Listen Now

Recently, I have posted a number of articles and podcasts that reference the work of others. In doing so, I have not appropriately acknowledged the source of the content nor the people who created the work I referenced. I have passed this work off as my own, when it is not. I have shared work, concepts, processes, ideas and intellectual property that are not mine to share.  This is plagiarism and in breach of both copyright and explicit agreements made. My ignorance is no excuse, I commit to remedying this and ensuring that everything I share is done so with permission and appropriate referencing. To those whose work I have misappropriated and to everyone I have mislead, I am deeply sorry.  I have been learning more about my role in perpetuating an individualistic, capitalist, patriarchal ideology and paradigm. I commit to learning more and doing better when it comes to understanding and dismantling this destructive system through what I write and share and through my work and actions in general. Thank you for listening,Michael

This conversation is a sensitive and vulnerable one. On the day I write this intro and publish this episode, my family gathers to remember the one year anniversary of my nephew David's passing. I've had a number of conversations with my sister Sharyn about his passing and her experience over the past 12 months. Each time I've been humbled and inspired by her strength and courage in the face of unimaginable grief. I asked if she would be willing to share some of her experience with me, with us, on this podcast as I think these difficult conversations are the most important. What you'll find here is an insight into her experience of loss and grief, of processing and meaning making, of celebrating life and honouring David's legacy. It's a really powerful conversation and I'm grateful to have been able to have it and share it with you here. If the content of this episode brings up issues for you and you need support or you know someone who does, please access help via the links below.  I hope that sharing this story will help us all learn to be more mindful of and present to the privilege of living a life, and to be able to have the difficult conversations about loss and grief when we need to. With love,MikeyLifeline - 13 11 14Beyond Blue - anxiety, depression and suicide preventionBlack Dog Institute - mental health support and suicide prevention

I had the privilege of attending a funeral recently. I consider it a privilege, for it was an opportunity to witness a most vulnerable and intimate and heartfelt sharing of love and the acknowledgment of legacy of a much loved man's life. Of course there's the grief of loss, but there is beauty in that too, there is beauty in the entire human experience and the expression of it. If nothing else, it was a reminder of just how true that Maya Angelou quote is, it's my favourite, "that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."May we continue to live lives worth telling great stories about – stories of love and generosity and adventure and meaningful contribution to something other than ourselves. 

On a daily basis I witness people catching themselves feeling and trying desperately to control themselves.Most of my life I've wondered why it's so hard to feel and express emotions. I've wondered why we don't do it more, why it feels so terrifying, why so many avoid it especially around others, why it's not modelled for us, why we're not taught it at school, at work, everywhere. Such a fundamental human experience - to feel. And so many don't know how to. In this episode I look at why that might be the case, what it's costing us as individuals and as a society, and how we can address this. I reference Marc Brackett's wonderful book, 'Permission to Feel' and his RULER methodology. It's brilliant - check it out here. And if you want to improve your ability to recognise and label feelings, the mood meter app is a great resource. Here's to normalising feeling, and the healthy expression and regulation of our emotions. With Love,Michael

Hi,Welcome back. It's good to be back.February is the new New Year, January felt a bit like a false start. As much as we want to kick off the new calendar year all frothy and full of hope and goals and dreams, that wasn't how it was for me and many others. There was still some reckoning to be done. It was necessary, integration time is essential and too often overlooked in the pursuit of the next thing, avoiding what needs to be acknowledged.That's what this next seasons is about - acknowledging the stuff we tend to shy away from.We're going there. Join me. With love.Michael 

I started this podcast in March 2020 and have done 85 episodes since. It's been one helluva ride and in this episode I reflect on the conversations, the learning, the transformation that has been our shared experience. I wanted to keep it short but there was a lot to cover. It gets real. There is negroni so there are tears and so much appreciation, for it all. To listen to the wisdom of Francis Weller I suggest this conversation with Mark Groves.And for an introduction to the IFS (Internal Family Systems) therapy model, check out this conversation with founder of the model Richard Schwartz on the Sounds True podcast. Thank you for listening. With love,Michael

