#24: Stack the Deck in Your Favour with Jonathan Cave

Meet Kes Blans, an actor, theatre maker and Voice Liberation facilitator whose own experience taught him something profound: talking about what we feel is not necessarily the same as expressing it. After cancer and the intense back pain that followed, Kes discovered that giving voice to what lay beneath the words, through sound, singing and music, allowed him to release something deeper. Remarkably, as he found this new form of expression, his pain disappeared. KEY THEMES Voice, Sound, Self-Expression, Surrender/Letting Go, Acceptance, Desire/Longing, Hope, Trust, Safety, Love, Grief, Willingness, Honesty, Body Awareness, The Breath, Emotions, Human Connection, Feelings, Pain, Self-Awareness, Support. QUOTE "Caring and Sharing" FILM Children of Men directed by Alfonso Cuarón. A dark dystopian film set in a world that has lost the ability to have children and where the unexpected arrival of a pregnant woman and the possibility of new life becomes a powerful symbol of hope, humanity and renewal. CONNECT WITH KES BLANS Email: [email protected] Website: centrumvoorstembevrijding.nl

Meet Mary Marcolin, a teacher, psychotherapist and instinctive musician who uses music, play and human connection to help people who have experienced trauma connect with the playful child that lives within them, and begin to loosen the grip of stories that, for some, have held them hostage for much of their lives. Mary understands the power of play, and particularly of music, to help people express themselves in ways that words often cannot. KEY THEMES Play, Music, Percussion, Self-Expression, The Voice, Singing, Sound, Dance, Self-Belief, Mind and Body, Human Behaviours, Psychological Triggers, Internal Family Systems (IFS) - Parts, Psychological Trauma, Fear, Anger, Sadness, Stress, Childhood Experiences, Adult Experiences, First Responders, Veterans. BOOK The Music Lesson by Victor Wooten. QUOTE "When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change." — Max Planck CONNECT WITH MARY MARCOLIN Website: www.bpmottawa.ca Email: [email protected]

Meet Susan Baragwanath, a remarkable woman who has spent her life quietly, yet with unshakeable determination, challenging one of society's most dangerous beliefs — the idea that there is "them" and "us": those who deserve a good education and those who do not. At the heart of Susan's work is a profound understanding that human potential is deeply affected by context — by the environment we are born into, the opportunities we are given, and whether someone truly sees us. KEY THEMES Human Rights, No Them and Us, Equal Opportunities, Self-Expression, Ownership and Responsibility, Fundamental Needs, Human Potential, Context is Key, Resilience, Belonging, Women's Leadership. BOOK The Red X: The Story of He Huarahi Tamariki ("A Chance for Children"), New Zealand's First School for Teenage Parents by Susan Baragwanath. QUOTES "There's nothing more frightening than ignorance in action." — Goethe "I could never have dreamed that the students would end up being the strongest party. I thought it was going to be me. I mean, I can direct traffic, but I think I said on one of the television programmes, I'm just the conductor of the orchestra." — Susan Baragwanath ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Susan has been fortunate to receive the encouragement and support of many remarkable people throughout her life and career. Two deserve special acknowledgement, referred to informally during the conversation rather than by their professional titles: The Honourable Sir David Baragwanath KNZM KC — Susan's husband, referred to simply as "David" during the podcast — is one of New Zealand's most distinguished jurists. Appointed Queen's Counsel in 1983, he went on to serve as a Judge of both the High Court and Court of Appeal of New Zealand, and has served as President of the United Nations Special Tribunal for Lebanon and as a member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague. The Rt Hon. The Baroness Hooper — referred to simply as "Gloria" during the podcast — is a highly respected British parliamentarian and former UK Government Minister. A Member of the House of Lords for nearly four decades, she has devoted her career to public service, international diplomacy, and strengthening relations across Latin America. CONNECT WITH SUSAN BARAGWANATH Through MyPhy Leadership: www.myphy.com Founders of The Women's Leadership Conference, Geneva, Switzerland

