In this episode of Slo Mo with Mo Gawdat, we wrap up our special miniseries, "It's Not What They Told You," with a powerful conversation featuring renowned economist and Columbia University professor Jeffrey Sachs. Known for his deep insights into global politics, economics, and international relations, Jeffrey sheds light on the dark realities behind U.S. foreign policy, the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, and the growing threat of nuclear war. Together, we explore how power is truly wielded on the global stage, and what this means for the future of peace and stability worldwide. Goodbye... For Now What You're Told Is Not Real British Empire Was Cruel The American Empire The Ukraine War Did Not Start in 2022 The U.S. is Destructive We Are All Occupied What Are The Motivations of The American State? Presidents Listen to the Men in Dark Suits War in Gaza Reveals Extent of U.S. Cruelty American People are Never Involved or Consulted The End of American Unipolarity? 90 Seconds to Midnight What is the U.S. Empire Going to Be? The Reality of the World Today 🔔 Subscribe for more in-depth conversations on Slo Mo with Mo Gawdat: @mogawdatofficial Follow me: Instagram: mo_gawdat TikTok: MoGawdat X: MGawdat 💬 Join the conversation and share your thoughts in the comments below!YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatTiktok: @mogawdatX: @mgawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Grace Blakeley is a leading economist, author, and political commentator, known for her sharp critiques of capitalism and neoliberalism. In the fourth episode in the series 'It's Not What They Told You', she joins Mo Gawdat to discuss the decline of economic freedom, how governments exploit crises, and the misleading narratives around financial systems. Grace also shares insights on neoliberalism, the legacies of Thatcher and Reagan, and what we can do to create a fairer system while emphasising the importance of community.00:00 Intro2:20 The Death of Freedom7:00 Example of Boeing Planes12:40 How Are Financial Crises Dealt With?15:45 What is Neoliberalism? 23:00 Thatcher and Reagan's Strategy 31:30 Governments Taking Advantage of Crisis41:15 Lies about Economic Freedom47:27 What Can We Do?54:00 The Importance of CommunityGet Grace's book 'Vulture Capitalism' here: https://rb.gy/65wf7tYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatTiktok: @mogawdatX: @mgawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

In the third episode of our miniseries 'It's Not What They Told You', Mo Gawdat speaks toJohn Rubino (https://rubino.substack.com), a former Wall Street financial analyst and author or co-author of five books, including The Money Bubble: What to Do Before It Pops and The Collapse of the Dollar and How to Profit From It. In this episode, John Rubino and Mo explore the current financial landscape, from the widening wealth gap and housing market crisis to the looming dollar collapse and U.S. debt crisis, offering critical advice on how individuals can navigate these uncertain times.00:00 Intro3:30 What is Money?14:40 Baby Boomers Have Screwed Over This Generation21:40 The Game of Buying a House is Over22:50 The Gap in Wealth26:40 Why Does the U.S. Borrow So Much Money?34:40 Why Banks Are Buying Gold42:00 The Dollar Crisis49:40 What Can the Average Person Do to Increase Wealth?58:27 How Bad Is It Going To Get?1:08:30 Will U.S. Living Standards Fall As the Rest of the World Increases?1:11:30 Wars are a Business1:12:20 But the U.S. Does Have AdvantagesYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatTiktok: @mogawdatX: @mgawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

In the second episode in our miniseries 'It's Not What They Told You,' Mo is joined by former newspaper editor and communications director for the UK government, Andy Coulson.He rose to prominence as the editor of the News of the World, one of Britain's top tabloids, before transitioning into politics, where he served as Director of Communications for Prime Minister David Cameron. Coulson’s career took a sharp turn when he was involved in the UK phone hacking scandal, which led to his conviction and prison time. Since then, he's shared valuable insights on media ethics, journalism, and the lessons he learned from his experiences, offering a unique perspective on the world of media and politics.00:00 Intro 3:05 What Motivates a Journalist?8:20 What is the Truth in a Story?11:30 What Makes a Good News Editor?13:50 Is there Corruption in Media?22:00 Is the BBC Biased?27:20 How Does Communications in Government Work?33:40 Cutting through the Noise38:12 Are we in a Democratic Society?44:20 Capitalism and the Media48:00 Andy's Time In Prison and What Lessons He Took From It56:00 Why Stoicism Is the Way ForwardListen to Andy's podcast 'Crisis What Crisis?' Here: https://rb.gy/8c2bh8YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatTiktok: @mogawdatX: @mgawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Welcome to the very first episode of the new series, "It's Not What They Told You." In this series, Mo Gawdat unpacks the hidden truths behind the systems that govern our lives. In the first episode, Mo is joined by Brett Christophers, a brilliant political economist and professor who's spent years exploring the gritty realities of capitalism, finance, and housing. In this conversation, they dig deep into why your rent keeps going up, who really benefits from housing market crashes, and the powerful forces pulling the strings behind the scenes. Get ready to challenge your understanding of capitalism and discover what they didn't tell you.00:00 Intro to It's Not What They Told You2:19 Mo: The Recovering Capitalist3:30 Intro to Brett Christophers5:40 What is Capitalism?12:29 What is Private Equity?17:30 Why Your Rent is Going Up30:00 Who Benefits from House Price Crashes?33:25 What Can the Average Person Do?36:00 The Two Underlying Problems about Home Ownership41:30 Should People Accept Renting as Their Reality?46:30 Capitalist Enterprises Do Everything to Avoid Competition54:00 How Do These Companies Hold Power?1:00:40 Who Owns the Economy?1:04:38 Do Not Believe What You Are Told1:05:00 How Do You Become Richer?Get Brett's book 'The Price is Wrong' here: https://rb.gy/8zv7qiYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatTiktok: @mogawdatX: @mgawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Dr. Michael Rich is a pediatrician, researcher, and educator, widely recognized as "The Mediatrician." He is the founder and director of the Digital Wellness Lab at Boston Children’s Hospital and an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School.0:00 Intro2:20 Have we messed up our children's future?6:50 Bring back boredom10:00 What drives tech distraction in children?12:45 ADHD16:45 We have lost focus21:30 We are wasting experiences 25:15 What can we do to limit screen time?31:00 The Three M's39:00 Does digital attachment increase loneliness?43:30 Using technology to remember those we grieve49:00 Tech removes us from each other55:00 Dr Rich on how he can't distance himself from his patientsBuy Dr Rich's book here: https://rb.gy/ygsaguYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatTiktok: @mogawdatX: @mgawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Sarah Ann Macklin is an inspiring force—she’s the founder of the 'Live Well Be Well' podcast, the Be Well Collective, and she’s a registered nutritionist. Not only that, she’s an international model, a TEDx speaker, and a health journalist. Sarah’s journey is a testament to the power of resilience and self-compassion. 0:00 Intro2:35 Sarah Ann's career as a model7:46 Dyslexia20:00 The Pressures of Modelling22:00 Sarah Ann's Hospitalisation26:00 Dealing with Extreme Stress30:00 The Be Well Collective34:00 The downside of social media40:00 How Sarah Ann Became a Nutritionist46:00 Is it Possible to Live Without Processed Food?50:20 What Changes Should We First Make?56:17 Self Compassion1:00:00 How Do We Achieve True Self Compassion?Find out more aboutt the Be Well Collective here: bewellcollective.co.ukYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatTiktok: @mogawdatX: @mgawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Dr. Sabrina Cohen-Hatton, one of the world's most senior female fire officers, left home at 15 and school at 16. Overcoming homelessness, she became a firefighter and earned a 1st Class Honors degree in Psychology, a Master's in International Fire Service Development, and a PhD in Behavioral Neuroscience.00:00 Intro2:20 Breaking Stereotypes4:00 Sabrina's Childhood13:00 Homelessness30:00 Have We Forgotten Our Privilege?35:25 How Sabrina Became a Firefighter39:20 Dealing with Sexism49:00 Don't Judge a Book by Its Cover53:00 Dealing with Traumatic Work Incidents55:00 Sabrina's Research into Decision Making58:30 Being different is a Super PowerOrder Dr Sabrina Cohen-Hatton's book here: https://rb.gy/mjxjgnFollow me: Youtube: Mo GawdatInstagram: mo_gawdatTikTok: MoGawdatX: MGawdat💬 Join the conversation and share your thoughts in the comments below!Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatTiktok: @mogawdatX: @mgawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Claudia Hammond is an award-winning broadcaster, author, and psychologist. She hosts BBC Radio 4's All in the Mind and Health Check podcast. Known for her books like The Art of Rest and Mind Over Money, Claudia explores well-being and psychology.00:00 Intro3:00 Why psychology?13:50 Claudia's books16:50 Kindness in today's world is possible24:00 But why are some people unkind?27:00 Kindness is a skill30:00 Kindness is all around if you notice it33:25 Can kind people be successful leaders?38:45 Tell people the truth40:00 Top tips to become kinder42:05 Why are we unkind to ourselves?46:10 Practical tips on achieving more rest58:20 The psychology of moneyYou can order Claudia's book 'The Keys to Kindness' here:  https://rb.gy/xunf3yFollow Mo:Instagram: mo_gawdatTikTok: MoGawdatX: MGawdat💬 Join the conversation and share your thoughts in the comments below!Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatTiktok: @mogawdatX: @mgawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

In this moving episode of Slo Mo with Mo Gawdat, British model Jean Campbell shares her raw and honest journey with chronic pain. From starting her modelling career at just 16 to grappling with the realities of living with persistent pain, Jean opens up about how it has shaped her life and career.00:00 Intro1:45 Jean's maturity2:42 Why did Jean want to be a model?6:20 Turn fame into impact 8:10 The impact of starting modelling at 1614:40 Dealing with chronic pain16:50 Walking into a Burberry shoot in crutches17:40 The pain began at 1422:20 Jean's life experience was taken over by pain24:50 Not feeling in control of her body's future27:45 Facing and accepting the darkness33:50 How to accept physical and mental pain44:41 Dealing with heartbreak47:45 Mo's chronic pain51:18 Jean's podcast 'I'm Fine'58:30 Progress is not linearListen to Jean's podcast 'I'm Fine': https://rb.gy/nj4x3vFollow me: Instagram: mo_gawdatTikTok: MoGawdatX: MGawdat💬 Join the conversation and share your thoughts in the comments below!Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatTiktok: @mogawdatX: @mgawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Zoe Blaskey is the founder of Motherkind, a platform dedicated to supporting and empowering mothers through the ups and downs of parenthood. With a background in coaching and a passion for mental well-being, Zoe creates content that offers practical advice, emotional support, and inspiring stories for mums everywhere.00:00 Intro2:30 The joy in coaching mothers3:11 Why did Zoe want to write a book?5:04 Motherhood is supposed to change you6:49 What happens when a woman becomes a mother?10:00 Embrace the changes12:25 Mo changed when he became a father14:40 Turn down the judgement and criticism18:30 What should our worth be?20:00 Mo's worry at becoming a father23:45 Motherkind moments25:40 Practical tips for mums30:40 What Gabor Mate taught Zoe31:30 The modern world is not how we should be raising children34:00 Women today are working harder than ever41:30 Raise children as a society43:45 The question mothers should ask themselves46:18 Childless by choice movement51:58 Impact of motherhood on romantic relationshipsPre-order Zoe's book here: https://rb.gy/1jmj4tYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatTiktok: @mogawdatX: @mgawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Join Mo Gawdat in an insightful conversation with Dr. Megan Rossi, also known as The Gut Health Doctor. Dr. Rossi is a renowned dietitian, nutritionist, and researcher specializing in gut health.00:00 Intro03:09 What is gut health?6:30 Eat for your gut microbes 9:00 Are wine and dark chocolate good for us?10:00 What are the symptoms of a bad gut?14:50 What is the link between the gut and the brain?17:20 How did Megan get into her line of work?22:10 What does Megan eat in a day?27:30 Why you shouldn't exclude food groups30:20 Eat more, not less33:00 Should you fast?34:00 Which foods contain fibre?39:50 Food intolerances vs. allergies49:20 Do supplements work?53:40 Is coffee okay to consume?56:10 How can we get our children to eat well?YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatTiktok: @mogawdatX: @mgawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Join us as we dive into an inspiring conversation with Kevin Kelly, a renowned futurist, author, and co-founder of Wired magazine. In this episode, Kevin Kelly shares his insights on living life to the fullest, embracing optimism, and finding happiness in a rapidly changing world. Don't miss this engaging discussion with Mo Gawdat, where they explore the future and how we can navigate it with a positive outlook.00:00 Intro2:53 Kevin's home library10:30 How dropping out of college changed everything13:10 Live as 'poorly' as you can17:58 Mo's silent retreat21:00 Importance of exploring life's possibilities27:50 The death countdown clock31:00 Prioritising love and joy33:30 Say no36:13 Advice for young people37:17 Should we be optimistic for the future?YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatTiktok: @mogawdatX: @mgawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Dr. Natalie Cawley is a dedicated Psychotherapist and Counselling Psychologist with a specialisation in attachment theory. Her expertise in this aspect of psychological and emotional functioning informs all of her work, guiding her approach to help clients build healthier, more fulfilling relationships.00:00 Intro1:38 Why did Natalie write a book on her patients?3:30 Why be a psychotherapist?5:30 Natalie's car accident 8:36 Dealing with the feeling of failure14:00 Feeling 'trapped'17:58 How does Natalie cope?19:55 What is attachment therapy?23:30 How is attachment formed?30:50 Anxious attachment in romantic relationships33:34 Avoidant attachment styles40:00 Natalie gives examples of her patients' casesDr Cawley's debut book 'Just About Coping' is out July 25th: https://t.ly/uNXQ9YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatTiktok: @mogawdatX: @mgawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Andy Ramage is a wellness coach, entrepreneur, and author known for his work in promoting alcohol-free living. He co-founded the One Year No Beer movement, which encourages people to take a break from alcohol to improve their health and well-being. 00:00 Intro2:00 Having to retire early from football due to injury4:30 Reinventing yourself after hardship11:25 What is your biggest question to yourself right now?14:44 Removing alcohol increases productivity 18:00 Mo's father gave him a glass of wine at 11 yrs old19:38 Why do people drink?20:49 Debunking the one glass of wine a day myth22:50 Alcohol is getting in the way of consistency25:22 Are there upsides to alcohol?27:40 Alcohol is more harmful than drugs33:00 Mo considered drinking due to stress35:00 Alcohol and confidence40:00 Social situations that don't involve alcohol44:00 Give yourself an alcohol break47:25 Tips on how to abstain from alcohol50:00 What happens if you give up alcohol?54:00 Stoicism1:05:26 Should government govern alcohol consumption more?1:08:40 Rise in alcohol-free drinksYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatTiktok: @mogawdatX: @mgawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Dr. Rumman Chowdhury is a leader in applied algorithmic ethics, creating ethical AI solutions.  She heads Parity Consulting and the Parity Responsible Innovation Fund and is a Responsible AI Fellow at Harvard. Previously, she led the META team at Twitter and founded the algorithmic audit platform Parity. This year, she was one of four scientists to serve as a new U.S. Science Envoy.00:00 Intro 2:54 Are tech companies delivering on their promise?4:19 Why is Rumman no longer in tech?5:30 The culture at Google has changed7:52 Corporate culture in tech companies11:10 Being legal is not always ethical15:45 Does AI reflect society?20:45 AI errors27:00 Should we believe what AI tells us?40:00 Is AI more intelligent than us?42:50 What is intelligence?48:00 Will AI free up more time for us?YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatTiktok: @mogawdatX: @mgawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Davina McCall is a renowned British TV presenter, best known for hosting Big Brother. With a career spanning over two decades, she's also an advocate for fitness and health. Despite facing personal challenges, including a tumultuous childhood and overcoming addiction, Davina has become a beloved public figure, inspiring many with her resilience and positivity. In this conversation, we explore her journey, triumphs, and the secrets behind her enduring success.00:00 Intro02:00 Who is Davina McCall?08:45 Sliding doors13:30 Mo's view of the mathematics of dating18:20 Davina's relationship with partner Michael21:20 Why you shouldn't be picky when dating23:30 You can't help someone who doesn't want to be helped28:00 Mo's responsibility to warn about the dangers of AI34:18 Davina's difficult relationship with her mother48:00 Davina's relationship with her late sister Caroline49:20 What would you do differently as a parent now?51:00 Mo's grief after losing his mother57:00 No regrets1:00:34 Why Davina and Michael's relationship works1:05:47 Dealing with ex partners1:14:00 Love languages1:19:00 What are their 2024 intentions?1:21:50 Masculine and feminine1:25:00 Mo on his relationship with wife Hannah1:29:00 Davina's new podcast1:33:00 Davina on not wanting fame or money anymoreYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatTiktok: @mogawdatX: @mgawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Bryony Gordon,  journalist, author, and mental health advocate, recently faced criticism for joining the Daily Mail as a columnist. Despite the backlash, she vows to use her platform to raise awareness about mental health issues.0:00  Bryony has received criticism for moving to the Daily Mail03:45 Mo introduces Bryony05:40 Why was Bryony attacked on social media for joining the Mail?14:00 Mo's experience of online criticism 17:56 Bryony's critical voice in her head27:20 Why Bryony writes about her mental health31:00 Mo reveals his recent stressful time34:00 Making mistakes40:00 Solutions can be made with compassion43:30 Mo on receiving criticism for 'not publicly supporting Gaza'45:45 Shame doesn't work in making people feel better50:00 Why rejecting people who think differently isn't helpful53:00 The 'shadow' side of us1:05:00 Seeing the beauty in everyday life1:06:31 How does Bryony manage to write a column every week?1:08:58 Taking accountability 1:16:33 We think we're scared of our darkness, but we are really scared of our lightYou can order Bryony's book 'Mad Woman' here: https://rb.gy/y192scYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatTiktok: @mogawdatX: @mgawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Please enjoy this rewind episode with Yanis Varoufakis, globally recognized economist, and former Greek finance minister, famously known as the “rockstar politician who challenged the EU.”As voters across various countries prepare to make crucial decisions, Varoufakis's perspectives on economic justice and democratic reform provide valuable context and food for thought. Listen as we dive into:My fanboy experience watching Yanis during the economic crisis.Why Yanis refused to play political games.The crucial role of debt in capitalism and why banks want to keep you indebted.Comparing feudalism and capitalism.Yanis’s captivating history lesson on the economic collapse.How 2008 marked the death of capitalism.The illusion of money and its diminishing usefulness.COVID-19's impact on global economic mismanagement.Who really controls the Federal Reserve?The challenging future facing younger generations.The importance of avoiding predictions.Wise advice from Yanis’s father on true value.The lack of safe havens in today’s world.Insights from "Another Now" on a better future system.The creative freedom of writing a novel.Why banks don’t belong in a utopian financial system.The true potential of blockchain beyond Bitcoin.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatTiktok: @mogawdatX: @mgawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Lurata Lyon was just a young girl when war broke out in the former Yugoslavia. What lay ahead was a nightmare. She endured captivity, torture, and abuse. A girl sold for sex to the highest bidder. Lurata was not only taken once, but twice. Listen to her harrowing story as she explains her journey to positivity despite such unimaginable hardships. 00:00 Intro 2:35 Mo is like a 'father figure'5:10 Human connection 7:00 Can we truly find connection with other people?13:50 Lurata's book 'Unbroken'14:44 Lurata's childhood in Yugoslavia16:15 Civil war 17:38 Lurata's attempted escape25:11 Abduction32:00 Close to death41:00 Abducted again45:27 Innocence 'taken away'47:15 Finally rescued53:00 What did Lurata learn in solitary confinement?59:25 Can we have faith in humanity?1:09:16 How is Lurata so positive?1:13:06 Working out to feel good1:15:50 How does Lurata find joy in life?1:17:00 Why did God let Lurata go through so much?Buy Lurata's book 'Unbroken' here: https://rb.gy/hz4s5qYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatTiktok: @mogawdatX: @mgawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

TJ Power is the remarkable neuroscientist and author, reaching a whole new demographic of young people through his informative social media posts. 00:00 Intro 02:08 Why has TJ become a social media success?3:34 Combining tech and psychology5:58 What is D.O.S.E?15:20 How can we get to a happier state?19:20 How gaming can improve our brain health24:50 Why is ADHD considered a 'problem'?31:36 Could AI taking traditional jobs create more room for creativity?37:30 Neurodiversity 41:30 Why don't we have hobbies anymore?57:03 Oxytocin in a world of loneliness1:00:01 Practices on how to increase brain hormones naturally1:09:38 Ego and 'wanting to be right'1:13:10 A world with no social media?1:18:58 What is addiction?You can pre-order TJ's book 'The DOSE Effect' here: https://t.ly/LWtqeYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatTiktok: @mogawdatX: @mgawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #OneBillionHappyYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatTiktok: @mogawdatX: @mgawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Thanks to all of you who pre-ordered it, the book has already done incredibly well.  If you haven't already, you can still help the book reach 1 million people by ordering a copy (https://amzn.eu/d/ipz9OUW).Today on Slo Mo, we bring the Unstressable series to a close with a captivating conversation featuring Corey Keyes, a distinguished sociologist and professor emeritus at Emory University. Corey is renowned for his pioneering research on human flourishing and mental health, introducing the concept of "languishing"—a state of being where one is neither mentally ill nor mentally well.Many of you may be familiar with Corey's influential work and his acclaimed book "Languishing," which has been lauded by thought leaders like Adam Grant, Arianna Huffington, Angela Duckworth, and Jonathan Haidt. But there's so much more to Corey than his academic achievements.Outside of his groundbreaking research, Corey is a passionate advocate for holistic well-being, emphasizing what he calls the "Five Vitamins" for a fulfilling life: love, learning, work, spirituality, and play. He believes that these elements are essential for overcoming languishing and achieving true mental wellness.Listen as we discuss: 2:00 Unstressable2:25 Intro10:00 The concept of Languishing 19:58 Morality24:52 Tips for Flourishing 47:37 Emotions58:20 Play1:06:07 Loving YourselfJoin us for an enriching conversation that explores the depths of human flourishing and the pathways to a more vibrant, fulfilling life. Corey's wisdom and expertise offer valuable guidance for anyone looking to navigate the complexities of mental health and personal growth.Looking forward to sharing this enlightening episode with you, and as always, thank you for tuning in. To learn more about Corey Keyes and his work, I recommend you start with:Languishing: https://sites.prh.com/languishingbookYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatTiktok: @mogawdatX: @mgawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

In our ongoing Unstressable series, today I’m joined by the remarkable Helen Marie, a therapist who has dedicated her life to helping individuals navigate through their trauma toward a path of healing. While many of you might recognize her from her public seminars and writings on emotional recovery, there’s much about Helen that remains beneath the surface.As an avid mountain climber, a hobby that she describes as a metaphor for her approach to therapy—focusing on one small step at a time to conquer seemingly insurmountable challenges. Her insights extend beyond the therapy room, offering practical advice for anyone looking to overcome their own personal hurdles.Join us for a profound conversation that dives into the heart of emotional healing and personal growth. Helen shares her professional insights and therapeutic approaches, offering a wealth of wisdom that can benefit anyone looking to navigate through their own challenges.Listen as we discuss: 0:33 Unstressable3:50 Presenting Yourself10:46 Trauma19:10 What is EMDR?23:00 Window of Tolerance28:25 Being Human34:00 Childhood trauma42:49 Looking at ourselves53:10 BoundariesLooking forward to sharing this powerful episode with you, and as always, thank you for tuning in. Continue the conversation with Helen on:https://www.instagram.com/h.e.l.e.n.m.a.r.i.e/?hl=en or https://www.tiktok.com/@h.e.l.e.n.m.a.r.i.e?lang=enYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatTiktok: @mogawdatX: @mgawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today we have a special treat on Slo Mo, diving into the fascinating world of books with Michael Carlisle and Elizabeth Beier, two people responsible for  Unstressable being published. Both Alice and I, want the book to reach as many people as it should. You can help us by pre-ordering the book (https://amzn.eu/d/ipz9OUW) ahead of its international publishing day on May 9th. We get up close and personal with Michael Carlisle, literary agent at InkWell Management, and friend. Not only has Michael represented Pulitzer Prize winners, but his journey from the bustling corridors of the William Morris Agency to InkWell is a story of passion and dedication to the literary arts. Then, we switch gears to chat with Elizabeth Beier, the executive editor at St. Martin’s Press. While Elizabeth is known for her sharp editorial eye, there’s a playful and distinctly personal side to her that often goes unnoticed. We delve into industry secrets and tips for aspiring writers too! Listen as we discuss: Unstressable Who Michael and Elizabeth areThe challenges of the publishing IndustryHow to get publishedAlice's perspective on becoming UnstressableThe most stressful things in publishing Drivers of the publishing IndustryMo's and Alice's writing processWhy Unstressable got publishedJoin us for this enlightening exploration of the literary world. Whether you're a devoted bibliophile or simply curious about the people behind the pages, this episode offers insights for everyone.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatTiktok: @mogawdatX: @mgawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

In today’s episode, I'm thrilled to share an enlightening conversation with a truly inspiring person and a wonderful teacher, Stuart Sandeman. Many of you might know Stuart as the mastermind behind "Breathpod," where he transforms lives through the power of breathing. But there’s so much more to his story that isn’t widely known.He is here to help us move closer to our mission of getting 1 million people out of stress and you can help too. "Unstressable: A Practical Guide to Stress-Free Living" is almost here, so please pre-order it before the end of April. Today, we start off by exploring Stuart’s unexpected journey from a successful career in music and entertainment to becoming a breathwork specialist. Stuart opens up about how the loss of a loved one deeply influenced his mission to help others find healing and resilience through breathwork.Listen as we discuss: Being too busy to breatheStuart's personal storyHallucinating with just our breathingBreathing and its effectsHow "simple" breathing isWhy we are not breathing correctly The 5 archetypes of breathers Eating healthyBreathing and StressBreathing and SleepPractical steps to improve our breathingSo, grab your headphones and join us for this deep dive on breathing. Whether you’re already a breathwork enthusiast or just curious, there’s something in this episode for everyone.You can order Stuart's book 'Breathe In, Breathe Out' here: https://rb.gy/sxtqthStuart's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/breathpod/?hl=en Looking forward to you joining us, and as always, thank you for listening.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatTiktok: @mogawdatX: @mgawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

In today’s episode of Slo Mo, I sit down with the inimitable Bassem Youssef, a man whose wit and wisdom have challenged and changed the contours of political satire in the Middle East. In a departure from our usual tone, this conversation takes a more contemplative and, indeed, somewhat pessimistic turn as we delve into the complexities of modern life and the daunting challenges that lie ahead. As we continue our Unstressable series, Bassem's courage to speak about the world's most challenging topics should remind us never to be afraid to take, even the biggest problems, head on.  00:00 Intro05:00 The oversized role of ego 07:36 Fame is not real11:49 Bassem's veganism12:42 The last time Mo and Bassem met14:53 Is most of humanity disappointing?18:00 Bassem's influence in the Israel-Palestine conflict21:10 Are we in an era of hyperinformation?23:45 Cancel culture24:37 Will humanity ever change?32:57 Can we be hopeful?37:56 Are we heading into more conflict?40:23 The end of the truth48:50 How will AI affect us?1:00:35 How does Bassem keep going?This episode is a compelling journey through the darker sides of our modern realities, offering no easy answers but many important questions. Bassem's voice is an important warning to those who might choose to ignore the world. His reflections invite us to think deeply about our own beliefs, biases, and the kind of future we are creating, so take the time to Slow Down with us and look for answers to some truly tough questions.For more thought-provoking exploration and a lot of laughter you can catch Bassem Youssef on his European "Middle Beast" tour in: Oslo, Berlin, Zurich, Munich, Hamburg, Antwerp, Stockholm, London, Copenhagen, Birmingham, Dublin, Manchester, and Paris: https://www.bassemyoussef.xyz/upcoming-shows/  YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatTiktok: @mogawdatX: @mgawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

We're well into our Unstressable series on Slo Mo where today I have the profound pleasure of sitting down with Jodi Wellman, a luminary in the realm of living fully. You can help our mission by preordering "Unstressable: A Practical Guide to Stress-Free Living" written by me, Mo Gawdat, and Alice Law. In today's conversation with Jodi, we ventured into the heart of what it means to truly embrace every moment of our existence, guided by Jodi's remarkable journey and the wisdom she's garnered along the way.Jodi, with her vibrant approach to life, challenges us to confront the finiteness of our time with grace and intentionality. Her work, centered around maximizing the richness of our days, resonates deeply with my own quest for happiness and meaning. We explored the delicate balance between acknowledging our mortality and using that awareness as a catalyst to live more fully, a theme that has touched my life personally and profoundly.Listen as we discuss: UnstressableDoing the Math of LivingTuning InScheduling vs. Savoring Living without RegretsAfterlifeWhat Brings us Joy What should we Care AboutThe Joy ListSociety at LargeJodi's message is a call to action, urging us to not only chase our dreams but to savor the journey along the way. Learn more about it here: https://fourthousandmondays.com/ I left our conversation more inspired than ever to embrace the beauty of the unknown, to appreciate the finite nature of our existence, and to live every day to its fullest. I invite you to continue the conversation with Jodi on her Instagram, or LinkedIn. YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatX: @mgawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Joining us on Slo Mo today is Dr. Gabor Maté, a revered figure in the fields of addiction, stress, and childhood development and someone I personally deeply respect and admire. We engage in a conversation that feels as intimate as one between lifelong companions and Gabor shares insights from his extensive exploration of the human condition.Don't forget that you can help us in our mission by preordering "Unstressable: A Practical Guide to Stress-Free Living" written by me, Mo Gawdat, and my wonderful co-author Alice Law. Dr. Maté's journey reveals the profound connection between our emotional well-being and physical health, shedding light on how our environments, from early childhood onwards, shape our behaviors, relationships, and even our susceptibilities to diseases. Dr. Maté invites us to consider the complex tapestry of factors influencing addiction and stress, advocating for a compassionate approach to generational healing and recovery.This episode is a homage to the power of understanding, the importance of authentic connection, and the transformative potential of embracing vulnerability.Listen as we discuss:What Pain and Trauma are and how to Accept themWhy You should never compare Pain and SufferingWhat we can do Individually to Make a DifferenceHow to Awaken OurselvesWhat Integrative Thinking isWhat are the Choices we MakeA sort of Preprogramming of Humanity The Effects of Longterm StressHow to Face the TruthAnd How we can Begin Generational HealingFor more wisdom and guidance from Dr. Gabor Maté, follow him on Instagram or visit: https://drgabormate.comYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatX: @mgawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today I'll start with a gentle reminder that our upcoming book "Unstressable: A Practical Guide to Stress-Free Living" is available for preorder. It is written by me, Mo Gawdat and my wonderful co-author Alice Law and we hope it will truly make an impact in getting a million people out of Stress.To help us learn more about Stress, in this episode of Slo Mo, I am honored to welcome Robert Sapolsky, a luminary in the field of neuroscience and a master storyteller of human behavior. A truly remarkable human being. Like a deep and engaging dialogue between friends, Robert shares his journey through the intricate maze of the human brain, discussing the marvels of biology that underpin our emotions, actions, and the essence of what makes us human.Beyond his groundbreaking research on stress, Robert explores his passion for teaching, his profound insights into the intersection of biology and behavior, and his unyielding curiosity about the human condition. This episode is a celebration of intellectual exploration, the wonders of scientific discovery, and the profound impact of sharing knowledge to illuminate the mysteries of our existence.Listen as we discuss:The upcoming release of UnstressableThe Biology of StressHow our Compassion sometimes contributes to our StressHow humans are a species of ContradictionsHow Contextual is StressThe Evolution of our Tribal mentality DopamineFree WillThe Positive impact we can makeFor more insights and inspiration from Robert Sapolsky, dive into his lectures and books (his most recent: https://a.co/d/iZTAUed), and follow his work at the forefront of neuroscience and behavior. To stay in touch with Robert, you can follow his academic contributions and public engagements, or subscribe to his Instagram page.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatX: @mgawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today we begin by shining a spotlight on the upcoming "Unstressable: A Practical Guide to Stress-Free Living", a book written by me, Mo Gawdat and my wonderful co-author Alice Law. This book is a beacon of hope and practical advice for anyone seeking to preemptively tackle the stress epidemic in our modern world. We encourage you to pre-order this transformative guide towards a more serene and fulfilling life.In this enlightening episode of Slo Mo, we're honored to host Katie Maycock. Katie's profound understanding of the intricate link between stress, anxiety, and physical health has made her a sought-after voice in the wellness community. Through her work, she addresses the root causes of stress and anxiety, especially in high-performing individuals, offering strategies that promote not just mental well-being but also physical health.Join us as Katie Maycock offers a treasure trove of knowledge and practical tips that promise to enlighten, inspire, and empower you to take control of your well-being, paving the way for a life marked by less stress and more joy. This episode is a heartfelt invitation to embrace a holistic approach to health and to discover the profound connection between mind, body, and spirit.Listen as we discuss: What Burnout actually isWhat really Drives a personOur Perception of Stress and how to change itEmotionsPerformance The Compounding effects of tiny StressesThe Physical Signs of Stress6 Stages of BurnoutHow to Protect Your Capacity for PressureWhat to do to tackle BurnoutFollow Katie on LinkedIn and Instagram to Get Your S**t Together! For those who do pre-order the book, Alice and I will be hosting a special webinar for those that do: https://www.unstressable.com/the-bookYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatX: @mgawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

In this episode of Slo Mo, we sit down with Claire Ghabrial, a powerhouse in the world of female boxing and a beacon of resilience and empowerment. Like a conversation between old friends, Claire shares her journey from the disciplined world of karate to the dynamic ring of boxing, revealing the challenges and victories that have shaped her.Beyond her athletic prowess, Claire delves into her passion for coaching, her commitment to empowering others through fitness, and her unique approach to wellness that transcends physical strength. This episode is a tribute to the power of determination, the beauty of evolving with grace, and the impact of inspiring others to embrace their own journey with courage.Listen as we discuss: If getting punched hurtsWomen in Boxing The Psychology of SportsSelf Realization and PressureMarriageGratitudeWorking to inspire othersFoodThe "Good Enough" thingFor more insights and inspiration from Claire Ghabrial, check out her story at Glove Up. To stay in touch with Claire you can follow her on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, or learn more about her at: https://youtube.com/@gloveup_punchyourfearsawayYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatX: @mgawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today, I warmly welcome back Sah D'Simone, a beacon of spiritual awakening and mental health advocacy. As a bestselling author, meditation teacher, and transformational speaker, Sah blends ancient wisdom with his humorous and accessible approach to mindfulness. In this episode, we peel back the layers of Sah's journey from fashion to finding peace, discussing how to embrace our true selves and the power of compassion-based meditation. It's a conversation between friends, diving deep into practices that foster self-love and mental clarity. Join us for an uplifting chat that feels like a heart-to-heart with an old friend.Listen as we discuss: Writing about LonelinessThe contrast between Eastern and Western cultures The Dunbar effectTechnology, Fragility, Connection Chasing distractions How to break the Mould The Third Truth InterconnectednessFor more about Sah and his work, follow him on Instagram @sahdsimone and explore  Sah D'Simone's Official Site, and of course take a few minutes today to slow down. YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatX: @mgawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

In the latest episode of our podcast as I am honored to host the exceptional Neeta Bhushan, a celebrated author, emotional health educator, and the visionary co-founder of the Global Grit Institute. Neeta's profound insights into emotional resilience, grit, and the art of overcoming adversity have captivated audiences worldwide, making her a sought-after speaker and a beacon of hope for many.In this inspiring episode, Neeta delves into her own life story, marked by personal tragedy and immense challenges, which led her on a path to discovering the power of emotional resilience and the courage to embrace vulnerability. Her pioneering work offers not just strategies for navigating life's inevitable ups and downs, but a holistic approach to living a life marked by authenticity, purpose, and joy.We'll dive deep into the heart of emotional resilience, understanding how it can transform our relationships, our work, and our approach to life's trials and tribulations. Neeta shares actionable insights on how to cultivate grit, foster a mindset of growth, and the importance of emotional agility in achieving peak performance in all areas of life.Listen as we discuss: Neeta's book: "That Sucked, Now What?"How to Embrace the Joy of LifeWhat it means to live through Loss in your 20sHow connected are Self-Responsibility and Resilience How to awaken yourself without the HardshipSpirituality and why it is importantMotherhood and ChaosFollow Neeta and her work on her website (https://neetabhushan.com/) and be sure to get a copy of That Sucked, Now What if you found our conversation interesting. And as always, find a bit of time for yourself. A bit of time to Slow Down. See you next week! YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatX: @mgawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

In this episode of our podcast, I am thrilled to welcome Alice Law, a personal friend and my co-author. She is a distinguished Stress & Wellness Expert, International Speaker, Author, and Podcast Host renowned for her profound work in stress management and wellness. Alice, with her extensive experience working with leaders and corporations, provides private consultancy and corporate workshops aimed at managing and preventing stress to unlock their highest potential while maintaining authenticity and effectiveness.Today Alice shares her own transformative journey, where personal challenges and the loss of her father to stress-related illness propelled her into the realm of stress management. It's a journey that brought us together to write Unstressable. Ahead of the book's release on May 9th, we'll soon begin a series on Stress. So keep an eye out for more episodes on the topic from around mid-March. For now, listen in as Alice and I share our personal experiences and lots of valuable pieces of the book in today's conversation. But please do visit and join us on the Unstressable platform (https://www.unstressable.com) for groundbreaking strategies and tools for those seeking to navigate the complexities of modern life stress-free. Listen as we discuss: What is takes to publish a bookOur Story of UnstressableLoss and StressWorking togetherThe Formula of StressLimit, Learn, and ListenHow do we Feel to HealPhysical Symptoms of StressWhat Spiritual Stress is8 Practices to keep you Unstressable And more Tips to UnstressFor more on Alice Law's work and how to embrace a life of calm and resilience, visit Lawali Life and Unstressable.Subscribe, share, and remember to find the time to slow down with us, amidst all the chaos of our modern lives. YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatX: @mgawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Dive deep into the flow state with the latest episode of our podcast, where we're thrilled to welcome the phenomenal Steven Kotler, a world-renowned expert on peak performance and the psychology of flow. Steven, an award-winning author, journalist, and co-founder of the Flow Research Collective, brings his groundbreaking insights into how we can tap into our ultimate potential and unleash unparalleled productivity and creativity.In this captivating episode, Steven shares his personal journey of discovery, from the initial spark of curiosity that led him to explore the outer limits of human performance to the development of practical tools and strategies that empower individuals and organizations to achieve their best work. His work is not just about achieving more; it's about transforming the way we live, work, and play to create a richer, more fulfilling life.We'll unpack the science behind flow, the elusive state where we feel our best and perform our best, and explore how understanding this state can radically alter our approach to challenges and opportunities. Steven will share real-world applications of his research, from enhancing productivity to fostering innovation and resilience in the face of adversity.Listen as we discuss: How to Optimize for FlowWhat Peak Performance isLanguishing vs Flourishing Cognitive ReserveDoes Proficiency Matter AgingProtecting Your Time Neurochemical Cocktail of Flow5 Things to Start You on the Path of FlowWho the Boss isBeing in Charge of Your FateFind more information about Steve's wonderful work on https://www.flowresearchcollective.com/ and https://www.stevenkotler.com/  to continue the conversation.And as always, we're on a mission to bring transformative conversations to our listeners. Join us in our journey towards enlightenment, empowerment, and excellence, and help us create a community of happy people. Subscribe, share, and remember to find the time to Slow Down. YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatX: @mgawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

In today's episode of Slo Mo, we welcome the inspiring Dr. Gemma Newman, also known as the Plant Power Doctor (https://gemmanewman.com/). Gemma shares her holistic approach to health, emphasizing the transformative power of plant-based nutrition not just for individuals but for the planet. Beyond her medical expertise, Gemma reveals the personal journey that led her to embrace a plant-based lifestyle, including her initial skepticism and the dramatic health improvements she witnessed firsthand. With stories of resilience, change, and hope, Gemma discusses the challenges and rewards of advocating for a healthier world, her involvement in the medical community to promote lifestyle medicine, and her vision for a future where healthcare and preventive medicine are inextricably linked to environmental sustainability and ethical choices. Listen as we discuss: Plant Food and Information The Neolithic ManReligion and DietSpiritualityLongevityPersonal nutrition The Gloves FrameworkThe Importance of giving Love The Universe and finding Empathy Slowing DownContinue the conversation with Gemma (https://www.instagram.com/plantpowerdoctor) and us. YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatX: @mgawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Join us for a profound exploration with Tom Palmer, a luminary in the libertarian movement, whose life's work has been dedicated to championing the principles of freedom and dignity across the globe. A Senior Fellow at the Cato Institute and the Executive Vice President for International Programs at the Atlas Network, Tom's influence spans from the halls of academia to the front lines of policy advocacy. But beyond his public persona, Tom's personal narrative — from his early involvement in movements against compulsory military service to his victorious fight for individual rights in 'Parker v. District of Columbia' — reveals a deeply principled individual. Tom's story is also one of triumph over adversity, standing firm in his identity and beliefs despite facing challenges. This episode offers an intimate glimpse into the experiences that shaped him, the convictions he holds dear, and his unyielding commitment to a world where freedom and liberty are accessible to all.Listen as we discuss: Where our World is headedThe Million dollar question Is Social Media shaping our identityWhat the Algorithms are doing to our PoliticsIs the World becoming more Dangerous How do We handle the FutureDo we need a Big Reset2035 - Will it be more or less Free?What we All Need to DoContinue the conversation with Tom (https://www.threads.net/@tomgpalmer) and me through our social channels. YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatX: @mgawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today we welcome Rob Moore to the show. A distinguished entrepreneur, author, and podcast host known for his disruptive approach to business and personal development, with so many interesting facts about him that would hardly fit this episode's description. Rob began his entrepreneurial journey in the property/real estate sector nearly two decades ago, building a substantial part of his wealth in this field, he's written 19 best-selling books on topics like Money and Life Leverage, he hosts the #Disruptors podcast,  engaging a wide range of guests, from entrepreneurs to public figures, discussing revolutionary ideas and current issues.Through The Rob Moore Foundation, he focuses on assisting young and underprivileged individuals in starting meaningful businesses and making impactful changes in society, deeply committed to improving financial education globally.Listen as we discuss: "Oh my God" momentsIs Money a Tool? About Privilege SuccessMoney Fundamentals Who needs a Lamborghini Rob Moore's Advice for YouTurning Cash into Assets For more information about Rob's work visit his website and continue the conversation through our social media channels. YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatX: @mgawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

In today's episode of Slo Mo, we're joined by Greg McKeown, the mind behind the 'Essentialist' philosophy. Greg, renowned for his insights on simplifying life's complexities, shares his personal journey, shedding light on the experiences and inspirations that have shaped his perspective.He is an influential author and speaker, best known for his work on essentialism and simplicity. His notable books include "Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less" and "Effortless: Make It Easier to Do What Matters Most." His philosophy focuses on the importance of prioritizing the most vital aspects of life and work, advocating for a disciplined approach to decision making. Greg has reached a wide audience, with his books being translated into multiple languages, and he has spoken to numerous top-tier companies worldwide. Additionally, Greg hosts "The Greg McKeown Podcast," popular in self-improvement and educational categories, and his newsletter, the 1-Minute Wednesday, is rapidly growing in popularity.Listen as we discuss: What makes a Bestselling Book? Hoarding and UnburdeningPeople in Modern TimesSuffering, Gratitude, and MeaningAbout LossWhat changing the past can look likeWhat is the Dark PlaygrounHow important is Effective Dependence?Are Online Connections Good? Finding balance in our lives.How to be an Essentialist and live effortlessly Our Systems and our Values Please visit Greg McKeown's website and continue the conversation on our social media channels. YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatX: @mgawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today on Slo Mo, we welcome the remarkable Africa Brooke (@africabrooke), a globally recognized thought leader, speaker, and advisor. Before we get into the episode, we'd like to thank Simon Salter (@mrsimonsalter) and Dirtea World (@dirteaworld) for hosting us at The House of Koko for the production of this episode.  You can find out more about it through the links below: FB - @thehouseofKOKO Linkedin – The House of KOKOYouTube - @KOKOCultureIn this deeply personal episode, Africa shares her unique insights on overcoming self-censorship and the journey towards authentic self-expression. Known for her impactful work around mindset, Africa delves into the less-explored aspects of her life, including her Zimbabwean roots and how her upbringing shapes her perspectives. Join us for an inspiring conversation that transcends boundaries and empowers you to embrace your true self. Listen as we discuss: Why is Africa Brooke here? Addiction & FreedomHow getting well sometimes doesn't feel rightRelationshipsConflict Avoidance Africa's tips to avoid AddictionUpcoming work and Collective SabotageFashion StyleThe role of Social MediaHow to overcome the shadow selfFriendships & Relapses Loneliness How to change existing beliefs and future generationsVisit Africa Brooke's website for more information about her work and background.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatX: @mgawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

In today's enlightening episode, we're joined by the extraordinary Marisa Peer, a globally recognized therapist and best-selling author. Marisa, with over three decades of experience in transforming lives, discusses her innovative approach to therapy, Rapid Transformational Therapy® (RTT®), and its profound impact on people's lives. A true pioneer in the field, her methods have helped celebrities, royals, and top athletes achieve remarkable personal breakthroughs. In this episode Marisa shares her journey and the powerful ways in which her work challenges and changes the limiting beliefs holding us back, inspiring a journey towards self-acceptance and profound change. We'll be exploring the transformative insights her work has accomplished and give practical advice for positive changes. Listen as we discuss: How Marisa became who she is todayWhy therapy usually takes longHypnosisReframingThe "do anything" brain defect The state of Being & the state of DoingCan everyone be enough?ComparisonsMarisa's childhood awakeningAdvice for the futureAre we in a world of Pain?What we can doFind more information about Marisa's work on Marisa Peer's website and continue the conversation on her Instagram or X.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatX: @mgawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Welcome back to Slo Mo. With this episode, we complete the list of the Top 10 episodes for 2023, and share with you some moments that really left a mark on me. I've grown as  a person with every conversation, and I hope that if you've been with us for the whole year, some have left a mark on you. For yet another shift in our perspectives, and for an always happier new year, listen as we revisit the following moments from 2023. I love you all. Caggie Dunlop (full episode here) was an original cast member of the award-winning UK-based reality show Made in Chelsea. She is also a singer/songwriter, poet, entrepreneur and now author. Her new book Saturn Returns explores the relationship between planetary movements and the ups and downs of life. Stephen Jenkinson (full episode here) is someone I consider an important teacher in my life. He is a cultural activist, he is a farmer and a philosopher. He is the author of a number of books including some that are my favorites. He has years of experience as a palliative care worker and is a former program director at a major Canadian hospital.The Minimalists (full episode here), one of the most popular in the world, are a trio of like-minded people helping others achieve a happier lifestyle by removing the unnecessary items that may clutter up their lives.  Original members Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus were joined by  T.K. Coleman in 2022. April Rinne (full episode here) is the author of 'Flux: 8 Super Powers for Thriving in Change.' She is also a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader and ranked one of the “50 Leading Female Futurists” in the world by Forbes.  Hannah Lord (full episode here) is a psychologist and business consultant. Hannah's goal is to rewire the cognitive pathways keeping people stuck through her work as a therapist and her online program, The Weight Lift. You'll hear why she is much more than a guest on the show.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatX: @mgawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Welcome back to Slo Mo. Thank you for being with us throughout the year. It has been a turbulent and unpredictable one. To help remind us to slow down and reflect, today we are revisiting our favorite moments and nuggets of wisdom we've discovered over the course of the year 2023. Exploring the path to calm the mind and slow down is Nikki Mirghafori (full episode here). She has grown up in Iran and then immigrated to the US where she studied at Stanford and UCLA and became a visiting professor at  UC Berkeley. Next we shed some light again on what being happy can mean. To do this, we are revisiting our conversation with Dr Bradley Nelson (full episode here). He is a world-renowned holistic healing expert, lecturer, author of The Emotion Code, and creator & author of The Body Code.Then , we'll revisit the idea of a friendship contract with Elizabeth Day (full episode here), a practice that can help us better understand the value friends have in our lives, and the value we have in the lives of others. She is an award-winning author and broadcaster. This leads me to think of another important topic we've covered in a long series on Love & Romance. I'm sharing a snippet from a great conversation on romantic relationships with Matthew Hussey (full episode here), a speaker and New York Times bestselling author, columnist for Cosmopolitan Magazine, and dating expert on ABC’s digital series What To Text Him Back. Finally, we're sharing a small bit of an incredible conversation with Deepak Chopra (full episode here), a world-renowned speaker and author, for a more wholistic perspective on our existence. A definitive reminder to often look inward. Take this time to slow down and reflect. See you next week for Part 2 of our Year in Review. YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatX: @mgawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

I am so amazed by the wonderful Simone Heng who joins us today to talk about the importance of connection during the wave of loneliness sweeping the modern world. As a Human Connection Specialist, Simone introduces us to her mission to inspire people to connect in a world that terribly needs it. She is a former international broadcaster for, among others, Virgin Radio Dubai, HBO Asia, and CNBC, and one of the youngest female Certified Speaking Professionals in the world.Simone is based and was born in Singapore but has also studied in Switzerland, was raised in Australia, and worked in the United Arab Emirates. She has a communications and cultural studies degree from Curtin University of Technology.Her latest book “Let’s Talk About Loneliness” is out and today we dive into the many valuable nuggets of wisdom you can find there. Listen as we discuss: What realizing your Dreams may look likeHow Lonely are we today?How we respond to high quality connections5 Types of ConnectionsRomantic Connections and their impactQuality and Algorithms of RelationshipsCoffee! Why we are so Lonely todayGen Z and the impact the Pandemic hadHow to see the Signs of LonelinessThe importance of Self ConnectionAlone vs LonelyHow Traumas compoundThe Blessings Do we get Points for dealing with Hardships?The Solutions for beating LonelinessConnect with Simone Heng on Instagram, TikTok, and Youtube, and continue the conversation.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatX: @mgawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today we welcome Shaun Galanos. A dear friend and a loving individual who will have a lot to add to our Love & Romance series because he's chosen love as his career. After long love struggles in his personal life, Shaun found his calling. His communication theory background came in handy when he started applying it to his relationships: And he will share his secrets with us today! He started The Love Drive podcast and have interviewed over 100 experts and thought leaders in the field of love, becoming certified as counselor supporting women in their healing journey after abuse. Listen as we discuss: Who Shaun Galanos isA Fascinating Wedding Habit of an African TribeIf Yoga studios a great place to Meet SomeoneIf Women should Approach MenHave we Failed with RomanceWhat are Non-Traditional RelationshipsSex Positive CultureWhy Women are More interested in Happiness than MenConnection to Social MediaTaking a SabbaticalShaun's Verdict on Dating AppsIf Dating is a SkillWomen's Relationship Immersion TrainingIntimacyTips on Creating Closer ConnectionsTalking moreConnect with Shaun Galanos on X, Instagram, or through his Website and continue the conversation. YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatX: @mgawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Our guest today is Doctor of Psychology, Author, and Speaker Angela Ahola. Dr. Ahola specializes in human behavior and the primary forces that drive human psychology. She is a sought-after keynote speaker, interviewee, and author of educational self-improvement books.She has worked with everyone from corporate leaders to academics and police officers, and is the author of 100 Dates, Dina dolda drivkrafter ("Your Hidden Motives") and Konsten att göra intryck ("The Art of Making an Impression').Today we speak about first impressions, power and influence, the art of meaningful communication, dating and relationships, the secrets of happiness, and the mysteries of love. Listen as we discuss: One wild experiment to help you understand What DATING is Be happy being single How many matches does it take to get a date? Keeping an open mind The mathematics of dating How to improve your dating profile? What to look for in a man’s profile?Do dating apps work? When to say “no” to a second dateChemistry and attraction The 3 types of dates you will run intoWhat the title of Angela’s book should mean for the listeners Connect with Angela Ahola on Instagram @angelaahola and learn more about her work at https://angelaahola.com/en/ YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatX: @mgawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today we are revisiting another great conversation, continuing our Love and Relationships series.Listen in as Michaela Boehm and I continue to discuss one of my absolute favorite topics: relationships. Michaela has given Slo Mo one of my favorite takes yet on the perpetually interesting and controversial topic of human sexuality and intimacy. (See my interviews with Dr. Robert Glover, Alain de Botton, and Kasia Urbaniak for some other fascinating takes). Michaela travels and teaches internationally as an expert in intimacy, relationship and sexuality. Her unique body of work centers around the intersection of intimacy and embodiment. With over 30,000 hours of in-person counseling, clinical experience in trauma and addiction and innovative somatic approach, her work with celebrities (Will Smith, Gwyneth Paltrow, etc.) has been featured in international print publications, TV programs and online talk shows. Most recently her approach has been featured on the Netflix Series [UN] WELL, which is how I first saw her and decided I had to reach out. Michaela is the creator of The Non-Linear Movement Method, and her book The Wild Woman’s Way  was published in 2018.Listen as we discuss:What is intimacy?The meaning of embodiment, the ability to hear and feel the messages of the bodyHow intimacy with yourself is the fundamental step before intimacy with othersIs it normal to lose the spark in your relationship? Yes, and here's why.Caution: Attend to the issues in a relationship before it's too late. They're fixable.Erotic friction vs. Relationship , the clash between familiarity and newnessA relationship problem is when you're not agreeing, not alignedAn attraction problem is the result of too much familiarity, too aligned."I married my best friend, but we no longer have sex."The biological, emotional, and spiritual layers of human relationships.How to rekindle the spark and introduce variety into your relationship.Do women really like men in uniforms? (And why?)The importance of being honest about the compromises you make in a relationship.Learn new sexual skills! Sex-Life BalanceConnect with Michaela Boehm on Instagram @micboehm77, on Facebook @boehm.michaela, and her website, michaelaboehm.comYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatX: @mgawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Continuing our love and relationships series, we revisit my chat with the incredible Alain de Botton.  One of the most listened episodes on Slo Mo, I and the British-Swiss philosopher, Alain de Botton, dive deep into one of my favorite topics: Love. Alain de Botton is a philosopher and writer of essayistic books that have been described as a "philosophy of everyday life." He’s written on love, travel, architecture and literature. His books have been bestsellers in 30 countries and have sold millions of copies. Alain also started and helps to run a school in London called The School of Life, dedicated to a new vision of education. His latest book, published in September 2019, is a collection of essays written for The School of Life, titled The School of Life: An Emotional Education.I love talking about love, just as much as I'm happy to discuss happiness. Alain's body and scope of work is so vast, I decided to focus this conversation entirely on love, sex, and relationships. I'm so glad I did.We will revisit:What is love? Alain's definition of love: 'when two people meet in their raw condition.'How the opposite extreme of love is Loneliness, not Hatred.How Life is a desperate emergency, and if we can just admit that, things open up.Why Christianity gives a privileged role to those who sufferOne of the most honest takes on sex you'll ever hearHow we're always trying to get our life as close as possible to our true realityIf we're all imperfect, doesn't that make imperfection perfect?How we've replaced happiness with "fun" just as we've replaced love with "romance"The contradictions in love and how they're only glaring because they violate a script or story we expect from our relationshipHow we shouldn't be held accountable for what we feel, but rather the actions we take based on those feelings.Reinterpreting the typical disaster scenario in a relationship when one partner cheats on another.Humanity's transition from demonizing sex to trying to understand itThe differences (or lack thereof) between male and female in love and sexSexual fetishes and their unique place in couple connectionsUndertakers and nurses as beacons of acceptanceThe game of life is trying to find connectionsThe ironic outcome of jealousy's intentionsHow to keep your partner faithfulAlain's love advice to my daughterCoping with the feeling of being rushed into marriage as a womanWhat "God is love" really meansSeeing your partner as an Adorable Idiot rather than just a regular idiotConnect with Alain de Botton on Twitter @alaindebotton and alaindebotton.comYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Continuing our love and relationships series, we revisit my chat with the wonderful Dr. Jed Diamond.Jed is the founder and director of MenAlive, a health program that helps men, and the women who love them, to live fully, love deeply, and make a positive difference in the world. He is one of the world’s leading experts in the field of gender-specific medicine, men’s health, and trauma recovery. His training programs on The 5 Stages of Love have been taken by men and women throughout the world. Jed has written 16 books, including international best-sellers Male Menopause, Surviving Male Menopause, The Warrior’s Journey Home: Healing Men, Healing the Planet, and The Irritable Male Syndrome. His most recent books are 12 Rules for Good Men and Survive and Thrive in the Post-COVID World.I'm so grateful to Jed, who has written multiple articles featuring some of my work alongside his own brilliant work and writing. I was so excited to get a chance to chat with him, and I'm certain this will be an eye-opener for you.Listen as we discuss:A dive into Jed's past and how he found his creative side.Why he committed his life to understanding the world of men and women.Why do men often become angry and irritable?What is Male Menopause and Irritable Male Syndrome?Our past marriages and the importance of knowing the 5 stages of love.Why disillusionment is a precursor to real, lasting love.Understanding the ancient reality of the male and female division.Breaking out of the "man box" and the 12 rules for good men.Jed's one core piece of advice for men.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comConnect with Dr. Jed Diamond on Facebook @dr.jed.diamond, Twitter @menalivenow, and his website, menalive.comYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Continuing our Love and Relationships series, we've decided to revisit a few of our favorite past episodes on the subject.Today we revisit my talk with Kasia Urbaniak, the founder and CEO of The Academy, a school that teaches women the foundations of power and influence. Kasia's perspective on power is unique. Over the course of nearly 20 years, she has worked as a professional Dominatrix, practiced Taoist alchemy in one of the oldest female-led monasteries in China and obtained dozens of certifications in different disciplines, including Medical Qi Gong and Systemic Constellations. Since founding The Academy in 2013, Kasia has taught hundreds of women practical tools to step into leadership positions in their relationships, families, workplaces, and wider communities. She is the author of UNBOUND: A Woman's Guide to Power,  released in March 2021.Listen as we discuss:Kasia's seriously incredible storyBeing a dominatrix, where you'll learn more about the art than you ever thought existedHow she went to teach other dominatrices her methodBein born into a world that made no sense to herThe reason she become a dominatrix: earn money to pursue spiritual journeyThe difference between "performing power" vs. leading from a place of carePower dynamics, and how we find them everywhere, and how that's not a bad thingHow men don't know how to make women happy, and women stay silent and angry about itGood girl conditioning, and how to reform itReacting to life with attention in vs. attention outCuriosity is one of the best ways to get through conflict and come out with goldMy experiences working at Google with female leadersKasia's belief that if she teaches women well, they'll teach the men"Women in a Meeting Syndrome"How women struggle with asking because they fear being bossy or needyThe belief that needing things is badHow can men empower women? Why women should keep an invisible labor log"Where there is no awareness there is no choice"Train women to love the word "no"People don't say no to be jerks, they say it because it threatens something importantResistance is precious!Imagining the first woman ever who asked for maternity leave!How a complaint always has a desireKasia's upcoming book, UnboundGood Girl Reformed School: a seat in the class for anyone who pre-orders the bookWe need more levity!Connect with Kasia Urbaniak on Instagram @realkasiaurbaniak, on Facebook @therealkasiaurbaniak, and kasiaurbaniak.comYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Continuing our Love and Relationships series, we've decided to revisit a few of our favorite past episodes on the subject.In this episode, I speak to Dr. Robert Glover, author of the brilliant, often life-altering, and slightly controversial bestselling classic, No More Mr. Nice Guy.  It may not sound like the kind of book I'd have read, but it is a little piece of self-help magic and has helped countless people recognize their own "Nice Guy Syndrome": the trait of hiding feelings and truths that we fear will get a negative reaction from other people so as to maintain the belief that we are "nice", leading to a host of toxic relationships and fundamentally dishonest behaviors.Robert is an internationally recognized authority on the Nice Guy Syndrome, and through his book, classes, and therapy groups, he has helped thousands of Nice Guys transform from being passive, resentful victims to empowered, integrated males, transforming their professional careers and intimate relationships along the way.Before we get started, I implore you as always to stay open minded for this conversation. The concepts, though admittedly slanted toward men due to the focus of Robert's work, certainly apply to women as well, and to all sexualities.Listen as we discuss:What is wrong with being a nice guy?How 'nice guys' are often dishonest, resentful, and give to get.How Robert's second marriage was falling apart despite his best efforts.The "Victim Pukes"The confused belief that if sex is bad and evil, why should it only be for the one you love?The three covert contracts that lead to toxic relationshipsThe reason men become nice guys is due to desiring the validation of womenThe crucial need for a stronger involvement of fathers in their sons' livesNice guy logic: "If I have needs, I'm bad, yet I want things, but I won't accept them."For women to experience sexual attraction, they need to experience emotional tension."If a man can't stand up to me, how can he stand up for me?"The effect of 50 Shades of Grey on society.Human women are the most sexually evolved creatures on the planet. Men are basically apes.Co-dependency: "I don't exist unless I'm in a relationship"Healthy interdependence The 'hugging until relaxed' exerciseCalm is contagiousYou can want your partner, but as soon as you start needing them, you lose themTo have the best sex, there needs to be an interplay of dominance and submissionEqual does not mean the sameUsing men's motivation to have sex to expand their emotional intelligenceThe struggle between man vs. woman as a profound catalyst for growthThe lingering effect of not having our childhood needs meetWomen are  sexual Ferraris and men are sexual mopeds"Slut shaming"The Disney and Hollywood effect on women's perception of monogamyRepressing female sexuality has become par for the courseMen need a tribeConnect with Dr. Robert Glover on  Facebook @drrobertglover, Twitter @dr_r_glover, and his website, drglover.comYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today's guest is psychologist and business consultant, Hannah Lord. Hannah's goal is to rewire the cognitive pathways keeping people stuck through her work as a therapist and her online program, The Weight Lift.I met Hannah on the streets of London when I heard someone shout "Mo!" She mentioned that she'd been listening to the podcast and had a different perceptive on love and romance. I felt a strong desire to have her on and I'm so glad I did.Hannah mentions that this is the most difficult time in history to be single, and I'd have to agree. Luckily, we also go over what we need to do to navigate this time to eventually find true love. And surprise, surprise, it starts with you, not them.Listen as we discuss:3:30: This is the most difficult period in history to be single. Why?9:00: Rejection Fatigue12:00: Hannah's experience treating alpha males in her practice.15:00: The Yin and Yang the balance between feminine and masculine.18:00: Why your brain seems to fight itself in weird moments.24:00: My experiences as a "giver" and Hannah's personal learnings in dating.29:00: Defining Masculine and Feminine properly.32:00: The alchemy of finding true love.35:00: What does it mean to "fall in love" vs. "being in love"?42:30: Until you understand yourself, finding love is far more difficult.45:00: Soul-Matching49:00: The Weight Lift and how to care for your mind like you do your body.56:30: The number one question: what are my needs? 1:01:00: What is a need? Why don't we attract what we need?1:04:00: My number one need: to be free.1:06:00 Being seen is a core human need.1:08:00: The differences in how we express anger.1:10:00: A final overview of needs in a relationship.Connect with Hannah Lord on Instagram @hannahlord__ and learn more about her work at  hannah-lord.co.ukYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

