In this episode I speak with the host and creator of the Grind Diaries. TheGrind Diaries Podcast dives into the relentless pursuit of excellence, exploring the mindset, struggles, and victories of high performers. Through raw conversations, it uncovers the sacrifices, resilience, and grit behind success, offering insights and motivation for those pushing boundaries in business, sports, and personal growth. you can find the Grind Diaries Podcast here:https://www.grinddiaries.co.uk/ and here:https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/grind-diaries/id1736072345
I hope you enjoy the episode.
Welcome to this episode of Restore with Eoin Walker, where we take a moment to reflect on the experiences, challenges, and growth that come with a career in paramedicine. As paramedics, we’re privileged to care for people during some of the most vulnerable and difficult moments of their lives. This privilege carries profound meaning, but it also comes with unique emotional demands.
In this conversation, we explore the essence of resilience—what it truly means, whether our current definitions serve us well, and if we’re framing it in the right way to support those on the front lines of care. We’ll also delve into the aggregation of vicarious trauma, the cumulative impact of witnessing human suffering, and how it shapes us over time.
But this episode isn’t just about challenges—it’s about growth. We’ll discuss post-traumatic growth, the idea that adversity and trauma can lead to personal transformation and a renewed sense of purpose. Our guests Keir Rutherford and Lisa Burrell unpack these questions and reflect on their fundamental journeys in the profession.
Whether you’re in the field, supporting someone who is, or simply interested in the emotional landscape of emergency care, this episode offers reflections, insights, and a space to explore what it truly means to be resilient in the face of adversity.
Today, we’re joined by explorer, writer, and presenter Will Millard, whose incredible adventures have taken him to some of Earth's most remote and uncharted territories. From living with Indigenous tribes in Papua New Guinea to navigating the wild rivers of West Africa, Will has always sought to push the boundaries of exploration.
But behind the thrill of discovery lies a more personal story, a story of how the pressures and isolation of his extreme travels culminated in a diagnosis of PTSD. In this episode, we’ll dive into the emotional and mental toll of a life on the edge, and how Will has navigated his journey toward healing. We’ll discuss the unique challenges that come with extreme exploration, the impact it had on his mental health, and the lessons he’s learned about resilience, survival, and recovery.
Check out his content here:
https://www.willmillard.com/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will_Millard
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/Q24JrQYWGQTxswrrFCygBQ/will-millard
Will's fantastic blogs can be found here:
https://willmillardblog.wordpress.com/
In this episode we dive deep into the stories of transformation, resilience, and hope. Our guest, Nathan Hill, has walked a path few can imagine—facing expulsion from school at a young age, finding success in the music industry and working with some of the world's biggest DJ stars, to then battling addiction that nearly took his life. But Nathan's story doesn't end there. Through an unexpected spiritual awakening, he discovered a new purpose and a calling that has led him to help others in their drug addiction recovery journey.
In this episode, Nathan opens up about the darkest moments of his life, the turning points that brought him back from the brink, and the faith that drives him to make a difference. Whether struggling with addiction, searching for hope, or simply looking for an inspiring story, this conversation will leave you moved and uplifted. So join us as we explore the incredible story of Nathan Hill.
Links to references within the interview include:
Alcoholics Anonymous: https://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk/newcomers/get-help-now/ Cocaine Anonymous: https://www.cocaineanonymous.org.uk/ Narcotics Anonymous: https://ukna.org/
In this episode, we delve into the extraordinary and controversial case of Tom Hayes, the former trader at the heart of the Libor scandal. Libor, the London Interbank Offered Rate, significantly influences trillions of dollars in global financial products. The manipulation of this rate sent shockwaves through the industry, leading to widespread legal consequences. Tom Hayes, the first person convicted of manipulating Libor, faced a lengthy prison term. But the question remains: did justice prevail?
Today, we uncover the complexities of this high-stakes saga, from the initial accusations and rigorous investigations to the legal battles and the enduring impact on Tom's life. We'll explore allegations of a miscarriage of justice and the broader implications for the financial sector and legal framework. Join us as Tom Hayes himself recounts his personal journey in the financial realm, his trial, and his ongoing quest to clear his name—an inspiring narrative of resilience in the face of adversity. See the full story here:
https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/the-fall-guy-tom-hayes-libor-and-a-miscarriage-of-justice/
In this episode, we sit down with Inge Hunter, an inspiring entrepreneur who transformed her life from homelessness at 17 to becoming a successful business owner. Inge's journey is a testament to resilience and innovation, starting with selling cocktails on the streets and evolving into founding Clue Content.
