Squiggly Lives

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About this episode
This week we delve into deep conversation with Maurice Caron. Maurice is a social worker, musician, new author, globe trotter and father. We chat about his life path and along the way cover topics such as the creative process, living off-grid, focusing on the good and perfectionism vs. failure. His honesty is refreshing and his passion for life contagious. 
This deeply re-assuring conversation was a wonderful reminder to trust, be curious, listen and go with the flow.
Key topics:
Living off grid, trusting the process and seeing the good (00:40)
Social work and refugee communities (12:16)
Balance, creativity and flow (18:02)
Starting new projects and reaching out to others (26:06)
Perfectionism, vulnerability and failure (30:14)
Therapy, nature and trust (37:30)
Montessori and Waldorf learning (50:37)
Book recommendation:
Conversations with God by Neale Donald Walsh
Collected Short Stories by Roald Dahl
Episode links:
https://www.facebook.com/maurice.caron.31/
https://www.facebook.com/mauricecaroncreativity
https://www.instagram.com/maurice_caron_creativity/
 
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About this episode
This week we chat with psychological well-being practitioner and CBT therapist Tuba Ahmed. We talk at length about the benefits of talk therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), as well as really delving into the practical methods that can help relieve mental suffering. Tuba talks about her career path and describes how she navigated her way to her current role; a role that she finds deeply fulfilling and sees as helping her to serve her purpose. We also discuss upbringing, community, faith and religion and how they impacted Tuba’s life purpose and path. This episode really touched on issues that we may all encounter in our lives. It was a wonderful uplifting discussion on well-being, the mind and discovering purpose.
Key topics:
Tuba’s career path and flowing naturally (01.27)
The role of a psychological well-being practitioner (05.39)
CBT – what it is and how it can help (06.46)
CBT techniques – behaviours and challenging thoughts (14.03)
Community, religion and finding your purpose (40.43
Book and film recommendation:
Overcoming Depression by Chris Williams
The Qur’an
Episode links:
https://getselfhelp.co.uk/
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About this episode
In this episode we chat with Sophie Maliphant. Sophie is a freelance graphic designer focused on supporting small businesses and social causes. She is the founder of The Country that Shook, a non-profit initiative that seeks to support and empower Nepali woman. The initiative grew out of a children’s book of the same name that Sophie wrote and illustrated herself after an earthquake in Nepal in 2015, which raised enough money for a local school to be rebuilt after the disaster. Sophie is also the founder of Kumari’s Adventures with her Moon Cycle, a community-driven project focused on increasing menstrual education, with emphasis on creative female expression.
We talk to Sophie about the roots these projects, how she ended up where she is now and her adventures along the way. We cover topics such as the value of creativity, the female cycle, self-knowledge and self-worth.  Sophie’s story is one of determination, independence and courage. A conversation to get you thinking!
Key topics:
The story behind The Country that Shook (01:11)
The next chapter in her story (11:58)
Perspectives on menstruation and female experience in Nepal (14:10)
Re-framing menstruation to encourage female nourishment and empowerment (30:58)
Together we are stronger – creativity and a digitally-connected, empowered community of women (34:53)
Self-worth and personal value (1:00)
Book and film recommendation:
Untamed by Glennon Doyle
Episode links:
Kumari’s Adventure book is now available to pre-order at:
https://thecountrythatshook.com/product/kumaris-adventure-with-her-moon-cycle-english/
(This is the pre-order for UK and Europe. Anyone in other parts of the globe should get in touch with Sophie as she will be doing bulk shipments)
www.thecountrythatshook.com
Instagram @thecountrythatshook
https://www.facebook.com/thecountrythatshook
Instagram @kumariandhermooncycle
https://www.facebook.com/kumariandhermooncycle
Stopbreathegrow.com
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About this episode
In this week’s episode we chat with Lily Harrison. Lily is a Pilates teacher, mother and artist, among many other things. We talk in great depth about meditation, including Lily’s personal journey with it, how to start meditating and what may arise as a result.