I first saw Ashanti and learned about the work he does in the documentary, 'The Mask You Live In'. It hit my deep, it moved me and it inspired me. More recently I participated in a workshop he facilitated titled, Taking Off The Mask.  So, what are these masks?In this episode we talk about what it means to take off the mask. We talk about what masks are – what's on the front of our mask and what's on the back of it. Ashanti shares a few examples of these too from people he's worked with, from teenagers through to adults in their fifties. What's hidden behind these masks are feelings we all share at some stage in our lives. One of the things I love about Ashanti is that he lives what he teaches, he walks the talk and goes first when it comes to being real, being vulnerable and in doing so he provides a safe place for others to be seen and heard. I think you'll feel that too when you listen to this conversation.Amongst other things we talk about: What are the masks we wear What is wrong with our education system and how we can address it What can parents do to support kids at school and during this time of incessant uncertainty, fear and homeschooling The power of truly seeing another and what it means to be seen How we might address the crisis of masculinity that results in 90% of incarcerated people in the US being men We merely scratch the surface of these and other important topics but I think you'll find this is an incredibly affirming conversation about how we can all connect more with the truth of who we truly are, so that we may connect more with each other. Links mentioned in this episode:Ever Forward Club WebsiteEver Forward on Instagram, Facebook, TwitterJoin the 100K Masks Challenge and draw yours here for freeAshanti Branch on Instagram

I've been excited to share this episode with you for some time. I met Tim when I first arrived in Nicaragua. I went out for a surf with only a few others in the water and there was Tim, having the time of his life, ripping into every wave, cheering on others, full of stoke. I didn't talk to him at that time however, it wasn't until a few days later that I actually met him. I had found a baby opossum in a bucket of water outside our home, it was drowning and barely clinging on to life. John, who manages Casa Horizon suggested we take it down to a local guy who cares for animals, Tim. Tim's home is a refuge for sick, injured, orphaned wildlife. It's a small part of the work he does but his dedication to all animals, his commitment and care for biodiversity is not just a philosophy, it's how he lives his life. I realised that this was not just the guy from the surf, but it was he who is responsible for the turtle egg hatchery on the beach. I knew we had to chat. In this episode, amongst other things, we talk about: His early days and influences, including Punk music How a wise quote from his dad changed his focus to action How Vital Actions came about and the work it does to save endangered sea turtles How Vital Actions is reforesting local land and bringing back wildlife in Southern Nicaragua How the community is being supported and employed while saving turtles and reforesting How Vital Actions has managed to slow the turtle egg poaching trade, save eggs and keep locals employed It's an inspiring conversation and a wake up call for anyone who cares about animals, the environment or social justice. You can find out more about Vital Actions here, and become a patron. $10/month will keep this organisation afloat and saving turtles. Please rate and review this episode, and subscribe here. And if you enjoyed this episode, please share it - that would mean so much to me and the turtles. Mikey

John not only wrote the book – Tales of a Modern Nomad, he is the modern nomad. He's also a modern renaissance man – working to bring more play, more creativity, more magic, more conscious connection , awareness, love and laughter into our lives. I've been living next door to John for the past few weeks and he's full of surprises. He's a singer songwriter, a poet, a yoga and breathwork teacher and co-founder of Momentom Collective. He's spent the last 14 years travelling and sharing his experiences and lessons with others. In this episode we discussed what it's like to travel the world and facilitate transformational experiences for people in some of the worlds' most inspiring and beautiful locations. We discussed creativity, connection, community and control, and I learned about conscious clowning. Enjoy this episode, you'll be inspired to back your bags and cultivate some adventure of your own. Meanwhile, I'll be learning how to bring more sacred clowning into my life. You can find John on Instagram at @johntearly John's website is www. johnearly.ca Tales of a Modern Nomad is here Learn more about Momentom Collective here.

In this episode I share a couple of stories of how appreciation has changed my life. It's a powerful practice, one that is innate but one we may be out of practice in. I'll show you what appreciation is and how to cultivate more of it in your life. I shared a quote from John O'Donohue's interview with Krista Tippett on On Being, the link to that episode is here.The link to the Tim Ferris podcast featuring Greg McKeown I mentioned is here. You can follow me on Instagram here or contact me via email at hello@mikeyellis.com

Trigger Warning – this episode includes a conversation about sexual assault, trauma, PTSD and post traumatic growth. Eleanor contacted me a couple of months ago and said that there was something she'd like to share. I spoke with Eleanor on Episode 24 of this podcast where she shared some of her adventures.  I've always been fascinated by what drives people to do extraordinary things and Eleanor has done plenty of extraordinary things. She has rowed 62 days from California  to Hawaii‬, is the first Australian woman to row the Pacific, she's cycled solo across Europe and is a 2 x world record holder.I was curious to find out what it is she wanted to share. We didn't prep much for this conversation, I wanted it to be casual and on her terms. Eleanor opens up about her experience of trauma and how it affected her life in business, in adventures, personally and professionally. She talks about some of the processes and therapy that has helped and her post traumatic growth.This is a very real and vulnerable conversation. Eleanor talks about sexual assault and the impact it's had on her life then and now. It's an incredibly powerful conversation, one which I was both grateful and humbled to share with Eleanor. It's also an incredibly inspiring conversation and it's a pleasure to witness someone who has found meaning and purpose and is so passionate about helping others.  The list and marker areas of Post Traumatic Growth are: Appreciation of Life Relationships with Others New Possibilities in Life Spiritual Change Personal Strength I hope you too find some strength, some comfort and some inspiration here.  Follow Eleanor on instagram here and you can contact her via her website here, including more information about her keynote, Post Traumatic Growth: Engineering Opportunity Through Adversity.Eleanor mentioned EMDR therapy, here is the online resource to help get connected to an EMDR practitioner (in Australia).

