levers of behaviour change: environment, psychology, physiology
32:24 - How incentives and environment influence organisational and personal behaviour
34:43 - Rethinking outcome-based performance for better wellbeing and results
36:26 - The role of physiology and physical capacity in high performance
37:36 - The impact of environment on physiology and psychology
39:17 - Simple nutritional strategies for sustained energy and performance
41:16 - Designing meaningful experiments: aligning with your top-level goals
43:04 - Managing big change by setting realistic, incremental goals
45:06 - Focusing on process over outcome to foster resilience and curiosity
47:35 - The power of curiosity and scientific thinking in everyday experiments
48:04 - Applying the experiment mindset beyond work: health, relationships, and life
49:46 - Overcoming information overload and “constipation” in decision-making

Resources

Tamsin’s book The Experiment Mindset

Website: https://www.tamsinsimounds.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamsinkate

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

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

Support the Podcast

If you found this conversation valuable, consider subscribing and leaving a review on your preferred podcast platform. Your feedback helps us continue to bring you insightful discussions on important health topics.

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In this episode, I chat with Dr. Jeremy Thompson as we delve into the complexities of identity and mental health. We explore how early life experiences shape our self-perception and the importance of understanding one's true self. Jeremy shares insights from his extensive experience in family medicine and psychological medicine, emphasising the need to separate negative self-perceptions from one's core identity. The conversation touches on the impact of societal labels, the role of upbringing in mental health, and practical approaches to fostering a positive self-image.

Key Takeaways

Self-identity as a dynamic, compartmentalised system                                                      People’s sense of self is best understood as a mix of core positives and externalised negatives, which should be separated rather than conflated.

Childhood trauma’s impact is modifiable through focused reframing                                      Traumatic childhood experiences leave lasting imprints, but their influence can be softened by actively re-examining and challenging negative beliefs formed early on.

Authentic self-awareness guides positive choices over societal expectations                Aligning daily actions with one’s true self and natural inclinations, rather than external pressures or shoulds, promotes genuine well-being.

Labelling mental health issues risks entrenching identities over understanding                 Applying diagnostic labels too readily risks turning complex mental states into fixed identities, which can hinder recovery and self-growth.

Cultivating inner energy through awareness enhances alignment with true self               Attuning to moments of positive energy signals alignment with your authentic inclinations, serving as a compass for satisfying pursuits.

The oversimplification of mental health through excessive diagnoses dilutes treatment efficacy                                                                                                                                            The proliferation of mental health diagnoses, many wishy-washy and overlapping, obscures understanding and can lead to self-labelling that hampers progress.

The balance of nurturing positive traits while managing negatives is central to resilient identity                                                                                                                                        Strong resilience arises from affirming and cultivating your best qualities while consciously managing and externalising negative forces.

Time Stamps

02:57 Understanding Mental Health and Chronic Stress

06:02 The Importance of Identity in Mental Health

08:53 The Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences

12:08 The Mixed Bag Concept of Self-Identity

14:53 Building Positive Relationships and Resilience

18:00 The Role of Mental Health Professionals

21:08 Reflecting on Childhood Experiences

23:55 Values, Virtues, and the Real Self

28:46 Understanding Personal Desires vs. Societal Expectations

32:00 The Complexity of Human Nature and Selfishness

34:55 The Dangers of Labels and Identity

38:18 Finding Your True Self and Identity

42:31 Navigating Change and Personal Growth

46:59 The Role of Identity in Health and Well-being

Resources

Dr Jeremy Thompson’s new book: https://www.amazon.com.au/Understand-Your-Identity-Jeremy-Thompson/dp/1636986277/

Website - https://understandyourtrueidentity.com/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-thompson-41a47969/

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/DrJeremyThompson

Support the Podcast

If you found this conversation valuable, consider subscribing and leaving a review on your preferred podcast platform. Your feedback helps us continue to bring you insightful discussions on important health topics.

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Marcus Aurelius was a Roman emperor living nearly 2,000 years ago, yet his private journal reads remarkably like modern psychological coaching. In this episode, Carly explores a powerful passage from Meditations and unpack what Stoicism, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Morita Therapy can teach us about managing difficult thoughts and emotions. If you’ve ever felt hijacked by overthinking, caught in emotional spirals, or trapped in the stories your mind creates, this episode offers a practical, stoic framework for stepping back, seeing reality more clearly, and choosing your next move with intention.

