Many of us are familiar with self-care and personal wellbeing, but how can we take it a step further to create real impact in the world?
On this episode I'm joined by Nicola King - sustainable advocate, systems thinker, and creator of In Good Nic - to explore the concept of welldoing.
Nicola shares her journey from growing up in Wānaka, completing a sustainability in business master’s, creating the Sustainable Ladies community, and recently being elected to the local council.
Together, Philly and Nicola dive into:
What welldoing means and how it extends personal wellbeing outward
How small conscious actions ripple out into meaningful change
The importance of curiosity, consciousness, and empathy in sustainability and community action
Habit stacking as a way to integrate wellbeing and sustainability into everyday life
Real-life examples of social, environmental, and economic actions making a difference
Practical tips for getting started, staying inspired, and making well doing accessible and enjoyable
If you’re ready to move beyond self-care and explore how your actions can create a positive impact for people, the planet, and society, this conversation is for you.
Listen, reflect, and start your journey of welldoing today.
Connect with Nicola King
Instagram
In Good Nic
Follow Philly Powell
When COVID hit, Joel Bouzaid lost five major contracts in a week. His speaking business — and identity as a provider — disappeared overnight.
Out of that crisis, he rebuilt from scratch, moving from “the Joel show” to co-leading a global business that now impacts 150 salon owners worldwide.
In this conversation, Joel and Philly dive into what it really takes to rebuild, reinvent, and design a life that feels like yours. From finding courage in uncertainty to breaking through self-imposed limits, this chat will challenge your excuses and spark your next bold move.
Because sometimes the biggest setbacks become the launchpad for something greater.
💬 In this episode
Joel’s transformation from rock bottom to global impact
How to abolish limits and move from survival to possibility
The art of living life by design, not by default
What passion really means — and what you’re willing to suffer for
Challenging old beliefs about work, money, and success
Why confidence is everything when it comes to change
💡 Key Quote“You never really know if a decision is right — you’ve got to do it to find out.” – Joel Bouzaid
🎧 Hosted by Philly Powell, founder of Wellbeing First and self-confessed wellbeing junkie.
Follow Joel on Instagram @joelbouzaid.
In a time where the pace and complexity of life can feelrelentless, many of us are looking for something deeper – a way to reconnect with ourselves, find peace and hope, and live meaningfully.
Perhaps you’ve wondered what if spirituality could help?
What even is it?
And how do you weave spirituality into everyday lifeand work?
Join me, Philly Powell, in a grounded and uplifting conversation with Paula Shaw from Soulful Guiding, a Spiritual Guide and Mentor who blends Tibetan Buddhist wisdom, astrology, and intuitive guidance to help people navigate life’s challenges (including my own).
This is an incredible opportunity to challenge any “woo woo”connotations of spirituality and find out how it’s not only helping me and many others immensely but how it could make a massive difference to not only your life but your workplace culture too.
Here’s what Paula and I will be chatting about…
✨ Spirituality 101 – Clear and simple definitions that cut through the fluff and demystify the hype.
✨ Lessons from a solo retreat – How Paula went from monastery retreats in India to a solo retreat in the Australian mountains, and the breakthroughs she brought back into everyday life.
✨Spirituality without blowing up your life – Why deep personal growth doesn’t have to mean quitting your job, leaving your partner, or moving overseas.
✨Knowing yourself in a tech-driven world – How self-awareness is the ultimate way to “AI-proof” your life and resist cultural conditioning.
✨Why AI might make us more human – The unexpected upside of lifeless tech and why it could drive us back toward authentic connection.
✨ Nature as a spiritual teacher – The awe, creativity, and clarity that come from time in the natural world.
✨Bringing ‘wairua’ into the workplace – How spiritual wellbeing strengthens every other pillar of health, and why most workplaces ignore it.
✨ Hope when the world feels heavy – Practical and soulful tools for staying grounded and optimistic through uncertainty.
✨ Breaking free from distraction & consumerism – How to questions societal norms and use spirituality to find a more meaningful path.
You can find Paula at www.soulfulguiding.com and www.instagram.com/soulfulguiding/ 🌟
In this episode of the Wellbeing Provocateur Podcast, I had the privilege of speaking with Anne Rayner – Founder of Productivity Bargain and champion for sustainable work practices.
