When We Pause

13 | The Power of Pausing Explained

What if the clarity you’re seeking isn’t found by running faster, but by learning how to really pause? Join Charles Achampong, the gentle but direct voice behind "When We Pause," as he closes the season with intimate life lessons that invite leaders to break free from high-speed autopilot. Zero guesswork, just grounded insights on three quiet game-changers, reclaiming imagination, building “failure immunity,” and the underestimated superpower of mindful pausing. This solo episode rises out of lived experience, not theory, challenging us to rewrite tired scripts about speed, risk, and recovery so you can finally feel aligned again. Listen now because real transformation starts with one brave pause. Every minute you spend stuck in the old loop is a minute stolen from the leader and life you could have. This is wisdom you won’t hear anywhere else and the season finale you can’t afford to skip. TIMESTAMPED HIGHLIGHTS [00:00] – What if you didn’t need a passport—or a sabbatical—to experience a life-changing pause? [02:24] – The compliment that Charles Achampong wasn’t ready for and how it shifted everything [04:51] – The everyday superpower you’ve secretly lost (and how to reclaim it, courtesy of a child’s truth bomb) [08:42] – Kids imagine possibility, adults imagine consequences—why? [12:41] – The one question that can ignite everything you thought was impossible [15:06] – Why Gmail is secretly your best teacher about the micro-pause we all need [19:28] – When pausing is painful: facing failure, confronting “that loop” and how to escape it [26:40] – Borrow this mindset from a child to unlock your next bold move RESOURCES MENTIONED * Apple Podcasts (education category rankings) * “Failure Immunity” concept [https://www.theatlantic.com/family/2026/02/parenting-children-failure-immunity/685875/#:~:text=I've%20come%20to%20believe,future%20disappointments%20without%20falling%20apart.] * Around the World Trip [https://www.instagram.com/aroundtheworldinfamilydays/] (family sabbatical) IMPORTANT LINKS * Connect with Charles: Website [https://rebrand.ly/charlesachampong8591c7] | LinkedI [https://rebrand.ly/8cd385]n | Instagram [https://rebrand.ly/0fcf39] * Press Pause. Take a Leap. Change Everything - Get a copy of Charles book [https://rebrand.ly/9ff8fa]. * Ready to spark change? Book Charles [https://rebrand.ly/charlesachampong67380c] as keynote speaker for your event. When We Pause is an original production hosted by Charles Achampong. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand [https://rebrand.ly/pybca2026].

12 | Naki Osutei – How to Thrive and Energize Your Career

Have you ever wondered what happens when you finally hit pause... and life refuses to go back to “normal”? In this luminous, no-filter conversation, Charles Achampong welcomes transformational leader Naki Osutei for a rare behind-the-scenes exploration into powerful reinvention, the hidden cost of relentless achievement, and the deep lessons you only learn by letting go. They unpack surprising truths about burnout, the messy grace of transition, and why habits and the courage to pause shape your future far more than title or performance. If you’re craving clarity, longing for a more intentional life, or wrestling with losing your identity in the pursuit of ambition, pause with us. Don’t risk wasting months on autopilot. This episode brings both soulful stories and practical tools you simply won’t hear anywhere else. Tune in now and reclaim the wisdom in your own pause. TIMESTAMPED HIGHLIGHTS * [00:00] – When was the last time you let yourself start over on purpose? * [01:02] – The art of reinvention: surviving (and thriving) through all the pivots * [04:21] – The “accidental” leadership moment at sixteen that changed everything * [10:13] – The voice you need when Imposter Syndrome shouts the loudest * [18:01] – The lifequake year: cancer, pandemic, and burning the playbook * [23:01] – Burnout’s hidden warning signs and a prescription you can’t ignore * [27:23] – How “practice-based culture” unexpectedly transforms teams and lives * [35:10] – Letting go of status: why identity loss just might become your freedom * [44:28] – One question to ask when you feel restless or off-mission RESOURCES MENTIONED * DiverseCity Fellows [https://civicaction.ca/diversecity-fellows/] * CivicAction [https://civicaction.ca/] * TD Bank [https://www.td.com/us/en/personal-banking] * CIBC [https://www.cibc.com/] * Don Staley – Uncommon Favor [https://www.amazon.com/Uncommon-Favor-Basketball-Lessons-Learned/dp/1668023369] (book) * Richard Florida [http://instagram.com/richardflorida/] * Julia Cameron – The Artist's Way [https://www.amazon.com/Artists-Way-25th-Anniversary/dp/0143129252] (book) * Capacity Canada [https://capacitycanada.ca/] ABOUT THE GUEST Naki Osutei is the Founder and Principal of PRESIQ, a trailblazing leadership and talent development consultancy redefining how organizations and individuals practice intentional change. Known for her cross-sector expertise, spanning non-profit, public, and private leadership and as a champion for burnout prevention and authentic work cultures, she brings 20+ years of wisdom to every client. Her journey from early community leader to banking executive, cancer survivor, and entrepreneur offers a grounded, human, and hope-filled model for anyone seeking real-life transformation. 🔗 LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/presiq/] | Website [https://presiq.com/aboutus] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/naki_o/] IMPORTANT LINKS * Connect with Charles: Website [https://rebrand.ly/charlesachampong8591c7] | LinkedI [https://rebrand.ly/8cd385]n | Instagram [https://rebrand.ly/0fcf39] * Press Pause. Take a Leap. Change Everything - Get a copy of Charles book [https://rebrand.ly/9ff8fa]. * Ready to spark change? Book Charles [https://rebrand.ly/charlesachampong67380c] as keynote speaker for your event. When We Pause is an original production hosted by Charles Achampong. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand [https://rebrand.ly/pybca2026].

