Tom Glason on Shedding Armour, Authentic Leadership, and Building ScaleWise

Tom Glason on Shedding Armour, Authentic Leadership, and Building ScaleWise

What does it cost to perform the version of yourself the world expects — and what happens when the armour finally starts to come off?   In this episode of I Am Pausing with Hannah Godfrey, Hannah sits down with Tom Glason — co-founder of ScaleWise, founder of the UK's Revenue Collective (now Pavilion), and one of the most authentic leaders she's encountered in over a decade in SaaS. Tom and Hannah have known each other for nearly ten years, sharing everything from boardrooms to breathwork circles.   Tom grew up between Southeast Asia and the UK, navigated bullying at school and in the workplace, and spent two decades in high-pressure CRO roles that shaped him — and, at times, eroded him. He talks honestly about the armour he built to survive, the physical toll it took, and the sequence of losses that finally cracked it open.   Together, they explore what it means to lead without performing, why the targets we chase can become armour we hide behind, and how founding ScaleWise with his wife Karen became an act of reclaiming his family life — and himself.   ABOUT TOM GLASON Tom Glason is co-founder of ScaleWise, a fractional go-to-market consultancy for scaling B2B tech companies, and founder of the UK's Revenue Collective (now Pavilion). With over two decades in go-to-market leadership — including multiple CRO roles at VC-backed SaaS companies — Tom brings rare depth and self-awareness to conversations about leadership, culture, and the human cost of high performance.   EPISODE CHAPTERS 00:00  Introduction and Background 02:51  The Evolution of SaaS and Personal Journey 05:25  The Impact of Bullying and Resilience 08:02  Leadership Lessons and Challenges 10:29  The Armor: Protection and Its Consequences 13:09  Grief and Self-Exploration 15:37  The Journey to Emotional Awareness 18:03  Founding Scalewise: A New Approach to Leadership 20:35  The Evolution of Scalewise and Work-Life Balance 23:23  Building a Sustainable Business Together 24:10  Navigating Challenges in Partnership 26:52  Creating Boundaries in Work and Family Life 27:45  Personal Rituals for Balance and Well-being 30:11  The Cold Plunge Routine 32:51  Listening to Your Body's Signals 34:36  The Impact of Sleep Tracking 37:10  Evolving Community Connections 43:11  The Power of Vulnerability in Leadership   CONNECT & FOLLOW •        Follow Tom Glason on LinkedIn: Tom Glason [https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomglason/] •        Visit ScaleWise: scalewise.io [http://scalewise.io] •        Follow Hannah Godfrey on LinkedIn: Hannah Godfrey [https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannahgodfrey/] •        Follow I Am Pausing on LinkedIn: I Am Pausing [https://www.linkedin.com/company/i-am-pausing/] •        Visit iampausing.com [http://iampausing.com] •        Subscribe to I Am Pausing with Hannah Godfrey on YouTube and Spotify

Anthony Abbagnano on Breathwork, the Inner Child, and Becoming Your Own Authority

