Dot to Dot Behind the Person

Fiona Murden

About

Join award-winning author and psychologist Fiona Murden in the Dot to Dot podcast - connecting the dots on what makes you, you.

Listen as we explore self-development through a science-backed approach, hearing from interesting people across all walks of life, 'role models and real models' sharing their lived experience. We talk to leaders - across industries, from all over the world - about behavior and the mind. How can behavioral science impact your personal and professional development?

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91 episodes

Breaking Barriers: A Journey of Resilience and Inclusion in Sports with Zoiey Smale

Zoiey is a trailblazing inclusion activist who has made significant contributions to the world of sports. With over 20 years of experience in the industry, she has worked her way up from being an athlete to becoming a highly respected inclusion consultant. In 2017, Grazia magazine recognized her as one of the top Black British influential figures in the UK. Zoeiy's journey is one of unwavering determination and resilience. She shares insightful anecdotes and personal experiences, highlighting the importance of embracing one's identity and advocating for inclusivity in sports and beyond. Throughout the episode, Zoeiy also reflects on the challenges she's faced, from childhood encounters with racism to navigating gender biases in the sports industry. Her candid insights shed light on the importance of creating inclusive spaces and challenging societal norms. Zoeiy's dedication to promoting diversity and inclusivity, her impact on the industry is undeniable.    For more from Zoeiy you can find her at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoiey-smale/ To find out more about Oka and how we can help to improve DEI within your work place go to: https://www.oka.life https://www.oka.life/

1h 0m
Mar 21
Empowering Women: A Journey of Personal Growth and Social Impact with Lola Olaore

Through her work with bloss.m, Lola is breaking barriers for underrepresented groups in the workplace and addressing systemic obstacles to success. She emphasizes the importance of mentorship, personal growth, and self-awareness in achieving long-term goals. Join us as we explore Lola's impactful journey, her commitment to empowering women and girls, and the transformative power of mentorship and self-reflection. Lola radiates warmth and inspiration, illuminating every room she enters or, in this case, every airwave she graces. With her fearless approach to life's journey, she charts paths less traveled, guiding others along the way and encouraging others to discover their true potential. We can all learn from Lola's insights and be inspired to make a difference in our own life and the lives of others. For more from Lola go to https://www.linkedin.com/in/lolaolaore/    

51m
Mar 07
Want to know how to be happier? Dr. Russ Harris has the answers

For more from us go to: https://oka.life or https://fionamurden.com  For more from Dr Russ Harris go to: https://www.actmindfully.com.au  https://www.actmindfully.com.au Or find him on YouTube at  @dr.russharris-acceptanceco972      

50m
Dec 14, 2023
Motherhood, Innovation and Personal Growth with Garrett Wood

In this episode we discuss the complexity of taking care of yourself and a newborn, and explore the unique challenges and experiences that come with motherhood. As Garrett shares her own experiences, she also delves into the products that made a difference in her life and how she and her family decided to create a company to provide solutions for other moms. Garrett shares that “The early stages of postpartum life redefined the word “comfort” for me and now I'm on a mission to help others get cozy while doing the hard things including but not limited to parenting, birthing and business building.”   She also touches upon the need for support and understanding in those critical moments, emphasizing the role of men as allies in this journey. This is something that we’re all too aware of at Oka, as well as matching women to mentors who have been through similar experiences (like for example returning to work after having a baby) we guide the allies (e.g. male colleagues, partners) in how to provide the best support while also looking after themselves.    Prior to kozēkozē and motherhood, Garrett wrote and published a novel based-on-true events from her own life called, "Dare To Move." She also hosts the kozēkozē podcast where we bring in experts doing the hard things, like birth and business, to share their vulnerable stories on business and self-development.  Garrett’s first career was in real estate development and she helped with the US rollout of Caffè Nero. Her love of fitness guided her to teach at Shred415 in Chicago and also Barry’s Bootcamp in Boston for 7 years.   Join us for this insightful episode as we explore the challenges and opportunities that come with motherhood, entrepreneurship and personal growth.   To find Garrett’s products go to:    https://www.kozekoze.com https://www.kozekoze.com/   To sign up to Oka where we can help you back on your journey to fulfilling your potential in a way that fits or to support another woman through your own experience please sign up to   https://oka.life/waitlistpage  

58m
Nov 09, 2023
Daring to Dream & Unveiling Olympians' Hidden Stories - with Michelle Griffith Robinson OLY

In our conversation, we delve into the essence of Michelle’s beliefs, emphasizing the importance of seeking support when needed and shattering the stereotype that Olympians must always be infallible. At the heart of our discussion is the recognition of the 'whole person' behind every champion. Michelle's perspective is firmly rooted in the value of hard work, as she aptly puts it, "You might be a natural at languages, math, or even athletics, but beneath it all, there's still a need to put in the effort."   And she also acknowledges that her own story and the stories of countless other successes go far beyond mere talent and effort. Embracing vulnerability and reaching out for help when necessary is, as she believes, a hallmark of strength. She articulates this beautifully by saying, "Being strong, in my very humble opinion, is accepting the need to raise your hand and say to those closest to you, 'I need support today.'" In her own words, she humbly states, "I'm not just an Olympic medalist; I am a girl who dared to dream." Daring to dream and unwavering tenacity are the driving forces that carry champions through the toughest times, "when it's hard, when you're injured, when you stumble, when you feel you can't go on."   Michelle also encourages each of us to discover our unique sources of joy and pursue them with unwavering determination. She shares her own daily life as an example of what this entails.   This episode is a genuine wellspring of inspiration, featuring a truly remarkable woman.     To find Michelle go to:    https://michellegriffithrobinsonoly.co.uk https://michellegriffithrobinsonoly.co.uk/   To join the Oka waitlist and find a mentor or coach to support you on your journey go to   https://oka.life/waitlist    

