How to Reconnect with Your Inner Wisdom and Find True Wellbeing. At this time of New Year resolutions, it’s easy to fall into the trap of pushing harder and faster. But in a world already moving at breakneck speed, chronic stress, overwhelm, and burnout have become alarmingly common. This episode offers a vital alternative: the power of rest. My guest, Fiona Agombar, is a yoga therapist, rest activist, and author of Breathe, Rest, Recover. Having experienced severe burnout herself as a high-flyi...
Jan 06, 2025•1 hr 7 min
Smartphones and social media are making us more anxious, distracted, and disconnected. In this episode, I revisit my conversation with Cal Newport, author of Deep Work and Digital Minimalism. Cal explores how our increasing reliance on smartphones and social media is eroding our ability to focus, perform deep work, and even be alone with our thoughts. He explains how the iGen generation (born 1995–2012) has been particularly affected, with alarming rates of mental health issues linked to the con...
Dec 30, 2024•1 hr 20 min
After watching the Channel 4 documentary Swiped: The School That Banned Smartphones and noticing the profound impact of using a dumbphone, I’m revisiting one of my most powerful conversations—my interview with Johann Hari, author of Stolen Focus: Why You Can’t Pay Attention. Johann reveals the deeper reasons so many of us struggle with focus and attention, explaining why this isn’t a personal failing but the result of broader societal forces. From our relationship with digital devices to surveil...
Dec 17, 2024•1 hr 12 min
The cost of constant distractions and how to get your focus back. In this episode, we explore the huge cognitive cost of constantly checking your phone and how it impacts your ability to focus and perform at your best. My guest is Johann Hari, author of Stolen Focus, who sheds light on the “switch cost effect” – the mental toll of constantly switching between tasks. Johann explains how multitasking lowers your IQ in the short term, even more so than smoking weed, and offers simple steps to redis...
Dec 13, 2024•11 min
In this episode, we explore a thought-provoking question: Is self-improvement really the path to happiness, or is it a trap that keeps us chasing something we already have? My guest is Joan Tollifson, an author, teacher, and lifelong explorer of the nature of being. Together, we discuss why the idea of “improving yourself” is inherently flawed, how meditation helps us access peace and creativity, and the value of simply taking some moment to 'be' in our lives. We also touch on: What actually is ...
Dec 09, 2024•1 hr 14 min
In this episode, we dive deep into the topic of imposter syndrome, a feeling many of us have faced at some point. While it’s often seen as something negative, what if imposter syndrome is just a normal part of the human experience? I’m joined by Dr. Russ Harris, the author of The Happiness Trap and The Confidence Gap, as well as an expert in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Dr. Harris offers a refreshing perspective on imposter syndrome and shares research-backed strategies to help us na...
Dec 06, 2024•9 min
Rejection is something we all experience, and for many the experience can be brutal. But even when we go to a social event, part of the reason we tend to stick to the people we know is to avoid the pain of feeling rejected, however slightly. So this is a universal issue. In this episode, I sit down with author, therapist and non-dual teacher Nic Higham to unpack one of the most challenging human experiences. Whether it’s the sting of a passing comment or the deeper wounds that stick with us, rej...
Dec 02, 2024•35 min
What does it truly means to be content in your own skin? It's tempting to put so-called "successful" people on a pedestal, but the reality is often much more complicated. Many high achievers are driven by inner turmoil. Adrian Chiles, broadcaster and former host of The One Show, shares insights from his conversations with high performers on BBC Radio 5 Live, many of whom have also appeared on this podcast - from Jonny Wilkinson to Ronnie O'Sullivan. We explore why chasing traditional success oft...
Nov 29, 2024•10 min
We are in the middle of a 'creativity crisis' - with so many people are distracted, unable to focus and lacking in connection. So what to do about it? Here to help me unpick how we can find more flow, creativity, connection, peace and ease - is Chris Smith, an award-winning author, broadcaster and stand-up comedian. For many years we sat alongside each other in the Newsbeat studio on BBC Radio 1. We discuss: How to get into flow and tap into the 'intelligent unconscious' The relationship between...
Nov 25, 2024•1 hr 14 min
Do you feel overwhelmed? If so, you're far from alone. Rates of burnout are soaring. We are more connected digitally, but less connected in a meaningful way. We jump from whatsapp groups, to emails, to rolling news - and round and round we go. And it's filling our ability to use our more valuable resource - our attention. If you can't focus, you can't be truly creative and you certainly can't find flow. I am creating a course about Banishing Burnout and Finding Flow - which I will be sharing mor...
