The Self Help Antidote

Send a text In this episode, Tiff and I are taking on the ever-persistent hustle culture, where busyness is celebrated as success, and exhaustion is often the reward. We’ll explore the real costs of endless grinding and how it can distract us from what genuinely matters. This isn't about scaling back ambitions but recalibrating them, diving into ways to improve our focus, identify our core va...

Send a text In this episode, we’re diving into the subject of empathy vs. sympathy, because in coaching and leadership, these two are not the same. It's not so much that empathy fails, but the confusion of empathy with sympathy that's the problem.   Think of empathy as that friend who shows up with pizza when you’re stressed, while sympathy just sends you a sad-face emoji and a “Thoughts...

Send a text In this episode, we explore one of the most critical yet often overlooked skills for coaches: emotional self-regulation. Emotions drive decisions and behaviors more than any other aspect of mindset, and your emotional energy as a coach can either create an atmosphere of trust and growth or lead to barriers that hinder your client’s progress. Drawing on insights from affective neuroscie...

Send a text In this episode, we explore why prioritizing wellbeing isn't just a "nice to have"—it's a critical business strategy. Drawing inspiration from the visionary leadership of Walt Disney, we look at how businesses that proactively focus on wellbeing, like Walt saw Epcot long before it was built, can anticipate and solve hidden challenges before they surface. Wellbeing i...

Send a text In this episode, we dive into one of the biggest obstacles coaches face when helping clients navigate change—the righting reflex. The instinct to "fix" or "correct" can create resistance, damage trust, and ultimately slow down the process of change. We'll explore why it’s crucial to avoid this reflex and instead guide clients to discover their own path to trans...

Send a text How does lasting behavior change happen, and where’s the evidence to support it? In this episode, we break down the science of behavior change using the analogy of climbing a hill—because like any steep climb, the journey to change is hard, but preparation is just as important as taking that first step. We dive into three key models that help us understand the process of change: Motiva...

Send a text In this episode of The Self Help Antidote , I chat down with my long time friend and collaborator, John Hardy, the Managing Director and Founder of FASTER Health and Fitness Limited. John is not only revolutionizing the fitness industry with cutting-edge training methodologies, but he's also an improv performer and stand-up comedian who masterfully blends the performing arts with...

Send a text In this episode of The Self Help Antidote , Tiff and I dive into a topic that’s as essential as your morning coffee—setting boundaries. But let’s be real, it’s easier said than done, especially when your brain has been hardwired by a childhood that could have doubled as a Quentin Tarantino movie. I share a bit of my own story of growing up in a highly violent environment, where my worl...

Send a text In this episode of "The Self Help Antidote," we're diving into the nuanced difference between opinions and beliefs. Sure, everyone has an opinion, but a belief? That’s a whole different ball game. And to illustrate just how wide that gap can be, we’re revisiting a legendary moment in history. Imagine it’s 1859, and you’re part of a massive crowd watching Charles Blondin,...

Send a text In this episode of The Self Help Antidote , we delve into the art of communication by exploring the 9 essential keys that unlock genuine influence. Unlike common misconceptions, persuasion isn't about manipulating others; it's about empathetically engaging with them. Join me, as I unpack the science behind effective persuasion, highlighting why you can't simply tell peop...

Send a text In this episode of "The Self Help Antidote," we dive deep into the critical role leaders play in fostering team wellness and the remarkable impact it has on overall performance. Our objective is to understand how leaders can set the tone for a healthy work culture, demonstrate quick state changes through movement, and explore the performance benefits of various wellness pract...

Send a text Let's be real: the only time we'll be completely stress-free is when we're done and dusted, pushing up daisies, or whatever euphemism you prefer for the great beyond. Stress is part of the contract we signed when we decided to exist. Ok, maybe that's a bit rich, but stress is in fact an unavoidable part of life.  It's a healthy, sometimes annoying, at it's...

Send a text Welcome to our hustle-busting episode of "The Self-Help Antidote"! This week, Tiffanee Cook is back (wow I have missed her)!  And we're blowing the lid off the age-old mantra of "try harder, work harder." Spoiler alert: it's not always the answer! Join us as we explore how endless grinding might be murdering your creativity in its sleep. 😱 We'll dive...

