I am pausing with Hannah Godfrey

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

Finding Stillness in the Chaos: Alice Wyatt on Heartbreak, High-Growth Tech, and Starting Over

What do you do when you've changed everything — the city, the relationship, the job — and you still don't feel happy? That's the question Alice Wyatt found herself sitting with not long ago. And in this episode, she answers it with a honesty that is rare, refreshing, and genuinely moving. Alice is a former VP of Marketing who cut her teeth in some of the UK's most exciting high-growth fintechs — Bloomreach, Adyen, Codat. On the outside: a glittering career, frequent flyer miles, and a LinkedIn profile that looked like success. On the inside: a growing sense of unease that no amount of external change seemed to fix. In this conversation with Hannah Godfrey, Alice opens up about heartbreak in New York, chronic back pain connected to emotional stress, a five-day silent meditation retreat as a self-confessed extreme extrovert, and the long, non-linear road to finding peace. She now wakes up every morning with a baseline of calm she never thought she'd reach. This is not a polished success story. It's the messy, honest, deeply human middle. And it might be exactly what you need to hear.   "I don't think I'm someone that can be happy. And eight months on, I wake up and I feel peace." ABOUT ALICE WYATT Alice Wyatt is a marketing leader with over a decade of experience in high-growth tech and fintech. Having held senior roles at companies including Bloomreach, Adyen, and Codat, she now works as a Fractional CMO, helping scaling businesses build and lead marketing functions. Originally from London, Alice has lived in New York and now calls Austin, Texas home. She is a passionate advocate for authentic leadership, mental wellbeing at work, and the power of meditation — even for extreme extroverts.   EPISODE CHAPTERS 00:00  — Alice's Journey Through Tech and Marketing 03:49  — Navigating Personal Challenges in New Cities 07:36  — The Impact of Alternative Education on Mindfulness 09:43  — The Role of Meditation in Finding Peace 13:18  — Shifting Mindsets: From External Blame to Internal Reflection 17:50  — The Mind-Body Connection in Healing and Stress Management 23:34  — Finding the Middle Path 24:57  — The Challenge of Silence: Lessons from a Silent Retreat 32:59  — Transitioning to Fractional CMO Work 36:08  — Embracing Hard Times with Resilience and Gratitude 40:01  — The Importance of a Support Network     CONNECT & FOLLOW •        Follow Alice Wyatt on LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/alice-wyatt-nyc/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/alice-wyatt-nyc/] •        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