This is a fascinating question to ask yourself.  Take note of the subtle distinction however – I'm not talking about what others require of you, but what is required of you, by you. What do you need to be doing right now? What does your body require of you, what does your heart require of you? Do you need to stop, to start, to rest, to let go, to launch something, to create, to sleep? Do you need to step up and speak up? Do you need to step back and listen?This requires a couple of things. Firstly, an awareness of your current experience in the moment. Secondly, it requires some self awareness - how are you actually feeling and what do you need to do to honour these feelings and the process of experiencing them in a way that's best for you?I mentioned the poem 'Let's Dance' in this episode. You can find the words here and the podcast of me reciting it here. And if you haven't already, sign up to my newsletter – it will make your day.Cheers,Mikey

If you've ever wanted to write, create, make, do, build or launch something and have been too [insert fear here] to do it, you're going to love this book.The last book summary episode I did was the most popular of all the podcast episodes to date,  apparently the format is resonating. So here's another one! When Seth Godin writes, I read. He has a unique ability to make complex concepts concise and he understands and communicates contemporary culture and its challenges so well. His latest book, The Practice is brilliant - I dare you to read it and to not only be inspired to create something that matters, but to get started immediately. In this summary I share quotes and highlights from the book, including topics such as: Imposter Syndrome Perfectionism Finding Purpose, Your Voice, Your Passion Doing Work that Matters Minimum Viable Impact Being an Agent for Change Finding Your Audience And so, much, more. I recorded this 'in the wild' so audio quality is a little different to usual but I reckon you're going to love this one as much as I enjoyed creating it. Here's a link to Seth's blog and this book.Lotsa Love,Mikey

As far as email subject lines go, this one from Ester Perel grabbed my attention – 'Questions that meet people where they are now'.  I've learned so much from Ester regarding relationships (much of what I've learned is how much I have to learn, and unlearn) and so I read everything she shares. This email contained a list of questions to 'meet people where they are now' and there was one that stood out for me, which is the the question for this episode. This past 12 months has changed everything for everyone and so too has our definitions of success changed, or are least they're changing. Mine certainly has. How about you?For more on Ester Perel's work click here. Follow me on Clubhouse @mikeyellis for more thoughtful conversations. Please subscribe to this podcast, share it with friends, share the love. We need it. 

In this episode I try something different. It's not quite a book review, nor is it just a summary. I share plenty of quotes and passages from the book with the intention to provoke thought and stimulate discussion. This is one of the best books I’ve read on personal development, growth, emotional awareness and generally understanding yourself and how you relate. Reflecting on it while recording this podcast I was reminded just how important this education is right now. And how much this has positively impacted my life at a time when I really need the support and perspective such fundamental truths provide. I read at least a book a week on these topics and have done for 20 years, and if I was to recommend one book to read, it’s this. I take notes in all books I read and for this one, every second line was highlighted, some were double underlined with brackets, an asterisk and dog eared pages.In this podcast I work though the five sections of the book and share the passages that resonated for me and I also share why they resonated, we get personal on this one. Below are the sections and times at which I discuss certain topics if you want to skip ahead – it's a long one but I reckon it's worth a couple of hours of your time. Here's a link to  Alain de Botton's website and a link to  The School of Life.The School of Life YouTube channel has plenty of short videos explaining many of these topics - it's brilliant, check it out. But beware, you'll easily lose a few hours in there! Chapter Markers0:02:00 – Intro to the book and author bio 0:08:20 – How I came to this book (a little bit of personal context setting) 0:13:30 – The introduction. Sane Insanity and In Praise of Melancholy  0:19:30 – The School of Life 0:21:10 – Self 0:29:30 – The Importance of a Breakdown 0:38:00 – Others  0:55:20 – A Case for Pessimism (from a recovering naive romantic idealist) 0:57:15 – Vulnerability 0:58:30 – Building Connection (with a hug, a cry or glass of milk), and Listening 1:01:30 – More on Pessimism and Disappointment as a Leisure Activity 1:04:45 – Anxiety  1:09:40 – On the Need to be Alone and Nature as a Teacher 1:14:20 – Relationships and the Failings of Romanticism 1:18:25 – A Post-Romantic Approach to Relationships and Finding a Partner 1:22:30 – How to Know You’re Ready for a Relationship 1:25:15 – Anxious and Avoidant Attachment Styles  1:33:00 – Conversation Starters to Build Connection in Relationships  1:33:45 – Why we Argue 1:36:50 – Marriage 1:40:10 – Work  1:43:00 – Culture 1:44:40 – WisdomMichael Bungay-Stanier – 'The Coaching Habit' and 'The Advice Trap'Esther Perel – 'The State of Affairs'To subscribe to this podcast or leave a review, please do so here. 