Anne draws on her experience leading businesses across Southeast Asia and working with organisations worldwide to show why shorter working weeks aren’t just good for wellbeing—they’re great for performance.
We explored:
⏳ Why the hidden belief that more hours = more value is holding us back
🔄 How shifting from hours to outcomes can transform work culture
💼 What the four productivity pillars look like in action: reducing busy work, simplifying systems, enhancing team effectiveness, and prioritising wellbeing
🚀 Real case studies proving that shorter weeks drive retention, attraction, and ambitious growth—even in industries like professional services
This kōrero challenges outdated assumptions and offers practical steps to create workplaces where people and businesses thrive.
💥 One-liner to remember:
“Time is the most powerful bargain you can offer.”
🎤 Philly’s mantra meets Anne’s approach:
“Wellbeing First, Work Second” meets “Deliver 100% outcomes in 80% of the time.”
🔗 Connect with Anne:
Follow her insights on LinkedIn or visit www.productivitybargain.com to explore her programs for shifting to a shorter, smarter work week.
In this episode of the Wellbeing Provocateur Series, we're joined by the brilliantly bold Bridget Jelley—Mental Health Specialist and Occupational Psychologist at Rolls Royce UK and Founder of Glia Workplace Psychologists in Aotearoa.
Bridget brings two decades of lived and professional experience across multiple countries and cultures, now supporting the psychological wellbeing of 45,000 employees across global operations. From her deeply personal “why” to her bold workplace advocacy, this kōrero is honest, confronting—and laced with wit.
Together, we unpack the truth behind workplace mental health and challenge the systems keeping us stuck in outdated norms.
We explore:
🧠 The Psychological Health & Safety Gap
🌍 The Global Stress Equation
🔧 Real Strategies That Actually Work
🏔️ The Power of Place & Perspective
Expect courageous conversations on:
• Burnout myths (and how to actually burn out faster 😅)
• Why high achievers are most at risk
• The under-discussed risk factor of fairness
• Why laughing is sometimes the best mental health intervention
• What workplaces get wrong about fun, feedback, and failure
This episode is for:
Wellbeing specialists, HR and H&S professionals, people leaders, and anyone ready to push past the tick-box approach to create more human, inclusive, and mentally healthy workplaces.
💥 One-liner to remember:
“Don’t wait for a crisis to care.”
🎤 Philly’s mantra meets Bridget’s wisdom:
“Wellbeing First, Work Second” meets “Life’s far too important to take seriously.”
🔗 Connect with Bridget:
Follow her insights and irreverent guides on LinkedIn or visit Glia Workplace Psychologists to explore their organisational services in Aotearoa.
What does it really take to lead a fast-growing company — and stay well while doing it?
In this raw and refreshingly honest conversation, Philly sits down with Stanley Henry, CEO of The Attention Seeker, to explore the emotional weight of leadership and how to survive (and thrive) in the spotlight of modern business.
From building a brand to carrying a team of 40+, Stanley opens up about the pressures, boundaries, mistakes, and mindset shifts that have defined his journey. No sugarcoating — just real talk about what it means to model wellbeing while scaling a business.
We dive into:
🧠 The mental load of leading a company — and how Stan handles the pressure of payroll and people
🧱 Building boundaries & protecting identity in personal branding
📱 Managing public life, social media criticism, and algorithm overwhelm
🧍♂️ Why modelling wellbeing as a CEO is messy, but necessary
😌 Rest as a non-negotiable — and why Stan created “Decompression Week”
🎮 Gaming, running, Xbox breaks, and redefining what balance really looks like
🧬 Why your social media feed reflects your mental state — and how to take control of your algorithm
Whether you're a founder, aspiring leader, or simply trying to do meaningful work without losing yourself in the process — this episode is for you.
🔊 "Being a wellbeing provocateur means being brave enough to put your own oxygen mask on first — and talking about it" – Stanley Henry
💬 Let us know what resonates
🔔 Subscribe, rate & share if you believe in doing business without burning out
🎙️ Follow Stanley on LinkedIn or @theattentionseeker
🌐 Learn more at wellbeingtick.co.nz
It takes a lot of time and love to produce these podcasts so in return I’d be so grateful if you could please share the love in return!
