Awakening Conscious Leadership

What does neuroscience actually tell us about what makes a great leader? And what is your brain quietly doing to undermine you when you least expect it? In this episode of Awakening Conscious Leadership, Emily and Johnny sit down with Bret Freeman, organisational psychologist, neuroscientist, and executive coach, to explore the brain science sitting underneath every leadership moment. Brett brings...

In this warm and joyful conversation, Emily and Johnny sit down with Jayaraja, senior member of the Triratna Buddhist Order and founder of Alfoxton Park House, a Buddhist eco retreat centre in Somerset. Jayaraja takes us back to an extraordinary moment at age 11, when a sudden awareness of mortality led him to one quietly revolutionary conclusion: the only thing truly worth doing in this life is l...

What does it really take to transform workplace culture from the inside out? In this episode, we sit down with Margaret Brown, executive leadership coach and author of Culture Pays, to explore her LeaderShift Model, a practical five-step framework built on listening, learning, leading with vision, leveraging potential, and living by values. Margaret shares how she helped one organisation reduce st...

We speak with Maddy Samakosky, co-founder and CEO of AshtonQ and PhD candidate specialising in behaviour change, to explore what it really means to lead well in the age of AI.  Maddy shares the story behind AshtonQ's 360-degree leadership assessment — a tool that measures 12 behavioural intelligences and 60 competencies to help leaders build genuine self-awareness and drive lasting behaviour chang...

In this episode, we’re joined by Chris Alder, executive coach, Zen priest, and founder of the Executive Wisdom Partner Institute, to explore what leadership demands in the age of AI. Chris unpacks the difference between intention and agenda, makes the case for inner stillness as a leadership skill, and explains why wisdom, not just strategy, will define the next generation of executives. As techno...

At the start of 2026, we gather three powerful voices for a special roundtable on awakening more conscious leadership: Nathan Blair, founder of The Somatic School, bringing a body-based lens to leadership; Hetty Einzig, leadership coach, transpersonal psychotherapist, and author, offering a spiritual and transpersonal perspective; and Marcus Stone, life coach and coach nurturer, speaking from hear...

In this episode, sound strategist Herwig Kusatz, founder of Sound Strategy, invites us to tune in differently. From the hidden cost of “noise” that drains attention to the kind of signal that builds trust and clarity, Herwig breaks down how sound quietly shapes leadership, culture, and decision-making every day. You’ll hear the fascinating story behind the Vienna transport system’s sound identity....

Johnny and Emily reflect on their podcast’s journey in 2025. They discuss key insights and moments that stood out for them, including the balance between trusting the unknown and planning, the importance of presence, and the integration of ego and soul needs. They highlight themes like surrender, somatic awareness, and the power of the present moment. Looking ahead to 2026, they express hope for d...

In this episode, off the back of publishing his book ‘Be More Strategic’, Charlie explains why true strategy isn’t about plans or slide decks. It’s about self-awareness, open-mindedness, and making confident choices in uncertainty. Drawing on stories from consulting, coaching, and work with high-performing teams, he reveals how leaders can spot patterns, listen deeply, and shift from reactive doin...

In this episode, executive coach and Enneagram expert Renate Landman explores how the Enneagram empowers leaders to build stronger, more resilient teams. Discover how this powerful framework can deepen self-awareness, enhance psychological safety, and foster trust—fueling growth and sustainable performance. Podcast Disclaimer Emily & Johnny own the copyright in and to all content in and transc...

We speak with Nathan Blair again, founder of the Somatic School, where we explore how somatics, love, and leadership intersect. He shares how leaders can act as co-regulators, using grounding, breathwork, and presence to create safety and connection. Nathan frames love as an active practice that shapes our bodies, rewires our brains, and transforms organizational culture through empathy, attunemen...

In this rich and reflective episode, we speak with Dr. Simon Western, founder of the Eco-Leadership Institute and author of the upcoming book Entanglement. Simon shares his Five-Frame Eco-Leadership model, a dynamic approach grounded in systems thinking, deep psychology, and real-world practice. We explore leadership from the edges, interconnectedness, the art of composting vs reflecting and weavi...

