The Heard Space

9 A Place to Build Possibility From w/ Troy Bronsink

"There is power, liberation, and beauty when we stop to see, and trust what is inside." These are the words that Troy Bronsink opens his About page with on his website [https://www.troybronsink.com/about]. They are not just words; my experience of talking to him are that they form the foundation of how he approahces life. In this rich, exploratory conversation - the final interview of Season 1 of this show – Troy brings these words to life. We start with slowing down, noticing what is happening within and between us, two people sitting in our homes on different continents. Troy is a faciltator and transformational coach who takes contemplative approaches to building belonging in businesses and movements. He founded The Hive, a centre for art, action and contemplation in Cincinnati, Ohio, and listening to him, I felt I was in the presence of hard-won wisdom. In this conversation we explore: * Why it felt important to spend the time together talking, and what we each needed to name in order to be able to be present * How to ground into the present moment (a live practice rather than a theoretical explanation!) * What it means to stay connected to ourselves whilst also unblending from the parts of ourselves that it isn't helpful to have 'in charge' * Hope, community and the power of relationships that are worth repairing. This is such a beautiful end to a series of conversatios that have stretched, inspired and affected me. I hope they've done the same for you. Connect with Troy here: On LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/troybronsink/] On his website [https://www.troybronsink.com/] On Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/troybronsink/] Find out about The Hive here [https://www.cincyhive.org/], including their online classes [https://www.cincyhive.org/classes-1] and courses Meg Wheatley's [https://margaretwheatley.com/] work is here (her work is also in episode 3 [https://open.spotify.com/episode/4DUGYHzfTzwQlsEZaADrtL?si=70d12d279b984a5e] with Helena Clayton) As always, if you find this show valuable, please rate, review or share it with someone you know. You can reach me on theheardspace@gmail.com [theheardspace@gmail.com]

8 How Did She Get There? On our collective responsibility for women's success w/ Jane Sassienie

When you think about your life - about the doors that opened, the ones that didn't, the opportunities you took and the ones that you didn't – how do you make sense of how and why those opportunities came your way? When it comes to women "succeeding" in the workplace, and I use the term with speech marks deliberately, it's clear that organisations have a lot to learn and do differently. Women sit at just 12% of the boardrooms globally and for women of colour, the picture is even bleaker, with just 5.7% of Fortune 500 seats in the US being held by women of colour. Today's guest, Jane Sassienie, looked around her at the women who took up roles like this, alongside other senior leadership roles in organsiations, and asked one question: how did she get there? Through her research, conducted at Bridge Partnership in partnership with WeAreLeftfield, a design-thinking consultancy, Jane spent years exploring what enables women to thrive whilst staying true to who they are amidst a status quo that typically sets them up not to. In today's conversation, we discuss: * The thinking and experiences behind the research, including her frustration at being asked by organisations to teach women 'how to be more assertive' * Jane's fascination with the idea of pre-menstrual ecstacy, and how this ultimately led her to thinking about women's experiences in the workplace * Why being a women involves being in a process of continual change * What organisations and leaders in them can do to create the conditions where women can thrive. I really believe in the idea that a rising tide lifts all boats, and because of that, I think that this episode is for everyone, regardless of your sex or gender. If you have or have ever had a woman in your life (and let's face it, who hasn't!), then this is a must-listen. Resources Download How Did She Get There? [https://hdsgt.bridge-partnership.com/] Find out more about Jane and WeAreLeftfield here [https://hdsgt.bridge-partnership.com/about] Connect wth Jane on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jane-sassienie-2503b91/] Find out more about the Bridge Institute's amazing systemic work here [https://www.bridge-institute.org/] The Deloitte study on women in boardrooms [https://www2.deloitte.com/za/en/pages/risk/articles/women-in-the-boardroom.html] Women of colour in the boardroom [https://www.catalyst.org/2021/07/21/corporate-boards-women-color/] If you find this show a helpful or stimulating listen, please rate or review in your podcast app. It really helps spread the word about the show. Email Elloa on theheardspace@gmail.com [theheardspace@gmail.com] or connect with her on LinkedIn here [https://www.linkedin.com/in/elloaphoenixbarbour/]

7 Changing the Trajectory of Children's Lives w/ Andrez Harriott

Have you ever wondered how differently your life might have unfolded if you had made different choices, had different mentors or influences, or been given a different type of support? Our lives are mysterious things. They unfold, often in ways we cannot predict or imagine. Quoting the poet Tomas Tranströmer, Cheryl Strayed once wrote that "Every life 'has a sister ship,' one that follows 'quite another route' than the one we ended up taking. We want it to be otherwise, but it cannot be: the people we might have been live a different, phantom life than the people we are…" She goes on to say that we'll never know about this sister life, full of all the things that could have been. The trajectory our lives take, and the forces and factors that influence them, is the subject of this week's conversation with the phenomenal Andrez Harriott. As the founder and CEO of The Liminality Group, Andrez's work centres on changing the trajectory of the lives of children who are most at risk of becoming involved in criminality whilst working with those currently in the system. He is also a member of the British R&B band, Damage [https://open.spotify.com/artist/6Pwy6Wat9hp8g83y6gih5g?si=hsADKDFPTR-pdDgh2UcvTg], who have sold over 2 million singles and albums worldwide. This, quite frankly, is an unmissable episode. One that will make you think differently about how we perceive and make sense of children who offend and the responsibility we all have to support them to be able to make different choices. In this episode, Andrez and Elloa discuss: * The work of The Liminality Group, including why Andrez and his team take 10 boys to Scotland and the Lake District in a tour bus * How his experience of being in Damage influences his work with children at risk of criminality * His experience of coming into this work with a 'hero mindset' and what changed for him * What he sees as the primary task of the prison system * How he contains the emotions this kind of work brings up, and how he practices and models self-care * The degree to which he has hope. Find out more about Andrez's work and The Liminality Group here: Connect with Andrez on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrez-harriott-bsc-pgcert-pgdip-ma-13a4118b/] The Liminality Group's website [https://www.tlguk.co.uk/] (currently under construction) TLG [https://www.instagram.com/thelguk/] on Instagram Microscope Consultancy [https://www.instagram.com/microscope_consultancy/] on Instagram Brathay Lodge [https://brathay-lodge.co.uk/] in The Lake District Adverse Childhood Experiences - see here [https://mft.nhs.uk/rmch/services/camhs/young-people/adverse-childhood-experiences-aces-and-attachment/], for example Enjoying The Heard Space? Please rate and review the show in your podcast/listening app of choice. Email Elloa: theheardspace@gmail.com [theheardspace@gmail.com] Connect with Elloa on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/elloaphoenixbarbour/].