1. Send me a message – I’d love to know the one thing is you’re going to do differently after listening to this episode
2. Share this episode – you never know how this very episode could change someone’s life!
3. Rate the show and hit the follow button – so we can introduce more people to be part of this epic community!
In this episode I dive into the intersection of AI, wellbeing, and entrepreneurship with special guest Hannah Hardy Jones, co-founder of Contented AI. Hannah made the bold shift from HR to tech, driven by her own mental health journey and a passion for creating solutions that make every conversation count.
We explore:
💛 Hannah’s personal wellbeing journey—from HR to AI
💛 How AI can enhance personal and professional wellbeing
💛 The challenges of work-life balance in startup culture
💛 The future of work, wellbeing, and sustainable business practices
Hannah shares how AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity can lighten workloads, free up time, and even support mental health—from creating custom children’s activities to transcribing medical appointments. She also challenges the traditional "hustle culture," advocating for genuine connections over relentless self-promotion.
A key takeaway? Wellbeing isn’t just about individual efforts—it’s about organisational culture.
As Hannah puts it:
"You can give staff all the ideas and solutions, but if the internal culture is broken, that's just like some grains of sand on a fire."
Join us for an insightful discussion on leveraging AI without burning out—and learn how technology can help you thrive in both work and life.
Connect with Hannah
Connect with Philly
The Wellbeing Junkie Instagram
It takes a lot of time and love to produce these podcasts so in return I’d be so grateful if you could please share the love in return!
1. Send me a message – I’d love to know the one thing is you’re going to do differently after listening to this episode
2. Share this episode – you never know how this very episode could change someone’s life!
3. Rate the show and hit the follow button – so we can introduce more people to be part of this epic community!
Join me as I discuss workplace transformation, burnout, and resilience with Katie Desai from Tipping Point Collab.
Katie shares her journey from a 16-year corporate career to self-employment, highlighting research on workplace wellbeing and reimagining work systems that help people thrive.
1. Katie’s Career Journey
• From corporate strategy roles in the UK & NZ to founding Tipping Point Collab
• Struggles with work-life balance as a parent led to health challenges
• Transitioned to self-employment to align work with wellbeing.
2. Workplace Transformation & Research Insights
• Early career experiences shape long-term workplace expectations
• Core job needs: learning, relationships, and leadership
• Technology’s dual role: enhancing productivity but also blurring work-life boundaries
• Setting boundaries is crucial for sustainable careers.
3. Alternative Work Models & The Future of Work
• Portfolio careers and fractional work as flexible career alternatives
• Organisations benefit from specialized skills without full-time hires
• Moving toward human-centred, outcomes-based work environments.
4. Work-Life Integration Challenges
• Mismatch between school and work schedules
• Declining "village" support systems add to parenting challenges.
• Need for flexible, family-friendly work policies.
Key Takeaways:
• Work structures must evolve beyond outdated models
• Career decisions should align with personal values and wellbeing
• Leadership must rebuild trust and foster modern workplace cultures
• Wellbeing practices, including boundary-setting, are essential for long-term success.
Connect with Katie
Connect with Philly
The Wellbeing Junkie Instagram
It takes a lot of time and love to produce these podcasts so in return I’d be so grateful if you could please share the love in return!
1. Send me a message – I’d love to know the one thing is you’re going to do differently after listening to this episode
2. Share this episode – you never know how this very episode could change someone’s life!
3. Rate the show and hit the follow button – so we can introduce more people to be part of this epic community!
In this episode I am joined by my friend, Mindfulness Maverick, Habit Hacker & Addiction Explorer Kerene Strochnetter who is the fearless leader of Mindful at Work.
A few months ago, we were having dinner when we both admitted to snacking after dinner.
Right then and there, we decided we wanted to stop, and NEAD was born.
NEAD stands for not eating after dinner.
After giving up alcohol, we thought NEAD would be easy…it wasn’t!
This podcast is about why we decided to stop EAD and the insights and hurdles we’ve experienced such as…
The Turning Point: Recognising the Need for Change
The Experiment: Challenges & Strategies
The Psychological Side: Identity, Mindset & Emotional Aspects
The Unexpected Lessons & Outcomes
It’s a raw and authentic conversation between two women who combine their knowledge about changing habits and nutrition to stop unnecessary EAD.
We’ll tell you what helped and what didn’t and offer valuablesuggestions (just in case you also struggle with EAD!) including replacing self-criticism with self-love.
