Noise of Life Podcast

How Trekking Nepal Became Deep Healing with Laura Montesanti

In this week’s episode, I had a grounding conversation with Laura Montesanti about why travel can be a practice of healing rather than a form of escape. Laura shared how the silence of Covid helped her reconnect to purpose which led to creating Synergy The Retreat Show, a trade event designed to change how our industry does business by placing wellbeing, community and experiential practice at the center. We explored the idea of destination energy, the importance of designing retreats that truly regenerate people and places, and the small accessible practices such as breathwork, smiling and mindful time in nature that can make wellness feel normal and available to everyone. Laura’s stories from trekking in Nepal to living in Montenegro show what becomes possible when place and human connection align. If you work in travel, hospitality or wellness or if you want a holiday that feels meaningful and restorative this conversation offers a powerful lens for rethinking travel. Inside this podcast: - The origin story of Synergy and how the quiet of Covid revealed a new purpose. - Why retreats can be tools for transformation rather than escape. - How community and experiential design create deeper and longer lasting business relationships. - Practical and accessible practices that support wellness such as breathwork and mindful time in nature. - The role of regenerative travel and authentic local connection in healing both guests and hosts. Connect with Synergy & Laura: Instagram → https://bit.ly/4oZu51b LinkedIn → https://bit.ly/4qsz3F1 LinkedIn → https://bit.ly/3KyJDLj Episode Highlights 00:00 Meeting Laura Montesanti 03:13 Defining the noise of life and how the silence of Covid revealed purpose 04:19 Founding Synergy Retreat Show with a focus on community and healing the industry 09:31 What makes Synergy Retreat Show unique with experiential sessions and structured meetings 11:11 Why traditional trade shows drain people and how to do business more holistically 15:13 Creating retreats that speak to men and shifting the narrative around male vulnerability 17:10 Personal loss and the drive to support mental health within travel 21:31 Destination energy and choosing locations that match inner needs 26:21 Trekking to Kura Lake in Nepal and the power of community on the road 37:16 Wellness as a life necessity and why schools should teach basic practices 42:06 The power of smiling and simple rituals that support wellbeing 43:39 A shift toward regenerative business and more purposeful travel 54:06 Announcing Synergy’s next location in northern Croatia with themes of nature, adventure and freedom ABOUT THE PODCAST SHOW The Noise of Life is a podcast that shares real stories, raw truths, and remarkable growth. Hosted by Steve Hodgson a coach, facilitator, speaker, and Mental Health First Aid Instructor. This podcast dives deep into the “noise” we all face, the distractions, doubts and challenges that can pull us away from who we truly are.

Living A Life of Greatness with Sarah Grynberg

In this powerful conversation, I sit down with Sarah Grynberg to explore what a life of greatness truly means when we strip away the noise of modern life. Sarah is a mindset coach, meditation teacher, podcast host of A Life of Greatness and author of Living a Life of Greatness. Through her own journey from burnout and external success to purpose, presence and inner alignment, she has spent years helping people reconnect with who they really are - beneath the pressure, expectations and fear that so often shape our choices. This episode is an invitation to pause at the start of a new year and reflect on a deeper question: Are you living from love or from fear? We talk about why most New Year’s resolutions fail, how burnout can be a wake-up call rather than a breaking point, and why greatness isn’t something we achieve - it’s something we return to. Sarah shares insights from her work, her book and her conversations with some of the world’s leading thinkers, reminding us that every moment offers a choice in how we move through the world. At its heart, this conversation is about quiet courage - the courage to choose alignment over pressure, intention over autopilot and love over fear. It’s about redefining success, reconnecting with your inner voice and beginning the year from a place of clarity rather than chaos. If you’re stepping into a new chapter and feeling the pull to live more consciously, more authentically and more aligned with who you truly are, this episode will meet you right where you are. Inside this podcast: - Why greatness is found in quiet, not noise - How burnout becomes a catalyst for real change - Why micro habits create lasting transformation - How intention and conscious awareness shape your life - Why choosing love over fear changes everything Connect with Sarah: Instagram → https://bit.ly/4akQKBs [https://bit.ly/4akQKBs] LinkedIn  → https://bit.ly/4awz0Dn [https://bit.ly/4awz0Dn] Website → https://bit.ly/4qwVNDQ [https://bit.ly/4qwVNDQ]  Connect with Steve: Instagram → https://bit.ly/3KARQhR [https://bit.ly/3KARQhR] LinkedIn  → https://bit.ly/48sw8Vj [https://bit.ly/48sw8Vj]  Episode Highlights 00:00:00 - Meet Sarah Grynberg 00:03:00 - Defining greatness and why it looks different for everyone 00:10:00 - Feedback, confidence, and protecting your inner world 00:15:20 - New year intentions versus resolutions 00:23:00 - Intention, purpose, and understanding your why 00:30:00 - Living a life of greatness through love, not fear 00:33:00 - Courage, comfort zones, and real personal change 00:39:00 - Storytelling as connection and meaning 00:46:00 - The gift of the ordinary day 00:49:30 - Why we never truly arrive 00:56:00 - Building a toolbox for life’s challenges 00:59:30 - Where to find Sarah and closing reflections ABOUT THE PODCAST SHOW The Noise of Life is a podcast that shares real stories, raw truths, and remarkable growth. Hosted by Steve Hodgson a coach, facilitator, speaker, and Mental Health First Aid Instructor. This podcast dives deep into the “noise” we all face, the distractions, doubts and challenges that can pull us away from who we truly are.