6 Welcome to The Guest House w/ Paul Brown (The Shamanic Coach)

In a recent open mic performance, today's guest Paul Brown said, "I love to really connect with people. I understand that new kitchens are important... and it's good to share that, but I like to know what's really going on." This episode of The Heard Space is about the journey of discovery about what's really going on when we turn our attention inwards to do the inner work. Paul's work as The Shamanic Coach is about supporting people (through a combination of coaching and mentoring) on a spiritual journey to navigate the physical world. He questions the labels of 'good' and 'bad' or 'negative' emotions, creating space for people to learn once again how to feel, honour and express what's happening in the body. Paul is wise, funny and down to earth, and this conversation explores: * How he discovered that there's more to life than beer and football * What led him to Vipassana meditation and why he's such a fan of something that he openly admits is hard * His mindset and approach for connecting with emotions as a man * What's behind our reluctance and fear of owning our skills and talents (the golden shadow) * Why taking big action is the key to behavioural flexibility. Plus, if you recognise a certain poem in the episode title, you'll be pleased to hear we have a reading of Rumi's one and only The Guest House. Find our more about Paul, his work as the Shamanic Coach, and the forthcoming Twin Broski podcast here: Paul's website: http://www.theshamaniccoach.com/ [http://www.theshamaniccoach.com/] Marrron's open mic sets here on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBuM97BlyjyLy1-gnzSrNOg] The Twin Broski podcast on TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@godtoldustodoit] The Twin Broski podcast on Instagram [https://instagram.com/twin_broski_podcast?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=] And... here's Elloa's new book, Can I Give You Some Feedback? A Practical Guide on Giving and Receiving Better Feedback [https://bookboon.com/en/can-i-give-you-some-feedback-ebook] If you're enjoying The Heard Space, why not subscribe so you never miss an episode? We'd also love you to rate, review or share the show with someone you think would enjoy it. Reach out to Elloa anytime on theheardspace@gmail.com [theheardspace@gmail.com]

5 Reimagining ourselves, our lives and our work w/ Sarah Spencer

There are times in life when our bodies, our minds and the events we experience bring us to our knees, changing the course our life is taking. Perhaps because of a loss or ending, perhaps because something inside us knows that we are living out of integrity, perhaps because of a new beginning. When those seasons come, we have a choice: we can bury our heads in the sand and push on, or we can surrender and allow ourselves to be changed and transformed. Today's guest is Sarah Spencer, and in this conversation, she shares some of the experiences that brought her to the brink and beyond, to a season of reimagining who she is, what her work in the world would be, and what her life was going to become. This exploration led her to the work she does now, and to her compelling perspective on why we urgently need to reimagine how we need to be next, individually and collectively. Sarah is passionate about people and wants to live in a world where we normalise conversations about mental health and wellbeing at work, to give people permission to not be okay and to show up to each other with more compassion, empathy and humanity. In this conversation, host Elloa and Sarah explore: * Why Sarah does not think of her role at work when asked, 'Who are you?' * The experiences that led to her career and life changing course*** * Why we urgently need to reimagine what workplaces are, what they're for, and what every single one of us can do to bring more humanity into our organisations * Whether there is more uncertainty in a post-lockdown world and how the new generation of people coming into the workforce are interrupting business as usual * Why we need to be less hamster and more meerkat – and how to do it day-to-day * The problem with busyness and the power of choice * Self-sacrifice and burnout * And why having better conversations and paying attention to the human condition are key to transforming organisations. ***Please note: we discuss failed IUI, IVF and adoption in this episode as well as workplace bullying. Take care of yourself if these are delicate subjects for you. Sarah is the Leadership Development and Wellbeing Lead at WaterAid [https://www.wateraid.org/uk/]. Connect with her on LinkedIn here [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-spencer-aa738516/]. Resources Gallup's global engagement stats [https://www.gallup.com/workplace/349484/state-of-the-global-workplace-2022-report.aspx] Quiet quitting [https://www.businessinsider.com/quiet-quitting-great-resignation-trends-economy-outlook-leaving-jobs-davos-2023-1?r=US&IR=T] For support with infant loss, you may wish to reach out to Lighthouse Therapy Services [https://www.lighthousestherapyservices.co.uk/] (this is a personal recommendation by Elloa) or Fertility Network UK [https://fertilitynetworkuk.org/]. The Heard Space is hosted by Elloa Phoenix Barbour. Connect with Elloa on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/elloaphoenixbarbour/] or email theheardspace@gmail.com [theheardspace@gmail.com]. If you are enjoying the show, please share it with a friend!