What if the most radical act of leadership was simply learning how to breathe? In this episode of I Am Pausing, Hannah sits down with Anthony Abbagnano — founder of Alchemy of Breath, co-founder of ASHA (the Alchemy School of Healing Arts) in Tuscany, and author of Outer Chaos, Inner Calm. Anthony has trained over 2,000 breathwork facilitators worldwide and is widely regarded as one of the global leaders in the field. This conversation is deeply personal for Hannah. Eight years ago, she walked into a breathwork workshop in London led by Anthony and his partner Amy — not really knowing what she was signing up for. That day changed everything. Last summer, attending Breath Camp at ASHA in Tuscany set in motion a series of shifts that ultimately led Hannah to leave London, move to the coast, and meet her partner a month later. Together, Anthony and Hannah explore what it means to develop an inner authority rather than living in apology, why the rat race is over (and what comes next), and how the breath might just be the most accessible doorway into a different way of living and working. About Anthony Abbagnano Anthony Abbagnano is the founder of Alchemy of Breath and co-founder of ASHA, the Alchemy School of Healing Arts in Tuscany. Author of Outer Chaos, Inner Calm, he has spent over 40 years developing a body of work that bridges ancient wisdom with modern science. His teaching has reached founders, scientists, sages, and seekers around the world — from tech entrepreneurs to the Sages and Scientists Convention in Mallorca. Anthony's mission is to help people regulate their nervous systems, reclaim agency, and lead from a place of inner authority rather than apology. Episode Chapters - 00:00 Introduction to Breathwork and Its Impact - 05:52 Anthony's Personal Journey with Breathwork - 11:57 Overcoming Cult Experiences and Self-Acceptance I Am Pausing with Hannah Godfrey is a podcast featuring real conversations about the science of rest, the cost of burnout, and the truth about sustainable success. Connect & Follow - Anthony Abbagnano: https://www.alchemyofbreath.com [https://www.alchemyofbreath.com] - ASHA — Alchemy School of Healing Arts: https://www.alchemyofbreath.com/asha [https://www.alchemyofbreath.com/asha] - Anthony's book: Outer Chaos, Inner Calm - Hannah on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannah-godfrey [https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannah-godfrey] - I Am Pausing on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/i-am-pausing [https://www.linkedin.com/company/i-am-pausing] - Website: https://www.iampausing.com [https://www.iampausing.com] - Subscribe to I Am Pausing wherever you listen to podcasts

When Your Emotions Are Running the Show, You’re Not: Ros Barber on EFT and Taking Back Control

Five years of weekly talk therapy in Harley Street couldn’t reach what one hour of tapping did. In this episode, Hannah is joined by Ros Barber — academic, award-winning writer, and EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) practitioner — to talk about the modality Hannah credits with shifting things in her that years of conventional therapy couldn’t touch. This conversation is personal. Ros was Hannah’s practitioner before she was her podcast guest, and that history shapes one of the most open and useful episodes on healing work yet. They explore what EFT actually is, why a sceptical scientist became one of its most thoughtful practitioners, and how a simple physical technique can reach the places where understanding alone runs out of road. ABOUT ROS BARBER Ros Barber is an EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) practitioner, academic, and award-winning writer. With a background in biochemistry and biology — and both parents physicists — she came to EFT as a sceptic in 2007, at a time when her life was at its most pressured: four young children, a husband seriously unwell with chronic fatigue, a PhD in progress, and her own mood slipping into depression. Within months of tapping daily, the people around her had noticed she’d become calmer, less reactive, and harder to trigger. She trained as a practitioner soon after and has spent nearly two decades helping clients clear emotional charge that talk therapy alone often can’t shift. EPISODE CHAPTERS 00:00  Introduction to EFT and Personal Transformation 05:45  The Impact of EFT on Family Dynamics 11:21  Understanding EFT: The Basics 16:54  The Power of Self-Acceptance in EFT 22:31  The Emotional Charge and Triggers 27:22  Skepticism and the Science Behind EFT 33:28  The Role of the Nervous System in EFT 41:50  Empowerment Through Self-Help Techniques 47:00  Shifting Identity and Emotional Awareness I Am Pausing with Hannah Godfrey is a podcast featuring real conversations about the science of rest, the cost of burnout, and the truth about sustainable success. CONNECT & FOLLOW •     Follow Ros Barber on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ros-barber/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ros-barber/] •     Read Ros’s Substack: https://rozbarber.substack.com/ [https://rozbarber.substack.com/] •     Visit Ros’s website: https://eftinternational.org/https://rosbarber.com/ [https://rosbarber.com/] •     Follow Hannah Godfrey on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannahgodfrey/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannahgodfrey/] •     Follow I Am Pausing on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/i-am-pausing/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/i-am-pausing/] •     Visit https://iampausing.com [https://iampausing.com] •     Subscribe to the I Am Pausing podcast wherever you listen