Meet Jonathan Cave, a leadership coach who has a natural talent for listening deeply, "joining the dots" to bring clarity to complexity, and helping people move forward with greater self-awareness, sense of purpose and enthusiasm for life. Jonathan has just written his first book, The Tree and the Mountain, which takes us on a journey to discover who we really are. KEY THEMES Values, Talents and Aspirations, The Power of Nine, The Happiness Gap, Being Driven by Fear versus Driven by Potential, Identity, Authenticity and Sensitivity, Breathwork, Your Inner Child, Your Central Alignment Line, Our Connection to Nature, Our Capacity to Love and to Lead, Our Need to Recharge and Recenter. BOOK The Tree and the Mountain by Jonathan Cave. Illustrated by Olivia Dhordain. QUOTE "Let your heart lead, your mind execute, and your energy speak for you." — Jonathan Cave CONNECT WITH JONATHAN CAVE Website: www.myphy.com Email: [email protected]

Meet Jonny Hulbert who, after 27 years working in a global corporate environment, found that his energy tank was running on empty, and what looked like success on the outside felt like a void on the inside. Jonny learnt how to tap into the things that truly nourished him by exploring entirely different ways of living, working, and being. In Jonny's case, it was his relationship with sound and music that opened a doorway into discovering valuable tools and practices that can enable us to let go of severe stress, extreme exhaustion, overwhelm and anxiety; and enjoy deeper sleep, clarity, and a sense of happiness that goes far beyond productivity and performance. KEY THEMES Sound and Vibration, Breathwork, Sound Meditation, Gong Baths, Coaching, The Logical Rational Self vs Somatic Embodied Wisdom, Agency and Power, Curiosity, Exploration and Discovery, Perception and Truth, Letting Go, Trust, Vulnerability, Nervous System Regulation, Movement of the Body and the Mind. FILM The Matrix — "the aspect of what we feel is reality and what it is really - there's quite a gap between the two. To let people know that what they're experiencing, particularly if it's painful, that there is another reality out there which is waiting for them should they choose to open their minds and explore." QUOTE "So the credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is made by dust and sweat and blood, who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself in a worthy cause and at the end of triumph or high achievement — or if he fails, at least fails whilst daring greatly — so that his place will never be amongst those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat." — Theodore Roosevelt CONNECT WITH JONNY HULBERT Instagram: @jonnyhulbert

Meet Maxime Maanders, a  clinical psychologist and plant medicine specialist with a holistic perspective on human healing.  His approach brings together ancient wisdom and evidence-based psychology offering an integrative understanding of what it truly takes for us to heal from psychological trauma.  KEY THEMES Psychology, Mental Health, Western Science,  Ancient Wisdom, Emotions,  Plant Medicine, Psychedelics, Human Connection,  Our Connection to Nature, Music, Group Therapy, Pain and Suffering.  BOOKS  A Course in Miracles: Scribe – Helen Schucman, Editor/Collaborator – William Thetford. The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk  FILM Dune based on a novel by Frank Herbert: Dune is not just a sci-fi adventure, it's a meditation on power, ecology, and how inner transformation can reshape the outer world, for better or for worse. QUOTES "You don't have to do it alone but you have to do it yourself" "The longest (or hardest) way men travel is from the head to the heart" -- Various "Trauma that starts in relationship heals in relationship" "How can people who are not in touch with themselves expect to help patients get in touch with their true self?" "Trauma is not what happens to you, it's what happens inside of you as a result" "Connect to everything, attach to nothing" "Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional" "Let food be that medicine and medicine be that food" "Don't worship the gate but go inside the temple"   CONNECT WITH MAXIME MAANDERS   Through a trusted friend – word of mouth.  

Meet Frits Van Den Heuval Van Varik, the founder of BaseQamp.  Through his work with the Dutch Marine Corps, Amsterdam Police, Amsterdam Fire Department and in youth services, Frits recognised two fundamental human needs: a safe space to develop self-awareness and practical tools for navigating life's emotional challenges.  He invites us to see our 'emotional backpacks' filled with joy, struggle, and trauma – not as burdens to carry but as sources of insight and strength. Through BaseQamp, Frits helps people reconnect with their hearts, transform lived experience into meaningful lessons, and discover how what they carry can deepen resilience and authenticity.     KEY THEMES Stress Regulation, Emotional Backpack, Mental Health, Inner Child, Resilience, Breathwork, Cold Immersion,  Psychedelics, Nature Connection, Human Connection, Group Therapy, Heart Math, Heart Coherence, Brotherhood.  FILM Top Gun directed by Tony Scott with Tom Cruise starring as Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell, a talented but rebellious US Navy fighter pilot who pushes the limits, professionally and emotionally. QUOTES "There is only one guru in life and that is yourself."  "All the wisdom, all your insights, all your self-love, all your passion is within you – fully trust in you." CONNECT WITH FRITS VAN DENN HEUVAL VAN VARIK   Website: www.BaseQamp.com Email: [email protected]

