Humaning with Rick Watson

Emily Rockit is one hell of a storyteller. In this episode, she shares her stories about navigating well-being, grappling with loss and the rollercoaster that is the music industry. Along the way, we unpack the power of connection, the magic of storytelling and that all-too-familiar wrestling match with imposter syndrome. Em also opens up about writing a book designed to empower indie artists, sha...

Content warning: this episode briefly touches on baby loss. If this topic is sensitive or triggering for you, please take care while listening or skip this episode completely.  Nicole Dean is one inspiring human.  As much for her honesty and courage as for her actions and achievements.  In this conversation, we chat about burnout, identity shifts and what it took to rebuild after hitting rock bott...

In this episode, I sit down (for the second time) with John Williams for a chat that feels less like an interview and more like two humans figuring things out together. We cover everything from therapy and personal growth to how tech is changing the way we connect (for better or worse). John opens up about the wins he’s celebrating, why joy isn’t just a luxury, and the magic of giving himself perm...

Do you ever feel like you spend more time in your head than in your heart or body? Sophia gets it, it’s been her default way of navigating the world, using intellect and achievement to feel safe and valued. In this episode, we dive into the deeper layers of this pattern, uncovering how it’s often tied to our sense of self-worth and the subtle ways it can protect us from feeling and facing shame. R...

Melanie Briony knows herself really well. She knows she can be a bit of a people pleaser, she can procrastinate and she would prefer to avoid uncomfortable conversations. But as someone who runs her own business, she also knows these parts of her don't really serve her as a business owner and more importantly as a human. Listen as Mel talks about the different ways she has accepted her parts and h...

Growing up in New York and now residing in Byron Bay, Greg Goldstein has lived a life full of rich experiences. A traveller in the true sense of the word both geographically and internally, he is a deep well of wisdom. In this conversation, Greg shares his current reality of being called forward towards parenthood and the role perfectionism plays in holding him back. We also dance with the challen...

Claire Baker is a hell of a human.  A ridiculously accomplished academic, author and change-maker in a professional sense, Claire is insanely intelligent and has found it safer to keep the entirety of her brilliance under wraps for most of her life.  To avoid being too big or too much for other people to save them from feeling uncomfortable. In this podcast, she shares her story of growing up look...

On this solocast, Rick reflects back on the year that was looking at what was good, what was bad and what was funny. This is often the question he asks his son Finn when he gets home from school, but also seemed like a good way to break up the year. While you are listening, you may also consider what your good, bad and funny have been this year. Leave a comment below to share as I would love to he...

Monique Dalais has had an amazing professional evolution from a corporate inner-city lawyer to now running her own counselling practice. After spending the year studying Gestalt therapy together, Rick and Monique shared a little about the experience - especially the residential that just ended. They also touch on their experiences with imposter syndrome, worthiness, presence, acceptance and what l...

On the surface, Richard Hil is an accomplished academic and prolific author. But if you look a little deeper than his achievements, you will see that he is, at the core, a uniquely curious human.  A gifted storyteller with a unique view of the world, Richard is really a student of life and what makes up our human experience. In this podcast, we dance all over the place but the common thread is aro...

In this chat, Rick and Laura dig into perfectionism, being capable and the challenge this creates when needing to a ask for help. They explore how this has showed up in the past for Laura and how she now responds differently. This also discuss what self-support looks like compared to external support, the process of change, self-abandonment and a heap more. This was a juicy one... enjoy! Connect w...

In this episode, Rick and Cam explore the theme of having a voice and the sneaky role fear can play in this. They discuss Cam's current journey of leaving the security of his 9-5 job and going all-in on his true passion... music. Cam's story is super inspiring to anyone who wants to follow their heart and do more of what they love. He even included a little music surprise to round out the podcast....

In this episode, Rick and Jo chat about the response to their first podcast and how it led to influx of reconnection with Jo's previous work community. This moved to a discussion about the importance of community as we navigate the roller-coaster experience of life and how our ability to either ask or not ask for support can sometimes limit our opportunities for growth and change. They also speak...

In this episode, Rick and Genevieve start with the story of their last podcast together that never made the light of day and what they both took from the experience. The theme throughout this podcast is how we see our own value in the world. Genevieve explains where and why she previously placed her value in her work and how that focus has now moved towards her family with some amazing downstream...

In this conversation, Leith discusses the important role play and creativity have had in his life so far - originally as a way to cope and now as a unique professional career. They explore how Leith's ability to go inward while battling chronic illness as a teenager has fed his creative imagination as an illustrator and world builder. Both Rick and Leith discuss how they have benefited personally...

In this conversation, Rick and Lucy explore their personal journeys of self-discovery, sobriety and the impact of emotional health on relationships. They discuss the nuances of co-dependency, the evolution of their identities and the challenges and joys of parenting. The dialogue emphasizes the importance of self-awareness, emotional regulation, and the transformative power of therapy, particularl...

John and Rick reflect on their friendship and journey studying Gestalt Therapy. They discuss how vulnerability shaped their relationship, John’s decision to pursue therapy and his personal growth. They highlight Gestalt's focus on the present moment, self-awareness and acceptance while exploring how past experiences influence current behaviours. They also discuss creative adaptations, the powe...

Rick and Luke reflect on their friendship, emphasizing the value of a supportive community and trust shaped by past experiences. Luke shares his journey from Melbourne to Northern NSW, touching on the challenges and growth it brought. They discuss the impact of meditation and yoga in Luke's life, highlighting how these practices have helped him become more present, manage energy, and improve r...

Rick and Jo share their journey of creating space in their lives, emphasising meaningful conversations and the importance of being present. They reflect on how they met, past burnout experiences, the need for balance and self-care, and the benefits of embracing spontaneity over rigid planning. They discuss the challenges of living a pre-programmed life, the value of communication and flexibility,...

This short solocast gives the context and background for how this podcast originated and more importantly, what it isn't. In it, we cover: What is humaning? The real-time current (sensation, story, emotions) running in all of us. The gift of being yourself. The knock-on effect of hearing your story in the story of others. Exploring the 3 levels of dialogue. This is the official starting line f...