49m
Oct 26, 2023
Social media's impact on children's development with Dr. Sebastian Kurten

In our discussion, we delve into how social media affects adolescent well-being across diverse societies and demographics. With his background in social work, Sebastian sheds light on the intricate interplay between individual differences and societal context, offering a holistic perspective on this complex issue. We explore the nuanced impact of social media on adolescent mental health. While research indicates a small negative impact on average, we delve into the vulnerabilities that adolescents face during the transition from childhood to adulthood, when social media's influence can be most pronounced. The discussion extends to how social media affects children's development, and we emphasize the need for empirical data to hold social media platforms accountable for hosting abusive content. Social media regulation is a hot topic, and we explore the challenges it presents. Sebastian highlights the importance of thoughtful policy changes and societal action, especially in the global South, to address issues beyond individual control. Workplace pressure is another pressing issue. We examine how excessive pressure can erode trust and lead to mental health strain among healthcare workers, especially in child protection services which has a broader knock on impact. To sign up to the Oka mentoring app follow this link: https://oka.life/waitlistpage 

55m
Oct 12, 2023
Transforming Your Journey to Success with Dr. Gurnek Bains

Discover practical strategies to savour every step of your personal and professional growth, no matter how big or small so that you end your working life with no regrets. Whether you're leading a global corporation or tending to your garden.   "A series of studies have shown this….when you ask people at the end of their working lives to look back, 'What are the main regrets or lessons or advice that you would have for others?' And three things emerge, typically, and are really quite significantly ahead of all the other kinds of regrets." __ __ MENTORSHIP AS A CATALYST: But here's the most exciting part for me. When it comes to embracing risk and crafting your legacy, mentorship is a powerful and positive way to achieve both. Mentors guide you in taking those leaps of faith, and they inspire you to envision the lasting impact you can create. And being a mentor also allows you to enjoy your own journey more and ensure that you’re passing on your learning and legacy to the next generation. Join the Oka waitlist https://oka.life/waitlistpage/ to be part of our psychologically backed mentoring.  BIOGRAPHY Gurnek Bains was born in Bhangal, a relatively poor village in the north of India. Although his parents and three sisters slept in one room with no electric lighting, Gurnek’s father grew up believing that they shouldn’t be as poor as they were. He dedicated himself to bettering his family’s life chances and became school principle at the age of 32. When he and the rest of Gurnek’s family eventually moved to the UK, he worked multiple jobs and always encouraged his children to learn. Watching his parents make huge sacrifices, Gurnek developed what he described as a huge “compensatory drive”. He managed to make it into grammar school and after many years of hard work went on to earn a PhD in social psychology at Oxford University. While he first practised as a clinical psychologist, it wasn’t long until Gurnek moved into business psychology and set up Britain’s first consultancy dedicated to harnessing the power of psychology, YSC. Two decades later he and his colleagues had built YSC from a company of two to employing over 250 people in over 25 offices around the world, and were working with over half the FTSE 100. His company became known as one of the best for driving performance, improving cultures and unleashing the power of potential at work. To be “YSC’ed” became a familiar verb in business circles around the world. Gurnek has always been interested in how psychology can serve society as well as business. While he continues his consulting work at his smaller boutique firm, Global Future https://globalfuturepartners.com, he also leads its sister think tank NOUS  https://globalfuturepartners.com/nous/ and works privately with a number of senior political figures. He has written two books; ‘Meaning Inc.’, which explores how to build meaning and purpose into work, and ‘Cultural DNA’, a book dedicated to helping people empathise with different cultures. He also regularly contributes as a writer and commentator to Psychology Today. Gurnek is hugely grateful to the UK for the opportunities it has given him, and feels a strong need to give something back. Over recent years he has become dedicated to helping people understand how we can navigate the turbulence of modern society with purpose and investment, with our mental wellbeing intact and ultimately, with optimism.      

44m
Sep 28, 2023
The Art of Storytelling in Major League Baseball with Andrew Patterson and Peri Kadaster

In this episode, we embark on Andrew's incredible journey into the world of social media and sports. From the fast-paced business of sports streaming to the art of storytelling in the realm of Major League Baseball, we uncover the secrets of connecting with diverse audiences. But that's not all. We delve into the transition from professional athlete to entrepreneur and explore personal development gems. Andrew shares insights on finding the right job, the ever-evolving journey of self-awareness, and the power of learning from mistakes. Join us for a thought-provoking conversation that promises valuable takeaways for your own journey. To find out more about progressing your personal growth with the help of a mentor or to be a mentor find us at Oka Life https://oka.life. 