Part II with Nathan Blair, founder of the somatic school. Discussing the intersection of science and spirituality; exploring the concept of joy, suggesting it stems from being in harmony and aligning with the universe. Nathan emphasizes the importance of understanding joy as a collective experience and the significance of intentions in our practice. He also touches on the practice of Hakomi, which...

In this podcast, Nathan Blair, founder of the somatic school, talks about the concepts of embodied self-awareness and conceptual self-awareness, and their impact on leadership. We explore the role of the nervous system in co-regulation and self-regulation within organisations, the significance of the default mode network in innovation, and the use of the resonant circuitry to perceive the environm...

In this podcast episode we speak to Rama Gheerawo, Author of Creative Leadership: How to Build the 21st Century Organisation Rama reveals a transformative approach to leadership that goes beyond traditional management. He introduces his tripartite model of leadership centered on Empathy, Clarity, and Creativity - challenging conventional leadership paradigms. Drawing from personal experiences, inc...

In this episode, we speak to Christopher Connolly, author of Transition Expertise and Identity about navigating transitions. Christopher highlights the importance of cognitive flexibility, personal and contextual intelligence, and motivation in successful transitions. He differentiates between intrinsic and extrinsic motivations, noting that intrinsic motivators like autonomy, competency, and rela...

In this compelling episode we speak to Jenny Campbell, chief executive of the Resilience Dynamic, who explores the importance of resilience in modern organisations. Drawing from her extensive research, Jenny Campbell challenges traditional productivity models by introducing the 65/35 rule – suggesting that 65% focused work and 35% intentional unfocused time creates optimal performance. She emphasi...

In this podcast we discuss everyday spirituality and transpersonal coaching with Hetty Einzig, Executive Coach, Author, Co-Founder of Purpose Power Presence for Women Leaders and specialist in Transpersonal Coaching.  Hetty shares her journey from a secular upbringing to embracing spirituality, influenced by her mother’s refugee experience and teachings from Krishnamurti. She emphasizes the import...

In this podcast we talk with Ruth Kudzi, Founder of Optimus Coach Academy, Master Certified Coach, Mentor, Best Selling Author & Podcaster. Ruth opens up about her personal journey as a leader, the challenge of understanding self in order to be who we are meant to be. We discuss the need for a balance of self-acceptance and personal responsibility and how this can positively impact our roles a...

In this podcast we talk with Paul Haynes, leadership coach who helps senior leaders tackle the unseen challenges that hold them back. We discuss a variety of themes as the conversation unfolds from healing to authenticity and trust; the unseen pressures leaders carry: the patterns shaping how they show up, often without realising; the power of awareness to notice the often unseen limiting walls th...

In this conversation, we talk to the amazing Jo McCarthy, founder of Mojo Coaching, Leadership Coach and facilitator and Enneagram practitioner.  We discuss the Enneagram, unpacking Jo’s expertise in the use of Enneagram testing and coaching with leaders and teams. We explore how impactful this work is and how it can strengthen agency, create psychological safety, and bring a sense of community an...

Emily and Johnny discuss where they have come to on the journey of creating this podcast and the changes they have seen. They touch on the many guests they have had conversations with and what topics have come up over the course of the last year. There is room for reflection and insights. We also explore the change in the podcast title and where that may take us next… Disclaimer Emily & Johnny...

In this podcast we are in conversation with Natasha Nicole Harris, an Akashic Record Activator, Mentor & Teacher for Soul Leaders. This conversation unfolds around the topics of the Akashic Records, what they are, how we can connect to them, listening to intuition and voices of spirit. We touch on transformation and access to infinite sources of wisdom through connecting more deeply with ourse...

Matthew Cooke, Facilitator, Speaker and Executive Coach who helps leaders through his body based breakthrough practice speaks to us about presence, connecting to consciousness and his body based work and connecting to the intelligence of the body to inform our leadership. We also touch on how bringing the experience of spirituality into leadership training still holds a taboo. Disclaimer Emily &am...

In this podcast, we’re in conversation with Fay Manvell, certified Executive coach, supervisor & mentor coach, lover of horses, equine facilitator and reiki practitioner. We ask Fay about her work as an equine facilitator enhancing compassion in leaders. Fay talks about the importance of self awareness, and connectedness, and how her work encourages vulnerability and empathy in her clients in...