We'll explore Inge's remarkable path, including her transition from mobile bars to wedding planning, her achievements in business consultancy, and her current focus on leveraging AI in marketing. The conversation will cover how she balanced entrepreneurship with motherhood and her passion for helping small businesses grow.
Throughout the interview, we'll delve into pivotal moments in Inge's life, discussing the challenges she faced and the strategies she employed to overcome adversity. We'll also touch on her personal interests outside of work and how they contribute to her well-being.
We highlight Inge's insights on resilience, adaptability, and personal growth, as well as practical advice for aspiring entrepreneurs. We conclude by exploring Inge's plans for Clue Content and her entrepreneurial ventures, offering inspiration for anyone looking to transform their circumstances and achieve success. You can find out more about Inge here: https://cluecontent.com/
In this episode, I will be speaking with Mercedes Johnson. In 1995, Mercedes Ramirez Johnson survived a commercial airplane crash that took the lives of 160 people, including her parents. As one of only four survivors, she vowed to make her second chance at life count. In the conversation we examine the seminal moment in Mercedes's life that changed everything, the 1995 plane crash. We also examine how ownership can increase mental fortitude, the impact one person can have in the world, finding renewed passion, awareness of inner motivators and utilising these, and finally looking at life through gratitude.
Mercedes is an internationally recognised speaker, her clients include some of America’s most respected organizations, such as General Electric, Verizon, PricewaterhouseCoopers, NASA, ExxonMobil, Chevron, and numerous higher education institutions and faith-based organisations. Before becoming a speaker, Mercedes spent nearly a decade in high-level sales in the pharmaceutical and medical software industries. As a record-breaking, multimillion-dollar producer, she became the youngest female and sole Latino account executive at Cerner Corporation. To see more of Mercedes work please see here: https://www.mercedesramirezjohnson.com/
In this episode, I will be speaking with Ani Naqvi. Ani is an Executive Transformation Expert and Mentor who guides leaders towards productivity, self-care, and finding purpose. Her remarkable experiences, including surviving the 2004 tsunami, have shaped her holistic approach to personal and professional growth. Ani's remarkable personal experiences of battling cancer, and surviving a tsunami, combined with her expertise in Executive Transformation, offer a unique perspective on finding purpose, cultivating resilience, and fostering positive intelligence. To find more about Ani's work, please see here:
https://ultimateresultsgroup.com/
Join me in this episode where I speak with Mike Donal. We unpack his journey through growing up, dropping out of school, drug use, mental health, self-harm, suicidal attempts, steroid use, sex, and mental health section in a hospital, all before 21 years old. We also look at Mike’s journey through the gym, alcohol, relationships, tattoos, and steroids.
Mike shares his 180-degree turn to cleaning everything up and influencing others for the better as well as his current revelations on health, faith, and a balanced mindset. We discuss the theme of selfishness and where that comes from, mental health issues such as addiction to pain and torment, self-harming, the gym, self-loathing and coping mechanisms, steroids, and the second-order effects of steroids.
Mike also talks about his children, Amber and Ezra, and how they played a significant role in his change. Join us as we unpack Mike's story and take-home messages
In this episode, I will be speaking with Jay Baldwin. At 26 Jay had suffered bilateral leg amputations from an IED whilst serving in the British army in Afghanistan. He was medically discharged from the UK military at 28, divorced at 32 and battled and won cancer at 33. Since being medically discharged from the Army, the dad of six has learned to walk on prosthetic limbs, has retrained as a fitness instructor and has truly inspired many. He is currently the UK’s only double amputee personal trainer.
To see more on Jay please see here:
https://twitter.com/NoLeggedNinja1
In this episode, I will be speaking with Joseph Tan. Joseph is the author of Good Monday Consulting, an executive management consultant, and Malaysia’s first Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach. Joseph consults and coaches both blue chip and governmental organizations through to startup companies towards developing a strengths-based culture. He leads coaching and cultural change within organizations at both governmental and local levels. He also works with leadership teams on the alignment of key workforce principles of motivation, mission, and momentum. Joseph is also a senior leadership consultant and coaches CEOs and executive leadership teams on authentic, aligned, and articulate leadership principles. In this conversation we tackle the concept of workplace fatigue, ‘quiet quitting’, and the degradation of morale within large segments of organizations. Other topics we cover in the conversation include:
· Defining the problem – ppl in vocational roles (roles that require moral decisions over financial ones) have lost the horizon of their calling.
