The Ontological Experience

The Heart of Ontological Coaching with Veronica Olalla Love

Veronica Olalla Love, CEO of the Newfield Network, joins me for a conversation about unnecessary suffering, and why insight alone often does not change the patterns we are trying to shift. We look at ontological coaching as an embodied approach to personal growth, one that treats the mind body emotion connection as part of how learning happens, not as an add on. We talk about way of being and what it means in practice. Veronica shares how attention to soma can become an anchor for new habits, especially when your intentions are clear but your lived experience keeps returning to familiar reactions. We also explore emotional well-being through the lens of embodiment, including what becomes possible when you stop trying to think your way into change. From there, we move into authentic dialogue and deep listening. Veronica brings relational wisdom that challenges the myth of separation, and points toward human goodness as something you can practice in relationship, especially in moments of friction. We also touch on spiritual connection, not as an abstract idea, but as something that can show up through presence, listening, and the quality of your attention. Along the way, Veronica offers a grounded view of deep transformation, including how self-reflective capacity develops when you learn to notice what is happening in you, and choose a different response. If you are looking for a more embodied path into a vibrant life, this episode offers a clear set of distinctions you can work with right away. Mark Welcome to The Ontological Experience with Mark Robertson A space for connected, authentic conversations rooted in the ontological framework and tools. Whether you're a long-time listener or brand new to this work, I'm glad you're here.   Let’s Keep the Conversation Going: 🔹 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markrobertsonpcc 🔹 Website: https://www.theontologicalexperience.com 📧 Email: mark@coachmark.com   Connect with Veronica Olalla Love: https://newfieldnetwork.com/

An Ontological Conversation about Care and Commitment with Bob Dunham

I invited Bob Dunham into this conversation because I wanted a fresh way to approach a familiar leadership breakdown: too many priorities, too much change, and not enough capacity management. I expected to stay with that topic. Bob took us somewhere more foundational. We explore what the ontological experience actually is, and how ontological coaching creates new awareness that expands choice. We talk about care as a driver of human action, and why naming what you care about changes how you lead. We also unpack the leader as an observer, including what we see, what we do not see, and how blind spots show up in workplace dynamics through repeated breakdowns in trust, execution, and collaboration. Bob shares the distinction that changed his professional life: action is rooted in commitment. From there, we move into coaching conversations about coordination, how requests and promises shape execution, and why agreement is often mistaken for real commitment. Bob also tells the story of leading organizational change at Motorola, where a shift in conversations and commitments helped teams deliver unprecedented results without relying on authority. We close with a grounded view of leadership development as embodied learning. Bob speaks about somatics, centering, and what it takes to act from commitment when fear shows up. If you are leading in complexity and you want a deeper foundation than tools and techniques, this episode offers a different way to see what is happening, and what becomes possible from there. Bob Dunham https://journeyintowisdom.com/ Welcome to The Ontological Experience with Mark Robertson A space for connected, authentic conversations rooted in the ontological framework and tools. Whether you're a long-time listener or brand new to this work, I'm glad you're here. Want help growing your podcast with organic marketing and strategy that actually works? Check out Juliana Barbati at https://www.julianabarbati.com/ [https://www.julianabarbati.com/]  She's a podcast growth strategist and SEO expert who truly understands the space. Let her know I sent you!   Let’s Keep the Conversation Going: 🔹 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markrobertsonpcc 🔹 Website: https://www.theontologicalexperience.com 📧 Email: mark@theontologicalexperience.com

Health Transformation through A Revolutionary Patient-Centered Healthcare Model with Dr. Matt McEvoy of Paradigm Health

There will be a moment that changes everything and it probably isn’t going to be loud and dramatic as you expect it to be. Whether it’s a number, a health scan, a pause in the conversation where you realize, “Something’s off and I’ve got to deal with it”, and from that moment forward, things completely shift. That moment came for me after a cardiac CT scan. The score didn’t line up with how I felt or all the work I’d put into getting healthy. It shook me physically, but it also threw something off in my way of being and that pushed me into a different kind of search for a treatment that actually felt like care. That search led me to Paradigm Health and to Dr. Matt McEvoy and what happened next changed more than my health, it changed how I relate to my health.  In this episode, Dr. Matt and I talked about what it means to be truly seen and heard in the context of healthcare. We look at patient-centered care, the deeper intention behind preventive health, and the bigger vision behind Medicine 3.0. We also talked about how medical innovation can only go so far without presence, humility, and relationship.  We also discussed how resistance shows up, and how deeply held beliefs can keep us stuck, even when we’re doing our best. I share how I came to reconsider my stance on cholesterol management, not because I was talked into it, but because I was met with evidence, respect, and a kind of listening that made room for change. Dr. Matt’s presence invites trust in a way that opens the door for a meaningful lifestyle change, and a different kind of health transformation, one that’s grounded in relationship, emotional clarity, and action. If you’ve ever been told you’re fine but still feel something’s not right, if you’ve been looking for care that honors your story, supports your emotional wellness, and leaves space for your own wisdom, this conversation might be what helps you take the next step. Ready for care that truly sees you? Connect with Paradigm Health to begin a personalized path toward lasting wellness. 📩 Reach out: Explore Your Care Options [https://paradigmhealth.org/] Welcome to The Ontological Experience with Mark Robertson A space for connected, authentic conversations rooted in the ontological framework and tools. Whether you're a long-time listener or brand new to this work, I'm glad you're here.   Want help growing your podcast with organic marketing and strategy that actually works? Check out Juliana Barbati at https://www.julianabarbati.com/ [https://www.julianabarbati.com/]  She's a podcast growth strategist and SEO expert who truly understands the space. Let her know I sent you!   Let’s Keep the Conversation Going: 🔹 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markrobertsonpcc 🔹 Website: https://www.theontologicalexperience.com 📧 Email: mark@theontologicalexperience.com