We also cover topics such as motherhood, art, creative pursuits and becoming the true version of yourself.
Lily was an absolutely inspiring woman to talk to. We hope you enjoy listening!
Key topics:
Personal meditation practice (01:07)
Micro-changes and shifts (07:23)
Meditation types (10:29)
Soul level and ancestral patterns (22:22)
Art and creativity (31:40)
Motherhood (39:18)
How to start a meditation practice (52:08
Book recommendation:
Karma: A Yogi's Guide to Crafting Your Destiny by Sadhguru Karma
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About this episode
In this episode we talk to Danny Brockman about navigating the challenges of life and finding balance along the way. We hear about his current charity project raising money to feed the homeless and discover how he followed his passions to create a life that he loves.
We discuss the opioid epidemic in the US, ups and downs of life and addiction in great detail. From this we talk about how Danny got through his tough times, and where he found that motivation to get to the other side.
We cover a lot of intense subjects that we feel need to be talked about. Danny provides a shining and positive example of how he was not defeated by his dark times. We see where he finds his purpose and meaning in life, and how sometimes you need to just keep going to find it.  
Key topics covered:
The Grateful Collective (02:00)
Legalisation of marijuana in California (15:15)
Addictions and the opioid crisis in the USA (31:49)
Conquering addictions (41:27)
Becoming a father (54:25)
Benefits of therapy (1:00:20)
Book recommendations:
The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
Key episode links:
The Grateful Collective – search them on Facebook!
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About this episode
In this episode we talk to Shawngela Pierce; author, meditation teacher, law of attraction and spiritual life coach.
We chat about how to let go of the chattering ‘monkey mind’ and tap into our intuition and inner-truth. Shawngela explains the law of attraction to us, as well as other spiritual concepts that may help us connect with our spiritual/higher self. She kindly gives us all plenty of tips for starting a meditation practice, as well as setting out on a journey towards our true purpose and/or self.
We cover topics such as manifestation, life callings, intuition and healing. It was truly a pleasure to have such a positive and up-lifting conversation. We hope you find as much inspiration from it as we did!
Key topics:
Personal mission (01:30)
The Source (03:45)
How to connect with your inner guidance (05:10)
Career journey (09:29)
Law of Attraction and journaling (13:24)
Aligning with your purpose (18:30)
Meditation (27:30)
Identity and letting go of labels (30:49)
Book and film recommendations:
- Conversations with God by Neale Donald Walsch
- The Secret (film)
Personal links:
Shawngela’s website:
https://seekwithinyou.com/
Which meditation is right for you?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgM4UIc4dB8
Shawngela’s book - Healing and the Law of Attraction:
https://www.amazon.com/Healing-Law-Attraction-Shawngela-Pierce/dp/0692187405
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About this episode
This week we talk to nutritional therapist Luca Sonzogni. Luca successfully runs online nutrition programs, wellness retreats in Thailand where he lives, and writes a personal blog (see links below).
We talk to Luca about how to make big life decisions, and discuss his own big life decisions, including the planned, yet intuitive, steps that he made to create the life he is living today. We discuss nutrition and fasting in great detail, and discuss lifestyle choices that may hinder or support our wellbeing.
Luca talks about societal and childhood conditioning, and habitual responses towards our eating and daily habits. We dissect these topics, discussing the roots of them and how to break harmful or destructive patterns.
This episode if full of useful tips to improve your health. It is inspirational to hear just how much purpose and meaning Luca gets from having created a life he loves. It is fascinating to hear how we may finder greater meaning and self-understanding through focusing on all aspects of our wellbeing!
Key topics
Luca’s life path so far and transformational moments (01:18)
Freewill and conditioning (08:35)
Finding a fulfilling life (11:11)
Lifestyle/wellbeing changes and advice (24:50)
Intermittent fasting (30:50)
Emotions, food and getting to the root of our issues (40:00)
Flow states (46:29
Book recommendations
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
Personal bio and links
Luca successfully runs online nutrition Programs, see here www.smileynutrition.com and writes a personal blog www.nutriyogalife.com.
