Dot to Dot

Episode Notes Together, Frank and Fiona explore: – How music, neuroscience, and ancient wisdom converge to unlock human potential – Why we confuse identity with performance and what it costs us – The difference between peak performance and living a fully human life – What Frank learned from burnout, breakdowns, and building himself back up – The critical role of energy, movement, and emotional rhy...

Together, Aoife and Fiona explore: – How anticipatory stress affects cardiovascular, immune and cellular function, including signs of accelerated aging – Why the brain can’t always tell the difference between real danger and imagined fear and how the body pays the price – The often-overlooked power of social connection , even in fleeting micro-moments – How visualisation , when used intentionally,...

Christian reveals a game-changing insight most people overlook: every time we listen, we bring an  intention . Maybe to fix something. Maybe to understand. Maybe just to connect. But unless our intention matches what the other person actually needs, we miss the moment. We can be kind, empathetic - and still leave them feeling unheard. Drawing from his book (written with psychologist Robert Biswas-...

What We Cover in This Episode: The Story Behind the Book Jenny explains how her Instagram community sparked the writing of Permission to Come Home . The book is a call to reclaim mental health, dismantle shame, and give ourselves permission—to question, feel, rage, play, and heal. Cultural Nuance in Mental Health Care Why standard psychological approaches often fail Asian American clients. The imp...

We talk about his fascinating background growing up in Singapore with the expectations that loomed over him. He shares a point where he felt he had failed, the shame that he experienced and the reflection that ensued in what some may consider unusual circumstances – in the jungle during 2 years military service. Nabil’s creativity started early in life but was further ignited by time spent at Lond...

Jacob Nordby joins me to discuss his personal journey from feeling trapped in an outwardly successful entrepreneurial career to finding fulfillment through creativity and self-discovery. He reflects on how stepping back from societal definitions of success allowed him to reconnect with what truly mattered - expressing himself and helping others do the same. We dive into: Creativity as a Life Force...

Fiona is joined by friend, sports psychologist Lou Jones on this episode. They talk to Russ about how Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) can reach aspects of trauma that are otherwise so hard to treat. Russ explains how when people have experienced trauma and it is deeply held it’s far more difficult to reach and heal through words. Although it’s not impossible, it takes a lot longer and a ma...

Referred to:  Humankind by Rutger Bergman https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/rutger-bregman/humankind/9780316418553/?lens=little-brown Bill Burr on People Online Commenting on the LA Fires   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7wcU4W4tDE For more on Fiona visit www.fionamurden.com  

Andrew explains the need for officers to know themselves really well, to know how to optimise their own recovery which is in part something helped through profiling and in part a process of self-discovery. In light of this Fiona and Andrew explore psychological profiling and how important it is to fit the right personality to the right operations and delve into the use of MBTI (Myers Briggs Type I...

Fiona and Robert explore the importance of intellectual curiosity, self-understanding, and the trade-offs between traditional careers and entrepreneurial pursuits. They delve into the concept of hospitality, its impact on life satisfaction, and discuss practical advice for increasing happiness and emotional resilience. Robert introduces his research on hospitality, examining its role in well-being...

In 1942, Viktor Frankl faced unimaginable adversity as he was sent to Auschwitz. Amid the horrors of a Nazi concentration camp, Frankl observed a remarkable truth: those who found meaning and purpose, even in the darkest moments, displayed an unshakable resilience. These profound insights became the foundation of his groundbreaking work, Man’s Search for Meaning . Building on Frankl’s work and mod...

Fiona shares her 3S framework with the key elements to building emotional resilience —Self-Awareness, Social Connection, and Significance (the "3 S's"). Each episode will unpack one of these elements, providing you with practical strategies to enhance your emotional toolkit. This first episode is focussed on Social Connection.    Throughout this podcast, you’ll discover science-backed methods to b...

Fiona shares her 3S framework with the key elements to building emotional resilience —Self-Awareness, Social Support, and Significance (the "3 S's"). Each episode will unpack one of these elements, providing you with practical strategies to enhance your emotional toolkit. This first episode is focussed on Self-Awareness.  Throughout this podcast, you’ll discover science-backed methods to build you...