· The reasons – varied and many (lay some of these out)
· The desired goal – alignment with passion
· Culture: restoration of balance – how to get there
· Concept of the three A’s of leadership
· Motivation
· How this is embodied in the staff and modeled
· Solutions Vs problems
· Final thoughts and take-home messages from Joseph
Good Monday Consulting can be found here:
You can also find Joseph on YouTube here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJM7Hy4Tgyc
My thanks to Joseph for an engaging and insightful interview.
In this episode, I am speaking with Alice Chun about her innovative creation of light boxes that are powered by solar light and created out of sustainable foldable material akin to an origami design. Currently, 1.6 billion people live without access to electricity and rely on kerosene to light their night. The solar lights that Alice has designed have won several product innovation accolades, been awarded two US utility patents, and lauded by leaders in design including MoMA, the modern museum of art. The company name is Solight and part of the product's USP is that Alice has utilised recyclable, biodegradable, light fabric and material technology, for ease of travel and to be stronger and more durable to withstand the most extreme weather conditions. The leverage of smart material technology has allowed Alice to design a power-free spectrum of light for homes without electricity. She recently visited and gifted many lights to citizens of Ukraine without power and light due to the Russian invasion.
Alice Chun is the founder and CEO of Solight Design and the inventor of SolarPuff, the world's only self-inflatable, portable solar light. She's won numerous awards, including the U.S. Patent Award for Humanity. Her products have been exhibited at MoMA in New York City. Alice is a former professor of architectural design and material technology at Columbia University and The Parsons School of design. and focusing her work on solar energy after learning her son had asthma. She invented ways to bring solar energy into everyday living, beginning to prototype an inflatable solar light in 2008. In 2010, following the Haiti earthquake, Alice shared her solar technology research with her class of design students to create a solar light solution that could be used immediately in disaster relief situations. This led to Alice designing the SolarPuff in 2011, based on origami techniques to create a cube that inflates on its own, without the requirement to be inflated by mouth, which can pass on germs. In 2015 she launched a company Solar Design and crowdfunded the SolarPuff, raising nearly half a million dollars. Her invention has been featured in Hillary Clinton's docuseries, "Gutsy," on Apple TV+ and is currently undergoing clinical trials. In 2022 she was voted Forbes impact 50/50 a list dedicated to spotlighting women over the age of 50 who are breaking age and gender norms across every sector of business, politics, the sciences, and society. And finally, in the same year, she was voted one of Marie Claire’s most influential women.
In the conversation we examine:
· Background on Alice and her history of architecture
· Inception story of Solight – The revelation and need Alice saw
· The challenges in setting Solight up as a business
· Spectrum of emotions Alice has been through
· Some of the media attention Solight has received
· Alice’s opportunity to visit Ukraine
· The current projects Alice has got on
· What Alice has learned through the process of scaling her business
· Final thoughts and take-home messages from Alice.
Solight can be found here: https://solight-design.com/products/solar-lantern-light-sensor-solarpuff
Alice Chun can be found here: https://www.forbes.com/profile/alice-min-soo-chun/?sh=52d764664255
My thanks to Alice for a fascinating and engaging interview.
This is the second part of the lecture series on building effective teams and dealing with difficult people. The concepts taught here involve models of teamwork (Action centred Leadership, the five dysfunctions of a team), trust - both as a concept and a pre-requisite, culture, homeostatic teams, and finally tools and techniques for fostering good teamwork.
In the second half of the podcast, we examine dealing with difficult people from the perspective of understanding the triggers, root cause analysis, rapport building, the energy investment model, the ELCR framework, self-awareness, humility, and insight. Some of the resources and models can be found here:
Energy investment model: https://careerresilience.wordpress.com/2021/06/03/how-are-you-investing-your-energy-in-times-of-change/
Action Centred Leadership: https://www.businessballs.com/leadership-styles/action-centred-leadership-john-adair/
The Five Dysfunctions of a team: https://tomorrowsleadership.nl/how-to-overcome-the-5-dysfunctions-of-virtual-teams/
Empathic communication: https://hbr.org/2022/08/4-ways-to-communicate-with-more-empathy
I hope you get something from this episode that you can use either within clinical practice or within general work-based situations. I'm always keen for feedback on sessions, please feel free to reach out to me at eoinwalker@hotmail.com - please also rate, review and subscribe to the podcast. This episode will be aired across the Pre-hospital Care Podcast and Restore Podcast platforms.