Obligation VS Love: Nick Sabine on Identity, Reinvention, and Self-Leadership

Nick Sabine built one of the most beloved platforms in electronic music. Then he asked himself one question that changed everything: WHO AM I WITHOUT IT? In this episode, Hannah is joined by Nick Sabine — self-leadership coach, co-founder of Resident Advisor (RA), and the person Hannah credits with changing the course of her life. This conversation is deeply personal. Nick was Hannah's coach before he was her podcast guest, and that history makes for one of the most honest, emotionally rich episodes yet. They explore what it truly means to lead yourself — and why, for so many high achievers, the life that looks like success on the outside is quietly built on obligation, fear, and an identity that was never really theirs to begin with. ABOUT NICK SABINE Nick Sabine is a self-leadership coach working with founders, executives, creatives, and leaders navigating major life and career transitions. He is the co-founder of Resident Advisor (RA), the globally renowned electronic music platform he built from $800 and a shared passion for music into one of the most beloved cultural institutions in the world. After stepping back from his day-to-day role at RA, Nick underwent his own profound reinvention — and now helps others do the same. EPISODE CHAPTERS 00:00 The Journey Begins: From Music to Transformation 02:40 Finding Belonging: The Role of Music in Identity 05:35 Pride and Reflection: Moments of Achievement 08:06 The Shift: Stepping Away from RA 10:04 The Question of Identity: Who Am I Without RA? 12:35 Love vs. Obligation: A Transformative Realization 15:22 The Power of Choice: Meeting Moments with Love 18:17 The Journey to Coaching: Discovering a New Path 21:06 Embracing Boredom: The Path to Self-Discovery 23:42 Intuition and Courage: Listening to Inner Guidance 26:26 The Impact of Coaching: Leading from Within 32:50 The Impact of Boredom on Self-Discovery 35:06 Navigating Identity and Coping Mechanisms 38:21 The Journey of Self-Understanding 41:27 Facing Crossroads and Seeking Support 43:27 Living in Integrity and Self-Reflection 46:24 The Power of Love and Trust in Coaching 59:12 Defining True Wellbeing I Am Pausing with Hannah Godfrey is a podcast featuring real conversations about the science of rest, the cost of burnout, and the truth about sustainable success. CONNECT & FOLLOW * Follow Nick Sabine on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-sabine/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-sabine/] * Follow Hannah Godfrey on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannahgodfrey/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannahgodfrey/] * Follow I Am Pausing on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/i-am-pausing/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/i-am-pausing/] * Visit https://iampausing.com [https://iampausing.com] * Subscribe to the I Am Pausing podcast wherever you listen

The Power of Breathwork and Embodiment with Steven Ebbers: Transforming Mental Health

In this insightful conversation, Steven Ebbers shares his journey from clinical psychology to breathwork and embodied practices, emphasising the importance of awareness, understanding, and intervention in transforming mental and emotional health. Hannah Godfrey explores how these tools can be integrated into daily life and organisational culture to foster genuine wellbeing. CHAPTERS: * 00:00 Introduction to Breathwork and Personal Journey * 04:17 Understanding the Three Levels of Healing * 08:40 The Role of Touch and Embodiment in Therapy * 12:54 Exploring Internal Family Systems (IFS) * 17:53 The Importance of the Nervous System * 25:43 Practical Steps for Navigating Job Transitions * 29:38 Understanding Burnout and Its Symptoms * 30:57 The Power of Breath in Stress Management * 37:04 Personal Practices for Emotional Regulation * 40:39 The Journey from Numbness to Awareness * 47:28 Navigating Emotions in a Corporate Environment * 52:20 Exploring Therapeutic Approaches and Practices CONNECT & FOLLOW •        Follow Steven Ebbers on LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-ebbers/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-ebbers/] •        Follow Hannah Godfrey and I Am Pausing on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannahgodfrey/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannahgodfrey/] https://www.linkedin.com/company/i-am-pausing/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/i-am-pausing/] •        Subscribe to the I Am Pausing podcast wherever you listen