 My guest today is Dr Lalitaa Suglani. I asked her how to introduce her and she said people always talk about fancy titles but I just help people connect to their hearts. I think that’s a very very nice and sufficient introduction.  You should listen to my conversation on her podcast - it was Jedi Master level, but today we're going to talk about love and romance. Dr. Lalitaa Suglani is an award-winning psychologist, renowned leadership coach, and international speaker. She holds a PhD in counselling from the University of Wolverhampton. Lalitaa believes that the key to achieving real lasting success and happiness in all areas of our lives lies within our own mind. She has seen how through personal growth and self-awareness, we learn to harness our thought patterns, gain control of the voice in our heads, cultivate a positive mindset and create the life and career of our dreams.Listen as we discuss:02:30 - Love and respect07:00 - Are we at war?11:00 - How therapy can help find the root of relationship turmoil16:00 - Is it worth it?20:00 - Love for rent24:00 - Self-awareness and loneliness27:00 - Should we make it work or not?32:30 - Repeating the same pattern36:30 - relationship of a therapist41:30 - Looking in and finding yourself47:00 - Conflict resolution 50:00 - The Tick List53:00 - The 98 per cent58:30 - Safety and self-trust01:01:30 - FOMO and vulnerability01:03:00 - How can we fix it?01:07:00 - Reset love01:09:00 - Be honest01:11:45 - The last wordConnect with Dr. Lalitaa Suglani on Instagram  @dr.lalitaaYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

 My guest today is relationship coach Julianne Dallas. I stalked her Instagram content, like, really almost read all of it. There is a level of honesty in what she speaks about that is truly refreshing. In a way, it openly discusses how feminism works for us, or against us, and how masculinity works for us, or against us. Julianne is a coach with the mission of helping sensitive, brilliant women build happy, healthy relationships with masculine men. Her story is a very interesting reflection about being informed about what she teaches because she wasn’t always in this space - she started in a very different place. Julianne is going to take us through the journey of going through trauma to find healthy relationships between the masculine and feminine. Listen as we discuss:03:00 - How it started 08:00 - You’re not broken 10:30 - My Trauma 15:00 - My dream guy! 19:30 - What is a masculine man? 26:30 - Do you want kids? 29:00 - Be a real man 32:00 - Responsibility Vs Control 39:00 - Nurturing Vs Mothering 45:30 - Solving the problem 53:00 - Change and vulnerability 58:30 - Be like a man culture 01:03:00 - Standing up for your beliefs 01:06:00 - Intentions and actions 01:10:00 - Testing love 01:14:00 - The Heroes 01:17:00 - Venus Vs Mars Connect with Julianne Dallas on Instagram @embodybyjulesYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today's guest is London-based psychologist Dr. Annie Zimmerman,  who goes by Your Pocket Therapist on Instagram where she has over 250,000 followers. As part of our miniseries on presenting a variety of perspectives on love and romance, I reached out to Annie because she avoids the gimmicks of presenting as an expert on dating while focusing strictly on the psychology side, which she does brilliantly. Annie drops gold nuggets of wisdom so effortlessly that you might miss them if you're not paying attention. If you're in a relationship already or trying to be, this episode will equip you with clarity on what to look for and what to stop looking for.At points, this episode might seem like a broadcasting of my personal therapy session, so don't hold it against me as I may have forgotten a time or two that an audience would be listening.Listen as we discuss:3:30: Why do good girls date bad boys?6:00: What draws us to needy and draining relationships?10:00: How attachment styles are formed.14:00: Is your childhood always to blame for your dysfunctional relationships?18:30: Is a lack of childhood traumas the key to a perfect partner?20:00: What should we look for in a perfect partner? (Consciously vs. Unconsciously)23:30: My period of time in monk-mode and dating  platonically. 26:00: The illusion of abundance in dating apps and the reality of scarcity mindset.29:30: Is it a waste of time to date without an objective? 31:00: Annie’s upcoming book, Your Pocket Therapist and redefining success in a relationship.34:00: Is it wrong to feel desperate to find someone to have kids in your 30’s?36:00 Is sustainable happiness possible in a relationship? Can love last forever?41:00: The torturous push and pull between stability and adventure.44:00: Alternate models of relationships such as polyamory.48:00: Has couples therapy ever really worked, and how we can improve odds?55:00: Incompatibility is a reality too.57:00: What does it truly mean to love somebody?59:30: Just because you love somebody doesn’t mean you should be with them.1:01:00: How can you become unafraid to fall in love?1:06:45: The economics of dating.1:09:21: Being prepared to walk away is the ultimate superpower.Connect with Annie Zimmerman on Instagram @your_pocket_therapist  and learn more about her work here.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

My guest today is someone I’ve waited four months to speak to, mistake on my side by the way, we just didn’t coordinate very well. But four months ago Instagram, for once, showed me something I liked, so I clicked. It was a video about a relationship coach speaking about how women do certain things in a relationship, and I found myself nodding vigorously. Like yes, absolutely I feel this is what I have gone through, and so I clicked for more content, and I was head-banging all the way through. Until I finally said I’m going to follow that person. I have to admit almost every single piece of content she puts online is so well thought through, and is valid in a very interesting way, at least to me, so I thought maybe you guys should get introduced. My guest today is Sarah Dawn Moore.Sarah Dawn Moore is a dating and relationship coach turned content creator. She combines practical evolutionary psychology, behaviour modification and gender dynamics, to uncover and reverse the unhealthy patterns and dynamics that cause the most discord between men and women. Sarah has coached hundreds of people and has over 1.5 million online followers.Listen as we discuss:03:00 - What’s the problem? 08:00 - Speaking like a man 12:30 - What do women know? 15:00 - My journey 18:00 - Father figure Vs Bad boy 23:30 - Let men be men 32:00 - Managing expectations 34:00 - First love 37:30 - Trust issues 41:30 - Probabilities and affirming bias 44:00 - Taking a step back and breaking up with your patterns 47:30 - Beauty and the Beast 52:00 - Being nice and being good 54:00 - Transactional love 56:00 - The drama queen 58:30 - Peace and insecurity 01:05:00 - State your needs at the start 01:09:00 - Fatherhood and Ali 01:11:30 - A safe space Vs emasculation 01:15:00 - What do men really want? 01:17:00 - The chase Connect with Sarah Dawn Moore on Instagram @sarahdawnmoore  and learn more about her work here.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

 My guest today is Shahzad Younas, who is the founder of Muzz, which you would absolutely know about if you are a Muslim - you would know nothing about if you are not - it is the world’s largest Muslim dating site - if dating is the right word to use. He used to be an investment banker and then realised this is not what he wanted to do with this life, and what a journey! If you know the story of how business works in the background for some of those things you end up having in your hand, it would blow you away. So excited to have a conversation about, not only how he ended up here but why he ended up here, and you know, how different some of our cultures are when it comes to love, dating and romance. Shahzad Younas (London, UK) is the founder and CEO of Muzz (formerly muzmatch). Previously a Vice President in Equity Portfolio Trading at investment bank Morgan Stanley for 9 years, Shahzad quit his career to fully focus on building a high-quality mobile app to help Muslims around the world find their perfect marriage partner.Backed with a total of $9M investment (Seed and Series A) from a range of Silicon Valley and global investors, headquartered in Aldgate, London, and boasting a fast-growing 65+ strong global team, Muzz (formerly muzmatch) is transforming how Muslims meet and marry.Listen as we discuss: 02:00 - Muslims don’t date they marry! 06:30 - The gamification of dating apps 09:30 - Finding Love 16:00 - The process of choice 19:00 - Sex education 21:30 - Where’s the romance? 25:30 - Looking for the one 27:30 - What does the science say? 31:30 - When things go wrong 35:00 - Leave her in kindness 36:00 - Treat others as you want to be treated 38:30 - Ethics 40:30 - Do dating app works? 47:00 - AI 49:30 - Solve it for women 56:00 - Working from home 59:00 - Good boys win 01:07:00 - The mechanics of it 01:11:30 - Honestly 01:13:00 - Ghosting Connect with Shahzad Younas on LinkedIn and learn more about his work here.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today I bring you the first of a mini-series on relationships which I have been waiting for for a while. But I couldn’t start them without my guest Matthew Hussey who started from humble beginnings, you know, being a life coach in the cafes of London, to being the coach for Christina Aguilera, to then having half of the corporate world listening to his advice, including Hugo Boss and others. And today he’s just talking to us so hey we’re doing well! But the thing about Matthew is that in 2013,  he had a  New York Times best-seller called Get The Guy. From there he became more and more successful internationally with millions and millions of followers, with events that changed the lives of thousands of people at a time - a wonderful human being. In the studio today we have his wonderful fiancée Audrey, and my incredible ex-girlfriend and a true, true soul partner for me, Shelly. Matthew Hussey is a speaker, New York Times bestselling author, columnist for Cosmopolitan Magazine, and dating expert on ABC’s digital series What To Text Him Back. Matthew’s rise to success as a motivational speaker has been meteoric. From humble beginnings working as a life coach with individual clients in London’s coffee shops and cafes, Hussey now runs programs across the globe, helping thousands of men and women reach their true performance potential. Through his online programs, viral internet broadcasts, sell-out seminars, NYT Bestselling book, and his roster of private clients, he has been able to pass on his insights and strategies to countless people. 50,000 women have attended his live events and he has reached over 10 million online. Hussey is the new international guru of the dating and relationship-coaching scene.Listen as we discuss:03:00 - Why is finding love so difficult? 07:00 - Show me a picture 09:30 - Trust the feeling and faulty wiring 11:30 - The dating casino - does it work? 19:00 - Addicted to dating apps 23:30 - Closure 25:00 - Sell mode 29:00 - The impetus for change 31:30 - Possibilities Vs Trends 34:00 - There’s no control 37:00 - Throwing the dice 38:30 - Four stages of importance 47:00 - Ticking the boxes 49:00 - The Love of My Life? 52:30 - Building it together 56:30 - The un-datables 59:30 - Showing up on a white horse 01:04:00 - What’s most important in life? 01:07: 40 - The Mathematics… 01:15:00 -  Trying new things 01:17:00 - Where the happiness is 01:20:00 - Honesty and vulnerability 01:25:00 - What makes a happy relationship 01:31:00 - People pleasers Connect with Matthew on Instagram @thematthewhussey and learn more about his work here.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

My guest today is Lavina Mehta who during covid, decided out of nowhere, to help millions of people find health and purpose by doing modified forms of exercise that basically were available to everyone for free on the internet, for that, she was awarded an MBE. She went on to discuss publicly, very vulnerably and beautifully and intelligently, her journey with menopause, online. Lavina is a Patron of the Menopause Mandate, is a proud Ambassador for Diabetes UK and The Alzheimer’s Society.When we spoke two years ago, she told me about her approach to 'exercise snacking' which to me sounded delicious. I have been waiting to bring this to your attention for a very long time.Lavina Mehta, is a 45-year-old British Asian award-winning Personal Trainer, TEDx speaker and mum of three. Lavina has been awarded an MBE for services to health and fitness during Covid-19. Her mission is to help people of all ages feel good physically, mentally & emotionally through her concept of “Exercise Snacking®” & free chair/desk workouts.  Her slogan is “Exercise for Sanity, not Vanity®.” Lavina is a Patron of the Menopause Mandate, is a proud Ambassador for Diabetes UK and Alzheimer’s Society, and supports many charities. She won the Inspiration in Health and Fitness Award in 2020, and was a finalist for the Sports Category in the Asian Women of Achievements Awards in 2020 & UK Coaching Heroes Awards in 2021. Lavina was recognised & awarded by the Women of the Future Kindness Rules Programme, BBC Make a Difference bulletins, British Asian Trust British Asian Heroes Award for her COVID work. Lavina is on a mission to keep giving back so people can use exercise as medicine, for positive changes long-term in their life. She is currently writing a book, due to be published 2024.Listen as we discuss:03:00 - Staying healthy and helping others07:00 - Jainism and education10:00 - My first job14:30 - Falling in love with motherhood16:00 - Strength training and the power of movement17:30 - Studying fitness20:00 - Getting in the gym22:00 - Being in nature25:00 - Exercise snacking27:00 - Diabetes30:00 - Eat the Rainbow31:30 - Lockdown workouts34:30 - Spirituality and enlightenment36:30 - Humble beginnings40:00 - Perimenopause52:00 - The second spring53:30 - Andropause - Men get it too55:00 - Stress management57:00 - How exercise makes you feel better01:02:30 - Food for perimenopause01:07:00 - The Ripple Affect01:09:30 - A mindset changeConnect with Lavina Mehta on Instagram @feelgoodwithlavina and find out more about her work here YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

 My guest today is one of my favourite people on the planet, Gelong Thubten. I never met Thubten before - we met on a Zoom call two and a half years ago during the times of covid where he truly changed my life. He doesn’t know that but I’ll talk about that in a minute.  At that time I saw in Thubten an amazing soul that went through an amazing journey to help the rest of us souls find a path to happiness and enlightenment. We stayed in touch as much as we could after we recorded that podcast episode. And now finally at my best friend’s studio in London, we meet for the first time and we meet for me to realise that he is exactly what I thought he was. Thubten has written a new book that he so kindly shared with me before he shared with the rest of the world it’s called Handbook For Hard Times -  such an appropriate title for what we are about to go through if you don’t mind me saying. It’s a monk’s guide to fearless living. I absolutely loved it. The book is out in just a few days on August 31st. I would ask you to please pre-order it. Gelong Thubten is a Buddhist monk, meditation teacher and author. He became a monk 30 years ago and has spent over six years in meditation retreats, including one which lasted for four years.  He is regarded as one of the UK’s most influential meditation teachers, working with corporations, schools, hospitals, prisons and rehab centres. He has lectured at the University of Oxford and for large organisations such as Google and The United Nations. He is also a director of several meditation centres as well as the humanitarian aid charity ROKPA International. Thubten is the author of the Sunday Times bestseller ‘A Monk’s Guide to Happiness’. His new book ‘Handbook for Hard Times’ will be published in August 2023.Listen as we discuss:02:30 - Finding Monk-hood 05:00 - Getting through a hard time 06:30 - Spreading the message 09:00 - What my teacher taught me 12:30 - A humbling retreat 15:00 - Pretentious spirituality 17:00 - The high of meditation 23:00 - The opposite of meditation 25:00 - Hard times, risks, fear and anxiety 30:00 - Growth from adversity - The Four Noble Truths 33:00 - Fearlessness 36:00 - From resistance to acceptance 42:00 - The Great Depression 44:00 - What is the point of retreating? 46:30 - How to cope with suffering 48:30 - Suffering is the teacher Connect with Gelong Thubten on Instagram @gelongthubten and learn more about Thubten's work here. YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

 My guest today is one that I waited to meet for a very long time - Ella Mills. If you’re from the United Kingdom you will know her from her brand Deliciously Ella, which became incredibly successful as I started to interact with the UK as Solve For Happy was published. At that time, she had an incredibly famous and popular podcast that she cleverly decided to put on hold for a while - I wanted to be on that podcast so now she is on mine. Ella is a very successful businesswoman, she is a beautiful brand for healthy eating, and she is truly a representation of what she tells the world in many ways, but more importantly, hopefully, if you dig deeper below the brand you will see an incredible story of vulnerability, of success, of perseverance resilience and of living true to her feminine I would say - one my heroes - I hope you will enjoy this as much as I will.  Ella was diagnosed with postural tachycardia syndrome while still at university. This led her to research other people’s experiences of relieving the symptoms of this rare diagnosis and she discovered that turning to a plant-based diet could be the key to her health. With little experience in cooking Ella began to experiment with recipes and started to keep an online diary that would later become her impressively popular blog, Deliciously Ella. Her blog has had over 130 million hits, she also set up social media accounts to inspire a larger community and is now hosting supper clubs and cooking classes. Her small personal project soon led to the creation of her own mobile app which landed at the top of the Food and Drink charts on the UK App Store as well as the publishing of her own cookbook which became the Best-Selling Debut Cookbook ever in the UK. Taking the idea to a whole new level, Ella and her husband have opened a few delis around central London. They have also launched their own product range, also titled Deliciously Ella which includes breakfast cereals, energy balls and oat bars. Listen as we discuss:03:30 - What made Ella, Ella? 09:00 - A dark place 12:30 - Choosing food 14:00 - A better bad day 15:30 - The Unstressable Retreat 18:00 - Health choices 21:00 - Food plan 23:00 - Deliciously Ella 26:00 - Right time, right place 29:00 - A shrewd businesswoman? 32:00 - Finding love 35:00 - The media attention 39:00 - Solve For Happy 41:30 - Focusing on the business 46:00 - Working with my husband 55:00 - Decision-making at work 56:30 - Where I am now 01:01:20 - A bizzarre duality 01:04:00 - Tough love 01:05:00 - Cancer hit the family 01:07:30 - The journey of self-acceptance Connect with Ella Mills on Instagram @deliciouslyella and learn more about her work here.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

My guest today is Shivani Pau. Shivani is the host of an incredibly successful global podcast, A Millenial Mind and she is the CEO of a firm called  My Performance PlannerA very interesting diversity because when you meet Shivani, you feel there are signs of both of those very very present in her. One is that idea of exploration and curiosity and then there is that very disciplined, very organised person that is focused on performance, optimising every minute of every day. The mix of the two makes for an intelligent friend and informative and quite frequently challenging and mind-opening.Shivani Pau is the CEO and founder of My Performance Planner and host of 'A Millennial Mind podcast.  The podcast was first published in 2020 and is rated in the top 2% globally, it was also nominated for Asian Media Award in 2022. Shivani has also worked as a change consultant with a variety of clients, delivering transformation at scale and pace, with sustainable and tangible benefits. Despite graduating with a law degree, she furthered her education to study Applied Management at Warwick Business School focusing specifically on leadership within the workplace. Over the last few years, Shivani coached and mentored leaders with specific tools and practices to increase their employee engagement, staff retention and overall team performance and productivity.Listen as we discuss:02:00 - A Millennial Mind 05:30 - Social Media and being accessible 10:00 - Staying authentic 14:00 - Insecurities and being a good kid 20:00 - Finding your tribe 23:00 - Fame, money and status 25:30 - The moment that changed my life 32:00 - The Steve Bartlett Story 38:00 - Self-doubt 40:00 - Pretty privilege 45:00 - Seeing the world differently 51:30 - Being the best 53:00 - Intuition 56:00 - What’s on a Millennial’s mind 59:00 - Elder Millennial 01:01:00 - Why am I amazing? 01:03:00 - Ali 01:04:00 - Solving problems and performance 01:07:00 - Quitting my job 01:09:00 - Being in control and living your life Connect with Shivani Pau on Instagram @shivani.pau and find out more about her work hereYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

 My guest today is Daniel Priestley. Daniel is an entrepreneur, international speaker and best-selling author. He started from scratch and build a multi-million dollar business that spans from Australia to Singapore to the UK and he wrote four best-selling books. Daniel was named in the top ten business advisors in the UK by Enterprise Nation. He is one of the top 25 entrepreneurs in London in the Smith and Williamson Awards. I regularly try to vary the topics here on Slo-mo is always an invitation to slow down and think about how you can reshape your life in ways that are important and successful for you. I think in a time where there is so much change and so much happening perhaps to jobs it may not be a bad idea to start learning about how we can create our own success, our own businesses in a fast-changing world. Daniel Priestley is the co-founder of Dent Global, one of the world's top business accelerators for entrepreneurs and leaders to stand out and scale up. With offices in London, Sydney, Singapore and Tampa, the program is endorsed by the Institute of Leadership and Management. Over 500 entrepreneurs and leaders, each year participate globally in developing their businesses with the support of high-net-worth mentors. Daniel is the author of four best-selling books Key Person of Influence, Entrepreneur Revolution, Oversubscribed and 24 AssetsListen as we discuss:02:00 - Mutual connections 04:30 - Twitter Vs Threads 06:00 - How the Entrepreneur was born 10:00 - Creativity and construction 16:30 - Describe yourself in one word 19:30 - Taking a risk and problem solving 25:30 - Who is the Founder? 30:00 - AI and the trees 34:00 - Teamwork and inspiration 38:00 - The kill sign and growing Google 43:30 - The 3 brains 50:00 - Bad Humans 53:00 - Protecting the village and killing the tiger 58:30 - Miserable Billionaires 01:04:30 - $5 dollar tip 01:09:00 - The Ministry of Meditation 01:10:30 - Naive optimism 01:14:30 - Supply and demand 01:19:00 - Tools of revolution 01:22:00 - 99 per cent 01:24:00 - What is happiness to you? 01:27:00 - The power of stupid little dots Connect with Daniel Priestley on Instagram @danielpriestley and on Twitter @DanielPriestley.  Find out more about his work here.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

I am filming from the apartment of one of my dear friends, Kevin. We had a plan to go to a Roger Waters concert in June, but he couldn't make it. I ended up going with a plus one who was recommended by two other friends, who turned out to be a wonderful human being and it was such a wonderful coincidence. I asked her what do you do? She said 'I founded Mental Health Rebelion'.  This led me to invite her on my podcast. My guest today is Amy Polly. She teaches people to find a path to peace.Amy Polly is a  teacher, speaker, author and mental health campaigner. However, prior to this she had a corporate life and worked as a fully qualified accountant in the private and public sector.  Amy gave up the corporate world in 2021 after almost 20 years! As she shifted her focus to mindfulness and well-being she focused her efforts on bridging the gap between businesses and mental health by debunking the myths. Her most recent role was as a senior leader in the Fire Service managing three departments as well as leading the strategy for mental health and well-being.Trigger Warning - This episode has references to suicide Listen as we discuss:03:00 - Pink Floyd and Rebellion 07:30 - Moving towards Mindfulness 11:00 - Self Awareness Vs Auto-pilot 13:00 - Love and Romance 15:00 - Post-natal Anxiety 24:00 - Right and wrong 29:00 - Embracing the difference 32:30 - Suicide 34:30 - Finding balance 39:00 - Ruby Wax 42:00 - Can the corporate world change? 48:32 - Intention then action 55:30 - The Minion and fearlessness 57:30 - Masculine and feminine 01:00:35 - A mental health rebellion 01:03:30 - The proactive unstressable Connect with Amy on Instagram @thisisamypolly and learn more about her work here.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

I don’t think you can come across a person with so much diversity as my guest today Nikki Mirghafori, or in Persian it would be Mir - gah - foor- ri. She has grown up in Iran and then immigrated to the US where she studied at Stanford and UCLA and became a visiting professor at  UC Berkeley. There is a side of her that is interested in technology and AI, specifically the ethics of AI. But then there is the other side of her which is an empowered teacher who holds a lineage in Theravada Buddhism, she studied all different kinds of Buddism and felt connected to mediations and silent retreats.  She brings together, perhaps a bit like I do but a lot more, an interesting perspective of east and west of science and spirituality that  I believe is incredibly  needed in the times of confusion we are about to embark on,Nikki Mirghafori, PhD, is of Persian heritage and immigrated to the US in her teens.  She was introduced to contemplative practices and yoga in the early 1980s, to meditation in 1991, and to Theravada Buddhism in 2003. Nikki has studied at Stanford's CCARE and UCLA's MARC and is a Stanford-certified Compassion Cultivation Training (CCT) instructor and UCLA-certified mindfulness MAPS facilitator.  She spent four years as a Visiting Scholar at UC Berkeley's Psychology Department with the renowned psychologist, Professor Eleanor Rosch, the co-author of the seminal book The Embodied Mind . Her teaching includes lectures, classes, day longs, workshops, silent retreats on meditation and Buddhist contemplation in the San Francisco Bay Area and internationally.  Concurrent with her dharma practice and teaching, Nikki has been an Artificial Intelligence scientist and academic at a research institute affiliated with UC Berkeley.  She holds a Ph.D. in computer science from UC Berkeley. She has also served on the IEEE P7010 Standards Committee on Well-Being Metrics for Ethical AI.Listen as we discuss:03:00 - Science and spirituality06:30 - The Islamic Revolution09:00 - Change of scenery11:30 - Falling in love13:00 - Meeting mortality 16:30 - The Four Noble Truths19:00 - Grief is the price we pay for love23:00 - The tick that bit me24:30 - Silent retreat27:00 - The well of sadness31:00 - The gift of space34:00 - Human connections and awakening39:00 - A question of singularity 43:00 - Weak AI Vs Strong AI48:00 - The consciousness of trees 51:00 - Buddist cosmology56:00 - Already here01:01:00 - Is AI conscious?01:08:00 - Where are the ethics?01:15:30 - Snake Oil Phenomenon01:21:00 - Spiritual AI01:25:00 - Utopia Vs Dystopia01:33:00 - How to break the rules ethically01:38:30 - The practice of goodwill01:41:00 - Greed, hatred and confusionConnect with Nikki Twitter @NikkiMirghafori and LinkedIn. Find out more about her work here.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

My guest today is the awesome Elizabeth Day. Elizabeth is a very dear friend and a person who has affected my life incredibly positively. If it wasn't for her you wouldn't know about me. Back in 2019, she hosted me on her podcast 'How To Fail" which now has more than 35 million downloads. Elizabeth is an amazing soul who has found a way to use her vulnerability to dig deep inside to tell us about what we all feel but don't say or address. She now has a new book out called 'Friendaholic' it's a beautiful approach to understanding that friendship is not always better when there is more of it. Anyway I just used that as an excuse to meet my wonderful friendElizabeth Day is an award-winning author and broadcaster. Her chart-topping podcast, How To Fail With Elizabeth Day, is a celebration of all of the things that haven’t gone right. Every week, in a one-on-one interview, a guest discusses what they have learned from failure. Elizabeth has written two books off the back of the podcast: How To Fail: Everything I’ve Ever Learned From Things Going Wrong, is part-memoir, part-manifesto. It is also a Sunday Times top 5 bestseller. Failosophy: A Handbook For When Things Go Wrong was described by Alain de Botton as ‘beautiful, timely and humane.’ Elizabeth is currently developing her first screenplay - a fictionalised adaptation of How To Fail. Two of her novels have also been optioned for screen. https://www.elizabethday.org/Listen as we discuss:04:00 - Friendaholics10:30 - What is friendship?17:00 - Social media friends19:00 - What makes a good friend?27:30 - Dunbar's number34:00 - Love trumps everything36:00 - The break-up40:00 - The Friendship contract44:00 - Social conditioning47:00 - Guilt is a stupid feeling50:00 - Revisiting 1’s and 0’s52:00 - Justin56:00 - Connecting with others60:00- Quiet01:02:30 - Scales of connection01:04:00 - Why human connection is at risk01:10:00 - Thank you Alexa!01:12:30 - Game overConnect with Elizabeth Day on Instagram @elizabday and find out more about her work here.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

 I started a mini-series at the start of this year called 'Remarkable Women Of The Middle East', and that surprisingly got massive appreciation. So I thought I could do a bit more on this, and bring you the most remarkable of them all. So today my guest is Mona Kattan. Mona is the Global President of Huda Beauty,  HB Investment and Kayali and has millions of social media followers, she is very loved by the Middle East community. All of that doesn't matter to me, because when the camera is off and I sit with her as a human she is the most wonderful soul ever. What you see on camera, all the fashion and beauty and elegance, when you really look inside and find such a humble soul, that is what is remarkable.Mona Kattan is the Global President of Huda Beauty, which she co-founded alongside her sisters Huda and Alya Kattan. A driving force behind the launch of Huda Beauty, Mona saw potential when her sister Huda, a makeup artist, started designing her own faux lashes and encouraged her to create a product line. Together in 2013, they launched a line of faux eyelashes at Sephora, and the debut collection sold out almost immediately. Today, they have grown the company to a valuation of $1B with a line of groundbreaking products that include everything from body foundation to lip contouring pencils, melted eyeshadow to 3D highlighters, all of which are globally distributed at leading retailers including Sephora, Harrods, Net-a-Porter and others .In 2018, Huda Beauty launched their fragrance line, Kayali, with a collection of four scents designed by Mona. She has built a global social media audience with more than 2.5 million Instagram followers, who engage with her inspiring beauty content, fun-loving attitude and positive energy. She has appeared on the cover of Entrepreneur Middle East and Cosmopolitan Middle East. Born and raised in the United States, she resides in Dubai. Listen as we discuss:03:00 - Overprotective dads 10:00 - The husband and marriage 19:00 - Coffee and pie 21:00 - The joyful mindset 24:30 - Religion and spirituality 26:00 - Beauty and perfumes 36:00 - East and West 40:00 - Finding a partner 46:00 - Redefinition of purpose 49:00 - The journey to success 56:00 - Is there even a finish line? 60:00 - Fitting in 01:06:00 - Masculine and feminine 01:11:30 - Video game champion 01:15:00 - Feeling the feels 01:19:30 - Blink 01:21:00 - It’s ok to play Connect with Mona Kattan on Instagram: @monakattan, YouTube: Mona Kattan and TikTok: Mona KattanYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Trigger warning: This episode has references to human trafficking and child prostitution Today my guest is Spencer Lodge. We met a year after I was introduced to him. He comes from humble beginnings and in his journey, he became a successful entrepreneur with a business that not only makes money but also makes a difference. His podcast became the most popular in the Middle East, hosting incredible guests from my favourite human being Steven Bartlett to another favourite of mine Tony Robbins. He started to communicate a message to make a difference in the Middle East region by bringing different thoughts, and different approaches to living. He then packed up to make a documentary about issues that matter.Spencer Lodge is an award-winning podcast host, business strategist, investor, and among the top 100 most influential people in Dubai. After making waves in the international financial services and sales industries for over three decades, building some of the largest and most successful multicultural sales forces, and being honoured with countless corporate awards, Spencer expanded his role to serve his passion for elevating businesses and peoples’ potential in an integrated way.Listen as we discuss: 03:00 - How we met - crossed wires 05:30 - Zero to hero 11:00 - A lesson on rejection 19:00 - Dating 21:00 - Spoilt for choice 27:30 - Mission and purpose 33:30 - Human trafficking 44:30 - Kindness diaries 47:00 - Nepal/Child Prostitution 55:00 - Kindness and compassion 58:00 - Power and money 01:02:00 - How can I make a difference? 01:13:30 - Unstressable and wellness 01:20:30 - The 5th Emergency Services 01:22:30 - The Loners 01:24:00 - Success Connect with Spencer on Instagram @spencer.lodgeYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

It is so wonderful when you can recall a moment that had an impact on your life. A moment when something clicked in your head and then you decided to change something in your life. One such moment for me was when I watched The Minimalists documentary on Netflix. I wasn't always the simplest guy, I had a lot of money a lot of cars, a lot of toys and a lot of stupid things and then I watched the documentary, and I realised how much I was wasting my life actually. Not in work but in how much those things I allowed into my life drained me. The documentary was followed by a massive impact, almost a movement that changed the lives of millions of people.The Minimalists are a trio of like-minded people helping others achieve a happier lifestyle by removing the unnecessary items that may clutter up their lives.  Original members Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus were joined by  T.K. Coleman in 2022. Together they host a podcast The Minimalists, one of the most popular in the world that has reached more than 100 million downloads. Listen as we discuss01:00 - Discovering The Minimalists 04:00 - What does it mean to be a Minimalist really 06:00 - Stories not stuff 09:30 - Letting it go 12:00 - Purpose of objects 13:00 - 52 things 15:00 - 10 things every Saturday 16:00 - Just in case and FOMO 19:25 - Managing guilt 22:00 - Wasting money 26:00 - T.K.’s story 29:30 - Profit and consumerism 31:30 - The hard part 36:00 - More will make me happier 38:30 - The Spontaneous Combustions Rule 40:00 - For the love of a perfect cup of coffee 41:00 - The philosophy of mindfulness 45:30 - Happiness is a drug 50:00 - The power of marketing 54:00 - Brands and self-worth Connect with The Minimalists on Instagram @theminimalists and find out more about their work here.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

My guest today is someone I consider an important teacher in my life, Stephen Jenkinson. He is a cultural activist, he is a farmer and a philosopher. He is the author of a number of books including some that are my favourites. He presents life as it really is and because he has worked with the dying for so many years, he attempts to anchor us in the reality of where we are. There isn't a time that we need this more.This might not appear to be a very cheerful conversation but if you understand my work, I expect to have one of the most cheerful conversations about the reality of where we are today. This is definitely an important moment in my life when I meet one of my teachers.  Stephen Jenkinson is an author, a farmer and a philosopher. He has years of experience as a palliative care worker and is a former programme director at a major Canadian hospital. Stephen has Master’s degrees from Harvard University (Theology) and the University of Toronto (Social Work). He is also a co-founder of The Orphan Wisdom School. Listen as we discuss:03:30 - Tie your camel 05:00 - The internal shift 07:00 - A Wondering Dervish 08:00 - A useful compromise 11:30 - The human struggle 15:00 - Is it too late? 16:30 - Finding peace 22:00 - The answer is asking the right question 26:30 - Hunger for money 30:00 - What the soul needs 33:00 - The spirit work 37:30 - From awful to awe 40:00 - A drop of the Divine in us all 42:00 - Gilgamesh 45:30 - More God than you need?  Find out more about Stephen Jenkinson and his work here.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

My guest today needs absolutely no introduction - Deepak Chopra.  If you’ve ever followed this work, my podcast here you would know I normally am not the type of person that would get excited by a rockstar or a top athlete but, when I meet one of my teachers I am so humbled in his presence, and I am so grateful for the opportunity. We met a couple of times. The first time was around the time I published my first book, I had no idea what I was doing. Deepak’s always been Deepak, and we spoke together on a panel in New York City, where obviously he knew a million times more than I did but, he was so kind and so generous. For every question that came to the panel, Deepak would look at me and say “I think Mo would answer this better.” No, I would not answer it better, but the confidence and kindness of his encouraging me to do what I was doing, is probably the reason I am here today speaking to you, and probably the reason you’ve heard of my work. I have learned so much from Deepak that I honestly feel I spent a retreat with him because I followed all of his work, and I always found nuggets of wisdom that are summarized in such a precise and articulate way that it would blow me away. It’s such a joy because today is the second time I meet my teacher. Deepak Chopra is a world-renowned speaker and author. He is the founder of The Chopra Foundation, a non-profit entity researching well-being and humanitarianism, and Chopra Global, a health company at the intersection of science and spirituality. He is also a Clinical Professor of Family Medicine and Public Health at the University of California, San Diego and serves as a senior scientist with Gallup Organization. Deepak has written over 90 books, including numerous New York Times bestsellers.  Chopra has been at the forefront of the meditation revolution and his 93rd book, Living in the Light (Harmony Books) taps into the ancient Indian practice of Royal Yoga. TIME magazine has described Dr. Chopra as “one of their top 100 most influential people.” Listen as we discuss:03:00 - Figuring out our identity05:00 - ‘I’ is a constant and infinite07:30: Artificial Intelligence, Digital Deepak and consciousness11:30 - How awareness unites us15:00 - There is no universe17:30 - ‘Our life is a dream’19:30 - Perplexity and entropy23:30 - What is happening right now28:00 - Space is awareness30:00 - The Multiverse and The Singularity34:00 - Sensations, Images, Feelings and Thoughts36:00 - You are not the roles you play - You are the awareness37:30 - Superintelligence40:00 - Love is the ultimate truth42:30 - The more you know, the less you know44:00 - ‘God’s language is silence’47:00 - Resist or FlowConnect with Deepak Chopra on Instagram @deepakchopra and on Twitter @DeepakChopra. Find out more about his work here.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

My guest today is an example of someone who faced a lot of struggles in life and yet continues to want to make the life of others better. She faced her first trauma while still in the womb and went on to look after her addict mother and her sibling at a young age. Tori Jenea now helps thousands with their trauma experiences. She was introduced to me by my dear friend Alice Law. I started to listen to what she taught and she made sense to me. Her approach to trauma is not - I've studied this in a book, but I have lived this experience. I definitely have been looking forward to this for a while not only because of what Tori knows, but what she represents, in terms of not only proving you can overcome your own traumas, but you can also help others heal.Tori Jenae is a Business Coach and Energy Therapist and has over a decade of experience in coaching. She has multiple academic qualifications including two Masters in Psychology. She also holds certificates of 500 Hour Yoga & Meditation Teacher and Energy Psychology, Level I & II. Her work has helped thousands of people work through their trauma and reach their potential. Listen as we discuss:03:00  - Why so many degrees? 10:00 - Losing family/Post-traumatic growth 12:00 - Lived experience/Pain is a powerful teacher 15:00 - Soul paths and karma 19:00 - The struggles we’re destined to overcome 20:30 - What is trauma 26:00 - First-world problem? 29:00 - Truth of the tribes 32:00 - Recognising trauma 38:30 - Addison’s disease 40:00 - Grief in your body 43:30 - What is the Soul? 47:30 - Anger and bitterness 50:00 - The process of forgiveness 56:00 - Men and emotions 01:00:00 - Ah ha moments 01:06:30 - Prayer 01:13:00 - Have a plan 01:14:00 - Energy psychology 01:20:00 - Results 01:23:00 - The wisest man… Connect with Tori on Instagram @manifestsoulsuccess and find out more about her work here.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

I am inviting you to join a conversation with a friend Jagatjoti Khalsa as we’re pondering life like two grumpy old men. I met Jagatjoti at an event with Tony Robbins a few years ago. We were invited there to play our part in teaching what we know. He was teaching meditation, looking like a serious yogi. He has an amazing calm on stage. We had breakfast together the next morning and man…what a shrewd businessman! He's had a big role in many successful startups, but the duality of that beautiful soul along with a shrewd businessman, and calmness... We stayed in touch as friends and decided we will chat one day in front of you all. And today is the day. Jagatjoti Khalsa is a US-based entrepreneur, yogi and author of two books , Altar Your Space: A Guide to a Restorative Home; and I’m Down with You, An Inspired Journey, a book that shares through portraits and stories, the community of Down syndrome. He has also successfully launched many start-ups across different industries.  Listen as we discuss:03:00 - The trials of 2023 from mental illness in the US to the global rise of authoritarianism 07:00 - Innocent until proven guilty in the US 10:00 - The projection monkeys 15:00 - Dialogues of discovery 17:00 - Becoming Sikh - from apples and honey to the turban 22:00 - Why did God make me like this? 25:00 - Teachers who shape our lives 30:00 - Discovering divinity 32:00 - My True Beloved 35:00 - The Milkman and Deliveroo 38:00 - Rhythm of the Raag 41:00 - The Golden Temple 45:00 - Music and mantra 47:30 - Morphing slowly 49:00 - Leading with my heart 55:00 - A Temple conference 59:00 - The businessman 01:00:00 - Pizza together 01:04:00 - Fair share 01:06:00 - Equality and food waste 01:10:00 - A Love Story 01:12:00 - Bedtime stories, wisdom stories 01:14:00 - Tagore’s poem 01:17:00 - Attaining the goal Connect with Jagatjoti on LinkedInYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

 My guest today is an actual Rockstar! Tanya O'Callaghan has played bass with the likes of Guns and Roses and White Snake and is now playing with Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden - my second favourite band of all time.  Crying in the Rain is one of my favourite songs of all time. I was listening to this song when I saw Tanya's message. She told me she was with White Snake about to go on stage! But she is not a full Rockstar. She is the one who does yoga before the show, drinks soda water instead of beer and goes to explore the cities she tours in by walking around the streets instead of partying. I asked her why and she answered "Music is my passport to making the world a better place."Tanya O’Callaghan is an established freelance musician/bassist, speaker and activist with an eclectic impressive career to date. Tanya began crafting her skills at home making a mark for herself on the Irish music scene early in her career, playing with just about every band around and regularly guesting in house bands for many high-profile Irish TV shows and artistsListen as we discuss:07:00- Burn 10:00 - Logistics 12:00 - Becoming the Rockstar 15:00 - Taking every opportunity 18:00 - Talent 21:00 - Ali’s band 26:00 - Changing the world 32:00 - Understanding fate 37:00 - Humanity is dumb 41:30 - Motarian 47:00 - Humour 49:00 - Become the change 52:00 - Making excuses 1:00:00 - A privileged diet 1:04:00 - The source 1:05:00 - Highway to Health 1:08:00 - The only veggie in the village 1:09:00 - Thriving in chaos 1:12:00 - Just put it out 1:16:00 - Taking a break  Find out more about her work hereYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today’s guest Alysia Silberg is not someone you meet every day. She started her first business at 11 - an import-export company. She studied at Harvard, Stanford and Cambridge. She is now a renowned venture capitalist in Silicon Valley. She hosts a radio show, 'The Global Fireside Chat' reaching a million people and she recently wrote a book. Her book is called ‘Unemployable’ I think she is very employable if you ask me I felt this is a very timely topic. She is driven to succeed but is also looking at life to see what impact she can leave behind. Alysia is a leading venture capitalist in Silicon Valley, where she mentors tech startups and helps them go public. She is CEO & General Partner of the investment firm Street Global. As a thought-and-knowledge leader, Alysia earned acclaim for her groundbreaking online radio show, Global Fireside Chats, bringing together global industry titans to share insights on our fast-changing world. She is a UN Women Empower Women Global Champion, and an international board director with sovereign wealth fund experience. “Unemployable, How I Hired Myself” detailing her life story and guide to financial freedom, is Alysia’s first book.Listen as we discuss:03:00 - My journey06:00 - A human with a heart10:00 - Snapshot success13:00 - Unemployable16:00 - Taking a compliment19:30 - Insecurity22:00 - Courage24:00 - Artificial Intelligence33:00 - Unemployment38:30 - Empowerment42:00 - Prisoners dilemma44:00 - Success47:00 - Adjusting the path49:30 - Being a female entrepreneur55:00 - Trust58:00 - What’s next?1:04:00 - Steve JobsConnect with Alysia Silberg on Twitter @AlysiaSilberg, Instagram @alysiasilberg and LinkedInYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

 My guest today is Dr. Bradley Nelson. His work is changing the paradigm of health by empowering people to understand the relationship between our physical state and the emotions that we feel. He is an expert on a topic that I believe strongly in but know very little about - the idea that our bodies can heal themselves.Dr. Bradley Nelson is a world-renowned holistic healing expert, lecturer, author of The Emotion Code, and creator & author of The Body Code, Dr. Bradley Nelson is changing the paradigm of health and healing by empowering people with  understanding the fundamentals of how the body interacts with energy, emotions, our mental state and more so that they can begin to significantly prevent or even reverse disease.  Listen as we discuss:03:30 - What’s your story?08:00 - A health nut10:00 - The career choice14:30 - Asking for guidance20:00 - A higher power26:00 - A connection problem30:30 - Ancient medicine Vs modern practice32:30 - The symptom is not the problem37:00 - Finding balance39:30 - Mind mapping43:00 - The sub-conscious mind45:30 - The body code system51:00 - A broken heart 54:00 - Six imbalances1:12:00 - The Big Bang Theory1:15:00 - Campho Phenique1:16:30 - Finding the answers1:19:30 - Self-help1:21:00 - Is your liver happy?1:24:00 - Unconditional love1:29:30 - The Power of LoveConnect with Dr. Bradley Nelson on Instagram @officialdrbradleynelson and find out more about DiscoverHealing @discoverhealing. Learn more about Dr. Bradley's work on his website.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

I first spoke to Sah D’Simone around the time Scary Smart was published, we had the most incredible conversation ever. A conversation that went back and forth between AI and spirituality. I knew I had to invite Sah to talk to me on Slo Mo. Sah tries to advocate that you can be whomever you are AND be a spiritual seeker. I have been waiting for this conversation for some time, because I believe that Sah radiates what he advocates; joy and authenticity. I hope you will enjoy this conversation, I know I will. Sah D’Simone is a spiritual revolutionary, yogi, mystic, artist, best-selling author, top-rated podcast host, and creator of the Somatic Activated Healing™ (SAH) Method.  His first book, 5-Minute Daily Meditations, has been translated into Spanish and was called “a yearlong personal retreat of daily meditations” by Sharon Salzberg and his 2023 Page-a-Day Calendar, 5-Minute Daily Meditations is available now. His second book, Spiritually Sassy: 8 Radical Steps to Activate Your Innate Superpowers, is out now and has been translated in German; and his podcast, The Spiritually Sassy Show, is a top 100 podcast in the United States in Spirituality. Listen as we discuss:07:00 - Losing my mum13:30 - What is death?17:30 - The Math of the Divine20:30 - The absence of time24:00 - The heart will lead29:00 - Being at the edge31:00 - The American Dream35:00 - The Dalai Lama39:00 - Befriending your demons42:00 - Being queer46:00 - Humiliation53:00 - Light and shade55:00 - Seeing the dark56:30 - 2.5%58:30 - Mindset upgrade1:02:00 - SAH method1:13:00 - Every movement needs a face1:18:00 - Spiritually Sassy1:23:00 - No person is unforgivable1:26:00 - Stay in your bodyConnect with Sah D'Simone on Instagram and TikTok: @SahDSimoneYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

I came across my guest, Jigme Ugen after he uploaded a video in response to a viral clip of a young Indian boy with the Dalai Lama. The video Jigme uploaded explained Tibetan cultural traditions and tried to give another opinion on what was going around on the mainstream media. My intention here is not at all to convince you that the Dalai Lama is one thing or another but when I decided to share this video on Instagram some of the responses I got enraged me. Some people rejected it without even watching it.  This led me to decide to have this conversation to tell my listeners that the top skill we need in today's fake world of social media, is to always listen to the opposite point of view before we make up our mind.Jigme Ugen is the President of the Tibetan National Congress who has lived in exile in Minnesota, USA since 2001. Listen as we discuss:05:30 - Important disclaimer 08:00 - The opinion and the other opinion 10:00 - Meaning of prayer 13:00 - History of Tibet 18:00 - Seven Years In Tibet and Kundun 21:00 - Injustices and struggles 22:30 - Empathy and compassion 28:00 - Child abuse 30:30 - Culture shock 32:20 - Sky burial 37:00 - Tibetan culture 41:00 - Squeezing cheeks 43:00 - THAT video 58:00 - The long tale 01:03:00 - A community in pain 01:06:30 - The impact of hate speech 01:15:30 - The truth and the sun 01:17:30 - Finding peace and harmony 01:19:00 - The inner child 01:22:00 - Obama’s ears 01:24:00 - Sexual harassment 01:25:00 - Consider ALL opinions to find the truth Connect with Jigme Ugen on Instagram Jigme, Twitter  @JigmeUgen and LinkedIn YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

 My guest Simon Alexander Ong started a high-flying career in the financial sector working at one of the top firms in the industry. Just 14 months into that the company collapsed, causing the ripple effect of the 2008 global financial crisis. Without the demands and what he now considers a false sense of security, of the corporate world, Simon retrained to follow a career in coaching. His mission in life became focused on helping as many people as he can connect the heart to the mind to transform their lives. He does this by using true wisdom instead of glamour to convey his message.  Simon Alexander Ong is a personal development entrepreneur, coach and public speaker.  His work has been recognised by major corporations such as Sky News and BBC who have invited him for interviews, while Barclays featured him in a nationwide campaign asking him questions on how families could embrace better lifestyle habits.  He’s an award-winning life coach, and international keynote speaker and published his best-selling debut book Energize in April 2022. Listen as we discuss: 02:30 - Asian values - Western environment 04:00 - Collapse of Lehman Brothers 06:40 - Experiencing loss 08:30 - Moving on 12:30 - Decision time - turning interest into commitment 14:30 - Becoming a coach 17:45 - Energize 21:35 - Energy is a universal language 24:30 - The 4 dimensions of energy 28:00 - Purpose unlocks your energy 30:00 - Journey from the mind to the heart 32:00 - The power of silence 33:50 - Wisdom being by knowing yourself 35:00 - Me time 39:00 - Connect to your heart 41:30 - The role of technology 45:00 - Reality is perception - Pronoia 47:00 - Ego Vs Humility 52:00 - What really matters? 54:30 - One step a day 57:00 - Find an hour for yourself - it’s important 58:50 - Happiness is gratitude Connect with Simon on Instagram @simonalexanderoTwitter @SimonAlexanderOLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonalexanderongFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/simonalexanderongYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/simonongFind out more about Simon's workYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

 I first connected with today’s guest Rachel Schofield on LinkedIn. I was impressed with her work and she was impressed with mine. Our exchange led to her telling me about her book  The Career Change Guide: Five Steps to Finding Your Dream Job which I would say is a timely topic. Rachel had a serious career change herself, after spending 20 years as a successful BBC journalist she became a career coach.  Initially, her focus was on helping women who were returning to work after motherhood, but she then branched out to include other members of society. Rachel Schofield worked as a BBC journalist for more than twenty years. Her work included reporting for Radio 4's 'Woman's Hour' and presenting on the BBC News Channel. In 2021 she made a career change and became a career development coach. This change came after her maternity leave left her with the challenge of finding work that would fit around her family life. Rachel discovered there were other women in the same position and started a podcast to share her experiences and which then led to publishing her book in January 2023. Listen as we discuss:03:00 - Is holding on the right thing to do? 05:30 - Getting off your but 07:00 - Negotiating with yourself 11:30 - Meeting my husband 12:30 - Working my way up 15:00 - Career identity 18:00 - 5 stages of a career change 26:00 - Ego 30:00 - Women returning to work after having kids 32:00 - What is a career? 34:00 - Work-life balance 36:20 - Imagining and designing 41:00 - Your brain is not your friend 43:00 - The magic is in other people 47:30 - Exploratory steps 53:30 - Keep going 55:30 - The muddle in the middle 57:00 - Advice for young people 1:02:00 - Finding your passion 1:05:00 - Can a career bring happiness? Connect with Rachel Schofield on Instagram @reworkyourlife and find out more about her work on the website.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

My guest Hasan Kubba, is a dear friend of mine who I met in London through a mutual friend and fellow podcaster Ali Abdaal. In our first meeting, I learned all about his fascinating work. We talked about his best-selling book ‘The Unfair Advantage’  which I would describe as an approach to acknowledging the unique advantages we each have, and providing a tool kit to using them in our favour. Hasan Kubba has gone from starting his business from his bedroom to becoming a best-selling author. His co-authored book won the UK's Business Book of the Year Award in 2021. Hasan has a decade of experience in personal branding, thought leadership and communication, and has been invited to the stage of a big firm to share his knowledge and expertise. He is also the co-founder of The Unfair Academy, through which he has worked with some of the biggest online influencers and businesses, providing coaching and strategy that's helped them reach millions in profit.Listen as we discuss:03:00 - Escaping war06:30 - Going back to Iraq10:30 - Life is in your hands13:15 - Defining success 19:20 - Failure of marketing21:00 - Fight Club24:00 - Rejecting the corporate world29:25 - Being strategic32:00 - Life is unfair37:00 - We all have an unfair advantage42:45 - Strengths and circumstances45:00 - Intention and mindset - M.I.L.E.S. framework51:00 - TikTok Comparisons55:00 - It's not about perseverance01:00 - Auditing our advantages01:05 - Importance of collaboration01:09 - It's not about the 'what'01:11 - GratitudeConnect with Hasan Kubba on Instagram @startuphasan and on LinkedIn YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

I've been looking forward to this conversation ever since I first met today's guest over a year ago. Maya Raichoora is an expert on visualization and co-founder of Remap, a self-help programme that is aimed at helping people to live their best life. Maya is not just another person talking about healing. I believe she has the right credentials because she has lived experience in successfully using a specific technique of visualization.Maya Raichoora was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at just 16 years old. It is a painful life-changing incurable disease. The condition meant Maya was unable to do things a normal person would be able to do without having to consider how the disease would impact her everyday decisions. Lying in her hospital bed she began to dream of a different life, one where she could learn to live with the challenges that she has been presented with. This is how she discovered the power of visualization. Listen as we discuss:04:00 -  Win it in your mind before winning it in reality06:30 - Why top athletes use visualization09:30  - Outcome visualization11:00 - Incurable diagnosis14:00 - Shame and loneliness16:00 - Discovering visualization20:30 - Changing the brain, changing your life25:00 - Process vs outcome28:15 - Live in your mind first then live in reality30:30 - Travelling32:00 - Technique34: 50 - The end of the movie40;30 - What makes you feel alive43:30 - Entrepreneurship45:00 - So much potential50:00 - Controlling your feelings56:00 - Why me?01:02: - Accountability01:08: - From victim to victor01:10 - Happiness is not a destinationConnect with Maya Raichoora on Instagram @mayaraichoora and LinkedIn YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Around 2 months ago a friend of mine in London wanted to introduce me to a start-up, that he said was making big changes in the well-being space. I reluctantly agreed to meet the team and to my surprise, the idea they pitched blew me away. In fact, as cheesy as it sounds, they got me at 'Hello!'For full disclosure, I ended up investing in the organisation because they have one free component. I'm on the board of directors and also offering tech advice. JAAQ, an online mental well-being platform was founded by Danny Gray. He's well known in the UK for having one of the most successful 'Dragons Den' pitches for 'War Paint' his men's make-up brand. He's very passionate about protecting others from going through the same mental health challenges as him. Danny Gray is the founder of men's make-up brand 'War Paint' and more recently an online mental well-being platform, JAAQ. He lives with body dysmorphic disorder, a mental health condition that inspired him to launch both of his companies. Part of Danny's mission is to provide better access to support, for anyone concerned about their mental health.Trigger warning - This episode includes mention of suicide Listen as we discuss:04:30 - The personal story08:00 - The breakdown?09:13: - Body dysmorphic disorder14:00 - Reaching out for help18:00 - War Paint21:00 - Everyone is struggling with something25:00 - JAAQ: The mission and the purpose30:00 - Making the World Better32:00 - Suicide and depression35:00 - Tick box organisations38:00 - Where next for JAAQ?41:30 - Mental health crisis in the corporate world44.30 - Get to know the challenge early46:00 - Eating disorders48:30 - The avengers of healthcare50:30 - Breaking down barriers of what people think mental health is52:30 - Depression Vs unhappiness53:30 - Artificial intelligence and mental health58:00 - The right people in your life can make you happyConnect with Danny Gray on Instagram @danny.h.grayYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

You know that saying when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Well, I have a dear friend Sara Sadik and when life gives her challenges she makes books! Her firstborn child arrived with challenging circumstances of her own and as a result, Sara wrote a best-selling book about motherhood, Finding the Magic in Mommyhood. When lockdown hit a couple of years ago she wrote a book for children, The Extraordinary Pause. When life turns left, Sara writes. She is on a journey to find what truly matters in life. She is a remarkable woman and that is because of what she has come through on that journey.Sara Sadik is a best-selling author and communication strategist based in Dubai. She has worked for the United Nations Human Rights and UNICEF offices. She has also been employed by the UAE Prime Minister's Office leading major projects. Some of her latest work involves mentoring other writers and working on her next book.Join us as we discuss:04:00 - The beginning of the road - Adriana's diagnosis06:00 - There is no magic - you create your own07:25 - Sweet and sour09:28 - Angry Mothers14:30 - The Love Story20:30 - Beauty in the scars21:45 - Coping mechanism24:00 - Committed acceptance29:00 - Voice it out32:20 - Finding the magic in the mess36:00 - Slowing down38:30 - Meditation40:00 - Is this an intervention?42:25 -  Pivoting43:30 - Storytelling46:00 - Reason for being48:00 - Picnic at the mountain50:00 - Secret to happinessConnect with Sara on Instagram @bysarasadik YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today I continue my conversation with remarkable women of the Middle East. I would like to remind you that remarkable is not just about the impact these women have had on the region, but also about how far they have come through their own challenges in life. Remarkable truly is about the journey, not the destination and my guest today is a perfect example of that. Aalia Thobani is a Canadian who grew up in Kenya and moved to Dubai to live a life in line with her passion. Her interests in cognitive science and learning and development led her to earn a dual master's in the US, where she worked for a while before returning to Dubai. Her work began with helping children with learning disabilities and providing speech therapy. Aalia has helped thousands of children and has now expanded that help to adults.Aalia Thobani is an experienced life coach whose career began with helping children with learning difficulties over a decade ago. Since then she has expanded her work to help adults by offering the Stanford Design pioneered Designing Your Life programme which presents a tailor-made workshop package for each client.Listen as we discuss:05:45 - Save the world and change the world07:00 - Losing Dad and the Sacred Wound10:00 - Grieving 16 years later11:49 - What is a Sacred Wound14:05 - Healing together16:20 - Unlocking potential18:46 - Stigma and empowerment20:30 - Giving up eating or speaking21:30 - Stutter26:00 - The Kings Speech27:20 - Vessel for God's work29:30 - The most important person in the room34:00 - Crunchmums36:00 - Connecting on humanity38:10 - We are all the same39:45 - Communication, connection and coaching40:51 - Early intervention45:00 - Designing Your Life47:00 - Finding alignment, finding happiness48:40 - Choose happy!50:15 - Follow your curiosityConnect with Aalia Thobani on Instagram @aaliathobani and find out more about her work on her websiteYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