Nov 22, 2024•11 min
Living with Purpose and Contentment, the Danish Way. In this episode, I’m thrilled to welcome Meik Wiking, the Danish happiness researcher and best-selling author who introduced the world to "hygge"—the Danish art of creating cozy, contented spaces. We dive into Meik’s insights on the true keys to happiness, from fostering deep social connections to redefining success beyond wealth and status. Meik shares thought-provoking ideas, like Denmark’s culture of collective well-being, and "job crafting...
Nov 18, 2024•48 min
Headspace founder Andy Puddicombe on How to Make Meditation a Habit. There’s no doubt that meditation has profound benefits for both body and mind. Yet many people struggle to make it a habit—they worry they’re not doing it “right,” or they can’t quiet their thoughts long enough to feel the impact. But meditation is a powerful practice worth mastering, with research highlighting its potential to transform our well-being. To make mindfulness meditation accessible to everyone, I’m joined today by ...
Nov 15, 2024•9 min
Nobody ever has their sh*t together, it's a myth. Even so, life is a miracle. It can be so easy to overlook this fact - and miss the incredible fact of existence. But life is also full of pain and suffering. If we can make peace with how life really is - rather than how we think it should be - then perhaps we can start to relax and let go of the incessant striving and quest to 'become' sometime in the future. We can find peace in this moment, even in the midst of life's myriad of challenges. My ...
Nov 11, 2024•1 hr 2 min
Professor Paul Dolan on Bringing More Pleasure and Purpose into Everyday Living. This bitesize episode challenges the stories we tell ourselves about happiness—stories that often equate fulfillment with high status, massive social media followings, or endless wealth. But as Professor Paul Dolan reveals, these ideas are often misguided. Real happiness isn’t about chasing society’s markers of success; it’s about tuning into what genuinely brings us joy: spending time with friends, building meaning...
Nov 08, 2024•10 min
How Diet, Diversity, and Lifestyle Shape Your Microbiome and Well-Being. In this episode, I sit down with Tim Spector to dive into the fascinating world of the gut microbiome and its powerful role in our overall health. Tim breaks down how our diets directly shape our gut health, emphasising the benefits of a diverse, plant-rich diet and aiming for 30 different plants a week. We explore why ultra-processed foods can harm the microbiome, while foods like kefir and sauerkraut can give it a healthy...
Nov 04, 2024•1 hr 15 min
Letting Go of the Future: Finding Peace in the Present Moment. In this episode, Jonny Wilkinson talks about the endless chase for future goals and why waiting for the next big thing can be a dangerous trap. Jonny shares his thoughts on breaking free from the pressure to ‘arrive’ sometime in the future, and focuses on finding calm in the present, and seeing past the illusion that we’ll one day finally have it all sorted. Full episode with Jonny: https://pod.fo/e/16ff5e links: Book: https://www.si...
Nov 01, 2024•10 min
In this episode, I reflect on the evolution of my podcast from Don't Tell Me the Score to A New Way of Being. This change reflects the shift from simply performance and success to exploring our innate wellbeing, acceptance, and the common struggle with feeling not good enough. I talk about why it’s so important to recognise that we are inherently "enough," beyond our thoughts, beliefs, and achievements. Over the next weeks and months on my Substack newsletter I am going to be sharing my own expe...
Oct 30, 2024•9 min
Finding balance in a chaotic world. In this episode I sit down with psychologist and author Emma Seppälä to discuss how we can return to our natural state of well-being. Emma shares strategies for breaking free from the overwhelming demands of modern life and the constant and often demoralising chatter of the ego. Key Topics: Understanding the impact of information overload on mental health The power of self-compassion over self-criticism How practices like stillness and meditation enhance creat...
Oct 28, 2024•51 min
We live in a 'push, push, push' culture that glorifies productivity, and many of us have become experts at ignoring the signals our bodies send us. Why do we keep pushing even when our bodies tell us to slow down? So many of us are living “in our heads” and are out of touch with the signals of our body and nervous system. So this episode is about heeding the signals, and the benefits that can some from when we do slow down and stop. Please support this podcast by leaving and review - it can make...
Oct 25, 2024•10 min
Why success alone doesn’t bring happiness but truly embracing the now can be transformative. This is a fascinating conversation with one of my favourite tennis players of the last few decades – Dominic Thiem, who is retiring this week in Vienna. Dominic explains what it’s like to reach the pinnacle of success, and then realise… it didn’t bring the fulfilment it promised. After winning the US Open in 2020, he found himself grappling with a sense of emptiness, which prompted a period of deep intro...