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In this episode with TJ Power, the discussion delves into the impact of modern lifestyle on mental health, focusing on conditions like mild anxiety and depression. TJ Power, a neuroscientist, shares insights from his book "The Dose Effect," which explores how dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins can be optimised to improve well-being. The conversation covers TJ's personal journey with dopamine addiction and how he developed a protocol to rebalance brain chemistry. We also discuss the importance of evolutionary biology, the role of technology in mental health, and practical steps to enhance connection and reduce stress in today's fast-paced world.

Discover practical strategies to optimise brain chemistry, overcome modern lifestyle disorders, and foster deeper human connection.

Key Takeaways

• Impact of modern lifestyle on mental health
• Role of dopamine in motivation and addiction
• Oxytocin and human connection
• Serotonin's influence on body-brain health
• Endorphins and stress relief through exercise
• Practical strategies for neurochemical balance
• The importance of behavioural first approaches
• The science of shared suffering and bonding
• Effects of technology and social media on dopamine
• Strategies for lifestyle changes to improve mental health

Time Stamps

01:12 Modern Lifestyle Disorders and the Dose Effect

02:04 TJ Power's Journey and the DOSELAB

04:16 Research Challenges and Funding

06:05 In-Person vs. Online Interventions

08:02 Understanding Dopamine

10:01 Dopamine's Role in Motivation and Anticipation

11:58 The Impact of Modern Rewards on Dopamine

13:54 Fast vs. Slow Dopamine

16:05 The Consequences of Low Dopamine

18:02 Behavioural Approaches to Mental Health

20:00 The Importance of Action in Motivation

21:55 Practical Challenges for Dopamine Optimization

23:50 Phone Fasting and Digital Detox

25:36 Dopamine and ADHD

28:37 Understanding ADHD and Dopamine

31:59 The Role of Oxytocin in Human Connection

38:36 The Power of Connection in Adversity

46:37 Cultivating Oxytocin in Daily Life

48:43 Exploring Serotonin and Body-Brain Connection

01:01:24 The Impact of Endorphins on Well-being

Resources

Website: DOSELab

The DOSE Effect: https://geni.us/UFOm – TJ Power’s book

LinkedIn -  https://www.linkedin.com/in/tjpowerneuroscience/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/tjpower/

Website:  https://tjpower.co.uk/

Support the Podcast

If you found this conversation valuable, consider subscribing and leaving a review on your preferred podcast platform. Your feedback helps us continue to bring you insightful discussions on important health topics.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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This week on Mojo Monday, Carly explores the power of language in shaping our experiences. She delves into the concept of relational frame theory, which suggests that our minds create connections and meaning through language, influencing how we feel about our lives. 

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If you think ease and comfort are the keys to happiness, think again. This episode explores how deliberately embracing life's challenges—through movement, fasting, cold exposure, and mental resilience—can transform your health, happiness, and purpose. Grant Schofield, an esteemed researcher and author, reveals that life's true reward lies in choosing the hard path, strong in the knowledge that it leads to a more vibrant, resilient life.       

Choose your path, and in doing so, choose your future. And for those ready to take action, Grant’s new book Choose Your Hard distils these powerful principles into actionable step because the path to a better life is a deliberate choice.

00:00 The Role of an Emeritus Professor

02:57 The Academic Publishing Industry

05:54 Understanding Misogi and Personal Challenges

09:00 Fasting and Autophagy Explained

12:01 The Science of Metabolism and Immune Function

15:04 Psychological Aspects of Fasting

17:58 Preparing for a Fast: Strategies and Mindset

20:58 Physical Responses and Adaptations During Fasting

25:51 The Role of Stress in Health

27:28 Choosing Your Hard: Embracing Life's Challenges

35:19 Agency and Responsibility in Health

40:10 Movement: The Foundation of Health

46:43 Dopamine: The Devil's Seesaw

52:41 Hard vs. Soft Dopamine: Resetting the System

53:28 The Irony of Pleasure and Pain

55:24 Facing the Elements: Hot and Cold Exposure

01:01:38 Understanding Emotions and Their Ownership

01:05:18 Finding Meaning and Purpose in Life

Resources

Grant’s latest book – Choose Your Hard

Available on Amazon

Website -https://profgrantschofield.com/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/grant-schofield-32512728/

X - https://x.com/grantsnz

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Prof.Grant

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@PREKURE

Support the Podcast

If you found this conversation valuable, consider subscribing and leaving a review on your preferred podcast platform. Your feedback helps us continue to bring you insightful discussions on important health topics.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.