11 | Monique Giroux – Surprising Joys, Powerful Pauses, and the Art of Slowing Down

Ever felt trapped by success, so busy you can’t breathe, but scared to slow down in case everything falls apart? In this rich and vulnerable episode, Charles Achampong welcomes transformation coach and meditation leader Monique Giroux for an eye-opening exploration of the sacred pause, life-changing retreats, and what slowing down really unlocks. Together, they reveal unconventional secrets for finding joy, overcoming high-functioning anxiety, and alchemizing ambition into true clarity. Monique shares exclusive lessons from her global travels, deep Buddhist practice, and radical career pivots, and why trusting yourself is both rare and revolutionary. If you’re craving less overwhelm and more meaning, you can’t afford to wait. This episode is your urgent invitation to step off autopilot now for exclusive, hard-won wisdom you won’t hear anywhere else. Hit play and reclaim time, self-trust, and joy. TIMESTAMPED HIGHLIGHTS [04:41] – How feeling lost and grieving led to unexpected healing and yoga [07:59] – The Bali retreat epiphany: pain, anxiety, and the first full breath [12:04] – “We spend our whole lives running—practice stopping.” The inside story [15:13] – Slow travel vs. speed tourism: revolutionary secrets for true presence [18:03] – Hungry ghosts, hidden drives, and the surprising roots of overachievement [24:04] – Navigating the ‘messy middle’—trusting change before you see the map [26:08] – The Happy List: a proven joy-hacking framework to reset your energy RESOURCES MENTIONED * Laurentian Universit [https://laurentian.ca/] * Plum Village Sangha [https://plumvillage.org/about/thich-nhat-hanh] (Thich Nhat Hanh) * Rainbow Roots Trail System [https://www.rainbowroutes.com/trail-network] * CIBC [https://www.cibc.com/en/journeys/smart-arrival-for-newcomers.html] * The Book of Joy [https://www.amazon.com/Book-Joy-Lasting-Happiness-Changing/dp/0399185046] – Dalai Lama & Desmond Tutu * Loving Kindness Meditation [https://ggia.berkeley.edu/practice/loving_kindness_meditation] * Vipassana Silent Retreat [https://www.dhamma.org/en-US/index] * Yoga Nidra, [https://www.verywellmind.com/yoga-nidra-how-it-works-and-how-to-practice-it-8603941] Restorative Yoga, Reiki * Lost Intentionally [https://www.amazon.com/Lost-Intentionally-Inner-Journey-Spiritual/dp/1998754774] by Monique Giroux * The Way Out Is In [https://plumvillage.org/podcasts/the-way-out-is-in] (podcast) ABOUT THE GUEST Monique Giroux is a transformation coach, meditation leader, and university lecturer at Laurentian University, known for guiding high-achievers from anxiety to intentional living. With nearly 20 years of executive experience in financial services and deep roots in Buddhist meditation and forest therapy, Monique fuses practical wisdom with soulful leadership. Her work helps professionals realign life with purpose, heal through pause, and sustain joy in high-performance careers. 🔗 LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/moniquefgiroux/?originalSubdomain=ca] | Linktree [https://linktr.ee/flourishment] IMPORTANT LINKS * Connect with Charles: Website [https://rebrand.ly/charlesachampong8591c7] | LinkedI [https://rebrand.ly/8cd385]n | Instagram [https://rebrand.ly/0fcf39] * Press Pause. Take a Leap. Change Everything - Get a copy of Charles book [https://rebrand.ly/9ff8fa]. * Ready to spark change? Book Charles [https://rebrand.ly/charlesachampong67380c] as keynote speaker for your event. The Purpose-Driven Pause Mentor is an original production hosted by Charles Achampong. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand [https://rebrand.ly/pybca2026].