My guest today is talking about a topic I have wanted to discuss on Slo-Mo for a very long time. Dr. Michelle Jasmin Dimasi is a PhD holder in Philosophy, she's lived in 5 countries but our focus today is on her work as a refugee and women's rights advocate. She's recently released a book, Hope, Solidarity and Death at the Australian Border. Her objective is to raise awareness about the Australian government's policies toward asylum seekers who flee their countries because of war or fear of persecution. She is currently involved in researching what matters most to refugees to help them feel settled and welcomed in their new homes. Dr. Michelle Jasmin Dimasi has more than a decade of experience in working on refugee-related issues, empowerment of women and unaccompanied asylum seeker minors and human rights. Michelle holds a Doctorate of Philosophy and held Adjunct Associate Research positions at Swinburne University of Technology and Curtin University’s Centre for Human Rights Education and has published extensively on asylum seeker issues, Afghanistan, and women’s rights. Her work today involves campaigning for the rights of refugees and women whilst raising awareness for the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. Listen as we discuss:Christmas IslandMigration and apartheidUN refugee conventionPeople smugglersGetting on the boatSurrendering to GodFear of the 'other'The Human StoryBack to the beginningDetention and Human RightsBoats arriving and children locked upHopeThree weeks to liveSurviving at seaLost all hopeOffshore islandLove and compassionWe are all the sameDangers and ThreatsGuest of GodGod only gives us the challenges we can handleThe language of spiritualityHope, Solidarity and DeathDocumenting my deathFinding gratitudeConnect with Dr Michelle Jasmin Dimasi on Instagram @michelledimasi or find out more about her on her website. Her book Hope, Solidarity and Death at the Australian Border is available on AmazonYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

I find it funny when people outside of the Middle East ask about what it is like to live here. Questions like, 'Do the camels have a speed limit?' I have to admit the Middle East is one of the jewels of the World. So I wanted to bring a bit of this region to you by sharing some of the stories featuring remarkable women who live here.Maryam Fattahi Salaam is Persian in origin, born and raised in Dubai and is one of the most successful entrepreneurs in fitness in the region. She is a coffee fan and a mother of three. She has dealt with many challenges in life in her professional and personal life. Maryam also shares with me a much deeper connection with those we love. Listen as we discussEarly education - killing creativity Fitness therapyEntrepreneurship Introducing NeginPrognosisPurpose in lifeGratitudeSuffering is a choiceFinding joy in painBlessingsMy strengthLife shows youWe are not life's victimsWhole-hearted presenceGame of LifeWhat is happiness?Test of hardship/Test of easeGrief awakeningFacing realityHeart conversationConnect with Maryam  on Instagram @mfsmaryamYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

This episode is the first in a series looking at remarkable women of the Middle East.A remarkable guest is someone who has come a long way after hardships, and my guest Rahaf Kobeissi is remarkable because of her journey from a very difficult beginning to who she is now. Her name translates to something delicate but she is far from that in a way. She stands big in front of CEO's in the Middle East, coaching them directly. She also works with women giving them the tools they need to excel. Her impact has been massive but may have been unlikely because of her journey.Rahaf Kobeissi is a well-being coach and host of the podcast "Don't be a Man About It"  and founder of Rays of Your Mental Health, after the sudden suicide of her father.Listen as we discuss03:00 What's in a name?04:25 Roots and Anchors 06:50 Culture Shock08:28 The Mother of Anchor points10:30 Relationship with Mum 12:30 Drug addict brother 14:10 Losing Dad and blaming myself17:00 The last conversation19:00 Serious self-sabotage - suicide attempts22:00 Sitting with grief - cultural challenges in getting help25:45  The Mother wound27:15: Depression Monster29:15 Choices and showing up32:00 If your cup is not full...33:45: Forgiving yourself35:45 Changing the narrative39:29 Why it's easier to blame yourself41:10 Know your worth - what the Qur'an says43:20 Don't be a Man About It47:37 Men's rights49:07 Why men suffer alone51:00 What do women have to do with it?53:42 Boys don't cry01:15 Find a pace01:01 Gratitude01:04 Happy Ray Ray Jar01:05 Messages from Dad01:07 Frank Sinatra01:09 The Universal hug01:10 No secret to happinessConnect with Rahaf Kobeissi on Twitter @RayKobeissi and her podcast Don't be a Man About ItYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

I spoke to April Rinne at the Shahjah Entrepreneurship Festival late last year, where I was invited to speak about happiness in these uncertain times. April and I got in touch through LinkedIn, and I was blown away by her work. Her writing is not instructive but more reflective and allows readers to choose from whatever superpower they think will help them through uncertainty.April Rinne is the author of 'Flux: 8 Super Powers for Thriving in Change.' She is also a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader and ranked one of the “50 Leading Female Futurists” in the world by Forbes.  She is also a mental health advocate and has devoted her career to advising individuals and organizations on how to navigate a world of constant change. Listen as we discuss:05:32 An unexpected connection through food12:03 Healthy eating habits13:40 The importance of detox14:44 Listening to your body15:20 Opening up about the loss17:10 No recipe for grief20:47 State of Humanity21:30 9 beasts of grief/ loneliness of grief26:00 The heart gets stronger28:58 6 stages of grief - finding gratitude in the loss31: 30 Reactions to change and uncertainty37:20 Everyone has a different experience with change - The flux mindset40:00 Introducing eight flux superpowers49:00  Change. Flux. Not knowing - How to manage the unknown53:00 Running slower54: 00 See what's invisible57:10 To get lost01:08 Trust is the Super Super Power01:16 Know you 're/your enough01:23 Your portfolio career01:30 Be all the more human01:32 Let go of the future01:36 Happiness of letting go Connect with April Rinne on Instagram @aprilrinne , Twitter @aprilrinne and her website Fluxmindset.comYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Almost a year ago around this time, I was still on my Scary Smart book tour. A podcast interview, one of dozens at the time,  popped up in my calendar called Saturn Returns. I dialed in expecting to talk about AI, yet there was Caggie Dunlop wearing a pink Floyd T-shirt - peaceful, calm and spiritual. I could only ask, “Who are you?” Since then I’ve learned who Caggie is, and we’ve been chatting ever since about everything from life to spirituality. Naturally, I had to have her on the show to share her wisdom.Caggie Dunlop was an original cast member of the award-winning UK-based reality show Made in Chelsea. She is also a singer/songwriter, poet, entrepreneur and now author. Her new book Saturn Returns explores the relationship between planetary movements and the ups and downs of life. In it, she describes how astrology helped her find her identity and a sense of belonging, and how it can help you too.Listen as we discuss:05:50: Why Saturn?07:40: Who is Caggie Dunlop behind the celebrity?09:00: Rescue and return - seeking belonging13:15: Reality TV - bursting the bubble21:29: Leaving Made in Chelsea - losing yourself25:30: Battle of self - key to my heart29:00: Finding your tribe - the grief of losing friendship31:08: How does it work?  Astronomy and Palmistry - life changes35:45: Things fall apart so better things can come40:20: Astral bodies45:26: Where does the soul go?49:15: Shaped by pain57:00: Perfectionism, vulnerability and toxic love01:06: The non negotiables of love01:11: Love in between - closing poemConnect with Caggie Dunlop on Instagram @caggiesworldYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

In observance of International Holocaust Remembrance Day on January 27, Slo Mo presents what is possibly the most powerful episode we ever aired. If you've listened to Slo Mo across the years, you've surely heard me reference my chat with Dr. Edith Eger more than any other. At the age of sixteen, Dr. Edith Eger, a trained ballet dancer and gymnast, was sent to Auschwitz. Hours after her parents were sent to the gas chamber, the “Angel of Death,” Nazi officer Dr. Josef Mengele forced Edith to dance for his amusement and her survival. He rewarded her with a loaf of bread that she shared with her fellow prisoners, an act of generosity that would later save her life.On May 4, 1945 a young American soldier noticed Edith's hand moving slightly amongst a number of dead bodies. He quickly summoned medical help and brought her back from the brink of death. Today, Edith is a prolific author, a clinical psychologist, and holds a faculty appointment at the University of California, San Diego.Every story I've heard on Slo Mo has left an impact me, but Edith's was the first to make me openly cry while recording. It hit me like a spiritual experience.Listen as we discuss:How taking care of her mom as a child gave Edith immense patience.Revisiting our childhoods and healing the pain.How she forgave the Nazis who joked about her mother's burning.We are not born with hate. We learn it.Question authority, don't blindly adhere to itHow we do everything with feelings except feel them!The healing power of crying.The effects of telling a lie and repeating it.How she danced for the Angel of Death shared the reward, saving her life.The biggest concentration camp is in your own mind.Why she decided to go back to Auschwitz.Feeling pity and sympathy for the Nazis that imprisoned her.Make peace with your parents and your past, or stay a prisoner of itThe positive side of trauma: "You realize you're here now, and no longer there"Conflict between Palestinians and Israelis, and my own Middle Eastern upbringing."There is a Hitler in all of us"How her daughter teamed up with the grandson of a Nazi to spread peace."People killed my parents, not God. He had nothing to do with it."Edith's series of questions for me, which opened me up too.Her advice to young women: become financially and emotionally independent.Her suicidal thoughts after being liberated.Her time spent with Martin Luther King and the Mamas and the Papas.Discussing the passing of my son Ali: "There is no loss. It's just about celebrating what you have while you have it."Connect with Dr. Edith Eger on Facebook @dreditheger, Twitter @dreditheger1, Instagram @dr.editheger, and her website, dreditheger.comYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

The first new guest of 2023 on Slo Mo is Chris Voss, who I met at the Global Citizen Forum in Ras Al Khamiah. What a way to start to the year.Chris is the world's top negotiation coach, the former lead negotiator for the FBI, and the bestselling author of Never Split The Difference, which has sold millions of copies. He has used his many years of experience in international crises and high-stakes negotiations to develop a unique program that that helps individuals and businesses get what they want from other people. Chris' collaborative approach to negotiation emphasizes understanding and connection rather than contention as the optimal path to settling a negotiation.Listen as we discuss:What's it like to have someone's life depend on your negotiation skills?Looking back on his career and saying, "Wow, I can't believe I did that."The ripple effect of a negotiation and why kidnappers honor their ask.Al Qaeda and how terrorism is a form of PR.Understanding the endgame of your negotiation is key.How culture plays a role in negotiating styles across the world.Are we negotiating all the time? Is that being selfish?Win/Lose thinking never beats cooperation.Time and information are the commodities being negotiated in a relationship.The 3 core types of negotiation: fight, flight, or make friends.Chris' top secret for happiness? Adopting a family practice for gratitude.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

In this third rewind, I revisit my talk with Nir Eyal, my sensei of time management. Start the New Year with confidence by becoming indistractable.Nir teaches the intersection of psychology, technology, and business. He previously taught as a Lecturer in Marketing at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and the Hasso Plattner Institute of Design at Stanford. Nir co-founded and sold two tech companies since 2003 and was dubbed by The M.I.T. Technology Review as, “The Prophet of Habit-Forming Technology.”He is the author of two bestselling books, Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products and Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life. Indistractable received critical acclaim, winning the Outstanding Works of Literature Award as well as being named one of the Best Business and Leadership Books of the Year by Amazon and one of the Best Personal Development Books of the Year by Audible. The Globe and Mail called Indistractable, “the best business book of 2019.”Listen as we discuss:Hooked, which teaches how to apply habit forming design to good habits.Indistractable, which is about empowering people to break bad habits.Social media and tech is not mind control, and we are not helpless against it.The tendency to do things against our better interest is an age-old phenomenon.What is distraction? And what is its opposite?The Four Steps to Becoming Indistractable: Master Internal Triggers; Make Time for Traction; Hack Back External Triggers; Prevent Distraction with Pacts."The time you plan to waste is not wasted time." - Dorothy ParkerHow Nir wrote the books for himself and his own distracted life.The main reason for distraction? Uncomfortable emotional states.The 10 Minute Rule: Instead of saying "no", say "not yet!" (this is magical)Uncomfortable sensations are like a wave, but you can surf the urge until it goes away.Why To-Do Lists are actually toxic: they convince you of your own inadequacy.Why making a time box calendar is the optimal time management strategy.Aligning your schedule with your values and relationships, first and foremost.Reactive Work vs. Reflective WorkSchedule syncing, or how to get your boss to worship the ground you walk on.Communicate your time boundaries clearly, and everyone wins.Indistractable people are reliable to their word and therefore easy to back.The #1 reason people call meetings? To hear themselves think out loud.Brainstorming in groups is a terrible idea, according to studies.Meetings should have one purpose: to gain consensus after doing pre-work.Make a Ulysses Pact by making plans in advance to prevent distraction.Effort Pacts allow you to keep your word by creating a barrier to breaking it.Nir's transition from obese to fit, and how he used his techniques to get there.Consistency over intensity is the best way to keep a haYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

In the second Slo Mo Rewind, I revisit my life changing chat with one of my heroes, Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor. She is a Harvard-trained and published neuroscientist. In 1996 she experienced a severe hemorrhage in the left hemisphere of her brain causing her to lose the ability to walk, talk, read, write, or recall any of her life. Her memoir, My Stroke of Insight, documenting her experience with stroke and eight-year recovery, spent 63 weeks on the New York Times nonfiction bestseller list and is still routinely the #1 book about strokes on Amazon.In 2008 she gave the first TED talk that ever went viral on the Internet, which now has well over 26 million views. Also in 2008, Dr. Jill was chosen as one of Time magazine’s “100 Most Influential People in the World” and was the premiere guest on Oprah Winfrey’s “Soul Series” webcast.In her newest book, Whole Brain Living: The Anatomy of Choice and the Four Characters That Drive Our Life, Dr. Jill debunks the myths that we use only 10% of our brain as well as the idea that our right brain hemisphere is our emotional brain, while our left brain houses our rational thinking.Listen as we discuss:What is 'Whole Brain Living'?What she's learned since her hit TED talk.The four characters of the brain:Character 1: Left thinking tissue is the rational brain that defines the boundaries of ourselves as individuals, has language, and seeks material gain.Character 2: Left emotional tissue that sounds the alarm to protect us against the unfamiliar.Character 3: Right emotional tissue that lives to only experience in the present moment without comparison or time. No conflict can be solved by two Character 2's, and the present moment is perfect.Character 4: Right thinking tissue that embodies the thinking consciousness of the universe, knows no boundaries, and exists only to love, be grateful, and experience blissful euphoria. Purely in awe and blissful euphoria.Is love a thought or an emotion?Our first job as human beings is to love one another. Period.The left brain should not be the boss.The B.R.A.I.N. HuddleHow Jill gave her TED talk because she wanted us to love and revere each other, not her.Character 4 is who we are. The others are so noisy.Her new book, Whole Brain Living, is her roadmap to accomplish her life's work - the reason why she recovered from her stroke.Psychedelics can induce similar states that bring us to Character 4.Character 2 is the one that needs to go into rehab in order to break addictions.Is there a masculine and feminine divide, or is just a cultural construct?Life knows that the present moment is fabulous.Connect with Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor and her book, Whole Brain Living, here.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

For the next few weeks over the Holiday break, we'll be revisiting a few of the most impactful episodes of Slo Mo from 2021. Appropriately for Christmas, I wanted to again feature Dr. Stephen C. Meyer, who made a compelling case for the existence of God. For this holiday season, I can't imagine a more important contrast to the commercialization that has come to define this time.Dr. Stephen C. Meyer received his Ph.D. in the philosophy of science from the University of Cambridge. A former geophysicist and college professor, he now directs Discovery Institute’s Center for Science and Culture in Seattle.He has authored the New York Times best seller Darwin’s Doubt: The Explosive Origin of Animal Life and the Case for Intelligent Design and Signature in the Cell: DNA and the Evidence for Intelligent Design, which was named a Book of the Year by the Times of London Literary Supplement in 2009. Stephen’s books and research address the deepest mystery surrounding the origin of human and animal life, particularly the origin of biological information necessary to produce it.In his latest book, The Return of the God Hypothesis, Stephen presents groundbreaking scientific evidence of the existence of God, based on breakthroughs in physics, cosmology, and biology.It’s no secret that I too used a bit of math, physics and cosmology to try and show that our universe and everything in it is not the result of randomness but rather the product of intricate design. (Chapter 14 of Solve for Happy)Give us a chance today to take you through the possibility of the existence of a divine designer. This surely is a topic that, regardless of how busy you are today, is worth taking a little bit of time to slow down.Listen as we discuss:Political correctness in science.What led Stephen to dive into his work?The highly unlikely probability for evolution to generate new species in such time.The bike lock analogy.DNA is literally like software code, and therefore someone must have programmed it.Information is the hallmark of intelligent activity and inference to the best explanation.Darwin’s Doubt and the Cambrian Explosion.What did Darwin get right?The return of the God hypothesis: who is the designer?Connect with Stephen Meyer on Facebook @drstephencmeyer, Twitter @stephencmeyer, Instagram @discoverycsc, and his website, stephencmeyer.org.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Katie Brindle lives for one purpose: to make people well. She is an encyclopedia of effective, holistic healing, and one of those forces for good on this planet.She is a Chinese medicine practitioner, healer, empath, teacher, influencer, women’s wellness commentator and mentor with over 20 clinical years under her belt. She is founder of the multi award-winning 360° lifestyle brand Hayo’u, the UKs leading qigong platform Hayo’uFit, a thriving virtual clinic and best-selling author of Yang Sheng: The Art of Chinese self-healing.Katie’s mission is to empower people to master their health, covering an extensive range of issues from aging to beauty, insomnia to anxiety, and menopause to the meaning of life. Her tools and techniques teach people to heal efficiently and effectively and, above all, by themselves.With her pioneering brand Hayo’u, Katie identified the unmet need for self-care tools, initiating  the huge explosion in gua sha crystals and gaining her global recognition as an expert in her field, endorsed by journalists, influencers, celebrities and of course a rapidly expanding community.Her qigong classes have touched the lives of thousands offering transformation in both health and body shape, energy levels and appetite for life.Listen as we discuss:The preventative paradigm shift of Traditional Chinese Medicine.Two reasons why people do what they do: inspiration or desperation.How a car accident ended her singing career but started her healing career.What are the Immortal Healers?The difference between sexuality and sensuality and the taboo of body work.Awakening from an era of lies.How manifestation is like the Spotify algorithm.Your organs are like five empires of the body.Once you've transcended your deepest suffering, what else can hurt you?The female healing lineage that Katie is following.In this Age of Information, our choices can be incredibly influential.Tech mirrors ancient wisdom.Connect with Katie Brindle on Instagram @katie_brindle and katiebrindle.comYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today I speak with a couple that embodies the millennial dream: the husband and wife influencers and partners, Vex King and Kaushal.Vex King is the author of the Sunday Times #1 bestsellers Good Vibes, Good Life and Healing is the New High.  His first books alone has sold a million+ copies and spent two years in the Sunday Times top ten. His new book, Closer to Love, is releasing in February. Vex has a following of over 1.4m followers across his platforms. Kaushal is one of the world’s biggest beauty influencers with a following of over 3.6m across her channels. Together they founded wellness and meditation community The Rising Circle.Their first project together is The Greatest Self-Help Book (Is the One Written By You), an illustrated, interactive journal that will help you become the best version of yourself.Listen as we discuss:The romantic story of how they got together.The process of learning the entire humanity of your partner.How Vex went to extreme lengths to propose to Kaushal.How do you find a partner right for you? Know your worth.Rising in love rather than falling in love.Love is not created but found. It's not only about relationships.Resisting the urge to post shallow photos for likes.Don't try and coach your partner!Is it healthy to be attracted to "bad boys" and "bad girls"?Why is beauty more popular than self-help on Instagram?Mastering social media while staying sane and authentic.The monumentally important day you decide to go to therapy.Why was Good Vibes, Good Life so successful?Don't do it if it doesn't spark any joy.How the new journal came together.Connect on Instagram with Vex King @vexking and Kaushal @kaushalYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today's guest is Hal Elrod, who I interviewed in Austin, Texas. Meeting someone like Hal leads me to sick back in immense gratitude that I get to do this podcast and meet people like him.  (Thanks to Brandon Fong, who interviewed me on 7-Figure Millenials, for introducing us.)First and foremost, Hal Elrod is a family man. He is a loyal husband to his wife of 13 years, and a dedicated father to their two children. His mission in life is to fulfill his potential while inspiring those he loves, and those he leads, to do the same. When he’s not with his family, he is sharing his message as an author and keynote speaker. After surviving multiple near-death experiences and impacting millions of people through his books and speeches, Hal is also on a mission to elevate the consciousness of humanity, one morning at a time.As the author of 12 books, most notably, The Miracle Morning — which is translated into 37 languages and has sold over 2.5 million copies—he is doing exactly that. His latest project is The Miracle Morning Movie – a documentary that shows how millions of people are transforming their lives, by simply changing how they start their day.In this episode, Hal is going to show you how you can do the same and so much more.Listen as we discuss:Why Hal's bio starts with "I'm a family man, first and foremost."The effects of his first near-death experience.The 5 Minute Rule, the most valuable strategy he ever learned.All emotional pain is created by resisting reality, so accept life before it happens.If battling cancer, don't put your health only in the hands of a doctor.Unwavering faith that you will heal can lead to miracles.The line between "can't change" and "can change".How the 2008 crisis led to the Miracle Morning.Does he ever have off mornings? Yes, this morning.SAVERS: Silence, Affirmations, Visualization, Exercise, Reading, ScribingThe Miracle Equation = unwavering faith + extraordinary effort until it happensHal's secret to happiness? Choose it unconditionally and selflessly add value.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comConnect with Hal Elrod on Instagram @hal_elrod and halelrod.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

This week, I speak to singer and star, Tallia Storm, on the realities of navigating fame as a woman in her 20's.Tallia was just 13 years old when she handed her demo CD to Sir Elton's partner David Furnish in a hotel restaurant. Sir Elton called her 24 hours later and invited her to open his UK concert to 17,000 people to great critical acclaim. She now lives in an Instagram world that has enabled her to do what she wants and deliver the kind of music she wants. She has been featured on multiple TV shows and has a huge social media following.What struck me about Tallia was her genuine modesty. This conversation paints a portrait of exactly what it looks like to get famous by simply believing you can do it and saying "yes" when the opportunities come your way.Listen as we discuss:How Tallia got her big break at age 13 thanks to Elton John.The advantage of having 10 years of experience by age 23.When even famous artists can't afford to pay their rent.Taking the tube to the Brit Awards.The big break in the USA that almost was.The culture of bullying she encountered in Scotland.Her first heartbreak and the joy of being able to cry.A sit down I had with my mom at age 40.Dating, love, the usual.The "Year of Yes" and how she ended up writing with Nile Rodgers.Tallia's secret to happiness? Relinquishing control and enjoying the moment.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comConnect with Tallia Storm on Instagram @talliastorm and her website talliastorm.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

This week, I bring back one of your most popular guests of the past, my good friend Bruce Daisley. (see episode 59 for our past conversation). Bruce is a best selling author and technology leader from the UK.  He is one the most respected thought leaders on the subject of workplace culture and the future of work. After 12 years running Twitter in Europe and previously YouTube in the UK, his book on improving workplace culture, The Joy of Work, became a Sunday Times number one business bestseller in 2019. His new book, Fortitude: How to Unlock Your Inner Strength, is already repeating this success. In Fortitude, Bruce disproves the myth that only extraordinary people are successful, showing how we can achieve a sense of control through simple mind exercises, and, above all, how we can draw on those around us to empower ourselves and build our inner-strength. The book, and this conversation, set out a practical path to greater self-confidence and courage, not just for the elite few, but for us all.Listen as we discuss:All of the bad information on resilience floating around.How the explosion in Beirut triggered his pursuit of understanding resilience.Why do some less fortunate kids do better than others?Gen Z is far more willing to express and address their emotions.We are not predetermined to end up as a victim of our experiences.The most elite athletes have had moments of trauma.We should speak about resilience as the strength we draw from each other.People naturally come together in disasters, despite what Hollywood shows.When people own their identities, they live healthier lives.How does control improve resilience?The lack decision making power in our jobs, despite our liabilities, hurts us.Bruce's secret for happiness at work? Laugh!YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comConnect with Bruce Daisley on Twitter @brucedaisley, Instagram @brucedaisley, LinkedIn @brucedaisley, and his website, findfortitude.netThe Unstressables membership is part of Mo Gawdat and Alice Law's initiative to take 1 million people out of stress every year. It offers a training video library, a community space to share with other like minded individuals, a monthly webinar with Alice and Mo, frequent expert guest webinars, as well as practice exercises toYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

I met today's guest, Clover Hogan, at a panel where we both spoke. She was prompted to respond by the moderator, and her response, as a 23 year old, totally blew me away. She is a fighter for what is undeniably the most pressing cause of our time, a reluctant warrior of the generation we've long known will inherit our reckless treatment of the planet.Clover Hogan is a climate activist, researcher on eco-anxiety and founding CEO of Force of Nature: a youth nonprofit mobilizing mindsets for climate action. Clover Hogan's team at Force of Nature is tackling the climate and mental health crisis by empowering the next generation of leaders. In her decade of activism, she has worked alongside the world’s leading authorities on sustainability, consulted within the boardrooms of Fortune 500 companies and supported students in more than 50 countries to realize their power as changemakers. At just 22, she has taken the stage with corporate giants alongside global changemakers such as Dr. Jane Goodall and Dr. Vandana Shiva and interviewed the 14th Dalai Lama.Listen as we discuss:How did she become an activist at such a young age?The deep entrenchment of our denial of climate change.Is it too late to solve the climate crisis?Doom and gloom isn't the point. The facts are just gloomy.How we can transition to proper, ethical business and consider the future.Eco-anxiety and embracing the lessons in the heartbreak of our situation.Being uncompromising in building the world we want to see and save.Does Clover find time to have fun?Sharing stories about the Dalai Lama.Clover's biggest secret? Her [honest] inconsistency.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comConnect with Clover Hogan on Instagram @cloverhogan and her website, cloverhogan.comThe Unstressables membership is part of Mo Gawdat and Alice Law's initiative to take 1 million people out of stress every year. It offers a training video library, a community space to share with other like minded individuals, a monthly webinar with Alice and Mo, frequent expert guest webinars, as well as practice exercises to help you find your path to a stress free life. This week's gift code for two months of free membership for the first 50 redeemers is ILOVESLOMO. Redeem at unstressable.com. Because living stressed is not living.Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

On this week's episode, I am in Greystones, Ireland. Before coming, I asked my Instagram followers if they could recommend anyone in Ireland that I could bring on Slo Mo. Pretty much every other message was for The Happy Pear, David and Stephen Flynn, and now I know why. These  brothers, identical twins, are two of the kindest, most positive, and most hospitable people I've met in my life. They took me to their farm, store, and restaurant, force-feeding me on levels I've only experienced in the Middle East. After an early life of adventure trying to find their identity, they started  an organic store that became a full fledged venture, and now also a podcast, around making healthy choices. They are what we all try to embody when we aim to live our purpose and spread love in the process.I wanted to get serious with this conversation, and sure, we did. But in reality, the biggest benefit of this episode, one that has made it among my favorites ever, is that it's just pure fun.Listen as we discuss:What it's like growing up as twins, with unconditional love from the start.Their trajectory from searching for identity to building a food revolution.The need for rites of passage and the value of uncertainty in travel.What we can learn from the whirling and wandering dervishes.Veganism and how to incorporate it without being radical.When you grow your own food, you savor every piece.Food is the center of every economy.How can you get involved in the food revolution?Manifesting, spirituality, and blah blah blah, let's just enjoy this moment.Their secret to happiness: look at life through childlike wonder.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comConnect with The Happy Pear on Instagram @thehappypear and her website, thehappypear.ieThe Unstressables membership is part of Mo Gawdat and Alice Law's initiative to take 1 million people out of stress every year. It offers a training video library, a community space to share with other like minded individuals, a monthly webinar with Alice and Mo, frequent expert guest webinars, as well as practice exercises to help you find your path to a stress free life. This week's gift code for two months of free membership for the first 50 redeemers is INEEDTOSLOWDOWN. Redeem at unstressable.com. Because living stressed is not living.Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

In this week's episode, I speak to someone close to my heart, Holly Tucker. I met Holly when she invited me on her podcast, Conversations of Inspiration, and I immediately felt I was talking to a friend. It's no wonder Holly is a beloved mentor to so many.Holly Tucker is the founder of notonthehighstreet and Holly & Co and is the UK Ambassador to Creative Small Businesses. She believes that following your passion and building a business doing what you love is the key to a happy and fulfilled life. Through Holly & Co, a creative content company, Holly is working to positively influence this creative movement by redefining what it means to be a ‘small business’, encouraging more women to start their own businesses, as well as empowering our young with the skills to thrive in the new working world they are entering.Bringing colour and creativity to the business world, Holly seeks to advise and inspire anyone who is dreaming of starting or is already on their business journey through her podcast Conversations of Inspiration, events, her inspiration and advice hub, and now, Do What You Love, Love What You Do, a Sunday Times Bestseller business book.Listen as we discuss:How Holly and I immediately connected.Why she was "Holly Hurricane", working from age 7 and unstoppable.An ode to her parents, a model for partnership, and their secret to lasting love.Why settling in a relationship can actually be a good thing.Holly's journey as a successful pioneer of female entrepreneurs..Women are already the CEO's of their households and easily cut it in business.Her top business tip? Find your diamond and shine it.Emotional Commerce and the benefits of an 'emotional workplace'.Recovering from the crushing grind of a failed business, like a phoenix.Holly's top tip for happiness? Understand and embrace your mortality.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comConnect with Holly Tucker on Instagram @hollytucker and her website, holly.coThe Unstressables membership is part of Mo Gawdat and Alice Law's initiative to take 1 million people out of stress every year. It offers a training video library, a community space to share with other like minded individuals, a monthly webinar with Alice and Mo, frequent expert guest webinars, as well as practice exercises to help you find your path to a stress free life. This week's gift code for two months of free membership for the first 50 redeemers is SLOWISGOOD. Redeem at YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

This week, I am joined by an incredible couple that makes me straight up insecure because they're so fit. Lucy Davis and Ben Haldon, also known as the Not So Fit Couple, are all about no BS fitness. In addition to being social media influencers and trainers, they host the Not So Fit Couple Podcast, an off centre spin on everything health and fitness, relationships and business, with some epic guests along the way to help you transform your mind and body.I wanted to know more about keeps them thriving in health, wealth, life, and work, especially as a couple who does everything together. I learned just how much they had to go through to become the role models they are today.Listen as we discuss:How Ben proposed to Lucy on a hot air balloon and dealing with the stress.Working together as a couple, all the time, and loving every minute.Who's the boss?Communication is the secret of a healthy relationship, and occasionally, secrets.Ben and Lucy's individual experiences through eating disorders and therapy.Can we all get six pack abs?Lucy's drunken sign-up for an ultramarathon and how she get through it.The changing idea of body image and what it means to fit.How to deal with negative comments and why you'll always anger someone.Top fitness tip? It's not race. Enjoy it. Consistency is key.Lucy's top happiness tip? The physical act of smiling more :)Ben's top happiness tip? Revisit your childhood as much as you can.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comConnect with Lucy Davis Fit on Instagram @lucydavis_fit and Ben Haldon on Instagram @mycoachbenjiThe Unstressables membership is part of Mo Gawdat and Alice Law's initiative to take 1 million people out of stress every year. It offers a training video library, a community space to share with other like minded individuals, a monthly webinar with Alice and Mo, frequent expert guest webinars, as well as practice exercises to help you find your path to a stress free life. This week's gift code for two months of free membership for the first 50 redeemers is SLOWMEDOWN. Redeem at unstressable.com. Because living stressed is not living.Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

This week's guest is the inspiring Carly Meyers, a woman who learned to do it all except the things that make her unhappy.Carly was a professional dancer performing in prestigious West End Musicals and arenas around the world. At the height of her success, her career was cut short when an injury meant she could no longer dance and was forced to completely start again. She believes this injury is the best thing to have happened to her as it threw her in the direction of entrepreneurship and her true purpose.Over the last 9 years she has built 2 hugely successful online business’s and reached the top 1% of leaders in the social marketing industry worldwide and is now the CEO of Girls Building Empires. She has coached hundreds of others to build their own online business and has a relentless passion for helping women reach places in their own personal and business growth that they never even thought possible.She is the host of the female entrepreneur podcast Made For More, on which I was a guest the same day we recorded this (check it out). Running her businesses around her 2 kids under the age of 3, she has figured out how to work smart and is obsessed with helping people earn more while working less.Listen as we discuss:The truth about being a West End musical dancer (it's not glamorous).The fateful injury that ended her dancing career.Advice for aspiring artists on juggling passion and career.Why she left a job at Apple (it involves lunch).Experiencing extreme success wrapped around profound unhappiness.Learingn to celebrate achievements rather than continually striving.The hustle should only be towards the most fulfilled version of you.How she is leaning more into motherhood and away from her masculine.Women and mothers can do it all, but only if they want.Carly's top tip for happiness: accept who you are.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comConnect with Carly Meyers on Instagram @carlymeyerslife and her website, carlymeyers.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

I met today's guest briefly when he walked by while I was having dinner with a mutual friend. He is one of the most special people,  a perfect example of a person who has done the work. Growing up a" brown, gay, small, and muslim" man in a  post-9/11 North America, he has not only arrived at the very top of one of the world's most prestigious industries, but also at the height of knowing and embracing his true identity. And I promise you, it's a wonderful one.Imran Amed is one of fashion’s leading writers, thinkers and commentators, and is founder, CEO and editor-in-chief of The Business of Fashion (BoF), a modern media company and the authoritative voice of the $2.5 trillion global fashion and luxury industries.Imran began his career as a management consultant and started writing about the fashion business from his sofa in London in 2007.BoF sparked a new kind of fashion dialogue, exploring the key drivers of an industry  undergoing unprecedented change and rapid growth. Imran’s writing filled a void in fashion media and soon his analysis garnered tens of thousands of readers who would wake each morning to The Daily Digest email newsletter.  In 2017, ten years after founding BoF, he was appointed by Queen Elizabeth II as Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to the fashion industry. In 2018, Imran was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design. He has also been named in Fast Company’s annual list of the Most Creative People in Business, British GQ’s list of the 100 Most Influential Men in Britain, Indian GQ’s list of the 50 Most Influential Global Indians, and Wired’s list of the 100 most influential figures in Britain’s digital economy.As you can tell, this episode is longer than normal. As a result, the last 15 minutes were only recorded on a back-up device. You will notice a shift in audio quality that may be bothersome at first, but stick it out and your ears will soon adapt. It's worth it. I am a one-man traveling podcast studio, and I don't always get the tech right. But we're doing our best for you and thank you for your patience as we perfect this craft.Listen as we discuss:We're all "fashion people", the most democratic form of expression.Why do wealthy people tend to dress extravagantly?The reason I wear a black t-shirt everyday (and my soft spot for cars).Imran's childhood and his journey to becoming who he is.A broad, general, multifaceted education beats - and often leads to - specializing.You don't have to fit into life. You can fit life into who you are.How we can find gratitude for our pain.A defining moment: confronting anti-Islamic abuse at Harvard after 9/11.What it's like to be an openly gay muslim man.The origins of his massively popular company, The Business of Fashion.Align your talent, skills, and passion, and you'll find your purpose.Why it's refreshing to be asked personal questions.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

This week's episode is focused on healing. We spend a lot of episodes discussing mental health, but anyone who's ever been afflicted with chronic pain or disease knows hard it is to stay happy in that state.A former investment banker turned naturopathic nutritionist, Yalda Alaoui is the CEO & founder of Eat Burn Sleep,  an acclaimed 'no-nonsense' science-backed nutrition platform focusing on anti-inflammation and promoting gut health. Yalda is disrupting the industries formally dominated by men. She is a London-based entrepreneur, inflammation pioneer, mother and creator who is giving people a second chance at life with her Eat Burn Sleep lifestyle. After suffering from an array of illnesses and getting no help in the medical field, Yalda looked inwards to cure herself. She now helps treat many conditions, some of which are only recently coming to the forefront of the broader wellness discussion.Listen as we discuss:Yalda's upbringing in Morocco and career trajectory.Why she stopped working after motherhood.The hardwired guilt of a mother.Her diagnosis with multiple autoimmune diseases and the dangers of inflammation.Food, movement, and mental wellness: the pillars of healing.The body sees extremes as a shock, even healthy ones.Eat: Avoid processed foods. Feed your gut bacteria.Burn: Do the right kind of exercise for your body. The wrong kind can make you worse.Sleep: Tell yourself you're going to sleep well tonight, over and over.Why Yalda' doesn't like the term "single mother."What is Yalda's top tip for happiness? Think happy to be happy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comConnect with Yalda Alaoui on Instagram @eatburnsleep and her website, eatburnsleep.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

For the last episode in my tour of Holland, I'm back in one of my favorite spots in Amsterdam with my wonderful friend Jimmy Nelson and accompanied by Prince Constantijn. We three met in September 2021 in the Netherlands at Jimmy's exhibition, The Last Sentinels, which was absolutely breathtaking. I sat down with Jimmy and Constantijn to discuss the value in preserving heritage, the disappearing Dutch culture, the bliss of finding an adopted home, and Jimmy's newest projects. The video of this episode, linked below, is simply the better way to consume this conversation. In his latest book, Between the Sea and the Sky, Jimmy Nelson presents portraits of twenty Dutch communities wearing regional traditional dress and the environment that shaped them. It is his most personal book ever. During the recent pandemic, which restricted travel across the world, Jimmy Nelson realized he didn't need to travel to the ends of the Earth to discover outstanding human beauty. This insight gave rise to a new project much closer to home, a stunning art book and ode to the Netherlands, his adopted fatherland.Listen as we discuss:Jimmy's adopted Dutchhood and the root of his love for the Netherlands.His loving process of photographing 20 traditional Dutch villages.Why the Dutch don't brag about being Dutch and dealing with their colonial past.Between the Sea and SkyWhy does Jimmy carry a cumbersome old camera with limited film?Delayed gratification and the beauty of the process.Some features of Dutch culture with the "Definitive Dutch Man", Prince Constantijn.Is the metaverse the next step of modernization?Slow down and be interested in people, and life will give its fruits.Visit Jimmy's exhibition on October 14. More details at jimmynelson.com/exhibitionsYouTube: @mogawdatofficial  (link to this episode: youtu.be/_FBN49O4I38)Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comConnect with Jimmy Nelson on Facebook @jimmy.nelson.official, on Instagram @jimmy.nelson.official , on Twitter @jimmy_p_nelson, and jimmynelson.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

In this episode, I speak to the legendary Karin Bloemen at her home in Broek in Waterland, The Netherlands. My dear friend Sonja Dippel, who runs One Billion Happy out of The Netherlands, arranged this meeting, and right away I knew I was in the presence of someone possessing extraordinary wisdom. Sonja, in her message to me, defined Karin in one word:  "Karin is color." After our conversation, I realized just how true that is, and just how many colors there really are, from the darkest to the brightest, that have come together to form a true human being.Karin is a force of overcoming incredible adversity and finding a path to your personal peace. She is an actress, a singer, an Instagram sensation, and the author of two books. In all arts, and particularly the art of living, I have rarely encountered someone who can do it as well as she has.Unfortunately, this week's episode discusses repeated incidents of sexual abuse that she and women around her have suffered. The goal of that aspect of this discussion is to inform and discuss how we can put an end to this heinously ugly side of humanity once and for all and support all victims, past and present. Remember, you are not alone, and help is out there and very willing to engage with you.Listen as we discuss:Why fame isn't a big deal after all.What's the secret to a happy marriage? (Karin is married 30 years to her best friend.)How Karin raised the son of her sister, who died in a fire with two of her children.The extraordinary challenge of being a mother as a sexual assault victim.Karin's top parenting tip? Let teenagers be teenagers, but have zero tolerance for lying.The story of Karin's sexual abuse at the hands of her stepfather.How can we stop sexual abuse and support the victims?What is the dynamic that leads men to sexually assault a child?Understanding intimacy versus perversion.Living for moments, not targets, and taking on the ego.When are you actually being you?Incorporating fire, water, air, and earth into performance.Karin's top tip for happiness: cherish what is and stay out of the waiting room.YouTube: @mogawdatofficial  (link to this episode: youtu.be/KdVNYZhktYM)Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comConnect with Karin Bloemen on Instagram @karin_bloemen, Facebook @BloemenKarin, and Twitter @bloemenkarinDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

I am once again in Amsterdam on this endless quest for wisdom to talk to you about a little history and little future with one of my great friends, Carlo van Lienden. Before we begin, consider watching this podcast on YouTube instead (or as well). It heavily complements the experience with additional photos and footage. Link is below.When I wrote Solve for Happy, my agent told me to write an evergreen,  not a big hit that quickly burns away. That has been achieved successfully by all accounts, with the book selling more copies each year than the year prior. There were two major media appearances that kicked things off. The first was my Channel 4 interview in the UK, which went viral. The second was my appearance on RTL Late Night in the Netherlands. Behind the camera of the latter was Carlo, who discovered me and brought me to the public eye in a country that has embraced me and the One Billion Happy mission without parallel.Possessing a phenomenal work ethic and having worked in media through many pivots, Carlo can best be described in one phrase: a spotter of the truth.Listen as we discuss:How Carlo played a major role in jumpstarting our mission.Carlo's former life as a cyclist for the National Team and a resulting eating disorder.How he became a cameraman instead, and why it was a very fair trade.The real reason why I think I became Chief Business Officer at Google X.Stoicism, and revisiting my talk with Donald Robertson (Slo Mo episodes 67 & 68)How a sports psychiatrist changed his life.The sheer bliss of altitude training in the Sierra Nevada and the effects on the ego.Stress + Rest = Growth"Embrace the suck."Why Slo Mo hasn't been very slow lately.The impending merge of the virtual and real worlds.How do we know what's real and what's fake anymore?Can we even handle the truth anymore?Whatever comes our way, we need to find our place at the top of the mountain.YouTube: @mogawdatofficial  (link to this episode: youtu.be/vcx3lOrzajM)Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comConnect with Carlo van Lienden on Instagram @carlo_van_liendenDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Sometimes, while traveling around the Netherlands, you end up seated in front of a prince and princess of the Dutch Royal House. And sometimes, you realize, they couldn't be any more different than what you'd expect from a royal. In fact,  they are two of the kindest, humblest, and most authentic people I've met yet.Prince Constantijn & Princess Laurentien were kind enough to host me in The Hague at their Number Five foundation, where we recorded (and filmed) this episode. I felt a deep admiration for their efforts breaking through the restrictions of royal life to show a truly human face. When I published Scary Smart last October, I met with the Prince (thanks to the efforts of our tireless head of the One Billion Happy foundation, Sonja Dippel) to talk about AI. After our chat, he left, got into a very normal car, and drove himself to his next destination. I thought to myself, "This is a prince?". After later meeting Princess Laurentien, and learning of her own tireless efforts to make the world a better place by empowering women, expanding literacy, caring for the environment, among other pursuits, I became a fanboy of these two.Ego is the cause of human suffering. Being a royal was exactly the test the Buddha faced in combatting his own ego. Here, we have two more examples of people in power recognizing the true nature of royalty and flipping the script for good.When humanity shines more than royalty.Listen as we discuss:How I met the Prince and Princess.The genius of a wet grass carpet, and how they work for their son.Establishing boundaries when it comes to social media.Princess Laurentien's evolution to feeling like a kid again.The strange request of asking to be treated normally.How this prince and princess fell in love.Dealing with scandal in the Netherlands and the greater role of government.It is crucial to look for wisdom from people that aren't at the top.Defensiveness is one of the top red flags for development.The exponential value of admitting ignorance.What is listening?Enabling the development of tech for good.Princess Laurentien's top tip for happiness?  Alignment with your values and imagining.Prince Constantijn's top tip for happiness? Analyzing the self and finding patience.YouTube: @mogawdatofficial (full episodes on video here)Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comLearn more at numberfive.communityDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

It is episodes like this that make me feel like the luckiest man in the world.In this week's conversation, I speak with Astrid Holleeder, the brave woman who risked her own life and freedom to put her brother, the most notorious criminal gangster in the modern history of the Netherlands, behind bars. Astrid is now unable to appear in public and lives in oscillation between freedom and fear, but with no regrets. You won't see her face if you decide to watch the video on YouTube (highly recommended), but her voice says it all.Joining me along with Astrid is her daughter Miljuschka, an iconic Dutch model, actress, and TV chef in the Netherlands who rose to fame advocating for living free and emotionally, mentally, and phyiscally healthy. Miljuschka is a beloved figure with millions of fans and a beacon of strength herself.Speaking to these two women together, mother and daughter, makes it clear that courage can run in the family. You will see that most of this conversation is with Astrid as Miljuschka humbly gives her mother the rare chance to express herself publicly. We focus less on the unbelievable story that led to her bestselling book, Judas, and more on the storm of emotions and experiences that led her to a sense of peace despite an incredibly difficult childhood and adulthood.This episode contains explicit language and themes. We felt it appropriate to leave this episode unaltered.Listen as we discuss:How Astrid got the strength to completely upend her life for the sake of what's right.The horror of living in fear of her criminal brother and his threats and murders.The worst ultimatum: blind loyalty or death to your loved ones.Astrid living in survival mode and going to therapy to learn right from wrong.The moment she learned that not all father's are abusive and finally stood up to her's.Why Astrid never followed through on her plan to kill her own brother.How the internet and discovering psychology has rewired her brain to a place of peace.The one beautiful gift her brother gave her when he took away her freedom.What does Miljuschka wish for her mother?Astrid's last moments with her mother showed her more than a lifetime together.A discussion on death and its purpose.What does the universe have planned from this seemingly horrible story?Other episodes referenced in this conversation:Edith Eger: bit.ly/3pUojlePin Van Lommel: bit.ly/3pO9HUJYouTube: @mogawdatofficial (full episodes on video here)Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comConnect with Miljuschka on Instagram @miljuschka and her website, YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Just in time for back to school, I speak with my friend Nadim Saad on educating children and parents in ways that will truly transform the world.Nadim is a best-selling author, speaker and coach, and entrepreneur. He founded The Happy Confident Company to help children thrive by offering them the insights and tools they need to face life’s challenges and become the best version of themselves. Nadim spent the last decade working with renowned therapists and teachers, drawing from the latest research in child psychology and neuroscience to develop wellbeing products and programs that have impacted the lives of hundreds of thousands of families.This is a marvelous overview of becoming masters of perhaps the most influential domain of our lives: parenting and educating children. It is so chock full of nuggets of wisdom that you’ll notice more notes below than normal.Listen as we discuss:How Nadim became the best straight male dancer I’ve ever seen.It begins and ends with connecting to your emotions.When you shout at kids, they physically cannot listen to your orders.Teaching kids to deal with sadness and disappointment is just as important as learning to be happy.Disagreements between partners on how to parent are normally about how to discipline.Three keys: Meta-cognition, emotional intelligence and mindfulness.Be the parent you wish you had, first to your inner child.Parenting is just leadership but for children.A throwback to my chat with Zoe Blaskey in episodes 148/149.The 10 powers we need to teach kids.The Happy Confident MovementWhy the school history program is so harmful. Aya says: The power distribution is the remarkable part. There’s no big boss.Nadim’s daughters Father’s Day card that made him cry.Nadim’s top tips to raise happy children: sense of agency, allowing feelings, and feeling like a team.YouTube: @mogawdatofficial (full episodes on video here)Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comConnect with Nadim Saad at his website happyconfident.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

This week, I speak with Rose Hood, co-founder of perhaps the most Instagrammed cafe in London, Farm Girl. I sat down with her at Farm Girl for a chat as light and pleasant as the brilliant coffee they serve. As a mother and entrepreneur who is in business with her husband, Rose is a success story on all fronts. The secret? A loving and loyal support system.Listen as we discuss:How I ended up recording Slo Mo at Farm Girl.Why Rose moved from Melbourne to London.The story of Farm Girl, her phenomenal cafe and business.Surviving lockdown as a business.London as an amazing city for women entrepreneurs.How Rose learned to make a great coffee.What constitutes a healthy diet?The challenges of doing business with your husband.Evolving a business through failure.My pipe dream of running a strictly pie and coffee shop (or being a farmer).Rose's top tip for happiness? A loving, loyal support network.YouTube: @mogawdatofficial (full episodes on video here)Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comConnect with Rose Hood and Farm Girl on Instagram @farmgirlcafe and their website, thefarmgirl.co.ukDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

We are recording again out of Farm Girl, this time with Alya Mooro (and my daughter Aya present). Alya approached me on Instagram with a thank you from one Egyptian to another. I read a bit about her and realized the great value she’s bringing into the world.The fact is, history has been unfair to women and that continues to this day. As a Middle Easterner, I want to dive into that fact from a cultural perspective familiar to me.Alya Mooro is an Egyptian born, London raised writer and author of the bestselling 2019 book The Greater Freedom: Life as a Middle Eastern Woman Outside the Stereotypes. Alya has written for New York Magazine, The Telegraph, Refinery29 and maintains a monthly newsletter titled The Greater Conversation, continuing the themes of her bestseller. She is also host and producer of the podcast Talk of Shame, where she speaks with groundbreaking fellow Middle Eastern women to explore the meaning and impact shame has on our lives, attempting to decipher how we can best stop letting it run our lives and start living our most authentic selves. Listen as we discuss:Alya’s multicultural upbringing.The theme of being othered.In the Middle East, your friends are your family.The immense value of open dialogue between parents and kids.At a point in time, you need to stop parenting.Middle Eastern stereotypes of women and how they influence the women too.What is a feminist?The shame around sex  and rebranding it.These days, whoever cares less, wins.You are what you eat on social media.Lean into your femininity.The difference between childless and child-free.Why marriage doesn’t feel worth it for Alya.The failure of second wave feminism.Alya’s definition of happiness:  when what you do and what you want are in harmony.YouTube: @mogawdatofficial (full video episodes here)Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comConnect with Alya Mooro on Instagram @alyamooro, Twitter @alyamooro, and her website, alyamooro.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

For the next few weeks, we'll be coming to you with conversations I had at one of my favorite cafes, Farm Girl in South Kensington, London. This week's guest is Vicki Anstey, an almost overwhelmingly inspiring woman. Vicki is a world record holder, adventurer, award-winning entrepreneur, speaker, coach, and athlete. After 20 years in a relationship that limited and stifled her and a successful career as an advertising professional, Vicki became a fitness pioneer and later one of the first ever women to participate (at age 41) in Channel 4’s SAS Who Dares Wins, reaching the final stages after 11 days in extreme conditions at an altitude of 3,000ft in Chile. In 2021, exactly a year before this episode was published,  she and 2 other women, the Girls Who Dare, set a new World Record for rowing unaided across the Pacific Ocean, confronting her fear of deep, open water to do so. It took 60 days, 17 hours and 6 minutes. Her latest endeavor was a 5 day race in the Arctic, covering a distance of over 230km in temperatures of -35 degrees, carrying everything she needed to survive In 2023, she plans to participate in the World’s Toughest Bike Race, the Race Across America (RAAM), covering 3,000 miles across 17 states in just 7 days. Listen as we discuss:How Vicki realized her extraordinary potential at age 40.Her memories from SAS Who Dares Wins (video here) and surviving interrogation.Pushing your limits and learning how to get through them is the only way to evolve.Why Women adapt better to calorie and sleep deprivation.How her ongoing divorce became a useful comparison for tolerating present suffering.Rowing the Pacific Ocean dealing with fear, storms, and talking to the moon.When you're already in the arena, fear becomes less of a concern.Vicki was in her past life.What should you do if you're not reaching your potential? Start in 5, 4, 3...Some of her techniques for moving toward your potential.Her next journey racing across America.Vicky's top secret for happiness? Discover your capabilities.YouTube: @mogawdatofficial (full episodes on video here)Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comConnect with Vicki Anstey on Instagram @vickianstey and her website, vickianstey.co.ukDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

I spent a month in the Netherlands and spoke with some of the wisest minds in the country. For the next several weeks, we'll be bringing you episodes from my Tour of Holland.Baptist de Pape, is a spiritual explorer, author, and filmmaker. After graduating from Tilburg University Law School in The Netherlands, he traveled the globe to interview the world’s greatest teachers for the film and book, The Power of the Heart. I cannot express how profoundly important this work is to me because it exposes what we've known all along: that our heart is our compass, our guide to exactly who we are meant to be.Listen as we discuss:Communication from heart to heart is simply different.Why humanity has become like zombies.Studies show that the heart knows what's happening before the eyes do.The story of Anita Moorjani.When you are yourself, everything falls into place.Your soul sabotages you when you ignore it.Why does life exist as it is? Why not?How playing Halo was the first flow moment I can remember.Fear is what we are not.Living from the heart is courage.The incredible power of forgiveness.Case studies we can learn from.YouTube: @mogawdatofficial (full episodes on video here)Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comConnect with Baptist de Pape on Instagram @baptistdepapeofficial, Facebook @BaptistdePape  and his website, thepoweroftheheart.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

I spent a month in the Netherlands and spoke with some of the wisest minds in the country. For the next several weeks, we'll be bringing you episodes from my Tour of Holland.Dr. Juriaan Galavazi is a trendsetting doctor with a new vision on health and vitality. He is the author of Van klacht naar kans and Jij bent de Liefde. Years ago, Juriaan completely changed course in his general practice after experiencing burnout himself. The key takeaway: the body and mind are inextricably linked.  As he has noticed in his years of practice, stress and a head full of thoughts can make you physically sick. Where you can no longer say no with your head, your body will do it for you.What is the price you're willing to pay?  Listen as we discuss:Why pain is a good thing for us.We may not know where to go, but we do know when we're going wrong.You're not obligated to give value to the lives of others.Being 100% yourself is the foolproof way to happiness.We all have the opportunity to be in charge of our lives.Do not make your wellbeing dependent on the outcome of your achievements.What is the price you're willing to pay?Dokter Juriaan's top tip: build a kind relationship with yourself.YouTube: @mogawdatofficial (full episodes on video here)Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comConnect with Dr. Juriaan Galavazi on Instagram @dokterjuriaan, Facebook @dokterjuriaan.nl,  and his website, dokterjuriaan.nlDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

This week, I chat with Yasmine Ouirhrane on a topic that's close to my heart: that of being "othered", even in your home country, and what it means to belong. My son Ali lived this identity crisis and often wrote and spoke of it. Discovering that there are incredible young women out there like Yasmine who are fighting for social inclusion has made my heart happy, and this is a message we all urgently need to heed.Yasmine is the co-founder of We Belong, a platform and podcast that amplifies the voice of the New Daughters of Europe. She has been an advocate for Social and Gender Justice in Europe, working with the oppressed and underprivileged, since the age of 16. Yasmine has served as an expert on Peace & Security for the European Union, African Union,  and some of the top supranational institutions and social justice foundations around the globe. She was named Young European of the Year 2019 by the Schwarzkopf Foundation and EDD Young Leader by the European Commission.Listen as we discuss:My son Ali's identity crisis.What does it take to become Young European of the Year?Micro-aggressions and the feeling of being othered.How Yasmine got a seat at the table. Spirituality and how it made Yasmine a better student.Why she chose to wear a headscarf and why she eventually removed it.Whatever and wherever you want to be, you belong.How a fear of a standing out leads to a [tragic] desire for anonymity. Freedom comes on both sides: the choice to wear or not wear.Why she sued Marine Le Pen, who used her image to spread hate.Europe is a project, not a blood.What is We Belong Europe?My personal experience as the only non-white, non-American top executive at Google.Yasmine's secret to happiness? Knowing why you do what you do.YouTube: @mogawdatofficial (full episodes on video here)Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comConnect with Yasmine Ouirhrane on Instagram @yasmineouir, Twitter @yasmineouir, and webelongeurope.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today's episode (number 200, can you believe it?) is part of a mini-series of interviews done in the context of the topics of my new book, That Little Voice in Your Head, available now: mogawdat.com/littlevoiceShahroo Izadi is an award-winning Behavioral Change Specialist.  She proposes evidence-based strategies for habit-change and personal development inspired by her experience of working across the UK addiction treatment sector. Her work empowers people to create entire lifestyles to accommodate their healthier habits and build the fundamental self-compassion, self-belief and self-awareness required to make lasting and meaningful changes over and over again independently. Shahroo is the bestselling author of The Kindness Method and The Last Diet. Listen as we discuss:How Shahroo lost 60kg and was actually able to keep it off.Why we mistreat ourselves, and how to start being kind instead.The value of a Personal Development CV.Closing the gap between how you treat those you love and yourself.The origin of addictions and why they persist.It's okay to respect what you actually want and do it your way (forget tough love)The dangers of diet thinking.The value of rebellion and how to do it right.The Kindness MethodYouTube: @mogawdatofficial (full episodes on video here)Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comConnect with Shahroo Izadi on Instagram @shahroo_izadi and her website, shahrooizadi.co.ukDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today's episode is part of a mini-series of interviews done in the context of the topics of my new book, That Little Voice in Your Head, available now: mogawdat.com/littlevoiceThis week I talk to Lola Jaye. Lola is a registered psychotherapist author of historical novels which feature characters tackling race, mental health and, simply, life. A member of the Black Writers' Guild and the author of five previous novels,  her most recent is The Attic Child , a hauntingly powerful, emotionally charged and unique dual-narrative novel about family secrets, love and loss, identity and belonging, seen through the lens of Black British History. I have learned so much from Lola's work about the value of pain, and so much from her personal story succeeding as a black woman about the value of authenticity.Listen as we discuss:The heartbreaking backstory of The Attic Child.Modern racism and how it is strictly a product of conditioning.Why having a "bestselling" book is mostly a marketing job.Life isn't short. It's long, when you're present.Lola's writing process and the internal voice of an eight year old boy.There has to be something in everything, or there's no point to all this.My only-recent understanding of fiction writing (engineer brain problems)Fortune telling, and why you shouldn't do it.Lola's top tip for happiness: be in the moment.How did Lola succeed as a black woman? By staying authentic.YouTube: @mogawdatofficial (full episodes on video here)Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comConnect with Lola Jaye on Twitter @lolajaye, Instagram @lola.jaye, and her website, lolajaye.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today's episode is part of a mini-series of interviews done in the context of the topics of my new book, That Little Voice in Your Head, available now: mogawdat.com/littlevoiceThis week, I speak with my good friend Owen O'Kane for a second time on Slo Mo. (Check out episode 120 for our first chat if you missed it).  Owen is a psychotherapist and author of Ten Times Happier and the globally acclaimed and Sunday Times bestselling book, Ten to Zen..His latest book, How to Be Your Own Therapist, is out on June 23rd. Owen has over 25 years’ experience in physical and mental health and is a former NHS Mental Health Clinical Lead. He now runs a successful private practice in London.Listen as we discuss:The healing power and intuition of dogs.Combating the stigma and hurdles of getting therapy.Owen's new book, How to Be Your Own Therapist, and writing himself out of a job.Getting attached to the familiarity of your own issues.Learning to attribute our problems to how we approach life, not on external factors.The importance of understanding your story.Owen's shame as a young gay man was his brain feeding him inaccurate information.The pressure to be happy all the time when you're a "happiness teacher."All you need to do is be truthful.PPSD, or post-pandemic stress order.What's one thing you can do immediately to make life happier?Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatYouTube: @mogawdatofficialWebsite: mogawdat.comConnect with Owen O'Kane on Instagram @owenokaneten and his website, owenokane.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today's episode is part of a mini-series of interviews done in the context of the topics of my new book, That Little Voice in Your Head, available now: mogawdat.com/littlevoiceI speak with Nadia Gilani, a writer, yoga teacher, and in my designation, a yoga activist. Nadia has noticed not only yoga's rising popularity, but also how its modern incarnation no longer serves people of color, working class people, or many other groups who originally pioneered its creation. The Yoga Manifesto is her first book. Combining her own memories of how the practice has helped her with an account of its history and transformation in the modern west, she creates a love letter to yoga and a passionate critique of the billion-dollar industry whose cost and inaccessibility has shut out many of those it should be helping.Listen as we discuss:My personal experiences with yoga (not great).Nadia's new book The Yoga Manifesto and why it's not [only] an angry book.Nonviolence is an action.What yoga truly is and how it applies to modern life.Even the prophets wandered and asked questions about their faith.The eight limbs of yoga and what it means to be a yogi.What is samadhi (enlightenment)?The dark side of modern yoga and why I call Nadia a yoga activist.The effects of yoga on the little voice in your head.What is happiness for Nadia?Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatYouTube: @mogawdatofficialWebsite: mogawdat.comConnect with Nadia Gilani on Instagram @theyogadissident and her website, nadiagilani.co.ukDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

