The Smoosh Podcast - Episode 11

The Smoosh Podcast - Episode 15

In this episode of The Smoosh, we laugh, reflect, and occasionally misstep as we explore the subject of sensitivity. What begins as Melis’s mischievous humour (aka “unexpected item in bagging area”) unfolds into a deeper exploration of what it actually means to be sensitive: attuned, open, impacted, receptive, and embodied. Ben shares the story behind his TED Talk application on “softening up, not hardening up,” and the lived reality of being a sensitive man in a world that still mistakes sensitivity for fragility. Together we unpack the difference between being easily injured and being highly attuned, dive into the protective walls people build, and explore how sensitivity becomes both a superpower and a source of overwhelm. We talk therapy, somatics, leadership, cancel culture, creative adjustments, impasse, alchemy, and the courage it takes to stay open in a world that encourages guarding. Let’s Smoosh! Notes: Ben mentions a book called The 5 Dysfunctions of a Team [https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-five-dysfunctions-of-a-team-patrick-m-lencioni/book/9780787960759.html] by Patrick Lencioni. He also refers to an excellent TED talk by Celeste Headlee called 10 Ways to Have a Better Conversation. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1vskiVDwl4] Credits: Music: Goodnight - Lo Fi Cozy Chill Music by FASSounds from Pixabay [https://pixabay.com/users/fassounds-3433550/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=160166] Podcast recorded at: Image Online [https://imageonline.com.au/] in Abbotsford, Melbourne Get full access to The Quiet Work by this human at thishuman.substack.com/subscribe [https://thishuman.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

The Smoosh Podcast - Episode 14

What happens to creativity when AI is in the room with us? In this episode, we explore the evolving dance between human imagination and artificial intelligence, and what might be gained or lost in the process. We talk about speed versus slowness, the value of the messy, time-rich creative journey, and how AI can act as a collaborator without replacing our uniquely human ways of making meaning. From workshop design and writing processes to stand-up comedy and cozy romance novels (yes, really), we unpack the tension between efficiency and embodiment, output and ownership, machine speed and the slower rhythms of the body. This isn’t a doom-and-gloom AI debate; it’s a curious, grounded conversation about how we might create with AI while staying connected to ourselves, each other, and the creative pulse that makes us human. Notes: Ben mentions the world’s first synthetic actor. Her name is Tilly Norwood. Read more about her here [https://www.screenhub.com.au/news/features/tilly-norwood-the-worlds-first-ai-actor-is-here-is-it-time-to-panic-2681529/]. Credits: Music: Goodnight - Lo Fi Cozy Chill Music by FASSounds from Pixabay [https://pixabay.com/users/fassounds-3433550/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=160166] Podcast recorded at: Image Online [https://imageonline.com.au/] in Abbotsford, Melbourne Get full access to The Quiet Work by this human at thishuman.substack.com/subscribe [https://thishuman.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

The Smoosh Podcast - Episode 13

In this episode, we dive into world-building. From cosy fantasy lands with dragon lore to the everyday worlds we shape in real life. We explore how detail creates credibility, why shared story gives us belonging, and how algorithms can quietly script our “outer guidance” unless we practise discernment. We contrast speed with slowness (hello, tortoise and hare), touch on Indigenous lore and ritual as anchors for meaning, and share practices like sit-spots and non-thinking to reconnect with place, body, and each other. Along the way, Ben tells a tender story from therapy about shifting from doing to being; Melis unpacks curiosity and capacity as antidotes to ‘othering’; together we imagine contemporary ‘salons’ where communities talk, feel, and co-create kinder narratives. If you’ve been craving less noise and more nuance, this conversation offers a gentle blueprint for building worlds that are balanced, plural, and deeply human. Notes: Melis mentions a book called The Value of Everything [https://www.betterworldbooks.com/product/detail/the-value-of-everything-making-and-taking-in-the-global-economy-9781541758247/new] by Mariana Mazzucato. Melis also mentions an ancient spiritual text called the Tao Te Ching [https://www.betterworldbooks.com/product/detail/lao-tzu-tao-te-ching-a-book-about-the-way-and-the-power-of-the-way-9781611807240/new]. Credits: Music: Goodnight - Lo Fi Cozy Chill Music by FASSounds from Pixabay [https://pixabay.com/users/fassounds-3433550/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=160166] Podcast recorded at: Image Online [https://imageonline.com.au/] in Abbotsford, Melbourne Get full access to The Quiet Work by this human at thishuman.substack.com/subscribe [https://thishuman.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

The Smoosh Podcast - Episode 12

In this episode of The Smoosh Podcast, we get honest about anger; why we hide it, how it shows up, and what it’s trying to protect. Melis shares how socialisation (especially for women) can mute anger and make it hard to access or express. Ben explores the flip side; anger that arrives fast, sets boundaries, and then dissipates. Together we unpack anger as a wise and mobilising energy when it’s safely held: a gateway to clarity, values, and choice. We touch on somatic psychotherapy, eco-therapy, the “quiet work” of waking up, and how anger can be transmuted into momentum for personal and systemic change. You’ll hear stories from retreat work where voice and power return, plus a practical take-away: notice what makes you instantly angry because there usually lies a value underneath. Curious to map your values? We mention the Values Bridge tool in the show notes. Unsure, messy, real. Come smoosh with us. Notes: Melis mentions a book called The Value of Everything [https://www.betterworldbooks.com/product/detail/the-value-of-everything-making-and-taking-in-the-global-economy-9781541758247/new] by Mariana Mazzucato. Melis also mentions a values self-assessment you can take called The Values Bridge [https://thevaluesbridge.com/?utm_source=sw&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=home_page]. Credits: Music: Goodnight - Lo Fi Cozy Chill Music by FASSounds from Pixabay [https://pixabay.com/users/fassounds-3433550/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=160166] Podcast recorded at: Image Online [https://imageonline.com.au/] in Abbotsford, Melbourne Get full access to The Quiet Work by this human at thishuman.substack.com/subscribe [https://thishuman.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

The Smoosh Podcast - Episode 11

In this episode of The Smoosh Podcast, we dive into the theme of connection; what it means, how it feels, and why it matters now more than ever. From the simple act of sitting quietly in nature to creating moments of deep presence in a corporate workshop, we explore how connection grounds us in what is real, restores a sense of belonging, and offers a pathway beyond extractive ways of living and leading. Along the way, we touch on eco-psychology (aka eco-therapy), Indigenous wisdom, and the nervous system’s innate capacity to settle when we slow down. Whether it’s asking permission before occupying a place in nature, or seeing someone’s passion unexpectedly come alive in a training room, connection reminds us that we are more than isolated individuals. We are part of something larger, relational, and alive. Notes: Melis mentions an Ecotherapy course she is doing with Nature Calling [https://naturecalling.org/]. Melis also mentions the work of Joanna Macy. She wrote a beautiful book called Active Hope [https://www.betterworldbooks.com/product/detail/active-hope-revised-how-to-face-the-mess-we-re-in-without-going-crazy-9781608687107/new]. It is based on systems, deep ecology, and how to respond creatively and compassionately despite the mess we are in. Ben mentions a 10-day silent retreat called Vipassana [https://www.au.dhamma.org/]. Credits: Music: Goodnight - Lo Fi Cozy Chill Music by FASSounds from Pixabay [https://pixabay.com/users/fassounds-3433550/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=160166] Podcast recorded at: Image Online [https://imageonline.com.au/] in Abbotsford, Melbourne Get full access to The Quiet Work by this human at thishuman.substack.com/subscribe [https://thishuman.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]