54m
Sep 14, 2023
Cultural Alchemy: Decoding Trends, Brands, and Society with Brand Maven - Michael Schneider

Schneider’s journey will resonate particularly with those navigating the entrepreneurial realm, where challenges and triumphs often intertwine. Refreshingly Schneider CHALLENGES THE CONVENTIONAL MINDSET THAT SUCCESS BREEDS HAPPINESS, ADVOCATING FOR A SHIFT FROM "HAVE, DO, BE" TO "BE, DO, HAVE." FINDING CONTENTMENT WITHIN, PROPELLING PURPOSEFUL ACTIONS, AND ALLOWING REWARDS TO NATURALLY FOLLOW. Schneider describes how with age, the entrepreneurial journey becomes a dance with escalating stakes. He highlights the crucial interplay between challenges and mental well-being and underscores the power of faith, whether in oneself or the universe, as a resilient foundation against life's uncertainties. IN THE PURSUIT OF SUCCESS, SCHNEIDER SPOTLIGHTS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF VALUING RELATIONSHIPS. He counters the corrosive nature of comparison, advocating for a focus on authentic impact and in finding solace in outward focus. BY EXTENDING KINDNESS AND SUPPORT TO OTHERS, HE HAS EXPERIENCED PERSONAL GROWTH. WHILE HE ACKNOWLEDGES PERSONAL MILESTONES HE ALSO UNDERSCORES THE PROFOUND FULFILMENT DERIVED FROM AIDING OTHERS ON THEIR JOURNEYS. MENTORSHIP ALSO EMERGES AS A GUIDING LIGHT IN SCHNEIDER'S NARRATIVE. LEARNING FROM THOSE WHO'VE TRODDEN SIMILAR PATHS MITIGATES AVOIDABLE MISSTEPS. HE EMPHASIZES THE TRANSFORMATIONAL POWER OF TRANSLATING MENTORSHIP INTO ACTIONABLE STEPS.    

47m
Aug 31, 2023
Zebras fix what unicorns break with Esme Verity

Esme Verity supports founders, those who are 'Zebras'. The insights she shares throw light on to a world which favours a cookie cutter approach to success, even within the area of start-ups where our expectation may be different. Fiona explores Esme’s journey and the interesting experience she’s gained on “building a business that doesn't fit into this mainstream mould that we now have, a sort of Silicon Valley mould.” Why by investors looking only for businesses that offer a 10x return on investment leads to so many startups that are critical to the world being disregarded and left struggling to survive.  Esme ran an antique jewellery business from the age of 18 and throughout university. When she left, she sought funding to help grow that business, and that’s when she was thrown into the world of Venture Capital. The VC world is very much focussed on finding the next unicorn business, something that’s going to grow incredibly big, very quickly. But Esme explains how she thinks that this reflects ‘a very limited definition of ambition’ and just ‘because you don't want to build a huge giant business doesn't make you not ambitious, it just means that you want something different.’ Wanting to do things differently and support the diversity of people within the start-up world, not just the unicorns, Esme has been on a mission ever since to advance her understanding of alternative approaches to growing a business that’s sustainable and to share that knowledge with others.  Esme teaches about alternative funding and has worked with hundreds of purpose-driven start-ups, non-profits and governments to help democratise access to alternative funding sources.  Prior to founding Considered Capital, she was Director of Chapters at Zebras Unite, an international and intersectional hybrid cooperative dedicated to creating new financial instruments for the next economy. Esme is an active angel investor and was named one of the Top 100 Women in Social Enterprise by Pioneers Post. Esme is the founder of Considered Capital, https://www.consideredcapital.io/ a platform for start-ups and organisations seeking alternative funding. Considered Capital simplifies and speeds up the journey to finding and accessing the right funding fit through courses, community and content.     To find Esme go to Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/esme-verity-33213183/?originalSubdomain=uk or her website Considered Capital https://www.consideredcapital.io/ For Zebras Unite click here  https://zebrasunite.coop For more from Fiona and her startup Oka click here https://oka.life.  

50m
Mar 26, 2023
Reconstructing a face and the journey through medicine - with surgeon Mr Bhavin Visavadia

Bhavin Visavadia is a senior and experienced Consultant Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon and Clinical Leader. He is a surgical educator teaching around the world and was a member of Council of the British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (BAOMS). He was also Chairman of the Consultants and Specialists Group here. Bhavin has the position of Regional Director for London (NW) at the Royal College of Surgeons of England. He is also President of the Oral Surgery Club of Great Britain   Bhavin qualified in medicine and dentistry at King’s College London and undertook his specialist surgical training at Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead, Royal Surrey County Hospital in Guildford and Guy’s and King’s College Hospitals, London. Bhavin is highly committed to surgical training supporting mentoring and pro-actively engaging with the development of surgeons, doctors, nurses and dentists.   For more on opportunities to get involved in mentoring or to be mentored go to:   https://oka.life https://oka.life/   For more from Fiona go to: https://fionamurden.com https://fionamurden.com/

52m
Mar 10, 2023
Ask Fiona - What does stepping outside your comfort zone actually mean?