"For me the biggest thing was the admission, because this is secret stuff. This is stuff that women keep secret from oneanother." –Kerene Strochnetter
"We are both delusional BUT we are very aware and supporting one another to nail this!! The radical honesty and vulnerability is a key part of the process to change." –PhillyPowell
It takes a lot of time and love to produce these podcasts so in return I’d be so grateful if you could please share the love in return!
1. Send me a message – I’d love to know the one thing is you’re going to do differently after listening to this episode
2. Share this episode – you never know how this very episode could change someone’s life!
3. Rate the show and hit the follow button – so we can introduce more people to be part of this epic community!
Connect with Kerene
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerenestrochnetter/
https://www.instagram.com/kerene_strochnetter/
Connect with Philly
In this episode I have a thought-provoking discussion with Jo McFadden from PEP Worldwide about navigating the modern workplace jungle!
With a diverse background, Jo is passionate about working with people to achieve the right outcomes. She is a natural leader and believes leadership is about service. She is obsessed with creating self-leaders for all individuals and believes that great culture comes from clarity of purpose and goals and authentic alignment and agreement.
PEP is on a mission to empower people to work with purpose, cultivate high-performing teams aligned with organisation's goals, and embed self-leadership at all levels for sustainable growth.
We cover topics such as the challenges posed by high workloads, digital distractions, and the need for sustainable productivity.
We delve into concepts like self-leadership, flow states, and work hygiene as well as practical tips around intentional weekly planning, batching and managing multiple comms channels.
I really loved her examples of historical boundaries that were put in place for us like office hours, shops closed in evenings and weekends and she summed up hyperconnectivity we have these days so well with an analogy of paper in-trays back in the day.
As we wrapped up, Jo shares her one powerful and provocative wellbeing practice she’d recommend everyone tries – emptying your mind and being present 🧠
We talk about the following:
Connect with Jo and PEP Worldwide
Connect with Philly
The Wellbeing Junkie Instagram
It takes a lot of time and love to produce these podcasts so in return I’d be so grateful if you could please share the love in return!
This episode I chat to Claire Robbie, a meditation and yoga teacher, sobriety coach and Founder of The School of Modern Meditation, about how to build a conscious life in this overly distracting world we live in.
Claire is always so generous with sharing her personal journey and she does this in a way that allows others to mirror her vulnerability without judgement – so there were more moments of vulnerability from me in this episode.
Claire opens up about her current state of wellbeing, including dealing with a family loss, relationship challenges and work stress whilst highlighting the significance of reframing stress through consistent meditation practices, sobriety, self-awareness, therapy and continuous personal growth.
We’re known for talking on all sorts of tangents and here’s what some of the key themes covered were…
💜 Sobriety & Personal Growth
💜 Conscious Lifestyle and Distraction
💜 Discipline and Commitment
💜 Working with Younger Generations
💜 Balancing Wellbeing and Work
💜 Slowing Down
As we wrapped up, Claire’s discusses her one powerful and provocative wellbeing practice she’d recommend everyone tries.
Connect with Claire
The School of Modern Meditation
Claire Robbie – The Alcohol Reset
Connect with Philly
The Wellbeing Junkie Instagram
It takes a lot of time and love to produce these podcasts so in return I’d be so grateful if you could please share the love in return!
1. Send me a message – I’d love to know the one thing is you’re going to do differently after listening to this episode
2. Share this episode – you never know how this very episode could change someone’s life!
3. Rate the show and hit the follow button – so we can introduce more people to be part of this epic community!
Welcome back to another episode of Wellbeing Provocateur Podcast where I chat to Mental Fitness Expert Jimi Hunt about Community & Connection as part of Mental Health Awareness Week!
In this special MHAW edition, we chatted about:
🛟 Navigating big life transitions
🚬 Loneliness is the new smoking
👯 Connection - the hidden mental fitness powerhouse
🤳 Digital vs real life connection
🫂 Connection with self, land and each other
🔇 Embracing solitude
👟 Jimi’s insights from walking Te Araroa
💡 Ideas and inspiration to build community and feel more connected
Key Resources
The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk
36 Questions that might Lead to Love by Mandie Manks
Free Resources on Jimi’s website
Connect with Jimi or invite him into your workplace
Connect with Philly
The Wellbeing Junkie Instagram
It takes a lot of time and love to produce these podcasts so in return I’d be so grateful if you could please share the love in return!