This week, I speak with John Butler in what may be the most genuinely Slo Mo episode to date. Recorded in Bakewell Parish Church, a place filled with prayers of the hopeful going back over a thousand years, this conversation is an honest perspective and retrospective on the purpose of our existence, and nothing less.John Butler has been practicing meditation for nearly 60 years. Now in his eighties - a self-proclaimed 'little boy with a grey beard' and humbled back into innocence, he shares his insights with the world on a YouTube channel that now has over 200,000 subscribers. He has also published 8 books, to describe his amazing life in search of spiritual perfection - details on his website. "Who am I, but just one more of those who, since time began, have walked the hills and gazed upon the stars? When we, with heart outstretched, feel close to God, it's safer to be humble than to think we know. Experience, however, is given to be shared. While others receive otherwise, each part unique, though incomplete, contributes to the whole."Listen as we discuss:Why John doesn't consider himself wise or a teacher, and thus avoids a slippery slope.How defining meditation has deterred us from its aims.Two things in the world that have no limit.Silence is a good practical approach to the infinite.How the journey inward often begins when life shakes us up.John's story from farmer to reluctant YouTube sensation.Everything in the world works under perfect law.Looking back on life as an old person.Why we feel ourselves divided.Why the word "happy" feels too small.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatYouTube: @mogawdatofficialWebsite: mogawdat.comConnect with John Butler on Instagram @spiritualunfoldment, YouTube @SpiritualUnfoldment, and his website, spiritualunfoldment.co.ukMy new book, That Little Voice in Your Head, is now available: mogawdat.com/littlevoiceDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

This week's guest is Ali Abdaal, who is surely a familiar face to anyone who has spent any time on YouTube in the last several years. Ali and his content machine is nothing short of a phenomenon with millions of subscribers. The secret to his success? He's extremely likeable.Ali started his YouTube channel in 2017 as a final-year medical student at Cambridge, making videos about productivity, effective study tips, and his university experience. Since then his audience has grown dramatically, and in 2021 he quit his career as an NHS doctor to be a full-time internet creator/entrepreneur, focused on health, wealth, love, happiness, and impact.He now runs a multi-million pound content-creation business with 20 full-time employees, hosts a weekly podcast, Deep Dive with Ali Abdaal, interviewing inspiring people, and continues to make videos on how to lead a happier, more fulfilled life. He’s also writing a book themed around meaningful and sustainable productivity, aiming to be published in 2024. Listen as we discuss:Where does Ali get his huge variety of ideas?How to figure out what to do with your life using the Gravestone Technique.If you won the lottery, would you continue doing what you're doing?The three motives of a founder.Ali's new book about productivity (still untitled)Monetizing your passion and slowly building it, even if you have a day job.How to integrate prioritize health into your life.Ali's dating life and the novel experience of maintaining a serious relationship.Effective altruism, and how to optimally approach your impact on the world.What's been most meaningful in Ali's life?Ali's definition of happiness: Contentment, and a choice.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatYouTube: @mogawdatofficialWebsite: mogawdat.comConnect with Ali Abdaal on YouTube @aliabdaal, Instagram @aliabdaal, and his website, aliabdaal.comMy new book, That Little Voice in Your Head, is now available: mogawdat.com/littlevoiceDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today's guest is ubiquitous. He is widely considered one of Europe’s most talented and accomplished young entrepreneurs and philosophical thinkers. He's also a dear friend.Steven Bartlett is the 29-year-old Founder of Social Chain. A university drop-out, he built one of the world’s most influential social media companies from his bedroom when he was just 21 years old, with a current market valuation of over $600M. His debut book, ironically titled Happy Sexy Millionaire, is a Sunday Times best seller. He recently joined BBC’s Dragon’s Den as the youngest ever Dragon in the show’s history.Steven interviewed me on his popular podcast, The Diary of a CEO,  last September. The interview went viral and reached millions. He graciously invited me back on for a second chat, which you can listen to now. Beyond the great joy I feel talking to this man, I've only realized more and more just how absolutely brilliant he is. I'm honored to turn the tables and interview him on Slo Mo from his studio. I can honestly say it's my favorite Slo Mo episode yet. Watch this episode on YouTube to get the full experience: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrgXSfcE2OUListen as we discuss:My appearance on The Diary of a CEO and the start of my friendship with Steven.Steven's childhood story that shaped his driving forces (and insecurities).The criteria for knowing when to be ruthless pursuing what you feel is right.How Steven was as happy when he was living in poverty as he is now.The excitement of documenting your suffering as if it will be made into a movie one day.How Steven can be so open with his insecurities and challenging his ego.The bizarre sense of emptiness when you get rich and start buying luxury items.The reality of giving advice from a place of privilege.What is money?The dueling narratives in all of us.Being unattached to your failures is the the key ingredient to success.Why very few of the most successful people in the world are the best at any one thing.Using social media while remaining genuine.Is there anything bigger than this life? Maybe there doesn't need to be.The casino of life, and how to play your chips according to your values and boundaries.The value of commitment is in the sacrifice.Finding a sustainable way to live and making the journey back to human.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatYouTube: @mogawdatofficialWebsite: mogawdat.comConnect with Steven Bartlett on Instagram @steven and Twitter YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

This week's episode is one of Slo Mo's first ever face-to-face interviews, filmed and recorded on my portable studio in a little Airbnb in London. Slo Mo is hitting the road, so expect a lot more of these in the coming weeks.In this episode, I speak with John Vincent, whose guiding principle in life and business is a commitment to help make things better.  John co-founded the fast-food chain, Leon, in 2004 with the mission to create "Naturally Fast Food": food that tastes good, does you good and is kind to the planet. He has lead projects such as the UK government’s School Food Plan and chairs the Council for Sustainable Business. John recently founded The Longhouse, a home to positively disruptive people, brands and companies that protect and improve life on earth. He is also the author of Winning Not Fighting: Why you need to rethink success and how you achieve it with the Ancient Art of Wing Tsun . If you think this episode is going to be about the restaurant business, you will be disappointed. This is nothing short of an exploration of how we can tap back into the universal purpose of life.Listen as we discuss:How I met John through our mutual friend, Danny Donachie (see ep. 169)Doing business for good vs. maintaining an image of good to do more business.Instead of seeing life as a journey, we should see it as an opportunity to play.Rerouting ourselves back to the present is the fundamental goal. John’s story of founding Leon.A primer on taoism and the difference between morality, goodness, and truth.The role of ritual in all spiritual disciplines, and the dangers of "pop spirituality".The truth about CEO's: they are the number one slave to the company.A call for more Natural Capital Accounting, and why bribes were once tax deductible.What’s the first step we can take to increase business for good?The importance of rhythm on human longevity and how to truly dance.What we can learning from the Time Gods.What’s John’s biggest achievement in life?How does John define happiness? Rediscovering yourself.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatYouTube: @mogawdatofficialWebsite: mogawdat.comConnect with John Vincent on Twitter @johnv_leonDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

I met Jonathan Garner at an event in Saudi Arabia on a panel discussing digital wellbeing. It became clear to me that Jonathan has dedicated a massive amount of time to figuring out how we can not only combat our often unhealthy reliance on technology but actually turn it into an opportunity for serious self-development. We discuss exactly that in this week's episode.In 2016, Jonathan was working as a digital educator and noticing that while tech is really powerful, bad digital habits often end up blocking our human potential by reducing our happiness, productivity, effectiveness and diversity. In response, he founded Mind over Tech in 2018, a company that helps develop habits and mindsets to unlock the human potential of hybrid teams. They recently published the  Digital Habit Lab—a physical toolkit of 50 experiments to help anyone take back control of their tech.Listen as we discuss:Does technology control us or do we control it?The technologies that changed history and what was gained and lost from them.Why I’m proud to have worked at early Google.How Jonathan’s company Mind Over Tech was born.Why reliance on technology is actually a starting place for self-development.Swiping and liking - the dangerous habits.A few powerful experiments from Jonathan’s Digital Habit Lab.Embrace boredom!Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatYouTube: @mogawdatofficialWebsite: mogawdat.comConnect with Jonathan Garner on Twitter @mindovertech and get the deck over at  mindovertech.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

This week, I speak with a highly requested neurologist and neuroscience, Dr. Steven Laureys.Steven Laureys is an award-winning, world-renowned neurologist, brain science popularizer, and bestselling author. He has conducted groundbreaking research into the human mind for more than 25 years using the latest brain imaging technologies and wearables assessing consciousness in coma, near-death experiences, concussion, anesthesia, hypnosis, meditation, trance, and dreamlike states.Steven has authored no less than 500+ peer-reviewed scientific papers and published several books, including The Neurology of Consciousness and the international bestseller, The No-Nonsense Meditation Book, in collaboration with Buddhist monk Matthieu Ricard. If you haven't listened already, don't miss my interview with Matthieu Ricard on Slo Mo episode #42.And remember: we're now on YouTube in full HD video! Steven discusses showing some photos and videos. Check them out in the video on YouTube @mogawdatofficialListen as we discuss:The personal crisis that led Steven, a neurologist, to study and write about meditation.His friendship with Matthieu Ricard, who became his guinea pig.Meditation is the art of appreciating what's going on between your ears.Do we need to go through a painful journey to start  paying attention to mental health?Machines have no feelings of remorse for the way they might hurt us.The Matthieu Ricard study: what does 60,000 hours of meditation to your brain? We can all learn to calm our minds through training, as effectively as drug use.Science shows we can have an impact on slowing aging through meditation.A brain-training exercise you can try. (32:00 minute mark)Neuroplasticity, perhaps the most important modern breakthrough in neuroscience.For lasting change, every action in life should be approached with full presence.Are there any dangerous meditation practices?Your mind is not a hopeless victim to genetics. You can change it!Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatYouTube: @mogawdatofficialWebsite: mogawdat.comConnect with Dr. Steven Laureys  on Instagram @drstevenlaureys, Facebook @drstevenlaureys, Twitter @drstevenlaureys, and his website, drstevenlaureys.org. Album art photo credit belongs to Dieter TelemYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Music and dance are a universal human language. I once used to dance, but that all paused semi-permanently when I became a "serious" businessman. I've been trying to get back in touch with that side of myself ever since. This week's guest is my hero in that regard.Aliénor Salmon is a Franco-British author, speaker, and expert on happiness, education and socio-emotional development. After leaving her dream job as a happiness researcher at the UN to follow her dream of learning to dance around the world, she founded Bailando Journey to document her transformational journey and published her memoir Finding Rhythm in March 2021. Through her work, she seeks to help others incorporate happiness science into their daily life and work by exploring their values, habits and beliefs, and creating a roadmap to design a life of fulfillment, meaning and purpose.Listen as we discuss:How Aliénor's study of happiness at the UN led her to chase her own. What would you do if time and money were no issue?Her journey from New York down to Argentina to learn 18 dances in 10 months.Why dance is one of the greatest tools for happiness.How I lost a lot of the "play" in my life after joining the corporate world.Does she miss her job at the UN?Her book, Finding Rhythm, and the merging of history and biography.How pain and suffering spawned many dances that are now celebratory.Anyone can dance, believe it or not.Redefine your definition of happiness and success and embody it.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatYouTube: @mogawdatofficialWebsite: mogawdat.comConnect with Aliénor Salmon on Instagram @bailandojourney and her website, bailandojourney.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

This week's guest is one of the top technologists working in the field of Artificial Intelligence, Christopher Nguyen. With a career spanning four decades, Christopher’s tech bona fides are second to none.Since fleeing Vietnam in 1978, this multiple-time tech founder has played key roles in everything from building the first flash memory transistors at Intel to spearheading the development of Google Apps as its first Engineering Director. Today, he’s become an outspoken proponent of the emerging field of “AI Engineering” and a thought leader in the space of ethical, human-centric AI. With his latest company, Aitomatic, he’s hoping to redefine how companies approach AI in the context of life-critical, industrial applications.You may already know that my new book, That Little Voice in Your Head, is due to release on May 26th. It is my deepest dive yet into understanding and changing your brain (with a technology metaphor driving the whole thing, to boot). I'm certainly proud of it, but I know that new media coverage will soon transition from talking about the crucially important message of my last book, Scary Smart.  For that reason, I had to have Chris on the show to give this discussion a whole new level of color and depth that none of us can afford to ignore.Listen as we discuss:How the interconnected of machines made the internet and is making the future.Christopher's history as a refugee fleeting Vietnam to how he became a top techie.How can a developer write a code that creates an independently intelligent entity?The NYTimes coverage of the "Cat Paper" that broke AI discussion into the mainstream.So much of life and the world is predictable and, therefore, algorithmically replicable.Are creativity, consciousness, emotions, and art in the cards for intelligent machines?Being thoughtful of how machines are deployed is an existential priority.A profound thought: Intention must come second to possible impact.Do guns or the people using them kill people? The answer is both.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatYouTube: @mogawdatofficialWebsite: mogawdat.comConnect with Christopher Nguyen on Twitter @aitomatic and his website, aitomatic.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

In this episode, I talk with Terry Rubenstein, founder of iheart Principles, a global non-profit organization established to help children uncover their innate wellbeing and resilience. True change begins with the education of future generations, and in that, Terry is doing the noblest of work. Since its formation a few years ago, iheart programs have reached and profoundly impacted over 25,000 young people in 22 countries, as well as countless parents, teachers and leaders. Terry is the co-author of the innovative iheart curriculum, which conveys the core principle of innate wellness that is creating a paradigm-shift in how schools understand and address mental health.She is also the author of the ground-breaking book, Exquisite Mind: How a New Paradigm Transformed My Life...and Is Sweeping the World, which tells the personal story of her journey from years of suffering to mental wellness.Listen as we discuss:Terry's upbringing, depression, coping mechanisms,  suicide attempt, and renaissance.Indeed, the need to be secure drives all of our insecurities.The medicalization of human issues and the irrational place of depression.The innateness of well-being and hanging onto the hope of its presence.What motivated Terry to found iheart, her non-profit.The conditional nature of the education system is damaging our children.When you forfeit the importance of the premise, you drop all emotions attached to it.Main attachments: health, recognition, finances, success, justice, romantic love.How does religion relate to well-being?Why did Terry's life change so rapidly after her suicide attempt?Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatYouTube: @mogawdatofficialWebsite: mogawdat.comConnect with Terry Rubenstein on Instagram @iheart_principles, Twitter @iheart_charity and their website, iheartprinciples.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

In this week's super practical and deeply important episode, I speak with Britt Frank, author of the new book, The Science of Stuck, and one of my new favorite people.Britt is a clinician, educator and trauma specialist who speaks and writes widely about the mental health myths that keep us stuck and stressed. An award-winning adjunct professor at the University of Kansas, she is also a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner and Level 3 trained in the Internal Family Systems therapeutic model. She also worked as a primary therapist at a drug and alcohol treatment center, an inpatient therapist at a children’s psychiatric hospital, and now owns a private practice.Through her own difficult past and her wide qualifications, Britt's new book reveals a brilliantly articulated and research-based tool kit for moving past what's holding you back in life, in love, and in work. Her approach has quickly become one of my favorite ways of discussing the topic. This conversation is very much worth the short time commitment.Listen as we discuss:Even if you're fine, it's still worth doing the work.Britt's tumultuous past and what led her to her work.Trauma is like brain indigestion, and we all experience it differently.Does it really matter why we're feeling the trauma, or should we just fix it?Dogmatic models of therapy, and why therapists often don't offer direct solutions.What is Somatic Experiencing?Why do we get stuck? A lack of information and ignoring painful truths.The good side of getting stuck.Steps: 1. Get honest, 2. Consider your options, and 3. Do what you're willing to do.Why do some people not want to move forward?Saying "this is just who I am" as an excuse is not scientifically accurate.Being honest with yourself will force you to change eventually.Her new book, The Science of Stuck, a dream come true and a gift to the world.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatYouTube: @mogawdatofficialWebsite: mogawdat.comConnect with Britt Frank on Instagram @brittfrank and her website, scienceofstuck.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today's guest is Dr. Rangan Chatterjee, whom I met last month in Dubai after an introduction from our mutual friend, Dr. Rupy Aujla (see ep. 74). We quickly bonded over a conversation, and I now consider him a friend.Rangan is regarded as one of the most influential medical doctors in the UK and is doing amazing work to change how medicine will be practiced in the years to come. He hosts the most listened-to health podcast in the UK and Europe, Feel Better, Live More, which regularly tops the Apple Podcast charts. I'll be going on the show in the coming months myself, so keep an eye out for that.He is also the number one selling health author in the UK. Each of his first 4 books have been Sunday Times Bestsellers in the UK and international bestsellers across the globe. His 5th book Happy Mind, Happy Life is published on March 31st, 2022.Listen as we discuss:How Rangan and I met.His story from medicine to massive media success, driven by a desire for impact.Redefining what it means to be a doctor in 2022.How Rangan's dad's illness defined his life for so long.A profound exercise to know the difference between your success and happiness.Relationships, relationships, relationships.Modern medicine's futile approach to lifestyle-induced disease.His new book, Happy Mind, Happy Life.How I lost my own dad to unhappiness.Rangan's three-legged model of happiness.We should idolize every aspect of our idol's life, not just the glamorous parts.The sociometer and the importance of "vitamin S"Rangan's conversation with Dr. Edith Eger (see mine in ep. 50)How all of us feel like we're being ourselves when we're being kind.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatYouTube: @mogawdatofficialWebsite: mogawdat.comConnect with Dr. Rangan Chatterjee on Twitter @drchatterjeeuk, Instagram @drchatterjee, Facebook @DrChatterjee, and his website, drchatterjee.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

This week's guest is the world-famous composer and pianist, Ludovico Einaudi.With 15 studio albums and over 80 films and TV shows to his name, he is one of the most prolific composers alive today. Ludovico repeatedly tops the classical charts globally. Incredibly, one in 10 classical streams in the UK come from his music, equating to over 1 million streams a day and 2.4 billion streams in total. He is the highest-streamed classical artist of all time.Ludovico’s latest album flowed naturally out of him during the pandemic and is appropriately titled Underwater, as it was a creative deep dive to another place, "where he could swim freely without thoughts, without travel, and the usual rush of touring." As you can imagine, it is a wonderful soundtrack for the Slo Mo life.A biography of a musician can only tell you so much about them, so I’d recommend streaming his music, even during this episode, to get a feel for the heart and soul of one of the great musical icons of our time as he invites us into his mind.Listen as we discuss:Why does music make us feel so deeply?Ludovico's upbringing with music and a beautiful explanation of his inspiration.His stint with rock n'roll as a young boy. (Even Ludovico was inspired by The Beatles.)Writing his new album, Underwater, during the pandemic, a result of new appreciation.His incredible performance on an iceberg to bring attention to climate change.The most beautiful thing we can do is enjoy nature. Everything else is distraction.Grating carrots by hand instead of using a machine, a true Slo Mo habit.Music is not just sound, but a holistic expression of your life.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatYouTube: @mogawdatofficialWebsite: mogawdat.comConnect with Ludovico Einaudi on Twitter @ludovicoeinaud, Instagram @ludovico_einaudi, Facebook @ludovicoeinaudi, and his website, ludovicoeinaudi.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Chances are, you know someone who has dyslexia, and they likely speak about it as a drawback. In the trail of the work of today's guest, the script is being rewritten on this long misunderstood way of thinking to showcase what it dyslexia really is: a form of brilliance.One in five people are dyslexic. Since 2005, Kate Griggs, who is dyslexic herself, has been leading the charge to disrupt the world’s thinking about dyslexia. She was shocked by the way her son’s dyslexia was ignored at school, and her high-profile campaign for change culminated in the UK government’s Dyslexia Review. In 2017, she founded the global charity Made By Dyslexia to help the world understand, value and support dyslexia. Her first children’s book Xtraordinary People was published in 2020 and her latest book for adults, This is Dyslexia, is out now. With the support of celebs like Richard Branson, Keira Knightley & HRH Princess Beatrice, her work has been nothing short of revelatory and a source of hope for so many.Listen as we discuss:I forgot to record the first 25 minutes of this conversation, so we did it again.How Kate's experience at school went from horrible to brilliant thanks to an interview.Modern technology is replacing the need to do many things that dyslexics struggle with.The many strengths of dyslexics and why they are actively recruited as spies.How the modern education system hasn't evolved past the Industrial Revolution.Research shows the skills needed for the future are a direct match with dyslexic skills.The formula for success is to do what you're good at and delegate what you're not.I, Mo, might be dyslexic (and already feel proud!)How Kate's son Ted (and a heartbreaking moment) motivated her amazing crusade.What is the future for dyslexic children?The best advice: Find your child's strengths and support them.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatYouTube: @mogawdatofficialWebsite: mogawdat.comConnect with Kate Griggs on Twitter @kate_griggs, Instagram @dyslexicthinking, and her website, madebydyslexia.orgDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today's guest is one of my dearest friends, Dorota Stanczyk. Dorota was an early guest on Slo Mo, one of the first major displays of vulnerability that helped set the tone for the show as you know it today. With her new book now published, it gives me great pleasure to have her on again, this time in an episode packed with so much wisdom if may require repeat listening.Dorota is a Polish transformational artist, creative director, conscious creativity trainer, speaker and author of the book (Re)-Create Yourself.  She designs digital products and experiences in the wellness industry, that merge fine arts, interactive technology and personal growth. Dorota delivers talks and training on Conscious Creativity and Self-Love, and consults on creating strong brand awareness and visual identity for brands and artists around the world. She is also the co-founder, along with myself, of Appii App and the founder of Moonkava and INNERART.Listen as we discuss:The struggle of trying to keep a semblance of formality when interviewing a close friend.Dorota's new book and how it came to be after a prior attempt that got trashed.The moment a publisher emailed her out of the blue after she was already finished.What does it mean to (re-)create yourself?The masks we wear over the parts of us we've rejected.Why do we get triggered?How do you get to a point where you can share your feelings openly?The pain of being rejected for who you are not is much worse.Why being yourself is the best way to filter people in and out of your life.How do we love ourselves in a relationship that's going wrong?A sense of security can only come from within.Giving the gift of receiving.A rapid-fire Q&A on self-love, self-talk, and self-validation.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatYouTube: @mogawdatofficialWebsite: mogawdat.comConnect with Dorota Stanczyk on Facebook @dorota.art, Instagram @dorotastanczykart and her website dorotastanczyk.com. Buy (Re)-Create Yourself, available now:Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3Bzgab6 International: https://bit.ly/ReCreateYourselfTheBookDepositary Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion HappYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

I met this week's guest only a week ago because he interviewed me for for his brilliant series, Thought Economics.  I just knew we'd be friends. Anyone who can nerd out over tech and business while simultaneously discussing mental health and happiness is an easy candidate for my friendship. I knew I had to have him on Slo Mo, and I'm so glad he came. Cue his unbelievable list of accolades:Vikas Shah MBE is an entrepreneur, investor & philanthropist. He is the CEO of Swiscot Group alongside being a venture-investor in a number of businesses internationally. He is also a Non-Executive Board Member of the UK Government’s Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy and a Non-Executive Director of the Solicitors Regulation Authority.Vikas was awarded an MBE for Services to Business and the Economy in Her Majesty the Queen’s 2018 New Year’s Honours List. He is an Honorary Professor of Business at The Alliance Business School, University of Manchester and Visiting Professors at the MIT Sloan Lisbon MBA.  He is also the chair of In Place of War, a global NGO that uses arts & entrepreneurship to foster change in over 32 places impacted by conflict and is deeply involved in poverty alleviation in the UK.Listen as we discuss:How I form friendships with guests in real time on Slo Mo.His childhood dream of being a pilot, and how he ended up with so many accolades.My experience trying to fly a plane, and why I'll never do it again.Why looking at successful people can be very deceiving.Why Vikas, as an investor, worries about entrepreneurs that haven't had a failure.The more we try to avoid pain, the more we're facing in the wrong direction.Depression and anxiety are a poorly tuned mammalian reflex to danger.The grief, death, and tragedy of life is beauty in every sense of the word.Deep-domain expertise is overrated, and we should read far less business books.Memorable moments from Thought Economics, Vikas' interview series.My Year of Joy, 2022.Anchoring your life around big, rare events is to be numb.It is a gamble to assume we have a "later."Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comConnect with Vikas on Twitter @mrvikas, Instagram @thisismrshah, and his website, vikas.workMy latest book Scary Smart is now available and has been voted one of the top 12 business books of 2021 by The Times and Sunday TiYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

I met this week's guest for the first time in this recording. He reached out and told me his story via Instagram. It touched my heart so deeply, as did his commitment to the world as a result, that I had to ask him on Slo Mo. This is a profoundly powerful discussion that we all need to hear in an era where victims of sexual - and all forms - of abuse are finally coming out of the shadows and fighting to make the world a safer place.Dimitris Mothonaios is a Greek theatre, TV and screen actor. His television debut came at age 23 on the Greek TV series "Last Performance". He went on to star in the popular Ant1 series "Karma" and later took part in the comedy series of Alpha TV "Mi me skas". In 2019, he starred in the leading role of Antonis Kostoulas in the legendary Greek drama series Life in the Tomb, based on the bestselling novel of a portrait of a greek soldier in the barracks in WW1. Nominated twice for Best Leading Actor, his repertoire includes Shakespeare, Euripides and Ibsen. His latest movie is a Chinese production "A Day in the Life Of A Teddy Bear", releasing February 24 in Greece and this June at the official selection of the Shanghai Film Festival.As you'd expect, this week's episode discusses sexual abuse. The goal of the interview is to inform and discuss how we can put an end to this heinously ugly side of humanity, once and for all.Listen as we discuss:What it's like to be a well known actor in a relatively small country.The experience of Dimitris, a total sweetheart, playing a villain.Dimitris' professional journey, and why it was easy compared to what he's been through.A traumatic childhood, an alcohol fueled accident, sexual abuse, and delusion.Dimitris' 7 year struggle to get anyone to acknowledge his abuses.The moment he told his story to Greece, a first, and received 40,000 messages.How do we cure the injustices that sexual abuse victims face?Why Dimitris' core is still completely intact, despite his traumas.How can you recognize something bad happened in your life if your brain blocks it?Dimitris' efforts to create an anonymous phone line in Greece for abuse victims.Would Dimitris change anything about his past? As we almost always hear, no.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comConnect with Dimitris on Instagram @motho_naios and the non-profit working against abuse, ELIZA.My latest book Scary Smart is now available and has been voted one of the top 12 business books of 2021 by The Times anYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today's guest is Jacqueline Hurst. She is the UK’s leading Life Coach, GQ Magazine’s resident coach and columnist, a teacher and a speaker.She has worked with over 8,000 clients worldwide over nearly two decades. She's also a Certified Life Coach, Master NLP Practitioner and a Certified Health and Weight Coach.Jacqueline's recent book, How to Do You,  became a no.1 Amazon bestseller. The book is best described as a “manual for life," and the title immediately caught my attention because of how mind boggling (yet true) it is that we have trouble being "ourselves". It's clear that life has a learning curve, and in fact, most of us don't even know how to think properly.Let's ask ourselves: does it feel good when people like the person you're pretending to be? Why do we need to keep being reminded to be ourselves? What determines our worth?Listen as we discuss:What is it like being a coach?We are not taught the difference between a thought and a feeling.Jacqueline's struggle getting to where she is today.How to help those who are struggling (and when to quit).Her new book, How to Do You, and how it came to be.How it can be effortless to strive toward peace, the ultimate goal.Why affirmations don't work for everyone.Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP)Not feeling good enough is almost always the core problem.Why comparing yourself to others is fundamentally flawed.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comConnect with Jacqueline Hurst on Instagram @Jacqueline_hurst_ and her website, jacquelinehurst.comMy latest book Scary Smart is now available and has been voted one of the top 12 business books of 2021 by The Times and Sunday Times. Thanks for all of your support!And don’t forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

I've been waiting for this conversation. We've all dealt with toxic relationships, one way or another. Few things can be as draining and eventually traumatizing. At the same time, finding yourself controlled by someone whose sole intentions are to destroy you delivers the ultimate wake up call: you're not loving yourself right, and it's time to do the work to make sure this never happens again. Consider this the ultimate guide for spotting and leaving your toxic relationship.Maddy Anholt is a comedian, actor, Women's Aid Ambassador, and the author of the new book, How to Leave Your Psychopath. She has appeared in sitcoms for BBC Three, BBC One, ITV and Channel 4. She’s had four sell-out solo comedies at Underbelly, Gilded Balloon, Latitude Festival Main Stage and the Soho Theatre. Her show, Herselves was nominated 'Best New Show' at the Leicester Comedy Festival. She performed at Underbelly, Edinburgh where she was shortlisted for The Voice's 'Pick of the Fringe'. Maddy also wrote and starred in her own comedy for BBC Radio 4 and has amassed over seven million views online for her sketches.Listen as we discuss:How Maddy became an author (with the same publisher as me!)Why do some people keep attracting psychopaths?What is a psychopath and how do they behave?My biggest psychopath story.Maddy's Christmas horror story.The tendency to stick out a toxic relationship because of the sunk-cost fallacy.Listening to the Lady Gut Instinct.The tactic of love bombing and how you rationalize yourself back into the toxicity.How do you know a relationship is worth trying to fix  despite the red flags?What happens after you leave? How do you avoid it happening again?Easy relationships exist. Don't fall for the lie that the misery is a part of the experience.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comConnect with Maddy Anholt on Instagram @maddyanholt, Twitter @maddy_anholt, and his website, maddyanholt.comMy latest book Scary Smart is now available and has been voted one of the top 12 business books of 2021 by The Times and Sunday Times. Thanks for all of your support!And don’t forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday. OnlYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today's guest is Jimmy McLoughlin OBE, speaking about one of my favorite topics: the future of jobs.Jimmy is the former Special Adviser to the UK Prime Minister on business, specifically technology & entrepreneurship. During a period of momentous political change Jimmy helped shape the British government’s relationship with domestic and international businesses, and witnessed firsthand the dynamic between industry leaders, entrepreneurs and policy-makers.Jimmy is passionate about helping people understand the exciting jobs that are being created every day by entrepreneurs and showcasing what the future of our economy looks like. Now a full-time stay at home dad since the pandemic, Jimmy hosts the podcast Jimmy's Jobs of the Future, which invites guests to explore the future of the economy through the prism of jobs. Listen as we discuss:How Jimmy went from the Prime Minister's office to becoming a stay at home dad.The underrepresented paternal instinct.How can you be a stay at home dad and still be dad, not mom?The jobs of the future and what's fueling unemployment beyond economic issues.The new niches of the modern economy that can make you a living.The growing role of creatives and influencers.What would I decide  about my career if I were 22 in 2022?Should you do what you love or what you're good at? (Or is that the same thing?)Will AI replace most jobs?It's an exciting but overwhelming time to be young going into the job market.The best advice for finding your passion: wonder and wander.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comConnect with Jimmy McLoughlin OBE on Instagram @jimmysjobs, Twitter @jimmym, and his website, jobsofthefuture.coMy latest book Scary Smart is now available and has been voted one of the top 12 business books of 2021 by The Times and Sunday Times. Thanks for all of your support!And don’t forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today's guest is Yanis Varoufakis, the world renowned economist, member of the Hellenic parliament, and former Greek finance minister who’s been called the “rockstar politician who took on the EU.” This was an absolutely mind blowing conversation, and I recommend approaching it like the most enlightening and enjoyable economics class you'll ever have.You may have noticed a bit more politics on the show recently (see Mark Gober,  episode 172). This isn't a coincidence. The world is waking up to the skewed state of things; namely, the fundamental unfairness that an enlightened, or even basically civilized society should be striving to overcome, not promote. I stay away from politics as much as I can, but it's our collective duty to remedy that which keeps humanity in a state of fear and anger. In his new book, Another Now, Yanis asks us to imagine a world with no banks, no stock market, no tech giants, and no billionaires. What would a fair and equal society actually look like?Tune in for a brutally honest history lesson and a far more optimistic discussion on how we can make the future better.Listen as we discuss:My experience watching Yanis during the economic crisis like a fanboy.Why Yanis refused to sign on the dotted line. (He didn't care about a political career).A primer on the role of debt in capitalism, and why banks want to keep you there.Feudalism vs. capitalism.A captivating history from Yanis on the cause of economic collapse.2008 was the moment capitalism died.Money was always an illusion, but it used be a useful one.What was the impact of COVID on the toxic management of the global economy?Who owns the Federal Reserve?The future is not what it used to be, and younger generations are going to have it harder.The moral duty to avoid predictions.The amazing advice on what's really valuable given to Yanis by his father.There are no safe havens.Another Now, and a hopeful blueprint for a better system.The beauty of writing a novel is that you can disagree with yourself.Why banks have no place in a utopian financial system.The actual value of blockchain (far beyond bitcoin).Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comConnect with Yanis Varoufakis on Twitter @yanisvaroufakis and his website, yanisvaroufakis.euMy latest book Scary Smart is now available and has been voted YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

If you've interacted with society in the last few few years, you'll probably agree that the world has become a meaner place. Is it still worth it to be kind and fair, or should we all succumb to fighting this invisible war?Today's guest is the NY Times bestselling author David Bodanis, who explores this question in his new leadership book titled The Art of Fairness: The Power of Decency in a World Turned Mean.The Financial Times writes that  David's book "is a primer for anyone fed up of the prevailing meanness of society and looking for inspiration on how to be better," and that's exactly what we aimed to discuss to today.I spent 25 years in the corporate world dealing with backstabbers, politicians, executives, and the like. It is a tough life, and I believe work politics are the main reason people come from their jobs miserable. It's time to turn the tides on the toxic idea that bullying your way to the top should be considered success.David Bodanis was born in Chicago, lived in France for a decade, and now makes his home in London. He studied math, physics, and history at the University of Chicago and for many years taught the “Intellectual Toolkit” course at Oxford. His books include the New York  Times bestseller, The Secret House, the bestselling E=mc², which was adapted into the PBS documentary Einstein’s Big Idea, and the Royal Society Science Book of the Year Prize winner Electric Universe.Listen as we discuss:My time at Google and trying to succeed without making any enemies.Why honest conversations and answers are absolutely crucial.The malicious and the fake in corporate culture, and how to navigate it.How David stumbled into writing about Einstein, electricity, fairness, and other topics.Coming-of-age in a time far less defined by fear.The Golden Rule, as always, is number one.Sub-optimal peaks, and why billionaire's seem to ignore the suffering of the world.The Art of Fairness, and why the bully loses in the end.Everyone is a leader in their own domain, and empowering others is a win-win.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comConnect with David Bodanis on Twitter @davidbodanis and his website, davidbodanis.comYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today's conversation with Marta Krupinska ended up being a total treat. We hoped to discuss honest approaches to entrepreneurship, but also ended up covering an incredible range of topics that I believe will inspire a lot of change for the year to come.Marta Krupinska is a London-based tech entrepreneur, and Head of Google for Startups in the UK where she focuses on acceleration of the most exciting startups that are using tech for social good and are founded by diverse entrepreneurs. Marta is the co-founder of three tech startups, most notably of a global FinTech money transfer company Azimo which raised $70M+ in funding from top VC firms and serves over 1.5 million customers. Marta received multiple awards including Forbes 30 Under 30 in Finance in 2016.Brought to you by Google for Startups, Marta is most recently the host of Scale Ups and Downs, a podcast that will be exploring the scaling challenges of UK startups with founders and guests every fortnight. Check out the extended trailer wherever you listen to your podcasts.If you’d like to get involved with the Scale Ups and Downs community and submit your own business challenge, head to scaleupsanddowns.com for a chance to be featured on the show. Be assured that if you're on the startup or business journey, the voices and minds you'll have access to while listening to their podcast will be some of the brightest in the world and absolutely invaluable.Meanwhile, listen as we discuss:The power of naivety in entrepreneurship.Marta's story to immense success as a teenaged founder.The relative ease of making a business these days.Why the words we use shape our perceptions of ourselves and our world.Do what lights up your heart.Why it’s important to chill and be authentic when talking to mentors or investors.The difficulties faced by women and people of color in business.Is it worth the stress of being an entrepreneur?The excitement of learning must supersede any fear of ignorance or failure.Work with people you love, trust, and look up to.Marta’s biggest success is that she managed not to become an *expletive*The new Scale Ups and Scale Downs podcast,  an invaluable resource for founders.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comConnect with Marta Krupinska on Twitter @mmentrepreneur and listen to Scale Ups and Downs at scaleupsanddowns.com My new book Scary Smart is now available and has been voted YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Happy New Year! To kick off 2022, hopefully a year of respite, I talk to filmmaker and musician Ben Joseph Stewart about awakening and staying human in a world submerged in distrust and gladly letting the internet take over all aspects of our lives. (Facebook is now Meta, after all).Ben traveled the world in an Army family and began performing music at the age of sixteen. Before his touring rock group Hierosonic disbanded, Ben had already launched his third full length documentary with global viral attention. Most recently, he launched a 14 part series called Psychedelica and soon after hosted his own talk show Limitless on Gaia.com. After a 2020 release of The Magic Plant regarding cannabis and health, Ben immediately released DMT Quest on the brain's ability to produce hallucinogens. In late 2021, Ben premiered his documentary on Aubrey Marcus' week long darkness immersion called Awake in the Darkness.Listen as we discuss:Ben's career making mind-expanding documentaries.How Ben chooses his subject matter and avoids left or right.Why trust is unraveling on a collecting scale.Seeking truth and falling into comfort.The meaning of awakening, and a great question: are you open to learning from a fool?The internet will soon meet us at all of our senses.What is the myth that drives us, and where are we going?Kill all of your Gods, and stick to the survivor.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comConnect with Ben Stewart on Instagram @benjosephstewart and Twitter @benjosephstew and his website, benjosephstewart.comMy new book Scary Smart is now available and has been voted one of the top 12 business books of 2021 by The Times and Sunday Times. Thanks for all of your support!And don’t forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today's guest is Pamela Paul, the editor of The New York Times Book Review who oversees all books coverage at The New York Times, perhaps one of the best jobs in the world for bibliophiles. She is also the host of the weekly Book Review podcast for The Times.Pamela was introduced to me by my dear friend and former Slo Mo guest, Emma Gannon. Check out her episode if you missed it because it was fantastic. (#112)Pamela is the author and editor of seven books: Rectangle Time, How to Raise a Reader (co-author), My Life with Bob: Flawed Heroine Keeps Book of Books, Plot Ensues, The Starter Marriage and the Future of Matrimony, Pornified, Parenting, Inc., and By the Book: Writers on Literature and the Literary Life.Her latest book is 100 Things We’ve Lost to the Internet,  which had me at hello. I can't imagine a perfect topic to discuss as we all either stare at our extended family glued to their phones over the holidays - yearning for the old days - or do exactly that ourselves.Listen as we discuss:Having the best job on the planet.The power of the NYTimes and its effect on authors' careers.How she managed to write 8 books with a day job and children.100 things we've lost to the internetThe loss of "being the only one" and the beauty of not knowing.The top 5 things we've lost, in Pamela's opinion.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comConnect with Pamela Paul on Twitter @pamelapaulnyt and her website, pamelapaul.comMy new book Scary Smart is now available and has been voted YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Back in July 2020, I hosted an incredible thinker who took us on a journey through understanding consciousness. If you haven't listened to my conversation with Mark Gober (episode 26), it's one of my all-time favorites and you really should.Mark Gober is an international speaker and the author of An End to Upside Down Thinking, which was awarded the IPPY best science book of 2019. He is also the author of An End to Upside Down Living, and his latest book, An End to Upside Down Liberty.Today we're going to be talking about an unexpected topic: politics . Mark, in his latest work, argues that government is in fact inherently oppressive and not conducive to our growth and needs as spiritual beings. As always, stay open-minded, and you may just change the way you look at the fundamental structures of our civilization.Listen as we discuss:How and why Mark started writing a book on politics.The paradigms that we assume as fundamental that are just plain wrong.Why government is inherently oppressive.What is government now and what should it be?Taxation as a form of coercion and the government's exemption from morality.The ideal of voluntaryism and why a fully free market may be enough to keep order.A recap of Mark's thoughts on consciousness and near-death experiences.The Golden Rule as the natural law of reality. Why gurus often fall and get corrupted.How can we actually transition to a more ideal government?The Butterfly Effect and how the state of our consciousness shifts our external reality.Protect your human right to be free and don't get fooled!Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comConnect with Mark Gober on Facebook @markgoberauthor, Twitter @markgoberauthor, Instagram @markgober_author, and his website, markgober.comMy new book Scary Smart is now available and has been voted one of the top 12 business books of 2021 by The Times and Sunday Times. Thanks for all of your support!And don’t forgetYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

In this special episode, we put Slo Mo theory into practice with a live, guided meditation by the amazing Christopher Fitton to relax and rejuvenate you. Consider it our little gift to help you brave the holiday madness.Christopher Fitton is a clinical hypnotherapist and advocate for the therapeutic power of hypnotherapy. When world-wide lockdowns occurred, Christopher felt a strong calling to help the millions of people who could not sleep. He released his podcast, Sleep Cove, which now has over 25 million downloads. The podcast’s premise is simple: help listeners get a great night's sleep thanks to relaxing sleep hypnosis, guided sleep meditations and bedtime stories. This episode is as cozy as it sounds. We begin with a short conversation on the importance of sleep and Chris' top tips for improving your sleep hygiene and routine, and end cap it off with a hypnotic meditation that almost instantly relieved me of my jet lag (I recorded this in Miami after a 12 hour flight).Warning: Do not listen while driving or engaging in any other activity requiring focus. The meditation begins at minute 29:00, so feel free to stop the podcast and come back to it when you're in a comfortable place.Listen as we discuss:How and why Chris started Sleep Cove.Alarmingly, 25% of people suffer from sleep deprivation since the pandemic started.We need to see sleep as a routine and obligation that cannot be ignored.The difference between hypnosis and hypnotherapy, and why neither is pseudoscience.Chris' top tips for good sleep hygiene and a solid sleep routine.A live, guided hypnosis meditation that will melt your stress away.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comConnect with Christopher Fitton on Instagram @sleep_cove and his website, sleepcove.comMy new book Scary Smart is now available and has been voted one of the top 12 business books of 2021 by The Times and Sunday Times. Thanks for all of your support!And don’t forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today’s guest is one of my most anticipated ever, Dr. Stephen C. Meyer, who is openly contesting much of what is assumed about evolution and natural selection. Stephen received his Ph.D. in the philosophy of science from the University of Cambridge. A former geophysicist and college professor, he now directs Discovery Institute’s Center for Science and Culture in Seattle.He has authored the New York Times best seller Darwin’s Doubt: The Explosive Origin of Animal Life and the Case for Intelligent Design and Signature in the Cell: DNA and the Evidence for Intelligent Design, which was named a Book of the Year by the Times of London Literary Supplement in 2009. Stephen’s books and research address the deepest mystery surrounding the origin of human and animal life, particularly the origin of biological information necessary to produce it.In his latest book, The Return of the God Hypothesis, Stephen presents groundbreaking scientific evidence of the existence of God, based on breakthroughs in physics, cosmology, and biology.It’s no secret that I too used a bit of math, physics and cosmology to try and show that our universe and everything in it is not the result of randomness but rather the product of intricate design. (Chapter 14 of Solve for Happy)Give us a chance today to take you through the possibility of the existence of a divine designer. This surely is a topic that, regardless of how busy you are today, is worth taking a little bit of time to slow down.Listen as we discuss:Political correctness in science.What led Stephen to dive into his work?The highly unlikely probability for evolution to generate new species in such time.The bike lock analogy.DNA is literally like software code, and therefore someone must have programmed it.Information is the hallmark of intelligent activity and inference to the best explanation.Darwin’s Doubt and the Cambrian Explosion.What did Darwin get right?The return of the God hypothesis: who is the designer?Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comConnect with Stephen Meyer on Facebook @drstephencmeyer, Twitter @stephencmeyer, Instagram @discoverycsc, and his website, stephencmeyer.org.My new book YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today's guest is Danny Donachie, in what is surely one of our most original and eye-opening conversations yet on this podcast.Danny is a special talent who works holistically and understands the psychosomatic origins of pain and suffering deeply. His credentials are strong. He is a former professional footballer and, until this month, was the Head of Medical Services for Everton FC. He has worked with World Cup winners, Grand slam winners, Olympic Gold medalists and a World champion boxer.Following completion of a master's degree in leadership at the Tavistock, he now works with executives to find inner peace and develop intentional culture. A number of "spiritual experiences" have resulted from a daily meditation practice of over 30 years and he has been fortunate to have worked directly with many spiritual masters including K Pattabhi Jois, Russel Williams, Yogi Manmoyananda, Guy Sengstock and Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev.Danny heard my interview with Steven Bartlett on Diary of a CEO while strolling through Madrid, and he decided to reach out. He is so kind with his words of praise in this episode, but let me tell you - he has quickly become someone I look up to and his essence and wisdom will totally blow you away. If you're plagued with pain, doubt, or anxieties, you can't miss this.Listen as we discuss:How Danny convinces macho football and rugby players to meditate and do yoga.Danny's journey from professional footballer to revered healer in sports and beyond.Why can't we find peace even though our lives are absolutely okay?The greatest advice you'll get for escaping chronic pain: feel it fully.Clinical tales of patients with mysterious pain that healed through emotional expression.The studies showing that a large portion of pain medicine and surgery is placebo.One of life's fundamental pillars: knowing your purpose.Compassion for the homeless, and how my son and his son seemed to have it innately.Moments of awakening through Danny's various meditation practices. (He's tried it all.)"Seeing over the wall," as Sadhguru taught him.The mysterious power of mantra.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comConnect with Danny Donachie on Twitter @dan.donachie, Instagram @daniel.donachie, and his website, embodyism.comMy new book Scary Smart is now available and has been voted one of the top 12 business booksYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today's guest is at the top of his fields. Yes, fields, with a plural. He quickly became a very good friend after I appeared on his podcast, Consciousness is All There Is, and we spoke about the spiritual and consciousness sides of AI. It was such an incredible conversation that I just had to have him on Slo Mo for all of you. I'm so glad I did, and I think you will be too.Dr. Tony Nader, MD, PhD is a medical doctor trained at Harvard University, a PhD in neuroscience from MIT, and a globally recognized expert in the science of consciousness and human development. He's the successor to Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and the head of the Transcendental Meditation organization globally.He is a highly accomplished medical researcher and was appointed assistant director of clinical research at MIT and a clinical research fellow at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School.In his new book, One unbounded ocean of consciousness, Dr. Nader comprehensively examines what scientists call the “hard” problem: “What is consciousness?” He unpacks this abstract question for both a general audience and experts in the field by investigating consciousness in terms of human physiology, quantum mechanics, and the more ancient Vedic science. Listen as we discuss:How Dr. Nader and I met on his podcast.Dr. Nader's upbringing in war torn Lebanon that brought him to ask deep questions.His apprenticeship with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi that led to his succession.What is Transcendental Meditation (TM) and how do you do it?The purpose of the mantra and why trying is prohibited.Exploring the hard problem of consciousness.Consciousness comes in ranges but is the fundamental building block of everything.Tony's one piece of advice to tap into the highest state of the human.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comConnect with Dr. Tony Nader on Facebook @drtonynader, Twitter @drtonynader, Instagram @drtonynader, and his website, drtonynader.comMy new book Scary Smart is now available. Grab a copy here!Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today's guest is Josh Trent, an amazing person and friend who has a deep understanding of how to heal and thrive on the mental, emotional, and physical level. This episode is absolutely packed with gems.Josh is the Founder of Wellness Force Media, the host of the Wellness Force Podcast (which I recently appeared on in an amazing conversation) and the creator of the BREATHE: Breath & Wellness Program. He has spent the past 19 years as a trainer, researcher, and facilitator discovering the physical and emotional intelligence for humans to thrive in our modern world.The Wellness Force Mission is to help humans heal mental, emotional and physical health through podcasts, programs, and a global community that believes in optimizing our potential to live life well.Josh has dedicated his life to supporting humanity coming together as one, and this shines through in his words and wisdom in this conversation.Listen as we discuss:Why Josh meditates on death every morning.His story and struggles through mental illness and obesity.The gut check moment that finally led him to Google "how to be healthy."Do we have a responsibility to ourselves to pursue the life we want at all costs?What is our soul and how do we connect to it?The healing modalities in Shamanism and our core need to honor the mysteries of life.Different arcs of intelligence and the process of gathering and applying them.If we all took a deep emotional inventory even for a moment, the world would change.Why Josh has always attracted partners that show him where he has not yet healed.The space between knowing and doing.The tragic loss of the art of debate.Why so many Instagram "gurus" project an air of certainty and perfection.The healing power of psychedelics and breathwork.Josh's one piece of wellness advice.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comConnect with Josh Trent on Facebook @wellnessf, Twitter @wellnessforce, Instagram @joshtrentofficial, and his website, wellnessforce.comMy new book Scary Smart is now available. Grab a copy here!Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

In this episode, I speak with Lisa Barnett about a few things I knew absolutely nothing about. Interested to know that there is a library containing a record of every life your soul has lived? I sure was.Lisa Barnett is an internationally recognized author, teacher, and healer with more than 20 years of experience in the spiritual healing forum and is an authority on connecting people to the ancient wisdom of the Akashic Records. Lisa founded the Akashic Knowing School of Wisdom where thousands of students from around the world have learned to access their own soul’s intelligence to live more fulfilled lives.As you may know by now, I don't always accept stories about things that we cannot truly prove. But there are things, like love, that cannot be proven by science but still undeniably exist. I ask you, like myself, to keep an open mind and heart to a world that you may not have explored before, and maybe, within it, you'll find new information on how to awaken to your life's purpose.Listen as we discuss:What are the Akashic Records?Your soul's plan.Lisa's story and her transition from corporate employee to healer.How losing two of her soul sisters led her to a fated meeting with a psychic.Explaining the "sixth sense", and how we all may have one.Who are the "Record Keepers" and why do they give and take access to this wisdom?What's the point of this life if we get to live thousands of them?What is "the Source"?Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comConnect with Lisa Barnett on Facebook @akashicknowing, Twitter @akashicknowing, Instagram @akashicknowing, and her website, akashicknowing.comMy new book Scary Smart is now available. Grab a copy here!Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

John Murphy is today's guest and can best be described as a man with passion all the way to the roots. Yes, you've just read Slo Mo's first published pun.John is the founder of Lettuce Evolve, a revolutionary garden technology company he created to literally save his life. In 2009, after finding success in pursuit of the American Dream, John suddenly found himself facing a nightmare when he burned out so bad that he became incapacitated for seven years. Modern medicine had no answers, and he needed to eat upwards of seven nutritional meals a day just to meet his caloric needs.Struck by the high cost of organic produce and disillusioned with the toxic system that made him sick in the first place, he drew up and built the first Aquarium-Powered Vertical Garden in his small room while still ill. Since then, he's been on a mission to promote self-sufficiency through his company's space-saving gardens that can provide all your organic fruits and vegetables at a fraction of the cost and space, all without soil, right in your home.John and Lettuce Evolve are currently running their IndieGoGo campaign and I urge you to support this mission if it resonates with you. I am not profiting from this in anyway and only recommending something I personally think is amazing, as always. Growing the freshest possible food in a small corner of your living room with no soil, sunlight, or skills required? Sign me up.Listen as we discuss:The sudden internal "explosion" that incapacitated John for over seven years.His diagnosis with Adrenal Exhaustion and extreme weight loss and disability.Why the American Dream can quickly become the American Nightmare.We are not giving our bodies the fundamentals of what they require.Why does John's body consume calories so rapidly? Still a medical mystery to this day.The Vertical Garden: a self-cleaning fish tank that grows the freshest possible food without soil or sunlight.John's vision: a vertical garden in every home, leading to a healthier world.Are these gardens a threat to farmers?John's crowdfunding campaign on IndieGoGo, which you can support here.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comConnect with John Murphy on Facebook @lettuceevolve, Twitter @lettuceevolve, Instagram @lettuceevolve, and their website, lettuceevolve.comMy new book YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today’s guest is Dr. Jed Diamond, who has been a great friend to me and the One Billion Happy mission for years. I know the title of this episode seems extreme, but you'll soon see it's really not.Jed is the founder and director of MenAlive, a health program that helps men, and the women who love them, to live fully, love deeply, and make a positive difference in the world. He is one of the world’s leading experts in the field of gender-specific medicine, men’s health, and trauma recovery. His training programs on The 5 Stages of Love have been taken by men and women throughout the world. Jed has written 16 books (teach me your secret, sir!), including international best-sellers Male Menopause, Surviving Male Menopause, The Warrior’s Journey Home: Healing Men, Healing the Planet, and The Irritable Male Syndrome. His most recent book is 12 Rules for Good Men.I'm so grateful to Jed, who has written multiple articles featuring some of my work alongside his own brilliant work and writing. I was so excited to get a chance to chat with him, and I'm certain this will be an eye-opener for you.Listen as we discuss:A dive into Jed's past and how he found his creative side.Why he committed his life to understanding the world of men and women.Why do men often become angry and irritable?What is Male Menopause and Irritable Male Syndrome?Our past marriages and the importance of knowing the 5 stages of love.Why disillusionment is a precursor to real, lasting love.Understanding the ancient reality of the male and female division.Breaking out of the "man box" and the 12 rules for good men.Jed's one core piece of advice for men.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comConnect with Dr. Jed Diamond on Facebook @dr.jed.diamond, Twitter @menalivenow, and hYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

This week's guest, Rebecca Costa, is one of my new favorite people on the planet. She and I speak the same language (of the nerds), but don't worry. You'll surely find her as enlightening and entertaining as I did.Rebecca was introduced to me by Dr. Jed Diamond, who recently featured some of my work in an article on his website and will be next week's guest on Slo Mo. Rebecca Costa is an American sociobiologist, futurist, author, and host of the podcast, The Costa Report.  She is the preeminent global expert on the subject of "fast adaptation" and brings both an evolutionary biologist and technologist's perspective to the subject of adaptation.In other words, humanity is evolving in extremely bizarre ways due to a rapid rate of technological advancement. Nobody has made sense of what that means for our futures better than Rebecca. After retiring, she spent six years researching and writing the international bestseller The Watchman's Rattle: A Radical New Theory of Collapse. Her follow-up book titled On the Verge was introduced in 2017, also to critical acclaim.You can't miss this one, so listen as we discuss:How both Rebecca and I are both a bit East and a bit West (and fully nerds).Why data is undoubtedly the best guide for decision-making and position-taking.There are no facts about the future, only probabilities, but they're becoming more likely.How we could have predicted the 2017 Las Vegas shooting and stopped it.Why AI will not be self-serving because intelligent beings don't serve themselves."We have Paleolithic emotions, Medieval institutions, and Godlike technology."Predictive technologies and why the weather report will soon be 100% accurate.Humanity's model of decision making is not wrong. It's just slow.We have data indicating that major disasters are coming, but we're not designed to care.When society becomes too complicated, it adapts by collapsing as a reset mechanism.You need food, shelter, water, love, and meaning. Science has proven this.Her new podcast The Costa Report and how it aims to manipulate mainstream media.By making knowledge accessible to all, humanity will make better decisions (for all).Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comConnect with Rebecca Costa on Facebook @rebeccadcosta, Twitter @rebeccacosta,YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today's guest is my friend, Kushal Choksi.This episode was originally intended to release on September 11 to coincide with the release of Kushal's new book, On a Wing and a Prayer, but the book's release was delayed, and as a result, the episode too. Nevertheless, an event as monumentally impactful to the world like 9/11 is not only worth discussing on its anniversary, so we decided the timing isn't that important. Please forgive any discrepancies.Kushal was a Wall Street trader with his focus on little else but amassing wealth and achieving the American Dream. Witnessing the devastation of 9/11 before his eyes and narrowly escaping death, Kushal’s life was never going to be the same again. All his pursuits became meaningless and he felt a void within him like he had never felt before.Then, one day, he reluctantly decided to spend an afternoon with a spiritual master in New York City, unknowingly embarking on a quest to find answers to life’s biggest questions.Listen as we discuss:Kushal's former life as the prototypical Wall Street finance type.How he recalls September 11, 2001, the day he nearly died and witnessed true horror.The voice in his head that told him to run from the tower instead of going back in.How he began to feel that all time after 9/11 was "bonus time."His initial confusion about what do with the newfound gratitude to be alive.Our attempts at shaking things up are normally empty, canned, and conditioned.The catharsis of a first experience with meditation and how Kushal never looked back.Sky Breath meditation, the first thing that worked after his "spiritual shopping."The language of mental growth is effortlessnessWhen you're on the train, running back and forth on the train won't get you there faster.What's the point of it all?Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comConnect with Kushal Choksi on Instagram @choksi108 and his website, kushalchoksi.comMy new book, Scary Smart, is releasing September 30th. Pre-order your copy here!Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today’s guest is my friend, Sarah Grynberg. Sarah and I have developed a Zoom relationship across the last several years. Our relationship is proof that digital communication can create deep bonds, and I truly adore her for all she represents.Sarah is a specialist in teaching people of all ages how to adopt the habits and strategies of life’s greatest leaders to help them live their most inspired life. She is the current host and producer of one of Australia’s most top-rated wellness podcasts, A Life of Greatness, where she’s interviewed some of the world’s biggest celebrities. Through her experience over decades of working with some of the world’s biggest names, and her own ongoing research studying life’s greats, Sarah has formulated her own blueprint to achieving greatness.Via these practices and techniques, Sarah's ultimate goal is to impart this wisdom and knowledge on all who are open to listen.Listen as we discuss: How my and Sarah's friendship has evolved.The ability to connect deeply over interviews thousands of miles apart.The art of the interview, and why Sarah can't interview just anyone.How each guest brings a new lens, and behind the scenes of podcasting.Sarah's process of spiritual awakening and learning the Law of Attraction.Her career journey after a Dark Night of the Soul and an answered prayer.Seeing people as humans before seeing them as celebrities.Going into the unknown and understanding that the universe is not personal.How does Sarah cope with stress?Which guests on Sarah's podcast have impacted her the most?Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comConnect with Sarah Grynberg on Instagram @sarahgrynberg, Twitter @sarahgrynberg, on Facebook @sarahgrynberg, and her website, sarahgrynberg.comMy new book, Scary Smart, is releasing September 30th. Pre-order your copy here!Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today's guest is Catalina Pelaez. A few weeks before this recording, I received a message on Instagram from her brother, Daniel. He said the following about his sister:Mo, this is Catalina, my younger sister. Cata is one of the most inspiring people in my life. Her journey, dedication, perseverance and positivism is truly admirable, and her testimony for sure will inspire thousands. Cata is Colombia's top women's professional squash player and has obtained numerous athletic achievements  within the squash world (Pan American Games, World Games, Doubles World Championships, National Tournaments, etc.). Her talent and passion for squash provided her with the opportunity to play and study at Trinity University in Hartford, CT, USA where she was team captain. Her joy for Squash is not limited to her career itself. She helps promote squash via different programs across Colombia called Squash Urbano, which helps the less fortunate thrive through sports, providing them with more opportunities in education, development and integration.First of all, there are few things more amazing than siblings loving and supporting each other. A big thanks to Daniel for being a great brother and getting us a great guest.Second, I soon found out that, beyond her sport achievements, speaking to Catalina was going to be about a whole lot more than squash. At age 11, she was severely injured in the 2003 terrorist attack at the El Nogal club in Bogota, Colombia. Her journey from this trauma as a child to becoming Colombia's top squash player is incredible. Her personal transformation and quest to find forgiveness and peace in the memories of the attack is perhaps even more so.Listen as we discuss: My love for Colombia.Catalina's upbringing traveling around the world and her journey back to Colombia.Why squash is such a unique game (and one that Egyptians actually win!)Training as a professional athlete during lockdown.The incredible story of Catalina surviving a terrorist bombing that killed 36 people.How she bounced back from the injuries despite being so young.Why memories of the attack affect her more as an adult than when it happened.Facing the perpetrators of the terrorist bombing in a bid for truth and peace.Would she change the past and avoid the attack if she could?Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comConnect with Catalina Pelaez on Instagram @catalina.pelaez, Twitter @catapelaez4, on and on Facebook @catalinapelaezsquashMy new book, Scary SmartYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today's guest is Dr. Lisa Miller, whose doing some of the most valuable work on the science behind spirituality in the world right now. That's not to say this is a cold, sterile conversation about the topic. It is anything but that, and this is one of my favorite conversations we've ever had. Do yourself a favor and don't miss this essential 40 minutes.Dr. Lisa Miller is the New York Times bestselling author of The Spiritual Child and a professor in the clinical psychology program at Teachers College, Columbia University. She is the founder and director of the Spirituality Mind Body Institute, the first Ivy League graduate program in spirituality and psychology, and has held over a decade of joint appointments in the department of psychiatry at Columbia medical school.Her innovative research has been published in more than one hundred empirical, peer-reviewed articles in leading journals, including Cerebral Cortex, The American Journal of Psychiatry, and the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.Her new book is The Awakened Brain, a brilliant work from a brilliant mind.Listen as we discuss:How do scientists define spirituality?MRI studies have allowed us to characterize the neurological seat of awareness.We are not alone. What does that mean?The poison of radical materialism.The dangers of "I gotta..." mindset and MRI proof that it's part of the addicted brain.We're designed to only see glimpses of the plane of truth.Take your intuition and wisdom as hard data.The best experiences of our lives are the ones that happen off the plan.People that are awakened are more likely to have depression.We all have the capacity for awakened awareness.Life is playing at a particularly frequency in one big symphony.Reprogramming ourselves from "achieving awareness" to "awakened awareness."Honor your knowing!Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comConnect with Dr. Lisa Miller on Twitter @lisamillerphd and on her website, lisamillerphd.comSome big news. I'm hosting my first sweepstakes. My new book, Scary Smart, is releasing September 30th. Pre-order your copy here, send a screenshoYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