Send a text Despite the enormous body of information on behavior change, many people find changing unwanted behaviors—whether around weight loss, work, or relationships—to be among the most frustrating and elusive struggles in their lives. The National Institutes of Health reports that 97% of individuals who set a goal of weight loss will either fail to lose the weight or keep it off for a span of...

Send a text In this episode, we delve into the world of leadership coaching, exploring the evidence-based theories that underpin its effectiveness. Coaching is a powerful tool for personal and professional development, leveraging psychological and social dynamics to foster growth and change. We begin by discussing scientific coaching models and theories that emphasize learning, growth and developm...

Send a text Welcome to episode 160 of the Self Help Antidote, where we dive deep into the transformative power of emotional intelligence and its profound impact on both personal relationships and career performance. For this episode I decided to do a Q&A session where we answer commonly asked questions about EI and provide actionable insights to help you harness this vital skill. Discover how...

Send a text In this insightful episode, we dive deep into the complex and multifaceted world of burnout with our esteemed guest, Dr. Cam McDonald. Cam is a leader, educator, PhD scholar, and internationally recognized speaker on personalized health. As a key executive and education leader at Precision Health Alliance, his mission is to eliminate chronic disease and pain by 2050, making 'healt...

Send a text In this enlightening episode, I have a chat with my old friend and colleague, John Sinclair about one of the most powerful, yet under appreciated aspects of success and fulfillment, movement.   John is a renowned expert in movement as medicine, leveraging his diverse background as an educator, coach, athletic trainer, medical exercise specialist, and applied functional scientist to cre...

Send a text Welcome, to a special episode of The Self Help Antidote, where we take you behind the velvet curtain of the most enchanting, bewildering show on Earth—the 'Problem-Reaction-Solution' spectacle. Imagine, if you will, a stage where the problems are as abundant as the stars, reactions are the currency, and solutions? Well, they're the magic trick everyone's waiting to...

Send a text In this captivating episode of the Self Help Antidote, we're thrilled to welcome Dr. Jon Marion, a distinguished expert with a PhD in psychological anthropology, a former instructor at the Somatic School in London, and a past chapter president of the International Coach Federation (ICF). Dr. Marion brings his profound insights into the complex interplay between individual growth,...

Send a text Alright, here we go, strap in!  She's back!   This episode, me and Tiffanee Cook, we're going headfirst, I mean, like diving into a pool with no water, into some seriously personal stuff. You know, the kind that makes you go, "Whoa, this is a big issue, what am I doing here?"  Lately I've been going through life busier than a one legged river dancer, and it&apo...

Send a text In this thought-provoking episode of "The Self Help Antidote," we delve into the contentious and complex debate over human free will. We explore the philosophical underpinnings of free will, as traditionally espoused by thinkers like Descartes, contrasted with the revelations of modern neuroscience. Special guest, Clinical Neuropsychologist Roy Sugarman, author of  “Saving Yo...

Send a text In this insightful episode, I'm honored to have an extraordinary guest, my wife, Aimiende Negbenebor Sela, an award-winning filmmaker known for her deep and poignant storytelling Together, we explore something that people seem to be experiencing more and more, emotional exhaustion, a phenomenon that often leaves us drained and devoid of energy. Often described as feeling “spent.” ...

Send a text Welcome back to the first episode of the year, with Alan Questel.  Alan is a renown Feldenkrais practitioner, teacher and author.  I found my conversation with him to be both enjoyable and deeply fascinating.  I loved where the conversation went.  Alan’s wisdom, authenticity and generosity added so much value to this episode.   In the beginning of our conversation we delved into a myri...

Send a text This was such a fascinating conversation.  I had a chance to speak with the authors of the book "Necessary Death", Chris Gross and Preston Fassel.  These guys take a truly unique approach to growth, resilience,  healing and transformation.   "Necessary Death" is a compelling and thought-provoking work.  This book skillfully intertwines elements of psychological horr...