Gender Norms and How It Shapes the Way Women Show Up and Hold Space

There are times when we move through life in ways we don’t choose. We apologize for taking up space, step aside when we don’t need to, or stay quiet even when we have something to say. These moments may seem small, but these patterns often start early and reflect what we've absorbed about who should lead, who should yield, and how we’re expected to show up. In this episode, I’m joined by three thoughtful and accomplished women, Nicole Provonchee, Janet Walls, and Dr. Leslie Binford, for an honest conversation about how our ways of being are shaped over time. Together, we take a closer look at the gender discourse many women grow up inside of, and how cultural conditioning, gender norms, and early experiences shape behaviors like over-apologizing and giving up power. We explore what it means to feel safe (or unsafe) in different spaces, and how that affects whether someone can stay grounded and present. We talk about holding space, setting personal boundaries, and the role of psychological safety in everyday interactions. We also look at how power dynamics show up in families, workplaces, and relationships. This conversation is part of a larger ontological exploration. Ontological coaching invites us to consider how our language, emotions, and body awareness work together to shape how we see ourselves and how we show up in the world. It offers a way to notice what’s often automatic, and begin to relate to it with more clarity and care. I’m grateful for this conversation and the presence these women brought to it. I hope it invites you into a reflection of your own.   Welcome to The Ontological Experience with Mark Robertson A space for connected, authentic conversations rooted in the ontological framework and tools. Whether you're a long-time listener or brand new to this work, I'm glad you're here.   Connect with the guests: (waiting for full contact details from Mark) Janet Walls President and Founder of Delta Blvd janet@deltablvd.com [janet@deltablvd.com]615.973.717   Nicole Provonchee Chief Coaching Officer, Founder BRIGHT BLUE CONSULTING nicole@consultbrightblue.com 615.423.8061 www.ConsultBrightBlue.com [http://www.consultbrightblue.com/]   Dr. Leslie Binford  DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC Assistant Professor E-mail:binfordl@apsu.edu [binfordl@apsu.edu] Phone: 931-221-7739 Want help growing your podcast with organic marketing and strategy that actually works? Check out Juliana Barbati at https://www.julianabarbati.com/ [https://www.julianabarbati.com/]  She's a podcast growth strategist and SEO expert who truly understands the space. Let her know I sent you!   Let’s Keep the Conversation Going: 🔹 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markrobertsonpcc 🔹 Website: https://www.theontologicalexperience.com 📧 Email: mark@theontologicalexperience.com

Exploring Emotions: Controlling Emotions isn’t Possible, Regulating Is

There are seasons when the pace of life picks up and it almost feels like we’re being swallowed by our world. You check the boxes, meet the deadlines, keep moving, and yet something still feels unsettled. It’s not always easy to name, but there’s a quiet gap between doing and being.  Often, that “gap” lives in how we relate to what we feel, what we’re emotionally experiencing, and how we’ve been shaped to respond. In this episode, I sit down with Dan Newby, a longtime colleague and fellow practitioner, to explore the territory of emotional regulation, not as a fix, but as a way of working with ourselves more compassionately. We talk about the relationship between what we feel and how we act, how our body awareness and nervous system regulation shape our experience, and how small shifts in understanding can change the way we move through the world. Dan shares a clear framework grounded in the ever present world of Emotions that many of us didn’t learn growing up. These tools matter in everyday life, but they also have real impact in leadership. They help build psychological safety, support self-leadership, and expand our capacity for sustainable leadership development and personal growth.. This is the heart of ontological coaching, working with the full self: language, emotion, and body. As we gain distinctions in the realm of Emotions, we begin to see ourselves and the world in new ways, and new choices we didn’t see before begin to show up. That’s where tangible personal growth begins. If you're navigating a season of inner transformation, feeling stressed and overwhelmed, feeling stretched in relationships, or simply ready for a grounded mindset shift, I hope this conversation meets you right where you are.   Welcome to The Ontological Experience with Mark Robertson A space for connected, authentic conversations rooted in the ontological framework and tools. Whether you're a long-time listener or brand new to this work, I'm glad you're here.   Want help growing your podcast with organic marketing and strategy that actually works? Check out Juliana Barbati at https://www.julianabarbati.com/ [https://www.julianabarbati.com/]  She's a podcast growth strategist and SEO expert who truly understands the space. Let her know I sent you!   Let’s Keep the Conversation Going: 🔹 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markrobertsonpcc [https://www.linkedin.com/in/markrobertsonpcc] 🔹 Website: https://theontologicalexperience.com/ [https://theontologicalexperience.com/]  📧 Email: mark@theontologicalexperience.com [mark@theontologicalexperience.com]