Never Give Up: Dale Atkinson's Extraordinary Story

In this episode, I sit down with Dale Atkinson, a man whose story is quite extraordinary. After years spent investigating fraud and money laundering, Dale suddenly found himself having to investigate the most important case of his life — his own health. Diagnosed with advanced stage-four cancer and told his condition was incurable, Dale refused to simply give up. This is a powerful conversation about resilience, questioning, personal agency, hope and the extraordinary capacity of the human spirit. Never give up. Follow Dale on Substack https://substack.com/@bigdcancer Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/dalejatkinson/

Today's conversation is with someone I've known for many years, and someone whose story I think is incredibly important. Wendy has spent more than 25 years fostering and supporting young people, and over that time she has helped more than 75 children and care leavers navigate some of the most difficult experiences of their lives. But this conversation isn't just about fostering. It's about what happens afterwards. What happens when someone leaves care but is still carrying the impact of rejection, instability, trauma, shame or loss? What happens when the support they need isn't available at the moment they're finally ready to talk? And what happens when someone takes everything they've lived through, everything they've learned, and turns it into a new sense of purpose? That's exactly what Wendy is doing with ReFoster Therapy — a new initiative designed to provide meaningful, trauma-aware therapeutic support for people who have experienced the care system. What I love about this conversation is how personal it is. Wendy talks openly about her own journey, her relationship with her mum, her experience of fostering, becoming a counsellor, and the moment she realised there was still something missing for so many of the young people she had supported. At the heart of this episode is a simple but powerful idea: A home isn't only somewhere you live. Sometimes the real work is helping someone feel safe enough to come home to themselves. I hope you enjoy this conversation with Wendy. Contact Wendy at https://coachhouseinspired.com/ https://www.bacp.co.uk/therapists/402691/wendy-hutton/ [email protected]

What if your symptoms weren't the whole story? What if, instead of simply asking "What's wrong with me?", we became curious about a different question: "What is my body trying to tell me?" In this episode, I sit down with Dr Kamyar Hedayat and Dr Adam Johnson for a fascinating exploration of Endobiogeny — an approach to medicine that seeks to understand the person as a whole rather than simply treating individual symptoms or conditions. I was introduced to this work through my own health journey and my work with Carol, and this conversation opened my eyes even further to the extraordinary interconnectedness of the human body. Endobiogeny literally relates to understanding how life is created, maintained and managed from within. We explore the idea of our terrain — the unique internal landscape created through the relationship between our hormones, nervous system, metabolism, immune system, organs, psychology, history and environment. Rather than simply looking at individual blood-test results and asking whether they fall inside or outside a "normal" range, Endobiogeny looks at patterns and relationships between biomarkers to build a model of how the body may be adapting. In this conversation we explore: • Why someone can have "normal" blood tests yet still feel profoundly unwell • The concept of our individual biological terrain • The relationship between hormones, the nervous system and our ability to adapt • The Biology of Functions and mathematical modelling of blood biomarkers • Why our personal history matters when trying to understand our health • The relationship between physiology, psychology and what Kamyar describes as psychospirituality • Why listening and attention can be such important parts of medicine • The difference between treating a disease and treating the person who has the disease • Nutrition, sleep, lifestyle, vitamins, minerals, medicinal plants and conventional medicines • Prevention and the possibility of noticing patterns before they become bigger problems • My own childhood health history and what it might reveal about my terrain • The importance of slowing down enough to listen to our bodies • Why being healthy isn't simply about fixing what's broken — it's about becoming whole. One of the things that stayed with me most from this conversation was the importance of attention. Perhaps one of the greatest gifts we can give another human being is our undivided attention. And perhaps we need to learn to give ourselves that same gift. My own journey continues to remind me of something that is becoming increasingly important in my life: The only way out is all the way in. To stop. To listen. To become curious. To understand ourselves rather than simply trying to fix ourselves. And to recognise that we are human beings, not simply human doings This conversation isn't about telling you what to believe or what approach you should take with your health. It's an invitation to become curious. Listen. Explore. Ask questions. And make up your own mind. Find out more Learn Endobiogeny The main educational resource for Endobiogeny, including information about the approach, its history, training and clinical education. Learn Endobiogeny About Endobiogeny and Dr Kamyar Hedayat About Learn Endobiogeny Endobiogeny courses and practitioner training Explore Endobiogeny courses Dr Adam Johnson Dr Johnson is Medical Director of the Linné Institute of Medicine and, after practising emergency medicine for 18 years, transitioned full-time into Endobiogeny. His teaching and case-study work can be found here: Dr Adam Johnson — Endobiogeny case studies Books mentioned The Theory of Endobiogeny — Dr Kamyar M. Hedayat & Dr Jean-Claude Lapraz This is the four-volume textbook series discussed during the episode, covering the theory, biological modelling and clinical application of Endobiogeny. The Theory of Endobiogeny — Volume 1 All four volumes and Endobiogeny books Personalized Medicine — Dr Jean-Claude Lapraz & Marie-Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre Written for a broader audience, this explores the thinking behind personalised and Endobiogenic medicine. Personalized Medicine — UK edition information A note about health: This podcast is intended to encourage curiosity, conversation and education. Endobiogeny includes theories and diagnostic interpretations that are not part of standard medical practice and should not be taken as established medical fact. Nothing discussed in this episode is intended to diagnose or treat a medical condition or replace advice from an appropriately qualified healthcare professional. Stop. Think. Listen to your body. Become curious about what lies beneath the surface.