For more on the Comfort Zone go to my book Defining You - Build Your Unique Personal Profile and Unlock Your True Potential https://bit.ly/DefiningYou2ndEd

21m
Feb 26, 2023
Simple as Hannah - with soldier Hannah Roberts

Hannah has observed the pop-culture messaging of "love yourself”, “reduce stress”, “avoid burnout”, “safe spaces”, “take it easy”, and “hack culture". All of which are promoted with good intentions. However, Hannah is passionate that these messages lead to adverse outcomes. Because of her diverse experience and when looking through the prism of a female soldier (or those taking on demanding physical challenges) Hannah promotes tremendous success by doing the opposite. Hannah is on a mission (pun intended) to convince people to SEEK OUT DISCOMFORT, to take a leap of faith when feeling overwhelmed by emotions and CONTINUALLY ACTION THEIR GOALS. Hannah’s simple strategies and lived experience can cut through some noise, helping all walks of life!   Hannah's Bio:  At the tender age of 18, Hannah joined the army and has served for 12 years, including two operational tours in Afghanistan. During this time,Hannahhas lived in Germany, worked for NATO, and was also privileged to serve the late Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on ceremonial duties, including Garden Parties, Diplomatic Receptions, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s wedding and the late Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh funeral.Hannah's versatility extends beyond military service. She is also a skilled ski instructor and has participated in various adventure training activities, including parachuting and a military competition where she carried 40 pounds of weight over 40 miles. Also, Hannah placed 2nd in her age and gender group in the military section of an Ironman competition. Her passion for personal growth and resilience has led her to establish Simple as Hannah, where she hopes to help individuals enhance their health and well-being, build their stress tolerance, and reach their full through regular exposure to discomfort with simple and actionable protocols to help along the way. With her unique combination of military discipline and physical challenges,Hannah is well-equipped to guide others on their journey of self-discovery and growth.   For more about Hannah please go to:  https://linktr.ee/simple_as_hannah For more from Fiona go to: https://fionamurden.com  

56m
Feb 10, 2023
Ask Fiona - Why do I lose motivation as the day goes on?

  The books I refer to are:   Mirror Thinking  https://bit.ly/mirrorthink   Defining You https://bit.ly/DefiningYou2ndEd   Other references made can be found in Defining You. 

27m
Feb 05, 2023
Award-winning author, podcaster and screenwriter - Giles Paley-Phillips

Giles is an award-winning author, podcaster and screenwriter. Giles' first novel for adults One Hundred and Fifty-Two Days come out in March 2020. Author of several books for children and two adult novels, with a third on the way. His book One Hundred and Fifty-Two Days has been adapted by Giles and Elizabeth Morris for Arclight Films and Future Artists Entertainment. Giles is the writer of six short films for Little Angel Theatre. Giles’ children’s books include The Fearsome Beastie, winner of The People's Book Prize 2012, Heart of Hawick Children's Book Award 2013, Bizziebaby Gold Award, The US Forward National Literary Award and Shortlisted for The Rotherham Children's Book Award 2012. Tamara Small and the Monsters' Ball is shortlisted for The People's Book Prize 2013. He has written several picture books, including Things You Never Knew About Dinosaurs, Princess Stay Awake and a collection of nonsense poetry.  Giles' is co-host and producer of the award-nominated Blank Podcast and regularly writes for Aquila Magazine. He’s also co-host of the ‘A Little Bit of Positive’ podcast with Julia Bradbury and co-host of ‘Things I forgot were good for me’ with Dr Radha Modgil. Giles lives with his wife and two sons in East Sussex To pledge for Gile’s next book go to:  https://unbound.com/books/gigantium/ To connect with Giles on Twitter go to: @eliistender10 For more from Fiona go to: https://fionamurden.com https://fionamurden.com/  

1h 4m
Jan 22, 2023
Award-winning conservation & wildlife artist - Sophie Green

So while Sophie’s subjects are animals, her ability to watch people and question why people are doing what they're doing, whether they're doing what they should be doing, or think they should be doing, or whether they're actually being kind of authentic to themselves must have influenced her ability to so accurately reflect not just the image of the animals but the emotion that comes with that. As she says herself: “It is impossible to admire the beauty of the natural world without also reflecting on its vulnerability.”  Sophie has dedicated her time and artistic work to raising awareness for issues surrounding animal welfare and the environment. Her art is magical, emotive and so realistic that it’s hard to believe it’s not a photograph stepping out of the canvas toward you. Sophie says: Throughout her career as a fine artist and since founding the online gallery and art store, Art Basket http://www.artbasket.co.uk/, Sophie has donated 10% of her profits to wildlife & conservation charities and has worked closely with foundations such as IFAW https://www.ifaw.org/uk, The David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation https://davidshepherd.org/ and Explorers Against Extinction https://explorersagainstextinction.co.uk/ to help to make a difference. In 2021, Sophie was awarded the ‘medal of excellence’ by the Artists for Conservation foundation for her outstanding work in the wildlife & conservation sphere. Sophie was also the winner of the Leisure Painter People's Choice Award 2020 and 2021, runner-up in the BBC Wildlife Magazine People’s Choice and was deemed ‘highly commended’ in prizes such as the Wildlife Artist of the Year competition, the Sketch for Survival Award and the Ashurst Emerging Artist Prize. In 2021, Sophie was selected to be one of 20 Artists to exhibit at COP26 in the Blue zone. To see some of Sophie’s brilliant work go to: https://www.sophiegreenfineart.com/ For more from me go to https://fionamurden.com  