Many thanks,
Eoin
In this episode, I am talking with Seth Gillihan on his new book 'Mindful Cognitive Behavioural Therapy'. Seth is a clinical psychologist, best-selling author, podcast host, and creator of the Think Act Be Online School. He specializes in mindful cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). Seth is no stranger to the podcast and joined me in an earlier episode speaking on ‘The CBT Deck: 101 Practices to Improve Thoughts, Be in the Moment & Take Action in Your Life'.
In this conversation we dig into the origins of his new book; Mindful Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, the new level of vulnerability that he displays through his work, the Think, Act, Be model of living, mindfulness-centred CBT, the anatomy of CBT, and much more. Subjects we explore in the episode include:
The book can be found here and is an excellent read: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mindful-Cognitive-Behavioural-Therapy-Healing/dp/1399805363
He also runs the 'Think, Act, Be' podcast that can be found here: https://sethgillihan.com/podcasts/
Please enjoy this episode with a friend and fellow podcaster.
In this episode, I examine the art of active listening. It is a slightly different episode and one of a number to come where I give a series of lectures. In this episode I wanted to do two things:
1. Build awareness of the factors that affect our listening ability.
2. Build and create conditions that can produce good listening habits.
One of the main problems is caused by the fact that we think much faster than we talk. The average rate of speech for most of us is around 125 words per minute. In contrast, we process and think at about 800 words a minute. This is a fundamental mismatch that can cause a deficit in receiving information. The human brain is made up of more than 13 billion cells and operates in such a complicated but efficient manner that it makes any comparison to computers seem insignificant. It might seem logical to slow down our thinking when we listen so as to coincide with the 125-word-per-minute speech rate, but slowing down thought processes seems to be a very difficult thing to do. When we listen, therefore, we continue thinking at high speed while the spoken words arrive at low speed. In the act of listening, the differential between thinking and speaking rates means that our brain works with hundreds of words in addition to those that we hear, assembling thoughts other than those spoken to us. The latency of this mismatch is often taken up by internal dialogue rather than integration of the spoken, but more importantly, inferred meaning behind words. In this episode I examine:
The definition of active listening.
The 'classic' example - one which we all fall prey to.
The anatomy of the received message.
The why and what of ‘Active Listening.
Triple-A listening (what triple-A listening actually is).
Kinesthetics of listening – what it feels like to be heard amongst other aspects.
Models of active listening: Four ears of communication, the communication triangle.
The power of silence
The quality of listening - The hierarchy of active listening
Chunking information as an adjunct to active listening
Closed loop communication
The power of agreement
Please let me know what you think of the content at eoinwalker@hotmail.com and also feel free to recommend future topics. Please also feel free to rate and review the podcast and I always welcome feedback.
In this episode, I will be speaking with Sarah on her reflections on growing up in Canada and is now based in Ohio in the US. Sarah suffered from abuse growing up as a child and what we wanted to do was to unpack her narrative, how it affected her, how she has coped and dealt with it, and indeed how she frames it now as an adult. I wanted to have this chat with Sarah as one of the primal mandates of this podcast is to have real and vulnerable discussions that can both help and reframe others’ perspectives of adversity and navigate through the adversity of abuse.
**Trigger warning** In this episode we touch on Sarah's recollections of abuse as a child, please be mindful that it contains some memories and depictions that might be difficult to hear. In the conversation we touch on a number of themes:
· The challenges that Sarah experienced growing up and the abuse, and how it shaped her youth.
· The spectrum of emotions that it brought with it.
· Navigating the stress physically and mentally retrospectively.
· The bleed-over into relationships and how it affected them, particularly her husband.
· Some of the methods of organic coping mechanisms and whether they worked or not.
· Counselling/therapy sessions that Sarah had.
· Forgiveness and the daily practice of forgiveness.
· What Sarah has learned through the whole process.
· Final thoughts and take-home messages from Sarah
If this episode resonated with you or a family member, there are a number of services that you can reach out to:
My thanks to Sarah for opening up and being prepared to have a truly honest and vulnerable conversation.