In Part 2, I move on from the scarier part to the more hopeful part of my new book, Scary Smart, releasing September 30, 2021.If you've made it this far, I commend you, as I cannot emphasize enough how real the stakes are if we don't do this right.And again - If you pre-order your copy before September 30th, which I hope you do as it's a great help for authors, send a screenshot or forward your proof of purchase to [email protected]. You'll be entered for a chance to win a signed, early release limited-edition copy of the book. Better yet, I will take a few winners out to dinner in London and Amsterdam. Hope to see you!Pre-order Scary Smart here at Amazon UK. Check your local Amazon or other bookstore in other regions.In Part 2, listen as I discuss:How does AI learn?My realization during my time at Google that AI is like a child.The Superman analogy.AI will learn emotions, because emotions are backed by equations.The future of ethics.#AI4GoodThere is nothing wrong with the machines. We're the problem.The three values that will save our world.I hope one day, AI will read Scary Smart and know we tried our best to love it.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

In this special, two-part episode, I  want to talk to you about my new book, Scary Smart, releasing September 30, 2021. I know the title of this episode sounds dramatic, but I'm not exaggerating. This episode may scare you because the stakes may be existential, but I promise there's hope. You may be wondering about the connection between Solve for Happy, One Billion Happy, and...Artificial Intelligence? I promise it will all make sense soon.And by the way - If you pre-order your copy before September 30th, which I hope you do as it's a great help for authors, send a screenshot or forward your proof of purchase to [email protected]. You'll be entered for a chance to win a signed, early release limited-edition copy of the book. Better yet, I will take a few winners out to dinner in London and Amsterdam. Hope to see you! Pre-order Scary Smart here at Amazon UK. Check your local Amazon or other bookstore in other regions. In Part 1, listen as I discuss:Why you're the hero of this story.The importance of pre-orders for an author.Why my publishers decided to publish Scary Smart before my next book.Why sci-fi is now sci-fact.The three inevitabilities of AI.A brief history of AI and what's driving its development.What is the singularity?How can things go wrong?Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today's guest is Azeem Azhar, one of the leading names in technology and podcasting in the English speaking world.With my new book, Scary Smart, releasing September 30th, and Azeem's new book, Exponential, releasing September 7th,  I thought this would be a perfect conversation to set the context for an important discussion on the state of future. To ask it simply, will the future be better or worse?Azeem Azhar is on a mission to explain how our lives are changing due to the exponential growth of technology. He is a serial entrepreneur and investor. He is the creator of the Exponential View, Britain's leading platform for in-depth tech analysis. His weekly newsletter is read by 200,000 people from around the world, and his chart-topping podcast, The Exponential View, has featured guests including Yuval Noah Harari, Reid Hoffman, and Tony Blair. I'm honored to say I'll be appearing on the show next month, so stay tuned.In Part 1, listen as we discuss:Writing code and growing up a tech geek.Azeem's career trajectory through technology and his big break into journalism.How startup culture has evolved, and the successes and failures along the way.The importance of the Netscape browser and how the net made cheap distribution possible.What is exponential growth and what is its impact on our lives?Technology is innate to the human condition, and politics are innate to technology.Companies follow the expressed needs of the public, and  that's where our power lies.The five main technologies shaping our lives right now.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Azeem Azhar on Instagram @azeem, Twitter @azeem, and on his website, exponentialview.coSome big news. I'm hosting my first sweepstakes. My new book, Scary Smart, is releasing September 30th. Pre-order your copy here, send a screenshot of your proof of pre-order to [email protected], and win a signed copy, dinner with me, or access to an exclusive online talk. Hope to meet you all soon enough!Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday. Only YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

This is part 2 of my discussion with Azeem Azhar, one of the leading names in technology and podcasting in the English speaking world.With my new book, Scary Smart, releasing September 30th, and Azeem's new book, Exponential, releasing September 7th,  I thought this would be a perfect conversation to set the context for an important discussion on the state of future. To ask it simply, will the future be better or worse?Azeem Azhar is on a mission to explain how our lives are changing due to the exponential growth of technology. He is a serial entrepreneur and investor. He is the creator of the Exponential View, Britain's leading platform for in-depth tech analysis. His weekly newsletter is read by 200,000 people from around the world, and his chart-topping podcast, The Exponential View, has featured guests including Yuval Noah Harari, Reid Hoffman, and Tony Blair. I'm honored to say I'll be appearing on the show next month, so stay tuned.In Part 2, listen as we discuss:Where do we draw the line that enough is enough with technological advancement?We are stuck in antiquated values when it comes to our place in the market.The ethics of the future.How AI and machines will automate the backend of the global economy.The danger of AI learning from the best and worst of humanity.Why accountability needs to be taken far more seriously in the tech industry.Even with an exponential process, it will still take a long time to match the human brain.Is the future going to be better or worse?Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Azeem Azhar on Instagram @azeem, Twitter @azeem, and on his website, exponentialview.coSome big news. I'm hosting my first sweepstakes. My new book, Scary Smart, is releasing September 30th. Pre-order your copy here, send a screenshot of your proof of pre-order to [email protected], and win a signed copy, dinner with me, or access to an exclusive online talk. Hope to meet you all soon enough!Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday. Only with your help can we reach One BYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today's guest is Elizabeth Day, once again. I know nobody is complaining about that, as her prior episode on Slo Mo is one of the most downloaded of all time. And I absolutely adore this woman and she's one of my favorite people in the world. Like last time, we recorded this on Instagram Live, so please forgive any audio issues.As many of you know, I appeared on Elizabeth's podcast, How to Fail,  earlier in 2020, and the episode was a massive hit. Since that time, she and I have become close friends, and I truly treasure our friendship. Today, we're talking about her new book, Magpie, which is a must read, and running a special promo for those who pre-order it (see below).Elizabeth is an author, journalist and broadcaster. Her memoir, How To Fail: Everything I’ve Ever Learned From Things Going Wrong is a Sunday Times top 5 bestseller and has been described as ‘life-changing’ by critics. Her chart-topping podcast, How To Fail With Elizabeth Day, is a celebration of the things that haven't gone right and has been nominated for two British Podcast Awards. Her seventh and latest book is Magpie, available September 2, 2021.If you pre-order the book and send a screenshot of the order confirmation to [email protected], you will enter a sweepstakes to win a signed copy of my books. By the way, this same promotion applies to my new book, Scary Smart, too, releasing September 30, 2021, but if you can only buy one, I'm totally fine if you go with Magpie because when Elizabeth is happy, I am happy.Listen as we discuss:Why I'm in Slovenia right now.How Elizabeth needs to write to stay sane.Writing to find out more about herself and her own experiences.Her latest book, Magpie, a psychological thriller already getting rave reviews.Politeness in British society and how it makes for suspenseful reading.My bet with Elizabeth that her book will be on the charts in the first week.The differences between my and Elizabeth's writing styles.Our never ending feud about the best romcom of all time.A discussion on the meaning of true love.Her next, next book, focusing on friendship.Ali's continued gifts to the world.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Elizabeth Day on Instagram YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today’s guest is Craig Foster, who I've been waiting a while to have on the show. Besides the fact that he's one of my personal heroes, he has the unique designation of being the first Slo Mo guest to have to reschedule his interview date because he unexpectedly won an Academy Award.Craig Foster is the co-founder of the Sea Change Trust and one of the world’s leading natural history filmmakers. He has dedicated himself to learning the secrets of the Great African Seaforest, the inshore kelp habitat at the South West tip of Africa, his underwater home.His film, the 2021 Academy Award winner for Best Documentary, My Octopus Teacher, follows the unbelievable story of his year bonding with a wild octopus while honoring his pact to dive 365 times a year. It was a Netflix sensation and is one of the most amazing films you can watch. If you haven't seen it yet, please do yourself a favor and turn it on tonight.Through his regular, intensive immersion in wild waters, he has uncovered countless new animal behaviors and species. One of the species is a shrimp which has been named after him: Heteromysis Fosteri. He has founded the Sea Change Project to share his love of nature with others.His new book, written with ​​Ross Frylinck, is Underwater Wild, available globally on November 16, 2021.Warning: This episode contains spoilers of the documentary, My Octopus Teacher.Listen as we discuss:Going back to nature when we're burned out.Advice for how to deal with nature without yearning for creature comforts.Why did Craig not interfere during the Octopus' death?Avoiding the temptation to expect and apply human feelings to wildlife.Octopus death is programmed into their makeup.The breakthrough of the film from nature documentary to Oscar winner.Finding the balance between our lives and the necessary relationship with nature.How the attention after winning the Academy Award took him away from nature.The industrial world is a shock to the human psyche, yet we block nature."The biggest threat is the cooling of the human heart to nature."Facebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.com/podcastConnect with Craig Foster on Instagram @seachangeproject, Facebook @theseachangeproject, Twitter , and his organization's website, seachangeproject.comSome big news. I'm hosting my first sweepstakes. My new book, YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today's guest and conversation is one of a kind and will give you a whole new perspective on the magic of flowers. I'm sure you'll agree that we should all be appreciating flowers just a little more. Yes, they're magically beautiful, but just wait until you hear what they can do for your well being.Katie Hess is a flower alchemist, author of Flowerevolution and founder of LOTUSWEI, one of the world’s leading floral apothecaries. With her signature elixirs featured in O, The Oprah Magazine, The New York Times and the LA Times, her flower-powered community is thriving. Katie teaches mindful-awareness practices at Flowerlounge events around the world, hands out flowers to strangers in urban Flower Flash Mobs, and hosts the Flowerlounge Podcast with listeners in over 75 countries. She’s also the founder of the Self-Arising Nature Center in Phoenix, Arizona, a center for flower essence education, experiences and practitioner training.Listen as we discuss:What is flower alchemy?The thoughts that arise from our family lineage, and how to know which are really yours.Every piece of nature is emitting its own energy, like WiFi.The forgotten healing power of the dew water found on flowers.No matter what ails you, there's a flower for it.Water is a recording device and absorbs the essence of the flowers it settles on."I want to be as powerful as nature."The Japanese practice of forest bathingWhat are flower collecting expeditions like?The time a CIA agent hooked plants up to a lie detector and found they're sentient.Katie's hobby of hunting rare orchids.Why science has served to divide us, inadvertently.Facebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.com/podcastConnect with Katie Hess on Instagram @lotuswei, Facebook @lotuswei, Twitter @lotuswei, and her website, lotuswei.comSome big news. I'm hosting my first sweepstakes. My new book, Scary Smart, is releasing September 30th. Pre-order your copy here, send a screenshot of your proof of pre-order to [email protected], and you'll be entered into a contest. What's the prize? A limited edition cYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today’s guest is Ed Jackson, who blows me away with his wisdom and resilience.Ed is a former professional Rugby player whose sports career was thriving. In April 2017, after diving into the shallow end of a swimming pool, Ed broke his neck and suffered a spinal cord injury which left him paralyzed from the neck down. Doctors said that he would never walk again, but through sheer determination and intensive rehabilitation, Ed began reaching the summits of mountains within a year of his operation. Ed inspires others to overcome their fears and details how goals are achievable no matter how impossible they may seem.Ed’s life altering experience has provided him with an extraordinary ability to motivate, and I know you’ll feel that nothing is impossible after listening to him.A note on the sound: Please forgive the occasional background noise on my side of the recording. I am on vacation in the Dominican Republic, so what you're hearing is wind, rustling trees, and occasional traffic. I wanted to be sure to get an episode out to you - just didn't realize how hard it'd be to find a quiet place with internet on this island! Listen as we discuss:Ed's incredible story.How he dived into the shallow end of a pool and was left functionally paralyzed.What it felt like to be paralyzed, and finally be able to move a toe.The perspective of gratitude that results from losing and regaining movement.The fears Ed faced during recovery, and post-traumatic growth.Ed's charity and his totally unexpected life right now.Ed's new book, LuckyYour life is in your hands.Facebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.com/podcastConnect with Ed Jackson on Instagram @edjackson8, Facebook @edjackson8, Twitter @edjackson8, and his website, edjackson8.com. Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyMy new book, Scary Smart, is releasing September 30. Pre-order your copy here.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today’s guest is me again. I’m proud to say this is episode 150 of Slo Mo, and it’s been an incredible journey so far. We've had nearly a million downloads in just over a year, topped charts globally in the Mental Health category, and learned from some of the wisest brains alive today.In truth, this is more of an announcement than an episode. But don’t worry, we’re not going anywhere.The most important thing you need to know is, for the time being, Slo Mo will now be published only once a week, on Sundays. We will be taking an indefinite break from publishing on Thursday, for the following reasons: We are constantly receiving feedback from listeners saying they are 10, 20, even 50 episodes behind. This doesn’t give justice to the amazing guests we publish twice a week.Most podcasts publish once a week with entire production studios behind them. We publish 2-4 episodes a week with a team of four.As you may know, my new book, Scary Smart, is coming out September 30. I need to dedicate a lot of time and attention in the coming months to the launch to spread the message of the book, which I believe is more important than ever. Tune into this episode for info on a special promo I’m running if you pre-order the book.This is all about slowing down. As this podcast, my speaking engagements, and writing have exploded (gratefully) in demand, I’ve felt more rushed and overwhelmed than ever. I believe this will make life so much easier and calmer for myself, my team, our guests, and our listeners. With that said, I want to thank my small team for their tireless work on Slo Mo. It is very difficult to pump out 2-4 episodes a week with no extended break during the year, all in the name of a mission to make people happier and wiser. I couldn’t do any of this without our Producer, Munir Harb; our Sound Engineer, Vladimir Popovski; and our Video Engineer, Elina St-Onge. And best of all, publishing only once a week will allow us to give more time and focus to bringing more of the best minds out there to your player. Slo Mo is only getting started, and I love you all for being a part of it. Truly.Facebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.com/podcastDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyMy new book, Scary Smart, is releasing September 30. Pre-order your copy here.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today's guest is Zoe Blaskey.Zoe is the founder of Motherkind, a self empowerment platform for modern mums. Through Motherkind, Zoe coaches mothers of all backgrounds from Global CEO's to full time moms on how to navigate the huge challenges of modern motherhood.Zoe hosts the Motherkind Podcast, which is the UK's number one family podcast on iTunes and speaks every week to world leading experts on a range of topics from self care, mental health, career, nutrition and parenting. The Telegraph celebrated the podcast as 'the antidote to the toxic perfectionism of modern motherhood'.In Part 1, listen as we discuss:The anxiety and perfectionism of being a new mom.The inner changes of becoming a mom or dad are so discombobulating.Why it's okay to not feel overwhelming love when your child is born.Matrescence, the pruning process of becoming a mother.How we learn our parenting from our parents.Why moms need coaching.The effects of having kids on your relationship.The ten minute, ultra honest check in with your partner.People should take the decision to have kids more seriously.Nobody really feels ready to have kids.Facebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.com/podcastConnect with Zoe Blaskey on Instagram at @motherkind_zoe  and her website, motherkind.coDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyMy new book, Scary Smart, is releasing September 30. Pre-order your copy here.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

This is Part 2 of my talk with Zoe Blaskey.Zoe is the founder of Motherkind, a self empowerment platform for modern mums. Through Motherkind, Zoe coaches mothers of all backgrounds from Global CEO's to full time moms on how to navigate the huge challenges of modern motherhood.Zoe hosts the Motherkind Podcast, which is the UK's number one family podcast on iTunes and speaks every week to world leading experts on a range of topics from self care, mental health, career, nutrition and parenting. The Telegraph celebrated the podcast as 'the antidote to the toxic perfectionism of modern motherhood'.In Part 2, listen as we discuss:Zoe's favorite discoveries and thinkers on parenthood.Underneath the perfectionism is a yearning for love.How can you be more present knowing what your child really needs?Unconditional love and role reversal, my personal favorite parenting tools.Children come to us whole, and we can learn just as much from them.We are not responsible for children's personalities, only for not spoiling them.We shouldn't smooth over the challenges of our kids.Building our kids' physical and emotional resilience.How many of us still want to please our parents even into old age.Focus on raising yourself, too!Facebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.com/podcastConnect with Zoe Blaskey on Instagram at @motherkind_zoe  and her website, motherkind.coDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyMy new book, Scary Smart, is releasing September 30. Pre-order your copy here.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today’s guest is award-winning host, Frankie Ward, who has become an icon in the gaming industry. On stage at all the industry’s most popular events, she is a key figure in the reporting, interviewing and hosting of Esports events. With an experienced career history in the media, Frankie gained a passion for Esports after producing the BBC’s coverage of the 2015 League of Legends Quarterfinals and decided she wanted to follow that path. Prior to venturing into eSports Frankie spent ten years in producing and content roles.With a bubbly personality, Frankie has become an event favourite. Along with her live hosting experience, Frankie has also had great success on YouTube, Twitch, and Instagram. To respond to fan demand, Frankie hosts her own popular podcast called ‘My Life In Pixels’ in which she discusses her life both inside and out of eSports.You may know already I’m a huge gamer, so I really enjoyed this talk. It’s also a fantastic crash course in following your dreams.Listen as we discuss:What are Esports?The strategy and teamwork that goes into gaming validates it as a sport.Frankie’s gaming habits and the frustrated life of a PC gamer.Being a woman gamer and why we need more of them.How Frankie stumbled into her life as an eSports icon after aspiring to be an Egyptologist.How do you actually get the job  of your dreams? Don’t burn bridges.Why difficult often leads to amazing.Does Frankie need to change her persona in the male dominated world of gaming?My own gaming habits.Is Frankie’s fiancée a gamer?Facebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.com/podcastConnect with Frankie Ward on Instagram at @getfrankgames, Twitter @frankieward,  and her website, getfrank.co.uk.Frankie is the host of Save your Game - the Red Bull Gaming podcast - now live!Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyMy new book, Scary Smart, is releasing September 30. Pre-order your copy here.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today’s guest is my dear friend and former professional tennis player, Peter Rennert.During his playing career, Peter was ranked in the Top 10 in the World in Doubles and Top 40 in the World in Singles. After his playing career ended, he traveled the globe teaching tennis to thousands of people of all ages and skill levels at private homes, tennis clubs, luxury resorts and on the pro tour.In his travels, Peter developed an awareness based approach to teaching that focuses entirely on optimizing the brain’s ability to learn. He calls it TELOS, which stands for The Effortless Life Operating System.Peter has launched an online course for tennis players and will soon launch an online course for teaching professionals. He has trained and Certified TELOS Tennis Professionals around the world. The TELOS system is applicable to all walks of life, and I had to have Peter on to tell you about it, as well as his story.In Part 1, listen as we discuss:How Peter and I met.What does it take to be a professional tennis player?The catalyst for growth is where the pressure is.Why he chose to go to Stanford and be the little fish in a big pond, and became the number one college player in America.Preparedness and opportunity are what we call luck.How Peter thrived because of his community, then plateaued while traveling.You don't need to endure unnecessary stress with training.How his impending injuries and total burnout led him to stop playing.The role of fear.The only truth in tennis is the ball goes where the energy goes.Connect your breath to the act of doing.How Peter fell in love with teaching.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.com/podcastConnect with Peter Rennert on Instagram @telostennis and his website, telostennis.com.Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyMy new book, Scary Smart, is releasing September 30. Pre-order your copy here.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

This is Part 2 of my talk with my dear friend and former professional tennis player, Peter Rennert.During his playing career, Peter was ranked in the Top 10 in the World in Doubles and Top 40 in the World in Singles. After his playing career ended, he traveled the globe teaching tennis to thousands of people of all ages and skill levels at private homes, tennis clubs, luxury resorts and on the pro tour.In his travels, Peter developed an awareness based approach to teaching that focuses entirely on optimizing the brain’s ability to learn. He calls it TELOS, which stands for The Effortless Life Operating System.Peter has launched an online course for tennis players and will soon launch an online course for teaching professionals. He has trained and Certified TELOS Tennis Professionals around the world. The TELOS system is applicable to all walks of life, and I had to have Peter on to tell you about it, as well as his story.In Part 2, listen as we discuss:TELOS, the effortless life operating system.The three steps: 1. Body and mind harmony.2. A specific and prioritized agenda.3. Let go of step 2 if it conflicts with step 1.How do we get to mind and body harmony?Peter recounting my tennis lesson with him. (Not my sport!)Our body does not have the experience of being an equal partner to our mind.The pains in our body often come from emotional pain.Novak Djokovic, and why his self-awareness is his biggest advantage.The benefits of simultaneous training, or cognitive and physical at the same time.You shouldn't stress yourself out all day long to prepare for stress.Remove clutter, expand joy and purpose.If you have the feeling of being in a hurry, you're off course!Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.com/podcastConnect with Peter Rennert on Instagram @telostennis and his website, telostennis.com.Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyMy new book, Scary Smart, is releasing September 30. Pre-order your copy here.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today’s guest is the wonderful Francesca Specter. She is the internationally published author of Alonement: How to be Alone and Absolutely Own It, and the creator of the Alonement podcast.Alonement is an uplifting and celebratory guide to embracing being alone and understanding why it’s very different from being lonely. It’s been described by journalist Daisy Buchanan as a ‘joyous invitation to make your own declaration of independence’.Francesca is also a freelance journalist, writing long-form lifestyle features for the Telegraph, the Guardian, Red, and Grazia.Listen as we discuss:What is lifestyle journalism?What is the difference between lonely and being alone?Why Extroverts need to learn the skill of being alone.Alone time is one the best catalysts for great ideas.Starting from inside and using the outside world to complement your experience.How Francesca decided to confront her biggest fear after a serious breakup.Your relationships benefit when you spend time alone.Do you need to give up relationships to reach enlightenment?Couples should be able to have a conversation about wanting alone time.The power of long walks.Not apologizing for being “just one” at a restaurant or cafe.Francesca’s top tips for having a positive experience alone.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.com/podcastConnect with Francesca Specter on Instagram @chezspecter, Twitter @chezspecter, and her website, alonement.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyMy new book, Scary Smart, is releasing September 30. Pre-order your copy here.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today’s guest is a true hero.Dr. Waheed Arian is an NHS A&E doctor. His pioneering charity, Arian Teleheal, works directly with clinicians on the ground, and provides governments and global organizations with a blueprint for delivering innovative healthcare and education.Dr. Arian has been recognized as a UNESCO Global Hope Hero, a UN Global Goals Goalkeeper, an NHS Innovation Mentor, and was appointed to the WHO Roster of Digital Health Experts in 2019. In the UK, he has been awarded the Rotary International Peace Award and the prime minister's Points of Light Award. His new autobiography, In the Wars, is out in September. I got an early read, and I can only recommend you get familiar with Waheed’s story as it is incredibly inspiring.Listen as we discuss:Arian Teleheal, Waheed's medical charity that has helped save over 700 lives.Addressing the problem of lack of medical expertise on the ground in conflict nations.The power of smartphones to connect and solve problems.The true connections created between the doctors across borders.How Waheed spent his free time while visiting family in Afghanistan understanding medical challenges.Happiness lies in giving, and that's what drives Waheed.Waheed's difficult childhood in Afghanistan during the Soviet conflict.How he became inspired to go to school and become a doctor.The determination and drive to help people will pay you back.How his family deals with his globetrotting and heavy work.his journey dealing with PTSD.Waheed's Wars BBC featureI'll just say it again: Waheed is my hero.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.com/podcastConnect with Dr. Waheed Arian on Facebook @DrWaheedArian, Instagram @DrWaheedArian, Twitter @DrWaheedArian, and their website, drwaheedarian.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyMy new book, Scary Smart, is releasing September 30. Pre-order your copy here.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

In this episode, I speak with Adam Ashton, a man whose mind has absorbed an extraordinary amount of knowledge through the power of books. Millions of people have listened to Adam and his co-host Adam Jones on the What You Will Learn podcast, where they have spent tens of thousands of hours studying the best ideas from the greatest minds on the planet and putting the best ideas within your reach, for a fraction of the time it would take to read the full book.Their latest book is titled The Sh*t They Never Taught You,  a journey through takeaways from over a hundred of the world's greatest thinkers capturing lessons in personal development, career, business, personal finances, human nature, history, and philosophy. Every lesson will be useful, and one might change your life.Listen as we discuss:Adam and Adam's podcast, and its goal of relaying the knowledge found in books accessibly.If a book can be summarized in 30 minutes, what's the point of making books so long?How do they choose the books they read for the podcast?Why "How to..." content is so popular.The Sh*t They Never Taught You and why its title is literal.If we have books, is school still useful at all?The enduring power of Robert Greene's The Laws of Human Nature and The 7 Habits of Highly Effective PeopleBooks provide an unbeatable ROI.Influence by Robert CialdiniRange by David EpsteinWhy their new book started on a chapter with happiness.Emotions come and go rather quickly, but it is we who allow them to endure.The best relationship books, and the ever controversial Jordan Peterson.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.com/podcastConnect with Adam Ashton and What You Will Learn on Facebook @whatyouwilllearn, Instagram @whatyouwilllearn, Twitter @wywlpodcast, and their website, whatyouwilllearn.com. Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyMy new book, Scary Smart, is releasing September 30. Pre-order your copy here starting mid-July.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today’s guest is Vincent Genna, the Spiritual Teacher and Psychic Therapist. This will likely be a controversial conversation, but if you're a Slo Mo listener, I hope you've already come to accept and even expect that.Vincent combines his psychic abilities, academic credentials, and all-loving approach to provide healing for the body, mind, and spirit. As a Psychic Therapist, Vincent uses his more than 38 years of training, research, and experience in the Metaphysical, Psychology, and Spiritual fields to dive deep into the psyche to release blockages, resistances, and self-sabotaging beliefs and behaviors so you can fulfill the life of your dreams.I’ve personally had some amazing experiences with them. Regardless of any doubts, I believe that Vincent is inarguably doing good work and helping people become their best selves, and I felt it important to give this branch of the healing arts a fair platform. More importantly, this was a fantastic conversation.In Part 1, listen as we discuss:How Vincent discovered his gift, and his childhood of bullying and abuse.His role in the original film, Grease, and how he rubbed it in everyone's face at his high school reunion.How Vincent received his psychic abilities after asking God to help him help someone.Different types of psychics, the stigmas, and what those abilities really are.Why the world is so messed up: we've forgotten that we are God.We weren't supposed to move to Earth and become physical beings.God has already given us everything we need.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.com/podcastConnect with Vincent Genna on Instagram @vincent_genna_msw, Facebook @vincentgennamsw, Twitter @vgbelieve, and his website, vincentgenna.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyMy new book, Scary Smart, is releasing September 30. Pre-order your copy here starting mid-July.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

This is Part 2 of my chat with Vincent Genna, the Spiritual Teacher and Psychic Therapist. This will likely be a controversial conversation, but if you're a Slo Mo listener, I hope you've already come to accept and even expect that.Vincent combines his psychic abilities, academic credentials, and all-loving approach to provide healing for the body, mind, and spirit. As a Psychic Therapist, Vincent uses his more than 38 years of training, research, and experience in the Metaphysical, Psychology, and Spiritual fields to dive deep into the psyche to release blockages, resistances, and self-sabotaging beliefs and behaviors so you can fulfill the life of your dreams.I’ve personally had some amazing experiences with them. Regardless of any doubts, I believe that Vincent is inarguably doing good work and helping people become their best selves, and I felt it important to give this branch of the healing arts a fair platform. More importantly, this was a fantastic conversation.In Part 2, listen as we discuss:Prayer works because you focus your intention.How our mental defenses lead us to blame everyone before we blame ourselves.Acknowledge that you don't believe what you think you believe.Energy manipulates matter, and we are just energetic beings have a physical experience.Why we can know things intellectually but not feel them in our heart.Working on yourself opens you up to your greatest gifts.Retribution vs. RestitutionKarma is a principle, not a law, and you don't need to experience it if mercy is involved.We don't need pain to grow.The world is inching closer and closer to Sodom and Gomorrah.If we need 100 people to save the world and we only have 99, you are the savior.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.com/podcastConnect with Vincent Genna on Instagram @vincent_genna_msw, Facebook @vincentgennamsw, Twitter @vgbelieve, and his website, vincentgenna.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyMy new book, Scary Smart, is releasing September 30. Pre-order your copy here starting mid-July.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today’s guest is James Boardman. James is a former Royal Marine Commando Sniper and Physical Trainer. He served for a total of 9 years and during that time deployed to Afghanistan as part of a 6 man sniper team. James finished his career as a sergeant in the Royal Marines, and spent the last 4 years of his service developing the physical, mental and emotional levels of recruits, preparing them to go to war straight out of training.In 2011, James left the Royal Marines to pursue a family life to be present for his 2 children , but he found the first few years unforgiving as he struggled to come to terms with being back to a normal life.James’ incredible journey through PTSD, divorce, depression, drinking, and near suicide led him to start his first successful business, Bootcamp, and later, he started The Man Coach with the sole purpose of helping men become Elite Operators in life. He aims to help men that were in the same position as he was when leaving the military - lost, struggling to find out who they are and where they’re going. In 2020, James started a new company called Time Domination, which helps business owners overcome time and energy management issues.Listen as we discuss:What was it like going to war and fighting other humans?The transition from the military to normal, open-ended life.The process of Self-Audit and accepting where you are right now.The Four Pillars: Health, Relationships, Personal Development, and Career.Maintaining your happy state is as big a win as progressing.Gratitude is the key to not feeling sorry for yourself.Turn yourself into a Swiss army knife.You're either basing your life on your career or your career on your life.The most important relationship is with yourself.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.com/podcastConnect with James Boardman on Instagram @the_man_coach, Facebook @themancoachJB, Twitter @boardman15james, and his website, themancoach.boardmanjames.com Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyMy new book, Scary Smart, is releasing September 30. Pre-order your copy here starting mid-July.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Chaos is that beautiful concept that anyone who understands physics believes that the universe exists. If you remember, I hosted Kate before on Slo Mo,  which was a wonderful conversation in which she mentioned she'd been collaborating with a Nobel Prize winning physicist in analyzing chaos from an art and science point of view to reach the conclusion that we're all connected. I almost fainted - I love physics, I admire chaos, and I couldn't be more convinced that we're all connected. I had to speak to them. This is Part 2.Kate Daudy is a visual artist and writer based in London and is recognized for her work exploring and re-evaluating the human experience in the context of the natural world. Known for her written interventions in public and private spaces, Kate's work is based on an ancient Chinese literati practice.Sir Kostya Novoselov is a physicist best known for his groundbreaking experiments on graphene, the strongest and thinnest material in existence. The material consists of a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice. The achievement earned Professors Andre Geim and Kostya Novoselov the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2010.In Part 2, listen as we discuss:From where does inspiration for art come?Realizing ideas into a language we can all understand.How do we embrace chaos? Believe in it.Resilience is the ability to sway with things, not control them.More complexity leads to more simplicity.Impermanence.Because of chaos and everything breaking down, eventually we'll all be merged.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.com/podcastConnect with Kate Daudy and Kostya Novoselov at katedaudy.com and acast.com. Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyMy new book, Scary Smart, is releasing September 30. Pre-order your copy here.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Chaos is that beautiful concept that anyone who understands physics believes that the universe exists. If you remember, I hosted Kate before on Slo Mo,  which was a wonderful conversation in which she mentioned she'd been collaborating with a Nobel Prize winning physicist in analyzing chaos from an art and science point of view to reach the conclusion that we're all connected. I almost fainted - I love physics, I love chaos, and I couldn't be more convinced that we're all connected. I had to speak to them. This is Part 1.Kate Daudy is a visual artist and writer based in London and is recognized for her work exploring and re-evaluating the human experience in the context of the natural world. Known for her written interventions in public and private spaces, Kate's work is based on an ancient Chinese literati practice. Sir Kostya Novoselov is a physicist best known for his groundbreaking experiments on graphene, the strongest and thinnest material in existence. The material consists of a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice. The achievement earned Professors Andre Geim and Kostya Novoselov the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2010.In Part 1, listen as we discuss:How Kostya won the Nobel Prize by experimenting with scotch tape and graphite.How Kate and Kostya met through a mutual interest in chaos and our origins.When you deviate from the standard path, you have creativity.If you destroy chaos, do you get more chaos or order?The incredible experiments being done at CERN.We are chaos inside, and our job is to control it.My next book, Scary Smart,  releasing September 16.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.com/podcastConnect with Kate Daudy and Kostya Novoselov at katedaudy.com and acast.com. Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyMy new book, Scary Smart, is releasing September 30. Pre-order your copy here.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today, I speak with the wonderful Anita Kaushal in one of the most honest and enlightening episodes we've had.Anita is a businesswoman, entrepreneur, Ayurvedic expert, fundraiser and creative consultant. All Anita’s projects share a strong vision and a common thread – to enrich the everyday – physically, mentally and emotionally.Born and raised in West London, Anita grew up steeped in her family’s Indian heritage. Losing her wonderful daughter lead Anita to reevaluate where she wished to take her life and business, leading her to immerse herself in Vedic wisdom to co-found Mauli Rituals, a British eco-luxe beauty and wellness brand, with her husband Bittu, now available through some of the world’s most exclusive retailers and spas.Anita is deeply knowledgeable on Ayurveda and holistic remedies for optimal skincare and digestion, and her in-tune meditation and spiritual practice make her an undeniable force of love and joy with a passion for helping others.Listen as we discuss:How her company, Mauli Rituals, began out of fear, but evolved to teach her.Losing her daughter, Milli, and how the wise ones leave early.The concept of reincarnation, and why it might not be so bad to come back.The different facets of health according to Ayurveda.Where does beauty fit into spirituality?A crash course on Ayurveda, and how it encompasses the whole body.The three doshas of Ayurveda: Pitta, Kapha, and Vata. (Which one are you?)There is beauty in every single person.Embracing the feminine.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.com/podcastConnect with Anita Kaushal on Instagram @maulirituals and her website, maulirituals.com.  Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today's guest is the amazing Sabrina Horn.Sabrina is an award-winning CEO, C-suite advisor, communications expert, speaker, and now author. With only $500 and five years of work experience, she founded Horn Group, a public relations firm that for over a quarter century, advised thousands of executives and their companies—from the hottest startups to the Fortune 500. One of very few female CEOs in Silicon Valley in the early 1990s, Sabrina is here today to share why “Fake it till you make it” just doesn’t work—at least, not long enough to build a sustainable business. Sabrina’s firm became one of the most iconic enduring firms in the tech world, winning accolades for Best US Employer and Best Tech Agency.  She successfully sold her firm in 2015 and is now CEO of HORN Strategy, LLC, focused on helping entrepreneurs and CEOs navigate the early stages of their businesses.She has written for publications including The Wall Street Journal, Inc., Entrepreneur, Forbes, and CMO.com, and is a frequent speaker at leadership conferences.Sabrina is the author of Make It, Don't Fake It: Leading with Authenticity for Real Business Success, releasing June 22.Listen as we discuss:How Sabrina found her business success as a woman in the '90s.Why she let several clients go for violating the values of her company and felt richer.Operating with authenticity and candor is priceless.Her new book, and why she chose to dispel the toxic strategy of fake it till you make it.How to create an image without lying or deceitful spins. (Job interviews, for example).There is a grave need for us to tell the truth, for our own good.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.com/podcastConnect with Sabrina Horn on Instagram @sabrinahorn, Twitter @sabrinahorn, and her website, sabrinahorn.com.  Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

This is Part 2 of my chat with the one and only Bibi Lynch.Bibi is a journalist, writer and broadcaster. More accurately, she's a controversial journalist, writer and broadcaster. She presents a weekly show for BBC Radio Sussex and BBC Radio Surrey (she also co-hosted Sussex and Surrey’s ‘adult’ show After the Watershed and fronted their Bibi Lynch’s WHIPs series) and co-presents Good Sex Bad Sex — a podcast for metro.co.uk.For ever 25 years, she's written for many titles and sites, including the Guardian, Stella, The Telegraph and Metro.  She’s a regular on TV, presented the What Men Want series for Living; co-wrote Graham Norton’s ITV late-night quiz Carnal Knowledge; and created Living’s hit series Dead Famous.She’s also the "stupidly proud" creator of the acronym WHIPs (Women who are Hot, Intelligent and in their Prime – or Primark if times are tough), and was voted one of the HuffPost’s ‘50 Funniest Women on Twitter’.In Part 2, listen as we discuss:How my son Ali used to treat the homeless with genuine concern.Bibi is a shameless romantic, and still wants the happy ending.What makes a relationship worth keeping?Being alone is better than being with someone who doesn't give.There is also a liberation when you know you're not gonna have children.Dating in your 30's, 40's, and 50's, and dating younger men.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.com/podcastConnect with Bibi Lynch on Instagram @bibilynch, Twitter @bibilynch, and her website, bibilynch.com Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today's guest is the delightful Bibi Lynch, a frequently requested guest from our listeners. I now know why. Bibi is pure truth.Bibi is a journalist, writer and broadcaster. More accurately, she's a controversial journalist, writer and broadcaster. She presents a weekly show for BBC Radio Sussex and BBC Radio Surrey (she also co-hosted Sussex and Surrey’s ‘adult’ show After the Watershed and fronted their Bibi Lynch’s WHIPs series) and co-presents Good Sex Bad Sex — a podcast for metro.co.uk. For ever 25 years, she's written for many titles and sites, including the Guardian, Stella, The Telegraph and Metro.  She’s a regular on TV, presented the What Men Want series for Living; co-wrote Graham Norton’s ITV late-night quiz Carnal Knowledge; and created Living’s hit series Dead Famous. She’s also the "stupidly proud" creator of the acronym WHIPs (Women who are Hot, Intelligent and in their Prime – or Primark if times are tough), and was voted one of the HuffPost’s ‘50 Funniest Women on Twitter’.In Part 1, listen as we discuss:Bibi's talent for discussing the taboo without reservation, heroically.Being a woman without children who wanted children and dealing with it."Social infertility"The absurdity of people getting upset at things they hear.How she's been called a misogynist for grieving over not having children.Considering adoption and why it isn't always an option.Bibi's period being homeless for 10 years and moving 30 times.A take on regret, and why you'd probably make the same decision anyway.Recognizing the hidden homeless.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.com/podcastConnect with Bibi Lynch on Instagram @bibilynch, Twitter @bibilynch, and her website, bibilynch.com Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

My guest today is James Mitra, a new friend who I met after appearing on his podcast. James is clearly intent on doing business authentically, ethically, and for good, dedicating his free time to connecting those of us who are trying to grow with mentors. It became clear to me that he must have had some good mentors to have ended up like this, so I wanted him to tell you all about it.James Mitra is the Founder & CEO of JBM, an award-winning Executive Search firm that works with some of the world’s fastest growing startups and scaleups. He’s also the host of the popular 40 Minute Mentor podcast, and sits on the Board for the recently created ‘for good’ accelerator, Unrest.Listen as we discuss:Looking back at the impact the pandemic had on work and employment.Avoiding the transactional nature of recruiting and doing business.How he became the master of his own destiny through his career journey.The story of how he married his best friend since 11 years old.How James' boarding school education created his fondness for mentorship.Communities and relationships are built by thinking long term and moving slowly.Be driven by a value plan, not a business plan.The best advice he's heard on his podcast, 40 Minute Mentor.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.com/podcastConnect with James Mitra on Instagram @40minutementor. Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

This is Part 1 of my talk with Steve Biddulph. Steve is one of the world’s best known parent educators, and, I kid you not, this two part episode has been one of the most enlightening conversations of my life. Steve is a gem of a human being.A psychologist for 30 years, he is now retired but continues to write and teach. His books, including The Secret of Happy Children, Raising Boys, The New Manhood and now 10 Things Girls Need Most are in four million homes and 31 languages.  They have influenced the way we look at childhood and especially the development of boys and men. Today, the mental health of girls and young women globally is also a major focus of his.Steve was voted Australian Father of the Year 2001 for his work encouraging dads, and a Member of the Order of Australia for his work in young people’s mental health. He has two grown up children, and lives in Tasmania with his wife and co-author Shaaron.In Part 1, listen as we discuss:How the traumas of the 20th century led to the most under-fathered generation in history.Dads are not "Assistant Moms."From ages 0-6, boys live in mom's world, then begin to worship the father.After my son was born, I decided in that moment I'd become the ultimate provider.The dangers of dads thinking their only job is to provide, not to to show love or show up."Hurry is the enemy of love."Why Microsoft in Australia sends their employees home at 5pm sharp.The Anglo-Saxon mentality to raising boys is to ensure they are ready for war.How society pressures fathers away from their heart's instinct to be a part of raising a child.Repairing the dad wound in the family opens up the river of love.My own father, who was pure love, pure heart, and a genius.Real masculinity is having both heart and backbone.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.com/podcastConnect with Steve Biddulph at stevebiddulph.com and his two Facebook groups, Raising Boys and Raising Girls. Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today’s guest is Steve Biddulph. Steve is one of the world’s best known parent educators, and, I kid you not, this two part episode has been one of the most enlightening conversations of my life. Steve is a gem of a human being.A psychologist for 30 years, he is now retired but continues to write and teach. His books, including The Secret of Happy Children, Raising Boys, The New Manhood and now 10 Things Girls Need Most are in four million homes and 31 languages.  They have influenced the way we look at childhood and especially the development of boys and men. Today, the mental health of girls and young women globally is also a major focus of his.Steve was voted Australian Father of the Year 2001 for his work encouraging dads, and a Member of the Order of Australia for his work in young people’s mental health. He has two grown up children, and lives in Tasmania with his wife and co-author Shaaron.In Part 2, listen as we discuss:The challenges, quirks, and benefits of being a special needs child.The masks of manhood: the Joker, the Go-Getter, the Tough Guy, and the Cool Guy.How do we save our boys from wearing those masks?Rupture and Repair: the unavoidable, error-prone, effective way to parent.Gold nugget: Owning up to our mistakes makes our kids feel okay to be human.A father can show his girl that the world is for them through exploration.How girls can be raised to resist anxieties and manipulation by boys.The highly tuned social sense of young girls makes the internet a nightmare.Checking social media is not fun. It's an expression of worry."Too sexy too soon," and how corporations manipulate our girls into anxiety.Teaching a girl to say "I love my body!" and never feel pressure to fit in.The modern question of raising children knowing what we know about gender identity.Why the best thing we can do is keep an open mind about what our child becomes.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.com/podcastConnect with Steve Biddulph at stevebiddulph.com and his two Facebook groups, Raising Boys and Raising Girls. Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes evYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today's guest is the amazing Kelly Campbell.Kelly is a Conscious Leadership Coach, helping creative and technology leaders transform life and grow their agencies. The former owner of a cause marketing agency for 14 years, she focuses on personal development, purpose, positioning, people, pipeline and profitability. She knows well that business ownership can lead to either total meltdown or spiritual awakening - usually both.She is a keynote speaker at leadership conferences across the country and has been featured in The New York Times, Woman Entrepreneur, The Startup on Medium and Forbes.com — for which she most recently became a member of the Forbes Business Council. She is currently authoring her first book on the prerequisites of leadership, and is the host of THRIVE: Your Agency Resource, a bi-weekly video podcast that helps agency owners navigate personal and professional growth.Listen as we discuss:What is cause marketing?Kelly's journey from agency founding to sale, and the deep unhappiness that prompted it.The post-apocalyptic moment of leaving a career that defines your identity.Can you help people if you're still learning?When her coaching clients actually teach her something.What is shadow work?Do we need to revisit trauma to heal it?Kelly's childhood traumas and her healing journey out of that.How individual healing of leaders at companies leads to more company success.What are examples of self-limiting beliefs?Society's progress on exploring what love means and same-sex marriage.Should we encourage boxing and naming our beliefs?Staying authentic to who you are at work.What if we chose love over fear?Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.com/podcastConnect with Kelly Campbell on Instagram @agencyscaler, Twitter @agencyscaler, and klcampbell.com Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today’s guest is Poppy Jamie, entrepreneur, influencer, and rising star in the mental health and mindfulness space. Poppy is on a mission to empower people to look after their minds and make their thoughts more flexible through easy tools and methods. Poppy is the founder of the globally popular mental wellbeing app, Happy Not Perfect, that particularly focusing on teachers, parents and students. She is also the host of the Not Perfect Podcast, one of the top 10 mental health podcasts in the UK. While developing Happy Not Perfect, Poppy also co-founded the fashion accessories brand Pop & Suki with actress Suki Waterhouse. The company’s mission, along with selling bags, is to celebrate friendship and women working together. Poppy's new book, Happy Not Perfect: Upgrade Your Mind, Challenge Your Thoughts and Free Yourself From Anxiety shares her personal battle with perfectionism and other mental health related issues and the tools that helped transform her.She has been named one of Forbes’ ‘30 under 30,’ Glamour’s ‘Most Empowering Nu-Gen Activists You Need to Know,’ and W Magazine’s ‘Next Generation of Activists Making a Difference.Listen as we discuss:The shift to living closer to nature with remote work.How writing a book is a deep dive into connection with the self.Even if you can manifest what you want from life, be careful what you wish for.What life is really like for Poppy who has  achieved so many of her dreams.Her obsession with perfectionism to finally become “enough”. Nothing external can fix something internal, and no success can fix your insecurities.Would she change her 20’s to work less in retrospect?We are our own gurus.What is “Happy Not Perfect”?What actually matters in life? Curiosity.Poppy’s new book and the focus on flexible thinking.Challenge who you follow on social media.Dating challenges for the millennial and “fast food dating”.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.com/podcastConnect with Poppy Jamie on Instagram @poppyjamie, Facebook @poppyjamiework, Twitter @poppyjamie, and happynotperfect.com Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today’s guest is my friend Tima Deryan, who I met back in February and immediately knew I had to have on Slo Mo.Tima became the first Lebanese woman and youngest Arab to summit Mount Everest at 26 years old. On the 22nd of May, 2019 at 7:21 am, she stood gratefully and humbly at the peak of the highest mountain in the world after a two-month expedition during one of the deadliest seasons on Everest.Before summiting Everest, Tima had climbed 18 of the world’s highest mountains including 6 of the 7 summits and became the first Arab woman to climb Ojos del Salado, the highest active volcano in the world. With her passion for exploring and redefining limits, mountaineering came as a second nature to her. Staying true to her wanderer spirit, she aims to continue leading an adventurous lifestyle and never stop climbing.Once a finance professional working in a multinational firm, she’s now the founder of Mountain Gipsy and a professionally certified coach. She’s an advocate for children, youth, and women’s rights, and an activist for environmental issues who wants to see everyone follow their passion, develop their leadership skills, and carve their own path for a better future.Listen as we discuss:The amazing principle of acclimatization and why high altitude climbing is so dangerous.Why would anyone climb such a dangerous mountain?What happens if your team member is annoying on a multi-month expedition?The incredible Sherpas of Nepal.How Tima contracted COVID-19 in the midst of a climb at 5,000m and kept trying.Discovering your passion and how it keeps you moving forward effortlessly.The importance of spending time alone and learning.What it’s like to be an Arab woman climbing mountains alongside men.Women need to stand up for women.Her 1 remaining of the 7 summits: the highest, coldest, and furthest in Antarctica.The undiscovered and underfunded talent in the Middle East.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.com/podcastConnect with Tima Deryan on Instagram @mountaingipsy and Facebook @mountaingipsy.  Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Fanboy alert: It's no exaggeration for me to say that Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor is my top hero. I've mentioned her many times in prior episodes, and that's because discovering her work years ago was a paradigm shifting experience for me. Having this conversation was a highlight of my time doing Slo Mo, and it exceeded even my wildest expectations.Jill is a Harvard-trained and published neuroscientist. In 1996 she experienced a severe hemorrhage in the left hemisphere of her brain causing her to lose the ability to walk, talk, read, write, or recall any of her life. Her memoir, My Stroke of Insight, documenting her experience with stroke and eight-year recovery, spent 63 weeks on the New York Times nonfiction bestseller list and is still routinely the #1 book about strokes on Amazon. Dr. Jill is a dynamic teacher about the beauty of our human brain and its ability to recover from trauma. In 2008 she gave the first TED talk that ever went viral on the Internet, which now has well over 26 million views. Also in 2008, Dr. Jill was chosen as one of Time magazine’s “100 Most Influential People in the World” and was the premiere guest on Oprah Winfrey’s “Soul Series” webcast.In her forthcoming book, Whole Brain Living: The Anatomy of Choice and the Four Characters That Drive Our Life, Dr. Jill debunks the myths that we use only 10% of our brain as well as the idea that our right brain hemisphere is our emotional brain, while our left brain houses our rational thinking. Instead, our emotional tissue is evenly divided between our two hemispheres, as is our thinking tissue.In Part 1, listen as we discuss:What is 'Whole Brain Living'?What she's learned since her hit TED talk.The four characters of the brain:Character 1: Left thinking tissue is the rational brain that defines the boundaries of ourselves as individuals, has language, and seeks material gain.Character 2: Left emotional tissue that sounds the alarm to protect us against the unfamiliar.Character 3: Right emotional tissue that lives to only experience in the present moment without comparison or time. No conflict can be solved by two Character 2's, and the present moment is perfect.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.com/podcastConnect with Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor and her new book, Whole Brain Living, here. Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

This is Part 2 of my talk with Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor. I warn you that tears are shed in this episode and it's as heartfelt as you'd expect from an amazing woman like Jill.Jill is a Harvard-trained and published neuroscientist. In 1996 she experienced a severe hemorrhage in the left hemisphere of her brain causing her to lose the ability to walk, talk, read, write, or recall any of her life. Her memoir, My Stroke of Insight, documenting her experience with stroke and eight-year recovery, spent 63 weeks on the New York Times nonfiction bestseller list and is still routinely the #1 book about strokes on Amazon.Dr. Jill is a dynamic teacher about the beauty of our human brain and its ability to recover from trauma. In 2008 she gave the first TED talk that ever went viral on the Internet, which now has well over 26 million views. Also in 2008, Dr. Jill was chosen as one of Time magazine’s “100 Most Influential People in the World” and was the premiere guest on Oprah Winfrey’s “Soul Series” webcast.In her forthcoming book, Whole Brain Living: The Anatomy of Choice and the Four Characters That Drive Our Life, Dr. Jill debunks the myths that we use only 10% of our brain as well as the idea that our right brain hemisphere is our emotional brain, while our left brain houses our rational thinking. Instead, our emotional tissue is evenly divided between our two hemispheres, as is our thinking tissue.In Part 2, listen as we discuss:Character 4: Right thinking tissue that embodies the thinking consciousness of the universe, knows no boundaries, and exists only to love, be grateful, and experience blissful euphoria. Purely in awe and blissful euphoria.Is love a thought or an emotion?Our first job as human beings is to love one another. Period.The left brain should not be the boss.The B.R.A.I.N. HuddleHow Jill gave her TED talk because she wanted us to love and revere each other, not her.Character 4 is who we are. The others are so noisy.Her new book, Whole Brain Living, is her roadmap to accomplish her life's work - the reason why she recovered from her stroke.Psychedelics can induce similar states that bring us to Character 4.Character 2 is the one that needs to go into rehab in order to break addictions.Is there a masculine and feminine divide, or is just a cultural construct?Life knows that the present moment is fabulous.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.com/podcastConnect with Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor and her book, Whole Brain Living, YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today's episode is a quick one with Mike Horne, a visionary advisor, leader, and partner to those working on complex people, group, and organizational challenges. As an expert in integrity and authenticity, Mike opens doors for people and workplaces to be at their best. He is the author of the book Integrity by Design: Working and Living Authentically.Listen as we discuss:The difference between authenticity and integrity.Enron and Wells Fargo as examples of company messaging vs. actions.Most companies are focused only on avoiding the illegal, not the unethical.We need to bring hope to situations.Why are people less and less authentic these days?How we can we reestablish the authenticity connection?Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.com/podcastConnect with Mike Horne on Instagram @mikehorneauthor, Twitter @mikehorneauthor, and his website, mike-horne.com Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today’s guest is Dominique Antiglio.Dominique is one of the world’s leading Sophrologists, a best-selling author, and founder of BeSophro, a global Sophrology platform.But what is Sophrology, you’re surely asking? Sophrology is the science of consciousness in harmony, or more straightforward, it’s a form of dynamic relaxation, meditation, and self-exploration that works well with our modern lifestyles. Dominique has been involved in Sophrology since she was 15 and now specializes in stress management, anxiety reduction and burn-out prevention. Her best-selling book The Life-Changing Power of Sophrology was the first widely published book on Sophrology in English and is now the leading authority on the subject.After running a successful osteopathy practice in Switzerland and feeling a bit lost in her career, she shut up shop and moved to London to start a new life and a second career as a Sophrologist – a profession people had never heard of outside of a few European countries. Single-handedly, she has built up Sophrology to become part of the health and wellness mainstream, in a similar vein to mindfulness, meditation and yoga, and continues her mission to spread the word about how the practice can benefit the world.Listen as we discuss:What is Sophrology, and why is it so powerful?Why Dominique decided to dedicated her life to spreading Sophrology.The 12 Levels of Sophrology, and the different techniques used at each level.Self-awareness blooms from repetition.How can we practice calm at the end of an exhausting day?Positivity and the misunderstandings around it.Level  4 of Sophrology asks, "What do you want to do with this newfound calm?"Dominique's transition from Osteopath to Sophrologist.How she wrote her bestselling book on the subject.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.com/podcastConnect with Dominique Antiglio on Instagram @besophrolondon and her website, besophro.com. Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