Future Self is the person who you will be years from now. It is the person you intend to be. Do you know who your future self is, or better yet, have you decided who you are going to be in the future without thinking of any limitations? Is he or she a healthier, wealthier, happier, better person than you are today, or would he be the same as the person you are today, only physically older? Why is it important to know the person you are becoming and, more significantly, is it possible for you to have a relationship with your future self? If so, what good would it do? Tune in and let me inspire and show you how to be the person you have been eyeing to be, and realize the endless possibilities that you can have for yourself. Have a relationship with your future self and be the best person you can be, be the change the world wants you to be. Highlights: ⚡️ We are driven by pain and our view of the future and what we do today impacts tomorrow. ⚡️ When people identify with the person they want to become, they become that person. ⚡️ We must believe that our future self already exists and have a relationship with him and be guided by him. ⚡️ Failing to be the person you want to be results in depression, anxiety, and frustration. ⚡️ Reasons why most people are living a future they do not want: pursuing the ideals of somebody else and not who they want to become choosing exactly who they are today because that is who they think they are failing to prospect, losing the ability to be a free thinker, and not realizing the choices they have do not have a relationship with and empathy for their future self not getting in the game they do not see the benefit of doing something despite the challenges Important stories: 🎯 6:40. Meg Jay talks about the empathy gap 🎯 9:01 Hal Hershfield on future self as another person 🎯 10:47. Dr. Benjamin Hardy explains prospection 🎯 11:58 A conversation with my future self 🎯 15:22 Matthew McConaughey on who is my hero, chasing my hero (2013) 🎯 18:00 Daniel Goldstein discusses resisting temptation 🎯 22:20 Daniel Gilbert the ease of remembering vs difficulty of imagining 🎯 30:40 Jimmy Donaldson aka Mr. Beast as another example of someone who has a connection with his future self    

Episode theme: Shame, resilience, reinvention and learning to see yourself with fresh eyes. In this powerful conversation, Pete Cohen speaks with Andrea McLean about her new book and the deeply personal journey behind it. Andrea opens up about business failure, financial loss, illness, identity, shame, and the process of choosing to stop hiding. Andrea explains that shame often convinces us we are the problem, when in reality we may simply be carrying something that was never ours to hold. She explores the difference between guilt and shame, sharing the powerful distinction: Guilt says, "I have done a bad thing." Shame says, "I am a bad thing." The conversation moves through Andrea's decision to leave a successful television career, the collapse of her business, her near death experience with pneumonia, sepsis and kidney failure, and how writing the book helped her release shame she did not even realise she was carrying. A key part of the discussion is the idea that shame can keep us hiding from friends, opportunities, ourselves and the world. Andrea shares how shining a light on her story became both a personal healing process and a way to help others feel less alone. Key Themes Shame and hiding Andrea talks about the exhaustion of hiding from people because she did not want to explain what had happened in her life. Failure and identity The conversation explores what happens when status, money, career and identity fall away. The difference between guilt and shame One of the most important ideas in the episode is learning to separate what happened from who you are. Health, survival and perspective Andrea shares the frightening story of becoming seriously ill and being told afterwards that she was close to death. Reinvention and starting again After losing so much, Andrea and her family moved to Spain and began a new chapter. Raising your vibration through small steps Andrea shares how Pete's three nightly questions helped her during one of the hardest periods of her life: What am I proud of? What am I grateful for? What am I looking forward to tomorrow? Letting go of shame that was never yours Andrea reflects on how much shame can be passed to us by other people, especially when they are uncomfortable with who we are. Standout Moments Andrea saying she wrote the book because she was tired of hiding. Her description of shame as a hook that we hang evidence on over time. The moment she explains how low shame made her feel, like "a pulse that was barely beating." Her story of accidentally becoming a weather presenter and how all her previous skills prepared her for that opportunity. The insight that the person who starts writing a book is not always the same person who finishes it. Possible Episode Title Andrea McLean: Letting Go of Shame Alternative titles: The Shame We Carry Why Shame Is Not Who You Are Andrea McLean on Shame, Survival and Starting Again When Shame Stops Hiding The Book That Helped Andrea McLean Feel Lighter Short Episode Description In this deeply honest conversation, Pete Cohen speaks with Andrea McLean about shame, failure, illness, reinvention and the courage to stop hiding. Andrea shares the story behind her new book and explains why shame often tells us we are broken, when the truth is we may simply be carrying something that was never ours in the first place. You can purschase it here https://dk.com/products/9780241762813-shameless