1. Send me a message – I’d love to know the one thing is you’re going to do differently after listening to this episode
2. Share this episode – you never know how this very episode could change someone’s life!
3. Rate the show and hit the follow button – so we can introduce more people to be part of this epic community!
I recently had the honour to speak at Me. We. Pōneke – an incredibly uplifting event designed to inspire, connect and raise the voices of our wonderful community of Wellington women 💛
I wanted to shared a condensed version of my talk so you also get a feel for the magic that occurred ✨
Top 9 Career Tips
1️⃣ Take your power back
2️⃣ Change is happening for you, not to you
3️⃣ Stick up for yourself!
4️⃣ Be brutally honest with yourself
5️⃣ Own your own development
6️⃣ Get support
7️⃣ Don’t ask, don’t get!
8️⃣ Say yes to every opportunity
9️⃣ Wellbeing first, work second. Always.
What's a courageous leap of faith you'd like to take? Be courageous by sharing it in the comments.
What is the first small step you can realistically achieve in the coming days or weeks?
And what are you going to ask for so you get it?!
Connect with Philly
The Wellbeing Junkie Instagram
It takes a lot of time and love to produce these podcasts so in return I’d be so grateful if you could please share the love in return!
1. Send me a message – I’d love to know the one thing is you’re going to do differently after listening to this episode
2. Share this episode – you never know how this very episode could change someone’s life!
3. Rate the show and hit the follow button – so we can introduce more people to be part of this epic community!
This was such an uplifting chat with Kayleigh Doe from She Walks from a webinar in August where we traversed all the benefits of walking in nature.
Walking in nature is such a simple thing to do - chuck on your shoes and head into the bush, to the beach or along a river.
But as we got talking, Kay’s deep passion and enthusiasm really highlighted just how profound the benefits of walking in nature are on our holistic wellbeing.
Here’s what we chat about:
👟 Why walking?
🌲 Community, Connection & Conversations
👟 Nurturing Womanhood & Sisterhood
🌲 Combatting Loneliness
👟 Physical, Mental & Spiritual Wellbeing Benefits
🌲 Forest Bathing Therapy
👟 Link between Nature & Mental Health
🌲 Japanese Wellbeing Wisdom
👟 Overcoming Obstacles
🌲 Practical Guidance to get into Walking & Hiking
Kay currently inspires other women to get out into nature through, She Walks, a women's walking community based in Auckland and Queenstown. She also guides Forest Therapy walks and is part of the ANFT Forest Therapy community in Aotearoa.
Kayleigh’s parting encouragement
Key take outs
🍃 Forest bathing is connecting with nature through our senses
🌿 The importance of walking without distractions (no headphones)
🍃 Phytoncides are natural compounds emitted by trees that boost our immune system
🌿 Forest bathing activates parasympathetic nervous system
🍃 Check the weather, trail conditions, your equipment and reviews before hiking
🌿 Essential equipment: light rain jacket, dry jumper, day pack
Resources
Connect with Kayleigh & She Walks
Connect with Philly
The Wellbeing Junkie Instagram
It takes a lot of time and love to produce these podcasts so in return I’d be so grateful if you could please share the love in return!
1. Send me a message – I’d love to know the one thing is you’re going to do differently after listening to this episode
2. Share this episode – you never know how this very episode could change someone’s life!
3. Rate the show and hit the follow button – so we can introduce more people to be part of this epic community!
In this episode I interview Sarah Harmer, Workplace Wellbeing Specialist and CEO of The Humanity Project, whose career purpose is to create better wellbeing in the world by creating better places to work.
Sarah’s career started in the fitness industry where she went on to become the HR Manager of Les Mills. In 2013 she left her job as an HR Manager of a Law firm to specialise in workplace wellbeing, combining her background in health, fitness, psychology and human resources management experience, to carve out a new niche in occupational health.
As well as being a qualified personal trainer and yoga teacher, Sarah’s academic studies are somewhat intimidating to me! She has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Human Resources Management, a Post Graduate Diploma in Health Science and a Master of Applied Positive Psychology, whoa so impressive!
In Aotearoa, latest stats show 57% employees are at risk of burnout so in this chat I posed the question to Sarah – why has work become so detrimental to our wellbeing and what can we do about it?