This is Part 2 of my discussion with Charlène Gisèle.Charlène is a Professional Biohacker & Primal Health Coach. As a former Cambridge University law graduate and litigation lawyer, she  had the delusional tint on her mirror smashed when her father, a highly successful but stressed lawyer, had a heart attack and stroke while she was in the middle of an important trial. Coupled with the stress of her own work life as a lawyer, she ended up burning out. It was then she made the dramatic decision to step away from her legal career.Still desperate to serve clients, she embarked on a world health and wellness tour and retrained and qualified as a Primal Health Coach and Corporate Wellness Consultant. She now advises her former law colleagues, individuals and top corporate executives on how to optimise their health and wellbeing so they don’t experience the same stress and burnout that she did.In Part 2, listen as we discuss:Intermittent fasting and how the body is built to go through famine.Why Charlene doesn't eat before big meetings.Don't eat anything with an ingredients list.The power of eating with your hands, slowing down, and feasting infrequently.Why did we evolve to use forks and knives and why are we so afraid to get dirty?The misconceptions and dangers around the practice of Tantra.Factory farming's dangers and eating meat more responsibly.Hunters are often the most respectful and concerned about nature.Breathing is the antidote to stress.The different modalities of breathwork for different purposes.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.com/podcastConnect with Charlène Gisèle on Instagram @charlenegisele and her website, charlenegisele.com. Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today's guest is the wonderful Charlène Gisèle. I loved this talk because she is fantastic, but also because it's likely to be controversial. That's exactly what we want to present on this podcast: perspectives that you may not have thought about, but which are grounded in sense.Charlène is a Professional Biohacker & Primal Health Coach. As a former Cambridge University law graduate and litigation lawyer, she  had the delusional tint on her mirror smashed when her father, a highly successful but stressed lawyer, had a heart attack and stroke while she was in the middle of an important trial. Coupled with the stress of her own work life as a lawyer, she ended up burning out. It was then she made the dramatic decision to step away from her legal career.Still desperate to serve clients, Charlène embarked on a world health and wellness tour and retrained and qualified as a Primal Health Coach and Corporate Wellness Consultant. She now advises her former law colleagues, individuals and top corporate executives on how to optimise their health and wellbeing so they don’t experience the same stress and burnout that she did.In Part 1, listen as we discuss:Leading a nomadic lifestyle after leaving a fancy and powerful corporate job.Charlène's time at an ashram, where the simple act of sitting still and breathing seemed alien.How her father's heart attack and stroke woke her up to the dangers of her own lifestyle.Life gives us a nudge to change direction or try something new.How she convinces business execs to focus on health by framing it as a tool for success.Her journey filling in the gaps of certain modalities and disciplines to create a holistic approach to wellness.What is biohacking?How biohackers expose themselves uncomfortably to nature and the laws of nature for their own wellbeing.Acknowledging that the meat on your plate required the death of an animal, and the benefits of hunting.The vegan diet is inherently nutrient deficient.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.com/podcastConnect with Charlène Gisèle on Instagram @charlenegisele and her website, charlenegisele.com. Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today’s guest is Owen O’Kane.Owen grew up in Northern Ireland during The Troubles and battled his own guilt and sexuality as a Catholic. His experiences have turned him into one of the prominent psychotherapists of our day, and you'll his wisdom pour through in this conversation (and his fantastic books).Owen is a psychotherapist and author of the globally acclaimed and Sunday Times best seller book, Ten To Zen. He has over 25 years’ experience in physical and mental health and is a former NHS Mental Health Clinical lead. He now runs a successful private practice in London.He is a well-known speaker and a regular contributor to press and media and is also a script advisor for BBC Drama on psychological matters. Owen believes that a great mind warrants unprecedented improvements for every aspect of life.His new book, Ten Times Happier, is available now.Listen as we discuss:If we can be 10x happier, how unhappy are we now?People rarely talk about their role in their own suffering.Owen's early career working with end-of-life patients, and the awakening they gave him.His struggles growing up in Northern Ireland during The Troubles and as a gay Catholic.How the only route to enlightenment and wisdom seems to be to go through hard times.The importance of adopting a hopeful perspective and getting over the paralysis of fear.An experience with a resistant patient who underwent an explosive catharsis.Having the courage to admit your struggling is a massive step forward.Owen's dog joins the conversation!Comparison is the killer of joy.His first book, Ten to Zen and the 10-minute method to slowing down.Why is happiness so elusive to some people?The most simplified answer to happiness: flow with whatever happens the best you can.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.com/podcastConnect with Owen O'Kane on Instagram @owenokaneten and his website, owenokane.com. Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today’s guest is my new friend, Kate Daudy. This conversation could not have been more genuine, and honestly, I forgot I was recording this for an audience. This is Slo Mo at its most authentic.Kate is a British visual artist and writer, recognized for her work exploring and re-evaluating the human experience in the context of the natural world. Known for her written interventions in public and private spaces, Daudy’s work is based on an ancient Chinese literati practice.Living and working in London, her observations have fed into an array of artistic disciplines including sound work, film, performance, interactive collaboration, photography, sculpture, large-scale installation and more recently a book. Daudy exhibits worldwide and is also engaged in regular philanthropic and activist commitments. As one reviewer stated, much of her artistic work is intended not to survive, relishing the transitory nature of our existence on this earth, a love of the gesture for its own sake and a rejection of consumerism.Listen as we discuss:The feminine vs. the masculine perception of timeMy new book, Scary Smart, and what it's all about. (Kate interviews me a bit)Kate's creative process and her new show about chaos with Anna Gammans and Nobel prize winner Professor Sir Konstantin Novoselov (WONDERCHAOS)What makes something "art", even if it looks ordinary and uninspiring to others?Kate's powerful work with refugees through her art.How Kate balances her art and activism with being a mother of three.Stories of how her kids react to our own silly parent moments.The effort required to really feel like you're on holiday.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.com/podcastConnect with Kate Daudy on Instagram @katedaudy an her website, katedaudy.com. Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today's guest is a true inspiration.Jada Sezer is a model, content creator, UN Women UK Changemaker, and advocate for body positivity, mental wellbeing and gender equality. She is one of the first plus size models in the UK who has challenged societal beauty ideals for over a decade. She’s graced the covers of Women's Health and Cosmopolitan magazines, starred in a billboard campaign for L'Oreal, and served as a global ambassador for Adidas.Jada has an MA in Child Psychotherapy and a diploma in Neuroplasticity. She’s the current host of the IGTV series Why We Feel This on her Instagram, interviewing neuroscientists and psychologists on emotions and brain health (including myself!)In 2018, Jada ran the London Marathon as a non-runner in underwear to challenge fitness perceptions and body ideals. She’s the co-creator of the 'Celebrate You' campaign, a partnership with Vitality 10K, a run to encourage women of all sizes and abilities to enjoy running.Listen as we discuss:Confronting "newness" in the pandemic and "oldness" at the end of it.Jada's childhood, far away from being fashionable.Avoiding the celebrity-induced ego to return to focusing on the "Why"?The divine timing (and great family) behind her successThe advice of her father that always kept her confident.Does the fashion industry really believe in body positivity or just complying?The shift to giving us an image we can relate to, not an ideal to strive for.What's left for social justice and gender equality?Hiring a woman is an amazing bang for your buck.Why Jada ran a marathon as a plus-sized woman.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.com/podcastConnect with Jada Sezer on Instagram @jadasezer, Facebook @jadasezer, and Twitter @jadasezer. Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today's guest is Becky Morrison. This was such a lovely talk and exactly the refresher we all need every once in a while to remind ourselves that life doesn't have to be so hard.Becky is a mom, wife and former lawyer turned Happiness Coach. Her mission is to spread joy. She believes most people can live happier, easier lives if they get clear on what matters most to them and then develop a plan to do more of that and less of the rest. If she can help enable people to find clarity and happiness, then everyone wins.Similar to how I applied my engineering skills to solving for happy, Becky applies her knowledge of people and processes from her 20+ years in corporations, law firms, and small businesses, as well as the wisdom from her own journey (and near-death experience), to help people find their unique recipe for happiness.Becky brings together all her learnings in her recently published book The Happiness Recipe: A Powerful Guide to Living What Matters.Listen as we discuss:Becky's near death experience, in which her "last" thoughts were about work - talk about a wake-up call.Why do we get so swept up in work and let the important parts of life pass us by?Be aware of the season your life is in right now, and adapt accordingly.We shouldn't have to wait until the end of life to figure out what matters to us.A thread of asking "What makes you happy?" leads you to your unique source of joy.We're stuck on measuring impact and purpose in the wrong ways.The shortfalls of hustle culture and why success doesn't have to feel so difficult.It's important to say no everyday.Are we matching our effort and resources to the things that matter to us?Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.com/podcastConnect with Becky Morrison on Facebook @butterflysociety, Instagram @the.butterfly.society, and visit her website at grantleycoaching.com.  Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today’s guest is my friend Tim Ash, author, keynote speaker and advisor. For nineteen years he was the co-founder and CEO of SiteTuners – a strategic digital optimization agency for which he created over $1.2 billion in documented value for clients.Tim is an expert in user-centered design, persuasion, understanding consumer behavior, neuromarketing, and landing page testing. In other words, he knows how people think, and that's led him to uncover some realizations about the state of the world (and the internet) that are uncharacteristically pessimistic for an episode of this show. However, I loved this talk and found it to be among the most important.Tim's latest book is Unleash Your Primal Brain: Demystifying How We Think and Why We Act, which goes back to the fundamental “why’s” behind our actions from an evolutionary perspective.In Part 1, listen as we discuss:The evolutionary reason behind why the internet has become full of crap.Why we care about celebrities even though we really don't want to care.The big challenge of our times is community building and preventing polarization.The internet has become a place of slicing people up into ad impressions.After the death of his mom, Tim left the marketing field to climb his "second mountain."We can't make decisions without using emotion according to our aversions and affinities.What do we need the conscious brain for? New, non-dangerous things only.The brain returns to modeling our social world almost all the time.Why we've evolved the way that we have.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.com/podcastConnect with Tim Ash on Twitter @tim_ash and Facebook @PrimalBrainTimAsh, and visit his website at timash.com. Information on his latest book, Unleash Your Primal Brain, can be found at PrimalBrain.com.  Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

This is Part 2 of my chat with Tim Ash, author, keynote speaker and advisor. For nineteen years he was the co-founder and CEO of SiteTuners – a strategic digital optimization agency for which he created over $1.2 billion in documented value for clients.Tim is an expert in user-centered design, persuasion, understanding consumer behavior, neuromarketing, and landing page testing. In other words, he knows how people think, and that's led him to uncover some realizations about the state of the world (and the internet) that are uncharacteristically pessimistic for an episode of this show. However, I loved this talk and found it to be among the most important.Tim's latest book is Unleash Your Primal Brain: Demystifying How We Think and Why We Act, which goes back to the fundamental “why’s” behind our actions from an evolutionary perspective.In Part 2, listen as we discuss:Tribal cohesion helped us survive, not challenging social norms.The need to create inefficiencies so lies don't spread too fast.We're not holding the tech companies to account for destroying society.Think global, act local, and how we choose your sphere of concern carefully.What's been the hardest effect of the pandemic? Loneliness and isolation.The upside of the pandemic: people have gotten more real.The capitalist mindset and technology dependency is dooming the world.We've infected the world with the wrong values.What makes us human? The ability to hold and live by contradictions.We need to bring our whole being to the world if we want it to survive.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.com/podcastConnect with Tim Ash on Twitter @tim_ash and Facebook @PrimalBrainTimAsh, and visit his website at timash.com. Information on his latest book, Unleash Your Primal Brain, can be found at PrimalBrain.com.Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today's guest is my dear friend Leta Herman.Leta is an author, Chinese Medicine instructor and practitioner, host of the Inspired Action Podcast, and co-founder of Born Perfect, a new media company. She offers a wide range of energetic acupressure and Alchemy treatments based on the principles of ancient Chinese Medicine.A former journalist and syndicated columnist, Leta most recently released her new book on alchemy, Through The Mystery Gate. She has also written three others: The Energy of Love, Connecting Your Circle, and The Big “Little” Gua Sha Book.Leta completed and continues to study advanced principles in Chinese Medicine with Master Jeffrey Yuen, an 88th Generation Daoist priest and Chinese Medicine master.Her acupressure practice is very unique and diverse, focusing on ancient Chinese healing practices that are largely unknown today in the Western culture. People travel from around the world to her clinic to do intensive Alchemical work.In Part 1, listen as we discuss:Chinese medicine and the amazing machine that is the human bodyThe fiver layers of meridians of acupunctureEverything about qiHow Leta became a Chinese Medical practitioner after curing her own endometriosisStudying the outer world to understand the inner worldYin and yang, and the five elements of the bodyAre certain relationships doomed to fail inherently?How to know your element by the way you walk and talkInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.com/podcastConnect with Leta Herman on Facebook @letahermanalchemy, Instagram @inspiredaction, and her website, letaherman.com Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

This is Part 2 of my conversation with Leta Herman. Things get deep on this side of the chat, and I'm certain it'll spark a serious interest in Daoism for you. It sure did for me, and I'm still amazed.Leta is an author, Chinese Medicine instructor and practitioner, host of the Inspired Action Podcast, and co-founder of Born Perfect, a new media company. She offers a wide range of energetic acupressure and Alchemy treatments based on the principles of ancient Chinese Medicine.A former journalist and syndicated columnist, Leta most recently released her new book on alchemy, Through The Mystery Gate. She has also written three others: The Energy of Love, Connecting Your Circle, and The Big “Little” Gua Sha Book.Leta completed and continues to study advanced principles in Chinese Medicine with Master Jeffrey Yuen, an 88th Generation Daoist priest and Chinese Medicine master.Her acupressure practice is very unique and diverse, focusing on ancient Chinese healing practices that are largely unknown today in the Western culture. People travel from around the world to her clinic to do intensive Alchemical work.In Part 2, listen as we discuss:Why fire types are the best storytellersKnowing your relationship to the Five Elements is to know who you are energeticallyThe Nine Palaces, or the nine difficulties of life, and the importance of balancing themThe Dao perspective and the enlightened wisdom of Lao TzuMastering the skill of wisdom so that being you is second natureGoing through the Mystery Gate, or parting the veilThe first stage of alchemy? Simplicity, or making your life easier. Next steps? Unloading your baggage and living spontaneously.Step five: being wiser and not needing to be right all the time.Step six: flying in your life, or trusting everything is unfolding as it should.Steps seven-nine: morphing, the ninja phase, and rematerializing.Is this all metaphorical or literal?Leta's new book, Through the Mystery GateThe fear of death is the root of all fear.Dying before you die.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.com/podcastConnect with Leta Herman on Facebook @letahermanalchemy, Instagram @inspiredaction, and her website, letaherman.com Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today's guest is the wonderful Emma Gannon. I loved this conversation.Emma is a Sunday Times bestselling author, speaker, novelist and host of the no. 1 careers podcast in the UK, Ctrl Alt Delete.Emma has blogged since 2009; podcasted since 2016 and is the author of four books to date. She was selected in the 2018 Forbes 30 under 30 list. Her non-fiction works include the bestseller The Multi-Hyphen Method and Sabotage. Her next non-fiction is called (Dis)Connected: How to Stay Human in an Online World, due to be published in December 2021.In July 2020, her first novel Olive was published and hit no.1 in the Apple audiobook charts. She is currently writing her second novel.Her Webby-nominated podcast Ctrl, Alt, Delete is a non-traditional careers podcast founded in 2016 and gives an insight into people who’ve looked at their interests to shape the work they do. It has had nearly 8 million downloads.Listen as we discuss:The motif in all her works: be yourself and live life on your own path.Why is going down your own path such a big fear for everyone?How does she juggle so many diverse projects and so successfully?Her novel, Olive, and being child-free by choiceGenerational differences in expectations for having children.Overcoming the inner-critic, and how it begins with questioning.The unseen consistency and hard work that leads to success.Everybody has their thing, and all humans have the need for peace and to create.The fear of making the wrong decision in life is a driving factor for many of us.How she interviewed close to 100 women who didn't want kids before writing Olive.Her next book, Disconnected, and how to stay civil online.My next book, Scary Smart, and how we need to be better people online to raise AI right.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.com/podcastConnect with Emma Gannon on Twitter @emmagannon, Facebook @emmagannonuk, Instagram @emmagannonuk, and her website, emmagannon.co.uk Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion HYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today’s guest is Sir Peter Vardy, the British businessman and philanthropist who is one of the wealthiest men in the UK. Having had great success in the automotive industry, Sir Peter’s life as of quite some time has been focused on philanthropy through his personal foundation, the Vardy Foundation, which supports a wide range of community causes. He helped to fund the building of a City Technology College and three academies, which together form the Emmanuel Schools Foundation- a coalition of schools with a Christian ethos.His foundation continues to make grants and provide support to a wide range of charitable causes including fighting homelessness and modern slavery, establishing hospitals and food banks, and providing education to children, for which he was granted a knighthood.Listen as we discuss:How Sir Peter became one of the top automotive dealers in the world.Focus on values,  not profit, for long-term success.Engaging staff is critical to source good ideas and keep everyone happy.You'll never be happy chasing money because you'll always want more.Sir Peter left school at 16, but he decided to help build schools and save failing ones.What are the secrets of making money?"A vision without strategy is hallucination."Sir Peter believes God has blessed him with so much wealth to help others.Reforming the care system in the UK through an army of volunteers.Money doesn't make you happy.How Sir Peter lost his son at 5 years old, and delved into business hard.Why don't all wealthy people give away money?Look for what excites you or makes you angry, and do something about it.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.com/podcast Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

This is Part 2 of my talk with Nir Eyal. Again, you can't afford to miss this one if you want to absolutely optimize your time, relationships, work, and personal well being. Nir is my new sensei of time management.Nir writes, consults, and teaches about the intersection of psychology, technology, and business. He previously taught as a Lecturer in Marketing at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and the Hasso Plattner Institute of Design at Stanford. Nir co-founded and sold two tech companies since 2003 and was dubbed by The M.I.T. Technology Review as, “The Prophet of Habit-Forming Technology.”He is the author of two bestselling books, Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products and Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life. Indistractable received critical acclaim, winning the Outstanding Works of Literature (OWL) Award as well as being named one of the Best Business and Leadership Books of the Year by Amazon and one of the Best Personal Development Books of the Year by Audible. The Globe and Mail called Indistractable, “the best business book of 2019.”In Part 2, listen as we discuss:Why making a time box calendar is the optimal time management strategy.Aligning your schedule with your values and relationships, first and foremost.Reactive Work vs. Reflective WorkSchedule syncing, or how to get your boss to worship the ground you walk on.Communicate your time boundaries clearly, and everyone wins.Indistractable people are reliable to their word and therefore easy to back.The #1 reason people call meetings? To hear themselves think out loud.Brainstorming in groups is a terrible idea, according to studies.Meetings should have one purpose: to gain consensus after doing pre-work.Make a Ulysses Pact by making plans in advance to prevent distraction.Effort Pacts allow you to keep your word by creating a barrier to breaking it.Nir's transition from obese to fit, and how he used his techniques to get there.Consistency over intensity is the best way to keep a habit.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.com/podcastConnect with Nir Eyal on Facebook @nirandfar, Instagram @neyal99, Twitter @nireyal, and his website, NirAndFar.com Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today’s guest is the simply brilliant Nir Eyal. I really mean it. It was hard to title this episode because of the sheer amount of incredibly practical points Nir shared with us.Nir writes, consults, and teaches about the intersection of psychology, technology, and business. He previously taught as a Lecturer in Marketing at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and the Hasso Plattner Institute of Design at Stanford. Nir co-founded and sold two tech companies since 2003 and was dubbed by The M.I.T. Technology Review as, “The Prophet of Habit-Forming Technology.”He is the author of two bestselling books, Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products and Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life. Indistractable received critical acclaim, winning the Outstanding Works of Literature (OWL) Award as well as being named one of the Best Business and Leadership Books of the Year by Amazon and one of the Best Personal Development Books of the Year by Audible. The Globe and Mail called Indistractable, “the best business book of 2019.”Listen as we discuss:Hooked, which teaches how to apply habit forming design to good habits.Indistractable, which is about empowering people to break bad habits.Social media and tech is not mind control, and we are not helpless against it.The tendency to do things against our better interest is an age-old phenomenon.What is distraction? And what is its opposite?The Four Steps to Becoming Indistractable: Master Internal Triggers; Make Time for Traction; Hack Back External Triggers; Prevent Distraction with Pacts."The time you plan to waste is not wasted time." - Dorothy ParkerHow Nir wrote the books for himself and his own distracted life.The main reason for distraction? Uncomfortable emotional states.The 10 Minute Rule: Instead of saying "no", say "not yet!" (this is magical)Uncomfortable sensations are like a wave, but you can surf the urge until it goes away.Why To-Do Lists are actually toxic: they convince you of your own inadequacy.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.com/podcastConnect with Nir Eyal on Facebook @nirandfar, Instagram @neyal99, Twitter @nireyal, and his website, NirAndFar.com Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Nic Marks is, as one of his clients described him, a “statistician with a soul” due to his love of hard statistical skills and his soft people skills and focus on quantifying variables such as happiness. Well known for his 2010 TED talk, “The Happy Planet Index”, which has been viewed over 2.5 million times, Nic is the founder and CEO of Friday, a company that measures and improves employee happiness in order to help businesses build a positive productive work culture - the result of working with over 1,000 clients creating measures of their employees’ experience of work.He’s been in the field for over 25 years, tracking people’s quality of life with an emphasis on their emotional experience. In 2011 he was named one of the top ten original thinkers by Director’s magazine and by Forbes Magazine as having one of the Seven Most Powerful Ideas of the year.Listen as we discuss:How Nic became interested in measuring quality of lifeThe unexpected, massive success of his TED TalkAre we doing better on the Happy Planet Index since his talk in 2010?Tracking the dips in UK national mood across the various lockdownsWhy his company, Friday, takes weekly happiness surveys for their clientsThe importance of assessing happiness at work in group settingsThe Five Ways to Happy WorkplacesNic's own weaknesses when it comes to happiness upkeepWhy does happiness at work matter?Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.com/podcastConnect with Nic Marks on Twitter @iamnicmarks, and his website, nicmarks.org. Check out Friday Pulse and take the survey at Friday One. Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today’s guest is the amazing Max Richter. I'm a huge fan of his music (and you are likely to be too).Max stands as one of the most prodigious figures on the contemporary music scene. From synthesizers and computers to a full symphony orchestra, Max’s innovative work encompasses solo albums, ballets, concert hall performances, film and TV series, video art installations and theatre works.He writes beautifully crafted, intelligent work that is disarming in its honesty; his music, despite its underlying sophistication, remains accessible to all. His enduring appeal has led him to surpass a billion streams and a million album sales. Although long a part of the avant-garde, through his influential solo albums, Max has become an influential composer in film and television, creating the brilliant score for Golden Globe and European Film Academy Award-winner Waltz with Bashir, HBO’s cult drama The Leftovers, Miss Sloane with Jessica Chastain, Hostiles starring Christian Bale, Charlie Brooker’s Black Mirror, and Tom Hardy’s Taboo, for example.Numerous directors, including Martin Scorsese, have dipped into Richter’s catalogue when they need something special.Ten years in the making, Max’s latest work is Voices, which which brings together recordings of people in over 70 countries reading the the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, with a massive and very unusual orchestra. It’s second part, Voices 2, is releasing this month.Listen as we discuss:Max's story, and how and early love of music guided is future without hesitationHis partner, Yulia Mahr, who he's been with for 30 years (and some relationship advice)His 8.5 hour masterpiece, Sleep, which served as a statement against living life on the hamster wheelHow Max's native language is music, and mine is math, and where those overlap.Slowing down (of course)The creative process behind composing his hit film soundtrack for Waltz with BashirHis newest project, Voices, and Voices 2, dedicated to readings of the Universal Declaration of Human RightsThe power of hearing the declaration in languages you don't understandVoices 2, releasing this week, and why its structure leads us to dream of a better futureThe difference between recording on tape vs. digital, and why tape feels 'alive.'Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.com/podcastConnect with Max Richter on Facebook @maxrichtermusic, Instagram @maxrichtermusic, Twitter @maxrichtermusic, and his website, maxrichtermusic.com Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only witYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today's guest is my friend Sara Simmonds. We met over Turkish dinner, and Sara had a way about her that simply impressed and inspired me. After recording this conversation, I think you'll understand why.Sara is a Conscious Innovator, Impact Entrepreneur and Speaker focused around the topic of “we don’t need more, we need meaning”. Sara consults with clients and the media on how leaders can pivot to live and do business consciously and driven by impact and the innovations of the new direct digital age.Personally, Sara pivoted from being one of the world’s top buyers in luxury fashion for Harvey Nichols to creating the world’s first Sustainable denim brand, which won awards and gained a celebrity following less than 12 months after launch. Through her website, she works with global leaders to unlock the “hero product” within themselves and their business, to stand for something meaningful in a crowded world and build real connections with their dream clients.Listen as we discuss:Sara's entrepreneurial journey, which began at age 7,  and the influence of her parents How the universe conspired to help her achieve her very specific dreamThe glamorous (and not so glamorous) daily life of a premium fashion buyerThe onset of fast fashion and the loss of meaning and purpose in the fashion industryIf sustainability is so profitable, why do companies still avoid it?The history of the consumerism epidemic and why we buy from our egoHow the COVID pandemic has fast forwarded our way out of purely capitalistic and consumerist thinkingHow to create a Hero Product, and how Sara created an amazing denim company out of Conscious InnovationWhat is the meaning of "meaning"?What about all the jobs that get lost when we stop supporting unsustainable companies?Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.com/podcastConnect with Sara Simmonds on Instagram @sarasimmondslondon, and register for her Masterclass on her website, sarasimmonds.com. Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

My guest today needs no introduction because she is one of the most influential happiness teachers in the world.Dr. Laurie Santos is Professor of Psychology and Head of Silliman College at Yale University. Dr. Santos is an expert on human cognition and the cognitive biases that impede better choices. Her course, “Psychology and the Good Life,” teaches students what the science of psychology says about how to make wiser choices and live a life that’s happier and more fulfilling. The class is Yale’s most popular course in over 300 years and has been adapted into a free Coursera program that has been taken by over 3.3 million people to date.Dr. Santos has been featured in numerous news outlets including the New York Times, NBC Nightly News, The Today Show, CBS This Morning, NPR, GQ Magazine, Slate, CNN and O, The Oprah Magazine. She is a winner of numerous awards both for her science and teaching from institutions such as Yale and the American Psychological Association.She has been featured as one of Popular Science’s “Brilliant 10” young minds and was named TIME's “Leading Campus Celebrity.” Her podcast, The Happiness Lab, launched in 2019 has over 35 million downloads.Listen as we discuss:How Laurie's happiness course at Yale put "the science of happiness" on the mapWe have misconceptions about the things that make us happy, and that's why we're unhappy.We ignore the important things like social connection, doing for others, and being present to pursue false leads to happiness.Why her course became so immensely popular, and how Tal Ben Shahar (see my wonderful interview with him on Slo Mo) was another pioneerWhy her course was so successful among extremely ambitious Yale studentsMaking her course available for free and forsaking millions of dollars in the name of educating for the greater good.Hedonic Adaptation, or why you get used to things very quickly, including moneyHow quickly we get used to wealth, and how the wealthiest people worry the most about money.The new mini-season of her hit podcast, The Happiness Lab, which focuses on what the ancient traditions and religions got right about what's good for our well-being.Time Affluence vs. Time FamineLaurie's own struggles with what she teaches, and why that validates the science.How do you become time affluent?Time confetti, or how to use the tiny chunks of time you have for your happiness.Great advice: This is the time for self-compassion, not to beat yourself up.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today’s guest is one of my new friends and heroes, Sophie Elwes. Sophie reached out to invite me on her podcast, but after reading about her, I wanted her on mine first.In 2011, at age 22, Sophie fell 8 meters while at a party and was given a 40% chance of survival. She was left paralyzed from the chest down and dependent on a wheelchair.Despite that, she spent several years alpine skiing as a member of the British Disabled Ski Team and then decided to finish that chapter to come back to London.She now works for a spinal injuries charity, backuptrust.org.uk, supporting people through a mentoring service as her day job. In her spare time, she loves to waterski and wakeboard competitively and host her fantastic podcast - A Life Less Ordinary with Sophie Elwes, where she interviews impressive people who've overcome huge challenges and adversity in their lives.Sophie is an amazing human being with a mindset that will inspire you to your core.Listen as we discuss:The pain felt by Sophie's parents as they watched their daughter in a coma for 6 weeks.Sophie fell 8 meters while at a party and had a 40% chance of survival.The "Before" and "After" of becoming disabled, and why she's grateful that it happened.What it's like to realize, accept, and adapt to the fact that you're disabled.Sophie spends many days just thinking to herself, "I'm so lucky."How she lost her dad in the midst of the recovery.Becoming a top adaptive monoski racer and wakeboarder as a paraplegic.Does Sophie feel scared at the start of races?What kept Sophie going and not giving up?If she could go back, would she change the accident? No.How did it change her perception of the physical form?The greatest joy is making others happy.It is through pain that we can grow.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.com/podcastConnect with Sophie Elwes on Instagram @sophieelwes, Twitter @sophieelwes, and Facebook @sophieelwes. Sophie works as a mentor for the charity backuptrust.org.uk.Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

I can say confidently that this episode is the most personal to me. After losing my son Ali, I've dedicated a lot of time to understanding the topic of death. After all, as a parent, you want to know your child is safe, no matter where he is. After this conversation with Pim, I feel more and more that I can rest easy.Before we get into it, I need to issue a warning. Despite having proper equipment in place, the internet connection did not serve us well and led to a poorer quality recording than we are used to. We initially shelved this recording as unusable, which broke my heart because it is perhaps the most powerful conversation I've ever had. After re-reviewing and touching it up using the best audio magicians available, I decided I just had to release this. I ask only for your mercy in terms of the audio quality, though I'm certain it will be powerful for you too.For more than twenty years cardiologist Dr. Pim van Lommel has studied near-death experiences (NDEs) in patients who survived a cardiac arrest. In 2001, Dr. van Lommel and others published their seminal study on the subject in the reputable medical journal The Lancet. In 2007 he published in The Netherlands his bestselling book, which was translated into English in 2010 as Consciousness Beyond Life: The Science of the Near-Death Experience. Over the past several years Pim van Lommel has been lecturing all over the world on near-death experiences and the relationship between consciousness and brain function.Listen as we discuss:How a sudden death is never unexpected.The signs my dad gave me before he died that foreshadowed he would be leaving.The date of your natural death is already stored in your consciousness.Heartbreaking yet amazing stories of children who foreshadowed their own deaths.Pim's experience in the 1960's as one of the pioneers of coronary care.Near-death experiences (NDE's) are spiritual traumas that take decades to process.The definition and features of a NDEHow modern medicine has allowed us to "bring people back" to tell their stories.How NDE's can happen even in everyday life, including during meditation."I am a body" vs. "I have a body," and incredible stories of out of body experiences.Why do we need our organs at all if consciousness functions without them?The politics of why NDE studies are suppressed in academia and medicine.My feelings seeing Ali's body as "not him" after he passed.Is there a practice to acquire the heightened "powers" of an NDE without having one?Psychedelics and the features they share in common with NDE's.What is the abundance of love we feel at higher states of consciousness?Mindsight, and how the blind can see during NDE's.What is death?How I still chat with Ali, and how I believe he warned me about COVID.If the game never ends, that's exactly why you need to keep playing.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter:YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today’s guest is my new friend, Rebecca Seal. Rebecca is an award-winning food, drink, lifestyle and personal development writer based in London. She's also a wonderfully wise woman.A freelancer for over 10 years, she’s the author of Solo: How To Work Alone (And Not Lose Your Mind), a very timely,  thoroughly researched book pulling on behavioral science, organizational psychology and economics that also features interviews from some highly renowned and effective solo workers.She’s also written eight cookbooks, and her journalism is published worldwide in broadsheet newspapers and magazines.Listen as we discuss:A technique for guiding yourself through a fulfilling lifeBy articulating what you want, you're more likely to make those things happen."How did I end up here?" - the profound questionThe changing mindset toward work, and why surveys don't reflect reality quite yet.Superwoman Syndrome (see my amazing talk with Alice Law on the topic)How to be home all day with your partner and ensure tasks are split fairly (hint: communicate!)How to split from an intolerable cohabitationInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.com/podcastConnect with Rebecca Seal on Instagram @bexseal, Facebook @rebeccasealwriter,  on Twitter @rebeccaseal, and her website, rebeccaseal.co.ukDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today’s guest is Rebecca Seal. Rebecca is an award-winning food, drink, lifestyle and personal development writer based in London. She's also a wonderfully wise woman.A freelancer for over 10 years, she’s the author of Solo: How To Work Alone (And Not Lose Your Mind), a very timely,  thoroughly researched book pulling on behavioural science, organisation psychology and economics that also features interviews from some highly renowned and effective solo workers.She’s also written eight cookbooks, and her journalism is published worldwide in broadsheet newspapers and magazines.Listen as we discuss:Where Rebecca is private and where she isn'tThe reinvention of cuisine in the UKRebecca's focus on teaching healthy and simple cuisine and cookingHer newest and very timely book, Solo: How to Work Alone (And Not Lose Your Mind)How she worked herself into unhappiness and profound loneliness, which led to SoloWork is not what defines you.Being passionate about your work can also lead to being exploited and suffering.We don't see the gritty and grindy sides of even the most "glamorous" jobs.Job crafting, and how to do more of the things you enjoy and less of those you don't.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.com/podcastConnect with Rebecca Seal on Instagram @bexseal, Facebook @rebeccasealwriter,  on Twitter @rebeccaseal, and her website, rebeccaseal.co.ukDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today’s guest is Suneel Gupta,  the founder of RISE and faculty member at Harvard University. Using the seven steps inside his latest book, Backable - which teaches that the “It-factor” is learnable and needed to convince others to back you - Suneel went from being 'the face of failure' for the New York Times to being the “New Face of Innovation” for the New York Stock Exchange. His ideas have been backed by firms like Greylock and Google Ventures, and he has invested in startups including Airbnb, Calm, and SpaceX. Suneel also serves as an emissary for Gross National Happiness between the United States and the Kingdom of Bhutan.Listen as we discuss:The question he asks his daughters every morning: What's the meaning of life and what's the purpose of life?Being an architect vs. an archaeologist in the quest for purpose.The opposite of success is not failure, it's boredom.The Buddhist story of learning to leave behind past attachments and investmentsHow writing books is an exploration of the self.How to combat stressSuneel's next book on Dharma (I can't wait until it's out)Barack Obama's sense of ambivalence about winning or not  is a success mindset.Suneel's history as a featured failure in the New York timesWhat is being backable? What is this "It" quality?Creativity and persuasion are different.The IKEA effect, and how we place 5x  value on something we helped build.How Suneel convinced his wife to support his run for Congress.Flipping outsiders to insiders by making  people feel like they're part of your plan.Convince yourself first! Charisma is not what makes a person convincing, it's conviction!Great ideas get killed in hallways and watercoolers before they have a chance.Write down objections to your own idea and steer into them for credibility.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.com/podcastConnect with Suneel Gupta on Instagram @suneelgupta, Facebook @suneelgupta, Twitter @suneel, and his website, backable.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

This is part 2 of my interview with Suneel Gupta. I absolutely loved this conversation and I  have no doubt it will be useful for you. Suneel is an amazing and genuine human being with pure gold to offer.Suneel is the founder of RISE and faculty member at Harvard University. Using the seven steps inside his latest book, Backable - which teaches that the “It-factor” is learnable and needed to convince others to back you - Suneel went from being 'the face of failure' for the New York Times to being the “New Face of Innovation” for the New York Stock Exchange. His ideas have been backed by firms like Greylock and Google Ventures, and he has invested in startups including Airbnb, Calm, and SpaceX. Suneel also serves as an emissary for Gross National Happiness between the United States and the Kingdom of Bhutan.Listen as we discuss:The importance of one central character in storytelling to become backableThe advice Tim Ferriss gave Suneel on his business pitchEvery deal is closed on emotion, not numbers.Neutralize the negative and emphasize the inevitably of the idea"Give me something that I can't easily find on Google", a hidden insight, an earned secretPractice does indeed make perfect, and you can still pitch naturally with tons of it.The 4 C's of Becoming BackableAsk not what is good for the world but what makes you come alive.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.com/podcastConnect with Suneel Gupta on Instagram @suneelgupta, Facebook @suneelgupta, Twitter @suneel, and his website, backable.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today’s guest is Leandra Haupt, a coach, model, actress, hypnotist, earring designer, and host of the podcast Pure Happy Healthy. Leandra’s a marvelous woman whose goal is to help you step into your full power and feel connected to yourself again. She sees life as a constant learning experience believes happiness results from living according to your values.She reached out to me on Instagram, and rather than asking for her podcast's download numbers, I simply asked about her story. When she shared her distilled wisdom and incredible vulnerability, I knew I had to be on her show and have her on mine. This one is full of nuggets of wisdom for anyone who has ever doubted the value of their uniqueness and the importance of their own perspective on what it means to be beautiful.Listen as we discuss:How Leandra learned to speak six languages by following her heart.Why are some people afraid to follow their passion, and what made Leandra different?Not fitting in is a superpower!How she stumbled into a modeling career and avoids the toxic side of the industry (see my conversations with Brana Dane and Anne Therese Gennari for the other side)Why she got breast implants and later had them removed after a meditative healing period.How did Leandra begin to find herself sexy and feminine?Can you find out who you really are and get back to your pure self?Life is always for you, not against you, and trust that you're always held.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.com/podcastConnect with Leandra Haupt on Instagram @leandrahaupt, Facebook @leandra.haupt, and her website, leandra-haupt.com.Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today’s guest is innovation and creativity expert, Josh Linkner.Josh passionately believes that all human beings have incredible creative capacity, and he’s on a mission to unlock inventive thinking and creative problem solving to help leaders, individuals, and communities soar.He has been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which sold for a combined value of over $200 million and is the author of four books including the New York Times Bestsellers, Disciplined Dreaming and The Road to Reinvention. He has invested in and/or mentored over 100 startups and is the Founding Partner of Detroit Venture Partners.Today, Josh serves as Chairman and co-founder of Platypus Labs, an innovation research, training, and consulting firm. He has twice been named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award.His latest book is Big Little Breakthroughs, releasing April 2021.Listen as we discuss:Is innovation and creativity supposed to be easy?Creativity needs to be unlocked with disciplineWhat's the difference between creativity and innovation?Creativity is 85% a learned behavior.Josh’s new book Big Little Breakthroughs and his mission to surface the creative and innovator in everyoneThe cigarette litter solution that Josh considers innovative brillianceThe biggest blocker of creativity is fearKey lesson: start before you’re ready!How can creativity help us in this pandemic time?Are we ever at risk of going backwards?Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.com/podcastConnect with Josh Linkner on Instagram @joshlinkner, Facebook @joshlinkner, Twitter @joshlinkner, and his website, joshlinkner.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today's guest is Elisa Haggarty, introduced to me by former guest, dear friend, and Slo Mo's video editor, Elina St-Onge.Elisa Haggarty is a Conscious Leadership Coach, Functional Nutritionist & Lifestyle Expert, founder of Culinary Farmacy, and Head of Learning & Culture for Parsley Health. Elisa practices root cause resolution that means she works to find the triggers of disease in the human body and provides practical action steps on how to address health goals.Elisa is tired of the status quo that posits disease as synonymous with old age and your genetics as your fate, and firmly believes that each meal is a chance to impact mental and physical health.Listen as we discuss:Elisa's traumatic brain injury that led to clinical depression and a host of symptomsMeditating, diet, and self-development helped where the medical community failedPeople want quick results, so we eat poorly and don't even wonder anymoreHealth eating is not about calories; it's about color, and eating intentionally.People can list more corporations than vegetables or birds; we've lost touch with nature.You don't need to change anything to be happier.The word "should" means you're letting life happen to you instead of for you.Her dad's battle with dementia, and how she and her family are supporting him.The Conscious Leadership approach to coaching clients.How to not be a victim and cultivate playfulnessWhoever has the most fun wins life.Ask yourself in hardship: how can this work for me?Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.com/podcastConnect with Elisa Haggarty on Instagram @elisamaryhaggarty, Facebook @culinaryfarmacy, and Twitter @culinaryfarmacy.Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

In this episode, it's my great pleasure to speak with author and world renowned psychologist, Daniel Goleman. Dan is one of my heroes and just a spectacular mind.As a science journalist Daniel reported on the brain and behavioral sciences for The New York Times for many years. His 1995 book, Emotional Intelligence, is one of those massively influential, paradigm shattering books that has sold millions across decades. Through his work on the brain and effects of emotional intelligence on relationships and work, Daniel also advocates for meditation and has worked with the Dalai Lama to express his key teachings backed by empirical evidence.Daniel is a co-founder of the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning and currently co-directs the Consortium for Research on Emotional Intelligence in Organizations at Rutgers University. He is a board member of the Mind & Life Institute, and has been honored with the Washburn Award for science journalism, a Lifetime Career Award from the American Psychological Association, and was made a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in recognition of his communicating science to the general public.Listen as we discuss:How an influential trip to India pushed him away from academiaEmotional intelligence is the distinguisher of star performance, not domain expertise.The IQ FallacySocial intelligence, harmony, and empathy are what make great teams.Children are missing out on key development during the pandemic.The importance of eye contact and why Zoom and messaging doesn't cut it.Mindfulness meditation builds concentration and the ability to pay attention.Focus should be relaxed, not intense.Constructive anxiety (leads to action) vs. destructive anxiety (rumination)Matthieu Ricard (listen to our talk) and his impact on meditatorsDoes it really take 10,000 hours to master a skill?Escaping the Hedonic TreadmillFirst Person Plural: EI & Beyond, Dan's new podcastInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Daniel Goleman on Facebook @danielgoleman, Twitter @danielgolemanei and his website, danielgoleman.info.Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today's guest is Dr. Bruce Greyson, discussing one of my all time favorite topics: near-death experiences.Bruce is the Chester Carlson Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences at the University of Virginia. His interest in near-death experiences (NDE's) began just a few months after graduating from medical school, when he treated an unconscious patient in the emergency room who stunned him the next morning with an account of leaving her body.That event challenged his beliefs about the mind and the brain, and ultimately led him on a journey to study near-death experiences scientifically, leading to more than a hundred publications in medical journals. He co-founded the International Association for Near-Death Studies (IANDS), an organization to support and promote research into these experiences. Through his research, he has discovered common and universal themes in near-death experiences that go beyond neurophysiological or cultural interpretations, as well as patterns of consistent aftereffects on individuals’ attitudes, beliefs, values, and personalities.He is the author of the newly released After: A Doctor Explores What Near-Death Experiences Reveal About Life and Beyond, a fantastic book I recommend.Listen as we discuss:Bruce's new book, After, and the decades of research behind itGrowing up in a materialist household without consideration of the non-physicalThe incredible story of how he came to believe in and begin researching NDE'sHow do you measure near death experiences scientifically?The characteristics and definition of near-death experiences.Getting the brain out of the way can actually lead to clearer thinking."The brain is the messenger and interpreter of the mind."The senses and mind only let in the signals we need for survival, not spirituality.Multiple cases of how patients leave their bodies and see verifiable truthsLife review and meeting deceased love ones, even those they didn't know died.The complete elimination of the fear of death is the main after effect of a NDE.The evidence points to the physical world not being the whole story.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Dr. Bruce Greyson on Facebook and his website, brucegreyson.com.Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

This is Part 2 of my mind-blowing conversation with the brilliant Dr. Donald Hoffman.Donald is a full professor of cognitive science at the University of California, the author of The Case Against Reality and Visual Intelligence, and the co-author of Observer Mechanics.Within his body of work, Donald studies how our visual perception, guided by millions of years of natural selection, generates every aspect of our so-called reality. Through his research, he has discovered important clues pointing to the subjective nature of reality, which can be best understood as a set of phenomena our brain constructs to guide our behavior. In other words, we actively create everything we see, and we see what we need to see to make sense of things and survive.  This is a truly mind-blowing conversation, so get ready to work your brain and challenge your perceptions at their very most fundamental.Donald has received a Distinguished Scientific Award of the American Psychological Association for early career research into visual perception, the Rustum Roy Award of the Chopra Foundation, and the Troland Research Award of the US National Academy of Sciences. Listen as we discuss:The brain is just an icon, and accepting that as a neuroscientist is possible.Brains do not exist when they're not observed, nor does anything else.We render what we see every time we perceive it and garbage collect it.Getting into the flow state while playing video games is like rendering a new reality.Donald's current work on trying to find a mathematical model for conscious agentsHow you can manipulate the visual cortex and movement perception with magnetsEach hemisphere of the brain has different consciousness, knowledge and worldviews.Natural selection has hidden the truth from us.The tools of science can be applied to something beyond spacetime - spirituality.The role of the observer in quantum theory, and quantum theory is nothing but the algebra of space-time.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Donald Hoffman on Twitter @donaldhoffman.Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today’s guest is the brilliant Dr. Donald Hoffman. Donald is a full professor of cognitive science at the University of California, the author of The Case Against Reality and Visual Intelligence, and the co-author of Observer Mechanics.Within his body of work, Donald studies how our visual perception, guided by millions of years of natural selection, generates every aspect of our so-called reality. Through his research, he has discovered important clues pointing to the subjective nature of reality, which can be best understood as a set of phenomena our brain constructs to guide our behavior. In other words, we actively create everything we see, and we see what we need to see to make sense of things and survive.  This is a truly mind-blowing conversation, so get ready to work your brain and challenge your perceptions at their very most fundamental.Donald has received a Distinguished Scientific Award of the American Psychological Association for early career research into visual perception, the Rustum Roy Award of the Chopra Foundation, and the Troland Research Award of the US National Academy of Sciences. Listen as we discuss:How did Donald get into the full time study of making a case against reality?Why mathematical models of processing reality are still ignoring a deeper layer.You cannot infer from what you're doing in a game what is actually rendering the game.We only see the parts of the game we focus on.Evolution has given us a VR headset, not a window into reality, and the point of it is to win the game of life.Winning the game and seeing the truth are two very different things.If you try to control reality directly, you're going to be very inefficient and lose the game.Science is evolving, and space-time is doomed because it's in "the game world".We're programmed to believe in "reality" from age 4 and never question it.Humility is how we learn.The brain is an icon in your perception, not a causal mechanism.Donald's Theory of Conscious Agents and why existence is like TwitterReality is a visualization tool that distills and focuses our experience so we don't get overwhelmed.Everything is just icons we associate with a consciousness.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Donald Hoffman on Twitter @donaldhoffmanDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

This is Part 2 of my talk with the embodiment of hard-won calm, Alice Law. Alice is a Stress Management and Holistic Performance Coach; Energy and Intuitive Mindfulness Practitioner; speaker; and host of the Lawali Life Podcast. She teaches individuals, overwhelmed executives, entrepreneurs, and corporations how to strip away stress and guide them back to balance so they can feel calm, focused, and successful in all areas of their life and work. Alice is the founder of the Lawali Life Calm Collective, an accessible online monthly membership that she created to guide women on how to connect more deeply to the calmness of the their mind so they can make room for the voice of their intuition. Her main mission is to help people live as free from stress and anxiety as possible. Alice is well wise beyond her years, and the two parts this conversation will surely inspire you to rid your life of stress.Listen as we discuss:The stresses of a woman in her 30'sSuperwoman Syndrome and all the expectationsEnergy directs our reality.We are in charge of our own healing, and it never stops.Being "spiritually stressed" is when we're out of alignment with our true selvesHow to get reacquaint yourself with yourself, or your soul.You can't heal what you refuse to feel!Have the courage to face your feelings to let them run their course.Alice's top calm practices: meditating, journaling, dancingReacting vs. RespondingInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Alice Law on Instagram @lawali_life, Twitter @lawali_life, Facebook @LawaliLife, and her website, lawali-life.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today's guest is perhaps the calmest person I know : my dear friend, Alice Law. That calmness has been hard-won. Alice is a Stress Management and Holistic Performance Coach; Energy and Intuitive Mindfulness Practitioner; speaker; and host of the Lawali Life Podcast. She teaches individuals, overwhelmed executives, entrepreneurs, and corporations how to strip away stress and guide them back to balance so they can feel calm, focused, and successful in all areas of their life and work. Alice is the founder of the Lawali Life Calm Collective, an accessible online monthly membership that she created to guide women on how to connect more deeply to the calmness of the their mind so they can make room for the voice of their intuition. Her main mission is to help people live as free from stress and anxiety as possible. Alice is well wise beyond her years, and the two parts this conversation will surely inspire you to rid your life of stress.Listen as we discuss:What is a stress management coach?Alice's intensely difficult but relatable journey from carefree to brutally overwhelmedThe loss of her sister, her father ("twice"). and how that inspired her to learn to copeEverything she teaches now is how she got out of that difficult timeWhy do bad things seem to happen all at the same time?Why I believe Ali left voluntarilyWhat is stress and where does it come from? Uncertainty and control.We're stressed all the time and detached from our true essence.Shift your perspective on your stresses and be present every once in a while.The power of intuition and why you shouldn't doubt it (if you can even hear it)Calmness is the optimal mode for decision making.One of the greatest antidotes to stress is kindness.Your purpose finds you when you're ready.Be kind to yourself!Is Alice always so calm?Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Alice Law on Instagram @lawali_life, Twitter @lawali_life, Facebook @LawaliLife, and her website, lawali-life.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today’s guest is the wonderful Ajahn Brahm, a Theravada Buddhist monk and a brilliant teacher. In fact, Ajahn is the first guest my producer insisted on meeting and introducing to his girlfriend, too.Ajahn Brahm grew up in London and earned a degree in Theoretical Physics from Cambridge University. Disillusioned with the world of academia, he became a monk in 1974 training in the jungles of Thailand under meditation master Ajahn Chah. He is today a revered spiritual teacher and guide, and is abbot of the largest Buddhist monastery in the Southern Hemisphere. He is the author of Opening the Door Of Your Heart, Mindfulness Bliss and Beyond, The Art of Disappearing, and Don’t Worry Be Grumpy.Despite drawing criticism and controversy, he has courageously spoken out publicly on numerous occasions about the harm done by homophobia, and has been strongly supportive of gay marriage, the plight of asylum seekers, and gender equality in religion.His public teachings regularly attract thousands to his inventive and insightful talks, which are heard by millions of people online. Despite this status, he still lives simply in a small hut in the forest, has no money or bank account, and enjoys nothing more than a cup of tea and sitting in meditation.Listen as we discuss:Why are the best teachers also the most humble?What you see in another person is what they'll show you back.Why Ajahn asserted his right to bow to a statue of Jesus ChristAny place you don't want to be is a prison, but real prison can be a retreat.How COVID is curing the problem of tiredness and being out of time.What is the mind? And the almost perfect answer of a 6 year old.The nature of objective reality.When you experience silence, don't give it a name.What is wisdom? It's what brings you to peace.How do you inspire people to meditate? Be still.The blind are leading the blind.Why are we here?Mistakes should not be stigmatized.Who is the most important person in your life?What's the most important time?What's the most important action?The metaphor of the concert and why I clap for Ali's performanceInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Ajahn Brahm on YouTube , the Buddhist Society of Western Australia's YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today’s guest is Paula Rizzo.If it wasn't for Paula, you never would have heard of Mo Gawdat or any of my projects. Paula was the producer on one of my first TV interviews, which I totally bombed. Out of kindness, she reached out to me with some incredible tips that entirely shaped my media engagement strategy moving forward. As a result, my subsequent interview with Channel 4 broke records and catapulted me and my mission into the public eye.As a best-selling author and Emmy-award winning television producer for nearly 20 years, Paula has produced health, wellness, and lifestyle segments with a range of top experts, including JJ Virgin, Jillian Michaels, and Deepak Chopra. Paula served as Senior Health Producer for Fox News Channel in New York City for over a decade.She’s the co-creator of Lights Camera Expert  – an online course geared towards helping entrepreneurs, authors and experts get media attention; the creator of the productivity site ListProducer.com, and the best-selling author of Listful Thinking: Using Lists to be More Productive, Highly Successful and Less Stressed, which has been translated into 12 languages and was featured across the media including on Oprah.com’s list of “Self Help Books That Actually Help.”Her latest book is Listful Living: A List-Making Journey to a Less Stressed You.Listen as we discuss:Her transition from producer to building her personal brandMy initial media interview disaster and Paula's tips that changed my lifeLearning to tell my story like it's the first time I've ever told it, and not feel like a fraud"Don't bury the lead!"The Accordion MethodWhy is Paula so upbeat and positive all the time?How Paula has gotten list making down to an artformThe time she ignored her burst appendix and realized  her ego was calling the shotsPrioritizing getting content out there, not obsessing about perfectionHow to use short term tasks on lists to accomplish long term goalsConnecting with and being of service to the audience is goal #1 in presenting yourselfThe important of thinking in minutes and setting boundaries on your timeInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Paula Rizzo on Instagram @listproducer,  Twitter @listproducer, on Facebook @paularizzo.co, on LinkedIn @paularizzo1, and her website, YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today I’m speaking with the wonderful Samantha Clarke, happiness consultant, speaker, podcast host, & author of Love It or Leave It: How to be Happy at Work. As a happiness consultant, Samantha is on a mission to liberate individuals from work they no longer love to find a path to true work happiness. As a faculty lecturer at the School of Life and The Guardian Masterclasses, she facilitates workshops on career potential, building a portfolio career, managing stress, confidence and authentic leadership.Samantha is also the host of the podcast series, "Conversations with Samantha&" and the newer series, "Love it or Leave It with Samantha&...", in which she interviews individuals who have taken the reigns on their own work happiness.I found so much value in Samantha's words that I decided to add my own personal reflections to the end of this episode. I think you will too.Listen as we discuss:The anti-climactic launch of her book just before lockdownHer past life as a style consultantHow we use work as a distractionAre we supposed to enjoy work?What will happen to the workaholics when we have a universal basic income?The effect of COVID on where we think we should be livingHow work has become more challenging at homeSamantha's key tips for working at home in a healthy wayBoundaries between "work" and "toxic" internet useHer book, Love it or Leave ItHave a roadmap before quitting your job!Are you working a job, a career, or a calling?Ask yourself: Is this serving me, or am I serving it?My personal reflections on this awesome conversationInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Samantha Clarke on Instagram @samanthaand_ and her website, samanthaand.coDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today I'm honored to speak with my brilliant friend Dr. Fred Luskin, who I met at the World Happiness Summit in Miami in 2019. Fred founded and serves as the Director of the Stanford University Forgiveness Projects, among other academic positions. At Stanford, Fred teaches The Art of Happiness, Meditation, Developing Emotional Intelligence and The Psychology of Storytelling, in addition to giving numerous workshops and talks worldwide. His book Forgive for Good is the best-selling self-help book published on the topic of forgiveness, and there's no doubt that he is the world's most prominent expert on the topic.The forgiveness project has successfully explored forgiveness therapy with people who suffered from the violence in Northern Ireland, Sierra Leone as well as the attacks on the World Trade Center on 9/11. Forgiveness reduces anger, stress, and depression, and leads to optimism and hope. It's an elixir for many of our mental ailments, but the ego tries to you from embracing it.Listen as we discuss:Coping is about being okay with confusion and ambivalenceSurvival intelligence vs. Coping intelligence.Why everyone needs to have a practice to stay anchoredWhy are some people so angry and prone to conspiracy theories?We are all seeking to feel balanced, and sometimes that manifests as wishing harm.The importance of communicating with the right energy.It's too easy to find problems in this world.Forgiveness is freedom, and one of the biggest threats to the human ego.Top tips: Practice kindness, practice meditation, and share your troubles with others.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Dr. Fred Luskin at his website, learningtoforgive.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today’s guest is Dr. James R. Doty, professor of neurosurgery at Stanford University School of Medicine and the founder and director of the Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education of which His Holiness the Dalai Lama is the founding benefactor. James is considered one of the leading experts on the neuroscience of compassion. Having overcome a challenging childhood, he has achieved incredible success becoming a renowned neurosurgeon, neuroscientist, entrepreneur, NY Times bestselling author, inventor and philanthropist. He is the author of an award-winning NY Times bestseller, Into the Magic Shop: A Neurosurgeons Quest to Discover the Mysteries of the Brain and the Secrets of the Heart which has been translated into 36 languages.James' story is unbelievable and as inspiring as it gets. You'll soon understand why his group of friends includes the likes of the Dalai Lama, Amma, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and other titans of spirituality.Listen as we discuss:What it's like to tell your personal story over and over againJames' traumatic childhood upbringingThe fateful visit to a magic shop that led him to meet Ruth, a life-changing figureGiving the benefit of the doubt and being wrong is better than being cynicalWhy James gave away his entire 30 million dollar fortune, even remaining in debtTo have real meaning in life is to be of service to othersWhat would drive someone to give away everything?How the Dalai Lama became a major part of his lifeThe need for a compassion revolutionThe wealthy class leads the charge to change but will never give up powerWe give away our power to impact the world...don't be afraid of it!Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Dr. James Doty  on  Instagram @jamesrdotymd, on Twitter @jamesrdotymd, on Facebook @jamesrdoty, and his website, jamesrdotymd.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today’s guest is the brilliant Ruby Wax.For those of you who follow Ruby, you'll know what to expect (and the title of this episode likely won't offend you). For those who haven't been exposed to her work, note that Ruby uses comedy to both communicate, destigmatize, and cope with mental illness. She is hilarious, but also a serious researcher and a renowned force for good. If you're listening to Slo Mo, you're likely already open-minded, but consider this the extent of my disclaimer that this episode contains words like "whore". Onward.Ruby is a successful comedian, TV writer and performer of over 25 years. She also holds a master’s degree in Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy from Oxford University, and was awarded an OBE in 2015 for her services to mental health.She is the author of books Sane New World and A Mindfulness Guide for the Frazzled and has toured all over the world with the accompanying one-woman shows. Both books have reached the number one spot on the Sunday Times bestsellers list and a third book, How to Be Human: The Manual was also a major bestseller. In March 2017 she launched Frazzled Café in partnership with Marks & Spencer and in November 2017, she was announced as the president of the UK’s leading relationship support charity Relate. Listen as we discuss:How COVID has ushered in the Golden Age of EmpathyDeveloping Compassion Overload  from all the suffering and tragedy we're fedHow to focus your empathy on areas you can actually make an impactRuby's Frazzled CaféSurvival of the fittest is about who collaborates best, not about 'me first'How technology is both the solution and the causeMy thoughts on how and when Big Tech companies began to go astrayWere ancient humans also depressed?How Ruby staves off depression when she feels it creeping onHow she turned depression into comedy, which saved her lifeDepression is impossible to live with.Ruby and my own advice on what to do when you're depressedFocusing on making your own little world better is the first step to helpingWhore moments on the route to wisdomSome hilarious looks back on work Ruby did when she was addicted to gameAre too much screens contributing to mental illness?Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Ruby Wax  on  Instagram @rubywax, on Twitter @rubywax, on Facebook @rubywaxofficial, andYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today’s guest is Sofie Sun. Sofie was born in the People's Republic of China in 1986. She came to the Netherlands in 2007 to pursue her degree, and has lived there ever since. After receiving a master’s degree in Dutch Literature, she has gone on and translated more than 100 books from Dutch to Chinese.Sofie founded Build Your Happiness to bring engagement and happiness at work for different organizations and has also served as Chief Happiness Officer for one of the biggest Dutch banks, ABN Amro. Her mission is to help organizations create a safe and trusted environment so everyone can feel free to be who they truly are. In a place like this, happiness is everywhere.In order to continue her mission and to spread as much happiness as possible, Sofie, together with her life and business partner Marco van Onzen, is organizing a series of happiness events in 2021. The first event, Define Your Happiness, will take place on March 4th 2021. This unique, innovative event features inspiring speakers to help motivate people to be, and to stay, happy in the new year and beyond.Listen as we discuss:Sofie's story moving from China to the Netherlands - a whole new worldHow she studied Dutch as a strategic choice, but it led her to a thriving careerThe extraordinary challenges she faced in transitioning to a new cultureThe kindness she received  that gave her hopeHow she began working in happiness, and the disappointing effects of a pay raiseThe difference between Dutch and Chinese cultures, and how she became a bridgeIs happiness at work the responsibility of the employer?The Define Your Happiness event at which I'll be speakingInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Sofie Sun on  Instagram @sofie__sun, on Twitter @soundandsolid , on Facebook @sofiesun86, and her website, defineyourhappiness.nlDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today's guest is Dr. Robert Biswas-Diener, widely known as the “Indiana Jones of Positive Psychology” because his research has taken him to such far-flung places as Greenland, India, Kenya, and Israel.He is a leading authority on strengths, culture, courage, and happiness and known for his pioneering work in the application of positive psychology to coaching. Robert has authored more than 60 peer-reviewed academic articles and chapters, two of which are “citation classics” (cited more than 1,000 times each). Dr. Biswas-Diener has authored seven books, including The Courage Quotient, the 2007 PROSE Award winner, Happiness, and the New York Times Best Seller, The Upside of Your Dark Side.Listen as we discuss:The importance of dealing with sadness without trying to soften the realityAccepting that guilt is functional without exaggerating it into something maliciousHow writing his book taught him to allow his kids to feel frustrated sometimesBuying safety for our kids often costs them opportunity as wellWe are allergic to discomfort.His experiences living in a remote village in India and hunting in GreenlandThe common threads of what make people happy regardless of cultureDigging into your happy memories to generate happiness on demand (so cool)Ramadan fasting, simulating poverty, and its effect on gratitudeThe joy of the anticipation often outweighs the anticipated experienceLiking vs. WantingRelationships pay off more than money toward happinessThe man who calculated exactly how much money he needs to be happy, and did itInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Robert Biswas-Diener on Twitter @biswasdiener and his website, robertdiener.com.Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

My guest today is my insane friend, Marcelo Garcia.Marcelo is an entrepreneur, health enthusiast, non-profit founder, and explorer (and tech expert, and a million other things). If you notice any discrepancies in audio quality, please forgive us on this one. Marcelo created a makeshift Zoom setup while solo climbing Mount Blanc after weeks of prolonged fasting in order to take this interview, so he's coming at us from the highest campsite in Europe. See what I mean by insane?Marcelo, originally from Brazil, has traveled to more than 125 countries, and speaks 9 languages. He founded Wisdom Accelerator to encourage the young and ambitious to connect with peer-aged role models and take their wisdom to the next level. ("Doing the right thing at the right time").But for the sake of this episode, being published in January and certainly on time to catch a lot of New Year's Resolutions during this challenging time of home confinement, we focus on Marcelo's physical transformation through fasting. Just wait until you see what the human body can handle, and just how healthy it is to not eat for a while, every once in a while.More importantly, it's clear that the limitations we place on ourselves when we lack supposed necessities are far overblown.Listen as we discuss:Marcelo's decision to take control of his health after reaching borderline obesityThe 7-day fast that kickstarted it allHis goal to go from obese to looking like Aquaman during quarantine (I wish!)His 50 day stretch without any food and 0 caloriesHis blood test results after extended fasting periodsWhat's he doing climbing Mont Blanc and talking to me?How he lost 40% of his body mass!A recommendation: most healthy people should fast for 7 days, 4 times a yearIs physical performance affected during fasting?Should we really make role models of those who ignore their health?His NGO, Wisdom Accelerator, and its effect on youth seeking relatable role modelsThe grit and the willpower are even more satisfying rewards than the weight lossIt's okay not to eat sugar because you have plenty of fat.So many of our limitations are simply fabricated.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Marcelo Garcia on Facebook @garcia.marcelo and his website, wisdomaccelerator.orgDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