It was the spring of 2013 when Luca Sonzogni started on a really difficult personal path that transformed his life completely. Luca had been in London for well over a decade working in finance and the corporate world, a very fast paced and demanding lifestyle that in the long run proved to be unsustainable.  Shortly after leaving, he embarked on a soul searching journey to Brazil, Nepal, India and eventually arrived at the Yoga Village of Koh Phangan.
Luca touched the bottom then and climbing up involved completing studies in Nutrition at the College of Naturopathic Medicine in London, becoming a Yoga Teacher at the Sivananda Ashram in Madurai, India and ultimately profoundly changing his value system and lifestyle.
Since September 2016, he has been living in Srithanu, Koh Phangan, where a healthy living community of internationals share the natural beauty of this tropical island, the many yoga schools, workshops, events, gatherings, fresh food and wholesome restaurants. It is a perfect place where to find self-development and healing, sun, peace and connection.
Luca set up a nutritional therapy practice online and worked as Detox Manger for specialist detox centres in Koh Samui. There he had the wonderful gift of witnessing first hand, over and over, the healing power of fasting. Eventually this led to the setting up of the Smiley Detox, a community fasting detox, in Koh Phangan and online. People loved the experience and that prompted him to start the Smiley Retreat, to give everyone the opportunity of a flexible detox and wellness experience, in a truly unique place.
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About this episode
This week we talk to Emmy McMorrow. Emmy is British actor, writer and producer. Having trained at the prestigious Guildhall School of Music and Drama, she went on to work as a TV actor, with roles in the BBC and in independent feature films. She has written scripts for channels such ITV and currently co-manages a film production company called Smoulder Productions.
We talk to Emmy about her acting and writing career, her shift in energy and priorities upon hearing she will soon be a mother, as well as her spiritual outlook.
We discuss the topic of mental health in great depth, including her own journey, society’s attitude towards mental health and how she works to raise awareness of it.
A wide array of topics are covered including discovering passions, how perspective and attitude to the outside world changes over our lifetimes and careers, how we can all better understand our own personality type and what purpose means for her.
Key topics:
Acting - one of Emmy’s true callings / her purpose (01:20)
The feeling acting gives Emmy (06:54)
Career shifts and attitudes (09:23)
Mental health, new projects and raising awareness (13:15)
Spirituality, fate and changes in perception (20:00)
Changing priorities (30:15)
Highly Sensitive People (28:10)
Book recommendations:
- Conversations with God by Neale Donald Walsch
- The Highly Sensitive Person: How to Thrive When the World Overwhelms You by Elaine Aron The Untethered Soul by Michael A. Singer
Personal bio and links:
Emmy's earliest memory is looking behind the family TV set, and asking her Mum how the people got inside the box because she wanted to be in there too. This passion for film swiftly developed into a lifelong ambition and Emmy went on to train professionally in Acting at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, graduating in 2005.
Emmy's body of work as an actor includes Spooks, Doctors and Holby City for the BBC, and independent British feature films, such as Simon (2016), Jane Linfoot’s feature debut The Incident (2016), Pericles by the Road (2017) and Infirmus (2017).
Emmy came to writing in her late twenties. Her first project, The Smoke, started life as sketches jotted in 2006 and eventually sold on an option to ITV Productions in 2012. A co-production development deal between Smoulder and ITV was agreed under its co-founder, Abigail Boyd, with Emmy being attached to the central role of Bex.
In 2013, Emmy worked as a production assistant on the short film, Mother’s Day, for a SANDS charity short, and on music videos for the jazz band, Katz & Dawgs.
In 2016, she re-established Smoulder Productions alongside Jon Thompson. Emmy wrote a first draft of a romantic comedy in 2014, which sat in some lonely, dusty corner of her laptop until Smoulder hired talented newcomer, Dominic David Burgess, to redraft it under the working title of A Certain Romance.