Here’s what we cover…
🩷 Sarah’s personal journey and experiences that led her to focus on workplace wellbeing
🩷 Why are individuals struggling to be well at work
🩷 Recommendations for individuals to protect their wellbeing at work
🩷 Common mistakes leaders are doing that’s having a detrimental impact on employee’s wellbeing
🩷 The crucial role of leadership in fostering healthy work environments
🩷 The need for organisations to take greater accountability
🩷 Enviable examples of workplaces that are taking accountability
🩷 The dual nature of work: what is a poison can also be a medicine
🩷 Sarah’s personal strategies for managing her ADHD and anxiety
🩷 Importance of self-compassion
We'd love to know why you think work has become so detrimental to our wellbeing and what you or your workplace has been doing about it? Please reach out to Sarah or myself via the links below.
Please share this episode with your workmates, friends and family that would benefit - you never know how this very episode could change someone’s life!
And finally I’d be so grateful if you could please rate the show and hit the follow button so we can introduce more people to be part of this epic community!
Connect with Sarah
sarah@thehumanityproject.co.nz
Connect with Philly
I really enjoyed this energetic chat with Tracy to hear her personal story that led her to being the passionate menopause expert that she is today 🙌
It's so good that we are finally opening the conversation and reducing the stigma about menstrual cycles and menopause, whether it be in the workplace or with our friends and family.
We discussed midlife, sexy ageing and health span and Tracy defined the difference stages of pre menopause, perimenopause, menopause, and post menopause.
I learned a lot from this session and particularly loved hearing about menopause being that second puberty and had no idea that the hormonal experiences are two to three times larger than puberty!
Here’s what we cover:
💜 Tracy’s personal story
💜 What even is midlife?
💜 Definitions and symptoms
💜 Physical, mental, emotional and hormonal changes
💜 Impact on our personal and professional lives
💜 How to expand your health span
💜 Tips on Tracy’s key pillars of wellbeing:
Sleep, Stress, Movement, Nutrition, Community & Joy
We’d love to know what’s the one thing you’ve learnt about menopause or something you’re going to do as a result of listening to this episode. You can reach out to Tracy or I via the links below.
I went straight outside to do some grounding - playing with Goldie in my bare feet. I’m also keen to try and convince my friends to try pole dancing for a bit of a laugh 🤣
Please share this episode with your workmates, friends and family that would benefit - you never know how this very episode could change someone’s life!
And finally I’d be so grateful if you could please rate the show and hit the follow button so we can introduce more people to be part of this epic community!
Connect with Tracy
Connect with Philly
In this episode I’m chatting to a fellow disruptor of the status quo and true wellbeing provocateur Danni Ermilova Williams.
Danni and I are also fellow HR professionals, retired CrossFitters and recently reconnected as fellow entrepreneurs.
Danni is an Impact Coach and Business Change Consultant and the Director of DEW, Change Coaching and Consultancy. She empowers individuals, business leaders, and owners to master work and life with power, clarity, and success.
When conversing via email in preparation for the podcast I received Danni’s OOO which caught my attention – “I am a recovering workaholic and am now practicing moderation”.
In this episode Danni speaks openly about her career journey from HR to management consulting to becoming a coach, being a recovering workaholic and her incredible transition into self-employment and the positive impact that’s had on her wellbeing.
Join us as we explore how Danni Ermilova Williams emboldens people to think creatively and embrace significant changes in life and work, starting with her own journey.
Here’s what we covered:
I would love to know if you are or were previously a workaholic and what stood out for you the most in this episode? Please reach out to Danni or myself via the links below.
Please share this episode with your workmates, friends and family that would benefit - you never know how this very episode could change someone’s life!
And finally I’d be so grateful if you could please rate the show and hit the follow button so we can introduce more people to be part of this epic community!
Connect with Danni
Website: www.danniermilovawilliams.com
Instagram: @dewcoaching
Facebook: @DEW, Change Coaching & Consultancy
Email: hello@danniermilovawilliams.com
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/danni-ermilova-williams
Connect with Philly
Welcome back to a very special episode of the Wellbeing Provocateur Podcast, launching just in time as we round out the last week of Dry July.
It’s an interview I did with Claire Robbie, Director of The School of Modern Meditation, back in June 2024.
I met Claire on a silent and meditation retreat she hosted in 2020, where I learned to mediate and then a few months later I started working with Claire on The Alcohol Reset programme after realising I was unable to moderate.
