Zen & Em - Israel - Blue Pylon

Sassy Blue Animal - Dua Lipa, Belfast, Blenheim Palace.

Maxi and Emily had a wide-ranging conversation covering Maxi's upcoming work schedule at various events including festivals in Newport and Warwickshire, her concerns about late night shifts conflicting with her natural morning routine, and her plans to move after July 6th while dealing with family complications. They discussed current events in Ireland regarding immigration issues and government responses, with Maxi expressing strong concerns about media coverage and government silencing of victims' families. Maxi shared updates about her YouTube channel growing to 317 subscribers through exercise content, her recent work as a marshal at Blenheim Palace where she encountered the Duke of Marlborough, and her experience staying overnight near a church. The conversation also covered Maxi's challenges with downsizing and organizing belongings for her upcoming van lifestyle.   Maxi discussed upcoming work commitments, including events in Newport, Wales and at the ARC bike festival at Ragley Hall, where they expressed dissatisfaction with the late night working hours. Maxi mentioned having to postpone their move until after July 6th due to work conflicts and family obligations, including two weddings. Maxi also revealed they have additional festival work scheduled from July 16-19 at the Meal Mile event in Peterborough, and mentioned having received a promotion through multiple event agencies. Emily and Maxi discussed recent protests in Belfast related to immigration issues, with Maxi expressing strong concerns about the impact of immigrants on Ireland and the UK. Maxi criticized the BBC's coverage of the situation and highlighted how the government allegedly silences victims and their families from speaking about attacks. They agreed that social media has been important for bringing attention to these issues that might otherwise be ignored by mainstream media. Emily and Maxi discussed media coverage of protests, noting that large demonstrations for Palestine are not televised because they are considered "not sexy" news. They then talked about Dua Lipa and Callum Turner's recent marriage in Sardinia, with Emily explaining how they met 'on the same page'. The conversation shifted to conspiracy theories about Earth's shape and history, with Emily sharing beliefs about forgotten civilizations and the ocean's depth, while Maxi expressed skepticism about established scientific knowledge. Maxi shared her experience at a recent event where she got wet from rain and nearly lost her voice from shouting. She discussed her YouTube channel, which now has 317 subscribers after posting a video about an exercise challenge called "Fat Girls Can." Em explained her plans to use Minvo to schedule clips from a podcast she recorded about stories in marketing and business, which will be distributed across multiple social media platforms including YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Maxi shared details about a camping trip to Blenheim Palace, including an incident where she had to redirect a car belonging to the Duke of Marlborough, who insisted on using the restricted drive. Maxi also mentioned staying overnight in a church in Steeple Barton, where she met a man who was spending the night there. Emily briefly discussed John's recent cycling race in the Italian alps, which involved challenging terrain and a crash. Emily discussed her decision to focus on coaching rather than returning to marketing after meeting someone at B&Q who wanted her help with marketing. Maxi shared that event freelancing is paying well with both immediate and two-week payment options, allowing expenses like travel and food to be invoiced. They discussed Maxi's challenges with organizing and decluttering items while preparing for a move, including decisions about what to keep or sell.

Guided Meditation Bubble

Zen guides a meditation bubble

NLP - SOARA method - Metaphors & accessing subconscious to release limiting beliefs. Zen & Em Blue Pylon Freedom Coaching.

Emily and Zen conducted a coaching session using the SOARA method (Situation, Objective, Action, Result, Aftermath) from NLP to help Zen address personal challenges with relationships and inherited beliefs from her mother. Zen shared her situation of feeling isolated and suspicious in a developing romantic relationship, tracing back to childhood memories of being alone and neglected while her working mother was frequently absent. They created a metaphor using the Rapunzel story, where Zen identified her need to break down emotional walls and trust others, recognizing that the fears she carries are inherited rather than her own. Through the storytelling exercise, Zen reimagined her childhood as happy and fulfilling, with a loving family and supportive environment, ultimately creating a new narrative about personal empowerment and relationship freedom. Emily and Zen discussed how inherited fears from parents or grandparents can create self-limiting belief patterns that prevent people from forming relationships. They explored the concept of recognizing these fears as not being one's own, but rather generational beliefs that were projected onto the individual. Emily advised that by surrendering these inherited beliefs and trusting one's intuition, it becomes safe to open up to relationships without fear of disappointment. Relationship Patterns and Personal Growth Emily and Zen discussed relationship patterns and personal growth, with Zen reflecting on how past experiences affect current relationships. They worked on creating a story where Zen could envision breaking free from limiting beliefs about relationships and abundance, ultimately leading to a more fulfilling future. Zen expressed a desire to rewrite her childhood narrative with a happier ending, moving away from feelings of scarcity and toward a more abundant perspective on giving and receiving love. Building Joyful Family Experiences Zen shared a story about growing up in a loving family in Africa, describing beautiful sunsets and happy meals shared around the table. Emily guided Zen to rewrite the story as if telling it to a six-year-old and encouraged Zen to reflect on actions needed to build joy in the present. Zen decided to focus on creating positive experiences and would share this vision with new people, excluding those who don't align with this vision. Mental Transformation and Growth Zen shared a personal story about transforming past memories and breaking out of self-imposed limitations, comparing it to the Rapunzel tale of escaping a tower. They described how they transmuted negative memories into positive growth, using the metaphor of a seed growing into a tree with energy and life. Zen emphasized the power of mental transformation and creating new stories to live a better life. Gender Roles in Fairy Tales Zen and Emily discussed the use of metaphors and storytelling as a way to access the subconscious mind, particularly through the lens of fairy tales and their underlying messages about gender roles. Zen expressed frustration with traditional narratives where women are often depicted as prizes or in need of rescue, while men are portrayed as the heroes. They agreed on the importance of challenging cultural conditioning and embracing more equal partnerships.