How to Reconnect With Your Inner Voice with Mellini Monique

In this short but impactful conversation, Mellini Monique explains what it truly means to lose your voice and how most people silence themselves long before anyone else does. She breaks down why your emotional landscape directly shapes the sound, strength, and resonance of your voice and how reconnecting with your internal truth begins with stillness and curiosity. Mellini also introduces the idea of vocal repertoire, giving you a way to express different parts of yourself without performing or pretending. This episode is a reminder that your voice is not gone. It is waiting for permission to rise again. Inside this podcast:- How your vocal repertoire shapes self expression - Why emotional stillness helps you hear your inner voice - What to do when you feel muted or misunderstood - How men can use softness without losing strength - The two questions that help you speak with clarity Connect with Mellini: Instagram → https://bit.ly/48ntwt0 LinkedIn  → https://bit.ly/3YbKFjh Connect with Steve: Instagram → https://bit.ly/3KARQhR LinkedIn  → https://bit.ly/48sw8Vj Episode Highlights: 00:00 - What vocal repertoire is and why it matters 00:33 - Your voice as a tool for shaping outcomes 01:26 - Why men benefit from tenderness in communication 05:56 - What to do when you lose your internal voice 07:00 - How to let your inner voice grow louder ABOUT THE PODCAST SHOW The Noise of Life is a podcast that shares real stories, raw truths, and remarkable growth. Hosted by Steve Hodgson a coach, facilitator, speaker, and Mental Health First Aid Instructor. This podcast dives deep into the “noise” we all face, the distractions, doubts and challenges that can pull us away from who we truly are.

Best Bits of Noise of Life - Part 2

The Final Episode of this year 2025. Our guests speak openly about identity, trauma, purpose, and the moments they realized the life they were living was not truly theirs. We explore what it means to rise beyond limits shaped by culture, childhood, and expectation. You’ll hear how honesty, courage, and daily practices help rewrite a life from the inside out. This episode invites you to take the pen back and begin shaping your next chapter with intention. Connect with Steve: Instagram → / thestevehodgson Podcast → / noiseoflifepodcast LinkedIn  → / stevehodgson Episode Highlights 00:00 The start of Best Bits of Noise of Life Part 2 00:38 When the world writes your story 03:02 Rising above our limits, the start of change 04:39 Taking the pen back, writing your own story ABOUT THE PODCAST SHOW The Noise of Life is a podcast that shares real stories, raw truths, and remarkable growth. Hosted by Steve Hodgson a coach, facilitator, speaker, and Mental Health First Aid Instructor. This podcast dives deep into the “noise” we all face, the distractions, doubts and challenges that can pull us away from who we truly are.

The Right Way To Cold Plunge with Dr Rob Williams

In this mini episode, sat down with Dr Rob Williams for a focused deep dive into cold plunging and why intention, breath and awareness matter more than the minutes you spend in the water. Rob breaks down the science behind the two minute minimum, the dangers of chasing long durations, and why the cold is never a competition but a teacher that reveals how your mind and body are functioning in the moment. We talked through the role of breath in navigating the cold shock, how to listen to your body, and why seasoned plungers use the cold to sharpen presence and emotional resilience. This episode is packed with practical advice to make cold exposure safer, more intentional and far more powerful. Connect with Dr. Rob: Instagram → ⁠/drrobwilliams⁠ [www.instagram.com/drrobwilliams] Website → ⁠https://nordicflow.io⁠ [https://nordicflow.io] & ⁠https://thenordicwave.com/⁠ [https://thenordicwave.com/] Email → ⁠contact@doctorrobwilliams.com [contact@doctorrobwilliams.com] ⁠ [contact@doctorrobwilliams.com]Connect with Steve: Instagram → ⁠/thestevehodgson⁠ [www.instagram.com/thestevehodgson] LinkedIn  → ⁠/stevehodgson [https://www.linkedin.com/in/thestevehodgson/] Episode Highlights 00:00 - Cold plunging with intention and awareness 00:23 - Preparing the mind and body before entering the cold 01:30 - Creating connection and energy before plunging 02:24 - Why time in the cold is not a competition 03:02 - The scientific minimum for cold exposure benefits 04:12 - Start low, go slow and listen to your body 05:18 - Using breath to move through cold shock into calm 06:31 - Viewing the cold as a teacher and diagnostic tool 07:22 - Cold exposure and somatic trauma release research 09:13 - Brown fat activation and the growth of mitochondrial energy ABOUT THE PODCAST SHOW The Noise of Life is a podcast that shares real stories, raw truths, and remarkable growth. Hosted by Steve Hodgson a coach, facilitator, speaker, and Mental Health First Aid Instructor. This podcast dives deep into the “noise” we all face, the distractions, doubts and challenges that can pull us away from who we truly are.