Peripheral Thinking

When your current lifestyle is unsustainable, it’s time to make a change instead of waiting for circumstances to force your hand. The gradual build-up of stress, fatigue, and health issues from a demanding career can lead to a critical point where one must choose between maintaining an unhealthy status quo or taking the initiative to make a change, even when that decision feels destabilising. In t...

True leadership comes not from domination and control, but from attunement to natural rhythms, deep respect for interconnectedness, and embracing a more humble, spacious approach to guiding ourselves and others. In this episode, Ben is joined by Mimi Kuo-Deemer. She is a sixth generation lineage holder teaching Baguazhang, and a Qigong teacher with over 20 years of practice. She’s based in Oxfords...

That feeling of being in the zone is a measurable neurochemical state of consciousness where we feel and perform our best. This optimal state – flow state, as it’s called – isn't limited to hobbies and sport, but can be achieved in various forms of work, and can lead to increased creativity, productivity, and personal fulfilment. In this conversation, Ben and his guest Dave Murphy explore the...

Embracing cycles of rest is essential for our own ability to grow and create. Rather than continuously striving, reaching for the next thing and going ever faster, we need to pause and recharge, acknowledging that rest is as crucial as productivity. By honouring the natural cycles of action and rest, we give ourselves the chance to integrate experiences, reflect deeply, and ultimately emerge renew...

Growing as a person – and as a leader – often involves a metamorphosis, where one moves from an egocentric, achievement-focused mindset to a more holistic, purpose-driven approach to life and work. This shift can occur at various stages of life, and it takes courage to confront the discomfort and uncertainty that shows up. But ultimately it leads to a deeper connection with one's soul and life pur...

Embracing different perspectives and understanding the long-term impacts of our actions, particularly in terms of cultural shifts and societal evolution, can give us valuable insights to navigate our present and future more effectively. Author Dougald Hine rejoins Ben to discuss a new book by Tyson Yunkaporta, who suggested that the best thing to do is maybe not to read a book, but to discuss it w...

Where do new ideas come from? Your mind regenerates from the outside in, teased to life by artists, innovators, agitators playing on the margins. Their work inspires yours. This is the spark, the stuff of new ideas. As with your mind, so too an old city. Berlin in 1992 was a tired place, run dry by 50 years of division, devoid of life, energy and new story. Until it was woken up. The same today in...

There’s a way of seeing personal growth and transformation as a cycle of rupture, descent, emergence, and return – an inward journey that challenges us to confront our own demons, integrate different aspects of ourselves, and ultimately find a way to contribute to the collective good. Christine Raine is a speaker, facilitator, and podcaster. She developed an interpretation of Maureen Murdoch’s Her...

Bringing movement into our daily routines is beneficial not only for our physical health, but our mental and emotional wellbeing too. Consciously integrating activity into our lifestyles helps us counteract the sedentary nature of modern life, especially for leaders and entrepreneurs sat in front of a laptop all day. Sal Jefferies is an embodiment specialist, focusing on movement and the interconn...

Embracing discomfort and experiencing emotions to the fullest can give us the guidance needed to navigate positive life changes, even in difficult circumstances. But sometimes those emotions are too difficult or too stark, and so we use things like alcohol to turn down the volume. But by doing so, we dim ourselves. Today, Ben is in conversation with Cecily Mak. Cecily writes a newsletter on living...

Our willingness to embrace and make space for all aspects of ourselves, both the good and the bad, can lead to greater peace and contentment in our lives. By practicing gratitude and mindfulness, we can shift our mindset and find joy in the present moment. And the way we perceive the universe, whether as benevolent or something to fear, shapes our experiences and interactions with the world. Under...

Society is facing a crisis of masculinity, which is leading to harmful behaviour and violence towards women. Many cultures understand the need to initiate boys to men. We, in the west, have lost that understanding, that opportunity. As a consequence, are we inadvertently raising lost boys? Is it time to rediscover initiation? This is some of Sujith's work. He is a champion of the contemporary men'...

