Connection Matters Podcast

Guest: Asa Baav — Love & Relationship Coach Website: www.asabaav.com In this episode Leona talks with Asa Baav about the hidden patterns that keep high-achieving women attracting unavailable love — and the inner work that changes everything. They cover: Why the skills that make you successful at work can quietly sabotage your love life What secure attachment actually looks and feels like The power...

Guest Bio Deborah Benham is a marine biologist, nature connection practitioner, and biomimicry educator based in Dorset, England. She works with Transition Network International supporting community-led action across 60+ countries and is co-creating the Living Systems Alliance—a collaboration bringing biomimicry, permaculture, and regenerative design to communities worldwide. Deborah lives in the...

Guest Bio Deborah Benham is a marine biologist, nature connection practitioner, and biomimicry educator based in Dorset, England. She works with Transition Network International supporting community-led action across 60+ countries and is co-creating the Living Systems Alliance—a collaboration bringing biomimicry, permaculture, and regenerative design to communities worldwide. Deborah lives in the...

Jo Bell is a trauma-informed coach who works with women ready to stop editing themselves and enter a new era of living unfiltered. She is the creator of Rise , her signature group experience, where women move from overthinking, people-pleasing and self-doubt into a deep trust in themselves, emotional steadiness and a life that feels like it fits. Key Topics Explored The protective origins of your...

Over the past few weeks on the podcast, we’ve been talking about orienting. About wintering well. Slowing down. Consolidating. That still matters. But in this episode, I can feel a shift, and I wanted to follow it. This conversation is about gathering . Not the grand, impressive kind, but the small, ordinary, life-giving kind that quietly strengthens our web of connection before we need it to hold...

It's mid-January, and somewhere between the first week and now, something shifted. Not collapse, not panic—just a low-grade fatigue and a wondering: "I thought this year would feel different by now." In this episide; you'll hear about the three patterns that keep people stuck, the discipline of saying no to create meaningful yeses later, and practical ways to build rhythm before ambition. This isn...

January has a lot of opinions about how we're meant to begin the year — and most of them are loud, fast, and not especially kind to our nervous systems. But nature tells a very different story. In this episode: Why January culture and January nature are telling us completely different things The relationship between winter and your nervous system Simple daily practices for letting nature guide you...

In this episode, we explore: What orientation actually means (and why it works when resolutions don't) The three questions that help you orient your year: What am I releasing? What am I protecting? What am I committing to? Why choosing support before you're burnt out changes everything Read the full blog post with complete insights and practices: Mentioned in this episode: Opening the Year Ceremon...

What if the crossing from one year to the next isn't meant to be rushed through with resolutions and champagne, but honoured as a sacred threshold where transformation actually happens? In this special New Year's Eve episode, I'm inviting you into something different—a ceremonial journey to honour the Year of the Snake (2025) and welcome the Year of the Horse (2026). This isn't your typical podcas...

Key Themes We Explore: The thread that's been there all along – What my children taught me about the essence that never changes, and how you can recognise yours (even when life has layered stories and trauma on top of it) Why growth doesn't always look like comfort – The question Mary Oliver asks that changes everything, and what it takes to rock the boat when life is ticking along just fine The s...

In this deeply personal episode, I take you on the journey of a fire quest—an ancient ceremonial practice where you sit with fire through the night in prayer and reflection. You'll discover what fire teaches us about unwavering commitment, letting go of what no longer serves, and the courage it takes to stop playing small and step fully into your calling. Key Themes and Topics: In this episode, we...

Ever feel like you just can't be bothered? When even the things you love feel exhausting and the idea of change feels overwhelming? This episode reveals why that feeling isn't a character flaw, it's actually a sign that you're in the sacred space between who you've been and who you're becoming. Key Themes & Topics: In this deeply honest conversation, we explore the patterns of transformation that...

In this episode, we dive deep into the transformative power of grief work and ritual practices that reconnect us to our wild souls and the natural world. John shares his journey from investment banking to becoming a spiritual translator and grief ritualist, drawing on teachings from influential figures like Robert Bly, Michael Mead, Malodoma Some, and Martin Prechtel. We explore why unexpressed gr...