45m
Jan 05, 2023
Might Bite The Secret Life of a Gambling Addict - with Patrick Foster

Fiona explores how gambling became a drug for Patrick. How the biggest thing for him was learning how to show his emotion, the importance of self-awareness. Patrick now works for Epic Risk Management which was formed in 2014, when the CEO of the company had ended up in prison, having attempted suicide, and stolen £434,000 from his employers, which was one of the world's biggest banks to fund his gambling addiction. Whilst he was in prison, he recognised that actually, he wasn't the only person who had suffered from an addiction of this kind who must have done things like he had done and ended up in the situation that he was. PATRICK SAYS THAT HE REALISED THAT THERE WERE A LOT OF ORGANISATIONS THAT DEALT WITH PEOPLE ONCE THEY'D KIND OF FALLEN OFF THE CLIFF BUT THAT THERE WEREN'T ENOUGH TRYING TO PREVENT IT IN THE FIRST PLACE. Patrick explains how gambling carries such stigma that what they try at his company is to try and break down those barriers and ultimately allow people to make more informed decisions, to understand how to spot signs in themselves and probably most importantly what to do if they do need help. Patrick’s book is called - Might Bite: The Secret Life of a Gambling Addict https://www.amazon.co.uk/Might-Bite-Secret-Gambling-Addict/dp/147299213X/ref=asc_df_147299213X/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=534859762239&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=11145129999799404266&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1007031&hvtargid=pla-1512092625767&psc=1&th=1&psc=1  

51m
Dec 14, 2022
Everyday spy - with former CIA agent Andrew Bustamante

We explore psychological profiling and how important it is to fit the right personality to the right operations and delve into the use of MBTI (Myers Briggs Type Indicator) as a tool used to help every officer in the CIA understand themselves. Andrew explains his view of the world as a former spy, that ‘every human being you meet is either a source or some kind of support asset or some kind of network capability.’ And we touch on various other topics such as the elite leader, elite surgeon, elite athlete or elite in any field who is perhaps less used to failure than the average joe, or more able to plough on in spite of failure. Andrew shares his view of this, that ‘their failure is not in their skill. Their failure is seen in the rate of alcohol abuse, that they have substance abuse, the divorce rates, the lack of sleep, the sociopathic tendencies, the psychopathic tendencies.’    More about Andrew   Andrew describes himself as an improvement junkie. He’s also a former covert CIA intelligence officer, US Air Force combat veteran, and Fortune 10 corporate advisor. He surrounds himself with knowledge, experiences, and people who help him grow and he look for opportunities to share what he’s learnt with others. For more from Andrew go to everydayspy.com  https://everydayspy.com   For more from Fiona go to www.fionamurden.com  /www.fionamurden.com    

55m
Nov 30, 2022
The real Alan Turing - with Dermot Turing

Fiona and Dermot discuss what Alan was really like, from his utter brilliance through to those areas that he was less adept. The truth about his relationships with a few close friends which stands in deep contrast to the portrait drawn of him as a loner, by Hollywood and many biographers. Of course we also talk about the people who impacted Alan Turing from shaping his thinking to the decisions he made. We also cover Dermot's own incredible career and how much Alan Turing influenced the course that he took.   Dermot Turing – like his celebrated uncle Alan Turing – was educated at Sherborne School and King’s College, Cambridge. After a doing a D.Phil in Genetics at Oxford, he concluded that scientific research was not for him, and moved into the legal profession. Dermot worked for the Government Legal Service and then the international law firm Clifford Chance, where he was a partner until 2014. His specialism was financial sector regulation, particularly the problems associated with failed banks, and financial market infrastructure. As well as writing and speaking, Dermot is a trustee of The Turing Trust https://turingtrust.co.uk/ and a Visiting Fellow at Kellogg College, Oxford. He continues his interest in the financial world. Dermot lives in Kippen in Stirlingshire. He is married with two sons, and as well as history his interests include cooking, gardening and opera. To read more about Dermot and find links to his books go to DermotTuring.com https://dermotturing.com   For Fiona's book that Dermot wrote an endorsement for click here Mirror Thinking - How Role Models Make Us Human  https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/mirror-thinking-9781472975805/  

