James Dakin's Uplifting Conversations

James's guest Samantha Dark is an actress, businesswoman, mother and abuse survivor. An inspirational lady who lives in London, now also an author through her diaries she kept about her traumatic personal life experience. Her book: "What Morning Knows"

Anthony is an explorer, storyteller and pioneer.  He has lived with Maasai tribes in Kenya and with schools and businesses around the world.  Helping people build on purpose, and passionate about effective education systems.

Amanda is a cancer survivor, lost both parents when young, children were abducted, she was fired from two jobs in one year. Retrained as a Coach, leaving Senior Asset Management to support women and created the "Powershift System".

Mike Underall lives in Vancouver.  He writes a regular column "Closing The Gap", writes for men. and encourages men to recognise gender equality and look honestly at how they can benefit from how they treat women.  He also consults on women-led businesses.

James sits down with Lorenzo Payman, born in Afghanistan, raised in Vietnam, and now a Canadian expat. Lorenzo recounts his family’s escape from Afghanistan as a child, travelling on foot after a family betrayal left them without passports and forced them to evade Communist soldiers. Now a podcast producer, Lorenzo works with people who have incredible stories and helps others launch their own pod...

In this episode, James sits down with Minnie, a remarkable 21-year-old writer and creator of The Feminine Urge , an internationally recognised blog that has captured the attention of readers worldwide. Minnie shares the story behind building her platform, the passion that fuels her writing, and the empowering message she hopes to spread through her work. She talks candidly about the pride she take...

In this episode, James is joined by Sarah Frances McCormick—an accomplished writer, speaker, and storyteller based in Carolina. Sarah Frances has built her work around honesty, vulnerability, and the belief that sharing personal experiences can spark connection, healing, and inspiration in others. Through her writing and public speaking, she explores life’s challenges with raw openness, transformi...

In this episode of the podcast, John Michael, a talented American writer, joins James for a candid and thought-provoking conversation. John opens up about his personal journey living with schizophrenia, sharing the challenges, insights, and moments of resilience that have shaped his life and creative work. In this heartfelt discussion, we explore how his experiences have influenced his writing, th...

In this powerful and inspiring episode, James Dakin sits down with Talia Fox — a dynamic author, acclaimed speaker, and fearless trailblazer — to explore her extraordinary journey from humble beginnings to the highest levels of leadership. Raised in Las Vegas in a struggling family, Talia began supporting her father's small business at just eight years old, stepping in to help with tasks he co...

This week James is joined by Paul Gotel, a transformational coach, speaker, and author whose journey from worldly adventurer to spiritual guide is nothing short of inspiring. With decades of experience traveling the globe and diving deep into the human experience, Paul shares powerful insights on living with purpose, aligning with your truth, and embracing the present moment. He and James explore...

In this month’s episode, James sits down with Baiba Ziga, a globally experienced professional originally from Latvia. Having lived and worked in 15 different countries, Baiba brings a rich and well-rounded perspective on cultures, communities, and educational systems from around the world. Despite her international journey, Baiba remains deeply connected to her Latvian roots. She is passionately d...

In this episode, James sits down with Ozge Koca, a headhunted immigrant whose journey from Türkiye to the UK has been nothing short of remarkable. Now a British citizen, Ozge is dedicated to enhancing happiness in both customers and employees. As the founder of a pioneering startup, she developed innovative software to measure happiness levels, a breakthrough that led to her company being the firs...

In this episode, James speaks with Ronen Olshansky, a successful business leader whose journey from Russian immigrant to entrepreneur is truly inspiring. Born in Israel to Ukrainian parents, Ronen’s diverse background has shaped his leadership style. Having lived in London, raised in Miami, and now based in Los Angeles, he brings a global perspective to his work. Fluent in multiple languages, Rone...