In this episode, I will be speaking with James Cornell on his recent venture and how the current climate of covid and the delayed fallout across the construction industry has left him with hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of debt. We will look at how he has coped through one of the most difficult times in his life, how he has navigated the real potential threat of liquidation, and how he has reframed his perspectives on opportunities and on business. We will discuss the construction material in question, new for Australia but old for Europe, and how the commercial industry in Australia has not quite adopted the transition to this material. I wanted to have this chat with James as one of the primal mandates of this podcast is to have real and vulnerable discussions that can both help and reframe others’ perspectives of adversity and navigate through adversity.
This material in question is a wood fiber-based insulation made from repurposed wood chips. Nearly 100 years old technology in Europe. It's a nontoxic and carbon-negative production cycle that keeps buildings cool in summer and warm in winter saves money on people's energy bills and can remove/reduce the risks of mold and condensation in buildings. A truly renewable and sustainable material.
If the episode resonates with you, please feel free to reach out to James at www.lifepanels.com or James@lifepanels.com
Please enjoy this honest reflection and conversation with a friend.
In this episode, I speak with three cardiac arrest survivors about their experiences and how they re-evaluate life after their cardiac arrest. These perspectives are both unique glimpses into how precious life is and are valuable lessons around turning the mundane into memorable moments whenever you get the chance. They are accounts from cardiac arrest survivors that either I have been to as a paramedic or colleagues have been to in the wider ambulance service. They all have a semblance of gratefulness and how fragile life can be, they all carry a profound perspective change and echo how important CPR (Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation) and the chain of survival are in their journey and recovery.
These unique stories are told by Noah, Zoe and Jerome - I hope their organic narratives both encourage you and help you to value life as we know it. please stay tuned for more content from the Restore Podcast coming soon.
Eoin
In this episode, I will be talking with Deborah Grassman, the author and creator of the concept of ‘Soul Injury’. Deborah is a VA Nurse Practitioner who took care of 10,000 dying veterans during her 30-year career. She is a TEDx presenter, author of two books, Peace at Last and The Hero Within. She is a contributing author for four textbooks, has 25 published articles, and there are five documentary films featuring her work. Deborah directs the Opus Peace Institute where leaders are trained in how to provide programs that respond to Soul Injuries. She contends that 10,000 dying veterans may have lessons that can be unpacked for both the wider audience and for individual needs.
Soul injury can be defined as a wound to your sense of self; your real self beyond the façade. It’s a wound to your BE-ing that can separate you from your real self. If this occurs, you might end up with a COUNTERFEIT life that is not meant for you. A deeper dive into Soul Injury reveals 3 causes: un-mourned loss/hurt, unforgiven guilt/shame, and fear of helplessness/loss of control. This might result in a person feeling defective, inadequate, or incomplete. We cover the following concepts within the conversation:
· Origin story of soul injury & Opus peace from Deborah – key learning from nursing 10,000 dying veterans
· How ‘Soul Injury’ fits alongside moral injury and PTSD
· Spectrum of wounds – especially those that occur to individuals rather than intended mistakes or wounds.
· Causes of Soul Injury
· Symptomatology
· Identification of mental and emotional injuries – Self-awareness inventory
· Anchoring Heart technique
· Experiential Soul Connection
· Self-compassioning tools
· Integrative letter writing
· Final thoughts and take-home messages from Deborah
Deborah is the CEO of Opus Peace that can be found here: https://opuspeace.org/who-we-are/
For more on Soul Injury please see here: https://opuspeace.org/about-soul-injury/
If this episode resonates with you, you can contact Deborah and the team here: https://opuspeace.org/contact/
Please enjoy this episode with an insightful and inspirational guest.
Scott is an ordained pastor and has supported people through mental health issues for close to 40 years. He has recently been on the podcast talking about reframing mental health. In this conversation, we chat about the concept of ‘re-homing the self’ and 'Soul injury' bringing all of our fractured and dislocated parts of our lives back together. We ask some of the deeper questions about self-perception of forgiveness, acceptance, the power of words, and self-care.
We also look into our perspectives on the restoration of fractured relationships and how these can be restored through the process of time. We also examine whether forgiveness is ever limited and how encompassing it can be. We finish the conversation by looking at redefining and reframing the end of life and how we might have a different restorative perspective on the untying of the soul.
Further information on Soul Injury by Deborah Grassman can be found here:
https://www.wehonorveterans.org/soul-injury-and-opus-peace-tools-with-deborah-grassman/
Please enjoy part two of this insightful and engaging guest's perspectives on mental health and soul injury.