In this exclusive Sober Session, I speak to Claire about my sobriety journey as a process. And what a process it has been! Claire also shares her experiences on her path to sobriety too – the same stories that inspired me to get to this point.
This is a really open conversation for anyone who might be struggling, or who's fallen off the wagon and lost some momentum.
We go on all sorts of tangents but the some of the things we cover include:
· My initial attempts at sobriety and the role of relapses in the recovery process
· The impact of sobriety on my personal and professional life
· Positive changes experienced after achieving sobriety
· Importance of meditation, self-awareness, self-improvement and continuous learning
· The role of accountability and a supportive environment
· Strategies to handle relapses and get back on track
· Recommendations and resources for others on the sobriety path
· Encouragement for others to pursue a sober lifestyle
Whether you’re doing Dry July or just sober curious, settle in and enjoy our conversation.
I would love to know if you are currently on your sober journey or thinking of becoming alcohol free and what stood out for you the most in this episode? You can reach out to Claire or myself via the links below.
Also please share this episode with your workmates, friends and family that would benefit - you never know how this very episode could change someone’s life!
And finally I’d be so grateful if you could please rate the show on Spotify and hit the follow button so we can introduce more people to be part of this epic community!
In this episode I chat via a live webinar interview to Dr Louise Cowpertwait – a clinical psychologist, neuropsychologist and Founder and CEO of MindMatters Clinic.
Together we have a shared mission of improving the mental health and wellbeing of employees and workplaces.
This episode is extremely helpful for those struggling with how to navigate the mental health system in Aotearoa as Louise explains the different types of support available in a way that is easy to understand.
You can access all of these incredible resources Louise has generously provided by accessing the email sent out to our attendees after the live session. Please store it somewhere safe for when you might need it 💚
https://mailchi.mp/wellbeingtick/wellbeingprovocateurseries_drlouisecowpertwait
We would love to know what you learnt from this episode and what support for your loved ones have you found most valuable? You can answer via the Q&A on the Spotify app or reach out to Louise or myself via the links below.
Also please share this episode with your workmates, friends and family that would benefit - you never know how this very episode could change someone’s life!
And finally I’d be so grateful if you could please rate the show on Spotify and hit the follow button so we can introduce more people to be part of this epic community!
Connect with Louise
Connect with Philly
In this solo episode I bare all and share my personal story on my journey to sobriety to provide hope and inspiration to those of you struggling with your relationship with booze. With Dry July coming up soon, perhaps this will be just the encouragement you need to give it a go.
Like many kiwis, I started experimenting with alcohol as a teenager, completely unaware that I was creating a habit that would stick with me for decades. But over time, slowly the hangovers morphed from physical tiredness and nauseous feels to unbearable bouts of hangxiety.
On the 14 April 2023 I decided I no longer wanted to put myself through this cycle of self-inflicted anxiety and somewhat depressive state. With the support of a mate, we decided to take a break for one whole year.
Whilst I celebrated One Year Sober on 14 April 2024 and continue to be sober, I'm not going to sugar coat that it's been an easy ride. In this episode I share the ups and downs of the last few years getting to this point.
What I cover…
🍹 From my first drink to my last
🍹 Why I drunk alcohol
🍹 Becoming aware that my drinking was problematic
🍹 Why I wanted to change my relationship with alcohol
🍹 My first attempt – fears and reality
🍹 The lead up to quitting
🍹 How I’ve got to One Year Sober
🍹 How people have supported me…or not!
🍹 What I’ve found the hardest
🍹 Influences & resources
🍹 What I’ve learnt so far
🍹 My thoughts on our drinking culture
🍹 The benefits of being sober
🍹 How to have fun without alcohol
🍹 Where to from here?
I would love to know if you are currently on your sober journey or thinking of becoming alcohol free and what stood out for you the most in this episode? You can answer via the Q&A on the Spotify app or reach out to me via the links below.
Also please share this episode with your workmates, friends and family that would benefit - you never know how this very episode could change someone’s life!
And finally I’d be so grateful if you could please rate the show on Spotify and hit the follow button so we can introduce more people to be part of this epic community!
Key Resources
Check out my presentation slides to see the photos of drinking Philly and all my tips, tricks and resources on how to go alcohol free!
Connect with Me