Story Business - Gain McMahon

Gavin, an engineer turned business consultant, discussed his book which explores different genres of storytelling in business including value storytelling, product storytelling, brand storytelling, sales storytelling, leadership storytelling, and culture storytelling. They covered how companies like IKEA and Apple successfully create “world building” narratives that extend beyond their products, and how businesses must align with existing narrative constellations rather than trying to create entirely new frames. The conversation also touched on the challenges companies face with AI implementation, with Gavin explaining that AI creates a “validation tax” where the bottleneck shifts from creating content to checking its accuracy. Gavin revealed he’s currently working on a second book about driving organizational change, and the interview concluded with discussion about AI’s current limitations and future implications. Gavin and Emily discussed the power of narrative and language in shaping perceptions and influencing the subconscious mind. Emily explained her background in NLP (neuro-linguistic programming) and how it involves reframing reality through different perspectives and narratives. Gavin shared a study about how the words used to describe a car crash affected people’s perceptions of the speed involved, demonstrating how language can significantly impact memory and interpretation. Marketing Transformation and Storytelling Evolution Gavin explained that their work primarily involves helping companies transform their internal operations, with marketing organizations often serving as change agents within these transformations. He described how marketing in large companies has evolved from traditional advertising approaches to a more complex role involving daily customer interactions and internal storytelling across the entire organization. Gavin noted that storytelling has become increasingly important outside of the marketing department, as it requires influencing multiple internal stakeholders before marketing initiatives can be successfully implemented. Gavin and Emily discussed how information and stories about companies, whether positive or negative, can quickly spread and impact reputations. They explored the importance of authentic storytelling from the beginning to maintain a company’s image. Gavin outlined the structure of a book on storytelling, which covers the basics of storytelling, the neuroscience behind it, and different genres of business storytelling, including value storytelling, product storytelling, and brand storytelling. Gavin discussed the concept of world building in business, using examples like IKEA and Apple to illustrate how companies create cohesive brand stories that extend beyond their core products. He explained that these companies maintain detailed guidelines about their brand elements, including product naming conventions and character associations in media placements. The discussion highlighted how successful world building creates dedicated fanbases and enables companies to expand into related products that align with their brand narrative. Gavin discussed the progression from sales storytelling to leadership storytelling and finally to culture storytelling, emphasizing how these interconnected elements help align people and create shared context within organizations. When asked about incorporating these concepts into business planning, Gavin suggested starting with value storytelling and considering whether a new idea aligns with broader market trends, using the “rising tide floats all boats” principle as a framework for evaluating potential opportunities. Gavin and Emily discussed storytelling in business and marketing, with Gavin explaining how companies need to align with existing narrative constellations rather than creating frames from scratch. They explored examples like Dell’s historical positioning and how AI companies like Anthropic occupy multiple narrative positions.

Zen & Em - Israel - Blue Pylon

Em and Zen had a wide-ranging conversation covering personal development, coaching practices, and current events. They discussed Emily's decision to delete family and friends from her Instagram to reduce social pressure, while Zen shared her struggles with coaching course analysis paralysis and her upcoming trip to London for a content creation event. Zen provided detailed insights about her recent visit to Israel, including observations about US Air Force presence at Israeli airports and her theory that the current conflict may be more about US interests than Israeli security. They also discussed personal topics including Emily's home renovations, Zen's relationship with her daughter who remains in Israel, and their shared experiences with personal development courses and coaching practices. The conversation concluded with plans for future practice sessions using hypnotherapy and meditation techniques.