Today's episode is something deeply personal. I'm sharing a piece of music that was originally created in the early 2000s — part of a body of work that has evolved over the last 30 years. Throughout that time, I've had the privilege of collaborating with a number of incredible musicians to create soundscapes used in meditations and affirmations, designed to help people pause, breathe, and reconnect. This particular piece is very close to my heart. For a few moments within the music, you'll hear the voice of my coach — someone I worked with for 16 years, who had a profound impact on my life and the way I think. To have his voice woven into this piece makes it more than just music… it's a moment of reflection, memory, and meaning. I'm truly delighted to share this with you. And if it resonates — if it gives you even a few moments to stop and think — please pass it on to someone else who might need that same space today.

Walking Meditation in Vienna A Journey of Breath and Presence Today I want to invite you to walk with me. Not just metaphorically, but quite literally. Recently I found myself walking through the beautiful streets of Vienna, Austria. A city rich with history, music, architecture and quiet moments of life unfolding all around you. But what struck me most was something much simpler than the buildings or the culture. It was the opportunity to stop… and breathe. So wherever you are right now, if it's possible, I'd love you to join me on a walk. You might be outside. You might be in a park. You might even be walking through your own neighbourhood. And if you're not walking, that's okay too. You can simply sit and listen. For the next 40 minutes, we are going to do something incredibly simple. We are going to walk… and breathe. 

Are you living in survival mode without even realizing it? In this episode, Pete Cohen dives deep into how we can shift from constantly reacting to life's demands to living with intention and design. Most people wake up and go straight into autopilot—checking emails, reacting to stress, and feeling overwhelmed. But what if you could take back control and create a life that excites you? Join Pete for 14 minutes and 24 seconds as he shares practical tools, powerful insights, and real strategies to help you break free from survival mode and start living a life by design, not by default. What You'll Learn in This Episode How to recognize if you're stuck in survival mode The impact of stress on your brain and body – and how to reset Why most people struggle to live intentionally (and how to change that) The power of morning intentions and evening reflections Simple but powerful breathing techniques to calm your nervous system How small daily shifts (just 14m 24s) can completely transform your life Key Questions to Ask Yourself Do you start your day with intention, or do you wake up and immediately react? Do you feel like you're making progress toward something meaningful, or are you just trying to "get through the day"? Are you making conscious decisions, or do you feel like life is just happening to you? What small action can you take today to begin shifting from survival mode to a life by design? Powerful Insights from the Episode "We are wired for survival, but we were never meant to live in stress permanently." "A zebra runs from a lion, but once it escapes, the stress response turns off. Humans, on the other hand, stay stuck in stress mode—always on, always running." "If you don't stop and reflect, you won't even realize the patterns you're repeating daily." Sponsor Mention This episode is brought to you by our favorite Ganoderma-infused coffee and tea—a powerful superfood that helps boost energy, reduce stress, and support overall well-being. If you want to enjoy your daily 14 minutes and 24 seconds with the same coffee Pete drinks, click the link in the show notes to learn more. Join the Conversation & Get Support Want help breaking free from survival mode? Join our free WhatsApp group—a space for intentional thinkers to support, guide, and inspire each other. Click the link in the show notes to join. 🔗 Join the Mi365 WhatsApp Community – https://chat.whatsapp.com/IGAlsmC9N47DFamONmqXWG 🔗 Discover Pete's favorite superfood-infused tea & coffee – Take a look at the healthy coffee that I drink and recommend that is infused with one of the most powerful super foods on Earth. If you scroll down to the bottom you'll see how you can order some for yourself. https://www.mi365.me/coffee  Call to Action What's your biggest takeaway from today's episode? Share your insights in our WhatsApp community https://chat.whatsapp.com/IGAlsmC9N47DFamONmqXWG Subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss the next episode Take action—spend just 14m 24s today reflecting on how you want to show up in life When you shift from survival to design, you take back control of your future.