57m
Nov 16, 2022
From the military to mindfulness - with Major Pat Burgess

Pat’s interest in Mental Health, Resilience and more specifically Mindfulness started in 2009, whilst on operations in Afghanistan.  He completed an Open University degree in Psychology after noticing the lack of a ‘therapeutic relationship’ between soldiers returning from operations and their counsellors.  He ran weekly online Mindfulness sessions throughout the COVID-19 period and continues to do so. Currently he is leading the implementation of Physical Attention Training (PAT), an innovative approach to bringing Mindfulness based coping strategies into the existing culture of physical training.    More about Major Burgess    Major Burgess was brought up in Wells, Somerset, joined the Army in September 1992 and started his career at The Second Royal Tank Regiment in Fallingbostel, Germany. He served with the regiment in Germany, Northern Ireland, Canada, Poland, Iraq and Afghanistan in a career that saw him from Trooper, through Tank Commander to Regimental Sergeant Major.  He was recently promoted to Major as Officer Commanding the Combat CIS School.    He was awarded an MBE in the 2020 New Year's Honours List in recognition of his tireless work in bringing mindfulness to Defence and has more recently been awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science (DSc) by Glasgow and Caledonian University. He is a member of the Defence Mindfulness Steering Group and his course content and delivery are endorsed by the Counselling and Psychotherapy Central Awarding Body (CPCAB).    For more on Major Burgess go to his website www.oneworldmindfulness.co.uk http://www.oneworldmindfulness.co.uk/   For more from me go to www.fionamurden.com  /www.fionamurden.com  

49m
Nov 02, 2022
The School of Life - with Sarah Stein Lubrano

We talk about having an ‘elite education’ and how when Sarah went to Harvard she ‘saw how the sausage is made’. “And by sausage, I mean, how elite people are made, and who runs the universe, so to speak.” Sarah also explains how through her studies at Oxford she has seen that “the way that political thinking is just not very much like other forms of thinking. It's deeply tied into our sense of who we are, whether we're good people. And not only that, but it's tied up in our sense that we need to kind of feel okay about the immediate opportunities for action available to us in the future.” We also discuss how the School of Life shaped Sarah’s thinking, whether there are ever any ‘new’ ideas as opposed to a reshaping of those that have existed sometimes for centuries, we explore nudges and the extent to which they are all that they are cracked up to be and many, many other topics.    MORE ABOUT SARAH.  Sarah is a writer, content strategist, learning designer, and researcher at Oxford University. Her academic research focuses on the role of emotion in political communication, and specifically on cognitive dissonance. Another string to her bow is that she’s the Head of Content Strategy at the Future Narratives Lab https://futurenarrativeslab.org/ where she works on projects related to policy and politics. She also serves on the Institute of Imagination’s Global Imagination Board https://ioi.london/people-category/global-imagination-board/. For many years she was also the Head of Content at The School of Life https://theschooloflife.com/, where she is still a faculty member and learning designer. To read more about Sarah click her to go to her website.  https://www.sarahsteinlubrano.com For more from us go to: www.fionamurden.com  /www.fionamurden.com or www.oka.life  /www.oka.life    

47m
Oct 19, 2022
Guys who get it - the men of the women's movement with Dr Michael Kimmel

Kimmel is an Emeritus Professor of Sociology and Gender Studies at Stony Brook University. Among his many books are  and the best seller . With funding from the MacArthur Foundation, he founded the Center for the Study of Men and Masculinities at Stony Brook in 2013. He has delivered the International Women’s Day annual lecture at the European Parliament, the European Commission and the Council of Europe, and has worked with the Ministers for Gender Equality of Norway, Denmark and Sweden in developing programs for boys and men. He consults widely with corporations, NGOs and public sector organizations on gender equity issues.  For more from Michael go to www.michaelkimmel.com  /www.michaelkimmel.com For more from Fiona go to www.fionamurden.com  /www.fionamurden.com  

53m
Oct 05, 2022
From Singapore to Soho House – the journey of Creative Director Nabil Aliffi

I’ve been wanting to record an episode with Nabil for ages, but there simply hasn’t been time. He moved from one fast paced role to another most recently holding the position of Global Chief Creative Officer at Soho House. I’m pleased to say that finally he’s taking a breather (although even that involves a course at Harvard University) so I caught him just long enough to share his story with you.  We talk about his fascinating background growing up in Singapore with the expectations that loomed over him. He shares a point where he felt he had failed, the shame that he experienced and the reflection that ensued in what some may consider unusual circumstances – in the jungle during 2 years military service. Nabil’s creativity started early in life but was further ignited by time spent at London College of Fashion, followed by roles held with three globally iconic brands – Urban Outfitters, Selfridges and most recently (at the tender age of 28) the position at Soho House.    Nabil is hungry for growth, deeply committed to continually stretching himself and explains in simple terms how earlier on in life a lack of role-models while pursuing the creative route was hard…  But also, how having role-models as an adult enables him to craft his career with even more care.    https://bit.ly/MirrThink For more from me go to:  https://fionamurden.com https://fionamurden.com/  

1h 4m
Jul 08, 2022
How much does friendship really matter - with Lydia Denworth

Amongst other things we discuss the impact of having a family on friendship, the devastating outcomes associated with social isolation and the issue of avoiding the difficult conversations that could improve friendships.    Denworth is a contributing editor at and the author of , which was named one of the best leadership books of 2020 by Adam Grant and called “the best of science writing” by . She is also co-author, with Dana Suskind, of the bestseller , and has written two other books of popular science: and . Her work has also appeared in , , , , and many other publications. She lives in Brooklyn, New York with her family.   For more about Lydia and her work – here is the link to Lydia's books page https://lydiadenworth.com/books/.    For more from me go to www.fionamurden.com http://www.fionamurden.com/      

1h 3m
Jul 08, 2022
You are more resilient than you think - with Professor George Bonanno