Oct 21, 2024•1 hr 4 min
Exploring how stoicism’s practical wisdom can help you respond to anything life throws your way. In this bitesize episode, I sit down with Ryan Holiday to explore the essence of Stoic philosophy and how it can help us cope with life’s challenges. We discuss how Stoics viewed obstacles as opportunities and the importance of accepting what we can't control. My links: Book: https://www.simonmundie.com/book YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/YouTubeSimonMundie Website: simonmundie.com Substack Newsletter:...
Oct 18, 2024•7 min
Exploring the dangers of forced positivity and the importance of embracing all emotions for genuine connection and well-being. In this episode, ex rugby league pro Stevie Ward explore the downsides of forced positivity and why closing off to the full spectrum of feelings is a bad idea - and saps us of strength and authenticity. It's about acknowledging and embracing feelings like sadness and fear, rather than suppressing them. We discuss how inauthenticity can be perceived as a threat and why id...
Oct 14, 2024•42 min
Find out why it’s the time spent on screens, not just the content, that’s affecting your well-being – and how you can start reclaiming your focus with Professor Cal Newport In this bitesize episode, I sit down with Cal Newport to chat about how smartphones and social media are messing with our well-being. Rather than focusing on what sort of content we’re consuming, the bigger issue is the sheer amount of time we spend glued to our screens. Cal explains that what really makes us unhappy is all t...
Oct 11, 2024•11 min
In this episode, we tackle a subject that affects us all but remains somewhat taboo —money. Anna joins me to share her powerful journey from financial uncertainty to mastering her finances, and together, we explore how much headspace money takes up when we’re not in control of it. Financial stress can cloud our ability to think clearly, reduce our creativity, and drain our energy, but by understanding our relationship with money, we can free up that space for the things that matter most. What we...
Oct 07, 2024•1 hr 3 min
Fighter pilots are experts at developing the power of focus under pressure. Fighter pilot turned Head of UK Military Flying Training Rob Caine explains the powerful concept of "the bubble"—a state that helps block out distractions and allows for complete concentration on the task at hand. Whether you’re flying a jet, preparing for a presentation at work or just trying to focus at work, creating a bubble of focus is key to reaching your peak performance. We also discuss how the bubble helps us ta...
Oct 04, 2024•9 min
"A healthy person has a hundred wishes, but a sick person has only one" Another wise one man once said, 'One day you will look like a soggy tea-bag, if you are lucky!'. That man was near-death survivor turned mobility and movement guru Adam Richardson, this week's ANWOB guest. In this episode, Adam Richardson reveals his transformative journey from Intensive Care to an enlightened view on what is important, leading him to become a social media sensation and movement and mobility guru. Adam share...
Sep 30, 2024•1 hr 9 min
Meditation 2.0: Discovering the True Nature of Thought. This episode with neuroscientist, author and creator of the Waking Up app Sam Harris explores where people go wrong with meditation, with profound insights, not least for our true identity as well as an antidote to psychological suffering. As I often say, we are not our thoughts - we are AWARE of our thoughts. Full episode with Sam Harris: https://pod.fo/e/16ff62 Other relevant episodes: Rupert Spira: https://pod.fo/e/16ff5c Awe - with Dach...
Sep 27, 2024•11 min
This conversation starts with a truly eye-opening insight: our judgments of others often reveal traits in ourselves that we haven’t fully recognised and owned. Internationally renowned behaviour expert Dr John Demartini identified 4,628 different human behavioural traits, and recognised that we all possess both all of them - positive and negative. This is about what he calls reflective awareness – that we are simply being shown by others what we aren’t loving in ourselves, which keeps us from wh...
Sep 23, 2024•1 hr 3 min
Discover how embracing your shadow and understanding the judgments we place on others can help reduce psychological suffering. What we resist in others often reflects what we need to heal within ourselves. This is a sneak peek from one of my all-time favourite conversations, with the full episode dropping on Monday. I highly recommend tuning in—it’s packed with powerful insights and wisdom that will leave you feeling instantly lighter. My links: YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/YouTubeSimonMundie We...
Sep 20, 2024•10 min
The closest most of us will ever get to flying fighter jets is by watching 'Top Gun'. But there is so much anyone can learn from fighter pilot turned Head of UK Military Flying Training Rob Caine. He has three decades of flying experience under his belt and in this conversation shares powerful insights on: Tapping into the unconscious mind for flow Trusting your intuition Building boundaries to get into flow via a 'fast jet bubble' The art of clear communication and intent How to make decisions ...
Sep 16, 2024•1 hr 18 min