Emmy is currently working on her first feature film, 3 Months, 3 Marks & a Ring, a semi-autobiographical, asphalt-black romantic comedy set in New York City fall 2016 against the backdrop of political controversy.
http://www.smoulderproductions.co.uk/index.html
https://meloncomedy.com/
Emmy is represented by Vivienne Clore Management
 
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About this episode
In this episode we talk to Cornflower about his musical journey. Cornflower is a genre-bending vocalist, live-looper and beatboxer. He performs throughout the United States at ecstatic dance events, festivals and a wide-range of venues. In this episode we dive into his musical career.
Along the way to cover topics such as his personal purpose, his aspirations, his upbringing and his spiritual outlook. Cornflower is so refreshingly open about his experiences. His personal stories have numerous nuggets of inspiration and wisdom that we may all find useful. Prepare to finish listening with new feelings of optimism, love, self-confidence and a plethora of new ideas!
Key topics covered:
Cornflower’s journey with music in a nutshell (02:30)
Movement and sound for healing (11:18)
Musical influences (18:40)
Spiritual and life-changing experiences (27:20)
Home, family and up-bringing (35:20)
Roots and reincarnation (43:26)
Wellbeing and health (55:19)
Book recommendations:
Seat of the Soul by Gary Zukav
Be Here Now by Ram Dass
A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle
Key episode links:
Cornflower Music
You are the Medicine song
Cornflower Music Subscription
Instagram @cornflowermusic
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About this episode
In this episode we talk to yoga teacher Sarah Gero (she/her). Originally a dancer, Sarah did a BSc in Kinesiology and Health Sciences in the States before coming to London to study choreography. After her studies she spent time in events management and then returned full circle to movement and bodily/somatic practices; training as a yoga teacher.
Having recently trained in trauma-informed yoga teaching we discuss her approach to teaching in great detail. We talk in length about trauma and the mind-body connection. We also discuss real and practical techniques for processing past experiences, reconnecting with the body and finding greater inner freedom.
This is a fascinating exploration of the human experience and the human body!
Key topics:
Yoga for healing (04:06)
The body and stored trauma (06:23)
Definitions and an embodied approach for processing trauma (08:57)
Advice for finding a yoga class (18:38)
Practical tips for processing/releasing trauma (21:45)
Intergenerational trauma (29:04)
The power of yoga (35:42)
Empathy, self-awareness and post-traumatic growth (38:30)
Book recommendations:
My Grandmother’s Hands by Resmaa Menakem,
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery
The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk
Overcoming Trauma Through Yoga: Reclaiming Your Body by David Emerson
Pocket Guide to Polyvagal Theory by Stephen W. Porges
Key episode links:
Live Karma Yoga (the organisation Sarah teaches with in London): 
Yoga for Humankind (where did her 100Hr Trauma-Informed Yoga Training)
Mind - UK mental health charity
The NHS mental health services
Dr Arielle Schwartz - there’s lots of great free resources on her site and also her YouTube has free yoga practices specific to trauma healing: 
Dr Dan Siegel’s hand model of the brain video
Personal Bio
Sarah is a London based Vinyasa Yoga, Power Flow, and Trauma-Informed Yoga Teacher. She has been practicing yoga for over 10 years and is a forever student of the practice. Through the healing powers of yoga, she aspires to help others reconnect with themselves and the world around them. In her classes, Sarah encourages her students to feel into their bodies and recognise internal sensations as a way of integrating mind-body awareness into the present moment. 
Her yoga classes are tailored to meet the needs of her students while providing a playful environment for practitioners to feel empowered. She believes each person's practice is unique and invites her students to celebrate their own abilities. Through asana Sarah invites her students to cultivate balance and harmony on their mats, in their nervous systems, and in their lives.
Find out more about Sarah
Website: Sarah Gero
Instagram: @sarah_gero
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