I first came across George Bonanno’s work when I was struggling with the death of my Dad 10 years ago. His first book, the Other Side of Sadness helped me to reframe what I was experiencing in an incredibly helpful way and I have since bought it numerous times to comfort other people. One of the things I found most intriguing was how concepts such as the Kubler Ross model of the stages of grief are not actually scientifically founded. In other words we’re clinging on to a model that is made up and doesn’t actually reflect how most people respond. So, I was really excited to have the opportunity to speak to him. In this episode we talk about how resilience works and George’s most recent book The End of Trauma (which in spite of the title is relevant to anyone and everyone). We discuss how normal resilience actually is and how our expectations of traumatic responses come from studying the more severe clinical cases rather than how the ‘average’ person responds.  George was not only in New York during the 9/11 attacks but actually went down to the site to help so he doesn’t just speak from a scientific perspective but from one lived and breathed himself. But another perhaps surprising yet true fact is that we hugely over-estimated the number of people who would suffer from trauma even as a result of that horrific event. Why, well people are overwhelmingly resilient to adversity. What we often interpret as PTSD are signs of a natural process of learning how to deal with a specific situation. We can cope far more effectively if we understand how this process works, which we also discuss.    Bio - Dr. George Bonanno is a professor of psychology, chair of the department of counseling in clinical psychology, and director of the Loss, Trauma, and Emotion Lab at Teachers College Columbia University.  Website: www.tc.columbia.edu/LTElab/ Twitter: @giorgiobee    For more from me go to:  https://fionamurden.com https://fionamurden.com/ https://bit.ly/MirrThink My book Defining You - How to Build Your Unique Personal Profile and Unlock Your True Potential can be found at via these links and in all good book stores: https://bit.ly/DefiningYou2ndEd

50m
Jun 24, 2022
How to handle difficult emotions - with Dr. Anna Colton

We also discuss the subtlety of understanding our mental health and emotions. Giving in too much can actually lead to a dangerous negative spiral, but how it’s equally damaging to ignore our distress or negative feeling feelings or not have any support in processing them. Psychology, the brain and behaviour are incredibly nuanced. Anna explains how being able to name our emotions and have a broad vocabulary for them can be surprisingly effective. She for example took it upon herself to find an array of words for anger (which by the way it’s OK to feel, just not to act on – another nuance we chat about) which you can find below. Anna also explains how critical it is to build our own personal toolkit so that we have the right tools for different emotional responses in different contexts.  For more on Dr. Anna go to:  www.dranna.co.uk http://www.dranna.co.uk/ For more from me go to: www.fionamurden.com http://www.fionamurden.com/   Anna’s list of angry words are below:  Angry Annoyed Affronted Agitated Antagonised Bitter  Cantankerous Cross Chafed Convulsed Choked Choleric Churlish Crotchety Disagreeable Displeased Enraged  Exasperated Furious Fuming Ferocious  Fiery  Fractious  Fretful  Galled Grumpy  Grouchy Huffy Hacked off Hot Heated  Impatient Incensed Incandescent Indignant Ill-humoured Ill-tempered  Irritable Irate  Irritated Irascible Inflamed Infuriated  Ireful Irked Livid Mad Maddened Miffed Narked Narkey Nettled  Outraged  Offended Peeved Petulant Pissed Pissed off  Piqued Provoked  Put out Raging  Ranting Ratty Raving  Resentful  Riled  Sore Splenic Snappy Storming Sullen Sulky  Stewing  Tetchy  Testy  Turbulent  Terrifying  Tumult Wrathful  Vexed   

45m
Jun 10, 2022
The Fight for Gender Equality - with Giulia Iannucci

Founder of KnowThyBrand, Giulia is a social entrepreneur dedicated to helping women in business to build sustainable ventures and career paths. She is mother of three boys who she is bringing up to respect women and bring their attention to what women can achieve “It’s as important for boys to see women can do anything as it is to see men doing anything.” She role-models this approach in all she does and says, which is underpinned by both her drive for social justice and her ever inquisitive approach to understanding the world and her place in it.  Giulia’s social enterprise KnowThyBrand is committed to enabling women to build sustainable businesses and career paths through strategic branding and effective gender inclusion solutions. Their values, the guiding principles that shape everything we do as a social enterprise are: EQUALITY – We believe in social equality and support women’s equality and empowerment as part of the solution. EQUITY – We recognise that each person has different circumstances and that different resources and opportunities are needed to reach the same outcome. SISTERHOOD – We believe in the collective power of women working together and consistently inspiring each other to achieve their highest potential.   For more from Giulia go to: https://knowthybrand.com https://knowthybrand.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/giulia-iannucci/   For more from me go to:  https://fionamurden.com https://fionamurden.com/   https://bit.ly/MirrThink My book Defining You - How to Build Your Unique Personal Profile and Unlock Your True Potential can be found at via these links and in all good book stores: https://bit.ly/DefiningYou2ndEd            

49m
May 27, 2022
What neuroscience tells us about autism in children - with Dr. Wu Nordahl