Meet Robbie Fenlon, a leadership coach and meditation practitioner drawing on more than 30 years of real-world experience from guiding mountaineering expeditions in the Alps and the Himalayas to coaching executives, scientists and athletes. With a deep interest in meditation, neuroscience and human development, Robbie helps people tap into their own intelligence, strength and experience to find practical solutions to their own challenges.  KEY THEMES Experiential Learning Spirituality Climbing, Interacting with Nature, Mental Health, Leadership, Coaching, Meditation, Self-Awareness, Redefining Success, Your True Nature BOOKS by Jon Kabat-Zinn, include:  Full Catastrophe Living: Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain, and Illness – The foundational book introducing the MBSR curriculum and philosophy.  Wherever You Go, There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life – A practical guide to integrating mindfulness into daily life for reducing stress and increasing awareness.  Coming to Our Senses: Healing Ourselves and the World Through Mindfulness  by Rick Hanson, include: Buddha's Brain: The Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, Love and Wisdom  Just One Thing: Developing a Buddha Brain One Simple Practice at a Time  Hardwiring Happiness: New Brain Science of Contentment, Calm and Confidence PODCAST 'Being Well'  with Rick Hanson and Forrest Hanson FILMS 'The Good, the Bad and the Ugly' directed by Sergio Leone. At its core, the film argues that moral labels are slippery.  "Good," "Bad," and "Ugly" aren't fixed virtues—they're roles people play in a brutal world shaped by greed, chance, and survival. Leone strips away romantic heroism and shows a landscape where self-interest rules, alliances are temporary, and outcomes hinge as much on luck as on character. A second, quieter message sits underneath: war is absurd and dehumanising. 'Free Solo' with climber Alex Honnold: a great example of how with consistent practice, discipline and mental training we can achieve excellence over time.   QUOTE Albert Einstein reflects on the interconnectedness of humanity and the illusion of separateness in a letter to Rabbi Robert S Marcus, 12 February 1950. He wrote:  'A human being is a part of the whole called by us 'universe', a part limited in time and space.  He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest – a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature as beauty.' CONNECT WITH ROBBIE FENLON At [email protected], and on Linkedin  

Meet DR ANURANJAN BIST, who, in his quest to help people find health and happiness pursued a traditional medical training, moved from India to set up a practice in the US.  A surprising turn of events lead him back to the Himalayas where he was born, to discover that 'we are the medicine' and 'yoga is mental health'. KEY THEMES Mental Health Traditional Medicine Psychology Yoga Yoga Guru Lineages Kundalini Yoga Yoga Practices Your True Nature Consciousness The Himalayas, India BOOKS Osho (Rajneesh Chandra Mohjan Jain) taught, without ever writing anything. The books published under his name are transcriptions of his teachings. He is credited with more than 600 titles. Danish researcher Pierre Evald claims that there are 300 titles in English and 300 in Hindi. FILM The Highest Pass (2012) and The Road to Dharma (2020) Both films are produced and directed by Adam Schomer and featuring Anand Mehrotra. QUOTES 'More and more you live from the heart. And when you live from the heart, then you experience God. And the more you experience God, the less thinking you have, and when you are completely silent, you are not there. You, as a person are not there. Only God is in complete silence.' ~ Osho 'Greatness is not about planning. Greatness is about finding.'  ~ Anand Mehrotra

Meet DEREK TATE, who will reveal the key factors to finding your flow on the ski slopes, at work and in your life. As a trainer of ski instructors and novices alike; Derek is on a mission 'to help as many people as possible experience the health and wellbeing benefits of sport and mountain life whatever your level of participation and involvement'. KEY THEMES Focus Flow Growth Mindset Personal Growth Dedicated Practice Role Models Optimal Performance Mindfulness Meditation BOOKS The Evolving Self by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi Life's Search for Meaning by Victor Frankl FILM High Society – with Ben Crosby, Frank Sinatra and Grace Kelly QUOTES 'Between stimulus and response there is a space and in that space is our power to choose a response, and in a response lies our growth and our freedom' ~ Victor Frankl