One of the all time great questions this one. In fact it's more of a statement starter than a question.What if...?It's what comes after this is where the gold is. It challenges our beliefs or presumptions, it opens up possibility.  Enjoy indulging in imagination, in potential, in possibilities...I mentioned a Seth Godin blog post in this episode - here it is.To subscribe to podcast episodes and blog posts, simply click here. To leave a review, please do so here. Cheers,Michael 

It's a couple of weeks into the new year. Do you have big goals, visions and dreams for how you might start? New year, same you? Yep, me too. If you're feeling a bit disillusioned already, this episode might help. We talk about the current reality v expectation contrast and how that's messing with your flow. I share a few resources with links below to approaches that might help with  Goal setting (that works) Finding your word for the year (that's sustainable) Connecting with others who are sharing a similar experience (that's challenging) I hope this helps by providing some perspective for you. Lots of love,MikeyMark Manson's - The surprising science of goal setting and why you’re probably doing it wrong. Dr Jason Fox's - 'Choose One Word', ritual for becoming.James Clear's - Atomic Habits (great resource for behaviour change and habit building).

Happy New Year. There’s no question to answer no lessons to learn, no year to reflect upon. I know you’re all doing that already in your own way.  And there’s no resolutions to make, no goals to set, no declarations of massive change to make.  Instead, just a pause, to acknowledge this present moment. For who you are right now, in this present moment, for all that you’ve become and are, now, for all that you are already, for all you are to be.  What I want to say here now, is that if you are listening to this, thank you. Thank you for sharing the most precious of commodities, your time and attention with me and this community that is fast growing, a conscious community of others just like you and me committed to being better, to doing better, to fearing less and loving more through cultivating self awareness and perhaps even a more satisfied mind.  For now, as one year ends and a new one begins, if possible set aside the weight of expectations, set aside the innate desire to do better next year, let go of that which you regret or wished you had’ve done differently last year. For all  that you’ve lost, for that which you’re grieving, for that which you’re celebrating, the best way to acknowledge it all is to simply be with it all in this present moment, to inhale, to pause, to exhale and to pause.  To bear witness to the truth and the beauty inherent in this moment, in you, to wonder at the perfection of it all, including the uncertainty, the tragedy, the triumphs, the loss and the lessons. To wonder at it all. To inhale, pause, exhale, pause.  And repeat. And continue.  You’re doing a great job.  You’re here, you made it. You won.  And on it goes. 

So, Christmas. What at time - It’s certainly a new experience for me, it's winter in lockdown in a small apartment on the other side of the world with my partner who I met online 8 months ago and only met for the first time in person two weeks ago. Love in lockdown, it's been quite the adventure.  How about you?  What are you doing, how is your experience? And what are you grateful for? But more specifically, WHO are you grateful for? Who has influenced you, supported you, inspired you, loved you, backed you, helped you...?Tell them. And don't hold back, be generous with your appreciation and share it with as many people as you can.This is the currency we need to be spending right now - the currency of kindness and appreciation. Give what you need. Wherever you are, whatever your circumstances right now, know that you are loved and appreciated. Merry Christmas.

What is something you accomplished this year – big or small – that you're proud you did?Let's talk more about that. Let's acknowledge and celebrate these things, the things YOU did despite the clusterfuckery of the circumstances you did it in and the challenges you had to overcome to pull it off. That needs to be celebrated.  Write it down, and when you get on a roll, keep going...And share it. Share it out loud with someone whose counsel you respect. Share it out loud to yourself - read it back. Stick it on the fridge, frame it, hang it from the Christmas tree, post it on the internet... just make sure you call it out and celebrate it.You deserve it.