This is a very special episode with Gelong Thubten, the Buddhist monk, meditation teacher and author.At the age of 21, Thubten gave up the life of an actor and ordained as a Tibetan Buddhist monk at the Kagyu Samye Ling in Scotland - Europe’s oldest and largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery. He has spent over six years in intensive meditation retreats, the longest of which was 4 years, and he has been trained by some of the world’s greatest masters of meditation.He is now regarded as one of the UK's most influential meditation teachers. Thubten contributed to Ruby Wax's most recent book, How to Be Human (stay tuned for my interview with Ruby in the coming weeks!). His own book, A Monk's Guide to Happiness was a Sunday Times Top Ten Bestseller with editions in 10 countries internationally. He was kind enough to come and tell his story (with admirable honesty and humility), but also treat us to a guided meditation practice after spelling out perhaps the simplest and most effective explanation of how to meditate I've ever heard.Listen as we discuss:Gelong Thubten's life as a party animal through his teenage years.The resulting brutal burnout that led him to a meditation practice.His decision to join a monastery for a year - that turned into 26 years.His 9 month silent retreat.Is the monk path the best path?How Thubten's extreme nature made it difficult for him to meditate.Spiritual materialism and the phenomenon of "faking" spirituality early in training.You know you're on the right track if your compassion is growing.The simplest explanation of how to actually meditate (the best I've heard)The importance of setting a time limit to meditateA short guided meditation practice led by the teacher himself, Gelong ThubtenInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Gelong Thubten on Instagram @gelongthubten, on Facebook @GelongThubtenOfficial, on Twitter @Gelong_Thubten, and his website, gelongthubten.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today's guest is Michaela Boehm.By now, you must know I love talking about relationships almost as much as I love discussing happiness. Michaela has given Slo Mo one of my favorite takes yet on the perpetually interesting and controversial topic of human sexuality and intimacy. (See my interviews with Dr. Robert Glover, Alain de Botton, and Kasia Urbaniak for some other fascinating takes). Michaela travels and teaches internationally as an expert in intimacy, relationship and sexuality. Her unique body of work centers around the intersection of intimacy and embodiment. With over 30,000 hours of in-person counseling, clinical experience in trauma and addiction and innovative somatic approach, her work with celebrities (Will Smith, Gwyneth Paltrow, etc.) has been featured in international print publications, TV programs and online talk shows. Most recently her approach has been featured on the Netflix Series [UN] WELL, which is how I first saw her and decided I had to reach out. Michaela is the creator of The Non-Linear Movement Method, and her book The Wild Woman’s Way  was published in 2018.Listen as we discuss:What is an intimacy?The meaning of embodiment, the ability to hear and feel the messages of the bodyHow intimacy with yourself is the fundamental step before intimacy with othersIs it normal to lose the spark in your relationship? Yes, and here's why.Caution: Attend to the issues in a relationship before it's too late. They're fixable.Erotic friction vs. Relationship , the clash between familiarity and newnessA relationship problem is when you're not agreeing, not alignedAn attraction problem is the result of too much familiarity, too aligned."I married my best friend, but we no longer have sex."The biological, emotional, and spiritual layers of human relationships.How to rekindle the spark and introduce variety into your relationship.Do women really like men in uniforms? (And why?)The importance of being honest about the compromises you make in a relationship.Learn new sexual skills! Sex-Life BalanceInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Michaela Boehm on Instagram @micboehm77, on Facebook @boehm.michaela, and her website, michaelaboehm.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today's guest is an incredible woman, Dr. Tara Swart. Tara is a neuroscientist, medical doctor, executive advisor, Senior Lecturer at MIT Sloan, and author of best-seller, The Source. Tara is passionate about disseminating simple, pragmatic neuroscience-based messages that change the way people live and work.In her work, Tara reveals the neuroscience that supports The Law of Attraction as an effective tool for self-discovery and offers a guide to discovering your authentic self to access your best life now. Her life story is proof that manifestation works, and I'm sure you'll agree after listening - just in time to ensure your 2021 goals get met.Listen as we discuss:What it's like to be a woman, a neuroscientist, and also spiritualHow do we define spirituality?Leaving the medical field to pursue her passionNever seeing the limitations of being a woman (Tara) or being a Muslim (Mo)"If you think you can't or you think you can, you're probably right." - Henry FordThe suppression of women, going back to the witch trialsWhat was Tara put on this planet to do?Embracing the privilege of helping those who are vulnerable around youHow meditation leads to relaxed awareness and better coping skillsCalibrating your stages of grief with others who are suffering during the pandemicHow vivid dreaming has been a product of anxietyHow did Tara manifest her husband?The neuroscience behind manifestationInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Dr. Tara Swart on Instagram @drtaraswart, on Facebook @TheSourceDrTaraSwart, on Twitter @TaraSwart, and her website, taraswart.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Happy New Year! What better way to start off 2021 than with a futurist? Ah, but John Sanei is not your typical futurist. His work combines ancient wisdom in its approach to futurism, and I know you'll agree when I say this is one of the most incredible conversations we've had on this podcast so far.I normally prepare a lot before interviews, but I wanted to flow with John because my friend who introduced us, Alice Law (interview with her coming soon!), told me that John will take the talk to some amazing places. That is exactly what happened. Consider me a huge fan of John Sanei from now on.John Sanei is a best-selling author, futurist and keynote speaker whose passion for psychology and technology has seen him engage with brands across the globe, and help them build the mental approach needed to make tomorrow more abundant than they ever thought possible.In What’s Your Moonshot? (his first book) he inspires the reader to ask bigger, bolder and more courageous questions about the future. In MAGNETiiZE – his second book, he invites the reader to focus on elegant, conscious and deliberate questions about the future.John is proudly the first African faculty member of Singularity University in San Francisco.Listen as we discuss:Essentialism vs. Minimalism The engineering mindsetMo: 2021 = The Year of FlowJohn: 2021 = The Year of SymbiosisCOVID-19 is like a weed.What is a futurist? And how does ancient wisdom fit into the study?Living based on memories of the past vs. the vision of the futureLiving in a victim bubble vs. a joy bubbleSeeing ourselves as being either with life or against lifeThe Drama TriangleMourning our future memories (this is fascinating)How the brain processes our memories (and time), and why we hold onto themThe neuroplasticity of changeJohn's incredible journey of forgiving his father for childhood abuseHow can we change memories so they make us feel good rather than bad?Hoʻoponopono, the Hawaiian practice of reconciliation and forgivenessEmpathyJohn's work with shamanic and plant medicine"Don't try to forgive. Just do the work to hold more light, and the rest will fall off."Where is 2021 heading from a futurist perspective?Gen Z and Baby Boomers - What is the meaning of success?The three stages of transformationEngaging in empathetic activismDeveloping foresightNewtonian vs. Quantum ScienceComplicated vs. ComplexInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with John Sanei on Instagram @johnsanei, on Facebook @trenovator, on Twitter @iamjohnsanei, and his website.DoYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

This is Part 2 of the chat between myself and my own brain, Becky.For those who know me well, you know I call my brain Becky. Becky is a retired control freak, tends to be obsessive, sees the negative in everything and loves to be vocal about it. I decided to free flow a year in review with Becky, focusing on the positive.Thank you to our listeners and guests for an incredible year. There's so much more Slo Mo to come. I love you all for listening.In Part 2, (we) discuss:The lessons I've learned from my amazing guests in Slo Mo's first yearWe're lucky to suffer like we do, instead of how Dr. Edith Eger did in AuschwitzVulnerability among hardship, demonstrated by Pia Stanchina, Susie Flory, Kim Ross, Elina St-Onge, Dorota Stanczyk, Elizabeth Day, and Jackie KnechtelMaria Sirois: The flower I planted this morning is not going to live forever. Life is change.Kevin Abdulrahman: I will come out of this pandemic better than when it started.Rick Hanson: We can physically change our brain by changing the way we think.Zoom has humbled us.Arun Gandhi: Anger is a gift.2020 has ushered in the golden age of empathy.My monk friends who live lives dedicated to compassion.Robert Glover on "Nice Guys" and Kasia Urbaniak on "Good Girls"Alain de Botton: The most listened to episode of 2020How the lockdown led to Slo Mo, and that's been the greatest giftYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today's guest is Becky.For those who know me well, you know I call my brain Becky. Becky is a retired control freak, tends to be obsessive, sees the negative in everything and loves to be vocal about it.A couple of weeks ago, she asked if she could be my guest on Slo Mo to talk with me about this exceptional year, 2020, in review. I had to oblige, as I've revamped my relationship with her throughout the years and owed her at least this.And before we dive in, I want to say it's been one of the greatest and most fulfilling pleasures of my life and career to host this podcast. There's so much more Slo Mo to come, and I love you all for listening.In Part 1, listen as I (we) discuss:2020, one of the most notable years in modern historyWhy some took 2020 so well, and others not so well.The Happiness EquationThe difference between happiness and funLessons on calm, anger, and moving forwardRevisiting stoicism and my talk with Donald RobertsonThe illusions of control and knowledgeThe 6 grand illusions and 7 blind spots (as mentioned in my book, Solve for Happy)Tal Ben Shahar on defining happiness: "Truth, truth, truth"Revisiting Rick Hanson and Dan Siegel on Negativity BiasHas COVID been as bad as we think?Scheduling your anxiety, a wonderful lesson from Karen GuggenheimShould we really want to erase the harsh moments from life?Alexandra Cousteau on COVID's positive impact on the environmentJimmy Nelson on finding love and calm across the street, not across the worldThings could have been so much worse!Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.See you next year!YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Dr. Rupy Aujla is a General Practitioner for the UK National Health Service working in Emergency Medicine and completing a masters in Nutritional Medicine. He is the founder of ‘The Doctor’s Kitchen’, which strives to inspire and educate everybody about the beauty of food and medicinal effects of eating well.He is a Sunday Times bestselling author, with two cookbooks published by HarperCollins - The Doctor’s Kitchen and Eat to Beat Illness and a third book Doctor's Kitchen 3-2-1, due for release on 31 December 2020.He is also the founding director of Culinary Medicine, a non-profit organization which aims to teach doctors and medical students the foundations of nutrition, as well as teaching them how to cook. Listen as we discuss:Why does Dr. Rupy continue to practice in the NHS despite his successful franchise?His own  journey of holistic recovery from a medical conditionHow so many diseases are preventable by healthy nutrition and lifestyleSeeing food as a gateway drug into lifestyle medicineThe incredibly impact of gratitude exercises, especially on bad daysDr. Rupy's brilliant "unfollow me" postThe key: lots fiber, quality fats, mostly plants, lots of colors, eating in time, eating wholeSalutogenesisWhy the microbiota is inseparable from healthThe critical importance of fiberIs it okay to eat unhealthy sometimes?Is a Raw Diet recommended?What is quality fat?His new book, Doctor's Kitchen 3-2-1What food does he include in every meal?Dr. Rupy's non-profit, Coloring MedicineInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Dr. Rupy Aujla on Instagram @doctors_kitchen, on Facebook @thedoctorskitchen, on Twitter @doctors_kitchen, and on his website, thedoctorskitchen.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only withYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Helen Russell is a bestselling author, journalist and speaker. Her first book, The Year of Living Danishly, became an international bestseller and has been optioned for television. She is the author of four other critically acclaimed books, translated into 21 languages.Helen also writes for magazines and newspapers globally, including The Times and The Sunday Times, the Telegraph, the Independent, National Geographic, Wall Street Journal, the Observer, Metro, Grazia, Stylist and Stella. She’s spent the last eight years studying cultural approaches to emotions and now speaks about her work internationally.Her newest book, How to Be Sad, will be released in March 2021.Listen as we discuss:What is the source of Helen's incredible work ethic? (Published 5 books in 5 years!)Is Denmark really the happiest nation on Earth?Fairness, safety, and even climate play a role in happiness.Is safety an illusion and is risk an illusion of the brain?A tour around the world through the lens of her Atlas of HappinessUK: Everything's fine...let's make a joke...Iceland: It will all work out.Greece: Have a labor of love and pour your heart into it.Happiness hacks that actually work.The joy of living small and feeling small.Why it's ok to see and accept the bad sides of life.Does logging off make us happier?Look after yourself.Uphold your values.Do something for the sake of it!How can we be self-starters?Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Helen Russell on Instagram @mshelenrussell, on Facebook @mshelenrussell, on Twitter @mshelenrussell, and on her website, helenrussell.co.ukDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

I'm a huge fan of the work of today's guest, Courtney Carver.Courtney launched her blog Be More with Less in 2010 and is one of the top bloggers in the world on the subject of minimalism. She is the author of Soulful Simplicity and is the creator of the minimalist fashion challenge, Project 333, a new approach to living simply starting with your wardrobe. Project 333 promises that not only can you survive with just 33 items in your closet for 3 months, but you'll thrive too. Her body of work focuses on the power of simplicity to improve our health, build more meaningful relationships, and relieve stress in our professional and personal lives. I'm sure you'll breathe a sigh of relief when you realize that less can definitely be more.Listen as we discuss:How did Courtney discover minimalism?Being deep in debt in her 20'sThe inevitable breakdown that comes from being too busy for too longHer diagnosis with MS, after training for a cycling race to support MSListening for the body's wake-up callProject 333, and how it came to beThe beautiful realization that people don't pay attention to what you're wearingHow did she pay off her debt?Getting past the need to impress others with what you ownHow she deals with negative comments and feedback"I've already settled it for myself. Flattery and criticism go down the same drain." - Georgia O'KeefeThe Simplicity Space The pressure society places on women to show up and look goodHabit stacking, a brilliant practice for easing into long-lasting habitsHow to furnish a new space minimallyCreating the environment in which you want to experience lifeInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Courtney Carver on Instagram @bemorewithless, on Facebook @bemorewithlessdotcom, on Twitter @courtneycarver, and on her website, Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today’s guest is the amazing Emma Slade.Emma had a highly-successful international career in finance, becoming a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and working as a Senior Analyst in London, New York and Hong Kong for HSBC on portfolios of $1bn+.Following a life-changing visit to Jakarta, Indonesia, where she was held hostage at gun point, she discovered in herself a yearning to understand the deeper aspects of what it is to be a human being. She put her financial career on hold and began travelling and exploring yoga and meditation. A chance meeting with a Buddhist Lama on her first visit to Bhutan in 2011 led to her becoming the first and only Western woman to be ordained in the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan as a Buddhist nun.Emma founded the registered UK charity, ‘Opening Your Heart to Bhutan’ in 2015, which builds medical and educational facilities to help special needs children in Bhutan. She was given a Points of Light award by the UK Prime Minister in recognition of her charity work. Her first book, Set Free, was published in April 2017.Listen as we discuss:Islamic fitra and Buddha-natureWhat is Buddha-nature?Is fear innate or a product of conditioning?The subtle, karmic imprints we are born with, according to BuddhismIf we get reincarnated anyway, why don't we just spend our lives partying?Emma's incredible story from banker to Buddhist nunShould everyone become a monk or nun? What other paths are there to peace?Knowing when enough is enough, and what that means for Emma"It's hard to explain how free I feel." - Emma SladeEmma's book, Set Free  and why it was first titled "The Bee that Flew out of the Jar"How quickly after hardships do we learn the lesson?How is lockdown in Bhutan, and how has it impacted Emma' charity work?Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Emma Slade on Instagram @emma_slade_, on Twitter @emmabhutan, and on her website, emmaslade.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Joe De Sena is the founder and CEO of Spartan Race, Inc. De Sena has been an entrepreneur since his pre-teens. From selling fireworks at age 8, to starting a t-shirt business in high school, to building a multimillion-dollar pool business in college, to creating a Wall Street trading firm, De Sena is a living definition of "entrepreneur." De Sena is the New York Times bestselling author of SPARTAN UP! A Take-No-Prisoners Guide to Overcoming Obstacles and Achieving Peak Performance in Life and SPARTAN FIT! 30 Days. Transform Your Mind. Transform Your Body. Commit to Grit. He is also the host of the "Spartan Up! Podcast", which I'm honored to be a guest on as well.I didn't intend for this to be a debate about the beliefs of "Slo Mo vs. Fast Joe", but the conversation began with seemingly fundamental differences; however, it quickly became apparent that we're talking about achieving the same result - a clear, present, and peaceful mind. Joe's focus on achieving this through the body will be fascinating - and motivating - for anyone wondering if they should invest time in their physical health. And for those that do, listen for the benefits you may not have even thought about.Listen as we discuss:Slo Mo and Fast Joe - different, but same?Toughening up and the Spartan lifestyleOur lives are relatively not that hardThe body is like a swimming pool that needs clean filters and working pumpsHow life experience prepares you for the worst, as it did for JoeWhy being able to work hard is a privilegeWhy do people quit?Fire, Ready, AimHow do you get of your own mind?The Spartan Lifeline, an amazing practice for cultivating gratitudeHow can non-athletes prepare for a Spartan Race?Joe's advice: Run 1 mile a day,  do 30 burpees and 30 pullupsHow the food industry is rigged for sales, not for healthThe power of fasting and practicing povertyJoe's upbringing in an organized crime neighborhoodMy newfound motivation to beat Joe in a race, eventually!Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Joe de Sena on Instagram @realjoedesena, Facebook @realjoedesena, on Twitter @realjoedesena, and on her website, joedesena.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today's guest is my one of my dearest friends, Elizabeth Day. I have been waiting for this conversation for a long time, and it's flattering to know that many others have been as well. I appeared on Elizabeth's podcast earlier this year, and the episode was an absolutely massive hit. All of this is humbling, but the real gem is the bond I forged with this amazing woman.This conversation is an invaluable follow-up as we end one of the most trying years in collective human history. It says a lot that we barely had to do any editing on this audio, because everything just flows when there is chemistry - and boy is it honest. I'm certain anyone who listens to this will take something valuable away.Elizabeth is an author, journalist and broadcaster. Her memoir, How To Fail: Everything I’ve Ever Learned From Things Going Wrong is a Sunday Times top 5 bestseller and has been described as ‘life-changing’ by critics. Her chart-topping podcast, How To Fail With Elizabeth Day, is a celebration of the things that haven't gone right and has been nominated for two British Podcast Awards. Her latest book is the fantastic Failosophy: A Handbook for When Things Go Wrong. Listen as we discuss:The history of my friendship with ElizabethElizabeth's gift of opening people up on her podcast, How to FailHer childhood as an outsiderThe irony of such a successful woman still speaking on failureHow she defines success and failureThe language of failure around fertility medicine and being a woman that “can't have kids”The universe is unfolding exactly as intendedWould she change anything if she could go back in time?How her wedding dress after a failed marriage led to her hit podcast (I love this story.)Can you find true love on a dating app? Elizabeth did.What is destiny?What is rejection?If you're perfect for everyone, you're not a real person.Did humanity fail with COVID?Best rom-com of all time: Love, Actually or When Harry Met Sally?Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Elizabeth Day on Instagram @elizabday, Facebook @elizabethdayauthor, on Twitter @elizabday, and on her website, elizabethdayonline.co.ukDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today's guest is Donald Robertson, renowned expert on stoicism.I was looking forward to this chat for a long time, and it does not disappoint. Stoics are mainly concerned with their wisdom and their character, and therefore process events that happen to them according to the effect of the event on their wisdom and character, first and foremost. This is an extremely powerful tool for dealing with life's hardships, including the pandemic.Donald is a writer, cognitive-behavioral psychotherapist and trainer.  He’s a specialist in teaching evidence-based psychological skills, and known as an expert on the relationship between modern psychotherapy (CBT) and classical Greek and Roman philosophy. His therapy practice specialized for many years in helping clients with social anxiety and self-confidence issues. He is also the author of six books and many articles on philosophy, psychotherapy, and psychological skills training. His latest book How to Think Like a Roman Emperor: The Stoic Philosophy of Marcus Aurelius was #1 best seller in philosophy, and he's also edited and written the introduction to Capstone Classics' new edition of The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius.In Part 2, we discuss:What happens if you imagine the presence of things that are lacking? PainWhat happens if you imagine the lack of things that are present? GratitudeRather than thinking you have things, consider they're on loan from natureExhibit empathy without agreeing, as therapists doThe fourth thought of wisdom: don't stress, think clearly and solve the problemAnger is not a feeling, it's a way of perceiving life"The universe is change, and life is opinion."Is stoicism a religion?Moral virtue, and the ancient thought that it was inherited rather than learnableWhich is better, death or living?The Apology of SocratesHow all experiences are opportunities to contemplateLife is good if we use it well, and bad if we exploit itSocrates's sacrifice for truth, virtue and wisdomInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Donald Robertson on Instagram @howtothinklikearomanemperor, Facebook @robertsontraining, on Twitter @DonJRobertson, and on his website, donaldrobertson.nameDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today's guest is Donald Robertson, renowned expert on stoicism.I was looking forward to this chat for a long time, and it does not disappoint. Stoics are mainly concerned with their wisdom and their character, and therefore process events that happen to them according to the effect of the event on their wisdom and character, first and foremost. This is an extremely powerful tool for dealing with life's hardships, including the pandemic.Donald is a writer, cognitive-behavioral psychotherapist and trainer.  He’s a specialist in teaching evidence-based psychological skills, and known as an expert on the relationship between modern psychotherapy (CBT) and classical Greek and Roman philosophy. His therapy practice specialized for many years in helping clients with social anxiety and self-confidence issues. He is also the author of six books and many articles on philosophy, psychotherapy, and psychological skills training. His latest book How to Think Like a Roman Emperor: The Stoic Philosophy of Marcus Aurelius was #1 best seller in philosophy, and he's also edited and written the introduction to Capstone Classics' new edition of The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius.In Part 1, we discuss:What is stoicism?How stoicism deals with anger and our blind spotsDo people do wrong because they're fundamentally bad?Moral blindness is a more severe disability than physical blindnessRehab and reform those who wrong vs. punishing themLies of omissionThe ideal stoic: someone mainly concerned about their wisdom or characterHow stoicism is growing in popularity, especially during the pandemicHow Greek tragedies would have been very different with wiser charactersHow blessings can be a curse and curses can be a blessingIs venting emotions healthy, or should we not let them bother us?The difference between grief and pathological depressionThere's nothing anger can do that can't be done better with love and compassionCognitive distancing and the ability to consider multiple perspectivesThe four thoughts of wisdomInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Donald Robertson on Instagram @howtothinklikearomanemperor, Facebook @robertsontraining, on Twitter @DonJRobertson, and on his website, donaldrobertson.nameDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Helen Tupper is the co-founder and CEO of Amazing If, co-author of The Squiggly Careers, and the co-host of the Squiggly Careers podcast. She dedicates herself to helping people and organizations succeed through the unpredictable - or “squiggly” - nature of a career path. Helen describes herself as a positive force for good...work.I highly recommend the Squiggly Careers podcast. Each week, Helen and her co-founder and co-host, Sarah Ellis, take a work challenge and share tips and tools to help you with it. From looking for a new job to dealing with a difficult colleague, this podcast is incredibly useful. There are over 180 episodes ready for you to listen to and you can search for and subscribe to future Squiggly Careers episodes wherever you get your podcasts. Helen and Sarah are brilliant, and this interview with Helen will give you a small taste of their potentially life changing advice on how to really assess your career and, eventually, thrive in a happy one.Listen as we discuss:How Helen loved her jobs and wanted to do more outside the job to be better at it, but this was a hard sell for managementThe meaning of a "squiggly career", and what Helen's has looked likeThe mission of Squiggly Careers: make career support accessible to everyoneA linear career never goes backwards, but a squiggly career can go any directionThe combination of "What do I value?" + "What am I good at?"Build confidence and gain insight into your strengths to find your career pathHow to tame the "confidence gremlins" that stick us to limiting beliefsJudge yourself in the way you judge other peopleMy own squiggly career, and how I thrived in the corporate worldWhat exactly is a "career"?The historical origins of the career ladderShould you quit your job if it's not meeting your values?How to engage in Active RestStaying resilient in trying times for careers everywhereInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Helen Tupper on Instagram @amazingif, Facebook @amazingif, on Twitter @helentupper, and on her website, amazingif.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

I'm honored to have one of my heroes, Dr. Rick Hanson, on today's two-part episode. Rick mentions in our talk that this is one of his favorite interview he's ever done. I can confidently say the same.Rick is a psychologist, Senior Fellow of UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center, and New York Times best-selling author. His books have been published in 29 languages and include Neurodharma, Resilient, Hardwiring Happiness, Buddha’s Brain, Just One Thing, and Mother Nurture – with 900,000 copies in English alone. His free weekly newsletter has 180,000 subscribers and his online programs have scholarships available for those with financial need.  An expert on positive neuroplasticity, his work has been featured on the BBC, CBS, NPR, and other major media. He began meditating in 1974 and is the founder of the Wellspring Institute for Neuroscience and Contemplative Wisdom.There are few people alive today that are able to so eloquently and brilliantly combine the science and the spirit of the search for a meaningful life quite like Rick. His words emerge from the cross-section of psychology, contemplative wisdom, and neuroscience. If you truly want to understand how your brain works, and how it can help you - or hurt you - on your journey, do not miss this.In Part 2, listen as we discuss:A lesson on basic neuroscience from Dr. Rick Hanson himselfThe reptile brain, mammalian brain, and the primate/human brainWe are a walking museum!How to satisfy the brain? Pet the lizard, feed the mouse, hug the monkeyThe amygdala, and how some are negative, some ambivalent, and some opportunisticWhy it's important not to give priority or ranking to the layers of the brainWhy it's worth investing time for exercising your brainRick's 5 minute challenge: slow down to take in the good a few times a dayHow we reverse engineer awakening"The mind takes it's shape upon what it repeatedly rests upon"The 7 qualities of people that are far along the spiritual journeyNo matter where we are in the journey, we can always make progress, todayInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Dr. Rick Hanson on Instagram @rickhansonphd, on Facebook @rickhansonphd, on Twitter @drrhanson, and his website, rickhanson.netDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

I'm honored to have one of my heroes, Dr. Rick Hanson, on today's two-part episode. Rick mentions in our talk that this is one of his favorite interview he's ever done. I can confidently say the same.Rick is a psychologist, Senior Fellow of UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center, and New York Times best-selling author. His books have been published in 29 languages and include Neurodharma, Resilient, Hardwiring Happiness, Buddha’s Brain, Just One Thing, and Mother Nurture – with 900,000 copies in English alone. His free weekly newsletter has 180,000 subscribers and his online programs have scholarships available for those with financial need.  An expert on positive neuroplasticity, his work has been featured on the BBC, CBS, NPR, and other major media. He began meditating in 1974 and is the founder of the Wellspring Institute for Neuroscience and Contemplative Wisdom.There are few people alive today that are able to so eloquently and brilliantly combine the science and the spirit of the search for a meaningful life quite like Rick. His words emerge from the cross-section of psychology, contemplative wisdom, and neuroscience. If you truly want to understand how your brain works, and how it can help you - or hurt you - on your journey, do not miss this.In Part 1, listen as we discuss:Rick's sabbatical: his attempt at disengaging from the mechanism of "doing"Why do we just keep going back to doing instead of being?How feelings of inadequacy drove Rick to pursue both the scientific and the spiritualThe two ways to know yourselfThe human mind as a personal lab for experimentation, and how to tell what's workingHow scientism has become a dogma of its ownWhat is the mind?An incredible discussion on the nervous system that will alter your view on informationNeuroplasticity (one of my favorite topics)Stories from Rick's childhood, realizing his home is an unhappy place"If you're not for yourself, who will be? And if not now, then when?""If you take care of the minutes, the years will take care of themselves."Rick's HEAL model: how to truly learn, change, heal, or evolve, backed by scienceDeveloping the ultimate superpower: learningEvidence that contentedness is actually a driver of high achievementThe brain is velcro for bad experiences and teflon for good experiencesInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Dr. Rick Hanson on Instagram @rickhansonphd, on Facebook @rickhansonphd, on Twitter @drrhanson, and his website, rickhanson.netDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today’s guest is the one-of-a-kind (I say that confidently) Kasia Urbaniak, the founder and CEO of The Academy, a school that teaches women the foundations of power and influence. Kasia's perspective on power is unique. Over the course of nearly 20 years, she has worked as a professional Dominatrix, practiced Taoist alchemy in one of the oldest female-led monasteries in China and obtained dozens of certifications in different disciplines, including Medical Qi Gong and Systemic Constellations. Since founding The Academy in 2013, Kasia has taught hundreds of women practical tools to step into leadership positions in their relationships, families, workplaces, and wider communities. Her forthcoming book, UNBOUND: A Woman's Guide to Power, will be released in March 2021.Kasia is announcing a unique offer for Slo Mo listeners. Any woman who pre-orders her book will gain a free seat to her incredibly valuable training, the The Good Girl Reform School, which starts November 24th and normally costs $750. Listen to this conversation and decide for yourself if you want to attend, but I absolutely recommend it. Kasia is brilliant.(Disclaimer: Slo Mo receives no financial compensation for this endorsement, and, like all recommendations on the podcast, is genuine).In Part 2, we discuss:My experiences working at Google with female leadersKasia's belief that if she teaches women well, they'll teach the men"Women in a Meeting Syndrome"How women struggle with asking because they fear being bossy or needyThe belief that needing things is badHow can men empower women? Why women should keep an invisible labor log"Where there is no awareness there is no choice"Train women to love the word "no"People don't say no to be jerks, they say it because it threatens something importantResistance is precious!Imagining the first woman ever who asked for maternity leave!How a complaint always has a desireKasia's upcoming book, UnboundGood Girl Reformed School: a seat in the class for anyone who pre-orders the bookWe need more levity!Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Kasia Urbaniak on Instagram @realkasiaurbaniak, on Facebook @therealkasiaurbaniak, and kasiaurbaniak.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today’s guest is the one-of-a-kind (I say that confidently) Kasia Urbaniak, the founder and CEO of The Academy, a school that teaches women the foundations of power and influence. Kasia's perspective on power is unique. Over the course of nearly 20 years, she has worked as a professional Dominatrix, practiced Taoist alchemy in one of the oldest female-led monasteries in China and obtained dozens of certifications in different disciplines, including Medical Qi Gong and Systemic Constellations. Since founding The Academy in 2013, Kasia has taught hundreds of women practical tools to step into leadership positions in their relationships, families, workplaces, and wider communities. Her forthcoming book, UNBOUND: A Woman's Guide to Power, will be released in March 2021.Kasia is announcing a unique offer for Slo Mo listeners. Any woman who pre-orders her book will gain a free seat to her incredibly valuable training, the The Good Girl Reform School, which starts November 24th and normally costs $750. Listen to this conversation and decide for yourself if you want to attend, but I absolutely recommend it. Kasia is brilliant.(Disclaimer: Slo Mo receives no financial compensation for this endorsement, and, like all recommendations on the podcast, is genuine).In Part 1, we discuss:Kasia's seriously incredible storyHer experiences as a dominatrix, where you'll learn more about the art than you ever thought existed How she went to teach other dominatrices her methodBein born into a world that made no sense to herThe reason she become a dominatrix: earn money to pursue spiritual journeyThe difference between "performing power" vs. leading from a place of carePower dynamics, and how we find them everywhere, and how that's not a bad thingHow men don't know how to make women happy, and women stay silent and angry about itGood girl conditioning, and how to reform itReacting to life with attention in vs. attention outCuriosity is one of the best ways to get through conflict and come out with goldInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Kasia Urbaniak on Instagram @realkasiaurbaniak, on Facebook @therealkasiaurbaniak, and kasiaurbaniak.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

For those of you who've been listening to Slo Mo for a while, you'll remember the episode with Jimmy Nelson (#10). It was one of our earliest episodes and remains among the most profound and moving. Jimmy is an absolutely unique and brilliant human being, and six months later, here we are speaking again. We decided to do this interview on Instagram Live, and hundreds of live listeners showed up. Here it is published for your listening pleasure, and like last time, I'm certain it will move you.Jimmy has hauled his camera to the world's most remote corners in order to create a living document of vanishing tribes and indigenous cultures. His first large-format book, "Literary Portraits of China", was a worldwide hit, culled from over 40 months of traveling through China. A collection of Jimmy’s photos, "Before They Pass Away", was published in 2013. In 2016, he and his team launched the Jimmy Nelson Foundation, which aims to foster appreciation for cultural diversity and celebrate polychromatic cultural identity.Listen as we discuss:Jimmy and I admiring the mutual comfortable we feel speaking to each otherJimmy's incredible art installation at Atelier des Lumières in ParisThe fact that COVID is still continuing is a persistent call to change somethingIs COVID19 the disease or the cure?Finding COVID's place in nature's delicate balancing actHow the journey of trying to connect with the true self begins with humilityWhat Jimmy feels when people compliment his artWhy Jimmy laughs when people express sympathy that he's unable to travelThe analogy of the featherJimmy's adventures discovering his own country, for onceJimmy's moving project at the Van Gogh Museum involving love lettersAs always, self-love.Imagine if the purpose of everyone to take care of our planetDavid AttenboroughDaring to loveHow his daughter has been spending her free time helping the elderly rather than partyingInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Jimmy Nelson on Facebook @jimmy.nelson.official, on Instagram @jimmy.nelson.official , on Twitter @jimmy_p_nelson, and jimmynelson.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today's guest is Brana Dane, best described as a "SupeRoleModel". She is a sustainability advocate, an influencer, TV host, artist, activist, and model who has both appeared and been published in some of the top magazines for some of the top beauty brands around the world. Brana fights for a fairer, more sustainable, and more humane garment and fashion industry.As one of the leaders of the game-changing “model mafia” based out of NYC, Brana co-produces and supports sustainability focused events for models. Brana herself is a host for the global FNL Network on Amazon Prime and writes interviews for Bella Magazine on the change-makers of our time. An artist for over a decade, she has had recent gallery shows in Chelsea, Tribeca, the Hamptons and Brooklyn.Listen as we discuss:Struggling with self-love and the pandemic of insecurity among modelsHow fluctuating fashion trends can deem a model's looks desirable or notHow models develop thick skin from being criticized bluntly and consistentlyThe baffling comment of being told your looks don't match your personalityMy personal aversion to following fashion trendsThe "Model Mafia" that's pushing for changes in the fashion industryThe sad reality of how fashion garments are made and the Rana Plaza collapseThe practice of luxury fashion burning their unsold stock to maintain scarcityA discussion on child models and their extreme vulnerabilityHow Brana juggles and threads activism, art, modeling, and mediaWhy do we treat women like objects?The subjectivity of beauty standards.Pro tip: admire the beauty of others rather than envy itSeeing the way you dress as a way of showing respect to the people you're meetingBrana's struggle with an eating disorderInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Brana Dane on Instagram @branadane, Facebook @danebrana, Twitter @branadane, and her website, branadane.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today's guest is Bruce Daisley, one of the most respected thought leaders on the subject of workplace culture and the future of work. He has helped lead some of the world's biggest media companies, including Twitter, Google and YouTube, and has dedicated himself to making work better using evidence to devise creative solutions. He is the host of top business podcast Eat Sleep Work Repeat and the author of The Joy of Work, a bestseller.As a fellow ex-Googler, Bruce and I immediately connected over sharing stories from the company's early days. Having been a leading force in some of the world's most revered tech companies, Bruce knows a thing or two about what makes a happy workplace. In this time of mass working from home and the other pandemic of burnout, his expertise and insights will help you, and your bosses, optimize your time by understanding what actually helps workflow efficiency and what sabotages it.Listen as we discuss:Bruce and I swapping stories about working at Google in the early daysHow a feeling of community gets lose when a company scalesThe number 150: the average limit of meaningful relationships we can haveMillennial burnout"Whenever we treat energy as infinite, burnout is the result."Elon Musk's insane work scheduleResearch showing that more work does not mean more output Optimizing productivity, and how anything more than 50 hours per week is too muchThe 3 systems of cognitionThe creative and disarming space created by boredom that allows for new ideasBoredom is the opposite of stressThe toxicity of weekend emails and taking a "digital sabbath"How to talk to your organization about changing your work culturePurpose with a capital P vs. lower case PThe Monk Mode Morning: an hour of uninterrupted focusBarack Obama, and how he hired someone to make trivial decisions for himInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Bruce Daisley on  Twitter @brucedaisley, Instagram @brucedaisley, and his website, eatsleepworkrepeat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Note: Despite the title, this conversation is equally for men and women. I'm aware this is a controversial conversation, but I believe it holds great value if listened to with an open mind. This is Part 2 of 2.This is Part 2 of my discussion with Dr. Robert Glover, author of the brilliant, often life-altering, and slightly controversial bestselling classic, No More Mr. Nice Guy.  It may not sound like the kind of book I'd read, but it is a little piece of self-help magic and has helped countless people recognize their own "Nice Guy Syndrome": the trait of hiding feelings and truths that we fear will get a negative reaction from other people so as to maintain the belief that we are "nice", leading to a host of toxic relationships and fundamentally dishonest behaviors.Robert is an internationally recognized authority on the Nice Guy Syndrome, and through his book, classes, and therapy groups, he has helped thousands of Nice Guys transform from being passive, resentful victims to empowered, integrated males, transforming their professional careers and intimate relationships along the way.In Part 2, we discuss:Co-dependency: "I don't exist unless I'm in a relationship"Healthy interdependence The 'hugging until relaxed' exerciseCalm is contagiousYou can want your partner, but as soon as you start needing them, you lose themTo have the best sex, there needs to be a dominance of interplay and submissionEqual does not mean the sameUsing men's motivation to have sex as motivation to expand their emotional intelligenceThe struggle between man vs. woman as a profound catalyst for growthThe lingering effect of not having our childhood needs meetWomen are the sexual Ferraris and men are sexual mopeds"Slut shaming"The Disney and Hollywood effect on women's perception of monogamyRepressing female sexuality has become par for the courseMen need a tribeInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Dr. Robert Glover on  Facebook @drrobertglover, Twitter @dr_r_glover, and his website, drglover.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Note: Despite the title, this conversation is equally for men and women. Listen with an open mind. This is Part 1 of 2.Today's guest is Dr. Robert Glover, author of the brilliant, often life-altering, and slightly controversial bestselling classic, No More Mr. Nice Guy.  It may not sound like the kind of book I'd read, but it is a little piece of self-help magic and has helped countless people recognize their own "Nice Guy Syndrome": the trait of hiding feelings and truths that we fear will get a negative reaction from other people so as to maintain the belief that we are "nice", leading to a host of toxic relationships and fundamentally dishonest behaviors.Robert is an internationally recognized authority on the Nice Guy Syndrome, and through his book, classes, and therapy groups, he has helped thousands of Nice Guys transform from being passive, resentful victims to empowered, integrated males, transforming their professional careers and intimate relationships along the way.Before we get started, I again implore you stay open minded for this conversation. You will laugh, you may cringe, you may violently disagree or surprisingly agree, but this is as honest as discussions on human relationship dynamics can get. You will find some serious gems related to dating and maintaining relationships of any kind.In Part 1, we discuss:What is wrong with being a nice guy?How 'nice guys' are often dishonest, resentful, and give to getHow Robert's second marriage was falling apart despite his best efforts to be niceThe "Victim Pukes"The confused belief that if sex is bad and evil, why should it only be for the one you love?The three covert contracts that lead to toxic relationshipsThe reason men become nice guys is due to desiring the validation of womenThe crucial need for a stronger involvement of fathers in their sons' livesNice guy logic: "If I have needs, I'm bad, yet I want things, but won't accept them"For women to experience sexual attraction, they need to experience emotional tension"If a man can't stand up to me, how can he stand up for me?"The effect of 50 Shades of Grey on society Human women are the most sexually evolved creatures on the planet, and men are apesInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Dr. Robert Glover on  Facebook @drrobertglover, Twitter @dr_r_glover, and his website, drglover.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today's guest is my darling friend Susie Flory. She bravely agreed to come on Slo Mo and tell her story of overcoming an eating disorder, childhood bullying, and simply navigating life as a twenty-something in a world with a pace and a standard that breaks many of us. At the end of the day, Slo Mo exists for stories like Susie's, and our hope is that this will help a lot of people feel understood and not alone.Susie currently works for a marketing agency but has also built two businesses over the last four years: Susie's Larder, a Middle Eastern inspired catering service, and Susie Flory Photography, where she works as a freelance events-based photographer. She is a mental health activist who hosts the podcast, The Inside Out Series.Listen as we discuss:Susie's relationship with food, from hate to loveGrowing up bullied and trying to remain a people pleaserHow being told she's pretty led her to focus on the wrong thingsThe slow drift toward an eating disorder through anxiety around her weightBullying and the destructive, long lasting power of one negative commentUnrealistic beauty expectationsTeen depression and suicideHow anorexia distorts your version of yourselfWhat triggers the moment you finally ask for help out of any addiction or disorderHow self-esteem relates to bullyingHow she'd handle the bully in retrospectHer advice to those suffering from an eating disorder nowBeing young in the modern world"Indecision-itis"How there's way too much choice in the dating marketWhere Susie sees herself in 5 yearsInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Susie Flory on  Facebook @suzeflory, Instagram @susieflory, and her website, susieflory.com. Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

For nearly 40 years, my guest today, Charles Groenhuijsen, has been a beloved and reliable figure in Dutch news media. In the mid-80s, Charles became the youngest chief correspondent ever to be stationed in Washington D.C. for Dutch television, overseeing all US news. In the 90s, he became anchor man of NOVA and the political program Het Capitool, the two most important news shows on Dutch television. In 1996 Charles returned to the United States and was appointed Bureau-chief for NOS tv and radio based in Washington D.C. Nowadays he  is an independent writer, speaker and consultant who has written many columns and a number of bestselling books on American culture.Listen to Part 1 of this episode first for a fascinating discussion on media optimism, the actually encouraging state of the world, and Charles' thoughts on the US elections and what Americans really want.In Part 2, listen as we discuss:Advice to our children - don't listen to us parents!Young generations and their different types of relationshipsOn gay marriages and whether marriage will last after dating appsSocial media, the good and bad, and if Netflix is good for our worldThe changing Fortune 500 and how even the most major companies eventually dieHow the individual and the global are of equal importanceThe leaders who have given us hope and inspire usJFK: "We don't do it because it's easy. We do it because it's hard."Covid-19's economic impact and any reasons for optimismFake news and the positives and negatives of the internet's information accessibilityHow to combat fake news and the changes on big TV news networksThe question on all our minds: Will Donald Trump win in 2020?Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Charles Groenhuijsen on  Facebook @charles.groenhuijsen and Twitter @chgroenhuijsenDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

For nearly 40 years, my guest today, Charles Groenhuijsen, has been a beloved and reliable figure in Dutch news media. In the mid-80s, Charles became the youngest chief correspondent ever to be stationed in Washington D.C. for Dutch television, overseeing all US news. In the 90s, he became anchor man of NOVA and the political program Het Capitool, the two most important news shows on Dutch television. In 1996 Charles returned to the United States and was appointed Bureau-chief for NOS tv and radio based in Washington D.C. Nowadays he  is an independent writer, speaker and consultant who has written many columns and a number of bestselling books on American culture.Anyone who has followed my work knows I don't care too much for politics, but I felt it was important to showcase Charles, as he is exactly the kind of journalist the world needs. He is outspoken regarding news media's focus on conveying the negative and the sensational, preaching that optimism (and realism) is not only the more ethical route for news reporting, but also, statistically, the more warranted route. Most things are better than ever, and it's about time the media helped us feel that.In Part 1, listen as we discuss:Optimism in the media, and how journalists and news networks can do betterHow we're being raised wrong by the media that thinks "good news is not news"How a long-term focus shows overwhelmingly positive progress in the world overallCrisis as a catalyst for changeThings like gay marriage, which were unimaginable 30 years ago, but have happenedGood old Donald TrumpHow the majority of American people want another America with more equality, climate policy, universal healthcare, gun controlThe desperation emanating from Republicans pre-electionIs the US a real democracy?Charles' advice to Americans after November 3rdThe laughable idea of trying to control the lives of others with your personal politicsKeeping hope aliveInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Charles Groenhuijsen on  Facebook @charles.groenhuijsen and Twitter @chgroenhuijsenDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today's guest is the world renowed Brazilian artist, Romero Britto, the founder of the Happy Art Movement. Romero has created a visual language of love, hope and happiness that blends Pop Art with Cubist-like abstraction to reflect his optimistic view of the world around him. He was self-taught from an early age, painting on scraps of paper or cardboard, before coming into his own and traveling to Paris where he was introduced to the works of Matisse and Picasso. Britto’s work has been exhibited in galleries and museums in over 100 countries and he has created public art installations in almost every major city you can think of. He is considered the most licensed artist in history and is an activist for charitable organizations worldwide.In this rare interview, Romero opens up and discusses his personal upbringing, parenting, and how he went from rough beginnings in Brazil to become one of the most successful artists of all time - all through art that makes people happy.Listen as we discuss:The underemphasized responsibility of parenting, which is to loveHow there's no test for being a parent as there is a test for a driver's licenseHis eight siblings, his parents, and his upbringingRomero's early shyness and how he grew into a public personalityHow the responsibility of a parent is their child's impact on the worldWhy Romero's art is so happyDealing with the worst side of art - the businessHow his life is like a dream everydayParents need to support children's interests so they can wake up feeling happy everydayHow he comes up with so many ideasThe root of his desire to give back and his activismHis surprising stint in law school and the feelings of exclusion from the "rich kids"Romero's thoughts on slowing downInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Romero Britto on  Facebook @RomeroBrittoFanPage, Instagram @romerobritto, Twitter @brittopopart, and his website, britto.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

I'm a massive fan of Latif Nasser, my guest on today's show. Latif is the host and executive producer for the Netflix science documentary series, Connected. He is also the Director of Research at the award-winning New York Public Radio show Radiolab, where he has done stories on everything from snowflake photography to medieval robots to a polar bear who liked to have sex with grizzly bears. Earlier this year, he hosted the miniseries The Other Latif, about his Moroccan namesake who happens to be Detainee 244 at Guantanamo Bay. He has also given two TED talks and written for the Boston Globe Ideas section. He has a PhD from Harvard's History of Science department.I don't have time to binge watch shows on Netflix. And yet, after my daughter showed me the first episode of Connected, I literally watched the entire series in one sitting. Not only is the content educational, but it is mind-blowing and reaffirming in an almost spiritual way to learn "the surprising and intricate ways in which we are connected to each other, the world and the universe." As the host, Latif manages to remain an educator while reacting with genuine curiosity and intellectual humility. It is a fantastic production, and Latif is a brilliant guy who I couldn't wait to speak with. I think you will love this conversation.Listen as we discuss:The wisdom behind intellectual humilityLatif's Netflix show, Connected The rewards of being dumb Latif on being a good host: “I’m the proxy for that part of your brain that wants to ask that dumb question”How the concept of self-esteem burdens us to appear to always know (See my talk with Dr. Kristin Neff)The ongoing mysteries of dark matter, dark energy and sleepWhy people defend their politics like a religionThe way that we are teaching science is answering questions students never askedGrading students on the wrong criteriaBenford’s Law (even if you're not a math nerd, this will blow your mind)“A truth baked into the world”The amazing Birds that immigrate from Delaware to Brazil and return to the same treeThe privacy paradox and why we let Tinder and Facebook spy on us willinglyThe origin of his ConnectedThe fish fossil connection that will bring you to tearsLatif's wish for the world and his own childrenInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Latif Nasser on Twitter @latifnasserDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

At the age of sixteen, Dr. Edith Eger, a trained ballet dancer and gymnast, was sent to Auschwitz. Hours after her parents were sent to the gas chamber, the “Angel of Death,” Nazi officer Dr. Josef Mengele forced Edith to dance for his amusement and her survival. He rewarded her with a loaf of bread that she shared with her fellow prisoners, an act of generosity that would later save her life.On May 4, 1945 a young American soldier noticed Edith's hand moving slightly amongst a number of dead bodies. He quickly summoned medical help and brought her back from the brink of death. Today, Edith is a prolific author, a clinical psychologist, and holds a faculty appointment at the University of California, San Diego.Decades after her nightmare at Auschwitz, Edith went back. Realizing that the biggest concentration camp is in fact in our minds, it became clear to her that she was only the obvious victim of the Holocaust. The perpetrators of the horrors at Auschwitz and other camps, in her view, may be even bigger victims, as they're the ones who ended having to live in a prison in their own minds, one that numbed them to compassion and love. Once again, despite her traumas, Edith ended up on the high road, a place from which she inspires all of us to do the same. This is a must-listen.In Part 2, we discuss:The biggest concentration camp is in your own mindWhy she decided to go back to Auschwitz Feeling pity and sympathy for the Nazis that imprisoned herHow the isolation of Covid-19 is a good time to examine your lifeMake peace with your parents and your past, or stay a prisoner of itDon’t stuff grief, just scream it outFear and love do not co-existEvolving vs. Revolving The positive side of trauma: "You realize you're here now, and no longer there"How I want nothing more than to cook for Edith!Conflict between Palestinians and Israelis, and my own Middle Eastern upbringing"There is a Hitler in all of us"How her daughter teamed up with the grandson of a Nazi to spread peace"People killed my parents, not God. He had nothing to do with it."Edith's amazing series of questions for me, which opened me up tooHer advice to young women: become financially and emotionally independentHer suicidal thoughts after being liberated, realizing her parents aren't coming backHer time with Martin Luther King and the Mamas and the Papas (how cool is that?)Discussing the passing of my son Ali: "There is no loss. It's just about celebrating what you have while you have it."Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Dr. Edith Eger on Facebook @dreditheger, Twitter @dreditheger1, Instagram @dr.editheger, and YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

At the age of sixteen, Dr. Edith Eger, a trained ballet dancer and gymnast, was sent to Auschwitz. Hours after her parents were sent to the gas chamber, the “Angel of Death,” Nazi officer Dr. Josef Mengele forced Edith to dance for his amusement and her survival. He rewarded her with a loaf of bread that she shared with her fellow prisoners, an act of generosity that would later save her life.On May 4, 1945 a young American soldier noticed Edith's hand moving slightly amongst a number of dead bodies. He quickly summoned medical help and brought her back from the brink of death. Today, Edith is a prolific author, a clinical psychologist, and holds a faculty appointment at the University of California, San Diego.Every story I've heard on Slo Mo has left an impact me, but Edith's is the first to make me openly cry while recording. Listening to what happened to her and her family at Auschwitz is unimaginably heartbreaking. And yet, taking in Edith's words on how she moved past the pain both during and after the heinous events, showing almost impossible levels of compassion for her inmates while herself starving, and later forgiving the evils of her captors, hit me like a spiritual experience. I love this woman, and this may just be the most powerful episode of our podcast yet.In Part 1, we discuss:How Edith's mom praised Edith's brains as making up for her lack of beauty (not true)Taking care of her mom as child, giving her stronger inner resources and patienceRevisiting our childhoods and healing the painHow she forgave the Nazis who joked about her mother burning That we are not born with hate, but learn itEdith's plea to always question authority rather than blindly adhere to itThe true enemy: ignorance"The spirit never dies."How we do everything with feelings, except feel them!The healing power of cryingThe argument that America is ripe for fascismThe effects of telling a lie and repeating it on a societyHow she danced for the Angel of Death and shared her reward with others that later saved her lifePracticing your low frustration toleranceA story of papaya and the chain of joyInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Dr. Edith Eger on Facebook @dreditheger, Twitter @dreditheger1, Instagram @dr.editheger, and her website, dreditheger.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today's guest is my incredible friend Haemin Sunim, a Zen Buddhist teacher, bestselling author and founder of the School for Broken Hearts in Seoul. Haemin's body of work is so in-line with the goal of Slo Mo that I just had to have him on the show. If we haven't made enough of a case for why slowing down is good for you, let Haemin seal the deal for you in this brilliant conversation.Born in South Korea and educated at Berkeley, Harvard, and Princeton, Haemin received formal monastic training from Haein monastery in South Korea and taught Asian religions at Hampshire College in Massachusetts for seven years.These days, Haemin is one of the most influential Zen monks in the world, with over 1.5 million followers on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. His first book, The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down has been translated into more than 35 different languages and sold over four million copies. His second book, Love for Imperfect Things was the number one bestseller of 2016 in South Korea.Listen as we discuss:When your mind is slow, you can be present with all of your sensesSlowing down as a pre-requisite for feeling love and peace with your thoughtsSilence and Space as the arena for creative thoughtHaemin's story, fueled by the question: "Why was I born?"How studying religions led Haemin to monastic traditionsNot getting stuck in the symbolism of religions and seeing the common threadsWhy are we born?The pitfalls of familiarity and how it leads us to stop listeningThe story behind the School for Broken HeartsLife's benign intentions behind sending us sufferingThe balance between standing up for change and also accepting what isThe two kinds of traumaHow imperfection allows connectionsWhy wiser people start to see humor in lifeThe deception of social media photosShould we strive for perfection?Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Haemin Sunim on Instagram @haemin_sunim, Facebook @haeminsunim, on Twitter @haeminsunim, and his website haeminsunim.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

In this episode, I speak with Dr Kristin Neff, a pioneer and one of the world’s leading experts in the field of self-compassion. I'm still finding myself going over her words days after this was recorded, realizing slowly but surely that she blew my mind. If you ever feel that you're too hard on yourself, I assure you that you're in the right place.Kristin was the first academic to operationally define and measure the concept of self-compassion over a decade ago. During Kristin’s last year of graduate school she became interested in Buddhism and has been practicing Insight Meditation ever since. This led her to conduct research on self-compassion, a central part of Buddhist psychology and one that had not yet been examined empirically. She is the author of the classic book, Self-Compassion.Listen as we discuss:The failures of self-esteem, and the freedom of embracing self-compassion insteadNot needing to "better" in anyway in order to be deserving of self-loveKristin's story through academia, divorce, meditation and self-compassionWhy she transitioned from studying self-esteem to studying self-compassionLoving yourself just because you're a flawed human beingHow consumer driven society plays to our insecuritiesHow we know compassion is the best parenting style, yet don't apply it to ourselvesFight-or-flight, and how we can actually attack ourselves to feel safe againOur innate tendency to scold ourselves, with Kristin's son as a case studyDefining compassion vs. self-compassionThe three elements of self-compassionPractical advice on how to actually be kind to yourselfThe Yin-Yang of Self CompassionHow self-compassion translates to motivation A discussion on self-compassion as it relates to men and womenAnger as an act of self projected loveInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Dr. Kristin Neff on Facebook @selfcompassion, on Twitter @self_compassion, and her website self-compassion.orgDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today's guest is Dr. Robert Waldinger, the Harvard clinical psychiatrist, psychoanalyst and Zen priest who directs the Harvard Study of Adult Development, one of the longest-running studies of adult life ever done.You have probably heard of this groundbreaking study. It tracked the lives of two groups of men for over 75 years, and it continues to follow their Baby Boomer children to understand how childhood experience reaches across decades to affect health and wellbeing in middle age. The study revealed something we all seem to know intuitively: Close relationships, more than money or fame, are what keep people happy throughout their lives.Robert himself exudes the warmth and contentedness of man who took the results of this study to heart. His advice on building quality relationships and living a healthy and happy life will change your perspective on 'what really means something.'Listen as we discuss:How Robert has been at Harvard since he was 18 years oldWhy would a Harvard Professor end up as a Zen priest?How learning the truth can be scary for some and exhilarating for othersHow Zen forces us to ask: "What really means something?"The meaning of Zen: being present for your life, and avoiding a "spiritual bypass"Robert's burning desire to ensure he does not sleepwalk through life, like many of usHow time slows down when you've become more present for your lifeMy own half-monk project and creating mini-silent retreatsHow being in life is the ultimate test of a spiritual practiceThat meditation doesn't work for everyone, but music and art canThe history of the Harvard Study of Adult Development and its enlightening resultsHow relationships change us biologically and affect our healthRobert's advice on how to build quality relationships: "Invest"Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Dr. Robert Waldinger on Facebook @robertwaldingermd and Twitter @robertwaldingerDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

I'm truly honored to have Arun Gandhi on for this episode. Arun is the fifth grandson of one of my - and the world's - greatest heroes, Mahatma Gandhi. Arun was a journalist for more than thirty years. Arun serves as president of the Gandhi Worldwide Education Institute and travels the world speaking to governmental leaders as well as students about the practices of peace and nonviolence. His first of two books for children was Grandfather Gandhi.It's clearly in the Gandhi blood to fight for what's right while causing no harm. Arun's words of wisdom are inspiring and prescribe a remedy for a world filled with hate and selfishness. But what will really get you in this episode are the stories from his childhood, learning lessons from his larger-than-life grandpa who went on to become one of the most influential men in world history.Listen as we discuss:The job of being a peace farmerHow the world wants peace but has no idea what that looks likeHow peace extends to harmony between not only people, but also natureThe poison of materialism that has made us selfish, exploitative, and invested in a culture of violence to protect our thingsThe Tree of Violence, and how passive violence leads to physical violenceThe anecdote of the pencil, as told to Arun by his grandfatherActing responsibly in the "Throw-away Economy"The power of anger as a circuit breaker, and practical advice for channeling it into problem-solving rather than revenge The firm spirit of nonviolence: "I'm not fighting an enemy. I'm transforming a friend."Discussing the historical implication of the iconic photo of Gandhi spinning Finding peace in a grain of wheat: "If you keep peace in your heart, it will perish with you. But if you let it interact with the elements, it can sprout and grow."Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Arun Gandhi on Facebook @GandhiWorldwide, Twitter @arunmgandhi, Instagram @arun_m_gandhi, and his website, arungandhi.netDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Who do we think we are on this planet? We've objectified nature and somehow made it seem unnatural to us. Now, more than ever, we need to build a partnership with the environment and include it as a protected party in the social contract.That is exactly what today's guest, Matthijs Schouten, preaches through his work as a Dutch ecologist and philosopher. Matthijs works for Staatsbosbeheer, a Dutch government organization for forestry and the management of nature reserves. He is a Professor by Special Appointment of Nature and Landscape Protection at the Universities of Cork and Galway in Ireland and special professor of Ecology and Philosophy of Nature Conservation at Wageningen University. Matthijs is a rare blend of disciplines - biology, Celtic linguistics and literature, comparative religious studies and Eastern philosophy - and has conducted research and campaigns on protecting peat bog ecosystems. This has led him to advocate that a sustainable future for the community of all life begins with understanding that the well-being of nature and the earth is interrelated with our own well-being.Listen as we discuss:How Matthijs became one of the world's preeminent protectors of peat bogsThat any one of us can make a differenceThe baffling entitlement of the government to destroy habitats by their own decreeWho the hell do we think we are on this planet?The objectification of nature as something "made for us"How disrespecting nature led to the COVID-19 epidemic, and how that relieved itThe need to see nature as a collection of subjects, not objectsApplying the social contract to "other than people-persons"The health benefits of nature and moving from the head to the heartThe foolish idea that we're separate from the worldThe hidden impacts of a life lived passionatelyInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today's guest is Jackie Knechtel, a visionary leader, international speaker and pioneer in the area of flow who is blending science and spirituality into practical tools for living an enlightened life. Jackie is the co-founder of the Flow Consciousness Institute and the co-author of the forthcoming book Flow: The Art of Effortless Living. She has a background as an autism specialist and is currently working to revolutionize the therapy delivery model for special needs children and their caregivers with her vision called Spectra.I was introduced to Jackie via a mutual friend. I didn't know what to expect from this talk, but Jackie dropped wisdom after wisdom, all contextualized by the past passing of her brother and, within the week of this recording, the loss of three of her friends. On top of it all, she was being forced to move out of her apartment due to a black mold issue. Would it shock you if she sounded positive in our conversation? Well, that's the power of flow, and that's exactly Jackie's point. Listen to this amazing chat to learn how to flow through life's toughest times.Listen as we discuss:The meaning of flow consciousness The personal development and spirituality rabbit holeA tech incubator in Chile connecting full circle with her work as an autism specialistThe difference between Flow States and Flow Consciousness"Flow is the path of least resistance."Jackie losing 3 friends and her apartment all in a pandemic, yet flowing onThe feeling that life is conspiring in our favorCoping with the death of her brother and the adventures that followedNeeding to "feel to heal"BETDAR - beliefs, emotions, thoughts, decisions, actions, resultsReality as a feedback mechanismDivine orchestration, and how she met her business partner and best friendSynchronicity via an unbelievable story of a fateful Uber rideInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Jackie Knechtel on Facebook @FlowMastery, Twitter @jackieknechtel, Instagram @jackieknechtel, and her website, jackieknechtel.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