We discuss the importance of this type of longitudinal research (i.e. research that involves repeated observations of the same variables over periods of time) in understanding how the brain develops in children who have autism and other neurodevelopmental disabilities. As well as exploring Dr. Wu Nordahl’s findings we also explore why there is less research carried out on girls and non-binary children with autism. With regard to girls this is in part because of their tendency to mask their natural tendencies and preferences socially meaning it’s less often diagnosed, as a result research has predominantly been carried out on boys with autism. Dr. Wu Nordahl has worked really hard to improve the ratio of males to females in her cohorts helping to advance our understanding of some of the neurological nuances the sex differences represent.   Christine’s research program at the UC Davis MIND Institute utilizes structural and functional MRI scans to study brain development in autism across the life span. Since 2006, she has led neuroimaging efforts of the Autism Phenome Project and Girls with Autism - Imaging of Neurodevelopment study, two integrated longitudinal, interdisciplinary studies aimed at identifying clinically meaningful subtypes of autism. She is particularly committed to evaluating the entire autism spectrum, including girls with autism as well as the entire range of intellectual abilities. In 2021, she and her team initiated NeuroTeens, a social support group for neurodivergent girls and non-binary teens.  

52m
May 13, 2022
The Art of Insubordination with Dr. Todd Kashdan

Todd Kashdan is leading expert on the psychology of well-being, curiosity, psychological strengths, mental agility, and social relationships. His research has been featured in the Harvard Business Review, New York Times, and Forbes amongst many other publications. In 2010, he received the Distinguished Faculty Member of the Year Award at George Mason University and in 2013, he received the Distinguished Early Career Researcher Award by the American Psychological Association. Todd Kashdan is a leading expert on the psychology of well-being, curiosity, mental flexibility, and social relationships. His latest book,  https://toddkashdan.com/the-art-of-insubordination/is for anyone who wants to see more justice, creativity & innovation in the world. He is also the author of Curious?, The Upside of Your Darkside, and Designing Positive Psychology.  Todd’s work is right at the front of my first book Defining You https://bit.ly/DefiningYou2ndEd opening with how to keep your mind as open and flexible as possible in order to explore your own story. I approached Todd for permission to include his curiosity inventory and he very generously said yes.  Todd has done some fantastic work from research to writing and his website https://toddkashdan.com/ https://toddkashdan.com/media/ is really worth exploring.  We discuss ageism and how Todd says that he obsesses over social norms that are dysfunctional. Take for example Silicon Valley rebuffing the idea of giving anyone over the age of 25 a second look for job opportunities. How we don’t have a cultural respect for our elders like in Asian cultures and if we did we that maybe we’d gain wisdom from the people right there in our families rather than having to refer to books. But Todd also raises how ageism is directed both ways – the older generations can dismiss the younger or refuse to learn and be inflexible to changes that are coming through. We need more cross-pollination of intergenerational thinking.  We discuss false information and Todd explains how “THE INFORMATION THAT WE’RE FIRST EXPOSED TO IS RARELY RIGHT WHEREVER THAT’S FROM” yet we tend to take the view of people we perceive as socially attractive, and dismiss those who are not. When coming to a ‘point of view’ Todd encourages us all to stop and ask ourselves these questions:  __ __ By doing this we show intellectual humility, curiosity and perspective taking helping to play our part in making the world a better place to be.   Todd recently published a piece on ‘The 10 principles for having constructive conflict in organisations’. Something we need to do if we’re to ensure diversity. We discuss how important this is in boardrooms to classrooms and Todd emphasizes how important it is to “ALLOW PEOPLE TO DISAGREE EVEN AS MINORITIES OF ONE, NOT BECAUSE THEY MIGHT BE RIGHT BUT JUST BECAUSE IT ALLOWS EVERYONE TO SEE LIKE ‘OH MAYBE WE ARE PREMATURELY CLOSING ON ONE VIEWPOINT TOO QUICKLY.’” When it comes to the learning Todd comments on the strange societal attitude we have to learning. “And poses the question to you the listener of “What is the fundamental list of life skills that everyone should learn?” I’d love to know your thoughts.     

43m
Apr 29, 2022
Presenter and Producer - Tim Lovejoy

Tim has been presenting on live weekend TV for over 16 years and with over 1500 hours under his belt. He first became well known for hosting and producing Sky Sports football show Soccer AM over the course of eleven years. The show steadily grew in popularity and enjoyed cult viewing status - much is said to be much down to Tim's “dry wit and sense of humour”. After this he joined BBC Radio 5 Live as the Wednesday night host of a football show. He was on Celebrity Master Chef in 2011, has been a guest presenter on Blue Peter and co-presented the Sunday morning TV programme Something for the Weekend on BBC2. Tim also has a podcast called The Lovejoy Hour (I’ve even been a guest). The link for his podcast is below. You can tune into watch Tim on Channel4 (in the UK) 9.30am-11.30am every Sunday morning.    https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-lovejoy-hour/   For more from me follow these links:  https://bit.ly/MirrThink My book Defining You - How to Build Your Unique Personal Profile and Unlock Your True Potential can be found at via these links and in all good book stores globally: https://bit.ly/DefiningYou2ndEd   /www.instagram.com/fiona_murden https://twitter.com/fionamurden https://facebook.com/fionamurden    

1h 15m
Mar 18, 2022