Episode Summary Are you feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, or running on empty? Do you wake up tired, struggle to focus, or feel like stress is running your life? If so, you're not alone—burnout is becoming a global crisis. In this episode of The Mi365 Podcast, Pete Cohen shares powerful insights and practical tools to help you recognise the signs of burnout, break free from it, and restore balance in your life. If you've been pushing too hard for too long, it's time to stop, reflect, and make a change. In just 14 minutes and 24 seconds—1% of your day—you will learn: ✔ What burnout really is and how it's affecting millions worldwide ✔ The warning signs of burnout—physical, mental, and emotional ✔ The AIR Framework—a simple strategy for overcoming burnout ✔ Why rest and recovery are just as important as growth ✔ How to take back control and rebuild your energy Are You Burning Out? Take the Test Take a moment to reflect. Answer these questions honestly: Do you wake up tired even after a full night's sleep? Are you struggling to focus or feeling mentally foggy? Do you feel unmotivated, detached, or cynical? Are you relying on caffeine, sugar, or stimulants to get through the day? Do you find yourself doom scrolling on social media just to escape? Does the idea of stopping and resting make you feel guilty or anxious? Are you experiencing headaches, body aches, or digestive issues? If you answered 'yes' to multiple questions, burnout might be taking a toll on you. But the good news is—you can reverse it. The AIR Framework: A Blueprint for Balance Pete introduces the AIR Framework—a simple method to reset and restore your energy. A – Aspirations: What do you really want? Define your health, relationships, and work goals Set an intention to move towards them I – Integration: What small actions can you take? Identify simple daily habits that will restore balance Set boundaries and protect your energy R – Rejuvenation: How do you restore and recharge? Prioritise rest, mindfulness, and movement Recognise that growth requires recovery Sponsor Mention This episode is brought to you by Ganoderma-infused coffee and tea—a powerful superfood that helps reduce stress, support energy levels, and promote relaxation. If you want to enjoy your 14 minutes and 24 seconds of reflection with the same coffee Pete drinks, click the link in the show notes to learn more. 🔗 Discover Pete's favourite superfood-infused coffee & tea – https://www.mi365.me/coffee Join the Conversation & Get Support Transformation doesn't happen alone. Join our free WhatsApp group—a supportive space for intentional thinkers who are committed to breaking free from burnout and creating a life by design, not by default. 🔗 Join the Mi365 WhatsApp Community – https://chat.whatsapp.com/IGAlsmC9N47DFamONmqXWG Call to Action What's your biggest takeaway from today's episode? Share it in our WhatsApp community. Subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss this new era of growth and transformation. Take action—spend just 14m 24s today reflecting on how you want to show up in life. A great life doesn't happen by chance. It happens by design. Let's do this.

In this powerful and deeply personal episode, Pete Cohen explores the transformative concept of "Stop To Start"—how taking intentional pauses can open the door to clarity, healing, and true progress. Pete reflects on the major stop moments in his life—from the unexpected meeting of his wife during a volcanic ash cloud in Croatia to facing profound loss with the passing of his wife, parents, and other life-altering experiences. These moments, though painful, became turning points that reshaped his life. You'll hear about: Why we need to pause before we progress The dangers of being busy just to be busy Pete's decision to step away from social media—and the liberation it brought The power of auditing your life across health, relationships, purpose, and service Reconnecting with the past to realign with what truly matters today A special reflection on legacy, presence, and the question: What are you really here for? Plus, an introduction to Pete's secret wellness weapon—reishi mushroom-infused tea and coffee Key Takeaway: "If you want to start something new, meaningful, or different… first, you need to stop. Stop to reflect. Stop to reconnect. Stop to make space for what really matters." Questions to Reflect On: What do you need to stop doing in order to start what truly matters? Where are you right now in your life audit—your energy, your relationships, your purpose? What legacy are you creating with how you're living today? Join the Conversation: We'd love to hear what resonated with you. Join our growing community in our WhatsApp group—a space for those committed to living more intentionally. https://chat.whatsapp.com/IGAlsmC9N47DFamONmqXWG Resources Mentioned: Learn more about Pete's recommended reishi-infused tea and coffee https://www.mi365.me/coffee Watch the short film and expert interviews on the power of Ganoderma Connect with Pete for coaching or support Rate & Review: If this episode spoke to you, please consider sharing it and leaving a review. Let's help more people learn to stop… so they can start living fully.