Exchanging ideas too early and too often hinders innovation, but promoting absurdity in the workplace can lead to new and creative solutions. The workplace shouldn’t simply be a task-focused environment, but a place to nurture our human traits, like our capacity for absurdity. Agustin Chevez is a workplace architect and researcher who focuses on studying work and the environments that support it....

Life can take unexpected turns, inviting us to reevaluate our priorities and make difficult decisions. When that happens, it’s up to us to listen to our inner voice, and take up the challenge of living a life in alignment with our true selves. Ray Martin is an author and former management consultant. He embarked on a journey of self-discovery after the ties in his life – including his marriage and...

Embracing creativity and storytelling can help us navigate through uncertain times and find hope and connection. Through writing and sharing our thoughts and experiences, we can unlock new perspectives, gain a better understanding of ourselves and the world, and contribute to a more positive future. This is the second of a two-part conversation with writer, poet, and storyteller, Richard Wain, who...

Humans have the opportunity to imagine a better future and weave new stories into our culture. By embracing the uncertainty and ambiguity inherent in life, we can start the journey towards a world we’re proud to leave for future generations. Through poetry and storytelling, we can create a narrative arc that inspires hope and encourages action in the face of the converging crises of our time. It i...

Leaders who embody the qualities of availability, presence, and wisdom can create a culture of trust and empowerment within their organisations. When we prioritise personal responsibility and community, we foster a sense of safety and contentment among our team, ultimately leading to greater happiness. Martin Aylward helps create a culture of trust and empowerment within organisations. He’s a medi...

If we’re going to imagine an alternative to capitalism, we need to create spaces for ideation, thinking, and researching. We must cultivate reciprocity with people we trust, and experiment with different models of regenerative and healing systems. We need to align with the poetic patterns of meaning that may be heard beneath the noise of everyday life, and find space to play, be generous, and expe...

Economic growth can be responsible and in service of giving, rather than pure extraction and consumption. In this final part of Ben’s conversation with James William Harrup, they explore the idea of “decent work”, what the Buddha has to say about earning well, how growth can be in the service of giving, and the importance of having a personal metaphor. Links The story of growth, part 2: Greed &nbs...

Pre-made mashed potato and out-of-season avocados won’t last forever. In this second part of Ben’s conversation with James William Harrup, we explore how a drive for perpetual growth and boundless consumption could be linked to an underlying trauma. It looks a lot like addiction, so if we can address that need to consume – and say a fond farewell to the things we used to take for granted – we can...

There is an over-emphasis on the story of growth in our culture, particularly when it comes to work and the economy. This story of growth can lead to ecological destruction, as well as personal and social destruction. We need to recognise the interconnectedness of everything and understand that there are many things that can grow, and that there isn’t one particular type of growth. We need to let...

The first Reformation led to social phenomena like the English civil war, where people overthrew the corrupt Papacy and government. The Second Reformation allows people to directly experience the visions and revelations of prophets through psychedelic catalysts. By going deeper and dealing with the root cause of the crises, writer Daniel Pinchbeck believes we can create a completely different shar...

More and more people feel lonely and depressed - and that's in a time of ever greater (technology fueled) 'connection'. 65% of University students in the US say that they're so anxious that they have trouble functioning. A high percentage suffer from anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts. And it's not just students. Varun Soni is the Dean of Religious and Spiritual Life at the University of S...

Nature teaches us ways we can set up the system of our lives to promote presence and calm. We can do this by rewilding – leaving things alone, and letting them find their own course. On this episode, Ben reflects on two gardens that have left a lasting impression on him. One garden has been intentionally given back to nature, whereas the other is crowded and overgrown. What do we need to end? What...

This is a beautiful conversation about endings, among other things. Dougald is / was a long term climate campaigner - working alongside scientists, often picking up the story where their work ends. He joins Ben to talk about his new book, the beautifully titled ‘At Work In The Ruins’. Picking a path through the various crises of our times, the book is equal part invitation and provocation; it is n...