Calarco shares insights from her research, highlighting how the pandemic intensified the already heavy burdens placed on women revealing how they often became the primary caregivers when formal systems fell short. She discusses the impact of structural barriers within the USA, like underfunded social support systems, and how societal norms and expectations further pressure women into these roles,...

In this episode, we dive into the concept of authenticity versus emotional labor, exploring the powerful difference between "being" and "seeming." Drawing from psychology and real-world examples, we discuss the hidden costs of faking emotions, both on our mental and physical well-being. We explore how leaders and everyday interactions are impacted by emotional labor and why choosing to be authenti...

Fiona and Jude discuss the power of verbalizing problems, the initial awkwardness of applying coaching techniques, and the value of experimentation and feedback. Jude outlines the two main steps of her model for coaching - the coaching two-step: asking someone to tell you more and reflecting back what you hear. Jude emphasizes that coaching is a natural skill we can all benefit from, much like coo...

For Fiona's blog which explores how values can help reduce the 'Fear of Failure' when setting goals go to Goals Are Great Until Life Takes a Detour To sign up to 'The Dot' newsletter which comes out every 2 weeks go to: FionaMurden.com  To connect with the 'Life Connected' community on Instagram go to: The Connected Psychologist   For more on Fiona visit www.fionamurden.com  

In this episode, we delve into the journey of Leila Rezaiguia, a passionate advocate for equipping coaches with the skills to effectively serve both individuals and teams. With her extensive experience in corporate roles spanning learning, development, and talent management across various industries, Leila emphasizes the transformative impact of one-on-one and systemic team coaching in fostering t...

If you're feeling overwhelmed by life's challenges I'm hoping this may help. Join us on this episode as we dive into practical strategies and psychological insights to help you regain control and find calm amidst the chaos. Whether you're facing personal or professional hurdles, discover how to navigate them with resilience and grace. For more on Fiona visit www.fionamurden.com 

Tori's journey reflects her commitment to resilience and compassion, shaped by her experiences at Smith College and Harvard Divinity School, where she learned about the importance of empathy across cultures and religions. Her work with marginalized populations, including running a shelter for homeless women, led her to pursue a law degree to advocate for change. But perhaps more notable are her pe...

Discussion Points: Psychological Vitamins: Dr. Keyes and Fiona discussing the importance of "psychological vitamins"—activities such as helping others, continuous learning, and forming meaningful connections and how these activities are crucial in fostering a healthy and fulfilling life. Small Changes Big Impact: They discuss the fact that very small changes in lifestyle, if focussed on the ‘right...

The discussion delves deep into the paradoxical nature of perfectionism, exploring how it often leads to hiding our struggles and hopes out of fear of disappointment or perceived failure. Jordana reveals how keeping challenges secret, particularly in sensitive situations like IVF, can actually deprive us of crucial support rather than protect us from disappointment. Throughout the episode, Fiona a...

At 16, Corey Keyes seemed to be thriving after a brutal childhood. He excelled in school, played quarterback on the football team, and lived with his loving grandmother in Wisconsin, USA. However, as he writes in his book, Languishing: How To Feel Alive Again in a World That Wears Us Down , he felt a "restless emptiness" whenever he slowed down. Determined to understand this feeling, he became a s...

Jordana is full of energy, a joy to listen to and as one might expect of a Yale Law School grad she really "Knows her stuff".  She's also brutally honest explaining her own struggles through a seemingly ideal life of high achievement and how much of her perfectionism stems from a mother who herself "was a ruthless perfectionist, and she tried to perfect me."  Jordana and Fiona also discuss the cri...

Gelmi and Fiona begin the conversation with an exploration of personality development for leaders and leveraging psychometrics as a tool to uncover innate qualities and potential. Gelmi uses the analogy of nurturing plants to illustrate how individuals can flourish given the right conditions. He also emphasizes the importance of mentoring, self-reflection, and creating safe environments where peop...