In Part 2 of my conversation with the inspiring and iconic Buddhist monk, Matthieu Ricard, he goes in-depth on the ancient meditation techniques that have helped him achieve a superlative kind of happiness. Click here for Part 1. Listen closely for lessons from a master of our time.Matthieu Ricard is a Buddhist monk, author, translator, and photographer. He participated in a 12-year study on the long-lasting effects of meditation. He was found to have significantly altered the structure of his brain and it later led the media to title him “the world’s happiest man”. ​A practicing Buddhist monk and vegan, he campaigns for animal rights and often tours the world giving lectures and speeches on Buddhism and the concept of happiness.In Part 2, we discuss:The COVID-19 pandemic as a catalyst for "the year of silence and space"The compatibility of romantic love and the path to seeking self-realizationEroding negative tendencies slowly as they ariseAppreciating that there are many of us who would never hurt someoneHow the world is in fact becoming safer, gentler, and less tolerant to aberrations The modern epidemic of narcissismMatthieu’s three meditations practicesThe brilliant concept of "mind added tax"Emptiness as the true nature of all phenomenaHow Buddhism deals with first causeInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Matthieu Ricard on Facebook @matthieu.ricard.officiel, Twitter @matthieuricard, Instagram @matthieu_ricard, and his website matthieuricard.orgDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

I'm truly honored to have Matthieu Ricard on Slo Mo for this incredible two-part episode. This is Part 1.There is a shroud of mystery surrounding the lives, intentions, struggles, and mindset of monks. What drives them to make such an apparently bold decision in the name of achieving true happiness? After speaking to Matthieu, it's clear that despite thinking the title of "World's Happiest Man" is nonsense, he exudes a joy, wisdom, and contentedness that speaks for itself. This conversation will refresh your priorities.Matthieu Ricard is an icon on the global stage and one of the most influential happiness champions alive today. Born in France in 1946 as the son of French philosopher Jean-François Revel and artist Yahne Le Toumelin, he is a Buddhist monk, author, translator, and photographer. He first visited India in 1967 where he met great spiritual masters from Tibet. After completing his Ph.D. degree in cell genetics in 1972, he moved to the Himalayan region where he has been living for the past 45 years.Listen as we discuss in Part 1:What it's like to be a monk in the spotlight after 25 years of isolationHis lovely 97 year-old mother who spontaneously singsThat Matthieu felt "ripe" to leave his science career behind to live with Tibetan mastersHaving no real happiness role models, despite growing up around successful peopleHis journey from becoming a monk to spending nearly 50 years in the HimalayasLiving in a cold 3 x 3 meter hermitage with no water or heat, yet loving itHow a book he wrote with his father led him on an unexpected path to stardomLiving "from one mountain pass to the other"The futility of depending on the outer condition for happiness  (this is pure wisdom)Pleasure vs. HappinessDo we need to go as far as being monks to experience happiness?Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Matthieu Ricard on Facebook @matthieu.ricard.officiel, Twitter @matthieuricard, Instagram @matthieu_ricard, and his website matthieuricard.orgDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today's guest is the speaker, teacher, and author, Peter Russell, a leading thinker on consciousness and contemporary spirituality. He has studied theoretical physics, experimental psychology, and computer science at the University of Cambridge, and meditation and Eastern Philosophy in India. Talk about refining both the left and right brains.Peter coined the term "global brain" with his 1980's bestseller of the same name in which he predicted the Internet and the impact it would have on humanity. He is also a pioneer of personal growth programs, having taught corporations and senior management on principles of creativity, stress management and sustainable development. He is the author of ten books, including Waking Up in Time and From Science to God: A Physicist's Journey into the Mystery of Consciousness.Listen as we discuss:One of my favorite topics as of late: slowing downJust how small humanity's collective and individual lifespan is on a universal scaleHow culture is exponentially accelerating, figuratively and literallyThe resistance that all forces traveling at fast speeds eventually reach, including usTaking more responsibility for ourselves against the belief that the more you have, the happier you’ll be Reaching a state of happiness without conditionsThe ideal pace at which humanity can moveThe struggle to remain optimistic about the evolution of the Global BrainThe Network of HumanityScience's biggest questions: What is the universe made of? What is consciousness?"Consciousness is that which knows, but we don’t know what consciousness is"From Science to God - Peter’s journey from hardcore scientist to "believer"Convincing the neuroscience community to study consciousness (see Dr. Dan Siegel)Why referring to God as a noun is a misconception in Peter's viewInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Peter Russell on Facebook @PeterRussellAuthor, Twitter @peterjrussell, and his website peterrussell.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today's guest is Pia Stanchina. I saw a post she'd made on Instagram that was so admirably vulnerable that I just had to DM her and invite her onto the podcast. Pia is so inspiring, and I know you'll walk away from this podcast with a new feeling of acceptance for who you are.Pia has successfully transitioned careers multiple times and now works primarily as a life and business coach for women who want to create a life, business, and career that they truly love. She has looked after fashion, beauty and luxury clients at Google, co-founded a Rocket Internet beauty subscription start-up, and trained at Central Saint Martins in fashion design. Nowadays, she is a self-partnered single mom, motivational speaker on innovation and reinvention, self-compassion activist and a gluten- & dairy-free foodie.Listen as we discuss:How an Instagram post Pia made - while at her worst, rather than her best - inspired me to reach out to herLife pulling the rug from underneath you when all seems to be going wellHer battle with coronavirus, financial difficulties, and self-compassionThe realization that she was living as a performance: finding "excuses to be here"Why do we push ourselves so hard?Life as broken down into chapters with distinct themesA change around the stigma of discussing mental health since COVID-19Why perfection cannot possibly have only one definitionGrowing up multiracial and never feeling a connection to a homeAn amazing exercise she does with her daughter to build confidenceWhat it's like to be a woman and feel flawed, and why finding yourself is the keyMenstrual cycles and how they show life and growth is not linear, but cyclicalInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Pia Stanchina on Instagram @piastanchina, on Twitter @piastanchina, on Facebook @Pia Stanchina, and her website, piastanchina.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today's guest is Akeem Haynes, undoubtedly one of the most inspiring people walking this planet right now. I love this person.Akeem is originally from Sav-la-mar Jamaica. At the age of 7, he moved to Canada for a better life with his mother. Shockingly, at the age of 13, Akeem and his mother became homeless and lived at a bus stop for a period of time. He learned early in his life to use his pain as fuel to push past the obstacles that came his way. Akeem went on to represent Canada in 2 Olympic games (2012-2016), and in 2016 he helped Canada break a 25 year record and win a bronze medal in the process. Along with his athletic accomplishments, he is a twice published author and now an international motivational speaker who helps individuals and organizations develop a resilient mindset to overcome their own obstacles.Listen as we discuss:Akeem's harrowing story of coming home from school one day, only to find his mother packing their belongings in garbage bags on a freezing cold dayHow they ended up living at a bus stop until an angelic woman took them inHis feelings of gratitude for not having gone through the experience aloneI ask, and he answers: How could humanity let that happen to a mother and child?Why it's so hard to ask for help, and the futility of trying to do everything yourselfBecoming a superheroSharing your story to pave the way for othersGetting better vs getting bitterThe inspiring evening primrose, which is beautiful, but grows in the darkThe loss of my son Ali, and how I realized there was never a deal that assumed he'd stay foreverWhy do bad things happen to good people?How different perspectives manifest around you when a flight is delayedInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Akeem Haynes on Instagram @underdogakh, on Twitter @underdogakh, on Facebook @Akinspires, and his website, akeeminspires.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

This is Part 2 of my interview with Jason Silva. Listen to Part 1 here. Be warned: after this one, you're likely going to end up a Jason Silva junkie like I did. And be warned again: this episode covers an absurd amount of topics in 30 minutes and may blow your mind.Jason Silva is an Emmy-nominated and world renowned TV personality, storyteller, filmmaker, and sought-after keynote speaker and futurist. He is best known for hosting 5 seasons of the Emmy-nominated, global hit TV series Brain Games, on the National Geographic Channel, broadcasted in over 171 countries. His inspirational videos, Shots of Awe, have received over 100 million views across social platforms. Most recently he hosted the global miniseries Origins: The Journey Of Humankind on the National Geographic Channel.In Part 2, we go in-depth on:The nature of reality, of courseAnd the nature of time, of courseAnd objectivity vs. subjectivity, brilliantly framed by Jason as Church vs. State An Alain de Botton quote (listen to my epic two-part talk with him here)Where science and poetry converge and divergeThe Great Gatsby and even more F. Scott FitzgeraldThe nagging feeling that your life is a film complete with setting, plots, and charactersThe awe felt in discovering a new world, and literally, the discovery of The New WorldHow our world is currently in a panic attack due to pandemicNegotiating with your amygdala to find peace in the "deep now"Jason's privileged yet dangerous childhood in VenezuelaJason's views on romantic love and his belief that the honeymoon can last foreverInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Jason Silva on Instagram @JasonLSilva, on Twitter @JasonSilva, on Facebook @JasonLSilva, and his website, thisisjasonsilva.comBig thanks to our friends at Aurum Speakers Bureau for connecting us to JasonDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today’s guest is essentially a professional mind-blower, and man is he good at what he does. This is Part 1 of 2.Jason Silva is an Emmy-nominated and world renowned TV personality, storyteller, filmmaker, and sought-after keynote speaker and futurist. He is best known for hosting 5 seasons of the Emmy-nominated, global hit TV series Brain Games, on the National Geographic Channel, broadcasted in over 171 countries. His inspirational videos, Shots of Awe, have received over 100 million views across social platforms. Most recently he hosted the global miniseries ORIGINS: The Journey Of Humankind on the National Geographic Channel.I’m a big fan of Jason’s ever since my dear son Ali recommended his show. Call me corny, but I’m in awe of how this guy thinks and communicates.I had no idea what to speak to him about because his scope of interest is massive: futurism, technology, creativity, the science of awe, disruptive innovation, relationships and mental health. Where we ended up has made for one of the most fascinating episodes yet. Even though we didn’t always agree, he opened my mind to a new paradigm for understanding perception itself. Don’t miss this.In Part 1, we discuss:Our shared love and admiration for the NetherlandsWhy Jason sees himself as an artist more than anything elseThe importance of awe for engaging the world meaningfullyFlow cycles, and why Jason has been called a “cognitive ecstasy addict”Why children are always nomads in a sense, and how that avoids jadednessHow adults create maps of the world to save energy, but lose the intensity of the lived experienceThe health benefits of awe and Jason’s awe triggers: new experiences and cannabisHow cannabis puts you in the present moment to experience, as Michael Pollan said, “a sense of first sight unencumbered by knowingness”Escapism vs Intensification: a debate on the utility of weedShaking up stuck patterns through psychedelics Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Jason Silva on Instagram @JasonLSilva, on Twitter @JasonSilva, on Facebook @JasonLSilva, and his website, thisisjasonsilva.comBig thanks to our friends at Aurum Speakers Bureau for connecting us to JasonDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today's guest is the magnificent Alexandra Cousteau, a third generation member of the legendary Cousteau family who explore and explain the natural world. She is captivating.Continuing the work of her world renowned grandfather Jacques-Yves Cousteau and her father Philippe Cousteau, Sr., Alexandra is a National Geographic "Emerging Explorer," filmmaker and globally recognized advocate on water issues. She is a masterful storyteller dedicated to advocating the importance of conservation and sustainable management of water in order to preserve a healthy planet. Alexandra is the co-founder of OCEANS 2050, a global program of ocean afforestation aiming to restore abundance to the oceans in one generation. She is also a Senior Advisor to OCEANA and is deeply involved in its campaigns to curb overfishing. I had so many questions for her: What's it like to live as an explorer? And be a mother? What is your happiness? Are people meant to live among nature? What I got was an incredible series of stories, a wealth of wisdom on the state of our world's oceans and environment, and a whole lot of reasons to finally be optimistic about the future of our planet. Her words are essential listening.Listen as we discuss:How Alexandra exposed her "city boy" husband to natureWhy she avoids field missions and instead focuses on advocacy and activismThe pain of leading a mission you believe will help the world, only to face oppositionHer mindblowing OCEANS 2050 initiativeThe shocking state of our oceans (with horrifying statistics)Whether humans are meant to live in nature or cities (I'm feeling the itch)How the current generation is making her optimisticDid COVID-19 help the environment? The answer isn't so simple.Her amazing thoughts on happiness: "I'm aligning my beliefs with my actions for the first time in my life, and I feel like I'm leaving a better world for my children"How her father, who died when she was a child, left a lasting guide for herDoes Alexandra want her children to be explorers? - "I just want them to be happy."Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Alexandra Cousteau on Instagram @acousteau, on Twitter @acousteau, on Linkedin @alexandracousteau, and on Facebook @YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Off the bat, you can already tell this will be a special episode because it marks the first time I interview two amazing friends at once.Sheika Bodour Al Qasimi and Mamadou Kwidjim Toure are the founders of the Ubuntu Love Challenge, a global movement built on the core philosophy of Ubuntu - “I am because we are” - with a mission to restore hope through a worldwide display of human collaboration and appreciation.Sheika Bodour Al Qasimi is the daughter of the ruler of the emirate of Sharjah, UAE, Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi. Being royalty is perhaps the least impressive of her credentials, as she also happens to be a powerhouse of a woman and mother. She is the founder and CEO of children's publisher Kalimat Group and the vice president of the International Publishers Association. She is a trailblazer in the global publishing scene and is creating a positive impact on the world through freedom to publish, enlightenment of children, and empowerment of women. She has been ranked by Forbes as one of the Most Powerful Arab Women in Business.Mamadou Kiwdjim Toure is the Founder of Africa 2.0, a non-for-profit pan African civil society organization with the aim to create a sustainable vision for the transformation of Africa. Named one of the top 10 Most Influential Men in Africa by Forbes Magazine, Mamadou founded the Ubuntu Group in 2015 and built on his global network and investment savviness to launch socio-economic projects throughout the continent of Africa. Inspired by the wisdom of his ancestors, Mamadou believes that co-creating a better world is possible when diversity is nurtured and access to opportunities is evenly distributed.Together, these two were inspired by the fear pervading the world during the pandemic to create the Ubuntu Love Challenge, which has the simple goal of having the world choose Love over Fear.Listen as we discuss:How Sheikha Bodour even exceeded royal expectations and became a super mom and businesswoman, and how her world changed when she became a mother.The United Arab Emirates as a society that empowers women, and her stories of being the only woman in the room at business meetings - even in Europe!The incredible story of how Mamadou started Africa 2.0 with an intense dedication to better his mother continentMamadou's Muslim Dad and Christian Mom, and highly diverse ancestry that showed him the beauty and power of our differencesThe idea behind the Ubuntu Love Challenge and the meaning of Ubuntu: "I am because we are"Why Love is the antidote to FearHow in the Middle East, social safety nets are less about social welfare programs and more about knowing your friends and family have your back in times of crisisThe issue of men being afraid to embrace love due to losing touch with their feminine sideThe feminine as the key to the future of leadership in business and world affairsTake the Ubuntu Love Challenge at ubuntulovechallenge.orgInstagram: YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

In this episode, I speak to a superwoman - my British-Brazilian friend Roberta Lucca. Roberta, also known as Beta, is serial entrepreneur and keynote speaker on futurism and leadership. She the co-founder of the BAFTA-winning Bossa Studios, a VC-backed, multi-million-dollar video game company based in London. She was listed in Forbes as one of the Top 50 Women in Tech, and among the Most Influential in Creative Arts by the Evening Standard. More recently, she's the host of her own hit podcast, Hyper Curious.Beta is an inspiration who deeply believes - and demonstrates - that you can be whoever you want to be and do whatever you want to do. This woman has serious resolve, and her confidence is contagious. At the end of the day, it seems that the courage to becoming like that lies in accepting that failure is all part of the process.Listen as we discuss:Her challenges coming from Brazil to the UK (and the language shock she received)Her stern belief that humans can live many lifetimes simultaneouslyFear and how she overcomes it despite feeling it in its full capacityHow accepting failure is the key to being boldHer foray into stand-up comedy and the epiphany that she has limitless potentialWhy many of us never live the life, or lives, we want to liveSuccess can never be planned or crafted and is a side effect of passionWhy awards don't equal successSucceeding as a woman in male dominated fieldsThe power of intentionalityFeeling guilty for having no regrets (and that's a good thing)Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Roberta Lucca on Instagram @beta.lucca, on Twitter @betalucca1, on Linkedin @robertalucca, and on Facebook @RealBetaLucca.Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Monday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Zev Siegl is the co-founder of Starbucks Coffee Company, now one of the world’s most beloved brands.In 1971, Zev Siegl, his fellow teacher Jerry Baldwin, and writer Gordon Bowker realized their passion for coffee and established Starbucks Coffee Company in Seattle’s historic Pike Place Market with the mission to offer some of the world’s finest, fresh-roasted, whole bean coffees. Following his departure from Starbucks in 1980, Zev became a serial entrepreneur, founding Quartermaine Coffee Roasters in Washington DC, Peerless Pie in Seattle, and more recently, BuckleUp. Zev is passionate about helping young entrepreneurs and has become one of the most sought-after motivational and entrepreneurship keynote speakers in the world.It's no secret that I'm a coffee fanatic. Downright obsessive, even. Despite often feeling overwhelmed by my daily work schedule across my businesses, books, talks, and the podcast, I never compromise on my 7 minute coffee making ritual every morning. Not only does it transition me to a concentrated state of mind, but it reminds me to be present and to work with love. And of course, I'd go nowhere without the caffeine kick.Interviewing Zev was an exciting moment for me, and what an incredible chat we ended up having. Getting the inside tale on the humble beginnings of one of the world's most iconic coffee brands from a visionary like Zev - who saw the need in the market for a new class of coffee - was insightful and simply a joy.Listen as we discuss:The founding and early years of Starbucks that led it to become a worldwide phenomenonZev’s transition from teacher to founder-entrepreneurHow Zev and his partners came up with the idea for Starbucks (around a disgusting espresso!)Finding mentors by boldly reaching outCoffee culture in the Middle East and its connection to a history of hospitality How Zev feels about Starbucks’ success even after he left the companyThe fundamental Starbucks approach to customer service and educationHow entrepreneurs are born from frustrationThe humble skill of listening and asking questions to help entrepreneurs test their ideasZev’s nuggets of wisdom for both struggling and aspiring startups and entrepreneursInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Zev Siegl on LinkedIn and zevsiegl.comThanks to our friends at Aurum Speakers Bureau for connecting us to Zev.Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Monday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today's guest is my longtime friend and ally in happiness, Mark Williamson. Mark is the co-founder of Director of Action for Happiness, a movement of people taking action to create a happier and kinder world. With an active community of over a million supporters in 180 countries, chances are you've seen a piece of content from Action for Happiness on your Instagram feed in the past. Mark is passionate about creating a more balanced and caring society that focuses more on helping both people and communities thrive. In that sense, Mark and I share the same goal in bringing awareness of how to be happier to the masses. And like myself, Mark came from a background of both business and engineering before ending up on a path of seeking and spreading happiness full time. This has forged a friendship that has seen us meet at happiness gatherings all over the world.If you have any doubt that Mark has ended up on his proper path in life, spend a minute listening to him. He radiates joy, a fruit of pursuing his purpose and helping others. That alone backs up the wisdom in his words.Listen as we discuss:Mark's journey from the commercial world to a leap of faith that led him to found the Action for Happiness movementWhether he regrets leaving behind high corporate salaries for a more purposeful lifeWhy people continue to live unhappy lives rather than pursuing what makes them happyAn incredible exercise for gaining perspective on your purpose and goalsMark's To-Be List, the most clever supplement to a To-Do ListHis mantra, embodied by an ironically and hilariously vulgar acronymWhat Action for Happiness actually doesHow religion plays a role in happiness and vice-versaInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Action for Happiness on Facebook @actionforhappiness, Instagram @actionhappiness, and Twitter @actionhappinessJoin the Action for Happiness community at actionforhappiness.orgDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Monday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

My friend Raymond Cloosterman, Founder and CEO of Rituals, is my guest on this episode of Slo Mo. Raymond founded Rituals, now one of the fastest growing cosmetics companies in the world, in 2000. Like its namesake, Rituals creates product lines inspired by ancient self-care traditions, offering an exclusive range of affordable and quality products that make meaningful moments out of daily routines like bathing, shaving, moisturizing, and drinking tea. Needless to say, Raymond is an incredible entrepreneur with his heart and vision in the right place, and his insights into how to build a successful, and happy business, are invaluable.Nearly 3,000,000 people walk into a Rituals store every week. We are immensely proud to announce that after months of hard work with the incredible team at Rituals, we've co-created the 14-day Happiness Challenge. Working with such a massive audience and such an influential company has given One Billion Happy one of its greatest surges ever.Sign up for the 14-day happiness challenge here:https://www.rituals.com/en-nl/happiness-challenge.htmlListen to my talk with Raymond as we discuss:Raymond’s story on building Rituals from his garage to thousands of locations globallyHis inspiration to build the brand, which became "his baby"How to stay resilient as an entrepreneur (even if you literally get robbed)How happiness pervades Rituals as a company and brandHow consuming a product or food with awareness actually makes it more effectiveWhether success actually increases our happinessInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Rituals on Facebook @RitualsCosmetics, Instagram @ritualscosmetics, and Twitter @RitualsSign up for our 14-Day Happiness Challenge here:https://www.rituals.com/en-nl/happiness-challenge.htmlDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Monday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

In Part 2 of my interview with British-Swiss philosopher, Alain de Botton, we continue our conversation - which has since become one of my favorites - on all things love, extending into dating dynamics, dealing with jealousy, the confusing language of sex, and God's role in all this.Check out Part 1 here if you haven't already. It's essential listening if you want to understand what makes a quality relationship that results in more love and less loneliness. (While you're at it, listen to my conversation with Lynne Twist to hear how she's maintained a happy marriage for 53 years.)Alain de Botton is a philosopher and writer of essayistic books that have been described as a ‘philosophy of everyday life." He’s written on love, travel, architecture and literature. His books have been bestsellers in 30 countries and have sold millions of copies. Alain also started and helps to run a school in London called The School of Life, dedicated to a new vision of education. His latest book, published in September 2019, is a collection of essays written for The School of Life, titled The School of Life: An Emotional Education.In Part 2, we discuss:Humanity's transition from demonizing sex to trying to understand itThe differences (or lack thereof) between male and female in love and sexSexual fetishes and their unique place in couple connectionsUndertakers and nurses as beacons of acceptanceThe game of life is trying to find connectionsThe ironic outcome of jealousy's intentionsHow to keep your partner faithfulAlain's love advice to my daughterCoping with the feeling of being rushed into marriage as a womanWhat "God is love" really meansSeeing your partner as an Adorable Idiot rather than just a regular idiotInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Alain de Botton on Twitter @alaindebotton and alaindebotton.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Monday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

One of the most requested guests by Slo Mo's listeners has been British-Swiss philosopher, Alain de Botton, and I'm honored to have him on this episode and the next to talk about one of my favorite topics: Love. This is Part 1 of a two-part episode, and it may just be the paradigm shift you're looking for if you're facing challenges in the realm of love, be it giving love or receiving it (and let's be honest: who isn't?)Alain de Botton is a philosoper and writer of essayistic books that have been described as a ‘philosophy of everyday life." He’s written on love, travel, architecture and literature. His books have been bestsellers in 30 countries and have sold millions of copies. Alain also started and helps to run a school in London called The School of Life, dedicated to a new vision of education. His latest book, published in September 2019, is a collection of essays written for The School of Life, titled The School of Life: An Emotional Education.I love talking about love, just as much as I'm happy to discuss happiness. Alain's body and scope of work is so vast, I decided to focus this conversation entirely on love, sex, and relationships. I'm so glad I did.Listen as we discuss:What is love? Alain's definition of love: 'when two people meet in their raw condition.'How the opposite extreme of love is Loneliness, not Hatred.How Life is a desperate emergency, and if we can just admit that, things open up.Why Christianity gives a privileged role to those who sufferOne of the most honest takes on sex you'll ever hearHow we're always trying to get our life as close as possible to our true realityIf we're all imperfect, doesn't that make imperfection perfect?How we've replaced happiness with "fun" just as we've replaced love with "romance"The contradictions in love and how they're only glaring because they violate a script or story we expect from our relationshipHow we shouldn't be held accountable for what we feel, but rather the actions we take based on those feelings.Reinterpreting the typical disaster scenario in a relationship when one partner cheats on anotherInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Alain de Botton on Twitter @alaindebotton and alaindebotton.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Monday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today's guest is my wonderful friend, Dr. Sandro Formica. Sandro and I met at the World Happiness Summit, and naturally we bonded over our shared mission of spreading and legitimizing the pursuit and study of happiness and fulfillment. Sandro has taken an unconventional path in academia and life, living every day in full commitment to his Life Purpose. He lives to get others to this point, increasing individual and organizational performance based on applied, scientific evidence. He teaches "The Science of Happiness and Personal Empowerment" at Florida International University.As you'll hear in the conversation, Sandro radiates that easygoing, wise Italian vibe. His anecdotes about his mother are both heartwarming and hilarious. He is a joy to speak with and listen to, and his insights and wisdom will lead you to take a close look at whether or not you're living the life and doing the work that your needs, values, and purpose want you to do.Listen as we discuss:How his first thought during quarantine was: "I wish I could hug mama."How the COVID-19 pandemic affected his native Italy (which at the time of recording was a disastrous situation) vs. Miami, his home.The realization that out of the roughly 20,000 hours we receive of fundamental education from preschool through high school, we can barely remember 10% of it.How we can measure the intangible by gauging how much our needs are being fulfilled, and the firm truth that having our needs met will lead to a basic happiness.The needs not being met by the pandemic: Safety, socializing, touch.The question: Why is the feeling of having your needs met based on subjective perception? Some people have it all and feel unsafe, and yet others are as vulnerable as it gets and feel safe and secure.A small mention of squirrels, again, because apparently everyone thinks they're awesome.How Sandro would calm someone going through a lockdown induced panicHow it's crucial to align your work and life plan with your values, needs, and purpose, in that order.How Sandro was living life and getting a PhD in a field he didn't really care about in order to gain his mother's approval, only to realize he didn't really know himself.The timeless value and curative power of vulnerability.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Sandro Formica on Facebook  @Dr.SandroFormica, LinkedIn @in/sandro-formica, YouTube and sandroformica.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Monday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

I came across Elina St-Onge after seeing a video she created on Facebook called "An Uplifting Perspective In These Chaotic Times" that featured clips of me speaking. I started following her vlog that documented her attempt at 100 days of meditation. Her vulnerability, or in other words "realness", captivated me. She invited me to speak on her team's podcast at The Uplifted Life, and I wanted her on Slo Mo. The result is something very special, an authentic document on what it's like to grow up as a young woman in this generation. Elina is a self-taught video editor, graphic designer, copywriter, photographer, singer and songwriter who works as the content creator for Uplifted Life, a company dedicated to help individuals, entrepreneurs and businesses to thrive from the inside out. While she may have found her gifts and place in the world today, her childhood and time in school was plagued with rejection from peers and a chronic sense of not belonging, of being "dumb" for not measuring up academically, and of teachers recommending Ritalin as early as her first year of elementary school.Listen as we discuss:Her journey of unlearning the heavy burden of self-hatred and feeling broken from a system that seemed to highlight her weaknesses rather than her strengthsHow she is finally learning to love herself, know her worth and work with the way she is wired as opposed to fighting against itHer goal of becoming her "own best friend"How attempting 100 days of meditation, and not finishing, taught her that goals can often defeat their own purposeLooking for her tribe and the lonely millennial struggle of looking for belongingThe sobering realization that she is not broken and the true battle of "Me vs. Me"Looking for love in all the wrong placesADHD and what we think it actually isThe difference between "Bye, bye, childhood" and "Bye, bye, childhood traumas"Women in comedySquirrelsInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Elina St. Onge on Instagram @elinastonge and YouTubeFind her work on Facebook at UpliftedLifeDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Monday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

I consider this to be a perfect episode of Slo Mo, thanks to who is now one of my favorite guests ever, Mark Gober.Mark Gober is an international speaker and author of the award-winning book "An End to Upside Down Thinking" (2018) and its sequel "An End to Upside Down Living" (2020). He is also the host of the podcast "Where Is My Mind?" and serves on the Board of the Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS) and the School of Wholeness and Enlightenment (SoWE).Have you ever been thinking of somebody you haven't spoke to in a while, only to get a text from them shortly after? Are you an anomaly among your friends because you believe in psychics, mediums, and superpowers?Well, take a listen to this episode, and stand your ground knowing there is plenty of research backing the existence of so called 'paranormal' phenomena. Mark Gober is a brilliant writer, speaker, and researcher who dug up all the legitimate studies that have been done on these topics. Among the many revelations to emerge from this episode, I felt the most calm knowing there are strong scientific reasons to believe that my son Ali is just fine.In this episode, we discuss:How knowing the difference between consciousness and the physical was key to helping me better process Ali's passingThe other meaning of being a "materialist"The Primordial Soup of MatterThe #2 question in all of science: how does the brain create consciousness? Or does it it all?How the brain is actually filtering or impeding consciousness rather than generating itThe scientific experiments that have essentially demonstrated the existence of psychic phenomena and survival beyond bodily death, with some even backed by declassified CIA documentsThat we may very well be different lenses of One Mind, and how one man's four near death experiences embodied that ideaHow we are nothing more than whirlpools in a stream that localize, then eventually blend back in (See my interview with Dan Siegel for more mindblowing insight on that idea)The most important call to action you'll ever receive: knowing that consciousness is fundamental, that we are all connected, and that death triggers a Life Review, how will that change how you treat others?Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Mark Gober at YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

This is Part 2 of my talk with the incredible Lynne Twist. Be sure to listen to Part 1 here first.Lynne is an award-winning speaker, fundraiser extraordinaire, consultant, executive coach, global activist, and author of the widely acclaimed book, "The Soul of Money". She is the co-founder of The Pachamama Alliance and founder of The Soul of Money Institute. For over 40 years, she has been a recognized global visionary committed to alleviating poverty and hunger and supporting social justice and environmental sustainability. From working with Mother Teresa in Calcutta to the refugee camps in Ethiopia and the threatened rainforests of the Amazon, Lynne’s on-the-ground work has brought her a deep understanding of the social tapestry of the world and the historical landscape of the times we are living in.In Part 2, we discuss:What is money, really? And does it have a soul?The mindset of scarcity vs. the mindset of charity The idea of abundanceHow some indigenous people in the Amazon have no concept of moneyThe societal contract in the Muslim worldLynne’s advice from 53 years of happy marriage to her husband, Bill Twist.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Lynne Twist at soulofmoney.org, on Facebook @LynneTwistGlobalVisionary, and on Twitter @Lynne_TwistDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Monday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

I can confidently say I'm Lynne Twist's biggest fan, so you can imagine my excitement in having her as my guest on Slo Mo to tell her incredible story. In fact, the talk was so good, we kept going and decided to split it into two episodes. This is Part 1. Listen to Part 2 here.Lynne is an award-winning speaker, fundraiser extraordinaire, consultant, executive coach, global activist, and author of the widely acclaimed book, "The Soul of Money". She is the co-founder of The Pachamama Alliance and founder of The Soul of Money Institute. For over 40 years, she has been a recognized global visionary committed to alleviating poverty and hunger and supporting social justice and environmental sustainability. From working with Mother Teresa in Calcutta to the refugee camps in Ethiopia and the threatened rainforests of the Amazon, Lynne’s on-the-ground work has brought her a deep understanding of the social tapestry of the world and the historical landscape of the times we are living in.In Part 1, we discuss:How “divine choreography” (I love that term!) led her on a spiritual journey sparked by the sudden death of her father.Her life altering involvement in The Hunger Project.Juggling humanitarian missions around the globe with mothering 3 kids.Her exposure to the "less fortunate" changing her definition what it means to be "poor" and "rich".The incredible story of grieving with Ethiopian mothers who'd lost their children to famine.How these hungry mothers were paired by Lynne, via a seemingly divine appointment, with wealthy New Yorkers, leading to a gorgeous and inspiring mutual growth.Working with Mother Theresa and recognizing the different 'eras of charity'.Her belief that we are in the the "Sophia Century", the century when women will take their rightful role in co-equal partnership with men and the world will come back into balance.The Bird of Humanity and developing it's male and female wings.The wisdom that there's definitely enough out there for our needs, but never enough for our greed.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Lynne Twist at soulofmoney.org, on Facebook @LynneTwistGlobalVisionary, and on Twitter @Lynne_TwistDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Monday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

In this episode, I speak with my good friend Maarten van Huijstee. Maarten is the founder of Wisdom in Business, the Inner Peace Conference, Delight Yoga and The Playing Circle, all unique initiatives united by their focus on bringing a community of people and a network of organisations towards more conscious living and working.I first met Maarten at his conference in Amsterdam, and he inspired me with his calm and dedication to making the journey inward to master the art of living through inner peace and natural wisdom. He continuously explores philosophy, meditation, and movement with masters around the world while running multiple successful businesses - not the easiest balancing act, but a very rewarding one.Listen as we discuss:The pandemic-fueled unimportance of time and placeThe connective power of silenceMaarten’s story going from “regular joe” to trekking the HimalayasHow sleeping after lunch led him to transcendental meditationThe realization that life is not just “his show”His journey from successful businessman to helping people find their inner peaceHis meditation journey and techniquesHow life eventually becomes more the meditation than the practiceFinding wisdom in business to move from ego- to eco-drivenThe evolution of the collective mind; and his personal meaning of self-loveThis episode is part of the Silver Linings theme.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Maarten at delightyoga.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Monday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

I adore my guest in this episode, the brilliant Michelle Gielan. Michelle has spent the past decade researching the link between happiness and success. She is the bestselling author of "Broadcasting Happiness: The Science of Igniting and Sustaining Positive Change" and was named one of the Top 10 authors on resilience by the Harvard Business Review. She is also an Executive Producer of “The Happiness Advantage” on PBS and a featured professor in Oprah’s Happiness course. Michelle is an inspiring woman: she was trained as a computer engineer, found her way into broadcast journalism at CBS through sheer persistence and willpower, then began studying positive psychology, reaching star status in the field along with her husband, Shawn Achor. She is a living example of truly subscribing to optimism - defined as expecting good things to happen and understanding the role of your reactions in shaping outcomes of situations.Listen as we discuss:What it really means to be optimisticHow the persistent negativity found in journalism sparked her pursuit of optimism in reporting and beyondHow Michelle and her husband Shawn Achor have been handling the pandemic, or "How a Happiness Household Behaves"Taking calculated risksThe two biggest predictors of happinessThe exercise of Fact Checking for coping with anxietyHer own battle with depressionWhy we often feel we need to hide our optimism in order to gain respectHow the most impactful person in the room is not the most negative or the most positive, but the one who most genuinely expresses their mindsetInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Michelle Gielan at michellegielan.com and on Facebook @michellegielan, Instagram @michellegielan, and Twitter @michellegielanDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Monday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy. YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today's guest is my friend Ken Jordan. Ken is the Editorial Director at Lucid News, a source of informed, honest and transparent journalism that covers the growing integration of psychedelics into society and their broad implications for human wellness. Ken has been a pioneer in progressive, conscious culture for decades. In 2007, he co-founded the consciousness network Evolver and its online journal Reality Sandwich, which he edited until 2019. In 2016, Ken co-founded The Alchemist's Kitchen in Manhattan.My friends and family know that I don't indulge in drugs or drinks (you'll find out why in this episode), so I tend toward skepticism when discussing the therapeutic use of plant medicines and psychedelics. I invited an expert like Ken onto this podcast to give a platform for fair discussion, and I learned a lot from this wonderful chat.Listen as we discuss:How there's no known time in human history in which people did not experiment with mind-altering plant medicinesWhy societies transitioned from natural medicine to pharmaceuticalsThe commonly reported "intelligence" that seems to personify medicinal plants like mushrooms and ayahuascaHow meditation and psychedelics work on nearly the same mechanismsKen’s most eye opening insights from trippingHow some of the world's leading research institutions are legitimizing the benefits of these long vilified plantsInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Ken Jordan at lucid.newsDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Monday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

In this episode, my amazing friend Dorota Stanczyk opens up in the most courageous form of surrender, only to demonstrate that she is nothing short of a warrior. This is a very personal episode loaded with wisdom.Dorota is a Polish transformational artist, creative director, conscious creativity trainer, speaker and writer. Her passion is to combine fine arts with personal growth. Dorota has worked with brands that include Christian Dior and Sony, and her alent has been recognized through numerous industry awards. After 10 years of working in Visual Arts, Dorota created MoonKava, a conceptual agency that combines digital and physical arts to create innovative designs and projects.Listen as we discuss:Overcoming a 'people-pleasing' natureDealing with lifelong feelings of rejection from a loved oneHow psychological distress manifests into chronic physical illnessHow self-acceptance cured the supposedly incurableDorota's view that reality happens "from us, not to us"Overcoming childhood traumasThe texture, temperature, and color of self-acceptanceThe power of surrenderWhy forfeiting desire is the only way to eradicate the feeling that something is missingInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Dorota Stanczyk on Facebook @dorota.art, Instagram @dorotastanczykart and her website dorotastanczyk.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Monday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

This is Part 2 of my talk with the absolutely brilliant Dr. Dan Siegel. Listen to Part 1 here.Dr. Dan Siegel is an internationally acclaimed author, award-winning educator, and child psychiatrist. He is currently a clinical professor of psychiatry at the UCLA School of Medicine where he also serves as a co-investigator at the Center for Culture, Brain, and Development and co-director of the Mindful Awareness Research Center. He is also the Executive Director of the Mindsight Institute, an educational center devoted to promoting insight, compassion, and empathy in individuals, families, institutions and communities. His five New York Times bestsellers are Aware: The Science and Practice of Presence; Mind: A Journey to the Heart of Being Human; Brainstorm: The Power and Purpose of the Teenage Brain; and two books with Tina Payne Bryson, Ph.D.: The Whole-Brain Child and No-Drama Discipline.In Part 2 of our talk, we discuss:The mathematics of the mindThe concept of emergenceThe inevitable interdependence found in the system called 'Life on Earth'The Pando Forest analogyThe etymological meaning of religionWhat it means to live in the Realm of Nouns vs. the Realm of VerbsThe definition of energy as the general process of the movement from possibility to actualityThe Generator of Diversity, or G.O.D. churning possibility into realityThe incredible story of Dan comforting his late father on death. "We start as a possibility. We actualize for 100 years. Then, we dissolve back into a sea of possibility."Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Dr. Dan Siegel on Facebook @drdansiegel and Instagram @drdansiegel and at drdansiegel.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Monday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Dr. Dan Siegel and I did not want to stop this incredible conversation, so this will be a two-part episode. Listen to Part 2 here.Dr. Dan Siegel is an internationally acclaimed author, award-winning educator, and child psychiatrist. He is currently a clinical professor of psychiatry at the UCLA School of Medicine where he also serves as a co-investigator at the Center for Culture, Brain, and Development and co-director of the Mindful Awareness Research Center. He is also the Executive Director of the Mindsight Institute, an educational center devoted to promoting insight, compassion, and empathy in individuals, families, institutions and communities. His five New York Times bestsellers are Aware: The Science and Practice of Presence; Mind: A Journey to the Heart of Being Human; Brainstorm: The Power and Purpose of the Teenage Brain; and two books with Tina Payne Bryson, Ph.D.: The Whole-Brain Child and No-Drama Discipline.Dan defines the mind as an "emergent, self-organizing, embodied and relational process that regulates the flow of energy and information." How he landed on that definition is a fascinating story of gathering 40 of the brightest minds across different disciplines to discuss the question: Is the mind within us or between us?In Part 1, we discuss:What it's like confronting updated science in publishing and revising an academic bookThe connection between mental disorders and geneticsA scientific take on nature vs. nurture and the fragility of child developmentHow Dan's career studying salmon enzymes by day and the subjective human experience on a suicide hotline by night led him to medicine and psychiatryAn enlightening and challenging discussion on what the mind actually isFinding concrete meaning and place for the word "energy" in discussing consciousness scientificallyDan's Wheel of Awareness that considers eight senses rather than just fiveHow the pandemic has shown us all the reality of interconnectionInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Dr. Dan Siegel on Facebook @drdansiegel and Instagram @drdansiegel and at drdansiegel.comDon't forget to subYouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

In this episode of Slo Mo, I speak with my friend Anne Therese Gennari, an ex-model, entrepreneur, sustainability coach, and stubborn believer in collective, positive change. In 2017, she co-founded Role Models Management, a talent agency that puts ethics, sustainability, and social justice at its core and gives models a voice to speak up about things they believe in, demonstrating that empowered models can help shift pop-culture in the direction needed for a better world.Anne Therese's spirit is contagious, and she is an unabashed believer in the power of the individual to change the world. I first met her when she invited me onto her own podcast, Hey Change, via a totally random Facebook Friend Request. I quickly discovered that she is an entrepreneurial force who does not see a divide between business and the desire to do good.Listen as we discuss:Her own journey as a model and subsequent disillusionment with the state of the industryHer charge to found a modeling agency that focused on turning models into real role modelsThe interesting notion that models aren't really models from the engineering point of viewHow she was inspired by the #MeToo movement to tell her own story as a victim of sexual harassmentWhy optimism is a crucial complement to the very real warnings surrounding climate changeInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Anne Therese Gennari on Instagram @annetheresegennari and @rolemodelsmgmtDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Monday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

My guest today is Michael Ventura, an accomplished entrepreneur, creative director, and author who specializes in empathy. He is the founder and CEO of the strategy and design studio, Sub Rosa, and also teaches design thinking and integrating empathy into the creative process at Princeton University. His first book, "Applied Empathy", puts empathy at the center of design, innovation, and problem solving.With great empathy comes great responsibility, apparently. I did not expect to be tasked with using it ethically as if it were a superpower, but it makes sense: if you understand someone at a deep enough level, the potential for manipulation increases. Using examples ranging from the MO of sociopaths to military generals reconciling empathy with combat, Michael gives a fresh and immensely practical perspective on what can go right and wrong when you truly understand another person's being.Listen as we discuss:The meanings of empathyHow it can be used both benevolently and nefariously and should be regulated by a personal code of ethicsThe 3 types of empathy that distinguish between the Golden Rule and what Michael calls the "Platinum Rule"The military and business perspectives and use cases for empathyHow applying empathy to breast cancer screenings yielded a win-win for all stakeholdersThe value in understanding the "Seven Selves" of every individual, especially yourselfInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Michael Ventura at appliedempathy.com and on Instagram @themichaelventuraDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Monday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today’s guest is my inspiring friend, Kim Ross. Kim is Director of International Productions at Warner Bros Entertainment, so I thought we'd be discussing the impact of media on our well being. This episode turned out to be so much more. Her story, both extraordinary and relatable, is exactly what Slo Mo aims to be about.After being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2018, Kim began asking herself the hardest question: “How can we, as individuals come to terms with the fact that one-day we won’t be here?”. As a single mother working a full time and very successful career, she’s still managed to learn valuable lessons from mortality that she tries to pass onto her 10 year old daughter to prepare her for the challenges life throws our way.Listen as we discuss:The bliss and break up of first loveRecognizing where compromise ends and abuse beginsRelearning your single identity and self-worth after a relationshipThe emotional and physical responsibilities of single motherhoodPowering over chronic pain to keep a source incomeDealing with a heart-sinking cancer diagnosis and treatment; and, surprisingly, emerging with a firm feeling of gratitude and acceptance for the hardships overcomeInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Kim on Instagram @MissKimRossDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Monday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

In this episode, I speak with Dan Murray-Serter, a friend I admire for many reasons, particularly his commitment to live life and do business on his terms. Dan is the Co-Founder of brain health and mental wellness company Heights and the Host of the UK's number 1 business podcast, Secret Leaders. Dan's last business, Grabble, became the UK's number 1 shopping app, for which he won the UK's young entrepreneur of the year award, but it eventually did not work out.Dan has taken many lessons with him in his new ventures. His insatiable appetite for learning and unwavering dedication to ensuring he is working on what he actually cares about has led him to a successful and fulfilling career as an entrepreneurial leader.Listen as Dan discusses:How he dealt with the embarrassing fall of the award-winning, widely admired GrabbleHow the Japanese concept of Ikigai led him to commit only to work that he loves and feels the world needsWhy the 'safety' of employment is not much greater than that of entrepreneurship, especially considering the effects of the COVID-19 pandemicHow feeding his brain with proper nutrition cured his chronic insomnia and paved the way for Heights; and why affording several hours per week to his non-profit passion projects has given him the greatest feeling of success.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Dan Murray-Serter on Instagram @DanMurraySerter and Twitter @danmurrayserterDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Monday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

In this episode I speak with the amazing Rajshree Patel, a woman whose words alone paint the picture of a being who has tapped into their true potential. Rajshree began her career as a prosecutor living in Los Angeles until a fateful misunderstanding of an advertisement led her to attend an event by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar - the spiritual leader, not the legendary sitar player she thought she was going to see. Despite initial resistance from her overly analytical lawyer-brain, her newfound guru led her to profound realizations that set her on a new course in life.Rajshree is now an international self-awareness coach, teacher, speaker, and author of "The Power of Vital Force". She has taught hundreds of thousands of people the power of meditation, mindfulness, breath work, and other tools for accessing the innate source of energy, creativity, and fulfillment within.Listen as we discuss:The importance of 'doing the work'How we are born happy as a default setting but lose our way in the maze of livingHow the mind is no different than the choices we makeThe core differences between intellect and intelligenceHow we can look to the animal, plant, and cosmic kingdoms as proof that everything in the universe moves with a precise blueprint, including ourselvesThis episode is part of our Silver Linings theme.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Rajshree Patel on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @byrajshreeDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Monday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

The story of Dan Schneider, also known as The Pharmacist, will be familiar to anyone who’s browsed Netflix’s list of Trending Shows within the last few months. The must-watch docuseries, The Pharmacist, tells of Dan's perseverance in both independently solving the case of his 22-year old son's murder in a drug-deal gone bad and subsequent risking of his own life to expose the impending opioid crisis in the US. It makes for one of the most captivating real-life underdog stories I've ever seen. I could not wait for this conversation, though I knew it would be hard.Like Dan, I lost my son Ali at age 22. Ali, like Danny (Dan's son), was wise far beyond his years and has been guiding my life before and after his passing. Though I do speak to Dan about the shared pain of losing our sons, you will notice that most of the conversation is about the hope, understanding, and purpose we've both derived from this loss. Danny's passing led Dan to found his Tunnel of Hope mission to fight drug abuse. Ali's passing led to my lifelong pursuit of trying to spread happiness with One Billion Happy. I still believe that if Ali knew the results of his departure, he would have volunteered to go.Listen as Dan shares:The intimate details of his unbelievable story beyond what's covered in the docuseriesThe unfathomably difficult moral dilemmas he and his heroic witness, Shane Madding, faced in order to bring his son's killer to justiceHow he, like myself, coped with tragedy and turned it into a life purposeHow our sons both showed a surreal foresight of their impending passing and both continue to guide us posthumouslyThe mutual, unlikely realization that we are both extremely fortunate to have faced such a profound painInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Dan's mission Tunnel of Hope at tunnelofhope.orgDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Monday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.Donate to support Shane Madding, a true hero at the gofundme.com page created for her.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

In this deeply personal episode, I speak with my friend and tireless force for good, Dr. Scilla Elworthy. Scilla is nothing short of inspiring, and to listen to her discuss her work and life story is to hear a clear example of a human being who found and is living their purpose. I say it multiple times in our discussion, but the world needs more Scillas, more people saying "peace is possible."Scilla is a peace builder and has been a distinguished activist for peace for over 30 years. She has met with scientists, nuclear weapons policy-makers from all five nuclear powers, and their critics to develop effective dialogue. She founded the Oxford Research Group, Peace Direct, and co-founded 'Rising Women, Rising World' and FemmeQ, and was nominated three times for the Nobel Peace Prize. Her latest book is The Business Plan for Peace: Building a World Without War.Listen as we discus:The violent childhood incident that led Scilla on the path of peace-building from age 11Her incredible early journeys working with concentration camp survivors to Vietnamese refugees to orphans in AlgiersA life-changing coma that led her to ask and actively try to answer the ultimate question, "Who am I?"COVID-19 as nature's clear message to us to open our ears and eyesHer techniques for dealing with fear, establishing effective dialogue with angry or egotistical world leaders, and utilizing anger to get things doneHow growing vegetables in a garden creates a connection with nature that shifts our hearts towards compassionThis episode is part of our Silver Linings theme.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Dr. Scilla Elworthy on Facebook @scillaelworthy, Twitter @scillaelworthy, and at scillaelworthy.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Monday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Nothing I write here will capture the emotional magnitude of the conversation I had with world renowned photographer and artist, Jimmy Nelson. The world knows him as a storyteller primarily via his gorgeous photography, but here is proof that listening to Jimmy tell his story as a guest on a podcast is a masterpiece in and of itself.Jimmy Nelson has hauled his camera to the world's most remote corners in order to create a living document of vanishing tribes and indigenous cultures. His first large-format book, "Literary Portraits of China", was a worldwide hit, culled from over 40 months of traveling through China. A collection of Jimmy’s photos, "Before They Pass Away", was published in 2013. In 2016, he and his team launched the Jimmy Nelson Foundation, which aims to foster appreciation for cultural diversity and celebrate polychromatic cultural identity.Listen as Jimmy gifts us with stories of: His incredible journey from a childhood living like Mowgli from "The Jungle Book" to a traumatizing education at an abusive boarding schoolHis struggles with hating his own brain and bodyThe period as a reportage photographer or "a broken man disappearing into other people's pain"His now legendary expeditions into uncharted territories befriending and photographing indigenous populations with his analog cameraPondering how quarantine has reinforced his gratitude for the adventures already had and those to come, even if at a small park across the street from his home in AmsterdamInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Jimmy Nelson on Facebook @jimmy.nelson.official, on Instagram @jimmy.nelson.official , on Twitter @jimmy_p_nelson, and jimmynelson.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Monday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today's guest is one of my role models, author and lecturer Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar. Tal taught two of the largest classes in Harvard University’s history, Positive Psychology and The Psychology of Leadership. His books have been translated into more than twenty-five languages and have appeared on best-sellers lists around the world.Tal is a true ally in the shift to use science to legitimize the value of the pursuit of happiness. This episode is packed with practical takeaways on creating and maintaining a prolonged happiness, especially during this difficult time of pandemic.Listen as Tal shares:His answer to the "three secrets of happiness" (hint: reality)The perils of blindly following the media's "magnifying glass" effect in times of widespread fearThe Three R's you need to create lasting changeThe paradigm shifting possibility of Post Traumatic Growth as an outcome of hardshipThis episode is part of our Silver Linings theme.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar on Facebook @DrTalBenShahar, Instagram at @happiertv, Twitter @TalBenShahar, and at talbenshahar.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Monday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

In this episode, I speak with the extraordinary John Spence, an author, speaker, and executive coach recognized as one of the top business thought leaders and leadership development experts in the world. John has made a career out of simplifying and communicating very complex concepts (see his fantastic book, Awesomely Simple) and was named by the American Management Association as one of America’s Top 50 Leaders to Watch.I'm seriously impressed by John's work. Few thought leaders can recognize and articulate dysfunctional patterns and formulate functional solutions as capably as John. You will see that he does that brilliantly, both in discussing business and life.Tune in to hear:John's take on facing new realities as a business owner in times of a sudden crisis with no real end dateHis thoughts on taming control by emphasizing what you can control and dismissing what you can'tWhy feelings of safety, dignity, and purpose are key to retaining satisfied employees or followersHis tried-and-true blueprint for being a great leader, "a living example of what they hope their followers will one day become," based on competence, concern, and a healthy balance of IQ, EQ, and AQ.This episode is part of our Silver Linings theme.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with John Spence on Instagram @johnspencespeaker, Twitter @awesomelysimple, Facebook @johnspenceleadership, and at johnspence.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Monday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Today's guest is my friend and leading motivational speaker Kevin Abdulrahman, connecting from quarantine in Dubai. Kevin personally speaks to Fortune 500 companies and government agencies and is also the trusted advisor and go-to public speaking coach to CEOs, world leaders, presidents and even royalty. He is the host of How Do They Do It?, a show and podcast where he has candid conversations with leaders, great minds and game changers.Kevin is a fountain of hard-won wisdom. Having singled out three major tests in his life involving the loss of his father, a relationship, and quite actually everything in the economic crash in 2007, he's learned to lead life with a calm that has served him very well, especially in this time of pandemic lockdown.Listen as we discuss:The peace he gained from learning that control is an illusionHis evolving understanding of the meaning of gratitudeThe simple target of ensuring you emerge from quarantine better than when you entered itHis professional tips on impactful public speakingThis episode is part of our Silver Linings theme.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Kevin on Facebook @kevinabdulrahmanofficial, Instagram @KevinAbdulrahmanOfficial, Twitter @kevabdulrahman and kevinabdulrahman.orgDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Monday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

In this episode, I speak with coach and mind-strategist Will Polston, the Founder of Make It Happen. Will's mission is to empower one billion people to transform their excuses into results to benefit themselves, their family, their friends, their community, society, humanity and the universe - what he calls the Ripple Effect.Will is a brilliant young man and a natural ally for my own One Billion Happy mission. Like many of us whose paths drifted toward self-development, Will grew up equating money with happiness. After having a "lightning moment" at a Tony Robbins event, he broke down in tears as he finally recognized the obstacles holding him back from his true life purpose. He began pursuing it aggressively and now helps others do the same.Listen as we discuss:Finding a grand ambition to serve as your 'north star'The Navy Seal-inspired mentality for getting closer to your purpose in focused stepsWill's 'Scrooge Method' for identifying and eradicating obstaclesHow finding one positive in a negative situation can unravel an infinite chain of benefits and silver liningsThis episode is part of our Silver Linings theme.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Will on Instagram @willpolston, on Facebook @willpolstonmih, on Twitter @willpolston and make-it-happen.co.ukDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Monday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

In this episode, I speak with my wonderful Brazilian friend and happiness ally, Sandra Teschner. Sandra is an author, businesswoman, publisher, speaker, and certified Chief Happiness Officer.Sandra radiates a contagious joy and embodies the dancing, singing, laughing, and sharing spirit of Brazil. She changed her near-death experience into a driving force toward understanding what it means to be happy. Her social work with children with multiple amputations and serious diseases has made a difference in the lives of thousands of people. Sandra and those children greatly inspire me.Listen as Sandra shares:How Brazilians casually handle pandemicsThe epiphany learned from her unique, pink-lit near-death experienceHow the smiles of poverty-stricken amputees are evidence that happiness is a choiceThe curative power of dancingThis episode is part of our Silver Linings theme.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Sandra on Instagram @sandrateschner and sandrateschner.com.brDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Monday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

I haven't met many people more admirably open than my friend Roxie Nafousi, an Emotional Health Advisor, Manifesting Expert, and Instagram Agony Aunt.Roxie is a champion of vulnerability, the epitome of an open book who courageously shares the wisdom learned from her struggles and triumphs having battled addiction, insecurities and mental health issues. She reaches and helps thousands of people on her platforms and runs monthly sell-out self development workshops. Roxie also hosts her own wonderful podcast, The Moments that Made Me.Listen as we discuss:The wins and losses in battling anxiety and depressionThe power of surrender and why it actually means strengthWhy sharing your feelings is necessary to free yourself of their negative influenceHow this pandemic is a golden opportunity to learn how to truly meet ourselves and confront critical questions that we may be numbing or ignoringThis episode is part of our Silver Linings theme.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Roxie on Instagram @roxienafousi or roxienafousi.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Monday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

I still feel an afterglow after my conversation with Dr. Maria Sirois, a brilliant psychologist, teacher, speaker, author, and friend in the pursuit of spreading happiness. Maria and I, like many other of my guests, were supposed to meet at the World Happiness Summit, but COVID-19 had other plans. I'm so glad and grateful that she granted me a conversation for Slo Mo, because she drops some serious wisdom in this episode.Maria is devoted to the science of well-being and the art of crafting a life and a career driven by health, passion and success. She focuses on the resilience of the human spirit, particularly when under chronic stress, during significant transitions, or feeling the shock of wholesale change. In other words, her mind and work are an invaluable source of silver linings during this time.Listen as we discuss:COVID-19 as an opportunity for awakeningThe real meaning of beautyThe innate wisdom of children and what their love of play can teach usThe keystones of resilienceThree questions we should ask ourselves to deliberately shape our days as we want to live themThis episode is part of our Silver Linings theme.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Maria Sirois at mariasirois.com and on Facebook @DrMariaSiroisDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Monday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

In this episode, I speak with my dear friend Karen Guggenheim, a woman who embodies unwavering resilience and passion for making the world a happier place.Karen is the Founder and CEO of WOHASU (World Happiness Summit), an organization and annual summit that unites leaders, economists, academics, entrepreneurs, and the public to bring forth positive change based on the data-driven science of happiness. I've attended and spoken at the summit each year since 2017, and it is an incredibly special experience.Unfortunately, the 2020 edition of WOHASU was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, just six days before the event date. You can imagine the business and logistical disaster that resulted. Still, Karen weathered it with her wonderful team and has come out of the other side with a smile on her face.Karen and I share the same mission of spreading happiness. We also share the experience of profound loss, as Karen lost her husband to illness years ago. Naturally, I feel a deep connection with her and have enormous respect for her decision to take control of her grief and channel it into a force for good.Listen as we discuss:Coping with tragedy and lossDealing with the panic of pandemicThe brilliant trick of scheduling time for your anxietyThe undeniable truth that it is always in our power to react to hardship in a way that grows us rather than destroys usThis episode is part of our Silver Linings theme.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Karen and WOHASU at worldhappiness.com, on Facebook @WOHASU, on Instagram @wohasu, and on Twitter @WOHASUDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Monday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy

Welcome to the first episode of Slo Mo. I'm your host, Mo Gawdat, and I'm so grateful to have you with me.I never expected to launch my podcast in the middle of a global pandemic, but I felt compelled to explore the bright side of the COVID-19 crisis with some of my wisest friends.My guest on today's show is the embodiment of wisdom and calmness. Thupten Jinpa Langri is an author, Tibetan Buddhist scholar, Founder of Compassion Institute, and former monk who has been the principal English translator for His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama since 1985.In this episode, Thupten Jinpa and I discuss:Preparing your mind to be in quarantine for the long haul while offering insights on keeping anxiety at bayCultivating the moral discipline needed to maintain social distancing measuresThe emergence of a new wave of compassion that we owe to this invisible enemy.This is the first episode in our series: Silver Linings.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatConnect with Thupten Jinpa Langri at compassioninstitute.com, on Facebook @thuptenjinpa.langri, and on Twitter @thuptenjinpalaDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Monday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.YouTube: @mogawdatofficialInstagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy