734. Why We Are So Polarized and What Can Heal It - With Miles Kessler

I sat down again with Miles Kessler, an old friend and long-time aikido and meditation teacher, to explore the urgent issue of polarization. We talk about why societies feel more divided than ever, how conflict shows up in the body and mind, and what we can learn from years of aikido, meditation, and peace-building projects in places like Cyprus and the Middle East. Miles brings deep wisdom from his work in conflict zones and spiritual practice, and we reflect on the tools that actually help people stay open in the face of division. We also touch on burnout, the limits of dialogue, and why embodied presence is so vital when the stakes are high. Read more about Miles' work here: https://theintegraldojo.com/about/ ----------------------------------------------- As a special gift for you, our loyal listeners, we are offering $1200 off our flagship course, the Certificate of Embodiment Coaching when you use code: CEC25PODCAST More info here: https://embodimentunlimited.com/cec ----------------------------------------------- Check out our YouTube channel for more coaching tips and our Podcast channel for full episode videos Uplevel your coaching with a free copy of Mark's latest eBook, The Top 12 Embodiment Coaching Techniques  Join Mark for those juicy in-person workshops and events Fancy some free coaching demo sessions with Mark?  Connect with Mark Walsh on Instagram 

I explore why people pleasing isn’t just a personality quirk, but often an anxiety pattern rooted in the body. We look at how posture, facial expressions, and attentional habits keep us stuck in trying to make others happy at our own expense. I share practical embodied practices for breaking the cycle - from mindfulness check-ins to centering, from small “micro-poses” to larger embodied experiments. We talk about boundaries, authority, self-care, and how to take up space in a way that feels authentic rather than forced. If you’ve ever struggled with saying no, apologising too much, or putting everyone else’s needs first, this episode gives you grounded tools to change the habit where it lives - in the body. ----------------------------------------------- As a special gift for you, our loyal listeners, we are offering $1200 off our flagship course, the Certificate of Embodiment Coaching when you use code: CEC25PODCAST More info here: https://embodimentunlimited.com/cec ----------------------------------------------- Check out our YouTube channel for more coaching tips and our Podcast channel for full episode videos Uplevel your coaching with a free copy of Mark's latest eBook, The Top 12 Embodiment Coaching Techniques  Join Mark for those juicy in-person workshops and events Fancy some free coaching demo sessions with Mark?  Connect with Mark Walsh on Instagram 

Join our free training event on how to tackle trauma and a disregulated nervous systems. Running from September 9th-11th, it will feature powerful practices and give you a simple plan you can use immediately. https://embodimentunlimited.com/dysregulated-nervous-system-trauma-training/ ----------------------------------------------- As a special gift for you, our loyal listeners, we are offering $1200 off our flagship course, the Certificate of Embodiment Coaching when you use code: CEC25PODCAST More info here: https://embodimentunlimited.com/cec ----------------------------------------------- Check out our YouTube channel for more coaching tips and our Podcast channel for full episode videos Uplevel your coaching with a free copy of Mark's latest eBook, The Top 12 Embodiment Coaching Techniques  Join Mark for those juicy in-person workshops and events Fancy some free coaching demo sessions with Mark?  Connect with Mark Walsh on Instagram 

I had the chance to sit down with Erwan Le Corre, one of the leading voices in natural movement. We dug into why movement matters far beyond fitness, how our bodies are designed for adaptability, and what we lose when we stop moving the way humans evolved to. Erwan also shares his passion for breath work, including his own record-breaking breath-hold training, and why breathing is just as fundamental as movement for resilience and health. We explore the difference between training for show and training for life, and how reconnecting with simple, natural practices can change the way you feel and perform every day. This was a rich, practical, and inspiring conversation for anyone interested in movement, breath, and living more fully in their body. Read more about Erwan's work here: https://movnat.com/ ----------------------------------------------- Erwan Le Corre is the founder of MovNat, a physical education system based on natural movement. Born in France and now a U.S. citizen, he grew up exploring forests and rivers, developing an instinctive connection to nature and the body. Over the years, he trained in disciplines ranging from martial arts and Olympic lifting to climbing, running, and breath-hold diving. In 2008 he created MovNat to revive practical, adaptable human movement for modern life. Known for his world record in static apnea, Erwan teaches internationally, helping people rediscover strength, resilience, and freedom through natural movement. ----------------------------------------------- As a special gift for you, our loyal listeners, we are offering $1200 off our flagship course, the Certificate of Embodiment Coaching when you use code: CEC25PODCAST More info here: https://embodimentunlimited.com/cec ----------------------------------------------- Check out our YouTube channel for more coaching tips and our Podcast channel for full episode videos Uplevel your coaching with a free copy of Mark's latest eBook, The Top 12 Embodiment Coaching Techniques  Join Mark for those juicy in-person workshops and events Fancy some free coaching demo sessions with Mark?  Connect with Mark Walsh on Instagram 

I dive into why working with the body is so powerful in coaching and training. You can’t just tell someone to “feel differently” or “think positive” and expect it to work. But when we shift the body, perspective changes, and that makes transformation possible. In this session I share practical ways to bring embodiment into coaching, from noticing patterns, to creating more useful states, to simple centering practices that reduce stress and open up creativity. We also explore self-care, boundaries, culture, and why disembodiment is such a modern epidemic. If you coach, lead, or simply want change that lasts, this is about putting the body back at the heart of transformation. ----------------------------------------------- As a special gift for you, our loyal listeners, we are offering $1200 off our flagship course, the Certificate of Embodiment Coaching when you use code: CEC25PODCAST More info here: https://embodimentunlimited.com/cec ----------------------------------------------- Check out our YouTube channel for more coaching tips and our Podcast channel for full episode videos Uplevel your coaching with a free copy of Mark's latest eBook, The Top 12 Embodiment Coaching Techniques  Join Mark for those juicy in-person workshops and events Fancy some free coaching demo sessions with Mark?  Connect with Mark Walsh on Instagram 

In this session I explore what it really means to teach confidence. Not just telling people to “be confident,” but showing them how through embodiment, modelling, and practice. I share ways I work with clients and students — from exaggeration and contrast exercises, to using archetypes like Freddie Mercury, to simple poses that shift how we carry ourselves. We look at how confidence is often learned unconsciously, why it’s more about “how you do you” than copying someone else, and how even a minute a day of practice can make a difference. ----------------------------------------------- As a special gift for you, our loyal listeners, we are offering $1200 off our flagship course, the Certificate of Embodiment Coaching when you use code: CEC25PODCAST More info here: https://embodimentunlimited.com/cec ----------------------------------------------- Check out our YouTube channel for more coaching tips and our Podcast channel for full episode videos Uplevel your coaching with a free copy of Mark's latest eBook, The Top 12 Embodiment Coaching Techniques  Join Mark for those juicy in-person workshops and events Fancy some free coaching demo sessions with Mark?  Connect with Mark Walsh on Instagram 

I wanted to discuss a subject that gets talked about a lot but rarely taught well: self-care. I share what I’ve learned from years of coaching and teaching people around the world, including the mistakes I’ve made, the traps most teachers fall into, and the difference between real self-care and consumer nonsense. We also look at how culture shapes what people think they need, and why teaching self-care is different from just giving lifestyle tips. This session is taken from our 2024 Self-Care event. ----------------------------------------------- As a special gift for you, our loyal listeners, we are offering $1200 off our flagship course, the Certificate of Embodiment Coaching when you use code: CEC25PODCAST More info here: https://embodimentunlimited.com/cec ----------------------------------------------- Check out our YouTube channel for more coaching tips and our Podcast channel for full episode videos Uplevel your coaching with a free copy of Mark's latest eBook, The Top 12 Embodiment Coaching Techniques  Join Mark for those juicy in-person workshops and events Fancy some free coaching demo sessions with Mark?  Connect with Mark Walsh on Instagram 

In this session I break down the most common mistakes I see facilitators making - whether you’re a coach, trainer, yoga teacher, martial artist, or anyone leading groups. After decades of teaching in over 50 countries, I’ve seen the same patterns crop up again and again, and I wanted to put them all in one place. I talk about the practical traps that can derail a session, the mindset issues that limit impact, and the blind spots facilitators often don’t see until it’s too late. I also share the habits that separate great facilitators from average ones, and how small shifts can make your teaching far more effective. This session was recorded live at The Embodiment Festival 2024. ----------------------------------------------- As a special gift for you, our loyal listeners, we are offering $1200 off our flagship course, the Certificate of Embodiment Coaching when you use code: CEC25PODCAST More info here: https://embodimentunlimited.com/cec ----------------------------------------------- Check out our YouTube channel for more coaching tips and our Podcast channel for full episode videos Uplevel your coaching with a free copy of Mark's latest eBook, The Top 12 Embodiment Coaching Techniques  Join Mark for those juicy in-person workshops and events Fancy some free coaching demo sessions with Mark?  Connect with Mark Walsh on Instagram 

I sat down with Steve March, founder of Aletheia Coaching, to explore what it really means to coach beyond surface-level change. We talked about his unique developmental model, how it integrates somatic, emotional, and cognitive work, and why true transformation often means going deeper than goals or performance. Steve shared insights from decades of experience in the coaching world, including his time teaching at New Ventures West and the evolution of his own practice. We dug into the difference between fixing problems and fostering growth, how to work with clients at multiple layers of depth, and what it takes for a coach to develop themselves to do this kind of work well. Find out more about Steve's work here: https://integralunfoldment.com/ ----------------------------------------------- As a special gift for you, our loyal listeners, we are offering $1200 off our flagship course, the Certificate of Embodiment Coaching when you use code: CEC25PODCAST More info here: https://embodimentunlimited.com/cec ----------------------------------------------- Check out our YouTube channel for more coaching tips and our Podcast channel for full episode videos Uplevel your coaching with a free copy of Mark's latest eBook, The Top 12 Embodiment Coaching Techniques  Join Mark for those juicy in-person workshops and events Fancy some free coaching demo sessions with Mark?  Connect with Mark Walsh on Instagram 

I sat down with Dr. Srikumar Rao, one of the most popular speakers from the Embodiment Conference, to explore what really makes people happy or unhappy. We talked about why most of us aren’t living in the “real world”, how our mental chatter creates unnecessary suffering, and the practical ways to step out of that trap. Srikumar shares how ancient wisdom traditions can be translated into everyday life without losing their depth, and why letting go of the need to control everything is key to freedom. We discuss the limits of success, the illusion of security, and how to shift your mindset so joy becomes less conditional. Find out more about Srikumar's work here: https://www.theraoinstitute.com/ ----------------------------------------------- Dr. Srikumar Rao is a speaker, former business school professor, and head of The Rao Institute, based out of New York. He is also an executive coach to senior business executives, whom he helps find deeper meaning and engagement in their work. Dr. Rao’s programs have helped thousands of executives, professionals, and entrepreneurs all over the world achieve quantum leaps in effectiveness, resiliency and overall happiness. Graduates of his workshops have become more creative and more inspiring leaders in some of the world’s most successful companies. He helps leaders around the globe transform their lives so that they can experience abundant joy, no matter what comes their way. Dr. Rao is a TED speaker, author and creator of the pioneering course, Creativity & Personal Mastery. ----------------------------------------------- As a special gift for you, our loyal listeners, we are offering $1200 off our flagship course, the Certificate of Embodiment Coaching when you use code: CEC25PODCAST More info here: https://embodimentunlimited.com/cec ----------------------------------------------- Check out our YouTube channel for more coaching tips and our Podcast channel for full episode videos Uplevel your coaching with a free copy of Mark's latest eBook, The Top 12 Embodiment Coaching Techniques  Join Mark for those juicy in-person workshops and events Fancy some free coaching demo sessions with Mark?  Connect with Mark Walsh on Instagram