10 | Stacey Serby – The Messy Magic of Running Toward Real Life

Do you ever wonder if a bold life pivot could save you from burnout, or whether uprooting from comfort is the only way to finally breathe? In this soul-baring and wildly practical conversation, Charles Achampong welcomes teacher-turned-healer Stacey, who swapped Canadian grind for Cayman clarity. Together they unpack the messy, magical truth behind trading performance for purpose, spiritual detours, entrepreneurial rollercoasters, and the reality of living intentionally when “paradise” looks nothing like Instagram. What does it really take to heal when comfort gets stripped away? If you’re wrestling with too much motion, career fatigue, or the urge for change, listen now. Missing this episode lets burnout, regret, and autopilot win. Tune in for actionable wisdom, hard-won spiritual insight, and the kind of loving realism you simply won’t find anywhere else. TIMESTAMPED HIGHLIGHTS [00:00] – “Who is the real Stacey?” The truth that never fits the bio [01:44] – The proven breathwork practice that unlocks spirit and stillness [04:56] – How measuring fulfillment breaks every old rule of success [08:24] – The game-changing moment her wife said, “Let’s move to an island” [15:51] – Shocking first year: Isolation, starting over, and betting on community [18:32] – The “Cayman Kind” secret that sets this paradise apart [22:58] – The real challenges of island life, from invisible traffic to spiritual patience [34:25] – Reclaiming creativity, singing, and what’s next (after surviving two pivots) RESOURCES MENTIONED * Sask Express [https://saskexpress.com/] (musical group) * Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands [https://www.visitcaymanislands.com/en-ca/islands/grand-cayman] * Jerk chicken and Jamaican-inspired cuisine [https://www.chilipeppermadness.com/recipes/jamaican-jerk-chicken/] * "Cayman Kind" cultural movement [https://www.affinitycayman.com/blog/cayman-kind-where-giving-back-is-deep-rooted/] ABOUT THE GUEST Stacey Serby is a highly intuitive wellness practitioner and entrepreneur based in Grand Cayman, known for transforming burnout and anxiety into purpose-driven healing for high-achieving professionals and seekers. A former elementary teacher from Saskatchewan, she now leads Island Breather, specializing in meditation, yoga, breathwork, and holistic modalities for mind-body wellness. Her mission: empowering others to slow down, reconnect, and trust in the messy beauty of continuous reinvention. 🔗 Website [https://islandbreather.com/] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/islandbreather/] | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/reflexologystacey/] IMPORTANT LINKS * Connect with Charles: Website [https://rebrand.ly/charlesachampong8591c7] | LinkedI [https://rebrand.ly/8cd385]n | Instagram [https://rebrand.ly/0fcf39] * Press Pause. Take a Leap. Change Everything - Get a copy of Charles book [https://rebrand.ly/9ff8fa]. * Ready to spark change? Book Charles [https://rebrand.ly/charlesachampong67380c] as keynote speaker for your event. When We Pause is an original production hosted by Charles Achampong. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand [https://rebrand.ly/pybca2026].

09 | Why You Don't Need More Clarity

Are you searching for clarity, yet still feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or endlessly busy in your quest for meaning? In this introspective solo episode, bestselling author and pause mentor Charles Achampong dives deep into the myth of needing more clarity, delivering vulnerable stories, rare wisdom, and proven strategies to break free from the comforts of “maybe.” Through powerful pauses and raw honesty, he reveals why the answers you seek are already within you, and why the real work is having the courage to act, not endlessly research. Listen now to avoid the pain of burnout, indecision, and drifting without purpose. This episode brings urgent, exclusive insight you won’t find anywhere else: pause, reflect, and reclaim direction before another day slips away. TIMESTAMPED HIGHLIGHTS [00:00] – A harsh truth: Why feeling stuck isn’t about lacking answers [00:48] – The secret stall tactic: Research, podcasts, and busywork that keep you trapped [01:46] – How a quiet inner knowing exposed a consulting mistake and what really matters [03:13] – Will “future doors” change your feelings? Charles gets brutally honest [04:34] – Why subtraction is revolutionary: The myth of adding more, and how to do less with intention [05:53] – The loudest lie: Why you already know what to do—here’s how to listen for your truth [07:47] – “Damn, that was good.” The ego, the feedback, and a speaker’s blueprint for clear direction [09:01] – The power of pausing: How to escape the noise and hear your next step [10:21] – The final shift: Stop thinking, start choosing, and why courage means acting on what you know RESOURCES MENTIONED * Capacity Canada [https://capacitycanada.ca/] * University of Ottawa [https://www.uottawa.ca/en] * Pause → Notice → Reset → Repeat [https://www.instagram.com/p/DT0UfFVkTS8/] (signature framework) IMPORTANT LINKS * Connect with Charles: Website [https://rebrand.ly/charlesachampong8591c7] | LinkedI [https://rebrand.ly/8cd385]n | Instagram [https://rebrand.ly/0fcf39] * Press Pause. Take a Leap. Change Everything - Get a copy of Charles book [https://rebrand.ly/9ff8fa]. * Ready to spark change? Book Charles [https://rebrand.ly/charlesachampong67380c] as keynote speaker for your event. When We Pause is an original production hosted by Charles Achampong. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand [https://rebrand.ly/pybca2026].