This episode explores the importance of connected self-leadership during times of transformation and uncertainty. We dive into why feeling fear is essential rather than something to push down, how contraction shows up when we're afraid, and why focusing only inward disconnects us from the interconnected web of life. I'll guide you through practical exercises for clarifying your values, crafting a...

Brief Overview: In this episode of Connection Matters , Annette Knopp shares her transformative journey from restlessness and spiritual searching to embodied awakening and authentic connection. Together, we explore how to navigate inner wounds, avoid spiritual traps, and cultivate a life grounded in belonging, purpose, and meaning. Key Themes & Topics: Recognising authentic spiritual guidance vers...

Hugh shares his personal journey from emotional numbness to wholeness, revealing how patriarchal conditioning restricts men's emotional capacity while perpetuating cycles of trauma. We discover the quiet revolution of men choosing love over competition, the importance of men's groups in creating profound brotherhood, and why foundational healing work often needs to happen in same-gender spaces fir...

In this episode, we explore what it really means to live authentically in a world full of expectations. I'll take you behind the scenes of my unconventional choices: why I converted a van and how it became my sanctuary during challenging times, why I've invested in coaches and mentors for over 14 years straight, and how I've never worked a full-time job in my entire career. We dive deep into the c...

In this honest episode, I take you inside our family's summer experiment and share the practical wisdom I've learned about staying connected to yourself and your children when everything feels unstructured and intense. Key Themes and Topics: We explore why self-care isn't selfish but essential for summer survival, how to create anchoring practices that ground you when routines disappear, and findi...

In this deeply moving episode, I share a story about my recent video call with Noorhan, a 25-year-old mother in Gaza, and explore how personal healing work and collective action are inseparably connected. We'll journey through the cost of speaking truth in today's world, the magic that happens when we gather in solidarity circles, and why your sensitivity isn't weakness—it's exactly what the world...

https://www.leonajohnson.life/blogpodcast/staying-awake-without-shutting-down This isn't your typical Connection Matters episode, but it might be one of the most important conversations we'll have. I'm sharing how to navigate the collective trauma of witnessing genocide in real-time while staying connected to your own healing and capacity for meaningful action. Key Themes and Topics: We explore wh...

https://pages.leonajohnson.life/beyond-self-help What does it look like to live in deep alignment, with nature, with purpose, and with your own inner compass? In this rich and nourishing conversation, Leona sits down with long-time friend, teacher, and collaborator Vicky Mateu, whose life’s work bridges spiritual ecology, parenting, nature connection, and embodied living. Vicky brings a unique tap...

Join me for an intimate exploration of how personal transformation creates ripples that touch every relationship, community, and space you enter. You'll discover practical tools for emotional awareness, authentic connection, and joyful learning that transform reactive patterns into connected self-leadership. In this heart-centered episode, we dive deep into the interconnected web of personal growt...

In this inspiring episode, you'll learn how to design your own nature quest ceremony - whether you have four hours or four days - and discover how this ancient practice becomes a gateway to connected self-leadership and integrated living. Join me as I share intimate stories from my own questing journey, including my transformative 40th birthday solo ceremony and facilitating wild women in the Span...

So many of us feel caught between two extremes—trying to enjoy the present moment while also feeling pressure to figure out the future. In this heartfelt and practical episode, I dive into the deeper reasons traditional goal-setting often leaves us feeling stuck or unfulfilled, and why cultivating a “Life Compass” rooted in your values and purpose can be far more empowering than rigid life plans....

What You’ll Discover Join Leona and herbalist Jane as they explore the inspiring journey from speech therapy to a soul-led life of plant medicine, self-trust, and deep nature connection. Discover how everyday herbs, intuitive practices, and simple living can support personal growth and healing. Key Themes and Topics Jane’s transition from speech therapist to herbalist and entrepreneur Early inspir...